SONATA ARCTICA's new single, "Don't Say A Word", entered the Finish single chart at position No. 1. "Don't Say A Word" comes off the Finnish melodic metallers' fourth studio album, "Reckoning Night", due on October 11 through Nuclear Blast Records.
Greek black metallers VARATHRON have signed with Black Lotus Records. The group's first full-length album since 1995 will be recorded in September for an early 2005 release.
GWAR have set "War Party" as the title of their new album, due on October 26 through DRT Entertainment. The long-awaited follow-up to 2001's "Violence Has Arrived" was recorded at Wreckroom Studios in Richmond, Va. and was mixed at the Chop Shop in NYC. Handling the production duties was Glen Robinson, who worked with the band on their classic third album, "America Must Be Destroyed". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Krosstika", "Decay of Granduer" and "War Party".
DEINONYCHUS, the one-man Dutch doom metal project featuring Marco Kehren (previously known as Odin), will release their sixth album, "Insomnia", in October through My Kingdom Music. The follow-up to 2002's "Mournument" was recorded at The Outer Sound studio in Rome, Italy with producer Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE). A re-release of "Mournument" is also planned, featuring a new layout and a video clip for the song "Ascencion – The 40th Day After Easter".
Czech Republic-based death metallers PANDEMIA are currently searching for a record label to release their upcoming third full-length album, tentatively titled "Riven". Demo versions of two new songs, "Legion Beneath" (mp3) and "Us and Them" (mp3), have been made available for free download at the band's web site www.pandemia-deathmetal.com. PANDEMIA's last studio CD, "Personal Demon", was issued in December 2002 through Lost Disciple Records.
STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto performed several classic heavy metal covers with Finland's HEAVY LILJA ORCHESTRA. "In the orchestra there were one cello, one violin, one alto violin and one flute," the posting reads. "They had three Finnish singers singing on most of the songs. The most known singer out side Finland is Timo Kotipelto of STRATOVARIUS. The other two are also very talented singers but only known in Finland — Maija Vilkkumaa (female) and Kirka."
The orchestra played the following 80-minute set:
01. Iron Man (instrumental) 02. Powerslave (instrumental) 03. Highway Star (vocals by Kotipelto) 04. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (vocals by Vilkkumaa) 05. Gates Of Babylon (instrumental) 06. War Pigs/Kashmir (medley) (vocals by Vilkkumaa) 07. Stairway To Heaven (instrumental) 08. Born To Be Wild (vocals by Kirka) 09. Heaven And Hell (vocals by Kotipelto) 10. I Surrender (vocals by Kirka) 11. The Sentinel 12. Paranoid/Smoke On The Water (vocals by all three singers)
Following the release of ANTIMATTER's as-yet-untitled third album late this year Duncan Patterson (ex-ANATHEMA) and Mick Moss will both concentrate on solo releases for 2005. Duncan's DEATHCAP project was announced in 2002, and has been described as "post-acid horror, like the darker side of ANTIMATTER, only much more extreme." The album will be released through Strangelight Records. In early 2004, Mick announced his forthcoming solo album, "The Immaculate Misconception", which can be described as "dark, soulful sometimes progressive rock reflecting a world full of disappointments."
To coincide with the release of ANTIMATTER's third album, the band will be releasing a free virtual video EP for download. Tracks featured are "Saviour", "The Last Laugh", "In Stone" and "Empty", all of which were recorded before a live audience. It is not known yet whether the format will be VCD (for use in DVD players) or simply a CD-ROM.
British extreme metal pioneers BOLT THROWER have announced the departure of vocalist Dave Ingram. In a statement, the band said, "Dave has been suffering with health and personal problems for a while now and he has decided that it would be best if he left the band to concentrate on his recovery. We would like to thank him for the 6 years he dedicated to the band and we wish him all the very best for the future."
BOLT THROWER were due to go into the studio shortly to record their eighth album, (the follow up to 2001's "Honour, Valour, Pride" — the only BOLT THROWER release featuring Ingram on vocals), but the recording will now be delayed until a replacement is found.
Chicago death/thrash lords USURPER have completed work on their fifth full-length album, "Cryptobeast". Recorded at Chicago's Rax Trax Studios with producer Neil Kernon (JUDAS PRIEST, DEICIDE, CANNIBAL CORPSE), "Cryptobeast" marks the recording debut with the group of new singer Dan "Tyrantor" Lawson and the return of the band's original drummer, Joe "Apocalyptic" Warlord.
"Cryptobeast" track listing:
01. Bones of My Enemies 02. Supernatural Killing Spree 03. Kill For Metal 04. Conquest of The Grotesque 05. Return of The Werewolf 06. Reptilian 07. Cryptobeast 08. Wrath of God 09. Warriors of Iron and Rust (new version) 10. (untitled instrumental track)
"Cryptobeast" is now in the mastering stages and is slated for a March 2005 release through Earache Records.
FORCE OF EVIL, the new Danish band featuring guitarist Michael Denner (ex-MERCYFUL FATE), guitarist Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE), bassist Hal Patino (KING DIAMOND), drummer Bjarne Holm (MERCYFUL FATE), and vocalist Martin Steene (ex-IRONFIRE), will enter Jailhouse studio in Horsens, Denmark on September 6 with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS) to begin recording their sophomore album, tentatively due in early 2005 through Escapi. 12 new songs will be recorded for the effort, which is being described by the band as "raw" and "more brutal" than the group's debut.
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STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto performed several classic heavy metal covers with Finland's HEAVY LILJA ORCHESTRA. "In the orchestra there were one cello, one violin, one alto violin and one flute," the posting reads. "They had three Finnish singers singing on most of the songs. The most known singer out side Finland is Timo Kotipelto of STRATOVARIUS. The other two are also very talented singers but only known in Finland — Maija Vilkkumaa (female) and Kirka."