Sundsvall, Sweden-based death metallers IN BATTLE have issued the following update:
"Yesterday we started rehearsing material for the new album. We have 2.5 songs done, except for some vocal arrangements, and a ton of riffs and ideas. The new stuff sounds extremely intense, brutal, straight-forward. It kind of sounds like a mix between the 'Soul Metamorphosis' MCD with a touch of the first two IN BATTLE albums, so prepare yourselves for this coming whirlwind of destruction! The working title was set to be 'Flames & Death' but since HATE ETERNAL's new CD is called 'Fury & Flames', we probobly gonna have to come up with something else. We are also glad to inform you that Nils (Lord Dominator) Fjellström is back in the band as a full-time member. Welcome back, brother! It's a pleasure to work with you again. We would like to thank Tony (Dark Rambo) Westermark for filling in for Nils on the tour, you did an amazing job man, best of luck in the future."
IN BATTLE's fifth album will be recorded at Epidemic Productions in Sundsvall.
The group's fourth CD, "Kingdom of Fear", was released on September 3 via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Welcome to the Battlefield" was recorded at Epidemic studios in Sundsvall and was mixed by UNLEASHED's Fredrik Folkare at Chrome studios in Stockholm. The CD contains "11 songs of raw trashy death metal," according to a press release. Two video clips for the album have been filmed: "Kingdom of Fear" and "The Dead Shall See".
According to a posting on YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's official web site, the legendary Swedish guitarist's long-awaited new CD is now in its final stages of creation, with a tentative release date of July 2008. The new lineup that will take Yngwie's upcoming album on the road is as follows:
Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitar Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) - Vocals Bjorn Englen - Bass Michael Troy - Keyboards Patrik Johansson - Drums
Yngwie Malmsteen will attend the Musikmesse Frankfurt 2008 fair in Germany, which runs from Thursday, March 13 to Saturday, March 15.
Sweden's PAIN has issued the following update from its European tour as the support act for NIGHTWISH:
"Here we go again. We left Frankfurt [Germany] around noon today 'cause we had to wait for a new driver first. The new driver arrived and our 200-kilometer journey towards Bamberg began. After two hours of driving with only 20 minutes to go, we got pulled over by the police who ordered us out of the bus and had us sit in a line at the sidewalk. They searched us one by one and had us remove socks and shoes for about 40 minutes while they searched the whole bus and turned all of our bags upside down [' ]. When they were finished, they came out with a camera case and asked us who it belonged to. It contained a small plastic bag with a suspicious white powder and was owned by our new driver who, of course, claimed he never seen it before. Well... to make a long story short, we're stuck somewhere on autobahn without a driver, it's pitch black and raining outside. We're trying to enjoy ourselves watching 'Terror on Elm Street' on a laptop eating cold can food with piss-warm red wine. Another day off well spent. Everything taste better with Freddy Krueger."
As previously reported, PAIN members Peter Tägtgren (guitar/vocals), Johan Husgafvel (bass) and David Wallin (drums) were assaulted Friday night (February 22) in Leipzig, Germany during a day off on the band's European tour as the support act for NIGHTWISH. As a result, the group was forced to cancel Saturday's concert in Leipzig, but the bandmembers quickly picked themselves up and were back on stage on Sunday.
Mexico's DENIAL will release its full-length debut, "Catacombs of the Grotesque", on Asphyxiate Recordings.
Formed at the end of 2006, DENIAL is said to be inspired by '90s death metal. The group's seven-inch EP, "Immense Carnage Vortex", is available through Blood Harvest Records.
DENIAL is:
Oscar Clorio: Drums Ivan "Bloodhunter" Velazquez: Vocals Marko Guevara: Guitars Roberto Granados: Guitars Ricardo Gil: Bass
MIND ODYSSEY, the German metal band featuring RAGE guitarist Victor Smolski, has inked a deal with Napalm Records. The group's new studio album is expected in autumn. Napalm will also re-release the group's complete back catalog with brand new artwork. In the meantime, a "best-of" collection from MIND ODYSSEY will be issued in March via MO Entertainment.
MIND ODYSSEY's fourth studio album, "Signs", came out in 1999.
Latvia's SKYFORGER has been confirmed as the headliner of the fifth instalment of the Infernal Damnation Festival, set to take place May 17 at the Camden Underworld in England. Also scheduled to appear are Sweden's ALGAION, London's MATRON, British folk/black metallers FEN, Ireland's FOR RUIN, and UK's NECRO RITUAL.
Doors will open at 2:00 p.m. Curfew is 10:30 p.m.
Infernal Damnation Festival V billing:
SKYFORGER ALGAION MATRON FEN FOR RUIN NECRO RITUAL WODENSTHRONE WORMS OF SABNOCK EASTERN FRONT
HATESPHERE was honored in the "Hard Rock" category at the annual Danish Music Awards (the Danish Grammy Awards equivalent). The 40th Danish Music Awards show was held earlier tonight (Saturday, February 23) at Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark and was broadcast live on MySpace.
The nominees in the "Hard Rock" category were as follows:
HATESPHERE - "Serpent Smiles And Killer Eyes" (SPV) MNEMIC - "Passenger" (Nuclear Blast) THE PSYKE PROJECT - "Apnea" (Bonnier)
HATESPHERE entered the national chart in Denmark at position No. 26 with the group's latest release, "Serpent Smiles and Killer Eyes". The CD was mixed by Tue Madsen at Antfarm studios Denmark.
Watch HATESPHERE's video for the song "Drinking with the King of the Dead" (taken from "Serpent Smiles and Killer Eyes") ' .
Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have issued the following update:
"It is with great pleasure we confirm that SATYRICON will be back in Russia after the awesome trip in October 2006. This time a show in Kiev, Ukraine has been added as well and this will be our first visit there ever. Our Russian friends have a tendency of showing up in great numbers and we hope for just the same in Ukraine!"
Upcoming SATYRICON shows:
Mar. 08 - Katowice, POL - Metalmania (Spodek) Mar. 21 - Oslo, NOR - Inferno Festival May 16 - St Petersburg, RUS - Club Port May 17 - Moscow, RUS - Club Tochka May 18 - Kiev, UA - [to be announced] Jun. 21 - Nantes, FRA - Hellfest Jul. 19 - Spital am Semmering, AUT - Kaltenbach Open Air Aug. 16 - Oulu, FIN - Jallometalli Festival
SATYRICON is currently writing material for the follow-up to 2006's "Now, Diabolical", tentatively due late 2008 via Roadrunner Records.
Watch fan-filmed video footage of SATYRICON performing the song "The Pentagram Burns" at this year's Brutal Assault festival in the Czech Republic ' .
Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM will film a video for the track "Taking the World by Storm" this weekend in New York. The clip will be directed by David Brodsky, who has previously worked with GOD FORBID, GWAR and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, among others.
"Taking the World by Storm" comes off the group's upcoming album, "Prevail", which was mixed at AudioHammer Studios in Orlando, Florida with producer Jason Suecof. The CD, which is scheduled for release via Nuclear Blast Records on May 23 (Europe) and May 27 (North America), features guest solo appearances by Pat O'Brien (CANNIBAL CORPSE), Dave Linsk (OVERKILL) and producer and guitar shredder Jason Suecof himself. The band promises "a monstrous album that will pummel you from start to finish."
"Prevail" track listing:
01. Prevail 02. Taking the world by Storm 03. The Chains of Power 04. As Death Lingers 05. Blood in Heaven 06. To the Throne of Sorrow 07. Breathe to Dominate 08. Tear Down the Kingdom 09. The Vultures are Watching 10. The Last Effort (Renaissance II) (instrumental)
German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA will release their new DVD and "best-of" CD package, "13 Years of Celtic Wartunes", on April 25. The set will include the band's Wacken Open Air 2007 performance, an acoustic concert, and a best-of CD with remastered and newly recorded songs spanning the group's 13-year history.
SUIDAKRA will make its U.S. debut at the Chicago Powerfest 2008, set to take place May 1-3 at The Pearl Room in Mokena, Illinois. The band will then join Paganfest USA (featuring ENSIFERUM, TURISAS, TYR and ELUVEITIE) as special guests on the six West Coast dates.
Veteran metallers METAL CHURCH have issued the following update:
"Due to personal reasons, Jay Reynolds [also of MALICE] has left METAL CHURCH. We thank him for his contributions to the band, and wish him all the best in future endeavors."
"Jay's replacement has not been decided upon yet, but it will be announced when a decision has been reached."
METAL CHURCH's latest album, "A Light in the Dark", was released in June 2006 via SPV. The CD includes a new version of the classic "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to vocalist David Wayne, who passed away in May 2005.
Regain Records has launched a special ' featuring a streaming version of the track "Bloodpath", taken from the Swedish death metallers' forthcoming eight album, "Dominion VIII", which will be released in Europe on April 21. According to the band, the CD will contain "nine tracks of sheer evil and mass brutality."
"Dominion VIII" track listing:
01. A World In Darkness 02. Fallen (Angel Son) 03. Deathstorm 04. Stained By Hate 05. Bloodpath 06. Annihilated Gods 07. Sinners Lust 08. Dark Signs 09. 8th Dominion
GRAVE is planning to mark its 20th anniversary with a number of shows featuring the group's early material. The band previously said in a statement, "Next year it's already 20 years since GRAVE was formed. In 1988 after replacing some members we changed our name from CORPSE. That year we also recorded our classic first demo 'Sick Disgust Eternal' and continued musically what we started with our previous bands DESTROYER, ANGUISH, CORPSE and PUTREFACTION. We will mark the anniversary with a new album and also massive touring and festival appearances where we will mainly play old stuff from the early days."
Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have scheduled the following summer festival appearances:
Jun. 6-8 - Sauna Open Air - Tampere, Finland Jun. 20 - Monsters Of Rock - Zaragoza, Spain Jun. 21 - Hellfest - Clisson, France Jun. 27-29 - Tuska Open Air - Helsinki, Finland Jun. 28 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium Jul. 10-13 - Masters Of Rock - Vizovice, Czech Republic Jul. 11 - Evolution Festival - Milan, Italy Jul. 31- August 2 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany
France's Radio Metal recently conducted an interview with SONATA ARCTICA keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg and bassist Marko Paasikoski. Listen to the chat in streaming audio ' .
SONATA ARCTICA last year parted ways with guitarist Jani Liimatainen and replaced him with Elias Viljanen.
The band's new album, "Unia", was certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 15,000 copies. This brings the band's total number of gold albums to seven, with their debut LP, "Ecliptica", and "best-of" compilation, "The Collection", reaching gold status in the past few weeks.
Recorded and mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, "Unia" — which has been available in North America since May 22 — landed on the following international album charts: Finland - #1; Japan - #7; Sweden - #27; Germany - #35; Switzerland - #40; Austria - #62. The "Paid in Full" single also secured the #1 single position in the band's native land.
An audio sample of the new MIDNATTSOL song "Northern Light" is available ' . The track comes off the group's forthcoming second album, entitled "Nordlys" (translated: Northern Light), which will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:
Mar. 26 - Finland Mar. 28 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden Mar. 31 - Rest of Europe Apr. 01 - USA/Canada
The CD was mixed by Tue Madsen and was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland with Mika Jusilla.
"Nordlys" track listing:
01. Open Your Eyes 02. Skogens Lengsel 03. Northern Light 04. Konkylie 05. Wintertimes 06. Race Of Time 07. New Horizon 08. River Of Virgin Soil 09. En Natt I Nord 10. Octobre (limited-edition bonus track)
Boston-based hardcore/metal band BURY YOUR DEAD will release its new self-titled album on March 18 via Victory Records. The band recently returned to Florida's Audiohammer Studios, the exact facility where their previous release, "Beauty and the Breakdown", was recorded. BURY YOUR DEAD also brought back producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, GOD FORBID), continuing with the theme of tradition. BURY YOUR DEAD drummer Mark Castillo previously stated, "All I have to say is the new BURY YOUR DEAD isn't what people are going to expect. You really have to hear this."
"Bury Your Dead" track listing:
01. Sympathy Orchestra 02. Disposably Yours 03. Fever Dream 04. Infidels Hymn 05. Angel With A Dirty Face 06. Hands To Hide The Shame 07. Wombdisease 08. A Devils Ransom 09. Dust To Dust 10. Fools Gold 11. Year One
Check out the song "Sympathy Orchestra" on the ' .
PAIN, the Swedish band featuring HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren, is currently on the road in Europe as the support act for NIGHTWISH. The band has launched a ' where the bandmembers promise to "keep you updated with news and share whatever happens during the tour. Everything you read or see on this blog is exclusively uncensored. Similarities with now living persons is total coincidence."
As previously reported, guitarist Marcus Jidell (ROYAL HUNT, HOUSE OF SHAKIRA) is once again part of PAIN's touring lineup.
CHILDREN OF BODOM's video for the new single "Blooddrunk" can be viewed ' . The clip, which was produced by Katapult Filmproduktion, was shot in the former Nazi barracks in Krampnitz in the vicinity of Berlin, Germany, where the Russian army was stationed before the German reunion.
Spinefarm Records will release a digipack version of CHILDREN OF BODOM's new album, "Blooddrunk", on April 9. The set will include a bonus DVD featuring the songs mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound, the "Blooddrunk" video, a "making-of-the-video" segment, and a photo gallery. In addition, the CD will feature CHILDREN OF BODOM's cover of STAN JONES' "Ghost Riders In The Sky" as a bonus track.
"Blooddrunk" digipack details:
CD:
01. Hellhounds On My Trail 02. Blooddrunk 03. LoBodomy 04. One Day You Will Cry 05. Smile Pretty For The Devil 06. Tie My Rope 07. Done With Everything, Die For Nothing 08. Banned From Heaven 09. Roadkill Morning 10. Ghost Riders In The Sky
DVD:
01. Blooddrunk (video) 02. Making of the Video 03. Hellhounds On My Trail (Surround Sound) 04. Blooddrunk (Surround Sound) 05. LoBodomy (Surround Sound) 06. One Day You Will Cry (Surround Sound) 07. Smile Pretty For The Devil (Surround Sound) 08. Tie My Rope (Surround Sound) 09. Done With Everything, Die For Nothing (Surround Sound) 10. Banned From Heaven (Surround Sound) 11. Roadkill Morning (Surround Sound) 12. Photo Gallery
Fan-filmed video footage of CHILDREN OF BODOM performing the new song "Tie My Rope" for the first time at this year's annual Spinefeast event (dubbed Spinefeast At Sea 2008), which took place January 31 - February 1 aboard the Tallink Galaxy cruise chip in Finland, can be viewed below.
The UK's What Records will release three limited-edition versions of CHILDREN OF BODOM's "Blooddrunk" single on March 3:
01. Blooddrunk 02. No Commands (previously released STONE cover) + CHILDREN OF BODOM sticker
A new CHILDREN OF BODOM song, entitled "Banned From Heaven", is available for streaming on the ' . The track comes off, "Blooddrunk", which is scheduled for release in North America on April 15 via Spinefarm/Fontana International. The CD is due in Europe on April 7 via Spinefarm Records (two days later in Finland). Check out the album artwork ' .
Norwegian melodic metal band PICTURES OF PAIN will enter Black Dimension studios at the end of February to begin recording its debut album. The CD will contain eight tracks and will be produced by Stein Sund, who has previously worked with THRONE OF KATARSIS and THUNDRA, among others.
PICTURES OF PAIN was formed in 2004 by Frode Gundersen (drums) and Hans Helge Iversen (vocals). They were later joined by Roy Ostrem (bass) and Rune Fredriksen (guitar). The group recorded its first demo in November 2005. A second studio recording followed in July 2006.
Austrian symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE will release its sixth studio album, "MyEarthDream", on April 25 via Napalm Records. ' was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, among other artists.
"MyEarthDream" track listing:
01. The Force Within 02. Shadowplay 03. Remember Me 04. Adamantine 05. Paramount 06. Whale Rider 07. Undying Devotion 08. Fallen From Grace 09. Place Of Higher Power 10. MyEarthDream Suite (For Guitar And Orchestra) 11. MyEarthDream
Wilmington, North Carolina-based rock/post-hardcore band HE IS LEGEND has parted ways with guitarist Mitch Marlow and replaced him with Worth Weaver (FRIENDS FOR HIRE). Marlow left the group after accepting an offer to join the recently reunited FILTER.
HE IS LEGEND is currently writing material for its third album, which the band plans to begin recording later this year.
The group released its second full-length CD, "Suck out the Poison", in October 2006 via Solid State Records.
"21", the new video from Swedish metallers WITHIN Y, can be viewed ' . The clip was directed by Dino Medanhodzic (guitar player in CARNAL FORGE and SOULBREACH) from Arboga, Sweden.
"21" comes off the Swedish melodic death metal band's third album, "The Cult", which is scheduled for release on February 27 via the Gothenburg-based label Gain. The CD artwork was created by Niklas Sundin of DARK TRANQUILLITY and Cabin Fever Media.
"The Cult" track listing:
01. Deathtrip 02. 21 03. The Cult 04. Bittersweet Suicide 05. The Predictable End 06. My Fall 07. King Of Flies 08. Self Refinement 09. Strive 10. Facing Reality
WITHIN Y has scheduled a CD-release party on February 29 at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg, Sweden. Also appearing on the bill is LAETHORA.
Swedish melodic black metallers SIEBENBÜRGEN have announced the addition of guitarist Joakim Ohlsson and vocalist Lisa Bohwalli Simonsson to the group's ranks. This 22 year-old-female from Stockholm "just amazed SIEBENBÜRGEN with her vocal performance, resulting in a full membership in the metal act," according to a press release.
Commented singer Marcus Ehlin, "Our first decision was to exclude the female parts in our music, but after hearing Lisa's voice, we changed our minds."
SIEBENBÜRGEN will enter the studio on March 1 to begin recording its new album for a May 23 release via Germany's Massacre Records. Entitled "Revelation VI", the upcoming CD will be recorded at Studio 301 in Stockholm and Sonic Train in Varberg.
The complete track listing of the new TIAMAT album, "Amanethes", which is scheduled for release on April 18 via Nuclear Blast Records, is revealed. The CD was once again produced at Woodhouse Studios in Germany with Siggi Bemm.
"Amanethes" track listing:
01. The Temple Of The Crescent Moon 02. Equinox Of The Gods 03. Until The Hellhounds Sleep Again 04. Will They Come? 05. Lucienne 06. Summertime Is Gone 07. Katarraktis Apo Aima 08. Raining Dead Angels 09. Misantropolis 10. Amanitis 11. Meliae 12. Via Dolorosa 13. Circles 14. Amanes
TIAMAT's last studio album, "Prey", was released in 2003 through Century Media.
SLAYER was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 50th annual Grammy Awards, which are being held tonight (Sunday, February 10) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. SLAYER was nominated for the track "The Final Six", from the band's 2007 limited-edition "Christ Illusion". The song, written by SLAYER's vocalist/bassist Tom Araya and guitarist Jeff Hanneman and produced by Josh Abraham, is a chilling look at an hypothesized end of the world. The track made its debut last July as the "Single of the Week" on MySpace where it has since accumulated some 750,000 plays, an astounding number for a song that received no commercial airplay.
Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have scheduled two shows in Russia in April. Vocalist Angela Gossow comments, "We are very excited to meet our Russian fans! We have heard a lot of crazy stories about YOU — and we sincerely hope they are all true!"
The dates are as follows:
April 15 - St Petersburg, Russia - Port April 16 - Moscow, Russia - DK Gorbunova
ARCH ENEMY was honored with the P3 Guld award (for the band's critically acclaimed "Rise of the Tyrant" release) from Swedish radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album of the Year" category. The awards show was broadcasted live on national radio on January 18.
ARCH ENEMY's video for the song "Revolution Begins" can be viewed at ' . The clip was shot in early September just days before ARCH ENEMY flew to North America to begin the Black Tyranny tour (with MACHINE HEAD, THROWDOWN and SANCTITY). To promote their new album, "Rise of the Tyrant", the band shot two videos in Gothenburg, Sweden with director Patric Ullaeus (IN FLAMES, LACUNA COIL).
After recently celebrating the band's 20-year anniversary, DREAM THEATER returns with its first-ever best-of collection. Spanning 1991-2005, the two-disc set contains rare single edits, B-sides and a trio of new remixes that spotlight that band's nonpareil musicianship, complex arrangements and amazing songwriting.
The collection's 22 songs are split evenly between two discs, which are divided into "The Dark Side" (the metallic) and "The Light Side" (the melodic). Filled with some of the band's most sinister sounds, the first disc lives up to the billing of "The Dark Side."
"Greatest Hit (...& 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)" track listing:
Disc 1 (The Dark Side): 01. Pull Me Under (2007 Remix) 02. Take The Time (2007 Remix) 03. Lie (Single Edit) 04. Peruvian Skies 05. Home (Single Edit) 06. Misunderstood (Single Edit) 07. The Test That Stumped Them All 08. As I Am 09. Endless Sacrifice 10. The Root Of All Evil 11. Sacrificed Sons
Disc 2 (The Light Side): 01. Another Day (2007 Remix) 02. To Live Forever 03. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream 04. The Silent Man 05. Hollow Years 06. Through Her Eyes (Alternate Album Mix) 07. The Spirit Carries On 08. Solitary Shell (Single Edit) 09. I Walk Beside You 10. The Answer Lies Within 11. Disappear
SCUM, the Norwegian/American project featuring Samoth (ZYKLON, ex-EMPEROR), Bard G. Eithun (a.k.a. Faust) (ex-EMPEROR), Happy Tom (TURBONEGRO), Casey Chaos (AMEN) and Cosmocrator (MINDGRINDER), has had its 2005 debut album, "Gospels for the Sick", made available on limited-edition vinyl.
To order a copy, click ' .
"Gospels for the Sick" was released in Europe via Dogjob Records (a division of Tuba) and Candlelight Records in the U.S. The CD was recorded at Crystal Canyon Studio (TURBONEGRO, WE, EUROBOY) in Norway and features guest appearances by Mortiis, Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE) and Knut "Euroboy" Schreider (TURBONEGRO, EUROBOYS).
A video for the album cut "Protest Life" can be viewed ' .
Dutch metallers WARMASTER have inked a deal with Dutch Metal Records. The group's long-awaited debut CD, "First War", will be released on March 24.
"First War" was recorded and mixed at A.M. Studio (INFINITED HATE, FUNERAL WINDS, DARK REMAINS) and was mastered by Robbe K. According to a press release, WARMASTER "has created an album which takes death metal back to basics, yet agressive music and is determined to conquer the metal scene!"
01. Testimony From The Grave 02. Unleashing Devilment 03. Silent Scream 04. Against Heavy Odds 05. Psychological Suffering 06. In Cold Blood 07. Silent 08. 1914
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Sundsvall, Sweden-based death metallers IN BATTLE have issued the following update:
According to a posting on YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's official web site, the legendary Swedish guitarist's long-awaited new CD is now in its final stages of creation, with a tentative release date of July 2008. The new lineup that will take Yngwie's upcoming album on the road is as follows:
Sweden's PAIN has issued the following update from its European tour as the support act for NIGHTWISH:
MIND ODYSSEY, the German metal band featuring RAGE guitarist Victor Smolski, has inked a deal with Napalm Records. The group's new studio album is expected in autumn. Napalm will also re-release the group's complete back catalog with brand new artwork. In the meantime, a "best-of" collection from MIND ODYSSEY will be issued in March via MO Entertainment.
Latvia's SKYFORGER has been confirmed as the headliner of the fifth instalment of the Infernal Damnation Festival, set to take place May 17 at the Camden Underworld in England. Also scheduled to appear are Sweden's ALGAION, London's MATRON, British folk/black metallers FEN, Ireland's FOR RUIN, and UK's NECRO RITUAL.
HATESPHERE was honored in the "Hard Rock" category at the annual Danish Music Awards (the Danish Grammy Awards equivalent). The 40th Danish Music Awards show was held earlier tonight (Saturday, February 23) at Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark and was broadcast live on MySpace.
Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have issued the following update:
Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM will film a video for the track "Taking the World by Storm" this weekend in New York. The clip will be directed by David Brodsky, who has previously worked with GOD FORBID, GWAR and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, among others.
German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA will release their new DVD and "best-of" CD package, "13 Years of Celtic Wartunes", on April 25. The set will include the band's Wacken Open Air 2007 performance, an acoustic concert, and a best-of CD with remastered and newly recorded songs spanning the group's 13-year history.
Veteran metallers METAL CHURCH have issued the following update:
Regain Records has launched a special ' featuring a streaming version of the track "Bloodpath", taken from the Swedish death metallers' forthcoming eight album, "Dominion VIII", which will be released in Europe on April 21. According to the band, the CD will contain "nine tracks of sheer evil and mass brutality."
Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have scheduled the following summer festival appearances:
An audio sample of the new MIDNATTSOL song "Northern Light" is available ' . The track comes off the group's forthcoming second album, entitled "Nordlys" (translated: Northern Light), which will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:
Boston-based hardcore/metal band BURY YOUR DEAD will release its new self-titled album on March 18 via Victory Records. The band recently returned to Florida's Audiohammer Studios, the exact facility where their previous release, "Beauty and the Breakdown", was recorded. BURY YOUR DEAD also brought back producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, GOD FORBID), continuing with the theme of tradition. BURY YOUR DEAD drummer Mark Castillo previously stated, "All I have to say is the new BURY YOUR DEAD isn't what people are going to expect. You really have to hear this."
CHILDREN OF BODOM's video for the new single "Blooddrunk" can be viewed ' . The clip, which was produced by Katapult Filmproduktion, was shot in the former Nazi barracks in Krampnitz in the vicinity of Berlin, Germany, where the Russian army was stationed before the German reunion.
Norwegian melodic metal band PICTURES OF PAIN will enter Black Dimension studios at the end of February to begin recording its debut album. The CD will contain eight tracks and will be produced by Stein Sund, who has previously worked with THRONE OF KATARSIS and THUNDRA, among others.
Austrian symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE will release its sixth studio album, "MyEarthDream", on April 25 via Napalm Records. ' was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, among other artists.
Wilmington, North Carolina-based rock/post-hardcore band HE IS LEGEND has parted ways with guitarist Mitch Marlow and replaced him with Worth Weaver (FRIENDS FOR HIRE). Marlow left the group after accepting an offer to join the recently reunited FILTER.
"21", the new video from Swedish metallers WITHIN Y, can be viewed ' . The clip was directed by Dino Medanhodzic (guitar player in CARNAL FORGE and SOULBREACH) from Arboga, Sweden.
Swedish melodic black metallers SIEBENBÜRGEN have announced the addition of guitarist Joakim Ohlsson and vocalist Lisa Bohwalli Simonsson to the group's ranks. This 22 year-old-female from Stockholm "just amazed SIEBENBÜRGEN with her vocal performance, resulting in a full membership in the metal act," according to a press release.
The complete track listing of the new TIAMAT album, "Amanethes", which is scheduled for release on April 18 via Nuclear Blast Records, is revealed. The CD was once again produced at Woodhouse Studios in Germany with Siggi Bemm.
SLAYER was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 50th annual Grammy Awards, which are being held tonight (Sunday, February 10) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. SLAYER was nominated for the track "The Final Six", from the band's 2007 limited-edition "Christ Illusion". The song, written by SLAYER's vocalist/bassist Tom Araya and guitarist Jeff Hanneman and produced by Josh Abraham, is a chilling look at an hypothesized end of the world. The track made its debut last July as the "Single of the Week" on MySpace where it has since accumulated some 750,000 plays, an astounding number for a song that received no commercial airplay.
Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have scheduled two shows in Russia in April. Vocalist Angela Gossow comments, "We are very excited to meet our Russian fans! We have heard a lot of crazy stories about YOU — and we sincerely hope they are all true!"
Disc 1 (The Dark Side):
SCUM, the Norwegian/American project featuring Samoth (ZYKLON, ex-EMPEROR), Bard G. Eithun (a.k.a. Faust) (ex-EMPEROR), Happy Tom (TURBONEGRO), Casey Chaos (AMEN) and Cosmocrator (MINDGRINDER), has had its 2005 debut album, "Gospels for the Sick", made available on limited-edition vinyl.
Dutch metallers WARMASTER have inked a deal with Dutch Metal Records. The group's long-awaited debut CD, "First War", will be released on March 24.