Former IMMORTAL/current GRIMFIST drummer Horgh has officially joined HYPOCRISY. Horgh replaces longtime HYPOCRISY skinsman Lars Szoke, who reportedly left the band because of his unwillingness to tour for long periods of time. "Lars still wants to play drums," HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tagtgren explained, "but not with the hectic schedule HYPOCRISY has had the last months, and still is going to have for most of 2004. "I can't wait to go on tour with this new lineup!" Peter stated about the group's latest addition. "I think it will be so cool to have Horgh's blast beats in our songs!"
NEW BLACK, the new Los Angeles-based band led by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, have a total of 13 tracks under their belt, according to a posting on Logan's official web site.
Track titles include:
01. Save Me 02. Something to Be Desired 03. Slip Away 04. Feed the Fire 05. See Thru 06. Broken Wings 07. Not Like You 08. Wounded 09. After All 10. These Times 11. Frustration 12. Deva 13. No Sympathy
Italian metallers CONSPIRACY A.D. have posted their recently completed video for the track "Bloody Revenge" at ' (.zip file, approx. 10 MB). "Bloody Revenge" comes off the group's forthcoming debut full-length album, "Humanity = Destruction ...The End Is Near", tentatively due in early February through Crash Music Inc.
MISERY INDEX, the Baltimore, Maryland-based band featuring Jason Netherton (bass/vocals, ex-DYING FETUS), Sparky Voyles (guitar, ex-DYING FETUS, M.O.D.), Matt Byers (drums) and Bruce Greig (guitar, ex-DYING FETUS, NEXT STEP UP), will be filming a video for the track "The Great Depression" on January 31 at the Ottobar in Baltimore, according to a posting on the group's web site. "The Great Depression" (' ) comes off the band's debut album, "Retaliate", which was released in August through Nuclear Blast Records.
CONSTRUCDEAD will release their sophomore album, "Violadead", on March 22 through Sound Pollution Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Repent" was recorded and mixed at Helsingborg's Queenstreet Recording with producer Richard Larsson and features a guest appearance by SOILWORK vocalist Bjorn "Speed" Strid and ex-SOILWORK drummer Henry Ranta in the track "Bitter End". The track listing for "Violadead" (view cover ' ) is as follows:
01. Pinhook 02. Rise 03. Bricks 04. Hate 05. Wounded 06. Cancer 07. The Saviour 08. Disbelief 09. New Skin 10. Re-Arrange 11. Turn 12. Bitter End 13. Evil As I (demo version, Japanese bonus track)
A limited-edition digipack version of the album will feature as a special bonus a demo recording of the track "Inhuman Condition".
DIONYSUS, the Swedish/German melodic power metal act featuring the voice behind guitarist Luca Turilli's (RHAPSODY) solo work, Olaf Hayer, and ex-SINERGY drummer Ronny Milianowicz, have revealed the details of their sophomore album, "Anima Mundi" (Latin for "The Soul of the World"), due on January 19 through AFM Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Sign Of Truth" was recorded at Studio Kuling in Orebro, Sweden with producer Jens Moberg (KATATONIA, LAMBRETTA, CRYSTAL BLUE) and was mastered at Polar Studios in Stockholm. The complete track listing for "Anima Mundi" is as follows:
01. Divine 02. Bringer of War 03. Anima Mundi 04. Heart Is Crying 05. What 06. Eyes of The World 07. March For Freedom 08. Closer To The Sun 09. Forever More 10. Paradise Land
New album of German brutal maniacs GOMORRHA called "Sexual Perversity By Autopsy" is finally out on ' . You will hear brutal death metal in vein of SEVERE TORTURE, DYING FETUS. Guttural vocals, sick lyrics,crushing drums... most brutal music from Germany. You can download some tracks ' .
NEW AEON MEDIA - that's the name of a new sub-division for KARMAGEDDON MEDIA, to support the Underground and bring you (hopefully) the best of the Underground. The first bands label came to an agreement with, FINAL DAWN from Finland (mix of ROTTING CHRIST, SENTENCED and older MEGADETH), RIBSPREADER (unbelievable Old School Swedish Death Metal, produced by Dan Swano who is in the band too) and JUDGEMENT DAY from The Netherlands (brutal, twisted innovative Death Metal).
Bands feel free to send material to:
NEW AEON MEDIA P.O. BOX 277 6300 AG Valkenburg The Netherlands
Your recordings will be listened to, and if you stick out of the masses label will surely get in touch.
Danish death metallers EXMORTEM will record the follow-up to 2002's "Pestilence Empire" in May/June at the Antfarm Studio (Aarhus, Denmark) with producer Tue Madsen. No title has been set for the album yet, but a few "working" songtitles are as follows: "Nihilistic Contentment", "Graveside Mourning Ritual" and "Parasite Paradise". According to the band, "The material will be both harder and more twisted than on previous recordings and will show new sides of the EXMORTEM sound! Shattering musical extremity!!"
Former HYPNOSIA drummer Mikael Sjostrand passed away on Thursday, January 8 after a battle with skin cancer. He was 27 years old. A highly acclaimed Swedish thrash/death metal act, HYPNOSIA split up in June 2002 after a seven-year existence that produced a seven-song EP (1999's "Violent Intensity", Iron Fist Productions) and one full-length album (2000's "Extreme Hatred", Hammerheart Records). No reason was given for the band's break-up.
The cover of DAMAGEPLAN's debut album, "New Found Power", has been ' . "New Found Power", due on February 10 through Elektra Records, was recorded at guitarist Dimebag Darrell's (ex-PANTERA) home studio, Chasin Jason, and was produced by Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul (also ex-PANTERA) along with Sterling Winfield (PANTERA, MERCYFUL FATE). Guests include SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor and OZZY OSBOURNE/BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist Zakk Wylde.
The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Wake Up 02. NFP (New Found Power) 03. Pride 04. Blunt Force Trauma 05. Save Me 06. Explode 07. Fuck You (feat. Corey Taylor) 08. Cold Blooded 09. Reborn (feat. Zakk Wylde) 10. Blink of An Eye 11. Breathing New Life 12. Crawl 13. Moment Of Truth 14. Soulbleed (feat. Zakk Wylde)
PARADISE LOST are hoping to enter the studio in April to begin recording the follow-up to "Symbol Of Life", tentatively due in August. "Symbol Of Life", PARADISE LOST's ninth studio album, was produced by Rhys Fulber (FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY) and was released in October 2002 through G.U.N./ BMG Records in Europe.
Former STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto has completed work on his second solo album, tentatively due in the spring through Century Media Records. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2002's "Waiting For The Dawn" (issued under the KOTIPELTO banner) reportedly features "more or less the same" recording lineup as that on the debut, which featured contributions from Mike Romeo (guitars, SYMPHONY X), Roland Grapow (guitars, MASTERPLAN/ex-HELLOWEEN), Arjen Lucassen (guitars, AYREON), Sami Virtanen (guitars, JOE DOAKES), Jari Kainulainen (bass, STRATOVARIUS), Mirka Rantanen (drums, TUNNEL VISION), Gas (drums, H.I.M.), Janne Warman (keyboards, CHILDREN OF BODOM) and Mikko Harkin (keyboards, SONATA ARCTICA). Commenting recently on his departure from STRATOVARIUS, Kotipelto said, "I know a lot of fans are sad about this situation. And I really am SORRY about it. There are a lot of things in the world that I alone can't control... One thing is for sure, it's not about money. The problems are somewhere else." Regarding his final appearance with STRATOVARIUS at the upcoming Piorno Rock festival in Spain on February 28, Kotipelto said, "Unfortunately, yes, I have to [play this show]. I have signed the contract [committing to doing the gig]. But I try to give my best to the fans. I don't care what happens at the backstage..."
German doom/gothic metallers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE have set "Ave End" as the title of their sixth album, tentatively due in the summer through Austria's Napalm Records. The recordings for the follow-up to 2002's "Fall, I Will Follow" will begin in February. Among the tracks set to appear on the CD are "Sarah Lou", "Phantom Ballad" and "To Bleed Or Not To Be".
Dutch brutal death metal band THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT have just returned from their successful second European tour with THE CROWN. The band are currently working on new material for their second CD, "The Bloody Fields Of History", tentatively due later in the year through Cold Blood Industries. Among the songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2002's "The Apotheosis" are the following:
01. Army of the Despised 02. Kolyma 03. Under the Bloodcampaign 04. 7 Months of Suffering 05. Concrete Sacrophagus 06. King of Aceldama 07. 1917 Spring Offensive 08. The Nero Order
After 15 years in the business as one of the reigning heavyweight champs of death metal, Florida's legendary DEICIDE have shot their very first music video. For this historic occasion, the band chose to immortalize the title track of their forthcoming Earache Records debut, "Scars Of The Crucifix" — a song which brutally sums up what DEICIDE is all about. Shot in Nottingham, U.K. by acclaimed director Pete Bridgewater (THE HAUNTED, DECEMBER), the "Scars Of The Crucifix" video shows DEICIDE in rare form. The "Scars Of The Crucifix" video is now in the post-production stages. Look for this video, coming soon to Earache.com and a TV near you. "Scars Of The Crucifix" was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer Neil Kernon (CANNIBAL CORPSE, NEVERMORE) and was mixed at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas. A February 24, 2004 release through Earache Records is expected.
Long-running British death metal band BOLT THROWER are currently writing new material for their eighth studio album, tentatively due in October/November through Metal Blade Records. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2001's "Honour Valour Pride" will be recorded in May and will be supported by a full European tour as well as the group's first U.S. tour in 10 years.
Sweden's SOILWORK have posted the following message on their official web site: "Hello there soilers! "As you might have heard already, Richard Evensand is no longer playing with SOILWORK. "Richard is an amazing drummer and we are very happy that we have had the privilege to play with him for the period of time that we did. "Richard and SOILWORK have decided not to continue playing together and we have parted as good friends. We wish him all the best of luck with his future projects. "We are happy to inform you guys that Dirk Verbeuren from SCARVE will be filling in as a session drummer for our upcoming headlining tour in Europe. "Dirk is a very talented drummer, and needless to say he will do a kickass job on the tour. "Check out Dirk's band SCARVE on ' . "Cheers, SOILWORK"
Belgium's AFTER ALL have posted their video for the track ' online size (12.7 MB). The clip was produced by Michel Marechal and AFTER ALL and was directed and edited by Michel Marechal. "Descending Pain" comes off the group's latest CD, "Mercury Rising" (Mausoleum Records), which was produced by Harris Johns, renowned for his work with VOIVOD and KREATOR. Recorded at Johns' Spiderhouse Studios in Berlin, Germany, the CD features "a much heavier and more thrash metal-oriented" sound than that on the group's previous effort, 2000's "Dead Loss" (Rokarola Records).
Polish black/death metallers BEHEMOTH have set "Demigod" as the working title of their seventh full-length album, tentatively due in late 2004 through Regain Records (Europe), Century Media (USA and South America) and Mystic (Poland). The follow-up to 2002's "Zos Kia Cultus - Here And Beyond" (Avantgarde) will be recorded this spring and will feature the lineup of Nergal (guitars and vocals), Inferno (drums), and Seth (bass, guitars).
Sweden's KATATONIA have set a February 23 release date for their two-disc compilation of all of their previously out-of-print mini-CDs, plus sampler tracks from old full-length albums and one unreleased track. Titled "Brave Yester Days", the double CD will feature artwork by Agni Kaster and will be released in a digipack format together with a 16-page booklet. The complete track listing for "Brave Yester Days" is as follows:
Volume One (disc 1):
"Jhva Elohim Meth" 01. Midwinter Gates (Prologue) 02. Without God 03. Palace Of Frost 04. The Northern Silence 05. Crimson Tears (Epilogue)
"Dance Of December Souls" 06. Gateways Of Bereavement 07. Velvet Thorns (Of Drynwhyl)
"War Compilation Vol One" 08. Black Erotica 09. Love Of The Swan
"For Funerals To Come…" 10. Funeral Wedding 11. Shades Of Emerald Fields 12. For Funerals To Come 13. Epistel
Volume Two (Disc 2):
"Brave Murder Day" 01. Murder 02. Rainroom
"Sounds Of Decay" 03. Nowhere 04. At Last 05. Inside The Fall 06. Untrue (Previously Unreleased)
"Saw You Drown" 07. Nerve 08. Saw You Drown 09. Quiet World 10. Scarlet Heavens
As usual this one comes pro-printed on glossy paper (A5, 24 pages) with full OUPIRIC Prods mail order catalogue inside and features Interviews/infos of CAPITOLLIUM (gothic sympho black metal from Carpathia), SAMHAIN (true and evil black metal terrorism from Russia), ACT OF GOD (Russian satanic sympho death metal) and CRYPTHOWL (pics from the first live show of this sympho horror black metal band). Print-run - 2000 copies Language - Russian Distribution - 60% - Russia, 30% - Ukraine & Belarus, 10% - World You can order Metal V Massy, sending post marks on 20 RUR (Russia) or 1 USD with postal transfer (CIS) to address: NIKOLAEV MIHAIL, P.O. box 340, Kaluga-02, 248002 Russia
MIND ECLIPSE are searching for permanent vocalist with growling and screaming. Concert experience and experience of working in the band are not necessary. All interested contact to - ' . also the band began to record new album "Utopia: Formula Of God". December, 20-21 drums were succesefully recirded in Navaho Hut studio with producer Arkadiy Navaho. Guitars recordings are sheduled to January, 7-10. The working title of new album is "Utopia: Formula Of God". Tracklist:
Formula Of God Of God, Satan & Other Artifacts Of Human Ignorance Murder Is A Privilege Of Supreme Beings Mirror Image Gospel In Blood Titanium Cromlech Leaders & Followers
Veteran German thrashers TANKARD have set a March 22 release date through AFM Records for their new album, "Beast of Bourbon". The follow-up to 2002's "B-Day" was recorded at Stage One studio in Buhne, Germany with producer Andy Classen and is slated to include such cuts as "Fistful Of Love", "Under Friendly Fire", "Genetic Overkill" and "Die With A Beer In Your Hand". The cover artwork was conceived by Sebastian Kruger, who has previously worked for the magazine Spiegel.
Danish thrash/death metallers URKRAFT will enter Antfarm Studios in Arhus, Denmark on Friday (January 9) to begin recording their debut album, "Eternal Cosmic Slaughter", with producer Tue Madsen (MNEMIC, RAUNCHY, 2TON PREDATOR). A March 8 release through Germany's Cartel Media is expected. The tentative track listing for the album is as follows:
01. Blessed Be The Human Beast 02. Paint The City Black 03. ' 04. Unleash The Will 05. ' 06. At The Border of The Known World 07. ' 08. Through Your Senses 09. '
PANZER X, the solo project of VADER vocalist/guitarist Peter, have announced the details of their upcoming promotional CD. The disc, entitled "Steel Fist", "will contain more stuff than was previously announced and it's going to be more like a debut MCD of the band than simply a promo tape," according to a post on VADER's web site. The complete track listing for "Steel Fist" is as follows:
01. Feel My X 02. Panzer Attack 03. Steel Fist 04. Together 4 Ever 05. Riding On The Wind (JUDAS PRIEST cover) 06. Paint In Black (ROLLING STONES cover)
Vitek from DECAPITATED recorded all the drums for the CD, which will feature artwork from Wojtek Blasiak (MOONSPELL). The second part of the CD recordings is scheduled to take place in the middle of January at Studio X in Olsztyn, Poland. "Steel First" is being engineered by Szymon Czech and is being produced by Peter himself.
Estonian band BESTIA guitarist Anres Kullaste, who is also known to his website ' , had some spare time meanwhile, so now he started to create something like estonian metal bands guide, where is basic information about bands (members, discography etc.). Estonian groups can contact ' .
The 2003 installment of the Finnish Metal Music Awards (Sirkkelirock 2003) was held this past Saturday (January 3) at Tavastia Club in Helsinki. Voting was open to all the metal fans in Finland and was presented through the various media outlets that were working with the event's organizers.
The winners are as follows:
Finnish Band of the Year: CHILDREN OF BODOM Finnish Newcomer of the Year: MACHINE MEN Finnish Album of the Year: KOTITEOLLISUUS – "Helvetista Itaan" International Band: IRON MAIDEN International Newcomer: EVANESCENCE International Album: IRON MAIDEN – "Dance of Death" Producer of the Year: Mikko Karmila Metal Video of 2003: KOTITEOLLISUUS – "Mina Olen" Metal Event of 2003: Tuska Metal Festival
In addition, Sirkkelirock presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award to CANNIBAL CORPSE for acknowledged work in metal music.
Swedish "dark death metal" act RUNEMAGICK have completed work on their new album, "On Funeral Wings", at their own Magick Sound Studio for a spring release through Aftermath Music. As previously reported, RUNEMAGICK's new material is said to be "much in the vein of the latest album 'Darkness Death Doom', with some new ideas and dimensions." The complete track listing for "On Funeral Wings" is as follows:
01. Monolithic Death 02. Rise of the 2nd Moon 03. On Funeral Wings 04. Dragon of Doom 05. Hyperion 06. Ocean Demon 07. Emperor of the Underworld 08. Trifid Nebula 09. The Doomsday Scythe 10. Riders of Endtime 11. In a Darkened Tomb 12. Black Star Abyss 13. Wizard with the Magick Runes
Dutch thrashers OCCULT have inked a deal with Karmageddon Media for the release of their fifth studio album, "Elegy For The Weak", due in early March. A U.S. release through Candlelight Records is expected a short time after the European release. The follow-up to 2001's "Rage To Revenge" was produced by Andy Classen at Stage One studios in Buhne, Germany and contains the following track listing:
01. Disturbing The Dead 02. Nuclear Torment 03. Nocturnal Predator 04. Feel The Blade 05. Expire 06. Warbeast 07. Obsessed By The Grave 08. Slaughtering The Pigs 09. Reapers Call 10. Slut Of Sodom
Former IMMORTAL/current GRIMFIST drummer Horgh has officially joined HYPOCRISY. Horgh replaces longtime HYPOCRISY skinsman Lars Szoke, who reportedly left the band because of his unwillingness to tour for long periods of time.
NEW BLACK, the new Los Angeles-based band led by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, have a total of 13 tracks under their belt, according to a posting on Logan's official web site. 
MISERY INDEX, the Baltimore, Maryland-based band featuring Jason Netherton (bass/vocals, ex-DYING FETUS), Sparky Voyles (guitar, ex-DYING FETUS, M.O.D.), Matt Byers (drums) and Bruce Greig (guitar, ex-DYING FETUS, NEXT STEP UP), will be filming a video for the track "The Great Depression" on January 31 at the Ottobar in Baltimore, according to a posting on the group's web site. 
CONSTRUCDEAD will release their sophomore album, "Violadead", on March 22 through Sound Pollution Records.
DIONYSUS, the Swedish/German melodic power metal act featuring the voice behind guitarist Luca Turilli's (RHAPSODY) solo work, Olaf Hayer, and ex-SINERGY drummer Ronny Milianowicz, have revealed the details of their sophomore album, "Anima Mundi" (Latin for "The Soul of the World"), due on January 19 through AFM Records.
New album of German brutal maniacs GOMORRHA called "Sexual Perversity By Autopsy" is finally out on ' . You will hear brutal death metal in vein of SEVERE TORTURE, DYING FETUS. Guttural vocals, sick lyrics,crushing drums... most brutal music from Germany. 
Danish death metallers EXMORTEM will record the follow-up to 2002's "Pestilence Empire" in May/June at the Antfarm Studio (Aarhus, Denmark) with producer Tue Madsen. No title has been set for the album yet, but a few "working" songtitles are as follows: "Nihilistic Contentment", "Graveside Mourning Ritual" and "Parasite Paradise". According to the band, "The material will be both harder and more twisted than on previous recordings and will show new sides of the EXMORTEM sound! Shattering musical extremity!!"
Former HYPNOSIA drummer Mikael Sjostrand passed away on Thursday, January 8 after a battle with skin cancer. He was 27 years old.
The cover of DAMAGEPLAN's debut album, "New Found Power", has been ' .
PARADISE LOST are hoping to enter the studio in April to begin recording the follow-up to "Symbol Of Life", tentatively due in August.
Former STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto has completed work on his second solo album, tentatively due in the spring through Century Media Records. 
German doom/gothic metallers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE have set "Ave End" as the title of their sixth album, tentatively due in the summer through Austria's Napalm Records. 
After 15 years in the business as one of the reigning heavyweight champs of death metal, Florida's legendary DEICIDE have shot their very first music video. 
Sweden's SOILWORK have posted the following message on their official web site:
Polish black/death metallers BEHEMOTH have set "Demigod" as the working title of their seventh full-length album, tentatively due in late 2004 through Regain Records (Europe), Century Media (USA and South America) and Mystic (Poland). The follow-up to 2002's "Zos Kia Cultus - Here And Beyond" (Avantgarde) will be recorded this spring and will feature the lineup of Nergal (guitars and vocals), Inferno (drums), and Seth (bass, guitars).
Sweden's KATATONIA have set a February 23 release date for their two-disc compilation of all of their previously out-of-print mini-CDs, plus sampler tracks from old full-length albums and one unreleased track.
As usual this one comes pro-printed on glossy paper (A5, 24 pages) with full OUPIRIC Prods mail order catalogue inside and features
MIND ECLIPSE are searching for permanent vocalist with growling and screaming. Concert experience and experience of working in the band are not necessary. All interested contact to - ' .
Veteran German thrashers TANKARD have set a March 22 release date through AFM Records for their new album, "Beast of Bourbon". The follow-up to 2002's "B-Day" was recorded at Stage One studio in Buhne, Germany with producer Andy Classen and is slated to include such cuts as "Fistful Of Love", "Under Friendly Fire", "Genetic Overkill" and "Die With A Beer In Your Hand". The cover artwork was conceived by Sebastian Kruger, who has previously worked for the magazine Spiegel.
PANZER X, the solo project of VADER vocalist/guitarist Peter, have announced the details of their upcoming promotional CD.
Estonian band BESTIA guitarist Anres Kullaste, who is also known to his website ' , had some spare time meanwhile, so now he started to create something like estonian metal bands guide, where is basic information about bands (members, discography etc.). Estonian groups can contact ' .
Swedish "dark death metal" act RUNEMAGICK have completed work on their new album, "On Funeral Wings", at their own Magick Sound Studio for a spring release through Aftermath Music.
Dutch thrashers OCCULT have inked a deal with Karmageddon Media for the release of their fifth studio album, "Elegy For The Weak", due in early March. A U.S. release through Candlelight Records is expected a short time after the European release.