Russia-based group GRENOUER signed recently a 3-albums deal with CD-Maximum on the territory of CIS and Baltia. New album "Presence With War" will be released in the second half of January 2004. At present the work on the artwork is going to the end. The idea of the cover is by Us-artist MickMo Morris, and it self is by Natalia Kasatkina. "Presence With War" was recorded and mastered in Navahohut Studios, and mastered Finnvox Studios by Mikka Jussila. Final tracklist: 01. Mercenary Fileds (5.21) 02. Sex Optica (3.08) 03. The Choice Of Flesh (6.05) 04. he Last Bullet Magic (4.36) 05. Crash Crash Crash (5.20) 06. Clonetwigs (3.44) 07. Sheitan (3.24) 08. Communist Skinhead (5.12) 09. A Farewell To Arms (1.31) In the end of december two previous albums of the band - "Odour O'Folly" and "Gravehead" - will be remastered by Anssi Kippo in the Astia studio. These two CDs will be released in February next year with new artwork and different bonus tracks. Band have already started to compose new stuff...
Finland's IMPERANON have completed all the drum and bass tracks for their debut album at Sonic Pump Studios with engineer Nino Laurenne and producer Titus Hjelm. Check out several pictures taken during the sessions: ' ' ' The group, whose members range in age from 17 to 24, will continue work on the as-yet-untitled CD in January for a tentative May/June 2004 release through Nuclear Blast Records. IMPERANON's spring 2003 demo, which landed the band their deal with Nuclear Blast, can still be downloaded for free from their official web site. The songs available for download are as follows: ' ' '
Sweden's KATATONIA are busy editing their upcoming DVD and have just finished mixing the audio part of the Polish Kracow gig from April 2003. This concert will be the main attraction of the disc, but there will also be more exclusive bonus footage to go along with it. And last but not least, one or two of the unreleased tracks from the "Viva Emptiness" sessions will also show up on the DVD.
Bulgarian sympho black group KOROZY recently began to record their new album. Producer is manager of Norwegian/Italian band ANCIENT - Alex. Special for this he will come to Bulgaria from Italy.
Yesterday (14th of December) died a guitirast of Belarus-based group GODS TOWER, Alexandr Urakov. Many people loved this band thanks to his playing and arrangements. Fans and friends will remember you forever...
Polish black/death metallers BEHEMOTH have extended their contract with Olympic Recordings. The group have already commenced the songwriting process for their highly anticipated new album and will enter the studio in early spring with hopes for a late 2004 release.
Finland's STRATOVARIUS have officially parted ways with vocalist Timo Kotipelto and drummer Jorg Michael. "Due to irrevocable and massive difficulties between the band leader Timo Tolkki and me, it has been agreed that this is the best thing to do to preserve at least some of the integrity the band used to have," Kotipelto said, according to the band's web site. "I will now fully concentrate on my solo album and I am convinced that this is the best way for me." Jorg Michael says that his priorities lie elsewhere at the moment, but that the suddenly escalating trouble in the band is one of the main reasons he doesn't want to play in STRATOVARIUS anymore. "I think this is the beginning of new era for STRATOVARIUS and that the future looks bright and promising," guitarist/leader Timo Tolkki commented. "I have composed some of my best songs during the last month. If anything good comes out of this, then I guess it will be the emotions I have managed to channel into new songs about this situation, which has been very heavy for all of us. I have been having quite bad mental problems lately, but I feel better now due to anti-depressive medication my therapist has prescribed me." According to the group's booking agent, Continental Concerts, the current line-up is "100% certain" to fulfill all its obligations regarding festival dates next year even though there is a lot of simmering hate waiting to boil over. Tolkki is currently talking to a German singer and a Finnish drummer about replacing Kotipelto and Michael, but he stresses that absolutely nothing is confirmed at this point. He adds that he is actively looking for replacements.
Chicago doomsters NOVEMBERS DOOM have set "Ascension" as the title for their forthcoming full-length CD, tentatively due in early 2004 through an as-yet-undetermined label. Among the tracks set to appear on the album are the following: 01. In the Absence of Grace 02. Swallowed by the Moon 03. Dark World Burden 04. The Dead Leaf Echo 05. The Ascension Process The first 50 people who walked through the door at the group's show this past Friday night (Dec. 5) were treated to a CD with songs from each of the bands that played, including a demo version of NOVEMBERS DOOM's "In the Absence of Grace". NOVEMBERS DOOM recently parted ways with Dark Symphonies Records and are currently weighing their label options before recording their next studio album. The band, who replaced longtime guitarist Eric Burnley with Vito Marchese, released three CDs through Dark Symphonies Records: 2000's "The Knowing", the 2001 re-release of 1995's "Amid Its Hallowed Mirth" (featuring bonus tracks), and 2002's To Welcome The Fade".
Dutch gothic/atmospheric doom metal group AFTER FOREVER have set "Invisible Circles" as the title for their new full-length album, due in late March through Transmission Records. AFTER FOREVER will be teaming up with AMARAN, DARK MOOR and NIGHTMARE for a European tour beginning in mid-January.
The writing of the long awaited sixth BAL-SAGOTH album is continuing, and the new material is said to be sounding truly phenomenal. The cover artwork by renowned fantasy artist Martin Hanford is now complete, as are the interior booklet illustrations by both official artists Martin Hanford and Samuel Santos. Recording is expected to begin during the depths of winter, with a release during the spring of 2004. BAL-SAGOTH keyboardist Jonny Maudling has recently been working as part of a team of composers creating music for a new MMORPG (Massive Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game) called Adellion. Visit the official Adellion site for more info on this epic fantasy game: '
The comeback album "Revolution" of CREMATORY, originally to be released on 1st March 2004, is delayed for an indefinite time, for CREMATORY had to stop their recordings. In the middle of working on the comeback album “Revolution”, Katrin gave birth to her and Markus’ daughter Janina, two weeks before the actual due date. Because of this early birth, CREMATORY had to stop the recording sessions until further notice. But as more than half of the album is already finished, CREMATORY decided to release a single in advance on the originally scheduled album release date – a little consolation for the fans. The high-qualified single will contain the single- and album-version of “Greed”, a cover version of METALLICA’s “One” and a ballad named “Farewell Letter” as well as the video clip of “Greed” which was wrapped only a few days before Janina was born. Not only a consolation but also value for money from CREMATORY for their fans! Of course, CREMATORY will continue to work on “Revolution” which will definitely be in store during 2004!
The re-issue of their early albums "Ill-Natured & Innoscent" (on one CD) is out NOW through Nuclear Blast in Europe. Check it out in case you would like to find out about Dew-Scented's roots! The band will very soon kick off touring Europe up till X-Mas with Nile & MISERY INDEX first and then joining the X-Mass festivals with Deicide, Destruction, Nile, MISERY INDEX, Amon Amarth and Graveworm!
Norway’s Black Metal Band No. 1, DIMMU BORGIR, outdid hundreds of competitors and got chosen to administer two songs to the trailer of the upcoming movie “Hellboy”, a comic adaptation comparable to other films like "Blade" and "The Crow". Check out this ' for more information about the gloomy action flick and click ' to see the cool trailer.
Sweden's IN FLAMES have set "Soundtrack To Your Escape" as the title for their forthcoming album, due in Europe on March 29, 2004. The follow-up to 2002's "Reroute To Remain" was recorded at a rented house/converted studio in Denmark with producers Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, Strapping Young Lad, Darkane etc.) and Orjan Ornkloo (ex-Misery Loves Co.) and was mixed at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium (Rammstein, Manowar, Iron Maiden etc.). The mastering took place at Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden. The new tracks are a natural development of the old tracks, again very modern but still with all classical IN FLAMES roots. Once again a step further, that shows that IN FLAMES are always faster than any other act. Expect a modern Masterpiece, a “Soundtrack To Your Escape”. The following is the tentative track listing for "Soundtrack To Your Escape" (in no particular order): 01. F(r)iend 02. The Quiet Place 03. Borders And Shading 04. Discover Me Like Emptiness 05. Touch Of Red 06. Bottled 07. Dead Alone 08. Superhero Of The Computer Rage 09. Like You Better Dead 10. Dial 595-Escape 11. Evil In A Closet 12. In Search For I 13. My Sweet Shadow
VADER have posted a live performance video of the track "Cold Demons", recorded at the Polish Woodstock festival in early August. Check it out ' . VADER performed in front of an estimated 400,000 people at the event, which was recorded for broadcast via Polish TV.
Holland's THE GATHERING have parted ways with bassist Hugo Prinsen Geerligs and have replaced him with Marjolein Kooijman. Check out photos of the new lineup: ' '
Italy's LACUNA COIL have just finished filming a new promotional video for their single "Heaven's A Lie" with ' . award-winning director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, TIAMAT, MNEMIC, PASSENGER).
LEAVES' EYES, the new band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY (who are fronted by Liv's husband Alexander Krull), have set "Lovelorn" as the title for their debut album, tentatively due on May 24, 2004 through Austria's Napalm Records. Download a clip of the demo track ' .
IRON MAIDEN's video for their forthcoming single, "Rainmaker", has been posted at the group's official web site. The clip, which was shot at London's Roundhouse studios in Camden in September, was directed by Howard Greenhalgh, who also directed the video for the group's previous single, "Wildest Dreams".
Choose your streaming format and speed from the links below:
' ' ' ' ' '
As previously reported, the "Rainmaker" single will be released in Europe on Monday, November 24.
A day after he failed to return to prison as scheduled following a short leave, Varg Vikernes was captured by the Norwegian police on a highway outside the country's capital. Vikernes was taken into custody at 12:45 a.m. Monday morning (October 27) after police in Oslo received information from police in Romerike that the fugitive was traveling in a car on the E6 road to Oslo. "We signaled for Vikernes to stop, but when he didn't, we were forced to box his car in between two police vehicles. There was a was dent [to the car]," Officer Vider Hjulstad told NTB. Varg Vikernes was alone and unarmed at the time of his arrest. See photos of his capture below: ' '
OSKOREI Music proudly presents strong awaiting release of 2003 - legendary masterpiece of Iceland's SOLFSTAFIR - "Til Valhallar" album Authentic melodies, hypnotic rythmes and extraordinary screaming will remember, that Black Metal still exists in pure way. First time this album was released 1996 through Check label VIEW BEYOND in 1000 copies and included 4 tracks of original and interesting blackmetal. "These talented Icelandians play in vein of BURZUM and early IN THE WOODS and do it unrepeatable.". Label is glad to present you the re-release of this stuff, CD includes 6 tracks, which were recorded in 1995 (2 of them never released before) specially for this edition bband mainman Addi Tryggvason had written comments to each song. Release date: 13.11.2003 Tracklist:
1. Asarheidin. 2. Til Valhallar. 3. Daudarikid. 4. Huldulandid. 5. I Helli Polyfamosar. 6. Hovudlausn.
SCARVE set release date for new album through Listenable Records for their third album, "Irradiant". As previously reported, the CD will be issued in a special, limited-edition digipak version, featuring loads of bonus stuff, including the video for "Emulate The Soul". The follow-up to 2002's "Luminiferous" was recorded at Dug-Out Studio in Uppsala, Sweden with producers Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Orjan Ornkloo (MISERY LOVES CO.) and features a guest appearance by DEFLESHED vocalist/bassist Gustaf Jorde. In other news, SCARVE have posted a bunch of photos taken at their most recent live appearance at the Brise-Glace in Annecy, France. Check them out at the link below: ' .
Swedish power metallers ETERNIA will release their new single, "Shadow Gate", in November/December. The single will include three new "heavy" ETERNIA tunes recorded at Eurosound in Umea, Sweden by Anders Zackrisson. Cover artwork was, once again, created by Jenny Pettersson. You can view the artwork ' .
Polish tech-death masters DECAPITATED have finalized the track listing for their third full-length album, "The Negatron", due in February 2004 through Wicked World/Earache Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Nihility" was recorded at Hertz Studio in Poland with engineers Slawek and Wojtek Wieslawski and is being described by bassist Martin as "very very strong," with a thick guitar sound. The complete track listing for the album is as follows: 01. The Fury 02. Three-Dimensional Defect 03. Sensual Sickness 04. Calling 05. The Negation 06. Long-Desired Dementia 07. The Empty Throne 08. Lying And Weak 09. Lunatic Of God (DEICIDE cover, bonus track)
DECAPITATED will play a one-off show in London in December and will follow it up with a proper U.K. tour in February.
Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM have set March 8, 2004 as the release date through Nuclear Blast Records for their new album, "Serenity In Fire". The complete track listing for "Serenity in Fire" is as follows (in no particular order):
01. The Ambassador of Pain 02. As I Slither 03. The Resurrected 04. 10 Seconde from the End 05. The Tragedy I Preach 06. For All Our Sins 07. The Night They Returned 08. Blood on the Swans 09. Serenity in Fire 10. Under the Bleeding Sun
SHAITAN MAZAR, the new band featuring former NILE members Chief Spires (bass, vocals) and John Ehlers (guitar), have posted their entire four-song demo in MP3 format at their official web site.
The tracks available for download are as follows:
01. ' 02. ' 03. ' 04. '
SHAITAN MAZAR's musical style is being described by Spires as "ranging from the most extreme attack to metal, ambient, melodic passages. Our purpose is, basically, no limits." The band, who are completed by Jason Hohenstein (vocals), Robert Dirr (guitars) and Brett Goode (drums), are currently shopping the demo to interested labels with a view towards releasing their debut album in 2004.
Sweden's CENTINEX have announced the addition of drummer Ronnie Bergerstahl (JULIE LAUGHS NO MORE, AMARAN, MYNJUN) to the group's ranks. As previously reported, CENTINEX's new album, "Decadence - Prophecies Of Cosmic Chaos", is due in early 2004 through Candlelight Records. The complete track listing for "Decadence - Prophecies Of Cosmic Chaos" is as follows:
01. Arrival Of The Spectrum Obscure 02. Misanthropic Darkzone 03. Hollowsphere 04. Target: Dimension XII 05. Deathstar Unmasked 06. A Dynasty Of Obediance (instrumental) 07. Mechanical Future 08. Cold Deep Supremacy 09. New World Odyssey
Long-running death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE have set "The Wretched Spawn" as the title for their forthcoming album, due in February through Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Gore Obsessed" is currently being recorded at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Neil Kernon (NEVERMORE, JUDAS PRIEST). The complete track listing for "The Wretched Spawn" (in no particular order) is as follows:
01. Severed Head Stoning 02. Psychotic Precision 03. Decency Defied 04. Frantic Disembowelment 05. Rotted Body Landslide 06. Cyanide Assassin 07. Festering In The Crypt 08. Nothing Left To Mutilate 09. Blunt Force Castration 10. The Wretched Spawn 11. Slain 12. Bent Backwards And Broken 13. They Deserve To Die
News from Morbid Records (Germany).The cold, contemplative days have arrived, still we have a couple of interesting releases, which will hopefully make you leave your cozy place near the fireplace. December 8th will be the day on which our sick Spaniards HAEMORRHAGE present their new DVD "Visions from the Morgue". This masterpiece (visually as well as in terms of sound quality !) offers you 3 videoclips, professional live recordings from the "With Full Force"- Festival 2002 performance, live shows in Holland and the Czech Republic dating back to the years 1996 through 1999. A booklet containing new gorestories from von "Dr. Obnoxius" & Co." written by Luisma will also be included. Don?t let this cool item pass you by !!! After the great success of this year?s MORBIDE FESTSPIELE we decided to release recordings from the festival on VHS video format. Release is schedules for January 2004. You can expect superb live recordings of Bonestorm, Harmony Dies, Eminenz, Blood, Manos, Ingrowing, Hellblazer, Birdflesh, Desecration, Prostitute Disfigurement, Neuraxis & Exhumed. Chicago`s Deathmonsters DISINTER are currently putting the finishing touches to their new album. It will be entitled "As we burn" and it has 10 deadly thunderstorms of quality US Death Metal in store for you. Release is also scheduled for January 2004. New with Morbid Reords are Splatter-Death Metallers PROFANATION from Gorlitz / Germany. Their second mu-sick-al baby is called "Its lunch time again" and will see the light of day early next year. We are happy to announce the inclusion of Bavarian cultgrinders COCK AND BALL TORTURE to the Morbid ranks. The production of their third, still untitled offering is planned for early 2004 and we hope to spread it among the masses next summer. We have more interesting signings coming up, stay tuned for more information any time soon. Many Morbid bands will be on tour for you next year. A three-week tour of extreme US Grinders WACO JESUS with ISACAARUM is in the planning stages. LIVIDITY have been in plan for next year?s Fuck The Commerce Festival and HAEMORRHAGE plan to perform at the next Party-San-Festival.
In support of new album "In Labyrinth Of Time" Belarus-based group APOCRYPHAL will give some concerts. November 1 - Chernigiv, Ukraine November 29 - Rechitsa, Belarus December 1 - Chernigiv, Ukraine
Finland's IMPERANON have completed all the drum and bass tracks for their debut album at Sonic Pump Studios with engineer Nino Laurenne and producer Titus Hjelm. Check out several pictures taken during the sessions:
Sweden's KATATONIA are busy editing their upcoming DVD and have just finished mixing the audio part of the Polish Kracow gig from April 2003. This concert will be the main attraction of the disc, but there will also be more exclusive bonus footage to go along with it. And last but not least, one or two of the unreleased tracks from the "Viva Emptiness" sessions will also show up on the DVD.
Polish black/death metallers BEHEMOTH have extended their contract with Olympic Recordings. The group have already commenced the songwriting process for their highly anticipated new album and will enter the studio in early spring with hopes for a late 2004 release.
Finland's STRATOVARIUS have officially parted ways with vocalist Timo Kotipelto and drummer Jorg Michael.
Chicago doomsters NOVEMBERS DOOM have set "Ascension" as the title for their forthcoming full-length CD, tentatively due in early 2004 through an as-yet-undetermined label.
Dutch gothic/atmospheric doom metal group AFTER FOREVER have set "Invisible Circles" as the title for their new full-length album, due in late March through Transmission Records.
The writing of the long awaited sixth BAL-SAGOTH album is continuing, and the new material is said to be sounding truly phenomenal. The cover artwork by renowned fantasy artist Martin Hanford is now complete, as are the interior booklet illustrations by both official artists Martin Hanford and Samuel Santos. 
The comeback album "Revolution" of CREMATORY, originally to be released on 1st March 2004, is delayed for an indefinite time, for CREMATORY had to stop their recordings. 
The re-issue of their early albums "Ill-Natured & Innoscent" (on one CD) is out NOW through Nuclear Blast in Europe. Check it out in case you would like to find out about Dew-Scented's roots! The band will very soon kick off touring Europe up till X-Mas with Nile & MISERY INDEX first and then joining the X-Mass festivals with Deicide, Destruction, Nile, MISERY INDEX, Amon Amarth and Graveworm!
Norway’s Black Metal Band No. 1, DIMMU BORGIR, outdid hundreds of competitors and got chosen to administer two songs to the trailer of the upcoming movie “Hellboy”, a comic adaptation comparable to other films like "Blade" and "The Crow". 
Sweden's IN FLAMES have set "Soundtrack To Your Escape" as the title for their forthcoming album, due in Europe on March 29, 2004. 
VADER have posted a live performance video of the track "Cold Demons", recorded at the Polish Woodstock festival in early August. Check it out ' .
Holland's THE GATHERING have parted ways with bassist Hugo Prinsen Geerligs and have replaced him with Marjolein Kooijman.
Italy's LACUNA COIL have just finished filming a new promotional video for their single "Heaven's A Lie" with ' . award-winning director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, TIAMAT, MNEMIC, PASSENGER).
LEAVES' EYES, the new band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY (who are fronted by Liv's husband Alexander Krull), have set "Lovelorn" as the title for their debut album, tentatively due on May 24, 2004 through Austria's Napalm Records.
IRON MAIDEN's video for their forthcoming single, "Rainmaker", has been posted at the group's official web site. The clip, which was shot at London's Roundhouse studios in Camden in September, was directed by Howard Greenhalgh, who also directed the video for the group's previous single, "Wildest Dreams".
A day after he failed to return to prison as scheduled following a short leave, Varg Vikernes was captured by the Norwegian police on a highway outside the country's capital.
OSKOREI Music proudly presents strong awaiting release of 2003 - legendary masterpiece of Iceland's SOLFSTAFIR - "Til Valhallar" album
SCARVE set release date for new album through Listenable Records for their third album, "Irradiant". As previously reported, the CD will be issued in a special, limited-edition digipak version, featuring loads of bonus stuff, including the video for "Emulate The Soul". 
Swedish power metallers ETERNIA will release their new single, "Shadow Gate", in November/December. The single will include three new "heavy" ETERNIA tunes recorded at Eurosound in Umea, Sweden by Anders Zackrisson. Cover artwork was, once again, created by Jenny Pettersson. You can view the artwork ' .
Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM have set March 8, 2004 as the release date through Nuclear Blast Records for their new album, "Serenity In Fire". 
SHAITAN MAZAR, the new band featuring former NILE members Chief Spires (bass, vocals) and John Ehlers (guitar), have posted their entire four-song demo in MP3 format at their official web site.
Sweden's CENTINEX have announced the addition of drummer Ronnie Bergerstahl (JULIE LAUGHS NO MORE, AMARAN, MYNJUN) to the group's ranks.
Long-running death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE have set "The Wretched Spawn" as the title for their forthcoming album, due in February through Metal Blade Records. 
In support of new album "In Labyrinth Of Time" Belarus-based group APOCRYPHAL will give some concerts.