Some news from Oupiric Prouctions. * A new album of cruel Ukrainian sympho black metallers CAPITOLLIUM is soon to be upon you. Entitled as "Symphony of Possession" this cassette release is less raw than its preceedor "Undivine Antipathy", but more melodic and atmospheric. And it's still blasphemous as Hell! You are warned! * The first CD release of Oupiric Productions is being prepared - vamperotic sympho black metal insanity called "Blood, Desire And Dead Nenuphars" by Russian BLACK COUNTESS. * From the very depths of Hell come the Black Trinity of true and evil Black Metal cassette releases on OUPIRIC Productions. Scheduled on Autumn these pieces of Supreme blasphemy will make the christians tremble with fear. Here they are: BESTIAL (Rus) "Satanic Metal" MC MISANTHROPIC ART (Rus) "Possessed by Bestiality" MC SAMHAIN (Rus) "Saligia" MC And much more satanic spawn to follow soon! * A new OUPIRIC mailorder catalogue METAL V MASSY! will be printed in Autumn with a lot of updates and interviews. Watch out! OUPIRIC PRODUCTIONS CONTACTS c/o Michael Nickolayev, PO Box 340, Kaluga-02, 248002 RUSSIA E-mail:
New album "Somni Regnum" is ready! It's not known yet, when it will be in stores. In Europe "Somni Regnum" will release Xtreem Music (ex-Repulse), which also piblished last ROSSOMAHAAR's album "Quaerite Lux In Tenebris" for not-CIS states. Also ROSSOMAHAAR released recently their first live album "Live And Die In Moscow" through Sound Age.
HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson has left the band in order to commit himself to rehabilitation for a drug problem. The following is Anderson's official statement on the matter: "Due to a continuous ongoing drug problem for the last couple of years, I've committed myself to rehabilitation. I will be leaving HATE ETERNAL due to the time and dedication it's taking to get myself back on the right track. It's a very unfortunate situation, which must be dealt with, and out of total respect for my bandmates, it's the right thing to do for I cannot be responsible for holding the band back. HATE ETERNAL has been one of the greatest things in my life for 5 years and now it must end due to my personal issues. I want to apologize to all the fans and my bandmates as well. But I can simply say that I will get well and I will be back somewhere in this scene. I wish the band all the luck in the world and thank you for the great 5 years. Blessed be and may the hatred be eternal!" The rest of the band issued a separate statement offering their support to Anderson. "Jared, being our bandmate as well as one of our best friends, we wish him the best with his recovery and his health and he will always be a part of what HATE ETERNAL was and is, we will miss him!" Randy Piro will be taking over on bass/backing vocals.
DIMMU BORGIR will finish their new video this week. Here you can see a cut from interview Silenoz for The MetalList Portal: Scorpio: When will you make normal videoclip? The only - "Mourning Palace" is er... shit. Silenoz: Yep, I totally agree. But I must also say, that we didn't it. It was sourcing by the label, we even didn't know it comes to produce. This time we shoot another video with a company from Sweden. And the video will be finished next week. Its gonna be looking really killer, and yeah, it's a very professional video. Scorpio: Can you tell what will we see? Silenoz: It's what you get lay out for the album. You will see its connection with the video. It's gonna look extremally good and we gonna use it for promotional first, then it also will be included on the additions of the album in 5.1 Surround mix. Read full interview on our site this week!
Former JUDAS PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens has officially joined ICED EARTH. Owens, who left JUDAS PRIEST due to Halford's return, has already finished laying down vocals to the group's new album, "The Glorious Burden", which will be release this fall through SPV/Steamhammer Records.
Britain's SKYCLAD are a last-minute addition to the Hawkfest, a three-day event set to take place August 8-10 near Preston. SKYCLAD will be hitting the stage on Sunday, August 10 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Other bands set to appear at the festival include THE LEVELLERS, HAWKWIND, SPACEHEAD, TRIBE OF CRO, MR QUIMBY'S BEARD, LITMUS and PXR1. In other news, SKYCLAD's successful 2.5-hour headlining gig at the Dong Open Air on July 19 included four songs from the band's upcoming album, "A Semblance of Normality". The group's complete setlist for the Dong show was as follows: 1. Penny Dreadful 2. Spinning Jenny 3. The Widdershins Jig 4. The Cry Of The Land 5. The Disenchanted Forrest 6. Great Blow For A Day Job 7. Survival Campaign (new) 8. No Deposit, No Return 9. Anotherdrinkingsong (new) 10. The Parliament Of Fools (new) 11. Earth Mother, The Sun And The Furious Host 12. A Well Beside The River 13. Inequalitey Street 14. Anti-Body Politic 15. Another Fine Mess 16. Mr. Malaprope (new) 17. Think Back And Lie Of England 18. Thinking Allowed 19. Swords Of A Thousand Men 20. Emerald 21. If I Die Laughing 22. Penny Dreadful 23. Spinning Jenny 24. History Lessens 25. Polkageist
METALLICA's Robert Trujillo will make a guest appearance in a new video for NICKEL CREEK's instrumental track "Smoothie Song". Bassist, who sat in on the acoustic pop-country act's video shoot Wednesday (July 30) in New York, reportedly plays a stand-up bass in the clip. METALLICA and NICKEL CREEK share the same management company — New York-based Q Prime Management.
Even though METALLICA's battle with Napster is fading into the past, critics of the band still hang on to it. Just last week, someone started an Internet hoax story — that METALLICA had copyrighted the chords D and F and would sue anyone who used them in a song. Guitarist/singer James Hetfield laughs uncontrollably when told of the story. "That's so awesome," he finally gasps. "I find that extremely funny."
The reformed FEAR FACTORY — now consisting of Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar/bass), Raymond Herrera (drums), and Burton C. Bell (vocals) — are strongly rumored to be on the verge of signing a new record deal with the Los Angeles-based D3 Entertainment (INSANE CLOWN POSSE, OL' DIRTY BASTARD). The group are expected to enter the studio in late summer/early fall to begin recording the follow-up to 2001's "Digimortal", tentatively due in early 2004. Among the tracks set to appear on the as-yet-untitled effort are "Slave Labor", "Corporate Cloning", "Archetype", and "Bite The Hand That Feeds".
Swedish "gothic metal" act BESEECH have set "Drama" as the title for their fourth full-length album, tentatively due in early 2004 through Napalm Records. BESEECH have spent the past few weeks at Studio Mega recording the follow-up to 2002's "Souls Highway", the group's first effort since the departure of longtime guitarist Klas Bohlin. According to guitarist Robert Spanglund, "some outside persons that visited the studio and heard some songs in the studio think the new material [is] comparable to/[a] combination of bands such as H.I.M., EVANECESCENCE, TYPE O NEGATIVE, MARILYN MANSON and ALANIS MORISETTE." Among the tracks set to appear on the album are the following: 1. Forever Falling 2. Bitch 3. Drama 4. Higher Level 5. Sunset 28 * 6. Come On In * "ambient, softer version" of the track that previously appeared on "Souls Highway"
ALCHEMIST taked their new video - for the song "First Contact". The video, from the band's highly-received new album "Austral Alien", was directed by ALCHEMIST drummer Rodney Holder and features stunning scenes incorporating Sci-Fi elements that depict alien abduction.
MAYHEM's classic "Wolf's Lair Abyss" CD will be reissued through Candlelight USA on October 14. The recording continues the label's classic reissue series — adding to earlier reissues by ARCTURUS, FLEURETY and VED BUENS ENDE. MAYHEM will be entering a mobile studio in the mountains of Norway in the fall to record their new album, "Chimera". They will also be accompanied by their technician for this recording, Borge Finstad. The follow-up to 2000's "Grand Declaration Of War" will include such titles as "Rape Humanity With Pride", "Chimera", "Dark Night Of The Soul" and "Deathwhore". An early 2004 release through Season Of Mist Records is expected.
Polish death metallers VADER will issue a new mini-CD, titled "Blood", on September 22 — a month earlier than the originally announced October 20 release date. The seven-song effort will contain two new songs, "We Wait" and "Shape-shifting", which were recorded over a one-week period beginning on July 10 at Red Studio with engineer Piotr Lukaszewski ("Reign Forever World", "Revelations"). Also included on the CD will be a few rare cuts from "Revelations" recording sessions: "As The Fallen Rise" (taken from Japanese version of "Revelations"), "Angel Of Death" (Japanese version of the album and EP released in Poland exclusively), "When Darkness Calls" (Polish EP version), "Son Of Fire" (European digi-pack version), and "Traveler" (Polish digi-pack version). The complete track listing for the EP is as follows: 1. Shape-Shifting 2. We Wait 3. Son Of Fire 4. As The Fallen Rise 5. Traveler 6. When Darkness Calls 7. Angel Of Death (THIN LIZZY cover)
QUEENSRYCHE's current tour finds them co-headlining with math-metal cult band DREAM THEATER — a smart consolidation of two bands with similar leanings. "Our music styles complement each other really well," QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Michael Wilton told "I know a lot of tours have been suffering, but this one is really kicking ass."
Finnish melodic power metallers STRATOVARIUS have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Elements Part 2", due on October 27 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album, which will once again feature artwork by Derek Riggs, will contain the following songs: 1. Alpha & Omega 2. I Walk To My Own Song 3. I'm Still Alive 4. Season Of Faith's Perfection 5. Awaken The Giant 6. Know The Difference 7. Luminous 8. Dreamweaver 9. Liberty 10. Ride Like The Wind (Japanese bonus) "Elements Part 2" was produced by guitarist Timo Tolkki and mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios. All music and words for the album were written by Timo Tolkki, except for "Ride Like The Wind", which was penned by keyboardist Jens Johansson. You can view the artwork for the album
New Jersey's GOD FORBID will be re-releasing their debut full-length album, "Reject The Sickness", on their own label, PR Records. This blistering effort has been out of print for some time and will be available in about a month at shows, online, and at indie metal and hardcore stores. The group are currently wrapping up the recording process for their highly anticipated new album, produced by Eric Rachel (DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). Expect an early 2004 release through Century Media Records.
SEETHINGS, the new Swedish band fronted by former DARKANE vocalist Lawrence Mackrory, will release their debut album, "Parallels", in Europe and Scandinavia on October 27 through Scarlet Records. Division Records will release the album in France and Switzerland. At this point, the group have no release dates for U.S. and Asia but hope to secure something soon. In conjunction with the release, SEETHINGS will throw two parties in Stockholm and in the band's hometown of Uppsala on September 29 and the 30. Both events will feature a live performance by the band.
PANTERA's forthcoming career overview, "The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!" , will surface on September 23 through Elektra/Rhino Records, Billboard.com reports. The 16-song "Vulgar Hits!" CD will be packaged with a bonus DVD boasting 12 videos, including two live performances. The bulk of the material is culled from the band's six major-label releases, but also included are non-album cuts "Cat Scratch Fever" (a cover of the TED NUGENT song that originally appeared on the Polygram soundtrack to "Detroit Rock City") and the BLACK SABBATH cover "Hole in the Sky", previously available only on import. The complete track listing for "The Best of Pantera" is as follows: 1. Cowboys From Hell 2. Cemetary Gates 3. Mouth for War 4. Walk 5. This Love 6. I'm Broken 7. Becoming 8. 5 Minutes Alone 9. Planet Caravan 10. Drag the Waters 11. Where You Came From (Live) 12. Cat Scratch Fever 13. Revolution Is My Name 14. I'll Cast a Shadow 15. Goddamn Electric 16. Hole in the Sky
Bonus DVD:
1. Cowboys From Hell 2. Psycho Holiday 3. Cemetary Gates 4. Mouth For War 5. This Love 6. Walk 7. 5 Minutes Alone 8. I'm Broken 9. Drag the Waters 10. Domination (Live) 11. Primal Concrete Sledge (Live) 12. Revolution Is My Name
Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM have hired L.A. director Joe Lynch (COAL CHAMBER, 311, GODHEAD, PETE YORN) to film the video for the band's new single, "As I Slither". The shoot will take place on August 31 at the Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada. KATAKLYSM will enter Studio Victor in Montreal in November to begin recording their new album, "Serenity In Fire", for an early 2004 release through Nuclear Blast Records. The album will be produced by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais (MISERY INDEX, MALEVOLENT CREATION) and will be mixed at Wildsound studio in St-Zenon, Quebec.
A brand new MORBID ANGEL track, titled ' , has been posted online. "Enshrined by Grace" comes off the group's upcoming album, "Heretic", due on September 23 (a day earlier internationally) through Earache Records. The band are planning to embark on an extensive world tour in early 2004 to promote the release. As previously reported, "Heretic" was recorded and mixed at D.O.W. (Diet Of Worms) studios in Seffner, Florida and was co-produced by the band and longtime front-of-house mixing engineer Juan "Punchy Gonzalez. The album — the group's ninth overall release (including their 1986 "Abominations Of Desolation" demo and the 1996 live album, "Entangled In Chaos") — marks a return to the fold of bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker, who originally left the band in early April 2001 due to "personal and family problems." Tucker was temporarily replaced by HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson but rejoined the band earlier this year amid rumors of a possible reunion with former vocalist David Vincent.
SKRAPE have set "Up The Dose" as the title for their new CD, due on September 23 through RCA Records. The album — the group's first features new guitarist Randy Melser — was produced by Jimbo Barton (QUEENSRYCHE, GODSMACK) in Miami, Los Angeles and in SKRAPE's own Orlando, Florida rehearsal/recording studio. It showcases 11 original songs, including "Bleach", "Syrup", "In The End", "Ocean", "Habit" and the acoustic epic "Searching For Home".
IRON MAIDEN have posted the ' . "Dance Of Death", due on September 9 through Columbia Records, was produced by Kevin Shirley, who, along with bassist Steve Harris, co-produced the group's 2000 album, "Brave New World", and last year's concert set "Rock in Rio".
Finland's CHARON have set "Dead Man Walking" as the title for their forthcoming fourth full-length album, due on September 1 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to last year's "Downhearted" was recorded at BRR Studios in the group's hometown of Raahe and was mixed at Helsinki's Finnvox Studios. The album includes a guest appearance on backing vocals by NIGHTWISH/ex-SINERGY bassist Marco Hietala and Jenny Heinonen. The latter had performed a similar role on the group's last two albums, "Downhearted" and 2000's "Tearstained". The complete track listing for "Dead Man Walking" is as follows: 1. Failed 2. Religious/Delicious 3. Death Can Dance 4. In Brief War 5. Guilt On Skin 6. Unbreak, Unchain 7. Drive 8. Every Failure 9. In Trust Of No One 10. If 11. No Saint 12. Built For My Ghosts (digipack only) 13. Re-collected (digipack only)
A PERFECT CIRCLE fan site APerfectCircle.us has posted a full-length MP3 of the band's new single, ' . The recording was made off the radio when the song was played on 92.3 WXTM in Cleveland, Ohio. A PERFECT CIRCLE's upcoming sophomore album 'Thirteenth Step' is due for release on September 16 through Virgin Records.
After seven months of hard work, "The Sixth Dimension" is ready for you to enter! We've finished recordings,photo-shooting and artwork of DOMAINs 6th full lenght studio album "The Sixth Dimension". Eleven all-new DOMAIN tracks plus one bonus tracks and one bonus video clip. The album will officially be available in stores September 15th!
Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR have announced the addition of drummer Andy C. to the group's ranks. Andy is 25 years old and has previously played in several Spanish bands, including WORMED. DARK MOOR's self-titled fourth full-length album will be recorded during August at New Sin StudiosItaly with producer Luigi Stefanini. The new album will mark the recording debut with the band of new singer Alfred Romero and second guitarist Jose Garrido. Also featured on the CD will be guest vocalist Beatriz Albert, a "fantastic" singer who will record background vocals for the entire album and lead vocals in one song. Additional guest appearances are expected from the Valcavasian choir, which previously appeared on the group's "The Gates of Oblivion" album, and the pianist Isabel Garcia. "Dark Moor" is tentatively due in early 2004 through Arise Records. A single containing one album cut and two non-album tracks will surface in October. DARK MOOR's last release was the "Between Light and Darkness" EP, which contained four newly-recorded tracks and four previously-unreleased numbers ("Dies Irae" (orchestral version), "The Mistery Of Goddess", "The Shadow Of The Nile" and "The Fall Of Melnibone"). The collection, which marked the band's first effort without keyboardist Robert Pena de Camus, was issued in April through Arise Records.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist Daron Malakian have founded record label, EatUrMusic, which inked a worldwide distribution deal with Sony. When asked how EatUrMusic differs from Serjical Strike, the label of SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian, Malakian said, "Serj is not into rock music, so I don't see him signing rock bands. If he listens to rock, he listens to shit that's out there. His is more of a pregressive-style label — I can't say it has more of an artsy twist, because my stuff will have that, too."
Legendary death/grind pervesors from Austria PUNGENT STENCH soon will finally come to CIS with super gigs. Guitarist/vocalist Martin Shyrenz is disease-free now, and all participants are full of determination and enthusiasm to get to CIS-states. PUNGENT STENCH drummer Alex Bank aka Rector Stench said about this: "After sad cancelation of our tour year ago we are glad and proud to have again ability to visit your countries and play concerts! Wait for us at the end of September - beginning of October. We promise cool show and good time. See you, write to us and - Enjoy the Stench!" Final dates will be soon. Contact with organizers: ' / '
IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain was arrested and charged with assault yesterday (July 26) after intentionally hitting a parking attendant with his car before a concert at Jones Beach Theater. McBrain arrived at Jones Beach around 8:30 p.m. for the group's concert, and was stopped as he entered the exclusive parking area. After a confrontation with the 30-year-old worker over credentials, the park employee stood in front of McBrain's car, blocking the lot entrance. McBrain struck him in the legs. The man backed up, but stayed in front of the car. McBrain, told him to "move or he would hit him again. The man, 30, whose name was not released by the police, refused to budge, and McBrain surged the car forward again, nailing him and causing the man to fall forward on the car's hood. State park police arrested McBrain and released him on an appearance ticket before the concert started. It is part of IRON MAIDEN's "Give Me Ed ... 'Til I'm Dead" tour. McBrain was charged with third-degree assault and is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Hempstead Sept. 16.
New album "Somni Regnum" is ready! It's not known yet, when it will be in stores. In Europe "Somni Regnum" will release Xtreem Music (ex-Repulse), which also piblished last ROSSOMAHAAR's album "Quaerite Lux In Tenebris" for not-CIS states. Also ROSSOMAHAAR released recently their first live album "Live And Die In Moscow" through Sound Age.
HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson has left the band in order to commit himself to rehabilitation for a drug problem.
DIMMU BORGIR will finish their new video this week. Here you can see a cut from interview Silenoz for The MetalList Portal:
Former JUDAS PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens has officially joined ICED EARTH. Owens, who left JUDAS PRIEST due to Halford's return, has already finished laying down vocals to the group's new album, "The Glorious Burden", which will be release this fall through SPV/Steamhammer Records.
Britain's SKYCLAD are a last-minute addition to the Hawkfest, a three-day event set to take place August 8-10 near Preston. SKYCLAD will be hitting the stage on Sunday, August 10 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Other bands set to appear at the festival include THE LEVELLERS, HAWKWIND, SPACEHEAD, TRIBE OF CRO, MR QUIMBY'S BEARD, LITMUS and PXR1. In other news, SKYCLAD's successful 2.5-hour headlining gig at the Dong Open Air on July 19 included four songs from the band's upcoming album, "A Semblance of Normality". The group's complete setlist for the Dong show was as follows:
Even though METALLICA's battle with Napster is fading into the past, critics of the band still hang on to it. Just last week, someone started an Internet hoax story — that METALLICA had copyrighted the chords D and F and would sue anyone who used them in a song. Guitarist/singer James Hetfield laughs uncontrollably when told of the story. "That's so awesome," he finally gasps. "I find that extremely funny."
Swedish "gothic metal" act BESEECH have set "Drama" as the title for their fourth full-length album, tentatively due in early 2004 through Napalm Records. BESEECH have spent the past few weeks at Studio Mega recording the follow-up to 2002's "Souls Highway", the group's first effort since the departure of longtime guitarist Klas Bohlin. According to guitarist Robert Spanglund, "some outside persons that visited the studio and heard some songs in the studio think the new material [is] comparable to/[a] combination of bands such as H.I.M., EVANECESCENCE, TYPE O NEGATIVE, MARILYN MANSON and ALANIS MORISETTE." Among the tracks set to appear on the album are the following:
ALCHEMIST taked their new video - for the song "First Contact". The video, from the band's highly-received new album "Austral Alien", was directed by ALCHEMIST drummer Rodney Holder and features stunning scenes incorporating Sci-Fi elements that depict alien abduction.
MAYHEM's classic "Wolf's Lair Abyss" CD will be reissued through Candlelight USA on October 14. The recording continues the label's classic reissue series — adding to earlier reissues by ARCTURUS, FLEURETY and VED BUENS ENDE. MAYHEM will be entering a mobile studio in the mountains of Norway in the fall to record their new album, "Chimera". They will also be accompanied by their technician for this recording, Borge Finstad. The follow-up to 2000's "Grand Declaration Of War" will include such titles as "Rape Humanity With Pride", "Chimera", "Dark Night Of The Soul" and "Deathwhore". An early 2004 release through Season Of Mist Records is expected.
Polish death metallers VADER will issue a new mini-CD, titled "Blood", on September 22 — a month earlier than the originally announced October 20 release date. The seven-song effort will contain two new songs, "We Wait" and "Shape-shifting", which were recorded over a one-week period beginning on July 10 at Red Studio with engineer Piotr Lukaszewski ("Reign Forever World", "Revelations"). Also included on the CD will be a few rare cuts from "Revelations" recording sessions: "As The Fallen Rise" (taken from Japanese version of "Revelations"), "Angel Of Death" (Japanese version of the album and EP released in Poland exclusively), "When Darkness Calls" (Polish EP version), "Son Of Fire" (European digi-pack version), and "Traveler" (Polish digi-pack version). The complete track listing for the EP is as follows:
QUEENSRYCHE's current tour finds them co-headlining with math-metal cult band DREAM THEATER — a smart consolidation of two bands with similar leanings. "Our music styles complement each other really well," QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Michael Wilton told "I know a lot of tours have been suffering, but this one is really kicking ass."
Finnish melodic power metallers STRATOVARIUS have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Elements Part 2", due on October 27 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album, which will once again feature artwork by Derek Riggs, will contain the following songs:
New Jersey's GOD FORBID will be re-releasing their debut full-length album, "Reject The Sickness", on their own label, PR Records. This blistering effort has been out of print for some time and will be available in about a month at shows, online, and at indie metal and hardcore stores. The group are currently wrapping up the recording process for their highly anticipated new album, produced by Eric Rachel (DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). Expect an early 2004 release through Century Media Records.
SEETHINGS, the new Swedish band fronted by former DARKANE vocalist Lawrence Mackrory, will release their debut album, "Parallels", in Europe and Scandinavia on October 27 through Scarlet Records. Division Records will release the album in France and Switzerland. At this point, the group have no release dates for U.S. and Asia but hope to secure something soon. In conjunction with the release, SEETHINGS will throw two parties in Stockholm and in the band's hometown of Uppsala on September 29 and the 30. Both events will feature a live performance by the band.
Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM have hired L.A. director Joe Lynch (COAL CHAMBER, 311, GODHEAD, PETE YORN) to film the video for the band's new single, "As I Slither". The shoot will take place on August 31 at the Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A brand new MORBID ANGEL track, titled ' , has been posted online. "Enshrined by Grace" comes off the group's upcoming album, "Heretic", due on September 23 (a day earlier internationally) through Earache Records. The band are planning to embark on an extensive world tour in early 2004 to promote the release. As previously reported, "Heretic" was recorded and mixed at D.O.W. (Diet Of Worms) studios in Seffner, Florida and was co-produced by the band and longtime front-of-house mixing engineer Juan "Punchy Gonzalez. The album — the group's ninth overall release (including their 1986 "Abominations Of Desolation" demo and the 1996 live album, "Entangled In Chaos") — marks a return to the fold of bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker, who originally left the band in early April 2001 due to "personal and family problems." Tucker was temporarily replaced by HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson but rejoined the band earlier this year amid rumors of a possible reunion with former vocalist David Vincent.
IRON MAIDEN have posted the ' . 
Finland's CHARON have set "Dead Man Walking" as the title for their forthcoming fourth full-length album, due on September 1 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to last year's "Downhearted" was recorded at BRR Studios in the group's hometown of Raahe and was mixed at Helsinki's Finnvox Studios. The album includes a guest appearance on backing vocals by NIGHTWISH/ex-SINERGY bassist Marco Hietala and Jenny Heinonen. The latter had performed a similar role on the group's last two albums, "Downhearted" and 2000's "Tearstained". 
Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR have announced the addition of drummer Andy C. to the group's ranks. Andy is 25 years old and has previously played in several Spanish bands, including WORMED. DARK MOOR's self-titled fourth full-length album will be recorded during August at New Sin StudiosItaly with producer Luigi Stefanini. The new album will mark the recording debut with the band of new singer Alfred Romero and second guitarist Jose Garrido. Also featured on the CD will be guest vocalist Beatriz Albert, a "fantastic" singer who will record background vocals for the entire album and lead vocals in one song. Additional guest appearances are expected from the Valcavasian choir, which previously appeared on the group's "The Gates of Oblivion" album, and the pianist Isabel Garcia. "Dark Moor" is tentatively due in early 2004 through Arise Records. A single containing one album cut and two non-album tracks will surface in October. DARK MOOR's last release was the "Between Light and Darkness" EP, which contained four newly-recorded tracks and four previously-unreleased numbers ("Dies Irae" (orchestral version), "The Mistery Of Goddess", "The Shadow Of The Nile" and "The Fall Of Melnibone"). The collection, which marked the band's first effort without keyboardist Robert Pena de Camus, was issued in April through Arise Records.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist Daron Malakian have founded record label, EatUrMusic, which inked a worldwide distribution deal with Sony. When asked how EatUrMusic differs from Serjical Strike, the label of SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian, Malakian said, "Serj is not into rock music, so I don't see him signing rock bands. If he listens to rock, he listens to shit that's out there. His is more of a pregressive-style label — I can't say it has more of an artsy twist, because my stuff will have that, too."
IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain was arrested and charged with assault yesterday (July 26) after intentionally hitting a parking attendant with his car before a concert at Jones Beach Theater.