SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian has issued the following update: "I am in the middle of writing a follow-up to my poetry book, 'Cool Gardens'. The new collection of works is yet to be titled, but it will definitely feature illustrations by Roger Kupelian, the director of my music video for 'Honking Antelope' [see below]. I am looking to create a visual/interactive element to the new poetry book and more details will be released as they are available."
Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for the release of their upcoming tenth album. The band says, "We are very much looking forward to this new cooperation! The recording of the album is scheduled for October/November this year."
Swedish black metallers MARDUK will release their eleventh album, "Wormwood", in September via Regain Records (the exact release date has not yet been announced). The CD was recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson. The album's release will be followed by a world tour, dubbed "Funeral Nation 2009/2010", which will kick off in Europe.
Petter Karlsson wasn't only taking care of the drums in THERION for over four years. He was also a singer, guitarist, head composer, co-producer and recording engineer on the band's 13th album, "Gothic Kabbalah", considered by many to be the best THERION album to date.
Over 200 shows later, it was time to create something of his own. He quit THERION and in the year 2008 he started HOLOCOASTER, an exciting, new project, and began composing new material.
Commented Petter: "The last year I've received hundreds of mails from fans begging me to come up with something new .This is the first time I've ever been able to put 110% effort, commitment, blood and tears into my music without any compromises."
NILE guitarist/vocalist Karl Sanders recently spoke to Greg Pratt of Exclaim! magazine about the recording process for NILE's new album, which is due in November via Nuclear Blast Records.
"Gruelling. Exhausting," Sanders said of the forthcoming CD. "This album has consumed 12 to 14 hours of my life every day since May. It’s now July and we are fucking tired. And we got another month to go.
"We started off in pre-production in Greenville, South Carolina, then relocated to Tampa to work with Erik Rutan [CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL] on recording drums. At the moment, we are in Greenville, just finished slaving away on rhythm guitars. When we finish vocals, bass, leads and so forth, we will go up to Chicago at Rax Trax to mix."
He added, "Musically, the new disc is unrelenting, overwhelming brutality, with lots of various Eastern influences. Lyrically there are new and interesting influences from various Middle Eastern cultures."
American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT are currently in recording mode at various studios — including the Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany — under the watchful eye of Sascha Paeth and Miro as producers. A spring 2010 release is being planned for the band's highly anticipated follow-up to their biggest selling record to date, "Ghost Opera".
"The new songs are really inspiring," states guitarist Thomas Youngblood. "We feel the long touring and time away from writing has been perfect for new ideas and an aggressive approach to the new songs."
Swedish metallers ASTRAL DOORS have issued the following update:
"One of Sweden's most beloved ice hockey teams, Leksands IF, celebrates its 90th anniversary this year and ASTRAL DOORS has written the official anniversary song, 'Hyllning Till Leksand'. It will be released as a single. It's a great honor for us and we hope that the fans, the players and everyone connected to the club will take the song to their hearts."
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD has entered Geller Cellar Studios in New York to begin recording its as-yet-untitled third full-length album. The band is self-producing the effort, with Eliot Geller engineering, for an early 2010 release via Prosthetic Records. The South Carolina-based group will then travel to Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida in late August to mix the album with Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, SIX FEET UNDER, GOATWHORE). They will be documenting the recording process with several webisodes on their YouTube page.
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD released "Malice" in 2007 and "Bloodlust" in 2005, both on Prosthetic Records.
Finnish folk metallers FINNTROLL will enter Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki on Monday, July 27 to begin recording their as-yet-untitled fifth album. Keyboardist Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali previously stated about the follow-up to 2007's "Ur Jordens Djup". "I personally think this will be our best album ever. Overall I can sense there's a lot 'punk' on it, lots of weirdness, a load of *riffs* instead of chord progressions, quite a bit of folkish parts and a lurking, evil atmosphere. In the terms of 'heaviness,' it's probably the heaviest album we've done, at least judging from the song material.
"I could pretty much safely say this sounds like a meaner and more wicked version of 'Ur Jordens Djup' with an occasional hint of the first album. For the dissappoitment for those who were waiting for songs sounding like 'Trollhammaren' or 'Jaktens Tid', I have to say that you probably should pick up the new KORPIKLAANI instead."
FINNTROLL is currently unsigned, having parted ways with Spinefarm and Century Media following the release of "Ur Jordens Djup".
Vocalist Jape Peratalo of Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FOR has issued the following update:
"At the moment, me and Tonmi [Lillman; TO/DIE/FOR drummer] are writing new songs. We have a lot of material and in August we will hit the studio in Helsinki for the first recordings.
"We have no guitarist(s) yet. At the studio we will use... someone. :) It is not that easy to find a human being who would be able to work with me and Tonmi, and especially he should not be 'a metal' guy at all.
"We are not gonna fill new songs with guitars! (Which does NOT mean that there is not guitars at all!) This time we will create something new, but it will sound as TO/DIE/FOR, for sure. Main idea is that it MUST be fresh!
"Most of the gothic rock scene is so fucking boring that we do not see any reason to continue on that road! So many bands sounds almost same. There is no new ideas. I do not mean every gothic rock band, but anyway... That is something we are gonna change! We will be melancholy and everything we have been before, but we will renew our music and ways to handle it.
"On our MySpace does not happen a lot for a while. We will create new sites when it is right time for it. Now we need all of our energy and time for the new songs.
"We are not gonna look for any record label for releasing this album! All we need is find right labels which we could sign license deals with. Now it seems that licenses for Russian, Japan and Finland are already in our hands. And I am looking for new license deals all the time. So... things will happen mainly through our own company."
TO/DIE/FOR's fifth album, "Wounds Wide Open", was released in Finland in October 2006. The follow-up to 2005's "IV" was recorded by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studios and by Jari-Jukka Nippala at Sonic Image, and was mixed at Sweden's Abyss Studios by Peter Tägtgren (DIMMU BORGIR, CELTIC FROST).
Florida-based death metallers SIX FEET UNDER have entered the studio to begin recording "Graveyard Classics 3". According to the band, "We are about 60% finished with tracking. Everything is going great and we are having a lot of fun laying these new songs down."
SIX FEET UNDER covered AC/DC's entire "Back In Black" album for "Graveyard Classics 2", which came out in October 2004.
The original "Graveyard Classics" LP, was released in October 2000. It included cover versions of BLACK SABBATH's "Sweet Leaf", DEEP PURPLE's "Smoke on the Water" and JIMI HENDRIX's "Purple Haze".
After releasing three albums on U.S. label Deathgasm Records, Ukrainian Satanic metal band SEMARGL has inked a new deal the German label and distribution company Twilight Vertrieb. The group's new CD is tentatively scheduled for release before the end of the year. During 2008, SEMARGL performed at festivals in Ukraine and Russia, showcasing songs from the band's third album, "Manifest", and new demo songs that will be included on the upcoming CD.
Denmark-based symphonic metal band EVIL MASQUERADE has set "Fade To Black" as the title of its fourth abum, due in early 2009 via an as-yet-undisclosed label. The follow-up to 2006's "Third Act" was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (JORN, HELLOWEEN) at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark and features a guest appearance by former RAINBOW keyboardist Tony Carey.
"Fade To Black" recording lineup: Henrik Flyman - Guitar Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals Daniel Flores (MIND'S EYE) - Drums Johan Niemann (THERION, DEMONOID) - Bass Tony Carey (RAINBOW) – Keyboards
The track listing for the CD is as follows: 01. Lights Out 02. In a Dungeon Close to Hell 03. The Darkness Within 04. Hollow Soul 05. Different Shades of Black 06. Powertools 07. The Ultimate Game 08. Desire and Pain 09. Diamond Dust 10. I Believe In Sin
Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR have set "Autumnal" as the title of their new album, due in early 2009. The follow-up to 2007's "Tarot", was recorded in part at New Sin Studios in Italy and features a guest appearance by soprano Itea Benedicto (NIOBETH).
"Autumnal" track listing: 01. Swan Lake 02. On The Hill Of Dreams 03. Phantom Queen 04. An End So Cold 05. Faustus 06. Don't Look Back 07. When The Sun Is Gone 08. For Her 09. The Enchanted Forest 10. The Sphinx 11. Fallen Leaves Waltz
Tracklist 1. The Moribund Choir vs. The Trumpets Of Armageddon 2. Martyr To Science 3. Slaughter’s Palace 4. The Brave / Agony Applause 5. Deathrace 6. Fire At Will 7. Seal Slayer 8. Manifesto 9. Dying Breed 10. Altruism 11. Temple Of Love
The artwork and design for "Manifesto" was handled by Adam Wentworth who already worked for artists such as Beyonce, Coheed And Cambria or A Life Once Lost.
Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL will release their long-awaited new DVD, "Lusitanian Metal", in Europe on November 21. The complete track listing for the two-disc effort is as follows:
DVD 1: * Live At The City Of Ravens (Metalmania, Poland 2004) * Touch Me In The Eyes (video compilation from Opium to I will see you in my dreams, including the never seen making of from Everything invaded) * Century Media Years (Discography) * Knoweldge (Graveyard impressions, exclusive and extensive interview with the band members shot in a Lisbon graveyard)
DVD 2: Small Hours – The Early Days (1992-1994):
Live Rehearsal: 01. Serpent Angel 02. Wolves from the Fog 03. Ancient Winter Goddess
MOONSPELL's First Show: 04. Intro 05. Goat on Fire 06. Wolves from the Fog 07. Hymn to Lucifer
Supporting CRADLE OF FILTH: 08. Intro 09. Tenebrarum Oratorium Part 1 10. Goat on Fire 11. Vampiria
Strange Are the Ways of the Wolfhearted Tour (1995-1996)
Krakow 1996 01. A Poisoned Gift 02. ...Of Dream and Drama (Midnight Ride) 03. An Erotic Alchemy 04. Love Crimes
Dortmund 1996 (previously unseen): 05. Intro 06. Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade) 07. Love Crimes 08. Vampiria 09. ...Of Dream and Drama (Midnight Ride) 10. An Erotic Alchemy 11. For a Taste of Eternity 12. Alma Mater
It's a Sin Tour (1997-1999):
Ermal 1999: 01. Let the Children Cum to Me... 02. Dekadance 03. EuroticA
The Butterfly Effect Tour (2000-2001):
Coliseu 2000: 01. I Am the Eternal Spectator 02. Can't Bee 03. Lustmord
Darkness and Hope Tour (2001-2003):
Release Party for "Darkness and Hope": 01. How We Became Fire 02. Ghostsong
With Full Force - 10th Anniversary: 01. In and Above Men 02. From Lowering Skies 03. Opium 04. A Walk on the Darkside 05. Nocturna 06. Southern Deathstyle
Istanbul 2004: 07. Alma Mater / Vampiria
Athens 2004: 08. The Antidote
Hard Club 2004: 12. I Will See You in My Dreams 13. Tenebrarum Oratorium Part 1
On 25th of September on ShockWave radio in «High Way» show, Moscow, Russia band REPENTANCE will be interviewed. Air hours are 8:00pm до 10:00pm (+3:00 GMT). Send your questions and wishes to studio@shock-wave.ru and ICQ: 333576669 during the live. You will also hear new songs from “Black Sunday Morning”(2006) and “Revival”(2008), which will be presented October 16 in ХО.
To hear the radio show just visit shock-wave.ru website and select streaming bitrate 128 or 32 kbps.
PAIN frontman Peter Tägtgren has offered a track-by-track breakdown of the band's forthcoming album, "Cynic Paradise", for the readers of the German edition of the Metal Hammer magazine. Check it out in ' , ' .
"Cynic Paradise" will be released on October 31 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to "Psalms of Extinction" (which was released in 2007 via Roadrunner) features "eleven gems offering a vast variety of styles and influences which are even new for PAIN," according to a press release. NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon makes a guest appearance on two tracks — "Follow Me" and "Feed Us". The artwork (see below) was created by renowned artist Travis Smith (AMORPHIS, OPETH, NEVERMORE).
01. I'm Going In 02. Monkey Business 03. Follow Me (feat. Anette Olzon) 04. Have A Drink On Me 05. Don't Care 06. Reach Out (And Regret) 07. Generation X 08. No One Knows 09. Live Fast - Die Young 10. Not Your Kind 11. Feed Us (feat. Anette Olzon)
"Cynic Paradise" will be available as a limited-edition digipack including a bonus CD.
PAIN's video for the track "Zombie Slam" is available for viewing ' . The clip was shot in February 2007 in Los Angeles by Ralf Strathmann. Ralf previously worked as a director for artists like CHILDREN OF BODOM, APOCALYPTICA and SOILWORK. He is also a photographer for such bands as HIM, AEROSMITH and BLINK 182, to name but a few.
Swedish black metallers MARDUK will release their eleventh album, "Wormwood", in September via Regain Records (the exact release date has not yet been announced). The CD was recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson. The album's release will be followed by a world tour, dubbed "Funeral Nation 2009/2010", which will kick off in Europe.
NILE guitarist/vocalist Karl Sanders recently spoke to Greg Pratt of Exclaim! magazine about the recording process for NILE's new album, which is due in November via Nuclear Blast Records.
American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT are currently in recording mode at various studios — including the Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany — under the watchful eye of Sascha Paeth and Miro as producers. A spring 2010 release is being planned for the band's highly anticipated follow-up to their biggest selling record to date, "Ghost Opera".
Finnish folk metallers FINNTROLL will enter Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki on Monday, July 27 to begin recording their as-yet-untitled fifth album. Keyboardist Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali previously stated about the follow-up to 2007's "Ur Jordens Djup". "I personally think this will be our best album ever. Overall I can sense there's a lot 'punk' on it, lots of weirdness, a load of *riffs* instead of chord progressions, quite a bit of folkish parts and a lurking, evil atmosphere. In the terms of 'heaviness,' it's probably the heaviest album we've done, at least judging from the song material.
Vocalist Jape Peratalo of Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FOR has issued the following update:
Florida-based death metallers SIX FEET UNDER have entered the studio to begin recording "Graveyard Classics 3". According to the band, "We are about 60% finished with tracking. Everything is going great and we are having a lot of fun laying these new songs down."
After releasing three albums on U.S. label Deathgasm Records, Ukrainian Satanic metal band SEMARGL has inked a new deal the German label and distribution company Twilight Vertrieb. The group's new CD is tentatively scheduled for release before the end of the year.
The track listing for the CD is as follows:
"Autumnal" track listing:
e-card ' 
Russian metal band ARKONA uploaded new video on their song "Svavsya Rus'" online.
Tracklist
DVD 1:
' .(' )
On 25th of September on ShockWave radio in «High Way» show, Moscow, Russia band REPENTANCE will be interviewed. Air hours are 8:00pm до 10:00pm (+3:00 GMT). Send your questions and wishes to studio@shock-wave.ru and ICQ: 333576669 during the live. You will also hear new songs from “Black Sunday Morning”(2006) and “Revival”(2008), which will be presented October 16 in ХО.
PAIN frontman Peter Tägtgren has offered a track-by-track breakdown of the band's forthcoming album, "Cynic Paradise", for the readers of the German edition of the Metal Hammer magazine. Check it out in ' , ' .