HELLOWEEN drummer Dani Löble has re-entered singer Andi Deris' Mi Sueno Studios in Tenerife, Spain to resume the recording sessions for the band's new album with longtime producer Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, SAXON). Tentatively titled "Gambling with the Devil", HELLOWEEN's 12th studio LP is scheduled for release on Halloween (October 31). A world tour in support of the CD will start mid-November in Europe, to be followed by visits to Southeast Asia, North and South America in the first half of 2008.
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce all details for the release of DAVID READMAN’s self titled debut album on August 31st 2007 !
Best known as singer for PINK CREAM 69, David also appeared on album from Adagio and from studio projects such as Missa Mercuria and on the more recent Andersen / Laine / Readman cd.
After David left the French Power Metal outfit Adagio in 2005, he started to gather material for a solo album which has always been his ultimate dream. “I did a lot myself from writing the songs, to recording organizing the whole thing” says David, “Dennis Ward (David’s bandmate in PC69) recorded the drums over 2 sessions and also mixed the record. If I was to thank something it would be the Internet, strange I know but without it would have taken even longer. And I wouldn't have met all the great people who played on the record, especially Paul Logue (of Eden’s Course) who played bass and wrote 2 songs with me”.
David has worked hard on the songwriting. He explains: “There are a few songs that wouldn't have made it on a PC69 cd because of style, with this record I was able to experiment a little. When you work this way it becomes your baby, you’re making all the decisions. It’s not always easy to keep a song interesting from the start to the finish. So that was a lot of work, but that’s what I wanted”
Recording started already during 2006, but David needed a long break (for the recording of PC 69’s latest opus “In10sity”), so that resumed the work in February 2007 and finally delivered the album in the spring time.
“I am very happy with the record, it was a big deal for me a real learning-curve. I'm also interested to hear what the people have to say about it, I’m very inpatient”, concludes the Burnley-born british singer.
The line-up appearing on “David Readman” includes Paul Logue (Eden’s Curse) on bass, Dirk Bruinenberg (Elegy) and Chris Schmidt on drums, Eric Ragno (ex Takara) and Günter Werno (Vandenplas) on keyboards and Alex Beyrodt (Silent Force), Gerald Sänger, Tommy Denander and bandmate Uwe Reitenauer on guitars. David also plays guitars and keyboards.
Production duties are handled by Dennis Ward.
"David Readman" track-listing: 01. Without You ' 02. Evil Combination 03. Take These Tears ' 04. Don't Let It Slip Away ' 05. No Peace For The Wicked 06. Long Way To Heaven ' 07. Wild In The City 08. Gentle Touch 09. Prisoner Of Shame 10. New Messiah 11. Over The Ocean 12. Love In Vain 13. Don't Let It Slip Away* Don't Let It Slip Away (bonus multimedia video track which can be already watched on the Frontiers Records my space page: ' )
It's safe to say that fans of Pink Cream 69 and David Readman will not be disappointed with this record, who sets the style in Melodic Hard Rock, with soaring hooklines and in-your face guitars.
Don’t miss “David Readman” in all fine shops on August 31st 2007 on Frontiers Records with a release in Japan scheduled on King Records.
Dutch rock act THE GATHERING has launched a vocalist search following the recent departure of Anneke van Giersbergen. Interested male and female vocalists are invited to send a short bio and one or two MP3s to audition@gathering.nl.
Anneke van Giersbergen has announced the formation of a brand new band called AGUA DE ANNIQUE. The group will release an album called "Air" in the fall of 2007.
Anneke van Giersbergen's final appearance with THE GATHERING will take place on August 4 at the Ankkarock festival in Finland.
The cover artwork for AMORPHIS's upcoming album, "Silent Waters", has been posted online at this location. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, Finland. Mixing duties were handled by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS) at Finnvox studios.
"Silent Waters" track listing: 01. Weaving The Incantation 02. A Servant 03. Silent Waters 04. Towards And Against 05. I Of Crimson Blood 06. Her Alone 07. Enigma 08. Shaman 09. The White Swan 10. Black River 11. Sign (bonus track on digipak)
The album will be released on August 29 (Finland)/August 31 (other countries).
California-based metallers AGENT STEEL have posted the cover artwork for their new album, "Alienigma", at this location (artwork by Dimitri Patelis).
Due in September via Mascot Records, "Alienigma" will feature the following track listing:
01. Fashioned From Dust 02. Wash The Planet Clean 03. Hail To The Chief 04. Wormwod 05. Liberty Lying Bleeding 06. Hybridized 07. Tiamats Fall 08. WPD 09. Lamb To The Slaughter 10. Extinct
Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING will release their new album, "The Scythe", in Europe on September 14 via AFM Records. The CD was mixed at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The mastering took place on April 10 at Finnvox Studios with Mika Jussila and Nino Laurenne.
"The Scythe" track listing: 01. The Scythe 02. Lost Hill of Memories 03. Infection 04. Poison Tears 05. A Riddle of Stars 06. Romance & Wrath 07. The Divided Heart 08. Horns Ablaze (digipack bonus track) 09. Totentanz 10. Death and the Suffering 11. Dominhate
FATES WARNING's classic 1988 album "No Exit" will be re-released in September via Metal Blade Records. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album plus the following bonus material:
Bonus audio tracks: * "Quietus" demo (singer Ray Alder's audition tape) * "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 1 (rehearsal recording) * "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 2 (rehearsal recording)
Bonus DVD: * Live and behind-the-scenes footage from "No Exit" tour (approx. one hour) * "Silent Cries" video * "Anarchy Divine" video * "Valley of the Dolls" live in Philadelphia 1988
Check out a teaser live video of "Silent Cries", taken from the upcoming "No Exit" bonus DVD, at YouTube.
Nearly ten years since X JAPAN's New Year's "farewell" concert and nine years after the death of the band's influential lead guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, X JAPAN has officially reformed and is planning a new tour and single, tentatively due before the end of 2007.
According to an article in the Japanese newspaper Sponichi, X JAPAN founder Yoshiki summoned former vocalist Toshi to Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on a song that was written as a tribute to late guitarist Hide, entitled "Without You" (originally released instrumentally on Yoshiki's first album). After an emotional recording session, the two felt that "the puzzle pieces just fit," and decided to officially reunite the band.
Yoshiki is said to be in talks with guitarist Pata and bassist Heath regarding the reunion, with hopes to feature the band lineup circa the group's final performance. While nothing has been set in stone, the tentative touring lineup is expected to include Yoshiki, Toshi, Pata, Heath, and roughly 10 guest guitarists who will perform Hide's parts during various songs in the set.
Current information indicates that X JAPAN's tour will begin near Yoshiki's home of Los Angeles, with the Toshi-sung single release of "Without You" due sometime this year.
Regarding the reunion, Yoshiki stated, "After Hide's death most fans were split between two extreme opinions, either 'you reunite and I'll kill you' or 'if you don't reunite I'll die.' I had trouble making the decision and for a while I wasn't able to move forward. This reunion is actually a first for me as well."
Swedish singer Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, KRUX, TREAT, AT VANCE) has just finished laying down backing vocals for the new APOCALYPTICA album with producer Jacob Hellner (RAMMSTEIN).
Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Tomoyasu Hotei (superstar Japanese composer, whose credits include the "Kill Bill" soundtrack), Joseph Duplantier (GOJIRA) and Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) are among the confirmed musicians who have recorded guest appearances on the upcoming APOCALYPTICA CD, tentatively due in September.
Finnish goth metallers H.I.M. have reportedly set September 4 as the new release date for their follow-up to 2005's "Dark Light", entitled "Venus Doom". The band's sixth studio CD was recorded at the Finnvox facility in Helsinki with producer Tim Palmer and was mixed in California.
H.I.M. frontman Ville Valo recently told MTV.com that "Venus Doom" is "going to be a lot heavier than anything we've done before — that's the whole idea. It's like we're mixing MY BLOODY VALENTINE's 'Loveless' with METALLICA's 'Master of Puppets'. ... There won't be as much ear candy on this one. There are a lot of riffs, and it's more guitar-oriented than keyboard-driven. Really, we just wanted to rock our own socks off.
"We wanted to make a really rockin' album — one that would explode your speakers," he added. "But we also wanted to maintain the melancholy aspects of love and loss in the lyrics and then have the really sweet vocals amidst this storm of guitars.
"Lyrically, it's about me losing a relationship and then actually regaining it, and losing my sanity and regaining it," Valo continued. "As you grow up, life gets more and more complex, even though when you're a kid you think things are going to get easier. It's like a f---ing puzzle that just keeps on having more and more pieces to it. It's very personal, this album. It's like me getting rid of my demons and putting the pain in the music. It's cathartic, and it's about cleansing yourself and trying to have the courage to take that one step further."
Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Dead Lovers Lane" ' , "The Kiss of Dawn", "Love in Cold Blood" and "Passion's Killing Floor".
Garden Of Exile Records will release "Hope", the latest album by Finnish doomsters SWALLOW THE SUN, as a double LP. The vinyl release will contain an AMORPHIS cover as a bonus track, featuring a guest appearance by AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen. Says the label: "You can expect some nice-colored heavyweight vinyl in a deluxe gatefold cover."
"Drakkars In The Mist" track-listing:: 1. Before Battle I Embrace 2. Hoplites Awaiting Command 3. Hugin & Munin 4. Grimnismol (Ballad Of Grimnir) 5. Hogtyd 6. Sworn To The Raven 7. Great God Pan 8. Drakkars In The Mist 9. Midguard Farewell 10. De Tause Fjell 11. If I Should Fall 12. When Long Ships Arrive 13. On Wings Divine 14. Thunders Of War Bonus Tracks: 15. The Bane Of Giants 16. Kingdom Of The Shades 17. The Ridding Of The Queen Boudiccea
Norwegian progressive metal band CIRCUS MAXIMUS has uploaded the cover artwork and audio sample from its upcoming sophomore album, "Isolate", due in Europe in August and a short time later in North America. The CD's lyrical concept deals with "how much you can lose until you go completely mad, and how much have lost when insanity finally embraces you," the group recently said. "It's really up to the listener (and reader ...) to intepret the story themselves, because it can be understood in different ways and we don't want to spoil the surprise."
"Isolate" track listing: 01. A Darkened Mind 02. Abyss 03. Wither ' 04. Sane No More 05. Arrival Of Love 06. Zero 07. Mouth Of Madness 08. From Childhood's Hour 09. Ultimate Sacrifice
We are proud to announce the first in Eastern Europe THE FLAMING ARTS FESTIVAL TOUR which will take place in biggest towns of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. First confirmed bands for festival are VADER, ROTTING CHRIST, KRISIUN, INCANTATION and young UK thrash band AMENTI. More bands will be announced soon.
Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH has released three more samples from its forthcoming album, due in September. In addition to first single, "Eva", you can now check out short clips of the songs "7 Days to the Wolves", "Master Passion Greed" and "Amaranth": "7 Days to the Wolves": ' "Master Passion Greed": ' "Amaranth": ' "Eva": '
Mnemosyne Productions has announced a brand new musical collaboration between EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn, Starofash (a.k.a. Ihsahn's wife Heidi S. Tveitan, a.k.a. Ihriel) and one of Norway's most well known folk musicians, Knut Buen. The project is called HARDINGROCK and the album is titled "Grimen".
According to a press release, "Grimen" presents folk tunes on the Norwegian national instrument, harding fiddle, text and melodies based on Norwegian mythical tradition, arranged and recomposed in modern form with influences from heavy metal and classical inspired electronica. It is said to be an experimental project where folk tunes are thematically broken down and expressed in a new rhythmic and harmonic form with guitars, piano, keyboards, percussion, recitation and song.
This album is set for release on June 11 via Nyrenning Forlag, and is distributed by Musikkoperatørene AS.
For more information, including audio samples, go to this location.
Äåáþòíûé àëüáîì RIDE THE SKY "New Protection" âûéäåò 17 àâãóñòà â Åâðîïå íà Nuclear Blast.  ßïîíèè ðåëèç ñîñòîèòñÿ 21 èþëÿ. Ãðóïïà ÿâëÿåòñÿ ïðîåêòîì áàðàáàíùèêà Uli Kusch (ex-HELLOWEEN, MASTERPLAN), êðîìå íåãî ó÷àñòâóþò – âîêàëèñò Bjørn Jansson (ex-TEARS OF ANGER/BEYOND TWILIGHT), áàñèñò Mathias Granås (XSAVIOR) è êëàâèøíèê Kaspar Dahlqvist (DIONYSUS, STORMWIND). Àëüáîì çàïèñûâàëñÿ è ìèêøèðîâàëñÿ Benny Jansson â ñòóäèè Zinkens Studio (Stockholm, Sweden ). Ìàñòåðèíãîì çàíèìàëñÿ Christofer Stannow â Cosmos Mastering.
RIDE THE SKY, the new band featuring ex-HELLOWEEN drummer and MASTERPLAN founder Uli Kusch alongside ex-TEARS OF ANGER/BEYOND TWILIGHT singer Bjørn Jansson, guitarist Benny Jansson, bassist Mathias Granås (XSAVIOR) and keyboardist Kaspar Dahlqvist (DIONYSUS, STORMWIND), will release its debut album, "New Protection", in Europe on August 17 via Nuclear Blast. The CD will arrive in Japan on July 21.
"New Protection" (artwork) was recorded and mixed by Benny Jansson at Zinkens Studio in Stockholm, Sweden and was mastered by Christofer Stannow at Cosmos Mastering. The track listing is as follows:
01. New Protection 02. A Smile From Heaven's Eye 03. Silent War 04. The Prince Of Darkness 05. Break The Chain 06. Corroded Dreams 07. The End Of Days 08. Far Beyond The Stars 09. Black Cloud 10. Endless 11. Heaven Only Knows 12. A Crack In The Wall 13. Make The Spirit Burn (limited edition bonus track) 14. Trail Of Flame (bonus track for Japan)
Check out audio samples at www.myspace.com/ridetheskytheband.
Swedish metallers ENTOMBED have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments", due on June 25 through Threeman Recordings via a special arrangement with Candlelight Records. Check out the cover artwork at this location. The 10-song effort marks the group's first release with drummer Olle Dahlstedt (ALPHA SAFARI, ex-MISERY LOVES CO.), who replaced Peter Stjärnvind in 2006. Mastering duties were handled by Soren Elofsson at Cosmos Mastering in Stockholm, Sweden.
"Serpent Saints - The Ten Amendments" track listing: 01. Serpent Saints 02. Masters of Death 03. Amok 04. Thy Kingdom Koma 05. When in Sodom 06. In The Blood 07. Ministry 08. The Dead, The Dying and The Dying To Be Dead 09. Warfare, Plague, Famine, Death 10. Love Song For Lucifer
The cover artwork for the new NILE album, entitled "Ithyphallic", has been posted online at this location. Due in Germany on July 20 via Nuclear Blast Records (July 23 in the rest of Europe), the CD was recorded at Sound Lab Studios in Columbia, South Carolina with producer Neil Kernon (NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEICIDE) and engineer Bob Moore.
"Ithyphallic" track listing: 01. What Can Be Safely Written 02. As He Creates So He Destroys 03. Ithyphallic 04. Papyrus Containing The Spell To Preserve Its Possessor… 05. Eat Of The Dead 06. Laying Fire Upon Apep 07. The Essential Salts 08. The Infinity Of Stone 09. The Language Of The Shadows 10. Even The Gods Must Die
The limited vinyl version of the "Home" album by the Dutch rock band THE GATHERING is now available for purchase online at The End Records' mailorder, ' . A beautiful gatefold 2xLP vinyl edition, the album is available on black vinyl (limited to 300 copies) and clear vinyl (limited to 200 copies).
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) is currently recording session drums for the debut album of an as-yet-unnamed Gothenburg-based project. According to a posting on Snowy's web site, "style-wise is very much in the vein of CANDLEMASS, MEMENTO MORI, KING DIAMOND and NOTRE DAME. Last autumn Snowy did lead and backing vocals for several tracks on the album. The CD, titled "Opera Diabolicus", will be mixed in June by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque at Andy's Los Angered Recordings.
As previously reported, Snowy Shaw has been hired to handle the artwork, illustrations and photography for the upcoming releases by Swedish sleaze rockers HARDCORE SUPERSTAR.
Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH have revelaed the track listing and artwork for their new album, "The Apostasy", due on July 17 via Century Media Records. The group's most ambitious and epic offering yet, it was recorded in the band's hometown of Gdansk with the group's mainman Nergal and longtime sound engineer Malta in the producers' chairs. The effort was mixed with the acclaimed Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) at Dug-Out Studios in Sweden and mastered by Bjorn Engelmann (RAMMSTEIN, SAMAEL).
"The Apostasy" track listing: 01. Rome 64 C.E 02. Slaying The Prophets Ov Isa 03. Prometherion 04. At The Left Hand Ov God 05. Kriegsphilosophie 06. Be Without Fear 07. Arcane Hereticae 08. Libertheme 09. Inner Sanctum 10. Pazuzu 11. Christgrinding Avenue
Finnish metallers NORTHER will enter Astia Studios in August/September to with producer Anssi Kippo to record their new album, tentatively due in early 2008.
Brazilian singer Renato Tribuzy has recorded a guest appearance on the "Soul Spell" metal opera project. The CD, which also features some of the best musicians on the Brazilian heavy metal scene — including Edu Falaschi (ANGRA), Leandro Caçoilo, Christian Passos, Mario Linhares, Nando Fernades, Iuri Sanson and Bruno Maia — is being produced by Tito Falaschi, Edu Falaschi's brother. Renato sang the part of Aquiles in the song called "Troy". He commented, "I really enjoyed being a part of this project. When I first heard the albums tracks I was surpised by the fantastic quality of the production, songs and musicians."
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HELLOWEEN drummer Dani Löble has re-entered singer Andi Deris' Mi Sueno Studios in Tenerife, Spain to resume the recording sessions for the band's new album with longtime producer Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, SAXON). Tentatively titled "Gambling with the Devil", HELLOWEEN's 12th studio LP is scheduled for release on Halloween (October 31). A world tour in support of the CD will start mid-November in Europe, to be followed by visits to Southeast Asia, North and South America in the first half of 2008. 
"David Readman" track-listing:
Dutch rock act THE GATHERING has launched a vocalist search following the recent departure of Anneke van Giersbergen. Interested male and female vocalists are invited to send a short bio and one or two MP3s to audition@gathering.nl.
"Silent Waters" track listing:
01. Fashioned From Dust
"The Scythe" track listing:
FATES WARNING's classic 1988 album "No Exit" will be re-released in September via Metal Blade Records. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album plus the following bonus material:
Nearly ten years since X JAPAN's New Year's "farewell" concert and nine years after the death of the band's influential lead guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, X JAPAN has officially reformed and is planning a new tour and single, tentatively due before the end of 2007. 
Swedish singer Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, KRUX, TREAT, AT VANCE) has just finished laying down backing vocals for the new APOCALYPTICA album with producer Jacob Hellner (RAMMSTEIN). 
Finnish goth metallers H.I.M. have reportedly set September 4 as the new release date for their follow-up to 2005's "Dark Light", entitled "Venus Doom". The band's sixth studio CD was recorded at the Finnvox facility in Helsinki with producer Tim Palmer and was mixed in California. 
Garden Of Exile Records will release "Hope", the latest album by Finnish doomsters SWALLOW THE SUN, as a double LP. The vinyl release will contain an AMORPHIS cover as a bonus track, featuring a guest appearance by AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen. Says the label: "You can expect some nice-colored heavyweight vinyl in a deluxe gatefold cover." 
"Drakkars In The Mist" track-listing::
"Isolate" track listing:
We are proud to announce the first in Eastern Europe THE FLAMING ARTS FESTIVAL TOUR which will take place in biggest towns of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. First confirmed bands for festival are VADER, ROTTING CHRIST, KRISIUN, INCANTATION and young UK thrash band AMENTI. More bands will be announced soon.
Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH has released three more samples from its forthcoming album, due in September. In addition to first single, "Eva", you can now check out short clips of the songs "7 Days to the Wolves", "Master Passion Greed" and "Amaranth":
Mnemosyne Productions has announced a brand new musical collaboration between EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn, Starofash (a.k.a. Ihsahn's wife Heidi S. Tveitan, a.k.a. Ihriel) and one of Norway's most well known folk musicians, Knut Buen. The project is called HARDINGROCK and the album is titled "Grimen". 
01. New Protection
01. Serpent Saints 
"Ithyphallic" track listing:
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) is currently recording session drums for the debut album of an as-yet-unnamed Gothenburg-based project. According to a posting on Snowy's web site, "style-wise is very much in the vein of CANDLEMASS, MEMENTO MORI, KING DIAMOND and NOTRE DAME. Last autumn Snowy did lead and backing vocals for several tracks on the album. The CD, titled "Opera Diabolicus", will be mixed in June by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque at Andy's Los Angered Recordings.
"The Apostasy" track listing:
BoardPusher.com is currently selling several different DEATH ANGEL skateboard decks, all priced at $54.99. More information is available ' . 
Brazilian singer Renato Tribuzy has recorded a guest appearance on the "Soul Spell" metal opera project. The CD, which also features some of the best musicians on the Brazilian heavy metal scene — including Edu Falaschi (ANGRA), Leandro Caçoilo, Christian Passos, Mario Linhares, Nando Fernades, Iuri Sanson and Bruno Maia — is being produced by Tito Falaschi, Edu Falaschi's brother. Renato sang the part of Aquiles in the song called "Troy". He commented, "I really enjoyed being a part of this project. When I first heard the albums tracks I was surpised by the fantastic quality of the production, songs and musicians."