Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band EPICA has signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records.
Formed by guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Mark Jansen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) in 2002, EPICA has so far released three albums, among them a full-length soundtrack in the vein of Hollywood composers Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman. The Dutch metallers have already played in 24 countries, and have completed successful tours in Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and the USA.
EPICA will embark on a North American headlining tour in September. Support at the shows will come from the Austrian/American "epic metal" band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS.
EPICA is currently recording its new album at Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany. The CD, which is being produced by Sascha Paeth, will feature a session appearance by GOD DETHRONED drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek. EPICA has yet to name a full-time drummer following the departure of Jeroen Simons in 2006.
EPICA's previously announced live DVD, which was filmed on May 4, 2006 at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland, has been delayed until later this year, according to a posting on the group's official web site. The band's latest album, "Consign to Oblivion", was recorded in early 2005 and features a guest contribution from KAMELOT vocalist Roy Khan.
May, 26 - presentation of the new concert program of Russian metal band ARKONA.
"Ot Serdtsa K Nebu" ("From Heart To Sky") - it's the name of ARKONA's 4th album, which will be started to record after the show day (26.05) is Moscow club "Relax". Band will play new songs!
For the true fans of ARKONA, musicians will play then songs "Марена", which won in the poll on www.arkona-russia.com for the first and last time!
Ukrainian thrash metal maniacs HELLION have finished the work on their first video for song "Hear the Voice" from debut album "Strong Enough". Director is Viktor Priduvalov.
WYKKED WYTCH has issued the following update: "Here is an update on the current status of the release of our new album "Memories of a Dying Whore". The album was completed in December and we are currently seeking a new label to release the album. After parting ways with our label SixSixSix Records, we had a couple of deals that didn't happen and this has caused the delay in the release." WYKKED WYTCH last year posted the uncensored video for the track "Awakened" at YouTube.com. A new edit of the video, including fresh audio, will be included as a multimedia file on the upcoming album.
We have just opened our brand new Gathering webshop! The shop is welcoming you at ' You will find a fine selection of CDs, LPs, DVDs and other merchandising items and we will try to keep our prices as low as possible!
To celebrate this, we have a special offer that is running till end of July 2007! Come check it out on the shop!
We hope you will visit it soon! Cheers, the Gathering & TG webteam!"
The brazilian death metal band SODAMNED posted their demo On The Gallows for download. It was released in 2003 and has the following track list:
01. Hanged 02. Sodamned 03. Dreams and Tears 04. Graveyard of Secrets
Mp3 files of all the songs and also the artwork are available for download. The links of the files, hosted by Nitro Sound Solutions (www.nitross.com) are available in the band's ' as the new song, Locked in the Garret, which will be part of their next release.
The traditional heavy metal band HEREGE posted new versions of the songs "Call Me Herege" and "Flag of the Metal", originally released in the 2003 demo Rise of the Fair, Fall of the Church.
About the new songs the guitarist Dalton Castro, responsible for remastering them, comments: "...since those songs are really good and when we recorded them the production quality was low, I decided to add some details which make them to sound with more energy. Right now we decided to make these versions exclusive for Internet instead of adding as bonus, but maybe we do it in future editions."
The new versions are available in the ' and ' .
Actually Herege is finishing their debut full length and will give more information about it soon.
Jens Ryden, one man army of PROFUNDI (ex Naglfar vocalist) seems to be into collector's items. He designed a special ltd. 100 metal box version of the "The Omega Rising" album containing a ltd. patch, shirt and a special ltd. inlay handnumbered and signed by himself.
As for ordering please go the ' . Hurry, these will be sold out fast!
If you prefer checking out the sound of this release please ' to the PROFUNDI ecard.
According to the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS), Tomi Putaansuu (a.k.a. Mr. Lordi; LORDI), Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), Janne Joutsenniemi (SUBURBAN TRIBE), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA) and Jarkko Ahola (TERДSBETONI) are among the metal musicians who will contribute material to the upcoming debut album from the winner of the Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols", 22-year-old heavy metal singer Ari Koivunen. The CD will be produced by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilд (45 DEGREE WOMAN) and is tentatively scheduled for release in Finland on June 6.
Omnibus Press will publish Neil Daniels' book "Defenders of the Faith: The True Story of Judas Priest" book in September. According to the book's official description, "Defenders of the Faith" — which is said to be "the first definitive biography of the metal Gods" — "reveals how a group of poor, working-class lads followed in their heroes footsteps.”
Norwegian extreme metal band ARCTURUS has posted the following message on its web site:
"A lot of rumours have been going around after our gig in Melbourne. Simen opened the concert with the words 'Welcome to the last ARCTURUS show ever.' This is a decision we made some time ago. We all have a lot of things going on in our carreers and our lives, and therefore cannot find the time to continue working with this band.”
"We are humble and grateful to all the people that have supported and loved us over the years."
Scarlet Records is going to release the label's first ever DVD on the 16th April. 'Deliver Us From Evil' is the confirmed title for the label's latest effort, a compilation which will include video clips and live clips from some of its most significant artists, such as Necrodeath ('Master Of Morphine'), Vision Divine (We Are, We Are Not'), Hatesphere ('Only The Strongest…', recorded live at France's Hellfest), Barcode ('Fuck What You Say') or Allhelluja ('Superhero Motherfucker Superman', directed by renowed artist Chad Michael Ward) to name a few. Here's the complete tracklist:
1) Necrodeath – Master Of Morphine 2) Stormlord – Under The Boards 3) Allhelluja – Superhero Motherfucker Superman 4) Disarmonia Mundi – Celestial Furnace 5) Barcode – Fuck What You Say 6) Hatesphere – Only The Strongest…(LIVE) 7) Slowmotion Apocalypse – The Insomniac 8) Kayser – Good Citizen 9) Phaze I – Scream Of Dying Dogs 10) Cadaveria – Spell 11)The Defaced – Once In Between 12) Vision Divine – We Are, We Are Not (LIVE) 13) Disarmonia Mundi – Red Clouds
U.D.O. just finished the video clip for the new U.D.O. single "The Wrong Side Of Midnight" (Release Date April, 27). The new full length album "Mastercutor" will be released on May, 18. Check the pictures of the video shoot to get an appeal of "The Wrong Side Of Midnight"
"Mastercutor" tracklist: 01. Mastercutor 02. The Wrong Side Of Midnight 03. The Instigator 04. One Lone Voice 05. We Do - For You 06. Walker Of The Dark 07. Master Of Disaster 08. Tears Of A Clown 09. Vendetta 10. The Devil Walks Alone 11. Dead Man's Eyes 12. Crash Bang Crash
"Suicide Service" трек-лист: 01. SS.071 02. Bittersweet Mixture 03. Between Your Deaths 04. It’s Time 05. Virtual Trap 06. Early Snow 07. My Poison 08. (You Are) Living Pictures 09. Together 10. Craving For The End 11. Memory…
Release date of new single BLIND GUARDIAN "Another Stranger Me" is 4 May on Nuclear Blast.
"Another Stranger Me" track-listing: 01. Another Stranger Me 02. All The Kingґs Horses 03. Dream A Little Dream Of Me 04. Lionheart (demo) 05. The Edge (demo) 06. Another Stranger Me (video)
Belarus-based modern synth metal RASTA continues to attack big European stages.
After last year successeful performance in Czech Republic on Brutal Assault festival, the band was invited to take part in the biggest Czech rock festival - MASTERS OF ROCK 2007 (12-15 July 2007)
RASTA will play on the big stage with such bands as MOTORHEAD, CHILDREN OF BODOM, HAMMERFALL, RAGE, SEPULTURA, STRATOVARIUS, IN EXTREMO, FINNTROLL, EPICA, NORTHER, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS и другими.
This year's METAL SPIRIT RESSURECTION RUSSIAN TOUR will be supported by THE FLAMING ARTS. One band of our agency - Polish death metal band HATE will be the headliner of the tour, which will take part in eleven biggest cities of Russia. Wait for the Armageddon in your city!
HATE (Poland), SINFUL (Moscow), ACT OF GOD (Perm, Moscow), LITTLE DEAD BERTHA (Voronezh), TARTHARIA (Saint-Petersburg), GOTHIC SKY (Michurinsk), DEMOGORGON (Yoshkar-Ola)
CEPHALIC CARNAGE has unveiled the first new track, "Endless Cycle of Violence", from their upcoming full-length album "Xenosapien", via the band's ' . "Endless Cycle of Violence", the album's lead-off track, will also be the first video from the record.
"Xenosapien" was recorded by the band and longtime producer/engineer Dave Otero at their studio in Denver, CO and is set for a May 29 North American release (May 28 internationally) via Relapse. The album’s artwork, designed by Orion Landau, can be previewed at this location.
"Xenosapien" track listing: 01. Endless Cycle of Violence 02. Divination & Volition 03. Molting 04. Touched By An Angel 05. Vaporized 06. Heptarchy 07. G.lobal O.verhaul D.evice 08. Let Them So Long As They Fear 09. The Omega Point 10. Megacosm of the Aquaphobics 11. Ov Vicissitude
Danish power metallers MANTICORA have revealed the artwork and track listing for their sixth full-length album, "The Black Circus Part 2 - Disclosure". The companion CD to last year's "The Black Circus, Part 1 – Letters" was mixed at the Jailhouse studios in Horsens, Denmark between January 25, 2007 and February 1 with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, TNT, PRETTY MAIDS, FATE). A May/June release via Locomotive Music is expected.
"The Black Circus Part 2 - Disclosure" track listing: 01. Entrance 02. Beauty Will Fade 03. Gypsies' Dance Part 2 04. Intuneric V 05. Haita Di Lupi 06. When The Soulreapers Cry 07. Intuneric VI 08. All That Remain 09. Intuneric VII 10. Of Madness In Its Purity 11. Shadows With Tales To Tell - Live In The Black Circus (bonus track Asia) 14. Tour Diary 2005 (bonus video CD Asia)
Check out audio samples ' .
According to a posting on MANTICORA's web site, the following guest musicians appear on the CD:
* Jacob Hansen (INVOCATOR, ANUBIS GATE) on vocals * Teddy Möller (LOCH VOSTOK, WUTHERING HEIGHTS) on growls * Finn Zierler (BEYOND TWILIGHT) doing a keyboard solo * Andreas Lindahl (WUTHERING HEIGHTS, ex-PLATITUDE) doing some keyboard leads and solos
As previously reported, MANTICORA recently recorded a cover of TANKARD's "Total Addiction" ("a real thrash metal classic!!!" according to the band) for a TANKARD tribute album, to be released later in the year by AFM Records.
Danish metallers PYRAMAZE and former ICED EARTH singer Matt Barlow have issued separate statements confirming that Barlow has joined the group as its new frontman following the departure of Lance King.
Commented PYRAMAZE guitarist/songwriter Michael Kammeyer: "I'm very happy to finally announce our new singer. Matthew Barlow (former vocalist of the American metal band ICED EARTH) will be taking over the job as PYRAMAZE vocalist.
DREAM THEATER's new album, "Systematic Chaos", will be released on Tuesday, June 5 (date may vary in different countries) through Roadrunner and will be available in two formats: regular-edition CD (cover) and a special-edition CD and DVD (cover).
The special-edition DVD will include:
* The entire album mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound * "Chaos in Progress - The Making of Systematic Chaos" (a 90-minute documentary directed by Mike Portnoy)
The CD track listing for both editions is:
01. In The Presence of Enemies Pt. 1 (9:00) 02. Forsaken (5:36) 03. Constant Motion (6:55) 04. The Dark Eternal Night (8:51) 05. Repentance (10:43) 06. Prophets Of War (6:01) 07. The Ministry of Lost Souls (14:57) 08. In The Presence of Enemies Pt. 2 (16:38)
The band will shoot a video next week for the first single off the album, "Constant Motion".
DIMMU BORGIR presents the ultimate collector`s item: «Released on April 27th, you will be able to purchase your copy of our very, very noble minted "In Sorte Diaboli" book! Strictly limited to 2000 copies worldwide, it features 32 pages in 7" size, 2 audio bonustracks, a bonus dvd, seven big photo cards, a mirror and a numbered authenticity certificate. Medieval darkness is back - and it has never looked more classy!»
British funeral doom metallers ESOTERIC have announced the addition of drummer Joe Fletcher to the group's ranks. After 18 months, the guys finally found someone suitably talented and disturbed to join them. ESOTERIC looks forward to working with him both live and in the studio. ESOTERIC has nearly completed writing and arranging its fifth album. So far there are over 100 minutes of material and the band hopes to enter the studio in the next month or two.
German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have set "New Religion" as the title of their new album, due on August 31 via Frontiers Records. The complete track listing for the CD is as as follows (in no particular order):
01. New Religion 02. Drenched In Blood 03. The Curse Of Sharon 04. The Darkness a. Fighting The Darkness b. Darkness II c. Reprise 05. Face The Emptiness 06. Too Much Time 07. Everytime It Rains 08. Burning Bridges 09. Psycho 10. World On Fire 11. The Man (I Don't Know)
Guest musicians on the album include Magnus Karlsson (STARBREAKER, ALLEN/LANDE), Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN) and Simone Simons (EPICA)
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band EPICA has signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. 
May, 26 - presentation of the new concert program of Russian metal band ARKONA.
Ukrainian thrash metal maniacs HELLION have finished the work on their first video for song "Hear the Voice" from debut album "Strong Enough". Director is Viktor Priduvalov.
WYKKED WYTCH has issued the following update:
Message from THE GATHERING:
The traditional heavy metal band HEREGE posted new versions of the songs "Call Me Herege" and "Flag of the Metal", originally released in the 2003 demo Rise of the Fair, Fall of the Church. 
Jens Ryden, one man army of PROFUNDI (ex Naglfar vocalist) seems to be into collector's items.
According to the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS), Tomi Putaansuu (a.k.a. Mr. Lordi; LORDI), Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), Janne Joutsenniemi (SUBURBAN TRIBE), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA) and Jarkko Ahola (TERДSBETONI) are among the metal musicians who will contribute material to the upcoming debut album from the winner of the Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols", 22-year-old heavy metal singer Ari Koivunen. The CD will be produced by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilд (45 DEGREE WOMAN) and is tentatively scheduled for release in Finland on June 6.
Omnibus Press will publish Neil Daniels' book "Defenders of the Faith: The True Story of Judas Priest" book in September. According to the book's official description, "Defenders of the Faith" — which is said to be "the first definitive biography of the metal Gods" — "reveals how a group of poor, working-class lads followed in their heroes footsteps.”
Norwegian extreme metal band ARCTURUS has posted the following message on its web site:
1) Necrodeath – Master Of Morphine 
"Mastercutor" tracklist:
"Suicide Service" трек-лист:
"Another Stranger Me" track-listing:
"Xenosapien" track listing: 
"The Black Circus Part 2 - Disclosure" track listing:
Danish metallers PYRAMAZE and former ICED EARTH singer Matt Barlow have issued separate statements confirming that Barlow has joined the group as its new frontman following the departure of Lance King.
DREAM THEATER's new album, "Systematic Chaos", will be released on Tuesday, June 5 (date may vary in different countries) through Roadrunner and will be available in two formats: regular-edition CD (cover) and a special-edition CD and DVD (cover).
01. In The Presence of Enemies Pt. 1 (9:00)
DIMMU BORGIR presents the ultimate collector`s item:
British funeral doom metallers ESOTERIC have announced the addition of drummer Joe Fletcher to the group's ranks. After 18 months, the guys finally found someone suitably talented and disturbed to join them. ESOTERIC looks forward to working with him both live and in the studio.
German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have set "New Religion" as the title of their new album, due on August 31 via Frontiers Records. The complete track listing for the CD is as as follows (in no particular order):