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)
The cover artwork of Swiss metal experimentalists SAMAEL's eighth album, "Solar Soul", has been posted online at the HeavyLaw web site.
Due on June 1 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Solar Soul" will feature the following track listing:
01. Solar Soul 02. Promised Land 03. Slavocracy 04. Western Ground 05. On the Rise 06. Alliance 07. Suspended Time 08. Valkyries' New Ride 09. Ave! 10. Quasar Waves 11. Architect (bonus track) 12. Olympus
The new King Diamond CD will be entitled "Gimme Your Soul ... Please".The CD contains 13 tracks and the song titles are as follows:
1. The Dead (King) 2. Never Ending Hill (Andy) 3. Is Anybody Here? (King) 4. Black Of Night (Andy) 5. Mirror, Mirror (King) 6. The Cellar (Andy) 7. Pictures In Red (Andy) 8. Gimme Your Soul (King) 9. The Floating Head (Andy) 10. Cold As Ice (King) 11. Shapes Of Black (King) 12. The Girl In The Bloody Dress (King) 13. Moving On (King)
The release dates are the following: North America on June 26th by Metal Blade Records. Europe on June 29th by Massacre Records
NILE mainman Karl Sanders has issued the following update: «We are currently finishing the mixes on the new NILE album, entitled “Ithyphallic”, our first album for Nuclear Blast. There are nine songs and one short acoustic piece. A few songtitles: “Language Of The Shadows”, “Even The Gods Must Die”, “The Infinity Of Stone”, “Ithyphallic”, “Papyrii Containg The Spell To Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is In The Water”.»
Black metallers ABIGOR have unveiled the artwork for their new album, "Fractal Possesion". The CD will be released in Europe on May 2 and the U.S. on June 5.
According to Metal Sludge, WHITE LION has been added to the POISON/RATT summer tour, which is tentatively scheduled to kick off June 12. This information, however, has not yet been confirmed by an official source.
The current touring version of WHITE LION (a.k.a. TRAMP'S WHITE LION) features original member Mike Tramp (vocals) alongside Claus Longwood (bass), Troy Patrick Farrell (drums), Jamie Law (guitar), and Henning Wanner (keyboards).
WHITE LION is planning a small European tour starting with an appearance at Italy's Gods of Metal festival on June 2 and including dates in Turkey, Italy and Sweden (where the group will perform at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 8). The band is also working on releasing a new WHITE LION album late summer.
WHITE LION's "The Definitive Rock Collection", a two-disc compilation featuring the band's hit 1987 single "Wait", plus "When Children Cry", "Tell Me", and several rare rehearsal recordings, came out on January 23 via Rhino.
Singer Christopher Schmid has left the German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE due to personal reasons.
"I don't feel that I can combine the permanent stress (brought about by touring, concerts and general uncertainties of the music business) with my 'normal' life and my future," Schmid said in a statement.
Although the rest of the band is sad about Christopher's decision to leave the group, they are happy about the fact that Christopher has offered to carry on with LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE as a lyricist and songwriter. The "LACRIMAS sound" will not change, because the brothers Oliver and Christopher will continue to collaborate as before, and Christopher will even add some of his vocal lines to the next album.
According to ROLLING STONE magazine, OZZY's new album will be entitled "Black Rain" and it will be released on June 2007. The first single from the album will be "I don't want to stop" and we will be able to hear it online on the 13th of April through OZZY's official site.
The line up of the band is Zakk Wylde -guitars, Mike Bordin - drums and Rob Nicholson - bass.
Alice Cooper indicated on his radio show last week that the group's new album has only been written so far but not yet recorded. The new CD has been delayed until further notice as the band is working around the producer's schedule.
The original lineup of EXTREME will reunite for a benefit concert and auction in New York City in honor of music manager Steven Hoffman who work for the legendary Leber Krebs organization (AC/DC, SCORPIONS, AEROSMITH). His first big professional success was his discovery of Extreme; Steve was a key player in their runaway ride to the top of the rock charts with 'More Than Words' and their achievement of household-name status. Steve passed away at the age of 38 on October 26, 2003 at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital. The event will take place on May 18th at the Canal Room (285 West Broadway) from 7:00 to 10:30 p.m. Other bands scheduled to play at the event include VALENTINE, EVOLUTION, THE ILLEGITIMATE SONS OF THE BLUES BROTHERS and a star-studded lineup of musicians to be announced. A live and silent auction will also be held to raise funds for lung cancer research.
The cover artwork of the new album from German metallers IRON SAVIOR, entitled "Megatropolis", has been posted on the HeavyLaw web site.
IRON SAVIOR will release "Megatropolis" on June 4 via Dockyard 1. The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. Running Riot 02. The Omega Man 03. Flesh 04. Megatropolis 05. Cybernetic Queen 06. Cyber Hero 07. A Tale From Down Below 08. Still I Believe 09. Farewell And Good Bye
The limited-edition digipack version of the album will include the bonus track "Hammerdown".
IRON SAVIOR's last album, "Battering Ram", came out in 2004.
The cover artwork for ICED EARTH's upcoming EP, "Overture of the Wicked", has been posted online at IcedEarth.com. The art was created by Felipe Machado of Final Frontier Digital Art and Nathan Perry. Due on June 5 via SPV (one day earlier internationally), the CD will feature the following track listing:
01. Ten Thousand Strong 02. Prophecy 03. Birth of the Wicked 04. The Coming Curse
Regarding the songs that appear on the "Overture of the Wicked" EP, ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer recently stated, "First, the song "Ten Thousand Strong" is the single track, and it will appear on [the upcoming full-length album] "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)", albeit a bit different than the single version. Second, the "Something Wicked" trilogy that is comprised of the songs "Prophecy", "Birth of the Wicked", and "The Coming Curse" has been completely re-recorded. From the ground up this is a more vicious and more atmospheric version of the epic piece. I played all of the guitar tracks with a baritone guitar and Brent [Smedley, drums] and I are locked up like a machine gun with the double kicks following many of the detailed picking patterns. This makes for a more intense- and wicked-sounding rhythm section. All of the vocals have been redone, obviously by Tim Owens, who did a masterful job at retaining the passion and honesty of the original, and still put his stamp on it and made it his own. We also put in some teaser atmospheric things that will give you a hint of things to come on Part 1. But just a hint... we don't want to spoil any surprises."
The cover artwork for legendary Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS' forthcoming album, "King of the Grey Islands", is available for viewing at this location. Due on June 22 through Nuclear Blast Records, the CD will feature the following track listing:
01. Prologue 02. Emperor of the Void 03. Devil Seed 04. Of Stars and Smoke 05. Demonia 6 06. Destroyer 07. Man of Shadows 08. Clearsight 09. The Opal City 10. Embracing the Styx
CANDLEMASS debuted the song "Demonia 6" live during the band's 20th-anniversary concert at Stockholm's Kolingsborg last Saturday (March 31). CANDLEMASS performed with no less than seven (!) different vocalists at the show — including the band's former singers Johan Langquist and Tomas Vikström, plus the group's latest addition, Robert Lowe of SOLITUDE AETURNUS. Check out video footage from the gig ' .
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind Devin Townsend has finalized the track listing for his next solo album, entitled "Ziltoid the Omniscient". The CD, which will be released under the DEVIN TOWNSEND banner instead of THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, was recorded completely by Devin, who took care of the singing, guitar, bass, synthesizers and sampling duties, in addition to mixing and producing the album on his own. Devin has stated on the HevyDevy forums that he used "the drumkit from Hell" on this release — the same kit that was previously utilized by MESHUGGAH on "Catch Thirty-Three" and which was developed by MESHUGGAH's Tomas Haake. Check out the cover artwork at this location (art created by Travis Smith). Due on May via Inside Out Music America, it will contain the following tracks:
01. By Your Command 02. Ziltoidia Attaxx! 03. Solar Winds 04. Hyperdrive 05. N9 06. Planet Smasher 07. Omnidimensional Creator 08. Color Your World 09. The Greys 10. Tall Latté
American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT have issued the following update:
"KAMELOT's new masterpiece video 'Ghost Opera' was shot in Belgrade (Serbia) January 2007 and is near its completion. Shot with acclaimed director Ivan Colic, the video also features Serbian model/actress Ivana Jokic [photos]. A world premiere is being planned for April."
KAMELOT will release its new album, "Ghost Opera" on the following dates: Germany: June 1; Europe: June 4; USA: June 5.
"Ghost Opera" will be KAMELOT's third release for SPV/Steamhammer Records.
"Ghost Opera" was recorded and mixed at Gate Studios and Pathway Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro. Artwork was handled by Mattias Norén with contributions by Alexandra V. Bach, Liliana Sanchez and Derek Gores. A limited-edition digipack version of the CD will include the bonus cut "The Pendulous Fall" along with a bonus DVD containing the video for the album's title track, "Ghost Opera", shot by director Ivan Colic of Serbia's ICode team as well as the making of the "Ghost Opera" video. The limited edition will contain a special extended booklet as well.
KAMELOT's current lineup is as follows: Khan - Vocals Thomas Youngblood - Guitars Glenn Barry - Bass Oliver Palotai – Keys Casey Grillo - Drums
Austrian symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE will issue a rarities/"best of" compilation, entitled "The Chronicles of Eden", as a double-CD and limited double-digipack on May 25. Disc One will contain three new, previously unreleased songs, all Japanese and European bonus tracks and songs that were included on all out-of-print singles. Disc Two will include a "best of" selection out of the five released studio albums. The track listing is as follows:
CD 1 (New Songs, Bonus Tracks, Rarities): 01. Thin Red Line 02. The Silent Wake 03. Images In The Sand 04. For Your Eyes Only 05. Evermore 06. Empire Of The Sun 07. Shine (Single Version) 08. On Sacred Ground 09. Anthem 10. On The Verge Of Infinity 11. The Whispering Gallery 12. The Whisper Of The Ages 13. Velvet Eyes Of Dawn
CD 2 ("Best Of" as voted by the fans): 01. Sunrise In Eden 02. Cheyenne Spirit 03. Arcana 04. The Palace 05. The Undiscovered Land 06. Red Ball In Blue Sky 07. Wild Chase 08. The Canterville Prophecy 09. The Canterville Ghost 10. The Grand Design 11. Terra Nova
EDENBRIDGE last month parted ways with drummer Roland Navratil due to "personal, musical and financial differences." A replacement drummer has yet to be announced.
EDENBRIDGE recently signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. The band's first effort for Napalm will be released in the spring of 2008. Production on the CD is tentatively scheduled to begin next fall. Four songs have already been written and EDENBRIDGE will work with a renowned Czech orchestra for the first time in its career.
EDENBRIDGE's fifth album, "The Grand Design", was released in the U.S. on January 30 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Shine" was recorded at The Farpoint Station studio in Austria and the Thin Ice facility in England with THRESHOLD mastermind Karl Groom.
An audio sample of the title track from KOTIPELTO's third album, "Serenity", has been posted on the band's ' . Due in Europe on April 20 via AFM Records, the CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland and was mixed by Mikko Karmila. The album's first single, "Sleep Well", entered the Finnish chart at No. 5. A video for the song has been posted online at YouTube.com. The track is also included in the new Finnish movie "Vares 2", which had its premiere on January 12. "The song is a main theme and can be heard when the credits are scrolling at the end of the movie," said the band's leader and namesake, STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto. "The music video include[s] clips from the movie. Some of the actors who are playing the characters on these clips are my personal friends and are very well known in Finland."
"Serenity" (view cover artwork at this location) track listing:
01. Once upon a Time 02. Sleep Well 03. Serenity 04. City of Mysteries 05. King Anti-Midas 06. Angels Will Cry 07. After the Rain 08. Mr. Know-It-All 09. Dreams and Reality 10. Last Defender
KOTIPELTO will team up with CHRIS CAFFERY for a European tour beginning mid-April. Also appearing on the bill are ELIS and TRIOSPHERE.
KOTIPELTO's sophomore solo album, "Coldness", was released in Europe in April 2004 through Century Media Records.
The traditional heavy metal band HEREGE is composing the last songs for their new album, which lyrics will be about marking historical facts of 20th and 21st Century, following a chronological order, from the end of Second World War, passing through Cold War, Latin America dictatorships, untill the present, with themes about globalization and terrorism.
About the lyrics Rodrigo Dantas comments: "This concern with the level of the thematic is decurrent of some lamentable things that we have seen lately in the Heavy Metal scene, many people having ridiculous attitudes, racists and homofobics, amongst other forms of intolerance and alienation that are reproducing there. To not be with the arms crossed ahead of this situation we decided to revive the Heavy Metal subversive spirit, which seems to be forgotten by most bands of the current scene."
Some of the new songs were recently played live in II Bang Your Heads Festival, which featured the bands Herege, Whisper Divine and Dark Shadows.
"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):
01. Solar Soul
The new King Diamond CD will be entitled "Gimme Your Soul ... Please".The CD contains 13 tracks and the song titles are as follows:
NILE mainman Karl Sanders has issued the following update: «We are currently finishing the mixes on the new NILE album, entitled “Ithyphallic”, our first album for Nuclear Blast. There are nine songs and one short acoustic piece. A few songtitles: “Language Of The Shadows”, “Even The Gods Must Die”, “The Infinity Of Stone”, “Ithyphallic”, “Papyrii Containg The Spell To Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is In The Water”.»
Black metallers ABIGOR have unveiled the artwork for their new album, "Fractal Possesion". The CD will be released in Europe on May 2 and the U.S. on June 5.
According to Metal Sludge, WHITE LION has been added to the POISON/RATT summer tour, which is tentatively scheduled to kick off June 12. This information, however, has not yet been confirmed by an official source.
Singer Christopher Schmid has left the German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE due to personal reasons. 
According to ROLLING STONE magazine, OZZY's new album will be entitled "Black Rain" and it will be released on June 2007. The first single from the album will be "I don't want to stop" and we will be able to hear it online on the 13th of April through OZZY's official site.
The original lineup of EXTREME will reunite for a benefit concert and auction in New York City in honor of music manager Steven Hoffman who work for the legendary Leber Krebs organization (AC/DC, SCORPIONS, AEROSMITH). His first big professional success was his discovery of Extreme; Steve was a key player in their runaway ride to the top of the rock charts with 'More Than Words' and their achievement of household-name status. Steve passed away at the age of 38 on October 26, 2003 at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital. The event will take place on May 18th at the Canal Room (285 West Broadway) from 7:00 to 10:30 p.m. Other bands scheduled to play at the event include VALENTINE, EVOLUTION, THE ILLEGITIMATE SONS OF THE BLUES BROTHERS and a star-studded lineup of musicians to be announced. A live and silent auction will also be held to raise funds for lung cancer research.
01. Running Riot
The cover artwork for ICED EARTH's upcoming EP, "Overture of the Wicked", has been posted online at IcedEarth.com. The art was created by Felipe Machado of Final Frontier Digital Art and Nathan Perry. Due on June 5 via SPV (one day earlier internationally), the CD will feature the following track listing:
01. Prologue
01. By Your Command
KAMELOT will release its new album, "Ghost Opera" on the following dates: Germany: June 1; Europe: June 4; USA: June 5.
Austrian symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE will issue a rarities/"best of" compilation, entitled "The Chronicles of Eden", as a double-CD and limited double-digipack on May 25. Disc One will contain three new, previously unreleased songs, all Japanese and European bonus tracks and songs that were included on all out-of-print singles. Disc Two will include a "best of" selection out of the five released studio albums. The track listing is as follows:
01. Once upon a Time
The traditional heavy metal band HEREGE is composing the last songs for their new album, which lyrics will be about marking historical facts of 20th and 21st Century, following a chronological order, from the end of Second World War, passing through Cold War, Latin America dictatorships, untill the present, with themes about globalization and terrorism.