The artwork for Australian gothic/classical/doom band VIRGIN BLACK's upcoming album "Requiem - Mezzo Forte" has been posted online at this location. Due on April 3 via The End Records, the album, which is part of the "Requiem" trilogy, will be the first installment (the second of the trilogy) released and will be followed later on this year by "Requiem – Pianissimo" and "Requiem – Fortissimo". An MP3 of the edited version of the lengthy track "...And I Am Suffering" has been posted online at the official The End Records' ' .
"Requiem - Mezzo Forte" track listing: 01. Requiem, Kyrie 02. In Death 03. Midnight’s Hymn 04. …And I am Suffering 05. Domine 06. Lacrimosa (I Am Blind With Weeping) 07. Rest Eternal
ANTIMATTER have just finished working on their fourth studio album "Leaving Eden". After Duncan Patterson left the band in 2005, Mick Moss gathered a number of guest musicians around him - among others Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) - to record the most depressive and heaviest album of ANTIMATTER's discography. This is attested by the dynamics of "Leaving Eden", the increased use of electric guitars and forceful drumming. "Leaving Eden" will be released as a limited first edition in a Digipak on April 16th, 2007.
Final tracklisting: 'Redemption' 'Another Face In A Window' 'Ghosts' 'The Freak Show' 'Landlocked' 'Conspire' 'Leaving Eden' 'The Immaculate Misconception' 'Fighting For A Lost Cause'
Canadian metallers ANNIHILATOR have inked a deal with King Records for the Japanese release of their new album, "Metal". An April 11 release is expected.
The Japanese edition of "Metal" will contain a bonus track, a cover of legendary Canadian act EXCITER's classic "Heavy Metal Maniac", featuring original singer/drummer Dan Beehler on vocals and bassist Allan Johnson on bass.
According to Tangra Mega Rock, French-Austrian dark neoclassical act ELEND will release its long-awaited sixth full-length album, "A World in Their Screams", on April 23 through Holy Records.
ELEND is a dark ambient band formed in France in 1993 by composers and multi-instrumentalists Iskandar Hasnawi of France and Renaud Tschirner of Austria. The band's name is German for "misery." Their music can be described as gothic and orchestral music with post-romantic undertones, or simply neoclassical.
"A World in Their Screams" is the follow-up to 2004's "Sunwar the Dead", which was the second part of the band's new five-album "Winds Cycle."
Swedish black metallers MARDUK have set "Rom 5:12" as the title of their new album, tentatively due this spring. Check out the cover artwork at this location. The CD was recorded at Endarker studio and features guest appearances by ARDITI (the project formed by H. Moller from PUISSANCE and M. Bjorkman), Joakim Göthberg (who played drums on the first two MARDUK albums and sang on the group's second and the third LPs) on a track entitled "Cold Mouth Prayer", and Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill from Irish band PRIMORDIAL on the song "Accuser/Opposer".
Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have seet "Unia" (Finnish for "Dreams") as the title of their new album, due on May 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is being mixed at Finnvox studio in Helsinki.
Vocalist Wade Black of the reactivated classic Florida metallers CRIMSON GLORY has commented on the band's split with original singer Midnight and their future plans, including two live dates in Florida in March.
CRIMSON GLORY parted ways with Midnight (real name: John Patrick McDonald Jr.) last month following the revelation that Midnight was arrested on January 20 in Sarasota, Florida and charged with "DUI [driving under the influence] with .20 [blood-alcohol level] or higher or having a passenger under 18" years of age.
Вritish gothic metallers PARADISE LOST have set "In Requiem" as the title of their 11th album, tentatively due for release in May via Century Media Records. The artwork for the CD will be created by Seth Siro Anton, who was the artwork designer for the group's last album, "Paradise Lost".
According to a posting on PARADISE LOST's official web site, "The band recently returned from Canada following completion of recording the new CD, produced by Rhys Fulber. The album has been mixed by Mike Fraser — who is well known for his work with bands such as METALLICA, AC/DC, VAN HALEN etc."
In other news, PARADISE LOST's April 12 concert at the Koko Club in London will be filmed for an upcoming DVD. More information will be made available soon.
A brand new SIX FEET UNDER track, entitled "Doomsday", is available for download ' . The song comes off the group's new album, "Commandment", due on April 17 via Metal Blade Records. The track listing is as follows:
01. Doomsday 02. Thou Shall Kill 03. Zombie Executioner 04. The Edge Of The Hatchet 05. Bled To Death 06. Resurrection Of The Rotten 07. As The Blade Turns 08. The Evil Eye 09. In A Vacant Grave 10. Ghosts Of The Undead
Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD entered the studio late last year with producers Leo Leoni and Ronald Prent (who worked with the band on their last effort, "Lipservice") to begin recording their new album, entitled "Domino Effect". An early summer release is expected.
In a recent interview with Spain's Laestadea.com, MASTERPLAN guitarist Roland Grapow has confirmed plans for a collaborative project with his ex-HELLOWEEN bandmates Michael Kiske (vocals) and Kai Hansen (guitar, vocals). An excerpt from the chat follows:
Q: About Hansen and Kiske, there's a rumor of a project. Is that right?
Grapow: "It's not a rumor, it's true. We’re just waiting for the right moment. We gathered together two or three times in the last two years. What happens is that Michael doesn't want to do anything with too much hard rock or too much heavy metal, too much dark or negative, he wants to do something more lively. So, probably, when I finish the tour with MASTERPLAN, I'll begin to write some tracks for Mike. Kai too. We'll see what will come out. But, once and for all, we will do something."
Q: Does this project have a name?
Grapow: "No, not yet! Perhaps it will be called HELLOWEEN! (Laughs). No, it’s a joke. At the moment we haven't thought of any names because we haven't planned it out yet. Now we only want to write a few songs which we feel comfortable with, that Michael doesn't find negative, but we all love. Because we don't want to make a Kiske solo album with two famous guitarists from the past. We search for music which speaks for itself without any need to be aggressive or negative."
A video for the new WALTARI song "Wish I Could Heal" has been posted on the ' . Also available at the same location is a streaming audio version of the track. The cut comes off the Finnish band's upcoming album, "Release Date", due on February 26 via Dockyard 1.
Legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA has set "Lurking Fear" as the title of its upcoming "comeback" album, tentatively due later in the year. Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Rules of Corruption", "Society of Fear", "Ratters", "Shadow of Truth" and "Immortal Hate".
As previously reported, MEKONG DELTA has recruited Leo Szpigiel (ANGEL DUST, CROWS, SCANNER, DUKE) to sing on the new CD.
Danish symphonic black metallers ILLNATH have tapped Reno Kiilerich (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, PANZERCHRIST, DEW-SCENTED) to play drums on their third album, entitled "Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom". The CD is being recorded at Borsing Studios and will feature artwork by Wilhelm Steiner.
CHRIS CAFFERY signed with Metal Heaven and his new album will have the title "Pins And Needles".The songs definitely are deadringers for any SAVATAGE fan. However, there is a more powerful, aggressive, experimental and focused attack that is sure to catch the ears of any metal fan. The album was produced by CAFFERY together with Nik Chinboukas at Nik's Hot Tracks Studio, Spin Studios and Happy Beaver Studios, Astoria, NY.
The ltd. edition first pressing of this release will be a digi-pack incl. the bonus track "Once Upon A Time".
The tracklist of "Pins & Needles" will be as follows: 01. Pins & Needles 02. Sixty-Six 03. Torment 04. Walls 05. YGBFKM 06. Sad 07. Chained 08. Worms 09. Crossed 10. The Time 11. Metal East 12. Qualdio 13. The Temple 14. Once Upon A Time (bonus track)
According to the web site of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, CRIMSON GLORY frontman John Patrick Jr. "Midnight" McDonald was arrested last Saturday night, January 20 in Sarasota, Florida and charged with "DUI [driving under the influence] with .20 [blood-alcohol level] or higher or having a passenger under 18" years of age. He was also cited for driving with a suspended/cancelled/revoked license. Bond for the 44-year-old vocalist — who gave his occupation as "painter" to the authorities at the time of the arrest — was set at $1,500. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 8.
SLAVIOR, the new band featuring former FATES WARNING/WARLORD drummer Mark Zonder, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP guitarist/keyboardist Wayne Findlay and ex-TRIBE OF GYPSIES singer Gregg Analla, has finalized the track listing for its self-ttiled debut album, due on April 3 via Inside Out Music.
A versatile, melodic hard rock/metal act, SLAVIOR's debut album features elements familiar to Zonder's progressive metal past, but also introduces a wide array influences including reggae, hip-hop, and modern rock.
The band had originally inked a deal with Greece's Black Lotus Records, but financial turmoil eventually caused the label to fold, leaving SLAVIOR to re-evaluate matters and come to their initial choice of labels, Inside Out.
"Slavior" track listing: 01. Clonus 02. Her Animal 03. Dog Boots 04. Bitch 05. King Of The Universe 06. Inside Black 07. Warfinger 08. Chocolate 09. Pods Of Trance 10. 2116
REDEMPTION, the Los Angeles-based progressive metal band led by guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter Nicolas van Dyk and featuring vocal legend Ray Alder of FATES WARNING, will release its third CD, "The Origins of Ruin", on April 3 via Inside Out Music.
Injecting traditional progressive metal with an uncommon degree of heaviness and melody, REDEMPTION's new CD follows up 2005's breakthrough release "The Fullness of Time", the band's first with Alder, which generated tremendous critical and popular acclaim. With Bernie Versailles (guitars, AGENT STEEL), Chris Quirarte (drums, PRYMARY) and new bass player Sean Andrews (who performed on Henning Pauly's CHAIN project), REDEMPTION is one of the most prominent up-and-coming progressive metal bands.
"The Origins of Ruin" track listing: 01. The Suffocating Silence (download mp3) 02. Bleed Me Dry 03. The Death of Faith & Reason 04. Memory 05. The Origins of Ruin 06. Man of Glass 07. Blind My Eyes 08. Used to Be 09. Fall on You 10. Precious Things (TORI AMOS cover) 11. Love To Love (UFO cover)
According to The Vault, Finnish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have lined up the following U.S. dates in October/November:
Oct. 20 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium Oct. 27 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Nov. 01 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater Nov. 12 - Houston, TX @ The Meridian Nov. 14 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
NIGHTWISH is currently working on its new album for a tentative late summer release. The band is expected to announce a new singer and release a brand new single at the end of May.
NIGHTRAGE: 'A New Disease Is Born' Track Listing Finalized - Jan. 21, 2007 Swedish/Greek death metal outfit NIGHTRAGE has finalized the track listing for upcoming Lifeforce Records debut (third album overall), "A New Disease Is Born", due in North America on April 17. The CD was recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, FEAR MY THOUGHTS, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).
"A New Disease Is Born" track listing: 01. Spiral (4:39) 02. Reconcile (4:25) 03. Death-Like Silence (4:36) 04. A Condemned Club (3:45) 05. Scars of the Past (3:39) 06. De-Fame (2:52) 07. Scathing (4:36) 08. Surge of Pity (4:12) 09. Encircle (3:34) 10. Drone (3:23) 11. Spiritual Impulse (3:33) 12. A New Disease Is Born (instrumental) (2:58)
Long-running Italian metallers WHITE SKULL have finally confirmed that they have parted ways with singer Gus Gabarrò (as BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on Oct. 19, 2006). Replacing Gabarrò in the group's current lineup is female vocalist Elisa "Over" De Palma.
ENSIFERUM has finalized the track listing for its third album, "Victory Songs", due on February 21 via Spinefarm. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki with producer Janne Joutsenniemi.
"Victory Songs" track listing: 01. Ad Victoriam 02. Blood Is the Prince of Glory 03. Deathbringer from the Sky 04. Ahti 05. One More Magic Potion 06. Wanderer 07. Raised by the Sword 08. The New Dawn 09. Victory Song
A limited-edition version of the album includes an extra track, "Lady in Black", and a bonus DVD. A CD single, "One More Magic Potion", will precede the album on February 7. Also included on the single will be "Lady in Black".
Spinefarm Records recently revealed the cover artwork for the fifth FINNTROLL album, which may or may not be entitled "Ur Jordens Djup" ("From the Depths of the Earth"), due in Finland on March 28. Check it out at this location. The CD, which was recorded by Nino Laurenne at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, will be the group's first release with new vocalist Mathias Lillmåns (a.k.a. Vreth; TWILIGHT MOON) following the departure of Tapio Wilska (SETHIAN, ex-WIZZARD, former session vocalist for NIGHTWISH) last spring. Lillmåns is reportedly 24 years old, and like FINNTROLL's original vocalist, Katla Mathias, is Fenno-Swedish, with Swedish as his mother tongue.
"Ur Jordens Djup" (working title) track listing: 01. Gryning 02. Sång 03. Korpens Saga 04. Nedgång 05. Ur Djupet 06. Slagbröder 07. En Mäktig Här 08. Ormhäxan 09. Maktens Spira 10. Under Två Runor 11. Kvällning
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band WITHIN TEMPTATION has provided music for the forthcoming werewolf film "Blood and Chocolate". Check out the trailer ' .
WITHIN TEMPTATION has finalized the track listing for its new album, "The Heart of Everything", due later in the year in the U.S. via Roadrunner Records. Check out the CD cover artwork at this location.
The 57-minute album's first single, to be released this spring, "What Have You Done", features a duet with Keith Caputo of LIFE OF AGONY. The band filmed the video for "What Have You Done" on December 13, 2006 at Koko in London.
WITHIN TEMPTATION recently spent time in a Stockholm studio mixing with Stefan Glaumann, known for his work with RAMMSTEIN.
"The Heart of Everything" track listing: 01. The Howling 02. What Have You Done (feat. Keith Caputo) 03. Frozen 04. The Heart of Everything 05. All I Need 06. Our Solemn Hour 07. Hand of Sorrow 08. The Cross 09. Final Destination 10. Forgiven 11. The Truth Beneath the Rose 12. Stand My Ground *
* The album's U.S. version will contain "Stand My Ground" from the band's "The Silent Force" album, which is featured on the "Blood and Chocolate" soundtrack.
"Requiem - Mezzo Forte" track listing:
ANTIMATTER have just finished working on their fourth studio album "Leaving Eden". After Duncan Patterson left the band in 2005, Mick Moss gathered a number of guest musicians around him - among others Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) - to record the most depressive and heaviest album of ANTIMATTER's discography. This is attested by the dynamics of "Leaving Eden", the increased use of electric guitars and forceful drumming. 
Canadian metallers ANNIHILATOR have inked a deal with King Records for the Japanese release of their new album, "Metal". An April 11 release is expected.
According to Tangra Mega Rock, French-Austrian dark neoclassical act ELEND will release its long-awaited sixth full-length album, "A World in Their Screams", on April 23 through Holy Records. 
Swedish black metallers MARDUK have set "Rom 5:12" as the title of their new album, tentatively due this spring. Check out the cover artwork at this location. The CD was recorded at Endarker studio and features guest appearances by ARDITI (the project formed by H. Moller from PUISSANCE and M. Bjorkman), Joakim Göthberg (who played drums on the first two MARDUK albums and sang on the group's second and the third LPs) on a track entitled "Cold Mouth Prayer", and Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill from Irish band PRIMORDIAL on the song "Accuser/Opposer".
Вritish gothic metallers PARADISE LOST have set "In Requiem" as the title of their 11th album, tentatively due for release in May via Century Media Records. The artwork for the CD will be created by Seth Siro Anton, who was the artwork designer for the group's last album, "Paradise Lost".
01. Doomsday 
Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD entered the studio late last year with producers Leo Leoni and Ronald Prent (who worked with the band on their last effort, "Lipservice") to begin recording their new album, entitled "Domino Effect". An early summer release is expected.
In a recent interview with Spain's Laestadea.com, MASTERPLAN guitarist Roland Grapow has confirmed plans for a collaborative project with his ex-HELLOWEEN bandmates Michael Kiske (vocals) and Kai Hansen (guitar, vocals). An excerpt from the chat follows:
01. Superior Existence
Legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA has set "Lurking Fear" as the title of its upcoming "comeback" album, tentatively due later in the year. Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Rules of Corruption", "Society of Fear", "Ratters", "Shadow of Truth" and "Immortal Hate".
The tracklist of "Pins & Needles" will be as follows: 
According to the web site of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, CRIMSON GLORY frontman John Patrick Jr. "Midnight" McDonald was arrested last Saturday night, January 20 in Sarasota, Florida and charged with "DUI [driving under the influence] with .20 [blood-alcohol level] or higher or having a passenger under 18" years of age. He was also cited for driving with a suspended/cancelled/revoked license. Bond for the 44-year-old vocalist — who gave his occupation as "painter" to the authorities at the time of the arrest — was set at $1,500. He is scheduled to be arraigned on February 8.
"Slavior" track listing:
"The Origins of Ruin" track listing:
"A New Disease Is Born" track listing:
Long-running Italian metallers WHITE SKULL have finally confirmed that they have parted ways with singer Gus Gabarrò (as BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on Oct. 19, 2006). Replacing Gabarrò in the group's current lineup is female vocalist Elisa "Over" De Palma.
"Victory Songs" track listing:
01. Gryning
"The Heart of Everything" track listing: