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.
"MTV Unplugged: Korn", which was recorded December 9, 2006 at MTV's Times Square (New York City) studios, will air online February 10 and on TV February 17, according to MTV.com. The "Unplugged" CD will be released on February 20 in the U.S. The first single off the CD will be "Freak on a Leash", featuring EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee.
KORN "Unplugged" track listing: 01. Thoughtless 02. Blind 03. Hollow Life 04. Freak On A Leash (feat. Amy Lee) 05. Falling Away 06. Creep (RADIOHEAD cover) 07. Love Song 08. Got The Life 09. Twisted Transistor 10. Dirty 11. Coming Undone 12. Make Me Bad/In Between Days (feat. Robert Smith of THE CURE) 13. No One's There 14. Throw Me Away
As previously reported, MEGADETH's new song, "Gears of War", is available for download ' . The track comes off the group's upcoming album, "United Abominations", tentatively due in March via Roadrunner Records.
EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet has confirmed via his official web site that he is currently working on the third installment of his solo project AVANTASIA. "Again it's going to be a conceptual album with different musicians and singers," he writes.
"You ask why I am doing it? Because I can! Because I am dying to go for it! And because the time has come that I feel ready and strong enough to start something big, bombastic and monumental again! Believe me: you won't find any other man on the face of the earth who has got more work and stress right now — and who's yet as happy as I am. It's so exciting to see another dream of mine take shape."
Reunited Austrian black metallers ABIGOR will master their new album, "Fractal Possesion", in January for a spring release via End All Life Records. Check out a few audio samples at the band's ' .
Swedish metallers DREAMLAND have set "Eye for an Eye" (cover) as the title of their second album, due on January 26, 2007 via Dockyard 1. The CD was recorded at Joacim Cans' (HAMMERFALL) Moonshine Studio and Andy LaRocque's (KING DIAMOND) Los Angered Recording, where the album was also mixed. The group is promising that the effort will follow the melodic-yet-heavy style of their first release, "Future's Calling" (2005) "but will maybe also surprise the listener here 'n' there." Working titles set to appear on the CD include "Forever and Ever", "Into The Fire", "Shadows of the Night", "Carousel of Pain" and "Chosen Ones".
In other news, DREAMLAND has posted video clips of two songs from its appearance at HAMMERFALL's "Threshold" record-release party on October 21 at Trägårn in Gothenburg, Sweden. Check out the tracks "Breaking the Chains" (video) and the HAMMERFALL cover "Way of the Warrior" (video).
The cover artwork for ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET's upcoming sophomore album, "Error in Evolution", has been posted online at this location. Due on March 9, 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records, the follow-up to the band's debut, "21st Century Killing Machine", was recorded at Deadline studios with engineer Valle Adzic.
"Error in Evolution" final track listing: 01. Mine For The Taking 02. Knights In Satan's Service 03. Such A Sick Boy 04. The Supreme Butcher 05. The Sun Never Shines 06. See Them Burn 07. Nightmare In Ashes And Blood 08. He's back (The Man Behind The Mask) (ALICE COOPER cover) 09. Heaven Knows No Pain 10. Hail The King
ANATHEMA mastermind Daniel Cavanagh has issued the following update:
"This is the greatest record we have ever made. I know it in my heart. All we need do now is find the right engineer/producer and the right studio? And to remain focused. To this end, we have decided to hire a house in the country for the first month of next year to 'live' this record before we record. We will play every day and we will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of brilliance. Of a new way to express these feelings."
"Everything" track listing: 01. Thin Air (Ann Further) 02. Bricks (рабочее название) 03. Lightning Song 04. Sunlight 05. Get Off. Get Out. (рабочее название) 06. Angels Walk Among Us 07. Everything 08. A Simple Mistake 09. Voodoo (рабочее название) 10. No One Is Free (рабочее название) 11. Paradigm Shift 12. Hindsight
Italian "epic power metal" band DOMINE will release its fifth album, "Ancient Spirit Rising", on January 24. The track listing for the effort is as follows:
01. The Messenger 02. Tempest Calling 03. The Lady of Shalott 04. I Stand Alone 05. Ancient Spirit Rising 06. On the Wings of the Firebird 07. Another Time, Another Place, Another Space 08. Sky Rider 09. How the Mighty Have Fallen 10. Too Scared to Run (bonus track)
Frontman Buddy Lackey (a.k.a. Devon Graves; ex-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) of DEADSOUL TRIBE has issued the following update:
"I changed my mind about making a double [DEADSOUL TRIBE] album. To me, it was an ambitious thought but probably a senseless business move. With all of today's downloading, it is becoming increasingly difficult for independent bands to keep running, selling enough to keep the bands in some sort of recording deal. Therefore it seems a bit risky to put out an album that is even more expensive, like a double disc set would inevitably have to be. Instead, I have taken what I consider the very best of the best between the two discs, and just put out the strongest record possible.
"The album will be called 'A Lullaby for the Devil. It will sound quite a bit different than the previous DEADSOUL albums, in that the songs are generally much faster-paced, and quite a bit more, progressive, quite a bit more aggressive, and quite a bit more metal. There are also some songs which would have been on the 'calmer' disc, which have a smokey, more experimental ambience. There is also a particularly noteworthy instrumental composed for lead flute. The album will have about 60 minutes running time, and should be released around April 2007 on InsideOut."
Italian metallers LABYRINTH have finalized the track listing for their sixth full-length album, "6 Days to Nowhere", due in February via Scarlet Records. The mastering took place at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.
"6 Days to Nowhere" (view cover at StayMetal.net) track listing: 01. Crossroads 02. There Is A Way 03. Lost 04. Mother Earth 05. Waiting Tomorrow 06. Come Together (THE BEATLES cover) 07. Just One Day 08. What!!! 09. Coldness 10. Rusty Nail 11. Out Of Control 12. Wolves 'N' Lambs 13. Smoke And Dreams 14. Piece Of Time
Danish metallers MNEMIC have posted a new 30-second teaser clip for their upcoming album, "Passenger", which is due out on February 6, 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records. Check it out ' .
Commented the band: "This 30-second sound clip consists of the more extreme and diverse material of the album. It's still not enough to give you the whole picture, but basically the fast parts have become much faster and the technical more crazy..... and [by the way], this machine will break for nobody!"
Produced by FEAR FACTORY's Christian Olde Wolbers at Track Record Studios (KISS, MEGADETH, AEROSMITH) in Los Angeles, engineered by Warren Riker (DOWN, THE FUGEES), and mixed by fellow countryman Tue Madsen (HALFORD, THE HAUNTED) at Antfarm Studios in Denmark, "Passenger" features artwork by Asterik Studios (ANTHRAX, UNEARTH) plus guest vocal appearances by Jeff Walker (CARCASS, BRUJERIA) and Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, BRUJERIA). MNEMIC has also completed a video for "Meaningless" with Revolver Film director Patric Ullaeus.
The final track listing for "Passenger" is as follows: 01. Humanaut 02. In The Nothingness Black 03. Meaningless 04. Psykorgasm 05. Pigfuck 06. In Control 07. Electric I'd Hypocrisy 08. Stuck Here 09. What's Left 10. Shape Of The Formless 11. The Eye On Your Back 12. Zero Synchronized (Japanese Bonus Track)
Finnish melodic thrashers HEVEIN have been confirmed for the tenth-anniversary edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 16-18, 2007 in Dinkelsbühl. The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
AMON AMARTH THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER COMMUNIC DARK FUNERAL DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER DORNENREICH EISBRECHER HEVEIN ILLDISPOSED IN EXTREMO MOONSORROW NECROPHOBIC TANZWUT
HEVEIN released its debut album, "Sound Over Matter", was released last year via Spinefarm Records. A video for the song "Last Drop of Innocence" was directed by HEVEIN drummer Alpo Oksaharju.
PAIN OF SALVATION's Daniel Gildenlöw (vocals/ guitar) and Johan Hallgren (guitar) will perform an exclusive acoustic show at the Rock Hard Greece party on January 21, 2007 at the Underworld Club in Athens, Greece. They will also present their new album, "Scarsick", which is due on January 22 via Inside Out. All attendees will get CDs, posters and various other giveaways. A DJ set from the editors of Rock Hard magazine will follow this event and many other surprises will take place. Stay tuned and check ' , as a huge competition will take place in which two winners will have dinner with the band the night before the show. Entrance to this event is 15 euros (beer included).
Italian metallers LABYRINTH have inked a deal with Scarlet Records. The band's sixth full-length album, "6 Days to Nowhere", includes a cover of THE BEATLES classic "Come Together" and is scheduled for release in February. The mastering took place at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.
Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR have posted the cover artwork for their new album, "Tarot", at this location (artwork created by Derek Gores).
DARK MOOR recently signed a deal with Italy's Scarlet Records. The group's new album, "Tarot", is said to be "an intriguing" conceptual effort about the major arcanes of the tarot, covering in depth the meaning of each arcane and the esoteric halo that surrounds it. Production duties were once again handled by renowed producer Luigi Stefanini (RHAPSODY, LABIRYNTH, VISION DIVINE). The impressive artwork was created by Derek Gores (EDGUY, KAMELOT).
"Tarot" track listing: 01. The Magician 02. The Chariot 03. The Star 04. Wheel Of Fortune 05. The Emperor 06. Devil In The Tower 07. Death 08. Lovers 09. The Hanged Man 10. The Moon
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:
KORN "Unplugged" track listing:
EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet has confirmed via his official web site that he is currently working on the third installment of his solo project AVANTASIA. "Again it's going to be a conceptual album with different musicians and singers," he writes. 
Swedish metallers DREAMLAND have set "Eye for an Eye" (cover) as the title of their second album, due on January 26, 2007 via Dockyard 1. The CD was recorded at Joacim Cans' (HAMMERFALL) Moonshine Studio and Andy LaRocque's (KING DIAMOND) Los Angered Recording, where the album was also mixed. The group is promising that the effort will follow the melodic-yet-heavy style of their first release, "Future's Calling" (2005) "but will maybe also surprise the listener here 'n' there." Working titles set to appear on the CD include "Forever and Ever", "Into The Fire", "Shadows of the Night", "Carousel of Pain" and "Chosen Ones".
01. Mine For The Taking
ANATHEMA mastermind Daniel Cavanagh has issued the following update:
01. The Messenger
Frontman Buddy Lackey (a.k.a. Devon Graves; ex-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) of DEADSOUL TRIBE has issued the following update:
"6 Days to Nowhere" (view cover at StayMetal.net) track listing:
01. Humanaut
Finnish melodic thrashers HEVEIN have been confirmed for the tenth-anniversary edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 16-18, 2007 in Dinkelsbühl. The festival billing is shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):
PAIN OF SALVATION's Daniel Gildenlöw (vocals/ guitar) and Johan Hallgren (guitar) will perform an exclusive acoustic show at the Rock Hard Greece party on January 21, 2007 at the Underworld Club in Athens, Greece. They will also present their new album, "Scarsick", which is due on January 22 via Inside Out. All attendees will get CDs, posters and various other giveaways. A DJ set from the editors of Rock Hard magazine will follow this event and many other surprises will take place. Stay tuned and check ' , as a huge competition will take place in which two winners will have dinner with the band the night before the show. Entrance to this event is 15 euros (beer included).
"Tarot" track listing: