According to MaidenNorway.com, the artwork for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", the first single from the new IRON MAIDEN album, "A Matter of Life and Death", has been posted online on the IMOC (Iron Maiden Online Club) forum. Check it out at ' .
As previously reported, IRON MAIDEN's video for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" has been made available for streaming at YouTube.com.
British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Thornography", due on October 16 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Nymphetamine", "Thornography" was recorded at Lincolnshire, England's Chapel studios with producer Rob Caggiano (BLEEDING THROUGH, ANTHRAX) and was mixed at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, England by Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, SKINLAB, NEVERMORE).
"Thornography" track listing: 01. Under Pregnant Skies She Comes Alive Like Miss Leviathan 02. Dirge Inferno 03. Tonight in Flames 04. Libertina Grimm 05. Byronic Man 06. I Am The Thorn 07. Cemetery And Sundown 08. Lovesick For Mina 09. The Foetus Of A New Day Kicking 10. Rise Of The Pentagram 11. Under Huntress Moon 12. Temptation
The narraration for "Thornography" was once again laid down by Doug Bradley (a.k.a. "Hellraiser"'s chief Cenobite, Pinhead), who has previously worked with the group on "Her Ghost in the Fog" and "Swansong for a Raven".
German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA are finalizing the mixing process for their new album, "Caledonia", tentatively due in October via Armageddon Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Command to Charge" was recorded at Gernhart Records studio in Siegburg, Germany and features artwork by Kris Verwimp. The album photography is being handled by Axel Jusseit, who previously worked with the group on 2003's "Signs for the Fallen".
According to the band, "'Caledonia' adopts the lyrical concept of ancient Scottish history, which explains song titles such as 'Highland Hills', 'Forth-Clyde' and 'The IXth Legion'."
The new ILLUMINATE CD will be in stores worldwide on September the 29th. There will be a limited edition of "Zwei Seelen" with a free bonus CD on which you can hear the band's last concert in Mexico-City in the year 2005!
Finnish metallers AMORPHIS will release "The Smoke" (cover), the second single from their "Eclipse" album, in Finland on June 7. Included on the CD is the video clip for "House of Sleep".
Finland's KALMAH have finished filming a video for the song "The Groan of Wind". The clip should be completed by the end of the month. Check out a few pictures from the video shoot '
"The Groan of Wind" comes off the band's latest CD, "The Black Waltz", which entered the Finnish national album chart in early March at position No. 38.
The follow-up to 2003's "Swampsong", "The Black Waltz" marks the group's recording debut with keyboardist Marco Sneck (POISONBLACK). The band's current lineup is as follows:
Pekka Kokko - Guitar, Vocals Antti Kokko - Lead Guitar Janne Kusmin - Drums Timo Lehtinen - Bass Marko Sneck – Keyboards
Italian gothic metal sensations GODYVA will be releasing the new full-length CD, entitled "In Good and Evil", on June 6 through SorceryStudios Media Group.
GODYVA — who have been likened to EVANESCENCE, LACUNA COIL and NIGHTWISH — recorded the follow-up to their acclaimed "Advent" EP (2002) at Jolly Roger Studios and mixed it at the Temple of Noise in Rome by Christian Ice. The band are currently in Rome filming a video for the CD's projected title track.
01. In Good and Evil ' 02. Broken Angel ' 03. Aisthesis 04. Intimate 05. Lovable Sin ' 06. The Deeper 07. Blue Shadows 08. Flame Flower 09. Dreams Of A Child ' 10. Soul Desert 11. Light At Last! 12. Purified 13. Cold '
German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE will release their new single, "Again It's Over" (cover), in Europe on June 9 via Napalm Records. The six-track mini-CD jewel-case edition will include three non-album tracks. A video for "Again It's Over" was recently filmed and can be viewed ' (Windows Media).
LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE's seventh album, "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts", was produced by none other than John Fryer (H.I.M., PARADISE LOST, NINE INCH NAILS, DEPECHE MODE) and is scheduled for release in July via Napalm.
The cover artwork for the new DEICIDE album, "The Stench of Redemption", has been posted online a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/838/174/1600/small_STENCH_5.jpg" target="_blank">at this location.' The follow-up to 2004's "Scars of the Crucifix" was recorded at Morrisound in Tampa, Florida and marks the first recording with the new DEICIDE lineup following the departure of the Hoffman brothers. Joining frontman Glen Benton and drummer Steve Asheim in the new formation are guitarists Jack Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Ralph Santolla (ex-ICED EARTH, DEATH).
New York-based death metallers SKINLESS have uploaded two tracks from their new album, "Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead", due on June 13 via Relapse Records. "Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead" is the band's first to feature new vocalist Jason Keyser. The follow-up to 2002's "From Sacrifice To Survival" was recorded with longtime engineer Brett Portzer at his Max Trax Studios and was mastered by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound.
"Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead" (view artwork at this location) track listing: 01. Overlord 02. A Unilateral Disgust 03. Deviation Will Not Be Tolerated ' 04. Trample The Weak, Hurdle The Dead 05. Sycophant 06. Endvisioned 07. Execution Of Reason ' 08. Wicked World (BLACK SABBATH cover)
Denmark's Codiac Records has just released "Shock Rock Hellions – A Tribute to W.A.S.P." (view cover here). The complete track listing for the 12-song effort is as follows:
01. DRACENA (SWE) – "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)" 02. DENIAL OF GOD (DEN) - "Hellion" 03. STOS (POL) - "L.O.V.E. Machine" 04. HOLY DEATH (POL) - "Running Wild in the Streets" 05. CEREMONIAL CASTINGS (USA) - "Sleeping in the Fire" 06. BLACKIES (ITA) - "Rock and Roll to Death" 07. VICTIMIZER (DEN) - "Tormentor" 08. THIS TANGLED WEB (OZ) - "The Headless Children" 09. IMPALER (USA) - "On Your Knees" 10. CAPTAIN T & OSTRONOMY (USA) - "The Real Me" 11. CRYSTAL VIPER (POL) - "Wild Child" 12. EXEKRATOR (DEN) - "The Flame"
DARK ARENA, the new Cleveland, Ohio-based band featuring vocalist Juan Ricardo (ATTAXE, RITUAL), guitarists "Tall" Paul Konjicija (ANTITHESIS, RITUAL) and Dale Robertson (ROADIE'S NIGHTMARE), keyboardist Rhiannon Wisniewski (SOMNUS), drummer Chris Stolle (SOMNUS), and bassist Brian Glodde (ANTITHESIS, RICK RENSTROM), will release their debut disc, entitled "Alien Factor", on May 26 at the Great Lakes Metal Fest at the Cleveland Agora in Cleveland, OH.
"Alien Factor" was mastered by legendary producer Alex Perialas (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX, OVERKILL) and features cover art by by Joseph Vargo at Monolith Graphics.
"Alien Factor" track listing: 01. A Place Called Freedom 02. Fear of the Night 03. Alien World 04. The Sight 05. Vicious Circle 06. Subterranean Man 07. Somewhere 08. Dark Sorrow 09. Crystallized
Check out the songs "A Place Called Freedom", "Fear of the Night" and "Alien World" at www.darkarena.cc.
Greek thrash metallers MEMORAIN have just released their new album from EMI Music Greece, entitled "Reduced to Ashes". The drums were recorded by Nick Menza (ex-MEGADETH) at his personal studio in Los Angeles, California and special guest Jeff Waters from ANNIHILATOR recorded a solo for the song "TV War".
"Reduced to Ashes" track listing: 01. The Land Of Pain 02. The Evil Within 03. Blinded By The Lights 04. Charge 05. See / Hate 06. Reduced To Ashes 07. TV War 08. Facing My Demons 09. Inside My Sickness 10. Against My Fate 11. Nothing Is Left 12. The Lights Into The Night
Danish melodic progressive power metal band ANUBIS GATE will enter the studio this summer to record their third album. The CD will be produced by Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR), who is also the new lead singer in the band. This will be Jacob's first vocal preformance with ANUBIS GATE. An online diary tracking the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new album has been launched at this location.
Guitarist Andre Olbrich of the German power metal giants BLIND GUARDIAN revealed in an interview with Metal Temple magazine's Michael Dalakos that the band has been working on a strictly orchestral album, due for release in 2008.
Audio samples of the new NECROPHOBIC tracks "I Strike with Wrath" and "The Crossing" have been posted online at this location. Both songs come off the Swedish death metallers' fifth album, "Hrimthursum", due on May 22 via Regain Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Bloodhymns" was recorded at the House of Voodoo Studio with engineers Anders Bentell and Fredrik Folkare (guitarist and producer of UNLEASHED) and was mastered at Tailor Maid Production in Stockholm with Peter In de Betou.
"Hrimthursum" (a word taken from the old Norse mythology which means "The Frost Giants") will feature the following track listing: 01. The Slaughter of Baby Jesus 02. Blinded vy Light, Enlightened by Darkness 03. I Strike with Wrath 04. Age of Chaos 05. Bloodshed Eyes 06. The Crossing 07. Eternal Winter 08. Death Immaculate 09. Sitra Ahra 10. Serpents (Beneath the Forest of the Dead) 11. Black Hate 12. Hrimthursum
Threshold's brand new CD "Surface To Stage" was released on 27 March. You can hear mp3 clips at www.thresh.net. The 72 minute live CD was recorded during Threshold's last European tour.
1. Mission Profile (8.22) 2. Ground Control (7.12) 3. Into The Light (8.51) 4. Echoes Of Life (8.28) 5. Long Way Home (5.57) 6. Opium (6.29) 7. The Art Of Reason (10.06) 8. Pressure (5.22) 9. Flags And Footprints (5.10) 10. Light And Space (6.05). Total running time: 72 minutes
"Surface To Stage" is a direct-to-fan release available to buy from www.thresh.net.
Musicians Mac: vocals Karl Groom: guitars / backing vocals Nick Midson: guitars Richard West: keyboards / backing vocals Steve Anderson: bass / backing vocals Johanne James: drums
Despite the fact that their latest CD, "Afterburner", has only just been released through Nuclear Blast Records, reunited Dutch death metallers SINISTER have already commenced the songwriting process for their next album, tentatively titled "No Mercyful God".
SINISTER's current lineup consists of Aad Kloosterwaard, drummer and founder of the band, on vocals, Alex Paul on guitar, Paul Beltman (ex-JUDGEMENT DAY) on drums, and Bas van den Bogaard on bass.
VINTERSORG, the Swedish band led by BORKNAGAR frontman Andreas Hedlund (a.k.a. Vintersorg), have set "Solens Rötter" (Swedish for "The Sun's Roots") as the title of their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Napalm Records.
The follow-up to 2004's "The Focusing Blur" will not feature contributions from Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, SEBASTIAN BACH, TESTAMENT, DEATH) and drummer Asgeir Mickelson (SPIRAL ARCHITECT, BORKNAGAR), both of whom performed on the band's last two releases.
PERSUADER, the Swedish winners of the 2003 "Young Metal Gods" award, will release their third full-length effort, entitled "When Eden Burns", on May 15 via Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Sielck. The follow-up to 2004's "Evolution Purgatory" (Sanctuary/Noise) was recorded at Powerhouse studio in Hamburg, Germany with producer (and SAVAGE CIRCUS bandmate) Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR).
"When Eden Burns" track listing: 01. Twisted Eyes 02. Slaves Of Labour 03. Sending You Back 04. R.S Knights 05. The Return 06. When Eden Burns 07. Judas Immortal 08. Doomsday News 09. Zion 10. Enter Reality 11. Alight The Heavens (Japanese bonus)
PERSUADER members Jens Karlsson (vocals, guitar) and Emil Norberg (lead guitar) have teamed up with Sielck and former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch in a new band called SAVAGE CIRCUS. The group's debut album, "Dreamland Manor", was released last August via Dockyard 1.
ANOTHER LIFE, the Swedish project featuring Andreas Karlsson (ex-PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER) and Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, PAN THY MONIUM), have secured a touring lineup to promote their upcoming debut album, "Memories from Nothing", due on April 20 via VIC Records. It is as follows:
Andreas Karlsson - Vocals Fredrik Pettersson - Lead Guitar Andreas Ottosson - Bass Christian Ahlsen - Guitar Niklas Ottosson - Keyboards August Lengquist - Drums
Commented Karlsson: "We entered the rehearsal room today and rehearsed two songs from 'Memories From Nothing'. Everything went well and the plan is to be ready for live shows at the end of the summer."
A teaser MP3 containing selections from "Memories from Nothing" can be downloaded '
"Memories from Nothing" track listing: 01. Firstborn Unicorn 02. Falling Apart 03. The End Of Days 04. I Am Nothing 05. Cotton Pines 06. Everlasting 07. The Last Goodbye 08. The Everflow 09. Poltava (Part I, Part II, Part III)
Swedish epic/power metallers FALCONER have set "Northwind" as the title of their new album — their first since the departure of singer Kristoffer Göbel and return of Mathias Blad. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Catch the Shadows", "Northwind", "Legend and the Lore", "Waltz with the Dead", "Long Gone By" and "Tower of the Queen".
Israeli metal band ORPHANED LAND have announced that Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE will produce their next album, entitled "The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR".
Commented ORPHANED LAND vocalist Kobi Farhi: "We are a big fans of Steven's works, we are very much exited that we will work together and we are sure we will make an unforgettable album!"
Added Wilson: "I'm very happy to have the opportunity to work with ORPHANED LAND, one of the most unique and ambitious metal bands on the scene. I know we are going to make an extraordinary album together."
ORPHANED LAND is a band which combines progressive heavy/death-metal rock with ethnic Middle Eastern/Arabic/Israeli elements, a unique hybrid of styles that contributed to Steven's decision to work with them. The group have recorded three albums to date, the most recent of which, "Mabool", was their Century Media debut.
San Diego extreme metallers CATTLE DECAPITATION have set "Karma.Bloody.Karma." as the title of their new album, tentatively due in June/July via Metal Blade Records. The CD was produced by Billy Anderson (SWANS, MR. BUNGLE, SLEEP) and features guest appearances by Joey Karam (THE LOCUST) and John Wiese (SUNN0))), BASTARD NOISE).
"Karma.Bloody.Karma." track listing: 01. Intro 02. Unintelligent Design 03. Success Is…(Hanging By the Neck) 04. One Thousand Times Decapitation 05. The Carcass Derrick 06. Total Gore 07. Bereavement 08. Suspended In Coprolite 09. Alone At The Landfill 10. Karma.Bloody.Karma. 11. The New Dawn 12. Of Human Pride & Flatulence
Belgium's AXAMENTA, the former band of current EPICA bassist Yves Huts, have inked a deal with Shiver Records for the release of their new album, "Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture". The CD was recorded at Hansen studio in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (MERCENARY, RAUNCHY, ABORTED) and was mixed and mastered will at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden under the supervision of producer Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, SOILWORK, DIMMU BORGIR, THE HAUNTED, OLD MAN'S CHILD). PAIN OF SALVATION singer Daniel Gildenlöw is featured as a guest vocalist on one entire song ("Threnody For An Endling"), for which he has written the melody and vocal pattern himself. A May release is expected.
"Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture" track listing:
Chapter 1: The Chainreaction is Initiated: 01. Incognation 02. Demons Shelter Within 03. Ashes To Flesh ' 04. A Nation In Atrophy 05. The Midnight Grotesque
Chapter 2: The Chainreaction is Terminated 06. Prophet Set To Witness 07. Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture 08. Threnody For An Endling (feat. Daniel Gildenlöw)
Chapter 3: The Chainreaction is Saturated 09. Ravager 1.6.6.3. 10. Of Genesis And Apocalypse 11. Foreboding 12. Shackles Cross 13. The Omniscient
Ozzy Osbourne decided to leave the ranks of legendary band BLACK SABBATH due to personal reasons. His wife and group manager, Sharon, found the replacement in person of her daughter Kelly. Young girl has already started to learn the huge number of BLACK SABBATH songs for the tour along Amazon river.
Also the variant of Tonny Aiomi replacing by Victor Zinchuk.
Frontiers Records will release former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske's new solo album, simply entitled "Kiske", on May 19.
"Kiske" track listing: 01. Fed By Stones 02. All-Solutions 03. Knew I Would 04. Kings Fall 05. Hearts Are Free 06. The King Of It All 07. Sing My Song 08. Silently Craving 09. Truly 10. Painted 11. Sad As The World
"Thornography" track listing:
German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA are finalizing the mixing process for their new album, "Caledonia", tentatively due in October via Armageddon Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Command to Charge" was recorded at Gernhart Records studio in Siegburg, Germany and features artwork by Kris Verwimp. The album photography is being handled by Axel Jusseit, who previously worked with the group on 2003's "Signs for the Fallen".
Finnish metallers AMORPHIS will release "The Smoke" (cover), the second single from their "Eclipse" album, in Finland on June 7. Included on the CD is the video clip for "House of Sleep".
http://www.grimfaith.kiev.ua
Finland's KALMAH have finished filming a video for the song "The Groan of Wind". The clip should be completed by the end of the month. Check out a few pictures from the video shoot ' 
Italian gothic metal sensations GODYVA will be releasing the new full-length CD, entitled "In Good and Evil", on June 6 through SorceryStudios Media Group.
German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE will release their new single, "Again It's Over" (cover), in Europe on June 9 via Napalm Records. The six-track mini-CD jewel-case edition will include three non-album tracks. A video for "Again It's Over" was recently filmed and can be viewed ' (Windows Media).
The cover artwork for the new DEICIDE album, "The Stench of Redemption", has been posted online a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/838/174/1600/small_STENCH_5.jpg" target="_blank">at this location.' The follow-up to 2004's "Scars of the Crucifix" was recorded at Morrisound in Tampa, Florida and marks the first recording with the new DEICIDE lineup following the departure of the Hoffman brothers. Joining frontman Glen Benton and drummer Steve Asheim in the new formation are guitarists Jack Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Ralph Santolla (ex-ICED EARTH, DEATH).
"Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead" (view artwork at this location) track listing:
01. DRACENA (SWE) – "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)"
"Alien Factor" track listing:
"Reduced to Ashes" track listing:
1. Mission Profile (8.22)
"When Eden Burns" track listing:
"Memories from Nothing" track listing:
Israeli metal band ORPHANED LAND have announced that Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE will produce their next album, entitled "The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR".
"Karma.Bloody.Karma." track listing:
"Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture" track listing:
Ozzy Osbourne decided to leave the ranks of legendary band BLACK SABBATH due to personal reasons. His wife and group manager, Sharon, found the replacement in person of her daughter Kelly. Young girl has already started to learn the huge number of BLACK SABBATH songs for the tour along Amazon river.
Frontiers Records will release former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske's new solo album, simply entitled "Kiske", on May 19.