MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande (ex-ARK, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) will release his fourth solo album, "The Duke", shortly through Germany's AFM Records. The CD was produced by Lande and PAGAN'S MIND guitarist Jörn Viggo Lofstad, and was mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark by Tommy Hansen. Recording musicians include:
Jorn Lande (vocals) Jörn Viggo Lofstad (PAGAN'S MIND) - Guitar Tore Moren (CARNIVORA) - Guitar Morty Black (TNT) - Bass Willy Bendiksen (COMPANY OF SNAKES) -Drums
Also featured on drums is Stian Kristoffersen of PAGAN'S MIND and FIREWIND, who appears on a newly recorded version of "Starfire", from Lande's debut, and the tracks "Stormcrow" and "After the Dying".
"The Duke" track listing:
01. We Brought the Angels Down 02. Blacksong 03. Stormcrow 04. End of Time 05. Duke of Love 06. Burning Chains 07. After the Dying 08. Midnight Madness 09. Are You Ready (THIN LIZZY cover) 10. Starfire (2005 version) 11. Noose (Japan only)
Norwegian extreme metallers ENSLAVED have set "Ruun" as the title of their new album, tentatively due on May 8 via Tabu. The recordings for the follow-up to the band's Norwegian Grammy- and Alarm award-winning album "Isa" (2004) began a week ago at Amper Studio in Oslo, Norway and the band Сalready feel confident that this will be a monumental album!" according to a posting on the group's web site. "The drums are finished, and the guitars are being recorded at this very moment."
"Ruun" will be mixed at Propeller Studios in Oslo by Mike Hartung and mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Path of Vanir" and "Essence", both of which the band are planning on shooting videos for.
Former HIRAX guitarist Glenn Rogers has officially joined ONCE DEAD, the Christian metal band featuring former members of VENGEANCE RISING. "Glenn, as most of you know, was one of the original founding members of VENGEANCE, and had written many of the songs with us prior to Roger Martinez, Larry Farkas and Glen Mancaruso joining the group," guitarist Doug Thieme writes on the band's web site. "Glenn left our group to join DELIVERANCE, and then later joined HIRAX.
"The addition of Glenn offers us an incredibly talented guitarist, an awesome song writer, as well as a longtime friend. We are very excited about Glenn joining us and we look forward to working with him on the upcoming album.
Sweden's THE QUILL have set "In Triumph" as the title of their fifth album, due on April 7 via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was recorded at Area 51 studios in Celle, Germany with producer Tommy Newton (VICTORY, UFO, HELLOWEEN).
"In Triumph" track-listing: 01. Keep The Circle Whole 02. Yeah 03. Slave/Master 04. Broken Man 05. Man In Mind 06. Merciless Room 07. Trespass 08. Black 09. No Light On The Dark Side 10. In The Shadows 11. Down
DARKTHRONE have dedicated a new song on their upcoming album The Cult Is Alive (out Feb. 27th, 2006 on Peaceville) to fallen guitar hero Denis D'Amour (aka Piggy) and his pioneering metal band VOIVOD.
Danish/Swedish prog-metallers BEYOND TWILIGHT have completed work on the vocal recording for their new album, tentatively due later in the year. "Everything went easy and well," the band write on their web site. "The vocals was recorded in just a couple of days. Björn [Jansson, singer] has made the most outstanding vocals. Pulling it off in just a couple of days he showed he is made of the same thing as the rest of the band. The band met in the weekend and had a great time together. Only thing left now is the mixing sessions which has already started."
Björn Jansson joined BEYOND TWILIGHT in early January as the replacement for Kelly Sundown Carpenter (also of OUTWORLD).
BEYOND TWILIGHT's most recent album, "Section X", was issued in 2005 via Massacre Records.
VREID, the new Norwegian band formed by former WINDIR members Hváll (bass), Steingrim (drums) and Sture (vocals, guitar), have posted the following message on their official web site:
"We have been working in our dungeon (studio 1184) with our second album since September. The recordings were finished by late November, and we have now been mixing the album for a couple of weeks. The mixing of the album was done at Subsonic Society studio together with Lars Klokkerhaug. Working with Lars was a pleasure as always. We feel that we have really found the formula and the right sound for this album; raw, powerful and grooving as hell. The last step of the process is the mastering of the album. On the 20th of January we will go to Tailor Maid studio in Stockholm and put the last make up on this beast. Release is set [for] March 27, 2006 through Tabu Records and worldwide distribution by Candlelight Records."
Entitled "Pitch Black Brigade", the album will contain the following eight songs:
01. Då Draumen Rakna 02. Pitch Black 03. Left To Hate 04. The Red Smell 05. Hengebjørki 06. Our Battle 07. Hang ‘Em All 08. Eit Kapitell For Seg Sjølv
BATTERED, the new Norwegian band featuring former EINHERJER members Frode Glesnes (a.k.a. Grimar, vocals/guitar), Aksel Herløe (guitar) and Gerhard Storesund (a.k.a. Vivar, drums), have uploaded a preview of the cover artwork for their upcoming self-titled debut album at this location (artwork conceived by Terje Johnsen).
"Battered" was recorded at Sifa Lydstudio and was mixed at Top Room Studio with producer Børge Finstad. The CD is scheduled for release in Norway on February 25, in Europe on March 13 and in the U.S. on April 14 via Candlelight Records.
BATTERED recently teamed up with producer Rome Ramsies of Vision Valley to shoot a video for the song "Not One" from the group's debut album. "The whole video was shot in bluescreen and the CGI will be done in Australia," the band write on their web site. The clip is expected to premiere in February.
BATTERED's current lineup is rounded out by bassist Ole Moldesæther and vocalist Sigurd Olaisen (HEADBLOCK).
Tentative track listing for BATTERED's debut album (in no particular order):
01. Oblivion Awaits 02. New Lament 03. Industrial Killing 04. The Flagellant 05. Not One 06. Perfect Illusion 07. The Dig 08. Demagog 09. Parasight 10. Derelict
This message has been posted on KAMELOT's official website:
"KAMELOT is pleased to announce their first Live DVD filming this February 11th, 2006 at Rockefeller Music Hall, in Oslo, Norway. The shoot will be handled by acclaimed director Patric Ullaeus and promises to be full of surprises for all the fans. "This has been in the works now for more than 2 years and we are very pleased to have all the gears in motion now. This will be a very, very special event for us and all the fans of the band" - states guitarist Thomas Youngblood. According to lead singer Roy Khan the crew is already in full swing preparing for the show in Oslo, most certainly destined to be another milestone in the career of the band.
More details are expected for this much anticipated DVD, including track listings, bonus footage and special guest appearances. Release date is scheduled for Summer/Fall 2006 via SPV Records."
The MetalList just got exclusively the information, that Ukrainian black metal band Nokturnal Mortum guitarist parted ways with the group, due to his chemical researches. This was the source of a cobflict. Due to this loss, band will stop their concert activity for some time (but next fue gigs will be played with this guitarist).
More information to be posted soon. Wait for the interview with Nokturnal Mortum on The MetalList!
DARK MOOR has begun writing new material for their next album, wich is planned to be recorded by the second half of this year 2006. Right now, the band is looking for a new label through his management agency Metallian, after the ending of their contract with Arise Records.
Mexican Label Witchcraft Records (sub-label American Line Productions) has released new album of one-man project TANGORODREAM from Dotetsk (Ukraine), named as "Twilight Before Sunrise" . CD includes doom metal 10 tracks in best traditions of Katatonia, Moonspell, Serenades. Also the cover-song to "Alma Mater" (originally by MOONSPELL) is present. see more here '
The Finnish doom band Night Must Fall have re-released their demo 'Night Must Fall' on the Russian label Endless Desperation, the cd also contains the rare EP 'Funeral of Mankind' as a bonus.
The cd comes with a 4 page booklet and the first 20 copies of the cd will be autographed by the band.
The recording for the upcoming Solitude Aeturnus album 'Alone', has been delayed.
From the Solitude Aeturnus newsletter; "Our apologies to everyone yet once again for another delay in getting this recording for 'Alone' started. We are more than ready but we're having to deal with some red-tape legal paperwork before we can start. It's not something we have control over unfortunately.
Before we can get the necessary money to start recording we must first have these blasted forms/paperwork filled out for Massacre. Without going into every sordid and boring detail, let's just say that something went wrong with the necessary forms and we're having to go through the process again, which takes about 4 weeks to complete.
So - our plan (assuming all goes well!) is to start the recording process in mid January. Believe me, we're dying to get this album DONE! The material is stronger than ever and I personally cannot wait to sit around and listen to the album in the comfort of my own home while drinking some powerful british ale, partaking of sacred herb and letting the fists bang the air in a rage of doom metal madness! Yes!! Patience is wearing thin. I'm sure as bold as this will sound - the wait will be worth it.
In nomine heavynay John Perez/Solitude Aeturnus"
Sad news indeed for us fans, the demo song "Sightless" from the album, is however available on the Brainticket website:http://www.brainticket.com/shopbt/ , it might make the wait easier.
Börje "Boss" Forsberg, owner of Black Mark Records and father of late BATHORY mainman Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg, has issued the following statement regarding plans for new BATHORY merchandise and album releases:
"Dearest BATHORY friends, I would like to thank all of you for your supports all the time. All your condolences signed by thousands of letters, e-mails or in any other forms made all of us feel strong. It has been impossible for me to thank all of you the personally way, though I wish I could.
"Many of you asked new material from BATHORY. The 'Bathory - In Memory Of Quorthon' shirt comes to be released first. The shirt shall mind the memory of Quorthon. Kristian Wåhlin, who painted for 'Blood On Ice' and 'Nordland', did paint the motif after the instructions Quorthon left to him few weeks before he died. This artwork was meant to cover the next upcoming BATHORY album.
"I temporary since months work with the 'Bathory – In Memory Of Quorthon' box. It comes to be Quorthon's and BATHORY's completed musical history. Not much informations to be announced right now. It is a very big production, it takes up a great deal of my time to join the musical part with the historical part. The discography alone allready covers 64 pages. Throughout working with all the stuff, I feel Quorthon's on my very side. I’m that sure you all will appreciate the release of the Box I did in memory of Quorthon. More information: to be announced."
The "Bathory - In Memory of Quorthon" t-shirts are available in the "Shop" area of ' .
Quorthon was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden on June 7, 2004. The 39-year-old, widely considered to be one of black metal's founding fathers, reportedly died of heart failure.
Sweden's AMON AMARTH have posted the following message on their official web site:
"Well, the U.S. tour is over for this time. We've had a fucking great time during these six weeks, and we'd like to thank CHILDREN OF BODOM and their crew for a fantastic tour. Thanks also to TRIVIUM with crew, and good luck on the IN FLAMES tour. Last but not least, thanks to all you fans — old and new — who came to the shows and made every one of them a magical experiense! Special thanks to those of you who bought us beers and booze. We truly appreciate it, and we hope to see you all next time around!
"The plan now is to take a couple of weeks off, before we start working on the new album in January. The recording is scheduled for May/June this year.
"We wish you all the best for the end of this year, and a great 2006!"
AMON AMARTH's latest album, "Fate of Norns", is available on Metal Blade Records.
Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH have finally returned home after completing an 11-week North American trek consisting of 54 shows in both the U.S. (as part of Blackest of the Black tour) and Canada (where they headlined). This tour marked the longest the band had ever been away from their homes.
Commented BEHEMOTH mainman Nergal: "We fuckin' did it! After doing all the U.S. dates, we headed to Canada, where NECRONOMICON joined the tour. And from day one, the whole tour has been a real battle, I can tell you the Canadian weather, especially in these month,s is really friendly. There were places where we had to load in and out in –20 Celsius. Most of the 'venues' were small shitty bars with no real P.A., no backstage, no lighting system. Simply nothing. That's what we used to call the Spartan way, ha ha. But then, pretty much EVERYWHERE people were simply awesome and their endless support and dedication paid off even the harshest conditions! I'm proud. We succeeded. We fuckin' went there, played 26 shows, froze our asses to ice but we fuckin' did it! I hope you crazy fucks appreciate this effort and had at least as much fun as we had, ha ha.
"We'd like to thank our agents, First Row and BCI for putting this tour together, Century Media for making it feel like at home, dudes from NECRONOMICON for all the fun and help, and last but not least, ALL the people who showed up and paid their heavy duty! Keep it up!"
Upcoming BEHEMOTH shows:
Dec. 17 - Bronx Club – Istanbul, TUR Dec. 18 - Golge Bar – Ankara, TUR Dec. 30 – Kolinsgborg – Stockholm, SWE (w/ DISSECTION) Jan. 06 - Enigma Bar – Adelaide, AUS Jan. 07 - The Esplanade Hotel – Melbourne, AUS Jan. 08 - The Tote – Melbourne, AUS (under-18 afternoon show) Jan. 10 - Black Betty’s – Perth, AUS Jan. 13 - Her Majestys Bar – Brisbane, AUS Jan. 14 - Gaelic Club – Sydney, AUS (all-ages mini-festival)
Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, have completed work on their new EP, "Dragonheads", due on February 15, 2006 via Spinefarm Records. The mini-CD was recorded and mixed in November at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. It will contain one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers.
"Dragonheads" track listing:
01. Dragonheads 02. Warrior's Quest 03. Kalevala-Melody 04. White Storm 05. Into Hiding (AMORPHIS cover) 06. Finnish Medley (Karjalan Kunnailla - Myrskyluodon Maija - Metsämiehen Laulu)
Commented ENSIFERUM mainman Markus Toivonen: "I think the sound and musical contents on 'Dragonheads' are quite satisfactory. Everything went very smoothly, although I had my doubts as we now had three new members since we were at studio for the previous time."
The group's next full-length release is scheduled to be recorded in the summer of 2006. A European tour is tentatively slated to kick off in March 2006.
As previously reported, ENSIFERUM will film their New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) 10-year anniversary concert at the Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for an upcoming DVD.
ENSIFERUM's sophomore album, "Iron", was released in April 2004 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Ensiferum" was recorded in the summer of 2003 at Sweet Silence studios in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, ARTILLERY, MORBID ANGEL).
German "dark Satanic metal band" MYSTIC CIRCLE have finished recording their seventh full-length album, "The Bloody Path of God", due on February 27, 2006 via Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). The new CD was recorded at a studio in Ludwigshafen, Germany with former MYSTIC CIRCLE drummer Necrodemon at the production helm. The album contains nine songs, two intros and a cover version of CELTIC FROST's "Circle of the Tyrants". "The new songs are really a blast," the band write on their web site. "It shows the developement from the band all over the years and you can expect killer songs."
MYSTIC CIRCLE issued a "best of" album, entitled "Mystic Circle Unholy Chronicles 1992–2004", in November 2004 via Massacre Records. The CD, which contains 18 songs spanning the group's entire career, includes a bonus DVD, featuring concert and backstage footage, as well as interviews and a video clip.
In case you are not yet absolutely convinced that Finland is the "most heavy metal" country in the world, look no further than this week's official Top 40 single chart (view chart here). Topping the Finnish national chart for the second consecutive week is DIABLO's new single, "Mimic 47", with AJATTARA's (the Finnish "black/dark metal" project featuring former AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen) Christmas single, "Joulusingle 2005", occupying the No. 2 slot and CHILDREN OF BODOM's "In Your Face" at No. 3. (Note: MADONNA's new single, "Hung Up", is at No. 5.)
As previously reported, DIABLO's new single, "Mimic 47", is available for streaming at this location. The song is the title cut of the Finnish metallers' new album, due in Finland on January 18, 2006 via Gaga Goodies/Poko. The album's first single, "Mimic 47" is backed with a cover of DURAN DURAN's "A View to a Kill".
"Mimic 47" is the follow-up to "Eternium", which received a wider European release through Drakkar Entertainment in September 2004. That album debuted on the Finnish album chart at position No. 3 after it was issued in Finland in January 2004.
U.K.-based black/death quintet BAL-SAGOTH have set "The Chthonic Chronicles" as the title of their long-awaited sixth album, tentatively due in early 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.
"The Chthonic Chronicles" track listing:
01. The Sixth Adulation of His Chthonic Majesty 02. Invocations Beyond The Outer-World Night 03. Six Score and Ten Oblations to a Malefic Avatar 04. The Obsidian Crown Unbound 05. The Fallen Kingdoms of the Abyssal Plain 06. Shackled to the Trilithon of Kutulu 07. The Hammer of the Emperor 08. Unfettering the Hoary Sentinels of Karnak 09. To Storm the Cyclopean Gates of Byzantium 10. Arcana Antediluvia 11. Beneath the Crimson Vaults Of Cydonia 12. Return to Hatheg-Kla
Dreamland are still looking forward their gig supporting Nocturnal Rites in Gothenburg on December 15th at Musikens Hus. The video to their stone-melting ballad "Fade Away" is now online on our pagewww.dockyard1.com/dreamland attention: video pops up in seperate window).
After their performance at the Danish Metal Awards, an event broadcasted live on Danish National Radio P3, AS WE FIGHT won the DMeA2005 award for "Best Live Band". AS WE FIGHT scored the title against hard competition, among the other nominees in the category were Hatesphere, Mercenary, Raunchy, Volbeat, Barcode and Mnemic.
UmeЕ's youngest, the thrash-oriented ASSAILANT named their debut album on Dockyard 1 "Nemesis Within". Currently singer Peder Sundqvist is recording his vocals at Hammer Music near Hamburg. Check for updates on the recording in their studio diary.
Next debut album, different direction. Belgium's LOST IN RHONE play beautiful and intense post-hardcore songs. Check the first track "Walk With Deadalus" on their Myspace-Profile. The debut album will be called "Beloved be the ones who sit down" and is in the mastering right now.
DEATH BEFORE DISCO entered the studio on December 1st to start the recording of their new album. The follow-up to the very well received "Party Bullet" will be produced by their drummer Ace Zec. According to the band, they'll record 12 songs, of which they'll choose the best 10 for the album. No title has been set so far.
Release Schedule
Out Now:
AFTER ALL - The Vermin Breed VANISHING POINT - Embrace The Silence DEATH BEFORE DISCO - Party Bullet IN-QUEST - The Comatose Quandaries AS WE FIGHT - Black Nails and Bloody Wrists INTEGRITY - Sliver In The Hands Of Time SAVAGE CIRCUS - Dreamland Manor DYECREST - This Is My World ANGEL CREW - One Life One Sentence PERSUADER - The Hunter A TRAITOR LIKE JUDAS - Nightmare Inc. DREAMLAND - Future's Calling
February 20, 2006 ABANDONED - tba LOST IN RHONE - Beloved be the ones who sit down MYSTIC CIRCLE - The Bloody Path Of God March 20, 2006
January 23 2006 would prabably be the hardest day for die-hard true black metal fans around the world due to release of DARKTHRONE's first ever single "Too Old, Too Cold":
1: Too Old, Too Cold 2: High On Cold War + 3: Love In A Void (Siouxsie & The Banshees Cover) + 4: Graveyard Slut (Nocturno on vocals) + + Exclusive to the single
Also coming soon is DARKTHRONE's first ever promo video for the track "Too Old, Too Cold".
Available as a CD single (CDVILES145) Limited Edition 12 on POLAR WHITE vinyl (CDVILEP145)
New DARKTHRONE's album "The Cult Is Alive" is scheduled for release on 27/02/06. Tracklisting:
1: The Cult Of Goliath 2: Too Old, Too Cold 3: Atomic Coming 4: Graveyard Slut (Fenriz on vocals) 5: Underdogs And Overlords 6: Whiskey Funeral 7: De Underjordiske 8: Tyster PЕ Gud 9: Shut Up 10: Forebyggende Krig
MIND'S EYE: is about to release their new album «Walking on H2O» (released through Lion Music on Jan 20th). As a preview the band is offering two free MP3's on their site. One is an album compilation while the other one is a complete track. The Nazca Lines which drummer/keyboardplayer Daniel Flores describes as “This is somehow the one song that shows most of all the great aspects appearing in the entire record, this is the closest we come to making the record of our dreams, enjoy!”
Album Track Listing:
Earth - The movie A rabbit in the hat Equally immortal Mrs. Clair voyance Sahara in an hourglass Out of my system Umbrellas under the sun Sacred rules The Nazca lines Flight of the An.unna.ki (Instrumental) Heal my karma When I whisper Poseidon says Bonus track: Sign o' the times
Canadian metal magazine Unrestrained! has named OPETH's "Ghost Reveries" the No. 1 Album of 2005 in their year-end issue that will be on stands December 15.
Unrestrained! Top 20 Albums Of 2005 (as chosen by the staff):
01. OPETH - Ghost Reveries (Roadrunner) 02. NEVERMORE - The Godless Endeavour (Century Media) 03. PRIMORDIAL - The Gathering Wilderness (Metal Blade) 04. CLUTCH - Robot Hive/Exodus (DRT) 05. LURKER OF CHALICE - Lurker Of Chalice (Southern Lord/Total Holocaust) 06. DEATHSPELL OMEGA - Kenose (N.E.D./Ajna Offensive) 07. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY - In The Arms Of God (Sanctuary) 08. HYPOCRISY - Virus (Nuclear Blast) 09. STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - Alien (Century Media) 10. BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME - Alaska (Victory) 11. DARK TRANQUILLITY - Character (Century Media) 12. ULVER - The Blood Inside (The End) 13. NAPALM DEATH - The Code Is Red... Long Live The Code (Century Media) 14. RAMMSTEIN - Rosenrot (Universal) 15. TORCHE - Torche (Robotic Empire) 16. GREEN CARNATION - The Quiet Offspring (The End Records) 17. LEAVES' EYES - Vinland Saga (Napalm) 18. JESU - Jesu (Hydra Head) 19. SLOUGH FEG - Atavism (Cruz Del Sur) 20. RED KNIFE LOTTERY - So Much Drama (Uprising)
Norwegian symphonic metal band TRISTANIA have posted the following message on their official web site:
"The band feels it is about time to reveal some more details regarding the upcoming album.
"It looks like it will be recorded in March, and they are happy to announce that it will be produced by Waldemar Sorychta [LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, SAMAEL].
"For this last week they have been working together with him on the pre-production in their studio. The collaboration seems to work perfect, and they are now confident that he will be the perfect producer for them in order to achieve the best possible result.
"As Waldemar Sorychta has produced some of their favorite metal albums (SAMAEL's 'Ceremony of Opposites', MOONSPELL's 'Wolfheart', and TIAMAT's 'Wildhoney'), they already knew that he was a brilliant producer. It was a huge relief to find that they also are working very well together. In the end, it was exactly what they were hoping for.
"TRISTANIA is confident that next year's album will be a great one. The songs that are ready are really strong, and with Waldemar's skills added , everyone involved are sure it will be a killer."
TRISTANIA's most recent album, "Ashes", is available now on SPV Records
Moscow band LETHAL GUEST (Melodic-Death-Trash-Metal) finished the work with their first album «Suicide By The Other Side». You can listen 12 absolutely different, strong and melodic tracks. It was recorded at musicians' home studio, mastered and mixed at "Dai - records" studio. The album will be released on 2006 february oficial band site - '
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce all details of highly anticipated Toto's brand new studio album entitled Falling In Between. The record will include ten songs in the following track listing: Falling In Between . Dying On My Feet . Bottom Of Your Soul . King Of The World . Hooked . Simple Life . Taint Your World . Let It Go . Spiritual Man . No End In Sight. Release date in the whole of Europe and Australia has been set on February the 10, 2006. Domestic releases have been finalized in Japan (on King Records), South Korea (on Pony Canyon Records) and Russia (on IronD Records) with more deals to be announced in Eastern Asia, South America and South Africa.
The line-up for Falling In Between is: Steve Lukather guitars and vocals; David Paich keyboards and vocals; Mike Porcaro bass guitar; Simon Phillips drums; Bobby Kimball lead vocals; Greg Phillinganes keyboards and vocals. Special guests appearing on the album are: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), the Chicago horn section with Jason Scheff, L. Shankar (Peter Gabriel), Lenny Castro, Tom Scott and former members Joseph Williams and Steve Porcaro.
Sweden's WOLVERINE have posted the following message on their official web site:
"It's with mixed feelings we have to announce that WOLVERINE is no longer a part of Earache Records.
"We released 'Cold Light of Monday' through Earache and we also re-released 'The Window Purpose' through them, two albums that we are very proud of. However, during the last months it became obvious that Earache wasn't the right label for us and that they wouldn't do 'Still', our upcoming album, justice.
"Being without a label is of course not the most ideal of situations for a band but at the same time we are confident that we'll find a label that suits us much better than Earache did.
"We would like to appologize to the fans that have been expecting 'Still' to be released soon. We hope you find comfort in the fact that the entire band feels that parting ways with Earache was the only right decision to make. With a little luck the album will be out in a not too distant future. Hopefully you'll feel when you listen to it that it was worth the wait.
"The hunt for a new label is on. Wish us luck! We'll keep you posted!"
As previously reported, "Still" was recorded in part at Spacelab studio in Tönisvorst, Germany. The follow-up to 2003's "Cold Light of Monday" was produced by Oliver Philipps, Christian "Moschus" Moos and WOLVERINE and was mixed at the end of August.
”Still” track listing: 01. A House of Plague 02. Bleeding 03. Taste of Sand 04. Nothing More 05. Sleepy Town 06. Liar on the Mount 07. Hiding 08. This Cold Heart of Mine 09. And She Slowly Dies
Drummer Aquiles Priester (ANGRA), virtuoso keyboardist Richard Andersson (TIME REQUIEM, MAJESTIC, SPACE ODYSSEY) and vocalist Jonathan Murphy (MCBRAIN DAMAGE) are among the musicians contributing to the new demo recording from STYGIA, the project of Todd Seitz, an up-and-coming "shred" guitarist from Pittsburgh, PA.
According to Seitz, the STYGIA album will have a concept of Conan the Barbarian and the stories of Robert E. Howard. Todd's influences will combine to make a dark fantasy come to life in the form of progressive power metal.
Priester will be laying down drum tracks for the demo this month. Soon to follow, Andersson will be working on parts for the demo. Murphy will record vocals and Todd will be playing all guitar and bass parts. After the demo is complete, the grand lineup for STYGIA will be confirmed. There will be multiple vocalists and guest soloists on the album from many well-known metal bands. Most names will be kept confidential until a record deal is negotiated.
MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande (ex-ARK, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) will release his fourth solo album, "The Duke", shortly through Germany's AFM Records. The CD was produced by Lande and PAGAN'S MIND guitarist Jörn Viggo Lofstad, and was mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark by Tommy Hansen. Recording musicians include:
Norwegian extreme metallers ENSLAVED have set "Ruun" as the title of their new album, tentatively due on May 8 via Tabu. The recordings for the follow-up to the band's Norwegian Grammy- and Alarm award-winning album "Isa" (2004) began a week ago at Amper Studio in Oslo, Norway and the band Сalready feel confident that this will be a monumental album!" according to a posting on the group's web site. "The drums are finished, and the guitars are being recorded at this very moment." 
Danish/Swedish prog-metallers BEYOND TWILIGHT have completed work on the vocal recording for their new album, tentatively due later in the year. "Everything went easy and well," the band write on their web site. "The vocals was recorded in just a couple of days. Björn [Jansson, singer] has made the most outstanding vocals. Pulling it off in just a couple of days he showed he is made of the same thing as the rest of the band. The band met in the weekend and had a great time together. Only thing left now is the mixing sessions which has already started."
VREID, the new Norwegian band formed by former WINDIR members Hváll (bass), Steingrim (drums) and Sture (vocals, guitar), have posted the following message on their official web site:
This message has been posted on KAMELOT's official website:
DARK MOOR has begun writing new material for their next album, wich is planned to be recorded by the second half of this year 2006. Right now, the band is looking for a new label through his management agency Metallian, after the ending of their contract with Arise Records.
The recording for the upcoming Solitude Aeturnus album 'Alone', has been delayed. 
Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH have finally returned home after completing an 11-week North American trek consisting of 54 shows in both the U.S. (as part of Blackest of the Black tour) and Canada (where they headlined). This tour marked the longest the band had ever been away from their homes..jpg)
Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, have completed work on their new EP, "Dragonheads", due on February 15, 2006 via Spinefarm Records. The mini-CD was recorded and mixed in November at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. It will contain one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers.
German "dark Satanic metal band" MYSTIC CIRCLE have finished recording their seventh full-length album, "The Bloody Path of God", due on February 27, 2006 via Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). The new CD was recorded at a studio in Ludwigshafen, Germany with former MYSTIC CIRCLE drummer Necrodemon at the production helm. The album contains nine songs, two intros and a cover version of CELTIC FROST's "Circle of the Tyrants". "The new songs are really a blast," the band write on their web site. "It shows the developement from the band all over the years and you can expect killer songs."
In case you are not yet absolutely convinced that Finland is the "most heavy metal" country in the world, look no further than this week's official Top 40 single chart (view chart here). Topping the Finnish national chart for the second consecutive week is DIABLO's new single, "Mimic 47", with AJATTARA's (the Finnish "black/dark metal" project featuring former AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen) Christmas single, "Joulusingle 2005", occupying the No. 2 slot and CHILDREN OF BODOM's "In Your Face" at No. 3. (Note: MADONNA's new single, "Hung Up", is at No. 5.)
U.K.-based black/death quintet BAL-SAGOTH have set "The Chthonic Chronicles" as the title of their long-awaited sixth album, tentatively due in early 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.
MIND'S EYE: is about to release their new album «Walking on H2O» (released through Lion Music on Jan 20th).
Canadian metal magazine Unrestrained! has named OPETH's "Ghost Reveries" the No. 1 Album of 2005 in their year-end issue that will be on stands December 15. 
Norwegian symphonic metal band TRISTANIA have posted the following message on their official web site:
Moscow band LETHAL GUEST (Melodic-Death-Trash-Metal) finished the work with their first album «Suicide By The Other Side». You can listen 12 absolutely different, strong and melodic tracks. It was recorded at musicians' home studio, mastered and mixed at "Dai - records" studio. The album will be released on 2006 february
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce all details of highly anticipated Toto's brand new studio album entitled Falling In Between.
Sweden's WOLVERINE have posted the following message on their official web site: