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.
Legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes reports on his web site that he recently became godfather of his buddy/drummer Chad Smith's (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) son Cole."I thought you would like to see what a beautiful child my godson is," Glenn said. "I am proud to be godfather to our dear friend's Chad and Nancy Smith's boy Cole. He is the apple of my eye and a very good, sweet boy. I am very honored."
According to Billboard.com, Hughes is gearing up to record his next solo release, with the aid of Smith and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist John Frusciante. The yet-to-be-titled release will be recorded in January and is on target for a May release.
"I've written more songs than ever before on this record," Hughes told Billboard.com. "[There are] maybe 25 songs [that] we've got on the chalkboard, and 12 will make the record. It's funk, rock, soul, and pop all mixed together in a big soup. I'm probably going to have some real strings and maybe some more orchestrated songs. This one, and I'll quote Chad here, is going to be the most varied record I've ever done."
The album will be recorded at Smith's home in the and is tipped to feature tracks like "Oil and Water", "Frail", "Black Light", "Stepping On" and "The Valiant Denial". Also playing on the set will be guitarist J.J. Marsh, who has appeared on Hughes' last several solo releases
Legendary death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE have set "Kill" as the title of their tenth album, due on March 21 via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan (MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL).
With regards the CD's musical direction, the band had previously said, "We are doing everything we can to make sure it's the heaviest, most brutal one we've ever made."
CANNIBAL CORPSE have yet to announce a permanent replacement for guitarist Jack Owen, who left the band in 2004. The group have been utilizing session musicians for their recent touring activities, including Jeremy Turner (ex-ORIGIN) and Rob Barrett (who played with the band from 1993 to 1997 and appeared on "The Bleeding" and "Vile" albums).
A total of 30 metal, rock and punk writers at Sweden's Close–Up magazine have voted in the magazine's annual critics' album-of-the-year poll. The final results were as follows:
01. SYSTEM OF A DOWN – "Mezmerize" 02. OPETH – "Ghost Reveries" 03. NINE INCH NAILS – "With Teeth" 04. THE MARS VOLTA – "Frances the Mute" 05. MUNICIPAL WASTE – "Hazardous Mutation" 06. TURBONEGRO – "Party Animals" 07. NILE – "Annihilation of the Wicked" 08. HELLACOPTERS – "Rock & Roll Is Dead" 09. NEVERMORE – "This Godless Endeavor" 10. BLINDSIDE – "The Great Depression" 11. CANDLEMASS – "Candlemass" 12. DARK FUNERAL – "Attera Totus Sanctus" 13. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – "Lullabies to Paralyze" 14. ANNIHILATION TIME – "II" 15. BIG BUSINESS – "Head for the Shallow" 16. STATIC–X – "Start a War" 17. CROWBAR – "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden " 18. HYPOCRISY – "Virus" 19. PORCUPINE TREE – "Deadwing" 20. DOZER – "Through the Eyes of Heathens"
After long searches for the publisher for their last album "Holod" Novgorod (Russia) based band ECLESSIAST signed a deal with Solitude Productions. The full-length will be released tately this year, or early 2006. Follow our news! Label also plan to release the previous ECLESSIAST album, "Kogda Mertvye Vetvi Vospryanut Ot Snov" in summer 2006.
LEAVES' EYES male vocalist/programmer Alex Krull revealed to Germany's magazine that the group are planning on releasing a new mini-CD in early 2006. No further information is currently available.
In addition to Krull, LEAVES' EYES features Alex's wife Liv Kristine (ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY) as well as other members of Krull's long-running German metal outfit ATROCITY.
As previously reported, LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY will be teaming up for a South American tour in April 2006. LEAVES' EYES' sophomore album, "Vinland Saga", was released in May via Napalm Records.
In a post on their website the band GAIA EPICUS announced their plans of recording a new album in 2006. The tentative title will be "Victory" and the tentative tracklist is as follow:
1. New Life 2. Iron Curtain 3. The Sign 4. Revenge Is Sweet 5. In Memory 6. Awaken The Monster 7. Rise Of The Empire 8. When Darkness Falls 9. Fortress Of Solitude 10. Through The Fire 11. Victory
On January 10, 2006, CHIMAIRA will release a special, limited edition, two-disc version of their critically acclaimed, self-titled third album. Featuring the full-length album, seven live songs and two previously unreleased tracks, the special edition of "Chimaira" will be packaged in an all-black, glossy jewel case. The follow-up to 2003's "Impossibility of Reason", the original version of "Chimaira", which was just named one of the year's best albums by both Revolver and Decibel magazines, was released on August 9, and debuted at No. 10 on the Top Hard Rock chart. In addition to the stellar first-week sales, the album, called "bleakly thrilling" by the New York Times, quickly ascended to #1 at Metal/Specialty Radio where it stayed for several weeks. CHIMAIRA is currently on a headlining tour overseas supporting the album and will be back in the States for their annual holiday shows taking place on December 29-30 at the Odeon in Cleveland, OH.
"We are extremely proud of this album," states vocalist Mark Hunter. "We poured our heart into these songs and are excited to give our fans something more for their money." The live songs, including "Power Trip", "Cleansation", "Severed", "Eyes of a Criminal", "Down Again", "The Dehumanizing Process" and "Pure Hatred", were culled from the band's DVD, "The Dehumanizing Process", which was recorded in Tilburg, Holland on October 6, 2003. "Clayden" and "Malignant" are two songs recorded during the "Chimaira" sessions that were not included on the original release. The special edition was released in very limited numbers overseas simultaneously with the regular version that was available in the States.
SILENT VOICES, the Finnish melodic metal band featuring SONATA ARCTICA keyboardist keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg, REQUIEM/MENTAL CARE FOUNDATION bassist Pasi Kauppinen and SENTIMENT singer Michael Henneken, have completed work on their third album. Entitled "Building up the Apathy" the CD's musical direction is being described as "considerably more progressive" than that on the group's previous album, 2004's "Infernal".
"Building up the Apathy" was recorded at Studio 57 by Kauppinen, mixed at Sonic Pump studios by Nino Laurenne (AMORPHIS, WINTERSUN, WARMEN) and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsberg (STRATOVARIUS, APOCALYPTICA). The CD will be released in Japan on Avalon/Marquee on January 21, 2006, in France on February 20 and in the rest of the world on February 27 through Plastic Head distribution.
The following message was posted at the band's official site: "After months in the studio, the work on the new Theatre of Tragedy album is coming to an end. Producer Rico Darum has met up with mixmaster Greg Reely(Paradise Lost, Fear Factory, Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy etc) at The Green Jacket, Richmond, BC, Canada. What remains is the final twisting and turning of knobs. 12 songs have been picked out of the 15 that were recorded.
10 will make it to the the final version of the album. The remaining songs will either be bonustracks or included on future releases.
The title for the 6th Theatre of Tragedy album will be "Storm". Some of the songtitles that will be included on the album are "Storm", "Begin and End", "Disintegration", Fade" and "Dust". More titles will be revealed later on."
Acclaimed Swedish prog-metal band ANDROMEDA will release their third album, "Chimera", in Japan on January 21, 2006 via Marquee/Avalon. A release date for North America, Europe and the rest of the world will soon be announced.
ANDROMEDA's debut album, "Extension of the Wish" (2001), was re-released in Europe via New Hawen/Century Media. The new version features vocals by new singer David Fremberg, a new mix and two bonus tracks,
Chimera" track listing:
01. Periscope 02. In the End 03. The Hidden Riddle 04. Going Under 05. The Cage of Me 06. No Guidelines 07. Iskenderun 08. Inner Circle 09. Blink of an Eye
Finnish metallers NORTHER have lined up the following dates in February/March:
Feb. 25 - Kuopio, FIN - Henry´s Pub Mar. 10 - Helsinki, FIN – Tavastia
As previously reported, NORTHER have set "Till Death Unites Us" as the title of their new album, due on January 25, 2006 via Spinefarm. A single, entitled "Scream", will precede the album before the end of the year.
"Till Death Unites Us" track listing (in no particular order):
01. Scream 02. Throwing My Life Away 03. The End of Our Lives 04. Evil Ladies 05. Drowning 06. Die 07. Everything 08. Alone In the End 09. Norther 10. Omen 11. Fuck You 12. Wasted Years
NORTHER's last release was an EP, entitled "Solution 7". The band's third full-length album, "Death Unlimited", was issued last year through Spinefarm Records.
Drakkar has set a March 3, 2006 release date for the new album from Finland's LORDI, entitled "The Arockalypse". The CD will feature guest appearances by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider (on "They Only Come Out at the Night") and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick (on "Snowing in Hell").
"Udo has my absolute favourite heavy metal voice," said LORDI leader Mr. Lordi. "I saw U.D.O. on the 'Animal House' tour in 1998. I was there in the first row, and since that I've been to every single U.D.O. and ACCEPT gig in Finland. His voice has influenced me a lot. I'm sure that some fans may have noticed how I sometimes desperately try to imitate his singing style," Mr. Lordi laughed.
Regarding Bruce Kulick's appearance on the CD, LORDI guitarist Amen said, "We are all huge KISS fans, so to co-operate with a legend like Mr. Kulick is the greatest honor we could get! I remember when I was a kid and I saw KISS's video 'Who Wants to Be Lonely' where Bruce Kulick is playing a solo in a shower. Well, of course I wanted to be like him! Me and my friends went to my parents' garden, and while the others spurted water all over me I was playing a guitar — it was a lot of fun! This is something I never could have imagined, even in my wildest dreams. To play guitar on the same track with Bruce Kulick is just unbelievable."
"Without KISS, we wouldn't have our little band", added Mr. Lordi. "I grew up in the '80s, and I grew up with KISS with Bruce in the group. So, for me personally in some way, Bruce Kulick is the 'real' lead guitarist of KISS! Also, KISS's musical influence on LORDI comes primarily from the Eighties lineup."
Sweden's KATATONIA have set "The Great Cold Distance" as the title of their seventh full-length album, due on March 13, 2006 via Peaceville Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Viva Emptiness" was recorded at Fascination Street studios in the outskirts of Örebro, Sweden and was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.
"The Great Cold Distance" track listing:
01. Leaders 02. Deliberation 03. Soil's Song 04. My Twin 05. Consternation 06. Follower 07. Rusted 08. Increase 09. July 10. In The White 11. The Itch 12. Journey Through Pressure
A single, "My Twin", will precede the album on February 13. The single, which will be available for paid download on February 6, will feature the following track listing:
01. My Twin (Single Edit) 02. My Twin (Opium Dub) 03. Displaced 04. Dissolving Bonds
Download an audio sample of "My Twin" and view the album/single artwork (plus new band photo) at ' .
Among prog-metal lovers, the Sarasota-Bradenton band CRIMSON GLORY is semi-legendary, a rival to QUEENSRŸCHE and TOOL — especially in Europe, where its out-of-print albums are highly sought collectors' items.
It's been six years since the band released its last album, and 16 years since it performed with its classic lineup.
That will change in 2006, when CRIMSON GLORY celebrates the 20th anniversary of its first album with reissues of its back catalog, new releases of rare audio and video, and live performances, says founder/guitarist Jon Drenning.
"There's a tremendous amount of loyal fans around the world who love this band, and they're making it possible for this to happen, because they keep demanding moюre material from CRIMSON GLORY," Drenning said.
Drenning has reassembled original members Midnight (lead vocals), Ben Jackson (guitar) and Jeff Lords (bass). The drummer has yet to be announced.
The reunion will include:
Remastered reissues of the band's self-titled first CD, originally released in 1986, "Transcendence" (1988) and "Astronomica" (1999), all on Black Lotus Records. All will contain previously unreleased tracks; "Astronomica" may include Midnight's vocals for the first time and a new video shot at the pyramids in Egypt.
A DVD featuring never-before-released live footage, including a 1989 concert at the Manatee Civic Center.
An anthology box set, "Valley of Shadows, Kingdoms of Light".
Live performances at various European festivals.
The band also plans on recording an all-new album for 2007, backed by a tour.
All this begs one question: Will CRIMSON GLORY once again don the face masks synonymous with its name?
"Being that it's part of our history, I think we will to some degree," Drenning said. "Maybe for (concert) encores, we'll put the masks back on."
According to the official DIO fan club newsletter, DIO will be working on a new album in January/February and going back on the road sometime in March for an extended South American tour. The band will resume work on the new CD in April/May, with plans to complete the album by the end of the year. The band's management has also confirmed that DIO will be making several European festival appearances during June, July and August. No U.S. tour plans for 2006 have yet been announced.
The current DIO touring lineup includes guitarist Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE), who has been filling in for an injured Craig Goldy since early October. Craig was previously said to have hurt his arm while touring Russia and was trying to continue to play the shows on painkillers, but was eventually forced to leave the trek.
Aldrich's sole studio recording with DIO came in the shape of 2002's "Killing the Dragon", after which he toured with the group before leaving to join the touring lineup of WHITESNAKE.
CADAVERIA, the Italian band featuring former OPERA IX vocalist Cadaveria and ex-OPERA IX drummer/NECRODEATH vocalist Marçelo Santos (a.k.a. Flegias), have finished writing ten new songs their third album, tentatively due next year via Scarlet Records. The recordings for the new CD will begin in early 2006.
CADAVERIA's sophomore album, "Far Away From Conformity", was released in early 2004. The follow-up to 2002's "The Shadows' Madame" was recorded and mixed at Capitan Woofer Studio in Italy and was mastered at the Mastering Room in Sweden.
The cover artwork for the upcoming IN FLAMES album, "Come Clarity", has been posted online at ' .
As previously reported, "Come Clarity" will include a free bonus DVD featuring the band performing the album in full in a rehearsal room, akin to what METALLICA did with initial versions of their "St. Anger" album. In addition, one of the album's songs — "Dead End" — features the vocals of Swedish singer/songwriter Lisa Miskovsky.
"Come Clarity", is scheduled for a February 7, 2006 North American release through Ferret Records. The CD will be issued in Europe on February 6, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.
The follow-up to 2004's "Soundtrack to Your Escape", "Come Clarity" was mixed at Tonteknik studio in Umeå, Sweden and is "the best one we've ever done," according to IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad. A video for the album's opening track, "Take This Life", was shot late last month with director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL).
"Come Clarity" track listing:
01. Take This Life 02. Leeches 03. Reflect The Storm 04. Dead End 05. Scream 06. Come Clarity 07. Vacuum 08. Pacing Death's Trail 09. Crawling Through Knives 10. Versus Terminus 11. Our Infinite Struggle 12. Vanishing Light 13. Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone
Eight dates have been announced for IN FLAMES' upcoming North American headlining tour in support of their highly anticipated new album, "Come Clarity". Support at the shows will come from Orlando's TRIVIUM, California's DEVILDRIVER and Greensburg, Pennsylvania's ZAO. The dates are as follows:
Jan. 25 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre Jan. 26 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues Jan. 27 - San Diego, CA - Soma Jan. 28 - Los Angeles, CA - Avalon Jan. 30 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre Feb. 01 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Feb. 03 - Salt Lake City, UT - Salt Air Pavilion Feb. 04 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
More dates will be announced soon
The extended trek will represent IN FLAMES' first North American dates since their main-stage appearances as part of Ozzfest 2005 and will kick off the band's most extensive touring on the continent in their decade-plus history. IN FLAMES are currently in the midst of a three-week U.K. tour alongside MOTÖRHEAD.
AFTER THE STORM: charity inheres in the rich. Is this postulate unquestionable? I don’t think so. Some of the best-known progressive rock musicians made their contributions on a benefit album for the Survivors of Hurricane Katrina produced by NEARfest Records. The album will soon be available for sale but in the meantime have a look at its tracklist: Disc One: 13. ECHOLYN: 15 days 14. HAPPY THE MAN: Ibby it is 15. FM: Random Harvest 16. CAMEL: After all these years 17. Mike Keneally: Time table 18. SPOCK’S BEARD: Shining star 19. IQ: Chemical Rain 20. KRAAN: Silver buildings 21. MOSTLY AUTUMN: Ghost in dreamland 22. IZZ: My river flows 23. NEKTAR: Phazed by the storm 24. Sean Molone: Grace
Disc Two: 13. KANSAS: Song for America 14. THE FLOWER KINGS: A king’s prayer 15. WOODENHEAD: Buzz beat 16. DJAM KARET: The shattering sky 17. Neal Morse: Sleeping Jesus 18. THE MUFFINS: Essay R 19. CARAVAN: Love song with flute 20. Änglagård: Gånglåt från Knapptibble 21. LITTLE ATLAS: On and on 22. A.A. Lucassen: Pools of sorrow/not over you 23. CALIFORNIA GUITAR TRIO: Zundoko bushi 24. PENDRAGON: Sou’ by sou’west
Some news from on the work on Operation Mindcrime II: Geoff is recoding vocals now, with the other singers joining in soon. The band is confirming the singer who plays Dr. X by the end of next week. I think you'll be surprised, he is VERY well known and respected. Rumour has it that Rob Halford, frontman for Judas Priest, has been chosen to play the role. Look's like we will just have to wait and see!
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:
Legendary death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE have set "Kill" as the title of their tenth album, due on March 21 via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan (MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL). 
A total of 30 metal, rock and punk writers at Sweden's Close–Up magazine have voted in the magazine's annual critics' album-of-the-year poll. The final results were as follows:
LEAVES' EYES male vocalist/programmer Alex Krull revealed to Germany's magazine that the group are planning on releasing a new mini-CD in early 2006. No further information is currently available.
In a post on their website the band GAIA EPICUS announced their plans of recording a new album in 2006. The tentative title will be "Victory" and the tentative tracklist is as follow:
On January 10, 2006, CHIMAIRA will release a special, limited edition, two-disc version of their critically acclaimed, self-titled third album. Featuring the full-length album, seven live songs and two previously unreleased tracks, the special edition of "Chimaira" will be packaged in an all-black, glossy jewel case. The follow-up to 2003's "Impossibility of Reason", the original version of "Chimaira", which was just named one of the year's best albums by both Revolver and Decibel magazines, was released on August 9, and debuted at No. 10 on the Top Hard Rock chart. In addition to the stellar first-week sales, the album, called "bleakly thrilling" by the New York Times, quickly ascended to #1 at Metal/Specialty Radio where it stayed for several weeks. CHIMAIRA is currently on a headlining tour overseas supporting the album and will be back in the States for their annual holiday shows taking place on December 29-30 at the Odeon in Cleveland, OH.
SILENT VOICES, the Finnish melodic metal band featuring SONATA ARCTICA keyboardist keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg, REQUIEM/MENTAL CARE FOUNDATION bassist Pasi Kauppinen and SENTIMENT singer Michael Henneken, have completed work on their third album. Entitled "Building up the Apathy" the CD's musical direction is being described as "considerably more progressive" than that on the group's previous album, 2004's "Infernal". 
THEATRE OF TRAGEDY album title revealed 
Acclaimed Swedish prog-metal band ANDROMEDA will release their third album, "Chimera", in Japan on January 21, 2006 via Marquee/Avalon. A release date for North America, Europe and the rest of the world will soon be announced.
Sweden's KATATONIA have set "The Great Cold Distance" as the title of their seventh full-length album, due on March 13, 2006 via Peaceville Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Viva Emptiness" was recorded at Fascination Street studios in the outskirts of Örebro, Sweden and was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.
According to the official DIO fan club newsletter, DIO will be working on a new album in January/February and going back on the road sometime in March for an extended South American tour. The band will resume work on the new CD in April/May, with plans to complete the album by the end of the year. The band's management has also confirmed that DIO will be making several European festival appearances during June, July and August. No U.S. tour plans for 2006 have yet been announced.
CADAVERIA, the Italian band featuring former OPERA IX vocalist Cadaveria and ex-OPERA IX drummer/NECRODEATH vocalist Marçelo Santos (a.k.a. Flegias), have finished writing ten new songs their third album, tentatively due next year via Scarlet Records. The recordings for the new CD will begin in early 2006.
The cover artwork for the upcoming IN FLAMES album, "Come Clarity", has been posted online at ' .
AFTER THE STORM: charity inheres in the rich. Is this postulate unquestionable? I don’t think so. Some of the best-known progressive rock musicians made their contributions on a benefit album for the Survivors of Hurricane Katrina produced by NEARfest Records. The album will soon be available for sale but in the meantime have a look at its tracklist:
Some news from on the work on Operation Mindcrime II: