STREAM OF PASSION, Ayreon mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen's band around the Mexican singer Marcela Bovio will be on tour at the beginning of next year. They will perform material of their debut album "Embrace The Storm" which came out in October as well as selected Ayreon songs. And special guest is: Damian Wilson (formerly with Threshold). www.streamofpassion.com
Fates Warning, in the business since 20 years, got a thunderlike reputation. They are one of the pioneers of progressive metal, they have decisively influenced groups such as Dream Theater and Queensryche, and meanwhile they have sold more than one million albums worldwide among fans of the genre. With "Live in Athens" the Americans are now presenting a 90 minute concert recording from their European tour in February 2005 plus all kinds of bonus material. Companions on their tour were: Spock's Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio and keyboardist Kevin Moore (formerly with Dream Theater). Bonus material: Among other stuff "Another Perfect Day" and "The Eleventh Hour", recorded at the Headway festival in the Netherlands with special guest Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) on drums.
All good things come to those who wait: VANDEN PLAS are currently recording their new album "Christ 0" ("Christ Zero". The concept is based on Alexandre Dumas' classic novel "The Count of Monte Christo", the release is planned for the end of February. And on February 25th the musical "Abydos" which was written by Andy Kuntz premieres at the Kaiserslauterer Pfalztheatre. Starring Kuntz it will be performed for thirteen times. At each peformance there are integrated a few Vanden Plas songs played by the band.
Russian grind label SoulFlesh Collector announced the first release. It is split of three bands: CADAVERIC INCUBATOR (Finland), FETAL DECAY (Russia, Saratov), MORTALIZED (Russia, Kazan'). The most famous of them is the band from Saratov, they showed high level, excelent material was played and mixed as well as it possible. Finns demonstrated qualitative old-school brutal death with special perverted vocal. Young guys from Kazan' made music which have never been in Russia. Riffs in style of MORTICIAN but rocking drums - you should listen it Total time - 50:10
Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, will film their New Year's Eve 10-year anniversary concert at the Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for an upcoming DVD.
ENSIFERUM, who recently parted ways with drummer Oliver Fokin and replaced him with Janne Parviainen, will enter Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki later in the month to record a mini-CD containing one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers. The as-yet-untitled effort will be released in early 2006. 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.
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).
Have you written any new material? When will a new record be released?
We are composing new songs this period. We are planning to start recording our 3rd album in January, but I cannot say when the CD will be released ’cause we have no label agreement at the moment.
In the second album there is an evolution in the sound of Cadaveria and your voice. Will we see another evolution in the future?
For sure. People change and the music they play changes with them. There will be more middle temples and very strange guitar riffs. The voice will be always both growl and clear, with a prevalence of melodic parts. The songs’ structure seems to be a bit less complex than in the past.
Do you consider using Black Metal vocals again in Cadaveria in a next release?
Yes, less screaming and more Death Metal.
You are a member of Cadaveria and DyNAbyte too. Do you have any other projects? Would you like to create a Black Metal band?
Two bands are enough. There are many other projects in my mind but they don’t concern music. I started painting this summer and I like it very much!
Do you think that Scarlet Records is the most suitable label for you?
The contract with Scarlet finished with "Far Away From Conformity (2003). We will surely involve Scarlet in listening to the new material, but it is not sure that we will sign with them. We will propose the master to a series of label and see what happens.
In "Far Away From Conformity" you covered Blondie’s "Call Me". Do you consider attempting something like this again?
You mean to do a cover? Why not. Actually we are thinking about it but we have not chosen the song yet.
What are the musical influences of the band?
Many, ’cause each member of the band listens to a different Metal genre. Actually I listen to Tool and Rammstein, John is more into Fear Factory and Motorhead and so on...
What do you imagine yourself doing, except from music?
Exactly what I’m doing now besides music.
Do you read? Which is your favorite literature style and maybe your favorite book?
Yes, I’m used to reading. I just finished Dan Brown’s "The Da Vinci Code and "Angels and Demons" and now I’m reading "Io Uccido" by Italian writer Faletti. I like all well written books that talk about strange stories.
What inspires you when writing lyrics?
My life, people I meet, emotions I feel, thoughts passing through my mind....
The Italian Metal scene is very strong at the moment. What do you think of that? Do you know/like any of these bands?
I’m very happy things are going well for Italian Metal, but honestly I’ve been a bit out of the scene lately.
Cadaveria could be characterized more as an underground band rather than a mainstream one. Does this bother you?
No, it is the truth. I play music ’cause I like doing this, not to be defined as a popular band.
What is going on with your project DyNAbyte. When will the new album be released? Are you making any new performances?
Actually I’ve totally dedicating myself to Cadaveria’s new songs. DyNAbyte’s new album will come after Cadaveria’s new one, even if a mini tour in Holland is going to take place with DNA in April 06.
Which are the 5 best albums ever written in your opinion?
"Killers" (Iron Maiden), "The Sound of Perseverance" (Death), "Aenima" (Tool), "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath), "Post Orgasmic Chill" (Skunk Anansie).
Do you think that a female vocalist can give credit to a band or is this a disadvantage?
It depends on the female vocalist.
Some last words for your fans. Thanks for the interview!!
Let me thank all fans following and supporting me since 1993. A great hail to you all, stay metal and be yourselves! Don’t miss our next album... by that time enjoy www.cadaveria.com.
Back in June I heard about your upcoming album "Come Clarity". When is the expected release date?
I think in Europe it’s February 6th and in the States I’m not sure about it, maybe a couple of weeks after. The reason it’s delayed is because we’re in between signing contracts with labels. We’re actually looking for a label right now to release it in the States so, early next year.
How does this album compare to your previous albums?
It’s no doubt the best one we’ve ever done, of course. It’s kind of a mixture between the new stuff and the old stuff. Like the previous 2 albums were a little bit experimental for us, we changed producers and we changed studios. So we took all the good stuff from the old stuff and the new and we did this album and it’s brilliant. It’s awesome.
Is there a particular story to it?
I haven’t really read the lyrics, so I don’t know. I don’t think there is. Musically it’s more up tempo, more melodic to show that we have so much more to give and we’re really hungry. The best album is yet to come.
When you first announced the new album, the title was "Crawl Through Knives". Why did you change it?
That was more or less a working title and at the time. It was one of the first songs that we wrote. We thought it was a cool title and we had a concept for the cover and everything. But then we wrote "Come Clarity" and we thought that would be a better title. We still have the song "Crawl Through Knives" though.
Back in February In Flames won the Swedish Grammy Awards. What was that like?
That was great. It was like "at last we got it". Because we were nominated for a couple of years but then other bands took it from us. We think we deserved it because we’ve been around for so long and we’ve released so many albums and had kind of an impact on the Swedish scene, so we think we deserved it.
You’re also a big influence on a lot of the American Metal bands today. How do you feel about that fact?
In Flames amongst a lot of other bands from Sweden. It’s kind of funny to hear a lot of today’s new Metal sound. I can hear stuff that we did like 10 years ago and now it’s such a big thing. It’s cool that there are so many bands that are influenced by the little bands from Sweden; it’s flattering. That means that we’re doing something good, I guess. It’s great knowing that we’re an inspiration for other bands and younger bands.
Does it work both ways? Are there any American bands that influence your sound?
It goes around. One of my absolute favorite bands is Killswitch Engage. I guess I wouldn’t say that they are an influence for me, but I can listen to their music and get inspired to write my own songs. I love that band.
What are your thoughts about being on Ozzfest?
It’s great to be here. It’s a really long tour. Everyone is ready to go home but its great exposure for us. It would be nicer to play on the second stage because on this stage we’re opening up and we’re playing in front of empty seats. But still there are a lot of people here to see us. It’s good publicity and it’s good promotion for us. We just can’t wait to come back and play the headlining tour to play a long set, to play the new stuff.
Awesome. I’ve been waiting a few years to see you guys but to see you actually play a headlining show will be cool.
Yeah, we can’t wait for it either. We’re gonna be back soon.
After Ozzfest, you’ll be going on tour with Motorhead. How is it to support such a notorious Metal band?
It’s a great chance for us to come to the U.K. and play a little bit bigger venues because the U.K. is kind of new for us. Usually when we do the European tours, we only stop in London. We only did seven dates with Slipknot 4 years ago, that’s it. So it’s a great chance for us. It’s a pretty long tour, three and a half weeks, we go to Ireland and Scotland so it’s gonna be great.
What are some bands that you listen to these days?
Sevendust, Children of Bodom, the new Mudvayne. I listen to a lot of Swedish folk music and jazz stuff. I get pretty tired of Metal right now, so when I put on a CD it’s usually like singer/songwriter stuff, the lonely girl with the guitar, that’s what I like. [Laughs]
That’s actually funny to think. Hearing your music then thinking that at the end of the day you’re listen to something on the complete other end of the spectrum.
Yeah, it is. [Laughs]
Any last words?
Well, no, just that we’re gonna be back soon and I hope to see everyone there, wherever "there" is. [Laughs]
[Then he points to my Macabre sticker on my book, that matches the one on his neck, and gives the horns.] - Yeah, they’re one of my favorite’s too. Dennis (The Menace - drummer) is a friend of mine.
Oh yeah? I love those guys. They are brilliant. You tell Dennis that Jesper says "hi".
San Diego film company ZU33 is currently developing "Lords of Chaos", a fiction film based on true events in the Norwegian black metal music scene in the early 1990s. The project goes into pre-production in November, with physical production scheduled to begin in Februrary 2006. The screenplay was written by Hans Fjellestad, Ryan Page and Adam Parfrey. Fjellestad is set to direct.
The movie is based on the book "Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground" (view cover/details at ' ), which documents some of the events that have occurred in black metal's history, including the murder of MAYHEM's Aasarth Oystein (better known as Euronymous) at the hands of BURZUM mastermind Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh).
ZU33 described the movie as follows: "Equal parts music, true crime, occult, and subcultural anthropology, the book by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind chronicles the Norwegian black metal music scene in the early 1990s. Since that time, nearly 100 churches have been torched and desecrated by adherents of black metal, the most extreme form of underground music on the planet. In an escalating unholy war, black metal bands and their obsessive fans have left a grim legacy of suicide, murder and terrorism spreading from Norway to Germany, Russia, America and beyond. The feature film will focus on the relationship between legendary figures Varg Vikernes and Euronymous and the rest of the 'Black Circle' as they wage war against the powers that be in their native country."
"Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground" was originally published in 1998 by Feral House U.S. A second edition followed in 2003 which documents black metal activities since 1997.
Hans Fjellestad will make his feature film directorial debut with "Lords of Chaos" after two highly successful and critically acclaimed documentary films, "Moog" (2004, Plexifilm) and "Frontier Life" (2002, Third World Newsreel).
Reactivated Finnish melodic extreme metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW are continuing work on their as-yet-untitled fifth album for a tentative March/April 2006 release via Spinefarm Records. According to the band, "The material for the fifth album is heavier, much more diverse and more guitar-orientated compared to the fourth album 'A Virgin and a Whore' [2001]."
ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's current lineup is as follows:
Altti Veteläinen - Bass, Vocals Jarmo Puolakanaho - Guitar Risto Ruuth - Lead Guitar Janne Tolsa - Keyboards Petri Sankala - Drums
U.K.-based black/death quintet BAL-SAGOTH have issued the following update on the recording proces for their long-awaited sixth album:
"The musical instruments for the sixth BAL-SAGOTH album have finally been recorded after a long delay. The vocal session can now begin imminently, which will be followed by the final mix. Fans who are impatiently awaiting the much anticipated sixth album can understand that the band always seeks to ensure their work is of the absolute highest standard, and to achieve that standard sometimes takes a considerable amount of time. But finally, the album is almost complete and the wait is almost over!
"Just some of the highlights fans can look forward to on the sixth album are:
1) The thrilling second chapter of the epic 'Obsidian Crown' saga, which began way back on the second BAL-SAGOTH album 'Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule' from 1996! Fans who have waited almost ten years to find out what happens next in this thrilling story will finally get their wish!
2) The best and most dynamic organic orchestral synth sounds ever heard! Much time and effort has been put into refining the famousBAL-SAGOTH keyboard sound to its ultimate level, and every advance in modern audial technology has been taken advantage of. On the sixth album fans will experience amazing symphonic sounds which exceed every other release, sounding totally and uncannily genuine. Real orchestra! Real choirs! Real metal!
3) Incredible new artwork and expansive lyric booklet! The lyric booklet for the sixth album will be the biggest and most elaborate one yet. Multiple full colour pages, in depth text and amazing new artwork by renowned fantasy artist Martin Hanford. The packaging for the sixth album will be the best publication so far."
German "dark Satanic metal band" MYSTIC CIRCLE have cancelled their previously announced live appearances between November 26 and December 17 due to "drummer problems." The group are currently seeking a new drummer for their upcoming world tour in support of their seventh full-length album, "The Bloody Path of God", tentatively due in early 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 is being recorded with former MYSTIC CIRCLE drummer Necrodemon at the production helm.
MYSTIC CIRCLE issued a "best of" album, entitled "Mystic Circle Unholy Chronicles 1992–2004", last November 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.
Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have set "Pro Patria Finlandia" as the title of their ninth studio album, tentatively due on March 28, 2006 via Osmose Productions. The band will enter Sonic Pump studio in mid-November with producer Tapio Pennanen to begin recording the follow-up to 2003's "All That You Fear". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Cancer", "For Those Who Have Fallen", "KUT", "Contempt" and "Hate-Despise-Arrogance". The group had previously described the new material as "fast, brutal as fuck, in-your-face IMPALED NAZARENE."
In other news, IMPALED NAZARENE will embark on a Latin American tour in late January 2006. Three shows in Mexico have already been confirmed, with more to follow.
As previously reported, the double 10" version of IMPALED NAZARENE's "Death Comes In 26 Carefully Selected Pieces" live album was released in September, limited to 500 copies. The band's "Latex Cult" (1996) and "Rapture" (1998) albums will be released in digipack format with new artwork and layout. Both CDs will be remastered at Finnvox studio and will include videos as an extra bonus.
DARK FUNERAL's new album, "Attera Totus Sanctus", has entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 35. It has also debuted on the Swedish heavy metal chart at No. 3.
As previously reported, the limited digipack version of "Attera Totus Sanctus" has been delayed until January 2006 "due to a complicated manufacturing process." The regular edition of the album was released in Europe on October 24 via Regain Records. The CD will arrive in the U.S. on November 29 via Candlelight Records USA.
DARK FUNERAL have uploaded two tracks from "Attera Totus Sanctus" at their official web site. Check out the songs "Godhate" ' and "666 Voices Inside" ' .
DARK FUNERAL's new album was recorded and mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, IN FLAMES, BEHEMOTH) and Örjan Örnkloo (MISERY LOVES CO.) at Dug-Out studios in Uppsala, Sweden between May 23 and July 15, and August 8 and August 19, 2005. Mastering duties were handled by Tomas Eberger at the Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden. The CD features a guest appearance by former MESHUGGAH bassist Gustaf Hielm.
DARK FUNERAL currently features vocalist/bassist Emperor Magnus Caligula, guitarist Lord Ahriman, guitarist Chaq Mol, and drummer Matte Modin.
Swedish black/death metallers THE LEGION, featuring current MARDUK drummer Emil Dragutinovic, have set "Revocation" as the title of their sophomore album, tentatively due in early 2006 via France's Listenable Records. The artwork was once again designed by Kris Verwimp (MARDUK, ABSU, IMMORTAL), who had previously worked with the group on their debut album, "Unseen to Creation".
THE LEGION's debut album, "Unseen to Creation" was released in October 2003 through Listenable. The CD was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Tommy Tägtgren and features "ten songs of complex and eclectic black/death metal, ranging in style from MORBID ANGEL to SETHERIAL."
"The album 'In the Depths of R'lyeh' is finished and will soon be in the process of mastering. No exact release date is set as of yet (early 2006), but it will be available first and immediately through Moribund Records, and soon thereafter at other distros around the world." Samples will be available within the next couple of weeks.
Tracklisting; I. In the Depths of R'lyeh II. Dead Dripping City III. At the Edge of the Abyss IV. Where No Light Hath Shone... (But For That of the Moon) V. Fallen Into Shadow VI. Awakening of the World's Doom (Reprise)
' recently conducted an interview with former ANCIENT frontwoman Deadly Kristin. An excerpt from the question-and-answer session follows:
HailMetal.com: I'd like to start with a question which was on everyone's mind for a long time. Have you converted to Islam and how do you combine the religion (or Sufism) in your case with Satanism?
Deadly Kristin: "Wow, we begin with a very sharp and good question. I can't say I have converted, as I didn't have any religion prior to Islam. My mind had always been troubled by existential questions since when I was a kid. I have always been deep and always questioned what I was being told. I wanted to think with my own head as most of the things adults were saying didn't make sense to me. I started to observe life around me, the human behaviour, I started to study science, philosophy, astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry and builded myself a culture. I observed nature and the laws that rule it, I spent nights in deep meditation wondering about the meaning of life, the meaning of death, the creation of the universe. I put together the pieces of the big puzzle and I saw what all these sciences had in common. Starting from that basis, I began to formulate my own theories on life, on the universe, on everything. In these years I spent hundreds of beautiful hours talking with intellectual and educated people from different countries, different cultures and different backgrounds. We discussed existential topics and exchanged views and ideas. I exposed my own theories which were often considered very interesting and valuable. Still some things were driving me insane as in my theories I had some gaps, some things to which I still didn't have an answer. I couldn't see the totality of things because in my head I was denying the concept of divinity, of a surpreme entity that dominated the creation. I didn't think there was a god because of the multitude of bad and unfair things that happen in this world. I was thinking: if there is a god, why doesn't he show himself, why does he allow these things to happen?
"At a point of my life, I even thought that if there was a god then he must have been good and evil at the same time. That would have been the only explanation to everything. To why we are given life and then it is taken away from us, to why we have to go through injustice, pain and suffering. To why we are given the blessing of having a family and lovely people around us and then we see them die, leaving us in total despair and agony.
"When I first met Abdullah Hamzah of CELT ISLAM SOUNDSYSTEM and Dawoud Kringle, who are now my best friends and band mates in ANALOGUE FAKIR, we started talking about all this. They were the first people I was talking to who could not only understand perfectly my theories, but could also fill me in where I had gaps. They introduced me to sufism and to Islam. When I started to read the Qur'an I was very curious and eager to see if I could find something similar to my theories there...and not only I did find it, I even got to know more about what I had assumed and found the answer to all the questions that always troubled my heart. Believe me, I am someone who doesn't get influenced very easily, I was the biggest non-believer and I always based my theories on matter of facts not on dogma. The Qur'an is an incredible source of information on life itself and its meaning. You can read precise and scientific details on how the universe was created, on the laws that dominate it, details on the relation of time and space, of the phases of development of embryos! Plus also incredible important revelations for oceanology, astrology etc. The Qur'an was written in 610 A.D., in a time where science was very basic and technology didn't exist. The funny thing is that modern science is discovering NOW, at the present moment what already was explained in the Qur'an about 1.400 years ago! The theory of the big bang for istance, the very recent discovery that the universe is actually in constant expansion (and not stable and immobile within its limits like it was always thought), the also very recent theory of the Big Crunch, which says that one day the universe will collapse on itself and return to the condition of its origin the one that originated the big bang. All this and more is written in the Qur'an and there is no doubt for me that is the word of God, because any other explanation wouldn't be possible. If you are interested in reading about the scientific miracles of the Qur'an I can reccomand this wonderful website: miraclesofthequran.com. As far as my old idea of God that could be good and evil at the same time, Allah represents this very well. He is the infinitely merciful but also an incredible punisher. The bad things that happen in life are tests on people and everything happens for a reason. The reason why a lot of evil and disgusting people get all the money and power is to give them the illusion they are sufficient to themselves and increase their lack of faith. The more they have the more they become ungrateful, the more they become their own gods, the more they become arrogant...and the greater punishment will have in the afterlife, which is the real life, not this one.
"As far as Satanism [is concerned], I never claimed to be a satanist. In fact in the past I didnt even believe in Satan just like I didnt believe in God as I thought they were just an invention of Christianity. I wrote anti-religious lyrics in the past because I was very pissed off at people who claimed to be religious and they don't even know what their religion is about. They just believe in what they have been told and they don't use their heads. I don't have much appreciation for people who are like sheep and don't use their brains. My choice for Islam was motivated and studied for long. On another note you may want to realize that most bands use 'Satan' as a symbol of rebellion, as a metaphore. They dont go out and slaughter goats and rape babies during black masses. If they do they are really stupid. To my eyes who adores Satan was just as dumb as someone who adored Jesus Christ or any other god. For the same reasons I told you before."
Norwegian black metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN, featuring Obsidian C. (a.k.a. Arnt GrГёnbech, also a touring guitarist for SATYRICON) on guitars/bass/synth, have set a March 27, 2006 release date for their new album, entitled "Armada". "KEEP OF KALESSIN has currently picked up working on the album and will finish it by 1st December," the band write on their web site. "A huge promo campaign is planned and the album is already anticipated as one of the best metal releases of 2006! Combining the atmosphere of EMPEROR's 'In the Nightside Eclipse' with a great dynamic production and the takeoffs in 'Come Damnation', you will experience chills down your spine on every song!!"
KEEP OF KALESSIN's "Armada" will be released via the Norwegian label Tabu Recordings, a division of Tuba Records. Vyl is playing drums on the album and a new bass player, Wizziac, is being introduced. MAYHEM singer Attila Chisar is doing some additional vocals, but he will not be the frontman anymore. The band will try out different vocalists in the studio to find the one who matches the music best. The group's complete lineup will be revealed when the recording sessions are completed.
KEEP OF KALESSIN's most recent mini-album, "Reclaim", was released in December 2003 through FaceFront Records. The group's first release since 1999's "Agnen: A Journey through the Dark" (Avantgarde), "Reclaim" has been described as a new milestone in Norwegian black metal by the Norwegian press. "Reclaim" is available in the U.S. through The End mail-order.
According to a ' published in the October 18, 2005 edition of the Metro newspaper, a British teenage heavy metal fan has been handed a community service order for wearing an offensive t-shirt.
Adam Shepherd, 19, was reportedly convicted under new anti-hate laws which ban people from displaying religiously insulting signs.
The teenager was arrested after a woman complained to police when she saw his shirt, which promotes extreme heavy metal band CRADLE OF FILTH.
The t-shirt shows a picture of a nun in a pornographic pose. On the back is a comment about Jesus (view the t-shirt design at ' ). The top was being worn by Shepherd's girlfriend when a police officer approached her. As soon as the teenager realized there was a problem, he told the officer it was his and swapped tops with his girlfriend. But he refused to take it off or cover it up and was arrested.
Shepherd, who bought the shirt in his hometown of Weymouth, Dorset, admitted the charge. Weymouth magistrates gave him 80 hours community service and told him to pay £40 costs (approx. $71).
Meanwhile, ' reports that Adam "can't have been prosecuted under the 'new anti-hate laws' because they do not exist." However, a bit of research shows that the wearing of this T-shirt has led to at least two previous convictions in the U.K.
Dale Wilson, 35, of Norwich, was ' by two police officers as he walked to the newsagents on Halloween 2004. He pleaded guilty to "religiously aggravated offensive conduct." He was eventually ' and told to "grow up." He paid £150 costs (approx. $266), and the judge ordered that the T-shirt be destroyed.
Back in 1997, Rob Kenyon, 29, of London was ' of committing the offense of "Profane Representation under the 1839 Act" by Bow Street Magistrates Court. He was fined £150.
CRADLE OF FILTH drummer Nicholas Barker was also arrested in Dover and charged with "creating a public disorder" for wearing the same t-shirt. There were no further proceedings against him.
From the ' : In 2001, the then-Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson, campaigned to have the t-shirt prevented from being sold at Tower Records. The record shop was raided on two occasions by police, and eventually agreed to stop stocking the garment. The ' , back in ' (amusing "Victory for Sickos" story) and ' (their call to action), also complained bitterly about the t-shirt.
Moscow-based thrash metal band ZATMENIE have re-signed with Misteria Zvuka to release their second as-yet-untitled album. The album will include 10 tracks, mostly composed during recording, February-August 2005.
Pavel Mikheev (guitar/vocals): "...to be honest, we intended to make an album absolutely different from what we have by now. When our first album was released, we already had written a couple of instrumentals and even whole songs. Primarily in a debut album's vein but slower and harder a bit. We dropped all of them exept four in January and started work on a new material."
ZATMENIE have just finished shooting for the upcoming album and at the moment working on release parties arrangement and upcoming tour.
Long-running Floridian death metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION have reportedly parted ways with guitarist Rob Barret and bassist Gordon Simms. Replacing them in the group's latest incarnation are returning members John Rubin (guitar) and Jason Blachowicz (bass, also in DIVINE EMPIRE).
MALEVOLENT CREATION are currently writing the music for their tenth studio album, to be released sometime in the spring/summer of 2006.
Melodic rockers ASIA change their line-up: drummer Chris Slade has left the band, replacement comes with Jay Schellen. Schellen had already contributed to the recordings of the last album "Silent Nation" and is known to progressive rock fans as collaborator of Chris Squire's and Billy Sherwood's Conspiracy band project. He is celebrating his live debut with Asia on a tour of Great Britain in November. Following the tour the band will enter the studio in order to record the successor of "Silent Nation". The album with the working title "Architect of Time" should be out in the first half year of 2006. www.asiaworld.org
At the end of September InsideOut Music will take over the distribution of the complete repertoire of the British reissue specialists of ECLECTIC DISCS. At the moment Eclectic's catalogue consists of about 40 albums released in high quality design, e.g. records by AUDIENCE, BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, CARAVAN, EAST OF EDEN, GILES, GILES & FRIPP, KHAN, MANDALABAND, and NEKTAR. The catalogue is permanently expanded. New releases, including a sumptuously designed 5 CD box by Barclay James Harvest, is announced for October and November. www.eclecticdiscs.com
New Artrockers RIVERSIDE have almost completed the work on their second longplayer "Second Life Syndrome". During concerts in Belgium and the Netherlands they will already play material from this record which will probably be out on 31st October. On November 19th the Polish band will be headliner of the "Eclipsed" festival at the Aschaffenburg venue Colos Saal. www.riverside.art.pl
You have heard singer JB as new SPIRITUAL BEGGARS frontman on the predecessor of their latest album "Demons". Unfortunately, in this new line-up the band had relatively made rare live appearances lately. One of those rare live gigs is immortalized on the DVD "Live Fire". It will be out at the end of October and documents a Beggars concert from the year 2003 in the London Club "Mean Fiddler" club. www.spiritualbeggars.com
Just in time to coincide with the second part of their "Octane" tour at the beginning of October the "new" SPOCK'S BEARD will have their first live live album out. The double album "Live in 2005 - Gluttons For Punishment" contains, apart from pieces of both albums with Nick D'Virgilio on the mike, "Octane" (2005) and "Feel Euphoria" (2003), highlights of the meanwhile legendary era with multi talented Neal Morse as well: classics such as "Harm's Way", "At The End Of The Day", and "The Light" are interpreted by original drummer D'Virgilio with such an ardour as if he had never done anything else. Another highlight is the "drummers' duel" between tour drummer Jimmy Keegan and Nick D'Virgilio. Since Keegan's collaboration this is a permanent part of every concert and it seems it will be really reach a similar cult status such as the crazy duets of Collins and Thompson of past Genesis concerts. www.spocksbeard.com
STREAM OF PASSION is the name of a new band project with gothic touch featuring an international line-up. The project was initiated by Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen from the Netherlands. Around Mexican female singer Marcela Bovio, known from Ayreon's latest album "The Human Equation", he gathered American lead guitarist Lori Linstruth, Mexican piano player Alejandro MillАn, Lucassen's countrymen Johan van Stratum (bass) and Davy Mickers (drums) as well as Lucassen himself on guitar. The debut album "Embrace The Storm" will not be out in September as originally planned but only at the end of October. www.streamofpassion.com
PETE TOWNSHEND will re-release big parts of his back catalogue on InsideOut's Reissue-Label Revisited Records in Europe. The series will start with the work compilation "Anthology" in October. +++ The new GURU GURU studio album "In the Guru Lounge" will be the forerunner of a series of eight reissues of the legendary Krautrockers around drumming dervish and "Elektrolurch" Mani Neumeier. "In The Guru Lounge", "Mani und seine Freunde", and "Moshi Moshi" will be out on October 17th. +++ Since the Seventies the much too often ignored FRANK MARINO is cultivating his partly psychedelic guitar rock which is characterized by long improvisations - and he does this on a level comparable to virtuoso artists such as Gallagher, Hendrix, or Stevie Ray Vaughan. In September a series of reissues with albums by Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush will start. +++ In November Revisited Records continues its KRAAN series with "Flyday", "Dancing In The Shade", and "Live 2001". www.guru-guru.com www.kraan.de www.mahoganyrush.com www.petetownshend.co.uk
------------ NEW RELEASES ------------
KINGS'S X: "Ogre Tones", RELEASE: September 26th SIEGES EVEN: "The Art Of Navigating By The Stars", RELEASE: September 26th SPOCK'S BEARD: "Live in 2005 - Gluttons For Punishment" (double CD), RELEASE: September 5th THE TEA PARTY: "Seven Circles", RELEASE: September 26th
------------- STILL CURRENT -------------
CARPTREE: "Man Made Machine", RELEASE: August 29th STRING CHEESE INCIDENT: "One Step Closer", RELEASE: August 29th
-------------- IN PREPARATION --------------
STEVE HOWE: "Homebrew 3", RELEASE: October 10th NEAL MORSE: "?" (yes, that's the title of this album), RELEASE: October 24th PALLAS: "The Dreams Of Men", RELEASE: October 24th RIVERSIDE: "Second Life Syndrome", RELEASE: October 31st SPIRITUAL BEGGARS: "Live Fire" (DVD), RELEASE: October 31st STREAM OF PASSION: "Embrace The Storm", RELEASE: October 24th
-------- RE-ISSUE --------
GURU GURU: "In The Guru Lounge", new studio album, RELEASE: October 17th GURU GURU: "Mani und seine Freunde", RELEASE: October 17th GURU GURU: "Moshi Moshi ", RELEASE: October 17th FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH: "Full Circle", RELEASE: September 19th FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH: "Eye Of The Storm", RELEASE: September 19th KRAAN: "Flyday", RELEASE: November KRAAN: "Dancing In The Shade", RELEASE: November KRAAN: "Live 2001", RELEASE: November PETE TOWNSHEND: "Anthology", RELEASE: October
Nightwish recorded "End Of An Era" -live release yesterday evening in Hartwall-Arena, Helsinki. As you can imagine, the atmosphere in the Arena was wild but also quite blue. This was the ending for a one and a half year lasting "Once"-World Tour. Nightwish wishes to thank everybody for an unbelievable tour.
Unfortunately the title "End Of An Era" also holds a deeper meaning. The open letter, which was given to Tarja after the show, tells it all. You can read it here:
Dear Tarja,
It`s time to choose whether the story of Nightwish ends here or whether it will still continue an undetermined period of time. We`ve been working with this creation for 9 years and we are not ready to give up yet. Nightwish is a way of life, something to live for, and we`re certain we can`t let it go.
Equally certain is the fact that we cannot go on with you and Marcelo any longer. During the last year something sad happened, which I`ve been going over in my head every single day, morning and night. Your attitude and behavior don`t go with Nightwish anymore. There are characteristics I would never have believed to see in my old dear friend. People who don`t talk with each other for a year do not belong in the same band.
We are involved in an industry where the business-side of things is a necessary evil and something to worry about all the time. We are also a band which has always done music from the heart, because of friendship and the music itself. The mental satisfaction should always be more important than money! Nightwish is a band, it`s an emotion.
To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with those emotions have become much more important. You feel that you have sacrificed yourself and your musical career for Nightwish, rather than thinking what it has given to you. This attitude was clearly shown to me in the two things you said to me in an airplane in Toronto: .I don`t need Nightwish anymore.. and .Remember, Tuomas, that I could leave this band at any time, giving you only one day`s warning in advance.. I can`t simply write any more songs for you to sing.
You have said yourself that you are merely a .guest musician. in Nightwish. Now that visit ends and we will continue Nightwish with a new female vocalist. We`re sure this is an equally big relief to you as it is for us. We have all been feeling bad long enough.
You told us that no matter what, the next Nightwish album will be your last one. However, the rest of us want to continue as long as the fire burns. So there`s no sense in doing that next album with you, either. The four of us have been going over this situation countless times and we have realized that this is the thing we want to do in life. It?s all we can do. In December 2004, in Germany, you said that you will never tour again for more than two weeks at a time. You also said that we can forget about U.S. and Australia because the fees and the sizes of venues are too small.
In interviews I`ve mentioned that if Tarja leaves, that would be the end of the band. I understand that people will think this way. Nightwish is, however, a scenery of my soul and I`m not ready to let go because of one person. A person who wants to focus her creativity to somewhere else, a person whose values don`t match mine.
We were never bothered by the fact that you didn`t participate in writing/arranging songs, you never in 9 years came to rehearse the songs with us before going to the studio. Not the fact that while on tour you always wanted to fly, separately from us with your husband. Not the fact that you are an undisputable front image of the band. We accepted and felt ok about everything except greed, underestimating the fans, and breaking promises. It was agreed by the five of us that Nightwish would be the priority in everything that we do during 2004-2005. Still so many things were more important to you. The ultimate example being the already sold-out show in Oslo, which you wanted to cancel because you needed to rehearse for your solo concerts, meet frieds and go to the movies. Those were the words Marcelo used in an e-mail explaining the cancellation. This being just one example of so many. I couldn`t think of a worse way of being selfish and dismissing our fans.
Nightwish is a way of life and a job with many obligations. To each other and to the fans. With you we can`t take care of those duties anymore.
Deep within we don`t know which one of you drove us to this point. Somehow Marcelo has changed you from the lovely girl you were into a diva, who doesn`t think or act the way she used to. You are too sure of your irreplaceableness and status.
It`s obvious that you blame your stress and misery on us four. And you think we don`t respect or listen to you. Belive us; We have always had the uppermost respect towards you as a wonderful vocalist and as a friend. And very often during the past couple of years the plans were made according to your decisions only. You were always the only one who wanted more money from the shows. This .compensation and more money from everything. .attitude is the fact that we are most disappointed of!
We wish that from now on you will listen to your heart instead of Marcelo. Cultural differences combined with greed, opportunism and love is a dangerous combination. Do not wither yourself.
This decision is not something we are especially proud of but you gave us no choice. The gap between us is too wide. And the decision is made by us four unanimously. We are beyond the point where things could be settled by talking.
The 7" EP with Worship and Loss (USA) is out! It contains Worship's 'Devived', which is a sneak peak at the album "Dooom", and which is the 1st song of the post-Max era with me The Doommonger on lead guitars and vocals, Satachrist on guitars, and Kuolema on Drums and Bass. Recorded at worldsEND Studio by Kuolema It's limited so as usual: undoomy quickness recommended.
Polish black metallers BEHEMOTH are currently in the middle of their most prestigious U.S. tour with DANZIG, CHIMAIRA, HIMSA, MORTIIS and THE AGONY SCENE. The band have just hit the East Cost. Mainman Nergal checks in from the road with the following statement:
"This tour has been great success for us. Every night we play in front of 1,000-2,000 people which is nothing but awesome! Being the most extreme band on the bill makes it really challenging, but all I can say after doing 17 shows is that we definitely managed to conquer most of those crowds."
Nergal continues: "San Francisco was one of this tour's highlights for us. Surprisingly every show there is better and better. Cleveland was also the best show we've played in this city so far and I'm happy we finally made it up for those who missed us on KING DIAMOND tour there. Ah, yeah…I can't forget to mention the party with MESHUGGAH and GOD FORBID plus our labelmates that went on few blocks from the venue. It was WILD, I can assure you! My body is still suffering from this night though ha ha…By the way, thanx to Sean for hooking us up with sooooo many drinks! Cheers bro!
"Jaxx was probably the best off show on this tour. It looks like we have a great following there. Respect to all those crazy freaks who made this night so memorable! A special hello to those cute bartenders, ha ha…u know why. Montreal was nothing but amazing. I could go one forever with complements on how great the Canadian crowd is…and I really mean it. NYC was a killer show too despite the fact that my amp went dead during the set…
"We are in Providence now. Before the show, Orion, Malta and I took a walk downtown and let me tell u something: this is one of the most charming places I've visited in this country. I ended up buying some IGGY POP, HANK WILLIAMS III and new DEPECHE MODE CDs in the local record store while Orion got himself a sweet ILSA 3-DVD box set. The concert itself was fun, ha ha. Those who showed up, know what I mean. It was cool watching these surprised faces when we entered the stage. They seemed to be shit-scared, but by the end of the show we made them move and go crazy…the whole point of this tour. Fuck yeah."
In other news, BEHEMOTH drummer Inferno has just signed an endorsement deal with the drum-stick company Vic Firth. Marco Soccoli, the company’s A&R guy, had a meeting with Inferno on October 17 in New York. Within a few weeks, Inferno will get his first signed drum sticks manfucatured. This is what Inferno had to say about it:
"I'd like to send my huge appreciation to Marco for making this deal happen. This is the best sticks I've (ab)used, ever! Can't wait to play my signed models!"
German melodic metallers EDGUY have posted the following message on their official web site:
"Against certain rumors and speculations, Tobias Sammet [EDGUY vocalist] has not undergone a sex change operation yet: 'Of course, after the success of NIGHTWISH, WITHIN TEMPTATION and EVANESCENCE, we sat down to discuss what kind of sacrifice we'd have to make to hit big time with this new album. In time of female vocal domination, we came to the conclusion that it's the penis that stands in our way. I mean — literally, of course! That being said, to avoid any rumors: if it's gonna happen I'd become a lesbian woman. In case this trend is gone and we're too late, our drummer Felix considers to join me to the operating room and become a cockatoo. Though we talked him into believing that cockatooed drummered bands are gonna be the next big thing it's not for business reasons. Felix discovered his cockatooish side just when reaching puberty. Ever since he's felt like having been born in the wrong shell. He's more that cockatoo kind of guy, you all know what I mean. Whatever, in case all this won't work, we just recorded the most ambitious EDGUY album so far — just to be on the safe side. It's the most diversified stuff and we'll post the songtitles soon. The first press reactions are superb and I feel not playing it close to the chest was the best thing we could have done. It's still EDGUY at any second, it's funny here and melancholic there, fast and slow and really diversified. You'll hear 'Rocket Ride' on January 20th. And the first part of the tour is booked too. Tickets are gonna be available early next week, watch out for some real big entertaining HM-party. See you all and stay metal. You are the best."
German black metallers DARK FORTRESS have finished recording their fifth album, "Séance". "At the moment guitarist and producer V. Santura is doing the mix of the album and as soon as the band has decided which label they will sign to (in the beginning of November), 'Séance' will be mastered by Alex Krull in the Mastersound Studios. The whole layout has been also completed now by mastermind Travis Smith himself, so that you can expect something special again."
In other news, a limited LP version of DARK FORTRESS' debut album, "Tales from Eternal Dusk" (2001) is available for a price of 15 euros. You can order your copy directly from the band or from different mailorder companies, such as Grau.
Sweden's Close-Up magazine recently spoke to the four ROADRUNNER UNITED team captains Dino Cazares (ASESINO, ex-FEAR FACTORY, BRUJERIA), Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT), Robert Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) and Matthew Heafy (TRIVIUM). In addition, Roadrunner Records Senior Director of A&R Monte Conner gives his input on the gigantic project. Following are some excerpts from the article.
Cazarez on the upcoming ROADRUNNER UNITED concert at the Nokia Theatre in New York City on December 15 (Dino is one of the confirmed members of the core backing band for the entire show):
"I've told Monte that I have no problem with Burton [C. Bell, FEAR FACTORY vocalist] coming up on stage to do 'Replica'. I would never be in FEAR FACTORY again, but if it’s for a special cause I wouldn't have a problem with one of those guys [in FEAR FACTORY] joining me on stage."
Cazares on his brand-new project:
"I've found a new drummer in Tim Yeung, who was in NILE and HATE ETERNAL. We've written seven songs and are trying out singers right now. As soon as [we've found the right vocalist] we're ready to go. This is something that Monte wants to release. Roadrunner has been a big part of my life and I want to stay with them."
Matthew Heafy on what his collaboration with CRADLE OF FILTH vocalist Dani Filth on the song "Dawn of a Golden Age" might lead to:
"I've always wanted to start a black metal side project, so I might ask Dani Filth if he wants to sing on a few more songs. Black metal is almost as big a passion to me as TRIVIUM. I like the atmosphere and the whole scene, the mystique and its bloody past. I collect records, t-shirts and other black metal stuff."
Robert Flynn on whether or not he wanted to save any of his ROADRUNNER UNITED songs for MACHINE HEAD:
"Some parts of 'Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)' were hard to part with, but 'The Dagger' was really difficult to part with. I even told Monte: 'If Howard [Jones, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE vocalist] doesn't wanna sing on it, I'm saving it for the next MACHINE HEAD record."
Monte Conner on why the most commercially successful artist on the label, NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger, doesn't appear on ROADRUNNER UNITED's "The All-Star Sessions" album:
"We sent 'Army of the Sun' [the Flynn track which current BLOODSIMPLE and former VISION OF DISORDER frontman Tim Williams ended up singing on] to Chad, but he was just too busy in the studio recording the new NICKELBACK album. We then went after his brother Mike and tried to get him to play bass on that song and Matt Heafy's 'Blood and Flames'. Same story there, he just didn't have the time. We desperately tried to get Chad on the album, even if some metalheads would've given us shit. We felt that he very much belonged on it. NICKELBACK is a key band on the label and has changed the face of Roadrunner. The rock side of Roadrunner, which NICKELBACK represents, isn't going away and will exist side-by-side with all the metal."
Audio clips of six songs from the upcoming RAMMSTEIN album, "Rosenrot", have been posted online at '
"Rosenrot" is scheduled for release in Germany on October 28 via Universal. A limited-edition version of the album will include a bonus DVD featuring three live video clips recorded earlier in the year. A U.S. release date for the CD has yet to be announced.
RAMMSTEIN's video for their new single, "Benzin", can be viewed by clicking ' . The clip was was shot in August by Uwe Flade, who has also directed videos for DEPECHE MODE and FRANZ FERDINAND.
As previously reported, RAMMSTEIN are nominated in the category "Best Live Act" for the "Eins Live" Krone award. Germany's biggest radio awards ceremony will be held at the Arena Oberhausen on November 24, 2005 and will be broadcast live by Eins Live radio at 7:00 p.m. and on TV by the WDR at 10:00 p.m. To vote for RAMMSTEIN, click ' .
Finland's AMORPHIS have set "Eclipse" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in February via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to last year's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. The mixing was taken care of by Mikko Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.
"Eclipse" track listing:
01. Two Moons 02. House of Sleep 03. Leaves Scar 04. Born from Fire 05. Under a Soil and Black Stone 06. Perkele (The God of Fire) 07. The Smoke 08. Same Flesh 09. Brother Moon 10. Empty Opening
Commented guitarist Esa Holopainen: "We just had listening session at Nuclear Blast office and feedback seems to be really positive. I quess we have to organize another session for Finnish reporters but I'm not sure if we have enough money to cover their drinks. Finnish reporters are extremely thirsty. But still, more they drink, better they like the album! :) Way to go!"
Russian grind label SoulFlesh Collector announced the first release. It is split of three bands: CADAVERIC INCUBATOR (Finland), FETAL DECAY (Russia, Saratov), MORTALIZED (Russia, Kazan')..jpg)
Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, will film their New Year's Eve 10-year anniversary concert at the Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for an upcoming DVD.
Have you written any new material? When will a new record be released?
Back in June I heard about your upcoming album "Come Clarity". When is the expected release date?
San Diego film company ZU33 is currently developing "Lords of Chaos", a fiction film based on true events in the Norwegian black metal music scene in the early 1990s. The project goes into pre-production in November, with physical production scheduled to begin in Februrary 2006. The screenplay was written by Hans Fjellestad, Ryan Page and Adam Parfrey. Fjellestad is set to direct.
U.K.-based black/death quintet BAL-SAGOTH have issued the following update on the recording proces for their long-awaited sixth album:
"The album 'In the Depths of R'lyeh' is finished and will soon be in the process of mastering. No exact release date is set as of yet (early 2006), but it will be available first and immediately through Moribund Records, and soon thereafter at other distros around the world." Samples will be available within the next couple of weeks.
CD-Maximum Records have licensed for the CIS market following titles:
According to a ' published in the October 18, 2005 edition of the Metro newspaper, a British teenage heavy metal fan has been handed a community service order for wearing an offensive t-shirt. 
Moscow-based thrash metal band ZATMENIE have re-signed with Misteria Zvuka to release their second as-yet-untitled album. The album will include 10 tracks, mostly composed during recording, February-August 2005. 
Long-running Floridian death metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION have reportedly parted ways with guitarist Rob Barret and bassist Gordon Simms. Replacing them in the group's latest incarnation are returning members John Rubin (guitar) and Jason Blachowicz (bass, also in DIVINE EMPIRE). 
Nightwish recorded "End Of An Era" -live release yesterday evening in Hartwall-Arena, Helsinki. As you can imagine, the atmosphere in the Arena was wild but also quite blue. This was the ending for a one and a half year lasting "Once"-World Tour. Nightwish wishes to thank everybody for an unbelievable tour.
Polish black metallers BEHEMOTH are currently in the middle of their most prestigious U.S. tour with DANZIG, CHIMAIRA, HIMSA, MORTIIS and THE AGONY SCENE. The band have just hit the East Cost. Mainman Nergal checks in from the road with the following statement:
German melodic metallers EDGUY have posted the following message on their official web site:
Audio clips of six songs from the upcoming RAMMSTEIN album, "Rosenrot", have been posted online at '