Danish metallers ILLDISPOSED will enter the studio in November to begin recording the follow-up to last year's "1-800 Vindication", tentatively due in early 2006 via Roadrunner Records.
Norwegian black metallers CARPATHIAN FOREST have posted the following message on their official web site:
"Although being busy with promoting the new NATTEFROST 'Terrorist' album, Nattefrost is finding time to record his vocals for the new CARPATHIAN FOREST album, that was recorded before the band's latest European tour; The Art of Provocation tour part I.
"Due to the promotional obligations, as well as various live gigs with CARPATHIAN FOREST this summer, the band hope to finish the album during August 2005. Not sure about the release date yet, but either in early November 2005, or late January 2006. The album will be followed up by extensive touring, starting in early 2006.
CANDLEMASS bassist/main songwriter Leif Edling has posted a report from the band's recent appearance at the Bang Your Head festival in Balingen, Germany. Check it out at this location. '
CANDLEMASS are continuing to tour in support of their brand-new self-titled album, which entered the Swedish national album chart at position No. 7 upon its release in early May. The CD also came in at No. 5 on the Sweden chart (featuring only Swedish artists) and at No. 1 on the Hard Rock/Metal chart.
"Candlemass" was recorded in part at Polar studios (ABBA, GENESIS, LED ZEPPELIN) in Stockholm, Sweden and is said to be musically similar to the group's classic "Tales of Creation" and "Nightfall" albums.
Upcoming CANDLEMASS shows:
Jul. 08 - Rockwave Festival – Athens, GRE Aug. 04 - Wacken Festival – Wacken, GER Aug. 08 - Göteborgskalaset – Gothenburg, SWE Aug. 26 - Gorbunova – Moscow, RUS Nov. 26 - Arnhem Metal Meeting – Arnhem, NETH
Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA are apparently in the process of booking a headlining tour of North America beginning in mid-January 2006. Two dates have been released so far:
Jan. 17 - Jaxx Nightclub - West Springfield, VA Jan. 18 - BB Kings Blues Club - New York, NY
More information will be made available soon.
SONATA ARCTICA will be embarking on a European headlining tour in September. The band's fourth studio album, "Reckoning Night", was released last year via Nuclear Blast Records.
According to MaidenFans.com, Vitamin Records has set an August 2 release date for a piano tribute to IRON MAIDEN, aptly titled "The Piano Tribute to Iron Maiden". The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. 2 Minutes To Midnight 02. Wasted Years 03. Can I Play with Madness 04. The Trooper 05. Brave New World 06. Run to The Hills 07. Caught Somewhere In Time 08. Aces High 09. Hallowed Be Thy Name 10. Flight of Icarus 11. Number of The Beast 12. Eddie's Lament (Original Composition)
British metallers PARADISE LOST have opened a 2005 Tour Photo Gallery containing 140 photos sent in to the band by fans throughout the band's current tour. Check it out at this location:http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/viewgallery.php?id=9.
As previously reported, PARADISE LOST recently signed a licensing deal with Century Media Records to release the group's new self-titled album in all territories except for continental Europe and Japan, where the CD is still licensed to G.U.N./Sony BMG.
The tentative U.K. release date is still set to be August. More information will be made available soon.
PARADISE LOST's new self-titled album — named in celebration of the group's 10th studio album since their full-length debut, "Lost Paradise", was released in 1990 — was recorded primarily at Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, England under the guidance of producer Rhys Fulber (FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY). The follow-up to 2002's "Symbol of Life" is the group's first CD to feature drummer Jeff Singer (ex-BLAZE).
Danish thrashers HATESPHERE have set "The Sickness Within" as the title of their upcoming album, due on September 26 via SPV Records.
HATESPHERE entered Jailhouse Studios with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS) on June 5 to begin recording the follow-up to 2004's "Ballet of the Brute". Guitars and bass were recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark, with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR). This dynamic duo was also responsible for the production on the band's latest effort, "The Killing EP", which was released last January.
Commented singer Jacob Bredahl: "The new album will be more diverse than ever. We are still playing metal — hard as fuck! But this time with some new elements here and there. Fast parts, slow parts, melodic parts and very brutal parts — all that your metal heart needs."
"The Sickness Within" track listing (in no particualr order):
01. Heaven Is Ready to Fall 02. Seeds of Shame 03. Bleed to Death 04. The Coming of Chaos 05. Marked By Darkness 06. The White Fever 07. Sickness Within 08. Murderous Intent 09. The Fallen Shall Rise In a River of Blood 10. Reaper of Life 11. Chamber Master
HATESPHERE supported KREATOR on their "Enemy of God" European tour earlier in the year. Also appearing on the bill were Sweden's DARK TRANQUILLITY and Hungarian hardcore/thrash metallers EKTOMORF.
After spending the last few years as a successful producer in Los Angeles, former ANTHRAX/ZAKK WYLDE/WHITE LION drummer Greg D'Angelo (or "GD3", as he's now known) has joined ANTIPRODUCT as permanent replacement for ailing drummer Simon the Gonk.
ANTIPRODUCT are continuing work on recordings at Albert Studios (AC/DC, BREED 77) with famed producer Ray McVeigh (PERRY FARRELL, THE PROFESSIONALS, DANZIG) for a late summer release. "This is the first time we've ever been able to spend time recording in a real studio rather than counting change and breaking piggy banks to finish tracking!" states singer A. Product. "It sounds unlike anything we've ever done."
THE PROJECT HATE, the Swedish band featuring Jörgen Sandström of ENTOMBED/GRAVE fame on lead vocals, will release their new album, "Armageddon March Eternal (Symphonies of Slit Wrists)", on October 5 via Threeman Recordings. The follow-up to 2003's "Hate, Dominate, Congregate, Eliminate" was produced by Dan Swanö and features a special guest appearance by EVERGREY bassist Michael Håkansson, who completed his tracks at his studio in Gothenburg before the entire recording was shipped off to Swanö to be mixed and mastered. An MP3 of the album cut "At the Entrance to Hell's Unholy Fire" is available for download at this location.
A radio-broadcast-quality recording of OPETH's new track, entitled "The Grand Conjuration", has been posted online in MP3 format at this location' (length - 9:55; size - 22.71 MB; quality – 320 kbps).
"The Grand Conjuration" comes off the Swedish band's upcoming album, "Ghost Reveries", due late August/early September through Roadrunner Records.
"Ghost Reveries" was mastered on June 16 at the Cutting Room facilities in Stockholm and will feature a running time of 65 minutes. The full track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Ghost of Perdition 02. The Baying of the Hounds 03. Beneath the Mire 04. Atonement 05. Reverie/Harlequin Forest 06. Hours of Wealth 07. The Grand Conjuration 08. Isolation Years
Check out the album cover artwork (designed by Travis Smith) at this location' .
An audio sample of a brand-new CHARON track, entitled "Colder", is available for download from Spinefarm.fi' .
"Colder" comes off the group's upcoming album, "Songs for the Sinners", due in Finland on August 31 (September 5 internationally) via Spinefarm Records. The "Ride on Tears" single will precede the album on August 3.
CHARON entered Finnvox Studios in Helsinki in February with producer Mikko Karmila to begin recording the follow-up to 2003's "The Dying Daylights".
Swedish metallers HYPOCRISY have set "Virus" as the title of their new album, due on September 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. "Last week we did the video shooting for the song 'Scrutinized'," the group's bassist, Mikael Hedlund, writes on their web site. "We had a great time doing it and hope you gonna enjoy it as much as we do."
"Virus" track listing:
01. Intro (not named yet) 02. Warpath 03. Scrutinized 04. Fearless 05. Craving for Another Killing 06. Let the Knife Do the Talking 07. A Thousand Lies 08. Incised Before I've Ceased 09. Blooddrenched 10. Compulsive Psychosis 11. Living to Die
HYPOCRISY's most recent album, "The Arrival", was released in February 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Catch-22" was recorded at frontman Peter Tägtgren's Abyss studio.
The cover artwork for CHILDREN OF BODOM's upcoming album, "Are You Dead Yet?", has been posted online at this location' .
As previously reported, CHILDREN OF BODOM mastered "Are You Dead Yet?" on June 6 at Finnvox studios in Helsinki following a six-week recording/mixing session with producer Mikko Karmila. The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Living Dead Beat 02. Are You Dead Yet? 03. If You Want Peace... Prepare for War 04. Punch Me I Bleed 05. In Your Face 06. Next in Line 07. Bastards of Bodom 08. Trashed, Lost & Strungout 09. We're Not Gonna Fall
"Are You Dead Yet?" is scheduled for release on September 14 in Finland and September 19 in the rest of the world.
CHILDREN OF BODOM have selected the track "In Your Face" as the first single off "Are You Dead Yet?". The single is scheduled for release on August 17 via Spinefarm Records.
CHILDREN OF BODOM mainman Alexi Laiho recently told Finland's Soundi magazine that "Are You Dead Yet?" will feature some completely new influences. The follow-up to 2003's "Hate Crew Deathroll" will apparently be even more straight-forward than its predecessor and will contain some industrial elements while retaining COB's trademark sound, including the super-fast guitar and keyboard solos.
Two tour dates in November in My Dying Bride's home country, are confirmed: November 18 they will play at the Astoria in London, and November 19 at Club Rio in Bradford. More as we get it.
Florida death metal pioneers OBITUARY will release their sixth studio record, "Frozen In Time", on July 19 via Roadrunner Records. OBITUARY is also planning to hit the road this fall with brethren NAPALM DEATH and DEAD TO FALL.
"After six years of inactivity, it's like we awakened out of hibernation just as heavy as we were before. It was like our sound was frozen in time," says vocalist John Tardy. "This album isn't a new beginning, it's just what we've always done; just newer and better."
Speaking of the music, "On the Floor" opens with an incisive, churning riff, thunderous beats and bloodcurdling vocals before shifting into a chugging, bone-splintering breakdown, "Blindsided" rides a gradually ascending hate groove to a destination just south of Hell, and "Back Inside" fuses colossal crunch with pummeling double-bass drumming to create a deadly mosh pit firestorm.
The group's first collection of new songs since 1997's "Back from the Dead", "Frozen In Time" was self-produced by the band, with Mark Prator and Scott Burns engineering, and was mastered by Tom Morris at Morrisound. Download the track "Insane" at Roadrun.com.
OBITUARY are in the process of booking a U.S. tour with NAPALM DEATH and DEAD TO FALL beginning in early September. As bassist Frank Watkins says, "We look forward to seeing everyone again. It has been a long time coming!!"
OBITUARY with NAPALM DEATH and DEAD TO FALL:
Sep. 01 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx Sep. 02 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom Sep. 03 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium Sep. 04 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre Sep. 06 - New York, NY - B.B. King's Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Sep. 09 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall Sep. 10 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues Sep. 12 - Chicago, IL - Metro Sep. 13 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue Sep. 14 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Club Sep. 17 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing Sep. 18 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
Launch Radio Networks reports: The QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS tour that was expected to hit North America later this summer or in early fall has now been officially bumped into next year. QUEEN guitarist Brian May confirmed what Launch reported last week — that the Western Hemisphere will get a few key shows in 2005, but the bulk of the road work on this continent will be in the early part of 2006. "The current plan is to come and do Aruba, which is a long story — don't even ask! (laughs) — and, and then to do New York and L.A. and make a little noise, and then hit Japan, where we have an offer to do some fairly big stuff, and then get back to the States to do the main stuff in the spring," May said.
QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS have a couple of shows left in Europe in early July. They've already announced shows in Aruba on October 8 and Tokyo, Japan, on October 26.
A live album called "Queen + Paul Rodgers Rock Live" will come out September 13. The first single will be "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Reaching Out"/"Tie Your Mother Down".
In their Special Edition series, InsideOut Music reissues five albums of the melodic rockers ASIA, digitally remastered and featuring bonus material. All reissues have embossed slipcases, bonus tracks, extended booklets, exclusive photos, and new liner notes. The re-releases start with "Aqua" and the "Best of" "Anthology", in August follow "Arena", "Aria" as well "Archiva I + II". In honour of the Asia fanclub "Armada" the band provides a previously unreleased live version of "Aqua, Part 1" on their homepage for downloading.
Arjen Lucassen as no one knew him: with his band project AYREON, usually appreciated for its fabluous mix of metal and bombast, folk, hard and progressive rock, on the new four track single "Come Back To Me" he offers two original "sound experiments". Apart from "Come Back To Me", a variation of the "The Human Equation" song "Day Seven: Hope" with a new title as well as the previously unreleased "August Fire" the single contains a "Come Back To Me" dance version (!) and also the very original Beatles cover "When I'm Sixty-Four" which was already recorded ten years ago. A video clip for "Come Back To Me" and a "Making of" video complete the package. The first edition comes with a digipak and got a code with which one gets access to exclusive downloads on the Aryreon website until the end of September. To match the tenth Ayreon anniversary InsideOut Music recently has completed the new edition of Ayeron's five album backcatalogue.
Fans and critics celebrated EVERGREY's live DVD which came out at the end of May as work of reference regarding quality and getup. And "A Night To Remember" immediately entered the Swedish DVD charts on number one, too. Meanwhile Tom Englund & Co. are tirelessly touring: there are new confirmed festival dates in England, Finland, Italy, and Sweden.
InsideOut's sublabel REVISITED RECORDS continues the new edition of KLAUS SCHULZE's back catalogue in June with the albums "Audentity", "Body Love", "Dune" and "Miditerranean Pads". The start of the KRAAN series of reissues will be delayed a little bit: the first three album "Wiederhoren", "Nachtfahrt" and "Live 88" will be out on July 18th. The British artist PAUL GURVITZ has left many tracks in rock history, among others he was member of The Gun, Baker Gurvitz Army and Three Man Army. In July, Revisited Records releases "Live" of the BAKER GURVITZ ARMY, "3" of the THREE MAN ARMY as well as Gurvitz' solo album "Rated PG". Further reissues of AMON DUUL II have to be postponed.
SPOCK'S BEARD are preparing the release of a live double album and again go on a European tour in October.
-------------------------------- СВЕЖАЯ ВЫПЕЧКА / InsideOut Music --------------------------------
AYREON: "Come Back To Me" (CD-Single), RELEASE: June 13th TOMAS BODIN: "I Am", RELEASE: June 27th 2005 SPIRITUAL BEGGARS: "Demons", RELEASE: June 20th 2005 STEVE HOWE: "Spectrum", RELEASE: June 27th 2005
--------------------------------- ВСЕ ЕЩЕ ГОРЯЧИЕ / InsideOut Music ---------------------------------
EVERGREY: "A Night To Remember" (live DVD), RELEASE: May 23rd KAIPA: "Mindrevolutions", RELEASE: May 30th 2005 PRESTO BALLET: "Peace Among The Ruins", RELEASE: June 6th 2005 SHADOW GALLERY: "Room V", RELEASE: May 30th 2005
--------------------------------- СКОРО ВЫЙДУТ... / InsideOut Music ---------------------------------
KINGS'S X: new studio album, t.b.a. SIEGES EVEN: "The Art Of Navigating By The Stars" SPOCK'S BEARD: live double album, t.b.a.
IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's new solo album, "Tyranny of Souls", has registered the following first-week chart positions around the world:
#2: Greece #10: Finland #10: Sweden #24: Hungary #34: Italy #39: Germany #58: Austria #65: UK #71: Canada #73: Switzerland #101: France #180: USA
"Tyranny of Souls" sees Dickinson renewing a fruitful collaboration with guitarist/producer/writer Roy Z of the Latin-based rock group TRIBE OF GYPSIES. Z has worked with Bruce since 1994's "Balls to Picasso" album, also producing the likes of HELLOWEEN, DOWNSET, HALFORD and most recently JUDAS PRIEST's reunion album, "Angel of Retribution".
Sweden's HYPOCRISY have finalized the track listing for their as-yet-untitled new album, due on September 5 via Nuclear Blast Records. "Even though the album is still untitled, we can guarantee you that it sounds killer!" the band write on their web site. The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. Intro (not named yet) 02. Warpath 03. Scrutinized 04. Fearless 05. Craving for Another Killing 06. Let the Knife Do the Talking 07. A Thousand Lies 08. Incised Before I've Ceased 09. Blooddrenched 10. Compulsive Psychosis 11. Living to Die
Norwegian black metallers GORGOROTH have posted the following update on their official web site:
"The recordings of the upcoming album, 'Ad Majorem Satanhas Gloriam', progress steadily. Infernus [guitar] and King [bass] have been in a studio in Spydeberg (Norway) for the past weeks where they have recorded bass and guitar. They have brought the tapes back to Bergen and will continue their work in Earshot Studios during this summer."
"Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam" is tentatively scheduled for release before the end of the year via Sweden's Regain Records. The band were most recently signed to Nuclear Blast Records, who released the band's last three efforts: "Twilight of the Idols" (2003), "Incipit Satan" (2000) and "Destroyer" (1998).
GORGOROTH last year inked a deal with the French label Season of Mist for the reissues of their first three albums: "Pentagram" (1994), "Antichrist" (1996) and "Under the Sign of Hell" (1997). All three were re-released earlier this year in a remastered, digipack version.
MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist David Vincent and GENITORTURERS frontwoman Gen have issued the following plea for help in the case of missing MORBID ANGEL guitarist Tony Norman (ex-MONSTROSITY):
"MORBID ANGEL are scheduled to fly to Portugal this Wednesday for a huge festival. As of today, no one has seen or heard from Tony Norman, MORBID ANGEL's rhythm guitarist, who also used to play in the band MONSTROSITY.
"He was last seen by us at our friends wedding when him and his girlfriend were seated at our table. This was well over a month ago and no one has had contact with him since that we can determine.
"We have contacted many of his friends, parents etc... no one has heard from him We think that he has recently moved within Tampa to a new place… No one seems to know where and none of his phone numbers are working…. so no one at this point is able to reach him.
"At this point David and the rest of the MORBID ANGEL crew are really worried about him as it is not like him to be out of touch. A missing person's report has been filed.
"If you know him or anyone that has contact with him… please help us contact anyone you know who might also know him or his girlfriend."
Nightwish release "Highest Hopes - The Best Of Nightwish" -2cd collection next fall. Here is the confirmed tracklist of that collection:
Wish I Had An Angel / Stargazers / The Kinslayer / Ever Dream / Elvenpath / Bless The Child / Nemo / Sleeping Sun / Dead To The World / Over The Hills And Far Away / Deep Silent Complete / Sacrament Of Wilderness / Walking In The Air / Wishmaster / Dead Boy's Poem / High Hopes – Live
True fans of Fleur will loath for a new CD soon. Label "Prikosnovenie" will release a European version of "Shining" on June, 15th. Another work in the discography and a great exhibit in the famous collection of the group.
The new studio release from progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER, "Octavarium", has entered the national album charts in the following countries:
#2: Finland #4: Sweden #18: France #15: Canada #31: Spain #33: Czech Republic #35: Austria #36: USA #38: Denmark #43: Switzerland #72: U.K.
"Octavarium" is the follow-up to 2003's "Train of Thought", which has shifted 123,086 units in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
DREAM THEATER began writing and recording their latest album last November at the Hit Factory studios in New York City. The CD will hold the distinction of being the very last album ever recorded at the world-famous recording facility, which recently closed its doors.
DREAM THEATER are currently touring Europe in support of "Octavarium". The band will co-headline this summer's Gigantour, a six-week North American festival trek also featuring MEGADETH, FEAR FACTORY, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and NEVERMORE, among others.
Check out 85 pictures of DREAM THEATER performing in Budapest, Hungary on Tuesday, June 14 at HardRock.hu.
A full DREAM THEATER biography, global discography with chart positions and global gig guide can be found at Rockdetector.com.
Century Media Records will release the new album of ARCH ENEMY - "Doomsday Machine" - on July 26th. The CD was recorded in Slaughterhouse Studio (Sweden) and mixed by Andy Sneap in Backstage Studio (Derbyshire, U.K.). Cover was created by Joachim Luetke (RAGE).
Tracklist: 1. Enter the Machine (intro), 2. Skeleton Dance, 3. My Apocalypse, 4. Carry the Cross, 5. I Am Legend/Out for Blood, 6. Mechanic God Creation, 7. Machtkampf, 8. Slaves of Yesterday, 9. We Are One, 10. Taking Back My Soul, 11. Opium, 12. Hybrids of Steel (instrumental).
Italian melodic power metallers VISION DIVINE, the brainchild of ex-LABYRINTH mastermind Olaf Thörsen, will have their new album, "The Perfect Machine", produced by STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki. The follow-up to last year's "Stream of Unconsciousness" will be released in October through Scarlet Records.
In other news, VISION DIVINE's long-awaited DVD, entitled "Stage of Consciousness", has been delayed and is now scheduled for release in August. The band will also take part in the Evolution Festival, set to take July 16 in Brescia, Italy. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are NIGHTWISH, SEBASTIAN BACH, DARK TRANQUILLITY and ENTOMBED, among others.
Norwegian extreme metallers ENSLAVED are planning to perform the entire "Eld" album (originally released in 1997) during their scheduled appearance at the Hole in the Sky festival on August 26 in Bergen, Norway. This will be the first and last time ever for this specific concept, according to a posting on the group's web site.
In other news, ENSLAVED are currently putting the finishing touches on their "Return to Yggdrasil" DVD. The disc will feature the band's May 4 live performance in Bergen and bonus material from the band's European tour, including a band interview. The sound is being handled by Lars Klokkerhaug (who mixed "ISA" and the editing of the footage is being taken care of by Stig "Ese" Eliassen (guitarist of VREID, ENSLAVED's support band on their recent European tour).
ENSLAVED recently won the "Metal Album of the Year" prize at the Norwegian "Grammy" awards, Spellemannprisen, for their latest release, "ISA". The band also received the independent Alarm Award for "Best Metal Album" of 2004.
Belgian death metallers PREJUDICE have finished recording three songs at Excess studios in Rotterdam, Holland for an upcoming split CD with ROTTENNESS (Mexico) and CARNAL DECAY (Switzerland). A sample track, entitled "Terminal", can be heard online at this location (.WMA file). The effort wll be released later in the year via Spain's Grotesque Productions.
PREJUDICE are currently searching "for a new label that can give us what we need to make a decent new CD and do some tours to promote it," the band write on their web site. "We hope to get a better deal this time then the ones we've had in the past."
French thrashcore act DRIFTING BREED will release their debut EP, entitled "Hope Hereafter", on June 20 via Overcome Records. The 22-minute CD contains four tracks and will reportedly "appeal to all fans of thrash metal, death metal and metalcore who enjoy brutality, groove and melody." A preview MP3 is available at the group's official web site, www.driftingbreed.com.
"Hope Hereafter" track listing:
01. Hope Hereafter 02. Almost a Stranger 03. Waste Game 04. Some Reasons to Kill Me
Reunited Swiss avant-garde metallers CELTIC FROST have selected HYPOCRISY/PAIN mainman Peter Tägtgren to co-produce their long-awaited comeback effort, tentatively titled "Dark Matter Manifest". The band willl enter Horus Sound Studio in Hannover, Germany on August 1 to begin recording their first collection of new material since 1990's "Vanity/Nemesis". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Incantation against You", "Obscured", "Ain Elohim" and "Temple of Depression".
CELTIC FROST, who have been mixing new demo material at Oakland Recording in Winterthur, Switzerland, have yet to secure a record deal for their upcoming CD.