February 04, 2003

HIRAX are currently writing songs for their new album, tentatively titled "The New Age Of Terror" and have just been confirmed to appear at this year’s ‘Bang Your Head’ festival in Germany. www.bang-your-head.de/home.htm More European tour dates will be announced soon. www.HIRAX.org

Swedish Thrashers THE CROWN, recently rejoined by original vocalist Johan Lindstrand, have booked studio time at Gotheburg’s Studio Fredman for the recording and mixing of their forthcoming album, tentatively due in early September through Metal Blade Records. The band will enter the studio on May 5 and should be "all done" by June 15. Among the tracks set to appear on the group’s as-yet-untitled CD are the following: ‘No Tomorrow’, ‘Face Of Destruction / Deep Hit Of Death’, ‘Are You Morbid?’, ‘Cold Is The Grave’, ‘Kill ‘Em All’, ‘Natashead Overdrive’, ‘Dawn Of Emptiness’ and ‘Crown Of Thorns’. According to bassist Magnus Olsfelt, "This time we are heading for the ultimate and so far it sounds very promising. The new material is pretty diverse but in general the songs have more power. Hard-hitting and straight forward, with more natural flow. So that the energy and force comes straight back to you."