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OPETH have posted the following message at their official website: "OPETH will be entering Fashination Street Studios (in Stockholm, Sweden) on March 15 to record their 8th yet untitled opus. The band are currently in rehearsal mode, which is a rare occasion having recorded the last four records without rehearsing. The recording will be overseen by the uprising recording mogul Jens Bogren. As of today no names for production duties have surfaced and it looks like the next record will be a band produced effort. Nothing has been decided regarding who’s taking care of the mix either so we’ll have to keep you wondering. Opeth and their management have spent the last month meeting the five top label candidates for the next Opeth recording contract. The names are still secret but a decision will be made very soon and obviously announced here earlier than anywhere else. Several Summer festival appearances have been confirmed and will be posted here soon. A Summer tour of the US has also been confirmed and will be posted here soon as well. The matters are still very "hush, hush" so we can’t say anything more at this point. What can be said is that the band will make a few low-profile apperances prior to the next release and several full blown headline tours all over the world after the release. Take your rest now!"
German Black Thrashers DESASTER (www.total-desaster.de) have inked a deal with Metal Blade Records. Their next album, "Angelwhore", will be released on CD format via Metal Blade. The vinyl version will be released via Iron Pegasus Records. The band is currently in the songwriting stage. The release is scheduled for August, 2005.
Sweden’s NASUM have posted the following update on their official website regarding frontman / guitarist Mieszko Talarczyk: "Today – Thursday, February 17, 2005 – we recieved a confirmation that Mieszko Talarczyk died in the Tsunami Disaster December 26, 2004. His body has been identified and will be transfered to Sweden shortly. His closest family and friends are in our thoughts right now. Mieszko will be missed by many. Nasum.com will be closed for at least a month. You know why. There will be a slight update in a couple of days with some information about the future of Nasum along with some personal words about Mieszko. Thanks a lot for your support and your thoughts. Now a new time begins, a time we must spend alone. Please respect this wish. Sincerely, Anders and Nasum."
According to a brief update at their official website, Dutch Thrashers THANATOS are "Busy writing new songs for their fifth full-length album that probably will be recorded at the end of this year." The band issued their last album, "Undead.Unholy.Divine." via Black Lotus last year.
Candlelight Records will be releasing the PROJECT: FAILING FLESH debut, "A Beautiful Sickness" on March 22nd. The album was released in Europe in September 2004 through Karmageddon Media. As previously reported, the band – featuring E-FORCE frontman Eric Forrest on vocals – is busy working on their second album, "The Conjoined". Keyboards and vocals are expected to be laid down in the near future, at which point the album will be ready for mixing.
According to the official HOLY MOSES website, the announced title for the band’s upcoming album, "Strange Power Will Passion", is incorrect. The name of the new album will in fact be "Strength Power Will Passion". The band’s label, Armageddon Music, regrets the error. In other news, vocalist Sabina Classen is finishing up vocals for the new album, with backing vocals, bass and guitar leads scheduled to be recorded this week. A guest vocalist is going to be brought in to do some singing as well.
IN FLAMES have won the Swedish Grammy Award for the best Hardrock / Metal album of 2004, with their latest album, "Soundtrack To Your Escape". Nuclear Blast will release a digipak edition of the album on February 21st. This edition of the album will include a 5-track DVD containing the following videos: ‘The Quiet Place’, ‘Touch Of Red’, ‘Watch Them Feed’ (live at Wacken Open Air 2003), ‘Only For The Weak’ (live at Wacken Open Air 2003) and ‘The Making Of Soundtrack To Your Escape’ (feat. Daniel Bergstrand).
SHINING have signed a deal with Osmose Productions for two albums, whereas the first one, "Besvikelsens Dystra Monotoni" is to be recorded in April. To celebrate this event Osmose Productions and SHINING have decided to once and for all issue the first two albums "Within Deep Dark Chambers" and "Livets Ändhållplats" in luxurious digipak versions including one exclusive bonus track each and for the first time ever fully printed lyrics as well as linear notes. About one year ago Kvarforth announced the death of the band due to many unpleasant circumstances within the band and around him personally but now, with a basically entirely new line-up of Ludvig Hvit (of Spiritual Beggars, Firebird) on drums, John Doe (of Craft, Twin Earth) on solo / rhythm guitar and at this very moment a anonymous person on lead guitar a new era has begun to take shape. The reason for this new line-up is simply because there is a need to rehearse and play live which never would have worked out in long terms with the previous members considering the distance in between. SHINING are currently rehearsing a live-set as well as the new material and are currently looking for a full time bassist to replace former member Phil A. Cirone.
Oslo-based quintet DISIPLIN scored a number one spot on Norwegian Metal show, Svisj Metal with their first ever video for ‘Anti-Life’, taken from their self-titled second album (out in March). The video, directed by internationally celebrated photographer, Marcel Lelienhof premiered on Svisj Metal last week.
Townsend Avalanche Music will release a tribute to IMMORTAL compilation in Autumn 2005. It will be entitled Epimythion – Tribute To Immortal and feature the following bands / tracks: sunn o))) – Cursed Realms Of The Winterdemons, beyond dawn – Storming Through Red Clouds And Holocaustwinds, vreid – As The Eternity Opens, ocd+braincontroller – Pure Holocaust, endwarfment – Unsilent Storms In The North Abyss, tragedy begins – The Sun No Longer Rises, zweizz – Blacker Than Darkness, enthroned – Eternal Years On The Path To The Cemetary Gates, aura noir – t.b.c., seth – Battles In The North and funeral procession – A Perfect Vision Of The Rising Northland.
Ojayy from New York’s LACERATION joined SUN DESCENDS as their new drummer. Ojayy has been playing drums for over 10 years and has toured the East Coast opening for Suffocation, Obituary, Testament, Vital Remains and others. SUN DESCENDS is currently working on their live set and is also priming Ojayy for the new SUN DESCENDS album which will be recorded this summer. Check for comments etc. on www.sundescends.com
Swedish deathsquad CENTINEX have signed a worldwide deal with Cold Records / Regain Records. Here is a statement from the band: "After two highly acclaimed studio albums and several re-releases CENTINEX and Candlelight Records have decided to go separate ways. The reasons for this will remain unanswered from our side. CENTINEX have signed a new deal with Swedish based Cold Records, which recently became a sublabel to Regain Records (after being linked to Metal Blade Records for a few years). CENTINEX are extremely thrilled about this new deal and are really looking forward to work with such wellknown and strong partners". CENTINEX have booked Black Lounge Studios for four weeks, starting March 4th, for the recordings of "World Declension". The album will be released worldwide in June 2005. More info about the exact release date(s), license versions, tracklisting etc coming soon. The artwork and layout for the album will be done by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight 13 Design. The artwork can now be found at the CENTINEX website. "World Declension" will be released as a 8-panel digipak. CENTINEX will headline the Arcane Promotions Infernal Damnation Festival and take part in two classic German festivals: Fuck The Commerce VIII and Bands Battle.
Dutch brutal Death Metal formation ARSEBREED recently inked a deal with Neurotic Records. The band includes members from PYAEMIA, DISAVOWED and MANGLED. The first, as of yet untitled, album will be recorded somewhere in the second half of 2005, and it is aimed to be released before the end of this year. Even though this band is formed around people who all have their own other bands this band is not to be seen as just another side-project, and therefore there will definitely be shows to support their upcoming album when the time is right. More info on: www.neurotic-records.com
The first REVIOLENCE videoclip for the song ‘Zero Of Me’ is finished and was produced and directied by Claudio Tibérius, a Brazilian producer who also produced the Torture Squad and Panzer videos. The clip, which will be available for download on Reviolence’s website (www.reviolence.com.br), contains scenes from their first concert at Blackmore’s Rock Bar (August 2004).
Deimos (bass) is no longer a member of BLOODY SIGN. Lead vocalist Hagend has taken over the bass duties (as well as still doing vocals). He has already played bass in previous bands so it was an obvious choice. The band will continue as a trio. Coming later this year BLOODY SIGN will also be doing a split EP with unholy Death gore Metallers RADEMASSAKER from Germany. This will be a split release between Ibex Moon Records and Redrum Records. Look out for BLOODY SIGN on tour in Eastern Europe with the Czech Black / Death Metal band AVENGER in April 2005. The tour will hit France, Germany, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and Romania.
FUNERUS has returned from their "Festering the United States" Tour 2005. FUNERUS would like to send out a big thanks to all the Metallers that came out to the shows and showed support to the bands along with everyone that had made the tour possible. There are a few limited edition tour shirts still available. Visit the FUNERUS website for ordering info at: www.funerus.com
Displeased Records will re-release CRYPTOPSY‘s debut "Blasphemy Made Flesh" with its original cover and complete new artwork on CD. For the first time also available on LP! Both versions available from late March 2005. In related news, Jon Levasseur left the band.
Both INCRIMINATED and THRONEUM delivered material for a limited split 7", to be issued in early summer 2005 via From Beyond Productions.
INFINITED HATE just finished the recordings of their second album "Heaven Termination" at Excess Studios.
Last week Deathstrike Records from Germany released a vinyl version of the NOCTURNAL "Arrival Of The Carnivore" album, recently issued on CD via From Beyond Productions. It comes with a gatefold cover, poster and bonus track (Violent Force cover). Available from both Deathstrike and Displeased.
Having laid low for a long while, Polish grinders REINFECTION are back from the undead. A limited 7" with exclusive tracks (originally scheduled for a 2002 release) will be released through From Beyond Productions later this year.
After many delays RESUSCITATOR finally were able to hand over the master of the upcoming "A Warrior’s Death" album. Expect a mix of later Immortal and recent Enthroned. Out in late April 2005.
With alternative cover artwork, From Beyond Productions will present a limited vinyl version of the "Tyranny Returns" album of SARGEIST in late April, with a CD version out now on Moribund Records.
UTUK XUL is currently working on a European tour. More news will follow as soon as the dates are set.
Neurotic Records recently acquired the rights of VISCERAL BLEEDING‘s debut album "Remnants Of Deprivation". It will be re-issued under the name "Remnants Revived" with three bonus audio tracks (covers of Cannibal Corpse’s ‘Stripped, Raped & Strangled’, Dismember’s "Dreaming In Red" and an alternate version of the band’s own song ‘Carved Down To The Bone’) and four video tracks (one studio clip and three live tracks recorded during their recent successful tour with Obituary). The release will be remastered by Scott Hull (Nile, Suffocation, Pig Destroyer a.o.) and issued as a digipak on April 18, 2005. www.neurotic-records.com
LOCK UP‘s live album, "Live In Japan", will be released in Japan on March 24th. The material for the album was recorded live in Japan in 2003. LOCK UP features NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury and guitarist Jesse Pintado, DIMMU BORGIR drummer Nick Barker and ex-AT THE GATES / ex – CROWN / THE GREAT DECEIVER screamer Tomas "Tompa" Lindberg.
According to a posting at the official THYRANE website (www.thyrane.org), guitarist Avather has left the band for personal reasons. Says the band, "Thanks for those eight years of drunk’n blasphemy. Cheers. Blastmor, Daemon, Hannamari and ToniX." The band have not yet announced who Avather’s replacement will be. Stay tuned.
BLOODBATH have posted the following message at their official website: "The time has finally come for BLOODBATH to invade the stage and debut as a live band. We have chosen this extraordinary moment to be fired off at the European Metal festival – Wacken Open Air (scheduled to take place August 4th – 6th, 2005 in Wacken, Germany)! However, we’re facing some changes in the band’s line-up and will confirm the actual performing members asap, so please be patient for further announcements. Also, to be taken into account is that this gig will be worldwide exclusive for 2005 (and who knows… perhaps even beyond that!?), so this is your best shot to rush that stage and bang your heads with us! Details on exact date / playing time tba."
NILE guitarist / vocalist Karl Sanders has posted the following recording update at the band’s official website: "We finished the guitar, bass, vocal and additional instrument tracking at the soundlab in Columbia, SC with Neil Kernon and Bob Moore. It was an utterly grueling session, with every single day of those 2 1/2 weeks being a 14-16 hour working frenzy. The next phase will be to start mixing on Friday at Rax Trax in Chicago. We have 10 days scheduled there with Neil Kernon mixing / producing. Based on what we have heard from the recordings so far, this is easily our strongest work yet. There are 10 songs as well as 2 reasonably short intro / instrumentals, with total album time weighing in at a pre-mix length of 65 minutes. We are seriously intense about these new songs, and can’t wait for people to hear them. Be prepared to be crushed."
US Death Metallers THE CHASM have posted the following message at their official website: "The first part of the "Spell Of Death" tour has been completed, the experience was very succesful and positive. We like to thank all those believers of the Cult Of Death and UG Death Metal who attended the shows, it was great to meet some new and old comrades on the road. Also thanks to MORTICIAN, FUNERUS, INCANTATION and ARSIS, for sharing equipment / stage and being great tour mates. Once again we couldn’t play Long Island NY – the show was cancelled due to the bad weather conditions, but we hope to be there later this year. For now we will take a small break and then start planning the 2nd part of this crusade, meanwhile we’ll also start working on new songs and ideas for the new opus attack. Honorable mention to Roberto Lizarraga for doing a killer job in the 4 string attack duties, as well as to Earache / Wicked World for the tour support. New live photos have been added here."
EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt has posted the following update in the forum at the band’s official website: "We have a new singer! I’d like to take this moment to welcome to our ranks Rob Dukes as our new vocalist. He has been absolutely crushing in practice and only gets stronger every day. I know some of you will want details, i.e. what bands has he been in, etc., but I’ll have to get back to you on that one. I’ve heard some of his old demo stuff, but he is a virtual unknown. But he is going to blow people’s minds. He does incredible justice to both Paul and Zetro’s material but when you hear the new shit you won’t believe your ears. Totally crushing! To all who sent in their demos and such I’d like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time. But now our search is over. Rob just happened to end up my guitar tech for the MEGADETH tour after things didn’t work out with my first tech. Rob was refered to me by a friend at the Hollywood show and the rest is history. Divine intervention if you will! We will be recording some demos of a few new songs next week and if everything stays on track, we will be in the studio recording the next album in April."
SEVERE TORTURE have posted the following udate at their website: "We just got the news that our final Karmageddon Media release has been delayed. "Bloodletting" will be released on March 28 instead of February 7. This release is NOT our new album, which we are recording right now, but a live album with some bonus material."
VINTERRIKET‘s next album will be called "Der letzte Winter – Der Ewigkeit entgegen". It’ll be produced in a studio in Oslo and the recordings are supposed to be finished within the next days. This timeit won’t be Ambient music, but depressive, melancholic and cold Black Metal. www.vinterriket.com
EQUILIBRIUM have completed their debut "Turis Fratyr", which is a musical version of Thor’s hammer. It’ll be released on February 14, 2005. The first edition comes as limited digipak including one bonus song. www.equilibrium-metal.de
Sweden’s ANGST will finish the recordings of their album "In Hoc Signo Vinces" in the near future. It’ll be released in early spring via Black Attakk. www.angstband.cjb.net
GRABNEBELFÜRSTEN will soon enter a studio to record their new album "Schwarz gegen Weiß". The band promises a "typical" GRABNEBELFÜRSTEN album, which at the same time is not comparable to its predecessors. The release is scheduled for spring 2005. www.grabgewalt.de
MINAS MORGUL will record their follow-up to "Schwertzeit" within the next few weeks. Harris Johns will be in charge of the production. www.minasmorgul.org
MEMBARIS have finished writing material for their new record. They plan to enter a studio in the next weeks to record the successor of their debut "Poetry Of Chaos". www.darkbound.net/html/membaris.htm
The INSIGNIUM debut "In die Abgründe" will be released on February 14, 2005. The band delivers a mix of Black, Death, Heavy and Thrash Metal. Audio- and video-files featuring the song ‘Moorleiche’ can be downloaded at the bands’ homepage. www.insignium.de
Black Attack will re-release three out of print albums at the end of February: CRYPTIC WINTERMOON‘s "Age Of Cataclysm" (plus two bonus tracks from the "Franconian Frost" split-EP with LORD ASTAROTH), GRABNEBELFÜRSTEN‘s "Von Schemen und Trugbildern" (with three bonus tracks from the demos "Seelenpoker" and "Sakralästhetik") and CRYOGENIC‘s "Celephais".
ZORN‘s new album "Todesschwadron" is set for a late spring release. www.zorn.darkmetal.net
"Ernte im Herbst", FJOERGYN‘s first album, will be released in Spring 2005.
KREATOR‘s latest album, "Enemy Of God", is being issued by Steamhammer / SPV on limited edition gatefold double-vinyl on February 14th. The "Enemy Of God" CD is out now in North America and Europe.
RAZOR guitar legend Dave Carlo is scheduled for surgery on February 14th in a London, ON hospital to fix his ailing picking thumb that has severely affected his playing ability and speed. Doctors are expecting a full recovery which according to frontman Bob Reid, "Is Metal music to our ears." Reid also adds that the band will be "getting down to business" on new material, possible live appearances and the completion of their 20th Anniversary CD / DVD box set, due out later this year.
SODOM have announced that they will be issuing a new double-DVD at the end of May, with a new album to follow in September. Both will be released by SPV. About the DVD, leader Tom Angelripper (bass / vocals) says that the concert portion will contain 23 songs and there will be a lengthy retrospective.
Norwegian Black Metallers SATYRICON‘s official website (www.satyricon.no) has been updated with the following message from vocalist Satyr: "I just returned from a week long stay at a cabin far up in the mountains with my good friend Snorre from THORNS. We set up recording equipment and worked very focused with our new albums. I’m co-producing the new THORNS album and I also put a great deal of work into the new Satyricon record during our stay. The material is coming along really great and I hope to enter the studio with (drummer) Frost late summer. We will play our first London show in 2 years at the Fabric on March 3rd. More info about that later this week."
IMMOLATION‘s new album "Harnessing Ruin" will be released in the US through Olympic Recordings / Century Media on March 22nd. The US edition will include an enhanced video of the title track, as well as a "brutal" bonus sampler that will encompass the heavier acts on both the Olympic and Century Media roster. Expect a full US tour to follow around the time of the Maryland Death fest, happening May 28th and 29th. The official Immolation website (www.everlastingfire.com/immolation) currently has the band’s new video for ‘Harnessing Ruin’ available. "Harnessing Ruin" is due out through Listenable in February in Europe in a deluxe limited edition digipak, jewel case CD and limited edition hand numbered vinyl LP. Also, Immolation’s DVD, "Bringing Down The World", will be issued in North America in Spring 2005 in NTSC format. Harnessing Ruin will feature the following tracklisting: ‘Swarm Of Terror’, ‘Our Savior Sleeps’, ‘Challenge The Storm’, ‘Harnessing Ruin’, ‘Dead To Me’, ‘Son Of Iniquity’, ‘My Own Enemy’, ‘Crown The Liar’ and ‘At Mourning’s Twilight’. The album was recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios with Paul Orofino producing. Immolation were recently confirmed for the Maryland Death Fest III, taking place on May 28th and 29th, 2005 at Thunderdome in Baltimore, MD. Acts currently confirmed for the festival include: IMMOLATION, REGURGITATE, BIRFLESH, ABSCESS, CEPHALIC CARNAGE, BODIES LAY BROKEN, XXX MANIAK and KILL THE CLIENT.
SUN DESCENDS signed a combined record deal for Brazil and Puerto Rico with Marquee Records and Khaosmaster Productions. The band’s first release will be called "Tide & Law… The EPs", which is a re-release of SUN DESCENDS’ first two EPs on one CD, with never been released bonus material from Mem’s early years with EXUMER. SUN DESCENDS and both labels are planning on further releases from Mem’s other projects and the full-length SUN DESCENDS album. Check out www.sundescends.com for more details or mail Mem at: Mem@sundescends.com
MORBID ANGEL have posted a new publicity photo of the band featuring returned vocalist / bassist David Vincent, guitarist Trey Azagthoth and drummer Pete Sandoval. You can check it out here. In other news, Relapse Recording artists NECROPHAGIST has been selected as one of the opening acts on the upcoming Morbid Angel "Masters Of Chaos" Tour in Europe. Check out our tourdates section for exact dates.
According to MÖRK GRYNING‘s official website (www.mork-gryning.com) Jonas Berndt, a.k.a. Goth, is leaving Mörk Gryning. Goth: "Mörk Gryning is no more. Yesterday I called everyone in the band and told them I’m leaving. I know many people will be disappointed because of this decision I’ve made, but I’m afraid it was something I had to do. Black or Death Metal simply doesn’t attract me in the way it used to do. I’ve always loved what we have done but I have lost the spark you so dearly need when you’re in a band like this. Thanks to all old and new fans who has supported us during the years. We have decided to publish the material we have been working on the latest months, and you can download the songs below." The following tracks are available for download: ‘The Aurora’, ‘All Discarded’, ‘Disguise My Parting’ and ‘Pure’.
The following message has been posted at DESTRUCTION‘s official website (www.destruction.de): "We would like to bring the speculations and rumours about a label chance of Destruction to an end! After four terrific and successful years with Nuclear Blast, the decision to work with a new label wasn’t easy at all. We would like to thank Markus Staiger and his team for the great friendship and the fantastic work! They had a big participation of the positive progress of our reunion! AFM Records is the new partner of our trust! The contracts will get signed within the next days! The new album will be released via AFM / Soulfood here in Central Europe and through other distribution partners of the label worldwide, a little later this summer! The pre-production is running at full blast. Because of the intense worldwide touring, it feels that the band never sounded tighter and more motivated than at this present moment! Watch out for the new riff monster that will write Thrash Metal history! And that’s a fuckin’ promise!"
CENTINEX have updated their official website (www.centinex.org) with the following message: "We need your help. Get Centinex to play at the Swedish Hultsfreds Festival 2005. Click on this link, vote for three bands – one of them Centinex of course – and press "önska". Thanx a lot for your support." As previously reported, Centinex have announced that their next album will be titled "World Declension". The album, the band’s follow up to "Decadence – Prophecies Of Cosmic Chaos", will be recorded in March, 2005 for a June release through Cold Records. More info on the release as it becomes available.
GORGOROTH have posted the following update at their official website: "Gorgoroth’s plans to go in studio have been delayed. Anticipated plans for studio time and recording schedules conflicted with an already booked timetable at Grieghallen Studios. The band will however lay down drum tracks for Gorgoroth’s eagerly awaited and upcoming album, "Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam" at Lydriket Studios, on January 14th in it’s stead. Check back for further updates as the album’s development progresses forward."