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INFERNAL MAJESTY and HIRAX are both confirmed to begin their European tour February, 2005. The tour is now being booked through Metallysee and dates will be announced shortly.
Norway’s AETERNUS (www.aeternus-darkermonument.tk) have revealed the names of the tracks that are set to appear on their forthcoming album for Nocturnal Art Productions. Due out in early 2005, the album, entitled "Hexaeon", is expected to include the following tracks: ‘The Darkest Of Minds’, ‘GodHead Charlatan’, ‘The 9th Revolution’, ‘In The 3rd Dwells Oblivion’, ‘Hexaeon’, ‘Punished’, ‘Ageless Void’, ‘Christbait’ and ‘What I Crave’.
Next year Century Media will celebrate one of the first bands signed to the label with a luxurious best of MORGOTH album. The double CD set "1987 – 1997 The Best Of Morgoth" will be released on January 24th, 2005. CD1 will contain 15 songs from all their official releases. CD2 starts with the 6-song "Pits Of Utumno" demo (never released before on CD), three rare tracks and a multimedia enhancement featuring all four promo videos and two rare live tracks from 1993. On top you’ll get a 20-page booklet with a detailed history from vocalist Marc Grewe, all lyrics from CD1 and lots of photos, backstage passes, flyers and more. The tracklisting: CD1 – ‘Selected Killing’, ‘Lies Of Distrust’, ‘Travel’ (all taken from the "Resurrection Absurd" EP, 1989), ‘Burnt Identity’, ‘White Gallery’, ‘Pits Of Utumno’ (all taken from the "Eternal Fall" EP, 1990), ‘Body Count’, ‘Isolated’, ‘Sold Baptism’ (all taken from the album "Cursed", 1991), ‘Resistance’, ‘Under The Surface’, ‘Drowning Sun’ (all taken from the album "Odium", 1993), ‘This Fantastic Decade’, ‘Graceland’ and ‘Last Laugh’ (all taken from the album "Feel Sorry For The Fanatic", 1996). CD2 – ‘From Dusk To Dawn’, ‘Being Boiled’, ‘Eternal Sanctity’, ‘Pits Of Utumno’, ‘The Beyond’, ‘Dance Their Dance’ (all taken from the "Pits Of Utumno" demo, 1988), ‘Golden Age’ (unreleased demo version, 1992), ‘TV War’ (early version with different lyrics of ‘A New Start’, 1994) and ‘Indifferent’ (rare track from the "Feel Sorry…" recording session, 1996). Bonus video enhancement on CD2 – ‘Isolated’ (live at the Rock Hard Festival in Lichtenfels, Germany 1991), ‘Cursed & Sold Baptism’, ‘Under The Surface’, ‘Last Laugh’, ‘Body Count’ (live In Chemnitz, June 18, 1993) and ‘Resistance’ (live In Chemnitz, June 18, 1993).
NAPALM DEATH have posted the following message at their official website (www.enemyofthemusicbusiness.com): "Another show down, went pretty well I think, though the bus breaking down on us this past week has tired us a little. Oh well better get ready for Harpos in Detroit tomorrow. Its a Friday so hopefully its gonna be a good one. Oh yeah don’t know if I mentioned this before but we got Jello Biafra to sing on one of our tracks finally… the song ‘The Great And The Good’, this one kind of stands out from the others in some way… let’s see what you guys think when it comes out next year… bye for now."
CRYPTOPSY is focusing on a new album and the production of 2 DVDs; October 9th’s concert in Montreal and Flo Mounier’s Instructional drum video. Both will be available next year.
According to a report posted at Earache’s official website, despite their unforeseen return to Florida just two shows into their European tour, everyone in the DEICIDE camp is determined to get back to Europe as soon as possible to avoid disappointing fans. The band will recommence their European tour on 21st November at Club Monster in Gavle, Sweden, and will continue to play the tour as originally advertised up until December 8th. German and Dutch shows will now take place between December 15th and 22nd, with French and Spanish shows being rescheduled between December 9th and the 14th. All shows will feature Jack Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Dave Suzuki (VITAL REMAINS) standing in on guitar duties for the Hoffman brothers. Despite the best efforts of the band and their booking agent, the Finnish leg of the tour has been impossible to reschedule, these dates will now take place in 2005 when DEICIDE are hoping to come back to Europe.
Artist Joachim Luetke’s official site (www.Luetke.com) has posted his artwork for the upcoming KREATOR album, "Enemy Of God", here. Kreator’s website (www.Kreator-terrorzone.de) has also been updated with the same designs. As previously reported, "Enemy Of God" is due to be released in North America on January 11, six days later in Europe, and early editions will include a DVD "Making Of" bonus. The tracklisting for "Enemy Of God" is as follows: ‘Enemy Of God’, ‘Impossible Brutality’, ‘Suicide Terrorist’, ‘World Anarchy’, ‘Dystopia’, ‘Voices Of The Dead’, ‘Murder Fantasies’ (which includes a guest appearance by ARCH ENEMY guitarist, Mike Amott), ‘When Death Takes Its Dominion’, ‘One Evil Comes – A Million Follow’, ‘Dying Race Apocalypse’, ‘Under A Total Blackened Sky’ and ‘The Ancient Plague’.
Danish Deathsters EXMORTEM will be supporting Polish Death Metal veterans BEHEMOTH in the UK in early 2005. Check out our tourdates section for all details.
From Beyond Productions will release a collection of all CIANIDE demos with additional unreleased material next summer. The band’s new studio album "Hell’s Rebirth" will be out in late March 2005.
Peru’s GOAT SEMEN will enter the studio soon to record their next album, which is scheduled for a late 2005 release.
AMMIT are currently mixing and mastering their newly recorded full-length "Hammer Of Darkness".
Russia’s BLACKDEATH and Finnland’s HORNA will share a limited 7", to be released in 2005 on From Beyond Productions.
INFINITED HATE have found a permanent drummer in Dirk Verbeuren now, who previously already worked with ABORTED, SCARVE and SOILWORK.
The new RESUSCITATOR full-length "A Warrior’s Death" is currently being remastered, for an early 2005 release.
From Beyond Productions licensed the debut full-length "The Goat Of The Black Possession" of Colombia’s UTUK XUL, to be issued on CD with renewed artwork in early 2005.
Northern German Black Metal-outfit FUNERAL PROCESSION are searching for a skilled, ideologically stable and long-haired session guitarist and session bass-player for upcoming live-activities. If interested contact the band at: count.gothmog@frisiancircle.de
Danish Death Metallers EXMORTEM have confirmed the final details for their upcoming "Nihilistic Contentment" album, their first for Wicked World / Earache Records. It is set for release on January 17, 2005 and was produced by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studios. The band is currently preparing for a tour in the UK in early 2005. An mp3 of ‘Bitter Disciplin’ is available here. All further info at www.Exmortem.com
Norwegian Black Metallers SATYRICON will be taking out Canadian Thrashers INFERNAL MAJESTY and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD as support on their forthcoming three-week US tour. Joey Jordison of SLIPKNOT will be filling in for Frost on drums.
NECROPHOBIC is currently working on new material for their fifth, yet untitled, studio album. Furthermore the band is already confirmed for Germany’s Party San Open Air Festival in August 2005.
CHAOSBREED has been announced as the main support for Swedish Death Metal masters GRAVE on their Finnish mini-tour, due to hit the road in March 2005.
DARK FUNERAL (www.darkfuneral.se) are scheduled to perform at the Barby Club in Tel Aviv, Israel on November 25th. Support acts for the show are confirmed to be WINTERHORDE, LEHAVOTH and ARMILOS.
This year BURDEN OF GRIEF are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a big party on November 13, at the Mehrzweckhalle Scherfede (between Kassel and Paderborn, Germany). Be sure that you don’t miss this indoor-festival. The complete billing: TANKARD, DEW-SCENTED, BURDEN OF GRIEF, END OF GREEN, DISILLUSION and TWILIGHT PROPHECIES. Besides these bands and a special anniversary show by BURDEN OF GRIEF there will also be a Metal market. More infos at www.artofdarkness.de.vu
According to SENTENCED‘s official website, the band will enter the studio next week to record their yet unnamed new album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa. Recordings should be completed before Christmas and the new album should be released in April, 2005 through Century Media. The band have 14 new songs written for the album.
IN FLAMES are back home in Gothenburg, Sweden taking a well deserved break after all the tours and gigs all over the world in the past months in support of their latest album, "Soundtrack To Your Escape". Guitar players Björn Gelotte and Jesper Strömblad are already writing new material in their new studio. The next confirmed In Flames gig will be at Carling Apollo Hammersmith in London, UK on December 27th with LACUNA COIL, CALIBAN and CHIMAIRA.
THE HAUNTED‘s new release "rEVOLVEr" has reached the #18 position 18 on the Swedish album charts, the highest position ever for the band who reached #23 with 2003’s "One Kill Wonder". "rEVOLVEr" is available now on CD, limited CD, LP and special digipak formats. The special digipak version of "rEVOLVEr" features alternate artwork and includes two bonus tracks, ‘Fire Alive’ and ‘Smut King’.
DOWN THE DRAIN, the new Buffalo, NY-based band fronted by former MALEVOLENT CREATION singer Brett Hoffmann, will be making their live debut on November 19 at the Sapphire Room in Buffalo, NY. The concert will mark Hoffmann’s first live appearance in almost three years. "Hoffmann went back to his hometown to find himself (mind, body and soul) and get back [to] doing what he does best: make sick-ass music." An official web site containing music samples will be launched very soon. In the meantime, you can join the Down The Drain mailing list to get update on the band’s activities and to find out when the site and the new music have been completed. Write to DOWNtheDRAINmusic@hotmail.com for all the details.
According to a posting at the band’s official website, OPETH‘s first DVD, "Lamentations – Live At Shepherds Bush Empire", has reached gold status in Canada. As previously reported, OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has started writing material for their next album, due out in late 2005. The band are currently looking for a new deal after being dropped by Zomba / BMG.
DISSECTION have announced their new lineup as follows: Jon Nödtveidt – vocals and guitar, Set Teitan – guitar, Brice Leclercq – bass guitar, Thomas Asklund – battery.
LUNAR AURORA‘s label changes are finally over now. The band has recently started up a label on their own (Cold Dimensions), so all upcoming LUNAR AURORA stuff will be released through that. The new album "Zyklus" will already see the light of day on November 10, 2004. Furthermore LUNAR AURORA’s 7th album will be recorded in March / April 2005. For further info check out www.lunaraurora.de or www.cold-dimensions.de
On Saturday, November the 20th, ANCIENT SPIRIT TERROR zine is celebrating their second UNHOLY METAL MAYHEM night at the "Zentrum" (Gleiwitzstr. 255) in Dortmund / Scharnhorst in Germany. Bands that are about to play this time are HORRID (Death Metal, Italy), MORRIGAN (Pagan Black Metal, Germany), ETERNITY (Black Metal, Germany) and IGNIS URANIUM (Black Metal, Germany). Doors will be open at 7:00pm, show starts at 8:00pm. Tickets will be 7,-€. All further info from Vasili at ancientspiritterror@yahoo.de
Some small changes took place in the line-up of this year’s DEPTH OF WINTER FESTIVAL. Two of the announced bands won’t be able to play: DIABOLICAL (because Hans is on tour with his other band IN BATTLE) and URKRAFT (because of some wrong promises of their label Cartel Media). But replacements have already been found in SANATORIUM from Slovakia and Germany’s DEADBORN (featuring ex-members of NECROPHAGIST). www.depth-of-winter.de.vu
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER are confirmed to play the Barfly in London, England on December 5th before they head out on tour through Europe with MARDUK, NAPALM DEATH, VADER and more.
According to the official HOLY MOSES website, the veteran Thrash Metal act out of Germany have signed to Armageddon Music. A new studio album is tentatively scheduled for release next spring / summer. The label will release the album worldwide. The band’s comeback album, "Disorder Of The Order", was released in 2002 through Century Media Records.
TANK vocalist / bassist Algy Ward’s health is now said to be "in great form". Algy has even talked about playing live shows. More news as it becomes available. As previously reported, Algy had been having problems with what had yet to be diagnosed as a tumor.
DEVILYN have begun the recording sessions for their new album, "11", to be released by Conquer Records by the end of 2004. The new album will feature eight or nine tracks of new "fast and aggressive" material. More info on the release as it becomes available.
ATOMKRAFT, the band of former MANTAS bassist and "Prime Evil" – era VENOM frontman Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan, will record a new album. It is going to be entitled "Head Smashed In (I Couldn’t Give a Fuck)" and will feature several guest appearances including guitarists Mike Sifringer (DESTRUCTION) and Gary Holt (EXODUS), who has just been confirmed to play on the title track for the album.