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Longtime SINISTER-member Bart van Wallenberg has decided to quit Sinister because of personal reasons. Therefore the band is urgently looking out for a new guitarist that can play with the band on their upcoming single shows and on their upcoming European Tour to promote their most recent album "Creative Killings", out on Hammerheart Records. The new guitarist needs to be technically well skilled and besides be able to guarantee a full commitment to the band. Interested??? Then send an e-mail to Alex Paul: paul@mtb.eur.nl
SINS OF OMISSION‘s new album, "Flesh On Your Bones", is available in Japan with an exclusive bonus track, a cover of JUDAS PRIEST’s ‘The Sentinel’.
CENTINEX‘s Candlelight debut, "Diabolical Desolation", is set for release on March 19th. The band are planning touring activities for March through late spring, with eyes set to tour the US.
DECAPITATED‘s new album, "Nihility", is out on February 25th. The tracklisting: ‘Perfect Dehumanisation (The Answer?)’, ‘Eternity Too Short’, ‘Mother War’, ‘Nihility (Anti-Human Manifesto)’, ‘Names’, ‘Spheres Of Madness’, ‘Babylon’s Pride’ and ‘Symmetry Of Zero’.
Conquer Records are organising a tour featuring YATTERING, DEVILYN, HELL-BORN, IMMENORIAL and MESS AGE. Dates begin on March 7th.
HELL-BORN are nearly finished writing new material for an album to be released this summer.
NONEXIST, featuring Johan Liiva (ex-ARCH ENEMY) release their debut album, "Deus Deceptor", in February in Japan, March in Europe and April in the US. The album was produced by Tommy Tägtgren and Johan Reinholdz at Abyss Studios in Sweden.
EXCOMMUNION will record their cover of ‘God Of Emptiness’ for the MORBID ANGEL tribute album to be released this spring through Sweden’s Hellspawn Records. Other bands on the release will include EMPEROR, BEHEMOTH, KRISIUN, ANGEL CORPSE, VADER and a number of other bands.
EVIL INCARNATE are back from a successful tour of Mexico with KRABATHOR and MASOCHISM. The band are currently nearing completion of their next album, "Waiting For His Return", to be released on Morbid Records. Recording will begin in the next few months. The band are also mulling over offers to tour Europe, possibly with INCANTATION. In related news, the second annual End Of Days Festival is in the works.
IMMORTAL‘s forthcoming "Sons Of Northern Darkness" album will be issued in a limited steel box. Fans have to unscrew the bolts on the lid to get at the CD.
GOD DETHRONED will record their next album this summer. They have already completed one song and Henri, Beeft and Jens are composing more. The band have plans to tour the U.S. before summer.
Australia’s VIRGIN BLACK‘s new album, "Sombre Romantic", is out through The End on February 12th.
SCHOLOMANCE‘s new album, "The Immortality Murder", is out now.
The End Records have signed Norway’s WINDS. Their new album, which is already recorded and entitled "Reflections Of The I", will be released April 9th.
AGALLOCH are heading back to the studio to finish their new album, "The Mantle". A release is planned for sometime this spring.
MISTELTEIN are back in the rehearsal room writing new material. Bassist Karagat has left the band and they are looking for a replacement. Meanwhile, the band are planning some dates for Scandinavia. Dates will be announced as they are confirmed.
MÖRK GRYNING‘s upcoming tour will cross most European countries in March beginning in Belgium. Other bands on the tour include AETERNUS, AGATHODAIMON and HECATE ENTHRONED. The band has also started to write new material and work will continue after the tour.
DIMMU BORGIR‘s upcoming U.S. tour kicks off on February 19th at the Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The dates run through March 19th at Ogden Theatre in Denver, Colorado. A Toronto stop is planned for the Palais Royale on February 28th. Also on the bill are CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN and DIABOLIC.
The Holy Hell Crusade 2002 / Heads Will Roll tour featuring LORD BELIAL, DYING FETUS, NOMINON, INSISION and AEON has been canceled for the moment, but new dates are to be booked soon.
EMPEROR have been nominated for a Norwegian Grammy for "Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire & Demise". The band will appear on the upcoming Candlelight Collection, "Volume 5" set for release in the U.S. on February 19th. The collection will contain both a track from "Prometheus" as well as a CDRom inclusion of the band’s final promotional video, ‘Empty’.
MYRKSKOG are preparing to begin production on their second album for Candlelight. The band are expected to enter a studio in Norway in early March for the recording. Also, the band’s debut, "Death Machine", is now available in the US.
NECRONOMICON are rereleasing their "Pharoah Of Gods" album. The album now comes with a completely new design.
DEEDS OF FLESH are rereleasing their "Inbreeding The Anthropophagi" album. Licensed from Repulse, the album has been remixed, mastered and comes with a completely new design.
Candlelight USA has obtained the rights to release INIQUITY‘s "Grime" and SOLAR DAWN‘s "Equinoctium" for the American territories. Both album’s are planned for release on March 19th.
The DEPTH OF WINTER FESTIVAL V – 2001 is done and 2000,-DM could be spend for children with cancer. Therefore a big THANK YOU to all bands, mags, labels and helping people! Without your help this festival couldn’t get started. The next festival (No.6) is fore sure in the year 2002 in autumn / winter all bands that’re interested to play there just send your promo to: DEPTH OF WINTER Festival, Kilian Christian, Ulrichstr.17, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany or e-mail to daskompendium@t-online.de or disinfect@gmx.de (same for the mags & labels).
Andreas Lacher, label manager of Kettenhund Records (Naglfar, Lunar Aurora) and former contributor to Soluzen fanzine (he also supplied a DIMMU BORGIR interview to the VOICES website) was murdered on December, the 23th 2001. Rest in peace, pal.
PROFANITY (www.profanity.de) will play on the coming CRYPTOPSY (www.cryptopsy.net) European tour together with HAEMORRHAGE (www.come.to/haemorrhage) and SPAWN (www.spawn666.de). This tour starts on April 12, 2002, lasts until May 05, 2002 and will include the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. For booking, all kinds of questions concerning this tour please contact Falko at Bruchstein Records (phone: 0049 (0)3421/ 77 38 16, fax: 0049 (0)3421/ 77 38 15, E-mail: bruchstein@web.de, Homepage: www.bruchstein-records.de
IMPALED NAZARENE will record a brand new 7" ep titled "To Fuck Off And To Die", probably by the end of February. The band will have a couple of shows coming up in Russia, Italy and Portugal, please visit www.impnaz.com for further details. A high quality video clip of IMPALED NAZARENE’s ‘Hardboiled And Still Hellbound’ is downloadable from www.sfperkele.net/vkvideo.html
As Hellblaster was not able to play with ARKHON INFAUSTUS on the MORTICIAN European tour, J. Read from Canadas CONQUEROR fills in as the tour session drummer. OBLIGATORISK TORTYR await the return of drummer Fredrik, who’s been living in England for a while. About half of the material for the next record is written. The new material so far is more twisted than on the debut, but of course still full speed ahead and maximum hate! News will be posted on come.to/obligatorisk_tortyr
DIVINE DECAY will return into the studio this month. Their new songs are said to be faster and more brutal than before, but still got enough hooks and melodies. The album will be entitled "Maximizing The Misery". All further info at: www.geocities.com/divinedecay/
ABOMINATOR would like to announce that they have successfully recruited two new members and are now operating as a four piece again. After a successful return to live performances, Volcano and A. Undertaker both agreed that it is definitely their most intense line-up to date and are looking forward to desecrating many more venues around Australia over the next few months.
THORNSPAWN are writing new material for their next release "Wrath Of War" which is supposed to be their most brutal and horrid material yet. They’ll start the recording in late February.
VADER‘s next album, tentatively titled "Epitaph", will be recorded in February 2002 in Red Studio. Peter has given us the titles of some of the tracks: ‘The Absolut’, ‘When The Fallen Rise Again’, ‘Torch Of War’ and ‘I Am Who I Am’. The album is scheduled for release on the 3rd of June, 2002. Be prepared for a surprise – not only music-wise! Peter has also intimated that with 12 tracks the album promises to be the longest one in the band’s history. Simon (bass), who also plays in Olsztyn (Poland) based HUNTER, has officially become VADER’s new member. He debuted during the 2001’s Thrash’em All Festival and will take part on the recordings for the new album. In March 2002, VADER will play a tour in Great Britain comprising 8 dates. Afterwards, the band is scheduled to take part in the No Mercy Festivals 2002 along with IMMORTAL, HYPOCRISY and MALEVOLENT CREATION. Late May will mark the Polish tour, which will be a warm-up before a mega 50-date European trek to begin in September with KRISIUN and DECAPITATED. Even though the band decided to take it easy with live appearances in 2002, there are also plans to play in South America, Japan and Australia as well as in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. During the "Epitaph" session VADER will also record a cover of MORBID ANGEL’s "Immortal Rites" which will appear on a tribute album to be released through the Swedish label Hellspawn Records. Other bands to appear on the compilation include KRISIUN, EMPEROR, ANGEL CORPSE and BEHEMOTH.
Columbia’s INTERNAL SUFFERING have completed the recording and mastering of their Displeased Records release, "Chaotic Matrix". The album is due for release on February 17th. You can hear a track from the album at: www.mp3.com/internalsuffering. The band will support CANNIBAL CORPSE on a mini-tour through Colombia in late February.
DEFORMITY are busy recording their second full-length, "S.U.P.E.R.I.O.R.", at Excess Studios in Rotterdam. The album is out through Displeased on March 1st.
Displeased Records will release the Various Artists compilation "Smells Like Team Spirit IV" in April. The collection will feature new and unreleased tracks by new Displeased acts including DEEDS OF FLESH, VESPERIAN SORROW, PHOBIA and EVENSONG. Cover art comes from Kris Verwimp (MARDUK, ABSU).
MALEVOLENT CREATION are currently writing material for their next album, tentatively titled "The Will To Kill". In the meantime, they will head out on a European tour with CATASTROPHIC and IMPALED NAZARENE.
BROKEN HOPE guitarist Brian Griffin has returned from the road after joining his friends SOIL on the OZZY OSBOURNE / ROB ZOMBIE tour. "It turned out to be a great experience," he posted recently. "I got to do sound on an arena tour and see how things work in the big leagues over the past 5 months." In related news, Broken Hope have come to an agreement with Martyr Music Group which gives them the opportunity to sign with a new label. "The album has been written since last spring and we are eager to finally get it recorded," Griffin added.
The Generation Armageddon Festival I European tour will feature DISMEMBER, SINISTER, NECROPHOBIC, SATARIEL, MERCENRARY and BLOOD RED THRONE. The dates begin on June 20th in Stockholm, Sweden and end on the 30th. Dismember, Sinister and Necrophobic continue from July 1st in Paris, France until Jul 7th at the With Full Force Festival in Germany.
TERROR 2000, the project featuring SOILWORK vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid and DARKANE guitarist Klas Ideberg are currently working on their sophomore CD for Scarlet Records tentatively titled "Faster Disaster".
The Gothenburg Death Fest will take place on June 1st at Gamlestadens Medborgarhus, Gothenburg, Sweden. Bands confirmed at this time include: IMPURE, SPAWN OF POSSESSION, SOILS OF FATE, INSISION, IMMERSED IN BLOOD and KAAMOS. More acts will be announced soon. For more info go to: www.come.to/brutalgbg
From Beyond Productions, a new sub label of Displeased Records, specializes in (re)releasing great (oc)cult underground recordings that do not entirely fit in the concept of the main label. At the moment From Beyond is working on the CD booklet of the worldwide release of
ABSOLUTE DEFIANCE‘s debut album, "Systematic Terror Decimation". This Indonesian brutal death metal act is formerly known as VILE. The reissue will contain the full album plus their promo 2001 tracks as a bonus. A release is set for February 17th in Europe.
As a Happy New Year gift to their fans, CANNIBAL CORPSE have made available their track ‘Hatchet To The Head’ from the "Gore Obsessed" album at the Metal Blade site. Go to: www.metalblade.com/bands/cannibal_corpse/gore-detail.html
Displeased have licensed PHOBIA‘s new album, "Serenity Through Pain" and MENTAL HORROR‘s new album, "Proclaiming Vengeance" from Deathvomit / Necropolis. Both should be out Feburuary 17th in Europe, MENTAL HORROR will include two exclusive bonus tracks.
The Diabolis Interium Tour 2002 featuring DARK FUNERAL, TIDFALL, RAGNAROK, ANORIXIA NERVOSA and OCCULT begins on January 16th at Lilla Vega in Kopenhamn, Sweden and concludes on March 1st at Golem in Zlin, CZEC. More dates will be confirmed soon.
UNLORD will release their final album, "Lord Of Beneath", through Displeased on March 1st.
Black Widow Records have released PENTAGRAM‘s fifth album, "Sub-Basement".
MARDUK‘s forthcoming "Blackcrowned" box set has been delayed because of printing problems. A new release date has been set for February 18th. The band’s revised touring schedule sees the dates kick off on January 11th at The Lab in St. Paul, MN. The tour wraps on February 9th at Creepy Crawl in St. Louis, MO. Also on the bill are AMON AMARTH and DIABOLIC.
Germany’s NINNGHIZHIDDA have finished recording their new album, "Demigod", for Displeased. Mastering will take place in mid January, with a planned release date of March 1st 2002.
ARCH ENEMY‘s classic debut album, "Black Earth", has been remastered and re-released with three bonus tracks through Regain. The album is available on CD and LP.
Displeased has licensed the first two albums from DEEDS OF FLESH, "Trading Pieces" and "Inbreeding The Anthropophagi", from Repulse Records. The albums have been remixed, remastered and the artwork has been upgraded.
Displeased / From Beyond are set to release an LP version of PENTAGRAM‘s discography album. The release will include both of the bands legendary late eighties demos as well as two live tracks. A release is set for late February.
According to their website, INTERNAL BLEEDING vocalist was removed from the band recently – irresponsibility being cited as the main reason. He has been replaced by ex-BODYFARM vocalist Jerry Lowe. His vocals will debut on the band’s next album, "Hatefuel".
KATAKLYSM has confirmed that they will appear at the With Full Force Festival in Germany that runs from July 5th to 7th.
CRYPTOPSY have joined the forthcoming DIMMU BORGIR, KRISUIN, DIABOLIC tour that begins in mid-February and concludes in mid-March, making an estimated 24 stops in North America.
CEPHALIC CARNAGE and MASTODON have US dates running from January 12th in Santa Fe, NM until January 20th in Dallas, TX.
ATROX have signed a four album deal with Code666. They will record their third album in summer 2002.
MANES have signed a four-album deal with Code666.
ENID‘s "Seelenspiegel" is due out on February 25th and features Moritz Neuner on drums (DORNENREICH, ABIGOR, DARKWELL, KOROVAKILL).
VOID OF SILENCE‘s "Criteria ov 666" is out on February 25th and features ABORYM vocalist Fabban.
FRAGILEHOLLOW (ex-PROPHET) from Finland has signed to Avantgarde music. The band features members of RAPTURE, DIABLERIE and SNOWGARDEN. Watch for the full-length debut in 2002.
BELPHEGOR‘s 10-year Jubilee CD, "Infernal Live Orgasm", is due out on February 18th and features eight live cuts, three demo tracks from 1991-1993 and two new studio tracks including ‘Swarm Of Rats’ (recorded in December 2001) and the ‘Blasphemous’ CD-Rom Videoclip.
According to a VINTERSORG posting, the band are "finished the recording and editing in Ballerina Audio. I must say that this album is becoming a monster, it’s a very vast album, with lots of different grains from the horizonless music recipe. I dare to say that we’ve come up with something very innovative in metal music. The plan now is to record drums in January (everything except the rhythm section is completed), and after that, mix and master the album. It’s quite a tricky process as we have used several studios, recording in different formats but we are confident that we’ll manage to pull it off nicely".
Prior to their "Diabolis Interium" Tour 2002 with TIDFALL, RAGNAROK, ANOREXIA NERVOSA and OCCULT, DARK FUNERAL performs two dates in Norway on January 10th in Bergen and the 11th in Oslo. The European tour begins on the 16th in Copenhagen and runs until February 26th in Hamburg.
KHOLD have started working on their new album, "Phantom", due out in mid-2002.
THYRFING will release their new album, "The Fourth Outrage", on March 25th through Hammerheart Records.
CHILDREN OF BODOM‘s website, www.cobhc.com, reports that the band are currently in discussions for a record deal. Until a deal is set there will be no new material from the band. Following their scheduled Christmas shows COB will take their time composing and rehearsing new songs.
CARNAL FORGE, of which three members really do work in a mental institution, will release their new album, "Please… Die!", on January 22nd in North America. The band will be heading out for a European tour with MORTICIAN and YATTERING in January 2002.
CRYPTOPSY are tentatively planning a North American headlining tour for April.
Mrs. Heidi Solberg Tveitan’s (a.k.a. Ihriel, wife if Ihsahn) project, formerly DIES MISERERE, has been renamed STAR OF ASH. The album is scheduled for post-production / mixing early Spring 2002. According to the Jester Records website, Jester / Ulver mastermind Chris Rygg reports, "Since having listened to the pre-production of the material it seems perfectly clear to me that this girl is gonna shut the mouths of the disbelievers once and for all. We are happy to bring aboard some real girl power".
IMMEMORIAL have released their new album, "Temple Of Retribution". It’s out on the Blackend label.
BEHEMOTH will soon take a rest to concentrate on their next album, due out in September 2002. Before that release Avantgarde Music will likely release some back catalogue re-issues or a live DVD from the band. Behemoth’s recent UK tour ran into a little bad luck, with the tour not being able to visit Ireland. The band promises their Irish fans that they’ll return as soon as possible.
CARPATHIAN FOREST will soon enter the studio to record a couple of new songs and four cover versions to be included on a yet-to-be-titled release that will also feature some live recordings. The band will then take a break before recording a new studio album.
OPERA IX will be in Damage Inc. studio (ANATHEMA) in Italy in January and February to record their new album, "Maleventum". Tracks to appear on the release include: ‘Maleventum’, ‘Princess Of The Ancient’, ‘Unearthed Arcana’, ‘In The Dark I Found The Reflection Of The Hidden Mirrors’, ‘Muscaria’, ‘Forgotten Gods’ and ‘In The Raven’s Eye’. The band would like to point out that they have NOT split up nor are they planning to disband as a result of the departure of kicked out band members Cadaveria and Flegias.
DARK SANCTUARY will record their new album at Prophecy’s Studio-E in Germany in the first few months of 2002. This will be the bands first release with new vocalist Dame Pandora.
Finland’s DIABLERIE are currently working on a new album.
Avantgarde Music will release TAAKE‘s new album, "Bjoergvin", in January.
RAVENTHRONE‘s new album, "Endless Conflict Theorem", will be released in January through Avantgarde. The tracklisting: ‘The Gargoyle’, ‘The Eaters Of The Dead’, ‘Among Whispering Walls’, ‘Soul Storm’, ‘Endless Conflict Theorem’, ‘The Oath’, ‘The Dragon Of The Night Sky’, ‘A Night Among The Ruins Of Basra’, ‘Wayfarer’s Song’, ‘Deliverance’ and ‘Serenade For The Dead’.
EVOKEN are currently working on their forthcoming album. The 10 minute plus songs such as ‘Coveting Elysium’, ‘The Last Of Vitality’ and ‘Antithesis Of Light’ are described by the band as "our Darkest material to date, mesmerizing, hypnotic doom with a few things not expected on an Evoken album".
It appears that a line-up revolution is happening within MORTUARY DRAPE. Reports have vocalist / founding member Wildness Perversion kicking out the entire staff except bassist Left Hand Preacher, who is now carrying over the guitar role. It seems new members were found immediately and the recording of their next album has not been disrupted.
Sweden’s SHINING are now signed to Avantgarde. The band will record their new album at Abyss Studio. For more info on the band check out their website at: http://shiningband.cjb.net.
Finland’s FRAGILEHOLLOW, featuring members of RAPTURE and DIABLERIE, have inked a deal with Avantgarde. The band were previously known as PROPHET. The band have been compared to KATATONIA and ANATHEMA. For more on the band go to www.brokenpromise.cjb.net.
Avantgarde have signed Poland’s STROMMHOUSHELD. The band are said to be "dark, mysterious and weird". For more go to: www.strommoussheld.prv.pl.
Next year IN THE WOODS will release a live double album from their last gig in Kristiansand, Norway. A video (and maybe DVD) is also planned.
EWIGHEIM, the new band featuring Yantit (EISREGEN) and Allen B. Konstanz (THE VISION BLEAK), will release their debut album, "Mord Nicht Ohne Grund", next year through Prophecy.
ORPLID‘s new album is nearly finished and will be released soon.
This coming spring, Prophecy will release the German edition of the the book "Lords Of Chaos" by Miachael Moynihan (BLOOD AXIS) and Didrik Söderlind. The book will be released with a double CD, with liner notes by Michael Moynihan. The disc will document the history of occult music in the 20th century from early Blues to modern Electronica and various styles of Rock music. There will be many rare and unreleased tracks on the compilation.
SOLEFALD‘s Cornelius’ book, "Gebura Muse", was published in hardbound version by Norway’s oldest and largest publisher, H. Aschehoug & Company, a very prestigious honor for any writer. Translated excerpts from the Norwegian text are interspersed throughout the lyrics of ‘Pills Against The Ageless Ills’. In related news, Lazare has also done some acting on Norwegian television, working with one of the most famous Norwegian comedians who has a talk show every Friday. One of their skits was a Black Metal parody for the fictitious band COUNT BLOOD. Lars played the drummer in the band whose role was to "diss" the band every Friday for 2 1/2 months.
KRIEG will release their new album, "Destruction Ritual", through Red Stream at the end of December. A limited edition LP edition will be available in spring 2002.
SECRETS OF THE MOON release their debut album, "Stronghold Of The Inviolables", in January through Red Stream. The band features ex-members of MARTYRIUM.
JUDAS ISCARIOT will release their new album, "To Embrace The Corpses Bleeding", on January 25th through Red Stream.
HIDDEN are preparing to record their debut album, "Spectral Magnitude", for Red Stream.
HIMINBJORG‘s "Haunted Shores" CD is out through Red Stream on December 24th. The CD comes in an eight panel digipak.
WINDS‘ "Reflections Of The I" album will be licensed and available domestically in the U.S. through The End Records.
KHOLD began recording their new album, "Phantom", on December 17th. They are aiming for a March release.
SATYRICON will open their new website, www.satyricon.no, around New Year.
THORNS have been nominated by the Norwegian Award ALARM in the category for Best Metal Album of 2001.
Original SLAYER drummer, Dave Lombardo, is confirmed to "guest star" with the band for the next leg of their "God Hates Us All" U.S. tour, beginning January 24 in New Haven, Connecticut. Due to a chronic elbow injury, Paul Bostaph, SLAYER drummer for the past several years, is leaving the band. Bostaph feels he is unable to continue performing to his fullest potential and greatest intensity. Bostaph says, "It’s been an unbelievable ride with SLAYER. Playing with these guys has been an incredible high point in my career, and I am really grateful for the experience." SLAYER bandmates Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman and Tom Araya are all indebted for Paul’s contributions. Guitarist Kerry King said "Paul has been an incredible part of our band and we will definitely miss his talent. We wish him all the best." Dave Lombardo is SLAYER’s original drummer who recorded with the band on some of their most acclaimed releases, including "Reign In Blood" and "Seasons In The Abyss". Most recently Lombardo has been recording and touring with Mike Patton’s band FANTOMAS and working on a solo recording. Lombardo says, "It’s great to be back with SLAYER for the tour – I’m psyched to get out there and kick-ass with them again." His reappearance is greatly welcomed and highly-anticipated. Singer Tom Araya notes, "A lot of fans have been looking forward to Dave coming back; it feels great to have him playing with us for a while."
CENTINEX have secured Johan Ahlberg – from the band Subdive – to fill in as the new session guitarist. At the moment they are busy rehersing both new, old and very old material for upcoming shows and tours. The first confirmed dates for 2002 will be revealed soon. The release dates for their next album "Diabolical Desolation" are set to March 11th in Europe and March 19th in America.
Finlands finest DEMIGOD has finally finished recording their second album "Shadow Mechanics" and it’s going to be released Feb.4, 2002 by Spikefarm records. The new album includes various material from tight Death / Thrash riffing to slow melancholic stuff. http://demigod.xrs.net
SATYRICON were recently visited in the studio by guest artists Anja Garbarek and Knut Schreiner (EUROBOYS, ex-TURBONEGRO). The band are currently awaiting further contributions from Phil Anselmo (PANTERA, NECROPHAGIA) and David Vincent (GENITORTURES, ex-MORBID ANGEL).
KHOLD will enter the studio on December 17th to record their new album. A title has not yet been chosen.
SIEBENBURGEN‘s new album, "Plagued Be Thy Angel" is out now through Hammerheart.
ANCIENT RITES keyboardist Domingo Smets has left the band due to the ever-popular "musical differences" and has been replaced by OBLIVION / DANSE MACABRE keysman Davy Wouters.
BORKNAGAR have been nominated by the Norwegian price ALARM in the category for Best Metal Album of 2001.
The INFERNO FESTIVAL 2002 will be held in Oslo, Norway on March 29th and 30th (Easter Weekend) at the Rockefeller and John Dee venues. Confirmed bands include DODHEIMSGARD, BEHEMOTH and WINTERSORG. Approximately 20 more bands will be added, with the headliner to be announced on January 18th.
MARDUK‘s rescheduled U.S. tour kicks of on January 11th at The Lab in St. Paul, MN. Also on the bill are AMON AMARTH and DIABOLIC.
AGATHODAIMON are currently working on a European tour for March, along with three other bands. There’s also a new poll online at their website where you can choose your favourite song from "Chapter III", and also the one you like least. This might influence their choice of songs which will be picked to play live. Visit their website at www.agathodaimon.de
REQUIEM have finished the recording / mixing of their album. It will be mastered at Finnvox Studios (STRATOVARIUS, NIGHTWISH). The front-cover will be done by mega-artist Jason Juta, wait for some of pure fantasy.
RUPTURE CHRIST have booked the studio sessions for the 2nd week of February.
NIGHTSIDE‘s new line-up features Shax (Vocals), Diabolus Sylvarum (guitars), Beleth (drums) and Zyldajh Daimos (bass).
MARDUK‘s "Blackcrowned I" and "Blackcrowned II" are available on LP and picture disc LP through Regain.
Singer Johan Liiva (ex-ARCH ENEMY) has a new album out in Japan called "Deus Deceptor" under the band name of NON-EXIST. The album was produced by HYPOCRISY frontman Peter Tagtgren.
CENTURIAN‘s new album, "Liber ZarZax", will be out in the US and Canada on February 5th through Olympic / Century Media. The release will also be available in LP format in January through Germany’s Perverted Taste Records. The band will also be featured on a Hellspawn / Necropolis tribute to MORBID ANGEL, due out in January.
SLAYER taped footage for a live DVD at the San Francisco, CA Warfield show on Friday December 7th.
DESTRUCTION‘s new drummer is Marc Reign, formerly of ORTH and GUNJAH. His predecessor, Sven Vormann, revealed that he left the band because he simply hates touring.
DEEDS OF FLESH will release remixed and remastered versions of their debut album, "Trading Pieces", and their second album, "Inbreeding The Antropophagi", on January 7th through Displeased.
After another split-up about two months ago, GOREAPHOBIA is finally back again. Next to Craig Smilowski (drums) and Alex Bouks (guitar), the new line-up nowadays consists of original guitar player "Henni ", Jay Lawrence on bass and ex-INCANTATION / DISCIPLES OF MOCKERY vocalist Craig Pillard. Right now the band is working on two new songs and a complete set of GOREAPHOBIA classics. We’ll keep you posted.