The complete track listing has been released for the upcoming DVD from German power metallers RAGE, entitled "Full Moon in St. Petersburg" (cover). Due on February 23 via Nuclear Blast, the double DVD was filmed in St. Petersburg, Russia last year in front of 15,000 fans. "Full Moon in St. Petersburg" will contain the complete concert in St. Petersburg, Russia, plus a lot of behind-the-scenes footage and material from personal archives. A three-and-a-half-minute trailer for the DVD has been posted online at this location (Windows Media, 7.44 MB).

"Full Moon in St. Petersburg" track listing:

DVD:

Live in St. Petersburg, Russia - May 20, 2006:

01. Speak Of The Dead
02. No Fear
03. Sent By The Devil
04. Soul Survivor
05. Enough Is Enough
06. Baby, I'm Your Nightmare
07. Morituri Te Salutant
08. Prelude Of Souls
09. Innocent
10. Depression
11. No Regrets
12. Confusion
13. Black
14. Beauty
15. Don't Fear The Winter
16. Full Moon
17. Higher Than The Sky

Bonus Tracks:

18. Straight To Hell (Video Clip)
19. No Fear (Video Clip)
20. Don't Fear The Winter (Stay Heavy TV Brasil)

Live At Masters Of Rock Festival, Czech Republic 2006:

21. Depression
22. No Regrets
23. Confusion
24. Black
25. Beauty
26. Full Moon
27. Higher Than The Sky

Bonus DVD:

01. Documentary: Making of St. Petersburg
02. Documentary: Russia Tour 2006, Moscow
03. Documentary: Russia Tour 2006, Kiev, Ukraine
04. Documentary: Europe Tour 2006
05. Private Documentary Victor:
a) Flying Notes
b) Tricky Strings
c) Motorsports Documentary
06. Private Documentary Peavy:
a) Ice Age Collection Documentary
b) Skull Cast Documentary
07. Private Documentary Mike:
a) The Rhythm Beast

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have finalized the track listing for their new album, "In Sorte Diaboli", due in North America on April 24 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will arrive in Europe on April 30 (April 27 in Germany).

"In Sorte Diaboli" was recorded and mixed at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producers Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten. A limited-edition digipack version of the CD will include the bonus cut "The Ancestral Fever" along with a bonus DVD containing the video for the album's opening track, "The Serpentine Offering", shot by director Patric Ullaeus of Sweden's Revolver Film Company.

"In Sorte Diaboli" track listing:

01. The Serpenitine Offering
02. The Chosen Legacy
03. The Conspiracy Unfolds
04. The Ancestral Fever (bonus track)
05. The Sacrilegious Scorn
06. The Fallen Arise
07. The Sinister Awakening
08. The Fundamental Alienation
09. The Invaluable Darkness
10. The Foreshadowing Furnace

The cover artwork for AFTER FOREVER's new self-titled album has been posted online at this location. Due in Europe on April 20 via Nuclear Blast Records, the follow-up to 2005's "Remagine" will contain the following track listing:

01. Discord
02. Evoke
03. Transitory
04. Energize Me
05. Equally Destructive
06. Withering Time
07. De-Energized
08. Cry With A Smile
09. Envision
10. Who I Am
11. Dreamflight
12. Empty Memories

A single, "Energize Me", will precede the album on March 23, featuring the songs "Energize Me" (radio edit), "Energize Me" (album version), "Sweet Enclosure" (non-album track).

AFTER FOREVER's former record label, Transmission Records, last year issued a two-disc compilation album containing the best songs from the band's first ten years of existence, plus previously unreleased material, non-album tracks, alternate takes, rarities and previously unreleased remixed versions.

Eight of BLIND GUARDIAN's albums will be re-released in June to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary. The LPs due to be reissued are as follows:

* Battalions of Fear (1988)
* Follow the Blind (1989)
* Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
* Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
* Tokyo Tales (1993)
* Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
* The Forgotten Tales (1996)
* Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

All albums will be digitally remastered and will feature new liner notes and pictures.

First-week sales (approximately 3,000 copies) of BLIND GUARDIAN's "A Twist in the Myth" in the U.S. landed Germany's favorite sons at No. 21 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and No. 288 on the Billboard Album chart. The CD debuted at position No. 4 in Germany and No. 3 in Greece.

American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Full steam ahead on the new KAMELOT album due this spring/summer 2007. Producer Sascha Paeth is working on the mix at the moment in Germany's Gate Studios. Cover artwork for the new album is being handled by Swedish artist Mattias Norén as well as some additional images by french artist Ravendusk.

"KAMELOT is just returning from Belgrade, Serbia after shooting the first of many new videos for the upcoming release. The video was shot for the song 'Ghost Opera'.

"Rehearsals for KAMELOT's upcoming world tour start in March and [it] promises to be their biggest and most prestigious production to date. The Norwegian/German band LEAVES' EYES will be the special guests on most of the shows."

SPV Records has set an April 16 European release date (April 13 in Germany) for the new ANNIHILATOR album, entitled "Metal". According to a press release, "Anybody reading the album title of the latest ANNIHILATOR release, 'Metal', will know what to expect. What we have here is no pseudo-intellectual moniker, no term that suggests pensiveness or indeed ambiguity, but boldness, directness and determination. It's a title that suits Jeff Waters' dynamic guitar style down to a tee. Like few other musicians, Waters' name stands for a tough-as-nails, energetic and always brilliant metal guitar."

Commented Waters: "It may sound a little strange when I say that the new album reminds me of the first three ANNIHILATOR recordings. You could be tempted to think that I am looking back artistically, when the opposite happens to be the case. I always try to evolve musically. But it's a fact that I composed the new material the way I went about the early ANNIHILATOR tracks. Instead of writing them with the help of state-of-the-art studio equipment and recording them immediately, almost all of the guitar riffs were developed on a simple ghetto blaster. I only went on to find a rhythm and arrangements to suit an idea if it really floored me."

The ten new tracks were recorded by Waters, playing guitar and bass and on lead vocals for one number ("Operation Annihilation"), drummer Mike Mangini and vocalist Dave Padden. A literal "army" of renowned guest musicians, whose names Waters will reveal soon, also dropped in to be a part of this. ANNIHILATOR fans had better brace themselves for a big surprise. Waters says, "This is one of the coolest guitar albums of all time. And I'm saying this despite the fact that I don't happen to be a friend of exaggerated superlatives. The fact is that 'Metal' is a dream-come-true for me, and this new ANNIHILATOR CD is going to rock and awe."

April will see ANNIHILATOR embark on a major European tour as TRIVIUM's special guests, playing over 40 shows until early May in countries such as Germany, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Italy and France. "The business side of our career rests in capable hands at last," says the musician from Canada. "We have an ambitious record label, a committed management and a concert agency that knows how to present us."

Sacramento-based technical metalcore outfit WITH PASSION will release its new album, "What We See When We Shut Our Eyes", on May 8 via Earache Records. The CD clocks in at about 52 minutes and the track listing is as follows:

01. Pale Horse's Ride
02. Through the Smoke Lies a Path
03. What We See When We Shut Our Eyes
04. Triumph Over Tragedy
05. Tales of Sirens
06. Encryption
07. RJ MacReady
08. Forgotten Amongst Screams
09. Vengeance in Departure
10. A Road for the Worthy

French masters of modern dissonant thrash SCARVE have posted a new song, entitled "Endangered", on their MySpace. The track comes off of the band's upcoming album, "The Undercurrent", which will be released this April through Listenable Records.

The follow-up to the group's critically acclaimed "Irradiant" album (2004), "The Undercurrent" was recorded in part at the Dug-Out facility in Uppsala, Sweden with renowned Swedish producer Daniel Bergstrand, whose previous credits include MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and STUCK MOJO.

SCARVE has yet to announce a permanent replacement for singer Guillaume Bideau who left the group in May to join the Danish modern metallers MNEMIC. The vocals on "The Undercurrent" were handled by former DARKANE singer Lawrence Mackrory.

"The Undercurrent" track listing:

01. Endangered
02. Imperceptible Armageddon
03. Senseless
04. The Plundered
05. Assuming Self
06. Fathomless Descent
07. A Few Scraps Of Memories
08. Rebirth

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have pushed up the North American release date of their new album, "In Sorte Diaboli" (via Nuclear Blast Records), to April 24 from the previously announced May 8. The CD will now arrive in Europe on April 30 (April 27 in Germany).

In other news, Nuclear Blast Records has launched a special "In Sorte Diaboli" news page at this location.

"In Sorte Diaboli" was recorded and mixed at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producers Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten.

The cover artwork for PAIN CONFESSOR's third album, "Purgatory of the Second Sun", has been posted online at this location.

Due in Finland on March 14, "Purgatory of the Second Sun" was recorded at Fantom studio and is described by the band as "raw and furious. This album has [ten] songs from which 80% is pretty much all out war and the rest 20% is heavy, like walking to the gallows."

"Purgatory of the Second Sun" track listing:

01. Planetkiller
02. Without Redemption, Without Remorse
03. My Last Words
04. Mercenaries
05. The Harvest
06. Ne Plus Ultra
07. Second Sun
08. Last of Forever
09. Dreamcrusher
10. Coming Down a Storm

Swiss melodic metallers EMERALD will enter a studio in Aue, Germany on February 10 to begin recording their fourth album, entitled "Hymns to Steel". The following songs will be laid down during the sessions (in no particular order):

01. Preparing for Battle
02. Hymns to Steel
03. Revenge
04. Bastardo
05. My Way
06. Blind Mass
07. Will you ever return
08. We Shall Rise
09. Empire of Lies
10. Bard of the King
11. Warlord's Wrath (BLACK KNIGHT cover)
12. Azrael (CRIMSON GLORY cover)

The follow-up to 2004's "Forces of Doom", "Hymns to Steel" is expected to be released in May through Pure Steel Records.

Century Media Records will shortly release a SAMAEL anthology, entitled "Aeonics - An Anthology", to coincide with the band's 20th anniversary. A collection of 19 songs spanning SAMAEL's entire Century Media catalog, the CD comes in a black slipcase with a 24-page booklet, containing pictures and lyrics. SAMAEL supervised the entire project and frontman Vorph wrote liner notes to each song.

"Aeonics - An Anthology" track listing:

01. Exodus
02. Black Trip
03. Rebellion
04. Baphomet's Throne
05. Telepath
06. Together
07. Supra Karma
08. Jupiterian Vibe
09. Rain
10. The Cross
11. After The Sepulture
12. On Earth
13. Moonskine
14. Worship Him
15. Ceremony Of Opposites
16. Blood Ritual
17. Into The Pentagram
18. Koh-I-Noor
19. Reading Mind

SAMAEL recently finished recording its new album, tentatively due later in the year. The band completed a "rough mix" of three songs at the end of November and is currently using the recording to procure a new record deal.

HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY (who are fronted by former HELLOWEEN guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen) are in talks about teaming up for a European tour in November. In an interview with the Spanish web site Rafabasa.com conducted yesterday (February 7), HELLOWEEN singer Andi Deris stated, "There is nothing definite yet, but it is actually something that is more than a mere posisibility. Last year we played two or three festivals together, such as Wacken, and that was a wonderful experience. When we shared the stage at those festivals, we always joined GAMMA RAY on stage to play the last song of their show, 'Future World' [HELLOWEEN cover] or whatever, and the crowd enoyed it very much — not only for the performance, but also because they could see that we didn't hate each other at all. We've always said in interviews, as has GAMMA RAY, that there is no bad blood between us, there is no trouble, and our rehearsal rooms are even located next to each other. We used to go out for coffee or drinks together, we talk with each other, we laugh together, and now we play concerts together — so far only at festivals, but why not give people a package tour? That way you will never know in which GAMA RAY song members of HELLOWEEN will appear, and which HELLOWEEN song wil feature members of GAMMA RAY as guests. I think that it is gonna be great for everybody."

German melodic metallers EVIDENCE ONE have signed a deal with AFM Records. The group's third album, entitled "The Sky is the Limit", is scheduled for release on June 22. The follow-up to 2004's "Tattooed Heart" (Nuclear Blast) was written and produced by songwriter Robby Böbel, who has quit his position as the group's guitarist but will continue to be involved with the band behind the scenes. A replacement axeman, Jörg "Warthy" Warthmann, has already been recruited and will join the rest of the group for the "The Sky is the Limit" video shoot with Holland's Lowlife Media (MASTERPLAN, PRIMAL FEAR, EXODUS).

"The Sky is the Limit" track listing:

01. Can't Fight The Past
02. Gallery Of Broken Glass
03. Into The Depths Of My Soul
04. Mindmines
05. Mr. Madness
06. Propaganda
07. Raging Winds
08. Rain Road
09. The Luxury Of Losing Hope
10. The Sky Is The Limit
11. Won't Sleep Alone

A brand new SIX FEET UNDER track, entitled "Doomsday", is available for download at this location. The song comes off the group's new album, "Commandment", due on April 17 via Metal Blade Records. The track listing is as follows:

01. Doomsday
02. Thou Shall Kill
03. Zombie Executioner
04. The Edge Of The Hatchet
05. Bled To Death
06. Resurrection Of The Rotten
07. As The Blade Turns
08. The Evil Eye
09. In A Vacant Grave
10. Ghosts Of The Undead

STRATOVARIUS guitarist Timo Tolkki has issued an update on his classic rock-opera project, "Saana - Warrior of Light", for which he recently signed a deal with Frontiers Records.

"Saana - Warrior of Light" will feature "seven characters and numerous musicians (including Tolkki himself) who will collaborate in this ambitious project," according to a press release. "The result is a unique sound, unlike anything ever heard before… from soaring majestic heights to soft and gentle moments and everything in between. It also tells a very dramatic tale."

"'Saana - Warrior of Light' is the story of a woman who makes an unforgettable journey that changes her life and view of the universe forever. On her journey, she will discover the biggest secret of mankind… and her own destiny."

"Warrior of Light" introduces 29-year-old Jennifer Sowle from the USA as Saana, the main character. She is a classically trained opera singer with a master's degree in music.

Commented Tolkki: "The last round of casting for the characters of 'Saana' is on its way. It means I have to do some travelling in the next weeks to come. Still writing the story too. All I can say that what I am doing has never been done before in music and in lyrics. I could easily write 20 STRATOVARIUS-styled songs and invite some known guests and call that 'rock opera.' But I don't wanna do anything like that. 'Saana' will be something totally different, both musically and lyrically. I call this a classic rock opera and you will know why. To me this is like a film turned to music. And maybe one day, someone makes a film about this. The story would fit....perfectly.

"I was in touch with ex-STRATOVARIUS, current MESS bass player Jari Kainulainen and asked him to play the bass on this one and he said 'Sure.' I am happy because he is one of the best bass players in the world. And somewhere in between all travelling, I'm gonna spend time in Venice, Italy in producing a new VISION DIVINE album, called '25th Hour'."

"Saana - Warrior of Light" will be released in the fall.

Dutch/Norwegian goth metal band IMPERIA has revealed the cover artwork for its sophomore album, "Queen of Light", due on March 23 via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2004's "The Ancient Dance of Qetesh" will contain 13 tracks and will be "heavier and more varied" than its predecessor, according to a press release. "There are fast and powerful metal songs, slow ballads, heavy songs as well as a lot of serious guitar leads and oriental keyboards. It is a diverse album with crystal clear sound!" The album will be released in two versions: as a regular CD in a jewel-case and as a limited-edition digipak. The digipak version will feature a "making of 'Queen of Light'" video documentary as a bonus.

Greek black/death metallers ROTTING CHRIST have posted their video for the song "Keravnos Kivernitos" at YouTube. The clip was directed by Bob Katsionis and comes off the group's latest album, "Theogonia", which came out last month via Season of Mist.

"Theogonia" was recorded at SCA Studios in Greece with bandleader Sakis Tolis handling the production and mixing and mastering duties. According to a press release, "the 10 new tracks see the band going back to their darker, more savage and faster musical roots and attitude, adapting an ancient Greek as well as ethnic presentation by inclusion of a large choir singing in the ancient Greek language throughout the album as well as the use of bizarre oriental samples and walls of keyboards."

ROTTING CHRIST will embark on an extensive European tour this month beginning with the third edition of The Domination Tour. The band last year announced the addition of NIGHTFALL guitarist George Bokos as a full-time member of the group.

ROTTING CHRIST's "Passage To Arcturo" and "Non Serviam" albums were reissued in January 2006 with bonus audio and video tracks via Season of Mist.

British gothic metallers PARADISE LOST have set "In Requiem" as the title of their 11th album, tentatively due for release in May via Century Media Records. The artwork for the CD will be created by Seth Siro Anton, who was the artwork designer for the group's last album, "Paradise Lost".

According to a posting on PARADISE LOST's official web site, "The band recently returned from Canada following completion of recording the new CD, produced by Rhys Fulber. The album has been mixed by Mike Fraser — who is well known for his work with bands such as METALLICA, AC/DC, VAN HALEN etc."

In other news, PARADISE LOST's April 12 concert at the Koko Club in London will be filmed for an upcoming DVD. More information will be made available soon.