Dutch progressive metallers SUN CAGED have announced the addition of bassist Roel Vink to the group's ranks. "He is a young bass player with a lot of good musical ambitions, and we will start to work hard on learning him all the songs," the band write on their web site. "Rob Van Der Loo [previous bassist] will play the last time with SUN CAGED on April the 27th in Tilburg (013, Batcave). Free entrance. Our drummer Roel Van Helden also has his conservatorium exam this evening. Roel Vink will play live with us for the first time at the Elsrock festival in Rijssen, The Netherlands on August 26th."

SUN CAGED are currently in the studio recording the follow-up to their self-titled debut, tentatively due before the end of the year. "All drums have been recorded, and now Marcel [Coenen, guitar] and Rene [Kroon, keyboards] are recording their tracks," the band write on their web site. "Barend Tromp (ex-LEMUR VOICE) will play bass on a few songs, and also will play a sitar solo in one of our songs. It will be great for the fans of LEMUR VOICE to see Marcel work with Barend again, since LEMUR VOICE split up in 2000." Songtitles set to appear on the new CD include "Unborn", "Dialogue", "City Walls", "Re-Enter The Dream", "Doldrums", "Afraid To Fly", "Engelbert", "Blood Lines", "A Fair Trade" and "Missing Third".

SUN CAGED's debut was released in 2003 through Finland's Lion Music. The album was mixed by AYREON/STAR ONE mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen.

German hard rockers EVIDENCE ONE have issued the following update:

"There's a big change for EVIDENCE ONE going on, which in fact might sound more tremendous than it actually is. To make a long story short, Robby [Boebel, guitar] will not be a member of the performing band EVIDENCE ONE any more! ...the performing band that is! ;-) Robby decided to focus more on the production side of the business, which for EVIDENCE ONE means simply he won't be performing live with the band any longer, but will still be writing, recording and producing the band's CDs, so there there will not be any change in sound, songs or quality! We've already started recording 'E3' (working title). The first new track's entitled 'Gallery Of Broken Glass', a killer speed melodic metal track in the vein of 'Virus In My Veins'. So, don't worry, musically simply NOTHING will change.

"As for the live shows, our upcoming concerts in Nuremberg with BONFIRE and both the Blaze Of Glory and the Rock Of Ages festivals, we'll have Rami's close friend and JUSTICE pal Jörg 'Warthy' Wartmann in! That guy's smokin'!"

EVIDENCE ONE's second album, "Tattooed Heart", is available now on Nuclear Blast Records.

Canadian extremists STRAPPING YOUNG LAD have set the tentative track listing for their new album, "The New Black", due in July 2006 via Century Media Records.

The follow-up to last year's "Alien" was recorded at the Armoury and Profile studios in the band's hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia and is currently being mixed by Mike Fraser, who has previously worked with AC/DC, AEROSMITH and METALLICA, among others.

"The New Black" tentative track listing (in no particular order):

01. Decimator
02. You Suck
03. Antiproduct
04. Hope
05. Wrong Side
06. Monument
07. Far Beyond Metal
08. Fucker
09. Almost Again
10. Polyphony
11. The New Black

Bonus Tracks:

12. The Long Pig
13. C:enter:###

Commented STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mainman Devin Townsend: "The recording process went amazingly well, and STRAPPING as a whole is really excited about this effort. We were very inspired with the idea of doing Ozzfest, and the concept we are running with on this record is really based around abhorring the current music scene, yet being a part of it in some weird way. SYL is ready to be a subversive product for the unwitting 14-year-olds to scream along with. We also intend to sprinkle a little ugly around all the pretty bands this year. You can think of us as the proverbial pubic hair in the cheesecake of this year's festival. We are ugly, large and angry. We have also been around longer as a band than 90% the other bands. Most of all, we're just really excited to be a part of Ozzfest and this summer is going to be crazy."

Norwegian power metallers GAIA EPICUS will enter Top Room Studios in Lunner, Norway on July 12 to begin recording their third album, entitled "Victory". The band will have the album finished by the time they go to the USA to play the Minneapolis Mayhem 3 festival, which will take place on August 25-26 at Star Central in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

GAIA EPICUS, who recently parted ways with Sound Riot Records, have already received offers from several record labels that wish to release the new album, but nothing has been signed yet. The cover painting for the CD will be created by J.P. Fournier, who was also responsible for the band's first album cover, "Satrap", in 2003.

"Victory" track listing (in no particular order):

01. New Life
02. Iron Curtain
03. The Sign
04. Revenge Is Sweet
05. In Memory
06. Awaken the Monster
07. Rise of the Empire
08. When Darkness Falls
09. Fortress of Solitude
10. Through the Fire
11. Victory

GAIA EPICUS last year announced the addition of drummer Ole A. Myrholt (ARCHON, DIABOLICAL, BREED, ENSLAVEMENT OF BEAUTY, I WAS FLESH ONCE, VALE, THE WHIPCORDS) to the group's ranks. The band's video for the track "Hands of Fate" has been posted online at this location (Windows Media). The clip was shot "outdoors in the forest" in August 2005 and features a guest appearance on drums by Robert Myrhaug (MEMORIZED DREAMS).

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of singer John West for the release of his fourth solo album, entitled "Long Time… No Sing", on June 9.

John West is one of the most talented vocalists of the whole international hard rock scene. Best known as lead singer in such bands as ROYAL HUNT, ARTENSION and FEINSTEIN, his pedigree includes also BADLANDS, LYNCH MOB and COZY POWELL, among others.

"Long Time… No Sing" was written and recorded by John, together with longtime collaborators and friends like Lonnie Park on keyboards, Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE) on keyboards and guitars, Jeff Plate (SAVATAGE) on drums and Kevin Hampton on guitars.

This time John opted for a more melodic and song-oriented approach and the resulting record is a mixture of the several hard rock influences. A musically intense and passionate work with a very satisfying production which makes the record very accessible and listenable thanks to the great performances by the musicians and artists involved.

"Long Time… No Sing" track listing:

01.
02. Fade
03. Set Me Free
04. Give Me A Sign
05. Highway Roppongi
06. Over My Head
07. The One That Got Away
08. Falling Down
09. Slipping Away
10. One More Lie
11. Better Believe
12. Puerto Amor

Download audio samples at this location.

British metallers ANATHEMA have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Here we present a brand new ANATHEMA song called 'Everything'. It has been recorded and mixed by the band, independent of any record company. We decided to give this song directly to the public as soon as it was finished, as a thank you to all those people who have kept faith with ANATHEMA and what we are doing.

"ANATHEMA presently has no record deal. For this reason, we have included a Donate Option, where you can help the band by donating a small amount to the process of recording this new record. In return, we will present more songs for you to download over the coming weeks and months. These versions will be exclusive and not available anywhere else.

"Here is an opportunity for people to support a band directly, instead of filling the pockets of anonymous businessmen. The sentiment of this song is one of hope. Of truth. We are very proud of it. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it."

Download the new ANATHEMA song "Everything" at this location.

"Everything" is one of three songs ANATHEMA recorded at Les Smith's Sewerside studios to be released on the Internet in time for the band's U.K. tour with H.I.M. Other tracks laid down during the sessions are "One Day" and "Angels Walk Among Us".

Swedish black metalelrs SETHERIAL have finalized the track listing for their fifth album, "Death Triumphant", due on May 15 via Regain Records. The CD was recorded at the Abyss studio and is said to be "more technical than their previous albums but the aggression still remains." The group's lineup has also changed with the addition of a new vocalist and bass player.

"Death Triumphant" track listing:

01. The Limbo Of Insanity
02. Death Triumphant
03. With Veins Wide Open
04. Aeons Of Bloodlust
05. Relinquishment From The Unlighted
06. Hellstorms Over The Empyrian
07. Inhale The Embers
08. Devilry, Wickedness And Scorn
09. Curse Of The Manifest
10. För Dem Mitt Blod (bonus track - digipack)

SETHERIAL's last album, "Endtime Divine", was issued in 2003 via Regain Records.

Danish metallers MNEMIC have parted ways with their Swedish singer of the past six months, Tony Jelencovich. "We wish Tony all the best for the future, and a replacement will be announced soon," the band write on their web site.

Jelencovich (formerly of TRANSPORT LEAGUE and B-THONG) joined MNEMIC In September 2005 as the replacement for Michael Bøgballe. The band's sophomore album, "The Audio Injected Soul", was released in September 2004 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Mechanical Spin Phenomena" was recorded at AntFarm Studios in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen.

Jelencovich is currently the frontman for at least two other bands, M.A.N and ANGEL BLAKE.

METALLICA's Lars Ulrich has exclusively revealed to Kerrang! magazine that the band's new material has an "old-school" METALLICA flavor. The metal legends are currently working on the follow-up to 2003's "St. Anger" in their own studio at METALLICA HQ in San Rafael, California.

"The last album was an unusual METALLICA album in that no one brought ideas into the studio. Everything you hear on that album was given birth to in the studio," the drummer notes. "This time around we've each brought in ideas as we used to — as well as working on some jams we had from from two summers ago — and James [Hetfield] and I are sorting through our CDs of riffs to put together stuff as we did back in the day.

"The new stuff is much more organic, more old school. It certainly doesn't feel like 'St. Anger' Part Two," Ulrich adds. "When we were rehearsing for our South African shows and started playing the 'St. Anger' stuff, it definitely felt very different to the rest of the set because of how the songs were put together. It was really important to make that record in the way we did because of the chaotic internal vibe at that time: 'St. Anger' was a statement, 55 minutes of brutality packed onto a CD, proving to ourselves that we still had the spark. 'St. Anger' was fun but we don't need to make that album again."

Ulrich says that the band have six or seven songs nearing completion, minus vocals and they are using producer Rick Rubin, famed for his work with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SYSTEM OF A DOWN and SLAYER, for the first time. This collaboration marks the end of the quartet's 15-year relationship with producer Bob Rock.

METALLICA's as-yet-untitled album is expected in early 2007.

Black Mark Records has set a June 3 release date for the new BATHORY box set, "In Memory of Quorthon", containing three CDs, one DVD, a book and a poster. Börje "Boss" Forsberg — owner of Black Mark Records and father of late BATHORY mainman Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg — had previously stated that the package would contain "Quorthon's and BATHORY's complete musical history."

"In Memory of Quorthon" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Song to Hall up High
02. Oden's Ride over Nordland
03. Twilight of the Gods
04. Foreverdark Woods
05. A Fine Day to Die
06. The Woodwoman
07. Quorthon – I've Had It Coming My Way
08. Armageddon
09. Born to Die
10. Quorthon - God Save the Queen
11. The Sword
12. For all Those Who Died
13. Call from the Grave
14. Born for Burning
15. Quorthon - Boy

CD 2:

01. One Rode to Asa Bay
02. The Lake
03. The Land
04. Raise the Dead
05. War Pig
06. Enter the Enternal Fire
07. Blood Fire Death
08. Ring of Gold
09. War Machine
10. War
11. Ace of Spades
12. Death and Resurrection of a Northern Son
13. The Ravens

CD 3:

01. The Wheel of Sun
02. Apocalypse
03. Black Diamond
04. Woman of Dark Desires
05. Destroyer of Worlds
06. Sea Wolf
07. Duce
08. The Return of Darkness And Evil
09. Day of Wrath
10. Quorthon – I'm Only Sleeping
11. Ode
12. Hammerheart
13. Heimfard
14. Outro
15. Quorthon - You Just Got to Live
16. Jennie Tebler - Silverwing
17. Jennie Tebler - Song to Hall up High

Quorthon was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden on June 7, 2004. The 39-year-old, widely considered to be one of black metal's founding fathers, reportedly died of heart failure.

For the most part, SLAYER - Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitars), Jeff Hanneman (guitars), and Dave Lombardo (drums) - have finished recording tracks for their as-yet-untitled new album due out this fall, and will begin the mixing process this week.

This album is the first new studio album since 1990's "Seasons In The Abyss" that features the entire original SLAYER lineup (drummer Lombardo left the band in 1992 and rejoined in 2003). Rick Rubin, who helped solidify the much-emulated SLAYER sound beginning with their genre-defining 1986 classic "Reign In Blood", is executive-producing, and Josh Abraham (KORN, VELVET REVOLVER, ATREYU) is producing. Working songtitles include "Catalyst", "Cult", "Supremist", and "Consfearacy".

PLANET ALLIANCE, the all-star project featuring former OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Bob Daisley, HAMMERFALL members Magnus Rosén (bass) and Anders Johansson (drums), and NARNIA guitarist Carl-Johan Grimmark, have completed the recordings for their debut album and are scheduled to mix the effort beginning late April for a tentative summer release.

PLANET ALLIANCE is said to be a project band where several respected, high-class musicians were carefully selected in order to participate in the lineup. The musical direction is described as "melodic hard rock/metal with strong hooklines."

Mike Andersson (CLOUDSCAPE) and Magnus Karlsson (LAST TRIBE, STARBREAKER, ALLEN/LANDE) started to compose songs for PLANET ALLIANCE in early 2005. Daisley and Janne Stark (LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, OVERDRIVE) were also invited to contribute with songs in order to complete the recordings. The album was produced by Anders Theo Theander at RoastingHouse Studios.

PLANET ALLIANCE recording lineup:

Micael Andersson (CLOUDSCAPE) – Vocals/Keyboards
Magnus Karlsson (LAST TRIBE, STARBREAKER) – Guitar/Keyboards
Bob Daisley (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, GARY MOORE) – Bass
Magnus Rosén (HAMMERFALL) – Bass
Anders Johansson (HAMMERFALL, ex-YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN) – Drums
Jaime Salazar (LAST TRIBE, ex-FLOWER KINGS) – Drums
Janne Stark (LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, OVERDRIVE) – Guitar
Carl-Johan Grimmark (NARNIA, ROB ROCK) – Guitar,br>
Mattias "IA" Eklundh (FREAK KITCHEN, ex-FATE) – Lead Guitar

According to a posting on DESTRUCTION's official web site, the German thrashers' April 15 concert in Quito, Ecuador ended in total chaos after the local promoter lost control of the 2,000 fans that wanted to attend the gig in a venue that could only accommodate half of them and that didn't have a working lighting system.

"The band wanted to postpone the concert to the next day, but the local promoter had absolutely NO control of the show and audience," the posting reads. "The band is really sorry and mad as hell about this disorder! As a [security precaution], the show was delayed, which led to a destruction of the venue by pissed off fans!"

DESTRUCTION are continuing to tour in support of their latest CD, "Inventor of Evil", which is available in Europe on AFM Records and in North America on Candlelight Records.

POWERWORLD, the new German band formed by ex-FREEDOM CALL bassist Ilker Ersin, have announced the addition of singer Steffen Brunner to the group's ranks. The 22-year-old vocalist, who is said to be "one of the leading persons in the German cover band BACKBONE," joins POWERWORLD as the replacement for Chity Somapala (ex-FIREWIND, AVALON, MOONLIGHT AGONY, FARO), who left the group in January due to "musical differences."

POWERWORLD recently finished recording their debut album, "The Second Face", tentatively due later in the year through an as-yet-undetermined record label. The CD will be mixed shortly at Dönerland Studios in Hirschaid, Germany.

Brazilian band EYES OF SHIVA are currently producing the video clip for "Kamisama", the first single from their new album, "Deep".

Filming for the clip, which pays homage to legendary Brazilian soccer player Zico (current coach of the Japanese national team), took place in a soccer stadium in São Manoel, a city near São Paulo. Directed by Patrick Korb (SHAAMAN, EDGUY, PRIMAL FEAR, TUATHA DE DANNAN) and Glauco Guimaraes (KORZUS, HENCEFORTH, BARANGA), the video will bring images of Zico's goals and memorable plays, in addition to featuring the participation special guests Andre Matos (SHAAMAN, ex-ANGRA) and 35 members of Escola de Samba da AABB, a Brazilian samba school.

"Deep" was released in Asia by JVC, and is set to be released in the next few months in Brazil via Wet Music, and in Mexico by Scarecrow Records. The CD, which features guest appearances by Matos and Hugo Mariutti (guitar) from SHAAMAN and Fabio Laguna (keyboards) from ANGRA, reportedly focuses on the current political themes and social issues, with the songs following a "heavier, experimental and modern" direction without sacrificng the group's Brazilian and Latin influences.

EYES OF SHIVA's debut álbum, "Eyes of Soul", was released in 2004 by JVC/Victor Entertainment in Asia and Locomotive/Warner Music in Europe and USA.

Cleopatra Records has announced the final track listing for the new album from former IRON MAIDEN frontman Paul Di'Anno, entitled "The Living Dead", due in North America on May 16. The package will come with a bonus DVD that contains the music video for "The Living Dead" and an exclusive in-depth, tell-all interview in which Di'Anno discusses his days with IRON MAIDEN.

"The Living Dead" (view cover artwork at this location) track listing:

01. The Living Dead
02. Mad Man In The Attic
03. War Machine
04. Brothers Of The Tomb
05. P.O.V. 2005
06. Nomad
07. S.A.T.A.N.
08. Cold World
09. Do Or Die
10. Dog Dead
11. Symphony Of Destruction
12. Wrathchild (Live)
13. Phantom Of The Opera (Live)

Check out a short preview of "The Living Dead" video clip at this location.

WINTERBORN, the self-proclaimed "coldest Finnish heavy metal band," are continuing to talk to several record companies about a possible release of their debut album, "Cold Reality", which was produced at Studio 57 in Alaveteli, Finland by the band's guitarist Pasi Vapola, mixed by Vapola and Pasi Kauppinen (REQUIEM, SILENT VOICES, MENTAL CARE FOUNDATION) and mastered by Björn Engelmann (IN FLAMES, RAMMSTEIN, SOILWORK, WITHIN TEMPTATION) in Stockholm, Sweden. "The situation with the album and contract is now even more complicated because we still have one more new record label in the negotiations," the band write on their web site. "But we are near the finishing line with these things, so hopefully we have some real news to report to you very soon."

WINTERBORN have uploaded samples of four cuts from "Cold Reality" at their official web site. Check out the songs "Last Train to Hell", "The Real Me", "On the Edge of Eternity" and "Wildheart" at this location.

CANNIBAL CORPSE's video for the track "Make Them Suffer" has been posted online at YouTube.com. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Kill", which entered the German national chart at position No. 59. "Kill" also debuted at No. 170 on The Billboard 200 with first-week sales in the United States of just a little over 6,000 copies. In 1994, CANNIBAL CORPSE's "Vile" entered the Billboard chart at No. 151 (with a first-week tally of just under 6,200), making "Kill" the second-highest selling debut in the band's storied 17-year career.

"Kill" was released in a limited luxury package, including a bonus DVD, featuring a complete live show (approximately 77 minutes in length) with great sound, professionally filmed on April 8, 2004 at La Laiterie in Strasbourg, France.

An audio sample of a brand-new KROKUS song, entitled "Hellrazor', has been made available for download at this location (MP3, 1 MB).

KROKUS frontman Marc Storace recently told Metal-Rules.com that the track "Hellrazor" will be featured in an upcoming film called "Handyman". It's a comedy movie by this Swiss comedian called Malcolm Reamer who is also big in Austria and Switzerland," he said. "He has starred with the people who do 'Wochenendhaus' and he's been in a couple of other films as well. He's very popular and he never stops joking. He's born for this part. The song is called 'Hellrazor' and it fits in the film. We have a small part in it where we get smashed in a limousine."

KROKUS recently announced the addition of German drummer Stefan Schwarzmann (ex-ACCEPT, U.D.O., HELLOWEEN) to the group's ranks. The bandare currently working with producer Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69) on the follow-up to 2003's "Rock the Block", tentatively due later in the year. KROKUS's current lineup includes Storace, Tony Castell (bass), Mandy Meyer (guitar) and Dominique Fave (guitar).

THE BLACK LEAGUE, the Finnish band fronted by former SENTENCED vocalist Taneli Jarva, will release their fourth full-length album, "A Place Called Bad", in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) on April 19 via Playground Music. A wider European release for the effort has not yet been announced.

As previously reported, THE BLACK LEAGUE have posted their video for the song "Same Ol' Fuckery" at this location. The track comes off "A Place Called Bad", which was released in Finland in October via WolfGang Records/MajorLeidén Productions.

The follow-up to 2004's "Man's Ruin Revisited", "A Place Called Bad" was recorded at Seawolf Studios in Suomenlinna (just outside Helsinki). The band have undergone several major lineup changes in the last few months, resulting in the departure of both drummer "Sir" Kimmo Luttinen and basist Mikko "Florida" Laurila. Relocated in Helsinki, Jarva and guitarist Maike Valanne have enlisted Hiltunen, Rale (drums) and I.T. (bass), while also bringing in original guitar player Alexi Ranta to play guest lead guitar on one song.

THE BLACK LEAGUE's current lineup is:

Taneli Jarva - Vocals
Maike Valanne - Guitar
Kimmi "Heavy" Hiltunen - Guitar
Rale - Drums
I.T. - Bass

ANGEL BLAKE, the new Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN guitarist Marko Tervonen and former TRANSPORT LEAGUE/current MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich, have uploaded their video for the track "The Forsaken" at this location.

"The Forsaken" comes off the group's self-titled debut album, which was released in North America on April 4 via Metal Blade Records.

ANGEL BLAKE's current lineup is as follows:

Tony Jelencovich (MNEMIC, ex-TRANSPORT LEAGUE) - Vocals
Marko Tervonen (ex-THE CROWN) - Guitars
Janne Saarenpää (ex-THE CROWN) - Drums
Örjan Wressel - Bass
Christian Älvestam (SCAR SYMMETRY, UNMOORED) - Guitars

Check out a photo of the band at this location.

ANGEL BLAKE's debut album was recorded at Tervonen's Studio MT, which is located three kilometers from Trollhättan, Sweden.

ALL THAT REMAINS, the Massachusetts-based act featuring former SHADOWS FALL vocalist Philip Labonte, have revealed the artwork and the track listing for their new album, "The Fall of Ideals", due on July 11 via Prosthetic Records. The follow-up to 2004's "This Darkened Heart" was recorded at Zing Recording Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts with Adam Dutkiewicz (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) and Peter Wichers (ex-SOILWORK) and features atrwork by renowned artist Travis Smith (OPETH, ICED EARTH).

Commented Labonte: "I have been a fan of Travis' work for a while and I didn't even know it. His work with SOILWORK and SINAI BEACH really struck me, so the label put us in touch and we hit it off, which was really cool. We had gone through a bunch of ideas when he sent over the basics and beginning of what would become the cover. After a few back and forths with colors and placement stuff, we have come up with what I feel is a really striking piece of art. I hope it hits others as it did me."

Before heading across the country on Ozzfest 2006, ALL THAT REMAINS will embark on the European version of the Sounds of the Underground tour.

"The Fall of Ideals" track listing:

01. This Calling
02. Not Alone
03. It Dwells In Me
04. We Stand
05. Whispers (I Hear Your)
06. The Weak Willed
07. Six
08. Become The Catalyst
09. The Air That I Breathe
10. Empty Inside
11. Indictment

Guitar virtuoso Luca Turilli, best known for his work as lead guitarist, co-composer and co-founder in film score metal band Rhapsody, has presented us with his new band: Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest. Not wishing this to be viewed just as a side project, Luca asserts that Dreamquest is an additional outlet for the abundance of overflowing musical ideas of this prolific composer. Fear not Rhapsody fans, Dreamquest, while an entirely separate band, will not interfere with Rhapsody’s progress. The debut album, Lost Horizons introduces a new style and technique to Luca’s already mighty repertoire, enriched by modern elements: new metal, opera, techno-electronic music and gothic-symphonic atmospheres.

Lost Horizons displays Luca’s previously unknown ability to call forth majestic tones from the keyboard. The unique sounds produced by Luca’s instrumentation bring forth musical landscapes and haunting melodies, invoking images of sirens and nymphs. Luca’s passion for the keyboard is clear. Before founding Rhapsody with keyboardist Alex Staropoli, Luca had studied piano. However, Rhapsody’s immediate success had encouraged Luca to focus his efforts on the guitar, an instrument that he had already mastered. Three years ago, Luca felt inspired to return to the keyboard, influenced by the melancholic melodies of great artists such as Chopin and Alexander Scriabin. Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest gives Luca the opportunity to unleash the pianist inside of him.

Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest is the fulfillment of a dream that Luca has had in mind for many years and he is looking forward to the opportunity to perform Dreamquest material in a live forum as soon as possible. The music on Lost Horizons combines powerful metal instrumentation with angelic, operatic, female vocals to create a sound that might best be described as 'Symphonic Electro-Metal'. The first single “Virus,” is a prime example of the majestic musical flavor that Dreamquest is made of, while the operatic “Sospiro Divino” showcases the boundless possibilities presented by this exciting new band. Although favorable comparisons to popular acts are inevitable, make no mistake: Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest is a fresh and unique experience.

Track Listing For Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest Lost Horizons:

1) Introspection
2) Virus
3) Dreamquest
4) Black Rose
5) Lost Horizon
6) Sospiro Divino
7) Shades Of Eternity
8) Energy
9) Frozen Star
10) Too Late
11) Dolphin’s Heart
12) Gothic Vision

ARENA are to release a new DVD entitled "Smoke & Mirrors". It was filmed in Poland during the band's 10th anniversary tour supporting their latest album Pepper's Ghost. The initial pressing comes in a lavish digipack containing a bonus audio CD.

Tracklisting:

1. Bedlam Fayre
2. A Crack in the Ice
3. Midas Vision
4. Elea
5. The Hanging Tree
6. A State of Grace
7. (Don't Forget to) Breathe
8. Smoke & Mirrors
9. Purgatory Road
11. Waiting for the Flood
12. Medusa
13. The Shattered Room
14. Chosen
15. Skin Game
16. Witch Hunt
17. Enemy Without
18. Solomon
19. Friday's Dream
20. Crying For Help VII

Bonus video

Reunion Concert - Fan Footage, De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Holland

1. A Crack in the Ice
2. Elea
3. The Hanging Tree
4. A State of Grace
5. Medusa
6. Crying for Help VII

CD tracklist:

1. Bedlam Fayre
2. A Crack in the Ice
3. Midas Vision
4. Elea
5. The Hanging Tree
6. A State of Grace
7. (Don't Forget to) Breathe
8. Smoke & Mirrors
9. Purgatory Road
11. Waiting for the Flood
12. Medusa

Extras include Interview with Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer, animated menu, arena's biography & discography, photo gallery, desktop images and weblinks.

COLDSEED, the new band featuring former BLIND GUARDIAN/current SAVAGE CIRCUS skinsman Thomen Stauch and SOILWORK singer Björn "Speed" Strid, have been forced to abandon their previously announced plan to mix their debut album with engineer Charly Czajkowsky. According to a posting on the band's web site, "Czajkowsky had to cancel his work on the album because of his RAGE duties. Now Dirk Schlächter (GAMMA RAY) is on board — he and Mi will do the final mix and prepare it for mastering!!!"

COLDSEED's debut album, "Completion Makes the Tragedy", is scheduled for release this summer via Nuclear Blast Records. Rough-mix audio samples of two tracks from the upcoming CD are available at the band's official web site: "Democracy Lesson" (mp3) and "On My Way" (mp3). Check out the cover artwork at this location.

Strid had previously described COLDSEED's music as "a mixture between RAMMSTEIN and ALICE IN CHAINS."

DEMONICAL, the new Swedish death metal band featuring three former members of CENTINEX, have launched their web site at www.demonical.net.

Commented the band: "DEMONICAL will return to the roots of death metal and give you a sheer dose of darkness and brutality. We are now preparing our first audio assault, which will be unleashed upon mankind during the summer. Our website is under construction but might open sooner than you think..."

DEMONICAL's sound is being described in a press release as "brutal and dark death metal, like the old Swedish bands from the late '80s/early '90s mixed with the Florida and Brazilian scene and on top of that, spiced up with some Nordic black metal. In other words, brutal riffs, heavy downtuned guitars, fast relentless drums and blasphemous vocals.

DEMONICAL are currently looking for a vocalist. Serious applicants can contact Dreamtide Music, the band's management, at dreamtidemusic [at] hotmail.com.

DEMONICAL lineup:

Martin Schulman (ex-CENTINEX) - Bass
Johan Jansson (ex-CENTINEX, DELLAMORTE) - Guitar
Ronnie Bergerståhl (ex-CENTINEX, AMARAN, JULIE LAUGHS NO MORE) - Drums
TBA - Vocals

Due to "technical reasons," Metal Blade Records has been forced to postpone the release date of the AMON AMARTH DVD, "Wrath of the Norsemen", to May 15 (May 12 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland) from the previously announced April 24.

As previously reported, the three-disc set will be released in a deluxe 10-page digipack with special gold-laminated slipcase. The main body of the DVD is the Cologne show from last year — filmed with 11 cameras, this was the longest show AMON AMARTH have ever played (23 songs!). Bonus footage includes interviews, behind-the-scenes of the DVD recording and other stuff filmed around the Cologne show. Discs 2 and 3 feature professionally filmed shows from Summer Breeze 2005, the Metal Blade Rrroooaaarrr 2005 (a show with a really unusual setlist!), Wacken Open Air 2004 and the release show for "Fate of Norns" in Ludwigsburg (Germany) in 2004.

Legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio's (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) official web site has been updated with the following message:

"Just to put the BLACK SABBATH reunion rumors to rest, here is the inside scoop from Wendy Dio [Ronnie's wife/manager]: Ronnie was in the U.K. to do promo for the new 'Holy Diver Live' CD and while there, dropped in on Tony Iommi to kick around some ideas for the forthcoming box set, 'Black Sabbath: The Dio Years'. We had previously mentioned that the two would be writing together as their respective schedules permitted.

"There are NO plans for Ronnie to rejoin BLACK SABBATH, and in fact, DIO is preparing for their European tour, which begins May 27 in Roselare, Belgium."

As previously reported, Eagle Rock Entertainment has set an April 18 North American release date for DIO's "Holy Diver Live" CD (one day earlier internationally). DIO's follow-up to 2004's "Master of the Moon" is expected before the end of the year.

Original VENOM and current MANTAS guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn recently accompanied German techno group SCOOTER on their sold-out "Who's Got The Last Laugh Now?" European tour as the band's live guitarist. According to a press release, "Mantas' appearance was absolutely well-received by the SCOOTER fans, with Mantas spreading more metal spirit than some of these true metal bands. All those who missed this sensational collaboration will have the chance to witness the [spectacle] on the forthcoming tour DVD."

Check out a picture of Mantas performing with SCOOTER at this location.

Dunn is presently working on MANTAS' follow-up to the group's acclaimed debut, "Zero Tolerance", tentatively due in September.