TWISTED SISTER have been forced to cancel their appearance at this year's edition of the Atarfe Vega Rock festival, set to take place March 10-11 at Nave Medina Elvira in Atarfe, Granada, Spain. According to a band statement, "Dee Snider [TWISTED SISTER frontman] will go 'under the blade' and have throat surgery on March 1st 2006. This was scheduled after exhaustive tests by Dee's specialist when the singer lost his voice following a performance at the NAMM convention in Los Angeles on January 20th."

Commented Snider: "I hate canceling shows and disappointing fans for any reason, but I have been advised that this surgery should not wait. My VH1 and 'House of Hair' shows will be taped, but some live performance events will have to be re-scheduled, and this particularly impacts one TWISTED SISTER spring festival in Spain. I have been told by my doctors that the recovery period will be about eight weeks so TWISTED SISTER will be performing again early in May, so our summer tour plans will not be affected."

Founding TWISTED SISTER member and co-manager Jay Jay French said, "We all wish Dee the very best with this surgery. I have been trying to get him to shut up for the best part of thirty years, but now I am faced with a silent partner for the next eight weeks, I think I should just sit back, pour myself a drink, and enjoy it!"

Guitarist Gus G. (ex-DREAM EVIL, ARCH ENEMY) of the Greek/Swedish power metallers FIREWIND has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"We're in cold, snowy Sweden for a week now and recordings have been going great so far. The studio we're recording at is very comfortable with top-notch equipment and its owner, Martin Kronlund, is an amazing guy and has been taking care of us really well. Drums are already done; Mr. [Mark] Cross [ex-HELLOWEEN, METALIUM] managed to break four cymbals the first three days of the recordings! He sure did beat the hell out of those drums and this album will be another proof on why he is a world elite drummer.

"Outside it's snowing, it must be -10 Celsius degrees, but I'm inside already laying down the rhythm guitar parts. Massive tone provided by Mr. Nordström [Fredrik Nordström, producer] …and my hands, of course! ;-) Next week Bob [Katsionis, keyboards] and Petros [Christo, bass] are arriving from Greece to record their parts."

FIREWIND are recording the new album at GM Recordings and will mix the effort at Studio Fredman with Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten. The mastering will take place early March in Stockholm with Peter in de Betou at Tailor Maid Productions. A late May/early June release is expected.

FIREWIND recently announced the addition of singer Apollo Papathanasio (ex-MAJESTIC, TIME REQUIEM) and drummer Mark Cross. The band plan to make their live debut with the new lineup at ProgPower UK festival on March 25.

METALLICA have finally confirmed that they are working with producer Rick Rubin (SYSTEM OF A DOWN, AUDIOSLAVE, SLAYER, SLIPKNOT) on their new studio album. In a posting on their official web site, METALLICA write, "We just wanted to let our friends know that we have been jamming, writing, just plain messing around and having fun in the studio for the last few weeks.

"Oh, and by the way, this up-and-coming producer guy named Rick something-or-other has been coming by the studio every now and again to listen to some of our new stuff and throw his two/three cents in. Since this Rick dude is new to all of this, we thought it would be a nice gesture to help break him into the music business by asking him to produce our next record. We're very happy he said yes! In other words, we are psyched to share with you that Rick Rubin is producing the next METALLICA album! FUCK YEAH!"

Check out pictures of METALLICA and Rick Rubin in the band's rehearsal/recording studio at Metallica.com.

METALLICA officially began the songwriting process for their new album late last year and are expected to spend the next few months compiling ideas before entering the final recording stage. A late 2006/early 2007 release via Warner Bros. is expected.

Swedish technical death metal outfit SPAWN OF POSSESSION have entered Pama Studios in Kristianopel, Sweden with with producer Magnus Sedenberg to begin recording their sophomore album, "Noctambulant", for an April/May release via Neurotic Records.

"All drums and one guitar are tracked and the pre-mix result of this already sounds astonishing," the band write on their web site. "Second guitars are being put on tape as we speak and bass and vocals will follow after. The album is set to be mixed at the end of February, and a release date will be set after mastering." Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Lash by Lash", "Render my Prey" and "Eve of Contempt". The artwork will be created by Pär Olofsson (PSYCROPTIC). Check out pictures from the studio at this location.

SPAWN OF POSSESSION's debut album, "Cabinet", was released in 2003.

Rhino Video has set an April 4 release date for PANTERA's "3 Vulgar Videos From Hell" three-DVD set featuring all the band's videos as well as live footage shot during the Monsters of Rock gig in Moscow.

Originally released on DVD in 1999, this version features the same content with improved menus and all-new Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. In fact, it is the first PANTERA release ever in 5.1 Surround Sound. It features: "Cowboys From Hell The Videos", "Vulgar Video", "3 Watch It Go", and "Pantera Live From Monsters of Rock In Moscow".

"When you pop this disc in your or your friend's DVD player, expect to see the most honest jammin', ballz-out hell-raisin' flick . . . it's the safest way to let us in your house! This DVD contains the scene, the whole scene and everything in-between! We're talkin' band, crew, and anyone who got in the way of our camera eye. This instructional party DVD is for you — the spirited raging PANTERA fans, the best fans in the world!! Thank you. Y'all kick everyone's ass!! So dammit — kick back, drink up, light up, and watch it go . . . We love ya." — Dimebag, Philip, Rex, Vinnie Paul (1999)

"3 Vulgar Videos From Hell" track listing:

"Cowboys From Hell The Videos":

1. Cowboys From Hell
   
2. Psycho Holiday
   
3. Cemetary Gates
   
4. Heresy (Live!)
   
5. Art of Shredding (Live!)
   

"Vulgar Video":

1. Mouth For War
   
2. This Love
   
3. Walk
   
4. Domination (Live!)
   
5. Primal Concrete Sledge
   

"3 Watch It Go":

1. Planet Caravan
   
2. I'm Broken
   
3. 5 Minutes Alone
   
4. Drag the Waters
   

Bonus Footage:

"Pantera Live From Monsters Of Rock In Moscow":

1. Cowboys From Hell
   
2. Primal Concrete Sledge
   
3. Psycho Holiday
   

Also includes interviews and the band's personal footage filmed on the road.

Quebec City's progressive dark metallers MOONLYGHT will enter Nokturn Studio on March 10 to begin recording their second album, tentatively entitled "Two". This will coincide with the return of Caps [Guillaume Côté; drums], [who is] touring the western part of Canada with his other band MAUVAIS SORT," the band write on their web site. "He will then be able to record his drum/percussion parts. As for now, Roby [Sébastien Robitaille; guitar/vocals] is recording the 'shit tracks' of the songs with his computer, it will be the guide along the studio time for all the musicians!"

As previously reported, "Two" will be mixed by mastermind Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH) at his legendary Unisound studio in Sweden. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Middle", "Hazard" and "Parallels". A late 2006 release is expected.

MOONLYGHT re-released their first album, "Progressive Darkness" (originally issued in 2002 on the now-defunct Metal Disk Records), in 2004 via Sweden's Escapi Records.

CHILDREN OF BODOM filmed their February 5 show in Stockholm, Sweden for a future DVD release. The show was recorded by acclaimed director Patric Ullaeus of the Sweden's Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR and LACUNA COIL, among many others.

The group's setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Intro ("Drink It Up" by NWA)
02. Living Dead Beat
03. Sixpounder
04. Silent Night, Bodom Night
05. Hate Me!
06. We're Not Gonna Fall
07. Angels Don't Kill
08. Drum Solo
09. Bodom After Midnight
10. Beach Terror Mix
11. Needled 24/7
12. Alexi/Janne Solo Battle
13. In Your Face
14. Hate Crew Deathroll
15. Are You Dead Yet?
16. Roope Solo
17. Lake Bodom
18. Everytime I Die
19. Downfall
20. Outro ("Fight for Your Right (To Party)" by the BEASTIE BOYS)

The DVD shoot was said to be "a massive" 14-camera production, with six cameras positioned on stage. Drummer Jaska Raatikainen played the show in spite of a broken rib, which he sustained a few days prior to the gig.

REDEMPTION's primary songwriter and guitarist/keyboardist Nicolas van Dyk has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"I am excited to introduce you to Sean Andrews, REDEMPTION's newest member. Sean is an exceptionally gifted bassist and he replaces the departing James Sherwood, who remains a friend of the REDEMPTION family as he explores other musical interests.

"Sean's major influences include Geddy Lee, Stuart Hamm, Victor Wooten and John Myung. Sean has known our drummer, Chris Quirarte, for many years and was in fact the original bassist of Chris' band PRYMARY, circa 1996. He played in a variety of bands in the late 1990s and in 2004, he performed as a guest musician on the CHAIN.EXE project from Henning Pauly (FRAMESHIFT). For the last ten years, he has been teaching bass and guitar.

"It was not easy to find a bass player that could live up to the high bar that James set during his time with us. James is an amazingly talented player and contributed a great deal to REDEMPTION's sound. I can say, however, that in Sean Andrews, we have someone every bit as talented and unique, and someone who is going to play an even more integral role in our band. He is the perfect choice to fill the very demanding position of REDEMPTION's bass player.

"As for James, we wish him well and thank him very much for his contribution. We look forward to hearing about his next musical projects, even as we prepare to work very closely with Sean in the immediate future. More information on this front to follow in the next few days..."

REDEMPTION's sophomore album, "The Fullness of Time", featuring FATES WARNING frontman Ray Alder, was released last June via Sensory Records. Alder was a guest musician for one track on REDEMPTION's self-titled debut (released on Sensory in 2003), and he joined the group on-stage at Atlanta's ProgPower festival in September of that year to perform this song. Alder and van Dyk also collaborated previously on a track on the first ENGINE CD.

Reactivated Finnish melodic extreme metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW have begun mixing their fifth album, "Before the Bleeding Sun", with Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. "So far, the mixed songs sound exactly what they should sound like," the band write on their web site. "The mixing sessions are going to be finished by the end of next week, after which it's time to master the whole album. . . Travis Smith has been working on the graphics side for some time now. So far so good!"

"Before the Bleeding Sun" is tentatively scheduled for release April 26 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded at Tico-Tico Studios in Kemi and at Note-On Studios in Kuopio and marks the group's first release to feature lead guitarist Risto Ruuth (also in SCYRON) and keyboardist Janne Tolsa (also in TAROT).

Commented the band: "The album is damn heavy but still more diverse and more melodic than any of our previous albums. The whole process has rarely been so easy and rewarding for us before, all the pieces really clicked together this time."

"Before the Bleeding Sun" track listing:

01. Sweet Lilith of My Dreams
02. Another Me
03. Red Dawn Rising
04. Upon the Moors
05. Sakura No Rei
06. Sinister Rain
07. Lost Rune of Thunder
08. Tar Still Flows
09. Angelheart, Ravenheart (Act I: Before the Bleeding Sun)

Launch Radio Networks repors: DEEP PURPLE is re-releasing their new album "Rapture of the Deep" in expanded form. The new edition has live versions of some "Rapture" songs, as well as a few DEEP PURPLE classics. Bassist Roger Glover told Launch how those tracks came about. "We opened the Hard Rock Cafe in London a few months back [on October 10, 2005]," he said. "It was recorded, and I think there's three or four of those songs — including some of the new ones — are gonna be put out on a kind of special LP that's coming out. It's the 'Rapture' 25-minute anniversary — usually it's 25 years, this is 25 minutes."

The new "Rapture of the Deep" is being rolled out across Europe and in Japan in the next month or so, to coincide with the band's tour dates abroad. There's no word yet on whether it will also come out here when they play North America later this year. DEEP PURPLE and ALICE COOPER are in the midst of a tour of Germany.

"Rapture of the Deep" limited tour edition bonus disc track listing:

1. Clearly Quite Absurd (new version)
   
2. Things I Never Said (Japanese bonus track)
   
3. The Well Dressed Guitar (unreleased)
   
4. Rapture Of The Deep (live)
   
5. Wrong Man (live)
   
6. Highway Star (live)
   
7. Smoke On The Water (live)
   
8. Perfect Strangers (live)
   

According to Rockdetector.com, veteran Dutch metal outfit VENGEANCE have signed a deal with Germany's MTM Music. The band, fronted by original vocalist Leon Goewie, will release a new studio album, entitled "Back in the Ring", in April.

Appearing with Goewie on the record are Barend Courbois (bass; BISS, PERFECT STRANGERS), Hans In’T Zandt (drums; CHINAWHITE, COOPER INC.) Peter "Slash" Bourbon (guitar; GUNZ N' ROZES) and Michael Voss (guitar, keyboards; MAD MAX, SILVER, CASANOVA) who also produced the album. "Back in the Ring" also features guest appearances from STREAM OF PASSION guitarist and VENGEANCE founding member Arjen Lucassen, ex-ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, former WARLOCK and current CASANOVA drummer Michael Eurich and PRIMAL FEAR's Mat Sinner, who contributes backing vocals.

The band's last studio album was 1997's "Back from Flight 19", which featured Goewie, Courbois, guitarists Jan Somers and Peter Verschurren, keyboard player Roland Bakker and drummer Paul Thissen, who sadly died in his sleep on January 14, 2006, aged 32.

Arjen Lucassen will be performing with VENGEANCE once again when the band play at this year's Bang Your Head festival in Germany in June.

Former MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker has confirmed to BLABBERMOUTH.NET that he is currently putting a new project together with fellow ex-MORBID ANGEL member Jared Anderson (also ex-HATE ETERNAL). "It is definitely death metal," Tucker said. "It is very early on, but we are both extremely excited about it. No name yet, a few songs written, varying in tempo etc."

Tucker was most recently involved with UNDERCURRENT, in which he plays guitar and sings. The group is rounded out by Tomaz Pilasiewicz (also of the band DISENTER) on drums, Anthony Gentry (Steve Tucker's brother from the band SUBVINYL) on bass, and Greg Reed (CEREMONY, DISASTERNAUT) on guitar. UNDERCURRENT's sound is is described as a departure from the death metal style of most of the group's bandmembers' past efforts.

KING DIAMOND will start recording their next album in early March in Dallas, Texas and at Los Angered Recording (owned by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque) in Gothenburg, Sweden. The band will then begin rehearsals for their upcoming European tour, which will take place between April 14 and June 13. The recording and mixing of the new album will continue in August. A release date for the new effort has yet to be announced.

KING DIAMOND last year completed a U.S. tour with NILE, BEHEMOTH and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. The band's latest studio album, "The Puppet Master", was released in 2003. A live CD, "Deadly Lullabyes Live", followed in 2004.

KING DIAMOND current lineup:

King Diamond - Vocals
Andy La Rocque - Guitar
Mike Wead - Guitar
Hal Patino - Bass
Matt Thompson - Drums

Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL have finalized the track listing and artwork for their new album, "Memorial". "As we speak, we are in train of finishing the artwork for the booklet, and for both editions of the DVD," the group's vocalist, Fernando Ribeiro, writes on their official blog. "This cover was chosen among countless projects because it symbolizes the deep nature of the band (South, blood, lunar side) and it is a strong and simple image just like the music contained on the record. We went for red as the main colour because of the strong blood element present on the album. We hope you will like it and identify with.

"The 'Memorial' album will be released on the 24th of April around Europe and on the 25th in the USA. We hope to have the dates for all other territories soon. There will be two editions: one in a luxury digipack with a bonus unreleased song. The other on jewel-case. We are trying to make the video clip available in one of the editions. The single pick was 'Finisterra', also the opener of the album. We hope to have it here as soon as possible for you to listen to it."

"Memorial" (view cover here) was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.).
The track listing is as follows:
01. In Memoriam
02. Finisterra
03. Memento Mori
04. Sons Of Earth
05. Blood Tells
06. Upon The Blood Of Men
07. At The Image Of Pain
08. Sanguine
09. Proliferation
10. Once It Was Ours!
11. Mare Nostrum
12. Luna
13. Best Forgotten
A DVD, entitled "Lunar Still/13 Years of Doom", is expected to surface via Century Media later in the year.
Mar. 02 - Budapest, HUN @ Metalmania, Petofi Hall
Mar. 04 - Katowice, POL @ Metalmania, Spodek
Mar. 10 - St. Petersburg, RUS @ Port Club
Mar. 11 - Moscow, RUS @ Tochka Club
Mar. 12 - Kiev, UKR @ Ckm Nau
Apr. 15 - Amneville, FRA @ Metal Therapy Festival, Le Galaxie
May 01 - Viseu, Pavilhao MOR @ Multiusos
Jun. 03 - Casablanca, MOR @ CoC Stadium
Jun. 23 - Dessel, BEL @ Graspop Metal Meeting
Aug. 17-19 - Ostalbkreis, GER @ Summer Breeze Festival

MEGADETH have announced the addition of former BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/WHITE LION bassist James Lomenzo to the group's ranks. Lomenzo joins the band as the replacement for James MacDonough (ex-ICED EARTH), who was officially dismissed from the group on February 10, 2006.

"I want to thank Jimmy for everything and wish him the best in his future endeavors," MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine said in a statement. "He is knowledgable and a good enough bassist to run his own outfit, and I look forward to what he does musically."

Mustaine added, "It was recommeded I check out James Lomenzo by a friend, because I was uncertain which direction I wanted to take with the bassist prior to starting the next record, and everything just clicked."

Lomenzo will perform with MEGADETH at their next scheduled live appearance, which is set for March 16 at the Desert Rock 2006 festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For more information on Lomenzo, visit his official web site.

German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA have posted the following update on their official web site:

"To kick off our first real update of 2006, the band would like to send out a big [thank you] to all SUIDAKRA fans in Russia! The two shows have been a blast, thanks very much especially to the promoters Ad and Mendor! They hope to come back soon — hopefully when the temperature is slightly warmer than minus 25°! Expect a big gallery with lots of live and backstage pictures from St. Petersburg and Moscow to appear on the site shortly.

"Some new live dates have been confirmed. At short notice, SUIDAKRA will make their first appearance in Poland at the Metalmania 2006 Festival on 4th March. Furthermore, at the end of the year some long expected SUIDAKRA acoustic shows will finally take place! The first confirmed unplugged date will take place on 1st Dec. in Kiel, Germany. At the moment the band is looking for some more locations to do a small unplugged tour.

"The songwriting for the new record, 'Caledonia', is coming to an end musically. Now it's time to concentrate on the lyrics and vocal lines, the keyboards and the planned bag-pipe tunes. Everything is coming together quite nicely, so be prepared for a full-on SUIDAKRA onslaught later on in the year!"

The follow-up to last year's "Command to Charge", "Caledonia" will be a concept album dealing with Scotland's ancient history.

Acclaimed late '80s/early '90s U.K. thrash metallers XENTRIX will reunite for two gigs with their original lineup of:
Dennis Gasser - Drums
Paul "Macka" MacKenzie - Bass
Kristian "Stan" Havard - Guitar
Chris Astley - Guitar/Vocals

XENTRIX will play The Bitter Suite in Preston on February 25 and the Engineers Club in Barrow-in-Furness on March 17. "We aren't reforming," said guitar player Stan Havard in a statement sent to BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "We just got back together to play a gig in Barrow for our bass player's birthday, and decided to add a Preston show as well."
XENTRIX released four albums on Roadrunner Records: "Shattered Existence" (1989), "For Whose Advantage" (1990), "Dilute to Taste" (1991) and "Kin" (1992). They also issued "Scourge" (1996) on Heavy Metal Records with Simon Gordon on vocals and Andy Rudd on guitar.

OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE), the project featuring FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos, ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore, DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy and FATES WARNING/ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera, have set "Free" as the tentative title of their sophomore album, due in Germany on March 31 via InsideOut Music.

The drums for "Free" were recorded November 18-20, 2005 at Carriage House Studios in Connecticut while the mixdown took place last month.

"Free" tentative track listing:

01. Sure You Will
02. Free
03. Go
04. All Gone Now
05. Home Was Good
06. Bigger Wave
07. Kicking
08. Better
09. Simple Life
10. Once
11. Our Town

MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister, TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider, ex-JUDAS PRIEST/current ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens and legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen are among the metal icons appearing on "Flying High Again: The World's Greatest Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne", due on March 14 via Magick Records.

"Flying High Again: The World's Greatest Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne" track listing:

1. TIM "RIPPER" OWENS/YNGWIE MALMSTEEN – "Mr. Crowley"
   
2. CHILDREN OF BODOM – "Shot In The Dark"
   
3. ICARUS WITCH/GEORGE LYNCH – "S.A.T.O."
   
4. FOREVER SAY DIE! – "Bark At The Moon"
   
5. LITA FORD – "Close My Eyes Forever"
   
6. LEMMY KILMISTER/RICHIE KOTZEN – "Desire"
   
7. DEE SNIDER/DOUG ALDRICH – "Crazy Train"
   
8. MARK SLAUGHTER/BRAD GILLIS – "Over The Mountain"
   
9. JACK BLADES/JEFF PILSON – "I Don't Know"
   
10. JOE LYNN TURNER/STEVE LUKATHER – "Hellraiser
    
11. NOVEMBER'S DOOM – "Revelation (Mother Earth)"
    
12. ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO – "Goodbye To Romance"
    
    Listen to audio samples at this location.

Austrian epic/atmospheric black metal band SUMMONING are tentatively scheduled to release their eighth album, "Oath Bound", on March 21 in Europe and April 25 in the U.S. via Napalm Records. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Bauglir
02. Across the Streaming Tide
03. Mirdautas Vras
04. Might and Glory
05. Beleriand
06. Northward
07. Menegroth
08. Land of the Dead

Two of the album's tracks will feature a choir. The CD will have a total running time of approximately 68 minutes. Check out the cover artwork at this location.

British extreme metallers BENEDICTION have set "Killing Music" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in June/July via Nuclear Blast Records, with whom the band recently re-signed. "Why break something if it is not broken?" the group wrote in a statement sent to BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "We have been a team for nearly 17 years and see no reason to end that relationship. Markus (label manager) has championed this band from the beginning, [and] he is devoted to the music. Look how far he has come since starting in his bedroom at his parents' house — over 80 employees in Germany alone!!!"

"Killing Music" will mark the recording debut with the group of new drummer Nick Barker (CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR). "This will be our first new release since 2001," the band write. "It took so long because we just didn't jell with any other drummers — Nick is the man."

Following the album's release, the band will be appearing at festivals worldwide over the summer, followed by a full-blown world tour starting in September. The "No Reunion Needed" tour is "going to last a long time," according to the band. "We are calling it that because we are seeing so many bands reforming purely because extreme music is becoming popular again," they write. "We have been here since day one. We — along with our fanbase — have rode the ups and downs of this business and taken the rough with the smooth and still carried on regardless of trends."

With regards to the musical style on "Killing Music", the band said, "The new album has a few new styles on it, along with the punk/death riffs that we like so much. The drumming on our new tracks totally transformed the songs. Nick is awesome on that bastard kit of his."

As previously reported, BENEDICTION have been confirmed as one of the headliners of the 2006 edition of the Fuck the Commerce festival, set to take place May 25-27 at MZA (Mehrzweckhalle) in Luckau, Germany.

MEGADETH have parted ways with bassist James MacDonough. In a posting on the band's official forum, James wrote, "I just wanted to say thank you all so much for making me feel so welcome and thank you for all the awesome memories along the road. I will not be playing with MEGADETH any longer. I'm sure Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman] will post about it soon. Thanks again my metal brothers and sisters."

It was only five days ago (Feb. 5) that MacDonough posted a message on the MEGADETH message board indicating that he was very much "looking forward" to playing at the Desert Rock 2006 festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 16, adding that he would "document the trip" for the fans.

Could MacDonough's departure signal the return of MEGADETH's original bassist David Ellefson? In a a February 4, 2006 online posting on the band's web site, Mustaine wrote, "I said it before, [and] I'll say it again: I once was resentful, but now I am over the feuds with METALLICA, Ellefson, whomever. I have actually met with Ellefson one-on-one for dinner last year around [Christmas] to just clear the air and let him know I have no hard feelings and wanted to remain friends with him. We have talked on the phone numerous times since."

MEGADETH's scheduled appearance at the Desert Rock 2006 festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 16 is not expected to be affected by MacDonough's departure.

Swedish metallers EVERGREY are currently filming the video for the track "Monday Morning Apocalypse" with director Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company (DIMMU BORGIR, CHILDREN OF BODOM, LACUNA COIL). The song is the title cut of the band's upcoming sixth studio album, due on April 4 via InsideOut Music. Check out a photo from the set at this location.

The follow-up to 2004's "The Inner Circle" was recorded at Division One Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden by the experienced production team of Sanken Sandquist and Stefan Glaumann, who have previously worked with such artists as RAMMSTEIN, BON JOVI, BRITNEY SPEARS and DEF LEPPARD. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Unspeakable" and "At a Loss for Words".

Swedish metallers SATARIEL have inked a deal with Pulverized Records to release a mini-CD containing four brand new tracks. The recordings for the effort will begin on February 16. More details will be made available soon.

SATARIEL's third album, "Hydra", has just received its long-awaited U.S. release via Candlelight Records. The group, whose music is being described as "a mix between CANDLEMASS and early IN FLAMES," recorded the CD at Dug-Out studios in Uppsala, Sweden with producers Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES, STUCK MOJO) and Örjan Örnkloo (MISERY LOVES CO.). A full-length MP3 of the track "Vengeance Is Hers", taken from "Hydra", can be downloaded at this location.

IFinnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have finalized the track listing for their ninth studio album, "Pro Patria Finlandia", due in Europe on March 28 through Osmose Productions (March 22 in Finland on Dynamic Arts). The CD will be issued in North America on April 18 via The End Records.

"Pro Patria Finlandia" was recorded and mixed at Sonic Pump studio with producer Tapio Pennanen and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox studios. Cover artwork was handled by Ritual. The group had previously described the new material as "fast, brutal as fuck, in-your-face IMPALED NAZARENE."

"Pro Patria Finlandia" final track listing:

1. Weapons To Tame A Land
   
2. Something Sinister
   
3. Goat Sodomy
   
4. Neighbourcide
   
5. One Dead Nation Under Dead God
   
6. For Those Who Have Fallen
   
7. Leucorrhea
   
8. Kut
   
9. This Castrated World
   
10. Psykosis
    
11. Contempt
    
12. I Wage War
    
13. Cancer
    
14. Hate – Despise – Arrogance
    

Total playing time 38:11

IMPALED NAZARENE will be undertaking a 63-date, 10-week European tour covering no less than 22 countries. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

German thrash metal legends SODOM are scheduled to release their self-titled new album in Germany on April 21, in Europe April 24 and in the USA May 9.

"Every band needs a self-titled album at least once in their career," band mastermind Tom Angelripper points out, adding that the twelve new tracks will contain pure thrash metal in its most dynamic incarnation. "We have to apologize to our fans that the album didn't come out sooner, but the work on our DVD, 'Lords of Depravity Part I', was so time-consuming that things took a little longer than expected." However, the band featuring singer/bass player Tom Angelripper, guitarist Bernemann and drummer Bobby Schottkowski will make the long wait worthwhile for their fan community with an offering that could hardly be more straightforward or determined. "We wanted to prove to the world what we can do, that's why we decided to roll up our sleeves and pool our strengths."

The current SODOM lineup has proved to be the most consistent in the band's history. "The team Angelripper/Bernemann/Schottkowski will celebrate its anniversary this year: We've been together for ten years," explains Tom, who is determined to continue to sail into the wind with his band in an increasingly short-lived world, not deviating from his present course when it comes to SODOM's lyrics. "I've always written about things that go on in the world, the injustice and mistakes that happen everywhere. I know that you can't change anything politically, but I would at least like to make clear where I stand and raise people's awareness of those deplorable states of affair."

"Sodom" was recorded and mixed at the premises of an old friend: Andy Brings. The former SODOM guitarist produced the new album at his Midas Twins studios in Hagen, Germany, together with sound engineer Haan Hartmann, bringing out the best in the musicians. "Andy did a great job and really lured the optimum performance out of me," states Tom. "Our new album proves that you don't necessarily have to go to an American studio to get a good sound." "Sodom" was mastered by Eroc, drummer with German rock cult band GROBSCHNITT.

"Sodom" track listing:

1. Blood On Your Lips
   
2. Wanted Dead
   
3. Buried In The Justice Ground
   
4. City Of God
   
5. Bibles And Guns
   
6. Axis Of Evil
   
7. Lords Of Depravity
   
8. No Captures
   
9. Lay Down The Law
   
10. Nothing To Regret
    
11. The Enemy Inside
    
    Bonus track for Japan:
    
12. Kamikaze Terrorizer
    

SODOM are scheduled to tour Eastern Europe as early as April 2006, and Angelripper promises an extensive tour of Germany and Europe this coming autumn: "It's high time we celebrated a real thrash metal party again with our fans."

Veteran German thrashers TANKARD have completed work on their new album, "The Beauty and the Beer", with producer Andy Classen at Stage One studio in Bühne, Germany for a May 26 release via AFM Records.

"The Beauty and the Beer" is the follow-up to 2004's "Beast of Bourbon", which was recorded at Stage One with Classen and featured cover artwork by Sebastian Krüger, who had previously worked for the magazine Spiegel.

TANKARD's first double DVD, "Fat, Ugly And Still (A)Live", was issued last October. The set contains a full live show that was recorded at the band's favorite location, the Batschkapp club in Frankfurt, and more than two hours of bonus material, including the following:

• All four of the band's promotional video clips
  
• Interviews
  
• Photo gallery
  
• Concert outtakes
  

Swedish "gothic metallers" BESEECH are working on new material and are planning on entering the studio in April to record a new demonstration CD for shopping purposes. The band are currently unsigned, having fulfilled their contractual obligations to the Napalm label with the release of their fifth album, "Sunless Days", which came out last September.

In other news, BESEECH have been confirmed for this year's Metalmania Festival, set to take place March 4 at Spodek in Katowice, Poland. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are SOILWORK, THERION, ANATHEMA, MOONSPELL and U.D.O., among others. BESEECH will also play in Varberg, Sweden at the Theatre on February 18 with TRENDKILL and DODGE.

The follow-up to 2004's "Drama", "Sunless Days" was recorded at StudioMega in Varberg, Sweden and includes a a cover of the DANZIG track "Devil's Plaything" as well as a re-recording of the song "Manmade Dreams" (on the digipack version only) from BESEECH's second album, "Black Emotions".

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We wanted to update you from the studio, but there was no time and now we have finished the album, which is for sure the most important thing to all of us. The new album is scheduled for release Monday the 24th of April all over Europe via Sony/BMG in Norway and Roadrunner Records international in the rest of Europe. No American date is set yet, but it should not be too long after. . . Live dates are being set every day, mostly in Norway for the time being, but we obviously aim to hit the summer festivals in Europe hard. The first confirmed show is Oslo, Rockefeller 13th of May. but there will be many shows before that. We hope to reveal the album cover and have some music ready for you on this site next week already."

SATYRICON have been in Vancouver, Canada this month mixing their first new studio album since 2002 with Mike Frasier (METALLICA, AC/DC). Titled "Now, Diabolical", it will contain the following track listing:

1. Now, Diabolical
   
2. K.I.N.G
   
3. The Pentagram Burns
   
4. A New Enemy
   
5. The Rite Of Our Cross
   
6. That Darkness Shall Be Eternal
   
7. Delirium
   
8. To The Mountains
   

The vinyl version of the album will include a bonus track called "Storm (of the Destroyer)".

SATYRICON's last album, the acclaimed "Volcano" (2002), received the Norwegian Grammy for "Best Metal Album", the Alarm Award for "Song Of The Year" (for track "Fuel For Hatred") plus "Metal Album Of The Year", and also the Oslo Award for "Best Overall Album". "Volcano" debuted at #4 on the Norwegian national album chart.