British thrashers EVILE recently recorded their version of a classic PANTERA track for the upcoming "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) tribute album, which will be released on the cover of the 200th issue of the U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine.

Commented EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake: "The day we got the call from our manager, Julie Weir, saying Metal Hammer have asked us to pay tribute to Dimebag Darrell by covering a PANTERA song, we couldn't have been more excited and honored.. I mean, how many more bands are there more worthy of paying tribute to the man? With us all being fans of PANTERA, we swiftly said yes. Mike, though, was the biggest PANTERA fan. He'd seen them years ago and absolutely worshipped Dimebag.

"After Dime got killed, Mike couldn't listen to 'Cemetary Gates' anymore. He'd always ask us to skip the track in the car/van/bus because it was too much for him. So when we chose to do the track, it was tough for Mike, but I'm glad he did it. It turned out to be the last song he recorded, which to me is a strangely 'appropriate' tribute to him and Dimebag. I remember him nearing the verge of tears whilst I was doing the tremolo bends at the end of the track.

"We hope PANTERA/Dimebag fans find this a fitting tribute from us, as we're simply fans ourselves who've been given this rare honour."

Added Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas: "I was genuinely over the moon when EVILE volunteered to produce a track for our upcoming Dimebag tribute, a stunningly rendered cover of PANTERA's classic 'Cemetary Gates'. So when the truly tragic news of Mike Alexander's all-too-premature departure from this world hit the office, the tragic irony wasn't lost on me or anyone here that Mike Alexander's tribute to the immortal legacy of Dimebag would also be a final testament to his own impeccable musicianship and commitment to the music we love.

"To understate the case slightly, it's a very special track indeed, and we're honoured that it's a part of our upcoming tribute collection.

"Rest in peace, Dimebag, and rest in peace, Mike Alexander."

The Dimebag Darrell tribute album contains the following tracks:

01. ZAKK WYLDE - "Suicide Note Pt. 1"
02. MACHINE HEAD - "Fucking Hostile"
03. MALEFICE - "I'm Broken"
04. AVENGED SEVENFOLD - "Walk"
05. EVILE - "Cemetery Gates"
06. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - "A New Level"
07. BIOHAZARD - "Mouth For War"
08. SYLOSIS - "Strength Beyond Strength"
09. CHIMAIRA - "Slaughtered"
10. UNEARTH - "Sandblasted Skin"
11. THROWDOWN - "Becoming"
12. KIUAS - "This Love"
13. THIS IS HELL - "Rise"

Australian dark rockers THE ETERNAL will be entering 301 Studios Byron Bay on December 4th with acclaimed producer and multi-platinum recording artist Jeff Martin (THE AMARDA, THE TEA PARTY) to record their fourth album.

The band check in with the following update:

"Under A New Sun has been named as the title for the upcoming album from The Eternal, set to see the light of day in 2010. The album will be the follow-up to Kartika and also the band's fourth full-length album.

We can also reveal that song titles include: 'Control', 'Under A New Sun', 'A Thousand Shades of You', 'Collapse' and 'Cast In Stone', to name a few.

The band have also launched a studio blog which can be viewed at www.the-eternal-studio.blogspot.com.

The band enter 301 Studios in Byron Bay on December 4th. The blog will be updated daily throughout December with pictures and the latest news on the recording process, so be sure to check it out.

Under A New Sun will be produced by Jeff Martin (The Tea Party). Jeff adds this about the album, "I proudly re-introduce The Eternal... The type of band I've been waiting to produce. It's been a year now since Mark and I agreed to embark on a journey that begins this December. For The Eternal this will not be a stepping stone but a launch pad. For me, a creative working relationship that allows me to realise an artist's vision and re-connect with past influences, all the while looking into the future... darkly. I envision an alchemical marriage, a musical landscape anchored by organic rock and roll and infested with industrial overtones. To put things lightly, you're not playing with kids here. The Eternal are the real deal."

The album will be co-engineered by Paul Pilsneniks who has worked with such artists as THE LIVING END, THE MARS VOLTA, SILVERCHAIR, GRINSPOON and ALANIS MORISSETTE, and The Eternal has also enlisted acclaimed Finnish keyboard player Maria Ilmoniemi (TARJA, HUSKY RESCUE) to contribute."

Swedish metallers ASTRAL DOORS will release their fifth album, "Requiem Of Time" in Europe on January 29 and in North America on February 16 through Metalville, the band and label pool launched by the Cologne, Germany-based company Flying Dolphin Entertainment Group UG.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Testament of Rock
02. Power and the Glory
03. Rainbow Warrior
04. Call of the Wild
05. St. Peter's Cross
06. So Many Day So Many Nights
07. Blood River
08. Anthem of the Dark
09. Metal DJ
10. Fire and Flame
11. Greenfield of Life
12. The Healer
13. Evil Spirits Fly
14. When Darkness Comes

CIRCLE II CIRCLE — the band led by ex-SAVATAGE singer Zak Stevens — has parted ways with drummer Tom Drennan and has replaced him with Johnny Osborn (X-THIRTIEN, DR. BUTCHER). The group says, "We love Tom and wish him nothing but happiness and success in his future."

CIRCLE II CIRCLE has also decided to carry on as a four-piece. "Bill Hudson [guitar] is no longer with us," the group says. "He is pursuing his own band, WRITTEN IN BLOOD, which is an AMAZING band! Be on the lookout for them.

"There have been rumors of a new guitarist. That is what they are... rumors.

"We are happily moving forward as a four- piece and wish Tom and Bill much luck in their future endeavors."

In the "bonus materials/interviews" portion of METALLICA's French-only concert DVD, "Francais Por Une Nuit" (or "French For One Night"), the members of the band were asked individually to comment on fans' observation that the cover image on METALLICA's latest album, "Death Metallica", resembles the female sex organ. Their responses can be viewed in the YouTube clip below.

"Francais Por Une Nuit" arrived on November 23. The disc is available at all retailers in France, but is also for sale worldwide at the band's web site. Bassist Robert Trujillo told The Pulse of Radio that he expects it to be a special release. "What I've seen of it, it's very beautiful," he said. "We're playing in a Roman coliseum and it's a beautiful night, an incredible crowd. It's special for me, and I connect with the French as well. My wife's from Paris, I have a great time when I'm there, I even have surfed there a few times. France is cool. This is a special moment for them, it's a special moment for us."

In addition to the band's complete 18-song set, the disc also includes interviews with the group and five video clips shot by members of the audience.

A statement posted on the band's website said, "ALL aspects of the project are French as the show was filmed, recorded, and edited with French camera and recording crews, the artwork on the package and special box set (more on that in a minute!) were created by a French design team; even the credits are in French."

The DVD comes in three formats: standard DVD or Blu-ray, in a digipack with a 16-page booklet, and a deluxe limited edition box set that includes the DVD, a copy of "Death Magnetic" on CD, a T-shirt, laminated pass, and exclusive photos.

13 of the 18 songs the band performed at the Nimes concert aired on October 10 on the French TV channel Canal+.

Early next year a new epic of Tobias Sammet's Avantasia project will be released in two chapters: "The Wicked Symphony" and "Angel Of Babylon". Tobias is in the studio right now, working with producer Sascha Paeth on this new "Rock Opera" which is starring musicians like Klaus Meine (Scorpions), Ripper Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Jorn Lande (Masterplan), Bob Catley (Magnum), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Eric Singer (KISS), Felix Bohnke (Edguy), Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody) and some more that will be announced soon.

The most recent contribution comes from the guy who is known amongst Metal fans all over the world as one of the best neo-classical keyboarders in the world. He was the keyboard player who fought duels with Yngwie Malmsteen at the speed of light in the eighties, he played with Ronnie James Dio, he is a key member of Stratovarius and early next year the arrowy solo skills of his fingers can be heard on the next chapter of Avantasia: Ladies and gentlemen, from Sweden, the one and only Mr. Jens Johansson!

Tobias says: "I've known Jens for years now, there has always been a friendship between Edguy and Stratovarius. We became friends when Jens was playing in the solo band of Timo Kotipelto when they joined Edguy for a tour of South America some years ago. We got shitfaced on several occasions and Jens always captured any possible embarrassment with his Powershot G5. He's a genius on his instrument -and beyond- and the stuff he played for me sounds amazing. A lot of people can shred and play fast, but unlike most of them every note that Jens plays is tasteful and exactly where it belongs. I don't know if he is the fastest keyboarder in the world, but I'd like to think so, at least I have never heard a faster one. You gotta check it out..."

RIOT has parted ways with vocalist Tony Moore.

Commented the singer: "First of all, I have to thank everyone who came out to see us in Texas, Sweden, Spain and Japan. It was sweeter than ever 20 years later.

"I'm extremely sad to report that those will probably be the last shows I ever do with RIOT. We have differences about how to proceed with the future of the band that we can't reconcile, so a majority of the other members have decided to look for a new singer. It wasn't my decision, and there's really no good reason for us to part ways.

"You may hear a lot of noise from some of the other guys, but the truth is that it's all a pointless misunderstanding over a refusal to compromise. No matter, because I've just been in touch with the rest of the guys from FAITH AND FIRE, and we're beginning work on a new album immediately. There's no way I'm going to let a year's worth of preparation and practice go to waste. My voice is as strong as ever, and you will hear it again soon.

"See you out there with a new FAITH AND FIRE album in 2010!"

Finnish all-girl band INDICA has inked a deal with Germany's Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the group in a statement: "It is very rare to see such enthusiasm that we have already witnessed with all the Nuclear Blast people about our forthcoming debut album in English. We can't wait to start to work with all of you, to get the album out and to start touring in Europe!"

Added Markus Staiger, Nuclear Blast President: "We are very proud to welcome this young band from Finland to the Nuclear Blast family. Those five exceptional girls have totally captivated all of us. With their magical and self-contained form of romantic and melancholic rock music we are trying to explore into directions which are new to us and and it will be a big but more than exciting challenge!"

INDICA's album was produced by NIGHTWISH mastermind Tuomas Holopainen, who has previously toured Europe with INDICA twice. He says, "INDICA has such sights to show you! You will be spellbound for lifetime!"

The new INDICA album, "A Way Away", is due in early summer 2010.

Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED have signed a new worldwide deal with Century Media Records.

Commented THE HAUNTED frontman Peter Dolving: "So once again we've decided to sign with Century Media Records. It feels good to get continuation, and truly having worked hard on communication on both ends over these last years, has brought us together in ways that I believe a lot of bands/managements/labels only dream of. Long-term goals, open agendas, and a Norse/German stubborn attitude seem so be something we find a mutual trust and strength in and we're really looking forward to a continued cooperation with our friends/partners at Century Media.

"It is a strange thing this, the business of music, but like everything else, it seems to come down to hard work, earnestness, straight talk and respect. So here's to many more years of churning out metal to the masses."

The band's last three albums — "rEVOLVEr", "The Dead Eye" and "Versus" — were released through Century Media.

Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen will release a new album called "High Impact" on December 8 (one day earlier internationally). The set is described as "a mind-boggling, high-paced compilation record" featuring a "surprise" bonus track — Yngwie's never-before-released interpretation of the MICHAEL JACKSON mega-hit classic "Beat It", which contains Malmsteen's own magical touch and ex-JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals.

"High Impact" track listing:

01. Caprici Di Dablo
02. Brothers
03. Blitzkrieg
04. Trilogy Suite
05. Red House
06. Finale
07. Magic City
08. Arpeggios From Hell
09. Far Beyond The Sun
10. Cantabile
11. Blue
12. Overture 1622
13. Fugue
14. Beat It (MICHAEL JACKSON cover)

John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM, UNION) frontman is stepping out on his own with his newly formed solo band. The group is performing three shows in the U.S. starting on December 3.

Remaining dates:

Dec. 04 - Schaumburg, IL – Chicago City Limits
Dec. 05 - South Bend, IN – Blarney Stone

Corabi is performing songs from throughout his career, some of which have not been played live since his days with THE SCREAM and MÖTLEY CRÜE. Among the songs fans can expect to hear are "Hooligan's Holiday", "I Don't Care", "Outlaw", "Til Death Do Us Part", "Power To The Music", "Uncle Jack", "Love (I Don't Need It Anymore)", "Shine" and "Father, Mother, Son".

"Live Xecution - Party.San 2008", the new concert DVD from Florida death metal veterans OBITUARY, will receive a U.S. release in January 2010 via Regain. The footage for the disc was filmed at last year's Party.San Open Air festival, which was held August 7-9, 2008 in Bad Berka, Germany.

Commented bassist Frank Watkins: "We did over 30 festivals last [year] and the Party.San festival was the very last and best one for OBITUARY... Fortunately, the show was filmed."

The track listing is as follows:

01. Find The Arise
02. On The Floor
03. Chopped In Half
04. Turned Inside Out
05. Forces Realign
06. Insane
07. Face Your God
08. Dethroned Emperor
09. Evil Ways
10. Drop Dead
11. Contrast The Dead
12. Second Chance
13. Stand Alone
14. Slow Death
15. Slowly We Rot

The cover artwork for "The Underworld Regime", the forthcoming debut album from OV HELL, the new black metal project featuring DIMMU BORGIR vocalist Shagrath and ex-GORGOROTH bassist King, can be viewed below. The cover was created by the Brazilian graphic designer Marcelo Vasco, who has previously worked with such bands as SATYRICON, ENSLAVED, KEEP OF KALESSIN, BORKNAGAR, GORGOROTH, BELPHEGOR and JOB FOR A COWBOY.

"The Underworld Regime" is scheduled for a February 8, 2010 release via Indie Recordings. The CD was recorded at Earshot Studio and features Shagrath on vocals, King on bass, Frost (SATYRICON) on drums, Ice Dale (ENSLAVED) on guitar and Teloch (NIDINGR, GOD SEED) on guitar. The album was produced by Herbrand Larsen and mastered at the Livingroom studios by Espen Berg and Shagrath in November 2009. King composed all of the music for "The Underworld Regime", while Shagrath wrote all lyrics, with contributions from Silenoz and Sarah Owens.

"The Underworld Regime" track listing:

01. Devil's Harlot
02. Post Modern Sadist
03. Invoker
04. Perpetual Night
05. Ghosting
06. Acts of Sin
07. Krigsatte Faner
08. Hill Norge

Commented Shagrath: "The majestic OV HELL has become a band that reflects our roots — raw, ugly, arrogantly blasphemous — with uncompromising truth from two influential Norwegian musicians needing to express our primitive side, straight out OV HELL."

Added King: "It's been a little hell to actually see this music form into a band, but when I'm now listening to the final result, it has been worth the hard work we have put into this album!"

"10x The Pain", the new video from the seminal Australian hard rock/metal band DREADNAUGHT, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's latest, self-titled album, which was made available on May 1. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2006 Roadrunner release "Dirty Music" is the band's sixth studio LP in its 15-year history and it features the group's "heaviest production to date." According to a press release, "the addition of ex-ALARUM drummer Matthew Racovalis has helped shape a highly diverse-sounding record, more akin to the technical-thrash-styled DREADNAUGHT of the mid-Nineties; yet retaining the dynamic subtleties that has made DREADNAUGHT unique amongst their peers."

"Dreadnaught" track listing:

01. Tattooed Tears
02. The Push
03. Save Your Life
04. Collapse
05. Reflections (Part 1)
06. More Than One Way
07. Agony / Ecstacy
08. Reflections (Part 2)
09. 10x The Pain
10. Twist The Knife
11. Reflections (Part 3)
12. Buried

New England-based artist Dan Mitchell has issued the following update regarding his AUTUMNS EYES project:

"With this marking the ningh self released album from solo metal act Autumns Eyes, Please Deceive Me is set to arrive in early 2010. The album was originally slated for a Halloween release, but was pushed back due to a broken radius bone in Dan's right arm. Please Deceive Me plays host to ten original tracks, along with a cover of TYPE O NEGATIVE's classic 'Wolf Moon'.

The overall sound of the album can best be described as dynamic, with a lack of screaming vocals being replaced by clean harmonic melodies. Atmosphere plays a large role in this release, and also allows the music to breathe more so than the previous release Surrender the Fire which had a more fast paced thrash style. Albumhttp://www.autumnseyes.com/images/news/pdm-cover.jpg and a teaser video can be seen at the links below."

Swedish multi-instrumentalist/producer Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH) has issued the following update:

So what have I been up to lately? Apart from mixing and mastering for my beloved clients, I have taken up songwriting again!! Most of the ideas are tagged for the upcoming NIGHTINGALE album that I think will be called 'Bravado'. I also have some cool ideas for the cover artwork, and I think someone like Travis Smith (or someone equally talented) would be the man for the job (Travis Smith [did] the SECOND SKY cover artwork... nothing short of amazing!!). Musically, it's a smörgåsbord ranging from early NIGHTINGALE stuff ('Deep Inside Of Nowhere'/'Thoughts From A...' kind of stuff) through AOR vibey stuff a lá 'Glory Days' and 'Scarred For Life' to more hard-edged progressive stuff! I have also done some demos of the old 'non-album' UNICORN songs 'Yellow & Greg' and 'Mr K Just Left The Circus' with a NIGHTINGALE approach and they sound really, really good. The only problem I have is that the lyrics are just too damn awful when you take them out of the concept of UNICORN, and it will take a while to get used to singing something different to these tracks. On the other hand, the music is awesome and these songs really fit our concept.

"Dag [Swanö, Dan's brother] has put up with having new lyrics to all his songs that had other lyrics for like 20 years!!! So maybe it's time I deal with it, and let some good old unicorn songs rise out of obscurity!!

"The ODYSSEY EP has been remastered/restored and sounds almost re-recorded!! The additional cover songs have also been completed!!

* In The Heat Of The Night (SANDRA) feat. Marcus Vanhala on lead guitar
* Eyes Of The World (RAINBOW) feat. Tino Kallioniemi on lead guitar
* Shake The Disease (DEPECHE MODE)
* At The Gallows End (CANDLEMASS)
* Gypsy (URIAH HEEP) feat. Dag Swanö on lead guitar
* Lost Horizons (MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP) featuring lead guitars from Vanhala and Morgan Pettersson

"Most of these songs were up for 'covering' at some earlier point in my career. The SANDRA song was destined for the cancelled ROUTE NINE full-length album. 'Eyes Of The World' was demoed once before for a cancelled NIGHTINGALE EP where we all recorded one song each and played all instruments too. 'At the Gallows End' and 'Lost Horizons' were both candidates for the cover of choice for 'Until Eternity Ends' until I accidentally stumbled on 'Invisible Sun' and felt a 'black album' treatment of that would be a far more original choice ('Lost Horizons' was also covered by MEMENTO MORI at the same time..same label)

"There is also a new unnamed project in the works. I have begun to throw ideas around with Ragnar Widerberg (ex-SAINT DEAMON). The plan is that we will both take care of all instruments where it works the best. Musically, it's gonna be a mix of my writing for MOONTOWER/EDGE OF SANITY and BLOODBATH mixed with the insanity and 'ambience' of DIABOLICAL MASQUERADE and KARABOUDJAN/PAN THY MONIUM. It will be a concept album about the patients of a home for the criminally insane, located on Swanön!! I have a few ideas about incorporating multiple singers (both growl and clean) and try to keep the whole thing 'Crimson 1-ish' in terms of flow and variety. I might end up growling some myself too. I just have to plan my takes carefully and do like four lines a day, and then it should work.

"SECOND SKY will be completed on the 13th of December. I have already begun mixing and do some touch-ups. So far, so very fucking good!!"

Finnish progressive thrashers ABYSMALIA will shortly begin recording the upcoming third album, which is tentatively titled as Replenish Entirety. The recording process will take place at Oulu and it will be initiated during December. Aside the regular bandmembers (J. Koskela - A. Jylhä - M. Nikula), the recording will again contain contribution from few various visiting musicians who will be announced later on.

According to a band update, "the album itself will once again be a conceptual recording featuring familiar elements as well as few surprises here and there. It will contain dark soundscapes balanced with melodious choruses ... and pretty much everything in between. Depending on how badly we lose control in the studio, it will be a bit longer expedition than its predecessors; preproduction timer stopped at approximately 42 minutes. The tracklisting contains seven tracks once again. We are creatures of habit.

The tracklisting:
'The Inception Of Ire'
'Cruelty Inherent'
'Trapped Inside A Coil Of Illusions'
'Coma Receding'
'For The Redemption Of Our Woes'
'The Catharsis Verge'
'[interim] Coda'

Stay focused for further information about the recording process and the recording itself as well. We might be 'noble' enough (or the other way around) to provide you with senseless inanities along the road. If all events come together as planned, the final version will be available on early spring 2010. Up until then... it's working time."

Patrick Mameli (guitar, vocals) of the resurrected late '80s/early '90s death metal outfit PESTILENCE has issued the following update:

"As you all might know, the mighty Jeroen [Paul Thesseling, bass; OBSCURA] is back in the PESTILENCE camp!!! To make things even more interesting, we, PESTILENCE, are currently auditioning new drummers.

"We like to keep things top secret because we want to give everybody a fair chance. But things are getting gestalt now and ya'll be ready to be blown away pretty soon!!!

"We always like to stirrrr things up and come up with new combinations to keep the PESTILENCE style fresh!!

"Everybody knows/knew that the incredible Peter Wildoer [DARKANE], is and was a session drummer for the 'Resurrection Macabre' album. Now it's time for some new blood.

"We will always try to top our previous album...so we WILL find the next unhuman line up!"

Israel's progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND will release their highly anticipated fourth studio opus, "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR", in Europe on January 25, 2010 and in the U.S. on February 9 via Century Media Records. Mixed by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE, OPETH), who is also responsible for several keyboard parts on the new CD, the effort is a sophisticated concept album which takes ORPHANED LAND's unique brand of exotic, heavy music to soaring new heights in terms of complexity and catchiness.

Check out the "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" artwork (by Zen Two and Native) below.

Commented vocalist Kobi Farhi: "Even in the album’s artwork we combined Hebrew and Arabic, regardless of the fight between Jews and Muslims. I found a Jordanian guy, specialized in calligraphic artwork. He took letters from Hebrew and Arabic and moulded them in his art to create a symbol of peace. The whole artwork is mainly hand made as we are tired and a bit sick of too much Photoshop in many works. I truly believe that the work these guys did for us is something really special and we are very lucky to have it. You will soon see that simply every page of the album's booklet is a masterpiece!"

"The Oswald File", the new video from German metallers MOB RULES, can be viewed below. The clip is an edited version of the 18-minute-long epic which appears in six parts on the new MOB RULES album, "Radical Peace".

"Radical Peace" was released on November 13 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Bazement Studio with longtime engineer Markus Teske (VANDEN PLAS, SPOCK'S BEARD, OASIS). A single, "Astral Hand", preceded the full-length CD on October 9.

"Radical Peace" track listing:

01. Children Of The Flames
02. Trial By Fire
03. Warchild
04. Astral Hand
05. The Oswald File (Ethnolution II - A Matter Of Unnecessary Doubt)
- Chapter I (Prologue)
- Chapter II (Desperate Son)
- Chapter III (11:30 AM)
- Chapter IV (Unnecessary Doubt?)
- Chapter V (A Dead Man's Face)
- Chapter VI (Did You Reach The Sun?)
06. Waiting For The Sun
07. The Glance Of Fame

BURZUM mastermind Varg Vikernes (aka Count Grishnackh) has issued the following update:

"When I used the name "The White God" for my next album I had no idea it would stir up so much fear and irrational emotions. To me this is just a nickname of Baldur, whom the album is all about. No ambiguity intended. The truth is I announced the release of The White God at this early point to ease the pressure on the www.burzum.org host. He was getting tired of having to tell individuals contacting him that he didn't know when the next album would be due, what its name was going to be or anything else. With the article this problem was solved.

With a title including the word 'white' it apparently isn't possible to slip under the radar of the racist Western media. To take away their excuse to spread their anti-Varg/anti-Burzum hate-propaganda when (and before) the album is released I have decided to change the album title. These self-loathing fools have no interest in the music anyway, and because of that I don't want their attention - and I won't get it if I use a title that doesn't give them an excuse to attack me.

The new title of the album is, as you might have guessed from the title of this article, Belus, the so-called Indo-European name for Baldur/the White God. I could have used any European name for this deity, but I chose this one because it is the oldest known name and because it is pan-European.

Belus will be released on Byelobog Productions March-April next year, with eleven new tracks; nine metal tracks and an ambient intro and outro, and about 50-plus minutes of music (the long outro not included). The lyrics are all in Norwegian, but French and Russian translations will be available on Burzum.org asap - possibly even before the release of the album."