Guitarist Jakob Mølbjerg of Danish metallers MERCENARY has issued the following update:

"Well, well, changes that have been underway for a long time can sometimes come about in the blink of an eye.

"Last week, Mike [Park Nielsen, drums] told us that he wanted to leave the band permanently. The rest of us did some serious thinking and soul-searching, sat down and had 'the big talk' and came to the agreement that the only way to continue the band was to part ways with Mikkel [Sandager, vocals] and Morten [Sandager, keyboards] as well.

"During the last year we have been working on a new album and it has become clear that we no longer share the same vision and enthusiasm about the direction and the future of the band. Martin [Buus, lead guitar], René [Pedersen, bass/vocals], Mike and I wanted to play faster, heavier and more modern (yet old school) material, but for the band as a whole this evidently didn't work out.

"In many ways this is a painful choice. But it also allows us to close a chapter in the band's career and our shared lives, that we're all immensely proud off, in a dignified way that doesn't let ourselves or our fans down. Nobody would be better off if we released an album that we didn't all truly believe in and felt as fiercely passionate about as we have done about all of our past albums.

"Rest assured, however, that René, Martin and I will continue MERCENARY in the best way we possibly can and with a newfound sense of integrity and purpose. So far we have had an immensely fruitful songwriting process with lots of mutual inspiration, understanding, synergy — and most importantly — good, plain, old-fashioned fun, which is what it all ought to be about. We feel that we’re finally all in agreement about the future direction of the band and that this will be the strongest and most united incarnation of MERCENARY ever. In terms of creativity, motivation and the everyday-practical-getting-shit-done-aspects, the band remains fully intact. The new MERCENARY will be back to shatter everybody's balls in 2010.

"On behalf of all of the guys, we'd like to give our most humble and sincere thanks to all the fans, bands, press, promoters and others who have supported us throughout the years and made this one hell of a damn fine ride. As a final nod from the old incarnation of MERCENARY to the fans, we've included a video [see below] from our tour with ARCH ENEMY, where Mikkel joined them on stage in Italy for the track 'Burning Angel' as this tour and this experience was in many ways the highlight of what we managed to achieve together."

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 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.

Commented vocalist Kobi Farhi: "As people that were born into the tragedy of our region, we have always been devoted to creating harmony between conflicts, a musical heaven on earth, a tango between God and Satan. 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. Same goes for our band photo, where we portrayed a synergy between the three monotheistic religions that believe in the same God and yet ridiculously have been killing each other for centuries 'in the name of God' and turned the holy land into an orphaned land. Naturally, we continued this idea of union on a musical level as well and the result is as always crazy, it's a miracle — in our concerts: our Jewish fans sing in Arabic and our Muslim fans sing in Hebrew, brave friendships have spawned and our Middle Eastern metal music destroys all this political witchcraft we have been trapped in for so long. This is a musical journey of hope in lands of war, creating heaven on earth, building a new Jerusalem."

An audio teaser for "The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR" is available for streaming on the band's official web site.

Revisions is the title of THREE’s latest work and, as described by the band, is a collection that “taps the rich history of 3 by re-examining some of the earlier songs that made us who we are today. Some of them are known from early live bootlegs, others existed only on cassette and were transferred to the internet by dedicated fans. In any event, these are songs that we felt deserved a second chance, a “revision” if you will. Our passion for music is truly the common thread that binds our diverse body of work.”

Check out the brand new song ‘Halloween’ HERE!

THREE just filmed a brand new video for the song Rabid Animals with the help of their fans who participated to the video shooting interactively. Click HERE for some impressions.

Tracklisting "Revisions" (cover):

1. Anyone Human
2. Rabid Animals
3. The Better Half Of Me
4. Automobile
5. Why
6. Lexicon Of Extremism
7. Fable
8. You´ve Been Shot
9. Halloween
10. The Emerald Undertow
11. The Game

‘Revisions’ will be available everywhere on October 26!

Audio samples of all the tracks that appear on "Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus", the new album from Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL, can be streamed here.

"Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus" will be released on November 18 via Regain Records. The CD was recorded at Abyss Studio in Grangärde, Sweden with famed engineer and legendary producer Peter Tägtgren (PAIN, HYPOCRISY). Nine songs are featured on the effort, which is being described in a press release as "the band's most technical and varied album to date. And while still being true to their roots, they have taken a great step forward in the evolution of their brand of fine Swedish black metal. 'Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus' is, from the very beginning to the end, a hell ride you simply don't want to miss!"

Video footage of U.K. doom metal legends MY DYING BRIDE performing the song "Vast Choirs" at the Hellfire II festival on November 8, 2009 at the NEC in Birmingham, England can be viewed here.

MY DYING BRIDE's new EP, "Bring Me Victory", was released on October 26 via Peaceville Records. The CD was recorded at Futureworks studio in Manchester.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Bring Me Victory
02. Scarborough Fair
03. Failure (THE SWANS cover)
04. Vast Choirs (live at Graspop Metal Meeting 2008)

MY DYING BRIDE recently parted ways with violinist/keyboardist Katie Stone and replaced her with Shaun Macgowan.

The band's latest full-length album, "For Lies I Sire", was released on March 23 via Peaceville Records. The follow-up to 2006's "A Line of Deathless Kings" was recorded with longtime producer Mags.

The reunited South Florida death/thrash metal band SOLSTICE will release its new album, "To Dust", on November 24 via CDBaby. 11 songs were laid down during the sessions for the CD, including a cover of an old song by the Miami progressive metallers CYNIC.

"To Dust" (cover) track listing:

01. Black
02. To Dust
03. Honest Human Emotion
04. Conclusion Disillusion
05. Sovereignty
06. Swarm
07. Moment of Clarity
08. Passionless
09. Extremes (CYNIC cover)
10. Impressive Technology
11. The Whisper

SOLSTICE was formed in 1990 by guitarist Dennis Munoz and drummer Alex Marquez with vocalist/guitarist Rob Barrett (CANNIBAL CORPSE, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION, HATEPLOW) and bassist Dave Smith. In 1991 they recorded a demo produced by legendary producer Jim Morris. In 1992, their debut album "The Sentencing" was recorded but due to internal problems the band broke up the following year. Barrett and Marquez would go on to join MALEVOLENT CREATION. In 1994 Munoz and Marquez played with a hardcore band called ANGER and in 1995 SOLSTICE was reformed with a new lineup. A second album titled "Pray" was released but they soon disbanded once again.

Current SOLSTICE lineup:

Christian Rudes: Guitars, vocals
Dennis Munoz: Guitars
Brian Harris: Drums
Garrett Scott: Bass

Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have issued the following update:

"The recording session of 'Pentagrammaton' [the new ENTHRONED album] has started! The drums are almost finished and I must say that Garghuf (ex-GORGOROTH) is doing an amazing job!! 'Pentagrammaton' is on the way to give you one of ENTHRONED's best releases!"

According to ENTHRONED, "The concept of 'Pentagrammaton' will deal with lived fact through Satanism and the occult and the musical direction is the logic[al] fellow-up to 'Tetra Karcist' [2007] with some elements of albums such as 'Prophecies Of Pagan Fire' [1995] and 'Towards The Skullthrone Of Satan' [1997]."

"Pentagrammaton" is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2010 via Regain Records.

ENTHRONED recently parted ways with Nguaroth (guitar) and Ahephaim (drums) and replaced them with Neraath and Garghuf, respectively.

"Epitaph", the latest videofrom ANTIMATTER, can be viewed here.The clip was directed by Fethi Karaduman. The track comes off the band's 2005 album, "Planetary Confinement".

ANTIMATTER is the U.K. project whose recording/touring lineup has included current and former members of ANATHEMA. The group's fourth album, "Leaving Eden", was released in April 2007.

After Duncan Patterson left the band in 2005, Mick Moss gathered a number of guest musicians around him — among others Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) — to record the most depressive and heaviest album of ANTIMATTER's discography. This is attested by the dynamics of "Leaving Eden", the increased use of electric guitars and forceful drumming.

Guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH has issued the following update:

"I just got back home from Tel Aviv, Israel where we had an amazing show! Loved it! We played a bit funky (not as in swinging, more as in a bit 'shit'), but it was alright. Crowd was AWESOME! Loud, big and steaming HOT!

"On top of things, downing a few cold beers on the beach around midnight in 22 degrees celcius is NOT bad, when it's November, and you're...Swedish.

"Yuri (promoter) took great care of us. I even had red roses in my room and a little plate of fruit plus two showers. It was extravagant. I felt like a fatter, uglier and less talented Mariah Carey.

"Anyways, we also just recently finished the Progressive Nation Euro tour with our buddies DREAM THEATER, BIGELF and UNEXPECT. It was a great nice tour and we had many good shows. I can't say which one was the best, but it was certainly amazing to play Hovet in our hometown [Stockholm]. It's where we all used to go and see metal shows in the '80s. Love that place, but I admit, when we're up there, I was feeling like.... 'OK, whatever.' It was like any stage, really. Wembley arena was cool too. Spektrum in Oslo, that place in Rome. Ahoy in Rotterdam....several kick-ass venues and several kickass crowds.

"I was struggling in the beginning to get past the few yawning DREAM THEATER front row fans who didn't give a fuck about us. But with time I managed to shake it off and deliver pretty much every night. We did well, I think. We recorded all the shows and listened back to them afterwards. We're at a level now where the difference between what we feel is a 'killer' show and a 'bad' show is almost not hearable. Yes, I'm boasting, but fuck man, we're quite consistent now, I think.

"Nice to finally hook up with BIGELF. I feel they're my boys now, brothers. Damon, Ace, Duffy and Froth! Amazing people, amazing band! Hope we can do something together again! Loved them since the first EP.

"UNEXPECT were a lovely bunch of people too and we hung out with them almost every night, for a beer or two. Great people and fucking intense band, I have to say.

"And DREAM THEATER, of course. [Mike] Portnoy [DREAM THEATER drummer] is now a buddy of mine, I have to say. I love the guy. He's got a finger in every fucking pie and his brain must be overheating on a daily basis. That's a man who's got a big heart and a overwhelming interest in music. Just made everyone feel comfortable. He even saved five copies of the Swedish show poster for us since we 'might want to save it.' Sweet! BUT I have to take credit for kicking his ass in rock trivia. Yet, I was shitfaced, so he might not share my opinion.

"The other guys [from DREAM THEATER] are cool too, of course. Spoke more to [John] Myung [DREAM THEATER bassist] than before and he proves to be supercool. [John] Petrucci was fucking nice, too, as always. He jammed with Fredrik [Åkesson, OPETH guitarist], but you know... two widdy woo freaks showing some scales and practise runs does little to grasp my attention. He asked me to show some licks and I said 'Don't know any!' Haha! He's a cool cat though!

"All in all, it was a great tour! Obviously we had the whole shit with the crash but we're over it by now. Other than that it was all hunky dory!

"Food was great, too. We had a catering service travelling with us and they're feeding us three times a day. Gave them a bottle of wine afterwards to say cheerio!

"Back home again for three days or so, then it's Japan and Oz! Can't wait. Well, to be honest, I fucking HATE those flights....but the shows will be fun. And I'll go record shopping in Shinjuku, for sure!

"Wife and kids are good, even though Melinda [daughter] recently had a high fever and Mirjam [other daughter] vomited for a whole day. They're good now though.

"Well, that's it! 'Efterlyst' is on the telly now so I gotta go watch some criminals in action."

Long-running German death metallers RESURRECTED will release their sixth album, "Fierce", before the end of the year via Metal Age Productions. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge studios in Rhauderfehn, Germany with Jörk Uken (GOD DETHRONED, OBSCENITY). The band states, "We're overwhelmed by the result. Expect the most varied and vital RESURRECTED album so far embedded in an awesome production including some guest vocals of Christoph Mieves from GRIND INC."

The "Fierce" cover artwork was created by Björn Gosses of Killustrations (VOMITORY, LAY DOWN ROTTEN, SEVERE TORTURE) and can be viewed below.

"Fierce" track listing:

01. New Reign Rising
02. Gun Shot Victim
03. Tortured By Deities
04. Mental Retardation
05. Urge To Murder
06. Slumdog...
07. Perverse Consecration
08. Divine Masturbation
09. Day Of Suffering (MORBID ANGEL cover)
10. Hindsight

The track "Urge To Murder" is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

RESURRECTED's fifth album, "Endless Sea of Loss", was released in October 2006 via Morbid Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Blood Spilled" was recorded at Soundlodge Studio in Germany and was mastered at Megawimp Mastering Studio in Berlin.

KOTTAK (formerly KRUNK), the band featuring singer/songwriter/guitarist Jimmy Ratchitt (a.k.a. former KINGDOM COME and current SCORPIONS drummer James Kottak) and his wife Athena (sister of MÖTLEY CRÜE's Tommy Lee) on drums, has posted a new song, "Daddy You Are My Star", on the group's MySpace page.

Athena wrote the lyrics and Jimmy Ratchitt composed the music to the track, which will appear on KOTTAK's upcoming CD, "Scream With Me".

Athena dedicated this song to her father, David, who was a Korean War veteran and who served the United States of America proudly for 20-plus years.

KOTTAK posted "Daddy You Are My Star" early as a special "thank-you" to all of the U.S. veterans and their families.

KOTTAK also includes Johnny Lucas on lead guitar and Price Vernon on bass.

With their debut CD, "Greatist Hits" [sic], and critically acclaimed follow-up CD, "Therupy", KOTTAK established itself as more than just a band with a spelling problem. Several tours of Japan, Europe, Mexico, and countless West Coast runs have yielded a reputation as a rock solid act.

Produced by Tommy Henriksen (DAUGHTRY, B.C. JEAN), "Scream With Me" is slated for release in early 2010.

BELTFED WEAPON, the Seattle-based band featuring former members of HIRAX, ANGEL DUST and DEMONS & WIZARDS, has released a new EP entitled "Peacekeeper".

The track listing for the CD (cover) is as follows:

01. Peacekeeper
02. Terrorist Scum
03. Piss On Your Grave
04. Multiple Shots Fired
05. The Brutalizer

BELTFED WEAPON is:

Ilan Jones - Vocals
Frank Hetzel - Guitar
Nick Seelinger - Drums
Ritchie Wilkison - Lead Guitar
Ben Layland - Bass

"Day And Then The Shade", the new video from Sweden's KATATONIA, can be viewed here. The clip was directed by Lasse Hoile, who has previously worked with OPETH and PORCUPINE TREE, among others. The song comes off the band's eighth studio album, "Night Is The New Day", which was released in Europe on November 2 and in North America on November 10 via Peaceville Records.

A mini-site for "Night Is The New Day" can be accessed at this location. It includes audio samples, downloads, album information, interviews, art gallery plus exclusive previously unseen studio diaries from the recording session.

"Night Is The New Day" track listing:

01. Forsaker
02. The Longest Year
03. Idle Blood
04. Onward Into Battle
05. Liberation
06. The Promise Of Deceit
07. Nephilim
08. New Night
09. Inheritance
10. Day And Then The Shade
11. Ashen *
12. Departer

* Swedish-edition CD and vinyl-edition bonus track

"Night Is The New Day" is the long-awaited new studio album of transcendental, atmospheric rock and metal, exploring the darker corners of audial melancholy. It was recorded throughout July 2009 and was co-produced, engineered and mixed by David Castillo. A continuation of the heaviness, depth and atmosphere of their previous album, "Night Is The New Day" is also a more multi-dimensional effort — waltzing between prog moments, doom, folk & the classic melodic anthems that are the staple of KATATONIA's uncompromising sound, completed by the haunting tones of Jonas Renkse's vocal journeys of urban and emotional decay. Cover art once again comes courtesy of Travis Smith (KATATONIA, OPETH, NOVEMBRE) and continues the stylistic identity established so effectively since "The Great Cold Distance".

Germany's ATROCITY is recording a new CD which is described as "a project album" featuring frontman Alex Krull's sister Yasmin.

The collaboration with Yasmin began on ATROCITY's 1994 "Blut" album, where Alex's sister contributed guest vocals. In 1995 the mystical and very special ATROCITY FEATURING YASMIN "Calling The Rain" mini-album was released, and it became a success. "Calling The Rain" contained mainly acoustic songs and represented a complete musical departure for what was primarily known as a death metal band at that time. As no other group was playing that kind of music, it was simply dubbed "ethno metal." "A funny name for creating a kind of metal nobody had a name for," says Alex. "As we are a metal act and playing with Yasmin songs influenced by ethno and world music, it's OK to me, although I don't like categories."

ATROCITY's last collaboration with Yasmin came in the shape of the "Desert Land" song for the first Orkus compilation in 1999. Since then, fans have demanded a new official release from ATROCITY featuring Yasmin.

The recording process for the new ATROCITY CD is in full swing and drummer Seven Antonopoulos has already completed his drum tracks. He utilized a significant number of different percussion instruments during the sessions. Seven states, "I really had fun tracking this record. Nowadays records are so over-produced and slick-sounding. It was nice to get in the studio and use organic drum sounds as well as a ton of percussion instruments.

"A couple years ago I started experimenting with different kinds of percussion. On this record I used a cajon on almost all the tunes as well as congas, bongos, timbales and all kinds of rhythm tech shakers and tambourines. Again, it was so refreshing to utilize natural instruments in a recording situation.

"I think the fans will be taken by the whole vibe and mood of the tracks.

"This was my first time to work with Yasmin. She has a great voice and it was a real treat to see how she interpreted the songs."

ATROCITY's "Beauty & The Beast" tour — which also features LEAVES' EYES, ELIS, SIRENIA and STREAM OF PASSION — will kick off on November 13 in Lichtenfels, Germany.

Swiss noise-mongers KRUGER will release their fourth album, "For Death, Glory And The End Of The World", in February 2010 via Listenable Records. The CD was recorded at Déclanché studio in Yverdon, Switzerland. The drum-tracking sessions were scheduled to take three days before the band was to move back to its hometown of Lausanne to lay down the guitar, bass and vocals.

The "For Death, Glory And The End Of The World" artwork can be seen here. The band states, "Connoisseurs and art students will unmask the shameful theft of Jérôme Bosch' 'Jardin des délices', which fits the heaviness epic character of this new piece pretty well."

KRUGER's third album "Redemption through Looseness" was mixed at Godcity Recordings by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, CAVE IN, OLD MAN GLOOM) and mastered by Alan Douches (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, NILE, MASTODON). It was released in 2007 in Europe and North America via Listenable Records.

French dark death metal band BLOODY SIGN will release its third full-length album, "Chaos Echoes", in December via Blood Harvest Records. A digisleeve version for the U.S. market will follow in February 2010 through Ibex Moon Records. The LP version will be made available in the spring (also through Blood Harvest), featuring different artwork and new layout.

"Chaos Echoes" was recorded at DownTown Studio in Strasbourg with Didier Houbre and was mixed at Rape Of Harmonies in Germany by Angel Of Disease.

According to a press release, fan can "expect death metal darkness voyage from the deepest caves of the earth to the last cosmic black holes; roots of extreme metal hermetism and black psychedelism, dealing about the magical links between music, death, primal elements, spirits, myths, ancient surrealistic rituals… and rock'n'roll!"

All artwork, cover, layout, logo was created by Stefan Thanneur. The band says, "We are really proud to work with someone who really captured our feelings, who really felt this album in its essence, and this artwork is really linked to this entire album atmosphere, and the understanding between each other is deep. Beware the disturbing nightmares!"

"Chaos Echoes" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Chord Temple
03. Down To Hell
04. For The Unknown
05. Voice From The Depths (bass interlude)
06. The Call
07. Primordial Sound
08. Symphony Of Bones (drum interlude)
09. Words Of Death
10. Khordê's Funerals (guitar interlude)
11. Tongues Of Shadows
12. Outro

BLOODY SIGN's second full-length CD, "Explosion Of Elements", was released in April 2007 on Ibex Moon Records.

Drummer Antoine Baril has announced his departure from the Montreal progressive death metal act AUGURY. He says, "Some personal and professional reasons made multiple touring impossible for me at the moment." He adds, "I wish all the best for AUGURY because those wonderful guys are making incredibly good music. I will never forget those memorable shows and I would like to thank everyone for their support on the road everywhere we've been on tour."

For AUGURY's upcoming tour with VADER, drummer Robin "Frog" Stone from Australian industrial metal mad scientists THE AMENTA will take over the drum throne. AUGURY states, "He is a very tight and skilled drummer, having learned our set in a matter of hours."

AUGURY already has a new drummer "ready" in Montreal for the upcoming tours. His identity will be revealed soon.

AUGURY's first new album in five years, "Fragmentary Evidence", was released internationally on Nuclear Blast and has been licensed for release at home in Canada through Goodfellow/Sonic Unyon.

Fan-filmed video footage of AUGURY's Canadian CD-release show on August 15, 2009 at Club Soda in Montreal, Quebec can be viewed at this location. One of the clips is available below.

"Fragmentary Evidence" was produced by Hugues Deslauriers (CLEARWATER DEATHBLOW), Yannick St-Amand (DESPISED ICON) and AUGURY, and was mixed by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais (MISERY INDEX, DESPISED ICON, MALEVOLENT CREATION). It was mastered by James Murphy (DEATH, OBITUARY, DISINCARNATE). The artwork and layout was handled by Sven de Caluwé (ABORTED). The CD features guest vocals by Sven de Caluwé (ABORTED, SYSTEM DIVIDE), Syriak and Leilindel (UNEXPECT), Youri Raymond (CRYPTOPSY, UNHUMAN), Sébastien Croteau (NECROTIC MUTATION), Filip Ivanovic (AGONY) and Eric Fiset (OBSCENE CRISIS, NERVOUS IMPULSE).

AUGURY was described in a recent Nuclear Blast press release as "a band for all the fans out there who like their music really progressive! Think NECROPHAGIST meets DREAM THEATER meets OPETH, but with lots of other influences as well! What you should do is to check out the amazingly cool bass playing by Forest!! Their new album . . . contains some of the most versatile musicianship you will ever hear! Canada has always delivered some cool technical and progressive bands and AUGURY is a prime example for this! Their new songs . . . blew us away and there was only one logical thing for us to do — sign them!"

ROCK, the Finnish band featuring members of TWILIGHTNING, LULLACRY and MALPRACTICE, has posted a new song entitled "Bye Bye" to the group's MySpace page.

According to the band's official bio, ROCK is "a mix of music played by the evil big brothers of THE RASMUS or when MÖTLEY CRUE plays BACKSTREET BOYS. . . They are not just rock, but a touch of metal, pop and even elements of dance music."

ROCK's debut album is almost finished and band is currently searching for a manager and record label.

ROCK is:

Heikki Pöyhiä (TWILIGHTNING) - Vocals
Sami Vauhkonen (LULLACRY) - Guitar
Anssi Kippo (producer for CHILDREN OF BODOM, NORTHER) - Bass
Toni Paananen (MALPRACTICE, REVERSION) - Drums

The original lineup of the Bakersfield, California rock band ADEMA — Marky Chavez (vocals), David Deroo (bass), Tim Fluckey (guitar), Mike Ransom (guitar), and Kris Kohls (drums) — will play its first live show in over five years on January 14, 2010 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Also on the bill will be THE PAIN, featuring members of DOWNSET, MANHOLE, TURA SATANA and DRUNK WITH POWER.

ADEMA is currently putting together its first-ever DVD, due early next year. The set will contain material from the group's original lineup and will feature "tons of hard-to-find, rare and never-before-seen footage, including videos, live and rehearsal footage, TV appearances, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of [the albums] 'Adema' [2001] and 'Unstable' [2003]." The band adds, "We're not sure EXACTLY what will be on it as we are working on clearances, etc., but expect it to be nothing short of awesome."

ADEMA's latest album, "Kill the Headlights", was released in August 2007 via Immortal Records. The CD was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Marshall Altman (MARC BROUSSARD, ZEBRAHEAD). Mastering duties were handled by Eddie Schreyer at Oasis Mastering in Burbank.

ADEMA in 2006 announced the addition of vocalist Bobby Reeves of the Los Angeles-based band LEVEL to the group's ranks. Reeves joined ADEMA as the replacement for Luke Caraccioli, who left the band in October 2005 — only six months after the release of their first album ("Planets") without the contributions of Chavez.

Austrian extreme metallers MASTIC SCUM will release their new album, "Dust", on November 13 via Twilight Distribution. 12 songs were recorded for the effort, which was mixed at Grindlab Studio and mastered by Jacob Hansen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, ABORTED, HATESPHERE). Artwork for the CD (see here) was created by Killustrations (SIX FEET UNDER, KATAKLYSM, AMON AMARTH).

An e-card for "Dust" can be found at this location. Watch a trailer for the CD here.

"Dust" track listing:

01. Ashes To Dust
02. Construcdead
03. The Consciousness In A State Of Mind
04. Regression
05. Dead Remains
06. The Sufferage
07. Blood For Blood
08. Revelation Of Mankind
09. A Life For A Lie
10. Adrenaline 2.0
11. The Will To Kill
12. Extinction

The song "Construcdead" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

MASTIC SCUM recently parted ways with vocalist Will due to "musical differences" and replaced him with Maggo Wenzel (INZEST, TRISTWOOD, WATCH ME BLEED).

In 2007, MASTIC SCUM celebrated its 15th anniversary by issuing "The EPs Collection 1993-2002" via Power It Up/Twilight. This CD includes all of the band's vinyl releases plus two bonus tracks. This was MASTIC SCUM's 17th release since the band's inception in 1992.

Former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske has teamed up with Dennis Ward (bass) and Kosta Zafiriou (drums) of Germany's PINK CREAM 69 in a brand new project dubbed UNISONIC. Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer, who has previously played with ASIA, GOTTHARD and KROKUS, completes the group's lineup.

UNISONIC marks the first time Kiske has been involved in a real band situation in almost 16 years. Having split with HELLOWEEN in late 1993, he participated in various projects and released several solo albums but had not been part of a real group effort until now.

While collaborating with Ward and Zafiriou on the PLACE VENDOME project four years ago, Kiske found two musical soulmates. They ended up recording two PLACE VENDOME albums before deciding to join forces in a new brand new band. Ward, who had previously produced a record for KROKUS, suggested Meyer as the perfect addition to the group in the vacant guitarist slot.

Sharing the vision of a rock band free of any musical limitations, the quartet has already started writing songs for its debut album, which is scheduled for release in late spring.

Kiske, one of the finest and most unique voices in contemporary rock music, explains his motivation of becoming a part of a band again: "Since the PLACE VENDOME productions I was impressed by Dennis Ward's skills as a songwriter and producer. We were occasionally fooling around since then via email that we should do more together in the future, so the idea came up to do a new band. I was generally getting a bit tired of doing everything on my own for so many years, so it just felt like the right thing to do now. We can all only benefit from working together. No matter how good you are solo, four people will always be better than one, I think, if they manage to function together. And a real band is also a very good reason to finally go on tour again. After 17 years, I can't wait to get back on stage and have some fun with the band and the fans!"

In the summer of 2010, UNISONIC will hit the festival stages all over Europe. Dates in other territores are also planned.

Dutch folk metal six-piece HEIDEVOLK has entered S&K Studio in Doetinchem, Holland with Dick Kemper to begin recoding the band's new album for an early 2010 release. 11 songs are being laid down during the sessions "ranging from epic and solemn folk tunes to brutal and merciless metal riffs," according to a press release.

HEIDEVOLK's last album, "Walhalla Wacht", was released in 2008 via Napalm Records.

According to the band's official bio, HEIDEVOLK's music "can best be described as pounding and blistering metal combined with epic and melodic folk music. The band features two clean vocalists and incorporates folk instruments such as mouth harp, violin and blowing horns in its songs. All songs are in their native tongue."