"No Sacrifice, No Victory", the new album from Swedish melodic metallers HAMMERFALL, has been certified gold in the band's home country for sales in excess of 20,000 copies.

Says guitarist Oscar Dronjak: "This was a very welcome wake-up call in Bamberg, where we're playing tonight. This is the sweetest of the gold albums we have gotten so far, we all believed so hard in this new album and line-up and it's great to see such results. Sacrifices have been made, and now victory is attained!"

Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Sweden has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach gold status in the country twice in the last seven years — from the pre-2002 level of 40,000 to the current 20,000.

A guitar previously owned by Ralph Santolla (OBITUARY, DEICIDE, DEATH, ICED EARTH) is currently being auctioned via eBay. All proceeds will go to the family of DECAPITATED singer Adrian "Covan" Kowanek, who was seriously injured on November 2, 2007 in a Russian road collision.

Commented Ralph: "As most people know, the drummer for DECAPITATED, Vitek, lost his life in an auto accident while on tour in November 2007. His singer, Covan, was seriously injured. He has a very long road to recovery ahead of him, and he and his family face enormous medical costs. At the end of the Winterfest tour [featuring DEICIDE, VADER, SAMAEL and DEVIAN], we gave Vitek's brother, Wacek (Waclaw 'Vogg' Kieltyka; guitarist for VADER), a Jackson Randy Rhoads 24-fret guitar that was signed by the entire tour. This guitar will be auctioned to raise money for Covan and his family. This guitar was used on DEICIDE's 'Till Death Do Us Part' album, OBITUARY's 'Left to Die' EP and many, many tours and festivals. It's also an amazing instrument. This guitar has seen more of the world than you! Please do whatever you can to support this cause!"

Finnish metallers GLORIA MORTI have issued the following update:

"After 10 years as the band's drummer, Jarmo [Juurikka] has decided to leave the group due to personal reasons. There is no grudge between him and the other members. GLORIA MORTI is now in progress of finding a new drummer.

"There has been very few updates conserning the upcoming album and we apologize for this. Things may look quiet but even as we speak, [Juho] Räihä's kettles are boiling with some really nasty shit, and unnerving shrieks and wails are carrying out of his guitar cabinet.

"Expect the very worst humanity has to offer.

GLORIA MORTI is currently working on the follow-up to the band's second album, "Eryx", which was released last year through Stay Heavy Records in Finland and Cyclone Empire Records in the rest of Europe.

Dutch death/thrash metal act DETONATION has issued the following update:

"New songs are what we'll be focusing on the upcoming period. We have a fair amount of new material finished and will most likely hit the studios next month to record a couple of new songs. These recordings will mainly be to see how the new songs and lineup work out in the studios, but if they turn out well, we might put something on MySpace as well."

DETONATION has just completed a U.K. tour with British band BLOODSHOT DAWN. DETONATION writes, "We had a blast in the U.K. during the past week! Despite two shows being canceled we did have a couple a very nice shows and one hell of a good time. Major thanks go out to the guys from BLOODSHOT DAWN, especially to Josh, who have been so kind to accommodate us, help us book the shows and support us on every one of them! Thanks, as well, to all other bands that supported us as well as everyone that showed up on the show, we hoped you guys enjoyed the new songs!"

The group's's latest effort, "Emission Phase", was released on April 30, 2007. The CD was recorded with Split Second Sound's Jochem Jacobs (also guitar player for TEXTURES) and Bouke Visser. The cover artwork was created by Eliran Kantor.

Greek old-school thrashers SUICIDAL ANGELS have issued the following update:

"SUICIDAL ANGELS are happy to report that everything rolled well and the new album recording sessions are now over! The band entered the studio on Thursday, March 5th and spent two weeks recording the successor to their debut album, 'Eternal Domination' (2007), in a nice little town near Munich, Germany. Under the watchful eyes of producer R.D. Liapakis and sound engineer Christian Schmid, SUICIDAL ANGELS blew life into 11 fast and technical thrash tunes, paying the utmost attention in being as professional as possible, regarding the recording procedure."

Comments Tim (guitars): "The new tracks combine speed, aggression and thought-provoking lyrics that we hope will please all thrash fans. The new album will come out soon and we can’t wait to hit the road to present it to all thrash maniacs out there."

Nick (vocals/guitars) adds: "We’ve tried hard to create some good thrash songs that will make heads bang! Our cooperation with R.D. Liapakis was perfect and the songs already sound great, even though no mixing or mastering have taken place yet. We are really happy about everything and are eagerly waiting to get the final master on our hands!"

Billboard.com reports that the bulk of NIRVANA's catalog is set for a high-fidelity do-over this year as the Original Recordings Group (ORG) prepares to release "Nevermind", "In Utero", and "MTV Unplugged" on 180-gram, audiophile quality vinyl for the first time ever. All three records will be released in 2009, with "Nevermind" coming first, said Monti Olson, a senior VP of Universal Music Publishing Group/Interscope Records and founder of ORG.

"Bernie Grubman remastered the recordings specifically for us," Olson said. "To our knowledge this is the first time "Unplugged" has ever come out on vinyl. They might have done a limited promotional thing but I doubt it."

"Losing You", the first official video from DEAD BY APRIL, the Swedish "pop/metal" act featuring former members of NIGHTRAGE, BY NIGHT, EVILDOER, MINDFALL and DEATHDESTRUCTION, can be viewed here.

DEAD BY APRIL's first album was produced by Henrik Edenhed, who has previously worked with ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ and THE SOUNDS. A spring/summer release via Universal Music Sweden is expected.

According to the group's official bio, "DEAD BY APRIL is a collaboration between some free-spirited, like-minded musicians. It has evolved from just being a project to a full-time band in a very short amount of time."

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "To The Nines", the new album from Danish thrashers HATESPHERE, are available at JPC.de.

"To The Nines" will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

March 25 - Finland, Spain
March 27 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, France, Italy, Sweden
March 30 - Rest of Europe
April 7 - USA, Canada

The CD was recorded over a nine-day period Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST).

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. To The Nines
02. Backstabber
03. Cloaked In Shit
04. Clarity
05. Even If It Kills Me
06. Commencing A Campaign
07. The Writing's On The Wall
08. In The Trenches
09. Aurora
10. Oceans Of Blood

METALLICA's web site has been updated with the following message:

"We've got another one of those groovy CD single collector's packs in the works for you and next up from 'Death Magnetic' is 'Broken, Beat & Scarred'. Just like when 'All Nightmare Long' came out, you can pick up just the single CD or go for one of the digipacks and collect 'em all starting April 3.

"The digi-collectors edition will be available all over Europe and the CD 'maxi' single will be available in South America and Southeast Asia. For our friends in Australia and New Zealand, we will have more info for you later, to everyone in North America please check your favorite import store/sites.

"All the live tracks were recorded in London at the O2 Arena on September 15, 2008 at the 'Death Magnetic' release event."

CD 1 Digipack (With two clear trays to allow additional CDs)

* Broken, Beat & Scarred
* Broken, Beat & Scarred (live)
* End Of The Line (live)

CD 2 J Card (To be collected and to insert into CD 1)

* Broken, Beat & Scarred
* Stone Cold Crazy (live)
* Of Wolf And Man (live)

DVD Single (To be collected and to insert into CD 1)

* Broken, Beat & Scarred - Promo Video
* The Day That Never Comes - Promo Video
* Death Magnetic EPK (Electronic Press Kit - running time - 17:25)

CD Maxi Single

* Broken, Beat & Scarred
* Broken, Beat & Scarred (live)
* End Of The Line (live)
* Stone Cold Crazy (live)
* Of Wolf And Man (live)

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR will release their new album, "16.6", in Europe on May 22 and in the U.S. on June 7 via Frontiers Records.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
02. Riding The Eagle
03. Six Times Dead (16.6)
04. Black Rain
05. Under The Radar
06. 5.0 / Torn
07. Soar
08. Killbound
09. No Smoke Without Fire
10. Night After Night
11. Smith & Wesson
12. The Exorcist
13. Hands Of Time

Limited edition bonus tracks:

14. Cry Havoc
15. Scream
16. Six Times Dead (16.6) (video)

Japanese bonus track:

17. No Smoke Without Fire (remix)

"16.6: (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)" was recorded at House Of Music studios in Winterbach, Germany with Dennis Ward and Achim Köhler. The CD marks the group's first release with guitarist Magnus Karlsson (ALLEN/LANDE, STARBREAKER), who replaced Stefan Leibing last year. Returning guitarist Henny Wolter and Karlsson participated in the songwriting and pre-production, which took place at Karlsson's Stuntguitar Studio in Sweden. The band spent four weeks at House Of Music recording the effort, which was mastered by Ted Jensen at the Sterling Sound in New York City.

During a recent interview with German magazine Rock Hard, former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske was asked if there was any truth to the rumor that he was asked to join IRON MAIDEN after Bruce Dickinson left the group back in the early 1990s. "The rumor was complete false!" Kiske said. "Nobody asked me to join them. I only heard that on TV and I didn't know anything about it. I think this rumor came from an interview where Steve Harris (IRON MAIDEN bassist) mentioned to a French magazine that he could imagine only three singers in IRON MAIDEN and I was one of them. They [MAIDEN] also had the same management [as HELLOWEEN]. That's all".

Guitarist Lord Ahriman of the Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL has issued the following update:

"Chaq Mol [guitar] and I are still hard at work on a pre-production for the new full-length album at my (yet-unnamed) home studio. The songwriting process is moving along just fine, perhaps not as fast as I could hope, but new and killer songs are at finally beginning to take some real shape. And it all sounds totally fucking KILLER (of course!).

"At this point, we have the core for six songs completed, and another two under progress.

"So far I haven't really got a more in depth or an overall picture of what we have written other than that it all sounds DARK FUNERAL in the flesh, but with more groove and variety then before. I have also a feeling that we have brought back a bit more of our melodic side aka 'Diabolis Interium' era, which was something I initially wanted for this album.

"Beside the über-melancholic Russian funeral symphony I told you about earlier, we will offer you a couple of more heavy songs this time around. And with that said, I think this may become our most varied album thus far.

"No exact date has been set when we will enter the Abyss Studio, but as soon as it's nailed in stone, we'll let you know, of course.

"I would also like to take this opportunity too to thank all of you who have written to me in response to a name for my home studio. Honestly, I didn't really expect any response to that at all, but apparently I was dead wrong. Damn, I've been overwhelmed with suggestions, some totally killer, while others, hmm, well, not so good… but I totally appreciate them all anyway. As you might have understood already, my main focus right now lies on getting the new album together, so I haven't had any time whatsoever to even think about a name for my home studio, but when I eventually do, I'll let you know, of course."

Lord Ahriman last month revealed that the new DARK FUNERAL album will be recorded with producer Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) at Peter's Abyss Studio. Lord Ahriman said, "I must say that I didn't really see this coming, but honestly, I am really looking forward to work with Peter again, and so are the other guys. It's has been some 8 years or so since we last worked together with Peter and recorded our 'Diabolis Interium' album. So it's sure about time to once again summon the demons that dwells deep within the Pärlby forest."

DARK FUNERAL recently obtained the rights to its back catalogue (including the publishing rights) — "The Secrets Of The Black Arts" (1996), "Vobiscum Satanas" (1998), "Teach Children To Worship Satan" (2000) and "Diabolis Interium" (2001) — following a lengthy legal battle with te band's previous record label, MNW/No Fashion Records.

Keyboardist Henrik "Lance" Klingenberg of the Finnish melodic metal band SONATA ARCTICA has issued the following update:

"So far we have about half of the [new SONATA ARCTICA] record in shape, so we're missing some songs, as usual. In April we start recording, and, as before, me and Tony [Kakko, vocals] are working at our home studios while the other guys record at more 'professional' studios, and by the end of May everything should be recorded and we're ready to mix and master. I know a lot of you are really eager to hear what the album sounds like and probably the speculations have already started on the forums, etc. I can only say that it's a bit darker and maybe not so complex as 'Unia'. Nevertheless, it's definitely not a back-to-the-roots album with fast power metal. All the trademark SONATA stuff is on there, solos, lots of singing some slower songs. Actually, I can hardly wait to hear how it turns out myself.

"Next fall we start to tour again, it will once again be a massive effort and going all over the world... at least once. We'll be starting the world tour in.....shit, I can't say that yet. Anyway, there'll be a lot of new places and even more of places we've already been to."

Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH are tracking guitars for their as-yet-untitled new album with Woytek and Slawek Wieslawscy from Studio Hertz.

Commented Woytek: "Works are in progress, everything is going just smooth. We get along real fine and I believe we found a killer tone for each guitar."

Added Woytek's brother Slawek: "It's been five days of recordings and we nailed three songs already. We[are] lay[ing] down three rhythm guitars on each side, sometimes even more."

He continued, "We use Mesa Boogie Road King, Sommatone and Diezel Herbert. First two amps are used by BEHEMOTH live so we are bringing some of this live vibe to the record too. Diezel is there just to spice up the overall sound…"

BEHEMOTH mainman Adam "Nergal" Darski stated: "This is the most relaxing and at the same time most creative studio session I've ever been a part of. These guys are very effective and they work incredibly fast! Both are very anal bout details, so now my guitars for the first time ever don't sound sloppy, haha. We found some fresh-sounding guitar tones and mixed it up together… I'm using this new custom amp Sommatone that was built for me in U.S. and it sounds just amazing! I'm a longtime Mesa Boogie fan, so I'm using Road King as a main sound. We mix it with Diezel Herbert. I'm sure there's some new quality made here!"

The drums for the follow-up to 2007's "The Apostasy" were recorded at Radio Gdansk studio in Poland with Daniel Bergstrand from Sweden's Dugout Productions (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES, DARK FUNERAL).

Nergal previously stated about the new material, "I must confess that I'm way more excited about this record than I was for 'The Apostasy'. It's probably the whole label situation that we had to deal back then, Inferno's injury that caused crazy deadlines that completely drained the energy out of my system… I even started treating that album as unwanted child. Weird, because from time perspective, it's a great one. This time though everything was planned much in advanced. I found time to live my life, get some energy back, get inspired and so on… When we met in October it was obvious that all of us were really hungry for making new music. It's definitely 100% BEHEMOTH. I would risk saying that we do have our own style but it's still improving, evolving in different directions every time we approach new project. Most of the songs are the really fast, technical and intense, at the same time there's a lot of diversity. There's even a very slow, massive song that's probably the most epic tracks in BEHEMOTH's history. Everything sounds more serious and…dangerous (I love that word, ha ha). There's probably more sinister vibe in our music this time too."

"Ezkaton", the latest EP from BEHEMOTH, sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 26 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

DRAGONFORCE, the British shredmasters supreme whose latest album, "Ultra Beatdown", charted strongly all over the world, have confirmed the ressue of their debut LP, "Valley Of The Damned", via Spinefarm Records.

This wonderfully explosive nine-tracker — set for U.K. release on May 24 — proved that the band's signature style (expansive material, soaring vocals, guitar pyrotechnics) was very much in place from day one, with songs such as "Black Fire", "Disciples Of Babylon" and the title track itself showing a band both ambitious and accomplished beyond its years.

In order to make this 2009 reissue something special, all of the material has been both remixed and remastered (by guitarist Herman Li and regular producer Karl Groom), a bonus DVD has been added and the artwork generally brought up to date.

The DVD is especially interesting as it contains a number of different elements, including a live version of "Valley Of The Damned" filmed/recorded in Osaka, Japan, on the band's first-ever visit to that country. Add to this a selection of footage captured and commented on by the guys themselves, and you have an overall package that provides both the musical goods plus an insight into what goes on behind the scenes — which, in the world of DRAGONFORCE, seems to consist of near-constant insults and banter, healthy amounts of "drinking" plus the inappropriate consumption of corned beef!

Multinational metalheads POWERWOLF will release their new album, "Bible Of The Beast", on April 27 in Europe via Metal Blade Records. Mixed by legendary producer Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL, ARCH ENEMY) the opus is said to be POWERWOLF's heaviest album to date.

"Bible Of The Beast" track listing:

01. Raise Your Fist, Evangelist
02. Moscow After Dark
03. Panic In The Pentagram
04. Catholic In The Morning... Satanist At Night
05. Seven Deadly Saints
06. Werewolves Of Armenia
07. We Take The Church By Storm
08. Resurrection By Erection
09. Midnight Messiah
10. St. Satan's Day
11. Wolves Against The World

Visible Noise and Raw Power Management have confirmed guitarist Curtis Ward's departure from U.K. metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON.

Currently in the U.S. on the Rockstar Taste Of Chaos Tour, Curtis and the band have made the mutual decision to part ways based on personal differences, but remain firm friends as they have done since the group's inception in Sheffield in 2004.

BRING ME THE HORIZON's label and management wish to emphasize that all live dates, festivals and tours will be played, with a stand-in guitarist — the band's guitar technician, and integral part of the touring party, Dean Rowbotham.

BRING ME THE HORIZON will return to Europe this summer for festivals all over the continent, then head to Russia, Japan, Indonesia and Australasia, before touring the U.K. October 22-26.

Nuclear Blast mailorder is offering a limited-edition CANDLEMASS "Death Magic Doom" box set featuring the legendary Swedish band's new album, an exclusive "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" poster flag and a numbered certificate of authenticity. Due on April 3, it is limited to 500 copies and available for pre-order at this location.

"Death Magic Doom" track listing:

01. If I Ever Die
02. Hammer Of Doom
03. The Bleeding Baroness
04. Demon Of The Deep
05. House Of 1000 Voices
06. Dead Angel
07. Clouds Of Dementia
08. My Funeral Dreams

Commented bassist/main songwriter Leif Edling: "The songs [on the new album] are about immortality, depressions, demons, vampires, funerals and the almighty devil that we all know very well, hehe. I love the way we perform here. Rob's [Lowe] singing and Lasse's [Lars Johansson, guitar] soloing are nothing but amazing!! The production is also outstanding! The name 'Death Magic Doom' captures it perfectly! Great name! Love it! It is very suitable for an album of this magnitude AND it also describes what CANDLEMASS is about; Heavy, hard, epic, colossal metal!!! I would say that 'Death Magic Doom' is the best album we have done since 'Nightfall' [1987]!! In all, [the LP contains] nearly 50 minutes of bone-crushing and mind-blowing doom metal!!"

Columbus, Ohio-based death/black metallers ACHERON will release their new album, "The Final Conflict: Last Days of God", on April 30 via Displeased Records. The CD was once again recorded at Mars Recording Compound with Bill Korecky and was mastered at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York. The follow-up to 2003's "Rebirth: Metamorphosing into Godhood" is a concept album based on the fall of the three major white light religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

01. Intro
02. The Apocalypse
03. Rise Of Rebellion
04. Blood Oath (Pactum Tacitum)
05. I Am Heathen
06. Godless? (We Are Gods!)
07. Salvation Through Hatred
08. Power And Might
09. Millennium's End
10. A New Age
11. Anno Armegeddon

AJATTARA, the Finnish band featuring former AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen (a.k.a. Ruoja), will release its sixth album, "Noitumaa", in Finland on April 15 through Ranka Recordings. The CD was recorded at D-Studio in Finland.

"Noitumaa" track listing:

01. Keuhkot (03:11)
02. Massat (03:50)
03. Mitä kuolema parantaa? (03:53)
04. Saatana palvoo meitä (02:36)
05. Saveen saarnattu (04:14)
06. Ikuisen aamun Sara (03:16)
07. Kielletyn sanat (03:56)
08. Säkeitä riippuneesta lihasta (03:06)
09. Lammas (03:23)