EMI has just issued the first batch of a total of six releases covering Michael Schenker's Chrysalis catalog 1980-1984.

After leaving UFO in 1978, legendary guitarist Michael Schenker returned briefly for a second stint in the SCORPIONS before deciding to form his own group — settling on a name that left no confusion about the creative force within the group! To date the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP has released 12 studio albums, amassing two UK Top-10s, and 6 Top-40s in the process.

The first three of those albums — "Michael Schenker Group", "MSG" and "One Night At Budokan" — have now been digitally remastered. They come crammed with previously unreleased bonus material and feature extensive liner notes written by Dave Ling.

Bonus tracks:

"Michael Schenker Group":

01. Just A Lover (1979 Demo)*
02. Looking Out From Nowhere (1979 Demo)*
03. Get Up And Get Down (1979 Demo)*
04. After Midnight (1979 Demo)*
05. Breakout (1979 Demo)*
06. Cry For The Nations (Radio Edit)
07. Armed And Ready (Live B-Side)
08. Into The Arena (Live B-Side)

* previously unreleased

"MSG":

All bonus tracks previously unreleased; recorded live at the Manchester Apollo on September 30, 1980:

01. Never Trust A Stranger (Rough Monitor Mix)
02. Natural Thing
03. Feels Like A Good Thing
04. Looking Out From Nowhere
05. Shoot Shoot
06. Doctor Doctor
07. Lights Out

"One Night At Budokan" (recorded live on August 12, 1981):

01. Tales Of Mystery
02. Cozy Powell Drum Solo

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's latest album, "In The Midst Of Beauty", was released on May 13, 2008 via Inakustic GMBH. The CD features returning MSG singer Gary Barden, drummer Simon Philips (THE WHO, TOTO), bassist Neil Murray (BLACK SABBATH, WHITESNAKE) and keyboardist Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE, OZZY OSBOURNE).

Schenker and Gary Barden have completed work on an acoustic album which is expected in the spring.

Springfield, Massachusetts grindcore act AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED has completed work on its fourth full-length album, "Agorapocalypse", for an April 14 North American release (April 20 internationally) via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded by the band's own Scott Hull at his Visceral Sound studios and contains 13 tracks, including "Moral Distortion", "Question Of Integrity", "Trauma Queen", "Agorapocalypse Now" and "Flamingo Snuff". The artwork was created by AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED visualist Florian Bertmer.

"Agorapocalypse" marks the full-length recording debut of new vocalist Kat (SALOME), who joined the band in 2007.

An exclusive comic-strip rendering of AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED during the recording process for the new album is featured in the latest issue of Decibel magazine (March 2009, on newsstands now).

A series of AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED split releases will be made available in 2009, including those with DESPISE YOU, ANS, AGENTS OF SATAN, THRONES, and more.

The cover artwork for "Vendetta", the fourth full-length album from the Finnish power metal band CELESTY, can be viewed below. Due on March 11 via Spinefarm Records, the CD features eleven tracks and over sixty minutes of music. Samu Oittinen began mixing the album in early December, which proved to be a daunting task: At times there are over 300 tracks playing. The epic soundscape is reinforced by an orchestra consisting of musicians from the Tampere City Orchestra, and a professional choir. The orchestration and the choir parts were arranged and produced by the conductor Kalevi Olli, renowned for his work with the Finnish National Opera.

"Vendetta" track listing:

01. Prelude for Vendetta
02. Euphoric Dream
03. Greed & Vanity
04. Like Warriors
05. Autumn Leaves
06. Feared by Dawn
07. Lord (Of This Kingdom)
08. New Sin
09. Dark Emotions
10. Fading Away
11. Legacy of Hate Pt. 3
- Candlelight
- Shadow Land
- Chaos and Destruction (instrumental)
- Feelings
12. Gates of Tomorrow (Japanese bonus track)

The CD features guest appearances by Stephan Lill (VANDEN PLAS) and Elias Viljanen (SONATA ARCTICA). Suvi-Tuuli Dietrich (ESCAPE) has contributed female vocals to the album.

CELESTY's third full-length effort, "Mortal Mind Creation", was released on October 30, 2006 via Dockyard 1.

CELESTY is:

Antti Railio - Vocals
Teemu Koskela - Guitar
Tapani Kangas - Guitar
Ari Katajamäki - Bass
Jere Luokkamäki - Drums
Juha Mäenpää - Keyboards

For the third time in five years, ENSLAVED was honored in the "Metal" category at the Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards). The largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show was held this past Saturday, January 24 at the Spektrum in Oslo, Norway and was broadcast live on the Norwegian channel TV2.

The nominees in the "Metal" category were as follows:

BENEA REACH - "Alleviat" (Tabu Recordings)
ENSLAVED - "Vertebrae" (Indie Recordings)
KEEP OF KALESSIN - "Kolossus" (Indie Recordings)

Commented ENSLAVED: "We're very honored to get our third Grammy. The party was good, we had a good time. We think the Grammy commitee was very generous giving all the artist two whole pitchers of ice water and selling 0,3 liters of flat beer for 7,5 euros in the bar. Luckily, we robbed a bank on our way there and could afford getting absolutely smashed. We're having a rough Monday here. Thanks!"

SWORN, the Norwegian black metal project led by Lars Jensen (MYRKGRAV), has finalized the track listing for its second album, "Bastards & Conqueror", due later in the year via Twilight Vertrieb. It is as follows:

01. Beyonder
02. The Bastard, the Conqueror
03. Carnal Monuments
04. Ascendant
05. Damnation Spawned
06. Summoning the Sinister
07. Prophecies from the Land of Lost Voices
08. The Archaic Wraith
09. Descendant

According to the band, "The new material is harder, faster, darker and more grim and with the SWORN touch that perpetuates the atmosphere from [SWORN's 2007 debut] 'The Alleviation'!

"The Alleviation" was released on July 20, 2007 via Twilight Vertrieb. The CD was recorded and mixed at the Conclave Media Studio in the fall of 2006. The vocals were laid down at Koia Studios between September 2006 and April 2007. The album was produced by Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen and SWORN. Mastering duties were handled by Markus Skroch at Sunset Studio.

SWORN is:

Max Wilson - Vocals
Christoffer Kjørsvik - Guitars
Gøran Myster Hope - Guitars
Leif Herland - Bass
Tom Ian Rogne Klungland - Drums

After tying the knot with former DEEP PURPLE/RAINBOW rocker Ritchie Blackmore on October 5, 2008, singer/songwriter Candice Night has launched a new web site that is designed to appeal to a broader market. With her impending solo release just months away, as well as an appearance in the film "Pray for Light" (now in production) Candice hopes the new site will attract a new fan base and enhance her image.

The site, which was designed by OHDWD.com, features sample tracks, including Candice's debut country/pop song, "Gone-Gone-Gone" (not to be confused with the Phil and Don Everly song made popular by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss). Night says, "I am cast to play Emily in the movie 'Pray for Light' that will be using some of the BLACKMORE'S NIGHT music as well as my solo CD music as the main musical theme."

Belgian artist Peter Lathouwers recently completed a painting (see below) featuring bassist King ov Hell (real name: Tom Cato Visnes) and vocalist Gaahl (real name: Kristian Espedal) of the Norwegian black metal band GORGOROTH.

Commented Lathouwers: "When certain musicians come together, magic happens. They seem to have a way of making parts of their personalities coincide with each other. It's as if they speak a different language which outsiders can't understand. Not even other musicians. There has to be a personal link between them and not only on a musical level.

"When these kinds of artists part ways, their band or project will not sound the same anymore. I think of Blackie Lawless and Chris Holmes [of W.A.S.P.] for instance, Simon and Garfunkel, CARCASS without Ken Owen. Anyway, my point is: in order for it to have that extra uniqueness, the personalities inside the project or band need to have a certain type of extraordinary indefinable link between them.

"The painter, or 'watcher,' so to speak, is to me, an extension of that musical art. If the music of certain individuals provides that extraordinary indefinable spark in the mind of the painter, then the extent of the musicians will be translated onto the canvas. The painter is a third party in the process of creating art in its totality: music, words and painting. Not a band member, but a distant watcher, contemplator and visionary.”

Why the Gaahl/King painting?

"I was drawn to GORGOROTH quite early in their career. I think 'Pentagram' was the first album I bought. The sound of GORGOROTH has always been very unique in its genre, past and present.

"Of course, GORGOROTH was, and is, one of the most evil-looking and sounding bands from this day and before, so it was natural for me to get a bit deeper into them. I've read the magazines, saw the videos, heard all of the bullshit and commotion going on lately and something all of a sudden struck me.

"With the up rise of the Internet and youtube, GORGOROTH didn't seem so distant and unreachable anymore. One could look beyond the painted faces now. And what I saw amazed me. Here you have one of the most notorious members of lack metal in Norway who, without the paint, has a look in his eyes of innocence and when he talks he speaks the language of the wiseman, a side of him which I believe very little people actually see.

"Many of us look, but only a few really see. That's the painter's job.

"I see many characters hiding in that one face being Gaahl. The same goes for King. On stage, he is pure hell on earth: evil, grim-looking, threatening and violent. But when you look closer, without the corpse paint, you see something totally different; an artist, a rock 'n' roll kid having fun by just playing rock 'n' roll and a true musical genius. And that is what I think attracts me the most in them. Their music, which goes without saying, but also the fact that their personalities just happen to compliment each other in order to make the magic of GORGOROTH happen.

"Gaahl simply is not Gaahl without the paint, but to me that is the beauty of it all.

"When painting the Gaahl/King canvas, I felt so close to them both it was as if they could come in at anytime, have a coffee and we'd sit down and talk as if we were friends for over twenty years while in reality we have barely spoken. It's a strange but welcome feeling. I guess their music just provided me that indefinable spark."

Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen and her new band AGUA DE ANNIQUE will release a new album, "Pure Air", on January 30. As well as acoustic versions of songs from her solo debut, "Air", Anneke's upcoming CD will contain some great collaborations. Besides Sharon den Adel, Niels Geusebroek and Marike Jager, Anneke will be joined by Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA), John Wetton (KING CRIMSON, ASIA) and Arjen Lucassen (AYREON).

Anneke states: "['Pure Air' is] an acoustic album with all nice and mellow songs and duets. I am so proud of all the different vocalists and instrumentalists who have worked with me on this album!

"Over the last years, I have done many guest appearances for a wide range of artists. This time I wanted to be the one to invite an outstanding lineup of musicians to contribute to my album."

"Pure Air" track listing:

01. The Blower's Daughter (feat. Danny Cavanagh from ANATHEMA)
02. Beautiful One (feat. Niels Geusebroek from SILKSTONE)
03. Wild Flowers
04. Day after Yesterday (feat. Marike Jager)
05. Come Wander With Me (feat. Kyteman)
06. Valley of the Queens (feat. Arjen Lucassen from AYREON)
07. To Catch a Thief (feat. John Wetton from KING CRIMSON and ASIA)
08. Ironic
09. What's the Reason? (feat. Niels Geusebroek)
10. Yalin
11. Somewhere (feat. Sharon den Adel from WITHIN TEMPTATION)
12. Witnesses
13. The Power of Love

At the moment, Anneke is preparing two different live sets: a semi-acoustic evening (in celebration of the release of "Pure Air") and a rock show for our upcoming dates in Greece and Latin America. She says, "We can't wait. Both events promise to be awesome in their own way!"

Anneke van Giersbergen and her new band AGUA DE ANNIQUE will stage two unique shows in February — at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, Holland (Feb. 12) and at the Oosterpoort in Groningen (Feb. 13). At these intimate performances, Anneke will shed some light on her compositions through personal stories. Anneke will also be joined on stage by Sharon den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION), Niels Geusebroek (SILKSTONE) and singer-songwriter Marike Jager.

To see Anneke van Giersbergen sharing the stage with Sharon den Adel is a rare occasion. Last year, Anneke appeared as a special guest on WITHIN TEMPTATION's live DVD. Now Sharon and Anneke will join forces on stage again to perform that same song, "Somewhere". This song, in a new acoustic version, will also appear on Anneke's forthcoming album.

Keyboardist Martin Harb of Austrian symphonic metallers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS has issued the following update:

"Within the next week we will present you the name and the face of our new female voice and bandmember! At the moment she's at the shooting for her first VISIONS OF ATLANTIS promotional pictures, which will be released on the homepage including her name and further information within the next week.

"From now on, we won't keep you updated not only by words but also we're planning to do a video blog from time to time where the guys and girl from VISIONS OF ATLANTIS can tell you the most important news about the recording process and all other VISIONS OF ATLANTIS-related stuff (and maybe also not just VISIONS OF ATLANTIS-related stuff) so that all of you can get the news right from us, from face to face. We're also planning a few other things for the homepage but more on that later, at first we'll gonne have some very important updates within next week! So be sure to check out the homepage or our MySpace site more often the next days!"

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS in 2007 parted ways with the group's Minnesota-based vocalist, Melissa Ferlaak, and her now-husband, guitarist Wolfgang "Wops" Koch, due to "musical differences." As a result, the band's previously announced participation in the KAMELOT European tour was cancelled. Koch has since been replaced by the returning guitarist Werner Fiedler, who was responsible for much of the songwriting on the group's first two records.

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS's latest album, "Trinity", was released in May 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Dreamscape Studios and was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The CD's cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, HYPOCRISY and EXODUS, among others.

Phoenix, Arizona-based brutal metallers RISING PAIN have completed work on their third CD, "The Essence of Decay", at Arcane Digital Recording in Chandler, Arizona with producer Ryan Butler (NORTH SIDE KINGS, STRUCTURE OF LIES, UNRUH, MERCITRON, LANDMINE MARATHON). The CD, which features nine songs, includes a guest appearance by Antony Hämäläinen (NIGHTRAGE) on the tracks "Feel Less Alive" and "Am I Awake". The artwork, which was created by bassist Daniel Racines, can be viewed here. The band says, "The album came out awesome! It's the best work we've done to date!"

"The Essence of Decay" track listing

01. Eyes Sewn Shut
02. Remnants
03. In The Face Of Death
04. The End Of Our Dying Days
05. Feel Less Alive
06. Am I Awake
07. Damage is Done
08. A Matter of Time (instrumental)
09. The Essence of Decay

RISING PAIN previously released the "Salvation for None" EP in 2003 and the "Existence is Futile" LP on Open Grave Records in 2007.

RISING PAIN's "The Essence of Decay" video can be viewed here.

IMV Blueline has set a February 10, 2009 release date for the DEEP PURPLE "Live 1974 (TV Recordings)" DVD. According to the sales sheet, the 55-minute disc features footage of "DEEP PURPLE performing for the TV cameras in 1974 in Germany, originally broadcast in Argentina. They perform their biggest songs raw and rocking. A unique feature of the material is the time and space allocated to Ritchie Blackmore to stretch out and demonstrate the amazing virtuoso technique. Great versions of 'Smoke on the Water', 'Burn', 'Space Truckin'' and more."

Track listing:

* Burn
* Might Just Take Your Life
* Mistreated
* Smoke On The Water
* You Fool No One
* The Mule
* Space Truckin'

Norwegian metallers THUNDRA, who feature in their ranks former members of EINHERJER and ENSLAVED, have inked a deal with Germany's Einheit Productions. The band will enter the studio in early February to begin recording its third album for a summer release.

In other news, Thor Erik Helgesen (guitar, vocals) hes left THUNDRA to focus on other projects.

THUNDRA's sophomore album, "Worshipped by Chaos", was issued in February 2006 via Greece's Black Lotus Records. The CD was recorded and mixed at Black Dimension Studio with Stein Sund.

THUNDRA is:

Steven Grindhaug - Growl/Clean Vocals
Rune Fredriksen - Guitar/solos
Stein Sund (ex-EINHERJER) - Bass
Harald Magne Revheim (ex-ENSLAVED) - Drums
Nils Harald Johansen - Synth

EYES OF NOCTUM, the California-based black metal band fronted by Weston "Arcane" Coppola Cage (son of actor Nicolas Cage), has posted two songs from its upcoming debut album, "Awakening", tentatively due in April through Morbid Rose Records. One of them is a full version of the track "Renaissance Prosperity" (a clip of which has been online for some time now), and the other is a cut entitled "Annihilate".

EYES OF NOCTUM recorded "Awakening" at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with acclaimed producer Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL). Norwegian drummer Hellhammer (MAYHEM, DIMMU BORGIR) and Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) have recorded guest appearances on the CD.

This is Entertainment reporter Amber Bollard conducted an interview EYES OF NOCTUM at the launch of Fulcage clothing line's fall/winter 2008 collection on October 23, 2008 in West Hollywood, California. Watch the footage below.

Danish thrashers HATESPHERE have set "To The Nines" as the title of their new album. The CD was recorded over a nine-day period Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST).

"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 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

The cover artwork for "Cult of Static", the new album from the Los Angeles-based metal quartet STATIC-X, can be viewed below.

"Cult of Static" is scheduled for release on March 17 via Reprise Records. The CD's first single, "Stingwray", hits airwaves February 14. The track was inspired by Wayne Static's wife, former adult film star Tera Wray, and the Corvette Stingray she drives. The song's powerful beats and heavy guitar riffs make this song a commanding force on the record. Elsehwere on the album, the cybernetic stomp of "Hypure" and "You Am I" bludgeon, bruise and break with precise grooves, while the staccato riffs on "Terminal" crush through an unmistakable guitar tone. Guitarist Koichi Fukuda blazes through incendiary solos, while Tony Campos bolts down demonic bass lines and Nick Oshiro pounds out deadly rhythms. Frontman Wayne Static riffs pure violence and screams out his soul.

"Over the years my voice has been destroyed from excessive touring... and I love it," exclaims Static. "The vocals on the new record are raw and brutal."

A song you may already be familiar with is "Lunatic" as it was included on the "Punisher: War Zone" movie soundtrack. Although "Lunatic" is relentless and raw, brandishing a ripping groove and an impenetrable barrier of guitars, the album cut was re-recorded to feature a solo by legendary MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine.

"I've been a huge MEGADETH fan for years," explains Static. "We've toured with them twice. Mustaine and I really hit it off on the road. His lead style is one of the most distinctive styles out there. There's something amazing about it. When you hear him solo, you know it's him."

"Cult of Static" track listing:

01. Lunatic (feat. Dave Mustaine)
02. Z28
03. Terminal
04. Hypure
05. Tera-Fied
06. Stingwray
07. You Am I
08. Isolaytore
09. Nocturnally
10. Skinned
11. Grind 2 Halt

German metallers DOMAIN will release their ninth album, a concept effort entitled "The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow", on March 13. The CD artwork was created by famous Brazilian metal artist Gustavo Sazes, who "bridged between the traditional DOMAIN artwork concept and the requirements of the album story," according to a press release.

Completed at Meadow Studios in Darmstadt, Germany with producer and guitarist Axel Ritt at the helm, "The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow" is a metal opera based on the novel "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" by the famous German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Released for the first time in 1774, the story "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" became a key work in German literature regarding the "Storm And Stress" period and describes an impossible love against all moral concepts, which provokes extreme emotional reactions up to the point of a spate of suicides among young readers of the novel.

To best capture on tape the five-octave range of DOMAIN vocalist Nicolaj Ruhnow, the band recently added some special outdoor recordings for the very first time in DOMAIN history.

"The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow" contains 10 tracks, with a bonus track to be included with the limited-edition version of the album.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Picture The Beauty
02. Sweeping Scars
03. Angel Above
04. Circle Of Give And Take
05. He Is Back
06. Inner Rage
07. Digging Their Graves
08. Haunting Sorrows
09. The Last Dance
10. 12 O'Clock

Bonus track:

11. Two Brothers & The Sinners Chess

Norwegian black metal band SATYRICON's brand new music video — for the song "Black Crow on a Tombstone" (see clip below) — will make its MTV2 debut this weekend as part of the network's long-running "Headbangers Ball" program. The song will kick off the show and is the roll-out track from the group's seventh studio album, "The Age of Nero", which sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 18 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.

Texas-based mythological occult metal outfit ABSU has posted a new song, Girra's Temple, on the group's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's new self-titled album, due on February 24 via Candlelight Records. The CD was more or less engineered by the band, mixed by none other than J.T. Longoria at Nomad Recording Studio (KING DIAMOND, SOLITUDE AETERNUS, etc.). It was mastered by Proscriptor at his studio Tarot Productions.

Guest musicians on the album include the following:

Ashmedi (MELECHESH)
Blasphemer (ex-MAYHEM, AVA INFERI)
Equitant (ex-ABSU, EQUITANT)
David Harbour (ex-KING DIAMOND, DAVID HARBOUR)
Michael Harris (DARKOLOGY, MICHAEL Harris)
Mindwalker (THE FIRSTBORN)
Nornagest (ENTHRONED)
Vorskaath (ZEMIAL)

"Absu" track listing:

01. Between The Absu Of Eridu & Erech
02. Night Fire Canonization
03. Amy
04. Nunbarshegunu
05. 13 Globes
06. …Of The Dead Who Never Rest In Their Tombs Are The Attendance Of Familiar Spirits…Including:
A.) Diversified Signs Inscribed
B.) Our Earth Of Black
C.) Voor
07. Magic(k) Square Cipher
08. In The Name Of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee
09. Girra's Temple
10. Those Of The Void Will Re-Enter
11. Sceptre Command
12. Ye Uttuku Spells
13. Twix Yesterday, The Day & The Morrow

Veteran Colorado power metallers JAG PANZER have set "The Scourge Of Light" as the title of their new album. The band, which is currently unsigned following a lengthy stint with Century Media Records, is scheduled to play the Play It Loud festival in Italy at the end of February and the Rock Hard festival in Germany in late May.

JAG PANZER last year announced the addition of Christian Lasegue as the group's new lead guitarist. Those familiar with the band's "Chain of Command" release will recognize his name as the lead axeman on that album.

JAG PANZER's last studio LP, "Casting the Stones", was released in October 2004 via Century Media. Said to be "a more aggressive version" of 2001's "Mechanized Warfare", the CD was recorded in part at Tampa's Morrisound Studios with producer Jim Morris.

A new RAZOR OF OCCAM song entitled "Altar Of Corruption" is available for download at this location. The track comes off the London, England-based black/thrash metal band's third full-length album, "Homage To Martyrs", which is scheduled for release on March 13 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy and March 16 in the rest of Europe through Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Necromorbus studios (WATAIN, AVERSA SEFIRA, MÖRK GRYNING) in Sweden with producer Tore Stjerna. According to a press release, "what you get to hear on 'Homage To Martyrs' is the perfect amalgamation of raw black metal and the thrashing mania of SLAYER's 'Reign In Blood'. As raw, relentless and intense as it can get! Merciless sharp riffing and pure brutality from the darkest vaults of down under. You will hardly find any band out there that is sounding more metal than RAZOR OF OCCAM!"

"Homage To Martyrs" track listing:

01. Altar Of Corruption
02. Bite Of Dogmata
03. Day Of Wrath
04. Heat Of Battle
05. Immortal Code
06. Pattern On The Stone
07. Flame Bearers
08. Shadow Of The Cross

The cover art (see here) and layout duties for the album were handled by Aurelien Police.

Originally spawned from the South Australian desert in the late Nineties, the music of RAZOR OF OCCAM still emulates the harshness of its birthplace. Never content to follow the mainstream, the band's lyrics eschew the mystical nonsense typical of the genre and instead highlight the harsh reality of the godless, uncaring and awe-inspiring universe we inhabit.

RAZOR OF OCCAM has predominately been a self-reliant act, securing gigs, festivals and tours in Europe and its homeland. The band has played alongside renowned acts such as ASPHYX, PRIMORDIAL and DISMEMBER, and has completed a European tour with GOSPEL OF THE HORNS.

The band has two releases to date: "Diabologue" (Damnation) and "Pillars of Creation" (Circle of Tyrants).

U.K. godfathers of doom MY DYING BRIDE will release their new album, "For Lies I Sire", on March 23 via Peaceville Records. The follow-up to 2006's "A Line of Deathless Kings" was recorded with longtime producer Mags.

Check out the cover artwork below.

"For Lies I Sire" track listing:

01. Fall With Me
02. My Body, A Funeral
03. The Lies I Sire
04. Bring Me Victory
05. Echoes From A Hollow Soul
06. ShadowHaunt
07. Santuario Di Sangue
08. A Chapter in Loathing
09. Death Triumphant

DEVILS WHOREHOUSE — the "horror-death rock" side-project of MARDUK guitarist Morgan Håkansson — has finished mixing its new full-length album. Entitled "Blood & Ashes", the CD is currently being mastered and is set to be unleashed in early April via Regain Records.

"Blood & Ashes" track listing:

01. Oceans Turn To Blood
02. Wicked One
03. Speak The Name Of The Dead
04. The Cult Of Death
05. Werewolf
06. Demons Of The Flesh/Tight White Ropes
07. Shadows Never Change
08. Smell Of The Ancient Ones
09. Face The Master
10. Werewolf Nation
11. Snakes Out The Mouth Of Hell

DEVILS WHOREHOUSE will perform at the Fiendforce festival in Solingen, Germany on April 25.

After a lengthy hiatus, DEVILS WHOREHOUSE, returned this past fall with the release of an EP titled "Werewolf". The effort was made available in three different formats — CD, 7" and 12" picture disc.

DEVILS WHOREHOUSE current linup:

Morgan - Bass
Makko - Guitar
Maelstrom - Vocals
Hrafn - Drums

METALLICA, IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED and EVERGREY are among the artists who were honored at the second annual Swedish Metal Awards, which were held last night (Friday, January 23) in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The complete list of winners is as follows:

Best Hard Rock: BULLET - "Bite The Bullet"
Best Death Metal: IN FLAMES - "A Sense Of Purpose"
Best Glam/Sleaze: GEMINI FIVE - "Sex Drugs Anarchy"
Best Heavy/Power Metal: SABATON - "The Art Of War"
Best Punk/Hardcore: KID DOWN - "I Want My Girlfriend Rich"
Best Metal: THE HAUNTED - "Versus"
Best Alternative Metal: EVERGREY - "Torn"
Best Newcomer: DEAD BY APRIL
Best Video/Director: IN FLAMES - "Alias" / Patric Ullaeus
Best Live Act: SONIC SYNDICATE
Best International Album: METALLICA - "Death Magnetic"

Swedish melodic heavy metal masters LION'S SHARE will release their new album, "Dark Hours", on March 25 via Blistering Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Emotional Coma" was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (OPETH, SYMPHONY X, PARADISE LOST, AMON AMARTH) and features guest appearances by SYMPHONY X guitarist Mike Romeo (guest solo on "Behind The Curtain"), and drummers Conny Pettersson (from Earache Records death metal act ANATA) and Richard Evensand (CHIMAIRA, SOILWORK).

"Dark Hours" track listing:

01. Judas Must Die
02. Phantom Rider
03. Demon In Your Mind
04. Heavy Cross To Bear
05. The Bottomless Pit
06. Full Metal Jacket
07. The Presidio 27
08. Barker Ranch
09. Napalm Nights
10. Space Scam
11. Behind The Curtain
12. King Of All The Kings (bonus track – limited-edition digipak and Japanese version)

The band states: "The new songs are simply awesome and everybody that has heard it thinks it's our best album to date. The red thread lyric-wise on this album is that all songs are about things that happened in the late Sixties; a decade known for many good things. However, we're not describing the happy times of the Sixties: We give you the 'Dark Hours'. Musically, it's more straight-forward and faster than ever. The songs are filled with energy and great hooks."

SANCTIFICATION, the Swedish death metal band featuring current/former members of GOD AMONG INSECTS, IN BATTLE and SOULDRAINER, may be forced to cancel its appearance at this year's installment of the House Of Metal festival — set to take place February 27-28 at Folkets Hus in Umeå, Sweden — due to "drummer problems." According to guitarist Tomas Elofsson, "The drummer that we were to use [Tony Westermark of SOREPTION] has a lot to do right now and it doesn't look good at the moment. This is a shitty situation, to say the least, but what can we do? We do have a few guys that we are talking to about future gigs and tours, but as of now, no one is ready to take on the House Of Metal gig on such short notice, and that we understand. It is just five weeks until the gig, so like I said, it doesn't look good at the moment. Me, Markus [Edvardsson, guitar], Masse [Magnus Broberg, vocals] and Andreas [Mellkvist, bass] feel pretty fucking bummed out about this but hey, what can we do?!"

SANCTIFICATION recently posted the title track of its upcoming album, "Black Reign", on the group's MySpace page.

SANCTIFICATION's current lineup consists of Tomas Elofsson (guitar) and Markus Edvardsson (guitar) alongside two session members. It is as follows:

* Magnus "Masse" Broberg (a.k.a. Emperor Magus Caligula) (DARK FUNERAL) - Vocals
* Tomas Elofsson - Guitar
* Markus Edvardsson - Guitar
* Andreas Mellkvist (OLTUED) - Bass