Keyboardist Chris Stevenson has announced his departure from the Australian atmospheric/gothic/doom metal band THE ETERNAL. "Chris was the founding member with Mark [Kelson; guitar/vocals] back in 2003 and after five fantastic years he has decided to move on," the group writes in a statement. "We wish him the best, we all remain great friends and we will not rule out that if Chris wishes to return in the future he may. We will continue as a four-piece and will not be looking for a replacement at this point."

"Lost Our Way", the new video from THE ETERNAL, can be viewed here. The song comes off the group's latest album, "Kartika", which was released in November via Firebox Records. The CD was issued in Australia through SLP/Amphead Music.

The artwork for "Kartika" was created by Italian designer Diego Maniscalco at Unspire. The CD was mastered by John Ruberto at Crystal Mastering.

The first pressing of "Kartika" came with a limited-edition bonus disc featuring unreleased demos & remixes; over 95 minutes of new material from THE ETERNAL.

THE ETERNAL released its sophomore album, "Sleep of Reason", in 2005 through Firebox Records to critical acclaim, with stunning artwork provided by renowned artist Travis Smith.

Kotaku reports that JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford (a.k.a. "Metal God") has copyrighted the title of a video game: Metal God.

The trademark was filed on January 11 of this year and covers "computer games; video games; and game controllers for computer games." Details about said games are scant, and it might be to protect "Metal God" from anyone else turning it into a game.

In a 2007 interview with Classic Rock Revisited, Halford was asked if he feels humility when all his peers come up to him and call him the "Metal God." "I still feel uncomfortable, quite frankly," he replied. "I suppose it is just the British reserve. You get a bit embarrassed. It is wonderful to be recognized like that, particularly from fans, but you are just like, 'Okay, thank you. Can we talk about something else now?' People go, 'You changed my life,' or 'You saved my life.' That is a big thing for somebody to say. You realize then how passionate the fans are about what you do. Certain songs may have had a dramatic impact on their life."

Peter Gander (drums), Mitch Koontz (bass) and Steve Papacharitos (lead guitar) have announced their departure from Swiss rockers GODIVA due to "musical" and "personal" differences, as well as undisclosed management issues. The said in a statement, "We really regret having to give up this band after all these intensive years, and we want to thank all our fans and all the people who have supported us. If our music will carry on — and in which direction — is uncertain at the moment: time will tell."

GODIVA's third album, "Destruction", was released in September 2007 via Mausoleum Records. The CD was produced by Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69) and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

German death metallers SEPTEMBER MURDER will release their new album, "Agony In Flesh", on February 20 via Maintain Records. The CD was mastered by Peter Neuber, who has previously done work with (NASUM, VOMITORY and WAR FROM A HARLOTS MOUTH.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. ...And The Entrails Fill The Sea
02. Slavery Of Heartdisruption
03. Breathing Cadaver
04. After Every Setting Sun
05. Between Grass And Guilt
06. To Satisfy The Eyes Of An Obsessed
07. Again, It Crossed My Way
08. Agony In Flesh

Check out the title cut on the band's MySpace page.

SEPTEMBER MURDER recently parted ways with drummer Stefan Voigtländer and has replaced him with Clemens Frank (HIDDEN IN THE FOG, DISILUSION).

Commented the band: "Stefan quit his work with SEPTEMBER MURDER a few weeks ago. After almost four years of music, beer and sharing the stage, he decided to change his order of priorities, so he left us. We wish him all the best for his future and we are thankful for the great time we had! However, we are proud to announce the new man in the SEPTEMBER MURDER family. From now on, [Clemens] will destroy the stages with us and we are ready to shake things up! We're looking forward to a great time and fucking awesome shows with him!"

SIRENIA recruited Ailyn (born: Pilar Giménez García) as the replacement for Monika Pedersen, who left the group in 2007 after only one album due to "musical differences."

Ailyn is best known as a member of the young team in the Spanish version of "The X Factor", the biggest television talent competition in Europe.

Ailyn was recently interviewed by Source Webzine. A couple of excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow below.

Source Webzine: How did you get into SIRENIA?

Ailyn: I found SIRENIA because my sister was searching metal bands to add as friends to my MySpace and she found them. We saw their videos and heard their songs and asked them to add me as friends. At the moment I didn't know they were searching for a new vocalist and some time later they contacted me to ask me if I wanted to go to Norway for the audition…it was great!!

Source Webzine: Where do you currently reside? How did you meet the other members who formed SIRENIA with you?

Ailyn: Right now I'm living in Granada, Spain. I met the other band members at the second audition for the new vocalist of SIRENIA.

Source Webzine: Did you find it difficult to move to Norway?

Ailyn: In fact I'm still living in Spain. I'm thinking about moving to Norway, but I suppose it will be not immediately.

Source Webzine: The [new] album, "The 13th Floor", is awesome. It has greater depth and is more complex than the previous ones. How long did it take you to record?

Ailyn: If I'm not mistaken, I think it took me five days to record my voice. When I arrived, Morten had the guitar work really advanced. He went to France to record the Sirenian choirs and violins, and finally in Denmark there was the mixing of the album.

Source Webzine: Do you momentarily make enough money to live from being a musician?

Ailyn: Not at the moment, but I think with the album's release, things will go well!

Source Webzine: Who is you're single biggest vocal influence (female)?

Ailyn: Right now I don't know who I'd say… there are too many. I've always listened all kind of music style to learn from all the singers I like. Sarah Brightman? Sharon Den Adel? I really don't know.

Source Webzine: The Internet is a very important source for many metal fans. How do you use the Internet and how important is it for you and other bands?

Ailyn: I think the Internet is a way to let music arrive to places where it wouldn't arrive other way. For example, you record a song, upload it on the Internet, and people from all over the world can hear you!!! It's a really good way to get promotion. I use the Internet very little. I use it to be in contact with the band, talk to my friends or send them emails, and also to take care of my MySpace or search for information.

Robert Gray of Ultimate-Guitar.com conducted an interview with British journalist/author Joel McIver. Topics of discussion included McIver's new book, "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists", DEICIDE frontman Glen Benton's foreword, the possibility of a DEICIDE autobiography, and plans to release a biography of TOOL, and co-author Glenn Hughes' autobiography. Several excerpts from the interview follow below.

On how "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists" came to fruition:

"I'm a geek who makes lists, and while I was driving around one day it occurred to me that no-one had really made a definitive list of the most accomplished guitarists in heavy metal. It's been done in a kind of half-assed way by a few magazines, but the compilers usually confuse rock with metal and fail to take into account the techniques that the musicians require to do the job. It felt like a fun book to write, but one which would serve a serious purpose — and that proved to be the case on both counts."
On how DEICIDE frontman Glen Benton came to write the book's foreword:

"I got to know Glen a couple of years ago after I approached him and Steve Asheim to see if they'd be interested in co-writing a DEICIDE autobiography, which may happen some time. I asked him to do the foreword for this book because he's worked with some fantastic guitarists in his time, and because he has a no-bullshit approach that suits this kind of book perfectly. I wanted 'The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists' to be straight, honest and non-political, and happily that's how it's turned out."

On how he came to rank each respective guitarist:

"I used two rigorous criteria: 1) The guy's mastery of techniques such as sweep picking, tapping, alternate and legato picking and (crucially) whether he applies them tastefully or gratuitously; 2) How influential the guy is as a pioneer. So for example, Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH) is without a doubt the most influential metal guitarist of all time because he was the first out of the blocks, but because he can't do sweeps (as he cheerfully admits) he can't be number one. However, he's in the top ten, of course."

On whether "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists" features "underrated" guitarists:

"God yes. Trey Azagthoth of MORBID ANGEL, Chuck Schuldiner of DEATH, Ron Jarzombek of WATCHTOWER and BLOTTED SCIENCE, Jeff Waters of ANNIHILATOR, Ihsahn and Samoth of EMPEROR and Mikael Åkerfeldt of OPETH, plus quite a few others rarely get the credit they're due as guitarists. I wanted this book to right that wrong. They're underrated because their music is, by and large, too extreme or not exposed enough."

On future works, such as Glenn Hughes's autobiography:

"Glenn's book will come out in 2009 and will be amazing, I kid you not. The TOOL book comes out in April on Omnibus Press and then a biography of a major metal icon is coming out in June. No, not Dimebag. There will be press releases nearer the time. I also have a sci-fi novel brewing that I want to get out before too long, but finding the time to do all this stuff in between family, gigs, sleep and a reasonably debauched social life is tricky."

Read the entire interview at Ultimate-Guitar.com.

"The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists" is being published globally by Jawbone Press, the world's leading publisher of guitar titles.

McIver told BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "The idea for this book came to me a couple of years ago after I read a list of the supposed 100 best metal guitarists of all time in a popular guitar magazine that should really know better. The list contained all these non-metal guitarists like Neil Young and Kurt Cobain, so I thought, 'Fuck this!' and wrote my own list, which became an 80,000-word book. The 100 guys I've included are pure metal: there's no-one taken from the hard rock world, so as much as I respect Randy Rhoads, Angus Young, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore and the rest of the rock shredders, they'll have to wait for another book. 'The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists' features musicians from heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal, black metal, power metal, doom metal and grindcore bands and that's it!"

UNANIMATED, the reunited Swedish melodic death metal band featuring former members of ENTOMBED and DISMEMBER, has set "In The Light (The Covenant Of Death)" as the title of its new album, due later in the year via Regain Records. The CD will be mixed by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studios (WATAIN, FUNERAL MIST). The album layout will be handled by Erik Danielsson (WATAIN).

UNANIMATED's first two albums — 1993's "In the Forest of the Dreaming Dead" (Pavement Records) and 1995's "Ancient God of Evil" (No Fashion Records) — were remastered and re-released in June 2008 with bonus tracks.

Fan-filmed video footage of UNANIMATED performing at the Party.San Open Air festival, which was held on August 7-9, 2008 in Bad Berka, Germany, can be viewed below. Joining the group on stage for this special event was Erik Wallin (MERCILESS) on second guitar.

UNANIMATED was founded in 1989 in Stockholm and disbanded in 1996. Largely inspired by DISMEMBER, the group created two melodic death metal albums — the aforementioned "In the Forest of the Dreaming Dead" and "Ancient God of Evil". The band also contributed to the 1996 SLAYER tribute "Slaytanic Slaughter II" with its cover of "Dead Skin Mask". In 2007, the group reformed.

UNANIMATED current lineup:

Micke Jansson (CELESTIAL PAIN) - Vocals
Johan "UFO" Bolin - Guitar
Richard Cabeza (DISMEMBER, DAMNATION, MURDER SQUAD, BORN OF FIRE, GENERAL SURGERY, DARK FUNERAL, CARBONIZED) - Bass
Peter Stjärnvind (MERCILESS, REGURGITATE, DAMNATION, ENTOMBED, FACE DOWN, BORN OF FIRE, MURDER SQUAD, KRUX, NIFELHEIM) - Drums

Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based metallers DIVINITY have issued the following update:

"We are currently deep in the muck of recording our new album. Drums have been tracked and editing is nearly complete, then on to guitar tracking. Look for a new blog/videos with a lot more details and info on that very soon. Also started booking some shows as part of a spring mini-tour."

DIVINITY's live video for the song "Induce", from the band's current album "Allegory", can be viewed here. The footage was shot at the group's shows at last year's Summer Slaughter Tour in Canada.

"Allegory" was released in March 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Check out audio samples at www.myspace.com/divinitymetal.

DIVINITY is:

Sean Jenkins - Lead Vocals
James Duncan - Guitars
Brett Duncan - Drums
Sacha Laskow - Lead Guitars, Vocals
Nick Foster - Bass, Vocals

album, "16.6: (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)", at House Of Music studios in Winterbach, Germany with Dennis Ward and Achim Köhler. The CD, which is tentatively due in May via Frontiers Records, will mark the group's first release with guitarist Magnus Karlsson (ALLEN/LANDE, STARBREAKER), who replaced Stefan Leibing last year.

Commented the band: "A very long recording period is finished now and we're all very satisfied about the result. We've recorded nearly 80 minutes of music and finally 14 songs plus some introductions. Now, after two days without any mixing, decisions, fresh air and sleep, it looks like we've created the most sophisticated and diversified album of our career.

"What can we say?! The music includes a lot of the vibe of our very first albums, like 'Chainbreaker', 'Running In The Dust', 'Nuclear Fire' or 'Metal Is Forever' — some real dedicated traditional metal! But a new PRIMAL FEAR album always contained some new musical challenges, real suprises ... and a lot of fresh and new elements this time!

"We are working on the final tracklist at the moment and we will master '16.6' with Ted Jensen at the Sterling Sound [in New York City] in early February. More news on the final song titles and the release date soon!"

PRIMAL FEAR's last album, "New Religion", in 2007 landed on the Swedish chart at No. 67. It also entered the German chart at No. 60. The CD was released in the U.S. on January 29, 2008 via Locomotive/Ryko. Guest musicians on the album include Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN) and Simone Simons (EPICA).

Massachusetts-based metallers HELL WITHIN will release the first of four new songs on Sunday, January 25 via their MySpace page. The remaining three cuts will be posted one at a time every other Sunday in the weeks that follow until all are online.

HELL WITHIN in 2007 parted ways singer Matt McChesney, who left to front Daytona Beach, Florida's THE AUTUMN OFFERING. The group has since found a replacement vocalist in the shape of J.J. Long.

HELL WITHIN's latest album, "Shadows of Vanity", was released in May 2007 on Lifeforce Records. The CD was tracked with longtime producer John Ellis and diligently mixed by Mark Lewis of AudioHammer Studios (TRIVIUM, BURY YOUR DEAD, GOD FORBID). Cover artwork was handled by acclaimed graphic designer and artist Paul Romano (MASTODON, TRIVIUM, THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD).

album, "Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion", on April 11 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will feature guest appearances by Oliver S. Tyr of FAUN and Alan A. Nemtheanga of PRIMORDIAL, among others. It will contain 15 folk songs, most of them written in ancient gaulish language.

Mainman Chrigel Glanzmann states: "As 'Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion' is a concept album setting pure gaulish mythology into music, we also wanted to be the artwork in the same line. Kernunnos is one of the most important and central characters in celtic mythology. So we conceived a topical portrayal of that figure, representing as the ancient mythological content of 'Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion' as well as its musical character."

Check out the artwork here.

ELUVEITIE will take part in the "PaganFest America: Part II" tour alongside Finland's folk freaks KORPIKLAANI as the headliners, Ireland's PRIMORDIAL, Finland's MOONSORROW, Canada's BLACKGUARD (formerly known as PROFUGUS MORTIS) and straight off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey's crazy pirate metal drunks SWASHBUCKLE as the opening party-starters throughout the tour.

Capital Chaos has posted video footage (see here) of ELUVEITIE's October 14, 2008 performance at Oakland Metro in Oakland, California. Also on the bill were KATAKLYSM, KEEP OF KALESSIN, DYING FETUS and DREAMING DEAD.

ELUVEITIE last year announced the addition of Paede Kistler (bagpipes, whistles, acoustic guitars) and Kay Brem (bass) to the group's ranks.

ELUVEITIE's latest CD, "Slania", was released on February 15, 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Spirit" is "the perfection of the first album, but still there is enough room to give some new influences a chance," according to a press release.

Swedish "art rockers" CULT OF LUNA will release the "Fire Was Born" DVD on March 23 via Earache Records. Along with an epic live show recorded on July 1, 2008 at Scala in London, England, the disc — which was mixed, edited and designed by the band — will feature footage of Johannes Persson (guitar) and Anders Teglund (keyboards) answering questions from fans all around the world and the videos for "The Watchtower", "Leave Me Here" and "Back To Chapel Town".

A teaser for the DVD can be viewed here.

CULT OF LUNA's latest album, "Eternal Kingdom", is based on an actual journal found in an old mental home. The CD takes listeners on a weird and wonderful journey through the mind of a former patient as he tells the tale of how his wife came to be murdered, and of the mythical creatures he claims to have encountered during the time of the harrowing event.

Swedish all-female rock/metal band CRUCIFIED BARBARA has posted a new song, "Blackened Bones", on the group's MySpace page. The track comes off CRUCIFIED BARBARA's second full-length album, "Til Death Do Us Party", which is scheduled for release in Scandinavia on February 11 and in the rest of Europe on February 27.

"Til Death Do Us Party" (cover) was produced by Mats Levén (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KRUX, TREAT, AT VANCE, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA) and features guest appearances by guitarist Phil Campbell (MOTÖRHEAD) and Mats Levén.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Killer On His Knees
02. Pain & Pleasure
03. Sex Action
04. Creatures
05. Jennyfer (feat. Mats Levén)
06. Dark Side (feat. Phil Campbell)
07. Can't Handle Love
08. Blackened Bones
09. Danger Danger
10. Rats
11. Feels Like Death

"Sex Action", the new video from CRUCIFIED BARBARA, can be viewed here. The clip was shot on November 17 at Harry B James in Stockholm.

CRUCIFIED BARBARA last year completed a U.K. tour as the support act for BACKYARD BABIES.

CRUCIFIED BARBARA in 2006 released a special edition of its "In Distortion We Trust" (2005) album via GMR Music, featuring a bonus DVD containing 40 minutes of live footage and backstage material filmed during the previous year.

British extreme epic power metallers DRAGONFORCE will reissue the records that effectively launched their career: "Valley Of The Damned" (2003) and "Sonic Firestorm" (2004).

Both of these titles — re-released through Spinefarm Records UK on March 16 — will now come with bonus DVDs and expanded artwork, and are fully endorsed by the musicians themselves.

Among the hand-picked extra content is band and producer interviews, live and offstage footage from Japan, plus a behind-the-scenes insight into the recording process itself… and as with everything DRAGONFORCE related, extreme technical expertise and pure entertainment are forever hand in hand.

Both "Valley" and "Sonic Firestorm" will also be available on strictly limited-edition vinyl.

"Ultra Beatdown", the new album from DRAGONFORCE, sold 24,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart.

HARMAJA, the new Finnish acoustic project featuring vocalist Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto (CHARON, NORTHERN KINGS, ex-POISONBLACK), will release its self-titled debut on February 18 via Wiima Music, distributed by Playground Music Scandinavia. The group sings in Finnish and is said to be influenced by the likes of NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS and MORRISEY.

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

01. Vajoan
02. Sydäntalvella
03. Sataa
04. Palavana
05. Kevät
06. Piiloistaan laulaa
07. Alla
08. Taivaan pirstaleet
09. Varjoina

HARMAJA is:

Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto - Vocals, Guitar
Rhodes Simo Vuorela - Guitar
Sami Lauttanen - Guitar
Matti "Joki-Matti" Tulinen - Bass
Paula Präktig - Piano, Vocals
Rhodes Riku Kovalainen - Drums

Legendary Boston rockers AEROSMITH have released a statement regarding the cancellation of their February 1 headlining show in Caracas, Venezuela at Estadio Olimpico as part of Solid Fest. According to the band, the concert was called off because lead guitarist Joe Perry has to "undergo emergency surgery on his knee caused by unforeseen complications from a previous surgery on the same knee."

In March 2008, Perry underwent total knee replacement surgery, an operation he put off for two years so that he could fulfill the band's live commitments and perform for fans.

AEROSMITH was looking forward to their performance in Venezuela — especially because it would have marked their first-ever show in the country — and they hope everyone at the festival has a great time. The band is also hoping to announce a future show in Venezuela and they want to thank fans for their understanding and support.

Says singer Steven Tyler: "Playing Venezuela was my idea of a perfect way to start the New Year. But having heard Joe had to revisit the hospital this month, the band are truly disappointed we can't be in Caracas, and we hope to see everyone there soon."

Hard-hitting Danish four-piece THE BURNING has posted a new song, "Carnivora", on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "Rewakening", which will be released on February 27 through Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Storm the Walls" was recorded and mixed at KohleKeller Studios with German producer Kristian Kohle Bonifer (BENIGHTED, CREMATORY, ABANDONED, AGATHODAIMON). The vocals was recorded by Jacob Bredahl (ex-HATESPHERE) at Smart N' Hard.

Commented THE BURNING vocalist Johnny Haven: "We have evolved a lot since the first album [came out] two years ago, and so have our songwriting skills. There are things we are able to do now that we simply couldn't do two years ago, and when your skill set improves, so do your songs. It was hard to find one song that showcased everything new about 'Rewakening', but you shouldn't make things harder than it has to be, and 'Carnivora' is a pretty straightforward thrash grenade that shows a little bit of everything."

The cover artwork for "Rewakening" can be viewed below. The image was created by Brazilian artist Mariano Villalba and is a combination of two pictures — "The Fury Of Rufus" and "Slave Angel".

"Rewakening" features a guest appearance by Bo Summer (ILLDISPOSED).

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. It Came From The North
02. Cloven Hoof
03. Carnivora
04. Eight Legged Omen
05. Repentance (Burned On The Stake)
06. Father They Call Me The Heretic
07. He Who Whispers In The Back Of Us All
08. Evangelical Cannibal
09. Unspeakable
10. Live The Goat (feat. Bo Summer)
11. Rewakening
12. My Apostacy

In an interview in the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine, DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan reveals he has "no interest" in the Mk III lineup of the band — and he doesn't particularly rate Mk IV either.

Gillan said: "I've never listened to any of PURPLE Mk III's records. What are they called? 'Burn' and... 'Strongbow' (Strongbow is English cider — Ed.), is it?"

"I've got no interest in them," he continued. "It's like seeing your girlfriend with another guy."

Gillan added: "As for Mk IV [when American guitarist, the late Tommy Bolin, replaced Ritchie Blackmore), I listened to their 'Come Taste The Band' album [1975] and that wasn't really PURPLE in my book.

"I've got no problems with the performances, I just don't think it's DEEP PURPLE at all.

"Glenn Hughes is one of the most naturally talented musicians but he's still copying Steve Wonder to this day, so I can't call him a bona fide member of DEEP PURPLE."

"The Mk III and IV lineups were full of talent, but you know you can spend £100 million on football players and you won't necessarily get a good team."

"Fear Circus", the new video from French neo-classical metallers ADAGIO, can be viewed here. The song comes off the band's new album, "Archangels In Black", due on February 2 via Listenable Records. The cover artwork, which was created by Guilherme Sevens, is also available here.

According to a press release, "without being a concept album, 'Archangels In Black' evokes the band’s convictions about a certain Nightside philosophy and a very personal approach of life and death." Guitarist Stéphan Forté says, "Darkness is a concept with many branches, often misunderstood from outside, but elemental for some kind."

The CD was mastered at the Cutting Room in Sweden with Björn Engelmann (RAMMSTEIN, MESHUGGAH). According to Stéphan Forté, "Björn did an amazing job. The result is heavy as fuck and makes the songs even more powerful!!! We're a 110% happy with the result."

"Archangels In Black" is the first CD to feature ADAGIO's latest addition, Finnish singer Christian Palin.

Palin is a member of the Swedish/Finnish combo ESSENCE OF SORROW and RANDOM EYES.

"Archangels In Black" track listing:

01. Vamphyri
02. The Astral Pathway
03. Fear Circus
04. Undead
05. Archangels In Black
06. The Fifth Ankh
07. Codex Oscura
08. Twilight At Dawn
09. Getsu Senshi

Drummer Jarno "Jake" Vanhanen (TACERE) has rejoined the Finnish melodic death metal band EMBREACH. The group comments: "We originally parted ways with Jake some 2.5 years ago or so, mainly due to problems with overlapping schedules and other practicalities. However, the fun we had playing together never ended, and during the last two years we have played together frequently, with Jake having an extremely important role in arranging and recording [EMBREACH's four-song EP] 'Deafening Silence', for example.

"We're all extremely happy about how things turned out in the end, and everybody in the band is really looking forward to writing new material and playing gigs full blast with Jake."

"Deafening Silence" (cover) was recorded and mixed by Janne Saksa at Sound Supreme Studios in July 2008 and was mastered at Finnvox by Minerva Pappi. It is available for free download as a .ZIP file at this location.

EMBREACH was recently chosen to be the opening band for SLAYER, TRIVIUM, MASTODON and AMON AMARTH on the Finnish leg (Tampere and Helsinki) of the "The Unholy Alliance: Chapter III" European tour.

EMBREACH is:

Jari Aarniala - guitars
Toni Enqvist - guitars
Sami Honkonen - vocals
Jaakko Mäkilä - bass
Jarno "Jake" Vanhanen - drums

OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya has written the following open letter to President George W. Bush:

"Resident Bush: you vile bag of pig vomit.

"In less than 24 hours and you are out of our lives. Forever.

"You, the dogshit on our communal shoe, have been an unbelievable embarrassment to this nation. And as the minutes tick by, we scrape the last remnants of you from our soul, er sole.

"You have lied, cheated, and bullied your way to the bottom of the pile. Enjoy the stench, you vile bag of pig vomit.

"The economy is sinking, we have lost millions of jobs (though you stayed very rich), over 4000 American soliders died for your lie, we've lost our moral standing, we've lost the respect of the world. Until now. You are history.

"And you say you have no regrets. You smug, pug ugly bastard. I will drink a toast to your departure and laugh like a lunatic knowing you leave as u came in: an absolute, unrelenting FAILURE.

"Eat shit. Coward."

It’s been a relatively busy few months for us. Following the cancellation of the tour in March and the album release in May we laid low until October due to family reasons I am sure plenty of you are aware of.



October came and we fulfilled a long time commitment to play Lithuania. Over 500 payers that created one of the best and friendliest atmospheres we have ever experienced and an almost flawless performance from us made it a memorable weekend and not a drunken Irish man in sight. Two weeks later we were in Belgium in a town best described as the “Athy of Belgium” and despite the PA blowing up twice, the soundman 4 hours late and Tim ripping a snare skin during the first song, all during bouts of power failures we still played well enough for the small crowd to enjoy an hour of doom…some fans who travelled a long way enjoying it too much it seemed J.



And then it was our return to Greece for another memorable weekend and a good gig by all accounts, except our own but it didn’t stop the 150 payers from enjoying us and the other bands that night. A big shout out to Thanos and crew for everything they did for us for leading us round the sights, which consisted f Texas bar until 7 each morning.



December saw us return to Cork for Winterfest, our first gig in 6 years and despite late nights and flu bites we played well and the Cork crowd enjoyed it. Hopefully it won’t be as long next time.



So on to 2009 and the end of the month sees us support our friends Primordial in the Button factory, which should be a memorable night if the last time we played with them in Whelan’s is anything to go by. Get there early coz we seem to be going on stage at 8pm, at least we won’t have time to get drunk beforehand…



April will see us play our first ever shows in Moscow, Latvia and Estonia and we are really looking forward to it, discussions are ongoing at the moment to maybe do a proper 2 week tour around this so keep an eye to the website for regular updates



On the release front Dust came out finally on vinyl through Sentinel last month and it was a proud day for us. Thanks to Brian for helping us in this and it won’t stop there, plans are afoot to release The Sullen Sulcus on vinyl next year.



We also recorded a Mourning Beloveth version of Nick Caves “The Weeping Song” in templebar studios in December. Recorded in just one night we feel we put our own doomed stamp to proceedings and it has been something a few of us in the band have wanted to do for some time. We will release this as a split 10” with Wreck of the Hesperus through Sentinel in the unforeseen future.



And finally to finish off 2008 nicely for us we have received Album of the Year on Friedhof Online magazine. Onwards and down we go

German progressive black metallers SECRETS OF THE MOON are completing the songwriting process for their new album, entitled "Privilegium". Around 80 minutes worth of music will be recorded for the effort, including the following tracks:

* Privilegium
* Black Halo
* Marionettes
* A Million Suns
* For They Know Not
* Queen Among Rats
* Shepherd
* I Maldoror
* Sulphur Pulse

SECRETS OF THE MOON will also lay down a cover version of a song from "a well-known band."

SECRETS OF THE MOON last year announced the addition of guitarist K.S.A. to the group's ranks. According to the band, "His skills and his exigent nature just feel right for the band and he already contributed some extremely good ideas to what will become the new album."

SECRETS OF THE MOON parted ways with guitarist A.D. in July 2008.

A.D., who had significant input in the songwriting for the band's latest album, "Antithesis" (2006), explained his decision: "Due to my all-dominant negativity, I cannot extract a single good aspect from representing my music live on stage any more. Thus the time on the road has been horrible for me. After I hit rock bottom the last time, I decided to stop it all."

SECRETS OF THE MOON belongs to the most prestigious group of bands in the German black metal underground, with their first demo release dating back to 1995. The band was formed out of the ashes of one of the very first black metal outfits stemming from German scene, MARTYRIUM.

Swedish metal band DREAMLAND has set "Exit 49" as the title of its new album, due later in the year via Dockyard 1 Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Warning", "Rescue Me", "Two Worlds", "Nordic Rage", "Touch of Evil" and "Song For You".

The follow-up to 2007's "Eye For An Eye", "Exit 49" will mark the debut of new drummer Alexx and guitarist Nils Olsson. According to the band, drums, bass and guitars have already been laid down and singer Joacim "Jake E" Lundberg is currently recording his vocals at Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden.

DREAMLAND's last CD, "Eye for an Eye", was recorded at Joacim Cans' (HAMMERFALL) Moonshine Studio and Andy La Rocque's old studio, Los Angered Recording, where the album was also mixed.