"Ballad Of A Hangman", the new video from German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Ballads Of A Hangman", which is scheduled for release on January 9, 2009 via Austria's Napalm Records. The "Pray" single will precede the album on November 28. The group's frontman Chris Boltendahl states, "We are very happy with the result. I think it is one of the hardest records we ever did."

"Ballads Of A Hangman" track listing:

01. The Gallows Pole
02. Ballad Of A Hangman
03. Hell Of Disillusion
04. Sorrow Of The Dead
05. Grave Of The Addicted
06. Lonely The Innocence Dies
07. Into The War
08. The Shadow Of Your Soul
09. Funeral For A Fallen Angel
10. Stormrider
11. Pray
12. Jailbreak (bonus track digi pack)

Check out the cover artwork below.

Sleepwalker of Beyond The Dark Horizon recently conducted an interview with SIX FEET UNDER vocalist Chris Barnes. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Tell me about the title "Death Rituals". I hear it is one that you have had waiting for some time. How does it fit this record or what does it mean to you?

Chris: It's more important to me what it means to the listener, what someone else gets from it. I think all the stuff I write is a personal thing first and then it builds from there. I felt it was a title that could encompass the lyrics and the over all vibe of the record. I mean, I write all the time, so I have stuff just written down over the years compiled and something speaks to me at a certain point when I'm listening to what the guys are writing and let it go with the flow and let the music dictate to me what it is saying and how I will interpret it.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: If you were to compare this record to previous SIX FEET UNDER records, how does it differ? Was it created differently or did you approach writing it differently?

Chris: I don't like to compare things. I mean, they are separate entities and it's all new material, you know? I don't really like to compare; I don't think anything can be compared to anything else. It's kind of a funny way of looking at music, for me. I wrote all the lyrics and was really involved in this project so I look at it differently than someone else. "It sounds like this or it sounds like that" doesn't really equate with me when I listen to something that I helped put together. We attacked the writing process like we always do. What really works for us is writing each album, each song, like it's our first album that we have ever written. Just feel it out and see what sounds good to us and go from there.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: After all the years of doing what you do, how do you maintain a fresh outlook and continue to release quality stuff and stay true to your vision, you know what I mean?

Chris: Like I was saying earlier, we just approach each song like it's our first song we have ever written. We don't focus on anything we have done in the past or try and make something sound like something else. We just really go with what we think sounds good. That's how we have always done it. All the guys in the band come from that school of writing and that's where I come from, too. That's why we have such a good relationship over the years and enjoy what we do and not be bothered by anything else. We are lucky in that. I think that is the best way to write. Write for yourself not anybody else. That's what we do and it has been working well for us.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: How do you feel about the Internet and how it has revolutionized the music biz?

Chris: Oh, I think it has ruined it. I think everyone knew it back then and now it has grown into this monster that can't be stopped. Either you get on board and utilize the finer points of it or go the way of the dinosaur. I think it has ruined the music industry and I think any record company will tell you that.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Has it greatly affected what you do?

Chris: Oh, yeah, definitely. I think it affects what people do more and more everyday, on all levels. It is what it is now and the machine must be fed.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Some bands will release bonus material or stickers, you know, like extra packaging to dissuade people from downloading the album…

Chris: Oh, yeah, we've done it and it doesn't work.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: I didn't notice anything on this release like that and wanted to ask…

Chris: The European release has three bonus live tracks in a digipack.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: You don't think that's enough, huh?

Chris: Probably not, those songs will probably wind up on the Internet in two days.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: It's a real shame…

Chris: Our new album was put online a week and half ago. It's already been leaked out, you know? How is that a positive thing? I don't understand. That's why there won't be CDs anymore in about five years and there won't be record companies, so to speak, in the next five years. It will be hard for bands to tour with the economy. Basically, what's been going on with the Internet changing the music industry is that the fans have brought it upon themselves and will be the ones to ultimately suffer. I have never downloaded anything, not even legally. You know? If I want to listen to a band's music, I go buy a CD. I don't believe in anything else. The industry has been brought to its knees over this and it's ultimately going to cost everyone.

Afif Sarhan of IslamOnline.net reports: Lateef Ahmed knew when he started his band that their music will never be the popular mainstream in conservative Iraq. "Metal has been always hated and misunderstood all over the world, but in Iraq it's something totally weird…especially if we are talking here about death metal," Ahmed, the drummer in the DOG FACED CORPSE band, told IslamOnline.net.

Ahmed, 22, says he has been listening to metal music since he was 13.

DOG FACED CORPSE, one of the few death heavy metal bands that surfaced in Iraq over the past few years, is the second one he participates in since 2006.

"Most of the metal fans in Iraq don't listen to death metal, they would listen to stuff like METALLICA or LINKIN PARK, although there is always the minority who appreciate true thrash and death metal."

The original cover artwork for METALLICA's classic 1986 album "Master of Puppets", painted by artist Don Brautigam, was snapped up yesterday (Monday, November 24) for $28,000 in a sale of popular culture and entertainment art at Christie's auction house at Rockefeller Plaza, New York City. (Note: The $35,000 final figure includes the Christie's buyer fees.)

The framed, 17x17-inch piece is signed on the lower right of the painting "DB."

The auction was part of the punk/rock sale, which included memorabilia from such artists as the RAMONES, SEX PISTOLS, THE CLASH, BLACK FLAG, LED ZEPPELIN and JIMI HENDRIX.

Germany's Viva Hate Records will release a vinyl wooden box from Swedish progressive metallers OPETH. The 6xLP set will include the following three albums:

* "The Orchid"
* "Morningrise"
* "My Arms Your Hearse"

The wooden box will feature the OPETH logo and album details printed/burned on it.

The first 200 colored-vinyl "die-hard" copies will contain an exclusive special OPETH T-shirt.

California-based, female-fronted progressive metallers ECHOES OF ETERNITY will enter the studio this week to begin recording its second album, due in early 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to last year's "The Forgotten Goddess" will be produced and mixed by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who has previously worked with GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

Commente the band: "We are excited to work with Logan as he's known for doing some incredible-sounding albums. We can't wait for everyone to hear the new songs that we've poured our hearts and souls into over the past year!"

ECHOES OF ETERNITY's Olle Carlsson-directed video for the song "Voices in a Dream" can be viewed here. The track, which was chosen by the fans via a poll conducted at the band's official MySpace page, comes off the group's debut album, "The Forgotten Goddess", which was released in the U.S. on February 20, 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records (February 2 in Germany). The CD was recorded over a six-month period in Venice, California at RavensWork Studios and produced, engineered, and mastered by Eric Ryan.

Luca Turilli, guitar player of the Italian symphonic metal masters RHAPSODY OF FIRE, has issued the following update:

"I want to tell you that I finally set up my new personal studio, located between the hills and the sea of my Italian hometown, the beautiful Trieste. This studio is based on the wonders of the upcoming Pro Tools 8 from Digidesign and from now on I will use it to compose, record, arrange and produce all my future solo albums. To celebrate this happening and the 10th anniversary of my career as solo artist, I started working on a really special product, something making me really proud and, between the other things, related to my new [online guitar course] Neoclassical Revelation's trademark too. I cannot say anything anymore at this time, but for those of you who want to discover more about this very special product I can say that around Christmas I will reveal more details."

For more information on Luca's online guitar course, click here.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE announced in June 2008 that it was "in the middle of a hard legal fight" with MANOWAR's Magic Circle Music over the rights to the band's future recorded output. "As soon as this sad situation will be solved, we'll be ready for a great and mighty comeback," the group said. "A new album, a real masterpiece of speed/epic metal, is already composed and ready to be recorded and after its release an immense worldwide tour will finally follow for yours and our extreme satisfaction."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's first-ever DVD, "Visions from the Enchanted Lands", was released in July 2007 through Magic Circle Music. The disc chronicles the 2005 tour and production for the albums "Symphony of Enchanted Lands, II" and "Triumph or Agony". Highlights of this double DVD are recordings from RHAPSODY OF FIRE's first tour through U.S. and Canada as well as their outstanding performance at the Eartshaker Fest 2005. A clip from the DVD can be viewed below.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's latest album, "Triumph or Agony", was released in September 2006 via Magic Circle Music.

STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson has recorded a guest solo for "Divine Allegiance", the debut album from STYGIA, the project led by Boston, Massachusetts-based up-and-coming "shred" guitarist Todd Seitz. Todd says, "The song ['The Hunter'] is partially inspired by one of my favorite video game series Turok Dinosaur Hunter."

"Divine Allegiance" track listing:

01. Colossus
02. The Hunter
03. Journey Through The Sea
04. Spirit Bomb
05. Moonlight
06. Oblivion Overcome
07. Egg of the King
08. A Circle Undone
09. Divine Allegiance

Recording lineup for the debut STYGIA album:

Todd Seitz (STYGIA) - Guitar
Michael Vescera (ex-LOUDNESS, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Vocals
John Macaluso (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-ARK, ex-TNT) - Drums
Michael LePond (SYMPHONY X) - Bass
Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE, FORCE OF EVIL, DEMONICA) - Guest Guitar Solo
Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS) - Guest Keyboard Solo

The band intends to do some live performances after the LP release.

Germany's Viva Hate Records will release a vinyl wooden box from Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL. The 6xLP set will include the following six albums:

* "Diabolical Fullmoon"
* "Pure Holocaust"
* "Battles In The North"
* "Blizzard Beasts"
* "At The Heart Of Winter"
* "Damned In Black"

The wooden box will feature the IMMORTAL logo and album details printed/burned on it.

The white vinyl "die-hard" version will be limited to 100 copies. The dark red vinyl "die-hard" version will be limited to 200 copies. Also included will be a special T-shirt.

Swedish death metallers BLOODBATH are featured on the cover of the December 2008 issue of Metal Maniacs. In an interview, bassist Jonas Renkse discusses how BLOODBATH relates to his main outfit, KATATONIA. Excerpts follow below.

Metal Maniacs: Do you feel that BLOODBATH has a "stand-alone" identity now? That you can now simply mention the name BLOODBATH and not BLOODBATH featuring the guys from OPETH and KATATONIA?

Jonas Renkse: It has an identity now. Our aim was always to make a unique sound of our own within the larger death metal framework. With that aim in mind we've worked hard on each release. We approach it from the point of view that BLOODBATH is a band. It's not a project now, or a way of filling in time, or any of those labels that we may have picked up in the beginning. It's a band, and we work on it and for it as a band.

Metal Maniacs: Could you see BLOODBATH rising to the point of becoming your priority band?

Jonas Renkse: No, that will not happen. BLOODBATH is about death metal, the music I grew up with, and it's always in my heart. KATATONIA is the band that has been in my life since 1991, it is less about a band, and more about a philosophy, and it's a lifestyle for me. I wouldn't want to trade success with BLOODBATH for KATATONIA. I could easily drop BLOODBATH, no matter how successful it was, if it got in the way of my work with KATATONIA. But the opposite does not apply; I could never ever drop KATATONIA for BLOODBATH. That would not happen.

Metal Maniacs: Can you describe how the metal philosophy works for you?

Jonas Renkse: I think it manifests itself in the time and effort I've put into KATATONIA because it was my first major band. I was in high school when we started this band. I was determined that this was going to be my life. I was always going to devote my life to this band, and I still have never had a proper job. For years I lived in a really small flat and just worked on the band and paid the bills with whatever money I could borrow from my parents to keep me going. Now, it's paying off, and that is the metal lifestyle for me. It is about believing it, not just doing what other people say.

Fan-filmed video footage of BLOODBATH's performance at the Party.San Open Air festival, which took place August 7-9, 2008 in Bad Berka, Germany, can be viewed here.

"Angel Of Torment", the new video from the Swedish death metal band EVOCATION, can be viewed here. According to the band, the clip "features footage with us taken from the recording sessions along with guest artist Anders Björler from AT THE GATES / THE HAUNTED as well as a bunch of friends from the early '90s death metal scene."

"Angel Of Torment" comes off EVOCATION's new album, "Dead Calm Chaos", which was released on October 31 via Cyclone Empire. The CD features guest appearances by Anders Björler (AT THE GATES, THE HAUNTED) and Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (BLOODBATH, EDGE OF SANITY). The album was recorded in the band's own studio under the watchful eye of guitarist Vesa Kenttäkumpu.

EVOCATION is:

Thomas Josefsson – Vocals
Janne K. Bodén – Drums
Vesa Kenttäkumpu – Guitar
Marko Palmén – Guitar
Martin Toresson – Bass

"Dead Calm Chaos" track listing:

01. In The Reign Of Chaos
02. Silence Sleep
03. Angel of Torment (featuring Anders Björler)
04. Boundead
05. Dead Calm Chaos
06. Truth Will Come Clear
07. Dust
08. Protected by What Gods
09. Antidote (featuring Dan Swanö)
10. Tomorrow Has No Sunrise
11. Astray Masquerade
12. Razored To The Bone (featuring Anders Björler)

The cover artwork by Travis Smith (OPETH, NEVERMORE, ANATHEMA) can be viewed here.

February 9, 2009 will see the release of "April Rain", the eagerly awaited second album from DELAIN, the Dutch gothic rock/metal project founded by ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of WITHIN TEMPTATION's Robert Westerholt). "April Rain" follows the successful 2006 debut "Lucidity", which sky-rocketed the career of the band in their home country of The Netherlands. "The new album 'April Rain' is a real group effort, that's what we're most proud of," says Martijn Westerholt.

DELAIN has been Westerholt's project from the start and the debut, "Lucidity", was recorded with a star-studded cast of musical friends. He says, "The album was never meant to be played live, but the demand was strong, so we eventually got a live band together. That's the band we've recorded 'April Rain' with. Compared to 'Lucidity', I'd say that this album musically is more coherent and consistent because of the fact that it was recorded all the way through by the same musicians. Production-wise, this album has more of a metal feel to it, as opposed to the more 'poppy' production of 'Lucidity'. Also, the songs tend to be a bit faster. Less 'doomy' than on our debut. That said, that album was never intended to be played live and when performing we all felt that these kind of songs were missing in our repertoire. We can't wait to go out and play these new songs on stage! Another big difference is that there are almost no guest appearances on this album. There's only NIGHTWISH vocalist Marco Hietala, whom we also worked with on 'Lucidity', providing guest vocals on the song 'Control The Storm'."

DELAIN is currently in the studio working on the final details of "April Rain", which will is yet to be mixed and mastered. The remainder of 2008 and early 2009 will be spent on the road, beginning with a jaunt through Germany in December. Then on February 5 the album will be launched in Amsterdam at a special event at the Melkweg venue. Westerholt adds: "And after that we'll tour Europe with KAMELOT and do multiple headline shows throughout Europe.

"I'd never intended DELAIN to be a real touring band…but now that we've become one, I'm definitely enjoying it to the fullest. We're looking forward to seeing our fans again real soon!"

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have issued the following update:

"We're proud to announce that DARK TRANQUILLITY again is a six-piece (or six-pack, if you will). Daniel Antonsson [DIMENSION ZERO, ex-SOILWORK guitarist] is now officially our new bass player, and we look forward to starting to work on the next album with such a talented musician in the ranks."

According to the Italian news blog Musica Metal, DARK TRANQUILLITY was joined by THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Nell Sigland on October 31, 2008 during DT's headlining concert in Milan, Italy for a performance of the song "The Mundane And The Magic" (a track that had never before been played live). The entire show was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due in early 2009.

DARK TRANQUILLITY's setlist was as follows:

01. The Treason Wall
02. The New Build
03. Focus Shift
04. The Lesser Faith
05. Wonders At Your Feet
06. Lost To Apathy
07. Freecard
08. Inside The Particle Storm
09. Nothing To No One
10. Edenspring
11. Insanity's Crescendo
12. Lethe
13. Dreamlore Degenerate
14. Misery's Crown
15. Therein
16. My Negation
17. Yesterworld
18. Punish My Heaven
----------
19. The Mundane And The Magic
20. Final Resistance
21. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)

Photos of the concert can be found at Musica Metal.

Quality video footage of DARK TRANQUILLITY's performance in Milan is available below (clips uploaded by "ginmetal").

Century Media Records reissued DARK TRANQUILLITY's latest album, "Fiction", in May an expanded edition in conjunction with the start of the band's recently completed North American tour. The new version is composed of a CD/DVD and features a slew of new material.

Madison, Wisconsin-based, female-fronted five-piece LUNA MORTIS (formerly known as THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE) has posted a new song, entitled "Never Give In", on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's debut album, "The Absence", which is due in North America on February 10, 2009 via Century Media Records. The CD was tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (ALL THAT REMAINS, TRIVIUM).

Singer Mary Zimmer commented, "We're very excited for our debut release on Century Media Records. This album is musically all-encompassing for us, as it branches into different styles and areas of metal. We feel there's something for everyone on this record and are looking forward to sharing it with everyone! We hope you'll be as excited as we are and we’ll see you all soon."

When you're trying to break into the international music scene from Wisconsin you're left to claw your way up yourself, and LUNA MORTIS did exactly that with the 2006 release of its self-produced LP, "Way of the Blade" (released under the original band name THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE). As the album made its way through the local grapevine the band had cemented enough of a regional reputation to generate label interest. They began a period of intensive demo production and showcasing, beginning with the recording of their EP, "The Answer: Does Not Exist" (also released as THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE), and culminating in the opportunity to cut four tracks with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS). These efforts ultimately found LUNA MORTIS a home at Century Media amongst a literal pantheon of some of the band's most respected and admired influences.

LUNA MORTIS is:

Mary Zimmer - Vocals
Brian Koenig – Guitars, Vocals
Cory Scheider - Guitars
Jake Bare - Bass
Erik Madsen - Drums

LUNA MORTIS' video for the song "Anemic World" can be viewed here (note: The clip was shot while the band was still called THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE).

The official newsletter from German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN includes the following update on the band's new studio album:

"While RAMMSTEIN are recording their newest studio album in sunny California, the first snow has fallen today in Berlin. You have sent us a lot of questions since news reached you via the RAMMSTEIN website about the recordings for the new album. Many rumours have flooded the internet since then. The production of the album will take some time and a release isn't planned before autumn 2009. If everything goes according to plan, we'll hear the first single before summer 2009 and be able to greet RAMMSTEIN at the beginning of their tour before the end of the year. This tour, which is to stretch far into the year 2010, will finally give you enough of a chance to see the band live again after the long period of waiting. Above all, there are some surprises in store for our loyal fans and Community members in the 2009/2010 tour year."

Video footage of Christoph Schneider from RAMMSTEIN laying down tracks for the group's new CD earlier this month at a studio in Los Angeles can be viewed here.

RAMMSTEIN is recording the initial tracks for the new album in Los Angeles with b>Jacob Hellner and the production team of Ulf Kruckenberg and Florian Ammon. A studio has been rented near San Francisco for the bulk of the main recording work.

RAMMSTEIN's "Völkerball" DVD was released in North America in September 2007. The disc features performances from France, England, Japan and Russia. The DVD was released in three different formats. The standard two-disc DVD/CD package contains a 140-minute live video and 75-minute live CD. The special-edition package also includes a tour documentary and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Reise, Reise". Finally, the limited collectors' edition contains four discs packaged in a 190-page book with photos from the tour.

RAMMSTEIN's last album, "Rosenrot", received its long-overdue U.S. release in March 2006 via Universal Music. The CD, which was certified platinum in Germany for sales in excess of 200,000 copies within two weeks of release in October 2005, topped the official album chart in Germany, Austria and Finland, and landed at No. 2 in Sweden and Denmark, No. 4 in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, No. 5 in France, No. 6 in Mexico, No. 11 in Italy and No. 29 in the U.K. In addition, "Rosenrot" achieved gold status in Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

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

"Tomorrow is the last show of the European tour. I think we've all been surprised about the great turnout. After all, this was the second headlining tour with this album ('Unia'). Somehow these last days have gone by pretty fast and before we know it we're gonna be in Russia and then that's it... for now.

"I won't go into any extensive comments about the upcoming album, mainly because nobody knows how it will sound at this point, and the few songs I've heard by Tony [Kakko, vocals] can't paint the whole picture. It's gonna be really interesting to work with [new guitarist] Elias [Viljanen] in the studio and I'm sure we'll come up with something great.

"During the two months (December-January) when Tony is writing songs, I'll be playing the keyboards for Elias' new solo album, and in the spring we hopefully can play some shows in Finland."

Video footage of SONATA ARCTICA's November 16, 2008 concert in Munich, Germany can be viewed here.

OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE), the project featuring FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos and ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore, will begin mixing its as-yet-untitled album in early December with engineer Phil Magnotti. A spring 2009 release is expected. OPETH mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has contributed vocals to a song entitled "Stockholm" for the CD. The track was recorded by David Castillo at Castillo Sound studios.

Commented Mikael: "I was approached by Jim Matheos about the matter some time ago, and since I'm a fan of OSI, I said 'Sure!'"

He added, "It's a very moody song and completely unlike anything I've ever done before. I wrote the lyrics and the vocal lines for the piece that I simply decided to call 'Stockholm'."

OSI has spent the past several months working on its third album. According to Moore, "Gavin Harrison (PORCUPINE TREE) is playing drums on this one; he's nearly done tracking and it sounds great. Along with guitar, Jim is handling bass this time. I still get to sing but may get some help."

OSI's previous recordings featured DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy on drums.

The band's last release was the 2006 EP featuring three remixes of "Free" album tracks. InsideOut Music issued a CD version of the EP, which also included a video for the song "Free" (see here) directed by Andreas Nilsson.

OSI's "Free" album featured a guest appearance on five tracks by FATES WARNING/ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera.

"Stadig Verblind" (Slowly Blinded), the new video from Southern African metallers MIND ASSAULT, can be viewed here. The song comes off the group's debut album, "Stigma", which is available now from leading online stores like Nuclear Blast, iTunes, Rhapsody and Amazon. The CD features mostly songs written in English but also includes tracks written in the local language of Afrikaans.

"Stigma" track listing:

01. My Donker
02. Prison Of Flesh
03. Innocent Blood
04. Paint My Mind Black
05. Hoekom
06. Suffer
07. Tranquil Thoughts
08. Rise Once Again
09. Veroordeel
10. Stadig Verblind
11. We Will Prevail
12. This Is TheEnd
13. Revenge

Released independently in South Africa in February 2008, the album was recorded at Shattering Silence Studios in Cape Town and was mixed by Jared Gunsten in Johannesburg.

MIND ASSAULT is:

Jacques Fourie - vocals
Francois Pretorius - lead guitar
Patrick Davidson - guitar
Donovan Tose - bass
Andries Smit - drums

Minnesota-based progressive metal/hardcore act AFTER THE BURIAL has announced the addition of vocalist Anthony Notarmaso to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "After completing the Cleansing The Nation Tour with our longtime friend Anthony Notarmaso, it became very clear to us that he is exactly what we have been looking for. We are extremely happy to hit the road with our friends in BORN OF OSIRIS this month as our lineup is now complete. Writing new material with Anthony is already underway, and we are very excited for 2009."

AFTER THE BURIAL has just hit the road as part of the Progressive Damnation Tour with SHAI HULUD and the aforementioned BORN OF OSIRIS. The band received a full-page piece in the last issue of Decibel magazine that showcased the group's math metal dexterity, including its switch from seven- to eight-string guitars on AFTER THE BURIAL's latest album, "Rareform".

Swedish melodic heavy metal masters LION'S SHARE are putting the finishing touches on their new album, "Dark Hours", for a March 2009 release via Blistering Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Emotional Coma" will be 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" tenative 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."

LION'S SHARE's most recent album, "Emotional Coma", was released in the U.S. this past January via Locomotive Music. The CD was issued by AFM Records in Europe and Spiritual Beast in Japan/Asia and features guest solos from ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, and ex-MEGADETH guitarist Glen Drover.

Check an an e-card for the album at this location.

Video footage of LION'S SHARE performing the song "Soultaker" at MANOWAR's Magic Circle Festival in Bad Arolsen, Germany on July 7, 2007 can be viewed here. The clip comes off the "Magic Circle Festival 2007" double-DVD set, which came out at the end of last year.

Italian melodic death metallers RAINTIME will enter the studio in March/April 2009 to begin recording their new album for a late 2009 release via Lifeforce in Europe, Replica in France, Soundholic in Japan and Bieler Bros. in the U.S., Canada, U.K. According to the band, "These are going to be the best songs we've ever written. There's a lot of energy, melody and passion in the new tracks."

At the moment, RAINTIME is setting up new shows in Italy, France, Czech Republic and Germany.

A RAINTIME e-card can be accessed at this location. You can preview blistering, new tracks from the band's latest CD, "Flies and Lies" as well as the video for the track "Rolling Chances" (which can also be viewed here).

"Flies and Lies" was recorded and mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Horsens, Denmark with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, TNT, PRETTY MAIDS, FATE). Featuring twelve technically-brilliant metal tracks, "Flies and Lies" is sure to incite fans of IN FLAMES, CHILDREN OF BODOM, IRON MAIDEN, DREAM THEATER, and many more into a fevered listening frenzy!

Formed in 1999, RAINTIME consists of members Claudio Coassin (vocals), Michael Martina (guitar), Matteo Di Bon (guitar), Andrea Corona (keyboard) and is rounded out by the powerful rhythm section of Michele Colussi (bass) and Enrico Fabris (drums).

Atlanta, Georgia-based metallers BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE have posted a new song, "How Great Thou Art", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the group's third album, "Dichotomy", is scheduled for release on November 25 via Solid State Records. The CD's cover artwork, which can be viewed here, was created by Kristian Wahlin (AT THE GATES, AMORPHIS, BATHORY, DISSECTION, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, THERION, EVERGREY).

"Dichotomy" track listing:

01. Mountain Of Souls
02. Dichotomy
03. Artificial Immortality
04. Self Existent
05. St. Anne's Lullaby
06. Ransom
07. Evil Unseen
08. How Great Thou Art
09. Deep Heaven
10. End Of The Age

The CD features guest appearances by Ryan Clark (DEMON HUNTER), Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and a soprano named Suzanne Richter. According to the band, "All three make appearances on the album in key places that enable the music to go one step further in their maturity."

BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE recently parted ways with lead guitarist Alex Kenis and replaced him with Jon Star.

BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE's second album, "The Physics of Fire", was released in Europe in June 2007 via Century Media Records. The U.S. release was handled by Solid State Records. The CD was produced by Rob Caggiano (BLEEDING THROUGH, CRADLE OF FILTH, ANTHRAX).

Long-running Australian thrashers MORTAL SIN have issued the following update:

"Our longtime friend Greg Morelli, guitarist of NAZXUL, was tragically killed in the early hours of Thursday morning, November 20th in a motorcycle accident. As many locals would know, a huge storm hit Sydney last night and Greg was riding his motorbike home and hit a greasy wet patch on Parramatta road North Strathfield.

"Greg's death will be a huge loss to the Australian metal scene and of course the international black metal scene. The new NAZXUL album had just been completed and Greg was really looking forward to getting back out on the road and we had also talked about the possibility of heading over to Europe for some shows next year. Greg explained to me that the new album was sounding like they finally wanted to sound like, and was really proud of what he had achieved.

"I hope all the black metal fans out there will raise their horns tonight for Greg.

"Rest in peace, mate, you're a fucking legend."

"Cult Of The Dead", the new video from the Dutch thrash metal band LEGION OF THE DAMNED, can be viewed here. The song comes off the group's new album, "Cult of the Dead", due on December 19 via Massacre Records. The LP will be made available in three different formats: as three-disc deluxe edition including a bonus CD and a bonus DVD; a limited-edition digipack with a bonus DVD and as regular jewel case CD. The three-disc deluxe edition will include a CD containing a recording of the band's performance at Germany's Rock Hard festival in 2006 and a DVD featuring footage of LEGION OF THE DAMNED playing the entire "Cult of the Dead" album in the band's rehearsal room plus interview clips.