SYMPHORCE, the German power metal band featuring singer Andy B. Franck (BRAINSTORM) and guitarist Cédric "Cede" Dupont (ex-FREEDOM CALL), has issued the following update:

"Long time no news, right? Well, this is about to change as we have some exciting news for you.

"After we took our time to re'phorce' our batteries and think about our future, we are ready more than ever to make our next album — the possibly best SYMPHORCE album ever. For a couple of months now, the songwriting core of SYMPHORCE, Cede-Marcus-Andy, has come up with some great songs, melodies, hit wonders, chart-breakers, strip songs... whatever you might wanna call it.

We just wanted to let you know, that we're still around (more actively in the background for some songwriting now), but we'll be back with a 'BOOOM!' in mid-2009 with a new label partner, new material and some new surprises. Things you don't expect and still expect from SYMPHORCE! So get ready, fasten your seatbelt, get wicked and join us back here for some more news in the next couple of weeks!"

SYMPHORCE's "Become Death" album was released on February 23, 2007 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and February 26, 2007 (rest of Europe) via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at the House Of Music Studios in Winterbach (near Stuttgart), Germany with producer Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69). Mastering duties were handled by Achim Köhler (BRAINSTORM).

Kenosha, Wisconsin-based death metal band PATH, which features in its ranks Jerry Sturino (ex-JUNGLE ROT), will release its debut album, "De-Evolution" (cover), on April 7 via Crash Music.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Diversity
02. Psychodrama
03. Broken Vow
04. No Regret
05. Blind
06. Object Of A Dead Soul
07. Buried Inside
08. Fallen Pillars
09. Pawn
10. Path
11. Shame

Bonus Tracks

12. Paint It Black
13. Jager Bomb

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

Formed in 1997, PATH has been entertaining the masses and shocking audiences for over a decade. According to a press release, "their true-life lyrics of personal rage, drugs, and political abuse" have kept them "in a state of continuous evolution."

KRUX — the Swedish band featuring CANDLEMASS bassist Leif Edling, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN singer Mats Levén, ex-ENTOMBED drummer Peter Stjärnvind, guitarist Jörgen Sandstrom (also in THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED/GRAVE) and OPETH/ex-ARCH ENEMY guitarist Fredrik Åkesson — has issued the following update:

"Yes, it is true, folks. KRUX will play their last two gigs in Sweden before they enter the studio to record a new album. This will probably not happen until the winter of '09/'10, but with Fredrik Åkesson's duties in OPETH and Leif Edling being busy with CANDLEMASS new album in 2009, it is not very likely that the band will be seen on a stage again that soon. So… don't miss next week shows in Stockholm — at Harry B James (Thursday, January 29) and in Gävle — at O'Leary's (Friday, January 30). KRUX promise to play a couple of odd songs from the catalogue to make things more interesting, and you will also see Pär Wiberg from OPETH do his KRUX premiere. He replaces Carl Westholm on keys, since the doctor is in Africa saving the world."

Video footage of KRUX's March 25, 2008 performance at Kafé 44 in Stockholm can be viewed here.

KRUX's sophomore album, entitled "II", was released in October 2006 via GMR Music. The follow-up to the band's self-titled debut, "II" was recorded at Studioland studio in Upplands Väsby, Sweden.

"Krux" was released in 2002 via Holland's Mascot Records. A live DVD containing the band's entire performance from May 18, 2003 at Kägelbanan in Stockholm, Sweden, plus a promo video for the track "Black Room" and an interview, followed in 2003.

One of the most intriguing bands on Polish atmospheric dark metal scene returns with a new, disturbing album.... Cemetery of Scream’s newest offering entitled “Frozen Images” (cover) constitutes a unique and innovative work, on which the new vocalist, Olaf Różański, leaves his ice-cold fingerprints. The album has a very different character than the band’s previous releases while still maintaining the ethereal style of their music, which fluently shifts between the worlds of reality and fiction. The lyrics, mysterious and symbolic, ranging from the themes of vampires and ancient rituals to Lewis Carroll-style conundrums, for once more confirm that this band is really not afraid to look into the darkest nooks and crannies of the human soul. The music on this album is wild, fast, and majestic, yet some melodious and chart-topping tracks can also be heard on it. On the technical side, the production utilizes modern sound and recording technologies in a perfectly balanced fashion. It is a gem of petrifying visions evoked at the witching hour. “Frozen Images” will appeal to all who love the moods known from Katatonia's or Paradise Lost’s albums.

Tracklist:

1. The Ashes Bridge
2. Bluebird
3. Prince Of The City's Lights
4. Geisha Out Of Dreams
5. Million As One
6. In Your Blood
7. Sapphire Sun
8. Golden Lullaby
9. Cat's Grin
10. Black Flowers
11. Ritual Fire Dance
12. Night In White Satin

You can hear a preview track “In Your Blood” on Myspace.

Metal Mind Productions set the release day for 2nd February 2009 in Europe and 10th March 2009 in USA (via MVD).

Long-running Finnish doomsters SPIRITUS MORTIS have announced the addition of singer Sami Hynninen (a.k.a. Albert Witchfinder; REVEREND BIZARRE, THE PURITAN) to the group's ranks.

SPIRITUS MORTIS is hard at work on its third album, tentatively due before the summer via Firebox Records. A seven-inch single will precede the full-length CD, also via Firebox.

A new song, "The Rotting Trophy", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

SPIRITUS MORTIS is the oldest doom metal band from Finland. The band was formed in 1987 as RIGOR MORTIS, featuring founding members Teemu Maijala (bass, vocals), Jussi Maijala (guitars) and VP Rapo (drums).

The group's self-titled debut album was released in 2004 through Rage Of Achilles. A follow-up effort, "Fallen", came out in 2006 via Black Lotus Records.

Multinational metalheads POWERWOLF are collaborating with the Musikhochschule Saarbrücken, a conservatory for classical music, on their forthcoming third album. Last week, the band spent two days at the conservatory recording choir arrangements for eight of the songs on the new CD with a specially assembled choir of 25 men and women, most of them students or graduates of the conservatory. The choir was conducted by Francesco Cottone, who also composed the choir arrangements. (See photos: 1, 2, 3, 4.)

"It was overwhelming," frontman Attila Dorn reports. "It is a great privilege to work with such a professional choir and such a dedicated conductor. And we're not speaking of mercenaries here: All of the educated musicians did it for the honor, and some of the classical singers even outed themselves as real metal fans. We're absolutely excited about how great the choir stuff fits into the songs and how huge and heavy it all sounds. Expect a bunch of great anthems of majestic metal to come!"

The as-yet-untitled album will be mixed by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Sweden in February and will be released April 24 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, and April 27 in the rest of Europe via Metal Blade Records.

POWERWOLF's second LP, "Lupus Dei", was released in May 2007 through Metal Blade.

British doom legends WARNING have split up after 15 years of existence and two albums. The band's sole remaining original member, Patrick Walker, commented: "The decision to discontinue WARNING has been both a pain and a purgation to me. For the past two years or so, WARNING has been a considerably important part of my life, what with travelling and playing shows, writing new music and a gradual but increasing interest in the band, largely helped by Cyclone Empire's re-releasing of both records and making them for the first time easily obtainable to people. However, I started the band in 1994. I was a different person when I began playing with WARNING; I had different musical objectives; different ideals; different influences and inspirations. Now, in order to make music that retains some semblance of integrity and wholeness, I realize I need to move on. This shouldn't be thought of as 'the end' of something; I have, after all, been the sole remaining original member of the band in its most recent lineup for almost a year now; in this respect, WARNING is little more than a band name. So before I complete work on what will be the material for the next album, I need a new band; a new context within which to work.

"I hope people continue their interest in my music, and all further information concerning it will be officially made known through Cyclone Empire with whom I am very happy to say I will continue to work as originally proposed."

WARNING debuted in 1999 with "The Strength To Dream". With this album, the band gained a cult status within doom metal circles, but they soon disbanded after their 2001 European tour with JACK FROST. They regrouped in 2005 to perform at the Doom Shall Rise festival in Germany, and released a second album, "Watching From A Distance", in 2006 to much wide acclaim. Both LPs were reissued on CD in 2008 by the label Cyclone Empire, "The Strength To Dream" featuring new artwork. At the same time, "Watching From A Distance" was released by the Metal Supremacy label as a limited-edition gatefold double-vinyl.

Former PHANTOM-X guitarist Dave Harvey has joined forces with original PANTERA and current JUDGEMENT DAY (WHITESNAKE tribute) singer Donny Hart in a brand new progressive/melodic metal project called MILLENNIAL REIGN. The group, which is currently seeking a second guitarist, bassist and keyboardist, has uploaded some of its early material to the MILLENNIAL REIGN MySpace page.

Harvey and drummer Danny White both left PHANTOM-X in July of last year. Danny has since returned to classic metal band ASKA and will also be rejoining OMEN, which is fronted by ASKA vocalist George Call.

Nuclear Blast Records has pushed back the release date of "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)" (cover), the new CD/DVD from Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH, to March 13 from the previously announced March 6. The set will contain a DVD documentary (with a running time of approximately 45 minutes) of NIGHTWISH's world tour in support of the band's latest album, "Dark Passion Play", as well as a CD featuring live recordings from the trek. The documentary footage was reportedly directed by Ville Lipiäinen.

Fan-filmed video footage of NIGHTWISH performing in Hong Kong on January 24, 2008 can be viewed here.

NIGHTWISH frontwoman Anette Olzon recently hired a well-known Swedish management company, Hagenburg Management (EUROPE, THE CARDIGANS), to handle her personal affairs. Olzon believes that in the long run, the expertise of a big company like the one she is currently working with will also help King Foo Entertaiment, which manages NIGHTWISH.

"It was a hard decision for me [to hire a personal manager] because I didn't want problems with the band," she told MeNaiset, the most popular women's magazine in Finland. "I said that I have different needs in these areas than the rest of the guys. I, for example, need clothing sponsors which doesn't interest the rest of the band. Now I have a person who will be able to take care of that kind of stuff."

NIGHTWISH issued a digital-only collection of demos and B-sides titled "The Sound of Nightwish Reborn", on September 2, 2008. This release, which clocks in at nearly 70 minutes of music, retains "must-have" status for all NIGHTWISH diehards, since it includes a bevy of exclusive material, such as demo versions of songs from the "Dark Passion Play" sessions that were recorded prior to singer Anette Olzon joining the band and that feature Marco Tapani Hietala handling the vocals, as well as B-sides.

Vocalist Kevin Quilligan has left TOXOCARA, the Dutch death metal band featuring members of PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT and THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT. He will play his final gig with the band on January 30 in Niederkruchten, Germany. His replacement is Niels Feekes (VICTIMIZER). The group says, "[Niels] will reinforce our troops and will be heard on the next full-length album that we are working on at this moment."

Commented Kevin: "My decision to leave TOXOCARA is based on a couple of reasons. One of them being a lot of stress in my personal life. This has nothing to do with any of the other members in TOXOCARA whatsoever, both on a personal or band-related level. I'm going to take it easy for a few months, try to graduate and get things back in order. I'd like to thank everyone for their support, the Toxocrew and especially Martijn, Michiel, Vince, Sanne and Anne for being a killer band and amazing people. These four years have been a hell of a ride! I can assure you I will be back soon with other bands and/or projects, as will TOXOCARA (and it's gonna be heavy!), so keep in touch with both!"

TOXOCARA's second full-length album, "The Great Rebellious", was released in Janaury 2008 via Twilight-Vertrieb Records.

Vocalist Maria Brink of the Southern California-based female-fronted band IN THIS MOMENT will be featured — fully clothed — in the March 2009 "rock" issue of Playboy magazine, the group's manager, Rob "Blasko" Nicholson of Mercenary Management, revealed to Possum of Altitude TV. The issue is expected to hit newsstands on February 13. In addition, IN THIS MOMENT will take part in this summer's Warped Tour, which is scheduled to kick off in late June.

IN THIS MOMENT is preparing to embark on a massive North American trek alongside MUDVAYNE and NONPOINT beginning February 3. This run comes on the heels of the band's most successful year yet, which saw frontwoman Maria Brink landing major cover features in Inked, Revolver and Metal Edge (on stands now) as the group's latest album, "The Dream", sold more than 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD's first single, "Forever", tore up the Active Rock chart, led by heavy airplay from such tastemaker stations as WCCC (Hartford), KFNK (Seattle), KXTE (Las Vegas), WJJO (Madison) and Sirius' Octane.

"Talking Metal"'s Mark Strigl and John Ostronomy covered IRON MAIDEN's "Run to Hills" with IN THIS MOMENT members Maria Brink, Chris Howorth and Jeff Fabb. The never-before-heard track, engineered and mixed by GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, was recorded live at the Gibson Guitars showroom in New York City.

Strigl and Ostronomy will play an all-metal cover gig with SCREAMING METAL on Saturday, February 7 at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey. The group's lineup is rounded out by HADES/NON-FICTION members Dan Lorenzo and Alan Tecchio, and OVERKILL drummer Ron Lipnicki. Many special guests will soon be announced.

Italian female-fronted quartet EXILIA has posted the song "Are You Breathing?" on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's new album, "My Own Army", which will be released on February 20 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Principal Studios in Ottmarsbocholt (near Münster), Germany. ILL NINO drummer Dave Chavarri joined the band in the studio to produce a selection of songs and ILL NINO singer Cristian Machado contributes guest vocals.

Commented frontwoman Masha Mismane: "We can tell you in advance: it rocks! We are all very excited and I can tell you, that this album will be the heaviest record so far since the birth of EXILIA. We managed to 'unleash' even more hidden talents of our great guitarist Alien and with the return of our great drummer Ale, there is no lack of power! After a lot of hard work on melodies and lyrics over the past year, I'm also very pleased with the outcome of my vocals! There are definitely unique elements within every song. I wanted to give them an edge whilst maintaining the original and true characteristics of EXILIA. I can honestly say I can't wait to perform these songs live for you guys to enjoy!"

Check out the "My Own Army" artwork here.

EXILIA will team up with ILL NINO and GOD FORBID for a European tour in February/March.

EXILIA filmed a video for "Are You Breathing?" on December 17 with director Tobias Dannappel.

EXILIA's sophomore full-length album, "Nobody Excluded", was released in July 2006 via G.U.N./BMG Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Unleashed" was produced by Udo Rinklin and recorded by the infamous Resetti Brothers (Jörg Umbreit and Vincent Sorg), with Jeff Collier helping out with the vocal recordings.

Former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin has left SAVAGE PARADISE, the new band featuring Mario Parga (FORCEFIELD, COZY POWELL) on guitar, Kevin Valentine (KISS, CINDERELLA) on drums, Tim Luce (ALCATRAZZ) on bass and Eric Ragno (TAKARA, VOX TEMPUS, CHINA BLUE) on keyboards. His replacement is none other than the legendary Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MSG, ALCATRAZZ).

Commented Mario Parga: "Tony was unable to record the new SAVAGE PARADISE album due to various other commitments that all came up at the same time. We're still good friends and will undoubtedly work together in the future, and I wish him great success with his own projects.

"I've know Graham for over twenty years during which time we've been very good friends; he's like an older brother to me. We've worked on several recordings together but never played in the same band so we're both looking forward to working within SAVAGE PARADISE. Graham doesn't need any introductions, everyone knows what a unique and totally amazing voice he possesses, and I'm very excited and pleased to have him onboard."

Video footage of Mario Parga, Graham Bonnet, Tim Luce and Eric Ragno performing acoustically on January 17, 2009 at the Fishman booth at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California can be viewed below.

Finnish metallers AMORAL have posted their first single with new vocalist Ari Koivunen, "Year Of The Suckerpunch", on their MySpace page. In addition to the title track, which was written and composed by guitarist Ben Varon, the single — due in Finland on February 11 — will include a cover of the MISFITS song "Dig Up Her Bones".

AMORAL's as-yet-untitled new album was recorded at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland and is currently being mixed for a May release.

Ari Koivunen, 24, is best known as the winner of the 2007 Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols". He has released two solo albums thus far — 2007's "Fuel For The Fire" and 2008's "Becoming".

A photo of the new AMORAL lineup can be viewed below.

Vocalist Niko Kalliojärvi left AMORAL in order to focus on other projects. He made his final appearance with the band at the Thrashia Läpi Yön festival at Tammela, Finland on August 23, 2008.

AMORAL in 2007 entered the album chart in Finland at position No. 5 with the band's latest effort, "Reptile Ride".

AMORAL's video for the song "Leave Your Dead Behind" can be viewed here.

DELAIN — the Dutch gothic rock/metal project founded by ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of WITHIN TEMPTATION's Robert Westerholt) — has revealed the track listing and cover art of its eagerly awaited new album, "April Rain", which hits stores March 30 via Roadrunner Records.

"April Rain" follows DELAIN's acclaimed 2006 debut "Lucidity", which featured guest appearances by members of WITHIN TEMPTATION, NIGHTWISH and LEAVES' EYES.

"The new album is a real group effort, [and] that's what we're most proud of," says Westerholt.

After a successful tour in Germany in December 2008, DELAIN will launch the new album in Amsterdam on March 19 at a special event at the Melkweg venue. Westerholt says: "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!"

"April Rain" track listing:

01. April Rain
02. Stay Forever
03. Invidia
04. Control The Storm
05. On The Other Side
06. Virtue And Vice
07. Go Away
08. Start Swimming
09. Lost
10. I'll Reach You
11. Nothing Left

"April Rain" will also be available as a limited-edition digipack, including bonus content.

Pennsylvanian thrash metal band MANTIC RITUAL (formerly MELTDOWN) has posted two new songs — "Next Attack" and "Murdered To Death" — on the group's MySpace page. Both cuts come off MANTIC RITUAL's debut album, "Executioner", which will be released in the U.S. on March 10 via Nuclear Blast Records (February 27 in Europe). The CD was recorded at Andy Classen's (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, DEW-SCENTED, NEAERA, BELPHEGOR, ASPHYX) Stage One Studio in Germany. Vocalist/guitarist Dan Wetmore states, "We had a killer time in Germany recording with Andy Classen. His studio has seen some awesome bands make killer records, and we feel ours definitely holds its own. It's heavy, fast, aggressive, and completely true to the institution of heavy metal. With few distractions in the German countryside, we focused in on getting the album to sound exactly how we wanted. Now, with the album's release, we're planning on unleashing our energy in every city and town we can drag ourselves to."

Check out the "Executioner" artwork here.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. One By One
02. Executioner
03. Black Tar Sin
04. Death And Destruction
05. Murdered To Death
06. Souls
07. Panic
08. Double The Blood
09. Blackout
10. Thrashatonement
11. By The Cemetary
12. Next Attack

MANTIC RITUAL is:

Dan Wetmore - Vocals, Guitar
Jeff Potts - Guitar
Ben Mottsman - Bass
Adam Haritan - Drums

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — will release its new double DVD, "We Came With The Northern Winds - En Saga I Belgia", on February 27 via Napalm Records. The set "will have a total playing time of approximately six hours," according to a press release. "The first disc comprises 'We Came With The Northern Winds', a band documentary with a running time of two hours. The movie highlights the band's career and offers fans an exclusive and intimate glimpse into the world of LEAVES' EYES, as well as presenting the viewer with impressions of past tours (222 concerts spanning over four continents and 34 countries). The second disc documents LEAVES' EYES' memorable headlining gig on October 20, 2007 at the Metal Female Voices Fest in Wieze, Belgium. The show featured the legendary Viking longboat stage set, as well as a setlist full of fan favorites. The package also delivers a double audio CD of the show as a special bonus."

"We Came With The Northern Winds - En Saga I Belgia" will be released as a deluxe eight-panel DVD digipack and slipcase as well as in CD format as a deluxe eight-panel digipack and slipcase.

Commented guitarist Thorsten Bauer: “This DVD package definitely makes my day. It contains the fulminant 'En Saga I Belgia' show. Every fan of monumental and spectacular stage shows will be enchanted! Additionally, one DVD contains an extensively produced documentary about our band which shows everything what we have done and what happened to us with the band during the last five years. The viewers can watch all this within two hours of entertainment and excitement. When I watched the final version for the first time, with all the tour episodes from North and South America, Europe, Mexico and Australia, I got goose bumps several times. With this movie, the viewer can get a very close experience with our band; he will be taken with us on our world tour!"

The track listing is as follows:

Video Portion:

DVD1 - The Movie: "We Came With The Northern Winds"

Chapters:

01. The Story Of Leaves' Eyes
02. From Fjords And Myths
03. Ode To A Seamaid
04. Musical Nature
05. The Saga Of Vinland
06. Sounds Of Strings
07. Across European Borders
08. Dark Emotions
09. Mexican Tales
10. Strange Melodies
11. Viva South America
12. Angelique Voices
13. Going Down Under
14. The Beauty And The Beast
15. American Dreams
16. The Passage

Specials:

Video Clips:

01. Elegy
02. Into your Light
03. Farewell Proud Men (From Mexico To Russia)
04. Legend Land
05. New Found Land
06. The Thorn (Live at Masters of Rock)
07. The Crossing - America 2006 A.D. (Trailer)

Photogallery

DVD 2 – The Concert (playing time 91 minutes): "En Saga I Belgia"

Chapters:

01. Intro - Vinland Saga
02. Farewell Proud Men
03. Ocean's Way
04. The Crossing
05. Into your Light
06. The Thorn
07. Mourning Tree
08. For Amelie
09. Skraelings
10. Temptation
11. Tale of the Seamaid
12. New Found Land
13. Leaves' Eyes
14. Solemn Sea
15. Amrhàn (Song of the Winds)
16. Norwegian Lovesong
17. Lyset
18. Legend Land
19. Elegy
20. Outro - Mot Fjerne Land

Specials:

* Making of
* Photogallery

Audio Portion - Double Live CD: "En Saga I Belgia"

CD 1:

01. Intro - Vinland Saga
02. Farewell Proud Men
03. Ocean's Way
04. The Crossing
05. Into your Light
06. The Thorn
07. Mourning Tree
08. For Amelie
09. Skraelings
10. Temptation

CD 2:

01. Tale of the Seamaid
02. New Found Land
03. Leaves' Eyes
04. Solemn Sea
05. Amrhàn (Song of the Winds)
06. Norwegian Lovesong
07. Lyset
08. Legend Land
09. Elegy
10. Outro - Mot Fjerne Land

A two-minute trailer for "System Overload", the forthcoming debut album from HDK (formerly HATE DEATH KILL) — the Dutch project led by AFTER FOREVER co-founder, main songwriter and guitarist Sander Gommans — can be viewed here. The clip features audio samples of various tracks that appear on the CD, which will be released on February 23 in Europe and on April 21 in North America via France's Season of Mist.

The track listing is as follows:

01. System Overload
02. Request
03. Let Go
04. Terrorist
05. Pedestal
06. On Hold
07. Breakdown
08. March
09. Perfect
10. Fight Or Flight
11. Fine Lines

Check out the artwork here.

Commented Sander: "The artwork of the HDK album represents the crucial fragile part of a human being: the brain. Since the whole album deals about stress, the brain is an important part of that subject. It's amazing how much a brain can take, but also how it reacts if it's overloaded with information. The artwork is based on that situation. With the use of brain scans and other medical pics, the atmosphere of the booklet really matches the atmosphere of the music!"

Regarding how the project came about, Sander previously said, "AFTER FOREVER has always been a band that is diverse enough for me to write music for. The stuff I've written for AFTER FOREVER contains a lot of metal and non-metal styles, the great thing about this band being that people expect every album to be different, so it's always interesting to write a new album. However, since our first release, I felt the need to write more extreme stuff. AFTER FOREVER is already one of the most aggressive bands in the female-fronted genre, but I didn't want to use the extreme stuff I had in mind for the band, since that would not fit at all. Writing for AFTER FOREVER has often been a result of positive energy, and I needed to do something with the negative energy I was beginning to feel after some problems we encountered with the releases of 'Invisible Circles' and 'Remagine'. As this frustration was growing and growing, I just decided to transform it into songs, and they turned out to sound much more aggressive and experimental than the stuff I had done before.

"Since the songs sounded more extreme than I thought and contained a lot of the heavier metal styles, I thought it might have to become a very over-the-top project, in a cynical way. 'HATE DEATH KILL' was a name that suited that cynical idea, but I started to realise the music actually represented a very important part of myself and my life, so it became much more serious. I changed the name to HDK, asking Amanda Somerville [the American singer-songwriter and vocal coach who is better known for her collaborations with various European metal bands, including EPICA, AFTER FOREVER and EDGUY — Ed.] to write the lyrics for the project, based on the subjects I already had for each song. They are all very personal and describe what happens with somebody who is under too much pressure. The funny thing is that, when I got my burn-out (which caused me to take a break of a year of everything I was doing), reading the lyrics made me aware of where it went wrong. The collaboration with Amanda worked out really well, together we also wrote the vocal lines and after that I started searching for guest musicians.

"I didn't want it to be 'only' an album with grunts, or clean male vocal, or screams, or female vocals. I wanted to have a combination of all of those, since they all represent emotions in their own way. I think that's the unique part of the project, you have to think 'out of the box' when you listen to it, it doesn't fit in any style but I think it gives a combination of all kinds of metal styles in an extreme way. Working together with all those great musicians was a fantastic experience, without them I could never have made this intense album. This album shows a different side of me, and I'm thankful to be able to release it together with Season of Mist.

"If you are into different kinds of (extreme) metal and you are searching for a combination of those in one album, you might want to check out this album."

HDK features contributions from the following musicians:

Amanda Somerville: Vocals
André Matos (ex-ANGRA, SHAAMAN, VIRGO): Vocals
Ariën van Weesenbeek (GOD DETHRONED): Drums
Joost van den Broek (SUN CAGED, AFTER FOREVER): Keyboards
Jos Severens (SUSTAIN): Vocals
Patrick Savelkoul (CALLENISH CIRCLE): Vocals
Paul Niessen (I WITNESS): Vocals
Peter Vink: Bass
Sander Gommans: Guitar, Vocals

Italian hard rock band LACUNA COIL, which offers the dual vocals of male singer Andrea Ferro and female vocalist Cristina Scabbia, recently spoke to Revolver magazine about the group's new album, "Shallow Life", tentatively due in April via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded in September/October at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Don Gilmore, who has previously worked with LINKIN PARK, TRAPT, AVRIL LAVIGNE, GOOD CHARLOTTE, THE VERONICAS, PEARL JAM, TRUST COMPANY and DURAN DURAN.

"It's definitely us, but the energy is completed different and the whole album feels more 'rock,'" stated Scabbia." I think that's because, as an artist, you travel a lot and you listen to the radio and you're exposed to all these different styles that rub off on you. To me, this is the perfect mixture between our old European sound and something more modern." She added, "Some of it's very heavy. The most amazing this is, we've been able to improve everything about LACUNA COIL without taking away anything good or doing something that doesn't belong."

Regarding the band's collaboration with Gilmore, Cristina said, "He helped us all find our strengths and work with them to be even better. Sometimes when you're used to something, you get stuck in your own process and you don't see the big picture. So when someone from the outside comes in, they can give you a completely different opinion that you don't have because you're alwys stuck in there."

"Shallow Life" will be LACUNA COIL's first concept album as all the songs address superficiality and the discontent and unhappiness it can cause. "It's more against the superficial lifestyle in general, but not regarding celebrities," singer Andrea Ferro previously told Rock Sound magazine. "You can talk about celebrities, but you can also talk about everyday people. It's more a reflection on life itself, and especially on the way you lead your life in a superficial way."

Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "I Like It", "Spellbound", "I Survive" and "I Won't Tell You".

"This City Speaks in Tongues", the sophomore album from Norwegian extreme metallers SHE SAID DESTROY, is available for streaming in its entirety at Terrorizer.com. The CD was released in Norway on November 17, 2008 and will be issued in the rest of Europe on February 2 through Tabu Recordings.

"This City Speaks in Tongues" (cover) track listing:

01. This City Speaks In Tongues
02. We Will Never Learn
03. An Age Of Leeches
04. Tea And Toast At The Very End Of Time
05. No Zen
06. I Love This Place
07. Consider This A Warning
08. Servitude

SHE SAID DESTROY's debut album, "Time like Vines", was released in Europe in April 2006 via Nocturnal Art Productions.

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