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.

German hard rockers KINGDOM COME will release their new album, "Magnified", on February 27 via Planet Music.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Living Dynamite
02. No Murderer I Kiss
03. 24 Hours
04. So Unreal
05. When I Was
06. Over You
07. Sweet Killing
08. Unwritten Language
09. Hey Mama
10. The Machine Inside
11. Feeding The Flame

Check out the CD artwork here.

KINGDOM COME is:

Lenny Wolf - Lead Vocals
Eric Foerster - Guitar
Frank Binke - Bass
Hendrik Thiesbrummel - Drums

KINGDOM COME's last studio CD, "Ain't Crying for the Moon", was released in Europe on October 20, 2006 via Frontiers Records.

Fusion metal — a relatively new and unexplored genre in the world of metal. Holland's EXIVIOUS marks a first to truly marry jazz fusion with metal into a coherent new style. Featuring members of legendary U.S. prog band CYNIC and Dutch metallers TEXTURES, EXIVIOUS isn't an over-the-top math metal band and certainly isn't a loungy jazz combo either. But expect everything in between!

With a jazz fusion backbone, EXIVIOUS uses freaky metal riffs to decorate their organic eruption of free improvisations and complex rhythms. Guitarist Tymon comments: "We finally managed to transform a vision I had a long time ago into nine intense and fiery songs. There's an immense amount of information in there that will definitely take more than one spin in your CD player to comprehend!"

The band will release its debut album independently to preserve 100% creative freedom. This is not only evident in their music but also in the artwork. Their self-titled CD will appear in a limited 1,000 numbered copies, each single copy bundled with its own unique artwork.

An mp3 stream of the song "Waves Of Thought" is available on the EXIVIOUS web site.

EXIVIOUS is:

Tymon (CYNIC) - Guitar
Michel Nienhuis (ex-SENGAIA) - Guitar
Robin Zielhorst (CYNIC, ex-BLUE MAN GROUP) - Bass
Stef Broks (TEXTURES) - Drums

British extreme metal drumming legend Nick Barker (CRADLE OF FILTH, TESTAMENT, DIMMU BORGIR, BRUJERIA, ATROCITY) will fill in for EXODUS' Tom Hunting during the San Francisco Bay Area metallers upcoming European tour.

Commented EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt: "On February 18, we're off to Europe for a co-headlining tour with our good old friends in OVERKILL, capped off with our return to Greece (finally!). For this OVERKILL tour, we will be without the services of [drummer] Mr. Tom Hunting, as he had a well-planned-in-advance, paid-for, and non-refundable vacation to México that has been in the works since last April-May. He will take many pictures of paradise for all to see! So while he will be sipping a drink on a sunny beach, we will be in a stinky, beer-and-piss-soaked club. Exactly where I want to be!

"So on this European tour, I would like to welcome our good friend Mr. Nick Barker, who will be holding down the drum throne! Nick is one of the baddest dudes to ever hit things with sticks, so we’re happy as hell he agreed to join this lunatic parade for a short while! There will be many bottles of Old Number [Seagram's] 7 vanishing down our guts for sure!

"Have no fear, Tom will be back — a bit more tanned I'm sure — and then we will be off and running with KREATOR for two months in the U.S. and Canada. See you all soon."

SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian has issued the following update:

"I am writing this to you from my residence in New Zealand. I felt it was appropriate to write this from here because I have HUGE news for ALL of my fans (especially for those of you in Australia and New Zealand).

"As many of you know, I am playing Big Day Out [festival in Australia/New Zealand] this year, plus some solo shows with special shows with very special guests FANTOMAS. But the reason I am writing this letter is to tell you that I am doing a once-in-a-lifetime show with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra.

"On Monday, March 16, 2009 at the Auckland Town Hall I will be collaborating with Auckland's most loved orchestra. I will be playing songs from [Serj's solo debut] 'Elect The Dead' and some unreleased extras. All the songs will be reinterpreted to fit with the orchestra, as the F.C.C. [Serj's solo band] will not be playing this show with me. It's just the orchestra and I; the arrangements for the orchestra were made by respected New Zealand composer John Psathas.

"I'm elated to have the opportunity to arrange my songs from 'Elect the Dead' for a full orchestra with the APO. The arrangements will be quite different than those on the record including bonus tracks never played live, and John Psathas will be helping me outfit my string arrangements for the full orchestra. We'll also be taping the performance for a worldwide DVD release later in the year. Yes, for real, we will be putting this out on DVD.

Audio samples of all 12 tracks that appear on "To The Grave" (cover), the new album from Danish metallers IRON FIRE, are available at this location.

"To The Grave" will be released in the U.S. on January 27 via Napalm Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Beast From The Blackness
02. Kill For Metal
03. The Demon Master
04. Cover The Sun
05. To The Grave
06. March Of The Immortals
07. The Kingdom
08. Frozen In Time
09. Hail To Odin
10. Doom Riders
11. Ghost Of Vengeance
12. The Battlefield
13. Blacksmith of Thunder (bonus track)


"To The Grave" album credits:

Vocals and bass recorded at Hellfire Studio
Guitars and Keyboards recorded at Pathfinder Studio
Drums recorded at Ear Plug Studio by: Pede
Keyboards by: Danny Pedersen
Released by: Napalm Records
Produced and mixed by Tommy Hansen
Artwork and layout by: Eric Philippe at www.redhead-or-dead.com

IRON FIRE is:

Martin Steene: Vocals
Kirk Backarach: Guitars
Martin Lund: Bass
Fritz Wagner: Drums

IRON FIRE recently announced the addition of guitarist Marc Masters (FORCENTURY) to the group's ranks.

IRON FIRE released its fourth album, "Blade of Triumph", in June 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD is the follow-up to "Revenge", which was released in March 2006 via Napalm.

IRON FIRE issued two full-length albums through the Sanctuary/Noise label prior to signing with Napalm: 2000's "Thunderstorm" and 2001's "On the Edge".

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian reports that James Hoare, deputy editor of Terrorizer magazine is agitating to have January 29 declared International Blastbeat Celebration Day. The idea started out as a joke on Good Bad Music for Bad, Bad Times, a remarkable blog written by Erich Keller, a European literature student and former frontman of acclaimed Swiss grindcore band FEAR OF GOD.

"A blastbeat is a kind of very, very rapid repeat hitting of the drums, usually in excess of 180bpms, so it sounds kind of like an apocalyptic typing pool," explains Hoare. "Most people associate it with NAPALM DEATH and EXTREME NOISE TERROR, because there was that period when John Peel was playing them a lot in the late '80s and NAPALM DEATH's drummer Mick Harris came up with the name, but blastbeats crop up in some of the strangest places. The BEASTIE BOYS used one on one of their early punk records, 'Pollywog Stew'." He thinks for a moment. "It's difficult to say what its appeal is, really. I think it's just because it's extreme."

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA have announced the addition of guitarist Isaac Delahaye to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "Isaac is no stranger to the band since he already replaced Ad [Sluijter, recently departed EPICA guitarist] once at a gig in France back in 2003. He also worked with Coen [Janssen; synthesizer, piano], Yves [Huts; bass] and Ariën [Van Weesenbeek; drums] on PROJECT SIC in 2006, but the most of you will know him from his work with GOD DETHRONED in which he also worked with Ariën. Isaac is an enormously talented and skilled musician and we think he is the ideal person to fill up Ad's spot and to make EPICA's lineup strong and complete again."

Isaac stated: "It's an honour to join my friends in EPICA and an offer I simply couldn't refuse. I've been following the band closely from the beginning, and it was great to see them growing into a leading band within the scene. I want to express my gratitude to the whole EPICA crew (including Ad) for the confidence they put in me, and I'm totally ready to rock out on stage and to help creating some great music in the future."

Guitarist Ad Sluijter last month announced his departure from EPICA. He explained, "The more successful you become as a band, the harder it gets to keep [focusing] on the most important thing of it all, and that is the music itself. Because of the busy tour schedule and the lack of time to work on new material as a result, I found myself more and more in a situation where I felt like I had to compose instead of wanting to compose. I don't consider myself a great songwriter. I really need to spend a lot of time and put a lot of effort into it before I am anywhere near to being satisfied with the result. And being the perfectionist that I am, it was just getting more and more frustrating not having the time to do so and therefore not being able to achieve the best possible result. Because of this, I simply lost the fun I usually had when composing, and this was for me a clear sign that I had to change something."