Denmark-based symphonic metal band EVIL MASQUERADE has set "Fade To Black" as the title of its fourth abum, due in early 2009 via an as-yet-undisclosed label. The follow-up to 2006's "Third Act" was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (JORN, HELLOWEEN) at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark and features a guest appearance by former RAINBOW keyboardist Tony Carey.

"Fade To Black" recording lineup:

Henrik Flyman - Guitar
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals
Daniel Flores (MIND'S EYE) - Drums
Johan Niemann (THERION, DEMONOID) - Bass
Tony Carey (RAINBOW) – Keyboards

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Lights Out
02. In a Dungeon Close to Hell
03. The Darkness Within
04. Hollow Soul
05. Different Shades of Black
06. Powertools
07. The Ultimate Game
08. Desire and Pain
09. Diamond Dust
10. I Believe In Sin

HORTUS ANIMAE, the extreme experimental metal project of former ANCIENT drummer Diego "GroM" Meraviglia, and Sleaszy Rider Records are celebrating the band's 10-year anniversary by releasing a special limited-edition box set entitled "Funeral Nation / 10 Years Of Hortus Animae".

The box set contains the following:

1. "The Blow Of Furious Winds" CD+DVD
2. "Waltzing Mephisto" demos, different audio mix/master, alternative artwork and signed by the band (RARE!)
3. "Pentagram" T-shirt ("The Melting Idols" T-shirt on request)
4. Metal-pin
5. Band photo
6. HORTUS ANIMAE mug
7. Artwork by Niklas Sundin / Cabin Fever Media

Only 100 copies have been released and for a very special price.

Swedish thrashers DARKANE will release their fifth album, "Demonic Art", in North America on February 10, 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. The North America version of the CD, which came out in Europe on October 24 via Massacre Records, will contain a bonus track and a bonus DVD.

"Demonic Art" track listing:

01. Variations of an Eye Crush (instrumental)
02. Leaving Existence
03. Demonic Art
04. Absolution
05. Execution 44
06. Impetious Constant Chaos
07. Demigod
08. Soul Survivor
09. The Killing of I
10. Wrong Grave (instrumental)
11. Still in Progress
12. Wrath Connection
13. Reborn in Greed (bonus track)

The bonus DVD will feature the following six components:

* The studio diaries
* The recording of the intro
* Live clips from the Chicago Powerfest
* Video clip for "Layers Of Lies"
* Trailer for the upcoming DARKANE DVD
* Trailer for "Seven Deadly Pieces" documentary

According to the band, "12 songs ended up on the final version, with about 48 minutes of pure aggressive, brutal, melodic, modern, technical, furious, fast, heavy and insane thrash metal! We are very proud of this album and we know for sure that if you liked what we've done before you won't be disappointed in any way this time either. DARKANE has developed in a way that hopefully will give us new fans as well, not meaning that we've turned softer or more mainstream... just better! ...and more humble."

German thrash metal veterans KREATOR will unveil their new video for the title track of their forthcoming album, "Hordes Of Chaos", in about two weeks. The clip was shot on November 2 in Berlin, Germany with director Jörn Heitmann (RAMMSTEIN), who has also worked on the band's video for the song "Enemy Of God".

Commented KREATOR guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza: "There will be two versions of the clip, one screening version and another one that will hopefully set new standarts in violent video art!! Be prepared!"

KREATOR will release "Hordes Of Chaos" in Europe on January 19, 2009 via SPV Records (except in Germany, where it will be issued on January 16). The CD will arrive in the U.S. on January 13.

The new album will be available in three different versions. The jewel case edition includes the ten regular album songs, and the deluxe version features an additional bonus DVD with an atmospheric making-of in super-8 quality courtesy of a Berlin filmmaker. As a third option, the ultra-deluxe version comes with a t-shirt, a worthwhile photo book and an extended version of the bonus DVD, as well as the CD.

The "Hordes Of Chaos" artwork was created once again by Joachim Luetke. Luetke designed the artwork for KREATOR's last album, "Enemy Of God", as well as past releases from bands like DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY and RAGE.

"Hordes Of Chaos" track listing:

Limited Edition:

01. Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
02. Warcurse
03. Escalation
04. Amok Run
05. Destroy What Destroys You
06. Radical Resistance
07. Absolute Misanthropy
08. To The Afterborn
09. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince

Bonus DVD

* The Making of "Hordes Of Chaos" directed by Stephanie von Beauvais
* "Awakening Of The Gods" live at Summer Breeze Open Air Germany 2006
* "Coma Of Souls" live at Summer Breeze Open Air Germany 2006
* "Hordes Of Chaos" video

Running time: approximately 35 minutes

Jewel Case:

01. Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
02. Warcurse
03. Escalation
04. Amok Run
05. Destroy What Destroys You
06. Radical Resistance
07. Absolute Misanthropy
08. To The Afterborn
09. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince

LP:

Side 1:

01. Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
02. Warcurse
03. Escalation
04. Amok Run
05. Destroy What Destroys You

Side 2:

06. Radical Resistance
07. Absolute Misanthropy
08. To The Afterborn
09. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince

IN FLAMES, DISMEMBER, EVERGREY, MESHUGGAH and OPETH are among the artists that are competing for the "Best Hard Rock" honor at the Swedish Grammis awards, which will be held January 7, 2008 at Hovet in Stockholm. The bands are all in the running to be nominated for their most recent releases, all of which came out during 2008.

The award is partly based on votes. Of the ten acts in the running, only five will be nominated as official candidates for the award.

The following artists are up for a nomination:

* CULT OF LUNA - "Eternal Kingdom"
* DISMEMBER - "Dismember"
* EVERGREY - "Torn"
* IN FLAMES - "A Sense Of Purpose"
* MESHUGGAH - "obZen"
* MILLENCOLIN - "Machine 15"
* OPETH – "Watershed"
* SABATON - "The Art Of War"
* THE HAUNTED - "Versus"
* TIAMAT - "Amanethes"

Last year's Grammis award in the "Best Hard Rock" category was won by MUSTASCH for the band's "Latest Version Of The Truth" CD. MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee presented the award to MUSTASCH, who beat out such veterans acts as CANDLEMASS, ENTOMBED and CLAWFINGER for the honor.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's Vince Neil has told MTV.com that he thinks KANYE WEST will win the battle of charts over GUNS N' ROSES. The rapper released his fourth album, "808s And Heartbreak", the same week as GUNS N' ROSES' long-awaited "Chinese Democracy", and music-industry insiders are curious to see who will end up opening at No. 1 when sales figures are released December 3

"It will probably be close, but Kanye will probably take it," Vince told MTV.com. "The thing about GUNS N' ROSES is, it's not really GUNS N' ROSES. If Slash and Duff were still in it, I'd be a little more excited. Hopefully, it's a good album. I hope it's worth it, because they spent a lot of money and a lot of time on it. I like to record in two weeks, so I never second-guess myself.

Following legendary Finnish rockers HANOI ROCKS' recent announcement that they will break up by the end of this year, they have released a brand new 2-CD retrospective compilation "This One's For Rock 'N' Roll - The Best Of Hanoi Rocks 1980-2008". This superb package includes 33 songs, encompassing both distinctive parts of their career, the '80s and the new millennium. The lavishly packaged set includes many previously unreleased photos and written testimonials from illustrious peers such as Alice Cooper, Ginger (THE WILDHEARTS), Dregen (BACKYARD BABIES) and Jussi 69 (THE 69 EYES).

CD 1 covers the years 1980-1985 and the first incarnation of HANOI ROCKS, tragically cut short by drummer Razzle's death. CD 2 brings the legend up-to-date with music from the reborn band from 2001 onwards.

CD1:

01. Lost In The City
02. Tragedy
03. 11th Street Kids
04. Oriental Beat
05. No Law Or Order
06. Motorvatin'
07. Taxidriver
08. Cafe Avenue
09. Love's An Injection
10. Back To Mystery City
11. Until I Get You
12. Malibu Beach
13. Up Around The Bend
14. Don't You Ever Leave Me
15. High School
16. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
17. Million Miles Away

CD2:

01. People Like Me
02. A Day Late, A Dollar Short
03. Obscured
04. In My Darkest Moment
05. Back In Yer Face
06. Better High
07. You Make The Earth Move
08. Eternal Optimist
09. Center Of My Universe
10. Hypermobile
11. Fashion
12. This One's For Rock 'n' Roll
13. Teenage Revolution
14. Grin And Bear It

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has told Jane Stevenson of Canada's Sun Media that the veteran glam rockers are writing songs for a new album that he expects they will record next year and release next summer. KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley will produce the disc. The band will follow the album's release with a limited tour.

"We'll do a handful of shows just to keep in the game (next) summer, maybe 10 (dates), some Canadian shows," Simmons told the Sun Media. "I know Halifax is one, but before you get out there and start the baseball season, they hold exhibition games, that's what we're doing. 'Cause once we go out, it's going to be for a year and a half."

As for rumblings of a co-headlining tour with QUEEN, Simmons said, "Oh, I've heard that, but we don't know until it's real. I would be happy to step up on that stage. I'd (also) love to step up on a stage with the STONES."

We are now happy to announce that the Backyard Babies will be supporting Danko Jones on their tour in central Europe which starts on March 20. You find all the gigs under upcoming tours.


And also, Guns N’ Roses has thanked Dregen and Nicke Borg on the cover of their new album.

Nicke Borg is overwhelmed - This is huge, he says from the tour bus in eastern Europe where they are touring right now.


Backyard Babies have been nominated in the categori THE GROUP OF THE YEAR 2009 at the Swedish Grammy awards.
Make Backyard Babies your number one star and VOTE HERE!

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, September 26, 2008 – Neonode (NASDAQ: NEON), the Swedish mobile communication company that develops touch screen technologies and designs mobile handsets, today announced the release of a Backyard Babies Limited Edition Neonode N2 multimedia touch screen phone.
The Backyard Babies Limited Edition Neonode N2 phone consists of the new and self named hit album, BACKYARD BABIES and other special features.
The Special Edition is available through the Company’s web shop, for as low as $353, ?250 or £200 depending on choice of currency.


The notorious Swedish rock band released its latest album, “Backyard Babies” on August 13, 2008 and it went straight to the top of the Swedish charts. Backyard Babies over their 20 year history has become one of Sweden’s best known rock bands and has released 6 albums, won a Grammy and also reached the rest of the world by their tattooed crusade.


In a joint effort, Neonode and Backyard Babies are now offering the unique multimedia touch screen phone, the Neonode N2, in a special Backyard Babies Limited Edition through the Company’s web shop .


The Neonode N2 limited edition consists of the complete new critically acclaimed hit album “Backyard Babies”, a music video, bonus track and numerous ringtones and Backyard Babies themes.

"Blood in Heaven", the new video from Quebec's very own destructive metal force KATAKLYSM, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by renowned Canadian director Max Hebert.

KATAKLYSM singer Maurizio Iacono previously stated about the decision to shoot a video for "Blood in Heaven": "A while back ago we made the decision to have the title track [of our new album] 'Prevail' be the next video clip. After carefully thinking it over, we have now decided to go with our original plan and shoot the video for 'Blood in Heaven'. Lots of fans have been asking us to do a clip for that song so we decided, 'why not, it's all about the fans anyways!' Besides, 'Prevail' is already a massive live song and doesn't need any more of a push. There are other gems on this album that we want to introduce so here it goes!

"We wanted to do something cool with this one so [we hired] someone [to film] us on tour everywhere we go. . . The live shots will be from the band's hometown and final gig of the [recently completed North American] tour in Montreal, Canada. There will be a huge crew in place to film with five different cameras in all angles."

KATAKLYSM recently completed a successful headlining run as part of the second annual "Death By Decibels" tour with DYING FETUS, ELUVEITIE and KEEP OF KALESSIN.

"Prevail", the most recent CD by KATAKLYSM, was honored in the "Album Of The Year" in the "Metal/Hardcore" category at the Quebec Indie Music Awards (GAMIQ), an awards show that recognizes achievements by Quebec independent artists. The event was held on on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at the Corona Theatre in Montreal and was produced by the Quebec Independent Music Association which is also behind the Montreal International Music Initiative (MIMI).

Italy's NOVEMBRE announced the following update on their MySpace blog:

The tormented role of bass player is passed on to VALERIO DI LELLA, already the band's live sound engineer for years, and singer of Death Metal band GRIMNESS.

NOVEMBRE, who recently parted company with Luca Giovagnoli, are glad to officially welcome Valerio on board.

In Valerio's own words:

"I'm so thrilled to join this band, as being always on the road with them as a soundguy had made me one of them anyways. Moreover, we totally share the same musical tastes and I'm so digging the new songs which are taking shape these days".

Indeed, the band's just started the writing sessions for their next studio album..
It's way too early to say anything about it except for the unmistakable Novembre's style which is always there and ain't gonna be altered..

Meanwhile, CLASSICA re-release is gonna be supported by an extensive European tour with TIAMAT and THE 69 EYES in February and March 2009;

According to the Robert Plant Newswire, former LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant confirmed to the Birmingham Evening Mail on November 6 that he would not be joining guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham on the road for the proposed ZEPPELIN reunion tour. He said it was partly because he'd be busy working on the follow-up to his awardwinning "Raising Sand" LP.

"In January, I'm starting to record a new album with Alison Krauss and T Bone Burnett," he revealed, before adding, "but I understand that everyone's got to eat," implying that the Plant-less LED ZEP has his blessing.

He also imparted one piece of significant information: "They won't be calling it LED ZEPPELIN!"

Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham recently confirmed that they are contemplating going on the road without Robert Plant, and have jammed witih several potential replacements. Sources have indicated that the leading candidate for the job is Myles Kennedy of the band ALTER BRIDGE.

When asked about the collaboration, an unnamed spokesperson for Page's management company, QPrime, told RollingStone.com, "Whatever this is, it is not LED ZEPPELIN. Not without the involvement of Robert Plant."

DARKTHRONE's Nocturno Culto has issued the following update:

"'Dark Thrones And Black Flags' [the latest album from DARKTHRONE] is, well, history for me now, since the planning and songwriting for a new album is well underway. We enjoyed recording it and looking forward to December 13th when we pull the trigger for a new album. There are small details this time around that will most likely result in a slight different sound and 'feeling.' Seems pointless to mention such stuff here, but I can assure you that both Fenriz and me looking forward to this. The first session of a new record is always exciting plus since it do set some fundamental standards...at least in our heads....well, at least in MY head then. Working the way we do now is such a blizz it's hard to describe."

A mini-site for "Dark Thrones and Black Flags" can be accessed at this location.

"Dark Thrones and Black Flags" was released on October 20 through Peaceville. The follow-up to 2007's acclaimed "F.O.A.D." LP was made available in three formats: a regular edition in super jewel case; a vinyl edition; and a special edition in a slipcased super jewel case package with exclusive new video footage featuring DARKTHRONE in the studio — "Fucking Around Version 1" and "Fucking Around Version 2."

In a recent interview with UK's Terrorizer magazine, DARKTHRONE's Fenriz stated about the philosophy behind the band's deliberately underground sound, "Things changed around '89/'90 and especially in the mid '90s, where everyone could get, like, a pro sound. Our first album, we just paid 1,000 quid for that studio session, and then we had that ENTOMBED sound: that was like being professional. In the '80s, you had underground sound until you 'made it.' That all changed when you could get good sound for very little money. Once that happened, overground and underground became a choice, like you would choose to have underground sound, or you would choose to have overground sound. Then everybody could choose to be underground or overground sound. . . We're deliberate underground now. Basically, we just record in the way a demo would have been recorded in the '80s. Our albums now are just 35- or 40-minute long demos."

On the approach that other bands choose to take with their music, Fenriz said, "A lot of bands chose to think, 'Oh, 'Transilvanian Hunger'! If you play that twice the speed, with synthesisers, and a professional sound, it will be three times as good!' They make Disney version. When I first heard 'In the Nightside Eclipse' [EMPEROR's full-length debut], I was just like, 'Turn this off!' Everyone else was just like, 'What!? Don't you like this?' And I was just thinking to myself, 'Okay, we're on a different ballpark here.' And I just stick to myself and listen to thrash."

Pete Woods of MTUK metal 'zine conducted an interview with Danny Cavanagh of the UK atmospheric rock band ANATHEMA prior to the band's November 7, 2008 concert at London, U.K.'s Islington Academy. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

MTUK: Firstly, I wanted to ask about your partly enforced DIY approach to things. After Music For Nations' closure, you essentially found yourself without a label and have been using your website for tasters of new material. What is the current position as far as labels and a release of a new studio album are concerned?

Danny Cavanagh: Well, we are going to finish the album, have it mixed by Steven Wilson and mastered. It's going to be a fucking incredible record. Then the manager, who is also the manager of PORCUPINE TREE, is going to go to other labels in Europe and America and say, "Listen to this." We are going to get a record contract based on the quality of that record and he is going to do the negotiating and we will see where we stand after that.

MTUK: Well, I would imagine that you would have been approached by labels already?

Danny Cavanagh: Yeah, yeah we have had the usual suspects — Nuclear Blast, Century Media and all that — but we just wanted to wait as we realized that what we wanted was the chance to record the record independently first then release it via somebody as your bargain position is stronger. Also, as it is already recorded, it means they can't change it and you can keep the rights. As the record company have not spent a lot of money recording it, so they can budget for other things. So that's the plan. With "Hindsight" being recorded independently, we figured we can do that, we have better gear now and with the benefit of "Hindsight" and the benefit of all those recording techniques, we can make a very good recording, give the files to Steven and mix it with him, have it sounding amazing, get it mastered and away we go, see who wants it.

MTUK: Wiki is saying that a new album could well be called "Horizons" and it is not impossible it could be a double disc produced by Steve Wilson. Is this still a likelihood or have things changed?

Danny Cavanagh: The title will probably stay the same, but I think it's going to be about an hour long on a single disc. Produced by the band, but mixed by Steven. We will be looking after all the recording process and the decisions, but we are certainly very glad to have him on the mixing. There were a few arguments for and against the double-album thing. It just seemed better having it an hour long and everything done in one listen as often what can happen with two discs is that people pick one over the other.

MTUK: You also were managing yourselves. Obviously you have plenty of experience in the music business, but what would you personally say were the advantages and disadvantages of this and what advice would you give an up and coming band thinking, "We can do that?"

Danny Cavanagh: Well, we do now have a manager in place and a booking agent. When we lost our previous manager and started to take over our affairs, we started making money. Suddenly the shows were earning us money and because it's all done in-house, our tour manager is a member of the band (Les Smith). It's obviously in all of our interests to look after the tours well as nobody wants to work for nothing. It's been good and this tour is actually the best we have done financially and I think it is only going to improve. Managers are great for contracts, you need them, someone to fight your corner and we have that now. I couldn't give young bands advice, it wouldn't be right for me to do so. I think you have to take each case on its own merits.

MTUK: You have a long-running relationship with Peaceville who have just re-released your "Silent Enigma" album, a personal- and, I think fair to say, fan-favorite album. What are your memories of the original release and would you say hopes and expectations of its success were exceeded?

Danny Cavanagh: Yeah, praise was heaped upon it which I didn't expect. I remember that, I did not see it coming. Quite good memories, really. I was young, up and coming, and it was pre the dark days. I was quite well, really, in a lot of ways recording that record. It came together very quickly, I think it is all there in the sleeve notes, it was almost improvised in the studio that album. We were full of joy de vivre and were very bullish and the bee's knees, you know. I have positive memories of it all.

British doomsters ORANGE GOBLIN will enter a London studio at the end of May 2009 to record their seventh album for a September release via Candlelight Records. Production on the CD will be handled by Sanford Parker, who has previously worked with NACHTMYSTIUM, LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR, PELICAN, RWAKE, UNEARTHLY TRANCE, VENOMOUS CONCEPT, MINSK and BURIED AT SEA, among others.

Commented ORANGE GOBLIN vocalist Ben Ward, "We are excited at the prospect of working with Sanford. We are all big fans of his work with bands like PELICAN, NACHTMYSTIUM and LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR, and I'm sure he will add a new element to what we do in ORANGE GOBLIN. It's inspiring to work with someone new that 'gets' exactly what we are about and Sanford's enthusiasm to work with us made him an obvious choice!"

ORANGE GOBLIN's performance at the Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland on April 23, 2009 will be recorded for a limited-edition, vinyl-only live album.

The band's latest CD, "Healing through Fire", was released in May 2007 through Sanctuary Records. The album was initially released as a CD with a bonus DVD featuring live footage from the band's headline show at London's Mean Fiddler in December 2006.

22-year-old UK-based singer Carina Lirola will release her "Cinderella Alive" live EP on December 1 via iTunes. Recorded live in Manchester earlier this year, it features live versions of songs from Carina's forthcoming album, "Cinderella Is Dead", due out next year on DR2 Records in Europe and Favored Nations/Light Without Heat (Steve Vai's label) for USA and Japan.

"Cinderella Alive" EP track listing:

01. The Time Has Come
02. Broken
03. Cinderella Is Dead

Carina has been busy co-writing material with Bernie Torme (ex-GILLAN, OZZY OSBOURNE), who also plays guitar on two tracks on "Cinderella Is Dead". Other guest musicians include guitarist Reb Beach (WHITESNAKE, WINGER, DOKKEN; on the song "Cinderella Is Dead"), drummer Patrick Johannason (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), keyboardist Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), and drummer Ray Luzier (KORN, DAVID LEE ROTH).

Lirola is being represented in the USA by Coallier Entertainment (TWISTED SISTER, W.A.S.P.).

Nuclear Blast Records has set a December 5 European release date for "The Worms Of God", a complete anthology from the Swedish death metal pioneers COMECON. The two-CD set includes all three of the band's studio albums: "Megatrends In Brutality" (1992), "Converging Conspiracies" (1993) and "Fable Frolic" (1995).

COMECON's success and excellent reputation were not only based on the quality of their songs but also on the fact that the three albums featured three different well-known vocalists: "Megatrends In Brutality" was recorded with L.G. Petrov of ENTOMBED fame, "Converging Conspiracies" featured Martin van Drunen (ASPHYX, ex-PESTILENCE) on vocals, while Marc Grewe (MORGOTH) contributed the vocals to COMECON's third album, "Fable Frolic". If you consider yourself a death metal fan, these classic albums have to be part of your record collection.

"The Worms Of God" track listing:

CD 1:

01. The Dog Days
02. Wash Away The Filth
03. Slope
04. Teuton Tantrums
05. The Mule
06. Armed Solution
07. The Future Belongs To Us
08. Conductor Of Ashes
09. Good Boy Benito
10. Omnivorous Excess
11. Ulcer
12. Democrator
13. The Ethno-Surge
14. Community
15. Aerie
16. Bleed / Burn
17. Morticide
18. Worms

CD 2:

01. Pinhole View
02. The Whole World
03. God Told Me To
04. Dipstick
05. The House That Man Built
06. Soft, Creamy Lather
07. How I Won The War
08. Bovine Inspiration
09. Frogs
10. Ways Of Wisdom (Serves Two)
11. Propelling Scythes
12. The Family Album
13. Imploder
14. It Wears Me Down
15. Anaconda Charms Grass Snake
16. Icons Of Urine
17. Sunday Stroll
18. Canvas Of History
19. (hidden track)

Bassist Henkka Seppälä (a.k.a. Henkka T. Blacksmith) of the Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM has issued the following update from the band's current European tour with SLIPKNOT and MACHINE HEAD:

"We started this leg in Finland. And of course, the first shows on tours are always the most difficult. So it was a shame it happened to be our hometown. Techical problems (always happens with first shows) affected our sound and lights. But we tried our best to kick ass. Tampere was also bad for us 'cos most of the people were still outside when we started playing. But ever since, things have gotten better, and in Oslo things were already really good.

"We've played for big crowds. It is sometimes really challenging to get people excited, first band, early night, big cold hall and so on. Choosing seven songs for setlist is also very difficult thing. It is also very nice to be back touring in central Europe. Feels like it's been ages when were here last time.

"For me, the best shows have been so far maybe Paris and Oslo. And, of course, the intense sweaty headliner in Hamburg in between. That day a friend of mine took me to thw St. Pauli game. It was awesome. After the second show in Paris, we saw SOILWORK show next door! It's great to see Peter [Wichers, SOILWORK guitarist] back in business. They were tight!

"Big thing for us was to play the very first COB show in Denmark. That was exciting and crowd was treating us well there too!

"In Amsterdam I went to see a national game, Holland - Sweden, at the famous Ajax stadium. It was awesome to see that legendary place. Litmanen.

"We've had good times with the other bands. Everybody's treating us well.

"Tonight we have another headliner, in Saarbrucken, southwest Germany. It's been snowing here."

The HATESPHERE song "Let Them Hate", off the Danish band's latest album, "Serpent Smiles And Killer Eyes", is featured in the new Danish motion picture "Lille Soldat", in theatres now. Trailers for the movie can be found at this location. The band says, "if anyone should decide to go see it they're gonna have to sit through the whole thing, as we're on during the end credits. It's supposedly a really good movie, so, needless to say, we are excited to be a part of it."

HATESPHERE recently finished recording ten new songs over a nine-day period Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST) for a new album, due in early 2009 via Napalm Records.

HATESPHERE was honored in the "Hard Rock" category at the annual Danish Music Awards (the Danish Grammy Awards equivalent). The 40th Danish Music Awards show was held on February 23 at Tivoli in Copenhagen, Denmark and was broadcast live on MySpace.

Footage from recording studio here.

Metro.co.uk reports that zookeepers looking after a trio of African elephants are playing them heavy metal music to improve their behavior.

Staff at West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK say the troublesome teenage giants are instantly calmed down when they hear the twangs of rock legends such as BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN, METALLICA and DEF LEPPARD.

But turn off the anthems during their morning eating and bathing ritual and stroppy adolescents Jack, Lataba and Five throw tantrums and start pacing.

'The elephants love it. It's just such a good distraction for them and a good way to keep them calm,' said keeper Bob Lawrence.

Video footage of DAATH drummer Kevin Talley — who has previously recorded and/or toured with DYING FETUS, CHIMAIRA, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, THE RED CHORD, HATE ETERNAL, M.O.D., MISERY INDEX and SUFFOCATION — laying down tracks for b>DAATH's new album, "The Concealers", can be viewed here.

"The Concealers" was recorded with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA) and Mark Lewis of Florida's AudioHammer studios and is scheduled for release this winter via Roadrunner Records.

Regarding the songwriting process, Talley wrote, "Many people often wonder about writing techniques and how artists go about creating songs. Well, there are many different ways but in my experience, the best way to go about the writing process is to find someone you click with and jam in a room with them. Sure, there can be some preliminary recordings with a drum machine but don't let the initial demo restrict your natural desire to change it. Get in the room and jam it out. Speed it up; slow it down; change the time signatures. The possibilities are endless but don't get caught up in the rules of writing — just do what feels and sounds good.

"Songs are like women… some can be banged out on the first night and others can take weeks to bang out (so I've heard). But anything over three weeks should be kicked to the curb. 'Sharpen The Blades' [audio stream available below] took a while and was created in several different writing sessions. Emil [Werstler, guitar] was messing around with the opening riff for a while and I suggested that we start the song with that riff and I would come in with a blast… No fill — just straight to the blast. The verse riff is a variation of the opening riff but notice the interesting kick drum pattern (turn the music off and sing the drums to yourself). Then we go back to the blast for the pre chorus chuga chuga riff. This pre chorus riff was in a different song that Emil wrote on drum machine and we stole it for this song. I think we were originally 'breaking it down' for the chorus but it was too typical so we kept it upbeat and worked on the chorus riff for a while making sure it was simple and effective. We then decided to do a solo and go half time after the solo. Again, I didn't want a 'breakdown' feel, so I stayed on the ride with a 2 and 4 groove on the bell. I pick up the drums for this next bridge/vocal section where Emil and I originally played a 'temp' riff. Later on, Eyal [Levi, guitar] wrote a different riff, which fit the song better. After hearing Eyal's newer riff, I placed some sextuplet bursts on the kick drums. At the end of this vocal bridge we could've gone back to the chorus (typical) but we felt it still needed more. In this case, I like to play the song from the beginning and then decide where the song should go when we get there. After doing this, we decided to pick up the tempo and do another solo. This very musical middle section is killer and, like the majority of this record, was mostly written jamming in the room together organically (yes — at Whole Foods). Some of the album was written with a drum machine but in my opinion, you should only write on a drum machine if it's your only option. Finally, we bring it back around to the pre-chorus and chorus which is pretty standard. Then we finish the song with the verse riff with half time groove on the drums. It was weird to go back to that riff with the different drumbeat but it sounded good so we kept it. Don't get caught up in the rules of writing — just do what sounds good to you. Alas, Sean Z added some punishing vocals and Jeremy [Creamer] wrote some actual bass parts (not just playing the guitar parts all the time) and it was time to move on to the next girl."

Swedish heavy metallers WOLF will film a video for the song "Voodoo" in Umeå, Sweden with director Owe Lingwall of Village Road Film. WOLF previously worked with Lingwall on the clip for the track "I Will Kill Again", which can be viewed below.

"Voodoo" comes off WOLF's fifth album, "Ravenous", which is scheduled for release on February 23, 2009 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Studio Seven in Örebro, Sweden with producer Roy Z, who has previously worked with JUDAS PRIEST, SEBASTIAN BACH, HALFORD, HELLOWEEN and BRUCE DICKINSON, among others.

Commented guitarist Johannes "Axeman" Losbäck: "'Ravenous' will grab you by the throat and it will not let go until you succumb. Our time is NOW and we're taking each and everyone with us. We can't wait to tour for this album and unleash the new songs upon the metal community!"

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR will enter the studio this week to begin recording their new album, "16.6", due in early 2009 via Frontiers Records.

Commented PRIMAL FEAR frontman Ralf Scheepers: "As we will start to record the drums for our new album this Friday, I will take the opportunity to tell you how excited we are to bring our ideas on the hard disk in the next few weeks. Mat [Sinner, bass], Henny [Wolter, guitar] and Magnus [Karlsson, guitar] have prepared such a great pre-production already, that I can proudly announce to have finished with my vocal recordings for two songs already in advance at my studio at home. As mentioned above, Randy [Black, drums] will start to hit the skins this Friday and we can't wait to hear his power drumming on the new tracks. The new material sounds amazing and it's gonna be hard to pick 12-13 songs out of the 20 we have composed so far."

PRIMAL FEAR earlier in the year parted ways with guitarist Stefan Leibing and replaced him with Magnus Karlsson (ALLEN/LANDE, STARBREAKER).

Finnish melodic heavy metal band MASTERSTROKE has entered the studio to begin recording its third full-length album for an early 2009 release. The group's singer-guitarist Niko Rauhala summarizes the spirit of the forthcoming LP: "The album will kick some serious ass, also live!"

MASTERSTROKE recently posted the fourth video clip in a six-part series documenting the band's spring 2008 European tour with JON OLIVA'S PAIN (led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva) and MANTICORA. Watch the footage below.

MASTERSTROKE's sophomore album, "Sleep", was released in Japan on March 19. The CD was issued in Europe via Dynamic Arts Records.