UK's Rock Sound magazine has revealed the final track listing for "Suicide Season", the new album from the Sheffield, Yorkshire, England-based deathcore band BRING ME THE HORIZON. Due on October 6 via Visible Noise (the CD will be available for digital download on September 29), it will feature the following cuts:

01. The Comedown
02. Chelsea Smile
03. It Was Written In Blood
04. Death Breath
05. Football Season Is Over
06. The Sadness Will Never End
07. Sleep With One Eye Open
08. Diamonds Aren't Forever
09. No Need for Introductions, I've Read About Girls Like You on the Back of Toilet Doors
10. Suicide Season

SANCTIFICATION, the Swedish death metal band featuring current/former members of GOD AMONG INSECTS, IN BATTLE and SOULDRAINER, entered Abyss studio in Sweden on July 7 with producers Tommy and Peter Tägtgren to record its sophomore album, "Black Reign", for a fall release. The CD was mixed by Peter and mastered by Dan Swanö. Guest musicians on the album include Peter Tägtgren and Masse Broberg (a.k.a. Emperor Magus Caligula; DARK FUNERAL).

"Black Reign" track listing:

01. Thirst For Blood
02. Black Reign (feat. Peter Tägtgren, Emperor Magus Caligula)
03. Raw
04. Eternal (feat. Peter Tägtgren)
05. Hear This
06. Dead Forever
07. Flesh, Bone And Skin
08. Trucido Christianese
09. Storm (feat. Emperor Magus Caligula)

Commented the group: "We are done and back home from the studio. The recording was nothing but a walk in the park, fun as hell!! Everyone in the band did a super job and everything sounds awesome!

"The biggest thanks goes out to Peter and Tommy Tägtgren for making this one of the best death metal albums ever!

"There have been some changes in the band as well; Kristoffer Hell [bass] is the new singer since Mohlin doesn't have the time that is neaded. He has a big family and that is his life. So Mr. Hell is now incharge of both bass and vocals."

METALLICA has posted the following message on its official web site:

"Have we mentioned that we have an album coming out in September? Maybe just a few times . . . so to celebrate, we thought it would be cool to hang with a few of our closest friends in some of our favorite cities. On September 12 in Berlin, Germany and on September 15 in London, England we'll be hosting a little bash to celebrate the blessed event of the upcoming addition to the METALLICA family/catalog. There will be a live band (that would be us!) and tickets will only be available to Met Club members and Mission: Metallica members. We can't give you all the details just yet . . . consider this a 'save the date!'"

Guitarist Ville Friman of the Finnish metal band INSOMNIUM has issued the following update:

"We are currently rehearsing new material, which will become fourth INSOMNIUM album at some point. At the moment, we have four songs ready and lots of semi-ready material in store just waiting to be trained and arranged properly. We have also booked Fantom studio (where 2006's 'Above the Weeping World' was made) for March 2009 and the new INSOMNIUM album is scheduled for autumn 2009 release. We know that it is long wait but at the moment we do not have any choices if we want to guarantee the quality over quantity.

"Reason for such long interval in releasing albums is mainly due to touring and difficulties in getting a proper rehearsing place. And yeah, also the general laziness and simple misfortunes have played their roles. Year ago, we had one decent place in Joensuu which we renovated to pretty good shape from a scratch. Only day after moving our stuff in, we got hit by a flood, which was caused by heavy summer rain. Luckily our gear did not suffer any serious damage. In addition, we have been moving (again) inside Finland to different cities and this has made it difficult to find rehearsing place from a reasonable distance for all of us. Thus, this year has served us a well-deserved break to get everything back together and our minds concentrated to the new album.

"About the songs already in good shape; one is really epic one with clock ticking almost over 10 minutes. Great song with vibe of last two AMORPHIS albums with more heavier edge and INSOMNIUM style of lead work. The second new song turned out to be quite long one as well but in my opinion this one holds more 'hit' potential in it, mainly because of simple arrangement and catchy melodies. Could be maybe described as being somewhere between 'Bereavement' and 'Last Statement'?!? Or what the hell I know; sounds good though. Third song sounds bit like a tribute to SENTENCED because the melodies bear similarity to the melancholy heard in 'Amok' or 'Down' albums. Otherwise the song is pretty slow, depressing and quite doomy. Just the way we like it. Fourth song ready is bit faster and riff-orientated. Composed partly in the last North American tour. Potentially a good live song. We'll see."

Fan-filmed video footage of INSOMNIUM's November 18, 2007 performance at Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland can be viewed below (courtesy of "mellipossu").

Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE has posted an audio file containing snippets of all the songs that will appear on the group's fifth album, "The Last Alliance". Check it out on the BATTLELORE MySpace page.

"The Last Alliance" will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

September 24: Finland
September 26: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Benelux, Italy, France
September 29: Rest of Europe
October 7: USA/Canada

According to the band, "The album consists of big, epic and atmospheric songs full of feeling and raging battles, taking you to an unforgettable journey through Middle-earth! As before, there will be a jewel case CD and a digipack with something extra. This time the digipack will include a DVD featuring the energetic live show at Metal Female Voices Fest in Wieze, Belgium 2007."

"The Last Alliance" track listing:

01. Third Immortal
02. Exile the Daystar
03. The Great Gathering
04. Guardians
05. The Voice of the Fallen
06. Daughter of the Sun
07. Green Dragon
08. Awakening
09. Epic Dreams
10. Moontower
11. The Star of High Hope

Bonus DVD track listing (recorded live at Metal Female Voices Fest 2007 in Wieze, Belgium):

01. Ghân of the Woods
02. Ocean’s Elysium
03. Into the New World
04. Buccaneer’s Inn
05. We Are the Legions
06. House of Heroes
07. Beneath the Waves
08. Sons of Riddermark

"The Last Alliance" was recorded at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland, with producer Janne Saksa and was mixed and mastered by the Swedish multi-instrumentalist and producer Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, ex-BLOODBATH).

BATTLELORE is currently utilizing the services of drummer Enrico Annus (ELDERTHRONES, KHERT-NETER) for its live dates because the group's regular skinsman, Henri Vahvanen, "is on vacation and [isn't] able to play all of BATTLELORE's shows this summer," according to a posting on the band's web site.

According to XM's Boneyard host Eddie Trunk (who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on New York's Q104.3 FM), Australian hard rockers AC/DC will travel to London, England in early August to shoot a video for the first single off their new album, "Black Ice". The track, which is believed to be titled either "Runaway Train" or "Rock & Roll Train", is expected to impact radio in late August, with the full album to follow in late October. Details for a world tour starting in late 2008 should be announced in the coming weeks.

AC/DC's new album will follow 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip". It was recorded at a Canadian studio with PEARL JAM and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN producer Brendan O'Brien.

Sony BMG, Columbia's parent company, recently revealed that the disc will be sold exclusively through Wal-Mart stores, which has caused controversy with critics and fans.

It was announced earlier in the month that the band's classic track "Let There Be Rock" will appear in the video game "Rock Band 2", which hits stores in September.

Swedish "death-rockers" HELLTRAIN — whose members have spent time playing with such acclaimed outfits as SCHEITAN, THE EVERDAWN, GATES OF ISHTAR, DEFLESHED, BATTLELUST, THE MOANING, and RAISED FIST — have posted the title track of their second album, "Rock 'n' Roll Devil", on their MySpace page. The CD is scheduled for release in September via Jimmy Franks Recording Company.

HELLTRAIN's debut album, "Route 666", was released in 2004 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The band's lineup includes Pierre Törnkvist (vocals, guitar), Oskar Karlsson (drums, guitars), and Patrik Törnkvist (guitars, organ, piano, bass).

According to a posting on KAMELOT's official web site, the American/Norwegian power metal band will "shoot video from each of the upcoming concerts" in Europe this August, "including the utilization of the massive camera crew planned for the Wacken [Open Air] festival in Germany."

"Ghost Opera - The Second Coming", the reissue of KAMELOT's "Ghost Opera" album enhanced with lots of interesting features, recently entered the Greek chart at position No. 38. The double-CD limited-edition slipcase design includes the CD featuring all the songs from the regular album, plus ten additional live tracks recorded live in Belgrade Serbia during the band's 2007 world tour, the bonus tracks "Seasons End", "Pendulous Fall", "Epilogue" and the remix of "Rule The World". The two videos for "Human Stain" and "Memento Mori" (live) are included, and on top of that, the package features new artwork and a comprehensive booklet.

Four songs from "Southern Storm", the new album from Brazilian death metal veterans KRISIUN, are being streamed on the band's MySpace page.

Due in Europe on July 21 via Century Media Records, "Southern Storm" was once again recorded at Stage One Studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (TANKARD, ROTTING CHRIST, DEW-SCENTED), who previously worked with the group on 1999's "Conquerors Of Armageddon" and 2006's "AssassiNation". According to a press release, the album "offers everything the band's rabid fan base loves since day one: ferocious high-speed blasting, infectious double bass-driven grooves, razor-sharp riffs, devastating leads and a unique feel for combining catchiness with technicality. Tracks like the massive opener 'Slaying Steel', 'Combustion Inferno' or the band's rendition of the SEPULTURA classic 'Refuse/Resist' are nothing but crushing death metal hits!"

Commented the band: "The new album gives you KRISIUN's best — it's relentless, insane, totally brutal, with no mercy for the weak. Like a storm of steel this album will devastate and kill all the posers, trend followers, betrayers and wimps who dare to say they play metal."

"Southern Storm" track listing:

01. Slaying Steel (4:11)
02. Sentenced Morning (3:59)
03. Twisting Sights (4:05)
04. Minotaur (3:51)
05. Combustion Inferno (4:23)
06. Massacre Under The Sun (4:43)
07. Bleeding Offers (3:24)
08. Refuse / Resist (SEPULTURA cover) (3:00)
09. Origin Of Terror (4:05)
10. Contradictions Of Decay (4:08)
11. Sons Of Pest (4:47)
12. Black Wind (0:48)
13. Whore Of The Unlight (4:23)

Raleigh, North Carolina-based progressive metalcore quintet BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME will film its August 2 concert at Rocket Town in Nashville, Tennessee for a forthcoming DVD. The band will perform its latest album, "Colors", in its entirety along with a fan-voted "greatest hits" set. The disc, tentatively titled "Colors Live", is scheduled for release on October 18, 2008.

Released on September 18, 2007 via Victory Records, "Colors" was previously described by BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME as "a 65-minute opus of non-stop pummeling beautiful music. We have described this release as 'adult contemporary death prog metal.'"

"Colors" sold 12,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 57 on The Billboard 200 chart

WALLS OF JERICHO's entire new album, "The American Dream", is currently available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. Due on July 29 via Trustkill Records, the CD was recorded at Spider Studios in Cleveland, Ohio with Ben Schigel and Tony Gammalo. Guitarist Chris Rawson previously said, "We tried some new things without doing the same thing over and over. We wanted to make sure to do what we do and not go too far off the beaten track, but at the same time keep ourselves intereseted and excited. I would say it's more aggressive than [2006's] 'With Devils Amongst Us All' with lots of parts to circle-pit to so put on your running shoes get stoked — and start running your ass in a circle!!"

"The American Dream" track listing:

01. The New Ministry
02. The Prey
03. The American Dream
04. Feeding Frenzy
05. The Hunter
06. Famous Last Words
07. A Long Walk Home
08. Shock Of The Century
09. Discovery Of Jones
10. Standing On Paper Stilts
11. Night Of A Thousand Torches

U.D.O., the German band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, celebrated its 20th anniversary by playing two special shows in Germany on April 30 in Solingen at Cobra and May 3 in Tuttlingen at Stadthalle. The three-hour Tuttlingen concert was filmed for a DVD and live CD, to be released in October in three different formats: as a double live CD, a DVD with bonus material, and as a DVD without bonus material.

Check out pictures of the Tuttlingen show on the band's official web site: Part 1, Part 2.

The projected track listing is as follows:

Disc 1:

01. Mastercutor
02. 24/7
03. They Want War
04. The Bullet And The Bomb
05. Midnight Mover
06. Vendetta
07. Mission No. X
08. Midnight Highway
09. The Wrong Side Of Midnight
10. Breaker
11. Guitar Solo
12. Princess Of The Dawn
13. One Lone Voice
14. Winterdreams

Disc 2:

01. Living For Tonite
02. Thunderball
03. Drum Solo
04. Man And Machine
05. Animal House
06. Metal Heart
07. Holy
08. Balls To The Wall
09. Fast As A Shark
10. Burning
11. Outro
12. I'm A Rebel

Bonus material:

* Road movie Russia tour (15 minutes)
* Road movie South America tour (15 minutes)
* Concert Belarus (30 minutes)

The DVDs will feature 5.1 Surround Sound.

Bassist Rob of the Swedish metal band M.A.N — who was recently diagnosed with "acute pancreatitis," a complication of the gallstone surgery that he underwent earlier in the month — is still in the hospital, but is said to be "slowly recovering" from his illness. "He still having high fever and still on painkillers, but it is moving towards the good direction," the rest of the band writes in a press release.

Commented Rob in a statement: "The night between Friday and Saturday was the most painful and horrible moment of my life. I was in such great pain and agony, a thing that would not even wish my worst enemy. I almost gave up that night, but somehow i managed to get strength and go through it. I would like to thank my family and my bandmates for being here for me in this heavy moment and I would to thank all you people who wrote 'Get well' messages through the Internet, those messages has been a big part of my quick recovery."

M.A.Nis the group formed out of the ashes of Sweden's TRANSPORT LEAGUE (featuring former MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich). The group's new video — for the song "My Own Sickness" — can be viewed below. The clip was shot on June 8 in Skövde, Sweden with director Martin Holtmann, who has previously worked with the Swedish aggro combo SYCONAUT. The video features the debut of Robert "Robguz" Gustafsson's 11-string guitar (which Robguz designed on his own), alongside with the guitar called "Roots Bloody Roots".

The European branch of Nuclear Blast Records has released an expanded reissue of AMORPHIS' 2003 album "Far From The Sun". The new release contains the five bonus tracks that had previously only been available on the U.S. edition of the album, including an acoustic version of the title track, as well as the video clip for "Evil Inside".

For the first time ever, the album is now also available on vinyl. The double LP — one disc in red vinyl, the other in black — comes in a deluxe gatefold sleeve.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Day Of Your Beliefs
02. Planetary Misfortune
03. Evil Inside
04. Mourning Soil
05. Far From The Sun
06. Ethereal Solitude
07. Killing Goodness
08. God Of Deception
09. Higher Ground
10. Smithereens

Bonus tracks:

11. Shining Turns to Grey
12. Follow Me Into The Fire
13. Darkrooms
14. Dreams Of The Damned
15. Far From The Sun (acoustic)

Bonus video:

16. Evil Inside

OPERA DIABOLICUS, the Swedish doom rock-opera project featuring multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME), has returned to the studio to "fix the flaws" on its self-titled debut album. According to a press release, "This decision was made in agreement between their future record companies and the band itself, due to the original recording's rather poor guitar sound and that some of the vocal contributions simply [weren't] up to par in comparison to the other singers' contributions in this rock-opera style doom-metal project. Now OPERA DIABOLICUS will bring out the fullest potential of their material. Snowy is currently recording additional lead and backing vocals to the parts that [were] previously recorded by him for the album. OPERA DIABOLICUS has now recruited Mats Levén (KRUX, ex-THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN etc.), Niklas Isfeldt (DREAM EVIL) and Jake E Berg (DREAMLAND, AVALANCHE) to replace the vocal parts previously recorded by other singers. The founding musicians/songwriters David and Niemi are re-doing guitars and bass this time with Andy La Rocque [KING DIAMOND] at his Sonic Train Studio. The female parts were performed by the professional soprano Camilla Alisander of the Gothenburg Opera and the drums were done by Snowy Shaw. The music and concept could be described as dramatic and dark doom metal with atmospheric, epic and progressive elements. A must-have for fans of CANDLEMASS, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, THERION, NOTRE DAME, DIMMU BORGIR, KAMELOT and more."

The CD is tentatively scheduled for release around Christmas.

A new MISERY INDEX track, "Occupation", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Baltimore, Maryland-based quartet's new album, "Traitors", which is scheduled for a September 30 release in North America and October 6 internationally via Relapse Records.

The follow-up to "Discordia", "Traitors" was recorded the in May at Godcity Studios in in Salem, Massachusetts. The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. We Never Come In Peace
02. Theocracy
03. Partisans of Grief
04. Traitors
05. Ghosts of Catalonia
06. Occupation
07. Ruling Class Cancelled
08. The Arbiter
09. American Idolatry
10. Thrown Into The Sun
11. Black Skies

MISERY INDEX is on the road now in support of "Traitors" as part of the Relapse Records Contamination Tour 2008, also featuring ORIGIN and ABYSMAL DAWN. MISERY INDEX has also been confirmed for this summer's Mountains of Death Festival in Switzerland along with CEPHALIC CARNAGE and DESPISED ICON.

Canadian prog/psych quartet KOSMOS (featuring VOIVOD's Michel "Away" Langevin on drums) and JESU (the new band featuring Justin Broadrick — former member of two legendary bands: NAPALM DEATH and GODFLESH) are among the confirmed acts for the upcoming "Like Black Holes In The Sky: The Tribute To Syd Barrett", an album that honors one of the founding members of British psychedelic rock band PINK FLOYD.

Due on September 23 via Dwell Records, "Like Black Holes In The Sky: The Tribute To Syd Barrett" will feature the following tracklisting:

01. KOSMOS - "Vegetable Man"
02. KYLESA - "Interstellar Overdrive"
03. INTRONAUT - "Arnold Layne"
04. STINKING LIZAVETA - "Matilda Mother"
05. JARBOE - "Late Night"
06. PENTAGRAM - "Flaming"
07. GIANT SQUID - "Octopus"
08. YAKUZA - "Lucifer Sam"
09. JESU - "Chapter 24"
10. UNEARTHLY TRANCE - "Long Gone"
11. DREDG - "Astronomy Domine"
12. CIRCLE - "Rats"
13. ZODIAK - "See Emily Play"

UK-based heavy metal singer Blaze Bayley (ex-IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) has released the following statement:

"On Sunday 6th of July at 5.15 pm, my wife and manager Debbie collapsed at our home in Tamworth. She was rushed to hospital and scanned, it was discovered she had suffered a brain heamorrhage. She has had three neuro surgeries, each one has been a success.
"Debbie is now in a coma that could last days, weeks or even months. She is breathing on her own and she is stable, but she is still in critical condition. I visit her every day that I am not out with the band, and talk to her about what is going on with the band and how well the new album is doing. Her family and close friends are also at her bedside every day.

"Thank you to every one who has sent messages of support to Debbie and to me. A lot of them I have read out to Debbie in hospital. As each day passes she has more chance of making some kind of recovery, but it will be a very long process. It is not like on TV where people just suddenly wake up. They may wake up for 60 seconds then fall unconscious again for hours or days and eventualy they can stay awake for a little longer each time. The whole process can take days, weeks, months, or even years. Brain injuries and recovery are very unpredictable so there are no guarentees or certanties in any of this.

"She has worked so hard to get the band going and to make the new album possible that I feel it is important to continue with what she has started for us. So I am not cancelling any shows that she has arranged for the band, because I know that is not what Debbie would want. We will continue to book shows and run things the way she started. There have been a few hiccups with the online store but please email us if you have any problems and we will try to sort them out.

"Thank you all again for all the love and support you have given my wife and me over these very difficult days. I hope you enjoy the new album and we'll see you at one of our shows soon."

Bayley and Debbie got married on February 14, 2007 on the island of Gran Canaria.

The first two t-shirt designs (see below) from Tattered and Torn, the clothing line started by members of SLIPKNOT, have been made available exclusively in North America via Hot Topic stores and the HotTopic.com web site.

Tattered and Torn is named after a song on the band's self-released 1996 album, "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat", and is "just something more for our fans," SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor told Billboard magazine. "It's a way for them to get cool clothing at affordable prices."

Tattered and Torn will launch with "basic boys and girls hoodies" before becoming a "full-range clothing line," Tom Bennett, CEO of Bravado, the merchandising arm of Universal Music Group, said in an interview with Billboard.

SLIPKNOT manager Cory Brennan told Billboard that merchandise is the largest revenue stream for the band, citing touring as a close second. "People who wear SLIPKNOT merchandise wear it as a badge of honor," Brennan said. "They want to show the world that they support this band and are a part of this culture."

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan said that some diehard fans have been known to wear the band's merchandise for months on end. "The teachers would call their parents and say, 'These kids aren't washing their clothes,"' Crahan said. "But in fact, the kid is coming home every night and washing the shirt, because he wants to represent his mind-set."

Norwegian hard rock band MALICE IN WONDERLAND has parted ways with longtime bassist Andy Valentine. According to the group, "There is no drama to this. Sometimes people change, evolve and drift apart and that is what have happened with us. Not on a personal level though; we are glad to say that we all are still the best of friends, but musically we are going our separate ways now. Therefore Andy does not feel right to be part of MALICE anymore and that is, of course, a decision we respect and understand. . . Andy's leaving will in no way delay the band's plans for the future. We will now continue playing shows with a session member. We are working hard in the studio with our new amazing record and of course the search for a new bass player is now on!'

MALICE IN WONDERLAND is planning to release the first single from the its sophomore album, entitled "Diamonds & Debauchery", after the summer.

TWISTED SISTER will release a new DVD, "Live At The Astoria", in the fall.

Commented guitarist Jay Jay French: "Recorded in London, in August 2004, the critics hailed TWISTED SISTER's performance as one of their greatest ever. If you're an SMF, and have wondered what TWISTED SISTER thought about any of their live shows throughout their 35-year history, you should know this: while certain bandmembers remember certain shows, and relate tales of particular performances as being their favorite, rarely does the band universally agree that any particular show is about as good as it gets. I can say this without hesitation or ambiguity: each bandmember considered that night to be amongst the most special of our careers. This concert was filmed and kept in a vault for the past four years. When the band had the opportunity to look at the footage, it brought back the heat, passion, intensity and audience participation that was at a level far above all expectations. The DVD will be released worldwide through Demolition Records, our UK-based label, and we look forward to sharing this magical performance with all of you."

TWISTED SISTER's setlist for the August 1, 2004 show at the Astoria in London, England was as follows:

01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. The Kids Are Back
03. Under The Blade
04. Destroyer
05. Like A Knife In The Back
06. Burn In Hell
07. Ride To Live
08. Shoot 'Em Down
09. You Can't Stop Rock N' Roll
10. The Fire Still Burns
11. We're Not Gonna Take It
12. The Price
13. I Am, I'm Me
14. I Wanna Rock
15. Come Out & Play
16. S.F.M

UK rock veterans PRAYING MANTIS have commenced work on their long-awaited new studio album with the working title of "Touch the Rainbow". The CD will likely be recorded during the month of September in Atlanta, Georgia for an early 2009 release via Frontiers Records.

PRAYING MANTIS' current lineup includes founding members Tino and Chris Troy on guitar and bass, respectively; Benjamin Reid on drums; Andy Burgess on guitar; and Mike Freeland on vocals. This lineup has already played a number of festivals in Europe during 2008.

According to a press release, PRAYING MANTIS' new songs "once again present the familiar blend of the hard rock edge with very melodic 'hookline' choruses that have always been an essential trade mark of MANTIS since the 1980s." Chris Troy states, "This may well prove to be the best album MANTIS have ever written!"

Nebraska-based extreme power metal band CELLADOR has set "For All or Nothing" as the title of its sophomore album, tentatively due in late 2008/early 2009 via Metal Blade Records.

CELLADOR recently announced the addition of guitarist Yord to the group's ranks. "We feel Yord is a perfect fit in CELLADOR because he quickly showed to have all the elements we needed in a band member," CELLADOR previously said in a statement. "Not only does he have an energetic playing style, but also a strong work ethic, selfless attitude, and above all an honest nature. The guy takes guitar like it's a full-time job, eight hours a day SHRED SHRED SHRED all day, jam by night. On top of that, we found him to be local to us as well, which bottom line is always an advantage for someone auditioning. Despite only having about 12 days to learn our whole set, Yord learned all our songs and filled in for our last show back in May, which we set up as basically a test show for whomever we were most considering."

German avant-garde metallers DISILLUSION are busy writing the follow-up to 2006's "Gloria" with a new lineup (see band photo below), including returning drummer Jens Maluschka (back in the fold after a 12-month absence) and newly acquired bassist Matthias Becker from fellow Leipzig band SAFI. DISILLUSION plans to complete the writing sessions before the end of the year.

The group has yet to comment on the musical direction of the new material. "There's a lot still up in the air, and it's too early to be closing any doors, but we feel more energy-laden than ever before," the four-piece states.

DISILLUSION are herewith putting an end to a self-imposed hiatus that began last summer during which they were busy building their own KickTheFlame studio and setting up a publishing company.