Norway's GLITTERTIND has signed a long-term agreement with Napalm Records. The contract covers the re-release of "Til Dovre Faller", which has been unavaileble for a long time. A new full-length album is currently in production and is expected to be released in October.

GLITTERTIND's most recent release was the "Til Dovre Faller" mini-CD, which came out in April 2005 via Karmageddon Media. The CD was produced and recorded by Torbjørn Sandvik at Studio Jotunheim in October-November 2004, except the synthesizers, which were recorded at The Stable in December 2004 by Henri Sorvali. The mixing was handled by Sandvik during the first week of January 2005. The EP was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

Italian power-progressive metallers DGM have announced the addition of singer Mark Basile (B.R.A.K.E., MIND KEY) to the group's ranks. According to a press release, "Mark was chosen among several auditions throughout Italy, Europe and America. The band would like to thank all those who have sent their material for being so professional. DGM are excited to work with Mark on the songs for the new album, which is expected soon."

Upcoming DGM shows:

Mar. 02 - Italian Gods Of Metal - Alcatraz (Milano)
Mar. 29 - Heavy Naples Fest - Palapartenope - Fuorigrotta (NA)

DGM released its fifth album, entitled "Different Shapes", in June 2007 via Scarlet Records. The CD was recorded in January-February 2007 at Outer Sound Studio, Vitinia (RM) by Giuseppe Orlando; Fear Studio, Alfonsine (Ravenna), by Simone Mularoni; and Random Music House, Ostia (RM) by Simone Mularoni and Emanuele Casali. The album was mixed at Outer Sound Studio, Vitinia (RM), by Giuseppe Orlando and DGM.

According to a posting on the DEEP PURPLE fan site The Highway Star, a new PURPLE box set titled "Around The World Live" is being prepared for release by Edel. The deluxe-edition four-DVD box set is slated for release in UK on Edel's subsidiary Eagle Vision on May 19. As of now, there is no information on availability and release dates in other markets.

The box set contents includes the following four DVDs:

DVD 1: Bombay Calling, India 1995
DVD 2: Total Abandon, Australia 1999
DVD 3: Live At The NEC, England 2002
DVD 4: Access All Areas

An excerpt from a press release reads as follows: "This stunning set features three full DEEP PURPLE concerts, highlights of a fourth, interviews with the band members and a new documentary telling the full DEEP PURPLE story from their beginnings up to the present day with an emphasis on the Steve Morse era; presented in a hard-back bookstyle picture sleeve complete with a 32-page specially commissioned book written by Joel McIver [Classic Rock magazine] and is illustrated with photographs from the era covered by the concerts)."

Swedish metallers SCAR SYMMETRY have issued the following update:

"We're happy to announce that our third CD, 'Holographic Universe', has now been mixed, mastered and delivered to the people at Nuclear Blast Records! We pushed the 'record' button for the first time early December and the time since has been hectic and intense to say the least. We've worked our asses off 24/7 and the result is 12 new songs, featuring all the creamy goodness of 'Symmetric In Design' and the spicy flavours of 'Pitch Black Progress', this time with a lot of added cheese and pork-fat... Does it make sense to you? No, not to us either."

"Holographic Universe" track listing:

01. Morphogenesis (3:54)
02. Timewave Zero (5:13)
03. Quantumleaper (4:09)
04. Artificial Sun Projection (4:00)
05. The Missing Coordinates (4:37)
06. Ghost Prototype I (Measurement of Thought) (4:35)
07. Fear Catalyst (5:03)
08. Trapezoid (4:17)
09. Prism and Gate (3:46)
10. Holographic Universe (9:05)
11. The Three-Dimensional Shadow (3:57)
12. Ghost Prototype II (Deus Ex Machina) (6:03)

The CD is tentatively scheduled for release in June.

Greek melodic metallers FIREWIND have just released their brand new single, "Mercenary Man", in their home country. All other European customers can purchase a copy via the Nuclear Blast mailorder for a fan-friendly price of 3.99 euros. Click here to order it directly.

The first single from FIREWIND's upcoming album, "The Premonition", "Mercenary Man" contains the title track, the new song "My Loneliness" as well as two exclusive non-album tracks: "Spirits In A Digital World" and an acoustic version of "Mercenary Man".

FIREWIND has just returned from Sweden, where the band finished shooting a video for "Mercenary Man" with producer Patric Ullaeus from the Revolver Film Company (DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES).

FIREWIND will release "The Premonition", the follow-up to its 2006 acclaimed CD "Allegiance", on March 24 via Century Media Records.

"The Premonition" track listing:

01. Into The Fire
02. Head Up High
03. Mercenary Man
04. Angels Forgive Me
05. Remembered
06. My Loneliness
07. Circle Of Life
08. The Silent Code
09. Maniac
10. Life Foreclosed

Italian/Norwegian industrial black metallers ABORYM have announced the addition of guitarist Hell-IO-Kabbalus (KALKI AVATARA, SHOREBORN, PROMAETHEUS UNBOUND) to the group's ranks.

Commented Hell-IO-Kabbalus (who will go by his new name Grand Inquisitor Hell-I0-Kabbalus): "I am proud to announce the beginning of the collaboration as a guitar player with the other members of ABORYM, M:Fabban and Bård Faust. The new album will be completely written by Fabban and me during the next months. Expect something wicked you never heard before. "

ABORYM's last CD, "Generator", came out in February 2006 via Season of Mist.

Swedish art-rock behemoth CULT OF LUNA has entered Tonteknik Studios in its hometown of Umeå, Sweden, to record its fifth full-length album.

The band has eight songs ready to commit to tape, having spent the preceding weeks fine tuning the material that will look to build further on the success of "Somewhere Along the Highway".

Although CULT OF LUNA is yet confirm the title, the CD will see the band attempt to adapt its sound, welcoming a harsher and more primal element to its already complex approach.

Guitarist/vocalist Johannes Persson comments cryptically: "As we close the doors of the Tonteknik studio and travel into unchartered musical ground, only one thing is sure; what will come out will have been born from pain and violence."

After issuing two critically acclaimed albums nearly a decade ago — "Domus Mundi" (1999) and "With Vilest Of Worms To Dwell" (2001) — Austrian symphonic extreme metal outfit HOLLENTHON is set to return this spring with the release of a new full-length CD. Entitled "Opus Magnum", the new effort will be made available via the Austrian record label Napalm Records will feature eight songs and a cover version, plus a video.

"Opus Magnum" tentative track listing (in no particular order):

01. Ars Moriendi
02. Of Splendid Worlds
03. Once We Were Kings
04. To Fabled Lands
05. Dying Embers
06. Misterium Babel
07. On The Wings Of A Dove
08. Son Of Perdition
09. The Bazaar (THE TEA PARTY cover) (limited edition only)
10. Son Of Perdition (video) (limited edition only)

Capitol/EMI has set an April 15 release date for "The Best Of UFO (1974-1983)", a new collection of the band's top tracks from the Chrysalis and Ariola Records vaults. The 19-track CD and digital album is chronologically sequenced with hits and other standout album cuts, as well as 7" single edits. Included are such hits as "Too Hot To Handle", "Lights Out", "Love To Love", "Only You Can Rock Me", plus songs from the "Phenomenon", "Force It" and "No Heavy Pettin'" albums. The CD also includes the song "Doctor Doctor" from the "Strangers In The Night" LP, which is considered to be one of the most significant and critically acclaimed live albums of the '70s.

"The Best Of UFO (1974-1983)" track listing:

01. Rock Bottom
02. Oh My
03. Let It Roll
04. Shoot Shoot
05. Can You Roll Her
06. I'm A Loser
07. Natural Thing
08. Lights Out
09. Love To Love
10. Too Hot To Handle
11. Only You Can Rock Me
12. Doctor Doctor
13. Lettin' Go
14. Young Blood
15. Lonely Heart
16. Chains Chains
17. Let It Rain
18. We Belong To The Night
19. When It's Time To Rock

UFO will embark on a U.S. to

ATROCITY's long-awaited new album, "Werk 80 II", which is scheduled for release in Europe on February 29 (March 4 in the U.S.), will be made available as a digipack deluxe edition, featuring different cover art from the regular version, along with the first "Werk 80" album and bonus tracks.

Like the first "Werk 80" release, which came out in 1997, "Werk 80 II" features ATROCITY's interpretations of hit songs from the '80s.

"Werk 80 II" digipack deluxe edition track listing:

CD 1:

"Werk 80 II":

01. People Are People
02. Smalltown Boy
03. Relax
04. Hey Little Girl
05. Don't You Forget About Me
06. Fade To Grey
07. Such A Shame
08. The Sun Always Shines On TV
09. Keine Heimat
10. Here Comes The Rain
11. Forever Young

Bonus (limited edition):

12. Feels Like Heaven

CD 2:

"Werk 80":

01. Shout
02. Rage Hard
03. Wild Boys
04. The Great Commandment
05. Send Me An Angel
06. Tainted Love
07. Der Mussolini
08. Being Boiled
09. Don't Go
10. Let's Dance
11. Maid Of Orleans

Bonus tracks:

12. Das Letzte Mal
13. Die Deutschmaschine
14. Verschwende Deine Jugend
15. Tainted Love (Albrin-Mix)
16. Shout (Edit)

Former MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande — who is performing/recording under the name JORN — has set "Lonely Are the Brave" as the title of his new solo album, tentatively due in early June via Frontiers Records. The CD was mixed at Tommy Hansen's Jailhouse Studio in Denmark.

Jorn Lande is one of the guests on "The Scarecrow", the third installment of EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA solo project. The album was produced by Sascha Paeth, who also played the rhythm guitar on the CD. The drums were laid down by KISS/ALICE COOPER drummer Eric Singer and the bass was handled by Tobias himself.

German power metallers HUMAN FORTRESS will release their third album, "Eternal Empire", on April 25 via Massacre Records. The first pressing will be available as a limited-edition double CD featuring a bonus disc containing two bonus tracks, a video clip, outtakes, pictures and much more.

"Eternal Empire" track listing:

01. Contrast
02. Borders Of Insanity
03. The Wizard
04. The Raven
05. When Love And Hate Collide
06. Under The Spell
07. Lions Den
08. Circle Of Flames
09. Falling Leaves

Audio samples of the tracks "Contrast" and "Falling Leaves" are available at this location. A video for the song "Contrast" was recently shot and will be released soon.

Check out the cover artwork at StayMetal.net.

HUMAN FORTRESS' last CD, "Defenders of the Crown", came out in 2003. The band has since parted ways with singer Jioti Parcharidis and drummer Apostolos "Laki" Zaios and has replaced them with Carsten Frank and Arndt Krone, respectively.

ASSAILANT, the Umeå, Sweden-based band featuring guitarist Oscar Norberg ("little brother" of Emil of PERSUADER/SAVAGE CIRCUS fame and Nils Norberg of NOCTURNAL RITES), has posted two songs from its sophomore album, "Wicked Dream", on the group's MySpace page. Check out the tracks "A Day Tomorrow" and "Wicked Dream" at this location.

Due on March 24 via Dockyard 1, the CD "is not only more mature than its predecessor but it shows a band that has clearly found its own path in metal, very melodic yet really hard, sprinkled with influences of rock, death metal and thrash," according to a press release. "Crown of the album is the ballad 'Eternal'."

Prosthetic Records will re-release TESTAMENT's "First Strike Still Deadly" album on March 18. Originally issued in 2001 on Spitfire Records, the updated version features new artwork.

"First Strike Still Deadly" is a compilation of early tracks re-recorded in 2001 by Chuck Billy (vocals), Alex Skolnick (guitar), Eric Peterson (guitar), Steve DiGiorgio (bass) and John Tempesta (drums) to give the songs a "modern, updated" feel. Also making an appearance on "First Strike Still Deadly" is the group's original vocalist — in the days when TESTAMENT was known as LEGACY — Steve Souza (EXODUS, DUBLIN DEATH PATROL), on "Alone In The Dark" and "Reign Of Terror".

"Serenity", the new video from KOTIPELTO — the band led by STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto — can be viewed below. The performance footage in the clip was shot in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 29, 2007.

KOTIPELTO's third album, "Serenity", entered the Finnish national chart at position No. 8. Released in Europe via AFM Records, the CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland and was mixed by Mikko Karmila. The album's first single, "Sleep Well", entered the Finnish chart at No. 5. The track is also included in the Finnish movie "Vares 2", which had its premiere in January 2007. "The song is a main theme and can be heard when the credits are scrolling at the end of the movie," said the band's leader, Timo Kotipelto. "The music video include[s] clips from the movie. Some of the actors who are playing the characters on these clips are my personal friends and are very well known in Finland."

Former JUDAS PRIEST/ICED EARTH singer Tim "Ripper" Owens has commented on his latest gig as the frontman of the solo band of the legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Speaking exclusively to D.X. Ferris of the Cleveland Scene, Owens said, "Yes, it is official, I will be singing on the next YNGWIE MALMSTEEN CD, and I couldn't be more excited about working with him. We have known each other for a while and we have never had the opportunity to work together (aside from the 'Mr. Crowley' song) until now. Back when I was in PRIEST, we had tried to get together to do something but we couldn't get our schedules to align."

In addition, Ripper told the Cleveland Scene that he'll just be singing for the project, and won't be writing material, but expects to tour behind the record. He says he's learning old and new material, including "You Don't Remember".

As far as his other band, Owens added, "I'm still doing BEYOND FEAR [which is signed to SPV Records], but not sure of the timing of everything. To all the fans who are writing in expressing their congrats and concerns, please know that BEYOND FEAR will always be a main focus of mine, but I now have a great opportunity to work with one of the greatest guitarists ever… I AM A VIKING…LOL!"

Owens first mentioned the possibility of Malmsteen's band during a live interview that took place on the January 11, 2008 edition of the "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York City's Q104.3 FM. While discussing his departure from ICED EARTH and the perception that guitarist and primary songwriter Jon Schaffer rules ICED EARTH with an iron hand, Owens said, "If I went out and joined somebody like YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, well, you know what you're getting into — you're not joining a band, you're just joining a project to jump in and sing with him real quick. It's a whole different experience. I thought I was getting into a band and I was promised different things, and it all worked out until now. And I think everybody does know that it's the Jon Schaffer thing. It's a revolving door with everybody, and that's a cool thing, and Jon has built this thing from the ground up."

German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA will release their new DVD and "best-of" CD package, "13 Years of Celtic Wartunes", on April 25. The set will include the band's Wacken Open Air 2007 performance, an acoustic concert, and a best-of CD with remastered and newly recorded songs spanning the group's 13-year history.

Watch a trailer for the upcoming DVD here.

SUIDAKRA will make its U.S. debut at the Chicago Powerfest 2008, set to take place May 1-3 at The Pearl Room in Mokena, Illinois. The band will then join Paganfest USA (featuring ENSIFERUM, TURISAS, TYR and ELUVEITIE) as special guests on the six West Coast dates.

SUIDAKRA's latest CD, "Caledonia", was released in Europe in November 2006 via Armageddon Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Command to Charge" was recorded by Martin Buchwalter at Gernhart Records studio in Siegburg, Germany and features artwork by Kris Verwimp. The album photography was handled by Axel Jusseit, who previously worked with the group on 2003's "Signs for the Fallen". The mastering was done by Michael Schwabe at Monoposto Mastering (SUBWAY TO SALLY, DIE TOTEN HOSEN) in Düsseldorf, Germany.

According to the band, "'Caledonia' adopts the lyrical concept of ancient Scottish history, which explains songtitles such as 'Highland Hills', 'Forth-Clyde' and 'The IXth Legion'."

Canadian masters of brutality CRYPTOPSY are currently putting the finishing touches on their sixth full-length studio album, "The Unspoken King". The group recently announced the addition of new frontman Matt McGachy (3 MILE SCREAM) and keyboards/samplist Maggie Durand to its lineup.

Commented McGachy: "The studio process has been very fulfilling. We have just recently finished all of the vocal tracks and the samples are in the process of being completed. The songs are just as brutal as on the previous albums while being far more concise. We have even brought in ex-ION DISSONANCE vocalist Gabriel McCaughry to add some vocals to a track called 'Anoint the Dead'. Some of the other tracks on the album are called 'Worship Your Demons', 'The Headsmen' and 'Bemoan the Martyr'."

Regretfully, CRYPTOPSY has been forced to cancel its previously announced tour of South America in March after drummer Flo Mounier broke his knee cap. Mounier had completed the drum tracking process for the group’s new album prior to the incident, so it did not affect the recording. The tour of South America is expected to be re-scheduled later in 2008.

European CRYPTOPSY fans will be delighted to hear that the band will be touring Europe right on time of the release of their highly anticipated new effort in May-June 2008, supported by DECREPIT BIRTH and UNMERCIFUL.

Finnish "love metallers" HIM will release their new CD/DVD, "Digital Versatile Doom: Live at the Orpheum Theatre", on April 1 through Warner. The live portion of the DVD was recorded/filmed at the band's November 14-15, 2007 concerts at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. According to the HIM newsletter, "you'll go on stage and behind the scenes with Ville [Valo, HIM frontman] and the band as they give one of their most heartfelt shows to date. Also featured on the DVD, watch the journey of HIM's biggest fans as they go to Seattle to meet the band, see the heartagram photo gallery and watch as Ville recounts the journey that was 'Venus Doom'. 'Digital Versatile Doom' also features a second disc, with the full live performance from The Orpheum Theater and the package contains a 16-page booklet of original art and images."

An exclusive sneak peek at "Digital Versatile Doom: Live at the Orpheum Theatre" is available at this location.

HIM's latest video, "Bleed Well", which features footage for from the Los Angeles shows, can be viewed here.

Italian power metallers KALEDON will enter Outer Sound studios on March 10 with produceer Giuseppe Orlando to begin recording their fifth album, "Legend Of The Forgotten Reign Chapter 5: A New Era Begins", tentatively due in Europe in May/June via Hellion Records. The CD artwork will be designed by Fabrizio Galliccia.

"Legend Of The Forgotten Reign Chapter 5: A New Era Begins" track listing:

01. A New Man
02. A Wounded Friend
03. Mozul
04. Undeads Again
05. The End Of The Green Power
06. A Flash In The Sky
07. Great Mighty Light (instrumental)
08. The Greatest Heart
09. The God Beyond The Man
10. Return To Kaledon

The Japanese version of the CD will include "top-secret" bonus material, according to a posting on the band's web site.

KALEDON last fall announced the addition of singer Marco Palazzi to the group's ranks.

The band parted ways with vocalist Claudio Conti in October due to "personal differences."

KALEDON's latest CD, "Chapter 4: Twilight of the Gods", was released in Europe in December 2006 via Hellion Records. An MP3 of the track "Clash of the Titans" has been made available for download at this location.

KALEDON's first three full-length albums are now available in the United States through Mythic Silence Records.

KALEDON has been making noise in the Italian metal scene since the late 1990s. The band have released three full length albums of what will eventually be a six-part epic entitled "Legend of the Forgotten Reign".

World-renowned multi-instrumentalist and producer Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, ex-BLOODBATH) has finished laying down the vocal tracks for the upcoming OBLITERHATE debut album. Recorded at Unisound Studio (Sweden) in just two weeks, Dan's contribution on the vocals for OBLITERHATE is the first time in more than a decade that he has done vocals for a full-length intense death metal album.

Comments guitarist Calvin Chiang (also of the Singaporean death thrash metal band RASPATUL): "Dan is definitely one of the most down-to-earth and professional person I have ever worked with. He wasted no time in getting all the vocal tracks done and we all know how insanely busy he is. Once Dan got the lyrics from me, he did one track in just a few hours time and I can say that his death metal vocals have turned out to be even better than before! He kept getting better with each track and amazed me with how his vocal phrasings for each song have made the songs so much more enjoyable to listen to. I am really looking forward to get the OBLITERHATE album out as soon as possible!"

Added Dan: "I am ready happy with the way my growls sound and after a few days it felt like my throat surrendered and let me do this stuff without the throat pain and the blistering headaches, which is cool."

OBLITERHATE's debut album, tentatively titled "Blessing In Disgust", will contain nine songs and will be released sometime in 2008 via Pulverised Records. The project, which is said to follow a "more brutal and intricate direction" than RASPATUL, features contributions from some of metal's legendary and highly renowned musicians:

Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH) - Vocals
Erik Sayenga (WARTHRONE, ex-DYING FETUS) - Drums
Derrick Ramirez (DRAGONLORD, ex-TESTAMENT) - Bass
Mirai Kawashima (SIGH, ex-NECROPHAGIA) - Keyboards
James Murphy (DISINCARNATE, ex-DEATH, TESTAMENT) - Guest guitar solo

The legendary Jeff Becerra from the mighty POSSESSED has penned down some lyrics for OBLITERHATE, and will appear on this debut album. The other part of the lyrical songwriting and vocal arrangements will be handled by Rogga Johansson, who is the mastermind behind PAGANIZER, THOSE WHO BRING THE TORTURE, RIBSPREADER and DEMIURG.

San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have issued the following statement:

"The MACHINE HEAD family wishes to extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the McClain family for the tragic loss of Dave's mother, Mary Douglas. Dave was on the first flight to San Antonio, Texas yesterday so that he could be there with his sister. The resulting circumstances understandably but unfortunately forced the band to cancel Tuesday night's [February 12] performance on late notice, and MACHINE HEAD would like to sincerely thank all of the fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin for their understanding. The band were, however, able to perform tonight (Wednesday night), in La Crosse, WI, once again with the amazing help of their metal brothers, as Mark Castillo from BURY YOUR DEAD, Robb Rivera from NONPOINT and Vinnie Paul from HELLYEAH all stepped up to help MACHINE HEAD perform. Mark Castillo played drums on 'Imperium', 'Now I Lay Thee Down' and 'Davidian', Robb Rivera played drums on 'Aesthetics of Hate' and 'Old', and Vinnie Paul played drums on 'Halo'."

Says vocalist Robb Flynn, "Having just went through a similar situation not two months ago, it's really a testament to metal, to see guys and their crews come together like this for another comrade in need... they really fucking brought it tonight for Dave!" Adds guitarist Phil Demmel, "We'd like to thank our friends who filled in admirably in Dave's absence, on four hours notice they learned the songs and gave La Crosse a serious ass-kicking".

Dave McClain will rejoin his bandmates for the Davenport, Iowa show this Friday, February 15, and wishes to extend his sincerest apologies to the fans of Green Bay and La Crosse; he was incredibly moved by the support and wishes from everyone there.

5TH SONIC BRIGADE, the new Sweden-based band featuring former ALICE COOPER guitarist Ryan Roxie, has been joined by Henry Ranta (ex-SOILWORK) on drums and Richard Evenlind (ex-NOICE, CRISS '99) on guitar. A new single, "Kiss of Death", is available for streaming on the group's MySpace page.

5TH SONIC BRIGADE's first single, "If You Could Only See" (originally written and recorded by TONIC), was one of the most downloaded tracks on iTunes last June, according to the band's bio. It also made it to position No. 13 on the Swedish chart "Digilistan."

5TH SONIC BRIGADE is:

Marcus Öhrn - Vocals
Richard Evenlind - Guitars
Ryan Roxie - Guitars
Peter Samuelsson - Bass
Henry Ranta - Drums