Swedish metallers SABATON will enter Abyss Studios with producer Peter Tägtgren on Friday, January 4 to begin recording their new album, entitled "The Art of War". The follow-up to 2006's "Attero Dominatus" will be released on May 30 via Black Lodge Records.

"The Art of War" track listing:

01. Sun Tzu Says
02. Ghost Division
03. The Art Of War
04. 40:1
05. Unbreakable
06. The nature of Warfare
07. Cliffs of Gallipoli
08. Talvisota
09. Panzerkampf
10. Union (Slopes of St. Benedict)
11. The Price of a Mile
12. Firestorm
13. A Secret

A video clip of STREAM OF PASSION keyboardist Jeffrey Revet working at his studio on some of the songs for the band's upcoming sophomore album can be viewed below.

STREAM OF PASSION members Johan van Stratum (bass), Davy Mickers (drums) and Marcela Bovio (vocals, lyrics, violin) last year announced the addition of Stephan Schultz (guitar), Jeffrey Revet (keyboards) and Eric Hazebroek (guitar) to the group's ranks.

STREAM OF PASSION parted ways with founding members Arjen Lucassen (guitar), Lori Linstruth (guitar) and Alejandro Millán (piano), back in March 2007.

STREAM OF PASSION's debut album, "Embrace the Storm", was released in Holland in October 2005 via Sony/BMG Benelux. The CD was issued in the rest of Europe and the U.S./Canada via InsideOut Music.

Danish metallers IRON FIRE, who are fronted by FORCE OF EVIL singer Martin Steene, have issued the following update:

"We wanna say thanks to all who came to our concerts at the Tour of Triumph; it has been the best tour for us so far. Now we are back home in cold Denmark and most of the hangovers are gone. We will now use the next 2-3 months on writing the last songs for the next album, and are aiming on entering the studio sometime this spring."

IRON FIRE last year parted ways with drummer Jens Berglid and replaced him with Fritz Wagner.

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".

A five-minute teaser clip featuring samples of all nine tracks that are set to appear on DRACONIAN's fourth album, "Turning Season Within", is available on the band's MySpace page.

"Turning Season Within" is scheduled for release on February 29 (March 4 in the U.S.) via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Fascination Street studio (OPETH, KATATONIA) in Örebro, Sweden during September 2007 and features a guest appearance by NOVEMBERS DOOM vocalist Paul Kuhr.

According to a press release, "Turning Season Within" features "raw doom elements combined with the soft vocals of female vocalist Lisa (Johansson) and the ethereal melody lines well-known to fans of the band."

England's FOREFATHER has completed work on its new album, entitled "Steadfast". According to the band, "It will now go into manufacture and will be exclusively available through Seven Kingdoms, hopefully by the end of January."

"Steadfast" reportedly contains 11 tracks with a running time of just under an hour.

Check out the album artwork at this location.

FOREFATHER's fourth album, "Ours is the Kingdom", was released in May 2004 through Holland's Karmageddon Media. The CD was recorded at The Croft Recording Studio in England and features artwork by C.A. Interactive (MORIFADE, SKYFIRE).

Headbanger's Blog has uploaded the new TYPE O NEGATIVE video for "September Sun". The clip, which was shot in October 2007 and was directed by Ivan and Josip Colic (HAMMERFALL, MOONSPELL), can be viewed below.

The song comes off the group's latest CD, "Dead Again", which was released in March 2007. In a recent interview with RockConfidential.com, drummer Johnny Kelly said TYPE O's label, SPV Records, is preparing to reissue "Dead Again" with new artwork and an accompanying DVD.

TYPE O NEGATIVE drummer Johnny Kelly and guitarist Kenny Hickey will take part in a signing session at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) on January 19 in Anaheim, California. The exact schedule will be announced soon. Kelly and Hickey will also perform with their SEVENTH VOID side project later that night as part of the Schecter Guitars showcase.

Rounded out by bassist Hank Hell (INHUMAN) and guitarist Matt Brown (ex-SUPERMASSIV), SEVENTH VOID contines TYPE O's tradition of slow, heavy riffs and existential lyrics, but with a slightly sludgier, "stonier" flavor.

The band's upcoming album will reportedly be co-mixed by Vinnie Paul (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN).

Denmark's melodic doom metal masters SATURNUS have issued the following update:

"After releasing 'Veronika Decides To Die' in 2006 and touring the States, Russia and parts of Europe, SATURNUS and bass player Lennart Jacobsen has decided to go our separate ways. No hard feelings involved and we wish him the best of luck with his music in the future. Luckily for us, our old bass player Brian Pomykala Hansen (Brian recorded 'Paradise Belongs to You', 'For the Loveless Lonely Nights' and 'Martyre') was playing in the band WIZARDS OF DOOM with Thomas (vocals). We tried giving him a call and he was up for the task. So, we are back in business (never went off!). We have started writing material for the next album and have some massive European tour dates lined up for the spring of 2008. We'll keep you posted on that!"

Check out a new band photo at this location.

"Veronika Decides To Die" was produced by Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, ARTILLERY) and features a guest appearance by MERCYFUL FATE guitar legend Michael Denner. The CD was nominated in four catagories ("Best Metal Album", "Best Metal Track", "Best Metal Production" and "Best Metal Artwork") at the 2006 Danish Metal Awards event.

Rhino Records has set a March 18 release date for a "best-of" double-CD from progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER, entitled "Greatest Hit & 19 Other Pretty Cool Songs".

More information will be made available soon.

DREAM THEATER's new anime-themed video, "Forsaken", will premiere in early 2008. To whet the fans' appetites, Roadrunner Records is offering a peek at the video's main characters at this location (that's Leo on the left and Alice on the right).

DREAM THEATER's video for the song "Constant Motion" can be viewed on YouTube. The track comes off "Systematic Chaos", which has sold around 100,000 copies in the United States since its June 5 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Kirk Windstein, who has spent much of 2007 recording and touring behind DOWN's third album, "Over the Under", has issued the following update on the current status of his longtime band CROWBAR:

"As y'all know, I've been very busy with DOWN. But fear not, children of doom. I've been down in Miami writing CROWBAR tunes with [fellow CROWBAR guitarist Steve] Gibb. It's coming along really well, so get ready!! Also get ready for the new KINGDOM OF SORROW [the collaborative project featuring Windstein and HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta] CD coming out on Relapse on February 19th. It absolutely crushes!!"

CROWBAR's video for the song "Slave No More" can be viewed below. The clip was included on the band's DVD, "Live: With Full Force", which came out in North America in January. Filmed at the popular German open-air festival of the same name, "Live: With Full Force" was captured on CROWBAR's world tour supporting their 2005 release "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden". The live performance DVD also includes candid backstage footage plus the band's second (and previously unavailable) promotional video for "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden" album track "Slave No More".

The KINGDOM OF SORROW album was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Massachusetts with producer Zeuss (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL) and will include 11 tracks. Preview tracks can be heard now via the band's official MySpace page.

According to The Associated Press, Marilyn Manson's marriage to model and burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese officially ended Thursday, and the two were "restored to the status of single persons," according to a judgment filed in Superior Court.

Von Teese, whose real name is Heather Sweet, and Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, have entered a marital settlement, but terms of the agreement were not disclosed for privacy reasons, court papers said.

Von Teese filed divorce papers nearly a year ago, citing irreconcilable differences for the split. The pair married in November 2005.

Manson later told Spin magazine he was devastated over the breakup.

"She said she had tolerated the lifestyle because she hoped I would change and threatened to leave if I didn't," he said.

Manson, 38, is now dating actress Evan Rachel Wood, the 20-year-old star of "Thirteen" and "Across the Universe".

POISONBLACK, the Finnish band featuring former SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala, has entered Soundmix Studio in the group's hometown of Oulu with producer Kari Vähäkuopus to begin recording its third album, entitled "A Dead Heavy Day". According to guitarist Janne Markus, "all drums, rhythm guitars and bass are already in and the new stuff sounds fucking great."

Drummer Tarmo Kanerva previously stated about the new material, "On the one hand, there is going to be some really melodic songs, and on the other hand, the heavy stuff is heavier than anything we have ever done before. Still, you won't need to be afraid of dramatic changes. It'll be the typical POISONBLACK sound."

POISONBLACK last year entered the Finnish national album chart with its sophomore CD, "Lust Stained Despair", at position No. 2. The group's video the song "Rush" can be viewed below. Also available at YouTube.com is a video clip of POISONBLACK mainman Ville Laihiala performing the band's song "Pain Becomes Me" acoustically. Check it out at this location.

AYREON's official web site, Ayreon.com, is currently premiering "Beneath The Waves", a stunning CGI film produced by Simon van Vegten. The film was made to accompany the song of the same name from the upcoming AYREON album, "01011001", which is scheduled for release on January 28 via InsideOut Music. The "Beneath The Waves" movie with 5.1 mix will be included as one of many bonus DVD features on "01011001".

AYREON is the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen. The group will make its new rock opera, entitled "01011001", available in three editions:

* a regular two-CD edition with a 28 page booklet.
* a Special Edition: a box containing the regular 2CD edition and a bonus DVD.
* a Deluxe Limited Edition, a DVD size fold-out case with embossed silver lettering on the slipcase. This edition contains the 2 CDs and a bonus DVD* plus a 36 page booklet with additional artwork.

Finnish melodic death metal act MYGRAIN has posted two new songs — "Translucent Dreams" and "Shed The Second Skin" — on its MySpace page. Both tracks comes off the group's second album, "Signs of Existence", which is scheduled for release on February 13 via Spinefarm Records. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Translucent Dreams
02. This Perfect Chaos
03. Asphyxiated And Inflammable
04. Shed The Second Skin
05. Walk Puppet Walk
06. Killing Time
07. The Psychonaut
08. Alienation
09. Human Wasteland
10. Final Frontier

Check out the cover artwork at this location.

MYGRAIN's debut album, "Orbit Dance", was released in 2006. The CD was recorded and mixed in November 2005 and January 2006 at Sound Supreme studio by Janne Saksa. It was mastered in February 2006 at Finnvox studios by Mika Jussila.

Swedish extreme metallers HYPOCRISY have issued the following update:

"As you've probably heard, we're remixing and redoing the vocals on 'Catch 22' [originally issued in 2002 via Nuclear Blast] and re-releasing it. Why?! Because we still think it is a great fucking album but it got slammed and misunderstood because of the vocal style and the drum sound and so on.

"Everybody in HYPOCRISY is sitting home and writing for the next album right now and we wanna make sure it will be the best release we can do... When it will be out, we don't know. Maybe in the beginning of 2009."

HYPOCRISY's latest album, "Virus", came out in September 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Prosthetic Records has announced the signing of the Canadian progressive death metal band NEURAXIS. The group will tentatively release its Prosthetic debut in mid-2008.

"The search for our new label is now over," guitarist Rob Milley comments. "NEURAXIS is excited to be joining the Prosthetic Records family. We are working hard on finishing the new album and looking forward to touring like madmen next year!"

NEURAXIS recently released "Live Progression", via Galy Records, the live follow-up to 2005's "Trilateral Progression", the band's latest studio album.

NEURAXIS's video report detailing the "Live Progression" CD, which was released in Canada on November 6, can be viewed below.

"Live Progression" is the group's first live recording to feature new singer Alexandre Leblanc (POINT BLANK RAGE, ATHERETIC) and guitarist William Seghers (ex-QUO VADIS).

Italian "symphonic power epic" metal band THY MAJESTIE has inked a deal with Holland's Dark Balance Records. The group's fourth album is scheduled for release in June 2008. According to a press release, "fans of THY MAJESTIE can expect some musical changes compared to their previous discs, 'Jeanne 'D Arc' and 'Hastings 1066'."

Commented vocalist Dario Cascio: "The band went through harsh times lately, especially with the loss of Giuseppe Bondì on the keyboards, but they say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and in fact we feel we have grown up a lot through this past year!"

He added, "The songs we chose to include on the forthcoming album are eight bombs. We are terribly excited about them and we're confident that the next one is gonna be the best THY MAJESTIE release so far!"

Guitarist Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN) and bassist Andreas Olsson (NARNIA, DIVINEFIRE, ROB ROCK, STORMWIND) are the first two guest musicians slated to appear on the forthcoming fourth album from Norwegian power metallers GAIA EPICUS, entitled "Damnation".

"Damnation" projected track listing:

01. Damnation (feat. Roland Grapow)
02. Masters of the Sea
03. Firestorm
04. The Wizard's Return (instrumental)
05. You are a Liar!
06. Cyborgs from Hell
07. The Saviour (Will Come)
08. A Hero in All
09. Salvation is Here

The drums for "Damnation" have already been recorded and the artwork for the album will once again be created by J.P Fournier.

Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have issued the following update:

"The result of the pre-production of the new album is very satisfying and we will enter the studio early January to record our ninth full-length album. Title, release date and such will be posted on the website soon. The new UNLEASHED album will continue in the same victorious spirit as our previous album 'Midvinterblot'."

UNLEASHED's eighth full-length album, "Midvinterblot", was released in the U.S. on October 10, 2006 via SPV Records.

UNLEASHED's current lineup:

Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums

Former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn has set "Angl" as the title of his second solo album, tentatively due mid-spring via Candlelight Records. The follow-up to 2006's "The Adversary" is "in its final completion stages now," according to a Candlelight press release.

"The Adversary" entered the Norwegian album chart at position No. 33. The CD was written and recorded over a one-year period at Symphonique Studios in Norway and features a guest appearance by Garm from ULVER on one song. All music and lyrics for "The Adversary" were written and performed by Ihsahn with exception of drums, which were played by Asgeir Mickelson (BORKNAGAR, SPIRAL ARCHITECT). A video for "Invocation", the opening track from "The Adversary", can be viewed below. The clip was shot and produced in Notodden, Norway by a local production company. "I think the video reflects both the direct and solitary expression of the album," Ihsahn said. "It was my intention to keep everything as pure and intense as possible, yet staying true to metal tradition."

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI will release their new album, "Korven Kuningas", on March 15, 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records. Check out the cover artwork at this location. A new single, "Keep On Galloping", will precede the full-length effort on February 14, 2008 in both CD and 7" picture vinyl formats. It will also include the track "Paljon On Koskessa Kiviä". View the single cover artwork at href='http://www.korpiklaani.com/pictures/singlepieni.jpg' target=_blank>this location.

KORPIKLAANI entered the Finnish and German album charts at positions No. 36 and No. 52, respectively, with their latest effort, "Tervaskanto" (Napalm Records).

"Tervaskanto" was recorded at Fantom Studios in Tampere, Finland with producer Samu Oittinen. 11 songs were laid down for the follow-up to "Tales along this Road".

Formed by Jonne Järvelä (vocals, guitar), KORPIKLAANI ("Woodland Clan" in Finnish) released two albums under its previous moniker, SHAMAN. In contrast to SHAMAN, which recorded songs in the original Sami language, KORPIKLAANI's material is writen mostly in English, but also in Finnish.

According to Sounds2move.de, German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE have set "Songs for the Last View" as the title of their new album, due on March 31, 2008 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts" is once again being produced by John Fryer (HIM, NINE INCH NAILS) and will mark the band's first recording with singer Rob Vitacca who joined the band this past summer. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Shadow I Once Kissed", "A Pearl", "Sacrificial Lamb" and "Oceans" (working title).

"Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts" was released in August 2006 and was preceded by a single, "Again It's Over".

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have scheduled a headlining concert at the Split City Stadium in Split, Croatia on Sunday, August 10 as part of their Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008.

Commented bassist Steve Harris: "This will be our very first visit ever to the city of Split and we're very excited about getting there to play on this tour. We have visited Croatia only a couple of times before, both times in Zagreb much further north in the country. The first time was way back in 1986 and last time on the 'Give Me Ed' tour three or four years ago. So to us this will just be like playing somewhere new for the first time which always gets us going on stage and I'm sure many of our friends from Zagreb will be making the trip down south for this special show."

Tickets go on sale to the public at midday on Thursday, December 20.