German dark/symphonic gothic metal band ATARGATIS has pushed back the release date of its new album, "Nova" (Massacre Records), to November 16 from the previously announced October 26. The CD was recorded and produced at the Helion Studios (DARKSEED, EQUILIBRIUM) in Munich, Germany. The complete layout and design was created by Katja Piolka (PRIMAL FEAR, RAGE, LEAVES' EYES, DESTRUCTION). In addition to the cover design, the band worked with Katja Piolka on their newest promo pictures.

"Nova" contains ten songs, including a cover of ARMY OF LOVERS' "Crucified". The album includes a guest appearance by Matthias Hechler (Matze) from the German gothic metal heroes CREMATORY. The CD will also be available in digipack format (including two exclusive bonus tracks).

"Nova" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Ebon Queen
03. Frozen Innocence
04. Riven Inside *
05. Stars are Falling
06. Crucified **
07. Green Lake's Ground
08. Fever of Temptation *
09. When the Ice breaks
10. Marching of the Fey
11. Firebird
12. Deliverance

Bonus tracks (only on limited digipack version):

13. Comets (Nova Part I) *
14. Watermight (Nova Part II)

* featuring Matthias "Matze" Hechler (CREMATORY)
** cover version (original by ARMY OF LOVERS)

W.A.S.P.'s latest album, "Dominator", will be released in digipack and LP format on October 1 via Demolition Records. The digipack features a special 3D cover.

In other news, a 32-track W.A.S.P. compilation, "The Best of the Best", is scheduled for release in Europe on September 24 via Snapper Music. The track listing is as follows:

Disc 1:

01. Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)
02. I Wanna Be Somebody
03. Show No Mercy
04. L.O.V.E. Machine
05. Hellion
06. Sleeping (In The Fire)
07. Wild Child
08. Ballcrusher
09. Blind In Texas
10. Sex Drive
11. I Don’t Need No Doctor
12. 9.5. – N.A.S.T.Y.
13. Restless Gypsy
14. King Of Sodom And Gomorrah
15. Scream Until You Like It
16. Harder, Faster
17. Mean Man
18. The Real Me

Disc 2:

01. The Headless Children
02. Forever Free
03. Locomotive Breath
04. Titanic Overture
05. The Invisible Boy
06. Chainsaw Charlie
07. Hold On To My Heart
08. The Great Misconception Of Me
09. When The Levee Breaks
10. Helldorado
11. Damnation Angels
12. Dirty Balls
13. Cocaine Cowboys
14. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting

Finnish funeral doom band COLOSSEUM, featuring Juhani of YEARNING (harsh vocals, guitars, synths), Olli Haaranen (guitars, production), Janne Rämö (bass) and Sameli Köykkä (drums), will release its debut album, "Chapter I : Delirium", on November 19 via Firebox Records (November 14 in Finland). The CD will include following songs:

01. The Gate of Adar
02. Corridors of Desolation
03. Weathered
04. Saturnine Vastness
05. Aesthetics of the Grotesque
06. Delirium

According to a press release, "Musically this album will blend 19th century classical music with dark ambient and funeral doom. COLOSSEUM uses different studios for each instrument. Orchestrations and drums are already recorded at HWP Studio/Haven Studio and next the band heads for D-Studio in Klaukkala, Finland for a recording of guitars and vocals. Lyrics of the album blend individual experience with the otherwordly and are of darkest kind."

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM has parted ways with keyboardist Meiju Enho. Meiju's statement regarding his decision to leave the group can be found at this location.

Emmi Silvennoinen from the band EXSECRATUS has filling in for Meiju since the beginning of this year and will continue to act as the live/session keyboard player for ENSIFERUM until further notice.

Fan-filmed video footage of ENSIFERUM's performance at the 21st edition of the Nummirock festival — which took place June 22-23 in Nummijärvi, Finland — can be viewed below.

ENSIFERUM recently entered the German chart at position No. 37 with its third album, "Victory Songs". The CD also debuted on the Finnish national chart at No. 6.

"Victory Songs" was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki with producer Janne Joutsenniemi. A limited-edition version of the album includes an extra track, "Lady in Black", and a bonus DVD. An e-card for the CD can be found here. Check out the video for the song "Ahti" at YouTube.

ENSIFERUM last year entered the Music DVD chart in their home country at position No. 2 with their "10th Anniversary Live" (Spinefarm) effort. The disc was recorded at the band's 10th-anniversary celebration concert, which took place December 31, 2005 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland.

ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott has revealed more information about the concept behind the group's new album, "Rise of the Trant", due on September 25 via Century Media Records.

Says Amott: "When Angela (Gossow) brought in the lyrics to what is musically the most extreme song on the album, I immediately loved the title she had for it. 'Rise of the Tyrant'. It had power, it had grace and it sounded like the music we were writing. We quickly decided to also name the album 'Rise of the Tyrant' — after all, we do aspire to dominate the metal scene with this album! Later I had the idea of adding the sample from the old 'Caligula' film at the front of the song. Caligula, the Roman Emperor known for his extreme extravagance, eccentricity, depravity and cruelty, perfectly enhanced the atmosphere of total megalomania that we were looking for.

"Although we have never delved into the marshy lands of a full-blown concept album, we do tend to write a few songs on each album that are connected lyrically and sometimes also musically. With 'Rise of the Tyrant' we threw in all the ideas and creativity that we could conjure – we wanted to make the most action packed and intense album of our career! This album is the final result of two years hard yet satisfying work."

Drummer Dave Culross has apparently once again quit legendary Florida death metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION. No reason was given for his departure. Dave is said to be doing recordings with other bands at the moment as well as launching a new project. He is also looking to do some session work.

MALEVOLENT CREATION's new album, "Doomsday X", was released in the U.S. on July 17 via Nuclear Blast Records and in Europe on August 24 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded and engineered at Mercury Recording Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida by longtime friend and producer (and sometimes session member) Gus Rios, and is said to be the most diverse MALEVOLENT CREATION album recorded to date and "without a doubt their fastest!!" Mick Thomson, guitarist for SLIPKNOT, contributed a "ripping" guitar solo to the song "Deliver My Enemy".

AMORPHIS' new album, "Silent Waters", is now available for streaming in its entirety at MP3.com. Due in North America September 18, the CD is the second AMORPHIS album to feature singer Tomi Joutsen (SINISTHRA). It was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, Finland. Mixing duties were handled by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS) at Finnvox studios.

"Silent Waters" track listing:

01. Weaving The Incantation
02. A Servant
03. Silent Waters
04. Towards And Against
05. I Of Crimson Blood
06. Her Alone
07. Enigma
08. Shaman
09. The White Swan
10. Black River
11. Sign (U.S. bonus track)

AMORPHIS will embark on a European tour in November. The first leg of the "Silent Waters European Tour" will take AMORPHIS to Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Norway and Sweden before the band returns to Finland for a concert at Nosturi in Helsinki. Support on the trek will come from SWALLOW THE SUN and INSOMNIUM.

AMORPHIS' latest single, "Silent Waters", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 2.

French experimentalists CARNIVAL IN COAL have called it quits. An official statement from the group reads as follows:

"We are sorry to announce you that CARNIVAL IN COAL is no more. We thank you all for your support and friendship during all these years."

More information on the split will be revealed in a few days in an exclusive interview with the French web site VS-Webzine.com.

Equilibre Music last year reissued on one single CD the second and the third albums — "French Cancan" (1999) and "Fear Not Carnival In Coal" (2001) — from CARNIVAL IN COAL.

Swedish metallers SOILWORK have set "Sworn to a Great Divide" as the title of their new album, due on October 19 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The vocals for the new CD were recorded in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with the help of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mastermind Devin Townsend. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Sworn To A Great Divide
02. Exile
03. Breeding Thorns
04. Your Beloved Scapegoat
05. The Pittsburgh Syndrome
06. I, Vermin
07. Light Discovering Darkness
08. As The Sleeper Awakes
09. Silent Bullet
10. Sick Heart River
11. 20 More Miles

Check out the cover artwork at this location.

SOILWORK recently announced the addition of guitarist Daniel Antonsson (DIMENSION ZERO, PATHOS) to the group's ranks.

British black metal pioneers VENOM have decided to re-record some of the already completed tracks for their upcoming album and push back the CD's projected release date to early 2008. Drummer Antony "Antton" Lant (brother of VENOM frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant) explains: "During the Scandinavian tour [which took place in May 2007] we played through some of the new tracks in the soundchecks. There's something about the energy you deliver when playing on a stage that differs greatly from recording in a studio. All fired up, we tore the tracks to shreds. We tried to organize a mobile studio to get to the next shows, but it was way too late notice, so on our return to the U.K. Cronos hired some small venues for us to record some new backing tracks to work on. At the end of the day it's all about recording a great album, and this new album is sounding absolutely awesome."

In other news, work has started on a special DVD release of VENOM's classic videos. The Hammersmith show from 1984 ("The 7th Date of Hell") and the "Nightmare" video, along with new interviews with various members and never-before-seen footage from the musicians' personal archives will be included.

VENOM recently parted ways with guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey; ex-CARCASS, CATHEDRAL). "Personal unavoidable commitments in the U.S. have forced Mykvs to announce that he cannot commit 100% to VENOM's 2007 schedule," the band previously wrote in a statement. A new guitarist by the name of Rage has already been drafted in to replace Mykvs.

With regards to the direction of the band's next album, VENOM frontman Cronos previously said, "VENOM will be even darker and heavier for the next release. The new song ideas that Antton and I have been composing over the last year will be exactly what the 'legions' expect from us, and will really test the abilities of the band members. There's going to be a lot of blood spilled making the next album. This band belongs to the fans and I'm going to stay true to the spirit of VENOM no matter what sacrifices have to be made."

Guitarist Steve Smyth has officially parted ways with NEVERMORE, citing personal and business differences.

"All things find their end eventually, and at this time I wish to make it clear that this was mutually agreed between the band and myself," Steve said in a statement.

"I will continue on with other aspects of my music career, including the upcoming release of THE ESSENESS PROJECT, an all-instrumental album in the vein of progressive rock that is now finished and being prepared for release."

He continued, "After a year and four months of being out of the touring scene due to ill health and then a kidney transplant, I have finally been given a full health clearance by my doctors to go back on the road, and I am now ready to return to the stage.

"I am proud and extremely honored to have been a guest of Uli Jon Roth at his Sky Academy concert series this past weekend, August 24th and 25th , in L.A. What an awesome experience! To jam with one of the greatest, as well as several other incredible guitarists and musicians who have been big influences on my playing over the years, and to make new friends as well, the whole thing was just incredible. Many thanks to Uli for inviting me, it was truly an honor!

"I am now embarking on a six-week of tour of Europe with my friends from the Danish thrash metal band, SPV recording artists HATESPHERE, first supporting BEHEMOTH in Poland, and then joining the DIMMU BORGIR tour. I have been a fan of HATESPHERE and friends with the band since 2003, when they opened for TESTAMENT at a festival we played together, and absolutely look forward to getting out with them and together, crushing Europe!"

During Smyth's time away from the touring circuit, NEVERMORE has been utilizing the services of longtime session guitarist Chris Broderick (JAG PANZER).

NEVERMORE has begun the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2005's "This Godless Endeavor", tentatively due next year via Century Media Records.

Guitarist Tim "Rotted" Weatherley of the U.K. extreme metal band GOREROTTED has made the following announcement:

"After playing the summer festivals as a four-piece, we are pleased to announce our new guitarist is Gian Pyres of CRADLE OF FILTH fame. He is a great guitarist and I've been playing with Gian in our project THE FEAR for a while now so he was natural choice to step into Matt's piss-soaked shoes."

Gian played with CRADLE from 1996 to 2002 and has also appeared on CHRISTIAN DEATH and EXTREME NOISE TERROR albums. Gian says, "It's fucking great to hook up with such a bunch of proper wankers; it will be ace!!"

GOREROTTED is well into writing its fourth full-length album, "Get Dead Or Die Trying". Recording is scheduled for next spring, with a release date planned for summer 2008. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Howling", "Angel Of Meth", "It's Like There's A Party In My Mouth And Everyone's Being Sick", "Coping With A Botched Strapadictomy", "Fear And Loathing In Ipswich Town Centre", "Kissing You With My Fists", "The Body Tree" and the title track.

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet has announced that the release date of the two new six-track albums from his AVANTASIA project, entitled "Lost In Space Part 1" and "Lost In Space - Part 2", has been pushed back to November 16 from the previously announced October 19.

"We have produced so much exclusive material for these two epics that we just needed the [extra] time," stated Sammet. "Except from the title track they contain completely different material, classy material, no bonus shit! In addition we decided to put some different video footage on each CD as well. We really had to postpone the release to warrant the AVANTASIA quality. But it will be worth the wait: This is the resurrection a project like AVANTASIA deserves. Fans will get two major releases, each for the price of a single. Many thanks to my record company that supported the idea. I know it may be insane business-wise, but the fans will reward it."

AVANTASIA's full-story album, "The Scarecrow", will be released at end of January next year via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is expected to feature guest appearances by former HELLOWEEN frontman Michael Kiske, SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker, rock legend Alice Cooper, Sascha Paeth, Henjo Richter, Eric Singer (KISS, ALICE COOPER), Miro, Jorn Lande (ex-MASTERPLAN), Bob Catley and Amanda Somerville.

AVANTASIA will perform at next year's Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany. Also scheduled to appear are IRON MAIDEN (headliners), CHILDREN OF BODOM and KREATOR.

In a recent interview, Sammet described the music on the new AVANTASIA CD as "diversified, pomp metal with some classic rock elements, Classic orchestrated moments and Celtic stuff, a big timeless production and so on and so forth. It's going to consist of many different elements. Bombastic kick-ass music with a lot of heart and depth."

Finnish metal cellists APOCALYPTICA have issued the following update:

"Today sees the start on MySpace of an exclusive pre-listening session for the new APOCALYPTICA album, 'Worlds Collide', up for release on September 14th!

"In the Orkus magazine advance listening test, the album has shot straight to No. 1 and the first single, 'I'm Not Jesus' featuring Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT) — in shops since Friday, August 31st — has reignited APOCALYPTICA fever with new fervor.

"Starting today, the official APOCALYPTICA MySpace Page page will feature a different song each day that can be heard in its entirety! And there’s still plenty to look forward to with fabulous collaborations with RAMMSTEIN, Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Adam Gontier (THREE DAYS GRACE). If that makes your black hearts beat faster, be sure and remember that each song will only be presented for you to hear for one day, so check in daily!"

"Worlds Collide" track listing:

01. Worlds Collide
02. Grace (feat. Tomoyasu Hotei)
03. I'm Not Jesus (feat. Corey Taylor)
04. Ion
05. Helden (feat. Till Lindemann)
06. S.O.S. (Anything but Love) (feat. Cristina Scabbia)
07. Stroke
08. Last Hope (feat. Dave Lombardo)
09. I Don't Care (feat. Adam Gontier)
10. Burn
11. Peace

The Sun Online reports that British soccer star David Beckham could wear a sumo wrestler outfit and look great but there's something about a guy in a rock T-shirt.

The trendy star stepped out in Washington D.C. yesterday dressed in this IRON MAIDEN tee.

We all know David's a huge hip-hop fan but maybe his wife Victoria (of the SPICE GIRLS fame) advised him that it’s much cooler to wear a rock top — even if you're not down with the heavy guitar.

But could David name any of MAIDEN's songs?

American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT and I-Code recently completed work on the video for the song "The Human Stain" from KAMELOT's newest CD "Ghost Opera". Watch the clip here.

KAMELOT's video for the song "Ghost Opera" is available online at YouTube. The track is the title cut off KAMELOT's new album, which was released in North America on June 5.

"Ghost Opera" is KAMELOT's third release for SPV/Steamhammer Records. The CD was recorded and mixed at Gate Studios and Pathway Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro. Artwork was handled by Mattias Norén with contributions by Alexandra V. Bach, Liliana Sanchez and Derek Gores.

According to a posting on SOULFLY's official web site, Max Cavalera (guitar/vocals), Joe Nunez (drums), Marc Rizzo (guitar), and Bobby Burns (bass) are planning to enter the studio early next week to begin recording the band's sixth studio album. The CD will be recorded in Bobby and Tim Lau's studio in Florida — the Porch Studio — and will be produced by Max. An early 2008 release via Roadrunner Records is expected.

SOULFLY entered a Los Angeles studio in March with producer Logan Mader (ex-MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY) to record a cover of the MARILYN MANSON song "Beautiful People" for the recently released Kerrang! magazine compilation "Higher Voltage".

SOULFLY's latest album, "Dark Ages", was produced by Max Cavalera and was mixed by Terry Date, who has previously worked with PANTERA and DEFTONES, among others.

NORTHERN KINGS, the new Finnish band consisting of four well-known metal musicians — J. Ahola (TERÄSBETONI), Marco Hietala (TAROT, NIGHTWISH), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA), J-P Leppäluoto (CHARON) — will release a special covers album on October 24. According to MetalFromFinland.com, the CD will contain metal arrangements of '80s hits, including TINA TURNER's "We Don't Need Another Hero", CUTTING CREW's "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight", PHIL COLLINS' "In The Air Tonight", DIRE STRAITS' "Brothers In Arms", PETER GABRIEL's "Sledgehammer" and DAVID BOWIE's "Ashes To Ashes". The first single from the album — a cover of TINA TURNER's "We Don't Need Another Hero" — will be released on September 26.

FATES WARNING's classic 1988 album "No Exit" will be re-released in Europe on October 8 via Metal Blade Records (except in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, where it will arrive on October 5). The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album plus outtakes, demos, and a bonus DVD featuring live footage from the "No Exit" world tour 1988 as well as the "making of" the "Silent Cries" and "Anarchy Divine" music videos. The complete track listing is as follows:

CD

01. Anarchy Divine
02. Silent Cries
03. In A Word
04. Shades of Heavenly Death
05. The Ivory Gate of Dreams
I. Innocence
II. Cold Daze
III. Daylight Dreamers
IV. Quietus
V. Ivory Tower
VI. Whispers On The Wind
VII. Acquiescence
VIII. Retrospect

Bonus tracks:

* "Quietus" demo
* "Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake #1
* "Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake #2

Bonus DVD

* "No Exit" Documentary
* "Silent Cries" Video
* "Anarchy Divine" Video
* "Valley of the Dolls" Video
* Live in Philadelphia 1998

Running Time: approximately 68 minutes

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers AFTER FOREVER will release a new single, "Equally Destructive", on September 21. The limited-edition DVD single will contain the following videos:

* "Equally Destructive"
* "Discord"
* Exclusive bonus material from Lowlands 2007

AFTER FOREVER performed an acoustic version of the song "Equally Destructive" on the Dutch radio station 3FM on August 14 during the final hour of the "Giel Beelen" show. Watch the performance at this location.

Dutch death metallers SEVERE TORTURE will release their new album, "Sworn Vengeance", in Europe on November 12 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded at Excess Studios and Pit Studio in Holland during April, while the mixing sessions took place in June at Hertz Studios in Poland. The band enlisted the help of Jason Netherton (MISERY INDEX) and Che Snelping (ex-BORN FROM PAIN) for the track "Buried Hatchet" on which both contribute guest vocals. A new track from the album, entitled "Dismal Perception", has been made available here. A limited-edition first pressing of the album will contain cover versions of classic CRO-MAGS and ENTOMBED tracks.

"Sworn Vengeance" track listing:

01. Dismal Perception
02. Serenity Torn Asunder
03. Fight Something
04. Repeat Offender
05. Countless Villans
06. Dogmasomatic Nausea
07. Redefined Identity
08. Buried Hatchet
09. Sworn Vengeance
10. Submerged in Grief

Limited-edition CD bonus tracks:

11. It's The Limit (CRO-MAGS cover)
12. Eyemaster (ENTOMBED cover)

AJATTARA, the Finnish band featuring former AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen (a.k.a. Ruoja), has just released its fifth full-length album, "Kalmanto" (cover artwork), in Finland via Spinefarm Records. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Ilkitie
02. Turhuuden takila
03. Madot
04. ...Putoan
05. Harhojen virta
06. Suruntuoja
07. Naimalaulu
08. Alttarilla aamutähden
09. Kalmanto

AJATTARA is:

Ruoja (Pasi Koskinen) - Vocals and Guitar
Kalmos (Vesa Wahlroos) - Guitar and Backing Vocals
Tohtori Kuolio (Juha Harju) - Bass and Backing Vocals
Raajat (Janne Immonen) - Synth
Malakias IV (Tonmi Lillman) - Drums