Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE will release a new "deluxe edition" of their breakthrough debut album "The Poison" on June 12. The new special package includes all 13 tracks from the original album and four songs previously unreleased in the U.S. The "deluxe edition" also contains an exclusive bonus DVD with live concert footage as well as their music videos.

"The Poison" deluxe edition:

CD Audio Tracks:

01. Intro
02. Her Voice Resides
03. 4 Words (To Choke Upon)
04. Tears Don't Fall
05. Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do)
06. Hit The Floor
07. All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)
08. Room 409
09. The Poison
10. 10 Years Today
11. Cries In Vain
12. Spit You Out
13. The End
14. 7 Days (bonus track)
15. My Fist, Your Mouth, Her Scars (bonus track)
16. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (bonus track)
17. Tears Don't Fall (Acoustic) (bonus track)

DVD Video:

Live At Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo

* Four Words (To Choke Upon)
* Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do)
* Cries In Vain

Live At The Brixton Academy, London, England

* Her Voice Resides
* All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)

Music Videos

* All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)
* Tears Don’t Fall
* Four Words (To Choke Upon)
* Hand of Blood

San Diego metal outfit AS I LAY DYING has set "An Ocean Between Us" as the title of its highly-anticipated follow up to 2005's "Shadows Are Security".

The majority of "An Ocean Between Us" was recorded at vocalist Tim Lambesis' home studio, aptly named Lambesis Studio, in San Diego, California. Adam Dutkiewicz (UNDEROATH, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE ACACIA STRAIN) of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE collaborated with AS I LAY DYING on all recording and production duties and Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT) will be overseeing the final mix. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Separation", "Nothing Left", "Within Destruction" and title track, "An Ocean Between Us".

In other news, AS I LAY DYING ishas officially announced the addition of bassist Josh Gilbert to the group's ranks. Josh joins the band from THIS ENDEARING, a local group in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. "Based on hearing Josh's previous band, we knew he was a great bass player and singer," says Lambesis. "But when he came out to San Diego to try out and rehearse with us, he ended up exceeding our expectations. Shortly after the try out we invited him to come back and fill in for us on our January U.K. tour. That tour really solidified the fact that Josh is the right guy for us."

AFTER FOREVER keyboardist Joost van den Broek and AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen are among the guest musicians who will appear on the self-titled album from GALEXIA, the project led by Orange, Connecticut-based musician Kenneth Joseph Spaziani. A 30-second preview of the track "Rose of Thorns", featuring a vocal contribution from Lucassen, has been posted on the project's MySpace. It is not presently known what tracks Joost van den Broek will be performing on yet, although Kenneth has reportedly said that Joost would be contributing solos to a few songs.

Professionally filmed video footage of STONE SOUR's performance at the Rock am Ring festival in Nürburgring, Germany on Saturday, June 2 is available for viewing at YouTube. Also available at the same location is a seven-minute pre-show interview with STONE SOUR/SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor.

As previously reported, STONE SOUR's video for its new single, "Made of Scars", has been posted online at
this location

The cover artwork for AMORPHIS's upcoming album, "Silent Waters", has been posted online at this location. The CD 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 (bonus track on digipak)

The album will be released on August 29 (Finland)/August 31 (other countries).

Due on June 27, the "Silent Waters" single will contain the following tracks:

01. Silent Waters (edit)
02. Sign
03. Silent Waters (album version)

California-based metallers AGENT STEEL have posted the cover artwork for their new album, "Alienigma", at this location (artwork by Dimitri Patelis).

Due in September via Mascot Records, "Alienigma" will feature the following track listing:

01. Fashioned From Dust
02. Wash The Planet Clean
03. Hail To The Chief
04. Wormwod
05. Liberty Lying Bleeding
06. Hybridized
07. Tiamats Fall
08. WPD
09. Lamb To The Slaughter
10. Extinct

Vocalist Kobi Farhi of the Israeli metal band ORPHANED LAND has issued the following update:

"We are still in the writing process of our next album, 'OrwarriOR'. We know it [is taking] quite a while, but you all know how complex our latest album, 'Mabool', was and we want to give you no less than that. The final result is most important to us and we simply haven't found the formula to produce an album every year. However, I can assure you that your patience will be rewarded! Right now, to keep the flame burning, we have confirmed a few headline and co-headline shows on some summer festivals and we hope to meet all of you there!"

Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have issued the following update:

"We have finished recording all instruments for our 10th studio album 'Manifest'. We entered Sonic Pump studio with our producer/engineer Tapio Pennanen on May 10th. Recordings went fast and well, and happy to say we do not use triggers on this album. Much more warmer live sound on this one. We have a little break now and we will continue with vocals in June. Then we will have a longer break and 'Manifest' will be mixed at Sonic Pump at the end of July. Here is the tracklisting (not in any order):

01. Intro: Greater Wrath
02. The Antichrist Files
03. Pandemia
04. Mushroom Truth
05. Die Insane
06. Blueprint For Your Culture's Apocalypse
07. Funeral For Despicable Pigs
08. Goat Justice
09. Dead Return
10. Suicide Song
11. Pathogen
12. The Calling
13. Planet Nazarene
14. You Don't Rock Hard
15. When Violence Commands The Day
16. Original Pig Rig

"This album is definitely the most varied one since 'Suomi Finland Perkele'. Even more than said 'Suomi Finland Perkele'. We have slow shit, fast shit, rocking shit. Shit that will kick your ass. Some surprises for sure. Lyrically, in case you did not guess, this one deals with all possible bullshit we have faced during the last couple of years. You got it, wrath falls upon lots of people. Well, let me rephrase this. Wrath falls upon all sub-humans. You know who you are, choke on bratwurst you pathetic cock-suxxors!!!

"We will be mastering the album in August. Ritual, who have worked with us previously on many occasions, will handle all artwork and layout for the album. We hope to have 'Manifest'out by the end of October. It will be released by Osmose Productions on both CD and vinyl!"

Washington D.C.-based metallers DARKEST HOUR have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Deliver Us", due on July 10 via Victory Records. The long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "Undoing Ruin" was recorded at the Warehouse in Vancouver, Canada.

"Deliver Us" (cover) track listing:

01. Doomsayer (The Beginning of the End)
02. Sanctuary
03. Demon(s) (Myspace)
04. An Ethereal Drain
05. A Paradox with Flies
06. The Light at the Edge of the World
07. Stand and Receive Your Judgment
08. Tunguska
09. Fire in the Skies
10. Full Imperial Collapse
11. Deliver Us

"It's the crispiest, most savory DARKEST HOUR to date," producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) recently stated. "We turned up the monitors and my head exploded."

Last seen picking up stray pieces of Devin's cerebellum was guitarist Mike Schleibaum, who added, "Working with Devin this time has been sick as hell. We have worked long hours on these songs and, honestly, our hands, legs and bodies haven't hurt from playing so much since we can remember. We are truly stoked to present these songs on this record. It is some of our most complex, melodic, brutal, and aggressive songs to date. There's some punk, metal, thrash, shred, prog, and even a little of Devin Townsend's special sauce mixed in this metal gumbo!"

Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor from the mythological occult metal outfit ABSU has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"After five years of silence, I am pleased to announce the new lineup of ABSU.

"It was a difficult task to replace both Shaftiel and Equitant after being together for nearly 11 years, but now is the time to carry on. Here is the new reorganization of the band:

* Proscriptor McGovern - Percussives, Mellotron, Voices & Lyrical Magick
* Vastator Terrarum - Guitars, Bass Guitar, Analog Synthesizers & Backing Voices
* Aethyris MacKay - Guitars, Bass Guitar, Analog Synthesizers & Backing Voices

"We have begun composing and arranging the material for what will be known as the self-titled album, simply called 'Absu'.

"In 2002, four out of 16 tracks were written; two of them we're keeping while the other two we're abandoning.

"We will begin recording in the latter part of autumn 2007 or early 2008 anticipating a release before June 2008 for Osmose Productions/The End Records."

"Absu" projected track listing: (in no particular order)

01. Night Fire Canonization
02. Girra's Temple
03. Amy
04. In the Name of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee
05. 13 Globes
06. Voor
07. Twix Yesterday, The Day & The Morrow
08. Between the Absu of Eridu & Erech
09. Those of the Void Will Re-Enter
10. Magick Square Cipher
11. Sceptre Command
12. Nunbarshegunu
13. Diversified Signs Inscribed
14. Our Earth of Black
15. Ye Uttuku Spells
16. …Of the Dead Who Never Rest in Their Tombs is the Attendance of Familiar Spirits…

Proscriptor added: "Lyrically, I am concentrating more on Sumerian-based occult themes of magick and mythology versus the Celtic aspect of my previous writings, which was heavily expressed on the last few ABSU studio albums. Musically speaking, the material will be quite similar to 'Tara', but with more of a '70s progressive/psychedelic texture within it. You will not be disappointed — trust me. I will be utilizing the first logo created by Equitant and Belgian artist Kris Verwimp will handle the cover illustration once again."

In other news, Osmose Productions/The End Records will re-release a remastered digipack version of ABSU's last studio album, "Tara", including the EP "In the Eyes of Ioldánach" as bonus tracks, in September.

ACCEPT fan site Schlared.com has posted demo/non-final versions of all the songs that were included on the band's classic 1982 album "Restless and Wild". Webmaster Joe Schlared comments, "I think every song is at least slightly different from the final product. Slight differences all the way up to major differences like one songtitle being completely different."

Download the audio files at this location.

ACCEPT's fourth album, "Restless and Wild" was recorded in February, March and June 1982 at Dierks Studios in Cologne, Germany. Although Hermann Frank is credited on the LP, all the guitar tracks were recorded by Wolf Hoffmann.

Swedish singer Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, KRUX, TREAT, AT VANCE) has just finished laying down backing vocals for the new APOCALYPTICA album with producer Jacob Hellner (RAMMSTEIN).

Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Tomoyasu Hotei (superstar Japanese composer, whose credits include the "Kill Bill" soundtrack), Joseph Duplantier (GOJIRA) and Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) are among the confirmed musicians who have recorded guest appearances on the upcoming APOCALYPTICA CD, tentatively due in September.

APOCALYPTICA recently finished filming a video in Los Angeles with director Tony Petrossian (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, RISE AGAINST, SLIPKNOT) for the song "I'm Not Jesus". Making a guest appearance in the track and the clip is Corey Taylor.

Professionally filmed footage of EVANESCENCE's performance at the Rock am Ring festival on Sunday, June 3 in Nürburgring, Germany has been posted at YouTube. The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Weight Of The World
02. Sweet Sacrifice
03. Going Under
04. The Only One
05. Cloud Nine
06. Lithium
07. Haunted
08. Tourniquet
09. Call Me When You're Sober
10. Imaginary
11. Bring Me To Life
12. Whisper
13. All That I'm Living For
14. Lacrymosa
15. My Immortal
16. Your Star

EVANESCENCE's current touring lineup includes new members Will Hunt (drums) and Troy McLawhorn (guitar) from DARK NEW DAY.

EVANESCENCE's European festival appearances will be followed by late June shows in Russia, Greece, Turkey and Israel. The band will return home to begin co-headlining the Family Values tour with KORN on July 20 in St. Louis.

FATES WARNING's classic 1988 album "No Exit" will be re-released in September via Metal Blade Records. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album plus the following bonus material:

Bonus audio tracks:

* "Quietus" demo (singer Ray Alder's audition tape)
* "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 1 (rehearsal recording)
* "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 2 (rehearsal recording)

Bonus DVD:

* Live and behind-the-scenes footage from "No Exit" tour (approx. one hour)
* "Silent Cries" video
* "Anarchy Divine" video
* "Valley of the Dolls" live in Philadelphia 1988

Check out a teaser live video of "Silent Cries", taken from the upcoming "No Exit" bonus DVD, at YouTube.

Jarle "Uruz" Byberg (URGEHAL, PHILOMEL'S EPITAPH, VULTURE LORD) has been named the new permanent drummer in Niklas Kvarforth's SHINING. He will take over the drum duties in the Swedish black metal outfit following the departure of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' Ludwig Witt.

SHINING will introduce the new lineup at the Hell's Pleasure festival, set to take place July 21-22 at Motocross-Strecke in Pößneck, Germany. The will also perform at the Dunkelheit festival on September 1 in Brno, Czech Republic.

Osmose USA/The End Records has set a June 26 release date for the new album from SHINING, titled "V - Halmstad".

Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING will release their new album, "The Scythe", in Europe on September 14 via AFM Records. The CD was mixed at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The mastering took place on April 10 at Finnvox Studios with Mika Jussila and Nino Laurenne.

"The Scythe" track listing:

01. The Scythe
02. Lost Hill of Memories
03. Infection
04. Poison Tears
05. A Riddle of Stars
06. Romance & Wrath
07. The Divided Heart
08. Horns Ablaze (digipack bonus track)
09. Totentanz
10. Death and the Suffering
11. Dominhate

Check out the cover artwork at www.heavylaw.com.

"The Scythe" features a guest appearance on two tracks by Swedish guitarist Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, FIREGOD, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, CANDLEMASS). A video for the song "The Divided Heart" was recently shot with director Mirco Andreis (ELDRITCH, MACBETH, DISARMONIA MUNDI).

SWORN, the Norwegian black metal project led by Lars Jensen (MYRKGRAV), will release its debut album, "The Alleviation", on July 20 via Twilight Vertrieb. The CD was recorded and mixed at the Conclave Media Studio in the fall of 2006. The vocals were laid down at Koia Studios between September 2006 and April 2007. The album was produced by Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen and SWORN. Mastering duties were handled by Markus Skroch at Sunset Studio.

"The Alleviation" track listing:

01. Alleviation
02. Heart of Decay
03. Silhouettes of a Broken World
04. Derived
05. Crow of Passage
06. Vivid Visions
07. The Beauty of my Funeral

Check out the cover artwork by Robert Høyem of At the Ends of the Earth Design.

"The Alleviation" recording lineup:

Lars Jensen - Vocals
Christoffer Kjørsvik - Guitars
Gøran Myster Hope - Guitars
Leif Herland - Bass
Tom Ian Rogne Klungland - Drums

THE HAUNTED guitarist Anders Björler has issued the following update:

"Just got back to Sweden after five and a half weeks of touring mayhem in Europe.

"The ending in Hamburg turned out to be something really special indeed. Per [Jensen] set up his drums on the opposite side of the venue close to the bar, which left the rest of us on stage without a drummer. Weird, but pretty cool... I'm currently looking through pics and videos, and will maybe post something in the near future.

"We want to thank all the fans for coming out and making the shows really special, and also of course a big shout out to our travel compadres MUNICIPAL WASTE, WOLF and LYZANXIA and all our crew for being part of this. Thanks!

"Now some time off before we prepare for the festival season."

Swedish cult metallers NIFELHEIM have inked a deal with Regain Records. A new album will be recorded during early summer for a September 2007 release.

Video footage of NIFELHEIM's May 24, 2007 performance at Klubben in Stockholm, Sweden has been posted at YouTube. Available for viewing are seven songs from NIFELHEIM, including one new cut, "Gates of Damnation", which will appear on the band's upcoming CD.

NIFELHEIM last year released a split EP with VULCANO via I Hate Records. NIFELHEIM's songs "Sepulcral Fornication" and "Raging Flames" were recorded at a Swedish studio in May 2006 and were described by NIFELHEIM guitarist Vengeance From Beyond (a.k.a. Sebastian Ramstedt; also in NECROPHOBIC) as "a total attack of satanic black metal." He added that "this split [is] the true synergy of evil."

NIFELHEIM's current lineup features former ENTOMBED drummer Peter Stjärnvind, who left the long-running Swedish metallers in order to concentrate on his membership in NIFELHEIM.

NIFELHEIM has just completed a Scandinavian tour as the support act for British black metal pioneers VENOM.