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.

AEROSMITH played to a crowd of 25,000 rock fans at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore, India on Saturday, June 2. The band's official fan club, Aeroforce One, has posted several pictures from legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin at this location.

AEROSMITH is currently on the road in Europe and is scheduled to perform in Randers, Denmark tomorrow (June 6). A list of upcoming AEROSMITH live dates can be found at this location.

Congratulations are in order for FALCONER guitarist Stefan Weinerhall and his wife on the birth of their son Joar Esbjörn Weinerhall.

FALCONER recently extended its deal with Metal Blade for another four albums. The group is currently writing material for its new CD, which will feature "slightly faster and with more unexpected turns," according to Stefan. "The lyrics will all be about Swedish medieval life and episodes. Not a concept album really but still something in that direction. What I decided early on what that it wouldn't become 'Northwind Pt. 2'. 'Northwind' is as good as it can be, therefore we'll make things a tad different this time."

FALCONER's fifth studio album, "Northwind" — the group's first since the departure of singer Kristoffer Göbel and return of Mathias Blad — was released last September via Metal Blade Records.

Finnish progressive/avantgarde metallists FALL OF THE LEAFE will release their sixth album, "Aerolithe", on August 20 via Firebox Records. The album was mastered by Svante Forsback at Chartmakers studio in Helsinki, Finland. The track listing is as follows:

01. Opening
02. All the Good Faith
03. Drawing Worry
04. Lithe
05. At a Breath's Pace
06. Graceful Retreat
07. Sink Teeth Here
08. Minor Nuisance
09. Especially By Stealth
10. Look into Me
11. Closure

Check out audio samples at the band's official web site.

FALL OF THE LEAFE is:

Tuomas Tuominen - Voice
Jussi Hänninen - Guitar
Kaj Gustafsson - Guitar
Petri Hannuniemi - Keyboards
Miska Lehtivuori - Bass
Matias Aaltonen – Drums

FALL OF THE LEAFE's fifth album, "Vantage", was released in 2005 via Firebox Records.
web site

Polish extreme metal titans BEHEMOTH have posted a new video clip on their official Youtube page, which documents their latest photo session. The group just completed five special North American shows that included an appearance at the renowned New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, two rare headlining shows, plus performances alongside such acclaimed acts as CANNIBAL CORPSE and DIMMU BORGIR, among others.

BEHEMOTH will return to the U.S. this summer on Ozzfest 2007 having landed the direct support, non-rotating slot right before second stage headliners HATEBREED. The group's much-anticipated new album, "The Apostasy", is set for a July 17 release.

Nergal (vocals, guitars) checks in with the following report: "We decided to do these five special U.S. shows more less as a warm up for Ozzfest. It was also the first time we did some headlining off shows in North America and they went extremely well! Montreal was a blast as always. New England Metalfest was massive! Can't describe how incredible the feedback was and we really appreciated this. We played one new song and it seems like people were totally into it.

"The new album, 'The Apostasy', is finally complete and I'm so excited about this. We just received new master from Cutting Room and it sounds huge! The cover artwork and all the booklet designs are completely over the top. Even we never went this far. Just sit tight and be patient because this is definitely worth the wait.

"We are in Russia at the moment. It's never been this crazy over here. Decent turnouts and absolutely devoted fans. It's all out of control but we love it! We couldn't ask for more!"

LACUNA COIL and Ovation Guitars recently teamed up to present a series of free acoustic clinic mini-performances, which took place at guitar stores across the U.S. throughout the Jagermeister tour and current headlining run. This is something unique and exclusive that the band wanted to do in order to give back something special to their devoted fanbase throughout the country. Two of these special acoustic performances have been recently posted on the band’s MySpace page; click on the links below to check them out.

Falcetti Music, Enfield, CT: Video
Russo’s, Hamilton, NJ: Video

LACUNA COIL is currently moving across North American on the inaugural "Hottest Chicks In Metal" tour. The direct support for this trek will feature either WITHIN TEMPTATION or THE GATHERING, depending on the market. STOLEN BABIES and labelmates IN THIS MOMENT will occupy the other support slots.

Launch Radio Networks reports: LINKIN PARK releases its long-awaited third studio album on Tuesday (May 15), called "Minutes to Midnight". The band took more than a year to write and record the follow-up to 2003's "Meteora", working with producer Rick Rubin to create a sound unlike anything the band had done previously. DJ Joseph Hahn told Launch that LINKIN PARK experimented more on this project than ever before. "We ended up with 150 tracks to choose from, and a lot of it wasn't that greatest stuff, but it allowed us to discover what the new thing we were gonna do was, and we finally narrowed it down to the 12 that are on the album," he said. "You know, we had a lot of fun doing it. It was a lot of fun working with Rick Rubin. Making this album was different than anything we've ever done before."

The first single from "Minutes to Midnight" is "What I've Done".

Группа даст два концерта в России: 5 июня в Санкт-Петербурге и 6 июня в Москве

Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen has announced the formation of a brand new band called AGUA DE ANNIQUE.

"Over the last 10 years I have turned many dreams and experiences into songs," Anneke said in a statement. "I started recording a selection of the very personal ones during the past six months. We've laid down the basic tracks at the Waterfront Studios in Rotterdam and recorded overdubs at The Void in Eindhoven, as well as in the comfort of my own home studio. I'm excited to send these songs off into the world and share them with [everyone]!

"I have formed a band called AGUA DE ANNIQUE to help me voice these songs. We will release an album called 'Air' in the fall of 2007.

"Besides the wonderfully talented people in the band, a few of my friends will make appearances on this album. The lovely Kristin Fjellseth will sing additional vocals, Jeffrey Fayman has made a string arrangement for a song called 'Ice Water'. Heleen de Witte plays the flute and Timothy Conroy provided some killer trumpet work. The album is mixed by Jon Anders Narum."

AGUA DE ANNIQUE is:

Anneke van Giersbergen - Vocals/Piano
Joris Dirks - Guitars/Vocals
Jacques de Haard - Bass
Rob Snijders - Drums

Anneke van Giersbergen's final appearance with THE GATHERING will take place on August 4 at the Ankkarock festival in Finland.

Anneke van Giersbergen, singer for world-renowned Dutch rock act THE GATHERING, has decided to leave the band and pursue new goals in life and music.

In a statement from van Giersbergen, she says: "Dear people, I wanted to send out this message to all of you to inform you that I have decided to leave THE GATHERING.

"After much consideration and some serious soul searching, I feel that it is time for me to change my direction in life and develop and search out new goals.

"In all the wonderful years that I have been a part of THE GATHERING, we, as a band, have always strongly believed in sincerity, both personally and within our music. I have always been able to give one hundred percent of myself to the band and its music. Over the last year I developed an urge to initiate my activities from a different place in my heart, focusing on myself and my family.

"In order to stay true to myself, the band, crew and the fans, I see no other option than to leave the band and pursue my new goals in life and music.

"I loved my 13 years with THE GATHERING and I take pride in all the beautiful music we have made together and will always cherish the good times we shared on the road and in the studio. The decision to leave all of this behind has been incredibly difficult, but since it's made from the heart, I strongly believe that I have to go with it. Although it saddens me to say goodbye, I have made a lot of exciting plans for the future both personally and professionally.

"Thank you for all the love and support and I hope we will meet again in life and music."

The band has posted a statement on its web site regarding the singer's departure. It reads as follows:

"We are very sorry to announce the fact that Anneke has decided to leave the band [effective] August 2007. Anneke has several reasons not to be a member anymore. We really regret the fact we could not find a way to continue together. However, we (THE GATHERING) will be working on new material with male and female vocalists. Expect a CD release somewhere in 2008.

"With Anneke we've made great albums and did fantastic shows, which we are very proud of! We had a great time! We wish Anneke all the best for the future.

"The remaining festivals we will play together with Anneke. No new gigs will be scheduled. The last gig with Anneke will be the Ankkarock Festival in Finland, the 4th of August. Also the new DVD, 'A Noise Severe', as well as the double live CD will still be released this summer."

THE GATHERING released its latest album, "Home", in April 2006 on The End Records.

Luxi Lahtinen of Metal-Rules.com recently conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal-Rules.com: What are your uppermost feelings right now when it's finally been officially announced about a week ago that Anette is the new singer of NIGHTWISH? I mean, it must have been kinda hard to keep her name under a rock for this long…

Tuomas: The uppermost feeling that I have at the moment, is relief because we don't have to hide her anymore. And it must be a huge relief for her as well because like keeping her in a cave all the time, wasn't that much fun. But it was something that needed to be done. And now, we finished mixing the album last Friday, so we have the album ready. She's out, so in that sense I feel really, really good. Also, the people, the band and the media have welcomed her in a really nice way. I personally expected "the barbeque" to be much worse! (laughs) So, everything's looking good; it's really looking good…

Metal-Rules.com: When did it actually become crystal clear for the band that Anette would be a perfect choice to step in NIGHTWISH as the new vocalist of the band? I mean, you did receive well over 2000 demos from all around the whole world, so going through all that massive pile of demos must have been a hard task already in itself — just to pick up that one final candidate and eventually ask her to join the band…

Tuomas: It's was in the end of January 2007. We had a very long discussion within the band members about our final decision for the new vocalist because we just wanted to go thoroughly through everything really, like you know, turn every rock. But I mean, she was one of the very first ones to send the demo to us. I think she was amongst the first twenty ones or so, and she sang "Ever Dream" — just this one song, and made a huge impression on us by even that song already. I think she really managed to set the scale for the rest to come. So, she was present, like from the very beginning of this process.

Metal-Rules.com: The forthcoming NIGHTWISH album will contain 13 songs all in all. What could you say, are the biggest differences between these new songs - and the songs on "Once" from your point of view?

Tuomas: We recorded 15 songs altogether. Out of them 13 will end up on this new album. As far as differencies go, I think the biggest difference is sitting here next to me, so it's the vocals. I mean, musically I don't think the new album differs that much from "Once". There's some new elements on this new album — like there's Celtic instruments, there's a voice of sopranos, there's a gospel choir and all little details here and there. But the overall feeling that the songs have, is a natural sequel fromwhat "Once" was. We didn't wanna do anything too radical because she already is a radical change to our sound.

Metal-Rules.com: How was it different this time compared to the last time when you did those kinds of things for your previous album, "Once"?

Tuomas: Pretty much the same even if I also need to say this time recording those orchestrated parts was a bit bigger. There were 66 musicians in the orchestra this time. And in the choir, there were 33 people and 12 in the gospel choir. We were recording these orchestrated — and choir parts eight days altogether in the studios. Just amazing time…

Metal-Rules.com: Would you consider this particular song as one of your most ambitious works to date during the whole career of NIGHTWISH?

Tuomas: I think it's my personal number one favorite song at the moment of all the songs that I've ever done. It is just that. I mean, for me it's easier to do long and epic songs than 4-minute songs. To be able to do a song in 4-minutes long that could be even interesting, is much harder. It's easier for me to do these long epics. This song is definitely also the most ambitious song that I've ever done. It's like… It's not even a song; it's more like a theatre play type of song.

Metal-Rules.com: I guess it's kind of easy for you to write these lengthy, epic songs because you're a big fan of soundtracks and such kind of things as far as I know…

Tuomas: Yes, that's where I get most of my inspirations from. I try to think our songs like a soundtrack play. But the amount of material "The Poet and the Pendulum" has absorbed, with the orchestra and the choir; and there's the Celtic — fill, there's the voice of soprano, there's her singing and there's Marco's signing — and there's even Marco growling plus all the sound effects created by Mr. Jussi Tegelman in Hollywood. It's a really big song, I can tell.

Metal-Rules.com: Then you will head to the U.S. soil, starting this U.S. tour from Springfield on October 15th (which is a sold-out show already), and will be doing over 20 dates over there. What is a bit odd to me, why did you choose this U.S. tour first instead of touring here in Europe for this album first? Or, does it really make any difference where you tour first?

Tuomas: There's a very simple reason for that. We are not that known over there in the U.S. We get to play in relatively small places there, and we really need to run her in for singing, and it means that we have make 23 smaller shows first to adjust her in.

Anette: I also think it's a good idea. And after that I think we will be really together like as a band I think when we get back to Europe and do bigger shows here. Then I believe we can give more from ourselves to the audience.

Metal-Rules.com: After that you'll have 14 dates in all the Scandinavian countries which I bet is something you are really looking forward to as I believe playing in front of your home crowd is always something that kind of fuels your "machine" for bigger flames, right?

Tuomas: Yes. This Scandinavian part will include 8 shows in Finland, too. However, playing in front of my home crowd will make me scared as fuck.

Anette: Me, too. Actually I don't feel so scared of doing these shows in the States.

Tuomas: Me neither, but the Scandinavian shows will get me on my tiptoes a bit more, that's for sure.

Anette: Of course all of your friends will be in certain shows. When ever there are some of your friends in the audience or family or people who know you, it's even worse to go onstage.

Tuomas: I mean, here we are big — and because of that we are under everyone's magnifying class. You need to be perfect to do like… Or, let me put it this way: This is the band everybody's talking about, so we try to be as ready as possible for these shows.

Metal-Rules.com: What else will happen for NIGHTWISH touring-wise in 2008? Have you any dates scheduled for 2008 already?

Tuomas: Nothing has been agreed, but there will be an European tour coming up, another American tour, maybe Japan, Australia also — and a lot festivals of course in the summer. We are in Finland, so we have lots of possibilities to play at these summer festivals. But those will come later, so I don't have much to say about them yet.

Metal-Rules.com: What about you, Anette? What kind of challenge has it been for you to learn all of these other NIGHTWISH songs for the tour, expect the ones you sang for this new NIGHTWISH album?

Anette: It's always a challenge when you get to learn new songs. First time to try something new out, is always a very challenging time before you become completely familiar with the songs; get to know the lyrics the way you can leave the paper and just sing without looking at the paper. Of course adjusting my voice to old NIGHTWISH stuff that the band's former singer did, is a challenge itself how I can sing the songs properly, in my own way. That's of course the biggest challenge for me personally.

Tuomas: To be honest, she's been singing really, really well the old songs; even the songs she made for the demo and sent over to us for audition. We will play those songs live as well that Anette sang for the demo. I mean, the songs she did for the demo, sounded really good.

KATAKLYSM singer Maurizio Iacono has issued the following update:

"First off, I want to sincerely thank everyone involved with The Invaluable Darkness Tour we just completed with our friends DIMMU BORGIR. We would like to thank them for treating us like brothers and to all their crew for helping us out when we needed it. This new friendship is forged in blood! Thanks also to DEVILDRIVER whom we shared a bus with and developed a new friendship. Last but not least, the dudes in UNEARTH, all cool people. This tour was a triumph for us in all senses, especially to be able to play for our fans on a bigger package, who proved to us everyday that all the blood and sweat wasn't for nothing. The words of encouragement from our fans mean EVERYTHING.

"We're gonna finish writing a new album, titled 'Prevail', this summer, because we know how important this one will be for our fans, and 'prevail' is exactly what we want to do with this album. It has to be as perfect as we can make it. If it doesn't bring the goosebumps, it ain't coming out right. Guitarist J-F Dagenais will produce and engineer the album as always. In the meantime, we have two more tours planned this year: late summer or early fall in North America and in Europe in October with BEHEMOTH and ABORTED. A big thank you to all our supporters worldwide. We won't disappoint — you know how we roll!"

Seattle's HIMSA has completed the recording process for its highly anticipated Century Media Records debut. The group tracked the drums, bass and guitars with Steve Carter (who produced the "Courting Tragedy and Disaster" album), Devin Townsend (LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR) handled vocal duties and the renowned producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED) is currently mixing the disc. The album is set for a late August release. Click here to view a video of Devin Townsend and Johnny Pettibone tracking vocals, shot by King Of Hearts Productions.

Regarding the new material, bassist Derek Harn previously said, "The new album draws from the strengths of our last two records, 'Courting Tragedy and Disaster' and 'Hail Horror', but this is an entirely new chapter for HIMSA and our fans. Sammi Curr (guitars) wrote a lot of the music for 'Courting', and Kirby Johnson (guitars) wrote most of the tracks on 'Hail Horror' (when Sammi wasn't in the band), so the two of them have joined forces to craft a whole new level of rage. We're looking at about 10 or 11 songs right now, and are extremely proud of them.

"This album will be an evolution of everything people have grown to expect and respect from our enduring and grumpy metal band, with a few new twists. We're older, but we're wiser and faster than ever."

Supreme Music Creations will re-release the ZOSER MESS album "Vizier of Wasteland" in early June with improved artwork and previously unreleased tracks. The CD was a collaboration between MERCYFUL FATE guitarists Michael Denner and Hank Shermann.

Originally released in 1991 on Zoser Records, "Vizier of Wasteland" featured the following lineup:

Kenny Lübke - vocals
Hank Shermann - guitar
Michael Denner - guitar
Claus Weiergang – bass

"Vizier of Wasteland" original track listing:

01. Desert Of Deception
02. The Crimson Moon
03. Another Time
04. Wasteland
05. Mesmerization Eclipse
06. Street Heat Zoser
07. Sweet Tzantza
08. Elictizm
09. Desecration Of Souls

Australia's ALCHEMIST have recently completed work on their brand new full-length album "Tripsis".

"Tripsis", as described by ALCHEMIST guitarist, vocalist Adam Agius (the band is rounded out by guitarist Roy Torkington, drummer Rodney Holder, and bassist John Bray), is "The most consistently heavy album since 'Spartech' with all the ALCHEMIST trademarks — psychedelic, atmospheric, packed with crushing riffs intertwined guitar melodies and groove. 'Tripsis' is also the fastest album delivered by ALCHEMIST with a few songs taking the 'Surfthrash' sound to new heights."

Advance "Tripsis" songtitles include "Wrapped in Guilt", "Degenerative Breeding", "Grasp The Air", "Substance for Shadow", and "Tongues and Knifes". "Tripsis" will first see its Australian release in mid-July via Chatterbox Records, with its international release through Relapse in mid-September.

In other news, ALCHEMIST is set to tour Australia and New Zealand starting July 21 through late August in support of "Tripsis". The trek will launch with an appearance at the Abducted Festival in Brisbane with BLOOD DUSTER, EARTH, TERRORUST and more. A European tour will follow in October. That tour will kick off with a headlining performance at the ProgPower Europe festival in The Netherlands.

Garden Of Exile Records will release "Hope", the latest album by Finnish doomsters SWALLOW THE SUN, as a double LP. The vinyl release will contain an AMORPHIS cover as a bonus track, featuring a guest appearance by AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen. Says the label: "You can expect some nice-colored heavyweight vinyl in a deluxe gatefold cover."

SWALLOW THE SUN's third album, "Hope" entered the Finnish national chart at position No. 3 back in February. The follow-up to 2005's "Ghosts of Loss" was recorded at Seawolf Studios in Helsinki and was mastered at Finnvox studios with Minerva Pappi. The LP features a vocal appearance by Jonas Renkse of KATATONIA on the song "The Justice of Suffering".

SWALLOW THE SUN's video for "Don't Fall Asleep (Horror Pt. 2)" can be found at YouTube. Produced by Medialouhos and directed by Antti Hyyrynen, the clip was shot in November 2006.