Danish metallers IRON FIRE, who are fronted by FORCE OF EVIL singer Martin Steene, will release fourth album, "Blade of Triumph", due on June 29 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and in the rest of Europe on July 2 via Napalm Records. A song from the new album, entitled "Bridges Will Burn", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"Blade of Triumph" track listing:

01. Dragonheart
02. Bloodbath of Knights
03. Dawn of Victory
04. Lord of the Labyrinth
05. Bridges Will Burn
06. Follow the Sign
07. Steel Invaders
08. Jackal's Eye
09. Legend of the Magic Sword
10. Gladiators Path
11. Blade of Triumph

"Blade of Triumph" is the follow-up to "Revenge", which was released in March 2006 via Napalm.

IRON FIRE will support KAMELOT on May 17 at The Rock in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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".

DIMMU BORGIR has entered the Norwegian album chart at No. 1 with its latest effort, "In Sorte Diaboli" — the first time a black metal act has ever topped a national album chart anywhere in the world. SATYRICON's "Now, Diabolical" and DIMMU BORGIR's last release, "Death Cult Armageddon", previously reached the No. 2 position on the Norwegian album chart.

DIMMU BORGIR's chart-topper comes just a week after "In Sorte Diaboli" reached No. 43 on The Billboard 200, making them the first Norwegian band since the Eighties pop act A-HA to crack the U.S. Top 50, reports the Norwegian music industry weekly Faro Journalen.

Stein Østbø reviewed "In Sorte Diaboli" for Norway's biggest daily newspaper Verdens Gang (VG), and gave it the highest possible rating (6 out of 6). He says DIMMU BORGIR's No. 1 is nothing less than the most radical achievement in the history of the Norwegian charts.

"Because of the black metal genre's extreme expression, I would characterize this as the most astonishing thing that has ever happened on the Norwegian charts," he says.

Espen Solheim Røhne at Indie Distribution, which handles Nuclear Blast Records' releases in Norway, says the label expected to have a No. 1 album with DIMMU BORGIR's latest. He says the company decided to start advertising on TV earlier than originally planned, and if the album continues to sell well in its second week, they will buy more TV spots for "In Sorte Diaboli".

"We are in discussion with cable network TV 3 to buy more airtime from them, but we will continue advertising on TV through the end of May, no matter what happens," he says.

Solheim Røhne says the No. 1 is especially impressive when you consider the competition.

"When you watch TV in the evening, it seems like there are MIKA and ELTON JOHN spots in every commercial break," he explains. "This achievement with DIMMU BORGIR is exactly what everybody in this business is striving for: release good records that sell well, and when you reach No. 1 it's just perfect."

DIMMU BORGIR was originally formed in the early '90s in the small Norwegian city Jessheim. Vegard Jensen, who runs the Jessheim branch of the Norwegian record-store chain Free Record Shop, reports that local support for "In Sorte Diaboli" runs high. "It's just too bad I didn't stock more records, because I ran out today (Monday, May 7)," he says. "Since DIMMU is from around here it's natural that they sell a lot of records, but with the album they've produced they deserve to sell a lot of records."

DIMMU BORGIR's "Death Cult Armageddon" has sold 18,000 copies in Norway to date, according to Faro Journalen.

French goth metal act THE OLD DEAD TREE will enter Stage One studio in Germany on July 3 with producer Andy Classen to begin recording its third album. The band describes the new material as "a twisted and schizophrenic blend of evocative riffs and arrangements put together with an overload of sheer emotion. The new songs do widen the previous artistic borders without disavowing the typical musical identity of the band."

THE OLD DEAD TREE's as-yet-untitled new CD is tentatively due in the fall via Season of Mist.

THE OLD DEAD TREE's last album, "The Perpetual Motion", was released in 2005 via Season of Mist. The follow-up to 2003's "The Nameless Disease" was recorded at Stage One studio with Andy Classen.

The cover artwork for AMORPHIS's new single, "Silent Waters", has been posted online at this location. Due on June 27 via Nuclear Blast Records, the single is currently available for pre-order from the Nuclear Blast Online Shop.

"Silent Waters" single track listing:

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

"Silent Waters" is the title track of AMORPHIS' upcoming album, which is scheduled for release on August 29 (Finland)/August 31 (other countries). Like its predecessor "Eclipse", the new CD will be thematically based on an episode from Finland's national epic, the "Kalevala".

"Silent Waters" 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)

Throughout the summer months, AMORPHIS will be busy touring festivals home and abroad. In addition to a number of Finnish dates, several appearances in Germany and Belgium are already confirmed.

AMORPHIS' last album, "Eclipse", was issued in a limited vinyl edition in a deluxe gatefold sleeve by Black Lodge Records under worldwide license from Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. The mixing was taken care of by Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD) at Finnvox in Helsinki.

Finnish metallers NORTHER will play two shows in Russia in November. Special guests will be DARZAMAT from Poland and ILLNATH from Denmark. The details are as follows:

Nov. 23 - RUS - Moscow - Tochka
Nov. 24 - RUS – St. Petersburg - Club Port

NORTHER will embark on a European headlining tour in October/November. Support on the trek will come from AMORAL and DRONE.

NORTHER's latest release, the "No Way Back" EP, entered the national single chart in the band's home country at position No. 1. A teaser medley for the EP can be found at this location.

NORTHER's video for the song "Frozen Angel" has been posted online at this location (MPG file, 41 MB). The track is featured on the soundtrack to the new Finnish film "V2: Jäätynyt Enkeli", which was released in Finland on January 5 via King Foo Entertainment. Also appearing on the soundtrack are AMORPHIS, KOTIPELTO and THUNDERSTONE, among other artists.

NORTHER's latest album, "Till Death Unites Us", was issued in Finland in January 2006 and the rest of Europe in March. The CD entered the official Finnish chart at position No. 6.

According to a posting on QUEEN guitarist Brian May's official web site, QUEEN's "Greatest Hits" album has surpassed one million units (14 times platinum) in Australia.

To put this into perspective, one in 20 Australians own a copy of this album. To further put this into perspective, officially recognised in the U.K. by Guinness World Records, QUEEN's "Greatest Hits" album is the U.K.'s biggest selling compilation hits album ever at over four million units so Australia isn't doing too badly!

Containing all their hits from 1974 through to 1980, QUEEN's monumental "Greatest Hits" album features "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Another One Bites The Dust", "Killer Queen", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "Bicycle Race" and many other songs.

Members of BLIND GUARDIAN, AFTER FOREVER and MERCENARY have contributed to the latest recordings from NEOSHINE, the German power metal project led by 24-year-old guitarist Flo Krause. The group's musical approach is described in a press release as a "blistering combination of speed, melodic and aggresive arrangements combined with high and soaring vocals."

NEOSHINE lineup:

Herbie Langhans (SEVENTH AVENUE) - Vocals
Frederik Ehmke (BLIND GUARDIAN) - Drums
Alex Schulz - Bass
Flo Krause - Guitar, Keyboards

Guest musicians:

Morten Sandager (MERCENARY) - Keyboards
Joost van den Broek (AFTER FOREVER) – Keyboards

NEOSHINE released a four-song demo EP, entitled "III", earlier in the year. A track from the effort, entitled "Book of Life", can be heard on the band's MySpace Page

Guitarist Frank Harthoorn of the reactivated Dutch metallers GOREFEST has issued the following update:

"Exciting times in GOREFEST land. Tue Madsen's finished mixing some of our finest songs ever, and an excellent job he did. He managed to make everything sound even heavier than we'd imagined. Which is quite a feat, actually, because boy, our imaginations can be all over the place, I'll tell ya! Anyway, I guess it's pretty obvious we're quite pleased with the whole thing and, indeed, ourselves.

"Now, for some even more exciting details: the title of this Headbanger's Delight will be 'Rise To Ruin'. Nuclear Blast will be releasing it throughout Europe on August 3rd, with a U.K. release following three days later. I have no idea why, but there you go. Details on the U.S. release date [to be announced]. As with our previous CD 'La Muerte', 'Rise To Ruin' will feature some wonderful artwork by British artist Rob 'Mid' Middleton."

"Rise To Ruin" track listing:

01. Revolt
02. Rise To Ruin
03. The War On Stupidity
04. A Question Of Terror
05. Babylon's Whores
06. Speak When Spoken To
07. A Grim Charade
08. Murder Brigade
09. The End Of It All

Harthoorn continues: "All this excitement will culminate in an undoubtedly quivering orgasm of aural glory at a listening session which will be held at Plein 79 in Den Bosch on Wednesday, May 9th. Lots of very important press will be invited for this, so to make sure there's actually some people there, I'll put the first ten fans that drop me an email on request@gorefest.nl on the list as well. Drinks are on us!"

GOREFEST's last CD, "La Muerte", was released in October 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Finnish melodic death/thrash metallers MORS PRINCIPIUM EST have issued the following update:

"Ok, let's start with some good news. We have found our new guitar players! Karri Kuisma is now our official member and our new solo guitarist is a dude called Tomy Laisto. Both Karri and Tomy already played with us at the show in Turku (April 11). Jarkko will still be a member of MORS PRINCIPIUM EST, but he will not play any live shows.

"And then some not so good news. We decided with Joona [Kukkola, keyboards], that it will be the best for everybody that Joona will not be a member of MORS PRINCIPIUM EST anymore. And the reason why is that Joona just simply doesn't have any time for MORS PRINCIPIUM EST. At the moment we are not looking for a new keyboard player."

MORS PRINCIPIUM EST current touring lineup:

Ville Viljanen - Vocals
Mikko Sipola - Drums
Teemu Heinola - Bass
Karri Kuisma - Rhythm Guitar
Tomy Laisto - Lead Guitar

MORS PRINCIPIUM EST's third album, "Liberation = Termination", was released in February via Listenable Records. The follow-up to "The Unborn" was recorded at Astia Studio in Finland and was mastered at Imperial Mastering in Concord, California.

NIGHTINGALE, the Swedish band featuring acclaimed musician/producer Dan Swanö and his brother Dag, will release its sixth album, "White Darkness", on June 4 via Black Mark.

The album was recorded at a big theater, with many of the songs having been tracked as live as can be in the studio, giving them that little extra spark of life often missing in modern productions.

The term "White Darkness" is an expression that lead singer and lyricist Dan Swanö used to describe the state of mind he was in during the aftermath of his divorce. Most of his lyrics on this album are diaries from months of soul searching. During this dark period Dan did not write much music, so his older brother Dag Swanö (formerly known as Tom Nouga) stepped in, armed to his teeth with killer songs from the past and the present.

"White Darkness" track listing:

01. The Fields Of Life
02. One Way Ticket
03. White Darkness
04. Reasons
05. Trial And Error
06. Hideaway
07. To My Inspiration
08. Wounded Soul
09. Belief
10. Trust

Download a "White Darkness" MP3 teaser at this location.

NIGHTINGALE is:

Tom Björn - Drums
Erik Oskarsson - Bass, Vocals
Dag Swanö - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Dan Swanö - Lead Vocals, Guitar

Chicago-based based brutal death metallers GORGASM recently inked a deal with Shiven Records for a multi-project deal that will include a concert DVD, movie, re-releases from GORGASM's cellar and all-new merchandise. According to the label, "the DVD is going to have lots of extras, including footage from the actual recording of the new album, as well as live footage [from] European and U.S. fests! The guys are also going to be working on a music video soon! New bass player/vocalist will be announced soon."

Commented GORGASM drummer Tomasz Pilasiewicz: "We are very excited about our recent signing with Shiven Records. There's definitely going to be a lot of good things happening with GORGASM in '07. We are planning to enter the studio in July and have the album out by the end of October. We'll be appearing at couple of major U.S. and European fest and a full U.S./Canada/Mexico tour is being scheduled for the end of October — can't say with who at this moment, but it will be a kick-ass tour! New album is almost fully written. Personally, I think it will be the most complex, yet most 'catchy' GORGASM release so far. We have performed couple of new songs at some of our shows and crowd just went nuts!!! So, we will see if people will dig the whole alblum."

To check out two new tracks from the upcoming CD, go to the band's MySpace page

Gerry Gittelson of DailyNews.com reports that EVANESCENCE guitarist John LeCompt said Friday (May 4) he's been fired from the band, and he also said drummer Rocky Gray has quit.

"I'm done, and I'm pretty upset about it," LeCompt said, calling from Little Rock, Ark., the band's home town. "(Singer) Amy Lee called and fired me today. There's absolutely no loyalty in this band."

EVANESCENCE, touring in support of its second major release "The Open Door", is on a short break after returning from South Africa. The group has two dates scheduled later this month before plans to tour Europe, beginning in Paris on May 25.

LeCompt, 34, said he and Gray, 32, plan to pour all their energy into a new band, MACHINA, managed by Chris Long (CROSSFADE). Gray wasn't available for comment.

STRATOVARIUS guitarist Timo Tolkki has posted the following message on his personal MySpace page:

"I am getting lot of wishes for whatever particular feast is going on in whatever country. Let it be known that I don't celebrate birthdays, Christmas, any Finnish feast (juhannus etc) or any traditional feast at all. So please do not send me wishes like that. Most of the big feasts are just fed by the society and tradition and being followed by like a dog on a leash by the masses enslaved by the capitalistic machinery. Consume consume!!

"Tradition is a real enemy of freedom and creativity. I refuse to be a prisoner of that. I live my life completely outside society and I am only in minimum contact with any part of it. It's a beast that is in no control of itself no more, although its participants think it's under control.

"I dislike neurotic people who hide their true face behind the mask and cover it with meaningless chit chat. You can tell a lot about a person when you listen to how she/he laughs. Very seldomly you come to a contact with a person who is not scared. Everybody is so scared these days. And rightly so. But our basic nature, our basic core is not scared, it is at peace. Our organisms are just polluted by centuries of brainwashing from different kind of authoritatrian institutes and family systems that don't allow ourselves to think freely. For any kind of revolution to take place, it starts on an individual level. From yourself.

"I am sick and tired of watching the present system systematically destroying healthy life by distorting backwards everything that is healthy. For sure, the only way to save this planet would be a massive global revolution by people who care about the future. The present countries and governments will not do anything to prevent the catastrophe that is happening."

STRATOVARIUS recently entered Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland to begin recording its new album (whose title consists of two separate words that both start with "R"). An early 2008 release is expected.

Finnish metallers AMORPHIS have set "Silent Waters" as the title of their upcoming album. Prior to its release, the title track will be issued as a CD single in Finland and as a download single worldwide. Like its predecessor "Eclipse", the new CD will be thematically based on an episode from Finland's national epic, the "Kalevala".

The new 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)

As previously reported, The final instalment of the three-part "Eurovision Countdown" will focus on the Finnish metal scene and feature an interview with AMORPHIS' Esa Holopainen. The show will be aired on Finland's Yle TV2 on Sunday, May 6 at 18:20 (rerun: May 10, 15:35).

"Eurovision Countdown" is a collaboration between the Finnish and Swedish offices of Nordisk Film & TV, commissioned by the European Broadcasting Union. The show will be made available free of charge to all EBU-affiliated broadcasters in 42 European countries, so if you're living in Europe, check your national TV stations for a possible airing.

Throughout the summer months, AMORPHIS will be busy touring festivals home and abroad. In addition to a number of Finnish dates, several appearances in Germany and Belgium are already confirmed.

AMORPHIS' last album, "Eclipse", was issued in a limited vinyl edition in a deluxe gatefold sleeve by Black Lodge Records under worldwide license from Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. The mixing was taken care of by Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD) at Finnvox in Helsinki.

WELTENBRAND will present itself in the future with no less than 3 singers. Manja "Tyrae" Guckel will form an extraordinary vocal trio with Dina Falk and Ritchie Wenawasser. Furthermore, the band is already working on new material, which willl be heavier than that heard on The End of The Wizard, but continue to omit the use of electric guitars. A string ensemble and a few experimental arrangements will add to the unique sound. The lyrical subject matter will find its inspiration in both Glarner?s Book Of Sagas and the last European witch burnings that took place in the band?s hometown. Expect this release in early 2008.

Find the latest video to the track "New Found Land", which documents parts of their European tour with FAIRYLAND and KAMELOT here (http://www.leaveseyes.de/UserFiles/Media/new_found_land_s.wmv). Alex Krull: " We are really looking forward to the upcoming concerts in Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. We will visit some places where we have never played before with LEAVES' EYES, and are really excited about that. We should start working on our new record in the summertime, before playing in the United States and Canada again. The release of the upcoming CD is planned for 2008, but we will be releasing the DVD before the new record comes out."

ary Graff of Billboard.com reports that SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian is planning a fall release for his first solo album, "Elect the Dead", telling Billboard.com it's "a rock record, but it's pretty progressive. It's very wide sounding — lots of different sounding instruments. The excitement I had making this record was the same excitement I had making the first SYSTEM record."

Tankian will release the "Elect the Dead" on his own Serjical Strike label but partner with an as-yet-unnamed major label for distribution. He says the album is a "very homemade" project, recorded mostly in his own studio in Los Angeles.

He played most of the instruments himself but did get help from SOAD drummer John Dolmayan and former PRIMUS skin-pounder Bryan "Brain" Mantia, along with Dan Monti on guitar and bass, opera singer Ani Maldjian and some string players.

"There's a very classical music vibe to this record, an operatic kind of vibe in a sense," Tankian says. "I'm now looking at whether I should mix it myself or have someone else do it. It's kind of my baby. I've done almost everything from the first piano strike to the last touches. I'm very happy with it. It's a rockin' record."

ENGEL — the Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA), vocalist Mangan Klavborn, and bassist Michael Håkansson (ex-EVERGREY) — has posted a video clip of a recent recording session at Dug-Out studios in Uppsala, Sweden. Watch it at YouTube.

Commented the band: "We have — believe it or not — been recording some stuff. Again. And again we have recorded some insanely cool stuff. We've learned a couple of new tricks and we've unchained a couple of old wolves."

In other news, "ENGEL will NOT be included in the videogame 'The Darkness', which we bragged about in the last update," the group writes on its web site. "But hey, you can still watch the video — which, by the way, was supposed to be hooking you videogame nerds on to some decent moshing — at the YouTube channel we've got going. The address is www.youtube.com/engelpropaganda and the video is called 'Calling Out'. Go watch. Good video. Not like the other crap you see here and there."

According to a posting on Ronnie James Dio's web site, Rhino has officially set August 28 as the release date for the HEAVEN AND HELL "Live from Radio City Music Hall" DVD and two-CD set. As the title implies, both the DVD and CD packages will include HEAVEN AND HELL's (the band featuring BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ronnie James Dio, and drummer Vinny Appice) performance on March 30, 2007 at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The group's setlist was as follows:

01. [E5150 Intro]
02. After All (The Dead)
03. The Mob Rules
04. Children of the Sea
05. Lady Evil
06. I
07. The Sign of the Southern Cross
08. Voodoo
09. The Devil Cried
10. Appice Solo
11. Computer God
12. Falling Off the Edge of the World
13. Shadow of the Wind
14. Iommi Solo/Die Young
15. Heaven and Hell
Envore:
16. Lonely is the Word
17. Neon Knights

Polish label MetalruleZ Productions will release a VENOM tribute album, entitled "Gods of Goats", on May 14. The track listing for the CD is as follows:

661. MACHETAZO - "Black Metal"
662. STURMGEWEHR666 - "In League with Satan"
663. HANGMAN - "Raise the Dead"
664. EMPHERIS - "Lady Lust"
665. CREMASTER - "Acid Queen"
666. AQUER - "Countess Bathory"
667. BASTARD - "Mystique"
668. HEKSERI - "Don't Burn The Witch"
669. CHAOSPHERE - "Leave Me In Hell"
670. FROSTMOON ECLIPSE - "1000 Days In Sodom"
671. ARMINIUS - "The Evil One"
672. MORD'A'STIGMATA - "Resurrection"
673. TURIN TURAMBAR - "Black Fucking Medley"
674. SPINAL CORD - "Live Like A Angel (Die Like A Devil)"
615. CEREMBRUM - "Countess Bathory"
616. LUX FERRE - "Black Metal"

HEED, the new Swedish band featuring former LOST HORIZON members Daniel Heiman (vocals) and Fredrik Olsson (guitar), has just completed work on a new four-song demo at Studiomega with Christian Silver and Johan Örhnborg at the helm. The tracks that were laid down are as follows:

01. Corona
02. Remembered
03. Running from the Shadows
04. Faith and Blood

HEED's debut album, "The Call", was released in Europe in June 2006 via Metal Heaven Records. Available in Japan since October 2005, "The Call" features a special guest appearance on backing vocals by former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Göran Edman.

Finnish hard-rockin' and turbo-lovin' quintet AMORAL has posted the cover artwork for its upcoming album, "Reptile Ride", at this location (artwork created by Aki Siltala).

Spikefarm Records has set a June 6 release date for the Internet-only single from AMORAL, "Leave Your Dead Behind". The bonus track for this release will be a cover of Swedish pop star PANDORA's song "The Naked Sun". AMORAL's back catalogue is also about to go digital: "Wound Creations" (2004) and "Decrowning" (2005) will both be released to digital music distributors on May 23.

AMORAL's third album, "Reptile Ride" will be released by Spikefarm Records on August 15. The CD was produced, recorded and mixed by Janne Saksa at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The track listing is as follows:

01. Leave Your Dead Behind
02. Nervasion
03. Hang Me High
04. Mute
05. Few and Far Between
06. Snake Skin Saddle
07. D-Drop Bop
08. Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Fun
09. Pusher

Swedish death metallers NOMINON have posted audio samples of the songs "Release in Death" and "Life Extinct" on their official website. Both tracks comes off the group's third album, "Terra Necrosis", due late spring/early summer. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered over a two-week period at Necromorbus Studio in Stockholm, Sweden by owner and mastermind Tore Stjerna. The 43-minute album will contain the following track listing:

01. Release in Death
02. Arcanum
03. Black Chapel
04. Ebola
05. Among the Beasts & Ancient Slumber
06. Life Extinct
07. Tabula Rasa
08. Hell Above
09. Bane Appetite
10. The Infernal Voyage

Check out the cover artwork at this location

Italian "symphonic power epic" metal band THY MAJESTIE has parted ways with guitarist Giovanni Santini and vocalist Dario Grillo. Replacing Santini in the group's lineup is Simone Campione, "a very good guitarist from Palermo is to perform at our gigs in Holland [in May] and he's also going to record the next THY MAJESTIE album," according to a posting on the group's web site.

Regarding Grillo's split with the band, the remaining members of THY MAJESTIE write, "It was a mistake to believe that with Dario Grillo the things might have run easily. We already got it four years ago when there was some communication problem. And so it was after a hard struggle to make his mind up about our gigs in Holland we decided to leave him with his troubles that may have thwarted the smooth running of our work. Good luck to Dario. This time we're sure we won't get any relationship anymore."

THY MAJESTIE has yet to announce a replacement vocalist but "we've got some interesting stuff and we'll show you it up soon," the group promises on its web site.

THY MAJESTIE's latest album, "Jean D'Arc", was in 2005 via Scarlet Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Hastings 1066" was mastered at The Mastering Room in Sweden by Goran Finnberg.