German guitarist Rolf Munkes (RAZORBACK, ex-MAJESTY, VANIZE) has tapped drummer Mike Terrana (MASTERPLAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, AXEL RUDI PELL, METALIUM, RAGE) to play on the third RAZORBACK album, tentatively due in April via the Munich, Germany-based label Metal Heaven. "I just came back from the drum session and must say [Mike] played like HELL!" says Rolf. "We had major fun and the material kicks ass."

RAZORBACK is the band consisting of Munkes, Stefan Berggren (vocals, ex-COMPANY OF SNAKES), Marcus Bielenberg (bass, ex-VANIZE), Chris Heun (guitar, ex-SHYLOCK) and Andre Hilgers (drums, ex-AXXIS, SILENT FORCE).

RAZORBACK's sophomore album, "Criminal Justice" was released in November 2005 via Massacre Records. The group's debut CD, "Animal Anger", came out in April 2004 through Massacre.

Veteran Florida-based extreme metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION have commenced the recording sessions for their tenth full-length album, "Doomsday X". "Dave [Culross] finished tracking the drums and arrived home this evening," the band writes in an update. "They recorded 12 songs and Dave is very happy with the natural feel they achieved, without sounding overly mechanical. The ProTools at their disposal were not used to alter the drum sounds. Dave wanted to give everone a real feel for his power and style, without the over use of recording technology. They are taking about a week break and then the guitar tracking starts. Dave and the band are very pleased with the progress so far and can't wait for the upcoming tours."

MALEVOLENT CREATION previously stated about the new material, "We're very happy with the direction the music has taken for this new album with songwriting credits by each of the bandmembers, and each song having its own identity but retaining the classic MALEVOLENT CREATION sound. It is truly amazing to have everyone writing for this album and brings a lot of new ideas to the songs. Fear not, each song is extremely brutal and covers a lot of territory as far as extreme metal is concerned."

MALEVOLENT CREATION's current recording and touring lineup is:

Jon Rubin - Guitars
Phil Fasciana - Guitars
Dave Culross - Drums
Jason Blachowicz - Bass
Brett Hoffmann - Vocals

MALEVOLENT CREATION will team up with ROTTING CHRIST, INCANTATION, NEURAXIS, MYSTIC CIRCLE and HARM for "The Domination Tour 2007" beginning next month in Germany.

OBITUARY frontman John Tardy has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"The new DVD is out worldwide and we have been getting nothing but good e-mails from everyone and we really appreciate the suppport! I told [you] it was heavy!

"We had a great weekend of practice and have a new album just about finished. We have studio timed booked in March and we are working on having it ready for a release in mid-July!

"Along with the No Mercy Festivals in Tilburg, Holland and Antwerpen, Belgium, we will be playing the Los Angeles Murderfest version 3.0 March 24, 2007 at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, California!"

The English version of NIGHTWISH's official biography, "Once upon a Nightwish - The Official Biography 1996-2006", is tentatively scheduled for release in late February.

The book, which was written by veteran music journalist Mape Ollila, is said to be "thorough, dramatic and beautifully illustrated," featuring extensive interviews with bandmembers, co-workers, family members, friends, fans and colleagues. It can be pre-ordered for 24.90 euros at this location.

To read a review of the Finnish version of the book, which was originally publisahed last May in Finland's Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, go to this location

Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR will release their new album, "Tarot", on February 21 via Italy's Scarlet Records. The CD is said to be "an intriguing" conceptual effort about the major arcanes of the tarot, covering in depth the meaning of each arcane and the esoteric halo that surrounds it. Production duties were once again handled by renowed producer Luigi Stefanini (RHAPSODY, LABIRYNTH, VISION DIVINE). The impressive artwork was created by Derek Gores (EDGUY, KAMELOT).

DARK MOOR recently completed work on the video for the song "The Chariot" with producer Dividi2

"Tarot" track listing:

01. The Magician
02. The Chariot
03. The Star
04. Wheel Of Fortune
05. The Emperor
06. Devil In The Tower
07. Death
08. Lovers
09. The Hanged Man
10. The Moon
11. The Fool (bonus track)

DARK MOOR recently parted ways with drummer Andy C. due to "scheduling conflicts" with his other musical projects. His replacement, Roberto Cappa, is "an experienced live and studio performer" who previously played in the Spanish metal band ANIMA SOLA.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal outfit AFTER FOREVER has revealed via its official web site that the release date of its new, self-titled album has been pushed back from the previously announced March 23 (release date for Germany; the rest of Europe was due to receive the CD on March 26). A new release date has not yet been announced. Consequently, the official release party for the album, which was previously scheduled to take place on March 23 at Tivoli in Utrecht, Holland, has also been postponed.

According to an article on the Dutch web site Metalfan.nl, the song "Discord" on AFTER FOREVER's new CD will feature the Prague Symphonic Orchestra, while vocalist Doro Pesch can be heard dueting with AFTER FOREVER frontwoman Floor Jansen in the track "Who I Am". ANNIHILATOR guitarist Jeff Waters reportedly makes an appearance on a song with a working title of "De-Energized". Other tracks set to appear on the CD include "Evoke", "Transitory", "Equally Destructive", "Withering Time", "Cry With A Smile", "Envision", "Who I Am" and "Empty Memories".

Long-running Italian metallers WHITE SKULL have finally confirmed that they have parted ways with singer Gus Gabarrò. Replacing Gabarrò in the group's current lineup is female vocalist Elisa "Over" De Palma.

WHITE SKULL released its latest album, "The Ring of the Ancients", last October via Dragonheart Records. The follow-up to 2004's "The XIII Skull" was recorded at Remaster Studio in Vicenza and is said to be a concept album about Celtic history and culture.

"The Ring of the Ancients" is WHITE SKULL's first album for Dragonheart following the group's split with Frontiers Records.

Underground Symphony recently released a WHITE SKULL double CD containing the Spanish version of "The Dark Age", called "La Era Oscura", which was previously available only in South America, plus a collection of unreleased and rare material, recorded during 1995-2005.

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM has posted the following message on its official web site:

"For the last [few] years, Meiju Enho [synths] has been constantly balancing between the band, school and work and now we are granting her a little breather, so she can complete her schooling. That means that ENSIFERUM will be playing the [upcoming] concerts with Emmi Silvennoinen, the synth player from the band EXSECRATUS."

ENSIFERUM has finalized the track listing for its third album, "Victory Songs", due on February 21 via Spinefarm. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki with producer Janne Joutsenniemi.

"Victory Songs" (view cover) track listing:

01. Ad Victoriam
02. Blood Is the Prince of Glory
03. Deathbringer from the Sky
04. Ahti
05. One More Magic Potion
06. Wanderer
07. Raised by the Sword
08. The New Dawn
09. Victory Song

A limited-edition version of the album includes an extra track, "Lady in Black", and a bonus DVD. A CD single, "One More Magic Potion", will precede the album on February 7. Also included on the single will be "Lady in Black".

Launch Radio Networks reports: The members of QUEEN are really happy with the new material they recently recorded with Paul Rodgers. Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor were interviewed on the CBC TV show "The Hour", which airs weeknights across Canada, and host George Stroumboulopoulos asked them how work was progressing on a new album. May said, "We went in the studio... to see what happens, 'cause we've already tested it pretty good on stage, and that works great... And we went in almost unprepared... and came up with some tracks, which I think are really great. They're very different, they're very unlike anything that we've done, or anything that Paul's done." Taylor added that the sessions "went spectacularly well."

May also said, "It's gonna be good, 'cause next time we go out (on tour), we won't just be nostalgia, we will be 'This is what we are.'"

Neither May nor Taylor said when a new album might be released, or when a tour might begin.

Guitarist Boudewijn Vincent Bonebakker of the Dutch metallers GOREFEST has issued the following update:

"We're well into the writing sessions of our new album, due to be released mid-2007. We just finished the demo tapes with the foundations for 11 new songs. Drum tracks and rhythm guitars have been pre-recorded and some vocals as well. Of the 11 songs we're going to choose about 9 songs to be put on the album. So now we're in the stage of make up drum fills, guitar solos and what-not to give it all even more edge. Also vocal lines and lyrics are well on [their] way. We can honestly say this is going to be a brutal one. The frustration, anger and aggression that has been built up over the past year has really found its way to the songs. Blasts, speed picking and fast polkas are more common than spare.

"The same way we did with 'La Muerte', we're going to record in the Excess studios in Rotterdam with engineers Hans and Dennis. Tue Madsen will be doing mixing duty and the production will be more of a joint venture with him this time.

"We plan to go into the studio for actual recording this March but before that you'll get a few chances to see us live. On February the 3rd we'll play in The Rock in Copenhagen, Denmark and the 23rd we'll play in Simplon in Groningen, Netherlands. After a short resting period we'll be back with more shows in late April and May. Most likely there will be some festival appearances in June as well."

Rhino Records has set a January 23 release date for WHITE LION's "The Definitive Rock Collection", a two-disc collection featuring the band's hit 1987 single "Wait", plus "When Children Cry", "Tell Me", and several rare rehearsal recordings. The complete track listing is as follows:

01. Fight To Survive
02. El Salvador
03. Wait
04. Tell Me
05. When The Children Cry
06. Lonely Nights
07. Don't Give Up
08. Sweet Little Loving
09. Little Fighter
10. Radar Love
11. Goin' Home Tonight
12. Let's Get Crazy
13. Don't Say It's Over
14. Cry For Freedom
15. Love Don't Come Easy
16. Broken Heart
17. Lights And Thunder (Edit)
18. Farewell To You
19. Hungry (Live)
20. Don't Give Up (Live)
21. Lonely Nights (Live)
22. Sweet Little Loving (Live)
23. Broken Heart (Live)
24. Fight To Survive (Live)
25. Tell Me (Live)
26. All Join Our Hands (Live)
27. Wait (Live)
28. Lady Of The Valley (Live)
29. The Road To Valhalla (Live)
30. All You Need Is Rock n Roll (Live)

Legendary death metallers DYING FETUS have set "War of Attrition" as the title of their new album, due on March 6 via Relapse Records. Check out the cover artwork at this location. The follow-up to 2003's "Stop at Nothing" was recorded at Hit & Run Studios in Rockville, MD. Songtitles set to appear on the as-yet-untitled CD include "Parasites of Catastrophe", "Unadulterated Hatred", "Raping the System" and "The Ancient Rivalry".

DYING FETUS last year announced the addition of drummer Duane Timlin (ex-DIVINE EMPIRE) to the group's ranks.

German metal act MACHINEMADE GOD has parted ways with guitarist Holger Kiparski and has replaced him with Marc Niedersberg. "With this new and strong lineup we're hitting the road in February for a short headlining tour together with our friends in DEADSOIL and KORODED," the band writes in a statement. "Other dates for 2007, such as Summer Breeze festival are confirmed as well, and there is a lot more in the works. Besides that, we will be entering the studio again in March to record our second album, but more details about the record some other time. Those who can't wait for the new material should visit our upcoming shows, we might play new stuff."

MACHINEMADE GOD's last album, "The Infinity Complex", was released in February 2006 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was produced byJacob Bredahl of HATESPHERE and was mastered by Ziggy at ZigZound Studios.

Long-running U.K. extreme metallers BENEDICTION have issued the following update:

"A lot of you are asking what is going on with BENEDICTION. Well, here goes:

"On the new album front, we are fine tuning the guitar fill and lyrics and trying to decide on the final track listing. We have way too many tracks for one album, so once we narrow them down, we will go straight into the studio and record the fucking thing. We are also waiting for the record producer to book us in. We have waited this long so we do not mind waiting a little longer until his current projects are fulfilled.

"In the meantime, some of BENEDICTION have been doing other music-related stuff:

* Nicholas Barker is helping out TESTAMENT on their live dates and more than likely the new TESTAMENT album as well.

* Dave Hunt is doing vocals with MISTRESS and ANAAL NATHRAKH and will record albums and do some live shows with both bands as well. ANAAL NATHRAKH will definately be assaulting your senses in a dangerous live environment this year.

* Frank Healy is playing bass in the reformed CEREBRAL FIX and will also play on their new album. He played on one of the John Peel sessions for ANAAL NATHRAKH which appears on the 'When Fire Rains Down from the Sky' reissue. On top of that, he is putting a band together called THE BURNING DEITIES. He has written all the music for this band and will showcase the songs live after BENEDICTION's album is completed.

* Daz is busy with Rewy on the fine tuning of the album for BENEDICTION. It's all about guitar riffs after all!!!"

BENEDICTION's new album, "Killing Music", will be released via Nuclear Blast Records, with whom the band recently re-signed. The CD will mark the recording debut with the group of Barker, who was most recently a member of BRUJERIA and who played with ex-FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares in the short-lived DRIVEN BY SUFFERING (working name).

British heavy metal legends SAXON have finalized the track listing for their new album, "The Inner Sanctum", due in Europe on March 5 (Germany: March 2, U.S.: April 3) via SPV Records.

Commented frontman Biff Byford: "'The Inner Sanctum' is a typical SAXON recording that kicks off with gargatum heavy metal tracks, followed by classic rock 'n' roll numbers, returning to metal towards at the end. I'd say the album is in the style of 'Lionheart' and 'Metalhead'; a number of tracks have a 'Solid Ball of Rock' touch, but at the same time the production [by Charlie Bauerfeind] is very modern."

Five days before the album arrives in stores, SAXON will embark on an extensive European tour, scheduled to last until mid-May, which will take Biff Byford, Paul Quinn (guitar), Doug Scarratt (guitar), Nibbs Carter (bass) and Nigel Glockler (drums) to England, Ireland, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Russia, Austria, Sweden and Finland, among other countries. Byford has already hinted at his band's live show, which has been updated as usual: "All those who know us are aware that we always include six to seven new numbers in our track listing when we have a new album to promote," he said.

"The Inner Sanctum" will be available as a digipack with a bonus DVD and as a jewel case, featuring a bonus track.

"The Inner Sanctum" limited editon track listing:

01. State of Grace
02. Need for Speed
03. Let Me Feel Your Power
04. Red Star Falling
05. I've Got to Rock (To Stay Alive)
06. If I Was You (album version)
07. Going Nowhere Fast
08. Ashes to Ashes
09. Empire Rising
10. Atila the Hun

Bonus DVD (approximately 50 minutes long):

A Night Out with the Boys:

01. To Hell and Back Again
02. A Night Out with the Boys – The Idea
03. A Night Out with the Boys - Not Really
04. See the Light Shining
05. A Night Out with the Boys - Now It Started
06. Redline
07. Suzie Hold On
08. Stand Up and Be Counted
09. Frozen Rainbow
10. Never Surrender

Finnish modern metallers APRIL will release their debut album, "Tidelines", on February 7 via Spinefarm Records. An e-card for the CD, containing soundclips of all the songs from the CD plus a video for the song "First Blood", can be found at this location. Produced by Tero Kinnunen (NIGHTWISH), the album was previously described in a press relase as "a majestic, violent modern metal monster with depth like of which you thought you'd never hear again." The track listing is as follows:

01. The Power of One
02. First Blood
03. Stain
04. Soul of Elimination
05. Colourblind
06. Dead Man Walking
07. Weakened to Speak
08. Time Is Up
09. Two Steps (for a New Revolution)
10. Fading

Norwegian doom band SYRACH has issued the following update:

"This weekend we have been busy recording the vocals for our album. First Silje, from OCTAVIA SPERATI, did her parts, and it sounds great. We really appreciate her voice, and are very satisfied with her contribution on our album. After that, it was old man Ripper's turn. After growling for several hours each day during the weekend, he did his parts really good. We are now more sure than ever that the album will be awesome. Ripper's work this weekend is just truly amazing! So now we are going to do some guitar solos, probably this week, and some clean sounding guitar parts."

SYRACH's debut album is being produced by Herbrand Larsen from ENSLAVED. The tentative track listing is as follows:

01. Nine Fallen Men
02. A Death Tear
03. The Firm Grip Of Death
04. Come Dæmons
05. Stigma Diabolikum
06. Semper Ardens
07. The Twilight Enigma
08. Are you Able To Breathe Fire

Formed in 1993 in Kalandseidet (near Bergen, Norway — a region known to have spawned bands like IMMORTAL and BURZUM, to name a few), SYRACH's current lineup includes two new members: Suleiman on drums and Noralf Venås on guitar.

German hard rockers JADED HEART recently signed a deal with Frontiers Records for the release of their new studio album. The group has been busy writing new tracks for the upcoming CD, which it expects to start recording this spring for a fall release. Songtitles set to appear on the effort include "See the Light", "Crazy", "Crush That Fear" and "You Can't Deny".

JADED HEART's seventh studio opus, "Helluva Time", was released in October 2005 via Frontiers. The CD was completed under the assistance of co-producer Chris Lausmann (ex-BONFIRE) and was the group's first effort to feature singer Johan Fahlberg (ex-SCUDIERO). The album includes a "riveting" cover version of ANASTACIA's smash hit "Paid My Dues".

Swedish metallers ASTRAL DOORS, who feature in their ranks LION'S SHARE vocalist Patrik Johansson, have issued the following update:

"So far we have recorded the vocals to five new songs and my feeling is that this time you will hear a couple of new sides of ASTRAL DOORS. For example, today's song is a heavy-ballad kind of tune named 'Bastard Son'. I promise you, you have never heard Patrik sing with such emotion before, it's breathtaking! On the other hand, we have harder songs than ever before as well. 'Planet Earth' is one example of that — the meanest song we have done this far. But don't worry, it will all fit in the frame of the true ASTRAL sound. So I guess you will hear a more varying ASTRAL DOORS when this, as-yet-untitled record hits stores. When? After the summer of 2007, I guess."

ASTRAL DOORS' third album, "Astralism", was re-released in August 2006 as a digipack, featuring a newly written bonus track, entitled "21st Century Medieval". "The sound on the album has been polished and has been remastered by a profesional," the band previously wrote on its web site. "This is how it was meant to sound from the beginning. Sounds insane but the first version slipped through without our approval. If we've had the last word the first version would never been released, that's for sure."

"Astralism" was originally released in March 2006 via Locomotive Music. The CD is described by the band as "another slab of old-school hard rock with a touch of metal — something you can't help loving."

Finnish power metallers TWILIGHTNING have set "Swinelords" as the title of their third full-length album, due on March 21 via Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Plague-House Puppet Show" was recorded Astia studio in Lappeenranta and Music-Bros. studio in Imatra with Miitri Aaltonen.

"Swinelords" track listing:

01. Isolation Shell
02. SwineLord
03. Reflection of the Cuckoo
04. Vice Jesus
05. Pimps, Witches, Thieves & Bitches
06. The Gun
07. Not a Word
08. Consume Gap
09. With the Flow
10. Wounded & Withdrawn

TWILIGHTNING's last release was the "Bedlam" EP, which was recorded at Astia and was mixed at the Finnvox facility in Helsinki.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band WITHIN TEMPTATION will release a new single, "What Have You Done", in Germany on February 16 via G.U.N. Records. The single, which features a guest appearance by Keith Caputo of LIFE OF AGONY, will be available in the following formats:

"Basic" Version

01. What Have You Done (Single Version) (3:59)
02. What Have You Done (Album Version) (5:15)

"Premium" Version

01. What Have You Done (Single Version) (3:59)
02. What Have You Done (Album Version) (5:15)
03. Blue Eyes (5:24)
04. Aquarius (Live At The Java Island, Amsterdam) (4:50)
05. Caged (Live At The Java Island, Amsterdam) (5:49)

The band filmed the video for "What Have You Done" on December 13, 2006 at Koko in London.

A two-minute clip of the new MOONLIGHT AGONY song "Through The Desert Storm" is available for download at this location. The track comes off the Swedish power metal act's second album, "Silent Waters", due in February via Dockyard Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Echoes of a Nightmare" (Massacre Records) was recorded at Division One Studios with engineer Arnold Lindberg (EVERGREY).

"Silent Waters" track listing:

01. Leaving Solitude
02. You Betrayed Me
03. Soulless
04. Through the Desert Storm
05. The Dark Era
06. I'm Alive
07. Room 101
08. Different Stories
09. Bloodred Sails
10. Solemn Waters
11. [Japanese bonus track]

Swedish death metallers VOMITORY have completed work on their new album. "Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Leon Music Studio in Karlstad, Sweden with producer/engineer Rikard Löfgren during December.

Comments drummer Tobias Gustafsson: "We have now finally completed our sixth album, 'Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize'! And I say finally because it has been three long years since our latest album, 'Primal Massacre', saw the light of day. We're totally satisfied with how it all turned out — the production is top-notch, the songs and our performances are at their best and the variation in the songs is better than ever before. The album has some of the fastest shit we've ever done as well as some of the heaviest. The album contains 40 minutes of death fucking metal!'

"Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize" track listing:

01. Eternal Trail Of Corpses
02. Scavenging The Slaughtered
03. Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize
04. The Burning Black
05. Defiled And Inferior
06. March Into Oblivion
07. Whispers From The Dead
08. Heresy
09. Flesh Passion
10. Cremation Ceremony

"Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize" will be released April 20 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and April 23 in the rest of Europe via Metal Blade Records.