Sweden's SHOT INJECTION will release its new CD, "World of Coma", mid-January 2007. The EP was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg and is expected to include the following cuts: "Convinced", "From A Bleeding Heart" and "In A Circle Between Fear And Loss". According to a posting on the group's web site, fans can "expect a high-quality release with a lot of new elements.'

SHOT INJECTION's last CD, "Eleven Triple Manifest", was recorded at Division One Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden and featured guest appearances by EVERGREY frontman Tom S Englund and M.A.N/ex-MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich.

SHOT INJECTION earlier in the year parted ways with bassist Filip Svensson (ex-ROACH). His replacement, Erik Samuelsson, made his live debut with the group in July at at Henriksberg in Gothenburg.

Ferret Music has set a March 6, 2007 North American release date for the new CHIMAIRA album, entitled "Resurrection".

CHIMAIRA began recording "Resurrection" on October 2 with the production team of Jason Suecof and Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY). The group recently signed new deals with Ferret Music (North America) and Nuclear Blast (Europe) following its split with Roadrunner Records earlier in the year.

As previously reported, CHIMAIRA will film a video for the first single off "Resurrection" on December 6-7 in the Los Angeles area. If you are interested in appearing in the video as an extra, send an e-mail to resurrectionvideo@hotmail.com. Please only e-mail if you're serious about going.

CHIMAIRA will headline "Chimaira Christmas 7" on Wednesday, December 27 at the House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio. Also scheduled to appear are DEMIRICOUS, FOREVER IN TERROR and BOWEL.

CHIMAIRA's last album, "Chimaira", was recorded at Spider Studios in Ohio with producer Ben Schigel.

CHIMAIRA's "Threnody", a leftover track from last year's self-titled LP, has been posted online . The song appears on the "Masters of Horror II" soundtrack, which came out last month via Downtown Records.

The cover artwork for WITH PASSION's upcoming album, "What We See When We Shut Our Eyes", has been posted online at this location. The artwork was created by renowned artist and musician Dave Quiggle, who is best known for of his in-house work at Facedown Records and past collaboration with such bands as ATREYU, A LIFE ONCE LOST, SCARS OF TOMMOROW — all of which has landed on shirts sold through Hot Topic.

"What We See When We Shut Our Eyes", which features a guest appearance by THE RED CHORD vocalist Guy Kozowyk, was recorded at Mana Studios in Florida with Brian Elliott. A February 2007 release via Earache Records is expected.

"Wphat We See When We Shut Our Eyes" final track listing:

01. Triumph Over Tragedy
02. Through The Smoke Lies A Path
03. What We See When We Shut Our Eyes
04. Pale Horses Ride
05. Tales Of Sirens
06. Encryption
07. R.J. Mac Ready
08. Forgotten Amongst Screams
09. Vengeance In Departure
10. A Road For The Worthy

WITH PASSION's last Earache release, "In the Midst of Bloodied Soil", was hailed by musical critics as "balancing technically wowing AT THE GATES-style drama-shred with graceful, forlorn instrumental ruminations." WITH PASSION possess a unique disposition and retain youthful energy while delivering mind-blowing, tightly driven musical compositions that rival those of their predecessors.

Austrian/American "epic metal" band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS has set "Trinity" as the title of its third album, tentatively due in March 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD's cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, HYPOCRISY and EXODUS, among others. "The band felt he could capture the essence of the new phase of the band, which he did beautifully," the group wrote in an online update.

With regards to the album title, the band said, "Trinity stands for many things. For one, it is the third album (most obvious). There are also three new members, and three new influences in the music making. The band all agreed in June that would be the title and thus, worked from there. [In addition] the album is due out in March 2007 (third month)."

On the subject of the band's musical approach on the new CD, the group wrote, "Expect something different from this music, heavier music, mature and more introspective lyrics, grandiose symphonic parts, yet still keeping the band roots for writing songs that are accessible and sing-a-long-able."

"Trinity" will mark VISIONS OF ATLANTIS' first release since the addition of professional soprano singer Melissa Ferlaak from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ferlaak graduated with a master's degree from New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts in 2003 for vocal performance and has worked in the operatic field, most recently as Musetta in "La Boheme", and has been singing with AESMA DAEVA.

As previously reported, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS has posted two video clips from the group's appearance at the the Metal Female Voices Fest 4 on October 21, 2006 at Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium:

"Send Me a Light" (video)
"State of Suspense" (video)

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS released its last album, "Cast Away", in November 2004 through Napalm Records.

German folk-metallers IN EXTREMO will release a 10-year anniversary album, entitled "Kein Blick Zurück" ("No Looking Back"), on December 8 via Universal Music in Germany. In addition to re-recordings of some of the band's "old and new hits with updated production" (including songs from the "Weckt Die Toten" record), the set will contain a bonus CD featuring cover versions of songs by SILBERMOND ("Die Gier"), GÖTZ ALSMANN ("Singapur"), KILLING JOKE, GRAVE DIGGER and the legendary German group OUGENWEIDE.

Based in Berlin, IN EXTREMO's musical style combines metal with medieval traditional songs, blending the sound of the standard rock/metal instruments with historical instruments (such as the bagpipes, harp, hurdy-gurdy and shawm). Versions of well-known traditional/medieval ballads make up the main part of their repertoire, but increasingly over the years, the band has also written its own material. Their own compositions are written in German, while the traditional songs are in a variety of languages, including (but not limited to) Spanish, English, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, French, Hebrew, Latin and medieval German.

Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE has revealed the track listing for its fourth album, "Evernight", due in February 2007 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2005's "Third Age of the Sun" was recorded at MusicBros Studio and was produced by Miitri Aaltonen, who previously worked with the group on their first two CDs, "...Where The Shadows Lie" (2002) and "Sword's Song" (2003). The mastering duties were handled at Finnvox Studios.

"Evernight" track listing:

01. House of Heroes
02. Ocean's Elysium
03. Summon the Wolves
04. We Are the Legions
05. Into the New World
06. Longing Horizon
07. Mask of Flies
08. The Cloak and the Dagger
09. Beneath the Waves

According to guitarist Jyri Vahvanen, "Evernight" "includes ten tracks of pure Tolkien metal with more bombastic and epic songs than before. And, as usual, there's going to be a limited edition digipack CD with bonus material."

"Third Age of the Sun" entered the Finnish album chart at position No. 38 back in August 2005. The CD was recorded at SoundSuite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes (TRISTANIA, MORGUL, TURISAS).

New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT have issued the following update:

"It has been a while since any news... so here we go. We are getting ready for these upcoming five dates here in the North East right after Thanksgiving. Directly after those dates Roger [Miret, vocals] will take out his DISASTERS for four shows premiering his 'My Riot' album that was recently released on Sailor's Grave Records. Those shows begin November 30th - December 3rd and are all in Southern West Coast.

"Just so you all know, we have been working on a new record and have 10 songs already! We are set to start recording by February but right before that we will be doing 10 shows down the East Coast from Baltimore, MD to Orlando, FL. and look out Japan, Australia and New Zealand here we come! April is dedicated to those three countries! We will see Europe by end of 2007 and we will also visit other parts of the U.S.... P.S... Somewhere in the mix South America will get conquered!!!"

AGNOSTIC FRONT released its first-ever DVD, "Live at CBGB", in March via Nuclear Blast. The disc includes a 52-minute, intense live set (19 songs) filmed with five cameras at the legendary New York City club CBGB, a 23-minute documentary on AGNOSTIC FRONT with never-before-seen footage, an exclusive behind-the-scenes interview with guitarist Vinnie Stigma at CBGB and an impressive photo gallery. This DVD is available to be heard in 5.1 Surround Sound or stereo. The DVD also comes with an AGNOSTIC FRONT "Live at CBGB" CD, including two bonus songs not on the DVD.

Sweden's PAIN OF SALVATION has posted the following update on its official web site:

"The long-awaited 'Scarsick' album is now done, and is expected to hit the stores late January 2007, just a few weeks before the European tour that will start mid-February. The album is (of course) a concept album, and clocks in at 67 minutes, consisting of the following tracks:

01. Scarsick
02. Spitfall
03. Cribcaged
04. America
05. Disco Queen
06. Kingdom of Loss
07. Mrs Modern Mother Mary
08. Idiocracy
09. Flame to the Moth
10. Enter Rain

"The cover artwork and track titles have already spawned a lot of discussions in forums and lists around the net regarding the possibility that 'Scarsick' might actually be 'The Perfect Element' part II in disguise. Interviews with the band will undoubtedly start to pop up in magazines and online the following months, so keep your eyes and ears open...

"Now that 'Scarsick' is finished, the band will focus on finding a new bass player. The first auditions are already scheduled for December, but the quest will be 'as long as it takes to find the right guy.' Applications have been pouring in from all around the world, despite the band's request for a bassist living in Sweden. Thus, focus will be on the 'domestic' applications. But this also means that the field is still open, in case you are hesitating.

Florida-based death metallers DIABOLIC have issued the following update:

"DIABOLIC have decided to self-release our new EP, entitled 'Possessed by Death'!!

"After careful consideration, the band has determined that to avoid any confusion with BLASTMASTERS artwork and music, we will release the new DIABOLIC EP on CD and online to fans as an appetizer to prepare them for the full-length, due out in 2007.

"The new DIABOLIC EP, 'Possessed By Death', will be available for download in its entirety at isound
and on PureVolume. Three of the new songs will be available for 'listen-only' on Myspace.

"Recorded by Juan 'Punchy' Gonzalez at D.O.W. Studios, songs include 'Devour the Subconscious', 'Possessed by Death', 'Avulsions of the Soul', plus two yet-untitled intros."

Frontman Zak Tell of the Swedish rap/metal combo CLAWFINGER has issued the following update on the writing/ recording sessions for the group's new studio album:

"So Bård [Torstensen, guitar] is in town since Sunday evening [Nov. 19] and we've started another round of writing and recording. So far, so good, so what, as MEGADETH entitled one of their albums many years ago.

"Anyway, one more demo track is completed. Hooray. There is hope and not only that, it so happens to be a positive little fucker of a song with a 'pop' chorus and all just to make things even more fun. We've spent today [Wednesday, Nov. 22] working on a calm little moody track. I'm not quite sure how much we've actually managed to do on it or change it for the better, but small babysteps are sometimes required in order to find the way. We'll see what happens! We're having a short break right now and then I think we're going to pick out a new track to work on. I have no idea which one will end up being molested by us bastards, but they've all got to be beaten up, pushed around and fucked with until they sound good, so it doesn't really matter, the work continues! It's fun at times, a fucking pain in the ass at others and occassionally the best fucking job in the entire world, all depending on the results obviously. Yeah, I know I should shut my negative fucking mouth and just pretend it's superdooper happy positive creative fun all the time, but I try not to lie, so I won't!

"Well, on that note I'm signing off. As always I'll try and keep you posted. Remember — patience is a virtue, so hang in there and learn how to master your patience. You're going to need a lot of it!"

CLAWFINGER's latest album, entitled "Hate Yourself with Style", was released in the U.S. in February via Nuclear Blast Records.

Sublife Productions has announced the exclusive and limited pre-release of GREEN CARNATION's "A Night Under the Dam" concert on DVD (view cover here). The DVD is scheduled to be released in February 2007, but a limited first pressing will be made available to the Norwegian audience through a December 11 release in all shops and to fans in the USA through The End Records mailorder. 100 fans from the rest of the world can order the DVD directly from Sublife Productions.

Two teaser videos (Video 1, Video 2) and photo galleries/slideshows (Gallery, Slide Show) have been posted online.

About the DVD: This special concert event took place on August 3, 2006, almost 700 meters above the ocean, several kilometers into the Norwegian mountains, under a 30-meter-tall dam built in 1939. Together with guest artists and a string quartet, GREEN CARNATION performed its entire "Acoustic Verses" album and other material in front of more than 500 enthusiastic audience members, some of them travelling all the way from the USA, Italy, Ireland, Germany and Holland. This DVD (PAL format only!) contains the entire live show, including two bonus songs ("Six Ribbons" and "Transparent Me"), extensive photo gallery (170+ images), a behind-the-scenes video and full 5.1 Surround Sound to ensure the best possible viewing and listening experience. This is the closest you can get to the "real thing," a unique concert event from by a unique band. This is a PAL-only DVD release. Region free (plays in all regions).

CLOUDSCAPE's video for the song "Demon Tears" has been posted online at this location. The clip was directed, filmed and edited by Rainer Holmgren and will be included on the ProgPower UK DVD sampler, which will be available during the ProgPower UK festival on March 31, 2007. 11 actors are featured in the video, including Andy Pierce, who is the lead singer in the Swedish glam rock band NASTY IDOLS. Director Rainer Holmgren also appears in the clip in a boxing match scene.

"Demon Tears" comes off CLOUDSCAPE's sophomore album, "Crimson Skies", whcih was released in the U.S. in July via Nightmare Records. The CD was recorded at RoastingHouse studio in Malmö with producers Anders "Theo" Theander and Pontus Lindmark. Artwork for the album was created by Mattias Norén.

German power metallers PARAGON have resumed recording their new album for an early 2007 release. "Most of the vocals are done by now except for our half-ballad 'Agony' and a cover of 'Two Faced', which we recorded for a TANKARD tribute album which will be included in their next release," bassist Jan Bünning said. "We also still have to do some guitar leads and of course the backing vocals. I hope we can start mixing soon and Dirk (Illing) will also start to do the artwork next week. When we know the exact release date we will start booking some live shows around the release date."

PARAGON's new album will contain the following tracks (in no particular order):

01. Hammer Of The Gods
02. Face Of Death
03. Gangland
04. Souleaters
05. Instrumental
06. Forgotten Prophecies
07. Halls Of Doom
08. Arise!
09. Wargods
10. Agony

PARAGON's latest album, "Revenge", was released in the U.S. in April 2005 via Magick Records. The CD was the follow-up to "The Dark Legacy", which was released in 2003 by Remedy.

Season of Mist has set a January 22, 2007 European release date for the new album from legendary Greek death metallers ROTTING CHRIST, entitled "Theogonia". The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. The Sign of prime Creation
02. Keravnos Kivernitos
03. Enuma Elish
04. Gaia Tellus
05. Helios Hyperion
06. Nemecic
07. He, the Aethyr
08. Phobos' Synagogue
09. Rege Diabolicus
10. Threnody

Download the song "Enuma Elish" at this location.

ROTTING CHRIST will embark on an extensive European tour in February 2007 beginning with the third edition of The Domination Tour. The band earlier in the year announced the addition of NIGHTFALL guitarist George Bokos as a full-time member of the group.

As previously reported, ROTTING CHRIST recorded their two live shows in Larissa, Greece for an upcoming live album. The pioneers of the Greek metal scene put on two special two-hour shows featuring songs covering their entire catalog. These live shows were held on February 3-4, 2006 at Blive Music House in Larissa, and were the only concerts to be recorded for the upcoming CD. The shows marked the band's 18 years in the metal scene and fans from around the world were in attendance. The band also played a very special concert consisting exclusively of material from their first three albums — "Passage To Arcturo" (1989), "Thy Mighty Contract" (1992) and "Non Serviam" (1994) - on January 14 at An Club in Athens, Greece.

ROTTING CHRIST's "Passage To Arcturo" and "Non Serviam" albums were reissued in January with bonus audio and video tracks via Season of Mist.

Finnish dark metallers BEFORE THE DAWN entered the studio on November 21 to begin recording their fourth album, "Deadlight", tentatively due in early 2007 via Stay Heavy Records. A studio diary has been launched at this location. On February 14, the "Deadsong" single will be released featuring the following track listing:

01. Deadsong
02. Bitter End (PLACEBO cover)
03. Gehenna (old song re-recorded and mixed)

In other news, BEFORE THE DAWN's touring lineup (with the exception of keyboardist Joel Mäkinen, who is no longer involved with the band) has been upgraded to "permanent member" status. The group's current formation is as follows:

Tuomas Saukkonen - Vocals, Guitar
Juho Räihä (GLORIA MORTI) - Guitar
Lars Eikind (WINDS) - Bass, Vocals
Aatu Mukka – Drums

BEFORE THE DAWN toured in Finland and the Baltic States in September/October with MOONSPELL, INSOMNIUM, EMBRAZE and DAWN OF SOLACE (which is another one of Tuomas' bands).

BEFORE THE DAWN's latest album, "The Ghost", was released this past summer via Locomotive Music. The CD was recorded and mixed at Villvox studios during the fall and early winter 2005 by Aleksanteri Kuosa. Mastering duties were handled by Minerva Pappi at Finnvox studios.

Greek female heavy metal trio ASTARTE has posted the cover artwork for its upcoming fifth album, "Demonized", at this location (cover artwork by Timo Wuerz). The CD, which is tentatively due next month via Avantgarde Records, was mixed at Tico Tico studios in Finland. It features guest appearances on vocals by ARCH ENEMY's Angela Gossow, MAYHEM's Attila Csihar, GOD DETHRONED's Henri Sattler and LLOTH's Nicolas Sic Maiis. The track listing is as follows:

01. Mutter Astarte
02. God Among Men (feat. Nicolas Sic Maiis)
03. Demonized
04. Heart Of Flames
05. Lost
06. Black Star
07. Lycon (feat. Attila Csihar)
08. God I Hate Them All
09. Queen Of The Damned (feat. Henri Sattler)
10. Everlasting
11. Princess Of The Dawn (ACCEPT cover)
12. Black At Heart (feat. Angela Gossow)
13. Everlasting (outro)

Watch the "Mutter Astarte" video at this location. Download the "Mutter Astarte" MP3 here

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI have entered Fantom Studios in Tampere, Finland with producer Samu Oittinen to begin recording their fourth album, "Tervaskanto", tentatively due in April 2007. 11 songs are reportedly being recorded for the follow-up to "Tales along this Road", which was released in April via Napalm Records.

Formed by Jonne Järvelä (vocals, guitar), KORPIKLAANI ("Woodland Clan" in Finnish) released two albums under its previous moniker, SHAMAN. In contrast to SHAMAN, which recorded songs in the original Sami language, KORPIKLAANI's material is writen mostly in English, but also in Finnish.

A video clip of Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI performing the track "Happy Little Boozer" at the Nummirock festival this past June in Nummijärvi, Finland has been posted online at www.napalmrecords.com

German death/thrash metal act BURDEN OF GRIEF has completed work on its fourth full-length album, "Death End Road", tentatively due in March 2007. The follow-up to 2004's "Fields of Salvation" was recorded at Krachgarten Tonstudio in Kassel, Germany and was mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS, HATESPHERE).

"After some important line-up changes during that last year we have finally found our self-confidence again, and we can't expect to release our new record," the band writes on its web site.

"Death End Road" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Death End Road (instrumental)
02. Vita Reducta
03. Swallow The Sun
04. The Game
05. Running Scared
06. The Killer In Me
07. Drown In Sorrow
08. Schizophrenic
09. Passion Of The Night
10. Road Of Visions
11. Smashed To Pieces '07 (bonus track)
12. Immense Infinity '07 (bonus track)

Download an MP3 of the song "The Killer In Me" at this location. Photos from the recording studio can be found photos.

BURDEN OF GRIEF recently announced the departure of guitarist Ulrich Busch and bassist Dirk Bulmahn. Replacing them in the group's current lineup are guitarist Johannes "Joe" Rudolph (GUTLOCK) and bassist Florian Bauer (TWILIGHT PROPHECIES).

VINTERSORG, the Swedish band led by BORKNAGAR frontman Andreas Hedlund (a.k.a. Vintersorg), has extended its worldwide recording contract with Napalm Records "to include multiple releases," according to a posting on the Napalm web site. "Band mastermind Andreas Hedlund is currently working on new material, which promises to direct more of its attention to the folk metal elements that bodly decorated past works."

VINTERSORG previously announced that its upcoming album had the working title of "Solens Rötter" (Swedish for "The Sun's Roots"). The follow-up to 2004's "The Focusing Blur" will not feature contributions from Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS, SEBASTIAN BACH, TESTAMENT, DEATH) and drummer Asgeir Mickelson (SPIRAL ARCHITECT, BORKNAGAR), both of whom performed on the band's last two releases.

Vintersorg's collaboration with BORKNAGAR's Oystein G. Brun (guitars and programming), dubbed CRONIAN, release its debut album, "Terra", in the U.S. in April 2006 via Century Media Records. The CD, which was issued in Europe on March 27, was mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound.

Finnish hard/glam rock band NEGATIVE recently shot a video for its new single, "Sinners Night/Misty Morning", which comes out in Finland on November 29. The title cut comes off the band's third album, "Anorectic", which entered the Finnish chart at position No. 1. The group previously topped the Finnish chart with its last single, "Planet of the Sun", which came out in early September.

"Planet of the Sun" and "Sinners Night/Misty Morning" can be streamed at the group's MySpace.

NEGATIVE's sophomore album, "Sweet & Deceitful", featured a guest appearance by SENTENCED/POISONBLACK frontman Ville Laihiala.

BLOODBATH's out-of-print mini-CD "Breeding Death" from 1999 has been re-released and comes with a revamped layout, previously unreleased lyrics to all songs, plus two demo recordings of the tracks "Breeding Death" and "Omnious Bloodvomit".

BLOODBATH lineup on "Breeding Death":

Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH) - Vocals
Anders Nyström (KATATONIA) - Guitars/Backing Vocals
Dan Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE) - Guitars
Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA) - Bass/Backing Vocals

To order a copy, click here.

BLOODBATH's latest album, "Nightmares Made Flesh", received a U.S. release in March 2005 via Century Media Records. Due to the long gap between the European and North American release dates, the American version was enhanced with two bonus songs taken from a previously unreleased demo recording of "Breeding Death" EP, as well as a different front cover, featuring artwork by Wes Benscoter.

Finnish melodic black metallers CATAMENIA will release their first-ever live DVD, "Bringing the Cold to Poland", on November 27 via Metal Mind Records (January 2 in the U.S.). In addition to the band's August 24, 2006 performance in Warsaw — complete with cover versions of W.A.S.P.'s "I Wanna Be Somebody" and SATYRICON's "Fuel for Hatred" — the DVD includes several bonus features: an interview with Riku Hopeakoski and Ari Nissila, a documentary on the recording sessions for "Location: Cold", the "Tuhat Vuotta" video clip, songs from a demo recorded by the band in 1995 and from the demo "Winds" recorded in 1996 (which led to the band signing its first contract). The disc will also be available in a limited swing case edition — featuring a bonus CD with songs recorded at the concert.

"Bringing the Cold to Poland" (view cover here) track listing:

DVD:

01. Morning Crimson
02. Lost in Bitterness
03. Tuhat Vuotta
04. My Blood Stained Path
05. Coldbound
06. Fuel for Hatred (SATYRICON cover)
07. Verikansa
08. Closed Gates of Hope
09. The Day when the Sun Faded Away
10. Eskhata
11. I Wanna Be Somebody (W.A.S.P. cover)
12. Location: Cold

Additional Audio Tracks:

Demo '95:

01. Legacy
02. Child of Sunsets
03. Pimeä Yö

"Winds" (Demo '96):

01. Land of the Autumn Winds
02. Awake in Darkness
03. Into Infernal
04. The River Winds

Bonus Video:

* Cataventures part 1 ("Location: Cold" recording sessions 2006)
* Cataventures part 2 ("Location: Cold" recording sessions 2006)
* "Tuhat Vuotta" (videoclip)

Also includes:

* Interview
* Photo gallery
* Biography
* Discography
* Desktop images
* Weblinks

Bonus CD (available only on limited edition DVD+CD):

01. Morning Crimson
02. Lost in Bitterness
03. Tuhat Vuotta
04. My Blood Stained Path
05. Coldbound
06. Fuel for Hatred (SATYRICON cover)
07. Verikansa
08. Closed Gates of Hope
09. The Day when the Sun Faded Away
10. Eskhata
11. I Wanna Be Somebody (W.A.S.P. cover)
12. Location: Cold

Finnish metal act MACHINE MEN has posted a new song, entitled "Circus of Fools", at its location. The track is the title cut of the band's new album, tentatively due in February 2007 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2005's "Elegies" was recorded at Fantom Studio (ROTTEN SOUND, NEGATIVE) in Tampere, Finland and is described by the group's vocalist Antony as "heavier and faster than the last one, but still melodic. And a good thing is — all the songs work live very well."

MACHINE MEN's "Falling" single from the "Elegies" album landed in the Finnish Top Five. The band successfully toured Europe with SONATA ARCTICA and made several high-profile appearances at the big European summer festivals, such as Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting and Earthshaker Fest.

Vocalist Mikael Stanne of the Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY has issued the following update:

"I can't believe it... We made it! It's done and there is nothing I can do about it.

"Just got back from the studio where everything is now shipped off to Denmark where Tue Madsen will perform his magicky magic on the things we've been working on these last 7 weeks. I just finished the last vocal lines a couple of days ago and it feels sweet.

"As always with recordings, there is alot of stress and self-doubt, but being in a more than familiar environment in Martin's [Henriksson, guitar] studio (Rogue) has helped tremendously. The recordings have not only been smooth and focused but the overall feeling that we are creating something amazing has really driven us through this. It turned out so different and diverse that the hardest thing for me now is to find a suitable title for the whole thing. How can I sum up in a title something that is everything and nothing, grounded and out there, intorvert and extra-terrestial all at the same time?

"Welll, keep watching this space and I will let you know soon enough.

"Right now I am just so glad it's done. Anders [Jivarp, drums] did a fantastic job grinding and beating (off) in the studio, Micke [Michael Nicklasson] has delivered some really crushing bass, Martin and Niklas [Sundin, guitar] have really outdone themselves with great riffs and truly outstanding solos and Martin B [Brändström, electronics] has poured a lot of misery and anxiety into his soundscapes. Now all we do is wait for the mix, and this being our first time mixing out of house so to speak we are really excited to hear what the hell we've been up to!"

Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR have 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.

DARK MOOR recently signed a deal with Italy's Scarlet Records. The group's new album, "Tarot", 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).

"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

"Tarot" is scheduled for release in late February/early March 2007.