Vocalist/band leader Björn Lodin of the Swedish melodic hard rockers BALTIMOORE has issued the following update:

"Since Thomas [Larsson, guitar] and Weine [Johansson, bass] didn't find it possible to take BALTIMOORE to their hearts, I decided to release them from their touring obligations. To replace them for the remaining tour I've engaged the fabulous brothers, Pelle and Lars Karlsson (bass and lead guitar). It's a true pleasure to have them on board, they truly kick serious ass..."

BALTIMOORE release its tenth album, entitled "X", on October 29 via BLP Music, the label set up by Björn Lodin (which also saw the band's latest offering, "Kaleidoscope", released in April 2006).

"X" marks the return to the band of original lead guitarist Thomas Larsson (GLENN HUGHES) who has previously performed on four BALTIMOORE albums since the bands formation in the late 1980s. The band's current lineup is rounded out by rhythm guitarist Magnus "Mankan" Sedenberg and drummer Hempo Hildén (DON DOKKEN, JOHN NORUM).

Garden of Exile Records will release the vinyl version of the new ANAAL NATHRAKH album, "Eschaton", on January 8, 2007. The LP version will be packaged in a deluxe gatefold sleeve and be pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl in the colors black, red and black/red. Pre-orders are being taken in the label's webstore and the LPs will be shipped around Christmas time.

Pressing info:

Red/black (marble) vinyl - 100 copies
Red vinyl - 200 copies
Black vinyl - 300 copies

"Eschaton" includes guest appearances by Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) and Attila Csihar (MAYHEM).

Finnish death metallers OMNIUM GATHERUM entered Southeast Studios in Karhula, Finland on November 6 with producer Teemu Aalto to begin recording their third album, tentatively titled "Stuck Here On Snake's Way". So far, the drums have been recorded, according to a posting on the group's web site. A studio diary following the band's progress has been launched at this location.

OMNIUM GATHERUM recently inked a deal with Candlelight Records. The band recently uploaded two new tracks to its Myspace. The songs — "A Part of God" and "Undertaker" — are taken from the group's latest promotional recording, which the band used to procure its new record deal. The demo marks the first material recorded with brand new OMNIUM GATHERUM vocalist Jukka Pelkonen, who joined the group in May.

OMNIUM GATHERUM parted ways with Nuclear Blast Records last year. The band's latest album, "Years in Waste", was released in the U.S. in March 2005. The follow-up to 2003's "Spirits and August Light" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, Finland with producer Nino Laurenne and engineer Teemu Aalto.

Norwegian/British hard rockers TNT have revealed several songtitles that are set to appear on the group's first album with new vocalist Tony Mills (ex-SHY). The CD, which is being recorded in Toten, Norway with producer H.P. Gundersen, will contain the cuts "Something Special", "I Cant Go on with This Feeling", "Golden Opportunity", "Fountain of Love" and "Are You Blind", among others.

Mills previously stated about the material: "[it] has all the diversities that I personally had hoped for, with the balls of TNT and the elegance of QUEEN and the post-perspective of various '70s production attitudes. 'Something Special' rocks from top to bottom with complicated backing arrangements and 'I Cant Go On With This Feeling' smacks of the same colour and underlying power. The album will be completed in February with the direction of the producer H.P. Gundersen, who to me seems like a modern-day Andy Warhol … George Martin. A very talented guy who can seem to create unthinkable arrangements and follow them through to their completion with great ease. An important find. Discussions are underway with various record companies for the release of the album with some labels already committed to the project."

Nuclear Blast Records has set a February 6, 2007 North American release date for the new THERION album, entitled "Gothic Kabbalah". The CD was recorded and mixed in Stockholm by Stefan Glaumann (RAMMSTEIN, EVERGREY, EUROPE) and features Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL) sharing the vocal duties with Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KRUX, AT VANCE) and two female singers — Katarina Lilja on solo and choral vocals; and Hannah Holgersson on solo, choral, and soprano vocals.

"Gothic Kabbalah" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Der Mitternachtlöwe
02. The Gothic Kabbalah
03. The Perrennial Sophia
04. Wisdom And The Cage
05. Son Of The Staves Of Time
06. Tuna 1613
07. Trul
08. Close Up The Streams

CD 2:

01. Wand Of Abaris
02. Three Treasures
03. The Path To Arcady
04. TOF - The Trinity
05. Chain Of Minerva
06. The Falling Stone
07. Adulruna Rediviva

THERION will play with a full symphonic orchestra, choir and international opera stars on December 9, 2006 at the Palace Hall in Bucharest, Romania. A full-blown European tour with GRAVE DIGGER and SABATON will kick off mid-January. A complete list of tour dates can be found at the THERION web site

Polish progressive rock/metal band MOONLIGHT has posted an edited verion of its new track "Reset" on the Metal Mind Productions Myspace. The song comes off the group's new album, "Integrated in the System of Guilt", which is scheduled for release on November 27. The CD was recorded in August at the Fonoplastykon studio with engineer Marcin Bors and marks the group's first release with new drummer Krzysztof "Bialy" Medrala (BODY MIND RELATION).

Commented guitarist Andrzej Kutys: "The album is heavy and powerful but also lyrical, psychedelic and disco-like; it is full of noises as well as beautiful melodies. The songs interleave, thus creating a musical whole. Also, you are in for a big surprise as, for the first time in the band's history, we have a guest on the album! Adam Sypula from CTRL-ALT-DEL joined Maja on vocals in one track. In our opinion, it is the best MOONLIGHT album."

"Integrated in the System of Guilt" track listing:

01. Slice
02. Recovering
03. Come With Me
04. Noom
05. For Better Days
06. Not My Politics
07. Reset
08. Redrum

Swedish metal band SONIC SYNDICATE will enter Black Lounge Studios in Avesta, Sweden on November 20 with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY guitarist) to begin recording its second album, tentatively due in April 2007 on Nuclear Blast Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Psychic Suicide", "Blue Eyed Fiend", "Callous" and "Presence of Mind".

SONIC SYNDICATE landed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records in July after taking part in a "band contest" which was originally launched last summer. A jury consisting of the Nuclear Blast staff and representatives for such magazines as Metal Hammer (Germany, Metal Hammer (Spain), Metal Hammer (Italy), Rock Hard (France), Inferno (Finland), Scream (Norway) and Close-Up (Sweden) went through more than 1,500 submissions and selected three winners who competed for the following prizes: A deal with Nuclear Blast, a download cooperation and a gig with a Nuclear Blast band.

SONIC SYNDICATE's dedbut album, "Eden Fire", was recorded at StudioMega (THE CROWN, LAKE OF TEARS, BESEECH), and was released on September 13, 2005 through the Florida-based record label Pivotal Rockordings.

DOWNLORD, the Danish death metal band featuring ex-BOLT THROWER/BENEDICTION vocalist Dave Ingram and former members of INIQUITY, DAEMON, and SUPERFICIAL, has released a "teaser trailer movie" for the artwork of their debut album, "Random Dictionary Of The Damned", due out in January on Open Grave Records. The artwork was supplied by Christian Hall, who has previously worked for tours and bands such as MARDUK, DANZIG, DIMMU BORGIR, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, VADER and DARK TRANQUILITY.

To view the movie, click here.

DOWNLORD will team up with NECRODEMON, CLOUDS TURNED BLACK and A DARK TOMORROW for a U.S. tour between March 6, 2007 and April 3, 2007. Booking is being handled by Connecticut-based Dragons Wing Entertainment and Booking.

German melodic thrash powerhouse FEAR MY THOUGHTS will release its new album, "Vulcanus", in Europe on January 15, 2007 via Century Media. Helmed by acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, COMMUNIC, MAROON, HATESPHERE, MERCENARY), "Vulcanus" contains 12 new tracks covering a wide variety of styles, incorporating influences from death and thrash metal to Seventies hard and progressive rock. A personal highlight for the band was the guest appearance on "Accelerate Or Die" by DESTRUCTION frontman Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer and guitarist Mike Sifringer. A video for the song "Blankness" will be shot in December.

Pat (guitars and back up vocals) commented: "FEAR MY THOUGHTS has always been about diversity, about combining our musical tastes that range from A like ANTHRAX to Z like ZAPPA. We think this is the first time we have succeeded in this self-applied mission: to worship the old heroes back from the days and to be conscious about the possibilities and advantages of modern technologies."

The first pressing of "Vulcanus" will be a limited edition digipak enriched by various video enhancements including an in-depth "making of" feature, photo gallery, wallpapers and more.

"Vulcanus" track listing:

01. Accompanied By Death
02. Blankness
03. Culture Of Fear
04. Accelerate Or die
05. Stamp Of Credence
06. Survival Scars
07. Vulcanus
08. Soul Consumer
09. Both Blood
10. Gates To Nowhere
11. Lost In Black
12. Wasteland

After supporting their labelmates THE HAUNTED and MERCENARY earlier this month and successful past shows with such renowned acts as EXODUS, CALIBAN and HYPOCRISY, as well as festival appearances at With Full Force and Pressure Festival, FEAR MY THOUGHTS will embark on the Road To Devastation Tour in early 2007 with KATAKLYSM and NEAERA.

Candlelight Records has uploaded a video from CROWBAR to its official Myspace (in the "Videos" section). "Slave No More" will be included on the band's upcoming DVD, "Live: With Full Force", due in North America on January 23. Filmed at the popular German open air festival of the same name, "Live: With Full Force" was captured on CROWBAR's world tour supporting their 2005 release "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden". The live performance DVD also includes candid backstage footage plus the band's second (and previously unavailable) promotional video for "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden" album track "Slave No More".

"Live: With Full Force" track listing:

01. Self-Inflicted
02. I Am Forever
03. The Lasting Dose
04. Burn Your World
05. New Dawn
06. High Rate Extinction
07. Planets Collide
08. All I Had (I Gave)
09. Slave No More (video)

CROWBAR is planning a series of dates in 2007 while continuing work on new material for their next album (expected early 2008).

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have finished recording their new album at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producers Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten for an early 2007 release via Nuclear Blast Records. The group's guitarist, Silenoz, has issued the following update on the recording process:

"Finally! I guess this time is as good as any to say we're ready for mix! Although there are actually still a few bits and pieces left to do on keys, at this stage in the process we'd like to think of them as minor details. We're all going home for a few days to clear our heads and ears, except for Fred and Pat as they will begin to mix pretty much right away. We'll join them again by the end of next week. We'll then also meet up with director Patric Ullaeus and Revolver Film Company to discuss and throw around ideas for the new video!"

Silenoz previously told Revolver magazine that the songwriting and recording process for the group's long-anticipated follow-up to 2003's "Death Cult Armageddon" involved none of the intensive pre-production of their last two discs, no demos, and no gallinvanting around with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. "It's definitely going to sound way more epic and bigger than we thought, because Mustis [keyboards] has also contributed with his keyboard ideas," said Silenoz. "I have to admit that some of the keyboard things on 'Death Cult Armageddon' sound better on the demo version than [their symphony versions] on the album. I probably shouldn't say that, but it's true."

This will be DIMMU's first "concept album," a story set in always-epic Medieval Europe that also serves as a treatise on the modern-day political and social abuses of organized religion. "There's this dude that works as a priest's assistant, and after a while he just discovers that he has nothing to do with Christianity," said Silenoz of the storyline, which he conceived in full before even a note of music was composed. "He just sort of has this awakening and realizes that he has different abilities and different powers and is leaning more to the dark side."

SNAKEGOD, the Finnish melodic metal band featuring current MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP singer Jari Tiura, has issued the following update:

"At long last, SNAKEGOD are very proud to reveal to you that the first three songs of the forthcoming album have now been honed to perfection at the studio. Judging by those three, we're looking at a phenomenal album. Still, first things first: Jari is off to Japan to perform his duties as the MSG lead singer. Naturally, he will pack the SNAKEGOD songs — 'Remember Me', 'Temple of the Sun' and 'You Won't Shoot Me Down' — in his rucksack to alleviate his homesickness. The next step will be to choose the most suitable distributor to spread the word to the world! Plans for a tour in the spring are also well under way."

SNAKEGOD's debut album, "Invitation", was released in 2001 via MTM Music.

METALLICA's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"The lights go down, the last strains of AC/DC fade out and METALLICA are about to step foot on stage, but not until 'Ecstasy of Gold' plays. The very familiar composition from the classic film 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' has been opening METALLICA shows for over two decades, and now the band will honor its composer Ennio Morricone by contributing their recording of the song to a tribute album coming out in the spring of 2007.

"Morricone, the internationally acclaimed composer of over 400 film and television scores, will be celebrating his 78th birthday tomorrow as he prepares to make his on-stage debut in North America at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on February 3, 2007. He will be conducting a 200-piece orchestra and choir performing songs from some of his best known scores. The subsequent tribute album will also feature Andrea Bocelli, Yo-Yo Ma, Bruce Springsteen, and Celine Dion and more."

AFM Records has set a January 22, 2007 European release date for "Thrash Anthems", a collection of reworked/re-recorded versions of the band's classic tracks (the album will be issued in North America on January 23 via Candlelight Records). The CD was recorded at House of Music Studio in Germany) and Little Creek Studio in Switzerland with almost the same team that worked on the group's "Inventor of Evil" CD: DESTRUCTION's live sound engineers Gerd Krenz, Franky Winkelmann and GURD/POLTERGEIST mastermind VO Pulver. The tracks will be mixed by one of the best metal producers in Europe — Jacob Hansen, the Danish producer and INVOCATOR singer and guitarist.

"Thrash Anthems" track listing:

01. Deposition (Your Heads Will Roll) *
02. Invincible Force
03. Release from Agony
04. Mad Butcher
05. Sign of Fear
06. Death Trap
07. Life Without Sense
08. Total Desaster
09. Bestial Invasion
10. Reject Emotions
11. Tormentor
12. Unconscious Ruins
13. Curse the Gods
14. Cracked Brain
15. Profanity *
16. Eternal Ban (Bonus Track)

*brand new songs

Commented DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer: "The intention of this album was to give the old classics — many of them still being a big part of our [setlist] — some fresh energy and the aggressive production of today, without losing the 'old-school' atmosphere. Some of the old recordings have a rather poor sound and we didn't wanna do another 'best of' album with those (old recordings) 'cause it has been done before and won't be exciting at all. But after more than 17 years it was time for another 'best of' album."

"This album will feature 13 classics of the pre-reunion era (1984-1990). Some of those songs we haven't played in ages, and the fans have been demanding them in our live set for a long time too. From the dark/punky/thrashy early days to the later technical periods featuring songs from the albums 'Release from Agony' and 'Cracked Brain' (a song that was never before released with Schmier's vocals!)."

As a special bonus there will be two brand new songs on this 70-minute-plus masterpiece — "Deposition (Your Heads Will Roll)" and "Profanity", which the band wrote after returning from their North American tour earlier in the year. The cover art (front, back) will feature the "Mad Butcher" among images of other classic DESTRUCTION covers. The CD will also feature a guest appearance by former DESTRUCTION guitar player Harry Wilkens and Jacob Hansen (INVOCATOR).

Veteran German hard rockers SCORPIONS arrived in Los Angeles last monthto begin recording their new album with songwriter/producer Desmond Child. Child, who has worked with such high-profile pop/rock artists as AEROSMITH, BON JOVI, ALICE COOPER, KISS, RICKY MARTIN, CHER, MICHAEL BOLTON and BONNIE TYLER, recently worked with Michael Beinhorn, Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman as co-producer on MEAT LOAF's "Bat Out Of Hell 3: The Monster Is Loose" CD, and has also been mentioned as MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil's likely collaborator on Neil's new solo album.

Commented the band: "The new album is taking shape and right now we are recording the basic tracks. We enjoy working with Desmond Child, James Michael and the whole team very much. As always, California rocks!"

SCORPIONS' latest album, "Unbreakable", was released in the U.S. in June 2004 through Sanctuary Records. The CD was recorded at Peppermint Park Studio in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at Wisseloord studios in Hilversum, Holland.

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM entered Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki last week with producer Janne Joutsenniemi to begin recording its third album, "Victory Songs", for a February 21 release via Spinefarm. A CD single will precede the album on February 7.

ENSIFERUM earlier in the year entered the Music DVD chart in their home country at position No. 2 with their "10th Anniversary Live" (Spinefarm) effort. The disc was recorded at the band's 10th-anniversary celebration concert, which took place December 31, 2005 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland.

ENSIFERUM, who feature in their ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, released an EP, entitled "Dragonheads", in February via Spinefarm.

ABC News reports that Christopher Walken has agreed to play Ozzy Osbourne in "The Dirt", a movie based on MÖTLEY CRÜE's controversial 2001 autobiography.

CRÜE lead singer Vince Neil told ABC News Radio in an exclusive interview that the 63-year-old Oscar-winning actor will make a cameo appearance as Osbourne in the film, which is now in preproduction and is expected to be released in 2008 by Paramount and MTV. It's been billed as a true-life version of "This Is Spinal Tap".

"How funny is that going to be," Neil told ABC's Al Mancini at the opening of Vince Neil Ink, the singer's new tattoo parlor in Las Vegas.

Neil said that other stars are going to appear in the film as rock stars, including Val Kilmer as David Lee Roth. "We're doing big, giant cameos with those people," he said.

As for Neil and his CRÜE, they'll be played by unknowns.

"The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band" set new limits in tell-all confessionals. The 448-page tome catalogues the drug and alcohol abuse, nasty infighting, and sex parties of Neil and band mates Tommy Lee, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx.

MEKONG DELTA guitarist Peter Sjöberg (also known as Peter Lake from THEORY IN PRACTICE) has finished the basic guitar parts for the band's upcoming album and will now concentrate on solos and add-ons. The vocal arrangements are ready, but the legendary German progressive thrash outfit has not yet found a suitable singer and will be holding auditions starting at the end of this week.

In other news, MEKONG DELTA mainman/bassist Ralf Hubert has revealed that the band will record an adaptation of the classical piece "Allegro" from the 10th symphony by Dimitri Schostakovich for the upcoming CD.

MEKONG DELTA's current lineup is completed by drummer Uli Kusch (ex-MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN).

Zardoz Music last year released a two-CD, 22-song compilation, entitled "The Principle of Doubt", containing selections from various MEKONG DELTA albums.

According to a posting on CRADLE OF FILTH's official web site, the band re-visited Backstage studios in Derbyshire, England recently with producer Andy Sneap to finish off mixes on a few leftover tracks from the "Thornography" sessions, set for release sometime next year. Check out pictures from the studio at this location

"Thornography" has sold 18,000 copies in the United States since its October 17 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The follow-up to 2004's "Nymphetamine" was recorded at Lincolnshire, England's Chapel studios with producer Rob Caggiano (BLEEDING THROUGH, ANTHRAX) and was mixed at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, England by Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, SKINLAB, NEVERMORE).

Tabu Recordings has announced that recently signed Norwegian cult doom band FUNERAL has just lost one of its two founders. Guitarist Christian Loos was found dead in his flat on Saturday, October 28. He was 31.

FUNERAL had recently got back on its feet — emerging from a four-year hiatus after the passing of original bassist, Einar Frederiksen in 2002, and recording a new album, "From These Wounds" with a new lineup, featuring amongst others, MINAS TIRITH's Frode Forsmo on vocals.

Drummer Anders Eek, now the only remaining founder of FUNERAL and a close friend of Christian, released this statement on behalf of the band: "It's with utter sadness and shock that I'm here, having to announce that my dear friend and band mate, Christian died in his home last Saturday. A goldsmith by profession, Christian was very passionate about both FUNERAL and our side-project, FALLEN, and actively participated in the writing process of both bands' recordings. He was a dedicated and creative musician and was very enthusiastic about the fact that FUNERAL had finally signed a proper deal with Tabu Recordings."

On the imminent release of the band’s album, "From These Wounds", Eek stated. "Christian would have wanted us to continue as a band. Music was a driving force in his life and he loved the new record, 'From These Wounds'. The album is a tribute to Einar and Christian's friendship and craftsmanship throughout the years. Their legacy lives on with this forthcoming album and all that FUNERAL will do in the future."

"From These Wounds" will be released on December 4 in Norway and on January 29 in the rest of Europe.

Vocalist Tony Mills of the Norwegian/British hard rock veterans TNT has issued the following update on the recording sessions for the band's new album:

"Well, recording commenced nearly two weeks ago in Toten, Norway for the new TNT album. The material has all the diversities that I personally had hoped for, with the balls of TNT and the elegance of QUEEN and the post-perspective of various '70s production attitudes. 'Something Special' rocks from top to bottom with complicated backing arrangements and 'I Cant Go On With This Feeling' smacks of the same colour and underlying power. In all, six songs will be complete within the next week and mixing will commence in Denmark before December. The album will be completed in February with the direction of the producer H.P. Gundersen, who to me seems like a modern-day Andy Warhol … George Martin. A very talented guy who can seem to create unthinkable arrangements and follow them through to their completion with great ease. An important find. Discussions are underway with various record companies for the release of the album with some labels already committed to the project."

Mills joined TNT as the replacement for longtime singer Tony Harnell, who left the group in April.

Harnell's final release as a member of TNT was the "Live in Madrid" DVD, which came out in September via MTM Music. The set, which was filmed on April 1, 2006 in Madrid, Spain, was accompanied by an 82-minute audio CD plus booklet liner notes from Harnell about his work with the group as well as an additional tour documentary by Darren Paltrowitz.

A new WHITESNAKE studio track, entitled "Ready to Rock", is available for streaming at this location (Real Media). The song is one of four previously unreleased tracks that appear on WHITESNAKE's new live record entitled "Live… In The Shadow Of The Blues", due on November 27 in Europe via Steamhammer/SPV Records. The set includes almost all the remarkable hits from WHITESNAKE's career, as well as two timeless DEEP PURPLE classics in "Burn" and "Stormbringer". David Coverdale was the frontman of the legendary British act between 1973 and 1976, making a significant contribution to numerous PURPLE highlights during this era. Other previously unreleased tracks that appear on "Live ... In the Shadow of the Blues" are "If You Want Me (I'll Come Running)", "All I Want Is You" and "Dog". The strictly limited version of the double album will be available in a top-quality digipack, featuring a number of surprises, among them the bonus track "Crying in the Rain", including a haunting drum solo by drum legend Tommy Aldridge.

In other news, WHITESNAKE was honored with the "Best Band of the Year" and "Best DVD of the Year" awards last night (Monday, November 6) at the prestigious Classic Rock Awards in London. Coverdale attended the event and was presented with the "Best Band of the Year" award by his former DEEP PURPLE bandmate Glenn Hughes.

Mega-selling pop trio Genesis is reuniting with Phil Collins for its first tour with him since the summer of 1992. An official announcement will be made Monday (Nov. 7) in London. Genesis hasn't toured since 1998, during which Ray Wilson replaced Collins on lead vocals alongside principal members Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford.

Former frontman Peter Gabriel will not be participating in the reunion with the group he exited in 1975. "Tony, Mike and Phil are rehearsing now," he said in a recent video message on his Web site. "I'm not involved in this round or this year. I haven't ruled out the possibility of doing something in the future, but right now I'm going to focus on my own work."

Also apparently not involved is guitarist Steve Hackett, who played with the band in the Gabriel era but left in 1977.

Collins hasn't toured since 2004, an outing billed as his First Farewell tour. Of late, he's been busy writing the music for Disney's "Tarzan the Musical" on Broadway; his contribution to the animated film's 1999 soundtrack, "You'll Be in My Heart," won the Oscar for song of the year.

And while he now seems ready to tour with Genesis again, Collins sang quite a different tune in a 1996 interview with Billboard, when he declared, "How interested am I in old Genesis material? Not very interested, to be honest."

"If I'm to be completely candid, I've never been our biggest fan," he continued. "I have no reverence for the older material, apart from the fun we had making it. I never really felt like we quite got it right on record, especially in the olden days. I can see Genesis fans sticking pins in my effigy as I say this, but you know, I have to be honest -- there's no point in being anything else in life. I'm very proud of some of it, and I could take or leave some other stuff."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli has issued the following update:

"I just came back from Wolfsburg where I ended the first part of the production for the second DREAMQUEST album (please check www.dreamquest.eu for more details). During that time I had also the possibility to plan the production of my fourth solo album. I can already tell you that the next album will be the solo album I always dreamed of. Olaf Hayer will be the absolute hero of the fourth release. I always thought his voice sounds very similiar to the one of Michael Kiske (please check our cover of 'I'm Alive' if you have some doubts!). And I will never deny that thanks to Michael's voice and the two 'Keepers' from HELLOWEEN I started loving the melodic speed metal around 20 years ago.

"And so here we come with my crazy vision... my next solo album will try to be the imaginary 'Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part 3' that I would have liked to hear sung by Michael Kiske in 1990, a 'monumentum' to melodic speed/power metal with anthemic refrains and sing-a-long melodies. But this is only a part of the whole plan. The new album will comprehend a giant orchestra too, a giant choir and a lot of very special guests for a complete cinematic approach. Just wait for it, my friends, I am having so much fun composing it! A great tour will follow the fourth solo album's release and me and Olaf will be then on all the stages worldwide to promote it in the best way."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's latest album, "Triumph or Agony", was released in September via Magic Circle Music. According to a press release, the new CD sees the group continuing "to explore musical fantasy worlds with the precision musicianship and unique symphonic concepts that their fans have come to expect and adore. Fresh on the heels of the band's first live album release, 'Live In Canada 2005 - The Dark Secret', a new name and renewed vigor ensure that RHAPSODY OF FIRE still hold the passion and power that have always been associated with their music."

AFM Records has announced plans to re-release remastered versions of the TANKARD albums "Disco Destroyer" and "Kings of Beer". Each album will contain a bonus track — a cover version of a very well-known metal act. More information will be made available soon.

TANKARD is among the confirmed bands for the Keep It True VIII festival kick-off party, set to take place on Friday, April 13 at Sporthalle in Dittigheim, Germany. Also scheduled to appear are DESTRUCTOR, WARRANT and IVORY NIGHT. The group will also appear at the Arnhem Metal Meeting on Saturday, December 9 at Musis Sacrum in Arnhem, Holland.

Seattle metallers METAL CHURCH have uploaded tue original 1983 demo recordings of the songs "Hitman" and "Deathwish" (both instrumental and with David Wayne's vocals), along with two other early works. Click here to read the history of these songs as well as download them.

METAL CHURCH's latest album, "A Light in the Dark", was released in Europe on June 19 (June 27 in the U.S.) via SPV. The CD includes a new version of the classic "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to vocalist David Wayne, who passed away in May 2005.

Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, who doubled as sound engineer and producer during the recordings, had previously promised an offering featuring all the important trademarks of typical METAL CHURCH tracks. "Before our new drummer Jeff Plate joined the band, I would have claimed that the new album will be a traditional heavy metal album through and through," he said. "Now I'm not so sure we may end up experimenting with the odd unusual idea, but we'll stay within the framework defined by the band's history. 'A Light in the Dark' will represent what the name METAL CHURCH has been standing for for the last twenty years."

METAL CHURCH's current band lineup consists of Vanderhoof (guitar), Ronny Munroe (vocals), Jay Reynolds (guitar), Steve Unger (bass) and Jeff Plate (drums).

Former ANGRA/SHAAMAN frontman André Matos has posted a demo version of a new solo track, entitled "Rio", at this location (Quicktime required). The song is expected to appear on the singer's debut solo album, tentatively due in 2007.

A previously reported, SHAAMAN (formerly SHAMAN) — the Brazilian band featuring former ANGRA members Matos, Luis Mariutti (bass) and Ricardo Confessori (drums), — officially called it quits last month. The break-up, which was long rumored, was attributed to personal and musical differences.

SHAAMAN released its sophomore album, "Reason", in May 2005 via AFM Records. The 10-song follow-up to 2002's "Ritual" was mixed and mastered at Heaven's Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth, who previously worked with such acts as KAMELOT, EDGUY, RHAPSODY and FREEDOM CALL. A DVD, entitled "RituAlive", came out in 2003.

Italian progressive-aggressive metal band ELDRITCH will enter Bigwave studios on December 1 to begin recording its seventh album, entitled "Blackenday". According to a posting on the group's web site, "the cover artwork this time will be totally different than all the previous releases. It'll be done by Nerve Design (Italy) and it's more a photo work instead of something abstract."

As previously reported, ELDRITCH recorded its gigs in Livorno and Milano on October 6-7 for a possible live CD. The band's sixth album, "Neighbourhell", was released this past February. The recordings for the follow-up to 2004's "Portrait of the Abyss Within" were done between April and June 2005 in three different studios (Syncropain, Bigwave and Eldritch studios), while the mastering was handled by Christian Schmid and R.D. Liapakis at Music Factory in Germany. The artwork was conceived by Dirk Illing for X-M-D.

ELDRITCH made its U.S. live debut at the Chicago Powerfest 2006. The fourth annual metal fest featuring both veteran and up-and-coming bands from various sub-genres of metal was held April 7-8 in Chicago Heights, IL.

The highly-anticipated new NAPALM DEATH video for "When All Is Said and Done" is now exclusively available on Century Media's YouTube page. The clip was shot by up-and-coming director Kevin Wildt (INTO ETERNITY). Click here to check it out.

This fall, the seminal grindcore pioneers will annihilate the masses on the "Death By Decibels" tour, their first U.S. headlining tour in more than five years. The Decibel magazine-sponsored trek kicks off on November 15 and also features A LIFE ONCE LOST, DEAD TO FALL and ANIMOSITY in the support slots, with ARSIS and IMPALED joining on select dates.

NAPALM DEATH recently completed an extremely successful run on the Monsters of Mayhem U.S. tour with HATEBREED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, EXODUS, FIRST BLOOD and DESPISED ICON in support of "Smear Campaign", their highly acclaimed new album. The disc, produced once again with Russ Russel, is an uncompromising, ferocious assault that continues to address serious social issues that plague today's society.

After celebrating its 25th anniversary, the band's goals still remain the same: to outlast every trend; to never compromise; to provide a political voice for the voiceless; and to create the most brutal, challenging music on earth.