Swedish death metallers VOMITORY will enter Leon Music Studios outside Karlstad, Sweden on December 3 to begin recording its sixth album.

"This time we'll work with producer Rikard Löfgren, who is the founder/owner of Leon Music," the band said in a statement. "Rikard Löfgren is still a pretty unfamiliar name within the death metal scene. He mostly works with more commercial music but he is a great producer and has his roots in metal. We know the guy since ages and we have great confidence in him.”

"It's going to feel strange to do a new VOMITORY album not working with our sidekick Henrik Larsson, but we feel it's time to try something new. Since VOMITORY isn't exactly an experimental band, we feel that working in a new studio with a new producer is a good way of renewing the band. We have two weeks for the recording and one week of mix and mastering."

The as-yet-untitled CD is scheduled for release at the end of April 2007 through Metal Blade Records.

As previously reported, the first two VOMITORY albums, "Raped in their own Blood" (1996) and "Redemption" (1999) will soon finally be available on vinyl. Animate Records will release them both as strictly limited vinyl versions of 666 copies each. An exact release date will be announced soon.

VOMITORY's fifth album, "Primal Massacre", was released in April 2004 through Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Blood Rapture" was recorded at Studio Kuling in Örebro, Sweden and was mixed at Berno Studio.

German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE have uploaded their video for the song "My Velvet Little Darkness" at this location (Windows Media). The track comes off the group's seventh album, "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts", which was released in July via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by John Fryer (H.I.M., PARADISE LOST, NINE INCH NAILS, DEPECHE MODE) and was preceded by a single, "Again It's Over". The six-track mini-CD jewel-case edition includes three non-album tracks.

As previously reported, LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE will support LACUNA COIL on the German, Austrian and Swiss legs of the band's upcoming European tour beginning on October 30 in Berlin. Also appearing on the bill will be POISONBLACK.

Finnish melodic metallers HELION have posted the cover artwork for their fourth CD, "Mercury Rising", at this location. Tentatively due before the end of the year, the follow-up to 2005's "Shadow of the Sun" was recorded at Studio Sound Supreme (AMORAL, PAIN CONFESSOR, ROTTEN SOUND) and is the group's first CD to feature new guitar player Kimmo Korhonen. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Devil's Tattoo", "Darkness Remains" and a new rendition of "King of Fools". As an added bonus, a remixed version of "Pay Day" will also be included on the effort.

For more information, visit the band's official web site.

A brand new BELPHEGOR track, entitled "Belphegor – Hell's Ambassador", has been posted online at this location. The song comes off the group's new album, "Pestapokalypse VI", due on October 31 via Nuclear Blast Records.

In other news, BELPHEGOR has announced the addition of bassist Serpenth to the group's ranks. The band's touring lineup is now as follows:

Helmuth - Heretic Grunts, Chainsaw
Sigurd - Six String Flagellation
Serpenth - Bass Distortion
Nefastus - Drums (session)

Swedish melodic death metallers ETERNAL OATH will enter the studio in late October to record the follow-up to 2005's "Wither". A total of 12 cuts will be recorded, including "Reality/Fatality", "Greater Than I", "My Demise", "The Dark Domain", "Self Appointed Victim", "No Cure Sickness", "Chokehold" and "Reconcile".

ETERNAL OATH recently parted ways with original singer Joni Mäensivu and replaced him with Timo Hovinen. The band also announced plans to release their first two albums on one CD. The set, entitled "Re-Released Hatred", includes the band's debut mini-CD, "So Silent" (1996), as well as its follow-up, "Through the Eyes of Hatred" (1998), both of which have been hard to come by for several years. In addition, it features a bonus track: a "mind-blowing" cover of AT THE GATES' "The Fevered Circle". All tracks have been re-mastered with greatly enhanced sound and the CD also includes a completely new, re-designed booklet.

ETERNAL OATH's third full-length album, "Wither", was released in March 2005 via Black Lodge Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Righteous" was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg and was mastered at Polar studios in Stockholm.

Italian progressive-aggressive metal band ELDRITCH recorded its gigs in Livorno and Milano on October 6-7 for a possible live CD, according to a posting on the group's official web site.

ELDRITCH is currently compelting the pre-production for its seventh album, tentatively titled "Blackeneday", for a May 2007 release.

ELDRITCH'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.

Finnish death metallers OMNIUM GATHERUM have inked a deal with Candlelight Records. "After long negotiations and search we decided that Candlelight would be the best home for us and we're really looking forward to this co-operation!" the band writes on its web site.

OMNIUM GATHERUM will enter Southeast Studios in Karhula in early November with producer Teemu Aalto to begin recording its third album, tentatively titled "Stuck Here On Snakes Way". The band recently uploaded two new tracks to its MySpace profile. 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.

NOSTRADAMEUS drummer Esko Salow has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"This is a happy moment for us in NOSTRADAMEUS. Time has come for us too announce the latest addition to the band, a dear friend and excellent guitar player with the name Lennart Specht. After the decision too split our ways with Michael Åberg we decided to finish the album before starting the work [of] finding a replacement. We stood before the choice of lots of auditions and learning to live with people we didn't know or to take someone we already knew as a great guitar player and songwriter, and it sure was a easy choice that we don't regret. Specht has been playing together with Esko for the past 18 years in various bands and for the last eleven years with Thomas and Esko in PATHOS and later FEJD. We've already had the opportunity to learn and rehearse over 90 minutes' worth of live material and also started the songwriting process for our forthcoming album. The 'Pathway' album is set too be released 19th January 2007 and we are currently working with some gigs and tour options that will take place during the time for the album release.

"We hope too see you out there on a kick-ass tour and we know you're bound too like the album!"

NOSTRADAMEUS' fifth album, "Pathway", will feature the following track listing (in no particular order):

01. Wall of Anger
02. No Trace of Madness
03. Not Only Women Bleed
04. MDCC Pt. 1
05. MDCC Pt. 2
06. The Untouchebles
07. Death by My Side
08. Until the End
09. Demon Voices
10. Welcome to Living
11. P.I.R

NOSTRADAMEUS' fourth album, "Hellbound", was released in May 2004 through Germany's AFM Records. The follow-up to 2003's "The Third Prophecy" was recorded at RoastingHouse studios in Malmö, Sweden.

SMAXONE, the new Danish melodic metal band featuring Michael Bøgballe (vocals, ex-MNEMIC), Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen (drums; MNEMIC), Casper Skafte (guitar; ELOPA) and Claus Lillelund (vocals; ELOPA), has finished recording the vocals for its second album. "Michael was really in the zone!" SKafte writes on the group's web site. "Only thing left is to do some backing vox, mix and master."

SMAXONE's debut album, "Regression", was released in August 2005 via Scarlet Records.

Regarding the band's musical direction, a press release previously stated, "The basic idea of SMAXONE is to keep the music as personal and original as possible. The clean and unique voice of Claus mixed with the screaming of Michael creates a varied and extremely interesting sound: from hard grinding metal riffs to the more atmospheric rock-ballad approach, with modern elements as electronic samples, breakbeats and synthesizers. Let's say that FEAR FACTORY, Devin Townsend and FAITH NO MORE got a meeting in Denmark!"

SMAXONE recording lineup:

Claus Lillelund - Clean Vocals
Michael Bøgballe - Distorted Vocals
Casper Skafte - Guitar, Bass, Synths
Brian Brylle Rasmussen – Drums

Ex-HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske has announced that will rearrange and re-record all of the songs that he wrote with his former band for an upcoming CD, to be released next year through Frontiers Records.

Commented Kiske: "Since I always need a bit of time to get another (good) record written. I talk with Frontiers Records right now about a full acoustic CD with all my old HELLOWEEN songs re-arranged. Serafino (owner of Frontiers Records) had this idea and I like it very much. But we are still sorting the deal out. I think this is a very good thing to do, because it shows people how those songs can also sound. And I still like most of them. But it will be very different!"

Michael Kiske's latest solo album, simply entitled "Kiske", was released in May via Frontiers Records.

A brand new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE song, entitled "For You", has been posted online at Vans.com (click on the "Audio" tab to the right to hear the cut). The track comes off the New England metallers' upcoming album, "As Daylight Dies", due on November 21 via Roadrunner Records. Check out the song "Daylight Dies" at this location(Windows Media).

As previously reported, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE has once again tapped Lex Halaby (MUDVAYNE, IN FLAMES) to direct the video for its new single, "My Curse". The single is scheduled to go for radio adds around October 30.

Yorkshire doom-death metallers THE PROPHECY will release their new album, "Revelations" (cover), in January 2007 through NoFace Records. However, the band will be making copies of the CD available on their upcoming the Days Of Reckoning Tour 2006, which is scheduled to kick off late October.

To order a copy of "Revelations", visit THE PROPHECY's official web site.

THE PROPHECY previously stated about the upcoming CD: "The album was started in February 2004 when we did the first pre-productions after writing the songs after the Doomination of Europe in 2003 and we actually aired a few of the songs on the Doomination of America tour and the subsequent Unholy Trinity tour with MY DYING BRIDE.

"Tracking started in September [2004] with John [Bennett] laying down the drum tracks prior to us playing Bloodstock 04 and then going off to headline the Doomination of Europe 2004 with Aussie Firebox band THE ETERNAL. It was then things took a turn for the worse with Christian Moore-Wainwright [guitar] leaving the band followed swiftly by William Castledine. This caused almost five months of delay leaving Greg [O'Shea] to start work on guitars in March 2005. However, with the return of Katie Colbrook to the fold, keyboards were swiftly recorded and work then began on vocals in July. But due to problems at Performance Studios, work was again set back months as the studio closed and then eventually relocated to new premises in Leeds. It wasn't until the following year that work could recommence. Stuck in this limbo the band finally managed to recruit a bass player. Trad doom band TEFRA's Gav Parkinson joined up in the summer of 2005 just in time for the Mist of Death tour giving him plenty of time to record bass.

"So 'Revelations' is a project we have lived with for some time. In fact, it seems like the end of an era for us and it'll be weird not having to fret about when it's going to be ready for release."

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA have parted ways with drummer Jeroen Simons. According to a posting on the band's official web site, "Jeroen has decided to concentrate on another musical career and will therefore leave EPICA. We want to thank him for everything he has contributed to the band for the last four years and want to wish him all the best in his new musical career!"

EPICA is currently seeking a new drummer. Interested parties can contact the group at info@epica.nl.

As previously reported, EPICA's previously announced live DVD, which was filmed on May 4, 2006 at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland, has been delayed until next year.

EPICA is currently working on material for its third full-length album, which they expect to begin recording before the end of the year.

MVD Visual has set a January 16, 2007 North American release date for the first-ever live DVD from Dutch death metallers SINISTER, entitled "Prophecies Denied". The disc was shot with seven cameras on August 24 at the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland and will be made available as a standard DVD and a DVD+CD limited-edition package. The DVD also includes an interview with the band’s frontman Aad Kloosterwaard and guitarist Alex Paul as well as a documentary, "Angels of the Apocalypse", plus rare footage.

"Prophecies Denied" (view artwork at this location) track listing:

01. (Intro)
02. Bleeding towards the Wendigo
03. Epoch of Denial
04. The Grey Massacre
05. Sadistic Intent
06. Into the Forgotten
07. Men Down
08. Barbaric Order
09. (Enslave the Weak Intro)
10. Enslave the Weak
11. Altruistic Suicide
12. Afterburner
13. (Cross the Styx Intro)
14. Cross the Styx
15. To Mega Therion

Bonus Videos

Angels of the Apocalypse (documentary)

Bootlegs:

01. Men Down
02. Enslave the Weak
03. Afterburner
04. Cross the Styx
05. Sadistic Intent
06. Afterburner
07. Bleeding towards the Wendigo
08. Epoch of Denial
09. The Grey Massacre

Also includes:

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

SINISTER's latest CD, "Afterburner", was released earlier this year through Nuclear Blast Records.

SINISTER's current lineup consists of Aad Kloosterwaard, drummer and founder of the band, on vocals, Alex Paul on guitar, Paul Beltman (ex-JUDGEMENT DAY) on drums, and Bas van den Bogaard on bass.

The band, who re-signed with Nuclear Blast back in 2002 after a one-album stint with the now-defunct Hammerheart Record, has already announced the working title of its next album: "No Mercyful God".

On October 31, Immergent Records will release "Face to Face" — a DualDisc featuring songs from both QUEENSRŸCHE's "Tribe" (2003) album and Geoff Tate's self-titled solo effort (2002). The package will include the following:

CD Side:

* Complete album in stereo (see track listing below)

01. QUEENSRŸCHE - Desert Dance
02. GEOFF TATE - A Passenger
03. QUEENSRŸCHE - Losing Myself
04. GEOFF TATE - Flood
05. QUEENSRŸCHE - The Art Of Life
06. GEOFF TATE - Off The T.V.
07. QUEENSRŸCHE - Blood
08. GEOFF TATE - Helpless
09. QUEENSRŸCHE - The Great Divide
10. GEOFF TATE - Every Move We Make
11. QUEENSRŸCHE - Open
12. GEOFF TATE - In Other Words

DVD Side:

* Complete album in 5.1 surround sound
* QUEENSRŸCHE - "Desert Dance" Live Performance Video
* QUEENSRŸCHE Photo Gallery
* GEOFF TATE - "On The Record, Off The T.V." video
* GEOFF TATE Photo Gallery

Bonus Downloads via DVDLauncher.com:

* GEOFF TATE - Grain Of Faith
* GEOFF TATE - Over Me
* QUEENSRŸCHE - Rhythm Of Hope
* QUEENSRŸCHE - Tribe
* QUEENSRŸCHE - Doing Fine

QUEENSRŸCHE recently announced plans to record and release a double live album recorded on its current "Operation: Mindcrime II" tour. Tentatively titled "Operation: LIVECrime II", the set will include a live production of the original "Mindcrime" on Disc 1 and a live production of "Mindcrime II" on Disc 2.

Several video clips of W.A.S.P. performing live in Athens, Greece on Friday, October 13 have been posted online at the W.A.S.P. MySpace group page. Check them out at this location

As previously reported, a brand-new Finnish TV interview with W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless has been posted online at YouTube.com

W.A.S.P.'s new album, "Dominator", will be released late January/early February via SPV Records.

"Dominator" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Mercy
02. Burn (DEEP PURPLE cover)
03. Take Me Up
04. Heaven's Blessed
05. Heaven's Hung In Black
06. Long Long Way To Go
07. Teacher
08. Heaven's Hung In Black (Reprise)
09. Fortunate Son (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL cover)

Finnish pagan folk metal band TURISAS will enter Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland at the end of November to record its second full-length album. An early 2007 release is expected.

TURISAS will support LORDI on the "Bringing Back The Balls To UK" tour beginning on October 26 in Nottingham. The band's debut album, "Battle Metal", was released in July 2004 through Century Media Records. "Battle Metal" was produced by Terje Refsnes (TRISTANIA, MORGUL) at Sound Suite Studios in Marseiile, France.

TURISAS has been confirmed for next year's edition of the Rock Hard Festival, set to take place May 25-27, 2007 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA have uploaded their video for the song "The IXth Legion" at YouTube.com. The track comes off the group's new album, "Caledonia", due on November 17 via Armageddon Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Command to Charge" was recorded by Martin Buchwalter at Gernhart Records studio in Siegburg, Germany and features artwork by Kris Verwimp. The album photography was handled by Axel Jusseit, who previously worked with the group on 2003's "Signs for the Fallen". The mastering was done by Michael Schwabe at Monoposto Mastering (SUBWAY TO SALLY, DIE TOTEN HOSEN) in Düsseldorf, Germany. A studio report can be found on the band's newly relaunched web site.

According to the band, "'Caledonia' adopts the lyrical concept of ancient Scottish history, which explains songtitles such as 'Highland Hills', 'Forth-Clyde' and 'The IXth Legion'."

"Caledonia" track listing:

01. Highland Hills (8:01)
02. A Blackened Shield (5:15)
03. The Ember Deid (Part II) (3:15)
04. Evoke the Demon (5:27)
05. Forth-Clyde (5:31)
06. Ramble (instrumental) (2:57)
07. Dawning Tempest (5:13)
08. The Distant Call (3:34)
09. On Torrid Sand (3:52)
10. The IXth Legion (5:44)
11. Farewell (1:14)

Sweden's DREAM EVIL has posted its video for the track "Fire! Battle! In Metal!" at this location. The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus of the Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL and KAMELOT, among many others. The song comes off the group's new album, "United", due in the U.S. on October 31 via Century Media Records. A limited-edition first pressing of the album will include a bonus second CD containing five exclusive, brand new songs: "Calling Your Name", "Dynamite", "Into The Unknown", "I Will Never" and "Vengeance".

"United" track listing:

01. Fire! Battle! In Metal!
02. United
03. Blind Evil
04. Evilution
05. Let Me Out
06. Higher on Fire
07. Kingdom at War
08. Love is Blind
09. Falling
10. Back from the Dead
11. Doomlord
12. My Number One

DREAM EVIL parted ways with drummer Snowy Shaw (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) in February and replaced him with Pat Power (a.k.a. Patrik Jerksten). The group's current lineup is as follows:

Niklas Isfeldt - Vocals
Fredrik Nordström - Guitar
Peter Stålfors - Bass
Mark Black - Guitar
Pat Power - Drums

DREAM EVIL will play a special show at The Underworld in London, England on November 5. The group's last CD, "The Book of Heavy Metal", was released in 2004 through Century Media Records.

Cleveland's CHIMAIRA is currently at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, GOD FORBID) recording its fourth album, entitled "Resurrection". Last week, producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) recorded the drum tracks for "Resurrection" in Cleveland with CHIMAIRA drummer Andols Herrick; Sneap will also be mixing the album once it is completed. Expect to see this recording in stores spring 2007 on Ferret Music in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe. Vocalist Mark Hunter explains, "This is our fourth album and we as a band, are collectively and for the first time ever, in synch and in a 'positive' new headspace; we are all really excited about the new material."

"Resurrection" will feature 13 songs, two of which will be used as bonus tracks for a special limited-edition worldwide release. The limited-edition package will also include a documentary of the making of "Resurrection", directed by Todd Bell, who previously worked with the group on their "The Dehumanizing Process" DVD.Cover art for the new CD will be done by legendary artist Paul Booth.

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

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN will release a new DVD, entitled "Völkerball" on November 17. According to RAMMSTEIN's manager Emanuel Fialik, the disc will be packed with footage, including "almost three hours of live recordings filmed in France, Japan, England and Russia. Also there is an audio CD featuring 75 minutes of concert footage. In a special edition the band will release a second DVD with two documentaries [with a running time of] 90 minutes. That makes three discs in a special edition: two DVDs and one audio CD."

"Völkerball" will be released in the following formats:

• Standard Edition: two-disc set (1 DVD, 140 minutes live video + 1 CD, 75 minutes live audio).
  
• Special Edition: three-disc set (1 DVD, 140 minutes live video + 1 DVD, 90-minute documentary, including "Anaconda in the Net" + "Reise, Reise: The Making of the Album" + 1 CD, 75 minutes live audio).
  
• Limited Edition: 190-page tour photo book, including all three discs from the special edition + the entire live audio recordings of the concerts (140 minutes) on an additional fourth disc!
  

RAMMSTEIN's latest album, "Rosenrot", received its long-overdue U.S. release on March 28 via Universal Music. The CD, which was certified platinum in Germany for sales in excess of 200,000 copies within two weeks of release last October, topped the official album chart in Germany, Austria and Finland, and landed at No. 2 in Sweden and Denmark, No. 4 in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, No. 5 in France, No. 6 in Mexico, No. 11 in Italy and No. 29 in the U.K. In addition, "Rosenrot" achieved gold status in Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

RAMMSTEIN's track "Mein Teil" was nominated in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 48th annual Grammy Awards, which were held in Los Angeles in early February.

Republic/Universal has set a November 14 North American release date for "Uneasy Listening Vol. 1", a compilation of alternate mixes of H.I.M. songs that were recorded prior to the band's breakthrough album, "Dark Light". The track listing is as follows:

01. The Sacrament (Disrhythm Remix)
02. The Funeral Of Hearts (Acoustic Version)
03. Join Me In Death (Strongroom Mix) (previously unreleased)
04. Close To The Flame (Rappula Tapes) (previously unreleased)
05. In Joy And Sorrow (String Version)
06. It's All Tears (Unplugged Radio Live)
07. When Love And Earth Embrace (AOR Radio Mix)
08. Buried Alive By Love (Deliverance Version)
09. Gone With The Sin (O.D. Version)
10. Salt In Our Wounds (Thusla Doom Version)
11. Please Don't Let It Go (Acoustic Version)
12. One Last Time (Rockfield Madness Mix) (previously unreleased)
13. For You (Unplugged Radio Live)
14. The Path (P.S. Version) (previously unreleased)
15. Lose You Tonight (Thusla Doom Extended) (previously unreleased)

Check out the cover artwork at this location.

H.I.M.'s latest album, "Dark Light" (2005), has been officially certified gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. The single "Wings of a Butterfly" peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart and No. 20 on the Mainstream Rock tally, according to Billboard.com. "Dark Light" has sold more than 900,000 copies worldwide.

H.I.M. last month cancelled a two-week North American tour and will instead hit the studio to record a new album, with an eye on a 2007 release via Sire. The trek was to begin Oct. 18 in Lowell, Mass., and wrap Oct. 31 in Universal City, Calif.

In a statement, the band said its nonstop touring schedule in support of "Dark Light" had not afforded it enough time to develop new material. "We just want to keep it fresh for you and stump you with new material," singer Ville Valo said. "I didn't feel that I could do that without rehearsing some of this stuff that's stuck in my heart."