AOL Radio has just launched an "All Slayer" station paying tribute to the thrash/punk/metal legends. The station will feature a playlist of every song ever released by one of the world's best and most influential metal bands, including B-sides and tracks from its new album, "Christ Illusion", due in stores Tuesday, August 8.

"Having SLAYER's music played on AOL Radio is pretty mind-numbing," said SLAYER's guitarist Kerry King in a statement. "It's terrific that the station will be playing every song we've ever recorded for our fans."

To access AOL Radio's "All Slayer" station, click here.

Finnish band EMBRAZE has a posted a new MP3 file containing audio samples of tracks that will appear on its fourth album, "The Last Embrace", due on August 16. Download it at this location.

According to a posting on EMBRAZE's web site, the new material "sounds heavier, but also more melodic than ever before in EMBRAZE history!"

"The Last Embrace" tentative track listing:

01. Carvings on the Gallowstree
02. Branded
03. Racing Against Time
04. Dead Roses
05. Liquid Fire
06. Memory Trace of our Time
07. The One
08. Sleeping Ground
09. Sun Goes Down
10. No Solace

EMBRAZE features in its ranks FOR MY PAIN… guitarist Lauri Tuohimaa. The band will perform at the Jalometalli festival in Oulu, Finland on August 19.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band EPICA is currently working on material for its third full-length album. "We have about 13 songs which are growing every day," states vocalist Simone Simons. "Soon we will be able to play new songs live. Looking forward to it!"

EPICA's sophomore album, "Consign to Oblivion", was released in April 2005 via Transmission Records. The band issued its first DVD, "We Will Take You With Us / 2 Meter Sessies", in September 2004. The disc came in a limited-edition deluxe ECO-Book (containing a 40-page booklet) with an additional bonus CD containing all of the "2 Meter Sessies" recordings. EPICA also released the soundtrack to the Dutch movie "Joyride", entitled "The Score - An Epic Journey", last September.

EPICA has been confirmed to make its debut U.S. appearance at ProgPower USA VII festival on September 15 and 16 Earthlink Live in Atlanta. EPICA will then embark on a North American tour with KAMELOT, which will take them through mid-October.

Encinitas, California-based record store Lou's Records is currently offering "exclusive" preview of the new IRON MAIDEN album, "A Matter of Life And Death", which is scheduled for release on September 5 via Sanctuary Records. Download a full-length MP3 of the album's first single, "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", at www.lousrecords.com.

As previously reported, IRON MAIDEN's video for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" has been made available for streaming at YouTube.com.

Kerrang! magazine has previously described "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" as "an intricate seven-minute epic that starts with a creepy, ominous intro before erupting into a crushing, almost LED ZEPPELIN-esque riff and a powerful, emotive chorus. More obtuse lyrically than most of the album, it's a curious, challenging choice for a single."

"It's very different for us," admitted the band's bassist, Steve Harris. "It's very riffy. The intro has an almost nursery rhyme eeriness. Sometimes you try to create a mood and sometimes it's just there. Everyone's going to ask who Benjamin Breeg is, but you'll just have to find out for yourself!"

"A Matter of Life and Death" was recorded at Sarm West Studios in London with producer Kevin Shirley, who also worked on the last two MAIDEN albums, 2000's "Brave New World" and 2003's "Dance of Death".

Relapse Records has set an October 31, 2006 release date for the reissue of INCANTANTION's "Onward to Golgotha" CD.

Long heralded as one of the heaviest, sickest, and most uncompromising death metal bands in the world, New Jersey's INCANTATION has forged a legacy of brutality unmatched by any other American group. In 1992, the band's most celebrated lineup entered a then unknown Trax East Studios with a then-unproven engineer Steve Evetts and emerged with "Onward to Golgotha", the most dark and blasphemous death metal record to date. The combination of the inhuman growl of vocalist Craig Pillard, the ruthlessly savage aural malevolence, and pitiless anti-Christian attack was the ultimate musical sacrilege. "Onward..." redefined the bounds of brutality and blasphemy for the entire genre of death metal. This is absolute brutality!!! Includes a free DVD with three full live sets from the "Onward..." lineup, expanded artwork, and more.

For more information, click here.

INCANTATION is currently recording its next album, "Primordial Domination", which is set for a fall release on Ibex Moon Records. The trio recently completely a co-headlining tour with VITAL REMAINS, dubbed "Decades of Death".

Sweden's CRYSTAL EYES has posted the following message on its official web site:

"After nine years Jonathan [Nyberg, guitar] has now left the band. With a growing family, a house and a full-time job he felt his engagement in CRYSTAL EYES had been suffering too much lately. His decision was made during the recording of the new album, so Mikael [Dahl] has finished all guitars by himself except one solo, which Jonathan played as a farewell gesture. Jonathan is still a really good friend to everybody in the band, and we wish him all the best.

"As Jonathan's replacement we are now welcoming back Niclas Karlsson. Niclas started the band with Mikael in 1992, and was actually the one who came up with the band name. During the short break in 1995 Niclas quit the band and formed FIERCE CONVICTION (later CONVICTION), which released two albums. After that he appeared on one album with ZONATA, and played for a short while with FRETERNIA and RISING FAITH. Lately Mikael and Niclas have also been playing with the same cover band so it was quite easy to ask Niclas if he wanted to come back."

CRYSTAL EYES' fifth album, "Dead City Dreaming", was recorded at Crystal Sounds studio with producer Fredrik Nordström. The cover artwork for the CD can be viewed at this location. A late October/early November release is expected.

"Dead City Dreaming" track listing:

01. Dead City Dreaming
02. Into The Light
03. The Narrow Mind
04. Wall Of Stars
05. Battlefield
06. The Quest Remains
07. Dawn Dancer
08. Roads Of Loneliness
09. Temple Of Immortal Shame
10. The Halls of Valhalla

STRATOVARIUS frontman Timo Kotipelto has entered Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland in August to begin recording his third solo album, tentatively due in early 2007 via his own label, High and Loud Records. "Mirka [Rantanen] has already laid down some good drum tracks with excellent drum sounds at the Sonic Pump Studios," Timo writes on his web site.

KOTIPELTO's sophomore solo album, "Coldness", was released in Europe in April 2004 through Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Waiting for the Dawn" was recorded by CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboardist Janne Wirman at his Beyond Abilities Studios as well as by Tero Kostermaa at High and Loud's ELK Studios and Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, where the mixing (Mikko Karmila) and the mastering (Mika Jussila) also took place. Matthias Norén, who has previously worked with bands like INTO ETERNITY, LOST HORIZON and EVERGREY, designed the album's artwork.

A full-CD listening party for the new UNEARTH album, "III: In the Eyes of Fire", is available at Music.AOL.com.

"III: In the Eyes of Fire" is scheduled for release on August 8 via Metal Blade Records (August 14 in Europe, except Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it will come out on August 11). The CD was recorded at a Seattle studio with producer Terry Date (PANTERA, DEFTONES). A limited-edition version of "III: In the Eyes of Fire" will include a bonus DVD containing the "making of" footage for the album and a live video filmed on the Sounds of The Underground tour.

"III: In the Eyes of Fire" track listing:

01. This Glorious Nightmare
02. Giles
03. March of the Mutes
04. Sanctity of Brothers
05. The Devil Has Risen
06. This Time Was Mine
07. Unstoppable
08. So It Goes
09. Impostors Kingdom
10. Bled Dry
11. Big Bear and the Hour of Chaos

Bonus DVD (only on limited edition):

* The Making of "III: In The Eyes Of Fire" (directed by Doug Spanenberg)
* Live from the Sounds of The Underground tour

01. The Great Dividers
02. This Lying World
03. Only The People
04. Black Hearts Now Reign

UNEARTH's video for the track "Giles" has been posted online in the following formats: Windows Media, Quicktime.

UNEARTH is taking part in this year's Ozzfest, which kicked off on June 29 in Auburn, Washington.

German Gothic Godfathers GIRLS UNDER GLASS celebrate their 20th Anniversary with "Focus" a huge retrospective look at this popular band. Although mainstream success has eluded them, the Girls have long been a fixture on the German Wave / Gothic scene. It is nearly impossible to reduce their output over the last two decades to a simple stylistic description, and indeed, they have always steadfastly followed their own vision. Volker Zacharias, Hauke Harms and Axel Ermes have always absorbed new elements and trends without allowing them to dominate their sound.From the minimalist charm and brooding melancholy of 80's Gothic rock, to the rocking guitars and sophisticated electro harmonies of 90's Industrial / Metal crossover, to the pure Gothic rock with an Electronic edge that characterizes their sound in the 21st century, GUG have demonstrated a remarkable penchant for stylistic experimentation over their 20 year career.

At 2006's M'era Luna Festival, GIRLS UNDER GLASS celebrate their 20th anniversary on the main stage with a number of special guests and other surprises. This festival appearance will be followed with the release of this DVD retrospective "Focus - 20 Years Of Girls Under Glass". To prepare this video project the band sifted through over 100 hours of footage, portions of which appear in a documentary features which includes concert clips, band interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. In addition, the DVD includes the complete concert perfomed at 2005's Wave Gothik Treffen in Leipzig plus additional promo clips. Presented as a DVD Box within a card slider sleeve.
Tracklisting
"20 Years Of Girls Under Glass DVD, Live WGT 2005" ( 75 minutes )
01. Touch Me
02. In Die Einsamkeit
03. When I Think About You
04. Truly Living
05. Feuerengel
06. Burning Eyes
07. Long Forgotten Room
08. Humus
09. Lucky
10. Die Zeit
11. Ohne Dich
12. Frozen
13. Reach For The Stars
14. Sick Of You
15. I Am Alive
16. Du Tier

Video Clips ( 40 minutes )
01. Lucky (Video)
02. In The Heat (Video)
03. Strong Heart (Live 1988)
04. Du Tier (Live 1989)
05. Sometimes (Live 1993)
06. Protean Dreams (Live 2000)
07. As Time Goes By (Live 2002)

Documentary "20 Years Of Girls Under Glass" ( 45 Minutes )

Bonus Track :-
01. Hidden tracks / Bonus Material ( 20 minutes )

Finland's TAROT, the group led by NIGHTWISH/ex-SINERGY bassist Marco Hietala, has issued the following update:

"In the middle of touring the summer festivals, TAROT has been also been active and sweating in the studio. Currently Pecu [Cinnari] has played the drums for all the 10 upcoming album tracks and Zac [Zachary Hietala] just finished all of his guitar parts. Half of the tracks already contain their basses and next week Janne [Tolsa] is about to step in to do his synth parts. Marco's and Tuple's vocal recordings are to start after the next week and the new album should be in the mix at the end of September at Finnvox. More info on the exact release date of the album follows as soon as it's been confirmed."

As previously reported, TAROT's latest single, "You", entered the national chart in Finland at position No. 1. The single contains two tracks: A straight-forward classic heavy metal song "You", taken from the upcoming full-length TAROT album, and a BLUE ÖYSTER CULT cover, "Veteran of the Psychic Wars". The as-yet-untitled new TAROT album is expected to be released during the fall.

TAROT recently released remastered versions of their first five studio albums along with the "To Live Again" live album previously released in Japan. Each CD includes special bonus track(s).

Spanish metallers DARK MOOR will enter New Sin Studios in Venice, Italy in September with producer Luigi Stefanini to begin recording their new album, tentatively due in early 2007 via an as-yet-undisclosed label. Prior to tracking at New Sin, DARK MOOR will record the choir parts for the upcoming CD at a Madrid studio beginning mid-August. For the occasion, DARK MOOR will utilize a professional choir composed for two tenors, two sopranos, two altos and two bassos. The as-yet-untitled album will also include a guest appearance by the Dutch singer Manda Ophuis of the band NEMESEA.

DARK MOOR's latest album, "Beyond the Sea", was issued in early 2005 via Arise Records. The band has since split with the label.

The second full length album from German Electro / Industrial act Heimataerde, "Kadavergehorsam" continues the undead cycle began with debut album "Gotteskrieger" and continued with the "Under Der Linden" EP in Spring 2006. This time joining forces with a host of other top name Electro bands / artists ( including ASP, Die In Winter, Winterstahl, X-Fusion and Xotox ) who contribute interpretations, vocals and sound design to the overall Heimataerde production, "Kadavergehorsam" delivers a very complex and dramatic vision amongst the pounding beats, industrial riffs and digitized synth lines : an overall tension that drives the production forward and delivers an interesting and innovative electro sound. Out at 25 august 2006.

Tracklisting
01. Gedanken
02. Lebloser Koerper (click to listen)
03. Eins Sein
04. Jerusalem
05. Gott Will Es ( Pax Vobiscum Version )
06. Moritari Salutant (click to listen)
07. Koenig Von Thule
08. Dona Nobis Pacem
09. Brueder
10. Die Schlacht
11. Morte (click to listen)
12. Verflucht
13. Warum Das Leben Lohnt
14. Im Sandes Des Wahns
15. Leben

German power metallers GAMMA RAY have set "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" as the title of their upcoming DVD. The set will feature a ulti-camera recording of the band's May 6, 2006 show at Medley in Montreal, Quebec as well as lots of bonus features, such as a road movie, a documentary covering the group's history, behind-the-scenes footage, and video clips etc. "Canada is a good place to film a show," the band's frontman, Kai Hansen, previously said about the shoot. "But we are also bringing a cameraman along for the entire tour to capture all of the backstage and pre-show aspects of the band. We are bringing it back to rock 'n' roll basics."

This will be the first-ever GAMMA RAY video-documentary featuring the current lineup of the band. "The current lineup has been together for eight years," Hansen stated. "It's about time we get a filmed documentary of who the band is."

Check out the cover artwork for "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" at this location.

GAMMA RAY released its latest effort, "Majestic", on October 11, 2005. The lineup for "Majestic" included Hansen (guitar, bass), Dirk Schlächter (bass), Henjo Richter (guitar, keyboards) and Daniel Zimmerman (drums), who have been together for the last several releases after a number of lineup changes in the early stages of the band's career. "Majestic" is the band's first release since 2003's "Skeletons in the Closet".

GAMMA RAY completed its first-ever U.S. tour this past spring.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of EUROPE's "The Final Countdown" album and tour, Warner Bros. will release a new DVD on October 4. The set will feature the following:

* 13-track live concert from Solnahallen in Stockholm 1986, remastered in Dolby Digital and restored in widescreen format
* Interviews with the band made in 2006
* Gallery with rare and never seen pictures from "The Final Countdown" tour
* The only existing unreleased outtake from "The Final Countdown" recording sessions — "Where Men Won't Dare", an instrumental song written by Joey Tempest and John Leven
* The band revisiting the Powerplay Studios where they recorded "The Final Countdown" album.
* Biography

The first 5000 printed copies will also include an exclucive eight-page color booklet with rare and unseen pictures, plus brand new liner notes by the journalist Anders Tengner.

Check out the "The Final Countdown Tour 1986 – Live in Sweden" DVD packaging at this location.

EUROPE has completed work on the follow-up to 2004's "Start from the Dark", tentatively due this fall. The CD was mixed by Stefan Glaumann nd is currently being mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound.

As previously reported, EUROPE entered the Swedish Music DVD chart at position No. 9 in December 2005 with their live DVD, entitled "Live from the Dark". The two-disc set features the group's November 15, 2004 concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England along with video clips, interviews, band information and a section called "Taxi Diaries."

The group's first collection of new material since 1991's "Prisoners In Paradise", "Start from the Dark" (2004) was produced by Kevin Elson, who had previously worked with EUROPE on their multi-platinum 1986 release, "Final Countdown".

HATEBREED shot a video for the song "Defeatist" on Monday, July 31 in Naugatuck, Connecticut in an abandoned factory which was also used by Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise for the end sequence of the film "War of the Worlds". The clip was helmed by acclaimed director Dale "Rage" Resteghini (TRIVIUM, MUDVAYNE, SHADOWS FALL, MADBALL), who stated before the shot, "What Spielberg and Cruise didn't get right, we will!!!"

Commented the band: "Our video shoot was incredible. Thanks so much to everyone who came out to show their support! It was 105 degrees, people waited for hours and there were a few mishaps but the finished product is going to look amazing!"

Check out pictures from the shoot at this location.

As previously reported, "Defeatist" has been made available for streaming at this location. The song comes off the band's new album, "Supremacy", due on August 29 via Roadrunner Records. Check out the album artwork at this location. An e-card for the CD can be accessed by clicking here.

Finnish melodic thrash/death metallers IMPERANON have uploaded several audio samples from their recently completed five-song demo at their official web site. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Corroded
02. Dead in the Water
03. Wound
04. Trendhold
05. Set It Off

IMPERANON recently parted ways with bassist Eki Nurmikari and replaced him with Aki Hopeasaari. The group's current lineup is as follows:

Aleksi Sihvonen - Guitar, Vocals
Teemu Mäntysaari - Guitar
Jaakko Nylund - Drums
Aki Hopeasaari - Bass
Aleksi Virta - Keyboards

IMPERANON's debut album, "Stained", was released in May 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios with engineer Nino Laurenne and producer Titus Hjelm and was mixed at Finnvox studios with Mikko Karmila.

ENGEL, the new Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA), and vocalist Mangan Klavborn, has appointed new bassist Michael Håkansson, previously of EVERGREY. Michael will play his first gig with the band at the Uxfest 2006 festival, set to take place Sunday, August 6 at the Carling Academy Islington in England.

Currently unsigned, ENGEL has posted several demo tracks on its official MySpace page.

For more information, visit www.engelpropaganda.com.

Swedish death metal supergroup BLOODBATH has issued the following update:

"Dan Swanö is no longer part of BLOODBATH. The reason being restrictions on his behalf to devote more time and effort to the future of this project that it would require by taking things to the next level i.e. touring and playing live. Moreover, his future vision for BLOODBATH's concept proved to head in the almost opposite direction as his desire for death metal was to be of a less brutal kind, something the remaining members regard as musical differences not interesting to pursue, so at these crossroads, we'd like to wish Dan Swanö good luck with his future endavours and with the music that's closer to his heart. The audition for BLOODBATH is closed. We thank everyone who tried out, but it's with dashing hopes we have to announce there's no suitable replacement that matched our expectations. It was surprising, how so many applications could barely be listened to because of the extreme low quality in talent. We found it shocking to say the least, that same applicants would send us emails claiming they 'killed' both of our previous singers, but all they could achieve at the end of the day was our laughs or sighs. Well, one day we can maybe throw together a little compilation of those efforts and put up an exclusive mp3 right here and you'll be the judge, or have a good laugh or sigh, like us! But this doesn't mean all the applications were bad, actually a couple of them were damn fu**ing good, but criterias on other levels failed. Life goes on and so does death!

"Wacken will soon release their annual DVD, but despite what was previously implied, the song 'Eaten' will not be featured on the 2005 edition. The entire footage of the show remains archived until there's been clearances by all parties, a subject to time."

For more information, visit Bloodbath.biz.

added 03/08/06 (rem)

Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö has commented on his departure from BLOODBATH.

In a statement released earlier today by the other members of the band, BLOODBATH attributed Swanö's exit to "restrictions on his behalf to devote more time and effort to the future of this project that it would require by taking things to the next level i.e. touring and playing live. Moreover, his future vision for BLOODBATH's concept proved to head in the almost opposite direction as his desire for death metal was to be of a less brutal kind, something the remaining members regard as musical differences not interesting to pursue."

Responding to BLOODBATH's statement regarding his departure, Swanö has posted the following message on his official forum:

"I figured there would be a lot of questions circulating about 'me out of BLOODBATH' so I just would like to make a few comments before the rumours kicks in.

I received an email from Blakkheim today where I saw that my services as a member of BLOODBATH were no longer required.

"I must admit I didn't see that one coming!! But... I can totally see what the other guys are thinking about. (Tried to do the same to the EDGE OF SANITY guys in '97... but that one backfired pretty badly... ha, ha!!)

"Blakkheim and Jonas are touring musicians, living off their metal and I would just be 'in their way' with the constant, 'Sorry I can't go on tour because bla bla bla,' that's cool.

"Concerning the musical differences, I am a bit confused. As far as I can remember, I haven't even discussed the direction of my future BLOODBATH tracks. The announcement says that I tried to get BLOODBATH in a 'Moontower'/'Crimson' direction... That is not right... I have toyed with the idea to make a new album, using my own name, and revisit the style of those albums... Oh yes... What is a bit funny is that I actually wanted to write a bit more brutal songs for BLOODBATH the next time. I got inspired by working with the COLDWORKER album and the urge to write some complex, fast fucken brutal death came creeping back. (I have not always written 'TRL' death metal, you know... INFESTDEAD and some of the early EDGE OF SANITY material is kind of brutal, isn't it???)

"Anyway. I just wanted to clarify that I was NOT trying to pussify BLOODBATH and therefore got kicked out... Where this rumour came from and how the guys (without asking) just decided that I was on a different level musically... remains a mystery.

"I wish the guys all the best and hope they ask nice if they can play my songs live for you guys."

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.

Switzerland's SAMAEL has completed the pre-production phase for its new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The band spent a week going over new songs with acclaimed producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC., MOONSPELL).

SAMAEL is currently in studio recording bass and guitars; sessions started in July and will continue throughout August.

SAMAEL's last release was the "On Earth" single, featuring the album version of the title cut, plus various remixes, along with a cover of DEPECHE MODE's "I Feel You", a video for "Telepath" and a live recording of the track "On Earth", recorded in Paris, France. The band's "Reign of Light" full-length CD was released in North America in February 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records. SAMAEL's Vorph and Xy issued an album from their "Era One" project — originally recorded and delivered to Century Media in the summer of 2002 but re-arranged and remixed in the fall of 2005 — in January, "Era One" consists of 10 tracks of electronic music composed and performed by Xy with lyrics and vocals by Vorph.

IRON MAIDEN has confirmed that the release date for their new studio album, "A Matter of Life and Death", will be August 28 for the world except the USA which has been confirmed as September 5. The CD will also be available as a limited-edition special deluxe format which contains a bonus DVD. The DVD contains nearly an hour of documentary footage plus videos and photos all shot whilst the band were making the album. The documentary, titled "The Making of A Matter Of Life and Death", directed by Matthew Amos ("Early Days", "Death on the Road" DVD documentaries) features candid video footage shot largely by Kevin Shirley himself during the recording of the album giving a real behind-the-scenes look at life in the studio . The bonus DVD also features the full 7:21 minute video promo for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", and a special intimate filming of the band recording "Different World" in the studio. "A Matter of Life and Death" will also be available as a limited-edition double picture disc vinyl in gatefold sleeve, and as a digital download, available through the newly launched official IRON MAIDEN digital store, where you can buy single tracks, a bundle, or an album for your PC, or your MP3 player.

A track-by-track review of the new IRON MAIDEN album, "A Matter of Life and Death", complete with comments from the band, can be found in the latest issue of Kerrang! magazine. Check out a scan of the article at this location.

In other news, IRON MAIDEN has launched an official mobile graphics site where you will find all your favorite MAIDEN artwork to download as wallpaper onto your mobile phone. Also available are some great animated screensavers. Currently the service is only available in the U.K., but the band hopes to be rolling it out further in the near future.

German metallers SACRED STEEL have set the tentative track listing for their sixth album, "Hammer of Destruction", due on November 10 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at the Spiderhouse studio in Lütte (near Berlin) with legendary producer Harris Johns (VOIVOD, HELLOWEEN, ST. VITUS, DEPRESSIVE AGE, SODOM, KREATOR). Mixing took place at the Music Lab Studio at the heart of the German capital.

"Hammer of Destruction" track listing:

01. Hammer Of Destruction
02. Where Demons Dare To Tread
03. Impaled By Metal
04. Maniacs Of Speed
05. Pounding Inferno
06. Children Of The Spirit
07. Hell Insanity
08. Unholy Majesty
09. Blood And Thunder
10. Plague Of Terror
11. Sword And Axes
12. The Torch Of Sin
13. Generally Hostile (JAG PANZER cover)

Austrian death metallers BELPHEGOR have uploaded the cover artwork for their new album, "Pestapokalypse VI", at www.belphegor.at.

Due on October 27, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Pestapokalypse VI" will contain the following track listing:

I Belphegor – Hell's Ambassador
II Seyn Todt In Schwartz
III Angel Of Retribution
IV Chants For The Devil 1533
V Pest Teufel Apokalypse
VI The Ancient Enemy
VII Bluhtsturm Erotika
VIII Sanctus Perversum
IX Das Pesthaus / Miasma Epilog

The artwork for the upcoming MEGADETH album, "United Abominations", has been unveiled as part of the Gigantour e-card. Check it out at the MEGADETH fan site Rattlehead HQ. The e-card appears to use one of the Vic Rattlehead (MEGADETH mascot) redesigns from the DeviantART contest that was held back in January/February. This entry appeared in the Top 11 but did not win the contest. The Vic that appears to feature on the cover of "United Abominations" can be found here.

"United Abominations" was recorded under the watchful eye of mainman Dave Mustaine and co-producer Jeff Balding. The initial studio sessions — held at Sarm Studios, outside of London — were filmed by director Michael Sarna (ANTHRAX, OBITUARY) and are available at Megadeth.com to fan-club members. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "United Abominations", "Washington Is Next" and "Gears of War". An October 31 release via Roadrunner Records is expected.

MEGADETH's last CD, "The System Has Failed", has sold more than 180,000 copies since its September 2004 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The group, who were most recently signed to Sanctuary Records, were joined by bassist James Lomenzo (ex-BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) in February following the departure of James MacDonough (ex-ICED EARTH).

Progressive metal act SYMPHONY X has set "Paradise Lost" as the title of the follow-up to 2002's "The Odyssey", tentatively due before the end of the year. The band expects to return to the road shortly after the release of the new album.

SYMPHONY X was recently forced to cancel a couple of European festival appearances after bassist Michael LePond was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease (an inflammatory bowel disorder). He has since underegone surgery and has been released from the hospital.

SYMPHONY X was one of the second-stage bands at last summer's Gigantour, a six-week festival trek co-headlined by MEGADETH and DREAM THEATER. "Rarities and Demos", the first fan club CD from the SYMPHONY X fan club, Church of the Machine, was shipped out in July 2005 to fan club members. The CD included demo material, rare unreleased material, and guitarist Michael James Romeo's interpretation of the "Star Wars" theme, done with over 15 guitar tracks.