BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"[The second leg of Polish 'Demigod' tour] was simply a blast. Touring with such a company and playing in front of packed venues was a perfect ending for this never-ending tour. I loved the fact that we also finally played a decent crowd and a nice venue in our hometown. I'm sure that none everyone who saw us in action wasn't disappointed.

"After a few days off, we are slowly moving on with the new stuff. It's all in the very early stages, but the ideas are shaping up real fast. I've been thinking about this new concept for more than a year now and it's high time to get things revealed. There are some basic themes we put together before the last U.S. tour and it sounded massive. Last couple of days I've been jamming out some newest stuff and it's...just insane: heavy and epic. Some of the ideas are insanely fast and technical but we also started a slow, more epic one, which sounds amazing to me. Today we recorded one of these new tracks and...I'm blown away. There's definitely 100% BEHEMOTH vibe in it: vital and evil but there's also something new and fresh in these tunes! I'm sure all those who loved 'Demigod' will dig the new shit. I'll keep you posted!"

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY (who are fronted by Liv's husband Alexander Krull) — have uploaded their video for the song "Legend Land" at this location (Windows Media).

"Legend Land" is the title cut of the band's new EP, which is scheduled for release in North America on July 28 via Napalm Records. The CD was issued in Europe today (June 9).

LEAVES' EYES have been confirmed as the support act for BLIND GUARDIAN on their upcoming North American tour beginning on November 8 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Pennsylvania-based death metallers INCANTATION have set "Primordial Domination" as the title of their seventh album, to be released this fall on Ibex Moon Records with distribution through Megaforce/RED. "Primordial Domination" will be once again be engineered and produced at the Mars Recording compound in Cleveland by Bill Korecky, who has worked with INCANTATION for the past 16 years.

The band are previewing two songs from "Primordial Domination" on the Decades of Death 2006 tour with VITAL REMAINS, SIN OF ANGELS, and DAWN OF AZAZEL, which is scheduled to hit Austin, Texas tonight (Friday, June 9).

"We are extremely pleased with our new material and are eagerly waiting to unleash it upon the world," said drummer Kyle Severn.

The Decades of Death moniker is a tribute to the long history INCANTATION and VITAL REMAINS both have in the death metal scene. "VITAL REMAINS and INCANTATION have been around for almost two decades, unleashing metal fury on the world," said Severn. "We are great friends and have a similar old school brutal death vibe. We thought that this would make a great onslaught of metal."

Legendary death metallers SUFFOCATION have begun tracking their new album. The self-titled CD is being recorded at Full Force Studios in Long Island, NY for a September 2006 release via Relapse Records. Additionally, SUFFOCATION have enlisted tattoo artist JonZig from Skingraver Tattoo Studio in Austin, TX to create the album's artwork.

SUFFOCATION's latest CD, "Souls to Deny", was released in April 2004 through Relapse. The band's first full album of new material since 1995's "Pierced From Within" was recorded at Full Force with engineer Joe Cincotta and was described by drummer Mike Smith as "the cleanest, heaviest SUFFOCATION album to date."

A brand new ENTOMBED track, entitled "When in Sodom", has been posted online on the band's MySpace profile at this location.

"When in Sodom" is the title cut off the band's new EP, which was released on Tuesday (June 6) via Threeman Recordings. A full-length album, "Serpent Saints", will follow on September 18.

ENTOMBED's new album was recorded at Soundland studio in Upplands Väsby, Sweden. The CD will be the group's first without the contributions of guitarist Uffe Cederlund, who left the band in September 2005.

As exclusively reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET on May 12, drummer Peter Stjärnvind has left ENTOMBED in order to concentrate on his membership in the Swedish cult act NIFELHEIM. NIFELHEIM guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt (a.k.a. Vengeance from Beyond; also in NECROPHOBIC) told BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "No bad breakup or anything personal between him/us and the guys in ENTOMBED, but heavy touring didn't fit his situation right now." ENTOMBED are currently utilizing the services of session drummer Olle Dahlstedt (ALPHA SAFARI, ex-MISERY LOVES CO.) for all of their upcoming European gigs. Stjärnvind and his wife recently welcomed their first child, a daughter.

MORDICHRIST, the Swedish black metal band featuring DARK FUNERAL guitarist Chaq Mol, will be entering the studio next week to "record some new obscure music," according to a posting on the group's web site. "I can promise that you will not be disappointed," says Chaq Mol. "As always, we will keep it simple, but with a good sound."

MORDICHRIST had previously issued a limited-edition (500 copies) 10-inch mini-LP via Danza Ipnotica.

As previously reported, MORDICHRIST singer Nenia is going lend her diabolical voice to the German black metallers CAEDES on their new CD. No further information is currently available.

Marcelo Cabuli, husband/manager of former NIGHTWISH frontwoman Tarja Turunen, has posted answers to 157 questions posed by NIGHTWISH fans regarding Tarja's split the band, Marcelo's relationship with Tarja and her former bandmates and Turunen's future plans. Read the questions and Marcelo's responses at this location.

As previously reported, NIGHTWISH have launched an official videoblog that will allow fans to watch the band during their rehearsals this summer. Check it out at this location.

NIGHTWISH's "End of an Era" DVD and CD was certified gold in Finland on day after its release. The DVD has sold 9,000 copies so far and the double live CD has shifted over 15,000 copies.

"End of an Era" contains recordings/footage of NIGHTWISH's final concert with Tarja Turunen, which took place on October 21, 2005 at the Hartwall arena in Helsinki, Finland. In addition to the live footage, the DVD includes a slideshow of pictures from the Hartwall show and a 55-minute documentary, "A Day Before Tomorrow", featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the band in the 15 days prior to the Hartwall Show. The documentary was edited by Timo Halo, who also edited and directed the "From Wishes To Eternity - Deleted Scenes" and "End of Innocence" movies that were released on previous NIGHTWISH DVDs.

NAPALM DEATH frontman Mark "Barney" Greenway has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"As you may have heard, we are back in Wales at Foel recording the next NAPALM album (this place is fast becoming our favourite place to record!). Really, this thing is sounding absolutely immense. If you liked 'The Code Is Red… Long Live The Code', you'll really love this one, I think. We absolutely busted our arses to get everything ready, and the rest of the band really pulled out the stops to make some great, grinding music, with Russ Russell working wonders once again to produce that NAPALM DEATH 'wall of sound'. I also have to mention Chris Fielding, the in-house engineer, who has also made a great contribution to the proceedings.

"I can give you some more titles right now (everything, including the ones you had before, are definite): 'Rabid Wolves (For Christ)', 'In Deference', 'Atheist Runt', 'When All Is Said and Done', 'Sink Fast, Let Go', and tons more. The lyrical debate is perhaps for later but, generally speaking, the album is (hopefully) a deep critique of religion and religious governance/restrictions from an atheist perspective. All jolly stuff, then. And the music: still fast and furious, raging riffs and a couple more SWANS-style tracks this time (like 'Morale'), only progressed a bit more with even more atmosphere and a more rounded melodic vocal performance (if I may say so myself).

"Anneke [van Giersbergen] from Dutch band THE GATHERING has offered up a few parts to a track, which I've yet to hear. But before some people recoil in horror about NAPALM going operatic rock or whatever, this was done for good effect and relevance to the track. It will work. It will rock. I'm sure. And we're grateful to Anneke (who is an awesome vocalist in her own right) in advance for giving it a stab."

NAPALM DEATH's new album, tentatively tititled "Smear Campaign", is scheduled for release later in the year via Century Media Records.

Finnish gothic rockers ENTWINE have set "Fatal Design" as the title of their fifth album, due late summer. 12 songs were laid down for the effort, and 10 of them will end up on the CD, which was recorded at Petrax and Groveland studios by ENTWINE drummer Aksu Hanttu and producer Janne Joutsenniemi (STONE, SUBURBAN TRIBE). The album was mixed at Finnvox by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM).

"Fatal Design" track listing:

01. Fatal Design
02. Chameleon Halo
03. Out Of You
04. Surrender
05. Oblivion
06. Twisted
07. Insomniac
08. My Serenity
09. Break Me
10. Curtained Life

The first single, "Surrender", will contain the non-album B-side, "Hearts of Frozen Stone". "One more completed song remains left over, but [will] possibly [be] used as a bonus track or on the B-side of second single, if one is released," the band write on their web site.

2006 is a very special year in the career of Brazilian heavy metal band ANGRA: the group is celebrating its 15th year of existence. Tours, all sorts of promo events and a brand new studio album shall definitely make it a remarkable year for the band. After all, very few Brazilian acts managed to survive this far.

Angra spent the first semester of 2006 resuming the touring for its latest album, "Temple of Shadows". The band has recently done the very last shows of the winning tour — it encompassed all Brazilian states and practically every continent in the world (ANGRA played all of them with the exception of Africa). Amongst these last appearances, highlights were the headlining spot at the traditional Abril Pro Rock festival in Recife and the first trip to Venezuela, where a gig in Caracas was held in early May. The tour finally came to an end with ANGRA's participation of the Gods Of Metal festival in Italy (June 3). It was the tenth edition of the fest and the band played most of its classics during the hour-long set.

However, the best is yet to come. ANGRA celebrates its 15th anniversary with a new studio record. Songwriting process started towards the end of the "Temple of Shadows" tour and the band is currently pre-producing the album with producer Dennis Ward at House Of Audio Studios in Germany. Drums recording will follow, also in Germany. Then, the band heads back to Brazil where all the remaining stuff shall be recorded. Mixing will be done in Germany again.

The band's decided it's not gonna be a conceptual album this time, even though it's still unnamed. Prior to its release, though, there's a single coming out in August. The record itself should be out in October with touring beginning right away.

Italian power metal band KALEDON have inked a new deal with Universal Metal Production. The band recently entered The Outer Sound Studios in Rome to begin recording their fourth full-length album, "Chapter 4: Twilight of the Gods". A summer release is expected.

Commented Universal Metal Production in a statement: "Because of the effort KALEDON has put into this CD, our belief in their music, and their enthusiasm about signing with our label, we will release the CD late this summer and get this band's music to a larger audience than ever before! We will have more information on the release of Chapter 4 of the Legend of the Forgotten Reign, as well as on Universal Metal's future available soon."

"Chapter 4: Twilight of the Gods" projected track listing:

01. The Holy Water
02. Hell On Earth
03. War Plans
04. Goodbye My Friend
05. Clash Of The Titans
06. Into The Fog
07. Eyes Of Fire
08. The Fury
09. New King Of Kaledon
10. The Prophecy
11. Out Of The Ground

KALEDON's first three full-length albums are now available in the United States through Mythic Silence Records.

EMBRAZE, the Finnish band featuring FOR MY PAIN… guitarist Lauri Tuohimaa, have set "The Last Embrace" as the title of their fourth album, due on August 16. A single, "Branded", will be launched on the Internet July 3 and will be available for download from the band's official website. The album cover will also be available for the hardcore fans.

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

Legendary Greek death metallers ROTTING CHRIST will embark on an extensive European tour in February 2007. Headlining dates in Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, Poland, Eastern Europe (also Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus) and the Balkans will follow in the spring 2007.

ROTTING CHRIST are currently working on material for a new studio album — the group's first for the Season of Mist label. The band recently 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.

Swedish Viking death metal heroes AMON AMARTH recenttly entered Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden to begin recording their sixth full-length album. The group will record and mix all through May until June 14 with producer Jens Bogren. The as-yet-untitled CD is scheduled for release in September via Metal Blade Records.

Commented the band: "Finally after five very long — but productive — weeks all recording is done and today we started mixing the album. Nine tracks have been successfully recorded — no thanks to the huge ammount of alcohol consumed, but nonetheless successfully — and we can now reveal some of the titles: 'Valhall Awaits Me', 'Hermod’s Ride To Hel (Loke’s Trechery Part I)' and 'Runes To My Memory'. More titles will be revealed shortly."

CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band featuring former SAVATAGE frontman Zachary Stevens, have finalized the track listing for their third album, "Burden of Truth", due on August 4 via AFM Records.

CIRCLE II CIRCLE have created a very special record based on the "Holy Blood Holy Grail" and "The Da Vinci Code" theory of a Holy Bloodline extending up to our modern day.

Commented Zak: "This is the record I’ve been trying to make my whole life and now's it's finished. Fuck, what a great feeling it is to finally realize my aspirations after all these years! CIRCLE II CIRCLE/SAVATAGE fans are in for a HUGE treat with this record. 50 million fans have read these books and i'm sure they have had some of the same feelings and questions I've had, so the band and I decided to explore our thoughts and share them with our fans. There's definitely some dark stuff on this record but if you really dig deep you'll see that there's a very positive outcome."

"Burden of Truth" was recorded at Tampa's Morrisound Recording. Touring is scheduled for the fall 2006 throughout Europe and a special 90-minute performance at the ProgPower Festival in September — the only show where CIRCLE II CIRCLE will play "Burden Of Truth" in its entirety along with some classics.

"Burden of Truth" track listing:

01. Who Am I To Be
02. Matter Of Time
03. Heal You
04. Revelations
05. This Is Your Reality
06. Evermore
07. The Black
08. Messiah
09. Sentenced
10. Burden of Truth
11. Live As One

Bonus Tracks (acoustically enhanced versions):

12. Into The Wind
13. Burden Of Truth

CELTIC FROST manager Antje Lange has issued the following statement:

"Over the last couple of days we have received a lot of questions regarding the health of Tom Fischer [CELTIC FROST frontman], as well as a ton of 'get well' notices. Here is an explanation of recent developments.

"At around 7pm on June 3rd, Tom was admitted to a hospital in Gelsenkirchen [Germany] as his kidneys were causing him a great deal of pain. After several check-ups he was diagnosed with a kidney stone that was about to dislocate. Tom's pain was so strong that only several large doses of morphine gave him any relief. Accordingly he was unable to perform at the Rock Hard Festival that very evening.

"Martin [Ain, bass], Franco [Sesa, drums] and especially Tom are extremely unhappy with the way things turned out and would like to apologise to all their fans who waited in vain for their set. CELTIC FROST were looking forward to their first [German] gig in 15 years and were determined to present a great show. Unfortunately, on this occasion it was not to be.

"CELTIC FROST would like to thank all the other bands who entered the stage on the spur of the moment to make this a memorable evening for these fans. They would also like to thank the Rock Hard team, all their fans and Dr. Dielenschneider, the best doctor in the whole of Gelsenkirchen.

"Tom Gabriel Fischer has been transferred to a Zurich hospital and is undergoing a kidney operation as this press release is being typed. Instead of an easier to handle but more time-consuming method he has decided to have this operation as he wants to be able to perform again as soon as possible. He is adamant that he will perform at Sweden Rock [festival] this coming weekend and also fulfil all other forthcoming festival dates."

Italian symphonic power metallers SKYLARK have re-signed with Underground Symphony Records for the release of their recently completed new album, entited "Divine Gates Part 3: The Last Gate". A release date for the effort has yet to be announced.

SKYLARK last year issued a compilation, entitled "In the Heart of the Princess", through Scarlet Records. Conceived to celebrate the band's 10-year anniversary, this double "best of" included all the major SKYLARK hits chosen by Japanese fans after a web poll. There were also two brand-new songs, "Mt. Fuji" (edit version) and "Last Battle", plus three remakes, "Little Girl", "The Princess' Day" (this one fully revisited) and "Dream".

Reunited Austrian black metallers ABIGOR have issued the following update:

"We recently found a DAT tape with all four demos. We will have a close listen later this week and think about doing a special collector's item (maybe something like a very limited edition 7" box with the complete demos). Nothing is 100%, but it would be a great item to mark our return. Like the demos were the beginning of something in the early '90s, this item could now mark the beginning of a new ABIGOR era.

"The songwriting for the new album has been nearly finished and we will start with the studio work in about two weeks. This will be a period of at least 2-3 months. A vocalist who seems to perfectly fit to the album is already found, but no details or names will be announced as long as his performance isn't recorded."

Vocalist Michael Henneken has left Finnish prog-metallers SILENT VOICES. His official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"I've been twisting and turning this thing in my mind for a long time and it seems that there's only one way to go, so I can find some peace. I've come to the conclusion that I must leave the band in order to release the stress I've been feeling for longer than I've had to. The musical direction and the way that the band functions has gone in a direction lately that has not been to my liking — in fact, it has bothered me quite a bit.

"It saddens me to part ways with SILENT VOICES, simply because I love progressive rock and metal and I'm not sure if I'll ever find another progressive band with such talent and also great personalities. I have no bad feelings to any of the guys outside the band and I wish them all the best for the future adventures on their musical path. On the other hand, I will continue pursuing new goals with and will be active in the musical field.

"I hope that all the guys that SILENT VOICES has consisted of until now will find the winds to raise them higher to the music skies, and I thank them for years of friendship and for all the things I've learned. I'd also like to thank all the fans supporting the band. I wish you well."

SILENT VOICES' third album, "Building Up The Apathy", was released earlier in the year via Low Frequency Records.

Boston-based rockers EXTREME are releasing a new DVD called "Videograffitti: The Definitive DVD" on June 13th in North America and July 19 in Japan. The full track listing is as follows:

1. Kid Ego
   
2. Little Girls
   
3. Mutha (Don't Wanna Go To School Today)
   
4. Hole Hearted
   
5. Get The Funk Out
   
6. Decadence Dance
   
7. More Than Words
   
8. Song For Love
   
9. Rest In Peace
   
10. Stop The World
    
11. Tragic Comic
    
12. Cynical
    
13. Hip Today
    

Bonus material:

1. Rest In Peace (Performance Version)
   
2. Stop The World (Performance Version)
   

Live cuts:

1. Rest In Peace
   
2. Pornograffitti
   
3. Color Me Blind
   
4. Hole Hearted
   
5. More Than Words
   

Ex-IMMORTAL frontman Abbath (real name: Olve Eikemo) — who is in the studio recording the debut album from his new project I — has told Germany's Rock Hard magazine that a reunion of his former band is currently in the works. Speaking to Volkmar Weber in the magazine's May 2006 issue, Abbath said, "We will come back, stronger than ever. I [recently] met with Horgh [ex-IMMORTAL drummer, curently in HYPOCRISY] for the first time in over a year. He's built his new house here [in Norway], right around the corner. In the next few days we will begin to rehearse our old 'Blizzard Beasts' [1997] classics. I'm already really [excited about] the idea."

Responding to a question about possible accusations that IMMORTAL would only be reuniting to cash in on their former glories, Abbath said, "To clear that up: we're not coming back for the money. If we had been only interested in the cash, we wouldn't have allowed IMMORTAL to split in the first place."

As to when fans can expect the reunited IMMORTAL to grace the stages once again, Abbath said, "IMMORTAL are like timeless frost. One year more or less doesn't make a difference. We have all the time in the world."

In addition to Abbath, I's current lineup includes original IMMORTAL drummer Armagedda, ENSLAVED guitarist Arve Isdal and GORGOROTH bassist King ov Hell. The band's debut album, which will feature lyrics written primarily by former IMMORTAL guitarist Demonaz (real name: Harald Nævdal), is scheduled for release in September via Nuclear Blast Records.

Germany's DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER have posted their brand-new song and video, "Friede Sei Mit Dir", at www.myspace.com/reitermania. The track comes off the group's upcoming album, "Riders on the Storm", due on August 25 via Nuclear Blast Records. The limited digipack version will include two bonus tracks.

DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER will be teaming up with the pagan band TÝR from Faeroer Island for a co-headlining tour in September. A second tour (England, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal) will take place in November/December 2006. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

METALLICA premiered a brand new song during their headlining appearance Tuesday (June 6) at Waldbuhne in Berlin, Germany. According to several fans that attended the gig, the as-yet-untitled track is about eight minutes long with a "killer main riff" and "lots of double-bass parts."

An excellent-quality audience recording of METALLICA performing an as-yet-untitled new song has been posted online: Location#1, Location#2, Location#3 (password: www.metallica-world.de) (NOTE: With James Hetfield's introduction, the file clocks in at 9:37).

As on the first two dates on the band's current "Escape From The Studio '06" tour, METALLICA played their entire 1986 album, "Master of Puppets", at the show, including rarely performed tracks such as "Orion" and "Disposable Heroes". The concert's second encore also featured a rendition of the RAMONES classic "Commando", with members of support band AVENGED SEVENFOLD joining in on vocals.

FIREWIND have completed work on the video for their new single, "Falling to Pieces", with acclaimed Swedish director Patric Ullaeus (LACUNA COIL, WITHIN TEMPTATION, IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR). The clip was shot at the Revolver Ranch in Sweden and on the streets of New York City.

"Falling to Pieces" will be released as a single on June 13 in Greece. It will include an edited version of the title track, the non-album track "Demon Nights" and the BLACKFOOT cover "Teenage Idol" (previously unreleased).

As previously reported, Century Media Records has set a July 24 European release date for the new FIREWIND album, entitled "Allegiance" (July 10 in Greece). "Allegiance" marks FIREWIND's first release with new members Apollo Papathanasio (vocals; ex-MAJESTIC, TIME REQUIEM) and Mark Cross (drums; ex-HELLOWEEN, METALIUM).

"Allegiance" track listing:

01. Allegiance (4:41)
02. Insanity (4:29)
03. Falling To Pieces (4:03)
04. Ready To Strike (4:35)
05. Breaking The Silence [feat. Tara] (4:03)
06. Deliverance (6:07)
07. Till The End of Time (4:36)
08. Dreamchaser (4:07)
09. Before The Storm (3:42)
10. The Essence (4:19)
11. Where Do We Go From Here? (3:57)

Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö has published the following message:

"I just wanted to clear up a few things. I am not really a part of the ANOTHER LIFE project [which is headed by Andreas Karlsson; ex-PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER]. I recorded the drums (performed by Peter Damin), played the keyboards and mixed the album, but I was in not involved in writing any of the music. The record is really good and you should check it out. But… ANOTHER LIFE is NOT a new Swanö project.

"My 'currently alive' projects these days are NIGHTINGALE and SECOND SKY. All of the material for the new NIGHTINGALE album, 'White Darkness', is written by NIGHTINGALE guitarist/keyboardplayer Tom Nouga [a.k.a. Dan Swanö's brother Dag]. He was on a real writing spree earlier this year and presented a bunch of tracks sharp enough to cut thru diamonds, so I thought, 'Why compete with this??' My job on this album is to write lyrics (together with bassist Erik Oskarsson), sing my soul out and make sure each song is optimised in both arrangement and performance. The tracks with a title thus far are 'The Fields of Life', 'Trial & Error' and 'Healing the Wounds of My Soul'.

Dutch death metallers GOD DETHRONED recently entered Soundlodge Studios in Germany to begin recording their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The band's frontman Henri Sattler has posted the following studio update on the band's official web site:

"Tomorrow producer Jörg Uken will start on the mix of our new album called, 'The Toxic Touch'. These will be the songtitles: 'Typhoid Mary', 'On Wings of Pestilence', 'Falling Down', 'Away From Emptiness', 'Hating Life', 'Bleeding Mirrors', 'Fail to Exist', 'Macabre World' and '2014'. The artwork is being made as we speak by Jacek Wisniewski who also did the cover for our 'Lair of the White Worm' album. We've seen the first concepts of the artwork and it looks very promising. Mix and mastering should be finished before the end of June and the release is scheduled for October through Metal Blade Records."

GOD DETHRONED's most recent album, "The Lair of the White Worm", was released in November 2004 via Metal Blade Records.

German "dark Satanic metal" band MYSTIC CIRCLE have announced the addition of drummer Astaroth to the group's ranks. "After a long time search, MYSTIC CIRCLE found the right one behind the drumset," the band write on their web site. "Astaroth gives the MYSTIC CIRCLE material a much more brutal feeling then the old drummer."

MYSTIC CIRCLE's seventh full-length album, entitled "The Bloody Path of God", was released in February via Dockyard 1. The CD was recorded at State of the Arts studio in Ludwigshafen, Germany with producer Alex Koch and contains 13 songs, including a bonus cover version of CELTIC FROST's "Circle of the Tyrants".

Long-running Arlington, Texas-based doom metallers SOLITUDE AETURNUS entered Nomad Recording studio (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, ABSU, USURPER) in Carrolton, TX on June 1 to begin recording their new album for Massacre Records.

Entitled "Alone", the CD will be the first to feature the band's new line-up, which includes founder/guitarist John Perez, vocalist Robert Lowe, guitarist Steve Moseley and new members Steve Nichols on drums and James Martin on bass. Engineering and co-producing the album is Sterling Winfield, best known for his work with PANTERA and more recently the REBEL MEETS REBEL release. Massacre Records will release the album in late September/early October. According to guitarist John Perez, the album will be "a fist in the face to all trend metal" and will stay true to the band's original vision of heaviness and melody with a willingness to push the boundaries of heavy metal music without losing its sense of tradition.

Songtitles set to appear on the band's first album since 1998's "Adagio" include "Sightless" (mp3), "Waiting for the Light", "Scent of Death", "Essence of Black", and "In Hell I Burn". A North American release is also planned, but no label has been named as of yet.

PRIMAL FEAR basist Mat Sinner has published the following statement:

"Aside of all other information on the net, PRIMAL FEAR have re-signed with Nuclear Blast Records, for a 16 track 'best-of' compilation 'Metal Is Forever' that will also include a special bonus CD of 'classic metal tracks.' A release for September 29th is planned by Nuclear Blast. JVC will release the 'best of' album in Asia/Japan. Nuclear Blast and PRIMAL FEAR will carry on their successful work to make this album a success and a worthy release, with special packaging, photos, story etc. — more information and a songlist with be follow soon!"

Mat is putting the finishing touches on long overdue album from GODDESS SHIVA (his first group, originally going under the moniker SHIVA). Mat Sinner, guitarist Armin Sabol and drummer Martin Schmidt have recorded 50% new material and 50% of their classic songs for this album release. The album was recorded by Armin Sabol and mastered by Achim Koehler. A release is planned for October 6th on MTM Music/SPV. In addition, Mat Sinner is writing and producing a new SINNER disc with recordings planned for September at Leon Studios, with engineer Achim Koehler.

Mat comments: "I haven't been able to do anything with SINNER since Wacken 2003 and now it’s the right time to bring this band back to life. We have a great new line-up and a bunch of great retro songs, that bring back the spirit and the memories of the late Eighties, combined with SINNER of the new century!" The new SINNER album, 'Mask Of Sanity', will be released on January 19th, 2007 on MTM Music.

"PRIMAL FEAR will start writing and pre-production in the autumn for the follow-up of their most respected album so far, 'Seven Seals'. Later this week, PRIMAL FEAR will announce their brand new multi-album recording deal and new partner for their future!