Blender.com just posted a two-part video interview with DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li. Watch as he pulls off unimaginable sound effects and is interviewed alongside fellow guitar wizard Sam Totman — then read more about the group and their forthcoming Roadrunner album, "Inhuman Rampage", by clicking here.

DRAGONFORCE have been confirmed for the main stage at this year's Ozzest, which is set to kick off June 29 in Auburn, Washington. The band's third album, "Inhuman Rampage", which was issued in Europe four months back, will receive a U.S. release on June 20 via Roadrunner.

A WALTARI two-CD collection, entitled "Early Years", is scheduled for release in Finland on May 31. The double album will include the following:

CD 1:

Remastered re-release of first album "Monk Punk"; special version with additional songs, recorded by the original trio (Jariot, Kärtsy, Sale) during winter 2005/2006.

CD 2:

Remastered re-release of "Pala Leipaa - Ein Stueckchen Brot"; collection of early singles and EP releases and unreleased songs. The package also includes a poster booklet containing lots of information and showing a bunch of old WALTARI photos.

WALTARI's latest CD, "Blood Sample", was issued in Europe on April 24 via Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). The album was originally released in Finland last September.

Belgian death metallers FLESHMOULD have uploaded an audio sample of the track "Eternal Shifting Portals" at this location. The song comes off the group's upcoming album, "The Lazarus Breed", due on June 6 via Shiver Records. The recordings took place at the ShumCot Soundlab and the mastering was done at the CCR Studio.

"The Lazarus Breed" (view cover here) track listing:

1. Argus
   
2. God Of Nihil
   
3. Apocalyptus Rexx*
   
4. Structures In Decline
   
5. Eternal Shifting Portals
   
6. Bitter Harvest*
   
7. Havoc
   
8. (I Am Your) Thorn
   

*new and re-recorded version

FLESHMOULD's most recent release was an EP, entitled "Apocalyptus Rexx". The CD — the group's first release to feature guitarist Dave Vanlokeren and singer Sven Houfflijn (ex-ANESTHESY, IMPEDIGON) — was also recorded at Shumcot Soundlab in Aartrijke.

Finnish melodic death/thrash metallers MORS PRINCIPIUM EST will enter the studio in June to begin recording their third album, tentatively due in early 2007 via Listenable Records. The mixing for the follow-up to 2005's "The Unborn" will take place at Astia Studios in Finland in late August while the mastering will be done in September at Helsinki's Finnvox.

MORS PRINCIPIUM EST's debut album, "Inhumanity", was reissued through Listenable, with completely new artwork and with three bonus songs, in February. The band's most recent CD, "The Unborn" was recorded at Tico Tico studio (SONATA ARCTICA, SENTENCED, FOR MY PAIN…, ALTARIA) in Kemi, Finland. Mastering duties were handled at Finnvox studios. The album cover was designed by Mattias Norèn.

A high-quality video of LORDI's winning performance at the Eurovision Song Contest final on Saturday (May 20) in Athens, Greece can be downloaded at this location (75 MB).

At the end of LORDI's performance, right before the file is cut, you can hear one of the hosts (this is taken from French television) saying, "Finland has been participating in the Eurovision contest for the past 44 years and has never won. They're certainly not gonna win with this."

More videos of LORDI's performance at the Eurovision final are available at this location.

The Associated Press is reporting that LORDI scandalized some of their Finnish compatriots when their song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" was chosen to represent the nation. At a press conference, the band's frontman said his plan for the final was to "scream louder and turn the amps up."

"This is a victory for rock music ... and also a victory for open-mindedness," the band's lead singer, Mr. Lordi, said after the win, Finland's first. "We are not Satanists. We are not devil worshipers. This is entertainment."

Combining crunchy guitars, a catchy chorus and mock-demonic imagery, LORDI are reminiscent of U.S. '70s stars KISS, an acknowledged inspiration of Mr. Lordi.

Band members never appear without their elaborate masks and makeup, and do not reveal their true names.

LORDI's latest CD, "The Arockalypse", entered the official Finnish chart at position No. 5 in early March and climbed up to position No. 4 in its second week of release. The album features guest appearances by TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider and guitarist Jay Jay French, as well as former ACCEPT vocalist Udo Dirkschneider and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

Saturday's showdown was broadcast live in 38 countries to a TV audience estimated at 100 million. About 13,000 fans packed the indoor arena used during the 2004 Olympic Games, from Goth supporters of LORDI to cowboy-hatted Germans supporting TEXAS LIGHTNING. About 3,000 police officers were on duty for the event.

Audio and video clips from NIGHTWISH's upcoming live CD/DVD package, entitled "End of an Era", have been posted online at MusicBay.se. Due out June 2, "End of an Era" contains recordings/footage of NIGHTWISH's final concert with singer 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.

"End of an Era" track listing:

1. Dark Chest Of Wonders
   
2. Planet Hell
   
3. Ever Dream
   
4. Kinslayer
   
5. Phantom Of The Opera
   
6. The Siren
   
7. Sleeping Sun
   
8. High Hopes
   
9. Bless The Child
   
10. Wishmaster
    
11. Slaying The Dreamer
    
12. Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan
    
13. Nemo
    
14. Ghost Love Score
    
15. Stone People
    
16. Creek Mary's Blood
    
17. Over The Hills and Far Away
    
18. Wish I Had an Angel
    

NIGHTWISH fired Turunen via an "open letter," which was given to the singer immediately following the Helsinki show. The group are currently seeking a replacement vocalist before entering the studio in September 2006 to begin recording the follow-up to 2004's "Once", tentatively due in mid-2007.

Less than a week after announcing the addition of guitarist Mark Zavon (STEPHEN PEARCY, 40 CYCLE HUM) to the group's ranks following the departure of Darrell Roberts, W.A.S.P. appears to have had a change of heart and have welcomed back axeman Doug Blair.

Born February 11, 1963 as Douglas Blair Lucek, Doug Blair was a member of W.A.S.P. for a short time in 1992, according to Wikipedia. He was also a quick replacement on W.A.S.P.'s Unholy Terror Tour in 2001 on two festival gigs when Chris Holmes left the band.

Blair is known for inventing the innovative instrument the "GuitarCross" which blend five guitar strings with three bass strings (guitar strings sent to one amplifier, bass strings to another) to make a very unique sound. He uses this invention in S2N and also uses a unique 12-string acoustic named "Asia."

Blair is not the only new addition to W.A.S.P. The band also recently acquired drummer Mike Dupke (HAIR OF THE DOG, ERIC SARDINAS) as the replacement for Stet Howland. The group's U.S. tour is scheduled to kick off May 19 in Sacramento, California.

Finnish melodic death metallers AMORAL have uploaded a performance video of the song "Decrowning", recorded live at Pakkahuone in Tampere, Finland on April 13, 2006, at this location (Windows Media; right-click, "Save Target As").

"Decrowning" is the title track of the band's second album, which was released in the U.S. in March via Candlelight Records USA. The CD is available in Europe on Spikefarm Records.

AMORAL signed a deal with Spikefarm in July 2004 following their split with the U.K.'s Rage of Achilles. The group's debut album, "Wound Creations", was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox studios in Helsinki.

DRAGONLORD's video for the song "Until the End", directed by Chad Michael Ward, has been posted online at this location.

As previously reported, the "Until the End" clip will be included on the upcoming re-release of DRAGONLORD's latest CD, "Black Wings of Destiny", due later in the year via Escapi Music.

DRAGONLORD — the San Francisco-based black metal band featuring Eric Peterson (guitar, vocals; TESTAMENT), Gian Pyres (guitar; ex-CRADLE OF FILTH), Derrick Ramirez (bass), Lyle Livingstone (keys) and Jon Allen (drums; SADUS, ex-TESTAMENT) — have lined up the following dates during the coming months:

Jun. 23 - Bourbon Street - Concord, CA
Jun. 24 - Kennel Club - Sacramento, CA
Jun. 27 - Iliff Park Saloon - Aurora, CO
Jun. 29 - Mr. Kelly's Music Box - Chicago Heights, ILL
Jun. 30 - I-Rock Nightclub - Detroit, MI
Jul. 01 - Topcat's - Cleveland, OH
Jul. 02 - Vamp's - Toledo, OH
Jul. 03 - Pirate's Cove - Cincinnati, OH
Jul. 06 - Crazy Donkey - Long Island, NY
Jul. 07 - Jaxx - Springfield, VA
Sep. 16 - Club Citta - Kanagawa, JPN
Sep. 17 - Club Citta - Kanagawa, JPN

"Black Wings of Destiny" was originally released in the U.S. in October 2005 via Escapi Music. The follow-up to 2001's "Rapture" (Spitfire Records) was recorded and mixed by Fredrik Nordström (HAMMERFALL, DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY) at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden.

DRAGONLORD performed on July 23, 2005 at the Earthshaker Fest in Geiselwind, Germany, where they showcased some of the new material and filmed footage for an upcoming DVD.

Frontiers Records has announced the details of the European release of FAIR WARNING's reunion album, which has a working title of "Brother's Keeper".

The band, which currently consists of singer Tommy Heart, guitarist Helge Engelke, bassist Ule W. Ritgen and CC Behrens on drums, started working on the new songs in the fall 2005. The new album, according to Ule W. Ritgen, is going to be "the most powerful we have done so far" and even if "we have tried to be heavier this time, we wanted to keep our melodic approach intact. By the first feedbacks we're getting, it worked out really well!"

The album will include the following tracks (in no particular order):

01. All I Wanna Do
02. All Of My Love
03. Don't Keep Me Waiting
04. Generation Jedi
05. In The Dark
06. No Limit
07. The Cry (working title)
08. Once Bitten Twice Shy
09. Push Me On
10. Rainbow Eyes
11. Tell Me Lies
12. The Way
13. Wasted Time

In addition to this highly anticipated CD — scheduled for release in Europe on August 25, 2006 — Frontiers Records has announced the re-release of three back-catalog FAIR WARNING items. On July 9, reissues of FAIR WARNING's first two albums — the self-titled debut and "Rainmaker" — will hit the streets in Europe in their original artwork and track listing.

In addition to these long-out-of-print reissues, Frontiers Records will release the "Call Of The East – Live in Japan" DVD, containing an entire show held at the Club Citta in Kawasaki, Japan, on April 18, 1993. This DVD will be released in NTSC region free format and shall include the following tracklisting:

01. Sunset (intro)
02. Out On The Run
03. Longing For Love
04. When Love Fails
05. Eastern Sun
06. Crazy
07. Take Me Up
08. Long Gone
09. Take A Look At The Future
10. Children’s Eyes
11. Hang On
12. The Eyes of Rock
13. One Step Closer
14. A Little More Love

Extra tracks:

15. The Heat of Emotion
16. The Call of The Heart
17. In The Ghetto
18. Sukiyaki
19. Mickey’s Monkey

Finland's TAROT, the group led by NIGHTWISH/ex-SINERGY bassist Marco Hietala, have just released their long-awaited new single, "You", in Finland. 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).

TAROT feature Hietala on bass/vocals, his brother Zachary on guitar, Janne Tolsa on keyboards, and Pecu Cinnari on drums.

QUEENSRŸCHE's video for the song "The Hands" has been posted online at WindowsMedia.com. The track is the second single off the group's latest CD, "Operation: Mindcrime II", which has sold 83,000 copies in the United States since its April 4 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As previously reported, Rhino Records has set an August 29, 2006 release date for the reissue of QUEENSRŸCHE's 1999 effort, "Q2K". The new CD will include 3-4 bonus tracks, the details of which will be announced soon. Limited-edition signed copies and a free "Q2K" cap will be included in the new package.

QUEENSRŸCHE's top-selling album by far is 1990's "Empire", which was certified triple-platinum in October 1994 for sales in excess of three million copies in the United States. The original "Operation: Mindcrime" release (1988) attained platinum status in August 1991, while 1994's "Promised Land" reached the same plateau in December 1994.

KATATONIA's video for the track "Deliberation" has been posted online at YouTube.com. The was once again shot and directed by Charlie Granberg, who also worked with the group on their "My Twin" clip. According to a posting on the band's web site, "The direction of the ['Deliberation' video] takes a more abstract turn this time, so be sure to expect a dark mixture of reality and animation."

"Deliberation" is the second single from KATATONIA's new album, "The Great Cold Distance". Released this past Monday (May 15), the single also includes two new exclusive tracks: a complete remake of "In the White", now stripped down with acoustic guitars in a contemporary approach for a true urban lullaby sound; and a previously unreleased song from "The Great Cold Distance" sessions entitled "Code Against the Code".

AFTER FOREVER's former record label, Transmission Records, has announced plans to release a two-disc compilation album containing the best songs from the band's first ten years of existence, plus previously unreleased material, non-album tracks, alternate takes, rarities and previously unreleased remixed versions. Included you will find collaborations with such guest musicians as Sharon den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION), Arjen Lucassen and Damian Wilson (AYREON) and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH).

Entitled "Mea Culpa" (view artwork here), the double-album has been divided into two chapters. The first chapter covers the period with guitarist/composer/lyricist Mark Jansen (now in EPICA), while Chapter 2 contains songs which the group recorded after Jansen's departure; a period during which AFTER FOREVER masterfully spread their wings and proved themselves to be one of the most interesting and powerful female-fronted metal bands in the world.

AFTER FOREVER's fourth full-length album, "Remagine", was released last year on Transmission. The follow-up to 2004's "Invisible Circles" was recorded at Excess studio in Rotterdam, Holland and was mixed by Sascha Paeth and Philip Colodetti at the Gate studio in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The French label Prikosnovenie is often named the Fairy World label and in fact this label brings us the most extraordinary sounds and voices from all over the world, and beyond!

Prikosnovenie now releases an album of the band Artesia on a new subdivision label entitled Nove. The aim of Nove is to release debut cd's of talented new bands.

Artesia is a new French female duet who comes to us as big surprise, they show obvious great talent! Walking on the roots of bands such as Dark Santuary, Stoa or Arcana, the two sweet sirens use a bed of velvet soft keyboard patterns and romantic violin as base for their odes to the nature, mixed with melancholy, sadness and forlorn daydreams. ‘Hilvern’ could be an ideal accompaniment for the ceremony of retirement of the elves of Lothlorien. Far from mere copies of other Ethereal goth bands, they express sad feelings and solemnity based on deep talent. Romanticism, beautiful enchanting female voices and supreme melancholy are the ingredients of this marvelous gothic opus!

TRACKS:
1 Une nuit en Hilvern
2 L'autre chemin MP3
3 Rencontre avec la Dame
4 La clairière des fées
5 Une ancienne légende
6 Barenton
7 Prière au mortel MP3
8 Les hommes ne se rappellent plus mon nom
9 Eveil et desespoir
10 L'abandonnée

Raleigh, North Carolina's BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME have completed work on their covers album, "The Anatomy Of". The CD, which was produced by Jamie King (THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD), is scheduled for release on June 13 via Victory Records. The complete track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. METALLICA – "Blackened"
02. MÖTLEY CRÜE - "Kickstart My Heart"
03. SOUNDGARDEN - "Day I Tried to Live"
04. QUEEN - "Bicycle Race"
05. KING CRIMSON - "Three of a Perfect Pair"
06. PINK FLOYD - "Us and Them"
07. SMASHING PUMPKINS - "Geek USA"
08. EARTH CRISIS - "Forced March"
09. SEPULTURA - "Territory"
10. BLIND MELON - "Change"
11. FAITH NO MORE - "Malpractice"
12. DEPECHE MODE - "Little 15"
13. PANTERA - "Cemetary Gates"

Check out BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME's cover of METALLICA's "Blackened" at this location.

Roadrunner Records has officially announced the signing of MEGADETH.

Recognized as one of rock's most forward-thinking bands, MEGADETH and its frontman Dave Mustaine have cast a long shadow on the metal and hard rock landscape with millions of records sold worldwide and an undeniable influence echoed in scores of young bands today.

"We are proud to be working with one of the chief architects of modern hard rock and metal: Dave Mustaine," says Roadrunner A&R man Mike Gitter. "MEGADETH and Roadrunner have led parallel careers on the cutting edge of metal for years now. The combination of the two is bound to be lethal."

Mustaine says of his new home, "It is exciting to be some place you are respected, understood and appreciated. The truth is there's a lot of people I've known there over the years. I'm stoked we're all coming back together again to work on this project."

MEGADETH has begun work on its as-yet-untitled Roadrunner debut under the watchful eye of Mustaine and co-producer Jeff Balding. The 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.

Greek heavy metal band INNERWISH have announced the track listing for their new album, "Inner Strength", due on May 19 via Limb Music Products. The follow-up to 2004's "Silent Faces" was recorded at the Music Factory Studios with producer R.D. Liapakis. The cover artwork will be done by the renowned artist Axel Hermann, who is well known for his work with ICED EARTH, SODOM, MYSTIC PROPHECY, CASUS BELLI and various other artists.

"Inner Strength" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Trivial
02. Travellers in Time
03. Far Away
04. Lonely Lady
05. Bleeding Soul
06. Feel the Magic
07. Eye of the Storm
08. Final Prophecy (mp3)
09. Never Let You Down
10. Dreamer of the Night
11. Inner Stength
12. Gates of Fire

INNERWISH will be supporting MANOWAR, RHAPSODY, HOLYHELL and BATTLEROAR on November 25 at the Fencing Building, Olympic Center in Elliniko, Greece.

METAL CHURCH have announced the track listing for their new album, "A Light in the Dark", due in Europe on June 19 (June 16 in Germany) via SPV and U.S. on June 27. The album will include 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, promises 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."

"A Light in the Dark" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Light in the Dark
02. More Than Your Master
03. Disappear
04. Pill for the Kill
05. Mirror of Lies
06. Light Machine
07. Blinded by Life
08. Beyond All Reason
09. Under the Gun
10. Caught Up
11. No Remainds
12. Watch the Children Play (tribute)

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

Unfortunately we have to report that NEVERMORE guitarist Steve Smyth has been recently diagnosed with end stage kidney failure, the result of a congenital birth defect.

Smyth comments: “I have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and have been advised to preserve my health as much as possible at this time, as I am facing ‘complete renal failure’ within six months, and ultimately, a transplant. Due to my recently diagnosed condition, I have decided not to join the band on the In Flames US tour. I want to be fair to the fans, and be able to give them a show I know I can deliver night after night. I will, however, join Nevermore on all four of the European festivals on our itinerary in early June: Gods of Metal, Rock Hard, Rott Fest, and Sweden Rock, after which, the doctors should have some news about the next step in my treatment. I will say this: I will fight this, and I will be back!”

Jag Panzer guitarist Chris Broderick will fill in for Smyth on the upcoming US tour, after which Smyth will rejoin the band for the aforementioned European festival dates. For more from Smyth about his health situation and future career plans, please visit www.stevesmyth.com

German power metallers BLIND GUARDIAN have confirmed "A Twist in the Myth" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in September via Nuclear Blast Records.

"A Twist in the Myth" (view cover here) track listing:

01. This Will Never End (5:07)
02. Otherland (5:14)
03. Turn the Page (4:16)
04. Fly (5:43)
05. Carry the Blessed Home (4:03)
06. Another Stranger Me (4:36)
07. Straight through the Mirror (5:48)
08. Lionheart (4:15)
09. Skalds and Shadows (3:13)
10. The Edge (4:27)
11. The New Order (4:49)

BLIND GUARDIAN recently released a single, "Fly", containing two exclusive tracks: an acoustic version of "Skalds and Shadows" and BLIND GUARDIAN's version of the IRON BUTTERFLY classic "In A Gadda Da Vida" (previously covered by SLAYER).

BLIND GUARDIAN's upcoming CD is their first with drummer Frederik Ehmke, who replaced Thomen Stauch last year.

STREAM OF PASSION, the new band featuring AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen, will release their live double CD and DVD, entitled "Live in the Real World", on the following dates:

Benelux: June 15
Germany: June 16
Rest of Europe: June 19
USA: July 18

The live recordings were made on February 17, 2006 at the Lucky & Co. venue in Rijssen, Holland during the band's "Embrace the Storm" tour. The double CD set contains the full concert and a booklet featuring live photos. The DVD contains the full concert shot with seven high-definition cameras and mixed in both 2.0 and 5.1.

"Live in the Real World" DVD/CD (view artwork here) track listing:

01. Intro
02. Spellbound
03. Passion
04. Waracle
05. Wherever You Are
06. Computer Eyes
07. Calliopeia
08. Valley Of The Queens
09. Haunted
10. The Charm of the Seer
11. Deceiver / Songs of the Ocean
12. Day One: Vigil
13. Day Three: Pain
14. Nostalgia
15. Out in the Real World
16. The Castle Hall
17. Into The Black Hole
18. When The Levee Breaks
19. Day Eleven: Love

Bonus DVD Features:

* Live in Concert (Dolby 2.0 and 5.1)
* Behind the Scenes
* Photo Gallery
* Video Clip: "Out in the Real World"
* Making of the Video Clip
* Tour Diary

TNT have announced the addition of singer Tony Mills from Birmingham, England. Tony is one of Europe's most respected hard rock singers, mostly known for his work with U.K. melodic rock act SHY and his solo releases of recent years. Tony has worked along side such names as CINDERELLA, DOKKEN, COZY POWELL, MEATLOAF, THE SWEET and many more and will add a new and exciting dimension to TNT as the band enter a new era.

The new TNT lineup will perform at Z Rock 06 at JB's in Dudley, England on September 24, 2006. Also scheduled to appear are FIREHOUSE, TOBY JEPSON, BOB CATLEY, SNAKERYDER, LOST WEEKEND, DANTE FOX and EDEN.