POWERWORLD, the new German band formed by ex-FREEDOM CALL bassist Ilker Ersin, have announced the addition of singer Steffen Brunner to the group's ranks. The 22-year-old vocalist, who is said to be "one of the leading persons in the German cover band BACKBONE," joins POWERWORLD as the replacement for Chity Somapala (ex-FIREWIND, AVALON, MOONLIGHT AGONY, FARO), who left the group in January due to "musical differences."

POWERWORLD recently finished recording their debut album, "The Second Face", tentatively due later in the year through an as-yet-undetermined record label. The CD will be mixed shortly at Dönerland Studios in Hirschaid, Germany.

Brazilian band EYES OF SHIVA are currently producing the video clip for "Kamisama", the first single from their new album, "Deep".

Filming for the clip, which pays homage to legendary Brazilian soccer player Zico (current coach of the Japanese national team), took place in a soccer stadium in São Manoel, a city near São Paulo. Directed by Patrick Korb (SHAAMAN, EDGUY, PRIMAL FEAR, TUATHA DE DANNAN) and Glauco Guimaraes (KORZUS, HENCEFORTH, BARANGA), the video will bring images of Zico's goals and memorable plays, in addition to featuring the participation special guests Andre Matos (SHAAMAN, ex-ANGRA) and 35 members of Escola de Samba da AABB, a Brazilian samba school.

"Deep" was released in Asia by JVC, and is set to be released in the next few months in Brazil via Wet Music, and in Mexico by Scarecrow Records. The CD, which features guest appearances by Matos and Hugo Mariutti (guitar) from SHAAMAN and Fabio Laguna (keyboards) from ANGRA, reportedly focuses on the current political themes and social issues, with the songs following a "heavier, experimental and modern" direction without sacrificng the group's Brazilian and Latin influences.

EYES OF SHIVA's debut álbum, "Eyes of Soul", was released in 2004 by JVC/Victor Entertainment in Asia and Locomotive/Warner Music in Europe and USA.

Cleopatra Records has announced the final track listing for the new album from former IRON MAIDEN frontman Paul Di'Anno, entitled "The Living Dead", due in North America on May 16. The package will come with a bonus DVD that contains the music video for "The Living Dead" and an exclusive in-depth, tell-all interview in which Di'Anno discusses his days with IRON MAIDEN.

"The Living Dead" (view cover artwork at this location) track listing:

01. The Living Dead
02. Mad Man In The Attic
03. War Machine
04. Brothers Of The Tomb
05. P.O.V. 2005
06. Nomad
07. S.A.T.A.N.
08. Cold World
09. Do Or Die
10. Dog Dead
11. Symphony Of Destruction
12. Wrathchild (Live)
13. Phantom Of The Opera (Live)

Check out a short preview of "The Living Dead" video clip at this location.

WINTERBORN, the self-proclaimed "coldest Finnish heavy metal band," are continuing to talk to several record companies about a possible release of their debut album, "Cold Reality", which was produced at Studio 57 in Alaveteli, Finland by the band's guitarist Pasi Vapola, mixed by Vapola and Pasi Kauppinen (REQUIEM, SILENT VOICES, MENTAL CARE FOUNDATION) and mastered by Björn Engelmann (IN FLAMES, RAMMSTEIN, SOILWORK, WITHIN TEMPTATION) in Stockholm, Sweden. "The situation with the album and contract is now even more complicated because we still have one more new record label in the negotiations," the band write on their web site. "But we are near the finishing line with these things, so hopefully we have some real news to report to you very soon."

WINTERBORN have uploaded samples of four cuts from "Cold Reality" at their official web site. Check out the songs "Last Train to Hell", "The Real Me", "On the Edge of Eternity" and "Wildheart" at this location.

CANNIBAL CORPSE's video for the track "Make Them Suffer" has been posted online at YouTube.com. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Kill", which entered the German national chart at position No. 59. "Kill" also debuted at No. 170 on The Billboard 200 with first-week sales in the United States of just a little over 6,000 copies. In 1994, CANNIBAL CORPSE's "Vile" entered the Billboard chart at No. 151 (with a first-week tally of just under 6,200), making "Kill" the second-highest selling debut in the band's storied 17-year career.

"Kill" was released in a limited luxury package, including a bonus DVD, featuring a complete live show (approximately 77 minutes in length) with great sound, professionally filmed on April 8, 2004 at La Laiterie in Strasbourg, France.

An audio sample of a brand-new KROKUS song, entitled "Hellrazor', has been made available for download at this location (MP3, 1 MB).

KROKUS frontman Marc Storace recently told Metal-Rules.com that the track "Hellrazor" will be featured in an upcoming film called "Handyman". It's a comedy movie by this Swiss comedian called Malcolm Reamer who is also big in Austria and Switzerland," he said. "He has starred with the people who do 'Wochenendhaus' and he's been in a couple of other films as well. He's very popular and he never stops joking. He's born for this part. The song is called 'Hellrazor' and it fits in the film. We have a small part in it where we get smashed in a limousine."

KROKUS recently announced the addition of German drummer Stefan Schwarzmann (ex-ACCEPT, U.D.O., HELLOWEEN) to the group's ranks. The bandare currently working with producer Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69) on the follow-up to 2003's "Rock the Block", tentatively due later in the year. KROKUS's current lineup includes Storace, Tony Castell (bass), Mandy Meyer (guitar) and Dominique Fave (guitar).

THE BLACK LEAGUE, the Finnish band fronted by former SENTENCED vocalist Taneli Jarva, will release their fourth full-length album, "A Place Called Bad", in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) on April 19 via Playground Music. A wider European release for the effort has not yet been announced.

As previously reported, THE BLACK LEAGUE have posted their video for the song "Same Ol' Fuckery" at this location. The track comes off "A Place Called Bad", which was released in Finland in October via WolfGang Records/MajorLeidén Productions.

The follow-up to 2004's "Man's Ruin Revisited", "A Place Called Bad" was recorded at Seawolf Studios in Suomenlinna (just outside Helsinki). The band have undergone several major lineup changes in the last few months, resulting in the departure of both drummer "Sir" Kimmo Luttinen and basist Mikko "Florida" Laurila. Relocated in Helsinki, Jarva and guitarist Maike Valanne have enlisted Hiltunen, Rale (drums) and I.T. (bass), while also bringing in original guitar player Alexi Ranta to play guest lead guitar on one song.

THE BLACK LEAGUE's current lineup is:

Taneli Jarva - Vocals
Maike Valanne - Guitar
Kimmi "Heavy" Hiltunen - Guitar
Rale - Drums
I.T. - Bass

ANGEL BLAKE, the new Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN guitarist Marko Tervonen and former TRANSPORT LEAGUE/current MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich, have uploaded their video for the track "The Forsaken" at this location.

"The Forsaken" comes off the group's self-titled debut album, which was released in North America on April 4 via Metal Blade Records.

ANGEL BLAKE's current lineup is as follows:

Tony Jelencovich (MNEMIC, ex-TRANSPORT LEAGUE) - Vocals
Marko Tervonen (ex-THE CROWN) - Guitars
Janne Saarenpää (ex-THE CROWN) - Drums
Örjan Wressel - Bass
Christian Älvestam (SCAR SYMMETRY, UNMOORED) - Guitars

Check out a photo of the band at this location.

ANGEL BLAKE's debut album was recorded at Tervonen's Studio MT, which is located three kilometers from Trollhättan, Sweden.

ALL THAT REMAINS, the Massachusetts-based act featuring former SHADOWS FALL vocalist Philip Labonte, have revealed the artwork and the track listing for their new album, "The Fall of Ideals", due on July 11 via Prosthetic Records. The follow-up to 2004's "This Darkened Heart" was recorded at Zing Recording Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts with Adam Dutkiewicz (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) and Peter Wichers (ex-SOILWORK) and features atrwork by renowned artist Travis Smith (OPETH, ICED EARTH).

Commented Labonte: "I have been a fan of Travis' work for a while and I didn't even know it. His work with SOILWORK and SINAI BEACH really struck me, so the label put us in touch and we hit it off, which was really cool. We had gone through a bunch of ideas when he sent over the basics and beginning of what would become the cover. After a few back and forths with colors and placement stuff, we have come up with what I feel is a really striking piece of art. I hope it hits others as it did me."

Before heading across the country on Ozzfest 2006, ALL THAT REMAINS will embark on the European version of the Sounds of the Underground tour.

"The Fall of Ideals" track listing:

01. This Calling
02. Not Alone
03. It Dwells In Me
04. We Stand
05. Whispers (I Hear Your)
06. The Weak Willed
07. Six
08. Become The Catalyst
09. The Air That I Breathe
10. Empty Inside
11. Indictment

Guitar virtuoso Luca Turilli, best known for his work as lead guitarist, co-composer and co-founder in film score metal band Rhapsody, has presented us with his new band: Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest. Not wishing this to be viewed just as a side project, Luca asserts that Dreamquest is an additional outlet for the abundance of overflowing musical ideas of this prolific composer. Fear not Rhapsody fans, Dreamquest, while an entirely separate band, will not interfere with Rhapsody’s progress. The debut album, Lost Horizons introduces a new style and technique to Luca’s already mighty repertoire, enriched by modern elements: new metal, opera, techno-electronic music and gothic-symphonic atmospheres.

Lost Horizons displays Luca’s previously unknown ability to call forth majestic tones from the keyboard. The unique sounds produced by Luca’s instrumentation bring forth musical landscapes and haunting melodies, invoking images of sirens and nymphs. Luca’s passion for the keyboard is clear. Before founding Rhapsody with keyboardist Alex Staropoli, Luca had studied piano. However, Rhapsody’s immediate success had encouraged Luca to focus his efforts on the guitar, an instrument that he had already mastered. Three years ago, Luca felt inspired to return to the keyboard, influenced by the melancholic melodies of great artists such as Chopin and Alexander Scriabin. Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest gives Luca the opportunity to unleash the pianist inside of him.

Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest is the fulfillment of a dream that Luca has had in mind for many years and he is looking forward to the opportunity to perform Dreamquest material in a live forum as soon as possible. The music on Lost Horizons combines powerful metal instrumentation with angelic, operatic, female vocals to create a sound that might best be described as 'Symphonic Electro-Metal'. The first single “Virus,” is a prime example of the majestic musical flavor that Dreamquest is made of, while the operatic “Sospiro Divino” showcases the boundless possibilities presented by this exciting new band. Although favorable comparisons to popular acts are inevitable, make no mistake: Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest is a fresh and unique experience.

Track Listing For Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest Lost Horizons:

1) Introspection
2) Virus
3) Dreamquest
4) Black Rose
5) Lost Horizon
6) Sospiro Divino
7) Shades Of Eternity
8) Energy
9) Frozen Star
10) Too Late
11) Dolphin’s Heart
12) Gothic Vision

ARENA are to release a new DVD entitled "Smoke & Mirrors". It was filmed in Poland during the band's 10th anniversary tour supporting their latest album Pepper's Ghost. The initial pressing comes in a lavish digipack containing a bonus audio CD.

Tracklisting:

1. Bedlam Fayre
2. A Crack in the Ice
3. Midas Vision
4. Elea
5. The Hanging Tree
6. A State of Grace
7. (Don't Forget to) Breathe
8. Smoke & Mirrors
9. Purgatory Road
11. Waiting for the Flood
12. Medusa
13. The Shattered Room
14. Chosen
15. Skin Game
16. Witch Hunt
17. Enemy Without
18. Solomon
19. Friday's Dream
20. Crying For Help VII

Bonus video

Reunion Concert - Fan Footage, De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Holland

1. A Crack in the Ice
2. Elea
3. The Hanging Tree
4. A State of Grace
5. Medusa
6. Crying for Help VII

CD tracklist:

1. Bedlam Fayre
2. A Crack in the Ice
3. Midas Vision
4. Elea
5. The Hanging Tree
6. A State of Grace
7. (Don't Forget to) Breathe
8. Smoke & Mirrors
9. Purgatory Road
11. Waiting for the Flood
12. Medusa

Extras include Interview with Clive Nolan and Mick Pointer, animated menu, arena's biography & discography, photo gallery, desktop images and weblinks.

COLDSEED, the new band featuring former BLIND GUARDIAN/current SAVAGE CIRCUS skinsman Thomen Stauch and SOILWORK singer Björn "Speed" Strid, have been forced to abandon their previously announced plan to mix their debut album with engineer Charly Czajkowsky. According to a posting on the band's web site, "Czajkowsky had to cancel his work on the album because of his RAGE duties. Now Dirk Schlächter (GAMMA RAY) is on board — he and Mi will do the final mix and prepare it for mastering!!!"

COLDSEED's debut album, "Completion Makes the Tragedy", is scheduled for release this summer via Nuclear Blast Records. Rough-mix audio samples of two tracks from the upcoming CD are available at the band's official web site: "Democracy Lesson" (mp3) and "On My Way" (mp3). Check out the cover artwork at this location.

Strid had previously described COLDSEED's music as "a mixture between RAMMSTEIN and ALICE IN CHAINS."

DEMONICAL, the new Swedish death metal band featuring three former members of CENTINEX, have launched their web site at www.demonical.net.

Commented the band: "DEMONICAL will return to the roots of death metal and give you a sheer dose of darkness and brutality. We are now preparing our first audio assault, which will be unleashed upon mankind during the summer. Our website is under construction but might open sooner than you think..."

DEMONICAL's sound is being described in a press release as "brutal and dark death metal, like the old Swedish bands from the late '80s/early '90s mixed with the Florida and Brazilian scene and on top of that, spiced up with some Nordic black metal. In other words, brutal riffs, heavy downtuned guitars, fast relentless drums and blasphemous vocals.

DEMONICAL are currently looking for a vocalist. Serious applicants can contact Dreamtide Music, the band's management, at dreamtidemusic [at] hotmail.com.

DEMONICAL lineup:

Martin Schulman (ex-CENTINEX) - Bass
Johan Jansson (ex-CENTINEX, DELLAMORTE) - Guitar
Ronnie Bergerståhl (ex-CENTINEX, AMARAN, JULIE LAUGHS NO MORE) - Drums
TBA - Vocals

Due to "technical reasons," Metal Blade Records has been forced to postpone the release date of the AMON AMARTH DVD, "Wrath of the Norsemen", to May 15 (May 12 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland) from the previously announced April 24.

As previously reported, the three-disc set will be released in a deluxe 10-page digipack with special gold-laminated slipcase. The main body of the DVD is the Cologne show from last year — filmed with 11 cameras, this was the longest show AMON AMARTH have ever played (23 songs!). Bonus footage includes interviews, behind-the-scenes of the DVD recording and other stuff filmed around the Cologne show. Discs 2 and 3 feature professionally filmed shows from Summer Breeze 2005, the Metal Blade Rrroooaaarrr 2005 (a show with a really unusual setlist!), Wacken Open Air 2004 and the release show for "Fate of Norns" in Ludwigsburg (Germany) in 2004.

Legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio's (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) official web site has been updated with the following message:

"Just to put the BLACK SABBATH reunion rumors to rest, here is the inside scoop from Wendy Dio [Ronnie's wife/manager]: Ronnie was in the U.K. to do promo for the new 'Holy Diver Live' CD and while there, dropped in on Tony Iommi to kick around some ideas for the forthcoming box set, 'Black Sabbath: The Dio Years'. We had previously mentioned that the two would be writing together as their respective schedules permitted.

"There are NO plans for Ronnie to rejoin BLACK SABBATH, and in fact, DIO is preparing for their European tour, which begins May 27 in Roselare, Belgium."

As previously reported, Eagle Rock Entertainment has set an April 18 North American release date for DIO's "Holy Diver Live" CD (one day earlier internationally). DIO's follow-up to 2004's "Master of the Moon" is expected before the end of the year.

Original VENOM and current MANTAS guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn recently accompanied German techno group SCOOTER on their sold-out "Who's Got The Last Laugh Now?" European tour as the band's live guitarist. According to a press release, "Mantas' appearance was absolutely well-received by the SCOOTER fans, with Mantas spreading more metal spirit than some of these true metal bands. All those who missed this sensational collaboration will have the chance to witness the [spectacle] on the forthcoming tour DVD."

Check out a picture of Mantas performing with SCOOTER at this location.

Dunn is presently working on MANTAS' follow-up to the group's acclaimed debut, "Zero Tolerance", tentatively due in September.

Swedish tech-death masters ANATA will release "The Conductor's Departure" on June 12 via Wicked World/Earache.

Recorded at Studio Mega with Valle Adzic (THE CROWN, IMPIOUS, LAKE OF TEARS, BESEECH), "The Conductor's Departure" features "10 brand new tracks continuing the path that have seen the band likened to MESHUGGAH, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, GOJIRA and NECROPHAGIST," according to a press release. "Merging blindingly technical riffing with an ear for melody, ANATA have gained a reputation for blatantly sidestepping the IN FLAMES imitation of their homeland. Instead, the band have found themselves mentioned as the missing link between death metal and the technical 'math-core' hardcore scene."

"The Conductor's Departure" track listing:

01. Downward Spiral into Madness
02. Complete Demise
03. Better Grieved Than Fooled
04. The Great Juggler
05. Cold Heart Forged in Hell
06. I Would Dream of Blood
07. Disobedience Pays
08. Children's Laughter
09. Renunciation
10. The Conductor's Departure

Danish metal machine URKRAFT will release their new album, "The Inhuman Aberration", on May 29 via Earache Records.

Recorded at Antfarm Studios with Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, SICK OF IT ALL, HIMSA, HATESPHERE), "The Inhuman Aberration" features "10 polished and precise anthemic tracks incorporating thrash tempos and grim riffing likened to SOILWORK, DARKANE and THE HAUNTED," according to a press release. "URKRAFT's subtle use of keyboards sets them apart from the crowd, adding new textures and atmospheres to their taut sound."

"The Inhuman Aberration" track listing:

01. Too Strong for the Strongest Lord
02. This Great Summer
03. Only the Gods
04. The Inhuman Aberration
05. Open the Gate
06. Come No Tomorrow
07. Watch Your Own Eyes
08. Liberation
09. Forsaken
10. The Pressure of Our Jaws

Norwegian symphonic metal band TRISTANIA have parted ways with vocalist Kjetil Ingebrethsen.

Commented Kjetil: "After four amazing years, I have decided to leave TRISTANIA. There is no bad blood between us at all, and we are still good friends. This is a choice I had to make, just for my own part, and it was the right time to do it now — before the new album.

"I just want to take the opportunity to thank all the fans I have met, and bands I have shared stage with, during tours and festivals. It's been a blast — you will truly be remembered! To the TRISTANIA 'family'; Einar, Vibeke, Kenneth, Anders, Rune, Svein Terje, Østen and Carlo — it's been fantastic to be a part of you these years, thank you so much for everything."

The remaining members of TRISTANIA have issued the following statement regarding Kjetil's departure:

"It has been apparent for some time, within the ranks of TRISTANIA, that Kjetil does not want to continue to pursue a musical career at this level, but we have decided to focus on the new record and wait to announce this. The growling vocals will henceforth be performed by other members of the band, and on the new album we're delighted to have the help of a special guest (whose name will be announced at a later time). We understand, and respect, Kjetil's decision, and thank him for the time he has been with TRISTANIA. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours, musical and otherwise."

TRISTANIA recently entered Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, MOONSPELL, SAMAEL) to begin recording their new album, tentatively due late August via SPV Records. The band's most recent album, "Ashes", is available now on SPV.

German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA will enter the Gernhart Records studio in Siegburg, Germany in July to begin recording their new album, "Caledonia", for an October release. Kris Verwimp will, once again, be in charge of the cover artwork, as the band are certain that he is the best person to visualise the lyrical concept of "Caledonia". The album photography will be hanlded by Axel Jusseit, who had previously worked with the group on 2003's "Signs for the Fallen".

The follow-up to last year's "Command to Charge", "Caledonia" will contain 10 songs and will be a concept album dealing with Scotland's ancient history.

In other news, SUIDAKRA have been forced to postpone their previously announced French tour until after the release of "Caledonia". A new show in Bulgaria has been confirmed: SUIDAKRA will play at the Monsters of Rock festival in early August alongside such bands as MOTÖRHEAD, KREATOR, FEAR FACTORY and OVERKILL.

Swedish black metallers MARDUK have posted the following message on their official web site:

"MARDUK are now putting the final touches on the layout for the upcoming DVD and are also finished the mixing of it. The title has been set for 'Blood Puke Salvation'. The DVD will contain over one and a half hour of live material filmed in Tilburg, Holland and Antwerpen, Belgium during December 2004. What so far also have been confirmed is that the promo videos for 'Throne Of Rats', 'Steel Inferno' and 'The Hangman Of Prague' will also be included as well as a tremendous photo gallery, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and a section entitled 'Deathmarch' with exclusive hand-filmed live material from over 20 cities from the 'Deathmarch' tour. Release date is still to be set, but it will most likely be out by the end of May. Apart from that we can also mention that Morgan [Håkansson, guitar] and Mortuus [vocals] are currently demoing new material for the next full-length album."

MARDUK recently issued a live album, entitled "Warschau". Limited to 10,000 copies on CD worldwide, the album was also scheduled to be released as a limited-edition double LP and double picture disc (each limited to 500 copies).

Israeli metal band ORPHANED LAND have announced that Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE will produce their next album, entitled "The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR".

Commented ORPHANED LAND vocalist Kobi Farhi: "We are a big fans of Steven's works, we are very much exited that we will work together and we are sure we will make an unforgettable album!"

Added Wilson: "I'm very happy to have the opportunity to work with ORPHANED LAND, one of the most unique and ambitious metal bands on the scene. I know we are going to make an extraordinary album together."

ORPHANED LAND is a band which combines progressive heavy/death-metal rock with ethnic Middle Eastern/Arabic/Israeli elements, a unique hybrid of styles that contributed to Steven's decision to work with them. The group have recorded three albums to date, the most recent of which, "Mabool", was their Century Media debut.

Existing completely outside of the mainstream, ORPHANED LAND have managed to create a large worldwide following, and their recent appearances in Europe and the USA at the ProgPower festivals have brought them to the attention of a whole new audience. Wilson is, of course, known from his main project PORCUPINE TREE as well as the producer of three of OPETH's albums.

With regards to the next album's concept, Farhi had previously stated, "The next ORPHANED LAND album will deal with the war of light and darkness. We've dealt with this topic in the past, yet this time the emphasis will be on the hero of this war — The Warrior of Light (Lohem Ha'or in Hebrew).

ORPHANED LAND have yet to set a date to begin recording the new album, as they are still working the new material for the new effort. More details will be made available during the coming months.

Despite the fact that their latest CD, "Afterburner", has only just been released through Nuclear Blast Records, reunited Dutch death metallers SINISTER have already commenced the songwriting process for their next album, tentatively titled "No Mercyful God".

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 Records, issued their last studio album, "Savage or Grace", in 2003.

STREAM OF PASSION, the new band featuring AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen, will be releasing a live DVD and live CD this summer as two separate products. 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. More information will be made available soon.

STREAM OF PASSION's debut album, "Embrace the Storm", was released in Holland in October via Sony/BMG Benelux. The CD was issued in the rest of Europe and the U.S./Canada via InsideOut Music.

STREAM OF PASSION is:

Johan van Stratum - Bass guitar
Davy Mickers - Drums
Marcela Bovio - Vocals, Lyrics, Violin
Arjen Lucassen - Guitars, Music
Lori Linstruth - Lead Guitar
Alejandro Millán - Piano

The Front Line Assembly boys are back in town! Bill Leeb, Rhys Fulber, and Chris Peterson have joined ranks once again to create the, according to the label, best Front Line Assembly release that the electronic industrial community has seen in over a decade. The trio, with new member Jeremy Inkel, began work on Artificial Soldier in early 2005, and it was time well spent. The newly re-formed line-up managed to create a release that no only lives up to the expectations of Front Line Assembly fans, but surpasses them. Heavy pounding beats, atmospheric strings, percolating melodies, dynamic synths and Bill Leeb’s trademark vocals couldn’t be fused together any tighter if you tried to do it at an atomic level. As if all of those factors weren’t enough, two guest vocalists appear on Artificial Soldier – Eskil Simonsson from Covenant (on “The Storm”) and Jean-Luc De Meyer from Front 242 (on “Future Fail”)! Artificial Soldier is one album not to be missed for 2006 or any year for that matter. Releasedate is 6 june 2006.

Tracklist:
01. Unleased
02. Low Life
03. Beneath The Rubble
04. Low Rider
05. Buried Alive
06. Dopamine
07. Social Enemy
08. Future Fail
09. The Storm
10. Descention

On related news, Isabel Bayrakdarian is confirmed on the new Delerium Album due out late 2006. Most of you may recognize her voice from the Grammy Award winning soundtrack of The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers.
The vocalist line-up for Delerium is quite stellar: Kristy Thirsk, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Jael, Mediaeval Baebes and Isabel Bayrakdarian.

Also, A brand new project from Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber has been set to motion featuring Leigh Nash on vocals. Fauxliage will hit stores 2007. More on this to come.

Gae Bolg: the brand name for the bombastic, martial, and uniquely mediaeval sounds from the forge of French musician Eric Roger ( former trumpet player with Sol Invictus )

After his musical statement of "Aucassin Et Nicolette" ( Auerbach 2005 ), a classic work of French literature dating back to 1225, Eric Roger’s new album "Requiem" is a purely personal work. As the title suggests, it is a mass for the dead in the traditional meaning of the word. It is dedicated to those of Eric’s friends and relatives who passed away in the last three years, thus presenting a subject matter that couldn’t be of a more intimate nature. In accordance with this conceptional framework, "Requiem“ comes across as a very sacral piece of work, finding a middle ground between serene devotion and desperate beseeching, but without ever regressing to kitsch or meaningless pathos.
Tracklisting
01. Introit
02. Dies Irae
03. Lacrymosa
04. Improvisa Letivis Rapuit, Rapietque Gentes
05. Choral I
06. March Au Tombeau
07. Choral II
08. Hymne
09. Choral III
10. La Flamme S’Eteint, Une Vie Renait
11. Di Me Tuentur, Dis Musa Cordi Est
12. Totentanz
13. Agnus Die
14. Pandemonium

Germany's MAJESTY have parted ways with guitarist Rolf Munkes (EMPIRE, RAZORBACK, ex-VANIZE). "The band and me agreed in stopping to work together from now on," Rolf writes on his web site. "I wish them the best of luck in the future and want to say thanks for the great time we had. And a big thanks goes out to all the fans that we made over these three years I played with MAJESTY. You made it happen!! Thank you."

MAJESTY's third album, "Hellforces", recently entered the official German album chart at position No. 100. The follow-up to 2003's "Reign in Glory" was once again produced by Stefan Kaufmann (former ACCEPT drummer, current U.D.O. guitarist) at Roxx studios in Pulheim, Germany.

Munkes' EMPIRE project will release their third album, "Raven Ride", on May 12 via AOR Heaven Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Trading Souls" (Lion Music) features guest appearances by singer Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH), drummer Andre Hilgers (AXXIS, SILENT FORCE, RAZORBACK) and bassist Neil Murray (WHITESNAKE, BLACK SABBATH, M3).

Legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio has flown to the U.K. to write a couple of tracks with BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi for a forthcoming box set, tentatively titled "Black Sabbath – The Dio Years". The box set will reportedly contain all the BLACK SABBATH albums with Ronnie in fully remastered form with these couple of tracks added as a special bonus. No further information is currently available.

Dio recorded a total of three studio albums with BLACK SABBATH — 1980's "Heaven and Hell", 1981's "Mob Rules" and 1992's "Dehumanizer" — in addition to appearing on the classic live album "Live Evil" in 1983.

Boston radio station WAAF has announced that original EXTREME members Gary Cherone (vocals, ex-VAN HALEN), Nuno Bettencourt (guitar), Paul Geary (drums), and Pat Badger (bass) will be reuniting for a show at the Bank of America Pavilion (formerly Fleet Pavilion) in Boston on Friday, June 30. Tickets will go on sale on Saturday, April 15 through Ticketmaster.com. Rumors online now include shows at Foxwoods in Connecticut (July 2, Sunday), and Casino Ballroom (Hampton Beach New Hampshire).

The Boston Globe reported in its March 25, 2006 edition that the original EXTREME lineup would likely be reuniting for a few New England dates this summer. It's been 16 years since the band scored a huge hit with ''More Than Words", and the boys have since scattered. Singer Gary Cherone now fronts a WHO tribute band, Bettencourt plays with former JANE'S ADDICTION frontman Perry Farrell's new band SATELLITE PARTY, drummer Paul Geary runs a high-powered management company in Los Angeles (with GODSMACK as one of its clients), and bassist Pat Badger, believe it or not, raises alpacas on a farm outside Boston.

Veteran Polish death metallers VADER have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We would like to invite you to participate in a special competition! If you have an idea how VADER's new logo symbol should look like and want to design it, feel free to send your projects to info@vader.pl under a title 'New VADER's logo'. The competition is open to all non-professional artists/ fans and lasts through April 25th. The entries should be designed in Photoshop, Corel or any other graphical editor and saved in 'jpg' file [format]. The most interesting projects will be published on www.vader.pl website. The best idea will be featured on the new album artwork."

As previously reported, VADER will enter Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland on April 22 with producers Slawek and Wojtek Wieslawscy to begin recording their new album, "Impressions in Red", for a September 4 release via Regain Records.