According to a posting on The Official Mekong Delta Thrash Pages, work on new material from the legendary German progressive thrash outfit MEKONG DELTA "is progressing nicely. Five of the eight group songs are completely finished musically. The other three are a little more difficult to complete because of special rhythms used. Ralf [Hubert, bass] and Peter [Sjöberg, guitar; also known as Peter Lake from THEORY IN PRACTICE] concluded they would first finish the eight group songs (and maybe even record them first) before working on the classical adaptation and the two orchestral ones. They have not been together yet because of the great progess on the drums. The three members will probably meet each other in Norway (where Uli [Kusch, drums; MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN] lives nowadays) for rehearsals soon."

MEKONG DELTA have yet to find a suitable singer to complete the group's current lineup.

SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera (ex-SEPULTURA) and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE singer Matt Tuck have recorded guest vocals on one of two "new" tracks that are set to appear on APOCALYPTICA's upcoming 10-year anniversary "best of" CD, "Amplified - A Decade of Reinventing the Cello", due on May 26.

Cavalera and Tuck share lead vocals on a song called "Repressed", which will be released as a single on May 12. Also set to be included on the album are the band's instrumental cover version of SLAYER's "Angel of Death", plus the previously released tracks "Enter Sandman", "Harmageddon", "Bittersweet" and "Seemann" (featuring NINA HAGEN). A DVD collection featuring footage from the band's "Life Burns" tour and various other clips will also be made available.

APOCALYPTICA recently signed a worldwide, multi-album recording deal with 20-20 Entertainment, Martin Dodd's New York-based joint venture with Sony BMG International. The band plan to enter the studio later in the year to record their sixth album, which will feature new material with unidentified collaborations.

EMPIRE, the brainchild of German guitarist Rolf Munkes (MAJESTY, RAZORBACK, ex-VANIZE), have finalized the track listing for their third album, "Raven Ride", due 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). Martin and Murray had both appeared on "Trading Souls", which featured additional contributions from DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Don Airey and current HAMMERFALL/ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN drummer Anders Johansson. A 90-second audio sample of the "Raven Ride" title track is available at this location.

"Raven Ride" track listing:

01. The Raven Ride
02. Breathe
03. Carbon Based Lifeform
04. Satanic Curses
05. Al Sirat - The Bridge To Paradise
06. What Would I Do?
07. Changing World
08. Maximum
09. I Can't Trust Myself
10. The Devil Speaks, The Sinner Cries

Sundsvall, Sweden-based death metallers IN BATTLE have inked a deal with Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records for the release of their fourth album, "Kingdom of Fear", tentatively due this fall. The follow-up to 2004's "Welcome to the Battlefield" (Cold/Metal Blade Records) will be recorded late summer.

"Welcome to the Battlefield" was recorded at Courthouse Studio in Östersund, Sweden and at Necromorbus Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. The CD was mixed and mastered at Erik Rutan's (HATE ETERNAL/ex-MORBID ANGEL guitarist) Mana Recording Studios in Tampa, Florida with engineer Shawn Ohtani. Rutan also laid down a guest appearance on lead guitar in the track "Serpents".

BROTHER FIRETRIBE, the Finnish AOR/hard rock band featuring NIGHTWISH guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, have inked a deal with Spinefarm Records.

Unashamedly taking a bow to their influences from the '80s — VAN HALEN, JOURNEY and other chartbusters of old — BROTHER FIRETRIBE's sound features "killer vocal harmonies and airy keyboard lines that will stick to your head like a misplaced bubble gum," according to a press release. "The cherries on the pie are Pekka Heino's smooth, dreamy voice and Emppu Vuorinen's guitar work, with his immaculate sense of style, rich tone and trademark sound which can't be mistaken, as the hundreds of thousands of fans of NIGHTWISH can attest."

BROTHER FIRETRIBE are:

Pekka Ansio Heino (LEVERAGE) - vocals
Emppu Vuorinen (NIGHTWISH) - guitar
Jason Flinck - bass, backing vocals
Tomppa Nikulainen - keyboards

"One Single Breath" single track listing:

01. One Single Breath (edit) (3:56)
02. Mighty Wings (4:14)

"False Metal" track listing:

01. Break Out (4:43)
02. Valerie (4:51)
03. I'm On Fire (4:59)
04. Love Goes Down (5:02)
05. Devil’s Daughter (4:12)
06. Midnite Queen (4:26)
07. One Single Breath (4:23)
08. Lover Tonite (3:46)
09. Spanish Eyes (4:47)
10. Kill City Kid (3:38)

For audio samples, check out www.myspace.com/brotherfiretribe.

The cover artwork for LEAVES' EYES new mini-album, entitled "Legend Land", has been posted online at this location.

"Legend Land" will be released for the price of a single at the end of May/beginning of June in connection with the band's upcoming tours, which includes dates througout Europe, USA, Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand.

"Legend Land" track listing:

01. Legend Land
02. Skraelings
03. Viking's Word
04. The Crossing
05. Lyset
06. Legend Land (Extended Version)

Vocalist Alex Krull explains: "At first we'd planned to release a single from the 'Vinland Saga' album. However, we decided to record a complete EP with brand new and exclusive songs. This is our way of saying thank you to our fans and their great support. The past tours were amazing! As we will tour a lot this year it will take a while until we have finished our next full-length album. These five powerful and atmospheric tracks developed out of a couple of new brilliant ideas."

Vocalist Liv Kristine adds: "The new songs sound fantastic. They are very strong. We had a wonderful time continuing our work with the Viking concept and making further discoveries."

Swedish metallers CLOUDSCAPE will release their sophomore album, "Crimson Skies", in Europe on June 3 via Metal Heaven. Japanese and U.S. release dates for the CD have yet to be announced. "Crimson Skies" was recorded at RoastingHouse studio in Malmö with producers Anders "Theo" Theander and Pontus Lindmark. Artwork for the album is being handled by Mattias Norén.

CLOUDSCAPE frontman Mike Andersson recently finished recording vocals for the Swiss project-band SILENT MEMORIAL's second album. The CD will be mixed and mastered in the RoastingHouse studio sometime in late spring or early summer 2006. Release dates are yet to be confirmed since SILENT MEMORIAL are currently searching for a suitable record label to release the album.

SILENT MEMORIAL released their debut album in 1998 in Asia with Thomas Vikstrom (STORMWIND, BRAZEN ABBOT, ex-CANDLEMASS) on vocals.

Swedish metallers BLINDED COLONY have inked a deal with Pivotal Rockordings. The band will enter Sound Palace Studios later this month to begin the recording process for their sophomore effort. A late 2006 release is expected.

BLINDED COLONY was formed in 2000 by guitarists Johan Blomström and Tobias Olsson, and vocalist Niklas Svensson. In 2003, the band released their debut album, "Divine", through Italy's Scarlet Records. The following year, BLINDED COLONY parted ways with both Scarlet Records and vocalist Niklas Svensson. In 2005 Johan Schuster (Skörda) took over vocal duties and the band cut a demo, which caught Pivotal Rockordings' attention. The tracks "In Here" and "Aaron's Sons" can be heard at the band's web site.

Sanctuary Visual Entertainment has set a June 20 U.S. release date for the three-disc DVD release of IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's "Anthology" (view artwork here). This is the definitive Dickinson package, and includes over six hours of videos and live performances, and previously unreleased and archive material.

Bruce says: "It's fantastic to share all of this collection with my fans. These DVDs contain rare material that people either won't know exists or have been unable to buy. The SAMSON video has changed hands for absurd amounts of money, and although we spent loads of time and had and lots and lots of fun making the promos, and because MTV didn't show them many of won't have been seen. It was high time they were all available together in one package."

DVD Disc 1 is a live performance extravaganza boasting 30 show-stopping tracks, recorded during the '90s as Bruce forged ahead with his solo career. "Dive Dive Live" was recorded at the Town and Country Club, Los Angeles on the "Tattooed Millionaire" tour on August 14, 1990. This was Bruce's first outing as a solo artist with a new band made up of Janick Gers (guitar), Andy Carr (bass) and Dickie Fliszar (drums).

"Dive Dive Live" track listing:

01. Riding With The Angels
02. Born In '58
03. Lickin' The Gun
04. Gypsy Road
05. Dive Dive Dive
06. Drum Solo
07. Zulu Zulu
08. The Ballad Of Mutt
09. Son Of A Gun
10. Hell On Wheels
11. All The Young Dudes
12. Tattooed Millionaire
13. No Lies
14. Fog On The Tyne
15. Winds Of Change
16. Sin City
17. Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter
18. Black Night

The second live-in-concert performance offered up on Disc 1 was filmed over two sweaty back-to-back dates during the "Skunkworks" tour in Pamplona and Gerona, Spain on May 31 and June 1, 1996. Bruce was fronting a new young band, with a new name, and was joined on stage by Alex Dickson (guitar), Chris Dale (bass) and a certain infamous Italian drummer, Alessandro Elena. Originally created for a four-track video EP release in Japan, this is the hour-long "Skunkworks" concert in full, for the very first time.

"Skunkworks Live" track listing:

01. Space Race
02. Back From The Edge
03. Tattooed Millionaire
04. Inertia
05. Faith
06. Meltdown
07. I Will Not Accept The Truth
08. Laughing In The Hiding Bush
09. Tears Of The Dragon
10. God's Not Coming Back
11. Dreamstate
12. The Prisoner

DVD Disc 2 keeps the live-in-concert experience alive with rare footage of Bruce performing in Sao Paulo, 1999 during the "Chemical Wedding" world tour. Almost two hours in length, "Scream For Me Brazil" represents Bruce's last outing as a true solo artist before rejoining the ranks of MAIDEN shortly afterwards. No official film recording was permitted although this film taken from the crowd screen feeds features highlights of the show which later become a live album of the same name. With a new heavier lineup made up of long time songwriting partner Roy Z (guitar), old MAIDEN partner Adrian Smith and rhythm section of Dave Ingraham (drums) and Eddie Casillas (bass), this "bootleg" documents Bruce at his most intense.

"Scream For Me Brazil" track listing:

01. King In Crimson
02. Gates Of Urizen
03. Killing Floor
04. Book Of Thel
05. Tears Of The Dragon
06. Laughing In The Hiding Bush
07. Accident Of Birth
08. The Tower
09. Darkside Of Aquarius
10. The Road To Hell

DVD Disc 3 is an extensive collection of promotional videos made during Bruce's solo career. From his days at EMI through to his own self-produced videos of recent times, each video is accompanied by a short introduction by Bruce himself, discussing the ideas, concepts and eventual filming behind each of the videos. Each intro provides an interesting insight into Bruce's solo career as it progressed and the highlights and pitfalls of producing your own promotional videos.

Alongside the 14 promotional videos, Disc 3 also includes over an hour's worth of extras. The "Tyranny Of Souls" interview was originally filmed as a general interview for press purposes. This is a track-by-track breakdown of the concept behind the songs on the "Tyranny Of Souls" album, providing more of an in-depth look at the writing methods that Bruce has formed with longtime writing partner Roy Z.

SAMSON – "Biceps Of Steel": Bruce made his video debut fronting SAMSON in this rather curious adaptation of the story of Samson and Delilah, filmed at the Rainbow Theatre, London. Filmed and directed by Julien Temple who perhaps was more famous for the SEX PISTOLS movie "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle", this 15-minute featurette was distributed through-out cinemas as a support feature to Hazel O' Connor's "Breaking Glass" in 1980.

Promotional videos:

01. Tattooed Millionaire
02. All The Young Dudes
03. Dive Dive Dive
04. Born In '58
05. Tears Of The Dragon
06. Shoot All The Clowns
07. Back From The Edge
08. Inertia
09. Accident Of Birth
10. Road To Hell
11. Man Of Sorrows
12. Killing Floor
13. The Tower
14. Abduction

Due to "manufacturing issues," Season of Mist has pushed back the release date of the ARCTURUS DVD, entitled "Shipwrecked in Oslo", to May 22 from the previously announced April 24. The disc contains footage of the band's September 24, 2005 appearance at the Sonic Solstice Festival at Rockefeller in Oslo, Norway.

Check out the "Shipwrecked in Oslo" cover artwork at this location.

ARCTURUS' current lineup includes DIMMU BORGIR bassist Simen Hestnaes (a.k.a. ICS Vortex, ex-BORKNAGAR, LAMENTED SOULS) on lead vocals. Hestnaes had previously performed vocals on three tracks and written the lyrics for one song on ARCTURUS' 1997 album, "La Masquerade Infernale".

Arlington Heights, Illinois-based death metallers ENFORSAKEN have uploaded their cover of the DEATH classic "Crystal Mountain" on their MySpace.com page at this location. "This cover was recorded in early 2002 and is the last recording featuring drummer Patrick O'Keefe," the band write on their web site. "The [recording] was intended for a DEATH tribute album, but the [CD] was never released. We recorded this song in only two takes, straight through, so try not to be too hard on us. We think it came out pretty cool. It's been sitting in a box for four years. Time to get it out there. Download it! Hope you like it!"

ENFORSAKEN's new album, "Sinner's Intuition", was released on March 7 via Crash Music Inc.. The follow-up to 2004's "Forever Endeavor" (Olympic/Century Media) was recorded at Studio One in Racine, Wisconsin with engineer/owner Chris Djuricic and assistant Aaron Brigman. The album was mastered at The Bolier Room Studios in Chicago, IL with Collin Jordan.

"Sinner's Intuition" features back-up vocals from Swedish multi-instrumentalist/producer Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, PAN THY MONIUM).

Sweden's KATATONIA have selected the track "Deliberation" as the second single from their new album, "The Great Cold Distance".

Due on May 15, the single will also include 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". Furthermore, a video for "Deliberation" was once again shot and directed by Charlie Granberg and will accompany by the single. According to a posting on the band's web site, "The direction of the clip takes a more abstract turn this time, so be sure to expect a dark mixture of reality and animation."

"Deliberation" single track listing:

01. Deliberation
02. In The White (urban dub)
03. Code Against the Code
04. Deliberation (video)

As previously reported, KATATONIA's video for their new single, "My Twin", has been posted online at this location. It was also included as a bonus feature on the box edition of the group's new full-length album, "The Great Cold Distance".

The follow-up to 2003's "Viva Emptiness", "The Great Cold Distance" was recorded at Fascination Street studios in the outskirts of Örebro, Sweden and was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.

Limb Music Products has set an October 20 European release date for the new album from the German melodic metal band DOMAIN. The 20th anniversary limited-edition version of the CD will be released in digipack format featuring plenty of visual bonus material, including TV show recordings, live performances, backstage footage, plus additional footage taken from the musicians' private archives. The special CD will also include recordings of some of the band's classic anthems as bonus tracks. Fans are invited to send their suggestions for the bonus material to poll@domainband.de. 10 lucky people will receive a copy of this limited-edition CD when it is released.

Roadrunner Records has set a July 3 release date for the new BLACK LABEL SOCIETY album "Shot to Hell". A couple of photos of the band in the studio recording the album with producer Michael Beinhorn (SOUNDGARDEN, OZZY OSBOURNE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) have been posted online at RockConcertFotos.com.

Due this summer, "Shot to Hell" will be BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's first release for Roadrunner. The album is the follow-up to "Mafia", which debuted in March 2005 at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and at #1 on the Top Independent Albums chart. The top rock track "In This River" from "Mafia" will be on the upcoming "MTV2 Headbangers Ball: The Revenge" album, due out April 11. BLS, who were just announced as the Ozzfest second stage headliner, will tour the world extensively in support of the new album. Zakk is currently finishing up the newest from BLS and writing and recording with Ozzy Osbourne for his new album.

German metallers METALIUM have uploaded the cover artwork for their upcoming DVD, "Metalian Attack – Part 2", at this location. The disc includes footage from the band's Sept. 23, 2005 concert at the Jahnhalle in Nordenham, Germany plus material from the group's appearance at the Bloodstock festival in the U.K., where the group reportedly performed for more than 2,000 people. A mid-May release is expected.

METALIUM's fifth studio album, "Demons of Insanity - Chapter Five", was released last year via Armageddon Music (Crash Music, Inc. in the U.S.). The CD was recorded at Jumpower studios in Mallorca and Tornado studios in Hamburg with producer/bassist Lars Ratz. Guesting on the album, once again, was legendary keyboardist Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE, OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE).

Swedish metallers CENTINEX have officially called it quits. The group's statement on the matter reads as follows:

"We hereby announce that after 16 years in the business the Swedish death metal act CENTINEX call it quits. This might come as a surprise to many of you, especially after releasing such a strong and critically acclaimed album as 'World Declension'. However, things came to such a point where the only solution was to call it a day. Without going too deep into all the details I can tell you that there are many reasons (personal, musical etc) for this decision and believe me, everything is well thought out. Hereby we stop all band activities and our farewell show will be the already booked appearance in Eskilstuna, Sweden, on May 13th.

"We wanna thank and salute each and everyone out there who have supported us in some way during all these years. Of course, all the members will go on with metal, jointly and individually, in various bands and projects. So you will sure hear from us in the near future."

CENTINEX's last album, "World Declension", was released in North America in September via Candlelight Records USA. The album received a European release in June 2005 through Cold/Regain Records.

Sweden's CRYSTAL EYES entered their own Crystal Sounds studio last Wednesday (March 29) with producer Fredrik Nordström to begin recording their new album, "Dead City Dreaming", for a late 2006 release. The recordings will be finished by the summer, and the plan is for Nordström to start mixing the album at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg the first week of September.

According to a posting on the band's web site, the projected title track's lyrics are based upon the short story "The Call of Cthulhu" by H.P. Lovecraft, which is also being used as an inspiration for the ideas that are currently being tossed around for the cover artwork. The artwork will once again be created by Mattias Norén.

"Dead City Dreaming" tentative track listing (in no particular order):

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

CRYSTAL EYES' upcoming CD will be the group's first since the addition of Danish singer Søren Nico Adamsen, who is also a member of STARRATS. The band's fourth full-length album, "Confessions of the Maker", was issued early last year. Their first two albums, "World of Black and Silver" (1999) and "In Silence They March" (2000), were re-released at the same time.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"[I] spent the last few days tracking with [Glen Drover, guitar] and [Shawn Drover, drums], and it is the coolest thing to see them be a part of it for real now. And yesterday especially, was an interesting guitar day, when I witnessed the moment the songs went from an idea in my head to [Glen] getting it. And he is such a great player that each song immediately comes to life as soon as he played on it.

"Got some good news to report coming up this week and I wanted to personally thank every one of you that helped our new DVD ['The Arsenal of Megadeth'] debut at #6 in America.

"This is going to be a great year!!!"

MEGADETH's appearance at this year's Desert Rock 2006 festival on March 16 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates marked their debut performance with new bassist James Lomenzo, who has previously played with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and WHITE LION, among others.

Lomenzo joined MEGADETH as the replacement for James MacDonough (ex-ICED EARTH), who was fired from the group on February 10, 2006 due to "personal differences."

MASTERPLAN, the German/Norwegian band featuring ex-HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow, ex-HELLOWEEN drummer Uli Kusch and former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/ARK singer Jorn Lande, will enter the studio in September to begin recording their third album, tentatively due in March 2007 via AFM Records. The recordings are expected to last through October and will once again be overseen by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, EXODUS).

MASTERPLAN's sophomore full-length album, "Aeronautics", came out in January 2005 via AFM. Lande last month entered the Norwegian national album at position No. 54 with his fourth solo album, "The Duke" (AFM). The CD was produced by Lande and PAGAN'S MIND guitarist Jörn Viggo Lofstad, and was mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark by Tommy Hansen.

A representative for GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose has shot down persistent rumors that former GNR members Slash, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan are in talks with Rose about taking part in a "reunion" tour this summer. The rumors gained strength a couple of days ago when unconfirmed reports surfaced that Slash had picked up his gear from VELVET REVOLVER's rehearsal studios after allegedly announcing that he was leaving the band.

Rumors of trouble in the VELVET REVOLVER camp have been swirling around the group for the past few months, with several reports suggesting that much of the strife between Slash and the rest of the camp stems from Slash's wife Perla's alleged involvement in the band's business affairs. The situation allegedly came to a head last week after an attempt was made by attorneys to mediate in matters related to the lawsuits filed by Slash, Duff and Axl over the rights to the old GNR songs.

Slash and Duff, who left GNR in the 1990s and are joined in VELVET REVOLVER by ex-GNR drummer Matt Sorum and former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland, had filed suits in 2004 and 2005 seeking the rights to the early GNR material, accusing Rose of killing deals that would have put their songs in a half-dozen movies, including "Old School" and "Black Hawk Down". Rose filed a counterclaim last month asking a Federal Court to confirm his ownership of his "creative works" and defending his decision to choose when to license the music and to whom.

At press time, there has been no official comment from the VELVET REVOLVER camp regarding any of the rumors currently making the rounds. It is also not presently clear if VELVET REVOLVER will go ahead with their previously announced plans to enter the studio on April 10 to begin recording the follow-up to their double-platinum 2004 debut, "Contraband".

Reunited Swedish hard rockers EUROPE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We're now getting very close to start recording our new album. We've decided to work yet again in good old Stockholm. The rehersal and pre-production will take place this spring, starting in May, and we're aiming to have the album recorded and mixed by July. The plan is then to have the CD ready for release in October/November. The production will be handled by us (EUROPE), and it will be recorded and engineered by Pontus Norgren [ex-TALISMAN, GREAT KING RAT, THE POODLES], who was also our live sound engineer during the 'Start From The Dark Tour'. At the moment, we have about 15-17 song ideas. Joey [Tempest, vocals] is writing in London, [John] Norum [guitar] in L.A. Mic [Michaeli, keyboards], Ian [Haugland, drums] and [Jon] Leven [bass] in Stockholm. We will probably record 12 tracks for the CD. Everything is running very smooth and there is a chance we'll meet up for one more writing session before we start the pre-production. We have a really great feeling about the new album, and we can't wait to get started so that we can get out on the road and see you guys again."

As previously reported, EUROPE's acoustic version of "Yesterday's News", recorded during an appearance on the Stockholm, Sweden radio station 106.7 Rockklassiker on December 7, 2005, has been made available for download at this location.

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."

Frontman Johnny Hedlund of the legendary Swedish death metallers UNLEASHED has issued the following update via the group's official web site:

"UNLEASHED are currently in the studio, completing the pre-production of our eighth full-length album. We have more qualified songs to choose from than ever before, and I am very confident that this will be the best UNLEASHED album ever. Our mission is to create one of the most memorable records in the history of death metal!!!

"This one will be slightly faster than 'Sworn Allegiance'. The songs will be anthems in the true traditional UNLEASHED way and will have you screaming along with the choruses. The guitar sound will be taking a step towards brutality and grind. The drums are the closest we have ever come to recording a 'live' kind of intensity. The vocals? Well, not far away from 'Sworn Allegiance'... just add a little harshness and a slightly deep aggression to that sound and you'll get the picture right there.

"Expect nothing but one of the most memorable records in the history of death metal."

UNLEASHED recently utilized the services of stand-in drummer Jonas Tyskhagen (INCARDINE, PELLE & THE POORBOYS) for their appearance at the Metalmania festival in Katowice, Poland after the group's regular skinsman, Anders Schultz was hospitalized following a lung-collapse.

UNLEASHED's seventh studio album, "Sworn Allegiance", was released in 2004 through Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Hell's Unleashed" was recorded and mixed by Fredrik Folkare at Chrome Studios and mastered by Peter In de Betou of Tailor Maid Productions (DIMMU BORGIR, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA).

San Francisco power/thrash metallers IMAGIKA have signed a licensing deal with Crash Music Inc. for the North American release of the band's new CD, "My Bloodied Wings", due on July 11. A full-length MP3 of the song "Forever Darkened" has been made available for download at this location (6.1 MB). The follow-up to last year's "Devils on Both Sides" was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California and was mixed at Los Angered Recording in Gothenburg, Sweden with Andy LaRocque of KING DIAMOND fame.

"My Bloodied Wings" track listing:

01. The Tongue of Nyx
02. Hunter's Moon
03. Second Coming
04. Throw the Horns
05. Heart of Icarus
06. Weaken,br>
07. The Darkest of All Secrets
08. Inhuman
09. One More Day
10. Forever Darkened
11. My Bloodied Wings

Swedish death metallers NECROPHOBIC will release their fifth album, "Hrimthursum", on May 22 via Regain Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Bloodhymns" was recorded at the House of Voodoo Studio with engineers Anders Bentell and Fredrik Folkare (guitarist and producer of UNLEASHED) and was mastered at Tailor Maid Production in Stockholm with Peter In de Betou.

"Hrimthursum" (a word taken from the old Norse mythology which means "The Frost Giants") will feature the following track listing:

01. The Slaughter of Baby Jesus
02. Blinded vy Light, Enlightened by Darkness
03. I Strike with Wrath
04. Age of Chaos
05. Bloodshed Eyes
06. The Crossing
07. Eternal Winter
08. Death Immaculate
09. Sitra Ahra
10. Serpents (Beneath the Forest of the Dead)
11. Black Hate
12. Hrimthursum

Check out the "Hrimthursum" cover artwork at this location.

Legendary Swedish death metallers GRAVE have set "As Rapture Comes" as the title of their new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. Recorded at Studio Soulless in Stockholm and mixed by Peter Tägtgren at The Abyss Studio, the follow-up to 2004's b>"Fiendish Regression" contains "the most brutal songs and sound that we have ever created," according to a posting on the band's official web site. More information will be made available soon.

GRAVE's latest CD, "Fiendish Regression", was released in August 2004 through Century Media Records. The group's sixth full-length effort was recorded and mixed at Abyss studio with producers Tommy and Peter Tägtgren. 11 tracks were recorded for the album, including nine brand new songs, a cover version of the SAINT VITUS classic "Burial At Sea" and a re-recording of an old GRAVE song, "Autopsied", which was originally written and recorded for promotion in 1989.

GRAVE recently completed the "The Domination Tour 2006" alongside CRYPTOPSY, DEW-SCENTED, ABORTED and VESANIA.

WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale is putting the finishing touches on the lyrics for the four new songs the band will be adding to their upcoming double live album, tentatively due later in the year. The set is currently being assembled and the group are preparing to begin the mixing process. If all goes well, WHITESNAKE may even perform one of the songs on their upcoming tour, which is scheduled to kick off in early May in Japan. European dates will follow through early July.

As previously reported, David Coverdale is tentatively planning on releasing a video compilation featuring all the WHITESNAKE clips, the COVERDALE/PAGE videos and as-yet-undisclosed "not-so-well-known" clips.

WHITESNAKE recently issued their first single-disc retrospective via Hip-O/Geffen/UMe. Entitled "The Definitive Collection", the CD spans nearly every studio album issued by WHITESNAKE, including their pre-U.S. fame LPs "Snakebite" (1978, with the band's first hit, "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City"), "Lovehunter" (1979, with "Walking in the Shadow of the Blues" and "We Wish You Well"), "Ready An' Willing" (1980, with the title track) and "Come An' Get It" (1981, with "Don't Break My Heart Again").

The new Bloodflowerz album "Dark Love Poems“ is going to enchant the world. Still kept in the cold darkness of the pressing plant the poems are impatiently waiting to conquer your ears and souls. On 23rd June 2006 (G/A/S - rest of Europe 26th June) they will be unleashed.

Last weekend a listening session took place which gave a bunch of journalists a chance to give the record a first try. The musical and emotional passion of “Dark Love Poems” convinced them all. Hypnotic melodies, heartbreaking confessions full of grief, dreamy ballads and smashing discoveries of human cruelty are the varied plot which puts you through ups and downs of th ehope of love. Foolish or dreamy, unlimited or dejected, perfect or fictionary - love has many faces. Which one will you be looking at once? Eleven tracks covered in atmospheric sound costumes created by Alex Krull and topped up by Timo Wuerz’s fantastic artwork and unusual pix from Spooky Sally. “Dark Love Poems” is a very special and deep going record with an attitude.

Candlelight Records has set a June 26 release date for the new album from Sweden's WOLVERINE, entitled "Still".

"Still" was recorded in part at Spacelab studio in Tönisvorst, Germany. The follow-up to 2003's "Cold Light of Monday" was produced by Oliver Philipps, Christian "Moschus" Moos and WOLVERINE and was mixed at the end of August.

"Still" track listing:

01. A House of Plague
02. Bleeding
03. Taste of Sand
04. Nothing More
05. Sleepy Town
06. Liar on the Mount
07. Hiding
08. This Cold Heart of Mine
09. And She Slowly Dies

Check out the "Still" cover artwork at this location.