A new SPAWN OF POSSESSION e-card, containing two tracks ("Lash by Lash" and "By a Thousand Deaths Fullfilled") from the Swedish technical death metal outfit's sophomore album, "Noctambulant", can be accessed at this location.

"Noctambulant" is scheduled for release this spring via Neurotic Records. The CD was recorded at Pama Studios in Kristianopel, Sweden with producer Magnus Sedenberg and contains 10 tracks, one being an instrumental intro, as well as several guest contributions, to be revealed later on.

"Noctambulant" track listing:

1. Inception
   
2. Lash by Lash
   
3. Solemn they Await
   
4. Render my Prey
   
5. Eve of Contempt
   
6. Sour Flow
   
7. By a Thousand Deaths Fulfilled
   
8. Dead & Grotesque
   
9. In My Own Greed
   
10. Scorched
    

The album cover, created by Pär Olofsson (PSYCROPTIC), has been posted online at this location.

SPAWN OF POSSESSION's debut album, "Cabinet", was released in 2003.

Danish extreme metallers PANZERCHRIST have completed work on their new album, "Batallion Beast", tentatively due late spring/summer through Neurotic Records. "In spite of lineup changes and various fuck-ups, the new album sounds killer," the band write on their web site.

In other news, PANZERCHRIST have abandoned plans to include lyrics written entirely in German for their follow-up to 2003's "Room Service" (Mighty Music). "We decided to go with English lyrics (after all, who won the war?!?!?)," the group write on their web site.

Check out pictures from the recording sessions at Panzerchrist.com.

The recordings for "Batallion Beast" took place at Smart 'n Hard studios with Jakob Bredahl and at Zigsound with Ziggy, who also mixed the album. The drums on the CD were laid down by Reno Kiilerich (DIMMU BORGIR, VILE, DEW-SCENTED, while the bass was handled by the group's latest addition, Karina Bundgaard, who replaced Dea Lillelund (FAIRYTALE ABUSE).

Finnish goth-metallers TO/DIE/FOR have entered the studio to begin recording their fifth album, tentatively due in October. Drums, bass and guitars are being recorded by Samu Oittinen, while J. J. Nippala will take care of the keyboards, vocals and other "strange sonics," according to a posting on the band's web site. Check out pictures from the studio at this location.

TO/DIE/FOR recently parted ways with guitarist Mika "Alli" Ahtiainen. The band are not currently seeking a replacement and are recording the new effort as a four-piece.

TO/DIE/FOR's new CD will be the follow-up to the "IV" album, which was recorded at Sonicimage studios in Kouvola, Finland and was mixed at Finnvox studios in Helsinki with Mikko Karmila.

The current TO/DIE/FOR lineup is consists of vocalist Jarno "Jape" Perätalo, ex-SOULRELIC axeman Antza Talala, ex-NEW DAWN FOUNDATION drummer/ex-TO/DIE/FOR drum tech Santtu Lonka, and bassist Jarkko "Josey" Strandmann (ex-NEW DAWN FOUNDATION).

W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless has told Tom Lounges of the NWITimes.com that he will start recording the group's next, as-yet-untitled album in the beginning of April, with a target release date in September via his current label Sanctuary Records.

While a lion's share of the set list on W.A.S.P.'s current tour is comprised of MTV hits and fan favorites spanning the band's vast musical canon, fans will be treated to at least one brand new, never before recorded song in each city the band visits.

"To be honest, the whole reason that we are even out on the road doing this short three-week run of dates, is to try out some of the brand new material we've written for the next album in front of a live audience," noted Lawless. "We'll most likely play just one new song at every show, but over the course of three weeks, if we do a different song in each town, we'll get an idea on how the new stuff is going to work."

When he first broke big during the "hair metal" days of the early 1980s declaring "I Wanna Be Somebody," Lawless had no idea that nearly a quarter-century later he still would be recording and touring under the W.A.S.P.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think back then, that I would be talking to the press in 2006 about a new W.A.S.P. album," reflected the rocker who's now in his early 50s.

"The only thing a band tries to do when they start out is to keep one foot in front of the other, which in reality is what we're still doing. At that point in your career, you just want a record deal and to hit the road and play for people. You don't project that far ahead."

Daytona Beach, Florida's THE AUTUMN OFFERING have completed work on their sophomore album, tentatively due in May via Victory Records. The CD, which was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Orlando, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (GOD FORBID, TRIVIUM), "is being mastered as we speak and it sounds AMAZING," the band write on their web site. "We can't wait to let you guys hear this new stuff."

THE AUTUMN OFFERING's debut album, "Revelations of the Unsung", was reissued through Victory Records in January. The new version of "Revelations of the Unsung" includes the "Revelation" video as well as other special features.

"Revelations of the Unsung" was originally issued through HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta's Stillborn label. Jasta also produced the effort at Planet Z studios in Massachusetts.

ANOTHER LIFE, the Swedish project featuring Andreas Karlsson (ex-PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER) and Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, PAN THY MONIUM), have had the release date for their debut album, "Memories from Nothing" (VIC Records), pushed back to April 10 from the previously announced March 20. No reason was given for the delay. A teaser MP3 containing selections from the album can be downloaded at this location.

"Memories from Nothing" (view cover here) projected track listing:

1. Firstborn Unicorn
   
2. Falling Apart
   
3. The End Of Days
   
4. I Am Nothing
   
5. Cotton Pines
   
6. Everlasting
   
7. The Last Goodbye
   
8. The Everflow
   
9. Poltava (Part I, Part II, Part III)
   

VH1 has officially begun production on a "Behind the Music" special on PANTERA. A photo of ex-PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul being interviewed by Eric of VH1 for the upcoming program can be viewed at this location. An exact date for the show has not yet been announced.

PANTERA's career overview CD, "The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!" (Elektra/Rhino), was certified platinum on January 13, 2006 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of one million copies in the U.S.

The 16-song "Vulgar Hits!" CD, originally issued in September 2003, was packaged with a bonus DVD boasting 12 videos, including two live performances. The bulk of the material was culled from the band's six major-label releases, but also included were non-album cuts "Cat Scratch Fever" (a cover of the TED NUGENT song that originally appeared on the Polygram soundtrack to "Detroit Rock City") and the BLACK SABBATH cover "Hole in the Sky", previously available only on import.

PANTERA's classic "Vulgar Display of Power" (Elektra) album was certified double-platinum in 2004, signifying shipments of more than 2,000,000 units in the U.S. since its February 25, 1992 release.

As previously reported, Rhino Video has set an April 4 release date for PANTERA's "3 Vulgar Videos From Hell" three-DVD set featuring all the band's videos as well as live footage shot during the Monsters of Rock gig in Moscow.

Originally released on DVD in 1999, this version features the same content with improved menus and all-new Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. In fact, it is the first PANTERA release ever in 5.1 Surround Sound. It features: "Cowboys From Hell The Videos", "Vulgar Video", "3 Watch It Go", and "Pantera Live From Monsters of Rock In Moscow".

MESS, the Finnish Metal band featuring bassist Jari Kainulainen (ex-STRATOVARIUS), drummer Atte Sarkima (AJATTARA, VERENPISARA), vocalist Tommi "Tuple" Salmela (TAROT, CARDIANT) and guitarist Elias Viljainen (E.VIL), have finished mixing their new five-song demo with Samu Oittinen (DIABLO) at Fantom Studio in Tampere, Finland.

Comment the band in a posting at their official forum: "These new Mess songs are very riff-oriented Metal occasionally like BLACK SABBATH and PANTERA, but still very unique sounding. With raw vocals occasionally reaching very high notes and screaming guitar leads that will drill a hole in your skull as the drum and bass will continuously keep on that outrageous beat. You can hear the outcome as soon as we get the updates to our site. Stay MESSmerized!!"

Tracks on the demo include 'Demolished By Fire', 'Anathematized', 'Schizophrenia', 'Behind The Gates' and 'Angel's Cry'. Audio samples are available at the band’s website.

IT DIES TODAY will enter the studio in April to record their new album, set to be released in early September. The band has been locked away in their own personal studio for the past three months, crafting an album that Nick Brooks, lead vocalist says "is a more maturely written departure from strict metal-core. This is everything we wanted to do on the last record, with less emphasis on screaming, and a strong focus on musicianship." The band is recording with famed producer Gggarth Richardson, who has worked in the past with bands as diverse as RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, RISE AGAINST, ATREYU, and THE JESUS LIZARD. The album will be co-produced by guitarist Mike Hatalak. Nick gave a preview glimpse into one of the new songs that deals with the ramblings of serial killer Aileen Wurnos, the female prostitute on whom the movie "Monster" is based, saying, "This is one of our more catchier tunes, ironically. I'm used to writing lyrics that tend to be dark and haunting, and this story really intrigued me." Nick took what is known to be her last words and made a song out of his interpretation.

The band will hit the road once they finish recording the album, their first tour in May, to the U.K. with good friends and fellow Buffalonians EVERY TIME I DIE. They two have toured together before, and always have a good time on the road. Of his fan base in the U.K., Nick says "The kids in the U.K. are always so psyched to see us. They have a genuine enthusiasm and love of music." A week after returning from the U.K. they will begin their own headlining tour with HASTE THE DAY, CHIODOS, and THE SHOWDOWN, followed by a spot on Warped Tour with labelmates EIGHTEEN VISIONS. "We are really pumped about Warped Tour, because we are given a chance to reach a different audience then our usual crowd." The band is known for their dominating stage presence, and has toured in the past with a myriad of artists, including a spot on last year's Ozzfest with BLEEDING THROUGH, and headlining tours supported by TRIVIUM, TWELVE TRIBES, and ALL THAT REMAINS, among others.

Montreal deathcore act GHOULUNATICS will be taking a short break in order to finish writing the the material for their fifth studio album, tentatively due in September/October.A Canadian tour will follow the album's release. The band are presently in talks about a possible return to Europe and are trying to secure distribution for the new album overseas.

GHOULUNATICS' fourth studio album, "Sabacthany", came out in May 2004 through Galy Records. A live album, entitled "It's Alive!", received a simultaneous release.

"Sabacthany" was recorded at Wild Studio by Yannick St-Amand, and was mixed and mastered by Pierre Rémillard (CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN, GORGUTS). "It's Alive!" was recorded on Halloween 2003 in Montreal, Canada by Mathieu Bérubé, and was mixed and mastered by Yannick St-Amand.

GHOULUNATICS released a 10th anniversary DVD, "Blood Curdling Years", last year via Galy Records/F.A.B. distribution.

The recording of the Ave End follow-up is now complete. Germany's own Lacrima's Profundere's latest work is called "Filthy notes for frozen hearts" and was produced by none other than John Fryer ( HIM, Depeche Mode, Paradise Lost, Cradle of Filth), who had this to say: "...this album has an inmense potential to become very successful—even more successful than HIM with Razorblade Romance".
The videoclip to the band's first single, "again it's over" has also been completed.
The track is the perfect example of how a band should go about combining the sounds of the rock guitar with an irresistable groove and a chorus that sticks.  Anyone who had the chance to see the band live last summer knows they rock.

SCAR SYMMETRY, the Swedish melodic death metal band featuring members of THEORY IN PRACTICE, INCAPACITY, and CENTINEX, will release their second album, "Pitch Black Progress", in North America on May 2 via Nuclear Blast Records. The final track listing is as follows:

1. The Illusionist
   
2. Slaves to the Subliminal
   
3. Mind Machine
   
4. Pitch Black Progress
   
5. Calculate the Apocalypse
   
6. Dreaming 24/7
   
7. Abstracted
   
8. The Kaleidoscopic God
   
9. Retaliator
   
10. Oscillation Point
    
11. The Path of Least Resistance
    

According to SCAR SYMMETRY drummer Henrik Ohlsson (who has proudly expanded his family with a new son, Melvin, born in late January), the band will be flying to Serbia to re-shoot a video for the song "The Illusionist" in mid-March with iCODE, who produced the last DEATHSTARS video.

In addition to their show in June with DARKANE in Stockholm, Sweden, SCAR SYMMETRY will be joining labelmates HYPOCRISY, SOILWORK, AMORPHIS, and ONE MAN ARMY & THE UNDEAD QUARTET in April for the Neckbreaker's Ball tour and will perform at the Wacken, Earthshaker, Summer Breeze, Metal Camp, and ProgPower festivals in Europe.

Norwegian black metallers CREST OF DARKNESS are currently working on material for their fifth full-length album, tentatively titled "Give Us the Power to Do Your Evil". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Your Demons", "Revenge Complete" and "Death and Pleasure". No further information is available at this time.

CREST OF DARKNESS' fourth album, "Evil Knows Evil", was released in early 2004 through My Kingdom Music. The follow-up to 2000's "Project Regenration" was recorded at MLP Studio in Gjvik, Norway with co-producer/engineer Nils H. Mhlum. Mastering took place at Outer Sound Studios with Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE).

Swedish death/black metallers BLOODSHED will enter Necromorbus studio on March 27 with producer Vidar Widgren to record a new full-length album, entitled "Stale Cold Cell Recital". 10 songs will be recorded for the follow-up to the "Blade Eleventh" mini-CD, which was released last year via Cursed Division.

"Stale Cold Cell Recital" projected track listing:

1. Humanity
   
2. Cell
   
3. Haereticus
   
4. (Intro) Pieces
   
5. Pieces
   
6. Headless Idol
   
7. Death Indulgence
   
8. Cravings
   
9. (untitled instrumental track)
   
10. Prophecies of Man
    

The "Blade Eleventh" mini-CD contained seven tracks (four new cuts and three re-mastered bonus songs) and was recorded at Necromorbus in February 2004. It was also engineered, mixed and mastered by Vidar Widgren.

Chicago's SOIL will be shooting a video for the track "Give It Up" with director Noah Shulman in their hometown on Saturday, March 18. The song comes off the group's new album, "True Self", (view cover artwork here), which is scheduled for release on May 2 via DRT Entertainment. A track from the album, entitled "Fight for Life", is available for download at this location.

SOIL's follow-up to 2004's "Redefine" was recorded and mixed at Bomb Shelter studios in Los Angeles, California with producer Ulrich Wild (STATIC-X, TAPROOT). The upcoming CD will be the group's first to feature Cavalier, who previously fronted the California-based DIESEL MACHINE (also featuring ex-DAMAGEPLAN frontman Patrick Lachman on guitar). The band's original vocalist, Ryan McCombs, has since joined the Texas act DROWNING POOL.

SOIL will be opening for STAIND on several European shows beginning on March 20 in Stuttgart, Germany. The will also be supporting 10 YEARS on several Midwest dates in early April.

SOULGRIND, the Finnish band featuring former LULLACRY frontwoman Tanja "Whisper Lilith" Kemppainen (a.k.a. Tanya), will enter D studio on June 6 to begin recording their eighth album, tentatively titled "Pakana", for a late 2006 release. Seven songs have been completed so far for the follow-up to "The Origins of the Paganblood", which was issued in January 2005 via France's Holy Records.

In other news, SOULGRIND's founding member Lord Heikkinen and his wife welcomed their first child on March 1. A photo of the "new pagan" can be found at this location.

Lord Heikkinen has joined a new thrash/speed metal band called FIERCE as a bass player. FIERCE will enter the studio on March 27 to lay down some new songs. The group's music is being described as "very back-to-basics '80s speed/thrash in the vein of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, STONE, SLAYER and SODOM." An official web site will be launched soon at www.fiercemetal.org.

The power/thrash metal band AXEMASTER, who found success in the '80s and '90s with two albums released by Azra International and two CDs issued via Unisound Records, are currently being reformed by original lead guitarist and main songwriter Joe Sims, drummer Mike Hissam (formerly of BELLADONA and OMEN), and original vocalist/bassist Christopher Michael. This new version of the project "will definitely continue to be 100% true to the band's classic music and roots," according to a press release." A new CD is being planned that will include some new songs as well as new recordings of some of the band's past material (including the signature tunes "Death Before Dishonor" and "Crusades").

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/thebandaxemaster.

Finland's NIGHTWISH have posted the following message on their official web site:

"The hassle with the media seems to have died. We've been off tour for some months and we've had a nice and long vacation. It's time to get back to business.

"NIGHTWISH is currently and actively looking for a new singer/frontwoman for the band. We need the obvious things: Looks, charisma, courage, and, of course, a big voice. Good grasp of the English language is also very helpful. We don't necessarily need a classically trained vocalist like Tarja Turunen (the former vocalist). We welcome all kinds of styles and voices, natural and trained, from rock and pop to classical, and all that you can find in between. You should however be prepared to sing with a lot of dynamics and versatility. From loud and high to very sensitive stuff.

"You should preferably send us a CD containing 2-3 songs that you consider to be your best work. If you send an album, would you mark out 2-3 most important songs, please? If you record and send NIGHTWISH songs, then the most important thing is your PERSONAL TOUCH. Photographs are needed as well.

"We will look into different applications and all candidates, but doing it this way would save us some time and energy. If you think you have it, just send your stuff to our management, and we'll be happy to take you onboard."

All submissions should be sent to:

KING FOO ENTERTAINMENT LTD OY / EWO
Fredrikinkatu 61 A 7.krs/floor
FIN-00100 Helsinki
Finland

NIGHTWISH will be releasing a live CD/DVD package, entitled "End of an Era", on June 2 via Spinefarm Records in Finland and Nuclear Blast Records in the rest of Europe. "End of an Era" will contain recordings/footage of NIGHTWISH's final concert with singer Tarja Turunen, which took place on October 21 at the Hartwall arena in Helsinki, Finland.

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

Danish black metal band HORNED ALMIGHTY, featuring members of EXMORTEM and KOLDBORN, will release their new album, "The Devil's Music - Songs of Death and Damnation", on April 7 via Infernus Rex. The follow-up to 2004's "Black Metal Jesus" will feature 10 tracks of "kick-ass blasphemous black 'n' roll," according to a press release.

"The Devil's Music - Songs of Death and Damnation" (view cover artwork at this location) track listing:

1. Intro: Praefatio
   
2. Glorification...
   
3. Arrogance of the Wicked
   
4. Glorious Horror
   
5. Discipline of the Almighty (mp3)
   
6. The Devil's Music (mp3)
   
7. To Despise the Life
   
8. Malicious Mockery
   
9. Repentance
   
10. Cursed with Insight
    

"The Devil's Music - Songs of Death and Damnation" marks the recording debut with the band of new members Aries and Luger.

HORNED ALMIGHTY current lineup:

• S - Preaching
  
• Hellpig – 6-string blasphemy
  
• Aries – 6-string holocaust
  
• Luger – Low-end suffering
  
• Harm - Hellpounding
  

CHILDREN OF BODOM's video for the title track from their latest album, "Are You Dead Yet?", has been posted online at this location. The clip was shot in part at the Tavastia club in Helsinki, Finland on February 13. Additional footage for the video was filmed in the U.S.

The "Are You Dead Yet?" video will receive its MTV2 "Headbanger's Ball" premiere on Saturday, March 18 when members of CHILDREN OF BODOM are scheduled to appear as guests on the program.

Swedish film company Revolver, led by the director Patric Ullaeus, filmed CHILDREN OF BODOM's February 5 gig in Stockholm, Sweden for an upcoming DVD release. The "Trashed, Lost & Strungout" promotional video was filmed by Revolver and the company's most recent works include "Take This Life" by IN FLAMES and "Sorgens Kammer del II" by DIMMU BORGIR.

CHILDREN OF BODOM's North American headlining tour with CHIMAIRA and THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD will kick off on March 18 in New Haven, Connecticut. GOD FORBID will replace CHIMAIRA beginning on March 25 in Columbus, Ohio.

CHILDREN OF BODOM will be teaming up with SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON and THINE EYES BLEED for the Unholy Alliance Tour beginning in early June.

After a quite long period of silence covering L'ÂME IMMORTELLE, interesting news are on the way from viennna. Instead of hanging around and relaxing, we have been working hard on new material and the first results can be heard before summer will drive the darkness away.

Dein Herz is the logical consequence of the cooperation between us and Bastei Lübbe, one of the biggest publishing houses in germany, which began when L'ÂME IMMORTELLE provided the title track 5 Jahre for their series of E.A. Poe audio books last year. Now the band dug deeper into E.A. Poe's legacy and inspired by that recorded the track Dein Herz.

Flemish pagan metal band THEUDHO have set "The Völsunga Saga" as the title of their sophomore album, due this spring via Nepherex (home of such acts as KLUDDE, MORRIGU, WANHOOP and IRON CLAD). The follow-up to 2004 critically acclaimed debut album "Treachery" is currently being mixed by Raf (guitar player in ANCIENT RITES, AHRAÝEPH) at Rose Creek Studio and is conceptually based on a late 13th century Icelandic manuscript, the counterpart of the German medieval Nibelungen epic.

"The Völsunga Saga" track listing:

1. Varg Í Veum
   
2. Völsung
   
3. The Blade of Óðinn
   
4. Sinfjötli
   
5. Sigurðr Sigmundarson
   
6. Uttergälden
   
7. Gram
   
8. The Journey to Lyngvi
   
9. Fáfnirs Blut
   
10. Helreið Brynhildar
    
11. Fall of the Niflungs
    
12. Guðrún's Revenge
    

Cover art is being provided by Kris Verwimp, renowned for his outstanding work for ABSU, THYRFING, MARDUK, MÅNEGARM and ANCIENT RITES, and can be previewed here.

Starting out as a one-man band in 2003 and performing as a two-piece the last year, THEUDHO have announced the arrival of two new members: bassist Filip (GORATH, MAHLSTRØM, P:407) and drummer Joachim (WANHOOP).

Since all slots in the lineup are filled, the band are contemplating accepting some of the offers they have received to perform live.

Sweden's THE QUILL have uploaded 30-second audio samples of all the songs that will appear on the band's upcoming fifth album, "In Triumph", on their official web site, www.thequill.se.

"In Triumph"on April 7 via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was recorded at Area 51 studios in Celle, Germany with producer Tommy Newton (VICTORY, UFO, HELLOWEEN). The group's video for the song "Broken Man" has been posted online at this location.

THE QUILL last year announced the addition of bassist Robert Triches to the group's ranks. Triches joined THE QUILL as the replacement for Roger Nilsson (ex-SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, FIREBIRD), who left the band in May 2005 after almost 12 years and four albums.

THE QUILL will embark on a European tour beginning in early April.

METAL CHURCH have uploaded a couple of photos of guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof and new drummer Jeff Plate in the studio during the drum-recording sessions for the band's new album, "A Light in the Dark". Check out the pictures at this location.

As previously reported, SPV are scheduled to release "A Light In The Dark", in Germany on May 26 in Europe, on May 29 and in the USA early June. 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.

Vanderhoof, who doubles 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. 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."

The current band line-up consists of Kurdt Vanderhoof (guitar), Ronny Munroe (vocals), Jay Reynolds (guitar), Steve Unger (bass) and new addition Jeff Plate (drums). "I've known Jeff since my solo tour with SAVATAGE," Vanderhoof recalls. "And during the 2005 METAL CHURCH tour, when he drummed with opening act Chris Caffery's band, we also got on really well. So it suggested itself to ask him whether he wanted to join METAL CHURCH." The band have been at the studio since January, and METAL CHURCH will tour Europe a week after the release, presenting their new material.

Norwegian black metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN, featuring Obsidian C. (a.k.a. Arnt Grønbech, also a touring guitarist for SATYRICON) on guitars/bass/synth, will have their new album, "Armada", released on vinyl via Plastic Head's own Back on Black label. Check out an ad from Back on Black at this location.

"Armada" is scheduled for release in Norway on April 3 (April 24 in the rest of Europe, and May 16 in the U.S.) via Tabu Recordings (a division of Tuba Records). The new CD is the group's first with vocalist Thebon, who made his live debut with the band during their live shows in 2005, including the Eastern European tour with EXODUS and HYPOCRISY in December. b>Vyl is playing drums on the album and a new bass player, Wizziac, is being introduced. MAYHEM singer Attila Chisar is doing some additional vocals, but he will not be the frontman anymore.

"Armada" track listing:

1. Surface
   
2. Crown of the Kings
   
3. The Black Uncharted
   
4. Vengeance Rising
   
5. Many are We
   
6. Winged Watcher
   
7. Into the Fire
   
8. Deluge
   
9. The Wealth of Darkness
   
10. Armada
    

Download an MP3 of the song "The Black Uncharted" at this location.

Launch Radio Networks reports: VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan told Launch on Friday (March 10) that the band will enter the studio on April 10 to begin recording its sophomore album. The group has been preparing songs since coming off the road last year and McKagan says the material is nearly ready to go. "It's real close, you know," he said. "The thing is, we always have way too much material, so it's probably more a matter of just like picking the right ones. It's a quality problem. This second record will be just an exploration, as opposed to like, 'Let's crush it and put it out,' it's gonna be exploration and I think people will really dig it."

VELVET REVOLVER's new effort will follow up its 2004 debut, "Contraband", which has sold nearly two million copies.

The band was formed in 2003 when former GUNS N' ROSES members McKagan, guitarist Slash and drummer Matt Sorum joined forces with guitarist Dave Kushner and ex-STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland.

McKagan was in Atlantic City, New Jersey last weekend to play second guitar with the reactivated ALICE IN CHAINS on a taping of the VH1 Classic series "Decades Rock Live!"

McKagan and Slash were countersued last week by GUNS frontman W. Axl Rose after they filed a lawsuit against him over licensing and royalties issues.

Swedish band SHOT INJECTION, whose current recording lineup includes former HAMMERFALL bassist and founding member Fredrik "Loppan" Larsson, have set "Fear Comes Full Circle" as the title of their upcoming demo/CD. The recordings will be completed at Division One Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden and will be mixed and engineered by Arnold Lindberg (EVERGREY, DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES) and co-produced by Tom S Englund (EVERGREY). Songtitles set to appear on the effort include "Picturing Our Downfall" and "Bleed the Lies".

Fredrik is currently a member of DEATH DESTRUCTION alongside Jonas Ekdahl and Henrik Danhage of EVERGREY and Jimmie Stranell of NIGHTRAGE.

REBELLION, the German band that features in its ranks former GRAVE DIGGER members Uwe Lulis (guitar) and Tomi Göttlich (bass), have posted the following update on their official web site:

"We're in the middle of the songwriting progress, and in April, we'll start to record the new album. The release will be in January 2007 worldwide. Issue of the second part of the Viking saga will be about how the Vikings spread over the whole east. Tomi had some lyrics done, and it's really amazing. The music is kickin' ass, too. You guys will have fun."

REBELLION's latest album, "Sagas of Iceland", was released in May 2005 via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Born a Rebel" is the first part of a Viking trilogy based upon Ragnar Lodenhose ("Sons Of The Dragonslayer"), the Norwegian king Harald Harfager (who created the first united Norwegian kingdom), Eric the Red, and both Danish kings Sven Gabelbart ("Ruling The Waves") and Knut the Great. "Part 2" will deal with the Swedish and Russian Vikings and their glorious deeds. "Part 3" will be cover the "Edda" story collection where the listener will get more information about the mythology and the gods of the Vikings.