Paragon Records has announced the signing of aristocratic French black metal legends CELESTIA for the North/South American territory. The group's first release through the label will be a re-issue of their debut album, "Apparitia - Sumptuous Spectre". Remastered and remixed in a unique high-quality digipack, the set will include an extended layout featuring pictures of the "Apparitia" session done by the French photographer Andy Julia. An March/April release is expected. In addition, Paragon will release CELESTIA's latest album, "Frigidiis Apotheosia - Génèse De L'abstinence", tentatively due in the summer.

CELESTIA are signed to Aeternitas Tenebrarum Foundation for the European territory.

Legendary guitarist GARY MOORE will release his new studio album, "Old New Ballads Blues", on May 2 via Eagle Records (April 24 in the U.K.). The CD features five new original songs, including the uptempo "Ain't Nobody", the poignant ballad "Gonna Rain Today", the country-influenced "No Reason to Cry" and the driving instrumental "Cut it Out". Also included are re-recorded versions of the classic "Midnight Blues", which originally appeared on Gary's multi-million selling 1990 album "Still Got The Blues"; OTIS RUSH's "All Your Love", which was the song that turned Gary onto the blues when he first heard it on the BLUESBREAKERS' "Beano" album in 1966; and blistering covers of WILLIE DIXON's "You Know My Love" and ELMORE JAMES's "Done Somebody Wrong".

As previously reported, Gary Moore is featured on the forthcoming DVD "Gary Moore and Friends, One Night in Dublin, A Tribute to Phil Lynott", due in Europe on March 27 via Eagle Vision. The DVD features the set as played by Gary and special guests as part of the tribute concert "The Boy Is Back in Town" at the Point Theatre in Dublin in August 2005.

"Gary Moore and Friends, One Night in Dublin, A Tribute to Phil Lynott" track listing:

1. Walkin' by Myself
   
2. Jailbreak
   
3. Don't Believe a Word
   
4. Emerald (with Brian Robertson)
   
5. Still in Love with You (with Brian Robertson)
   
6. Black Rose (with Scott Gorham)
   
7. Cowboy Song (with Scott Gorham)
   
8. Boys are Back in Town (with Scott Gorham)
   
9. Whisky in the Jar (with Eric Bell)
   
10. Old Town/Parisienne Walkways
    

Bonus Features:
Band interviews, rehearsal and soundcheck footage

Danish metallers MERCENARY will have their first two albums re-released through Karmageddon Media. "First Breath" (1998) and "Everblack" (2002) were both remastered to keep up with today's sound standard and the reissue of "Everblack" also includes the bonus track "Nothing's What It Seems" (which was previously available on the digipack version only).

MERCENARY's as-yet-untitled fifth full-length album will be recorded in March and May at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (HATESPHERE, INVOCATOR, RAUNCHY). A late summer release via Century Media Records is expected.

MERCENARY's fourth full-length album, "11 Dreams", will be released in Brazil on March 20 through Overload Records. The CD, which was released in the U.S. in February 2005 via Century Media, was produced by Jacob Hansen and includes a cover version of KENT's hit single "Music Non Stop". Artwork duties were handled by Niklas Sundin (DARK TRANQUILLITY, IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY).

British metallers ANATHEMA will release three new songs on April 18 via iTunes to coincide with their tour supporting Finnish goth rockers H.I.M. The three tracks that will be released are as follows:

1. One Day
   
2. Everything
   
3. Angels Walk Among Us
   

ANATHEMA are currently unsigned as a result of having been dropped by BMG/Zomba after their previous label, Music For Nations, was folded into parent company Zomba Records Group (the world's largest independent music group).

Commented the group in a posting on their web site: "As the band is without a record deal and without any financial backing to record an album, we respectfully ask all our fans to go to the iTunes site and pay for the songs. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT as you will be directly supporting the band at a difficult time, and your money will go towards paying for ANATHEMA to record an album this year. We need your help. If you want to be a true fan and help the band directly, instead of helping record companies... do not copy these songs from your friends! Go to iTunes on April 18th and buy them. The price is very cheap!"

As previously reported, ANATHEMA mastermind Daniel Cavanagh will undertake a solo, acoustic Norwegian tour in March. His set will feature mainly ANATHEMA classics past and present, plus various cover versions. The shows will be stripped down, featuring Danny with just a guitar a keyboard/piano in the most imtimate possible setting. The dates are as follows:

• Mar. 16 - Bergen, NOR @ Garage
  
• Mar. 17 - Trondheim, NOR @ Kafe Larssen
  
• Mar. 18 - Oslo, NOR @ Tut og Kjør
  

ANATHEMA's previously announced U.K./Irish tour as the support act for H.I.M. — originally scheduled for January — has been postponed until April.

ANATHEMA are currently writing and recording new material at Sewerside Studios in Yorkshire, U.K. Other songtitles set to appear on the band's upcoming CD include "Voodoo", "A Simple Mistake" and "No One is Free". The band recently issued a DVD, "Were You There?", containing a full live show recorded on ANATHEMA's "A Natural Disaster" tour, an acoustic concert performed with a string quartet from the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, plus videos, live clips and other extra features. The artwork and menu designs have been conceived by Travis Smith.

Norwegian extreme metallers ENSLAVED have posted the following message on their official web site:

"ENSLAVED has just returned to base in Bergen, after a hectic weekend in the wilderness. They recorded material for two videos to support their coming 'Ruun' album (album due to be released May 8th, 2006). The first video, 'Path to Vanir', will be released before the end of March 2006, while follow-up video, 'Essence', will be out there during mid-summer."

The recordings for ENSLAVED's follow-up to the band's Norwegian Grammy- and Alarm award-winning album "Isa" (2004) began in early January at Amper Studio in Oslo, Norway.

ENSLAVED have been confirmed for the Quartfestivalen, set to take place July 4-8 in Kristansand, Norway. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are TOOL, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, CLUTCH and BURST, among others.

ENSLAVED will be teaming up with KHOLD and VREID for a European tour in the fall. More information will be made available soon.

Florida extreme metal three-piece DIABOLIC INTENT have finished recording their third album at Dark Angel Studios in Joannesburg, South Africa. Entitled "The Cold Path of Man", the new CD is said to be "uninfluenced by American mixing and recording techniques" and "offers a new diverse sound for extreme metal," according to a press release.

"The Cold Path of Man" was recorded, produced and engineered by Ankha and Leanne Warren of Dark Angel Project and DIABOLIC INTENT and is scheduled for release in July via Auditory Suicide (Death of Africa) and other independent carriers. A full-length audio file containing the track "...In God We Trust?" can be downloaded at this location.

"The Cold Path of Man" track listing:

1. ...In God We Trust?
   
2. Element of Deceit
   
3. Advocate To The Abhorrence
   
4. Holycaust
   
5. Emulate the Species
   
6. The Cold Path Of Man (Sufference Is Imminent)
   
7. SinThetic Faith
   
8. Surrender Thy Flesh
   
9. Martyrdom (Shahada)
   

DEFTONES drummer Abe Cunningham has confirmed to Billboard.com that the band have finally finished recording their new album. Cunningham attributes the delay to struggles and internal acrimony, which nearly resulted in a breakup.

"I don't want to sit here and complain because these things happen to everyone," Cunningham told Billboard.com, "but if there was a VH1 'Behind the Music' special on us, it would be the perfect episode with divorces and all kinds of crap. It was just lack of communication. Thankfully, we've been reattaching our limbs."

While sessions started in earnest two years ago for the new project, which, depending on who you ask, could be released in early to late spring (Cunningham) or this summer (Maverick), it wasn't until earlier this year that the Deftones completed recording their fifth album. In describing the new material, which still needs to be mixed, Cunningham looks back for a point of reference.

"Actually, if you look at our last record, I refer to it as 'Dark Days' because that's basically what it was," Cunningham says of 2003's self-titled effort. "It's kind of an incomplete record from my viewpoint. I think it's a good record [with] a lot of good songs but the new album, from start to finish, is a very complete record and has all of the extremes that we like. I'd say it's kind of hard."

Among the many tracks being considered ifor the new album is "Beware of the Water", which the band may drop into its headlining set on the Taste of Chaos tour.

JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the new band led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, have announced the addition of guitarist Shane French (ex-CIRCLE II CIRCLE) to the group's ranks.

Commented French in a statement: "It's an honor and privilege to rejoin my former [CIRCLE II CIRCLE] bandmates Matt LaPorte, Chris Kinder, Kevin Rothney and John Zahner in JON OLIVA'S PAIN... They are great musicians and people. Playing in PAIN is a dream gig for me, as I've been a fan of the Oliva brothers for over 20 years. I'm looking forward to getting out on the road with these guys."

Since 1992, Shane has been the guitarist, as well as one of the founding members, for central Florida melodic hard rock band TEER. He was also the guitarist for MILLENIUM (1998-2004). In 2001 he joined forces with Kevin Rothney (bass), Chris Kinder (drums), John Zahner (keyboards) and Matt LaPorte (guitar) in CIRCLE II CIRCLE.

Shane will join the band at Audio Labs Studio in Tampa, Florida as they continune laying down tracks for their sophomore CD, "Maniacal Renderings", slated for a May 2006 release.

Israeli metallers DISTORTED will release their full-length debut, "Memorial", on March 13 via NMC Records. The CD was recorded in February 2005 at Underground Studio in Sweden under the watchful eye of Pelle Seather.

"Memorial" track listing:

1. In Your Light
   
2. Memorial
   
3. Children Of Fall
   
4. Flesh & Blood
   
5. Redemption
   
6. Sometimes
   
7. Is It The Wind
   
8. Illusive
   
9. Hesped
   

Download an MP3 of the song "Redemption" at this location. A CD-release party will be hald on March 13 at the Barby club in Tel-Aviv.

For more infomrmation, visit www.distortedband.com.

Century Media Records has announced the signing of German melodic death/metalcore outfit FEAR MY THOUGHTS.

Commented the band in a statement: "We're absolutely happy to announce that we have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. This label has always hosted bands we love, from one of the very first Century Media releases of our local buddies in POLTERGEIST, or be it their current roster with great and influential bands like NEVERMORE, NAPALM DEATH, CELTIC FROST or THE HAUNTED.

"We're excited for the things to come, and grateful for having one of THE labels in the world as our partners in crime. Thanks for believing in us and thanks to all the people who brought us where we are today. BIG shout-outs to our wives and girlfriends, to our families, to our friends, to our former labels, and finally to all the people out there who like to crash the dancefloors (or their living rooms) while listening to FEAR MY THOUGHTS! Without you...you know the deal!"

With a recording history of already four full-length albums and tour slots on last year's X-Mass Festivals, where FEAR MY THOUGHTS shared stage with legendary HYPOCRISY, thrash titans EXODUS and labelmates NAGLFAR, as well as touring with CALIBAN on the Spirit tour, this band has experience, energy and passion en masse to offer.

FEAR MY THOUGHTS will present their debut for Century Media Records later this year. More details will follow soon.

American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Work continues on KAMELOT's first DVD, 'One Cold Winter's Night'. The [disc] is tentatively [slated] for a fall/winter release and is sure to please all the fans. The incredible concert in Oslo includes special appearance from Simone Simons (EPICA), Sascha Paeth and Snowy Shaw, plus many more!

"Next album news! In a recent phone call, guitarist Thomas Youngblood stated, 'We are now in full writing mode for the follow-up to 'The Black Halo'. There are tons of ideas and we are very excited about what we are coming up with. We hope to be in Germany this summer recording the next album and once again we will have Sascha and Miro on board to produce the songs.'

KAMELOT's latest album, "The Black Halo", was released in March 2005 through SPV Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Epica" was produced by Sascha Paeth and Miro at Gate and Pathway studios in Germany and features guest appearances by Shagrath (DIMMU BORGIR), Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS), Simone Simons, Mari (MASQUERAID), as well as the KAMELOT choir, featuring Herbie Langhans (SEVENTH AVENUE), Amanda Somerville-Scharf, Miro, Gerit Göbel, Thomas Rettke (HEAVEN'S GATE) and Elisabeth Kjaernes, among others.

Legendary Greek death metallers ROTTING CHRIST have announced the addition of NIGHTFALL guitarist George Bokos as a full-time member of the group. "ROTTING CHRIST are deeply satisfied from the co-operation they had on their last tours with their session guitarist George Bokos and decided to offer him a permanent place in the band's lineup, something that was accepted from George's side too," the band write in a statement.

As previously reported, ROTTING CHRIST recorded their two live shows in Larissa, Greece for an upcoming live album. The pioneers of the Greek metal scene put on two special two-hour shows featuring songs covering their entire catalog. These live shows were held on February 3-4 at Blive Music House in Larissa, and were the only concerts to be recorded for the upcoming CD. The shows marked the band's 18 years in the metal scene and fans from around the world were in attendance.

ROTTING CHRIST's "Passage To Arcturo" and "Non Serviam" albums were reissued last month with bonus audio and video tracks via Season of Mist.

Dutch "grind 'n' thrashcore" act COLLISION have completed work on their sophomore album, "Roadkiller", tentatively due this spring via Bones Brigade Records. The CD was recorded at Toneshed Studio in Horst, Holland by Erwin Hermsen and was mastered at Imperial Mastering in Concord, California by Colin Davis.

"Roadkiller" track listing:

1. Oh My Goth
   
2. Redneck Rampage
   
3. On the Loose to Reproduce
   
4. Drama Queen
   
5. Kill Phil
   
6. Heading for the End
   
7. Twins of Evil
   
8. Avoid the Masses
   
9. Body Building Blowout
   
10. Kung Fu Chicks With Dirty Tricks
    
11. Car Crash Cruelty
    
12. Cattle Killing Creatures
    
13. Attitude (BAD BRAINS cover)
    
14. A New Age of Stupidity
    

Download an audio sample of "Redneck Rampage" at this location.

A medley of audio clips from Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI's upcoming third album, entitled "Tales along this Road", has been made available at this location.

As previously reported, Napalm Records has set an April 21 European release date for "Tales along this Road" (view cover at this location). A new-album listening session and a "meet-and-greet party" will be held before every gig on the band's upcoming "Tales along This Tour", which is set to kick off March 23 in Tampere, Finland. A complete list of currently confirmed tour dates can be found at this location.

KORPIKLAANI's second album under their current moniker (the group released two albums as SHAMAN), "Voice of Wilderness", was released in January 2005 via Napalm Records.

In a recent interview with Live-Metal.net, TRIVIUM bassist Paolo Gregoletto spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the group's upcoming third album, "The Crusade", which is tentatively scheduled to be recorded in April/May for a late 2006 release via Roadrunner Records.

"We're not deviating from what we’ve done," Gregoletto said of the direction of the new material. He described it as "more technical" with "bigger choruses," inspired by METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN and other metal acts big in the 1980s, specifically citing METALLICA's "… And Justice for All". Gregoletto said it is a love of that era that links all four members of TRIVIUM, all of whom have varied influences and interests (Gregoletto, for example, counts THE POLICE as one of his favorite bands, while drummer Travis Smith is huge fan of Southern rock). Look for the strong melodies that mark the band's last CD, "Ascendancy", to be an even stronger force on "The Crusade". While the screaming vocals will not disappear entirely, Gregoletto said, guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy is moving toward more of a "heavy singing" style. The combination of singing and screaming can be rough on the vocals chords, Gregoletto said. Also, "the last album had a lot of good songs that were limited for what they could for us by the harshness."

Megadeth has teamed with Capitol Records/EMI Music Catalog Marketing to unleash Arsenal of Megadeth, a new comprehensive two-disc DVD collection available March 21. A visual career anthology containing 32 previously unreleased clips, Arsenal of Megadeth chronicles the rise and evolution of the band, providing fans with a heavy metal armory of music videos, interviews, home video shot by Megadeth’s own Dave Mustaine and hidden tracks. Clocking in at almost three hours, Arsenal of Megadeth’s track list was personally compiled by Mustaine, ensuring the ultimate head-hammering Megadeth experience.

Following the 2005 release of Megadeth’s Greatest Hits: Back to the Start CD and deluxe CD/DVD collections of singles and fan favorites, Arsenal of Megadeth provides fans with the most in-depth look ever provided into the band’s storied history. In addition to 20 of the band’s music videos, Arsenal contains a bevy of career-spanning previously unreleased material, including behind the scenes audition footage, a 1995 band appearance on MTV’s “Most Wanted,” a clip of Dave Mustaine’s guest appearance on “The Drew Carey Show,” and concert footage from 2005’s GIGANTOUR - essential cuts for every Megafan.

In 2005, Megadeth was the headbanging, headlining act of Dave Mustaine’s GIGANTOUR, a tour founded on the principles of “fan-friendly” pricing and accessibility to the music. Mustaine’s vision for GIGANTOUR was to "put together a festival that consisted of positive bands that play heavy music in a high energy environment." 2005’s inaugural GIGANTOUR did just that and was an immense international success. Arsenal of Megadeth contains previously unreleased concert footage from the tour, including a live performance of Megadeth’s metal anthem, “Peace Sells.”

Judas Priest’s legendary “Live Vengeance ‘82” concert is set to get it’s first ever stand alone DVD release in early 2006.

Recorded at the Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee, on 12th December, 1982, on the US leg of the 1982 Screaming For Vengeance tour, the show captures all the live, electrifying energy of Judas Priest and features a host of metal classics including “Hell Bent For Leather”, “Breaking The Law”, “Victim Of Changes” and “Living After Midnight”.

A vital part of rock history, Judas Priest have spent thirty years writing classic songs and putting on spectacular live shows. During this period the band has sold in excess of 30 million albums. 2005 saw the classic Judas Priest line-up releasing a brand new, critically and commercially acclaimed, studio album “Angel of Retribution”. The band also spent over 15 months on a worldwide tour delighting old and winning a whole army of new fans alike.

“Live Vengeance ‘82” was originally released on VHS as “Judas Priest Live”. It also features as part of 2004’s “Metalogy” 4CD/1DVD boxset. With a running time of 95 minutes the stand alone DVD features brand new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes.

Full tracklisting:

1. The Hellion / Electric Eye
2. Riding on The Wind
3. Heading Out To the Highway
4. Metal Gods
5. Bloodstone
6. Breaking The Law
7. Sinner
8. Desert Plains
9. The Ripper
10. Diamonds And Rust
11. Devil’s Child
12. Screaming For Vengeance
13. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
14. Victim Of Changes
15. Living After Midnight
16. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)
17. Hell Bent For Leather

“Live Vengeance ‘82” is released through SonyBMG and is available as a limited edition digipack DVD and also as a standard DVD format.

Tim Roth of the Regina, Saskatchewan-based progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY has issued the following update on the band's curent and upcoming activities:

"We have all been taking it easy and recharging our batteries. The songwriting is still going on as we speak. I can say it's the first time where we have had more material then we actually need. The new songs are quite challenging and there are a lot of cool musical interludes in every song it seems. Of course there is still heavy riffing, but I think it will be more of a musical sounding album.

"Stu Block [vocals] flies back to Regina at the end of the month and the lyric / vocal melody writing will start up. I know Stu has already started his lyrics and I have as well. We are anxious to get started with that.

"Everybody knows that our touring drummer Adam [Sagan] has quit. We were hoping to have him on the album and keep this lineup, but some things are not to be. We wish Adam the best in his future. There have been a lot of drummers sending emails etc. and we thank everybody for the support. Hopefully we will have news soon with what is going on. Our plan is to start practicing in March and hopefully play some shows in April/May. After that the band will head into the studio for album number 4!"

INTO ETERNITY's new CD will mark the group's first release with Block, who was previously a member of Vancouver's OMEGA CROM. The band's third album, "Buried In Oblivion", was released in February 2004 through Century Media Records. As was the case with their previous two albums, "Buried In Oblivion" was recorded at Touchwood Studios in Regina with ex-bassist Scott Krall, Grant Hall and Johnny "Sixpack" Gasparic handling the majority of production duties.

German band RE-VISION will continue their stint as the backing band (dubbed THE PHANTOMS OF THE OPERA) for former IRON MAIDEN frontman Paul Di'Anno on his upcoming tour of Russia. They will perform a set that will cover Paul's entire career, including a lot of the classic MAIDEN material.

RE-VISION will back Di'Anno on the following Russian dates:

Mar. 03 - Kalinigrad, RUS @ KRK City Park
Mar. 04 - Moscow, RUS @ Apelsin
Mar. 05 - Tula, RUS @ Manezh
Mar. 07 - Bryansk, RUS @ The Circus
Mar. 08 - Orel, RUS @ SPZ
Mar. 10 - Vologda, RUS @ Russkiy Dom

Austrian "angelic bombast metal" act EDENBRIDGE will release their their fifth album, "The Grand Design", on May 19 via Massacre Records. A single, featuring the band's cover version of the James Bond classic "For Your Eyes Only" (originally sung by Sheena Easton), will precede the album on April 21.

The follow-up to 2004's "Shine", "The Grand Design" was recorded at The Farpoint Station studio in Austria and the Thin Ice facility in England with THRESHOLD mastermind Karl Groom. Guest musicians on the album include Dennis Ward and Robby Valentine, both of whom were responsible for backing vocals and choirs on the new CD.

Commented EDENBRIDGE guitarist/keyboardist Lanvall: "'The Grand Design' has evolved to our biggest production so far and just the recordings took nearly three months to complete. It's the most vocal-orientated album of our band history, which especially can be heard in the many choir and backing vocals. Robby Valentine has done up to 64 voices in the 2 longtracks of the album which bring a totally new dimension into our sound. It was a great experience to record with him in Holland. Besides he played a fantastic piano solo in 'Terra Nova'. Also Dennis Ward did a brilliant job again. It's simply amazing to have musicians of such quality on the album. . . [Karl Groom] also recorded a fantastic solo for 'Terra Nova'."

"The Grand Design" track listing:

01. Terra Nova
02. Flame Of Passion
03. Evermore
04. The Most Beautiful Place
05. See You Fading Afar
06. On Top Of The World
07. Taken Away
08. The Grand Design
09. Empire Of The Sun (bonus track)

"For Your Eyes Only" track listing:

01. For Your Eyes Only
02. Evermore
03. The Grand Design (edit)
04. For Your Eyes Only (acoustic version)

German melodic metal band DOMAIN are currently in the studio recording material for their new album. "The majority of the tracks was written by the complete band just jamming on some ideas in the rehearsal room," the group write in a press release. "Another one, a twenty-some minutes epic opus by the name of 'Shadowhall', was written by [guitarist and producer Axel] Ritt /[singer Carsten] Schulz [also in EVIDENCE ONE]. On top of that, a rather unusual cover version was recorded DOMAIN-style, as well as powerful, melodic metal tracks and their typical DOMAIN midtempo songs."

The 20th anniversary limited-edition version of the band's new CD will be released in September 2006 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. More information will be made available soon.

Reuters is reporting that the Swedish heavy metal band HAMMERFALL offered rock-solid support to Sweden's women curlers for Wednesday's Olympic semi-final win over Norway.

Sweden's telegenic quintet, favorites for the gold medal, thrilled the curling world in January when they swapped brooms for air guitars to star in HAMMERFALL's "Hearts on Fire" music video. Vice Eva Lund said the 2005 world and European champions were still drawing power from their rock chick turn.

"We loved it and it gave us energy. The HAMMERFALL band was fantastic and they are cheering for us and writing e-mails to us when we are here," she said after Sweden beat Norway 5-4.

In the video, the team arrives for a match in a dingy rink to be confronted by their opponents: a wild-haired, leather-clad heavy metal band with dubious curling skills. The women sweep to victory — aided by an on-ice drum kit — but not before they have morphed into leather and chain-clad singers themselves. Some of the rock world's luvviness seemed to have brushed off on the team as well.

"We've been honest with each other and we take care of each other. We love each other on and off the rink," said 34-year-old Lund.

Watch the "Hearts on Fire" clip — featuring HAMMERFALL and the Swedish women's Olympic curling team — online: Windows Media, Quicktime.

Italian power metal band KALEDON have parted ways with Steelborn Records (division of Nortwind Records). "After four years of collaboration, this label was to small for us, so we decided to look up for a bigger one," the band write on their web site. "We thank our old label manager for his work and for giving us the chance to emerge in the heavy metal world... The name of the new record company will be announced in the next few days."

KALEDON recently entered The Outer Sound Studios in Rome to begin recording their fourth full-length album, "Chapter 4: Twilight of the Gods". A summer release is expected.

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

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

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

KALEDON have been making noise in the Italian metal scene since the late 1990s. The band have released three full length albums of what will eventually be a six-part epic entitled "Legend of the Forgotten Reign". The most recent, "The Way of Light", featured guest drummer Jörg Michael (STRATOVARIUS, RUNNING WILD, GRAVE DIGGER).

Sweden's PAIN OF SALVATION have parted ways with bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw (younger brother of PAIN OF SALVATION frontman Daniel Gildenlöw). The group's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"We are sad to announce that Kristoffer is of now no longer a member of PAIN OF SALVATION. After having been the band's bass player since 1994, he has now kindly been asked by the other members to leave the band. The separation derives from growing difficulties to function together as a band since Kristoffer moved to Holland a few years back.

"We are a band who loves to play music together, and who values being a real band rather than a project that functions on distance. Being a tight unit welded together musically and personally is an important part of the band's soul; and constantly being decimated while composing, rehearsing, and even recording, simply proved impossible in the long run.

"Kristoffer has grown to become a tremendous bass player during the years with PAIN OF SALVATION and it is with sadness that we now see him go, but since this logistic situation will not change within the coming years, we unfortunately see no other choice."

PAIN OF SALVATION's most recent studio album, "BE", came out in 2004.

ANGTORIA, the new Swedish/British orchestral/metal band formed by female singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS), composer Chris Rehn (ABYSSOS) and Tommy Rehn (MOAHNI MOAHNA), have finalized the track listing and artwork for their debut album, "God Has A Plan For Us All", due on April 27 via Listenable Records.
The mixing process for the album began on January 14, with acclaimed producer Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, SOILWORK, MESHUGGAH, DEVIN TOWNSEND, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, BEHEMOTH) stepping in during the initial phase, and Tommy and Chris completing the mix at Sidelake studios with Micke Öhlén. The mastering was completed February 14 at the Cutting Room in Stockholm by Björn Engelmann, who has previously worked with RAMMSTEIN, IN FLAMES, SOILWORK, DIMMU BORGIR and WITHIN TEMPTATION, among others. The initial cover concept/idea was developed by Sarah, and the model featured on the cover is Toni Davey (wife of CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth). The CD will be available in two versions: a standard jewel case version and a digipack version with a bonus track. The final track listing is as follows:

01. The Awakening
02. I'm Calling
03. God Has A Plan For Us All
04. Suicide On My Mind
05. Deity Of Disgust
06. The Addiction
07. Six Feet Under's Not Deep Enough
08. Do You See Me Now
09. Original Sin
10. Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned
11. Confide In Me
12. That's What The Wise Lady Said
13. A Child That Walks The Path Of A Man (limited edition bonus track)