German power metallers RAGE have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Speak of the Dead", tentatively due this spring via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Soundchaser" (SPV/Steamhammer) was recorded at the VPS studios in Hamm, Germany.

"Speak of the Dead" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Mortituri te Salutant
02. Prelude of Souls
03. Innocent
04. Depression
05. No Regrets
06. Confusion
07. Black
08. Beauty
09. No Fear
10. Soul survivor
11. Full Moon
12. Kill Your Gods
13. Turn my world Around
14. Be with me or be Gone
15. Speak of the Dead

RAGE recently finished shooting a video for the track "No Fear". The song is featured on the soundtrack to the independent psycho thriller "Ludgers Fall" and the clip includes scenes from the original film as well as a band performance. The video was shot on the island of Föhr, located in the North Sea. Also scheduled to appear on the movie's soundtrack are fellow Germans CREMATORY.

Guitarist Jyri Vahvanen of the Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE has posted the following message at the band's web site:

"We are currently working with the new material and you are allowed to expect longer and more majestic songs than ever before. There's a lot of material where to choose the most efficient tracks for the next album. If everything goes well, our fourth album should be out in the end of this year."

BATTLELORE's third CD, "Third Age of the Sun", entered the Finnish album chart at position No. 38 back in Augus 2005. The follow-up to 2003's "Sword's Song" was recorded at SoundSuite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes (TRISTANIA, MORGUL, TURISAS). Mastering duties were handled at Finnvox studios in Helsinki.

In an interview with Tartarean Desire chief editor Vincent Eldefors conducted on January 16, 2006, SODOM frontman Thomas "Tom Angelripper" Such revealed that the title of the band's upcoming studio album will simply be "Sodom".

The follow-up to 2001's "M-16", "Sodom" has already been recorded and the mixing will take place next week with a tentative release date in April via SPV Records. In April the band will also undertake an East European tour, covering countries like Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Summer festival appearances are possible, to be followed by more extensive touring in the fall/winter.

Swedish epic/power metallers FALCONER are preparing to enter the studio to begin recording their new album — their first since the departure of singer Kristoffer Göbel and return of Mathias Blad.

Commented the band: "The first rehearsal has just taken place with the complete new line-up. Finally we got to hear some of the new songs with vocals and I'll tell you it sounded awsome. At this time we have almost everything ready for the new album and as it looks now there will be a couple of traditional folk songs as bonus tracks on the first edition of the upcoming CD. However, there's still time to make more contributions to the tracklist.

"I don't think we have been this well prepared for the studio ever before, so hopefully we don't have to be stressed during the last days. We will enter the studio in February, then carry on in the summer with the vocals and mixing. Although it feels like we have to wait to get the result it's good to be able to take a step back and reflect and melt the impression and then get back and finalize it.

"A good guess would be that the album will be released in September 2006. I can hardly wait to hear the result myself. Although it's in many ways a return to the old style there is still elements of a refreshing feeling. Don't know exactly what it is though, more variety, more details, more produced or maybe it's just a feeling."

FALCONER's fourth studio album, "Grime Vs. Grandeur", was released in May 2005 via Metal Blade Records. The CD features guest performances by Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL) on drums and Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND) on additional lead vocals.

SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera became a fourth-time father on Sunday (Jan. 15) when his second wife, Laima, gave birth to the couple's first child, Antonio Leyton Cavalera. Both mother and son are said to be doing fine. Igor has three children with his first wife, Monika.

As previously reported, SEPULTURA will embark on their European tour with IN FLAMES without Cavalera, who is taking a break from the group's touring activities to spend time with his wife and their new child.

Former SOULFLY drummer Roy Mayorga, who played with Igor's brother Max for several years in the late '90s and again in 2001-2003, has been enlisted to do the European tour, with the possibility that he will stick around for further touring activities beyond the spring.

SEPULTURA's European tour will not be the first time that the band have performed without Igor Cavalera. Back in April 2005, SEPULTURA completed a short tour of Mexico with the help of roadie Guilherme Martin (ex-VIPER, TOYSHOP) after Cavalera was unable to make the dates.

According to a posting at www.goranedman.net, vocalist Göran Edman (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, GLORY) has completed work on the new TIME REQUIEM album, "Optical Illusion", with the talented Swedish musician Richard Andersson. The CD is scheduled for release in Japan on February 22. No release dates are currently available for the rest of the world. The recording lineup was as follows:

Richard Andersson - Keyboards
Göran Edman - Vocals
Andy Rose - Bass
Magnus Nilsson - Guitars
Jörg Andrews - Drums

Commented Richard: "Everything with Göran went real fine. It's always very stimulating to work with him. We had very close contact every single day during November. Göran called me up before and after he recorded a song. We discussed about the different approach for each and every song. After that Göran simply recorded and sent the vocal lines to my studio were I put them into my system, did a short editing and then it was finished. That's pretty much how we worked on this record. The result is stunning as usual with Göran. He was a bit afraid to cope with this high-pitched vocal lines but after the first or second song he felt comfortable with the new stuff."

The Japanese edition of "Optical Illusion" will include an exclusive bonus track. The song "Despair and Pain" from the first "Space Odyssey" album will be re-recorded, probably with different guest musicians and with Göran on lead vocals. The original drum recordings by Anders Johansson (HAMMERFALL, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) will be used this time. Anders was reportedly supposed to appear on the "Space Odyssey" album, but then another drummer was recruited and so the whole track was cut again. Listen to a couple of rough mix audio samples at Richard's official web site, www.anderssonmusic.com.

German power metallers GAMMA RAY have posted the following message on theie official web site:

"Last Sunday [Jan. 15] on the ferry boat from Stockholm to Helsinki, Henjo [Richter, guitar/keyboards] was badly injured falling down a stairway. He suffered strong bruises which made it unimpossible for him to play the upcoming shows. He was directly delivered to a hospital in Helsinki where he was examined and treated with strong painkillers. Henjo is [currently] at home in Hamburg for recovery but he hopes to be able to jump on the actual tour again soon. The band hopes that he's back already for the Gothenburg show but can't promise it. Latest for the show in Moscow Henjo will be back on stage. In the meantime he's replaced by Kasperi Heikkinen from the Finnish GAMMA RAY tribute band GUARDIANS OF MANKIND. Kasperi is the second member of GUARDIANS OF MANKIND beside keyboarder Eero Kaukomies who joins the GAMMA RAY lineup on the Majestic tour.

"We all wish Henjo a good and fast recovery!"

Celtic Frost and Century Media are proud to announce the signing of an international licensing agreement covering all territories. The first release, scheduled for Spring 2006, is the band’s highly anticipated new project titled "Monotheist", Celtic Frost's first album in 13 years. The album features 11 songs all produced by the band with Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy/Pain).

Album track list:
1. Progeny
2. Ground
3. A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh
4. Drown In Ashes
5. Os Abysmi Vel Daath
6. Obscured
7. Domain Of Decay
8. Ain Elohim

Triptych:
9. Totengott
10. Synagoga Satanae
11. Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three: Finale)

The album will be released simultaneously in all territories in three different configurations including a limited-edition Digipak containing the bonus track "Temple Of Depression" and a vinyl LP with another bonus title, "Incantation Against You".

“I am extremely excited to have such high profile legends joining the Century Media Records repertoire” says Oliver Withöft, Managing Director of Century Media Records. “Celtic Frost are a band that has started an entire genre and left their influence on a decade of Rock Music. Their new album is a historic comeback that will blow your brains out.”

Celtic Frost will support the release of "Monotheist" by numerous live appearances in 2006. The band will play a full tour across North America in September and October 2006, including Canadian dates. In Europe the following festival shows are already confirmed:
* Sweden Rock
* Wacken Open Air, Germany
* With Full Force, Germany
* Hole In the Sky, Norway
* Tuska, Finland

With their debut album "Synthetic Generation", DEATHSTARS immediately made a name for themselves as an act that combined the attitude of the extreme metal underground with a more modern and dynamic expression setting them apart from other dark rock acts. On their Brand New album "Termination Bliss" - they take an even more powerful step into the modern urban nightside : A must have for all fans of MARILYN MANSON, RAMMSTEIN, FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM and DOPE STARS - It’s death, it’s glitter, a fistful of fire and tons of black leather...A huge step forward for this soon-to-be-massive Swedish act, "Terminal Bliss" is a searing, bombastic, darkly melodic and infectious slab of uncompromising Dark Goth / Industrial Rock. Please note that this Limited Edition first pressing comes complete with 2 Bonus Bonus Tracks and a Video Clip presented in an o-card slipcase.

Tracklisting:

01. Tongues
02. Blitzkrieg
03. Motherzone
04. Cyanide
05. Greatest Fight On Earth
06. Play God
07. Trinity Fields
08. The Last Ammunition
09. Virtue To Vice
10. Death In Vogue
11. Termination Bliss

Check songs here: http://www.myspace.com/deathstars
and check images, songs and a video here: http://www.musicbay.se/buy/index.asp?movie_id=1198&company_id=39

KIRLIAN CAMERA are back with the most eagerly expected new album and for sure one of the best to come in this young year! KIRLIAN CAMERA's new release impressively proves what happens if you take an already most accomplished band to new limits. Completely unperturbed, the band continues to follow their blazed trail with „Coroner's Sun“. The new work combines KIRLIAN CAMERA's typical electro sound with dark poly-hymns which give Elena's voice more room for development than the preceding album. KIRLIAN CAMERA have come back to their roots - with more vitality than ever: rhythm, structure and effects of each and every song are absolutely perfect. High-resolution soundscapes, halls that seem to be endless and high-tech samples which are both classical and ingenious. Angelo Bergamini's vast imagination slowly - though with a steady hand - carries us away into an ocean of melancholy with mystic and mysterious songs that reach beyond the borders of electronic music.

"Coroner's Sun" will be released on 27th January 2006.The album will be released also in a 2000 copies limited edition as a special 8-panel DVD-like digipak box featuring 2 CD, A5 32 pages booklet, sticker and A3 poster. The second CD will be dedicated to remixes and alternative versions from the last album Invisible Front. 2005 by : Wumpscut:, Siderartica, Punto Omega, Sensory Gate, Hipnosis Italy and Kirlian Camera.

Tracklisting

Disc 1:

01. Panic Area
02. Coroner's Sun (official version)
03. Beauty As A Sin
04. Illegal Apology Of Crime
05. Kaczynski Code
06. CIA Haunted Headquarters
07. No One Remained
08. Koma-Menschen
09. Citizen Una
10. The Day Of Flowers/Il Cielo Prima
11. Della Fine

Disc 2:

01. Dead Zone In The Sky (re-mix by Punto Omega)
02. Days To Come (Neons In The Rain re-mix by Sensory Gate)
03. Kaczynski Code (instrumental edit by Hipnosis Italy)
04. Days To Come (Substrata mix by Sensory Gate)
05. K-Pax (remix by Wumpscut)
06. Shadowless Doctors (Bonus track)
07. Corpse ID (Bonus track)

EPICA's performance at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland on May 4 will be filmed for an upcoming DVD. To make this evening even more special, EPICA will also be presenting their unique photo and soundbook, "The Road to Paradiso". This book will contain a lot of pictures and stories but will also feature an audio CD with interviews, unreleased live material and other rarities. The band wants the book to be made for the fans, but also by the fans.

For more info on this topic and how to participate in this unique project, go to this location.

As previously reported, EPICA have been confirmed to make their debut U.S. appearance at ProgPower USA VII festival on September 15 and 16 Earthlink Live in Atlanta. Also scheduled to perform are SAVAGE CIRCUS (featuring former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch and IRON SAVIOR vocalist/guitarist Piet Sielck), PYRAMAZE (featuring Lance King, former vocalist for BALANCE OF POWER) and WASTEFALL.

QUEENSRŸCHE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Look out Germany... 'Operation: Mindcrime II' hits stores on March 31st, 2006. And the first single has been changed to 'I'm American'. Storyboards for the video were completed last week and will begin shooting late next week. Look for the video and single to debut towards the end of February. Once the date firms, we'll let you know."

As previously reported, QUEENSRŸCHE have pushed back the North American release date of the sequel to their platinum 1988 concept album, "Operation: Mindcrime" to April 4. The CD mixing and mastering was completed earlier in the month and the track listing has been reworked a bit, with two new tracks having been added. "Freiheit Ouvertüre" is the infamous "intro" all the fans have been chattering about, while "Convict" is a new song that was newly added after the original track listing was announced.

"Operation: Mindcrime II" final track listing:

01. Freiheit Ouvertüre
02. Convict
03. I'm American
04. One foot in Hell
05. Hostage
06. The Hands
07. Speed of Light
08. Signs Say Go
09. Re-arrange You
10. The Chase
11. Murderer?
12. Circles
13. If I Could Change it All
14. An Intentional Confrontation
15. A Junkie's Blues
16. Fear City Slide
17. All the Promises

Finnish thrash/melo-death band PROFANE OMEN have inked a deal with Dethrone Music. The group are scheduled to record their debut album over a three-week period beginning on January 27 at Hideaway and Villvox studios with producer Ville Sorvali. A late spring release is expected.

In other news, PROFANE OMEN have parted ways with drummer Mika Tanttu. "Mika left the band and is now consentrating on his primary band KILL THE ROMANCE," the group write on their web site. "New drummer is Samuli Mikkola, who plays also in END BEGINS and UHRILEHTO."

PROFANE OMEN are from Lahti, Finland and were founded in 1999. Their current lineup is as follows:

Jules Näveri (BURNING EMPIRE) - Vocals
Andy J. Bonfire (KILL THE ROMANCE) - Guitar
Williami Kurkki - Guitar
Tuomas Saarenketo - Bass
Samuli Mikkola (END BEGINS, UHRILEHTO) – Drums

PROFANE OMEN's most recent release was a mini-CD, entitled "Adrenaline". The EP was recorded and mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and was produced by Panu Willman (ex-ENTWINE/BEFORE THE DAWN, currently in DARK FILTH FRATERNITY).

A demo version of a new DEICIDE track has been posted online at this location. The song will be included on the band's upcoming album, "The Stench of Redemption", tentatively due in May via Earache Records. A full European tour is currently being booked to follow the release.

"The Stench of Redemption" will be the first DEICIDE album to feature new guitarists Jack Owen (formerly of CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Ralph Santolla (ex-DEATH, ICED EARTH), who have been touring with the band since the departure of the Hoffman brothers in 2005.

In total, 10 instrumental songs have been demoed and Glen Benton is currently locked away working on suitably sick vocals/lyrical themes to rival the brutality of the compositions.

"The Stench of Redemption" will be produced by Jim Morris and the band will be entering Morrisound studios in the next few weeks to commit it to tape.

The cover artwork for LEAVES' EYES/ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY frontwoman Liv Kristine's upcoming sophomore solo album, "Enter My Religion", has been posted online at this location.

The much-anticipated follow-up to 1998's "Deus ex Machina", "Enter My Religion" is scheduled for release on March 3 via Roadrunner Records. A single, "Fake a Smile", which is scheduled for release on January 27, will include four non-album tracks and the video for "Fake a Smile".

The video for "Fake a Smile", has been posted online at RoadrunnerRecords.de. Check it out: Small (13 MB), Large (28 MB). The clip was produced by AVA Studios (who has previously worked with SARAH CONNOR and JEANNETTE) and was directed by Alexander Diezinger. Several photos from the "Fake a Smile" video shoot (which took place on Nov. 19) have been posted online at this location.

Massacre Records has set an April 21 release date for the fifth full-length album from Swedish metallers STEEL ATTACK, entitled "Diabolic Symphony". The follow-up to 2004's "Enslaved" was recorded at Black Lounge Studio in Sweden with engineer Jonas Kjellgren and will feature "hard riffs combined with rich melodies and brilliant metal," according to guitarist Johan Jalonen Penn.

STEEL ATTACK's fourth album, "Enslaved" was issued in October 2004 via Arise Records. The album was supported by a 12-day European tour with Germany BLACK ABYSS and Canada's EXCITER.

STEEL ATTACK is:

Anden Andersson - Bass
John Allan - Guitar
Ronny Hemlin – Vocals
Johan Jalonen Penn - Guitar
Tony Elfving – Drums

Portugal's MOONSPELL have lined up the following dates during the coming months:

Mar. 10 - St. Petersburg, RUS @ Port Club
Mar. 11 - Moscow, RUS @ Tochka Club

As previously reported, MOONSPELL recently inked a three-album deal with SPV/Steamhammer Records following their split with Century Media. The group's new album, "Memorial", will contain around 8 to 10 new songs, including "Once It Was Ours!", "Blood Tells", "Sanguine", "Finisterra", "Upon the Blood of Men" and "At the Image of Pain". The material is being described by the group as "the best music we ever wrote together" and "an homage to the Nineties scene and bands," of which they became a strong symbol of. A DVD, entitled "Lunar Still/13 Years of Doom", is expected to surface via Century Media later in the year.

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"ENSIFERUM thanks everyone who attended the 10th anniversary celebration concert [at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland on Dec. 31, 2005]. If everything goes according our plans, the DVD of that gig will be released at June or July 2006. The recording of the third studio album begins next fall and the release of that album occurs at the end of this year, at the earliest."

As previously reported, ENSIFERUM recently completed work on their new EP, "Dragonheads", due on February 15 via Spinefarm Records. The mini-CD was recorded and mixed in November at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. It will contain one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers.

Swedish death metallers SARGATANAS REIGN have parted ways with bassist Niklas Samuelsson. "As depressing as is, we will put no time in mourning this great loss," the band write in a statement. "Instead we will continue to look forward and keep working on our forthcoming release! An attempt to replace him would be ridiculous, instead we will try letting our vocalist Jonas Mattsson combine the two tasks of playing bass and shout. There will be no one new joining our troop, at least for now. We wish N. Samuelsson the best of luck in the future and he will always be our friend, no hard feelings! At least you are still alive!"

Samuelsson has issued the following statement regarding his decision to leave the band:

"I have decieded to leave SARGATANAS REIGN due to personal reasons. We are still close friends and there is no tension between us... I don't enjoy playing as much as I used to, and I think this decision is best both for me and the band. I wish them the best of luck in the future."

SARGATANAS REIGN's sophomore album, "Bloodwork", was released last year via Blooddawn Productions/Regain Records.

Guitarist Stephan Forté of the French progressive metallers ADAGIO is currently working on material for his first instrumental solo album. The style of the CD will be very influenced by Romanian, Hungarian and Middle Eastern traditional music, and it will feature some well-known guests, according to a posting on the group's web site.

As previously reported, ADAGIO will open for former LED ZEPPELIN frontman Robert Plant on March 24 in Tunis, Tunisia as part of the "International Mediterranean Guitar Festival". The concert will mark the first show of ADAGIO's "Dominate Tour", which will follow later in 2006.

ADAGIO's new album, "Dominate", was released in Japan on December 16 via Avalon/Marquee. The CD was produced by Stephan Forté and Kevin Codfert, and was mixed at House of Audio Studios in Germany by Dennis Ward.

"Dominate" is ADAGIO's first CD with new frontman Gus Monsanto. ADAGIO parted ways with singer David Readman (PINK CREAM 69) in July 2004 due to "professional differences."

MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande (ex-ARK, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) will release his fourth solo album, "The Duke", shortly through Germany's AFM Records. 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. Recording musicians include:

Jorn Lande (vocals)
Jörn Viggo Lofstad (PAGAN'S MIND) - Guitar
Tore Moren (CARNIVORA) - Guitar
Morty Black (TNT) - Bass
Willy Bendiksen (COMPANY OF SNAKES) -Drums

Also featured on drums is Stian Kristoffersen of PAGAN'S MIND and FIREWIND, who appears on a newly recorded version of "Starfire", from Lande's debut, and the tracks "Stormcrow" and "After the Dying". "The Duke" includes a cover version of THIN LIZZY's "Are You Ready". Japanese versions of "The Duke" add an extra track, entitled "Noose".

"The Duke" track listing:

01. We Brought the Angels Down
02. Blacksong
03. Stormcrow
04. End of Time
05. Duke of Love
06. Burning Chains
07. After the Dying
08. Midnight Madness
09. Are You Ready (THIN LIZZY cover)
10. Starfire (2005 version)
11. Noose (Japan only)

Check out audio samples at MelodicRock.com.

In continuation of their tradition of covering a classic album in its entirety at any two-night stands in the same city, DREAM THEATER recently performed DEEP PURPLE's "Made in Japan" at two shows in Japan (January 13 in Tokyo and January 15 in Osaka). The track listing of this legendary live album is:

01. Highway Star
02. Child in Time
03. Smoke on the Water
04. The Mule / Drum Solo
05. Strange Kind of Woman
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'

In previous two-night stands, DREAM THEATER have performed METALLICA's "Master of Puppets", IRON MAIDEN's "The Number of the Beast" and PINK FLOYD's "Dark Side of the Moon". The METALLICA and IRON MAIDEN sets are currently available at www.ytsejamrecords.com and the PINK FLOYD and DEEP PURPLE sets are coming soon.

As previously reported, DREAM THEATER's very last show of the band's 20th Anniversary Tour 2005/2006 at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Saturday, April 1 will be recorded and filmed for an upcoming 20th anniversary DVD and CD release.

Swedish thrashers DARKANE have posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Within five days Christofer [Malmström, guitar] and Klas [Ideberg, guitar] each became proud fathers of beautiful baby girls. Christofer's wife Jennie gave birth to their daughter Freja on December 29th, 2005 while Klas' girlfriend Lina gave birth to their yet unnamed daughter on January 3rd, 2006. Both babies and their parents are doing well and are resting back home. Co-incidentally, all three DARKANE babies (including Peter's [Wildoer, drums] son Leon) were born in labour room No. 13 at the Helsingborg's hospital. Let's hope it will bring them good luck."

DARKANE recently completed a U.S. tour in support of their fourth album, "Layers of Lies", available now on Nuclear Blast Records. It is the follow-up to the band's third studio CD, "Expanding Senses", which was released in 2002.