DIMMU BORGIR's video for the track "Sorgens Kammer – Del II" has been posted online at NuclearBlast.de (Real Media). The clip was shot last fall in Sweden with director Patric Ullaeus of Sweden's Revolver Film Company.

"Sorgens Kammer – Del II" is one of the new tracks included on the updated, re-recorded version of DIMMU BORGIR's 1996 album, "Stormblåst", which was released in Europe in November via Nuclear Blast Records (to be issued in North America on February 7). The album was completely re-recorded with producer Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) and MAYHEM's Hellhammer on drums.

The new version of "Stormblåst" adds two brand-new audio tracks: the aforementioned "Sorgens Kammer – Del II" and "Abmaktslave", plus a live DVD of an entire set filmed at Ozzfest 2004.

DIMMU BORGIR have begun writing material for their next studio, tentatively due before the end of the year. The CD, which will feature a guest appearance by MAYHEM's Hellhammer on drums, will be "a full story/concept album," according to a posting on the group's web site.

Finnish melodic death/thrash metallers MORS PRINCIPIUM EST will enter the studio in June to begin recording their third album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Listenable Records. The mixing for the follow-up to 2005's "The Unborn" will take place at Astia Studios in Finland in August while the mastering will be done in September at Helsinki's Finnvox.

MORS PRINCIPIUM EST's debut album, "Inhumanity", will be reissued through Listenable, with completely new artwork and with three bonus songs, on February 20.

The band's most recent CD, "The Unborn" was recorded at Tico Tico studio (SONATA ARCTICA, SENTENCED, FOR MY PAIN…, ALTARIA) in Kemi, Finland. Mastering duties were handled at Finnvox studios. The album cover was designed by Mattias Norèn.

Sweden's THERION will be starting pre-production for the new album next week, according to a posting on the group's official web site. "The recordings will be interupted to do some festivals in March," the posting adds. "There will be some surprises on stage on the MetalMania festivals..."

THERION are one of the bands confirmed for the MetalMania 2006 festival, set to take place March 4 at Spodek in Katowice, Poland. Other acts scheduled to appear at the event include ACID DRINKERS, ANATHEMA, CALIBAN, HIERONYMUS BOSCH, HUNTER, MOONSPELL, NEVERMORE, PAINMUSEUM, SOILWORK, U.D.O. and UNLEASHED.

IN FLAMES' video for the song "Take This Life" has been posted online at Aftonbladet.se. The clip was shot in late October in Sweden with director Patric Ullaeus, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL and KAMELOT, among many others. "Take This Life" is the roll-out single and video from the group's upcoming album, "Come Clarity", due in North America on February 7 through Ferret Music. The follow-up to the band's 2004 album, "Soundtrack to Your Escape", "Come Clarity" was mixed at Tonteknik studio in Umeå, Sweden and is "the best [CD] we've ever done," according to IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad.

IN FLAMES will a launch a North American headlining tour in support of "Come Clarity" on January 25 at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ. The tour will run through February 26 in Lake Buena Vista, FL with support provided by TRIVIUM, DEVILDRIVER and ZAO.

Dope Stars Inc. will be featured on the upcoming Soundtrack release of the american movie "SAW 2" alongside artists such as Marilyn Manson, Skinny Puppy, Queens Of The Stone Age, London After Midnight, Papa Roach, Mudavayne and many more! To make things even more interesting, the band has recorded an exclusive version of their smash hit "Make A Star" for that purpose.

The soundtrack will be released in February on Trisol Records and will be available worldwide via different mail-orders and local retailers. A s special surprise, this album also contains new exclusive studio-tracks, one from ASP and one from SAMSAS TRAUM. There also will be a limited edition, including bonus-DVD. More info about that soon.

LACUNA COIL are set to release their latest full-length effort, "Karmacode", on April 4 via Century Media Records. The highly anticipated follow-up to their acclaimed commercial breakthrough album, "Comalies", was co-produced by Waldemar Sorychta and LACUNA COIL in Germany and Italy while the album was both mixed by Ronald Prent (RAMMSTEIN, H.I.M., IRON MAIDEN) and mastered by Darcy Proper (STEELY DAN, PORCUPINE TREE, R.E.M.) at Galaxy Studios in Belgium. Asterik Studio (TRAPT, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, THE USED), the Grammy-nominated design firm, is handling the package design for "Karmacode".

Says vocalist Cristina Scabbia, "I imagine it's easy for everyone to understand how truly excited we are for the world to hear the new material. It'll give everyone the chance to hear the growth that the band has experienced over the past couple of years. I simply cannot wait to get out and play the new songs live. There will definitely be a lot of energy coming from the stage next year!"

Guitarist Cristiano Migliore adds, "It's taken a long time to put together these songs and I can say they're the best ones we've ever written! Working with old friends as well as new ones has been incredibly exciting and we had the chance to mix in one of the best studios in the world so, really, what else could we ask for? I'm definitely sure our fans will love the music just as much as they'll love the artwork that Asterik has created for 'Karmacode'!"

The track listing for "Karmacode" is as follows:

01. Fragile
02. To The Edge
03. Our Truth
04. Within Me
05. Devoted
06. You Create
07. What I See
08. Fragments Of Faith
09. Closer
10. In Visible Light
11. The Game
12. Without Fear
13. Enjoy The Silence

A video for "Our Truth" was shot in Los Angeles by Fort Awesome, a brand-new directorial duo, whose individual directing credits include QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, LINKIN PARK, DISTURBED, CHEVELLE, ATREYU, SHADOWS FALL, and more. "The experience of shooting the video was a wonderful one, for sure," states Cristina. "Both the band and the crew worked from sunset to sunrise in the Hollywood Hills, remaining 100% focused and after all was said and done we believe we pulled off a masterpiece of a video we're sure everyone's going to love."

Only two days after announcing their split with singer Kelly Sundown Carpenter (also of OUTWORLD), Danish prog-metallers BEYOND TWILIGHT have already acquired a replacement. The group's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"We are proud to announce that our new lead vocalist is Björn Jansson. Coming from Sweden we warmly welcome him as new family member in BEYOND TWILIGHT. We are absolutely thrilled about our new reinforcement. Björn is an outstanding vocalist and fits the band perfectly. This also makes it possible for us to finally use our base in Scandinavia bringing back and setting up our camp here. No doubt this is a healthy situation for us as for playing live and touring which we have been dreaming about for a long time.

"Björn is experienced and you might also know him from his albums with TEARS OF ANGER and Bob Katsionis' IMAGINERY.

"When getting in touch with Björn, we found out that he had been a BEYOND TWILIGHT fan for several years. What better commitment and conditions could we ask for? What really matters to us is that within less than 24 hours Björn showed his commitment by delivering vocal recordings. Not just vocal recordings but fantastic vocals in our own humble opinion. So there you have it!"

BEYOND TWILIGHT's most recent album, "Section X", was issued in 2005 via Massacre Records.

KINGDOM COME's webmaster Marko (brother of KINGDOM COME mainman Lenny Wolf) has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"After several breaks, due to a tendinitis in Lenny's arm, he is back rocking the studio, but the end is in sight. As I mentioned before, especially after hearing a few almost finished songs, the new album will have more of an 'up' vibe, and more of an edge to it than 'Perpetual' (which is one of Lennys more experimental and moody records). The word is, that there may be a new recording of 'Get It On' coming our way. I have not heard it yet, but can't wait to do so.

"The label situation for the next release, is still not clear yet, therefore a tour will not be planned before things are solved, but our tour chief Frank Trzaskowski is on the case. The good side about things taking so long, is that Lenny is coming up with (mostly) good ideas, due to him being unable to sit still, unless he is having apple pie with vanilla ice cream or is cruising late at night. Right now he is cruising mostly late at night due to his haircut, which according to his words is: 'Far too fucking short. My egg head needs hair!'"

KINGDOM COME's follow-up the 2004's "Perpetual" is tentatively scheduled for release later in the year. The band cancelled their U.S. tour in early 2005 due to problems in obtaining correct work permits in time for the trek.

US arrests Leaether Strip fan with words 'suicide bomber' written in his journal It looks like a first victim has fallen under the spell of Leaether Strip's "Suicide Bombers" EPCD. Reuters reports that an airline passenger with the words 'suicide bomber' written in his journal was arrested by the FBI when his plane arrived in San Jose, California, on Wednesday, January 4th.

The man was able to explain that the words referred to the music by Claus Larsen and was free to go after hours of interrogations. The fan was observed by fellow passengers as having a journal and hand written on the journal were the words 'suicide bomber'. That, combined with the fact that he was clutching a back pack and 'acting a little suspiciously' prompted law enforcement to act so the FBI declared in a statement. Authorities boarded the plane and arrested the man on the Frontier Airlines plane. Alfa Matrix and Leaether Strip have asked the fan to make his identity known so that he can be compensated in a musical way for the trouble undergone.

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drummer Gene Hoglan has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"We have just commenced writing for the follow-up to 'Alien'. We're only a week in, and we're already up to four wicked new tunes! I'm really psyched with the new stuff, hell, we all are. And Jed's [Simon, guitar] not even here yet! As everyone knows, STRAPPING is sort of an evolution in progress, and this album will be no different. Anyone looking for an 'Alien Pt. II', or a 'City Pt. II', or hell, even a 'Chicken Feather Pt. II', knows that's not how we work. Fresh new STRAPPING sounds for a fresh new chapter. And, what an exciting chapter this is looking to be."

"Now, on a side note, I've been hearing from a lot of folks that many of you have not been able to see the 'Zen' video, and we don't have it posted on this site. Well, I promise to get that thing uploaded on here [as soon as possible]. As soon as I figure out how to upload stuff, as I am still a web-troglodyte. Fuck, a 10 year-old kid is a GENIUS compared to me on computers. Yeah, but I bet I could kick ANY 10-year-old's ass in a fight! 'Put 'em up, ya little ankle-bitin' fuckers!' Hey, it could happen..."

VREID, the new Norwegian band formed by former WINDIR members Hváll (bass), Steingrim (drums) and Sture (vocals, guitar), have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We have been working in our dungeon (studio 1184) with our second album since September. The recordings were finished by late November, and we have now been mixing the album for a couple of weeks. The mixing of the album was done at Subsonic Society studio together with Lars Klokkerhaug. Working with Lars was a pleasure as always. We feel that we have really found the formula and the right sound for this album; raw, powerful and grooving as hell. The last step of the process is the mastering of the album. On the 20th of January we will go to Tailor Maid studio in Stockholm and put the last make up on this beast. Release is set [for] March 27, 2006 through Tabu Records and worldwide distribution by Candlelight Records."

Entitled "Pitch Black Brigade", the album will contain the following eight songs:

01. Då Draumen Rakna
02. Pitch Black
03. Left To Hate
04. The Red Smell
05. Hengebjørki
06. Our Battle
07. Hang ‘Em All
08. Eit Kapitell For Seg Sjølv

Commented Hváll: "I am very satisfied with the album. I sincerely think this is the best album I have ever been working on. It is a continuance of 'Kraft', but yet rawer, far more rocking and more epic than ever before. Lyrically, the album is inspired by a lot of the brutal and grim historical events from the last centuary. Science-fiction seems bleak compared to the ugly history of our ancestors.

"We will also be making a video for the song 'Pitch Black'. The recording for this video will take place in January, and the video should be available at the same time as the release of the album.

"We hope to play as much live as possible after the release of 'Pitch Black Brigade', and we have already started the process of booking concerts. If you want to watch VREID live this year, make sure that you tell your local concert/festival management so. Spread the word and we’ll be coming to a scene near you soon. All booking related questions can be send to vreid@vreid.no."

Nuclear Blast Records has announced the finalists of their "unsigned band" competition which was held last year. More than 1,500 submissions were received, and according to a posting on the label's web site, "especially the packagings were really impressive. [For] that reason, we decided to award the five most innovative packages with a special prize. Within the next weeks we'll announce the final winners of the contest!"

Nuclear Blast last August announced that it was offering young unisigned bands a chance to sign a record deal. In a unique contest that was said to be the first of its kind in Nuclear Blast's history, bands were given an opportunity to win a contract with one of the leading independent labels for heavy music.

The finalists are as follows:

WINTERBORN (Finland)
DEAD MEANS NOTHING (Spain)
THE SHOWGUNS (Sweden)
REPULSED (Germany)
EDDIE BUZZARD (USA)
FOREVER NEVER (England)
AMMOTRACK (Sweden)
DOMINIK MARX (Germany)
FROM ALMOST THE END (England)
AGONIZER (Finland)
EARSHOT 7 (Germany)
Mystery Contender (Unknown)

Irish folk metal band CRUACHAN will enter the studio on January 17 to begin recording their fifth album, tentatively due later in the year via Greece's Black Lotus Records. "We are returning to Sun Studios in Dublin, where we recorded 'Tuatha Na Gael', 'The Middle Kingdom' and 'Folklore'," the band write on their web site. "The studio has been hugely upgraded since we were last there. We are also pulling out all the stops and getting a well respected producer flown in from Holland. Jo Peeters (a.k.a. GAIL OF GOD) will be doing the production work for us."

CRUACHAN's upcoming album will be their first CD for Black Lotus, with whom they inked a deal in June 2005. The band's final release for their previous label, Karmageddon Media, was scheduled to be a reissue of their 1994 "Celtica" demo, featuring unreleased tracks, including "Timmy", which has been performed live at quite a few CRUACHAN shows.

CRUACHAN's fourth full-length album, "Pagan", was recorded and mixed at Radio Na Life Studios in Dublin, Ireland with producer Al Cowen and is the follow-up to 2002's "Folk-Lore". The cover artwork for "Pagan" was created by John Howe, the leading JRR Tolkien illustrator and the conceptual artist from the "Lord of the Rings" movies.

Norwegian extreme metallers ENSLAVED are currently at Amper Studio recording the follow-up to their Norwegian Grammy- and Alarm award-winning album "Isa" (2004). Despite "some misplaced amps, stolen guitars and a small fire," everything is going "smoothly" in the studio, according to a press release. A May release via Tabu is expected.

ENSLAVED will take some time off in early February to head up to the city of the northern lights, Tromsø, to headline By:Larm, Norway's answer to SXSW (South by Southwest). They will be playing two gigs, and audience and press can catch them on February 9 and February 10. They will also play a gig in their hometown of Bergen on March 24 at Club Bizarre.

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

Legendary Chicago doomsters TROUBLE are tentatively scheduled to release their long-awaited live DVD, entitled "Live in Stockholm", in March via Escapi. The disc, which was recorded in November 2003 in Stockholm, Sweden, will feature the following track listing:

01. R.I.P.
02. Come Touch The Sky
03. End Of My Daze
04. Plastic Green Head
05. Fear
06. Memory's Garden
07. The Misery Shows (Act II)
08. Psalm 9
09. Run To The Light
10. All Is Forgiven
11. Psychotic Reaction
12. The Skull
13. Revelation (Life Or Death)
14. The Tempter

Check out the DVD artwork at this location.

TROUBLE are currently mixing their new CD, tentatively titled "Simple Mind Condition", with producer Vinny Wojno (KREATOR, MACHINE HEAD) for a spring release via Escapi Music in Europe and Century Media in the U.S. The group's current lineup includes vocalist Eric Wagner, guitarists Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin, drummer Jeff Olson and bassist Chuck Robinson (formerly of THIS TORTURED SOUL). 15 songs were reportedly recorded for the follow-up to 1995's "Plastic Green Head", including "Mindbender", "Seven", "Beginning of Sorrows", and "After the Rain". The group's previously announced "unplugged" EP is currently "on hold" and will be completed at a later date, Wartell recently told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Also scheduled for release are reissues of the band's first two albums, 1984's "Psalm" and 1985's "The Skull".

Former BIOHAZARD drummer Danny Schuler has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Recently I've been asked if I'm still a member of BIOHAZARD. The answer is no. I've recently formed a new band with John Joseph (CRO-MAGS), Scott Roberts (SPUDMONSTERS, CRO-MAGS, BIOHAZARD) and Craig Setari (SICK OF IT ALL, AGNOSTIC FRONT) called BLOODCLOT! and we're all really excited about it.

"I thank everyone who supported BIOHAZARD. I've enjoyed every second of it since 1989. I owe everything I am to the people who came to see us and hear our music so much over the last 17 years. Time for the new shit.

"Check out BLOODCLOT! at www.myspace.com/bloodclotnyc."

BIOHAZARD's tenth album, "Means to an End", was released in August via SPV Records.

After playing a string of European dates last year, Danish/American hard rockers ROYAL HUNT picked the historic stage of St. Petersburg, Russia's Music Hall to film their new "live in concert" DVD on. A beautiful old theatre and some 1500+ enthusiastic fans created great atmosphere for this Nov. 2, 2005 event, which lasted about two hours (the band played a wide selection of songs from all of their releases since 1992 and some tracks from the latest CD, "Paper Blood") and was captured by six cameras. The package will also include some backstage/pre-production footage as well as interviews with all the bandmembes and their roadcrew. A spring release is expected.

ROYAL HUNT recently completed a tour in support of their latest album, "Paper Blood". The follow-up to 2003's "Eyewitness" was recorded at North Point studio in Copenhagen and was mixed at EMI/Medley Studio in Copenhagen with André Andersen (keyboards) and Lars Overgaard behind the board.

ROYAL HUNT recently announced the addition of bassist Per Schelander (HOUSE OF SHAKIRA, SPIKE) to the group's ranks.

Swiss melodic metallers CRYSTAL BALL have parted ways with bassist Dany Schallibaum. "Dany wants to focus on his family in the future, to which we wish him all the best," the band write on their web site. "For 10 years Dany was a solid member of the band. We thank him for everything he contributed. We will miss his easy-going and humorous character a lot! Of course, Scott [Leach; guitar, backing vocals], Marcel [Sardella; drums] and Mark [Sweeney; vocals] will go on and soon announce some new gigs for spring/summer 2006! CRYSTAL BALL will work with some guest musicans for that reason."

CRYSTAL BALL's latest effort, "TimeWalker", entered the Swiss national album chart at position No. 56 last September. The follow-up to 2003's "Hellvetia" was once again produced by Stefan Kaufmann (ACCEPT, U.D.O.) and includes 12 tracks.

American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT will be filming their first live DVD on February 11, 2006 at the Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway. The shoot will be handled by acclaimed Swedish director Patric Ulleaus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL) and promises to be full of surprises for all the fans. "This has been in the works now for more than two years and we are very pleased to have all the gears in motion now," stated guitarist Thomas Youngblood. "This will be a very, very special event for us and all the fans of the band."

According to lead singer Roy Khan the crew is already in full swing preparing for the show in Oslo, most certainly destined to be another milestone in the career of the band. More details are expected for this muchnticipated DVD, including track listings, bonus footage and special guest appearances. Release date is scheduled for summer/fall 2006 via SPV Records. Ticket sales, flight and hotel information for fans traveling from outside of Norway is available at the tour section on Kamelot.com.

KAMELOT are continuing to promote their latest album, "The Black Halo", 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 (EPICA), 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.

Italian film-score metal icons RHAPSODY have announced that they will release their first live album on January 31 via Magic Circle Music. Entitled "Live In Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret", the release is a testimony of pure energy, with over 60 minutes of footage recorded at the Metropolis in Montreal/Canada on June 14, 2005 during leg one of the MANOWAR's "Demons, Dragons and Warriors World Tour".

"This album is exceptionally magical,” said guitarist and composer Luca Turilli. "It combines the song visions with the fun we had on stage and the amazing reaction from the fans."

Keyboardist and composer Alex Staropoli added, "The reaction of the fans in Canada and the U.S. was just unbelievable. That's why we simply had to name this album 'Live In Canada'. A true dedication!"

"Live In Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret" will be released in two configurations: as a CD format that features the complete Montreal show and as a limited edition CD package (with the complete album recorded in 5.1 surround sound) that will include a bonus DVD that contains exclusive behind-the-scenes-material. The track list includes old favourites from previous years as well as tracks from their latest release "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret".

"Live In Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret" track listing:

01. The Dark Secret
02. Unholy Warcry
03. Wisdom Of The Kings
04. The Village Of Dwarves
05. Erian´s Mystical Rhymes
06. Dawn Of Victory
07. Lamento Eroico
08. Nightfall On The Grey Mountains
09. The March Of The Swordmaster
10. Emerald Sword
11. Grand Finale

Reunited grindcore pioneers TERRORIZER have inked a deal with Century Media Records.

"This is a big step in the process for everyone involved with TERRORIZER and we are pleased to announce the great news," commented TERRORIZER guitarist Jesse Pintado (formerly of NAPALM DEATH).

The new TERRORIZER incarnation will consist of one half of its original lineup. Pintado will grind out the guitars and Pete Sandoval (MORBID ANGEL) will play some of the fastest drumming in recorded history. Introducing themselves to the TERRORIZER fold are guitarist Tony Norman (MORBID ANGEL, MONSTROSITY) and vocalist Tony Militia (RESISTANT CULTURE). Many people have asked why Oscar Garcia (NAUSEA) and David Vincent (MORBID ANGEL) are not returning. Simply put, Oscar is no longer interested in TERRORIZER and wants to focus on his own band NAUSEA.

Regarding what the fans can expect from the group's long-awaited new release, Pintado said, "It will be different but in the TERRORIZER vein." There are reportedly talks of introducing classical piano parts, industrial noise parts and chants on the new record. A 13-minute-plus song is in the works as well as some of the fastest drumming ever put to tape. Recording sessions are set to begin in January 2006. A late spring release is tentatively expected.

Polish death metallers INCARNATED have inked a deal with Selfmadegod Records. The band will release their long-awaited second full-length album, "Pleasure of Consumption", in late February/early March. The follow-up to 2001's "Human Flesh" (Demonic Records) was recorded in January 2005 at Bloodline Studio and contains "10 pieces of brutal, raw and pure old-school death metal in the old Swedish style [characterized by] such bands as ENTOMBED, NIHILIST, DISMEMBER, NECRONY and GENERAL SURGERY," according to a press release. Additionally, three other previously unreleased songs from a 1997 session at Salman Studio will also be included on the CD.

Vocalist John Tardy of the Floridian death metal legends OBITUARY has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"As you may or may not know, we are no longer with our old record company [Roadrunner Records] and we have a lot of options for what we might want to do. One thing is for sure and that is we will have a new CD out sometime this year. We have been working on some new material and when we get done with our European Tour in January we are going to work hard on getting that completed.

"Anyway, we look forward to seeing you all out at the shows and really need your support so please come out and see us!!!"

As previously reported, OBITUARY shot a video for the track "On the Floor" at their December 9 concert at the Masquerade in Ybor City, Florida.

OBITUARY's latest CD, "Frozen in Time", was released in July 2005 via Roadrunner Records. The group's first collection of new songs since 1997's "Back from the Dead" was self-produced by the band, with Mark Prator and Scott Burns engineering, and was mastered by Tom Morris at Morrisound.

Germany's Metal Heaven has set a February 27 European release date for the new album from Swedish progressive power metal band PLATITUDE, entitled "Silence Speaks". The CD was issued in Japan last month through King Records.

The follow-up to 2004's "Nine", "Silence Speaks" was recorded at Panicroom Studios in Sweden and Jailhouse Studios in Denmark and was produced by Tommy Hansen and PLATITUDE. The mixing and mastering duties were handled by Hansen at Jailhouse. Check out photos from the video shoot for the title track, "Silence Speaks", at this location.

"Silence Speaks" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Tell the Truth
02. Nobody's Hero
03. Silence Speaks
04. Empty Inside
05. Fear (It's Over Now)
06. Don't Be Afraid
07. Falling Down
08. After the Storm
09. Walk with Me
10. You

As previously reported, PLATITUDE recently parted ways with keyboardist Andreas Lindahl. Andreas left the group in order to "fully [concentrate] on his other projects, mainly LOCH VOSTOK as well as his session work with WUTHERING HEIGHTS and MANTICORA," according to a posting on the band's web site.

PLATITUDE's sophomore album, "Nine", was released in April 2004 through Italy's Scarlet Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Secrets of Life" was recorded at Jailhouse Studios with producer Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS) and features cover artwork by Mattias Norén.

Belgian death metallers ABORTED have parted ways with guitarist Thijs "Tace" de Cloedt and bassist Frederic "Free" Vanmassenhove due to "personal issues." "A cumulation of smaller and bigger problems in the past so and so months has made it virtually impossible to keep cooperating together as a collective unit," the band write on their web site. "Tace and Free are not vanishing, they will remain active in their other projects. People will see Free in his other band FORCED HATE and Tace has just started a new band.

"On a more positive note, we want to state that absolutely nobody out there should worry about shows getting canceled and so on. The February tour with CRYPTOPSY, GRAVE, DEW-SCENTED [among others] will go on as planned! Stepping in are Seb (GENITAL GRINDER, BALROG) on guitar, Olivia (ex-NO RETURN, BALROG) on bass and Matty (EMETH) on guitar as well since [guitarist Stephane Soutereyand] could not commit himself to this tour due to his lady sitting at home pregnant, ready to give birth.

"We have already rehearsed our setlist with the new line-up several times and things are working out perfectly. The motivation and 'drive' is back in the band, something that was missing since a while ago, and it feels great to be jamming out the tunes with fresh blood incorporated. Throughout the years this band has been struggling with the line-up, having more than a couple of line-up changes. However, ABORTED has proven that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, and this time it should be no exception.

"We also started working on the successor to 'The Archaic Abattoir', which is set to be recorded later this year. Again we would like to thank all of those who have supported us, and we're glad you are still doing so. We will see many of you on tour in February!"

ABORTED's most recent album, "The Archaic Abattoir", was released in March 2005 via Listenable Records. The CD was mixed at Antfarm Studios in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, PANZERCHRIST, MNEMIC, EKTOMORF, DESTINY). Guest vocal appearances on the album include Bo Summer (ILLDISPOSED), Michael Bogballe (MNEMIC) and Jacob Bredahl (HATESPHERE).

CELTIC FROST mainman Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom G. Warrior) recently revealed the complete track listing for the band's new album "Monotheist" in an interview with the U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine.

The group's first album in 13 years, "Monotheist" will be released during the spring on an as-yet-undetermined label. The culmination of some three and a half years of songwriting and recording work, the album was largely produced by the band themselves and financed by their own production company, with additional assistance from HYPOCRISY/PAIN mastermind Peter Tägtgren during the final recording and mixing sessions at Horus Sound Studio in Hanover, Germany. Original CELTIC FROST members Fischer (voice and guitars) and Martin Eric Ain (bass) are joined by Erol Unala (guitar) and Franco Sesa (drums). The band are now managed by Antje Lange for The A Label in Berlin, Germany.

"Monotheist" track listing:

01. Progeny
02. Ground
03. A Dying God Coming Into Human Flesh
04. Drown In Ashes
05. Os Abysmi Vel Daath
06. Temple Of Depression (bonus track)
07. Obscured
08. Domain of Decay
09. Ain Elohim
10. Totengott
11. Synagoga Satanae
12. Winter (Requiem, Chapter Three)