Danish prog-metallers BEYOND TWILIGHT have parted ways with their American vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter (also of OUTWORLD). The group's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"Kelly Sundown Carpenter is no longer a member of BEYOND TWILIGHT. Kelly had four months to deliver vocal lines for the upcoming album, but did not deliver more than 30 seconds of unusable vocals lines. Schedules and plans were pushed several times to adapt to Kelly's lack of ideas and problems. All in the BEYOND TWILIGHT camp have been more than patient with all his excuses. On the 7th of December Kelly finally got a warning. Through a period of four months he promised he would deliver next day but nothing happened. His reasons were everything from personal problems, family problems, not having enough time, blaming Mike and Truls from CIRCUS MAXIMUS taking away his enthusiasm because Kelly felt second to them and to not having a clue of what to sing. Kelly then demanded money, [or] else he wouldn't do the recordings. Although this is not the spirit of BEYOND TWILIGHT, the band was forced to make an arrangement which was settled and Kelly was assured his wish of $500. The 28th of December Kelly decided that the label should pay him the amount of $500 before he left for the recordings, [or] else he wouldn't do the recordings. Finn Zierler [BEYOND TWILIGHT founder] wrote to Kellythat the label, of course, was closed during Christmas and he was not even going to ask the label, but desperate to save the situation, Finn offered to transfer the money to Kelly and asked Kelly to supply him with a PayPal account. Kelly did not do this; instead he started attacking the concept of the album, although he had not written any lyrics nor did he have a clue of what the concept is about. At last, only one day before Kelly was supposed to fly to Europe, he ended up accusing Finn for not paying him money to the account that Kelly never supplied and that he couldn't thrust Finn to give it to him and therefore he wanted to leave the band. King Kelly has decided not to cover the economical losses he has caused.

"On behalf of everybody in the BEYOND TWILIGHT camp, it's safe to say that we are all puzzled about Kelly, but we wish him the best for the future."

Legendary Greek death metallers ROTTING CHRIST have announced two live shows in the city of Larissa, Greece which will be recorded for their first live release. The pioneers of the Greek metal scene will put on two special two-hour shows featuring songs covering their entire catalog. These live shows will be held on February 3-4 at Blive Music House in Larissa, and will be the only concerts to be recorded for the upcoming CD. The shows will mark the band's 18 years in the metal scene and fans from around the world are expected to attend.

As previously reported, ROTTING CHRIST will play a very special show consisting exclusively of material from their first three albums — "Passage To Arcturo" (1989), "Thy Mighty Contract" (1992) and "Non Serviam" (1994) — on January 14, 2006 at An Club in Athens, Greece.

ROTTING CHRIST recently inked a deal with Season of Mist. The band are expected to enter the studio during the coming months to begin recording a new studio album, tentatively due in 2006. The band's "Passage To Arcturo" and "Non Serviam" albums (both with bonus tracks) will be reissued on January 24, 2006 via the new The End Records sub-division Unruly Sounds, which focuses on uncompromising and unique sounds of metal music, from yesteryear to today.

ROTTING CHRIST's latest album, "Sanctus Diavolos", was released in September 2004 through Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Genesis" was produced by ROTTING CHRIST guitarist/vocalist Sakis Tolis at SCA Studios in Athens and was mixed by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Reactivated Swedish death metallers DISSECTION have set "Reinkaos" as the title of their long-awaited third album, tentatively due this spring via the band's own label, Black Horizon Music.

"The ritualistic and black magical work on 'Reinkaos', which has taken 11 years to conduct as well as 11 months in the recording studio, has in the long hard road to manifestation been steadily accompanied with constant struggle, internal and external turbulence, occult practice, murder sentences, scandals, Satanic crime, media boycott and censorship, violence, death and chaos," reads a posting on he band's official web site. "After all… 'Reinkaos' is now finally to be unleashed!"

Commented singer/guitarist Jon Nödtveidt: "We have invested our souls in this album, gone through fire and brimstone to make everything work."

Black Horizon Music will also re-release the bands back catalogue, including the classic albums "The Somberlain" and "Storm of the Light's Bane". A documentary film about DISSECTION is currently in production.

MÖTLEY CRÜE will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this coming January 25 in front of the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California. The band were among a number of entertainers in motion pictures, television, radio, live theater, and recording that were selected in June 2005 to receive stars on the Walk of Fame by the Walk of Fame Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. These individuals were chosen from among hundreds of nominations to the committee at a meeting held June 20, and ratified by the Chamber's Board of Directors.

MÖTLEY CRÜE will launch their Carnival of Sins 2006 tour with a New Year's Eve show on Saturday (December 31) in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The band have 30 North American shows booked between now and early April.

The group plans to hit the studio on May 1 to start working on a new studio album with producer Bob Rock. MÖTLEY CRÜE played to nearly a million fans in 2005, grossing $33 million in 81 shows.

Bassist Jan Bünning of the German power metallers PARAGON has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"We already have written about five songs for the next album, have ideas for about five more and I can assure You it's the most heavy shit we have ever done. As far as it looks now, the record will again be a concept album dealing with a post-apocalyptic world. To be honest, I don't know if Buschi [vocalist Andreas Babuschkin] will include our 'hero' of 'Law of the Blade' and 'The Dark Legacy' again, but it will have good old metal fun lyrics anyway!"

PARAGON's latest album, "Revenge", was released in the U.S. in April via Magick Records. The CD marks the follow-up to the band's successful album "The Dark Legacy", released by Remedy in 2003.

"Revenge" was recorded in part at Karo studios with the help of an engineer, and the rest of the recording process and mixing was done at Piet Sielck's (IRON SAVIOR) new Powerhouse Studios. The artwork for the record was done by the Argentine artist Valgorth. PRIMAL FEAR guitarist Tom Naumann makes a guest appearance on lead guitar in the track "Impaler".

AJATTARA, the Finnish "black/dark metal" project featuring former AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen (a.k.a. Ruoja), have finalized the track listing for their fourth full-length album, "Äpäre", due on March 22, 2006 via Spinefarm Records. It is as follows:

01. Hurmasta
02. Raato
03. Säälin Koira
04. Lautuma
05. Eksyneet
06. Hirsipuulintu
07. Tahtomattaan Syntynyt
08. Itse
09. Koito
10. Syntyni

Check out the album artwork at this location.

AJATTARA recently entered the Finnish single chart at position No. 2 with their Christmas single, "Joulusingle 2005". The CD contains an original song entitled "Teuras", backed by a cover of the track "Kansallispäivä", originally written and recorded by the Finnish band SIELUN VELJET.

AJATTARA's third CD, "Tyhjyys" ("Emptiness") was released late last year through the Spinefarm Records subsidiary Spikefarm. Recordings for the album took place at Savonlinna's Sundi Coop studio, where AJATTARA recorded their earlier releases, "Itse" (2001) and "Kuolema" (2003).

German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA have set "Caledonia" as the title of their eighth album, tentatively due next fall. The follow-up to this year's "Command to Charge" will be a concept album dealing with Scotland's ancient history. "At the moment, the band are working on the album's eighth song, and it is fair to say that 'Caledonia' will be more in the 'folk melodic death metal' style that SUIDAKRA are well known for," reads a posting on the group's web site.

SUIDAKRA's most recent CD, "Command to Charge", is available now on Armageddon Music. The follow-up to 2003's "Signs for the Fallen" was recorded at Gernhard studio in Siegburg, Germany. Mastering duties were handled at the Monoposto Mastering Studio (DIE TOTEN HOSEN, SCORPIONS, TITO & TARANTULA, etc.).

Upcoming SUIDAKRA shows:

Feb. 04 - St. Petersburg, RUS - Arctica
Feb. 05 - Moscow, RUS - Relax

German melodic metallers EDGUY are currently rehearsing for their forthcoming world tour, which will feature the band's biggest stage set to date. In Europe, the limited first edition of the band's new album, "Rocket Ride" (due out January 20), will come out as a book version, featuring a photographic history of the group with never-before-seen pictures from their early days and one bonus track ("Land Of The Miracle", recorded live in Brazil).

Commented EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet: ""I can't tell how happy I am with the new album. The press seems to like it and the material kicks so much ass in the rehearsing room. Of course, it's the same old story, same procedure as every year, some people are confused or offended by a few song titles and the artwork, but that's fine with us! That's what metal is supposed to do. Confuse, offend, irritate! Remain exciting and unpredictable!!! The truest and most upright form of art you can get! As long as the music kicks! I think this is by far our best album because we dared a lot on a high-quality level. 'Hellfire Club' and 'Mandrake' had balls, 'Rocket Ride' has the testicles about the size of a sperm whale family. Sascha Paeth delivered the best production of his career so far and he can be proud of himself (and he is rich now!)."

The cover artwork (by Anthony Clarkson) for BLIND GUARDIAN's upcoming single, "Fly", has been posted online at this location. The single, which is tentatively scheduled for release on February 24, 2006 via Nuclear Blast, will contain the following track listing:

01. Fly
02. Skalds and Shadows (acoustic version)
03. In A Gadda Da Vida (IRON BUTTERFLY cover)

The acoustic version of "Skalds and Shadows" and BLIND GUARDIAN's version of the IRON BUTTERFLY classic "In A Gadda Da Vida" (previously covered by SLAYER) will only appear on the single and will not be featured on the band's much-anticipated new album, tentatively titled "A Twist in the Myth".

JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the solo project of SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, will enter the studio on January 2, 2006 to begin recording their sophomore album for a tentative May release via SPV Records.

A number of live appearances have been scheduled for late spring/early summer, including a few shows alongside DORO and SONATA ARCTICA. "More festival and club shows will be announced in the coming weeks as well as a co-headlining tour scheduled for November-December 2006!" the band write on their web site. "Fans can expect a continued assault of old-school SAVATAGE classics as well as songs from JON OLIVA'S PAIN's first release, 'Tage Mahal', and material from the band's upcoming CD."

As previously reported, JON OLIVA'S PAIN have set "Maniacal Renderings - Chapter 2" as the title of their sophomore album. Working songtitles include "Maniacal Renderings", "Time To Die", "I Don't Want Blood On Your Hands", "Pyramid on Mars" (instrumental), "The Answer" (from the original JON OLIVA'S PAIN demos), and "Reality's Fool" (another demo from the first-album sessions).

Norwegian progressive/power metal band COMMUNIC, who feature in their ranks ex-SCARIOT members Oddleif Stensland (vocals) and Tor Atle Andersen (drums), will enter Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark in February 2006 to begin recording their sophomore album, tentatively titled "Waves of Visual Decay". "It's getting close to studio time, and we are still working on details on the new material, but mostly everything is ready," the band write on their web site. "There will be a new session member in studio this time around. The keys will be handled by Endre Kirkesola, [who] also [handled] the keys on our demo from 2004. As earlier stated we will head down to Jacob Hansen's studio in Ribe in Denmark to record the album, and we are really looking forward to it."

"Waves of Visual Decay" tentative track listing (in no particular order):

01. Under a Luminate Sky
02. Frozen Asleep in the Park
03. My Bleeding Victim
04. Watching It all Disappear
05. Fooled by the Serpent
06. Waves of Visual Decay
07. At Dewy Prime

According to the band, "These songs seems to continue where [the debut album] 'Conspiracy In Mind' left off, and has turned out to be a tad more heavy in some ways, but we are sure that it will give you the 'COMMUNIC fix' that you are waiting for..."

ANTHRAX members Frankie Bello (bass), Charlie Benante (drums) and Scott Ian (guitar) got together in Chicago (where Benante lives with his wife) in early December to jam on new material. According to Ian, rough "skeletons" of three new songs came out of these sessions, with the band scheduled to continue writing in early 2006.

ANTHRAX will kick off a 13-date U.S. tour on January 6 in Baltimore, Maryland. Support at the shows will come from GOD FORBID, SWORN ENEMY and MANNTIS.

Commented Ian: "I'm itching to get back out on tour. The [JUDAS] PRIEST tour was great, but we were opening. Now we get to headline. More songs, more fun, more crushing, more beer, more insanity, more everything!!! This is the reason to get out of the house in freezing cold January. Come and get hot with us. This is the last run for a long time and you don't want to miss it."

ANTHRAX are expected to take a couple of months off following the U.S. tour so that Benante can spend time with his newborn child (which is due in February). A European headlining tour is tentatively planned for April 2006. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

Hungarian hardcore/thrash metallers EKTOMORF will release a live DVD, entitled "Live and Raw...You Get What You Give", on January 6, 2006 via Nuclear Blast. The package will include live footage of the band performing at the Summer Breeze festival in 2005 and all of their video clips, plus a bonus CD containing a remastered version of the band's "Kalyi Jag" album (originally issued in 2000), done by producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, WITCHERY, RAUNCHY, HIMSA).

"Live and Raw...You Get What You Give" (view cover here) track listing:

DVD - Live from Summer Breeze Festival 2005 (approx. 45 minutes):

01. Intro
02. Set Me Free
03. Show Your Fist
04. Instinct
05. Fuck You All
06. Burn
07. You Get Wat You Give
08. Gipsy
09. I Know Them
10. Serial Man
11. United Nations
12. I Will

Bonus Clips (approx. 20 minutes):

13. AEA
14. I Know Them
15. Destroy
16. Show Your Fist
17. Set Me Free

+ Making Of "Destroy"

Bonus CD – "Kalyi Jag" (total running time: 64:43):

01. Son Of The Fire
02. Sunto Dél Mulo
03. Freely
04. Romungro
05. For You
06. For The Last Time
07. Always Believe In Yourself
08. Open Up Your Eyes
09. Save My Soul
10. The Way I Do
11. Brother Song
12. Fly
13. Don´t Need
14. Kalyi Jag
15. Forgotten Fire

Vocalist Urban Breed has left acclaimed Swedish metallers TAD MOROSE. In an official statement announcing his departure, Breed writes, "Due to personal differences I have decided to leave the band. This wasn't something I took lightly. However, I really don't see how I could've continued. In fact, I believe had I not made this decision someone else would've made it for me eventually. We just didn't share the same vision. I wish the rest of the band the best of luck in the future. To all of you out there that made the ride worthwhile, thanks and see you sometime, somewhere!"

Urban Breed joined TAD MOROSE in 1995 following the departure of previous singer Kristian "Krille" Andrén. Breed has appeared on the group's last four studio albums: 1997's "A Mended Rhyme", 2000's "Undead", 2002's "Matters of the Dark" and 2003's "Modus Vivendi".

Urban Breed has just released the debut album from BLOODBOUND, his new project with Fredrik Bergh (STREET TALK; bass, keyboards and backing vocals) and Tomas Olsson (lead and rhythm guitars). Entitled "Nosferatu", the CD is presently only available in Japan via Marquee Inc./Avalon. The European release is expected on February 24, 2006 via Metal Heaven.

"Nosferatu" was recorded and produced by Tomas Olsson and Fredrik Bergh. This ambitious project took over one year to finish and "not a single track on the album is less than one hundred channels!" according to a press release. "On 'Nosferatu' the band is combining the musicality and the classical elements of bands like IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and HELLOWEEN!" the press release adds. The album cover was created by Mark Wilkinson, who has previously designed covers for bands like IRON MAIDEN, THE DARKNESS, JUDAS PRIEST and MARILLION.

"Nosferatu" track listing:

01. Behind the Moon
02. Into the Dark
03. Nosferatu
04. Metal Monster
05. Crucified
06. Desdemonamelia
07. Fallen from Grace
08. Screams in the Night
09. For the King
10. Midnight Sun
11. On the Battlefield

Check out audio samples at this location.

Keyboardist Juska Salminen (ex-H.I.M., NEW DAWN FOUNDATION) will be taking a break from performing and recording activities with Finnish goth-metallers TO/DIE/FOR. "The reason is that he is a bit sick and he needs time to heal himself," explained TO/DIE/FOR vocalist Jarno "Jape" Perätalo. "We don't know when he can come back, but the most important thing is that he can calm down and get well. Juska is our friend and we really know him! so we think this is best for him and for the band and Juska thinks same way. But don't worry people!!!! He is not dead yet."

TO/DIE/FOR recently parted ways with guitarist Juppe "J.P." Sutela and replaced him with SOULRELIC axeman Antza Talala.

TO/DIE/FOR are continuing to support their latest album, "IV", available now on Spinefarm Records/Soulfood. The follow-up to 2003's "Jaded" 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 completed by ex-NEW DAWN FOUNDATION drummer/ex-TO/DIE/FOR drum tech Santtu Lonka, guitarist Mika "Alli" Ahtiainen, and bassist Jarkko "Josey" Strandmann (ex-NEW DAWN FOUNDATION).

Finnish metallers DREAMTALE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We have been busy writing new songs and we feel that there is really some strong material coming. We are soon finished with recording a promo single with three new songs. No info on whether it will be released for you all, but at least you'll get to hear some samples (and Nisse's vocals finally)."

As previously reported, DREAMTALE recently announced the addition of singer Nils "Nisse" Nordling to the group's ranks. Nordling joins the group as the replacement for Jarkko Ahola, who left DREAMTALE in April to concentrate on his other band, TERÄSBETONI.

Italy's LACUNA COIL have confirmed on their official web site that the recording, mixing, and mastering of their forthcoming album, "Karmacode", is complete. The CD is tentatively scheduled for release in early April via Century Media Records. The highly anticipated follow-up to 2002's "Comalies" was co-produced once again by Waldemar Sorychta and was mixed by Ronald Prent (RAMMSTEIN, H.I.M., IRON MAIDEN). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "What I See", "Fragile", "In Visible Light", "Fragments of Faith", "Within Me" and "Our Truth".

In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, LACUNA COIL frontwoman Cristina Scabbia had the following to say about the upcoming CD:

"The album is a trip through different spiritualities, not specific religions. We wanted to analyze how religion and spirituality can in our day coexist. Look at the title — we mix something generally spiritual like 'karma' with 'code,' which is modern and recent concept. The word is modern and spiritual at once.

"The music is the same and we did not change or become a different kind of band. It's an evolution, and it's precise. We spent three years on the road, visiting new territories, like the U.S., so we took different American influences and we mixed them with our European sound. We take the power of American bands and blend it with the romanticism and passion from Europe, so it's an interesting combination."

According to a posting on the RUSH fan site Power Windows, Zoe/Rounder has se ta February 7, 2006 U.S. release date for the DVD version of RUSH's classic "Exit...Stage Left" concert film.

"Everything's been remixed to 5.1, and that was the intention — to keep it all intact, except for the remix," guitarist Alex Lifeson recently told Billboard.com. "So it's available in surround."

Lifeson told Billboard.com he enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane while refurbishing the material. "It was interesting to see the development in the arrangements, and how our sound changed over the course of a decade," he said. "I definitely found it fascinating, looking at that. And how the stage show changed over the years — of course, [in] 10 years a lot of stuff changes. But it was a little fascinating to watch that, actually."

"Exit...Stage Left" was filmed at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec on March 27, 1981 and was issued in 1981 on VHS/Laserdisk (out of print). The 60-minute video featured the following track listing:

01. Limelight
02. Tom Sawyer
03. The Trees
04. Broon's Bane
05. Xanadu
06. Red Barchetta
07. Free Will
08. Closer To The Heart
09. YYZ (with voice over)
10. By-Tor And The Snow Dog / In The End / In The Mood / 2112 Finale

BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch has posted the following message at the band's web site:

"A sign of life message just to let you know that Christmas is getting closer and we are still not done with recordings, yet. But that is the good news for the album: we are still on schedule. The description 'on schedule' can be stretched (manipulated?) a little, while talking about a BLIND GUARDIAN album production, anyway. We haven't — so far, but we could. There is only a small amount of guitars, which needs to be completed, some bass, a lot of vocals and even more mixing. We are targeting an early February deadline.

"I am very sorry we have not been able to involve you more so far, but we are so focused on the album, that we hardly find the time to eat. I turned a skinny beauty during these days. I promise to provide you with some studio shots as soon as the new year has started...

"Oh, about the single mentioned a few months earlier: We have accomplished it and I would like to provide you with some information about it, only the important ones and of course only true ones:

There will be three songs on the single:

01. Fly
02. Skalds and Shadows (acoustic version)
03. In A Gadda Da Vida

"'Fly' is a quite surprising title for a BLIND GUARDIAN song, one could think. But it lyrically fits very, very well. This song is about inspirations and how they can influence your art, your life and other people's li(v)(?)es(?). I, myself, was inspired by the movie 'Finding Neverland' when doing the lyrics. The music is mindblowing. It certainly describes how we look at music and how we see ourselves as musicians. We love to explore and assimilate. Though the song is different, it is pure BLIND GUARDIAN. I, personally, consider it to be amongst the best songs we have ever written. It is new!!! It is fresh!!! Whether you will like it or not, you will have to admit that you have never heard anything like that before. Not from BLIND GUARDIAN and neither from any other band on this planet.

"The accoustic version of 'Skalds and Shadows' completely stands in the tradition of songs like 'The Bard's Song' and 'A Past and Future Secret'. Charlie [Bauerfeind, producer] and Frederik [Ehmke, drummer] came up with a very cool percussion arrangement and on top of it Frederik played some mindblowing flute melodies to it. We are very happy with the result and we work on a more orchestral version at the moment, which is supposed to become part of the album. This purer single version will only appear on the single. The word 'skald' is probably not very common, but is nothing else than the ancient nordic description for their bards. The nordic Edda poems have mostly been invented by Skalds and they also have kept these stories alive by traveling around and telling the stories to other people. I, as a fan of 'Die Nibelungen' and of Tolkien's work, was mostly thrilled by the 'Saga of Volsung', which the song lyrically partly scratches — as well as the mission of the storyteller.

"As probably most of you have figured, 'In A Gadda Da Vida' is a cover version of IRON BUTTERFLY's smash hit. Although we like stoner music — we dared to turn it into a modern speed metal tune. This song, of course, will only appear on the single.

"To complete the single subject: The cover artwork has been done by Anthony Clarkson. He did a great job. The motive is pretty much BLIND GUARDIAN. I am sure you will love it.

"What else can I tell you? We have not decided how the album will be entitled. Due to lyrical issues I am brainstorming with the word 'myth,' but that does not necessarily mean it finally will be used for the title. The two strongest titles from my point of view so far are: 'A Twist in the Myth', or 'Borderline Myth'. None of them can be seen as confirmed. Sometimes you wake up and you just know: that's the title to go for. Mostly it is just a question of the right inspiration...

"We recognized your discussion about the possible style we may have chosen for the new album and I just would like to point out the following one more time: We will not deny our roots, but we at the same time will not make a step back and we have no intention to stand right where we have been with the last studio album. The album will contain 11 very strong songs, which all differ strongly from each other. There's heavy metal, there's more rockish metal, there's more progressive metal, there's more intense metal, but there is no rip off! We do not sell out. 'Selling out' could be a cool title, too, by the way. Ah, damned someone has used it before, I think.

"The single will give you an idea of how much the songs on the album will be different from each other. To explore and invent something new — that's the thrill!!!

"Have one on me (and don't believe a word I've said)."

As previously reported, BLIND GUARDIAN recently replaced drummer Thomen Stauch, who left the band in April after 20 years. The new man behind the kit is fellow German Frederik Ehmke, who is said to be "fairly unknown in the world of metal." Working songtitles for the new CD include "Carry the Blessed Home", "The Edge", "In Search for the Lionheart", "Market Square", "Another Stranger Me", and "Otherland".

Attic Arcade/Gencross has set a March 23, 2006 Japanese release date for the new NARNIA album, "Enter the Gate". The Swedish metallers are currently negotiating a European release for the CD, which is being described by the band as "the most well-sounding and well-performed NARNIA album to date." The follow-up to 2003's "The Great Fall" features backing vocals by Mats Leven (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, AT VANCE) and contains "the most melodic and catchy songs since 'Long Live the King' from the late '90s but in a brand new sound and approach," according to the band.

In other news, MCM Music will be releasing a CD version of the band's 2003 concert performance ay Owener Rocknacht in Germany. The show, which was previously released on DVD under the title "At Short Notice....Live in Germany", has now been edited and remastered for the CD version. The title remains the same and the release is set for January 23, 2006.

NARNIA's fourth full-length album, "The Great Fall", was released in April 2003 through Nuclear Blast. The CD, which was produced at The Dream Factory in Jönköping, Sweden by Carl-Johan Grimmark, featured guest appearances from former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/current HAMMERFALL drummer Anders Johansson and SAVIOUR MACHINE singer Eric Clayton.

NARNIA recently parted ways with keyboardist Linus Kåse. Replacing him on some the band's recent dates was Andreas Lindahl.

Norway's legendary eccentric artist MORTIIS recently completed a remix for DEATHSTARS' new album. The song is "Blitzkrieg (Driven On Mix)" and will appear on a limited-edition version of their upcoming CD, "Termination Bliss", due out January 27, 2006 on Nuclear Blast.

MORTIIS had previously completed remixes for such artists as TECHNOPHOBIA, GIRLS UNDER GLASS and DOPE STARS INC.

MORTIIS recently released his first DVD, entitled "Soul in a Hole". The disc was filmed last year in London during the two-month "The Unlimited Grudge Tour" with SUSPERIA. The DVD contains bonus videos, photo galleries, interviews, and other extras, in addition to live footage.

Poland's DARZAMAT have released their new album, "Transkarpatia", in Poland via the Metal Mind Productions. The 50-minute CD was mixed by producer Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND guitarist) at LaRocque's Los Angered studio outside Gothenburg, Sweden.

"Transkarpatia" will be released in Mexico via Gravis Records and in Russia through CD Maximum.

"Transkarpatia" track listing:

01. Vampiric Prose
02. Hallucinations
03. The Burning Times
04. Letter from Hell
05. Blackward
06. Labyrinth of Anxiety
07. Recurring Yell
08. Virus
09. The Old Form of Worship
10. Equinox
11. Tempted by Rot
12. Tribute to...

DARZAMAT's fourth album, "Semidevilish", was released late last year via Avantgarde Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Oniriad" was the group's first album to feature new members Golem (drums, ex-DRAGON), Spectre (keyboards) and Nera (vocals, ex-MIDNIGHTDATE).

Swedish/Greek melodic death metallers NIGHTRAGE have commenced the songwriting sessions for their as-yet-untitled third album, tentatively due next year via Century Media Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Drone", "Ostentatious Behaviour", "A Condemned Club" and "De-Fame".

NIGHTRAGE parted ways with vocalist Tomas Lindberg (ex-AT THE GATES, THE CROWN) in July 2005 due to scheduling conflicts. Replacing Lindberg on the microphone is Jimmie Strimell.

NIGHTRAGE's sophomore album, "Descent Into Chaos", was released earlier this year via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Sweet Vengeance" was mixed at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Patrik J. Sten and was mastered at Tailor Maid Production in Stockholm with Peter in de Betou.

Australian progressive metal band VANISHING POINT have announced the addition of bassist Steve Cox to the group's ranks. "Steve has fitted in with his new role quite nicely with his great sense of humour and professionalism towards VANISHING POINT is most welcome," the band write on their web site.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who did try out but who were unfortunately unsuccessful. We wish all the very best for your future and know in whatever you chose to do you will be successful.

VANISHING POINT's latest album, "Embrace the Silence", was released in Europe this past May through Dockyard 1, the new German company/record label formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). "Embrace the Silence" is available in Australia and New Zealand through Modern Invasion Music.