"The Piano Tribute To Rush", created by Todd Mark Rubenstein, is set for release on January 10, 2006 via Vitamin Records. This is the third RUSH tribute album by Rubenstein, who previously released "Exit Stage Right" and "The String Quartet Tribute To 2112". Like most of the previously released tribute albums, classical or otherwise, the track listing mainly consists of RUSH's earlier work, with "The Big Money" being the 'newest' track. The album also includes the original titled "Syrinxian Moonlight".

"The Piano Tribute To Rush" track listing:

01. Limelight
02. New World Man
03. Closer to the Heart
04. Subdivisions
05. Red Barchetta
06. Freewill
07. Fly by Night
08. The Spirit of Radio
09. The Trees
10. Tom Sawyer
11. The Big Money
12. Syrinxian Moonlight

In other news, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson told the Detroit radio station WRIF 101.1 FM that the band are preparing to begin work on a new CD. "We're going to go in the studio early next year and start writing," he said. "It's time for a new record, time to move forward...we're going to hopefully finish the record by the summer, and think about hitting the road around this time next year."

According to a posting on QUEENSRŸCHE's official web site, guest vocalist Pamela Moore (a.k.a. Sister Mary) and bassist Eddie Jackson have completed their parts for QUEENSRŸCHE's sequel to their platinum 1988 concept album, "Operation: Mindcrime", tentatively titled "Operation: Mindcrime II". The band should be in mix mode by December 9 and finished with the entire recording process by December 22. Check out studio pictures of Jackson and Moore with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate and producer Jason Slater at Queensryche.com.

As previously reported, JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford is strongly rumored to have been tapped to play the role of "Dr. X" on the new QUEENSRŸCHE CD. Although there has been no official announcement on the matter, a posting on QUEENSRŸCHE's official web site (dated Nov. 19) reads, "The band is confirming the singer who plays Dr. X by the end of next week. I think you'll be surprised, he is VERY well known and respected."

QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield and guitarist Michael Wilton recorded their parts for "Operation: Mindcrime II" in August at Synergy Studios in Redmond, WA. Michael Stone cut guitars in a studio in a "secret location" in the Bay Area. The band have tapped Reiner Design Concepts — the art direction company that did all the artwork for "Operation: Mindcrime" — to work on their upcoming album. Production has already begun and the group expect artwork by the end of the year.

QUEENSRŸCHE's follow-up to 2003's "Tribe" will be released on March 14, 2006 via the group's new label, Rhino Entertainment. "Bootleg"-quality live recordings of two tracks slated to appear on the new CD — "Hostage" and "I'm American" — are available for download at Queensryche.com.

Los Angeles thrash masters SLAYER are preparing to enter the studio to begin recording the long-awaited follow-up to the band's acclaimed 2001 release, "God Hates Us All". According to Revolver magazine, SLAYER guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman are currently finishing up the lyrics, which will surely be as scathing, misanthropic, and controversial as anything SLAYER have written. One of Hanneman's songs may even address the attacks of 9/11 from the terrorists' perspective. "We're SLAYER, dude," King told Revolver. "We have to be dangerous."

Although nothing has yet been officially confirmed, King had previously told Metal Hammer magazine that he was hoping the band would once again work with producer Dave Sardy, who had previously produced SLAYER's tribute to the great punk bands of the '80s, "Undisputed Attitude". "[Dave] Lombardo wants Rick Rubin for drums, and I've no problems with that because, in my opinion, it's what he's best at. But I think we're all pretty much agreed that the overall producer will be Sardy," King was quoted as saying.

SLAYER's upcoming album will surface on American Recordings' new home, Warner Bros., sometime in 2006.

After eight gigs in five different countries with GREEN CARNATION, stand-in bass player Ole Vistnes has left the band to make room for regular bass man Stein Roger Sordal.

"Ole has done a fantastic job for us!" singer Kjetil Nordhus said. "He has been extremely professional in his approach, but we have also learned to know him as a great person. So on behalf of GREEN CARNATION, I'd like to thank Ole for his efforts with us."

The 23-year-old Vistnes joined GREEN CARNATION on a session basis when Stein Roger Sordal went to Australia to work with THE KARMA in the summer of 2005, and he has been with the band for some truly memorable moments, most notably at the ProgPower Europe Festival in Holland, The Day of the Equinox in Canada and more recently the highly successful tour of Finland. Ole Vistnes will now dedicate his musical abilities to his main band ZEROZONIC, and a project act called JACK CAINE (also featuring former GREEN CARNATION keyboardist Bernt A. Moen).

"We wish Ole all the best with both ZEROSONIC and JACK CAINE. He deserves every bit of success," Kjetil Nordhus said.

GREEN CARNATION's "The Acoustic Verses" will be one of the first albums to issued in North American via a brand new collaboration between The End Records and RED Distribution. A full-length MP3 of the track"Alone", taken from "The Acoustic Verses", has been made available for download at this location (3.4 MB). The CD is scheduled for release in North America on January 24, 2006.

Brazilian thrashers SEPULTURA have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Dante XXI", due in early 2006 via SPV Records.

SEPULTURA's 11th full-length album, "Dante XXI" was recorded at Trama Studios in São Paulo, Brazil, where the group had previously laid down the "Revolusongs" EP, which contained cover versions of songs from such acts as MASSIVE ATTACK to HELLHAMMER to JANE'S ADDICTION (and was included in the limited-edition digipack version of 2003's "Roorback").

Working under the watchful eye of producer Andre Moraes (with whom they've previously worked on various Brazilian film soundtracks), SEPULTURA's follow-up to "Roorback" is based on the epic poetic masterpiece "The Divine Comedy" written by Italian author Dante Alighieri in the early 14th Century. The three main components of "The Divine Comedy" are Dante's descriptions of Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.

In addition to the 10 tracks that are set to appear on "Dante XXI", SEPULTURA recorded two cover songs — JUDAS PRIEST's "Screaming for Vengeance" and SICK OF IT ALL's "Scratching the Surface" — which will be released as single b-sides in the future.

"Dante XXI" track listing:

01. Dark Wood of Error
02. Convicted In Life
03. City of Dis
04. False
05. Fighting On
06. Ostia
07. Buried Words
08. Nuclear Seven
09. Repeating the Horror
10. Crown and Miter
11. Still Flame

ContactMusic.com is reporting that H.I.M. frontman Ville Valo fell victim to a brazen robbery after his drink was spiked in a Minneapolis, Minnesota, bar during his recent U.S. tour — and he has vowed to stay sober ever since.

The Finnish rocker was drinking with strangers the evening before a gig on October 21, 2005 when the drugging took place, leaving him suffering minor injuries and with his pockets cleaned out. And the singer is now so terrified of a repeat incident, he is staying off alcohol for the foreseeable future.

He says, "They put some drugs in my pint of beer. I blacked out and woke up in a hotel room I'd never seen before.
Somebody had stolen my jacket, my asthma medicine, my fags (cigarettes), my credit cards and my cell phone.

I had a couple of scratches, probably from falling down, but nothing worse. I've been sober ever since."

MY DARKEST HATE, the German death metal band featuring former PRIMAL FEAR drummer Klaus Sperling and members of SACRED STEEL, have completed work on their fourth album, "Combat Area", for a March 24, 2006 release via Massacre Records. The band recorded the follow-up to 2004's "At War" at Stage One studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (CALLENISH CIRCLE, TANKARD, OCCULT). "Andy did an awesome job — the result is just a real killer!!!" the group write on their web site.

"Combat Area" track listing (not final order):

01. Enter Combat
02. When Smoke Has Settled
03. Bow Before Me
04. Nothing Lasts Forever
05. They Shall Fall
06. Number Seven
07. Fall of Eden
08. Under My Wing
09. The Principle of War
10. Under One Flag

MY DARKEST HATE's third album, "At War", was released in May 2004 via Massacre. The follow-up to 2002's "To Whom It May Concern" was produced by Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, BRAINSTORM, SACRED STEEL) and came with a bonus DVD, featuring a video for the track "Catch the Bullet", live footage from the Party.San Open Air festival and a "making of…" report.

Reunited Dutch death metallers SINISTER will enter Stage One studio in Germany on December 5 to begin recording their new album, "Afterburner", for an early 2006 release through Nuclear Blast Records. The recording sessions are expected to last two weeks.

SINISTER's current lineup consists of Aad Kloosterwaard, drummer and founder of the band, on vocals, Alex Paul on guitar, and Paul Beltman (ex-JUDGEMENT DAY) on drums. A session bass player will be added when the band hits the road again.

The band, who re-signed with Nuclear Blast back in 2002 after a one-album stint with the now-defunct Hammerheart Records, issued their last studio album, "Savage or Grace", in 2003.

SILENT VOICES, the Finnish melodic metal band featuring SONATA ARCTICA keyboardist keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg, REQUIEM/MENTAL CARE FOUNDATION bassist Pasi Kauppinen and SENTIMENT singer Michael Henneken, have completed work on their third album. Entitled "Building up the Apathy" the CD's musical direction is being described as "considerably more progressive" than that on the group's previous album, 2004's "Infernal".

"Building up the Apathy" was recorded at Studio 57 by Kauppinen, mixed at Sonic Pump studios by Nino Laurenne (AMORPHIS, WINTERSUN, WARMEN) and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsberg (STRATOVARIUS, APOCALYPTICA). The CD will be released in Japan on Avalon/Marquee on January 21, 2006, in France on February 20 and in the rest of the world on February 27 through Plastic Head distribution.

Norway's THEATRE OF TRAGEDY have posted the following message on their official web site:

"After months in the studio, the work on the new THEATRE OF TRAGEDY album is coming to an end. Producer Rico Darum has met up with mixmaster Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY, etc.) at The Green Jacket, Richmond, BC, Canada. What remains is the final twisting and turning of knobs. 12 songs have been picked out of the 15 that were recorded. 10 will make it to the the final version of the album. The remaining songs will either be bonustracks or included on future releases.

The title for the sixth THEATRE OF TRAGEDY album will be 'Storm'. Some of the songtitles that will be included on the album are 'Storm', 'Begin and End', 'Disintegration', 'Fade' and 'Dust'. More titles will be revealed later on. Storm" is scheduled for release on March 24, 2006 release via AFM Records.

On November 29, 2005, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich spoke to the Danish newspaper B.T. about his relationship with Danish Hollywood actress Connie Nielsen.

"Fuck, where do I begin? We have the language, the culture, the sarcasm and the irony in common. We have…yeah, the whole package, because she understands me," Ulrich told the newspaper in a phone interview while being driven from New York City to JFK Airport.

The couple had been in town to celebrate Connie's son Sebastian's 15th birthday and were now returning to the Ulrich's estate in the wealthy Tiburon district in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"Yes, it looks like Connie has moved in with me," the drummer confirmed. "We're taking everything day by day, but she's sitting next to me right now.

"Connie has been — how would you say it in Danish? — a pleasant addition to my life over the last couple of years. It's been nice to have had the Danish side of me become more prominent. To take short trips to Denmark and have a summer vacation with her family in Nordjylland."

Is it because you're afraid of losing touch with your roots that the "Danishness" has become more important to you?

"You know what? That might very well be the case. At any rate, it's something that you definitely want to hold on to and that becomes more and more important when you're a 41-year-old living abroad."

Upon Ulrich’s return to San Francisco later on November 29, METALLICA were due to start the very first rehearsals for the band’s ninth studio album.

"I wouldn't say that I have a plan or an idea of where we're headed, but to kickstart METALLICA once again makes me happy like a kid."

Lars and Connie will be celebrating Christmas in San Francisco together with Connie's son Sebastian and Lars' two sons, Layne, 4, and Myles, 7 (with estranged wife Skylar Ulrich). Joining them will be Lars' father Torben Ulrich, who will be accompanied by his wife Molly.

Do you want to get married again?

Lars: "Yeah, well, first I have to get divorced [laughs], so let's take everything nice and slow, OK? Very, very slow."

Your girlfriend has told one of the other [Danish] newspapers that she would love to have more children, so now you are forced to oblige…

"What? She has what? That pleases me, that pleases me," chuckles Lars.

British black metal pioneers VENOM have set "Metal Black" as the title of their new studio album, due in March 2006 via Castle Records/Sanctuary Group.

According to an official press release, "Metal Black" "sees original founder band member Cronos creating a new masterpiece of metal together with [drummer] Antton and [guitarist] Mykvs. With 14 brand new roaring and vital tracks, VENOM are again taking the goat by the horns and reinventing their own original style . . . 'Metal Black' [is] an album that harkens back to the writing style of the '80s VENOM with a powerful production to incinerate any sound system, truly demonic in every sense and with the delivery of a charging beast."

Commented Mykvs: "The album has a very raw feel. The intensity of the songs is awesome. We recorded the album as a live band, three demons bleeding for the heaviest metal we could create, and our new album will show that VENOM keeps getting stronger and heavier. Lay down your souls, muthafuckers, we have returned."

Acclaimed Swedish prog-metal band ANDROMEDA will release their third album, "Chimera", in Japan on January 21, 2006 via Marquee/Avalon. A release date for North America, Europe and the rest of the world will soon be announced.

"Chimera" track listing:

01. Periscope
02. In the End
03. The Hidden Riddle
04. Going Under
05. The Cage of Me
06. No Guidelines
07. Iskenderun
08. Inner Circle
09. Blink of an Eye

ANDROMEDA's debut album, "Extension of the Wish" (2001), was re-released in Europe via New Hawen/Century Media. The new version features vocals by new singer David Fremberg, a new mix and two bonus tracks, previously only released in France by NTS. The title of the re-release is "Final Extension (Re-Release of 'Extension of the Wish')".

In the December/January issue of the Swedish magazine Close-Up, a number of heavy metal/hard rock musicians list their favorite albums of 2005.

Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA):

BIOHAZARD – "Means to an End"
CLAUSTROPHOBIA – "Fulminant"
EXODUS – "Shovel Headed Kill Machine"

Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES):

NINE INCH NAILS - "With teeth"
10 YEARS – "The Autumn Effect"
COHEED AND CAMBRIA – "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV – Volume One…"

Leif Edling (CANDLEMASS)

OPETH – "Ghost Reveries"
ARCH ENEMY – "Doomsday Machine"
SPIRITUAL BEGGARS – "Demons"

Nergal (BEHEMOTH):

SYSTEM OF A DOWN – "Mezmerize"
NEVERMORE – "This Godless Endeavor"
NINE INCH NAILS – "With Teeth"

Robert Flynn (MACHINE HEAD):

SYSTEM OF A DOWN – "Mezmerize"
GOD FORBID – "IV: Constitution of Treason”
CHIMAIRA – "Chimaira"

Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY):

OBITUARY – "Frozen in Time"
GOJIRA – "From Mars to Sirius"
SPIRITUAL BEGGARS – "Demons"

Tuomas Holopainen (NIGHTWISH):

CHILDREN OF BODOM – "Are You Dead Yet?"
EPICA – "Consign to Oblivion"
MOONSORROW – "Verisäkeet"

John Tardy (OBITUARY):

MADBALL – "Legacy"
RED CHORD – "Clients"
SCUM – "Gospels for the Sick"

Anders Nyström (KATATONIA):

OPETH – "Ghost Reveries"
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD – "Alien"
SOILWORK – "Stabbing the Drama"

Attila Csihar (MAYHEM, ex-ABORYM, TORMENTOR):

CODE – "Nouveau Gloaming"
ARCTURUS – "Sideshow Symphonies"
HYPOCRISY – "Virus"

Jörgen Sandström (VICIOUS ART, ex-GRAVE, ENTOMBED):

TRAUMA – "Determination"
LOST SOUL – "Chaostream"
MUSTASCH – "Powerhouse"

Roger Miret (AGNOSTIC FRONT):

MADBALL – "Legacy"
AGNOSTIC FRONT – "Another Voice"
ROGER MIRET AND THE DISASTERS – "1984"

Nils Eriksson (NOCTURNAL RITES):

MASTERPLAN – "Aeronautics"
SOILWORK – "Stabbing the Drama"
JOURNEY – "Generations"

Casey Chaos (SCUM, AMEN):

DEATHSPELL OMEGA – "Kenose"
1349 – "Hellfire"
TURBONEGRO – "Party Animals"

Peter Dolving (THE HAUNTED):

MODERN LIFE IS WAR – "Witness"
RINGWORM – "Justice Replaced by Revenge"
EARTH – "Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method”

Oscar Dronjak (HAMMERFALL):

NOCTURNAL RITES – "Grand Illusion"
JUDAS PRIEST – "Angel of Retribution"
PRIMAL FEAR – "Seven Seals"

Fred Estby (DISMEMBER):

GRAND MAGUS – "Wolf's Return"
THE HELLACOPTERS – "Rock & Roll is Dead"
CANDLEMASS – "Candlemass"

Dutch female-fronted metallers AFTER FOREVER will perform a special gig with a wind orchestra, Orpheus, on Thursday, December 22 at 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands.

Founded in 1864, the Tilburg-based Orpheus will start off the evening with a special set consisting of six classics from the history of rock music. After this, Orpheus will be joined on stage by AFTER FOREVER and together they will perform a set of nine songs spanning AFTER FOREVER's entire career. The arrangements for this were made by Ron Antens.

AFTER FOREVER have issued the following report on the first rehearsal sessions with the Orpheus orchestra:

"On Sunday [November] 27th we went to Tilburg (The Netherlands) to do a rehearsal with Orpheus. Orpheus is the orchestra where we will do a very exclusive and special show with in 013, Tilburg on the 22nd of December.

"This was the first time the orchestra and AFTER FOREVER played together. A very exciting moment!!! You can check out some pictures of the rehearsal at our photogallery.

"There were about 60 people from Orpheus and of course the 6 members of AFTER FOREVER, all in one hall. It was quite a challenge to get the sound good, despite the fact that the orchestra outnumbered AFTER FOREVER, they couldn’t win it with the volume because we had to play electric and the orchestra was all acoustic. After a few try-outs, we found the right mix and started playing the songs we will perform together from the AFTER FOREVER material. There are 9 songs we'll play together. Before that, AFTER FOREVER will play some songs without the orchestra.

"The rehearsal was very successful, the sound of AFTER FOREVER and Orpheus together was amazing, something you don't want to miss!!!"

AFTER FOREVER's fourth full-length album, "Remagine", is available now on Transmission Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Invisible Circles" was recorded at Excess studio in Rotterdam, Holland and was mixed by Sascha Paeth and Philip Colodetti at the Gate studio in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Veteran Swiss hard rockers KROKUS have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We were greeted in Moscow by the first snow of the year as we arrived outside this huge hotel opposite the old Kremlin. Trying to read the menu in Russian made us realise how helpless we were without our interpreter. Our first night ended early the next morning after endless Vodka toasts and energetic dancing to the music of retired friendly Cossacks in the pub. The 'Tochka' is the oldest rock club right next to Gorky Park. Our 'debut' gig was received with loud enthusiasm but it was a pity that we had a train to catch or we would have done a 'meet & greet' which we had grown so accustomed to in the United States.

"The scene at the crowded train station so late at night reminded me somehow of the epic film 'Doctor Zhivago'. The Trans-Siberian Express whisked us away into a snow covered desert and dropped us off in St. Petersburg the next morning. This city's majestic architecture is something one can't help admire, and the way those canals flow through under the many bridges! I will definitely do the historical tour next time round.

"Here too, the fans' emotions were so unbridled and honest that it made one want to give them a little bit more than his all… St. Petersburg rocks!

"I'm happy to say that our promoter has promised us a festival sometime next year and I imagine that once we make the ride it will be worth adding on a few more dates to round it up nicely.

"Rock on, Russia."

Veteran Swiss hard rockers KROKUS have parted ways with drummer Patrick Aeby. Patrick's departure "was amicable and the whole KROKUS family sincerely wishes him the best of luck for the future," reads posting on the group's web site. A replacement drummer has yet to be announced.

KROKUS recently spent time in the studio working on the follow-up to 2003's "Rock the Block", tentatively due in early 2006. The group's current lineup includes frontman Marc Storace, Mandy Meyer (guitar), Patrick Aeby (drums), Dominique Fave (guitar) and Tony Castell (bass).

DOPE STARS INC. are really proud to announce the release of 3 brand new remixes that will blast your ears plenty once again! The Industrial Dance seducers XP8 provided a special "Industrial beats meets Trance-Core attitude" version of 10.000 Watts. The Antipodean cyberpunk hard men, NOVAkILL joined the Remix Party working on another amazing version of 10.000 Watts. But it was not enough cause the industrial troops of T3CHN0PH0B1A, coming directly from planet Sidera, provided a Re-Infected version of the Rock'n'Roll hit "Infection 13" that will kick your ass in the Cyberspace with no compromises. Get them now into Dopestars Inc. DOWNLOADS section!

Legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) has posted the following message on his official web site:

"I spent the afternoon yesterday with John [Frusciante, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist] and Chad [Smith, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer] at Chad's home. We had a funky good time writing and going over a couple of songs for my [upcoming solo] album. John Frusciante is an absolute one-of-a-kind. His vision and depth amazes me, and like Chad, he is extremely beautiful. Look forward to creating my next adventure in the New Year."

Check out a picture of Hughes, Frusciante and Smith at this location.

Hughes's latest solo album, "Soul Mover", was released eaelier in the year on Sanctuary Records. The CD was recorded live at Sound Image Studios in Los Angeles in the spring of 2004 and features Smith, JJ Marsh on guitar and Ed Roth on keyboards. The album also contains a special guest appearance by ex-RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and JANE'S ADDICTION guitarist Dave Navarro on the title track.

Hughes's most recent full-length release was a collaboration with BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi on Iommi's solo album "Fused". Joining Iommi and Hughes on "Fused" was former JOHN MELLENCAMP drummer Kenny Aronoff, who has also played sessions with the likes of THE ROLLING STONES, BOB DYLAN, ROD STEWART, ALICE COOPER, BOB SEGER, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and countless others.

"Cocked And Loaded" is the title of the new REVOLTING COCKS album, which will be released in Europe early march 2006. It is the first album of this Ministry sideproject since 1993. The following guests can be heard on this album: Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Gibby Haynes (Butt Hole Surfers), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Billy Gibbons (ZZ-Top), Stevie Banch (Spyder Baby), Phildo Owen (Skatenigs). Al Jourgensen describes the record like this: "a trashy synthesis of the most extreme industrial noise, the silliest pop culture, and classic art rock."

Members:
Al Jourgenson
Luc Van Acker
Richard 23

After Norwegian black metal legends EMPEROR split up in 2001, frontman Ihsahn's main focus has been on his more experimental band, PECCATUM, and he also started his own label, Mnemosyne Productions, in 2003.

"Mnemosyne Productions is not just a label," Ihsahn explained to Terrorizer magazine, "it's also a production company, it's a base for what Ihriel and I do, but we're also interested in releasing other artists. We have our own studio called Symphonique Studio, and we're co-owners of an exclusive studio here in Notodden, which only contains old analog equipment. We want to work with our own projects and others, where we can be producers."

Ihsahn has also worked for quite some time on a solo album, which he will release under the name we know him by the best. Here, he will do most of the recordings himself, but Asgeir Mickelson from BORKNAGAR will play drums.

"I've done pre-production on all the songs now, and Asgeir has started to record the drum tracks," he says, "and I'm planning to mix the album in January. I'll probably do that in the analog studio.

"When I'm doing an Ihsahn solo album, I have to build on my musical upbringing, and the majority of that is metal with a progressive and experimental leaning," he told Terrorizer. "With PECCATUM we've tried out as much as we could both musically and artistically, but with this I wanted to do a metal album. I allowed myself to work with two guitar tracks, piano and programmed drums while I made this album. Actually, I worked without these limitations and the material went everywhere. Then, early in 2005, I wrote the basics in a couple of months after I made some restrictions for myself. But musically I've tried to sum up my experiences with metal music on this album, and it sounds the way I see the metal genre in 2006."

"I can tell you that I'm extremely satisfied with all the songs on this album, and there will be no fillers on it. Lyrically, it's a very angry album and everyone gets a slap in the face."

CRONIAN (formerly ION), the Norwegian/Swedish project featuring BORKNAGAR members Oystein G. Brun (guitars and programming) and Vintersorg (vocals and programming), have signed a worldwide three-album deal with Century Media Records.

Regarding how the project came together, CRONIAN said in a statement, "Already back in 1999 we had plans to do a project together, something beside respective bands like VINTERSORG and BORKNAGAR. The idea floated around for a few years in our minds, but in 2002 we started the actual process of constructing a musical expression, then under the name ION. We had a mutual agreement to only proceed with the band if we managed to establish a unique and original sound. That's what we have done and that's what we prepare to show the world....

"The debut album will be released early next year, a more specific date will be announced soon. The title of the album will be 'Terra' and the album will contain 9 songs. Some songtitles are: 'Cronian', 'The Alp', 'Iceolated' and 'Nonexistence'. The nature of the music is cold, atmospheric (eerie!) and catchy. So beware!"

Norwegian singer Liv Kristine (LEAVES' EYES, ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY) shot her first solo video clip on November 19. The song in question, "Fake a Smile", will appear on Kristine's forthcoming solo album, "Enter My Religion", tentatively due in early 2006 on Roadrunner Records. "The visual realization of the romantic ballad was set into a magical concept — we see Liv Kristine as a fairy character lost in our modern world," reads an official press release. "The shooting was quite tough for the singer: Liv had to pose nearly 24 hours in freezing temperatures at different locations — an antique bathhouse and at a lake of the city park in Nuremberg. The clip [was] produced by AVA Studios (also worked for SARAH CONNOR, JEANNETTE), directed by Alexander Diezinger. At the moment, AVA are busy with the post-production." The clip will begin airing in January.

As previously reported, Kristine recently recorded a duet with NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala for one of the tracks on the upcoming album from DELAIN, the new project of WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerhold. Liv appears on two songs on the DELAIN CD, which will be released in 2006 via Roadrunner Records. Kristine's recordings were laid down at Mastersound Studio with producer (and Liv's husband) Alexander Krull.

LIVING LOUD — the new "supergroup" consisting of Bob Daisley (OZZY OSBOURNE, RAINBOW, URIAH HEEP) on bass, Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE, KANSAS, DIXIE DREGS) on guitar, Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW) on keyboards, Lee Kerslake (URIAH HEEP, OZZY OSBOURNE) on drums and Jimmy Barnes (COLD CHISEL) on vocals — will release their self-titled debut in the U.S. on January 10, 2006 via Capitol EMI. The track listing is the same as the European release but with two added bonus tracks: "Crazy Train" (live) and "Good Times" (live). The group's "Live & Loud" DVD will be issued on the same date, featuring the following bonus footage: documentary, "In the Name of God" (film clip), TV commercials, photo gallery, biographies.

The cover artwork for the upcoming IN FLAMES album, "Come Clarity", has been posted online here.

As previously reported, "Come Clarity" will include a free bonus DVD featuring the band performing the album in full in a rehearsal room, akin to what METALLICA did with initial versions of their "St. Anger" album. In addition, one of the album's songs — "Dead End" — features the vocals of Swedish singer/songwriter Lisa Miskovsky.

"Come Clarity", is scheduled for a February 7, 2006 North American release through Ferret Records. The CD will be issued in Europe on February 6, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The follow-up to 2004's "Soundtrack to Your Escape", "Come Clarity" was mixed at Tonteknik studio in Umeå, Sweden and is "the best one we've ever done," according to IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad. A video for the album's opening track, "Take This Life", was shot late last month with director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL).

"Come Clarity" track listing:

01. Take This Life
02. Leeches
03. Reflect The Storm
04. Dead End
05. Scream
06. Come Clarity
07. Vacuum
08. Pacing Death's Trail
09. Crawling Through Knives
10. Versus Terminus
11. Our Infinite Struggle
12. Vanishing Light
13. Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone

Eight dates have been announced for IN FLAMES' upcoming North American headlining tour in support of their highly anticipated new album, "Come Clarity". Support at the shows will come from Orlando's TRIVIUM, California's DEVILDRIVER and Greensburg, Pennsylvania's ZAO.

Belgian black metal pioneers ANCIENT RITES have inked a deal with Season of Mist. The band are currently at Spacelab studio in Germany recording their long-awaited follow-up to 2001's "Dim Carcosa" under the guidance and supervision of veteran producers Oliver Phillips and Christian Moos. The album will most likely be released before the summer of 2006, after which ANCIENT RITES — now a septet since the return of former members Domingo Smets and Raf Jansen last year — will once again play live to spread their new music. Concerts all over Europe and the U.K. are currently being negotiated and arranged, so expect the band to be out there in full blast next year.

Swedish death metallers NECROPHOBIC have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Today [Friday, November 25] we started the recording of the new, fifth full-length album. We will try to run a regular update regarding the progress of the recording process right here on the website. No titles of either the album or any songs will be released at this moment, but as soon as it's time for it, you will get the information here.

"There are a lot of new things happening right now. The studio we're using for this album is a total unknown studio. It's called Dark Voodoo Studio and we will work with new persons as well. The engineering parts will be done by Anders Bentell and Fredrik Folkare (the latter known for being guitarist and producer of UNLEASHED).

"Apart from that, we will also have a new record label for this new album. We recently ended the deal of any forthcoming new albums with Karmageddon Media (ex-Hammerheart Records). More revelaling stuff regarding this matter later on, as well as a possible release schedule/release date."

NECROPHOBIC's follow-up to 2002's "Bloodhymns" is expected to include the track "Blinded by Light, Enlightened by Darkness", which the band performed at the Party.San Open Air festival in Germany.