Two brand-new photos of MINISTRY taken during the recording sessions for their new album, "Rio Grande Blood", at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas have been posted online: Photo#1 (left to right: Tommy Victor [PRONG, ex-DANZIG], Al Jourgensen, Paul Raven [KILLING JOKE]), Photo#2 (left to right: Raven, drummer Mark Baker, Jourgensen, Victor).

As previously reported, rumors continue to abound that SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison will be sitting behind the kit for MINISTRY on their upcoming North American tour, which is scheduled to kick off in early May. Joey is expected to join a touring lineup that will include Jourgensen, Victor and Raven. "Rio Grande Blood" is scheduled for release in April 2006 via Jourgensen's newly launched 13th Planet label.

MINISTRY's MasterBaTour 2006 will consist of 60 dates scheduled throughout the U.S. and Canada beginning on May 6. Support on the trek will come from Al's other band, REVOLTING COCKS. European dates are currently being booked for August and September 2006.

Spinefarm Records has set a February 22, 2006 release date for the new album from Finland's KALMAH, entitled "The Black Waltz". The follow-up to 2003's "Swampsong" is currently being mixed at a studio in Finland and will contain the following ten tracks (in no specific order):

01. Bitter Metallic Side
02. Defeat
03. The Groan of Wind
04. One from the Stands
05. The Black Waltz
06. With Terminal Intensity
07. To the Gallows
08. Time Takes Us All
09. Mindrust
10. Man of the King

A bonus cover track was also laid down during the sessions and will be included on various releases.

Check out pictures from the studio at this location.

Earlier in the year, KALMAH inked a new deal with Spikefarm Records (a division of Spinefarm). Demo samples of the new songs "Bitter Metallic Side" and "Infernal Death" are still available for download at this location.

KALMAH last year announced the addition of keyboardist Marco Sneck (POISONBLACK) to the group's ranks. The group's current lineup is as follows:

Pekka Kokko - Guitar, Vocals
Antti Kokko - Lead Guitar
Janne Kusmin - Drums
Timo Lehtinen - Bass
Marko Sneck - Keyboards

MOTÖRHEAD's video for the track "Whorehouse Blues" has been posted online at Yahoo! Music Germany. The clip was shot in June and features an appearance by MELDRUM frontwoman Moa Holmsten along with "some fine-looking women and 'worldwide celebrities."

"Whorehouse Blues" comes off "Inferno", MOTÖRHEAD's first album of new material since 2002's "Hammered", which was released in the U.S. in June 2004 through Metal-Is Records, a division of the Sanctuary Records Group (the CD was issued in Europe via SPV/Steamhammer Records).

Swedish black metallers MARDUK have finalized the track listing for their new live album, "Warschau", due on December 5 (postponed from the previously announced November 27). Limited to 10,000 copies on CD worldwide, the album will also be released as limited-edition double LP and double picture disc (each limited to 500 copies). Layout for the vinyl edition is being created right now and will be available a few weeks after the CD release.

"Warschau" (view cover here) track listing:

01. The Hangman of Prague
02. Seven Angels, Seven Trumpets
03. Slay The Nazarene
04. Azrael
05. Burn My Coffin
06. Panzer Division Marduk
07. Blutrache
08. Bleached Bones
09. The Black...
10. Steel Inferno
11. On Darkened Wings
12. With Satan and Victorious Weapons
13. Throne of Rats
14. To the Death's Head True
15. Sulphur Souls
16. Warschau
17. Wolves

As previously reported, MARDUK have been confirmed for the 2006 edition of the Inferno Festival, set to take place April 13-15 at the Rockefeller Music Hall and John Dee venues in Oslo, Norway. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are the reunited black metal legends EMPEROR along with 28 other bands that have yet to be announced.

MARDUK will appear with a song from the latest album, "Plague Angel", in the upcoming Swedish movie "Murder Island". The song will also be included on the film's soundtrack, which is set to be released in February 2006. The band are right now sifting through other movie offers. More information will be made available soon.

The new AXXIS release PARADISE IN FLAMES will be released in 20th January 2006. With the nice female singer LAKONIA the band recorded a wonderfull album again. The new songs were mixed by Dennis Ward (PC69) and mastered by Jürgen Lusky from the House of Audio studios in Karlsdorf/Germany.

Before the release I was really happy to take a listen to the new material and I've never expected such a great amount of power and amazing melodies.

The bonus material is far better than only a bonus. With the song Break your soul in the background, AXXIS produced "the Making of"-Videoclip with funny impression during the production... You can see them in their own Soundworxx-Studio,in the bathroom,playing table soccer etc.

Tracklist (cover here):

1. Paradise In Flames (Intro)
2. Dance With The Dead
3. Tales Of Glory Island
4. Take My Hand
5. Will God Remember Me
6. Talisman
7. Don `t Leave Me
8. Lady Moon
9. Icewind
10. Stay By Me
11. Gods Of Rain
12. Passion For Rock
* ADDS: Screensaver, Video (The making of Paradise in flames etc.)
* Bonus song: Break your soul, Tales of glory Island (extended version)

OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE), the project featuring FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos, ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore and DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Jim, Kevin and Mike were at Carriage House Studios in Connecticut on November 18-20 tracking drums for the forthcoming OSI album. Jim and Kevin are now tracking guitars and vocals, and mixing will take place in January. More information will be posted on this site (track listing, release dates, etc.) as it becomes available."

OSI's debut album, which came out in 2003 via InsideOut Music, also included former CYNIC bassist Sean Malone.

A rough-mix version of a brand-new KATAKLYSM track, entitled "Like Angels Weeping (The Dark)", has been posted online at this location. The song comes off the Canadian death metallers' upcoming album, "In the Arms of Devastation", due on February 20, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed in Denmark by acclaimed producer Tue Madsen.

As previously reported, KATAKLYSM have tapped director Maurice Swinkels from LowlifeMedia (EXODUS, ABORTED, GOREFEST) to film the band's video for the track "Crippled & Broken", from the upcoming album. The conceptual clip will be shot in Amsterdam, Netherlands in early March, shortly prior to the band's European co-headlining tour as part of the No Mercy festival.

Long-running German metallers PARADOX will play their first show in five years at the Keep It True VI festival, set to take place April 8, 2006 at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. Also scheduled to appear at the event are RIOT, EXCITER, ROSS THE BOSS (performing a set of early MANOWAR material) and SOLITUDE AETURNUS, among others.

PARADOX mainman Charly Steinhauer (vocals, guitar) is currently writing material for the group's long-awaited new studio album, tentatively due in 2006. The band's current lineup consists of the following:

Charly Steinhauer - Vocals, Guitar
Kai Pasemann - Guitar
Fabian Schwarz - Guitar
Andi Siegl - Bass
Chris Weiß – Drums

Steinhauer recently contributed his vocals to "Fate Is Calling", the debut album from MAJESTY mastermind Tarek "MS" Maghary's solo project DAWNRIDER.

Finland's WALTARI have inked a deal with Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). The band's new album, "Blood Sample" (view cover here), is scheduled for release in March 2006. The 79-minute effort features the following track listing:

Part I:

01. Helsinki
02. Not Enough
03. Too Much Emptiness
04. Never
05. New York
06. I'm In Pain
07. All Roads Will Lead To Rome
08. Digging Inside

Part II:

09. Fly Into The Light
10. Shades To Grace
11. Aching Eyes
12. Back To The Audio
13. Pigeons
14. Exterminator Warheads
15. Darling Boy
16. Wide Awake
17. Julia

Finnish goth-metallers CHARON have announced the track listing for their new single, "Colder", due on December 7 in Finland via Spinefarm Records.

"Colder" is the second single off CHARON' new album, "Songs for the Sinners", which debuted on Finland's national album chart at position No. 6 back in early September. The group's previous single, "Ride on Tears", entered the chart at position No. 2.

"Colder" single track listing:

01. Colder
02. Give Nothing (non-album track)
03. Colder (Video)

An extensive photo gallery documenting the making of the "Colder" video has been made available at Spinefarm.fi.

The follow-up to 2003's "The Dying Daylights", "Songs for the Sinners" was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with producer Mikko Karmila.

HELLOWEEN's entire pre-Nuclear Blast catalog will reportedy be reissued via Sanctuary during 2006. The albums will apparently be remastered and will contain bonus tracks, including b-sides and other rarities, the details of which have yet to be revealed.

The following albums will be re-released on January 30, 2006:

"Walls of Jericho" (1985) (double CD)

"Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I" (1987) (single CD)

"Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II" (1988) (double CD)

"Pink Bubbles Go Ape" (1991) (single CD)

HELLOWEEN's latest album, "Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy", is available now on SPV Records. The lineup on the record includes singer Andi Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Großkopf and drummer Dani Löble (ex-RAWHEAD REXX). Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, HALFORD, RAGE), "Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy" was released as a high-quality digipack with six flaps.

A brand-new ELYSIUM track, entitled "Snake Legion", has been posted online at this location. The song comes off the polish melodic death-thrashers' upcoming album, "Godfather", out in early December via Empire Records.

The follow-up to 2004's "Deadline", ELYSIUM fifth studio album was recorded in July-August 2005 at Hendrix Studio in Lublin, Poland with producer Arek Malczewski (BEHEMOTH, VESANIA, LOST SOUL).

Formed in 1996, ELYSIUM released their first demo, "Sunset", in autumn 1997. The group's debut album, "Dreamlands", followed in 2000 via Morbid Noizz/Black Mark Productions. A three-album deal with Metal Mind Productions resulted in the release of 2001's "Eclipse", 2003's "Feedback" and 2004's "Deadline".

Germany's RAWHEAD REXX, the band featuring former GLENMORE guitarist/vocalist Jürgen Volk, have are in the middle of pre-production for their follow-up to 2003's "Diary in Black", tentatively due next summer.

"Right now, we have about 30 songs to choose from," the band write on their web site. "In terms of sound and stlyle, the new material rather follows the tracks of our debut." As drummer Dany Löble left the band last year to join HELLOWEEN, Volk and his songwriting partner Face (bass) will recruit a session musician for the upcoming recordings. Check out pictures from the pre-production sessions at this location.

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drummer Gene Hoglan has posted the following tour update at the band's official web site:

"What's happening? We're pulling into Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I've got my eyes peeled for that 900 ft. Jesus. I don't see anything. But hey man, if Jesus saves, I'd like to know where he shops...

"Our three shows in Texas were wicked indeed. Houston, Ft. Worth, and San Antonio, all righteous. Texas has always been a strange place to play, sometimes it's fully stormin', sometimes it's blah. This time it was rockin'. In Ft. Worth, we played this ex-movie theater, the Ridgelea. No lightshow to speak of, but FEAR FACTORY had a pretty stormin' slideshow, all thrown together on-the-fly by Burton [C. Bell, vocals]. Nice work, budday...

"In Houston, I got to hang with my bro Kevin Radomski from Pro-Mark Sticks, and he filled me in on the fact they're selling my signature sticks in the stores now, kind of a limited run, but still pretty neato for me!

"A super-cool thing aboot the last couple of days is that we've started writing the next STRAPPING album in the back of the bus. Hey, something exciting has to go on there, it's aboot time! We're psyched, anyway. We're just tossin' around a bunch of riffs and ideas. Dev [Townsend, guitar/vocals] always cracks me up, he's all like, 'Dude, I can't write heavy riffs anymore,' then he starts peelin' out these balls-out heavy riffs, like they're nothin'. Righteous. There are so many exciting things happening for us right now, like this tour, for instance, that keeping the ball rolling is the premium for us.

"Wow, this venue we're at today is called Cain's, and it seems to be one of those legendary country venues. A total 'Bob's Country Bunker' indeed. 'Howdy, we're the Good Ol' Strapping Young Blues Brothers Boys Lad Band...' Where's the chicken wire? One thing I noticed while perusing the Cain's Hall of Fame, is if your name ain't Hank, Bob, or Tex, your photo does not go up there.

"Holy crap! I just let a few hours roll by, and caught the DARKANE set, and Jesus, this venue makes your fuckin' eyeballs shake! A crazy, warped-to-shit parquet floor that vibrates EXTREMELY with every kick drum hit. Man, I was gettin' dizzy watchin' DARKANE, that was awesome! I can only imagine what STRAPPING's bassbombs did...people were probably pukin' AND shittin' their pants! Not a bad deal. We're better than ipecac and Ex-lax! Speaking of Ex-lax, any of you ever make Ex-lax chocolate chip cookies for your teacher? Try it dudes, they'll love ya for it.

"Tomorrow is Albequerque. At the venue where some bouncer murdered a girl upstairs and SHOVED HER BODY INTO A CRAWLSPACE. No one knew she was there til the body started to reek. Wow. Humans are neat."

Finnish metallers CELESTY have announced the addition of guitarist Teemu Koskela to the group's ranks. Koskela replaces longtime axeman J-P Alanen, who left the group to concentrate on his musical studies and his work with fellow Finnish metallers ALTARIA.

Commented drummer Jere Luokkamäki: "Teemu was a natural choice for us. We have already started hard work together in rehearsals and Teemu is participating in the composing work as well. We believe that Teemu will bring lots of new ideas to the songs and sounds in our future albums."

CELESTY are currently writing material for their third full-length effort, tentatively due next year via Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). The group's last CD, "Legacy of Hate", came out in May 2004.

REBELLION, the German band that features in its ranks former GRAVE DIGGER members Uwe Lulis (guitar) and Tomi Göttlich (bass), have parted ways with guitarist Björn Eilen. "Unfortunately, Björn [was forced] to quit the band [because of] health problems, and Simone [Wenzel] has taken his place," the group write on their web site. A photo of the band's new lineup can be found at this location.

REBELLION's latest album, "Sagas of Iceland", was released in May via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Born a Rebel" is the first part of a Viking trilogy based upon Ragnar Lodenhose ("Sons Of The Dragonslayer"), the Norwegian king Harald Harfager (who created the first united Norwegian kingdom), Eric the Red, and both Danish kings Sven Gabelbart ("Ruling The Waves") and Knut the Great. "Part 2" (estimated release in 2006) will deal with the Swedish and Russian Vikings and their glorious deeds. "Part 3" (estimated release in 2007) will be cover the "Edda" story collection where the listener will get more information about the mythology and the gods of the Vikings.

Right after wrapping up their last European headlining tour, Brazilian death metal outfit KRISIUN completed work on their new album, "AssassiNation", tentatively due late February via Century Media Records. After recording two albums in their native country, the trio went back to Stage One Studios in Bühne, Germany to work with Andy Classen — the same winning team responsible for 2000's "Conquerors Of Armageddon".

Commented KRISIUN drummer Max Kolesne: "'AssassiNation' is the heaviest album we have ever done. I can assure you that it was a top quality recording at Stage One Studios, this album captures all the fury and brutality of the band's live performances and it's also a great combination of heaviness and precision that we never had on our albums before. The album will be out in the beginning of 2006, and we're definitely gonna make a relentless round of live shows in Europe, so I see you all extreme metal maniacs on the road! Get ready for the 'AssassiNation'!"

According to a posting on the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes-Of-Bodom.com, the track listing of the upcoming CHILDREN OF BODOM "In Your Face" DVD-single is as follows:

01. In Your Face video 2.0
02. In Your Face video 5.1
03. All Night Long (Shit-faced Bastards Of Bodom)
04. Sixpounder (Live at Wacken Open Air festival 2004)

Track 3 is a special video shot by the Hate Crew which features "fool-around" material from all over the world with the song "Are You Dead Yet?" playing in the background. The DVD-single will be released on November 30 through Spinefarm.

CHILDREN OF BODOM have just launched a North American headlining trek with TRIVIUM and AMON AMARTH. The group's mainman Alexi Laiho also told MTV.com that the group hope to spend next summer as part of Ozzfest 2006.

Israeli metal outfit ORPHANED LAND have parted ways with keyboardist Eden Rabin. Eden's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"My dearest friends, as of today, I decided to leave ORPHANED LAND due to personal reasons I do not wish to divulge. The ORPHANED LAND members have always been dear friends, and they shall stay my friends for eternity. Who knows?! Maybe we'll find ourselves on the same stage again one day. It is indeed possible! I cannot stress enough the happiness and joy each and every one of you has brought upon my life! I'm always at your service: edenrabin@rightontime.co.il. Don't hesitate to write. And above all: THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU for everything!"

ORPHANED LAND's Century Media Records debut, "Mabool", was released last year. A double gatefold LP version of the album was issued through Profound Lore Records this past summer. Also available is a 10" release, titled "Ararat", is containing some rare material such as demos and remixes of songs from "Mabool".

German melodic metallers EDGUY have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Rocket Ride", due on January 20, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Hellfire Club" was recorded with producer Sascha Paeth (who also worked with the band on their "Superheroes" EP) and is said to feature the band's most "diverse" material to date.

"Rocket Ride" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Sacrifice (8:01)
02. Rocket Ride (4:47)
03. Wasted Time (5:48)
04. Matrix (4:09)
05. Return To The Tribe (6:06)
06. The Asylum (7:38)
07. Save Me (3:47)
08. Catch Of The Century (4:03)
09. Out Of Vogue (4:36)
10. Superheroes (3:19)
11. Trinidad (3:28)
12. Fucking With Fire (4:22)

EDGUY will support DRAGONFORCE on six U.K. dates while the rest of the European tour EDGUY will headline, with DRAGONFORCE as support. In addition, EDGUY have confirmed SAVAGE CIRCUS (the new band featuring former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch and PERSUADER members Jens Karlsson and Emil Norberg) as the support act for their previously announced three Japanese dates in March.

Portuguese metallers Moonspell have inked a three-album deal with SPV/Steamhammer Records following their split with Century Media. The band are currently recording their new album, entitled "Memorial", at the Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (Tiamat, Samael, Sentenced), who had worked with the group on their first three records ("Wolfheart", "Irreligious", "Sin/Pecado").

The recording sessions will last from November 1 to November 27. "Memorial" will contain around 8 to 10 new songs, including "Once It Was Ours!", "Blood Tells", "Sanguine", "Finisterra", "Upon the Blood of Men" and "At the Image of Pain". A tentative spring 2006 release is expected. With regards to Moonspell's long-awaited first DVD, "Lunar Still/13 Years of Doom", most of the contents are ready to go into production but the release was delayed due to legal issues which are taking a long time to be ironed out. Century Media will release the DVD sometime next year. In addition, new live dates are being booked for the next festival season, as are one-off shows in Russia and Morocco.

World renowned Dutch act THE GATHERING entered the studio today (November 21, 2005) to commence work on their ninth studio album.

For this recording the band has built a professional homemade studio inside an old church in the small town of Maurik, located in the south of Holland. With the help of producer Attie Bauw (producer of the band's 1998 effort, "How to Measure a Planet?") the band plans to work there for a month before heading to Bauw's studio to mix and master the music.

Comments singer Anneke van Giersbergen about the constructed studio and working with Bauw again: "We built our own studio there because we wanted to do something different and create a new atmosphere. As for working with Attie Bauw, he is a very inspirational man with great ideas and we were very anxious to work with him again.

"I like being in the studio especially because we are then together for a vast period of time as a group and we create something entirely new. It's always amazing to participate in this process and to finish with a brand new album. That sense of accomplishment is truly wonderful."

She adds, "We would hope to see the album get released sometime in March (on Psychonaut Records in Europe, The End Records in North America). We plan to start touring in March and come over to tour in South America and the U.S.A. once again."

In other recent news THE GATHERING just released their double-DVD, "A Sound Relief", in the U.S./Canada via The End Records. The two-disc set features a live concert the band recorded on May 23, 2005 at the famous Paradiso in Amsterdam, plus bonus extras like the band's own tour impressions caught on video, video interviews and a bonus disc showcasing a collection of beautiful 3-D animation clips.

DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy entered the studio this past weekend to record the drums for the second OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE) album, tentatively due in early 2006 via InsideOut Music.

"Initially I wasn't going to partake in the album and had passed on the offer, but I guess the moral of the story is, 'Never say never,'" Portnoy said.

OSI's upcoming CD will once again feature FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos and ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore. The group's debut album, which came out in 2003 via InsideOut, also included former CYNIC bassist Sean Malone.

Italian epic metal band RHAPSODY will release their first-ever live album, "Live In Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret", on January 23, 2006. Recorded on Juen 13, 2005 at Salle Albert-Rousseau in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada, the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. The Dark Secret
02. Unholy Warcry
03. Wisdom Of The Kings
04. The Village Of Dwarves
05. Eran's Mystical White Book
06. Lamento Eroico
07. Dawn Of Victory
08. Nightfall On The Grey Mountains
09. March Of The Swordmaster
10. Emerald Sword

"Live In Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret" will be released in two different versions: a regular CD, plus a limited-edition containing a bonus DVD with the entire concert recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound.

RHAPSODY released "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret", in September 2004 via Magic Circle Music/SPV. The CD features a very special appearance by acclaimed actor Christopher Lee ("Star Wars - Episode 2: Attack of the Clones", "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", "Gremlins II", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow").