German melodic metallers EDGUY have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Against certain rumors and speculations, Tobias Sammet [EDGUY vocalist] has not undergone a sex change operation yet: 'Of course, after the success of NIGHTWISH, WITHIN TEMPTATION and EVANESCENCE, we sat down to discuss what kind of sacrifice we'd have to make to hit big time with this new album. In time of female vocal domination, we came to the conclusion that it's the penis that stands in our way. I mean — literally, of course! That being said, to avoid any rumors: if it's gonna happen I'd become a lesbian woman. In case this trend is gone and we're too late, our drummer Felix considers to join me to the operating room and become a cockatoo. Though we talked him into believing that cockatooed drummered bands are gonna be the next big thing it's not for business reasons. Felix discovered his cockatooish side just when reaching puberty. Ever since he's felt like having been born in the wrong shell. He's more that cockatoo kind of guy, you all know what I mean. Whatever, in case all this won't work, we just recorded the most ambitious EDGUY album so far — just to be on the safe side. It's the most diversified stuff and we'll post the songtitles soon. The first press reactions are superb and I feel not playing it close to the chest was the best thing we could have done. It's still EDGUY at any second, it's funny here and melancholic there, fast and slow and really diversified. You'll hear 'Rocket Ride' on January 20th. And the first part of the tour is booked too. Tickets are gonna be available early next week, watch out for some real big entertaining HM-party. See you all and stay metal. You are the best."

Swedish neo-classical metallers NARNIA have set "Enter the Gate" as the title of their fifth full-length CD, tentatively due in February/March 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2003's "The Great Fall" will feature backing vocals by Mats Leven (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, AT VANCE).

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.

U.D.O. frontman Udo Dikschneider (ex-ACCEPT) has been forced to cancel his planned duet with the Russian band ANJ after coming down with "a very bad cold," according to a posting on the U.D.O. web site. "I [still] want to do this duet with ANJ, so I will invite the band to our studio in Germany to record the song," Udo writes.

Dirkschneider had previously announced plans to record two Russian duets during his promotional appearance in Moscow between October 18 and October 22. He was to collaborate with hard rockers ANJ on the track "Pugachev" (from ANJ's new studio album, "100 Miles Straight Ahead") and pop stars FAKTOR-2 on the song "Cry Soldier Cry" (from the new U.D.O. full-length CD, "Mission X"). Both duets were to be recorded in Russian.

U.D.O.'s latest album, "Mission No. X", was issued last month via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Thunderball" marks the recording debut with the group of new drummer Francesco Jovino. Jovino joined the band last year as the permanent replacement for Lorenzo Milani, who left the group for "personal reasons."

Finnish goth-metallers H.I.M. shot a video for their next single off their "Dark Light" album, "Killing Loneliness", earlier in the week in the Los Angeles area.

"Dark Light" has sold 85,000 copies in the United States in its first three weks of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The follow-up to 2003's "Love Metal" was recorded in Los Angeles and mixed at New York's Electric Lady studios with producer Tim Palmer (DAVID BOWIE, OZZY OSBOURNE).

H.I.M. will be ringing in the New Year at the HellDone Festival in Finland. The three-day event runs from Thursday, December 29 through Saturday, December 31. Other confirmed acts include THE 69 EYES, NEGATIVE, CHARON, BLOODPIT, SUNRIDE and DEEP INSIGHT. There will be both one-day tickets for each evening and three-day tickets available and customers can only purchase two tickets each. You must be 18 and over to attend.

ENGEL, the new Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA), bassist Robert Hakemo (ex-GARDENIAN, GOOSEFLESH) and vocalist Mangan Klavborn, have launched a page featuring a brand-new song, "Poisoned Design". Also available on the site are the previously released tracks "Walk the Wounded" and "Someone Died (And Made You God)".

ENGEL, who had previously recorded a self-produced demo that Tue Madsen (MNEMIC, THE HAUNTED etc) mixed at Denmark's Antfarm studios in February, are currently working on new material which is "coming out real strong," according to a posting on the group's web site. New songtitles include "Propaganda", "Shatterday" and "My Hero". The bandrecently supported ARCH ENEMY and on the Scandinavian leg of thier European tour. Also appearing on the bill were TRIVIUM.

Swedish black metallers MARDUK have posted the following message on their official web site:

"To celebrate 15 year of Blood and Iron, MARDUK will unleash upon mankind a live album recorded in Warsaw/Poland on the recent Deathmarch tour. The album features 17 songs and will be a limited edition CD of 10,000 copies worldwide. Also to be able as a strictly limited edition of 500 copies on double LP. Release date will be presented soon. Click here to check out the album cover.

"Those shows that were cancelled on the last tour will be rescheduled in February together with some additional dates. The dates will be posted very soon."

MARDUK were forced to cancel their European tour earlier in the year after drummer Emil Dragutinovic's arm was broken in a fight back in February. The band recently put the finishing touches on the videos for the songs "Throne of Rats" and "The Hangman of Prague".

MARDUK's ninth full-length album, "Plague Angel", was released in the U.S. in March. The album came out in Europe last November via Blooddawn/Regain Records.

German melodic black/death metallers SUIDAKRA have posted the following message on their official web site:

"The songwriting for the new album has started and is going well — in fact, four new songs have been written so far. Unfortunately, Marcel [Schoenen, guitar/vocals] will be having some surgery done on his shoulder at the end of the month, which means that the band will have to take a short break in rehearsing and writing new material. Fear not, however, as the new record is still planned for release in autumn 2006."

SUIDAKRA's seventh album, "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.).

Finland's AMORPHIS have set "Eclipse" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in February via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to last year's "Far from the Sun" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki with engineer Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE). The production duties were handled by the band and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH) for vocals. The mixing was taken care of by Mikko Karmila (who previously worked with the group on their "Am Universum" CD) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.

"Eclipse" track listing:

01. Two Moons
02. House of Sleep
03. Leaves Scar
04. Born from Fire
05. Under a Soil and Black Stone
06. Perkele (The God of Fire)
07. The Smoke
08. Same Flesh
09. Brother Moon
10. Empty Opening

Commented guitarist Esa Holopainen: "We just had listening session at Nuclear Blast office and feedback seems to be really positive. I quess we have to organize another session for Finnish reporters but I'm not sure if we have enough money to cover their drinks. Finnish reporters are extremely thirsty. But still, more they drink, better they like the album! :) Way to go!"

MINISTRY's new studio album, "Rio Grande Blood", is on track for an April 2006 release via MINISTRY mainman Al Jourgensen's 13th Planet label. Jourgensen recently told MTV.com that he's planning on finish working on the material for "Rio Grande Blood" by Christmas. At least three tracks have been completed at this point: two as-yet-untitled cuts and "The Great Satan", which appears on the just-released "Rantology", a collection of well-known MINISTRY tracks Jourgensen revisited and remixed to commemorate the band's 25th year in the biz.

Jourgensen's also planning on releasing an album in February from his 19-year-old side project, REVOLTING COCKS, called "Cocked and Loaded". The disc will feature the talents of Jello Biafra (ex-DEAD KENNEDYS), ex-BUTTHOLE SURFERS frontman Gibby Haynes, ZZ TOP guitarist Billy Gibbons and CHEAP TRICK guitarist Rick Nielson. The disc will boast 11 tracks, including "Purple Head", "Prunetang", "Pole Grinder", "Dead End Streets" and "Jack in the Crack".

Both the MINISTRY and REVOLTING records will precede Jourgensen's 54-date MasterBaTour, which is slated to kick off on May 5 in Houston and run through July 14 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; MINISTRY, the REVOLTING COCKS and Detroit-based goth-rock act SPYDER BABY are on the bill.

DEF LEPPARD have finalized the track listing for their companion DVD to the near-platinum "Rock of Ages" double CD, due on November 8. The release assembles the band's greatest videos for the first time on one DVD, along with the video for "Now" (previously unavailable in North America). Also included is the brand new, 2005 rehearsal bonus video for the band's song "No Matter What". As added bonuses, the audio has been remastered with DTS & Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby stereo, a first track-by-track commentary by the entire band is included, and there is a Personal Playlist option, where the viewer gets to sequence each video to their liking.

"Rock of Ages: The DVD Collection" track listing:

01. Pour Some Sugar on Me
02. Photograph
03. Love Bites
04. Let's Get Rocked
05. Two Steps Behind
06. Animal
07. Foolin'
08. Rocket
09. When Love & Hate Collide
10. Armageddon It
11. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
12. Rock of Ages
13. Hysteria
14. Bringin' On the Heartbreak
15. Promises
16. Women
17. Slang
18. Work It Out
19. Now

A huge fan of THE BEATLES, OZZY OSBOURNE has paid tribute to the "Fab Four" with a fantastic cover of their classic "In My Life" which will be released as a single on November 14, 2005, according to Top40-Charts.com.

Commenting on recording the new single, Ozzy says: "What I have done, which a lot of other people don't do, is keep the song true to the original in terms of melody but then Ozzified it!"

With the original melody and a new sweeping string section, the "Ozzified" version of "In My Life" is a powerful and poignant rendition of the timeless song — reminiscent of Ozzy and daughter Kelly's 2003 U.K. chart-topping cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Changes" — with all the right ingredients to make it a huge hit this autumn.

The video for the single stays true to the title and is a fascinating look at Ozzy's exceptional life and career in music. A three-minute montage of new and old video footage spans Ozzy's career, from the early days of BLACK SABBATH, through his solo career and on to the present phenomenon of "The Osbournes". The video is a nostalgic look back at the highs and lows, the life and times of Ozzy Osbourne — the musician, the husband, the parent and the icon.

Norwegian singer Liv Kristine (LEAVES' EYES, ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY) will shoot her first solo video clip in November. The song in question, "Fake a Smile", will appear on Kristine's forthcoming solo album, "Enter My Religion".

Commented Liv: "The track is one of the most emotional songs of the whole album. Thus it is very important to me that the atmosphere of the music is reflected in the clip. I'm really looking forward to this as the story line for the video already sounds amazing. It will be the first video clip for my solo project and it is a very special experience for me."

Kristine's much-anticipated follow-up to 1998's "Deus ex Machina", "Enter My Religion" is expected to be released in early 2006 on Roadrunner Records.

In other news, 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.

A preview clip of EPICA's video for the track "Quietus" has been posted online at this location (Windows Media, 9.7 MB).

The "Quietus" single (view cover here) will be released later this month via Transmission Records. It will be made available in two versions:

1) Two-track single (release date October 21):
* Quietus (Silent Reverie) - single version
* Linger - previously unreleased track

2) Four-track maxi single (release date October 28):
* Quietus (Silent Reverie) (single version)
* Crystal Mountain (previously unreleased orchestral version)
* Quietus (Silent Reverie) (grunt version)
* Crystal Mountain (previously unreleased track)

"Quietus" comes off EPICA's sophomore album, "Consign to Oblivion", which was released in April via Transmission Records. The band issued their first DVD, "We Will Take You With Us / 2 Meter Sessies", in September 2004. The disc came in a limited-edition deluxe ECO-Book (containing a 40-page booklet) with an additional bonus CD containing all of the "2 Meter Sessies" recordings.

Powerhouse heavy metal vocalist Rob Rock (ex-IMPELLITTERI, DRIVER, JOSHUA) will be returning to Germany in March 2006 to film and record his first live DVD. A late 2006 release is expected.

Rock's latest solo album, "Holy Hell", was released in the U.S. on September 6 via Candlelight/Caroline Records. The CD features contributions from Bobby Jarzombek (drums; HALFORD, ICED EARTH, RIOT), Carljohan Grimmark (guitar; NARNIA), Andreas Olsson (bass; NARNIA), Bob Rossi (guitar), Rick Renstrom (guitar), and producer/guitarist Roy Z. Special guests include EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet and Italian keyboard sensation Mistheria. "Holy Hell" was mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark and was released in Europe in April via AFM Records.

IMMORTAL frontman Abbath (real name: Olve Eikemo) has reportedly joined forces with original IMMORTAL drummer Armagedda, ENSLAVED guitarist Arve Isdal and GORGOROTH bassist King in a brand-new project dubbed simply I. The group have finished writing two-thirds of the material for their upcoming full-length debut, which will feature lyrics written primarily by former IMMORTAL guitarist Demonaz (real name: Harald Nævdal). The band, who expect to enter the studio before the end of 2005, are said to be contemplating making several festival appearances next year. More information will be made available soon.

8THSIN have posted samples from their upcoming album, Angelseed & Demonmilk, in the Download section of their website.
Check out the samples at this location .
Angelseed & Demonmilk is expected to be released this year and will be supported with an upcoming tour.
Angelseed & Demonmilk will include the following tracklisting:
1.‘A Sleepover At The Feeling Of Death’
2.‘Liars’
3.‘Demons’
4.‘Irreligious’
5.‘Nocturnal’
6.‘Templo Mayor’
7.‘Angels’
8‘Humans Without Disguise’
9.‘Black Widow’
10.‘Angelseed & Demonmilk’
11.‘The Eight Sins, Part 2’
The album features a vocal guest spot from Peter Tagtgren (PAIN/HYPOCRISY).

Dutch death metallers GOD DETHRONED have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Hailz to all the mighty worms who visited us during our U.S. & Canadian trip the last five weeks! We had a great fuckin' time on the road and it was cool to meet some old friends and fans again and to meet loads of new ones! Unfortunately, a few shows were cancelled. We don't know why, but for all of you who showed up for nothing, sorry, but it was totally beyond our control. Also many thanx to everyone who attended our shows at the European summer festivals. You guys fucking ruled!
Right now we are already working on new material for another album. We are planning to enter the studio in January 2006 latest. We can't wait to go back out on the road again. See you guys soon! Cheers!"

GOD DETHRONED's most recent album, "The Lair of the White Worm", was released last November via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Into the Lungs of Hell" was recorded at Berno Studios in Malmö, Sweden by Henrik Larsson and was mastered at Franky's Recording Kitchen by Berthus Westerhuis. It marks the group's first release with new members, guitarist Isaac De La Haye (who replaced Jens van der Valk) and bassist Henk "Henke" Zinger (GRINDMINDED).

GOD DETHRONED will be headlining this fall's "International Extreme Music Festival" North American tour. The five-week trek, which is scheduled to begin in September, will include additional appearances by NIGHTRAGE, EPOCH OF UNLIGHT, HELL WITHIN, THINE EYES BLEED, LILITU and MANNTIS.

ANATHEMA guitarist Danny Cavanagh will play a solo acoustic show in Paris, France on November 4 at Les Caves. The set will feature old and new ANATHEMA songs and cover versions. Doors open at 8:00 p.m.

ANATHEMA are currently writing and recording new material at Sewerside Studios in Yorkshire, U.K. for a tentative 2006 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Voodoo", "Everything", "A Simple Mistake", "No One is Free" and "Angels Really Do Walk Among Us...". The band recently issued a DVD, "Were You There?", containing a full live show recorded on ANATHEMA's "A Natural Disaster" tour, an acoustic concert performed with a string quartet from the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, plus videos, live clips and other extra features. The artwork and menu designs have been conceived by Travis Smith.

Reactivated British metal band ATOMKRAFT, who are fronted by former VENOM singer Tony Dolan, have completed work on their new EP, entitled "Are You Looking At Me?", for a November release. The EP is a special edition limited run as a precursor to the (now delayed) new album, "I Couldn't Give A Fuck!". The EP will also be available as a vinyl release and through iTunes as well as Amazon.com and CDBaby.com.

"Are You Looking At Me?" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Dead Again!
02. Kristalnacht
03. Cold Sweat
04. Gripped

In other news, ATOMKRAFT's live CD will be released as soon as all licences are completed. No further information is currently available.

The long-awaited debut solo album from STRATOVARIUS/SINERGY bassist Lauri Porra will be released on October 26. The CD features some of the most respected musicians in Finland, including Jussi Lehtonen, Tuomo Prättälä, Mikko Kaakkuriniemi, Timo Kämäräinen, Alexi Laiho, Janne Huttunen, Jukka Uljas, Jay Kortehisto, Emma Salokoski and Tero Lindberg. Gulfam Sabri (from India) plays tabla on one track.

The album will include a bass solo version of JEAN SIBELIUS' "Valse Triste". The other eight tunes are Lauri Porra originals. For more information, visit Lauri's official web site, www.lauriporra.com.

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD frontman Devin Townsend recently spoke to MTV.com about the recently completed new album from DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, "Synchestra", due in February/March via InsideOut.

"Strangely enough, this is the first record I've done that was made to [be] enjoyed," Townsend said. "I'm expecting people to hate [this music], because it's really sensitive and heavy and epic, and everything's really pleasing about it. I don't know how many people want to listen to pleasing music. A lot of people are still into being assaulted every time they turn on their stereo. Those people will think it's a wussy, pain-in-the-ass record. People who're sick of dudes yelling at them will love it."

Still, he added, "It's super fucking heavy — like bludgeoningly heavy. But they're all bludgeoningly heavy lullabies. This is a record you can put on that'll make you feel good. It's like a celebration — something you put on in the morning, or when you want to sing along and laugh and smile, but still have it so heavy that when you crank it up, it will level any of your death-metal competition."

Songtitles set to appear on "Synchestra" include "Let It Roll", "Hyper-Geek", "Notes From Africa", "Judgment", "A Simple Lullaby" and "Sunshine and Happiness". Six of the album's 13 cuts clock in at or just under 10 minutes and one features a guest appearance by guitarist Steve Vai (Townsend sang on Vai's 1993 album, "Sex & Religion").

"I love writing music and songs, but I'm getting more and more tired of playing guitar and singing," Townsend told MTV.com. "There's this big long part I'd written for this solo, and sometimes, I'm in the headspace for guitar and other times, I'm just not. Right now I'm not. I just couldn't give a fuck. So I gave [Vai] a call."

German metallers JESTER'S FUNERAL have uploaded a full-length MP3 file of a new track that will be included on the band's upcoming fourth album, tentatively due in early 2006 through an as-yet-undetermined label. Download the song "Miss Singularity" at this location. An audio sample of another new album cut, "Transmission", can be downloaded here.

The follow-up to 2003's "Shifting: Skywards" (TTS Media Music) was self-produced with the help of the SoundSquare production team from Duesseldorf and by the group's former bass player, Holger Wies.

As previously reported, JESTER'S FUNERAL collaborated with Jan D. Kucharzewski and American author/screenwriter John Shirley on the lyrics for the new CD.

Arlington Heights, Illinois-based death metallers ENFORSAKEN have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We're happy to annouce that metal legend Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, PAN THY MONIUM) will be contributing back-up vocals on the new ENFORSAKEN album, 'Sinner's Intuition'. We're all very excited to be working with him, as all of us have been huge fans for years. We (finally!) start the recording sessions for the album next week in Wisconsin with Chris Djuricic at Studio One. Album artwork is currenty being finished up by Travis Smith, and things are looking good. The new album is currently scheduled for a January/February 2006 release on Crash Music."

ENFORSAKEN's last album, "Forever Endeavor", was released by Olympic/Century Media in 2004.

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN have filmed a video for the second single off their upcoming "Rosenrot" album. According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Jonas Åkerlund (METALLICA, MADONNA, SATYRICON) was the director for "Mann Gegen Mann", which deals with the subject of "men on the edge of homosexuality." No word yet on when the new single or video will be released.

RAMMSTEIN's new album, "Rosenrot", is scheduled for release in Germany on October 28 via Universal. A limited-edition version of the album will include a bonus DVD featuring three live video clips recorded earlier in the year.