Swedish gothic doom metal band DRACONIAN have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Due to personal setbacks, keyboardist Andreas Karlsson can’t participate on the band's show at the [Summer Breeze festival in Abtsgmünd, Germany on August 20]. Since a while back, DRACONIAN have rehearsed with session member Sanne Karlsson for a temporary replacement concerning live shows abroad. She will fill in for Andreas as long it is necessary. Her commitment to DRACONIAN is highly appreciated and we send her our everlasting gratitude.

"Peter Lautsen, bass player of Swedish death metal acts such as COLD EXISTENCE and MALEFICIO, will contribute with his services on Summer Breeze and upcoming performances later on this year. If he will become a permanent DRACONIAN member, replacing Jesper Stolpe, is a question yet to be solved."

Check put pictures of the session members at this location.

DRACONIAN's sophomore album, "Arcane Rain Fell", was released in January 2005 through Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Where Lovers Mourn" was recorded at Studio Underground in Västerås, Sweden and contains more than 60 minutes of music, including the 16-minute epic "Death, Come Near Me" (previously released on the 2002 demo "Dark Oceans We Cry").

As widely expected, veteran San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS have now officially announced the addition of guitarist Lee Altus (HEATHEN, ex-DIE KRUPPS) to the group's ranks.

"Lee has been a great friend of mine for many years and is also one of the greatest guitarist I've had the pleasure of knowing," EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt said in a statement. "He was not only the best guy for this job, he was the only one. No one else was ever considered. His leads are totally ripping on the new album and I am looking very much forward to working with him on new music soon. He is a rhythm crusher as well as a shred machine so things are going to be heavy as hell! We start rehearsals Wednesday and I can't wait. My moving is done and I am chomping at the bit to get the show on the road."

EXODUS recently parted ways with guitarist Rick Hunolt due to Rick's desire to concentrate on his family life.

As previously reported, EXODUS have set "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" as the title of their upcoming album, due on October 5 via Nuclear Blast Records. Recorded at Trident studios in Pacheco, California and mixed by Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY), the follow-up to 2004's "Tempo of the Damned" is the band's first to feature Altus, ex-SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph and new singer Rob Dukes.

In a recent interview with Metal Temple magazine's Orpheus, guitarist/singer Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, DOCTOR BUTCHER) spoke about his solo career and the current status of SAVATAGE, among other topics. A couple of excerpts from the interview follow:

Metal Temple: Tell us a few things about your future material. Is a next album also going to be released via Black Lotus Records? Will that be anytime in 2006?

Caffery: "I am looking to release the next CD in June of 2006. Black Lotus has been very supportive of me. I am fortunate to have found them! We are talking about releasing some of my budget this year so I can get a head start. I may mix the next CD in Athens!"

Metal Temple: The TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA tour dates for 2005 were announced just a couple of days ago. How does it feel for Chris Caffery every time you're out there with TSO? What's TSO to you? Obviously something completely different from SAVATAGE and your solo band, I guess.

Caffery: "I love TSO. It is completely different than the others. I am proud of what it has accomplished. Sometimes it does not even seem real when we are out there because the thing is so popular. It is very surreal to play three sold-out shows in a 10,000-seat arena in one city. It is a bit odd at times when you think that there is another TSO playing that same night somewhere else, I — if anything — wish there was only one. I miss touring with Al [Pitrelli] and Johnny Lee [Middleton]. It is an amazing experience, I only wish it was a bit more spontaneous at times. But the production is so big and everything is choreographed technically so we have to rehearse one show and stick with it. I miss some of the 'Spinal Tap' moments that we get with SAVATAGE and my solo things, but it is an honor to be working with such a class organization."

Metal Temple: Is there any interesting bit of information you'd like to share with us, concerning SAVATAGE's future, be it good news or bad news?

Caffery: "How about no news? That is what I have, really! Nothing different than what I said last time we spoke [about a year ago]. We are planning on doing an anniversary CD...when, where, who... all of this will be answered in time! I guess you need to ask Jon [Oliva] and Paul [O'Neil] 'cause I dont make the decisions when it comes to SAVATAGE."

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell has uploaded several audio samples from his upcoming solo album, "Two Sides of If", at www.viviancampbell.com.

"Two Sides of If" is scheduled for release on September 6. Campbell will be joined on the blues-oriented album by ZZ TOP's Billy Gibbons, singer Joan Osbourne, and former FRANK ZAPPA and MISSING PERSONS drummer Terry Bozzio. "Two Sides of If" features a collection of Campbell's favorite blues songs, including WILLIE DIXON's "I Ain't Superstitious" and "Spoonful", FLEETWOOD MAC's "Like It This Way", RORY GALLAGHER's "Calling Card", and MEL LONDON's "Messin' With The Kid".

"Two Sides of If" track listing:

01. Messin' With the Kid
02. I'm Ready
03. Calling Card
04. Come On In My Kitchen
05. The Hunter
06. Like It This Way
07. I Ain't Superstitious
08. Spoonful
09. Reconsider Baby
10. Good or Bad Times
11. 32/20 Blues
12. Willin' for Satisfaction

With regards to his reasons for recording a blues album, Campbell writes on his web site, "The question has been raised as to why, when known as a rock player, I choose to make a blues record. What's more, the record is a collection of blues standards with the only 'new' track being a Billy Gibbons original, 'Willin' For Satisfaction' (so new, in fact, that Billy just finished writing the lyrics five minutes before we tracked it!) I wrote a brief explanation as to 'why blues' that is printed on the CD booklet.

"Why standards? Well, I believe in the reverence of the blues, and I don't subscribe to the misconception that just because you can play guitar you can play the blues. It can be especially woeful to hear rock guitar players play blues with bags full of technique but hearts devoid of soul. I also believe that as simple as the blues can seem, there's a certain intangible that can't simply be written into the three-chord formula, and as such I wish to bide my time and take the path to learning more about that intangible and hopefully, in due course, I'll write within the genre myself. Still, there's always been plenty of room for interpretation of roots music, and that is all I attempted to offer with this record."

SEVEN WITCHES have changed the title of their recently completed sixth album to "Amped" from the previously announced "Metal Nation". The follow-up to last year's "Year of the Witch" is the group's first album to feature new singer Alan Tecchio, formerly of HADES and WATCHTOWER. The band recently shot a video for the track "Sunnydale High".

"Amped" track listing:

01. West Nile
02. Sunnydale High
03. Dishonored Killings
04. Moto GP
05. Be
06. Fame Gets You Off
07. Flesh For Fantasy (BILLY IDOL cover)
08. Red
09. Widows and Orphans

Check out audio samples from "Amped" at SevenWitches.net. Also available at the same location is a video interview with Tecchio and SEVEN WITCHES mainman Jack Frost.

"Amped" is scheduled for release in the fall via Sweden's Regain Records.

Danish modern metallers RAUNCHY will begin mixing their third album on Monday, August 15 at Antfarm studios in Aarhus, Denmark for a tentative early 2006 release through an as-yet-undetermined label. Among the songtitles being considered for inclusion on the CD are "Hope Divider", "The Automation of Emotion", "Days Forever", "This City We Ride", "Hysteria Burn", "Farewell to Devotion", "The Dark Hush", "Phantoms", "I Will Avenge", "Rise Phoenix Rise" and "Red are the Flames of Hell".

RAUNCHY split with Nuclear Blast Records in January after releasing two albums through the label (2002's "Velvet Noise" and 2004's "Confusion Bay"). The upcoming CD will mark the recording debut with the group of new singer Kasper Thomsen, who replaced Lars Vognstrup last year.

RAUNCHY's previously unreleased cover version of FAITH NO MORE's "From out of Nowhere" has been made available for download at this location. The song was originally recorded during the sessions for the band's latest CD, "Confusion Bay".

Veteran Dutch thrashers DEAD HEAD have uploaded the cover artwork for their long-awaited fourth album, "Haatland", at this location.

Commented the band: "The very dedicated and patient Wicliff Wolda has provided us with great artwork for the CD. This is an actual DEAD HEAD stained glass window that Tom photographed in an old church in England."

As previously reported, "Haatland" is scheduled for release in September/October via Extremity Records/GMR Music Group. The album will contain 10 songs with a total playing time of 43 minutes.

"Haatland" tentative track listing:

01. Faust II
02. Montana
03. Phantom Palace
04. Supreme Forgery
05. Last Server Down
06. Serial Divorce
07. Mesfeken
08. Dog God
09. Desire
10. Nosferatu

Formed in 1989, DEAD HEAD recorded "Haatland" at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR). Check out the songs "Desire" and "Mesfeken" from the upcoming CD at DeadHead.nl. A 10-inch vinyl EP, "Dog God", featuring two songs from "Haatland", the IRON MAIDEN cover "Total Eclipse" and a re-recording of an older track, was released late last year via Fadeless Records.

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

"On Monday, August the 8th, after a three-week break, we will finally return to Dug-Out Studio [in Uppsala, Sweden] and resume the work on our new, yet untitled full-length album. We expect to have our new Satanic Symphony mixed and mastered within the next two weeks. More information to be announced as soon as it's completed!"

DARK FUNERAL's new album is being produced by Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, IN FLAMES, BEHEMOTH) for a late 2005 release via Regain Records. The CD will feature a guest appearance by former MESHUGGAH bassist Gustaf Hielm.

DARK FUNERAL's live album, "De Profundis Clamavi ad te Domine", was released in the U.S. on May 31 via Candlelight USA/Regain Records. The CD was recorded during the band's successful 2003 tour of South America (including stops in Brazil, Chile and Colombia) and features a selection of material that spans the band's decade-long career.

DARK FUNERAL currently features vocalist/bassist Emperor Magnus Caligula, guitarist Lord Ahriman, guitarist Chaq Mol, and drummer Matte Modin.

Finnish goth-metallers TO/DIE/FOR have lined up the following dates during the coming weeks:

Sep. 02 - St Petersburg, RUS @ Red Club
Sep. 09 – Kouvola, FIN @ Rytmikatti
Sep. 10 – Lahti, FIN @ Cumulus
Sep. 29 – Athens, GRE @ Open Theater of Papagou
Oct. 01 - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ESP @ Recinto Ferial de Caraias
Oct. 29 – Kajaani, FIN @ Rocktober Fest

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 once again features vocalist Jarno "Jape" Perätalo, who allegedly decided to reclaim the TO/DIE/FOR name for his TIAGA project after being offered a record deal by Spinefarm Records. Joining Perätalo in the new TO/DIE/FOR formation are ex-NEW DAWN FOUNDATION drummer/ex-TO/DIE/FOR drum tech Santtu Lonka, guitarist Mika "Alli" Ahtiainen, ex-H.I.M./NEW DAWN FOUNDATION keyboardist Juska Salminen, and bassist Jarkko "Josey" Strandmann (ex-NEW DAWN FOUNDATION).

Dutch melodic thrash/death outfit FUELBLOODED (formerly SACRAMENTAL SACHEM) have uploaded two audio samples from their upcoming album, "Inflict the Inevitable", on their web site. Check out the songs "Dissector of Souls" and "The Hangman's Burden" at www.fuelblooded.com.

"Inflict the Inevitable" was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, INVOCATOR). A fall 2005 release through an as-yet-undetermined label is expected.

Upcoming FUELBLOODED shows:

Sep. 17 - W2 - Den Bosch, NETH
Oct. 15 – Jonosh – Asten, NETH

George Kollias, drummer for NILE and SICKENING HORROR, has launched a new official web site, www.georgekollias.com. The site features videos and audio from both NILE and SICKENING HORROR, plus tips and contact.

NILE's "Annihilation of the Wicked" album was released in late May via Relapse Records. A video for the album track "Sacrifice Unto Sebek" was shot on location in Atlanta, GA by director Chad Rullman (MASTODON's "March of the Fire Ants", THE AGONY SCENE) for Supercollider Films. The band are confirmed to make a special appearance amongst the headlining acts of the 2005 Hellfest, set to take place August 19-21 in Trenton, NJ. NILE will perform on Friday, August 19.

Massachusetts-based death metallers BANE OF EXISTENCE have announced the addition of vocalist Dusty Lyon and guitarist Chris Farmerie (both formerly of ACEPHALUS and DESPOILMENT) to the group's ranks.

BANE OF EXISTENCE is a five-piece band based in Rockland, on the South Shore of Massachusetts. Continuing to play live and increase their fan base, they combine the musical styles of such bands as MALEVOLENT CREATION, DYING FETUS, DEVOURMENT, SKINLESS, INCANTATION, VITAL REMAINS and IMMOLATION. In the meantime, the band is currently perfecting their existing songs of pure hatred as well as putting together new material.

BANE OF EXISTENCE's full-length debut, "Humanity's Splintered Salvation", was recorded in 2002 at Ultrasound Productions in Hanson, MA and was released in 2004 via Spain's Fleshfeast Records. The group's next live appearance will take place September 16 at the Dee Dee's Lounge in Quincy, MA.

Vocalist Niklas Isfeldt and bassist Peter Stålfors have officially left DREAM EVIL, the Swedish band featuring acclaimed producer Fredrik Nordström (HAMMERFALL, IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, etc.) and drummer Snowy Shaw (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME). Peter and Niklas' statement on the matter reads as follows:

"Because of personal issues and the fact that Niklas has problems with constantly recurring health problems, we have taken the painful decision to leave the band.

"All our friends are telling us that it's a bad idea to leave the band now when it's starting to get big, but you may come to a point in your life where you have to make a choice. We have now come to this point in our lives and the choice we have made is to put more time into our families and work.

"We've known for a long time that the bigger DREAM EVIL becomes, the more time it will take from the other important things in our lives, and in time it was inevitable to make a decision. Therefore, we have decided to leave Dream Evil.

"There are no hard feelings between us and the other guys in DREAM EVIL. We're still the best of friends and they totally understand the position we are in.

"So it is with the best confidence we now pass over the mantle to the new members Jake E Berg and Tommy Larsson [bass; ex-JAGGERNAUT, CHASTISEMENT]. They have our blessings and we are confident they will fill our shoes just perfectly and leave nothing for the fans to be desired.

"We wish to thank all fans for the support through the years and for making the time in DREAM EVIL a memory for life."

DREAM EVIL's latest CD, "The Book Of Heavy Metal", was released last year through Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Evilized", "The Book Of Heavy Metal" was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden and features special guest appearances by ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN keyboardist Mats Olausson (on the songs "Into The Moonlight", "Crusaders' Anthem", "Chosen Twice" and "Unbreakable Chain") and HALFORD/PAINMUSEUM guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak.

FACE DOWN, the reunited Swedish outfit featuring former THE HAUNTED singer Marco Aro, have finalized the track listing for their new album, "The Will to Power", due late October through Sweden's Black Lodge Records.

"The Will to Power" was recorded at Fear and Loathing studio (co-owned by MESHUGGAH and CLAWFINGER) in Spånga, Sweden with engineer/producer Jocke Skog (CLAWFINGER). The CD will be mastered on August 16 at the Cutting Room.

"The Will to Power" final track listing:

01. Drained
02. Blood Tiles
03. Heroin
04. Insanity
05. Will To Power
06. Grey
07. Heretic
07. The Delusion
08. War Hog
09. The Unsung

Bonus tracks on the digipack version of the album will be "My Sacrifice" and "Strife". "We're also looking into putting some multimedia stuff, live video clips and other goodies on the digipack," the band write on their web site.

"Right now we're working on the cover artwork and booklet, and it's going really well. All artwork is handled by bass player Joakim this time around, so expect something extraordinarily disturbing."

Los Angeles based death/grind demons INFAMY have once again parted with their bass player, this time with Hans Faber of UNSANCTIFIED. INFAMY would like to thank Hans for all the work he's put in INFAMY in 2004 and the first half of this year.

INFAMY are in need of a bassist/vocalist to complete their three-vocalist team. Interested parties can contact the band at infamydeathgrind@hotmail.com.

INFAMY are set to record again in October and will release two demos simulataneously this winter. The vocals for the "Gates of Purgatory" demo are being redone and another demo will be released along with it (title pending). INFAMY will also be recording "Forensic Clinician/The Sanguine Article" for an upcoming Dwell Records tribute to the legendary CARCASS. The bonus song will be included on the fall 2005 INFAMY demo.

Finnish goth-metallers CHARON have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Songs for the Sinners", due in Finland on August 31 (September 5 internationally) via Spinefarm Records.

CHARON entered Finnvox Studios in Helsinki in February with producer Mikko Karmila to begin recording the follow-up to 2003's "The Dying Daylights". The group's new single, "Ride on Tears", was released this week in Finland via Spinefarm.

"Songs for the Sinners" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Colder
02. Deep Water
03. Bullet
04. Rain
05. Air
06. She Hates
07. Ride on Tears
08. Gray
09. Rust
10. House of the Silent

Bonus tracks (not featured on the regular album release):

11. Divine
12. Frail I Stand
13. Give Nothing

Singer J.P. Leppäluoto and drummer Antti Karihtala's detailed descriptions of the new songs and commentary on the new album can be found at this location.

Long-running German thrashers SODOM have set "Lords of Depravity - Part I" (view cover here) as the title of their new DVD, due on September 19 via SPV.

The first of two double-DVD sets will contain "the SODOM history from 1982 to 1995 and the concerts from Sofia, With Full Force, Wacken, Bang Your Head and Rock Hard festivals," according to SODOM mainman Thomas "Angelripper" Such. "Total play time of the double DVD will be at least five hours . . Nothing that could be interesting for you SODOM fans should be withheld. Highlight of the entire DVD are interviews with all, still living ex musicians. It was a real challenge for me to organize that all!"

The follow-up DVD, "Lords of Depravity - Part II", "will be published at the beginning of 2006 and contain the history from 1996 to 2005 when there was no more lineup changes," stated Such. "You can barely imagine what you'll get to see and hear, because in this period a camera was always at hand. This double DVD will also have a play time of more than five hours."

SODOM are scheduled to release their new studio album in January via SPV Records. A U.S. tour with FINNTROLL will kick off January 6 in Springfield, VA.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM will shoot a video for the track "Straight to Hell" on August 14 in Phoenix, Arizona. The clip is expected to be finished late August and ready for national and regional video outlets by September 1.

"Straight to Hell" comes off the group's latest album, "Dreams of Death" (Crash Music, Inc.), which sold 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was engineered by Tom Giatron and produced by FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and Tom Giatron at Genesis Studios in Phoenix. Travis Smith did the cover art.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM was formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 by bassist Jason Newsted, who eventually left the band to join METALLICA. The group currently consists of Eric A.K. (vocals), Craig Nielsen (drums), Jason Ward (bass), Mark Simpson (guitar) and Ed Carlson (guitar).

Steamhammer/SPV are proud to announce their exclusive signing of MOTLEY CRUE drummer TOMMY LEE for the European territories. The release of his third solo album, "Tommyland: The Ride" will be linked to LEE's current reality TV show, "Tommy Lee Goes to College'. TOMMY will present several tracks from his album on the show, due to kick off in Europe this month.
"Tommyland: The Ride" was produced by LEE himself in cooperation with Scott Humphrey. The list of guest musicians on "Tommyland: The Ride" is as spectacular as his exclusive contract with Steamhammer/SPV: NICKELBACK's Chad Kroeger, FUEL guitarist and vocalist Carl Bell, SUM 41 vocalist Deryck Whibley, Butch Walker, GOOD CHARLOTTE's Joel Madden, and - wait for it! -
Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

Equally sensational is the announcement that Steamhammer/SPV will release the album at a low-budget rate at the artist's request. "From the very beginning, I wanted to do something different with this record, something ground-breaking," says Lee. "I wanted to get great new music to my fans without charging them fifteen or sixteen bucks for a CD. And SPV/Steamhammer are helping me do that, so I couldn't be happier."

TOMMY LEE has been drumming with rock act, MOTLEY CRUE, since the early Eighties and is one of the most charismatic rock musicians of all time. He has sold 40 million records and repeatedly played the biggest stages world-wide. MOTLEY CRUE were reunited a few months ago and are currently on a world tour. LEE has also made headlines with his marriages to Hollywood Stars Heather Locklear and Pamela Anderson.

SPV Managing Director Manfred Schuetz comments: "This is exactly what you can expect from SPV"

TRACKS

1. Good Times - Features Butch Walker
   
2. Hello Again - Features Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate
   
3. Trying To Be Me - Features Chad Kroeger of Nickelback
   
4. Sister Mary - Features Carl Bell of Fuel
   
5. The Butler
   
6. Tired - Features Joel Madden of Good Charlotte
   
7. I Need You - Features Andrew McMahon of Something Corporate
   
8. Make Believe
   
9. Makin' Me Crazy - Features Dirty Harry
   
10. Watch You Lose
    
11. Say Goodbye - Features Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys
    
12. Hello Again (Acoustic)
    

FATES WARNING are currently editing a live DVD shot on February 20, 2005 in Athens, Greece. The disc, the audio for which was mixed by Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM), is tentatively due before the end of the year via InsideOut Music.

In other news, FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos is collaborating with ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore on the second OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE). According to Matheos, "work on OSI2 is progressing nicely."

OSI's debut album featured Matheos, Moore, former CYNIC bassist Sean Malone and DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy. It was released in 2003 via InsideOut Music.

ARCH ENEMY's video for the song "Nemesis" has been posted online at Yahoo! Music. The clip was shot in late June with director George Bravo, who previously worked with the Swedish/German extreme metallers on their "We Will Rise" video.

"Nemesis" is the first single/video off ARCH ENEMY's new album, "Doomsday Machine" (Century Media Records), which has sold 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was co-produced by the band and Rickard Bengtsson at Slaughterhouse Studio in Sweden and was mixed by Andy Sneap at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, U.K.

ARCH ENEMY are currently touring the U.S. as part of this year's Ozzfest, which kicked off July 15 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

BATTERED, the new Norwegian band featuring former EINHERJER members Frode Glesnes (a.k.a. Grimar, vocals/guitar), Aksel Herløe (guitar) and Gerhard Storesund (a.k.a. Vivar, drums), have announced the addition of singer Sigurd Olaisen (HEADBLOCK) to the group's ranks. The group are continuing work on their debut CD at Sifa Lydstudio in Norway. "The recording session is coming towards the end," reads a posting on the group's web site. "We are only a few vocal lines days away from completing the recording of the 11 songs that will become the first BATTERED studio album."

BATTERED's current lineup is rounded out by bassist Ole Moldesæther.

Often cited as the leading "viking metal" act, Haugesund-based EINHERJER released several albums and EPs (1994's "Aurora Borealis" EP, 1995's "Leve Vikingånden", 1996's "Dragons of the North", 1997's "Far Far North" EP, 1998's "Odin Owns Ye All", 2000's "Norwegian Native Art" and 2003's "Blot") before folding in May of 2004.

A video clip of SOULFLY peforming the song "Pain" — featuring special guests Chino Moreno of the DEFTONES and Ritchie Cavalera (SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera's stepson) — at the Fields of Rock Festival on June 18, 2005 in Nijmegen, Netherlands, has been posted online at BandsVideos.com.

SOULFLY's new album, "Dark Ages", is scheduled for release on October 4 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Prophecy" was produced by SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera and was mixed by Terry Date, who has previously worked with PANTERA and DEFTONES, among others.

29th August is the release date of the THE VISION BLEAK album called "Carpathia". Forceful, black riffs, heavyweight drums and many-facetted vocals. Horror Metal - monumental, mighty, majestic and magnificent like the Carpathian mountains.
"This is the fateful story of a businessman becoming heir to
the old estates of his family in far and strange Carpathia," Schwadorf outlines the concept. We, the listeners, accompany the young man on this journey through creepy mountain passes, sit beside him in his cab, sense the slow assembly of evil, share his shivers as he encounters the rustic villagers of Carpathia, travel further into the exotic and fearfully outlandish world of "Arabian Nights", and at the end we know: the protagonist is cursed, probably even possessed.
THE VISION BLEAK are also working on a videoclip for the song "Carpathia".
Director of the clip is Dave Palser, who created videos for The Prodigy, My Dying Bride, Burzum, Cradle Of Filth and many more.
Tracklist "Carpathia":
1. The Drama Of The Wicked
2. Secrecies In Darkness
3. Carpathia
4. Dreams In The Witchhouse
5. Sister Najade (The Tarn By The Firs)
6. The Curse Of Arabia
7. Kutulu!
8. The Carm Is Done
"Carpathia" will be released as normal Jewelcase CD and as luxuary Digipak edition with Bonus CD.

First international press reactions:
TERRORIZER (UK): "Conjures the image of a horror epic with all the atmosphere of a Lovecraft classic...imagination and creativity running on
all cylinders...Nosferatu-esque"
METAL HAMMER (D): "This is a class of it´s own" METAL SHOCK (I): Top Album September
UNRESTRAINED (CAN): With ist dark visions and a masterful sense of exploration and storytelling, THE VISION BLEAK´s "Carpathia" is a worthwile journey"

Norway's legendary eccentric artist MORTIIS will release his first-ever DVD, entitled "Soul in a Hole" on September 26 via Earache.

"Soul in a Hole" contains a full live set filmed during MORTIIS' mammoth seven-week European tour in support of "The Grudge" album, released last year. It also includes MORTIIS' unparalleled videography to date, with clips shot as far afield as Death Valley, New York and London, plus never-seen-before interview footage, including MORTIIS speaking candidly about the recording process, live shows and the reason for the mask!!

"Soul in a Hole" track listing:

MORTIIIS Live At The Hackney Ocean, London - September 24, 2004:

01. Intro
02. Broken Skin
03. Way Too Wicked
04. Marshland
05. The Worst In Me
06. Monolith
07. Gibber
08. Decadent And Desperate
09. Parasite God
10. The Loneliest Thing
11. Asthma
12. The Grudge
13. Smell The Witch
14. Mental Maelstrom
15. Le Petite Cochon Sordide

Music Videos:

01. Parasite God
02. Mental Maelstrom
03. The Grudge
04. Decadent And Desperate (Absentia)

Bonus Material:

MORTIIS interview
"The Grudge" TV advert
"The Grudge" EPK
Picture gallery

Holland's Mascot Records has set a September 13 European release date for the sophomore album from BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, entitled "Runaway Brides". The CD is due in the U.S. on September 27 via Shrapnel Records.

The follow-up to last year's "Here Come the Brides", "Runaway Brides" was recorded in part at a studio in Malibu, California with producer Andy Johns, who has previously worked with guitarist Tracii Guns on the L.A. GUNS' "Waking the Dead" album (which Guns has referred to as "my favorite L.A. GUNS record."). Johns was reportedly involved with the album during its early recording stages but ended up leaving the project due to unspecified differences with Guns and the rest of the band.

Commented Guns: "This is the record we always wanted to make. It has a great blend of modern rock heaviness with retro sounds and styles. It is the perfect BRIDES record of today."

"Runaway Brides" final track listing:

01. Aunt Biente
02. Lords of the Mind
03. Deadman's Ruin
04. Criminal
05. This Time Around
06. White Trash
07. Brothers
08. Never Say Never
09. Blown Away
10. Porcelain Queen
11. White Horse
12. Tunnel of Love
13. Dimes In Heaven

BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION's current lineup includes former AMEN bassist Scott Sorry (replacing MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx).