Australian melodic doom metal band THE ETERNAL (formerly CRYPTAL DARKNESS) have uploaded the cover artwork for their upcoming second album, "Sleep of Reason", at this location. "The album's decidedly Stygian sleeve-art was created by Travis Smith (OPETH, KATATONIA, ANATHEMA) based on the etching 'El sueño de la Razon Produce Monstruos' by Francisco de Goya," reads a posting on the group's web site.

"Sleep of Reason" is scheduled for release on September 28 via Firebox Records. The follow-up to last year's "The Sombre Light of Isolation" was recorded at Palm Studios in Melbourne and was mastered by Mika Jussila (AMORPHIS, NIGHTWISH, THERION) at Finnvox studios in Helsinki, Finland. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Everlasting", "A Dream's End", "Beneath the Soil" and "To Drown".

FACE DOWN, the reunited Swedish outfit featuring former THE HAUNTED singer Marco Aro, entered Fear and Loathing studio (co-owned by MESHUGGAH and CLAWFINGER) in Spånga, Sweden on Monday (July 4) with engineer/producer Jocke Skog (CLAWFINGER) to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new album. "We're gonna record 11 tracks, 10 for the regular CD and one spare track which will go on the other editions of the CD," the band write on their web site. "Some new working titles are 'Time', 'Making God', 'War Hog' and 'Grey'."

Commented drummer Erik Thyselius (CONSTRUCDEAD, TERROR 2000): "The drums sounds awesome and we recorded one track. Joacim [Carlsson, GENERAL SURGERY; guitar) started trying guitar sound and tomorrow we'll continue the recording session."

Added Carlsson: "We did a couple of test takes on 'Heretic', and when Erik left I laid down a couple of temp guitar tracks and a bass track so we could get an impression of the big picture.

"Just by chance, I tried out a baritone guitar that was hanging on the wall in the studio and it sounded really cool, so I'm gonna use it on the album on a few songs. It was a bitch to play though — the low E-string was a 0.68 and I normally use 0.53, The distance between the frets is also something that will take a while to get used to. When I picked up my Ibanez after playing the baritone guitar it felt like I was playing a toy guitar by comparison.

"In conclusion: So far, so good! Tomorrow we'll go for it and nail as many songs as we can get done in 8 or 9 hours."

Check out pictures from the recording session at this location.

FACE DOWN's forthcoming album, which will be released through Sweden's Black Lodge Records, will feature brand new material, as well as reworked versions of previously unreleased old tracks.

SPV Records has pushed back the projected release date of the new SEPULTURA album to early 2006.

As previously reported, SEPULTURA's upcoming CD will be based on the "The Divine Comedy", widely considered the greatest epic poem of Italian literature, and one of the greatest of world literature.

SEPULTURA's last album, "Roorback", was issued in North America in August 2003 via SPV Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Nation" was recorded and mixed by producer Steve Evetts (SNAPCASE, EARTH CRISIS) at Mosh Studios in São Paulo, Brazil, and was released in Europe in May 2003 through SPV.

SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera will be collaborating with hardcore Brooklyn rapper NECRO on a track for NECRO's upcoming release, "Circle of Tyrants".

According to GHPG.net, the new album from Moscow Deputy Mayor Mikhail Men (a.k.a. "Michael Men"), "Made in Moscow", featuring Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) and Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE), has been released in Russia on Inna Records.

Featuring nine songs, the CD is available in a regular and a limited-edition deluxe set featuring a "Made in Moscow Movie" DVD.

"Made in Moscow" track listing:

01. Arianna
02. Let The Fire Rage
03. Warrior Of The World
04. Forgive Her
05. On Your Marks
06. I'm Alive
07. Ond Friends
08. Circus Life
09. The Alchemist

Joe Lynn Turner visited Moscow last month to attend the premiere release party for the new album with many dignitaries, both political and musical. Russian musicians in attendance included Michael Men, Alexander Filonenko, Valery Diorditsa, Paul Titovets, Alexey Tumanov and Peter Makienko.

"Made in Moscow" is not currently available outside of Russia, but it has already been sighted on eBay.

Reunited death metal legends SUFFOCATION will be filming their July 21 show at Club Loaded (at the Crazy Donkey) in Farmingdale, New York for an upcoming DVD. Also appearing on the bill will be CATACTROPHIC (featuring Trevor Peres from OBITUARY), TENSION, MORTICIAN, DESTROYED BY ANGER, STRAY FROM THE PATH, REVENANCE and WITHOUT REMORSE. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the show.

SUFFOCATION are continuing to tour in support of thier latest CD, "Souls to Deny", which was released in April 2004 through Relapse Records. The band's first full album of new material since 1995's "Pierced From Within", "Souls to Deny" was recorded at New York's Full Force Studios with engineer Joe Cincotta and is "the cleanest, heaviest SUFFOCATION album to date," according to drummer Mike Smith. SUFFOCATION's current lineup consists of Smith, vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais and bassist Derek Boyer.

Swedish death/thrash metal act EVILDOER, who feature in their ranks WITHIN Y frontman Andreas Solveström, have uploaded one full song ("By the Flag") and two song clips ("On Bleeding Knees" and "The Deviant") from their forthcoming debut album, "Terror Audio", at www.evildoer.se.

"Terror Audio" (view cover here) was recorded at Berno Studios (THE HAUNTED, DEFLESHED, GOD DETHRONED, AMON AMARTH, KAAMOS) in Malmö, Sweden and is scheduled to be released in August/September via Italy's Scarlet Records.

"Terror Audio" track listing:

01. Please Lord
02. By The Flag
03. FearDotGov
04. Day Of Torment
05. Gunshell Revenge
06. Right Hand Servant
07. On Bleeding Knees
08. The Deviant
09. Ten Times The Pain
10. Absolute Hate
11. Die Now!

Finnish atmospheric doom metallers SILENTIUM will be mastering their new album in late July at the Finnvox studios in Helsinki. A late 2005 release via Dynamic Arts Records is expected.

SILENTIUM, who recently announced the addition of vocalist Riina Rinkinen and returning drummer Jari Ojala to the group's ranks, released their third album, "Sufferion - Hamartia of Prudence", in 2003 through Spikefarm Records. Produced by NIGHTWISH mainman Tuomas Holopainen, the CD was recorded at Sundicoop Studio in Savonlinna, Finland and featured a guest appearance by former LULLACRY and current SOULGRIND frontwoman Tanja Kemppainen.

HEMNUR, the black metal project featuring NECROPHAGIA axeman Frediablo, have uploaded audio samples of their upcoming debut album, "Satanic Hellride", due on August 22 via the Dutch label Infernus Rex. Check them out at this location. The album, which will come with a 24-page black-and-white booklet, was recorded at GodFed Studios in Norway during March 2005, and was engineered, produced and mixed by Frediablo. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Satanic Hellride", "I Spit My Blood", "Fucked By Your Christ", "Grimness Rising", "Freezing Doom", "Skullfucking Jesus" and "Ravnsvart" (Ravenblack), as well as two tracks from the band's first demo, "Ravnsvart".

Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS have reportedly enlisted bassist Lauri Porra (SINERGY, KOTIPELTO, BEN GRANFELT, TUNNELVISION, WARMEN) as the replacement for longtime member Jari Kainulainen, who left the group a few weeks ago.

In a recent interview with the Brazilian magazine Rock Brigade, STRATOVARIUS drummer Jörg Micheal spoke about the reasons behind Kainulainen's departure shortly after the completion of the band's latest, self-titled effort.

"The truth is that Jari had other priorities," Michael explained. "He never became as involved with the band as the other members. It's sad for me to think about the fact that he is no longer in the band, because he and I formed one hell of a rhythm section, even though he wasn't really interested in developing something bigger with the band. I mean, he showed up for the gigs, he was in the band pictures, and he was part of the recording process, but he never showed he was really interested in STRATOVARIUS. Can you believe that the guy has been there for 10 years and I never even once visited him at his house?

"Jari's departure has nothing to do with the other band problems," Michael continued. "STRATOVARIUS has never been his priority, he never got involved in the process of creating songs and with the creative development of the band. Now he's married and the family became more important than everything else. As a result, we will go our separate ways."

STRATOVARIUS' new self-titled album is scheduled for release on September 5 via Sanctuary Records. A video for the album's first single, "Maniac Dance", was shot on April 15 in Helsinki by director and guitarist Timo Tolkki's old schoolmate Antti Jokinen (BEYONCÉ, WYCLEF JEAN, KORN, MISSY ELLIOT, NIGHTWISH, SHANIA TWAIN, CELINE DION).

STRATOVARIUS will be teaming up with INTO ETERNITY for a North American tour beginning in mid-September.

Swedish technical death metallers ANATA will enter StudioMega in Varberg, Sweden later this month to begin recording the follow-up to last year's "Under a Stone with No Inscription". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Complete Demise", "Downward Spiral Into Madness", "The Great Juggler", "I Would Dream Of Blood" and "Disobedience Pays". A late 2005 release via Earache Records imprint Wicked World is expected.

Commented frontman Fredrik Schalin: "At the moment, the working title for this album is 'The Conductor's Departure'. It symbolizes the losing of control of your own life. You have all these abilities and potential, but it's all going to waste because you can't make something out of it. Like an orchestra without the conductor, hence the title!

"In general this album will be a lot faster, but it also has a lot of slower, heavy and groovy sections," Schalin continued. "When it comes to brutality, impact and assault, I think most people should know what to expect from ANATA. It will be brutal as hell, but it's also much more interesting when it comes to harmonies. The harmonies are much... deeper. Like our drummer Conny (Petterson) said the first time he heard some of it: 'It really sounds like a skeleton playing an old church organ.' I have no idea what that might trigger in your mind, but I was flattered. The thing is that sometimes we should not talk about songs consisting of guitar riffs. Guitars, bass and drums were written at the same time, sometimes note by note. For some parts, if you take the bass guitar out, it will all sound very confusing. In a lot of the harmonies, the bass guitar is the key to the rest of the music. Therefore it will be pretty audible. Otherwise most metal bands seem to use this instrument as some kind of filling in the low end. That is such a waste."

According to MaidenFans.com, Vitamin Records has set an August 2 release date for a piano tribute to IRON MAIDEN, aptly titled "The Piano Tribute to Iron Maiden". The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. 2 Minutes To Midnight
02. Wasted Years
03. Can I Play with Madness
04. The Trooper
05. Brave New World
06. Run to The Hills
07. Caught Somewhere In Time
08. Aces High
09. Hallowed Be Thy Name
10. Flight of Icarus
11. Number of The Beast
12. Eddie's Lament (Original Composition)

For more information, visit VitaminRecords.com.

The cover artwork for the upcoming CHILDREN OF BODOM single, "In Your Face", has been posted online at Spinefarm.fi. The single, which is scheduled for release in Finland on August 17 via Spinefarm, will contain the following track listing:

01. In Your Face
02. (surprise track)
03. In Your Face (censored version)

As previously reported, the cover artwork for CHILDREN OF BODOM's upcoming album, "Are You Dead Yet?", has been posted online at this location.

CHILDREN OF BODOM mastered "Are You Dead Yet?" on June 6 at Finnvox studios in Helsinki following a six-week recording/mixing session with producer Mikko Karmila. The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Living Dead Beat
02. Are You Dead Yet?
03. If You Want Peace... Prepare for War
04. Punch Me I Bleed
05. In Your Face
06. Next in Line
07. Bastards of Bodom
08. Trashed, Lost & Strungout
09. We're Not Gonna Fall

"Are You Dead Yet?" is scheduled for release on September 14 in Finland and September 19 in the rest of the world.

CHILDREN OF BODOM mainman Alexi Laiho recently told Finland's Soundi magazine that "Are You Dead Yet?" will feature some completely new influences. The follow-up to 2003's "Hate Crew Deathroll" will apparently be even more straight-forward than its predecessor and will contain some industrial elements while retaining COB's trademark sound, including the super-fast guitar and keyboard solos.

SUSPERIA, the extreme melodic metal band from Norway, will release a special-edition EP entitled "Devil May Care", later in the year via Tabu Recordings. The EP is expected to contain some of the cover songs that the group have occasionally been performing at selected shows, including "Lack of Comprehension" (originally recorded by DEATH), "Wild Child" (originally recorded by W.A.S.P.) and the much-sought-after version of "The Sun Always Shines On TV" (a worldwide hit for fellow Norwegians A-HA). The CD will also include the "Unlimited" album track "Devil May Care" as well as a new song, "Venting the Anger". As an added bonus, the release will contain the promo videos for "Chemistry" and "Devil May Care".

SUSPERIA released their third full-length album, "Unlimited", last year through the Tuba label in Europe and Candlelight in the USA. The album went on to become a firm favorite with both fans and media around the world, being recognized with a nomination in the "Metal" category at Norway's prestigious Alarm awards. The video for the song "Chemistry" continues to receive regular airplay through such video outlets as MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball", Havoc TV, NRK and Scuzz.

Legendary Swedish metallers ENTOMBED have commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2003's "Inferno", tentatively due in early 2006 via Threeman Recordings. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Fiery Father", "I Need Hell", "Radarslave" and "Burn the Flag".

"Inferno" received its long-awaited U.S. release last August through Candlelight Records. The special U.S. edition of "Inferno" includes a bonus disc, "Averno", featuring two previously unreleased songs from the "Inferno" sessions as well as the song "When Humanity's Gone" that was previously released on the "Inferno" vinyl. In addition, "Averno" includes the promo videos for "Retaliation" and "Albino Flogged In Black". The album comes as a double-disc jewelcase with slipcase.

ENTOMBED's most recent release was "Unreal Estate", a special live recording of the band's now infamous sold-out performance at Stockholm's Royal Opera Hall. The beautifully packaged digipak release features an elaborate picture book that documents from start to finish the performance and its rehearsals. Photographer Mats Backer compiled the photographs day and night, cataloging the band, the dancers and beautiful architecture of the hall.

Recorded (absolutely no overdubs) on March 1, 2002, "Unreal Estate" documents a fantastic experience with their original songs specially re-arranged for the 45-minute performance. Surrounded by more than 30 of Sweden's finest and most celebrated ballet dancers, the performance marked the first time in the history of Royal Opera Hall that earplugs were distributed to the guests at the door. The media immediately described it as "one of the most powerful and moving experiences ever."

DEEP PURPLE have set "Rapture of the Deep" as the title of their new studio album, tentatively due in October.

DEEP PURPLE recently spent five weeks at a Los Angeles studio recording the new CD with producer Mike Bradford. The album, which will be the group's first release since their split with the EMI label, is described by keyboardist Don Airey as "a lot heavier" than 2003's "Bananas". "We recorded it in the same studio that use to be used by KORN, and it's got a wonderful sound," Airey said. "It's got a real, immediate drum and organ sound. I was really happy working in there."

Germany's MAJESTY have entered the studio with producer Stefan Kaufmann (former ACCEPT drummer, current U.D.O. guitarist) to begin recording their new album. The following is band leader Tarek Maghari's report on the CD's recording sessions:

"Hail metalheads! I'm writing to you directly from the studio where we are recording the 'Reign in Glory' follower. At the moment I'm doing the first vocal recordings and I can tell you that we will present you a great heavy metal album, which will hit the world like a mighty grenade!

"I wrote twelve songs and it looks like that we will put eleven tracks on the album and one exclusively on a single, which will already be released at the end of this year. We are making this album for you, who believe in the great values of our scene. Fight forever!"

MAJESTY's second full-length album, "Reign in Glory", was released in October 2003 through Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Keep It True" was recorded at Roxx studios in Pulheim, Germany under the watchful eye of producer Stefan Kaufmann and marked the recording debut with the group of former VANIZE guitarist Rolf Munkes.

As previously reported, Maghari is currentely working on a solo concept record, "Dawnrider", tentatively due late summer. Guest musicians set to appear on the CD include James Riviera (HELSTAR); Marc Shelton and Hellroadie (MANILLA ROAD); Ross The Boss (THE BRAIN SURGEONS, ex-MANOWAR); Rolf Munkes and Michael Graeter (MAJESTY); Michael Seifert (REBELLION); Sven D'Anna (WIZARD); Andreas Babuschkin (PARAGON); Juergen "Eumel" Aumann (FINAL BREATH); and Oliver Weinsheimer (SHADOWS OF IGA). A homepage will go online soon at www.dawnrider.de.

NASUM drummer Anders Jakobson has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"Today I got a very appreciated package from Denmark with NASUM's three shows from Japan January 2004 on CD. Our Danish sound engineer Bo Lund has really taken his time sending me these CDs but, boy, was it worth the wait!

"I remember quite clearly how we sat in a hotel corridor in Osaka listening to the show we did just hours before by passing around Bo's minidiscplayer and headphones and just DIED by the great quality of the sound! It was really releaseable (is that a word?).

"I've just recently listened through that recording and it's without doubt the best live recording of NASUM that I have heard. It captures the massive sound we had live and the takes sound pretty OK as well.

"I will soon pick out the best stuff, polish it a little bit and prepare it for release. The idea is to do a live split with NAPALM DEATH (also recorded at the same tour), but I don't know when and how it's going to be released. I know Shane [Embury, NAPALM DEATH bassist] wants to release it on the FETO label. We'll see.

"I will share a track or two in a couple of days so you can hear for yourself how great this MINIDISC RECORDING (!) actually sounds!"

EDGUY's upcoming EP, "Superheroes" — due on September 5 via Nuclear Blast Records — will feature a special guest appearance by former HELLOWEEN frontman Michael Kiske.

Commented EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet: "One of the tracks is a bombastic uptempo epic that's reminiscent of a mixture of heavy QUEEN, RICHARD WAGNER and AVANTASIA. So it was a MUST to ask Michael Kiske to do some guest vocals. To me, music is about goose bumps, and I had a lot when listening to Michi! To make it fair, we have decided that the CD shall be out in stores for the price of a CD single only! So make sure you persuade your friends that they buy it and don't copy it, maybe quality and value for money could be a promising kind of 'copy-protection!'"

The "Superheroes" DVD — also due on September 5 — will contain the brand new video clip, "Superheroes", a couple of songs filmed live in Brazil, plenty of "behind-the-scenes" footage, a slide show, an extensive studio report with interviews and a chance to follow EDGUY backstage. "Our fans will love the fun part of it and I'm sure to them it's a classic," states Sammet. "And I am sure EDGUY haters will hate us even more and will think we are a bunch of wanna-be-funny-gay-idiots."

The DVD will have a running time of approximately 80 minutes and will be available for the price of a DVD-single as well.

German power metallers GAMMA RAY have revealed the track listing for their new album, "Majestic", due on September 26 via Sanctuary.

"Majestic" was recorded and mixed at Hansen Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Mastering duties were handled at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland by Mikko Karmila and Kai Hansen. The follow-up to 2001's "No World Order" includes 10 tracks which represent "all of the characteristic strengths of the band's musical career to date," the group write on their web site.

"Majestic" track listing:

01. My Temple (4:57)
02. Fight (3:24)
03. Strange World (5:03)
04. Hell Is Thy Home (4:46)
05. Blood Religion (6:53)
06. Condemned To Hell (4:56)
07. Spiritual Dictator (5:38)
08. Majesty (6:23)
09. How Long (4:06)
10. Revelation (8:30)

The Japanese edition of the CD will include a bonus track.

Swedish black/death metallers THE LEGION, featuring current MARDUK drummer Emil Dragutinovic, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"After a couple of auditions trying to find a new singer we still haven't found the person we're looking for. We need a vocalist with a darker and rawer voice who is able to rehearse with us at least once a month. The capability to sing varied and the ability of arranging the lyrics is really important. We'd prefer a person who lives in the Nordic region. If this sounds interesting to you, please send us a mail at contact@legion.nu and we'll arrange an audition a.s.a.p.

"The recording of our second opus is just about to start, and this time we'll use our own studio Art Decay to a great extent. This also means that we'll be able to record the vocals under less preasure than normal. Guitars, bass and final mixing will most likely be done at Endarker Studio with Devo Andersson."

To facilitate the vocalist-search process, THE LEGION have made available a pre-production sample (href='http://www.legion.nu/sounds/virtueofsin.mp3' target=_blank>mp3) of a new song called "Virtue of Sin". "On this teaser, which was recorded in our rehearsal room, the vocals are executed by Lars (bass) and David (guitar)," the band write. "[Keep] in mind that this is not representative for the final outcome of the upcoming album."

A brand-new ENDSTILLE track, entitled "Bastard", has been posted online at Endstille.com.

"Bastard" comes off the German black metallers' upcoming fourth full-length album, "Navigator", due on August 1 via Twilight-Vertrieb. The follow-up to last year's "Dominanz" was recorded at JAKs-Hell studio and will contain 10 tracks with a running time of 43 minutes.

"Navigator" track listing:

01. Ortungssignal
02. I Bless You... God
03. Navigator
04. Above the Vault of Heaven
05. Bastard
06. Monotonus II
07. Nameless
08. Let There Be Heaven
09. Disillusioned Victory
10. Endstille (Leichnam)

"Navigator" will be released as a regular CD as well as a limited-edition digipack.

TIWANAKU, the new band featuring ex-NOCTURNUS bassist Emo Mowery and ex-ACHERON/BURNING INSIDE guitarist Mike Estes, have announced the addition of drummer James "Caveman" Deragowsky to the group's ranks. "James caught right on to the material faster than anyone has in a long time and is now working with us on the new material," Mowery said in a statement. "He has earned his spot in the band hands down!! James is a dependable, hard-working, hard-hitting, skin-beating motherfucker and wants everyone to know that he is going to stick with the band through thick and thin!! TIWANAKU is stronger than ever now!!!"

TIWANAKU's current lineup is as follows:

Emo Mowery - Vocals, Guitar/Bass, Keys
Mike Estes - Guitar
James "Caveman" Deragowsky - Drums

Added Mowery: "We are now seeking a bassist or a guitarist. Whichever we find first I will pick up the other. Vocal capabilities are a plus but not a requirement. Either should be experienced, technically capable, and creative. No drama allowed here!! If you are in the Central Florida area that is also a plus!! If you are interested please contact us at redkenyi@yahoo.com."

Ronnie James Dio has told Canada's ChartAttack.com that plans exist for the group to begin writing the follow-up to 2004's "Master of the Moon" shortly after the completion of the band's current tour.

"There will be another record, but we won't be finished touring yet until probably October, maybe November," Dio said. "We've got a month to do in Russia, festivals this year, the European tour to do, U.K., Japan, Australia, South Korea. So we've got a lot of places we have to go. If I stopped moving, I'd probably perish [laughs]. "So yes, that's going to preclude writing another album right away, of course. I guess it helps that this live CD is out, which will give us a little bit of a breather. But hopefully the next album will be 'Magica II' and 'III'; I'm still shooting for that."

According to Dio, the band's recently released live album, "Evil Or Divine: Live In New York City" — a CD version of the 2002 DVD, recorded at The Roseland in New York City — remains pretty true to the original NY show.

"I think the only change is that there are some omissions for time consideration," Dio explained. "I think the drum solo got axed and I think they took a lot of the repartee out. So you get song, song, song, rather than me waffling on. I think those are the only omissions. None of the songs have been taken out, I don't think. I'm really not sure. I hate to plead such ignorance on this one but it wasn't my project."

On the subject of adding touch-ups to live albums, Dio said, "We never really had a problem with having to go in and do that. Because the band has always been so good; not only good players, but we've always been so well-rehearsed with a real high ethic, so it didn't matter if it was being recorded or not. You got the same show all the time, which is one of the reasons why when we did the DVD, we only filmed it once. I mean, most bands film five or six shows and intersperse it with this or that because it makes life easier for them. But I've never had a problem.

"Right from the very first live album I ever did, which was 'Rainbow On Stage'... [Fans] come to see it done right the first time. You should be able to capture that and that's what we did."