Norwegian metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN performed a version of their song "The Divine Land" with Eurovision Song Contest 2009 winner Alexander Rybak last night (Saturday, January 15) as the intermission act during the first semifinal of the Norwegian national Eurovision Song Contest competition "Melodi Grand Prix". The track, which was not part of the competition but was included in the show as an additional number, can also be downloaded via iTunes.

Am 25. Februar 2011 wird AFM Records das neue SHAKRA Studio Album mit dem Titel "Back On Track" veröffentlichen. Es ist das erste Album mit dem neuen Sänger John Prakesh! Jetzt wurde auch die "Back On Track" Track List veröffetlicht.

"Back On Track" Track List:

01. B True B You
02. I'll Be
03. Crazy
04. Back On Track
05. When I See You
06. MMTWGR
07. Yesterday's Gone
08. Someday
09. Lonesomeness
10. Unspoken Truth
11. Brand New Day
12. Stronger Than Ever

GOTHMINISTER hat jetzt einen Vertrag beim Deutschen Label Danse Macabre unterschrieben. Hier die Meldung des Labels:

"Wir sind stolz unser neuesten Signing ankündigen zu dürfen. Die norwegische Gothic-Industrialmetal Legende GOTHMINISTER hat bei Danse Macabre unterschrieben. Des Teufels Advokat Björn Brem veröffentlicht sein neuestes Werk Anima Inferna Mitte März und die dazugehörige Clubsingle Liar Anfang März. Auf Euch wartet ein diabolisches Meisterwerk das Orchestral und treibend zugleich einen Höhepunkt im bisherigen Schaffen des Ministers darstellen dürfte. Erste Snippets wird es bald auf dansemacabre-group zu hören geben."

Die schwedischen Darkwavekünstler im Steampunkoutfit haben gerade mal ein Jahr nach ihrem vielgefeierten Debut mit hohen DAC Notierungen nachgelegt und beweisen auf "All Of Your Light" ihre Entwicklungsfähigkeit. "Tomorrow" ist neben "Red Red Star" ein vierversprechender Tanzflächenaspirant.

Kein Wunder, das die Band direkt von Unheilig für deren Abschlusskonzert gemeinsam mit VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk und Diary of Dreams in Düsseldorfs Phillipshalle gebucht wurde. Der Bandname der zum Quartett angewachsenen Gruppe findet in den traumhaft produzierten Klangschlösser seine buchstäbliche Entsprechung.

Elektronische Darkwaveperlen oszillieren zwischen Gothicfeeling und Synthpop und findet mit der elegisch, tragenden Stimme von Angelica einen perfekten Konterpart. Das Artwork aus der Feder des Klangbastlers Johan rundet virtuos die stilbildende Kreation der Skandinavier ab. Ein wundervolles Geschenk für kalte Winterabende an alle synthetischen Träumer. "All Of Your Light" erscheint am 18. Februar 2011 bei Danse Macabre.

This message was posted on RUDRA MySpace page:

"Salutations,

The release date for the final chapter to the Brahmavidya trilogy entitled 'Brahmavidya: Immortal I' will be announced within a week. Here a preview of the Song titles:

Now, Therefore……
Illusory Enlightenment
Ravenous Theories of Deception
Vultures of Slavery
Incredulous Void
Sinister Devotion
Harrowing Carrions of Syllogism
Embryonic Theologies
Supposed Sages of Sensuality
Hymns of the Immortal Self
Advaita Samrajya".

"RUDRA shall be going independent.

It has become almost impossible for any medium or big record labels to have us on their roster. CD sales are dipping and illegal downloads are rising. It is the smaller bands like us who suffer the blow. And the record labels too. So the only logical step for us to move forward is to go independent".

"Wintersun" the first video taken from LE SCRAWL's newest release "Snowblind" (Obscene Productions) is online now!

LE SCRAWL was formed in 1990 by Peter and Mario in Potsdam, Germany.

In the beginning mainly influenced by Grindcore and Deathmetal, first of all by bands like EXTREME NOISE TERROR, TERRORISER, and NAPALM DEATH, we gradually tried to introduce various styles of music. At the time Felix and Michael joined the band we started to blend Grindcore with Ska, Swing, Jazz...

Die Arbeiten am neuen und zweiten VOODOO CIRCLE Album sind so gut wie abgeschlossen, PRIMAL FEAR Bassist Mat Sinner sagt jetzt: "Das neue VOODOO CIRCLE Album wird "Broken Heart Syndrom" heißen und wurde von Dennis Ward gemischt, gemastert und der Plattenfirma übergeben." In den Handel soll das neue Album "Broken Heart Syndrom" am 25. Februar 2011 via AFM Records kommen.

PRIMAL FEAR Gitarrist und Voodoo Circle Gründer Alex Beyrodt sagte: "das Album ist ein großer Schritt vorwärts und zeigt die grenzenlosen musikalischen Möglichkeiten der Band. Mehr Infos sollen in Kürze veröffentlicht werden. Jetzt wurde das "Broken Heart Syndrom" Artwork und die Track List enthüllt.

Ungarns erfolgreichste Folk Metal Band, DALRIADA, hat vor Kurzem einen Vertrag mit AFM Records unterschrieben. Bereits am 18. Februar in Ungarn schon am 11. Februar 2011 erfolgt die erste Veröffentlichung dieser neuen Kooperation in Form des neuen Albums "Ígéret". In ihrer Heimat sind DALRIADA bereits Stars und belegen vorderste Plätze der Album-Charts. Nach dem Cover Artwork wurde jetzt auch die "Ígéret" Track List enthüllt!

"The King I Was", the brand new video from THE NEW BLACK — the German band featuring members of SINNER, RUNAMOK, ABANDONED and MCF — can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "II: Better In Black", which will be released on January 21 in Europe via AFM Records.

"II: Better In Black" track listing:

01. Better In Black
02. The King I Was
03. Batteries & Rust
04. Downgrade
05. Into Modesty
06. Altar Boys
07. Happy Zombies
08. My Favorite Disease
09. Fading Me Out
10. When It All Ends
11. Last Chance To Throw Dirt
12. Sun Cries Moon

Die Kinder Bodoms lassen wieder von sich hören! Derzeit arbeiten die Jungs aus Finnland zusammen mit Produzent Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MONSTER MAGNET) am neuen und siebten Studioalbum. Das neue Album wird "Relentless Reckless Forever" heißen und am 8. März 2011 via Spinefarm/Universal in den Handel kommen. Jetzt wurde auch die CD+DVD Limited Digipak Track List enthüllt!

"Relentless Reckless Forever" CD+DVD Limited Digipak Track List:

CD:
01 Not My Funeral
02 Shovel Knockout
03 Roundtrip To Hell And Back
04 Pussyfoot Miss Suicide
05 Relentless Reckless Forever
06 Cry Of The Nihilist
07 Ugly
08 Was It Worth It?
09 Northpole Throwdown
Bonus Track: Party All The Time (Eddie Murphy Cover)

The CD booklet includes lyrics to tracks 01-08.

DVD:
01 "Was It Worth It?" Music Video
02 Making of "Was It Worth It?"
03 "Angels Don't Kill" - Live at Bloodstock
04 "Everytime I Die" - Live at Bloodstock
05 The Rockhouse Method with Alexi Laiho - DVD trailer
06 The Rockhouse Method with Alexi Laiho - instructional DVD excerpt

"Was It Worth It?" Single Track List:
01 Was It Worth It?
02 Angels Don't Kill (live)
03 Everytime I Die (live)
04 Was It Worth It? music video

The cover artwork for "Omnivium", the new album from the progressive death metal act OBSCURA, can be viewed below. The artwork was designed and laid out by Orion Landau (ORIGIN, DYING FETUS, ZEKE, DISFEAR).

The follow-up to "Cosmogenesis", "Omnivium" will be released in North America on March 29 on CD, double LP, and digitally via Relapse. Two versions of the "Omnivium" CD are available for pre-order now — the standard and limited deluxe version that comes in a digipak with exclusive bonus track, embroidered OBSCURA patch, guitar pick, and an "Omnivium" album cover sticker.

"Omnivium" track listing:

01. Septuagint
02. Vortex Omnivium
03. Ocean Gateways
04. Euclidean Elements
05. Prismal Dawn
06. Celestial Spheres
07. Velocity
08. A Transcendental Serenade
09. Aevum

"Omnivium" was recorded at Woodshed Studio in southern Germany with engineer V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS). The album is based on Friedrich Schelling's "On Nature's Connection to the Spirit World".

Commented drummer Hannes Grossman: "The recording process was intense and time-consuming, but it brought us many steps forward as musicians both individually and collectively.

"The songs are still catchy, but there are more epic parts involved, as well as faster and more melodic songs. The extremes of the band's sound extend on all sides, so to say. Expect some things which have never been done before like this in death metal!"

According to the Chicago Tribune, renowned tattoo artist Jef Whitehead — also known as Wrest of the Californian black metal band LEVIATHAN — was charged with criminal sexual assault and aggravated domestic battery Sunday and held on $350,000 bond after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in Chicago, Illinois.

"I've never known him to be violent to anyone — male or female," Freddy Corbin — owner of Temple Tattoo in Oakland, California, where Whitehead has worked for three years — said of Jef, whom he has known for more than 20 years.

For the last three or four months, Whitehead has been traveling throughout the United States and parts of Europe on a tattooing tour, Corbin told the Chicago Tribune. Most recently, Whitehead has been in Chicago and given tattoos as a guest artist at Taylor Street Tattoo & Body Piercing, said Keith Underwood, the studio's owner.

The first in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the new SEPULTURA album can be viewed below.

SEPULTURA has tapped Roy Z. (JUDAS PRIEST, HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, HELLOWEEN) to produce the group's new CD, tentatively due in May via Nuclear Blast Records. The album will once again be recorded at Trama Studios in São Paulo, Brazil.

SEPULTURA debuted a brand new song from its upcoming album during its October 17, 2010 appearance at the Fúria Festival at HSBC Brasil in São Paulo.

SEPULTURA performed its classic 1991 album, "Arise", in its entirety during the group's headlining performance at the 16-year anniversary of the Manifesto Bar in São Paulo, Brazil on December 11, 2010.

SEPULTURA will return to North America for a massive headlining tour next April/May in support of their upcoming Nuclear Blast Records debut. Joining them will be a veritable united nations on metal in the form of Austria's BELPHEGOR, Norway's KEEP OF KALESSIN, Poland's HATE, Canada's NEURAXIS, and California's BONDED BY BLOOD. Starting May 23, Seattle's own NEVERMORE will replace BELPHEGOR to finish out the tour.

Resurrected German death metallers MORGOTH have issued the following update:

"We are happy to announce Marc Reign [ex-DESTRUCTION] as the one who will be handling the drum duties during our shows for the 20th anniversary of the release of the 'Cursed' album.

"During the rehearsals, we felt very quickly that Marc would fit perfectly to us as his punch and timing are incredible! Welcome aboard!"

Added Marc Reign: "In 1990 when I was a teenage kid into death metal, I went to a MORGOTH show (with DEMOLITION HAMMER and OBITUARY) at Berlin's Ecstasy and was amazed by the fact that the German death metal formation MORGOTH could compete with the American-scene bands. When, 20 years later, Mille of KREATOR introduced me to those guys, it was totally clear to me what I wanted to do: going back to my death metal roots and jam the hell out!

"The rehearsals turned out awesome, so we've decided to work together! The power was right there… and a dream came true!"

MORGOTH 2011 is:

Marc Grewe - Vocals
Harry Busse - Guitar
Sebastian Swart - Guitar
Thilo Mellies - Bass
Marc Reign - Drums

The setlist will primarily consist of songs from "Cursed" but will also include cuts from the classic EPs "Resurrection Absurd" (1989) and "The Eternal Fall".

Upcoming MORGOTH shows:

Jun. 10-12 - Gelsenkirchen (Germany) - Rock Hard Festival
Jun. 23.-25 - Hünxe (Germany) - Death Feast Open Air
Aug. 04-06 - Wacken (Germany) - Wacken Open Air
Aug. 11-13 - Schlotheim (Germany) - Party.San Open Air

Swedish death metallers INSISION will release their new EP, "End Of All", later in the year via the U.S. label Sevared Records. The CD was recorded at Off Beat Studio in Stockholm with engineer Anders Erikssonand features the following track listing:

"End Of All" track listing:

01. Expire
02. Curvature
03. Descend
04. Beckoning
05. Ex Oblivione

The song "Beckoning" is available for streaming below.

INSISION said in a statement, "It has been brutal and fun working with this new material and we're all excited about the release. We felt a need to get it out there while writing our next full-length album, mainly for the fans supporting us down the years as it has been just too fucking long since our last release. But now finally, we're here. This time it's going to be a five-track release, giving you four completely new killer tracks, the fifth bonus track being a remake of a song from our early days. It's just a brutal beating, a package delivering brutal and aggressive death metal, the INSISION way, of course!! This one will break your necks for sure!!"

Commented Sevared Records in a statement: "Sevared Records is very honored to sign the mighty INSISION!! I personally have been a huge fan of this incredible band since the first mini-CD. I'm extremely excited to release the new mini-CD and the following full-length CD, I know these brutal death metal veterans will crush every fan of brutal death metal skulls in!! And finally get the recognition of brutality they deserve!!"

INSISION recently parted ways with guitarist Magnus Martinsson due to his "involvement and focus on other bands and projects" and recruited death metal/jazz-influenced axeman Tobias Alpadie as a session member.

INSISION's third album, "Ikon", was released in Europe on September 26, 2007 via Dental Records.

Bassist Daniel Ekeroth left INSISION in May 2009 and was replaced by Joel Andersson, who previously played with IMMERSED IN BLOOD.

INSISION is:

Carl Birath - Vocals
Roger Johansson - Guitar
Tobias Alpadie - Session Guitar
Joel Andersson - Bass
Marcus Jonsson - Drums

Bill Werde of Billboard.com recently conducted an interview with AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Billboard.com: Kid Rock recently questioned why you were doing "American Idol". What do you say to that?

Tyler: Kid Rock was there when we went to the White House [on Dec. 5 to perform during the Paul McCartney tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors]. I looked at him and said, "You know what, man, I'm not going to argue with you. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong." [Laughs] Look, we're all an outcome of what we've been, and he's certainly lived a rough life. He's got a single coming out and he's like a pregnant animal. When you have an album, you want to protect it. You want to do whatever you can to make it happen. I just know that deep down inside, his comments don't mean shit. It just doesn't mean anything in the great scheme of things. It's television. I've never done this and it's going to be fun, and if he thinks for a minute that it's going to take my career down... I want what he's smoking.

Billboard.com: How does the scrutiny of being on "American Idol" compare with the scrutiny of being in AEROSMITH?

Tyler: Well, the show isn't on yet. Once it is, I'll be under that microscope. But I'm so used to being under the microscope, whether it's falling off a stage — I'm not sure if the public really wants to know that I had surgery on both feet — or that, yes, I'm a drug addict and alcoholic from the '70s with a problem... You have the band finding another lead singer, and all that goes with that. But the scrutiny? Bring it on! I live for it. I went from being told in rehab by my therapist, "Your best thinking got you here," to being in the White House and being told by the president, "What are you doing here?" [Laughs] It was fabulous. I'm so busy doing so many million things, so many irons in the fire that people don't know what to think. I don't need to be validated by someone's opinions or show. This will last for three years if I stay with it, or four months if I just do this year. But I'm in AEROSMITH forever.

Am 25.2. erscheint mit "Sterneneisen" das lang erwartete neue Album von IN EXTREMO. Aus diesem Anlass und als nachträgliches Dankeschön an alle Fans, wir ab dem 18. Januar auf der Band Homepage der kostenlosen Download des Klassikersongs "Spielmann" online gestellt, der beim letztjährigen "Wahre Jahre"-Jubiläumsfestival zum 15jährigen Bandbestehen mitgeschnitten wurde! Als besonderer Gast ist auf dieser Aufnahme Götz Alsmann zu hören, der es sich nicht nehmen ließ, IN EXTREMO bei diesem speziellen Konzert musikalisch zu gratulieren.

Nach Abschluss der Studioaufnahmen wurden jetzt das fertige Album-Artwork und die Track enthüllen. Das Lied "Zigeunerskat" erscheint am 18.2. als erste Singleauskopplung des Albums mit dem unveröffentlichten Titel "Wahre Freunde" als B-Seite. Als besonderes Bonbon liegen der Single exklusiv 7 Spielkarten von IN EXTREMO bei.

Insgesamt zwölf Lieder wurden für "Sterneneisen" komponiert und eingespielt:

01. Zigeunerskat
02. Gold
03. Viva La Vida
04. Siehst du das Licht
05. Stalker
06. Hol die Sterne
07. Sterneneisen
08. Zauberspruch No. VII
09. Auge um Auge
10. Schau zum Mond
11. Unsichtbar
12. Vermiss Dich

"Sterneneisen" wird in mehreren Formaten erscheinen:

- Standard-CD
- limitierte Special Edition (CD + DVD*)
- limitierte Deluxe Edition (2 CD & DVD* incl. Gürtelschnalle, Sprühschablone, Flagge, Button, Aufkleber)
- limitierte Vinyledition inkl. Download-Codes

*Die DVD enthält einen Mitschnitt des letztjährigen "Wahre Jahre"-Jubiläums-Konzerts.

WOLFCHANT haben die Aufnahmen an Ihrem neuen Album, welches den Titel "Call of the Black Winds" trägt beendet. Im November wurde das Album in den Klangschmiede E Studios von Markus Stock (Empyrium, The Vision Bleak, Eisregen, Eluveitie, usw.) aufgenommen. In den Handel kommt das neue Album am 25. März 2011 über das Deutsche Label Massacre Records. Veröffentlicht wird auch eine Limited Edition mit einer Bonus DVD die ein komplettes Konzert enthält. Jetzt wurde auf MySpace der neue Song "Eremit" zum probehören online gestellt.