ORPHANED LAND's December 9 and December 10 concerts at Reading 3 in Tel Aviv, Israel were professionally filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD release. The Israeli progressive folk metal masters were joined at both shows by Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE. Also appearing on December 9 was PARADISE LOST guitarist Greg Mackintosh; famous Israeli singer Yehuda Poliker performed with ORPHANED LAND on December 10. Poliker reportedly inspired the band to choose the name ORPHANED LAND from the lyrics of one of his songs.

Dutch death metallers SINISTER have issued the following update:

"We have just our new record out but in the next year we will come with more new stuff. [Poland's] Metal Mind [Productions] will bring out the SINISTER box 'Altered Sins Birth' including nine CDs, the live DVD 'Prophecies Denied' and a full-color book with the history of the band and many many pictures. All this is made by the mighty Graal from Poland. The box will come out on February 14 in Poland, in the U.K. it will be released on February 21 and in the USA it will be out in April."

STRATOVARIUS' German drummer Jörg Michael, who was was recently diagnosed with cancer and had his entire thyroid removed, has issued the following update:

"I hope this message finds everybody well and everybody is in an easy-peasy Christmas mood already.

"The first leg of the European tour with HELLOWEEN is over — time to have a few words with you.

"First of all, let's not forget the brilliant emergency rescue action and playing of Alex [Landenburg; AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA]. Thanks again for all what you did for the fans, the band and also for me.

"Surely I hate the idea of somebody is sitting on 'my chair,' but this special action needed some special treatment and I am proud and happy that it was you, Alex. Thanks again; we'll get together for a real drink, not like these other Scandinavian pussies in the band :-)

"I was overwhelmed by all the wishes, tons of emails and text messages I received from all over the world wishing me a speedy recovery. Thank you so much for supporting me, and it made me feel very strong when fighting these bastards inside of me.

"I have some good news to tell you and believe me — I really enjoy to tell the world:

"The surgery was done about six weeks ago and the first therapy is done as well. All looks good so far and as Jens [Johansson, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist] told me before: 'Do not worry, Jörg, nothing survives in your body after all what you did to it!'

"Finally he was right, there are only small bits and bobs left — I will fight those with another therapy in about four months' time.

"I think I have been very lucky that it was discovered by one of my friends in a very early state. Very good that my friend decided to become a doctor; he was very lousy when he tried playing the guitar.

"Besides preparing myself for Christmas, I am currently practicing the drums to be ready and kickin' again when the tour continues in the New Year. I will be back.

"Thanks again for everything and let's get alive and kicking once again.

"See you in Paris and everywhere else."

Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA), who just completed a European tour as the stand-in drummer for STRATOVARIUS after the band's regular drummer, Jörg Michael, was diagnosed with cancer and had his entire thyroid removed, has issued the following update:

"I'd like to take the opportunity to say thanks to Jörg for asking me to step in and to the wonderful STRATOVARIUS fans for accepting me with open arms in this difficult situation.

"Despite these sad circumstances that led to me doing this tour, I had a lot of fun still.

"It was a weird situation....sometimes I almost felt a bit guilty for having such a great time. However, from meeting Jörg right before the tour and seeing that he was doing considerably good already, I knew that he'd back soon and that made things easier right away.

"My most heartfelt thank you goes out to Timo, Jens, Mati and last but definitely not least my clone brother Lauri... my bandmates of five weeks!

"I had such a great time with you, guys... I'm happy things went as good as they did and I'm glad to call each of you a friend.

"It's not about touring... it's about having fun — while you're touring!

"Finally I wanna thank the 'rest' of the whole tour party....crew, drivers and last but not least the HELLOWEEN guys. What a bunch of cool and down-to-earth people!"

German gothic metallers EVEREVE have issued the following update:

"Usually the end of the year is the time for presents. Since you have showed us your tireless support throughout thick and thin, we have decided to bring along a present for you just in time for Christmas 2010! Here on our website you’ll find three brand new songs for download as well as two unreleased remixes – all for FREE!

Our three new songs 'Revelation (Inferno)', 'Reborn (Purgatorio)' and 'Regret (Paradiso)' are like a small concept album in unison lyrically and musically. The writing took place at Mellsonic Studios in Steinen, Germany where we recorded the songs together with studio owner and sound engineer Mario Melle. We are quite pleased with the outcome which was completely produced by drummer Martin C.

The two remixes are really something special. They’re from back when we recorded Stormbirds in 1998 and were produced by Jens Beese at Impuls Studios Hamburg, Germany. These are pure Techno – Remixes, where the original songs ('On Lucid Wings' and 'Fields Of Ashes') are completely dressed up in a new ingenious way. It takes some balls to be open minded enough for this kind of thing, but we are not too worried since we’ve known you as people with a rather broad horizon and open minded for innovative ideas.

So hopefully you’ll enjoy our work, both old and new as well as this Evereve sign of life surprise. We thank you for your support and wish all of you E - Maniacs a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!"

BLOOD MORTIZED, the Swedish death metal band featuring former AMON AMARTH guitarist Anders Hansson (who played on AMON AMARTH's first two albums, 1996's "Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds" and 1998's "Once Sent From The Golden Hall") and CRYPT OF KERBEROS drummer Mattias Borgh, recently completed work on a new three-song EP, entitled "Bestial".

Commented the group: "We have signed a contract for a cassette release of the all new 'Bestial' EP. It will feauture a arse-kicking cover created for us by Daniel Devilish. The tape will be released in a strict 100 copies only, so be fast or cry like a baby later! We are talking to some labels and especially one; can't say which one. But hopefully this will lead to a CD release of the new EP AND a bit later it might get released on vinyl also. The cover for the CD version was created by our favorite Dutch artist Thomas Kynst [see below]."

BLOOD MORTIZED adds: "All material for our upcoming second album has been written. The plan is to start the recording in a quite near future. The title for this sophomore album is 'The Key To A Black Heart'."

The band earlier in the year parted ways with guitarist Benny Moberg "due to personal matters."

BLOOD MORTIZED's self-titled debut album was released in April 2009 through Singapore's Vrykoblast Productions.

SeaOfTranquility.org recently caught up with ANATHEMA's Vincent Cavanagh. An excerpt from the interview is available below.

SoT: One of the best aspects about the band is that every Anathema album truly has a different style. You guys never repeat yourselves.

Vincent: "Yeah, we try (laughs)."

SoT: So the first couple albums you guys did were quite different from where you are now. They were more doom metal and death metal oriented, and then with Eternity, you moved away from that.

Vincent: "Well, even when we were writing the first album, we were listening to music that wasn't metal. Sure, we liked some of that kind of stuff, but it wasn't just that. The purest things on those first albums were things like 'Crestfallen', 'They (Will Always) Die', and 'The Silent Enigma'. And certain passages here and there where we realized that we had a talent for stringing together harmonies, like guitar harmonies, specifically, which sounded more like a classical string quartet than your typical guitar harmony at that time. They were all moving at different times. A lot of the harmonies, if you played them separately, they were unrelated to each other, but when you brought them together, they sounded like they were made to fit together. We felt that that kind of stuff was the honest side of us. As for the heavy stuff, I mean, we were sixteen years old and into that kind of thing. At the same time, I remember going on our first tour and speaking to CANNIBAL CORPSE about THE BEATLES, PINK FLOYD, and LED ZEPPELIN."

SoT: Oh, really?

Vincent: "Yeah, all those kind of bands. That's what we were really into then, but at sixteen, you kind of go into the most extreme things you can. Also, that's back when our original singer, Darren [White], was there and, by his own admission, is a different kind of singer. He does that growl stuff. It was quite evident that with the first album, we'd done that kind of stuff, and by the time we had to record the second, you know, he came to do his vocals but we knew we'd already moved on. He was still doing those same kinds of vocals and we said 'We're sorry but we need to try something different.'"

French atmospheric doom metallers IXION have inked a deal with Avantgarde Music for the release of their new album, "To The Void". Due on February 28, 2011, the CD features 10 tracks with a running time of 56 minutes.

"To The Void" track listing:

01. Beyond The Skies
02. The Plague
03. Leaving
04. New Heaven
05. Fear Of The Hidden
06. Rebellion
07. Falling To Apathy
08. Funereal Dance
09. Soothing In Agony
10. Fade To Blue

The song "Beyond The Skies" is available for streaming on the IXON web site along with a medley of tracks that appear on the CD.

Commented the band: "We are very happy about this partnership and to be part of the new era of this well-known label."

Added the label: "In a (current) time when 'doom metal' went all directions outwards (sludge, drone, funeral, stoner, gothic whatever reggae-doom !) from what it once was in the mid-'90s or even a bit earlier than that, we liked IXION's simple yet complex in the same time formula. A formula based on the essential numbers: atmosphere, mood, good musical melodies.

"On their debut album, 'To The Void', IXION will never be that extreme as russian funeral doom undertakers are, and we guarantee they will never be cheesy as female fronted gothic metal bands are and probably not as trendy as today's all presumed sludgy/stony U.S. doom rooted bands are (a.k.a. the post-Southern Lord epidemy). In fact, they essentially are a mid-tempo-paced doom metal band with an Albion '90s imprinting, for all those like us who didn't forget early ANATHEMA and MY DYING BRIDE, with some more actual referrals in the like of Finnish atmoshepric doom metal bands (SHAPE OF DESPAIR, SWALLOW THE SUN, etc.) even though the role of keyboards is quite higher in IXION, taking their sound to maybe a wider, though softer at times, level."

Northern California hardcore band LIONHEART will release its new album, "Built On Struggle", on January 18, 2011 via Mediaskare Records. The CD features guest appearances by Brandan Schippati (BLEEDING THROUGH), Karl Buechner (EARTH CRISIS), Dave Nassie (BLEEDING THROUGH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES), Lord Ezec (SKARHEAD) and Bruce LaPage (100 DEMONS).

"Built On Struggle" track listing:

01. Relentless
02. Pure Anger
03. Brothers Keeper
04. Built On Struggle
05. Betrayed
06. What I've Become
07. Through Hell And Back
08. The Hand That Feeds
09. Reprisal
10. Don't Speak My Name
11. The Bend Before The Break
12. Nowhere
13. The Only Life I Know

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based death metallers MASTICATOR, who feature in their ranks former WYKKED WYTCH guitarist Matthew Florio on bass, have parted ways with drummer Dan Simpson and guitarist Matt Blum and have added drummer Mike Pena from the South Florida black/thrash metal band NUCLEAR INFANTRY.

MASTICATOR is also planning to release a full-length album by mid-2011.

The band's current lineup is as follows:

Mike Dickson - Guitar/Vocals
Mike Pena - Drums
Matthew Florio - Bass

Southern California's heavy fuzz rock legends FU MANCHU will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their major label debut, "In Search Of…" The hardworking group will be undertaking a headlining tour with a set comprised of the entire album from start to finish. Many of these songs will be performed live for the first time ever.

On March 1, FU MANCHU will make "In Search Of…" available as a 180-gram vinyl reissue on the band's own At The Dojo Records worldwide. The band will also be selling the reissue at these shows as well as on CD. On March 2, FU MANCHU will launch its European trek in the U.K. A full listing of the 26-city, 13-country, four-week tour can be seen on the poster below.

Recorded at Grandmaster Studios in Hollywood, California by the band and Brian Jenkins (KYUSS, SCREAMING TREES) and mastered by Eddy Schreyer (SLAYER, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, BAD RELIGION, ALICE IN CHAINS), "In Search Of…" was the band's first effort for Mammoth Records. This 12-track collection is considered a classic of the '90s and a pillar for the "stoner rock" movement. Highlights include the lead single "Asphalt Risin'", "Redline" and fan favorite "Cyclone Launch".

Originally formed in 1985 as a BLACK FLAG-influenced hardcore punk band called VIRULENCE, FU MANCHU has since become one of hard rock's most celebrated names. The band released its first single, "Kept Between Trees", in 1990 and in the years following, helped give rise to a celebrated style of heavy music tagged "stoner rock" alongside peers such as KYUSS, MONSTER MAGNET and SLEEP. Since its inception, the quartet has built itself a fanatical army of loyal enthusiasts all drawn to the group's ridiculously catchy, unpretentious music, guitar-driven sound and carefree lyrics centered on "old muscle cars, choppers, vans, skateboarding and science fiction."

"I can't believe that it has been 15 years since we recorded 'In Search Of...'," states FU MANCHU vocalist/guitarist Scott Hill. "We are stoked to be playing these tunes for the fans and will be doing a few of them for the first time ever and maybe the last."

The band intends to replicate the classic album experience in upcoming tours with subsequent albums and their companion vinyl reissues. FU MANCHU will also tour the U.S. for "In Search Of…15 Years" later in 2011. Details are expected to be announced in the near future.

In addition to Hill, FU MANCHU features guitarist Bob Balch, bassist Brad Davis and drummer Scott Reeder.

Wisconsin death metallers JUNGLE ROT have recruited 21-year-old Newark, Delaware native Jesse Beahler (HER VIRGIN WOMB, NIGHTFIRE) as their new drummer.

JUNGLE ROT parted ways with drummer Eric House in July after House "found himself in a personal crisis that demanded his utmost attention.

JUNGLE ROT recently completed a North American tour with Metal Blade recording artists LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH and WOE OF TYRANTS.

"Worst Case Scenario", the latest video from JUNGLE ROT, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Jason Meudt and Emmet Austin of Vision 4 Films and it features crushing old-school death metal, leaving nothing but a blood-soaked battlefield in its wake.

"Worst Case Scenario" comes off JUNGLE ROT's most recent album, "What Horrors Await", which was released in June 2009 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Studio One in Racine, Wisconsin with longtime engineer Chris Djuricic. Artwork for the release was handled by Gyula Havancsák (DESTRUCTION, ANNIHILATOR, GRAVE DIGGER).

Three-quarters of NIRVANA's "In Utero" touring lineup — Krist Novoselic (bass), Dave Grohl (guitar, vocals) and Pat Smear (guitar) — reunited on stage for the fist time since 1997 during last night's (Tuesday, December 21) "secret" concert by Grohl's post-NIRVANA band FOO FIGHTERS at Paladino's in Tarzana, California. The trio performed the song "Marigold", which was written and composed by Grohl and was first released on "Pocketwatch", an album Grohl issued under the pseudonym LATE! in 1992.

Nightmare Records are offering up a gift to fans via a free download of their Merry Metal Christmas compilation featuring 25 tracks and over two hours of music. Says label head Lance King: "Enjoy the holidays with some beautiful and yet seriously rockin' tunes. Not all of these were written as Christmas songs, but they all fit the feel and and intent of the album."

Merry Metal Christmas tracklist:
'Bethlehem' (5:51) - THEOCRACY - Mirror Of Souls
'A Chosen Truth' (7:19) - EGEND - A New Identity
'Kings will Come' (4:02) - NARNIA - Course Of A Generation
'Forsaken' (6:54) - FUTURES END - Memoirs Of A Broken Man
'Sea of Tranquility' (2:40) - HEART OF SUN - Heart Of Sun
'One Silent Moment' (4:32) - CLOUDSCAPE - Global Drama
'Wicked Land of Winter' (5:11) - SACRED DAWN - Christmas Single
'Tears Of Pain' (4:14) - KEITH MILLER - Over The Abyss
'Silently We Fade' (4:41) - HARMONY - Chapter II: Aftermath
'Fall from Grace' (1:11) - AVIAN - Ashes And Madness
'Spiritual Path' (5:47) - SCELERATA - Skeletons Domination
'Believe' (6:00) - GLASS SPIRES - Glass Spires
'The Harem' (remastered) (3:35) - GEMINI - Gemini
'In My Dreams' (6:09) - DARKWATER - Calling The Earth To Witness
'Ancient Song' (5:39) - DIMENSION - EGO
'The Chronicles of Jacob Marley' (8:28) -ORDER OF NINE - Christmas Single
'Orchestration For More Than One Horn' (0:36) - EVIL MASQUERADE - Third Act
'FireoftheAncients' (5:27) - DEFYANCE - Transitional Forms
'You Give Me Love' (5:49) - GRIMMSTINE - Grimmstine
'The Calm' (5:59) - PERSPECTIVE X IV - Shadow Of Doubt
'Coming Home' (remastered) (6:28) - GEMINI - Gemini
'Shadow Of A Lucent Moon' (7:22) - ANDROMEDA - The Immunity Zone
'Heaven’s Gate' (5:20) - SIX MINUTE CENTURY - Time Capsules
'From Now On' (4:25) - SHINING STAR - Enter Eternity
'Guitar Concierto' (3:19) - SIX MINUTE CENTURY - Time Capsules
'All I Want For Christmas' - THEOCRACY

Click here to download.

Gary Hughes und die anderen TEN Jungs haben die arbeiten an Ihrem neuen Album "Stormwarning" beendet. Gemischt wurde das neue Album von Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Sunstorm, Place Vendome) und das Cover Artwork wurde erneut vom spanischen Künstler Luis Royo erstellt. In den Handel kommt das neue Album "Stormwarning" am 18. Februar 2011 via Frontiers Records.

"Stormwarning" Track List:

01. Endless Symphony
02. Centre Of My Universe
03. Kingdom Come
04. Book Of Secrets
05. Stormwarning
06. Invisible
07. Love Song
08. The Hourglass And The Landslide
09. Destiny
10. The Wave

The new album is finished and in mastering process
Ladies, gents and all other kinds of Santa Claus expectators,
a pretty fucked up 2010 ends with a big and conciliating piece of news:

The new album is finished and in mastering process.
Happy Christmas that means.

Some information upfront:
- 8 tracks, around 52 minutes duration
- recorded and mixed by Martin himself @ Aurora Musiklabor, Porta Westfalica, Germany
- mastering currently done by one of the most renowned mastering engineers around, Maor Appelbaum (f.e. Therion, Cathedral, Madder Mortem, Halford, Yngwie Malmsteen, Cynic, Lita Ford and tons more)
- guests on the album have been Lykrates Vyron aka Cypher D. Rex on drums and Hedrykk F. Gausenatt on guitars (both Eïs/Geïst and Lost World Order)
- label and release date to be announced

Early next year we'll start editing some studio report videos giving insight into the recording process, the background of single songs, Martin will talk about the reasons for delaying the album for about seven years, plus plus plus...

So, folks... thanks for believing in ENID the whole time. The day of judgement is near, and you'll be spared from our wrath.

Yours,
Florian on behalf of ENID

Austrian symphonic metallers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS will release their fourth album, "Delta", on February 25, 2011 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded Dreamscape Studios in Munich, Germany and marks the debut of the band's new singer, Maxi Nil, who joined the group last year.

"Delta" track listing:

01. Black River Delta
02. Memento
03. New Dawn
04. Where Daylight Fails
05. Conquest Of Others
06. Twist Of Fate
07. Elegy Of Existence
08. Reflection
09. Sonar
10. Gravitate Towards Fatality

Italian gothic metal band THEATRES DES VAMPIRES will release its new album, "Moonlight Waltz", on January 14, 2011 via Aural Music/Soulfood. According to a press release, the CD contains "13 tracks of pure vampirism, romantic lyrics, lyrical voices, strong orchestration, powerfull guitars and powerfull drumming. All the elements that you loved in THEATRES DES VAMPIRES are back in this new production. [The album features] a new modern sound and a super-modern production that took six months of work in the studio for recording and mixing it, offering you the best experience of vampirism as always, with the enchanting vocals of the mistress of your nightmare: Countess Sonya Scarlet."

"Moonlight Waltz" track listing:

01. Keeper Of Secrets
02. Carmilla
03. Moonlight Waltz
04. Fly Away
05. Sangue
06. Figlio Della Luna (MECANO cover)
07. An Illusion
08. Black Madonna
09. Le Theatre Du Grand Guignol
10. Obsession
11. The Secret Gates Of Hades
12. Medousa

GUNS N' ROSES mainman Axl Rose has issued the following year-end update:

"Happy holidays.

I'd like to thank all our fans for coming out to the shows over the last year all over the world!! Was great to see you n' to be able to perform for you!!

I'd like to thank our fans on the web, the fan sites, n' all our fans on Twitter, Facebook n' Myspace.

I'd like to thank the band, their families, THE SEBASTIAN BACH BAND, DANKO JONES, MURDER DOLLS, KORN, IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC, JULIANNA DOWN, GUM X, MUCC, their crews, the TPB's, Duff, our crew, production, staging, lights, sound, pyro, video, management, our business n' legal team, my family n' friends, the promoter's, agents, catering, security, the shot girlz, drivers, our travel agents n' the staffs at our hotels, trucking, airlines, flight crews, airport security, bus n' transportation companies, everyone who chose to say or write a nice word about us, the venues n' their staffs n' security, the countries, cities n' Customs all over the world, club owners, their staffs, club promoters, sponsors n' all of our friends around the globe who helped make things happen!!

I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas n' Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah n' a great Holiday Season to everyone!!

And from everyone with Guns N' Roses:

All the best to you n' your's!!

Peace n' Love."

HELLOWEEN have issued the following update:

"Thanks, Europe: the first part of the world tour was simply sensational.

After the amazing kick-off in Vienna, gigs in London (UK), Eindhoven (NL) and Oslo (NO), sold out shows in Zlin (CZ), Tallinn (EST), Tampere (FIN) and Helsinki (FIN), the expectations were even exceeded by the 2010 tour finale in Prague.

Last Sunday, more than 4,500 Czech fans partied without mercy and went sheer berserk in front of the stage!

Prague definitely is Metal - let's see if this can be topped in 2011... At any rate, overjoyed Helloween are going on their short break, just to challenge the French sinners on January 11th at the sold out Elysee Montmartre in Paris. Part 2 of the European tour can begin!

You can find a personal holiday salute from Weiki, Andi, Dani, Sascha and Markus below.

Party hard and get ready for a pretty sinful 2011!"

Brazilian prog power metal band ALMAH, featuring ANGRA's singer Edu Falaschi, have issued the following message:

"Our dear fans and partners, our dear FRIENDS!!!

Right now, when 2010 year is going to its end we would like to thank you so much for all your support and all your interest over this year and always!

Thanks for believing in us! We are very happy sharing our music, our energy and our feelings with you.

Next year you'll hear many important news from Almah. Stay with us and let's rock!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

British progressive metal act BEECHER have reformed almost five years after splitting up, with plans to play live shows in 2011.

The band has issued the following statement: "Summer 2011 sees the 10-year anniversary of the start of BEECHER. We disbanded suddenly, during our most active period, playing just one 'goodbye' gig, at which more than 100 fans of the band were rejected at the doors of the already over-capacity venue. Having had five years of reflection time, and considering the aforementioned fact that our tenth birthday is fast approaching, we have decided to reform, playing a handful of shows over the course of 2011 — the first of which will take place on April 29th at the Star & Garter, in our hometown of Manchester. The rest are as-of-yet unconfirmed.

"Not only are we excited to do this for ourselves, but we're also keen that any BEECHER fans that didn't manage to see us at the time, get the opportunity to witness what we do best!"

Formed in Manchester, England in 2001, BEECHER released two full-length albums during its career — 2003's "Breaking The Fourth Wall" and 2005's "This Elegy, His Autopsy" — garnering widespread critical acclaim. The band also toured the Europe with the likes of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, NORMA JEAN, DARKEST HOUR, ISIS, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and more, building up a loyal fanbase in the process. The band announced its split in early 2006, shortly after the release of "This Elegy, His Autopsy".

BEECHER's first reunion concert will take place at The Star & Garter in the band's hometown of Manchester — the very same place in which the band played its last show before splitting up in February, 2006.