Cleopatra Records has set a December 9 release date for the deluxe edition of LYNCH MOB's "REvolution Live!". This monstrous audio-video spectacular features legendary axeman George Lynch and his band performing killer, supercharged renditions of classic DOKKEN/LYNCH MOB tracks, professionally filmed and recorded live in March 2003 during the blockbuster REvolution Tour and mixed in awesome 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD features 15 tracks and the CD contains 14 tracks, including a bonus track.

"REvolution Live!" track listing:

CD:

01. Intro
02. Paris Is Burning
03. Dance of the Dogs
04. Tangled in the Web
05. All I Want
06. Kiss of Death
07. She's Evil, But She's Mine
08. Cold Is the Heart
09. When Darkness Calls
10. River of Love
11. Rain
12. Hell Child
13. Breaking the Chains
14. Wicked Sensation
15. Tooth and Nail

DVD:

01. Paris Is Burning
02. Dance of the Dogs
03. Tangled in the Web
04. All I Want
05. Kiss of Death
06. She's Evil, But She's Mine
07. Cold Is the Heart
08. When Darkness Calls
09. River of Love
10. Hell Child
11. Breaking the Chains
12. Wicked Sensation
13. Tooth and Nail
14. Rain

LYNCH MOB recording lineup:

Robert Mason (vocals)
George Lynch (guitar)
Anthony Esposito (bass)
Chaz Stumbo (drums)

Florida-based extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH are currently writing material for their fifth album, which they will begin demoing next month. The CD recording will take place early next year with a late spring/early summer release planned. More details to follow.

The uncensored video inspired by WYKKED WYTCH's cover version of the EVANESCENCE smash hit "Bring Me To Life" can be viewed below. The track was recorded by Matt LaPlant (NONPOINT, SIKTH) and Gus Rios (MALEVOLENT CREATION) at Bieler Bros. Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida. Mixing and mastering was handled by Eric Rachel (ATREYU, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) at Trax East Studios in New Jersey.

WYKKED WYTCH's fourth album, "Memories of a Dying Whore", was released through the band's own label Perish Music.

According to a press release, "Memories of a Dying Whore" was remixed by Eric Rachel (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ATREYU, GOD FORBID) at Trax East Studios and was mastered by Alan Douches (UNEARTH, MASTODON, SHADOWS FALL) at West West Side Music in New York.

Swedish metallers SOILWORK have issued the following update:

"So far this European tour with ONE-WAY MIRROR and ANANTA has been a total blast, filled to the brim with sweat, beers and heavy-ass riffage. Here's a big HAIL to all of you who came out to see us so far! You rock!!!

"Alas, we also have some bad news. For reasons beyond our control, we're forced to cancel the last of our three French shows, initially in Lyon and recently moved to Luynes (Aix-En-Provence). We sincerely apologize to our French fans for this unfortunate situation, and we promise to come back for a full-fledged French tour as soon as we can.

"On another note, since ANANTA have to leave us after the Swiss show next Saturday, we've added on some different opening bands wherever possible. For the four shows in Germany, the opener will be DEADLOCK and for the three shows in Sweden it will be SCARPOINT."

RAGE's "25 Years In Rage" anniversary concert on March 7, 2009 at Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany will include a 30-minute acoustic set, followed by a 90-minute special 25th-anniversary "best-of" show. MIND ODYSSEY will open the concert, followed by 75-minute BRAINSTORM performance. Doors open 18.30, show starts 19.30.

RAGE recently revealed the details of te hband's new EP, "Gib Dich nie auf", which will contain German version of the songs "Never Give Up" and "Full Moon" as well as two bonus tracks, one brand new song and a video clip.

"Gib Dich nie auf" track listing:

01. Gib Dich nie auf (German version of "Never Give Up")
02. Vollmond (German version of "Full Moon")
03. Never Give Up
04. Terrified (taken from the album "Nuclear Blast Allstars - Into The Light")
05. Lord Of The Flies (orchestral version)
06. Home (new song)

+ enhanced video clip "Refuge" (recorded live at Wacken Open Air 2007)

Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD have advanced to the finals of Switzerland's popular TV music show "Die Größten Schweizer Hits" ("The Greatest Swiss Hits") after their ballad "Heaven" received 27% of the audience votes.

The final will take place on November 30 and will be broadcast on the Swiss TV channel SF 1.

GOTTHARD's song "Lift U Up" — which was written about motivating each other and working together as a team to achieve goals together — was selected to be the official song of Switzerland's national soccer team for this past summer's European championship. The track was chosen as the winning title in a survey held by Switzerland's biggest newspaper Blick.

"Under Siege", the new video from German "noble power metal" hopefuls CRYSTALLION, can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's second album, "Hattin", which was released in the U.S. on August 12 via Dockyard 1/Locomotive. The CD was issued in Europe on May 16.

CRYSTALLION recently announced the departure of guitarist Florian Ramsauer due to "personal reasons." A replacement guitarist has not yet been announced.

CRYSTALLION's first CD, "A Dark Enchanted Crystal Night", came out in 2006 and was well received by fans and media. Germany's Rock Hard magazine gave it 8/10 points and stated: "From songs to production to the cover, everything fits here. A very well-done debut for a young and promising band!"

Vocalist Kelly Shaefer of the reactivated seminal technical metal pioneers ATHEIST has issued the following update:

"It's late Saturday night and I am reflecting on a very productive week for ATHEIST and me personally. It has been many years since me and my lifelong friend Steve Flynn [ATHEIST drummer] have made music together. All I have to say is it was well worth the wait. The stuff that we wrote this week confirms in my head that this ATHEIST album is going to be a contemporary continuation of where we left off with 'Unquestionable Presence'.

"My carpal tunnel is killing my hand, but we wrote a ton of great riffs this week.We wrote two complete skeletons of new ATHEIST songs, and they are full of interesting broadminded metal lashings.

"Talk is cheap so I will not go on and on about it, but I know in my heart that I fucking dare someone to doubt this record. I know there will be many that will have some shit to say, but those who truly know and understand this band will be as excited as we are to hear these crazy, insane time sigs and brutality combined.

"Me and Steve have been friends for 25 plus years, and when you are that close to someone for that long, you can hardly go wrong when creating art together. It's still a daunting mountain that we are in the early stages of climbing...but already it's clear as a bell that this will be very authentic, and honest."

In January 2006, Kelly Shaefer reassembled much of what was widely considered ATHEIST's classic recording lineup (Shaefer, bassist Tony Choy, and drummer Steven Flynn) to perform a select number of one-off shows to celebrate the re-issue of their wildly-influential catalog (1988's "Piece of Time", 1993's "Elements", and the 1991's legendary "Unquestionable Presence"). Among those shows were performances at such legendary festivals such as Germany's Wacken Open Air, Norway's Hole In The Sky, Italy's Evolution, England's Bloodstock Open Air, and the Los Angeles' Murderfest.

Professionally filmed video footage of ATHEIST performing the song "And the Psychic Saw" at the Wacken Open Air 2006 festival in Wacken, Germany can be viewed here.

EDGUY's official web site has been updated with the following interview with the group's frontman, Tobias Sammet:

Q: The new album, "Tinnitus Sanctus", is out now. What are your expectations towards the sales?

Tobias: "Well, the sales seem to be quite strong so far, even though I don't expect the album to have a great chart entry this time, 'cause there are many releases of really big bands that we have to deal with during the Christmas sales. But we've known that in advance, it's only that the album was finished and we wanted it to be heard as soon as possible as we are very proud of it."

Q: And how were the first reactions of the people?

Tobias: "As always. Most people seem to really like it a lot, a few think it's crap, of course. And that's alright with me! And extreme album gets extreme reactions. I think it is our bast album by far and I am optimistic many people will think the same in a year, when the dust has settled a bit."

Q: Most fans seem to love the album as far as we can tell — so are you worried about single fans complaining at all anymore, especially when their criticism becomes a little rude?

Tobias: "No! I'd like to quote Kinsky: They love me or they can kiss my ass, I am fine with any of it, haha."

Q: But in the past you vindicated yourself a couple of times, as there were some negative opinions about "The Scarecrow" of AVANTASIA, "Rocket Ride"...

Tobias: "... 'Hellfire Club', 'The Metal Opera', 'Mandrake' and so on. There's always a negative opinion about anything. The more danger the more honor. You can't be everybody's darling. I hope I can encourage a lot of people out there to do their own thing without giving a shit about other people's expectations. Look, some so-called experts criticized the production of our latest AVANTASIA album. On the other hand, our producer Sascha [Paeth] has just received an award by the German sound engineer association for the best album production of the year; for the production, arrangement and atmosphere of the 'The Scarecrow'. He later held a workshop in front of numerous professional producers where he went into details of the 'Tinnitus Sanctus' production. Now tell me: Why should I give a fuck about some smart-ass, just because his taste doesn't match with what I do?

Q: So will you work with Sascha in the future as well?

Tobias: "I remember meeting Chris Tsangarides at one of our shows last year and he came to me and told me how much he liked the show, the songs and the way we played our asses off and that he hadn't had seen a show like that in quite a while. Tsangarides produced albums like JUDAS PRIEST's 'Painkiller' and he is an icon, so, of course, I felt very honored. But Sascha is even more of an icon to me. I am sure he can and will become one of the biggest producers in Europe. Behind the scenes, we have slowly started working on the forthcoming AVANTASIA record and I will do everything to have the biggest production, I've ever had. I am negotiating with an orchestra right at the moment and I just wanna have a bombastic, monumental movie for the ears. And for such an undertaking there is no one who is better than Sascha, he is like a brother to me."

Q: But before you start working on a new album, you will start another EDGUY world tour early January. What can we expect and will you play a lot of new material?

Tobias: "I can't wait to go out and do this arena tour. Next year we won't play festivals as it seems, because on your own tour you can bring the whole stage setting, which I prefer. We'll play some new stuff and a lot of old material. We'll try to play some songs that we usually don't play. Our support acts rule, there is this young Swedish hard rock act H.E.A.T. that I personally love, as their debut is absolutely killer. Not to forget about my friend André Matos and the other Swedish band ALL ENDS. We'll have a lot of fun, believe me."

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich has told RollingStone.com that the band is contemplating the possibility of an Internet release for its next album. "We're free of our record contract," he said. "We have that element of complete freedom with the next record, so we can do whatever we want. We could do an Internet thing or even put it on Andy Greene's record label." He added, "I wouldn't hold my breath for another METALLICA record. I'm still decompressing and coming down from the whole experience of the last one, but if we spit one out every four or five years that's not so bad."

METALLICA's new album, "Death Magnetic", was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) just six weeks after its release on September 12 by Warner Bros. Records.

"AMORAL is a five-piece again! Since the announcement of Niko [Kalliojärvi, vocals] leaving, we've received tons of applications from singers all over the world. As we mentioned earlier, we wanted to find a guy who was not only able to handle the growling of the old songs, but who also had a strong melodic voice. Well, little did we know that we'd end up with one of the most talented vocalists around! Ari's [Koivunen] merits as a singer are well known (at least here in Finland), but it might surprise a lot of people that the dude can also growl with the best of them! And the fact remains that he truly was the strongest candidate from all those who applied for the job.

"Being the sneaky bastards that we are, we have been writing and practising hard for a long while now while keeping low profile, and we're happy to announce that the material for the fourth AMORAL album is just about ready! The recording will start next month and will go on through January. The album should be out before the summer. Of course, we'll keep you guys posted on updates.

"Now, before some of you old-school AMORAL maniacs condemn us to hell: No, we're not going power metal on your asses. The trademark riffs are still there. The little quirkiness. The 'fuck-everybody' attitude. And most importantly, the songs are just as strong as you've come to expect from us. Stronger, actually. You could clearly see on 'Reptile Ride' already that we were eager to push our music to a more melodic direction, and the next natural step was to go all the way with the vocals. This is a new beginning for us, and we truly believe our best work is still ahead of us."

Ari Koivunen, 24, is best known as the winner of last year's Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols". He has released two solo albums thus far — 2007's "Fuel For The Fire" and 2008's "Becoming".

Vocalist Niko Kalliojärvi left AMORAL in order to focus on other projects. He made his final appearance with the band at the Thrashia Läpi Yön festival at Tammela, Finland on August 23.

AMORAL last year entered the album chart in Finland at position No. 5 with the band's latest effort, "Reptile Ride".

An e-card for "Reptile Ride", featuring clips of all the songs on the CD, can be accessed at this location.

"Reptile Ride" (view cover artwork by Aki Siltala at this location) was produced, recorded and mixed by Janne Saksa at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland.

Spikefarm Records in June 2007 released the Internet-only "Leave Your Dead Behind". The bonus track for this release was a cover of Swedish pop star PANDORA's song "The Naked Sun". AMORAL's back catalogue has also gone digital: "Wound Creations" (2004) and "Decrowning" (2005) were released to digital music distributors in May 2007.

AMORAL's video for the song "Leave Your Dead Behind" can be viewed here.

"Ballad Of A Hangman", the new video from German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Ballads Of A Hangman", which is scheduled for release on January 9, 2009 via Austria's Napalm Records. The "Pray" single will precede the album on November 28. The group's frontman Chris Boltendahl states, "We are very happy with the result. I think it is one of the hardest records we ever did."

"Ballads Of A Hangman" track listing:

01. The Gallows Pole
02. Ballad Of A Hangman
03. Hell Of Disillusion
04. Sorrow Of The Dead
05. Grave Of The Addicted
06. Lonely The Innocence Dies
07. Into The War
08. The Shadow Of Your Soul
09. Funeral For A Fallen Angel
10. Stormrider
11. Pray
12. Jailbreak (bonus track digi pack)

Check out the cover artwork below.

Miami's POISON THE WELL has entered the studio to begin recording its new full-length album for a May 2009 release via Ferret Music. Unfortunately, due to a family emergency, producer J Robbins is unable to aid in the recording process and Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SEPULTURA, EVERY TIME I DIE) has stepped in to handle the production duties.

POISON THE WELL released its latest album, "Versions", in 2007 on Ferret Music.

Sleepwalker of Beyond The Dark Horizon recently conducted an interview with SIX FEET UNDER vocalist Chris Barnes. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Tell me about the title "Death Rituals". I hear it is one that you have had waiting for some time. How does it fit this record or what does it mean to you?

Chris: It's more important to me what it means to the listener, what someone else gets from it. I think all the stuff I write is a personal thing first and then it builds from there. I felt it was a title that could encompass the lyrics and the over all vibe of the record. I mean, I write all the time, so I have stuff just written down over the years compiled and something speaks to me at a certain point when I'm listening to what the guys are writing and let it go with the flow and let the music dictate to me what it is saying and how I will interpret it.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: If you were to compare this record to previous SIX FEET UNDER records, how does it differ? Was it created differently or did you approach writing it differently?

Chris: I don't like to compare things. I mean, they are separate entities and it's all new material, you know? I don't really like to compare; I don't think anything can be compared to anything else. It's kind of a funny way of looking at music, for me. I wrote all the lyrics and was really involved in this project so I look at it differently than someone else. "It sounds like this or it sounds like that" doesn't really equate with me when I listen to something that I helped put together. We attacked the writing process like we always do. What really works for us is writing each album, each song, like it's our first album that we have ever written. Just feel it out and see what sounds good to us and go from there.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: After all the years of doing what you do, how do you maintain a fresh outlook and continue to release quality stuff and stay true to your vision, you know what I mean?

Chris: Like I was saying earlier, we just approach each song like it's our first song we have ever written. We don't focus on anything we have done in the past or try and make something sound like something else. We just really go with what we think sounds good. That's how we have always done it. All the guys in the band come from that school of writing and that's where I come from, too. That's why we have such a good relationship over the years and enjoy what we do and not be bothered by anything else. We are lucky in that. I think that is the best way to write. Write for yourself not anybody else. That's what we do and it has been working well for us.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: How do you feel about the Internet and how it has revolutionized the music biz?

Chris: Oh, I think it has ruined it. I think everyone knew it back then and now it has grown into this monster that can't be stopped. Either you get on board and utilize the finer points of it or go the way of the dinosaur. I think it has ruined the music industry and I think any record company will tell you that.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Has it greatly affected what you do?

Chris: Oh, yeah, definitely. I think it affects what people do more and more everyday, on all levels. It is what it is now and the machine must be fed.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: Some bands will release bonus material or stickers, you know, like extra packaging to dissuade people from downloading the album…

Chris: Oh, yeah, we've done it and it doesn't work.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: I didn't notice anything on this release like that and wanted to ask…

Chris: The European release has three bonus live tracks in a digipack.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: You don't think that's enough, huh?

Chris: Probably not, those songs will probably wind up on the Internet in two days.

Beyond The Dark Horizon: It's a real shame…

Chris: Our new album was put online a week and half ago. It's already been leaked out, you know? How is that a positive thing? I don't understand. That's why there won't be CDs anymore in about five years and there won't be record companies, so to speak, in the next five years. It will be hard for bands to tour with the economy. Basically, what's been going on with the Internet changing the music industry is that the fans have brought it upon themselves and will be the ones to ultimately suffer. I have never downloaded anything, not even legally. You know? If I want to listen to a band's music, I go buy a CD. I don't believe in anything else. The industry has been brought to its knees over this and it's ultimately going to cost everyone.

Afif Sarhan of IslamOnline.net reports: Lateef Ahmed knew when he started his band that their music will never be the popular mainstream in conservative Iraq. "Metal has been always hated and misunderstood all over the world, but in Iraq it's something totally weird…especially if we are talking here about death metal," Ahmed, the drummer in the DOG FACED CORPSE band, told IslamOnline.net.

Ahmed, 22, says he has been listening to metal music since he was 13.

DOG FACED CORPSE, one of the few death heavy metal bands that surfaced in Iraq over the past few years, is the second one he participates in since 2006.

"Most of the metal fans in Iraq don't listen to death metal, they would listen to stuff like METALLICA or LINKIN PARK, although there is always the minority who appreciate true thrash and death metal."

The original cover artwork for METALLICA's classic 1986 album "Master of Puppets", painted by artist Don Brautigam, was snapped up yesterday (Monday, November 24) for $28,000 in a sale of popular culture and entertainment art at Christie's auction house at Rockefeller Plaza, New York City. (Note: The $35,000 final figure includes the Christie's buyer fees.)

The framed, 17x17-inch piece is signed on the lower right of the painting "DB."

The auction was part of the punk/rock sale, which included memorabilia from such artists as the RAMONES, SEX PISTOLS, THE CLASH, BLACK FLAG, LED ZEPPELIN and JIMI HENDRIX.

Drummer Michael Lee passed away yesterday morning (Monday, November 24). Lee, best known for his work with ROBERT PLANT, LENNY KRAVITZ, THIN LIZZY, THE CULT and THE QUIREBOYS, was just 39 years old. Daniel Stanton of Coallier Entertainment, which has worked with THIN LIZZY in the past, said in a statement that was released to BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "Michael was an amazing drummer and equally an amazing person. He will truly be missed. Our prayers go out to his family."

California-based, female-fronted progressive metallers ECHOES OF ETERNITY will enter the studio this week to begin recording its second album, due in early 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to last year's "The Forgotten Goddess" will be produced and mixed by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who has previously worked with GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

Commente the band: "We are excited to work with Logan as he's known for doing some incredible-sounding albums. We can't wait for everyone to hear the new songs that we've poured our hearts and souls into over the past year!"

ECHOES OF ETERNITY's Olle Carlsson-directed video for the song "Voices in a Dream" can be viewed here. The track, which was chosen by the fans via a poll conducted at the band's official MySpace page, comes off the group's debut album, "The Forgotten Goddess", which was released in the U.S. on February 20, 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records (February 2 in Germany). The CD was recorded over a six-month period in Venice, California at RavensWork Studios and produced, engineered, and mastered by Eric Ryan.

Luca Turilli, guitar player of the Italian symphonic metal masters RHAPSODY OF FIRE, has issued the following update:

"I want to tell you that I finally set up my new personal studio, located between the hills and the sea of my Italian hometown, the beautiful Trieste. This studio is based on the wonders of the upcoming Pro Tools 8 from Digidesign and from now on I will use it to compose, record, arrange and produce all my future solo albums. To celebrate this happening and the 10th anniversary of my career as solo artist, I started working on a really special product, something making me really proud and, between the other things, related to my new [online guitar course] Neoclassical Revelation's trademark too. I cannot say anything anymore at this time, but for those of you who want to discover more about this very special product I can say that around Christmas I will reveal more details."

For more information on Luca's online guitar course, click here.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE announced in June 2008 that it was "in the middle of a hard legal fight" with MANOWAR's Magic Circle Music over the rights to the band's future recorded output. "As soon as this sad situation will be solved, we'll be ready for a great and mighty comeback," the group said. "A new album, a real masterpiece of speed/epic metal, is already composed and ready to be recorded and after its release an immense worldwide tour will finally follow for yours and our extreme satisfaction."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's first-ever DVD, "Visions from the Enchanted Lands", was released in July 2007 through Magic Circle Music. The disc chronicles the 2005 tour and production for the albums "Symphony of Enchanted Lands, II" and "Triumph or Agony". Highlights of this double DVD are recordings from RHAPSODY OF FIRE's first tour through U.S. and Canada as well as their outstanding performance at the Eartshaker Fest 2005. A clip from the DVD can be viewed below.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's latest album, "Triumph or Agony", was released in September 2006 via Magic Circle Music.

STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson has recorded a guest solo for "Divine Allegiance", the debut album from STYGIA, the project led by Boston, Massachusetts-based up-and-coming "shred" guitarist Todd Seitz. Todd says, "The song ['The Hunter'] is partially inspired by one of my favorite video game series Turok Dinosaur Hunter."

"Divine Allegiance" track listing:

01. Colossus
02. The Hunter
03. Journey Through The Sea
04. Spirit Bomb
05. Moonlight
06. Oblivion Overcome
07. Egg of the King
08. A Circle Undone
09. Divine Allegiance

Recording lineup for the debut STYGIA album:

Todd Seitz (STYGIA) - Guitar
Michael Vescera (ex-LOUDNESS, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Vocals
John Macaluso (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-ARK, ex-TNT) - Drums
Michael LePond (SYMPHONY X) - Bass
Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE, FORCE OF EVIL, DEMONICA) - Guest Guitar Solo
Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS) - Guest Keyboard Solo

The band intends to do some live performances after the LP release.

Germany's Viva Hate Records will release a vinyl wooden box from Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL. The 6xLP set will include the following six albums:

* "Diabolical Fullmoon"
* "Pure Holocaust"
* "Battles In The North"
* "Blizzard Beasts"
* "At The Heart Of Winter"
* "Damned In Black"

The wooden box will feature the IMMORTAL logo and album details printed/burned on it.

The white vinyl "die-hard" version will be limited to 100 copies. The dark red vinyl "die-hard" version will be limited to 200 copies. Also included will be a special T-shirt.

Swedish death metallers BLOODBATH are featured on the cover of the December 2008 issue of Metal Maniacs. In an interview, bassist Jonas Renkse discusses how BLOODBATH relates to his main outfit, KATATONIA. Excerpts follow below.

Metal Maniacs: Do you feel that BLOODBATH has a "stand-alone" identity now? That you can now simply mention the name BLOODBATH and not BLOODBATH featuring the guys from OPETH and KATATONIA?

Jonas Renkse: It has an identity now. Our aim was always to make a unique sound of our own within the larger death metal framework. With that aim in mind we've worked hard on each release. We approach it from the point of view that BLOODBATH is a band. It's not a project now, or a way of filling in time, or any of those labels that we may have picked up in the beginning. It's a band, and we work on it and for it as a band.

Metal Maniacs: Could you see BLOODBATH rising to the point of becoming your priority band?

Jonas Renkse: No, that will not happen. BLOODBATH is about death metal, the music I grew up with, and it's always in my heart. KATATONIA is the band that has been in my life since 1991, it is less about a band, and more about a philosophy, and it's a lifestyle for me. I wouldn't want to trade success with BLOODBATH for KATATONIA. I could easily drop BLOODBATH, no matter how successful it was, if it got in the way of my work with KATATONIA. But the opposite does not apply; I could never ever drop KATATONIA for BLOODBATH. That would not happen.

Metal Maniacs: Can you describe how the metal philosophy works for you?

Jonas Renkse: I think it manifests itself in the time and effort I've put into KATATONIA because it was my first major band. I was in high school when we started this band. I was determined that this was going to be my life. I was always going to devote my life to this band, and I still have never had a proper job. For years I lived in a really small flat and just worked on the band and paid the bills with whatever money I could borrow from my parents to keep me going. Now, it's paying off, and that is the metal lifestyle for me. It is about believing it, not just doing what other people say.

Fan-filmed video footage of BLOODBATH's performance at the Party.San Open Air festival, which took place August 7-9, 2008 in Bad Berka, Germany, can be viewed here.

"Angel Of Torment", the new video from the Swedish death metal band EVOCATION, can be viewed here. According to the band, the clip "features footage with us taken from the recording sessions along with guest artist Anders Björler from AT THE GATES / THE HAUNTED as well as a bunch of friends from the early '90s death metal scene."

"Angel Of Torment" comes off EVOCATION's new album, "Dead Calm Chaos", which was released on October 31 via Cyclone Empire. The CD features guest appearances by Anders Björler (AT THE GATES, THE HAUNTED) and Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (BLOODBATH, EDGE OF SANITY). The album was recorded in the band's own studio under the watchful eye of guitarist Vesa Kenttäkumpu.

EVOCATION is:

Thomas Josefsson – Vocals
Janne K. Bodén – Drums
Vesa Kenttäkumpu – Guitar
Marko Palmén – Guitar
Martin Toresson – Bass

"Dead Calm Chaos" track listing:

01. In The Reign Of Chaos
02. Silence Sleep
03. Angel of Torment (featuring Anders Björler)
04. Boundead
05. Dead Calm Chaos
06. Truth Will Come Clear
07. Dust
08. Protected by What Gods
09. Antidote (featuring Dan Swanö)
10. Tomorrow Has No Sunrise
11. Astray Masquerade
12. Razored To The Bone (featuring Anders Björler)

The cover artwork by Travis Smith (OPETH, NEVERMORE, ANATHEMA) can be viewed here.

February 9, 2009 will see the release of "April Rain", the eagerly awaited second album from DELAIN, the Dutch gothic rock/metal project founded by ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of WITHIN TEMPTATION's Robert Westerholt). "April Rain" follows the successful 2006 debut "Lucidity", which sky-rocketed the career of the band in their home country of The Netherlands. "The new album 'April Rain' is a real group effort, that's what we're most proud of," says Martijn Westerholt.

DELAIN has been Westerholt's project from the start and the debut, "Lucidity", was recorded with a star-studded cast of musical friends. He says, "The album was never meant to be played live, but the demand was strong, so we eventually got a live band together. That's the band we've recorded 'April Rain' with. Compared to 'Lucidity', I'd say that this album musically is more coherent and consistent because of the fact that it was recorded all the way through by the same musicians. Production-wise, this album has more of a metal feel to it, as opposed to the more 'poppy' production of 'Lucidity'. Also, the songs tend to be a bit faster. Less 'doomy' than on our debut. That said, that album was never intended to be played live and when performing we all felt that these kind of songs were missing in our repertoire. We can't wait to go out and play these new songs on stage! Another big difference is that there are almost no guest appearances on this album. There's only NIGHTWISH vocalist Marco Hietala, whom we also worked with on 'Lucidity', providing guest vocals on the song 'Control The Storm'."

DELAIN is currently in the studio working on the final details of "April Rain", which will is yet to be mixed and mastered. The remainder of 2008 and early 2009 will be spent on the road, beginning with a jaunt through Germany in December. Then on February 5 the album will be launched in Amsterdam at a special event at the Melkweg venue. Westerholt adds: "And after that we'll tour Europe with KAMELOT and do multiple headline shows throughout Europe.

"I'd never intended DELAIN to be a real touring band…but now that we've become one, I'm definitely enjoying it to the fullest. We're looking forward to seeing our fans again real soon!"

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have issued the following update:

"We're proud to announce that DARK TRANQUILLITY again is a six-piece (or six-pack, if you will). Daniel Antonsson [DIMENSION ZERO, ex-SOILWORK guitarist] is now officially our new bass player, and we look forward to starting to work on the next album with such a talented musician in the ranks."

According to the Italian news blog Musica Metal, DARK TRANQUILLITY was joined by THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Nell Sigland on October 31, 2008 during DT's headlining concert in Milan, Italy for a performance of the song "The Mundane And The Magic" (a track that had never before been played live). The entire show was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due in early 2009.

DARK TRANQUILLITY's setlist was as follows:

01. The Treason Wall
02. The New Build
03. Focus Shift
04. The Lesser Faith
05. Wonders At Your Feet
06. Lost To Apathy
07. Freecard
08. Inside The Particle Storm
09. Nothing To No One
10. Edenspring
11. Insanity's Crescendo
12. Lethe
13. Dreamlore Degenerate
14. Misery's Crown
15. Therein
16. My Negation
17. Yesterworld
18. Punish My Heaven
----------
19. The Mundane And The Magic
20. Final Resistance
21. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive)

Photos of the concert can be found at Musica Metal.

Quality video footage of DARK TRANQUILLITY's performance in Milan is available below (clips uploaded by "ginmetal").

Century Media Records reissued DARK TRANQUILLITY's latest album, "Fiction", in May an expanded edition in conjunction with the start of the band's recently completed North American tour. The new version is composed of a CD/DVD and features a slew of new material.

Madison, Wisconsin-based, female-fronted five-piece LUNA MORTIS (formerly known as THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE) has posted a new song, entitled "Never Give In", on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's debut album, "The Absence", which is due in North America on February 10, 2009 via Century Media Records. The CD was tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (ALL THAT REMAINS, TRIVIUM).

Singer Mary Zimmer commented, "We're very excited for our debut release on Century Media Records. This album is musically all-encompassing for us, as it branches into different styles and areas of metal. We feel there's something for everyone on this record and are looking forward to sharing it with everyone! We hope you'll be as excited as we are and we’ll see you all soon."

When you're trying to break into the international music scene from Wisconsin you're left to claw your way up yourself, and LUNA MORTIS did exactly that with the 2006 release of its self-produced LP, "Way of the Blade" (released under the original band name THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE). As the album made its way through the local grapevine the band had cemented enough of a regional reputation to generate label interest. They began a period of intensive demo production and showcasing, beginning with the recording of their EP, "The Answer: Does Not Exist" (also released as THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE), and culminating in the opportunity to cut four tracks with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS). These efforts ultimately found LUNA MORTIS a home at Century Media amongst a literal pantheon of some of the band's most respected and admired influences.

LUNA MORTIS is:

Mary Zimmer - Vocals
Brian Koenig – Guitars, Vocals
Cory Scheider - Guitars
Jake Bare - Bass
Erik Madsen - Drums

LUNA MORTIS' video for the song "Anemic World" can be viewed here (note: The clip was shot while the band was still called THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE).