Finnish pop/rock band INDICA, who opened for NIGHTWISH on the Scandinavian leg of their current world tour, has tapped NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen to produce its new album, tentatively due in September.

Commented INDICA: "In the beginning we were concerned about getting our schedules to concur, given that NIGHTWISH is touring, but everyone unanimously agreed to sell their souls to this project. The only leisure requirement was two laundry days for Tuomas, which was granted by the INDICA council."

INDICA was founded in 2002. Jani Jalonen of Sony Music became interested in the group, and a recording contract was signed.

INDICA's first album, "Ikuinen Virta", was released in 2004. It has since sold platinum in Finland. The group's latest CD, "Kadonnut Puutarha", came out last year.

Video footage of INDICA performing the song "Linnansa Vanki" (taken from "Kadonnut Puutarha") can be viewed here

Metal Blade Records will release a special edition of FATES WARNING's 1989 LP "Perfect Symmetry" on June 13 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and June 16 in the rest of Europe. The detailed content has now been revealed and is as follows:

Disc 1 - Perfect Symmetry (re-mastered):

01. Part Of The Machine
02. Through Different Eyes
03. Static Acts
04. A World Apart
05. At Fates Hands
06. The Arena
07. Chasing Time
08. Nothing Left To Say

Disc 2 - The Demos:

01. Part Of The Machine
02. Through Different Eyes
03. Static Acts
04. A World Apart
05. At Fates Hands
06. The Arena
07. Chasing Time
08. Nothing Left To Say
09. Part Of The Machine
10. Nothing Left To Say

* Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 pre-production demos recorded February 1989 at Silver Cloud Recording, Burbank CA.
* Tracks 4, 5, 7 instrumental demos recorded December 1988 on the 1-800-RICELINE four-track in CT and CA.
* Tracks 9, 10 early instrumental demos recorded October 1988 in CT with Steve Zimmerman on drums.

Disc 3 - DVD/Video (approximately 150 minutes):

Filmed LIVE in concert:

Allentown, PA December 2, 1989:

01. Fata Morgana
02. Part Of The Machine
03. Silent Cries
04. Static Acts
05. Through Different Eyes

Houston, TX April 26, 1990:

01. Fata Morgana
02. Static Acts
03. Anarchy Divine
04. Silent Cries
05. Nothing Left To Say
06. Quietus
07. Damnation

Amsterdam, Netherlands December 16, 1989:

01. Fata Morgana
02. Part Of The Machine
03. Silent Cries
04. The Apparition
05. Through Different Eyes
06. Nothing Left To Say

Philadelphia, PA March 27, 1990:

01. The Arena

New Haven, CT December 11, 1989:

01. Through Different Eyes
02. The Apparition
03. Damnation
04. Exodus
05. Drum Solo
06. Nothing Left To Say
07. The Ivory Gate Of Dreams

Promotional video: "Through Different Eyes"

Former STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki has enlisted keyboardist Mike Khalilov for his new REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE band. "[Mike] was born in the city of Baku on May 7th, 1986," says Timo. "Currently living in New York, Mike has been playing classical piano for nearly 12 years. He picked up keyboards when first hearing Jens Johansson ripping it up on an YNGWIE record back when he was about 14 years old. His favourite composers are Mozart, Haydn, Bach, and Beethoven. Favourite bands include STRATOVARIUS (of course), CHILDREN OF BODOM, SKYFIRE, SONATA ARCTICA, and FIREWIND. Mike is a great keyboard player full of enthusiasm and with a great sense of humor. His classical influences are a welcomed addition to his capabilities and will surely add a lot to the sound of REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE."

Former STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki has posted another song from his new band, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, on the group's MySpace page. Check out the track "I Did It My Way" at this location.

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's current lineup also includes Brazilian drummer Bruno Agra.

Check out more audio samples at this location. Added 13.05.08 by rem

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE will release its debut album, "New Era", on June 6 via Frontiers Records. According to a press release, the CD "is a masterpiece of melodic power metal, taking the listener straight back to the 'Visions'-era STRATOVARIUS. In fact, 'New Era' is the album that was meant to be the next STRATOVARIUS album.

"Timo called a few friends for the recording sessions and the album features all the lead vocals from such legends as Michael Kiske [HELLOWEEN] and Tobias Sammet [EDGUY, AVANTASIA], along with Timo's blistering lead guitar lines and melodic power metal anthems that made him one of the pioneers of the style and trademark performers of the style. REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE witnesses a rebirth, a new era for Timo Tolkki and his music."

Other musicians that reportedly appear on "New Era" include Pasi Rantanen (vocals; THUNDERSTONE), Mirka Rantanen (drums; THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilä (bass; 45 DEGREE WOMAN).

"Revolution Renaissance" track listing (singer of each song listed next to its title):

01. Heroes (Sammet)
02. I Did It My Way (Kiske)
03. We Are Magic (Rantanen)
04. Angel (Kiske)
05. Eden Is Burning (Rantanen)
06. Glorious And Divine (Sammet)
07. Born Upon The Cross (Rantanen)
08. Keep The Flame Alive (Kiske)
09. Last Night On Earth (Kiske)
10. Revolution Renaissance (Kiske)

Oklahoma City's BLEED THE SKY has posted two tracks from its forthcoming sophomore album, "Murder The Dance", on its MySpace page. Check out the tracks "Sullivan" and "Bastion" at this location.

"Murder The Dance" is scheduled for release in North America on June 10. The track listing is as follows:

01. Knife Fight In A Phone Booth
02. Sullivan
03. Murder The Dance
04. The Sleeping Beauty
05. Morose
06. Occam's Razor
07. Bastion
08. Slavior
09. Kettle Black
10. Poseidon
11. The Demons That Could Be
12. Vertical Smile

The CD was produced and engineered by Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY), mixed by Ben Schigel at Spider Studios, and mastered by Matt Rosebery at Skin Deep Studios.

Italian "symphonic power epic" metal band THY MAJESTIE have had the release date of their fourth album, "Dawn" (Dark Balance Records), pushed back to September 1 from the previously announced July 2.

"Dawn" (cover artwork)

Chapter One: Trapasso - Exequies of the Formal Sphere

01. As You Fall
02. M.A.D.
03. Dawn
04. The Hunt

Chapter Two: Rovina - The Neverending Night

05. The Legacy Suite
a. Of Pain and Disgrace
b. To an Endless Devotion
c. Inferis Armata
d. Two Minutes Hate
e. The Legacy
06. Out The Edge

Chapter Three: Vendetta - A New Dawn

07. Day of the Changes
08. Through Heat and Fire

The band previously stated about the upcoming CD, "We think (and we don't say that only because it's the usual to say these things after a new album) that this is the best album THY MAJESTIE have ever recorded. Catchy melodies, amazing guitars and keyboards solos (thanks to the guitar hero Simone Campione and the virtuoso Valerio Castorino) and a great, stunning, unbelievable vocal performance by Dario Cascio."

THY MAJESTIE parted ways with vocalist Dario Grillo last year due to personal differences. "It was a mistake to believe that with Dario Grillo the things might have run easily," the band stated at the time. "We already got it four years ago when there was some communication problem. And so it was after a hard struggle to make his mind up about our gigs in Holland we decided to leave him with his troubles that may have thwarted the smooth running of our work. Good luck to Dario. This time we're sure we won't get any relationship anymore."

THY MAJESTIE's last album, "Jean D'Arc", was released in 2005 via Scarlet Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Hastings 1066" was mastered at The Mastering Room in Sweden by Goran Finnberg.

"A Pearl", the new video from German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's upcoming album, "Songs for the Last View", which is due in Europe on June 27. A limited-edition version of the album will include bonus tracks and a live DVD featuring footage from the band's late 2007 shows with APOCALYPTICA.

The follow-up to "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts", "Songs for the Last View" was once again produced by John Fryer (HIM, NINE INCH NAILS) and marks the band's first recording with singer Rob Vitacca who joined the band last summer.

"Songs for the Last View" track listing:

Disc 1:

01. The Last View
02. A Pearl
03. The Shadow I Once Kissed
04. Veins
05. We Shouldn't Be Here
06. And God's Ocean
07. Suicide Sun
08. Dear Amy
09. A Dead Man
10. Sacrificial Lamb
11. Lullaby For A Weeping Girl
12. While

Bonus Tracks (limited-edition digipack):

13. Burn (bonus track)
14. The Beauty Of Who You Are (bonus track)
15. The Shadow I Once Kissed (second version) (bonus track)
16. Sweet Letter C

Limited-Edition DVD:

01. "A Pearl" Video
02. Making Of "A Pearl"
03. Tour Movie
04. Live Footage
05. Intro
06. My Velvet Little Darkness
07. Again It's Over
08. Sweet Caroline
09. Amber Girl
10. My Mescaline
11. For Bad Times
12. Should
13. To Love Here On Knees
14. Sarah Lou
15. One Hopes Evening Music
16. Ave End

The "Songs for the Last View" artwork can be viewed at this location.

Hall Of Metal recently conducted an interview with SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY frontman Max Cavalera. An excerpt from the chat follows.

Hall Of Metal: From your point of view, how good do you think will be the reactions from the metal community with [CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's debut album] "Inflikted"?

Max: Well, this is a very important album for me in several ways. This is the first time I'm working along with Igor in a long time after we parted ways. Some of the songs of the album are very strong. It is some sort of getting back to Max and Igor thrash and hardcore roots. It also represents the future of metal from our point of view. I'm working on with SOULFLY but this is a very special project for us. Now we are touring with CONSPIRACY through USA, Europe, Ozzfest and also in Madrid. This is a very special moment for me and Igor and also for the metal community.

Hall Of Metal: How would you define CAVALERA CONSPIRACY to people never heard of you before?

Max: It just represents the ideas of two thinking heads (laughs). Well, it's very American sounding. It's fast, heavy and with a lot of groove, some of the most important things in the way I see the music. I like the heavy sound of BLACK SABBATH, the speed in the music and the typical Brazilian groove. Igor has a lot of groove inside him. There are songs where my voice interacts perfectly with the drums rhythms, working as it was another rhythmical instrument. Anyway it's better to listen to the album to make yourself a better picture of all this.

Hall Of Metal: Can we say CAVALERA CONSPIRACY it's only a side project or we can consider it as a full-time band? Will there be another album in the future?

Max: Unlike SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is only a side project. SOULFLY is an active band and we play around the world. I want to perform some shows with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and after that maybe we will make another special album in the future. Igor has a lot of projects and plans in mind. CAVALERA CONSPIRACY is not a typical project but a very special one. I'm very excited about both bands.

Read the entire interview at Hall Of Metal.

James Donkin of CNN.com reports: Violence and heavy metal seem to have been inextricably entwined since the dawn of the metal genre.

JUDAS PRIEST, MARILYN MANSON and BLACK SABBATH are just some of the household metal names to have come under public fire for supposedly inciting teenagers to commit murder and suicide.

It's a fire the international media has been happy to flame, quick to draw links between various acts of savagery and heavy metal even if, as in the case of the Columbine shootings and MARILYN MANSON, evidence points to the contrary.

For anthropologist, documentary filmmaker and self-confessed "metalhead" Sam Dunn, heavy metal is often used as a scapegoat to distract from the thoroughly more complicated societal problems surrounding such incidents.

"I think people look at heavy metal and label it for all sorts of things because we need easy answers to complex questions," Dunn says.

"I think that it's easy to target a heavy metal band for inciting violence or making kids turn to a cult than it is to actually look at real problems in the real world."

Read the entire article from here

Swedish Viking metallers AMON AMARTH entered Fascination Street Studio in Örebro, Sweden on May 1 to begin recording our seventh full-length album for a late 2008 release via Metal Blade Records. To make the wait a bit more entertaining, Metal Blade has launched an exclusive web site with lots of features. The site will be updated with more information about AMON AMARTH's forthcoming CD, starting off with an exclusive AMON AMARTH comic strip attack that is brought to you not only by this exclusive web site, but also by several print magazines all over Europe.

For more information, click here.

Wacken Records/SPV will release a "special edition" of "Blood Brothers" (cover artwork), the latest album from the Australian rock legends ROSE TATTOO, on June 13. Besides the regular album, the "special edition" will feature a DVD containing the Wacken Open Air show from 2006 plus the Tatts TV interviews.

The track listing is as follows:

CD:

01. Black Eyed Bruiser
02. Slipping Away
03. Once In A Lifetime
04. 1854
05. City Blues
06. Sweet Meat
07. Man About Town
08. Creeper
09. Stand Over Man
10. Nothing To Lose
11. Lubricated


DVD - Live At Wacken Open Air 2006:

01. Rock N´Roll Outlaw
02. Man About Town
03. Remedy
04. Black Eyed Bruiser
05. Assault & Battery
06. Tramp
07. Sweet Meat
08. Rock N´Roll Is King
09. Manzil Madness
10. Once In A Lifetime
11. Nice Boys
12. Bad Boys For Love
13. Astra Wally

A brand new three-minute video clip of METALLICA in the studio laying down tracks for the band's much-anticipated ninth full-length album with producer Rick Rubin can be viewed here.

One day after a "beta" version of the site went live — only to be shut down a short time later — METALLICA has launched MissionMetallica.com to offer fans a wealth of exclusive content and teasers of new songs.

Fans who sign up will be eligible to "win backstage passes to every show this summer," among other special offers, according to Billboard.com.

"Mission: Metallica" also has a "platinum" level, entitling fans to a copy of the new album delivered on street date, weekly "fly-on-the-wall" video clips, contests to travel to shows and/or METALLICA's San Francisco compound, live show downloads, ringtones and more.

"Within Destruction", the latest video from San Diego, California metallers AS I LAY DYING, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed by director Jerry Clubb at the band's sold-out February 1, 2008 show at the Slowdown in Omaha, Nebraska and captures the group's sheer ferocity as a live act.

Tim Lambesis (vocals) and Jordan Mancino (drums) of AS I LAY DYING will make a live appearance on "Plus Su Commande" at MusiquePlus in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on Friday, May 16 between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. EST. This is in support of the band's sold-out Canadian tour, which started on the West Coast in Vancouver, British Columbia last week and will finish up in Quebec City, Quebec on May 17.

Do you live in Montreal or are you going to the Montreal show on May 16 at Medley and want to attend the live taping? Please send an e-mail to publicpsc@musiqueplus.com to reserve your seat today.

Long-running UK extreme metallers BENEDICTION are putting the finishing touches on their new album, "Killing Music", due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the band: "The final piece of the jigsaw that is our cover of 'Largactyl' by AMEBIX is now in place. We have Kelly Shaefer of ATHEIST contributing on vocals as well.

"BENEDICTION and ATHEIST go back a long way. We toured Europe together for nearly two months in 1993 and we still talk about that tour together to this very day. We became very close friends and have remained so for all these years.

"When BENEDICTION toured the USA in 1994, Kelly put all of us up in his apartment for a whole week; what a fool!!!!

"So there you have it. Here is the full lineup for this track:

Vocals - Karl Willetts (BOLT THROWER)
Vocals - Kelly Shaefer (ATHEIST)
Backing Vocals - The Fog (FROST), Frank and Dave (BENEDICTION)
Bass - Billy Gould (FAITH NO MORE, BRUJERIA)
Guitars - Daz and Rewy (BENEDICTION)
Drums - Neil Hutton (BENEDICTION)

"Nearly every genre of metal covered with the musicians, we think!!!!

"We are not sure what the respective fans of these bands will think to this collaboration but this is purely for BENEDICTION, really. We always wind up an album with some cover songs of bands we respect, so why not bring in some friends on the act. The album is for our fans and the covers are for us in the band but we are quite happy to share the experience with you all out there!!!

"It's all down to Mick Kenney (ANAAL NATHRAKH), our producer on 'Killing Music', to get it finished now. It's been a while and we have had some great times in the recording of the album and now it's nearly there. It will be out in September to coincide with our September/October tour.

"Thanks to everyone who has stuck with us over all these years.

"Get the ambulances ready because BENEDICTION are ready to come out and play again!!!"

"Killing Music" tentative track listing:

01. Hells Gate
02. Cold, Deathless, Unrepentant
03. Killing Music
04. Dripping With Disgust
05. Dissembler
06. Rats In The Mask (Controlopolis)
07. Betrayer
08. Immaculate Facade
09. They Bleed
10. Frozen Heart
11. The Grey Man
12. As Her Skin Weeps
13. They Must Die Screaming
14. Seeing Through My Eyes (BROKEN BONES cover)
15. Largactyl (AMEBIX cover)

Florida-based death metallers SIX FEET UNDER have issued the following update:

"We have entered Morrisound Studios here in Tampa to begin recording our new CD!! It feels like coming back home!! Chris Carroll is at the helm, laying down the new tracks. Also, our old friend Bill Metoyer is helping out with recording the drums. It's awesome to have Bill with us on this one — as you may know, he recorded our CD 'Warpath'.

"It's great to be back in the studio and we feel really psyched to lay these new songs down. They are some of the best stuff we have come up with, and can't wait for all of our fans to hear the new stuff!!"

SIX FEET UNDER's as-yet-untitled new album is expected before the end of the year via Metal Blade Records.

The band's video for the song "Doomsday" made its "Headbanger's Ball" debut last November. The clip was shot in August 2007 and was directed by Mario D. Framingheddu, who also helmed the group's previous video, "Ghosts of the Undead". According to the band, "The concept of the clip is pure fucking insanity on all levels. We were fortunate enough to work with Grady Stiles, a.k.a. Lobsterboy, who plays our main character. This has to be the creepiest clip we've ever filmed, from location, to storyline, to cast. It's totally fucked up!"

"Doomsday" video credits:

* Director: Mario D. Framingheddu
* Director of Photography: Kyle Walling
* Producer: Rachel Murray
* Starring: Grady Stiles and Joe Paez
* PA's: Joe Mendez, Sarah Murray and Gian Framingheddu

"Commandment" entered the German chart at position No. 58 and the Austrian chart at No. 70 upon its release in April 2007.

The Pulse of Radio reports that a British coroner has raised concerns that emo music played a role in the suicide of 13-year-old MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE fan Hannah Bond (photo), according to NME.com. Bond hung herself from a bunk bed in her bedroom after informing her parents that she was going to kill herself and leaving a note signed "Living Disaster". The coroner investigating the girl's death, Roger Sykes, speculated that the girl was obsessed with bands like MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, saying, "The emo overtones concerning death and associating it with glamour I find very disturbing."

Bond's father, Ray, said at the inquest that his daughter had inflicted harm on herself previously as part of what she told him was an "emo initiation ceremony." Bond had also posted a picture of an emo fan with bloody wrists at her personal web page.

Her mother, Heather, said, "She called emo a fashion and I thought it was normal. Hannah was a normal girl. She had loads of friends. She could be a bit moody but I thought it was just because she was a teenager."

NME.com has received a number of responses to the case from fans of emo music, who largely rejected the coroner's suggestion that emo was a factor in Bond's death. One wrote, "I find it disgusting that small-minded people would assume that music has that much of an influence, that someone would kill themselves because of it," while another fan said, "I listen to MY CHEM, as do many of my friends, and we are happy people with happy lives."

Emo has been the center of controversy lately in Mexico as well, where fans of the music have been subjected to violence at the hands of other Mexican youth. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE singer Gerard Way called for an end to the attacks during a recent concert in Mexico City.

The MOTÖRHEAD fan club Motörheadbangers has produced a limited-edition CD for the fans. Limited to 500 copies, it features the following track listing:

MAD DOGS - "Capricorn"
THE SWEET ZEROS - "1916"
SONJA KRISTINA - "I Don"t Believe A Word"
THE DEVIANTS with Philthy Animal Tayor - "Lost Johnny"
THE UNDERBELLY - "Back At The Funny Farm"
SPIRT'S BURNING with Bridget Wishart - "Ace Of Spades"
THE HOBBYHORSE - "Orgasmatron"
LISSY ABRAHAM - "Damage Case"
ALAN DAVEY'S GUNSLINGERS - "Stay Clean"
GIRLSCHOOL with Fast Eddie Clarke - "Metropolis"

"Hellhounds On My Trail", the new CHILDREN OF BODOM single, is all set for release on June 9 via Spinefarm Records UK. The follow-up to the "Blooddrunk" single, also the title of the Finnish band's latest album, "Hellhounds…" will be made available on two separate formats:

* CD single featuring two cover versions (by KENNY ROGERS and ALICE COOPER), three live tracks recorded at the London Astoria in March 2008 plus the "Hellhounds…" video.
* 12" picture disc.

Both formats will come with brand new artwork exclusive to the UK version of the single.

Former NIRVANA drummer and current FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl has released the following "open letter" to METALLICA (via Metal Hammer):

"Dear METALLICA,

"Hey, it's Dave! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the guy that's been listening to your band faithfully since 1983. I bought your first album 'Kill 'Em All' from a mailorder catalogue called Under The Rainbow, I think. Actually I can't remember. It was 1983 for Christsakes! But that album changed my life and I've been listening to your albums ever since (even 'St Anger'!).

"I can't wait to hear the new shit, and no matter what you guys do I'll always be first one at the shop waiting to hear it. I'm sure you'll come out and blow everybody's fuckin' minds, because you're fuckin' METALLICA!

"Good luck. And don't release it until it's kick-ass.

"Yours, Dave Grohl.

"P.S. Are you finished recording the drums yet?"

KISS kicked off its European tour earlier tonight (Friday, May 9) at Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. Photos from the concert and a short English-language review can be found at Norway's NRK.no.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Deuce
02. Strutter
03. Got To Choose
04. Hotter Than Hell
05. Firehouse
06. Nothin' To Lose
07. C'mon & Love Me
08. Parasite
09. She + Tommy Thayer solo
10. Watchin' You
11. Rock Bottom
12. 100.000 Years + Eric Singer solo
13. Cold Gin
14. Let Me Go, Rock & Roll
15. Black Diamond
16. Rock and Roll All Nite
-------------------
17. Shout It Out Loud
18. Lick It Up / Won't Get Fooled Again
19. Gene solo + I Love It Loud
20. I Was Made For Lovin' You
21. Love Gun
22. Detroit Rock City

KISS' next performance will take place Sunday (May 11) at Olympiahalle in München, Germany.

Swedish metallers SABATON have posted a new track, "Cliffs of Gallipoli", on their MySpace page. The song comes off the group's new album, "The Art of War", due on May 30 via Black Lodge Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Attero Dominatus" was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Peter Tägtgren and will be made available in three formats: normal CD, gatefold LP and a limited-editon CD that comes in a DVD package that also will include the exclusive book "The Art of War".

"The Art of War" track listing:

01. Sun Tzu Says
02. Ghost Division
03. The Art Of War
04. 40:1
05. Unbreakable
06. The nature of Warfare
07. Cliffs of Gallipoli
08. Talvisota
09. Panzerkampf
10. Union (Slopes of St. Benedict)
11. The Price of a Mile
12. Firestorm
13. A Secret

Check out the cover artwork by Jobert Mello at this location.

Finnish melodic death metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW has inked a new recording deal with the Finnish label KHY Suomen Musiikki Oy. The group is currently in pre-production for its sixth album, which is tentatively expected in March 2009. As was the case with the band's previous five LPs, the forthcoming effort will be recorded at Tico-Tico Studio in Kemi, Finland. The as-yet-untitled CD has already been licenced to Massacre Records (which will be release the album in Europe excluding Finland) and Marquee/Avalon (which will make the record available in Asia).

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's fifth album, "Before the Bleeding Sun", was released in Finland in April 2006 via Spinefarm Records.

"Before the Bleeding Sun" was recorded at Tico-Tico Studio in Kemi and at Note-On Studios in Kuopio and marked the group's first release with lead guitarist Risto Ruuth (also in SCYRON) and keyboardist Janne Tolsa.

POISONBLACK, the Finnish band featuring former SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala, has posted a new song, "Left Behind", on its MySpace page. The track comes off the group's third album. "A Dead Heavy Day", which was recorded at Soundmix Studio in POISONBLACK's hometown of Oulu with Kari Vähäkuopus. The CD was mixed by Aksu Hanttu at Grooveland Studio in Lahti.

Commented POISONBLACK drummer Tarmo Kanerva: "'Left Behind' is the very first track we wrote and rehearsed for 'A Dead Heavy Day'. We already included it in our live set for a while and found out that it's a very cool song that is fun to play live. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!"

"A Dead Heavy Day" will be released through Century Media Records in Europe on the following dates:

* Finland: Wednesday, August 27
* Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: * Friday, August 29
* UK, France, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Rest Of Europe: Monday, September 1
* Spain, Portugal: Tuesday, September 2
* Sweden, Hungary: Wednesday, September 3

Kanerva previously stated about the new material, "On one hand, there is going to be some really melodic songs, and on the other hand, the heavy stuff is heavier than anything we have ever done before. Still, you won't need to be afraid of dramatic changes. It'll be the typical POISONBLACK sound."

French neo-classical metallers ADAGIO are continuing work on their new album, "Archangels in Black" — the first CD to feature the band's latest addition, Finnish singer Christian Palin.

Commented the band: "Bass, guitars, drums and vocals lines are recorded. Stéphan [Forté; guitar] is executing a gorgeous work on the orchestrations and guitar solos should be done next week. At the same time, Kevin [Codfert] is recording his keyboards solos and pianos parts in his studio. Both of them will begin the mix very soon (next week).

"The name of the European label will be announced in the upcoming weeks and a French headline tour is already in talks for November 2008.

"And last but not least, on June 10th, the band will start shooting the first ADAGIO clip for the song 'Fear Circus', one of the major songs of the upcoming 'Archangels in Black' album."

Palin is a member of the Swedish/Finnish combo ESSENCE OF SORROW and RANDOM EYES. The latter group recently landed the Finnish album chart at position No. 18 with its latest effort, "Invisible".

Death metal legends DEICIDE have made their entire brand new album, "Till Death Do Us Part", available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"Till Death Do Us Part" was released in Europe on April 28, but for those of you in the U.S. who can't bear to wait any longer, you can listen to the album in its entirety until the U.S. release date on May 13 at this location.

DEICIDE's ninth studio album, "Till Death Do Us Part" "delivers the crushing riffs and blasphemous lyrics that fans have come to expect from any DEICIDE release," according to Earache Records.

"Till Death Do Us Part" is available as a special-edition CD with a free "Glen For President" woven patch while stocks last. The album is also available as standard CD, limited-edition 12" picture disc LP and limited-edition 12" color vinyl LP.

Reactivated Swedish metallers AT THE GATES played their first show since announcing their reunion on May 8, 2008 at the Namba Hatch in Osaka, Japan. Check out pictures from Alan Ralph at this location.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Slaughter of the Soul
02. Cold
03. Under a Serpent Sun
04. The Swarm
05. Terminal Spirit Disease
06. Suicide Nation
07. Raped By the Light of Christ
08. Windows
09. World of Lies
10. The Burning Darkness
11. The Beautiful Wound
12. All Life Ends
13. Need
-------------
14. Blinded By Fear
15. Kingdom Gone

The concert was the first date of the Extreme The Dojo 20 Japanese tour featuring AT THE GATES, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, MAYHEM, PIG DESTROYER and INTO ETERNITY.

AT THE GATES summer 2008 reunion lineup:

Adrian Erlandsson - Drums
Martin Larsson - Guitar
Anders Björler - Guitar
Tomas Lindberg - Vocals
Jonas Björler – Bass

Italian heavy/power metal band ARTHEMIS will release its new album, "Black Society", in July via Scarlet Records (June 28 in Japan via Soundholic). According to a press release, the group "combines the darker side of hard rock with prog/power influences and a modern touch of top-quality heavy/thrash metal."

"Black Society" track listing:

01. Fright Train
02. Angels In Black
03. Electri-Fire
04. Medal Of Honour
05. Escape
06. Black Society
07. Mechanical Plague
08. Let It Roll
09. Zombie Eater
10. Mr. Evil

The track "Fright Train" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

A video clip for the song "Angels in Black" will be made available to coincide with the album release.

Check out the cover artwork at StayMetal.net.

METALLICA has posted the following message on its web site:

"As promised, June will see the re-release of 'Master of Puppets' [1986] on vinyl . . . the retro summer continues! Following on the heels of 'Kill 'Em All' [1983] and 'Ride The Lightning' [1984], we dusted off the masters and 'Master of Puppets' will come out in the same formats — a single disc at 33 rpm and a deluxe two-disc version on 180-gram vinyl spinning at 45 rpm.

Look for 'Master' on vinyl to hit the Metallica.com store and your friendly local record shop on June 17th, 2008 in North America and damn close to that date in the rest of the world. You know the drill . . . we'll keep you posted here! And for those still following along, yes, '…And Justice for All' [1988] is up next . . . probably sometime in August."

Mirror.co.uk reports that LED ZEPPELIN is ready rock again to mark its 40th anniversary this year.

Fans have been calling for ZEPPELIN to tour after their successful gig at London's 02 Arena last December, which saw Jason Bonham on drums in place of late dad John.

Singer Robert Plant, 59, was originally opposed to the idea but has been talked round by bandmates Jimmy Page, 64, and John Paul Jones, 62.

A longtime pal, WHITESNAKE's frontman David Coverdale, said yesterday the tour was "very likely" and he was expecting to be the support act.

David said: "I'm expecting a call from Jimmy any day asking my band WHITESNAKE to support them on their world tour. Am I on board? You bet. Probably worth billions!

"Unlike rolling out the wheelchairs with the umpteenth ROLLING STONES world tour, a LED ZEPPELIN tour will be incredible."