Long-running Seattle metallers METAL CHURCH have issued the following update:

"After an overwhelming response to the album cover art [contest] for our new release, we have finally decided on a wining cover. The artist's name is Rainer Kalwitz from Germany who is amazingly talented.

"Due to so many talented entries, we have decided to incorporate several of the other submissions for the inner sleeve of the CD. This has really shown us what dedicated fans we have that truly understand our music and we are so fortunate to have the best fans in the world. We raise the horns to you, the Congregation!

"We would also like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for your hard work, and for all of you that gave your opinions on the art we put up on our MySpace page. The ones on the MySpace page are only a fraction of the entries we received so you can imagine the difficult decisions we were faced with when choosing the winner.

"Once we have had a chance to contact everyone whose artwork we have decided on, we will release their names. All artists' names will also appear on the CD with a very special thanks.

"We are so excited seeing the new release come together and we are stoked to share it with you. The fact that our fans were a part of this process makes us very happy. We will keep you posted on the actual release date which should be early summer."

The group recently parted ways with guitarist Jay Reynolds (also of MALICE) for "personal reasons." A replacement guitarist has not yet been announced.

Guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie of the Danish modern metallers MNEMIC has issued the following update:

"We are back from the rotten dead, finally with some great news for y'all.

"We toured most of last year, which was very fun but at the same time very exhausting for some of us, which lead to a minor break in order to recharge our batteries and reload our guns. We have finally regained focus and are now ready to bring MNEMIC back on the map.

"I know many of you have asked us when we will be back on the road again, when we will be touring the U.S., Japan, Australia and so on and so on... Thank you for all the requests! Unfortunately I can only say that there will only be one tour this year and a few selected shows. The tour will be in Denmark and it will be launched actually next month. Dates can be found at the myspace.com/mnemic site and mnemic.com.

"The main reason is simply that we want to focus all of our energy on the creativity of the writing process for a new album — basically in order to make something solid, fresh and something out of the ordinary, within the MNEMIC context and universe, of course. This time around we do not want to be rushed, stressed or influenced by managements, too long tours and too many opinions. This time it will only be us, our opinions and our visions!

"To make a long story short, we have begun the writing process for a new album..."

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have issued the following update:

"It's amusing what a single guitar riff can initiate. Of course we recognized some similarities to our song 'Evil Spell' when we heard the opening guitar riff of the new BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE album 'Scream Aim Fire'. We know the guys and we shared the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver for some weeks in the end of 2005.

"What we think about this? We love metal and we're adults. We like the music of BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and we have a lot of respect for their work. Cool songs, a fantastic production and great guys! If the guitar work in one song is very similar to a PRIMAL FEAR riff or song, we're OK with it and not out for any trouble … and we don't want to receive another 150 mails about this matter — we're fine and it's great if 'Scream Aim Fire' has a little PF vibe!"

"Evil Spell" appears on PRIMAL FEAR's 2005 album "Seven Seals".

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's song "Scream Aim Fire" is the title cut of the Welsh metal band's latest CD, which came out in January 2008

Swedish thrashers THE HAUNTED have entered PUK studio in Denmark to begin recording their new album with producer Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, etc), who has previously worked with the group on their two previous albums, "rEVOLVEr" and "The Dead Eye".

A new four-minute video clip from the studio can be viewed below.

Bassist Jonas Björler previously stated: "We have like 20+ songs, so we have a lot of material to choose from; I think we aim at putting 11 or 12 on the CD. This time around we worked 6 months on the songs, and I think that really paid off — none of the songs sound alike, and the material sounds really heavy and groovy."

Working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Walk on Water", "Final Regression", "You", "Faultline" and "Narcotic".

Vocalist Sabina Classen of the long-running German thrashers HOLY MOSES has issued the following update:

"We are right now completely in the main production of the new album. Five tracks are already finished, including my vocals. On all the other songs we are working hard right now. All stuff is real great killer stuff. Some kind of melody are on my vocals between all my growls. But his new album is still without any compromises, it's totally aggressive and brutal. Late summer the new album will be released worldwide and also we will do a worldwide tour. You can expect a lot of surprises."

HOLY MOSES has set "Bloodbound" as the title of its new album, tentatively due this summer. According to a press release, fans can expect another "blast of old-school thrash with modern elements and the classic HOLY MOSES style," featuring "the queen of growls, Sabina Classen!"

AVENGED SEVENFOLD will film its April 10 concert at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California on the current Taste of Chaos tour for a live CD/DVD package the band expects to make available by Christmas. Singer M. Shadows recently told The Pulse of Radio that the combined audio-video package will also include some of the band's B-sides. In addition, the group will be utilizing the live footage shot at the Long Beach concert to put together a video for the song "Dear God"

The Taste of Chaos tour also includes BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and ATREYU, and others. The tour will continue until April 15, when it wraps up in Seattle.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD recently made a previously unreleased track called "Crossroads" available for downloading to fans who bought the CD/MVI version of the new CD. The song is one of 20 that the group recorded before whittling down the album's final track list to 10.

Fans who bought and registered the MVI version of the disc can enter the group's Fan Access Network (F.A.N.), a free fan club offering pre-sale tickets, never-before-seen videos and exclusive music like "Crossroads".

The band will issue more exclusive content through the F.A.N. later in the year.

Burton C. Bell of FEAR FACTORY and ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS recently spoke to the Artisan News Service about his contributions to the final MINISTRY studio album, "The Last Sucker", and the upcoming covers collection, "Cover Up", which will hit stores April 1.

Said Bell: "It was last January [2007], I was talking to a friend, and my friend goes, 'Yeah, MINISTRY is in the studio recording their last record." I was like, 'Their last record?' 'Yeah, it's their very last record.' 'Really?!' And I was thinking to myself, 'Man, if I want to get involved with this, this is the time.' So what did I do? The very next day I called up Al [Jourgensen, MINISTRY mainman]. I was like, 'Al, this is Burton. I met you (at your last New York City show), I know you're doing your last record. I would love to offer my services. I'm there, if you want me I'm there.' He called me like a week later, 'We want you on our record. Come on down.' So he flew me down. I was down there for two weeks. We did 'End Of Days', 'Die In A Crash'. I did another song, it's not on the record, I don't know what happened to it. I started doing those cover songs. It was just like, 'Yeah, this is cool."

Regarding his collaboration with MINISTRY on a cover of THE ROLLING STONES' "Under My Thumb", Bell said, "He (Jourgensen) goes, 'I want you to do a ROLLING STONES...I'm trying to figure out a ROLLING STONES song for you to do.' I'm like, 'OK.' I had no idea that it would be that song. I thought of other songs, but I never would have thought of it. That was like my least favorite ROLLING STONES song. He's like, 'Really?' I even told him, 'Al, I don't really even like that song.' He's like, 'Have you ever read the lyrics?' I said, 'No.' He's like, 'Read the lyrics.' So I read the lyrics, and I actually listened to what Mick [Jagger] was saying. I was like, 'Whoa. This is a total male empowerment song. It was written in the '60s I was like, 'Wow. That's cool.'"

Sweden Rock magazine (web site) recently conducted an interview with former HAMMERFALL guitarist Stefan Elmgren about his decision to leave the group. An excerpt from the chat — which will be published in Sweden Rock magazine #51 (out on April 22) — follows:

Sweden Rock: How did the other HAMMERFALL members react to the news [of you leaving]?

Stefan: At first we discussed whether it would be possible to combine my new job as a pilot with playing in the band, but in the end we realized that the HAMMERFALL schedule is way too busy for that too work in the long run. I have been making music for 11 years and I am glad to have had the opportunity to make records and tour all over the world, but at the same time I felt it was time for something new. But of course, there is also a feeling of emptiness. The thought "will I never tour again?" certainly crossed my mind.

Sweden Rock: Have you put down your guitar for good, or will you continue playing? Can we, for instance, expect another FULL STRIKE album in the future?

Stefan: FULL STRIKE has been on hold for quite some time now, but the chances for a follow-up album are certainly better now than before I decided to leave HAMMERFALL. I love playing guitar, so one way or another, I will keep playing. Maybe it will just be playing covers with friends from time to time, just for fun.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the HAMMERFALL fans for their support through the years and I hope we meet again in the future. I believe we will.

Keyboardist Michael Troy (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and guitarist Jonas Hörnqvist (TREASURE LAND) are the latest musicians confirmed to appear on "Damnation", the new album from Norwegian power metallers GAIA EPICUS. Also making guest appearances on the CD are Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN) and Andreas Olsson (NARNIA, ROB ROCK, STORMWIND).

GAIA EPICUS recently revealed the cover artwork (by J.P Fournier) for "Damnation", tentatively due this summer.

"Damnation" projected track listing:

01. Damnation
02. Masters of the Sea
03. Firestorm
04. The Wizard's Return (instrumental)
05. You are a Liar!
06. Cyborgs from Hell
07. The Saviour (Will Come)
08. A Hero in All
09. Salvation is Here

GAIA EPICUS's video for the song "New Life" can be viewed below. The clip features home video footage taken during 2006, including from the recording sessions for the group's last CD, various live shows and from the band's visit to Minneapolis in August 2006. The track comes off GAIA EPICUS's third album, "Victory", which was released in January through the band's own label, Epicus Records.

According to a posting on the KISS fan site KissNews.de, a new three-CD KISS compilation called "Playlist Plus" will be released on April 29 via Universal.

The track listing for the collection is as follows:

Disc 1:

01. Strutter
02. Deuce
03. Hotter Than Hell
04. C'mon and Love Me
05. Rock and Roll All Nite
06. Detroit Rock City
07. Beth
08. Hard Luck Woman
09. Calling Dr. Love
10. Love Gun
11. Christeen Sixteen
12. I Was Made For Lovin' You

Disc 2:

01. Creatures of the Night
02. I Love It Loud
03. Lick It Up
04. All Hell's Breakin' Loose
05. Heaven's On Fire
06. Thrills In the Night
07. Tears Are Falling
08. Uh! All Night
09. Crazy Crazy Nights
10. Reason To Live
11. Hide Your Heart
12. Forever

Disc 3:

01. God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You
02. Unholy
03. Domino
04. Hate
05. Childhood's End
06. I Will Be There
07. Comin' Home
08. Got To Choose
09. Psycho Circus
10. Into the Void
11. I Pledge Allegiance To the State of Rock and Roll
12. Nothing Can Keep Me From You

The European limited edition of WHITESNAKE's new album, "Good To Be Bad", due out this month via SPV/Steamhammer, will come in a special varnished hot foil box featuring:

* the jewel case version of "Good To Be Bad"
* a bonus CD with three tracks and one enhanced video
* an exclusive poster
* an exclusive photocard
* an exclusive sticker

The vinyl edition comes in a double gatefold version with printed inner sleeves and a bonus live track.

The release dates are:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: April 18
Rest of Europe: April 21

Dutch/Norwegian goth metal band IMPERIA — which is fronted by Norwegian singer Helena Iren Michaelsen (the original vocalist of the Holland-based band SAHARA DUST, which later changed its name to EPICA) — has issued the following update:

"Right now IMPERIA is busy with writing songs for the new album, which will be released — as [was] the current [IMPERIA CD] 'Queen of Light' — through Massacre Records. The release date or the studio is not decided yet, but you will be surely informed about the songwriting progress."

"Still Believe", the new video from ALL ENDS, the Swedish hard rock band featuring Emma Gelotte (sister of IN FLAMES guitarist Björn Gelotte) and Tinna Karlsdotter on vocals, Fredrik Johansson (DIMENSION ZERO, IN FLAMES' "The Jester Race" album) and Peter Mårdklint (EMBRACED, TENEBRE) on guitar, along with Josef Skanås on drums — can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's self-titled full-length debut, which entered the Japanese "International" chart at position No. 8.

Swedish art-rock behemoth CULT OF LUNA has finished recording its fifth full-length album at Tonteknik Studios in the band's hometown of Umeå. Eight songs were reportedly laid down for the effort, which "will see the band attempt to adapt its sound, welcoming a harsher and more primal element to its already complex approach," according to a press release.

Check out pictures from the recording sessions at this location.

CULT OF LUNA's new album is scheduled for a June release.

CULT OF LUNA was honored with a "P3 Guld" award (for the band's criticially acclaimed "Somewhere along the Highway" release) in January 2007 from Swedish radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album of the Year" category.

STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki has issued the following statement:

"It is time to stop the silence and announce what some of you have already been speculating. STRATOVARIUS is no more.

"Last October I told the guys that I am stopping the band and told them the reasons why.

"This letter is addressed to you, STRATOVARIUS fans, who have supported the band for so many years.

"I first thought that I would write just a very generelized, typical 'music business' statement that basically never says anything. Then I decided that you deserve to hear at least parts of the truth what has been going on behind the scenes so you will be able to understand my decision better.

"All the time, since Timo Kotipelto [vocals] and Jörg [Michael, drums] joined the band, there have been tensions and negativity flying around. This has been concentrating on me, Timo Kotipelto and Jörg.

"The reasons Jari Kainulainen [bass] was fired some years back were so absurd that I am not even try to explain them here. If I write a book one day, maybe then.

"Anyways, I think the seeds were planted already back then, something like 12 years ago. There were many confrontations, Jörg has been complaining to me about Timo Kotipelto and Timo Kotipelto complaining to me about Jörg. At a times it was a mess, although of course, it never would show outside to the fans.

"It is not my intention to disrespect Timo Kotipelto and Jörg here. They are both fundamentally good guys. Things just sometimes happen and relationships go to directions we don't want them to go. It's like a divorce, nobody wants it to happen but sometimes it is best for all so everyone can continue their own lives. Plus I want to tell how things have been behind the curtains. You always only see the good side anyway, you don't really know what is going on.

"We had amazing years, 14 records, 6 world tours with over a thousand shows all across the globe, 3 gold discs, a Finnish Grammy and almost 3 million records sold.

"I have arrived to my decision after careful, long and rational thinking of over a year and I know it is the right way for me. I just felt so bad being in STRATOVARIUS. Something was terribly wrong in there and nobody seemed to care.

"The countdown really started from the last STRATOVARIUS album in 2005. At that time the atmosphere in the band was extremely weird. I had spent most of 2004 recovering from my nervous breakdown in April 2004 when I was hospitalized. It was at this point when things started to change. Jens [Johansson, keyboards] supported me immensely during 2004 with his phone calls. We then did that 'Stratovarius' album, which I think is an awful album and went for the subsequent tour production. By that time it was apparent to me that things really were bad. Nobody seemed to care about anything. I had the idea to use projection screens and for that, you need to produce graphics. I planned those and basically the whole show. Nobody seemed to have any interest in it. It was more like, the less the better. The atmosphere at the rehearsals was awful. Lauri Porra [bass] who had just joined the band was wondering what is going on with this band. Jörg Michael came straight from SAXON to this tour wearing a SAXON shirt during most of the shows. His attitude for most of the tour was extremely arrogant, pretty much towards everybody. But especially towards me and Timo Kotipelto. And Timo Kotipelto's attitude towards me was lukewarm and polite, but I could sense the hostility. Of course, we as professionals put on very good shows but it was more craftmanship and rehearsed performance than a great united band playing emotionally from the heart.

"I think Timo Kotipelto was always very bitter about that he could not get his songs and/or lyrics on STRATO records. I did not understand this really 'cause he had/has his solo band where he could do what he wanted. It took me many years to learn to simply tell him that I don't like his songwriting and lyrics and that the main difference between me and him is that I am writing songs that end up being STRATO songs while he is trying to write STRATO songs that end up being KOTIPELTO songs, which means they belong on a KOTIPELTO record.

"It is not easy to say to someone that you don't like his music. You guys and girls dont like all music, neither do I. Neither does Timo Kotipelto.

"I am not anyone to tell what is good and what is bad music, but I do can tell what kind of music I like. And Timo Kotipelto's stuff just doesn't do it for me.

"I do have to say that I think he has written many great songs as well during his solo career. Plus he probably would say the same things about my songwriting. We are just very different. He has a very different sense of humor than I have.

"Maybe the weirdest thing in STRATO was that we never really were friends in the band. I visited Timo Kotipelto in 12 years perhaps 5 times. To me Jens was the closest in the band and lately Lauri Porra, who is a wonderful guy. But none of use was really ever real friends. It might be surprising to you but that is the truth.

"The tour continued and Jörg's drum roadie told me drunk that Jörg is leaving the band after the tour but he is doing the tour 'cause 'he is a businessman.' I guess you could say that Jörg's attitude pretty much culminated what he said to me in Seattle on that tour. He told me that he thinks the band is over. We tried to record, third time, a live DVD in Sao Paulo but could not use the shootings because we played so badly. It was just plain awful. Although we rocked lot of crowds on that 120-date world tour, still the overall vibe was very much like 'going to work.' Not for me though. Not still at that point. But it felt to me that nobody's heart was in the band and it was just for the money.

"The tour came and went, we survived and Jörg didn't leave the band. But it was the weirdest tour I have ever done. Very successful, but still it felt like forcing something. It was not fun. It was sad.

"The next thing I had in mind was to write a really fresh good old fashioned power metal album in the vein of 'Visions'. I felt our fans deserved it and I felt it was the right thing to do. This was the infamous 'RR' album. The songwriting was flowing and the songs sounded really nice and melodic and very much like old STRATO. I was all the time on my toes because of the situation in the band and I was anticipating difficult recording sessions.

"Anyways in late 2006 we completed a demo tape containing 10 brand new songs. I wasn't too happy about the demo, but it did serve its purpose, to present the songs to the record company. I then booked 12 days from Sonic Pump studio in Helsinki for March 2007. This was the weirdest session I had ever had. Jörg was all the time talking about that we have to get the 'Visions hunger' back, although I don't think he himself had that hunger. Nobody had. The session was nothing like the recording sessions before. Nobody had rehearsed the songs really and everything sounded pretty awful. I tweaked the drum tracks for a week and gave up. It was around this point when I really was starting to think why am I keeping this alive when it's so difficult. I remember how much time, energy and money we put to 'Elements 1'. There was nowhere to go after that anymore without just repeating the past. I do know that Timo Kotipelto didn't like that album at all, which yet again shows the difference between him me. It doesn't mean that he has to like it of course, but to me 'Elements 1' represents the peak of the STRATO evolution and perhaps I should have stopped the band already then.

"Last year, 2007, was the turning point for me in many ways. I felt better, but regarding STRATO I felt worse. There were fights about everything, even about trivialities, which really annoyed me. A lot of fights. A lot. I had to use a lot of energy to try to get merch to Stratoshop, which was on the shoulders of Jörg and Timo Kotipelto, because there was no merch for people to order but still they were ordering cause the items were on the page. The SSL certificate that proves the site is secure was expired a year ago, I tried to get that fixed, could not do it because I wasn't authorized to do so. The most popular items from the shop were sold out and Jörg refused to print more. I could not understand any of the things that were going on. At the same time, I was having more fun than in years with my rock opera 'Saana'. When I was making that, I realized what was lacking in STRATO: the enthusiasm, creativity and fun. It wasn't like that in years. 'Saana' gave me hope that there still could be something new for me to learn at this age and it gave me a whole new world of things and a start for something new. Plus I knew I had some really cool new metal songs in the works.

"We did have 8 festival shows during 2007 and it was then, when I was standing on stage in Wacken, Germany before 45,000 metalheads when I fully realized that this band is over. I remember clearly playing those same old songs we had played so many times before and a feeling came to me that told me: this band has no soul anymore. I looked around and I felt like I am part of a play that has a script or machine and that there is nothing fresh and exciting happening anymore. The band sounds awful. Nobody's heart was in it. It was just the same old song. Jörg worked at this point full time in artist production company doing tour managing and he was working at Wacken too. He literally came to play from production office and returned there after. Everybody was polite, on the surface, but there was no friendship, all I could sense were the underlying tensions of relatioships that had come to an end. I had felt during that year that the band existed only for one reason and that was the money. I had felt that this was the main motivation what kept Jörg and Timo Kotipelto in the band still despite of the underlying tensions. While standing on Wacken stage to my absolute horror, I understood that also for me that had now become a reality. I was keeping this alive for money. It was then when I decided that I must stop the band.

"So it was during this show, I decided that it's over. I was still thinking about everything but I felt that for my future, it was the only logical thing to do. I did not want to fire Timo Kotipelto and Jörg because they are and have been as much part of STRATO as I have been and it would not be fair to the fans. I then decided that it is best to lay rest what is already dead. I informed guys by email in October 2008 about my decision and explained in detail my reasons hoping they would see my points and agree what is real. Only Jens and Lauri answered. Timo Kotipelto and Jörg did not even answer to that mail. Jens understood my decision, Lauri did not. I understand him, he got a taste of what it is to be in a succesful rock band touring the world. It is not easy to give that up. He did fail to see my side of the story. That Timo Kotipelto and Jörg did not comment anything really speaks for itself. I did want to finish the STRATOVARIUS saga with style and naive as I am, in February 2008 I wrote a mail to the band and proposed that we would say goodbye to our fans with style and do one more tour. I won't go into details here, but this time I did get a response from Timo Kotipelto and Jörg. I wished them well and wrote back that I can see there cannot be any more tours with this band because of the hostile reactions. So that was that. I felt good about my decision, but not good that out of legal reasons I have had to wait for this announcement for so long.

"Then I thought that since I have all these great songs in my hands, I wanna put these out somehow. So I contacted a few friends, we laid the basic tracks in the same place where the STRATO 'RR' session had taken place a year ago and it was just flowing. There was happiness. There was energy. The songs sounded great. My friends Michael Kiske and Tobias Sammet agreed to sing on the album. I decided to form a new band called 'REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE' which would continue the legacy of STRATOVARIUS. In this first album I just wanted to release these songs finally so I did not have time to search for a permanent line up. I am now, so if you are interested, drop me a mail!

"The album comes out 6.6.2008 through Frontiers Records.

"I am excited and happy…for the first time in years. I can hardly wait what the destiny has in store for me with my new band, projects, songwriting. I am living a very creative times. I have my production company and I am doing lots of different projects and not only metal but basically anything that moves me.

"First I would like to, despite of all, thank Jörg, Timo Kotipelto, Jens, Jari, Lauri, Tuomo, Antti and Jyrki for these 22 years. It was a quite a ride. I wish Jens, Timo Kotipelto, Jörg and Lauri the very best with whatever they decide to do in their life and success with it.

"Last but most importantly, I want to thank you STRATOVARIUS fans for your love and support and for the great life. We will be seeing each other in some ways, somewhere. You will always remain in my heart."

Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE has entered Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland, with producer Janne Saksa to begin recording its fifth album, tentatively titled "The Last Alliance".

According to the grup, "Within the next four weeks, BATTLELORE will record and choose up to 9-10 songs from their material to be on this fifth voyage through Middle Earth. The album will then be mixed and mastered by the legendary Dan Swanö.

"The new material is bigger, better and more epic with a few surprises such as the use of Tomi's [Mykkanen] clean vocals. The band itself describes the new songs as a beautiful combination of 'Sword's Song' and 'Evernight', where all the typical musical elements of BATTLELORE are combined in a new and also unexpected way.

"Needless to say, the whole band is very enthusiastic and exited to be recording these songs.

"Prepare for the album of a lifetime; this one will not disappoint you!"

Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Last Alliance", "Exile The Daystar", "Daughter Of The Sun", "Third Immortal" and "Voice Of The Fallen".

Former STRATOVARIUS mastermind Timo Tolkki's new project 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).

In the latest issue of Finland's Soundi magazine, Tolkki states about the CD, "The [REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE album] contains more or less 'Visions'-style [STRATOVARIUS' acclaimed 1997 release] power metal. Michael Kiske, Pasi Rantanen, Mirka Rantanen, Pasi Heikkilä and Tobias Sammet have recorded their parts. But if there are any live performances, the lineup won't be the same. I have been thinking of asking Jens [Johansson, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist] and Lauri [Porra, STRATOVARIUS bassist] to join me for this."

Regarding the band's name, Timo says, "On the album, there's one song with this title, and Frontiers suggested it to be the band's name too. I thought it was good idea."

When asked if he will perform any STRATOVARIUS songs with REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, Tolkki replies, "Well, what do you think? Of course. I can play my songs with whomever I want."

HAMMERFALL guitarist Stefan Elmgren has issued the following statement:

"I have decided to leave HAMMERFALL. The reason is that I have been offered a job as a pilot within an airline.

"My interest in aviation has been growing very strong, and now I feel its time for me to take a step and be a pilot on a professional level.

"We have been discussing the possibility of combining the work with HAMMERFALL and both me and the rest of the band realized that it would be very hard indeed.

"It has been a great journey with lots of great memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

"I would like to give a big thanks to all the wonderful fans; it's has truly been a pleasure to meet and perform for you all during these 11 years.

"I still love to play the guitar so you might hear from me again someday somehow.

"I would like to wish who ever is taking my place and the rest of the band good luck in the future."

HAMMERFALL has yet to announce a replacement guitarist.

HAMMERFALL singer Joacim Cans will appear on the Swedish TV show "Så Ska Det Låta" on April 4.

The cover artwork for the new album from Danish modern metallers RAUNCHY, entitled "Wasteland Discotheque", can be viewed at this location. Due in Europe on June 30 (July 8 in North America) via Lifeforce Records, the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. This Blackout is Your Apocalypse (intro)
02. Somewhere Along the Road
03. The Bash
04. Warriors
05. Straight to Hell
06. Welcome the Storm
07. Wasteland Discotheque
08. Somebody's Watching Me
09. A Heavy Burden
10. To the Lighthouse
11. Showdown Recovery
12. The Comfort in Leaving

Commented singer Kasper Thomsen: "Lars' [Christensen, guitar] artwork is stunning as hell, very original and not the usual metal artwork you'll see these days, but still in the tradition of what we're all about and known for, hence the album title too."

Thomsen previously described the new material as "dirty, melodic, thrashy, epic, melancholic and... drum roll... heavy. We are experimenting a lot this time around, with vocals, arrangements and musical expression, but we're not gonna change radically — don't worry! But as a wise man once said: there's no point in writing the same record twice, right?"

RAUNCHY's last album, "Death Pop Romance", was released in 2006 through Lifeforce Records.

GONEMAD, the South Florida-based band featuring PRO-PAIN members JC Dwyer (drums) and Marshall Stephens (guitar), has released its fourth album, "Subtle". The CD is available online at Amazon.com, Napster and Rhapsody.

"Subtle" track listing:

01. Last Week
02. Sorrow Can Swim
03. Simple Shove
04. Pure
05. Beefneck
06. Free
07. Ya Got It
08. Bulldozerbutterfly
09. Please Admit It
10. Spoonfed

Since its formation in 1996, GONEMAD has successfully completed many tours of the East Coast, initiating a loyal core of fans and continually spreading its sound throughout the heavy music scene.

Paving the way for "Subtle" were the band's previous releases, "Planet 9", "Curse the Day", "Step Up" and "Impact".

ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET, the new Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand, has set "Grim Tales" as the title of its third album, due before the end of the year via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will be recorded beginning on June 1 at the Black Lounge Studios in Avesta, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Misfit With A Machine Gun", "Dominator Of The Flesh", "Cursed By The Knife", "Make Them Die Slowly", "The Frisco Reaper" and "Saint Lucifer".

Commented Lindstrand: "Today we entered the rehearsal room to start jamming on some new songs together. We began with four songs out of ten and it felt great. I mean, we've had the songs 95% finished for a while now but this was the first time we played and messed around with them as a band. We will continue to work really hard with all ten tracks to get that extra punch in the face and bring a new level to them compared to what they sounded like on demo. I know that you will love this album. No experiments — just great, raw and powerful death thrash."

Finnish hard/glam rockers NEGATIVE will release their fourth album, "Karma Killer", in their home country on May 7. Release dates for other territories will be announced soon.

"Won't Let Go" is the first single from the new album, showcasing the band's natural progress; there are fresh elements in the mix, but the song still sounds like NEGATIVE.

"Karma Killer" was produced by Mikko Karmila who has previously worked with Finnish heavyweights NIGHTWISH and CHILDREN OF BODOM.

"Won't Let Go" will be posted on NEGATIVE's MySpace page on Wednesday, April 2.

NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis is currently recording his solo album at the famous Robert Lang Studios in Richmond Beach, Washington with Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Neil Kernon (NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEICIDE). They have been in the studio since Saturday, March 22 and have just completed the drum tracks with Mark Arrington (ex-NEVERMORE).

Video footage of Jeff Loomis shredding it up earlier this month at the Schecter booth at the Musikmesse Frankfurt 2008 fair in Frankfurt, Germany can be viewed below (courtesy of "MaryJana666").

NEVERMORE is currently working on material for the follow-up to 2005's "This Godless Endeavor", tentatively late 2008/early 2009 via Century Media Records.

NEVERMORE last year parted ways with guitarist Steve Smyth due to "personal and business differences."

During Smyth's time away from the touring circuit (Smyth was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in 2006 and hadn't toured with the band in over a year), NEVERMORE had been utilizing the services of longtime session guitarist Chris Broderick (JAG PANZER, now in MEGADETH).

Swedish black metallers SHINING have issued the following update:

"Due to [drummer] Jarle Byberg's current situation, we have decided that we cannot go ahead with merely him in our ranks. This has nothing to do with him leaving URGEHAL last week or anything like that, but he simply hasn't got time enough to tour as much as we do, nor spending month after month in the studio. Therefore, we have now decided to let Rickard, who accompanied us on the 'Thank God For Niklas Kvarforth' tour last year, become a permanent member of SHINING."

SHINING recently tapped GORGOROTH's King Ov Hell (real name: Tom Cato Visnes) to play bass on the band's upcoming sixth studio album, entitled "Tillbaka På Ruta Ett" (Back to Square One). The CD will be recorded at The Slaughterhouse studios with producer Rickard Bengtsson beginning on April 28.

"Tillbaka På Ruta Ett" is tentatively due late 2008 via Osmose Productions. The LP will contain six songs and will feature "six different vocalists," according to a press release.

SHINING has yet to find a replacement for bassist Phil A. Cirone who left the band last year.

The group's latest album, "V - Halmstad", was released in North America on June 26, 2007 via Osmose USA/The End Records.

SHINING filmed its controversial February 3, 2007 concert at Diezel in Halmstad, Sweden for an upcoming DVD, entitled "Fy Fan För Livet!" In addition to the live footage, the disc will consist of a two-hour "road movie" and the promotional video for the new song "Låt Oss Ta Allt Från Varandra". SHINING's setlist spanned the band's entire career and the show featured guest appearances by members of MAYHEM and CARPATHIAN FOREST.