Polish extreme metal act BEHEMOTH will film its February 17, 2008 concert at La Locomotive in Paris, France for an upcoming DVD.

Commented vocalist/guitarist Adam "Nergal" Darski: "I've been thinking about this DVD for a long time now. Our last release, 'Crush.Fukk.Create', seems to be pretty outdated. We've released two records in new lineup since then, we've toured the world few times and definitely grew as a band and developed our stage show. It's time for something fresh and exciting! We've managed to collect over 100 tapes documenting all the touring for our last two records. Some of the most insane footage was caught there. Fall/winter release on Regain Records is planned.”

The cover artwork of "Inflikted", the debut album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY — the new project featuring SEPULTURA founding members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) alongside vocalist Joe Duplantier (bass) of the French progressive death metallers GOJIRA and SOULFLY guitarist Marc Rizzo — has been posted online at tthis location. (Note: The previously circulated "artwork" for this album was used on the promotional CD only and was never intended for the finished product.)

Two songs from "Inflikted" are currently available for free download:

"Sanctuary": MP3
"Inflikted": MP3

"Inflikted" will be released in North America on March 25, 2008 via Roadrunner Records (one day earlier internationally). Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) makes a cameo bass appearance on one track. Another song is a collaboration between Max, Joe and Richie Cavalera (INCITE) on vocals.

Italian progressive-aggressive metal band ELDRITCH will film its first DVD on March 22 at Music Street Club in Lugnano, Pisa, Italy. According to the group, former ELDRITCH keyboardist Oleg Smirnoff will rejoin his former bandmates during the shoot to perform songs from the group's first three albums. Additional guests may also make an appearance.

ELDRITCH released its seventh album, "Blackenday", in April 2007 via Inside Out Music. The CD features guest appearances by Ray Alder (FATES WARNING, REDEMPTION, ENGINE) and Nicholas Van Dyk (REDEMPTION) on the song "Broken Road". On all the other tracks you can hear Laura Scappini (IN MEMORY) doing the backup vocals. The CD was mixed by R.D. Liapakis at Music Factory studios in Germany and was mastered by Christian Schmid. A video for the song "The Blackened Day" was shot in February 2007 with director Mirco Andreis and can be viewed below.

MALPRACTICE, the Finnish band featuring members of TO/DIE/FOR, MANITOU, OMNIUM GATHERUM and REVERSION, has completed work on its third album, "Triangular", for a March 19 release through Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded at Astia studio with producer Anssi Kippo and Southeast Sounds in Karhula with Teemu Aalto. The album was mixed by Anssi Kippo.

"Triangular" track listing:

01. Maze Of Inequity (7:35)
02. Symmetry (4:11)
03. Deception (4:31)
04. Deadline (5:52)
05. Platform (4:36)
06. Triangular (8:37)
07. Waves (4:02)
08. Fragments (10:42)

MALPRACTICE last year announced the addition of vocalist Aleksi Parviainen (REVERSION, SOULCAGE) to the group's ranks.

Swedish metallers IN FLAMES were honored in the "Best Swedish Live Act" and "Best Swedish Band" categories at the Bandit Rock Awards. The awards ceremony, which was organized and hosted by the Stockholm-based radio station Bandit Rock 106.3, was held this past Friday (February 1) at Tyrol in the Swedish capital.

"A BIG thank you to all of you who voted for us. It means a lot to us and we are really proud of these awards."

FOLKEARTH, an international music project created by musicians playing folk and Viking metal, is preparing to release its fourth album, "Father of Victory" (cover artwork), via Stygian Crypt Productions. The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Forlorn Knight (3:34)
02. The Purest Breed (4:26)
03. Sleipnir (4:45)
04. What Glory Remains (3:57)
05. Dawn in Tir Na N'Og (4:07)
06. The Will of Odin (5:52)
07. Father of Victory (3:08)
08. Charles Martel (5:17)
09. Wallachian Warlord (4:28)
10. The Iron Wolf (4:12)
11. Heroes in the Sky (4:01)
12. Carmina Bellica (3:32)

Check out audio samples at the band's MySpace page.

UK melodic power metallers POWER QUEST have finished mixing their new album, "Master of Illusion", for a March 26 Japanese release. The CD, which will be mastered on February 13, will feature a guest appearance by keyboardist Richard West from the UK progressive metal band THRESHOLD on the track "Human Machine". Other songtitles set to appear on the album include "Hearts and Voices", "The Vigil", "The Right Place and the Wrong Time", "Count My Sins" and "The Tragedy Suite".

POWER QUEST last year had their first two albums re-released as double-disc sets with bonus DVD material. These twin re-releases have been repackaged with extended sleeve notes and new artwork. They are available through Majestic Rock and their European distribution channels or the POWER QUEST online store.

Swedish metallers OPETH recorded four extra songs during the sessions for their new album, "Watershed":

01. Derelict Herds (original song)
02. Bridge of Sighs (ROBIN TROWER cover)
03. Den Ständiga Resan (MARIE FREDRIKSSON cover)
04. Would? (ALICE IN CHAINS cover)

It is not presently clear which versions of the "Watershed" CD will contain the above-listed cuts, but all the extra songs are expected to surface at one point or another.

"Watershed" is scheduled for release on June 3 via Roadrunner Records (one day earlier internationally). The CD was recorded in the band's native Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and Jens Bogren.

According to a press release, "Watershed" is truly one of those special records that cycles through a variety of moods, speeds and textures, complete with lots of subtleties and nuances of sound. Because of its expansive scope, "Watershed" is destined to land the album atop many "best-of" lists. Album opener "Coil" is a gorgeous acoustic number, featuring local folk vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, while "Heir Apparent" will knock listeners unconscious with its blunt force metal. Always one to defy the rules, OPETH posits sung vocals over artillery-like blast beats on "The Lotus Eater", cementing their reputation as innovators and redefiners.

"Watershed" combines elements of modern metal, prog rock, free jazz and hints of European folk music, all of which come together for a seamless, unique collection of songs that will leave an indelible mark upon all who listen.

The follow-up to 2005's "Ghost Reveries" is the first OPETH release to feature new guitarist Fredrik Åkesson and drummer Martin Axenrot and is the band's second effort for Roadrunner Records.

"Watershed" track listing:

01. Coil
02. Heir Apparent
03. The Lotus Eater
04. Burden
05. Porcelain Heart
06. Hessian Peel
07. Hex Omega

METALLICA will perform at the SKK Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 18. The group's schedule is now shaping up as follows:

May 28 - Chorzow, Poland - Slaski Stadium
May 30 - Landgraaf, Netherlands - Pinkpop
May 31 - Madrid, Spain - Electric Weekend
Jun. 03 - Prague, Czech Republic - Slavia Stadium
Jun. 05 - Lisbon, Portugal - Rock In Rio Lisboa
Jun. 07 - Nürburgring, Germany - Rock Am Ring
Jun. 08 - Nürnberg, Germany - Rock Im Park
Jul. 16 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
Jul. 18 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Hall
Jul. 22 - Bologna, Italy - Parco Nord

Norwegian extreme metal four-piece KEEP OF KALESSIN recently entered the studio with producer Rune Stavnesli (NECROPHAGIA) to begin recording the follow-up to 2006's "Armada" for a spring release.

"We were supposed to deliver the final mix for mastering today (January 31) at 3:00 p.m., however, we decided to do some changes to the title track in the last minute," stated guitarist Obsidian C. "After a phone call with the mastering studio, we were able to postpone the upload of the files until 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. As we're moving close to the deadline, me and Rune had only two hours of sleep last night and we're in way over our heads by doing these changes so late..."

During an interview with Metal Injection conducted at this year's NAMM show in Anaheim, TRIVIUM vocalist and lead guitarist Matt Heafy revealed new details about about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the group's new album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Roadrunner Records.

"We started demoing after Family Values, like October," he said. "We started writing some songs, demoing them. The demo quality is so good it sounds like a real album, which is awesome, so it gives us a really good basis to compare and fix shit, so we've been revising and going back in and changing shit up. We're doing another set of demos. I think we're probably going to have 30 songs to pick from and we're working with Nick Raskulinecz [FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH, VELVET REVOLVER, SHADOWS FALL, STONE SOUR]."

Legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (ex-DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) has issued the following update:

"I am very happy to announce the world release of my new album: 'First Underground Nuclear Kitchen'. It will be available the first week of May.

"I am extremely proud of these songs. When I record songs, I never normally play them over and over, but this album is very addictive. I can't stop playin' it.

"It is a roots album, it is a true account of my musical heritage...it is an album, that is also fearless. Multi-dimensional. And remember, I never make the same album twice, I'm not one to bask in the past. It is an in the moment record, it's very emotional.

"I worked some long hours in my home studio. I believe that the hard work has been worth waitin' for. This is for all my fans, and beyond....this is a deep musical statement."

Hughes' new album was recorded with a lineup that included RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith on drums and Luis Carlos Maldonado on guitar. Also, George Nastos, who played on the "Feel" and "Soulfully Live in the City of Angels" albums, is making his return.

OPETH's Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following update:

"Thought I'd gain some pure death metal credibility and mention that I'm back in BLOODBATH again. I was slightly 'talked into' coming back but I certainly don't regret it now. Obviously I am busy all the time, both with my family and OPETH, so don't hold your breath for any massively extensive tours, BUT, I do believe we'll do the occasional gigs when the time is right. I was asked to sing on a four-track release the other guys been working with entitled 'Unblessing the Purity' and I have to say it's the best fucking death metal I've heard since 'Domination', and I'm not even counting my own involvement. I just basically did what they wanted me to and it sounds really good! We might record another album as well sometime later...

"Further, we're in the process of completing the artwork for the new OPETH album. It's almost done and looking good. The album's mastered and sounds very nice. We had some journalists from all over fly to Sweden for a pre-release listening party and the reactions we're great! They seemed extremely excited all of them, but who gives a fuck about journalists???? Still, it was nice to hear I must admit.

"I'm taking on more work as well, I've guested on an album of a friend of mine, I'm waiting for the 'OK' to let you guys know who it is. On top of that I was asked about another guest appearance which I accepted more or less yesterday. There are more 'big' plans as well that I've been thinking about but mentioning it now would be a bit 'off' as I can't see these particular projects happening until maybe 2-3 years from now.

"All the guys are doing fine, we'll start rehearsing in a couple of weeks. Still deciding on the setlists but yeah....I will have to practise and refresh my memory somewhat I guess.

"Yeah, whatever... 'Rambe on, you retarded fucking fuck,' I hear you say....

"Time for me to go and learn how to play 'Pump Up the Jam'. Since we're moving in that disco-oriented direction, we thought we'd might as well cover a classic....

"If you thought, 'What the fuck?' just then, you need professional help..."

Mikael Åkerfeldt recently spoke to Revolver magazine about the group's forthcoming follow-up to 2005's "Ghost Reveries", tentatively due in the spring via Roadrunner Records.

"The music is much more complex," he said. "The metal parts are even faster and a lot more technical than the last one. It's really hard to play some of this stuff. I mean, I wrote it and even I have trouble playing parts of it. I think it's going to be hard for some people to get into. It's definitely not a commercial-sounding record. The arrangements are exhausting. And it's much darker. Even the major patterns are very dark, while I think 'Ghost Reveries' had some light."

When asked if the songs were influences by anything musical, Mikael replied, I was hugely inspired by Scott Walker, who's an avant-garde artist and crooner. Last year he put out a record called 'The Drift', which is quite extreme and frightening, and it made a huge impact on me. Immediately, I wanted to do something like that. It just felt right. Also, with the situation the band has gone through over the last couple of years with the lineup changes, I just wanted it to be this way. I didn't want it to be a happy-sounding record."

OPETH's "The Roundhouse Tapes" high-definition-filmed DVD has had its projected release date pushed back to September 2008 from the previously announced early 2008. This will also feature lots of fan interviews, band interviews, soundcheck footage and live photos, along with exclusive menu music written by mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt and keyboardist Per Wiberg.

OPETH's "The Roundhouse Tapes" double CD has sold 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The set contains "a captivating OPETH performance from the Camden Roundhouse, London, UK, on November 9, 2006, and sees the band in scintillating form churning out a selection of classics from their illustrious career," according to a press release.

The band will take part in DREAM THEATER's "Progressive Nation" in the spring, a package tour that will also feature the talents of 3 and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

"Ghost Reveries" has sold around 90,000 copies in the United States since its 2005 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

QUEEN guitarist Brian May spoke to the press after the premiere of "We Will Rock You" in Vienna on January 24, 2008. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Q: There are rumors that you will be going on tour late this year.

May: "We are planning to. We're planning to tour in the autumn."

Q: What are your plans for the future?

May: "Ah well, we're finishing an album at the moment with Paul Rodgers. We plan to tour later in the year and that's about as far as I can see at the moment. I keep busy. I do lots of other things too. I've become a Chancellor of a University. I don't know if you know that, and a Doctor, and I don't sleep. (laughs)"

Q: Any other musical plans?

May: "We are working — I guess the big news which I didn't tell anyone else, it that we're now working very hard on the sequel. Ben has now finished the first draft of his script called 'We Will Rock You 2' and so will be the continuing adventures of Scaramouche and Galileo and that's a great challenge, you know. To achieve this once is incredible and we feel lucky, but if we could do it twice, then, you know, and with some new surprises, good fun."

Former THE GATHERING and current AGUA DE ANNIQUE singer Anneke van Giersbergen has issued the following update:

"Last weekend, we played our very first festival with AGUA DE ANNIQUE! And not just any festival... we played the Noorderslag fest in Groningen, Holland. Here's where all 'hip and happening' Dutch bands play in front of an eager audience and many people from the biz. We were very pleased to be there!

"And so we are moving on in 2008... We played a very new song called 'My Town' in Groningen and we are prepping a few more to expand our live set.

"The year started of in a fantastic way when Joris and I were joined by my lovely friend Danny Cavanagh [ANATHEMA] and played the Little Devil Club in Tilburg, Holland [on January 2, 2008]. We had no time for a proper rehearsal, but there was some magic in the air that night I guess. Thank you to those of you who came to see us, Danny and Joris and also Paul and LD for having us.

"I have written a bunch of new tunes for the next album already and we will hop into the studio one of these months to make a nice and relaxed start. But first we'll play the clubs and festivals in Holland and abroad. The Dutch festival season is traditionally opened by the great Paaspop festival and we will be playing there on March 22nd."

Watch fan-filmed video footage of Anneke van Giersbergen and Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) performing "The Blower's Daughter" from Damien Rice live at Little Devil in Tilburg, Netherlands on January 2, 2008:

Legendary death metal vocalist Chris Barnes (SIX FEET UNDER, ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) has officially parted ways with the Finish death metal band TORTURE KILLER, who took their name from a SIX FEET UNDER song back when they were a SFU and OBITUARY cover band.

"I am no longer involved with, or a member of, the band TORTURE KILLER," says Barnes in a statement. "The split is mutual; it was just time for me to move forward. I wish the band well in all future plans and musical endeavors."

TORTURE KILLER has scheduled a string of Europen tour dates featuring Juri Sallinen on vocals. "Sallinen appeared on our 2005 split 7" (Woodcut Records) and has helped us doing random live shows in our home country since 2004 so for us things are like they've been for years now and together we've molded into a properly working live band which we now want to represent to audiences," the group said in a statement.

Nocturno Culto of the long-running Norwegian black metallers DARKTHRONE has issued the following update:

"We have recorded four songs for the next album, 'Dark Thrones And Black Flags'. We sort of tried to keep the title 'hidden,' but my mouth ran over talking to Metal Hammer (damn!!!), so anyways, that's the title, and NO, it's not punkish you bastards, it's METAL TO THE BONE!!! I tell ya, what we allow ourself to do these days.... riff-wise, I mean. IT'S A BLOODY FEAST!!!! The plan is to have the final recordings ready in July at latest. I know, I know, this album comes fast, but not to worry, we'll use just a tad more time on the album after that."

DARKTHRONE's latest album, "F.O.A.D.", was released in September 2007 via Peaceville. An EP, "NWOBHM" (New Wave Of Black Heavy Metal), preceded the full-length CD on July 23.

Legendary Norwegian black metallers MAYHEM were honored in the "Metal" category at the 36th annual Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards) for their latest release, "Ordo Ad Chao". The largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show was held earlier tonight (Saturday, February 2) at the Spektrum in

The nominees in the "Metal" category were as follows:

AUDREY HORNE - "Le Fol" (Indie Recordings)
DIMMU BORGIR - "In Sorte Diaboli" (Nuclear Blast)
MAYHEM - "Ordo Ad Chao" (Season Of Mist)
RED HARVEST - "A Greater Darkness" (Season Of Mist)

"We Die as We Dream (Alone)", the new video from the Italian doom metal band THUNDERSTORM, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's latest album, "As We Die Alone", which was released in March 2007 via Dragonheart Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Faithless Soul" was recorded at New Sin Studio in Loria (Italy) and includes a cover version of the JIMI HENDRIX classic "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)". THUNDERSTORM's version of the song is described by the band as "ultra-heavy but respectful of the original feeling."

THUNDERSTORM previously stated about the new CD, "Most of this album sounds different from others our works: It's doom-metal-oriented, of course, but most songs have a different style from previous CDs. This album will be the best THUNDERSTORM work ever, that's for sure!"

ASSAILANT, the Umeå, Sweden-based band featuring guitarist Oscar Norberg ("little brother" of Emil of PERSUADER/SAVAGE CIRCUS fame and Nils Norberg of NOCTURNAL RITES), has set "Wicked Dream" as the title of its sophomore album, due on March 21 via Dockyard 1. According to a press release, the new CD "is not only more mature than its predecessor but it shows a band that has clearly found its own path in metal, very melodic yet really hard, sprinkled with influences of rock, death metal and thrash. Crown of the album is the ballad 'Eternal'."

Another new DISMEMBER track, entitled "Death Conquers All", has been posted on a special DISMEMBER MySpace page launched by Regain Records. The song comes off the Swedish death metallers' forthcoming self-titled album, due in Europe on February 18 via Regain (April 1 in the U.S.). The CD was recorded at B.A.S. studios with producer Nico Elgstrand (MURDER SQUAD, KRUX, MERCILESS, ENTOMBED).

"Dismember" (cover artwork) track listing:

01. Death Conquers All
02. Europa Burns
03. Under A Bloodred Sky
04. The Hills Have Eyes
05. Legion
06. Tide Of Blood
07. Combat Fatigue
08. No Honor In Death
09. To End It All
10. Dark Depths
11. Black Sun

DEF LEPPARD's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"Well, it's one of the constants in the history of DEF LEPPARD, and we regret to inform you that it has popped up again: the release of the band's new album, 'Songs from the Sparkle Lounge', has been pushed back (even though the date we mentioned two weeks ago was only a tentative date to start with). The album is now scheduled to come out on May 5 in the UK and May 6 in North America (international dates have not been confirmed yet, but it will probably be May 6 as well). I guess we don't need to tell you that these dates are also tentative and subject to change.

"We can also give you the working titles of all the tracks scheduled to appear on the album. From the way things look now, 11 songs from the Sparkle Lounge will be making their way to your CD player:

01. Nine Lives
02. C'mon C'mon
03. Go
04. Love
05. Cruise Control
06. Bad Actress
07. Hallucinate
08. Tomorrow
09. Come Undone
10. Only the Good Die Young
11. Give It Away

"Please note that some of these titles may still change (they're working titles, after all) and that they are not listed in any particular order."

"Angels", the new video from Swedish metallers STEEL ATTACK, can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's new album, "Carpe DiEnd" (cover artwork), which is scheduled for release on February 22, 2008 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train studio and it was mixed at Solnasound by Mike Wead (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND).

"Carpe DiEnd" track listing:

01. Carpe DiEnd
02. The Evil in Me
03. I Keep Falling
04. Holy is Evil
05. Perpetual Solitude
06. For Whom I Bleed?
07. Angels
08. Entrance to Heaven Denied
09. Crawl
10. Never Again
11. Beyond the Light
12. Angels (video clip)

STEEL ATTACK last year parted ways with Anden Andersson (bass), Tony Elfving (drums) and Johan Jalonen Penn (guitar) and replaced them with Johan Löfgren (LACK OF FAITH), Peter Morén (TAD MOROSE) and Simon Johansson (MEMORY GARDEN, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA), respectively.

Italian power metallers KALEDON have set "Chapter 5: A New Era Begins" as the title of their fifth album, tentatively due in Europe in May/June via Hellion Records. The CD artwork will be designed by Fabrizio Galliccia.

KALEDON last fall announced the addition of singer Marco Palazzi to the group's ranks.

The band parted ways with vocalist Claudio Conti in October due to "personal differences."

The band will enter the studio in March to begin recording its new album.

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR were honored in the "Best Video" category at the 36th annual Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards) for their "The Serpentine Offering" clip. The largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show was held Saturday night (February 2) at the Spektrum in Oslo, Norway and was broadcast live on the Norwegian channel TV2.

The "The Serpentine Offering" video was shot by Swedish director Patric Ullaeus (LACUNA COIL, KAMELOT) of Revolver Film Company AB and was DIMMU BORGIR's first promotional clip for their most recent album, "In Sorte Diaboli".

Swedish metallers PERSUADER will enter the studio in May to begin recording their fourth album for a late 2008 release via Dockyard 1.

PERSUADER's third full-length effort, "When Eden Burns", was released in May 2006 via Dockyard 1. The follow-up to 2004's "Evolution Purgatory" (Sanctuary/Noise) was recorded at Powerhouse studio in Hamburg, Germany with producer (and SAVAGE CIRCUS bandmate) Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR).

PERSUADER members Jens Karlsson (vocals, guitar) and Emil Norberg (lead guitar) teamed up with Sielck and former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch in a new band called SAVAGE CIRCUS. The group's debut album, "Dreamland Manor", was released in August 2005 via Dockyard 1. Stauch has since been kicked out of the band.

Iron Maiden have become the first rock band to use a single aeroplane to take them, their crew and equipment on tour - with their lead singer as the pilot.

"Welcome on board. We'll all be living together on this bus for a while. And maybe we'll share the driving."

We are sitting on the tarmac at a VIP section of London's Stansted airport in a very special Boeing 757 - and standing in front of us is our captain is using the intercom to say hello.

His name is Bruce.

Dressed in a white pilot's shirt with yellow shoulder stripes, a black clip-on tie and a security pass around his neck, he looks like every pilot you have ever seen.

He also speaks in that way that pilots do, calm and measured, like they are talking to air traffic control.

Except he is standing on his own plane, addressing an aircraft full of familiar faces: his wife, bandmates and road crew.

They are all sitting in front of him, ready to be flown to Mumbai in India for the first show on a 45-date world tour.

You see, Captain Bruce Dickinson has another job.

By night, he is frontman of British heavy metallers Iron Maiden.

Now a fully-trained commercial pilot, with charter firm Astraeus, he has helped hatch a plan to take his band on the road in a single plane.

"I came up with a crazy idea: just imagine all the gear, all the crew and the band, everybody all on the same aeroplane," he explains.

This is your captain speaking...The aircraft (flight number: 666) is pretty easy to spot.

It has "Iron Maiden" painted on the side and their skeleton mascot Eddie on the tailfin.

Fans have dubbed the plane "Ed Force One".

However, that is where the rock'n'roll stops. There is a proper crew and no sign of bad behaviour or irresponsible high jinks - just a bit more laughter than you would get on a normal flight.

For one, the band's crew are much happier that this is not a commercial flight with no "punters or crying babies".

Shortly before we get into Mumbai airport, band manager Rod Smallwood explains why he likes the single plane idea.


A distinctive livery"It is pretty complex to do this. You've got 12 tons of equipment, you've got 60-70 crew and you've got the band and their families. But with this plane, we can move quickly," he says.

"On one leg of the tour we're doing four major stadium shows in four different countries in one week. You just couldn't do that the normal way."

And after a textbook landing in India, Bruce unclips his pilot's tie.

Now he's heading for the hotel to prepare to play to 30,000 people with his band.

From calm pilot to heavy metal frontman. "It's a bit like being Jeckyl and Hyde," he laughs.

German ambient/gothic rock band DESPAIRATION will release its fifth album, "A Requiem In Winter's Hue", on February 29 via My Kingdom Music. The CD will be distributed by SPV in Germany and Aural Music in all other territories.

"A Requiem In Winter's Hue" (cover artwork) was recorded in the band's own Winter Solitude Studio with help from MarQs Plietsch (Authentic Audio) during the drum recording and mastering stages.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Kiss Of Ashes
02. A Lovelorn Requiem
03. The One Who Ceased To Breathe
04. Musique De La Decadence
05. Farewell In Blue
06. The Shallow Sea (re-recording)
07. Letters From A Coffin
08. Cathartic Revelation
09. Humanity As A Child
10. Lucid Lullaby
11. Inner Peace

Check out the songs "A Lovelorn Requiem" and "The One Who Ceased To Breathe" on the band's MySpace page.