BLABBERMOUTH.NET can exclusively reveal the track listing for the upcoming reissue of DEATH's classic 1995 album "Symbolic", due on April 1 via Roadrunner Records. The remastered LP will include the original album tracks plus several previously unreleased, ultra-rare, mostly instrumental demo recordings that were completed in early 1994 with the lineup of Chuck Schuldiner (guitar), Gene Hoglan (drums) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass). The package will also come with brand new liner notes written by longtime metal journalist Don Kaye.

"Symbolic" reissue track listing:

01. Symbolic
02. Zero Tolerance
03. Empty Words
04. Sacred Serenity
05. 1,000 Eyes
06. Without Judgement
07. Crystal Mountain
08. Misanthrope
09. Perennial Quest

Demo/Pre-Production Recordings:

10. Symbolic Acts (original "Symbolic" title) (instrumental)
11. Zero Tolerance (instrumental)
12. Crystal Mountain (instrumental)
13. Misanthrope (instrumental)
14. Symbolic Acts (original "Symbolic" title) (with vocals)

* Tracks 10-13 recorded March 1994:

Chuck Schuldiner - Guitar
Gene Hoglan - Drum Programming
Steve DiGiorgio - Bass

* Track 14 recorded January 1994:

Chuck Schuldiner - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drum Programming

"Symbolic" has sold just under 50,000 copies in the United States in the 12 years since its release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

English progressive doomsters THE PROPHECY have issued the following update:

"THE PROPHECY will be appearing at a number of local shows with Northern Ireland metal heroes HONEY FOR CHRIST. The last show at the Snooty Fox in Wakefield will be played in aid of cancer research so make sure you come along for a top night out!

"The band continue to finalise the tracks for the new CD. The band have provisionally booked in to Priory Studios in Sutton Coalfields."

THE PROPHECY last fall posted a pre-production track from the band's forthcoming album, "Into the Light", on the group's MySpace page. The song, entitled "Dont Forget", was played at dates on their recent European tour.

After a five-year absence, France's CELESTIA returns with its long-awaited sophomore album, entitled "Frigidiis Apotheosia: Abstinencia Genesiis", due out in January via Paragon Records in America, and Apparitia Recordings in Europe. This follow up to 2002's "Apparitia: Sumptuous Spectre" will continue on in CELESTIA's tradition of dark romantic and melancholic black metal. This time enhanced with a more intellectual and personal approach.

"Frigidiis Apotheosia: Abstinencia Genesiis" track listing:

01. She's Dead (Valse Funeste de Decomposition)
02. A Plaintive Cry Merely Echo
03. Admirable Eros Abstraction
04. A Regrettable Misinterpretation of Mournfulness
05. Death of the Lizard Queen (Necro PhaanthasmA)
06. Morbid Romance (ArcanA VI Revisitae)
07. The Seed of Negation (AbnegativiA Rejections)
08. Frigidiis Apotheosia (Dormant rests of Raped NecrosiA)

DEFTONES has set "Eros" as the title of the band's sixth studio album, tentatively due later in the year. Frontman Chino Moreno recently told UK magazine Kerrang! that the songwriting for the CD is coming along much faster than it has in the past. Moreno said, "We've certainly taken our time on the last few records but this one has happened very quickly. We got off tour and took a month off. Then we went into the studio and wrote a lot of music very quickly...The most important thing we had to do was to break our habits and change the way we've done things for the last few years."

Moreno explained that the band took much longer to come up with material in the past because "everyone was working separately. We would record our parts and then email them out without actually seeing each other...This time, we were all together and that really helped."

The band's last CD, "Saturday Night Wrist", came out in October 2006 and its creation nearly resulted in the band's demise. But Moreno said, "Our working relationship is better than it's ever been before. As a result, everything has improved -- our friendships and our lives. We're all really happy now."

As for the direction of the new record, Moreno hinted, "The songs are definitely weird...there's a lot of atmosphere and a lot of soundscaping."

According to Sounds2move.de, German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE have finished mixing their new album, "Songs for the Last View", due on March 31, 2008 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts" 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. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Shadow I Once Kissed", "A Pearl", "Sacrificial Lamb" and "Oceans" (working title).

German dark/symphonic gothic metal band ATARGATIS has announced the addition of guitarist Maximilian Schulz to its ranks. Schulz joins the band as the replacement for Ernst "Azmo" Wurdak, who left ATARGATIS at the end of last year in order to return, in his words, to "no-compromise underground music."

ATARGATIS' latest CD, "Nova", features a guest appearance by Matthias Hechler (Matze) from the German gothic metal heroes CREMATORY.

Released on November 16 via Massacre Records, the CD was recorded and produced at the Helion Studios (DARKSEED, EQUILIBRIUM) in Munich, Germany. The complete layout and design was created by Katja Piolka (PRIMAL FEAR, RAGE, LEAVES' EYES, DESTRUCTION). In addition to the cover design, the band worked with Katja Piolka on their newest promo pictures.

"Nova" contains ten songs, including a cover of ARMY OF LOVERS' "Crucified". The CD is also available in digipack format (including two exclusive bonus tracks).

American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT have issued the following update:

"In a fast four days we have come and gone from Belgrade, Serbia for the shooting of our next videos. All we can say is the ride gets wilder! Thanks to Stacca and all the fine people at ICode, all the actors, models, staff, crew and director/visionary Ivan Colic. Also to the very friendly people we met in Belgrade, we are looking forward to the concert in April!"

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford recently spoke to UK's Metal Hammer magazine about his aspirations to one day make a "black metal" record. "Oh, yeah, some day I'd love to, but it's all about finding the time," he said. "I'm metal 24-7. Ihsahn [guitarist/vocalist of Norwegian black metal legends EMPEROR] has been a good friend of mine for many, many years and we've had conversations about trying to do something together. A few of the DIMMU BORGIR guys are also urging me to try. So if I did give it a go, it would be with guys of that calbre. I'll be honest, I love that music but I've no idea what venturing into that territory might sound like. Ihsahn's attitude is, 'So why not have a go?' And he's absolutely right. That's what life's all about. What's the point of staying in your safe little comfort zone?"

Washington D.C.-based metal band DARKEST HOUR will film a live DVD at Alley Katz in Richmond, Virginia on January 31 on the first night of the group's U.S. tour with CEPHALIC CARNAGE, EMMURE and WHITECHAPEL.

Commented the band: "The reason we choose to record a show in Richmond, VA is because simply, motherfuckers in VA are crazy! And we wanted to document how VA parties for the world."

DARKEST HOUR's DVD will be filmed by Richmond's Mark Restivo.

After years of (near-)unavailability, the 1998 brutal death metal classic "Killing On Adrenaline" by DYING FETUS will finally be reissued this summer by Displeased Records. The CD will be remastered and will feature upgraded layout.

DYING FETUS last fall completed a month-long tour of the States in support of its latest album, "War of Attrition". Joining DYING FETUS for this trek were CEPHALIC CARNAGE, SKELETONWITCH, DEMIRICOUS, and THE ABSENCE.

Finnish metallers NIGHTWISH have issued the following update:

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have been nominated in the following categories at the Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent):

* Band Of The Year
* Best Metal Album ("Dark Passion Play")
* Best Album" ("Dark Passion Play")
* Song Of The Year ("Amaranth")
* Best Finnish Artist

Emma Gaala will be held on Saturday March 8, 2008 at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki.

NIGHTWISH has also been nominated for the German Echo award in the "Rock/Alternative (international)" category.

The Echo awards ceremony will take place on February 15 in Berlin.

Austrian extreme metallers BELPHEGOR recently entered Andy Classen's Stage One Studios in Kassel, Germany to begin recording their new album, "Bondage Goat Zombie", for an April 11, 2008 European release via Nuclear Blast Records (April 15 in North America). The follow-up to 2006's "Pestapokalypse VI" was recorded in three separate sessions lasting through the middle of January 2008.

Commented the band: "The album features artwork in classic and disturbing BELPHEGOR style. Some of the nine brand new tracks will deal with the writings of the infamous Marquis de Sade. Sounds like the ultimate BELPHEGOR treatment? Expect supreme death/ black metal art."

"Bondage Goat Zombie" track listing:

01. Bondage Goat Zombie
02. Stigma Diabolicum
03. Armageddon's Raid
04. Justine: Soaked In Blood
05. Sexdictator Lucifer
06. Shred For Sathan
07. Chronicles Of Crime
08. The Sukkubus Lustrate
09. Der Rutenmarsch

BELPHEGOR recently completed a European tour with SIX FEET UNDER, NILE and FINNTROLL.

Swedish black/death metallers LORD BELIAL will enter Deadline Studios on March 3 with producer Valle Adzic to begin recording their new album, entitled "The Black Curse". The CD is tentatively expected this summer via Regain Records.

LORD BELIAL has been confirmed for this year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany.

LORD BELIAL's seventh full-length album, "Revelation", was recorded at Los Angered studio (owned by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque) outside Gothenburg. It is out now on Regain Records.

Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have inked a deal with Sweden's Regain Records.

Commented the label in a statement: "We are really looking forward releasing the upcoming material of the band and bring them to the next level."

ENTHRONED's latest album, "Tetra Karcist", was released in September 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded under the guidance of Harris Johns (SODOM, KREATOR, VOIVOD). Guest musicians on the CD include Ashmedi (MELECHESH), MkM (ANTAEUS), Verderf (ex-VERLOREN, OUROBOUROS), Harris Johns and Dungeon (ICONOCLASM).

Swedish melodic death metal band WITHIN Y will release their third album, "The Cult", on February 27 via the Gothenburg-based label Gain. The CD artwork was created by Niklas Sundin of DARK TRANQUILLITY and Cabin Fever Media.

"The Cult" track listing:

01. Deathtrip
02. 21
03. The Cult
04. Bittersweet Suicide
05. The Predictable End
06. My Fall
07. King Of Flies
08. Self Refinement
09. Strive
10. Facing Reality

Portugese metal/goth rock band HEAVENWOOD has tapped Jens Bogren (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH) to mix and master its third album in April at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. The initial recording sessions for the CD will take place at Ultrasound Studios with Daniel Cardoso and Ricardo Dias.

HEAVENWOOD's forthcoming album will feature a guest appearance by singer Tijs Vanneste of the Belgian progressive metallers OCEANS OF SADNESS and will be released late spring/early summer via Recital Records.

After the departure in 2004 of main songwritter and guitarist Ricardo Dias, HEAVENWOOD went on a lengthy hiatus. Now Ricardo Dias has returned along with new drummer Luiz Ferreira (ex-SECRECY from Portugal).

HEAVENWOOD 2007 is:

Ernesto Guerra - Vocals
Ricardo Dias - Guitars and Vocals
Bruno Silva - Guitar
Luiz Ferreira - Drums

HEAVENWOOD previously relelased two albums — "Diva" and "Swallow" — and played shows with IN FLAMES, ATROCITY, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and LAKE OF TEARS, among others.

SAHG, the Norwegian heavy rockers who feature in their ranks members of GORGOROTH, MANNGARD and AUDREY HORNE, have unveiled the cover artwork for their forthcoming second album, entitled "Sahg II". The artwork was created by renowned graphic wizard Martin Kvamme (cover artist for TURBONEGRO, FANTOMAS, TOMAHAWK, DARKTHRONE, and many more) and can be viewed at this location.

SAHG recently put the finishing touches on "Sahg II" with renowned producer and ex-ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano. Caggiano has recorded and produced a wide range of artists, from CRADLE OF FILTH to BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.

Albania's Top Gold Radio recently asked its web site visitors to vote for their favorite songs as part of the 100 Golden Hits contest. METALLICA's "Nothing Else Matters", from the band's 1991 self-titled album, received the largest number of votes and was named the all-time best song by the Albanian audience. SCORPIONS' "Wind of Change" and GUNS N' ROSES' "Don't Cry" ballads were ranked second and third.

"All top three songs came out in the early '90s at a time when Albania's wild communist regime collapsed, and people were free to listen to foreign music without risking prison and persecution," explains poll creator Igli Gjelishti.

Other rock songs from the top ten include DEEP PURPLE's "Soldier of Fortune", LED ZEPPELIN's "Stairway to Heaven" and THE EAGLES' "Hotel California".

Swedish metallers SONIC SYNDICATE have issued the following update:

"SONIC SYNDICATE has hit the rehearsal studio to prepare for their first shows of 2008. The band will go out on a short headlining tour before they begin to prepare for the recording of their second album, to be released on Nuclear Blast Records in late summer 2008."

The third installment of SONIC SYNDICATE's "Sonic TV" can be viewed below. This episode documents the Swedish band's hijinx while on tour in Europe with SOILWORK, DARK TRANQUILLITY and CALIBAN.

SONIC SYDICATE made its U.S. live debut with AMON AMARTH and HIMSA. The band will return in May as direct support to NIGHTWISH.

SONIC SYNDICATE's video for the song "Enclave" has been posted at YouTube. The track comes off the Swedish metal band's sophomore CD, "Only Inhuman", which entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64 — an impressive feat considering the group had never performed in the country prior to the album's release. The CD also landed at No. 22 on the Swedish chart.

SONIC SYNDICATE's video for the first single off "Only Inhuman", "Denied", can be viewed at this location.

A BATTLELORE song called "Northern Crown", taken from the Finnish "fantasy metal" band's "Dark Fantasy" 2000 promotional CD, is available for streaming on the group's MySpace page.

BATTLELORE will enter Sound Supreme studios in Finland on March 31 with producer Janne Saksa to begin recording their new album for an August/September 2008 release via Napalm Records. Mixing duties will be handled by Dan Swanö.

Regarding the direction of the new material, vocalist Tomi Mykkänen previously stated, "At the moment it seems that there will be bigger, more epic parts in the vein of 'Sword's Song' but also more harder, heavier parts in the vein of 'Evernight'. I'm quite sure that you fans won't be disappointed with this one."

BATTLELORE released its fourth album, "Evernight", in North America on March 13, 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was issued in Europe in February.

The follow-up to 2005's "Third Age of the Sun", "Evernight" was recorded at MusicBros Studio and was produced by Miitri Aaltonen, who previously worked with the Finnish "fantasy metal" band on their first two CDs, "...Where The Shadows Lie" (2002) and "Sword's Song" (2003). The mastering duties were handled at Finnvox Studios.

Guitarist Shannon Hamm (DEATH, CONTROL DENIED) has teamed up with "Jonathan Lee (THE AUTUMN OFFERING, ex-ACHERON; ex-DEATH drum roadie for Richard Christy on DEATH's "The Sound of Perseverance" tour), Scott Clendenin (bass on DEATH's "The Sound of Perseverance" album), and Bobby Koelble (guitarist on DEATH's "Symbolic" album) in a brand new project "which is sure to be revolutionary," according to Hamm. The band is currently seeking a versatile singer who can handle all styles: "powerful, melodic, clean, nasty, aggressive — all in one," says Shannon.

Hamm adds, "This project is in such an early stage right now that we haven't even had a chance to listen to anything that's been received yet. We will listen to and/or watch everything we receive, but we need to complete at least half of the material before making a group decision on a vocalist. We need to have all MP3s, YouTube links, etc. sent to beyondunknown67@gmail.com, if at all possible, so that we can access everything from one location."

CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes Of Bodom has unveiled the cover artwork for the group's forthcoming album, "Blooddrunk", due in Europe on April 7, 2008 via Spinefarm Records (two days later in Finland). Check it out at this location.

"Blooddrunk" was recorded and produced by Mikko Karmila at Petrax and Finnvox studios in Finland during October, November and December 2007, except vocals, which were recorded by Peter Tägtren, and keyboards, which were recorded by Janne Wirman at Petrax studios, Finland, during October, November and December 2007. The CD was mixed at Finnvox by Mikko Karmila in November 2007 and it was mastered at Finnvox by Mika Jussila in December 2007.

"Blooddrunk" track listing:

01. Hellhounds On My Trail
02. Blooddrunk
03. LoBodomy
04. One Day You Will Cry
05. Smile Pretty For The Devil
06. Tie My Rope
07. Done With Everything, Die For Nothing
08. Banned From Heaven
09. Roadkill Morning

CHILDREN OF BODOM will release a new single, "Blooddrunk", in Finland on February 27, 2008 (March 3 in the rest of Europe).

The band recently traveled to Germany to film two videos, both of which were produced by Katapult Filmproduktion.

Speaking to Revolver magazine, CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho stated about the songwriting process for "Blooddrunk", "This time we wanted to make things more difficult. So I've been including some progressive sounds. Not in an annoying way, though; if we do progressive music, we want people to actually listen to it. We won't become a DEPECHE MODE cover band. If we ever get tired of playing metal. That's the end of CHILDREN OF BODOM."

He added, "We rehearsed all day, then I'd come home and start fucking around with the guitar and a four-track until 6 a.m. Then I'd wake up and do it all again until I was completely wrecked. This time it was really laid back, and that allowed me to be more creative."

According to an article in the November 2007 issue of the Finnish magazine Soundi, CHILDREN OF BODOM laid down cover versions of the following songs during the recording sessions for "Blooddrunk":

"War Inside My Head" (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES)
"Lookin' Out My Back Door" (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL)
"Just Dropped In" (KENNY ROGERS)
"Ghost Riders In The Sky" (STAN JONES)

CHILDREN OF BODOM will join MEGADETH, IN FLAMES, JOB FOR A COWBOY and HIGH ON FIRE for this year's Gigantour in North America.

Two songs from CHILDREN OF BODOM — "Angels Don't Kill" and "In Your Face" — are featured on the "Unholy Alliance Tour" DVD, which was released on October 30, 2007 via American Recordings. The set features the the "Unholy Alliance Tour: Preaching to the Perverted" lineup — SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, CHILDREN OF BODOM and THINE EYES BLEED. The DVD has an approximate running time of 90 minutes.

The "Unholy Alliance Tour" DVD was shot at Vancouver's General Motors Place on July 13, 2006, was directed by Adam Rothlein (Speedway Films), and boasts performance footage plus bonus material to include backstage, behind-the-scenes and one-on-one interviews, many of which were conducted by the Unholy Alliance artists themselves

Multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Candice Night of the Renaissance-flavored BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, along with QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist Geoff Tate, will appear in the supernatural thriller "House Of Eternity", a major motion picture set for release in the fourth quarter of 2008 from Fires At Midnight Films.

The movie will feature new music by Candice Night and BLACKMORE'S NIGHT.

Night's character is Emily Grayson, the wife of the film's antagonist, an innocent woman whose fate is determined by the superstitious minds of the 1700s.

"'House Of Eternity' contains something for everyone," says Candice, "memorable characters struggling against powers far greater than they, desperate, heart-pounding action, innovative approaches to classic horror; even humor and a forlorn love. Plus, there's a villain who will become timeless."

For more information, visit www.houseofeternity.com.

Candice, currently in the studio with legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, is recording the next BLACKMORE'S NIGHT album, due this summer.

The singer is currently seen on screens throughout the country as Amora The Warrior Princess for Magiquest, an interactive gaming environment for children at all participating Great Wolf Lodges. The newest Magiquest opened January 17 in East Hanover, NJ. And, of course, she is still Princess Candice in the Myrtle Beach Magiquest universe, including additional Great Wolf Lodges.

Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have set "Hammer Battalion" as the title of their ninth full-length album, due later in the year via SPV Records. According to the band, "The result of the pre-production of the new album is very satisfying. . . The new UNLEASHED album will continue in the same victorious spirit as our previous album 'Midvinterblot'."

UNLEASHED's eighth full-length album, "Midvinterblot", was released in the U.S. on October 10, 2006 via SPV Records.

UNLEASHED's current lineup:

Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums

Lawrence Paterson, the drummer for BLAZE BAYLEY (ex-IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE), has started a blog on the progress of the songwriting sessions for the group's new album. The follow-up to 2004's "Blood & Belief" will be recorded in February and is expected to be released late summer/early fall.

Blaze Bayley has released a "best-of" collection through his own label. The CD, which can be ordered via the Planetblaze.com webshop, features the following track listing:

01. Born As A Stranger
02. Ghost In The Machine
03. Stare At The Sun (Live)
04. Silicon Messiah
05. The Launch (Live)
06. Kill And Destroy
07. Land Of The Blind
08. Living Someone Else's Life
09. Tenth Dimension (Live)
10. Leap Of Faith
11. Blood And Belief
12. Ten Seconds
13. Hollow Head
14. Soundtrack Of My LIfe
15. Alive (Live)

Metal Mind Productions recently released Blaze Bayley's DVD, entitled "Alive in Poland" (view cover artwork at this location). The disc was recorded at the 21st edition of the Metalmania Festival, which took place on March 24 in Katowice, Poland. Blaze Bayley and his band put on a 90-minute show consisting of the best tracks from BLAZE's discography as well as select cuts from IRON MAIDEN ("Man on the Edge", "Futureal"). The DVD also includes many great bonus features, such as an interview with Blaze Bayley, an interview with all members of Blaze's band (featuring footage filmed during their visit to Poland) and more. A limited-edition "Alive in Poland" release includes a two-CD set with songs recorded at the concert.

"Blood & Belief" (which came out under the BLAZE banner), was issued in Europe in April 2004. The follow-up to 2002's "Tenth Dimension" was recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, England with producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY).