Swedish metallers IN FLAMES are currently at their own IF Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden working on the follow-up to last year's "Come Clarity". The band's studio video diary is online now with Episode 3. Watch it below.

A new IN FLAMES track, entitled "Abnegation", is featured on the "Viva La Bands, Vol. 2" album, which was released on September 4 via Ferret Music and Filthy Note Records. The CD features exclusive tracks, written and recorded for the CD/DVD combo from some of Bam's favorite acts like CLUTCH, CKY, CHILDREN OF BODOM, VIKING SKULL and VAINS OF JENNA. A U.S.-exclusive track from SHINY TOY GUNS and music from other faves like GWAR, THE SOUNDS, DIMMU BORGIR and KILL HANNAH also appears on the killer compilation.

Finnish atmospheric doom metallers SILENTIUM have just released the second single from their "Seducia" album, entitled "Dead Silent". The single contains edited versionos of two songs from the album plus a new, previously unreleased composition. The track listing is as follows:

01. Dead Silent (edit)
02. Unbroken (heavy edit)
03. My Dark Messenger

SILENTIUM released "Seducia" in January 2006 via Dynamic Arts Records. The CD was the sequel to the "Frostnight" single, which came out in October 2005. According to a Dynamic Arts press release, the album "delivers bombastical, cold atmospheres" with a total running time of 48 minutes.

"Seducia" is the group's first full-length release to feature vocalist Riina Rinkinen, who joined the group in July 2004.

Watch here SILENTIUM's video for the song "Frostnight" (taken from "Seducia").

AYREON, the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen, has posted an audio sample of the next guest singer who will appear on the band's upcoming album, tentatively due late 2007/early 2008: BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch. Other vocalists scheduled to appear on the CD include Steve Lee (GOTTHARD), Bob Catley (MAGNUM), Anneke van Giersbergen (THE GATHERING), Jonas P. Renske (KATATONIA), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Magali Luyten (VIRUS IV), Simone Simons (EPICA), Liselotte Hegt (DIAL), Phideaux Xavier and Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER). A total of fifteen singers have been confirmed to guest on the album, with more to be added.

AYREON's last CD, "Ayreon: The Human Equation", was released in 2004. It contained guest appearances by a number of acclaimed vocalists, including James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Mike Baker (SHADOW GALLERY), Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH), Eric Clayton (SAVIOUR MACHINE), Devon Graves (DEADSOUL TRIBE, ex-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) and Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD).

THE BLACK LEAGUE vocalist Taneli Jarva (ex-SENTENCED) has issued the following update:

"It's been another year of rotten luck in the LEAGUE camp, but we're still here rockin' the boat, shakin' the cage and kickin' against the pricks! The band is working on a new record and slowly emerging from its dormant hiatus back to the gig circuit, too. Details will follow.

"The fifth album may or may not be entitled 'No Parole' and it is optimistically estimated to be available by the summer of 2008. Some new titles include 'The Beast Is A Riddle', 'Ghost Brothel' and 'Bipolar Meltdown' — some of which may be given a go at our forthcoming shows. Anyways, details will follow."

THE BLACK LEAGUE released its fourth full-length album, "A Place Called Bad", in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) in April 2006 via Playground Music.

erman gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE will enter the studio in October to record the follow-up to "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts". The upcoming CD will once again be produced by John Fryer (HIM, NINE INCH NAILS) and will mark the band's first recording with singer Rob Vitacca who joined the band this past summer. The group also re-signed with Napalm Records, who will issue the new album in March 2008.

LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE will support APOCALYPTICA on a European tour in November/December.

"Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts" was released in August 2006 and was preceded by a single, "Again It's Over".

Watch here LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE's video for the song "My Velvet Darkness":

According to a posting on TAAKE's official web site, the group's frontman, Hoest, is once again a free man after serving a prison sentence for undisclosed offenses.

Commented Hoest: "There's been a lot of rumors and misunderstandings lately, so to make things a bit more clear: This was my third incarceration for violence."

He added: "All material for the next TAAKE album has been complete for a while and will be recorded as soon as possible. Furthermore, we will perform at Garage (Bergen) on the 8th of November."

Old-school thrashers SPEED\KILL/HATE, featuring OVERKILL guitarist Dave Linsk, have issued the following update:

"We have begun rehearsals with new bassist Dave Bizzigotti ... what a great player. Bob [Barnack, vocals] just sounds unbelieveable, and Tony [Ochoa, drums) is insane. SPEED/KILL\HATE has never sounded better. We are looking forward to our upcoming tour and can't wait to hit the road. Look for some sound clips in the upcoming week."

Bizzigotti replaces Derek Tailer (also in OVERKILL), who was dismissed from the group last month due to "questionable availability and uncertain commitment," according to a posting on the band's web site.

SPEED\KILL/HATE's follow-up to its Escapi Music debut, "Acts of Insanity", tentatively titled "No Remorse, No Regrets", has been recorded and is scheduled for before the end of the year.

SPEED\KILL/HATE's debut album, "Acts of Insanity", which was released in June 2006, features Mario Frasca on vocals (of note, OVERKILL drummer Tim Mallare and OVERKILL guitarist Derek Tailer play on the album as well).

Polish death metallers VADER have posted the following message on their official web site:

"To support the upcoming VADER tour in the U.S., Regain Records will release a special EP featuring two songs from two recent albums recorded for the label: 'The Art of War' and 'Impressions on Blood', three video clips and so-called 'Japanese bonus.'" The EP will be available exclusively during "Death by Decibels Tour 2007" and will contain the following tracks:

Audio:

01. Lead Us
02. The Book
03. Die!!! (Gin psie)
04. Raining Blood

Video:

01. This is the War
02. Helleluyah (God is Dead)
03. Sword of the Witcher

In addition to VADER, the "Death by Decibels Tour 2007" will feature performances by MALEVOLENT CREATION, CATTLE DECAPITATION, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, LIGHT THIS CITY, and VEIL OF MAYA. The trek kicks off November 17 in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

After releasing three underground death metal masterpieces, Germany's LAY DOWN ROTTEN will release its newest effort, "Reconquering the Pit", on November 5 via Metal Blade Records (November 2 in Germany).

"Reconquering the Pit" track listing:

01. Anarchic Outburst
02. Reconquering The Pit
03. Sound Of Breaking Bones
04. Bitter Thoughts
05. New Mechanic Human Phenomena
06. Demons Breed
07. Nihil
08. Unholy Alliance
09. All Of This Pain

Italy's NOVEMBRE will release its new album, "The Blue" (cover artwork), on November 5 via Peaceville Records. The CD was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland with producer Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS).

"The Blue" track listing:

01. Aenemia
02. Triesteitaliana
03. Cobalt of March
04. Bluecracy
05. Architheme
06. Nascence
07. Iridescence
08. Sound Odyssey
09. Cantus Christi
10. Zenith
11. Argentic
12. Deorbit

German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell has posted the eighth MP3 snippet from his upcoming "Diamonds Unlocked" covers album.

Commented Axel: "I heard this song from THE MISSION live at a TV broadcast 'Rocklife' in 1995 and was amazed by the track. It's a great ballad, we kept the 'live' arrangement with piano and strings and added an additional guitar solo, which is not on the original song. This is the second last song from 'Diamonds Unlocked', which will be out in a few days!"

Download the "Like a Child Again" one-minute sample at this location.

Axel Rudi Pell is scheduled to release "Diamonds Unlocked" on October 1, 2007 (Germany: September 28; USA: October 9), his first album consisting exclusively of compositions by other musicians, proving his expertise when it comes to the history of rock and pop music. Axel Rudi Pell has recorded ten cover songs, among them surprising new versions of real classics. "I have always stressed that I don't have a hard rock and metal fixation," he points out. "I don't think in terms of pigeonholes. If I like a track for whatever reason, I don't care about its stylistic direction. Every song on this album made me want to cover it at some stage when I heard the original."

"Diamonds Unlocked" was recorded by the tried-and-tested lineup consisting of Axel Rudi Pell, vocalist Johnny Gioeli, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg, bassist Volker Krawczak and drummer Mike Terrana. Pell produced the album single-handedly, and Charlie Bauerfeind took care of the mix.

"Diamonds Unlocked" track listing:

01. The Diamond Overture
02. Warrior (RIOT)
03. Beautiful Day (U2)
04. Stone (CHRIS REA/THE LAW)
05. Love Gun (KISS)
06. Fool's Game (MICHAEL BOLTON)
07. Heartbreaker (FREE)
08. Rock The Nation (MONTROSE)
09. In The Air Tonight (PHIL COLLINS)
10. Like A Child Again (THE MISSION)
11. Won't Get Fooled Again (THE WHO)

DEAD TO THIS WORLD, the speed/thrash/black metal project led by former IMMORTAL bassist Iscariah, has posted two new songs on its MySpace page. The tracks "1942" and "Goatpower" come off the group's debut album, "First Strike for Spiritual Renewance", due on November 19 via Dark Essence Records. The CD was produced by Bjørnar E Nielsen at Nielsen's Conclave Media Studios in Bergen. An LP (vinyl) edition and picture disc with exclusive designs will follow in Decenber through Iron Pegasus.

Nielsen, who has produced albums by bands such as HELHEIM, SULPHUR, DEATHCON, AMPERA and VULTURE INDUSTRIES (of whom he is also a member), recently built a new studio with ENSLAVED members Herbrand Larsen and Arve Isdal.

DEAD TO THIS WORLD was originally founded by Iscariah (NECROPHAGIA, ex-IMMORTAL) as a solo project, but was expanded to a full lineup, releasing a three-track demo in 2005. Following the departure of their drummer, Iscariah recently announced that former GORGOROTH member Kvitrafn (SIGFADER, WARDRUNA, JOTUNSPOR, ex-SAHG) would be joining the band to record the new album.

DEAD BY APRIL, the Swedish band featuring members of NIGHTRAGE and CIPHER SYSTEM, has posted a new song, "Promise Me", on its MySpace page.

According to the group's official bio, "DEAD BY APRIL is a collaboration between some free-spirited, likeminded musicians. It has evolved from just being a project to a full-time band in a very short amount of time.

"Jimmie [Strimell, vocals] has for a long time been wanting to write music with longtime good friend Pontus Hjelm, but it has never really happened. It wasn't until recently Pontus gave in and said, let's give this a try and see where it takes us."

DEAD BY APRIL is:

Jimmie Strimell: Screams and clean vocals
Pontus Hjelm: Guitar/Keyboards
Alex Sveningsson: Drums
Henric Carlsson: Bass
Johan Eskilsson: Guitar

DEAD BY APRIL is currently unsigned.

German power metallers GAMMA RAY have inked a deal with Steamhammer/SPV. The group's new album, "Land of the Free - II", is scheduled for release in Europe on November 19 (November 16 in Germany). The CD will arrive in the U.S. in January.

Commented GAMMA RAY founder Kai Hansen: "Following our previous record company's well-documented restructuring process, we increasingly felt that it would be better to embark on a new course business-wise. The preparations for our joint tour with HELLOWEEN spawned the idea to follow HELLOWEEN's example and work with Steamhammer/SPV in future. We feel certain that this cooperation will give an extra boost to our career."

"Land of the Free - II" will be a conceptual continuation of the group's 1995 classic "Land of the Free", and will contain around 65 minutes of music.

Said Hansen: "'Majestic' presented GAMMA RAY's dark side, while its predecessor, 'No World Order', was more of an Eighties-inspired record. This time we wanted to turn our attention to a side of the band that has always been our greatest strength: positive power."

GAMMA RAY produced their new album themselves. All four musicians — Kai Hansen, Henjo Richter (guitar), Dirk Schlächter (bass) and Daniel Zimmermann (drums) — are experienced enough to translate their ideas at the studio. But for the first time in ages, the band allowed themselves the luxury of enlisting outside support for certain stages of the recording process. "We wanted to have a clear head in some areas to be able to concentrate on the important things," Hansen explains the enlistment of Tommy Newton (HELLOWEEN, UFO, etc.) and his Area 51 studio in Celle, where the new material was mixed. Newton also took care of the drum parts as a sound engineer at GAMMA RAY's own studio.

Starting at the end of November, the band will embark on the Hellish Rock 2007/08 tour alongside HELLOWEEN. "The idea for the tour matured during a number of major festivals, where GAMMA RAY and HELLOWEEN both played," explained Hansen. "As both bands' schedules are running parallel for the first time in years, we decided to put this idea into practice at last." The fans can look forward to a full GAMMA RAY show, plus a nightly session together with HELLOWEEN, likely to feature a number of classics from Kai Hansen's own HELLOWEEN era.

"Land of the Free – II" track listing:

01. Rising Again (0:28)
02. To Mother Earth (5:09)
03. Empress 6:22, Rain (5:20)
04. Into The Storm (3:45)
05. When The World (5:43)
06. From The Ashes (5:30)
07. Leaving Hell (4:20)
08. Real World (5:44)
09. Hear Me Calling (6:45)
10. Opportunity (7:15)
11. Insurrection (11:30)

GAMMA RAY's new DVD, entitled "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal", is tentatively late 2007/eatluy 2008. The disc will feature a multi-camera recording of the band's May 6, 2006 show at Medley in Montreal, Quebec.

Check out the cover artwork for "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" at this location.

Watch here professionally filmed video footage of GAMMA RAY and HELLOWEN performing HELLOWEEN's "I Want Out" at the 2006 Masters of Rock festival in the Czech Republic.

Guitarist Constantine of the Swedish/Greek death metal outfit NIGHTRAGE has issued the following statement:

"I would like to inform you that due to personal, artistic and (unfortunately) financial reasons I am in the unfortunate position to leave NIGHTRAGE. I'd like to sincerely thank my bandmate Marios Iliopoulos [guitar] for giving me this wonderful chance to showcase my guitar work — it has led to many wonderful new professional opportunities. Stay tuned for the official announcements from my management in the following months! The NIGHTRAGE show in Spain [Sept. 22 at the Alhama de murcia Festival] will be my last live performance with the band, so I hope to see you all there and have a great time with you guys! Finally, stay tuned for my self-titled instrumental debut CD that is going to be released in late spring 2008!"

NIGHTRAGE's video for the track "Scathing" can be viewed below. The clip was shot in January in Athens, Greece. The song comes off the group's third album, "A New Disease Is Born", which was released in April. The CD was recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, FEAR MY THOUGHTS, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).

SHAMRAIN, the Finnish quartet which features in its ranks ENTWINE frontman Mika Tauriainen, will release its new album, "Goodbye To All That", on October 31 via Spikefarm Records. The track listing is as follows:

01. Holding the Earth
02. Raindrops
03. Ghosts I See
04. Passing Shadows
05. Shallow Delusion
06. Stars Will Fall
07. Silent Lullaby
08. Evangeline
09. No One Remembers Your Name
10. Goodbyes Painted Black

SHAMRAIN last year released an EP, entitled "Deeper into the Night". The CD included five new songs with a total running time of approximately 21 minutes.

SHAMRAIN's sophomore album, "Someplace Else", came out in June 2005 via Firebox Records.

Guitarist Sami Vauhkonen of the Finnish female-fronted heavy rock outfit LULLACRY has issued the following update:

We've had some difficulties to rehearse new material 'cause the bassist 'Heavy' [Kimmi Hiltunen] is suffering from some kind of, what the fu%& it's called… Whatever, his arm is quite fuc%&d up. But hey, you can't always win. Anyways, I have seven new 'ralli, as we say in Finland, on the progress. Quite heavy shit, I would say. And one 'MTV video hit' song, haha.

"We're still checking the possibilites about the next record companies. I hope we can give more info within this year. All I can say we've talked with many different labels and got some interesting offers. The next album should be out in 2008."

LULLACRY's fourth studio album, "Vol. 4", was released in the U.S. in February 2006 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Astia Studios with Anssi Kippo (CHILDREN OF BODOM, ENTWINE) and at Finnvox Studio with Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS).

LULLACRY's first single off the album, "Stranger in You", entered the Finnish single chart at position No. 16 upon its release in July 2005. The title cut was backed by a cover of KISS' "I Stole Your Love".

Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have just filmed a video for the new track "Scream, Aim and Fire" in Australia with director Frank Borin (TRAPT, GOOD CHARLOTTE). According to the director, the video treatment "is a social commentary about the facade of war and the deceitful tactics used to recruit the young men of our country."

The song is expected to be released as the first single from the band's new album, tentatively due late 2007/early 2008.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck told Revolver magazine that he is writing meaner, less syrupy melodies for the group's upcoming CD, which the band started recording in January at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY, NAPALM DEATH). He is also avoiding lyrics about relationships.

"We want to be more metal all across the board," Tuck told Revolver. "On their second album, a lot of bands try to please their record company by doing something more commercial. We didn't want to fall into that trap."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE has written 14 songs for the as-yet-untitled CD, including "Waking the Demon", a cut that's definitely not suitable for KROQ or MTV. "It's about getting revenge on a bully at school by slicing pieces off him," Tuck told Revolver. "There's some really sick shit in there, so I'm happy."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's debut album, "The Poison", has sold 325,000 copies in the U.S. since its February 2006 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Happy Birthday, NUCLEAR BLAST! The label from Donzdorf, Germany, turns 20 in 2007.
"Into The Light" was the first present, now comes the second one: "Out Of The Dark", the evil twin of its predecessor. It represents the darker, heavier side of the NUCLEAR BLAST label roster. This time, the ten songs were produced, composed and played by Mr. Peter Wichers, well-known as one of the founding members of SOILWORK (even though he is not with the band anymore). For the drums he got a little help from his good friends Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK, SCARVE) and Henry Ranta (ex-SOILWORK).

Just like on the first part, the vocals were sung by different singers throughout the whole NB history, among them Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES), Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK), Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN) and even John Bush (ex-ANTHRAX) with his first studio vocal performance in years!

"Out Of The Dark" is a really heavy and massive album – combining everything from raging Thrash Metal to frosty Black Metal. You can definitely hear Peter´s songwriting influence, but he really managed to write songs perfectly fitting for each singer. In the first place, "Out Of The Dark" is a freaking Extreme Metal record with powerful hits beyond every borders, then a "jubilee" record. It simply became a masterpiece, performed by great musicians and stunning singers. Just listen to the songs like the ravenous "Devotion" (with Jari from WINTERSUN on vocals) or the more melodic choruswonder "The Gilded Dagger" (with Richard and Robin from our shooting stars SONIC SYNDICATE on vocals) and you will agree: This album is one of the most fascinating and interesting metal records in years! Make sure to bang your head at this.

As a special gift, "Out Of The Dark" will be released as double-CD, featuring a bonus disc with classics, rare tracks and brand new songs.

Bonus-CD:
01. Dimmu Borgir – The Heretic Hammer (US Bonus "In Sorte Diaboli")
02. Immortal – Tyrants
03. Nile – As He Creates, So He Destroys
04. Exodus – Purge The World (Japan Bonus "Shovel Headed Kill Machine")
05. Anthrax - Ghost
06. Meshuggah – Future Breed Machine
07. Chimaira – Kingdome Of Heartache (Japan Bonus "Resurrection")
08. All Shall Perish – Prisoner Of War
09. Agnostic Front – All Is Not Forgotten
10. Threat Signal – Counterbalance

Tracklist

1. Dysfunctional Hours (feat. Anders Friden - IN FLAMES)
2. Schizo (feat. Peter Tägtgren - HYPOCRISY)
3. Devotion (feat. Jari Mäenpäa - WINTERSUN)
4. The Overshadowing (feat. Christian Älvestam - SCAR SYMMETRY)
5. Paper Trail (feat. John Bush - ex-ANTHRAX)
6. The Dawn Of All (feat. Bjorn "Speed" Strid - SOILWORK)
7. Cold Is My Vengeance (feat. Maurizio Iacono - KATAKLYSM)
8. My Name Is Fate (feat. Mark Osegueda - DEATH ANGEL)
9. The Gilded Dagger (feat. Richard Sjunnesson & Roland Johansson - SONIC SYNDICATE)
10. Closer To The Edge (feat. Guillaume Bideau - MNEMIC)

NIGHTWISH's video for the song "Bye Bye Bueatiful" has been released and can be viewed here . The clip was shot in Los Angeles with director Antti Jokinen (BEYONCÉ, WYCLEF JEAN, KORN, MISSY ELLIOT, STRATOVARIUS, SHANIA TWAIN, CELINE DION).

NIGHTWISH shot two videos in Los Angeles with Antti Jokinen, reportedly at a cost of 270,000 euros (approximately $362,000). "We saved time and money by doing two videos in one session," NIGHTWISH leader Tuomas Holopainen told the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

NIGHTWISH made its live debut with new singer Anette Olzon on Saturday (September 22) at Rock Café in Tallinn, Estonia. The group, which appeared under the guise of a NIGHTWISH "cover band" called NACHTWASSER, performed the following tracks:

01. Intro + Bye Bye Beautiful
02. Cadence Of Her Last Breath
03. Dark Chest Of Wonders
04. Ever Dream
05. Come Cover Me
06. Amaranth
07. Sacrament Of Wilderness
08. The Islander
09. The Poet And The Pendulum
10. She Is My Sin
11. Sahara
12. Sleeping Sun
13. Slaying the Dreamer
14. Nemo
---------------
15. Eva
16. Wishmaster
17. Wish I Had An Angel
Outro: Blood Diamond

Check out pictures from the gig:
Gallery,
Photo 1,
Photo 2,
Photo 3

NIGHTWISH is also expected to perform at the Helsinki (Finland) and Hamburg (Germany) release parties for the group's new album, "Dark Passion Play". The Hamburg party will take place on the album's German release date, September 28, at a club called Delphi Showpalast. It has been announced that the entire group will attend the event, which will feature a performance by "a famous and glorious NIGHTWISH cover band called SUSHI PATROL from Japan". The Helsinki party will take place on September 26 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland. A "NIGHTWISH cover band from Estonia called NATUVISSYSET" is scheduled to appear at the Helsinki event, which will coincide with the Finnish release date of the group's new CD (via Spinefarm Records/Universal).

NIGHTWISH will make its "official" live debut with new singer Anette Olzon on October 6 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The group's U.S. tour kicks off on October 15 in West Springfield, Virginia.

"Dark Passion Play" is scheduled for release in the U.S. on October 2 via Roadrunner Records.

The Pulse of Radio (formerly Launch Radio Networks) reports: NINE INCH NAILS frontman Trent Reznor told fans at a concert in Sydney, Australia on Sunday (September 16) to illegally download the band's music rather than pay high prices for CDs. In video footage (available for viewing below) taken at the show and circulated widely online, Reznor says, "Last time I was here, I was doing a lot of complaining about the ridiculous prices of CDs down here...now my record label all around the world hates me, because I yelled at them, I called them out for being greedy fucking assholes. I didn't get a chance to check, has the price come down at all? I see a no, a no, a no... Has anyone seen the price come down? Okay, well, you know what that means — STEAL IT. Steal away. Steal and steal and steal some more and give it to all your friends and keep on stealing. Because one way or another these motherfuckers will get it through their head that they're ripping people off and that that's not right."

Reznor also addressed fans in China, where NINE INCH NAILS albums are not legally available. He said, "As for the special situation in China...If you can find and buy our legal CDs, I express my thanks for your support. If you cannot find it, I think that downloading from the Internet is a more acceptable option than buying pirated CDs."

NINE INCH NAILS completed a world tour in support of its latest album, "Year Zero", on Tuesday (September 18) in Honolulu.

Japanese act SIGH will have its 2005 album "Gallows Gallery" reissued on November 27 via The End Records. The re-release, remastered by James Murphy (TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY), features revamped artwork and several bonus tracks.

Commented founder Mirai Kawashima: "In the beginning, 'Gallows Gallery' was planned to be pretty much a jazzy album. You'll hear the discarded pieces along with some alternate versions never heard before in the bonus tracks. Remastered by the mighty James Murphy, finally 'Gallows Gallery' will be released in the form of what it should have been!"

The track listing for the "Gallows Gallery" reissue is as follows:

01. Pale Monument
02. In A Drowse
03. The Enlightment Day
04. Confession To Be Buried
05. The Tranquilizer Song
06. Midnight Sun
07. Silver Universe
08. Gavotte Grim
09. Messiahplan
10. -
11. The Tranquilizer Song (David Harrow Mix)
12. Pale Monument (Harsh Vocal Version)
13. In A Drowse (Demo 2003)
14. Messiahplan (Gunface Alternate Guitar Solo Take)
15. The Tranquilizer Song (David Harrow Remix Outtake)
16. Jazzy Outtake 1
17. Jazzy Outtake 2

In other SIGH news, the band's song "Inked in Blood" from the group's latest album "Hangman's Hymn" is featured on the free compilation from SonicFrontiers.net.

Norwegian black metallers KOLDBRANN have made their "Live at Ragnarök Festival 2007" DVD available available via their official web site. The DVD contains the band's entire March 2007 concert at Ragnarök Festival in Lichtenfels, Germany. The track listing is as follows;

01. Alt er Befengt
02. Steinet til Jorden
03. Kaosmanifest
04. Pogrom Pestilent
05. Djevelens Treskeverk
06. Inkvisitor Renegat

Total running time: 36 minutes

According to the group, "this is not a professional release. It is made by the band and should be considered as an official bootleg. This is do-it-yourself, absolutt nekro."

KOLDBRANN's latest album, "Moribund", was released in June 2006 via Twilight-Vertrieb. The CD was recorded and mixed at JAKs Hell studios in Preetz, Germany. Mastering was done at Strype Audio by Tom Kvålsvoll. The follow-up to 2003's "Nekrotisk Inkvisition" contains 11 tracks, and features artwork by Kim Sølve. Iblis from ENDSTILLE recorded a guest appearance on vocals on one song.

In the year 2007 Sven Friedrich, the singer of Zeraphine and the legendary Dreadful Shadows, brought his solo project SOLAR FAKE into being. Here the charismatic frontman, who is mentioned in several lexica and reference books as the outrider for the combination of rock and electronics in dark music, can live his penchant for electronic music perfectly. SOLAR FAKE is a pure electro- project and there are synthesized sounds only, except for his uncomparable voice.

Pulsating sequencers, driving beats and sometimes wild and aggressive vocals meet intensive melodies and melancholic moments. But Sven doesn't commits himself to a certain style. "I like too many styles to choose only one of them. In my opinion an album is much more diversified and exciting if you combine different elements and styles", he said. It's due to this position that his band Zeraphine is so successful. The songs break in on you, throw you very different moods, but you always keep the feeling to listen to one single album. There's the unmistakable hand of Sven Friedrich in all compositions and lyrics. But it's really something new.

A solo project - why? "The idea of an electro project grew in me for a long time. But I lacked the time and maybe courage to do it. Last year I simply started to work on this project. After years in rockbands (which I really love and don't want to miss) I wanted to create something of my own, something uncompromising. It's good for me to be unaccountable except for myself. And I love creating sounds an electronic music anyway, so it seems to be the consequential step in my musicians life."

Of course Sven will bring SOLAR FAKE onto stage. He'll be supported by 1 or 2 keyboarders. There will be videoprojection in line with the lightshow, the stage design is just created at the moment.

An album is scheduled for february 2008 with Synthetic Symphony/SPV.

www.myspace.com/solarfake
www.solarfake.de

Ex-KAMELOT bassist Sean Tibbets (ROYAL ANGUISH) will rejoin his former bandmates on their upcoming European and Japanese shows. Due to family commitments, current KAMELOT bassist Glenn Barry will not make the trip.

Commented KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood: "Sean kicked serious ass on the North American tour in 2006 so we knew he would be a perfect fit for these shows coming up, the fans over there will see this as well!"

British extreme metallers ANAAL NATHRAKH have posted a new song, entitled "The Final Absolution", on their Myspace. The track comes off the group's fourth full-length album, "Hell is Empty, and all the Devils are Here", which is due on October 28 via the band's own record label, Feto Records. The CD will reportedly include guest vocals from CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN's Josama Bin Horvath and Dirty Von Donovan from EXPLODER, as well as Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) on bass.

The band previously stated about the CD, "These songs are gonna blow everything we've ever done in the past and will make you want to actually smash your own face in. TOTAL FUCKIN' EXTREME HOLOCAUST IN YOUR HEAD FACE RIP TYPHOON AVALANCHE TIDAL WAVE NECRO THRASHIN' FACE FUCKIN' BRUTALITY."

ANAAL NATHRAKH's third full-length album, "Eschaton", was released in October 2006 via Season of Mist. The CD included guest appearances by Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) and Attila Csihar (MAYHEM).

ANAAL NATHRAKH had their "The Codex Necro" and "When Fire Rains Down From The Sky, Mankind Will Reap As It Has Sown" albums re-released last year with a load of bonus material. "The Codex Necro" has "bonus tracks comprising the Peel session recorded for the late John Peel's legendary radio show at the BBC studios at the great man's personal request," the band said.

German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell has posted the seventh MP3 snippet from his upcoming "Diamonds Unlocked" covers album.

Commented Axel: "What ? Axel Rudi Pell is covering 'In the Air Tonight', the megahit by PHIL COLLINS??? I received a lot of reactions like that... but what's wrong? Nothing! This song has a great melody and a very cool drumbeat. We arranged that track a bit different, added more guitars and a special drum/percussion part to it and speeded the end up a bit. Another song which fits perfectly to the Axel Rudi Pell style. Give it a chance and have a listen, I guess you'll like it!"

Download the "In the Air Tonight" one-minute sample at this location.

Axel Rudi Pell is scheduled to release "Diamonds Unlocked" on October 1, 2007 (Germany: September 28; USA: October 9), his first album consisting exclusively of compositions by other musicians, proving his expertise when it comes to the history of rock and pop music. Axel Rudi Pell has recorded ten cover songs, among them surprising new versions of real classics. "I have always stressed that I don't have a hard rock and metal fixation," he points out. "I don't think in terms of pigeonholes. If I like a track for whatever reason, I don't care about its stylistic direction. Every song on this album made me want to cover it at some stage when I heard the original."

"Diamonds Unlocked" was recorded by the tried-and-tested lineup consisting of Axel Rudi Pell, vocalist Johnny Gioeli, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg, bassist Volker Krawczak and drummer Mike Terrana. Pell produced the album single-handedly, and Charlie Bauerfeind took care of the mix.

"Diamonds Unlocked" track listing:

01. The Diamond Overture
02. Warrior (RIOT)
03. Beautiful Day (U2)
04. Stone (CHRIS REA/THE LAW)
05. Love Gun (KISS)
06. Fool's Game (MICHAEL BOLTON)
07. Heartbreaker (FREE)
08. Rock The Nation (MONTROSE)
09. In The Air Tonight (PHIL COLLINS)
10. Like A Child Again (THE MISSION)
11. Won't Get Fooled Again (THE WHO)

Video footage of former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach and actress Shar Jackson performing RUN DMC's "It's Tricky" on the fourth episode of MTV's new weekly competition show "Celebrity Rap Superstar" is available for viewing at here

"Celebrity Rap Superstar" kicked off on August 30. Bach is one of eight celebrity contestants culled from the worlds of music, film, TV and sports who are paired with their own rap mega-star mentor — Sebastian's is Kurupt from THE DOG POUND — who will share their respective knowledge and skills to prepare the contestants with the technique they'll need to be a master rapper. With help from his personal tutor, expect Bach to perform covers of some of the biggest rap songs of all time, create original raps and be tested in freestyle rap competitions, all in front of a live audience.

According to a posting on KissOnline.com, KISS is currently working on the third and (presumably) final volume of a definitive DVD collection, "Kissology". A photo of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Bruce Kulick taken during the taping of the "Kissology: Volume 3" commentary session on Thursday (September 20) can be viewed at this location.

KISS' latest DVD box set, "Kissology - The Ultimate Kiss Collection Vol. 2 1978 - 1991", sold 46,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at position No. 1 on Billboard's Top Music Video chart.