California-based metallers AGENT STEEL have posted the cover artwork for their new album, "Alienigma", at this location (artwork by Dimitri Patelis).

Due in September via Mascot Records, "Alienigma" will feature the following track listing:

01. Fashioned From Dust
02. Wash The Planet Clean
03. Hail To The Chief
04. Wormwod
05. Liberty Lying Bleeding
06. Hybridized
07. Tiamats Fall
08. WPD
09. Lamb To The Slaughter
10. Extinct

Vocalist Kobi Farhi of the Israeli metal band ORPHANED LAND has issued the following update:

"We are still in the writing process of our next album, 'OrwarriOR'. We know it [is taking] quite a while, but you all know how complex our latest album, 'Mabool', was and we want to give you no less than that. The final result is most important to us and we simply haven't found the formula to produce an album every year. However, I can assure you that your patience will be rewarded! Right now, to keep the flame burning, we have confirmed a few headline and co-headline shows on some summer festivals and we hope to meet all of you there!"

Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have issued the following update:

"We have finished recording all instruments for our 10th studio album 'Manifest'. We entered Sonic Pump studio with our producer/engineer Tapio Pennanen on May 10th. Recordings went fast and well, and happy to say we do not use triggers on this album. Much more warmer live sound on this one. We have a little break now and we will continue with vocals in June. Then we will have a longer break and 'Manifest' will be mixed at Sonic Pump at the end of July. Here is the tracklisting (not in any order):

01. Intro: Greater Wrath
02. The Antichrist Files
03. Pandemia
04. Mushroom Truth
05. Die Insane
06. Blueprint For Your Culture's Apocalypse
07. Funeral For Despicable Pigs
08. Goat Justice
09. Dead Return
10. Suicide Song
11. Pathogen
12. The Calling
13. Planet Nazarene
14. You Don't Rock Hard
15. When Violence Commands The Day
16. Original Pig Rig

"This album is definitely the most varied one since 'Suomi Finland Perkele'. Even more than said 'Suomi Finland Perkele'. We have slow shit, fast shit, rocking shit. Shit that will kick your ass. Some surprises for sure. Lyrically, in case you did not guess, this one deals with all possible bullshit we have faced during the last couple of years. You got it, wrath falls upon lots of people. Well, let me rephrase this. Wrath falls upon all sub-humans. You know who you are, choke on bratwurst you pathetic cock-suxxors!!!

"We will be mastering the album in August. Ritual, who have worked with us previously on many occasions, will handle all artwork and layout for the album. We hope to have 'Manifest'out by the end of October. It will be released by Osmose Productions on both CD and vinyl!"

Professionally filmed video footage of MACHINE HEAD's performance at the Rock am Ring festival in Nürburgring, Germany on Saturday, June 2 has been posted at YouTube.

MACHINE HEAD's latest album, "The Blackening", came out in late March via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA, with MACHINE HEAD frontman Robert Flynn returning to the producer's chair, and Mark Keaton once again handling engineering duties. Longtime MACHINE HEAD collaborator Colin Richardson (CANNIBAL CORPSE, TRIVIUM, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) mixed the record in London.

Washington D.C.-based metallers DARKEST HOUR have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Deliver Us", due on July 10 via Victory Records. The long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "Undoing Ruin" was recorded at the Warehouse in Vancouver, Canada.

"Deliver Us" (cover) track listing:

01. Doomsayer (The Beginning of the End)
02. Sanctuary
03. Demon(s) (Myspace)
04. An Ethereal Drain
05. A Paradox with Flies
06. The Light at the Edge of the World
07. Stand and Receive Your Judgment
08. Tunguska
09. Fire in the Skies
10. Full Imperial Collapse
11. Deliver Us

"It's the crispiest, most savory DARKEST HOUR to date," producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) recently stated. "We turned up the monitors and my head exploded."

Last seen picking up stray pieces of Devin's cerebellum was guitarist Mike Schleibaum, who added, "Working with Devin this time has been sick as hell. We have worked long hours on these songs and, honestly, our hands, legs and bodies haven't hurt from playing so much since we can remember. We are truly stoked to present these songs on this record. It is some of our most complex, melodic, brutal, and aggressive songs to date. There's some punk, metal, thrash, shred, prog, and even a little of Devin Townsend's special sauce mixed in this metal gumbo!"

Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor from the mythological occult metal outfit ABSU has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"After five years of silence, I am pleased to announce the new lineup of ABSU.

"It was a difficult task to replace both Shaftiel and Equitant after being together for nearly 11 years, but now is the time to carry on. Here is the new reorganization of the band:

* Proscriptor McGovern - Percussives, Mellotron, Voices & Lyrical Magick
* Vastator Terrarum - Guitars, Bass Guitar, Analog Synthesizers & Backing Voices
* Aethyris MacKay - Guitars, Bass Guitar, Analog Synthesizers & Backing Voices

"We have begun composing and arranging the material for what will be known as the self-titled album, simply called 'Absu'.

"In 2002, four out of 16 tracks were written; two of them we're keeping while the other two we're abandoning.

"We will begin recording in the latter part of autumn 2007 or early 2008 anticipating a release before June 2008 for Osmose Productions/The End Records."

"Absu" projected track listing: (in no particular order)

01. Night Fire Canonization
02. Girra's Temple
03. Amy
04. In the Name of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee
05. 13 Globes
06. Voor
07. Twix Yesterday, The Day & The Morrow
08. Between the Absu of Eridu & Erech
09. Those of the Void Will Re-Enter
10. Magick Square Cipher
11. Sceptre Command
12. Nunbarshegunu
13. Diversified Signs Inscribed
14. Our Earth of Black
15. Ye Uttuku Spells
16. …Of the Dead Who Never Rest in Their Tombs is the Attendance of Familiar Spirits…

Proscriptor added: "Lyrically, I am concentrating more on Sumerian-based occult themes of magick and mythology versus the Celtic aspect of my previous writings, which was heavily expressed on the last few ABSU studio albums. Musically speaking, the material will be quite similar to 'Tara', but with more of a '70s progressive/psychedelic texture within it. You will not be disappointed — trust me. I will be utilizing the first logo created by Equitant and Belgian artist Kris Verwimp will handle the cover illustration once again."

In other news, Osmose Productions/The End Records will re-release a remastered digipack version of ABSU's last studio album, "Tara", including the EP "In the Eyes of Ioldánach" as bonus tracks, in September.

A sneak peek at the packaging of the new SYMPHONY X album, "Paradise Lost", is available at YouTube. Due on June 26 via Inside Out Music (June 25 in Japan via JVC Victor Entertainment Inc.), the CD was mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH) at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. A full-length track from the album, "The Serpent's Kiss", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

ACCEPT fan site Schlared.com has posted demo/non-final versions of all the songs that were included on the band's classic 1982 album "Restless and Wild". Webmaster Joe Schlared comments, "I think every song is at least slightly different from the final product. Slight differences all the way up to major differences like one songtitle being completely different."

Download the audio files at this location.

ACCEPT's fourth album, "Restless and Wild" was recorded in February, March and June 1982 at Dierks Studios in Cologne, Germany. Although Hermann Frank is credited on the LP, all the guitar tracks were recorded by Wolf Hoffmann.

According to the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, MÖTLEY CRÜE has rescheduled its concert in Helsinki, Finland (which was originally slated to take place Monday, June 4) for this Thursday, June 7. Tickets for the Monday show will be honored at the June 7 concert.

As previously reported, MÖTLEY CRÜE was forced to cancel last night's concert because the band's equipment got stuck in Milan (after performing at the Gods of Metal festival).

Swedish singer Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, KRUX, TREAT, AT VANCE) has just finished laying down backing vocals for the new APOCALYPTICA album with producer Jacob Hellner (RAMMSTEIN).

Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), Tomoyasu Hotei (superstar Japanese composer, whose credits include the "Kill Bill" soundtrack), Joseph Duplantier (GOJIRA) and Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) are among the confirmed musicians who have recorded guest appearances on the upcoming APOCALYPTICA CD, tentatively due in September.

APOCALYPTICA recently finished filming a video in Los Angeles with director Tony Petrossian (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, RISE AGAINST, SLIPKNOT) for the song "I'm Not Jesus". Making a guest appearance in the track and the clip is Corey Taylor.

Professionally filmed footage of EVANESCENCE's performance at the Rock am Ring festival on Sunday, June 3 in Nürburgring, Germany has been posted at YouTube. The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Weight Of The World
02. Sweet Sacrifice
03. Going Under
04. The Only One
05. Cloud Nine
06. Lithium
07. Haunted
08. Tourniquet
09. Call Me When You're Sober
10. Imaginary
11. Bring Me To Life
12. Whisper
13. All That I'm Living For
14. Lacrymosa
15. My Immortal
16. Your Star

EVANESCENCE's current touring lineup includes new members Will Hunt (drums) and Troy McLawhorn (guitar) from DARK NEW DAY.

EVANESCENCE's European festival appearances will be followed by late June shows in Russia, Greece, Turkey and Israel. The band will return home to begin co-headlining the Family Values tour with KORN on July 20 in St. Louis.

APOCALYPTICA has been forced to cancel its previously announced July 15 appearance with METALLICA at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland. According to the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, the band called off the gig after APOCALYPTICA member Perttu Kivilaakso injured his finger in the U.S. during a photo session. Under doctor's orders, Kivilaakso will not perform with the group for three months while he recovers from his injury.

FATES WARNING's classic 1988 album "No Exit" will be re-released in September via Metal Blade Records. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album plus the following bonus material:

Bonus audio tracks:

* "Quietus" demo (singer Ray Alder's audition tape)
* "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 1 (rehearsal recording)
* "The Ivory Gate of Dreams" outtake 2 (rehearsal recording)

Bonus DVD:

* Live and behind-the-scenes footage from "No Exit" tour (approx. one hour)
* "Silent Cries" video
* "Anarchy Divine" video
* "Valley of the Dolls" live in Philadelphia 1988

Check out a teaser live video of "Silent Cries", taken from the upcoming "No Exit" bonus DVD, at YouTube.

The cover artwork for THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's upcoming album, "Nocturnal", has been posted on the band's MySpace. Due later in the year via Metal Blade Records, the follow-up to 2005's "Miasma" is being recorded with Eric Rachel (who mixed "Miasma") and will be mixed by Jason Suecof, who has previously worked with TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER, GOD FORBID and BURY YOUR DEAD, among others

Jarle "Uruz" Byberg (URGEHAL, PHILOMEL'S EPITAPH, VULTURE LORD) has been named the new permanent drummer in Niklas Kvarforth's SHINING. He will take over the drum duties in the Swedish black metal outfit following the departure of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' Ludwig Witt.

SHINING will introduce the new lineup at the Hell's Pleasure festival, set to take place July 21-22 at Motocross-Strecke in Pößneck, Germany. The will also perform at the Dunkelheit festival on September 1 in Brno, Czech Republic.

Osmose USA/The End Records has set a June 26 release date for the new album from SHINING, titled "V - Halmstad".

Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING will release their new album, "The Scythe", in Europe on September 14 via AFM Records. The CD was mixed at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The mastering took place on April 10 at Finnvox Studios with Mika Jussila and Nino Laurenne.

"The Scythe" track listing:

01. The Scythe
02. Lost Hill of Memories
03. Infection
04. Poison Tears
05. A Riddle of Stars
06. Romance & Wrath
07. The Divided Heart
08. Horns Ablaze (digipack bonus track)
09. Totentanz
10. Death and the Suffering
11. Dominhate

Check out the cover artwork at www.heavylaw.com.

"The Scythe" features a guest appearance on two tracks by Swedish guitarist Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, FIREGOD, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, CANDLEMASS). A video for the song "The Divided Heart" was recently shot with director Mirco Andreis (ELDRITCH, MACBETH, DISARMONIA MUNDI).

SWORN, the Norwegian black metal project led by Lars Jensen (MYRKGRAV), will release its debut album, "The Alleviation", on July 20 via Twilight Vertrieb. The CD was recorded and mixed at the Conclave Media Studio in the fall of 2006. The vocals were laid down at Koia Studios between September 2006 and April 2007. The album was produced by Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen and SWORN. Mastering duties were handled by Markus Skroch at Sunset Studio.

"The Alleviation" track listing:

01. Alleviation
02. Heart of Decay
03. Silhouettes of a Broken World
04. Derived
05. Crow of Passage
06. Vivid Visions
07. The Beauty of my Funeral

Check out the cover artwork by Robert Høyem of At the Ends of the Earth Design.

"The Alleviation" recording lineup:

Lars Jensen - Vocals
Christoffer Kjørsvik - Guitars
Gøran Myster Hope - Guitars
Leif Herland - Bass
Tom Ian Rogne Klungland - Drums

THE HAUNTED guitarist Anders Björler has issued the following update:

"Just got back to Sweden after five and a half weeks of touring mayhem in Europe.

"The ending in Hamburg turned out to be something really special indeed. Per [Jensen] set up his drums on the opposite side of the venue close to the bar, which left the rest of us on stage without a drummer. Weird, but pretty cool... I'm currently looking through pics and videos, and will maybe post something in the near future.

"We want to thank all the fans for coming out and making the shows really special, and also of course a big shout out to our travel compadres MUNICIPAL WASTE, WOLF and LYZANXIA and all our crew for being part of this. Thanks!

"Now some time off before we prepare for the festival season."

Swedish cult metallers NIFELHEIM have inked a deal with Regain Records. A new album will be recorded during early summer for a September 2007 release.

Video footage of NIFELHEIM's May 24, 2007 performance at Klubben in Stockholm, Sweden has been posted at YouTube. Available for viewing are seven songs from NIFELHEIM, including one new cut, "Gates of Damnation", which will appear on the band's upcoming CD.

NIFELHEIM last year released a split EP with VULCANO via I Hate Records. NIFELHEIM's songs "Sepulcral Fornication" and "Raging Flames" were recorded at a Swedish studio in May 2006 and were described by NIFELHEIM guitarist Vengeance From Beyond (a.k.a. Sebastian Ramstedt; also in NECROPHOBIC) as "a total attack of satanic black metal." He added that "this split [is] the true synergy of evil."

NIFELHEIM's current lineup features former ENTOMBED drummer Peter Stjärnvind, who left the long-running Swedish metallers in order to concentrate on his membership in NIFELHEIM.

NIFELHEIM has just completed a Scandinavian tour as the support act for British black metal pioneers VENOM.

According to The Moscow Times, German hard rock veterans SCORPIONS are scheduled to perform at this weekend's economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Also expected to appear are the BEE GEES.

Three summits will be held over three days for 10,000 people — roughly triple the number who attended last year. Agreements worth $3.3 billion are expected to be signed in the presence of President Vladimir Putin and his two favored successors.

Read more at The Moscow Times.

AEROSMITH played to a crowd of 25,000 rock fans at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore, India on Saturday, June 2. The band's official fan club, Aeroforce One, has posted several pictures from legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin at this location.

AEROSMITH is currently on the road in Europe and is scheduled to perform in Randers, Denmark tomorrow (June 6). A list of upcoming AEROSMITH live dates can be found at this location.

Congratulations are in order for FALCONER guitarist Stefan Weinerhall and his wife on the birth of their son Joar Esbjörn Weinerhall.

FALCONER recently extended its deal with Metal Blade for another four albums. The group is currently writing material for its new CD, which will feature "slightly faster and with more unexpected turns," according to Stefan. "The lyrics will all be about Swedish medieval life and episodes. Not a concept album really but still something in that direction. What I decided early on what that it wouldn't become 'Northwind Pt. 2'. 'Northwind' is as good as it can be, therefore we'll make things a tad different this time."

FALCONER's fifth studio album, "Northwind" — the group's first since the departure of singer Kristoffer Göbel and return of Mathias Blad — was released last September via Metal Blade Records.

Finnish progressive/avantgarde metallists FALL OF THE LEAFE will release their sixth album, "Aerolithe", on August 20 via Firebox Records. The album was mastered by Svante Forsback at Chartmakers studio in Helsinki, Finland. The track listing is as follows:

01. Opening
02. All the Good Faith
03. Drawing Worry
04. Lithe
05. At a Breath's Pace
06. Graceful Retreat
07. Sink Teeth Here
08. Minor Nuisance
09. Especially By Stealth
10. Look into Me
11. Closure

Check out audio samples at the band's official web site.

FALL OF THE LEAFE is:

Tuomas Tuominen - Voice
Jussi Hänninen - Guitar
Kaj Gustafsson - Guitar
Petri Hannuniemi - Keyboards
Miska Lehtivuori - Bass
Matias Aaltonen – Drums

FALL OF THE LEAFE's fifth album, "Vantage", was released in 2005 via Firebox Records.
web site

Polish extreme metal titans BEHEMOTH have posted a new video clip on their official Youtube page, which documents their latest photo session. The group just completed five special North American shows that included an appearance at the renowned New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, two rare headlining shows, plus performances alongside such acclaimed acts as CANNIBAL CORPSE and DIMMU BORGIR, among others.

BEHEMOTH will return to the U.S. this summer on Ozzfest 2007 having landed the direct support, non-rotating slot right before second stage headliners HATEBREED. The group's much-anticipated new album, "The Apostasy", is set for a July 17 release.

Nergal (vocals, guitars) checks in with the following report: "We decided to do these five special U.S. shows more less as a warm up for Ozzfest. It was also the first time we did some headlining off shows in North America and they went extremely well! Montreal was a blast as always. New England Metalfest was massive! Can't describe how incredible the feedback was and we really appreciated this. We played one new song and it seems like people were totally into it.

"The new album, 'The Apostasy', is finally complete and I'm so excited about this. We just received new master from Cutting Room and it sounds huge! The cover artwork and all the booklet designs are completely over the top. Even we never went this far. Just sit tight and be patient because this is definitely worth the wait.

"We are in Russia at the moment. It's never been this crazy over here. Decent turnouts and absolutely devoted fans. It's all out of control but we love it! We couldn't ask for more!"

LACUNA COIL and Ovation Guitars recently teamed up to present a series of free acoustic clinic mini-performances, which took place at guitar stores across the U.S. throughout the Jagermeister tour and current headlining run. This is something unique and exclusive that the band wanted to do in order to give back something special to their devoted fanbase throughout the country. Two of these special acoustic performances have been recently posted on the band’s MySpace page; click on the links below to check them out.

Falcetti Music, Enfield, CT: Video
Russo’s, Hamilton, NJ: Video

LACUNA COIL is currently moving across North American on the inaugural "Hottest Chicks In Metal" tour. The direct support for this trek will feature either WITHIN TEMPTATION or THE GATHERING, depending on the market. STOLEN BABIES and labelmates IN THIS MOMENT will occupy the other support slots.

Launch Radio Networks reports: LINKIN PARK releases its long-awaited third studio album on Tuesday (May 15), called "Minutes to Midnight". The band took more than a year to write and record the follow-up to 2003's "Meteora", working with producer Rick Rubin to create a sound unlike anything the band had done previously. DJ Joseph Hahn told Launch that LINKIN PARK experimented more on this project than ever before. "We ended up with 150 tracks to choose from, and a lot of it wasn't that greatest stuff, but it allowed us to discover what the new thing we were gonna do was, and we finally narrowed it down to the 12 that are on the album," he said. "You know, we had a lot of fun doing it. It was a lot of fun working with Rick Rubin. Making this album was different than anything we've ever done before."

The first single from "Minutes to Midnight" is "What I've Done".

Группа даст два концерта в России: 5 июня в Санкт-Петербурге и 6 июня в Москве

Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen has announced the formation of a brand new band called AGUA DE ANNIQUE.

"Over the last 10 years I have turned many dreams and experiences into songs," Anneke said in a statement. "I started recording a selection of the very personal ones during the past six months. We've laid down the basic tracks at the Waterfront Studios in Rotterdam and recorded overdubs at The Void in Eindhoven, as well as in the comfort of my own home studio. I'm excited to send these songs off into the world and share them with [everyone]!

"I have formed a band called AGUA DE ANNIQUE to help me voice these songs. We will release an album called 'Air' in the fall of 2007.

"Besides the wonderfully talented people in the band, a few of my friends will make appearances on this album. The lovely Kristin Fjellseth will sing additional vocals, Jeffrey Fayman has made a string arrangement for a song called 'Ice Water'. Heleen de Witte plays the flute and Timothy Conroy provided some killer trumpet work. The album is mixed by Jon Anders Narum."

AGUA DE ANNIQUE is:

Anneke van Giersbergen - Vocals/Piano
Joris Dirks - Guitars/Vocals
Jacques de Haard - Bass
Rob Snijders - Drums

Anneke van Giersbergen's final appearance with THE GATHERING will take place on August 4 at the Ankkarock festival in Finland.