German metalcore masters CALIBAN have changed the projected title of their new album to "The Awakening" from the previously announced "From Sorrow to Serenity". Due in Germany on May 25 via Roadrunner Records (Abacus Recordings in the U.S.), the CD was produced by Benny Richter. Check out the cover artwork at this location.

CALIBAN's fifth full-length album, "The Undying Darkness", was released in Europe in February 2006 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2004's "The Opposite from Within" was produced by Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES frontman) at Principal Studios near Münster, Germany, with Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, ARCH ENEMY) handling the mixing duties.

Norwegian melodic thrashers SUSPERIA are finally back with their long-awaited fourth album, "Cut from Stone". A maelstrom of vicious riffs and melody lies at the heart of the bands powerhouse performance on the eleven new songs that make up "Cut from Stone".

Recorded in Oslo at Strand Studio, "Cut from Stone" was mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH, SOILWORK) at Dug-Out Productions in Sweden and it can be described as the most contemporary and soulful work of thrash art that the five-piece has created so far. "We're really excited about this record," guitarist Cyrus comments. "I think it's our best album so far. I know it's a cliché to say that, but I genuinely believe it. Working with Daniel Bergstrand was awesome. He gave our songs human touch, still really heavy and powerful but warmer and more organic. It has an analogue feel to it, which is how Daniel likes to work."

The band has once again collaborated with Rune Tyvold for the sleeve design and cover artwork

German metalcore act DEADLOCK will release its third album, "Wolves", on April 16 in Europe and May 25 in the U.S. via Lifeforce Records. The CD was recorded during September-November by band's mastermind Sebastian Reichl. It was mixed by Jacob Hansen (MERCENARY, NIGHTRAGE, RAUNCHY) and Peter "Ziggy" Siegfredsen (MERCENARY, ILLDISPOSED, HATESPHERE).

"Wolves" track listing:

01. World Domination
02. We Shall All Bleed
03. Code Of Honor
04. Losers' Ballet
05. Dark Cell
06. Crown Of Creation
07. End Begins
08. As Words To Bullets
09. Praeludium II
10. Bloodpact
11. To Where The Skies Are Blue

Drummer Tobias Graf previously stated about the new CD: "We continued the path that we started with our first album, 'The Arrival', in 2002. On this third full-length you can expect the next step of enthralling keyboard overkills, bombastic orchestral stuff and fast lead-attacks combined with one of the most talented female vocalist around, Sabine Weniger. With her songwriting vocation, our songs getting more depth, variability and emotion. For us it's definitely the best and most innovative work we've ever created. We're curious to the audiences reactions and hope, that you all our fans and listeners will love our new baby as much as we do."

Reunited Austrian black metallers ABIGOR have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Fractal Possesion", tentatively due this spring via End All Life Records. Check out a few audio samples at the band's MySpace page.

"Fractal Possession" track listing:

01. Warning
02. Project: Shadow
03. Cold Void Choir
04. Lairf Of Infinite Deparation
05. 3D Blasphemy
06. The Fire Syndrom
07. Injection Satan
08. Libery Rises A Diagonal Flame
09. Vapourzied Tears
10. Heaven Unveiled

JUDAS PRIEST is currently recording a concept album about the 16th Century French prophet Nostradamus. The band's management representative, Jayne Andrews, has issued the following update:

"The band are well under way in the studio. Everything is coming together and sounding really fantastic!! Glenn [Tipton, guitar] and K.K. [Downing, guitar] have been working very hard to put this album together. Scott [Travis, drums] is over next week and he and Ian [Hill, bass] will be laying down their parts. Rob [Halford, vocals] will be back in the studio very soon to put his vocals down, so it's all going according to plan! As we always say — be patient; it will be worth waiting for!!"

Progressive metal act SYMPHONY X is continuing work on its follow-up to 2002's "The Odyssey", entitled "Paradise Lost", tentatively due in early 2007. The following update has been issued by the group's official webmaster:

"Spoke to both [guitarist Michael James Romeo] and Russ [Allen, vocals] for a while today, and things are moving right along! Michael James Romeo is finishing up a few solos and tightening up some of the orchestral/choral parts, and the CD will be sent off to be mixed in early March. Jens Bogren (Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden) [OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH] will be doing the honors, and the mixing should be done by the end of March. A potential release date as well as other info like the track listing and such will be available once the CD is mixed, so stay tuned for more info on that."

Welsh metalcore act BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE has entered a Texas studio with producer Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY, NAPALM DEATH) to begin recording its new album, tentatively due later in the year.

Commented guitarist Michael Paget: "Moose [drummer Michael 'Moose' Thomas] has now finished eight tracks off the new record. Man, it's sounding heavy!! Colin reckons he has beat 'The Poison' drum sound already, so that's wicked! He only has four (including two brand new tracks) to go, so big up for Moosey!!! Guitars should be getting underway the beginning of next week; can't wait! This new album is gonna be heavy as shit — better, stronger drum parts, metal riffery, bad-ass solos (lots of 'em!), and killer bass lines!!! I'm excited as hell!"

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's "The Poison - Live At Brixton" DVD was released in the U.S. on December 19 via Trustkill. The disc, which was issued in Europe on Oct. 30, captures the band's sold-out show in front of over 4,000 people at London's legendary Brixton Academy on January 28, 2006 (filmed with over 15 cameras), along with over an hour of bonus material, including the band's videos so far, EPKs and documentaries edited to songs from both "The Poison" and the "Hand Of Blood" EP, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the band performing at the Download Festival and the Metal Hammer Awards in the U.K. last summer.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's debut album, "The Poison", has sold 190,000 copies in the U.S. since its February 2006 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Sweden's PAIN OF SALVATION filmed a live DVD last night (Friday, March 2) at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Scarsick (Scarsick)
02. America (Scarsick)
03. ! (Entropia)
04. Nightmist (Entropia)
05. Handful of Nothing (One Hour By The Concrete Lake)
06. New Year's Eve (One Hour By The Concrete Lake)
07. Ashes (The Perfect Element Part I)
08. Undertow (Remedy Lane)
09. This Heart of Mine/Song for the Innocent (Remedy Lane/The Perfect Element Part I)
10. Chain Sling (Remedy Lane)
11. Diffidentia (Be)
12. Flame to the Moth (Scarsick)
13. Disco Queen (Scarsick)
-----------------------------------
14. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
15. Cribcaged (Scarsick)
16. Used (The Perfect Element Part I)

Check out photos from the DVD shoot тут

Swedish metallers THE DUSKFALL have set "The Dying Wonders of the World" as the title of their fourth album, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records. The band will enter the studio on April 1 to begin recording the follow-up to "Lifetime Supply of Guilt".

As previously reported, THE DUSKFALL is featured in a new independent horror movie called "Five across the Eyes". "They even liked the chorus for our song 'Case Closed' so much so they used it for the movie title," the band writes on its web site. "We are really honoured that they used our music in their movie as we all are big fans of horror movies."

W.A.S.P. will release its new studio CD, "Dominator", in the U.K. on April 16, Scandinavia on April 20, and the rest of mainland Europe on April 27 via Demolition Records. The CD will arrive in South America and Russia in early May.

"Dominator" track listing:

01. Mercy
02. Long, Long Way To Go
03. Take Me Up
04. The Burning Man
05. Heaven’s Hung In Black
06. Heaven’s Blessed
07. Teacher
08. Heaven’s Hung In Black (Reprise)
09. Deal With The Devil

The LP will be released in three versions: a standard single CD package, a limited-edition digipack, and limited-edition vinyl.

Season of Mist has set an April 23 release date for the new MAYHEM album, "Ordo Ab Chao". A track from the CD, entitled "Anti", is available for download at this location.

"Ordo Ab Chao" (view cover artwork at this location) track listing:

01. A Wise Birthgiver
02. Wall of Water
03. Great Work of Ages
04. Deconsecrate
05. Illuminate Eliminate
06. Psychic Horns
07. Key to the Storms
08. Anti

Commented guitarist Blasphemer (a.k.a. Rune Erickson): "The sound is raw and powerful, and listening to it, it reminds me of the 'Wolf's Lair Abyss' era, only more varied and more philosophical. The album also contains the most aggressive songs in the MAYHEM history as well as the most wicked and darkest."

The upcoming CD will mark MAYHEM's first release since 1993 with vocalist Attila Csihar back behind the microphone.

BLABBERMOUTH.NET can reveal the final cover art for BLACK SABBATH's forthcoming "best-of" collection, "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years". Check it out at this location.

The first comprehensive introduction to the band's legacy, "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years" features a dozen classic studio recordings, plus one live track — "Children Of The Sea" from 1982's "Live Evil". The collection also contains the three brand-new tracks — "The Devil Cried", "Shadow Of The Wind", and "Ear In The Wall". The disc will be available April 3 at all physical retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested list price of $18.98. The album will also be available at all digital retail outlets for a suggested retail price of $11.99.

Arranged chronologically, the compilation spotlights singer Ronnie James Dio's time with BLACK SABBATH and draws heavily from the lineup's 1980 debut and 1981 follow-up, "Heaven and Hell" and "Mob Rules" respectively. Recognized as back-to-back metal classics, the albums feature such signature songs as the title tracks, "Neon Knights", "Die Young", "Turn Up The Night" and "Voodoo". "The Dio Years" also features "After All (The Dead)", "TV Crimes" and "I" from the singer's brief reunion with SABBATH for the "Dehumanizer" album and tour.

"Black Sabbath: The Dio Years" track listing:

01. Neon Knights
02. Lady Evil
03. Heaven And Hell
04. Die Young
05. Lonely Is The Word
06. The Mob Rules
07. Turn Up The Night
08. Voodoo
09. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
10. After All (The Dead)
11. TV Crimes
12. I
13. Children Of The Sea - Live
14. The Devil Cried*
15. Shadow Of The Wind*
16. Ear In The Wall*

* Newly recorded tracks

ARCH ENEMY members Angela Gossow (vocals) and Michael Amott (guitar) have recorded guest appearances on the forthcoming ANNIHILATOR album, "Metal", to be released in April via SPV Records.

Angela Gossow comments: "I have done quite a few guest vocal things, but this one was especially cool as it's a duet with Danko Jones on an ANNIHILATOR album! Danko Jones is awesome, and so is Jeff Waters [ANNIHILATOR mainman], and the track is very different from anything I would normally do…and I think that is why I like it so much."

Michael Amott comments: "Jeff Waters is a bona fide thrash metal legend and it was an honor to jam on the song with him — we traded off solos on a song and it sounded very natural and fun, like we'd been jamming for years!"

In addition to Amott, Gossow and Jones, "Metal" features guest appearances by Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM), William Adler (LAMB OF GOD), Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE), Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES), Steve "Lips" Kudlow (ANVIL), Anders Björler (THE HAUNTED), Jacob Lynam (LYNAM) and more.

"Metal" will be released April 11 in Japan (King Records), April 12 in Australia/New Zealand (World Riot Distributors), April 13 in Germany (SPV Records) and on April 16 in the rest of Europe (SPV Records).

STRATOVARIUS guitarist Timo Tolkki has issued the following update:

"INFERNOISE [Madrid, Spain-based metal band whose new CD Tolkki produced] is mixed and it succeeded very well. It was nice to produce different kind of music for a change. It was pure aggression.

"I flew to Venice to produce VISION DIVINE. Although there were some problems (as there always are in the recordings), the results are really good. I will fly there again at the end of March to mix it. Of course they lost my luggage (it always happens to me).

"I've been travelling a lot around Europe casting different characters for 'Saana' [Tolkki's classic rock-opera project 'Saana - Warrior of Light', due later in the year via Frontiers Records]. This Sunday we start recording the new STRATO 'R....R' [new STRATOVARIUS album whose title consists of two separate words that both start with 'R'] at Sonic Pump Studio in Helsinki.

"We will update you with blogs and podcasts. Hopefully we get the webcam working by Tuesday so you can see us actually playing the songs."

PAIN, the Swedish band led by HYPOCRISY mastermind Peter Tägtgren, has set "Psalms of Extinction" as the title of its fifth full-length album, due in the Nordic countries on April 18 via Roadrunner Records (May 7 in the rest of Europe). Guest musicians on the album include Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD, ex-DON DOKKEN, KING DIAMOND) on "Zombie Slam", CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho on the epic song "Just Think Again" (playing lead guitar), and Anders Iwers (IN FLAMES) on two songs (playing bass). A video for the song "Zombie Slam" will be shot in Los Angeles by Ralf Strathmann late February. Ralf previously worked as a director for artists like CHILDREN OF BODOM, APOCALYPTICA and SOILWORK. He is also a photographer for such bands as H.I.M., AEROSMITH and BLINK 182, to name but a few. According to a press release, the upcoming CD will feature sharper production, "heavier guitars, massive string movements and even more in-your-face vocals."

PAIN originally signed to Universal (Stockholm Records) in 1999 where the band achieved substantial sales, backed up with European touring activities with IN FLAMES, TIAMAT, ATROCITY and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, among others.

Since PAIN leader Peter Tägtgren appeared on the music scene back in the early Nineties he has been a most extraordinary artist and producer. Known as guitarist and frontman of the hard-working touring band HYPOCRISY, he has also built a career as a producer, having worked with such bands as CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL, DESTRUCTION, DIMMU BORGIR, DARK FUNERAL, and MARDUK, among others. Tägtgren has also delivered scores and made cameo appearances in many Swedish hit films, including "Sleepwalker", "Nolltolerans" and "Exit".

PAIN's latest album, "Dancing with the Dead", debuted at position No. 3 on the Swedish album chart in January 2005. The follow-up to 2002's "Nothing Remains the Same" was released in continental Europe in March 2005.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA have recruited Koen Herfst as a session drummer for their upcoming shows. "Koen is the drummer of Dutch urban metal band BAGGA BOWNZ, but is also known for his helping hand by filling in for Andre with AFTER FOREVER when they were in need of a session drummer," EPICA writes on its web site.

EPICA will embark on a North American headlining tour in September. Support at the shows will come from the Austrian/American "epic metal" band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS.

EPICA is currently recording its new album at Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany. The CD, which is being produced by Sascha Paeth, will feature a session appearance by GOD DETHRONED drummer Ariën van Weesenbeek. EPICA has yet to name a full-time drummer following the departure of Jeroen Simons in 2006.

Simone will make her appearance on the upcoming album of the German metal band Primal Fear.

As written on the Primal fear website:
"Simone Simons of EPICA joined us for some sensational vocal work and for the first time in PRIMAL FEAR's career a vocal duet with a female singer. We are very pround about the final version of 'Every Time It Rains', which has a different vibe for PRIMAL FEAR and our fans"

EPICA's previously announced live DVD, which was filmed on May 4, 2006 at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland, has been delayed until later this year, according to a posting on the group's official web site. The band's latest album, "Consign to Oblivion", was recorded in early 2005 and features a guest contribution from KAMELOT vocalist Roy Khan.

Belgium masters of brutality ABORTED have issued the following update:

"Well, yes, finally, after months of auditioning and looking for the right person for the spot, we're glad to announce we have found a new permanent drummer in Dan Wilding. Dan completely knocked us off our feet at his audition and will without a doubt prove to be the perfect addition to complete the lineup we were looking for. Dan's first show will be on March 16th in Bamberg, Germany."

Polish extreme metal titans BEHEMOTH are currently wrapping up the tenuous recording process for "The Apostasy", their most ambitious and epic offering yet. The new effort is being recorded in the band's hometown of Gdansk with Nergal (vocals, guitars) and longtime sound engineer Malta in the producers' chairs and is set for a late July release.

Nergal checks in with the following news: "We are almost done recording all of the guitar tracks. It is taking us much longer than we had originally expected but 'The Apostasy' is technically the most demanding of all BEHEMOTH albums thus far. We are extremely proud of what we've recorded and the sound is just devastating. This time I decided to use three different amps and record two guitars on each side. This way we make the guitar tone meatier and it also provides something more unique sound wise. Seth (guitars) and I are starting to record our lead parts now while Orion lays down his final bass tracks. I am so excited right now, but at the same time I have never been so stressed in my life. This album is my life now.

"Last week we had a special guest on the song 'Inner Sanctum'. This is the most creepy and evil sounding tune on 'The Apostasy' so far. However, I'm not going to reveal the name of the guest musician just yet because I do not want to ruin the surprise. All of the tracks should be completed over the next two weeks. After that I fly out to Uppsala, Sweden to being the mixing process with the acclaimed Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, DARK FUNERAL, IN FLAMES) at Dug-Out Studios. We had long discussions about the direction of the record and we definitely seem to be on the same page. I can't wait till we start working on that."

Industrial goth enigma MORTIIS is set to release a remix album, titled "Some Kind of Heroin", reworking material from "The Grudge", on April 16 via Earache Records.

For much of MORTIIS' career, the striking visual aspect combined with his rapid musical evolution has become a subject of much urban legend over the years. And yet over a series of progressively more ambitious albums, MORTIIS has morphed into a band unit that has become known for aggressive live shows and ambitious records, and has spawned two Top 50 U.K. singles.

In keeping with the rapidly developing nature of the music and the direction of the band, "Some Kind of Heroin" offers diverse remix material including interpretations by a wide range of contemporaries, such as ZOMBIE GIRL, GOTHMINISTER, IMPLANT, XP8, MENTAL SIEGE, PIG, THE KOVENANT, VELVET ACID CHRIST, GIRLS UNDER GLASS, DAVID WALLACE, KUBRICK, FUNKER VOGT, FLESH FIELD, DOPE STARS and IN THE NURSERY.

Mortiis states: "I'm really stoked we finally got to do a remix album and since it's been in process for quite some time now I'm happy to be able to finally release it.
I've always been fascinated with taking songs and twisting them into something different, the ability to grab the elements you like and put them into a totally different environment. The flexibility of that really appeals to me.

"I think the mixes all those guys did came out really cool, many of them vastly different from what would have come out of the studio if I had done them. It's cool to see what happens when you let other people inside your head, so to speak. I think the variety of mixers and sonic realms created here will appeal to a large variety of people."

Track listing for "Some Kind of Heroin" is as follows:
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01. Underdog (Zombie Girl Remix)
02. The Grudge (Gothminister mix)
03. Twist The Knife (The Gibbering mix by Implant)
04. Broken Skin feat. Stephan Groth (Septic Wound mix by XP8)
05. The Grudge (Mental Siege Mix)
06. Gibber (PIG Remix)
07. Way too Wicked (Rape, Dope and the American Way mix by The Kovenant)
08. Gibber (Lysergic Club Mix by Velvet Acid Christ)
09. The Worst in Me (Girls Under Glass Mix)
10. The Grudge (David Wallace Remix)
11. Broken Skin feat. Stephan Groth (Funker Vogt Remix)
12. The Grudge (Emotional Heresy by Kubrick)
13. Decadent & Desperate (Therafuck remix by Dope Stars)
14. Gibber (Gibbering Idiot)
15. Way too Wicked (Absinthium mix)
16. The Worst in Me (Extraction mix by In the Nursery)

KOTIPELTO, the band led by STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto, will release its third album, "Serenity", on April 20 in Europe via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland and was mixed by Mikko Karmila. The album's first single, "Sleep Well", entered the Finnish chart at No. 5. A video for the song has been posted online at YouTube.com. The track is also included in the new Finnish movie "Vares 2", which had its premiere on January 12. "The song is a main theme and can be heard when the credits are scrolling at the end of the movie," said Kotipelto. "The music video include[s] clips from the movie. Some of the actors who are playing the characters on these clips are my personal friends and are very well known in Finland."

"Serenity" (view cover artwork at this location) track listing:

01. Once upon a Time
02. Sleep Well
03. Serenity
04. City of Mysteries
05. King Anti-Midas
06. Angels Will Cry
07. After the Rain
08. Mr. Know-It-All
09. Dreams and Reality
10. Last Defender

The new THE 69 EYES album, "Angels", is available for streaming in its entirety at the band's MySpace. Due in Finland on March 5 via Virgin/EMI, the CD was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa and Johnny Lee Michaels — the same team that was responsible for 2004's "Devils". The video for the album's first single, "Perfect Skin", was directed by Ralf Strathmann and was filmed in Hollywood in mid-October 2006. You can watch the clip here. The additional tracks on the single are live versions of "Devils", "Christina Death" and "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" (originally by THE RAMONES) recorded at Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood in March 2006.

ALICE COOPER has set "Along Came a Spider" as the title of his new studio album, tentatively due in May. A two-and-a-half-minute video interview Cooper gave to Scott Harden at the Los Angeles Confidential magazine pre-Oscar party for Forest Whitaker at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles has been posted online at YouTube.com.

ALICE COOPER's last studio set, "Dirty Diamonds", hit stores in 2005.

Cooper's backing band currently features guitarists Keri Kelli and Damon Johnson (BROTHER CANE), bassist Chuck Garric and drummer Eric Singer (KISS).

Norwegian symphonic metal band TRISTANIA has issued the following update:

"TRISTANIA is sorry to announce that Vibeke [Stene, vocals] has decided to leave the band due to personal reasons. The band regrets this fact, but respect her decision and wish her all the best in the future.

"TRISTANIA is now looking to find a new female singer, as they are anxious to start touring and promoting the new album." Please send demos, along with a recent photograph, to:

Tristania
Askeladdveien 12
N-4019 Stavanger
Norway

"They sold 13.000 tickets within 7 days, and after the last concert in Leipzig, the Deine Lakaien and Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt project is happy to announce that the orchestra tour was a huge success!


Every tour event the audience celebrated the band with thunderous applause and multiple standing ovations for perfect interplay between musicians and the outstanding musical performance.


The entire media reported enthusiastic and positive about the tour. For their 20th anniversary Deine Lakaien celebrate their biggest success. This does not mean that they will rest on their laurels, but they are already working on the creation and production of the "20 Years of Electronic Avantgarde"-DVD as well as CD. Expected release date: 08. June 2007.

Swedish thrashers CARNAL FORGE have finalized the track listing for their sixth album, "Testify for My Victims", due in May via Candlelight Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Aren't You Dead Yet?" was recorded, mixed and mastered over a four-and-a-half-month period and was produced by CARNAL FORGE.

"Testify for My Victims" track listing:

01. Testify For My Victims
02. Burning Eden
03. Numb (The Dead)
04. Godsend Gods End
05. End Game
06. Questions Pertaining The Ownership Of My Mind
07. Freedom By Mutilation
08. Subhuman
09. No Longer Bleeding
10. Biological Waste Matter
11. Lost Legion
12. Ante Mori

"Testify For My Victims" was mixed at Black Lounge Studios. Two videos have already been filmed for the album tracks "Numb" and "Burning Eden", both directed by Owe Lingvall (Village Road Film).

IN FLAMES' webmaster has issued the following update:

"A couple of days ago Björn [Gelotte, guitar] called me and said that IN FLAMES are in the studio and recording three new demo songs. The plan is to do the whole pre-production on their own. Yesterday Daniel [Svensson] finalized the last song on the drums and right now Björn and Jesper [Strömblad] are recording the guitars.

"There is big excitement in the band right now. They are back in their own studio (IF studios) for the pre production and eventually recording the next record. Next, the festival in Dubai, witch is unbroken territory for IN FLAMES. Then get back on the road to do the Norway/Sweden tour."