Reunited Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL have issued the following update:

"A new dawn rises with the return of IMMORTAL and we strongly appreciate all the great support from every one of you...

"From above the gates we stride at hand as 'The Seven Dates of Blashyrkh' draw nearer and the force is strong upon this coming storm.

"Under the banner of Blashyrkh we ride mightier than all years before at one with you: the IMMORTAL horde....the wind will lead us!"

German high-energy thrashers DEW-SCENTED have set an April 3 North American release date (March 30 in Germany, April 2 in the rest of Europe) via Nuclear Blast Records for their new album, "Incinerate". The CD was mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY) and features guest appearances by Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Gus G. (FIREWIND) and Mille Petrozza (KREATOR). "On the song 'Perdition for All' we have Jeff and Gus shredding awesome lead guitar pieces," the band writes on its web site. "It was great to hook up with Jeff again, since we still have loads of good memories of that tour where DEW-SCENTED supported ANNIHILATOR and OVERKILL some years back. Also Gus is one the most talented current players out there, so we are happy to have him on the record too! Both are outstanding players with a very unique style, so look out for their awesome performances! And then we are super pleased to announce that Mille is doing some guest vocals on the song 'Retain the Scars'. We have gigged around a bit with KREATOR in the past and since they have always been one of our thrash metal faves and early inspirations, it's extremely cool to have Mille featured on our album!"

"Incinerate" track listing:

01. Exordium (intro)
02. Vanish Away
03. Final Warning
04. That's Why I Despise You
05. The Fraud
06. Into the Arms of Misery
07. Perdition for All
08. Now or Never
09. Aftermath
10. Everything Undone
11. Contraddictions
12. Retain the Scars
13. Exitus (outro)

For a sneak audio preview of "Incinerate", download the fifth edition of the Nuclear Podblast, hosted by Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM, which features the song DEW-SCENTED song "Vanish Away". Check it out at
this location

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have issued the following update:

"We're in the middle of recording drums for the new, yet-untitled PRIMAL FEAR album No. 7. We started with the recordings for our new album over last weekend. Randy [Black] is in a fantastic shape, good mood and well prepared. We will be done with the drums tomorrow and start tracking guitars and bass." Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2005's "Seven Seals" include "Save Me", "Torn" and "Every Time It Rains". A summer release via Frontiers Records is expected.

The releasedate of the forthcoming HAGGARD-CD "Tales of Ithiria" is now for sure: It is the 29th of June 2007. At the moment we are still working at Roth Recording Studios in Burghaslach/Germany, and we?re deeply under pressure.
Of course you can find all the HAGGARD Trademarks on the new CD, deep voice (grunts), soprano, classical instruments and so on! Further on I would like to give a huge "Thank you" to DRAKKAR (Record Label). Without their support it wouldn?t have been possible to realize the CD Recordings.

Finnish goth metallers H.I.M. are scheduled to enter Finnvox studios in Helsinki later this month with producers Tim Palmer and Hiili Hiilesmaa to begin recording the follow-up to 2005's "Dark Light", tentatively due in July. Some of the new material will likely be previewed this summer during the group's appearances at the Ilosaarirock and Miljoona Rock festivals in Finland.

"Dark Light" was officially certified gold in the U.S. last year for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. The single "Wings of a Butterfly" peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart and No. 20 on the Mainstream Rock tally, according to Billboard.com. "Dark Light" has sold more than 900,000 copies worldwide.

According to a posting on the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes Of Bodom, frontman Alexi Laiho revealed at the Finnish Metal Expo this past weekend that the band will be going into the rehearsal room this week to begin working on material for its next album. If all goes well, the group will enter a Finnish studio following the summer festival season to begin recording the CD for a tentative early 2008 release.

CHILDREN OF BODOM was recently forced to cancel its appearance at the Desert Rock festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates after Laiho "tripped at a bowling alley" and hurt his shoulder, preventing him from playing guitar for six weeks.

French gothic metal band PENUMBRA has entered the studio to record three new songs. More information will be made available soon.

PENUMBRA last year announced the addition of female singer Asphodel to the group's ranks. "Asphodel's beautiful voice perfectly suits the new musical direction PENUMBRA has taken since their last album, 'Seclusion' [2003]," the band previously wrote on its web site.

The cover artwork for the new THE 69 EYES album, "Angels", has been posted online at this location. 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.

"Angels" track listing:

01. Angels M
02. Never Say Die
03. Rocker
04. Ghost
05. Perfect Skin
06. Wings & Hearts
07. Star Of Fate
08. Los Angeles
09. In My Name
10. Shadow Of Your Love
11. Frankenhooker

The limited edition of "Angels" will include a bonus DVD containing the "Perfect Skin" video, a five-song live set from Hollywood’s Whisky a Go-Go in 2006 and "On The Route 69", a short film based on Ville Juurikkala's photos.

NIGHTWISH will release a new single, entitled "Eva", on May 30. "Eva" will be an Internet-only single release, all profits from which shall be donated to a charity that will be announced later. In Finland, the single will be available exclusively from NetAnttila.

"Eva" will feature the new NIGHTWISH vocalist, chosen from about 2,000 applicants. The singer's identity will be revealed simultaneously in a press statement and on the band's website, www.nightwish.com, on Wednesday, May 30. A radio promo of the Internet single will ship on the same day.

The sixth NIGHTWISH album will be released on September 26, preceded by a second, regular single release in August.

Dutch rock band THE GATHERING were honored in two categories at the annual NightLiveXS Awards, held Sunday, February 11, 2007 at Club Paradiso in Amsterdam.

Drummer Hans Rutten provides an update on the awards show and the band's current activities for 2007: "We just won two awards at this year's NightLiveXS awards. We won both the Outstanding Achievement Award and the Best Dutch Live Band Award 2006-2007. This is something great and we had a very nice evening at the show."

Continues Rutten: "In other news, we are currently working on a DVD release, which we shall recorded in Santiago, Chile on March 24th, 2007 at the 4,000-capacity theatre Teatro Caupolicán. It will be a heavy, rock-orientated DVD called 'A Noise Severe', a sort of the 'Yang' from 'A Sound Relief' (which was the 'Ying') What a spiritual nonsense!

"We will also start working on a new CD this spring and hopefully we will release it somewhere in 2008. We keep on touring and promoting our latest album 'Home' in 2007. We're a busy band!"

CHILDREN OF BODOM was honored with the "Band of the Year" award at the Finnish Metal Awards, which were held Friday night (February 16) during the Finnish Metal Expo at the Cable Factory in Helsinki, Finland. Members of the Finnish metal media pre-selected the candidates and the people cast their votes to select the winners, which were as follows:

Album of the Year: MOKOMA - Kuoleman Laulukunnaat
Band of the Year: CHILDREN OF BODOM
Rookie of the Year: PROFANE OMEN
Cover art of the Year: MOKOMA - Kuoleman Laulukunnaat
Musician of the Year: Kai Hahto of WINTERSUN
Vocalist of the Year: Marco Hietala of TAROT / NIGHTWISH

SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera made a special guest appearance with the popular Russian hardcore group FAQ on January 11, 2007 in Moscow, Russia at the Shadow Club. Cavalera performed "Molotov", "Jumpdafuckup" and the FAQ original track "The Killing Song", to which he also contributed vocals in the studio for inclusion on FAQ's upcoming album, "Circus Dogs". Watch a video clip of FAQ and Max Cavalera performing "Jumpdafuckup" in Moscow at YouTube.com.

FAQ's Paul Filipenko recently contributed some fire-spitting vocals to the track "Molotov" on SOULFLY's latest CD, "Dark Ages".

Finnish melodic power metallers THUNDERSTONE have uploaded the video for their new single, "Face in the Mirror", on their official web site: WMV (12 MB), MPG (31 MB). The track comes off the group's fourth studio album, "Evolution 4.0", due on March 14 (except in the U.S., where it will be issued later in the spring). According to the band, the new CD is "a milestone, bringing in more of the heavier stuff that 'Tools of Destruction' already hinted at, but still retaining the landmark melodies of THUNDERSTONE. That's why we thought the title 'Evolution 4.0' best represents where we now stand". Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Roots of Anger", "10,000 Ways", "Swirled", "Down with Me" and "The Source".

Canadian thrashers ANNIHILATOR have revealed the complete track listing for their new album, "Metal", due in Europe on April 16 via SPV Records. The CD's ten new tracks were recorded by Jeff Waters (guitar, bass and lead vocals on one song), drum legend Mike Mangini and Dave Padden (long-time vocalist and touring guitarist/vocalist). "Metal" also features sensational performances by some of metal's finest players and ANNIHILATOR's good friends, like Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Danko Jones (DANKO JONES), Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY), 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.

In view of these impressive omens, one should tend to believe Waters when he states: "'Metal' is going to be known as one of the coolest guitar albums out there but this is also one of the best-written records in my career; something that you can never achieve if you try… it just happens!"

Jeff Waters on the straightforward and unambiguous album title, "Metal": "The new album reminds me of the first four ANNIHILATOR records. It's then tempting to think that I'm looking back artistically, when the opposite happens to be the case. But it's a fact that I composed the new material the same way I went about the early ANNIHILATOR tracks. This record combines many of the diverse styles you will find in metal music done our way. ANNIHILATOR metal."

April will see ANNIHILATOR embark on a major European tour as TRIVIUM's very special guests, playing over 40 shows into June in countries such as Germany, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Italy and France and then summer festival shows to follow.

"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).

"Metal" track listing:

01. Clown Parade (feat. Jeff Loomis)
02. Couple Suicide (feat. Danko Jones and Angela Gossow)
03. Army Of One (feat. Steve "Lips" Kudlow)
04. Downright Dominate (feat. Alexi Laiho)
05. Smothered (feat. Anders Björler)
06. Operation Annihilation (feat. Michael Amott)
07. Haunted (feat. Jesper Strömblad)
08. Kicked (feat. Corey Beaulieu)
09. Detonation (feat. Jacob Lynam)
10. Chasing The High (feat. William Adler)

Brutal Dutch death metallers INFINITED HATE, who feature in their ranks three current members of the legendary SINISTER plus ex-members of the mighty HOUWITSER, have begun work on their new album, "Orchestra of Sickness", due later in the year via Goregiastic Records. The projected track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Asylum of Abused
02. Forever Silenced
03. Origin of Evil
04. In Common with Beast
05. Soulless Victor
06. Upper Hate
07. Demon King
08. Primordial Darkness
09. Day of the Cross
10. The Almighty (ARTILLERY cover)

INFINITED HATE previously released two albums through Holland's Displeased Records.

JUDAS PRIEST management representative Jayne Andrews has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"We would like to make it clear to everyone that a book which is due out soon, entitled 'Defenders Of The Faith - The True Story Of Judas Priest' by Neil Daniels, is not an official book and is not approved by the band. We had absolutely no involvement with this book at all and therefore it is most definitely not the true story of JUDAS PRIEST!!"

Symphonic black metal masters LIMBONIC ART have returned from the dead! On 06.06.06, the group's two members, Daemon and Morfeus, decided to recurrect the band and have written and recorded a new album. The band has re-signed with Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records, and the comeback CD, entitled "Legacy of Evil", is set for release this summer. According to a press release, "LIMBONIC ART strike back with full force, more intense and malevolent than ever. This is a well-crafted black metal massacre, with heart and soul!'

Swedish/Greek death metal outfit NIGHTRAGE has posted its video for the track "Scathing" at Youtube. The clip was shot last month in Athens, Greece. The track comes off the group's third album, "A New Disease Is Born", due in North America on April 17. The CD was recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, FEAR MY THOUGHTS, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).

LINKIN PARK has issued the following update:

"Firstly, our new album has officially entered the 'mixing stage' of the process. We have put more into the new album than anything we have ever done before. After over a year of writing, recording, and setting unrealistic finish dates for the record (sorry about that!), we are in the home stretch. The new album is very exciting for the six of us, and we can't wait until everyone can hear it! When can you get your first taste? We are looking to release the first single in March.

"Some of you may think you have already heard some new music; not true. You have heard either 'Qwerty' or 'Announcement Service Public'… both tracks that came out of our recording process, but neither of which will be on the album. They are currently available on this year's LPU [fan club] CD. Go check out www.lpunderground.com.

"Also, get ready for LPTV. We are going to be releasing a series of Internet webisodes on www.linkinpark.com that will give a history of LINKIN PARK, as well as an inside look at the studio experience with the new album. LPU members will have access to extended footage on almost all of the LPTV episodes."

LINKIN PARK's follow up 2003's multi-platinum "Meteora" is being produced by Rick Rubin, whom MC Mike Shinoda called "a legend."

After two years and one album ("Rubicon") with the band, guitarist Raf Jansen has left Belgian metallers ANCIENT RITES.

Commented Raf: "I've enjoyed playing with ANCIENT RITES, but I had to make a decision. As things are these days, something had to go, and after a long deliberation, I chose to leave ANCIENT RITES. AHRÁYEPH [Raf's solo project] demands much of my time these days, as do producing and I have a day job on the side as well.

"Over the years, ANCIENT RITES have proven to rise above every obstacle they encountered, so me leaving won't even leave a dent in the band's future. They'll still stand as strong as ever," he added.

"I wish the guys the very best for the future and at the same time am looking forward to my own with AHRÁYEPH."

Raf is currently in the final stages of completing AHRÁYEPH's debut album, "Marooned on Samsara", due out later in the year. The band will then shop for a record label to release the CD and rehearse for future live gigs. Raf is also scheduled to produce the sophomore albums from Belgian bands WEIHAN and WANHOOP.

Escape Music has announced the signing of NEVERLAND, a progressive power metal band from Switzerland. According to the label, "These dedicated guys have found a perfect mix of classical riffs and melodies and fused them with progressive elements. The result is a very classy album that traces elements of DREAM THEATER, SYMPHONY X, KAMELOT and ROYAL HUNT but they have a distinct originality all of their own. The album is produced by Tommy Vertelli, known for his excellent work with KREATOR and CORONER. The album will be released March 23 and features the following tracks:

01. Schizophrenia
02. When Darkness Falls
03. Mysteria
04. Anger
05. Anguish
06. Take My Advice
07. Buy Your Dream
08. Neverland
09. Brave Warrior

Dark Essence Records has set a March 12 release date for the digipack version of TAAKE's "...Doedskvad". As a bonus, you will get a couple of live clips from TAAKE's concert at the Hole In The Sky festival in 2005.

To coincide with TAAKE's upcoming European tour with URGEHAL and KOLDBRANN, Dark Essence Records will release a new EP from the Norwegian black metallers, entitled "Nekro". The CD will include tracks that previously appeared on various ten- and seven-inch split releases, including "Voldtekt" ("Dra til Helvete" ten-inch EP, 2006), "Lamb" ("A Norwegian Hail To Von" seven-inch" EP, 2005), and "Hennes Kalde Skamlepper" ("Lagnonector" ten-inch EP, 2005).

RAGE guitarist Victor Smolski is working on a compilation CD to celebrate Nuclear Blast Records' 20th anniversary, entitled "Into the Light". Smolski composed, recorded and produced about 10 songs for various metal artists that are part of the Nuclear Blast history, including a track that is being recorded and performed by his own band.

Commented Smolski: "It's a great honor for me working at a large contract, a compilation CD for the 20th anniversary of Nuclear Blast. It will be an album with 10 songs of various metal bands of Nuclear Blast history, [and it will include] a new RAGE song, for which I composed, produced and recorded all guitars, keyboards and bass. I got support by Andre Hilgers (drums) and Peavy Wagner (lyrics). Except some vocal parts, all songs were recorded at VPS studio in Hamm, where Charly Czajkovski again did a great job.

"During composing I tried, making all songs stylistic, and concerning the pitch of the voice, much comfortable for the singer. I didn't figure out, that, beside hearing out the different styles of the bands, the composing and arranging, I had lots of stress while doing clerical work as mailing and phoning. Thanks a lot to all singers for good cooperation. I think, this compilation CD is a real special and important project for Nuclear Blast. Special thanks also to Andy Siry, Jaap Wagemaker and Achim Köhler for support."

The details of the ten songs are as follows:

* Title: "In the Picture"
Vocalist: Tarja Turunen (ex-NIGHTWISH)

Victor: "This last mid-tempo song of the CC develops itself from the ballad-like beginning to a catchy chorus, which is a good example for how harmonic a powerful metal song can fit to Tarja's classical voice. The lyrics deal with the subject, if there were any other existences, and even if we faced directly with the facts, would we believe our eyes?"

* Title: "Slaves of the Desert"
Vocalist: Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN)

Victor: "A long, both groovy and also progressive metal tune, with an interesting structure in the song itself, as well as in harmonics, containing many catchy metal riffs and some arrangement parts for big choir, like Hansi is famous for the several voices work with BLIND GUARDIAN. The song is in a sense about the question, if there is an alien-like existence or even something like a strange population somewhere out there."

* Title: "Dirty Wings"
Vocalist: Tobias Sammet (EDGUY)

Victor: "The opener — one of my favorite songs — is a catchy tune with a real nice melodic chorus, which fits perfect to Tobi's emotional voice. The song lyrics are about a person, who comes back to do it better after he fell, in spite of the mistakes he did."

* Title: "Death is Alive"
Vocalist: Mats Leven (THERION)

Victor: "This is a bombastic dragging song, which contains a lot of dynamic and interesting voice arrangements. (Mats Leven's all-round voice makes you almost feel, like the death in person is singing to you — being a great contrast to the female angel backing [vocals]). A fictional story about immortallity, similar to the Highlander theme."

* Title: "Inner Sanctuary"
Vocalist: Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT)

Victor: "Here we have an almost up-tempo piece, beginning first with a guitar riff, followed by a celtic-like keyboard line, developing later on into a metal song with the mix of powerful orchestration and calm keyboard arrangements, which often is used by NIGHTWISH. The lyrics of the song deal with the fact that life is causing deep wounds sometimes, so it's good, when you have an inner refuge to reflect, an inner sanctuary, where you can regenerate."

* Title: "Terrified"
Vocalist: Peavy Wagner (RAGE)

Victor: "Especially recording a new RAGE song together with Peavy was great fun. There are lots of fast double-bass parts, but also many groovy stuff and great melodies in chorus at 'Terrified', the title of the song. Again, I tuned down the guitars to 'C,' as I did at 'Straight To Hell'. The song really worked out well. The lyrics are describing an inner relief."

* Title: "Bloodsucker"
Vocalist: Schmier (DESTRUCTION)

Victor: "Real trashy number with 200 double-bass. The song deals with the current crisis in Iraq war and their causes (failed U.S. politics)."

* Title: "A Perfect Day"
Vocalist: Andy Deris (HELLOWEEN)

Victor: "Straight HELLOWEEN-style metal song with a catchy chorus. The song deals with the incalculability of life and the associated fact that our end can overtake us any time."

* Title: "Ruling the World"
Vocalist: Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA)

Victor: "Straight metal number with several voices and and keyboard arrangements. The song is about the arrogant power politics of the western great powers."

* Title: "Eternally"
Vocalist: Oddleif Stensland (COMMUNIC)

Victor: "Very slow ballad — heavy and modern. It's about suicide. Too often, especially young people in crisis decide to end their life, without getting straight about the irreversibility of this act."

Danish symphonic black metallers ILLNATH have tapped Reno Kiilerich (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, PANZERCHRIST, DEW-SCENTED) to play drums on their third album, entitled "Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom". The CD is being recorded at Borsing Studios and will feature artwork by Wilhelm Steiner.

"Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom" is expected to be released via ILLNATH's own label following the band's split with Worldchaos Production (which was supposed to put out the band's long-completed second full-length offering, "Second Skin of Harlequin". "The new material will reflect the new situation we're in — new drummer and new bass player, plus almost three years since the last album was recorded," the group previously said.

A virtual release party for MANOWAR's new full-length album, "Gods of War" will start at this location on Thursday, February 22 at 23:59 (CET) and will last until 2:00 (CET). You can listen to music from the brand new album, continously streamed in a loop.

Directly after the Virtual Release Party, all songs from "Gods of War" will be available for paid download at the merchandise section of manowar.com