Reactivated Finnish melodic extreme metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW has issued the following update:

"The first ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW gig in six and a half years [scheduled for December 31, 2006 at Club Teatria in Oulu, Finland] is near. Unfortunately two members are not able to join the rest of the band on the stage. Petri (Sankala; drums) had an ankle-related accident last autumn and is now awaiting the ankle operation. His duties will be handled by Tuomo Laikari, best known from RAUTAVAARA INC. Janne (Tolsa; keyboards) is busy preparing his other band, TAROT, for their Central European tour. Janne's duties will be handled by another Savonian keyboard guru, Veli-Matti Kananen. In addition, we've got at least one guest on the stage..." Also appearing at the New Year's Eve gig will be AMORPHIS, REFLEXION and POISONBLACK.

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's fifth album, "Before the Bleeding Sun", was released in Finland in April via Spinefarm Records.

"Before the Bleeding Sun" was recorded at Tico-Tico Studios in Kemi and at Note-On Studios in Kuopio and marks the group's first release to feature lead guitarist Risto Ruuth (also in SCYRON) and Tolsa.

Steamhammer/SPV will has announced the details of two separate HELLOWEEN releases — a CD and a DVD — both recorded live during the band's "Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006". The track listing is as follows:

"Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 - Live On 3 Continents" DVD (view cover here):

DVD 1:

01. Intro (Sao Paulo)
02. The King For A 1000 Years (Sao Paulo)
03. Eagle Fly Free (Sao Paulo)
04. Hell Was Made In Heaven (Sao Paulo)
05. Keeper Of The Seven Keys (Sao Paulo - alternate view Sofia)
06. A Tale That Wasn't Right (Sao Paulo - alternate view Sofia)
07. Drum Solo (Edit from Sao Paulo, Sofia and Tokyo)
08. Mr. Torture (Sao Paulo - alternate view Tokyo)
09. If I Could Fly (Sao Paulo)
10. Guitar Solo (Edit from Sao Paulo, Sofia and Tokyo)
11. Power (Sao Paulo)
12. Future World (Sao Paulo)
13. The Invisible Man (Sao Paulo)
14. Mrs. God (Sao Paulo)
15. I Want Out (Sao Paulo - alternate view Sofia)
16. Dr. Stein (Sao Paulo - alternate view Tokyo)
17. Outro (Sao Paulo)

DVD 2:

01. Mrs. God (Sao Paulo)
02. Halloween (Masters Of Rock, Vicovice CZ)
03. Roadmovie, Interviews, "Mrs. God" (Video Clip), "Light The Universe" (Video Clip).

"Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 - Live In Sao Paulo" CD

Track listing:

CD 1:

01. Intro
02. The King For A 1000 Years
03. Eagle Fly Free
04. Hell Was Made In Heaven
05. Keeper Of The Seven Keys
06. A Tale That Wasn't Right
07. Mr. Torture
08. If I Could Fly
09. Power

CD 2:

01. Future World
02. The Invisible Man
03. Mrs. God
04. I Want Out
05. Dr. Stein
06. Occasion Avenue
07. Halloween

MESSIAH'S KISS, the German/American/British metal act featuring current RIOT touring singer Mike Tirelli (HOLY MOTHER, BURNING STARR), has announced the following release dates for its upcoming third album, "Dragonheart" (SPV Records):

Germany: February 23, 2007
Rest of Europe: February 26, 2007
USA: 2007 (to be announced)

"Dragonheart" was mixed at Arena 20 studios in Hannover, Germany with producer Herman Frank (VICTORY, ACCEPT). All the instruments were tracked at Arena 20 while the vocals were laid down at the M-J.T. studio in Long Island, New York. The track listing is as follows:

01. The Ancient Cries (4:00)
02. Babylon (3:42)
03. Falcons Cry (3:24)
04. Dragonheart (4:22)
05. Thunders of the Night (3:47)
06. Steelrider (3:02)
07. City of Angels (5:17)
08. Nocturnal (3:10)
09. Northern Nights (4:22)
10. Open Fire (3:45)
11. The Ivory Gates (6:41)

Fantasy art master Luis Royo, who painted the cover for "Prayer of the Dying", created the artwork for the new CD.

Three songs from the CD — "The Ancient Cries", "Babylon" and "City of Angels" — can be heard at the group's official web page.

ANDROMEDA shot a live DVD, entitled "Playing off the Board", on October 31 at the Wyspianski Theater in Katowice, Poland. ANDROMEDA's setlist concentrated on the band's recent "Chimera" album but also included tracks from older efforts — "Extension of the Wish" and "II=I". "It is going to be very cool," the band writes on its web site. "It contains a full live preformance by ANDROMEDA and lots of bonus video material, pictures etc."

As previously reported, ANDROMEDA filmed a video for the song "In the End" earlier in the year. The track comes off the band's latest CD, "Chimera", which was released in June via Massacre Records.

"Chimera" was produced by Martin Hedin in Sweden between March 2004 and January 2005 and features artwork by Niklas Sundin (DARK TRANQUILLITY).

Rob Dwyer of the Black Sabbath Live Project has issued the following report:

"'King Biscuit Flower Hour' recorded BLACK SABBATH at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on September 2nd, 1978. Strangely enough, only four songs were used in the original broadcast — 'Snowblind', 'Black Sabbath', 'Iron Man', and 'Paranoid'. These tracks have been recycled in varying quality on numerous bootleg released since then.

"As of 2006, Wolfgang's Vault purchased the rights to much of the 'King Biscuit' catalog. Among these newly acquired tapes is a nearly complete version of the long unheard Pittsburgh '78 show!! With a running time of 64:25, this tape lacks the show opener 'Symptom Of The Universe', but adds five previously unheard live tracks plus the drum and guitar solos. With only a handful of professionally recorded '78 shows in circulation (the disappointing London 6/19/78 and the incomplete Abilene 12/7/78), this should be something of a treat for the collectors.

Track listing:

01. Snowblind (6:34)
02. Black Sabbath (7:26)
03. Dirty Women (6:58)
04. Rock & Roll Doctor + Drum Solo (10:12)
05. Guitar Solo (7:13)
06. Electric Funeral (3:10)
07. Iron Man (7:20)
08. Fairies Wear Boots (6:16)
09. Children Of The Grave (6:05)
10. Paranoid (3:11)

"Wolfgang's Vault is still working out the rights issues to release recordings like this one, but you can actually listen to the extended version of this show here! You will need to register with Wolfgang's Vault to listen to the show, but there is no cost to do so. Additionally, the now legendary Asbury Park '75 show can also be heard at Wolfgang's Vault".

In related news, vocalist Carl Sentance (PERSIAN RISK, KROKUS) has posted a video clip from a performance he did with the GEEZER BUTLER BAND on his official web site. It is believed that the track is titled "Heat In The Street", but this has not been confirmed. This professionally shot concert footage is from a showcase they did in London in 1987. Check it out at this location.

added by rem (04/12/06)

Rhino Records has set a tentative April 3, 2007 North American release date for the new Ronnie James Dio-era BLACK SABBATH best-of set, appropriately titled "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years". The single-disc collection will include a couple of brand new tracks that are currently being recorded in England by the lineup of Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice, as well as liner/sleeve notes by Garry Sharpe-Young of Rockdetector.com. "I've been given a track listing, but I can't divulge that yet," says Garry. "There are a few interesting tracks on there, though."

I, the new band featuring Abbath (IMMORTAL), Ice Dale (ENSLAVED, AUDREY HORNE), TC King (SAHG, ex-GORGOROTH) and Armagedda (ex-IMMORTAL), will shoot a video for the track "Cursed We Are" in January with director Tommy Næss. The song comes off the group's debut album, "Between Two Worlds", which came out last month via Nuclear Blast Records. Recorded in Bergen, Norway's Lydriket Studio with Geir Luedy, and mixed by Peter Tägtgren (IMMORTAL, DIMMU BORGIR, MARDUK), "Between Two Worlds" "will kick your teeth in and break your back!" according to the band. "Heavy, groovy, melodic, atmospheric, heck — call it even catchy — THIS ALBUM IS A MASTERPIECE!"

Decibel magazine had this to say about "Between Two Worlds": "Everything about the debut album from Norway's I screams black metal, excepting the death 'n' roll guitar riffs that pervade throughout. Abbath has managed to fuse his signature snarl with MOTÖRHEAD-styled rock and Demonaz's BATHORY-influenced lyrics in a way no band has previously attempted. IMMORTAL fans will surely embrace the band, as will extreme music newcomers that don't know the band members' history. This is a worthy new start for these scene mainstays."

Irish doom titans MOURNING BELOVETH have parted ways with bassist Adrian Butler. Adrian's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"I am no longer part of the doom troupe that are MOURNING BELOVETH. I was talking to Darren [Moore, vocals] last weekend and the band are going to continue with current session bassist Brendan Roche and make him a permanent member of MB. I moved to Spain in Oct '05 and the fact of not being able to be present for weekly practice has been very tough and impossible for us to keep up the long distance relationship so to speak. I've been leaving since last year in a way but making this final decision is tough but better off for both parties. I can say though that it's been a fabulous 10 years with MB. We've toured America, Europe a few times and recorded three great albums. We also played our first open air festivals this year so I am more than happy with what I was involved in and pleased to have been able to play a part in advancing the bands career since 1996 when I recorded their first demo with Alan from PRIMORDIAL. I will be helping out the band in the future in another capacity too so I won't be going away. My friends in MB will always remain so and we'll continue to insult each other, get drunk, fall down and have a laugh whenever its possible to get together.

"In the coming months I will be launching my new business venture. It will have various sections dealing with band management, a booking agency, band promotion, licensing deals, studio production, concert promotion and tour management. More details on the website (under construction). It will be a combination of my past work experience with Emerald Promotions, Sentinel Records and MOURNING BELOVETH. I have some other musical projects in the pipeline as well. A bit different than MB but you will hear it in due course. I won't be letting these strings of lead turn to stone."

As previously reported, MOURNING BELOVETH will headline "A Night of Merry Darkness" — the Day Of Darkness Festival's Christmas Party at the Voodoo Lounge, Dublin on Saturday, December 9. They will be joined by Irish thrash metal sensation MASS EXTINCTION and Dublin's classic rock supremos GLYDER.

Swedish hard rock band THE POODLES — consisting of vocalist Jakob Samuel (THE RING, ex-TALISMAN, JEKYLL & HYDE), guitarist Pontus Norgren (THE RING, ex-TALISMAN), bassist Pontus Egberg (ex-LION'S SHARE) and drummer Christian Lundqvist — has inked a deal with Germany's AFM Records. The group's debut album, "Metal Will Stand Tall", which was released in Sweden in May, will be issued in the rest of Europe on January 19, 2007.

As previously reported, THE POODLES has been confirmed as one of the support bands for HAMMERFALL on their European tour, which is scheduled to kick off January 18, 2007 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Also appearing on the bill will be veteran Swiss rockers KROKUS.

The first single from "Metal Will Stand Tall", "One Night of Passion" — which the band performed during their unsuccessful bid to become Sweden's official representative at the Eurovision Song Contest in Greece — has been certified platinum. A follow-up single, "Metal Will Stand Tall" (a duet with Tess from the Swedish dance band ALCAZAR), was certified gold.

Swedish metallers EVERGREY have returned to their rehearsal studios to prepare their next studio album. The band is tentatively scheduled to begin recording the follow-up to this year's "Monday Morning Apocalypse" in February for a May 2007 release.

Commented guitarist/vocalist Tom S. Englund, "So far the material sounds about the heaviest and darkest we have released to date."

As previously reported, EVERGREY will team up with HARDCORE SUPERSTAR and AVATAR for the third annual "Chaos Before New Year" concert, set to take place on December 29 at Trädgårn in Gothenburg, Sweden. Previous participants in the event, which takes place between Christmas and New Year, have included IN FLAMES and DARK TRANQUILLITY.

EVERGREY guitarist Henrik Danhage will filling in for IN FLAMES guitarist Björn Gelotte on the latter band's upcoming U.S. tour due to the fact that Gelotte's wife is about to give birth to the couple's second child.

"Monday Morning Apocalypse" was recorded at Division One Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden by the experienced production team of Sanken Sandquist and Stefan Glaumann, who have previously worked with such artists as RAMMSTEIN, BON JOVI, BRITNEY SPEARS and DEF LEPPARD.

German power metallers RAGE have parted ways with drummer Mike Terrana.

Commented vocalist/bassist Peter "Peavy" Wagner and guitarist Victor Smolski: "From now on, we won't continue our collaboration with Mike because of personal and musical differences that have been existing for a while now and became unbearable. This cut is definitely not easy for us — but to avoid damage to RAGE we have no other choice. Unfortunately, there's not much left from our former unity. A while ago comunication between Mike and us broke down completely, so we have to pull the emergency brake. We decided to work with a new drummer in the future because we don't want to ruin it all to a point where there's no future at all. We want to keep our power and joy in music, so there's no other way. We are aware how much this lineup meant to you (and us) but that's life. A band, especially a three-piece, is like a relationship. Over the years we just drifted apart. We wish Mike all the best for his further career. Nevertheless, there's a bright perspective in front of us: We definitely won't cancel a single show and are working intensely at the moment to present you a suitable new drummer soon. We have lots of plans for the next year, among others we'll play some exclusive orchestra shows for you. We hope you all keep the faith in the future and promise to keep up our quality level to 100%."

According to a brand-new posting on JAG PANZER's official web site, the Colorado-based power metal veterans are in the planning stages of recording a new double live album. The CD will be recorded and released in 2007. More information will be made available soon.

Back in August 2006, JAG PANZER guitarist Mark Briody had the following to say regarding the band's long-awaited live CD release:

"Things are progressing VERY well in preparing for the live album. Lots of help from Century Media and an A+ concert promoter I'll name when the details are finalized. I will say this: No one has EVER seen a JAG PANZER show like this one. Every show we've done in the past years has been done with shoestring budgets and minimal gear (whatever we could check on a plane). This will be a full-on headlining show — all your favorite PANZER tunes, special merch, tons of gear and other surprises."

According to Briody, JAG PANZER releases will figure prominently in Century Media's yearly "10-Year Reissues" series. Since 2007 is the 10-year anniversary of "The Fourth Judgement", look for a "very cool new version" of that album next year, according to the guitarist. Plans include a new cover, remaster, inclusion of the original demo tracks, liner notes and photos.

JAG PANZER's last studio album, "Casting the Stones", was released in October 2004 via Century Media. Said to be "a more aggressive version" of 2001's "Mechanized Warfare", the CD was recorded in part at Tampa's Morrisound Studios with producer Jim Morris.

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

"As you might know, in 2007 VADER won't appear on any regular European tour. Instead of this, the band is going to play on some summer festivals. The band's appearance at Wacken Open Air (Germany), Kaltenbach Festival (Austria) and Party.San (Germany) have been already confirmed. Apart from that, at the beginning of March VADER is going to play a short tour of Japan (together with BRUTAL TRUTH). Afterwards panzermachine will appear on their first Australian tour (which is pre-scheduled to take place in April or June) and play the [rescheduled] tour in Russia, Belorus, the Ukraine and Baltic countries. At the beginning of September VADER kick off the second part of Polish Blitzkrieg 4 Tour, invading such places like Rzeszów, Bialystok, Zielona Góra, Poznan and many more.

"In 2008 VADER will celebrate the 25th anniversary. On that occasion in March 2007 the band will enter Hertz Studio to re-record 25 best songs from their entire discography. These songs will be released on band's special jubilee album. The release will also feature tons of DVD bonuses like archival recordings, live shows, videoclips and some other specials. Jaroslaw Szubrycht, well-known Polish journalist (who has recently finished a book about SLAYER) will write a biography of VADER. More details will follow soon."

VADER's "Impressions in Blood" album entered the Polish national chart at position No. 8. The band's video for the song "Helleluyah (God Is Dead)" has been posted online at YouTube.com. The clip was shot with director Andrzej Wyrozebski, who is said to be one of the leading movie producers in Poland. Janusz Król (known from the Polish fantasy movie "Wiedzmin") was responsible for all special effects and the whole set design. Slawomir Panasewicz (who has worked on over 140 video clips!) was a cameraman.

"Impressions in Blood" was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland and features artwork by Greek artist Seth (ROTTING CHRIST, PARADISE LOST). A full-length MP3 of the song "Warlords" can be downloaded at this location.

Frontman Zak Tell of the Swedish rap/metal combo CLAWFINGER has issued the following update on the writing/ recording sessions for the group's new studio album:

"It's Friday afternoon and Bård [Torstensen, guitar] just left the building to make the long drive home and reunite with his wife for a week before he comes back again to continue the work on the new album! In the meantime Jocke [Skog, keyboards] and me will continue to work, maybe with a slightly less hectic schedule than Bård's but we'll keep the work coming in, I promise! (Clawfingers crossed behind my back, he he.) We now have rough mixes of six finished tracks and there are a couple more that only have small detail pieces lacking; we just never got round to getting those last details done this round, but we'll get there soon, believe me!

"I'm looking forward to a well-deserved weekend with the family and I'm even thinking about taking my first shower in a week. I smell fucking awful but I just haven't had the time to deal with unimportant things like personal hygiene!

"During the time off I'll be sure to listen to the tracks we have so far on my home stereo. It's always fun to hear how songs sound in different enviorments and audio equipment!

"What else is happening?! Well, nothing. All we do is sit here in our little room and brainstorm, write and record day in and day out, all in the name of entertainment!:D

"As always, I'll try and keep you updated as frequently as possible. Hell, if I have to, then I'll even make something up to make it seem like the procedure is more exciting than it actually is. Still I guess for someone not in a band the whole idea of a studio and a bunch of sweaty guys sitting in it is pretty exotic.....weird thought, ha ha!"

CLAWFINGER's latest album, entitled "Hate Yourself with Style", was released in the U.S. in February via Nuclear Blast Records.

Swedish death/black metallers IN AETERNUM have parted ways with Agonia Records. The band's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"IN AETERNUM would hereby like to declare that we have decided to leave the record label Agonia Records for good. We had to make this decision to take a step forward, as the label has lied and treated the band extremely bad during the last couple of years. Especially since the release of the latest album, 'Dawn Of A New Aeon'. Mr. Filip Jesion of Agonia Records has been sending us selling statements more than once, but he hasn't been sending us any cash at all. He just keep informing us that he will do it next week, then it's the week after and then the week after that etc. All this has so far taken 18 months and we are still counting. The label managed to send us a box with 50 'Dawn Of A New Aeon' CDs, though, but they were all more or less scratched and damaged, so they were useless to us anyway in the end. We don't accept this kind of behaviour from anyone that we do business with, it's just basic fact. We could easily reveal more details regarding all this, but we are not interested to act like fools. Anyone can understand that Agonia Records has not fullfilled the signed agreement between the band and the label, so it's also obvious for IN AETERNUM to leave the label before a certain bloodshed would happen."

IN AETERNUM is currently writing material for its fifth album. The new songs are said to be "in the classic IN AETERNUM style. . .The rough solo parts sounds really cool, a bit like old-style MORBID ANGEL solos. The new guitar player Erik Kumpulainen is really giving his best while bending those insane tunes."

IN AETERNUM earlier in the year announced the addition of Kumpulainen and bassist Claes Ramberg to the group's ranks. The band's fourth album, "Dawn Of A New Aeon", was released last year via Agonia Records.

INSISION bassist Daniel Ekeroth will publish a book about the Swedish death metal movement, appropriately titled "Swedish Death Metal", in late December.

Commented Ekeroth: "In the mid-'80s, a small underground movement in Sweden started to emerge from small towns and suburbs. A handful of restless teenagers started to search for the most extreme music available, and a tape trading community began to grow. Eventually the teenagers picked up instruments themselves, and created what in a few years would dominate the world of extreme music — Swedish death metal. This is the improbable history of how it all began and evolved into the early '90s. The book also includes a massive A-Z of Swedish death metal bands (about 900 entries) as well as fanzines. All in all, the book is 480 pages long, and contains over 500 cool pictures. About 30 central characters of the scene have been interviewed" — including Fredrik Karlén (MERCILESS), Johan Edlund (TREBLINKA, TIAMAT), Fred Estby (DISMEMBER, CARNAGE), Ola Lindgren (GRAVE), Kristian "Necrolord" Wåhlin (GROTESQUE, LIERS IN WAIT, DECOLLATION) and Orvar Säfström (NIRVANA 2002) — "and some of their anecdotes are as wild as the music ever was. Still, the main focus of this research is the music. After all, the fantastic music is the greatest achievement of the Swedish death metal movement."

According to a posting on the MEGADETH fan site Rattlehead HQ, Image Entertainment's web site has updated to show the front cover of the upcoming live DVD and CD from MEGADETH. Entitled "That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires", the disc was filmed at Obras Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 9, 2005, when MEGADETH headlined the Pepsi Music Festival on their "Blackmail the Universe Tour". During this show, Dave Mustaine announced that MEGADETH would continue and played a one-off rendition of "Coming Home" as well as playing the rarely heard song from "Risk", "I'll Be There".

According to the Image Entertainment web site, the track listing for "That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires" is as follows:

01. Blackmail the Universe
02. Set the World Afire
03. Wake Up Dead
04. In My Darkest Hour
05. She Wolf
06. Reckoning Day
07. A Tout Le Monde
08. Hangar 18 & Return of Hangar
09. I'll Be There
10. Tornado of Souls
11. Trust
12. Something I'm Not
13. Kick the Chair
14. Coming Home
15. Symphony of Destruction
16. Peace Sells
17. Holy Wars
18. Alternate track of Symphony of Destruction

Songs that were played that night, but appear to not be featured on the DVD, are "Skin O' My Teeth", "The Scorpion", "Die Dead Enough", "Angry Again", "Train Of Consequences", "Of Mice And Men" and "Sweating Bullets".

Three TV-broadcast video clips of MEGADETH's performance in Buenos Aires have been posted online at YouTube.com. Check them out:

"Symphony of Destruction" (video)
"Coming Home" (video)
"A Tout le Monde" (video)

"That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires" is scheduled for release on March 6, 2007.

Dutch death metal crew NOX, which features former members CENTURIAN and current members of SEVERE TORTURE, has posted an advance MP3 from its upcoming album, "Ixaxaar", on the Wicked World Records MySpace page. Check out the album's opening cut, "Choronzonic Chaos Gods", at this location.

According to a press release, "Ixaxaar" (pron. 'ick-sack-sar', meaning a seal or gateway to hell) broods with the unhealthy marriage of cosmic chaos theories and grim-faced aggression. With the kind of oily serpentine riffs not heard since early MORBID ANGEL or ANGELCORPSE efforts, the band blend supreme technical mastery with immediate catchiness and unholy malice. Favouring a blast-based attack of extreme speed and sharply direct riffing, the approach is deliberately lean and pretence-free."

Having performed with like-minded misanthropists such as ANTAEUS and NIFELHEIM and with links to nefarious underground occult organizations, including the notorious M.L.O., NOX is "intent on taking their subterranean sound and beliefs to a wider audience in 2007," according to the press release.

A new song, "Atmas Heave", from Miami, Florida-based progressive metal band AGHORA's upcoming CD, "Formless", has been posted at the band's MySpace.

AGHORA's second album, "Formless" was produced in part by Neil Kernon (QUEENSRŸCHE, NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, DEICIDE) and is scheduled for a December 21 release. Diana Serra's vocals were tracked in guitarist Santiago Dobles' home studio in Miami, Florida. Mixing was done by Kernon and Dobles at Rax Trax Studios in Chicago, and was followed by the mastering at West West Side Music by Alan Douches.

AGHORA's current recording lineup is:

Sean Reinert - Drums
Giann Rubio - Drums
Alan Goldstein - Bass
Santiago Dobles - Guitar
Diana Serra – Vocals

AGHORA's self-titled first album (2000) was recorded in 1999 with the help of Sean Malone and Sean Reinert, both former members of CYNIC.

As previously reported, Dobles has been tapped to play guitar on the upcoming reunion tour by CYNIC, which is scheduled to kick off next spring. Santiago has been around the CYNIC camp since 1993-94 and was one of CYNIC guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal's guitar students in Miami back in the day.

Swedish melodic metallers NOSTRADAMEUS will release their fifth album, "Pathway", on January 26. The CD will feature the following track listing (in no particular order):

01. Wall of Anger
02. No Trace of Madness
03. Not Only Women Bleed
04. MDCC Pt. 1
05. MDCC Pt. 2
06. The Untouchebles
07. Death by My Side
08. Until the End
09. Demon Voices
10. Welcome to Living
11. P.I.R

NOSTRADAMEUS' fourth album, "Hellbound", was released in May 2004 through Germany's AFM Records. The follow-up to 2003's "The Third Prophecy" was recorded at RoastingHouse studios in Malmö, Sweden.

NOSTRADAMEUS recently announced the addition of guitarist Lennart Specht to the group's ranks.

EUROPE's latest music video, "Always the Pretenders", has been posted online at YouTube. The song comes off the reactivated Swedish hard rockers' new CD, "Secret Society", which was released in the U.S. on November 7 via Sanctuary Records.

As previously reported, a recent audio interview with EUROPE frontman Joey Tempest has been posted online at this location. The interview was conducted with an Italian journalist on October 5 and covers a variety of topics, including the group's new album, "Secret Society", the "secret" formula for the band's success, and EUROPE's legacy.

VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin has issued the following update on the band's current activities:

"A video for 'The Getaway' has just been completed and submitted to all national and regional cable outlets such as MTV2, Fuse, etc. The footage was pulled from the 2003 American tours and the 2006 recording sessions of 'Katorz'. Currently we are working on a video for 'Polaroids' with Banger Productions ('Metal: A Headbangers Journey') and then we will follow that up with a video for 'The X-Stream'.

"I am still hard at work on the re-issues (due out on The End Records next year). We will start with the Sanctuary ones ('Rrroooaaarrr', 'Dimension Hatross' and 'Killing Technology'). Each album will be remastered and will come with a bonus 'Iron Gang' DVD. The pre-production for the follow-up to 'Katorz' will start this winter. Also, we are still trying to coordinate a tribute show for 2007.

"Be sure to check out our web store at bandmerch.com, soon to feature prints of my artwork and a commemorative 'Piggy' pin. Troubleman Unlimited are still working on the layout of my art book. I should have a release date very soon."

The band released the critically-acclaimed "Katorz" this summer on The End Records. The album was recently released as a limited edition vinyl pressing available exclusively through The End Records' mail-order. The beautiful gatefold 180gm vinyl comes in color format and also includes special artwork and packaging designed by Langevin. The album was done with full cooperation from the band. The release is limited to 1,000 copies: 400 clear vinyl, 400 red vinyl and 200 black vinyl.

Lifeforce Records has set a February 26, 2007 European release date (April 4, 2007 in the U.S./Canada) for the new album from Swedish/Greek melodic death metal outfit NIGHTRAGE. The band entered Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark today with producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, FEAR MY THOUGHTS, HEAVEN SHALL BURN) to begin recording the follow-up to 2005's "Descent into Chaos". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Spiral", "Reconcile", "Encircle", and "Scathing".

NIGHTRAGE once again utilized the services of Pierre Lysell from the Swedish band NONE as the second guitarist for its recent tour with VADER. The band also recently announced the addition of drummer Alex Svenningson (ex-MINDFALL) to its ranks.

NIGHTRAGE has been confirmed for the Metal Healing Festival, set to take place July 20-22, 2007 in Greece. Also scheduled to appear are THE HAUNTED, DESTRUCTION, ROTTING CHRIST, TO/DIE/FOR, MYSTIC PROPHECY and EKTOMORF, among others.

NIGHTRAGE was originally formed in Greece back in the year 2000 by Iliopoulos (formerly of EXHUMATION, who released three high-quality death metal albums, all produced in Sweden) and his friend Gus G. (DREAM EVIL, FIREWIND, MYSTIC PROPHECY). NIGHTRAGE released two albums on Century Media Records, "Sweet Vengeance" (2003) and "Descent Into Chaos" (2005), before they parted ways with vocalist Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES, DISFEAR, THE CROWN) and Strimell joined the band on vocal duties.

An autographed promotional copy of METALLICA's classic debut album, "Kill 'Em All" — signed by the entire band, including deceased METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton — was sold on eBay for a whopping $1,476.

According to the seller, "the autographs were signed in 1983 just before the official release of 'Kill 'Em All' hit the stores! The signatures are guaranteed authentic, obtained in person at the legendary coolest metal shop in the universe — The Record Vault." Signatures and notations as follows:

"SUPPORT YER LOCAL METAL MILITIA" = Kirk Hammett

"Keep The Store Together - And Metal Up Your Ass" = James Hetfield

"CHOP 'EM" = Cliff Burton

"Thanks For Everything" = Lars Ulrich

Check out the auction at this location.

"Kill 'Em All" was released July 25, 1983 on Megaforce Records.

With the imminent release of Existentia on January 30th, 2007 in North America, Napalm recording artists Trail Of Tears are in a bit of a quandary, and much speculation has ensued. Therefore, founding vocalist Ronny Thorsen has released this official statement:

"Dear all,

The following lines are written in the attempt of clarifying the news that have been circulating in the past few days. There is really no easy way of telling this, so I will try to explain to the best of my ability.

On the 26th of November, Trail Of Tears completed a 10-date tour of Mexico, a tour which was in large part ridden with organisational problems and resulted in a severe financial loss for everyone involved. As a result of this, I was called to the band hotel on the morning of November 28th, asking for a meeting by the remaining members. Arriving to the hotel, I am instead given a message, lasting a mere two minutes, that because of the situation they have decided to end the band effective immidiately. The decision has been made entirely without my consultation and approval, and thus Trail of Tears is NOT dead and will continue in a new shape and formation. [emphasis added]

Needless to say, I am very disappointed by the decision and the way that this has been handled by the leaving members. I have tried my very best best reasoning with them, stressing that the timing could not be worse and that in fact they are violating future obligations with a decision made in a moment of frustration in the aftermath of this tour. I have even offered to cover the several-thousand-euros financial loss out of my own pocket in order for them not to worry about paying their bills and so that we can focus on our already-agreed obligations towards label, tour organisors and the countless people involved. This was not accepted; however, they made sure of giving me all their account numbers before running back to Norway.

I am truly ashamed by the lack of insight, understanding, and responsability the leaving members have portrayed with this decision, with absolute disregard to the fans who have bought tickets for the upcoming tour, which we now have to cancel, and to all the parties involved who have invested a large amount of work and money in the upcoming release, Existentia. The decision to leave a band is an individual choice and I respect that to the fullest, but it does under no circumstances justify the leaving members violating obligations and making decisions for others, going public with something that has not been approved.

Despite the situation, I want to thank the leaving members, each and every one of you, for the amazing times we have shared; I will always consider you my brothers, friends and family.

Great chapters have been written and more are in the making.

This is not the end!

Sincerely,
Ronny Thorsen, Trail of Tears."

Liechtenstein-based romantic gothic metal band WELTENBRAND was in Düsseldorf, Germany last week to film a new video. Check out photos from the shoot at this location.

WELTENBRAND recently announced the addition of drummer Mario Jahnke to the group's ranks. "Adrian [Büchel] had to leave the band because of chronological problems," WELTENBRAND previously wrote on its web site.

WELTENBRAND released its fifth album, "The End of the Wizard", in August via Napalm Records. The CD was issued as both a regular jewel case and a limited-edition digipack, including two bonus tracks. The follow-up to 2001's "In Gottes Und des Teufels Namen" introduced female vocalist Dina Zambelli, who recently replaced Simone Villamar following Simone's and husband Stefan's split from the band.

SUSPERIA, the Norwegian band featuring former members of DIMMU BORGIR and SATYRICON, has issued the following update:

"It's been a busy few weeks for us. We have now almost completed all the work on the new album. We finished the mixing sessions with Daniel Bergstrand at Dug-Out Studios in [Uppsala] Sweden a couple of weeks ago. Daniel, who has credits with IN FLAMES and MESHUGGAH to his name, is a real cool guy with some exciting ideas. He worked some magic on our new songs. We're really pleased with the way it's turned out. The artwork is being worked on as we speak and should be finished by next month. We will also reveal the album title soon.

"A huge thanks to everyone who came to see us on The Eternal Anger Tour last month. It was good to escape from the recording studio for a short time and play you some new songs as well the older stuff. We got good reactions to the new songs — glad that you are liking them. Check out some killer live shots from the Bradford show in the media/downloads page on the SUSPERIA website — thanks to our webmaster Andy Stone for the photos.

SUSPERIA's new album was recorded at StrandStudio in Oslo, Norway. The band once again worked with Marius Strand, who previously assisted SUSPERIA on 2005's Norwegian Top 20 hit, the "Devil May Care" EP. A release is planned for early 2007 through the Tabu label in Europe and Candlelight Records in the USA. No name for the album has been announced yet, but songtitles revealed so far are "More" (which SUSPERIA performed at this year's Inferno Festival in Norway), "Cut From Stone", "Distant Memory" and "The Clone".

SIRENIA, the Norwegian gothic metal band featuring former TRISTANIA guitarist/vocalist Morten Veland, has completed work on a video for the song "My Mind's Eye" from the group's new album, "Nine Destinies and a Downfall". The clip will be made available to all video outlets in early 2007.

As previously reported, Nuclear Blast Records has set a February 26 European release date (February 23 in Germany) for "Nine Destinies and a Downfall". The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Last Call
02. My Mind's Eye
03. One By One
04. Sundown
05. Absent Without Leave
06. The Other Side
07. Seven Keys And Nine Doors
08. Downfall
09. Glades Of Summer

"Nine Destinies and a Downfall" was recorded at Jailhouse studios in Norway with engineer Hans Eidsgard and Soundsuite studios in France with Terje Refsnes. The CD was mixed and mastered at Antfarm studios in Aarhus, Denmark with Tue Madsen. The cover artwork will be designed by Anthony Clarkson.

SIRENIA earlier in the year announced the addition of 27-year-old Danish female singer Monika Pedersen (photo) to the group's ranks. "Monika has been dedicated to music all her life, and has loads of experience from from other bands, projects, choirs etc." the group wrote on their web site. "In addition, she has been working with several professional singing teachers in Luxemburg and Denmark."

Pedersen joined SIRENIA as the replacement for Henriette Bordvik, who quit the band in September 2005.

SIRENIA last year signed a new record deal with Nuclear Blast. The band have released two successful albums to date (2002's "At Sixes and Sevens" and 2004's "An Elixir for Existence") and in 2004 toured Europe with TIAMAT, PAIN and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY.