Reunited Austrian black metallers ABIGOR have uploaded an exclusive studio outtake from their upcoming album "Fractal Possession" at the band's Myspace page. "It's a studio outtake of two songs, not mixed, nor mastered, but you'll have an approximate view what could await you..." the group writes.

As previously reported, ABIGOR's "Orkblut - The Retaliation" mini-CD, which was originally issued in 1994 via Napalm Records, will be released on vinyl and as a limited-edition picture disc on November 6 through Chaos Sacrum Records.

ABIGOR's current lineup includes mainman Peter Kubik and co-founding member T.T.

Swedish black metallers MARDUK have announced plans to play select shows in Russia, Belarus and Ukraina in January 2007. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

As previously reported, MARDUK has added the first part of its "Fan Gallery", featuring pictures sent in by fans showing their MARDUK-related tattoos and other items. Check it out at this location.

MARDUK has uploaded a trailer for its recently issued DVD, entitled "Blood Puke Salvation", at this location (8 MB). Released on September 25, the DVD contains over 90 minutes of live material filmed in Tilburg, Holland and Antwerpen, Belgium during December 2004. Also included are promotional videos for "Throne Of Rats", "Steel Inferno" and "The Hangman Of Prague", plus a photo gallery, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and a section entitled "Deathmarch" with exclusive hand-filmed live material from over 20 cities from the "Deathmarch" tour.

Swedish "gothic metallers" BESEECH have announced their decision to split up. The group has issued the following statement on the matter:

"All of us in the band have come to the sad conclusion to put BESEECH to rest for good. The decision has not been easy because this has been a really big part of our personal lives for many years. We have met so many great people through the music and really loved what we have done. We are proud of the work that we have achieved.

"However we cannot hide from the fact that we have grown apart from each other as persons and we have different views of how we want BESEECH to work as a band. This has taken away all the inspiration to continue and we see this as the only solution in the end. This way we can all part as friends and wish each other good luck with new endeavors that will follow.

"We would like to thank all of our fans, fan clubs and other people that has helped and supported BESEECH in their own way. Without you, we would never have lasted this long.

"We feel that our fans and everybody else that has supported us deserve to get a last chance to see BESEECH live and meet up with us in person. Therefore we´re planning to make one or a few farewell gigs in a near future for you all!"

BESEECH's final release was their fifth album, "Sunless Days", which came out in September 2005 through Napalm Records.

The follow-up to 2004's "Drama", "Sunless Days" was recorded at StudioMega in Varberg, Sweden and included a a cover of the DANZIG track "Devil's Plaything" as well as a re-recording of the song "Manmade Dreams" (on the digipack version only) from BESEECH's second album, "Black Emotions".

Sweden's THERION has set "Gothic Kabbalah" as the title of its new album, due on January 16, 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records. Check out the cover artwork at this location.

THERION will team up with GRAVE DIGGER and SABATON for European tour beginning on January 17 in Essen, Germany. A complete list of tour dates can be found at the THERION web site.

THERION mainman Christofer Johnsson recently announced that he was stepping down as the band's vocalist. Christofer will continue to handle guitar duties for the group.

THERION will play with a full symphonic orchestra, choir and international opera stars on December 9, 2006 at the Palace Hall in Bucharest, Romania.

ANCIENT RITES guitar player Raf has expanded his one-man project AHRÁYEPH into a band, according to a posting on his Myspace blog. In the past few weeks, the lineup was completed and the group's current formation is as follows:

Raf - Vocals/Guitar
Damien Lecompte - Guitar
Dirk Vollon - Bass
Cris Tits - Keyboards

Damien is also active in Belgian metal band EJECT, while Dirk plays bass in Belgian prog metal band ZERO GRAVITY. Cris is the only musician who hasn't been active in a pro or semi-pro band prior to AHRÁYEPH. The band is not in search of a drummer for the time being, but will use a computer-based drum sampler instead. They will now finish the recording of AHRÁYEPH's debut album, "Marooned on Samsara", during the coming weeks, after which they will shop for a label and start rehearsing for future live gigs.

For more information, visit

According to cincinnati.com, former MORBID ANGEL/HATE ETERNAL bassist/vocalist Jared Anderson passed away on Saturday, October 14 at the age of 30. The cause of his death has not yet been released. Visitation will take place Thursday, October 19 at the E. C. Nurre Funeral Home, St. Rt. 125 Amelia, Ohio from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by Funeral Services Thursday, 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home. Interment Pierce Township Cemetery.

Jared Anderson was most recently working on a project which was known by its alias AS ONE... Jared described the band's musical direction on his Myspace page as "a revision of my INTERNECINE writings, or shall I say 'written in the vein of.' The INTERNECINE record itself was all 'old' material from the early to mid-'90s that I was given the offer to record, so obviously I opted to do so. Highly technical, obscure death metal was purely the intent of INTERNECINE. Although most of the material was written many years prior to recording it, there were a couple of songs that were more recent. The two songs were 'The Elder Gods' and 'The Calling Of The Hordes'. This is where AS ONE... comes in, kind of continuing where I left off so to speak, with a much more matured sound."

Back in February 2006, former MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker confirmed to BLABBERMOUTH.NET that he was putting together a new project with Jared Anderson. "It is definitely death metal," Tucker said at the time. "It is very early on, but we are both extremely excited about it. No name yet, a few songs written, varying in tempo etc."

METALLICA will release a DVD collection of all the promotional videos it has made, entitled "The Videos 1989-2004", on December 5 in North America (one day earlier internationally).

Commented the band in a posting on its web site: "We've been getting requests for many years to release all the promotional videos on DVD and it's finally happening! In addition to every video we've ever made, for the first time ever, the '2 of One' release (which up until now has only been available on VHS) will be available on DVD. Also included is 'Mama Said', which never aired in North America, maybe not even anywhere in the world, and a few little extras such as 'The Unforgiven' theatrical version and the 'Some Kind Of Monster' film trailer. Plus, all the audio has been re-mixed in 5.1 surround sound.

"Look for the DVD at your favorite music store on December 4 in most of the world, December 5 in North America. Keep an eye on the Metallica.com store for more details on how you can pre-order your copy...coming soon!"

"The Videos 1989-2004" ( front cover, back cover) track listing:

01. One (7:41)
02. Enter Sandman (5:28)
03. The Unforgiven (6:21)
04. Nothing Else Matters (6:24)
05. Wherever I May Roam (6:05)
06. Sad But True (5:26)
07. Until It Sleeps (4:32)
08. Hero Of The Day (4:30)
09. Mama Said (4:51)
10. King Nothing (5:26)
11. The Memory Remains (4:37)
12. The Unforgiven II (6:33)
13. Fuel (4:35)
14. Turn The Page (5:49)
15. Whiskey In The Jar (4:43)
16. No Leaf Clover (5:33)
17. I Disappear (4:28)
18. St. Anger (5:50)
19. Frantic (4:55)
20. The Unnamed Feeling (5:29)
21. Some Kind Of Monster (4:28)
Bonus:
* 2 Of One - Introduction (5:43)
* One (Jammin' Version) (5:05)
* The Unforgiven (Theatrical Version) (11:29)
* "Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster" Film Trailer (2:27)

Italy's DOPE STARS INC. will release its new album, "Gigahearts", on November 17. According to a posting on the band's web site, the CD was produced by Victor Love and includes "11 tracks to kick your ass very bad but also to satisfy your desire of melodies and electronic exploration."

"Gigahearts" track listing:

01. Multiplatform Paradise
02. Beatcrusher
03. Braindamage
04. Lost
05. Can you Imagine
06. Bang Your Head
07. Play 'N' Kill
08. Just The Same For You
09. Technologic Age
10. Citizen Xt99
11. Critical World

The organizers of the Sweden Rock festival have announced the details of the the DVD/CD commemorating the 2006 edition of the annual event, which was held June 8-10 in Sölvesborg, Sweden. Due on October 27, the set will contain the following track listing:

DVD:

EDGUY - Superheroes
DORO - You Are My Family
FROM BEHIND - Queen Bitch
VENOM - Black Metal
THE SWEET - Teenage Rampage
TREAT - Conspiracy
KAMELOT - March of Mephisto
ALEX HARVEY BAND - Midnight Moses
THE POODLES - Kingdom Of Heaven
NASTY IDOLS - Alive n Kickin
TED NUGENT - Cat Scratch Fever
ALICE COOPER - Schools Out

* Plus lots of interviews with bands and festival visitors

CD:

KROKUS - Angel Of My Dreams
NEVERMORE - This Sacrament
CACTUS - Muscle and Soul
CELTIC FROST - Inner Sanctum
OVERDRIVE - Ride The Fire
SODOM - Napalm In The Morning
BLITZKRIEG - Escape From The Village
BULLET - Hard Luck Lady
CLOUDSCAPE - Will We Remain
EASY ACTION - We Go Rockin'
LEAF HOUND - Breakthrough
TIGERTAILZ - Call Of The Wild
ALEX HARVEY BAND - Vambo
GOTTHARD - I Wonder

ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET, the new Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand, has posted the following message on its official web site:

"Today, October 18th, we have entered Deadline studios. We will be here for one month approximately and we will be recording the follow-up to our debut, '21st Century Killing Machine', together with Valle Adzic as the engineer. We will have a studio diary going that will be updated almost every day so don't miss out on the action. The album will be entitled 'Error in Evolution'. The track listing will be:

01. Mine for the Taking
02. The Supreme Butcher
03. Such a Sick Boy
04. Knights in Satan's Service
05. Battlefield Paradise
06. Heaven Knows No Pain
07. Nightmare in Ashes And Blood
08. The Sun Never Shines
09. He's Back (The Man behind the Mask)
10. See Them Burn
11. Silencer
12: Hail the King

"The final order of the songs could be changed!!

"As you can see above we will also record our version of ALICE COOPER's 'He's Back (The Man behind the Mask)' to be included on all editions. It's a song which we all can relate to in one way or another. We were young and it was in the middle of the '80s. 'Friday the 13th Part 6 - Jason Lives' [was] circulating in the underground community 'cause Sweden had huge problems with censorship. We had to find it in the black market and since we first saw this slasher, this song really got stuck in our heads and I guess the only way to get it out is to play the god damn song. It will be heavy! You can write that down dudes! As other special stuff on coming limited editions, we have a few cool things in mind which will be revealed later. The cover art will also soon be revealed, so stay tuned."

"Error in Evolution" is scheduled for release on March 2, 2007 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records. Release dates for other territories will be announced soon.

The following message was posted on CANDLEMASS' official web site:

"Leif [Edling, CANDLEMASS bassist/songwriter] is busy doing cool stuff outside of C-MASS. Once a month he has got Klubb Sabotage at Bröderna Olsson, Folkungagatan 84 in Stockholm. It's a garlic place with great food, and in the basement different DJs play country/rockabilly/punk etc during the weekends. But once a month, Thursdays before payday, Leif runs Klubb Sabotage where he plays metal, doom and hard rock from 21.00 – 01.00. Everything from SABBATH to CELTIC FROST and ARCH ENEMY. Next time/next Thursday will be on October 19, so if you're in the neighborhood.... come down for some metal, doom and garlic. You'll love it!!!"

CANDLEMASS recently announced that vocalist Messiah Marcolin has agreed to sing on the group's upcoming studio album despite previously stating that he was leaving the band with no possibility of him rejoining. "We could not agree on how to do the new album," Messiah told BLABBERMOUTH.NET on April 28, 2006 while refusing at the time to elaborate on his sudden exit.

CANDLEMASS' upcoming CD — a concept album about the road to ruin in the modern society — is being self-produced and will feature nine or ten tracks.

CANDLEMASS recorded four new songs with the help of producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD) in late February at the Polar studios. At the time, Leif Edling said of the material, "The songs are pretty much in the same vein as the stuff on the [self-titled 2005] reunion album, maybe a bit darker."

Check out some recent photos from the album recording sessions at this location.

GMR Music recently announced plans to re-release the CANDLEMASS albums "Chapter VI" (1992) and "Dactylis Glomerata" (1998) as double remastered discs.

"Chapter VI" will include the "Sjunger Sigge Furst" EP as bonus tracks plus a live DVD disc and "Dactylis Glomerata" will contain an entire previously unreleased album. Each reissue will be sold for the price of a normal full-length CD.

OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following update:

"Back home finally!

"We had a great time in North America [on the Gigantour]... did some nice shows, especially Philadelphia, since that was our only headline gig. It felt good to sweat a little and parts of the show was like... magic!

"Got to know Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman and Gigantour organizer] a little, and I don't care what anyone says about the guy, he's great! He always treated us and myself with great respect. I specifically enjoyed sipping Guinness with him in Tokyo. I also got to meet Ronnie Dio, there which was a BIG moment for me. We talked for hours and as he went back to his room he hugged me and said 'You're great, kid!' I still can't believe I've hung out with the guy who sang 'Stargazer' and 'Temple of the King'...insane!

"Japan overall was fantastic! It was our first trip there, and I was a little nervous that we wouldn't be up to the task. But we did really well...one of my favourite 'short' shows ever... The crowd was fantastic, all 12,000 of them! Had some great sushi and bough a nice bottle of Sake with me for home.

"Now I'm back home in Stockholm and it's great, to say the least. The house is a mess and I need to unpack so much stuff and fix the roof! Do the whole 'man' type stuff you know...

"We only have two short tours to go until the big hiatus. South America, unfortunately, got cancelled which is a drag (when will it fukkin' happen for us there???). Oh, the London/U.K. show [November 9] will be filmed for a possible DVD so make sure to be there!"

As previously reported, the special-edition deluxe version of OPETH's "Ghost Reveries" CD will be released on October 31 via Roadrunner Records. Bonus material on the set will include the band's cover of DEEP PURPLE's "Soldier of Fortune", a 40-minute documentary about the making of the record complete with the band's own private tour footage, the video for "The Grand Conjuration", liner notes, photos, an enhanced 24-page booklet, deluxe sleeve, and 5.1 surround exclusive mix of the record made by original mixed/engineer Jens Bogren.

IMPELLITTERI mainman/guitarist Chris Impellitteri has uploaded a new three-minute compilation of video clips of him shredding the axe at this location(Windows Media).

Commented Chris stated, "I should have released this video to show how I am playing instead of the video two weeks ago when I had just gotten out of bed. Ha!!! This practice session is how I truly play guitar, especially when I am shredding and working on different scales!!"

Impellitteri recently finished writing material for the new IMPELLITTERI album, entitled "Good and Evil". "I am very excited about this material because I challenged myself to push the envelope and grow artistically," Chris previously said. "The writing process was definitely time-consuming because I wanted these songs to inspire people and excite them. So I knew that this CD had to be better than anything I have done to date. Fortunately, I have all this positive energy and motivation which led to some really amazing riffs and crazy soloing. This music is definately metal with lots of fast shredding guitar solos and screaming vocals. The rhythms are heavy and addictive and the vibe is positive with lots of energy."

IMPELLITTERI's most recent album, "Pedal to the Metal", was released last year via SPV Records. The follow-up to 2002's "System X" marked the recording debut with the group of vocalist Curtis Skelton (ex-SPEAK NO EVIL).

German power metallers RAGE have commented on their upcoming appearance at the Wacken Open Air festival, which is scheduled to take place August 2-4, 2007 in Wacken, Germany. "We will play a German-wide exclusive show together with an orchestra [for] the first time [in] 10 years," the group writes on its web site. "The setlist will include both old 'Lingua Mortis'/'XIII' material and new material from our last album and songs from Victor's [Smolski, guitar] last solo release that were performed with the RAGE musicians. The show will probably be on the Thursday or Friday of the Wacken weekend, with RAGE in the headliner position (to be announced), so don't miss it..."

RAGE filmed its show in St. Petersburg, Russia earlier in the year in front of 15,000 fans for an upcoming live DVD, tentatively due in early 2007 via Nuclear Blast. According to a posting on the band's official web site, the band used a "specially designed laser and light show" during the concert and performed highlights from their latest CD, "Speak of the Dead", along with selections from their earlier albums which were not covered on their previous DVD.

"Speak of the Dead" entered the German national chart at position No. 58 back in early April. The follow-up to 2003's "Soundchaser" (SPV) was recorded at the VPS studios in Hamm, Germany and is available on Nuclear Blast Records.

RAGE shot a video for the track "No Fear" off "Speak of the Dead". The song is featured on the soundtrack to the independent psycho thriller "Ludgers Fall" and the clip includes scenes from the original film as well as a band performance. The video was shot on the island of Föhr, located in the North Sea.

ATROCITY have lately been touring South America, Europe and Australia and a number of festivals with great success. The production of their follow up album of WERK 80 is continuing as the band has decided to record a complete orchestra, so be aware of a very unique up-coming album!

Moreover, the band is collecting special filmed material for their first ATROCITY DVD. If you have got any nice clips of the band and would like to see it on the DVD, don't hesitate to send it to the following address:

Mastersound Entertainment
c/o Atrocity History
Schorndorfer Stra?e 25
D - 70736 Fellbach
Germany

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY (who are fronted by Liv's husband Alexander Krull) — will begin production of its first DVD around Christmas time. The as-yet-untitled disc will include a complete movie with a lot of interesting background information. Moreover, the band is planning an indoor and an outdoor show with special stage and show elements exclusively for the DVD. More information will be made available soon.

LEAVES' EYES' latest EP, "Legend Land", recently entered the German chart at position No. 75.

"Legend Land" was released in North America on July 28 via Napalm Records.

LEAVES' EYES have been confirmed as the support act for BLIND GUARDIAN on their upcoming North American tour beginning on November 8 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have entered Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström to begin recording their new album for an early 2007 release. The group has issued the following update on the recording process:

"Drums [by Hellhammer of MAYHEM fame] are completed! It went surprisingly smooth, considering the fact that
a couple of tracks hadn't even been properly rehearsed in advance like we're normally used to. Besides, final adjustments always happen in the studio. Even if you think you've got everything nailed down at the practice pad, last-minute changes are known to give albums that little extra, and once you start recording it all comes clear. And with effective working hours and extensive shifts with complete focus on the job, things don't have to take long. Next up are rhythm guitars and hopefully it will be an experience just as effective and enjoying as it was doing the drums."

DIMMU BORGIR's current recording lineup is as follows:

Shagrath - Vocals
Silenoz - Guitars
Galder - Guitars
Vortex - Bass
Mustis - Keys
Hellhammer - Drums

French progressive metallers ADAGIO have finished making a pre-production recording of four songs their fourth album, entitled "Archangels in Black". According to a posting on the group's official web site, the overall vibe of the tracks "Archangels in Black", "Undead", "The Fear Circus" and "Twilight At Dawn" is "very dark and massive. The band came back to a more orchestral style of composition but kept the heaviness of songs like 'Dominate' or 'Children of the Dead Lake' from the previous album released in 2005 in Japan."

Commented guitarist Stephan Forté: "This album is a sort of tribute to dark arts, including horror movies and gothic literature. It's our own musical representation of what darkness is. I think the song 'Archangels in Black' would be a cool hymn for all those of us who enjoy sinister arts."

ADAGIO will enter the studio in December to record "Archangels in Black" for an early 2007 release.

ADAGIO issued its latest album, "Dominate", in North America and Europe (outside France) in July via Locomotive Music. The CD — which was issued in Japan in December 2005 via Avalon/Marquee and in France in March through Double Vision (via Sony/BMG distribution) — was produced by Stephan Forté and Kevin Codfert, and was mixed at House of Audio Studios in Germany by Dennis Ward.

Swedish death metallers VOMITORY will enter Leon Music Studios outside Karlstad, Sweden on December 3 to begin recording its sixth album.

"This time we'll work with producer Rikard Löfgren, who is the founder/owner of Leon Music," the band said in a statement. "Rikard Löfgren is still a pretty unfamiliar name within the death metal scene. He mostly works with more commercial music but he is a great producer and has his roots in metal. We know the guy since ages and we have great confidence in him.”

"It's going to feel strange to do a new VOMITORY album not working with our sidekick Henrik Larsson, but we feel it's time to try something new. Since VOMITORY isn't exactly an experimental band, we feel that working in a new studio with a new producer is a good way of renewing the band. We have two weeks for the recording and one week of mix and mastering."

The as-yet-untitled CD is scheduled for release at the end of April 2007 through Metal Blade Records.

As previously reported, the first two VOMITORY albums, "Raped in their own Blood" (1996) and "Redemption" (1999) will soon finally be available on vinyl. Animate Records will release them both as strictly limited vinyl versions of 666 copies each. An exact release date will be announced soon.

VOMITORY's fifth album, "Primal Massacre", was released in April 2004 through Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Blood Rapture" was recorded at Studio Kuling in Örebro, Sweden and was mixed at Berno Studio.

German black metal outfit DARK FORTRESS is currently working on material for its fifth album, entitled "Scum". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Abhorrence vs. Scum", "Cold", "A Sickening World's Protagonist", "The Anti-Life Doctrine" and "Scumshot Orgasm". The band is also planning several festival appearances during 2007.

DARK FORTRESS' fourth full-length CD, "Séance", was released in Europe in January via Century Media Records.

German gothic rockers LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE have uploaded their video for the song "My Velvet Little Darkness" at this location (Windows Media). The track comes off the group's seventh album, "Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts", which was released in July via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by John Fryer (H.I.M., PARADISE LOST, NINE INCH NAILS, DEPECHE MODE) and was preceded by a single, "Again It's Over". The six-track mini-CD jewel-case edition includes three non-album tracks.

As previously reported, LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE will support LACUNA COIL on the German, Austrian and Swiss legs of the band's upcoming European tour beginning on October 30 in Berlin. Also appearing on the bill will be POISONBLACK.

Finnish melodic metallers HELION have posted the cover artwork for their fourth CD, "Mercury Rising", at this location. Tentatively due before the end of the year, the follow-up to 2005's "Shadow of the Sun" was recorded at Studio Sound Supreme (AMORAL, PAIN CONFESSOR, ROTTEN SOUND) and is the group's first CD to feature new guitar player Kimmo Korhonen. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Devil's Tattoo", "Darkness Remains" and a new rendition of "King of Fools". As an added bonus, a remixed version of "Pay Day" will also be included on the effort.

For more information, visit the band's official web site.

A brand new BELPHEGOR track, entitled "Belphegor – Hell's Ambassador", has been posted online at this location. The song comes off the group's new album, "Pestapokalypse VI", due on October 31 via Nuclear Blast Records.

In other news, BELPHEGOR has announced the addition of bassist Serpenth to the group's ranks. The band's touring lineup is now as follows:

Helmuth - Heretic Grunts, Chainsaw
Sigurd - Six String Flagellation
Serpenth - Bass Distortion
Nefastus - Drums (session)

Former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen has posted the cover artwork for her upcoming Christmas album, "Henkäys Ikuisuudesta" (Breath from Heaven), at this location.

"Henkäys Ikuisuudesta", which includes selections from JOHN LENNON and ABBA, will arrive on November 8. A single, entitled "You Would Have Loved This", will surface on October 25.

Swedish melodic death metallers ETERNAL OATH will enter the studio in late October to record the follow-up to 2005's "Wither". A total of 12 cuts will be recorded, including "Reality/Fatality", "Greater Than I", "My Demise", "The Dark Domain", "Self Appointed Victim", "No Cure Sickness", "Chokehold" and "Reconcile".

ETERNAL OATH recently parted ways with original singer Joni Mäensivu and replaced him with Timo Hovinen. The band also announced plans to release their first two albums on one CD. The set, entitled "Re-Released Hatred", includes the band's debut mini-CD, "So Silent" (1996), as well as its follow-up, "Through the Eyes of Hatred" (1998), both of which have been hard to come by for several years. In addition, it features a bonus track: a "mind-blowing" cover of AT THE GATES' "The Fevered Circle". All tracks have been re-mastered with greatly enhanced sound and the CD also includes a completely new, re-designed booklet.

ETERNAL OATH's third full-length album, "Wither", was released in March 2005 via Black Lodge Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Righteous" was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg and was mastered at Polar studios in Stockholm.

Italian progressive-aggressive metal band ELDRITCH recorded its gigs in Livorno and Milano on October 6-7 for a possible live CD, according to a posting on the group's official web site.

ELDRITCH is currently compelting the pre-production for its seventh album, tentatively titled "Blackeneday", for a May 2007 release.

ELDRITCH's sixth album, "Neighbourhell", was released this past February. The recordings for the follow-up to 2004's "Portrait of the Abyss Within" were done between April and June 2005 in three different studios (Syncropain, Bigwave and Eldritch studios), while the mastering was handled by Christian Schmid and R.D. Liapakis at Music Factory in Germany. The artwork was conceived by Dirk Illing for X-M-D.

ELDRITCH made its U.S. live debut at the Chicago Powerfest 2006. The fourth annual metal fest featuring both veteran and up-and-coming bands from various sub-genres of metal was held April 7-8 in Chicago Heights, IL.

Finnish death metallers OMNIUM GATHERUM have inked a deal with Candlelight Records. "After long negotiations and search we decided that Candlelight would be the best home for us and we're really looking forward to this co-operation!" the band writes on its web site.

OMNIUM GATHERUM will enter Southeast Studios in Karhula in early November with producer Teemu Aalto to begin recording its third album, tentatively titled "Stuck Here On Snakes Way". The band recently uploaded two new tracks to its MySpace profile. The songs — "A Part of God" and "Undertaker" — are taken from the group's latest promotional recording, which the band used to procure its new record deal. The demo marks the first material recorded with brand new OMNIUM GATHERUM vocalist Jukka Pelkonen, who joined the group in May.

OMNIUM GATHERUM parted ways with Nuclear Blast Records last year. The band's latest album, "Years in Waste", was released in the U.S. in March 2005. The follow-up to 2003's "Spirits and August Light" was recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, Finland with producer Nino Laurenne and engineer Teemu Aalto.