The second full length album from German Electro / Industrial act Heimataerde, "Kadavergehorsam" continues the undead cycle began with debut album "Gotteskrieger" and continued with the "Under Der Linden" EP in Spring 2006. This time joining forces with a host of other top name Electro bands / artists ( including ASP, Die In Winter, Winterstahl, X-Fusion and Xotox ) who contribute interpretations, vocals and sound design to the overall Heimataerde production, "Kadavergehorsam" delivers a very complex and dramatic vision amongst the pounding beats, industrial riffs and digitized synth lines : an overall tension that drives the production forward and delivers an interesting and innovative electro sound. Out at 25 august 2006.

Tracklisting
01. Gedanken
02. Lebloser Koerper (click to listen)
03. Eins Sein
04. Jerusalem
05. Gott Will Es ( Pax Vobiscum Version )
06. Moritari Salutant (click to listen)
07. Koenig Von Thule
08. Dona Nobis Pacem
09. Brueder
10. Die Schlacht
11. Morte (click to listen)
12. Verflucht
13. Warum Das Leben Lohnt
14. Im Sandes Des Wahns
15. Leben

German power metallers GAMMA RAY have set "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" as the title of their upcoming DVD. The set will feature a ulti-camera recording of the band's May 6, 2006 show at Medley in Montreal, Quebec as well as lots of bonus features, such as a road movie, a documentary covering the group's history, behind-the-scenes footage, and video clips etc. "Canada is a good place to film a show," the band's frontman, Kai Hansen, previously said about the shoot. "But we are also bringing a cameraman along for the entire tour to capture all of the backstage and pre-show aspects of the band. We are bringing it back to rock 'n' roll basics."

This will be the first-ever GAMMA RAY video-documentary featuring the current lineup of the band. "The current lineup has been together for eight years," Hansen stated. "It's about time we get a filmed documentary of who the band is."

Check out the cover artwork for "Hell Yeah! The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" at this location.

GAMMA RAY released its latest effort, "Majestic", on October 11, 2005. The lineup for "Majestic" included Hansen (guitar, bass), Dirk Schlächter (bass), Henjo Richter (guitar, keyboards) and Daniel Zimmerman (drums), who have been together for the last several releases after a number of lineup changes in the early stages of the band's career. "Majestic" is the band's first release since 2003's "Skeletons in the Closet".

GAMMA RAY completed its first-ever U.S. tour this past spring.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of EUROPE's "The Final Countdown" album and tour, Warner Bros. will release a new DVD on October 4. The set will feature the following:

* 13-track live concert from Solnahallen in Stockholm 1986, remastered in Dolby Digital and restored in widescreen format
* Interviews with the band made in 2006
* Gallery with rare and never seen pictures from "The Final Countdown" tour
* The only existing unreleased outtake from "The Final Countdown" recording sessions — "Where Men Won't Dare", an instrumental song written by Joey Tempest and John Leven
* The band revisiting the Powerplay Studios where they recorded "The Final Countdown" album.
* Biography

The first 5000 printed copies will also include an exclucive eight-page color booklet with rare and unseen pictures, plus brand new liner notes by the journalist Anders Tengner.

Check out the "The Final Countdown Tour 1986 – Live in Sweden" DVD packaging at this location.

EUROPE has completed work on the follow-up to 2004's "Start from the Dark", tentatively due this fall. The CD was mixed by Stefan Glaumann nd is currently being mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound.

As previously reported, EUROPE entered the Swedish Music DVD chart at position No. 9 in December 2005 with their live DVD, entitled "Live from the Dark". The two-disc set features the group's November 15, 2004 concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England along with video clips, interviews, band information and a section called "Taxi Diaries."

The group's first collection of new material since 1991's "Prisoners In Paradise", "Start from the Dark" (2004) was produced by Kevin Elson, who had previously worked with EUROPE on their multi-platinum 1986 release, "Final Countdown".

HATEBREED shot a video for the song "Defeatist" on Monday, July 31 in Naugatuck, Connecticut in an abandoned factory which was also used by Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise for the end sequence of the film "War of the Worlds". The clip was helmed by acclaimed director Dale "Rage" Resteghini (TRIVIUM, MUDVAYNE, SHADOWS FALL, MADBALL), who stated before the shot, "What Spielberg and Cruise didn't get right, we will!!!"

Commented the band: "Our video shoot was incredible. Thanks so much to everyone who came out to show their support! It was 105 degrees, people waited for hours and there were a few mishaps but the finished product is going to look amazing!"

Check out pictures from the shoot at this location.

As previously reported, "Defeatist" has been made available for streaming at this location. The song comes off the band's new album, "Supremacy", due on August 29 via Roadrunner Records. Check out the album artwork at this location. An e-card for the CD can be accessed by clicking here.

Finnish melodic thrash/death metallers IMPERANON have uploaded several audio samples from their recently completed five-song demo at their official web site. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Corroded
02. Dead in the Water
03. Wound
04. Trendhold
05. Set It Off

IMPERANON recently parted ways with bassist Eki Nurmikari and replaced him with Aki Hopeasaari. The group's current lineup is as follows:

Aleksi Sihvonen - Guitar, Vocals
Teemu Mäntysaari - Guitar
Jaakko Nylund - Drums
Aki Hopeasaari - Bass
Aleksi Virta - Keyboards

IMPERANON's debut album, "Stained", was released in May 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios with engineer Nino Laurenne and producer Titus Hjelm and was mixed at Finnvox studios with Mikko Karmila.

ENGEL, the new Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA), and vocalist Mangan Klavborn, has appointed new bassist Michael Håkansson, previously of EVERGREY. Michael will play his first gig with the band at the Uxfest 2006 festival, set to take place Sunday, August 6 at the Carling Academy Islington in England.

Currently unsigned, ENGEL has posted several demo tracks on its official MySpace page.

For more information, visit www.engelpropaganda.com.

Swedish death metal supergroup BLOODBATH has issued the following update:

"Dan Swanö is no longer part of BLOODBATH. The reason being restrictions on his behalf to devote more time and effort to the future of this project that it would require by taking things to the next level i.e. touring and playing live. Moreover, his future vision for BLOODBATH's concept proved to head in the almost opposite direction as his desire for death metal was to be of a less brutal kind, something the remaining members regard as musical differences not interesting to pursue, so at these crossroads, we'd like to wish Dan Swanö good luck with his future endavours and with the music that's closer to his heart. The audition for BLOODBATH is closed. We thank everyone who tried out, but it's with dashing hopes we have to announce there's no suitable replacement that matched our expectations. It was surprising, how so many applications could barely be listened to because of the extreme low quality in talent. We found it shocking to say the least, that same applicants would send us emails claiming they 'killed' both of our previous singers, but all they could achieve at the end of the day was our laughs or sighs. Well, one day we can maybe throw together a little compilation of those efforts and put up an exclusive mp3 right here and you'll be the judge, or have a good laugh or sigh, like us! But this doesn't mean all the applications were bad, actually a couple of them were damn fu**ing good, but criterias on other levels failed. Life goes on and so does death!

"Wacken will soon release their annual DVD, but despite what was previously implied, the song 'Eaten' will not be featured on the 2005 edition. The entire footage of the show remains archived until there's been clearances by all parties, a subject to time."

For more information, visit Bloodbath.biz.

added 03/08/06 (rem)

Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö has commented on his departure from BLOODBATH.

In a statement released earlier today by the other members of the band, BLOODBATH attributed Swanö's exit to "restrictions on his behalf to devote more time and effort to the future of this project that it would require by taking things to the next level i.e. touring and playing live. Moreover, his future vision for BLOODBATH's concept proved to head in the almost opposite direction as his desire for death metal was to be of a less brutal kind, something the remaining members regard as musical differences not interesting to pursue."

Responding to BLOODBATH's statement regarding his departure, Swanö has posted the following message on his official forum:

"I figured there would be a lot of questions circulating about 'me out of BLOODBATH' so I just would like to make a few comments before the rumours kicks in.

I received an email from Blakkheim today where I saw that my services as a member of BLOODBATH were no longer required.

"I must admit I didn't see that one coming!! But... I can totally see what the other guys are thinking about. (Tried to do the same to the EDGE OF SANITY guys in '97... but that one backfired pretty badly... ha, ha!!)

"Blakkheim and Jonas are touring musicians, living off their metal and I would just be 'in their way' with the constant, 'Sorry I can't go on tour because bla bla bla,' that's cool.

"Concerning the musical differences, I am a bit confused. As far as I can remember, I haven't even discussed the direction of my future BLOODBATH tracks. The announcement says that I tried to get BLOODBATH in a 'Moontower'/'Crimson' direction... That is not right... I have toyed with the idea to make a new album, using my own name, and revisit the style of those albums... Oh yes... What is a bit funny is that I actually wanted to write a bit more brutal songs for BLOODBATH the next time. I got inspired by working with the COLDWORKER album and the urge to write some complex, fast fucken brutal death came creeping back. (I have not always written 'TRL' death metal, you know... INFESTDEAD and some of the early EDGE OF SANITY material is kind of brutal, isn't it???)

"Anyway. I just wanted to clarify that I was NOT trying to pussify BLOODBATH and therefore got kicked out... Where this rumour came from and how the guys (without asking) just decided that I was on a different level musically... remains a mystery.

"I wish the guys all the best and hope they ask nice if they can play my songs live for you guys."

BLOODBATH's latest album, "Nightmares Made Flesh", received a U.S. release in March 2005 via Century Media Records. Due to the long gap between the European and North American release dates, the American version was enhanced with two bonus songs taken from a previously unreleased demo recording of "Breeding Death" EP, as well as a different front cover, featuring artwork by Wes Benscoter.

Switzerland's SAMAEL has completed the pre-production phase for its new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The band spent a week going over new songs with acclaimed producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC., MOONSPELL).

SAMAEL is currently in studio recording bass and guitars; sessions started in July and will continue throughout August.

SAMAEL's last release was the "On Earth" single, featuring the album version of the title cut, plus various remixes, along with a cover of DEPECHE MODE's "I Feel You", a video for "Telepath" and a live recording of the track "On Earth", recorded in Paris, France. The band's "Reign of Light" full-length CD was released in North America in February 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records. SAMAEL's Vorph and Xy issued an album from their "Era One" project — originally recorded and delivered to Century Media in the summer of 2002 but re-arranged and remixed in the fall of 2005 — in January, "Era One" consists of 10 tracks of electronic music composed and performed by Xy with lyrics and vocals by Vorph.

TRIVIUM will shoot two videos in Los Angeles, California next week — one on August 10 and another one on August 11. "Both videos are sure to be badass... and we need all the people we can get to come down and make sure they are the best TRIVIUM videos EVER!" the group writes on its MySpace page. "Details on location and time will be sent out Monday or Tuesday, but keep those dates open for now if you want to be a part of this! Don't miss out on your chance to be featured in the first two videos for TRIVIUM's new album, 'The Crusade'!!!"

IRON MAIDEN has confirmed that the release date for their new studio album, "A Matter of Life and Death", will be August 28 for the world except the USA which has been confirmed as September 5. The CD will also be available as a limited-edition special deluxe format which contains a bonus DVD. The DVD contains nearly an hour of documentary footage plus videos and photos all shot whilst the band were making the album. The documentary, titled "The Making of A Matter Of Life and Death", directed by Matthew Amos ("Early Days", "Death on the Road" DVD documentaries) features candid video footage shot largely by Kevin Shirley himself during the recording of the album giving a real behind-the-scenes look at life in the studio . The bonus DVD also features the full 7:21 minute video promo for "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg", and a special intimate filming of the band recording "Different World" in the studio. "A Matter of Life and Death" will also be available as a limited-edition double picture disc vinyl in gatefold sleeve, and as a digital download, available through the newly launched official IRON MAIDEN digital store, where you can buy single tracks, a bundle, or an album for your PC, or your MP3 player.

A track-by-track review of the new IRON MAIDEN album, "A Matter of Life and Death", complete with comments from the band, can be found in the latest issue of Kerrang! magazine. Check out a scan of the article at this location.

In other news, IRON MAIDEN has launched an official mobile graphics site where you will find all your favorite MAIDEN artwork to download as wallpaper onto your mobile phone. Also available are some great animated screensavers. Currently the service is only available in the U.K., but the band hopes to be rolling it out further in the near future.

German metallers SACRED STEEL have set the tentative track listing for their sixth album, "Hammer of Destruction", due on November 10 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at the Spiderhouse studio in Lütte (near Berlin) with legendary producer Harris Johns (VOIVOD, HELLOWEEN, ST. VITUS, DEPRESSIVE AGE, SODOM, KREATOR). Mixing took place at the Music Lab Studio at the heart of the German capital.

"Hammer of Destruction" track listing:

01. Hammer Of Destruction
02. Where Demons Dare To Tread
03. Impaled By Metal
04. Maniacs Of Speed
05. Pounding Inferno
06. Children Of The Spirit
07. Hell Insanity
08. Unholy Majesty
09. Blood And Thunder
10. Plague Of Terror
11. Sword And Axes
12. The Torch Of Sin
13. Generally Hostile (JAG PANZER cover)

Austrian death metallers BELPHEGOR have uploaded the cover artwork for their new album, "Pestapokalypse VI", at www.belphegor.at.

Due on October 27, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Pestapokalypse VI" will contain the following track listing:

I Belphegor – Hell's Ambassador
II Seyn Todt In Schwartz
III Angel Of Retribution
IV Chants For The Devil 1533
V Pest Teufel Apokalypse
VI The Ancient Enemy
VII Bluhtsturm Erotika
VIII Sanctus Perversum
IX Das Pesthaus / Miasma Epilog

The artwork for the upcoming MEGADETH album, "United Abominations", has been unveiled as part of the Gigantour e-card. Check it out at the MEGADETH fan site Rattlehead HQ. The e-card appears to use one of the Vic Rattlehead (MEGADETH mascot) redesigns from the DeviantART contest that was held back in January/February. This entry appeared in the Top 11 but did not win the contest. The Vic that appears to feature on the cover of "United Abominations" can be found here.

"United Abominations" was recorded under the watchful eye of mainman Dave Mustaine and co-producer Jeff Balding. The initial studio sessions — held at Sarm Studios, outside of London — were filmed by director Michael Sarna (ANTHRAX, OBITUARY) and are available at Megadeth.com to fan-club members. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "United Abominations", "Washington Is Next" and "Gears of War". An October 31 release via Roadrunner Records is expected.

MEGADETH's last CD, "The System Has Failed", has sold more than 180,000 copies since its September 2004 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The group, who were most recently signed to Sanctuary Records, were joined by bassist James Lomenzo (ex-BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) in February following the departure of James MacDonough (ex-ICED EARTH).

Progressive metal act SYMPHONY X has set "Paradise Lost" as the title of the follow-up to 2002's "The Odyssey", tentatively due before the end of the year. The band expects to return to the road shortly after the release of the new album.

SYMPHONY X was recently forced to cancel a couple of European festival appearances after bassist Michael LePond was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease (an inflammatory bowel disorder). He has since underegone surgery and has been released from the hospital.

SYMPHONY X was one of the second-stage bands at last summer's Gigantour, a six-week festival trek co-headlined by MEGADETH and DREAM THEATER. "Rarities and Demos", the first fan club CD from the SYMPHONY X fan club, Church of the Machine, was shipped out in July 2005 to fan club members. The CD included demo material, rare unreleased material, and guitarist Michael James Romeo's interpretation of the "Star Wars" theme, done with over 15 guitar tracks.

According to Ozzyhead.com, OZZY OSBOURNE is set to release a new video anthology on DVD this fall. No further details are currently available.

In other news, Ozzy recently spoke to Philly.com about his participation in this summer's Ozzfest after announcing last year that he'd be retiring from his namesake tour. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On the music that he listens to at home:

"I only stick to the stuff that I understand, to be honest. And I don't understand why these guys in metal bands now have to growl. I can't wait for the days of songs with melodies again. If you went 'round whistling the songs of some of these bands, people would think you were mental."

On next years' Ozzfest:

"On the next tour, I'm going to do more on the second stage because it's so much fun. You can actually see your audience. And the crowds are so primed for it. We have not had one bad show.

"I didn't start my career on a big stage. I'm over that ego trip. I really just want to have fun. And I just can't believe we've been doing the Ozzfest for 11 years."

Dutch melodic death/thrashers DETONATION have issued the following update:

"More news about our third album. We are going to do things slightly different than before and record our newest piece in cooperation with Split Second Sound, together with producer Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES)! Recordings will start around December this year, and our goal is to have things completed around January next year. We will start working on the pre-preduction [as soon as possible]! Looking at Jochem's previous work and the groove and heaviness of our new songs, this new album is bound to become something very special!"

DETONATION's second album, "Portals to Uphobia", was released in the U.S. last October via The End Records. The CD was issued in Europe through Osmose Productions.

The follow up to 2003's "An Epic Defiance", "Portals to Uphobia" was recorded at Excess studio in Rotterdam, Holland and features cover artwork by Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media (IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY, DARK TRANQUILLITY).

On October 10, TRIVIUM will release its third album, "The Crusade". The follow-up to 2005's "Ascendancy" was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, FL, just outside of Orlando. Once again produced by TRIVIUM and Jason Suecof, the CD is "a dazzling explosion of tight, intricate and instantly memorable songs that feature awe-inspiring musicianship from all four members of the band," according to a press release.

Says lead singer Matt Heafy, "As a band, you can either release the same album again, keeping the same number of people interested and not really branch out, or you can evolve. I feel that 'The Crusade' is the next logical step in our evolution. We took one big step between the first two albums, but this time we've taken about ten huge leaps forward."

For the first time, other members of the group contributed songs to the album. Guitarist Corey Beaulieu wrote the music to "Unrepentant" and "Tread The Floods", while bassist Paolo Gregoletto wrote the music to "The Rising" and "To The Rats" and co-wrote "Anthem (We are the Fire)" with Heafy.

"The Crusade" will contain 13 songs, including "Detonation", which is available for download at this location, "And Sadness Will Sear", the initial focus track "Entrance of the Conflagration", and the nine-minute instrumental epic "The Crusade".

To date "Ascendancy" has sold 140,000 units in the Unites States and continues to sell over 1,600 a week.

"The Crusade" track listing:

01. Ignition
02. Detonation
03. Entrance of the Conflagration
04. Anthem (We are the Fire)
05. Unrepentant
06. And Sadness Will Sear
07. Becoming the Dragon
08. To The Rats
09. This World Can't Tear Us Apart
10. Tread the Floods
11. Contempt Breeds Contamination
12. The Rising
13. The Crusade

Swedish death metallers GRAVE have set "Enraptured" as the title of its upcoming live DVD, which will be filmed on August 24 at the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. A standard DVD edition and a DVD+CD limited-edition version are set to be released in November via Metal Mind Productions. More information will be made available soon.

GRAVE's new album, "As Rapture Comes", was released on July 25 via Century Media Records (one day earlier internationally). The artwork for "As Rapture Comes" was designed by the Polish artist Jacek Wisnieswki, who previously worked with GRAVE on their "Back From The Grave" and "Fiendish Regression" albums, in addition to designing artwork for such acts as KRISIUN, VADER and DECAPITATED, among others.

GRAVE, DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED and UNLEASHED will be teaming up for the Masters of Death European tour in November. According to a posting on GRAVE's web site, the four-band combination represents "the most brutal bill that has ever shared the same stage. The package is an idea that all four bands has planned and prepared in the pastmonths and finally we are doing it. Dates and more info will be announced shortly. Prepare for a night to remember..."

SLAYER will reportedly film a war-themed video for the song "Eyes of the Insane" with director Tony Petrossian (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR). No further details are available at this time.

Pre-order SLAYER's new CD, "Christ Illusion", and be automatically entered to win one of 10 lithos of the album cover signed by the artist himself, Larry Carrol. Click here to order the album at a special price of $13.98.

As previously reported, a web-exclusive video clip of SLAYER performing the track "Disciple" on the set of "The Henry Rollins Show" has been posted online at this location.

SLAYER recently taped a performance of the track "Cult" for the program, which aired last Saturday night (July 29) on the IFC (Independent Film Channel). An encore presentation of the program is scheduled for Thursday, August 3 at 11:00 p.m.

Due on August 8, "Christ Illusion" is SLAYER's first new studio album since 2001, and the first recorded by the band's original line-up — Kerry King (guitar), Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Jeff Hanneman (guitars), Dave Lombardo (drums) — since 1990's "Seasons In The Abyss". "Christ Illusion" was produced by Josh Abraham and executive-produced by Rick Rubin.

Reunited Swedish hard rockers EUROPE have completed work on the follow-up to 2004's "Start from the Dark", tentatively due this fall. The band has posted the following studio update on its official web site:

"We are now done with the recordings of the 'new' album. Everything went smooth even though it was (to say the least) hectic in the studio from time to time. All songs have been mixed by Stefan Glaumann; he really took the songs to a higher level. Joey [Tempest, vocals] has now gone to New York to supervise the mastering that will be done by George Marino at Sterling Sound."

As previously reported, EUROPE entered the Swedish Music DVD chart at position No. 9 in December 2005 with their live DVD, entitled "Live from the Dark". The two-disc set features the group's November 15, 2004 concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England along with video clips, interviews, band information and a section called "Taxi Diaries."

The group's first collection of new material since 1991's "Prisoners In Paradise", "Start from the Dark" (2004) was produced by Kevin Elson, who had previously worked with EUROPE on their multi-platinum 1986 release, "Final Countdown".

Dimension Films has set an October 19, 2007 release date for Rob Zombie's new version of the classic 1978 horror film "Halloween".

Zombie recently said that his movie won't be a sequel to the original film, but he left the details a little vague. Would the movie then be a prequel or a straight remake? Zombie told Launch that his "Halloween" will be a little bit of both. "I basically went back and just came up with the idea of basically — not essentially a remake, but a very extended prequel sort of combined with an update, say, of the first film," he said. "You're starting from scratch but in sort of a more detailed way. That's the way I thought it would be exciting for fans of the original, because it's not just the same old thing, and it would be exciting for people that never saw the original."

The original "Halloween" was directed by John Carpenter and followed a masked murderer named Michael Myers who comes back to his hometown to begin a new killing spree decades after being committed to an asylum.

Zombie said that other characters from the original, in addition to Myers, would appear in his script, which is in its early stages.

Production on the film could begin later this year.

Zombie will begin a co-headlining trek with GODSMACK on August 25 in Dallas.

Frontiers Records has revealed the details behind TALISMAN upcoming studio album, "7", to be released on October 20, 2006.

Recorded under the working title of "Bar" (which was dropped in the end in favor of the more immediate "7"), TALISMAN's brand new album sees once again the combination of four amazing talents flourishing to the highest levels. The experienced Swedish bass player and songwriter Marcel Jacob (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) teamed once again with U.S. vocal sensation Jeff Scott Soto (SOUL SIRKUS and now with JOURNEY), drummer Jamie Borger (TREAT) and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson (now the second axeman in ARCH ENEMY) to give birth to a sensational new recording that, according to Jacob, "might simply be our best ever."

"I am much pleased with the result," stated Marcel, "more so than I've been in a while. There are a number of tracks that came out really well and I am quite curious as to what the response will be. As a songwriter, I tried to write this time more for 'other ears' than mine, trying to perceive what others could have liked from what we have been doing before… also this time we tried to go for some ballads and this was a sort of new challenge for us."

"7" track listing:

01. Falling
02. Nowhere Fast
03. Rhyme Or Reason
04. End of the Line
05. The 1 I'm Living 4
06. On My Way
07. Forevermore
08. Succumb 2 My Desire
09. Shed a Tear Goodbye
10. Troubled Water
11. Back 2 the Feeling

Check out audio samples at this location.

Norwegian power metallers GAIA EPICUS have completed work on their third album, entitled "Victory", at Top Room Studios in Lunner, Norway.

GAIA EPICUS, who recently parted ways with Sound Riot Records, have already received offers from several record labels that wish to release the new album, but nothing has been signed yet. The cover painting for the CD will be created by J.P. Fournier, who was also responsible for the band's first album cover, "Satrap", in 2003.

01. New Life
02. Iron Curtain
03. The Sign
04. Revenge is Sweet
05. In Memory
06. Awaken the Monster
07. Rise of the Empire
08. When Darkness Falls
09. Fortress of Solitude
10. Through the Fire
11. Victory

Check out audio samples at this location.

CRADLE TO GRAVE, the Vancouver-based band featuring ex-AGGRESSION guitarist Denis "Sasquatch" Barthe, has parted ways with drummer Ryan Mackie and bassist Eric Green due to musical differences. Replacing them are Simon Adam (ex-EMPYRIA) and Glenn Chisholm (ex-A MURDER OF CROWS), respectively.

CRADLE TO GRAVE is putting the finishing touches on its new album, "Death Toll Rising", at Turtle Recording Studios in Whiterock, B.C. for a late September release. The follow-up to 2004's "CTG" will contain the following track listing:

01. Shotgun Life
02. Within Forever
03. There Is Nothing Left To Taste
04. Poison Yourself
05. H.S.I.B.J.
06. Beheaded In Paris
07. Suffer
08. Burn It All
09. The End Of My Life
10. Ol' Nicks Blues

CRADLE TO GRAVE is now managed by Vancouver-based Greentoe Music Group.

Veteran San Francisco Bay Area metallers VICIOUS RUMORS have completed work on their new album, "Warball", due in October via Mascot Records. The CD was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, CA by Geoff Thorpe and Juan J. Orteaga and includes lead-guitar contributions from Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER) and Thaen Rassmussen (ANVIL CHORUS). The group's first CD with new vocalist James Rivera (HELSTAR, KILLING MACHINE, SEVEN WITCHES) is being described as "a darker and more aggressive version" of the band's classic "Digital Dictator" album (1987).

"Warball" is the first VICIOUS RUMORS album with Geoff Thorpe doing all rhythm and acoustic guitars and most of the solos. "In the past I've always split the guitar duties up with our other guitarist," he said. "As I rebuilt the band, I decided to knock it out myself. I always planned to have some special guests on the record, and it turned out great."

For the "Warball" CD, Geoff Thorpe reunites with original members Larry Howe (drums and vocals), and Dave Starr (bass). "It felt great to have the original nucleus together again," Geoff said. "Larry and Dave are a tight-knit veteran rhythm section that really stepped up on this new CD. The years of working together definitely helped create the metal mayhem of 'Warball'."

"Warball" features ten new original songs, including "Sonic Rebellion", "Mr. Miracle", "Dying Every Day", "Immortal" and the epic "Warball". A European tour with AGENT STEEL will follow in March 2007.

VED BUENS ENDE (Norwegian for "At the End of the Rainbow"), the Norwegian avant-garde metal band who split up in 1997 after after releasing only one full-length album (1995's "Written in Waters") through Misanthropy Records, has been resurrected and has posted a rehearsal recording of a new song, entitled "Shame Eclipse", at its MySpace page.

The band's current lineup consists of the following:

Carl-Michael "Czral" Eide (AURA NOIR, CADAVER, DØDHEIMSGARD) - Guitars, Vocals
Yusaf "Vicotnik" Parvez (DØDHEIMSGARD) - Guitars, Vocals
Petter "Plenum" Berntsen (VIRUS, AUDIOPAIN) - Bass
Einar "Esso" Sjursø (BEYOND DAWN, INFERNÖ, VIRUS) - Drums

Einar previously told BLABBERMOUTH.NET in a written statement: "We will record a new album this year, to be released in 2007 by an as-yet-undetermined label (interested parties get in touch) and we also aim at playing live, where we will perform material both from 'Written in Waters' and the [post-VED BUENS ENDE project] VIRUS 'Carheart' album plus of course new compositions. The new material is being developed at the moment and will differ from both 'Written in Waters' and 'Carheart' yet still retain the trademark off the wall guitar sounds of those releases."

Starting today, for the first time ever, the first two NOTHINGFACE albums — "Pacifier" (1997) and "An Audio Guide To Everyday Atrocity" (1998) — will be available online via the iTunes Music Store and other online retailers. These classic albums will also feature "rare" bonus tracks.

For original and classic NOTHINGFACE merchandise, check out the DCide Merch store at this location.

The current NOTHINGFACE lineup includes Matt Holt (vocals), Tom Maxwell (guitar), Jerry Montano (DANZIG, ex-THE DEADLIGHTS) and Tommy Sickles (drums)

NOTHINGFACE's fourth album, "Skeletons", was released in 2003 via TVT Records. The band has since split with the label.