Legendary California rockers Y&T have officially parted ways with drummer Leonard Haze. The group's statement on the matter reads as follows:

"After numerous attempts at trying to resolve a musical performance difference, we (Dave, Phil and John) regretfully inform you of our split with Leonard Haze. This decision was painstakingly hard for us because of our love for Leonard as a brother. However for Y&T to continue performing and functioning as a band, it was a change we had to make. We want you to know that we didn't take this decision lightly, especially knowing how popular Leonard is with Y&T fans.

"Over the course of the last week and a half we auditioned many fine drummers from all over the country. We have selected a bay area drummer to fill the seat for the upcoming shows. His name is Mike Vanderhule and he’s a straight-ahead drummer with great chops. Mike is a student of Steve Smith and has been a favorite for many years in the local music scene. More info about Mike will be released in the coming days.

"While we know this will be a big shock to many of you, we hope after the initial reaction, you will indulge us the respect of having made a tough but necessary decision in order for the band to stick together and move forward into the future."

Y&T recently re-released their classic "Black Tiger" (1982) and "Mean Streak" (1983) albums with bonus cuts. Along with the original songs, each album contains an additional bonus track that was taken right from the 24-track master reel from the "Black Tiger" recording sessions and finished in 2005 with new lyrics, vocals and guitar solo, and then remixed.

Android Lust frontwoman Shikhee joins Christopher Jon (of I, Parasite) working on the new Cradle Of Filth album, "Thornography". Shikhee has been working on digital editing and spent Memorial Day weekend in the studio with producer Rob Caggiano, Christopher Jon, and Dani Filth. In related news the new Cradle Of Filth cover artwork for their forthcoming album was banned in the U.S. The record company, Roadrunner, insisted new artwork be produced, so the band have been hastily working on the new version. Coming soon as well is "The Order of the Dragon online fanclub". This will be an exclusive interactive pay site containing the official Cradle of Filth forum, a chatroom for advertised band chats, exclusive products, competitions and video clips from behind the scenes. Paypal will be needed to gain entry.

Danish rock magazine Revolution Music (web site) has posted a brand new 14-minute audio interview with ENSLAVED guitarist Ivar Bjørnson. Download it at this location (MP3, 7 MB).

As previously reported, ENSLAVED have posted the video for their track "Path to Vanir" at this location. The song comes off the Norwegian extreme metallers' latest CD, "Ruun", which was released in the U.S. on May 2 via Candlelight Records. "Ruun" was recorded at Amper Studios in Olso and mastered at the Cutting Room in Sweden. The album entered the official U.K. Indie chart at No. 38 last week.

Candlelight will release a limited edition two-LP version of "Ruun" on June 27. Limited to 500 copies for direct U.S. distribution, it is sure to be a highly collectable piece for fans. The label recently issued "Return to Yggdrasil-Live In Bergen", the band's latest DVD release.

The long-awaited new VAINGLORY CD is in the final mastering stages. Along with guitarist and founding member Corbin King, VAINGLORY's new lineup includes vocalist Kate French (CHASTAIN), guitarist John Michael Youngblood, bassist Chris Banja, and drummer Dan Lynch. VAINGLORY is also finishing up their first video shoot for the track "Burdened", which is to be included on the CD as a bonus.

For audio samples and more information, visit VAINGLORY's MySpace page at this location.

Danish symphonic black metallers ILLNATH have posted the following message on their web site:

"We have started writing material for a new album, as we don't want to sit around waiting for [Japan's] Worldchaos Production [the band's previous record company] to get the finger out of their ass [and release the band's long-completed second full-length offering, 'Second Skin of Harlequin']. The new material will reflect the new situation we're in — new drummer and new bass player + almost three years since the last album was recorded.

"Regarding 'Second Skin...'. The latest rumours are that Worldchaos Production is working on the graphics for the backside of the booklet, and that the album should be released within 1½ months from now!! We haven't received this information personally — yet, but it comes from a reliable source. We will know the truth about the rumour, when the album is finally released. Until then we do not believe anything."

Rhino Records has set an August 29 release date for the new DREAM THEATER CD (cover) and DVD (cover), entitled "Score" (date may vary slightly in different countries).

The 3-CD and 2-DVD sets will be available separately. Both versions will contain the entire "20th Anniversary World Tour" grand finale recorded live at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 1, 2006 (nearly three hours of music — over 90 minutes of which was performed with a full orchestra). The DVD will also contain a one-hour documentary tracking the entire career of the band from the very beginnings at the Berklee College Of Music in 1985 all the way to the Radio City Music Hall grand finale. It will also feature rare, never-before-seen footage and interviews with current and previous members of the band, plus several live bonus tracks from through the years taken from the archives of drummer Mike Portnoy.

DREAM THEATER's setlist for the April 1, 2006 gig was as follows:

01. The Root of All Evil
02. I Walk Beside You
03. Another Won
04. Afterlife
05. Under a Glass Moon
06. Innocence Faded
07. Raise the Knife
08. The Spirit Carries On
~~~intermission~~~
09. Overture
10. About to Crash
11. War inside My Head
12. The Test That Stumped Them All
13. Goodnight Kiss
14. Solitary Shell
15. About to Crash (reprise)
16. Losing Time / Grand Finale
17. Vacant
18. The Answer Lies Within
19. Sacrificed Sons
20. Octavarium
~~~encore~~~
21. Metropolis Pt. I

Note: The second set and encore featured a 20+-piece orchestra. Download an MP3 teaser for the upcoming CD at this location.

Portnoy has previously stated about the Radio City Music Hall show, "Without going into too much detail, I have to THANK all of you in attendance at Radio City Music Hall for helping to make [the April 1] show one of the most incredible evenings of my life. Of the hundreds of shows (maybe thousands at this point?) that we've done through the years, never before have I been moved on stage as much as I was [that] night. There were several points in the night where I was literally brought to tears by the power and emotion in the air.

"I just wanted to thank our AMAZING fans from all over the world that helped make [the show] so electric and magical from start to finish....you guys were the ULTIMATE audience [that] night! We always dreamed of playing with an orchestra one day and [that] night's performance surpassed my wildest expectations. Jamshied Sharifi (our beloved arranger & conductor) and the incredible musicians behind us rose to the occasion and lifted our music to a whole new orgasmic level.

"I cannot wait to share this evening with all of you that weren't able to attend via the upcoming DVD and CD sets. . . I truly believe last night was the PINNACLE of our 20-year career thus far and an incredible ending to the latest chapter in DREAM THEATER history.

"How the hell will we top it??????????? Give me some time, and I'll think of something!"

Screaming Ferret Wreckords has set an October 10 release date for NUCLEAR ASSAULT's "Louder Harder Faster" DVD, recorded during the band's performance at the 2005 Louder Harder Faster Festival. The DVD will feature three hours of footage, including the thrash legends' complete live set, as well as vintage footage, two new music videos, two unreleased songs, in-the-studio footage, slide shows and interviews. More information will be made available soon.

NUCLEAR ASSAULT's latest studio album, "Third World Genocide", was released in August 2005 via SPV/Steamhammer Records. The group's first collection of new material in ten years was previously described as "a rich blend of NUCLEAR ASSAULT's lethal, politically conscious metal and songs showcasing the band's wicked sense of humor."

Guitarist Heimoth of the French black metal band SETH has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"A significant break seems inevitable. For now, I am mainly involved in TOXIC ENGINE (electro/metal project with Stephen Holweck of TOTAL ECLIPSE/ex-JUNO REACTOR and DECREPIT SPECTRE (eerie black/atmo with Kvohst, new singer of DODHEIMSGARD and CODE as well as CYRIEX OF SETH). After a whole decade of earnest commitment, SETH future is at present uncertain."

SETH's fourth album, "Era-Decay", was released in September 2004 through AvantGarde.

Norwegian black metallers CARPATHIAN FOREST have uploaded two video clips, featuring new songs, taken from their recent live show in Helsinki, Finland. You can find the video clip for the song "Diabolism" here. The video clip for the song "Frostbitten Woodlands of Norway" is available at this location (half the song only).

In other news, CARPATHIAN FOREST have made their track "Frostbitten Woodlands of Norway" available for streaming through their official MySpace page at this location.

CARPATHIAN FOREST will release their new album, "Fuck You All!!!!", in Europe on June 19 via Season of Mist (June 27 in the U.S.). The CD will be available in a limited "metalpak" edition and regular jewel case. Other songtitles set to appear on the album include "Submit to Satan!!!", "Start Up the Incinerator (Here Comes Another Useless Fool)" (download mp3) and "Shut Up, There Is No Excuse To Live..." Check out the cover artwork by CARPATHIAN FOREST mainman Nattefrost at this location.

The Pacific Northwest's AGALLOCH — whose long-awaited and much-anticipated new album "Ashes against the Grain" is due out August 8, 2006 on The End Records — have filmed a video for the song "Not Unlike The Waves" with director Nicole Phillips and cinematographers Richard Stark and Juan Mosqueda. It is currently in the editing process. Over nine hours of footage was shot in three days and the results are quite stunning thus far. To film aficionados, the style of the video will call to mind the work of Ingmar Bergman, Mario Bava, and the German Expressionist movement.

For more information, visit the band's newly launched web site, www.agalloch.org.

PRIMAL FEAR have inked a new multi-album worldwide deal with Frontiers Records.

Filled with plenty of adrenaline, the steady PRIMAL FEAR lineup of vocalist Ralf Scheepers, lead guitarists Tom Naumann and Stefan Leibing, bassist and vocalist Mat Sinner and drummer Randy Black have started the songwriting for their upcoming new album which is going to be released before summer 2007, followed by a headlining tour.

Bassist and producer Mat Sinner commented: "After weeks of negotiations with a lot of well known record companies, we've finally decided to sign with Frontiers Records. Thanks to all the other labels for their interest and fairness."

Frontiers president Serafino Perugino added: "We are extremely proud and excited to welcome on the Frontiers Records roster a metal legend like PRIMAL FEAR. We plan to have a long-term partnership with them and our aim is to bring their career forward and to new heights!"

Commented guitarist Tom Naumann: "This is a new start for us and we will change a lot of business things. We have learnt a lot about the business and the human nature in the past days!"

Vocalist Ralf Scheepers added: "After a successful partnership with Nuclear Blast and six chart albums, we are all set and fully loaded for the next chapter of PRIMAL FEAR, together with a professional and such a motivated label like Frontiers Records! Of course we will have some drinks to celebrate this fantastic event and then we will directly stick our heads together to continue our songwriting for the new album and play some fantastic festivals during the summer."

SLAYER have set "Christ Illusion" as the title of their new album, due on August 8, 2006 via American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records (NOTE: The release date change was first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET yesterday).

"Christ Illusion" is SLAYER's first new studio album since 2001, and the first recorded by the band's original line-up — Kerry King (guitars); 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.

"Christ Illusion" deals with familiar SLAYER themes — god, religion, hate, and war. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include:

01. Flesh Storm
02. Catalyst
03. Eyes of the Insane
04. Jihad
05. Skeleton Christ
06. Consfearacy
07. Black Serenade
08. Catatonic
09. Cult
10. Supremist

Says Araya, "No one is going to be disappointed, it's going to blow everybody away. It's fast, heavy, and maybe faster than anything we've done before."

"It's a good mix of fast, brutal music and slower moodier stuff, it's pretty intense," added King. "It sounds like a damn SLAYER record."

A core player in SLAYER's history has also rejoined the team for the "Christ Illusion" project. Larry Carroll, who did the cover artwork for "Reign in Blood", "South of Heaven", and "Seasons In the Abyss", has painted an original piece for the "Christ Illusion" cover. Working only from the song titles and early lyrics, Carroll has produced a classic SLAYER masterpiece — a portrait of the Christ (check it out here) — whose forearms have been chopped off — standing in an ocean of blood surrounded by floating, decapitated heads. Carroll created the painting on a 4-by-4-foot slab of wood using a combination of mediums. King already has placed dibs on ownership of the original wooden canvas.

As previously reported, SLAYER frontman Tom Araya told George Stroumboulopoulous of CBC's "The Hour" on Tuesday (June 6) that the title of the band's forthcoming album will be "The Final Six". However, the SLAYER management representative has since informed BLABBERMOUTH.NET that the album title will not be finalized until sometime later this week.

When SLAYER guitarist Kerry King was asked by Kevin & Bean of Los Angeles' KROQ FM on Tuesday what the CD will be called, he replied, "I'm not positive it's been nailed yet. I think last week was the deadline and I'm not sure where it ended up, so I'm gonna have to take the fifth on that one. The way it was going, my vote was overlooked, so… That's why I'm not real thrilled about it. [Laughs]"

SLAYER's follow-up to "God Hates Us All", which was released on Sept. 11, 2001, is the group's first new album with their four original members since 1990's "Seasons in the Abyss". In a recent interview with MTV, Araya said about the new album, "It's fast — maybe faster than anything we've done before. No one's going to be disappointed. It's going to be brutal."

You would never think so from their youthful looks, but the Dutch symphonic gothic metal band After Forever has been around for ten years now. This has been a period in which the group manifested themselves on national and international stages, gave interviews for innumerable music magazines and were heard on various sound recording media. Four albums, one mini album and eigth CD-singles managed to find their way to the wildly enthusiastic fans.

2006 is more than just an anniversary year; it is also a turning point in the career of the band. You see, after six years After Forever’s collaboration with Transmission was terminated, the label that placed the band on the market and freed them from the constraints of mediocrity.

Mea Culpa contains the best tracks that After Forever recorded for the Transmission Label. Included you will find joint ventures with celebrities such as Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation), Arjen Lucassen and Damian Wilson (Ayreon) and Marco Hietala (Nightwish), complete with previously unreleased material, non-album tracks, alternate takes, rarities and previously unreleased remixed versions.

The double-album has been subdivided into two chapters. The first Chapter covers the period with guitarist / composer / lyricist Mark Jansen, at one time jocularly described by Jansen himself as “The Road To Epica.” Chapter 2 contains songs which the group recorded after Jansen’s changeover to Epica; a period in which After Forever masterfully spread their wings and proved themselves to be one of the most interesting and powerful female-fronted metal bands in the world.
Mea Culpa – the Latin title refers to the fertile Roman-Catholic native region in the South of The Netherlands from which the band originates, which proved to be the perfect cradle for an entire wave of gothic groups – is not, as malicious gossip may have it, the beginning of the end. On the contrary: this collection simply marks the end of the beginning.

Tracklisting:

CD1

1. Mea Culpa (a capellea)
2. Follow In The Cry
3. Yield To Temptation
4. Silence From Afar
5. Wings Of Illusion (non album track)
6. Beyond Me (duet with sharon den adel)
7. Forlorn Hope
8. For The Time Being (non album track)
9. Imperfect Tenses (duet with damian wilson)
10. Monolith Of Doubt (single version)
11. Intrinsic
12. Emphasis
13. My Pledge Of Allegiance
14. Who Wants To Live Forever (non album track feat. arjen lucassen)
CD2

1. The Evil Theat Men Do (single version)
2. Glorifying Means
3. My Choice (acoustic version)
4. Beneath
5. Digital Deceit (single version)
6. Two Sides (single-mix-version)
7. Sins Of Idealism (single version)
8. Eccentric (orchestral version)
9. Life's Vortex (unreleased single version)
10. Blind Pain (agressive version)
11. Being Everyone (single version)
12. Face Your Demons (duet with marco hietala)
13. Taste The Day (non album track)
14. Boudaries Are Open (single version)
15. Come
16. Attendance (unreleased industrial remix)
17. Live And Learn (non album track)
18. Strong (piano version)

BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"[The second leg of Polish 'Demigod' tour] was simply a blast. Touring with such a company and playing in front of packed venues was a perfect ending for this never-ending tour. I loved the fact that we also finally played a decent crowd and a nice venue in our hometown. I'm sure that none everyone who saw us in action wasn't disappointed.

"After a few days off, we are slowly moving on with the new stuff. It's all in the very early stages, but the ideas are shaping up real fast. I've been thinking about this new concept for more than a year now and it's high time to get things revealed. There are some basic themes we put together before the last U.S. tour and it sounded massive. Last couple of days I've been jamming out some newest stuff and it's...just insane: heavy and epic. Some of the ideas are insanely fast and technical but we also started a slow, more epic one, which sounds amazing to me. Today we recorded one of these new tracks and...I'm blown away. There's definitely 100% BEHEMOTH vibe in it: vital and evil but there's also something new and fresh in these tunes! I'm sure all those who loved 'Demigod' will dig the new shit. I'll keep you posted!"

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) — have uploaded their video for the song "Legend Land" at this location (Windows Media).

"Legend Land" is the title cut of the band's new EP, which is scheduled for release in North America on July 28 via Napalm Records. The CD was issued in Europe today (June 9).

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.

Pennsylvania-based death metallers INCANTATION have set "Primordial Domination" as the title of their seventh album, to be released this fall on Ibex Moon Records with distribution through Megaforce/RED. "Primordial Domination" will be once again be engineered and produced at the Mars Recording compound in Cleveland by Bill Korecky, who has worked with INCANTATION for the past 16 years.

The band are previewing two songs from "Primordial Domination" on the Decades of Death 2006 tour with VITAL REMAINS, SIN OF ANGELS, and DAWN OF AZAZEL, which is scheduled to hit Austin, Texas tonight (Friday, June 9).

"We are extremely pleased with our new material and are eagerly waiting to unleash it upon the world," said drummer Kyle Severn.

The Decades of Death moniker is a tribute to the long history INCANTATION and VITAL REMAINS both have in the death metal scene. "VITAL REMAINS and INCANTATION have been around for almost two decades, unleashing metal fury on the world," said Severn. "We are great friends and have a similar old school brutal death vibe. We thought that this would make a great onslaught of metal."

Legendary death metallers SUFFOCATION have begun tracking their new album. The self-titled CD is being recorded at Full Force Studios in Long Island, NY for a September 2006 release via Relapse Records. Additionally, SUFFOCATION have enlisted tattoo artist JonZig from Skingraver Tattoo Studio in Austin, TX to create the album's artwork.

SUFFOCATION's latest CD, "Souls to Deny", was released in April 2004 through Relapse. The band's first full album of new material since 1995's "Pierced From Within" was recorded at Full Force with engineer Joe Cincotta and was described by drummer Mike Smith as "the cleanest, heaviest SUFFOCATION album to date."

A brand new ENTOMBED track, entitled "When in Sodom", has been posted online on the band's MySpace profile at this location.

"When in Sodom" is the title cut off the band's new EP, which was released on Tuesday (June 6) via Threeman Recordings. A full-length album, "Serpent Saints", will follow on September 18.

ENTOMBED's new album was recorded at Soundland studio in Upplands Väsby, Sweden. The CD will be the group's first without the contributions of guitarist Uffe Cederlund, who left the band in September 2005.

As exclusively reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET on May 12, drummer Peter Stjärnvind has left ENTOMBED in order to concentrate on his membership in the Swedish cult act NIFELHEIM. NIFELHEIM guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt (a.k.a. Vengeance from Beyond; also in NECROPHOBIC) told BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "No bad breakup or anything personal between him/us and the guys in ENTOMBED, but heavy touring didn't fit his situation right now." ENTOMBED are currently utilizing the services of session drummer Olle Dahlstedt (ALPHA SAFARI, ex-MISERY LOVES CO.) for all of their upcoming European gigs. Stjärnvind and his wife recently welcomed their first child, a daughter.

MORDICHRIST, the Swedish black metal band featuring DARK FUNERAL guitarist Chaq Mol, will be entering the studio next week to "record some new obscure music," according to a posting on the group's web site. "I can promise that you will not be disappointed," says Chaq Mol. "As always, we will keep it simple, but with a good sound."

MORDICHRIST had previously issued a limited-edition (500 copies) 10-inch mini-LP via Danza Ipnotica.

As previously reported, MORDICHRIST singer Nenia is going lend her diabolical voice to the German black metallers CAEDES on their new CD. No further information is currently available.

Marcelo Cabuli, husband/manager of former NIGHTWISH frontwoman Tarja Turunen, has posted answers to 157 questions posed by NIGHTWISH fans regarding Tarja's split the band, Marcelo's relationship with Tarja and her former bandmates and Turunen's future plans. Read the questions and Marcelo's responses at this location.

As previously reported, NIGHTWISH have launched an official videoblog that will allow fans to watch the band during their rehearsals this summer. Check it out at this location.

NIGHTWISH's "End of an Era" DVD and CD was certified gold in Finland on day after its release. The DVD has sold 9,000 copies so far and the double live CD has shifted over 15,000 copies.

"End of an Era" contains recordings/footage of NIGHTWISH's final concert with Tarja Turunen, which took place on October 21, 2005 at the Hartwall arena in Helsinki, Finland. In addition to the live footage, the DVD includes a slideshow of pictures from the Hartwall show and a 55-minute documentary, "A Day Before Tomorrow", featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the band in the 15 days prior to the Hartwall Show. The documentary was edited by Timo Halo, who also edited and directed the "From Wishes To Eternity - Deleted Scenes" and "End of Innocence" movies that were released on previous NIGHTWISH DVDs.

NAPALM DEATH frontman Mark "Barney" Greenway has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"As you may have heard, we are back in Wales at Foel recording the next NAPALM album (this place is fast becoming our favourite place to record!). Really, this thing is sounding absolutely immense. If you liked 'The Code Is Red… Long Live The Code', you'll really love this one, I think. We absolutely busted our arses to get everything ready, and the rest of the band really pulled out the stops to make some great, grinding music, with Russ Russell working wonders once again to produce that NAPALM DEATH 'wall of sound'. I also have to mention Chris Fielding, the in-house engineer, who has also made a great contribution to the proceedings.

"I can give you some more titles right now (everything, including the ones you had before, are definite): 'Rabid Wolves (For Christ)', 'In Deference', 'Atheist Runt', 'When All Is Said and Done', 'Sink Fast, Let Go', and tons more. The lyrical debate is perhaps for later but, generally speaking, the album is (hopefully) a deep critique of religion and religious governance/restrictions from an atheist perspective. All jolly stuff, then. And the music: still fast and furious, raging riffs and a couple more SWANS-style tracks this time (like 'Morale'), only progressed a bit more with even more atmosphere and a more rounded melodic vocal performance (if I may say so myself).

"Anneke [van Giersbergen] from Dutch band THE GATHERING has offered up a few parts to a track, which I've yet to hear. But before some people recoil in horror about NAPALM going operatic rock or whatever, this was done for good effect and relevance to the track. It will work. It will rock. I'm sure. And we're grateful to Anneke (who is an awesome vocalist in her own right) in advance for giving it a stab."

NAPALM DEATH's new album, tentatively tititled "Smear Campaign", is scheduled for release later in the year via Century Media Records.

Finnish gothic rockers ENTWINE have set "Fatal Design" as the title of their fifth album, due late summer. 12 songs were laid down for the effort, and 10 of them will end up on the CD, which was recorded at Petrax and Groveland studios by ENTWINE drummer Aksu Hanttu and producer Janne Joutsenniemi (STONE, SUBURBAN TRIBE). The album was mixed at Finnvox by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM).

"Fatal Design" track listing:

01. Fatal Design
02. Chameleon Halo
03. Out Of You
04. Surrender
05. Oblivion
06. Twisted
07. Insomniac
08. My Serenity
09. Break Me
10. Curtained Life

The first single, "Surrender", will contain the non-album B-side, "Hearts of Frozen Stone". "One more completed song remains left over, but [will] possibly [be] used as a bonus track or on the B-side of second single, if one is released," the band write on their web site.

2006 is a very special year in the career of Brazilian heavy metal band ANGRA: the group is celebrating its 15th year of existence. Tours, all sorts of promo events and a brand new studio album shall definitely make it a remarkable year for the band. After all, very few Brazilian acts managed to survive this far.

Angra spent the first semester of 2006 resuming the touring for its latest album, "Temple of Shadows". The band has recently done the very last shows of the winning tour — it encompassed all Brazilian states and practically every continent in the world (ANGRA played all of them with the exception of Africa). Amongst these last appearances, highlights were the headlining spot at the traditional Abril Pro Rock festival in Recife and the first trip to Venezuela, where a gig in Caracas was held in early May. The tour finally came to an end with ANGRA's participation of the Gods Of Metal festival in Italy (June 3). It was the tenth edition of the fest and the band played most of its classics during the hour-long set.

However, the best is yet to come. ANGRA celebrates its 15th anniversary with a new studio record. Songwriting process started towards the end of the "Temple of Shadows" tour and the band is currently pre-producing the album with producer Dennis Ward at House Of Audio Studios in Germany. Drums recording will follow, also in Germany. Then, the band heads back to Brazil where all the remaining stuff shall be recorded. Mixing will be done in Germany again.

The band's decided it's not gonna be a conceptual album this time, even though it's still unnamed. Prior to its release, though, there's a single coming out in August. The record itself should be out in October with touring beginning right away.

Italian power metal band KALEDON have inked a new deal with Universal Metal Production. The band recently entered The Outer Sound Studios in Rome to begin recording their fourth full-length album, "Chapter 4: Twilight of the Gods". A summer release is expected.

Commented Universal Metal Production in a statement: "Because of the effort KALEDON has put into this CD, our belief in their music, and their enthusiasm about signing with our label, we will release the CD late this summer and get this band's music to a larger audience than ever before! We will have more information on the release of Chapter 4 of the Legend of the Forgotten Reign, as well as on Universal Metal's future available soon."

"Chapter 4: Twilight of the Gods" projected track listing:

01. The Holy Water
02. Hell On Earth
03. War Plans
04. Goodbye My Friend
05. Clash Of The Titans
06. Into The Fog
07. Eyes Of Fire
08. The Fury
09. New King Of Kaledon
10. The Prophecy
11. Out Of The Ground

KALEDON's first three full-length albums are now available in the United States through Mythic Silence Records.

EMBRAZE, the Finnish band featuring FOR MY PAIN… guitarist Lauri Tuohimaa, have set "The Last Embrace" as the title of their fourth album, due on August 16. A single, "Branded", will be launched on the Internet July 3 and will be available for download from the band's official website. The album cover will also be available for the hardcore fans.

According to a posting on EMBRAZE's web site, the new material "sounds heavier, but also more melodic than ever before in EMBRAZE history!"

"The Last Embrace" tentative track listing:

01. Carvings on the Gallowstree
02. Branded
03. Racing Against Time
04. Dead Roses
05. Liquid Fire
06. Memory Trace of our Time
07. The One
08. Sleeping Ground
09. Sun Goes Down
10. No Solace

Legendary Greek death metallers ROTTING CHRIST will embark on an extensive European tour in February 2007. Headlining dates in Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, Poland, Eastern Europe (also Russia, the Ukraine, Belarus) and the Balkans will follow in the spring 2007.

ROTTING CHRIST are currently working on material for a new studio album — the group's first for the Season of Mist label. The band recently announced the addition of NIGHTFALL guitarist George Bokos as a full-time member of the group.

As previously reported, ROTTING CHRIST recorded their two live shows in Larissa, Greece for an upcoming live album. The pioneers of the Greek metal scene put on two special two-hour shows featuring songs covering their entire catalog. These live shows were held on February 3-4, 2006 at Blive Music House in Larissa, and were the only concerts to be recorded for the upcoming CD.

Swedish Viking death metal heroes AMON AMARTH recenttly entered Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden to begin recording their sixth full-length album. The group will record and mix all through May until June 14 with producer Jens Bogren. The as-yet-untitled CD is scheduled for release in September via Metal Blade Records.

Commented the band: "Finally after five very long — but productive — weeks all recording is done and today we started mixing the album. Nine tracks have been successfully recorded — no thanks to the huge ammount of alcohol consumed, but nonetheless successfully — and we can now reveal some of the titles: 'Valhall Awaits Me', 'Hermod’s Ride To Hel (Loke’s Trechery Part I)' and 'Runes To My Memory'. More titles will be revealed shortly."

CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band featuring former SAVATAGE frontman Zachary Stevens, have finalized the track listing for their third album, "Burden of Truth", due on August 4 via AFM Records.

CIRCLE II CIRCLE have created a very special record based on the "Holy Blood Holy Grail" and "The Da Vinci Code" theory of a Holy Bloodline extending up to our modern day.

Commented Zak: "This is the record I’ve been trying to make my whole life and now's it's finished. Fuck, what a great feeling it is to finally realize my aspirations after all these years! CIRCLE II CIRCLE/SAVATAGE fans are in for a HUGE treat with this record. 50 million fans have read these books and i'm sure they have had some of the same feelings and questions I've had, so the band and I decided to explore our thoughts and share them with our fans. There's definitely some dark stuff on this record but if you really dig deep you'll see that there's a very positive outcome."

"Burden of Truth" was recorded at Tampa's Morrisound Recording. Touring is scheduled for the fall 2006 throughout Europe and a special 90-minute performance at the ProgPower Festival in September — the only show where CIRCLE II CIRCLE will play "Burden Of Truth" in its entirety along with some classics.

"Burden of Truth" track listing:

01. Who Am I To Be
02. Matter Of Time
03. Heal You
04. Revelations
05. This Is Your Reality
06. Evermore
07. The Black
08. Messiah
09. Sentenced
10. Burden of Truth
11. Live As One

Bonus Tracks (acoustically enhanced versions):

12. Into The Wind
13. Burden Of Truth

CELTIC FROST manager Antje Lange has issued the following statement:

"Over the last couple of days we have received a lot of questions regarding the health of Tom Fischer [CELTIC FROST frontman], as well as a ton of 'get well' notices. Here is an explanation of recent developments.

"At around 7pm on June 3rd, Tom was admitted to a hospital in Gelsenkirchen [Germany] as his kidneys were causing him a great deal of pain. After several check-ups he was diagnosed with a kidney stone that was about to dislocate. Tom's pain was so strong that only several large doses of morphine gave him any relief. Accordingly he was unable to perform at the Rock Hard Festival that very evening.

"Martin [Ain, bass], Franco [Sesa, drums] and especially Tom are extremely unhappy with the way things turned out and would like to apologise to all their fans who waited in vain for their set. CELTIC FROST were looking forward to their first [German] gig in 15 years and were determined to present a great show. Unfortunately, on this occasion it was not to be.

"CELTIC FROST would like to thank all the other bands who entered the stage on the spur of the moment to make this a memorable evening for these fans. They would also like to thank the Rock Hard team, all their fans and Dr. Dielenschneider, the best doctor in the whole of Gelsenkirchen.

"Tom Gabriel Fischer has been transferred to a Zurich hospital and is undergoing a kidney operation as this press release is being typed. Instead of an easier to handle but more time-consuming method he has decided to have this operation as he wants to be able to perform again as soon as possible. He is adamant that he will perform at Sweden Rock [festival] this coming weekend and also fulfil all other forthcoming festival dates."

Italian symphonic power metallers SKYLARK have re-signed with Underground Symphony Records for the release of their recently completed new album, entited "Divine Gates Part 3: The Last Gate". A release date for the effort has yet to be announced.

SKYLARK last year issued a compilation, entitled "In the Heart of the Princess", through Scarlet Records. Conceived to celebrate the band's 10-year anniversary, this double "best of" included all the major SKYLARK hits chosen by Japanese fans after a web poll. There were also two brand-new songs, "Mt. Fuji" (edit version) and "Last Battle", plus three remakes, "Little Girl", "The Princess' Day" (this one fully revisited) and "Dream".