NINE INCH NAILS appear to have parted ways with recently recruited drummer Alex Carapetis. Replacing him on the band's current tour — at least temporarily is A PERFECT CIRCLE's Josh Freese.

NINE INCH NAILS' previous skinsman, Jerome Dillon, was forced to leave the band in early October after suffering an unspecified heart condition.

NINE INCH NAILS are continuing to tour in support of their latest album, "With Teeth", which has sold 794,000 copies in the United States since its May release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Long-running Canadian thrash legends ANNIHILATOR will be issuing a retrospective double-disc DVD set, entitled "Ten Years in Hell", on February 21, 2006 (one day earlier internationally) via SPV. The set contains seven classic, official ANNIHILATOR music videos, offstage band footage and bonus underground, fan-shot, live performances and a special interview with ANNIHILATOR founder and guitarist Jeff Waters as he recounts his memories of the band's first ten years in Hell. Also included are special appearances by original co-lyricist John Bates, "Neverland" frontman Coburn Pharr, "Criteria" bassist Russell Bergquist, and "Set the World on Fire"'s Mike Mangini and Neil Goldberg. Check out a DVD trailer at this location (Windows Media).

"Ten Years in Hell" track listing:

DVD 1:

01. Intro
02. Alison Hell
03. Release Party
04. TV Media One
05. Stonewall
06. TV Media Two
07. TV Media Three
08. Backstage
09. Fun Palace LIVE
10. TV Media Four
11. Set The World On Fire
12. KOTK back vocals
13. King Of The Kill
14. Jeff In Japan
15. 21
16. Only Be Lonely
17. Syn. Kill 1
18. Criteria Rehearsal
19. Alison / Homicide
20. Oh Canada
21. Ultraparanoia
22. Pharr LIVE
23. Rampage Raw
24. End Credits

Running Time: approx. 120 minutes

DVD 2:

01. Pre Annihilator era
02. Demo Days
03. Alice In Hell
04. Never, Neverland
05. Set The World On Fire
06. King Of The Kill
07. Refresh & Remains
08. Criteria
09. Other releases
10. Catch ya later
11. Mike Mangini
12. Neil Goldberg

Running Time: approx. 110 minutes

Sweden's CRYSTAL EYES have announced the addition of Danish singer Søren Nico Adamsen to the group's ranks.

"The band didn't really know what to expect when we went public with this 'vocalist search thing' since none of us have experienced anything like this before, but the response has been overwhelming," the group write on their web site. "Mikael [Dahl, guitar] received tons of material from vocalists from all over Europe, and actually most of the vocalists were from outside Sweden. Many thanks to all of you who showed interest, and put down the effort to record and send us some really great stuff. A few auditions were held this autumn at Crystal Sounds, and Nico, which is his preferred name, was simply Mr. Right. Singing-wise he's a cool mix of Rob Halford and Dio, so expect some raw and powerful vocals on the next CRYSTAL EYES album.

"Nico comes from Copenhagen, Denmark, which is actually just a few hours with the bus from Borås, so rehearsing and recording will not be a problem even though he's living in another country. The language is no problem either since the difference between Swedish and Danish is probably less than ten beers. Nico is 37 years old, and has previous recorded one album with the Danish band STARRATS, which he will continue to sing with.

"The plan for the nearest future is to rehearse the songs for the upcoming fifth CRYSTAL EYES album. Plus a few old ones as well for a one off gig, which probably will be in February at the club Heavy Fidelity, but we'll come back with more exact info about that gig soon. Then start recording the new album directly after that gig, and hopefully we can have it out before the summer."

CRYSTAL EYES' fourth full-length album, "Confessions of the Maker", was issued earlier in the year. The group's first two albums, "World of Black and Silver" (1999) and "In Silence They March" (2000), were re-released at the same time.

The cover artwork for the upcoming IN FLAMES album, "Come Clarity", has been posted online at InFlames.com. A brand-new IN FLAMES track, entitled "Take This Life", has been made available for download at this location.

As previously reported, "Come Clarity" will include a free bonus DVD featuring the band performing the album in full in a rehearsal room, akin to what METALLICA did with initial versions of their "St. Anger" album. In addition, one of the album's songs — "Dead End" — features the vocals of Swedish singer/songwriter Lisa Miskovsky.

"Come Clarity", is scheduled for a February 7, 2006 North American release through Ferret Records. The CD will be issued in Europe on February 6, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The follow-up to 2004's "Soundtrack to Your Escape", "Come Clarity" was mixed at Tonteknik studio in Umeå, Sweden and is "the best one we've ever done," according to IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad. A video for the album's opening track, "Take This Life", was shot late last month with director Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL).

"Come Clarity" track listing:

01. Take This Life
02. Leeches
03. Reflect The Storm
04. Dead End
05. Scream
06. Come Clarity
07. Vacuum
08. Pacing Death's Trail
09. Crawling Through Knives
10. Versus Terminus
11. Our Infinite Struggle
12. Vanishing Light
13. Your Bedtime Story Is Scaring Everyone

Reactivated Finnish melodic extreme metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW are continuing work on their as-yet-untitled fifth album for a tentative March/April 2006 release via Spinefarm Records. "We've spent some days at the studio now with the rest of the songs for the album [as part of the second main recording session]," the band write on their web site. "Drums have already been recorded, now it's time for the rhythm guitars. Things have progressed smoothly here at Tico-Tico [studios]."

According to the band, "The material for the fifth album is heavier, much more diverse and more guitar-orientated compared to the fourth album 'A Virgin and a Whore' [2001]."

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's current lineup is as follows:

Altti Veteläinen - Bass, Vocals
Jarmo Puolakanaho - Guitar
Risto Ruuth - Lead Guitar
Janne Tolsa - Keyboards
Petri Sankala - Drums

SOULFLY's video for the track "Frontlines" has been posted online at the Roadrunner Records U.K. web site. Check it out: MOV

"Frontlines" is the second single off the group's new album, "Dark Ages" (Roadrunner Records), available now on Roadrunner Records. The clip was filmed during the same week as the band's previous video, "Carved Inside", which was shot at a 700-year-old fortress on the shores of the Danube river in Serbia.

The follow-up to 2004's "Prophecy", "Dark Ages" was produced by SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera and was mixed by Terry Date, who has previously worked with PANTERA and DEFTONES, among others.

WITHIN TEMPTATION frontwoman Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt welcomed their first child, a daughter whose name has not yet been revealed, this past Wednesday night (December 7). "The little girl was in such a hurry that she was born eight weeks earlier than expected," reads a posting on the band's web site. "Her weight is 1,755 gram, she has beautiful, large eyes and dark curly hair. Despite an early start, the girl and her proud parents are in good shape."

SILENT FORCE, the power metal band featuring ex-ROYAL HUNT singer D.C. Cooper, have posted the following message on their web site:

"Guitar recordings [for the band's fourth album] started at 'Guitars from Hell' Studio in Krefeld, Germany. We are very satisfied and excited about the results so far, we're sure next album will kick ass more than ever!!"

SILENT FORCE recorded the drums for the new CD at the House of Music studio in Winterbach, Germany with producer Dennis Ward. Guitars, bass and keyboards will be laid down at Guitars from Hell while the vocal recordings will be done at Ward's new studio in Bruchsal, Germany. "The song material is in the same direction like the last album, 'Worlds Apart'," according to a posting on the group's web site.

SILENT FORCE's third full-length album, "Worlds Apart" was released in the U.S. in October 2004 via Noise Records.

Long-running U.K. record label Elitist Records has officially closed its doors. "Many thanks to all who supported the releases and appreciated the ethic behind the label," said label founder Lee Barrett in a statement. "I’ll now be A&Ring for another label. More news when it's available."

Elitist was founded in 2002 as an imprint division of the legendary Earache Records. It was solely A&R'ed by Barrett, the ex-owner of Candlelight Records and the person reportedly responsible for discovering such acts as EMPEROR, OPETH, ENSLAVED and many other.

Swedish musician Dag Swanö (a.k.a Tom Nouga), a member of NIGHTINGALE and a solo artist, has launched his new homepage at www.tomnouga.se. Dag is offering for download his current album, "Inte Som Andra Barn" (Tom Nouga's own releases are solely in Swedish language) and a rarity, a 15-year-old EP from his band TOM NOUGA AND DEPP DÖDEN, entitled "Titta Först På När Jag Dansar". This EP was recorded in late 1990 at his brother's Dan Swanö's Unisound Studio with the following lineup:

Tom Nouga - Vocals, Saxophone, Keyboards
Patrik Selsfors - Guitars
Roger "Ragge" Sjögren (WOUNDED KNEE with Dan and Dag Swanö) - Bass
Dan Swanö - Drums

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, the band featuring former DEEP PURPLE/RAINBOW guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and his fiancée Candice Night, will release their new album, "Village Lanterne", on January 25 in Japan. The Japanese version will have a bonus track called "Once In a Garden". The European release is scheduled for February 6.

There are two versions of RAINBOW's "Street of Dreams" on the album. One of them is a special duet between Candice Night with Joe Lynn Turner (ex-RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE).

"Village Lanterne" track listing:

01. 25 Years
02. Olde Village Lanterne
03. I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore
04. The Messenger
05. World Of Stone
06. Faerie Queen
07. St. Teresa
08. Village Dance
09. Mond Tanz / Child In Time
10. Streets Of London
11. Just Call My Name (I'll Be There)
12. Olde Mill Inn
13. Windmills
14. Street Of Dreams
15. Once In A Garden (Japan-only bonus track)
16. Street Of Dreams (special track featuring Joe Lynn Turner)

QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali has posted the following message on his official web site:

"I have recently completed recording the drum tracks for two future tribute record releases. The track for THE BEATLES tribute is 'Magical Mystery Tour' and the track for the MÖTLEY CRÜE tribute is 'Dr. Feelgood', both of which I expect will be released sometime in 2006.

"As we wind down 2005 and begin to musically think about QUIET RIOT in 2006, I want to thank all the friends and fans for the continued support that you have given to QUIET RIOT. We have two shows left for this year, one in Salt Lake City, UT on November 29 and the final one on New Year's Eve in Ft Mohave, AZ. We will spend the month of December putting the finishing touches on the new material for the next QUIET RIOT studio CD which we hope to commence recording in January for a 2006 release. Again, my sincere thanks for your support and for all your dedication."

QUIET RIOT's current lineup includes Banali, Kevin DuBrow (vocals), Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar).

Guitarist Rob Barrett has officially rejoined CANNIBAL CORPSE as a permanent replacement for guitarist Jack Owen, who left the band in 2004. Barrett, who played with the group from 1993 to 1997 and appeared on "The Bleeding" and "Vile" albums, has contributed a song to the band's upcoming tenth album, "Kill", due on March 21, 2006 via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan (MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL).

With regards to the new album's musicial direction, the band had previously said, "We are doing everything we can to make sure it's the heaviest, most brutal one we've ever made."

CANNIBAL CORPSE have been utilizing session musicians for their recent touring activities, including Barrett and Jeremy Turner, who had previously played with ORIGIN.

The Associated Press is reporting that Marilyn Manson married his longtime girlfriend Saturday (Dec. 3) in Ireland.

Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, married 33-year-old Heather Sweet in front of about 60 guests at Castle Gurteen, the home of a friend in Kilsheelan, County Tipperary.

Sweet is a burlesque dancer who uses the stage name Dita Von Teese. They have been dating for four years and Manson proposed at their Los Angeles home in March 2004, People magazine reported.

Manson, 36, wore a black silk taffeta tuxedo and Von Teese was in royal purple silk taffeta with a corset. They traded vows and were married in a non-denominational ceremony conducted by underground filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, a friend of Manson, the magazine reported.

Manson, who's completing his sixth, as-yet-untitled studio LP, told MTV News back in late October that the wedding would be small, and that just a few invites went out to celebrity friends, "because it isn't about that. I wasn't looking to just have some sort of exploit out of it — I wanted it to be meaningful and something to remember," Manson said. "But the remembering part's going to be hard, because you're supposed to get drunk."

PINK CREAM 69 frontman David Readman is currently working on a solo album, tentatively due next year.

"Yes, busy, busy," Readman writes on his web site. "It's now December and I have nearly finished all the vocals. It's going really well. I also uploaded a small studio report [Windows Media], and it's small... I hope to get more footage when we go to studio this month. Dirk Brunneburg will be playing drums, he played on the first two ADAGIO records. We met back then, and I was really impressed with his playing. Some would say very progressive, but for my material it won't need that kind of approach. I've also co-written a song with Paul Logue, he's from Scotland, so with Dirk from Holland....it's already a cool mix.

"Let's see how we get on when we go on tour! Paul will also play bass and some guitar. He is the bass player from CRY HAVOC."

Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING have finalized the track listing for their third album, "The Winter Wake", due on January 27, 2006 via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Wyrd" was recorded at Sherpa Studios (Italy), mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Nino Laurenne and was mastered at Finnvox Studios by Mika Jussilla.

"The Winter Wake" track listing:

01. Trows Kind
02. Swallowtail
03. The Winter Wake (feat. Schmier of DESTRUCTION)
04. The Wanderer
05. March of Fools
06. On the Morning Dew
07. Devil's Carriage
08. Rats are Following
09. Rouse Your Dream
10. Neverending Nights
11. Disillusion's Reel
+ bonus tracks

Check out the album cover artwork at www.elvenking.net.

ELVENKING recently announced the departure of guitarist Jarpen. For the time being, the group will go on as a five-piece.

"The Piano Tribute To Rush", created by Todd Mark Rubenstein, is set for release on January 10, 2006 via Vitamin Records. This is the third RUSH tribute album by Rubenstein, who previously released "Exit Stage Right" and "The String Quartet Tribute To 2112". Like most of the previously released tribute albums, classical or otherwise, the track listing mainly consists of RUSH's earlier work, with "The Big Money" being the 'newest' track. The album also includes the original titled "Syrinxian Moonlight".

"The Piano Tribute To Rush" track listing:

01. Limelight
02. New World Man
03. Closer to the Heart
04. Subdivisions
05. Red Barchetta
06. Freewill
07. Fly by Night
08. The Spirit of Radio
09. The Trees
10. Tom Sawyer
11. The Big Money
12. Syrinxian Moonlight

In other news, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson told the Detroit radio station WRIF 101.1 FM that the band are preparing to begin work on a new CD. "We're going to go in the studio early next year and start writing," he said. "It's time for a new record, time to move forward...we're going to hopefully finish the record by the summer, and think about hitting the road around this time next year."

According to a posting on QUEENSRŸCHE's official web site, guest vocalist Pamela Moore (a.k.a. Sister Mary) and bassist Eddie Jackson have completed their parts for QUEENSRŸCHE's sequel to their platinum 1988 concept album, "Operation: Mindcrime", tentatively titled "Operation: Mindcrime II". The band should be in mix mode by December 9 and finished with the entire recording process by December 22. Check out studio pictures of Jackson and Moore with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate and producer Jason Slater at Queensryche.com.

As previously reported, JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford is strongly rumored to have been tapped to play the role of "Dr. X" on the new QUEENSRŸCHE CD. Although there has been no official announcement on the matter, a posting on QUEENSRŸCHE's official web site (dated Nov. 19) reads, "The band is confirming the singer who plays Dr. X by the end of next week. I think you'll be surprised, he is VERY well known and respected."

QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield and guitarist Michael Wilton recorded their parts for "Operation: Mindcrime II" in August at Synergy Studios in Redmond, WA. Michael Stone cut guitars in a studio in a "secret location" in the Bay Area. The band have tapped Reiner Design Concepts — the art direction company that did all the artwork for "Operation: Mindcrime" — to work on their upcoming album. Production has already begun and the group expect artwork by the end of the year.

QUEENSRŸCHE's follow-up to 2003's "Tribe" will be released on March 14, 2006 via the group's new label, Rhino Entertainment. "Bootleg"-quality live recordings of two tracks slated to appear on the new CD — "Hostage" and "I'm American" — are available for download at Queensryche.com.

Los Angeles thrash masters SLAYER are preparing to enter the studio to begin recording the long-awaited follow-up to the band's acclaimed 2001 release, "God Hates Us All". According to Revolver magazine, SLAYER guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman are currently finishing up the lyrics, which will surely be as scathing, misanthropic, and controversial as anything SLAYER have written. One of Hanneman's songs may even address the attacks of 9/11 from the terrorists' perspective. "We're SLAYER, dude," King told Revolver. "We have to be dangerous."

Although nothing has yet been officially confirmed, King had previously told Metal Hammer magazine that he was hoping the band would once again work with producer Dave Sardy, who had previously produced SLAYER's tribute to the great punk bands of the '80s, "Undisputed Attitude". "[Dave] Lombardo wants Rick Rubin for drums, and I've no problems with that because, in my opinion, it's what he's best at. But I think we're all pretty much agreed that the overall producer will be Sardy," King was quoted as saying.

SLAYER's upcoming album will surface on American Recordings' new home, Warner Bros., sometime in 2006.

After eight gigs in five different countries with GREEN CARNATION, stand-in bass player Ole Vistnes has left the band to make room for regular bass man Stein Roger Sordal.

"Ole has done a fantastic job for us!" singer Kjetil Nordhus said. "He has been extremely professional in his approach, but we have also learned to know him as a great person. So on behalf of GREEN CARNATION, I'd like to thank Ole for his efforts with us."

The 23-year-old Vistnes joined GREEN CARNATION on a session basis when Stein Roger Sordal went to Australia to work with THE KARMA in the summer of 2005, and he has been with the band for some truly memorable moments, most notably at the ProgPower Europe Festival in Holland, The Day of the Equinox in Canada and more recently the highly successful tour of Finland. Ole Vistnes will now dedicate his musical abilities to his main band ZEROZONIC, and a project act called JACK CAINE (also featuring former GREEN CARNATION keyboardist Bernt A. Moen).

"We wish Ole all the best with both ZEROSONIC and JACK CAINE. He deserves every bit of success," Kjetil Nordhus said.

GREEN CARNATION's "The Acoustic Verses" will be one of the first albums to issued in North American via a brand new collaboration between The End Records and RED Distribution. A full-length MP3 of the track"Alone", taken from "The Acoustic Verses", has been made available for download at this location (3.4 MB). The CD is scheduled for release in North America on January 24, 2006.

Brazilian thrashers SEPULTURA have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Dante XXI", due in early 2006 via SPV Records.

SEPULTURA's 11th full-length album, "Dante XXI" was recorded at Trama Studios in São Paulo, Brazil, where the group had previously laid down the "Revolusongs" EP, which contained cover versions of songs from such acts as MASSIVE ATTACK to HELLHAMMER to JANE'S ADDICTION (and was included in the limited-edition digipack version of 2003's "Roorback").

Working under the watchful eye of producer Andre Moraes (with whom they've previously worked on various Brazilian film soundtracks), SEPULTURA's follow-up to "Roorback" is based on the epic poetic masterpiece "The Divine Comedy" written by Italian author Dante Alighieri in the early 14th Century. The three main components of "The Divine Comedy" are Dante's descriptions of Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.

In addition to the 10 tracks that are set to appear on "Dante XXI", SEPULTURA recorded two cover songs — JUDAS PRIEST's "Screaming for Vengeance" and SICK OF IT ALL's "Scratching the Surface" — which will be released as single b-sides in the future.

"Dante XXI" track listing:

01. Dark Wood of Error
02. Convicted In Life
03. City of Dis
04. False
05. Fighting On
06. Ostia
07. Buried Words
08. Nuclear Seven
09. Repeating the Horror
10. Crown and Miter
11. Still Flame

ContactMusic.com is reporting that H.I.M. frontman Ville Valo fell victim to a brazen robbery after his drink was spiked in a Minneapolis, Minnesota, bar during his recent U.S. tour — and he has vowed to stay sober ever since.

The Finnish rocker was drinking with strangers the evening before a gig on October 21, 2005 when the drugging took place, leaving him suffering minor injuries and with his pockets cleaned out. And the singer is now so terrified of a repeat incident, he is staying off alcohol for the foreseeable future.

He says, "They put some drugs in my pint of beer. I blacked out and woke up in a hotel room I'd never seen before.
Somebody had stolen my jacket, my asthma medicine, my fags (cigarettes), my credit cards and my cell phone.

I had a couple of scratches, probably from falling down, but nothing worse. I've been sober ever since."

MY DARKEST HATE, the German death metal band featuring former PRIMAL FEAR drummer Klaus Sperling and members of SACRED STEEL, have completed work on their fourth album, "Combat Area", for a March 24, 2006 release via Massacre Records. The band recorded the follow-up to 2004's "At War" at Stage One studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (CALLENISH CIRCLE, TANKARD, OCCULT). "Andy did an awesome job — the result is just a real killer!!!" the group write on their web site.

"Combat Area" track listing (not final order):

01. Enter Combat
02. When Smoke Has Settled
03. Bow Before Me
04. Nothing Lasts Forever
05. They Shall Fall
06. Number Seven
07. Fall of Eden
08. Under My Wing
09. The Principle of War
10. Under One Flag

MY DARKEST HATE's third album, "At War", was released in May 2004 via Massacre. The follow-up to 2002's "To Whom It May Concern" was produced by Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, BRAINSTORM, SACRED STEEL) and came with a bonus DVD, featuring a video for the track "Catch the Bullet", live footage from the Party.San Open Air festival and a "making of…" report.

Reunited Dutch death metallers SINISTER will enter Stage One studio in Germany on December 5 to begin recording their new album, "Afterburner", for an early 2006 release through Nuclear Blast Records. The recording sessions are expected to last two weeks.

SINISTER's current lineup consists of Aad Kloosterwaard, drummer and founder of the band, on vocals, Alex Paul on guitar, and Paul Beltman (ex-JUDGEMENT DAY) on drums. A session bass player will be added when the band hits the road again.

The band, who re-signed with Nuclear Blast back in 2002 after a one-album stint with the now-defunct Hammerheart Records, issued their last studio album, "Savage or Grace", in 2003.

SILENT VOICES, the Finnish melodic metal band featuring SONATA ARCTICA keyboardist keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg, REQUIEM/MENTAL CARE FOUNDATION bassist Pasi Kauppinen and SENTIMENT singer Michael Henneken, have completed work on their third album. Entitled "Building up the Apathy" the CD's musical direction is being described as "considerably more progressive" than that on the group's previous album, 2004's "Infernal".

"Building up the Apathy" was recorded at Studio 57 by Kauppinen, mixed at Sonic Pump studios by Nino Laurenne (AMORPHIS, WINTERSUN, WARMEN) and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsberg (STRATOVARIUS, APOCALYPTICA). The CD will be released in Japan on Avalon/Marquee on January 21, 2006, in France on February 20 and in the rest of the world on February 27 through Plastic Head distribution.

Norway's THEATRE OF TRAGEDY have posted the following message on their official web site:

"After months in the studio, the work on the new THEATRE OF TRAGEDY album is coming to an end. Producer Rico Darum has met up with mixmaster Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY, etc.) at The Green Jacket, Richmond, BC, Canada. What remains is the final twisting and turning of knobs. 12 songs have been picked out of the 15 that were recorded. 10 will make it to the the final version of the album. The remaining songs will either be bonustracks or included on future releases.

The title for the sixth THEATRE OF TRAGEDY album will be 'Storm'. Some of the songtitles that will be included on the album are 'Storm', 'Begin and End', 'Disintegration', 'Fade' and 'Dust'. More titles will be revealed later on. Storm" is scheduled for release on March 24, 2006 release via AFM Records.

Portland, Oregon's AGALLOCH have entered the studio to begin pre-production work for their third full-length album, entitled "Ashes Against the Grain". The recording process will begin December 10 and the band hopes to have the album finished by mid-January. As usual the band will be working with Ronn Chick, who has engineered and produced both of their previous albums.

Commenting on the new material, guitarist/vocalist John Haughm said, "It is huge, bleak, and more rock-based than previous albums. I am confident this will be our darkest and most sonically intense record yet."