Finnish goth-metallers CHARON have announced the track listing for their new single, "Colder", due on December 7 in Finland via Spinefarm Records.

"Colder" is the second single off CHARON' new album, "Songs for the Sinners", which debuted on Finland's national album chart at position No. 6 back in early September. The group's previous single, "Ride on Tears", entered the chart at position No. 2.

"Colder" single track listing:

01. Colder
02. Give Nothing (non-album track)
03. Colder (Video)

An extensive photo gallery documenting the making of the "Colder" video has been made available at Spinefarm.fi.

The follow-up to 2003's "The Dying Daylights", "Songs for the Sinners" was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with producer Mikko Karmila.

HELLOWEEN's entire pre-Nuclear Blast catalog will reportedy be reissued via Sanctuary during 2006. The albums will apparently be remastered and will contain bonus tracks, including b-sides and other rarities, the details of which have yet to be revealed.

The following albums will be re-released on January 30, 2006:

"Walls of Jericho" (1985) (double CD)

"Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I" (1987) (single CD)

"Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II" (1988) (double CD)

"Pink Bubbles Go Ape" (1991) (single CD)

HELLOWEEN's latest album, "Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy", is available now on SPV Records. The lineup on the record includes singer Andi Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Großkopf and drummer Dani Löble (ex-RAWHEAD REXX). Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind (BLIND GUARDIAN, HALFORD, RAGE), "Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy" was released as a high-quality digipack with six flaps.

A brand-new ELYSIUM track, entitled "Snake Legion", has been posted online at this location. The song comes off the polish melodic death-thrashers' upcoming album, "Godfather", out in early December via Empire Records.

The follow-up to 2004's "Deadline", ELYSIUM fifth studio album was recorded in July-August 2005 at Hendrix Studio in Lublin, Poland with producer Arek Malczewski (BEHEMOTH, VESANIA, LOST SOUL).

Formed in 1996, ELYSIUM released their first demo, "Sunset", in autumn 1997. The group's debut album, "Dreamlands", followed in 2000 via Morbid Noizz/Black Mark Productions. A three-album deal with Metal Mind Productions resulted in the release of 2001's "Eclipse", 2003's "Feedback" and 2004's "Deadline".

Germany's RAWHEAD REXX, the band featuring former GLENMORE guitarist/vocalist Jürgen Volk, have are in the middle of pre-production for their follow-up to 2003's "Diary in Black", tentatively due next summer.

"Right now, we have about 30 songs to choose from," the band write on their web site. "In terms of sound and stlyle, the new material rather follows the tracks of our debut." As drummer Dany Löble left the band last year to join HELLOWEEN, Volk and his songwriting partner Face (bass) will recruit a session musician for the upcoming recordings. Check out pictures from the pre-production sessions at this location.

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drummer Gene Hoglan has posted the following tour update at the band's official web site:

"What's happening? We're pulling into Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I've got my eyes peeled for that 900 ft. Jesus. I don't see anything. But hey man, if Jesus saves, I'd like to know where he shops...

"Our three shows in Texas were wicked indeed. Houston, Ft. Worth, and San Antonio, all righteous. Texas has always been a strange place to play, sometimes it's fully stormin', sometimes it's blah. This time it was rockin'. In Ft. Worth, we played this ex-movie theater, the Ridgelea. No lightshow to speak of, but FEAR FACTORY had a pretty stormin' slideshow, all thrown together on-the-fly by Burton [C. Bell, vocals]. Nice work, budday...

"In Houston, I got to hang with my bro Kevin Radomski from Pro-Mark Sticks, and he filled me in on the fact they're selling my signature sticks in the stores now, kind of a limited run, but still pretty neato for me!

"A super-cool thing aboot the last couple of days is that we've started writing the next STRAPPING album in the back of the bus. Hey, something exciting has to go on there, it's aboot time! We're psyched, anyway. We're just tossin' around a bunch of riffs and ideas. Dev [Townsend, guitar/vocals] always cracks me up, he's all like, 'Dude, I can't write heavy riffs anymore,' then he starts peelin' out these balls-out heavy riffs, like they're nothin'. Righteous. There are so many exciting things happening for us right now, like this tour, for instance, that keeping the ball rolling is the premium for us.

"Wow, this venue we're at today is called Cain's, and it seems to be one of those legendary country venues. A total 'Bob's Country Bunker' indeed. 'Howdy, we're the Good Ol' Strapping Young Blues Brothers Boys Lad Band...' Where's the chicken wire? One thing I noticed while perusing the Cain's Hall of Fame, is if your name ain't Hank, Bob, or Tex, your photo does not go up there.

"Holy crap! I just let a few hours roll by, and caught the DARKANE set, and Jesus, this venue makes your fuckin' eyeballs shake! A crazy, warped-to-shit parquet floor that vibrates EXTREMELY with every kick drum hit. Man, I was gettin' dizzy watchin' DARKANE, that was awesome! I can only imagine what STRAPPING's bassbombs did...people were probably pukin' AND shittin' their pants! Not a bad deal. We're better than ipecac and Ex-lax! Speaking of Ex-lax, any of you ever make Ex-lax chocolate chip cookies for your teacher? Try it dudes, they'll love ya for it.

"Tomorrow is Albequerque. At the venue where some bouncer murdered a girl upstairs and SHOVED HER BODY INTO A CRAWLSPACE. No one knew she was there til the body started to reek. Wow. Humans are neat."

Finnish metallers CELESTY have announced the addition of guitarist Teemu Koskela to the group's ranks. Koskela replaces longtime axeman J-P Alanen, who left the group to concentrate on his musical studies and his work with fellow Finnish metallers ALTARIA.

Commented drummer Jere Luokkamäki: "Teemu was a natural choice for us. We have already started hard work together in rehearsals and Teemu is participating in the composing work as well. We believe that Teemu will bring lots of new ideas to the songs and sounds in our future albums."

CELESTY are currently writing material for their third full-length effort, tentatively due next year via Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). The group's last CD, "Legacy of Hate", came out in May 2004.

REBELLION, the German band that features in its ranks former GRAVE DIGGER members Uwe Lulis (guitar) and Tomi Göttlich (bass), have parted ways with guitarist Björn Eilen. "Unfortunately, Björn [was forced] to quit the band [because of] health problems, and Simone [Wenzel] has taken his place," the group write on their web site. A photo of the band's new lineup can be found at this location.

REBELLION's latest album, "Sagas of Iceland", was released in May via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Born a Rebel" is the first part of a Viking trilogy based upon Ragnar Lodenhose ("Sons Of The Dragonslayer"), the Norwegian king Harald Harfager (who created the first united Norwegian kingdom), Eric the Red, and both Danish kings Sven Gabelbart ("Ruling The Waves") and Knut the Great. "Part 2" (estimated release in 2006) will deal with the Swedish and Russian Vikings and their glorious deeds. "Part 3" (estimated release in 2007) will be cover the "Edda" story collection where the listener will get more information about the mythology and the gods of the Vikings.

Right after wrapping up their last European headlining tour, Brazilian death metal outfit KRISIUN completed work on their new album, "AssassiNation", tentatively due late February via Century Media Records. After recording two albums in their native country, the trio went back to Stage One Studios in Bühne, Germany to work with Andy Classen — the same winning team responsible for 2000's "Conquerors Of Armageddon".

Commented KRISIUN drummer Max Kolesne: "'AssassiNation' is the heaviest album we have ever done. I can assure you that it was a top quality recording at Stage One Studios, this album captures all the fury and brutality of the band's live performances and it's also a great combination of heaviness and precision that we never had on our albums before. The album will be out in the beginning of 2006, and we're definitely gonna make a relentless round of live shows in Europe, so I see you all extreme metal maniacs on the road! Get ready for the 'AssassiNation'!"

According to a posting on the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes-Of-Bodom.com, the track listing of the upcoming CHILDREN OF BODOM "In Your Face" DVD-single is as follows:

01. In Your Face video 2.0
02. In Your Face video 5.1
03. All Night Long (Shit-faced Bastards Of Bodom)
04. Sixpounder (Live at Wacken Open Air festival 2004)

Track 3 is a special video shot by the Hate Crew which features "fool-around" material from all over the world with the song "Are You Dead Yet?" playing in the background. The DVD-single will be released on November 30 through Spinefarm.

CHILDREN OF BODOM have just launched a North American headlining trek with TRIVIUM and AMON AMARTH. The group's mainman Alexi Laiho also told MTV.com that the group hope to spend next summer as part of Ozzfest 2006.

Israeli metal outfit ORPHANED LAND have parted ways with keyboardist Eden Rabin. Eden's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"My dearest friends, as of today, I decided to leave ORPHANED LAND due to personal reasons I do not wish to divulge. The ORPHANED LAND members have always been dear friends, and they shall stay my friends for eternity. Who knows?! Maybe we'll find ourselves on the same stage again one day. It is indeed possible! I cannot stress enough the happiness and joy each and every one of you has brought upon my life! I'm always at your service: edenrabin@rightontime.co.il. Don't hesitate to write. And above all: THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU for everything!"

ORPHANED LAND's Century Media Records debut, "Mabool", was released last year. A double gatefold LP version of the album was issued through Profound Lore Records this past summer. Also available is a 10" release, titled "Ararat", is containing some rare material such as demos and remixes of songs from "Mabool".

German melodic metallers EDGUY have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Rocket Ride", due on January 20, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Hellfire Club" was recorded with producer Sascha Paeth (who also worked with the band on their "Superheroes" EP) and is said to feature the band's most "diverse" material to date.

"Rocket Ride" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Sacrifice (8:01)
02. Rocket Ride (4:47)
03. Wasted Time (5:48)
04. Matrix (4:09)
05. Return To The Tribe (6:06)
06. The Asylum (7:38)
07. Save Me (3:47)
08. Catch Of The Century (4:03)
09. Out Of Vogue (4:36)
10. Superheroes (3:19)
11. Trinidad (3:28)
12. Fucking With Fire (4:22)

EDGUY will support DRAGONFORCE on six U.K. dates while the rest of the European tour EDGUY will headline, with DRAGONFORCE as support. In addition, EDGUY have confirmed SAVAGE CIRCUS (the new band featuring former BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Thomen Stauch and PERSUADER members Jens Karlsson and Emil Norberg) as the support act for their previously announced three Japanese dates in March.

Portuguese metallers Moonspell have inked a three-album deal with SPV/Steamhammer Records following their split with Century Media. The band are currently recording their new album, entitled "Memorial", at the Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (Tiamat, Samael, Sentenced), who had worked with the group on their first three records ("Wolfheart", "Irreligious", "Sin/Pecado").

The recording sessions will last from November 1 to November 27. "Memorial" will contain around 8 to 10 new songs, including "Once It Was Ours!", "Blood Tells", "Sanguine", "Finisterra", "Upon the Blood of Men" and "At the Image of Pain". A tentative spring 2006 release is expected. With regards to Moonspell's long-awaited first DVD, "Lunar Still/13 Years of Doom", most of the contents are ready to go into production but the release was delayed due to legal issues which are taking a long time to be ironed out. Century Media will release the DVD sometime next year. In addition, new live dates are being booked for the next festival season, as are one-off shows in Russia and Morocco.

World renowned Dutch act THE GATHERING entered the studio today (November 21, 2005) to commence work on their ninth studio album.

For this recording the band has built a professional homemade studio inside an old church in the small town of Maurik, located in the south of Holland. With the help of producer Attie Bauw (producer of the band's 1998 effort, "How to Measure a Planet?") the band plans to work there for a month before heading to Bauw's studio to mix and master the music.

Comments singer Anneke van Giersbergen about the constructed studio and working with Bauw again: "We built our own studio there because we wanted to do something different and create a new atmosphere. As for working with Attie Bauw, he is a very inspirational man with great ideas and we were very anxious to work with him again.

"I like being in the studio especially because we are then together for a vast period of time as a group and we create something entirely new. It's always amazing to participate in this process and to finish with a brand new album. That sense of accomplishment is truly wonderful."

She adds, "We would hope to see the album get released sometime in March (on Psychonaut Records in Europe, The End Records in North America). We plan to start touring in March and come over to tour in South America and the U.S.A. once again."

In other recent news THE GATHERING just released their double-DVD, "A Sound Relief", in the U.S./Canada via The End Records. The two-disc set features a live concert the band recorded on May 23, 2005 at the famous Paradiso in Amsterdam, plus bonus extras like the band's own tour impressions caught on video, video interviews and a bonus disc showcasing a collection of beautiful 3-D animation clips.

DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy entered the studio this past weekend to record the drums for the second OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE) album, tentatively due in early 2006 via InsideOut Music.

"Initially I wasn't going to partake in the album and had passed on the offer, but I guess the moral of the story is, 'Never say never,'" Portnoy said.

OSI's upcoming CD will once again feature FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos and ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore. The group's debut album, which came out in 2003 via InsideOut, also included former CYNIC bassist Sean Malone.

Italian epic metal band RHAPSODY will release their first-ever live album, "Live In Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret", on January 23, 2006. Recorded on Juen 13, 2005 at Salle Albert-Rousseau in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada, the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. The Dark Secret
02. Unholy Warcry
03. Wisdom Of The Kings
04. The Village Of Dwarves
05. Eran's Mystical White Book
06. Lamento Eroico
07. Dawn Of Victory
08. Nightfall On The Grey Mountains
09. March Of The Swordmaster
10. Emerald Sword

"Live In Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret" will be released in two different versions: a regular CD, plus a limited-edition containing a bonus DVD with the entire concert recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound.

RHAPSODY released "Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret", in September 2004 via Magic Circle Music/SPV. The CD features a very special appearance by acclaimed actor Christopher Lee ("Star Wars - Episode 2: Attack of the Clones", "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", "Gremlins II", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow").

According to a posting on the Tarja Turunen Fan site, former NIGHTWISH frontwoman will perform the following setlist on her Christmas tour, which is scheduled to kick off December 1 in Savonlinna, Finland:

01. Kun Joulu On
02. Mozart Agnus dei Coronation
03. Bach Quia Respexit Magnificat
04. Faure Pie Jesu Requiem Op 48
05. When a Child is Born
06. Jo Joutui Ilta (Sibelius)
07. Oi Joulu Yas / O Holy Night
08. Adestes Fideles
09. Maskit Nukkuu Lumiset
10. Abba: Felicidad - Happy New Year
11. Air Supply: The Eyes of a Child
12. Varpunen Jouluaamuna
13. Schubert Ave Maria
14. Jouluyö, Juhlayö
15. En Etsi Valtaa Loistoa (Sibelius)
16. Walking in the Air

Upcoming Tarja Turunen dates;

Dec. 01 - Savonlinna-Sali - Savonlinna, FIN
Dec. 03 - Kuusaa-Sali - Kuusankoski, FIN
Dec. 06 – Passionskirche - Berlin, GER
Dec. 09 - Jona - Jugendkirche - Frankfurt, GER
Dec. 12 - Casino L'AlianÇa del Poble Nou - Barcelona, SPA
Dec. 16 - Thalia Hall - Sibiu, ROM

Tarja has recorded a song with Christopher Von Deylen, mastermind of Schiller, shortly before the production of Schiller's new album is finished. Other people to contribute in the forthcoming album are Moya Brennan, front singer of Ireland's cult-band Clannad and legendary Mike Oldfield, the creator of timeless masterpieces such as 'Tubular Bells' and 'To France'. Schiller's upcoming album 'Day And Night' is scheduled to be released in Germany next October 2005. Tarja collaborates with her vocals in the song “Tired of being alone”where she also co-wrote the music while Mic co-wrote the lyrics with Christopher.

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, have set "Dragonheads" as the title of their new EP, due in February 2006 via Spinefarm Records. The mini-CD is being recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki and will contain one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers. The group's next full-length release is scheduled to be recorded in the summer of 2006. A European tour is tentatively slated to kick off in March 2006.

As previously reported, ENSIFERUM will film their New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) 10-year anniversary concert at the Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for an upcoming DVD.

ENSIFERUM's sophomore album, "Iron", was released in April 2004 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Ensiferum" was recorded in the summer of 2003 at Sweet Silence studios in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, ARTILLERY, MORBID ANGEL).

PAIN mainman Peter Tägtgren has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"The brand new DVD 'Live Is Overrated' is out now on Metal Mind, and features two concerts from Poland! There is a lot of bonus shit on there as well, so it's worth checking out if you want to see what the live set looks like these days... Yours truly gave it a proper mix, so it sounds fucking good as well! It comes in two different versions — a normal one, and a limited edition digi-pak version.

"The work continues with my covers album. I've cut a few songs already, and a couple of examples of songs that have been pain-ified are BJÖRK's 'I Play Dead' and DEPECHE MODE's 'Behind The Wheel'. Watch this space for more covers as I get them done!

"Believe it or not, but I've started work on a new 'normal' PAIN album, and have got two songs down. They are heavy as fuck and are — as the English would say — the dog's bollocks. I'm just heading off on a European tour with HYPOCRISY, but have booted up my laptop to include a full recording studio, so I'll be spending the hours of travel getting new songs down.

"Have your say on the cover album! Here's your chance to let me know what you think! Send me your suggestion of a song that needs to be fucked up by me for the cover album! The winner will have his suggestion covered, and mentioned on the sleeve! E-mail your suggestions to cover@pain.cd.

"While we're at it - why not have a competition. Just answer this simple question: on the last PAIN tour, we had a new, fantastic drummer (since Horgh moved over to HYPOCRISY...). What's his name? Answer that and the winner gets to pick up a signed copy of the new DVD (of course the nice, shiny limited edition version). E-mail your answer to contest@pain.cd. Don't forget to include your name and address."

PAIN's latest album, "Dancing With the Dead", debuted at position No. 3 on the Swedish album chart in late January. The follow-up to 2002's "Nothing Remains The Same" was released in continental Europe in March.

Spinefarm Records has set a June 5, 2006 release date for the upcoming "End of an Era" CD/DVD release from NIGHTWISH.

"End of an Era" will contain footage of NIGHTWISH's final concert with singer Tarja Turunen, which took place on October 21 at the Hartwall arena in Helsinki, Finland. A 30-second video clip filmed by an audience member during the concert is available online: Real Media,
Quicktime. The group's setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Dark Chest Of Wonders
02. Planet Hell
03. Ever Dream
04. The Kinslayer
05. Phantom Of The Opera
06. The Siren
07. Sleeping Sun
08. High Hopes
09. Bless The Child
10. Wishmaster
11. Slaying The Dreamer
12. Kuolema tekee taiteilijan
13. Nemo
14. Ghost Love Score
Encore:
15. Creek Mary's Blood
16. Over The Hills And Far Away
17. Wish I Had An Angel

NIGHTWISH fired Turunen via an "open letter," which was given to the singer immediately following the Helsinki show. The group are currently seeking a replacement vocalist before entering the studio in September 2006 to begin recording the follow-up to 2004's "Once", tentatively due in mid-2007.

As a former collaborator with KMFDM over the past 20 years, Raymond Watts still regularly released solo albums under the moniker P I G. "Pigmata" is his newest output holding, and we quote the press release, "slick cynical lyrics with growling vocals on top of a razor and nail mattress of driving guitars, heavy synths, and aggressive beats". A release that should please fans of KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Korn, Fear Factory, Skinny Puppy or Static-X.

"Pigmata" tracklist:

01. Suck Shit Spit
02. Here To Stay
03. Reject
04. Situation
05. Kundalini
06. Vitriol Vice and Virtue
07. Take
08. Arbor Vitate
09. Stage Slut
10. Junky
11. God Rod
12. On the Slaughterfront
13. Filth Healer

Finnish goth-metallers CHARON will release their new single, "Colder", on December 7 in Finland via Spinefarm Records. An extensive photo gallery documenting the making of the "Colder" video has been made available at Spinefarm.fi.

"Colder" is the second single off CHARON' new album, "Songs for the Sinners", which debuted on Finland's national album chart at position No. 6 back in early September. The group's previous single, "Ride on Tears", entered the chart at position No. 2.

The follow-up to 2003's "The Dying Daylights", "Songs for the Sinners" was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki with producer Mikko Karmila.

Label "Flood the Earth" have just released the debut solo album from Karsten Hamre entitled Broken Whispers. Many will be familiar with Karsten through his other projects such as Penitent, Arcane Art and Veiled Allusions. I must say that this is really some of the darkest material I have heard from Karsten. Whereas prior releases have had brief transient rays of light seep through the cloud of audial despair, Broken Whispers remains void of any possibility of hope. Total bleak minimalist atmospheres by one of the masters.
Format: CD
Released: November 2005
Running time: 51:02
Status: AVAILABLE
Label: Flood The Earth Records, www.floodtheearth.com (USA)

Official Distribution (Europe):
Masterpiece - www.masterpiecedistribution.com

Two tracks, "Fortuna Synapsis" & "Dioxide Universal" can be streamed or dwonloaded from: www.myspace.com/karstenhamre

Swedish mythological black metallers THY PRIMORDIAL have officially split up. A posting at the group's web site reads as follows:

"THY PRIMORDIAL is no more ...the glorious days are over... to ruin and decay. Greatest of hails to all & everyone that has, during the years, crossed our path. Thanks. In monumental honour we leave thee now... Mors omnia delet, extinquit!"

THY PRIMORDIAL's final album, "Pestilence Upon Mankind", was released in early 2004 through Blackend Records. It was recorded at Abyss studios with producer Tommy Tägtgren and was the group's first to feature vocalist Nicke Holstensson, formerly of Swedish deathsters NOMINON.

AJATTARA, the Finnish "black/dark metal" project featuring former AMORPHIS frontman Pasi Koskinen (a.k.a. Ruoja), have completed work on their fourth full-length album, "Äpäre", for a March 2006 release via Spinefarm Records. Check put pictures from the recording sessions at this location. In the meantime, the band have announced plans to issue a new single this Christmas, featuring an original song entitled "Teuras", backed by a cover of the track "Kansallispäivä", originally written and recorded by the Finnish band SIELUN VELJET.

AJATTARA's third album, "Tyhjyys" ("Emptiness") was released late last year through the Spinefarm Records subsidiary Spikefarm. Recordings for the CD took place at Savonlinna's Sundi Coop studio, where AJATTARA recorded their earlier releases, "Itse" (2001) and "Kuolema" (2003).

British black metallers CRADLE OF FILTH recorded a cover of SAMHAIN's "Halloween II", which will appear on the soundtrack to the forthcoming film "Underworld: Evolution". The band are currently recording their seventh LP at Lincolnshire, England's Chapel Studios for an early June 2006 release via Roadrunner Records. The group's frontman Dani Filth told MTV.com that when the group's new disc arrives in stores, fans will hear two very interesting covers the FILTH's been perfecting: U.K. techno-pop trio HEAVEN 17's "Temptation" and "Stay" by SHAKESPEAR'S SISTER.

"We picked those because they are interesting," Filth said. "It's going to be a challenge, and that's the whole point. If you're going to do something, don't just do it for the sake of doing it. It has to be something you can make your own."

The band's reunited with Rob Caggiano (BLEEDING THROUGH, ANTHRAX), who produced 2004's "Nymphetamine" and 2003's "Damnation and a Day", and at this point in the process, Filth said "all the drum and bass tracks are pretty much done, and I've already started recording vocals." The FILTH will work on the album until the end of the month before breaking for a two-week U.K. tour; they'll reconvene on the sessions in mid-January.

The album, he said, will end up containing about 10 tracks, including "Libertina Grim", "Lovesick for Mina", "The Byronic Man" and "Cemetery and Sundown".

"This record heightens our rhythm, and there are lots of cool off-beats. It's just as meandering as much of our stuff, but there are also some really catchy tracks there," Filth told MTV.com. "I've introduced more sing-y type parts. It's a bigger, better-sounding CRADLE OF FILTH, and more direct and to the point."

WITHIN Y, the Swedish melodic death metal band featuring former GARDENIAN drummer Thim Blom, have set "Portraying Dead Dreams" as the title of their sophomore album, tentatively due early next year via an as-yet-undiclosed label. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Breeding Murder", "As the Dust", "Fade Away", "Feeding the Disease" and "A New Life".

WITHIN Y recently announced the addition of guitarist Niknam Moslehi to the group's ranks. Moslehi joins the band as the replacement for Niklas Almen, who left the group late last year.

WITHIN Y's debut album, "Extended Mental Dimensions", was released in March 2004 through Holland's Karmageddon Media (formerly Hammerheart Records). The CD was recorded and mixed during August and early September 2003 at Meta4Music Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden. Artwork was created by art-wizard Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media.

Swedish epic/power metallers FALCONER have confirmed the departure of singer Kristoffer Göbel. In a posting on their official web site, the band write, "Well, once again the line up of FALCONER is changing. 'Now again!!' you might say. It does sound a bit unstable to do this every once in a while, I know.

"After realizing that changing vocalist was not that applauded by people nor was the musical change on the last album (isn't it great when people are open minded....) we thought: 'OK, sailing towards the wind is getting boring' (personally I would say a sense of cynicism started to grow), 'Why not sail with it instead in good mood?' After changing the new music into more folkish style (and loving the sound of it) Karsten and I thought, 'Why not go the whole way, it would really fit the music. So hereby we present you the return of Mathias Blad."

"So we thank Kristoffer for the years in the band. It's been a great time we allways will cherish and we assure you all that this has nothing to do with personal matters. We wish all the best for Kriss in the future.

"This kind of thing is about the worst things you can do to a bandmate if you're all friends but in the end, this is not a sand box, it's a band."

FALCONER's fourth studio album, "Grime Vs. Grandeur", was released in May via Metal Blade Records. The CD features guest performances by Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL) on drums and Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND) on additional lead vocals.

Finnish metallers NORTHER have set "Till Death Unites Us" as the title of their new album, due on January 25, 2006 via Spinefarm. A single, entitled "Scream", will precede the album before the end of the year.

"Till Death Unites Us" track listing (in no particular order):

01. Scream
02. Throwing My Life Away
03. The End of Our Lives
04. Evil Ladies
05. Drowning
06. Die
07. Everything
08. Alone In the End
09. Norther
10. Omen
11. Fuck You
12. Wasted Years

NORTHER's last release was an EP, entitled "Solution 7". The band's third full-length album, "Death Unlimited", was issued last year through Spinefarm Records.

As previously reported, NORTHER's Petri Lindroos has been named a permanent member of the Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM. Lindroos is currently handling the vocals and guitar in the group, which parted ways with singer/guitarist Jari Mäenpää in 2004.

Norwegian progressive metal band CIRCUS MAXIMUS have parted ways with keyboardist Espen Storø. The group's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"After five years, Espen has decided to leave the band due to personal reasons. After much consideration we also think that this is the right decicion by him and for the sake of the band. We wish him the best of luck with everything in the future. CIRCUS MAXIMUS is of course still alive and well and as of this moment the band is writing new ass-kicking stuff for all you metal heads out there. At the moment we’re trying out a new very skilled guy — but we need to see how he will function with us on the songwriting etc. We will keep you posted when we have found a definite replacement for Espen."

Espen issued the following statement regarding his decision to leave the group:

"After thinking about this for a long long time I have decided to leave the band. It was a tough decision, but I feel this is the right thing to do right now. I've had a great time paying in CIRCUS MAXIMUS, up until a while ago. I just want to say that I still look at the other guys as my buddies, and no one is mad at eachother. I wish CIRCUS MAXIMUS a great future, and I know that they will still make great music. Big thanks to everyone for your support!”

CIRCUS MAXIMUS released their very critically acclaimed debut album, "The First Chapter", on Frontiers Records earier this year.