ANATHEMA guitarist Danny Cavanagh will play a solo acoustic show in Paris, France on November 4 at Les Caves. The set will feature old and new ANATHEMA songs and cover versions. Doors open at 8:00 p.m.

ANATHEMA are currently writing and recording new material at Sewerside Studios in Yorkshire, U.K. for a tentative 2006 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Voodoo", "Everything", "A Simple Mistake", "No One is Free" and "Angels Really Do Walk Among Us...". The band recently issued a DVD, "Were You There?", containing a full live show recorded on ANATHEMA's "A Natural Disaster" tour, an acoustic concert performed with a string quartet from the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, plus videos, live clips and other extra features. The artwork and menu designs have been conceived by Travis Smith.

Reactivated British metal band ATOMKRAFT, who are fronted by former VENOM singer Tony Dolan, have completed work on their new EP, entitled "Are You Looking At Me?", for a November release. The EP is a special edition limited run as a precursor to the (now delayed) new album, "I Couldn't Give A Fuck!". The EP will also be available as a vinyl release and through iTunes as well as Amazon.com and CDBaby.com.

"Are You Looking At Me?" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Dead Again!
02. Kristalnacht
03. Cold Sweat
04. Gripped

In other news, ATOMKRAFT's live CD will be released as soon as all licences are completed. No further information is currently available.

The long-awaited debut solo album from STRATOVARIUS/SINERGY bassist Lauri Porra will be released on October 26. The CD features some of the most respected musicians in Finland, including Jussi Lehtonen, Tuomo Prättälä, Mikko Kaakkuriniemi, Timo Kämäräinen, Alexi Laiho, Janne Huttunen, Jukka Uljas, Jay Kortehisto, Emma Salokoski and Tero Lindberg. Gulfam Sabri (from India) plays tabla on one track.

The album will include a bass solo version of JEAN SIBELIUS' "Valse Triste". The other eight tunes are Lauri Porra originals. For more information, visit Lauri's official web site, www.lauriporra.com.

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD frontman Devin Townsend recently spoke to MTV.com about the recently completed new album from DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, "Synchestra", due in February/March via InsideOut.

"Strangely enough, this is the first record I've done that was made to [be] enjoyed," Townsend said. "I'm expecting people to hate [this music], because it's really sensitive and heavy and epic, and everything's really pleasing about it. I don't know how many people want to listen to pleasing music. A lot of people are still into being assaulted every time they turn on their stereo. Those people will think it's a wussy, pain-in-the-ass record. People who're sick of dudes yelling at them will love it."

Still, he added, "It's super fucking heavy — like bludgeoningly heavy. But they're all bludgeoningly heavy lullabies. This is a record you can put on that'll make you feel good. It's like a celebration — something you put on in the morning, or when you want to sing along and laugh and smile, but still have it so heavy that when you crank it up, it will level any of your death-metal competition."

Songtitles set to appear on "Synchestra" include "Let It Roll", "Hyper-Geek", "Notes From Africa", "Judgment", "A Simple Lullaby" and "Sunshine and Happiness". Six of the album's 13 cuts clock in at or just under 10 minutes and one features a guest appearance by guitarist Steve Vai (Townsend sang on Vai's 1993 album, "Sex & Religion").

"I love writing music and songs, but I'm getting more and more tired of playing guitar and singing," Townsend told MTV.com. "There's this big long part I'd written for this solo, and sometimes, I'm in the headspace for guitar and other times, I'm just not. Right now I'm not. I just couldn't give a fuck. So I gave [Vai] a call."

German metallers JESTER'S FUNERAL have uploaded a full-length MP3 file of a new track that will be included on the band's upcoming fourth album, tentatively due in early 2006 through an as-yet-undetermined label. Download the song "Miss Singularity" at this location. An audio sample of another new album cut, "Transmission", can be downloaded here.

The follow-up to 2003's "Shifting: Skywards" (TTS Media Music) was self-produced with the help of the SoundSquare production team from Duesseldorf and by the group's former bass player, Holger Wies.

As previously reported, JESTER'S FUNERAL collaborated with Jan D. Kucharzewski and American author/screenwriter John Shirley on the lyrics for the new CD.

Israeli progressive doom metal band DISTORTED, who are fronted by female singer Miri Milman , have released a track called "Redemption" from their forthcoming album, "Memorial". Download the song at this location. The CD was recorded by Pelle Saether at Studio Underground in Sweden and contains choir and percussion parts alongside heavy guitar riffs. The band are currently looking for a suitable record company to release the album.

Arlington Heights, Illinois-based death metallers ENFORSAKEN have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We're happy to annouce that metal legend Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, PAN THY MONIUM) will be contributing back-up vocals on the new ENFORSAKEN album, 'Sinner's Intuition'. We're all very excited to be working with him, as all of us have been huge fans for years. We (finally!) start the recording sessions for the album next week in Wisconsin with Chris Djuricic at Studio One. Album artwork is currenty being finished up by Travis Smith, and things are looking good. The new album is currently scheduled for a January/February 2006 release on Crash Music."

ENFORSAKEN's last album, "Forever Endeavor", was released by Olympic/Century Media in 2004.

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN have filmed a video for the second single off their upcoming "Rosenrot" album. According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Jonas Åkerlund (METALLICA, MADONNA, SATYRICON) was the director for "Mann Gegen Mann", which deals with the subject of "men on the edge of homosexuality." No word yet on when the new single or video will be released.

RAMMSTEIN's new album, "Rosenrot", is scheduled for release in Germany on October 28 via Universal. A limited-edition version of the album will include a bonus DVD featuring three live video clips recorded earlier in the year.

Reunited German industrial metallers DIE KRUPPS have revealed their lineup for their upcoming dates as part of their ongoing 25th anniversary tour. The group's current formation is as follows:

Jürgen Engler - Vocals
Ralf Dörper - Synth
Rüdiger Esch - Bass
Marcel Zürcher - Guitar
Oliver Röhl - Drums

Upcoming DIE KRUPPS shows:

Nov. 19 - Club Tochka – Moscow, RUS
Nov. 20 - Red Club - St. Petersburg, RUS

Norway's THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, who recently inked a deal with AFM Records, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Things are coming together now and the songs are already now sounding great.
Last week the finishing touch on the bass were laid down by Magnus Westgaard (Nell's brother), our 'rent-a-brilliant bassplayer.' He went through the songs like knife through butter. One of the best sounding bass rig we've ever heard. We started by recording the synths last week as well. This time we actually recorded the songs live, instead of programming lots of stuff. It sounds and feels much better with all the songs. On some songs we even got the chance to record some real grand-piano. Last Friday the boys (Lorentz, Rico, Børge & Vegard) went into Fagerborg Studio in Oslo to record on a Steinway & sons C4 grand piano. Not used to the heavyweight keys Lorentz hammered his way through hell and back to get it right. After the molestation of the grand piano we all went back to the studio happy as hell. It sounds fantastic!!! We're going to put up some video clips of it. Just hang around this space for more info.

"As most of the songs has strings as a major part of the sound, we brought in Sareeta from RAM-ZET (whom we befriended on the 'Assembly' tour 2002) to play some violin for us. She just received a new electrical violin which she used for these recordings. A pure evil specimen, with the beautiful name Thea.

"Right now Frank and Vegard are in the studio electrifying the songs with a wall of guitar sound!. Just to make sure the sound is going to be killer, we amped them up with Engl, Mesa Boogies and Marshalls to play their Gibson Gothic guitars through. IT SOUNDS HEAVY AS F**K!"

The wheels are in motion once again for Dutch rock act THE GATHERING who will return to the studio sometime this fall to follow-up the well-received electronic/atmospheric-tinged opus "Souvenirs".

Founding member/drummer Hans Rutten says of the band's upcoming recording process, "We are working our asses off (again) on the new tracks. We will start recording in an old church in the south of Holland by the end of November. We will build a studio, together with Attie Bauw, in the main part of this little church. How it will sound? We have no idea, it's an experiment, as always!" [laughs]

He adds, "We will start recording end of November 2005 and have a possible release date by the end of March 2006. We will master half of the album by January 2006. It will be a huge return of guitars! Yes, a guitar-orientated album."

In other news, THE GATHERING is set to release their double-DVD "A Sound Relief" in the U.S./Canada on October 25, 2005 via The End Records. The DVD will be made available in Europe through the band's own label, Psychonaut Records, in mid-October.

The two-disc set features a wide array of items for fans of the band to enjoy. Disc I includes the live concert the band recorded on May 23, 2005 at the famous Paradiso in Amsterdam. The live recording was recorded in DTS 5.1, a truly remarkable sound quality, which enhances the already emotional and powerful flow of the band’s musical delivery. Disc II features great bonus extras like their own tour impressions caught on video, video interviews and a TV special about 15-year career of THE GATHERING. The bonus disc also showcases a collection of beautiful 3-D animation clips, which were especially designed for the band by promising Dutch and Polish 3-D artists Michel de Klein and Marcin Pazera.

Also of note, The End Records mail-order will be offering a very limited package for the DVD release. It will include the double-DVD, a shirt and poster style photo from the show signed by the band.

Finnish melodic metallers ALTARIA have posted the following message on their official web site:

"The recordings of ALTARIA's third album, 'The Fallen Empire', are now 99% ready. The mixing of the album will start on the 15th of October in the Black Lounge Studios (Sweden). As earlier reported, ex-DIO guitarist Rowan Robertson makes a guest appearance on a track called 'The Lion' and keyboard player Henrik Klingenberg (SONATA ARCTICA, SILENT VOICES) has also been confirmed to play on the album. Klingenberg recorded a solo for a song called 'The Dying Flame', which is an 8-minute epic. The final tracklist is yet to be confirmed but a few songs apart from the two earlier mentioned that most certainly will be on the album are 'Crucifix', 'Abyss of Twilight', 'Frozen Hearts' and 'Disciples'."

ALTARIA, who recently announced the addition of guitarist J-P Alanen to the group's ranks, released their sophomore album, "Divinity", in May 2004 through AOR Heaven sub-label Metal Heaven Records. "Divinity" was mixed at Tico Tico Studio (SONATA ARCTICA, SENTENCED, FOR MY PAIN…) and was initially made available as a limited-edition digipack, featuring one bonus track — a cover version of ACCEPT's classic "Balls To The Wall" (including a guest appearance by ex-LION'S SHARE singer Andy Engberg).

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's forthcoming "(Set This) World Ablaze" DVD will hit stores November 22 via Roadrunner. The disc will feature live footage captured by director Lex Halaby (MUDVAYNE, CHIMAIRA) during the band's July 25 gig at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Special guests at the show included AS I LAY DYING and ONCE BELOVED.

"(Set This) World Ablaze" track listing:

01. A Bid Farewell
02. Breathe Life
03. Fixation on the Darkness
04. When Darkness Falls
05. Self-Revolution
06. The End of Heartache
07. Take This Oath
08. Numbered Days
09. The Element of One
10. Hope Is Not Lost
11. Life To Lifeless
12. My Last Serenade
13. Rose of Sharyn
14. Vide Infra
15. Temple from the Within

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE were part of the second-stage lineup at this year's Ozzfest supporting their sophomore Roadrunner Records release, "The End of Heartache", which has sold more than 325,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. On March 1, the album was re-released as a special two-disc version with six new/live tracks. Based on the strength of their latest radio singles, "The End of Heartache" and "Rose of Sharyn", and performances of those songs on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Last Call with Carson Daly", the band's success has continued to grow rapidly.

Sweden's THYRFING have set "Farsotstider" (in English: "Times of Plague") as the title of their fifth album, due on November 21 via Regain Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Vansinnesvisor" (Hammerheart Records) was recorded at EMI Studio in Stockholm with producer Henrik Edenhed (LAMBRETTA, THE SOUNDS).

THYRFING have been confirmed as one of the headliners of the Heathen Crusade Metalfest, set to take place Saturday, January 21, 2006 at Star Central in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Also scheduled to appear are Finland's MOONSORROW, Ireland's PRIMORDIAL, NOVEMBERS DOOM, KEEN OF THE CROW (featuring former members of MORGION), THE CHASM, TYPHUS and TODESBONDEN. Additional acts will be announced soon.

Swedish black/death metallers THE LEGION, featuring current MARDUK drummer Emil Dragutinovic, are mastering their new album for an early 2006 release. The artwork was once again designed by Kris Verwimp (MARDUK, ABSU, IMMORTAL), who had previously worked with the group on their debut album, "Unseen to Creation".

THE LEGION's debut album, "Unseen to Creation" was released in October 2003 through France's Listenable Records. The CD, which was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Tommy Tägtgren, features "ten songs of complex and eclectic black/death metal, ranging in style from MORBID ANGEL to SETHERIAL."

After the clubhits "Your nightmare" and "Sick fuck" on both sides of the ocean, Erica Dunham aka Unter Null returns with her debut album "The Failure Epiphany". Written and recorded in Seattle (USA) the album was engineered and produced by studio guru Len Lemeire who also did production for the most recent studio output from artists such as Anne Clark, Dunkelwerk and many more. The 13-track album holds material that is now already compared to Suicide Commando with her extremely distorted and manipulated vocals. Expect harsh endzeit elektro assaults that will easily set the sights of attack on the male-dominated world of harsh Electronic Body Music. Her album will also be available as a limited edition with exclusive cover art, bleeding poster and postcards, and a bonus disc which includes 4 unreleased terror noise tracks and some exclusive selected remixes by bands such as Noisuf-X, Aslan Faction, Tamtrum, Heimataerde, Virtual Embrace, Kiew and Terrorfakt. 11 bonus tracks in total.

Darzamat has begun the recording of its new album which will be entitled ''Transkarpatia''. There is a huge leap forward in front of the band as after engraving its traces in Poland, the Darzamat's members will be the guests in Goeteborg's studio at Andy La Rocque ( the guitar player of the cult band King Diamond ), who has undertaken the production of the new record.

La Rocque, who is famous for his play in King Diamond as well as in Death on the record entitled "Individual Thought Patterns", acceded to the cooperation with Darzamat without any hesitation. We are owing the ability of making the acquaintance with such a remarkable personality of the world metal scene to our guests from Lord Belial, who have been cooperating with Andy for a very long time. I am truly glad that Darzamat will also be able to work with such an excellent musician as well as producer - states Flauros, the Darzamat's vocalist.

The band is going to Sweden in the second half of october. Except from the mix, La Rocque will also make the mastering of the record. The work will take place in ''Los Angered'', the studio located in Goeteborg, the owner of which is nobody else but the King Diamond's guitar player himself. It is worth while adding that it is in ''Los Angered'' that, among others, the albums of such groups as : In Flames, Evergrey or the very King Diamond came into being. At this very moment, in polish studio ''Maq'' there are traces of particular instruments being registered, under the precise surveillance of Jaroslaw Toifl. Yet, the final shape of the record will be formed in Sweden.

While taking the musical part into consideration, ''Transkarpatia'' is the development of the direction being introduced and followed on the last record entitled ''Semidevilish''. However, the new elements and a kind of perfection in each possible detail, will be the strong trumps of the new album. There have been some changes in the band since ''Semidevilish''. Our keyboard player - Spectre joined the composing and it can undeniably be heard on the new record. Music gained a certain kind of ''spirit'', which, I personally think, ''Semidevilish'' slightly lacked - adds Flauros.

Curiously enough, Darzamat has decided to work with the group of totally new people.- In each case, whether it is the producer, sound producer, cover designer or a photographer, we have been dealing with the people we have not cooperated before. The purpose of this kind of action is for the band and the record to gain freshness and a new view These are the real experts in their domains. With every passing day of the work, we are becoming more and more certain that everything ideally fits the new album's concept. The author of the cover and graphics to the record is Qras - a famous artist from Sosnowiec who has cooperated among others with Frontside and Horroscope. Photos to the new album were taken by Katarzyna Zaremba. ''Transkarpatia'' will come out at the beginning of the next year, thanks to Polish label Metal Mind Productions.

Tracklist “Transkarpatia”:

1. Vampiric Prose
   
2. Hallucinations
   
3. The Burning Times
   
4. Letter from Hell
   
5. Blackward
   
6. Labyrinth of Anxiety
   
7. Recurring Yell
   
8. Virus
   
9. The Old Form of Worship
   
10. Equinox
    
11. Tempted by Rot
    
12. Tribute to...
    

GODSMACK have entered a studio to begin recording the follow-up to 2003's "Faceless" album. "The band began writing while on the road in 2004 and reconvened after the Rockin' the Corps show in California on April Fool's Day," reads a posting on the group's web site. "They chose to finish writing at home, much unlike their 2002 move to Miami, by setting up a rehearsal space in the Boston area. Days were spent at the studio and nights were spent at home, the perfect balance that most of us take for granted. Things are definitely moving forward and on schedule but they still have a long way to go. Therefore a release date has not been established, but a ballpark of early-to-mid-2006 is the target."

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

"The silence is over again! The songwriting for the new album is finished. The recordings will start during the next couple of weeks. Again, we will work with Dennis Ward who did an incredible job with the last album, 'Worlds Apart'. Drums will be recorded at House of Music studio in Winterbach, Germany, Guitars, bass and keys at Guitars from Hell studio in Krefeld, Germany. Vocal recordings will be done in Dennis Ward's new studio in Bruchsal, Germany. The song material is in the same direction like the last album, 'Worlds Apart', which was the biggest success of the band and even made us touring Japan!"

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

A 30-second video cut from the title track of DEEP PURPLE's upcoming album, "Rapture of the Deep", has been posted online at this location.

As previously reported, DEEP PURPLE fan site The Highway Star has uploaded several audio samples from the group's upcoming album, "Rapture of the Deep". Check out the songs "Wrong Man", "Rapture of the Deep" and "Clearly Quite Absurd" at this location.

"Rapture of the Deep" is scheduled for release on November 1 via Eagle Records. The band spent five weeks at a Los Angeles studio earlier this year recording the follow-up to 2003's "Bananas" with producer Mike Bradford. The album is described by keyboardist Don Airey as "a lot heavier" than "Bananas". "We recorded it in the same studio that use to be used by KORN, and it's got a wonderful sound," Airey said. "It's got a real, immediate drum and organ sound. I was really happy working in there." "Rapture of the Deep" will be the group's first release since their split with the EMI label.

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Doogie White has just returned from Stonelab Studios in Denmark where he finished laying down vocals for several tracks for the new CORNERSTONE album with ex-ROYAL HUNT bassist Steen Mogensen.

Commented White: "Well, that was a lot of fun. We did the vocals on six brand new songs. There comes a point when you just can't hear anymore. I love to have the headphones blasting so I can really get a feel for the songs. But that was outrageous. I am very pleased with the work we did. Steen is again producing the album and had some great ideas. Allen [Sorensen, drums] has really taken the meat of the songs and is totally dominant when it comes to the rhythm. Kasper [Damgaard, guitar] is weaving riffs and solos better than ever. Rune [Brink, keyboards] relaxed and contemplated his up-and-coming keyboard parts."

CORNERSTONE's live album, "Cornerstone In Concert", was released in July in Japan via Yamaha Communications and in Europe through Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at several shows on the group's debut tour of Europe in January/Febuary 2005. Included in the package is a video clip of live and backstage footage from the band's private archives.

Austrian death/black metal act BELPHEGOR have officially severed ties with Napalm Records.

"[Napalm] worked into another direction than we wanted, and we don't want others to meddle into our things because we know for ourselves what's the best," the band write on their web site. "Unfortunately, they did too [little] for us in the live sector and we are really not amused to wait all the time. For the already successful European tour, Napalm Records has forsaken us and deleted the whole budget, so we made the final stroke, it's time for the next chapter."

BELPHEGOR will enter producer Andy Classen's Stage One studios in Germany in early November to begin recording their sixth album, tentatively due in April 2006 via an as-yet-undetermined label.

"From Andy at the controls we expect an absolute brilliant killer production,' the band write. "Nefastus will begin on 12th of November with the drum sessions, the recording process will reach out 'till middle of February 2006 with four sessions, so everything can grow and we can take the best result. Middle of February 2006 everything will be mixed/mastered, so you can count with the opus in middle/end April 2006 if everything runs the way we want to. More info on those soon."

Regarding the songwriting process for the new album, the group write, "We have already begun with the compositions for the next yet not titled album and most of the tracks/arrangements are almost finished. This time we will work with different guitars (tunings) and very unconventional moods in the hertz area, to let it sound more monumental. The new material is massive and iron. We have again worked out everything into the littlest detail and are going to spend the next month to rehearse the sound collages as tight as possible."

BELPHEGOR's fifth full-length album, "The Goatreich - Fleshcult", was released in Europe in February via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Mastersound Studio in Fellbach, Germany and is the follow-up to 2003's "Lucifer Incestus".

Austrian "epic metal" band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have announced the departure of singer Nicole Bogner. "Due to the changes in her personal and professional life, Nicole Bogner and VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have decided to go separate ways from now on," the band write on their web site. "The split with the female singer happened in friendship, and VISIONS OF ATLANTIS want to thank Nicole for everthing she has done with and for the band."

Replacing Nicole in VISIONS OF ATLANTIS' lineup is professional soprano singer Melissa Ferlaak (photo).

"Melissa Ferlaak, 26 from Minneapolis , Minnesota , graduated with a master's degree from New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts in 2003 for vocal performance. She has worked in the operatic field, most recently as Musetta in 'La Boheme', and has been singing with AESMA DAEVA.

"New VISIONS OF ATLANTIS concerts are being scheduled at the moment, and the songwriting for the upcoming album is nearly finished!"

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS released their latest album, "Cast Away", last November through Napalm Records/SPV. The CD was recorded and mixed by Peter O. Moritz at Radwerk 14 Studios in Austria and was mastered by Ue Nastasi at Sterling Sound in New York City.

In a recent interview with Britain's Zero Tolerance magazine, BIOHAZARD guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei confirmed that the band's recently released tenth album, "Means to an End", will also be their last: BIOHAZARD are splitting up.

"It was a natural progression with the band," Billy said. "We've grown in different areas. I have a daughter and I'm focusing now on my other band SUICIDE CITY [also featuring former KITTIE bassist Jennifer Arroyo]; Danny [Schuler, drums] has three kids now, so things have really changed for him; Evan [Seinfeld, vocals and bass] is doing his big porno-acting thing now, and that's cool. One of the things about BIOHAZARD is that it's your life, your way. So to each his own.

"I think over the years we just grew apart," Billy continued. "I've come to a stage in my life where I've come full circle and music is only for pleasure now. Don't get me wrong, I always dug it, always enjoyed it, I've had a fucking great time, but I didn't know any better. All I had was music. But my reality now is that I have a family and we've got to pay the bills. I'm no different from you — we've both got to buy the same token to ride a train, you know? So I'm back in the workforce, hanging out with my buddies at the weekend and dealing with the bullshit so I can enjoy the pleasures of life, like making music."

West Virginia-based "tech-metal" band BYZANTINE have parted ways with lead guitarist Tony Rorhbough. "Tony is a founding member and has been an integral part of BYZANTINE since its conception in 2000," the band write on their web site. "Tony's musical ability, technical prowess and overall mastery of the language of guitar will be missed immensely and we in BYZANTINE wish him all the best with all his future endeavors.

"The upcoming Under The Underground Tour in October with HALO OF LOCUSTS and THE DREAM IS DEAD will continue as planned. BYZANTINE has hired longtime friend Eric Seevers (LIECUS) to fill in temporarily for this tour. After that, BYZANTINE will look for a permanent replacement for the lead guitarist position."

BYZANTINE's sophomore album, "...And They Shall Take Up Serpents", was released in July via Prosthetic Records. The follow-up to "The Fundamental Component" was produced by the band and Aaron Fisher and was mixed by Brad Divens (FU MANCHU, WRATHCHILD AMERICA) and Drew Mazurek.

London-based metallers DRAGONFORCE have completed work on their eagerly anticipated third album, entitled "Inhuman Rampage". The follow-up to 2004's "Sonic Firestorm" contains eight brand new songs and will be released on January 9, 2006. The album recording sessions were made at Thin Ice Studios in Virginia Water (Surrey) and guitarist Herman Li's own studio in West London between April and September, while production duties were shared between Li, fellow axeman Sam Totman and keyboard player Vadim Pruzhanov.

"Inhuman Rampage" track listing:

01. Through the Fire and Flames
02. Revolution Deathsquad
03. Storming the Burning Fields
04. Operation Ground and Pound
05. Body Breakdown
06. Cry for Eternity
07. The Flame of Youth
08. Trail of Broken Hearts

The album will be released on CD and picture vinyl, with the CD featuring an enhanced section and other surprise goodies.

A three-minute audio clip of the re-recorded version of the FALKENBACH track "Heralder" has been posted online at NapalmRecords.com. The new version of the song (the original was a bonus track for the picture LP version of "...En Their Medh Riki Fara...") will appear on the group's forthcoming album, "Heralding the Fireblade", due on November 25 via Napalm Records. It will be issued both as a limited-edition digipack, featuring one bonus track, and a regular jewel-case version. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Heathen Foray
02. Of Forests Unknown
03. Havamal
04. Roman Land
05. Heralder *
06. Laeknishendr
07. Walkiesjar
08. Skirnir
09. Gjallar **

* re-recorded version

** re-recorded version of an old track originally featured on the "Skinn Av Sveri Sol Valtiva" demo

WHITESNAKE have changed the title of their upcoming live DVD to "In the Still of the Night" from the previously announced "The Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues Show". The set, which was recorded with 13 cameras in October 2004 at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, was supposed to come out in time for the band's summer's U.S. tour, but was pushed back to later in the year because the producer suffered a heart attack. "The guy who's been coordinating everything has just had a heart attack," WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale told Launch.

Due on November 25 via AFM Records/Soulfood/CHS, "In the Still of the Night" (view cover here) will feature the following track listing:

01. Burn / Stormbringer
02. Bad Boys
03. Love Ain't No Stranger
04. Ready An' Willing
05. Is This Love
06. Give Me All Your Love
07. Judgement Day
08. Snake Dance
09. Crying In the Rain
10. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
11. Don't Break My Heart Again
12. Fool For Your Loving
13. Here I Go Again
14. Take Me With You
15. Still of the Night

On November 11, Nuclear Blast Records will release a DEATH DVD entitled "Death: Live in Cottbus". It will have the same track listing as the "Live in L.A. (Death & Raw)" DVD and will also include all the press pictures from the "The Sound of Perseverance" era (1998) as well. Also, a new "deluxe" edition of the "The Sound of Perseverance" CD will contain "Live in Cottbus" as a bonus DVD. Both releases will be available through the Nuclear Blast online shop.

"Live in L.A. (Death & Raw)" was recorded December 5, 1998 at the Whisky A-Go Go in Los Angeles and features the following track listing:

01. Intro
02. The Philosopher
03. Spirit Crusher
04. Trapped In A Corner
05. Scavenger Of Human Sorrow
06. Crystal Mountain
07. Flesh And The Power It Holds
08. Zero Tolerance
09. Zombie Ritual
10. Suicide Machine
11. Together As One
12. Empty Words
13. Symbolic
14. Pull the Plug

The lineup for the recording was as follows:

Chuck Schuldiner – Guitar, Vocals
Richard Christy - Drums
Scott Clendenin - Bass
Shannon Hamm - Guitar