Henkka revealed that the next Children Of Bodom studio album will be recorded in Helsinki with Mikko Karmila but not in the Finnvox studios. It's not known yet if the recordings which where scheduled for March will be delayed due to Alexi's broken arm.

The release date of the album will be:

CHILDREN OF BODOM 29.08.2005 CD SPI230CD tba in Finland through Spinefarm Records

and 03.09.2005 in the rest of the world through Universal.

But of course these dates can get postponed if the recordings will be delayed...

source : http://www.scythes-of-bodom.com

Band profile:

Children Of Bodom

Henrik Nordvargr Björkk, the well-known Industrial/Dark-Ambient/Electronic artist from Sweden (just to name a few of his many projects: MZ412, TOROIDH, NORDVARGR) finally joined FORGOTTEN TOMB on a stable basis!! Nordvargr already gave his obscure contribution to the band on the "Love's Burial Ground" album, writing 3 tracks ("Malus Vivendi" Pt. I, II, III). Now he's confirmed as a stable member and he will write new material together with the other members of the band, so expect the 4th FT full-lenght album to be a total ecstasy of Darkness In Stereo!! Imagine the sick suicidal feeling of FT interacting with desolated, harsh and obscure Industrial/Ambient sonic-scapes and you'll have a clue of how the new album will sound !

www.adipocere.fr

Band profile:

Forgotten Tomb

After auditioning several guitarists, FALCONER have now found a new lead player to complete their line-up. His name is Jimmy Hedlund, and he totally outshone the rest of the applicants.

He nailed every note in each of the three songs that were tested, and possesses some amazing solo skills as well!

FALCONER will start recording their new album in late December for an early May release. The title of the fourth album will be "GRIME VS. GRANDEUR".

More detailed news can be found on the official homepage: www.falconermusic.com

Band profile:

Falconer

Here's a little present from Gaia to all of you out there that might be intrested. This is a preview of the new album, but remember that the sound files are at low quality and that the songs havent been to a mastering studio yet. So the sound on the cd will be alot better than the sound you can here on the samples.

go to http://www.gaia-epicus.com/news.html and click on the RED link that says: Happy Xmas

Band profile:

Gaia Epicus

The Grammy nominated heavy rockers from North Carolina will release an aggressive new studio album through Sanctuary's Mayan Records label in early 2005, to be followed by a worldwide tour. Working title for the new piece is "En los Brazos del Dios" (In the Arms of God).

http://www.noiserecords.com

Here's some MP3 links from upcoming releases. Most are available for the first time. They can be downloaded separately or just click on the last file to download all in one zipped file. Feel free to spread the word!

... Antimatter ? Legions (rough edit)
... Darkthrone ? God Of Doubt
... Epoch Of Unlight ? Aberrant Shadows
... Frantic Bleep ? But A Memory
... Novembers Doom ? Swallowed By The Moon
... Oathean ? Beyond The Memories I Lost
... Subterranean Masquerade ? No Place Like Home (exclusive for 2004)
... Ulver ? Xmas (rough edit sampler)

to listen go to: http://label.theendrecords.com/

Read more ››

We are excited to announce our first signing from South Korea. This is possibly the most talented extreme metal band from Asia. A unique blend of death/black metal with folklore elements!
Media Quote: "It turns out that there's much more coming out of South Korea than (find encyclopedia and place country's main export *here*), since Oathean has turned out some above average melodic death/black metal." - ChroniclesOfChaos.com
Oathean "Fading Aways Into The Grave of Nothingness" is due out Feb 22nd and includes 2 bonus tracks!

http://label.theendrecords.com/

According to the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes-of-Bodom.com, CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Alexi Laiho broke his arm and will most likely be forced to sit out the upcoming "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (DAMAGEPLAN, PANTERA) tribute concert that is scheduled to be held in Helsinki, Finland on January 15, 2005. Laiho's replacement for the concert will be announced at a later date.

Source:	Blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Children Of Bodom

Magellan has finished the recording of the new Magellan Album entitled "SYMPHONY FOR A MISANTHROPE". Inside Out has not yet announced the release date.

Album title: "SYMPHONY FOR A MISANTHROPE"
SONGS:

1. Symphonette
2. Why Water Weeds?
3. Wisdom
4. Cranium Reef Suite
part one: "Youthful Enthusiasm"
part two: "Psych 101"
part three: "Primal Defense"
5. Pianissimo Intermission
6. Doctor Concoctor
7. Every Bullet Needs Blood

Check the website (http://www.magellanweb.com) in the next days for further details.

Artemis Records is proud to announce the signing of Black Label Society, featuring legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde, to an exclusive worldwide licensing, multi-album contract. An album of all-new material, MAFIA, is slated for a March 8th, 2005 release. In 1987 at the tender age of 19, an unknown Zakk Wylde was hand-picked by Ozzy Osbourne to be his lead guitarist. In addition to his responsibilities as Ozzy's main axe slinger, Wylde was responsible for co-writing many of Osbourne's best-selling multi-platinum albums. In 1998, Wylde formed his own band, Black Label Society, while still maintaining his role as Osbourne's lead guitarist. In Black Label Society, Wylde serves as sole songwriter, lead vocalist and of course, lead guitar player. To date, Black Label Society has released six albums and has sold in excess of one million units worldwide.

http://www.artemisrecords.com/

Band profile:

Black Label Society

Legendary Norwegian black metal band DARKTHRONE, nominated last Wednesday in the "Metal" category for the highly coveted Norwegian Alarm Awards, have now been removed from the list of nominees.

DARKTHRONE, one of five candidates in the metal category for their album "Sardonic Wrath", communicated their dissatisfaction at being nominated in an article published in Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten the day after the selected names were released to the public. "We play real and honest black metal," drummer Fenriz commented in the article. "And we have no interest in being part of the glitter and showbiz side of the music industry."

Alarm Awards chief, Svein Bjørge, was surprised by the band's reaction but hasted to find a solution that culminated in the band's elimination from the category altogether.

On hearing the news that their wish had been granted, Fenriz commented, "I just wanted to say my piece about the whole Alarm nomination thing last week and whether they kept us in or not would have been no skin off my nose."

"I have everything AGAINST awards for black metal," Nocturno Culto added. "What a fucking circus this has become."

"I am not against awards in general," Fenriz concluded. "I just thought it was not for us."

"Sardonic Wrath" is out now on Moonfog with promotion and distribution through The End Records in North America.

blabbermouth.net

Band profile:

Darkthrone

HI!! here's some "snippets" of a few of the songs we are working on - these are home demos but at least you get an idea of what we are up to - more to follow!!!
cheers,
john

( http://www.ravenlunatics.com/media/NEW.MP3 )

http://www.ravenlunatics.com/

INSOMNIUM raises Christmas spirit by making all songs from our first demo downloadable! To boot this best gift ever we even offer official tablature for the song Dying Chant (album version, powertab translation). Go and have fun with it!

Album We have been busy writing new material for our third release and that's main reason for lack of updates. We have finished few new songs already but there's still long way to go until we have whole new Insomnium album in our hands. If everything goes well we'll enter studio probably somewhere in the next year.

http://www.insomnium.net/

Band profile:

Insomnium

"Green Carnation Completes 4th studio album titled: "The Quiet Offspring":
On September 15th, the band finished recording its 4th full length album, scheduled to be released through Season of Mist in February 2005.
The band is very excited about the new material and looking forward to hearing the mastered tapes when they arrive in a couple of days. More info about the album will be released soon".

Also, the cover of the forthcoming album was posted online on the website of the band.

http://www.green-carnation.tk/

Band profile:

Green Carnation

"NYC's doomsters EVOKEN have also completed the recordings of their new album, to come in 2005.

The album is now tentatively titled "The Last of Vitality" (might change !)

We also have an anticipation on the songs titles :

Procession
Mournful Refusal
Antithesis of Light
Dreamsfear
Darkness Visable
The Last of Vitality
Instrumental

We asked the guys to describe the album in words, and here it comes directly from their pen.... :

"This album will show more variety in structure and sound. Yet, will still keep its dark, heavy, and ominous overtone. This definitely has more structure, yet has subtle differences from previous work. Each song has a swelling and sweeping, darkened atmosphere that will be felt from opening track, to final note. 7 songs plus one intro will come together like a life ending story. The clean guitar sounds as if a distant tolling bell warns of an impending dying sun. The rest of the instruments will complete a sound that we will let the listener await. Some surprises will be found on this album that will show Evoken will continue to expand its sound, its song structure, and influences, while still committing to their doom laden foundation.
Nobody has heard a more cold, haunting, and livid Doom metal album until now""

www.avantgardemusic.com

Band profile:

Evoken