Finland's NIGHTWISH have announced that they will be working with renowned director Antti Jokinen on the video clip for the first single off their forthcoming full-length album. Jokinen has directed music videos for such huge artists as CELINE DION, EMINEM and SHANIA TWAIN and is currently in Rome working as an assistant director on Renny Harlin's new film, "Exorcist: The Beginning".

The budget for the new NIGHTWISH video ? for the track "Nemo" ? will be biggest so far in NIGHTWISH's history. The storyboard of the video, by Tuomas Holopainen and Tero Kinnunen, is ready but Jokinen is said to have "permission" to change the story if necessary. "This is a very sad and heavy, ballad-like song," said NIGHTWISH manager Ewo Rytkönen. " video has a thin storyline which tells not so much of love but more like despair and hope."

Band profile:

Nightwish

Megadeth.com is currently hosting a clip of "new MEGADETH music" along with an audio message from Dave Mustaine. Check it out here: http://www.megadeth.com/btu/pop.html

As previously reported, Mustaine is currently collaborating with one-time MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland on new MEGADETH material which he plans to release later in the year through the Sanctuary label. Bassist Jimmy Sloas and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta have also contributed to the album, which Mustaine expects to have done by the end of March.

Band profile:

Megadeth

Swedish black metallers MARDUK have been forced to push back the European release date of their much-anticipated DVD, "Funeral Marches And Warsongs", to late February. The disc will surface in the U.S through The End Records and South America through Hellion Records.

According to a posting on the band's web site, the delay was caused by "problems with the printer."

Signed copies of the DVD can be obtained through the group's own Blooddawn Productions at this location:http://www.marduk.nu/marduk/news/News.htm#

The long-delayed disc includes, among other features, a live show recorded in Paris on the European leg of the "World Funeral" tour as well as footage of the band's reunion with former vocalist Joakim Göthberg during their appearance at the Party.San Open Air festival in Germany in August 2003.

"Funeral Marches And Warsongs" (view cover here) track listing:

Live at La Loco in Paris, France, Paris - April 9, 2003:

01. Blackcrowned
02. With Satan and Victorious Weapons
03. Azrael
04. Wolves
05. World Funeral
06. Hearse
07. Bleached Bones
08. Of Hells Fire
09. Darkness It Shall Be
10. Fistfucking Gods Planet

Live in Katowice, Poland - April 5, 2003:

01. Blackcrowned
02. With Satan and Victorious Weapons
03. Azrael
04. Wolves
05. World Funeral
06. Hearse
07. Bleached Bones
08. Of Hells Fire
09. Darkness It Shall Be
10. Fistfucking Gods Planet

Live at Party.San Open Air festival in Bad Berka, Germany - August 7, 2003:

01. Jesus Christ Sodomized
02. Baptism by Fire
03. The Black
04. Still Fucking Dead

Video clips:

01. Hearse (recorded April 2003)
02. World Funeral (recorded April 2003)

Band profile:

Marduk

G3, featuring YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, STEVE VAI and JOE SATRIANI, will release a tour DVD, entitled G3 Live In Denver, through Epic on February 24th. Epic will also release a G3 CD, Live: Rockin' In The Free World, on the same date.

Those pre-ordering these items through the online Sony Store, located at http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/catalog/MerchandiseDetails.jsp'selectionId=075421 will receive a free G3 autographed DVD booket (for DVD orders) or CD booklet (for CD orders). Orders will ship to be received on or around February 24th.

The DVD, G3 Live In Denver, features among its contents, the following tracklisting: 'Satch Boogie', 'The Extremist', 'Starry Night', 'Midnight', 'The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing', 'I Know You're Here', 'Juice', 'I'm The Hell Outta Here', 'Evil Eye', 'Baroque And Roll', Acoustic Guitar Solo, 'Adagio', 'Far Beyond The Sun', 'Rockin' In The Free World', 'Little Wing' and 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)'. Also featured is a Play Concert Set List, Audio Select and bonus features.

The CD, G3 Live: Rockin' In The Free World, features the following tracklisting: CD1 - 'The Extremist', 'Crystal Planet', 'Always With Me, Always With You', 'Midnight', 'The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing', 'You're Here', 'Reaping', 'Whispering A Prayer', 'Blitzkrieg', 'Trilogy Suite Op. 5', 'Red House', 'Fugue' and 'Finale'. CD2 - 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)', 'Little Wing' and 'Rockin' In The Free World'.

OPETH main songwriter and guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt recently spoke to Wichita's F5 about the group's recently released live DVD, "Lamentations - Live At Shepherds Bush Empire". Asked what he thought the first time he saw the finished product, Mikael said, "I was nervous. I thought it was going to be shit. But I was happily surprised. I was surprised about the way it looked and just the way I looked. I didn't look like a fat blob as I expected. I think it's a very good DVD, especially compared to some low-budget DVDs by extreme metal bands such as ourselves. I think it fully represents us."

With regards to whether he was also nervous about the detailed documentary about the making of "Deliverance" and "Damnation", Mikael said, "Not so much. It's a friend of mine who did that documentary. I've known him since I was a kid and talking with him was ... we're such good friends that there was nothing weird about talking about intimate details. He was there, he knew all about all the stuff that went on. It was pretty easy and I like the fact that we exposed ourselves in a deeper way than many other bands."

Band profile:

Opeth

Dreamaker the band formed by the ex-Dark Moor members: Elisa C. Martín (vocals), Albert Maroto (guitar) and Jorge Sáez (drums) will release their debut album "Human Device" in March 2004. "Human Device" should not be described as a Power Metal album. The unique style of Elisa¹s voice is the bridge between Dark Moor and Dreamaker but Dreamaker prefers to offer a more direct music based on a powerful guitar sound and ambient keyboards, but persevering the good melodies in the vocal lines. "Human Device" could be called as a new step in the metal genre.

"Human Device" tracklist:
1. Dream Machines
2. The Eye Of War
3. Nightmares Factory
4. Without Angels
5. Killing
6. Enemy
7. Forever In Your Arms
8. Alone Again
9. Welcome To My Hell
10. Eternal Love
11. Crystaline Eyes
12. Awakening

Some song sample can be heard here:~
Killing - http://www.arisemetal.com/dreamkilling.mp3

Without Angels - http://www.arisemetal.com/dreamwith.mp3

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Band profile:

Dark Moor

Dan Slaughter, drummer of the Swedish "raw, bestial death metallers" DEATHWITCH, has issued the following statement regarding the group's most recent CD, "Violence Blasphemy Sodomy":

"I have received a lot of negative reactions from journalists and press because of a line on our promo CD of our latest album 'Violence Blasphemy Sodomy' released by Earache Records/Wicked World. The line is 'Note to Journalists: DEATHWITCH don't give a FUCK what you think."

"This was written by some one working for Earache/Wicked World and was NOT approved by me or the band. I didn't know a FUCK about this line until I got reactions on it and finally got the promo my self. So that line do not comes from the band! We hate it and of course we care about journalists and especially the underground scene. I think it's a very stupid thing to write on a promo CD. Then why send promos???

"So FUCK this shit and hail the metal of morbid death!"

Swedish black metallers MARDUK and former IRON MAIDEN singer PAUL DI'ANNO are the latest bands confirmed for this year's Rock The Nations Open Air Festival, scheduled to be held July 3-4 in Istanbul, Turkey. Also set to appear are U.D.O., PAIN OF SALVATION, AMON AMARTH and ASAFATED SOLITUDE. More confirmations will be announced soon.

Band profile:

Marduk

Swedish grindcore merchants NASUM won the Manifest award in the "Best Hard Rock/Punk" category for their most recent album, "Helvete".

The band beat out such impressive competition as ARCH ENEMY ("Anthems of Rebellion"), KATATONIA ("Viva Emptiness"), CULT OF LUNA ("The Beyond") and BURST ("Prey On Life").

The award ceremony took place at Debaser in Stockholm Thursday night (January 29).

The Manifest Awards are held by SOM (Svenska Oberoende Musikproducenter) (Swedish Independent Musicproducers), an organization that consists of over 100 record labels.

Last Friday (January 23), NASUM won the "P3 Guld" award from radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" category. That award ceremony took place in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Band profile:

Nasum

GRIP INC., the forward-thinking metal outfit featuring Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, FANTOMAS), will release "Incorporated", their fourth studio album, on March 16 in the U.S. through SPV Records. The GRIP INC. lineup is rounded out by guitarist/composer/in-demand producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, MOONSPELL) and vocalist Gus Chambers.

The track listing for "Incorporated" is as follows:

01. Curse (Of the Cloth)
02. The Answer
03. Prophecy
04. Endowment of Apathy
05. Enemy Mind
06. Skin Trade
07. (Built to) Resist
08. The Gift
09. Privilege
10. Blood of Saints
11. Man With No Insides

Sweden's KATATONIA have been confirmed for Athens Open Air 2004 festival in Athens, Greece. The one-off concert will take place on July 6.

Upcoming KATATONIA tour dates:

Feb. 04 - Klubi - Tampere, FIN
Feb. 05 - Lutakko - Jyväskylä, FIN
Feb. 06 - Loop - Oulu, FIN
Feb. 07 - Tavastia - Helsinki, FIN
Feb. 19 - John Dee - Oslo, NOR
Feb. 20 - Byscenen - Trondheim, NOR
Jun. 04 - BW&BK 6-Pack Weekend - Cleveland, OH
Jul. 06 - Athens Open-Air 2004 - Athens, GRE
Aug. 20 - Summer Breeze Open Air - Abtsgmünd, GER

As previously reported, KATATONIA have set a February 23 release date through Avantgarde Records for their two-disc compilation of all of their previously out-of-print mini-CDs, plus sampler tracks from old full-length albums and one unreleased track.

Titled "Brave Yester Days", the double CD will feature artwork by Agni Kaster and will be released in a digipack format together with a 16-page booklet.

KATATONIA are currently editing their first DVD, due later in the year. A Polish Cracow gig from April 2003 will be the main attraction of the disc, but there will also be more exclusive bonus footage to go along with it. In addition, one or two of the unreleased tracks from the "Viva Emptiness" sessions will also show up on the DVD.

Band profile:

Katatonia

Former DEATH/TESTAMENT guitarist James Murphy has reportedly secured a deal with Holland's Mascot Records for his upcoming all-star tribute to album being put together in memory of DEATH mainman Chuck Schuldiner.

The CD, said to be titled "Within The Mind", is tentatively scheduled to include contributions from SLIPKNOT guitarist Mick Thomson and bassist Paul Gray, MALEVOLENT CREATION/ex-SUFFOCATION drummer Dave Culross, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION vocalist Brett Hoffmann and CKY guitarist Deron Miller. A late 2004 release is expected.

Band profile:

Death

Posted on the Official Homepage:

Hi all, our smoking new album "New World Messiah" is set for release on March 22nd!!!
Make a big mark in your calendars, people. Life will never be the same again after this glorious day, I tell you.
Our new site will be up in a week or two. We will announce its coming on this very site before this one gets closed down... On the new one you will get to hear NEW SONGS (or bits of them anyway) SEE NEW PHOTOS (we're still as ugly though. maybe even worse) AND SEE CLIPS OF RECORDING MADNESS, EVIL WORSHIP AND WHAT NOT!!!

Also - BIG NEWS -
We will be on tour with EDGUY and Brainstorm April through May. A complete listing of all dates will be found on our new site. This will be the tour of the century, folks. No doubts in my mind. See you soon, /NILS & The Boys

Band profile:

Nocturnal Rites

I know... it have been to much now, but news is news and here is some more:

Former Stratovarius vocalist Timo Kotipelto has broken his silence regarding his departure from the band.

The following is Kotipelto's official statement regarding his split with the group and his future plans:

"Dear Friends,

"There's been so many rumours out lately that I wanted to sort things out with a short comment from my side. First of all, I have given more than 10 years of my life to Stratovarius and loving 99% of what I have experienced through the years. I have been able to participate on amazing albums, I've had a chance to sing some unforgettable songs and most important: I've had the pleasure to tour around the world, sing for thousands of people and meet new friends everywhere. I sincerely thank all of you! You have fulfilled my dreams and even more.

"When I joined the band 1993 I was still studying vocals and I immediately felt that it was my destiny to sing in this band. There's been some smaller crisis (like in every rock band) but towards the end of the last year they have been piling up. I didn't like so much the musical direction of the latest albums. To me Stratovarius are best on 'Episode' and 'Visions' albums. The final thing for me was when I read from the Finnish yellow press Tolkki's interview where he said that he doesn't know who will play on the next album. I phoned him and after having a short meeting we decided that we should go separate ways.

"I have been very busy with my own album from the end of the last year until now. I can honestly tell you that the last months have been the most difficult of my life. And not talking only about the band situation, my private life has been a mess too. I've been stressed enough and busy with other things and thought that I should not join Tolkki's little blaming game. But I think he has really gone over the top lately. He had said a lot of childish things and bullshit about me. I just want to tell him 'get better!' We used to be friends but nowadays we have drifted so much apart. I do respect him as a musician, composer and a producer. I wish him and the rest of the band all the best.

"What comes to Jörg, I wish him and his family all the best and happiness. He and I have had same kind of situations in the past as well and in the end they have all worked out. I hope we will be friends someday.

"A lot of people (journalists/fans/friends) have been asking me a lot of questions 'Why?'

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Band profile:

Stratovarius

MORIFADE

Title; Domi<]nation
Releasedate; 09/02/04
Format; CD / CD-digi
Territory; World excluding the Americas and Japan

OVERVIEW
The beginning of 2004 will get a highlight in the form of the third album by the Swedish Power Metal band MORIFADE. The previous album "Imaginarium" received excellent reviews, but "Domi<]nation" is an album that crosses all the boundaries needed for a killer Power Metal album A.D. 2003 !

Innovative, progressive, but not in a way that makes this a difficult listening, good songs prevail on this album !

If Power Metal is your cup of tea then MORIFADE is your thing to check out !

MARKETING AND PROMOTION
· Advertisement in all relevant Media.
· Huge service to relevant media, there will be massive media coverage.

SELLING POINTS
· The previous album "Imaginarium" did really well worldwide.
· Recorded at Los Angered Studio (o.a. Evergrey) by Andy La Rocque (a.o. King Diamond/Death).
· First 5.000 copies come in a limited edition digipack with five (!!!) bonussongs.
· The digi and the normal CD have a video-track added for "Lost Within a Shade".
· Design by C.A. Interactive (a.o. Skyfire, Forefather).

TRACKLISTING
Parallels
A Silent Revolution
The Second Coming
Words I Never Speak
Clarity (Fragments of a Dream)
Panopticon
The Rising
Erase
Memory's End
Cast a Spell*
As Time Decides*
Tomorrow Knows*
Dance with the Devil*
Judas (Helloween-cover)*
Lost Within a Shade (video-track)

* = bonus track for the digi-pack only !!!

MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND AT
www.karmageddonmedia.com
www.morifade.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

V/A

Title; Nordic Metal - A Tribute to Euronymous
Releasedate; 09/02/04
Cat. # KARMA011
Format; CD
Barcode; 8 24971 70112 0
Territory; Europe only !

OVERVIEW
This is the long-since deleted CLASSIC compilation, also sub-titled "A Tribute To Euronymous", which ofcourse is the legendary MAYHEM-guitarist who died in 1993?This album originates from the mid nineties and back then this compilation was seen as a very valuable possession for anyone being part of the expanding Black Metal scene (obviously a look at the track-list explains exactly why?).

We have decided to make it available again, first of all because we like it a lot and secondly because there is such a big demand !!! The design is spiced up and the sound was always killer on this compilation that actually should be declared "Best Black Metal Compilation" ever?

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