Metal Storm earned 6th position in best webzines in the latest top10 published in the French magazine Metallian.

The site is above other well-known metal pages such as www.metalreviews.com to name one.

So keep up supporting us guys, we have a strong team and we are heading toward number one!

AQUILON, Dark death metal band for south of France is the signature of Adipocere. After an excellent self-produced MCD titled "Les ombres de quatre murs", the band will start the recording of its debut in march, at the "Studio des Milans" with the sound-engineer of GOJIRA ! Expect a early april release....

ELLIPSIS has started the recording of its second album "From Beyond Thematics" in early november at the Sound Suite Studio with producer Terje Refsnes (Nightmare, Carpathian Forest, Penumbra, Tristania...). The last part of the recording and the mix will be done later, at the beginning of february. The album will feature 11 news songs and Khallys, the "new" keyboard player of the band. More news soon...

FORGOTTEN TOMB will be back in january 2004 at the Tommy Tagtgren's Abyss Studio - Sweden in order to record their third opus.

FURIA has some surprises for you... There's a lot of concerts everywhere in France, they has just shot a video under the direction of their keyboard player Medhi, but the band is also preparing a 2 Cds box for the end of the year titled "La Source Noire". This box will contain the remastered version of their first opus "A La Quête Du Passé" and a DVD of a full concert filmed by 8 cameras. You will find also inside some stickers and a 200 pages book (sorry, it will be only in french) with the whole story of the band's concept.

NEHËMAH has finished the recording of their third album "Requiem Tenebrae" !! Here the track listing of this one hour long album : "The great old ones", "The elder Gods", "In the mist of orion's sword", "Conciousness in evil", "Taken away by the torn blackshroud" et "Through the dark nebula". The band has recorded it with producer Ludo Tournier in a new studio and they've mastered it at "l'Autre Studio", in Paris !! The release is planned for the end of january 2004...

BENIGHTED has recorded during the summer its third opus titled "Insane Cephalic Production". The recording took place in Germany with producer-engineer Christian Kholemannsleiner (Agathodaimon, Ad Inferna?) who has recorded also the last album of Destinity. The release is planned for the beginning of 2004...

DESTINITY, is writting song their next album wwhich will be record at the FURIA's personal studio in january. The band is also preparing a spring tour with label mates BENIGHTED and a headlining european band. It will be titles" IN ECXELSIS DEMENTIA" and will contain 10 tracks of the most extreme Metal with both Black Metal & Death Metal influences, epics parts and amazing blast-beats !!! The album should be released in march 2004 and the 500 first copies will be an hand-numeroted limited edition digi-pack !

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TESLA will release their eagerly anticipated new studio album, "Into the Now", on Sanctuary Records on March 9, 2004. The original lineup of vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Frank Hannon, guitarist Tommy Skeoch, bass guitarist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta spent more than two years writing and recording "Into the Now". TESLA co-produced the album with Michael Rosen.

"Into the Now" track listing:

01. Into the Now
02. Look @ Me
03. What a Shame
04. Heaven Nine Eleven
05. Words Can't Explain
06. Caught In a Dream
07. Miles Away
08. Mighty Mouse
09. Got No Glory
10. Come to Me
11. Recognize
12. Only You

Band profile:

Tesla

Holland's EPICA (formerly SAHARA DUST), the new group formed by ex-AFTER FOREVER guitarist Mark Jansen, ex-CASSIOPEIA guitarist Ad Sluijter and keyboardist Coen Janssen, have announced the details of their new single, "Feint", due on Thursday, January 8.

The complete track listing for the single is as follows:

01. Feint
02. Feint (previously unreleased piano version)
03. Triumph of Defeat (previously unreleased instrumental track)
04. Seif al Din

"Feint" and "Seif al Din" are both taken from EPICA's debut album, "The Phantom Agony", which was released last June through Transmission Records. The CD was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany under the expert guidance of the renowned producer and technician Sascha Paeth (RHAPSODY, KAMELOT, ANGRA).

As previously reported, EPICA will be playing a show with AFTER FOREVER on March 21 at Tivoli in Utrecht, Holland.

Band profile:

Epica

NOTRE DAME, the Swedish band featuring drummer Snowy Shaw (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, DREAM EVIL), will release their new album, "Demi Monde Bizarros", in February and not on April 1, as erroneously posted on the web site of the group's label, Osmose Productions.

According to Shaw, the forthcoming CD features songs "about sex, Satan and sadomasochism."

The complete track listing for "Demi Monde Bizarros" is as follows:

01. Munsters!
02. The Ride
03. The Stripper
04. My Ride Into Afterlife
05. Bon Voyage Mutherfucker
06. Hitmusic For Hitmen
07. Verbal Diarrhoea
08. Beyond The Threshold Of Pain
09. S/S Hellride
Bonus live tracks:
10. These Boots Are Made For Walking
11. The Wurld Is Sick

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM have parted ways with singer/guitarist Jari Mäenpää. According to a posting on the band's official web site, "the reason why this happened is that Jari's solo project (WINTERSUN) is a priority in Jari's musical interests. If Jari had stayed in the band, ENSIFERUM had to cancel their most important (European) tour with FINNTROLL which starts in April, soon after the release of the second album. Also the other touring would have been decreased to minimal which would lead to the boredom and eventual break-up in the band."

Jari's official statement on the matter is as follows:

"I'm out of ENSIFERUM. The thing is that my and ENSIFERUM's schedules got fucked up and I couldn't be in two places at the same time.

"Here's my side of the story: I have made my own music aside of ENSIFERUM and even before I joined the band in '96. And it has always been more important thing for me. Since I am not the main songwriter in ENSIFERUM and ENSIFERUM has this one 'style' of music, I couldn't satisfy my musical needs and dreams. I'm very creative person and it was just matter of time, before I had to get my own material out inside of me.

"Last year I signed a deal with Nuclear Blast. I booked the studios last summer for March-April 2004 to record my album. I told the guys and our record company Spinefarm that I needed a break from ENSIFERUM to do my thing. (I would have probably needed a break anyway, 'cause I was very sick for months and stressed out in the ENSIFERUM's 'Iron' recordings.) Then Spinefarm booked a tour in April on top of my studio time and told me that I would have to move or cancel my studios. That wasn't possible and I wouldn't have done it anyway, if it would have been possible. Because I felt in my heart that I couldn't do anything, before I would have recorded my album, it had been boiling under for too long.

"So the rest of the guys and me had to make some difficult choices. The guys thought they wouldn't wait for me and they had to go on this tour, even without me. So they decided to try to find a replacement and kick me out of the band. I can understand their decision and I hold no grudge. I'm just sad that things had to go this way. I would have chosen both ENSIFERUM and my music, but since that wasn't possible, my choice was clear.

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Band profile:

Ensiferum

According to the STRATOVARIUS fan site www.truemetal.org/stratovarius, "Klaus Flaming, the host of the weekly Finnish metal radio show 'Metalliliitto' had a brief chat with Timo Tolkki at the afterparty of Sirkkelirock, the Finnish metal awards . Timo mentioned that the new vocalist is a good-looking and talented FEMALE. Interesting... I'd however take the comment with a grain of salt as it sounded as if Timo was a bit drunk while making it."

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Band profile:

Stratovarius

Polish death metallers VADER have commenced work on the material for their sixth full-length album, tentatively titled "Spiritual Disease", for a May/June release through Metal Blade Records. Among the tracks set to appear on the CD are "Out Of A Deep" and "Lead Us!"

The follow-up to 2002's "Revelations" will be recorded in February 2004 at PR Studio in Gdañsk with producer Piotr Lukaszewski and will mark the group's final release for Metal Blade under the terms of their present contract with the label.

In other news, PANZER X, the solo project of VADER vocalist/guitarist Peter, are in the middle of recording their promotional CD at Studio X in Olsztyn, Poland. Titled "Steel First", the CD will feature "four pieces plus two cover songs and something extra," according to a posting on VADER's web site. "Steel First" is being engineered by Szymon Czech and produced by Peter himself. Wojtek Blasiak, the artist who recently did some graphics work for MOONSPELL, will take care of the "Steel Fist" artwork and layout.

Band profile:

Vader

With pride and a big smile we announce the latest signing to our roster of quality metal acts !!!

OCCULT, the most persistent Blackened oldschool Thrash act ever from the Netherlands have signed a multiple record-deal with KARMAGEDDON MEDIA. Ofcourse Occult is already a well-known name in the underground scene and the band has so far released 4 albums and a DVD. Furthermore the band intensively toured the last couple of years with acts such as Morbid Angel, Immortal, Exodus, Dark Funeral and Marduk, just to name a few.

Upon receiving a copy of Occult's new album ELEGY FOR THE WEAK our interest grew to a very high level, because this record simply shreds and we dare to say this will become a classic album coming from the Netherlands, in league with classic albums by Pestilence, Gorefest, Dead Head or Sinister.

It is very rare one can hear such catchy, memorable and intense Thrash songs without being accused of selling out... the production was in the hands of German Thrash goeroe Andy Classen @ Stage One Studio, previously known for his work with acts such as Dew Scented, Callenish Circle, Krisiun and Die Apokalyptischen Reiter.

The ultimate Thrash attack is coming your way, riffs that would make Slayer jealous and an intensity that Kreator is looking for since years, all combined in a head-ripping production that will leave no prisoners.

In official statement Occult's spokesman Maurice Swinkels says:

"We are very happy we are signed to Karmageddon Media now. We are convinced Karmageddon Media will guide us to a higher level when it comes to promotion and distribution of our albums. Hopefully we can attack some of the upcoming festivals as well. Elegy for the Weak is without doubt the best album we recorded in our history... also due to Andy Classen's excellent work since he blessed the album with a killer sound. THRASH... OR BE THRASHED !!!"

The complete tracklisting of Elegy for the Weak is as following:

- Disturbing the Dead
- Nuclear Torment
- Nocturnal Predator
- Feel the Blade
- Expire
- Warbeast
- Obsessed by the Grave
- Slaughtering the Pigs
- Reapers Call
- Slut of Sodom

* Elegy for the Weak is scheduled for an early March release on Karmageddon Media.

* For more information and a new MP3 check the band's official website :

www.occult.nu

www.occult.nu/MP3/elegy/

* For more information on the band's DVD-release on Lowlife Media : www.lowlifemedia.net

The 2003 installment of the Finnish Metal Music Awards (Sirkkelirock 2003) was held this past Saturday (January 3) at Tavastia Club in Helsinki.

Voting was open to all the metal fans in Finland and was presented through the various media outlets that were working with the event's organizers.

The winners are as follows:

Finnish Band of the Year: CHILDREN OF BODOM
Finnish Newcomer of the Year: MACHINE MEN
Finnish Album of the Year: KOTITEOLLISUUS - "Helvetistä Itään"
International Band: IRON MAIDEN
International Newcomer: EVANESCENCE
International Album: IRON MAIDEN - "Dance of Death"
Producer of the Year: Mikko Karmila
Metal Video of 2003: KOTITEOLLISUUS - "Minä Olen"
Metal Event of 2003: Tuska Metal Festival

In addition, Sirkkelirock presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award to CANNIBAL CORPSE for acknowledged work in metal music.

(Thanks: Imperiumi.net)

Finland's KALMAH have cancelled their previously announced Feb. 7 appearance at the Kaamos - Dark Metal Night festival in Oulu, Finland. According to a post on the band's web site, "We had problems with personal time schedules which was the reason for cancelling."

The band, who recently parted ways with keyboardist Pasi Hiltula, will now play at Loop in Oulu, Finland on Friday, February 13.

KALMAH released their third full-length album, "Swampsong", in Finland through Spikefarm Records and in North America through Century Media Records.

Band profile:

Kalmah

MARILYN MANSON and Norwegian black metallers MAYHEM were included in a list of the "100 most insane moments in rock" released last week by British music magazine Q.

Topping the list was the late WHO drummer Keith Moon, who was singled out for a life of excess that included countless drug-fueled brawls, a food fight with police in Flint, Michigan and an impromptu fireworks display on a U.S. television show.

The list, chosen by magazine staff, is an enlightening record of rock 'n' roll's wacky and weird moments, ranging from the bat-biting of Ozzy Osbourne to Michael Jackson conducting a voodoo ritual to fatally curse his enemies, via Elvis Presley's predilection for mounds of jam and peanut butter sandwiches, and Freddie Mercury's offstage sexual thrills.

The Top 10:

01. Keith Moon
02. Prince ? proselytizes door-to-door for Jehovah's Witnesses
03. Marilyn Manson ? covers fan in meat
04. Michael Jackson ? puts curse on Steven Spielberg
05. Elvis Presley ? flies 879 miles (1415 kilometers) for peanut butter and bacon sandwiches
06. MAYHEM ? Norwegian band's bassist kills guitarist
07. Courtney Love ? lies down semi-naked in London street
08. Marion "Suge" Knight ? career of oft-jailed rap impresario
09. Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown ? troubled marriage
10. Freddie Mercury ? QUEEN frontman's backstage antics

Band profile:

Mayhem

Swedish "dark death metal" act RUNEMAGICK have completed work on their new album, "On Funeral Wings", at their own Magick Sound Studio for a spring release through Aftermath Music.

As previously reported, RUNEMAGICK's new material is said to be "much in the vein of the latest album 'Darkness Death Doom', with some new ideas and dimensions."

The complete track listing for "On Funeral Wings" is as follows:

01. Monolithic Death
02. Rise of the 2nd Moon
03. On Funeral Wings
04. Dragon of Doom
05. Hyperion
06. Ocean Demon
07. Emperor of the Underworld
08. Trifid Nebula
09. The Doomsday Scythe
10. Riders of Endtime
11. In a Darkened Tomb
12. Black Star Abyss
13. Wizard with the Magick Runes

Total playing time: 73:52

The "On Funeral Wings" front cover can be viewed during the flash intro at www.runemagick.se.

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Band profile:

Runemagick

IMPALED NAZARENE and DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED have been confirmed for the next installment of the Tuska festival, which will take place July 16-18, 2004 in Helsinki, Finland. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are DARK TRANQUILLITY. More confirmations will be announced soon. Tuska 2003 took place July 11-13, 2003 in the Kaisaniemi park in the center of Helsinki and featured appearances by TYPE O NEGATIVE, THE HAUNTED, STRATOVARIUS, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS, ARCH ENEMY, CHILDREN OF BODOM, EDGUY, FINNTROLL, LULLACRY, MINISTRY, SENTENCED, and SOULFLY, among others.

Band profile:

Impaled Nazarene

VIRGIN STEELE singer David DeFeis and guitarist Edward Pursino performed a special set consisting of acoustic interpretations of the VIRGIN STEELE catalogue New Year's Eve at DeFeis' residence on Long Island, New York. A "review" of the show, which was described as "a very intimate, private showcase," has been posted online at this location: http://www.virgin-steele.com/ny.asp

Band profile:

Virgin Steele