After 14 years, the cooperation between lead singer Manda Ophuis and the band Nemesea comes to an end. The singer formed Nemesea in 2002 together with Sonny Onderwater and Hendrik Jan de Jong. Manda is going to focus on her education job with highly gifted children.

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Source:	nemesea.com
Band profile:	Nemesea

It seems like guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine (MegaDave) loves the current lineup of Megadeth so much that he even contemplated re-recording the band's debut album, Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!, with the trio of musicians that surrounds him now for the album's 30th anniversary. The band is currently on tour in Russia, with more European dates still to come, where he revealed this.

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Source:	loudwire.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

After 3 months of hard work, 150 unhealthy McDonalds meals and 200 bottles of Jägermeister, Serenity's new album is done. This will be their 5th full-length album and its title is Codex Atlanticus. According to the symphonic group, the record is inspired by the life of Leonardo Da Vinci with melodies that can easily fit as the soundtrack for Game Of Thrones. While you wait for its release on January 29th via Napalm Records, check out the album cover art and tracklist below.

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Source:	serenity-band.com
Band profile:	Serenity

My Dying Bride's newest opus and 12th full studio album is coming and will be called Feel The Misery, set for release on September 18th via Peaceville Records. With crushing epic doom spanning eight tracks, and featuring the return of original guitarist Calvin Robertshaw to the fold, this album is being described as "undoubtedly amongst the band's heaviest, darkest, and most majestic works to date, marking My Dying Bride's 25th anniversary in punishing style." You can feast your eyes on the album's striking cover art and tracklist below.

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Source:	mydyingbride.net
Band profile:	My Dying Bride

Finnish power metal heavyweights Stratovarius have set the release dates for their brand new studio album Eternal for September 11th, 2015 (Europe) and September 18th, 2015 (USA) on EarMUSIC (not August as previously announced by the band). The album will be released in 3 formats: standard CD jewelcase, limited deluxe edition (CD + DVD mediabook including live video tracks recorded at Loudpark Festival 2015 in Japan) and double vinyl gatefold. Take a look at the album cover and tracklist below.

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Source:	stratovarius.com
Band profile:	Stratovarius

Viking black metal-tinged act King Of Asgard has announced their new line-up! The line-up of the Swedes is complete again with the addition of new guitarist Ted Sjulmark. Earlier this year, the group parted ways with both drummer Karsten Larsson and guitarist Lars Tängmark. New drummer Mathias Westman was announced then, now Ted Sjulmark joins and so the line-up is stable once again. And they are already working on new material!

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Source:	metalblade.com
Band profile:	King Of Asgard

After a long wait, black metallers Hammer Horde have recently revealed the newest addition to the family. Their new vocalist is Brock Bickelhaupt! He will replace Tom Sturniolo. You can expect to hear their new album that follows 2012's Vinlander in the near future. The record should be called Fed To The Wolves.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Hammer Horde

Ancient Rites, the quartet hailing from Belgium and The Netherlands formed back in the 80s, has joined the Massacre Records family. During the band's history, Ancient Rites overcame several blows of fate, including band members passing away or bad experiences with promoters and labels. But all this didn't stop the band from continuing their journey. The group is returning and their upcoming sixth studio album Laguz marks a new chapter in the band's history and is the first since 2006.

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Source:	massacre-records.de
Band profile:	Ancient Rites

The Finnish symphonic/fantasy metal band Kivimetsän Druidi have signed a deal on domestic bookings with the Finnish booking agency Northern Solitude Entertainment. The female-fronted sextet shall play a few selected shows during spring of 2015. Kivimetsän Druidi are known for their full-length albums Shadowheart (Century Media, 2008) and Betrayal, Justice, Revenge (Century Media, 2010). After 4 years of anticipation, the band is finally breaking the silence with a new EP release.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Kivimetsän Druidi

Arch Enemy will bring their world tour for War Eternal to Latin America in January/February 2015. The melodic death metallers recently announced a string of tour dates for Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador. Arch Enemy will arrive to South America after blasting stages in North America and Europe. Get ready!

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Source:	archenemy.net
Band profile:	Arch Enemy

Swedish power metallers HammerFall, who released the new album (r)Evolution this year, are facing line-up changes. The band made a major announcement today. Drummer Anders Johansson is leaving the band after 15 years. The band cites musical differences. David Wallin of Pain fame will replace him. Stefan Elmgren is also returning to the band temporarily to replace bassist Fredrik Larsson while he is away on parental leave.

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Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	HammerFall

It's a sad day for Gwydion fans. The Portuguese folk metallers have decided to "take an indefinite leave of absence." Their last album Veteran, which was nominated for Best Folk / Pagan / Viking Metal Album on Metal Storm Awards 2013, could well be their swansong. The band started back in 1995 and released three albums in total. They could disband in the future but for now, it's just a break.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Gwydion

Russian symphonic metallers Blackthorn are recording a new album to follow Codex Archaos. Recently, the band shared an HD studio report featuring the guitar and bass recordings. This means you can have a taste of the new material. Watch it here.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Blackthorn

Megadeth have revealed their new album Th1rt3en tracklist and artwork, which was once again created by artist John Lorenzi, who worked on the last two Megadeth studio albums, 2007's United Abominations and 2009's Endgame, as well as the band's 2007 box set, Warchest. You can pre-order the album now at this location, and get a limited-edition version that comes on double picture disc vinyl. The new single, "Public Enemy No. 1" is now available for streaming over here.

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Source:	megadeth.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

According to a posting on the Facebook page of Tim Butcher - Lemmy's longtime bass technician - former Motörhead guitarist Michael "Würzel" Burston died yesterday (Saturday, July 9). The cause of death was not revealed. Würzel was 61 years old.

Before joining Motörhead in 1984, Burston had been a corporal in the Army, serving in Germany and Ireland with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, and had played in the bands Bastard and Warfare. Joining another relatively unknown guitarist, Phil Campbell, they played together at a Motörhead audition, and both were taken on.

Burston acquired the nickname Würzel while in the Army, being compared to the character Worzel Gummidge due to his scarecrow-style hair and bumpkin-like manner. Lemmy reportedly demanded that Würzel add an umlaut to the "U" in his name, for "heavy metal effect."

Würzel left Motörhead in 1995.

For the past couple of years, Burston has played with a new band called Leader of Down, which last month headlined the main stage at the U.K. fundraising music festival "Never Mind The Bullocks" in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance.

Würzel joined Motörhead on stage on November 28, 2009 at the Hammersmith Apollo to perform the band's classic song "Ace Of Spades".

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Motörhead