Finnish doomsters Ordog have uploaded a new track from the upcoming album Remorse online. The song is entitled "Abuse" and you can hear it now on the band's offical MySpace page. More album details are available here.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Ordog

Ukraine metal band Holy Blood have issued the following tame update regarding their new album Shining Sun cover art]:

"Our new album Shining Sun is the most successful work of Holy Blood. In this album, we tried to combine different styles of music such as Folk Metal, Melodic Metalcore, New school Hardcore. This album should combine audiences who like Ensiferum, Chruachan, Eluveitie, As I Lay Dying, Sill Remains, Seventh Star, Hatebreed.

We have started writing song for this album back in 2005 with old band members and completed writing songs in 2009 with a totally new line-up. The purpose of this album was to create a new style, which no one before us did not play. In my opinion, we succeed with the task.

While working on the new album there was a conflict between Holy Blood band members, which, unfortunately, we were unable to unleash in a peaceful way, so we had to split up. But nevertheless, we did not give up, and finished the album with a new band members. That conflict has affected the time of finalizing the Shining Sun. We planned to finalize and publish the album in late 2008. Process was delayed, but now we do not regret that. With the new line-up, we got new ideas and thoughts that we were able to put into this recording, making this album more musically attractive.

Also, we paid special attention to the lyrics in this album. The texts in this album resonate with each other. They contain the call to love nature and homeland, as well as light that illuminates this very nature and homeland. This light, bright sun, is God himself, who in turn is the Creator of all nature. So this album will be interesting not only to listeners of contemporary Folk Metal, as well as spiritual and lovers of poetry.

People who like the sound of folk instruments in the Folk Metal, will be surprised. In addition to block flute, which we used on the previous albums, the new album was recorded with instruments such as - harp, bagpipe (goat), and the ancient Slavic tool - buzka. Buzka is a precursor of the modern saxophone. Under the sounds of this instrument the Slavs went to war, since the existence of Kievan Rus. We have an instrumental composition in the album, where simultaneously are playing Goat and Buzka. In memory of our ancestors, we called this instrumental composition - Kievan Rus.

The CD itself has an unusually beautiful design and nice booklet with photos and images of ancient churches in Russia. The album will feature eight songs and two instrumental compositions. Also on the CD will be media section with a our new video for the song "Shining Sun"."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Holy Blood

Crystal Viper have announced more details concerning the upcoming release of the live album Defenders Of The Magic Circle. The album was recorded at the Magic Circle Festival 2009 in Germany. The album will be out on June 4th, through AFM Records.

Defenders Of The Magic Circle: Live In Germany tracklist:

01. Breaking The Curse
02. Metal Nation
03. Legions Of Truth
04. The Island Of The Silver Skull
05. Shadows On The Horizon
06. The Last Axeman

Bonus studio tracks:

07. Secret Of The Black Water (brand new song - taken from the forthcoming studio album)
08. The Wolf And The Witch (first time on CD)
09. Stronghold: Under Siege (taken from the limited edition CD single)
10. Obsession (It Burns For You) Virgin Steele cover] (previously unreleased)

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Crystal Viper

Recently, Italian Pagan Black metal band Aisling have undergone several line-up changes. Both bassist Arawn as keyboard player Gwynfyd have left the band. Also drummer Digal parted ways with the band, but was already replaced by new member Belatucrados Arawan Balor.

Aisling was founded by guitarist Cernunnos and vocalist Abred in 1998, though Abred departed in 2000. The band's latest album Stone Of Light was released in February last year.

More info on Aisling on MySpace.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Aisling

Frontiers Records are set to release a brand new Primal Fear live CD and DVD. Here's the official press release:

"German true Heavy Metal icons Primal Fear completed the work on a brand new live DVD named 16.6- All Over The World recorded in various locations between September and November 2009 and on a live CD aptly titled Live in the USA. Frontiers Records will release the two products separately and in a limited edition combo version on June 2nd in Europe and June 22nd in the USA.

"The main part of the DVD was recorded in Switzerland at the Z7, but there is more footage from a headlining show held at the ProgPower festival in Atlanta, USA plus footage from Brazil/Sao Paulo, Tokyo & Osaka/Japan and more places" explains bassist and producer Mat Sinner. "That's why the DVD is named 16.6 - All Over The World, while the Live CD is titled Live In The USA because the Live CD was recorded in Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles during the last tour that the we did across the ocean".

The DVD is filled with abundance of extra materials, such as an entire bootleg section with funny moments on the road, some bootleg shots from festivals and other concerts, all Primal Fear latest video clips, plus the making of 16.6 in the recording studio and a brand new interview section about the past, present & future of Primal Fear.

The last tours in support of the band's last album 16.6 (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead) unleashed some of the finest Primal Fear performances since the band formed in 1998: a constant great mix between power, ambition and enthusiasm plus of course great the talent of great players! There is undoubtedly a great value of interesting performances on this CD and DVD package and a great sound.

The DVD will be exclusively released on NTSC Region Free video format and the mix will be 2.0 and 5.1 with screen 16:9 and 4:3.

16.6- All Over The World tracklist:

01. Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
02. Under The Radar
03. Battalions Of Hate
04. Killbound
05. Nuclear Fire
06. Six Times Dead (16.6)
07. Angel In Black
08. Sign Of Fear
09. Fighting The Darkness
1 - Fighting The Darkness
2 - The Darkness
3 - Reprise
10. Riding The Eagle
11. Final Embrace
12. Metal Is Forever
13. Hands Of Time
14. Seven Seals
15. Chainbreaker

DVD bonus materials include:
- Videoclips: Killbound - Sign Of Fear - Fighting The Darkness - Six Times Dead (16.6) - Metal Is Forever
- The Making Of 16.6 - Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Primal Fear

Mors Principium Est vocalist Ville Viljanen has posted the following blog on the band's MySpace page:

"Yeah yeah, it's been a while since last time updated, but there hasn't been anything to update. Anyway, we are writing new material. Have been writing for a long time already, but it's not so easy to get something ready. Couple of songs are kinda ready music wise, but no vocal parts yet.

And this is especially for those people who are asking are we still alive or not and when is our next album coming out. Well, I don't want to sound rude, but if a band still has gigs to play, doesn't that mean that the band is alive??

And about the album. I will not promise anything, because I can't. I really don't know when do we have enough songs ready and also once we have about 4-5 songs ready, then we will start to negotiate with various record labels and that also may take a while. Sooo, IF we are really lucky, we could have a new album out at the end of the year 2010, but I personally think, that 2011 sounds more realistic. But like I said, I can not promise anything. We'll just have to wait and see how things go."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Mors Principium Est

Czech metal act Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy have announced the tracklist for the yet untitled new album.

01. Dva Stíny Mám (Two Shadows I Have)
02. Moko? (The Earth Mother)
03. Pramen, Co Ví (The Stream That Knows)
04. Přísahám (I Swear)
05. Samodiva (The Nymph)
06. Skryj Hlavu Do Dlaní (Hide Your Head Into Your Palms)
07. Slava
08. Sudice (The Prophetess)
09. Zlatohlav (The Goldenhead)

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Source:	ssoge.com
Band profile:	Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy

Abysmal Dawn will begin recording the follow-up album to their Relapse debut Programmed To Consume this May at Trench Studio in Corona, CA with John Haddad (Phobia, Intronaut, Hirax). The album will be mixed by Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Vital Remains, Cannibal Corpse) at his Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, FL. A fall release date is expected.

Abysmal Dawn's Charles Elliot commented on the upcoming album: "It's always great to work with John Haddad, whom we've worked with on our previous two releases. This time we thought we'd try something a little different though as far as the mix goes. After to speaking to Erik Rutan at great length we know he's the man for the job. He's a living legend and knows how real death metal should sound! Everyone in the band is really excited to be working with him and we know this is going to be our most crushing release yet. We've been hard at work demoing all the material before we enter the studio and things sound amazing already! This will be our catchiest yet most extreme and technical release to date.

We're also happy to be working with our new drummer Scott Fuller (ex-Havok, ex-Skitzo, ex-Ashes Of Icons). Scott comes from more of a thrash background but was born to play death metal and has never had the outlet for that until now. So far it's been a real pleasure to be in a band with someone with the same fire for this music as Mike and I again. A fitting replacement for Terry with even more chops to boot."

Additional recording details will be made available shortly. Audio samples and video from the band's Programmed To Consume album can be viewed online now via the Abysmal Dawn MySpace.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Abysmal Dawn

Polish female fronted traditional heavy metal act Crystal Viper signed a new contract with AFM Records.

"Yes, we can say Crystal Viper found new home at AFM Records! We are truly happy, as except being extremely serious, these guys have the same passion as we do: Heavy Metal. And that's what really matters!" points Marta Gabriel, Crystal Viper vocalist & guitarist.

The first Crystal Viper release on AFM will be the live album titled Defenders Of The Magic Circle: Live In Germany, scheduled for June 4th, 2010. This summer Crystal Viper will also enter the studio, to record the third studio album.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Crystal Viper

German heavy metallers Kissin' Dynamite are set to release their new album Addicted To Metal on March 26th. The band's first single is "Addicted To Metal" featuring Udo Dirkschneider, which came about, after the band has supported U.D.O. on their tour in December. Here you can check out "Addicted To Metal" featuring Udo and more music of Kissin' Dynamite.

"The new album is very recommendable and even Udo says that he hasn't been so excited from a German band for a long time and that they've got what it takes to become successful internationally."

Addicted To Metal cover art] tracklist:

01. Addicted To Metal
02. Run For Your Life
03. Supersonic Killer
04. High Enough
05. Love Me Hate Me
06. Hysteria
07. All Against All
08. In The Name Of Iron Fist
09. Assassins Of Love
10. Why Can't You Hear Me
11. We Want More
12. Metal Nation

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Kissin' Dynamite

Original news, posted on 02.03.2010

The radio edit of "Dying For An Angel", a brand new song from Edguy frontman Tobias Sammet's Avantasia's project, is available for streaming below. The track, which features a special guest appearance by Scorpions singer Klaus Meine, comes off Avantasia's new record, The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon, to be released on April 3, 2010 as regular CD's, two separate double picture vinyls, and as a beautiful collector's edition with an band's picture book. A video for the song was recently filmed and will be released soon.

UPDATE (thanks to JosipS)

Avantasia have uploaded their latest video for the song "Dying For An Angel" over at this location.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Avantasia

Finnish rock band Negative will release its fifth album, Neon, on June 2. The CD was recorded at the Broken Wave studios in Los Angeles with Warren Riker as the engineer/assistant producer and Jimmy Westerlund as the producer.

According to a press release, Neon is "a milestone in Negative's career. A lot has been invested in the production ? the material has been polished to perfection before entering the studios under the supervision of Jeff Blue. Singer Jonne Aaron's vocal scale stretches wider than ever and the band's playing comes together brilliantly on this upcoming album. Aaron has composed an album filled to the brim with emotional stadium rock."

Neon will be the first Negative album to be released in Europe and Asia simultaneously via Warner Music and JVC Music, respectively. The CD's first single, "End Of The Line", was distributed to radio stations March 1 and will be followed by a music video later in the spring.

Neon tracklist:

01. No One Can Save Me Tonight
02. End Of The Line
03. Love That I Lost
04. Blood On Blood
05. Believe
06. Celestial Summer
07. Jealous Sky
08. Days I'm Living For
09. Since You've Been Gone
10. Kiss Of Hope
11. Fucking Worthless
12. Neon Rain

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Negative

Diablo vocalist/guitarist Rainer Nygård has posted the following update concerning the band's upcoming endeavours:

"Late autumn last year we thought that we needed some time off from rock 'n' roll business. It was a good choice because now that our mental and physical batteries are full again, it's easier to think about future. So in the beginning of this year we started to work with new material on a more serious basis. At the moment we've got enough ideas and material for me to say that we will release a new Diablo album in the future. Date is open of course but when the stars are on the right position we will inform you guys.

Most of the stuff is of course brand new but we will also give a shot for couple of strong older riff's which did not open in last producing sessions the way we wanted them to. At this point it's hard to say what the next album is going to be like, but fast enough for sure, ha ha! I also think that we use keyboards more open mindedly than in previous albums. Sounds a bit suspicious, eh? Don't worry, it will be still uncompromising heavy metal. I have some ideas about the "big theme" and graphics too. For me especially those two are the most important things in starting a new project seriously.

Last night I copied to this laptop all ideas related to lyrics and production etc. from my mobile. Suddenly I got a bad vibe that my phone might face an accident in the near future and I could end up loosing all ideas from 2007-2010. Some might say I am superstitious, eh!!??

We have promised to do only two gigs during the summer of 2010, and rest of the year is left open on purpose. If some interesting offers come in sigh, we might reconsider but otherwise we're concentrating on writing new material."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Diablo

A brand new song, called "Edwige's Eyes" from Cathedral's forthcoming album The Guessing Game is now available for streaming at the band's MySpace. The Guessing Game will hit the streets on March 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. More album details can be here.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Cathedral

Here's a detailed update on Primal Fear, Matt Sinner and other related projects.

"Primal Fear is getting busy again and here are some latest news what's going on in the PF camp. We will play our first show in 2010 on Saturday March 6th in our hometown Esslingen and a new set list at this year's Rock For One World benefit event. On March 26th we will play for the first time ever in Luxemburg - Moulfort. In April we're coming back to Sweden - April 7th in Gävle with supports Saint Demon and The Murder Of My Sweet and on April 8/9th we will join the Sweden Rock Cruise with Death Angel, Heat and more. Tickets for the Primal Fear North American tour "The Fear Is Here 2010" in May/June are on sale and Havok are already confirmed as the first support band. Great news from Pamela Moore (guest for Queensrÿche) - she will be joining Primal Fear on stage on ALL dates of the North American tour!

The Rock Meets Classic tour 2010 was a nice success and featured Mat Sinner as musical director/bass, Henny Wolter on lead guitar, Jimmy Kresic (keyboards) and Martin Schmidt (drums). Backing Vocals by Amanda Somerville, Verena Schock & Tiffany Kirkland. You can watch a promo clip on YouTube - the tour agency is already working on a new RMC edition for January 2011 with a new line up of singers. iMusic One TV will broadcast a one hour special of the event on the Easter weekend!

More studio & production News.

Primal Fear is busy at work on the new DVD 16.6 - All Over The World. The DVD will feature mainly the 2009 concerts in Switzerland and Atlanta/USA, plus a lot of interesting shots from Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Germany, Sweden etc etc. - still a long way to go, but it will be a killer package incl. the first official Live CD of Primal Fear Live In The USA recorded in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York. Achim Koehler is already working on the mix of the audio stuff. We're pleased to announce that Frontiers Records will be our partner again and will release the package worldwide in mid June 2010. Primal Fear will be on the road again in Europe after the festival season in Mid September, to present their new DVD & Live CD in Concert!

Voodoo Circle finished the drum recordings for their new album Broken Heart Syndrome with new drummer Markus Kullmann @ the U3 studios in Stuttgart and Alex Beyrodt will start recording his guitar parts during the next days. The release of the second Voodoo Circle album is set for September 2010 by AFM Records.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Primal Fear