A studio clip of the incredible 'Firestorm' (Taken from the new album "Spiritual Apocalypse") is online now at YouTube.

Go and listen to this great song and see the insane drumming of Lee Harrison and the other Monstrosity guys in action by clicking here.

The fifth studio album by this US Death Metal outfit was released on April 5th through Metal Blade Records.

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Source:	Metal Blade Newsletter
Band profile:	Monstrosity

Germany's leading metal band Helloween today (Friday 11th May) entered Andi Deris' Mi Sueno Studios on Tenerife to start the recordings for the yet untitled follow up to the highly acclaimed and successful "Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy" studio album, the Live-double-CD "Live in Sao Paulo" and the Live-double-DVD "Live On 3 Continents". Once more, the band teamed up with long time producer Charlie Bauerfeind (Blind Guardian, Saxon).

The planned release date again is scheduled for Halloween-day, October 31st. The world tour will start mid of November in Europe, to be followed by South East Asia, North and South America in the first half of 2008.

Source:	helloween.org
Band profile:	Helloween

The US immoral medical practitioners and licentious evil-doers of Impaled have updated their website with the following announcement:

"Finally, at long last, the masses can breathe. Impaled is entering the studio in less than a week to begin recording the follow up record to 2005's smash shit, "Death After Life". The new record promises to be just as sick and replete with the kind of medical malfeasance that the poor patients in St. Julien's hospital have come to expect. The goresome foursome are going in with extra sharp scalpel hooks and more blood-curdling tales than before to ensure a record that cuts to the quick.

In the meantime, members of the elite Impaled G.O.R.E. Corps can sate their appetite with an offering from Chef Barfo, a digital guru and guitar wizard who has dissected the remains of previous Impaled releases. His remix CD, Digital Autopsy, features nothing but Impaled songs stripped to the bone and fed through a computer to create a soundscape quite unlike any kind of noise you've ever heard before. The 3 inch mini CD and sample tracks are available now in the Chop Shop."

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Source:	impaled.info
Band profile:	Impaled

Behemoth have posted the fourth instalment of their video diary covering the recording of their upcoming album "The Apostasy" on their official MySpace. Click here to view it.

Further video diary episodes are expected to be posted on Youtube and Behemoth's Myspace page soon.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Behemoth

Static-X is breaking out of Hell's sub-basement to release their fifth studio album, Cannibal, on April 3rd. The band will also kick off a headlining tour on March 30th in Santa Ana, CA. Comprising 12 of the harshest, most stripped-down tracks Static-X have ever recorded, Cannibal also finds frontman Wayne Static & Co. sounding leaner and meaner than they have in years?a change the vertical-haired guitarist, vocalist and chief songwriter attributes to the back-to-basics approach they took to recording the album. "I think it's the most metal record we've ever made, and it's arguably the heaviest record we've ever made," Static explains. "But with this record, I had a good time just getting back to balls-out screaming and challenging myself vocally, as well as in the songwriting. I felt like I was back working on Wisconsin Death Trip, where I focused on stripping away the excess as much as possible to write short, simple, catchy songs."

Static-X's face-ripping, "No Submission" gave fans their first taste of Cannibal when it landed on the soundtrack for Saw III. The band has since released the title track "Cannibal" and "Destroyer" to iTunes for download. Cannibal marks the first time in the band's history that they have released back to back albums with the same line up. Static remarks, "Even though we've got three-quarters of the original lineup today, we've been through a lot of changes to get back to this point." One other major change for the band was teaming up with a new producer, John Travis (Kid Rock, Buckcherry). This change took the band out of their comfort zone to create an album that make Wisconsin Death Trip sound like pop singles in comparison.

Audio Streams

Destroyer -
Windows
http://streamos.wbr.com/wmedia/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_005_destroyer_56.wax
http://streamos.wbr.com/wmedia/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_005_destroyer_128.wax

Quicktime
http://streamos.wbr.com/qtime/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_005_destroyer_56.mov
http://streamos.wbr.com/qtime/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_005_destroyer_128.mov

Cannibal -
Windows:
http://streamos.wbr.com/wmedia/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_cannibal_56.wax
http://streamos.wbr.com/wmedia/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_cannibal_128.wax

Quicktime:
http://streamos.wbr.com/qtime/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_cannibal_56.mov
http://streamos.wbr.com/qtime/wbr/staticx/audio/staticx_cannibal_128.mov

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Source:	static-x.com
Band profile:	Static-X

Willowtip Records' Odious Mortem have announced the addition of their new bassist, Ivan Munguia:

"Ivan (ex-Carnivorous) has been a friend of ours for years, we're happy to have him jamming with us. We're are are currently setting some California shows around the release of the new CD (April/May). Dates will be posted soon!"

Source:	odiousmortem.com
Band profile:	Odious Mortem

Lithuanian Pagan Black Metal band Obtest will enter Hertz studio in Bialystok, Poland in April to record its new album, "Gyvybes Medis" ("The Tree of Life"), due in the fall via Ledo Takas Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "?viesa" ("Light"), "Apeigos" ("Ceremonial"), "Tai Ne Pabaiga" ("It's Not The End").

In other news, Ledo Takas has announced plans to reissue Obtest's full-length debut, "Tukstantmetis", to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the album's original release. Retitled "Tukstantmetis + 10", the new slipcase edition will contain an improved and enhanced booklet, as well as liner notes written by the band, revealing "the true story behind album recordings," according to a press release. An April 23 release is expected.

Source:	ledotakas.net
Band profile:	Obtest

One of the most promising bands in 2005 will finally release their Willowtip Records debut "Cryptic Implosion" somewhere in April; their fans expectations are high enough already, stay tuned for what it'll surely be one of the best Death Metal albums of 2007.

As always, Metal Storm will offer a full review on this album for those who are requesting it already; wait for it on the reviews section a couple of months from now, it will be worthwhile believe me.

for now, you can pre-order the album directly from the official Willowtip Records Site and you can hear some samples there as well.

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Source:	odiousmortem.com
Band profile:	Odious Mortem

According to an online posting by Nile drummer George Kollias, the band will enter the studio today (Monday, February 26) to begin recording the follow-up to 2005's "Annihilation Of The Wicked", due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records.

Said Kollias: "There is a lot of work to be done. The new songs sound REALLY great and tight. I can't wait to record!"

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Nile

The following message has been posted on metallica.com:

"Enough already with this announcing one show at a time B.S. . . . we've got four more to tell you about!

First up, is Oslo, Norway on July 10th. Last time we were there is it was winter (Dec. '03). . . we're psyched to be playing outside in the summer, actually our first outside gig ever in Norway.

We haven't been to Stockholm, Sweden in way tooooooo long . . . so it's very cool that we'll be back on July 12th to play at Stockholm Stadion for the second time. See how these things work ... 'cause the next show is in . . . Helsinki, Finland, July 15th, our eighth visit to Helsinki and again our second time at the Olympic Stadium. Yeah, there are a couple of days off in there . . . what to do, what to do?

Last tidbit from tonight's update . . . a city we have only played once before, and site of one of the best and most intense shows in 'Tallica history . . . Moscow on July 18th, this time at the Lushniki Stadium.

They're all Metallica shows, with of course a few cool opening bands that we'll let you in on as soon as all the details are sorted.

We have a few more shows in the works, so we'll get back to you soon as they're confirmed . . . keep watching here."

According to the Metallica Newsletter, the band would maybe even be hitting a certain band member's home turf.

Metallica "Sick of the Studio '07 Tour" dates so far:

Jul. 01 - Werchter, BEL @ Rock Werchter Festival
Jul. 03 - Athens, GRE @ Rockwave Festival
Jul. 05 - Vienna, AUT @ Rotundenplatz
Jul. 10 - Oslo, NOR @ Valle Hovin Stadion
Jul. 12 - Stockholm, SWE @ Stadion
Jul. 15 - Helsinki, FIN @ Olympic Stadium
Jul. 18 - Moscow, RUS @ Lushniki Stadium

Source:	metallica.com
Band profile:	Metallica
Event:	Metallica: Sick Of The Studio Tour

Danish symphonic black metallers Illnath announced late last month that they had tapped Reno Kiilerich (ex-Dimmu Borgir, Panzerchrist, Dew-Scented to play drums on their third album, entitled "Three Nights In The Sewers Of Sodom". They have since issued the following update on their drummer situation:

"No luck again... The recent drum recordings in the studio weren't what we had hoped for. So now we're once again looking for a drummer to step up to the challenge and do the drums on the next Illnath album. Furthermore, we are going on tour this year, and for that we need a drummer as well. Anyone interested, please contact Illnath ."

"Three Nights In The Sewers Of Sodom" is being recorded at Borsing Studios and will feature artwork by Wilhelm Steiner.

"Three Nights In The Sewers Of Sodom" is expected to be released via Illnath's own label following the band's split with Worldchaos Production (which was supposed to put out the band's long-completed second full-length offering, "Second Skin of Harlequin"). "The new material will reflect the new situation we're in ? new drummer and new bass player, plus almost three years since the last album was recorded," the group previously said.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Illnath

In an interview with Radiotangra.com, guitar player Michael Weikath revealed that Helloween will enter studio in May or June 2007 to start recording their next full-length album. The entire conversation can be read and heard here.

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Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Helloween

Blabbermouth.net has exclusively revealed the final cover art for Black Sabbath's forthcoming "best-of" collection, "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years". Check it out at this location.

The first comprehensive introduction to the band's legacy, "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years" features a dozen classic studio recordings, plus one live track ? "Children Of The Sea" from 1982's "Live Evil". The collection also contains the three brand-new tracks ? "The Devil Cried", "Shadow Of The Wind", and "Ear In The Wall". The disc will be available April 3 at all physical retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested list price of $18.98. The album will also be available at all digital retail outlets for a suggested retail price of $11.99.

Arranged chronologically, the compilation spotlights singer Ronnie James Dio's time with BLACK SABBATH and draws heavily from the lineup's 1980 debut and 1981 follow-up, "Heaven and Hell" and "Mob Rules" respectively. Recognized as back-to-back metal classics, the albums feature such signature songs as the title tracks, "Neon Knights", "Die Young", "Turn Up The Night" and "Voodoo". "The Dio Years" also features "After All (The Dead)", "TV Crimes" and "I" from the singer's brief reunion with SABBATH for the "Dehumanizer" album and tour.

"Black Sabbath: The Dio Years" track listing:

01. Neon Knights
02. Lady Evil
03. Heaven And Hell
04. Die Young
05. Lonely Is The Word
06. The Mob Rules
07. Turn Up The Night
08. Voodoo
09. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
10. After All (The Dead)
11. TV Crimes
12. I
13. Children Of The Sea - Live
14. The Devil Cried*
15. Shadow Of The Wind*
16. Ear In The Wall*

* Newly recorded tracks

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Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Black Sabbath

American Thrash outfit Shadows Fall are set to release their new album "Threads Of Life" on April 3. The band have released a new video of themselves in the studio during the making of the album. Check it out at either of these links.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NH2V4g6zNLY

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid474445597

A message from frontman Brian Fair is as follows:

"What's happening everyone!! I know it has been a while since my last update but expect to be hearing from me a lot over the next few weeks!!"

"Lots of stuff going on in the world of Shadows Fall these days. We are eagerly awaiting the release of THREADS OF LIFE on April 3rd and are currently gearing up for the Jager Music Tour with our friends in Stone Sour and Lacuna Coil. We have been at home for a LONG time so there is a lot of pent up energy set to explode when we hit the stage in March!! We plan on debuting a few new songs from THREADS OF LIFE as well as working some older tunes back into the rotation."

"This week we are launching the official Shadows Fall Youtube.com channel. To celebrate its birth, we will also begin releasing a bunch of video webisodes documenting the writing and recording process of THREADS OF LIFE. We shot a bunch of footage at our practice space, Studio 606 and a few local bars and are excited to bring you what we've cut together so you can get a glimpse into the making of the album. Keep an eye out for a few surprise guest appearances!!!"

"That it is for now but keep an eye out for more updates soon!! We'll see everyone out on the Jagermeister Music tour. Check shadowsfall.com for dates in your area. Till then crack a brew and rock some tunes!!"

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Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Shadows Fall

The Vision Bleak are busy pre-producing their third, as-yet-untitled album.
According to the band, the follow-up to "Carpathia" is going to be "more guitar-based, harder, but also more dramatic and melodic", promising their most sinister work to date. In early February, they will enter Klangschmiede Studio E for the fine-tuning of the recordings and the mix for an indefinite period of time.

(Original source: bravewords.com)

Source:	the-vision-bleak.de
Band profile:	The Vision Bleak