Posted by frontman Daemonskald on the official MySpace site:

"I've been busy the last few months and have completed two songs already for the next album. I will release more details on the new album as things become more concrete. I hope to get it out fairly quickly before the end of the year, as "Beyond The North Winds" has done very well and received great reviews, and I want to capitalize on the momentum.

I also took the time to record a cover song (after I swore I would never do one, never say never I suppose...). It is for the Valhalla Productions Bathory tribute, which is only viking-era Bathory songs. I decided to do "Song to Hall Up High", as I don't think its a song that's really been covered much, and I was able to do something a little different with it. There is no point in doing a cover song if all you are going to do is re-do the original. I have no idea what's going on with Valhalla, and if this tribute will see the light of day. If not, I'm sure the song will get MySpace'd here or tagged on to the next album or a re-release of my older albums.

A lot of people have been writing about the availability of "Sailing The Seas of Fate" and the demo "The Stranger". Only a 1000 of "Sailing..." were made, and only 100 of "The Stranger" and you can find them at the odd distro here and there. We are hoping to re-release "Sailing The Seas of Fate" this year, as long as finances permit because of all the requests. Such is life in the underground!"

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	SIG:AR:TYR

The Haunted have announced details of new double disc compilation that details the bands time with Earache Records, from 1998 - 2003.

Titled "Warning Shots", the album contains 28 tracks, including on the second disc many rare and unreleased songs. The booklet contains an extensive interview with bass player Jonas Bjorler, conducted with respected UK rock critic Dominic Lawson, examining the early years of the band and reflecting on the material included on the compilation.

The full tracklist for "Warning Shots" cover art] is as follows:

Disc 1 (containing tracks from the three albums "The Haunted", "The Haunted Made Me Do It" and "One Kill Wonder"):

01. Hate Song
02. Trespass
03. Shadow World
04. D.O.A.
05. Undead
06. One Kill Wonder
07. Under the Surface
08. In vein
09. Hollow Ground
10. Everlasting
11. Dark Intentions
12. Bury Your Dead
13. Shithead
14. Chasm
15. Revelation
16. Forensick

Disc 2 ("Off the Record" - containing rare and unreleased material):

01. Ritual ("One Kill Wonder" session track)
02. Creed ("One Kill Wonder" session track)
03. Well of Souls (Candlemass cover)
04. Eclipse ("The Haunted Made Me Do It" session track)
05. Choke Hold (live)
06. Leech (live)
07. Three Times (live)
08. Undead (demo)*
09. Shattered (demo) (from "Statements of Intent" compilation)
10. Undead ("Death & 1/2 Prod." rehearsal)*
11. Now You Know ("Death & 1/2 Prod." rehearsal)*
12. Blood Rust ("Death & 1/2 Prod." rehearsal)*

* previously unreleased

Trivia fans will note that the final 3 tracks on Disc 2 were recorded in pre-The Haunted times, before the band had settled on a final band name. The tracks come from a rehearsal tape made at a time when the band were considering the name "Death and 1/2 Prod.".

"Warning Shots" will be released in Europe on March 9, with a US release on April 7.

Read more ››

Source:	earachenews.blogspot.com
Band profile:	The Haunted

U.S. death metallers Obituary have completed work on their new album for a tentative May/June release via Candlelight Records. The artwork of the new album can be viewed at this location Vocalist John Tardy states:

"Sorry I have not updated the website in a while. We have been so busy finishing up this new Obituary album and getting ready to leave for Europe in a few days that I just have not had time to do it. The good news is, last night, we finished up the mixing and we are done. It came out really sick and I cannot wait for you guys to hear it... it is heavy! Like I said, we now focus on heading to Europe for our Full of Hate tour that runs pretty much the month of March! It should be a good time and I hope you all can come out and see us."

Read more ››

Source:	obituary.cc
Band profile:	Obituary

"It's Up To You", the new video from Hungarian hardcore/thrash metallers Ektomorf has been put online. The track comes off the band's upcoming new album, entitled "What Doesn't Kill Me?", due on March 20 via AFM Records.


Read more ››

Source:	vids.myspace.com
Band profile:	Ektomorf

It's been a month and a half since Dual-Coma's new album "Reprogrammed H.A.T.E." got released and now the band's management is preparing a Dual-Coma tour in Poland. You can see the band in:

28.02.2009 Lyski -Blizzard
28.03.2009 Gliwice - Dziupla
02.04.2009 Mikołów - Fraktal
03.04.2009 Poznań - Fort Columb
04.04.2009 Gdańsk - Cockney
05.04.2009 Gdynia - Anawa
24.04.2009 Chorzów - Leśniczówka
05.06.2009 Wadowice - Wehikuł Czasu
27.06.2009 Tychy - Tawerna

Hailing from Katowice, Poland and formed in 2004, this four-piece band is said to play thrash/death metal with a lot of melody. "Reprogrammed H.A.T.E." was released in January and contains material from the previously released "Program H.A.T.E." demo, the "Bulletproof Heart" EP and also features a video for the song "Bulletproof Heart". Check out some samples at http://www.myspace.com/dualcoma.

Read more ››

Source:	let-them-come.eu
Event:	Dual-Coma

The new promo "Turn Of Fate" of Dutch female fronted Progressive metal band Alerion is available for download on the band's website.

"Turn Of Fate" cover art] was recorded in Storm Studio and produced by Kevin Storm, known from the Female Fronted Rock/Metal band Cardamon and his project The Comeback. "Turn Of Fate" contains the title track "Turn Of Fate", closing in on 8 minutes and molding together heavy and occasionally fast stuff with various slower and melodic parts, as well as "Clash With Eternity", which is more subtle and features fingerpicked guitar parts.

Besides a further expansion of Alerion's sound, the promo also represents some of the sound made possible by the current line-up. The promo is available for free through the band's music section, giving you the chance to familiarize yourself with Alerion in 2009.

Read more ››

Source:

myspace.com

Danish Folk Metal band Svartsot have announced the following on their MySpace:

"After having been in contact with a few vocalists and trying one or two of them out, we have finally found one just two weeks before the first show with the new line up! The new man is Thor Bager of Disintergrated (DK) who only had a week to prepare himself for the first rehearsal. We have just held a rehearsal weekend with him and he has settled quite well into the band already. We can also announce that drummer Danni Lyse Jelsgaard has now joined the band on a permanent basis.

Work on the new material has already started, and we will concentrate on this over the next few months. We hope to enter the studio as soon as the material is ready and all the formal procedures have been sorted."

In January, the band already announced the addition of several new musicians: "Rhythm guitar duties will be filled by the Danish-American Cliff Nemanim and ex-Feverfew bassist, James Atkin has also joined. We have also been fortunate enough to borrow the extremely talented Illnath drummer, Danni Jelsgaard. These guys have joined Hans-Jørgen Martinus Hansen (whistles, mandolin, accordion, et.al.) and Cris J. S. Frederiksen (lead guitar), of the previous Svartsot line-up. We can also confirm that Stewart Lewis, though taking a more passive role due to his wife's illness, is still in the band."

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Svartsot

New Black Label Society "greatest-hits" collection, "Skullage", which is due on April 21, will be released in three different configurations: stand alone CD, stand alone DVD and CD/DVD.

The tracklistings are as follows:

"Skullage" CD

01. Machine Gun Man
02. Dead As Yesterday
03. All For You
04. 13 Years of Grief
05. Bleed for Me
06. Doomsday Jesus
07. Stillborn
08. Won't Find It Here
09. Suicide Messiah
10. In This River
11. Fire It Up
12. New Religion
13. Instrumental Intro (acoustic)
14. The Blessed Hellride (acoustic)
15. Spoke in the Wheel (acoustic)
16. Stillborn (acoustic)

"Skullage" DVD

01. All For You (from "Boozed Broozed & Broken-Boned")
02. 13 Years of Grief (from "Boozed Broozed & Broken-Boned")
03. Bleed For Me (from "Boozed Broozed & Broken-Boned")
04. Stillborn (Video)
05. Suicide Messiah (Video)
06. In This River (Video)
07. Fire It Up (Video)
08. Acoustic (Live)
09. Instrumental Intro (Live in Lehigh Valley) (4:59)
10. The Blessed Hellride (Live in Lehigh Valley) (5:47)
11. Spoke In The Wheel (Live in Lehigh Valley) (5:32)
12. We Live No More (Live in Lehigh Valley) (10:29)
13. Stillborn (Live in Lehigh Valley) (6:12)
14. New Religion (New Footage) (4:04)
15. Welcome to The Compound (New Footage) (29:50)

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Black Label Society

Finntroll have issued the following update on their website:

"You may have noticed that there aren't any shows booked for us so far, but this doesn't mean that we won't play at all this year. We just decided after the Heidenfest-tour that we will have half a year off from playing and be concentrating on writing a new and the best Finntroll-album so far, also working on the DVD is a priority.

We have now got the chance to start from a clean slate and so we will do. All gigs will be handled by ourselves for the time being, which means that if you have a festival/show/tour that you want us to play on, please be kind send your request. Every offer will be considered!

We're also announcing our first festival for this year: 6.6.2009 (FIN) Sauna Open Air, Tampere."

Read more ››

Source:	finntroll.net
Band profile:	Finntroll

Swedish metallers Abramis Brama have issued the following update on their MySpace blog:

"Time for a MEGA update in the "what have you been up to lately" department... First and foremost, we've got a brand new album coming out sometime in March/April this year! It will contain approximately 10-11 brand new songs. We've yet to decide on a name for the album but when we do, you'll be the first to know.

Coinciding with the release of the album we will of course do as many gigs as we can possibly fit in during the rest of the year, starting in Norway mid-March opening up for our favourite Norwegians; Black Debbath! All other confirmed gigs can be found at our website.

Last week we took some pictures for the albumcover (amongst other things) in a photostudion together with our favourite photographer, Linda Helsing. The result was smashing as you can see if you check out this promo-pic."

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Abramis Brama
Event:	Abramis Brama

Gamma Ray have posted the following short update on their website:

"Gamma Ray has started working on new material for the next studio album, which is planed to be released in late Autumn. Next tour will probably start in November."

Source:	gammaray.org
Band profile:	Gamma Ray

Dark Sentiments and Playground Music Scandinavia are set to release Widescreen Mode's highly anticipated sophomore album, "The Hanging Man," on April 8. "The Hanging Man" is the follow up to 2007's "Until the End," which contained the singles, "Everlasting Bomb" and "Dead Inside," both which received massive radio airplay in Scandinavia and topped the singles charts for several weeks. "Everlasting Bomb" was #1 on the Finnish iTunes charts for 16 consecutive weeks in 2007, and "Dead Inside" reached #1 on the Finnish Top 40 in 2008.

"The Hanging Man" showcases a more aggressive and versatile side of Widescreen Mode, while staying true to the band's signature sound and hooks. The album's concept came together on the road as the band played the summer metal festivals. Musically, "The Hanging Man" is return to their metal roots.

Drummer Janne Aaltonen says, "While we were touring we started to scavenge the dusty corners of our record collections and listened to all the gems from bands like Testament, Sepultura and Slayer. We wanted to let go of our old routines, move into some darker grounds and do something really surprising. The old elements are still there, but in the arrangements we really let the demons loose."

"Serotonin," the first single from "The Hanging Man," is now streaming on Widescreen Mode's MySpace page. "Serotonin" provides fans with a first look at Widescreen Mode's new material. The digital single will be available on February 20, and income from the single sales will be donated to charities supporting youth mental health care.

"The song started with the lyrical concept," adds Aaltonen. "Many people deal with serious depression that goes unnoticed by those around them. We are all slaves of this transmitter ruling our brains. 'Serotonin' might not portray the whole package, but it definitely creates a certain bridge between the previous album and the new one."

A video for "Serotonin" was shot in Finland and directed by Markus Aaltonen. The video will be serviced everywhere shortly. The video looks to build on the audience for "Dead Inside," which received airplay in the United States on Fuse and MTV2 last year.

"The Hanging Man" was produced by Jani Loikas and Aksu Hanttu (Entwine, Poisonblack) at Petrax and Sonic Pump Studio. The album was mixed by Aksu Hanttu and mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers.

Read more ››

Source:

widescreenmode.com

In Flames have posted the following update:

"As some may or may not know, Jesper Strömblad has struggled for some time with alcoholic abuse, and decided to sit this one out (South America/Australia/Japan) in order to seek help and focus on rehabilitation and all that comes with it. We all talked about it and together with Jesper we chose to ask our longtime friend Niclas Engelin (Engel, ex-Gardenian), who helped us before, to complete the tour. We are all sad that it needed to come to this, but health comes first. Thanks for your understanding."

In other news, In Flames also won all three Bandit Rock Awards the band was nominated for, namely Best Swedish Band, Best Swedish Album and Best Swedish Live Band. The Bandit Rock Awards were held in Stockholm at Tyrol last Friday (January 30th). For more info, click here.

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	In Flames

After almost two years after their break up, the Greek groove/death/grind band Homo Iratus are finally back to kick some serious ass. During the past two years, most of the members enrolled in other projects/bands and now that they reunited they are ready to bring the Greek death metal scene onto a higher level.

"What's really interesting is the current line up of the band... So we have Mitch on vocals, Angelos on bass, Argy on drums and Kostas on guitars - Homo Iratus' first guitarist. However, there's also another member on guitars who recently joined the band, Kostas. During the past two years following the break up of Homo Iratus, Angelos, Argy and the band's new member, Kostas, formed "God Of Rotors" and this is how they initially decided to include Kostas in the current line up of Homo Iratus."

The band is currently trying out some ideas for new tracks and at the same time they are rehearsing older ones. All this indicates that Homo Iratus will soon record a new album, which - according to what is stated on their official page on MySpace - is most likely to pick up back at "Human Consumes Human" and they will most probably at some point go on tour, both in Greece and abroad.

Bassist Angelos adds: "We are taking our time to reorganize and reorder everything while rehearsing old material and jamming new ideas. Things will pick up at "Human Consumes Human" and "Apocalypse" while adding a new breath of fresh mosh provoking, head banging, concrete bastard sized riffs. We will obviously do shows as soon as we are properly prepared and will present material from all 3 albums (2 old releases plus the new one). There is no speciffic timetable at the time being we are letting things evovle naturally to the point where we can hit the recording studio and stages again."

Homo Iratus current line up looks as follows:

Mitch - vocals ("Human Consumes Human")
Angelos - bass ("Human Consumes Human", "Knowledge? Their Enemy", "Apocalypse")
Argy - drums ("Absence of Progress", "Human Consumes Human", "Knowledge? Their Enemy", "Apocalypse")
Kostas - guitars ("Absence Of Progress")
Kostas - guitars (new member, "God of Rotors", "Sklerotikz")

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Homo Iratus

Let Them Come Productions are releasing "Reprogrammed H.A.T.E.", the new re-release effort of Dual-Coma. Hailing from Katowice, Poland and formed in 2004, this four-piece band is said to play thrash/death metal with a lot of melody. "Reprogrammed H.A.T.E." was released in January and contains material from the previously released "Program H.A.T.E." demo, the "Bulletproof Heart" EP and also features a video for the song "Bulletproof Heart".

"Reprogrammed H.A.T.E." cover artwork] tracklisting is as follows:

01. Bulletproof Heart
02. Divided Mind
03. Blood Drunk
04. Nuclear Lost
05. Constellation
06. Chain Reaction
07. Parabellum
08. Stand By
09. Program H.A.T.E.
10. Zero
+ Bulletproof Heart video

More info about the band and online samples on http://www.myspace.com/dualcoma.

Read more ››

Source:

let-them-come.eu