Indonesian experimental metal band Kekal has announced the new labels for their upcoming album "The Habit of Fire" as well as the corresponding release dates, the tracklist and the album cover on their Myspace:

"We are pleased to announce that we have signed licensing deals with 2 record labels:

- Whirlwind Records (Germany) will release the album for European territory (and some South America).
Release date: March 15th 2007
http://www.whirlwind-records.com

- Open Grave Records (USA) will release the album in USA, Canada, Japan and Australia.
Release date: May 15th 2007
http://www.opengraverecords.com

We are currently putting as much information as possible about "The Habit of Fire" on our website and Myspace page, where you will be able to stream 30-second to 1-minute samples of songs online, read the album reviews, lyrics, find the distributor(s) and stores in your country, download related items, and many other things.

"The Habit of Fire" is an official 6th studio album from Kekal, with over 70 minutes epic concept-album of experimental nature in the Kekal style: incorporating elements of metal, progressive rock, jazz, trip-hop, post-rock, ambient and electronic music.

Album cover can be seen here.

Track Listing of "The Habit of Fire":

01. Prelude: Worldhate Chronicle
02. The Gathering Of Ants
03. Isolated I
04. Manipulator Generals (Part I Of Dictatorship)
1 - Failure Is The System
2 - The Precaution Of Aftermath
3 - Decadence And Excess
05. Our Urban Industry Runs Monotonously
06. To Whom It May Concern
07. Free Association
08. Historicity And State Of Mind (Part II Of Dictatorship)
1 - Repeated Patterns
2 - Aftermath
09. Postlude: Saat Kemarau
10. A Real Life To Fear About
11. Escapism
1 - What On Earth Am I Here For?
2 - The Habit of Fire
3 - Subterranean Passageways
4 - A Road Above, A Road Ahead
5 - Finding A Way To Stand Up Again"

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Kekal

Coming soon: new album by Tharaphita

"Taara, avita!" ("Help us, Taara!") Thus sounded the ancient warchant in the 13th century and thus may it sound once again in the year 2007! Tharaphita's newest release sees the band returning to its roots — back to the rough pagan reality, to the Estonian mothertongue. "Iidsetel sünkjatel radadel" ("On Paths Ancient and Dark") leaves no doubt about the identity of the forefather of original Estonian pagan/black metal; the music, reflecting aggression and battle-readiness, while also conveying sincere angst and agony, is a testament to the slumbering fight for freedom, yet a sure sign that a day shall come when ten thousand Estonians once again raise their swords towards the heavens. One in body and soul, let us rise against the name of christ!

Release Date: 26.02.2007
Format: CD
Bar code: 4740447401522
Catalogue# Board 015

Tracklist:
1. Iidsetel sünkjatel radadel
2. Vahkturm
3. Ristikatk
4. Surmatalv
5. Loodusviha
6. Hullusesse
7. Raudses haardes

MP3:
http://www.nailboard.org/media/mp3/Tharaphita-Iidsetel_Sunkjatel_Radadel.mp3
http://www.nailboard.org/media/mp3/Tharaphita-Surmatalv.mp3

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Source:

nailboard.org

Belgian razor grinders Leng Tch'e have recently completed work on "Marasmus", the follow-up to 2005's acclaimed "The Process of Elimination". "Marasmus" sixteen tracks were recorded at CCR Studios before taking the record to the legendary Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden to mix with engineer Fredrik Nordstrom. "Marasmus" is set for a March 20th North American release date (March 12th internationally).
Two preview tracks for "Marasmus" can be heard now exclusively via the band's official MySpace page.

Additionally, Leng Tch'e are set to film a video for "Marasmus" track "1-800-APATHY" this weekend in Paris, France with film-crew oneOone (Aborted).

Leng Tch'e will also be making live appearances at the Buried Fest and Front Fests in Belgium during February. A listing of confirmed Leng Tch'e tour dates can be found online here with more to be announced soon.

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Leng Tch'e

Swedish death metallers Vomitory have completed their new album. As announced on their official website: "It's finally time to unveil the cover artwork of the upcoming album, "Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize"! As you can see we've gone in a new brutal direction with this cover, using a photo instead something painted.

The rest of the booklet is also 100% photo-based and follows the same style, but certainly brings it to new sick and disturbing levels. Connoisseurs of gory death metal imagery will certainly have something extra to look forward to!

You can check out the cover here."

"Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Leon Music Studio, Karlstad/Sweden during December together with producer/engineer Rikard Löfgren.

Tracklist for "Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize" is as follows:
01. Eternal Trail Of Corpses
02. Scavenging The Slaughtered
03. Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize
04. The Burning Black
05. Defiled And Inferior
06. March Into Oblivion
07. Whispers From The Dead
08. Heresy
09. Flesh Passion
10. Cremation Ceremony

"Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize" will be released the 20th of April (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) / 23rd of April (Europe). A North American release date will be announced soon.

Read more ››

Source:	vomitory.net
Band profile:	Vomitory

Norwegian Melodic Black/Death metallers Susperia have issued the following update:

"The wait is almost over, all the work on the new album is now finished and we have set the title as "Cut From Stone". It is scheduled for release via the TABU label in Europe in April. Release in the USA will follow soon after. The artwork has once again been done by our good friend Rune Tyvold and he's done another killer job. We've posted samples of two of our new songs: 'More' and 'The Clone'. We'll be announcing the release date soon."

"Cut From Stone" was recorded at StrandStudio in Oslo, Norway with Marius Strand, who previously assisted Susperia on 2005's Norwegian Top 20 hit, the "Devil May Care" EP. The album was mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Meshuggah) at Dug Out Studios in Uppsala, Sweden.

Read more ››

Source:	susperia.net
Band profile:	Susperia

Death metallers Immolation have wrapped up the recording process for their new full-length album, "Shadows In The Light", which is set for an April release via Century Media. The effort was recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios with producer Paul Orofino. "Shadows In The Light" features the following tracks:

01. Hate's Plague
02. Passion Kill
03. World Agony
04. Tarnished
05. The Weight Of Devotion
06. Breathing The Dark
07. Deliverer Of Evil
08. Shadows In The Light
09. Lying With Demons
10. Whispering Death

Robert Vigna (guitars) further describes the new album: "It's aggressive, emotional and haunting. The disc delivers all of Immolation's attributes, as it's catchy as hell, very direct and to the point. The album devastates on all levels, from blasting madness and militant charges to sorrow-filled doom and depression. It is a very complete record with soulful solos, thunderous raging drums and vocals that lash right out at you!"

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Immolation

Finnish metallers Twilightning will be releasing their 3rd full length album titled "Swinelords" on 21st March 2007 through Spinefarm.

Release dates for other countries is yet unknown but people can order the new Twilightning album from Spinefarm shop "Levykauppa Äx" when it's released.

The tracklisting for Swinelords is:

01. Isolation Shell
02. SwineLord
03. Reflection of the Cuckoo
04. Vice Jesus
05. Pimps, Witches, Thieves & Bitches
06. The Gun
07. Not a Word
08. Consume Gap
09. With the Flow
10. Wounded & Withdrawn

Source:	finmetalnews.com
Band profile:	Twilightning

Eternal Tears Of Sorrow have launched a video page on http://youtube.com/etoslive. Live footage from the band's December 31st show show at Teatria in Oulu, Finland is currently available for streaming. The songs currently on offer are "Blood Of Failth (Stains My Hands)' and 'Autumn's Grief".

Read more ››

Source:	eternaltears.info
Band profile:	Eternal Tears Of Sorrow

Finnish metallers Nightwish have updated their website with following message: "The auditions for the new vocalist have ended, with more than 2000 demos sent to us. (yesterday, 15.1. we received 120 demos!) A big thanks to everybody! So please don't send anymore demos, since now we need to concentrate on finishing the album recordings." The new vocalist will be announced at the end of May, together with the release of a new single.

Source:	nightwish.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

"U.S. legends of epic black death metal" Vital Remains have just returned home from Mana Recording Studio in Florida, where they recorded their followup to 2003's "Dechristianize" featuring Glen Benton of Deicide once again on vocals.

Here is a statement from guitarist Tony Lazaro:

We've just returned home from Mana Recordings in Florida where we spent the whole month of December/January working on the new album. Yes, it's done and what can we say other than holy shit! We cannot wait for the fans to hear this new album!! I really think all of our fans are going to shit themselves when they hear this. To those few who thought we couldn't top Dechristianize, you're in for a real surprise because we did! We thought Dechristianize was a tough album to do, oh man! This album, hands down sets the bar. We spent 12-13 hours a day straight with no days off. The drums took some 10 days alone to track all nine songs. Glen's vocals sound sick and his performance and attack was awesome! Dave's leads and harmonies are some of his best work to date. Total shredding as well as a great drum performance done by Dave. He really worked hard to get his best drum tracks down. The overall sound of the new album is just HUGE! We are very proud of the results of all this hard work and we think our fans will soon agree as well. A BIG THANKS to Erik Rutan who really worked us to near death ha! Much respect to you and Shaun Otani for really working hard and pushing us to the point of insanity to bring out our best performances, to which we think you did without a doubt!
This is without question our "Reign In Blood" album. Soon the underground worldwide will get to hear this Unholy Brutality!.... "Hammer Down The Nails!!"

Vital Remains is also booking a lot of tours for the release of this album in 2007. Followed will also be a single and a video, the band's first premiered video in its eighteen year history.

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Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Vital Remains

On May 25th, 2007 Edenbridge will release "The Chronicles of Eden," a rarities/best of compilation. The album will feature Japanese and European bonus tracks, 3 new unreleased tracks, songs from out-of-print singles as well as their best work from the past 5 studio albums. "The Chronicles of Eden" will be presented as a double-CD and as a limited edition double-digipack.

As a special bonus, fans can vote on which songs will be featured in the "best of" section. Vote at www.edenbridge.org

Source:	edenbridge.org
Band profile:	Edenbridge

VICE Films (Peter Beste) are now in Norway making a documentary about Gaahl and Gorgoroth. It will appear on a Vice DVD with several other related segments. The first pressing of this DVD is 100,000 units, and will be distributed in all major music retailers in the US, and most in Europe.

Gorgoroth has been nominated in the "Metal" category at the 35th annual Spellemann awards (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards). The largest and oldest Norwegian music awards show will be held Saturday, January 27 at the Thalia Theater, Chateau Neuf in Oslo, Norway and will be broadcast live on the Norwegian channel TV2.

Gorgoroth have been confirmed for this year's edition of the Party.San Open Air festival, set to take place August 9-11, 2007 in Bad Berka, Germany.

Source:	Gorgoroth online newsletter 09.01.2007
Band profile:	Gorgoroth

The following message was posted by the band on their official website:

"The last two months have been hectic, but we've had a blast. The headlining tour in Europe went over expactations and we'd like to thank Wintersun and Tyr, as well as our European crew and of course everyone who came to the shows. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
After the last show in Hamburg we flew straight to Detroit to join Children of Bodom, Gojira and Sanctity on the North American leg of the tour and although it was taxing and with some off stage problems, the tour was nothing but awesome and successful for us! It was great to see the support we got every night and we want to thank you fans for that."

They are having some time off from the band, but later this month they will start preparing for the Scandinavian leg, and on the 25th they'll start shooting the second video for the new album. "Cry Of The Blackbirds" is the chosen song.

Source:	amonamarth.com
Band profile:	Amon Amarth

According to a posting on Gorgoroth's official web site, the group's frontman, Gaahl, was finally released from prison last month after being jailed since the spring of 2006.

Gaahl was sentenced to 14 months in prison in February 2005 for beating a 41-year-old man and threatening to drink his blood. The 31-year-old, whose real name was not revealed by the Norwegian media, was charged with a crime that carries a maximum penalty of nine years in prison. The original 18-month sentence, which was handed down in May 2004, was reduced by four months while the amount in damages Gaahl was required to pay to the victim was increased from 100,000 NOK (approximately $15,000) to 190,000 NOK (approximately $29,000).

Source:	gorgoroth.org
Band profile:	Gorgoroth

Posted on the official site: "We hereby can announce the title of our upcoming new album! It will be titled 'The Heart Of Everything'. We will announce the detailed release dates shortly. We will also post more information on our first single 'What Have You Done (feat. Keith Caputo)' as well very soon! The photography has been done by Erwin Olaf, a very well-known Dutch photographer. You can find more information about him at: www.erwinolaf.com"

Source:	within-temptation.com
Band profile:	Within Temptation