Artemis Records is proud to announce the signing of Black Label Society, featuring legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde, to an exclusive worldwide licensing, multi-album contract. An album of all-new material, MAFIA, is slated for a March 8th, 2005 release. In 1987 at the tender age of 19, an unknown Zakk Wylde was hand-picked by Ozzy Osbourne to be his lead guitarist. In addition to his responsibilities as Ozzy's main axe slinger, Wylde was responsible for co-writing many of Osbourne's best-selling multi-platinum albums. In 1998, Wylde formed his own band, Black Label Society, while still maintaining his role as Osbourne's lead guitarist. In Black Label Society, Wylde serves as sole songwriter, lead vocalist and of course, lead guitar player. To date, Black Label Society has released six albums and has sold in excess of one million units worldwide.

http://www.artemisrecords.com/

Band profile:

Black Label Society

Legendary Norwegian black metal band DARKTHRONE, nominated last Wednesday in the "Metal" category for the highly coveted Norwegian Alarm Awards, have now been removed from the list of nominees.

DARKTHRONE, one of five candidates in the metal category for their album "Sardonic Wrath", communicated their dissatisfaction at being nominated in an article published in Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten the day after the selected names were released to the public. "We play real and honest black metal," drummer Fenriz commented in the article. "And we have no interest in being part of the glitter and showbiz side of the music industry."

Alarm Awards chief, Svein Bjørge, was surprised by the band's reaction but hasted to find a solution that culminated in the band's elimination from the category altogether.

On hearing the news that their wish had been granted, Fenriz commented, "I just wanted to say my piece about the whole Alarm nomination thing last week and whether they kept us in or not would have been no skin off my nose."

"I have everything AGAINST awards for black metal," Nocturno Culto added. "What a fucking circus this has become."

"I am not against awards in general," Fenriz concluded. "I just thought it was not for us."

"Sardonic Wrath" is out now on Moonfog with promotion and distribution through The End Records in North America.

blabbermouth.net

Band profile:

Darkthrone

HI!! here's some "snippets" of a few of the songs we are working on - these are home demos but at least you get an idea of what we are up to - more to follow!!!
cheers,
john

( http://www.ravenlunatics.com/media/NEW.MP3 )

http://www.ravenlunatics.com/

INSOMNIUM raises Christmas spirit by making all songs from our first demo downloadable! To boot this best gift ever we even offer official tablature for the song Dying Chant (album version, powertab translation). Go and have fun with it!

Album We have been busy writing new material for our third release and that's main reason for lack of updates. We have finished few new songs already but there's still long way to go until we have whole new Insomnium album in our hands. If everything goes well we'll enter studio probably somewhere in the next year.

http://www.insomnium.net/

Band profile:

Insomnium

"Green Carnation Completes 4th studio album titled: "The Quiet Offspring":
On September 15th, the band finished recording its 4th full length album, scheduled to be released through Season of Mist in February 2005.
The band is very excited about the new material and looking forward to hearing the mastered tapes when they arrive in a couple of days. More info about the album will be released soon".

Also, the cover of the forthcoming album was posted online on the website of the band.

http://www.green-carnation.tk/

Band profile:

Green Carnation

"NYC's doomsters EVOKEN have also completed the recordings of their new album, to come in 2005.

The album is now tentatively titled "The Last of Vitality" (might change !)

We also have an anticipation on the songs titles :

Procession
Mournful Refusal
Antithesis of Light
Dreamsfear
Darkness Visable
The Last of Vitality
Instrumental

We asked the guys to describe the album in words, and here it comes directly from their pen.... :

"This album will show more variety in structure and sound. Yet, will still keep its dark, heavy, and ominous overtone. This definitely has more structure, yet has subtle differences from previous work. Each song has a swelling and sweeping, darkened atmosphere that will be felt from opening track, to final note. 7 songs plus one intro will come together like a life ending story. The clean guitar sounds as if a distant tolling bell warns of an impending dying sun. The rest of the instruments will complete a sound that we will let the listener await. Some surprises will be found on this album that will show Evoken will continue to expand its sound, its song structure, and influences, while still committing to their doom laden foundation.
Nobody has heard a more cold, haunting, and livid Doom metal album until now""

www.avantgardemusic.com

Band profile:

Evoken

"Novembers Doom have recently parted ways with bass player Mike LeGros. Mike played bass with the band for the past 2 years, and contributed to the recording of the upcoming CD, "The Pale Haunt Departure." It was brought to our attention that he was not comfortable in the band, due to creative differences, and the dedication to his instrument we require suffered because of this. Very simply, it was time for a change, on both sides. Mike is an amazing person, and we are forever grateful for everything he did for Novembers Doom during his time with us. We wish him nothing but the best with Disinter, Nachtmystium, and any other project he aligns himself with!

We are in the process of filling the vacant Bass position, and this will not hinder us from touring, and promoting "The Pale Haunt Departure" in 2005. Any interested parties should email: info@novembersdoom.com"

Source:	novembersdoom.com
Band profile:	Novembers Doom

On the website of the band were posted one full version of the track "Equilibrium" and three extracts from other tracks on the album.
Follow the link for hearing them:
http://www.tristania.com/main_pages/news/011204_2.htm

"The new album, Ashes, will contain 9 (8) tracks. The limited digipack release will contain one extra track not on the regular jewel case release.
The promo CDs were printed while the band was on tour, at the same time as the artwork was completed. Some confusion ensued, and the promo CD was printed with only 7 tracks. Thus - most reviews will list this as a 7 track release with a running time of 42 minutes, while the first releases will indeed be closer to 56 minutes in length (and still no fillers).
"Bird" is the closing track on both releases, most likely not listed in reviews and early advertisments".

Also, the band is planning a tour in Norway, for the first time.
"In early March 2005, Rikskonsertene will arrange a tour of Norway, featuring Tristania and Gothminister. Some 8-10 selected cities will be visited by the bands, with exact dates and venues to be published soon.
The band is very enthusiastic about the the planned tour, as this will be their first opportunity to perform around Norway. They've earlier only performed single gigs in Stavanger + Tau/Jørpeland, in addition to Kristiansand. They view this tour as an excellent opportunity to reach other parts of the country with their music".

Source:	tristania.com
Band profile:	Tristania

From the website of the band:
"We are happy to announce that the mixing process with the amazing Dan Swano is now complete. Dan worked many long days and nights to make sure we were 100% happy with the final product, offering several versions of each song. We could not be more pleased with this entire process. Dan is one of the hardest working people in metal, and he treated Novembers Doom as if it were one of his own projects. We have a great deal of respect for him, and our eternal gratitude for making this as perfect as it is. Swano fans won't be disappointed either, as there is a guest appearance on the CD from him.

The recordings will now be shipped to James Murphy (Death, Obituary, Testament) for mastering. With some of the great CD's we've heard James do, this should be an absolutely amazing sounding CD, and we're looking forward to everyone hearing it!

Artwork, a newly designed website, and some possible samples will all be revealed in the very near future!"

http://www.novembersdoom.com/

Iron Maiden New Album To Be Completed Soon!

IRON MAIDEN fansite Maidenfans.com has posted an interview with drummer Nicko mcBrain. In the interview Nicko reveals that the band's forthcoming studio album will be done in November, 2005 with another tour to follow in 2006 which will include festival dates. Remarking about the current DVD, The History Of IRON MAIDEN - Part 1: The Early Days, the drummer says that there could be four-six more DVDs in the series.

Source:	metalian.net
Band profile:	Iron Maiden

Here are the news in the words of Ron:

"I also have started up a project with two killer musicians from the death/extreme metal genre. Over the past few months I have been writing tunes and putting a concept together with these guys. Looks like this is going to be all (or mostly) instrumental! I'll be sure to give out specific details as the project materializes..."

In other kind of news Ron shows his new guitar, you can see it at: http://www.spasticink.com/inkdoubleneck.html

http://www.spasticink.com

The band have posted 2 songs from their latest album Fading Beauty on the news section of their official website.

http://www.morphia.nl/

The Neo-folk projet by Kim Larsen put an update on his website:

"The next album 'SONNENHEIM' is being worked on
and will be released by 'Heiðrunar|Myrkrunar' & distributed by Tesco.

After long time requests the Midnight Will 10" EP, originally released by Eis+Licht,
has been re-edited, re-mixed and will be re-released on a MCD at some point in the future.
2 additional tracks was recorded at the same sessions
and will be out on a 7" single titled "HAIL HAIL HAIL".

Exact release dates to be confirmed."

www.ofthewandandthemoon.dk

There is a update by Daniel:

"Hi folks again,
the production of the new album "The Circle of Life" is about to be finished. We're more than happy about the result! Philip and Sascha did a great job, the whole thing sounds alive and kicking. Each song has been given its individual soundspectrum and gained even more positive results.

And here we go for the tracklist of the 12 songs:The Gathering, The Rhythm of life, Mother Earth, Starchild, Kings and Queens, High enough, Hunting high and low, Hero Nation, The Eternal Flame, Starlight and titletrack "The Circle of Life".

Release has definetely been set to the second half of March 2005 but an exact release-date wasn't put on table yet. Right after the release there are plans for touring. I'll keep ya updated.
See ya"

http://www.freedom-call.net

Band profile:

Freedom Call

Taken from Lacrimosa website:

"From the buttom of my heart I want to thank everyone who believed in me and in Snakeskin and with that supported this new side-project, nevertheless the music is very dark and sometimes unpleasant!! This means very much to me as you express therewith how much my music and its contents mean to you!!
And for those who still have prejudice against Snakeskin I hope that you one day will learn that emotional art does not exist in limitations!
I wish you all a beautiful and intensive autumn and for those who live on the other side of the planet
I wish you a beautiful and not too hot summer!
Tilo Wolff"

Source:	lacrimosa.de
Band profile:	Lacrimosa