The following news item was posted on the Killing Joke official website:

Finally, after numerous line-up changes through the years, all original Killing Joke members reunite for new album and world tour.

Drummer, Paul Ferguson, rejoins the line up for the first time since 1987 enabling a whole new generation of fans to see Killing Joke's legendary original formation. Diehard fans have been waiting for this moment for two decades!

Bassist, Martin 'Youth' Glover also steps back into the live arena after a near 15 hiatus, having not played live with Killing Joke since 1994's Pandemonium tour.

The tour will see Killing Joke take up a two night residency in most venues offering a different set on each evening. On the first night, they will play their first two albums in their entirety, 1980's self-titled album followed by the album 'What's This?For!'. Their
second performance in each city will treat fans to 1994's Pandemonium and the Island Records singles of'79 to '80.

Once described by Ferguson as 'the sound of the earth vomiting', Killing Joke is anthemic and grandiose in it's evocation of nightmare visions. Taking a sarcastic jab at authority and perceived reality to a sonically charged mixture of post punk and metal, Killing Joke's heavy guitars and pounding tribal drums conjure a primitive atmosphere of doom, gloom and resistance.

Notorious for their use of inflammatory imagery, a backlash against a world they perceived as ever more materialistic, unjust and conservative, Killing Joke, railed against the establishment and created a unique sound from their very conception.

Ironically, in the current musical climate with it's obsession with rehashing eighties sounds, the 80's saw Killing Joke really pushing music forward, incorporating danceable elements with aggressive, grinding guitars and thumping drums. With elements of proto-techno rock, their post apocalyptic vision has inspired bands as diverse and influential as Nirvana, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden and Godflesh. Killing Joke have always been and continue to be more than just a band.

Godfathers of post-punk, Killing Joke return with their eagerly anticipated new album to coincide with their world tour. Album release date TBC.

LIVE DATES
September
13 - (JP) Tokyo, Club Quattro
14 - (JP) Tokyo, Club Quattro
16 - (ES) Madrid, Heineken
17 - (ES) Barcelona, Apollo
19 - (IT) Milan, Rolling Stone

Read more ››

Source:	killingjoke.com
Band profile:	Killing Joke

The following message was posted on the website of Celtic Frost:

"There exist countless Hellhammer demo bootlegs, but they all utterly fail to capture the true aura, to represent the band as it actually was. They have been compiled from dismal multi-generation copies of the original tapes, and they are invariably riddled with factual and historical errors or outright lies. Former Hellhammer members Tom Gabriel Fischer, Martin Eric Ain, and Steve Warrior have decided to rectify this situation once and for all. "Demon Entrails" is the first official release of the legendary Hellhammer demos "Death Fiend"/"Triumph of Death" and "Satanic Rites" since the original limited cassette editions in 1983.

This release has been specially re-mastered from copies of the original master tapes under the supervision of Tom Gabriel Fischer, and the demos now represent Hellhammer exactly as the band sounded when recording these songs in June and December of 1983. Drawing from a wealth of previously unknown historical material and artwork as well as hundreds of unreleased Hellhammer photos from 1982 to 1984, "Demon Entrails" will also feature all lyrics and essays detailing the individual demo recording sessions.

"Demon Entrails" will be released as an opulent oversized double CD and as a gatefold triple vinyl album. Both versions will feature a lavish booklet and a poster. There will also be a third, bare-bones low-price CD version, designed to cater to markets which will not carry the standard CD due to its irregular size.

The release is scheduled for February 2008, through Prowling Death Records/Century Media."

Read more ››

Source:	celticfrost.com
Band profile:	Hellhammer

Brazilian Thrashers Chaosfear have posted the news on their website:

"After quitting Scars, Edu Boccomino was interested in playing with his brother Fernando once again. "Everything happened so naturally because we have been friends for such a long time. We just had a quick talk and started playing again.", said the rest of the band. Welcome back Edu."

Guitarist Eduardo Boccomino is the brother of vocalist, guitarist Fernando Boccomino. Eduardo quit the band before the release of the "Inside The Extreme World" demo. The whole demo is available for free download at the band's website at this location.

Chaosfear has started writing material for the follow-up to "One Step Behind Anger", tentatively due in 2008 via OSM Records.

Read more ››

Source:	chaosfear.com
Band profile:	Chaosfear

Guitarist David Gallegos of defunkt San Antonio bases prog-metallers Power Of Omens has issued the following statement in regards to the passing of the band's original bassist Matt Wlliamson:

"It comes with great sadness to announce the passing of one of my dearest friends... Matt Williamson.

As many of you know, he had been diagosed with terminal cancer almost 2 years ago, and was only given 3 months to live at that time... but Matt's determination to fight this and win the battle was evident in his amazing struggle to survive almost 2 more years after his diagnosis.

Unfortunately, as I just found out this morning (December 14th), Matt lost his battle this past Saturday, December 9th.

He was an incredible person, a great friend, and an absolutely amazing bassist and musician. He will sorely be missed by his wife, family, as well as his Power Of Omens family."

Former bandmate and current Zero Hour vocalist Chris Salinas states, "Matt was a great person and great friend who also served our country proudly in the Army. He played a key role in the writing proccess of the first Power Of Omens CD. Things were never the same when the country called his name and he had to leave. I love you Brutha and I will miss you. You will live on through music forever."

Source:

powerofomens.com

Guitarist Tim Roth posted the following message on Into Eternity's website:

"Hi everyone,

The new album is still underway for us. Right now we are looking at 11 songs for the new album. Each song is a bit more compact compared to what we usually have done in the past. Seven of the songs clock in at just over 3 minutes. I thought it would be different to try to fit in multiple time changes and riffs/solos in a shorter time frame. I know I have a low attention span when it comes to long songs, movies or whatever the case may be, so it is a small change for us. Every song is going to still have a lot going on, so our style will still be intact.

Now on to the main reason for this update. Into Eternity would like to welcome back our original drummer Jim Austin, who will be playing on our new record. Everybody is familiar with Jim's drumming style from our albums "Into Eternity" , "Dead or Dreaming" and "Buried In Oblivion". We are all happy that Jim is willing to help us out with this new record.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we should point out that this arrangement is just for the recording of the album. Jim has a good job now that we wouldn't want him to lose. I think that this will be a good step for us and it will help maintain our sound that we have crafted for almost 10 years now."

Source:	intoeternity.net
Band profile:	Into Eternity

Los Angeles thrashers Hirax have announced the return of original drummer John Tabares and addition of guitarist Lance Harrison to the group's ranks. The band are currently in pre-production, writing songs for their upcoming EP, "Assassins of War", tentatively due later in the year. More information will be made available soon.

In November 2005, Hirax frontman Katon W. De Pena was left as the group's sole remaining member after Glenn Rogers (lead guitars), Angelo Espino (bass), Dave Chedrick (drums) and Dave Watson (lead guitars) announced their departure from the band. As a result of their exit, Hirax's Japanese tour was cancelled and the band's appearance at this year's Keep It True VI festival was called off.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Hirax

The band posted the following message on their official website:

"Due to personal & creative differences, Clinton Appelhanz & James King have resigned from the band. I would like to personaly thank these guys for their dedication & hard work to this project & let people know that Echoes of Decimation could not have been done without them."

They are currently looking for replacements for the Guitar and Vocals as well for the Drums.

http://www.origin-site.com

Band profile:

Origin

The band posted the following press release on their website:

"March 24, 2005

Metal Fans Are Once Again 'Caught In A Mosh'!!!

OFFICIALLY - The Triumphant REUNION, The Original Line-up of Legendary Speed Metal Icons!!!

ANTHRAX RETURNS!!!

New York's own ANTHRAX has an unmistakable signature style and distinct sound that breaks musical, cultural and political boundaries - influencing a myriad of bands throughout the spectrum of musical genres for 20 years.

Twice GRAMMY-nominated, MTV/VMA nominees and Multi-Platinum and Gold Awarded music veterans, ANTHRAX has sold over 10,000,000 records worldwide, including nine studio albums, two live albums, three greatest hits, plus two DVDs. Touring pros ANTHRAX performed on over fifty tours spanning the globe - in thirty-two countries on five continents including Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Asia.

Now, for the first time in 13 years, the entire original lineup of Joey Belladonna, Frankie Bello, Charlie Benante, Scott Ian and Danny Spitz will gather together in one room to discuss new music releases, as well as the future plans for this monumental ANTHRAX reunion.

Please join us for the biggest event in heavy music - the ANTHRAX Global Press Conference and Luncheon. This history-making music event will take place on April 1, 2005 at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT at SIRIUS Satellite Radio's national broadcast center in New York City, and will be broadcast live on Hard Attack/27, SIRIUS' extreme heavy metal channel.

Refreshments and light fare will be served. A telephone line (866-510-5377) will be set up for off-site journalists to call in questions to directly ask the band - live on SIRIUS! Photos will be accommodated. To attend in person, press must RSVP by 5 pm ET on March 31, and a photo ID will be required to enter the building.

The event will officially kick off the weekend music special "SPREADING THE ANTHRAX" on Hard Attack/27, where millions will hear it first.

At the conclusion of the ANTHRAX Global Press Conference and Luncheon, ANTHRAX will make an important statement regarding the U.S. Government and the Anthrax Vaccine. ANTHRAX has teamed up with Slave to the Metal Foundation (www.slavetothemetal.org) to bring public awareness to the dangers of the Anthrax Vaccine. The newly legislated "BioShield Act" (July, 2004) allows the Department of Health and Human Services to inject American Citizens with Anthrax Vaccines and other untested and unapproved substances without informed consent, using our military as first line guinea pigs. Experts will be at the conference to discuss this with attendees."

Read more ››

Band profile:

Anthrax

The chilenean(relocated in Europe) band has announced on their official that the original bassist Juan "Kato" Cueto rejoins the band. He will be joining the band to the pre-production of the upcoming (fifth studio) album. Anton tell aobut how Kato decided to join the band: "We went recently to South America last year to play a few shows, and since we didn't have a permanent bassist at the time, we asked Kato to help us out. We only had like two days to practice, and from the moment he hit the first note it became that he was still a part of the band. The Shows went fuckin' great, and I think that's when he decided he was going to give it a go and come to Europe".

Source:	criminal1.com
Band profile:	Criminal

Canadian technical death metallers CRYPTOPSY have been officially rejoined by original vocalist Lord Worm.

Lord Worm, who sang on the band's first two albums ? 1994's "Blasphemy Made Flesh" (Displeased) and 1995's "None So Vile" (Wrong Again) ? has announced his return to CRYPTOPSY via the following posting on the group's web site:

" 'Un mal pour un bien', I've heard it said, and those seven long years ago, unhappy though I was at leaving (for a private question of honour, not beer), it was nonetheless for the best. Now, we've come full circle, and again a private question of honour finds me back in the fold. 'It is so. It cannot be otherwise.' See you soon..."

CRYPTOPSY's most recent vocalist, Martin Lacroix (ex-SPASME) ? who appeared on the band's 2003 live release, "None So Live" ? left the group in October for undisclosed reasons. CRYPTOPSY are currently writing material for their fifth studio album, tentatively due in early 2004 through Century Media Records.

Band profile:

Cryptopsy