Two of doom metal's most acclaimed acts will team up for a two week U.S. tour this winter as the legendary Pentagram joins forces with celebrated "True Heavy Metal" band The Gates Of Slumber. The 11 city tour will launch on January 15, 2010 in Springfield, VA.

The pairing of Pentagram and The Gates Of Slumber aligns 2 generations of doom metal majesty and will undoubtedly be a tremendous treat for both long time loyalists and wide-eyed newcomers alike. Formed in 1971, Pentagram has a long and storied history that continues to play out almost 40 years later. Let by wildly charismatic vocalist Bobby Liebling, the band has forged an indelible mark in the "Heavy Metal Rock and Roll" pantheon and continues to influence scores of modern day acts. The Gates Of Slumber has emerged as one of modern day metal's most critically acclaimed bands whose decidedly throwback sound both pays homage to and builds upon "Heavy Metal" in its truest form. The band has been hailed as "a breath of fresh air within the doom/true metal underground" and its latest studio album Hymns of Blood & Thunder (Rise Above) is in stores now.

01/15 Springfield, VA Jaxx
01/16 Philadelphia, PA Polaris
01/17 New York, NY BB King Blues Club
01/18 Richmond, VA The Hat Factory
01/21 New Orleans, LA The Howlin's Wolf
01/23 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
01/26 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
01/27 Madison, WI High Noon
01/28 Cleveland, OH Peabody's
01/29 Detroit, MI Blondie's
01/30 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle

Read more ››

Source:	metalblade.com
Band profile:	The Gates Of Slumber
Event:	The Gates Of Slumber + Pentagram

Rammstein returns with their first new album in four years, having signed a marketing and distribution deal in the US with Vagrant Records.

The 11-song album is slated for a late fall 2009 simultaneous worldwide launch with more details to be announced shortly. Pre-production for the new release was done at Castle Beerenstedt in eastern Germany's Halle/Saale while the bulk of the recording was done in late 2008 at Northern California's Sonoma Mountain Studio. As with the band's previous releases, the new album was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hellner in Stockholm.

Source:	thegauntlet.com
Band profile:	Rammstein

Ascendance Records are proud to announce that Ram-Zet's fourth studio album entitled "Neutralized" will be released through the label this autumn.

Since 2000 Ram-Zet have built a strong and dedicated following. Led by Zet's creative talents for guitar and vocals and the sultry voice of Sfinx, "Neutralized" is sure to please their fan-base as ever.

The album was recorded during 2008 and early 2009, seeing the band at the peak of their creativity. Ram-Zet employed a lengthy, busy writing schedule with the album being mixed this summer ready for a tentative release date of September. Illustrating the innovative, challenging and intense sound that fans have come to expect from Ram-Zet, "Neutralized" is the perfect next addition to their catalogue.

The cover artwork for "Neutralized" can already be found here.

Source:

myspace.com

German metallers Rammstein have announced that they are going to tour through Europe in November/December 2009.

Announced dates are as follows:

November 08 - Portugal, Lisbon - Pavilhão Atlântico
November 10 - Spain, Madrid - Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid
November 12 - Spain, Barcelona - Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona
November 14 - Spain, Bilbao, Bizkaia - Arena
November 16 - France, Nantes - Zénith Nantes Métropole
November 18 - Switzerland, Basel - St. Jakobshalle
November 19 - Switzerland, Geneva - Arena de Genève
November 21 - Austria, Vienna - Stadthalle
November 23 - Germany, Munic - Olympiahalle
November 24 - Germany, Leipzig - Arena
November 25 - Czech Republic, Prague - O2 Arena
November 27 - Poland, Katowice - Spodek
November 29 - Germany, Cologne - Lanxess Arena
December 02 - France, Lyon - Halle Tony Garnier
December 03 - France, Strasbourg - Zénith
December 04 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Rockhal
December 06 - Netherlands, Arnheim - GelreDome
December 08 - France, Paris - Bercy
December 09 - France, Paris - Bercy
December 10 - Belgium, Antwerp - Sportpaleis
December 11 - Germany, Frankfurt - Festhalle
December 12 - Germany, Stuttgart - Schleyer-Halle
December 14 - Germany, Hamburg - Color Line Arena
December 15 - Denmark, Copenhagen - Forum
December 17 - Germany, Rostock - HanseMesse
December 18 - Germany, Berlin - Velodrom
December 19 - Germany, Berlin - Velodrom

Read more ››

Source:	rammstein.com
Band profile:	Rammstein
Event:	Rammstein: European Tour

Abramis Brama have issued the following update:

"Yes folk's, thing are actually happening in this end! The releasedate for our new album "Smakar Söndag" has officially been set to 13th of May. The album contains 11 songs of fresh bream. On the 20th of May we will have a releaseparty including one hell of a live-gig on Pub Anchor, Sveavägen 90, Stockholm, Sweden. Our first gig in Stockholm for about a year and a half so expect new songs, old songs, singalongs andwhatnot and testosteroneswinging, footstomping music. Did I mention that the day after is a holiday so you can drink strong lemonade and stay up very late if needed? Well, now you know."

Here's the tracklist of "Smakar Söndag" [cover art]:

01. Kylan Kommer Inifrån
02. Sista Morgonljuset
03. Smakar Söndag
04. N.E.J.
05. Långsamt
06. Vägskäl
07. Enkel Resa
08. Med Ont Försåt
09. Öga För Öga
10. Förbjuden Frukt
11. Kommer Hem

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

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."

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

Metallica have won a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance category with the song "My Apocalypse" at the 51st annual Grammy Awards, held in Los Angeles last night. This is Metallica's eight Grammy thus far, including five for "Best Metal Performance."

All the nominees for Best Metal Performance (for solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only):

• DragonForce - Heroes Of Our Time (from the album "Ultra Beatdown")
  
• Judas Priest - Nostradamus (from the album "Nostradamus")
  
• Metallica - My Apocalypse (from the album "Death Magnetic")
  
• Ministry - Under My Thumb [Rolling Stones cover] (from the album "Cover Up")
  
• Slipknot - Psychosocial (from the album "All Hope Is Gone")
  

"Death Magnetic" won also a Grammy for Best Recording Package, while Rick Rubin went home with a Grammy for Producer Of The Year.

Metallica were also nominated with the track "Suicide & Redemption" for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, but lost that one to "Peaches En Regalia" from Zappa Plays Zappa Featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock. "Death Magnetic" was also nominated for Best Rock Album but lost to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends".

The Mars Volta won in the Hard Rock Performance category, leaving behind Disturbed, Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe and Rob Zombie.
Robert Plant (ex-Led Zeppelin) and Alison Krauss won all five of the categories they were nominated in with the album "Raising Sand".

A list of all nominees and winners can be found here.

Source:	grammy.com
Band profile:	Metallica

Just like two years ago, In Flames have won a Swedish "Grammi Award" in the Best Hard Rock category, this time for their latest effort "A Sense Of Purpose". This is already the fourth time in five years the band is honoured with such an award (Mustasch won the Award last year). A total of five bands were nominated for their most recent releases, all of which came out during 2008. The nominees were as follows:

• In Flames - A Sense Of Purpose
  
• Meshuggah - obZen
  
• Millencolin - Machine 15
  
• Opeth - Watershed
  
• Sabaton - The Art Of War

The Swedish "Grammis" gala was held on Wednesday night (January 7) at Hovet in Stockholm. In Flames were also nominated for the "Best Live" act. The band also performed the song "Alias" during the ceremony, which was broadcast live on Swedish national channel TV4. Video footage of the acceptance speech (in Swedish) and the performance can be viewed on blabbermouth.

Source:	inflames.com
Band profile:	In Flames

Russian label Irond records presents the new Kramola album "Krov Svobody". Kramola is the latest side project with members of Moscow metal band Nevid.
The album was recorded by some original Nevid members: Lesiar, Arsafes, Olga Lantseva, Olga Mashkina, and other musicians like Wolfenhirt, Harry, Alex Kozlovsky, Alex Bolshov. Also live on stage other Nevid members Alex Smirnov and Glen will be performing for Kramola.

Tracklist:

01. Kanun
02. Kramola
03. Bedny Mesyats
04. Zabludilas Vnov Dusha
05. Moye Pole
06. Smert' Lubit Tolko Voynu!
07. Pogorelets
08. Veter
09. Tihim Ehom Ptichih Stay...
10. Zveri, Ptitsy - brat'ya Moi Odnokrovnye
11. Step'
12. Moya radost'-Gore!
13. Klikushin Son
14. Za Rekoy Zarnitsey Taet...
15. Voshozhdenie
16. Na Kogo Zhe Ty...
17. Polynya
18. Gadiuka-Krasa
19. Krovnoe Zverye
20. Polyhaet

Both Nevid and Kramola will be doing a couple of live shows in late 2008 and early 2009.

(Text translated from Russian by Alex Smirnov, drummer of Nevid).

Source:	nevid.ru
Band profile:	Nevid

Original news, posted on 07.11.2008

Rammstein have announced the following:

"Now that the band has finished pre-production in Berlin for its new album, Operation "Album 6" is going forward full steam ahead. Christoph Schneider arrived in Los Angeles last week to meet with Jacob Hellner and production team (i.e., currently Ulf Kruckenberg and Florian Ammon) to undertake preparations for recording of all the drum tracks. Also to arrive in L.A. this week for the drum sessions, Paul and Richard. Finally, a studio has been rented near San Francisco for the bulk of the main recording work, and the band will go into retreat there for several weeks starting on November 9th, 2008. Clear the decks, the Rammstein tanker is once again under steam!"

UPDATE

Rammstein have issued the following minor update via their newsletter:

"While Rammstein are recording their newest studio album in sunny California, the first snow has fallen today in Berlin. You have sent us a lot of questions since news reached you via the Rammstein website about the recordings for the new album. Many rumours have flooded the internet since then. The production of the album will take some time and a release isn't planned before autumn 2009. If everything goes according to plan, we'll hear the first single before summer 2009 and be able to greet Rammstein at the beginning of their tour before the end of the year. This tour, which is to stretch far into the year 2010, will finally give you enough of a chance to see the band live again after the long period of waiting. Above all, there are some surprises in store for our loyal fans and Community members in the 2009/2010 tour year."

Read more ››

Source:	rammstein.com
Band profile:	Rammstein

Seasons Of Mist press release:

On next November 17th (January 27th in the US), Season Of Mist will reissue two classic albums by cult doom band Pentagram: 1999's "Review Your Choices" and 2001's "Sub Basement". Doom is made out of 666 tons heavy riffing, vocals filled with pain, regret and spite as well as leaden song-structures stretched taut to the point of ripping, and Pentagram embody all those virtues like no other contender. Many have named the band the true heir of the British originators of heavy and doom metal, honourably dubbing them 'the American Black Sabbath'.

Pentagram's fourth studio album "Review Your Choices" marked the band's sixth comeback after several changes of line-up and label. These acclaimed protagonists of doom metal proved once more indestructible by drug addiction, break ups, bad deals, jail terms, chronic illness, satanic blood sacrifices and various acts of self destruction. Mainman and singer Bobby Liebling has kept his band alive for nearly 40 years now and might easily be awarded the title of "longest serving cult band" - highly acclaimed by fans, press and fellow musicians alike. "Review Your Choices" marked the return of multi-instrumentalist Joe Hasselvander to join Bobby Liebling in his eternal quest of creating the heaviest sound possible. The album features a mix of re-recorded lost Liebling tracks from the 70's and stellar numbers penned by Hasselvander, which gave "Review Your Choices" an extra heavy feeling.

"Sub-Basement" was the second output of this line-up and is regarded as the most rock n' roll effort of the doomsters ever. On top of Pentagram's perfect doom sound an irresistible groove and capturing catchiness was added, which made the album an all time favourite for many fans. "Sub-Basement" will kick your ass and twist your legs! Dive down deep into gloom and despair with these classic doom recordings, both to be reissued with bonus tracks, new artworks and liner notes.

Source:	season-of-mist.com
Band profile:	Pentagram

Posted on the band's official website:

"Dear friends

After auditioning some really good singers during the last couple of months, we have finally found a new band-brother -none other than singer extraordinaire Urban breed (ex-Tad Morose) has joined our ranks, and we are all very excited. Urban is well known for his powerful voice, stage presence and great diversity. We welcome Urban into the band, and we hope that our fantastic fans will approve of this choice too. Trust us when we say there's no one better to fill out the big shoes left by his predecessors. To those of you who do not know Urban yet, I would like to encourage you to check out the MP3's at the end of this announcement - this is just a little taste of what Urban sounds like. Please note - the songs are NOT new Pyramaze songs, but material from Urban's past recordings. Thanks for your attention, and now on to a statement from Urban himself.

Michael Kammeyer.

Samples from the previous work of Urban breed:

> Tad Morose - Anubis
> Tad Morose - Servant Of The Bones
> Bloodbound - Crucified

Statement from Urban:

Hello everyone

I am very pleased to join ranks with the great guys and talented musicians of Pyramaze. I'm looking forward to the challenge of filling those big shoes and working with these guys live and in the studio. I think we have a lot to offer each other, and I hope Pyramaze fans are as excited as we are to hear us working together.

Urban breed"

Source:	pyramaze.com
Band profile:	Pyramaze

Pyramaze has been announced as the support for Volbeat on the Danish leg of the band's European tour. The tour will be in support of Volbeat's new upcoming album "Guitar Gangsters And Cadillac Blood". The full extensive list of dates can be seen here.

Pyramaze will play the following dates:

05.11.08 - Store Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
06.11.08 - Gimle, Roskilde, Denmark
07.11.08 - Train, Århus, Denmark
08.11.08 - Tobakken, Esbjerg, Denmark
09.11.08 - Tønder Kulturhus, Tønder, Denmark

Pyramaze's Michael Kammeyer comments: "We are very pleased that we have been invited on to the Volbeat tour. They are currently the biggest and best selling heavy metal band in Denmark, and we are proud that we have been invited personally by the band to be their special guest".

Volbeat's Michael Poulsen comments: "I was knocked over when i heard Pyramaze's new album, which contains one of my favourite metal singers, Matt Barlow (Iced Earth). In fact I dare to claim that this is Denmark's best metal release since Mercyful Fate. Great melodies and a singer, who can easily be placed on the heavy metal throne and wait for his crown. This band has absolutely earned respect and attention. It's cool to be able to bring some "old rats", who have been a part of the metal scene for a long time. Unfortunately Matt is no longer in Pyramaze, but the music stands strong enough on it's own and a new singer is currently being auditioned".

Source:	pyramaze.com
Band profile:	Pyramaze

Danish metallers Pyramaze have issued the following update on their official website:

"Pyramaze is proud to announce the signing with Locomotive Records for the worldwide release of "Immortal". We had quite a few good offers, but Locomotive convinced us with their enthusiasm and their willingness to walk that extra mile for the band."

The new album, entitled "Immortal" will be out on May 30th in Europe (Release dates for the other regions will follow soon). Also you can find more info about this album as stated here.

Source:	pyramaze.com
Band profile:	Pyramaze

Danish metallers Pyramaze have announced the completion of recording their upcoming album "Immortal" [cover]. Guitarists Michael Kammeyer stated:
"We are extremely happy with the outcome, and we are now ready to share a few clips with all of you loyal fans who have waited patiently for a little taste of the new stuff. We therefore give you two clips of the new album, with a length that is good enough to give you a fair feel for the songs."

Album tracklist:

01. Arise
02. Year Of The Phoenix [MP3]
03. Ghost Light
04. Touched By The Mara
05. A Beautiful Death
06. Legacy In A Rhyme
07. Caramon's Poem [MP3]
08. The Highland
09. Shadow Of The Beast
10. March Through An Endless Rain

Source:	pyramaze.com
Band profile:	Pyramaze