Nominations for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards were announced today by The Recording Academy.

Best Metal Performance:
(=For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

'Redneck' - Lamb Of God - Track from: Sacrament
'Colony Of Birchmen' - Mastodon - Track from: Blood Mountain
'Lies, Lies, Lies' - Ministry - Track from: Rio Grande Blood
'Eyes Of The Insane' - Slayer - Track from: Christ Illusion
'30/30-150' - Stone Sour - Track from: Come What(ever) May

Best Hard Rock Performance:
(=For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

'Crazy Bitch' - Buckcherry
'Every Day Is Exactly The Same' - Nine Inch Nails
'Lonely Day' - System Of A Down
'Vicarious' - Tool
'Woman' - Wolfmother

The awards will be handed out on Sunday February 11, 2007 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Stephen Colbert will be the host of the Award show.
A full list of nominees can be found here.

In other Grammy news, In Flames have been nominated for a Swedish Grammy award in the category Hard Rock / Metal for their "Come Clarity" album. Go to this location (site in Swedish) for more information.

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Source:

grammy.com

Rammstein are gearing up for the release of a new live DVD, entitled "Völkerball". The release date has now been confirmed for November 17th. The following update on the release, which will be issued as a regular and limited edition, appears at the band's official website:

"Völkerball as a high quality photo book with 190 pages in format 27cm x 31 cm will additionally - to the standard and special edition - include an audio CD with further live recordings, which contains the entire concert. The pictures were taken by the French photographer Frederic Batier and address for a big part those areas, which one seldom gets to see. The band, highly concentrated during the last minutes before the concert, the band on stage but also during off-days. A big share of the book portraits the audience and presents wonderful images of the emotional world of the fans. Expectations, enthusiasm, delight, exhaustion. A booklet of this quality is a must for the Rammstein fan! Since it is only available as a limited edition in this form, you should keep your eyes open for that."

Völkerball will be issued in the following formats:
* Standard Edition: 2 Disc Set (1 DVD, 140 minutes live video + 1 CD, 75 minutes live audio).

* Special Edition: 3 Disc Set (1 DVD, 140 minutes live video + 1 DVD, 90 minute Documentary, includes Anaconda In The Net + Reise, Reise: The Making Of The Album + 1 CD, 75 minutes live audio).

* Limited Edition: 190 Page tour photobook, inluding all 3 Disc contents of the Special Edition + the entire live audio recordings of the concerts (140 minutes) on an additional 4th disc.

UPDATE: The complete track lists for all three formats can be found here.

Read more ››

Source:	rammstein.com
Band profile:	Rammstein

Lamb Of God's "Sacrament" sold around 63,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 8 on next week's The Billboard 200 chart. This is almost double the amount of records sold by its predecessor, "Ashes of the Wake", which registered a first-week tally of 35,000 back in September 2004. "Ashes of the Wake" has since gone on to sell 260,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The following are notable heavy metal/hard rock U.S. sales debuts for the week ending August 27, 2006, as reported by Nielsen SoundScan (all CD figures are rounded to the nearest thousand, except numbers under 3,000, which are rounded to the nearest hundred; The Billboard 200 chart position included, where applicable):

Lamb Of God - "Sacrament": 63,000 (#8)
Deicide - "The Stench of Redemption": 4,000
Walls Of Jericho - "With Devils Amongst Us All": 2,800
Misery Signals - "Mirrors": 2,500
Threat Signal - Under Reprisal": 700
Terrorizer - "Darker Days Ahead": 400
Mercenary - "The Hours That Remain": 300
Poisonblack - "Lust Stained Despair": 300
Urkraft - "Inhuman Abberation": less than 20

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Lamb Of God

Pyramaze will be recording a live DVD at this years prestigious ProgPower USA in Atlanta on the 15th 16th of September, this will include an equal mix of songs from both of their releases Legend Of The Bone Carver and Melancholy Beast.

Also, ProgPower USA's promoter Glenn Harveston, wanted to do something special this year and invited Pyramaze vocalist Lance King to join Jorn Lande among a few other select vocalists* some of bands appearing this year and some just there hanging out for a special song close at the end of the show on Saturday night.

*According to the official site ProgPowerUSA.com:
"Confirmed thus far to join Lande on stage are Zak Stevens (Circle II Circle, ex-Savatage), Lance King (Pyramaze), Michele Luppi (Vision Divine), Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone), Mikkel Sandager (Mercenary), Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus), and Mattias "IA" Eklundh (Freak Kitchen). Other participants will be announced at a later time."

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Pyramaze
Event:	ProgPower USA

Official press release (Relapse Records) :

Vincent McAllister, the guitarist and a founding member of seminal metal band Pentagram, has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 51.

McAllister played guitar in the classic 70's Pentagram line-up that also included vocalist Bobby Liebling, bassist Greg Mayne and drummer Geof O'Keefe. His recorded works can be heard throughout the various Pentagram collections.

McAllister was highly respected as a guitarist and person amongst his peers. McAllister had spent the past few years working on material in his home studio and planning to return to playing again with former Pentagram members O'Keefe and Mayne.

Go to http://www.bedemon.com for more news on Vincent McAllister.

Read more ››

Source:	relapse.com
Band profile:	Pentagram

Amazing news! YES it's true - PYRAMAZE has been announced as opener of ProgPower USA Festival, to take place in Atlanta, GA in the fall (correct date to come soon). Promoter Glenn Harveston contacted us late last night with the news that he wanted to announce Pyramaze already now alongside the opener for the second day (Wastefall). This is gonna be one awesome experience, which Pyramaze are looking very much forward to.

Source:

pyramaze.com

The new website of the Danish-American act Pyramaze is now launched.
Also, you will find the song "Souls In Pain" from their upcoming album "Legend Of The Bone Carver" in the MP3 section of the website.

Here's a statement about the release dates for the new album:

"We're pleased to announce that our record labels all over the world have decided on a common release schedule for "Legend Of The Bone Carver".

In Japan "King Records" will release the album on 22nd of February 2006. "Melodic Heaven" will release it in the rest of Asia on the same day. In France "Replica Records" will put it out in stores on February 27th, as will "Massacre Records" in the rest of Europe. Since the standard release dates in USA are Tuesdays, "Nightmare Records" will put it out the day after, February 28th 2006.

As you can see from the list above, we've changed labels in certain places. In Japan we're no longer signed to Toshiba/EMI, but have instead inked a deal with King Records. We'd especially like to thank our Japanese publisher, Mr. Koh Sakai at Burrn! Music, for his valuable help in signing with King Records.

In Europe, Replica Records have this time decided only to concentrate on France, thus leaving the rest of Europe for larger distribution / licensing through Massacre Records.

All of this should make it much easier to get hold of Pyramaze albums, no matter where you live. We're really happy about this, and we're looking forward to getting "Legend Of The Bone Carver" out in stores, and hear the feedback from fans and media."

Source:

pyramaze.com

Pyramaze just put the final touch to the recording of " Legend Of The Bone Carver ", their second album to be release in February 2006.

Here follow the album tracklisting :

01) Era of Chaos
02) The Birth
03) What Lies Beyond
04) Ancient Words Within
05) Souls in Pain
06) She Who Summoned Me
07) The Bone Carver
08) Bring Back Life
09) Blood Red Skies
10) Tears of Hate

Some sound clips will be available on Replica's site very soon. Feel free to discover the new excellent album cover now here =] http://www.intromental.com/pyramaze/discography/legendcover.jpg

Replica Records just finalized a license Agreement with the German company Massacre Records, which will distribute the album in the rest of Europe.

Source:

replicarec.com

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN have set "Rosenrot" as the title of their follow-up to to last year's "Reise Reise", tentatively due this fall. The group recently shot a video for the album's first single, "Benzin", which was aired live for the first time this past June. Several remixes are curerntly in the works, as is the artwork for the cover of the single and the album.

As previously reported, the band recorded several songs during the sessions for "Reise, Reise" which were omitted from the CD's final track listing. During a recent session at a Berlin studio, RAMMSTEIN recorded several more tracks and recently mixed the combined collection of new material for the "Rosenrot" album.

Recorded primarily in Spain (El Cortijo Studio, Malaga), "Reise Reise" (translated as "Voyage, Voyage" or "Journey, Journey") is the follow-up to "Mutter", which entered The Billboard 200 chart at No. 77 back in April 2001.

"Reise Reise" sold 27,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in mid-November 2004 to debut at position No. 61 on The Billboard 200 chart.}

Source:	metalreviews.com
Band profile:	Rammstein

"Our upcoming release 'Legend of the Bone Carver' is now finished. Late Saturday evening we made the final mix, and everything has turned out fantastic! Within a few weeks we will announce our label deals, and hopefully we can reveal a release date within a month or so. That's all for now - cheers!

The artwork for our upcoming release is ready to be revealed. Check it out at http://www.intromental.com (enter the personal Pyramaze site under 'management' -and hit the discography button). Enjoy!

Michael Kammeyer"

Source:

pyramaze.com Quick link to artwork: in...

TUSKA OPEN AIR METAL FESTIVAL ANNOUNCMENT

- Line-up almost complete, one more artist to be added
- Ticket sales start on Friday April 1st

Tuska Open Air Metal Festival has added more international and Finnish acts to the 2005 roster. The line-up is almost complete with only 1 more artist to be added for Saturday afternoon as well as the winner from the band contest at Rotonde-Festival, France, which is to be held later this spring. This year's Tuska-Festival is more international than ever, with nearly half of the artists coming from abroad. The evening clubs will most likely see some international action as well.

New additions in Finnish professionalism will be represented by Apocalyptica, whose cello metal is witnessed way too rarely on their native soil. Apocalytica just recently supported Rammstein on their
European tour and appeared stateside on a few selected dates.

German precision and universal greatness is brought to you by the mighty Gamma Ray. The band last appeared on the bill at Tuska 2000 and have since built their fanbase by selling out club shows on a regular basis.

Other additions include up-and-coming death metallers Amoral, Finnish-singing Stam1na and Viikate, as well as Callisto who are about to embark on a European tour in a few weeks.

The search continues for one more, either domestic or foreign artist.

Ticket sales for Tuska 2005 start on Friday April 1st. Three-day ticketcosts 67 euro, one-day ticket 32 euro. Go to http://www.lippupalvelu.fi to purchase tickets.

Current Tuska 2005 line-up reads as follows:

Friday 15.7.
Monster Magnet (USA)
Apocalyptica
Finntroll
Teräsbetoni
Scarve (FRA)
Primal Fear (GER)
Destruction (GER)
Callisto
Wintersun

Saturday 16.7.
Dimmu Borgir (NOR)
Testament (GER)
Gamma Ray (GER)
Deathchain
Thunderstone
Amoral
Rotten Sound
Lake Of Tears (SWE)
Ajattara
Pain Confessor
Sinking
Naglfar (SWE)

Sunday 17.7.
Accept (GER)
Sentenced
Children Of Bodom
Evergrey (SWE)
Viikate
Bal-Sagoth (UK)
Stam1na
Turmion Kätilöt
Hieronymus Bosch (RUS)

Additional Information:

http://www.tuska-festival.fi

Following news is taken from www.taburec.com

It´s with great pride and joy, that we announce that Enslaved is honoured with a Grammy Award for their latest masterpiece, ISA. The Norwegian Grammy ceremony was held in Oslo Spectrum for the 33rd time on Saturday the 26th of February, and was broadcasted live on national TV. This is was the band´s third Grammy nomination. So it´s safe to say that is was well deserved. The other nominees in the metal genre was Mayhem and domestic phenomenon Black Debbath. Enslaved was not able to attend the actual ceremony as they are currently touring Europe, but we´re thrilled when the received the news. Ivar Bjørnson had the following comment: This Grammy Award means very much to the band and reflects the recognition of our efforts not only for this record alone, but for years of hard work. After two nominations, it felt extremely good to get the recognition from the mainstream music circus and to finally finish first for a change. Ivar Bjørnson´s father took the stage, and received the Award on the band´s behalf with the following statement: There is more to the picture, than meets the eye...Rock´n´Roll will never die!
Enslaved has also received the independent Alarm Award for best metal album in 2004. Enslaved was nominated for their latest studio album, Isa, in the metal genre. The other nominees was: Susperia, Khold, Red Harvest and Mayhem.
Enslaved is the first Norwegian band to be confirmed for this years Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Enslaved will also play the Fury Fest in France and Graspop in Belgium this summer. You can still catch Enslaved on tour at the following venues in Europe:

2005.03.03 Antidox Torino Italy
2005.03.04 La Gabbia Bassano del Grappa Italy
2005.03.06 Gaswerk Winterthur Switzerland
2005.03.09 Black Pes - Prague (Czech Republic)
2005.03.10 Arena - Wien (Austria)
2005.03.11 Mostovna Nova Gorica Slovenija
2005.03.12 Mochavara - Zagreb (Croatia)
2005.03.13 E-Klubb - Budapest (Hungary)
2005.03.14 Stara Pekaren Nitra Slovakia
2005.03.15 Underground Cologne Germany
2005.03.16 Voxhall - Aarhus (Denmark)
2005.03.20 Folken - Stavanger (Norway)

Label mates Vreid are providing more than a worthy support to these fine Norse boatmen in Europe.
More and updated info on Enslaved and other Tabu artists will be posted on www.taburec.com frequently.

Band profile:

Enslaved

Reuters is reporting that LED ZEPPELIN got a "whole lotta" belated love from the music industry on Saturday, earning a lifetime achievement Grammy in recognition of a career that changed the face of rock 'n' roll.

The English band was one of 10 performers, alongside the likes of rockabilly hellraiser JERRY LEE LEWIS, blues belter JANIS JOPLIN and country crooner EDDY ARNOLD, celebrated at a luncheon one day before the Grammy Awards.

During their 12 years together, LED ZEPPELIN never won a Grammy, even though they were arguably the biggest band of the 1970s, a combo whose blues-based rock anthems resonate loudly to this day.

LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones showed up with the two children of late drummer John Bonham to receive crystal trophies. Singer Robert Plant, busy rehearsing for a tour, sent in a video message.

"It wouldn't have taken much just to pop over here and meet everybody, would it really?" Page asked Reuters.

For his part, the newly svelte guitarist said he found the ceremony very emotional. From the stage, he blew a kiss to his old label boss, Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, and later chatted with soul guitarist Ike Turner, who jokingly exclaimed, "You're a grown man now!"

As for the belated recognition, Page bore no ill will, saying that LED ZEPPELIN's eclectic oeuvre ? with one album completely different from the next ? may have been too difficult for Grammy voters to comprehend.

In a separate interview, Jones said LED ZEPPELIN was too busy touring and recording to pay much attention to awards. But now, the recognition was "incredibly cool."

Bonham, whose alcohol-related death in 1980 at the age of 32 spelled the end of LED ZEPPELIN, was represented by children Jason and Zoe.

"It's totally overwhelming," said Zoe, who was five when he died. "The whole crazy thing about it is that it's a lifetime achievement award, and he's not here. The legend lives on."

[

Source:

Blabbermouth]

According to Iltalehti, a new song from the forthcoming Stratovarius album has been suspended by the band's own record label, Sanctuary Music German Division. The opening intro of that song was supposed to start with the speech of Hitler. According to Timo Tolkki who points out the song is completely anti Hitler and therefore appeals to the freedom of the art. Tolkki adds that he has always been interested in Hitler and what made Hitler become such a monster, the song is as antifacist as possible. The lyrics of the song has been sent to the censorship department of the Ministry of the Interior Of Germany, which will make a decision about the legality of the song.

Source:	iltalehti.fi
Band profile:	Stratovarius

RAMMSTEIN will release the fourth single from their "Reise Reise" CD, "Keine Lust" (view cover here), on February 28. The exact track listing and the international release dates will be announced soon.

The "Keine Lust" video received its MTV premiere on Thursday (Feb. 3) and will be broadcast exclusively on the cable channel for a week. The Viva premiere of the video will take place on February 10 during the program "17" (broadcast time 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.). The clip was directed by Jörn Heitman, who had previously helmed the group's videos for "Amerika" and "Ohne Dich", among others.

Recorded primarily in Spain (El Cortijo Studio, Malaga), "Reise Reise" (translated as "Voyage, Voyage" or "Journey, Journey") is the follow-up to "Mutter", which entered the chart at No. 77 back in April 2001.

"Reise Reise" sold 26,716 copies in the United States in its first week of release in mid-November to debut at position No. 61 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Source:	www.blabermouth.net
Band profile:	Rammstein