US prog veterans Fates Warning have announced their touring plans for 2012. They will be touring through March in Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Russia. They also announced a special show in South America, Brazil, on April 14th, where they will play as a special guest on a Queensrÿche show.
The line up for this tour is: Jim Matheos, Ray Alder, Joey Vera, Frank Aresti and Bobby Jarzombek.

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Source:	fateswarning.com
Band profile:	Fates Warning
Event:	Fates Warning: European Tour 2012

Italian gothic metallers Lacuna Coil have posted online the third (Chapter III: Carnage Euphoria) and the fourth (Chapter IV: The Human Box) album teasers from the upcoming release Dark Adrenaline, due out via Century Media Records on January 24th. You can watch them below.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Lacuna Coil

Finnish progressive metallers Barren Earth have unveiled more details about their new album. The band posted the following on their official website: "Barren Earth will release their sophomore full-length album, The Devil's Resolve, in North America on March 13, Japan and Finland on March 7 and rest of EU on March 12 via Peaceville Records. The effort will be made available on CD and vinyl, with artwork provided by notable U.S.-based artist Paul Romano (Mastodon)."

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Source:	barrenearth.com
Band profile:	Barren Earth

US thrashers Anger As Art have announced their new bassist Henry De La Cruz. Henry replaces Angelo Espino, who departed in October.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Anger As Art

Paul Stanley, guitarist/vocalist of American legendary hard-rockers Kiss has posted an update on the band's official website about the new album: "Friday we officially completed work on the new album. Listening to the tracks back to back is like sensory overload. Everyone who has heard any of it is completely blown away. Powerful, heavy, melodic and epic. It makes us very proud. You all will be too. Mixing starts next week."

Their new album Monster is set to be released sometime this year.

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Source:	kissonline.com
Band profile:	KISS

Finnish melodic death metallers Naildown have announced that they are now finally recording a new album after a four-year hiatus.

The band posted the following on their official Facebook: "Naildown is back - recording of the third album starts today. Naildown's four year hiatus (it's latest album Dreamcrusher came out in 2007) ends today, as the band enters Sound Supreme studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland to start recording their 3rd album."

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Naildown

Danish prog/power metallers Evil Masquerade have posted a short update on the band's website. Their upcoming album, entitled Pentagram, will be released in May 2012. The update also mentions that the album is "dark, heavy and melodic with a rock solid production".

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Source:	evilmasquerade.com
Band profile:	Evil Masquerade

The trailer for Twilights Of Sand, the upcoming album from Italian power metallers Skylark is now available online and you can watch it below. The album will be released tomorrow, January 11th, via Renaissance Records.


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Source:	skylarkrock.com
Band profile:	Skylark

Long running Polish death metallers Lost Soul have announced a line-up change. Jacek Grecki, band vocalist and founder states: "We proudly announce new Lost Soul's line-up! Paul Jaroszewicz - drums (Christ Agony, ex-Vader) and Marek Gołaś - guitars (Sammath Naur) have joined the band! Helleluyah 2012!"

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Lost Soul

With over 25 years on their backs, US thrashers Defiance have officially called it quits.

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Source:	defiance1.com
Band profile:	Defiance

Rhapsody Of Fire have announced their first tour since the split with founding member Luca Turilli. These will be the first shows with new members Oliver Holzwarth (bass) and Roberto De Micheli (guitar).

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Band profile:

Rhapsody

An update on the official Black Sabbath Facebook page has announced that the legendary guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer related to the immune system.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Black Sabbath

Former US death metal band Incantation bassist Joey "Fingers" Lombard passed away on January 3rd, 2012, at the age of 42. Lombard played with Incantation from 2001-2005.

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Source:	metalshockfinland.wordpress.com
Band profile:	Incantation

German thrashers Destruction have posted on the band's official Facebook page that they are currently working on the 30th anniversary album, tentatively due to be released before the end of the year.

The band stated: "Thanks for the amazing support last year thrashers! 2012 will be an interesting year: the band is working hard on the 30th anniversary album already - next shows in Latin America in April! Thrash Till Death!"

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Destruction

According to Bolt Thrower's official event website, the Boltfest is now sold out! Here is the statement from the band: "Sold out! Well, what can we say? We certainly didn't expect the first piece of news on the new Boltfest website to be that it is now sold out!"

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Source:	boltfest.boltthrower.com
Band profile:	Bolt Thrower
Event:	Bolt Thrower: Boltfest