On January 17th, 2012, Metal Blade will re-issue the three Bolt Thrower albums Mercenary, Honour - Valour - Pride and Those Once Loyal on vinyl. Metal Blade Records Europe released their versions on October 21st/24th, and they can be ordered now at this location.

Bolt Thrower comments on their 25th Anniversary: "Anniversaries are kind of easy to achieve. For a band, just don't split up and you'll reach one, whether it's 10, 20 or 35 years. And this year we've reached '25 years of not splitting up'!"

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Source:	metalblade.com
Band profile:	Bolt Thrower

Frontiers Records announced a worldwide release of "Hard Rain's Coming" - the first single taken from Danish prog/power metallers Royal Hunt's forthcoming album Show Me How To Live - on November 14th (the single will only be available digitally).

A sample of the song "Hard Rain's Coming" is available at this location.

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Source:	royalhunt.com
Band profile:	Royal Hunt

Spanish folk heavy metal band Mägo De Oz have announced that their vocalist, José Andrea, has decided to leave the band after 15 years.

Here it is the official statement: "José Andrea and Mägo de Oz, by agreement, amicably, have decided to break up our relationship and terminate it in a stage where we could enjoy one of the most magical voices of Spanish Rock in the past 15 years."

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Source:	magodeoz.com
Band profile:	Mägo De Oz

US metallers Abigail Williams have set Becoming as the title for their forthcoming album, which will be released in Europe on January 23, 2012 via Candlelight Records.

Becoming was recorded in various warehouses throughout Los Angeles with frontman Ken Sorceron handling the mixing, mastering, production and engineering duties for the entire album. The final track listing, album art and more will be unleashed in the weeks ahead as the record nears release.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Abigail Williams

Candlelight Records press release

Candlelight Records today proudly announces the worldwide signing of Corrosion Of Conformity. Since early this year, the band - featuring the esteemed Animosity line-up of vocalist/bassist Mike Dean, guitarist Woody Weatherman, and drummer/vocalist Reed Mullin - has been working with long-time producer John Custer. Now nearly complete, their still untitled eighth studio album is planned for release early in the new year. Gathering last summer to jam as a trio for the first time in over a decade, the treasured threesome quickly rekindled the magic that originally united and ultimately bound the musicians on a journey that today continues to impress both fans and critics. It is the efforts of this line-up that Decibel Magazine recently called "a crucial stylistic lynchpin in the bridge between metal and punk. Corrosion of Conformity irrevocably reshaped crossover's sonic possibilities." AllMusic.com notes, "Corrosion Of Conformity weren't following any trends. They just incorporated all the things they liked about thrash, punk and '70s metal originators Black Sabbath into their constantly evolving sound. It secured them artistic and commercial credibility."

Candlelight's Steve Beatty says of the signing: "Animosity is one of my favourite records ever. To have Corrosion Of Conformity on Candlelight with that line-up is simply mouth watering. I saw the band in London recently and they did not disappoint. This hungry child can't wait for the record." Candlelight's Edward Christie adds: "we are extremely excited to welcome the band to the label and are looking forward to an amazing album. We are all huge fans and this is truly a memorable day for all of us." The band shares the excitement the immediate future holds. Woody Weatherman comments: "writing and recording this new record as a three-piece has been a blast. Having Reed back in the fold with Mike and I brings it around full circle. I'm really looking forward to all that lies ahead this upcoming year."

Reed Mullen adds: "Mike, Woody and I essentially learned how to play music together and cultivated our own style, sound, and unspoken language. Re-bonding with them musically has been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me." In addition to intense work on the album, Corrosion Of Conformity has kept busy in 2011 touring throughout the US and abroad. One of the main attractions at this year's Maryland Death Festival, the band mesmerized a salivating capacity audience. Sean Palmerston, editor for Canada's online magazine Hellbound, said: "I lapped this set up. It was like the tastiest comfort food after a hard day's work. I haven't listened to those classic Corrosion Of Conformity albums in a long, long time. It put a smile on my face."

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Source:	candlelightrecords.co.uk
Band profile:	Corrosion Of Conformity

Official press release

Due to circumstances Houwitser parted with their drummer Marco de Groot. His place will be filled in by Marten van Kruijssen (Dictated) who was also the fill-in drummer for the last 2 shows of Houwitser.

Unfortunely we also have to announce that Houwitser's vocalist Stan Blonk has left the band due some personal reasons. The final 2 shows of 2011 will be done by Mike van Mastrigt (Sinister / Houwitser). After that, Houwitser is searching for a new vocalist.


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Source:	houwitser.nl
Band profile:	Houwitser

A new track entitled "Somnarium" from US progressive instrumentalists Animals As Leaders is now streaming online at this location. The song comes off their upcoming release Weightless due out on November 8th via Prosthetic Records. More album details were previously reported here.

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Source:

facebook.com

US ambient black metal one-man band Leviathan is now streaming online another new track entitled "Contrary Pulse" off of the upcoming new release True Traitor, True Whore at this location. True Traitor, True Whore is due out on November 8th through Profound Lore Records and it will mark the first Leviathan album to be completely executed in a studio environment. More album details were previously reported here.


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Source:	invisibleoranges.com
Band profile:	Leviathan

"Demons Call My Name", the new video from Austrian melodic death metallers Lost Dreams is now available for viewing below. The song comes of the band's upcoming new album Blinded By Rage, to be released on November 4th via Twilight Zone Records.

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Source:

lost-dreams.com

Megadeth are excited to re-launch, for the first time since 2008, their critically acclaimed package festival, Gigantour. The multi-artist bill - with metal heavyweights Motörhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil, all personally picked by Dave Mustaine - will kick off in early 2012 with dates tentatively set for late January through early March.

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Source:	bravewords.com
Event:	Gigantour 2012

Marking the release of Carbon-Based Anatomy, progressive metallers Cynic have confirmed a very special release party for this Wednesday, November 2nd, at Idle Hands Bar in New York. The band will be signing copies of the new EP and take part in a special intimate acoustic performance.

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Source:	cyniconline.com
Band profile:	Cynic

UK metallers The Soulless have confirmed a new UK tour with Bury Tomorrow. The tour is due to kick off on Thursday, December 8th in Bristol, just a few weeks after the band wraps up a tour with Carcer City and Against The Flood.

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Source:	earachenews.blogspot.com
Band profile:	The Soulless

Metallica's bassist Robert Trujillo revealed in a recent interview (you can read it at this location) that the band is already writing material for a new album and that the recording process will probably be done throughout next year.

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Source:	metalunderground.com
Band profile:	Metallica

Akercocke drummer David Gray has joined forces with other band members Peter Benjamin and Sam Loynes (also of Diminished Fifth) in a new black metal project called Voices.

The band commented: "We recently set foot in studio to record drums for the first full-length Voices release and there is going to be no let-up and we hope to complete the album before the end of the year. Also we shot a music video for a version of one of the tracks featuring on the album and is due for its imminent release."

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Akercocke

Lamb Of God have set January 24th, 2012 as the release date for Resolution, the follow up to their Grammy nominated album, Wrath.

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Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Lamb Of God