Danish metallers Anubis Gate will release their new self-titled album on September 13 via Nightmare Records.

According to a press release, the new album, titled simply Anubis Gate, is the most beautiful album the band has yet emerged with. The songwriting, which has always been the core of the "Anubis Gate sound", stands stronger than ever. This time emphasized by the fact that Henrik Fevre, who was largely responsible for writing the vocals on the previous albums, gets to sing the songs he wrote himself, injecting the emotion and meaning into the lyrics that he had in mind when writing them. Once again produced by Kim Olesen and Jacob Hansen and with a stunningly great mix done by the latter, this album brims with the twin guitar attack of Jesper M Jensen and Kim Olesens guitars, the rich emotion of Henrik Fevres voice, the rich soundscapes of Kim Olesens keyboard work and the dream rhythm section of Morten Sørensens drumming and Henrik Fevres bassplaying. Anubis Gate isn't an album that's about endless keyboard/guitar unison soloing. It's all about the songs. From the classic Anubis Gate opener "Hold Back Tommorow" to the melancholic, but very chrunchy, "The Re-Formation Show". From the fast aggressive "Desiderio Omnibus" to the epic "World In A Dome". From the surprising "Oh My Precious Life" to the atmospheric "River" this album displays Anubis Gate at the top of their game while in no way rehashing the last two albums. Quite to the contrary this albums sees the band taking new turns whilst retaining the core of all the albums that came before.

Also a sample for the opening song, "Hold Back Tomorrow", is available at this location.

Anubis Gate tracklist:

01. Hold Back Tomorrow
02. The Re-Formation Show
03. Facing Dawn
04. World In A Dome
05. Desiderio Omnibus
06. Oh My Precious Life
07. Golden Days
08. Telltale Eyes
09. River
10. Circumstanced

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Source:	anubisgate.com
Band profile:	Anubis Gate

Official press release

The black circle has been closed once again and it is with great pleasure that we would like to announce and welcome our new bass player, Zornheym.

Now, that we face our new line up, I must say that the atmosphere and the chemistry within the band feels absolutely fantastic. Furthermore, every single member of Dark Funeral is once again sharing a tremendously strong commitment, an absolute dedication as well as utter professionalism. And I am absolutely sure that what you, our dear fans, soon will be able to witness that this unholy gathering of these five knights in Satan's service is the most sinful and powerful Dark Funeral ever!

We have rehearsed together for a few months already. And it feels like we are already tighter and sound much better than ever before. So once we kick off touring again, we will be like an infernal war machine that will crush everything in its path.

Zornheym comments: It is with great honor to be now part of this undefeatable armada of Black Metal-Warriors. When you join the truly ineffable Kings of Swedish Black Metal it is beyond doubt that great excitement accompanies this unholy path of trampled souls. Onwards into Battle! The circle is closed!

BudDa and to Aquad for the news!]

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Source:	darkfuneral.se
Band profile:	Dark Funeral

Fans of heavy power metal are looking forward to September 30th already, the date, when German power metallers Brainstorm will release their highly anticipated new album On The Spur Of the Moment. The album artwork and tracklist can be seen below.

Also a snippet of the track "Below The Line" is now available here for streaming whilst the full song will premier at The Metal Madman Radio Show on Wednesday (7:00 p.m. EST).

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Source:	afm-records.de
Band profile:	Brainstorm

Landmine Marathon has revealed the cover art for its fourth album, Gallows, out September 27 on Prosthetic Records.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Landmine Marathon

German metal band Mourning Caress has issued the following announcement about signing to MDD Records for the release of a new album:

"We are happy to announce the signing with German label MDD Records. Our third album Deep Wounds, Bright Scars (see album artwork below) will most likely be released early November 2011. To shorten the time of waiting we uploaded the new song "Panic" on [url=www.facebook.com/mourningcaressMS]Facebook[/url]​ and [url=www.myspace.com/mourningcar​ess]MySpace[/url].

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Mourning Caress

With Wolves In The Throne Room's fourth full-length album, Celestial Lineage, now completed and nearing its September 13, 2011 release date via Southern Lord Records, the band unveil the album's full track listing and album artwork.

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Source:	earsplitcompound.com
Band profile:	Wolves In The Throne Room

"The Devil's Orchard", a brand-new track by Swedish progressive metallers Opeth, can now be streamed over at Stereogum.

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Source:	stereogum.com
Band profile:	Opeth

"Black Tongue", a brand-new track from US progressive metal band Mastodon has been made available for streaming on their official youtube channel.

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Source:	youtube.com
Band profile:	Mastodon

A legacy comes to an end, long-running US power metal act Jag Panzer disbands.

After more than three decades of delivering heavy metal to the masses, Jag Panzer have decided to call it quits.

"We are proud of every album we released and the support we received from the heavy metal community," states guitarist and founder Mark Briody. "We've played so many places around the world and enjoyed every minute of it but the time has come where we just cannot move forward as a band."

Guitarist Christian Lasegue left the band last month to pursue his degree full time. "Christian did an amazing job on The Scourge of the Light and it was a pleasure working with him," continues Briody. "We wished Christian well but kept this quiet until we found a replacement."

Drummer Rikard Stjernquist says: "Several guitar players applied for the job. It was a pleasant surprise to see so many young guitarists with advanced chops. One player, 19 year old Jake Dreyer, submitted videos of him nailing solos from both Chris Broderick and Christian Lasegue. We were ready to welcome Jake into the band but unfortunately that will not happen. There is no doubt in any of our minds that Jake will go on to be a household name in his own right."

Bassist John Tetley adds a final statement: "In closing, we'd like to send out a huge heartfelt THANK YOU to metal fans throughout the world. You all rule!"

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Source:	jagpanzer.com
Band profile:	Jag Panzer

Original Majesty rhythm guitarist Björn Daigger (also in the now defunct Civilization One) has made his return to the band and will play on all forthcoming Majest shows.

Commented vocalist Tarek Maghary: "It is great, that Björn and the band are untited again and I can't wait to enter the stage and seriously kick some ass!"

Majesty will play at the Agglutination Metal festival in Chiaromonte, Italy on August 20th and on the official comeback show on September 3rd in Dittigheim, Germany. More shows will be announced very shortly.

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Source:	majesty.paforce.de
Band profile:	Majesty

Vocalist Hansi Kürsch of German power metallers Blind Guardian has issued the following update on a new orchestral album:

"Busy seasons are usually harbingers of great things to come. Festivals, regular studio work and, above all, the orchestral album are making this a very exciting summer for us. Let's keep the focus on the orchestral album one more time. We have spectacular news!

Every orchestral project needs a concept and such a concept demands a great story. To get a story that fits together perfectly with our majestic music, we are joining forces with Germany's best fantasy author Markus Heitz (check out his "Die Zwerge" series). Markus is one of my favorite writers of "high fantasy". I have been really amazed by several of his books over the last years but was finally and completely convinced about him being the perfect choice for our project by 'Gerechter Zorn' ('Righteous Wrath') ? the first part of his newest trilogy, "Die Legenden der Albae" ("Legends of the Albae").

The way he weaves in different aspects to his splendid universe immediately told me that the quest for the one to come up with the right story for our music was over. Although the final completion of this quite unusual cooperation most probably will keep us busy until 2013, things nonetheless become clearer the more we exchange ideas. The creation of a great new storyboard and the involvement of such a suitable concept are the perfect frame for this soundtrack/musical-like anthems we have come up with over the years. It is absolutely great that Markus is willing to follow us on such an ambitious voyage.

One very interesting aspect certainly is the definite intention to combine the identity of our music (in a quite different shape) with one of Markus' most famous, but not completely discovered, worlds and its heroes. I have no doubt that we will design great new images and come up with nothing but pure magic. Luckily, Markus was very familiar with our band and music. Since he is part of the fantasy scene almost as long as we are, he grew up with our music when he was a die-hard fantasy role-playing gamer in the '80s and '90s. This, of course, makes my life far easier in exchanging ideas and in explaining what we need to complete a perfect conceptual album.

There is so much interaction: at one point it is the music dictating the story at other points it is the story having an ultimate impact on the album's completion. Pure creativity! In addition, Markus is a very nice and down-to-earth person who has a very special view on things. Last but not least, he has been very pleased with the pieces of music we provided him with.

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Source:	blind-guardian.com
Band profile:	Blind Guardian

Young UK prog outfit Haken has announced the title of their second album to be Visions.

The new record will be a concept album, just like the debut Aquarius, which dealt with water and ecology, though the exact concept of Visions has not yet been revealed.

Singer Ross Jennings ensures: "We are confident this album will not disappoint fans of Aquarius. As well as pulling some signature stunts, we are also trying to raise the bar with our compositions, and as individual players..."

The band has also stated that they wanted to make the album available exclusive for those attending ProgPower USA in Atlanta on Saturday, September 17th. The tentative release date is planned for the beginning of October and will be announced later.

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Source:	hakenmusic.com
Band profile:	Haken

Pim Blankenstein of Dutch death doom metallers Officium Triste will be stepping in to record vocals for the upcoming The 11th Hour album.

Mainman Ed Warby has released the following statement on the matter: "Good and bad news. As custom dictates the bad first: Rogga Johansson (Bone Gnawer, Demiurg) will not be appearing on the upcoming 11th Hour album due to an illness that just won't subside. I've waited as long as I could for him to get better and he made a valiant effort to record his vocals but it's not up to his usual standard and time is running out.

Which brings us to the good news: Pim Blankenstein of Dutch doom veterans Officium Triste will be stepping in with his massive roar. As most of you know he's been performing live with The 11th Hour since the first show and I'm sure he'll prove a more than suitable replacement."

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	The 11th Hour

US black/thrash metal act Skeletonwitch has set October 11th as the release date for their new upcoming album, entitled Forever Abomination.

The band recorded the album in Los Angeles with producer Matt Hyde (Slayer, Hatebreed) and have launched an official website for all updates and pre-order information.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Skeletonwitch

History Repeats..., the brand-new tribute EP by US brutal tech-death trio Dying Fetus can now be streamed in its entirety over at Revolver Magazine.

All background info about the EP in the words of vocalist/guitarist John Gallagher can be found at the same location.

History Repeats... was released on July 19th through Relapse Records.

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Source:	revolvermag.com
Band profile:	Dying Fetus