Judas Priest are busy writing new material. According to an awfully short posting on the band's website, "all is going really well". Further details will be given later.

As previously announced, Judas Priest will be embarking on their farewell tour in June, hitting all the major cities throughout the world. The band will be starting their Epitaph world tour in Europe.

With all guns blazing and amps cranked to eleven, the band will be giving all their fans one last chance to witness the ultimate metal experience that is Judas Priest.

Announced dates so far include:

7th June - 013, Tilburg, Holland
9th June - Sweden Rock Festival, Sölvesborg, Sweden
11th June - Sauna Open Air, Tampere, Finland
14th June - Oslo, Norway Spektrum
15th June - Bergen, Norway Edward Greig Plass
17th June - Copenhell Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark
19th June - Hellfest Open Air, Nantes, France
20th June - Le Zenith, Paris, France
22nd June - Gods of Metal Festival, Milan, Italy
25th June - Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel, Belgium
27th June - Zenith, Munich, Germany
28th June - 02 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
29th June - Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
1st July - Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
23rd July - High Voltage Festival, London, UK
5th August - Wacken Open Air, Germany

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Source:	judaspriest.com
Band profile:	Judas Priest
Event:	Judas Priest: Epitaph World Tour

Textures have started recording their fourth album at Split Second Sound studios in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

This will be the first record with new vocalist Daniel de Jongh (ex-Cilice) and new keyboard player Uri Dijk. The album will be produced by Textures' guitar player Jochem Jacobs, who also was responsible for the production of Textures' previous albums.

Jochem had the following to say about the recordings of the album: "It's all really exciting! This album is really going to express where and what we are these days... and that's a good thing. We've been through a lot lately, especially the last year. Now with some new air and fresh ideas, we finally reached the point that we are actually quite confident in the new material.

Sometimes you just have to crawl through the mud first to get to dry grounds. We are in the middle of the preproduction now, getting our asses in gear... to create this baby. It's kinda cool to see this band grow more and more and to continue this musical journey that we've been on for 10 years! Let's make this thing heavy!"

The yet untitled album will see its release in the fall of 2011 through Nuclear Blast Records.

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Source:	texturesband.com
Band profile:	Textures

Legendary Philadelphia death metal squadron Goreaphobia are currently putting the finishing touches on their long-anticipated new full-length, fittingly titled Apocalyptic Necromancy.

Following 2009's Mortal Repulsion, the 12-track long player was recorded, mixed and mastered by drummer Jim Roe and features new guitarist VJS (Kult Ov Azazel, Crimson Moon, Demoncy).

Comments guitarist Alex Bouks (also in Incantation): "All of us in the Goreaphobia camp are real excited about finishing the new record. The new tunes will once again contain 1000% occult metal nihilism! The only way I can describe our new endeavor is that's it's very diverse and takes us back to the band's roots.

Jim has once again recorded and mixed the record at his home studio, Neanderthal. Apocalyptic Necromancy also marks the debut of our new guitar player VJS. There's a highly positive and magical vibe for the band at the present time. For me, this record is a true progression from the song writing and production on Mortal Repulsion. We hope to have it out soon for all our long time and newer fans."

Goreaphobia will release Apocalyptic Necromancy later this year. Further details to be announced soon.

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Source:

earsplitcompound.com

Murhat, the upcoming album of Finnish black metallers Ajattara, has been made available for streaming in its entirety, for a limited time, on Facebook.

Murhat (trans: "Murders") will be released on February 2nd through Osasto-A Records.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Ajattara

"Hate Is My Fuel", a brand-new track from Teutonic thrashers Destruction, has been made available for streaming over at MySpace.

Another new track, called "The Price" is also still streaming at the same location.

"Hate Is My Fuel" and "The Price" come off the band's upcoming new album Day Of Reckoning, which will be released on February 18th through Nuclear Blast. More album details were previously reported over here.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Destruction

Okay, NOW we have a legit reason to go picket all upcoming Ozzy Osbourne concerts.

Just when you thought you heard it all, the Prince of Darkness has decided to star in a Best Buy commercial that will air during the Super Bowl... with at his side teen heartthrob and beloved internet hate figure Justin Bieber.

Best Buy - the largest home electronics chain in the USA - marketing chief Drew Panayiotou said that Justin Bieber "symbolically represents something important to the brand message." Executives won't discuss details of the 30-second spot featuring stars from two very different generations. The ad, to air in the game's third quarter, was filmed earlier this month at Universal Studios.

Best Buy declined to say what it's paying Bieber. But it's at least $1 million, estimates Noreen Jenney Laffey, president of Celebrity Endorsement Network, which links celebs with advertisers.

Oh Ozzy

Stomach-churning Neat pictures taken during the shooting of the futuristic advertisement can be watched over here.

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Source:	usatoday.com
Band profile:	Ozzy Osbourne

Newly reformed NWOBHM act Stampede have announced details of the release of their new album A Sudden Impulse - the long awaited follow up to their classic 1983 debut studio album Hurricane Town. Three samples are available for streaming at MySpace.

Finding a happy and welcoming new home with Rock Candy Record's spin-off front line label Grind That Axe Records, the band are finally excited to be able to reveal full track listing and artwork for the new album, which is due for release on April 18th.

Lead singer Reuben Archer comments: "Personally I am really excited about the new album and our association with Rock Candy. It's great to feel part of something that's happening and more than anything we can't wait to get out there and play live!"

Following regenerated interest brought about by Rock Candy Records' reissue of Hurricane Town in 2006, song writing partnership Reuben and Laurence Archer decided to reform the band in 2009. Together with original bassist Colin Bond, new drummer Steve Graystone and the addition of a second guitarist in the form of Chris Clowsley, the band have crafted a worthy, if not superlative, long lost follow-up to their studio debut in the opinion of label manager Derek Oliver, who describes the new material as "lean, mean tough-guy hard rock with all the soulful delivery of classic British steel led by Reuben's instantly identifiable vocal and Laurence's blistering plank spanking burn outs."

Reuben strongly believes that welcoming additional elements to Stampede have only served to give a new dimension to the band, making the new material on A Sudden Impulse the most enjoyable to make yet. The skills of twenty-year-old hotshot guitarist Rob Wolverson were also brought in when Laurence suddenly became unavailable during the latter part of the recording schedule, bringing things to another level. "We could have had several existing name players fill in for Laurence at this time, but I'd known Rob for years and watched him grow into the whizz-kid that he is," explains Reuben. "He also has a great writing ability and I just knew he was the one for the job, and would bring a vibrancy to the project."

Commenting on the end result, Reuben adds: "We have a harder sound now, the melodic hooks are there and I think we have a lot more edge than the first time around - especially due to our new powerhouse drummer Stevie G, and also Chris, whose strong rhythm guitar, vocal and guitar harmonies contribute enormously to the new sound. It has all resulted in making the reincarnation of Stampede an even more exciting project for us."

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Source:

myspace.com

Demo versions of "Destroy" and "Entombed With The Pharaohs", two brand-new tracks from US thrash metal band Exmortus have been made available for streaming over at this location.

"Destroy" and "Entombed With The Pharaohs" will appear on the band's upcoming new album Beyond The Fall Of Time, which will be released in late 2011 through Heavy Artillery Records.

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Source:	heavyartillery.bandcamp.com
Band profile:	Exmortus

American cult death thrashers Deceased will finally release their new album Surreal Overdose in April through the band's own Shrieks From The Hearse Records.

The album was recorded at Assembly Line Studios with engineer and produced by drummer/keyboard player King Fowley. The cover art was done by artist Raul Gonzalez.

Surreal Overdose cover art] tracklist:

01. Skin Crawling Progress
02. Kindred Assembly
03. The Traumatic
04. Cloned
05. Vulture Shock
06. In The Laboratory Of Joyous Gloom
07. A Doom-Laden Aura
08. Dying In Analog

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Source:

upthetombstones.net

Leveling The Plane Of Existence, the upcoming album of US death metal band Abysmal Dawn, has been made available for streaming in its entirety, exclusively at MetalSucks.

Leveling The Plane Of Existence will be released on February 1st in North America, on February 7thin the UK, on February 11th in Germany and the Benelux and on February 14th in the rest of Europe through Relapse Records.

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Source:	metalsucks.net
Band profile:	Abysmal Dawn

We are delighted to be offering two people the opportunity to meet and greet the members of Accept at their show in Sheffield, England on the 22nd of March.

The two lucky winners will be put on the guestlist and have free entry to the show, as well as having the chance to meet and greet the band before they step on stage. This is the last show on the band's European tour, so don't miss your chance to meet these Teutonic legends of metal.

All you have to do for your chance to win, is visit this contest page and answer the question.

http://www.metalstorm.net/contests/accept.php

Good luck!

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Source:	metalstorm.net
Band profile:	Accept

Norwegian blackened thrash metal Byfrost have inked a death with AFM Records. The band's upcoming new album Of Death will be released later this year.

Of Death is currently being recorded at Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen, Norway with producers Herbrand Larsen and Bjornar Nilsen. The mastering will be done by Knut Fug Prytz.

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Source:	afm-records.de
Band profile:	Byfrost

Kamelot are pleased to announce that Swedish female vocalist Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) will be joining the band again, this time on their European and South American tour dates.

Elize joins the band on this very special and unique tour that includes some special guests singers like Fabio Lione (Rhapsody Of Fire), Simone Simons (Epica) and many more.

Kamelot guitarist Thomas Youngblood adds: "I am very pleased to hear that Elize will be touring with us again, she toured with us for the entire year of 2010 and was amazing at every show!". When contacted by phone Elize stated: "I am very exited about going on tour with Kamelot, I had so much fun during the 2010 performances on all the great stages with this awesome band in front of all their amazing fans! It's a real honor to be able to do that once again!".

Amaranthe will also be supporting Kamelot on the European leg of their Pandemonium Tour, together with Evergrey and Sons Of Seasons.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Kamelot
Event:	Kamelot: The Pandemonium Tour 2011

An update on what's happening in the Amorphis camp:

"The album recordings are advancing straight and smoothly (whatever that means...). We are now working on the vocals and again we have Marco Hietala (Nightwish) producing the vocals of Tomi Joutsen. This time everything else has been done at Sonic Pump Studios except for the vocals, which are currently in the works at Marco's home studio in Kuopio.

We are emerging with roughly 15 new songs and on the album there's most likely going to be 10-11 tracks. It's again a great feeling to start realizing that the songs and ideas which have been in our heads are finally going to see the light of day.

Pekka Kainulainen has worked really hard on the lyrics. The album is going to tell the story of the most important character of Finnish mythology and folklore. He is Finnish god Väinämöinen, who was described to be an extremely powerful, wise old man who had a magical voice. Some believe that Väinämöinen was the creator of the world, an ancient hero and a very influential shaman.

Having a subject as strong as this, it was pretty obvious that making music for the album was going to be a challenge. There are lots of musical elements that have been heard on previous albums, but there is also much more. Needless to say, we are keen to hand all the material over to Mikko Karmila, who is going to start the mixing at the end of this month.

Travis Smith is currently working on the album cover and the coming artwork so far looks no less than amazing."

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Amorphis

"Deathstar", a brand-new track from Finnish melancholic dark metallers Before The Dawn has been made available for streaming over at Facebook or for free download over here.

"Deathstar" comes off the band's upcoming new album Deathstar Rising, which will be released on February 25th through Nuclear Blast. More album details and teaser videos were previously reported over here.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Before The Dawn