Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine dropped by the Megadeth Cyber Army chat room last Tuesday (November 16) for a special live chat with his fan club members. The following is an excerpt from the chat:

"So, right now I have Ken Eisennagel, you may remember him from the last two records doing engineering for all of the pre-production phases of Megadeth records? Well, he is here going over all of the new Megadeth stuff that I am working on... believe it or not we have five songs almost finished for the new Megs record already!"

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

Official press release

Occasionally a musician has to take a step back into the past to develop artistically. Tom Englund, guitarist and vocalist with Swedish rock group Evergrey, took this risk and reorganised his artistic environment. "The most recent Evergrey line-up had reached a point where we no longer had fun as a group," he confesses, adding: "So we went our separate ways to save our friendship. There were no angry words, and we're still friends privately."

Naturally, the decision to break up wasn't easy for these long-standing friends, especially for Englund and his remaining keyboardist, Rikard Zander, for whom a continuation of Evergrey was never called into question. Yet they both had to face a new challenge: "In the beginning, we weren't sure whether we'd be able to write a new album without the wealth of experience that the previous line-up brought in. But after Rikard and I had composed a full three numbers during the first week, we felt that was a real coup."

Listeners will feel this positive energy throughout Glorious Collision, the band's eighth studio album, which is due for release on 28 February 2011 (Germany: 25 February 2011; USA/Canada: 22 February 2011) on Steamhammer/SPV. A dynamic goody bag featuring the most diverse material ever released on an Evergrey album. "This may sound like a contradiction in view of our personnel situation, but Rikard and I have allowed more influences on Glorious Collision than ever before. Some elements on Glorious Collision are classic rock, based on a metal format, sometimes the tracks are quiet and haunting, sometimes wild, demanding and gripping."

This diversity is also expressed in the instrumentation of this extremely dynamic studio production which presents the new band members Marcus Jidell (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) and Johan Niemann (bass). "It's great to hear what a breath of fresh air Marcus, Johan and Hannes have brought into the band," Englund enthuses. "Although the entire material, except for two songs to which Marcus wrote and contributed on the compositional side, had already been decided when we started recording, they all left their own, very personal mark on this album." The great experience of Jidell and Niemann, who have worked with acts such as Royal Hunt and Therion, among others, and have now contributed lots of positive energy together with the 20-year-old drummer, Van Dahl, can be felt throughout the album.

Read more ››

Source:	evergrey.net
Band profile:	Evergrey

Eluveitie has announced a US and Canadian tour next February. Joining them on tour will be 3 Inches Of Blood, Holy Grail, System Divide.

Eluveitie vocalist Chrigel Glanzmann had the following to say: "Since we've only been able to present a short set while supporting Amon Amarth in 2010 we have put some effort in this one and are very happy to be able to deliver all we hoped for and what we think our fans deserve: A full 90-minute headline show with some special stuff, a killer package, and as if this wasn't enough we and our partners have done all we could to keep the ticket prices as low as we possibly could so you'll have something left to spend at the bar, where as always we will be more than happy to join you for a drink or two!

We're really happy and looking forward to finally visiting the U.S. again to rock the living shit out of our fans! We plan on spoiling you with an extended set, an extended stage performance and some surprises! Also, we're proud to present you an absolute killer package, totally under the banner of pure fucking metal! We will return with no less than the Canadian berzerkers of 3 Inches Of Blood, our Californian true metal buddies from Holy Grail, along with System Divide, an amazingly talented young melodic death metal band! Well, there's not much left to say - horns up for a pure fucking metal massacre! See you there!"

Eluveitie, 3 Inches Of Blood, Holy Grail and System Divide:

02/01/11 - Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
02/02/11 - The Gramercy Theater - New York, NY
02/03/11 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
02/04/11 - Cercle - Quebec City, QC - CANADA
02/05/11 - Le National - Montreal, QC - CANADA
02/06/11 - The Opera House - Toronto, ON - CANADA
02/08/11 - The Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
02/09/11 - Station 4 - Saint Paul, MN
02/10/11 - Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
02/11/11 - Maquis Theater - Denver, CO
02/12/11 - Club Sound - Salt Lake City, UT
02/14/11 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
02/15/11 - Rickshaw Theatre - Vancouver, BC - CANADA
02/16/11 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
02/17/11 - Slims - San Francisco, CA
02/18/11 - The Key Club - Hollywood, CA
02/19/11 - Nile Theater - Mesa, AZ
02/21/11 - Backstage Live - San Antonio, TX
02/22/11 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
02/24/11 - State Theatre - Saint Petersburg, FL
02/25/11 - Firestone Live - Orlando, FL
02/26/11 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Eluveitie
Event:	Eluveitie + 3 Inches Of Blood

Korpiklaani are busy recording their new album, called Ukon Wacka deep in the woods of Finland. The band has now posted a video clip with some behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions. One of the brand-new songs, called "Tuoppi Oltta" (meaning something like - surprise surprise - "a pint of beer"), can be heard during the entire clip.

The Ukon Wacka release date is scheduled for February 4th 2011. More info can be read here.


Read more ››

Source:	youtube.com
Band profile:	Korpiklaani

Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation has released the following statement:

"We're really excited to be able to finally announce the title of our new album.

Recently we've started giving clues on the website about our concept album. As you might have noticed our concept album is going to be based on a comic book series, written by Steven O'Connell (BloodRayne & Dark 48). We've asked comic artist Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, Darkness and X-men) to draw the characters and scenery.

The new album and comic will be titled: The Unforgiving.

On this album, we've taken a totally different approach. Each song on The Unforgiving was written along Steven's narrative. The main characters of the comic are reflecting the characters of our songs. The concept pushed us and gave inspiration to come up with a new approach in our sound. It resulted in writing our best songs so far.

We have been big comic fans since our childhood. With this album we felt the time was there to take a new step in our creative development, take it further and broaden our horizon. Next to the concept form of the album, the songs are more divers than ever before. In addition, the music of the late 80ies, that's when we started to read comic books, certainly has left a mark on our new sound.

The album is set for release in March 2011, but our loyal visitors knew this already."

Read more ››

Source:	within-temptation.com
Band profile:	Within Temptation

Poisonblack has parted ways with guitarist Janne Markus (also in The Man-Eating
Tree).

A press release by the band reads as follows: "After four years and two albums we have to announce that Janne is no longer in the band. His goals and ambitions couldn't have come true in Poisonblack and we totally understand and respect that. His creativity needs a different setting than Poisonblack can and ever will provide. This is the one and only time we're going to explain the reasons behind his departure, so do not bother asking. We thank him for the music, the unforgettable moments we all shared together on and off stage and wish him the best for the future."

Poisonblack recently inked a deal with Hype Records. In January 2011, the band will enter Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen to begin recording the fifth full-length, tentatively entitled Lead & Roll Vol. 5. A spring release date is expected.

Read more ››

Source:	poisonblack.com
Band profile:	Poisonblack

A few weeks ago, we informed you cello metallers Apocalyptica were embarking on a North American tour later this month. But the band is now forced to cancel those plans due to the recent illness of one of the band members.

Here's the official word from the band: "We wanted to let you know that sadly we are having to reschedule the current run of US dates to the beginning of March 2011. This is due to issues with Perttu's health; we have taken the advice of several doctors before making this decision. We are working on all details and more information for you right now, and of course we will keep you fully informed! We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our fans and look forward to returning to health and touring in 2011."

Read more ››

Source:	apocalyptica.com
Band profile:	Apocalyptica
Event:	Apocalyptica [POSTPONED]

Disturbed has released a new video for the song, "The Animal". The clip was directed by Charlie Terrell and can be watched below. The song comes off the band's latest album, Asylum, released in late August.


Read more ››

Source:	disturbed1.com
Band profile:	Disturbed

Ex Deo, the ancient Roman-themed arsenal led by Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono, has checked in from the current stop on the Those Whom The Gods Detest Tour II in Tucson, Arizona - with label mates Nile, Tazmanian tech-death masters Psycroptic, and Norwegian extreme metallers Keep Of Kalessin - with the following message:

"It's amazing to see a vision I had one day waking up finally become a reality two years ago. We had done a few shows in America with Ensiferum for our debut album Romulus that were fantastic, but to go across the country and really seeing people waiting anxiously for this and screaming their hearts out for it live has been one incredible feeling. I feel Ex Deo is changing the game of the underground, bringing a theater to the live stage and bringing a new concept that has never done before. This is a beast of a band and we would like to thank everyone for the great support.

With this said, I would like to announce that we will indeed begin pre-production on the next album Caligula - the follow up to the highly-acclaimed debut Romulus - as soon as the world tour for Kataklysm will end next year. Expect a revolutionary album that will breathe the word 'NEW' into a much stagnant metal industry. It is yet undermined which label will release Caligula as we are looking at many different options."

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Ex Deo

Official press release

Extreme Management Group and American technical death metal innovators Origin are pleased to announce the band's worldwide recording contract with Nuclear Blast Records. Origin, who are responsible for such genre-defining classics as Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas (2002) and Antithesis (2008), will enter Chapman Recording Studios in Lenexa, Kansas tomorrow with long-time engineer Robert Rebeck to record their Nuclear Blast debut. Rebeck's work can be heard on Origin's Antithesis and Echoes Of Decimation (2005) albums in addition to the A Coming Into Existence demo (1998).

"It is a great honor to be working with Nuclear Blast," comments founding member and guitarist Paul Ryan. "We are excited to be working with a label with such an amazing presence in the metal scene. They have some of the best extreme bands in the history of extreme music and we are very honored to be apart of this. We are eager to join the ranks of the Nuclear Blast roster!"

Drummer John Longstreth adds: "We are very excited to begin working on our next album under the guide of Nuclear Blast Records! Being signed to one of the largest and most successful heavy metal labels makes it only natural that you will definitely be seeing a lot more of this band. Plans are already being laid by Extreme Management Group for the U.S., Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico and pretty much everywhere with a stage and (future) Origin fans. To us, it's only fitting that after 10 years, it came time to make a few positive changes so that we could continue to create this insane form of music for you. We are very excited to bring album #5 to our fans and we feel confident that our fans will not be let down."

Ryan Caddell, who directed and filmed the video clip for "Portal" and the bonus video on Echoes Of Decimation, will be joining the guys in the studio once again to document the creative process leading up to the creation of Origin's fifth album plus capture all the behind-the-scenes mayhem.

Read more ››

Source:	nuclearblastusa.com
Band profile:	Origin

In February next year Immortal will do 6 more shows in the US, and these will be the final concerts in North America for All Shall Fall. Absu will join as special guests for all dates.

All Shall Fall USA 2011:

02/19 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
02/20 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
02/21 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small's Theatre
02/22 - Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
02/24 - Denver, CO @ Summit Theatre
02/26 - San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live

Read more ››

Source:	immortalofficial.com
Band profile:	Immortal
Event:	Immortal + Absu

As you all remember vividly, the 2011 edition of the Roadburn Festival will be hosted by Sunn O))). And now they have finally confirmed the first bands. Here's the official press release:

Legendary doom pioneers Winter, along with Earth, Scorn, Beaver, Aluk Todolo, Menace Ruine, Hooded Menace, The Secret and Atilla Csihar's Void Ov Voices, have been confirmed for Sunn O)))'s curated event at Roadburn Festival 2011, set for April 15th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland.

As curator, Sunn O))) (Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley) are personally selecting the bands that will play during their special event, as well as performing a headlining show. Sunn O))) is Roadburn's fourth curator, following David Tibet in 2008, Neurosis in 2009 and Triptykon's Tom Gabriel Warrior at this year's festival in April.

Sunn O))) comments: "Sunn O))) is honored to present the first part of our guests for the curated day at Roadburn, April 15th 2011. They represent a broad range of bands we are fans of, and in many cases some of our closest friends and collaborators. We hope you appreciate the selection, and look forward to announcing more of our selection and allies... we will follow up soon with some words on each band specifically, so watch this space."

Also Godflesh, Pentagram, Shrinebuilder, Voivod, Candlemass and Evoken, among others, will be playing Roadburn next year. Go to this location for more line-up details.

Read more ››

Source:	roadburn.com
Band profile:	Winter
Event:	Roadburn Festival

Jörg Michael, the drummer for many bands in the past such as Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, Running Wild and Saxon - and current Stratovarius drummer - has been diagnosed with cancer.

Posted on the official Stratovarius website:

He recently discovered a lump on his neck, went to the doctor, they decided to operate, and found what they call "a malignant thyroid neoplasm". They took out his whole thyroid just to have the best chance to get everything out. He will also have to undergo a regimen of radiotherapy. He is a fighter. We have all talked to him and it's clear that this guy is not down for the count. He and his team of German doctors are pissed off and ready to kick ass, and I would not want to be a little cancer cell on these guys' shit list.. believe me.

Jörg and his family (and us guys in the band) found this out only last week, after the operation. Naturally we are all going between a lot of emotions, sadness, worry, shock, confusion, even anger.

As for Stratovarius, as you perhaps know there is a long tour coming up with Helloween, and with the surgery and therapy that will now follow there is no way Jörg can do the first part of the tour. For me personally (it's Jens writing this if you didn't figure it out) I at first felt quite hopeless about the tour, because I was so upset about all this news. But Jörg himself has been extremely clear that he does not want the band to cancel a single show because of this. In the end this is what made at least me feel better about going back hitting the road next week.

So, we have debated what to do for many days now. Jörg first suggested my brother Anders to do this November-December 2010 leg, but it turns out Anders will unfortunately be busy recording some record or other with that little indie cellar band of his called HammerFall. ) After a lot of searching we found a guy that both can do it and didn't have other commitments: Alex Landenburg. He plays well, Jörg says he is a great guy (very important!) and he even started learning the set already before we even had decided what to do, which to me shows a lot of dedication. You can google Alex' name if you are curious.
So it turns out that Stratovarius will do the first leg of the Helloween Seven Sinner tour, just as planned, only not with Jörg behind the kit, but with Jörg very much as a motivator to us being there. Not one single date will be cancelled or changed. Jörg wants to be back on the road with us again as soon as possible depending on the thearapy, but we are not making any promises, that one is up to powers even higher than Jörg Michael and his doctors. We will try to keep you somewhat updated.

Read more ››

Source:

stratovarius.com

The extreme metal juggernaut that is Bonecrusher Fest is back again this year and promises to be bigger and more brutal than anything that has come before, showcasing the very best of the extreme metal talent from around the world all packaged up and ready to be unleashed on European audiences. Brought to you by Avocado Booking, the agency behind the phenomenal Never Say Die! club tour, Bonecrusher Fest is set to melt faces all across Europe!

This time the bill is comprised of: Dying Fetus, Keep Of Kalessin, Carnifex, Annotations Of An Autopsy, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Angelus Apatrida.

Legendary death metal heavyweights Dying Fetus return to support their crushing latest full-length Descend into Depravity. One of the most infamous and influential death metal bands of the past 10 years, Dying Fetus pummel and pound their signature-style brutality into the worldwide landscape with the subtlety of full-fledged war.

Norwegian extreme metal veterans Keep Of Kalessin is a compelling example of melodic black metal at its finest. The band took third place in the grand final of the national Eurovision Song Contest called "Melodi Grand Prix" which was held in February in Oslo.

Armed with their latest album Hell Chose Me, Carnifex require no introduction. With only two albums under the belt the the five-piece have helped elevate death metal to the masses in part to their relentless worldwide touring.

Annotations Of An Autopsy take no prisoners. They are one of the European pioneers of modern brutal death! The new album The Reign Of Darkness is a testament to how the band have evolved into the wrecking crew they have now become; hug slabs of groove and pounding intensity.

Opening up the tour is Angelus Apatrida. The band perfectly combines both the aggression and the melodic edge of classic 80's Thrash Metal roots with a breathtaking modern southern fury to result in an impressive blend of rage and attitude.

Dying Fetus's singer John Gallagher has this to say: "After touring the ENTIRE WORLD in 2010 we cannot think of a better way to start off the year 2011 than back in Europe. We cannot wait to witness the breaking of bones and the crushing of skulls as we headline Bonecrusher Fest. The line-up promises to the fans in each and every city that they will witness the most BRUTAL and AGRESSIVE tour for all of 2011... guaranteed. Bones crushed!"

18.02.11 - Germany, Aschaffenburg Colos Saal
19.02.11 - Germany, Essen Turock
20.02.11 - Holland, Utrecht Tivoli

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Event:	Bonecrusher Fest 2011

As promised by drummer Kai Hahto last weekend, an official update from the Wintersun camp has hit the interwebs. Here goes:

"Hi everyone! It's been a while.

I've been working very hard with the synths & orchestrations and I can finally say that I'm feeling very positive about finishing this long and gruesome task by Christmas. So hopefully around the end of December I can finally start mixing the album. I still have a few vocal parts unfinished, but I will be singing them meanwhile I'm mixing.

The only problem about the mixing is that my current computer gear simply cannot handle these insanely huge projects. And the other problem is that I have no money for new gear. So we have discussed about this problem with our label & management and they have agreed to help us with an advance to buy new and more powerful computer gear, but only if we agree to play a few shows and show people that Wintersun is still alive. So after carefully weighting all the different possibilies, we think we need to play these shows to help the completion of the album.

The shows will be for now: Metalfest (3 shows: Helvetia, Austria, Germany) and Metalcamp (1 show).

There's lot of work and preparation to do for these shows, 'cause we have to update our live gear as well, sort out technical difficulties and of course rehearse the songs. This will most likely affect negatively with the mixing schedule, so I can't give any predictions with that yet. I also need to try out the new computer gear first and see how it handles these projects. The software is still not 64-bit, so the "infamous 4GB RAM limit" might also be a problem with the mixing, since these projects already eat about 3GB without any plugins. But I will do my best to overcome this challenge the fastest way I can.

And no worries, these shows will definitely not be cancelled. So we are looking forward to you guys, see you at the gigs! Who knows, we might even play a one new riff... I mean a song! "

29905 and 100142 for sending in this news!]

Read more ››

Source:	wintermadness.net
Band profile:	Wintersun