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Withered - Founding Member Chris Freeman Leaves The Band

Withered have issued the following update:

"Well, many of you have noticed that Chris didn't perform at any Withered shows over the summer. And, I've been receiving numerous inquiries about this. So, I suppose it's time to make it official. Chris, after much soul searching and consideration, decided it was time to leave the front lines and pursue some personal goals that he had been putting off for years. Touring became too much of a burden for him at a time when the rest of Withered was striving to push the envelope and increase touring activity.

Personally, I must say that I'll miss him a lot. We've been playing music together 2 or 3 times a week for the last 14 years and mutually conceived Withered in 2003. He was key in nurturing the ideology behind our music and lyrics and his contributions will be missed. Despite all of that, Mike, Beau, and I completely respect his position and there are no negative feelings towards the situation.

As for his replacement, our friend, Dylan Kilgore, filled in for Chris on the last leg of the Blackenedfest tour last June. He did an amazing job and his work ethic in learning the songs was unparalleled. So, it was very natural for him to assume Chris' position full time. We're moving full steam ahead on the new album and the writing is going better than expected. At this point, we have 4 new tracks almost completed and anticipate the new album to be released sometime in mid 2010. We'll post more updates as they develop."

Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Withered
Posted: 06.11.2009 by SlaytallicA | Comments (0)


Katatonia - Discuss Their Influences As Per New Album

A clip of Jonas Renske and Anders Nystrom discussing the band's influence from their doom-metal roots to their current 'suicide rock' sound can be viewed here.
Night is the New Day comes out in the US on November 10th.

Read more ››

Source: revolvermag.com
Band profile: Katatonia
Posted: 06.11.2009 by BudDa | Comments (12)


Gama Bomb - To Give New Album Away For Free

Original news posted on 10.09.2009

Irish metallers Gama Bomb have issued the following update on their MySpace blog:

"We're pretty happy to announce that this November 5th we're going to be giving our third album, "Tales From The Grave In Space", away for free through Earache Records.

On the day you'll be able to visit www.earache.com/gamabomb and download all the album tracks, as well as the cover art by Jeff Jordan, for nothing.

Here's a video of Philly looking hung over at the Science Museum, trying to explain the whole shebang."

According to the band: "The album is inspired by the horror and sci-fi compendiums of the 1950s and 60s and will feature cover artwork by a well-known fantasy illustrator. Inspired by collections like Tales From The Crypt, The Twilight Zone, Eerie and Creepy, Tales From The Grave In Space's tracks take in topics ranging from the undead, technology run amok and ninja assassins to ghouls, ghosts and murder most foul.
It's business as usual, boils and ghouls."

Gama Bomb will be entering Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, UK on September 15th with producer Scott Atkins to record "Tales From The Grave In Space".

UPDATE

So today is the day that you can download Gama Bomb's new album entirely for free. All you have to do is follow the above link, enter your email address into their webpage and a download link will appear. The album is in mp3 format at 320kbps quality and contains no Digital Rights Management technology. The album will be available for download for the rest of today only.

Read more ››

Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Gama Bomb
Posted: 05.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (17)


Helloween - Releasing 25th Anniversary Best Of Album, Cover Art Revealed

Original news posted on 24.10.2009

Helloween have issued the following update:

"We deeply apologize the weeks of silence - which were weeks of insecurity for us - about the bands European label situation and the release date of the long awaited Unarmed - Best-Of 25th Anniversary album.

Thus we are proud to finally announce that we have teamed up with Sony Music in coop. with SPV, to release our upcoming records. We also want to use this opportunity to welcome the highly motivated team of Sony Music in the world of Helloween and it´s fans!

Release dates of Unarmed - Best-Of 25th Anniversary:

December 16th, 2009 - Japan & Southeast Asia (JVC/Victor)
January 29th, 2010 - Europe (SONY/SPV)
The release dates for the American continent will be announced soon

Unarmed - Best-Of 25th Anniversary is a big 'thank-you' to all our fans, old and new all over the world! Instead of putting together a regular greatest hits compilation featuring our most successful tracks to celebrate this anniversary, we completely rearranged and rerecorded the greatest songs and melodies of our career.
Together with our tried and tested producer, Charlie Bauerfeind, we invited many great musicians to guest on this special record, with the doubtless highlight of having the 70-piece Prague Symphonic Orchestra performing "The Keeper´s Trilogy", a 17 minute medley consisting of the songs "Halloween", "Keeper of the Seven Keys" and "The King for A 1000 Years" - goose bumbs guaranteed!

Here´s a list of all songs we recorded:

Dr. Stein
Future World
If I Could Fly
Where The Rain Grows
The Keeper´s Trilogy
Eagle Fly Free
Perfect Gentleman
Forever & One
I Want Out
Falling To Pieces
A Tale That wasn't Right

We aren't one of those bands who like to celebrate themselves, we just want to say 'thank you' in our own special way to all of you who have followed us through the past 25 years - to us, this album stands for an official celebration. It was a big challenge & great experience and we had a lot of fun recording our most important tracks in an entirely new 'outfit' and with new arrangements - we hope you like them!"

UPDATE (thanks to Snbn)

German metallers Helloween have revealed the artwork for Unarmed - Best-Of 25th Anniversary, and have issued the following message: "The artwork for the forthcoming album was once more made by Martin Haeusler who was already in charge of The Legacy and the Gambling With The Devil artwork. The photo shooting took place at a salt-lake near Los Angeles and a detailed making-of story will be featured here soon.

Read more ››

Source: helloween.org
Band profile: Helloween
Posted: 05.11.2009 by Snbn | Comments (38)


Woods Of Ypres - Upcoming Album Update, Ten New Songs Online

Original news posted on 16.10.2009

The new Woods Of Ypres album Woods IV: The Green Album has been sent to mastering. The bands frontman David Gold reckons the upcoming album is only weeks away from being released. Preview pictures of the album art, which was designed by Travis Smith, can be viewed here and here.

Studio pictures and videos can be found on the band's official forum.

UPDATE (thanks to BudDa)

Woods Of Ypres have launched a new MySpace page to coincide with the impending release of their new record, Woods IV: The Green Album.

In addition, 10 songs from Woods IV: The Green Album have been posted on the band's official YouTube page.

Songtitles due to appear on Woods IV: The Green Album include:

Shards Of Love
Everything I Touch Turns To Gold...Then To Coal
By The Time You Read This I Will Already Be Dead
I Was Buried... In Mount Pleasant Cemetery
I Am Pining (For You)
Wet Leather
Suicide Cargoload (Drag That Weight)
Halves And Quarters
You Are Here With Me (In This Sequence Of Dreams
Retrosleep (In The Morning Calm)

Read more ››

Source: myspace.com
Band profile: Woods Of Ypres
Posted: 05.11.2009 by BudDa | Comments (8)


Jon Oliva's Pain - New Album Title And Release Date Revealed

The following update was posted on Jon Oliva's Pain's MySpace blog:

"The new Jon Oliva's Pain CD titled Festival will be released worldwide by AFM Records on February 19th, 2010.

A March/April Euro-Tour will be confirmed soon culminating with the filming of a live DVD consisting of music from the 4 Jon Oliva's Pain CD's and a healthy dose of Savatage classics!

More details coming soon!"

Read more ››

Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Jon Oliva's Pain
Posted: 05.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (4)


Månegarm - Three New Songs Online

Original news, posted on 17.09.2009

Swedish metallers Månegarm have posted online a new song, "Mina Fäders Hall", on their MySpace page.

"Mina Fäders Hall" comes off the band's forthcoming album, Nattväsen, which is scheduled for release on November 19 via Regain Records.

Nattväsen cover art] tracklist:

01. Mina Fäders Hall (Hall Of My Father's)
02. Nattsjäl, Drömsjäl (Nightsoul, Dreamsoul)
03. Bergagasten (The Mountain Ghost)
04. I Den Svataste Jord (In The Blackest Soil)
05. Hraesvelg
06. Vetrarmegin (Winter Force)
07. Draugen
08. Nattväsen (Night Creatures)
09. Delling (Dawn)

UPDATED, on 07.10.2009

Swedish metallers Månegarm have posted online another new song, "Vetrarmegin", on their MySpace page.

UPDATE

A brand new Månegarm song entitled "Nattväsen" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"Nattväsen" comes off the band's forthcoming album, Nattväsen, which is scheduled for release on November 19 via Regain Records.

Read more ››

Source: myspace.com
Band profile: Månegarm
Posted: 05.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (4)


Apocalyptica - Finnish Tour Dates

Finnish metallers Apocalyptica have confirmed dates for tour through their homeland in February/March 2010.

Confirmed dates are as follows:

Feb. 05 - Helsinki - Korjaamo
Feb. 20 - Helsinki - Kaapelitehdas
Mar. 11 - Savonlinna - Savonlinnasali
Mar. 12 - Lahti - Sibeliustalo
Mar. 13 - Kuopio - Musiikkikeskus
Mar. 19 - Levi - Hullu Poro Areena
Mar. 20 - Oulu - Teatria
Mar. 21 - Seinäjoki - Rytmikorjaamo
Mar. 22 - Turku - Konserttitalo
Mar. 23 - Tampere - Tampere-Talo

Read more ››

Source: myspace.com
Band profile: Apocalyptica
Event: Apocalyptica: Finnish Tour
Posted: 04.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (2)


Sotajumala - To Enter Studio In January

Finnish Death metallers Sotajumala have issued the following update on their MySpace blog:

"On Monday January 11th 2010 we'll enter Studio Audio in Jyväskylä to start recording our third album! In the following four weeks we'll be working long days at both Studio Audio and Basement Alliance with Tuomas Kokko to finish the album. Mastering will be handled by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers in Helsinki on February 8th.

We're shooting for late spring release in Finland and hopefully a proper plan for other territories too. The name of the album hasn't been decided yet, but who knows what happens during the next couple of weeks."

Read more ››

Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Sotajumala
Posted: 04.11.2009 by SlaytallicA | Comments (1)


Hammerfall - N. American Tour Dates

Swedish melodic metallers Hammerfall will return to North America for a full tour in March/April 2010. Support act will come from Powerglove (from March 5 to March 27) and Echoes Of Eternity (from March 27 to April 8).

Announced dates are as follows:

Mar. 05 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Mar. 06 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Mar. 07 - New York, NY @ Filmore at Irving Plaza
Mar. 09 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Mar. 10 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
Mar. 11 - Quebec City, QC @ Imperial De Quebec
Mar. 12 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
Mar. 13 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabodys
Mar. 15 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
Mar. 16 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Mar. 18 - St Paul, MN @ Station 4
Mar. 19 - Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Center
Mar. 21 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
Mar. 22 - Calgary, AB @ The Warehouse
Mar. 23 - Vancouver, BC @ The Venue
Mar. 24 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Mar. 26 - San Francisco, CA @ The Grand Ballroom at Regency Center
Mar. 27 - West Hollywood, CA @ House Of Blues
Mar. 28 - San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
Mar. 30 - Las Vegas , NV @ House Of Blues
Mar. 31 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theater
Apr. 01 - Phoenix, AZ @ U.B.'s
Apr. 02 - Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
Apr. 04 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Apr. 06 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
Apr. 07 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
Apr. 08 - Houston, TX @ Meridian

Tickets go on sale today (Wednesday, November 4th) exclusively at EnterTheVault.com.

Read more ››

Source: enterthevault.com
Band profile: HammerFall
Event: Hammerfall: N. American Tour
Posted: 04.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (6)


Mnemic - New Album Cover Art Revealed

Official press release

Danish modern metal heroes Mnemic just revealed the artwork for their highly anticipated new album Sons Of The System.

Mainman Mircea Gabriel Eftemie states: "Since late 2008 we started looking into artwork for the album, but it was not before we entered the studio in October, we actually found a solid idea. We wanted something simple, yet strong and something archetypal, for this release, and we wanted to do it the right way this time. On the last release we never had any artistic control over our artwork, we just hired a name, a company that worked for majors, where our visions never converged into what we really wanted. This time around we reached out to hundreds of designers only to find out that we could do it our selves and even better! The artwork portrays the Sons Of The System symbol. Its the symbol of the united, the symbol of the outcast, the symbol of the people in revolt of a greater evil. The real deal lies in the booklet artwork, which has been conceived by Rune Stigart and Me... more on that later."

Mnemic will release the entire artwork/booklet etc... early next week in a digital flip book!

Sons Of The System will be unleashed in January 2010 via Nuclear Blast!

Read more ››

Source: nuclearblast.de
Band profile: Mnemic
Posted: 04.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (4)


Stam1na - Begin Recording New Album

Finnish metallers Stam1na have issued the following update on their MySpace blog:

"Stam1na have entered Astia Studios in Lappeenranta Finland to start the recordings of their fourth full-length studio album, to be released during spring 2010. The working title for the new album is Viimeinen Atlantis.

The album will be produced by Miitri Aaltonen who've also produced the first two Stam1na albums.

The production plan states that the new album will have 25% more official band members, 54% more notes, 42% thicker sounds and 61,4% better song titles.

The studies also predict that the sexual life of the album listeners will increase by 38 percents during the first two weeks of listening the CD version of the upcoming album."

Read more ››

Source: blogs.myspace.com
Band profile: Stam1na
Posted: 04.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (2)


Throwdown - Entire New Album Streaming

US metallers Throwdown have made their entire new album Deathless available for streaming online at the band's MySpace page.

Deathless will be released on November 10 in the US via E1 Music (on January 22, 2010 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records).

Deathless cover art] tracklist:

01. The Scythe
02. This Continuum
03. Tombs
04. The Blinding Light
05. Widowed
06. Headed South
07. Serpent Noose
08. Ouroboros Rising
09. Skeleton Vanguard
10. Pyre
11. Black Vatican
12. Burial At Sea

Read more ››

Source: myspace.com
Posted: 04.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (0)


Blaze Bayley - New Album Title And Cover Art Revealed

UK metallers Blaze Bayley have issued the short following update on their official website:

"Promise And Terror cover art] will be available to pre-order from December 1st, 2009. Every pre-order will be signed by the whole band."


Read more ››

Source: blazebayley.net
Band profile: Blaze Bayley
Posted: 04.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (8)


Apeiron - Debut Album Details, Album Teaser Online

Official press release

Among The Lost, Apeiron's new full length album, will be officially released on Friday, November 6th by Last Scream Records.

The CD includes 10 tracks of technical Death metal with progressive flavor, crafted with Fear Studios and Alessandro Vanara's precious help; moreover, it features a very special guest, Gianluca Melino, singer from the Italian thrash legend Alligator, and also the appearance of Diego Cavallotti, label-mates Within Your Pain's guitarist.

The album will be distributed in Italy by Andromeda Distribuzioni, and worldwide through www.lastscream.com, www.apeironet.it and also for download on the net's major music stores.

Among The Lost tracklist:

01. Into The Deep
02. Voids Of Breath
03. Hendra
04. Clutches Of Despair
05. The Last Page
06. Scavenging Thoughts (Of Mortality Lost)
07. Red Waters Of Acheron
08. The Crossing
09. Through Me You Enter...
10. Among The Lost

In the meantime we uploaded on our MySpace page an audio teaser of the album! Enjoy the listening!

Read more ››

Source: blogs.myspace.com
Posted: 04.11.2009 by White Winter Sun | Comments (0)