Regain Records is proud to announce the signing of Swedish Unanimated (featuring former members of Entombed and Dismember).
The band is actually mastering their first two albums "In The Forest Of The Dreaming Dead" & "Ancient God Of Evil" which will be re-released with bonus-tracks in June through Regain Records.
The band will enter the studio during the summer to record a brand new full-length album.

The line-up consists of:
Micke Jansson - Vocals
Johan Bolin - Guitars
Richard Cabeza - bass
Peter Stjärnvind - Drums

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Source:	regainrecords.com
Band profile:	Unanimated

Agalloch has issued the following update:

Having fulfilled our record contract with The End Records, we have decided not to renew with them. We thank The End for 10 years of hard work and dedication. Our three full-length albums will continue to be in print for as long as there is a demand for them. Agalloch's immediate plans are to remain low key, work on new material, and look towards the future.

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Agalloch

Crises has posted some news of their upcoming album:

The title of our new upcoming album will be "Coral Dreams". Musically it's much closer to our old progressive days than it's predecessor "Summerworks". Not only because of our singer Domink Eckert - which gives Crises his voice since 2006 - the songs are once again more melodic and a bit more complex.

The rap parts which many fans weren't to happy with have finally become a thing of the past. Moreover we took songs from our progressive past like "Choices", "The Blame" or "End Of A Rainbow" back into our regular set. Some of them will be released as bonus tracks.

Also the new CD will have a few unreleased songs from our days with Douglas Engelbrecht (2002-2004) like "Strange", "Fighting With Myself" or "Cubical". Some songs from our "Summerworks" album have been completely rewritten and have new titles, like "Stormy Weather" and "When You Were Mine" (formally known as "Everything" and "Footprints").

The playlist is as it follows:
01. The Chase
02. Faker
03. Coral Dreams
04. All Against Me
05. Flesh & Bone
06. When You Were Mine
07. The Blame Remake
08. Fighting With Myself
09. Strange
10. Cubical
11. Gone With The Wind

Music samples of the new album can be found here

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Source:	crises.de
Band profile:	Crises

An update from the band:

"We are proud to announce that the 4th Thy Majestie full lenght has been completed. Recording, mixing and mastering are now finally over. We are ENTHUSIASTIC of the final result. We think (and we don't say that only because it's usual to say these things after a new album) that this is the best album Thy Majestie have ever recorded

Catchy melodies, amazing guitars and keyboards solos (thanks to the guitar hero Simone Campione and the virtuoso Valerio Castorino) and a great, stunning, unbelievable vocal performance by Dario Cascio, "DAWN" cover]is ready and will be released by Dark Balance Records in July the 2nd .
Thy Majestie will be headliners at FEAR DARK festivals in Holland in the end of May and we'll play at Stuttgard (Germany) in the 2nd of June"

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Source:	thymajestie.com
Band profile:	Thy Majestie

"Sudden Death Syndrome" is going to be the title for the upcoming release of the Jordanian Dark Oriental metal band Bilocate with the following track list:

1. Humans And The Dark Affiliation
2. Blooded Forest
3. The Dead Sea
4. Ebtehal
5. Inoculate
6. Pure Wicked Sins
7. The Stone of Hate

The 3rd track from Sudden Death Syndrome (The Dead Sea) is available online for streaming on the band's official MySpace Page.

More about Bilocate on http://www.bilocate.net and http://www.myspace.com/bilocate.

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Source:	bilocate.net
Band profile:	Bilocate

Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth have made an edit of a new song called "Lotus Eater" available online. The upcoming Opeth album "Watershed" will be released on 3th June at Roadrunner Records. You can download the song at this location.

In other news, Opeth have recently filmed a promotional video to an edit of the song "Porcelain Heart". The clip was directed by Lasse Hoile (Porcupine Tree etc) and shot in Vaxholm/Sweden at the marvellous Bogesund castle, built in the 1640's. The edit was done by Jens Bogren and Mikael Åkerfeldt. Mikael comments: "I think the video came out great! The location and the castle was beyond gorgeous, even though it was cold and empty in there and...yeah, a little scary too. Lasse and his team as well as the actors did a great job! The clip is very gothic looking which I think is the perfect imagery for the song and for Opeth overall I suppose. Really enjoyed filming that one actually!" Check out a few screen-shots here! The video can be watched by clicking this link.

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Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth

The following update was issued on Satyricon's official website:

"Our new EP which comes as a 7 inch gatefold vinyl single including a 5 track CD is now on its way. This will be the only physical version of the EP and the packaging is truly one of a kind!

"My Skin Is Cold" cover] tracklisting:

01. My Skin Is Cold (Sample here)
02. Live Through Me Volcano"]
03. Existential Fear-Quetions Volcano"]
04. Repined Bastard Nation
05. Mother North

The EP will be relased via Roadrunner Records in the world except Norway where Satyricon's new partner for Norway, Indie Recordings will release it. The release date is June 2 for all countries and it will also be released digitally via iTunes and other outlets who sells music digitally."

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Source:	satyricon.no
Band profile:	Satyricon

The following update was issued on the One Man Army And The Undead Quartet's website:

"Hi there metal heads!
"Grim Tales" is starting to shape up. Rehearsals are going great and time is ticking towards a nice studio session. We are fully prepared to make the best possible Army album yet and at the end of this year we will prove that to you all.
We can't wait to unleash this monster upon you all. So check it out when it's done will ya!

"Grim Tales" cover] tracklisting (in no particular order):

01. Misfit With A Machinegun
02. Cursed By The Knife
03. Saint Lucifer
04. Bastards Of Monstrosity
05. Dominator Of The Flesh
06. A Date With Suicide
07. Make Them Die Slowly
08. Bonebreaker Propaganda
09. The Frisco Reaper
10. Death Makes It All Go Away

Estimated release date is October/November 2008 via Nuclear Blast.
Stay tuned for more info concerning this."

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Source:	onemanarmy.tv
Band profile:	One Man Army And The Undead Quartet

Floridian metal band Monstrosity have cancelled their headlining tour with Grave. Here's the official statement:

"Due to a number of reasons we are cancelling our headline tour starting in May. Theres been issues with some of the shows and our direct support Grave dropped off so instead of just throwing something together were just going to cancel and start fresh. We've been having a great run with Vital Remains but its just not the same as headlining and we want to bring our show to you guys the way it should be. We will finish out the Vital Remains tour so come out and see it if you get the chance."

Remaining Monstrosity dates:

April 22 - CHICS 9809 Montana El paso,TX
April 23 - RED SEVEN 611 E 7th st austin, tx 78701
April 24 - The BULLDOG CAFE 10619 West Manslick Rd, Fairdale, Kentucky
April 25 - MONTAGE MUSIC HALL 50 Chestnut Street Rochester,NY 14604
April 26 - New England Metal and Hardcore Fest
April 27 - THE HAUNT at 320 Yonkers Ave Yonkers, NY 10701

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Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Monstrosity

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson's upcoming supernatural horror-thriller, "Chemical Wedding", will be released in British cinemas on May 23. The story is based on an original screenplay by Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson will also provide the soundtrack to the film. Directed by Julian Doyle (long term Monty Python editor), the film is a gothic sci-fi extravaganza set in Trinity College Cambridge, where a scientific experiment goes awry resulting in the resurrection of the infamous Edwardian Occultist Aleister Crowley, who was immortalised into pop culture by the likes of The Beatles, Jimmy Page and Ozzy Osbourne. Produced by London-based Focus Films, the movie stars Simon Callow (Amadeus, Shakespeare In Love and The Phantom Of The Opera) who plays the reincarnated Crowley, whilst John Shrapnel plays Crowley in flashback.

Chemical Wedding premieres:

Worldwide Premiere - London Sci-Fi Festival on May 4th
Cannes Film Festival - May 17th
Released Nationwide in the UK - May 23rd

The official trailer for "Chemical Wedding" can be viewed at this location.

Soundtrack Track Listing

01. Chemical Wedding - Bruce Dickinson
02. Hush Hush Here Comes the Bogie Man - Henry Hall / Val Rosing.
03. Fanlight Fanny - George Formby
04. Man of Sorrows - Bruce Dickinson
05. The Wickerman - Iron Maiden
06. Can I Play With Madness - Iron Maiden
07. Separation - Skin
08. Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune - Debussy
09. The Hallelujah Chorus - Handel
10. (Excerpt) Violin Concerto - Mozart

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Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Bruce Dickinson

Mayhem guitarist / songwriter Blasphemer has decided to leave the band. Here's the musician's comment:

"It is with these written words that I hereby retract myself from my position as the guitar player of Mayhem.

The main reason behind this conclusion lies in the fact that I simply don't see any future for me in the band anymore, at least not a future I'd like to participate in over the coming years. I've been playing my part in the band now for more than 13 years already, having composed, produced and released several albums with great vision, dedication and craftsmanship, to arrive at this crossroad of opposites. Sooner or later, all things comes to an end, and in my case, this circle is complete.

For some of you this might not come as the biggest surprise, as I've clearly stated in several interviews that I was not sure what the next step would be. These "hints" were partly rooted in the fact that our latest album fulfilled all of the expectations, visions and aspects of negativity that I felt I wanted to express with this band, and also, of similar importance, that I felt tired of both the touring aspects, amidst its turbulence and personal differences, and also my role in the band.

It has been a dark, devoted and spellbinding journey, and as some beings and entities develop, others remain the same. I've developed my essence. No questions. However, the legacy of MAYHEM will / must always remain what it always has been, and I wish to thank all parts involved and to wish them all the best for the future. I also would like to thank my followers over the years, from "Wolf's Lair..." to "Ordo...", my vision has been clear. I'm also sure the band will continue with a respectful formation, and that an eventual album will be placed "up there", where it (should) belong.

I have now personally chosen to focus on other paths in terms of creativity and vision. My "child of heart" AVA INFERI has already a busy schedule for the future and our third album is being crafted as we speak. I will also re-surface with new will and blood in a future extreme project. You have not heard the last of me, on the contrary. It's all about to begin.

Note that the few already scheduled shows will go on as planned WITH me.

Rune Eriksen/Blasphemer".

Source:	season-of-mist.com
Band profile:	Mayhem

Audio samples from "Elected" EP ? a collaboration between Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) and Tobias Sammet (Avantasia) ? are available at this location.
More information about this EP was previously reported here.
"Elected" EP will be release by InsideOut Music/SPV (April 25 for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, April 28 for the rest of Europe).

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Source:	arjenlucassen.com
Band profile:	Ayreon

The band has reported that it's spliting up by postng a brief statement on their myspace page:

The members have decided to calls it quits, nor the band members or record company seems to have the urge to make a second album. There was not much media focus and together with a minor support from the record company we came to the point where is just not worth the work to even try to complete a second record.

Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Ride The Sky

Inferna Profundus Records will release a digipack version of Slagmaur's original Domfeldt demo. This was posted on their website:

"Domfeldt, the original demo from Norwegian black metallers SLAGMAUR, is to be re-released in Digipack format by Inferna Profundus Records in co-operation with Nocturnal Woodlands Productions during the summer. The re-release has been licensed to the label by Nekk Brekk Productions, Slagmaur's own label, after the band kept receiving requests for the now hard-to find original. The Digipack version will have completely new artwork, once again created by Norwegian artist Robert Høyem, and the guest track from Aptorian Demon, that featured on the original version, will be replaced by a Slagmaur track that was left off the first recording, and that has never been heard before. A completely new track, written by Lt. Wardr especially for the release will also be included.

The vinyl edition of Skrekk Lich Kunstler, their second full-length, will be released later this year on the Lux Infernum label. With a gatefold cover, it is anticipated that the vinyl version will be a very limited collectors edition, although no details are available at this time. The band has started work on their next release Von Rov Shelter which should be ready late 2008, early 2009, and a label is currently being sought.

Tracks from both 'Domfeldt' and 'Skrekk Lich Kunstler', together with tracks from other releases can be heard on Slagmaur's Myspace."

Official Slagmaur website
Official Inferna Profundus Records website

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Source:

inferna-profundus.net

The UK's Gorerotted have decided to take the big step of changing their name to THE ROTTED! Having worked so hard on their new album "Get Dead Or Die Trying", the lads felt that due to the huge progression they've made from previous releases musically and lyrically and after frequent line-up changes that this was the only right thing to do.

Says frontman Ben McCrow: "The motives behind what we were doing with Gorerotted have changed over the years, and as a mark of respect for what we achieved, for previous band members and for fans, we didn't feel it was right to continue under our previous monicker. This album is gonna blow people away, I couldn't even classify it for you if I tried, all I can say is its heavy as fuck, catchy as hell and a piece of work we're all incredibly proud of. People have been affectionally referring to us as The Rotted for some time now, so it seemed like a decent change to us."

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	The Rotted