With the framework for the Armageddon Of Man firmly laid with the band's 2007 full-length release, "Framing Armageddon - Something Wicked Part I", Iced Earth are set to launch the next installment of Jon Schaffer's "Something Wicked" saga with the release of their new single, "I Walk Among You", in June of 2008. The full-length studio follow-up to "Something Wicked Part I" is due for release in Fall of 2008.

The new single and proceeding full-length studio album mark the return of longtime frontman, Matt Barlow to the band who's dark and sinister tones are the perfect fit to narrate the intense and viscous annihilation of mankind set in motion with the birth of the story's main character, "Set Abominae", in "Something Wicked Part II." The single will allow fans to get a glimpse of the bright future for the band, and the perhaps not-so-bright future for humanity as we now know it.

The single will feature 3 songs, an exclusive version of the song "I Walk Alone" and a few tracks from "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)" with new vocal performances by Matt Barlow. Due to the re-tracking of the lead vocals these tracks have been remixed and remastered. There will be an iTunes exclusive version of the single "I Walk Among You" that features "A Charge To Keep" which has also been re-sung by Matt, remixed and re-mastered.

The video for "I Walk Alone" is being filmed in early April.

All tracks were recorded at Jon Schaffer's studio, Soaring Eagle Sound, and mixed and mastered at Morrisound. The single, and following full-length platter will be released by Steamhammer/SPV.

"I Walk Among You" cover] Tracklisting:

01. I Walk Alone
02. Setian Massacre
03. The Clouding
04. A Charge To Keep (exclusive iTunes track)

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Source:	icedearth.com
Band profile:	Iced Earth

Metallica have issued the following update:

"While we're finishing up the new album, we told the dudes at the record company we thought it might be cool to dust off the old tapes and get all retro with some vinyl re-releases... First up are the first two albums (duh!?), "Kill 'Em All" and "Ride The Lightning," coming out on April 15 in North America and pretty fucking close to that in the rest of the world.

There will be two versions... one like the original on a single disc spinning at 33 1/3, the other a two disc, 180 gram vinyl, 45 rpm package all in a double gatefold. The music was half speed mastered from the original analog tapes at Mobile Fidelity to bring you audiophile quality.

Both versions will be available in the online store here and over at Met Club. Oh, and in case you were wondering, "Master" and "Justice" will obviously be next and should be coming out on vinyl in June."

Source:	metallica.com
Band profile:	Metallica

The following blog has been posted on the Stormlord MySpace:

"Stormlord has signed a recording deal with Locomotive Records (Grave Digger, Astral Doors, Benedictum) to release the new, long awaited fourth full length album titled "Mare Nostrum".

The band says: "We are so excited about this new deal, Locomotive Records is one of the leading labels in metal scene and they will grant a worldwide availability to our new album. The recording session are almost finished and the stuff sound amazing, we can't wait for you to hear it, in the first weeks of March all the songs will be mixed and ready. We want to thank our former label Scarlet Records for these beautiful 8 years spent together, they have always believed in Stormlord and their support made us reach some huge goals."

"Mare Nostrum" will be released on Locomotive Records on late May.

In the band own words "it'll see Stormlord going back to an epic sound near to our first album "Supreme Art Of War", that almost ten years ago was able to influence tons of bands still growing strong in the scene, even if the style of our recent albums will not be missing. You'll find some surprises like an acoustic song, folk instruments and even some sitar parts, everything mixed with an extreme-epic attitude like it was back in the days, but with the nowadays production and a well developed technical skill."

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Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Stormlord

The title track to Belphegor's forthcoming new album "Bondage Goat Zombie" has been posted online at the band's official MySpace page. The album is set to be released on April 15th via Nuclear Blast Records.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Belphegor

Danish metallers Pyramaze have announced the completion of recording their upcoming album "Immortal" cover]. Guitarists Michael Kammeyer stated:
"We are extremely happy with the outcome, and we are now ready to share a few clips with all of you loyal fans who have waited patiently for a little taste of the new stuff. We therefore give you two clips of the new album, with a length that is good enough to give you a fair feel for the songs."

Album tracklist:

01. Arise
02. Year Of The Phoenix MP3]
03. Ghost Light
04. Touched By The Mara
05. A Beautiful Death
06. Legacy In A Rhyme
07. Caramon's Poem MP3]
08. The Highland
09. Shadow Of The Beast
10. March Through An Endless Rain

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Source:	pyramaze.com
Band profile:	Pyramaze

Indie Recordings and Nuclear Blast are proud to finally announce their collaboration in the signing of epic extreme metal masters; Keep Of Kalessin. The band of former Satyricon live guitar player Obsidian C. has so far, in addition to the legendary Reclaim EP, released three highly acclaimed albums since its formation back in 1994 and is now ready to conquer the world with it´s forth offering. The highly anticipated new album entitled "Kolossus" is scheduled to be released in June 2008. Expect nothing less than a masterpiece!

Keep Of Kalessin is definitely the next big thing from Norway and will have a huge impact on the whole Metal scene. The base of the music is for sure Black Metal, but Keep Of Kalessin are also including other influences like Death Metal, Thrash Metal and some non-metal components, making their style fresh and truly unique. You have to be deaf to not hear the incredible potential of the band. Keep Of Kalessin will soon be one of the main driving forces in extreme Metal and one of THE bands of 2008. Be prepared for their matchless crusade!

"These Norwegians are delivering an unbelievable performance in Black Metal - virulent, aggressive and technically very far above the standard. The guys around Obsidian C. are extremely heavy and to the point, filling their songs with surprising breaks and instrumentation. This is how Black Metal has to sound nowadays. There´s no cure against this demolition bomb of anger and innovation!" - Jaap Wagemaker, A&R Manager, Nuclear Blast

"After signing Keep Of Kalessin to Tabu Recordings back in 2004, we are extremely pleased to be working with Obsidian C. and Keep Of Kalessin again. The new album totally reflects the unique musical craftsmanship and the undisputable power of this band - and is everything we ever dared to hope for! You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that this band will be huge!" - Erik S. Røhne, A&R Indie Recordings

The band will be part of "The Invaluable Darkness Tour Part 2 - Legions Of The Chosen Few" through North America along with labelmates Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth - starting in April. An extensive European Tour is already in the planning. Keep Of Kalessin will prevail! The album will be released by Indie Recordings and is licensed to Nuclear Blast for the following territories: Germany, Austria, Switzerland + Rest of the world outside Europe (except Australia and Russia)

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Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Keep Of Kalessin

Karelia were founded seven years ago with a strong will to play a popular and multi-layered metal, staying away from clichés or genre-typical settings. "Restless" indicates changes in the band's musical style, changing from straightforward heavy metal to a dark electro and at the same time poppy style. Karelia already promoted their new songs through a highly successful French tour supporting Scorpions and playing before thousands of people!

"Restless" cover] tracklisting:

01. Restless Sample]
02. Trial
03. Mirror, Mirror
04. Lift Me Up
05. Please Come On In Listen]
06. Lovin' Wife
07. Crash
08. Give It Away
09. From My Window
10. Losing My Religion Listen]

Release date: Apr. 21st, US May 13th.

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

After 20 years in the metal scene, Atrox mark the occasion with their 5th album "Binocular" cover]. Their new delight takes you through the twilight zone between Progressive Rock and Avantgarde Metal. "Binocular" shows an important change in the vocal department and an extensive use of electronics and computers. Atmospheric and energetic, groove based arrangements and catchy melodies wrapped up in a metallic symbiosis.

01. Retroglazed
02. No Coil For Tesla
03. Traces
04. Headrush Helmet
05. Filthmonger
06. Orgone
07. Tight Tie
08. Binocular
09. Castle For Clowns
10. Transportal

Release date: Apr. 21st, US Apr. 29th.

More about Atrox on http://www.myspace.com/atroxno.

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

According to a news post on the Pulverised Records website, reunited Swedish Thrashmongers Deceiver are back with attack and it's a great pleasure to have them under the Pulverised family. Slated for a new album for the summer of 2008, the new album will simply be entitled "Thrashing Heavy Metal". Expect more details to be announced in time to come.

More info on Deceiver at http://www.myspace.com/deceiverswe.

Pulverised Records also recently signed with Those Who Bring The Torture and Guillotine.

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Source:	pulverised.net
Band profile:	Deceiver

Due to the compromised server security we had to take our server down for tracking events and maintenance. So far everything is fine. Metal Storm lives on! Furthermore, in the beginning of the next week we will be going offline again for some further upgrades, sorry for that inconvenience but it's for the common good.

Thanks for sticking around!

I.

Italian metallers Theatres Des Vampires have announced that their upcoming album "Anima Noir" cover] will be released on 2 May 2008 through Aural Music/SPV.

The album's tracklist:

01. Kain
02. Unspoken Words
03. Rain
04. Dust
05. From The Deep
06. Blood Addiction
07. Butterfly
08. Wherever You Are
09. Two Seconds
10. Anima Noir

"Kain," "Unspoken Words" and "Rain" are streaming at this location.

The following statement was also posted on the band's website:

"Anima Noir.. the new chapter of "the vampire chronicles" is near to be released, produced by Aural Music/SPV

After 3 years from the last Full Lenght Album "Pleasure and Pain", after the successfull release of the live DVD "The Addiction tour" and the double live cd "Desire of Damnation" in 2007, Theatres des Vampires is back with a new Full Lenght.

After a long tour that involved Mexico, Brasil, Russia, and several countries in Europe and Est Europe, Theatres des Vampires is back from the underworld, ready for a new bloodbath.
Anima Noir 10 tracks of PURE vampirism.. Romantic lyrics, lyrical voices, strong orchestration, powerfull guitars and powerfull drumming.
All the elements that you loved in Theatres des Vampires are back in this new production.

A new modern sound and a super modern production that took 6 months of work in the studio for recording and mixing it, offering you the best experience of vampirism as always, with the enchanting vocals of the mistress of your nightmare: Countess Sonya Scarlet, this time with her best performance ever"

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Source:	theatres-des-vampires.com
Band profile:	Theatres Des Vampires

As posted on the band's website, Iron Maiden will be releasing yet another "Best Of" CD:

"As you guys will have read from our press release, 'the best of' is to help introduce new friends into the world of Maiden. We are not trying to sell this to the legions of our well valued Maiden supporters who probably already have these 'tracks' (and no doubt the entire collection of albums!).

From the amount of tickets sold there are a lot of people coming to our shows this year who won't have seen us before, so this is intended for them as an introduction, similar to previous ones of this nature. As with 'Edward the Great' we will arrange for the front and back cd artwork to be available for you to print free nearer the release date so, if you want, you can have them for your collections."

New fans can download the entire album without charge from http://www.ironmaiden.com as a high-quality audio file (WMA) which is a typically powerful 320 kbps. Fans will then be able to listen to the entire album at their leisure three times before the download expires. The listener is then given a simple option to upgrade and purchase the album as a full traditional DRM-free download (so they can then copy or do as they like with the album)."

The compilation is entitled "Somewhere Back In Time" cover] with the following tracklist:

01. Churchill Speech
02. Aces High
03. 2 Minutes To Midnight
04. The Trooper
05. Wasted Years
06. Children Of The Damned
07. The Number Of The Beast
08. Run To The Hills
09. Phantom Of The Opera
10. The Evil That Men Do
11. Wrathchild
12. Can I Play With Madness
13. Powerslave
14. Hallowed Be Thy Name
15. Iron Maiden

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Source:	ironmaiden.com
Band profile:	Iron Maiden

Estonian pagan metallers Urt have updated their myspace page with two tracks entitled "Pohjala Paganad" and "Karjed Pimedast Metsast." Both tracks come from the band's upcoming album "Saatanhark II - Ussikuningas" which is scheduled to be released later this year. The album features guest appearance such as L.O.N. from the Hellveto, Krauklis from Urskumug and Riho "Sorts" Kiiber from Ignorabimus.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Urt

Folk metallers Týr have posted the following update on their website:

"Due to injury Kári Streymoy will not be able to man the drumkit during the coming Paganfest tour in Europe, Canada and the US. We are sad at not having him with us, but we have found a worthy replacement for the Europe part of the Paganfest in 20-year old Amon Djurhuus, also from the Faroe Islands.

Amon was first introduced to drumming by Kári himself and has studied with him for a number of years. We've rehearsed with Amon wielding the drumsticks and are confident in his ability to fill Kári's shoes.

For the Canadian and US part of the Paganfest Merlin Sutter, the drummer from Eluveitie, will fill in for Kári."

Source:	tyr.net
Band profile:	Týr
Event:	Paganfest Europe Tour

According to Century Media website, Danish metallers Mercenary now offers you the chance to listen to their new album "Architect Of Lies" in its entirety. Just head for http://www.myspace.com/mercenarydenmark and enjoy the new tracks!

Produced by the renowned Jacob Hansen, "Architect Of Lies" proves to be a stunning fusion of metallic aggression, progressive elements and catchy melodies and will be released on the following dates:

Denmark: March 17, 2008.
Germany / Austria / Switzerland / Benelux / Italy: March 21, 2008.
UK / France / Greece / Norway / Rest Of Europe: March 24, 2008.
Spain / Portugal: March 25, 2008.
Sweden / Finland / Hungary: March 26, 2008.

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Source:	www2.centurymedia.com
Band profile:	Mercenary