Blabbermouth is reporting that Anthrax have announced their new lead vocalist. Anthrax have now officially confirmed that it has recruited former Devilsize and Me, My Enemy singer Dan Nelson photo] as the replacement for Joey Belladonna. The announcement was made earlier last evening (10 December) during an online chat with between Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante and members of Anthrax's official fan club. To check a few excerpts from that chat, go to this location.

A Devilsize song titled "Taken" featuring the vocals of Dan Nelson can be heard at this location. Four more Devilsize tracks featuring Nelson ? "The Way", "Explode", "Brooding" and "Freedom's Wings" ? are available for streaming here (click on the play button to the left of each songtitle to launch audio).

In other news, Anthrax will release Sound Of White Noise (Expanded Edition) and Stomp 442 (expanded edition) as digital releases for the first time via Anthrax Ltd/Megaforce Records on December 18, 2007.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Anthrax

British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden announced they have renewed and extended their historic 28-year recording relationship with EMI for the world excluding USA.

Rod Smallwood commented: "We've had three tremendous decades working with EMI and have many friends there. Through many "regimes" EMI have always given us their full support and our relationship with their companies worldwide has always been excellent. We've got some great plans for 2008 and beyond, and I can't wait to get back on the road next year on a tour which appropriately celebrates the band's formative years. "

Tony Wadsworth added: "Since the early eighties Maiden has been a flagship band for EMI and we have enjoyed a fantastic long term relationship. Now that we can work with and support them in their broader music activities, our goal is to help build on the foundations already in place for an even more successful future."

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Source:	ironmaiden.com
Band profile:	Iron Maiden

Regain Records has launched a special Dismember Myspace-Page featuring a streaming version of one track ? "Europa Burns" from the Swedish death metal masters' upcoming eight album, which will be released in Europe on February 18, 2008. Get your first impression via http://www.myspace.com/dismemberpromo.

According to the official Regain Records newsletter, the MySpace page will feature a huge competition soon, so re-check it from time to time.

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Source:	regainrecords.com
Band profile:	Dismember

According to Metal Zone Greece, Greek extreme metallers Rotting Christ filmed their December 8, 2007 concert in Athens, Greece for an upcoming DVD.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Intro
02. The Sign Of Prime Creation (Theogonia)
03. Keravnos Kivernitos (Theogonia)
04. Athanatoi Este (Sanctus Diavolos)
05. Enuma Elish (Theogonia)
06. King Of A Stellar War (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
07. The Fifth Illusion (Non Serviam)
08. Archon (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
09. The First Field Of The Battle (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
10. Shadows Follow (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
11. The Sign Of Evil Existence (Thy Mighty Contract)
12. Coronation Of The Serpent (Thy Mighty Contract)
13. The Old Coffin Spirit (Passage To Arcturo)
14. The Mystical Meeting (Apokathilosis EP)
15. Thou Art Blind (Khronos 666)
16. Morality Of A Dark Age (Non Serviam)
17. You My Cross (Sanctus Diavolos)
18. Saturn Unlock Avey's Son (Non Serviam)
19. Exiled Archangels (Thy Mighty Contract)
20. Sorrowfull Farewell (A Dead Poem)
21. Among Two Storms (A Dead Poem)
22. After Dark I Feel (Sleep Of The Angels)
23. In Domine Sathana (Genesis)
24. Nemecic (Theogonia)
25. Under The Name Of Legion (Genesis)

Encore:
26. Societas Satanas (Thou Art Lord cover)
27. Non Serviam (Non Serviam)

Check out pictures from the concert at Metalzone.gr.

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Source:	metalzone.gr
Band profile:	Rotting Christ

Roadrunner Records will be releasing a Best Of Suffocation album on January 29, 2008. The album will contain some of the more popular and influential songs from Suffocation's 19 year career in the Death Metal genre.

Here is the tracklist:

01. Liege Of Inveracity
02. Infecting The Crypts
03. Effigy Of The Forgotten
04. Seeds Of The Suffering
05. Jesus Wept
06. Marital Declimation
07. Prelude To Repulsion
08. Anomalistic Offerings
09. Breeding The Spawn
10. Pierced From Within
11. Thrones Of Blood
12. Brood Of Hatred

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Source:	suffocation.us
Band profile:	Suffocation

Tomi Mykkänen, Battlelore's male vocalist, issued the following explaining the reasons for canceling the December tour with Korpiklaani:

"As many of the venues already listed us as the support for the small upcoming tour with Korpiklaani, it's appropriate to tell you guys here that our part on that tour got canceled. We are VERY sorry about that. It would have been excellent and fucken brilliant to finally tour at least a bit in UK. Not to dismiss Germany or Netherlands in any way, it would have been great to meet all the old friends and possible new ones there too! Also having "a few" beers with KL-guys during the tour would probably have been very pleasant, though hurtful afterwards, experience. Well, what can you do? Maybe next time?
And to add, the band is not responsible for the cancellation."

Late in November Korpiklaani announced on their myspace page that Battlelore can not accompany them on their December tour.

Here are the dates for Korpiklaani's European tour during December as stated on their myspace page:

14.12.2007 Alte Brauerei, Annaberg Germany
15.12.2007 Illipse, Illingen Germany
16.12.2007 Matrix, Bochum Germany
17.12.2007 maybe in France or other cool country, venue TBA
18.12.2007 Rio's, Leeds United Kingdom '
19.12.2007 Thatched House, Manchester United Kingdom
20.12.2007 Cathouse, Glasgow Scotland
21.12.2007 Bierkeller, Bristol United Kingdom
22.12.2007 Baroeg, Rotterdam Netherlands

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Source:	battlelore.net
Band profile:	Battlelore
Event:	Korpiklaani

California Thrash/Speed Metallers Détente have announced they will be doing a reunion show at Headbanger's Open Air 2008! The festival is scheduled to take place July 24th - 26th, 2008 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.

In a blog the band have revealed the live line up. Vocalist Ann Boleyn (Hellion) and guitarist Juan Garcia (Agent Steel) have joined forces with original Détente members Dennis Butler , Caleb Quinn , and Steve Hochheiser . In addition to Headbanger's Open Air Détente will play additional selected dates in the USA.

More info about the band at http://www.myspace.com/detenterna.

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Source:	blog.myspace.com
Event:	Headbangers Open Air XI

Dutch Thrash band Legion Of The Damned have revealed more information about their upcoming album "Feel The Blade". The album will have a January 4th release via Massacre Records and Season Of Mist USA, and will contain the following tracklist:

01. Nuclear Torment
02. Nocturnal Predator
03. Slaughtering The Pigs
04. Slut Of Sodom
05. Feel The Blade
06. Expire
07. Warbeast
08. Disturbing The Dead
09. Obsessed By The Grave
10. Reapers Call
11. Last Command (Bonustrack)
12. Mask Of Terror (Bonustrack)
13. Chronic Infection (Bonustrack)

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Legion Of The Damned

Roadrunner Records has set a January 29, 2008 release date for a "best-of" collection from legendary Florida death metallers Obituary.

The press release reads as folows:
"If you're a true metalhead, the name Obituary isn't new to you. They made some of vilest and darkest music there ever will be and was once the definitive death metal band. The Best of Obituary comes out on January 8, 2008."

"The Best of Obituary" cover] tracklist:

01. Internal Bleeding
02. 'Til Death
03. Slowly We Rot
04. Cause Of Death
05. Chopped In Half
06. Turned Inside Out
07. The End Complete
08. I'm In Pain
09. Don't Care
10. Final Thoughts
11. Kill For Me
12. Threatening Skies
13. On The Floor

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Obituary

The Deftones have offered the following studio update:

"After a month long stay in Los Angeles, we're back in Sacto at the Spot where we'll continue to work on new material until the holidays. As of right now, there's about 6 to 8 songs finished, and we hope to have a few more completed before we break. As some of you may have read, we've taken a different approach to writing this record than we have the past few years, and so far it's been a lot of fun. The material seems to be flowing freely, and each song is different from the other. We feel like we're accomplishing what we set out to do, which is to write a record that pushes boundaries for us creatively. We can't wait for you all to hear it. More updates to come..."

Source:	deftonesinstudio.blogspot.com
Band profile:	Deftones

The brand new album trailer for Avantasia´s upcoming masterpiece, "The Scarecrow", is online now. Click here to watch it! "The Scarecrow" will be released on January 25th 2008 as a standard CD as well as rare picture (double) vinyl.

Here's the tracklist:

CD:
01. Twisted Mind
02. The Scarecrow
03. Shelter From The Rain
04. Carry Me Over
05. What Kind Of Love
06. Another Angel Down
07. The Toy Master
08. Devil In The Belfry
09. Cry Just A Little
10. I Don't Believe In Your Love
11. Lost In Space
+ Media Player

DVD:
The Scarecrow - interview
Carry Me Over - video clip
Carry Me Over - making of
Lost In Space - Electronic Press Kit
Lost In Space - video clip
I Don't Believe In Your Love - alternate version*

*original version, lead vocals by Tobias Sammet only (audio only!!)

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Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Avantasia

Canadian Death Metallers Cryptopsy have announced the addition of two new members. Vocalist Matt Mcgachy and Keyboard player/Samplist Maggie Durand are joining the band. A picture of the new line up can be found by clicking here.
The band will enter the studio mid December for their upcoming sixth album. Cryptopsy will, for the first time ever, be touring Mexico, Central and South America during the month of february and will possibly hit Mexico once more in April. Tour dates to be announced shortly.

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Source:	cryptopsy.net
Band profile:	Cryptopsy

Notorious British extreme metallers Cradle Of Filth have posted the following short update:

"The world tour for the "Thornography" album, which last saw COF in Russia, Ukraine, U.K., Romania, Slovakia and the USA with Gwar is now complete. The band has now returned home to start writing for a new record over the dark months in the rehearsal room. The new album, which is not yet titled, will be released some time in 2008 via RoadRunner Records. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on our website."

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Source:	cradleoffilth.com
Band profile:	Cradle Of Filth

Following their truly global "Enemy Of God" World Tour, Thrash gods Kreator will be parking the steamrollers for a while and taking a creative break in 2008 to concentrate on writing new material and recording their next album. Live activity for the band in 2008 will only be sporadic, consisting primarily of selected festival appearances. Kreator's next album is currently scheduled for release in January of 2009, to be followed by an extensive world tour later in the year.

To make the long wait a little less painful for Kreator fans, March of 2008 sees the re-release on DVD of "Live In East Berlin" and "Hallucinative Comas", both re-edited and previously only available on VHS video cassette. The DVD release goes out under the title "At The Pulse Of Kapitulation - Live In East Berlin 1990".

Here are a few of frontman Mille Petrozza's comments:

"Right now, it's time for us to recharge our batteries and write some new songs. A little like the creature in 'Alien', several ideas for the next album have been brooding inside me for a while and now they're ready to burst out of my chest and take the Kreator story to the next level. Musically, the whole concept will be very brutal and melodic! At the moment there are 10 basic ideas and fragments for new songs. Starting in January of 2008, the band will get together in Essen to start working out arrangements for the new stuff.

Over the years, I've met lots of people in and around Berlin who's first Metal experience ever was the concert we did there in the early 90's at the Werner Seelenbinder Halle. The new DVD features some of these people in recent interviews, and there are also some original quotes from back then. Words don't do justice to the energy that was in the air that day in East Berlin, and the whole event can only be described as utterly unique and historic.

I'd like to say 'Thanks!' at this point to all the promoters and fans who made it possible! The legion of Kreator supporters is growing all the time, and you made 2007 a very exciting year for us in the band."

Up until now this legendary concert was only available as a VHS video with less-than-ideal sound quality, but is now for the first time carefully digitalized and upgraded to today's standards, while retaining its original charm. The DVD also contains the "Hallucinative Coma" video from 1991. Original director Andreas Marshall has personally re-edited his own 'Director's Cut', featuring never-seen-before scenes that the censors just couldn't stomach back in the day.

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Source:	metaleater.com
Band profile:	Kreator

Hate Eternal has announced the new album title, "Fury And Flames", which will be out on February 19th, 2008.

"Fury And Flames" will feature cover art by Paul Romano (Mastodon, Animosity, The Red Chord) and features the addition of new members Shaune Kelley as second guitarist and Jade Simonetto on drums. The addition of second guitarist Shaune means that this will be the first time Hate Eternal will be able to perform as a four piece live. Something fans will be able to experience on the first tour for "Fury And Flames" when the band heads out with label-mates The Black Dahlia Murder. Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse fame stepped in on bass for the recording, but due to his insane schedule with Cannibal Corpse will not be able to tour with the band.

"Fury And Flames" tracklisting:

01. Hell Envenom
02. Whom Gods May Destroy
03. Para Bellum
04. Bringer Of Storms
05. The Funerary March
06. Thus Salvation
07. Proclamation Of The Damned
08. Fury Within
09. Tombeau (Le Tombeau De La Fureur Et Des Flames)
10. Coronach

Complete information about this new album is available at this location.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Hate Eternal