Nuclear Blast Records have issued the following brief statement:

"Swedish Gothic Metallers Tiamat are proud to have joined the Nuclear Blast family! The band, which became famous with masterpieces like "Wildhoney", "A Deeper Kind Of Slumber" and "Judas Christ" will release their upcoming album in February 2008."

Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Tiamat

Syrian Death Metal band Absentation signed up a contract with "A Dark Philosophy" record company on 11/07/2007. The record company promised to promote their last album "Mental Battle Resurrection".
The record company will be promoting the album world wide as soon as they finish manufacturing it.

More on Absentation on their MySpace page, here.

Read more ››

Source:	adarkphilosophy.co.nr
Band profile:	Absentation

Metal Mind Productions proudly presents first ever DVD from the icon of Death Metal - Vital Remains. DVD entitled "Evil Death Live" includes nearly one hour of gloom and top-performance ultrafast massacre recorded on 24th April 2007 during Metalmania Festival in Katowice, Poland. The tracklist is comprised of songs from a very well received album "Dechristianized" as also from the band's latest outstanding release "Icons of Evil". The DVD is enhanced with the interview with Tony Lazaro (one of the band's founders) and Dave Suzuki, live bootleg footage and many other surprises. Also available in a limited swing case edition, including a bonus CD with songs recorded at the gig.

"Evil Death Live" will be released on 23rd July (on 17th September in US via MVD). A sneak preview - the song "Born to Rape the World" - is available to watch on Metal Mind Productions' sites:
MetalMindPoland YouTube
MetalMindPoland MySpace (in the video section)

"Evil Death Live" tracklisting:

DVD:
1. Intro I - Where Is Your God Now
2. Icons of Evil
3. Scorned
4. Born to Rape the World
5. Hammer Down the Nails
6. Intro II - Let the Killing Begin
7. Dechristianized
8. Infidel
9. Devoured Elysium

Bonus video:
Live at Mega Club, Poland, 2007
Dave Suzuki Solo

Also includes:
- Interview with Tony Lazaro and Dave Suzuki
- Photo gallery
- Biography
- Discography
- Desktop images
- Weblinks
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

CD (only available with a limited DVD+CD edition):
1. Intro I - Where Is Your God Now
2. Icons of Evil
3. Scorned
4. Born to Rape the World
5. Hammer Down the Nails
6. Intro II - Let the Killing Begin
7. Dechristianized
8. Infidel
9. Devoured Elysium

Read more ››

Source:	metalmind.com.pl
Band profile:	Vital Remains

Finnish Heavy Metal band Manitou has uploaded to their MySpace page two songs 'Dread Of The Freaks' and 'No Signs Of Wisdom' from the group's upcoming third album, "No Signs Of Wisdom".

Due on July 20 via Metal Heaven, "No Signs Of Wisdom" was recorded at SouthEastSounds Studio in Karhula (Finland) with producer Teemu Aalto (Omnium Gatherum, Sinamore) and was mastered at Chartmakers.

"No Signs of Wisdom" tracklisting:

01. In This Indolence
02. Dread Of The Freaks
03. No Signs Of Wisdom
04. The End Within
05. Harbinger
06. Polluted World
07. Some Of The Sins Revealed
08. The Loon
09. August Sky

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Manitou

This year´s Wacken Open Air is sold out!

Metaltix arranged a wait list on which you can enroll. We can not promise you anything at this point - but according to our experience quite a few returns could give you a chance of a treasured WOA Ticket. For technical reasons the Registration is just possible by telephone so please call our hot line 0049 4627 183838 or email info@metaltix.com!

Also, the presale for the 19th W:O:A in 2008 has begun.

Source:

wacken.com

Therion mainman Christofer Johnsson has posted the following message on Therion's offcial website:

"I'm happy to announce that I've officially just prolonged the contract with Nuclear Blast Records for another 5 albums. Our souls now belongs to the innovative and dedicated little label from the village of Donzdorf , who through hard work and and honest dedication over the years have become the pearl of metal labels of all times. It's been 12 years since we signed with them and I look forwards to the upcoming 12 years. "

Source:	megatherion.com
Band profile:	Therion

The following update has been issued on Tarot's official website:

"Tarot will return to club Rupla at Kuopio on Friday 17.08.2007 to play their second last gig in Finland before the break. The venue is the same where Tarot played for the first time in Kuopio 25 years ago.

To celebrate this event and the current power of the band's live performance the show will be filmed and recorded for a future DVD/CD release.

Special guest: legendary DJ Nite.

Doors open 1900.
Show time 2100.
No age limit
Limited drinking area (K-18)
Tickets EUR 12 from Tiketti - http://www.tiketti.fi (on sale 12.7.) and EUR 13 at door."

Read more ››

Source:	wingsofdarkness.net
Band profile:	Tarot

Vicious Art, the Swedish Death/Thrash metal band featuring former Dark Funeral members Matias Mäkelä and Robert Lundin, along with Jörgen Sandström (The Project Hate, ex-Entombed, Grave) on bass, has set "Pick Up This Sick Child" as the title of its second full-length album, tentatively due in October/November 2007 via Mighty Music. The CD was recorded at Offbeat studios in Jakobsberg, Sweden and was mastered in Denmark by Jacob Hansen. The album artwork is being created by Kristian Karlberg.

"Pick Up This Sick Child" tracklisting:

01. Tombstone Grind
02. The Paulina Paw Paintings
03. Our Family Flesh
04. Murderer
05. We're Both Into Killing Me
06. Chewing Gunpowder
07. Evicting Dead Tenants
08. Dancing Münchausen
09. And Bent Down For Years
10. Chain Hooks Falling
11. The Topmost Violent God

Three video clips of Vicious Art performing at club Satin in Örebro, Sweden on March 17, 2007 have been posted online at YouTube.

Vicious Art's debut album "Fire Falls And The Waiting Waters" was released in October 2004 through Threeman Recordings in Europe (Candlelight Records in the U.S.).

Vicious Art is:

Jocke Widfeldt (Dominion Caligula) - Vocals
Matti Mäkelä (Dark Funeral) - Guitar
Tobbe Sillman (Guidance Of Sin) - Guitar
Jörgen Sandström (Entombed, Grave, Krux, The Project Hate) - Bass and Backing Vocals
Robert Lundin (Dark Funeral) - Drums

Read more ››

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Vicious Art

Dutch Death-Thrashers Led Astray have completed their first video.

"Exceed The Feeling Of Nothing" can be viewed at their MySpace site: http://myspace.com/ledastraynl
Or directly on YouTube, here.

"Exceed The Feeling Of Nothing" comes off the band's 2005 self released demo "Denying The Inevitable".

Read more ››

Source:

myspace.com

Malevolent Creation's upcoming album "Doomsday X" is available for streaming in its eternity at MP3.com here.
This new album will be released in the US on July 17 via Nuclear Blast Records and in Europe on August 24 via Massacre Records. "Doomsday X" was recorded and engineered at Mercury Recording Studios in Pompano Beach.

"Doomsday X" tracklisting:

01. Deliver My Enemy
02. Cauterized
03. Culture Of Doubt
04. Strength In Numbers
05. Hollowed
06. Unleash Hell
07. Dawn Of Defeat
08. Upon Their Cross
09. Bio Terror
10. Buried In A Nameless Grave
11. Prelude To Doomsday

Also Candlemass' latest album "King Of The Grey Islands" can be streamed in its eternity on MP3.com. The album will be released on July 17th in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. You can listen to the album at this location.

"King Of The Grey Islands" tracklisting:

01. Prologue
02. Emperor Of The Void
03. Devil Seed
04. Of Stars And Smoke
05. Demonia 6
06. Destroyer
07. Man Of Shadows
08. Clearsight
09. The Opal City
10. Embracing The Styx

Read more ››

Source:	mp3.com
Band profile:	Malevolent Creation

Tour dates for the tour that will bring Helloween and Gamma Ray together on the road for the first time together have been posted on the band's offical website and are as follows:

16. Nov 2007 - HU - Budapest - Petröfi Hall
17. Nov 2007 - SER - Belgrad - Hala Sportova
18. Nov 2007 - BUL - Sofia - Festivalna Hall
19. Nov 2007 - ROM - Bukarest - Agronomia Sport Hall
21. Nov 2007 - TR - Istanbul - t.b.a.
23. Nov 2007 - GR - Thesaloniki - Principal
24. Nov 2007 - GR - Athens - Olympic Properties Arena
27. Nov 2007 - I - Rome - Tendastrisce *
28. Nov 2007 - I - Milano - Alcatraz *
29. Nov 2007 - CH - Dietikon - Stadthalle *
01. Dec 2007 - D - Lichtenfels - Stadthalle *
02. Dec 2007 - D - Bremen - Aladin *
04. Dec 2007 - SWE - Göteborg - Liseberghallen *
05. Dec 2007 - NOR - Oslo - Rockefeller *
07. Dec 2007 - SWE - Lund - Mejeriet *
08. Dec 2007 - SWE - Stockholm - Arenan *
10. Dec 2007 - FIN - Tampere - Pakkahuone *
11. Dec 2007 - FIN - Helsinki - Kaapelitehdas *
14. Dec 2007 - CZ - Plzen - Hala Lokomotiva
15. Dec 2007 - CZ - Zlin - Hala Novesta
16. Dec 2007 - CZ - Pardubice - CEZ Arena
18. Dec 2007 - SK - Kosice - Cassosport Sport Hall
19. Dec 2007 - SK - Bratislava - PKO
21. Dec 2007 - D - Langen - Stadthalle *
22. Dec 2007 - D - Kaufbeuren - All Karthalle *
06. Jan 2008 - F - Paris - Elysee Montmatre *
07. Jan 2008 - NL - Tilburg - 013 *
08. Jan 2008 - UK - London - The Forum *
10. Jan 2008 - B - Antwerp - Hof ter Lo *
11. Jan 2008 - D - Tuttlingen - Alte Festhalle *
12. Jan 2008 - D - Karlsruhe - Europahalle * - Knock Out Festival
13. Jan 2008 - D - Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle *

* Axxis as guest

Spain will be announced soon (15.-20. Jan 08)

Source:	treasurechest.de
Band profile:	Helloween
Event:	Helloween + Gamma Ray: Hellish Rock Tour

MP3.com is streaming Nile's fifth studio album "Ithyphallic" in its entirety for seven days prior to the album's North American street date of July 17 at this location.

Read more ››

Source:	mp3.com
Band profile:	Nile

The following message was posted on Relapse's official website:

"Denver's Cephalic Carnage are set to team up with Between The Buried And Me, The Red Chord and label-mates The End for a tour of North-Eastern North America. This tour will kick off on August 27 in Pittsburgh, PA and run through September 11. A complete listing of tour dates can be found in the tour section.

Cephalic Carnage, fresh off the successful Summer Slaughter Tour, are touring in support of their brand new album, "Xenospaien". "Xenosapien" has been praised by international metal press since its release in late May, being described as " most insane metal ever" (Metal Hammer), "colorful and dynamic" (Decibel), " album made to ridiculously high standard(s)" (Big Chesse) and "blindingly expansive" (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles)."

Here the list of shows:

Aug. 27 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
Aug. 28 - Buffalo, NY - Buffalo Icon
Aug. 29 - Hamilton, ON - The Underground (no The End)
Aug. 30 - St. Catherines, ON - L3 Nightclub (no The End)
Aug. 31 - London, ON - Call The Office (no The End)
Sep. 01 - Ottawa, ON - Babylon (no The End)
Sep. 02 - Quebec City, QC - L'Anti (no The End)
Sep. 03 - Portland, ME - The Station
Sep. 04 - Winooski, VT - Higher Ground
Sep. 05 - Troy, NY - Revolution Hall
Sep. 07 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
Sep. 08 - Covington, KY - Mad Hatter
Sep. 09 - Huntington, WV - Monkey Bar
Sep. 10 - Richmond, VA - Alley Katz
Sep. 11 - Wilmington, NC - Soapbox Laundrolounge

Source:	shop.relapse.com
Band profile:	Cephalic Carnage
Event:	Cephalic Carnage: N. American Tour

The first part (out of five) of the sequel to the acclaimed Norwegian/Swedish documentary "Cult of Aggression", focusing on the Norwegian black metal pioneers Mayhem, has been posted on the band's official web site, for stream and download. Entitled "Pure Fucking Mayhem", the new documentary was financed by the film's director, Stefan Rydehed, and "will be shown at film festivals around the globe", according to Rydehed. "If any company wants to release it, they can contact me; otherwise it will be released through the Internet".

According to the director, "Pure Fucking Mayhem" covers Mayhem's history from the early days to the present day and it is a totally new documentary. Included in the film is a brand new interview with singer Attila Csihar, conducted on February 4th, 2007 at the infamous Shining gig in Halmstad, Sweden. "With the documentary there will also be a soundtrack for it - black metal songs played on piano", Rydehed says.

The original film, "Cult of Aggression", was released in 2002 and received its world premiere in 2004 at the Oslo Filmfestival, where it was shown twice.

"The first documentary about Mayhem, 'Cult of Aggression', was about their history - mainly about their music, but, of course, if a band has such a bloody history as Mayhem, you can't that out of the documentary", Rydehed previously states. "'Cult of Aggression' was mainly with Manheim and Necrobutcher but had a few parts about Dead when I used a voice-over and some folks who lived in Kråkstad when the band had their rehearsal / living place there. The new version of , which will be totally new except Manheim's part, will still focus about the music, events, albums, members and session members and people who have been involved in the scene. So it will be a pretty huge documentary. Still underground!"

Read more ››

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

Official press release:

Founded 1982 in Texas, Helstar went to a legend of the US Metal scene with such albums like "Burning Star" (1984), "Remnants Of War" (1986), "A Distant Thunder" (1988) and "Nosferatu" (1989). After the split in the beginning of the nineties, James Rivera played in bands like Vigilante and New Eden before Helstar did a reunion and the album "Multiples In Back" in 1995. After the album, the band split again.

Afterwards, Rivera released 2 outstanding records named "Distant Thunder" and "Killing Machine" before he joined Vicious Rumors and did the recordings of their latest album.

After playing with Vicious Rumors on this years "Bang Your Head" Festival, Rivera signed a long dated contract for Helstar with AFM Records.

Currently, the band is working in the studio and re-record some of the classics from the first Helstar records to put them on a best of album which will be released on November, 19, through AFM Records. This album will also contain 2 brandnew tracks! The new studio album of Helstar will be released around summer 2008. The AFM staff is proud to announce this new signing and ressurect the cult!

Read more ››

Source:	afm-records.de
Band profile:	Helstar