Italian Symphonic Power metal outfit Thy Majestie have welcomed vocalist Dario Cascio and guitarist Simone Campione to their ranks. Simone Campione was already familiar to the band as a session musician from the beginning of this year and later also as a touring musician.

A statement from the band goes as follows: "The new two members, Dario Cascio and Simone Campione have been absolutely FANTASTIC! We are so pleased to have them in our team!
They brought us LIFE and new enthusiasm. THEY ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE BAND. We look forward to starting working on the new album!!!"

In other news, the band just returned from The Fear Dark Festival at The Netherlands. The band commented "The Fear Dark festival was a GREAT GREAT experience!!! We are all really excited about that!" Video footage was made available at their website for the songs 'The Chosen', 'The King And The Warrior' and 'Echoes Of War'.

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Source:	thymajestie.com
Band profile:	Thy Majestie

The following message was posted on Nocturnal Rites's official website:

"We have added a corny, little message from the band including some previews of the bonus DVD that comes with "The 8th Sin" over at NocTV. We have a new live-clip from the GoM-boat on there as well!
Also, Century Media has launched an e-card with us including a competition where 25 lucky winners get a free NR shirt. Don't miss!
Some exciting more cool stuff will be revealed in the coming days, so stay tuned".

For more info about the album go to this location or read more here and here.

In other news, Nocturnal Rites have teamed up with Finnish Heavy/Power Metallers Thunderstone for a co-headlining European tour this fall.

27.10.2007 SWI Lenzburg Metal Inferno Festival
28.10.2007 F Paris La Boule Noire
30.10.2007 ESP Madrid Caracol
31.10.2007 ESP Barcelona Mephisto
01.11.2007 ITA Milano Transilvania
02.11.2007 GER München Metropolis
03.11.2007 CZ Zlin Masters of Rock Cafe
04.11.2007 AUT Vienna tba.
05.11.2007 GER Nürnberg Hirsch
06.11.2007 GER Lebach Rockstage
07.11.2007 GER Essen Turock
08.11.2007 GER Hannover Musikzentrum
09.11.2007 GER Osnabrück Bastard Club
10.11.2007 NL Weert Bosuil
11.11.2007 GER Hamburg Markthalle

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Source:	nocturnalrites.com
Band profile:	Nocturnal Rites
Event:	Thunderstone + Nocturnal Rites

The following updates were posted on the website of German Power Metal band Edguy:

"Due to an overwhelming response to their maiden tour of North America in 2005 with Hammerfall, Germany's beloved Edguy are bringing their "Rocket Ride World Tour" to the western hemisphere in support of their 2006 release of the same name, which climbed to the #27 slot on Billboard's Hard Music Chart. The tour will launch on Tuesday, September 11th in Hartford, Connecticut and will include Canada's Into Eternity, Norway's Susperia, plus a special guest. . On June 16th, the band will be back in Slovakia as special guest of the Scorpions in Bratislava. Edguy will also be this year's Saturday headliner at Germany's prestigious Bang Your Head!!! Festival on June 23rd, and are also confirmed for France's Hellfest on the 24th of July. All tour dates can be seen in the Tour Section of their website.

In other news, on May 16th from 22:00 - 23:00 Tobias and Jens will be special guests of the show Hard 'n Heavy on Germany's major radio station "Radio HR3".

"We are honored to have been invited by Christoph Habusta to join the 30th anniversary of his show "Hard 'n Heavy", Christoph has always supported the band and we are happy to show up on the show. I am sure we're gonna crack some real bad jokes, play some of our favourite CDs and just have a great time. Furthermore we're gonna bring our recorders (the instruments!!!) that we'll play for the first time that night - live on the air! You should not miss that show, it may be the last chance to hear us on radio, haha!!" - Tobias Sammet."

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Source:	edguy.net
Band profile:	Edguy
Event:	Edguy - Rocket Ride World Tour

THRASH METALS' OLD SCHOOL: NEW FILM RELEASED

New Jersey- "Born in The Basement" a documentary from filmmaker/ Overkill founder Rat Skates, will be released on May 12, 2007 by Kundrat Productions

Written and narrated by Skates, this is an autobiographical journey that begins in 1980, when the East Coast of North America experienced a massive culture clash of Punk, Disco, Stoner Music, New Wave and Heavy Metal. Frustrated by this suburban identity crisis and fueled by "The New Wave of British Heavy Metal," a small group of energetic youths was unknowingly creating the most extreme music ever to assault global eardrums - Thrash Metal.

Skates was one of the most recognized pioneers of the movement. This is a drive through his tunnel vision to success, and the philosophy that turned his dreams into reality...THE "DIY" MINDSET!

From milk-crate drum risers to toll-booth advertising and brain-washing girlfriends, this movie boldly goes well behind the scenes, deep into the NY/NJ cover band circuit and pre-digital tape-trading underground to candidly reveal the hidden hurdles that every young musician must jump in the quest for rock stardom, the passion of their vision, and dedication to their family...

Conquering the skeptics and obliterating the odds, this vivid recollection of creating OVERKILL as part of a groundbreaking culture in un-chartered territory is told in true down-to-earth "Old School" spirit. "Born in The Basement" is an inspirational story of perseverance, where his imagination met a desire that turned into obsession...the true, naked secrets of success are exposed, and the realities that eternally haunt it...

The film has been receiving noteworthy acclaim for its candidness: an open, honest, internal assessment of an overlooked time period that began the most significant pivotal point in Metal. Recently, the movie was privately screened by some well-known personnel in the industry: Scott Ian (Anthrax) said, "This looks deep into the scene we came up in and should be required viewing for anyone starting a career in music," while Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister) agrees: "This exposes the deep inner-workings of a musician's vision and dedication, and the dirty little secrets of success in this business for any band, from any genre." Fellow Thrash pioneers Gary Holt (Exodus) and Charlie Benante (Anthrax) both "relived their past?very entertaining and 100% old school." In the re-surfacing of his un-inhibited style, David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth) said, "Rat is a great MC for our community. This is a really ballsy retrospect." Skates and Director Lori DeAngelis-Kundrat combined for an "affectionate and humorous" (Richard Bienstock, Guitar World Magazine), "funny and compelling" (Steven Blush, American Hardcore) combination that Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys) sums up as "well told, with a lot of heart, and a hell of a lot of fun!"

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Source:

kundrat.com

Drummer Ricardo Confessori has assembled a new SHAMAN lineup following the group's split last October. Joining Confessori in the new group are guitarist Leo Mancini, vocalist Thiago Bianchi and bassist Fernando Quesada. Check out a photo of the new group at HeavyLaw.com. A song from the revamped band, entitled "One Life", can be downloaded at this location*.

This website seems to be the homepage of the new Shaman. Note that it doesn't seem to be officially open, yet you'll find many information on the new band, and their new album entitled "Immortal." Why the band seems to be able to use the name "Shaman" and not "Shaaman" is still unknown.

*It can also be streamed at the new website.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Shaman

Metal Mind Productions has issued the following press release:

"British Thrash Metal legend Onslaught will release their first live DVD on 11th June via Metal Mind Productions.

After the band's reunion in 2005 and the release of their 4th studio album "Killing Peace" in 2007, the British thrash-metal legend Onslaught takes another step towards establishing their status as one of the greatest acts of that genre.

Their first live DVD "Live Polish Assault 2007" is due to be released on 11th June and will contain more than an hour of veritable thrash mayhem: dirty and furious guitar riffs, powerful rhythm section - all this havoc crowned with Sy Keeler's distinctive devilish shrieks. Filmed during the band's first gig in Poland, the DVD will include a well-balanced mixture of some of the best Onslaught songs performed live! Among other bonus features, the DVD will also include an interview with Nige Rockett and Sy Keeler, bonus live video footage from the band's gigs in Japan and Holland, as also bonus audio tracks from the gig at Bristol Colston Hall, 1987 (featuring Onslaught's very first live performance of "Let There Be Rock")!"

"Live Polish Assault 2007" Tracklist:

01. Intro
02. Let There Be Death
03. Angels Of Death
04. Thermonuclear Devastation Of The Planet Earth
05. Killing Peace
06. Fight With The Beast
07. Metal Forces
08. Twisted Jesus
09. Intro
10. Flame Of The Antichrist
11. Shellshock
12. Demoniac
13. Burn
14. Power From Hell

Bonus video: Live in Japan, September 2006
15. Demoniac
16. Let There Be Death
17. Angels Of Death
18. Power From Hell

Bonus audio: Live at Bristol Colston Hall, 1987
19. Metal Forces
20. Let There Be Rock / Let There Be Death

Also includes:
+ Interview with Nige Rockett and Sy Keeler
+ Photo gallery
+ Biography
+ Discography
+ Desktop images
+ Weblinks

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Source:	metalmind.com.pl
Band profile:	Onslaught

Two new songs 'City Of Echoes' and 'Last Day Of Winter' from the upcomming album "City Of Echoes" werre posted on the official MySpace page of the band. You can listen them here.

"City Of Echoes" tracklist:

01. Bliss In Concrete
02. City Of Echoes
03. Spaceship Broken--Parts Needed
04. Winds With Hands
05. Dead Between The Walls
06. Lost In The Headlights
07. Far From Fields
08. A Delicate Sense Of Balance

And also the following message was also added:

"At our recent show in London on the European tour, we played a special version of Mammoth (Pink Mammoth) with everyone from These Arms Are Snakes, our touring partners, and our friend and booking agent Jodie Cox. So that's nine people on stage! You can witness this for yourself here.

The actual recorded studio version of this song will surface on vinyl later this summer and on the 3CD that will accompany the delayed DVD "After the Ceiling Cracked" - now out this fall".

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Pelican

The following message was posted on Swedish Alternative Death Metal band The Great Deceiver's official website:

"The new The Great Deceiver album "Life Is Wasted On The Living" will be released on Deathwish Records. This is an outtake from http://www.deathwishinc.com:

In 2007, The Great Deceiver will release "Life Is Wasted On The Living", their new album on Deathwish. Produced and engineered by Berno Paulsson (The Haunted), "Life Is Wasted On The Living" takes their trend killing approach to new heights. Combining the intensity of hardcore, the power of metal, and the hook laden repetition of industrial, into a new kind of musical apocalypse".

You can also find the complete headline on Deathwish Records here.

To finish, the band is currently putting the finishing touches on the album. In the meantime, check out the unmastered song "Home To Oblivion" on Deathwish Myspace here

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Source:	thegreatdeceiver.com
Band profile:	The Great Deceiver

Open Grave Records is currently streaming the entire new album from Indonesian Avantgarde Metal band Kekal. This is their sixth album "The Habit Of Fire", which releases in North America, Australia and Japan on May 15th.

Described as "an experimental (but yet accessible) 70-minute epic concept album of urban avantgarde metal, with a liberal use of electronic elements and mix of countless musical sub-genres to accompany their trademark guitar-driven soundscapes," "The Habit Of Fire" features the following track listing:

01. Prelude: Worldhate Chronicle
02. The Gathering Of Ants
03. Isolated I
04. Manipulator Generals (Part I Of Dictatorship)
(1) - Failure Is The System
(2) - The Precaution Of Aftermath
(3) - Decadence And Excess
05. Our Urban Industry Runs Monotonously
06. To Whom It May Concern
07. Free Association
08. Historicity And State Of Mind (Part II Of Dictatorship)
(1) - Repeated Patterns
(2) - Aftermath
09. Postlude: Saat Kemarau
10. A Real Life To Fear About
11. Escapism
(1) - What On Earth Am I Here For?
(2) - The Habit Of Fire
(3) - Subterranean Passageways
(4) - A Road Above, A Road Ahead
(5) - Finding A Way To Stand Up Again

The album is set to stream now through August 21st. Visit http://www.opengraverecords.com to listen.

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Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Kekal

Finnish cello-metallers Apocalyptica have lined up for the following European dates during this fall:

Oct. 08 - Riga Arena - Riga, LAT
Oct. 09 - UPA - Vilnius, LIT
Oct. 10 - Linnahall - Tallinn, EST
Oct. 11 - R-Beat - Turku, FIN
Oct. 12 - Lippupalvelu - Tampere, FIN
Oct. 13 - Sibelius Hall - Laht, FIN
Oct. 17 - Tavastia - Helsinki, FIN
Oct. 19 - Arena - Stockholm, SWE
Oct. 20 - KB - Malmo, SWE
Oct. 21 - Grosse Freiheit - Hamburg, GER
Oct. 22 - Jolly Joker - Braunschweig, GER
Oct. 23 - Gebläsehalle - Dortmund, GER
Oct. 24 - Ringlokschuppen - Bielefeld, GER
Oct. 25 - Schlachthof - Wiesbaden, GER
Oct. 27 - Elserhalle - Munich, GER
Oct. 28 - Alterschlachthof - Dresden, GER
Oct. 29 - Columbiahalle - Berlin, GER
Oct. 30 - E-Werk - Cologne, GER
Oct. 31 - Congresszentrum - Stuttgart, GER
Nov. 01 - Haus Auensee - Leipzig, GER
Nov. 03 - Club Progresja - Warsaw, POL
Nov. 04 - Klub W-Z - Wroclaw, POL
Nov. 05 - Congress Centre - Prague, CZR
Nov. 06 - DK Invest - Pilsen, CZR
Nov. 07 - Petofi Csarnok - Budapest, HUN
Nov. 08 - Gasometer - Vienna, AUT
Nov. 09 - Volkhaus - Zurich, SWI
Nov. 10 - Rainbow - Milan, ITA
Nov. 11 - Circolo Degli Artisti - Rome, ITA
Nov. 29 - Elysee Montmatre - Paris, FRA
Nov. 30 - La Phare - Toulouse, FRA
Dec. 01 - Sala Jam - Bergara, SPA
Dec. 03 - Joy - Madrid, SPA
Dec. 04 - Apollo - Barcelona, SPA
Dec. 07 - Melkweg - Amsterdam, NETH
Dec. 08 - AB - Brussels, BEL
Dec. 09 - Oosterpoort - Groningen, NETH
Dec. 10 - 013 - Tilburg, NETH
Dec. 11 - Mean Fiddler - London, UK
Dec. 12 - Academy 3 - Manchester, UK
Dec. 13 - Academy 2 - Birmingham, UK
Dec. 14 - Garage - Glasgow, UK

Apocalyptica performed an eight-minute medley during the Eurovision Song Contest on May 12. The show was broadcasted in front of several million TV viewers. To watch bootleg-quality rehearsal footage of that show, go to YouTube.com.
UPDATED:
Higher quality video footage of the Eurovision Song Contest Final the same evening, has been made available online here.

In other news, Apocalyptica will release their new, as yet untitled album; produced by Jacob Hellner (Rammstein), in September. The CD will feature a whole host of guest stars including Corey Taylor (Stone Sour, Slipknot), Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Tomoyasu Hotei (Japanese composer, whose credits include the Kill Bill soundtrack), Joe Duplantier (Gojira), Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) and many more to be announced in the coming weeks.

Read more ››

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Apocalyptica
Event:	Apocalyptica: European Tour

The following tour/studio update was issued on the website of legendary US Death Metal band Obituary:

"We had 4 great shows in Mexico with Sadus and really want to thank all our fans for coming out and supporting us and our crew guys for their hard work! This trip took us through 4 cities and saw the reunion S.O.S. show - Sepultura - Obituary- Sadus! What a blast!!!

4 shows in 4 cities in 4 days was not exactly easy, but it was a lot of fun!

The good news! The studio has been going great and all the music is just about done being tracked. This is some really heavy material and I can't wait to get this released! When we get back from Australia we will start the final mix with Mark Prator at RedRoom Recorders!

The bad news! Anyone that keeps up with this website or our message board knows we usually keep you up to date with what is going on. We have been usually quite about Allen and his absence from these last set of shows. Well, Allen has gotten himself into trouble again and we have been waiting for him to make a statement himself:

"To my friends and fans,
I have gotten into trouble that can only be resolved by my incarceration. I will do this with thoughts of all of you. Soon I will be free again and come back stronger and better. My release is scheduled for February 2008. I will not let this problem kill my spirit and will use it to sharpen my creativity. Hope to see all of you next year. Allen West"

This sucks and there is not much we can do about it but, we will continue to move on and do what Obituary does! We have a lot planned for this new album with Candlelight and look forward to the September release of our new CD! Tomorrow we are off to Australia for our first trip down under and we can't wait to have a few cool ones with our Australian fans!!!!!

After Australia we head to South America for 5 shows! Click HERE for the full Tour Schedule."

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Source:	obituary.cc
Band profile:	Obituary

German Symphonic/Gothic Black Metallers Agathodaimon have welcomed two new members to their ranks:

"After lots of auditions with several musicians, we're proud to announce our new line-up. It took us a while to fill the gap that our vocalist Frank "Akaias" Nordmann left, but we've had a bunch of rehearsals until now, and we're sure to have the strongest line-up so far - and are of course we're looking forward to play live again to present you the new members on stage! First gigs will be announced shortly.
So, the current line-up consists of newcomers Jonas Iscariot on vocals and Jan Jansohn on guitar and of course the already known members Sathonys (guitar), Till (bass), Felix (keys) and Matthias (drums)."

A picture of the new line up can be found at Agathodaimon's website.

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Source:	agathodaimon.de
Band profile:	Agathodaimon

A studio clip of the incredible 'Firestorm' (Taken from the new album "Spiritual Apocalypse") is online now at YouTube.

Go and listen to this great song and see the insane drumming of Lee Harrison and the other Monstrosity guys in action by clicking here.

The fifth studio album by this US Death Metal outfit was released on April 5th through Metal Blade Records.

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Source:	Metal Blade Newsletter
Band profile:	Monstrosity

Within Temptation's video for the song "Frozen" has been posted at Youtube. According to a posting on the group's website, the clip's storyline is based on events that take place at the turn of the 20th century, dealing with a pretty heavy subject: violence and abuse within a family.

You can watch the video here.

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Source:	within-temptation.nl
Band profile:	Within Temptation

Exodus guitarist Gary Holt will release his first-ever instructional DVD "A Lesson in Guitar Violence", later this month through Zaentz.

Holt previously stated about the upcoming DVD, "I am planning on focusing on rhythm technique, some lead chops, and going over the correct way to play some of the Exodus riffs. I feel there are enough straight shred things out there, so I want to do something as bit differrent. And of course I will make it funny as hell!"

Zaentz Records is the new label formed by Steven Warner (Exodus' manager) and partner Jonnie Zaentz (son of Saul Zaentz, Fantasy Records co-founder). Zaentz is an independent artist-friendly upstart label that features an in-house, state-of-the-art recording facility.

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Exodus