Santa Cruz based brutal death metallers Decrepit Birth have posted the following update:

"Well, the time has come to announce that Risha Eryavec is stepping down from his duties as our bassist. Due to location changes, we have decided to part ways. Risha is still a good friend of ours and there is absolutely no bad blood between us and him. We want to thank him for all his hard work and dedication, we wish him luck in whatever he pursues. As of now we are searching for a fulltime bassist to join Decrepit Birth. We are looking for someone who is able to tour, record and practice with the band as a working and professional minded member. The band is gearing up for a European tour in January of 2007 and we will need someone who can learn 9 songs by that time and be ready to spend the month of January on tour.

In order to be considered for the position you must be able to learn these two songs which are provided in powertab form, links available here:

http://legionwebs.com/decrepitbirth/and_time_begins_powertab.zip

http://legionwebs.com/decrepitbirth/Prelude_to_the_Apocalypse_Powertab.zip

A video of some sort will need to be provided of you playing both songs in their entirety. If you feel that you are the right person for the job please contact us at decrepitbirth@msn.com"

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Source:	decrepitbirth.com
Band profile:	Decrepit Birth

Legendary death metallers Dying Fetus have entered the studio to record their as-yet-untitled new full-length album.

Dying Fetus have recently been joined by new drummer Duane Timlin to begin recording the follow-up to 2003's "Stop At Nothing" at Hit & Run Studios in Rockville, MD. Advance song titles include: 'Parasites Of Catastrophe', 'Unadulterated Hatred', 'Raping The System' and 'The Ancient Rivalry'. The band (John Gallagher - Guitars / Vocals, Mike Kimbell - Guitar, Sean Beasley - Bass, and Timlin on drums) will complete recording by winter for an early 2007 release through Relapse Records.

Additionally, Dying Fetus have been announced as the main support band on the upcoming Cannibal Corpse North American tour with Necrophagist and Unmerciful. A complete listing of tour dates can be found here with more to be announced soon.

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Source:	dyingfetus.com
Band profile:	Dying Fetus

Norway's Trail Of Tears has added more dates to its Mexican tour. The schedule is now shaping up as follows:

Nov. 16 - Ferro - Puebla, MEX
Nov. 17 - Circo Volador - Mexico City, MEX
Nov. 18 - Teatro Morelos - Morelia, Mich., MEX
Nov. 19 - TBA - Guadalajara, MEX
Nov. 23 - La Iguana Rock Line - Durango, MEX
Nov. 24 - Estudio Alameda - Torreón, MEX
Nov. 25 - La Huerta Del STIC - San Luis Potosí, MEX
Nov. 26 - Monaco - Cuatitlan, MEX

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Trail Of Tears

Northern Silence Productions will release a tribute double album to Katatonia on December 12. The set includes no less than 17 bands covering 18 songs from the early and mid-'90s-era Katatonia and has a running over 100 minutes. The 20-page booklet will feature artwork by Kristian "Necrolord" Wahlin. The release will be available as limited two-CD digipack, two-CD jewel case and limited two-LP gatefold sleeve (including poster).

The track listing is as follows :

1. Foscor - "Midwinter Gates"
2. Foscor - "Gateways Of Bereavement"
3. Beatrik - "The Northern Silence"
4. Forest Stream - "Without God"
5. Aeveron - "Shades Of Emerald Fields"
6. Xasthur - "Palace Of Frost"
7. Wyrd - "In Silence Enshrined"
8. Geist - "Love Of The Swan"
9. Dark Fortress - "Endtime"
10. Loss - "Brave"
11. Forest Of Shadows - "Rainroom"
12. Helevorn - "12"
13. Forgotten Tomb - "Nowhere"
14. Bilskirnir - "Day"
15. Farsot - "I Break"
16. Fragile Hollow - "Saw You Drown"
17. October Falls - "For Funerals To Come..."
18. Hel feat. Winterheart - "Cold Ways" *

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Source:	northern-silence.de
Band profile:	Katatonia

Video footage of Shadows Fall performing its track "Enlightened By the Cold" at The Town Ballroom in Buffalo NY during the band's successful headlining run on the Strhess Tour last summer has been posted online at the Underground Video Television web site.

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Source:	uvtv.info
Band profile:	Shadows Fall

Swedish metallers Evergrey have lined up the following European tour dates with up-and-coming melodic death metal band Avatar as support:

Oct. 06 - Canary Islands, Canarias MetalZone Festival (without Avatar)
Oct. 24 - München (DE), Metropolis
Oct. 25 - Milano (ITA), Rainbow
Oct. 27 - Madrid (ESP), Caracol
Oct. 28 - Bilbao (ESP), Kafe Antzoki
Oct. 29 - Barcelona (ESP), Apolo
Oct. 30 - Lyon (FR), Transbordeur
Oct. 31 - Paris (FR), Nouveau Casino
Nov. 02 - Strasbourg (FR), Laiterie
Nov. 03 - Weert (NL), De Bosuil
Nov. 06 - London (UK), Dingwalls
Nov. 07 - Dudley (UK), JBs
Nov. 08 - Bolton (UK), The Soundhouse
Nov. 09 - Bradford (UK), Rio
Nov. 10 - Zaandam (NL), Kade
Nov. 12 - Bochum (DE), The Matrix
Nov. 13 - Copenhagen (DK), The Rock
Nov. 18 - Växjö (SW), Folkets Park (without Avatar)
Nov. 25 - Blomstermåla (SW), Blomsterrocken (without Avatar)

Evergrey recently parted ways with bassist Michael Håkansson. and replaced him with former Hammerfall member Fredrik Larsson.

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Evergrey

Veteran Thrashers Megadeth have announced some dates for touring in Japan. One of the dates, 14th, 16th October will feature Megadeth at Japan's Loud Park Festival. Also playing on that date will be Angra, Dir En Grey, Backyard Babies, Hardcore Superstar and Anvil.

Here is the list of dates:

Oct. 13 - Kawasaki, Japan - Club Citta
Oct. 14 - Tokyo, Japan - Loud Park Festival '06
Oct. 16 - Osaka, Japan - Loud Park Festival '06
Oct. 17 - Nagoya, Japan - Zepp

In other Megadeth news, a video of the band playing their new song 'Washington Is Next' has been posted online. The performance was at their show in Toronto, Ontario on 25th September. 'Washington Is Next' will appear on Megadeth's upcoming album "United Abominations" which will be released early next year.

You can see the Megadeth video here.

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Source:	megadeth.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

Neurotic Records have made the video clip of Visceral Bleeding's 'Disgust The Vile' available on their official YouTube channel. 'Disgust The Vile' is one of the two video clips that will end up on the forthcoming full length album, titled "Absorbing The Disarray." Click hereto go to the Neurotic Records YouTube channel.

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Source:	neurotic-records.com
Band profile:	Visceral Bleeding

"Scum", the first ever album by Death/Grindcore band Napalm Death is going to be re-released next year as a 20th Anniversary version. The release will contain a remastered version of the original "Scum" album and also a bonus DVD. The DVD will contain (among things) interviews with the three original Napalm Death members Nik Bullen, Mick Harris and Justin Broadrick, getting their thoughts on "Scum" getting re-released. The album is set for an early 2007 release.

Here is a comment by head of Earache Records Digby Pearson:

"...the 20th anniversary of the recording of "Scum" should be a good way to re-introduce a new generation to the legendary album that kick-started extreme music and coined the grindcore genre".

Source:	earache.com
Band profile:	Napalm Death

Folk Metallers Skyclad have announced that they won't be doing any touring in the next month or two, so they can concentrate on writing new material. The band had said previously that there was a chance of a small tour in October, but they now stated that it would be too difficult. So for the next couple of months, Skyclad will be writing and recording material for their next album. More details about the new album should be announced soon.

Here is a comment by the band:

"...we will be concentrating on writing and recording some new material for the next album. Following on from the touring we did earlier in the year, we had hoped to organise a 'mini-tour' in October but 'joining up the dots' proved to be too difficult - and, as had happened in April, the band didn't want to drive halfway across Europe between gigs (Paris to Naples then Gent in four days is no fun - honestly)".

Source:	skyclad.co.uk
Band profile:	Skyclad

Skid Row has wrapped up the recording of their new CD "Revolutions Per Minute" to be released on October 24th on SPV Records. Recorded at Wire World studios in Nashville, TN with long time friend and producer Michael Wagener at the controls. More news on the disk to come. "Revolutions Per Minute" cover art can be found here.

Tracklist:
01. Disease
02. Another Dick In The System
03. Pulling My Heart Out From Under Me
04. When God Can't Wait
05. Shut Up Baby, I Love You
06. Strength
07. White Trash
08. You Lie
09. Nothing
10. Love Is Dead
11. Let It Ride

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Source:	skidrow.com
Band profile:	Skid Row

Veteran Thrash Metallers Flotsam & Jetsam have made an explanation for why they cancelled one of the shows on their upcoming European tour. The band was scheduled to perform at Burgerweeshuis in Deventer, Holland on November 3rd, but then the show was cancelled. Flotsam & Jetsam have said that they will try to reschedule the show.

Here is a statement by Flotsam & Jetsam drummer Craig Nielsen explaining the cancellation:

"Just checking in to explain the European tour cancellation, as the agents who I expected to give a reason in their press release apparently failed to do so. A.K. applied some time ago, long before the tour was being put together, for acceptance into a helicoptor flight training academy in Arizona. He wants to be a helicoptor fire fighter which is an amazing career goal at this point in his life. Ambition does not begin to describe the scope of this undertaking. There is an extreme amount of study, determination, commitment, concentration and BALLS that are required to make it through the education. The thing was, nobody really thought he would be approved for the very large loan for the enrollment. Fortunately for him he was, although somewhat after the dates in Europe were being finalized.

The band very much regrets having to postpone this tour. The Bang Your Head festival 3 months ago was a GREAT time for this band and we really were ready to take Europe by storm on this November tour. The band will definitely attempt to reschedual as soon as school for A.K.winds down. The band sincerely apologises to EVERY single person who was involved with attempting tomake this happen,and of course most of all to all of our fans that were disappointed with the latest news. The band has nothing but love for ALL OF YOU!! Flots Til Death!!".

Source:	flotsam-and-jetsam.com
Band profile:	Flotsam And Jetsam

More dates for Arch Enemy's upcoming European tour in November/December have been announced. Coldworker and Path Of No Return have also been announced as supports for Arch Enemy and will be playing with them at all the shows between 16th November and the 27th November (except for the 20th in Helsinki, Finland).

Here is the complete list of dates:

November 16 - Malmö @ KB (Sweden)
November 17 - Karlskrona @ Kino (Sweden)
November 18 - Göteborg @ Trägårn (Sweden)
November 20 - Helsinki @ Nosturi (Finland)
November 22 - Stockholm @ Klubben (Sweden)
November 23 - Linköping @ Platens Bar (Sweden)
November 24 - Halmstad @ Diezel (Sweden)
November 26 - Copenhagen @ Pumpehuset (Denmark)
November 27 - Århus @ Voxhall (Denmark)
November 29 - Bochum @ Zeche (Germany)
November 30 - Hamburg @ Knust (Germany)
December 1 - Glachau @ Alte Spinnerei (Germany)
December 3 - Zurich @ Rohstofflager (Switzerland)
December 5 - Munich @ New Backstage (Germany)
December 6 - Aschaffenburg @ Colos-Saal (Germany)
December 8 - Antwerp @ Hof Ter Lo (Belgium)
December 9 - Arnhem @ Metal Meeting Festival (Holland)
December 10 - Strasbourg @ La Laiterie (France)

Here is a comment by Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott:

"Right now we are out on the Gigantour in the U.S. with Megadeth etc - having the time of our lives! But, we have not forgotten what an amazing festival summer we had in Europe and we are eager to return and play for the headbangers there!!! See you all soon!!!".

Source:	archenemy.net
Band profile:	Arch Enemy

Power Metallers Sonata Arctica have announced that a new album is on the way. The band has started the songwriting process, and has also been doing some rehearsals. Sonata Arctica have also launched their own rehearsal diary which details the band's progress as they create the album. No other details about the album have been announced yet.

You can see the rehearsal diary by clicking here.

UPDATED on 7 December:
Sonata Arctica have started recording their next studio album!!
The studio diary can be found here.

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Source:	sonataarctica.info
Band profile:	Sonata Arctica

A second tour of the US has been announced by Death/Grindcore band Napalm Death. The tour will be called the 'Death By Decibels' tour and Napalm Death will be the headline act. The tour will also feature A Life Once Lost, Dead To Fall and Animosity. Also Impaled will be playing at the shows between 11/29 and 12/09 and Arsis will be appearing between 12/12 and 12/21.

Here is a list of all the dates:

11/25 - Buffalo, NY @ Club Infinity
11/26 - Detroit, MI @ I-Rock Nightclub
11/28 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
11/29 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
12/01 - Boise, ID @ The Venue
12/11 - El Paso, TX @ Chic's Bar
12/14 - New Orleans, LA @ Howlin Wolf
12/15 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
12/16 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
12/17 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
12/18 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
12/19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom
12/20 - New York, NY @ Knitting Factory
12/21 - Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony

Source:	enemyofthemusicbusiness.com
Band profile:	Napalm Death