Death Metallers Obituary have commented about their first ever live DVD shoot of their Polish show at the Stodola Club in Warsaw. The show was played on the 24th August. They've also posted some photos from the shooting on their official website. You can view them here.

Here is the comment by Obituary:

"The DVD show in Poland went great! This was our first DVD shoot, so we were a little nervous on how it might go, but our Polish fans really came out and supported us. I think the show was awesome! Thanks to all of you that came out! We still have a lot of work to do to get it done, mixing and editing, but I think it is gonna be sick!".

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Source:	obituary.cc
Band profile:	Obituary

The cover artwork for Aborted's upcoming "The Auricular Chronicles" DVD has been posted online at this location. Due in October via Listenable, the set will contain an hour-long live show shot in Paris with 13 cameras, with the sound remixed by Tue Madsen (Halford, Kataklysm), plus video clips, backstage shenanigans, other live shows, interviews with the Belgian death metallers and more. A teaser for the DVD can be viewed here.

Aborted has set "Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture" as the title of its follow-up to "The Archaic Abattoir", tentatively due in early 2007 via Listenable. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Chondrin Enigma", "Prolific Murder Contrivance", "Archetype: Malice And Scorn", "Avenious" and "The Spaying Séance". The album will feature guest appearances by Jeff Walker (Carcass) and Barney Greenway (Napalm Death).

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Aborted

The tribute album 'The Art of Shredding - A Tribute to Dime', a compilation by some Australian bands honouring Pantera guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott has had it's release date pushed back. Originally the project was hoped to be released on 20th August (Dimebag's birthdate), but a few things aren't quite finished yet. However the album is in the final stages of production. The booklet isn't quite complete and some sound adjustments need to be made ("...to sound the way we know you expect great CDs to sound") but the cover artwork has been finalised.

The cover artwork and some more audio samples have been posted at www.myspace.com/theartofshredding. A post on the myspace site says that the album "...will be unleashed very soon".

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Pantera

Mitch Harris, guitarist from Napalm Death, has made a comment about the passing away of ex-Napalm Death/Terrorizer guitarist Jesse Pintado:

"I am very sad and upset about this news. Jesse was like a brother to me and we were very close for many years. For now, I feel the most sadness and compassion for his family, that loved him dearly, and tried with all their heart to help Jesse redirect his future.

I suppose I feel more anger and frustration than anything, as Jesse was gifted with people who loved and cared about him. Jesse was equally blessed with many companions around the world, and I am sure that many people share the same emptiness at this moment.

Now all that I can do is to try and remember the great times we shared together, and hope that Jesse has somehow found peace in his own mind and soul".

Ex-Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris has also commented: "Jesse, I'll always remember you. First choice for Napalm Death".

Source:	enemyofthemusicbusiness.com
Band profile:	Napalm Death

Candlemass returned to the Stockholm Polar studio this weekend to add one song to the forthcoming album. The brutally heavy "Of Stars And Smoke" was put down with ease and in a very releaxed working environment. Since the new album wont be out until next year, there is no need to rush things and the band can take their time to make it a perfect doom metal album.

Mappe Björkman commented: "Of Stars And Smoke" definatley had a vibe of "Epicus..." around it. It sent fucking chills down my spine".

Candlemass frontman Messiah Marcolin contacted Blabbermouth.net on April 28, 2006 to reveal that he has parted ways with the group and that it's 100 percent definite that he will not return. "We could not agree on how to do the new album," he said, but would not further elaborate on his sudden exit.

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Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Candlemass

In anticipation of Celtic Frost's imminent 47-date concert tour in the United States and Canada, the band have completed work on a video clip for the song "A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh", one of the most acclaimed songs from the new "Monotheist" album. The clip was directed by Jessie Fischer (no relation to Celtic Frost's Tom Gabriel Fischer) and filmed in Zurich, Switzerland, in mid-August 2006. The video clip is being made available to the media via Century Media, and it will also be available for download from the band's website.

Source:	celticfrost.com
Band profile:	Celtic Frost

Death Metallers Bolt Thrower have been forced to cancel their US 'Those Still Loyal' tour. The reason being that the band's record label Metal Blade refused to financially back the band (pay for plane flights, etc). Bolt Thrower themselves did try to make the tour happen, but it was to no avail as they simply couldn't finance the tour on their own, and has stopped any further planning.

The band has made the following apology:

"Bolt Thrower apologises to Maurizio & Thunderdome Touring, the promoters/bands who were willing to participate in the tour and their fans in the US who were hoping to finally see them live. Regrettably, it looks like while Bolt Thrower are signed to Metal Blade Records they will be unable to tour the States".

Source:	boltthrower.com
Band profile:	Bolt Thrower

Edguy frontman Tobias Sammet recently answered a number of fan questions via the "Ask Tobias" section of his official web site. A couple of excepts follow:

Q: Compared to the older albums, "Rocket Ride" had more of a hard rock feeling to it rather then the traditional power metal sound. Is this the new direction for Edguy or is the next album going to be more like the early stuff?

Tobias: "I try not to label it, I agree there was more mid-tempo stuff on the new album, but we've had classic rock elements on all of our albums ('Lavatory Love Machine', 'Vain Glory Opera', 'Holy Shadows', 'Holy Water', several ballads...). And we have classic metal stuff on 'Rocket Ride' too ('Sacrifice', 'Return To The Tribe', 'Out Of Vogue', 'Wasted Time'). So I think people tend to this whole change-of-style thing. We've had less uptempo songs but I don't think we can read a general stylistic tendency into that. We just do what we feel we want to do. At least we consider ourselves a traditional hard rock or metal band, whatever you want it to be. And we'll go on doing whatever we wanna do. And I guess this will be metal and hard rock with a few wimpy pop ballads here and there. We've always done that. And we looooove that! :-) I don't know what the next album is going to sound like, but I think it's gonna be powerful and good."

Q: I think the new album "Rocket Ride" is your best to date. Where did you get the inspiration for the song "Sacrifice"?

Tobias: "'Sacrifice' speaks about feelings that you have, when your work is done and you lock the hotel room door behind you, when you have the time to take deep breaths and the world around you seems to slow down a bit. Then you got so many things to think about, you worry and you have doubts and all these things... As everybody. Usually I live quite fast, I got people around me all the time, I am constantly on the road and keep myself busy and busy, there's not so much time left to think. And it's quite natural that as soon as your body gets the chance to cool down a bit, you get sucked into that black hole. It's quite normal... I got used to it, so I don't worry. The first time it felt strange to fall into that black hole but now I even got an apartment on the other side, with pink inflatable palm trees. I'm used to it... I made it my black pink place... Anyway: I chose a different way of life, I got the best life I could ever dream of. But it's different. And as everybody I got to make sacrifices... Aftershow party in the black pink place..."

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Source:	tobiassammet.com
Band profile:	Edguy

According to Amazon.com and Century Media Records' official release schedule, a new Iced Earth DVD, entitled "Alive in Athens", is slated for release on October 31. The set is believed to contain video footage recorded during the band's 1999 two-night appearance at at the Rodon Club in Athens, Greece which previously resulted in a two-disc live CD of the same name. More information will be made available soon.

As previously reported, Iced Earth recently officially launched the search for a new bassist. All interested parties are encouraged to send their bio packs to Iced Earth mainman Jon Schaffer's store at the following address:

Jon Schaffer
Spirit of 76 Collectibles, Inc.
1728 17th St
Columbus, IN 47448

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Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Iced Earth

Thrashers Machine Head have completed the drumming parts of their new album. The band has been working on the upcoming album (which has been entitled 'The Blackening') for the last couple of months, but now the drumming is done. Machine Head guitarist Robert Flynn has said that the drums were recorded in quite a short amount of time. He has also said that they've tried to have as little triggered drumming as possible. As well as that, he's said that the vocals and guitar work will be done soon.

Here is a comment by Flynn: "And Dave McClain... is... done!!! He put down 6 out of 8 songs Friday, including two of the 10-minute ... and then the last two Saturday. Had a couple days of studio-technical difficulties after getting drum tones, but then the rocking commenced!".

Source:	machinehead1.com
Band profile:	Machine Head

Vader has posted their cover of Slayer's song 'Raining Blood' on their official website. The song comes from Vader's soon to be released album 'Impressions In Blood'. The song is a bonus track on the Japanese bonus edition of the album, but for those who don't live in Japan, it can be downloaded.

The song can be downloaded from the mp3 downloads section of Vader's official website (along with another new track 'Warlords'').

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Source:	vader.pl
Band profile:	Vader

SPV/Steamhammer has set to release "Gigantour" deluxe 2-CD set, (October 2 in Europe and September 29 in Germany). The set captures 2005's heavy metal onslaught that was hailed as the best metal bill of the year, with Revolver magazine calling it "the mother of all shred fests." Organized by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine as a tour featuring "only bands whose musicianship matches their ability to melt faces with sheer volume and power" (Miami Herald), "Gigantour" features unforgettable performances by Megadeth, Dream Theather and Fear Factory as well as Anthrax (CD only), Nevermore, Life Of Agony, Symphony X, Dry Kill Logic and Bobaflex.

"There are a few very successful tours out each summer and in order to be significant, I knew the first Gigantour had to make an impact with top bands," says Mustaine. The six-week tour ? with bands personally chosen by Mustaine ? was designed to help bring like-minded hard rock fans together at a reasonable price, with most tickets in the $40 range. "I wanted to put together a festival that consisted of positive bands that play heavy music in a high-energy environment," Mustaine said in the July '05 Guitar World. "I think the variety of playing styles and the credibility of the different players is really exciting."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Megadeth
Event:	Gigantour 2006

Swedish thrash metallers, Carnal Forge issued the following update:

"Here's some more new song titles. We also got a couple more that hasn't got any titles yet, and some might change. The pre-production of the new album has been a long, long process but in the end it has been really worth it. We have gone thru all the arrangements and vocal parts in a way that we never have done with CF before. The result is just utterly brilliant. We have also tried som stuff that we never did in CF, we have a couple really heavy songs. One is so slow it almost falls apart... haha...

Some wonder why it takes so god damn long time this time around, but the thing is that we live in tree differnt cities, so we have met for pre-prod work once, maybe twice a month to work together. On all other albums with CF the vocals were made in the studio. But I promise you it's worth the wait... Soon we'll start the real recording...

Godsend Gods End
Hate Junkie
Ante Mori
End Game
Testify For My Victims
Biological Waste Matter
Questions Pertaining The Ownership Of My Mind
Subhuman
Forever Guilt
Burning Eden
The Dead

Cheers
Lars & Carnal Forge"

Source:	carnalforge.com
Band profile:	Carnal Forge

Napalm Death Frontman Barney has issued the following statement regarding the passing of Terrorizer/ex-Napalm Death guitarist Jesse Pintado:

"I am sitting here still really trying to take in what has happened with Jesse. We were in Bulgaria playing at the time when it seems to have happened, and communications were a little off our radar.

I don't really want to dissect things too much because I'm conscious of how Jesse's family must be feeling right now - simply to say that I'm sad and also disappointed that Jesse wasn't able to fully lift himself again and re-discover his hunger with Terrorizer. RIP amigo."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Napalm Death

Wastefall made the following announcement in their official website, in the news section:

"We unfortunately have to announce that Wastefall will not be participating in this years "ProgPower USA" festival in Atlanta, USA on September 16th. When applying for the visa to be able to perform in USA, we ran into some unexpected problems with the Greek authorities, which have made it impossible for us to go. We're really sorry about this, as we know a lot of fans had been looking forward to seeing us in USA for the first time ever, and we ourselves had been looking very much forward to the whole experience of our first gig outside of Greece. We would like to extend our gratitude to both our label and management for doing what was possible in order to help us solve the problems, and especially we would like to thank Glenn Harveston of ProgPower USA for helping us beyond the call of duty on trying to make ends meet. We really hope to be able to go to ProgPower USA another year and make up for this."

Source:	wastefall.com
Band profile:	Wastefall