German death metallers Suidakra have completed the production of their new album "Caledonia" to be released November 17th with Armageddon Music. The follow-up to "Command to Charge" was recorded at Gernhart Records studio in Siegburg, Germany and features artwork by Kris Verwimp at http://www.armageddonmusic.de/php/news/uploaded_images/image40.jpg.

According to the band webpage, "Caledonia" adopts the lyrical concept of ancient Scottish history, and has such as "Highland Hills," "Forth-Clyde," and "The IXth Legion."

Source:	suidakra.com
Band profile:	Suidakra

The artwork for the forthcoming Megadeth Album United Abominations has been revealed in the Gigantour 2006 e-card. See the small preview at http://www.rattleheadhq.com/wordpress/?p=423.

The e-card appears to use one of the Vic Rattlehead redesigns from the DeviantART contest. This entry appeared in the top 11 but did not win the contest. The Vic that appears to feature on the cover of United Abominations can be found here.

View all contest entries.

Read more ››

Source:	rattleheadhq.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

It was only a matter of time until Nuclear Blast released another Deluxe Edition of another Children Of Bodom album after the two very successful Deluxe Editions of Something Wild and Hatebreeder. Aside from the nine known songs there will be the W.A.S.P. cover "Hellion" and the Iron Maiden cover "Aces High", (which was never released on a Children Of Bodom CD before) as bonus on the disc. The 'Everytime I Die' video will be featured as well. There likely won't be any more Deluxe Editions since only the first three Children Of Bodom albums were licensed by Nuclear Blast.

Tracklist:
1. Follow The Reaper
2. Bodom After Midnight
3. Children Of Decadence
4. Everytime I Die
5. Mask Of Sanity
6. Taste Of My Scythe
7. Hate Me!
8. Northern Comfort
9. Kissing The Shadows
10. Hellion (Bonus track)
11. Aces High (Bonus track)
12. Everytime I Die (Video)

Source:	endlesswar.net
Band profile:	Children Of Bodom

Dan Swanö is no longer part of Bloodbath. The reason being restrictions on his behalf to devote more time and effort to the future of this project that it would require by taking things to the next level i.e. touring and playing live. Moreover, his future vision for Bloodbath's concept proved to head in the almost opposite direction as his desire for death metal was to be of a less brutal kind, something the remaining members regard as musical differences not interesting to pursue, so at these crossroads, they'd like to wish Dan Swanö good luck with his future endeavors and with the music that's closer to his heart.

Source:	bloodbath.biz
Band profile:	Bloodbath

Doom/Death Metallers Novembers Doom will be heading to Europe this November. They will be visiting six countries, and will have label mates Agalloch from the USA and Thurisaz who are from Belgium (The End Records) as support. As well as them, Saturnus who are from Denmark will also be joining the tour.

Here are the tour dates:

November 17th : Netherlands / Plato / Helmond (With Agalloch and Thurisaz)
November 18th : Belgium / Biebob / Vosselaar (With Saturnus, Agalloch & Thurisaz)
November 19th : Netherlands (TBC)
November 20th : Denmark / Copenhagen (With Saturnus, Agalloch & Thurisaz)
November 21st : Germany / K17 / Berlin (With Agalloch and Thurisaz)
November 22nd : Germany / Steinbruc Theater / Darmstadt (With Agalloch and Thurisaz)
November 23rd : Germany / AAlen (TBC)
November 24th : Germany / backstage / Munich (With Thurisaz and TBA)
November 25th : Italy / Prato (With Thurisaz and TBA)
November 26th : England : London (TBC) (With Thurisaz and TBA)
November 27th : England / Satans Hollow / Manchester (With Thurisaz and TBA)

Source:	novembersdoom.com
Band profile:	Novembers Doom

Angtoria will be releasing a video for the song 'God Has A Plan For Us All' which is the title track from their album. The video will be released in September, and can be seen on most Metal or Rock television stations. Also, shortly after that it will be available for download from either www.angtoria.com or www.myspace.com/angtoriaofficial.

The video was filmed at an old church and also at old derelict building.

Here is a comment by Antogia vocallist Sarah Jezebel Deva: "The song covers two subjects but they are both linked. Written about a man who preaches God's word yet finds it acceptable to sexually abuse children. Also this song describes the pitiful chilché used by many religous people who can´t offer any other explanation as to why people suffer in their life. Rape, murder, poverty, whatever it may be, the only excuse that can be offered is: 'God Has A Plan For Us All'!"

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Angtoria

When Dragonforce tour Europe this October/November, they will have the Greek Power Metal band Firewind with them. Firewind was just recently announced as support, and they will appear at all Dragonforce shows. The band is excited about this and look forward to presenting their "...versatile musicianship, inimitable rousing, with infectious hooks garnered new material to old and new fans onstage."

Here is a comment by guitarist Gus G: "This is gonna be a great tour I think! First of all, we can"t wait to come back and play in the countries we"ve been before but we"re also excited about playing lots of new countries for the first time with Firewind. Dragonforce have been friends of ours for a long time now and we"re very happy that we"ll finally have the chance to share the stage and tour bus with them!"

Here are the upcoming European tour dates:

21.10.2006 Groningen (NL) @ Oosterpoort
22.10.2006 Amsterdam (NL) @ Melkweg
23.10.2006 Cologne (D) @ Underground
25.10.2006 Hamburg (D) @ Logo
26.10.2006 Copenhagen (DK) @ The Rock
27.10.2006 Stockholm (S) @ Arenan
28.10.2006 Oslo (NOR) @ John Dee
30.10.2006 Bochum (D) @ Zeche
31.10.2006 Vienna (D) @ Planet Music
01.11.2006 Salzburg (A) @ Rockhouse
03.11.2006 Trencin (SK) @ Sports Hall
05.11.2006 Treviso (I) @ New Age
06.11.2006 Milan (I) @ Alcatraz
08.11.2006 Munich (D) @ New Backstage
09.11.2006 Pratteln (CH) @ Z7
10.11.2006 Strasbourg (F) @ La Laiterie
11.11.2006 Paris (F) @ La Locomotive
13.11.2006 Lyon (F) @ Transbordeur
14.11.2006 Antwerp (B) @ Hof Ter Lo

Source:	firewind.gr
Band profile:	Firewind

The tour will be the follow up of Opeth's UK tour, which will happen in November. The December tour will start on the second of December in Germany and conclude on the fourteenth in France. No supports have been announced yet.

Here are the dates for the tour:

02nd - Berlin Columbia Club - Germany
03rd - Cologne Live Music Hall - Germany
05th - Paris Elysee Montmartre - France
06th - Lyon Transbordeur - France
07th - Barcelona Sala Apolo - Spain
08th - Madrid Heineken hall - Spain
09th - Lisabon Paradise Garage - Portugal
10th - Porto Hard Club - Portugal
12th - Bilbao Sala Santana - Spain
13th - Montpellier Le Rockstore- France
14th - Strasbourg La Laiterie - France

Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth

Australian band Vanishing Point have been chosen as an opening act for Black Label Society when they come to Australia. Vanishing Point will play in Adelaide on the 23rd September at The Barton Theatre and in Melbourne on the 24th September at The Palace. Both shows will start at 8.00pm and will cost $62.35 and $69.90 repectively.

Source:	vanishing-point.com.au
Band profile:	Vanishing Point

You can now listen to samples from all songs on the new album Blind Guardian album, A Twist In The Myth. The samples can be found on the Nuclear Blast website: http://www.nuclearblast-musicshop.de/album_info.php?album_id=136442

Read more ››

Source:	blind-guardian.com
Band profile:	Blind Guardian

Doomists Anathema have posted a second new song on their official website. The first song was called "Everything" and this new one is called "A Simple Mistake." The band have said that :A Simple Mistake" is still a work in progress, but they've posted it online to give fans an idea of their new material. They've also said that they've progressed and this song is again different. As well as that, Anathema will be playing their new songs at their upcoming concerts.

You can download the two songs in the "Multimedia" section of Anathema's official website.

Here is a comment by the band: "This song is still a work in progress, but we feel it is right to release this version online, to give you an idea of some of the musical 'colours' we are painting in these days. It is not the way of anathema to go on repeating past successes. It is our intention to take the road less travelled and to push the boundaries of what we are doing with each new chapter in our career. We feel it is our duty to reach out for new ideas and new ways to express those ideas."

Source:	anathema.ws
Band profile:	Anathema

Modern Heavy Metallers Machine Men will be entering Fantom studio, in Tampere to start recording a new album. The band have already written all the songs for the new release, they will just have to record it all. The recording process will start on the 14th August and the band will hit the road for some shows halfway through their sessions. Then they will return to complete the album. Machine Men will also have a studio diary posted on their official website.

Here is a small comment by Machine Men vocallist Antony Parviainen: "We have been in a local bar all days watching football and drinking beer. And we have also wrote the songs ready for the next album! We will keep you updated with a studio diary and all kind of bullshit. Have a nice summer and see you on the tour!"

Source:	machinemen.net
Band profile:	Machine Men

Another new song posted online!
Candlelight Records has premiered "Shadow Fear" from Vader's forthcoming album, "Impressions In Blood", at the label's official MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/candlelightrecordsusa). Due in Europe on September 4 via Regain Records, "Impressions in Blood" will contain the following track listing:

01. Between Day and Night
02. ShadowsFear
03. As Heavens Collide...
04. Helleluyah!!! (God is Dead)
05. Field of Heads
06. Predator
07. Warlords
08. Red Code
09. Amongst the Ruins
10. They Live!!!
11. The Book

Source:	vader.pl
Band profile:	Vader

German Power Metallers Primal Fear have posted the artwork for their upcoming compilation album online. The compilation entitled 'Metal Is Forever - The Very Best Of Primal Fear' will be released on 29th September this year. The artist responsible for the artwork is Stephan Lohrmann. He has done the artwork for Primal Fear's first four albums. From their self titled album to Black Sun. Primal Fear have also said that the track list for the new compilation (including the bonus disc) will be announced soon.

Here is the artwork for Metal Is Forever: http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/Necromancer_S/pf-bestof.jpg

Source:	primalfear.de
Band profile:	Primal Fear

Veteran Heavy Metallers W.A.S.P. have announced a long list of dates for their upcoming World Tour. Some of the dates were ones that were supposed to happen this month, but because W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless was diagnosed with an abnormality in one of the arteries leading to his heart, the shows were postponed. Lawless has no physical damage, so the gigs will proceed in a bit over a month.

Here are the upcoming shows, taken from W.A.S.P.'s official website:

06/09/06 - Kaliakra Stadium, Kavarna, Bulgaria
11/09/06 - TBA
12/09/06 - JB's, Dudley, UK
13/09/06 - Woughton Center, Woughton, UK
14/09/06 - Bierkeller, Bristol, UK
15/09/06 - Sportshall J.C., Waregem, Belgium
16/09/06 - TBA
17/09/06 - Bycenen, Haugesund, Norway
18/09/06 - TBA, Garage, Norway
19/09/06 - Folken, Stavanger, Norway
20/09/06 - Beton, Oslo, Norway
22/09/06 - Teatria, Oulu, Finland
23/09.06 - Icehall, Jyaskyla, Finland
24/09/06 - House of Culture, Helsinki, Finland
25/09/06 - TBA
26/09/06 - TBA
27/09/06 - TBA
28/09/06 - Garage, Saarbrucken, Germany
29/09/06 - Zur Linde, Affalter, Germany
30/09/06 - Jahnhalle, Crailsheim, Germany
02/10/06 - Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany
03/10/06 - Zeche, Bochum, Germany
04/10/06 - Hirsch, Nurnberg, Germany
05/10/06 - Backstage Werk, Munchen, Germany
06/10/06 - Masters of Rock Cafe, Zlin, CZ
07/10/06 - Polivalent Sport Hall, Cluj Napcoa, Romania
08/10/06 - Wigwham, Budapest, Hungary
09/10/06 - TBA
10/10/06 - SKC, Belgrade, Serbia
11/10/06 - TBA, Sofia, Bulgaria
12/10/06 - TBA
13/10/06 - Gargarin 205, Athens, Greece
14/10/06 - Mylos, Thessaloniki, Greece
15/10/06 - TBA
16/10/06 - TBA
17/10/06 - Planet Music, Vienna, Austria
18/10/06 - TBA
19/10/06 - Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
20/10/06 - Live Club, Milan, Italy
21/10/06 - Vidia, Cesena, Italy
22/10/06 - New Age, Treviso, Italy
23/10/06 - Alpheus, Rome, Italy
24/10/06 - TBA
25/10/06 - TBA
27/10/06 - Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
28/10/06 - Academy, Manchester, UK
29/10/06 - Academy, Newcastle, UK
30/10/06 - Rock City, Nottingham, UK
31/10/06 - TBA
01/11/06 - TBA
02/11/06 - Leisure Center, Ebbw Vale, UK
03/11/06 - Cooperation, Sheffield, UK
04/11/06 - TBA
05/11/06 - KB, Malmoe, Sweden
06/11/06 - Tradgaarn, Gothenburg, Sweden
07/11/06 - Draken, Stockholm, Sweden
08/11/06 - TBA
09/11/06 - TBA, Ekatarinburg, Russia

Read more ››

Source:	waspnation.com
Band profile:	W.A.S.P.