On May/ June 2006 VADER will headline American part of "Metal Crusaders Tour", teaming up with bands like Kataklysm (headliner of Canadian leg of the tour), Nuclear Assault, Speed Kill Hate (Overkill's musicians side project) and The Absence. The tour is being organized by Thunderdome Bookings, sponsored by two biggest metal magazines "Metal Maniacs"(USA), BW&BK (Canada) and Ibanez. During that trip Vader will be supporting new MCD "The Art Of War" scheduled for release at the end of January 2006 through Candlelight Records USA. More details will follow soon.

Source:	vader.pl
Band profile:	Vader

Lifeforce Records has announced the signature of Danish "Futuristic Hybrid Metal" act Raunchy (www.raunchy.dk). The release date for the new album of the band, "... Death Pop Romance" has been set on February 17th 2006 in Germany and February 20th 2006 in the rest of Europe. This album was recorded in the Summer of 2005 by Jacob Hansen (Mercenary, Fear My Thoughts, Communic) and mixed by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studios (Hatesphere, The Haunted, Mnemic).

Source:

lifeforcerecords.com

The new Vanden Plas album "Christ.0" will be released on the 24th of February 2006. It is a concept album inspired by Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo". The recordings are taking place at the moment at Bazement studios near Wiesbaden, Germany. Here is the track listing:

1. Christ 0 (music: G. Werno/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
2. Postcard to god (music: S. Lill/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
3. Wish you were here (music: G. Werno/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
4. Silently (music: S. Lill/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
5. Shadow I am (music: S. Lill/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
6. Fireroses dance (music: G. Werno/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
7. Somewhere alone in the dark (music: S. Lill/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
8. January sun (music: A. Kuntz, G. Werno/lyrics: A. Kuntz)
9. Lost in silence (music: A. Kuntz /lyrics: A. Kuntz)

Bonus track on initial pressing: Gethsemane (lyrics: Tim Rice/music: Andrew Lloyd Webber)

Also, the "cover artwork" is posted on the band's website (under latest news). Though NOT the final piece, it will look similar.

Source:	vandenplas.de
Band profile:	Vanden Plas

Guitarist Rob Barrett has officially rejoined Cannibal Corpse as a permanent replacement for guitarist Jack Owen, who left the band in 2004. Barrett, who played with the group from 1993 to 1997 and appeared on "The Bleeding" and "Vile" albums, has contributed a song to the band's upcoming tenth album, "Kill", due on March 21, 2006 via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan (Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal).

With regards to the new album's musicial direction, the band had previously said, "We are doing everything we can to make sure it's the heaviest, most brutal one we've ever made."

Cannibal Corpse have been utilizing session musicians for their recent touring activities, including Barrett and Jeremy Turner, who had previously played with Origin.

Source:	cannibalcorpse.net
Band profile:	Cannibal Corpse

The band posted two songs for download at www.arachnes.it/intro.htm

The songs are:

The Picture Of Dorian Gray - "This song is new and available only free download from the web site of Arachnes!!! Music is a taken from "Bandinerie" of J.S. Bach while the lyrics are extrapolated from "Dorian Gray" of Oscar Wild."

The Barber Of Seville - "Metal version of the G.Rossini's overture, you can also find the song on the cd "The Goddess Temple"!"

The band also announced that "are finishing the new album."

Source:	arachnes.it
Band profile:	Arachnes

Tuesday, 29. November 2005
Recording drums, bass and the four monster rhythm guitars

Hey there, what's up?
After two weeks of being in the studio working very intense, here u go for another update, .....first, it's a real pleasure recording at Stage One - the studio's killer, so I know the next couple of months are gonna be fuckin´ memorable, this will be a Monster of a record.

Nefastus nailed the ten commandments in less then 6 days of hard snare attacking, wow that's Olympia. This is definitely the tightest - heaviest drumming you will hear on a Belphegor album till now. The high speed-blast-beats and double bass drums turned out most precise and brutal, to be honest it's already blowing us away. The German maniac with polish blood in his veins deserves a gold medal for it! We decided for the new Warwick/Corvette 4-string bass that Barth bought for the bass recordings, with a bit of old-school Master distortion the parts were played directly in the sound desk.

Helmuth and the producer Andy took only 4 - 5 hours to find "the" perfect guitar sound. There were a lot of choices between amps, pedals and so forth, but in the end the gear was the band's Rectifier Mesa Boogie amp, one 800 Marshall cabinett 4x12, and several Jackson Guitars. Helmuth and Sigurd shredded the four rhythm guitars in five days, with the most dynamics possible. Well, all we need now is some sick samples, the cold melody/overdub guitar parts and loads of chaos -leads, and of course the vocals.

Die 10 Werke are starting to show their real form and I can say we're pretty damn pleased, can't wait till this masterpiece is finally finished. Well, the 2nd session in Stage One Studios takes place from 22.-29. December, more news to come. The hell-crew shot some photos during the recordings. A new booking agent, Rock The Nation took over all BELPHEGOR festival bookings for season 2006.

Belphegor´s GOATREICH FLESHCULT on Lp format in Feb. 06
The band is proud to announce that a serious company for the GOATREICH - FLESHCULT opus on Lp format has been found. Await the limited edition of 800 cps. via Goatruler Productions/Ger, in early February 06, ( gatefold and heavy vinyl - 180 gr. )
There is a new fan site in Polish language, pozdrowienia dla Zoutar Wielki.

Source:

belphegor.at

11.2005:

The preproduction is done and we enter the Studio with John Fryer (HIM, Paradise Lost, Depeche Mode, Cradle Of Filth) as Producer and Engineer! Expect the best LACRIMAS record ever! Sign the Newsletter now! Next week we send the first news from the Studio including song titles and and and! So, rock 'n' sad!

Source:	lacrimas.com
Band profile:	Lacrimas Profundere

Queensryche returned to the studio this summer to record the long-anticipated sequel to 1988's acclaimed concept album "Operation: Mindcrime". Praised by critics and certified platinum, the original remained on Billboard's album chart for more than a year and its dynamic music and powerful message still resonate today. Rhino Records helps unravel the mysteries of the original with "Operation: Mindcrime II". The album is available March 14 at regular physical and digital retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested retail price of $18.98.

"Operation: Mindcrime II" contains a 15-song story and is performed by the Seattle-based quintet ? singer and chief songwriter Geoff Tate; guitarists Michael Wilton and Mike Stone; bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield.

Tate says the current political and social climate inspired him to revisit the storyline. "I left the original open-ended with the intent to come back with a sequel to finish the story up," he says. "Considering where we are today and how little things have changed, it was too ironic not to continue the story."

"Operation: Mindcrime's" intriguing and complex plot revolves around Dr. X, a political puppet master who brainwashes Nikki, the story's main character, to assassinate corrupt public figures. The story also includes Nikki's lover, Sister Mary. A former teenage prostitute who becomes a nun, Sister Mary is murdered mysteriously, leaving the cliffhanger "Who Killed Sister Mary?"

Set 20 years after the original, "Operation: Mindcrime II" explores Nikki's fate after being released from prison and reveals the identity of Mary's killer. "I tried to put myself in Nikki's shoes and imagine what it would be like for him to come back to society after spending 20 years in jail stewing about what happened to him," Tate says. "I became fascinated with the concept of revenge and what that would do to a person like Nikki. The story is ultimately about how Nikki wrestles with his conflicted emotions. On one side, his base instincts are pushing him to kill those who wronged him. On the other side, his conscience ? represented by the spirit of Sister Mary ? urges him to learn from his past mistakes and find salvation."

Earlier this year Queensryche launched a sold-out tour featuring the original "Operation: Mindcrime" performed in its entirety with actors on stage portraying the characters alongside the band. Tate says the band plans to launch a tour in 2006 that will feature a stage performance of both "Mindcrime"s in their entirety. "The actors on stage with us add a new dimension to the music," he says. "It's different than your typical rock show, but the audiences really got into the 'Mindcrime I' tour. It's exciting to have the opportunity to combine both albums into one show. It's going to be epic."

Read more ››

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Queensrÿche

Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking have finalized the track listing for their third album, "The Winter Wake", due on January 27, 2006 via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Wyrd" was recorded at Sherpa Studios (Italy), mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Nino Laurenne and was mastered at Finnvox Studios by Mika Jussilla.

"The Winter Wake" track listing:

01. Trows Kind
02. Swallowtail
03. The Winter Wake (feat. Schmier of DEestruction)
04. The Wanderer
05. March of Fools
06. On the Morning Dew
07. Devil's Carriage
08. Rats are Following
09. Rouse Your Dream
10. Neverending Nights
11. Disillusion's Reel
+ bonus tracks

Check out the album cover artwork at http://www.elvenking.net

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Elvenking

Waterclime is a new "traditional progressive and symphonic rock filtered through a Nordic mind with Scandinavian folk tones and at times a jazzy ambient atmosphere" project by Vintersorg, and his debut album entitled "The Astral Factor" is set to be released on 20th of January 2006. To see the cover art click here.

The tracklist is the following:

1. Mountains
2. Floating
3. The Astral Factor
4. Diamond Moon
5. Painting Without Colours
6. Midnight Flyer
7. Scarytale
8. Timewind.

Vintersorg plays all the instruments and vocals on the album. Matthias Marklund (lead guitar on "The Astral Factor" and "Painting Without Colour") and Magnus Lindgren (on "Mountains") are guests on the album. for more info visit: http://www.lionmusic.com/waterclime.htm

Read more ››

Source:	lionmusic.com
Band profile:	Vintersorg

French neo classical power metallers MZ are no more an instrumental band.

Singer Jean-Jacques Fanciullotti joined them a few months ago. His voice is said to be in the vain of At Vance's singers Oliver Hartman & Mats Leven.

Together, they recorded their 5th album, "Nostalgic Heroes", that should be released in 2006.

Also, they will play in Villeurbanne (France) on Dec 17 with Arkenonn and Ashes&Dust, and in Saint-Etienne on Dec 18 with WeirdLand.

Here's a video of the bass solo track that will be included in "Nostalgic Heroes": Polytheist
You can also download many MP3 samples from their previous albums here. Be sure to check the full song Hungarian Divertimento!

Read more ››

Source:

mz-music.com

December 16th, Sports Hall of Rakvere
18.00 doors
19.30 PAINGREED (Est)
20.15 SINKING (Fin)
21.00 WHISPERING FOREST (Est)
22.00 ZORG (Est)
22.45 NEAERA (Ger)
00.00 ANATHEMA (UK)

December 17th, Sports Hall of Rakvere
14.00 doors
15.00 SKRIIMSILM (Est)
15.45 SHADOWDANCES (Lit)
16.35 J.M.K.E. (Eest)
17.25 SÕPRUSE PUIESTEE (Est)
18.20 PEDIGREE (Est)
19.15 WIDESCREEN MODE (Fin)
20.10 TÕNIS MÄGI & ULTIMA THULE (Est)
21.20 SYBREED (Sui)
22.20 LOITS (Est)
23.30 DIE KRUPPS (Ger)

Source:

greenchristmas.ee

Agalloch have entered the studio to begin pre-production work for their 3rd full-length album entitled "Ashes Against The Grain" (out on The End Records). The recording process will begin Dec 10th and the band hopes to have the album finished by mid-January. As usual the band will be working with Ronn Chick, who has engineered and produced both of their previous albums.

http://www.theendrecords.com

Band profile:

Agalloch

The following messages were posted at the Deceased's site:

"We will be taking a break from playing live this winter to start writing songs for our next release, tentatively entitled "Surreal Overdose". Song titles in the works are "Skin Crawling Progress", "Doom Laden Aura" and "The Traumatic"."

"The original mix of Blueprints For Madness is now available on vinyl through Hells Headbangers. The first 100 copies are on colored vinyl, the remaining 400 copies are on black vinyl. Early 2006 will see a picture disc version of Luck Of The Corpse and As The Weird Travel On released on vinyl."

Source:

upthetombstones.com

The following message was posted at the band's official site:

"After months in the studio, the work on the new Theatre of Tragedy album is coming to an end.
Producer Rico Darum has met up with mixmaster Greg Reely(Paradise Lost, Fear Factory, Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy etc) at The Green Jacket, Richmond, BC, Canada. What remains is the final twisting and turning of knobs.
12 songs have been picked out of the 15 that were recorded.

10 will make it to the final version of the album. The remaining songs will either be bonus tracks or included on future releases.

The title for the 6th Theatre Of Tragedy album will be "Storm".
Some of the song titles that will be included on the album are "Storm", "Begin and End", "Disintegration", Fade" and "Dust".
More titles will be revealed later on."

Source:	theatreoftragedy.com
Band profile:	Theatre Of Tragedy