Swedish epic/power metallers FALCONER have confirmed the departure of singer Kristoffer Göbel. In a posting on their official web site, the band write, "Well, once again the line up of FALCONER is changing. 'Now again!!' you might say. It does sound a bit unstable to do this every once in a while, I know.

"After realizing that changing vocalist was not that applauded by people nor was the musical change on the last album (isn't it great when people are open minded....) we thought: 'OK, sailing towards the wind is getting boring' (personally I would say a sense of cynicism started to grow), 'Why not sail with it instead in good mood?'

"After changing the new music into more folkish style (and loving the sound of it) Karsten and I thought, 'Why not go the whole way, it would really fit the music.

"So hereby we present you the return of Mathias Blad.

"So we thank Kristoffer for the years in the band. It's been a great time we allways will cherish and we assure you all that this has nothing to do with personal matters. We wish all the best for Kriss in the future.

"This kind of thing is about the worst things you can do to a bandmate if you're all friends but in the end, this is not a sand box, it's a band."

FALCONER's fourth studio album, "Grime Vs. Grandeur", was released in May via Metal Blade Records. The CD features guest performances by Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL) on drums and Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND) on additional lead vocals.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Falconer

Finnish metallers NORTHER have set "Till Death Unites Us" as the title of their new album, due on January 25, 2006 via Spinefarm. According to the label a single, entitled "Scream", will be released two weeks prior to the album.

"Till Death Unites Us" track listing (in no particular order):

01. Scream
02. Throwing My Life Away
03. The End of Our Lives
04. Evil Ladies
05. Drowning
06. Die
07. Everything
08. Alone In the End
09. Norther
10. Omen
11. Fuck You
12. Wasted Years

NORTHER's last release was an EP, entitled "Solution 7". The band's third full-length album, "Death Unlimited", was issued last year through Spinefarm Records.

Source:	blabbermouth.net & spinefarm.fi
Band profile:	Norther

Greek Power Metal act Firewind has finally completed its lineup again. Apollo Papathanasio (Time Requiem, Gardenian, ex-Majestic) replaces former vocalist Chity Somapala who left the band about three weeks ago.

Apollo commented on the band's website:
"Hallo everybody this is Apollo. Since I met Gus in Gothenburg 4 years ago we became good friends and back then we always talked about working together in the future. Now here we are together, taking the Firewind music to a new level. I love Gus' guitar style and it's a pleasure to listen to their music. The guys in Firewind are real magicians and I'm happy that you're letting me be a part of this machinery. STAY METAL!!!!!!!!!!!! CHEERS!!!!"

Regarding the drummer situation, the band posted the following statement:
"Also, for purely logistical reasons we've decided to get a drummer that lives in Greece. We'd like to thank Stian Kristoffersen for his amazing drumming and the great times we had together the past 3 years. So, out goes Stian and in comes the monster drummer Mark Cross (x-Helloween, x-Metalium)!! Although Mark is 50% German and 50% British, he's been living in Greece for many years. This obviously makes rehearsals and preparations happen much easier."

Mark commented:
"Hello boyz and girlz!
Life's a spinning wheel and here I am aside to one of the few remaining great young guitar heros?. The Gus G. Firewindo metal fuckin' machine!
Looking forward to their next album, a tour and Firewind heading your way!
Cheers and greets,
Mark Cross"

The band is currently in pre-production mode with 8 new songs completed. The new album is expected to be recorded in early 2006 and Firewind plan to make their live debut with the new line-up @ Prog Power UK festival on March 25th.

Source:	firewind.gr
Band profile:	Firewind

Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza is reporting that Mortician vocalist/bassist Will Rahmer is likely to spend the next few weeks at a Polish jail while the prosecutors prepare an indictment against him for robbery with a dangerous weapon. The judges from the Polish town of Krosno Odrzanskie (where Rahmer is currently being held) have accepted a proposal from the prosecutors to detain Rahmer for up to three months in accordance with the Polish law.

In addition to the charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon, the prosecutors will likely charge Rahmer for resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.

Rahmer, 36, was arrested by the Polish police after he allegedly assaulted a taxi driver with a knife and stole a taxi cab following the group's performance in the Polish city of Zielona Gora on Sunday (Nov. 13).

Rahmer reportedly called a cab after Mortician's concert in Zielona Gora (which the other Mortician members performed without Rahmer) and requested to be taken to the Berlin airport so that he could fly back to the United States. He allegedly paid the driver 200 euros for the ride, but apparently went berserk when he was unable to reach someone on his mobile phone. Rahmer allegedly proceeded to attempt to gain control of the vehicle, in the process causing a small cut to the cabdriver's neck with his knife. The driver managed to escape and contacted the police. He was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he received two stitches. In the meantime, Will stole the car and drove himself to the Polish/German border crossing in Swiecko, where he allegedly got into a scuffle with the authorities before being detained.

At the time of his arrest, Rahmer was reportedly not carrying any additional cash or a valid passport. He was, however, in possession of at least one knife and a set of knucklers, according to Gazeta Lubuska.

Speaking to the police through a translator, Rahmer apparently offered a very different account of what transpired to the version given by the taxidriver.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Mortician

Listenable Records posted the following message about their new signee:

"Swedish/Uk based orchestral metal band ANGTORIA has as a result of their collaboration with Fortress Music And Artist Management teamed up with Listenable Records and signed a record deal! Formed in July 2004, this female fronted band consist of singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (known from Cradle Of Filth, Therion, Mortiis etc), musician/composer Chris Rehn (Abyssos) and musician/composer Tommy Rehn (Moahni Moahna)."

And Angtoria posted the following message concerning the works on their debut album:

"On saturday, november 19th, Angtoria heads in to the studio to start the recording of their debut album "God Has A Plan For Us All", scheduled to be released in April 2006. The band has chosen the studio and crew at Sidelake Studios in Sundsvall/Sweden to handle the task.

The drums on the album will be handled by very talented new and upcoming young drummer Andreas Brobjer. At only 18 years of age he´s already received numerous awards for his achievments and is getting more and more renowned around the world for his skills. In 2004 he won the "Swedish National Championships In Drumset Soloing", and went back in 2005 to defend his title and won once again!
At only 17 years of age he was asked by acclaimed swedish keyboard wizard Rikard Andersson (Majestic, Time Requiem, Space Odyssey etc) to lay down the drums on the album entitled "The Astral Episode" with his highly technical metal project called Space Odyssey. He is also active in various other bands and projects like for instance prog metal band Platitude.

To help out engineering the drums etc, the band has hired Daniel Bergstrand, responsible for the sound on various albums of many bands throughout the years such as for instance In Flames, Soilwork, Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Strapping Young Lad, Behemoth etc."

Source:

listenable.net & angtoria.com

The band posted the following message concerning the departure of Patrick Schleitzer and his replacement:

"We´re sad to announce the departure of our guitarist and dear friend Patrick.
Patrick has been a part of HSB for more than seven awesome years, he´ll always remain a member of the HSB family and we thank him for the great times we had together - we will always remember the partytrips to Athens, the nude photo shoot in front of the frozen waterfall in Iceland or the soccer match in Brasil, hahahaha!!!
No need to say, that we wish Patrick all the best for his final year on university and the new horizons he´s gonna conquer. Here is a statement from him.
We have respect for his decision and totally understand his reasons. We´re gonna miss you!!!

HSB will play a special farewell-show with Patrick on the 18th of November in Saalfeld (Germany). We´ll also use that night to introduce our new guitarist Alex, but more about him soon! Please come out and help to make this an unforgetable night for Pat!
More info on that night: http://www.klubhaus-saalfeld.de "

Source:	heavenshallburn.com
Band profile:	Heaven Shall Burn

Henriette Bordvik posted the following message on the Sirenia's site, explaining the reasons of her departure:

"Well, hell-o rockers! .. It's a difficult call this one, but it has now come down to me leaving SIRENIA. Seeing how the band is working full-time on the new album - the new record deal and everything - theres a lot coming up, and as im not able to give SIRENIA all the attention they need and sure as hell worthy of at this very moment, we have come to the decision that it is for the best of the future of the band that we part ways.

No hard feelings what so ever, just due to a bit of musical differences and such, I don't think SIRENIA is what really gives me the right spirit to keep going and give it all for the band.

I wish them the best of luck in the future and on the next release(es), and would like to Salute You All for your most deeply appreciated support!!

In Love & Respect,
Henriette Bordvik"

The band is already looking for a sustitute, they "encourage dedicated vocalists to get in contact by mail; contact@sirenia.no

We would especially like to hear from singers from the south-west of Norway."

Source:	sirenia.no
Band profile:	Sirenia

Some 18 years in the making, TunnelVision Brilliance, the debut solo offering from Scott Reeder, will be released by Liquor and Poker Music on Jan. 24, 2006. An MP3 of the albums "The Day Of Neverending" has been posted on the label's MySpace page, www.myspace.com/liquorandpokermusic .

As a member of two legendary underground bands, Reeder has made a considerable impact on heavy music. With The Obsessed a group Rolling Stone praises for "almost single-handedly inventing" doom metal and then as bassist for desert rock pioneers Kyuss (whom All Music Guide dubbed a "heavy metal Velvet Underground the blueprint often copied but never quite replicated by countless underground metal bands"), Reeder helped to lay the groundwork for a revival of organic and heavy yet musical rock championed to this day by both cult and mainstream icons alike.

The 13-track TunnelVision Brilliance is a solo album in the truest sense of the word, with all songs written and performed entirely by Reeder and Reeder alone. In addition, he produced, engineered and mixed the recording mostly in his own studio. It's a much more personal and intimate soundscape than his thunderously heavy past, an inspired (and undeniably psychedelic) trip through the subconscious of one of underground rocks brightest luminaries.

"It's weird, going at it alone this time without a bunch of other guys to mesh with," Reeder admits. "Finally, after 25 years of doing the band thing, I'm getting the chance to put out some songs I've recorded by myself along the way that never quite fit within the frameworks of my band stuff. Throughout my days in Across The River, The Obsessed, Kyuss and Goatsnake, I've been very proud of every recording I've contributed to, but I've never been anywhere near this excited about releasing anything. For me, this is as pure as it gets not a single other person was ever in the room when any of this was recorded, no one to argue with (except myself!), not having to fit into any mold or format. For better or worse, no compromise whatsoever."

Since Kyuss disbanded in 1995, Reeder might be best known for his high-profile auditions with Metallica (he appears in the documentary Some Kind Of Monster) and Tool (he's occasionally joined them onstage to cover a Kyuss tune), but his contributions to the music world have still been notable. He's produced cult favorites both up-and-coming (SUNN 0))), Bluebird) and long established (Orange Goblin, Goatsnake); he's continued to contribute to movie soundtracks (1996's 2 Days In The Valley, for example); and he's kept making and playing music, be it through performing as part of underground icons Unida and Nebula, guesting on the acclaimed 1998 debut by The Earthlings (which also featured Dave Grohl), or gigging with his new band, Butcher. Throughout his sonic journeys, Reeder kept a musical diary of the other side of his personality.

Read more ››

Band profile:

Kyuss

The Erfurt gig (02.12.05) will be recorded for an upcoming live DVD which also will contain "special material about the first Northamerica tour and many surprises". The release of the DVD is expected to be somewhere in 2006.

Also the band announced some finnish dates for 2006:

24.01.06 - HELSINKI, Tavastia
25.01.06 - TAMPERE, Pakkahuone
26.01.06 - KUOPIO, Työnkulma
27.01.06 - OULU, Teatria
27.01.06 - LAHTI, Sibeliustalo

Source:	apocalyptica.com
Band profile:	Apocalyptica

Celesty's guitarist J-P Alanen has left the band and was replaced by Teemu Koskela.
The band posted the following on the official website:

"We are sad to announce that our future with our long time partner J-P Alanen has ended.
The main reason is that J-P's musical interests have been elsewhere for a long time and Celesty needs more participation and hard work from all the members.

"Celesty thanks Juha-Pekka for all these years and the fun we have had together. We all wish the best of luck to J-P in his musical career.

"Our new lead guitar player is Teemu Koskela. He is a long time friend of the band and was natural choice for us. We have already started hard work together in rehearsals and Teemu is participating to the composing work as well. We believe that Teemu will bring lot's of new ideas to the songs and sounds in our future albums."

On the website of his second band Altaria J-P Alanen commented:

"There were difficulties between Celesty and the situation of my personal life. I'm concentrating more to my music studies, and also my musical taste, influences and attitudes have changed during the years. It was only a question of time. This decision won't affect to my playing in Altaria."

Sources: http://www.celesty.net and http://www.altariamusic.com

Band profile:

Celesty

NIGHTMARE - BOOKLETS

It has come to our knowledge that several Nightmare - The Dominion Gate albums were delivered to the stores without booklets!

Nightmare and Regain Records are of course very sorry about this, and we will try to make it up to you, by sending you the booklet in arrears.

If you just mail us info about where you bought your album, wich date and your adress, we´ll send you a booklet as soon as possible. Please mail your info to following adress: richard@regainrecords.com

Our deepest apologizes and thanx for supporting Nightmare and Regain Records!

Take care!

Per Bussmann on behalf of Nightmare and Regain Records

Band profile:

Nightmare

The band decided to split up, in a friendly way. As the band hasn't played in the US, they will try to play in the Dismember tour in april. This is the complete message posted on the official band's site:

"Fellow comrades,
with a schizophrenic mixture of grief and relief we hereby announce our departure from all Defleshed-activities. Activities that has become more of obligations with the years, which has driven us individually to become more ambitions or less. We are in no way splitting up as unfriends, if anything reversed, and we'll thank you all for your the support through the years in the only way we know how to: a farewell to the flesh gig at Fellini, Uppsala, Sweden the 25th of December (see www.fellini.nu) This night we'll do anything in our power to BLAST YOUR FUCKING FLESH OFF !!!
However, since we've never been to the States (which is an old dream of ours), we'll still try to nail that Dismember tour in April, but this is up to our US label & co.
Hope you understand our wish not to become tired, blood-drain has-beens but to end this while we're still potent.
We will still go on with metal in diverse bands and future projects of course, of which I'm sure you will hear of in a near future, but as for Defleshed we've simply feel the last chapter has been written. After all, you don't stop playing 'cause your getting old - you get old 'cause you stop playing. Be well and thanks for your attention in our band/

Gus & Defleshed, Uppsala, November 11th 2005"

Source:	defleshed.de
Band profile:	Defleshed

Supreme Chaos Records and NOCTE OBDUCTA have thought about something special for the end of the year 2005.

After receiving high demand for the track "Aschefrühling" which was published only on the vinyl version of "Stille" they decided to release this track as a CD single with a new mix of "Vorbei".
Therefore NOCTE OBDUCTA entered Maranis Studios this week and will even record some new details for the song "Vorbei".

The release will be a two track single with a special artwork, limited to certified numbered 1500 copies.

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT SUPREME CHAOS RECORDS!

Will be released on December 6th 2005!

You can preorder this single for 4,90 EUR here:
http://www.s-c-r.de/shop.php?lang=english&viewitem=scr-cd018

Source:	s-c-r.de
Band profile:	Nocte Obducta

In Flames has announced a North American headlining tour in support of their highly anticipated new album, Come Clarity. A late January, 2006 west coast launch is expected.

Support on the In Flames tour will be provided by Trivium, Devildriver and ZAO. The extended trek will represent the first In flames North American dates since their main stage appearances as part of OZZFEST 2005 and will kick off the band's most extensive touring on the continent in their decade plus history. In Flames is currently in the midst of a three week UK tour alongside Motorhead.

"Come Clarity" will be released in North America on February 7th via Ferret Music. The album will see a February 3rd European release date on Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to the band's 2004 album, "Soundtrack to Your Escape", "Come Clarity" features thirteen explosive tracks, including the roll-out single and video, "Take this Life".

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	In Flames

The line-up of the Green Christmas festival is now complete and the final band to be announced is a popular Estonian group called SÕPRUSE PUIESTEE.

Sõpruse Puiestee perform at the festival for the first time. Even more - it will be their first gig in Rakvere ever, so it'll be very exciting to see and hear what they will offer to the Rakvere audience.

The complete line-up of the festival comes as follows: ANATHEMA (Uk), DIE KRUPPS (Ger), ULTIMA THULE & TÕNIS MÄGI (Est), SYBREED (Sui), NEAERA (Ger), WIDESCREEN MODE (Fin), SÕPRUSE PUIESTEE (Est), SINKING (Fin), SHADOWDANCES (Lit), PEDIGREE (Est), J.M.K.E. (Est), LOITS (Est), ZORG (Est), SKRIIMSILM (Est), WHISPERING FOREST (Est), PAINGREED (Est).

Have no doubt - this festival will be wilder than you could ever imagine!!! So, if You don't have your ticket yet, now is the high time to run for it!

To remind the prices:
Dates - Festival Pass / One Day
01.-30.11 27 EUR / 21 EUR
01.-15.12 29 EUR / 21 EUR
At the door 31 EUR / 21 EUR
ESTONIA: PILETILEVI http://www.piletilevi.ee and STATOIL
FINLAND: TIKETTI http://www.tiketti.fi
LATVIA: BILESU SERVISS http://www.ticketservice.lv and STATOIL

Source:

greenchristmas.ee