Legendary Swedish death metallers DISMEMBER have parted ways with bassist Johan Bergebäck. Johan "left band due to lack of the time DISMEMBER requires nowadays," the group write on their web site. "The band is looking for a new bassist, situated in the Stockholm area and those who are interested can send an e-mail to dismemberbooking@hotmail.com with some info about themselves."

As previously reported, DISMEMBER entered Sami Studio in Stockholm last month to begin recording their seventh album. The recording sessions will end later this month, with a planned mid-January 2006 release date through Regain Records. Drummer Fred Estby is once again producing the follow-up to 2004's "Where Ironcrosses Grow". New songtitles include "The God That Never Was", "Feel the Darkness" and "Through the Unbroken Black".

Taken from www.dismember.se

Band profile:

Dismember

Gamma Ray to unleash latest endeavor, Majestic,

October 11, 2005 through Sanctuary Records

Gamma Ray is set to release their latest effort Majestic on October 11, 2005 through Sanctuary Records. The line-up for Majestic includes Kai Hansen (vocals, guitars), Dirk Schlächter (bass), Henjo Richter (guitar, keyboards) and Daniel Zimmerman (drums), who have been together for the last several releases after a number of line-up changes in the early stages of the band's career. Majestic will be the band's first release since 2003's Skeletons in the Closet.

As with previous Gamma Ray releases, Hansen serves as the lead composer, but for this effort both Richter and Zimmerman also contributed tracks, lending a dash of diversity to the signature Gamma Ray sound. The band recorded the album at their own Hansen Studios in Hamburg, with Hansen and Schlächter on the controls. They brought Mika Jussila (Stratovarius, Masterplan, Edguy, among others) aboard to master the album and create a dynamic, well-rounded sound for the finished product.

Majestic Track Listing:
1) My Temple
2) Fight
3) Strange World
4) Hell Is Thy Home
5) Blood Religion
6) Condemned to Hell
7) Spiritual Dictator
8) Majesty
9) How Long
10) Revelation

The band is working on plans for a 2006 North American tour.

Read more ››

Source:	sanctuaryrecords.com
Band profile:	Gamma Ray

What a blast! The Italian Folk Power Metal act Elvenking have been co-headlining this year's Dong-Festival, taking place in Neunkirchen-Vluyn/Western Germany. The place has been totally sold out
and the guys could start a big party with lots of people singing along their songs, diving from stage and headbanging. The Elvenkings have been in excellent shape and party mood, so there is no reason not to look forward for 23rd January, when their new, third album "The Winter Wake" will come out!"

Source:	elvenking.net
Band profile:	Elvenking

Guitarist Allen West has announced his departure from Obituary West's exit from the group comes on the eve of Obituary's U.S. tour with Napalm Death and Allen feels that the fans deserve no surprises when they don't see the band that they were expecting. Allen will concentrate fully on Lowbrow, whose revamped lineup consists of founding members West, Curtis Beeson (Nasty savage) and Richard Hornberger, along with new bassist Jon Fronza. Lowbrow will continue without former members Ben Meyer (Nasty Savage, Acheron) and Richard Bateman (Agent Steel, Nasty Savage).

LOWBROW are currently preparing material for a new recording to follow 2001's "Sex. Violence.Death". More information will be made available soon.

Although Obituary have yet to comment on West's departure, singer John Tardy posted the following message on the band's official message board in response to a fan who complained about West being too "wasted" during the group's appearance at the Hole In The Sky festival in Norway this past weekend (August 28th).

"First, I would like to apologize for Allen and that is all I can do. We (Obituary) did what we could and just could not control Allen that day...he was a mess! You were at the show and could see that we tried our best and Allen was just too drunk to play a good show. You hear stories like this all the time (with all bands) and just like me you have to wonder why someone just can't be professional with what they are doing! We have all the time in the world to party as much as we want after the show and you would think you could show up ready to play and give your fans 100%! In this case Allen failed us! We are not happy and have talked with him about this and I am not sure what we are going to do! He has to make up his mind as to what he wants to do! Once again I can only apologize and and tell you that where the rest of the band gives it 100% everyshow no matter what and one weak link (Allen) can bring all that down! I also realize that his perfomance is a reflection on the whole band and that is what hurts the most when I look at how hard the rest of the band works to be the very best that we can! We can only hope that Allen gets his priorities straight!"

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Obituary

Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett will perform with Flux during a show with the ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET on September 15 in San Francisco, CA at Herbst Theatre. The press release for the concert reads as follows:

"The 50th Anniversary Season begins with an electrifying concert featuring special guest artist, Metallica's Kirk Hammett, performing with Flux Quartet in a World Premiere collaboration: SAS (for string quartet and improvised electric guitar), a work written by the Quartet's experimental violinist Thomas Chiu. "Flux and Kirk are a perfect fit for this innovative and aleatoric composition," says Artistic Director Saul Gropman. "Flux has an 'anything goes' spirit, and Kirk's broad improvisational skills bring this piece together as a magical marriage of two styles." Mr. Hammet previously forayed into experimental territory with his heavy metal band and the San Francisco Symphony, under the baton of Michael Kamen, in April 1999; the result was the release of Metallica: S&M. Also on the Gala Concert program is the St. Lawrence String Quartet, an ensemble the New Yorker hails as "remarkable not simply for the quality of their music making?but for the joy they take in the act of connection." The St. Lawrence performs Quartet Opus 96 in F Major (American Quartet) by Antonin Dvorak and then is joined by the Flux and San Francisco Symphony bassist Stephen Tramontozzi for Last Rounds (for double string quartet and double bass) by Osvaldo Golijov. Flux rounds out the program with a "classical" work, String Quartet by Conlon Nancarrow

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Metallica

In November 2005 Italian Film Score Metal icons RHAPSODY are poised to release their first live album ever ! The recordings will be based on performances made during leg one of MANOWAR's 'Demons, Dragons and Warriors World Tour' where RHAPSODY appeared as the special guests in spring 2005.

This recently completed first leg of the tour was highly acclaimed for its striped down and performance oriented arrangements, which allowed the band to prove that the music is the message. No track list has been released yet but RHAPSODY's record label Magic Circle Music announced the songs played during the shows included old favorites and tracks from their latest release Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret. More to follow.

With their last year's, sixth album "Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret“ on Magic Circle Music RHAPSODY continued to pioneer their new style of cinematic metal aptly called Film Score Metal. RHAPSODY has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

Source:	mightyrhapsody.com
Band profile:	Rhapsody

Relapse Records recording artists The Dillinger Escape Plan have been forced to pull out of their remaining Gigantour live dates because of an injury to guitarist Ben Weinman. Weinman severely re-injured his arm Sunday night (having originally injured it several months ago) during the tour's stop in Atlantic City, NJ and was told by a specialist yesterday that he will be unable to perform until further notice.

Weinman commented, "We were enjoying playing every night as part of Gigantour, and to not be able to finish the tour is an enormous disappointment to us."

Gigantour is the traveling hard rock festival founded by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine. Mustaine -- who suffered a nearly career-ending arm injury several years ago -- said, "We really respect and enjoyed The Dillinger Escape Plan -- and will miss them. Meanwhile, I personally hope that Ben has a successful and speedy recovery."

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	The Dillinger Escape Plan

Bay area thrashers Heathen have posted another new song entitled Emptiness Nothingness for fans to download in their forum:
http://www.heathenmetal.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php's=369

The other two songs that they previously posted, Dying Season and Arrows Of Agony, have been remixed and are available to download as well.

Source:	heathenmetal.com
Band profile:	Heathen

After dedicating a full year to their new album "Ashes of the Wake," Lamb Of God have achieved true success in the industry with their recent DVD release "Killadelphia" hitting Gold. In the past year, Lamb Of God have made an impact on two major summer tours (Sounds Of The Underground, Ozzfest 2004) and have played over 150 dates worldwide, and have even graced the covers of Outburn, Revolver, Metal Maniacs, and more.

Now, Lamb Of God's recent DVD release "Killadelphia" has officially sold over 50,000 DVDs to make it Gold. Here's what the band had to say:

Randall Blythe band vocalist states, "I woulda never thought ten years ago that our antics would be seen by so many people. I hope the DVD is made out of real gold so I can hock it and buy a new lawn mower."

Drummer, Chris Adler states "In today's age of gimmicks, lies and faux reality trying to make celebrities out of everyone with a few dollars, it was important for us to not stage or hype up a damn thing - to simply show Lamb Of God on the road; the good times, the bad times and one hell of a show- and for that stripped down, no-holds-barred approach to be received this well certainly flatters us, but also continues to make a dent in the industry full of fakes and talentless image. It's nice to know that we didn't have to be anything other than ourselves to achieve such success with this DVD, but the real praise should go to our friends and fans who picked up Killadelphia and in doing so have sent a message to the powers that be that we are sick of the over hyped, fake "real world" being shoved down our throats - we are all ready for the honest, genuine bands and music to take center stage once again."

"As a band we are extremely humbled by this achievement - it's rare that a band like ourselves receives this honor. Again, we pass along the thanks and praise to those of you who picked up Killadelphia. This is an accomplishment that we share with all of you. Thank you, congratulations and cheers!"

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Lamb Of God

Riverside would like to inform you that the worldwide premiere of "Second Life Syndrome" has been scheduled for the 31st of October 2005. The album will be released on Inside Out label worldwide and on Mystic Production in Poland. Both releases will have the same graphic layout designed by Travis Smith. Also, they hope you'll be pleased to hear that there are going to be 9 tracks on "SLS" and not 8, as announced before:

Riverside "Second Life Syndrome"

1. After
2. Volte-Face
3. Conceiving You
4. Second Life Syndrome
5. Artificial Smile
6. I Turned You Down
7. Reality Dream III
8. Dance With The Shadow
9. Before

They have also planned a few gigs for the autumn:
24-25.09.2005 PROGRESISTE CONVENTION - Spirit Of 66, Verviers, Belgium
13.10.2005 Bluescafe, Apeldoorn, Holland
14.10.2005 P60, Amstelveen, Holland
15.10.2005 PROG NOSE FESTIVAL
19.11.2005 ECLIPSED FESTIVAL - Aschaffenburger Colos-Saal, Germany

Source:

riverside.art.pl

The Garden Of Unearthly Delights Release Date - Sep 26th 2005.

Mighty Doom icons CATHEDRAL from Coventry, England for sure are one of the most unique and unpredictable acts around. These legendary merchants of slow-motion sound could care less about redundant genre restrictions and have so far incorporated everything from Doom, Psych, Folk up to Funk in their works. With their eighth album ?The Garden Of Unearthly Delights" CATHEDRAL have achieved much more than simply living up to that reputation - the guys created timeless songs that couldn't be farther away from standardisation, stagnation and convention.

Produced by Warren Ryker (DOWN, CROWBAR), ?The Garden Of Unearthly Delights" is probably the most varied effort of the band so far. While a song like 'North Berwick Witch Trials' will bring back memories of such immortal riffs'n'groove as in 'Hopkins' or 'Ride', 'Tree Of Life And Death' simply tears everything to pieces with its ultra-heavy guitar sound and fierce vocals courtesy of Lee Dorrian. The centerpiece of it all certainly is the 27-minute-long mammoth epos 'The Garden' that almost bursts with such a wealth of ideas and changes in atmosphere that other bands probably couldn't come up with on a whole album. Using every stylistic device from female vocals up to violins and embedding it all in that typical CATHEDRAL brand of Doom, ?The Garden Of Unearthly Delights" is a treat for every fan of the band, old and new alike.

(Taken from Nuclear Blast Press Release).

Cathedral upcoming dates.

Friday 2nd September

Barfly

260 Clyde Street,

Glasgow

Ticket hotline remains 0870 333 1123

Over 14's

Doors 7pm

Support from Man Of The Hour?

Saturday 3rd September

Bloodstock Festival

The assembly rooms, Derby.

Tickets & Info - http://www.bloodstock.uk.com

More dates & extensive tour schedule to be annonced soon.

Source:	cathedralcoven.com
Band profile:	Cathedral

VOIVOD guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour passed away Friday night (August 26) at approximately 11:45 p.m. due to complications from advanced colon cancer ? so advanced that the disease had spread to his liver. D'Amour slipped into a coma Thursday night and died less than 24 hours later in the palliative care unit of a Montreal hospital, surrounded by family and friends. He was 45 years old.

Quebec City newspaper Le Soleil reported yesterday that D'Amour ? who was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier in the summer ? first entered the hospital for a routine operation, but several complications led his doctors to suspect more problems. Then the grim verdict was revealed: the cancer, already too advanced, was inoperable.

Only two months ago, D'Amour was in the studio working on the 14th album from the Canadian thrash-metal pioneers VOIVOD. More than two dozen tracks are believed to have been demoed for the CD, for which the group recently inked a deal with The End Records. However, the band were forced to put studio work on hold while bassist Jason Newsted (ex-METALLICA) was treated for tendonitis.

In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Newsted spoke about the material slated to appear on the group's next CD. "It's the most complete demos I've ever been involved in," he said. " Snake has already chosen his effects ? exact timing of milliseconds for delay. We've had a long time to develop the demos, so there's about 23 or 25 songs that are absolutely listenable right now."

Newsted was a huge fan of VOIVOD before he was invited to join and he remains a great admirer to this day. "They created something a long, long time ago that may have been emulated many, many times since ? but nobody can do it like the original," he offered.

Prior to his hospitalization, D'Amour laid down guitar tracks for a reunion CD from the legendary AUT'CHOSE, a '70s band from Montreal. That album is expected to surface next summer.

Read more ››

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Voivod

The band are very thrilled and excited to tell you that Sony/BMG Benelux has signed Stream Of Passion. Sony/BMG is one of the biggest labels in the world and became very interested in Arjen Lucassen's new band after hearing the demo recordings this summer.

"Embrace The Storm" will be released October 24th, 2005 through Sony/BMG in the Benelux and InsideOut for the rest of Europe and the U.S./Canada. For Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltic States, Stream Of Passion has signed with the label IronD.

Also, Stream Of Passion will hit the road for a European tour starting late January 2006. The band is already busy rehearsing and will perform songs from their debut album "Embrace The Storm", as well has songs from the Ayreon back-catalogue. Tour dates to be announced soon!

Source:	streamofpassion.com
Band profile:	Stream Of Passion

Posted By "Zac" on the official website: http://cephaliccarnage.net

As most of you may know we had to drop off of the Suffocation, Cryptopsy, Aborted tour due to internal reasons that we will get in a lot of trouble for talking about publicly. Just know it had nothing to do with any of the bands, their members, of their management. We were looking forward to this tour more than any of you could possibly imagine, and it really, REALLY sucked to have to do that, but that's just life sometimes.

I'm sure most of you also know that shortly after we dropped off of the Suffocation tour we were asked to join The black dahlia murder, Between the buried and me, and Into the moat for a full length tour across the states and Canada. We are very excited to get out there and play some of the new songs for what will hopefully be a pleasant mix of old friends and an unsuspecting public.

This is really our first full-length tour supporting "Anomalies" in the states and we can't be more excited and ready to go. For those "purists" out there that have any sort of miscommunication about the situation revolving around our decision to take this tour over the Suffocation tour, we ask that you:
A. you not look at it like that, as that's not the situation and
B. come see us when we're in your neck of the woods, and we'd be more than happy to elaborate over a beer or two.

-Tour dates will be posted very soon.

Saturday Aug. 27th marks a special occasion for us as it will be the debut of our video (albeit an edited version) for the hit single(haha) "Dying will be the death of me" on MTV2's Headbangers ball. Again, for all the "purists" out there, yes we have totally sold out, and it's fucking rad.

You should see me right now rubbing $100 bills all over my bare chest in slow motion. The clip is already in solid rotation at Fuse's Metal Asylum and Music choice among many others. So a huge thanks goes out to those stations/programs for giving us a chance.

Lastly, we will be uploading new pictures from our last jaunt through the states and Canada with Shadows Fall, Terror, Zao, Origin, and Dead to fall, as well as our 6 weeks in Europe. If you were at any one of those shows, chances are there is probably a pic of you there. If not, send us what you have and we'll do our best to post it.

-Steve and I are finishing up work on a handful of songs to be tabbed.

Band profile:

Cephalic Carnage

Old Mans Child Galder (Dimmu Borgir) returned to Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden (In Flames, Arch Enemy), with Patrik J. Sten and Fredrik Nordström helping to create a new monster of an album, grimly dubbed "Vermin". Putting an end to the two-year silence since their last album, "Vermin" showcases Galder handling the vocals, stringed instruments and keyboards himself, propelled by Danish beat-machine Reno H. Kiilerich, who was drafted by Dimmu Borgir as a live drummer after stints with Vile, Exmortem(and who won a drum contest displaying the fastest footwork after exceeding over 800 hits on the double-bass pedals in one minute). Also guesting on the album for a lead guitar piece is Testament, Dragonlord guitarist Eric Peterson, while the artwork was created around the album's lyrical concept by Greek designer Set (Rotting Chirst, Paradise Lost, Heaven Shall Burn). Punishing catchiness, challenging instrumental performances and an intense overall atmosphere are enhanced further by Galder's demonic vocal delivery, bringing the Old Mans Child name to a new level of coherence and savagery. "Vermin" is yet another masterpiece by Old Mans Child to add to your collection if you call yourself a supporter of quality black metal.

Tracklisting is as follows:

1. Enslaved And Condemned (4:15)
2. The Plague Of Sorrow (4:09)
3. War Of Fidelity (4:19)
4. In Torment's Orbit (5:04)
5. Lord Of Command (Bringer Of Hate) (4:51)
6. The Flames Of Deceit (4:39)
7. Black Marvels Of Death (4:22)
8. Twilight Damnation (4:42)
9. ...As Evil Descends (1:11)

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Old Man's Child