OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM CENTURY MEDIA

Finnish MACHINE MEN signs longterm worldwide deal with Century Media Records!

We are proud to announce the addition of one of the most talented melodic metal bands on today's scene, MACHINE MEN, to the quality repertoire of The Century Media Family.

Earning a reputation as an excellent live band, these young musicians (in their early Twenties) created quite a buzz in the realm of melodic metal with their self-titled MCD (2002) and especially their debut album "Scars & Wounds", which was released in their homeland Finland in 2003 and followed up by a full European launch in Spring 2004 via their former label Dynamic Arts Records, with praising media reaction claiming the band to be the most hopeful newcomer of their kind.

The band consist of Antony (Vocals), J-V (Guitar), Jani (Guitar), Eero (Bass) as well as Jarno (Drums) and having been influenced by classic metal acts such as Iron Maiden as well as vintage Queensryche, MACHINE MEN are determined to bring along a fresh edge within their style to build a bridge from the golden '80s to the best of modern metal for all fans of the style.

Their new album "Elegies" was recorded by Thunderstone's Nino Laurenne at Sonic Pump Studios (Omnium Gatherum, Thunderstone, etc.) and then mastered at the established Finnvox Studios, comes with classy artwork by Norwegian artist Christian Ruud (Tristania, Madder Mortem, etc.) and it includes 9 catchy and yet profoundly melodic new songs as well as a cover version of Bruce Dickinson's "Freak".

The final track-list of "Elegies" is as follows:

1. Falling (3:05)
2. Dream & Religion (3:49)
3. Apathy (5:10)
4. Back From The Days (3:28)
5. The Traitor (3:55)
6. October (6:35)
7. Daytime Theatre (4:58)
8. Doors Of Resurrection (4:10)
9. From Sunrise To Sunset (6:04)
10. Freak (4:15)

"Elegies" release date will be in July 25th. MACHINE MEN will already be promoting their new release on the upcoming shows:

16.07. Ilosaarirock (FIN) - Joensuu / Metelli-Club * www.ilosaarirock.fi
22. - 23.07. Earthshaker Festival (D) - Geiselwind * www.earthshaker-fest.com
04. - 06. 08. Wacken Open Air Festival (D) - Wacken * www.wacken.com
19.08. Oulu (FIN) - Jalometalli Festival * www.jalometalli.net
27.08. Salo (FIN) - Bar Maksim

A video clip for a yet undetermined track off "Elegies" will be in the works soon as well as further European touring for the autumn season. Artwork for the album as well as an online sample will be launched in a couple of weeks.

Read more ››

Band profile:

Machine Men

"We will make no attempt to apologize for the last six month's hiatus.
We have been deeply entrenched in the product development chambers of the Age of Silence headquarters, which lies in an undisclosed location somewhere between your world and ours.
It has been decided that the next product will be a grand gesture of EPic proportions, so read into that what you will, and prepare for the next step in our crusade."

http://label.theendrecords.com

The band consisting of Kjetil Nordhus (Green Carnation & Trail Of Tears), Anders Kobro (Green Carnation, Carpathian Forest & In The Woods), Gøran Bomann (Carpathian Forest), Svenn Aksel Henriksen (ex-Dismal Euphony) and Kjell Jacobsen finished the recording of the 11 songs that will apperar on their debut album "The Masquerade" that "is shcheduled for a worldwide release in June 2005".

"They are already booked to Southern Discomfort Festival in Norway in September. The band is looking for more concerts so, bands, booking agencies or promoters interested, write for them. Band webpage: www.chaincollector.com"

Source:

planeta.terra.com.br

The band had posted the song "La Llave de la Puerta Secreta" on mp3 format from the band upcoming album. It can be found here .

Read more ››

Source:	rataweb.com.ar
Band profile:	Rata Blanca

GMM 2005 : Press Release 6 - Wednesday 07 April 2005

GRASPOP METAL MEETING

Festivalpark, DESSEL - Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June 2005

ALMOST THERE...

The line-up for the 10th edition of the Graspop Metal Meeting is almost complete.

Just eight slots remain to be filled.

Unfortunately there are also a few cancellations: CHIMAIRA and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE won't be coming to Graspop this year.

The band offer their sincere apologies. They are part of the 'Sounds of the Underground' tour in America and as the starting date of this tour has been moved forward to 25 June, they had no choice but to cancel their Graspop gig.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES also have to cancel. Singer Mike Muir has been having serious health problems and Suicidal are forced to postpone the entire summer tour. Get well soon Mike!

Good news from the MADBALL camp. They have come back on their decision to cancel and have reconfirmed their appearance at this year's festival.

MEGADETH is another name that's been circulating quite a bit and? we are finally able to add Megadeth to the bill. The band looked to be dead and buried in 2002 when Dave Mustaine suffered a severe arm injury, but three years later Megadeth are alive and kicking and the old sound is back.

SKITSOY, the band around former Channel Zero lead man Franky De Smet-Vandamme, will also be playing Graspop this year.

Have also been confirmed :TERROR, AMEN, PRO-PAIN DRAGON FORCE, GOREFEST, PETER PAN SPEEDROCK and SIRENIA

The provisional line-up for the three days of the festival is as follows (note that last-minute changes are still possible!!):

Friday 24 June :

ALTER BRIDGE - CALIBAN -ENSLAVED - GRAVE DIGGER - H20 - HELMET - IMMOLATION - KREATOR MADBALL - MEGADETH - METAL CHURCH - NEVERMORE - PAPA ROACH - SYSTEM OF A DOWN - WITHIN TEMPTATION

Saturday 25 June :

ACCEPT - AMON AMARTH - BEHEMOTH -GOREFEST - IN FLAMES - MASTODON - PETER PAN SPEEDROCK - PRO PAIN - ROSE TATTOO - SAMAEL - SICK OF IT ALL - SIRENIA - SKITSOY - SLAYER - SLIPKNOT - SOILWORK

Sunday 26 June :

AMEN - ARCH ENEMY - AXEL RUDI PELL - DARK TRANQUILLITY - DREAM THEATER - DIO -DRAGON FORCE - IRON MAIDEN - LACUNA COIL - MURPHY'S LAW - NUCLEAR ASSAULT - OCEANS OF SADNESS - PRIMAL FEAR - TERROR - YNGWIE MALMSTEEN

ADVANCE SALES

You can order your tickets to the Graspop Metal Meeting by phone, online and via the usual presales channels.

Order your ticket(s) as soon as possible to avoid unpleasant surprises.

You will find the exhaustive list on our website: www.graspop.be

Read more ››

ORGANIC!

New Freak Kitchen album soon + bonus DVD included!

We are currently wrapping up the work on Organic, our forthcoming CD, which we release late April. (Global release dates soon. Some territories will be in May).

We're joined by the amazing Bumblefoot on vocals and guitar on the track "Speak When Spoken To". We have also shot a video for the track which will be feautured on a special, first printing bonus DVD. The DVD will also include three exclusive live clips from Paris ("Hateful Little People", "Taste my Chopstick") and Montpellier ("Blind") + the "Nobody's Laughing" and "Print This!"-videos.

The cover painting is made by fabulous French expressionist Thierry Cardinet.

The Organic tunes and running order:

01. Speak When Spoken To
02. The Rights to You
03. Look Bored
04. Chest Pain Waltz
05. Mussolini Mind
06. Guilt Trip
07. Becky
08. Independent Way of Life
09. Heal Me
10. Infidelity Ghost
11. Sob Story
12. Breathe

Swedes can place their order at www.ginza.se this very moment.

The French will have the chance to hook up with IA (and later on Björn and Chris at La Locomotive) the week of the release at the following places:

26/04 : Rennes / Virgin Megastore (17.30)
27/04 : Rouen / Virgin Megastore (17.30)
28/04 : Toulouse / Virgin Megastore (17.30)
29/04 : Paris / Virgin Megastore Champs Elysées (18.00)
30/04 : Tours / Maison de l'Etudiant, Parc Grandmont (15.00)
01/05 : Paris / La Locomotive (from 16.00), with the whole band performing around 30 minutes at the Hard Rock Magazine Awards Evening. www.hardrockmag.com.

Wednesday April 27th, IA will present Organic live on France Inter (French national radio station) in a show called "Sous Les Etoiles Exactement". This late night show will take place from 2.00 AM until 3.00 AM during the night of the 27th to the 28th. Don't worry if you're not based in France you can listen to this show (in French) via Internet. On the 28th at 2.00 AM just click here
(link to : http://www.radiofrance.fr/chaines/france-inter01/direct/index.php?ok=1).
Then, when you'll be on the site click on "Ecouter en direct" on the Top left. Have fun !

Brand new Freak Kitchen "Organic" website by the mighty HTML-dude coming soon!

Read more ››

Band profile:

Freak Kitchen

The announcement was published on the Nocturnal Art website, and it's as follow:

"After many years and a successful relationship, Nocturnal Art and Red Harvest have agreed to part ways. Red Harvest is already hard at work on new material. Nocturnal Art wishes them the best of luck on their quest for a new label and all future efforts."

Source:	nocturnalart.com
Band profile:	Red Harvest

You'll never know what to expect when it comes to Ensoph. Regarded as one of the most interesting bands of 2004 with their "Opus Dementiae" release, the band is working hard both on their "The Hourglass Ordalia" project and a new album to be released by the beginning of 2006.
The two projects are two completely separate things.
"The Hourglass Ordalia" has to be considered a very special chapter in Ensoph career, a limited edition (777 copies only) in a Super Jewel Box format.
This album is made out of the collaboration between Ensoph and some very important acts of the Italian industrial movement.
You will be pleased to know that there will be featured the last song ever recorded by Void Of Silence plus other extremely cool and morbid stuff from Wertham/Foresta di ferro, Ain Soph, Ait!, Canaan, Thee Maldoror Kollective, Argine and Bad Sector.
By the way, there can be more surprises about THO's collaborations...
One thing is sure: this on will be the most interactive CD ever done...

On the other side the new album is going to be more traditional-Ensoph although the word "tradition" does not exactly apply to this band!
But anyway, Ensoph will start recording it in June at the HeartBeat Studio, while the mixing will be made at the Outer Sound studio run by Giuseppe Orlando of Novembre.

The new album will probably be entitled "Project X-kàton".

Steve Sylvester, from the cult Italian horror metal band DEATH SS will collaborate with the band for releasing one of the most stunning cover versions ever done...
The legendary singer will probably contribute to the album also in other amazing ways: be sure that you will be informed about as soon as the project will be defined.
Watch out!

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com

Megadeth and Dream Theater to co-headline GIGANTOUR 2005

For Immediate Release:

DAVE MUSTAINE'S 'GIGANTOUR'
SET TO LAUNCH IN LATE JULY;
DREAM THEATER, FEAR FACTORY,
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN AND NEVERMORE
CONFIRMED TO JOIN MEGADETH ON THE MAINSTAGE
FOR SIX-WEEK NORTH AMERICAN TREK

It's called GIGANTOUR, and it's the brainchild of MEGADETH
frontman/guitarist DAVE MUSTAINE.

Set to launch in late July, GIGANTOUR is a six-week festival
trek co-headlined by MEGADETH and DREAM THEATER, who'll be
accompanied by other mainstage acts Fear Factory, Dillinger
Escape Plan and Nevermore. Artists for the second stage will
be announced in the coming weeks.

GIGANTOUR follows MEGADETH's sold-out 2004 "Blackmail The
Universe" Tour in support of 2004's THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED--
MEGADETH's tenth studio album--which debuted on the charts
at #18 and was critically hailed as a brilliant return to form.
Bandmates Glen Drover (guitar), James MacDonough (bass) and
Shawn Drover (drums) will once again join MUSTAINE on the road.

GIGANTOUR--whose moniker was inspired by the classic 1960's
cartoon "Gigantor"--will criss-cross North America, with stops
in amphitheatres and arenas in cities including Los Angeles,
New York, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Washington,
Philadelphia, Boston, Denver and Minneapolis, among others.
The tour is implementing the "fan friendly" ticket price of
approximately $35 each. MUSTAINE notes: "I think people may
want an affordable alternative to the choices out there--along
the lines of a pure music festival--like Monsters of Rock or
Clash of the Titans."

MUSTAINE handpicked the bands for GIGANTOUR, with a focus on
musicianship. "There are 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 like DREAM THEATER,
Fear Factory, Dillinger Escape Plan and Nevermore." MUSTAINE
wanted to "put together a festival that consisted of positive
bands that play heavy music in a high energy environment."

(...)

MUSTAINE is excited to hit the road and has a positive outlook
for GIGANTOUR. "I look forward to watching this develop over
the years and seeing how we can turn this into something that's
going to stand the test of time. And if this works, and it really
works, maybe we'll take it elsewhere."

Read more ››

Source:	Dream Theater's newsletter
Band profile:	Megadeth

Demons & Wizards, the project featuring Jon Schaffer of Iced Earth and Hansi Kürsch of Blind Guardian, have set "Touched by the Crimson King" as the title of their sophomore album, due June 27 via SPV Records.

The follow-up to the group's 2001 self-titled CD, "Touched by the Crimson King" will feature the following track listing:

01. Crimson King
02. Beneath These Waves
03. Terror Train
04. Seize the Day
05. The Gunslinger
06. Love's Tragedy Asunder
07. Wicked Witch
08. Dorian
09. Down Where I Am
10. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Demons & Wizards

We are happy to announce that Kataklysm has won an award for "Best Metal Group" at the Canadian Indie Music Awards!! The band wishes to thank all the fans who voted for them.
Kataklysm was not able to attend the opening night at the Phoenix Theater (Toronto) this week to receive its award, as the band is currently on tour with Danzig.

Also Kataklysm live dates announced for the summer in Europe, also some Canadian dates coming soon... These will be the only dates Kataklysm will be performing for the rest of 2005.

Kataklysm will be premiering a new song from the upcoming album "In the Arms of Devastation" at all summer shows... Be there and be prepared!!

Band profile:

Kataklysm

Due to the very sad passing of the Pope the Judas Priest show in Katowice on Wednesday 6th April has had to be cancelled - this is totally beyond our control - the President of Poland has declared all entertainment venues must cancel their shows in respect of 5 days of mourning for the Pope. We will of course try and reschedule this show at a later date - once we confirm any details we will announce them here.

Jayne Andrews
4th April, 2005

http://judaspriest.com

Band profile:

Judas Priest

Barry Stern (ex-Trouble,ex-Zoetrope), who recently join forces with Dave Chandler & Ron Holzner in Debris Inc., passed away.

The following messages were posted on the Trouble official website:

"We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of barry stern on friday morning our hearts and prayers go out to all his family and friends today we remember all the good times we had together and come to know that they are priceless all we can say is that we love you and miss you and one day we will jam together again rest in peace."

"Still in disbelief.
Barry Stern
This is sad news for the music world. I would like to send condolences to Barry's family and friends.
We will think of you, and one day we will jam together again.
RIP Brother
Rick"

Source:

newtrouble.com bravewords.com

The band posted the following message regarding the contract situation:

"Gaia Epicus has broken the contract with Sound Riot Records. After this last episode with the label we have decided to end the contract with them. SR has broken to many parts of the contract and we can't except it anymore. We are now in contact with lawyers both in Norway and Portugal and will state our demands to SR very soon. If they do not agree we might be taking them to court, but we hope to have an agreement without going to court.

We are also in the progress of finding a new label to release the new album, and we hope to have a contract on this soon."

Also the band had previously reported some issues concerning the (upcoming) album:

"Release has been stopped

Gaia Epicus has told Sound Riot Records to stop the release of their upcoming album "Symphony of Glory", and to pull back all cd's that have been sent out.

The reason for this is that Sound Riot has changed the song order on the track list without asking permission from the band. Gaia Epicus has as of now forbid Sound Riot to sell or release any music of Gaia Epicus until things have been sorted out.

If you have bought or seen any places where the album is sold with the wrong track list, please let us know.

Also the song "Time and Space" has the intro for the album in the same track, and this should off course be 2 tracks. The intro part has nothing to do with the song, so that's another thing they have
fucked up.

There are also many other reasons why we have decided to go as far as to forbid Sound Riot in releasing and selling any music from the band.

We are in contact with some legal advisors at the moment and will let you know what happens as soon as we know something more.

The correct track list:
1. Welcome (intro)
2. Time and space
3. Miracles
4. Seize the day
5. Hand of fate
6. Wings of freedom
7. Spanish eyes
8. No release?
9. Chamber of secrets
10. Be thy cross my victory
11. Symphony of glory

Any track list not in this order has not been approved by the band, and therefore the Band can not stand 100% behind this product.

We hope that you all understand this situation, and respect our decision.

We will have no problem in finding someone to release this album, And we will try to work things out as soon as possible.

Best regards
Gaia Epicus"

Source:	gaia-epicus.com
Band profile:	Gaia Epicus

The following message was posted on the Label site concerning the deal with Confessor:

"Season of Mist is proud to announce the signing of the progressive doom-metal legends, CONFESSOR! Emerging from over a decade of hibernation, the band has returned to form, hungrier and more focused than ever.

Once dubbed, "The world's most obstinately technical metal band", CONFESSOR will again continue to make the words "heavy" synonymous with "progressive" and "provocative" in an effort to challenge and inspire their listeners.

As a precursor to the band's upcoming long player, "Unraveled", due out in early autumn, Season of Mist will release the limited edition CD-single, "Sour Times". Scheduled for a June release, this soon-to-be collector's item will mainly be made available for purchase to the die-hard fans. The release will contain 2 new songs; "Sour Times" and "Hibernation", a radio edit of the title track plus a live video! Also included on the limited CD with be PC Interactive gems such as band photos, a screen saver and more! Already listen to an extract of "Sour Times" here

"Confessor has always been a pillar for top notch 'complex riffing' and amazing drumming with the guts to have a vocalist who sings how he wants to, ignoring any trends for over a decade now..." ~ Philip H Anselmo - SUPERJOINT RITUAL / PANTERA

"So f*cking heavy, sophisticated and tasteful, the crème de le crème. They were 10 years ahead of their time! Godly!" ~ Karl Sanders - NILE

"Like a fucked up mix of TROUBLE and WATCHTOWER, CONFESSOR raped my ears in the early 90's - I am glad to see them back!! ~Michael Amott - ARCH ENEMY"

Source:	season-of-mist.com
Band profile:	Confessor