Finland's SINERGY will enter the studio in the spring to begin recording their fourth full-length album, tentatively due in late 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records.

"We actually have the majority of written now, but we haven't actually been able to rehearse most of the songs yet with the whole line-up due to everyone's different schedules," singer Kimberly Goss said in an online posting. "I can tell you as of now myself, Alexi , and Roope have written about 3 songs each. Some of them still have to be worked on, so perhaps the end result will be that more riffs are contributed from and/or changed by other members, therefore not making the song 100% mine, or Alexi's, or Roope's. This is the way we've always written. If you look at the songwriting credits on our previous albums, you'll see many songs that were written by more than one band member, and others that were written solely by just one of us. I just got off the phone with all the guys and we'll be starting some hardcore rehearsal sessions this week and continue until all the song arrangements are completed. The album will be recorded in the spring. Exact dates are not confirmed, but we should know very soon."

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Band profile:

Sinergy

Former MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"My Arm Injury:

"In December of 2001 I was at the La Hacienda Rehabilitation Center in Hunt, Texas. This happened because after the towers were hit, (besides all the other stuff going on at the time internally with MEGADETH) I numbed out, like most of us did. After five years of being sober, I started using pain medication. I lost control and went out to Texas to get cleaned up. While I was sobering up in Texas, on January 7th, 2002, I was sitting up in a chair at the hospital, and I fell asleep with my arm over the back of a chair I was in.

"This cut off the circulation to the radial ulnar nerve, around the humerus, on the inside of my left bicep, compressing it. This is called Saturday Night Palsy (see the link provided http://www.ncemi.org/cse/cse0919.htm ). Many claim that I hurt my arm 'shooting up'. People do not inject drugs in the inside of their arm above the elbow, into the bicep, so the shooting up bit is false.

"The Doctor in Texas said that I was probably not going to be able to use my arm any more than 80%, 'if I was lucky'. And he also said I 'would probably not play again'.

"This was not acceptable to me. So I went back from Texas to Scottsdale, Arizona, because I wanted to go to see my doctor, Raj Singh, about my arm. After I got evaluated I returned to Texas to finish my treatment and started off on what took four months of grueling physical therapy at the Spire Institute in Scottsdale with Nathan Koch, acupuncture with Doctor Vance Inouye, chiropractic adjustments from Doctor William Tikey ? the founder of Spire Institute, weight training for over a year, and loads of prayers.

"Dr. Singh pronounced that I had completely recovered and that my arm was 100% healed after that time. Following this good news I started playing again and located a guitar teacher to help my re-learn my craft named Ric Flauding.

"If there could possibly be any better news than this, it was that prior to injuring my arm, I had started to develop damage to my left hand from playing every night for two hours anyway, specifically in the little finger. The nerve injury, the time off from playing, the rehab (both La Ha and the physical therapy), and learning to play again has made me play much better.

"I hope to have something for you to listen to soon, so that you can judge for yourself."

Band profile:

Megadeth

On February 2nd Threshold will release there first ever Live-Double Album and Live-DVD. The Double CD featuring the 2 hour gig, which was recorded on the 6th of June in Holland. The DVD includes the complete concert, additional 24 minutes from ProgPower USA 2002, a 12 minute tour documentary, audio commentary from Karl Groom and Richard West and a stereo and 5.1 surround mix. 'Critical Energy' will be also available as Limited Deluxe DVD-Pak.

Band profile:

Threshold

Austrias former ABIGOR and current DARKWELL & SHADOWCAST Drummer Moritz Neuner will support the famous Italian Gothic/Black Metal-Act GRAVEWORM on drums during the upcoming year 2004 instead of Martin Innerbichler who will concentrate the whole year in growing static buildings! After the very successful X-MAS-Festival-Tour 2003 GRAVEWORM just writes new material for their follow up to 2003's "Engraved in Black" CD via NUCLEAR BLAST! Several Festival-dates round the world are booked.

Source:	Nuclear Blast Records
Band profile:	Graveworm

The Canadian Hyper Blasters KATAKLYSM kick off the new year 2004 by releasing the song 'The Ambassador Of Pain' from their upcoming album "Serenity In Fire" (Release: 22rd March 2004) as MP3 for free downloading on their official website.

Source:	Nuclear Blast Records
Band profile:	Kataklysm

Finnsh power metallers THUNDERSTONE have completed the clip for 'Until We Touch The Burning Sun'. The song is taken from the new album "The Burning" which is in stores since monday. In spring THUNDERSTONE will set off for a big European tour together with PRIMAL FEAR and ICED EARTH, beginning on March 18th in the Dutch city of Tilburg.

In other news the band has just relaunched their website. Check it out at www.thunderstone.org

Source:	Nuclear Blast Records
Band profile:	Thunderstone

NEUROSIS have finished mixing their new album at Electrical Audio studio in Chicago with producer Steve Albini (NIRVANA, BUSH, SOIL).

The yet-untitled album will be released in early summer 2004 on Relapse Records Europe and on Neurot Recordings in other parts of the world. An advance track from the CD will appear on an upcoming Neurot Recordings compilation, to be released with a bonus DVD. More information will be made available soon.

English doom metallers MY DYING BRIDE have set March 9th as the release date for their forthcoming album, "Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light". MY DYING BRIDE are currently completing work on their first video in nearly five years, for the album track "The Price of Beauty".

Band profile:

My Dying Bride

FINNTROLL are the latest band confirmed for this year's installment of the Waldrock festival, set to be held June 19, 2004 in Bergum, Holland. Also scheduled to appear are MONSTER MAGNET, TESTAMENT, CRADLE OF FILTH and CANNIBAL CORPSE. A total of 14 acts will perform at the event, which is expected to draw around 12,000 metalheads.

For more information, visit www.waldrock.nl.

Band profile:

Finntroll

Finland's STRATOVARIUS have announced the addition of a new singer and drummer to the group's ranks.

The following is the band's official statement on the matter:

"New vocalist for STRATOVARIUS is called 'Miss K' (photos at this location: http://www.stratovarius.com/index2.php'section=vocalist_missk).

"The vocal talents of this sultry Finnish lady vary from raunchy rock to classical operatic. Her voice range is over 3 octaves and she is capable of transforming STRATOVARIUS sound to something unique, something that has never been heard in Metal before.

"She is 30 years old and has a background in gymnastics, where she has twice become a Finnish Champion, and in acting.

"She has until now been singing in some local bands and has done over 200 gigs.

"Drummer for the next album will be Anders Johansson, the brother of Jens Johansson.

"After selling over 1 500 000 copies of their previous records, STRATOVARIUS is now ready to take the next step in their career.

"The band will enter the studio, a secret place, in May to record 11th studio album, which has a working title 'PopKiller'.

"The album is due February 2005 followed up by massive World Tour.

"In legal news, Sanctuary Records is asking Timo Tolkki to pay back 1 Million Euros from the recording agreement advance. Tolkki refuses to pay it, and comments: 'They have sent me a notification and are asking me to pay that amount back. Their position is that the agreement was for the old line up. My legal staff doesn't interpret the agreement this way, and have advised me not to agree to this demand. It means that we might be going to court in Berlin, but I am confident I will win this case and that justice will prevail.'

"The old line up of STRATOVARIUS are still supposed to play the following festival dates, which were confirmed earlier before the line up change took place:

Feb. 28 - Piorno Rock - Granada, SPA
May 21 - Tavastia Klubi - Helsinki FIN
May 22 - Rotonde Festival - FRA
May 23 - Transbordeur - Lyon FRA
May 30 - Rock Hard Festival - Dortmund GER
Jun. 05 - Gods Of Metal - Bologna ITA
Jun. 06 - Dynamo Festival - NETH
Jun. 24 - Raumanmeren - Juhannus FIN
Jun. 25 - Nummirock - FIN
Jul. 02 - Masters Of Rock Festival - Senec SLO
Jul. 03 - Masters of Rock Festival - Vizovice CZR

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Band profile:

Stratovarius

The Swedish melodic death metal band Skyfire signs with Arise Records, after two albums released through Hammerheart Records "Timeless Departure" (2001) and "Mind Revolutions" (2003), the band will record their third album in February/March 2004 at Los Angered Studios & Underground Studios (Sweden) to be released in May 2004.

Band profile:

Skyfire

Some links of very interesting "real" gothic music projects, check it !!!

http://www.laurieannhaus.com -Laurie Ann Haus Wesbite - personal home page of musical projects of Laurie.

http://www.ephemeralsun.com - Ephemeral Sun Website- a new female fronted experimental, etherial, progressive metal featuring ex-Rain Fell Within (Dark Symphonies) members.

http://www.darksymphonies.com/autumntears - Autumn Tears - (Dark Symphonies), neoclassical Dark wave music, new LP coming out soon.

http://www.todesbonden.com - Todesbonden Website - a new Classical/Renaissance influenced doom-metal, female fronted band started by Laurie.

Posted on the Official Homepage:

-Hypocrisy announces line-up changes-

Hello everybody,

We would like to inform you of a change in the Hypocrisy line-up.

We had a band meeting today and the three of us decided that, for "our own" reasons, Lars Szöke will no longer play in the band.

It's always heavy when an orginal member leaves a band. Lars and I have been playing together for 20 years in different bands and he's been kicking the shit out of the drums in Hypocrisy for 13 years. But now it's time to move on.

The new drummer for Hypocrisy is none other than Horgh (ex-Immortal, Grimfist) and we´re convinced that he will kick the shit out of the drums as well... We will see you on The Arrival tour in either Europe or the USA, giving you 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (see tourdates for confirmed dates)

Enjoy the new album, because we are..... Peter/Hypocrisy

Band profile:

Hypocrisy

Former JUDAS PRIEST/current ICED EARTH singer Tim Owens has revealed to Revolver magazine that he was worried that joining forces with ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer was a bad idea shortly after the band started a press tour of Europe in October. No sooner had he and Schaffer arrived in Spain than the guitarist hit the bar and began pounding drinks. "I went to bed at 11 o'clock, and at two in the morning I hear Jon yelling in the hallway," recalled Owens. "He was still drunk when he got up in the morning to fly to Germany, and he pissed me off so bad. He was screaming obscenities in the airport, and on the plane he kept yelling, 'Tim will have prune juice! Tim will have prune juice!' I said to the publicist, 'If he's not sober by the time we do the interviews, I'm not doing them.' If we had been on a boat, I would have pushed him off. I thought, 'Man, I'll never make it through a tour with this asshole.'

"At the end of the flight, Jon looked at me innocently and goes, 'Are you mad at me?' He really couldn't understand because he didn't remember a thing that had happened. Which was a relief, because it meant he didn't do anything on purpose."

In the same article, Schaffer revealed that he's laying the foundation for his most multidimensional project yet: a science-fiction conspiracy concept album based on songs from the band's 1998 disc, "Something Wicked This Way Comes". The story will cover 12,000 years of human history, and Schaffer hopes it will be a springboard for a series of comic books and possibly a motion picture.

"I haven't written down the plot yet," he said. "But I have all the outlines for the story in my head, and I'm really excited about how it's coming together. This could be my 'Star Wars'."

Band profile:

Iced Earth

Brazilian melodic metallers ANGRA have commenced the recording process for the follow-up to 2001's "Rebirth", tentatively due this summer through SPV Records.

The initial recording sessions for the CD are taking place at Mosh Studios in São Paulo, Brazil under the guidance of producer Dennis Ward (SILENT FORCE, PINK CREAM 69). So far, all the drums have already been completed and bass and guitar recordings will start this week.

Band profile:

Angra