Finally we have finished the recordings of REVENGE. We almost felt like Def Leppard by now...

The songs are the following for the European version:

IMPALER
ASSASSINS
TRAITOR
MASTER OF THE SEAS
REVENGE
SYMPHONY OF PAIN
BEYOND THE VEIL
BATTLE RAGES ON
ART OF WAR
EMPIRE OF THE LOST
THE GODS MADE HEAVY METAL (bonus track - Manowar coverversion)

There will be an edit of the 10min. epic MASTERS OF THE SEAS as bonus on the Japanese pressing as well.

Jan / PARAGON

http://www.paragon-legions.com/

Band profile:

Paragon

Due to irreconcilable differences, Siebenbürgen has decided to part with guitarist Fredrik Folkare. Replacing him on guitar will be Marcus Ehlin.

This means a minor delay in the recording of the new album. It will however not affect the release date.

The band.

Finally, after a long search, we found a suitable replacement for Brockert on the bass.

Niklas Sandin has the right talent and spirit for Siebenbürgen, he is also totally fucked up in the head which makes him fit in more than perfectly with the rest of us lunatics.

http://siebenburgen.net

Here's a little present from Gaia to all of you out there that might be intrested. This is a preview of the new album, but remember that the sound files are at low quality and that the songs havent been to a mastering studio yet. So the sound on the cd will be alot better than the sound you can here on the samples.

go to http://www.gaia-epicus.com/news.html and click on the RED link that says: Happy Xmas

Band profile:

Gaia Epicus

Guitarist Rob Johnson of the U.S. prog-metal/power metal band MAGNITUDE 9 is now preparing his next guitar instructional DVD and CD-ROM video release, tentatively due in early 2005. Guitar players into shredding and wanting to add to their own soloing and lead chops will enjoy Johnson's first video, titled "Shred Guitar Tactics". Copies of the video can be ordered here.

MAGNITUDE 9 are currently writing and demoing their fourth CD, tentatively due in late 2005 via InsideOut Music.

blabbermouth.net

Band profile:

Magnitude 9

At Vance is just about to finish the new album! The drums will be done by Franco Zuccaroli. The Drummerslot for the tour is still open. No decicion yet!

http://www.at-vance.com

Band profile:

At Vance

"We are home now, on break for the holidays - The drums are completely finished tracking, And George is on his way home to Greece. Actually we have been finished with drums for several days now, George finished ahead of schedule - but we have been laying very low these last few days resting and doing Holiday stuff with our families. All the drum tracks are sounding great, George did a fabulous job , the drumming on this record is incredible. All the fiendish rehearsal work George had done since October really paid off , and Neil has given him an incredibly clean drum sound.

The plan is to resume tracking on Jan 8 starting with guitars - and moving on to Bass Vocals, leads, and anything else."

Karl

http://www.nile-catacombs.net

Band profile:

Nile

As Russ' solo cd was taking quite a bit longer than anticipated, & Mike Romeo was anxious to get going full force on the new Symphony X cd, they both agreed that Russ would take his solo effort to another studio to complete the mixing. Russ is looking for a certain sound & said that Mike "made the music sound too good"; Russ should be finishing up the final mix in the following week or so. In the meantime, MJR has begun working in earnest on the new Symphony X cd with help from the other band members; we'll have more information here as it becomes available.

http://www.symphonyx.com

Band profile:

Symphony X

My new CD is nearly ready to mix. I need to sing a couple more songs and play a couple more guitars, and then it will be ready for me to make everything louder than everything else.

http://www.paulgilbert.com

We're finished shooting the "pearl" video! It took us two days to get things right,- and it was just like the "24" series! The guys in Helmet Productions didn't sleep for like 48 hours, only working and working to get what they wanted! The locations were awesome,- really dark and spooky... But, it's probably the coldest experiences we've ever had!! It was snowing, and we were only wearing t-shirts... We are used to snow here in Norway, but this was like the Northpole! We had a an actress who stayed in ice-cold water for like 3 hours straight! We hope she didn't get sick!! The video is supposed to be finished in the beginning of January. We'll keep you updated!

Thanks to all the people involved;- Helmet Productions and crew, Silence the foe for letting us sleep on their floor, and all the actors,- especially Beate and Anne!

Have a blessed Christmas and a great new year everyone! This year has been really hectic in the Extol-camp, but we can't wait to see you guys on tour next year! We're so excited..

Tor

http://www.undeceived.net

Band profile:

Extol

After the tragic death of Windir frontman and founder Valfar in January 2004, the rest of the band decided to bury Windir with Valfar. But after encouragement from Valfar's family, the remaining members decided to do one last Windir concert. The concert took place at Rockefeller auditorium in Oslo at the 3th of September 2004, which is the day that would have been Valfar's 26th birthday. Rockefeller was sold out, and over 1200 people took a final Farwell with Windir.

This DVD contains the complete Windir concert from the 3rd of September 2004. Windir guitarist Sture did most of the vocals at this concert, but it also includes guest vocals from Cosmocrator(Mindginder) and Valfar's brother Vegard.

Besides the last concert, the DVD includes Windir liveclips from Gaupne(1996), Sogndal(2001&2) and the Infernofestival in Oslo 2002 to name a few.

It also includes some backstage material, an interview with Valfar from Norwegian national TV and a photo gallery. Vreid guitarist Ese has produced the DVD at Hváll's Studio 1184 this autumn. The Windir DVD is entitled "SognaMetal" and will be available through Tabu Recordings in February 2005.

http://www.windir.no/

Band profile:

Windir

KHANATE have suffered a few setbacks over the autumn including a broken leg and an arrest. Nevertheless, we have been preparing a new MLP of material titled "Capture & Release" for Hydrahead. The CD version of this should come with the long-awaited "Dead" videoclip, produced by Alan Dubin. We're moving into a more tonal field with this material... expect two long tracks of unorthodox harmony amongst the savageness.

http://www.ideologic.org

Hey dudes!!!
This is Johan Lindstrand speaking. You have now entered the world of
ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET.

Sorry for wasting your precious time here, but I have just a few words to say concerning my new actions.
Listen up metalheads!!!

In these dark days when people are shooting metal icons in cold blood it may seem stupid and insignificant to start doing promotion for your new band but I personally think it's the best time.
The world isn't nice. It's full of hatred and disgust and these bullshit matters must be crushed. What better way to kill the filth than to start a new metal band with new followers
that can support the good things in life.
Yeah, no matter what happens, if you're lucky enough to be alive, life is there for you to grab and do something with. It's not gonna wait for you. That's what I felt when forming this band.
I had so much positive energy and I felt nothing can stop me.
I think that feeling is reflected in how the songs turned out.
Yeah, you're right, this is the new band with me as lead singer and 4 other metalheads playing
all the sick tunes. Those other 4 members will be announced in a near future as the band's not complete yet. We're almost done with a Promo-CD that hopefully will get the band a record deal.
The songs are killer and I don't see any reason why that wouldn't happen. Well, time will tell.
Anyway, when it's done we'll put out some samples so you'll hear what we're all about and then you can judge for your selves.

Ok, cheers and thanks for stopping by.
/Johan Lindstrand

LOOK HERE!!!!
ONE MAN ARMY Is still searching for some members to fill a couple of empty seats.
A rhythm guitarist and a drummer is requested to join THE UNDEAD QUARTET.
If you think you're the right dude for the job. Feel free to contact Johan (fam.lindstrand@bredband.net)

http://escape.to/onemanarmy

Band profile:

The Crown

Here's some MP3 links from upcoming releases. Most are available for the first time. They can be downloaded separately or just click on the last file to download all in one zipped file. Feel free to spread the word!

... Antimatter ? Legions (rough edit)
... Darkthrone ? God Of Doubt
... Epoch Of Unlight ? Aberrant Shadows
... Frantic Bleep ? But A Memory
... Novembers Doom ? Swallowed By The Moon
... Oathean ? Beyond The Memories I Lost
... Subterranean Masquerade ? No Place Like Home (exclusive for 2004)
... Ulver ? Xmas (rough edit sampler)

to listen go to: http://label.theendrecords.com/

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We are excited to announce our first signing from South Korea. This is possibly the most talented extreme metal band from Asia. A unique blend of death/black metal with folklore elements!
Media Quote: "It turns out that there's much more coming out of South Korea than (find encyclopedia and place country's main export *here*), since Oathean has turned out some above average melodic death/black metal." - ChroniclesOfChaos.com
Oathean "Fading Aways Into The Grave of Nothingness" is due out Feb 22nd and includes 2 bonus tracks!

http://label.theendrecords.com/

Crash Music, Inc. today announces that they have signed metal act Pure Sweet Hell to a four-album deal.

Pure Sweet Hell consists of Van Williams , who is also the drummer in Century Media recording artists, NEVERMORE, Christ Eichhorn, who has spent much of his time writing music and doing studio and live work with a number of bands, and Jim ³Ravenfeeder² Colson who has been in bands with Christ and Van in the past, now joins the duo as a member of Pure Sweet Hell.

Pure Sweet Hell's music can be described as a combination of thrash, black, and death metal which makes for a crushing sound.

Crash Music¹s Mark Nawara comments, "We are very excited to be working with Van and Christ on their project Pure Sweet Hell.

We look forward to helping develop the band into being a major success in the metal genre." Crash Music will release their debut full length album "The Voyeurs Of Utter Destruction As Beauty" on February 22, 2004.

http://www.pavementmusic.com

Band profile:

Nevermore