A complete song and two clips have been added to downlaod. here you have, new songs:

The Valley ( complete, unmastered ))

The Tree Of Life ( clip, unmastered )

Northlander ( clip, unmastered)

"We have finished recordings and we have finished mixing the album. The Master has been sent to France for mastering. Roope Latvala ( Sinergy, Children Of Bodom ) came and laid down the leads,then we did some finishing touches for balance and voila, new bastard son has been born:) After eight weeks in the studio.

Soulgrind thanx D - studio and especially Jarno H. for patience and for doing such marvellous job on recording. He is the most up coming studio technician at the moment here in Finland, for sure. Cheers, well done The cover art is almost done also and it should be send to France within a week or so. The cover shall be a painting done by Filip Wärnström, Sweden. The "green one". Ok, see ya next time..."

Lord

http://www.soulgrind.tk/

We just came back from the Astia-studio! Unfortunately we didn´t manage to finish the recordings in time. We have still some guitars and vocals to do. And because we want to make the best fuckin´ album possible, we will continue in the beginning of the next year. At the moment there´s no studio time available, so we have to re-schedule rest of the shit, you know.. So, Good news is that the album definitely rocks like hell but we want to make it HOTTER THAN HELL!!! Bad news is that we are not able to release it in time. We WILL let you know about the new release dates as soon as it´s possible. THANX FOR PATIENCE GUYS AND GALS, I promise we won´t let you down!

Take care & rock on!

- Sami

www.lullacry.com

Band profile:

Lullacry

The Tygers Of Pan Tang are pleased to announce their new vocalist: Jacopo Meille. Jack has previously sung in Itallian band Mantra of which he is still very much a part. "...We are over the moon to have found such a great vocalist. This is something we should have done 3 years ago, gone for a totally professional singer. He fits more into the Jon Deverill way of doing things and that suits me just fine.We already have 3 new tunes done with Jack which just came out of an end of rehearsal jam which we are really happy with.We will be going into the studio with John Mitchell (Arena) to record the new CD and I cannot wait...", said Robb.

http://www.tygersofpantang.co.uk/

Legendary Norwegian black metal band DARKTHRONE, nominated last Wednesday in the "Metal" category for the highly coveted Norwegian Alarm Awards, have now been removed from the list of nominees.

DARKTHRONE, one of five candidates in the metal category for their album "Sardonic Wrath", communicated their dissatisfaction at being nominated in an article published in Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten the day after the selected names were released to the public. "We play real and honest black metal," drummer Fenriz commented in the article. "And we have no interest in being part of the glitter and showbiz side of the music industry."

Alarm Awards chief, Svein Bjørge, was surprised by the band's reaction but hasted to find a solution that culminated in the band's elimination from the category altogether.

On hearing the news that their wish had been granted, Fenriz commented, "I just wanted to say my piece about the whole Alarm nomination thing last week and whether they kept us in or not would have been no skin off my nose."

"I have everything AGAINST awards for black metal," Nocturno Culto added. "What a fucking circus this has become."

"I am not against awards in general," Fenriz concluded. "I just thought it was not for us."

"Sardonic Wrath" is out now on Moonfog with promotion and distribution through The End Records in North America.

blabbermouth.net

Band profile:

Darkthrone

The new album, Angel Of Retribution, will be released:

28TH FEBRUARY 2005 - UK & EUROPE
1ST MARCH 2005 USA

http://www.judaspriest.com

Band profile:

Judas Priest

Hello everybody!

This is a tough message to write...
We have had a blast for the past ten years. For our selves, with the fans, with the bands, with everybody.
But as you all know, all good thing have an end.

As you might have guessed or heard, we have decided to stop Withering Surface.

We have a lot of good reasons, which we won't bother you with at this point, but mainly because we miss a common goal for the bands future.

We would like to thank everybody involved in our band since 1994; previous band members, crew, producers, writers, bands and most of all the fans who have supported us.

Farewell...

http://www.witheringsurface.dk/

As promised, elesewhere on the site you will find the cover to our upcoming single "Blood Bound", to be released worldwide at the end of January. Now, onto the details about the album. Here's the complete and final tracklist:

Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken

1. Secrets
2. Blood Bound
3. Fury Of The Wild
4. Hammer Of Justice
5. Never, Ever
6. Born To Rule
7. The Templar Flame
8. Imperial
9. Take The Black
10. Knights Of The 21st Century

I'll try to describe its contents for you. The production is ten times more powerful than last time, and there's more energy in the performance than we've ever managed to get in a studio before. Playingwise, we have grown a lot; this is a much more coherent unit than on any other HF release. The songs, then, are as diverse as you have come to expect of us, and with a few twists and turns to keep your attention 100% throughout. Some, like "Hammer Of Justice" and "Born To Rule" are classic HammerFall songs, whereas others, like "Secrets" and the epic "Knights Of The 21st Century" contain stuff we've not really done before. There you have it, "Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken" in a nutshell. I feel very strongly for this release, a feeling only growing by time, it seems. I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am with the outcome of this session, and I know the others agree. It's like we're on the brink of something big.

Anyway, onto the next item: the very special guest on the recording. He is a bloke from England - Newcastle, I believe - who gave me goosebumps from listening to his powerful voice in the Eighties, who is the grandfather of the black metal movement and a true icon in extreme metal today. I am of course talking about none other than the high priest himself, Mr. Conrad "Cronos" Lant from Venom! We have collaborated with a lot of musicians in the past, many of them who has had a more direct influence on our sound than him, but the unexpectedness and sheer coolness of this goes beyond everything. I simply never even played with the thought of the mighty Cronos appearing on a release of ours. It was unthinkable! But the passages in the lyrics wich suited his talents magnificently, the aura he brings to the record-closing track is a vital part of its dynamics. In short: thank you, Conrad, for injecting the song with what it needed to reach previously unscaled HF heights!

More news: another show has been confirmed, in Slovenia. HammerFall will appear at Metal Camp in Tolmin, on June 24th. The festival also features bands like Primal Fear, Danzig, Sentenced and Destruction. Find out more at: http://www.rockthenation.at/metalcamp_2004/webpage/at/uvodna.htm

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Band profile:

HammerFall

GMM2005 : Persrelease 1 - Friday 17 December 2004

GRASPOP METAL MEETING

Where : Festivalpark, DESSEL

When : Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June 2005

A decade of Graspop Metal Meeting : confirmed headliner IRON MAIDEN

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have been confirmed as headliners for the 2005 edition of the Graspop Metal Meeting. Talk about a wonderful Xmas present! It's hard to imagine a more fitting conclusion to the first 10 years of Graspop Metal Meeting.

Twenty-five years in the business and Iron Maiden still prove they are one of the best metal bands of all time. Their incredible success is partly due to hard work, a lot of attention to artwork and merchandising, etc. The key factor, however, is their unwavering loyalty to their fans. Throughout the years they have remained true to themselves and have never compromised.

In 2005 they will return to a more classic repertoire and the stage set-up will also hark back to the past.

Already the upcoming tour is one of sold-out venues and major festivals.

Just to illustrate: the start to the announced tour has been phenomenal. The Gothenburg show sold out in a record 2.5 hours. The 51,000 available tickets literally flew out the door, making Iron Maiden the fastest selling rock band ever.

Long-time manager Rod Smallwood is already anticipating Maiden's biggest ever tour in terms of attendance figures.

Graspop is very proud to have them and they will undoubtedly do us proud when they headline the festival on Sunday 26 June 2005.

The 10th edition of the Graspop Metal Meeting is scheduled for Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June 2005.

The concept remains the same: a three-day metal fest with a main stage and two giant marquees that offers a platform to a wide cross-section of what's hot in the metal world.

Advance sales as of 1 February 2005.

Very shortly: more names and practical information.

Surf to our website for more information: www.graspop.be

Spread the word and tell your readers/listeners the good news.

Thank you in advance.

Metal greetz,

Graspop Team

Peter Van Geel

Band profile:

Iron Maiden

What do you want for Christmas, do you want something (or someone) for yourself, for someone else, or are you one of those pansy tree-huggers looking for some unattainable, unreachable, and unrealistic higher ideal? What kinds of traditions do you and yours follow for the holidays?

I asked Century Media artists for their answers and here is what I got:

Dear Santa,

I have a few requests for you. Please listen carefully as I can't reach my stereo, and who would want to turn down Finntroll at Christmas time anyways:

Snowy Shaw (drums Dream Evil) asks for peace on earth and the death penalty, he says somehow they are linked. Tanja (vocals Lullacry) has asked for one bottle of perfume, she says she really doesn't need much and she won't ask for anything else. Mark Briody (guitar Jag Panzer) has asked for the new Iron Maiden DVD. He says he's waited years to see that classic Maiden footage, and that when he was a kid, he'd watch MTV for 8 hours just hoping to see the 'Run to Hills' video. Sakis (guitar/vocals Rotting Christ) asked for snow - then he remembered he lives in Greece. Shane Embury (bass Napalm Death) asks that you leave him one or two cookies for Christmas morning, and while we are talking about your behavior here, Timo Kotipelto requests that you "use the door this time", and Max (drums Krisiun) says " don't bother me, you drunk fat ass ." Adam Sagan (drums Into Eternity) has asked for the impossible a Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl Victory, but will settle for the extended version of Return of the King, or an Into Eternity/Opeth tour.

Thanks for listening Santa while you are at it, can you please do the impossible and reunite some of my favorite bands, namely: Immortal, and Emperor. I know you worked hard and got us Bruce Dickinson back in Iron Maiden, and Rob Halford with Judas Priest, but now it's time to turn your sites on the underground.

Sincerely,

Heather Smith

As for holiday time-honored traditions I leave it to Sean McGrath (vocals/guitars IMPALED) to give us guidance on how to celebrate the holidays:

"On Christmas Eve I like to wrap my head in duct tape, wander out on the street, and expose myself to old ladies. Then I usually black out. When I wake up, the Holding Officer always has a wonderful breakfast ready for me of boiled oats and reconstituted orange juice. After I post bail I spend the morning outside the porno theater, drinking vodka and Tang. Then I go home and stick my head in the oven."

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A live video from "Miron & Cole" was posted online on the band website.
The video was filmed live at Markens Cafè, Kristiansand in October 2004.

http://www.greencarnation.no/video.htm

Also, Green Carnation celebrates their 15th anniversary in 2005.
Here is Kenneth's statement:
"In addition to touring and promoting the new full album "The Quiet Offspring", the band wants to something spesial for the fans. "We have already discussed different ideas and hopefully we will be able to go through with them in between touring and other activities. It's a nice opportunity to do something spesial and different, and it's going to be a nice surprice. But first we need to focuse on the release of the new album".

Band profile:

Green Carnation

Theatres des Vampires will be back in the studio soon to produce the new album, which is scheduled to be released in late 2005 from Plastic Head Records.
This new album will be 100% vampiric and will be the most "evil" and "horror" in the band's history.
The band and the label are considering the option to make a double CD case, consisting of the new album and a DVD, featuring all the band's music videos as well as some other rare and incredible material never seen before.
The site will be on-line soon with a new graphics and all the details about the new upcoming album.

Theatres des Vampires are searching for a new male singer.

Sonya Scarlet is following the selection of demo material of singers.
Get in contact with her at: sonyascarlet@katamail.com

http://www.theatres-des-vampires.com/

Band profile:

Theatres Des Vampires

Things are going great with the writing of the new album. I am really excited and can't wait to get into the studio. We are really happy to announce that we will be playing the Wacken Festival this year! They always put on such a great festival that is a real honor to be playing it this year. I will get more info on this as time goes on...

http://www.obituary.cc/

Band profile:

Obituary

Guess what? I let November slip through the cold laces of work and focusing and walking on these entrancing suburban moods, inside thy head, on the lookout from a window, on the step by step of hopeful and darkened territories, the usual boring and fascinating lunar strains at least people strange enough to read through these updates, documents of a growing fast shadow of a mind.

Silence does not mean absence of disturb and that is exactly what might be said about Moonspell these winter days. Even though it is all too premature to utter a word about them, our new songs are our favourite subject, the thing and things that make us run in circles again and again to our heated inferno rehearsal place (where the heating bills are becoming gargantual) because they are enthusiastic for us and even though we all need time for them we can not wait to have them finished and communicated complete at last. Yet we will have to wait in the hope you wait for us. Pragmatically we do intend to document those forces driving us, that is, to record it during the approaching year and hopefully to bring it together on a record that will brand 2005 era vulgaris on the back of it.

Many people ask us whether we are going to stay with the Century Media family or stray away but believe us we know as much as you do about that. All we know is that we are looking for someone who does not only believe in our past and in our (always doubtful) name. We are certain we exist now and in the future, for few or more than few- who will guess?- and right now we are focused in doing but enthusiastic music that can be a gateway to that future and an invitation to belief. We have and had had a great relationship with Century so far but right now we are just doing music and music, hoping someone is still looking for us in the always waning out there.

We are now in train of finishing our contemporary dance piece for Gulbenkian ballet and for how odd it might seem what we have done is a grotesque yet dark atmospheric representation of the many demons in Moonspell and are as curious as one can be to see it translated into the body, the weapon and temple of the dancers who will walk on our fire. To see them running about the dark and crushing soundtrack we are putting together. January will see its premiere and if all goes well, the "show" might tour nationally and internationally and we will keep you posted. About its name we still have to be authorized to divulgate it, for us it has name we suggested but we do not know if it will be taken and we do not want to post on other our conceptual obsessions and sorts, four are enough bearers of this curse.

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Band profile:

Moonspell

Jack Frost have signed with Massacre Records. The recording sessions for "Wannadie Songs" will be finished in January 2005. Expect a release in May 2005. The band is currently shooting a video of the track "Me and Dark and You". All live activities have been cancelled for the next months.Expect new merchandise soon!!

http://www.jackfrost.at

Band profile:

Jack Frost

INSOMNIUM raises Christmas spirit by making all songs from our first demo downloadable! To boot this best gift ever we even offer official tablature for the song Dying Chant (album version, powertab translation). Go and have fun with it!

Album We have been busy writing new material for our third release and that's main reason for lack of updates. We have finished few new songs already but there's still long way to go until we have whole new Insomnium album in our hands. If everything goes well we'll enter studio probably somewhere in the next year.

http://www.insomnium.net/

Band profile:

Insomnium