Greetings Doomsters:

Well, we are one step closer to finishing the upcoming release of "Alone". The drums are completed and the rhythm guitars and bass tracks are being recorded as I write this. If all goes as planned (ha: that never happens) I should be laying vocal tracks come January.

Once again--keep the faith, for Solitude is back and shall reclaim the throne of Doom!

-D.o.D.-

http://www.eternalsolitude.com/

Band profile:

Solitude Aeturnus

Mark your calendars? the new album, Death After Life, plagues the Old World on the twenty-first of February, and terrorizes the United States of Amerikkka on the eighth of March. Check out the album cover in the music section.

Recently, Impaled returned from a pair of shows in the North West, and managed to escape the protesters who ravaged the clubs just by the skin of their teeth. The band will be returning to the Hollyweird area for the Century Media Christmas Party. Check it out in the shows section.

A new shirt design for everyone's favorite split CD of all time, Dementia Rex is finally underway. Featuring a redrawn cover image by horror artist extraordinaire Chas Balun along with art by Luisma of Haemorrhage, this comes just in time for Christmas. Be sure to ask Satan Claws to pick up this shirt for you so you can be the envy of all the kids, courtesy of Hangar 19.

www.impaled.info

It's official: Labyrinth have signed for Arise Records!

Do you remember last time we said: 'They're goin' really MAD' ?
Click here to know why...

So, waiting the new album, Labs & S:O:T Staff want to wish you all a Merry Xmas and a REALLY Happy New Year !!!
Keep you in the Maze...

GREAT NEWS DIRECTLY FROM LABYRINTH 'S MANAGER !!!

The name of the new Labyrinth's album will be 'Freeman' and it is finally ready, after the recording & mixing sessions at the Elnor Studio (Milan) and the mastering sessions in The House Of Audio Studios in Germany. This one is a big step in the new frontier of Labyrinth's sound: you shall judge it in March 2005, when 'Freeman' will be out!!!
It's very difficult to say in which direction the 2005 Lab's sound is gone, if we consider that in the 10 tracks of 'Freeman' we can find the most various things: from the band's most aggressive song ever 'Dive In Open Waters', to the mid tempos with killer riffs and harmonics melodies & seventies - or speedy - periods, to disquieting 'Malcom Gray', a song that will give a thrill to more than a people!
By the way - 'bout thrill - the album cover will be, this time, a picture realized by the famous Emmanuel Mathez, the same who realized the videoclip for the song 'L.Y.A.F.H'.
It's not enough: the Italian edition (initial limited pressing) will be an extra value as a live DVD recorded in Tokyo during the Banzai Tour (May 2004)!
You can understand this time the guys are goin' really MAD !!!
Really soon more pics, news and... some music!!! ^____-

www.labyrinthmusic.it

Band profile:

Labyrinth

Black Lotus is really proud to announce the signing of the legendary CRIMSON GLORY singer, Midnight, who returns after 16 years in absolute silence!
Words are not enough to describe his truly unique voice, which has marked the history of recorded music and placed him among the most influential
singers of the 1980's.

The years have passed, but Midnight refused to get involved in any musical projects after the amazing CRIMSON GLORY albums. and the silence breaks so he returns to the frontline with his first stunning solo work titled "SAKADA" to be released around April 2005. In his comeback (always shall be referred as the comeback of the century!), he is surrounded by new musicians (Phil Anderson/Hammer Dulcimer, Drums, Washboard, other percussion, Scott Gibson/ Electric Guitar, Bass, Mandolin) as well as old friends, like Ben Jackson (the rhythm guitarist of CRIMSON GLORY) and other special guests.

Prepare your souls for a unique journey across the desert at night on a camel that has no eyes. riding far away to a lonely paradise.. Midnight is here to stay...

www.black-lotus-recs.com

It is with deep sorrow that we have to announce the passing of our bandmate Daryl Pediford. He was a magical talent and for those of you who had the opportunity to see him light up the stage, you know how much he will be missed.
It was a blessing to be able to spend time with such a spirited soul. We treasure the time we had with him both personally and professionally.

Daryl Pediford was more than a fellow band member, more than a friend.

He was our brother

http://www.trans-siberian.com

Artemis Records is proud to announce the signing of Black Label Society, featuring legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde, to an exclusive worldwide licensing, multi-album contract. An album of all-new material, MAFIA, is slated for a March 8th, 2005 release. In 1987 at the tender age of 19, an unknown Zakk Wylde was hand-picked by Ozzy Osbourne to be his lead guitarist. In addition to his responsibilities as Ozzy's main axe slinger, Wylde was responsible for co-writing many of Osbourne's best-selling multi-platinum albums. In 1998, Wylde formed his own band, Black Label Society, while still maintaining his role as Osbourne's lead guitarist. In Black Label Society, Wylde serves as sole songwriter, lead vocalist and of course, lead guitar player. To date, Black Label Society has released six albums and has sold in excess of one million units worldwide.

http://www.artemisrecords.com/

Band profile:

Black Label Society

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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