FINNISH METAL EXPO - Helsinki, Kaapelitehdas, January 28-29.2005

- Finnish Metal Expo gathers consumers, musicians and businesses under the same roof
- Hilselinko seeks for the most interesting new metal talent in Finland
- International Metal Meeting is a professional event for the industry

Among the bands announced for live shows are the following:
Tarot
Sonata Arctica
Mnemic (DEN)
Finntroll
Machine Men
Total Devastation
Callisto
Godsplague
Pain Confessor
Purity
Hevein
The Scourger

For more info, visit the official page of the event:
http://www.fme.fi

In a update on their website we found that "The third album Difference is now mixed and mastered", also it was previously posted the tracklist of the album, that is as follow:

Lost souls
Wings of Icaros
New life
Lucid times
the Mirror
World*s child
Sail away
Fly
Secret door
We are one
Green fields
Powerplay (Bonus)

http://www.dreamtale.net

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Band profile:

Dreamtale

"BOLT THROWER have found a replacement for the recently departed Dave Ingram.

The band is very happy to announce that original vocalist Karl Willetts has rejoined them as a full-time member.

Karl said, "It's fantastic to be a part of the mighty BOLT THROWER again. It feels great to be back with the guys, I can't wait to get my teeth into the new songs and get back on the road again. I've got some unfinished business to attend to...!"

The now complete line-up of BOLT THROWER - Karl Willetts, Gavin Ward, Barry Thomson, Jo Bench & Martin Kearns - will spend the next few weeks finishing off the new material and plan to go into the studio in the new year."

http://www.metalblade.de/

Band profile:

Bolt Thrower

Guitarist/main songwriter Kari Kainulainen has left the Swedish progressive metallers Amaran. "I have decided to leave Amaran to devote my energy to my new band, Sibliance," Kainulainen writes on the band's web site. "I not not leaving Amaran because of any personal indifferences... Amaran has just been working poorly lately, which has made me frustrated. I can remove by stepping down. Furthemore, I haven't been satisfied what so ever about the situation with Listenable (I guess that's the biggest issue)...

"I wish the Amaran guys all the best and all the best of luck!!!"

Amaran's sophomore effort, "Pristine In Bondage", was released in January through Listenable Records. The follow-up to "A World Depraved" was recorded at Studio Underground in Västerås, Sweden and is the group's first since the departure of bassist Mikael Andersson (he has since been replaced by Julie Laughs No More drummer Ronnie Bergerståhl).

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France's Listenable Records has issued a statement in response to former AMARAN guitarist Kari Kainulainen's assertion that his disssastisfaction with the label was the main reason he chose to leave the band. Listenable's statement reads as follows:

"We feel AMARAN has always been a very promising band and we've always tried to support them as much as possible as well as all the other artists on our roster.

"The band has unfortunately become frustrated because we didn't want them to record the new album so soon like one year after the 'Pristine in Bondage' album release coz we could only release this new album in September 2005 (9 months later) in order to give it the right focus and use our best efforts to possibly put them on tour right after the release, which is quite hard considering the heavy competition in European tours nowadays and also get a release date in coordination with the Japanese company involved in this new album with us.

"We thought a recording period right before the summer was also more suitable to us financially due to the priorities we have coming out first semester 2005. We kept being unaware of this growth of frustration (apparently leading to Kari's departure) until the news was spread today on the 23rd of November.

"We're hoping the fans willl not have misconceptions reading Kari's news and about our work."

Read more ››

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Amaran

LINE-UP's CHANGE FOR AQUILON !

Sébastien has left the role of guitarist to Stéphane Jeannin for personnal reasons.
Stéphane has already played in many different bands and got a solid experience. Beeing an excellent guitar-player, he's bringing more power and cohesion to the Aquilon's music.

The 2 next concerts of the band :
04 décembre - Macon (71) - La Cave a Musique - 21h00 - 9?
11 décembre - Saint Martin D'Hères - L'Art Scène" (80 rue des Taillées-38400)

The band have posted 2 songs from their latest album Fading Beauty on the news section of their official website.

http://www.morphia.nl/

"Well, it's been awhile, but we can finally announce that our longtime friend and former guitarist AARON GUERRA will once again be cranking up the guitar with Tourniquet! As you may remember, it was a mutual parting a couple three years ago, as Aaron was starting a family and so on. We are all now in a position to welcome him back and he is in a position to return - so... let's all give him a "WELCOME BACK AARON". Of course, this means you may have a chance to see Tourniquet live again..."

http://www.tourniquet.net

Band profile:

Tourniquet

"The band return to Thin Ice studios on November 22nd to record 3 new tracks for the Japanese record label. These three songs will feature on the 3rd PQ album...title coming soon!
The remainder of the album will be recorded between January 24th and the end of February 2005.

Power Quest are still searching for a new drummer to join the band. If you are a drummer and you can play in the vein of Dan Zimmerman, Jorg Michael etc then we want to hear from you!
Please contact Steve Williams for more information.

Thanks to everyone who came down to the Underworld show on November 13th! What a night! Extra special thanks to our friend Paolo who filled the drum stool for the night. Awesome performance dude!"

http://www.power-quest.co.uk/

Band profile:

Power Quest

The Neo-folk projet by Kim Larsen put an update on his website:

"The next album 'SONNENHEIM' is being worked on
and will be released by 'Heiðrunar|Myrkrunar' & distributed by Tesco.

After long time requests the Midnight Will 10" EP, originally released by Eis+Licht,
has been re-edited, re-mixed and will be re-released on a MCD at some point in the future.
2 additional tracks was recorded at the same sessions
and will be out on a 7" single titled "HAIL HAIL HAIL".

Exact release dates to be confirmed."

www.ofthewandandthemoon.dk

Here is a message take it from their official website:

"Well, I have returned, safely from Gothenburg, Sweden, where I completed all drum tracks at "Los Angered Recording" with Mr. Andy Laroque at the healm, as it were. all went very well and without problems, which is always a bonus, really. I really enjoyed my stay in Sweden - Andy really took care of me while in Gothenburg, showing me the sights, etc. All around, a very good trip - I certainly could see going back at some point, for future recording-related possibilities.

Nils dropped by the 2nd day of recording, which was nice to see him of course - at that point, the actual recordings were just commencing, so he was not able to catch much musically, but he could tell that there was a good vibe going on in the studio, so I believe that put him at ease. As I write this, Andy is working on finishing up the drum-editing, which should be completed by weeks end. I can assure you that this is the "busiest" I have played on an Eidolon record, mostly due to playing on a "real drum kit " ( I have used the roland v's for most of the records ) so it was certainly nice to get back to playing an acoustic kit in the studio!!

At this point, I belive Glen will commence guitar tracks upon the completion of the 1st leg of the Megadeth tour, which ends at the end of November. He should begin in December sometime, if all goes well. This is our most important record thus far, so we're not forcing any time-line - the music will speak for itself, believe me!!!!!!! Thats it for now, freaks - I will talk to you soon..."

http://www.eidolon-nightmareworld.com/

Band profile:

Eidolon

"Invocator will enter Jacob Hansens own Hansen Studios some days during November to record a few new tracks to be featured on the upcoming record."

http://www.invocator.com/

Band profile:

Invocator

The italian power metal band have found a new bass player and he's: Steve Balocco who plays in Anthenora and Broken Arrow. In other news the band have posted a live video on the media section of their official website.

http://www.whiteskull.it/

Band profile:

White Skull

There is a update by Daniel:

"Hi folks again,
the production of the new album "The Circle of Life" is about to be finished. We're more than happy about the result! Philip and Sascha did a great job, the whole thing sounds alive and kicking. Each song has been given its individual soundspectrum and gained even more positive results.

And here we go for the tracklist of the 12 songs:The Gathering, The Rhythm of life, Mother Earth, Starchild, Kings and Queens, High enough, Hunting high and low, Hero Nation, The Eternal Flame, Starlight and titletrack "The Circle of Life".

Release has definetely been set to the second half of March 2005 but an exact release-date wasn't put on table yet. Right after the release there are plans for touring. I'll keep ya updated.
See ya"

http://www.freedom-call.net

Band profile:

Freedom Call

Holland's Within Temptation will take part in an online chat on Monday, November 22 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The band will answer the fans' questions regarding their recently released album, "The Silent Force", and their upcoming European tour.

You can join the two chatrooms at Within-Temptation.com and Wt-Music.de.

Read more ››

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Within Temptation

There is a message from Erik taken from the official Cult of Luna website:

"Our new video is done! Directed by Skelleftea locals Linus Johansson and Anders Forsman. Photographed by me. It was aired last saturday on Scuzz TV UK for the very first time. Download it below. We hope you'll like it..."

to see the video go to: http://www.cultofluna.com/