The tribute album 'The Art of Shredding - A Tribute to Dime', a compilation by some Australian bands honouring Pantera guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott has had it's release date pushed back. Originally the project was hoped to be released on 20th August (Dimebag's birthdate), but a few things aren't quite finished yet. However the album is in the final stages of production. The booklet isn't quite complete and some sound adjustments need to be made ("...to sound the way we know you expect great CDs to sound") but the cover artwork has been finalised.

The cover artwork and some more audio samples have been posted at www.myspace.com/theartofshredding. A post on the myspace site says that the album "...will be unleashed very soon".

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Pantera

Edguy frontman Tobias Sammet recently answered a number of fan questions via the "Ask Tobias" section of his official web site. A couple of excepts follow:

Q: Compared to the older albums, "Rocket Ride" had more of a hard rock feeling to it rather then the traditional power metal sound. Is this the new direction for Edguy or is the next album going to be more like the early stuff?

Tobias: "I try not to label it, I agree there was more mid-tempo stuff on the new album, but we've had classic rock elements on all of our albums ('Lavatory Love Machine', 'Vain Glory Opera', 'Holy Shadows', 'Holy Water', several ballads...). And we have classic metal stuff on 'Rocket Ride' too ('Sacrifice', 'Return To The Tribe', 'Out Of Vogue', 'Wasted Time'). So I think people tend to this whole change-of-style thing. We've had less uptempo songs but I don't think we can read a general stylistic tendency into that. We just do what we feel we want to do. At least we consider ourselves a traditional hard rock or metal band, whatever you want it to be. And we'll go on doing whatever we wanna do. And I guess this will be metal and hard rock with a few wimpy pop ballads here and there. We've always done that. And we looooove that! :-) I don't know what the next album is going to sound like, but I think it's gonna be powerful and good."

Q: I think the new album "Rocket Ride" is your best to date. Where did you get the inspiration for the song "Sacrifice"?

Tobias: "'Sacrifice' speaks about feelings that you have, when your work is done and you lock the hotel room door behind you, when you have the time to take deep breaths and the world around you seems to slow down a bit. Then you got so many things to think about, you worry and you have doubts and all these things... As everybody. Usually I live quite fast, I got people around me all the time, I am constantly on the road and keep myself busy and busy, there's not so much time left to think. And it's quite natural that as soon as your body gets the chance to cool down a bit, you get sucked into that black hole. It's quite normal... I got used to it, so I don't worry. The first time it felt strange to fall into that black hole but now I even got an apartment on the other side, with pink inflatable palm trees. I'm used to it... I made it my black pink place... Anyway: I chose a different way of life, I got the best life I could ever dream of. But it's different. And as everybody I got to make sacrifices... Aftershow party in the black pink place..."

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Source:	tobiassammet.com
Band profile:	Edguy

Vader has posted their cover of Slayer's song 'Raining Blood' on their official website. The song comes from Vader's soon to be released album 'Impressions In Blood'. The song is a bonus track on the Japanese bonus edition of the album, but for those who don't live in Japan, it can be downloaded.

The song can be downloaded from the mp3 downloads section of Vader's official website (along with another new track 'Warlords'').

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Source:	vader.pl
Band profile:	Vader

Belgian death metallers, Aborted have posted the following update on their homepage:

"Well, this tour (with Cryptopsy) has been quite the debacle. We had to cancel Malmo (Sweden) since the bus broke down in Denmark and we were stuck there the whole day which sucked ass. Luckily for the fans, Cryptopsy did make it at the last minute, and apparently they tore it up! We apologize to the fans there waiting to see us, but we only found out last minute we wouldn't make it, sucks.... Secondly, Matty (guitars) had some problems with his working situation so last minute we had to cancel our participation to the rest of the tour since he might have lost his job over this. Our boys in Visceral Bleeding are taking over for the other dates and I'm sure they will do the killing in our stead. All you guys out there, no worries, we're planning a full offensive next year with the new album! Now it's time to play Stockholm, see you guys there!"

Source:	goremageddon.be
Band profile:	Aborted

Arch Enemy vocalist, Angela Gossow has posted the following message on her MySpace Page:

"Dear friends,

I was invited to the Kerrang Awards on Thursday. Its all industry and business, not much of a metal party with bands like Placebo and Muse. I had to do a couple of Jaegermeister shots with Kerry King to get over this blasphemy. But oh well. Me and Christina were there to give the 'Hall Of Fame' award to Slayer - the only band who truly deserved their award! REIGN IN BLOOD (and chop those suit-and-tie-wearing corporates into pieces please).

Check out from the Kerrang! Awards:
Picture#1
Picture#2
Picture#3
Picture#4
Picture#5

Flying these days is a huge hassle. You are not even allowed to bring some toothpaste in your handluggage. I made it through the metal detector bare foot (even flip flops have to be taken off) and were asked to throw my chapstick away.. I looked at the security guy and said.. "Listen, I am German, non-religious, love my live and will NOT attempt to blow up the plane with a lipstick".. Needless to say he did not get the joke. I felt a personal triumph though that he didnt discover my saline nasal spray. Ha! Rebellion.

We are in full-preparation mode for Gigantour. We havent been touring for a while (did the EU festivals instead) and I struggle to remember the essentials I have to bring for living on a tourbus.. SANITIZER! I-POD! KEYBOARD! LAPTOP! And a million other things. We will be going straight to Japan and Australia after this, so we will be 6 weeks non-stop away from home. I am looking forward to it a lot, it means I will have people around me who are doing the thinking and organizing for me (hello Woody, Mr. tourmanager, I am talking to you, hehe..) and I will meet a lot of cool people who actually like what we do musically. Its a reward money can't buy!

Please stay healthy and pure fucking metal until we come to town! I want to see you crazy lot in the front row!."

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Arch Enemy

On October 31st Thrashers Flotsam And Jetsam will be releasing a sp ecial 20th anniversary edition of their first album 'Doomsday For The Deciever'. The special edition will contain the original album (remixed and remastered) and also the band's first two demos as a bonus disc. As well as that, it will contain their Live At Bootleggers '85 cd. The new edition will also contain a DVD with interviews, live shows, etc.

Here is the list of tracks of the bonus material:

Iron Tears demo:
01. Iron Tears
02. I Live You Die

Metal Shock demo:
1. Hammerhead
2. Evil Shiek
3. I Live You Die
4. The Beast Within

The Early Years DVD:
01. High School Interview Take 1 - 1983-84
02. Iron Tears - Live at Palace West, New Year's 1984
03. High School Interview Take 2 - 1983-84
04. Hammerhead - Live in Jason's Apartment - 1985
05. She Took an Axe - Live - 1985

Live at Bootleggers 1985:
01. Iron Tears
02. Fade To Black
03. Metal Shock
04. She Took an Axe
05. Children of the Night (unreleased)
06. The Executioner (unreleased)
07. Those Who Defy (unreleased)
08. On The Attack (unreleased)
09. I Live You Die
10. Hammerhead
11. The Beast Within

Source:	flotsam-and-jetsam.com
Band profile:	Flotsam And Jetsam

Australian Death/Grind/Industrial band The Berzerker are currently working on a new album. The album will be their fourth and will be released as usual by Earache Records. So far ten tracks have been written, and have been made into 'demo form'. Soon the band will be entering the studio to record the songs properly.

The Berzerker have said that they're trying their best to outdo all their previous works with this album. Frontman/vocallist Luke Kenny comments: "The new material is fucking insane. I sometimes wonder when we start writing if we really can out-do our other releases. I mean, we have already made some of the fastest, most brutal music on the planet, and when people hear the name The Berzerker, they fucking know it!".

Kenny also says that the vocal style used by him on the new album will be more like the old-school vocal style that he's used on the first The Berzerker releases.

The album is expected to be released at the end of 2006 or early 2007.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	The Berzerker

Magrudergrind are currently finishing up the writing process for their next album. The group will begin recording in September/October and the effort will contain all brand new studio tracks. Six Weeks Records will release the album this winter. Meanwhile, the band will embark upon a full U.S. tour in May and June 2007, following by a European trek.

http://myspace.com/magrudergrind

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Source:

sixweeksrecords.com

German Power Metallers Mob Rules have announced a tour of Germany (and one Switzerland show). The tour will be in support of their upcoming album 'Ethnolution A.D.' and will even include a 'release party' show on the 20th October (the date in which the album is released in Germany).

Here are all the confirmed dates:

Oct. 20 - Wilhelmshaven, GER @ Pumpwerk (release party show)
Oct. 30 - Bonn, GER @ Klangstation
Nov. 01 - Stuttgart, GER @ LKA Longhorn
Nov. 02 - Pratteln, SWI @ Z7
Nov. 03 - Aschaffenburg, GER @ Colos-Saal
Nov. 05 - Regensburg, GER @ Alte Mäalzerei
Nov. 11 - Nordenham, GER @ Jahnhalle
Nov. 25 - Spaden, GER @ Tribute To Rock Festival
Dec. 08 - Hamburg, GER @ Headbangers Ballroom
Dec. 09 - Essen, GER @ TBA

Source:	mobrules.de
Band profile:	Mob Rules

Swedish Black Metallers Bestial Mockery have posted the following message at their official website :

"After the departure from Hell's Metal Festival in Germany, the Bestial crew went to Sweden Rock Festival, where Bundy and Devilpig ended up in a fight. Due to Devilpig's high alcohol consummation, he ended up in a coma after the fight and two days later he was confirmed as dead and the doctors pulled the plug! His last wish was that 'Chainsaw Fucking Down the Church' would be played on bagpipe, this will not happen and... Bestial Mockery have now went down into the grave! There will still be several releases out in the coming year since much is recorded. But now you must fuck off!"

Bestial Mockery was :
Devilpig - Bass
Doomanfanger - Guitar
Master Motorsag - Vocals
Ted Bundy - Guitar
Warslaughter - Drums

Bestial Mockery's latest album "Gospel Of The Insane" was released this past January via Osmose Productions.

http://www.myspace.com/bestialmockery666

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Source:

bestialmockery.cjb.net

'I', the new band of Immortal's mainman, debuted at Hole In The Sky festival, Bergen, Norway on August the 26th. In a pre-gig press conference, he commented, "After I put Immortal on ice, this came out exactly as I planned, better. If it (Between Two Worlds, the forthcoming CD due out this fall via Nuclear Blast) sells only two copies, that's OK. It was a success a long time ago. I could have done this by myself, but there's nothing like being in a band. This is NOT a solo project. This band wil be around a while, until my liver breaks. As Ace Frehley said, I'm back!"

Live, the band delivered a destructive set, including pyro, that already sees 'Warriors' and the title track as excellent live tunes. The entire album, minus one, was aired. No Immortal songs were performed.

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Immortal

As it was reported at MaidenFans, EMI Finland has announced, the new Iron Maiden album "A Matter of Life and Death" has shifted more than 13,000 copies in a few hours on Friday, its first day of release. Quite a feat when the Gold status is at 15,000!

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Source:	maidenfans.com
Band profile:	Iron Maiden

Mortiis is confirmed for Motstøy Festival, set to be held on October the 6th and 7th at Notodden, Norway. Already confirmed acts: Emperor (headliner), Pagan's Mind, Susperia, Mortiis, Red Harvest, Magic Pie, Torch, Circus Maximus, Wobbler, Benea Reach, She Said Destroy, Fracture, Decipher, TÖmmermenn.

It's a 2 day festival, Mortiis will be playing on Saturday, the slot before Emperor.

More info can be found here.

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Source:	mortiis.com
Band profile:	Mortiis

American death metallers Obituary shot their first live DVD shoot on August 24 at the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. The new band's DVD's setlist was as follows:

01. Intro: Rain
02. Redneck Stomp
03. On The Floor
04. Insane
05. Chopped In Half
06. Turned Inside Out
07. Dying
08. Intro
09. Internal Bleeding
10. Back To One
11. Find The Arise
12. Back Inside
13. Threatening Skies
14. By The Light
15. Intro
16. Kill For Me
17. Solid State
18. Stand Alone
19. Back From The Dead
20. Drum Solo
21. Lockjaw
22. Slow Death
23. 'Til Death
24. Slowly We Rot

The DVD will include a seven-camera shoot of the show plus an interview conducted the day before the gig, on August 23. A November release via Metal Mind Productions is expected.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Obituary

Tom Lanham of InsideBayArea.com recently conducted an interview with Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On developing a bad back as a teen, lifting boxes incorrectly in a steeltown factory:

"And once you've got one, as everybody who has a bad back knows, you've got it for life.

On once having to see 41 chiropractors in 43 days:

"Every single day except for two we had to get somebody in to fix me, because I was bent in half, I was crippled. And every time they'd fix me up, I'd get onstage and do a jump here, a twist or shimmy there, and pop! Out goes the back again. And that was when I got my first steroid injection."

"I was forever being injected with steroids, but I didn't realize what they did. They took the pain away, but they also make you balloon in weight."

"So now I'm officially getting back on track. I'm pain-and-steroid-free for the first time in several years, and it's good not to wake up crippled, or just forever wondering why your trousers don't fit anymore."

On the "Yeah!" 14-track set of covers:

"...I just thought it was a great idea, ever since I had David Bowie's 'Pinups' in my arsenal of albums. I thought 'What a great concept. He's showing me where he came from.' ...If you actually got to hear your favorite artist's version of ? say, with Bowie it was the Pretty Things, The Who and The Easybeats ? it just made sense. You could actually hear those original songs."

On being lumped in with New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands:

"Lumping us in with Iron Maiden was as ridiculous as lumping us in with Depeche Mode. And we've spent 20-odd years trying to tell the whole world that we're not a British heavy metal band. Now, if people finally hear the songs that influenced us, they might finally get the picture."

On unlocking a secret or two about rockdom in the three-decade process:

"It's all about maintenance. In this business, you have to fend off the aging years as best you can, and I now see that there are two ways of doing it: You can have all that steroid stuff pumped in and end up looking like a hot water bottle, or you can do what Mick Jagger did. Which is, be as wrinkly as he is ? but when he goes onstage people still go 'Holy s? ! How can he do that at his age?' Because he's looked after himself ? that's how.

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Source:	roadrun.com
Band profile:	Def Leppard