"The first segments of "The Making of Alien" are online. Each week on every tuesday, Century Media will post exclusive web videos at until ALIEN is released.

1. At Armoury Studio in Vancouver
(online February 7th)
2. Gene Hoglan pounds through 11 tracks at Armoury Studio in only three days
(online February 14th)
3. At Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver, recording bass, guitars and female vocal for "Possessions"
(online February 21st)
4. At the Dev Lab, recording vocals and keys
(online February 28th)
5. The technical secrets of "Alien": Devin talks about effects and samples
(online March 7th)
6. More technical secrets of "Alien": Gene Hoglan talks about drums
(online March 14th)
7. Even more technical secrets of "Alien": Byron Stroud about his bass equipment, Dave Young's keyboard tricks and an insight to Jed Simon's guitar world
(online March 21st)

making of Alien directed by Marcus Rogers, assisted by Joanna Ussner, produced by Cinestir Productions"

http://www.centurymedia.de/syl/

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Source:	strappingyounglad.com
Band profile:	Strapping Young Lad

Some news from the french guitarist, Yann Armellino

-Reviews:

From Holland on:

( http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/strutterzine/HOTNEWREVIEWS.htm )

On "Le fantastique.net"

( http://www.lefantastique.net/musique/sorties/sorties.asp )

-Gigs Pictures: Pictures of the Montpellier gig on:

( http://www.leprozy.com/ )

-Radio: Interview live next saturday on ( http://www.radiomax.fr/ ) 19h à 21h (Paris time and only in French!!!)

Yann Armellino: http://www.yannarmellino.com

Forum: http://www.metal-immortel.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=19

Source:

Yann Armellino himself :o)

Skyclad and Finntroll and Elvenking have been confirmed as the main acts for Germany's Dong Open Air, set to take place July 15-16 2005 in Neukirchen-Vluyn, near Krefeld, Germany. Skyclad will be headliner on Friday, and since the band is celebrating their 15th anniversary, they will play an additional acoustic show on Saturday. Saturday's headliner and co-headliner will be Finntroll and Elvenking respectively.

Band profile:

Skyclad

Within the last weeks there were several rumours about the legendary german metal act STORMWITCH, which has just released their new record ?Witchcraft" in november last year.
After their great appearance at the ?Keep It Trues-Festival" internal dissension and musical differences between vocalist and founding member Andy Mück, and his bandmembers became bigger as expected. This had the consequence that both parts decided to go seperate ways. Andy Mück has already rehearsed with several musicians and is close to have a new line-up.
The first new songs are written, the album title of their forthcoming record is already confirmed, which will be ?Tears of Rage".
For the future Andy decided not to use keyboards any more, but he will keep working with two guitar players.

The witch is still alive!

[

Source:	Nuclear Blast Homepage]
Band profile:	Stormwitch

A message posted on the official homepage of the band:
We have uploaded a preview of the upcoming DVD. Feel free to check it out! Enjoy: http://www.evergrey.net/media/vid-evergrey-more_than_ever.wmv

Source:	evergrey.net
Band profile:	Evergrey

Today - Thursday, February 17, 2005 - we recieved a confirmation that Mieszko Talarczyk died in the Tsunami Disaster December 26, 2004. His body has been identified and will be transfered to Sweden shortly.

His closest family and friends are in our thoughts right now. Mieszko will be missed by many.

nasum.com will be closed for at least a month. You know why. There will be a slight update in a couple of days with some information about the future of Nasum along with some personal words about Mieszko.

Thanks a lot for your support and your thoughts. Now a new time begins, a time we must spend alone. Please respect this wish.

Sincerely,
Anders and Nasum.

http://www.nasum.com .

Condolences are offered to his family, friends and all the people that knew him, by the Metal Storm staff.

Band profile:

Nasum

Andy Winter's (Winds, Age Of Silence) solo project:
Winds front man Andy Winter is heading into the studio tomorrow to record a Limited Edition mini CD for The End Records. The music is going to be classically oriented piano music. Andy has never done a solo project, this will be his first. If you have ever sat down and listened to any of the Winds or the Age Of Silence records you know that this is going to be something special. This release will be SUPER limited.

http://label.theendrecords.com/

Band profile:

Winds

Katatonia had "put out on ice" the released of their DVD. In other news the band will be entering in the studio soon to work on their seventh album.

Source:	peaceville.com
Band profile:	Katatonia

Reuters is reporting that LED ZEPPELIN got a "whole lotta" belated love from the music industry on Saturday, earning a lifetime achievement Grammy in recognition of a career that changed the face of rock 'n' roll.

The English band was one of 10 performers, alongside the likes of rockabilly hellraiser JERRY LEE LEWIS, blues belter JANIS JOPLIN and country crooner EDDY ARNOLD, celebrated at a luncheon one day before the Grammy Awards.

During their 12 years together, LED ZEPPELIN never won a Grammy, even though they were arguably the biggest band of the 1970s, a combo whose blues-based rock anthems resonate loudly to this day.

LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones showed up with the two children of late drummer John Bonham to receive crystal trophies. Singer Robert Plant, busy rehearsing for a tour, sent in a video message.

"It wouldn't have taken much just to pop over here and meet everybody, would it really?" Page asked Reuters.

For his part, the newly svelte guitarist said he found the ceremony very emotional. From the stage, he blew a kiss to his old label boss, Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, and later chatted with soul guitarist Ike Turner, who jokingly exclaimed, "You're a grown man now!"

As for the belated recognition, Page bore no ill will, saying that LED ZEPPELIN's eclectic oeuvre ? with one album completely different from the next ? may have been too difficult for Grammy voters to comprehend.

In a separate interview, Jones said LED ZEPPELIN was too busy touring and recording to pay much attention to awards. But now, the recognition was "incredibly cool."

Bonham, whose alcohol-related death in 1980 at the age of 32 spelled the end of LED ZEPPELIN, was represented by children Jason and Zoe.

"It's totally overwhelming," said Zoe, who was five when he died. "The whole crazy thing about it is that it's a lifetime achievement award, and he's not here. The legend lives on."

[

Source:

Blabbermouth]

The web site of New Jersey prog-metallers SYMPHONY X has been updated with the following message:

"They're working at a good pace on writing the new CD, they have parts of songs put together at this point that are equal to about half of the new CD, and have lots of ideas that they're working with. They're being very critical with this CD, wanting to kick it up a notch from 'The Odyssey' and make it the best stuff yet; thus far they're working with material from Michael Romeo , Michael Pinnella and Michael LePond . Mike sounded really intent on cranking out some excellent music; he's in 'the writing zone', and only good things come of it when he's in that mindset.

"When informed that some fans feared that Mike's comment in an earlier studio report about the new CD being 'darker' than 'The Odyssey' would result in Russ doing death metal growls or the like, Mike said that wasn't going to happen.

"Also, 'the dungeon' (the band's studio) has recently been gutted and totally revamped and is at its best ever acoustically, which should help contribute to some excellent sound on the new CD."

SYMPHONY X's follow-up to 2002's "The Odyssey" is tentatively due later in the year via InsideOut Music.

Read more ››

Source:	www.blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Symphony X

According to Iltalehti, a new song from the forthcoming Stratovarius album has been suspended by the band's own record label, Sanctuary Music German Division. The opening intro of that song was supposed to start with the speech of Hitler. According to Timo Tolkki who points out the song is completely anti Hitler and therefore appeals to the freedom of the art. Tolkki adds that he has always been interested in Hitler and what made Hitler become such a monster, the song is as antifacist as possible. The lyrics of the song has been sent to the censorship department of the Ministry of the Interior Of Germany, which will make a decision about the legality of the song.

Source:	iltalehti.fi
Band profile:	Stratovarius

Sinergy, the acclaimed Finnish metal band featuring singer Kimberly Goss and Children Of Bodom members Alexi Laiho (guitar) and Roope Latvala (guitar), have spent the past few months quietly recording their fourth full-length album, tentatively due in late 2005.

As Goss announced on the internet:

"Sinergy does indeed still exist, though the absence of our website and having only played two gigs in the past six months may lead people to believe otherwise. Our fourth album will be called "Sins of the Past". We started recording drums and bass in June of last year at Finnvox Studios, and have continued recording the rest of it at Beyond Abilities Studios (the studio of Janne Wirman from Children Of Bodom). However, we've had to record the album in separate sections due to Children Of Bodom's busy touring schedule last year. We've sometimes had to take several months off in between recording.

"Alexi just got his cast off cast week , but still needs to wear a brace for another few weeks. He's able to play guitar now, but we're gonna wait until he's 100 percent recovered before he finishes his leads on the album. In the meantime, myself and Roope have been busy recording our parts. The album will then be mixed and mastered at Finnvox then the recording is finished.

"All I can say is that we are hopeful that the album will be released sometime this year. We'll have a new website up once the artwork for the new album is finished."

http://www.nuclearblast.de

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Band profile:

Sinergy

Hereby we proudly announce the signing of AXAMENTA to the ranks of KARMAGEDDON MEDIA.

In a previous life Axamenta was known to play Doom-, Fantasy- and even Death Metal, but after a lot of line-up changes they once more decided to make a radical shift in their musical style and began experimenting with a more technical and progressive approach. Their love for movie scores also made them replace the keyboards by orchestra samples, which gives them a unique sound in the Belgian metal scene.

In the month May Axamenta will enter the well known Hanssen Studio in Denmark for the recordings of their new album. The album will be recorded with Jacob Hanssen, known for his work with bands like Mercenary, Invocator & Aborted.

After the recordings in Denmark the band will head to Sweden for the final mix and mastering at the world famous Fredman Studio, all under supervision of producer Fredrik Nördstrom, known for his work with bands like Soilwork, In Flames & Dimmu Borgir.

A release is to be expected in the second half of 2005 !

Official statement from the band:

"We are glad to have finally found a musical homebase ! Moreover, we're very exited about Karmageddon Media, giving us the opportunity to spread our mental illness throughout the public. Expect the result of this deranged coalition in the second half of 2005 !"

More information : www.axamenta.com

Source:	Karmageddon Media
Band profile:	Axamenta

Apocalyptica's new single called Wie weit is to be released on 14th of February. This time the finnish acoustic metallers have brought Marta Jandová in for a cooperation. Marta, who was born in Prague, is lead singer to the german band Die Happy. It is the first time Marta sings a song in german.

see also:
http://www.apocalyptica.com/releases/wieweit.php
and:
http://www.diehappy.de/english/frame/frame01.htm

Band profile:

Apocalyptica

According to a posting on the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes-Of-Bodom.com, KYLÄHULLUT, the Finnish project featuring Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Vesku Jokinen (KLAMYDIA) and Tonmi Lillman (ex-TO/DIE/FOR, SINERGY), released their new full-length album, entitled "Turpa Täynnä" (Hammered), in Finland last Wednesday (Jan. 26).

The band, whose name is roughly translated to "Village Fools", reportedly spent a week in the studio recording 12 songs of what is being described as "straight-forward punk." "Alexi sings a few songs, with Vesku Jokinen doing most of the vocals," reads a posting on the site. "Just like before, Tonmi Lillman takes care of the drums and Alexi plays several super-fast guitar solos. The lyrics of the album deal with topics like alcohol, groupies, spray painters and people who try to convert others into their own religion. Even Alexi's CHILDREN OF BODOM bandmates don't get away without getting mocked by Alexi (all in good fun, of course). Kimberly Goss does a guest appearance on the last track of the album by singing a few lines in Finnish."

Cover Artwork: http://194.100.222.99/jpics/KYLAHULLUT_TT.jpg
"Turpa Täynnä" track listing:

01. Aika (Time, KLAMYDIA cover)
02. ?Ja Jeesus Ei Pysy Ristillään (?And Jesus won't stay on his cross)
03. Vitun Urpo! (Fucking idiot!)
04. Kääpiöt (Dwarfs)
05. Scenehuora (Scenewhore)
06. Ei Pelkoa (No Fear)
07. Spurgu (Alcoholic)
08. Marttyyri (Martyr)
09. Paskiaiset (Bastards)
10. Turpa Täynnä (Hammered)
11. Mitä Pahalle Maksetaan?
12. Kylähullut (Village Fools)

To order a copy of the album, visit More Music: http://194.100.222.99/jarmo/uusishop_en/productinfo.cfm?

For more information on KYLÄHULLUT, visit their official web site: http://koti.mbnet.fi/khullut/

[

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Source:	Blabbermouth & Metal Reviews]
Band profile:	Children Of Bodom