Greetings all Cryptopsy fans!

Jon Levasseur here writing to officially announce my departure from Cryptopsy. It is something I strangely felt coming on since a year prior to my departure (August 2004) as my inspiration for such extreme music was growing thin. After 10 years in the band, I now wish to step back, lay low and explore other things in music. Who knows, maybe one day this new chapter in my life could turn out into something interesting!

That being said, I want to say that I'm very proud of what Cryptopsy has accomplished as a band and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have broken through boundaries with some of the best musicians in the business. So to Flo Mounier, Eric Langlois, Lord Worm and Alex Auburn, it's been a great ride guys, full of memories. Thanx for everything and for putting up with me!!! I also wish to extend thanx to the ex-members club: Steve Thibault, Mike DiSalvo, Miguel Roy, Martin Lacroix, Martin Fergusson, Dave Galea and to the 6th member for the past 6 years, Maurice Richard and all other people who have been involved in the band's success!

Finally, I want to thank every Cryptopsy fan on the planet. Because of your undying support, the band is able to bring its music around the globe and it made me live so many great things and experiences. I got to play for fans in many places in the world, some places even beyond my own expectations. Hail to you all, thank you and do look forward to the next Cryptopsy album!

Long life to Cryptopsy!

Jon Levasseur

Source:	cryptopsy.net
Band profile:	Cryptopsy

"Myron & Cole" video is available for downloading on the band website. This video represents a part of the band live performance from Markens Cafè, Kristiansand, dated from October 2004.
For downloading/viewing it, follow this link:
http://www.greencarnation.no/frames.html?login=terjedam

Band profile:

Green Carnation

The former Underoath vocalist Dallas Taylor had formed a band called "And The Sons Of Disaster" together with Josh Cornutt, Scott Collum, Josh Wilson, Lee Turner and Roman Havaland, you can check a couple of songs here
.

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According to Ipeca Recordings the album "Suspended Animation" will be release on 04/05/2005. You can see the cover of the album here: http://www.ipecac.com/images/062.jpg

Source:

ipecac.com

"The new year will begin for Iced Earth with the delivery of the long-awaited Gettysburg DVD. This unique release will feature the epic work "Gettysburg (1863)" from 2004's The Glorious Burden stepping out of its stereo confines and expanding into a powerful 5.1-channel surround-sound mix. In fact, there will be two different surround-sound mixes (one "metal" and one "theatrical"), set to moving images. Additionally, the DVD will feature a historical commentary from the Gettysburg battlefield, and an in-depth interview with Jon Schaffer. More details will follow.

A brief trailer for the DVD can be seen at the Downloads page".

http://www.icedearth.com/

Band profile:

Iced Earth

Kataklysm have parted ways with drummer Martin Maurais, citing "personal
and professional reasons." Max Duhamel, who performed on five past
Kataklysm albums including Shadows and Dust has been named as his
replacement. Kataklysm will be direct support on the Danzig tour with
Trivium and Eyes of Fire, beginning February 18th.

Band profile:

Kataklysm

Arjen Lucassen had posts 2 songs from the upcoming bonus disc of the Final Experiment 10 years anniversary. You can download them at http://www.ayreon.com/anniversary/ .

Source:	ayreon.com
Band profile:	Ayreon

Former SLAYER/TESTAMENT drummer Jon Dette has joined forces with ex-MEGADETH/current F5 bassist David Ellefson in a brand new project tentatively called ENEMY OF GOD. Completing the group's current lineup are Peter Scheithauer (PUSHED, KILLING MACHINE) on guitar and Todd Barnes (13-A) on vocals.

ENEMY OF GOD are in the final stages of signing a "major record deal" and are scheduled to start recording their debut album in March. "The music is heavy and brutal! The songs are not for radio, they're for starting the pit!" Dette told BLABBERMOUTH.NET.

More information will be made available soon.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Megadeth

* Mission Statement:

ProgAID was set-up in the wake of the terrible earthquake and Tsunami disaster that tragically struck on the 26th December 2004. The sheer destruction and loss of human life was of a scale that shook the world. It was therefore decided, that maybe the Progressive Rock Community could do something, even in a small way, to help alleviate some of the suffering endured and help towards the rebuilding of lives and communities.

ProgAID at this point, is focused on this one particular cause, but now that it is up and running, our intention is to stay together and help where ever and whenever countries, communities and people need the support of people who care and want to help.

ALL monies paid to us go direct to the people we are aiming to help and your support is needed and appreciated. We thank you for visiting us and for being aware of situations that we can't control but can aid to put right.

* Who's Who

Impressive line-up has gathered:
Steve Babb - Glass Hammer
Fiona Ford - Fula
Stu Nicholson - Galahad
Doogie White - ex Rainbow / Yngwie Malmsteen
Mike Baker - Shadow Gallery
Steve Gee - Landmarq
Clive Nolan - Arena / Pendragon
Steve Balsamo - Alan Parsons Project
Daniel Gildenlow - Pain Of Salvation
Martin Orford - IQ
Nick Barrett - Pendragon
Rob Gould - Fula
Mick Pointer - Arena
Gary Chandler - Jadis
Tracy Hitchings - Landmarq
Liz Prendagast - Bluehorses
Alain Chiarazzo - Eclat
Bryan Josh - Mostly Autumn
Alan Reed - Pallas
Chris Dale - Sack Trick / Bruce Dickinson
John Jowitt - IQ
Bruce Soord - Pineapple Thief
Danny Chang - Briar Bank Studios
Paul Davies - ex Karnataka / Panic Room
Arjen Lucassen - Ayreon
Roine Stolt - The Flower Kings
Nick Gielkins - Mostly Pink
Troy Donockley - Iona
Magenta
Steve Taylor - Strangefish
Martin Hudson - Classic Rock Society
Andy Edwards - Ezra
John Mitchell - Arena / The Urbane
Oliver Wakeman - Oliver Wakeman Band
Danny Mayo & Jem - Hairless Heart Herald
Colin Edwards - Ezra
Neal Morse
Nic Waulker - Bluehorses
Nick Shilton - Classic Rock Magazine
Jonathan Edwards - ex Karnataka / Panic Room
Pete Nicholls - IQ
Gary Wehrkamp - Shadow Gallery
Chris Walkden - Photographer

* The Single

"All Around The World" - The Official ProgAID single to be released mid February 2005. More details soon.

http://www.progaid.com/

In their next gig "scheduled for the 3rd of February. The show will take place at "Barby" club in Tel Aviv.
Open act: Excessum", the band will present their new members :

Oren Balbus - Vocals
Dror Goldstein - Drums
Auria Sapir - Guitars

http://www.eternalgray.com

Band profile:

Eternal Gray

According to a post on their oficial site the band from U.K. get a deal with the label Majesty Rock Records. The band is currently working on their new album "Magic Never Dies" that's is expect to be out at 6 June of 2005.

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

Band profile:

Power Quest

Acording to a update posted in his website Bobby Jarzombek was working on the new Demons & Wizards as well with Roc Rock, here are his words:

"Hey all,
We're already two weeks into the New Year - high time to fill you in on what's been cooking and what's in store for the immediate future.

Last month I flew out to Tampa, Florida to record my drum tracks for the new Demons & Wizards CD. This was my first time recording at the famous Morrisound Studios and it was great working with Jim Morris. He's an excellent engineer/producer and gets some KILLER drum tones. Jon (Schaffer) and Hansi (Kuersch) wrote some real cool songs for this one. No release date as of yet though. Another album I recorded drums for a while back, Rob Rock's AFM debut "Holy Hell", should be out in April. My Halford band mate Roy Z co-wrote the tunes, produced and plays guitar on it so you know it's gonna rock!

Speaking of recordings, I recently did an interview with the 'Brazil Under Ice' Iced Earth fansite where I commented on several of my favorite CDs that I played on. Here's the link: http://www.icedearth.com.br/novidades05.php

For those of you that don't know, I released my drum video "Performance & Technique" on VHS a year and a half ago. Well, after a year of shooting new footage, editing, authoring, contract negotiations, etc. - it's finally done: My instructional drum DVD "Performance & Technique" has just been released by Warner Bros. Publications and will be making its debut appearance at the NAMM show this week in Anaheim, California from (Thur.) Jan. 20th - (Sun.) 23rd. "P&T" will be getting heavy rotation on the TVs in the Warner Bros. Publications booth (#3500) - so stop by and check it out.

The DVD version of "Performance & Technique" contains footage not included in the original VHS version including 4 bonus segments and PDF transcriptions for DVD-ROM. I will update my website in a couple of weeks with complete descriptions of the new segments and a link to order the "Performance & Technique" DVD.

Last but not least, I will also be making a couple of personal appearances at the NAMM show. I'll be at the Vic Firth Sticks booth (along with a few other drummers) at 3:00pm on Saturday doing a signing session and I'm also performing a drum solo at the Pearl Drums booth at 10:00 on Sunday morning. See you there!

Later,

Read more ››

Band profile:

Demons & Wizards

Once an underground phenomenon, the Canadian quartet STRAPPING YOUNG LAD are now on the verge of a major genre-defying breakthrough with Alien, their highly anticipated fourth studio album. This offering is quickly going to redefine the meaning of extreme. Follow the link (http://mp4.centurymedia.com/audio/syl_shitstorm.mp3) to download the mind-blowing track "Shitstorm" from Alien, the group's most maniacal and outlandish offering yet. Take some time to sit down, clear your mind and prepare yourself for devastation.

Beginning Feb. 8th the first segment of "The Making of Alien" will be online and a new installment will be posted each Tuesday leading up to the album's release on March 22nd.

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD documented their entire recording process, and the first four parts will provide an in-depth look into Armoury Studios (Kiss, Van Halen) where mastermind Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars) describes how the album was assembled.

Also, for the first time, fans can witness how Gene Hoglan (ex-Death, ex-Testament), Byron Stroud (now also in Fear Factory) and Jed Simon lay their tracks down. The final three parts of this series will focus on the more technical aspects (gear, settings, samples, etc.) of the recording.

The follow-up to the group's critically acclaimed 2003 release, SYL, is frontman Devin Townsend's personal cathartic outlet to unleash all of his angst, and it proves to be a very positive therapeutic experience for both him and his fans. The group also has extensive touring plans already in the works and expect an announcement to be made soon.

http://www.centurymedia.com/

Band profile:

Strapping Young Lad

Prophecy Productions signed the young american group TODESBONDEN.

"The concept for the band is to create music that is simple, emotionally moving, speaks from the heart and has echoes fromother time periods and other worlds" says Laurie Ann Haus, singer of TODESBONDEN. The versatile singer, however, doesn't like to rake her brain just to be able to categorize her music. She rather goes to various musical treasure chambers in search of deeply haunting and fascinating melodies. Inspired by her personal interests and a musical training covering numerous musical fields and guided by an extraordinarily audacious
intuition, Laurie Ann Haus combines influences from the Renaissance, World music, Celtic Folk, Mediaeval, sorrowful and intense (Doom) Metal sounds, and classicism to a unique variant of dark emotional music.

In terms of instruments, the vocal artist wouldn't mind a treasure chamber full of them, but even with the small means which the American trio had for the recording of their demo, the musicians were able to move small mountains and delight listeners all around the globe. The combination of dark, classic, heavy guitar riffs, emotional violins, atmospheric piano and percussion creates a fantastic framework for Laurie's boundless vocals that have earned her many comparisons to Lisa Gerrard.
Info www.todesbonden.net

Band profile:

Todesbonden

Finnish metalband "End Of You" from Helsinki-city has signed a major record deal with Finnish Spinefarm Records.

For more infos, check End Of You homepage: http://www.endofyou.net

or, Spinefarm Records: http://www.spinefarm.fi

Band profile:

End Of You