Australian thrash metallers Mortal Sin have posted the following update:

"After such a big year last year Mortal Sin have decided to begin writing a new album. We'll be looking at releasing something later this year. Don't ask me when, don't ask me how many songs, don't ask me if we have a title yet. The answer to all those questions will come with time! We look forward to making it one of the best albums we can possibly make and we look forward to getting back out on the road as soon as we can."

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Mortal Sin

Original news posted on 15.01.2009

Graveworm have issued the following short update:

"We are currently working on songs for our upcoming album. We will enter the studio at the beginning of February and the new new one will be released at the end of May. We will present the new stuff at three festivals in May ? the Legacy festival in Germany, the Summer Nights festival in Austria and the Pratteln Z7 Metaldayz in Switzerland."

UPDATE (thanks to Raiden)

The new album has now been given the title "Diabolical Figures". It will contain 10 tracks and features a guest appearance by Karsten "Jagger" Jäger from Disbelief.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Graveworm

Swedish death metal band Demonical have posted the following update:

"Finally we are done with the recording, mixing and mastering of "Hellsworn". It sure took ages and caused some frustration but I assure you, it was worth it. We are utterly satisfied with the final result, this old-school death metal slab in nine acts turned out exactly the way we wanted. Here are the cover art and blasphemies:

01. Baptized In Fire
02. World Serpent
03. Infernal Void
04. Bloodridden
05. Götter Des Nordens
06. Children Of Sin
07. Death Metal Darkness
08. Bow To The Monolith
09. Hellsworn

The release date is set to May 15th, in other words the same day as the "Northern Death Blow" crusade starts. Samples from the album will be online within the nearest days."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Demonical

Saviours have posted the following update:

"We recently recorded music. Examine photographs of this process here. More recording will commence soon in Oakland and Los Angeles. Sooner than you think we will present some new shit to the masses. Album cover is in the works courtesy of the superb Tim Lehi.

Friday April 3 at the Elbo Room in San Francisco we will play much new material. This will be the only Bay Area show for some time. Scarecrow and Dusted Angel will be destructing this evening with us. Soon after this we will go defile Europe. Then we will do other things to be spoken of later.

We are also very fucking stoked to announce a license in Japan via Red Cobalt Industries. They will issue a die-hard version of "Into Abaddon" with new artwork and other goodies. Derrick Snodgrass is adminstering the new design. We will destroy Japan with live drums and guitars and amplifiers in early 2010!"

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Saviours

Decapitated guitar player Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka has issued the following update:

"I was thinking about that for a long time and it's really hard decision for me, but I have decided to continue this band and keep Decapitated alive. I know it will be not the same anymore but I want to try and I'm sure late drummer Witold "Vitek" Kiełtyka and vocalist Adrian "Covan" Kowanek will support me and will be happy about that.

So I want to say that if anybody from drummers and vocalists feel that they can continue what Witek and Covan did and put all power, energy and live time for this band, contact me. Everyone who is interested, please prepare this tracks: "Day 69", "Post Organic", "Invisible Control", "Long Desired Dementia", and send it as audio/video format."

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Decapitated

French black metallers Temple Of Baal will enter the studio in April to record the long awaited album "Lightslaying Rituals", for a release date around October via Agonia Records.

The album will be recorded in Hybreed Studios with Andrew Guillotin (responsible for the sound on Glorior Belli's "Manifesting The Raging Beast" album and Temple Of Baal's split EP with Aosoth, among many others). The visual aspect will be done by and Vertigo Photography. More info to follow soon.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Temple Of Baal

UK thrashers Evile, who recently announced their first full headlining UK tour, are currently hard at work on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 debut album, "Enter The Grave".

Lead guitarist Ol Drake comments: "We're very glad to announce we'll be working with the brilliant Russ Russell on the next release at Parlour Studios, UK. Russ has produced excellent work with bands such as Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, The Exploited and many more. We've known Russ for a few years now. We first met him in London at one of our shows where he expressed how much he'd like to work with us sometime, and that time has come. I believe Russ can bring us a very interesting sound and approach to the new material which we're writing. Expect a very crushing and interesting album! The cover art will also be very crushing and interesting! Definitely one for vinyl!

We've been working non-stop on the new Evile material since before the Megadeth tour last February. We're even into the demo process of the new album. Just last weekend we recorded the first 3 demo tracks we completed first. Looking back on what we've been writing, it's surprising how diverse and different the material has got since starting on the first "album 2" song. Don't worry, it's thrash, we're just trying to use our brains more than our 'ripped jeans'."

Evile's as-yet untitled second album is due to be released in late 2009 through Earache Records.

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Source:	earachenews.blogspot.com
Band profile:	Evile

Netherlands based Death/Thrash quintet Devious commenced recording their new full-length album "Vision", to be released by Deity Down Records. "Vision" succeeds the band's critically acclaimed works "Acts of Rage" (Spitzenburg Records 2003) and "Domain" (Deity Down Records 2007). The recordings will be engineered by Frank Klein Douwel and mixed by producer Jochem Jacobs (Textures) at the Split Second Sound studios, Netherlands.

The release of "Vision", is planned for late August 2009. The exact date will be announced shortly.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Devious

"It's Up To You", the new video from Hungarian hardcore/thrash metallers Ektomorf has been put online. The track comes off the band's upcoming new album, entitled "What Doesn't Kill Me?", due on March 20 via AFM Records.


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Source:	vids.myspace.com
Band profile:	Ektomorf

Finnish death metallers Sotajumala have posted the following update:

"Our new label is Cobra. Even though a relatively new label, the people behind Cobra have been involved in music industry for a long time. Other new bands on their roster are Deathchain and Survivors Zero (with The Coffinshakers being the first band on the label). We negotiated with several labels, but in the end the decision came easily. We trust them and they trust us. Things are certainly looking good for us right now!"

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Sotajumala

Finnish metallers Swallow The Sun have posted the following update on their official MySpace:

"Hi all! We want to thank all of the new and old fans for making last year another successful chapter for us, thank you all!!

We released the "Plague of Butterflies" -mini album and reached our first no.1 position on Finnish single charts with it. We toured England for the first time supporting Apocalyptica on their UK tour and played big festivals in England and Czech Republic. We also signed new merchandise, booking agency and management deals worldwide, so it didn't turn out to be a quiet, resting year as we planned it to be!

And about 2009... New Album!

Yes, we are currently touring with a massive North American tour, and after coming back to Finland we will do some select festivals before entering the studio next summer. So, all you who survived the hands of the plague last year will be harvested by the new gloom of Swallow the Sun next fall 2009.

More news about the new album will follow during this spring and summer.

If you are coming to see us on the US tour make sure to be there in time. We are the first band on the bill, and you might want to check the venue for playing times. See you on the road, friends and enemies, both will be crushed."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Swallow The Sun

New Jersey-based progressive metal band Dark Empire have parted ways with vocalist Jens Carlsson and seek a replacement immediately.

Band leader/lead guitarist/death vocalist Matt Moliti comments: "This decision was a long time coming and it was a hard one to make, since Jens is a great dude to work with. With him living in Sweden and the rest of us in the New Jersey, it is impossible to do any kind of gigging, which is something we need to make this band continue. This was a mutual decision and there are no hard feelings at all. We wish Jens the best in his endeavors with Persuader and Savage Circus. As for a replacement, since I am already writing new material, we would like to find one as soon as possible. We're most interested in a singer with an abrasive or hard rock quality to their voice, and of course, must be living in or willing to commute or relocate to the northern New Jersey/NYC area. Send any audio or video samples to our MySpace page."

Jens Carlsson adds: "After a long consideration, we in the band made the decision for me to step down as singer for Dark Empire. For Matt and the guys to push the band forward, live appearences are essential and the fact that I live in Sweden was becoming a bigger and bigger problem. I also have Persuader and Savage Circus who need attention as well. There are no hard feelings, but something had to be done about the situation. I wish the guys in Dark Empire all the best, and you fans out there, keep on rocking!"

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Dark Empire

Grave Digger have posted the following update:

"We are very sad to inform you that we have separated from Thilo Herrmann. After all the euphoria about the second guitarist in the beginning, first doubts regarding the current situation of the band started showing up bit by bit.

There were many different things, starting with the free room on the stage and going on to musical aspects, that have been observed by every old member of the band independently and which finally made us feel that we would have to separate from Thilo. This decision has been made by common consent and on behalf of the whole band. It does not have to do with any interpersonal problems or the like. In fact we took it very hard to separate from that really nice guy that Thilo is.

Grave Digger has been a well-attuned team for a very long time and according to expectations it's hard for a new musician to become integrated. Where previously a well practised team performed on the stage we were not able to pal up to a sixth man.

As for Thilo we wish him all the best for his musical and private future."

Source:	grave-digger-clan.com
Band profile:	Grave Digger

In Flames have posted the following update:

"We are very sad to announce that the UK & Ireland tour will not happen as planned.

As you already know, guitarist Jesper Strömblad is currently at an alcohol rehabilitation clinic and is taking some time off to get better. Bassist Peter Iwers is about to become a dad. We obviously knew about Peter becoming a dad and originally planned to have a replacement bassist, but with the recent events surrounding Jesper we simply feel that it is not fair on the fans to see a completely different line up, which in our eyes is not In Flames. Again, sorry to make any UK & Irish fans disappointed and we hope to make it up to you."

For already purchased tickets contact your local ticket office/venue.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	In Flames
Event:	In Flames: UK + Ireland Tour [CANCELLED]

Embraze have issued the following update:

"Embraze has come to the end of the road; we have decided to call it quits. The decision was made together as a band, and we want to throw one more gig and finish the story of Embraze with style.

Lots of water has streamed in River Kiiminkijoki in the past 15 years, when children have become so-called grown-ups. We've experienced moments of joy and success just as well as some setbacks, line-up changes and battles with record labels. Despite the energy-consuming setbacks, however, we have prevailed and made a long career.

One of the best recording experiences we had was recording "Katharsis" in the Finnish Lapland when we packed our gear in a trailer and recorded the album at Raanujärvi with Aki Karppinen and Kake Vähäkuopus. We lived and worked in a 300m² mansion, brought from the 19th century Soviet Union. The doors at the mansion locked themselves on their own from the inside and all kinds of fun and exciting things were going on in the house. It was great experiencing that recording sessions can, indeed, be relaxing and fun.

Tours and gigs have also brought their share of all sorts of events and occurrences, as is expected. Some of the more memorable ones have been immortalized in the book series "Rokatessa Roiskuu." The best stories and memories will only remain in the minds of those who experienced them. The first Finnish tour was, I think, with Afterworld in the winter of 1998, when we had a bus that sometimes had neither breaks nor heating. That's rock'n roll. One of the most enjoyable tours was with Moonspell and Before The Dawn in the fall of 2006.

Our last show will be in Oulu, at Club Teatria on May 1st, 2009. The night will also feature two other local bands - Seith and Reflexion. The original Embraze-bassist, Petri Henell, plays in Seith, and Reflexion is a band with whom we played together already in the mid-1990s, when we were both taking our fist wobbly steps as bands. Juha Kylmänen, the lead vocalist of Reflexion, also plays in For My Pain... with Lauri.

More information on the show at Club Teatria website. Tickets are available through Tiketti and Lippupalvelu (Ticket Service Finland).

Thanks to the bands who gave us an opportunity to tour with them: Afterworld, Moonspell, Sparzanza, Before The Dawn, Maple Cross, Lambs. Thanks to all our friends and families who have accompanied us on the career. Special thanks to our manager Topi Hanhela for his faith, hope and love, from the beginning to the end."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Embraze