Stratovarius will return to North America for a short tour this autumn. They will also take part in a once-in-a-lifetime pre-concert meet-and-greet which will take place prior to doors opening. With a purchase of the VIP ticket, you gain access to the venue at least one hour early for the meet-and-greet.

This is available for all shows and will be on sale until all VIP tickets are sold out (limited to 100 per night). You can purchase these VIP tickets at EnterTheVault.com; you will then be automatically registered to win four tickets to a show of your choice between May 27 and December 31, 2009. Each city will have one winner and they will be notified via e-mail on May 19.

Tickets for all shows are on sale via EnterTheVault.com exclusively until March 20 at which point they will become available through all normal ticketing outlets.

Stratovarius North American tour dates:

September 16, 2009: Nokia Theater - NYC, NY, USA
September 18, 2009: Opera House - Toronto, ON, Canada
September 19, 2009: Imperial de Quebec - Quebec City, Q, Canada
September 20, 2009: Medley - Montreal, QC, Canada
September 21, 2009: Middle East - Boston, Mass, USA
September 23, 2009: Sonar - Baltimore, MD , USA
September 24, 2009: Peabody's - Cleveland, OH , USA
September 25, 2009: pearl Room - Mokena, IL, USA
September 27, 2009: Garrick Centre - Winnipeg, MB, Canada
September 28, 2009: The Riddell at University - Regina, SK, Canada
September 29, 2009: Warehouse - Calgary, AB, Canada
September 30, 2009: Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB, Canada
October 02, 2009: Plaza Club - Vancouver, BC, Canada
October 03, 2009: Sugar - Victoria, BC, Canada
October 04, 2009: El Corazon - Seattle, WA, USA
October 06, 2009: The Grand Ballroom @ the Regency - San Francisco, CA, USA
October 07, 2009: Key Club, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Source:	stratovarius.com
Band profile:	Stratovarius
Event:	Stratovarius

Danish metallers Illnath have issued the following update:

"Next Friday, February 13th at Pavillionen Grenå (Denmark) we will say goodbye to Artur "Tyr" Meinild and give a big welcome to Larz Munch on the keyboards. Larz has been taking care of the keys in the Danish 'Faith No More Jam' for several years, and now we have the honour to wish him welcome in the Illnath camp.

Don't miss the show... both Tyr and Larz will be found on stage and it's gonna be a very special night for all of us!"

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Illnath

Finnish metallers Amorphis have revealed some new details about their new fothcoming album, entilted "Skyforger". The album will be released on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork of the album can be viewed at this location.

Tracklisting of the "Skyforger":

01. Sampo
02. Silver Bride
03. From The Heaven Of My Heart
04. Sky Is Mine
05. Majestic Beast
06. My Sun
07. Highest Star
08. Skyforger
09. Course Of Fate
10. From Eearth I Rose

Read more ››

Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Amorphis

Swedish melodic death metal band Zonaria are now confirmed as support for Norwegian black metallers Satyricon, during their Scandinavian tour 2009. A tour poster can be found here.

The dates are as follows:

April 13 - SE Göteborg, Trädgårn
April 14 - DK Århus, Voxhall
April 15 - DK Copenhagen, The Rock
April 16 - SE Malmö, KB
April 17 - SE Mariestad, Folkparken
April 18 - SE Sundsvall, Nordfest
April 19 - SE Västerås, Sigurdsgatan 25
April 21 - SE Stockholm, Klubben
April 23 - FI Helsinki, nosturi
April 24 - FI Tampere, Pakkahoune
April 25 - FI Oulu, Teatria
April 27 - SE Umeå, Folkets Hus

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Zonaria
Event:	Satyricon

Original news, posted on 05.11.2008

Psyopus is proud to announce the release date for their third album "Odd Senses". The album is to be released Feb 17th 2009. The album will list 10 tracks all lending themselves to the Psyopus tech, mathy and experimental formula:

01. .44
02. Medusa
03. The Burning Halo
04. Duct Tape Smile
05. X and Y
06. Boogeyman
07. Imogen's Puzzle Pt 3
08. Choker Chain
09. Ms Shyflower
10. A Murder to Child

Psyopus is also happy to announce their track "The Burning Halo" has been placed on their MySpace page for fans review.

UPDATE (thanks to ArtiA)

Psyopus have posted "Medusa", the second new song coming off "Odd Senses", online over at the band's MySpace.

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Psyopus

Original news, posted on 24.10.2008

Listenable Records has set a February 2nd 2009 release date for Adagio's new album "Archangels In Black" in Europe and Australia. The main cover artwork has been done by artist Guilherme Sevens.

Without being a concept album, "Archangels In Black" evokes the band's convictions about a certain Nightside philosophy and a very personal approach of life and death: "Darkness is a concept with many branches, often misunderstood from outside, but elemental for some kind" guitarist Stéphan Forté says.

"Archangels In Black" tracklisting:

01. Vamphyri
02. The Astral Pathway
03. Fear Circus
04. Undead
05. Archangels In Black
06. The Fifth Ankh
07. Codex Oscura
08. Twilight At Dawn
09. Getsu Senshi

UPDATE, on 03.11.2008 (thanks to Abattoir)

"Vamphyri", the first track from "Archangels In Black" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

UPDATE, 15.12.2008 (thanks to ArtiA)

"Fear Circus", the second single from "Archangels In Black" is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

UPDATE (thanks to K?ulu)

The 5 first songs of Adagio's new album are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
"Archangels In Black" is set to be released today (Monday Feb 9th) in Europe (UK around 25th).

Read more ››

Source:	adagio-online.com
Band profile:	Adagio

Australian doom metallers The Eternal have announced an Australian tour dates in support of their latest album "Kartika," which was released in November 2008. The Eternal will kick off with an Australian tour in February/March.

Tour dates, support, and venue details of the newly announced Australian shows are below:

Sat, Feb 21@ The Enigma Bar, Adelaide, SA
Doors: 8:30pm, Entry: $12
- With Universum, Black Orchid & Saeturnum

Fri, March 6@ The Arthouse, Melbourne, VIC
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Darker Half (NSW), A State of Flux, Divine Ascension

Sat, March 7@ The Peninsula Lounge, Mooroduc, VIC
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Dialysis, A State of Flux

Thu, March 12@ Brannigan's Tavern, Gold Coast, QLD
Doors: 8:30pm, Entry: $10
- With The Matador & Dead Letter Opener

Fri, March 13@ Monstrothic (Rosies Live), Brisbane, QLD
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Arcane, Mythology & Leadlight Rose

Sat, March 14@ Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Mushroom Giant, Allan Campbell & Rainshadow

Fri, March 20@ The Sandringham Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Darker Half & Destend

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	The Eternal
Event:	The Eternal: Australian Tour

The artwork for "Justified Genocide", the new full-length by Dutch veteran Death/Thrash quartet Thanatos, created by the band's bass player Marco de Bruin, is done and can be found here.

Deity Down Records' release dates for this album, the fifth one in the band's 25 year long career are now set to April 6 2009 (UK/Ireland) and March 15 (EU/World). "Justified Genocide" will be the successor to "Undead.Unholy.Divine" (Black Lotus Records 2004).

On "Justified Genocide", founding member Stephan Gebédi (guitars/vocals, guitars in Hail Of Bullets), Marco de Bruin, Paul Baayens (guitars, Hail Of Bullets, Asphyx) and Yuri Rinkel (drums, Melechesh) will have the following titles on display:

01. They Feed On Fear
02. Destruction.Chaos.Creation
03. The Devil's Triangle
04. March Of The Infidels
05. Justified Genocide
06. The Netherworld
07. Dawn Of Eternity
08. Apostles Of Damnation
09. Upwards Spiritual Evolution
10. And Jesus Wept (Bonus, taken from the 2006 7" EP on Konqueror Records)
11. The Burning Of Sodom (Bonus, taken from the 2006 7" EP on Konquerer Records)

The band's MySpace page will be updated with one or two of final mixes fresh out of Dan Swanö's Unisound Studio soon.

Read more ››

Source:	thanatos.info
Band profile:	Thanatos

Original news, posted on 09.01.2009

Autumn have added a brand new song, entilted "Skydancer", to their MySpace player. "Altitude", the band's upcoming album, will be released on February 13 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy) and February 27 (rest of Europe) via Metal Blade Records.

UPDATE (thanks to ArtiA)

Another new song, called "Paradise Nox" is available for streaming online over at http://www.myspace.com/autumnband.

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Autumn

US metallers Acheron have posted three new songs online, called "I Am Heathen", "The Apocalypse" and "Blood Oath (Pactum Tacitum)". You can listen to the songs at the band's MySpace page. These songs are coming from their forthcoming album, entilted "Final Conflict: Last Days Of God", which is scheduled for release on April 30th via Displeased Records.

Here's the "Final Conflict: Last Days Of God" cover art] tracklisting again:

01. Intro
02. The Apocalypse
03. Rise Of Rebellion
04. Blood Oath (Pactum Tacitum)
05. I Am Heathen
06. Godless? (We Are Gods!)
07. Salvation Through Hatred
08. Power And Might
09. Millennium's End
10. A New Age
11. Anno Armegeddon

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Acheron (USA-OH)

Candlelight Records press release

Candlelight today confirms the worldwide signing of Susperia. Currently finishing work on their fifth album, the band recently announced a string of early spring UK dates that will kick off what is expected to be a busy year for the popular Norwegian metal band. "Ten years and still the same five guys," exclaims vocalist Athera of the band's long commitment to their music. "We have worked nearly two years on this material, perfecting it for your pleasure and our devoted fans. It will take you back to the early days with melancholic riffing and dark emotional vocals. It's a perfect blend of everything Susperia has been and become."

"A blend of thrash metal drawing on influences that include Sepultura, Anthrax, and Testament," says Allmusic.com of Susperia's now highly regarded sound. The popular music portal continues its early 2005 review noting "their songs are melodic yet intense and forceful, and shredding guitars are the rule." Formed in 1998 by drummer Tjodalv (then of Dimmu Borgir) and guitarist Cyrus (then of Satyricon/Old Man's Child), the band released their debut, "Predominance", via Nuclear Blast in 2001. The band's much-acclaimed second album, "Vindication", followed in 2003. Signing with Norwegian-based Tabu Records (with release in the US via Candlelight Records) in 2004, the band released their third album, "Unlimited", later that year. Brave Words Bloody Knuckles called the album, "a scorcher from start to finish, on par with Testament classic The Gathering."

A powerful live act, the band has consistently remained focused to the live arena. With numerous high profile support, headline and festival appearances, one of the band's most cherished experiences thus far remains supporting the newly reformed Testament in late 2005. The dates would culminate in the release of the band's Norwegian charting mini-album "Devil May Care". Work on their fourth album, "Cut From Stone", would see out the end of the year. Unfortunately due to financial constraints two tries to visit the US to support the Daniel Bergstrand-produced album during 2007/08 would set back the album's overall sales target but the band remained committed. Touring Europe, including numerous dates with W.A.S.P., the band's ambitions stayed and continue to remain in tact. "We now have the backing of one label worldwide and this is going to make life easier for us," says bassist Memnock. "We hope that finally we get to play to our American fans."

Read more ››

Source:	candlelightrecords.co.uk
Band profile:	Susperia

Original news, posted on 02.01.2009

Anglo-Chilean thrash metallers Criminal have uploaded the track "21st Century Paranoia", from their upcoming album "White Hell", to their MySpace page.

"White Hell" will be released on February 27th, 2009 by Massacre Records. In Europe the album will be released in a limited edition including a bonus DVD, the contents of which will be announced shortly, while the South American version of the album will contain the bonus track "Hermanos Dementes".

UPDATE (thanks to Deadmeat)

Also "Crime And Punishment", another new song by Criminal is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Criminal

Danish metal band Urkraft have issued the following update on their official site:

"After 13 years of death metal we have decided to pull the plug.

We would like to express our gratitude to fans and friends who have supported us throughout the years, bought the records, showed up at gigs or even shared the stage with us.

We have achieved a lot of the things we hoped for when we started the band: album releases, lots of gigs and tours, beers and booze, good friends, and much more. There have been plenty of ups and downs, and as many other bands, we have taken our share of beatings from the music industry... nothing comes for free, so thank you and fuck you! To everyone else... cheers!

To share with you our latest piece of work, we invite you all to download our 2008 full-length recording, "A Scornful Death", in MP3/CD quality. The record is the third from Urkraft and definitely our chief piece of work! Overall, we intended to make this album loud, angry and dirty, and we are quite satisfied with the result - so we hope you'll let it blow your speakers...

Apart from the drums, "A Scornful Death" was recorded under modest conditions and small expenses in our own studio, The Red Room. However, the record would probably not have unearthed without the help from the following people: Tue Madsen The Haunted, Sick Of It All, Himsa, Hatesphere] (producrion of drum tracks, mix and master), our sound guy and friend Daniel "beast" (technical hotline and equipment support), Anders Lundemark Konkhra] (who generously lent us his recording facilities while tracking drums) and Eg (for sharing his fancy piano). In addition, Mads Haarløv adds growls on tracks 5 and 8, while Tommy Neperus handles the keyboard on track 1. Thank you!"

Read more ››

Source:	urkraft.dk
Band profile:	Urkraft

Earache Records press release

Earache recording artists Municipal Waste are set to start work on recording their new, yet to be titled album this March at Red Planet Studios in their hometown of Richmond, VA. The album will be produced by Zeuss, who produced the band's last album, 'The Art of Partying'.

The writing process for the new record is almost complete and the band is excited about bringing new ideas to the table. Frontman Tony Foresta comments: "So far the song-writing is coming off a lot more aggressive than our previous efforts."
Drummer Dave Witte agrees: "This set of new songs are challenging and super fun to play; we turned up the aggression and speed knobs while keeping the good time intact."

'The Art of Partying' was released in 2007 to great reviews and hailed the dawn of the most intense shows that Municipal Waste have played throughout the world. Looking ahead, Tony Foresta is enthused about the direction in which the band's writing has taken them on the new album: "I think it is a definite change from our last 2 albums. Nothing super-drastic, but a positive change. The Waste is still all about having a good time. But I think we all agreed on writing something a bit more pissed off and different with this album, instead of going ahead and writing the same album all over again. But don't fear, we're not getting "artistic" or any bullshit like that. We've just been listening to a lot more Poison Idea and NWOBHM and I feel it might show a bit with this next album."

The band have announced 3 song titles which promise entirely new levels of intensity and insanity in a style that is pure Waste: "Massive Aggressive", "Shredded Offering", and "The Divine Blasphemer".

The new Municipal Waste album is expected to be released worldwide on Earache Records in late August 2009.

Source:	earachenews.blogspot.com
Band profile:	Municipal Waste

Deathstars have announced a headlining tour over United Kingdom in April. Supporting acts to be announced soon.

Tour dates:

08.04. UK Oxford - O2 Academy 2
09.04. UK Sheffield - Corporation
10.04. UK Leeds - Rios
11.04. UK Leamington Spa - The Assembly
12.04. UK Glasgow - Cathouse
13.04. UK Newcastle Upon Tyne - O2 Academy
14.04. UK Birmingham - O2 Academy 2
15.04. UK Plymouth - White Rabbit
16.04. UK Bristol - O2 Academy 2
17.04. UK Wrexham - Central Station
18.04. UK Manchester - Club Academy
19.04. UK Liverpool - O2 Academy 2
20.04. UK Norwich - Waterfront
21.04. UK London / Islington - O2 Academy
22.04. UK Brighton - Concorde 2

Read more ››

Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Deathstars
Event:	Deathstars: UK Tour