Long-running German thrashers Sodom will play a special 25th anniversary set at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which is scheduled to take place August 2-4 in Wacken, Germany.

The 120-minute performance will kick off with four songs from the band's latest, self-titled album, after which the group will be joined by several ex-members for a set of songs that have rarely or never before been played live. Making special guest appearances during this portion of the show will be Chris Witchhunter (drums), Grave Violator (guitar), Athätor (guitar), Frank Blackfire (guitar), Michael Hoffman (guitar), Andy Brings (guitar) and Atomic Steif (drums). Sodom will then close the gig with five more classics.

The group's entire setlist for the performance will be as follows:

New Songs:

01. Blood On Your Lips
02. Wanted Dead
03. City Of God
04. Bibles And Guns

"Historical" Portion Of The show (featuring guests):

05. Burst Command 'Til War
06. Obsessed By Cruelty
07. Christ Passion
08. Magic Dragon
09. Tarred And Feathered
10. The Crippler
11. Get What You Deserve
12. Abuse
13. Scum
14. Frozen Screams
15. Warlike Conspiracy
16. Genocide
17. Lords Of Depravity

Closing Classics:

18. Sodomy And Lust
19. Ausgebombt
20. The Saw Is The Law
21. Outbreak Of Evil
22. Bombenhagel

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Sodom
Event:	Wacken Open Air 2007

German Thrashers Dew-Scented have posted a new song 'That's Why I Despise You', on their MySpace page.

Dew-Scented's new album "Incinerate" will be released in North America on April 3rd via Nuclear Blast (March 30 in Germany; April 2 in the rest of Europe; April 16 in South America; and March 21 in Japan).
The album was mixed by Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Nevermore, Arch Enemy) and features guest appearances by Jeff Waters (Annihilator) and Gus G. (Firewind) on the song 'Perdition or All', and Mille Petrozza (Kreator) on 'Retain The Scars'.

"Incinerate" cover art] tracklist:

01. Exordium (Intro)
02. Vanish Away
03. Final Warning
04. That's Why I Despise You
05. The Fraud
06. Into The Arms Of Misery
07. Perdition For All
08. Now Or Never
09. Aftermath
10. Everything Undone
11. Contraddictions
12. Retain The Scars
13. Exitus (Outro)

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Source:	dew-scented.net
Band profile:	Dew-Scented

Season Of Mist is proud to announce the fresh signing of Italian female-fronted band Cadaveria.

Here's the band's comment: "After spending the last year in composing our new songs and in producing Cadaveria's third full length album, we are glad and proud to announce the recent agreement with Season of Mist. We are extremely satisfied by the new tracks and very excited for this join, that will assure the promotion this album deserves. Cadaveria want to thank Michael/Season of Mist for this opportunity and all fans for their patience and never-ending support. Three years passed since the "Far Away From Conformity" album, but it is worth the wait: this album is with no doubt the best one we have released so far and it will be IN YOUR BLOOD (as the title says) for the rest of your days.

Soon more news will follow!

In blood,

Cadaveria."

More info about Cadaveria on http://www.cadaveria.com and http://www.myspace.com/cadaveriaband.

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Source:	season-of-mist.com
Band profile:	Cadaveria

Official press release:

Continuing the return of Testament, the original line-up will perform shows world-wide in 2007. Influencing a whole metal movement today, Testament maintain the originators of thrash.

Drummer Nick Barker (Dimmu Borgir/Cradle Of Filth) will join all original members Alex Skolnick (guitar), Greg Christian (bass), Eric Peterson (guitar) and Chuck Billy (vocals) for this historical year. Testament is currently working on new material for an upcoming CD release. Stay tuned for more information.

Band guitarist Eric Peterson exclaims, "Hey metal world! Working hard with Nick on some new ideas and some cool old school styles and it's coming together really killer! Six songs already in the can so far! Just waiting for the Chief to come up with some lyrics to match, we get into the studio to track the drums in June...looking forward to busting out some new ones for this summer at the festivals and get a reaction!"

Chuck Billy states "It's been a long time coming, this new album is like a good wine, you throw in the grapes and 'crush.'"

3/23 Budapest, Hungary @ Almassy MK Hall
3/24 Katowice, Poland @ Hala Spodek
3/26 Dallas, TX @ the Granada Theatre
3/27 Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
3/29 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
3/30 Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theatre
3/31 Santa Ana, CA @ the Galaxy Theatre (CA Metal Fest)
4/19 Torreon, Mexico @ Salon Ferrocarrilero
4/20 Monterrey, Mexico @ Café Iguana
4/21 Mexico City, Mexico @ Circo Volador
4/22 Carolina, Puerto Rico @ Arena
4/25 Sao Paulo. Brazil @ Via Funchal
4/26 Curitiba, Brazil @ Hellooch
4/27 Rio de Janiero, Brazil @ Canecao
4/29 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ El Teatro Flores
4/30 Santiago, Chile @ Teatro Caupolican
7/06 Derbyshire, England @ Bloodstock Open Air
7/07 Leeuwarden, Netherlands @ Waldrock Festival
7/19 Nuernberg, Germany @ Earthshaker Festival
8/17 Oulu, Finland @ Jalometalli festival
8/18 Notodden, Norway @ Metal Heart Festival
8/19 Gotenborg, Sweden @ TBC
8/21 Kolding, Denmark @ Godset
8/22 Antwerpen, Belgium @ Hof Ter Lo
8/23 Deventer, Holland @ Burgerweeshuis
8/24 Bergen, Norway @ Hole in the Sky - Bergen Metal Festival
8/25 Gemunden, Germany @ Up From The Ground Open Air Festival
8/31 Rimini, Italy @ Velvet
9/01 Palmaggio-Caserta, Italy @ Route to Hell Festival

UPDATED on 10 March, thanks to beer

Testament have scheduled three more dates in Russia in July. The details are as follows:

Jul. 03 - Voronej, Russia - 100 Streams
Jul. 04 - Saratov, Russia - Club Vostok

Read more ››

Source:	lambgoat.com
Band profile:	Testament

Swedish Progressive Metallers Andromeda has revealed details of their live DVD entitled "Playing Off The Board".

The main feature was recorded on 31st October 2006 in Wyspianski Theater in Katowice (Poland) when Andromeda supported Pendragon at a 21st Anniversary of "The Jewel" concert. The band (line-up: David Fremberg - vocals, Johan Reinholdz - guitar, Martin Hedin - keyboards, Thomas Lejon - drums and Fabian Gustavsson - bass) concentrated mostly on their latest "Chimera" album but the set-list also includes older tracks from "Extension Of The Wish" and "II=I" albums. Get ready for a strong dose of progressive metal! The Swedish quintet offers powerful and sublime sound compositions that are both structurally intricate and overflowing with a vast spectrum of emotions.

DVD includes 1.5 hour of progressive music at its very best, more than an hour of bonus video footage (featuring, among other materials, bootlegs and documents from the band's tour and gigs across Europe), 2 interviews and much more!

"Playing Off The Board" will be also available in a limited swing case edition, including a CD with songs recorded at the concert!

Release date: 10th April in Europe / 24th April in US.

Tracklist

DVD:
01. Periscope
02. Mirages
03. In The Deepest Of Waters
04. Two Is One
05. The Hidden Riddle
06. Chameleon Carneval
07. Inner Circle
08. Eclipse
09. In The End Clip]
10. Encyclopedia
11. Reaching Deep Within
12. The Words Unspoken

CD (only available in limited swing case edition):
01. Periscope
02. Mirages
03. In The Deepest Of Waters
04. Two Is One
05. The Hidden Riddle
06. Chameleon Carneval
07. Inner Circle
08. Eclipse
09. In The End
10. Encyclopedia
11. Reaching Deep Within
12. The Words Unspoken

Bonus video:
Interview with Johan Reinholdz and Martin Hedin
Interview with David Fremberg and Thomas Lejon
Rehearsal, October 2006
Andromeda Goes Dutch
European Tour Tales
Three Days in Poland
Old Live Footage

Others:
- Photo gallery
- Biography
- Discography
- Desktop images
- Weblinks
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

A comment by the band, posted on their website, goes as follows:

"We are all very excited about this release, we have put our hearts and souls into its creation. It´s full to the brim with stuff to dig your teath into. The concert was professionaly filmed in an old theatre in Poland this fall and it looks and sounds awsome. There are loads cool of bonus material, stuff we filmed on tour, pictures, interviews etc. Don´t miss it!"

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Source:	metal-rules.com
Band profile:	Andromeda

Samples for the tracks appearing on the new Within Temptation album, "The Heart Of Everything," are currently available at this location.
Also, Roadrunner UK are offering a free MP3 download of the track 'The Howling'. Says the label, "To download your copy of 'The Howling', taken from the band's forthcoming album, The Heart Of Everything, simply fill in your details here and we will send you a link to the download."

"The Heart Of Everything" will be released in Europe on March 12th through Roadrunner. A North American date has not yet been announced.

Read more ››

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Within Temptation

Pre-release audio samples of each track from Visions Of Atlantis' forthcoming album, "Trinity," can now be heard using the link's on the official Visions Of Atlantis website here.

The album (artwork) will feature the following tracklisting:
01. At The Back Of Beyond
02. The Secret
03. Passing Dead End
04. The Poem
05. Nothing Left
06. My Darkside Home
07. Wing-Shaped Heart
08. Return To You
09. Through My Eyes
10. Flow This Desert
11. Seven Seas

"Trinity" will be released around May through Napalm Records.

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Source:	visionsofatlantis.com
Band profile:	Visions Of Atlantis

Swedish Death Metal band Death Breath, featuring ex-Entombed songwriter/vocalist/bassist/drummer Nicke Andersson, have posted the following message on their website:

"We're sorry to inform you that our upcoming Mini Album "Let It Stink" cover art] is slightly delayed. We'll let you know the new release date soon. However, it will brutalize mass ass!
Here's the track list:

01. Giving Head To The Dead
02. His Protoplasmic Worship
03. Maimed And Slaughtered
04. Dead But Walking
05. Lycanthropy
06. Sacrifice
07. Twisted In Distaste

Head over to our MySpace page (here) and check out one of the songs, 'His Protoplasmic Worship'.

The CD version will contain a brand new version of our video for the song 'Death Breath' as well as the original one. The vinyl version will be 10 pitch black inches. You can use this link to pre order."

Read more ››

Source:	deathbreath.se
Band profile:	Death Breath

German Gothic Metal band Crematory have posted the following message on their website:

"Crematory have started to write new songs in February and the new studio album with working title *Gothic Metal* is set for a January 2008 release.

Lyrics and singing wise the songs are supposed to have a darker vibe, although the separation between Felix and Matze with the dark and the cleaner vocals will be retained. The album will have English lyrics, but the appearance of a German track finding its way on the record is not impossible.

Musically it will be a treat to the ears with the familiar catchy melodies, paired with massive guitar riffs, even more brutal and darker than in the past.

With the keyboards the sound will be like in the earlier days and orchestral arrangements will be integrated. Moving away from the technoid samples and analogue sounds, going more in the direction of the early days with strings and choirs.

Once again the record will be produced with Kristian "Kohle" Kohlmannslehner in the Kohlekeller Studios in the Odenwald, who had already produced the records "Revolution" and "Klagebilder" with the band."

Source:	crematory.de
Band profile:	Crematory

Guitarist Chris Caffery (known from his work for Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra) has posted the title track from his upcoming third solo album "Pins And Needles" on his MySpace page.

"Pins And Needles" will be released in Europe on March 23 via Metal Heaven Records. The album will be available in North America and the rest of the world in June.

"Pins And Needles" tracklist:

01. Pins And Needles
02. Sixty-Six
03. Torment
04. Walls
05. YGBFKM
06. Sad
07. Chained
08. Worms
09. Crossed
10. The Time
11. Metal East
12. Qualdio
13. The Temple
14. Once Upon A Time

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Chris Caffery

An new interview with Arjen Lucassen has been posted on the official Ayreon website. Lucassen mainly talks about what happened to him the past few months, his departure from Stream Of Passion and his work on the upcoming Ayreon album.
A couple of relevant excerpts follow, the entire interview can be found here:

* First off, a lot has happened in the past few months, we all are curious to know how you are doing.

- I'm sad to say that I've been through a personal hell the last couple of months. I worked non-stop for many years and due to living on my own after the divorce with Jolanda, I have had a new (at first completely different) lifestyle. It has taken its toll, I guess.

On top of everything else, I lost my sense of taste and smell (Anosmia) two months ago and sunk into a deep depression. With medical help and, most of all, the help of my closest friends (including Jolanda) I'm slowly climbing out of the black hole now. Last week I kicked my own butt back into the studio and fortunately the inspiration is slowly beginning to flow again.

* What are your plans concerning Stream of Passion at this moment?

- Because I will be fully concentrating on the new Ayreon for at least the next year, I have no more time for SoP, so I quit the band. It would be unfair to have them wait until I'm ready, especially now things are going so well for SoP.

* Does this mean the end of Stream of Passion?

- Fortunately not, the band will continue without me. They will write their own songs and I'm sure there's enough talent in the band to make a great new album and undertake successful tours without me pulling the strings.

* Now onto the new Ayreon:

When did you actually start recording?

- Basically I started recording a few months ago but due to my depression and the SoP tour I hadn't been in the studio until a week ago.

* Can you give us a tiny hint of what we can expect musically?

- Because of my frame of mind the material so far is quite dark. There are some pretty heavy passages and the soft parts are quite mysterious. Though, to even it out, I will probably record some folky and happier stuff in the coming months when I feel better. I do think I will succeed in having it sound different from my previous albums again. I'm also thinking of releasing a single album this time, and using the remaining tracks as bonustracks for those who are interested. As some know, I hate to repeat myself and do the expected! Don't know if I will succeed though, things often turned out differently than the way I planned them...

Read more ››

Source:	ayreon.com
Band profile:	Ayreon

Megadeth has scheduled the following European tour dates in June:

Jun. 01 - Nürnberg, Germany - Rock Im Park
Jun. 02 - Roeselare, Belgium - Schwung Festival
Jun. 03 - Nürburgring, Germany - Rock Am Ring
Jun. 07 - Tampere, Finland - Sauna Open Air Metal Festival
Jun. 10 - Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador Theatre
Jun. 12 - Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowland Ballroom
Jun. 17 - Nijmegen, Holland - Fields Of Rock Festival
Jun. 22 - Zaragoza, Spain - Monsters Of Rock
Jun. 24 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
Jun. 30 - Milan, Italy - Gods Of Metal

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

Check out Alabama Thunderpussy's new video for 'Words Of A Dying Man' on LiveLeak.com as well as YouTube.com. This track is off of the band's upcoming Relapse Records album "Open Fire", which release this coming Tuesday, March 6!

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Source:	adrenalinepr.com
Band profile:	Alabama Thunderpussy

Token from the official Mastodon Newsletter:

"In their infinite wisdom, gametap.com has chosen to see fit to make Mastodon their "Artist Of The Month". What does this mean? That means that throughout the month, you'll see some exclusive content there, including a live show show just gametap.com. Click here to see the page and keep coming back throughout the month to see the latest additions."

Read more ››

Source:	mastodonrocks.com
Band profile:	Mastodon

Finnish Heavy Metallers Amorphis have posted the following update by guitarist Esa Holopainen on their website on 28 February:

"It's national celebration day. Amorphis has finished new album recordings and also today is the day of Kalevala. With the help of old and wise Väinämöinen, skilled smith Ilmarinen, adventurer-warrior Lemminkäinen, Louhi; the female ruler of Pohjola and the tragic hero Kullervo Amorphis aheads to new dimensions with upcoming album.

We have put a lot of energy and emotion into this album and hopefully it will reflect to all you next August.

Stay tuned and happy Kalevala day!"

Source:	kingfooentertainment.fi
Band profile:	Amorphis