Modern Heavy Metallers Machine Men will be entering Fantom studio, in Tampere to start recording a new album. The band have already written all the songs for the new release, they will just have to record it all. The recording process will start on the 14th August and the band will hit the road for some shows halfway through their sessions. Then they will return to complete the album. Machine Men will also have a studio diary posted on their official website.

Here is a small comment by Machine Men vocallist Antony Parviainen: "We have been in a local bar all days watching football and drinking beer. And we have also wrote the songs ready for the next album! We will keep you updated with a studio diary and all kind of bullshit. Have a nice summer and see you on the tour!"

Source:	machinemen.net
Band profile:	Machine Men

German Power Metallers Primal Fear have posted the artwork for their upcoming compilation album online. The compilation entitled 'Metal Is Forever - The Very Best Of Primal Fear' will be released on 29th September this year. The artist responsible for the artwork is Stephan Lohrmann. He has done the artwork for Primal Fear's first four albums. From their self titled album to Black Sun. Primal Fear have also said that the track list for the new compilation (including the bonus disc) will be announced soon.

Here is the artwork for Metal Is Forever: http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/Necromancer_S/pf-bestof.jpg

Source:	primalfear.de
Band profile:	Primal Fear

Veteran Heavy Metallers W.A.S.P. have announced a long list of dates for their upcoming World Tour. Some of the dates were ones that were supposed to happen this month, but because W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless was diagnosed with an abnormality in one of the arteries leading to his heart, the shows were postponed. Lawless has no physical damage, so the gigs will proceed in a bit over a month.

Here are the upcoming shows, taken from W.A.S.P.'s official website:

06/09/06 - Kaliakra Stadium, Kavarna, Bulgaria
11/09/06 - TBA
12/09/06 - JB's, Dudley, UK
13/09/06 - Woughton Center, Woughton, UK
14/09/06 - Bierkeller, Bristol, UK
15/09/06 - Sportshall J.C., Waregem, Belgium
16/09/06 - TBA
17/09/06 - Bycenen, Haugesund, Norway
18/09/06 - TBA, Garage, Norway
19/09/06 - Folken, Stavanger, Norway
20/09/06 - Beton, Oslo, Norway
22/09/06 - Teatria, Oulu, Finland
23/09.06 - Icehall, Jyaskyla, Finland
24/09/06 - House of Culture, Helsinki, Finland
25/09/06 - TBA
26/09/06 - TBA
27/09/06 - TBA
28/09/06 - Garage, Saarbrucken, Germany
29/09/06 - Zur Linde, Affalter, Germany
30/09/06 - Jahnhalle, Crailsheim, Germany
02/10/06 - Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany
03/10/06 - Zeche, Bochum, Germany
04/10/06 - Hirsch, Nurnberg, Germany
05/10/06 - Backstage Werk, Munchen, Germany
06/10/06 - Masters of Rock Cafe, Zlin, CZ
07/10/06 - Polivalent Sport Hall, Cluj Napcoa, Romania
08/10/06 - Wigwham, Budapest, Hungary
09/10/06 - TBA
10/10/06 - SKC, Belgrade, Serbia
11/10/06 - TBA, Sofia, Bulgaria
12/10/06 - TBA
13/10/06 - Gargarin 205, Athens, Greece
14/10/06 - Mylos, Thessaloniki, Greece
15/10/06 - TBA
16/10/06 - TBA
17/10/06 - Planet Music, Vienna, Austria
18/10/06 - TBA
19/10/06 - Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
20/10/06 - Live Club, Milan, Italy
21/10/06 - Vidia, Cesena, Italy
22/10/06 - New Age, Treviso, Italy
23/10/06 - Alpheus, Rome, Italy
24/10/06 - TBA
25/10/06 - TBA
27/10/06 - Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
28/10/06 - Academy, Manchester, UK
29/10/06 - Academy, Newcastle, UK
30/10/06 - Rock City, Nottingham, UK
31/10/06 - TBA
01/11/06 - TBA
02/11/06 - Leisure Center, Ebbw Vale, UK
03/11/06 - Cooperation, Sheffield, UK
04/11/06 - TBA
05/11/06 - KB, Malmoe, Sweden
06/11/06 - Tradgaarn, Gothenburg, Sweden
07/11/06 - Draken, Stockholm, Sweden
08/11/06 - TBA
09/11/06 - TBA, Ekatarinburg, Russia

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Source:	waspnation.com
Band profile:	W.A.S.P.

Slayer have released an alternate cover for their upcoming 'Christ Illusion' album. The original cover caused controversy as it showed Jesus with his limbs cut off, floating in a river of blood and dead people. So a less graphic cover has been released as an alternative.

You can view the alternative cover here.

Read more ››

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Slayer

Finnish Folk/Black Metallers Ensiferum have announced that they will be releasing a new album next year. They will be entering the studio later this year, most likely in November, to start recording the new album. The band's label, Spinefarm Records, have said that the release date for the album will be 21st February, 2007. More information regarding the album will be released soon.

Source:	ensiferum.com
Band profile:	Ensiferum

Death Metallers Katatklysm have announced the bands that will be supporting them for their upcoming 'Road to Devastation' tour. The tour will take place in January next year, however no exact dates have been announced yet. The three bands that will be supporting Kataklysm are Fear My Thoughts (Germany, Extreme Power Metal), Neaera (Germany, Melodic Death Metal) and Quo Vadis (Canada, Melodic Death Metal). The Road To Devastation tour will be the start of Kataklysm's support shows for their recently released album "In The Arms Of Devastation."

Source:	kataklysm.net
Band profile:	Kataklysm

Thrash/Alternative Metallers Machine Head have posted a sneak preview of their new album on their official website. The band is just about to hit the Sounds Of The Underground tour, but before they depart they've posted a video of them in studio and some of the new sounds they're creating.

Here are the links for the video:
For dial up users - http://www.machinehead1.com/media/video/Album_Preview_Lo.asf
For broadband users - http://www.machinehead1.com/media/video/Album_Preview_Hi.asf

Machine Head will start the recording process for their new album around August. The album should be released early next year.

Source:	machinehead1.com
Band profile:	Machine Head

Norwegian Black Metallers Satyricon will be touring Europe in a few months. The tour will cover quite a few countries, and will start mid-September, finishing mid-October. Satyricon will be touring in support of their recently released 'Now, Diabolical' album. The tour will be the first time Satyricon has gone through Europe in three years, and they will be visiting some never-before-visited countries. Keep Of Kalessin and Insomnium have been announced as supports for Satyricon.

Here are all the tour dates:

Sep. 11 - GER - Hamburg - Knust
Sep. 12 - GER - Frankfurt - Batschkapp
Sep. 13 - GER - Bochum - Zeche
Sep. 15 - UK - Birmingham - Academy
Sep. 16 - UK - London - Islington
Sep. 17 - UK - Manchester - Academy
Sep. 18 - UK - Newcastle - Academy
Sep. 19 - UK - Glasgow - Cathouse
Sep. 20 - UK - Nottingham - Rock city
Sep. 21 - NL - Utrecht - De Helling
Sep. 22 - NL - Rotterdam - Baroeg
Sep. 23 - NL - Amsterdam - Melkweg
Sep. 24 - BEL - Antwerp - Hof ter Loo
Sep. 26 - FR - Paris - Locomotive
Sep. 27 - SP - Barcelona - KGB
Sep. 28 - SP - Madrid - Caracol
Sep. 29 - SP - Bilbao - Bilborock
Sep. 30 - FR - Lyon - CCO
Oct. 01 - CH - Fribourg - Frison
Oct. 03 - IT - Milan - Alcatraz
Oct. 04 - SLO - Ljubljana - VKP Mediapark
Oct. 05 - CRO - Zagreb - Boogaloo
Oct. 06 - HUN - Budapest - A38
Oct. 07 - AT - Wien - Planet Music
Oct. 08 - CZ - Prague - Abarton
Oct. 10 - PL - Wroclaw - WZ Club
Oct. 11 - PL - Warsaw - Proxima Club
Oct. 12 - GER - Berlin - Kato
Oct. 13 - GER - Saarbrucken - Garage
Oct. 14 - GER - Munchen - Kleiner Elserhalle
Oct. 15 - GER - Stuttgart - Röhre

Source:	satyricon.no
Band profile:	Satyricon

Doom Metallers Katatonia have announced that they will be doing a tour through Turkey. They will be returning to Turkey in September, for a four date tour. Katatonia have toured Istanbul before, but no other Turkish cities. The band is looking forward to visiting Turkey. Here is a small comment: "It has always been a pleasure coming to Istanbul, so this time it should be exciting to visit the remaining cities as well."

Here are the exact dates of the Turkish shows:

Sep. 14 - Yeni Melek, Istanbul
Sep. 15 - Dungeon Club, Izmir
Sep. 16 - Saklikent, Ankara
Sep. 17 - 222 Club, Eskisehir

Source:	katatonia.com
Band profile:	Katatonia
Event:	Katatonia Turkey Tour

Swedish Black/Death Metallers Dissection have been forced to cancel two shows in America. The band was set to play one show on September 1st at The House of Blues in Los Angeles and another one on September 6th at the BB King's in New York. The reason behind the cancellations is because Dissection vocallist/guitarist Jon Nödtveidt was denied access into the USA by the US Immigration Services. They had been causing delays, but in the end they've denied him access into the country. The reason behind Nödtveidt not being allowed into the country is because of his previous conviction for murder in 1998.

Here is a comment by Nödtveidt taken from Dissection's official website: "We knew from the beginning that there was a risk that I might be denied entry into the US because of my past but we (the band and the agencies involved) were prepared to take that risk. It's very unfortunate for everybody involved; the fans, the band and its representatives as well as the promoters. I have served my time and we were really looking forward to these final gigs. To our American fans: In spite of everything; see you in spirit! Fuck the Law! Chaos Forever!"

Source:	dissection.nu
Band profile:	Dissection

Swedish Metallers Arch Enemy have had to cancel their upcoming appearance at Metal Camp Festival. One of the band members is involved in a 'personal family crisis' and so the band has had to pull out. Arch Enemy were going to play on the 21st July at the Slovenian Metal festival.

Here is a statement by Arch Enemy taken from their official website: "We very much regret that due to a personal family crisis for one of the band members, Arch Enemy will not be able to play at the Metal Camp Festival in Slovenia as advertised on Friday June 21st. We apologise to all the fans hoping to see us there, and we are very disappointed not to be able to come and play in your country. We are planning to tour Europe again in November/December this year and will do everything possible to find a suitable show to play in Slovenia."

In other Arch Enemy news, the band have announced that they will be headlining the Kerrang! Day of Rock Festival on August 10th in London, UK.

Here is a comment by Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott: "'After the full on mayhem of playing to 40,000 metalheads at Download this year we weren't expecting to be back in the UK again so soon... So it's really cool that we will be headlining the Kerrang! Day Of Rock next month. It'll be insane getting together with a few fans in such a small place but we are really looking forward to it and will dishing out some pure fucking metal, Arch Enemy style! In fact we're gonna turn it into the Kerrang! Day Of METAL!!'"

Source:	archenemy.net
Band profile:	Arch Enemy

Michael LePond, the bassist from Power/Progressive/Symphonic Metal band Symphony X has fully recovered from Crohn's Disease. The bassist was diagnosed with the bowel disorder earlier this year, and the band was forced to cancel some European tours. He was discharged from hospital a couple of months ago, but he still wasn't 100% well. He's made a full recovery now though, and he says he feels "...strong as ever."

Here is a statement from LePond, taken from Symphony X's official website: "Hello everybody!! First of all, I want to let you that I am now fully recovered. I have gained all of my weight back and feel as strong as ever. My bass chops are back up to speed, just in time for the recording of the new CD.

Secondly, I want to give my deepest thanks to all of you for your sympathy and support during my illness. I read every single e-mail that was sent to me. It was better than any medicine I could have taken. I will never forget the kindness you guys have shown me.
I love all of you.."

Source:	symphonyx.com
Band profile:	Symphony X

Dark Tranquillity have joined the list of bands that will be performing upcoming shows in Australia. They will be covering most Australian states and will start the tour in mid September. There will be three 18+ gigs and two shows for all ages.

Here are the dates for the upcoming shows:

September 15 - Capitol - Perth (18+)
September 16 - Unibar - Adelaide (All ages)
September 17 - Manning Bar - Sydney (All ages)
September 18 - Basement - Brisbane (18+)
September 19 - Hi Fi - Melbourne (18+)

Tickets will go on sale on August 3. Support acts will be announced soon.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Dark Tranquillity

Vanishing Point have announced that a new album will be recorded soon. The band has been writing material for the album, and they've said that they will be hitting the studio in September to start recording it. They will be using Palm Studio for the recording.

Here is a statement by the band taken off their official website:

"We are currently busy writing and preparing ourselves for our fourth album for Dockyard 1, we are booked to go back into the recording studio in September with Endel Rivers at Palm Studio's (Black Majesty, The Eternal and many others) and things are going really well, what can we say about the new material so far? It's probably the heaviest music that we have come up with in some parts within the Vanishing Point style, we still have the melodic edge, symphonic arrangements and thought provoking lyrics as usual that you would expect on a Vanishing Point album, we are very excited about the new material and we hope that you guys stick around for the next album!

Oh yeah, this time the album will not take years to complete, we want to have it ready for early next year and yes as many people are asking the songs will be shorter, at least the majority of them will be."

Source:	vanishing-point.com.au
Band profile:	Vanishing Point

Power Metallers Hammerfall have posted the video for the new song 'The Fire Burns Forever' on their official website. The song is from Hammerfall's upcoming as yet untitled album. The song has been made for use in the 19th European Athletics Championships.

The audio track of the song will be available for download between August 6th and September 6th from Hammerfall record label Nuclear Blast's online store.

Here are the links for the new video download:

http://www.friidrottarna.se/download/The_Fire_Burns_Forever.wmv
http://www.friidrottarna.se/download/The_Fire_Burns_Forever.mov

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Source:	hammerfall.net
Band profile:	HammerFall