Brand new music from Amon Amarth titled 'Cry of the Black Birds', from their forthcoming Metal Blade Records release, has been posted online. You can snag or stream the tune at this location. The band's next effort is expected sometime in October along with new God Dethroned.

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Source:	metalblade.com
Band profile:	Amon Amarth

A brand new Iron Maiden track titled "Different World" off their upcoming new album "A Matter Of Life And Death", can now be previewed online here.

"A Matter Of Life And Death" will be released on 28 August 2006, "Different World" is the opening track of the album.

And another new Iron Maiden track titled "Brighter Than A Thousand Suns," off their upcoming new album "A Matter of Life And Death", can now be previewed online here.

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Source:	ironmaiden.com
Band profile:	Iron Maiden

Another new song from Suffocation entitled "Abomination Reborn" has been posted online here. The track comes off the legendary band's upcoming self titled new album which will be released on September 19th through Relapse Records.

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Source:	relapse.com
Band profile:	Suffocation

Nocturnal Art Productions has issued the following news in regards to Norway's Blood Tsunami :

Blood Tsunami (http://www.bloodtsunami.com), the Oslo, Norway-based thrash metal band featuring drummer Bård G. Eithun (a.k.a. Faust; Scum, Aborym, ex-Emperor), has signed a three-album deal with Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records.

The group will enter Lion Heart Studios in Oslo in September with engineer Øivind Voldmo Larsen to begin recording its debut album, tentatively titled Thrash Metal, for an early 2007 release.

The album's artwork "will be over-the-top fantastic and the man going nuts on the canvas is Alex Horley Orlandelli, who is also known for his great drawings for Marvel comics, Heavy Metal magazine and Image comics."

Blood Tsunami has announced the addition of former Gluecifer bassist Stu Manx to the group's ranks.

Blood Tsunami is : Pete (Lead Guitar and Vocals), Dor (Lead Guitar), Faust (Drums) and Stu (Bass).

Blood Tsunami previously worked with Øivind Voldmo Larsen at Lion Heart Studios on their Demo 2005, which can still be heard on the band's official MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/bloodtsunami).

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Source:	nocturnalart.com
Band profile:	Blood Tsunami

After triumphantly headlining the annual Wacken Open Air Festival and completing recent capacity performances in America, Emperor today (09/08/06) announce two additional performances for 2006. Scheduled Saturday, October 7th Emperor will headline the fifth annual Motstoy Festival in the band's hometown of Notodden. Formed in 2002 by local youth and supportive arts organizations, this year's festival will also include appearances by Red Harvest, Mortiis, She Said Destroy, and Pagan's Mind, among others.

"The Motstoy festival is a non-profit organization situated in Notodden that my company Mnemosyne Productions has endorsed since its start in 2002," says vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn. "As it is a no-alcohol arrangement with no age limit, it is a great opportunity for Emperor to play a local show and at the same time give younger fans a chance to see us live." Ticket and sponsorship information can be found at the festival's official site.

Emperor additionally confirm their return to England for an exclusive engagement at the famed London Astoria. Scheduled Saturday, October 28th the show will feature supporting performances from Candlelight Recording artist To-Mera and Nocturnal Art Productions recording artist She Said Destroy.

"It's great to finally come back to England with Emperor," says Samoth. "England is where we first started out in the early 90's; signing to Candlelight Records and heading out on our first real tour. We've always had a strong following in England, both press and fans, and we've built up a strong relationship throughout the years with the folks at Candlelight Records and Plastic Head, so it was a very obvious choice for us to return to the United Kingdom. All hail & see you soon!"

Emperor's final album, "Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise", was released October 2001. In 2004, Candlelight Records reissued the band's four genre-defining albums, "Wrath of the Tyrants", "In the Nightside Eclipse", "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" and "IX Equilibrium"; each featuring bonus footage and material previously unavailable on both European and US-licensed versions. All recordings are available as part of Candlelight's vinyl collectors series on sale at exclusive retailers worldwide or by direct purchase from the label's official webstores (European customers visit www.plastichead.com; North American customers visit the recently launched www.candlelightrecordsusa.com). Additional merchandise from Emperor is also available.

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Source:	emperorhorde.com
Band profile:	Emperor

For the past nine years or, to be more precise, since the opening tones of their sensational debut album, Legendary Tales, Rhapsody have been one of the most unusual phenomena of the current metal scene. The huge range of their creativity, the number of legendary compositions that the Italian band, with their primary members guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboarder Alex Staropoli, have released so far reached now the climax with the new album "Triumph or Agony" .

A new tour is planned and a new album is on the way, Rhapsody Of Fire will continue to explore musical fantasy worlds with the precision musicianship and unique symphonic concepts that their fans have come to expect and adore. Fresh on the heels of the band's first live album release, Live In Canada 2005 - The Dark Secret, a new name and renewed vigor ensure that Rhapsody Of Fire still hold the passion and power that have always been associated with their music.

Tracklist :
01. Dar-Kunor
I. Echoes From The Elvish Woods
II.Fear Of The Dungeons
02. Triumph Or Agony
03. Heart Of The Darklands
04. Old Age Of Wonders
05. The Myth Of The Holy Sword
06. Il Canto Del Vento
07. Silent Dream
08. Bloody Red Dungeons
09. Son Of Pain
10 The Mystic Prophecy Of The Demonknight
I. A New Saga Begins
II. Through The Portals Of Agony
III. The Black Order
IV. Nekron's Bloody Rhymes
V. Escape From Horror
11. Dark Reign Of Fire
I. Winter Dawn's Theme

Produced by Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli

RELEASE DATE EUROPE: September 25th

See the artwork here

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Source:	rhapsodyoffire.com
Band profile:	Rhapsody

Official press release (Earache Records) :

Deicide have decided to part ways with current booking agent Tammy Taylor, putting "The Stench of Redemption" fall tour on a temporary hiatus. However, the band are currently working on securing a stronger, more comprehensive US tour to coincide with "The Stench of Redemption" and are planning to hit the UK before the end of 2006. Deicide plan to re-schedule a full US tour for 2007 and are excited to hit the road with the power of "The Stench of Redemption" behind them. "The Stench of Redemption" is slated for release on August 22nd.

Source:	earache.com
Band profile:	Deicide

Finnish melodeath act Noumena has completed their third album, entitled "Anatomy Of Life". It was recorded and mixed in Studio Sundi Coop by Tuomo Valtonen and mastered at Finnvox Studios by Mika Jussila. Tracks are as follows:

1. Misanthropolis
2. Burden of Solacement
3. Retrospection
4. The Burning
5. Monument of Pain
6. Triumph and Loss
7. Marionettes
8. Through the Element
9. Fire and Water

With the new album Noumena has evolved their approach to melodic death. "This time we worked more on terms of the songs. We didn't want to squeeze every song into the same format", analyzes guitarist Tuukka Tuomela. "However, heavy rhythms and catchy melodies are on their place", he continues. Along with growler Antti Haapanen the tracks include guest vocalists.

Anatomy of Life will be released in the end of October. Further information at Noumena homepage.

Source:

thenoumena.com

Swedish thrash titans The Haunted have just completed the recording process for the highly anticipated follow-up to 2004's critically acclaimed rEVOLVEr album. The new effort was recorded in Denmark at Antfarm Studios with renowned producer Tue Madsen (Himsa, Kataklysm) and it looks to be their most accomplished work to date. The group spent months working on the new material pushing themselves to create something unique that combines certain elements of their previous efforts, while ultimately forging ahead in new, unexplored directions. An announcement in regards to the title of the new album and its release date will follow over the next few weeks.

Peter Dolving (vocals) checks in with the following post studio report: "Oh, the power of the internet and wireless computers. I'm currently sitting on the john writing this report thinking about all you good folks out there, while my kids are watching cartoons in the living room. We just finished a new album and I gotta say, I'm proud as fuck. It's bigger, better, madder and thicker. Hell, that's the weird part with the album business - how the hell to describe what you've just done. Anyway, it rocks. Big time. Really. Per (drums) told me at rehearsals a couple of days ago, 'If I died tomorrow I couldn't be more satisfied so if people don't like it, fuck them.' I couldn't agree more. We started writing around Ozzfest last year, bouncing around ideas, recording anything that came to mind without the old 'more or less metal'-filter, and pretty much knew that we were sick of the whole 900 bpm-chugga-chugga-AAARRRGGGGH-PUKE-end. We wanted to do something we'd just touched upon with our previous four albums. This album is simply more diverse, dynamic and HEAVY AS FUCK. Bands like Trouble, Autopsy, Ganx, Masters Of The Universe, King Crimson and early Metallica have all really had a great influence on us as a band, and I think this album really draws a lot in color from those artists.

"We just completed the recording process and are now putting the artwork together with Manne Andreasson, a bearded wierdo and dear friend or ours. Working with Tue Madsen's been great. The dude is down-to-earth man, and working with someone who's got his shit together like that is a joy. Anders spent six weeks in Denmark getting guitars down while working with Per and Jonas and then helping me out while I was doing vocals. Before we started recording, he was telling us he didn't want to do ANY solos on this record, but in the end we got him to do four really cool pieces. I think we've managed to find an immense sound: the drums are clearer, heavier and less processed, and we've even got acoustic guitars, congas, strings and loads of weird noise manipulations going on. As far as the vocals go, I honestly didn't know I could even sing some of the stuff. I was nervous as fuck when I got down to Tue's studio, and felt like a complete rookie: 'Shit, how the hell am I going to live up to this.' Turns out all I had to do was keep running my miles and warm up like when we're on tour. You can look forward to an album we're proud as fuck of, and we're looking forward to seeing you all again as soon as we head out for tour. It'll be ugly as ever, I'm sure. Stay sick."

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Source:	the-haunted.com
Band profile:	The Haunted

You can check out a new song from Grave, entitled "Burn," here. The track comes off their upcoming new album, 'As Rapture Comes', which is due out July 25th through Century Media.

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Source:	www2.centurymedia.com
Band profile:	Grave

Lifeforce Records has officially announced the signing of Swedish/Greek melodic death metal band, Nightrage. Comments Lifeforce president Stefan Luedicke: "I'm very happy about the signing of Nightrage, a band I've been a fan of since their first release "Sweet Vengeance" on Century Media, but I'm sure their Lifeforce Records debut will easily kill their previous releases."

Marios Ilipoulos, guitarist/songwriter, speaking on behalf of Nightrage: "We are proud about the signing with Lifeforce Records, this is really exciting for us and we feel that we will continue deliver our craft through a really nice partner like Lifeforce Records, who are into the music we are doing and together we can achieve really great things."

Nightrage will record their as-of-yet untitled Lifeforce Records debut later this year at Studio Fredman, and the album will be released in early-2007.

Source:	lambgoat.com
Band profile:	Nightrage

Circle Of Dead Children has officially parted ways with drummer Mike Bartek, who has been with the group since 2003. His departure was apparently on less than stellar terms. The band is on an indefinite hiatus until a replacement can be found. Interested candidates should contact the band here.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Circle Of Dead Children

Winds' guitarist Carl August Tidemann recently posted a message on the Winds' forum stating that he has now completed the solo-guitar recordings for the upcoming album. The rhythm guitars were already completed last year and the recent completion of the solos now concludes all the guitar recordings for the fourth Winds album.

Winds - comprised of singer Lars Eric Si (Khold), guitarist Carl August Tidemann (Arcturus), keyboardist Andy Winter (Age Of Silence) and Jan Axel Von Blomberg (Arcturus, Mayhem) - have also confirmed recent suspicions of a guest performance by Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale).

As explained by Andy Winter: "Dan recorded his parts at his own studio in Sweden. We sent him the tracks we wanted him to sing on, along with a few words of what we were looking for. He then came back with some, according to him ''suggestions,' but they were great performances that we intend to keep, and they will surely add to this record in a very positive way."

As previously reported, Winds has already confirmed guest appearances from Agnete M. Kirkevaag (Madder Mortem, Frantic Bleep), Lars A. Nedland (Borknagar, Solefald), and Oystein Moe (Ulver, Tritonus) for their upcoming album, the follow-up to 2004's creative The Imaginary Direction of Time (on The End Records)

The band will be taking a small break over the summer, but will continue finishing up the recordings and eventually mix the new album sometime in the fall.

Source:	winds.ws
Band profile:	Winds

Canadian progressive death metallers Into Eternity have posted the following update:

"Things are going well these days in the Into Eternity camp. The recording of our fourth album was recently completed at the end of May. Now we are looking forward to Andy Sneap putting all of his talent into mixing the new disc. That will take place around June 23/06. The band is excited for everyone to hear the new material.

Right now Mattias Norén is working on the CD packaging. I've seen the cover and it looks really amazing. Mattias always does a great job. Last week we finished a photo shoot with Cortney Bodnar. The pics turned out well and now it's up to Mattias to bring every thing to life.

We've been listening to a rough mix of the songs that the studio gave us. So far, I think it is a mix between Dead Or Dreaming and Buried In Oblivion. For this album we kept some things a bit more stripped down. Now we won't have 5 vocal harmonies going at once. The band decided that we want to sound more like we do live, so we stuck to 2 part vocal harmonies. It still sounds killer though and I'm sure people will dig the new melodies. Stu did a great job singing on this album. He has 5 different voices that he can change back and forth from. Wait to you hear some of the notes he hits!"

Source:	intoeternity.net
Band profile:	Into Eternity

New York death metal legends Suffocation have posted the following updates:

"We are happy to announce the completion of our new self titled album Suffocation. We are anxious for it to hit the streets and are expecting an early September release date. We are confident with the outcome and look forward to the upcoming tours that will be scheduled to support it. The album will be out a few weeks prior to the start of the Fear Factory, Hypocrisy, Decapitated tour which will give you fans just enough time to familiarize yourselves to the pain we are anxious to bring to your city and town. Audio samples will be up on the newly designed site very soon.

Last but not least, Suffocation bassist Derek Boyer is recovering from 4 broken bones. Derek's leg was broken 06/06/06. The good news is, Derek will be back on two feet in time for the tours this summer."

Source:	suffocation.us
Band profile:	Suffocation