Guitarist Georg Laakso from the 'Battle' Folk Metal band Turisas has decided he will leave the band. Nine months ago (October 2005) Laakso was involved in a car accident that left him severely injured, and without full mobility from the chest down. He has been slowly recovering, but he will never recover to the point of being able to walk or play guitar anymore. So he has decided to officially leave Turisas.

Here is a statement by Laakso taken from the band's official website: "Nearly nine months has passed since the accident took place, and after six years in the band, I have now come to the point where I am forced to leave Turisas.

I have been diagnosed with spinal cord injury which has an effect on all the functions in my body. In practice it means that nothing from my chest and below is working properly or at all, and I am now tied to a wheelchair - most likely for the rest of my life. Unfortunately my fingers are not working either and it is very unlikely that I will be able to play the guitar - or any instrument for that matter - ever again. To avoid sounding too gloomy I would like to point out that considering the circumstances I should have been dead many times already."

Turisas has been playing for the last nine months with only one guitarist, and they've decided to leave it that way and not replace Laakso.

In other Turisas news, the band is currently working on a new album, that they hope to release early next year.

Source:	turisas.com
Band profile:	Turisas

Norwegian Black Metallers Immortal have now reunited officially and will headline Wacken Open Air festival in August next year. The festival will take place on the 2nd - 4th August, 2007 in Wacken, Germany.

Here is a statement from Immortal: "Immortal are proud to announce that we will headline Wacken in 2007. This will be part of a few selected exclusive shows next year, and Wacken will be the only show in Germany."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Immortal

Industrial Metallers Fear Factory have announced that they will be touring Australia this September. They will playing with support act Devildriver. Fear Factory will still be touring in support of their Transgression album. Tickets can be purchased from July 21. Fear Factory join a list of bands that will be touring Australia in the next few months, including Kreator and Cannibal Corpse.

Here are the Australian dates for Fear Factory:

September 15 - Brisbane, The Tivoli
September 16 - Sydney, Big Top Luna Park
September 17 - Melbourne, The Palace
September 19 - Perth, Metropolis Fremantle

Source:	brismetal.com
Band profile:	Fear Factory

Mexican Death Metallers Brujeria will be touring Spain for three days this September. The band found their show at Viña Rock Festival in Villarobledo to be very successful, so they decided to embark on their own tour there.

Brujeria will be supported by Spanish band Hora Zulu who are promoting their new album, which is entitled 'El que la lleva la entiende'.

Here are the three dates:

Sep. 21 - Madrid, ESP @ Heineken
Sep. 22 - Bergara, ESP @ Gipuzkoa (Jam)
Sep. 23 - Barcelona, ESP@ Razzmatazz II

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Brujeria

Veteran Thrashers Testament have announced that their drummer Louie Clemente will not be able to take part in upcoming Testament shows due to 'medical reasons'. The band is planning to tour the United States, Europe and South Korea through July and August. Experienced drummer and good friend to the band, Paul Bostaph will be filling in for the unwell Clemente.

Source:	testamentlegions.com
Band profile:	Testament

Power Metallers Kamelot have said that they will be cancelling their appearance at the upcoming Ragnarock Festival, in Norway. The band cancelled their August 18th and 19th appearances because they haven't received any kind of contract. The band says that it's an unfortunate thing to happen, but out of their control. However Kamelot will be planning for an early 2007 tour that will include Norway.

Here is a statement by KMI Entertainment's Tim Norwood: "We have yet to receive a contract or deposits for this festival. It is unfortunate for the fans since the band was very excited about coming to Norway again, it is simple out of our hands at this point. It also means that we have to reschedule the Helsinki show that was booked in connection with Ragnarock. We are in the middle of planning the European tour for Spring 2007 and we are planning a full run through Norway and Finland".

Source:	kamelot.com
Band profile:	Kamelot

Veteran Thrash Metallers have announced some more tour dates to the list for dates this winter/summer. The tour now includes more USA dates, a Korean date and a Canadian date. Here is the full list of dates including the new ones:

U.S.A.:
July 12 Key Club - Hollywood, CA
July 13 Galaxy Theatre - Santa Ana, CA
July 14 Nevada Empire Ballroom - Las Vegas, NV
July 15 Venue of Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ
July 16 Reflections - Victorville, CA

Europe:
July 21 Earthshaker Fest - Rieden, Germany
July 22 Metalcamp Fest - Tolmin, Slovenia
July 24 Carling Academy Islington - London, England
July 25 Bradford Rio - Bradford, England
July 26 JB's - Dudley, England
July 28 Metalway Festival - Jerez, Spain
July 29 Metalway Festival - Gernika, Spain

Asia:
August 05 Busan Rock Festival - Busan City, Korea

Canada:
Oct 14 Brave Words 6-Pack Festival, Le Medley - Montreal, Canada

In other Testament news, the band is planning on entering the studio in a few months to start recording their (long awaited) first album for the 21st century. The album is set for release in early 2007. Guitarist Eric Peterson has said that the new album will feature Testament's original lineup.

Source:	testamentlegions.com
Band profile:	Testament

American Power/Thrash Metallers Nevermore have decided to release their first ever DVD. They plan to film their August 25th, 2006 live performance at Studio Seven in Seattle, Washington. The DVD will be released sometime in 2007. No title for the DVD or other similar details have been announced.

In other news, Nevermore will be planning on making a new album towards the end of this year. The band will be supporting Disturbed in tours in August/September this year, and after that they plan to start writting the follow up to last year's album 'This Godless Endeavour'.

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Nevermore

Veteran Power Metallers Blind Guardian have been invited, and have accepted to be this year's special guest appearance at Earthshaker Fest 2006. Earthershaker will be on 21st and 22nd of July this year. It will be held at Kreuth, Rieden in Germany. They will be playing some new songs from their upcoming album 'A Twist In The Myth' and will be holding a one hour autograph session on the first day of the festival. For more information about the actual festival, visit the Earthshaker link below.

Source:	earthshaker-fest.com
Band profile:	Blind Guardian

Thrash Metallers Megadeth will be releasing their new untitled album on Halloween this year (October 31st). Frontman Dave Mustaine and co-producer Jeff Balding have recently returned to SARM Studios in London to work further on the album, and then guitarist Glen Drover will be to traveling to Los Angeles, USA to complete the recording and do the solos for the album.

Here is a comment by Glen from Megadeth's official website:

"As I write this, I am doing my last minute preparations for my trip to sunny California this afternoon to begin my guitar solos for the new Megadeth record. I have had the basic tracks for a week or two here at home, so I am well prepared to go on this. This is going to be fun stuff. I don't like to be overprepared though, as I like to let some of the solos be spontaneous; I think both ways work well with me. So much cool stuff coming up soon. It's going to be great!!"

So far no title or song names have been announced.

Here is a comment by Dave:
"...as for song titles or album, you know me, these song titles change everyday! And I won't know the record title until I've committed to the damn artwork."

Sources: www.megadeth.com, www.metal-temple.com

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

Death Metallers Entombed have now parted with drummer Peter Stjärnvind. A representative from the band's record label Threeman Recordings has confirmed this information. Peter has spoken with the band's guitarist Alex Hellid about his departure, and the news is now official.

Peter decided to leave Entombed so that he could concertrate full time on his other band 'Nifelheim'.

Session drummer Olle Dahlstedt will perform with Entombed on their upcoming live shows.

More information will be posted when available.

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Entombed

Ex-Bolt Thrower vocalist Dave Ingram who is still a good friend of the band has put together three videos that he made from footage he filmed when his new band Downlord supported Bolt Thrower earlier this year. You can view the videos here:

At First Light: http://homepage.mac.com/lapdog1/iMovieTheater26.html
When Cannons Fade: http://homepage.mac.com/lapdog1/iMovieTheater27.html
Salvo: http://homepage.mac.com/lapdog1/iMovieTheater29.html

Source:	boltthrower.com
Band profile:	Bolt Thrower

It is reported that Venom will be re-releasing their 1997 album Cast In Stone as an expansion cd. The new cd will contain all the original Cast In Stone tracks, digitally remastered. The cd will contain 29 tracks and cover two discs. It will also contain re-recorded versions of the five tracks on the rare Venom '96 EP.

These tracks are:
Seven Gates Of Hell
Welcome To Hell
In Nomine Satanas
Black Metal
The Evil One

Here is the cover for the new cd: http://eil.com/newGallery/Venom-Cast-In-Stone---E-361487.jpg

It is to be released soon.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Venom

The tour dates for the Machines At War Tour featuring Fear Factory, Suffocation and Hypocrisy have been announced and are all official. Here are the dates for the 2006 American tour:

Oct. 26 - San Francisco, CA @ The Pound
Oct. 27 - San Francisco, CA @ The Pound
Oct. 28 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre
Oct. 29 - Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
Oct. 30 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Nov. 01 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse live
Nov. 02 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
Nov. 03 - St. Petersburg, FL @ The State Theatre
Nov. 04 - Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
Nov. 06 - Fayetteville, NC @ Jeeters Pub
Nov. 07 - West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Nov. 08 - New York, NY @ B.B. King's Blues Club
Nov. 10 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Nov. 11 - Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues
Nov. 12 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
Nov. 13 - Montreal, Que @ Medley
Nov. 14 - Toronto, ONT @ The Opera House
Nov. 16 - Cohoes, NY @ Saratoga Winners
Nov. 17 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Nov. 18 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
Nov. 19 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
Nov. 22 - South Bend, IN @ Club Fever
Nov. 24 - Detroit, MI @ Harpo's
Nov. 25 - Chicago, IL @ Metro/Smart Bar
Nov. 26 - Saginaw, MI @ Shooters
Nov. 27 - Sauget, IL @ Pop's
Nov. 28 - Columbia Hts., MN @ Star Central
Nov. 29 - Winnipeg, MB @ Ramada Conf. Center
Dec. 01 - Edmonton, AL @ Starlite Room
Dec. 02 - Edmonton, AB @ Warehouse
Dec. 05 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Dec. 06 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Dec. 08 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theater
Dec. 09 - Albuquerque, MN @ Sunshine Theater

Here is a comment by Fear Factory drummer Raymond Herrera about the tour:

"I'm really excited about doing a heavy tour like this. A brutal line-up full of metal pioneers has been a long time coming. I guarantee a lot of our fans will agree. Plus you'll be certain to hear some Fear Factory songs that have not been played live in quite some time."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Fear Factory

The Zurich show of Exodus's Shovel Headed Kill Machine tour has been cancelled. The band is stuck in France, and can't get over to Switzerland in time for the show, so they've had to cancel it. Here is a message posted on Exodus's official website:

"Unfortunately, the Zurich show has now been cancelled entirely. The band are stuck in France and won't be able to make it back to Zurich in time. They have tried their best to make up for the cancelled show on June 18th but appearently it was not meant to be. Now, obviously you have a right to be upset but before you go taking it out on the band, they have been trekking through Europe trying to make this show happen and it's just as frustrating (or maybe even more) for them as for you."

Exodus will continue their Shovel Headed Kill Machine tour after everything is sorted out.

Source:	exodusattack.com
Band profile:	Exodus