Michael LePond, the Bassist from Power/Progressive band Symphony X has now been released from hospital. He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease which is a bowel disorder. The disorder hospitalised him, and the band was forced to cancel some European tours. He has made a recovery however, and he has now been released from hospital.

Here is a message from LePond on Symphony X's offical website:

"Hello to Everyone !!!
I want you all to know that I had my surgery and have been released from the hospital. I am feeling so much better now. I am eating normally and getting stronger with each passing day. I should be fully recovered in about 3 weeks. I want to thank all of the fans who sent get well wishes to me. I will read every single one of them. I will never forget how kind and caring you are. I love you all."

The band will now resume work on a new album, which will be due out toward the end of this year. They will also tour once the new album is released.

Source:	symphonyx.com
Band profile:	Symphony X

Death/Progressive Metallers Textures have decided to tour the UK. Textures will be teaming up with Twin Zero for the shows. Here are some confirmed dates:

17.07.06 Nottingham (UK), Rockcity
18.07.06 Norwich (UK), Marquee
19.07.06 London (UK), Water Rats
20.07.06 Manchester (UK), Satans Hollow
22.07.06 Sheffield (UK), Corporation
23.07.06 Bournemouth (UK), Opera House
24.07.06 Southampton (UK), Joiners
25.07.06 Cardiff (UK), Clwb Ifor Bach
26.07.06 Hitchin (UK), Football Club
27.07.06 Milton Keynes (UK), The Pitzclub

In other Textures news, bassist Dennis Aarts has a collapsed lung... again. The band now has to cancel their German shows in Köln and Oss to prepare their temporary replacement bassist Robin Zielhorst for the 10th June show in Zierikzee. None of this should effect their UK tour.

Source:	texturesband.com
Band profile:	Textures

Veteran NWOBH-metallists Saxon have announced an (extensive!) European tour schedule for 2007 and also some for this year, including the Live 'n' Louder Festival (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina).

Here are the 2006 dates:

18.06.2006 - Monsters of Rock - Festival - Zaragoza, Spain
24.06.2006 - Hellfest - Nantes, France
25.06.2006 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belguim
07.07.2006 - Ruisrock - Turku, Finland
08.07.2006 - Rock Sound Festival - Huttwil, Switzerland
16.07.2006 - Evolution Fest - Brescia, Italy
21.07.2006 - Earthshaker Fest - Kreuth, Germany
22.07.2006 - Festival - Villalba, Spain
29.07.2006 - Metalway Festival - Jerez, Spain
04.08.2006 - Monsters Of Rock Festival - Varna, Bulgaria
07.10.2006 - Palacio De Los Deportes - Live 'n' Louder Festival - Mexico City, Mexico
12.10.2006 - River Plate Stadium - Live 'n' Louder Festival - Buenos Aires, Argentina
14.10.2006 - Caninde - Live 'n' Louder Festival - Sao Paulo, Brazil
18.11.2006 - Zaal Maeckeblijde - Poperinge, Belgium

And here are 2007 dates:

28.02.2007 - Garage - Glasgow, UK
02.03.2007 - Spring & Airbrake - Belfast, UK
03.03.2007 - Temple Bar Music Centre - Dublin, Ireland
04.03.2007 - Academy 2 - Manchaster, UK
06.03.2007 - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton, UK
07.03.2007 - Rock City - Nottingham, UK
08.03.2007 - Coal Exchange - Cardiff, UK
09.03.2007 - Astoria - London, UK
10.03.2007 - Hof Ter Lo - Antwerpen, Belguim
11.03.2007 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
13.03.2007 - LMH - Köln, Germany
14.03.2007 - Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle, Germany
15.03.2007 - Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany
16.03.2007 - Huxleys Neue Welt - Berlin, Germany
17.03.2007 - Werk 2 - Leipzig, Germany
18.03.2007 - Stadthalle - Lichtenfels, Germany
20.03.2007 - Longhorn / LKA - Stuttgart, Germany
21.03.2007 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
22.03.2007 - Havana Cafe - Toulouse, France
23.03.2007 - TBA, Spain
24.03.2007 - TBA, Spain
25.03.2007 - TBA, Spain
26.03.2007 - TBA, Spain
27.03.2007 - TBA, Spain
29.03.2007 - Transbordeur - Lyon, France
30.03.2007 - Elysee Montmartre - Paris, France
12.04.2007 - Garage - Saarbrücken, Germany
13.04.2007 - Stadthalle - Langen, Germany
14.04.2007 - Große Elser Halle - München, Germany
15.04.2007 - Alcatraz - Mailand, Italy
17.04.2007 - Alpheus - Rome, Italy
20.04.2007 - TBA - Athens, Greece
21.04.2007 - Idrogeios - Thessaloniki, Greece
22.04.2007 - TBA - Sofia, Bulgaria
24.04.2007 - SKC - Beograd, Serbia
25.04.2007 - Boogaloo Club - Zagreb, Croatia

Read more ››

Source:	saxon747.com
Band profile:	Saxon

My Dying Bride have posted some new tour dates on their official website:

Jun. 24 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium
Jul. 22 - Metal Camp - Tolmin, Slovenia
Jul. 29 - Metalway Festival - Gernika, Spain
Aug. 19 - Summer Breeze - Dinkelsbuehl, Germany - main stage
Aug. 26 - Hole In The Sky - Bergen, Norway
Sep. 30 - Bloodstock Festival @ Assembly Rooms - Derby, UK - headliner
Oct. 07 - Yeni Melek Gosteri Merkezi - Istanbul, Turkey

My Dying Bride are still hard at work in the studio recording their next album. So far five songs have been written and recorded but no track names or a title for the album have been announced yet. John (drummer from The Prophecy) has been filling in for Shaun Taylor-Steels behind the kit for the album (as he has been doing on My Dying Bride's live shows) as Shaun is still recovering from his ankle injury.

Source:	mydyingbride.org
Band profile:	My Dying Bride

Death Metallers Hate Eternal will be releasing a DVD of their recent gig in London, UK. So far the DVD has no title, but it is set to be released in October this year. The DVD will contain:

The full London set (Sunday, June 4)
An interview with the band filmed immediately after the gig
Documentary on the making of 'I, Monarch'
On-tour footage
All of the band's promo videos

The London gig at 'The Garage' was just one stage of their recent European tour, which will finish on the 10th June.

Hate Eternal is hoping to put out a good DVD with plenty of footage of crazy fans stagediving, going nuts in the pits, and overall chaos. The audio mixing will be done at Mana Recording Studios when the band gets back home.

Source:	hateeternal.com
Band profile:	Hate Eternal

Immortal frontman (when they were together) Abbath is talking about Immortal possibly reuniting. He is in the studio at the moment recording the debut album for 'I' but he spoke to German magazine 'Rock Hard' about a possible reunion.

Here is a statement from Abbath: "We will come back, stronger than ever. I recently met with Horgh (old Immortal Drummer), for the first time in over a year. He's built his new house here in Norway, right around the corner. In the next few days we will begin to rehearse our old 'Blizzard Beasts' classics. I'm already really excited about the idea."

When asked if this was just a money making ploy Abbath said: "We're not coming back for the money. If we had been only interested in the cash, we wouldn't have allowed Immortal to split in the first place."

Abbath has also said that if they do reunite then they will also tour.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Immortal

Swedish Death Metallers Amon Amarth have been in Fascination Street studios in Sweden since May recording their 6th full length album. The recording is all done now though and the band have started the mixing process. Nine tracks have been recorded so far. The album doesn't have a name yet, but three track names have been revealed. These titles are: 'Valhall Awaits Me', 'Hermod's Ride To Hel (Loke's Trechery Part I)' and 'Runes To My Memory'.

Here is a statement from the band on their official website: "Finally after five very long - but productive - weeks all recording is done and today we started mixing the album. Nine tracks have been successfully recorded - no thanks to the huge ammount of alcohol consumed, but none the less successfully". More track titles will be revealed shortly.

In other Amon Amarth news, the band's record company Metal Blade has posted the video clip to Fate Of Norns from the recently released 'Wrath of the Norsemen' DVD online.

Download it here: http://www.metalblade.de/videos/amonamarth/AmonAmarth_FateOfNorns.wmv or just click on the link on Amon Amarth's official website.

Source:	amonamarth.com
Band profile:	Amon Amarth

It wasn't that long ago when German Power Metallers Primal Fear broke off from record company Nuclear Blast. And they haven't remained record-label-less for long as they've now re-signed to Nuclear Blast. The record label will be with them when Primal Fear releases an upcoming Best-Of Compilation. The compilation will be called 'Metal Is Forever' and will contain 16 tracks. There will also be a bonus CD accompanying it called 'Classic Metal Tracks'. The release date for the album is 29th September.

Here is what bassist Mat Sinner has said on Primal Fear's official website: "Nuclear Blast and Primal Fear will carry on their successful work to make this album a success and a worthy release, with special packaging, photos, story etc. - more information and a songlist with be follow here soon!"

Source:	primalfear.de
Band profile:	Primal Fear

As previously reported German Thrashers Kreator will be touring Australia this August. Rumors were flying around about the band coming down under, and they confirmed that they would be doing just that on their official website. Kreator only confirmed one date and that was Sydney on the 25th. Here are more confirmed dates and venues:

23th Melbourne, The Hifi
24th Melbourne, The Hifi
25th Sydney, Gaelic Theatre
26th Brisbane, The Arena

Source:	kreator-terrorzone.de
Band profile:	Kreator
Event:	Kreator Australian Tour

Fast Power Metallers Dragonforce have confirmed dates for playing at Ozzfest. Here are the dates:

Jun. 30 - Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
Jul. 05 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
Jul. 12 - Ft. Worth, TX - Ridglea Theatre

Their Ozzfest tour is part of their whole USA sweep. Here's their whole American tour dates. Starting at the end of June and finishing mid-August:

Thu Jun. 29 - Seattle, WA - White River Amphitheatre
Fri Jun. 30 - Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
Sat Jul. 01 - San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sun Jul. 02 - Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Tue Jul. 04 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
Wed Jul. 05 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
Fri Jul. 07 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion
Sat Jul. 08 - Los Angeles, CA - Hyundai Pavilion of Glen Helen
Sun Jul. 09 - San Diego, CA - Coors Amphitheater
Tue Jul. 11 - San Antonio, TX - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Wed Jul. 12 - Ft. Worth, TX - Ridglea Theatre
Fri Jul. 14 - Somerset, WI - Float-Rite Park
Sat Jul. 15 - St. Louis, MO - UMB Bank Pavilion
Sun Jul. 16 - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Tue Jul. 18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Post Gazette Pavilion
Wed Jul. 19 - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Energy Center
Fri Jul. 21 - Columbus, OH - Germain Amphitheater
Sat Jul. 22 - East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Sun Jul. 23 - Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
Wed Jul. 26 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mtn
Thu Jul. 27 - Buffalo, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Sat Jul. 29 - New York, NY - Randall's Island
Sun Jul. 30 - Hartford, CT - New England Dodge Music Center
Tue Aug. 01 - Boston, MA - Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
Fri Aug. 04 - Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center at the Waterfront
Sat Aug. 05 - Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Sun Aug. 06 - Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion
Wed Aug. 09 - Raleigh, NC - Alltel Pavilion
Sun Aug. 13 - West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheatre

Also, Dragonforce's latest album 'Inhuman Rampage' will be released in USA and Canada on the 20th June. Everyone else has had the album instores for about four months now, but North America will receive it in a few weeks. The album will be a special enhanced USA/Canadian edition featuring the video of 'Through the Fire and Flames'. The mp3 of Through the Fire and Flames is available for download from Dragonforce's offical website.

Source:	dragonforce.com
Band profile:	DragonForce

Power Metallers Kamelot have a new album on the way. The band has been busy writing songs in Norway and have so far completed nine of them. They will be travelling to Wolfsburg, Germany in a month or so to do all the recordings, etc.

Here is a statement by guitarist Thomas Youngblood on the band's official website: "I am just returning from Norway and we were more productive than ever on this writing session. I am more pleased than ever with the progress of the new songs".

The album is set for an early 2007 release.

In other Kamelot news the band has announced some North American tour dates with special guest Epica. Here are the confirmed tour dates, as posted on their website:

Sep. 15 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (USA) - Culture Room - (only Kamelot)
Sep. 16 - St. Petersburg, FL (USA) - State Theatre - (only Kamelot)
Sep. 19 - Springfield, VA (USA) - Jaxx Nightclub
Sep. 20 - New York, NY (USA) - B.B King
Sep. 22 - Poughkeepsie, NY (USA) - The Chance Theater
Sep. 23 - Rochester, NY (USA) - The Penny Arcade
Sep. 24 - Montréal, QC (CA) - Le Medley
Sep. 25 - Québec, QC (CA) - L'Imperial
Sep. 27 - Toronto, ON (CA) - The Opera House
Sep. 28 - Cleveland, OH (USA) - Agora Ballroom
Sep. 29 - Detroit, MI (USA) - Harpo's
Sep. 30 - Chicago, IL (USA) - The Pearl Room
Oct. 02 - Columbia Heights, MN (USA) - Star Central
Oct. 04 - Denver, CO (USA) - BlueBird Theater
Oct. 06 - Seattle, WA (USA) - Studio Seven
Oct. 07 - Portland, OR (USA) - Rock N Roll Pizza
Oct. 08 - San Francisco, CA (USA) - Pound SF
Oct. 10 - Santa Ana, CA (USA) - Galaxy Theatre
Oct. 11 - Los Angeles, CA (USA) - Key Club

Source:	kamelot.com
Band profile:	Kamelot

English Metallers Anathema have announced their plan to tour Britain and Russia. Their Russian tour will be their first ever to the large country. They plan to tour there in September this year. Here are the first confirmed dates:

Fri 22 - Tochka Club, Moscow
Sat 23 - Port Club, St Petersburg

Their UK tour last month with HIM went so well that they've decided to tour again. They will be playing longer sets, and will be playing about 20-30 new tracks. They will also be joined by some as yet unannounced guests. Here are the UK dates, also set for September:

Tue 12th - Cathouse, Glasgow
Wed 13th - Academy 3, Manchester
Thu 14th - Scala, London

Anathema also plan to do a full South America tour in October. They will be playing in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico. Dates for that particular tour are yet to be announced.

Also, tickets for the UK tour are available for purchase on Anathema's official website.

Source:	anathema.ws
Band profile:	Anathema

The new DVD entitled '10th Anniversary Live' which was Ensiferum's 10th anniversary celebration concert now has a cover posted online. You can view the cover artwork on the Spinefarm site here: http://www.spinefarm.fi/images/covers/Ensiferum-10thAnni.jpg

Also, Ensiferum have announced that they will be hitting the studios in November this year to make their third album. They hope for a February 2007 release.

Source:	ensiferum.com
Band profile:	Ensiferum

Thrash Metallers Slayer are reportedly releasing a single to their new album. The single will be called 'Cult' and will feature the song Cult, a video of Cult and some 'rare fan footage'. The single is going to be a limited edition one (5000 copies) and should be released on 15th June. Slayer are also going to release a limited edition EP called 'Eternal Pyre'.

As the new album goes, it still doesn't have a name, but some unconfirmed track titles have been released. Here are the titles:

01. Cult
02. Consfearacy
03. Flesh Storm
04. Jihad
05. Eyes of the Insane
06. Black Serenade
07. Supremist
08. Skeleton Christ
09. Catatonic
10. Final Six
11. Catalyst

My money is on the album being titled 'Jihad'. Also, Slayer have posted a snippet of the new song 'Cult' on their official website: www.slayer.net Just open the site and the song will play automatically.

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Slayer

Death/Grind Metallers Napalm Death have announced the following tour dates for their Enemy Of God II tour on their official website:

30.06. Roitzschjora - With Full Force (Germany)
01.07. Vigo Meano (Trento) - Metalparty Festival (Italy)
02.07. CUNEO - Nuvolari Festival (Italy)
03.07. Roma - Forte Prenestino (Italy)
05.07. Porto Torres - Campo Sportivo (Italy)
06.07. Palermo - Bier Garten (Italy)
07.07. Cologne - Grind Your Mother II (Italy)
12.08. by Prague - Brutal Assault 2006 (Czech Republic)
14.08. Szczytno - Hunterfestival (Poland)
26.08. Bergen - Ozzfest (Bulgaria)

These are the only confirmed dates, so the band says that if anyone sees any other dates, they haven't been confirmed or aren't happening at all.

Source:	enemyofthemusicbusiness.com
Band profile:	Napalm Death