German Thrash Metallers Kreator will be touring Australia this year! So far only one date has been released and that is 25th August in Sydney. Here is a post on Kreator's official website:

"Yes, the rumours are true !!! Kreator will tour Australia in August!!! We will anounce dates and venues on June 2nd! Stay tuned !!!"

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

Death Metal band Deicide have had their fitting 06/06/06 release date for their new album changed. The new album, 'The Stench Of Redemption' which was going to be released on 'the most unholy day of the century' along with releases by bands such as Slayer, has been moved to 22 August. The full album will still be out in full through Earache Records. However, there will be a download-only EP out on 06/06/06 with the new songs 'Homage For Satan' and 'Crucified For the Innocence'. The new songs will be the first Deicide material with their new guitarists Jack Owen and Ralph Santolla on board.

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Deicide

Melodic Death Metallers Nightrage have recently parted ways from Century Media Records. The band have almost finalised a contract with 'a new label'. There will be more news on the record label front soon.

Also, the band are working on some news songs for an upcoming album, which will presumably be released under their new label. The band are just preparing at the moment, and hope to hit the studio in August. They say that they are 'really pleased' with the material they've knocked up so far.

In other news, Nightrage will be doing a Scandinavian tour this November with Vader and Bloodthorn. The dates are as follows:

11/11 - DEN @ TBA
12/11 - DEN @ TBA
13/11 - Gothenburg, SWE @ Musikens Hus
14/11 - Oslo, NOR @ TBA
15/11 - Kristiansand, NOR @ TBA
16/11 - Bergen, NOR @ TBA
17/11 - Trondheim, NOR @ Blaest
18/11 - Orebro, SWE @ Satin
19/11 - Stockholm, SWE @ Klubben
20/11 - Gavle, SWE @ Monster
21/11 - Umea, SWE @ Midnight
22/11 - Oulu, FIN @ TBA
23/11 - Jyvaskyla, FIN @ TBA
24/11 - Helsinki, FIN @ TBA
25/11 - Turku, FIN @ Klubi

Source:	nightrage.com
Band profile:	Nightrage

German Power Metal band Primal Fear have parted ways with their record label Nuclear Blast. Also the bands songwriter and bass player Mat Sinner who was employed at Nuclear Blast as a label manager isn't working there anymore. The band is currently searching for a new label.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Primal Fear

2006 Eurovision winners Lordi have about 15,000 of their fans demanding an appology from one of the French television hosts of the contest. The fans have all signed an internet petition at www.ipetitions.com

Alegedly, the French tv host said "Finland has been participating in the Eurovision contest for the past 44 years and has never won. They're certainly not gonna win with this." After Lordi's May 20 show. Another host said "It's fresh, it's light, it's sober. I didn't picture the Finns like this. They'll be at the Vincennes zoo in the fall."

Lordi ended up winning Eurovision with a record number of points and both remarks have greatly angered Lordi fans. And so they are demanding an apology. To sign the petition, visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/excuses_eurovisions/

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Lordi

Veteran Heavy/Power Metallers Virgin Steele are almost finished their upcomming new album. The mixing process started about a month ago, and the whole thing should be completed in a couple of weeks. All the tracks are basically written and finalised and the mixing/mastering is nearly done. The title and track names haven't been released yet but the album has a September (2006) release date. More information about the album will be released soon.

Source:	virgin-steele.com
Band profile:	Virgin Steele

Experienced Heavy Metallers Motörhead have annouced the title and release date for their new album. The new album will be called 'Kiss of Death' and will be released on 29th August this year under Sanctuary Records. Cameron Webb, who produced their last album 'Inferno' will also produce Kiss Of Death. So far one track name has been announced: 'Kingdom of the Worm'.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Motörhead

Death/Grindcore band Napalm Death have been working away in the studio producing a new album set for release at the end of this year. The new album will be entitled 'Smear Campaign'. So far a fair bit of stuff has been written, and three track names have been decided on. These tracks are: 'Persona Nongrata', 'Smear Campaign' and 'Call That an Option?'. Vocallist Barney Greenway made the following comment regarding the new album:

"This thing is already sounding totally immense - even better than 'The Code Is Red...', from where I'm standing. It's fast and furious, as you'd expect, but we're also throwing a few curveballs in, in true Napalm Death tradition, can't wait for everyone to hear it."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Napalm Death

Veteran Death Metallers Morbid Angel have posted the following tour dates for their upcomming Europe summer tours on their official website:

05/08 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, GER
07/08 - Monsters Of Rock Festival - Kavarna, BUL
12/08 - Brutal Assault Festival - Svojsice, CZR
14/08 - Planet Music - Vienna, AUT
15/08 - Sziget Festival - Budapest, HUN
16/08 - SKC - Belgrade, SER
18/08 - Summer Breeze Festival - Dinkelsbuehl-Sinbronn, GER
20/08 - 013 - Tilburg, NETH
22/08 - Mean Fiddler - London, UK
24/08 - Hole In The Sky Festival - Bergen, NOR
26/08 - Up From The Ground Open Air - Gemunden Am Main, GER

Source:	morbidangel.com
Band profile:	Morbid Angel

Slayer has been forced to postpone it's Unholy Alliance tour by 11 days because of surgery on their bass player Tom Araya. Araya recently had surgery on his gall-bladder and continues to have soreness, so he has been advised to take it easy and rest himself for about six weeks. His condition is a genetic one and he did damage to his gall-bladder through drugs, alcohol, etc. Slayer should be back on the road soon though.

Here is a statement by Araya:

"My doctor wants me to take it easy. He told me not to do anything stupid. No serious lifting. ... I couldn't lift anything heavier than five pounds the first week (following the operation), and you increase it by five pounds each week. So, by the time we hit the road, I should be able to carry my bass."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Slayer