Former Iced Earth frontman Matt Barlow ? who is currently employed a police officer in the Georgetown Police Dept. in Georgetown, Delaware ? has resurfaced as the lead singer of the First State Force Band.

According to a posting at FirstStateForce.org, First State Force Band "was comprised of law enforcement members from different departments throughout the State of Delaware. These law enforcement members through their dedication, performed concerts several times a month to the children of Delaware using music to stress the importance of staying drug free and to stay away from violence. The band was on a serious mission. The first three years the band had performed for every school district in Delaware."

Check out a recent photo of Matt Barlow [url="http://www.firststateforce.org/photogallery/2005georgetownplayer.jpg"]at this location.[/url] Pictures of the entire band can be found here.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Iced Earth

Seminal avant-garde metal pioneers Celtic Frost announce the completion of their new studio album, tentatively titled "Dark Matter Manifest", their first in 13 years and the culmination of some three and a half years of songwriting and recording work. Although the album was largely produced by the band themselves and financed by their own production company, Celtic Frost enlisted Hypocrisy/Pain mastermind Peter Tägtgren to co-produce with them the final recording and mixing sessions at Horus Sound Studio in Hanover, Germany, in August/September 2005. Negotiations with a variety of labels are currently underway, and the album is scheduled for a release in early 2006.

Having declined innumerable reunion show propositions over the years, Celtic Frost once again deemed it essential to manifest themselves creatively with a new album before embarking on the live circuit next year.

Original Celtic Frost members Tom Gabriel Fischer (voice and guitars) and Martin Eric Ain (bass) are joined by Erol Unala (guitar) and Franco Sesa (drums). The band are now managed by Antje Lange for The A Label in Berlin, Germany (info@thealabel.com). For real-time exclusive information and rare visual glimpses, see Celtic Frost's official website at http://www.celticfrost.com and Tom Gabriel Fischer's blog at:
http://apollyonsun.blogspot.com.

Source:	celticfrost.com
Band profile:	Celtic Frost

Leprechaun, the side project of singer of Elvenking Damnagoras and bass player of Stormlord Francesco Bucci have decided to sell their demo CD, "The Ultimate Dance" as they're waiting for a good record deal to release their debut album.

Damnagoras stated in the band's website: "After I joined Elvenking back, lots of people were asking about Leprechaun's future. So it's time to clear things up a bit! As everybody may know, we have released a demo-cd for record companies only, called "The Ultimate Dance"...then we carried on writing songs and at the end we had 11 songs. So the first album is ready from the songwriting point of view. During this year we had some contacts with various record companies...but unfortunately nothing happened. We'd really like to release the first album but we will do it only when there'll be the right opportunity with the right company. Anyway we will keep on trying!
In the meantime we feel that, waiting for this "possible album" to be released, it would be cool to give to our fans the possibility of listening to the demo songs. So that's why we decided to sell "The Ultimate Dance" (write to info@leprechaun.it for info).
Talking about the line-up, for the moment there is no real line-up, but of course if something will happen in the future, me, Francesco Bucci, Whisperwind and Enrico "Soilmaster" will carry on with this, possibly with some help from our friends.
So...if you want to have news about the band, visit these pages and you'll surely know what's going on."

Source:

leprechaun.it

Finnish power metal band Dreamtale just recently announced the sad news about their drummer Petteri Rosenbom decision to leave the band. Now they have chosen Rolf "Rolle" Pilve as their new drummer.
"Rolle really amazed us with his skills and there really wasn't any doubt that he wouldn't be the right guy for us. You can check out Rolle's playing from the website of his other band Sightless" band stated in their official website.

Also they're looking for a new manager for the band:
If you KNOW you're the right person for the job and you're willing to work hard for the band. Contact: rami@dreamtale.net ASAP.

Source:	dreamtale.net
Band profile:	Dreamtale

Bandcontest 2005

Nuclear Blast offers your band the chance to sign a record deal! In an unique contest you can win a contract with the leading Independent label for heavy music. The campaign is the first one of it´s kind in the history of NB.

If you are an fresh sounding Rock or Metal band, you already fulfill all requirements to participate. The duration of the contest is from the 01.08.05 to the 31.12.05. As consolation prizes you can win a download cooperation and a support slot for a Nuclear Blast band.
The contest is presented in collaboration with the following magazines:

Metal Hammer Germany
Metal Hammer Spain
Metal Hammer Italy
Rock Hard France
Inferno (Finland)
Scream (Norway)
Close Up (Sweden)

All you have to do is to send your Demo (with biography and band picture) to this address:

Nuclear Blast
Band Contest 2005
Oeschstraße 40
73072 Donzdorf
Germany

Or send your mp3s (max. 3 songs - also with biography and foto) to this address: bandcontest(at)nuclearblast.de

Toronto's Warmachine have parted ways with bassist Andrea Zanini, guitarist Mike Miolla and recently recruited drummer Michael Amaral. "Unfortunately, [Michael] can no longer afford to play drums for us, but is focusing his time on his band, Endorphins," vocalist/guitarist Joe Di Taranto writes on the group's web site. "I wish him all the luck in the world and intend to continue our friendship for many years to come. Former STAGES guitarist John Salerno has stepped in on guitar and we are currently looking for a new drummer and bassist. I'm looking forward to injecting some much-needed new blood into the band and am excited about what the future has in store."

Source:

blabbermouth.net

German power metal band Freedom Call has posted following message in their website about line-up change:

Hi everybody out there,

bad news for us all !! Cede will leave Freedom Call. He will do the up coming shows in Trier, Pitea and Chiaramonte.
We, the rest of Freedom Call respect his decision and we wish him all the best for the future.
The band will take their time to find a suitable guitar player.

Daniel

Cede's Statement:

After hundreds of beers, thousands of driven miles for rehearsals and gigs, endless moments of pure fun and great friendship within the band, plus months, days and never ending hours of thinking about my future, I took the decision to leave the Freedom Call camp.

Believe it: for me it was quite a tough thing to come up to Chris, Daniel, Ilker and Nils to tell them that I don't feel like continuing shredding the guitar in Freedom Call anymore. On one hand it was a hard decision cause this line-up was pure Rock n' Roll in my opinion, but on the other hand it was an easy decision cause I know that I couldn't go on like this for me and my future.

So, why do I leave the band? As a lot of you know, I'm living in Switzerland and it takes me an unbelievable amount of time to play in Freedom Call, it just got too much for me, as I think I wanna give at least 100% and not only 90% to play in this band. Of course I still believe that without sweat, tears and engagement you won't get to any point in this business but I just figured out that I don't want to be that much involved in music business anymore. I just wanna concentrate on one professional band and that's by far enough if you're working eight-to-five besides the music-thing. Living in another country, playing in two bands, that is just too much to take for me.

Most important thing was to me, that Freedom Call respects and understands my decision. And I'm glad that they totally do. We still have a great partnership and friendship, we still got a lot of fun together. And that's what I really appreciate! ! !

So, that's all I can say about it at the moment. I want you, the fans, to fucking party on with Freedom Call, and I wish all the best to the guys in finding a new guitar player that will have as much fun in the band as I had with them.

You guys rock, and thank you so much for everything! You made my last 4 years a pure adventure ride :-)

Cheers and see you around!

Cede

20th July 2005

Band profile:

Freedom Call

Finnish powermetal band Dreamtale are losing their drummer. Petteri has posted following message to all their fans in band's website:

Thank you fans and friends!

After long consideration I have decided to step aside from Dreamtale. It has been great being in the band from the beginning, to get to experience lots of wonderful moments and to play with many good guys. The reason why I have come to this decision, is simply the lack of time and motivation. It isn't fair to the other guys of the band, that I'm not able to give my 100%. The decision was very hard, but in a way I feel relieved. I wish good luck for Dreamtale in the future. I have only good memories for the rest of my life and nothing bad to say about those 6 years.

Huge thanks to Rami, Turkka, Pasi, Mikko, Esa, Jarkko and everybody else who I've played with in Dreamtale. And of course all the fans around the world. Also thanks you to the "make your dreams come true dude" (still makes me laugh).

-Petteri Rosenbom-"

Band profile:

Dreamtale

Toronto's Warmachine have signed a one-album deal with Nightmare Records. "We're looking at a September realease date in Central America for [our debut album] 'The Beginning of the End'," vocalist/guitarist Joe Di Taranto writes on the group's web site. "Canada should follow shortly after. Deals for Europe and Japan are still in the works as well.

"I am very excited about this new partnership with Nightmare Records. I can't wait for everyone to finally get this album in their hands.

"Thanx for all your patience and support throughout this ridiculously long wait. More big news to come soon..."

"The Beginning of the End" features a guest appearance on three tracks ("Betrayed", "Empty" and "Taunted Souls") by former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson.

Source:

blabbermouth.net

Agonizer have been chosen to represent Finland in the Wacken Open Air metal festival's yearly "Wacken Metal Battle" band competition.

The Finnish jury, lead by Sauli Vuoti, the founder of the Finnish metal magazine Inferno, selected Agonizer to represent Finland in this year's competition after going through almost 200 demos.

"Agonizer simply had the best songs and I could see them recording an album in the near future," Vuoti said. Agonizer's unique style combines Scandinavian rock/metal in the vein of Sentenced with traditional heavy metal elements. "We have also seen Agonizer live, and they really blew the place to pieces!" Vuoti explained. Other bands which Vuoti thought highly of included Republic Of Desire and Dauntless.

Agonizer get to play at this years Wacken festival among participants from most European countries. The winner is rewarded with a worldwide record contract with German record label Armageddon Music. Doom metal band Vanguard, also from Finland, won the competition last year.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Agonizer

Finnish folk band Korpiklaani has finished production on their second video from their second album, "Voice of Wilderness". The making of story of the video and the video of "Kädet Siipinä" itself is now available [url="http://www.napalmrecords.com/kadet-feature.html"]at this location.[/url]

Source:	napalmrecords.com
Band profile:	Korpiklaani

Agonizer's keyboardist Mika Heinonen has left the band the reason being lack of interest. Agonizer want to point out that there are no arguments or disagreements involved in Mika's departure, and he has promised to help the band re-produce the old songs. For now Agonizer are not looking for a new keyboardist but will continue with 5 band members. The rumours are that future Agonizer material will be more heavier than what we are used to hearing from them. Also the band announces that session drummer Atte Palokangas is now a perm member of Agonizer.

Source:	Agonizer newsletter
Band profile:	Agonizer

Amorphis' leadman and the guitarist Esa Holopainen has posted following message in their website:

Dear All.

We've been rehearsing intensively past two months now and the songs start to get their final shape. There's still couple tracks which need to be rehearsed but basically the songs are ready and the band is more motivated than ever. Tomi Joutsen has brought so much new energy for us and the tour we did in US on March united us a a real Amorphis 2005. We were really happy to see how people welcomed Tomi as a new Amorphis singer, he was a "bit" nervous before the tour but the reaction and support we got helped him to make Amorphis sound like a never before.

So, the recordings will take place at 1st of July at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki and takes time till somewhere in August. Mikko Karmila is starting the mixing at September 1st at Finnvox. Let's see if guys get their studio ready till the 1st of July as it still looks like a construction area. New Sonic Pump is going to
be really cool. It can't be bad studio if you have sea view and sauna.

As said we've been working hard with new songs and with their arrangements. The songs have a good atmosphere and feeling, it's hard to say at this point whether they are pop or heavy as some people will anyway categorize us as a pop band. I remember when Tales... was released some kept us as a pop
band which has sold themselves. The sound in my point of view is still very organic and someway primitive. There's different measures which make some tracks more "progressive" (horrible word, but couldn't find decent synonym). There's acoustic and heavy stuff and that's pretty much how I can describe the stuff at the moment. In general we've been working much harder with everything so that we don't have to waste time in studio to reherase or jam.

For us it feels like new beginning or rather as a new page on Amorphis career, something which is this shapeless as this band can't never die. We keep you posted how things are moving ahead. Shine on!

-esa-

Source:	amorphis.net
Band profile:	Amorphis

Finnish folk metallers Ensiferum has announced that They're entering the studio this november to record a mini-cd, which will include one new song and few new recordings of old demosongs. Also couple of traditional Finnish folk covers will be recorded there for the mini-cd. The Mini-cd will be released in the beginning of 2006.

Source:	ensiferum.com
Band profile:	Ensiferum

Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking are currently at Sonic Pump Studios in Finland mixing their third album for a late 2005 release via AFM Records. "Everything's going great as we've nearly finished the first song," the band write on their web site. "Sonic Pump will surely become one the biggest and greatest studios over here and Nino Laurenne [mixer] is a fuckin' nice guy! The coolest thing here is going to sleep at midnight with sun shining!! Fuckin' crazy..."

The follow-up to 2004's "Wyrd" was recorded at the group's own Sherpa Studios. The final mastering will be handled by Mika Jussila at Finnvox in Helsinki. Cover artwork and booklet layout are being designed by Hungarian artist Havancsák Gyula (Annihilator, Grave Digger).

Elvenking recently announced the departure of guitarist Jarpen. For the time being, the group will go on as a five-piece.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Elvenking