Melodic Swedish metallers Blinded Colony have announced the following update:

"We would like to introduce and welcome a new member to Blinded Colony. His name is Martin Bergman (ex-Evildoer) and he will be the new guitar player next to Tobias. Of course this doesn't mean that Johan Blomström has quit the band; he will instead handle the bass from now on. You will get a proper introduction from Martin himself later on and some other really cool news."

Blinded Colony's "Bedtime Prayers", came out in January 2007 through Pivotal Rockordings. They followed up with a 38-day tour with Ektomorf and Kayser.

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	The Blinded

Napalm Records has signed Lunatica. The Swiss band is right in the middle of recording their new album. Michael Levine (Hans Zimmer's arranger - Pirates of the Carribean, The Rock) has provided his expertise on one track. In addition, Jimi Jamsion (Survivor's ex-vocalist) as well as John Payne (ex-Asia) will perform two songs with frontlady Andrea. An album release is tentatively scheduled for winter 2008/2009. Make sure to check out Lunatica's music and art on MySpace.

Source:	napalmrecords.com
Band profile:	Lunatica

Australian masters of grind The Berzerker have begun work on their fifth studio album, due in an undetermined amount of time later this year through Earache Records. An official 2.26mins video clip featuring footage of some of the early recording sessions can be viewed here

Animosity New Zealand Tour Dates:

24/04 Level One - Christchurch, NZ + Vixen Execution, Anthropophagus, Innard Splatter
25/04 Valve+) - Wellington, NZ + Backyard Burial, Bloodletting, Slave Cadaver
26/04 Powerstation - Auckland, NZ + Dawn Of Azazel, Sinate, State Of Integrity, World War Four, Malevolence, Cripple Mr Onion, Human, Wrath, Tainted, Just One Fix, Vatikan
27/04 Yellow Submarine - Hamilton, NZ + Bloodletting, Blacktooth, + guests

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	The Berzerker
Event:	Animosity New Zealand Tour

Atlanta's Withered have completed work on the band's latest album, "Folie Circulaire," which will see a June 24 release through Prosthetic Records. Withered posted the following on their MySpace Page:

"Our new record is officially completed and we're very satisfied," the band says. "Thanks to everyone involved, some very cool things have fallen into place for this release. Most of you are already aware of Barney Greenway's (Napalm Death) guest vocal appearance on "...The Fated Breath" and "Clamor Beneath." As always, his vocals are amazing and can't wait for everyone to hear them.

Also, the last song on the album is a cover song called 'Into Armageddon' by Necrophobic. If you're not already a fan of them, you need to be. They're in our top friends and some of the best black metal to ever come out of Sweden so check them out. Big thanks to them for being very cool about us recording their song and for writing it in the first place.

"The recording process was grueling but worth every 12 - 16 hour day. Phillip Cope (Kylesa, Baroness, Black Tusk) and the guys at The Jam Room [in Columbia, S.C.) did a great job of keeping us focused and capturing our sound. It really shows on the record. Scott Hull (Visceral Sound, Pig Destroyer) also did a great job with the mastering and sequencing. It's relentless and we couldn't be happier. The artwork is also completed. The 'Folie Circulaire' cover art can be seen here. Paul Romano really delivered for us. It will feature a 12-page booklet and is full of fantastic imagery. It is all very symbolic of the lyrical content and overall feel of the record. We'll post more images as the release date approaches. Big thanks to Paul for being a great friend and supporter."

For more info on Necrophobic, check out their Official Website and their MySpace page.

Track List for "Folie Circulaire":

01. To Embrace...
02. ...The Fated Breath
03. Dichotomy Of Exile
04. Gnosis Unveils...
05. ...The Forsaken Truth
06. Purification Of Ignorance
07. Drawn Black Drapes...
08. ...Reveal The Essence Of Suffering
09. Clamor Beneath
10. Into Armageddon

Tracks: 10 (8 songs, 2 interludes)
Length: 46 minutes approx.

"Folie Circulaire" is the follow-up to 2005's critically-acclaimed "Memento Mori." A demoed version of "Putification of Ignorance," from the forthcoming album, is also available on the band's MySpace page.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Withered

Indiana's death thrashers Year Of Desolation have posted the beginnings of some new material at an alternative MySpace page available here. A brief statement about their new songs on their real MySpace page, reads as follows:

"5 songs... (count em: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!) have been posted on an alternative myspace!
Disclaimer: These songs are very very rough. Guitars and a Drum machine is all they are. They are being put online because we're honestly unsure if you'll hear em otherwise. Hope you enjoy the tunes!"

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Year Of Desolation

Canadian Black metallers Eclipse Eternal have posted the following news on their Myspace page:

"We regret to announce that after 3 years of blood, sweat and black metal, bassist Rose Sodomy and Eclipse Eternal have parted ways. We wish her all the best in her future and are proud to have known her and called her comrade. Effective immediately we are on the hunt for a new bassist. Interested? Check out our ad in the "Musicians Forum" for more details.

Also, in more positive news: Eclipse Eternal has made a video. And not a shitty performance video or a live on stage video. The video will be for the song "The Dragon Has Come To Blot Out The Stars" (featured on our Myspace for those who haven't heard it). It features a full storyline and multiple shoot locations. With a cast and crew of over fifteen people and Adrian Kent and Rouzbeh (if you've ever been to a Noel show you will know who I'm talking about) as the driving forces behind, you can be sure that this video will fucking kill. It features shitloads of blood, prosthetics, creepy fucking locations and a deep story with lots of twists. It took 4 full days of shooting in freezing temp. to do but we all think it was totally worth it. It is currently in post production so look for it in the near (a month or so) future. Tonight I will upload some more shots from the shoot so you can get an idea of what I'm taking about. Please remember they are low-fi compared to the video which was shot in HD."

"The Dragon Has Come to Blot out the Stars" is taken from Eclipse Eternal's latest album, "Ubermensch: Evolution Beyond The Species", which was mixed in Sweden by head knob-twiddler Fredrik Nordström (Dimmu Borgir, Zyklon, Old Man's Child). The CD is available now through The End Records distribution.

Source:

blog.myspace.com

King Diamond drummer Matt Thompson will be joining Floridian prog act Aghora in the studio during the recording of Aghora's third full-length spinner titled simply "Aghora 3". Aghora spoke of Matt Thompson and their new album on their website a few weeks ago, and said the following:

"We are happy to anounce the new drummer for Aghora 3. Ladies & Gents, Please welcome Matt Thompson on board. Matt is a great drummer with a good history and beyond solid chops and skills. Some of you may know him from the King Diamond records. He has begun demoing stuff with us. Please visit his site and get familiar. [Link]

Aghora 3 is in the writing process. So far there are 10 solid ideas. We are going to do this album on our terms. But it will be on a good schedule so you will have new music sooner than you think. Thanks to everyone who auditioned and sent in video and mp3's. Best wishes to you all."

Source:	aghora.org
Band profile:	Aghora

Candlelight Records have announced that Tuesday, April 29 is the US release date for new releases from Finland's Farmakon - "Robin", and Israel's Distorted - "Voices From Within". These two new studio efforts coincide with Candlelight's progressing cult series taking otherwise unheard European bands and delivering them across the pond to the good old US of A. This is a specially-priced product line that Candlelight conceived of, to help in introducing up-and-coming international artists to the potential American audiences. The series services artists of various sub-genres and aims towards providing a "fan-base for which the artists can grow and connect." Basically, a clever marketing trick. The good point, however, is the possible marriage of these otherwise unheard of bands to the US audience.

New tracks from both albums by Farmakon and Distorted have been posted on Candlelight USA's MySpace page since April 1!

Tampere-based Farmakon saw the release of their debut album ("A Warm Glimpse", Earache) back in 2003. Quickly making waves through prog metal circles the band make their long-awaited return. The new album "Robin" witnesses the band experimenting with darker sounds and their trademark twists. Released late least year in Europe, US fans now can enjoy "Robin".

Track List for "Robin":

01. Time-Tables
02. Coma September'
03. Sixty-Nine
04. Faint Light
05. Recondite
06. Wings
07. A Temporary Death
08. Helpless
09. Monster
10. Outro

Distorted are a band of keen curiosity. The Bat-Yam quartet's dual-vocal attack is articulated by their precise musicianship and classic metal composition. The band made their first appearance outside their native country October 2007 as part of the Metal Female Voices Festival performing alongside Leaves' Eyes, Epica, After Forever and more. The band will appeal to fans of Within Temptation, Madder Mortem, How Like A Winter, The Foreshadowing and more.

Track List for "Voices From Within":

01. One Last Breath
02. What Remains
03. Voices From Within
04. Fading
05. A Soft Whisper
06. Reveal My Path
07. Escaping The Mind-Grid
08. Obscure
09. Theom
10. Consistent Duality
11. Letting Go

Candlelight Cult series includes release from Furze, Mithras, Pantheon-I (featuring members of 1349), Throne Of Katarsis, and others.

Source:	candlelightrecordsusa.com
Band profile:	Farmakon

Ultra brutal sludge machine Slit are back for a new European tour. See the band live in April including festivals and headline gigs.
"Ode To Silence" is still available on Anticulture records. See the band video clip here!

Tour dates are as follows:

18/04 - MLT, Peaceville - Remedy
25/04 - ESP, Ourense - La Crypta
26/04 - POR, Barroselas - SWR Metalfest XI
27/04 - ESP, Madrid - Barracudas Club
30/04 - FRA, Marseille - Hotel de la Musique 4

01/05 - ITA, Torino - Venue TBA
02/05 - CHE, Lenzburg - Tomasini Club
03/05 - GER, Altes Lager - Fuck The Commerce Festival
04/05 - HOL, Rotterdam - De Baroeg

Source:	myspace.com
Event:	Slit: Euopean Tour

Symphorce guitarist Cédric "Cede" Dupont (ex-Freedom Call) has issued the following update:

"Added some new instrumental music to my page, hope you all enjoy it! I just had this idea a long time ago, and since I got tons of positive messages about "MeloDrama", I thought I'd give it a shot one more time! So check out "Atmosfear" and let me know what you think!"

Check out the new track on this Link

Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Symphorce

Norwegian Prog-Power sword-yielders Gaia Epicus have issued the following update:

"Today (April 2nd) we bring you two new names on guest musicians playing on the new album. Michael Troy will be playing some keyboards on 3 songs. Michael just finished a successful tour of South and Central America with Swedish guitar legend / virtuoso, Yngwie Malmsteen in December, and has been officially named as the touring keyboardist for Yngwie's greatly anticipated upcoming release. Then we have the great Swedish guitar wizard called Jonas Hörnqvist from the band Treasure Land, and he will be playing a few guitar solos."

Track List for "Damnation":

01. Damnation
02. Masters Of The Sea
03. Firestorm
04. The Wizard's Return [Instrumental]
05. You Are A Liar!
06. Cyborgs From Hell
07. The Saviour (Will Come)
08. A Hero In All
09. Salvation Is Here

Other guests on the record include guitarist Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex-Helloween) and bassist Andreas Olsson (Narnia, Divinefire, Rob Rock, Stormwind).

Source:	gaia-epicus.com
Band profile:	Gaia Epicus

French dark metallers Blut Aus Nord have announced the tracklisting for their forthcoming album, "Memoria Vetusta II - Dialogue With The Stars", which will be released later this year through Candlelight Records:

01. Disciple's Libration (Lost In The Nine Worlds)
02. Antithesis Of The Flesh (...And Then Arises A New Essence)
03. The Alcove Of Angels (Vipassana)
04. ...The Meditant (Dialogue With The Stars)
05. Acceptance (Aske)
06. Translucent Body Of Air (Sutta Anapanasati)
07. The Formless Sphere (Beyond The Reason)
08. The Cosmic Echoes Of Non-Matter (Immaterial Voices Of The Fathers)
09. Elevation (The Dawn Of The Gods)

Source:	blutausnord.com
Band profile:	Blut Aus Nord

Death cover band Symbolic have issued the following update:

"On Monday, March 3rd the French-Canadian TV channel Télé-Québec aired a special report on the benefit concert to honor late Death/Control Denied mastermind Chuck Schuldiner, which took place on December 12th, 2007 at the Theatre Imperial in Quebec City, QC, Canada. 'Méchant Contraste' producer Marc Bergeron and his team followed the production process of the concert, which which featured the local Death cover band Symbolic alongside guest musicians Bobby Koelble (guitarist on Death's Symbolic album), Shannon Hamm (guitarist on Death's The Sound Of Perseverance album), Scott Clendenin (bass on Death's "The Sound of Perseverance" album), Daniel Mongrain (Martyr), Marc-André Gingras (Quo Vadis), Jonathan Lee (The Autumn Offering, ex-Acheron; ex-Death drum roadie for Richard Christy on The Sound of Perseverance tour), and Nick Barker (ex-Dimmu Borgir/Cradle Of Filth drummer). The report focuses on the different steps that were taken by the event's organizers while putting the show together, the building of the stage and behind-the-scenes footage. As well, there are interviews with Antoine Baril, Shannon Hamm, Scott Clendenin, Bobby Koelble and Alexis Robitaille."

The four-minute report is available here

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Death

Swedish Suicidal/Manipulative Black Metal throne-dwellers Shining made the following entry on their MySpace Blog:

"Due to Jarle Bybergs current situation we have decided that we cannot go ahead with merely him in our ranks. This has nothing to do with him leaving Urgehal last week or anything like that, but he simply hasn't got time enough to tour as much as we do, nor spending month after month in the studio. Therefore, we have now decided to let Schill who accompanied us on the 'Thank God For Niklas Kvarforth' tour last year become a permanent member of Shining.
Welcome my little precious... / Kvarforth, on behalf of Shining."

Shining's sixth studio album will be entitled "Tillbaka På Ruta Ett" (Back to Square One) and is set for a late 2008 release through Osmose Productions.

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Shining

Southern Lord announced this detailed update on the important Burning Witch release:

"After an elongated eternity of anticipation it is with extreme relief that we are able to announce that: "Crippled Lucifer: 10 Psalms For Our Lord Of Light" is finally done and ready to be devoured! These recordings are the roots of much of what has grown into the current existence of Southern Lord alumni: Sunn O))), Khanate, Goatsnake, Teeth Of Lions Rule The Divine etc.. as well as: KTL, Asva, etc..

For the uninitiated: ...After the breakup of the cult doom/death band Thorr's Hammer in 1995, Stephen O'Malley, Greg Anderson and Jamie Sykes formed Burning Witch. The band then added G. Stuart Dahlquist and vocalist Edgy 59, rounding out their lineup. Anderson left the band and moved to Los Angeles to form the band Goatsnake. In 1996, the band (w/out Anderson) recorded songs with Steve Albini, which would become the "Towers..." EP. This collection would actually not see a formal release on 12" until 1998 on Slap A Ham Records. After the sessions for these songs, Sykes left the band and was replaced by B.R.A.D.

The sessions that followed the Albini recordings resulted in the "Rift.Canyon.Dreams" EP, which would prove to be the final recordings by the band, as they broke up soon after the disc was completed. It was released on 12" by Merciless Records. Shortly after disbanding: "Crippled Lucifer" a compilation CD of the two EPs, was released in 1998 by the then new label Southern Lord Records. It was the second release of the label, the first being Thorrs' Hammer. Burning Witch briefly reformed for their last shows in the fall of 1998 after which Edgy 59 left the band. O'Malley reunited with Anderson to form Sunn O))), and Dahlquist joined both in Sunn O))) for their first two albums (The Grimm Robe Demos Void) then briefly joined Anderson in Goatsnake for the "Flower Of Disease" album.

This deluxe double cd re-issue of all Burning Witch recordings will serve as a respectful epitaph for this incredible band. It compiles both the "Towers..." and "Rift.Canyon.Dreams" albums which were on the the original Crippled Lucifer release PLUS the following out of print material:

"Communion" and "The Bleeder" from: split CD with Goatsnake (Hydra Head Records 2000) OUT OF PRINT and "Rift Canyon Dreams" from :split 12" with Asva (Dos Fatales Records 2004) OUT OF PRINT (remixed by Randall Dunn (sunn, boris, earth) and available for the first time ever on cd)

Read more ››

Source:

southernlord.com