Singer Dario Grillo has once again left the Italian Symphonic Power Metal band Thy Majestie.

"I won't attend the next few live shows with them and I won't record the new album," Dario writes on his web site. "I don't want to explain the reasons of the split 'cause I think nobody wants to know about bullshit, problems or controversies. I apologise to the fans who believed in the reunion and waited for another masterpiece like 'Hastings 1066', but the situation with the guys couldn't be managed in a civil way. So the main priority is Violet Sun, the new band led by singer Alessandra Amata, Alex Grillo on drums, Doctor Max on bass guitar and me the guitarist and keyboard player, producer and composer of the album. Stay tuned!!!"

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Thy Majestie

Italian Symphonic Black Metallers of Stormlord are working on the first DVD of their career!

The following message was posted on their official web site:

"The Battle Of Quebec City: Live In Canada 2006" has been recorded during the band's 15th anniversary canadian tour and will include the complete show of Quebec City, plus 2 bootleg songs from Toronto and Montreal gigs, official videoclips, footage on the road and many more. Details will be announced soon.
We know we have a lot of fans crazy for graphics and we'd like to have one of your artworks as cover of the DVD! So we deicided to make a contest about it: just send us at stormlord @ email.it your cover artwork, the best ones will be published on our website and the best one will be used for the DVD. Let the battle begin!

Source:	stormlord.net
Band profile:	Stormlord

Theatres Des Vampires is going to participate in seven upcoming shows taken place along May, June and August 2007, as part of The Addiction Tour, which ran from 2005 till 2007.

Upcoming shows:

May 5 2007, Rock Club, Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy
May 19 2007, Dark Fest, Modena - San Damaso, Italy
Jun 1 2007, Blà Blà, Matosinhos, Portugal
Jun 2 2007, Culto Club, Lisboa, Portugal
Aug 11 2007, Summer Revolution Festival, Monumenti - Pula, Croatia
Aug 17 2007, More Than Fest, Ruzina, Slovakia
Aug 30 2007, South America Tour 2007, Bogotá, Colombia

Source:	theatres-des-vampires.com
Band profile:	Theatres Des Vampires
Event:	Theatres Des Vampires: The Addiction Tour

Two new songs - 'Artemisia Teaser' and 'Departing Words' - from the new album "Artemesia", the long-awaited second studio album by Dutch Progressive Metallers Sun Caged, have been put online at the band's MySpace page. These are not the final mixed songs.

The album is about 70 minutes long and has been released on March 23rd in Europe by Lion Music.

"Artemesia" tracklist:
01. Lyre's Harmony
02. A Fair Trade
03. Unborn
04. Blood Lines
05. Painted Eyes
06. Engelbert The Inchworm
07. Afraid To Fly
08. Dialogue
09. Departing Words
10. Doldrums

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Sun Caged

A new video for the song 'Location:COLD', of Catamenia's 2006 album "Location:COLD" has been put available for download on the band's official website in the video section, or via YouTube here.

Read more ››

Source:	catamenia.net
Band profile:	Catamenia

Unexpect have teamed up for a Canadian Tour, which took off last week already. The list of remaining upcoming dates is as follows:

03/04/07 @ Waldo's ; Medicine Hat, AB
04/04/07 @ Connaught Youth Center ; Prince George, BC
06/04/07 @ Logan's Tavern ; Victoria, BC
07/04/07 @ Balmoral ; Vancouver, BC
10/04/07 @ The Mead Hall ; Edmonton, AB
11/04/07 @ The Beverage Warehouse ; Lethbridge, AB
12/04/07 @ The Underground ; Calgary, AB
13/04/07 @ The Exchange ; Regina, SK
14/04/07 @ The Union Center ; Prince Albert, SK
19/04/07 @ Manhattan ; Moncton, NB
20/04/07 @ Vixens Lounge; Fredericton, NB
21/04/07 @ The Speakeasy ; Halifax, NS
22/04/07 @ Cedars Club ; Sydney, NB
26/04/07 @ Maquisart ; Trois-Rivières, QC
27/04/07 @ Salle des Mooses ; Dolbeau-Mistassini, QC
28/04/07 @ Salle des Mooses ; LaBaie, QC
04/05/07 @ Théâtre Plaza ; Montréal, QC

Source:	unexpect.com
Band profile:	Unexpect
Event:	Unexpect: Canadian Tour

Iron Savior, featuring guitarist/vocalist/producer and Helloween co-founder Piet Sielck, will release their new album, Megatropolis, via Dockyard 1 on June 4th.

The tracklist is as follows:
01. Running Riot
02. The Omega Man
03. Flesh
04. Megatropolis
05. Cybernetic Queen
06. Cyber Hero
07. A Tale From Down Below
08. Still I Believe
09. Farewell And Good Bye

The limited edition digipack version of the album will include the bonus track 'Hammerdown'.

Iron Savior will hold a release gig at the Ballroom in Hamburg, Germany on June 1st. It will be a co-headlining show with Abandoned, who are due to release their new album on June 4th.

Read more ››

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Iron Savior

Rockworld.TV has produced a new documentary on controversial sub-genre black metal. Written by DJ and journalist Malcolm Dome and directed by David Kenny, "Murder Music: A History Of Black Metal" aims to explore the aural side of the genre which is often over-looked due to the notoriety of the acts that surround it.

The documentary features insights into bands such as of Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle Of Filth, Satyricon, Venom, Immortal, Black Widow and Sabbat, and is available for streaming exclusively on http://www.rockworld.tv for £1 on Friday April 13. It is also set to appear on the Rockworld channel at an unconfirmed date.

More info on http://www.rockworld.tv/486.

Read more ››

Source:

rockworld.tv

Virginia's extreme sound nihilists Pig Destroyer have completed work on their new full-length album, "Phantom Limb". The CD was recorded at Omega Studios (Bad Brains) in Rockville, MD under the helm of guitarist/producer Scott Hull and is scheduled for release on June 12 in North America (June 18 internationally).

The follow-up to 2004's "Terrifyer", "Phantom Limb" features 14 of "the most deranged metal songs we could come up with," says vocalist JR Hayes. The complete track listing is as follows:

01. Rotten Yellow
02. Jupiter's Eye
03. Deathtripper
04. Thought Crime Spree
05. Cemetery Road
06. Lesser Animal
07. Phantom Limb
08. Loathsome
09. Heathen Temple
10. Fourth Degree Burns
11. Alexandria
12. Girl In The Slayer Jacket
13. Waist Deep In Ash
14. The Machete Twins

The artwork for "Phantom Limb" was designed by John Baizley (Baroness, Torche) and a preview of it is available on the band's official MySpace page.

Read more ››

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Pig Destroyer

Posted on the official site of ProgPower Scandinavia:

"We're proud to announce that the first ProgPower Scandinavia festival will be held at The Rock in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 9th and 10th 2007.

Today we announce the first 4 out of a total of 10 bands for the festival - the first 4 are:
- Mercenary
- Threshold
- Circus Maximus
- Andromeda

With these 4 bands we have already determined that the festival is going to have a broad appeal; from the the very British sounding prog-rock/prog-metal of Threshold, the technical overflow from Sweden's Andromeda, the melodic progressive metal of Norway's Circus Maximus to the Danish melo-death band Mercenary, we will try to come up with a mixture of bands and styles within the power & progressive spectre that will please everyone.

The next couple of bands will be announced in a few weeks. Stay tuned"

Source:	progpowerscandinavia.com
Band profile:	Threshold
Event:	ProgPower Scandinavia

Artwork for Norwegian Melodic Black metallers Dimmu Borgir's upcoming album, "In Sorte Diaboli" ? which is scheduled for an April 24 release in North America ? has been banned by retailers.
Slipcover artwork can be viewed at this location.

Dimmu Borgir will embark on a European headlining tour in October/November. Dubbed "The Invaluable Darkness Tour 2007", the trek will feature Sweden's Amon Amarth in the direct-support slot. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Sep. 23 - Amsterdam - Paradiso (NL)
Sep. 24 - Tilburg - 013 (NL)
Sep. 25 - Cologne - E-Werk (DE)
Sep. 26 - Brussels - AB (BE)
Oct. 04 - Paris - Elysee Montmartre (FR)
Oct. 06 - Marseille - Le Moulin (FR)
Oct. 07 - Barcelona - Razzmatazz 2 (ES)
Oct. 09 - Lisbon - Coliseum (PO)
Oct. 10 - Madrid - Joy Eslava (ES)
Oct. 11 - Bergara - Sala Jam (ES)
Oct. 13 - Pratteln - Z7 (CH)
Oct. 14 - Milan - Alcatraz (IT)
Oct. 15 - Ljubljana - Exhibition Hall (SI)
Oct. 16 - Vienna - Planet Music (AT)
Oct. 17 - Budapest - Petofi Csarnok (HU)
Oct. 19 - Prague - Retro (CZ)
Oct. 20 - Warsaw - Progresja (PO)
Oct. 21 - Berlin - Columbiahalle (DE)
Oct. 22 - Hamburg - Docks (DE)
Oct. 23 - Wiesbaden - Schlachthof (DE)
Oct. 25 - München - Georg Elser Halle (DE)
Oct. 26 - Leipzig - Werk II (DE)
Oct. 27 - Stuttgart - Nuclear Blast Festival (DE)
Oct. 29 - Copenhagen - Store Vega (DK)
Oct. 30 - Lund - Mejeriet (SE)
Nov. 01 - Helsinki - House Of Culture (FI)
Nov. 02 - Oulu - Tearia (FI)
Nov. 04 - Stockholm - Arenan (SE)
Nov. 05 - Gothenburg - Tragarn (SE)
Nov. 06 - Oslo - Sentrum Scene (NO)

Read more ››

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Dimmu Borgir
Event:	Dimmu Borgir + Amon Amarth: The Invaluable Darkness Tour

As previously reported (here), SPV records will release a strictly limited single CD of "Ghost Opera" cover] to be handed out to fans attending the European Tour in March, April and May 2007. The first batch of singles were given out for free at the Dutch show on March 29th.

You can listen to the song "Ghost Opera" at YouTube, here.

Read more ››

Source:	kamelot.com
Band profile:	Kamelot

Singapore Death Metal act Rudra have posted the following message on their website:

"Kannan has decided to part ways with Rudra. He will be relocating to Australia and the band wishes him the best of luck in the future and a big thanks for his monumental contribution to Rudra. However, the band hopes that his departure is temporary.

The band is presently auditioning guitarists and will announce the replacement real soon"

A comment by Kathir goes as follows:

"Kannan leaving the band is a sad note in the career of Rudra. We are definitely going to miss him. Kannan was part of the most creative phase of Rudra. And we sincerely wish that he succeeds in all his endeavours in Australia.

Meanwhile, Shiva, Selvam & I are in the studio writing new material for the forthcoming albums. We hope to write enough material to produce two albums to complete the Brahmavidya Trilogy. The material so far done seems to point at a heavier direction. Let's wait and see how that evolves..."

Source:	rudraonline.org
Band profile:	Rudra

Polish extreme metal titans Behemoth are proud to announce their addition to the Ozzfest 2007 lineup having landed the direct support, non-rotating slot right before second stage headliners Hatebreed. This is the first time a Polish act has ever participated in Ozzfest.

Nergal (vocals, guitars) states, "I couldn't be more proud about the fact that Behemoth will be joining this year's Ozzfest! I'm speechless and beyond excited. No doubt it's going to be the brightest point of our career thus far, and I hope that this will help to spread dangerous and extreme music among the masses.

"It's an honor to team up with our longtime brothers in Nile and to share the stage with Lamb of God and Hatebreed, not to mention the legend himself! With such a bill, you can expect nothing but pure metal carnage! What makes me even more excited is the little fact that we will be releasing our new album during the tour. So expect songs from "The Apostasy", as well as some older shit. We'll definitely make sure the set is going to be brutal as fuck. You've been warned!"

Behemoth built their career upon their unrelenting touring schedule, performing over 325 shows worldwide for the Demigod album campaign. With Ozzfest, the group kicks off the worldwide touring cycle in support of their highly anticipated new album, "The Apostasy", which is set for a July release.

The group's most ambitious and epic offering yet, "The Apostasy", was recorded in the band's hometown of Gdansk with Nergal and longtime sound engineer Malta in the producers' chairs. The effort is currently being mixed with the acclaimed Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Meshuggah, Strapping Young Lad) at Dugout Studios in Sweden and mastered by Bjorn Engelmann (Rammstein, Samael).

Read more ››

Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Behemoth
Event:	Ozzfest 2007

Acclaimed Death Metal act Hate Eternal has parted ways with bassist Randy Piro. "I am at a crossroads in my life and I feel the need to change direction," Randy writes in a statement. "I will be devoting my creativity to Gigan and my schooling.

"From the deepest pits of my heart I thank Erik Rutan, Derek Roddy, Jared Anderson (may he rest in peace), and everyone in the Hate Eternal family for believing in my abilities, and bestowing upon me the honor of playing in one of the most extreme bands the world has ever heard.

"Hate Eternal has played a massive role in my life, and I will always look upon my time spent jamming with Erik and Derek with warm emotions. I wish Erik Rutan and the band the world and its spoils, for the Hate truly is Eternal..."

Hate Eternal leader Erik Rutan added: "Randy and I both thought this was the right life change for him and I support everything he wants to do for his future. Randy always gave 100% while in the band and I appreciate all he has done for me and Hate Eternal. I wish him nothing but the best in his schooling, career and his life."

Handling the bass duties on Hate Eternal's upcoming CD will reportedly be Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse (although this has not yet been officially confirmed).

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Hate Eternal