A new sample from the upcoming Ensiferum album "Victory Songs" has been put online on the Spinefarm Records website here. The sample comes from the song 'Ahti'.

"Victory Songs" will be available for purchase on April 20th.

Here's the tracklisting again:

01. Ad Victoriam
02. Blood Is The Price Of Glory
03. Deathbringer From The Sky
04. Ahti
05. One More Magic Potion
06. Wanderer
07. Raised By The Sword
08. The New Dawn
09. Victory Song

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Source:	spinefarm.fi
Band profile:	Ensiferum

Dutch Death Metallers/Hard Rockers Gorefest have posted the following message on their website:

"We're well into our first week of recording the follow-up to La Muerte. In this week all drum tracks have been recorded. Our drummer Ed was on a roll and layed down all those brutal and demanding parts with breath taking ease. We shot some handy cam footage of the drum takes which you can find here. Ed, like a fish in the water behind his new Sonor kit, bashing away on those beautiful Amedia cymbals.

Monday, Tue Madsen was over to make drum sounds and on Tuesday we made guitar and bass sound. Next Monday we will start with recording the rhythm guitars and bass guitar. If all goes well this will take about a week and a half. After that it's time for extra bits and pieces and the solo's. In April JC will go over to the Antfarm Studio in Denmark, where the mixing will take place, to record vocals.

Visit our forum for more personal reports on the progress we make."

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Source:	gorefest.nl
Band profile:	Gorefest

French masters of modern dissonant Thrash Scarve have posted a new song, entitled 'Endangered', on their MySpace page. The track comes off of the band's upcoming album, "The Undercurrent", which will be released this April through Listenable Records.

This album marks a grandiose return of the band marking them as pioneers and way ahead of their time. Beyond any doubt the most sophisticated, intricate, unconventional Scarve recording to date. Scarve will impress and annihilate both friend and foe!

Drummer Dirk Verbeuren commented: "Our darkest and most brutal release yet. Developing the sound of "Irradiant" to a more devastating level".

Here's the tracklisting for "The Undercurrent" again:
01. Endangered
02. Imperceptible Armageddon
03. Senseless
04. The Plundered
05. Assuming Self
06. Fathomless Descent
07. A Few Scraps of Memories
08. Rebirth

More info about the band on http://www.scarve.net and http://www.myspace.com/scarve1.

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Source:	listenable.net
Band profile:	Scarve

The new Rush album "Snakes & Arrows", will be released on May 1 via Anthem/Atlantic.
"Snakes & Arrows" cover art can be found here. The complete tracklisting is as follows:

01. Far Cry
02. Armor and Sword
03. Workin' Them Angels
04. The Larger Bowl
05. Spindrift
06. The Main Monkey Business
07. The Way The Wind Blows
08. Hope
09. Faithless
10. Bravest Face
11. Good News First
12. Malignant Narcissism
13. We Hold On

Rush's brand new single "Far Cry" is available for streaming in its entirety at http://www.rush.com.

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Source:	2112.net
Band profile:	Rush

The american leg of the "Fuck The World" tour is now being finalized. In May and June the ominious darkness of Watain shall descend over USA, Mexico, Chile and Brazil. Transatlantic deathfiends rise!

Also, Watain's first ever strike in Portugal will be when headlining The SWR Barrosellas Metal fest in Porto, on the 29th of April, together with such noble acts as Destr?666 (OZ) and Inquisition (US).

"Fuck The World" tourdates:

May 09: USA St. Paul, MN, Station Four
May 10: USA Chicago, IL, Empty Bottle (with Angelcorpse)
May 11: USA Cleveland, OH, Peabody's (with Celtic Frost and Angelcorpse)
May 12: USA Philadelphia, PA,The Northstar (with Angelcorpse)
May 13: USA Cambridge, MA, Middle East (with Angelcorpse)
May 14: USA New York City, NY, BB Kings (with Angelcorpse)
May 16: USA West Springfield, VA, Jaxx (with Angelcorpse)
May 17: USA Winston-Salem, NC, Ziggy's (with Angelcorpse)
May 18: USA Atlanta, GA, Drunken Unicorn (with Angelcorpse)
May 19: USA Tampa, FL, Brass Mug (with Angelcorpse)
May 20: USA Ft. Lauderdale, Culture Room (with Angelcorpse)

May 24: Mexico T.B.A (with Infinitum Obscure)
May 25: Mexico T.B.A (with Infinitum Obscure)
May 26: Mexico T.B.A (with Infinitum Obscure)
May 27: Mexico T.B.A (with Infinitum Obscure)

May 31: Chile Antofagasta
Jun 01: Chile La Serena
Jun 02: Chile Santiago
Jun 03: Chile Valpo
Jun 04: Chile Concep

Jun 07: Brazil Porto Alegre/RS Bar Opinia (with Sadus & Obituary)
Jun 08: Brazil Sao Paulo/SP TBA (with Sadus & Obituary)
Jun 09: Brazil Belo Horizonte/MG Lapa Multishow (with Sadus & Obituary)
Jun 10: Brazil Campinas/SP Hammer Rock Bar

In the meantime, Watain will be taking off on a European Tour tonight, together with Kreator and Celtic Frost.

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Source:	templeofwatain.com
Band profile:	Watain
Event:	Kreator + Celtic Frost: European Tour

The following excerpts were taken from Dimmu Borgir's official website:

"We will have some release events ready in Germany for the release of the new Dimmu Borgir record "In Sorte Diaboli"! You can win tons of DIMMU stuff such as posters, stickers, signed singles and we will draw the brand new album once!!! Be there!

17.04.07 Oldenburg, Amadeus
20.04.07 Leverkusen, Shadow
21.04.07 Nürnberg, Rockfabrik
21.04.07 Hildesheim, Rockclub
21.04.07 Leipzig, Hellraiser
25.04.07 Darmstadt, Steinbruchtheater
27.04.07 Innsbruck, Abyss Bar
27.04.07 Bielefeld, Ringlokschuppen 27.04.07 Dresden, Heavy Duty
27.04.07 Karlsruhe, Kulturruine
28.04.07 Kiel, Die Pumpe
28.04.07 Herford, X
28.04.07 Stuttgart, Club Prag
28.04.07 Lebach, Continent Rockstage
05.05.07 Hannover, Labor

The band will also have a signing session on Tuesday 27th of march between 6pm - 7pm at the Nuclear Blast office in Donzdorf! Witness yourselves when both Silenoz and Shagrath will be signing a deal with the devil! Both will be in Donzdorf to promote their new masterpiece "In Sorte Diaboli". Speaking of the new masterpiece, this will be your chance to hear it for the first time!"

Source:	dimmu-borgir.com
Band profile:	Dimmu Borgir
Event:	Dimmu Borgir: Signing Session

Long-running German thrashers Sodom will play a special 25th anniversary set at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which is scheduled to take place August 2-4 in Wacken, Germany.

The 120-minute performance will kick off with four songs from the band's latest, self-titled album, after which the group will be joined by several ex-members for a set of songs that have rarely or never before been played live. Making special guest appearances during this portion of the show will be Chris Witchhunter (drums), Grave Violator (guitar), Athätor (guitar), Frank Blackfire (guitar), Michael Hoffman (guitar), Andy Brings (guitar) and Atomic Steif (drums). Sodom will then close the gig with five more classics.

The group's entire setlist for the performance will be as follows:

New Songs:

01. Blood On Your Lips
02. Wanted Dead
03. City Of God
04. Bibles And Guns

"Historical" Portion Of The show (featuring guests):

05. Burst Command 'Til War
06. Obsessed By Cruelty
07. Christ Passion
08. Magic Dragon
09. Tarred And Feathered
10. The Crippler
11. Get What You Deserve
12. Abuse
13. Scum
14. Frozen Screams
15. Warlike Conspiracy
16. Genocide
17. Lords Of Depravity

Closing Classics:

18. Sodomy And Lust
19. Ausgebombt
20. The Saw Is The Law
21. Outbreak Of Evil
22. Bombenhagel

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Sodom
Event:	Wacken Open Air 2007

German Thrashers Dew-Scented have posted a new song 'That's Why I Despise You', on their MySpace page.

Dew-Scented's new album "Incinerate" will be released in North America on April 3rd via Nuclear Blast (March 30 in Germany; April 2 in the rest of Europe; April 16 in South America; and March 21 in Japan).
The album was mixed by Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Nevermore, Arch Enemy) and features guest appearances by Jeff Waters (Annihilator) and Gus G. (Firewind) on the song 'Perdition or All', and Mille Petrozza (Kreator) on 'Retain The Scars'.

"Incinerate" cover art] tracklist:

01. Exordium (Intro)
02. Vanish Away
03. Final Warning
04. That's Why I Despise You
05. The Fraud
06. Into The Arms Of Misery
07. Perdition For All
08. Now Or Never
09. Aftermath
10. Everything Undone
11. Contraddictions
12. Retain The Scars
13. Exitus (Outro)

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Source:	dew-scented.net
Band profile:	Dew-Scented

Opeth's manager Andy Farrow of Northern Music Co., has released the following statement:

"A website called Blindfaith (http://www.blindfaithonline.net) is falsely advertising a gig in Hull on November 25th with Opeth headlining. We would like to state that this gig is not confirmed and has never been discussed. This is a blatant attempt to rip fans off and will not be tolerated. Please contact webmaster@opeth.com if anyone has bought tickets."

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Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth

Season Of Mist is proud to announce the fresh signing of Italian female-fronted band Cadaveria.

Here's the band's comment: "After spending the last year in composing our new songs and in producing Cadaveria's third full length album, we are glad and proud to announce the recent agreement with Season of Mist. We are extremely satisfied by the new tracks and very excited for this join, that will assure the promotion this album deserves. Cadaveria want to thank Michael/Season of Mist for this opportunity and all fans for their patience and never-ending support. Three years passed since the "Far Away From Conformity" album, but it is worth the wait: this album is with no doubt the best one we have released so far and it will be IN YOUR BLOOD (as the title says) for the rest of your days.

Soon more news will follow!

In blood,

Cadaveria."

More info about Cadaveria on http://www.cadaveria.com and http://www.myspace.com/cadaveriaband.

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Source:	season-of-mist.com
Band profile:	Cadaveria

Official press release:

Continuing the return of Testament, the original line-up will perform shows world-wide in 2007. Influencing a whole metal movement today, Testament maintain the originators of thrash.

Drummer Nick Barker (Dimmu Borgir/Cradle Of Filth) will join all original members Alex Skolnick (guitar), Greg Christian (bass), Eric Peterson (guitar) and Chuck Billy (vocals) for this historical year. Testament is currently working on new material for an upcoming CD release. Stay tuned for more information.

Band guitarist Eric Peterson exclaims, "Hey metal world! Working hard with Nick on some new ideas and some cool old school styles and it's coming together really killer! Six songs already in the can so far! Just waiting for the Chief to come up with some lyrics to match, we get into the studio to track the drums in June...looking forward to busting out some new ones for this summer at the festivals and get a reaction!"

Chuck Billy states "It's been a long time coming, this new album is like a good wine, you throw in the grapes and 'crush.'"

3/23 Budapest, Hungary @ Almassy MK Hall
3/24 Katowice, Poland @ Hala Spodek
3/26 Dallas, TX @ the Granada Theatre
3/27 Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
3/29 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
3/30 Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theatre
3/31 Santa Ana, CA @ the Galaxy Theatre (CA Metal Fest)
4/19 Torreon, Mexico @ Salon Ferrocarrilero
4/20 Monterrey, Mexico @ Café Iguana
4/21 Mexico City, Mexico @ Circo Volador
4/22 Carolina, Puerto Rico @ Arena
4/25 Sao Paulo. Brazil @ Via Funchal
4/26 Curitiba, Brazil @ Hellooch
4/27 Rio de Janiero, Brazil @ Canecao
4/29 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ El Teatro Flores
4/30 Santiago, Chile @ Teatro Caupolican
7/06 Derbyshire, England @ Bloodstock Open Air
7/07 Leeuwarden, Netherlands @ Waldrock Festival
7/19 Nuernberg, Germany @ Earthshaker Festival
8/17 Oulu, Finland @ Jalometalli festival
8/18 Notodden, Norway @ Metal Heart Festival
8/19 Gotenborg, Sweden @ TBC
8/21 Kolding, Denmark @ Godset
8/22 Antwerpen, Belgium @ Hof Ter Lo
8/23 Deventer, Holland @ Burgerweeshuis
8/24 Bergen, Norway @ Hole in the Sky - Bergen Metal Festival
8/25 Gemunden, Germany @ Up From The Ground Open Air Festival
8/31 Rimini, Italy @ Velvet
9/01 Palmaggio-Caserta, Italy @ Route to Hell Festival

UPDATED on 10 March, thanks to beer

Testament have scheduled three more dates in Russia in July. The details are as follows:

Jul. 03 - Voronej, Russia - 100 Streams
Jul. 04 - Saratov, Russia - Club Vostok

Read more ››

Source:	lambgoat.com
Band profile:	Testament

GMM 2007 BEST LINE-UP EVER!

9 NEW NAMES: Heaven And Hell, Type O Negative, Slayer, Within Temptation, Celtic Frost, Thin Lizzy, Lamb Of God, Unearth and Chimaira.

Once again, the Boeretang festival grounds will be the setting for a three-day marathon where the heroes of metal and rock will do. Dessel has built a solid reputation in the metal and rock world and deservedly so! Following the confirmation of headliners Iron Maiden, Aerosmith And Ozzy Osbourne, we are proud to add yet another series of "High-Quality Bands" to this year's line-up: Heaven And Hell, Type O Negative, Slayer, Within Temptation, Celtic Frost, Thin Lizzy, Lamb Of God, Unearth and Chimaira.

We think it's fair to say this is without doubt the best Graspop line-up ever: a varied and open programme with nothing but top acts from the worlds of metal and rock!

Within Temptation have been confirmed for Friday. Apart from musical talent, radio and TV publicity are also key to building a successful career, something Within Temptation experienced first-hand when, at the turn of the millennium, "Ice Queen" was catapulted to the top of the charts worldwide thanks to Radio 3FM. The gothic band soon became a crowd favourite, seducing metal and mainstream fans alike with singles such as "Mother Earth", "Running up that Hill", "Stand My Ground" and their most recent effort "What Have You Done" from their forthcoming album 'The Heart of Everything'. Will you be able to resist the temptation?

Celtic Frost and Thin Lizzy will also take the stage on Friday!

With Heaven and Hell, Graspop will unleash another big name on the GMM stage on Saturday. Named after the first Black Sabbath album with Ronnie James Dio on vocals, the band will be playing in the original line-up that recorded the second Dio/Sabbath album 'Mob Rules' and came back for more in 1992 with 'Dehumanizer'. So this means Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinnie Appice (drums) on the same stage performing such metal classics as "Neon Knights", "Heaven And Hell" and "The Mob Rules". Ozzy and Heaven And Hell complete the Black Sabbath circle at GMM 2007!

Also on Saturday: Lamb Of God

A visit to Graspop Metal Meeting is always a bit about survival, especially when Californian thrash legends SLAYER come to call. In the early 80's, guitarist Kerry King and his partners in crime were one of the driving forces behind the Bay Area Thrash music scene. Their third album 'Reign in Blood' (1986) wrote metal history. Today, Slayer are touring the world to promote their extremely brutal new album 'Christ Illusion'. Last year, Slayer turned the Brabant Hal in Louvain into a live battlefield when they headlined the Unholy Alliance tour.

Read more ››

Source:	graspop.be
Event:	Graspop Metal Meeting 2007

Extreme metal titans Vital Remains have returned with a vicious new slab of blasphemy that promises to strike fear in the hearts of the masses. The much-anticipated new album, "Icons Of Evil", was produced by the renowned Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Goatwhore) and is set for an April 24 release. The album's striking artwork can be viewed now at this location.

The cover art has already created a great deal of controversy, but the band's founder Tony Lazaro (guitars) refuses to censor his vision in any way. "It is great to see that the cover of our new record has already started some controversy," he said. "Some of our distributors saw the artwork and suggested we change it. The record's scheduled to come out around Easter, and apparently the subject of Christ being nailed to his cross is a bit extra-sensitive around that time. We were told no one would take the CD unless we either changed it or put a slipcase over it. I absolutely refused to change shit, but I still wanted our fans to be able to find the album in their local stores, so we ultimately decided to go with the slipcase. I'm still pretty bummed about it, but this was out of my hands."

More info about "Icons Of Evil" can be found here.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Vital Remains

02/08/2007 : ALOIS - NEW ALBUM

ANTHEMON has been working on a follow-up to 2005's "Kadavreski" for a few months. This new album, entitled ALOIS, is a concept-album based upon the life of a quite unknown but genius French scientist named Aloïs Martel. The recording will start before summer 2007 and the album should be released by the end of 2007 or beginning of 2008.

Source:	anthemon.com
Band profile:	Anthemon

A couple of days ago a news item was posted that announced the departure of Arjen Lucassen from Stream Of Passion. Now, another two members have decided to quit: guitarist Lori Linstruth and keyboardist Alejandro Millan.

Here is what the band says:
"Since our last tour we've received a lot of inquires about the future of SoP. As you may have heard on the Ayreon website, Arjen has been going through a very rough period on in his life; he has decided to quit the band and focus entirely on his new Ayreon album, which we know for sure will be a huge success so good luck with it, Arjen!

Besides Arjen, Lori and Alejandro have also decided to part ways and focus on their own personal lives and musical projects. We, the rest of the SoPies, wish the three of them all the success and happiness in the world.

HOWEVER THIS BY NO MEANS THE END OF THE BAND! The rest of us are extremely motivated to continue this beautiful story called Stream of Passion and give it a more than positive future, like we think it deserves. We are already busy writing music for a new album, so soon you'll hear more about our future plans and musical ideas. Stay tuned!"

Source:	streamofpassion.com
Band profile:	Stream Of Passion