Veteran Thrashers Megadeth have announced some dates for touring in Japan. One of the dates, 14th, 16th October will feature Megadeth at Japan's Loud Park Festival. Also playing on that date will be Angra, Dir En Grey, Backyard Babies, Hardcore Superstar and Anvil.

Here is the list of dates:

Oct. 13 - Kawasaki, Japan - Club Citta
Oct. 14 - Tokyo, Japan - Loud Park Festival '06
Oct. 16 - Osaka, Japan - Loud Park Festival '06
Oct. 17 - Nagoya, Japan - Zepp

In other Megadeth news, a video of the band playing their new song 'Washington Is Next' has been posted online. The performance was at their show in Toronto, Ontario on 25th September. 'Washington Is Next' will appear on Megadeth's upcoming album "United Abominations" which will be released early next year.

You can see the Megadeth video here.

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Source:	megadeth.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

Neurotic Records have made the video clip of Visceral Bleeding's 'Disgust The Vile' available on their official YouTube channel. 'Disgust The Vile' is one of the two video clips that will end up on the forthcoming full length album, titled "Absorbing The Disarray." Click hereto go to the Neurotic Records YouTube channel.

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Source:	neurotic-records.com
Band profile:	Visceral Bleeding

"Scum", the first ever album by Death/Grindcore band Napalm Death is going to be re-released next year as a 20th Anniversary version. The release will contain a remastered version of the original "Scum" album and also a bonus DVD. The DVD will contain (among things) interviews with the three original Napalm Death members Nik Bullen, Mick Harris and Justin Broadrick, getting their thoughts on "Scum" getting re-released. The album is set for an early 2007 release.

Here is a comment by head of Earache Records Digby Pearson:

"...the 20th anniversary of the recording of "Scum" should be a good way to re-introduce a new generation to the legendary album that kick-started extreme music and coined the grindcore genre".

Source:	earache.com
Band profile:	Napalm Death

Folk Metallers Skyclad have announced that they won't be doing any touring in the next month or two, so they can concentrate on writing new material. The band had said previously that there was a chance of a small tour in October, but they now stated that it would be too difficult. So for the next couple of months, Skyclad will be writing and recording material for their next album. More details about the new album should be announced soon.

Here is a comment by the band:

"...we will be concentrating on writing and recording some new material for the next album. Following on from the touring we did earlier in the year, we had hoped to organise a 'mini-tour' in October but 'joining up the dots' proved to be too difficult - and, as had happened in April, the band didn't want to drive halfway across Europe between gigs (Paris to Naples then Gent in four days is no fun - honestly)".

Source:	skyclad.co.uk
Band profile:	Skyclad

Skid Row has wrapped up the recording of their new CD "Revolutions Per Minute" to be released on October 24th on SPV Records. Recorded at Wire World studios in Nashville, TN with long time friend and producer Michael Wagener at the controls. More news on the disk to come. "Revolutions Per Minute" cover art can be found here.

Tracklist:
01. Disease
02. Another Dick In The System
03. Pulling My Heart Out From Under Me
04. When God Can't Wait
05. Shut Up Baby, I Love You
06. Strength
07. White Trash
08. You Lie
09. Nothing
10. Love Is Dead
11. Let It Ride

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Source:	skidrow.com
Band profile:	Skid Row

Veteran Thrash Metallers Flotsam & Jetsam have made an explanation for why they cancelled one of the shows on their upcoming European tour. The band was scheduled to perform at Burgerweeshuis in Deventer, Holland on November 3rd, but then the show was cancelled. Flotsam & Jetsam have said that they will try to reschedule the show.

Here is a statement by Flotsam & Jetsam drummer Craig Nielsen explaining the cancellation:

"Just checking in to explain the European tour cancellation, as the agents who I expected to give a reason in their press release apparently failed to do so. A.K. applied some time ago, long before the tour was being put together, for acceptance into a helicoptor flight training academy in Arizona. He wants to be a helicoptor fire fighter which is an amazing career goal at this point in his life. Ambition does not begin to describe the scope of this undertaking. There is an extreme amount of study, determination, commitment, concentration and BALLS that are required to make it through the education. The thing was, nobody really thought he would be approved for the very large loan for the enrollment. Fortunately for him he was, although somewhat after the dates in Europe were being finalized.

The band very much regrets having to postpone this tour. The Bang Your Head festival 3 months ago was a GREAT time for this band and we really were ready to take Europe by storm on this November tour. The band will definitely attempt to reschedual as soon as school for A.K.winds down. The band sincerely apologises to EVERY single person who was involved with attempting tomake this happen,and of course most of all to all of our fans that were disappointed with the latest news. The band has nothing but love for ALL OF YOU!! Flots Til Death!!".

Source:	flotsam-and-jetsam.com
Band profile:	Flotsam And Jetsam

A brand new Angra sond entitled "The Course of Nature", from the band's forthcoming album, "Aurora Consurgens" , is available for download here (ZIP file). The lyrics to the track can be found here.

According to the band's webpage, The first video clip out of Angra's new album "Aurora Consurgens" (to be release in October) was shot last week. The chosen track was "The Course Of Nature", which is also the first single. The video was filmed in São Paulo under the guidance of director Carina Zaratin. You can check this pic from the video shoot.

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Source:	angra.net
Band profile:	Angra

More dates for Arch Enemy's upcoming European tour in November/December have been announced. Coldworker and Path Of No Return have also been announced as supports for Arch Enemy and will be playing with them at all the shows between 16th November and the 27th November (except for the 20th in Helsinki, Finland).

Here is the complete list of dates:

November 16 - Malmö @ KB (Sweden)
November 17 - Karlskrona @ Kino (Sweden)
November 18 - Göteborg @ Trägårn (Sweden)
November 20 - Helsinki @ Nosturi (Finland)
November 22 - Stockholm @ Klubben (Sweden)
November 23 - Linköping @ Platens Bar (Sweden)
November 24 - Halmstad @ Diezel (Sweden)
November 26 - Copenhagen @ Pumpehuset (Denmark)
November 27 - Århus @ Voxhall (Denmark)
November 29 - Bochum @ Zeche (Germany)
November 30 - Hamburg @ Knust (Germany)
December 1 - Glachau @ Alte Spinnerei (Germany)
December 3 - Zurich @ Rohstofflager (Switzerland)
December 5 - Munich @ New Backstage (Germany)
December 6 - Aschaffenburg @ Colos-Saal (Germany)
December 8 - Antwerp @ Hof Ter Lo (Belgium)
December 9 - Arnhem @ Metal Meeting Festival (Holland)
December 10 - Strasbourg @ La Laiterie (France)

Here is a comment by Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott:

"Right now we are out on the Gigantour in the U.S. with Megadeth etc - having the time of our lives! But, we have not forgotten what an amazing festival summer we had in Europe and we are eager to return and play for the headbangers there!!! See you all soon!!!".

Source:	archenemy.net
Band profile:	Arch Enemy

Power Metallers Sonata Arctica have announced that a new album is on the way. The band has started the songwriting process, and has also been doing some rehearsals. Sonata Arctica have also launched their own rehearsal diary which details the band's progress as they create the album. No other details about the album have been announced yet.

You can see the rehearsal diary by clicking here.

UPDATED on 7 December:
Sonata Arctica have started recording their next studio album!!
The studio diary can be found here.

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Source:	sonataarctica.info
Band profile:	Sonata Arctica

A second tour of the US has been announced by Death/Grindcore band Napalm Death. The tour will be called the 'Death By Decibels' tour and Napalm Death will be the headline act. The tour will also feature A Life Once Lost, Dead To Fall and Animosity. Also Impaled will be playing at the shows between 11/29 and 12/09 and Arsis will be appearing between 12/12 and 12/21.

Here is a list of all the dates:

11/25 - Buffalo, NY @ Club Infinity
11/26 - Detroit, MI @ I-Rock Nightclub
11/28 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
11/29 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
12/01 - Boise, ID @ The Venue
12/11 - El Paso, TX @ Chic's Bar
12/14 - New Orleans, LA @ Howlin Wolf
12/15 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
12/16 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
12/17 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
12/18 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
12/19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom
12/20 - New York, NY @ Knitting Factory
12/21 - Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony

Source:	enemyofthemusicbusiness.com
Band profile:	Napalm Death

Deicide will return to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 12 years in support of its latest full-length release, "The Stench of Redemption". The following dates have been announced:

Dec. 11 - Per - Heat Nightclub
Dec. 12 - Adelaide, HQ Nightclub
Dec. 13 - Melbourne, The Hi Fi Bar
Dec. 14 - Sydney, The Gaelic Club
Dec. 15 - Auckland, The Studio
Dec. 16 - Christchurch, The Civic
Dec. 17 - Brisbane, The Arena

Source:	hailmetal.com
Band profile:	Deicide

Canadian Death Metallers Cryptopsy have announced a tour of North America. The tour will go all through October this year, and will cover Canada and the USA. The tour will continue to be in support of Cryptopsy's latest album 'Once Was Not'.

Here is a list of dates:

04/10/06 - Ottawa, On @ Maverick's
05/10/06 - Hamilton, On @ Absinthe
06/10/06 - Rouyn Noranda, QUE @ Petit Théatre du vieux Noranda
07/10/06 - Toronto, On @The Opera House
08/10/06 - London, On @ Embassy
09/10/06 - Sudbury, On @ Jubilee Centre
11/10/06 - Thunder Bay, On @ Kilroy's
12/10/06 - Winnipeg, Man @ Royal Albert
13/10/06 - Regina, Sask @ Exchange
14/10/06 - Edmonton, Alb @ The Moad Hall
16/10/06 - Victoria, BC @ Sugar NightClub
17/10/06 - Vancouver, BC @ The Lamplighter
19/10/06 - Calgary, Alb @ The Stetson
21/10/06 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club
22/10/06 - Mokena, Ill @ The Pearl Room
23/10/06 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's

Source:	cryptopsy.net
Band profile:	Cryptopsy

Long-defunct Florida-based band Cynic has confirmed plans to embark a reunion tour in the spring/summer of 2007, beginning with possible U.S. warm-up performances and culminating in a number of festival appearances across Europe.

Reunion lineup:

Paul Masvidal - Vocals / Guitar
Sean Reinert - Drums / Keys
Tony Teegarden - Vocals / Keyboards
Chris Kringel - Bass
Santiago Dobles - Guitar

Concerts dates will be posted in the near future.

Source:	cynicalsphere.com
Band profile:	Cynic

More details about Death Metal band Obituary's upcoming DVD have been announced. The DVD now has the title of 'Frozen Alive'. The band has spent the last week in The RedRoom with Mark Prator mixing the audio part of the DVD. The DVD is now also to be expected to be released around December 2006-January 2007. It's a recording of the band's show in Poland on the 24th August and it will be Obituary's first ever DVD.

Here is a comment by vocallist John Tardy:

"So far it sounds pretty heavy and I am really getting excited. I still can't believe we have waited this long to do one but, that is just the way it worked out".

Source:	obituary.cc
Band profile:	Obituary

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal outfit After Forever has entered the studio to begin recording its new album, tentatively due next year via an as-yet-undetermined label. A brand new video shot in the recording studio has been posted online here .

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Source:	afterforever.com
Band profile:	After Forever