Because of Nicolas Chevrollier's decision to leave the band, The Old Dead Tree is now looking for a new guitar player. If you are interested, please write to info@theolddeadtree.com with details about yourself, like your musical influences, bands you are/were involved in, live and studio experiences, etc, and of course the reason why you would like to join the band. All information about the auditions will be given in due time once The Old Dead Tree has received your e-mail and details. Thanks and good luck!

Source:	season-of-mist.com
Band profile:	The Old Dead Tree

Threshold are currently working on material for a new studio album. No firm details are available at the moment, but the band hope to record sometime over the summer. Meanwhile guitarist Karl Groom is currently completing production on a new album for Galahad at Thin Ice Studios (England) entitled Empires Never Last, including a guest guitar solo performance on the track Sidewinder. He has also recently finished production on the new Intense album which includes guest keyboards by Richard West, and is currently working on a new album for ShadowKeep. Meanwhile in Germany, vocalist Mac is writing and singing on a new album with the power metal band Galoglass, and he's also half way through making a new Yargos album.

Band profile:

Threshold

Death Metal band Deicide have had their fitting 06/06/06 release date for their new album changed. The new album, 'The Stench Of Redemption' which was going to be released on 'the most unholy day of the century' along with releases by bands such as Slayer, has been moved to 22 August. The full album will still be out in full through Earache Records. However, there will be a download-only EP out on 06/06/06 with the new songs 'Homage For Satan' and 'Crucified For the Innocence'. The new songs will be the first Deicide material with their new guitarists Jack Owen and Ralph Santolla on board.

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Deicide

Melodic Death Metallers Nightrage have recently parted ways from Century Media Records. The band have almost finalised a contract with 'a new label'. There will be more news on the record label front soon.

Also, the band are working on some news songs for an upcoming album, which will presumably be released under their new label. The band are just preparing at the moment, and hope to hit the studio in August. They say that they are 'really pleased' with the material they've knocked up so far.

In other news, Nightrage will be doing a Scandinavian tour this November with Vader and Bloodthorn. The dates are as follows:

11/11 - DEN @ TBA
12/11 - DEN @ TBA
13/11 - Gothenburg, SWE @ Musikens Hus
14/11 - Oslo, NOR @ TBA
15/11 - Kristiansand, NOR @ TBA
16/11 - Bergen, NOR @ TBA
17/11 - Trondheim, NOR @ Blaest
18/11 - Orebro, SWE @ Satin
19/11 - Stockholm, SWE @ Klubben
20/11 - Gavle, SWE @ Monster
21/11 - Umea, SWE @ Midnight
22/11 - Oulu, FIN @ TBA
23/11 - Jyvaskyla, FIN @ TBA
24/11 - Helsinki, FIN @ TBA
25/11 - Turku, FIN @ Klubi

Source:	nightrage.com
Band profile:	Nightrage

German Power Metal band Primal Fear have parted ways with their record label Nuclear Blast. Also the bands songwriter and bass player Mat Sinner who was employed at Nuclear Blast as a label manager isn't working there anymore. The band is currently searching for a new label.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Primal Fear

2006 Eurovision winners Lordi have about 15,000 of their fans demanding an appology from one of the French television hosts of the contest. The fans have all signed an internet petition at www.ipetitions.com

Alegedly, the French tv host said "Finland has been participating in the Eurovision contest for the past 44 years and has never won. They're certainly not gonna win with this." After Lordi's May 20 show. Another host said "It's fresh, it's light, it's sober. I didn't picture the Finns like this. They'll be at the Vincennes zoo in the fall."

Lordi ended up winning Eurovision with a record number of points and both remarks have greatly angered Lordi fans. And so they are demanding an apology. To sign the petition, visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/excuses_eurovisions/

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Lordi

Veteran Heavy/Power Metallers Virgin Steele are almost finished their upcomming new album. The mixing process started about a month ago, and the whole thing should be completed in a couple of weeks. All the tracks are basically written and finalised and the mixing/mastering is nearly done. The title and track names haven't been released yet but the album has a September (2006) release date. More information about the album will be released soon.

Source:	virgin-steele.com
Band profile:	Virgin Steele

Herman Li from DragonForce checks in for some good and bad news:

'Right! Some of us came back home for two weeks off, a few stayed in Australia for a bit of a holiday. What an amazing first N. American tour weve had! A sold out headlining tour, finally got to meet our fans in the US & Canada and we got to meet loads of cool people!

What more could we have asked for? There were more sold out shows when we arrived in Australia! We would like to thank our fans that have been waiting for a long time, and new fans whove just discovered us for coming out in numbers to our shows. Thanks to our guests on the tour or should we say friends, from the bands Protest the Hero, Sanctity and Black Majesty. These guys kicked serious ass, so check them out!

So, the news has been out about DragonForce playing the main stage on Ozzfest. We are really excited to be touring the US again and be given the opportunity to play in front of our die-hard fans and showcase our skills to a new audience. Despite all the rumours people have read on the internet, we never received an offer to play Gigantour.

Now here comes the bad news. We had to cancel three European festivals that weve been so looking forward to playing. To the fans in the Netherlands, Finland and Spain, sorry but well make it up to you. The World Tour will continue to roll on so see you all soon !

- Herman Li, DragonForce'

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	DragonForce

Freak Kitchen on the road - Spain, France, UK, US & Russia!

"Finally, finally, finally we can announce freaky music will be heard in the UK in 2006! There will be a gig the 27th of September in Cardiff, Wales at The Point and also, just confirmed, Nottingham at The Rescue Rooms the 28th, Leeds, Hard Rock Café the 2nd of October + clinic at B I M M in Brighton the 3rd of October!

There will also be a clinic by IA at Hockley Music Academy in Nottingham 1 PM the 28th.

We plan to build a beefy UK tour from this with both concerts and clinics. More news soon. (Suggestions if you think we should come to your town, venues etc, can be sent to Mik Gaffney at our British record company Proper Music)."

Source:	freakkitchen.com
Band profile:	Freak Kitchen

Swedish power metallers Axenstar have finished recording their fourth album, "The Final Requiem", due in September via Germany's Massacre Records. According to the band, "it is by far the heaviest release in the history of Axenstar. We are all extremely happy with the result. The European version will contain 12 songs and the Japanese bonus version 13 songs." Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Pagan Ritual", "Seeds of Evil", "Condemnation", "Final Requiem", "The Hide" and "End of the Line".

Source: BlabberMouth.Net

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Axenstar

Brazilian thrashers Sepultura have been added to the second edition of Live N' Louder, the traveling festival that is scheduled to hit Mexico City, Mexico; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Sao Paulo, Brazil in October. The festival lineup is shaping up as follows:

Sepultura
Stratovarius
Black Label Society
Saxon
Nevermore
After Forever
Primal Fear
Gotthard

The dates and venues are as follows:

Oct. 07 - Palacio De Los Deportes - Mexico City, MEX
Oct. 12 - River Plate Stadium - Buenos Aires, ARG
Oct. 14 - Caninde - Sao Paulo, BRA

As previously reported, Sepultura's video for the track "Convicted in Life" has been posted online at YouTube.com, MTV Brasil. The clip was shot over a two-day period in February in São Paulo, Brazil.

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Sepultura

Ministry's days are numbered, according to group leader Al Jourgensen.

Jourgensen, who has led the group and its numerous side projects since 1981, says that after Ministry finishes its current MasterBaTour, he plans to go right back into the studio for what he says will be "the last Ministry album." And, he promises, this is no cheap ploy to get attention for the band.

"I've got other things to do," Jourgensen explains. "I just started a label (13th Planet Records), and I want to sign some bands and really build it up like I did with WaxTrax in the '80s, not just a vanity label. I think it's time -- and I'll be leaving on the top of my game instead of hanging on too long and doing crappy Aerosmith and Rolling Stones albums 30 years later."

"The next one's going to be called 'The Last Sucker,' and it's also about this corrupt administration. That seems to be my muse; everyone seems to think I write real shitty music when a Democrat's in office. So we'll do that one, and then me and George Bush go riding off hand-in-hand, into the sunset."

Source:	thegauntlet.com
Band profile:	Ministry

Limited-edition CD/DVD boxsets of Marduk's classic "La Grande Danse Macabre" and "World Funeral" albums are being released by Regain Records in June. The details are as follows:

Marduk "La Grande Danse Macabre" limited edition CD/DVD box-set edition (limited to 3,000 copies). Brand new luxurious limited edition reissue of this black metal classic. Comes packed in a clapbox, including;

* remastered version of "La Grande Danse Macabre" + bonus song digipack CD
* "Live Essen, Germany 2002" DVD
* Alchemy metal pin

DVD:

Live Essen, Germany 2002:

01. On Darkened Wings
02. Panzer Division Marduk
03. Sulphur Souls
04. Funeral B*tch
05. The Black Tormentor of Satan
06. Still Dead
07. Jesus Christ...Sodomized
08. La Grande Danse Macabre
09. Slay the Nazarene

This original factory-pressed box-edition CD/DVD will be released by Swedish label Regain Records mid-June 2006 and will come in mint, brand new and unplayed condition.

"World Funeral" brand new limited-edition CD/DVD box-set edition! Brand new luxurious limited edition reissue of this black metal classic. Comes packed in a clapbox, including;

* "World Funeral" CD
* "Hearse" CD single
* "Live Party San Festival, Germany 2003" DVD

"Hearse" CD-single:

01. Hearse
02. Phantasm

"Live Party San Festival, Germany 2003" DVD:

(No details available at this time)

This original factory-pressed box-edition CD/DVD will be released by Swedish label Regain Records mid-June 2006 and will come in mint, brand new and unplayed condition.

Source:	darksoul7.com
Band profile:	Marduk

Experienced Heavy Metallers Motörhead have annouced the title and release date for their new album. The new album will be called 'Kiss of Death' and will be released on 29th August this year under Sanctuary Records. Cameron Webb, who produced their last album 'Inferno' will also produce Kiss Of Death. So far one track name has been announced: 'Kingdom of the Worm'.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Motörhead

Death/Grindcore band Napalm Death have been working away in the studio producing a new album set for release at the end of this year. The new album will be entitled 'Smear Campaign'. So far a fair bit of stuff has been written, and three track names have been decided on. These tracks are: 'Persona Nongrata', 'Smear Campaign' and 'Call That an Option?'. Vocallist Barney Greenway made the following comment regarding the new album:

"This thing is already sounding totally immense - even better than 'The Code Is Red...', from where I'm standing. It's fast and furious, as you'd expect, but we're also throwing a few curveballs in, in true Napalm Death tradition, can't wait for everyone to hear it."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Napalm Death