REBELLION, the German band that features in its ranks former GRAVE DIGGER members Uwe Lulis (guitar) and Tomi Göttlich (bass), have parted ways with guitarist Björn Eilen. "Unfortunately, Björn to quit the band health problems, and Simone has taken his place," the group write on their web site. A photo of the band's new lineup can be found at http://www.rebellion.st/images/Bandphoto_new1.jpg .

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Source:

blabbermouth.net

Eden Rabin's message:
"My dearest friends, As of today, I decided to leave Orphaned Land, due to personal reasons I do not wish to divulge. The OL members have always been dear friends, and they shall stay my friends for eternity. Who knows?!- Maybe we'll find ourselves on the same stage again one day.It is indeed possible! I can not stress enough the happiness and joy each and every one of you has brought upon my life! I'm always at your service: edenrabin@rightontime.co.il. Don't hesitate to write. And above all: THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU for everything! Yours truly, Eden"

Credits go to MegadethMustain (User)

Source:	orphaned-land.com
Band profile:	Orphaned Land

The new website of the Danish-American act Pyramaze is now launched.
Also, you will find the song "Souls In Pain" from their upcoming album "Legend Of The Bone Carver" in the MP3 section of the website.

Here's a statement about the release dates for the new album:

"We're pleased to announce that our record labels all over the world have decided on a common release schedule for "Legend Of The Bone Carver".

In Japan "King Records" will release the album on 22nd of February 2006. "Melodic Heaven" will release it in the rest of Asia on the same day. In France "Replica Records" will put it out in stores on February 27th, as will "Massacre Records" in the rest of Europe. Since the standard release dates in USA are Tuesdays, "Nightmare Records" will put it out the day after, February 28th 2006.

As you can see from the list above, we've changed labels in certain places. In Japan we're no longer signed to Toshiba/EMI, but have instead inked a deal with King Records. We'd especially like to thank our Japanese publisher, Mr. Koh Sakai at Burrn! Music, for his valuable help in signing with King Records.

In Europe, Replica Records have this time decided only to concentrate on France, thus leaving the rest of Europe for larger distribution / licensing through Massacre Records.

All of this should make it much easier to get hold of Pyramaze albums, no matter where you live. We're really happy about this, and we're looking forward to getting "Legend Of The Bone Carver" out in stores, and hear the feedback from fans and media."

Source:

pyramaze.com

Fan update - October 2005

First of all we would like thank the ones that showed up and supported us on Wave Gotik Treffen, Summer Breeze and Wacken Open Air. We had a great time.

As most of you know by now; we're currently in writing mode. Østen has been writing quite some of the lyrics, and both Anders and Einar are working busily with pre-production of the songs. Right now we are starting to jam on the new material as a complete band in the rehearsal room. We learned with Ashes how fruitful this can turn out; especially considering the vocals. The whole band is shaping the material together during this process, and each member adds a personal touch to his/her lines. Usually new ideas also is born through this process, and to a certain degree we are composing music from scratch this way. This time around we also have a "new" creative force in Svein Terje.

Not doing too many gigs at the moment, as we want to focus on the song writing. One of the few concerts we will do this period is in Norway: We will play the Karmøygeddon Arctic Festival, in Haugesund on November 12 th - together with Tömmermenn (some of us are huge fans of their music) and Evergrey, among others.

We were earlier hoping to do a full US tour during this autumn. Although a couple of offers came up, the right offer to support a headliner that somehow fits our sound didn't come up this time. The reason for this was mainly that a possible US tour would need to take place within a quite short time frame (after the summer festivals, before pre-production of the upcoming album). As US is a new territory to tour for us (Metalfest, LA in 2000 is our only US gig so far) we need to support a bigger band in order to tour the States. Off course no one can control who is touring at a given time, but we're confident that the first proper US tour will happen after the release of next year's album. We know from all the fan mail we have got during the years that a lot of people want us to come to US. Well, soon you will get this opportunity - we hope you'll use it!

Everything goes really well concerning writing the new material. Einar has built a home studio in the basement of his house, and we work there almost every weekend with pre-production of the new songs - using Nuendo. Quite soon we will also have ready a recording room for vocals connected to the studio. Other than that we are e-mailing ideas back and forth to each other and it slowly the songs are developed.

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Source:	tristania.com
Band profile:	Tristania

After some delays caused by some reasons, the new album of the Moscow-based band COMATOSE VIGIL - Not A Gleam Of Hope has finally been issued. This album is the second release of the funeral subdivision of Stygian Crypt productions - Marche Funebre productions. The band's music is majestic funeral doom in the vein of Skepticism and Shape Of Despair but has it's own unique atmosphere. The album was recorded at Moscow Navahohut studio and has the best quality of recording in today's Russian doom scene. You can order this CD through Stygian Crypt mailorder right now and at their distributors soon.

Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band Ensiferum, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, have set "Dragonheads" as the title of their new EP, due in February 2006 via Spinefarm Records. The mini-CD is being recorded at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki and will contain one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers. The group's next full-length release is scheduled to be recorded in the summer of 2006. A European tour is tentatively slated to kick off in March 2006.

ENSIFERUM will also film their New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) 10-year anniversary concert at the Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for an upcoming DVD.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Ensiferum

As posted in the official site:

Hey Callers,

At last, we can proudly present the new line up of Freedom Call!
After months of rehearsals and lots of auditions with many talented guitarplayers and bassplayers, we found with Lars (Guitar) and Armin (Bass) the right guys for the band.
We will start to practise early in december, so that we'll be good prepared for the upcoming tour with Rage in March 06. We also began with songwriting for the next album...
A big thanx to all musicians for their interest and being ready to practise our songs!

Greez & take care
Freedom Call

Band profile:

Freedom Call

Swedish epic/power metallers FALCONER have confirmed the departure of singer Kristoffer Göbel. In a posting on their official web site, the band write, "Well, once again the line up of FALCONER is changing. 'Now again!!' you might say. It does sound a bit unstable to do this every once in a while, I know.

"After realizing that changing vocalist was not that applauded by people nor was the musical change on the last album (isn't it great when people are open minded....) we thought: 'OK, sailing towards the wind is getting boring' (personally I would say a sense of cynicism started to grow), 'Why not sail with it instead in good mood?'

"After changing the new music into more folkish style (and loving the sound of it) Karsten and I thought, 'Why not go the whole way, it would really fit the music.

"So hereby we present you the return of Mathias Blad.

"So we thank Kristoffer for the years in the band. It's been a great time we allways will cherish and we assure you all that this has nothing to do with personal matters. We wish all the best for Kriss in the future.

"This kind of thing is about the worst things you can do to a bandmate if you're all friends but in the end, this is not a sand box, it's a band."

FALCONER's fourth studio album, "Grime Vs. Grandeur", was released in May via Metal Blade Records. The CD features guest performances by Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL) on drums and Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND) on additional lead vocals.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Falconer

Finnish metallers NORTHER have set "Till Death Unites Us" as the title of their new album, due on January 25, 2006 via Spinefarm. According to the label a single, entitled "Scream", will be released two weeks prior to the album.

"Till Death Unites Us" track listing (in no particular order):

01. Scream
02. Throwing My Life Away
03. The End of Our Lives
04. Evil Ladies
05. Drowning
06. Die
07. Everything
08. Alone In the End
09. Norther
10. Omen
11. Fuck You
12. Wasted Years

NORTHER's last release was an EP, entitled "Solution 7". The band's third full-length album, "Death Unlimited", was issued last year through Spinefarm Records.

Source:	blabbermouth.net & spinefarm.fi
Band profile:	Norther

Greek Power Metal act Firewind has finally completed its lineup again. Apollo Papathanasio (Time Requiem, Gardenian, ex-Majestic) replaces former vocalist Chity Somapala who left the band about three weeks ago.

Apollo commented on the band's website:
"Hallo everybody this is Apollo. Since I met Gus in Gothenburg 4 years ago we became good friends and back then we always talked about working together in the future. Now here we are together, taking the Firewind music to a new level. I love Gus' guitar style and it's a pleasure to listen to their music. The guys in Firewind are real magicians and I'm happy that you're letting me be a part of this machinery. STAY METAL!!!!!!!!!!!! CHEERS!!!!"

Regarding the drummer situation, the band posted the following statement:
"Also, for purely logistical reasons we've decided to get a drummer that lives in Greece. We'd like to thank Stian Kristoffersen for his amazing drumming and the great times we had together the past 3 years. So, out goes Stian and in comes the monster drummer Mark Cross (x-Helloween, x-Metalium)!! Although Mark is 50% German and 50% British, he's been living in Greece for many years. This obviously makes rehearsals and preparations happen much easier."

Mark commented:
"Hello boyz and girlz!
Life's a spinning wheel and here I am aside to one of the few remaining great young guitar heros?. The Gus G. Firewindo metal fuckin' machine!
Looking forward to their next album, a tour and Firewind heading your way!
Cheers and greets,
Mark Cross"

The band is currently in pre-production mode with 8 new songs completed. The new album is expected to be recorded in early 2006 and Firewind plan to make their live debut with the new line-up @ Prog Power UK festival on March 25th.

Source:	firewind.gr
Band profile:	Firewind

Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza is reporting that Mortician vocalist/bassist Will Rahmer is likely to spend the next few weeks at a Polish jail while the prosecutors prepare an indictment against him for robbery with a dangerous weapon. The judges from the Polish town of Krosno Odrzanskie (where Rahmer is currently being held) have accepted a proposal from the prosecutors to detain Rahmer for up to three months in accordance with the Polish law.

In addition to the charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon, the prosecutors will likely charge Rahmer for resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.

Rahmer, 36, was arrested by the Polish police after he allegedly assaulted a taxi driver with a knife and stole a taxi cab following the group's performance in the Polish city of Zielona Gora on Sunday (Nov. 13).

Rahmer reportedly called a cab after Mortician's concert in Zielona Gora (which the other Mortician members performed without Rahmer) and requested to be taken to the Berlin airport so that he could fly back to the United States. He allegedly paid the driver 200 euros for the ride, but apparently went berserk when he was unable to reach someone on his mobile phone. Rahmer allegedly proceeded to attempt to gain control of the vehicle, in the process causing a small cut to the cabdriver's neck with his knife. The driver managed to escape and contacted the police. He was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he received two stitches. In the meantime, Will stole the car and drove himself to the Polish/German border crossing in Swiecko, where he allegedly got into a scuffle with the authorities before being detained.

At the time of his arrest, Rahmer was reportedly not carrying any additional cash or a valid passport. He was, however, in possession of at least one knife and a set of knucklers, according to Gazeta Lubuska.

Speaking to the police through a translator, Rahmer apparently offered a very different account of what transpired to the version given by the taxidriver.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Mortician

Listenable Records posted the following message about their new signee:

"Swedish/Uk based orchestral metal band ANGTORIA has as a result of their collaboration with Fortress Music And Artist Management teamed up with Listenable Records and signed a record deal! Formed in July 2004, this female fronted band consist of singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (known from Cradle Of Filth, Therion, Mortiis etc), musician/composer Chris Rehn (Abyssos) and musician/composer Tommy Rehn (Moahni Moahna)."

And Angtoria posted the following message concerning the works on their debut album:

"On saturday, november 19th, Angtoria heads in to the studio to start the recording of their debut album "God Has A Plan For Us All", scheduled to be released in April 2006. The band has chosen the studio and crew at Sidelake Studios in Sundsvall/Sweden to handle the task.

The drums on the album will be handled by very talented new and upcoming young drummer Andreas Brobjer. At only 18 years of age he´s already received numerous awards for his achievments and is getting more and more renowned around the world for his skills. In 2004 he won the "Swedish National Championships In Drumset Soloing", and went back in 2005 to defend his title and won once again!
At only 17 years of age he was asked by acclaimed swedish keyboard wizard Rikard Andersson (Majestic, Time Requiem, Space Odyssey etc) to lay down the drums on the album entitled "The Astral Episode" with his highly technical metal project called Space Odyssey. He is also active in various other bands and projects like for instance prog metal band Platitude.

To help out engineering the drums etc, the band has hired Daniel Bergstrand, responsible for the sound on various albums of many bands throughout the years such as for instance In Flames, Soilwork, Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Strapping Young Lad, Behemoth etc."

Source:

listenable.net & angtoria.com

The band posted the following message concerning the departure of Patrick Schleitzer and his replacement:

"We´re sad to announce the departure of our guitarist and dear friend Patrick.
Patrick has been a part of HSB for more than seven awesome years, he´ll always remain a member of the HSB family and we thank him for the great times we had together - we will always remember the partytrips to Athens, the nude photo shoot in front of the frozen waterfall in Iceland or the soccer match in Brasil, hahahaha!!!
No need to say, that we wish Patrick all the best for his final year on university and the new horizons he´s gonna conquer. Here is a statement from him.
We have respect for his decision and totally understand his reasons. We´re gonna miss you!!!

HSB will play a special farewell-show with Patrick on the 18th of November in Saalfeld (Germany). We´ll also use that night to introduce our new guitarist Alex, but more about him soon! Please come out and help to make this an unforgetable night for Pat!
More info on that night: http://www.klubhaus-saalfeld.de "

Source:	heavenshallburn.com
Band profile:	Heaven Shall Burn

Henriette Bordvik posted the following message on the Sirenia's site, explaining the reasons of her departure:

"Well, hell-o rockers! .. It's a difficult call this one, but it has now come down to me leaving SIRENIA. Seeing how the band is working full-time on the new album - the new record deal and everything - theres a lot coming up, and as im not able to give SIRENIA all the attention they need and sure as hell worthy of at this very moment, we have come to the decision that it is for the best of the future of the band that we part ways.

No hard feelings what so ever, just due to a bit of musical differences and such, I don't think SIRENIA is what really gives me the right spirit to keep going and give it all for the band.

I wish them the best of luck in the future and on the next release(es), and would like to Salute You All for your most deeply appreciated support!!

In Love & Respect,
Henriette Bordvik"

The band is already looking for a sustitute, they "encourage dedicated vocalists to get in contact by mail; contact@sirenia.no

We would especially like to hear from singers from the south-west of Norway."

Source:	sirenia.no
Band profile:	Sirenia

Some 18 years in the making, TunnelVision Brilliance, the debut solo offering from Scott Reeder, will be released by Liquor and Poker Music on Jan. 24, 2006. An MP3 of the albums "The Day Of Neverending" has been posted on the label's MySpace page, www.myspace.com/liquorandpokermusic .

As a member of two legendary underground bands, Reeder has made a considerable impact on heavy music. With The Obsessed a group Rolling Stone praises for "almost single-handedly inventing" doom metal and then as bassist for desert rock pioneers Kyuss (whom All Music Guide dubbed a "heavy metal Velvet Underground the blueprint often copied but never quite replicated by countless underground metal bands"), Reeder helped to lay the groundwork for a revival of organic and heavy yet musical rock championed to this day by both cult and mainstream icons alike.

The 13-track TunnelVision Brilliance is a solo album in the truest sense of the word, with all songs written and performed entirely by Reeder and Reeder alone. In addition, he produced, engineered and mixed the recording mostly in his own studio. It's a much more personal and intimate soundscape than his thunderously heavy past, an inspired (and undeniably psychedelic) trip through the subconscious of one of underground rocks brightest luminaries.

"It's weird, going at it alone this time without a bunch of other guys to mesh with," Reeder admits. "Finally, after 25 years of doing the band thing, I'm getting the chance to put out some songs I've recorded by myself along the way that never quite fit within the frameworks of my band stuff. Throughout my days in Across The River, The Obsessed, Kyuss and Goatsnake, I've been very proud of every recording I've contributed to, but I've never been anywhere near this excited about releasing anything. For me, this is as pure as it gets not a single other person was ever in the room when any of this was recorded, no one to argue with (except myself!), not having to fit into any mold or format. For better or worse, no compromise whatsoever."

Since Kyuss disbanded in 1995, Reeder might be best known for his high-profile auditions with Metallica (he appears in the documentary Some Kind Of Monster) and Tool (he's occasionally joined them onstage to cover a Kyuss tune), but his contributions to the music world have still been notable. He's produced cult favorites both up-and-coming (SUNN 0))), Bluebird) and long established (Orange Goblin, Goatsnake); he's continued to contribute to movie soundtracks (1996's 2 Days In The Valley, for example); and he's kept making and playing music, be it through performing as part of underground icons Unida and Nebula, guesting on the acclaimed 1998 debut by The Earthlings (which also featured Dave Grohl), or gigging with his new band, Butcher. Throughout his sonic journeys, Reeder kept a musical diary of the other side of his personality.

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Band profile:

Kyuss