September 6th 2005 at: 18:48:00 hours

The release of 'the Score - an Epic Journey' has been delayed with one week, the new release date will be the 15th of September.

Source:	epica.nl source: transmissionrecords.nl
Band profile:	Epica

Holland's most deadly Death/Thrash formation Callenish Circle recently finished the recordings of their new (and meanwhile 5th) album.

The new album is titled and it was recorded at aRe U Recordings in Holland under supervision of producer Gail Liebling.

The final mix was done at the well-known Antfarm Studio in Denmark with Tue Madsen (a.o. The Haunted, Illdisposed & Mnemic).

Mastering duties were handled again by Peter Neuber at Mega Wimp Sound in Germany.

Last but not least the complete artwork was created by Danish art talent Mircea Gabriel Eftemie at Cadaverman Media.

Official statement from guitar player Ron on the new album:

'This time we decided to record, mix and master the album on different locations. We recorded the album over here in Holland with our long-time (live) sound-engineer Gail Liebling and the final mix was done in Denmark with Tue Madsen at his Antfarm Studio. Last but not least the mastering was done by Peter Neuber at Mega Wimp Sound and this turned out to be a perfect combination. The sound is absolutely killer ! Gail, who is also responsible for all digital / wacky sounds on 'My Passion // Your Pain', was also involved in the writing process now. Result is that the amount of digital sounds increased, also being more integrated in the music, which turned out great. I think we made a big step forward regarding production and song writing and we're very anxious to hear what the fans and press think of it.

What we think? groovy as hell, catchy as Justin Timberlake and heavy as f*ck !

You'll be surprised, that's for sure !

01. This Day You Regret
02. Ignorant
03. Behind Lines
04. Schwarzes Licht
05. Sweet Cyanide
06. Blind
07. Guess Again
08. Self-Inflicted
09. As You Speak
10. Pitch Black

The album will also be available in a luxury limited edition digi-pack CD / DVD set with different artwork.

Additional track list of the DVD:

· professionally recorded live show (7 songs - 40 minutes) at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
· studio report featuring the recordings in Holland, the mix in Denmark & an exclusive interview with producer Gail Liebling.
· festival report of the band's trip to the Brutal Assault Festival in Czech Republic (2005).
· festival report of the band's trip to the Piorno Rock Festival in Spain (2004).
· motion photo gallery.

The European release for is scheduled on the 14th of November 2005 through Metal Blade Records.

Read more ››

Source:	Callenish Circle
Band profile:	Callenish Circle

29.08
"This is The War" available online!!!
Finally!!! A brand new video-clip "This Is The War" (war mix) is available online! The video promotes VADER's upcoming MCD "The Art Of War", out on the 14th of November through band's new record label Regain Records. The video has been created by Arkadiusz Jurcan and edited at Selani Studio. Both "war" and "studio" versions of the clip will be available on "The Art Of War" in best resolution as extra bonus tracks!
"This Is The War" (war mix) you can download from our video section. Enjoy!

1.09
New layout...
You might have noticed a new layout of www.vader.pl and some small changes in the structure of the site but that's not a new site really. The new, completely refreshed website will come with the next studio album.

1.09
Watch the video online!
From now you can also watch "This Is The War" video-clip online under that link. Just click and enjoy!

Read more ››

Source:	vader.pl
Band profile:	Vader

This is the list of the ucpoming releases of the label:

OUT NOW:
- After All - The Vermin Breed
Fifth album by this famous Belgian Thrash Metal band.

- Vanishing Point - Embrace The Silence
Third album from Australia's Power and Progressive Heroes (hopeful kings ...)

- Death Before Disco - Party Bullet
Innovative, fresh, catchy, rocking, melodic, aggressive and amazing. A great debut.

- In-Quest - The Comatose Quandaries
5th album from the Belgium band. Mindblowing, innovative and fucking heavy. Feat. Michael of Mnemic on guest vocals.

- As We Fight - Black Nails and Bloody Wrists
Amazing full length by this Scandinavian powerhouse! Emotional, passionate, hard and METAL.

- Integrity - Sliver In The Hands Of Time
Cleveland's metallic hardcore legends. 21 tracks of 7"s and rare recordings. 32 page full colour booklet.

- Savage Circus - Dreamland Manor
The brainchild of EX-BLIND GUARDIAN drummer THOMEN STAUCH. A perfect marriage of catchy melodies and straight forward speed-attacks.
September 19, 2005:

- Dyecrest - This Is My World
Finnish Young Metal Gods contest winner Dyecrect are back with their new album in Autumn. "Boy boy boy, these guys know how to write refrains", Rock Hard Germany.

- Angel Crew - One Life One Sentence
2nd album from this all-star formation, with members of BackFire!, Deviate, Length of Time and

- Arkangel! You wanna know why this band is so hyped up??? Listen and weep !

October 24, 2005:
- Persuader - The Hunter
Their debut album "The Hunter" was hailed throughout the underground and Persuader was named "newcomer of the year" by several zines in 2000. The record started making waves, but had only just been released in France when Loud ´n Proud went bankrupt, making the album virtually impossible to find. We are now able to present the legendary first album of the Young Metal Gods contest winners from Sweden, incl. some bonus tracks.

November 21, 2005:
- A Traitor Like Judas - Nightmare Inc.
Germany's young hardcore band. Their Dockyard 1 debut and awaited follow-up to 2004's "Ten Angry Men"; one of the top 5 European hardcore releases of 2004. A modern masterpiece of metal hardcore; Brutally fast, technically brilliant and entirely and wholeheartedly pure kick-ass.

- Dreamland - Future's Calling
This new young Swedish band, discovered and produced by Andy La Roque (King Diamond) and Joacim Cans of Hammerfall fame, is fronted by a young kid called Joacim Lundberg, who has also just become the official new lead singer of DREAM EVIL. Dreamland will deliver their debut of melodic heavy metal with a touch of the eighties - including Joacim Cans on backing vocals.

Read more ››

Source:

Dockyard1

September 2nd, 2005

EUROPEAN CANCELATION
It is with much sadness, and genuine regret, that we, NOVEMBERS DOOM, must announce a cancelation for our upcoming European performances this October. While making our final arrangements for travel, we have encountered many logistic and legal setbacks, including (but not limited to) crossing European borders with the proper paperwork and permits in time to allow us entry to perform the scheduled dates. Other business related issues have come to our attention as well, making this trip difficult, and not as cost effective as originally planned. We felt it was ideal to make the decision now, and work towards a proper tour in 2006, than cancel this trip at the last moment, and disappoint anyone that would come to see us perform. We regret not being able to appear at the ProgPower Festival in the Netherlands on October 1st, The Dutch Day of Doom IV on October 2nd, and the several shows booked in the UK for that week. We strongly apologize to the organizers of these shows, as well to the fans, and we do promise you, we are doing everything in our means to reschedule these dates, and perform in Europe for you in 2006.

Novembers Doom will however complete our obligations to perform at the Day of the Equinox festival in Toronto Canada, on October 14th, 2005.

We appreciate all your understanding, and continued support, and to those who will be disappointed in this, we promise to make it up to you very soon.

NOVEMBERS DOOM

Source:	novembersdoom.com
Band profile:	Novembers Doom

Ivory Tower - It (2005?)

"IT" is an epic-concept album with 17 tracks/spoken parts and 66 minutes music.

The Story:
This story is about a man. One of many. Split in his personality.
Influencing and missing affection within young years supported the building up of anger, hate and maliciousness.
The own indifference and lacking self-responsibility also offered the breeding ground for the evil. Without noticing it his steady behaviour became influenced by arrogance, aggression and egoism.
Friends and acquaintances turn away and in the end his beloved girlfriend leaves him, too. Caught in this cage of evil he slowly becomes aware of his lifetime.
And so he attempts to change himself and make up for the mistakes he´s made. But his enemy is bigger than he thought.
Because the dark side in us cannot be so simply changed... and the dark side has a name..............
.................IT

Source:	ivorytower.de
Band profile:	Ivory Tower

Canadian death metallers Kataklysm have posted the following message on their official website:

"Hello everyone!

As many of you know, the contest for the artwork is done. Kataklysm and our record label Nuclear Blast have looked at every single one (hundreds!) over the last 4 weeks and couldnt really come up with a decision together, so we decided to let you guys decide our next album's artwork!... We brought it down to the last 5 artworks that hit a nerve with us the most.

This is how it will work; NUCLEAR BLAST will have the 5 finalists' designs on their website at www.nuclearblast.de and all you have to do is click on the contest link and vote!!! The voting will run for 1 week and will end on September 9. We will then announce the winner shortly afterwards.

All the runner ups will not leave empty handed, as Kataklysm will give all 5 finalists a pair of guest list passes to any Kataklysm concert, any time any place!!

The winner will have his or her artwork on the next Kataklysm album "In the Arms of Devastation", on merchanside and posters, and will also have the whole line of products which the art will be displayed on. And of course, the good part - the winner will also receive 500$!... You didn't think we would take advantage of anyone did you? Now at least, we know all the artworks sent was from the heart, not for the cash.

So go and vote!

Cheers!"

See the artwork choices and cast your vote at
http://www.nuclearblast.de/katavoting.php

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Kataklysm

We're sorry to announce that due to several reasons beyond our control, we're not able to do the previously announced Arch enemy/Trivium tour in Sep/Oct. We were looking forward to the trip and examined all possible solutions, but at the end of the day we have no option but to cancel our participation. Apologies to the people that got their hopes up as well as to the Arch enemy camp.

Source:	darktranquillity.com
Band profile:	Dark Tranquillity

Legendary Swedish death metallers DISMEMBER have parted ways with bassist Johan Bergebäck. Johan "left band due to lack of the time DISMEMBER requires nowadays," the group write on their web site. "The band is looking for a new bassist, situated in the Stockholm area and those who are interested can send an e-mail to dismemberbooking@hotmail.com with some info about themselves."

As previously reported, DISMEMBER entered Sami Studio in Stockholm last month to begin recording their seventh album. The recording sessions will end later this month, with a planned mid-January 2006 release date through Regain Records. Drummer Fred Estby is once again producing the follow-up to 2004's "Where Ironcrosses Grow". New songtitles include "The God That Never Was", "Feel the Darkness" and "Through the Unbroken Black".

Taken from www.dismember.se

Band profile:

Dismember

Gamma Ray to unleash latest endeavor, Majestic,

October 11, 2005 through Sanctuary Records

Gamma Ray is set to release their latest effort Majestic on October 11, 2005 through Sanctuary Records. The line-up for Majestic includes Kai Hansen (vocals, guitars), Dirk Schlächter (bass), Henjo Richter (guitar, keyboards) and Daniel Zimmerman (drums), who have been together for the last several releases after a number of line-up changes in the early stages of the band's career. Majestic will be the band's first release since 2003's Skeletons in the Closet.

As with previous Gamma Ray releases, Hansen serves as the lead composer, but for this effort both Richter and Zimmerman also contributed tracks, lending a dash of diversity to the signature Gamma Ray sound. The band recorded the album at their own Hansen Studios in Hamburg, with Hansen and Schlächter on the controls. They brought Mika Jussila (Stratovarius, Masterplan, Edguy, among others) aboard to master the album and create a dynamic, well-rounded sound for the finished product.

Majestic Track Listing:
1) My Temple
2) Fight
3) Strange World
4) Hell Is Thy Home
5) Blood Religion
6) Condemned to Hell
7) Spiritual Dictator
8) Majesty
9) How Long
10) Revelation

The band is working on plans for a 2006 North American tour.

Read more ››

Source:	sanctuaryrecords.com
Band profile:	Gamma Ray

What a blast! The Italian Folk Power Metal act Elvenking have been co-headlining this year's Dong-Festival, taking place in Neunkirchen-Vluyn/Western Germany. The place has been totally sold out
and the guys could start a big party with lots of people singing along their songs, diving from stage and headbanging. The Elvenkings have been in excellent shape and party mood, so there is no reason not to look forward for 23rd January, when their new, third album "The Winter Wake" will come out!"

Source:	elvenking.net
Band profile:	Elvenking

Guitarist Allen West has announced his departure from Obituary West's exit from the group comes on the eve of Obituary's U.S. tour with Napalm Death and Allen feels that the fans deserve no surprises when they don't see the band that they were expecting. Allen will concentrate fully on Lowbrow, whose revamped lineup consists of founding members West, Curtis Beeson (Nasty savage) and Richard Hornberger, along with new bassist Jon Fronza. Lowbrow will continue without former members Ben Meyer (Nasty Savage, Acheron) and Richard Bateman (Agent Steel, Nasty Savage).

LOWBROW are currently preparing material for a new recording to follow 2001's "Sex. Violence.Death". More information will be made available soon.

Although Obituary have yet to comment on West's departure, singer John Tardy posted the following message on the band's official message board in response to a fan who complained about West being too "wasted" during the group's appearance at the Hole In The Sky festival in Norway this past weekend (August 28th).

"First, I would like to apologize for Allen and that is all I can do. We (Obituary) did what we could and just could not control Allen that day...he was a mess! You were at the show and could see that we tried our best and Allen was just too drunk to play a good show. You hear stories like this all the time (with all bands) and just like me you have to wonder why someone just can't be professional with what they are doing! We have all the time in the world to party as much as we want after the show and you would think you could show up ready to play and give your fans 100%! In this case Allen failed us! We are not happy and have talked with him about this and I am not sure what we are going to do! He has to make up his mind as to what he wants to do! Once again I can only apologize and and tell you that where the rest of the band gives it 100% everyshow no matter what and one weak link (Allen) can bring all that down! I also realize that his perfomance is a reflection on the whole band and that is what hurts the most when I look at how hard the rest of the band works to be the very best that we can! We can only hope that Allen gets his priorities straight!"

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Obituary

Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett will perform with Flux during a show with the ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET on September 15 in San Francisco, CA at Herbst Theatre. The press release for the concert reads as follows:

"The 50th Anniversary Season begins with an electrifying concert featuring special guest artist, Metallica's Kirk Hammett, performing with Flux Quartet in a World Premiere collaboration: SAS (for string quartet and improvised electric guitar), a work written by the Quartet's experimental violinist Thomas Chiu. "Flux and Kirk are a perfect fit for this innovative and aleatoric composition," says Artistic Director Saul Gropman. "Flux has an 'anything goes' spirit, and Kirk's broad improvisational skills bring this piece together as a magical marriage of two styles." Mr. Hammet previously forayed into experimental territory with his heavy metal band and the San Francisco Symphony, under the baton of Michael Kamen, in April 1999; the result was the release of Metallica: S&M. Also on the Gala Concert program is the St. Lawrence String Quartet, an ensemble the New Yorker hails as "remarkable not simply for the quality of their music making?but for the joy they take in the act of connection." The St. Lawrence performs Quartet Opus 96 in F Major (American Quartet) by Antonin Dvorak and then is joined by the Flux and San Francisco Symphony bassist Stephen Tramontozzi for Last Rounds (for double string quartet and double bass) by Osvaldo Golijov. Flux rounds out the program with a "classical" work, String Quartet by Conlon Nancarrow

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Metallica

In November 2005 Italian Film Score Metal icons RHAPSODY are poised to release their first live album ever ! The recordings will be based on performances made during leg one of MANOWAR's 'Demons, Dragons and Warriors World Tour' where RHAPSODY appeared as the special guests in spring 2005.

This recently completed first leg of the tour was highly acclaimed for its striped down and performance oriented arrangements, which allowed the band to prove that the music is the message. No track list has been released yet but RHAPSODY's record label Magic Circle Music announced the songs played during the shows included old favorites and tracks from their latest release Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret. More to follow.

With their last year's, sixth album "Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II – The Dark Secret“ on Magic Circle Music RHAPSODY continued to pioneer their new style of cinematic metal aptly called Film Score Metal. RHAPSODY has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

Source:	mightyrhapsody.com
Band profile:	Rhapsody

Relapse Records recording artists The Dillinger Escape Plan have been forced to pull out of their remaining Gigantour live dates because of an injury to guitarist Ben Weinman. Weinman severely re-injured his arm Sunday night (having originally injured it several months ago) during the tour's stop in Atlantic City, NJ and was told by a specialist yesterday that he will be unable to perform until further notice.

Weinman commented, "We were enjoying playing every night as part of Gigantour, and to not be able to finish the tour is an enormous disappointment to us."

Gigantour is the traveling hard rock festival founded by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine. Mustaine -- who suffered a nearly career-ending arm injury several years ago -- said, "We really respect and enjoyed The Dillinger Escape Plan -- and will miss them. Meanwhile, I personally hope that Ben has a successful and speedy recovery."

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	The Dillinger Escape Plan