Finnish power metal band Dreamtale just recently announced the sad news about their drummer Petteri Rosenbom decision to leave the band. Now they have chosen Rolf "Rolle" Pilve as their new drummer.
"Rolle really amazed us with his skills and there really wasn't any doubt that he wouldn't be the right guy for us. You can check out Rolle's playing from the website of his other band Sightless" band stated in their official website.

Also they're looking for a new manager for the band:
If you KNOW you're the right person for the job and you're willing to work hard for the band. Contact: rami@dreamtale.net ASAP.

Source:	dreamtale.net
Band profile:	Dreamtale

Bandcontest 2005

Nuclear Blast offers your band the chance to sign a record deal! In an unique contest you can win a contract with the leading Independent label for heavy music. The campaign is the first one of it´s kind in the history of NB.

If you are an fresh sounding Rock or Metal band, you already fulfill all requirements to participate. The duration of the contest is from the 01.08.05 to the 31.12.05. As consolation prizes you can win a download cooperation and a support slot for a Nuclear Blast band.
The contest is presented in collaboration with the following magazines:

Metal Hammer Germany
Metal Hammer Spain
Metal Hammer Italy
Rock Hard France
Inferno (Finland)
Scream (Norway)
Close Up (Sweden)

All you have to do is to send your Demo (with biography and band picture) to this address:

Nuclear Blast
Band Contest 2005
Oeschstraße 40
73072 Donzdorf
Germany

Or send your mp3s (max. 3 songs - also with biography and foto) to this address: bandcontest(at)nuclearblast.de

As posted on the official website:

On September 5th a new EP and a DVD-Special will be released simultaneously, and even though they have the same title ("Superheroes" and "Superheroes - Heroic DVD edition!) they're gonna differ from each other totally.

The CD "Superheroes" will contain 5 brand new songs plus a bonus track. Tobias Sammet says, "One of the tracks is a bombastic uptempo epic that's reminiscent of a mixture of heavy Queen, Richard Wagner & Avantasia. So it was a MUST to ask Michael Kiske to do some guest vocals. To me music is about goose bumps, and I had a lot when listening to Michi! To make it fair we have decided that the CD shall be out in stores for the price of a CD single only! So make sure you persuade your friends that they buy it and don't copy it, maybe quality and value for money could be a promising kind of 'copy-protection'!

The DVD will contain the brand new video-clip "Superheroes", a couple of songs filmed live in Brazil, plenty of "behind the scenes" footage, a slide show, an extensive studio report with interviews and besides the chance to follow Edguy backstage - according to the band "a lot of bullshit and stupid jokes. Our fans will love the fun part of it and I'm sure to them it's a classic. And I am sure Edguy haters will hate us even more and will think we are a bunch of wanna-be-funny-gay-idiots." The DVD will have a running time of approximately 80 minutes and is gonna be available for the price of a DVD single as well! More information coming soon!

Source:	edguy.nu
Band profile:	Edguy

A sample of the song 'Descending Winters' from the new album 'Ghosts Of Loss' is downloadable at their website.

'Ghosts of Loss' will be released 24.8.2005 in Finland, and in September in other countries. At least the first pressing of the album will be a special CD+DVD -version, and the DVD will include a video of the song Descending Winters, two songs (Swallow and Deadly Nightshade) from the gig at Lahti 23.4.2005 and two songs (Through Her Silvery Body and Psychopath's Lair) from Lutakko 17.12.2004.

Source:	swallowthesun.net
Band profile:	Swallow The Sun

The band posted their new video "Maniac Dance" online, as well as pictures from the video shoot.
The video was directed by Antti J. Jokinen in April.

The album "Stratovarius" is still to be released on September 5th, 2005.

Source:	stratovarius.com
Band profile:	Stratovarius

Toronto's Warmachine have parted ways with bassist Andrea Zanini, guitarist Mike Miolla and recently recruited drummer Michael Amaral. "Unfortunately, can no longer afford to play drums for us, but is focusing his time on his band, Endorphins," vocalist/guitarist Joe Di Taranto writes on the group's web site. "I wish him all the luck in the world and intend to continue our friendship for many years to come. Former STAGES guitarist John Salerno has stepped in on guitar and we are currently looking for a new drummer and bassist. I'm looking forward to injecting some much-needed new blood into the band and am excited about what the future has in store."

Source:

blabbermouth.net

Melodic metallers Nocturnal Rites have completed work on the follow up to their last album, New World Messiah (2004). Entitled "Grand Illusion", the band's seventh album was recorded and mixed at Toontrack Studio in Umea, Sweden.

The ten track album features guest appearances from Stefan Elmgren (Hammerfall), Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Henrik Danhage (Evergrey), Kristoffer W. Olivius (Naglfar) and Swedish world champion of cross-country skiing (three times world cup gold), Per Elofsson.

Century Media will release the album on September 19th. The release will include a bonus DVD featuring three videos from New World Messiah, the brand-new 'Fools Never Die' video, a "Making Of Grand Illusion" segment and extra footage from the Demons Of The Opera show.

Grand Illusion will include the following tracklisting: 'Fools Never Die', 'Never Trust', 'Still Alive', 'Something Undefined', 'Our Wasted Days', 'Cuts Like A Knife', 'End Of Our Rope', 'Never Ending', 'One By One', 'Deliverance'.

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Nocturnal Rites

In a studio owned by Joakim Wassberg, one of the guitarists ov the Gods, the band is currently working on the recording of 10 songs. The drums and guitars have already been recorded. And as soon as the bass, played by Zeb Nilsson (Aeon, And Angels Wept) is recorded, the only thing that is left is the vocals and some additional instruments.
The songs wil, most likely, be available to the public, in some way or another, at the end of the summer.

The Equinox ov the Gods are currently looking for gigs and a decent record label.

Source:	equotg.com
Band profile:	The Equinox Ov The Gods

German power metal band Freedom Call has posted following message in their website about line-up change:

Hi everybody out there,

bad news for us all !! Cede will leave Freedom Call. He will do the up coming shows in Trier, Pitea and Chiaramonte.
We, the rest of Freedom Call respect his decision and we wish him all the best for the future.
The band will take their time to find a suitable guitar player.

Daniel

Cede's Statement:

After hundreds of beers, thousands of driven miles for rehearsals and gigs, endless moments of pure fun and great friendship within the band, plus months, days and never ending hours of thinking about my future, I took the decision to leave the Freedom Call camp.

Believe it: for me it was quite a tough thing to come up to Chris, Daniel, Ilker and Nils to tell them that I don't feel like continuing shredding the guitar in Freedom Call anymore. On one hand it was a hard decision cause this line-up was pure Rock n' Roll in my opinion, but on the other hand it was an easy decision cause I know that I couldn't go on like this for me and my future.

So, why do I leave the band? As a lot of you know, I'm living in Switzerland and it takes me an unbelievable amount of time to play in Freedom Call, it just got too much for me, as I think I wanna give at least 100% and not only 90% to play in this band. Of course I still believe that without sweat, tears and engagement you won't get to any point in this business but I just figured out that I don't want to be that much involved in music business anymore. I just wanna concentrate on one professional band and that's by far enough if you're working eight-to-five besides the music-thing. Living in another country, playing in two bands, that is just too much to take for me.

Most important thing was to me, that Freedom Call respects and understands my decision. And I'm glad that they totally do. We still have a great partnership and friendship, we still got a lot of fun together. And that's what I really appreciate! ! !

So, that's all I can say about it at the moment. I want you, the fans, to fucking party on with Freedom Call, and I wish all the best to the guys in finding a new guitar player that will have as much fun in the band as I had with them.

You guys rock, and thank you so much for everything! You made my last 4 years a pure adventure ride :-)

Cheers and see you around!

Cede

20th July 2005

Band profile:

Freedom Call

Epica have been working on a soundtrack inspired by a Dutch movie entitled "Joyride." The soundtrack will be released by Transmission Records on September 8th, under the title, The Score: An Epic Journey.

According to guitarist Mark Jansen, The Score is "Typically Epica, Only without the singing, without the guitars, no bass and no drums..." Mark Jansen, together with Yves Huts and Coen Jansen are responsible for the greater part of the music. The Score is much more than simply Epica without the Gothic rock. The remaining orchestrations have been worked out into the most minute details with strong arrangements. As a result, The Score has become an extremely attractive album which will appeal to a far larger audience than just the rock aficionados. An album that might be regarded as detached from all the earlier Epica work, but also as the next logical step.

"Of course The Score sounds different from the earlier albums, on the other hand it is at the same time unequivocally Epica. For this reason we're obviously releasing it under our own name. We are enormously proud of this album and we do not feel we have to confine ourselves to a certain genre."

"Collaboration is something Epica feels very strongly about. It is just like a colouring picture that you keep on making more beautiful with the whole group. Yves also contributes a lot of music, Coen takes care of the arrangements, subsequently I have some ideas and in this way, a project continues to grow. Into everything we do, we put our hearts and souls. The guitars, singing, bass and drums may be lacking, but with regards to work, this album took nearly as much time as a regular Epica CD."

The influence of composers Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer is very clearly present. The music of this duo ranks as the crème de la crème of what is being composed in the field of incidental music in Hollywood at this moment. Mark Jansen looks upon the duo as a shining example:

"To me, personally, it is an aspiration to reach that same level at some point in the future. They are the absolute top in their discipline and each and every member of Epica thinks of them as shining examples. Our dream therefore is composing the music for a Hollywood film at some point in time. Films such as Gladiator, Braveheart or The Last Samurai are projects to which I would have gladly contributed. Films such as these pre-eminently suitable for our music."

"I would like to write more scores, preferably intertwined with what we are doing with Epica. With The Score, we want to make a name for ourselves. This is who we are and this is what we have to offer. Nothing is impossible and that is why we pattern ourselves on the best composers and strive for the best. In the arrangements on our album Consign to Oblivion you can easily detect to what an extent Epica has been influenced by cinematic orchestrations and soundtrack elements. On The Score we explore these influences."

Source:	Dutch Progressive Rock Page
Band profile:	Epica

Finnish powermetal band Dreamtale are losing their drummer. Petteri has posted following message to all their fans in band's website:

Thank you fans and friends!

After long consideration I have decided to step aside from Dreamtale. It has been great being in the band from the beginning, to get to experience lots of wonderful moments and to play with many good guys. The reason why I have come to this decision, is simply the lack of time and motivation. It isn't fair to the other guys of the band, that I'm not able to give my 100%. The decision was very hard, but in a way I feel relieved. I wish good luck for Dreamtale in the future. I have only good memories for the rest of my life and nothing bad to say about those 6 years.

Huge thanks to Rami, Turkka, Pasi, Mikko, Esa, Jarkko and everybody else who I've played with in Dreamtale. And of course all the fans around the world. Also thanks you to the "make your dreams come true dude" (still makes me laugh).

-Petteri Rosenbom-"

Band profile:

Dreamtale

SOLEFALD have finished recording the first part of their new saga, which is based on Viking mythology and history, entitled "Red for Fire + Black for Death".

"Red for Fire : An Icelandic Odyssey part 1" will be released through Season of Mist, worldwide, before the end of 2005 and will quickly be followed by "Black for Death : An Icelandic Odyssey part 2" in early Spring 2006.

Part 1 features guest appearances by electronica singer Aggie Frost Peterson, on the songs "Sun I Call" and "White Frost Queen", and from Jörmundur Ingi, the ancient supreme Godi of Iceland (an Ásatrú priest), who reads the poem "Lokasenna" (an argument between gods) on the last track of the album. The previously announced guest appearance by Garm of Ulver will be featured on "Black for Death".

SOLEFALD's new effort, a 'true Viking metal album' according to its authors, is produced by Borge Finnstad (MAYHEM, ARCTURUS, etc.).

As SOLEFALD previously stated 'we were experimental when everybody was trying to be as basic as possible. Now that we feel we've said what we had to say in this field, and now that everybody is experimenting one way or another, this is our attempt at being true'. But considering the individuals involved, expect something very unique to say the least !!! And from what we've heard so far during a listening session with a few selected journalists, this album will be a milestone in Scandinavian Metal history!

http://www.season-of-mist.com

Band profile:

Solefald

Tom Gabriel Fischer posted the following message on his blog:

As we approach the final, very intense stretch on the path to completion of this album, there are the Celtic Frost-typical numerous and very vocal ponderings which center around assessments of music and progress, procedure, ideology, song selection, and so on. In many ways, this is as typical and important to the existence of this group as the music itself. And it is crucial in maintaining a fundamental bond to our history.

As we finalize the infrastructure around the album with regard to a variety of industry partners, our management requested that we provide further production demos to facilitate final negotiations and showcase what this project will sound like. But before sending the 20 plus CDs to Berlin, we took time out last night to consecrate every single copy by physically putting them in contact with the original cover of Hellhammer's "Triumph of Death" demo, which Martin preserves at our rehearsal studio.

For this is no less momentous to us all than the release of that demo was almost exactly 22 years ago.

Source:	apollyonsun.blogspot.com
Band profile:	Celtic Frost

The trailer for "Embrace the Storm", the debut album of Stream Of Passion, a new band by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, is available for download from their official site. http://www.streamofpassion.com

The band signed a deal with InsideOut Music and the album is scheduled for release on September 26th, 2005.

More information will follow shortly!

Source:	ayreon.com and streamofpassion.com
Band profile:	Stream Of Passion

BLACK LOTUS RECORDS JOIN FORCES WITH A LEGEND!!!

On July 8th 2005 Eddie Ojeda (guitarist and one of the main forces behind the classic metal band TWISTED SISTER) signed a record deal with BLACK LOTUS RECORDS for two albums. His first solo album, which is set for Autumn 2005 in Europe and for Winter 2006 in the U.S.A. is entitled ?Axes to Axes?!!

One day after the signing and during TWISTED SISTER's headlining at Rockwave festival, Dee Snider also made it official in front of 10.000 SMF maniacs!

?Axes to Axes? will be a real gem to the treasure of heavy metal. Apart from Eddie's electrifying song writing, a number of guests are enriching the album and easily putting it among the top 10 albums of the year: Ronnie James Dio, Dee Snider, Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen), Joe Franco (Twisted Sister, Vinnie Moor, Jack Bruce) Chris McCarvill plus another 2-3 surprise guests!

A classic metal all-star team that will take the scene by storm! Beware of the ?fingers?!!

http://www.eddieojeda.com/

Source:

Black Lotus Records