TWILIGHT OPHERA, the Finnish symphonic black/dark metal band who feature in their ranks SOULGRIND second guitarist Toni Näykki and SOULGRIND mastermind Lord Heikkinen, have set a July 13 release date through Crash Music, Inc. for their third album, "The End of Halcyon Age". The follow-up to 1999's "Midnight Horror" (Cacophonous Records) will be issued in Finland through Low Frequency Records.

The complete track listing for "The End of Halcyon Age" (view cover here) is as follows:

01. ChaosWorm
02. Trapped in Husk of A White Crow
03. Bow Before My Dark
04. The End of Halcyon Age
05. Pseudogods (Real Media)
06. Leperthrone
07. Gothic Prelude of Capricious Equanimity
08. Cruciferous Lunacy
09. Paragon of Pregnant Night

British extreme metal pioneers NAPALM DEATH have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records, BLABBERMOUTH.NET can exclusively reveal. The group's first release through the label is expected to be the long-completed collection of covers, entitled "Leaders Not Followers 2".

As previously reported, "Leaders Not Followers 2" will include the following cuts:

01. CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER - "Lowlife"
02. OFFENDERS - "Face Down In The Dirt"
03. DEVASTATION - "Devastation"
04. ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT - "Dope Fiend"
05. AGNOSTIC FRONT - "Blind Justice"
06. WEHRMACHT - "Night Of Pain"
07. ANTI CIMEX - "Game Of The Assholes"/"Victims Of A Bomb Raid"
08. SEPULTURA - "Troops Of Doom"
09. INSANITY - "Fire Death Fate"
10. HIRAX - "Hate Fear + Power"
11. DAYGLO ABORTIONS - "Bedtime Story"
12. HELLHAMMER - "Messiah"
13. KREATOR - "Riot Of Violence"
14. DISCHARGE - "War's Not Fairytale"
15. SIEGE - "Conform"
16. MASSACRE - "Clangor Of War"
17. MASTER - "Master"
18. DIE KREUZEN - "I'm Tired"

An "unmixed" version of NAPALM DEATH's cover of KREATOR's "Riot Of Violence" has been posted online in MP3 format at this location: http://www.enemyofthemusicbusiness.com/mp3/riotofviolence.mp3

Band profile:

Napalm Death

The maniacal Canadians STRAPPING YOUNG LAD have officially re-signed with Century Media Records worldwide and are already hard at work on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed SYL album. The group also just completed their first DVD, which is set for a late summer release. The DVD features a full set from the band's sold-out hometown show at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver recorded earlier this year, plus some hilarious backstage antics and video clips. Expect a new STRAPPING YOUNG LAD studio album to surface early next year, which you know will be well worth the wait.

SYL mastermind Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars) checks in with the following update on the group's current activities,

"Here-de-scoop... the SYL DVD is really quite INSANE looking. Marcus Rogers, who shot the 'Relentless' video, put together the entire thing. It features interviews, a really sick show, crushing audio and cool graphics. This will hopefully be the product that shows more people how fucking bad-ass we actually are as a live force. I wanted to call it 'for those aboot to rock'...but was promptly outvoted. Byron Stroud (bass) is rocking the globe with Fear Factory right now, this is killer for many reasons. He gets to keep doing what he loves with good friends behind a smokin' new record, while affording sir Gene Hoglan and myself the opportunity to fuck each other up with new SYL material as we prepare the new record. You heard it right folks, the mighty SYL have re-signed a deal with longtime partners in crime Century Media Records to make not only the DVD, but also two more full-length discs!!! FUCK YEAH! METAL!!! I personally have had some mighty brainstorms on the Strapping creative front... Black Infinity, Space Metal, Zen, Physics, Spirit, Death, Void, Birth, you name it. The last record, SYL, as cool as it was, can be expanded on now in so many ways. The commitment is there, and where SYL was to be the bludgeoning, classic heavy metal live anthem record, the new material is just FUCKED. More chaos, more loops, more echos, more chaos more chaos more chaos, and it is BEAUTIFUL this time around as well. I've been talking to my old buddy Daniel Bergstrand, who was responsible for the sonics on City, and there's a real good possibility that we will come together for the new material. New songs: Love, Imperial, Jux, Black Infinite, Zen Of Metal. Stay tuned for more SYL than you can shake a comb at."

Band profile:

Strapping Young Lad

SOILWORK, hottest Swedish Melodic Death Metal export beside IN FLAMES, have extended their contract with Nuclear Blast. Soon Björn Strid & Co will delight the fans with a new album in the vein of killer records like "Natural Born Chaos" or "Figure No. 5" - but before that, SOILWORK are going to shoot a video clip for the track 'Departure Plan' and play at some summer open airs, e.g. the With Full Force Festival.

Band profile:

Soilwork

UK-based Black/Death quintet BAL-SAGOTH has nearly finished the writing of the long awaited sixth studio album and will enter the studio soon. The yet untitled record shall be released during the fourth quarter of 2004 through Nuclear Blast.

Furthermore drummer Dave Mackintosh has decided to leave the band to concentrate full time on his other musical projects. BAL-SAGOTH's show at the Wacken Open Air 2004 will be Dave's final concert with the band. A new drummer shall be announced soon.

Band profile:

Bal-Sagoth

Guitarist Jack Owen has quit the band. Cannibal Corpse is currently working with a replacement. All scheduled concerts will still take place. Check back for a more detailed statement in the days to come.

2004-05-03 - Jack Owen
"After 15 years with Cannibal Corpse, I've decided to leave the group. My heart just wasn't in it anymore, and it was reflected in my appearance on stage. Times change, and I just don't enjoy the music as much as I used to, and the only thing keeping me in the band was steady work, and the pay. These things makes it unfair to myself, my band members, and especially the fans. I'd like to thank all the members of Cannibal Corpse, past and present, for sharing in the conquest of an entire genre of music. I wish the band continued success...

I would especially like to thank the fans for being there for 15 years. Without you, I wouldn't have made it this far. Your dedication to death metal is unbelievable.

I am going to continue in music, of course, with Adrift. I'd like to thank them for their patience and understanding, and support of my decision. We will meet again, I'm sure..

Cheers,
Jack Owen

Band profile:

Cannibal Corpse

We are happy to announce about our next release: a unique EP titled DEEDS OF HATE!
This will be a unique piece of Eternal Gray which will be released in 1000 HAND NUMBERED copies only!
DEEDS OF HATE includes 5 NEW tracks, in which only one of them will appear in YOUR GODS, MY ENEMIES - the full length album scheduled to early 2005.
DEEDS OF HATE is the only way you can find those songs!

Recordings went awesome and this time we upgraded to 7 strings guitars, so it sounds much heavier.
The songs are definitely faster and heavier then KINDLESS and the sound is much more sharp and dark.

The exact release date will be published pretty soon, but it is scheduled to somewhere around early of July.

Line up for DEEDS OF HATE:
Roy Hen: Drums
Gil Ben-Ya'akov: Bass Guitar
Dory Bar-Or: Guitars and keyboard

Recorded at "GROOVE" studios Israel
Produced by Dory Bar-Or at Dark D.Vision
Sound engineering: Dory Bar-Or and GROOVE

Pictures from the studio and a promo view of the front cover will be published on the official website soon, so stay tuned!

Band profile:

Eternal Gray

French metallers HEAVENLY have parted ways with guitarist Frédéric Leclercq, bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pelisson and drummer Maxence Pilo. The split, which leaves vocalist Benjamin Sotto and guitarist Charley Corbiaux as the sole remaining members of the group, is being attributed to "musical and professional" differences.

According to a posting on the band's official web site, three new musicians (whose names will be revealed "soon") are already working with the band on the material for their next studio album, which they will record before the end of the year. Several live appearances in the fall are planned as well.

HEAVENLY's third album, "Dust To Dust", was released in January through Sanctuary/Noise Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Sign Of The Winner" was mixed by Sascha Paeth (ANGRA, RHAPSODY, KAMELOT) and was described by the group as "more heavy metal and more symphonic" than the band's previous efforts.

Band profile:

Heavenly

VINDIKATION, the new band featuring former STEEL PROPHET members Jim Williams (guitar) and Karl Rosqvist (drums), vocalist Jason McCrarey (SANCTUS) and keyboardist Rob Rampley (WINDS DIED DOWN), have finished mixing their debut CD, "Chamber of Discontent" for a summer release. The recording contains 10 tracks with a running time of 45 minutes. Mastering for the CD is scheduled for the first week of May at Erik Norlander's studio.

VINDIKATION started in 2002 when Williams and Rosqvist started writing more and more progressive minded metal music. Soon after, Rampley, a co-worker of Jim at Line 6, was asked to lend his experience with industrial keyboards and FX/sampling to the project. After a long search for the right vocal fit, McCrarey was added to the mix, brining his many talents with extreme metal vocals.

VINDIKATION's music is described as "an interesting metal mix of progressive technical music, industrial keyboards, FX/samples, and brutal vocals. There is a very balanced combination of melodic, harmonic and technical aspects to the music."

For more information, visit the band's web site at this location: http://www.vindikation.com/

Canadian thrash pioneers EXCITER have set "New Testament - Coven of Re-Recorded Classics" as the title of their upcoming collection of reworked early songs, due June 7 through France's Osmose Productions. A North American release through The End Records is expected a short time later. The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Oblivion II
02. Violence & Force **
03. Stand Up and Fight *
04. Heavy Metal Maniac *
05. Pounding Metal **
06. Dark Command ++
07. Ritual Death ++
08. Long Live the Loud ***
09. Victims of Sacrifice ***
10. Brutal Warning +++
11. Rising of the Dead *
12. Black Witch *
13. Rain of Terror +
14. I Am the Beast ***
15. Burn at the Stake ++
16. Rule with An Iron Fist +++

* originally appears on "Heavy Metal Maniac" (1983)
** on "Violence and Force" (1984)
*** on "Long Live the Loud" (1985)
+ on "Kill after Kill" (1992)
++ on "The Dark Command" (1997)
+++ on "Blood of Tyrants" (2000)

Lineup on "New Testament - Coven of Re-Recorded Classics":

John Ricci - guitars and bass
Rik Charron - drums
Jacques Bélanger - vocals

In other news, EXCITER have announced the addition of bassist Rob "Clammy" Cohen to the group's ranks. The band are currently writing material for a new full-length CD, which will be recorded within a year's time, according to a posting on their web site. Look for EXCITER to co-headline the Texas June Metalfest at Randy's Ballroom in San Antonio, Texas on June 12. A European tour is tentatively scheduled to take place between October 7 and October 17. Cities and dates will be announced soon.

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CARPATHIAN FOREST bassist Tchort has issued the following via the band's message board:

"Carpathian Forest is in the process of booking a full 30 date European headliner tour in October/November. Expect old as well as new material, including a full Carpathian Fucking Forest stage show with all the shit you love (or hate) about us.

Nekro DVD release this summer, Skjend Hans Lik EP release July 2004."

In regards to a visit to the US he states, "Actually, I think we will, but most likely we will visit the South America's first, but unlike in the past, we will now accept any decent offer of going to the US."

Band profile:

Carpathian Forest

There have been two band changes on the upcoming Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg.

Skid Row out, Y&T in:

We regretfully have to bring you the news that Skid Row has been forced to cancel. The fact that Snake decided to bring his wife to the altar and other arrangement oriented problems, forced the band to call it off, but we have now found a replacement well worth the name. OK, a favourite back by popular demand: Y&T!!

Cage out, Beseech in:

We can now present a replacement for Cage, that unfortunately had to cancel their performance because of arrangement oriented problems.
Replacements will be Swedish Gothic Metallers Beseech.
Observe that this will mean some changes on the Spendrups scene running order during Friday.

GORGOROTH vocalist Gaahl is facing jail time as he is being accused of beating a 41 year old man in what the victim called a ritual attack. Gaahl, 28, faced up to a nine-year sentence for threats and violence, but the prosecution asked for 18 months as the lurid trial headed to a close on Wednesday.

The Aftenposten English Web Desk adds the following to the story:

The victim, who has been on sick leave for the past two years after the alleged attack, accused the black metal singer of performing ritual violence that included tapping off his blood and drinking it, newspaper VG reports. Gaahl's mother testified during the trial and found the accusation of blood drinking particularly hard to believe.

"My son is a vegetarian and very fussy about food. He eats absolutely no innards. That is why I do not believe this at all," Gaahl's mother told the court.

According to the charges the 41-year-old was hit and kicked several times in the face and head and needed stitches to close cuts in his head. His nose was broken and he suffered major dental damage. Gaahl, who has several prior convictions including one for assault and battery, claimed that he acted in self-defense. The defendant was allowed to testify about his private life in a closed session at Sunnfjord court.

The Gorgoroth web site noted that the local community had 'pre-judged' their vocalist, and did not expect a fair trial.

Read more ››

Band profile:

Gorgoroth

A recording of EVERGREY's April 18 performance at Lava Room Recording Studios in Cleveland, Ohio as part of "The Metal Show"'s (92.3 FM WXTM) "Unleashed" live metal series will be available on the Internet for fans to listen to this week. The performance will air in its entirety on Saturday, May 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST exclusively at www.themetalshow.com. There is no charge to listen to the audio streams of this performance.

Band profile:

Evergrey

Polish SOULFLY fan site www.soulfly2004.prv.pl has uploaded an audio recording of the group's entire March 13, 2004 headlining appearance in Katowice, Poland. Download it here: http://www.kuba.sup.pl/kamil/probka.htm

SOULFLY's fourth full-length album, "Prophecy" was released on March 30 through Roadrunner Records. The album was produced by mainman Max Cavalera at The Saltmine Studio Oasis in Mesa, Arizona and was mixed by Terry Date (DEFTONES, PANTERA) at Studio X in Seattle, Washington.