When the Italian epic metal band Rhapsody first met the legendary actor Christopher Lee in December 2003 during the recording of their current album "Symphony Of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret" no one really knew what could come of this collaboration.

It was only after Lee himself, being a talented singer possessing a rich bass/baritone voice, expressed his "concerns" that he was about to narrate for the album in a role of a wizard king and not sing at all, laid the ground for what was to come next:

The release of the album was critically acclaimed by both fans and media and achieving fantastic chart positions throughout the world - the parties decided to meet again in December 2004 to re-record the album track "The Magic Of The Wizard's Dream", this time as a duet that would feature the rich and expressive singing voice of none other than Mr. Lee with the band Rhapsody.

In many reviews of the album, media and fans had already chosen the song as one of the best ever by the band. So this time producer Joey DeMaio was chosen by the band and Mr. Lee to produce the recording with the help of a Cologne string orchestra and some other guest musicians.

With Mr. Lee's command of over 12 languages it was a pleasure not a problem to record the song in the four different languages English, German, French and Italian. Also a spectacular video was shot in High Definition filmed by noted director Neil Johnson featuring a 40-piece orchestra and a 20-piece choir.

In addition to the four language versions the band also produced two brand new studio tracks, the fast and powerful "Autumn Twilight" and the sweet and traditionally influenced "Lo Specchio D'Argento" that will also appear on this new offering. Single release date: 4.04.2005

Christopher Lee will be joining RHAPSODY live on stage on this year's Earthshaker Fest 2005 in Geiselwind, Germany to perform the new single "The Magic Of The Wizard's Dream"!

Source:	mightyrhapsody.com
Band profile:	Rhapsody

Several news from the website of the band:

The DVD will most likely be mixed by Siggi Bemm (who mixed The Astral Sleep, Clouds, Wildhoney, A Deeper Kind Of Slumber & Skeleton Skeletron) in his own Woodhouse Studios. Johan will once again travel to Krakow in Poland for recording a commentary to the bonus section of the DVD. Johan will also do a lot of the graphic work for the DVD together with Century Media and the production team in Poland.

A few links to mp3's have been added to the Multimedia section. Some bootleg songs (if you don't mind the sound quality) from the show in Budapest this year, for all of you who are curious to hear the guitarplaying of Fredrik Åkesson. Also an unreleased edit version of Divided. Interviews added. Gigography has been updated with another forty shows. Member biographies updated. Link to Tiamat tabs, some correct, some not.

Festival Information...

The festival in Belgium on the 13th of May is called Durbuy Rock, and is in the town Bomal-sur-Ourthe. It's a two-day festival with Tiamat headlining on the 13th, and Napalm Death headlining the day after.
Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig runs over four days, between the 13th and the 16th of May. It's still not known on which day Tiamat will perform. Check their homepage for further details
(http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/).

Source:	churchoftiamat.com
Band profile:	Tiamat

Mystic Prophecy have recruited the former Primal Fear drummer Klaus Sperling to replace Dennis Eckdahl. The band also announce that Symphorce guitarist Markus Pohl, who played the last liveshows beside Gus G., joined the band as a member. Both members are crazy about playing the upcoming shows in April/May with Freedom Call. The whole band is also engaged in writing new songs for the next album which will be released in march 2006.

New line up:

Roberto Dimitri Liapakis - Vocals
Gus G. - Lead Guitar
Klaus Sperling - Drums
Markus Pohl - Guitar
Martin Albrecht - Bass

http://www.mysticprophecy.com/

Band profile:

Mystic Prophecy

You can now listen to Carrionshine (demo version), a pre-production of the song that will appear on Cryptopsy's new album that will be released later this year. It has been recorded by the band at their local in February 2005. Download it by clicking here! ( http://www.cryptopsy.net/lost/mp3s/Cryptopsy_PreProd2005.mp3 ).

http://www.cryptopsy.net/

Band profile:

Cryptopsy

The band reported on their website that "Peter Tägtgren has left the band due to conflicting schedules", and announced the line-up for their upcoming performance at Wacken Open Air, the lineup will be the following:

Mike Åkerfeldt - Vocals
Blakkheim - Guitar
Dan Swanö - Guitar
Jonas Renkse - Bass
Axe - Drums

Source:	bloodbath.biz
Band profile:	Bloodbath

The Italian Progressive Metallers Daedalus has published today their new, completly renewed, website, www.progdaedalus.it

In other news, Daedalus is just about to start the recording of their second album, that will hopefully be out this autumn.

For more news, visit their new website at this address:
www.progdaedalus.it

Read more ››

Band profile:

Daedalus

A sample in Mp3 and M4a format, from the upcoming album "Suspended Animation", were posted in here. The album is expected to come out at 05 April 2005.

Read more ››

Source:

ipecac.com

The VH1 website currently has the new Judas Priest album "Angel of Retribution" available for streaming on their website for those of you who just can't wait until next week.
That's right - the ENTIRE new album is available for you to listen to at VH1.com
Just visit the VH1 website at the following link:
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/judas_priest/873343/album.jhtml

As previously noted, Angel of Retribution will be release on Monday, February 28th in Europe and Tuesday, March 1st in North America.

Band profile:

Judas Priest

The swedish death metal band have posted the following statement on their website:

"To keep things short and anally retentive Ribcamp news are as follows...

New lineup for the band will be:
Rogga - Guitar, vocals
Patrik - Bass
Matte - Drums

As some of you might gather (the ones of you not too retarded that is) this is the same lineup Paganizer had on the last album. However as Paganizer is dead unburied and Ribspreader is very much alive undead the transition was swift, painless and foremost devoid of inane searching for new members that eventually would have been kicked the fuck out anyway.

New material is being churned out right now and plans for a split EP is in the works (so far the songs "Abortion van" and "Hidden ways of the agoraphobe" are nailed down and will soon be recorded)
Any labels interested in cooperation for smaller releases, mainly vinyl or split efforts, are welcome to get in touch aswell."

Source:

listen.to

4-5th of March (Friday, Saturday) - folk/pagan/black/death metal festival in Lithuania, Siauliai

4th of March

Location: Gallery ?Laiptai", Zemaites str. 83
Lounge Bar ?Elitas", Vilniaus str. 237

Price: 00.00

Symposium "The Ancient Balts' Wars and Fights"
Folk Inversion - folk improvisation performed live

Video instaliations

Band D.A.R. (lt) - brutal death

5th of March

Location: Club "Studentu Kampas", P.Visinskio str. 11 (close to the bus and train stations).

Time: 17:45
Price: 10 Lt. (~2,7Euro),.
Beer: 2 Lt. (~0,4 euro)

PRETERNATURAL (lv) - Melodinc death metal
ANDAJA (lt) - Pagan metal
BESTIA (ee) - Epic black metal
DARK DOMINATION (lv) - Black metal art
NAHASH (lt) - Occult black metal
NEGLECTED FIELDS (lv) - Techno death metal

After the festival an afterparty for the whole night.

Location: Lounge bar ELITAS, Vilniaus str. 237
Time: The bar will be opened exactly after the festival and will work all the night.
Price: 00.00
Beer: 2 Lt. (~0,4 euro)

In the afterparty: (metal).

Guests from other towns or countries will not be left freezing outside waiting for the bus or train after festival. Not local people are welcome to the afterparty in the first place.

Official festival wbsite: http://www.gruodas.net

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"The first segments of "The Making of Alien" are online. Each week on every tuesday, Century Media will post exclusive web videos at until ALIEN is released.

1. At Armoury Studio in Vancouver
(online February 7th)
2. Gene Hoglan pounds through 11 tracks at Armoury Studio in only three days
(online February 14th)
3. At Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver, recording bass, guitars and female vocal for "Possessions"
(online February 21st)
4. At the Dev Lab, recording vocals and keys
(online February 28th)
5. The technical secrets of "Alien": Devin talks about effects and samples
(online March 7th)
6. More technical secrets of "Alien": Gene Hoglan talks about drums
(online March 14th)
7. Even more technical secrets of "Alien": Byron Stroud about his bass equipment, Dave Young's keyboard tricks and an insight to Jed Simon's guitar world
(online March 21st)

making of Alien directed by Marcus Rogers, assisted by Joanna Ussner, produced by Cinestir Productions"

http://www.centurymedia.de/syl/

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Source:	strappingyounglad.com
Band profile:	Strapping Young Lad

The musician, that recently parted ways with QOTSA, posted a statement on his project(Mondo Generator) website:

"It's been a long time since I've written to the site and I'm sorry about that. The good news is &.it wasn't because there wasn't anything new to talk about but just the opposite. There is a shit load to talk about! First of all THANKYOU for getting involved with helping Kayla. They found a 10 of 10 match and so she will get a transplant after going through chemo. I've never been one to ask for help, so I appreciate all of you that did. Now lets get to the reason you are on the site&&.music!

In November and December I joined the Mark Lanegan Band for the Bubblegum tour. It was crazy!!!!! I went to Europe to open as Acoustic Tornado and ended up also playing guitar in his band as well, 25 songs in a day! I was reading off of cheat sheets, (thanks for those pages Michael.) It was pretty stressful but in the end it all worked out good and the tour was all good!

I was hoping to get started on the new Mondo Generator album with Ben Perrier and Ben Thomas of the mighty '"Winnebago Deal" but things are postponed because I'm still seeking a co producer, or I may do it myself. Also Cargo Records Germany has released Mondo Generator 3 the EP on vinyl and it is pretty bad ass looking. It is available on the store page and we also have the Nick Oliveri Demolition day / Mondo Generator 3 the EP split CD available as well. Thank you to all the artists involved in the cover contest! The finalist are going to be on the inside gatefold of the EP and the winner is going to be on the 15 song full length vinyl release of Demolition day. It was so hard to just pick one! Sorry for taking so long to release it. I'm headless right now, so until I find a new manager things will be a bit fucked!

Josh came to my house , and gave me the new QOTSA record to trip on. It's good but I can't help but know I could have added what is missing. I did sing a track on the new Turbonegro record .The song is called '"the Final Warning" and it is killer! There is a complete orchestra on this track so it is badass. Turbonegro is one of my favorite bands and it was an honor to be a part of it. Thanks Tom and the rest of the Turbojugend . I might do a project with Casey Chaos called Suicide Pact, we thought it would be good to fuck some shit up together, since that is what we would be doing anyway! , we'll see&&.. Anyways goodbye, talk to you soon!

Read more ››

Source:	mondogenerator.com
Band profile:	Queens Of The Stone Age

The band reported in their website that "is currently in negotiations for a new record deal, as the old one is fulfilled".

The band, in a previous report, asks to help them with the by:Larm-band of the year award nomination, more info on their website.

Source:	sirenia.no
Band profile:	Sirenia

JACOBS DREAM have issued the following band update:

"We are on the verge of releasing our new album, Drama Of The Ages, out on Metal Blade Records on May 2nd.

The album will debut our new singer, Chaz Bond. Aside from Chaz, the band is back to its original members. We have come down a long road and are excited about the new material. We hope the fans will be just as excited.

We are currently trying to get a web site up and running to keep everyone updated. Hopefully this will be together in the next week or two. We are looking forward to touring and playing out as much as we can.

March 4th will bring us to the Alrosa Villa in Columbus Ohio, the site where Dimebag Darrell was killed along with 3 other innocent people and the shooter himself. This concert will be a benefit for the victims of that night. This hit home for us because a lot of our early days were spent playing here. We are looking forward to this and hope to see a lot of metalheads come out and lend support for these families. Effort is being made to make this a 2-day event to include Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th but the 4th is the only sure date so far. Thanks and we hope to see you on the road.

Keep it Metal! Jacobs Dream."

For more info about the Al Rosa Villa Memorial show check out their website www.alrosavilla.com. Jacobs Dream will be appearing with CAPITOL TRAGEDY, SOULLESS and others.

http://www.bravewords.com/

Peaceville started the new year on a sabbatical.

They haven't been near their computers for, ooh weeks. They haven't thought of any hilarious press
releases either.

They have cooked quite a lot of lovely tapas recipes, including an amazing portion of Pan de Catalan
(don't skimp on the fresh garlic!). They've been to a few tea dances, learned to roller skate and watched some world cinema. They've had a lovely time!

In order to continue the fun, they have decided to release a few DVD's.

February sees the release of the long awaited Katatonia box set THE BLACK SESSIONS.

-------------------------------------------------------

Biting at it's heels is the SECOND DVD - SINAMORATA from MY DYING BRIDE. The DVD is RAMMED we say RAMMED with goodies, including:

A 12-song live gig filmed @ Antwerp's HOF TER LO venue in late 2003.

The promotional video for The Prize Of Beauty, plus a brand new promotional video for The Blue Lotus,
directed & conceived by David Palzer - famed for his work with Cradle of Filth. Both tracks are taken from Songs of Darkness, Words Of Light.

Two videos conceived & made by MDB fans, My Hope The Destroyer & My Wine In Silence respectively.

Plus lots of other goodies & back stage footage, making this release a real treat & value for money.

-------------------------------------------------------

AUTOPSY DVD DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE AS SOON AS IS POSSIBLE.

THE GREAT DECEIVER begin a 30 date European tour, please check www.peaceville.com for the full list of dates. If Peaceville can rouse themselves from their Spring reverie they might be back to let you know about all the juicy ALBUM releases & new signings they have planned for the summer & beyond.

Read more ››

Source:

peaceville.co.uk