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Music For Nations closes its doors
Legendary U.K. record label Music For Nations ? current home of OPETH and ANATHEMA and past home of METALLICA, CRADLE OF FILTH, TESTAMENT and countless other metal bands ? has officially closed its doors. The company's catalog ? which has previously included titles from artists as varied as LOST HORIZON and FRANK ZAPPA ? will be folded into parent company Zomba Records Group (the world's largest independent music group).
Launched in 1983 by Martin Hooker, Music For Nations established itself as a European leader in the rock and metal world, with early signings like METALLICA (who had three gold albums while on MFN), SLAYER and MEGADETH paving the way. As Music For Nations grew, the company expanded its operation to include not just licensed acts from the USA, but its own signings.
Launched in 1983 by Martin Hooker, Music For Nations established itself as a European leader in the rock and metal world, with early signings like METALLICA (who had three gold albums while on MFN), SLAYER and MEGADETH paving the way. As Music For Nations grew, the company expanded its operation to include not just licensed acts from the USA, but its own signings.
Deicide cancel their European tour
After a performance at the Dynamo festival on June 5, the band entered the U.K. but declined to play the London show on June 8 ? opting instead to fly home to Florida, citing their anger and frustration at the transportation and financial arrangements provided by the tour agent. It does not affect any other shows DEICIDE have booked in the USA.
| Band profile: | Deicide |
Massemord break due to arm injury
Due to a car crash Massemord's leader Warmachine has broken his arm and has stopped the recording sessions of the fourth CD. Meanwhile, the third CD will be out on June 28th.
After Forever: Replaces the keyboarder
The keyboarder Lando Van Gils is no longer a member of After Forever.
A new keyboarder is announced, Joost Van Den Broeck (ex- Sun Caged).
A new keyboarder is announced, Joost Van Den Broeck (ex- Sun Caged).
| Band profile: | After Forever |
Fates Warning: New album, drummer leaves
Fates Warning is right now working on a brand new album, and the drummer Mike Zoner is leaving the band directly after the album is recorded.
The album is planed to be released in October through Metal Blade.
The album is planed to be released in October through Metal Blade.
| Band profile: | Fates Warning |
Sun Caged: 2 members quit
Singer André Vuurboom and keyboarder and mastermind Joost Van Der Broek quits Sun Caged and the concert on Sweden Rock Festival is the last ever with those on the band.
Joost has joined After Forever, where he replaces Lando Van Gils on keyboards.
Joost has joined After Forever, where he replaces Lando Van Gils on keyboards.
| Band profile: | Sun Caged |
In Flames - Confirmed To Play With Metallica And Slipknot
In Flames were confirmed to appear on stage with Metallica and Slipknot on June 16th at the Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany!
| Band profile: | In Flames |
Nightwish unstoppable...
NIGHTWISH have sold more than 15,000 copies of their new bombastic album "Once" in Finland after only half a day - enough for the CD to be certified with gold in the band's home country! "Once" is scheduled to be released in the rest of Europe on June 7 through Nuclear Blast Records.
In other news, NIGHTWISH's current single "Nemo" received gold in Finland as well - the song remains on top of the Finish single charts for over three weeks now. Further chart positions Europe-wide are as follows:
Finland - 1
Hungary - 1
Greece - 2
Norway - 4
Germany - 6
Slovenia - 8
Sweden: 15
Switzerland - 16
Austria - 20
Netherlands - 64
France - 64
Read more ››
In other news, NIGHTWISH's current single "Nemo" received gold in Finland as well - the song remains on top of the Finish single charts for over three weeks now. Further chart positions Europe-wide are as follows:
Finland - 1
Hungary - 1
Greece - 2
Norway - 4
Germany - 6
Slovenia - 8
Sweden: 15
Switzerland - 16
Austria - 20
Netherlands - 64
France - 64
Read more ››
| Band profile: | Nightwish |
new single on the way
A new single from power metallers german power metallers, Edguy.. Take your time and read through the original article below, taken from massive label Nuclear Blast's homepage. Tracklisting included..
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Have you ever asked yourself how it might be crashing down on an airplane? And how it would be making love to a stewardess at the same time? Not? Well, then you should go and buy EDGUY's new single "Lavatory Love Machine" to find out more about it! In this "happy" song, taken from the current full length album "Hellfire Club", Tobias Sammet and his crazy bunch sing about this 'splendiferous' happening, packed in a bouquet of fluffily, catchy melodies and loads of fun. If you listen to this song, we guarantee you'll be in good spirits!
EDGUY's longplayer "Hellfire Club" worked out very well in the European charts so far - the album reached high positions in Sweden (# 6), Finland (# 22), Germany (# 26), Hungary (# 35), Austria (# 69) and Switzerland (# 81). Thereby EDGUY also got invited to several TV shows, e.g. the German Mc Donald's Chart Show on PRO 7 where they showed a brilliant performance!
EDGUY commenced as a schoolmate's band in 1992, playing traditional metal. Mainly intended to be a reaction against Grunge music, which was incredibly popular at the time, the fourteen year old friends made their first musical steps covering songs from their favourite bands DEEP PURPLE, KISS, AC/DC and IRON MAIDEN, but soon switched over to do their own thing.
After almost five years, filled with attempts to attract attention of a record company, AFM Records finally gave EDGUY the chance to prove themselves. Between 1997 and 2003, EDGUY released five studio albums, each one an improvement from the predecessor, and parallel to that melioration the band gained more and more fans. Especially the fresh and saucy spirit of EDGUY and their simpatico singer Tobias Sammet - live permanently fooling around - extended the band's popularity very quickly. And within only a few years, EDGUY got known as one of the most entertaining acts on stage.
"Mandrake" in 2001 became the band's "big hit": Brimmed with charming melodies, powerful riffs and great refrains to sing along, the record entered the top 20 in several European charts and led to EDGUY's first big headliner tour which took them to 23 countries on four continents (Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and the USA). The tour lasted more than a year and bestowed EDGUY absolute success all over the world.
Read more ››
-------
Have you ever asked yourself how it might be crashing down on an airplane? And how it would be making love to a stewardess at the same time? Not? Well, then you should go and buy EDGUY's new single "Lavatory Love Machine" to find out more about it! In this "happy" song, taken from the current full length album "Hellfire Club", Tobias Sammet and his crazy bunch sing about this 'splendiferous' happening, packed in a bouquet of fluffily, catchy melodies and loads of fun. If you listen to this song, we guarantee you'll be in good spirits!
EDGUY's longplayer "Hellfire Club" worked out very well in the European charts so far - the album reached high positions in Sweden (# 6), Finland (# 22), Germany (# 26), Hungary (# 35), Austria (# 69) and Switzerland (# 81). Thereby EDGUY also got invited to several TV shows, e.g. the German Mc Donald's Chart Show on PRO 7 where they showed a brilliant performance!
EDGUY commenced as a schoolmate's band in 1992, playing traditional metal. Mainly intended to be a reaction against Grunge music, which was incredibly popular at the time, the fourteen year old friends made their first musical steps covering songs from their favourite bands DEEP PURPLE, KISS, AC/DC and IRON MAIDEN, but soon switched over to do their own thing.
After almost five years, filled with attempts to attract attention of a record company, AFM Records finally gave EDGUY the chance to prove themselves. Between 1997 and 2003, EDGUY released five studio albums, each one an improvement from the predecessor, and parallel to that melioration the band gained more and more fans. Especially the fresh and saucy spirit of EDGUY and their simpatico singer Tobias Sammet - live permanently fooling around - extended the band's popularity very quickly. And within only a few years, EDGUY got known as one of the most entertaining acts on stage.
"Mandrake" in 2001 became the band's "big hit": Brimmed with charming melodies, powerful riffs and great refrains to sing along, the record entered the top 20 in several European charts and led to EDGUY's first big headliner tour which took them to 23 countries on four continents (Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and the USA). The tour lasted more than a year and bestowed EDGUY absolute success all over the world.
Read more ››
| Band profile: | Edguy |
Shape Of Despair - a new album
Finnish doom/death metallers SHAPE OF DESPAIR have set a September 27 release date through Spikefarm Records for their third album, "Illusion's Play". The follow-up to 2001's "Angels Of Distress" was once again recorded at Hellhole studios in Helsinki, Finland. An MP3 clip of the track "Entwined In Misery" can be downloaded at this location: http://shapeofdespair.doom-metal.com/Entwined%20in%20misery_sample.mp3
| Band profile: | Shape Of Despair |
Ayreon - New single announced
From Ayreon web page:
"Due to the huge chart success of Ayreon - The Human Equation, we are happy to announce the next single to be released is an alternative version of 'Day Sixteen: Loser' called 'Loser'. It will be the so-called 'Star One version'. Joost van den Broek (Star One, After Forever) and Arjen Lucassen battle it out in a true-to-form keyboard versus guitar battle, with electric violin by Robert Baba thrown in for good measure. Also Peter Vink (Star One) recorded new bass guitar especially for the single. And Ed Warby added some extra 'zing' to his performance also.
Of course, there will also be some really special bonus tracks to make this single even more worth your while to get! More information to come!
Release dates to be announced."
"Due to the huge chart success of Ayreon - The Human Equation, we are happy to announce the next single to be released is an alternative version of 'Day Sixteen: Loser' called 'Loser'. It will be the so-called 'Star One version'. Joost van den Broek (Star One, After Forever) and Arjen Lucassen battle it out in a true-to-form keyboard versus guitar battle, with electric violin by Robert Baba thrown in for good measure. Also Peter Vink (Star One) recorded new bass guitar especially for the single. And Ed Warby added some extra 'zing' to his performance also.
Of course, there will also be some really special bonus tracks to make this single even more worth your while to get! More information to come!
Release dates to be announced."
| Source: | ayreon.com |
| Band profile: | Ayreon |
BATHORY Mastermind QUORTHON Dead At 39
BATHORY mastermind Tomas "Quorthon" Forsberg was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday, June 7, informed sources have confirmed to BLABBERMOUTH.NET. The 39-year-old son of Black Mark Records owner Börje Forsberg, long considered one of black metal's founders, died of an apparent heart failure. More information as it becomes available.
| Source: | blabbermouth.net |
| Band profile: | Bathory |
Fallen Angels - New demo soon available
Fallen Angels, a melodic death metal band from Sweden, have just finished the recording of their demo in Studiomega (The Crown, Lake Of Tears, Beseech). This demo, named 'Extinction' will soon be available for purchase. The band has also uploaded the track 'Misanthropic Coil' in mp3 on their website www.fallofangels.com. Check it out!!!
AC/DC to have a street named in their honour
CNN.com is reporting that AC/DC could soon stroll down a lane named in their honor, city officials in the southern Australian city of Melbourne have said.
Melbourne City Council is considering renaming Corporation Lane, a narrow downtown alley, AC/DC Lane as a tribute to the band.
"They are probably the most successful Australian band ever and they really do have a connection to Melbourne," said council city services committee chairwoman Kimberly Kitching on Monda.
One of the band's famous video clips, for the song "It's A Long Way to the Top", was filmed on the back of a truck in a Melbourne street.
"I don't think there would be many who wouldn't know that film clip where they are playing on the back of flatbed truck along Swanson Street," Kitching said.
She said the name change proposal came about because Melbourne's rock and roll community was looking for a fitting tribute to the band.
"The area around the lane is full of rock and roll bars and I think it would be a fitting place for the tribute."
Kitching said the naming of the lane would be an alternative to giving the band keys to the city.
"We have recently tightened up our keys to the city program, but in the past we have given them to NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK and DOLLY PARTON."
She said the council would make a decision on the name change within the next month, but it had already received broad community support.
AC/DC already has a street named after it in Madrid, Spain.
Melbourne City Council is considering renaming Corporation Lane, a narrow downtown alley, AC/DC Lane as a tribute to the band.
"They are probably the most successful Australian band ever and they really do have a connection to Melbourne," said council city services committee chairwoman Kimberly Kitching on Monda.
One of the band's famous video clips, for the song "It's A Long Way to the Top", was filmed on the back of a truck in a Melbourne street.
"I don't think there would be many who wouldn't know that film clip where they are playing on the back of flatbed truck along Swanson Street," Kitching said.
She said the name change proposal came about because Melbourne's rock and roll community was looking for a fitting tribute to the band.
"The area around the lane is full of rock and roll bars and I think it would be a fitting place for the tribute."
Kitching said the naming of the lane would be an alternative to giving the band keys to the city.
"We have recently tightened up our keys to the city program, but in the past we have given them to NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK and DOLLY PARTON."
She said the council would make a decision on the name change within the next month, but it had already received broad community support.
AC/DC already has a street named after it in Madrid, Spain.
| Band profile: | AC/DC |
The Haunted - a new MP3 track availlable
A brand-new THE HAUNTED track, entitled "99", has been made available for download in MP3 format at this location: http://www.centurymedia.com/audio/haunted_99.mp3
"99" comes off the Swedish thrashers' as-yet-untitled fourth album, due this fall through Century Media Records.
The follow-up to 2003's "One Kill Wonder" was recorded at Gothenburg's famed Studio Fredman (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY) with co-producers Patrik J. Sten and Fredrik Nordström and mixed at Denmark's Antfarm Studio by Tue Madsen. Other cuts set to appear on the CD include "All Against All", "Who Will Decide" (featuring a guest appearance by SICK OF IT ALL vocalist Lou Koller) and "Burnt To A Shell". THE HAUNTED also have a new addition to the fold, as original vocalist Peter Dolving, who crushed on the group's genre-defining self-titled debut release, returns with a vengeance.
"99" comes off the Swedish thrashers' as-yet-untitled fourth album, due this fall through Century Media Records.
The follow-up to 2003's "One Kill Wonder" was recorded at Gothenburg's famed Studio Fredman (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY) with co-producers Patrik J. Sten and Fredrik Nordström and mixed at Denmark's Antfarm Studio by Tue Madsen. Other cuts set to appear on the CD include "All Against All", "Who Will Decide" (featuring a guest appearance by SICK OF IT ALL vocalist Lou Koller) and "Burnt To A Shell". THE HAUNTED also have a new addition to the fold, as original vocalist Peter Dolving, who crushed on the group's genre-defining self-titled debut release, returns with a vengeance.
| Band profile: | The Haunted |