http://www.blind-guardian.com/discography/dvd/ittlg/ittlg_cover.jpg

German power metallers BLIND GUARDIAN have posted the cover artwork for their upcoming live DVD, "Imaginations Through The Looking Glass". The disc, which was recorded primarily at the Blind Guardian Open Air festival in Coburg, Germany last June, will come with a bonus DVD, featuring interview and behind-the-scenes footage as well as additional live material. A June 14 release is expected.

In other news, BLIND GUARDIAN revealed in a posting on their web site that select movie theaters in Germany will be showing the new DVD on the big screen before it hits the stores. Dates are as follows:

Jun. 06 - Stuttgart (Cinemaxx)
Jun. 07 - München (Mathäser Filmpalast)
Jun. 09 - Bochum (UCI Ruhrpark)
Jun. 10 - Düsseldorf (UCI)
Jun. 11 - Hamburg (UCI Mundsburg Center)

"Imaginations Through The Looking Glass" DVD track listing:

DVD 1 - Blind Guardian Open Air (Coburg):

01. War of Wrath
02. Time Stands Still
03. Banish from Sanctuary
04. Nightfall
05. The Script for my Requiem
06. Valhalla
07. A Past and Future Secret
08. Punishment Divine
09. Mordred's Song
10. The Last Candle
11. Bright Eyes
12. Lord of the Rings
13. I'm Alive
14. Another Holy War
15. And then there was Silence
16. Somewhere far Beyond
17. The Bard's Song (in the Forest)
18. Imaginations from the other Side
19. And the Story Ends
20. Mirror Mirror

DVD 2 - Bonus DVD

* Interview with BLIND GUARDIAN
* Backstage Scenes of the "A Night At The Opera Tour 2002"
* The making of "The Blind Guardian Festival Coburg 2003"
* Slideshow

Bonus songs:

01. Into the Storm (Stuttgart 2002)
02. Welcome to Dying (Stuttgart 2002)
03. Lost in the Twilight Hall (Stuttgart 2002)
04. Majesty (Wacken 2002)

The DVD with NOT be region free. There will be separate PAL and NTSC versions with the appropriate region code for each country.

A trailer for the DVD will be released in the near future through the band's official homepage. Neither the format nor the size of this trailer is yet known. Distribution of the trailer will most likely be done using BitTorrent (as was done with the Live CD outtakes).

Read more ››

Band profile:

Blind Guardian

Guitarist Wojtek Lisicki (a.k.a. Transcendental Protagonist) has rejoined Sweden's LOST HORIZON. This was confirmed by the band's promoter, M-Production, in a phone call to Sweden Rock magazine late Monday night (May 10). No further information was given, but according to the promoter, an official statement containing more details will be posted on the band's web site later this week. Wojtek will be on stage with the band when they perform at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 12.

Lisicki originally left LOST HORIZON last July due to "personal reasons." The group's second full-length album, "A Flame to the Ground Beneath", was released in February 2003 through Music For Nations Records.

Band profile:

Lost Horizon

Long-running Canadian thrashers INFERNAL MAJESTY have inked a deal with Greece's Black Lotus Records for the release of their latest album, "One Who Points To Death". Black Lotus Records will have the exclusive distribution rights for Europe, Asia and Oceania while the North American release is being handled by Canada's Galy Records.

"One Who Points to Death" was recorded by Sho at Profile Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and was mastered by Pierre Remillard at Wild Studios in St-Zenon, Quebec, Canada. The 47-minute CD is "packed with old school thrash crunch and modern death metal intensity," according to an official press release.

INFERNAL MAJESTY will be on tour starting June 19 in Victoria B.C. Below is the current itinerary for the tours. City and venue information and exact dates will be added shortly.

Jun. 19 - Jul. 10 - Canadian Tour
Jul. 11 - Aug. 05 - East Coast U.S. Tour
Aug. 08 - Montreal
Aug. 09 - Toronto
Aug. 16-31 - Festivals in France, Belgium, Spain w/ U.K. tour
Sep. 01-30 - European Tour
Oct. 01-15 - Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania
Oct. 17-22 - Canadian Tour
Oct. 23 - Vancouver
Nov 01-15 - West Coast U.S. Tour

Band profile:

Infernäl Mäjesty

Swedish power metallers ISENGARD have announced the addition of keyboardist Peo Lövholm to the group's ranks. "Peo did the first job with ISENGARD during the recording of 'Crownless Majesty'," the group write on their web site. "He was the conductor for the choir we used and with his keyboard skills he is perfect for this job."

ISENGARD are currently writing material for their fourth full-length album, tentatively due later in the year.

GOD AMONG INSECTS, the Swedish "old-school" death metal band featuring vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula (DARK FUNERAL), guitarist Lord K (a.k.a. Kenth Philipson) (THE PROJECT HATE), bassist Tomas Elofsson (SANCTIFICATION) and drummer Tobias Gustafsson (VOMITORY), have set an August 23 Scandinavian release date through ENTOMBED's Threeman Recordings for their debut album, "World Wide Death". Continental Europe and the U.S. will tentatively receive the album in early September.

"World Wide Death" was recorded and mixed at Abyss Studios with engineer Tommy Tägtgren. Audio clips of all nine songs that will be included on the album have been posted online at this location: http://tph.statikmajik.com/gai/disco.php

GOD AMONG INSECTS' only scheduled live appearance will take place at the fifth edition of the 2000 Decibel festival on May 21-22 in Bengtsfors, Sweden (180 km north of Gothenburg).

LACUNA COIL guitarist Cristiano Migliore has revealed to Wichita's F5 that the Italian quintet have written roughly 15 tracks since the release of 2002's "Comalies" and will work on recording a new disc toward the end of this year with a projected release date of early 2005.

With regards to the band's upcoming appearance at this year's Ozzfest, Migliore said, "I grew up listening to OZZY, SLAYER â?" all those bands. So it's interesting that we should be on tour with them. I think this is the best lineup for an Ozzfest yet.

"We're really not going to make money from that tour," the 32-year-old guitarist said. "It's more about promotion. Which is good. Sometimes you only get a few people but the next time, you come back and there are more than you thought there would be."

According to Migliore, LACUNA COIL had no idea that its latest offering, "Comalies", would have the kind of legs that it has had since seeing the light of day in the dimming hours of 2002.

"We knew the record was good," he said. "But we had no idea that it would keep selling the way that it has."

Read more: http://www.f5wichita.com/index.php?pubdate=2004-04-29&story=1529

Band profile:

Lacuna Coil

Polish death metallers Vader, are now back in their studio Radio Gdansk to start the recording of their next full lenght album entitled "The Beast" . The recording of this album is expected to take 1 month. And also, the limited edition of "The Beast" will feature bonus DVD with special studio report, two brand new videoclips, an interview with Peter,and other bonus stuff.

Band profile:

Vader

Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH have set "I" as the title of their new EP, due "around June/July" through Fractured Transmitter Records (the label formed by MUSHROOMHEAD vocalist Jason Mann), according to posting on the band's web site. The group finished mixing the EP on May 4 and are due to master the effort on Monday, May 10.

However, despite reports from the group's record label, Nuclear Blast Records, that the band's next full-length album, "Catch 33", would arrive around November 8, MESHUGGAH are insisting that "all rumors" about release dates for the CD are "bull".

The band, who recently re-signed with Nuclear Blast after their previous contract with the label expired, issued their last album, "Nothing", in 2002.

Upcoming MESHUGGAH tour dates:

Jun. 17 - Hultsfredsfestivalen - Hultsfred, SWE
Jun. 19 - Provinssirock - Seinäjoki, FIN
Jun. 26 - Furyfest - Nantes, FRA
Jul. 02 - Roskilde - Roskilde, DEN
Jul. 16 - Arvikafestivalen - Arvika, SWE
Jul. 31 - Gates of Metal - Hultsfred, SWE

Band profile:

Meshuggah

DREAM THEATER's official web site has uploaded the cover image for the upcoming DVD reissue of the first two DREAM THEATER home videos, "Dream Theater - Images And Words: Live In Tokyo" (1993) and "Dream Theater: 5 Years in a Livetime" (1998). Check it out here: http://www.dreamtheater.net/pics/lit_5yialt_ad.jpg

The DVD reissue is due on June 29 ? one week later than its previously announced June 22 release date. No further information is currently available.

Band profile:

Dream Theater

A brand new MEGADETH song, entitled "Kick the Chair", has been posted at this location: http://www.megadeth.com/ktc/kickthechair.mp3

"Kick the Chair" comes off the group's as-yet-untitled new album, tentatively due in September through Sanctuary Records.

Commented MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine: "This is for the 95% of the people here who are my friends ? the people who, even if they don't agree, they are still decent. This is for the people here who set us apart from the rest of the net, all of the fan sites, chat rooms, and forums.

"This is for you, my fans ? because after this, there will be no more doubt who I am.

"This version of 'Kick The Chair' is a final mix, but is not the 'master' that will be on the new record.

"Please enjoy this and know that I love you all, even the assholes."

The complete track listing for the forthcoming MEGADETH CD is as follows:

01. Blackmail The Universe
02. Shadow Of Death
03. My Kingdom
04. Of Mice And Men
05. Truth Be Told
06. The Scorpion
07. Kick The Chair
08. Something That I'm Not
09. Tears In A Vial
10. Die Dead Enough
11. Back In The Day

Band profile:

Megadeth

Norway's BORKNAGAR have set a June 29 European release date through Century Media Records for their sixth album, "Epic".

The follow-up to 2001's "Empiricism" was recorded and mixed at Toproom and Fagerborg Studios with producer Borge Finstad (MAYHEM, SOLEFALD). "Musically the album will take off and expand from where 'Empiricism' ended, and for those of you who liked our previous material: the new album will rock you by the root!" the band write on their web site.

"Epic" track listing:

01. Future Reminiscence (5:26)
02. Traveller (5:03)
03. Origin (4:58)
04. Sealed Chambers of Electricity (4:12)
05. The Weight of Wind (3:58)
06. Resonance (4:28)
07. Relate (Dialogue)(4:28)
08. Cyclus (5:25)
09. Circled (4:45)
10. Inner Ocean Hypothesis (5:10)
11. Quintessence (5:31)
12. The Wonder (4:16)

Total running time: (57:55)

Band profile:

Borknagar

Read Timo Tolkki statement published on the Stratovarius Official site:

"I have returned home from the hospital and I feel a little better now.

I have had a lot of time to think and analyze the situation that lead to my complete breakdown.

First and foremost I would like to thank Doctor Raili Kauppinen of ward 42 of Mehiläinen Hospital. I don´t think I would be here anymore without her encouraging rational thinking and support.

Secondly I want to thank my wife, daughter and my relatives, and my band for their love and support.

Thirdly I want to thank those legions of Stratovarius fans who sent me their messages of love and support.

I have read each and every one of them and I was truly touched by what you wrote. I have received over 3000 messages. I cannot thank you enough ever for your support.

I finally realized that I have an illness.

I completely lost control of myself. I have never felt more horrible, afraid and helpless in my entire life.

Lying in the hospital, one of the feelings that forced its way to my consciousness was this: I have been taking the wrong path. Memories and feelings filled my mind from the past Stratovarius tours and recording sessions. I became so sad for the loss. And the loss was also connected to my therapy, to my father somehow and to the starting of my studio. All these feelings at the same time almost made me end my life. These things, together with the stressful events of the last few months, were too overwhelming for me.

I felt what many Stratovarius fans must have felt about the turmoil and changes in the band they love. And finally I saw it clearly. Stratovarius is Timo Kotipelto, Jens Johansson, Jörg Michael, Jari Kainulainen and Timo Tolkki. If this line up is not possible, then there cannot be any band called Stratovarius. The current situation is not fair to the fans, and it is not fair to Katriina (Miss K), who by now is very wary of this situation.

From my side I can say that I will use my every strength to do these few last shows, I promise that I will be there, and that I am also up for trying to solve the problems with Timo Kotipelto, if he still is willing to try. I am hoping that with a little work, he will have have compassion, understanding and forgiveness for my behaviour the past year. This will not be easy and it will not be cheap. But if we can´t sit down like men and talk and solve them together, then Elements Part II will be Stratovarius´ final record and after the last show this summer on July 3 Stratovarius will die. That is the most fair thing to everybody, no matter the financial disaster which will be the result for all of us in who are left the band (excepting Katriina who I am planning to release from the contract in this case).

Read more ››

Band profile:

Stratovarius

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