Multi-talented Swedish musician/producer Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, UNICORN, EDGE OF SANITY, INFESTDEAD, ODYSSEY, PAN-THY-MONIUM) has posted the following message on his discussion forum:

"What's happening???

"It's been a while since I updated you on the current development of the records I am about to make with my friends in NIGHTINGALE, BLOODBATH and SECOND SKY. So here we go.

"I am currently preparing the NIGHTINGALE pre-productions for mix and as soon as my brother finishes his guitar solos and a few synthesizer tracks, we're all set for destruction. Then I will send this to the engineer at Studio Underground and we'll use it to listen and learn from our own (mis)takes or just rock-out to. The material is extremely varied everything from metal (Brother Nouga goes chugga-chugga in 'A Raincheck For My Demise') to the fusion/grunge (!!!) of 'Worlds Apart'. My fave this far is the doom-laden 'Stalingrad' which can take the happiness out of any living creature...There's something for every taste...and since my music taste is the weirdest ever, I love them all!! The cover is in preparation, I have received some promising suggestions from the guy that did the 'Shadowman' and 'Shadowland Serenade' picture from the AA booklet, Mr. Guyla or Hungary fame. Nothing is 100% yet, but I have got a good feeling that he's the man to visualize the lyrics to 'Invisible'.

"With BLOODBATH things are looking cool. We enter the studio Kuling the 4th of May and have booked the place for 14 days. I will not be able to spend too much time there since I am working at the music store most of the times. So will record my parts at home and also lock up Mr. Tägtgren in my own vocal booth to sing on the tracks that I have written. My tracks are pretty standard Swanö-death songs with no bigger surprises, apart from being very good, of course. The titles are 'Stillborn Savior', 'Eaten', 'Brave New Hell' and 'The Ascension'. The album will be called 'Nightmares Made Flesh' and Century Media will release it during the autumn....The drums for SECOND SKY will be record in a little cottage out in the countryside just outside Örebro. I have always dreamt of doing an 'in-house' recording and it feels suitable to do it now when the stakes are higher than ever...This album will not be ready for release until the end of 2005. So there will be more updates on this one in the future."

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN have set a June 14 release date for their new single, entitled "Mein Teil". "Mein Teil" comes off the group's long-awaited follow-up to 2001's "Mutter", tentatively due this summer.

The recording sessions for the new RAMMSTEIN album took place in Spain while additional recordings were made in a session with strings and a choir in Berlin. Production duties on the upcoming CD are being handled by Jacob Hellner, who worked with the group on "Mutter". No further information is currently available.

Band profile:

Rammstein

FOR MY PAIN?, the Finnish "gothic metal" band featuring Tuomas Holopainen (NIGHTWISH) on keyboards, Altti Veteläinen (ex-ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) on bass, Lauri Tuohimaa (EMBRAZE) on guitar, Olli-Pekka Törrö (ex-ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) on guitar, Juha Kylmänen (REFLEXION) on vocals, and Petri Sankala (ex-ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) on drums, have set a June 16 release date through Spinefarm Records for their new single, "Killing Romance". The CD, which was recorded at Tico Tico studio in Kemi, Finland, will contain two brand-new original songs plus an as-yet-undisclosed cover which the band promise "will be quite surprising in many ways."

"Killing Romance" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Killing Romance
02.
03. Too Sad to Live

Read more ››

From the Official Homepage:

"As anounced Angel Dust are already busy with the Songwriting for the new CD. Also nothing will change at the Line Up (Dirk, Assy, Steven) for this time. A new guitarist and a new bass player are employed therefore at the earliest for the recordings. Therefore there will not be any shows probably until then.

At this place still once a lot of thanks to all that supported us until today and believed in us in spite of the whole trouble in the last months (Sorry !!!)"

Band profile:

Angel Dust

TUSKA OPEN AIR METAL FESTIVAL 2004 ROSTER NOW COMPLETE - FIRST VERSION OF RUNNING ORDER ONLINE

The line-up for Tuska 2004 festival taking place in Kaisaniemi Park, Helsinki during the 16.-18.7. is now ready.

The final foreign addition and a reason for celebration for black metal-enthusiasts, is the Dark Funeral -show going off on Friday the 16th.
This legendary Swedish black metal-act has just recently released a live-album and their show will most certainly be exciting, to say the least.

Another addition for Friday is the Finnish folk metal -group Ensiferum, whose new album entitled Iron was just released in Finland and will be
released throughout Europe in May. Ensiferum is currently touring in Europe.

There will be one more, yet to be named french act appearing at Tuska 2004; the winner from the band contest held at the Rotonde-festival at
the end of May.

The first version of the running order for the weekend can now be viewed on our website www.tuska-festival.fi. The programme for the official
Tuska-evening clubs is also ready. The first version of the evening club running order is also up on our website.

Tuska Open Air Metal Festival proudly presents the complete 2004 line-up:

DIO (USA)
In Flames (SWE)
Nightwish
Fear Factory (USA)
Death Angel (USA)
Kotiteollisuus
Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
Suburban Tribe
Sonata Arctica
Soilwork (SWE)
Diablo
Dark Tranquillity (SWE)
Charon
Dark Funeral (SWE)
Dismember (SWE)
Mokoma
Ensiferum
Dew-Scented (GER)
Nasum (SWE)
Impaled Nazarene
Sinergy
Beseech (SWE)
Blake
Chaosbreed
Swallow The Sun
Drive
Trollheim's Grott
Machine Men
Kilpi
Twilightning
Turisas

Time-table is now available in html and pdf format at http://www.tuska-festival.fi (Aikataulu)

Read more ››

GORGOROTH have issued the following update at their official website (www.gorgoroth.org):

"The trial against Gaahl will start on Tuesday 27th of April at 9:00 AM and will take place in Sunnfjord tingrett in Førde (Sal 1).

He is accused of performing satanic rituals and torture lasting for several hours on the "victim". As the local community already have prejudged him, it seems that trial won't be much fair. Gaahl risk a 9 years sentence if he gets condemned. The press are welcome to be there and cover the case..."

In other Gorgoroth news, drummer Kvitrafn has left the band for personal reasons. His replacement is Frost (1349, SATYRICON), who will join the band in the beginning of May when the band start an intensive rehearsal period with main focus on a new recording.

The band also posted the following regarding their recent split with label Nuclear Blast: "Gorgoroth are relieved to inform that their cooperation with the German label Nuclear Blast is now ended. They have already received a good offer from another label, but nothing is signed yet."

Band profile:

Gorgoroth

IN FLAMES bassist Peter Iwers has posted two updates in "Peter's Corner" at www.inflames.com:

April 21, 2004 - Tilburg

Hey! As I write this I´m in Holland,Tilburg to be more precise,awaiting the show. Just finished off another episode of 24, season two, and man this is probably the best series I´ve ever seen, can´t stop watching... While enjoying some old YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, I´m gonna tell you something about the last few days.

The day before yesterday was an off day back in Gothenburg, which was really enjoyable and necessary. I did some shopping and then went back to my house for dinner and relaxation. At midnight we travelled to Hamurg, Germany, for a show at Markthalle, a.k.a. the sweatbox..

Great audience, sold out, which means 1100-1200 people. I felt a bit sorry for them though as the venue didn´t have any air-conditioning what so ever, and it was literally a sauna in there... But, I have to say that this was a wonderful way to continue the European tour, the people were amazing and so into it, and I loved every moment of it, even though I was a living swimming pool....

Waking up in Holland was great, having a massage, a shower and then out to town for lunch, while enjoying the Dutch culture... And as I turn off my computer now I´m on my way to get backstage and change into the outfit that will make me "strong" again...:) see ya Peter

April 22, 2004 - Cologne

Hey again, checking in form Cologne, Germany. Yesterday was amazing as well. People seem to be a bit more mellow in Holland, but over all they seemed to really appreciate us and the other bands, which was cool. Nothing bad against the Dutch people, cause I really like their country, but so far this was the least energetic crowd....

But we had fun as hell as usual, and I am only saying this so that next time u guys wil be even more on the edge:) Woke up at four pm today, finally starting to get into the tour schedule with the late nights and the late mornings too.. Some cities are just not very much to do in and then I really prefer sleeping in rather than just spending my day doing nothing.. Soon show time and I cant wait, tonight is sold out- which is more than 1500 , so it should be great .. talk to u soon. Cheers Peter

Band profile:

In Flames

Kataklysm will start filming live and behind the scenes footage for theire upcoming world tour in support of the new album 'Serenity In fire', the band will compile footage until the summer next year and will also record the making of their next studio album (which will be the band's self titled release). The DVD will also include all the band's video clips and exclusive interviews.

The band has starting collecting and searching for video footage as far back as their debut in the early 90's (anyone who has some killer old Kataklysm home videos please get in touch with management at info@braveconcerts.com)

The DVD will mark Kataklysm's 15th anniversary, so come meet the band in a city near you and show you devils horns to the world!

Kataklysm's "The Test of Time" DVD will be released in late 2005.

Band profile:

Kataklysm

Portugal's MOONSPELL are busy working on new songs at their home studio, according to a posting on their web site. "Even on a very early stage we can feel a strongly EPIC pulse on the newborn songs," the band write. "Also we are in the process of compiling and selecting the materials for the MOONSPELL upcoming DVD which is more a reality than ever. Without release date yet the DVD is shaping up and MOONSPELL is brainstorming with the production team to make this DVD a special, unique and original document of our career and representation in the hearts and minds of people that listen to what we have to say or to silence. News will be posted accordingly but the surprises will be only revealed upon its release."

In other news, MOONSPELL singer Fernando Ribeiro has contributed his vocals to recent recordings from two other Portuguese bands. Fernando is featured in two songs and has helped to arrange many other cuts on the new CD from longtime friends and Lusitanian pride THRAGEDIUM. Entitled "Isolationist", the CD can be freely downloaded from THRAGEDIUM's web site: www.thragedium.cjb.net.

Another band featuring Fernando's vocals is THE TEMPLE, who have just released their long-awaited new album, "Diesel Dog Sound". Fernando sings on "Devil's Lover", one of the many "great" songs that this "incredible" album contains, according to a posting on MOONSPELL's web site. The record will be presented live at Hard Rock Café Lisbon on May 11 and Fernando will be one of the guests performing live with the band. Show starts around 10:00 p.m. More information can be obtained at the group's web site: www.thetemple.com.pt.

Band profile:

Moonspell

Legendary Australian metal band MORTAL SIN will release a DVD of their first show back on the road (March 5, 2004 at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney). The release date is not confirmed, but the disc is expected to be ready by the time the band go on tour in June. The DVD will contain the group's complete set from the March 5 gig, an interview with the band about its history and some rare footage of the recording of their classic 1987 debut, "Mayhemic Destruction", and shows from 1987 through to 1997. "The production is awesome and the band are excited about the way the new songs are shaping up," commented singer Mat Maurer.

Projected DVD track listing:

01. Terminal Reward
02. Voyage of the Disturbed
03. Out of the Darkness (new)
04. My Nightmare (new)
05. H
06. Lebanon
07. Rise or Fall (new)
08. All About You (New)
09. I Am Immortal
10. The Infantry Corps
11. Mayhemic Destruction

MORTAL SIN — Maurer, Wayne Campbell (drums), Andy Eftichiou (bass), Joe Buttigieg (guitar, ex-ADDICTIVE) and Mick Sultana (guitar, ex-ADDICTIVE) — are scheduled to support the DVD release in June and July across Australia. The band are currently writing material for their new album, "Far From Extinction", tentatively due later in the year.

Band profile:

Mortal Sin

SIRENIA, the Norwegian band featuring former TRISTANIA guitarist/vocalist Morten Veland, are the latest band confirmed for this year's Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 19-21, 2004 in Abtsgmünd, Germany.

For more info on this festival, go to our 'Summer festivals' section: http;//www.metalstorm.ee/festivals/

Band profile:

Sirenia

Stockholm, Sweden-based brutal death metallers INSISION have finalized the track listing for their sophomore album, "Revealed and Worshipped", due late summer through Earache/Wicked World Records.

The follow-up to 2002's "Beneath the Folds Of Flesh" was recorded at Soundlab studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Mieszko Talarczyk of NASUM fame.

"Revealed and Worshipped" track listing:

01. No Belief
02. The Foul Smell Of Humans
03. Imminent Vision
04. In the Gallows
05. The Cleansing
06. Revealed and Worshipped
07. The Unrest
08. Grotesque Plague Mass
09. We Did Not Come To Heal
10. Havoc
11. The Ideas Of Revolution

Norwegian black metallers GORGOROTH have parted ways with Nuclear Blast Records, according to a post on their official web site.

"GORGOROTH are relieved to inform that their cooperation with the German label Nuclear Blast is now ended," reads the post. "They have already received a good offer from another label, but nothing is signed yet. Check back later for more news about this matter."

Meanwhile, SMNNews.com is reporting that GORGOROTH's webmaster has revealed via a posting in the forums of Norway's Scream magazine that the band's drummer, Kvitrafn, has quit the band and has been replaced by none other than Frost (SATYRICON, 1349, KEEP OF KALLESIN).

GORGOROTH drew international attention in early February after they were accused of "offending religious feelings" during a concert in Poland. The band were also suspected of breaching the Polish law on protection of animals by displaying the severed and impaled heads of sheep as part of their stage act.

Band profile:

Gorgoroth

Lords Of Metal (www.lordsofmetal.nl) report that TESTAMENT have split with guitarist Steve Smyth. The band are now in search of a replacement to fill in on their upcoming European tour dates.

Word has it that Smyth has left the band to join NEVERMORE permanently. He has been playing with Nevermore in a session/touring guitarist capacity for the last couple of years.

Reports say that guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak (PAINMUSEUM, ex-HALFORD) could be Smyth's replacement in Testament.

More details on this situation as they become available.

Band profile:

Testament

Swedish power metallers ISENGARD have announced the addition of bassist Ted Lundin to the group's ranks. Lundin replaces Janne "Goat" Tillman, who is said to have left the band in January for "family reasons."

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