Bassist Paul Barker has left MINISTRY after 18 years with the industrial-metal pioneers, according to MTV.com.

"Last summer Al was extremely enthusiastic about the possibilities of what the band could do, and I wasn't as excited. I thought, 'What are we going to do and what am I going to get out of it?' and I realized that now would be the perfect time to bow out," Barker told MTV.com.

According to Barker, his decision to leave the band was cemented by the death of his father on the final night of MINISTRY's summer European tour.

"When something like that happens, you tend to reassess what the hell you're doing and wonder what it's all about and whether it's ultimately satisfying," Barker said. "I kept thinking, 'What have I learned in the past 18 years?' "

Barker told MTV.com that he plans to produce other groups and write music on his own.

"I wanna make big, ugly, heavy music because that's what I love," he said. "But it's pop music. It has verses and choruses. It's not abstract and experimental."

MINISTRY have hired John Monte (ex-MIND FUNK, M.O.D.) to replace Barker, and they're in the studio in Tornillo, Texas, working on the follow-up to 2003's "Animositisomina", titled "Houses of the Molé". A late spring release through Sanctuary Records is expected.

Band profile:

Ministry

Norway's TRISTANIA will enter Toproom studios in Oslo in April with producer Børge Finstad to begin recording the follow-up to 2001's "World of Glass", tentatively due this fall through Napalm Records.

In other news, the band have announced that they have signed with Continental Concerts for booking and management. All inquiries regarding the band (not fan mail) should from now on be directed to Continental Concerts.

Band profile:

Tristania

From the Official Homepage:

Statement from Timo Tolkki regarding the departure of Anders Johansson:

"He gave me a call and said that he doesn´t want to join the band permanently and that he is happy to be in Hammerfall playing True Metal.

Since I am looking for a permanent member, we agreed in good spirits to go separate ways.

I am very disappointed that he didn´t want to join STRATOVARIUS permanently, but at the same time I wish him and the Hammerfall guys well and best of luck with their career.

I suspect that the decision of Anders has something to do with my reputation. I can understand him very well, I wouldn´t join a band in which I would be playing in.

I have already contacted a Finnish drummer and I hope I can announce his name very soon."

In Metal, Timo Tolkki

Band profile:

Stratovarius

Dream Theater fans, get your "Premium" tickets for "An Evening With Dream Theater - Train of Thought 2004 World Tour" before they go onsale to the public!

Tickets for the following shows will be available at http://www.fanfire.com/artistName=Dream+Theater&sourceCode=DRAWEB beginning on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21ST at 10am PT/1pm ET.

Date Location Venue
Wed Mar 03, 2004 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Fri Mar 05, 2004 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theater
Sat Mar 06, 2004 Los Angeles, CA The Pantages Theater
Thu Mar 18, 2004 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
Fri Mar 19, 2004 Chicago, IL Riveria Theater
Tue Mar 23, 2004 Greensburg (Pittsburgh), PA The Palace Theater
Thu Apr 01, 2004 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
Sat Apr 03, 2004 New York City The Theater at Madison Square Garden

Bronze Presale - for a $10 service fee over
Ticket in rows 16-30
Gold Package - $100 Ticket Package to include
Ticket in rows 6-15
Exclusive Gold Package Dream Theater T-shirt
Collectible Dream Theater laminate
Platinum Package - For $250, Dream Theater fans can live their biggest fantasy with:
Ticket in the first 5 rows
Exclusive Platinum Package Dream Theater T-shirt
A real VIP laminate
Autographed Photo
Meet and Greet with Dream Theater
Photo with Dream Theater!
Note: Packages and seat locations may vary by venue.
Please read the show's ticket description.

For more information please check the Dream Theater Ticket FAQ.

Specific questions about tickets, existing ticket orders, etc. can be sent to tickethelp@fanfire.com.

Issues related to the premium tickets site can be sent to webmaster@fanfire.com.

Read more ››

Source:	dreamtheater.net
Band profile:	Dream Theater

Veteran German power metallers HELLOWEEN have been officially confirmed for the 2004 edition of Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-8, 2004 in Wacken, Germany.

According to an official newsletter from the festival's organizers, next year's event will be a celebration of the festival's 15th anniversary with special performances by "new hits, old hits, reunions, newcomers and top acts."

The list of bands currently scheduled to appear at the festival is as follows:

AFTER FOREVER
AMON AMARTH
ANTHRAX
BAL-SAGOTH
BRAINSTORM
BÖHSE ONKELZ
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CATHEDRAL
CHILDREN OF BODOM
DEATH ANGEL
DEICIDE
DESTRUCTION
DIO
EKTOMORF
GRAVE DIGGER
HELLOWEEN
HYPOCRISY
MAYHEM
MOTÖRHEAD
NEVERMORE
SAXON
SCHANDMAUL
THUNDERSTONE
ZODIAC MINDWARP

More confirmations will be announced soon.

Band profile:

Helloween

OPETH was forced to cancel their Edmonton show yesterday due to their drummer, Martin Lopez, reportedly being sick and still in Sweden. According to someone who spoke to the band (they ended up doing an autograph signing instead), Martin is currently seeing a Psychologist in Sweden after a recent Panic Attack, in which he has recently had problems with. OPETH has found a replacement drummer, and is using the time to rehearse the songs with him. It is also 'unlikely' that the band will play a rescheduled Edmonton show on Thursday, but it is possible. The calgary show may or may not be played tonight, as there's no word on their official site.

Band profile:

Opeth

The following is the press release on the Century Media Records website:

"The Century Family is proud to announce it's joining forces with New Jersey-based label Now Or Never Records. This exciting collaboration will result in the Century Family, and its affiliated imprints, handling the manufacturing, marketing, and retail distribution of current and upcoming Now Or Never releases. This includes highly anticipated releases from DIECAST, DEVILINSIDE and THE POSTMAN SYNDROME.

Now Or Never has made a name for itself as more than just a typical hardcore label, but as a diverse operation showcasing a wide spectrum of aggressive styles, featuring acts like DIECAST, THE DILLENGER ESCAPE PLAN, BRAND NEW SIN, DEVILINSIDE, WORTHLESS UNITED, ALL ELSE FAILED and THE POSTMAN SYNDROME. Its artists have landed impressive tours that include SLAYER, MOTORHEAD, HATEBREED and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, among others, while being backed by a team of dedicated, energetic music lovers with quality distribution to aid in their already imminent impact on the music world. Now Or Never and the Century Family's emphasis continues to focus on building up their artists in a "classic" artist development sense, a valued ethic that has been lacking throughout much of the music industry. It's this ideal that has garnered much success with both labels' diverse rosters and lasting relationships with their bands."

In addition to entering The Billboard 200 chart at No. 145 with their new album, "The Glorious Burden", ICED EARTH have debuted at No. 15 on the German charts, No. 24 in Austria, No. 30 in Finland, No. 80 in France and No. 77 in Switzerland.

ICED EARTH are gearing up for a full-scale North American tour beginning April 18, with support coming from CHILDREN OF BODOM. A European trek with PRIMAL FEAR and THUNDERSTONE will kick off on March 18 in Tilburg, Holland.

Band profile:

Iced Earth

Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS will enter Dub Studio on March 1 with producer Endre Kirkesola (GREEN CARNATION, BLOOD RED THRONE) to begin recording their fourth, as-yet-untitled album. The band expect to spend 8-10 weeks recording the follow-up to 2002's "A New Dimension of Might", tentatively due this summer through Napalm Records.

As previously reported, TRAIL OF TEARS recently recorded a version of DEAD CAN DANCE's "The Arcane" for the upcoming DEAD CAN DANCE double-CD tribute album, "The Lotuseaters". The set, which will be released through Greece's Black Lotus Records, will include additional appearances by such acts as THE GATHERING, ULVER, GREEN CARNATION, SEPTIC FLESH, HELENA IREN MICHAELSEN (IMPERIA, ex-TRAIL OF TEARS) and ANTIMATTER.

Sweden's IN FLAMES have re-signed with Nuclear Blast Records for the North American territory after their previous contract with the label had expired and have set an April 6 North American release date for their new album, "Soundtrack To Your Escape". The album will arrive in Europe one week earlier (March 29).

As previously reported, the follow-up to 2002's "Reroute To Remain" was recorded at a rented house/converted studio in Denmark with producers Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Örjan Örnkloo (ex-MISERY LOVES CO.) and was mixed at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium. Mastering duties were handled at the Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden.

Band profile:

In Flames

ANTHRAX have launched a contest to allow 25 "lucky winners" (each winner gets to bring one guest) to see "metal history get made" on Monday, January 26 as the band record a collection of Joey Belladonna/Neil Turbin-era songs sung by current vocalist John Bush, dubbed "Metallum Maximum Aeturnum". The recording sessions will take place at Avatar Studios in New York City.

Contest Rules:

01. Winners must be in the NYC-Connecticut-Massachusetts-Philly-Jersey area and able to be in NYC on 01/26/04.

02. All winners chosen at random.

03. All winners get to bring one guest with them of their choosing.

04. ANTHRAX reserves the right to accept or deny any admission.

05. Exact time and location will be issued to all winners via e-mail.

06. Send an e-mail to winners@anthrax.com to enter. Put your name and location in the body of the e-mail.

Band profile:

Anthrax

Former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens recently spoke to Cleveland's "The Classic Metal Show" about Rob Halford's decision to announce his homosexuality on MTV the very same day in 1998 that PRIEST were performing their first show with Owens as the singer.

"Well, you've got to remember that was at the time when Rob was doing the TWO thing," Tim explained. "You know, if anyone ever saw the video, would have had to come out and admit he was gay, you know. So I figured that it was something that he had to do for himself. You know, who really cares? Every show that PRIEST did on that tour, there were flyers passed out for the TWO band. It was a publicity thing that he was doing, and I believe that it was the timing even with that, because he could have came out a year before or whatever. I'm glad he did, and I think almost everybody is. Who cares? You know, I might care if it was somebody else, but for some reason it hasn't bothered me ever. He's the ultimate singer and the Metal God. But it was a publicity thing, and everybody does it. It backfired, and so be it." Elaborating further on the interviewer's observation that Halford's announcement came on the same day as Owens' first live appearance with PRIEST, Tim said, "Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he comes out to New York while we're there. He was even in the same hotel we were in. It was an odd thing. Maybe I'm gonna drop a bombshell on PRIEST one of these days, and I'll strategically plan it too! (laughing). I'm going to wait until they're in town and I'm going to stay in the same hotel and then release it, just to see what happens! It probably won't work. (laughing)"

Band profile:

Judas Priest

Some news from Freak Kitchen's website...

"We are currently writing new music for the sixth Freak Kitchen album, which we plan to release sometime during the second half of this year."

IA is working hard on the follow-up to Freak Guitar, also to be released in 2004. Stay tuned for more news.

Band profile:

Freak Kitchen

ATROCITY "Cold Black Days" Videoclip!

After a three days videoshot ATROCITY have finished their work for the new videoclip "Cold Black Days" which will be also the new single of the band (instore march 15th). The story of the clip is based on the new concept of the "Atlantis" album of ATROCITY. In the next days the cut of the music video will be done at MVP studios. ORKUS Magazine and METAL HEART will have special features of the making of the the "Cold Black Days" videoclip.

LEAVES EYES' Good News!

Good news from LEAVES' EYES: Thursday 18.12., in the early morning, only a couple of hours after having recorded the vocals for the last track on the upcoming LEAVES' EYES album "Lovelorn", Liv Kristine gave birth to a healthy son in Ludwigsburg/Germany! This was, for sure, perfect timing! Both Liv and Leon Alexander are doing very well, and daddy Alex is proud of his son, the new "Metal God": obviously, the little one has got a strong voice! LEAVES' EYES are just about to finish the production of the debut album, moreover, a video clip for the upcoming single will be made early February.

Sweden's DARK TRANQUILLITY have posted the following message on their official web site:

"Some good news for those of you having problems getting hold of our earlier releases:

"Both 'The Gallery' (1995) and 'The Mind's I' (1997) will be re-released in special remastered deluxe editions, featuring brand new booklet layouts as well as a massive dose of hard-to-find bonus material.

"During the years, we've been all too aware of the lack of availability of our earlier material in the US, and we've heard from a lot of people about how hard and frustrating it is to have to track down expensive import versions of the older albums in order to get the D.T. collections complete.

"We got so much positive response from old and new fans when Century Media licensed the 'Skydancer' (1993) album for the US territory a couple of years ago, so it feels great to finally have 'The Gallery' and 'The Mind's I' enjoying proper stateside distribution as well.

"The European versions of the deluxe editions will be released by Osmose Productions. More details regarding the exact contents of the CD's and their release dates will be posted in the near future."

Band profile:

Dark Tranquillity