Finnish metallers SENTENCED will enter the studio next week with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (H.I.M., MOONSPELL, THE 69 EYES) to record their as-yet-untitled new album, tentatively due in April 2005 via Century Media Records. 14 songs have been composed for the effort, the recordings for which are expected to be completed by Christmas.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Sentenced

Dan Swanö is productively back with another band of his, this time it's Nightingale. According to Black Mark records website the album 'Invisible' is out since 25th October 2004. I'm listening to the sample and I sure can hear the familiar sound of Nightingale that I've come to love.

More, on 6th November a releaseparty will be held at Lördagen. See http://nightingale.ultimatemetal.com/news.html for a flyer.

Preview available at Black Mark homepage: http://www.blackmark.net/

As many have surely heard, the label Music For Nations no longer exists. This is an effect of the merger between Zomba, who owned MFN, and BMG. Consequently Lost Horizon has been released from their contract, and they are now free to negotiate with other labels.

In relation to this, vocalist Daniel Heiman and guitarist Fredrik Olsson announce their leave from Lost Horizon in order to pursue other projects. Since they have been pulling in a different direction than the rest of the band for some time, all six agrees that this is the best solution.

The remainder of the band Wojtek Lisicki, who only just returned to Lost Horizon, Christian Nyquist, Attila Publik and Martin Furängen, will continue the magic voyage - back from where they started out in 1998! Work on the third Lost Horizon album is under way, and already more than half of the material has been completed.

If you who read this know that YOU are the coming world-class singer of Lost Horizon, do not hesitate to send a sample of your work (either as mp3 or write to ask for an address).

Lost horizon has already received offers from several labels, and other interested parties are welcome to approach us.

A new era has begun!

And at last - Lost Horizon can savour the luxury of not being stressed!

Source:	oncelosthorizon.com
Band profile:	Lost Horizon

Taken from Blabbermouth.net:

A sequel to the acclaimed Norwegian/Swedish documentary "Cult of Aggression", focusing on the Norwegian black metal pioneers Mayhem, is currently in the works.
"The first documentary about Mayhem, 'Cult of Aggression', was about their history ? mainly about their music, but, of course, if a band has such a bloody history as MAYHEM, you can't that out of the documentary," the film's director, Stefan Rydehed of Strym Productions.
"'Cult of Aggression' was mainly with Manheim and Necro Butcher but had a few parts about Dead when I used a voice-over and some folks who lived in Kråkstad when the band had their rehersal/livingplace there," Rydehed continued.
"The new version of , which will be totally new except Manheim's part, will still focus about the music, events, albums, members and sessionmembers and people who have been involved in the scene. So it will be a pretty huge documentary. Still underground!"
The original "Cult of Aggression" film received its world premiere earlier this year at the Oslo Filmfestival, where it was shown twice. Copies of the film can be ordered from Metallian Videos (available only on VHS) at this location: http://www.geocities.com/metallianvidz/.
More information about "Cult of Aggression" and its sequel can be obtained by writing to Stefan Rydehed at rydehed@hotmail.com.

Read more ››

Source:	roadrun.com
Band profile:	Mayhem

Hello all "Black Haloholics"! We are nearly finished with the album, after many, many weeks and days and hours it is almost complete. The Epica saga will meet destiny and the story will unfold for us all.

This week we are heading to Morrisound Studios in Tampa to finish some vocals and special effects. Mari will appear again as Helena, I will help engineer the sessions along with old Kamelot producers Jim Morris.

I will have the digital camera and video for the sessions.

Khan is still in Germany finishing lead vocals and choirs. He has been in Germany so long the people there think he has relocated to live there.

I am getting ever so excited about touring again!!! ProgPower was just a teaser for us, we will have a new stage, backdrops and more for the new expedition across this planet. We have two exciting bands planned as support and opener. Diverse and very good live bands!

So 2005 is shaping up for a monster year!!

Jens Johansson will appear as special guest soloist on two new songs for "The Black Halo". Jens' unique style fits perfectly into Kamelot's musical approach. The band once again thanks Jens for stepping in and doing a great job on the solos!

Kamelot's new album is ready for the world "The Black Halo"! Due for release in
January/Feb. 2005!

Black Halo World Tour will follow in March/April/May 2005 for Greece, Spain,
France, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Gremany, Japan, Canada,
Mexico and more

Taken form: http://www.kamelot.com/allnews.php
And an e-mail sent to me by The Kamelot Management

Band profile:

Kamelot

Grave Digger has reveiled more information about the forthcoming new album "The Last Supper", due on January 17th 2005.
The tracks will be:

01. Passion
02. The Last Supper
03. Desert Rose
04. Grave in the No Man's Land
05. Hell to Pay
06. Soul Savior
07. Crucified
08. Divided Cross
09. The night before
10. Black Widows
11. Hundred Days
12. Always and Eternally

with an all-in-all running time of 53 minutes. The band itself attests the album to cover "more metal, more passion and more power" than the previous records of GRAVE DIGGER.
On February 11th, Grave Digger will set off for their 25th anniversary tour.

http://www.nuclearblast.de/

Read more ››

Band profile:

Grave Digger

From the band homepage:

"In Flames are at home in Gothenburg, having a well deserved break after all tours and gigs. Björn and Jesper are writing new material in their new studio.
The next confirmed gig will be at Carling Apollo Hammersmith in London (UK) December 27, 2004".

http://www.inflames.com/

Band profile:

In Flames

The webpage of the band was updated with the lyrics and a sample from the new MCD of the band, entitled "Sirenian Shores". You might check them, following this link:

http://www.sirenia.no

Band profile:

Sirenia

Taken from Blabbermouth.net:
"Annihilator mainman Jeff Waters has posted several audio clips backing up his claim that he is the fastest/tightest-picking guitarist in the world. Check out the clips at this location
(http://www.annihilatormetal.com/fastest-guitarist.htm).
Commented Waters: "I was sitting here yesterday thinking of how I could stir up a bit of poop in the good ole USA; we don't get any coverage there, remember, and our 10th studio CD 'All For You' is due out today in the USA on The End Records. So i figured I would make up a silly statement like that (fastest/tightest picking guitarist in the world!), well-hidden in my answers to some fan questions, but knowing, very well, that my two favorite metal web sites would immediately seize that one short sentence and headline it! hehe! They did.
"Now thousands of USA metal kids are all talking about me; most not very nicely, but talking all the same! Funny thing how quick people immediately respond 'no he ain't' and they either haven't heard me before OR have only heard the 'All For You' clip OR have only heard 'Alice'/'Neverland'!
"And by the way, I couldn't care less about who can play fast... all you fans here know that this is the furthest thing from my mind. But I am the fastest, if you factor in tightest picking; they just don't know it so they react aggresively! Pretty interesting human nature. I think I will still run with that statement because it is getting us a lot of talk in the USA right now and, more importantly, I can also back it up!"

Source:	roadrun.com
Band profile:	Annihilator

A message from the official webpage of the band:
"John and his wife Tori welcomed their first child in the world yesterday (Oct. 26). The baby girl, born a week early, has been named Jezebel November Silvera Bush. Congrats and best wishes to John and and their family on the little headbanger! AND JOHN TAKE NOTE: You can never have enough bibs and burp clothes :0)"

http://anthraxtheband.com/nfws.htm

Band profile:

Anthrax

Official homepage has news on the upcoming rerelease of the Ayreon's 'Actual Fantasy' album.

By now most of you know that a trailer is the ultimate way for fans to get a first glimpse at what's has been happening behind the scenes of a new release.

And as far as we are all concerned, Actual Fantasy: Revisited in a way is indeed a new album. Arjen is very proud of the results of the 5.1 mix he just finished and can't wait for fans to hear his music coming from all corners of a room: the way music should be heard!

The album will feature both a CD and a bonus DVD. The CD contains the 2004 recording. And the DVD will feature the 5.1 mix of this recording as well as the original 1996 version of Actual Fantasy. There is also a featurette on the 2004 recording process. The album is due out by the end of this year.

www.ayreon.com
www.arjenlucassen.com/news/news.php?news_id=140

Band profile:

Ayreon

John Peel, the legendary BBC Radio 1 broadcaster, died while on vacation in Peru at the age of 65 according to BBC news.
Peel was instrumental in promoting new and cutting-edge music throughout England and the rest of the world, putting (then) underground bands like the Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Pink Floyd & Carcass in the spotlight. Most recently, Peel penned the introduction to the book Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore by Albert Mudrian in which Peel writes with great enthusiasm of when he first discovered Napalm Death.
Peel was always one to challenge corporate music and promote the underground. He will be missed by many.

Full story here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3955289.stm

Nile have hired George Kollias of Nightfall/Sickening Horror notoriety as the New Nile Drummer.
"We would like to thank everyone that auditioned, sent videos and demos , and emailed us concerning the available position. We appreciate all of you. We would also like to thank Derek Roddy for his recomendation of George , as well many thanks to Pete Hammoura for being so helpful in so many ways.
Sincere thanks also to the many people who have expressed their support and encouragement recently".

Source:	nile-catacombs.net
Band profile:	Nile

From the band website:
"Recently we asked the fans to post their questions for Nick Holmes regarding the new album on our forums. We selected a lot of these questions to be answered, and here they are! We hope you enjoy the article!"

For reading the questions and their answers, follow this link:
http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/whats_new_news_english_details.asp?id=253

Band profile:

Paradise Lost

"Norwegian black metallers Satyricon will be auditioning drummers in Los Angeles the last week of November (possibly Nov. 24-25) to join them on tour in North America during the coming months.
The never-ending saga of Satyricon drummer Frost's inability to enter the U.S. due to heightened homeland security has forced the frontman Satyr to seek a temporary touring replacement. The band will still be utilizing the services of Slipknot's Joey Jordison on their upcoming headlining U.S. trek, which is scheduled to kick off December 2 in San Francisco, CA.

All drummers interested in auditioning for Satyricon should contact Hamps Koulayan at the group's record label, EatUrMusic: hamps@eaturmusic.com".

Source:	roadrun.com
Band profile:	Satyricon