Elin Overskott former keyboardist (1994-1998) for the Norwegian melodic black metal band DISMAL EUPHONY, died of a heroin overdose early last month. Overskott, whose lifeless body was found on September 6, 2004 in the eastern part of the Norwegian town of Stavanger, had reportedly been "clean" for over two years prior to her death. She was 24 years old.

Some news from Century Media - Shadows Fall, Children of Bodom, The Haunted, Arch Enemy, Lacuna Coil, God Forbid, Diecast:

SHADOWS FALL - www.shadowsfallrocks.com

In its first week of release, the new SHADOWS FALL album, The War Within , SoundScanned an impressive 39,251 copies, debuting at #20 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. The disc also checked in at #1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Independent Labels Chart and #2 on the Nielsen SoundScan Hard Music Chart (behind Chevelle). This is the highest first-week SoundScan and Billboard chart debut of any Century Family artist to date. SHADOWS FALL's first week numbers also surpass those of Atreyu, Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God, a further notable testament of the band's genre status. The group is featured on the cover of Revolver's November issue, which is currently on stands.

This accomplishment comes after almost a decade of relentless touring, four studio albums and an undying work ethic. After touring the world with the likes of Hatebreed, Kittie, Mushroomhead, Children of Bodom and The Dillinger Escape Plan, the band were invited to take part in Ozzfest 2003. They were heralded as the breakout band of the year and consistently sold more records every week than any other sidestage band. This led to being the only band invited for a two-year stint at Japan's Beast Feast, the 4th annual Take Action Tour (alongside Avenged Sevenfold and Poison The Well) and then co-headlining the first annual MTV2 Headbanger's Ball Tour with Killswitch Engage and Lamb of God. Videos for the tracks "Thoughts Without Words," "Destroyer of Senses" and "The Idiot Box" were greatly embraced by U.S. television programs Headbanger's Ball on MTV2 and Uranium on Fuse; two shows where the band appeared as guests several times. All of this exposure enabled SHADOWS FALL to watch both their fanbase and record sales explode. Their previous album, The Art of Balance, went on to SoundScan over 100,000 copies in the U.S. becoming the first album in Century Media history to reach this illustrious milestone.

SHADOWS FALL's stunning new offering was produced once again by Zeuss (Hatebreed) at Planet Z Studios and features 10 tracks of sonic devastation. The first pressing of the disc is limited to 150,000 embossed Digipak copies and is packaged with a bonus DVD, featuring a video for "Stepping Outside the Circle" from The Art of Balance , two live videos, guitar lessons with Matt Bachand and Jon Donais, a drum lesson with Jason Bittner and a Century Media sampler.

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John Oliva's Pain - "Tage Mahal" album
"We are happy to be able to offer you 4 new soundclips from the final mastering of the debut album 'Tage Mahal".
For listening the songs, visit Jon Oliva's webpage:
http://www.jonoliva.net/

Band profile:

Savatage

Silentium has signed a new record deal with Dynamic Arts Records. This deal is for two records and Silentium will hit the studio in the next May.
"We have waited this day to come and are anxious to get to work with DAR", Silentium comments.

http://www.silentivm.com/

Band profile:

Silentium

From the official website of the Norvegian band:
"Kristian (Gundersen) has decided to part ways with Sirenia in order to concentrate on his other projects. We would like to wish him all the best for the future and extend our gratitude for almost 4 years of rock n' roll cooperation. Goth bless you Kris! Currently the band is auditioning new guitarplayers".

http://www.sirenia.no/

Band profile:

Sirenia

Chroma Key: Graveyard Mountain Home
Release date: November 9, 2004
Running Time: 53min 23sec

Tracklist for this album:
01. YYY
02. Give Up
03. White Robe
04. Mother's Radio
05. Graveyard Mountain Home
06. Salvation
07. Before You Started
08. Human Love
09. Come In, Over
10. Pure Laughter
11. Andrew Was Drowning His Stepfather
12. Sad Sad Movie
13. True and Lost
14. Again Today

Produced and Mixed by Kevin Moore
Recorded in Istanbul, Turkey, September 2003 - September 2004

Kevin Moore - vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming
Utku Ünal - drums
Theron Patterson: programming #4 #8 #14, bass guitar
Bige Akdeniz - additional vocals and lyrics #9 and #13
Bob Nekrasov - monologue #8
Erdem Helvacioðlu - additional guitar on #3

http://www.chromakey.com/

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The long awaited new horror video of the song "Under The Boards" is finally online!

(WARNING This video contains explicit gore and violence scenes not suitable for people under age of 18)

The story speaks about a psycho/medical serial killer who comes out at night to stalk his victims and then traps them in his clinic of horror: this video is much more similar to a short movie than to a 'normal' videoclip. We won't reveal too much yet, we're eager to shock your minds... just expect the most bloody, disturbing and sick metal video EVER!

the video can be found at: http://www.stormlord.net/new/video2004.html

www.stormlord.net

BATTLERAGE - "Steel Supremacy" (Highland Records - OMGHL002-2) is finally out and available in stores!

9 tunes of pure & raw heavy metal, including a killer cover from Manilla Road's classic "Necropolis"
Fans of Manowar,Running Wild, Omen, Cirith Ungol, Primal Fear will enjoy this album
JUST TRUE HEAVY METAL!!!

To download samples of the album, please visit Battlerage's official site : www.battlerage.tk

This album can be ordered at www.battlerage.tk , www.gemm.com , www.ebay.com or directly to omg@vtr.net

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UARAL - Sounds Of Pain (Lost Horizon Records - OMGLH001-2)

The wait is finally ending....."Sound Of Pain", the debut album from the agonic-doom-metal project Uaral will be released on october, 31th in digipack version.
That's right, one of the most expected and sought after albums in the doom scene will finally be available, for the joy of everyone who have already converted this album in a cult piece and a pure obsession!!!

Expect more news concerning this release very soon.

Uaral's official site : www.uaral.cl

This album can be pre-ordered at www.gemm.com or directly to omg@vtr.net

Read more ››

Former SKID ROW-vocalist confirmed to play at BANG YOUR HEAD!!! 10th anniversary festival

The band-lineup of next year's installment of BANG YOUR HEAD!!! is gaining shape: former SKID ROW-vocalist Sebastian Bach was confirmed to play at the event set to take place in Germany at the Messegelände of Balingen on the 24th and 25th of June. Bach played this year's BANG YOUR HEAD as well: He was hired as substitute for WHITE LION as the reunion of the latter failed last minute. Bach turned out to the huge surprise act of the festival ans delivered an frenetically acclaimed live set with an high-energy performance of many SKID ROW-classics.

BANG YOUR HEAD!!! 2005 will be the 10th BANG YOUR HEAD!!! in a row and is therefore themed "The Best of ten Years". The celebrate this anniversary, the festival's organizers invited the most popular acts of all former events, among them prominent names like TWISTED SISTER and MOTÖRHEAD. Alongside 22 acts that have rocked the festival's stage before, another well-known very special guest will be invited.

The list of artists set to perform at the BANG YOUR HEAD!!!-festival 2005 at Balingen, Germany, 24th/25th of June:

TWISTED SISTER
MOTÖRHEAD
DIO
SAXON
DORO
SEBASTIAN BACH
GAMMA RAY
NEVERMORE
KROKUS

AXEL RUDI PELL
DESTRUCTION
AMON AMARTH
TANKARD
JAG PANZER
NASTY SAVAGE
VICIOUS RUMORS
DEMON

+ 5 more huce acts
+ 1 very special guest

All further details about the BANG YOUR HEAD!!! may be found at the BYH!!!-homepage at http://www.bang-your-head.de.

Tickets are availaible at ticket-hotline (+49-74 57-9 13 93) and via homepage http://www.bang-your-head.de/ . Prices are 59, - Euro (plus shipping) at presales. Tickets are limited to a number of 20000. By this it the organisators want to ensure that the special and relaxed atmosphere of the event won't suffer.

WISH I HAD AN ANGEL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE TOP IN FINLAND!
Nightwish´s second single from the album ONCE, "Wish I Had An Angel", went straight to #1 on finnish TOP-20 singlechart!
www.ylex.fi
www.nightwish.com

Band profile:

Nightwish

The new EP, entitled "LOST TO APATHY" will be released on November 15 via Century media.

The tracks are the following:
- Lost to apathy
- Derivation TNB
- The endless feed (chaos seed remix)
- Undo control (live)
- Lost to apathy (video clip)
- D.T. screensaver

"This single serves to wet your appetites for the upcoming 7th full length offering, set for worldwide release in the near future".

http://www.darktranquillity.com/

Band profile:

Dark Tranquillity

Mortiis "The Grudge"

Mortiis' album 'The Grudge' comes in 4 formats:

In stores Monday SEPT 20th (UK/Europe) OCT 19th (USA)

First Is a very limited 'plastic edition' CD with amazing alternative cover by reknown french artist Jean Sebastian Rossbach. It comes with a 12 page plastic booklet each page revealing a different image. This version will be available to buy everywhere except Germany. It will be made available in the USA only from the Earache webstore. When they're gone they're gone so get your order in early!!! Second CD version comes with a 16 page paper booklet containing the lyrics. Third A Germany only version. This version comes with 2 bonus tracks, not available on the other versions. The extra tracks are'Decadent And Desperate' (Flickin The Bitch Switch Mix) and 'The Grudge' (Despectus). Fourth The vinyl version. Limited to 1,000 copies, the vinyl version of "The Grudge" will be pressed in 10 different colors on 140 gram vinyl : CLEAR 95, WHITE 75, WHITE/GREY 25, WHITE/GREEN 25, GREEN 122, GREEN/ORANGE 68, ORANGE 21, ORANGE/GREY 13, GRAY 55, BLUE 107, BLUE/WHITE 9, PURPLE 111, BROWNISH 116, BROWN/BLACK 3, BLACK 96, RED 98

Norway´s Mortiis returs in style, now with a full live band to deliver the electro-industrial epic, The Grudge.
Always fantastical, bizarre, ever-changing, The Grudge continues the evolution, but also allows the listener a hint at feelings lurking hidden behind the mask as well.
Recorded at Silverstone Studios in Fredrikstad, Norway. Produced by Mortiis and Vegard Blomberg.

www.mortiis.com

Cult of Luna "Salvation"

The new album is out since the 4 of October 2004.

Coupling mountainous sonic audacity with organic open-hearted honesty, Cult of Luna travese the darkest depths in search of ecstatic highs on Salvation. Here more than ever before, the seismic charges reverberate with chilling precision as hopes are once again lifted only to be extinguished at the last?
Cult of Luna´s lumbering, hulking sound offers up majesty, claustrophobia, escape, futility and celebration in equal doses in one vibrant, emotive set of songs.

www.cultofluna.com

From Earache Records website...

News from RELAPSE RECORDS

Necrophagist: (www.necrophagist.de)

NECROPHAGIST's stunning new album, "Epitaph" is in stores now!

Uniting head-spinning musicianship, incredibly elaborate arrangements and an acute sense of dynamics within composition, NECROPHAGIST have reset the bar for complexity and technique in modern-day death metal. NECROPHAGIST's powerful riffs, mind-blowing sweeps and arpeggios, crisp and crushing percussion and intricately designed songs are at once unequalled and uncompromising.

- "Thunderously metallic" - CHART.

Mastodon "Leviathan"

Relapse Records recording artists MASTODON have completed work on their highly anticipated new album, entitled Leviathan.
The follow up to the band's heralded Remission album, Leviathan was recorded at both Robert Lang Studios (NIRVANA, BAD COMPANY, FOO FIGHTERS) and Litho Studios (DEFTONES, SOUNDGARDEN) in Seattle with producer Matt Bayles. Based in part on Herman Melville's classic novel Moby Dick, MASTODON's Leviathan is slated for an August 31st U.S. release date and a September 13th European release date via Relapse. The final track listing for Leviathan is "Blood & Thunder", "I Am Ahab", "Seabeast", "Iceland", "Iron Tusk", "Megalodon", "Naked Burn", "Aqua Dementia", "Hearts Alive" and "Joseph Merrick".

"Mastodon´s thundering musical muscle, talent and vast sea of ideas triumphantly unite on Leviathan, delivering heavy, organic music that melds exhilarating ambitiousness with a well-honed accessibility. Leviathan´s staggering proportion, unstoppable momentum and anthemic roar wholly underlines Mastodon´s vibrant spirit and majestic, heartfelt delivery."
www.mastodonrocks.com

News from Relapserecords.com

Taken from official website www.megatherion.com

It's been a long time since people could talk to one of the bandmembers on a scheduled chat in public chatroom. Thus, Christofer Johnsson will make a public chat on www.megatherion.com the 9-th of October at 17.00 CET (16.00 GMT - see clock on the page!). If you are using Mozilla, opera, or any kind of a browser that doesn't support java by default, please visit www.sun.com and install Java 2, that will allow you to use the java applet in our chatroom. If you, however, prefer to chat via some IRC program like mIRC for example, download it, and connect to main.megatherion.com, channel name #Therion_Chat. Whatever you decide to use, BE THERE!

Band profile:

Therion

Napalm Death's Barney Greenway (vocals) has sent the following message to the band's fans:

"We are currently in Foel Studios in Mid Wales (the middle of nowhere), which is actually owned by Dave Anderson who was the original bass player for Hawkwind (before Lemmy even), which rocks, of course. Everything is working out really well, and we have tried a few different methods of working here, which have really helped my voice. I am using the microphone as I would live, which helps to really get the full roar going. Guitars are sounding heavy as anything, and as we have given ourselves just about the right time in the studio- as per usual - it helps to keep us on our toes so everything sounds pretty vital. Shane is doing his usual tractor impressions with the bass, which is nice. We're currently at a race to the finish, so everything is starting to shape up properly with the only distraction being the mist that hangs over the valley most mornings...and the sheep! A few titles for you as we chalk 'em off..."Instruments Of Persuasion", "Morale", "Striding Purposefully Backwards", "Climate Controllers", "Sold Short", plus of course the title track "The Code Is Red...Long Live The Code". More later. Cheers."

Napalm Death will be releasing their Century Media Records debut, Leaders Not Followers: Part 2, on October 5th. Fans can expect to see the band late October through November with Cannibal Corpse, Kataklysm, and Goatwhore.

www.centurymedia.com

Band profile:

Napalm Death