Hello everyone!

As you can see in the tour section, we're now in the process of the scheduling of the next world tour. At the moment only the Latin American shows are booked and have a date. This part of the world is the only one were we will tour as a headline act though. We are at this moment looking what options there are for us to go together with other bands in Europe and USA/Canada. In Europe we could tour headline like the last two times, but we feel like we want to get on to something bigger. It's great to play only in front of our own fans, but it is also cool to have a bit of a challange and play in front of crowds that only partly consist of people that know our albums. We're looking for some cool band that plays music we like and a band that we respect. At the moment we have a suggestion that I perticulary like and hope is going to happen. If we can get that to happen it would be a total killer package for you guys in Europe - I'll be telling you as soon as we know (if it happens and then of course with which band it is, it's still a secret).

In USA/Canada will still have some way to go before it would be a successful idea to play headline, so as this will be our first time over there we simply have to do the same work, as we once did in Europe many years ago and open up for other bigger bands. This is something we look forward a lot to though. Therion is a band that never had anything for free and the success we have always tastes better if we know that we have earned it by hard work and that we are a band that really deserves it.

We also have a new drummer that's gonna do the touring with us. His name is Petter and he's a pretty unknown talent (except for those well initiated in the Stockholm music life) that used to play in a band called Master Massive. We'll give you more news on this topic as time goes by.

Christofer Johnsson, Fri, 19. March 2004

Source:	megatherion.com
Band profile:	Therion

Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, 16.-18.7.2004
Kaisaniemi Park, Helsinki, Finland.

Tuska Festival's cooperation with French cultural organization, Assecarm,
got off to a good start last year. Although France is not the first
country that comes to mind when thinking about metal, Burgul Torkhain,
who performed at Tuska 2003, proved everyone in attendance that the
French know a thing or two about metal music. Just like last year, this
year's French Tuska-performer was decided in a band contest held at the
Rotonde Festival. The jury of the contest was lead by Tuska-Promoter
Jouni Markkanen.

The winner of the contest is D.S.K. who play brutal death metal along the
lines of Napalm Death and Dying Fetus. D.S.K. was formed in 1997 and
their discography consists of several self-releases and compilation
appearances. Their debut album entitled From Birth is soon to be released
on Thundering Records. At Tuska 2004, D.S.K. performs on the Hellsinki
Stage on Friday the 16th, at 15:45.

The program for Tuska 2004-evening clubs has also been finalized. This
year we have clubs at three different venues; the classic Tavastia,
Stella Star from Thursday through Sunday and newcomer Botta on Friday and
Saturday. A different policy applies to the clubs this year, tickets for
each show are sold in advance through Tiketti at 6? each. More specific
running order for the clubs can be viewed at www.tuska-festival.fi.

Like previous years, each night at Kaisaniemi Park is concluded by a
performance by the infamous Sirkus Tapaturma.

Up-to-date information about Tuska can be found from our official site,
www.tuska-festival.fi. Get the latest news directly to your e-mail by
subscribing to the Tuska mailing list.

Complete Tuska 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
D.S.K. (FRA)
Drive
Trollheim's Grott
Machine Men
Kilpi
Twilightning
Turisas

Complete Tuska 2004 evening club line-up:

Tavastia

Thu 15.7.
Monsterball
Northern Discipline
Denigrate
Rust

Fri 16.7.
Darkwoods My Bethrothed
Pain Confessor
Dyecrest
Kiuas

Sat 17.7.
Before The Dawn
Amoral
Manitou
Bone Grinder

Sun 18.7.
Crazy Train plays Ozzy
Ancara
Battagia
Grayblack

Botta

Fri 16.7.

Read more ››

Prog-metallers SYMPHONY X are preparing to enter the studio to write their next CD, according to a posting on the group's official web site. The band "will be giving bi-weekly (or so) studio reports with news and pictures as the writing process progresses."

Besides, SYMPHONY X guitarist Michael Romeo will be sharing his knowledge and skills this summer (July 26-30) with the students at the National Guitar Workshop in New Milford, CT. Located in various cities throughout the country, this intense summer music program is geared to students of virtually all ages and offers courses in guitar, drums, keyboard, bass, vocals and more. For more information visit www.guitarworkshop.com

Band profile:

Symphony X

DREAM THEATER have announced the details of 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). Due on June 29, the two-DVD set (view cover here) is "jam-packed with over three hours of footage: live performances along with six music videos and memorable behind-the-scenes interviews."

Disc One:

"Images And Words: Live In Tokyo" is a riveting live performance captured in Tokyo, Japan, during DREAM THEATER's 1993 "Music In Progress" world tour. Also included are the videos for "Pull Me Under", "Take The Time", and "Another Day", plus band interviews and home video footage that takes you behind the scenes on their first world tour, the making of their album and videos, and much more.

Disc Two:

"Five Years In A LIVEtime" is a concert collection spanning five years, including shows in Rotterdam and London, plus the 1994/1995 "Waking Up The World" tour and the 1997/1998 "Touring Into Infinity" world tour. It also features the videos for "Lie", "The Silent Man", and "Hollow Years", along with studio footage recorded during the "Awake" and "Falling Into Infinity" sessions.

Band profile:

Dream Theater

CONSTRUCDEAD, the Swedish band featuring TERROR 2000 drummer Erik Thyselius, have posted their video for the track "Wounded" at this location: http://www.blacklodge.se/construcdead/wounded.wmv

"Wounded" comes off the group's sophomore album, "Violadead", which was released in Sweden in March through Sound Pollution Records. Download a full-length MP3 of the album track "Pinhook" at this location: http://www.blacklodge.se/construcdead/music/Construcdead-Pinhook.mp3

"Violadead" was recorded and mixed at Helsingborg's Queenstreet Recording with producer Richard Larsson and features a guest appearance by SOILWORK vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid and ex-SOILWORK drummer Henry Ranta in the track "Bitter End". A limited-edition digipack version of the album features as a special bonus a demo recording of the track "Inhuman Condition".

"Violadead" is the follow-up to 2002's "Repent", which was released through Cold Records.

Band profile:

Construcdead

As a tease for their upcoming epic metal album Symphony Of Enchanted Lands Part 2 - The Dark Secret, due out this September through SPV, RHAPSODY will release an EP entitled The Dark Secret this summer. Guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboardist Alex Staropoli claim to have invented a new kind of metal with the album, dubbing it Film Score Metal.

The massive production, led by Turilli and Staropoli, was done in several studios throughout Europe, in England, Italy, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Germany. Supported by appearances by more than a dozen international guest soloists and the entire Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra from the Czech Republic, a 50 piece choir, and actor Christopher Lee, Turilli and Staropoli believe they've reached a new milestone in the realms of symphomic metal.

"It is a dream come true. We couldn't believe it when our management informed us that our hero Mr. Lee agreed to be part of our new CD," says Turilli. "We are extremely thankful and honoured that this outstanding legend of film and theatre has chosen to work with us."

"Mr.Lee indeed brought reality to our vision and dreams," adds Staropoli. "It was pure magic and his narrations is just magnificent and truly majestic."

Among other well known narrators and London actors, Lee will guide the listeners in the role of a king through The dark Secret saga. The following is a portion Lee's narrative:

"It was a good time for all creatures of the earth, but fate decreed that the dark prophecy of a demon knight could bring a tragic end to this peace scarring their lives forever. Shortly before his defeat in the last of the primordial wars between the heavens and hells the evil son of the Hell God Kron, known as Nekron, withdrew to his lair in the underworld. There, sensing his impending death, he inscribed a testament of pure evil in seven black books. One by one six of these books were discovered through out the ages, however the seventh, last and most terrible of all contained the secret of his resurrection. He commanded seven immortal demons to carry out his dark plan. But they were turned into stone by the angels of the crystal realms. And so his dreams slept with them until a time came when the forces of evil would usurp the earth. Nekron would rule in the unholy name of cosmic chaos. And this time he would reign supreme!"

The EP contains four non-album tracks, such as the raw and heavy 'Thunder's Mighty Roar', the english version of 'Guardians Of Destiny', and a remix of the song 'Non Ho Sonno', originally composed by the band GOBLIN for a movie by the famous Italian director Dario Argento. The limited edition includes a DVD that will contain exclusive interviews, behind the scenes material and a special video done by an Italian fan based on the Emerald Sword Saga, as well as a 5.1 surround sound mix of the track 'Unholy Warcry'.

Read more ››

Band profile:

Rhapsody

CRADLE OF FILTH bassist Dave Pybus has posted his eighth studio report at the band's official website, www.cradleoffilth.com:

Hail! With the studio back up and running and now in good flow, we are getting quite close to finishing the recording process of the new album.

This weekend saw our CoF Axe-men Paul Allender and James Mcnewboy finish all their guitar parts and that leaves just Dani and Martin in the studio with Producer Rob Caggiano and Engineer Dan Turner at the controls. Vocals and Keyboards is now the sole focus of these final days. I hear it's going great, as a visit from Roadrunner A&R master Mike Gitter would confirm: "Have you ever smelt the rising stench of a severed pig's head? Or touched its pink-y, human-feeling skin? The goddamn thing has eyelashes! That was the sight I was treated to on Friday afternoon mere moments after getting to Parkgate. A pig's head in producer Rob Caggiano's bed (smoking a cigarette, reading Metal Hammer!). Such good fun. Such a rancid stink. Clearly, the Cradle boys are in good spirits, up to some good ol' black-hearted deviltry...probably because Nymphetamine is turning into a masterpiece all of its own!

Now, I ain't one for A&R-guy gladhanding, but this might just be the DEFINITIVE Cradle Of Filth record! Songs are razor-sharp: 'Guilded Cunt' kicks with a HATEBREED-ish hellborn fury; same with 'Medusa & Hemlock'. 'Absinthe WIth Faust' revels in beautiful atmospherics; a couple of new ones -- both still awaiting vocals and simply titled 'Maidenstyle' & 'Manowar' (working titles, natch) take a few steps out of the COF coffin but rock with a riffy METAL fervor and energy that kicks everything around 'em in the face... and keeps spitting to the bitter end. And, you've never heard such clarity on a Cradle record! You can hear every profane utterance out of Dani's mouth. All I say, now safely typing this on Monday morning is that COF have given (after) birth to an 'It's Alive'-styled monster of a record. A metal classic for sure."

As for completeing his guitar parts, I spoke with James to find out: 'Finishing the guitars on my first outing as Cradle guitarist is kind of weird, a mixed feeling of pride and relief in a way, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter, as the whole thing sounds massive and very fucking metal, innit". James was later found aimlessly walking the streets of Battle and has since been committed to the local asylum situated next door to the studio... Innit.

Read more ››

Band profile:

Cradle Of Filth

Rock Hard magazine is reporting that RAMMSTEIN's follow-up to 2001's "Mutter" is set to be released September 20, 2004. The first single, entitled "Mein Teil", will arrive on June 21 ? one week later than the originally announced June 14 release date. Rock Hard has also reportedly stated the following about the album's musical direction: "Less 'industrial' and more organic, and with frontman Till Lindemann and drummer Christoph Schneider stretching themselves further than ever before, this is RAMMSTEIN honing their craft to the very finest of points... as on first single 'Mein Teil' ('My Part') , which spectacularly shows off the band's trademark blend of musical power, haunting melody and willingness to deal with issues that many would find too difficult or disturbing."

RAMMSTEIN have released three studio albums thus far ? "Herzeleid", "Sehnsucht" and "Mutter" ? and one live CD, "Live Aus Berlin".

Band profile:

Rammstein

I am just about to write one of the most heartbreaking news for all Candlemass and doom-metal fans. Yes it´s true, Candlemass have decided to disband and this came just as a shock for everybody. The following part is taken from their official website :

GOODBYE DOOMLOVERS!!

We are truly sorry to inform you that Candlemass have disbanded!
This is sad news for us and everybody else that love this fantastic band.
There will be no more gigs, no new album, no more doom!
This is it... ..finished..........zero...........nada........out!!!

Despite the tremendous success of the reunion, everything hasn't been perfect.
Tiny cracks in the façade could be seen during the first round in the summer of 2002 because members of the band do not share the same vision of C-mass, the gigs, an eventual new album, democracy etc, and last year it became clear that the indifferences were too large to overcome.
A demo was recorded but the internal problems overshadowed the fun of playing. The gig at Klubben (Stockholm) nov. 29 came to be the last and final for Candlemass.

The band have tried to save the situation. There have been meetings and discussions, but unfortunately it hasn't been possible for the five members to agree on how Candlemass could work in the future. The members would have loved to continue but the chemistry is just not there anymore.
The magic is gone.........................

Band profile:

Candlemass

The Madders have entered Space Valley Studios (just outside of Hamar) to record the upcoming as yet untitled album. It will include 12 songs and some songtitles:
"My Name Is Silence", "Evasions" , "Plague", "M for Malice", "Changeling", "Hypnos" , "Hangman"

According to the band: "In some ways it's even meaner , maybe not that depressive, but obviously pretty creepy and dark. While Deadlands had a really homogenic feel to it, this one's going differ more to the various extremes and have a more restless and frustrated vibe. More experimental and crazy ideas, heavier and more various forms of playing in all instruments and vocals. There's quite a few suprises waiting for everyone."

Read more ››

Band profile:

Madder Mortem

Four regular albums in five years, tours with Savatage, Helloween, Rage, Company of Snakes, Ivory Tower, the Wacken Road Show 2003 plus countless gigs with Rhapsody, Doro, Scorpions, Symphony X and Silent Force in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria and Switzerland: Mob Rules are currently one of Europe's most industrious metal acts.

Their current release, Among The Gods, proves once more that their greatest strengths lie in their constancy and determination - after all the band still operate in their original line-up. A rare exception, not only in our fast-moving times in general, but particularly in the metal genre, which has frequently been referred to as a "travelling circus with an ever-changing line-up".

Vocalist Klaus Dirks hits the nail on the head when he says: "Others only preach the fairytale of loyalty and honesty, we actually live this philosophy."

Among The Gods was released on May, 17th 2004.

Source:	spv.de]
Band profile:	Mob Rules

When it comes to Blaze Bayley, the sincerity of his music ranks at the very top of his personal maxims, which explains his pride in his most recent studio recording. "Blood And Belief is one-hundred per cent honest and unaffected," he comments on the strengths of his latest offering.

"Every song that was played, every lyric, every vocal line comes straight from the heart. The tracks are heavy but at the same time extremely melodic, in other words: a perfect balance of power and soul." British-born Bayley takes up where his previous three releases, Silicon Messiah (1999), Tenth Dimension (2002) and As Live As It Gets (2003), which impressed his fans with similar directives, left off.

Blood And Belief is contemporary heavy metal full of energy, life-blood and honesty, produced by an artist who has put together his experiences from the last fifteen years into an impressively high-powered achievement. Blaze 2004 is stronger than ever before.

Tracklisting:
01 Alive
02 Ten Seconds
03 Blood And Belief
04 Life And Death
05 Tearing Myself To Pieces
06 Hollow Head
07 Will To Win
08 Regret
09 The Path & The Way
10 Soundtrack Of My Life

Line-up:
Blaze Bayley - vocals
Steve Wray - guitars
John Slater - guitars
Wayne Banks - bass

Source:	spv.de]
Band profile:	Blaze Bayley

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will be utilizing the services of bassist James Lomenzo (PRIDE & GLORY, DAVID LEE ROTH, WHITE LION) during their main-stage appearance at this year's Ozzfest, according to BlackLabelSociety.net. Since BLACK SABBATH have been announced as the headliners of this year's festival, OZZY OSBOURNE's solo band ? which features BLACK LABEL SOCIETY frontman Zakk Wylde on guitar ? will no longer be performing at the event.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will be touring in support of their latest release, "Hangover Music Vol. VI", which was released last month through Spitfire Records. The CD is mostly acoustic- and piano-based, much like Zakk's 1996 solo album "Book Of Shadows". Mike Inez (ALICE IN CHAINS, OZZY OSBOURNE), Lomenzo and J.D. all share bass duties on the album while drummer John Tempesta (ROB ZOMBIE, TESTAMENT, EXODUS) makes a guest appearance on one track.

"Hangover Music Vol. VI" marks BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's final album for Spitfire Records under the terms of the group's present agreement with the label.

Source:	roadrun.com
Band profile:	Black Label Society

ICED EARTH have been forced to postpone their previously announced Japanese tour due to the recent departure of drummer Richard Christy. "Though we tried everything in our power to keep this from happening we have no other alternative," ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer writes on the group's web site. The affected dates are as follows:

May 25 - Osaka, JPN @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro
May 26 - Tokyo, JPN @ Shibuya O-East
May 27 - Tokyo, JPN @ Shibuya Club Quattro

As previously reported, ICED EARTH's final show with Richard Christy will take place on Thursday (May 20) at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California. Replacing Christy for the second leg of the group's North American tour will be former HALFORD/RIOT drummer Bobby Jarzombek. ICED EARTH will resume touring on June 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Support on the upcoming tour will come from BEYOND THE EMBRACE and TRIVIUM.

Source:	roadrun.com
Band profile:	Iced Earth

It's now official, after four years of collaboration and three outstanding recordings, Anorexia Nervosa has now left its label Osmose Productions.

The band is proud to announce that it has signed with Listenable Records for Europe, SoundHolic Records for Japan, and that a licence deal is currently being negociated with several important labels in the USA.

After a year spent on working on new songs, Anorexia Nervosa has finally hit the Drudenhaus Studios to record their long-awaited fourth album, as yet untitled.
Here are some exclusive track names :

- Antinferno
- Sister September
- Codex - Veritas

Here are also some few words that our beloved webmaster has succeeded in taking out from the band : "The orchestrations are the most powerful ones that we ever did. The album will feature choirs, horns, heavy riffs, trance-like moments. It will stay 100% Anorexia Nervosa, but with a new atmosphere, something very solemn, warlike, and at the same time completely histerical. This is probably the single most ambitious thing that we ever took part in."

The album will be mastered by Björn Engelmann from Sweden (Rammstein, Hypocrisy, In Flames) at the Cutting Room, and should be out somewhere around october 2004. The band will hit the road at the same time, be ready!!!

As for the longest-awaited "Suicide Is Sexy" hand-signed collector, it has FINALLY gone to press, and now nothing could prevent it from being released by the end of May!

Source:	mother-anorexia.com
Band profile:	Anorexia Nervosa