ANTHRAX have announced the list of winning tracks to be recorded for the group's collection of Joey Belladonna/Neil Turbin-era songs sung by current vocalist John Bush, dubbed "Metallum Maximum Aeturnum". The songs, which were selected by the fans via the band's official homepage as part of ANTHRAX's 20th Anniversary Celebration, are as follows:

01. Anthrax *
02. Panic **
03. Metal Thrashing Mad
04. Death Rider
05. A.I.R.
06. Madhouse
07. Lone Justice
08. Among The Living
09. Caught In A Mosh
10. Indians
11. N.F.L.
12. Be All, End All
13. Now It's Dark
14. In My World
15. Keep It In The Family
16. Belly Of The Beast

* substituted for "Antisocial" (no cover songs)
** substituted for "Got The Time" (same reason as above)

As previously reported, the recording session for the album took place Monday (Jan. 26) at Avatar Studios in New York City and was attended by 25 lucky winners and their guests.

ANTHRAX filmed their sold-out Dec. 5, 2003 show at the Metro in Chicago for an accompanying DVD, due later in the year.

Band profile:

Anthrax

Sweden's ENTOMBED have issued an official statement confirming the departure of bassist Jörgen Sandström.

According to the statement, "Jörgen has decided to quit touring and left the band on good terms. this does not mean that Jörgen will leave the music business as he is still a member of the bands THE PROJECT HATE & KRUX and will still be involved with the Threeman label and the ENTOMBED homepage."

The statement also confirms our previous report that Jörgen's replacement in the band will be Nico Engelstrand, formerly of TERRA FIRMA. Nico was involved with the band before in the producer/engineer capacity for such albums as "Uprising" (2000) and "Morning Star" (2001).

Nico's live debut with the band will take place this Sunday, February 1 at the Zodiac in Oxford, U.K.

Band profile:

Entombed

The dynamic European melodic death/metalcore quintet HEAVEN SHALL BURN recently inked a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. HSB have been called a musical hybrid of such genre defying bands as Earth Crisis, At The Gates and Bolt Thrower, which underlines the fact that they are basically about unifying the extremes of death metal and hardcore styles into an indestructible musical assault, while lyrically exposing their very dedicated, socially aware and politically engaged philosophies.

After an EP entitled In Battle… and a split LP with Fall of Serenity, HSB signed to Lifeforce Records/Impression Music for their 2000 debut album, Asunder. The label also released a split LP/CD with their long-time friends Caliban and 2002's album Whatever It May Take, which earned the band extreme praise from media and fans within both the metal and hardcore scenes. The group has just completed their third full-length recording, Antigone, which is currently set for a late spring release.

Marcus (vocals) and Maik (guitars) further describe their excitement over signing with Century Media Records:

"I am extremely excited to have signed to the label that is home to plenty of my favorite bands. 2004 promises to become a really challenging year for HSB. Full force ahead." Marcus

"I am very happy about the new deal with Century Media. It was a really important step forward to take as a band, but even more important was to make it together with a partner who doesn't only understand how to promote and market HSB's music, but who also has the ability and attitude to support the political and socio-critical dimension of the band. Furthermore, it means a lot to us that we didn't only find a good new home, but that will also manage to continue the co-operation with Lifeforce Records. There still won't be any compromises for the future with HSB! Everything that needs to be said will be said, and everything that needs to be done will be done!" Maik

"Antigone" CD / LP Track-List:

1. Echoes (Intro)

2. The Weapon They Fear

3. The Only Truth

4. Architects Of The Apocalypse

5. Voice Of The Voiceless

6. Numbing The Pain

7. To Harvest The Storm

8. Rìsandi Von (Outro)

9. Bleeding To Death

10.Tree Of Freedom

11.The Dream Is Dead

12.Deyjandi Von (Outro)

Read more ››

Band profile:

Heaven Shall Burn

IRON MAIDEN may possibly not be able to play their fourth and last New York City show on Tuesday due to a double-booking by the venue, here's the statement Bruce made in tonight(Monday)'s show, paraphrased by a fan:

"XEROX Inc. scheduled a convention to go on at Hammerstein Ballroom on 1/27/03. The schedulers, DOUBLE-BOOKED Hammerstein Ballroom. And now, XEROX and IRON MAIDEN's managers are in court, waiting for a judge to decide what should go on. Bruce himself said, Iron Maiden scheduled a show, and tickets were sold...so you figure it out. I know as much as you do."

Band profile:

Iron Maiden

Swedish power metallers EVERGREY will re-issue special versions of their albums "The Dark Discovery" and "Solitude*Dominance*Tragedy" through InsideOut Records on March 16th. Both albums will feature new and extended artwork with bonus videos.

Band profile:

Evergrey

Norweigan's GREEN CARNATION is turning away from the plan of making a MCD, instead the band already started making pre-production demos of new songs for a coming new full length album which will be recorded from late August '04. A pre-production sample of one new song will be featured on the upcoming DVD which will be recorded in Poland in the end of January 2004.

Band profile:

Green Carnation

French metallers LYZANXIA have signed a worldwide deal with Reality Entertainment. The group's current album, "Mindcrimes", will receive a U.S. release on March 9.

"Mindcrimes" has already been released in Southeast Asia and France, where it was met with the expected enthusiasm and acclaim by fans and media alike, according to an official press release.

Commented vocalist/founder David Potvin: "It was important to us that we waited to get with the right label in America before releasing this record. Reality understands the whole metal scene both in the U.S. and Europe and we are excited to be with them." Reality CEO Warren Croyle added: "Although metal is not the only music we release on Reality, it is something that everyone involved with the label understands and appreciates. LYZANXIA is a genuine innovator in the metal genre and we plan to build it market by market in The States."

The band plan to follow the CD's U.S. release with a tour this summer.

Band profile:

Lyzanxia

Norwegian black metallers DIMMU BORGIR are strongly rumored to have parted ways with drummer Nick Barker (ex-CRADLE OF FILTH, LOCK UP).

The group, who recently cancelled their Japanese/Australian tour, have yet to officially comment on the matter.

Barker joined DIMMU BORGIR in 1999 as a replacement for original drummer Tjodalv (a.k.a. Kenneth Åkesson). He has since appeared on two full-length studio albums with the band: "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia" (2001, Nuclear Blast) and "Death Cult Armageddon" (2003, Nuclear Blast).

Band profile:

Dimmu Borgir

WINDS, the Norwegian band featuring Carl August Tideman (ARCTURUS, TRITONUS), Jan Axel Blomberg (MAYHEM, ARCTURUS), Lars Eric Si and Andy Winter, have completed work on their new album, "The Imaginary Direction of Time", due in late April through The End Records.

Recorded at Toproom and Fagerborg studios in Norway and mixed at The Factory in Vancouver, "The Imaginary Direction of Time" is being described by the band as "the most complete and diverse album they have ever worked on," while Carl also adds thatit features the most challenging guitar work that he has ever put on a record so far. Artwork for this highly anticipated release is provided by Travis Smith.

"The Imaginary Direction of Time" track listing:

01. What Is Beauty
02. Sounds Like Desolation
03. Theory Of Relativity
04. Visions Of Perfection
05. The Fireworks Of Genesis
06. Under The Stars
07. A Moment For Reflection
08. Time Without End
09. The Final End
10. Beyond Fate
11. Silence In Despair
12. Infinity

The Italian Post-Metal Kollective will enter "One Voice Studio"
during March 2004 to record their new masterpiece titled "A Clockwork Highway".
here's some titles to be included in the tracklist:

Dopecity
Who Dares to Kill the Lion?
The Gospel According an Exit Solution
Babilonia Café
An Affecter of Change

As the Label says: "Do not expect a "New Era Viral Order part 2.",
as usual The Kollective morphed in a new Entity with a new line-up
(including the Industrial Guru Bad Sector and long time friend Nordvargr)
and a new music style, this time more close to the Apocalyptic post-core scene (Isis, Neurosis)
the new songs are a slow, hypnotic, tribal trip in a noise soundtrack,
like William Gibson in Mescal Overdose"

The new album "Human Antithesis" has been completed.
Void of Silence has begun the recording sessions in the "Sick Lab' s Studios" in Rome (Italy).
new singer Alan Nemtheanga (Primordial) will come in Italy to record the vocal parts in February 2004.
Tracklist and cover preview soon revealed!
www.voidofsilence.com

Band profile:

Void Of Silence

Hello, we are the band Further Lo. We are a 5 piece power metal band based in Columbus, Ohio. We are currently signed to a multi record deal with Power Play Records(NY) and are currently planning a tour to support our debut CD just released for Power Play Records. The CD is titled "Further Lo" and contains 10 songs and 2 bonus tracks. The CD is currently available everywhere as well as online at the record label site: Power Play Records and it is also available throughout Europe and can be purchased online in Europe and other countries at: Just For Kicks.

The band is full of experienced Musicians which have shared the stage with such bands as Iced Earth, Nevermore, Napalm Death, King Diamond, Merciful Fate, Flotsam and Jetsam, Bruce Dickinson, Pantera,Armored Saint, Anthrax,Ratt,Machine Head as well as many, many more. The band features former members of Acheron,Soul Destruction, and Hybrid Nation. All bands which were successful in their own rights and toured extensively.

We invite you to please stop by out website and check out the band. We have plenty of pictures, updated news,links and even some music for you to listen to. Some of our song samples from the new CD "Further Lo" can be found on the record label site as well as recent reviews from various reputable magazines and webzines. The music of this new CD "Further Lo" is solid metal with influences ranging from Alice In Chains,C.O.C,Testament, The Scorpions,Tool,Slayer, and even a touch of Black Sabbath. "Further Lo" is a very strong effort and has a wide range to suit a lot of different metal tastes. Our music is neither death metal or black metal, but it is an interesting mixture of power metal,thrash,and even a small touch of industrial metal with great vocals and a very clean sound that is sure to satisfy even the most hard to please metal head. Please check out the music and see what you think and stop by the Official band site and check us out. We will be all throughout Europe and the US in 2004 so please check us out, we hope that you enjoy the music and we hope to see you on the road. Please feel free to stop by, listen to a couple of songs and see what you think.

Thank you for taking the time to check us out and take care,
Further Lo

http://www.FurtherLo.com (check out the band's official site)

http://www.Power-Play-Records.com (visit the record label site)

From the official Opeth website:

Good news!

Lopez is feeling much better and will join the band in Seattle this Saturday!
Due to Lopez sickness Opeth were forced to cancel the gig in Edmonton. In Calgary and Vancouver Opeth played a reduced set.

The upcoming USA tour will feature support from American band Devil driver as well as Portuguese legends, Moonspell.

Martin Lopez is now in a much better state. As expected, the doctor's ordered a few weeks of relaxation due to overload of stress!

Band profile:

Opeth

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