Sweden's DARKANE have postponed the recording sessions for their fourth album until after their upcoming European tour with DEATH ANGEL. The delay is due to the fact that the group's guitarist Klas Ideberg recently underwent surgery for a slipped disc in his back and also because the band want to spend extra time building their recording studio, according to a post on their web site. A late spring release through Nuclear Blast Records is expected.

The following is Ideberg's latest posting on the band's web site:

"Well, hi there everybody! The invalid is back from the dead. The past 3 months has been like hell for me and I haven't been able to walk at all the past 2 months. But now I'm back on my feet again, thanks to the surgery and the morphine, hahaha. I want to thank everybody who has sent me good and bracing words in the guestbook and by mail. This has really made my recovery a fast one. You have definitely encouraged me to do the forthcoming European tour. I will not be able to thrash around like I usually do on stage, so I hope you will have patience for that. I really don't want to miss meeting all you great people out there. Not a chance in life. So, see you all very soon and thanks again. You rule! I love you all!"

As previously reported, DARKANE will teaming up with DEATH ANGEL, DISBELIEF, MNEMIC and MYSTIC PROPHECY for a European tour beginning on November 3 in Paris, France.

Band profile:

Darkane

CANNIBAL CORPSE have confirmed the title of their forthcoming album as The Wretched Spawn. The album is due out through Metal Blade in late February. The Wretched Spawn was recorded at Sonic Ranch, located just outside of El Paso, TX with producer Neil Kernon.

The album features the following tracklisting (not in order): 'Severed Head Stoning', 'Psychotic Precision', 'Decency Defiled', Frantic Disembowelment', 'Rotten Body Landslide', 'Cyanide Assassin', 'Festering In The Crypt', 'Nothing Left To Mutilate', 'Blunt Force Castration', 'The Wretched Spawn', 'Slain', 'Bent Backwards And Broken' and 'They Deseve To Die'.

Kernon had the following to say about the end result: "It's always fun to work with Cannibal, and I think this album is turning out way more brutal than their last one (Gore Obsessed)."

Bassist Alex Webster commented: "We definitely feel that we managed to surpass the heaviness of Gore Obssessed. We've outdone it for sure."

Band profile:

Cannibal Corpse

NILE will see their new video - for the song 'Sarcophagus' - premier on this weekend's editionof MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. Headbanger's Ball airs Saturdays from 10-12 PM EST on MTV2.

The conceptual video, from the band's In Their Darkened Shrines album, was directed and filmed by director Darren Doane (POISON THE WELL, DEFTONES) and shot at Center Staging in Burbank, CA.

Band profile:

Nile

Beginning on November 15th, Zakk will be in the studio with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY through the first week in December recording an "all covers" CD which will also feature two brand new songs. The CD will feature about 10 covers and is likely to include versions of songs by RAY CHARLES and the ROLLING STONES. An early spring 2004 release is expected.

Band profile:

Black Label Society

We just received the following news from Gorgoroth:

"Gaahl is heading to court the 20. October.
He is accused for unordinary vile use of violence. Gaahl risks a 6 years sentence if he gets condemned, the outcome of the court trial
will be announced in a couple of weeks."
Other news:
"If things will turn out better with the local promoters, Gorgoroth will hopefully play on the metal festival in Tel Aviv the 7th of March 2004, be sure to check their website www.gorgoroth.tk for confirmation. Gorgoroth are also working on possibilities of touring in USA and Mexico etc, check back on this issue too."

Band profile:

Gorgoroth

VOMITORY bass player/growler, Erik Rundqvist, announces his departure from the vocal duties in the band, continuing to play bass only. So therefore, VOMITORY is now looking for a new growler. Erik will still do the vocals on the new VOMITORY album and he will continue in the band as the stable bass player he is!

So if you feel you are the one for the job, please get in touch with us, but if you're not 100 % serious, don't waste our time! band@vomitory.net

Band profile:

Vomitory

KING DIAMOND "THE PUPPET MASTER" giveaway on official site!

King Diamond's official website is giving away 10 CD's to the first people who can answer the following question:

What is the name of the Puppet Master's wife?
Send your e-mails to: webmaster@covenworldwide.org

Go to http://www.covenworldwide.org/contest.htm for more info.

The Puppet Master out on 10/21/03... who's pulling your strings?

Band profile:

King Diamond

The masters of death metal, Cannibal Corpse, recently reached the one million mark for combined sales of all their albums. This is a great achievement not only for the band and label but also for all death metal bands out there. It is not very often a truly heavy metal band reaches the Platinum mark and it just goes to show that it is possible. Cannibal Corpse is one of the most prominent death metal bands ever unleashed upon the scene and have not let up since they started in 1990. Only a truly remarkable band such as Cannibal Corpse can continue to reach their fans and still mean something to the death and heavy metal world...and reaching the one million mark proves it! So big congratulations go out to Cannibal Corpse from all their friends and fans here at Metal Blade!

Band profile:

Cannibal Corpse

ARCH ENEMY - www.archenemy.net
The Swedish quintet just wrapped up a European tour alongside labelmates Nevermore and immediately headed over to the U.S. to take part in the Jagermeister tour. The trek, featuring the almighty Slayer and Hatebreed, kicked off this past week and will run through November 29th. Ranking in at #6 on Billboard's New Artist Chart, #15 on Billboard's Top Independent Chart and #26 on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart, ARCH ENEMY's newest offering, Anthems Of Rebellion, has been taking the metal underground by storm and is easily their most dynamic, aggressive and cohesive effort to date. Their new video for "We Will Rise" is currently in heavy rotation on Fuse's Uranium and MTV2's Headbanger's Ball and is a featured download on MTV's website. The track also appears on the Headbanger's Ball double disc CD set comprised of 40 tracks of other groundbreaking artists.

Following the Jagermeister tour the group will head back to the U.K. for a string of headlining dates leading to the end of the year. ARCH ENEMY plan to head back to the U.S. in mid-2004 to continue their onslaught.

Band profile:

Arch Enemy

Portugese Dark Rockers Moonspell entered German Media Control Charts on position 75 and survived the bloody battle against around 40 new releases in the Trendcharts (waiting list). Like always we salute those who supported the band - YOU!!!

In Portugal the mighty "The Antidote" release crushed the charts on position 4 (just behind Robbie Williams and Sting) and pushed superstar Dido back to 5. The special limited book edition of "The Antidote", only released in Portugal, is already sold out!

Success as well in the Dutch Alternative Charts: First week position 14.

In October / November the first shows of "The Antidote Tour" will take place. José Luís Peixoto will read the "The Antidote". Moonspell will caress the ears of the listeners with their beloved new and old tunes.

Band profile:

Moonspell

OPETH have spent the weekend supervising the pre-mix of the live tracks recorded on September 25 in London. "Deliverance" mixer and co-producer Andy Sneap will take care of the final mix. The as-yet-untitled DVD will contain both the mellow and heavy set with a running time of approximately an hour each, as well as a unique 65-minute documentary about the band with in-depth focus on the recording of "Deliverance" and "Damnation". It will also include excusive interviews with the band and producer. A two-CD live album will also be issued in the coming months.

The band are currently in between tours and are concentrating on the DVD as well as rehearsals for the upcoming Scandinavian tour starting on October 15 in Helsinki, Finland. The set list will consist of songs from OPETH's entire career.

South American dates have been confirmed for mid-November. The Australian tour will start in Adelaide on December 9 of December and will finish with three nights (December 13-15) at the Hi-Fi in Melbourne.

Band profile:

Opeth

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have signed a long-term deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The group are currently working on the material for the follow-up to this year's "Winterheart's Guild" CD, tentatively due next fall.

Band profile:

Sonata Arctica

DARKANE just finished the video clip for ?Chaos vs. Order" which can be watched on Nuclear Blast website. Ex-vocalist Lawrence Mackrory (Seethings) is featured with a guest appearance, besides the clip will feature excerpts from different gigs such as the Sweden rock festival and the Rock Hard festival. Besides, DARKANE will be on tour with Death Angel, Disbelief, Mnemic and Mystic Prophecy to take a break from the recordings to their fourth album.

Band profile:

Darkane