Metal news

Keyboardist Jens Johansson has updated the band's website with the following news:

"We have some good news. Earlier this summer, Timo K, Jens and Lauri got together with a guitar player in a forest cottage in west Finland and wrote and arranged some songs. It went extremely well, and we are very happy with the material, the direction, and the general vibe in the band.

We now have over 15 songs written and demoed already, but probably not all of these will make it to the actual album.

We are happy to confirm that our new guitar player is Matias Kupiainen [photo]. He was the only guy we even considered seriously. This interesting fellow was born May 11, 1983 and is a native of Helsinki, Finland. You can find some information and pictures on his myspace page. Here is a video.

Next week, Jörg and Jens will come to Finland as we have booked three weeks of rehearsals and recordings in another cottage. We will then work more intensely on the songs in a real band rehearsal type of situation."

Source:	stratovarius.com
Band profile:	Stratovarius

Swedish vikings Thyrfing have annouced more details about their upcoming new album. The album will be called "Hels Vite". A teaser trailer can be seen here. The band has also released the cover artwork for the album. Click here to see it.

Following is the tracklist of new album:

01. En Sista Litania
02. Från Stormens Öga
03. Isolation
04. Hels Vite
05. Griftefrid
06. Becoming The Eye
07. Tre Vintrar - Två Solar

Hels Vite will be released via Regain Records in October 2008.

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Thyrfing

Psycroptic's record label Nuclear Blast have announced the following about the band's new album:

"The new album and Nuclear Blast debut, (Ob)Servant, by Tasmanian Tech Death Metallers Psycroptic will include a free bonus DVD featuring a studio diary as well as full live shows of their 2006 gig in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Wellington, New Zealand, 2008. The free bonus DVD will run about 85 minutes in total. (Ob)Servant will be released on September 26th as CD/DVD and will be on sale for the price of a regular CD".

Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Psycroptic

Abysmal Dawn have posted the following update on their official site:

"After almost five years together Abysmal Dawn have parted ways with guitarist Jamie Boulanger. Currently Jamie has other priorities that he needs to take care of in his life, including his new baby girl. We wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

We are proud to announce Ian Jekelis of Aartisan as our new second guitarist. Ian filled in for our past two tours and we're proud to have him as a permanent member. Check out Ian playing "Servants To Their Knees" with us on the Contamination tour here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCn4-0G7MY4".

Source:	abysmaldawn.com
Band profile:	Abysmal Dawn

German Power Metallers Edguy have scheduled the following European tour dates:

10.01.09 - Carling Academy Islington, London, United Kingdom
12.01.09 - Elysee Montmatre, Paris, France
13.01.09 - Theatre Barbey, Bordeaux, France
15.01.09 - La Copera, Granada, Spain
16.01.09 - La Rivera, Madrid, Spain
17.01.09 - Rock Star Live, Bilbao, Spain
18.01.09 - Razzmatazz, Barcelona, Spain
20.01.09 - Transbordeur, Lyon, France
21.01.09 - Rolling Stone, Milano, Italy
23.01.09 - Filharmonie, Filderstadt, Germany
24.01.09 - All Kart Halle, Kaufbeuren, Germany
25.01.09 - Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
27.01.09 - Turbinenhalle, Oberhausen, Germany
28.01.09 - Live Music Hall, Köln, Germany
30.01.09 - Jako Arena, Bamberg, Germany
31.01.09 - Halle Gartlage, Osnarbrück, Germany
01.02.09 - Docks, Hamburg, Germany
02.02.09 - Lisberghallen, Götheborg, Sweden
04.02.09 - Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
05.02.09 - KB, Malmö, Sweden
07.02.09 - Wartenberg, Fulda, Germany

This European tour will be in support of Edguy's upcoming album "Tinnitus Sanctus" which will be released around 16th November this year.

Source:	edguy.net
Band profile:	Edguy
Event:	Edguy: European Tour

Nine Inch Nails has announced a large batch of new tour dates for the fall. Here are the new US tour dates:

10.23.08 - San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
10.25.08 - New Orleans, LA Voodoo Festival, City Park
10.28.08 - Orlando, FL UCF Arena
10.29.08 - Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
10.31.08 - Nashville, TN Sommet Center
11.01.08 - Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center
11.03.08 - Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex
11.05.08 - Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
11.08.08 - Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
11.09.08 - Worchester, MA DCU Center (rescheduled from previous date)
11.11.08 - Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
11.12.08 - Montreal, QC Bell Centre
11.14.08 - Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum
11.15.08 - Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
11.17.08 - Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
11.18.08 - Fort Wayne, IN Memorial Coliseum
11.20.08 - Cedar Rapids, IA US Cellular Center
11.21.08 - Columbia, MO Mizzou Arena
11.22.08 - Tulsa, OK BOK Center
11.25.08 - Minneapolis, MN Target Center (rescheduled from previous date)
11.26.08 - Council Bluffs, IA Mid-America Center
11.28.08 - Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena
11.29.08 - Billings, MT MetraPark Arena
12.01.08 - Saskatoon, SK Credit Union Centre
12.04.08 - Kelowna, BC Prospera Place
12.05.08 - Victoria, BC Save On Foods Memorial Centre
12.07.08 - Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena
12.08.08 - Nampa, ID Idaho Center
12.09.08 - Missoula, MT Adams Center
12.12.08 - Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
12.13.08 - Las Vegas, NV Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino

The announcement also comes with a cryptic message of: "Those of you outside North America, have faith... you never know what could happen!"

Source:	nin.com
Band profile:	Nine Inch Nails
Event:	Nine Inch Nails: Lights In The Sky Over North America 2008

Amon Amarth have posted the following on their official website regarding work on a new video clip:

"We recently returned from Poland after shooting the first video for the upcoming album "Twilight of the Thunder God". The video will be for the title track.

We joined efforts with the Polish team, Group 13 and director Dariusz Szermanowicz for "Twilight of the Thunder God" and filmed it on the old Viking site, Jomsborg, home of the Jomsvikings in Wolin, Poland.

Our brothers from Jomsvikings traveled from far and wide, places like Poland, Germany, Belgium, England, Australia and USA to be part of this great video.

It seemed that the Thunder God was on our side when shooting the video because a hurricane/storm passed through the area during the day, creating the chaotic and violent atmosphere we were hoping for. It was the toughest conditions we ever recorded a video in, blood and sweat, quite literally both, were part of the making. But we don't mind getting our hands dirty and metal was never supposed to be "nice". In fact we couldn't have wished for a more fitting video shoot for this song, being the Ragnarök and all!

We want to thank Igor for making this possible, Blodhvitnir Meldric and Sana, the Group 13 crew for their professional work and of course the Jomsvikings for being made of steel!

The album and video "Twilight of the Thunder God" will make its debut in September."

A series of photos from the video shoot can be seen here.

Source:	amonamarth.com
Band profile:	Amon Amarth

German metallers Die Apokalyptischen Reiter have posted the following message:

"Hello friends,

Our new album "Licht" (Eng. "Light") is on myspace. All songs, all madness, the whole album. Check it out. NOW

"Licht" will be in shops next friday 29.08.2008
Limited edition comes with bonus DVD, featuring the first Reiter flashgame "Monsterball", new videos and video making of."

Streaming of the new album will be available until the 29th of August. So to hear the album, have a gander over to their myspace site here:

http://www.myspace.com/reitermania

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Die Apokalyptischen Reiter

Metallica just released the second single off their upcoming album, Death Magnetic today. Entitled "My Apocalypse", the track is now available on www.metallica.com and for download on iTunes. Metallica fans should also check out iTunes where you can also purchase the riveting track "The Day That Never Comes" which premiered last week.

Official streaming: http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=601136

iTunes link here

Additionally, the band have recently unveiled a new widget that the band will frequently updated with news, a trailer for their MissionMetallica.com fan site, and other Death Magnetic related material. The widget can be embedded onto most social networking sites and blog applications.

Widget link here

Death Magnetic will be available everywhere on September 12th.

Note of Metal Storm: According to some rumours, the band should release a new "digital" single every new Monday until the release date of the album.

Read more ››

Source:	totalassault.com
Band profile:	Metallica

Artillery are set to re-release their classic 80's album "Terror Squad" with remastered tracks and bonus songs. It will be in a new digipak edition limited to 2000 copies. The release date is scheduled for 29th September.

Here is the complete tracklist:

Disc 1
01. Challenge
02. In The Trash
03. Terror Squad
04. Let There Be Sin
05. Hunger and Greed
06. Therapy
07. At War With Science
08. Decapitations of Deviants

Disc II (Bonus Tracks)
01. The Challenge [demo version]
02. In The Trash [demo version]
03. Therapy [demo version]
04. Let There Be Sin [demo version]
05. All For You (With Per Onink)
06. We Are The Dead
07. Too Late To Regret

Read more ››

Source:	metalmind.com.pl
Band profile:	Artillery

The following update was posted on Soilwork's official Myspace site:

"As many of you may have noticed, we have a new session guitarist in our ranks - none other than Mr. Sylvain Coudret of Scarve! Sylvain's doing an amazing job so far and it's a blast to have him around. He is with us for our last three fests: Germany's Summer Breeze, Brutal Assault (in rainy Czech Republic from where I'm writing this) and Bloodstock in Derby, UK... so come and enjoy a little round of Soilwork live annihilation this weekend!"

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Soilwork

Swedish Heavy Metallers Dream Evil has revealed the details behind their forthcoming 2CD & DVD retrospective package, "Gold Medal In Metal" which can be viewed below.

Gold Medal In Metal (Alive & Archive) DVD+2CD:

Gold Medal Disc - DVD (100:45):
Live Maerd (67:45)
1. "United"
2. "Blind Evil"
3. "Fire! Battle! In Metal!"
4. "In Flames You Burn"
5. "Crusaders' Anthem"
6. "Back From The Dead"
7. "Higher On Fire"
8. "The Prophecy"
9. "Made Of Metal"
10. "Heavy Metal In The Night"
11. "Let Me Out"
12. "The Chosen Ones"
13. "The Book Of Heavy Metal"
14. "Chasing The Dragon"
15. "Children Of The Night"

Video Clips (14:16)
- "Fire! Battle! In Metal!"
- "Blind Evil"
- "The Book Of Heavy Metal"
- "Children Of The Night"

Interview (18:44)

Silver Medal Disc - Alive CD (67:00):
Audio live-album with same tracklisting as Live Maerd DVD section.

Bronze Medal Disc - Archive CD (63:36):
1. "Dominator" (3:23) *
2. "Fight For Metal" (3:52) *
3. "December 25th" (4:16) *
4. "Pain Patrol" (3:14) **
5. "Lady Of Pleasure" (3:27) **
6. "Chapter 6" (4:03) ***
7. "Gold Medal In Metal" (3:11) #
8. "Point Of No Return" (3:52) ##
9. "The Enemy" (3:15) ***
10."Hero Of Zeroes" (4:30) ###
11. "Bringing The Metal Back" (3:43) #
12. "Betrayed" (4:01) +
13. "Evilized" [unplugged] (4:56) +
15. "Take The World" (4:09) +++
14. "Dragonheart" (3:35) ++
16. "Crusader's Anthem" [demo] (4:03) °
17. "Touring Is My Life" [live] (1:56) °°

* Brand new, exclusive and previously unreleased studio tracks from 2007.
** Japanese bonus tracks from "United" album. Unreleased elsewhere.
*** Japanese bonus track from "The Book Of Heavy Metal" album. Unreleased elsewhere.
# From "The Book Of Heavy Metal" sessions. Previously unreleased.
## From "The Book Of Heavy Metal" sessions. Previously only released on the "The First Chapter" CD-Single.
### From "The Book Of Heavy Metal" album sessions. Previously only released on the "New Found Power" Compilation CD
+ From "Evilized" sessions. Previously only released on the "Children Of The Night" MCD.

Read more ››

Source:	dreamevil.se
Band profile:	Dream Evil

Norwegian doomsters Funeral have set 22 September as the release date for their upcoming album entitled "As The Light Does The Shadow" [cover] to be released via Indie Recordings. Track No. 5 entitled "In The Fathoms Of Wit And Reason" features Robert Lowe (Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus) on vocals.

Album tracklist:

01. The Will To Die
02. Those Fated To Fall
03. The Strength To End It
04. The Elusive Light
05. In The Fathoms Of Wit And Reason [feat. Robert Lowe]
06. Towards The End
07. Let Us Die Alone
08. The Absence Of Heaven
09. Hunger
10. Fallen One

Source:	funeralband.no
Band profile:	Funeral

German metallers Equilibrium have posted their first promo video online for the track "Blut Im Auge." The track comes off the band's 2008 album "Sagas." The video can be viewed at this location.

Source:	equilibrium-metal.de
Band profile:	Equilibrium

Finnish symphonic folk metallers Kivimetsän Druidi will be releasing their debut album entitled "Shadowheart" [cover] in October 2008. The band describes the album as having "an unmistakable sound that is heavy, drivingly fast, but due to its epic atmosphere, and melancholic, highly catchy overtones marks a stunning amalgamation of Celtic folklore and vast extreme metal influences." The lyrics of the album are in both Finnish and English.

"Shadowheart" release dates:

15.10.2008 Finland.
17.10.2008 Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy.
21.10.2008 Spain, Portugal.
22.10.2008 Sweden, Hungary.

A new track from the upcoming album entitled "Verivala" is available for streaming on their MySpace page.

Kivimetsän Druidi will be joining fellow Finnish metallers Korpiklaani on their Finnish Fire - Tour 2008 along with Battlelore and Falchion:

13.11.2008 - GER, Gießen at Hessenhalle
14.11.2008 - GER, Glauchau at Alte Spinnerei
15.11.2008 - CZE, Prague at Retro Music Hall
16.11.2008 - CRO, Zagreb at Boogaloo
17.11.2008 - ITA, Milan at Alcatraz
18.11.2008 - FRA, Lyon at Ninkasi Kao
26.11.2008 - FRA, Strassbourg at La Laiterie
29.11.2008 - BEL, Hasselt at Mod Club
30.11.2008 - NED, Amsterdam at Melkweg
01.12.2008 - GBR, Wolverhampton at Wulfrun Hall
02.12.2008 - GBR, Glasgow at ABC 1
03.12.2008 - GBR, Manchester at Jillys Rock World
04.12.2008 - GBR, London at Carling Academy Islington
05.12.2008 - GBR, Leeds at Rio's

Source:	www2.centurymedia.com
Band profile:	Kivimetsän Druidi
Event:	Korpiklaani: Finnish Fire Tour