The well-known drummer Moritz Neuner was announced as the new member of Atrocity and Leaves Eyes, He already started to work with Leaves Eyes who just started the recording of their new album, and will be working with Atrocity that has something new coming too.

http://www.atrocity.de
http://www.leaveseyes.de/

Band profile:

Atrocity

The swedish guitarrist Marcus Jidell from The Ring, in officially the new guitarist of Royal Hunt. He will joining Royal Hunt in the studio to record their new album.

More info on:

http://www.royalhunt.com/

Band profile:

Royal Hunt

Lorenzo Milani oficially parted ways with U.D.O. due to personal reasons, to replace him the band brings Francesco Jovino for the recording of the new album, that have already started, the album will have 13 songs and is expecto to be release in October 2005 and then a tour in January 2006.

http://www.udo-online.de/

Into Eternity will have as a new singer Stu, he sings in the independent canadian band Omega Crom, the band have already rehershal with Stu, and "The rehearsals went VERY well for us"

Read more on:

http://forums.intoeternity.com/viewtopic.php's=472

Band profile:

Into Eternity

Here comes finally the long awaited 2nd album of CRIMSON MOONLIGHT named Veil Of Remembrance. The 1st album The Covenenant Progress have been very successful. Veil Of Remembrance is harder, faster, darker and more explosive than ever. The production is superb and handled by Thomas"Plec" Johansson (UNMOORED).
You can find musical elements from bands like DARK FUNERAL, EMPEROR & DIMMU BORGIR but CRIMSON MOONLIGHT have their own style and Veil Of Remembrance sets a new standard of extreme metal and this album will be a favourite album during 2005 by many extreme metal fans.

If you want to make an interview or book the band for a concert please mail this adress: Crimson_gustav@hotmail.com

The official release for this album is JANUARY 26, 2005

For more information about CRIMSON MOONLIGHT
www.crimsonmoonlight.com

www.rivelrecords.com

Band profile:

Crimson Moonlight

Mithras are very pleased to announce that their most recent recruit Sean Broster will be drumming on the as yet untitled 3rd album. This will be the follow up to the widely praised 'Worlds beyond the veil' and is scheduled to be recorded towards the end of 2005. Click here to see what Leon said about his shift from the drum seat and some more details on album 3.

www.mithras.org.uk

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Henrik Nordvargr Björkk, the well-known Industrial/Dark-Ambient/Electronic artist from Sweden (just to name a few of his many projects: MZ412, TOROIDH, NORDVARGR) finally joined FORGOTTEN TOMB on a stable basis!! Nordvargr already gave his obscure contribution to the band on the "Love's Burial Ground" album, writing 3 tracks ("Malus Vivendi" Pt. I, II, III). Now he's confirmed as a stable member and he will write new material together with the other members of the band, so expect the 4th FT full-lenght album to be a total ecstasy of Darkness In Stereo!! Imagine the sick suicidal feeling of FT interacting with desolated, harsh and obscure Industrial/Ambient sonic-scapes and you'll have a clue of how the new album will sound !

www.adipocere.fr

Band profile:

Forgotten Tomb

Heathen is in the process of looking for a new guitar player to replace Ira Black. Any professional lead guitar players interested in an audition can send a tape/CD, pic and bio to: Heathen c/o Relentless Records, 420 Barretta Street, Sonora, CA 95370 for consideration. Only serious players need apply and must be available for touring.

HEATHEN is in the process of writing a new album. The band is slated to enter the studio in January 2005. We are hoping for a March 2005 release date for the new album.It is still up in the air as to what label will release the new album.

www.heathenmetal.com

Band profile:

Heathen

As previously reported, DREAM THEATER vocalist James LaBrie was unable to reprise his role in FRAMESHIFT for the upcoming new album, Human Grain, thus a new body was brought in to replace him. According to ProgRock Records president Shawn Gordon, taking LaBrie's place is none other than Sebastian Bach. The vocals are due to be recorded next week, with a tentative release date planned for February.

The full Human Grain concept and audio samples (without Baz' vocals) can be found here( http://www.humangrain.com/ ). The material, written by multi-talent Henning Pauly, is described as "very dark and heavy as it deals with different aspects of human violence."

www.bravewords.com

Latvian pagan/folk/black metal band SKYFORGER have parted ways with guitarist Rihard who decided to quit band due to family commitments anymore. He commented: "This has been fantastic time to be in Skyforger so long time, here I have had probably greatests moments of my life. A lot of work, power and dedication has been put into this band, but I feel that I need to take some choises of my life and underline priorities, no matter how hard is that for my heart."

In his place, the band have added two new members: Motors (guitars) and Kaspars, who plays various folk instruments (bagpipes, pipes, kokle etc). You can view a new band photo
here .

In other news, Skyforger will be issuing their new CD, Semigalls' Warchant, on February 3rd via Folter Records. It will feature Skyforger's demo album (previously on tape, sold out years ago) Semigalls' Warchant 1997 (all tracks digitally remastered) and additional four new bonus tracks, recorded in December 2004. CD will also have new layout and previosly unseen photos from band's archives. You can view the album cover here .

Folter Records has also released limited (to 500 copies) editions of first two albums of Skyforger: Kauja Pie Saules (1998) and Latvian Riflemen (2000) 2000 on LP for first time. All tracks are remastered and Latvian Riflemen will feature also previously never before available bonus track from 1999 recording sessions: 'Brother Rides To The War'.

Skyforger is hitting the road in February on the Ancient Flames Over Europe Tour featuring support acts SEAR BLISS and SALACIOUS GODS

February

3 - Berlin, Germany at K17

4 - Schwerin, Germany at Dr.K

5 - Dortmund, Germany at Das Zentrum/Scharnhorst

6 - Arnhem, Holland at Goudvishal

7 - Gent, Belgium at Frontline

9 - Prague, Czech Republic at TBA

10 - Stuttgart, Germany at JH Anna

11 - Innsbruck, Austria at Hafen

12 - Halle, Germany at Uhrenwerk

Other upcoming dates are as follows

19 - Riga, Latvia at Kabata (with HELLBOX, LOITS & MUST

MISSA)

April

28 - Derry, Ireland at Bound For Boston (with WAYLANDER and MADRA)

29 - Dublin, Ireland at Vodoo Lounge (with Waylander,

AFTERMATH and SOL AXIS) 30 - Belfast, Ireland at Rosetta

Bar (with Aftermath and OLD SEASON)

May

1 May London, UK at TBA

www.bravewords.com

Read more ››

After the huge success of the xmas single in Finland and due to many invitations and request we have received for a Christmas performance, Tarja has decided to do a Christmas Concert Tour next December 2005!!

Still the European countries for the tour and the amount of shows is not decided, but stay tuned and we will let you know as soon as we have something confirmed.

http://www.tarjaturunen.com/

Band profile:

Tarja

After a few years of silence Evoken finally re-emerged from the vault and completed the new album "Antithesis of Light".

We have just received the master tape a few hours before doing this news update, so we can't really say much about it in this very moment. From the few songs we had the opportunity to listen to, we all can expect an extreme album, with very little left to melodies and hope.

Album tracks list :

- INTRO
- IN SOLITARY RUIN
- ACCURSED PREMONITION
- THE MOURNFUL REFUSAL
- PAVOR NOCTURNUS
- ANTITHESIS OF LIGHT
- THE LAST OF VITALITY

(for a total playing time of 73 minutes !!!)

Here you have an anticipation of the album front cover ( click here )

www.avantgardemusic.com

Read more ››

Band profile:

Evoken

We are looking for someone with experience, charisma, and a magnetic stage presence. Vocally must be able to sing all the Souza/ Baloff material and bring their own style to the table.Must be able to incorporate different elements into the mix( death metal, thrash and black metal styles). Not looking for saints, but must be clean of any hard drugs.

please send a cd / with picture of yourself and any dvd or vhs tape with live performances if you have
one...

send to:

Exodus
6331 Fairmount ave. suite #427
El Cerrito, Ca 94530

http://www.exodusattack.com/

Band profile:

Exodus

Craig Nielsen has posted the following Flotsam update on the message board:
"At long last, we start the record on January 2nd, after a series of delays, some to do with the band and some to do with the label. We are very recharged and ready to do a great Flotsam record.

Also, the video of one of our recent Tokyo shows came out even much better than we could have ever imagined thanks to the intense professionalism of the Japanese who recorded it, and the fact that it was one of the very best live shows this band has captured in their entire career. So we will shop it for another live release, as it actually blows away even our recent DVD.

And for upcoming shows, Flotsam will be playing with HATEBREED and AGNOSTIC FRONT on the "Goodyfest" in Phoenix, January 14th, then we play the next night, January 15th, at the "Deep Freeze" event in Westminister, Colorado, very close to Denver.

Bad news for the Flotsam/METAL CHURCH tour. The story has changed at least 5 times from the 3 different agencies involved so I wont even bother trying to decipher what really happened, but the tour is off. Agents have a tendency to lie a lot and constantly change what they come strong and sure at you with in the beginning as a proposal. We are still getting many, many emails from Europeans who would really like to see Flotsam so we may still make it happen.

As always, a very sincere thank you to all loyal Flotsam fans who continue to show so much support through all the bullshit!

Flots Til Death."

http://www.flotsam-and-jetsam.com/

Band profile:

Flotsam And Jetsam

New worldwide deal signed with Steamhammer/SPV
It's now official! We are very happy to tell you that we have inked a worldwide deal with Steamhammer/SPV.

It's an honour for us to be on the same rooster as quality bands such as Motörhead, Saxon, Type O Negative, Monster Magnet, Kreator, Raging Speedhorn, Dio, Sepultura etc.

"The Killing EP" recorded

We have visited the Jailhouse Studios in Horsens , Denmark , to record our new EP, simply entitled "The Killing EP". The EP was produced by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids etc) in cooperation with Jacob Hansen (Invocator) and HateSphere. Tracklist for the EP is as follows:

1. Murderous Intent
2. You're the Enemy
3. The Will of God
4. Trip at the Brain (Suicidal Tendencies cover)

"The killing EP" will be out in Europe on January 31 st 2005 via SPV/Steamhammer.

www.hatesphere.com