Vancouver's Bison B.C. is set to release their 3rd album, and 2nd with Metal Blade Records, titled Dark Ages on April 13 and prepare for their upcoming tour with High On Fire, Priestess, and Black Cobra by playing a batch of dates with Shadows Fall and Baptized In Blood including two shows at the infamous SXSW festival. Bison B.C. also has plans set for a notational Canadian tour in June, which will be announced in the coming weeks. A list of tour dates can be found here.

Dark Ages was recorded by Jesse Gander, who also recorded Quiet Earth, at The Hive Creative Labs in Burnaby, British Columbia and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.

Dark Ages cover art] tracklist:

01. Stressed Elephant
02. Fear Cave
03. Melody, This is for You
04. Two-Day Booze
05. Die of Devotion
06. Take the Next Exit
07. Wendigo Pt. 3 (Let Him Burn)

The track "Stressed Elephant" will be available on Canada's Explore Music starting March 12th and the track "Two-Day Booze" will be premiered exclusively on StereoGum starting on April 2nd.

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Source:	metalblade.com
Band profile:	Bison B.C.

The mighty Rhapsody Of Fire will be unleashing their 7th studio effort on 30 April worldwide. The opus is called The Frozen Tears Of Angels, and a first song, entitled "Sea Of Fate" is available for streaming here, or for free download here (e-mail required).

The Frozen Tears Of Angels cover artwork will unfold itself by clicking here.

No Rhapsody Of Fire news without a cheesy catchphrase full of epicness official band statement: "Be ready to discover the ancient secret trapped between the frozen lands of the known world!" Oy!

More exciting news will be announced on 21 March. Stay tuned.

Read more ››

Source:	rhapsodyoffire.com
Band profile:	Rhapsody

Klone's upcoming album is entitled Black Days. The follow-up to All Seeing Eye will be out on April 19th in France, and on May 17th in the rest of Europe and Australia. The French metallers third record will come with a bonus DVD, whose content will be unveiled later.

Black Days cover art] tracklist:

01. Rite Of Passage
02. Spiral Down
03. Give Up The Rest
04. Hollow Way
05. Immaculate Desire
06. Closed Season (Interlude)
07. The Spell Is Cast
08. Danse Macabre
09. Rain Bird
10. Behold The Silence
11. Army Of Me

All info on the band at http://www.myspace.com/klone.

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Source:

season-of-mist.com

Screaming orgasm time for the North American metalheads, ladies and gents.

Iron Maiden are pleased to announce that their forthcoming new studio album will be called The Final Frontier, and is expected be released late summer of this year.

The announcement comes with news of a North American Tour with very special guests Dream Theater to open in Dallas, Texas, on 9th June and finish in Washington D.C. on 20th July, making it Maiden's most extensive North American tour in many years. Also Coheed & Cambria are rumored to be on this tour - Ed.]

Following these shows in USA and Canada The Final Frontier World Tour will travel back to Europe for a few selected major festival and stadium shows with the band planning to continue to many other countries in 2011 (full currently confirmed dates below).

The full Live Nation press release for the North American Tour is posted here.

The Final Frontier 2010 North American Tour

Jun. 09 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
Jun. 11 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Jun. 12 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
Jun. 14 - Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Jun. 16 - Albuquerque, NM - The Pavilion
Jun. 17 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Wireless Pavilion
Jun. 19 - San Bernardino, CA - San Manuel Amphitheatre
Jun. 20 - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion
Jun. 22 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
Jun. 24 - Vancouver, BC - GM Place
Jun. 26 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Jun. 29 - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Center
Jun. 30 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Center (no Dream Theater)
Jul. 03 - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
Jul. 07 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
Jul. 11 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC
Jul. 12 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
Jul. 14 - Pittsburgh, PA - First Niagra Pavilion
Jul. 15 - Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center
Jul. 17 - Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
Jul. 18 - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Jul. 20 - Washington DC - Jiffy Lube Live

The Final Frontier 2010 European Tour

Jul. 30 - UK, Knebworth - Sonisphere Festival
Aug. 05 - GER, Wacken - Wacken Open Air 2010
Aug. 07 - SWE, Stockholm - Sonisphere Festival
Aug. 08 - FIN, Pori - Sonisphere Festival
Aug. 11 - NOR, Bergen

Read more ››

Source:	ironmaiden.com
Band profile:	Iron Maiden
Event:	Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier 2010 N. American Tour

SWR Inc. proudly presents the ultimate weapons for the upcoming attack of SWR Barroselas Metalfest, set to take place from April 30 to May 2 in Barroselas, the north of Portugal.

Three generations of metal headline the event... Kreator, Immolation and Dying Fetus are the major highlights for this year. Tom G. Warrior's brand new band Triptykon, northern thrashers Aura Noir and Swedish death squad Vomitory are also among the main attractions.

13 candles burning high... If you are going to the metal village of Barroselas, be sure to wear some bullets in your belt!

3-days tickets : at the box 70? | pre-sale 60? (with free t-shirt)
Daily tickets : 35? | 38? | 35?
More ticket info here.

Warm-Up Show: Thursday 29 April - 22:00 - free entrance

Battlefields, Manatees

Day 1: Friday 30 April - 19:00 - 35?

Immolation, Triptykon, Archgoat, Birdflesh, Jucifer, Sourvein, Rose Funeral, Ingested, Black Bombaim, Martyr Defiled, Karnak Seti

Day 2: Saturday 1 May - 15:00 - 38?

Kreator, Aura Noir, Vomitory, Impiety, Haemorrhage, Setherial, Decayed, General Surgery, Mithras, Taint, Celeste, Morte Incandescente, Nashgul, Tinner, Besta Bode, Birth Signs, Decrepidemic

Day 3: Sunday 2 May - 15:00 - 35?

Dying Fetus, Orphaned Land, Beneath The Massacre, Zeni Geva, Men Eater, Mourning Beloveth, Defeated Sanity, Putrid Pile, KK Null, Process Of Guilt, Nesseria, Cerebral Bore, Crysys, Kryptos, Prayers Of Sanity, Suffochate

Read more ››

Source:	swr-fest.com
Event:	SWR Barroselas Metalfest XIII

Original news, posted on 23.02.2010

Dark Tranquillity will embark on the second European part of the Where Death Is Most Alive Tour in Autumn. Support will come from Insomnium.

The dates are as follows:

Sep. 23 - Hamburg, Gruenspan, Germany
Sep. 24 - Leipzig, Conne Island, Germany
Sep. 25 - Munster, Sputnikhalle, Germany
Sep. 26 - Köln, Essigfabrik, Germany
Sep. 27 - Tilburg, 013, Netherlands
Sep. 28 - London, Underworld, UK
Sep. 29 - Vosselaar, Biebob, Belgium
Sep. 30 - Paris, Trabendo, France
Oct. 01 - Montpellier, Salle Victoire 2, France
Oct. 02 - Bilbao, Rockstar, Spain
Oct. 03 - Porto, Teatro Sá da Bandeira, Portugal
Oct. 04 - Lissabon, Incrível Almadense, Portugal
Oct. 06 - Madrid, Sala Heineken, Spain
Oct. 07 - Barcelona, Razz 2, Spain
Oct. 08 - Lyon, CCO, France
Oct. 09 - Lausanne, Les Dock, Switzerland
Oct. 10 - Bologna, Estragon, Italy
Oct. 11 - Rom, Alpheus, Italy
Oct. 12 - Milano, Magazini Generali, Italy
Oct. 13 - Zagreb, Boogaloo, Croatia
Oct. 14 - Budapest, Duerer Kert, Hungary
Oct. 15 - Wien, Szene, Austria
Oct. 16 - Ljubljana, Gala Hala/Media Park, Slovenia
Oct. 17 - Graz, Orpheum, Austria
Oct. 19 - Stuttgart, Röhre, Germany
Oct. 20 - Luzern, Schuur, Switzerland
Oct. 21 - Frankfurt aM, Batschkapp, Germany
Oct. 22 - München, Backstage, Germany
Oct. 24 - Berlin, Lido, Germany
Oct. 25 - Malmö, KB, Sweden #
Oct. 28 - Jyväskylä, Lutakko, Finland *
Oct. 29 - Oulu, Teatria, Finland *
Oct. 30 - Seinäjoki, Rytmikorjamoo, Finland *
Oct. 31 - Tampere, Klubi, Finland *
Nov. 01 - Helsinki, Nosturi, Finland *
Nov. 02 - Turku, Klubi, Finland *
Nov. 04 - Stockholm, Medis, Sweden *
Nov. 05 - Örebro, 700, Sweden *
Nov. 06 - Oslo, John Dee, Norway *
Nov. 07 - Göteborg, Trädgån, Sweden *

(# both Insomnium and Avatar)
(* no Insomnium, only Avatar)

UPDATE (thanks to BudDa)

Avatar (no, not that Avatar) will be supporting Dark Tranquillity in Scandinavia in October. In other words, Avatar will be taking over support duties from Insomnium on the final dates of the tour, as marked with an asterisk.

The Swedish melodic death metal band commented: "We are very happy to break the news that Avatar will support Dark Tranquillity on the Scandinavian leg of their fall tour! So you all out there will get the chance to catch both of your favorite bands on the same stage"

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Dark Tranquillity
Event:	Dark Tranquillity: Where Death Is Most Alive Part II 2010

Here's your portion of celebrity gossip of the week. Celebrity "news" zine Thirty Mile Zone has reported that a warrant was issued for former Warrant singer Jani Lane. Oh, the irony.

The warrent was issued last week, after Jani Lane failed to show up to two court appearances connected to his 2009 DUI conviction. TMZ reports: "We're told Lane was scheduled to appear in court on February 23 to show the judge he's completed his alcohol classes and community service - but he never showed. The court date was rescheduled for February 24... but Lane missed that one too.

We spoke to Lane's lawyer, who says the singer has been in the hospital and won't be able to make it to court until next week. As for why he's in the hospital ... no word."

Read more ››

Source:	tmz.com
Band profile:	Warrant

Below you can find the latest video "Way To Nowhere" from German Glam Rock band Pussy Sisster - known from the TV Shows on German channel RTL. The video was recorded during the band's live show in the Europe Hall in Karlsruhe. The band is currently in the studio, working on their new self-titled album. The effort will be produced by Dennis Ward.

More info about the band at http://www.myspace.com/pussysisster.

Read more ››

Source:

myspace.com

UK based ice-cold legion Wintersoul are proud to announce that they have just signed a deal with American record label Nokternal Hemizphear. The band adds: "A new era has begun and we are confident that the cooperation will be successful for both band and record label. More detailed information on the debut album Frozen Storm Apocalypse, including the official release date, cover art revealing, and track streaming will be announced shortly."

Frozen Storm Apocalypse cover art] tracklist:

01. Frostland
02. Dawn of the Ice Hearts
03. Thorns of Winter
04. Dark Winter Skies
05. The Awakening
06. Shades of Terror
07. Shadows of Death
08. Blood on Ice
09. ...As the Snowfall...

More info about Wintersoul at http://www.myspace.com/wintersoulhorde.

Read more ››

Source:

nhmetal.com

Original news, posted on 23.02.2010

Official press release

Norwegian black metallers 1349 have announced the title and release date of their new album. The album, entitled Demonoir, will be released by Indie Recordings throughout Europe on April 26, and by Prosthetic Records in North America on April 27.

For the band's fifth full-length release, 1349 decided to suck out the fiercest and most potent energies from every single member and surroundings, channeling it into songs that are pulsating with uncanny atmospheres, rawness and nerve shattering intensity. The whole process of getting the material on record was like one long, exhausting black magic summoning that could not be allowed to go wrong.

Demonoir is without a shadow of a doubt 1349's darkest, most sinister and brutal work to date, and in this case it comes to mean that the band has gone from the utterly extreme to the genre-expanding and mind-boggling. Black Metal cannot, and will never be the same.

Demonoir will be available in North America as a digipack CD and a limited edition 12" picture disc LP.

UPDATE

Norwegian metallers 1349 will release their forthcoming album, Demonoir, on April 26 in Europe via Indie Recordings and one day later in North America through Prosthetic Records.

Demonoir cover art] tracklist:

01. Tunnel Of Set - I
02. Atomic Chapel
03. Tunnel II
04. When I Was Flesh
05. Tunnel III
06. Psalm 7:77
07. Tunnel IV
08. Pandemonium War Bells
09. Tunnel V
10. The Devil Of The Deserts
11. Tunnel VI
12. Demonoir
13. Tunnel VII

Read more ››

Source:	prostheticrecords.com
Band profile:	1349

Cattle Decapitation have confirmed a shitload of US tour dates - both headlining as support dates - with Job For A Cowboy, Revocation, Whitechapel and Gaza, among others. All details can be found here. The band will also embark on a European tour in summer. Dates are to be announced.

For the event, Cattle Decapitation has announced a bass player to handle all upcoming touring duties has been found - after the previous one leaving in August. Bassist Derek Engemann of Kansas' Unmerciful will be handling bass duties on all upcoming tour dates. The band was quoted: "We jammed all weekend and are more than confident in his abilities and can't wait to hit the road with him! Prepare for annihilation!"

In other news, the band'll be releasing a rarities compilation soon via Metal Blade Records. The collection appropriately titled Medium Rarities will feature tracks spanning Cattle Decapitation's career including never before heard songs, hard to find/out of print tracks, live material, cover tunes and ultra rare pre-Human Jerky tracks never before heard by fans of the band. Wes Benscoter will be handling the artwork. More info on this coming so stay tuned.

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Cattle Decapitation

France's Alcest have announced a string of North American live dates. The band will be touring in support of the upcoming record Écailles De Lune, which will be released on March 29th. Alcest will be supported over the tour with various acts including: Velnias, Liturgy, Clad In Darkness, Woe, Monarque, and Have A Nice Life.

April 22nd - Quebec, QC - Bar Octobre
April 23rd - Toronto, ON - Hard Luck Bar
April 24th - Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club
April 25th - TBA, TBA
April 26th - TBA, TBA
April 27th - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
April 28th - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
April 29th - New York, NY - The Studio (Webster Hall)
April 30th - Montreal, QC - Underworld
May 1st - Boston, MA - Unit 11

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Alcest
Event:	Alcest: Lunar Abysses Over North America

Original news, posted on 24.02.2010

Rammstein are in trouble... again. Authorities in Belarus have declared Germany's Rammstein a threat to the state. They questioned an upcoming concert in Minsk, saying letting it go on would be a "costly mistake" for the country.

Rammstein's music could "destroy the Belarusian state system," said the country's Public Council on Morality on Monday. The Council described the band's songs as propaganda for "violence, masochism, homosexuality and other abnormalities" and said "permitting a Rammstein concert would be a costly mistake."

The German group, which is known for the sexual and violent nature of its lyrics, was scheduled to perform at Minsk Arena on March 7. Writer Mikalay Charhinets, head of the government's Public Council on Morality said he regretted that tickets had already been sold for the concert, but that if the event were to take place, the program would need to be revised in order to prevent "extremism."

Belarus is a former Soviet republic and has been ruled since 1994 by President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been referred to as Europe's "last dictator." The country's Public Council on Morality, a state-sponsored censorship agency, was founded in 2009 and has been accused of suppressing freedom of opinion.

The Rammstein concert organizers told the Interfax-West news agency on Monday that they had "no information that Rammstein will spread violent, perverse, cruel or Nazi ideology at their concert in Minsk."

UPDATE

In an ongoing quest of the Belarusian Public Council on Morality to make complete fools of themselves, the members of the Council now demand a preview of the show that Rammstein are scheduled to perform in Minsk on March 7. Here's the story as reported by Naviny.by - a Belarusian news site:

"The members of the Council believe that with its work, the band openly propagates homosexuality, masochism and other perversions, as well as cruelty, violence and abusive language," the Public Council on Morality said in a statement issued on Monday. "The group's concerts often feature live acts of intercourse, ejaculation and acts of imitating the Nazis."

"We looked through pictures and watched videos of Rammstein shows," Mikalay Charhinets, chairman of the Council who heads the government-backed Union of Writers of Belarus, said in an interview with BelaPAN. "They really show pornographic, violent and cruel scenes," he said.

Read more ››

Source:	dw-world.de
Band profile:	Rammstein
Event:	Rammstein: European Tour

Guitarist Matt Wilcock (ex-The Berzerker) - who has been putting the "cock" in "Akercocke" for six years - has announced his departure from the band. Here's his farewell speech:

"After 5 years with Ak, and a lot of good times, it's now time for me to move on. Musically, I'm differing a bit with the natural path that Akercocke's taking, so it's best for me to part ways now. Theres no shit between anyone, and I'm thoroughly looking forward to going out with a bang, (or blast) on these last 4 shows Dark Funeral]. Full respect to the guys, especially Jason and Dave. I'll be continuing to work with Dave on The Antichrist Imperium which will be up and running very soon. Also much respect to everyone I've met on the road and at shows etc."

Akercocke's dates on the Declaration Of Hate Tour (with Dark Funeral, Zonaria, Carach Angren and Nefarium)

12.03.2010 - GBR, Leeds - Rios
13.03.2010 - GBR, Prestatyn - Hammerfest II
14.03.2010 - GBR, Nottingham - Rock City
15.03.2010 - GBR, London - Underworld

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Akercocke

Original news, posted on 23.11.2009

Finnish symphonic power metallers Amberian Dawn have issued the following update:

"Preparations for the third Amberian Dawn album are well underway. Keyboard player Tuomas, who composes music for AD, has all the new songs ready and Heidi has already started writing lyrics. Recordings begin on November 23rd and the first "victim" is our drummer Joonas. He has just got his brand new TAMA Starclassic drum kit and it will be interesting to find out how the set sounds in the studio.

The new album is going to be more diverse, faster and darker than our previous albums. The fastest AD songs to date contrast some extremely slow and heavy songs. There's even going to be a classical music piece. Some guest stars are going to featured on this album. Stay tuned for more information."

UPDATE (thanks to BudDa)

Amberian Dawn have posted the following studio update, concerning a very special guest appearance:

"We are proud to announce that professional opera singer, baritone Markus Nieminen is going to visit on our next album. Markus have been singing for example in Vienna State Opera, Hamburg State Opera, Sempreoper in Dresden, operahouses in Basil and St. Gallen and in Volksopera Vienna. Amberian Dawn likes to experience with different kind of styles of music. So, on next album of AD, there's going to be one classical piece (a walz) on which Heidi's going to duet with Markus. We are expecting the most special and stunning AD song so far."

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Amberian Dawn