Polish female fronted traditional heavy metal act Crystal Viper signed a new contract with AFM Records.

"Yes, we can say Crystal Viper found new home at AFM Records! We are truly happy, as except being extremely serious, these guys have the same passion as we do: Heavy Metal. And that's what really matters!" points Marta Gabriel, Crystal Viper vocalist & guitarist.

The first Crystal Viper release on AFM will be the live album titled Defenders Of The Magic Circle: Live In Germany, scheduled for June 4th, 2010. This summer Crystal Viper will also enter the studio, to record the third studio album.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Crystal Viper

German heavy metallers Kissin' Dynamite are set to release their new album Addicted To Metal on March 26th. The band's first single is "Addicted To Metal" featuring Udo Dirkschneider, which came about, after the band has supported U.D.O. on their tour in December. Here you can check out "Addicted To Metal" featuring Udo and more music of Kissin' Dynamite.

"The new album is very recommendable and even Udo says that he hasn't been so excited from a German band for a long time and that they've got what it takes to become successful internationally."

Addicted To Metal cover art] tracklist:

01. Addicted To Metal
02. Run For Your Life
03. Supersonic Killer
04. High Enough
05. Love Me Hate Me
06. Hysteria
07. All Against All
08. In The Name Of Iron Fist
09. Assassins Of Love
10. Why Can't You Hear Me
11. We Want More
12. Metal Nation

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Kissin' Dynamite

Original news, posted on 02.03.2010

The radio edit of "Dying For An Angel", a brand new song from Edguy frontman Tobias Sammet's Avantasia's project, is available for streaming below. The track, which features a special guest appearance by Scorpions singer Klaus Meine, comes off Avantasia's new record, The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon, to be released on April 3, 2010 as regular CD's, two separate double picture vinyls, and as a beautiful collector's edition with an band's picture book. A video for the song was recently filmed and will be released soon.

UPDATE (thanks to JosipS)

Avantasia have uploaded their latest video for the song "Dying For An Angel" over at this location.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Avantasia

Finnish rock band Negative will release its fifth album, Neon, on June 2. The CD was recorded at the Broken Wave studios in Los Angeles with Warren Riker as the engineer/assistant producer and Jimmy Westerlund as the producer.

According to a press release, Neon is "a milestone in Negative's career. A lot has been invested in the production ? the material has been polished to perfection before entering the studios under the supervision of Jeff Blue. Singer Jonne Aaron's vocal scale stretches wider than ever and the band's playing comes together brilliantly on this upcoming album. Aaron has composed an album filled to the brim with emotional stadium rock."

Neon will be the first Negative album to be released in Europe and Asia simultaneously via Warner Music and JVC Music, respectively. The CD's first single, "End Of The Line", was distributed to radio stations March 1 and will be followed by a music video later in the spring.

Neon tracklist:

01. No One Can Save Me Tonight
02. End Of The Line
03. Love That I Lost
04. Blood On Blood
05. Believe
06. Celestial Summer
07. Jealous Sky
08. Days I'm Living For
09. Since You've Been Gone
10. Kiss Of Hope
11. Fucking Worthless
12. Neon Rain

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Negative

Diablo vocalist/guitarist Rainer Nygård has posted the following update concerning the band's upcoming endeavours:

"Late autumn last year we thought that we needed some time off from rock 'n' roll business. It was a good choice because now that our mental and physical batteries are full again, it's easier to think about future. So in the beginning of this year we started to work with new material on a more serious basis. At the moment we've got enough ideas and material for me to say that we will release a new Diablo album in the future. Date is open of course but when the stars are on the right position we will inform you guys.

Most of the stuff is of course brand new but we will also give a shot for couple of strong older riff's which did not open in last producing sessions the way we wanted them to. At this point it's hard to say what the next album is going to be like, but fast enough for sure, ha ha! I also think that we use keyboards more open mindedly than in previous albums. Sounds a bit suspicious, eh? Don't worry, it will be still uncompromising heavy metal. I have some ideas about the "big theme" and graphics too. For me especially those two are the most important things in starting a new project seriously.

Last night I copied to this laptop all ideas related to lyrics and production etc. from my mobile. Suddenly I got a bad vibe that my phone might face an accident in the near future and I could end up loosing all ideas from 2007-2010. Some might say I am superstitious, eh!!??

We have promised to do only two gigs during the summer of 2010, and rest of the year is left open on purpose. If some interesting offers come in sigh, we might reconsider but otherwise we're concentrating on writing new material."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Diablo

A brand new song, called "Edwige's Eyes" from Cathedral's forthcoming album The Guessing Game is now available for streaming at the band's MySpace. The Guessing Game will hit the streets on March 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. More album details can be here.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Cathedral

Here's a detailed update on Primal Fear, Matt Sinner and other related projects.

"Primal Fear is getting busy again and here are some latest news what's going on in the PF camp. We will play our first show in 2010 on Saturday March 6th in our hometown Esslingen and a new set list at this year's Rock For One World benefit event. On March 26th we will play for the first time ever in Luxemburg - Moulfort. In April we're coming back to Sweden - April 7th in Gävle with supports Saint Demon and The Murder Of My Sweet and on April 8/9th we will join the Sweden Rock Cruise with Death Angel, Heat and more. Tickets for the Primal Fear North American tour "The Fear Is Here 2010" in May/June are on sale and Havok are already confirmed as the first support band. Great news from Pamela Moore (guest for Queensrÿche) - she will be joining Primal Fear on stage on ALL dates of the North American tour!

The Rock Meets Classic tour 2010 was a nice success and featured Mat Sinner as musical director/bass, Henny Wolter on lead guitar, Jimmy Kresic (keyboards) and Martin Schmidt (drums). Backing Vocals by Amanda Somerville, Verena Schock & Tiffany Kirkland. You can watch a promo clip on YouTube - the tour agency is already working on a new RMC edition for January 2011 with a new line up of singers. iMusic One TV will broadcast a one hour special of the event on the Easter weekend!

More studio & production News.

Primal Fear is busy at work on the new DVD 16.6 - All Over The World. The DVD will feature mainly the 2009 concerts in Switzerland and Atlanta/USA, plus a lot of interesting shots from Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Germany, Sweden etc etc. - still a long way to go, but it will be a killer package incl. the first official Live CD of Primal Fear Live In The USA recorded in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York. Achim Koehler is already working on the mix of the audio stuff. We're pleased to announce that Frontiers Records will be our partner again and will release the package worldwide in mid June 2010. Primal Fear will be on the road again in Europe after the festival season in Mid September, to present their new DVD & Live CD in Concert!

Voodoo Circle finished the drum recordings for their new album Broken Heart Syndrome with new drummer Markus Kullmann @ the U3 studios in Stuttgart and Alex Beyrodt will start recording his guitar parts during the next days. The release of the second Voodoo Circle album is set for September 2010 by AFM Records.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Primal Fear

Wolftrap is how the brand new finnish "old-school hard rock boogie" band is called. Rising from the ashes of the traditional heavy metal band Manitou, the band was born during the autumn of 2009. Wolftrap features four old Manitou members, Omnium Gatherum and Total Devastation drummer Jarmo Pikka, and and born-to-rock-the-world vocalist Jussi Serengil from the local The Doors tribute band, called The Roars.

A first Wolftrap song, entitled "Deal Done My Dear" can now be streamed here.

According to a press release, "Wolftrap will take on the world step by step and piece by piece starting from the coming spring 2010 when this crew gets some of their stuff recorded and released and also debuting on stage at Dark Winter Festival in Kotka, Finland. It's all about having fun, it's not about the fame here... But beware still, 'cause your new soon-to-be favourite band is ready an' willing and quite near you."

Wolftrap is:

Jukka Serengil - vocals
Markus van Hala (Omnium Gatherum, Malpractice, ex-Manitou) - guitar
Ismo Laukkanen (ex- Manitou ) - bass
Jarmo Pikka (Omnium Gatherum, Total Devastation) - drums
Antti Laurén (ex-Manitou) - guitar
Mikko Reinamo (Kaihoro) - keyboards

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Manitou

Finnish doom metal outfit Ordog have their new album ready. Here's the issued statement by the band:

"After a long time of composing/recording/producing/mixing we have finaly been able to conclude our creational journey of our forthcoming third album. The album is called Remorse and it consists of 7 tracks and over 70 minutes of music. Samples will be published shortly on our MySpace page.

Remorse tracklist:

01. Human Shell
02. Betrayed
03. Shadowland
04. Abuse
05. Remorse
06. Boneyard Horizon
07. Meant To Be An End

Read the thoughts and comments by the band members at this location.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Ordog

Drummer Andy Green has now officially left Pagan Altar, the geographical and financial issues being a deciding factor. Andy has a young family to think of now and of course this takes priority over all things and quite rightly so.

Anyone lucky enough to see him play with Pagan Altar will know what a loss his departure will be to the band. Andy had offered to honour the forthcoming gigs that were in the pipeline before parting company but as this was the only clear period we had before the Finnish tour and the full catalogue of gigs that follow the band decided to get someone up and running ASAP. To leave it any longer would have been even more detrimental as more gigs would have to be cancelled later whilst we got someone new up to speed. Even so, the Finnish tour at the beginning of April was certainly in doubt for a time and I thought for the first time in its chequered history Pagan Altar would have to cancel!

A rare stroke of luck, well certainly for this band anyway, presented itself in the form of a chance meeting with Ian (The bear) Winters, a drummer we have known from way back and whom we had completely lost contact with prior to this. Ian has been playing drums for some thirty-two years now and if anyone can put together a Pagan Altar set in the time available it would be Ian. Al played in the band XYZ with Ian after the first demise of Pagan Altar and spent some two years in Wales playing and recording material so no strangers there!

The rehearsals have gone even better than expected and things are coming together nicely! Watch out for some really powerful drumming from that department, as they don't call him the Bear for nothing! Anyway, we are really looking forward to the Finnish tour with Isole as I have heard a lot of good things about the audiences there and its healthy Metal scene in general.

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Source:	paganaltar.co.uk
Band profile:	Pagan Altar

Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group. This reunion is appropriately timed to Megadeth's upcoming historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA. At these incredibly special shows, Megadeth will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album Rust In Peace in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites.

"This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness," Mustaine says. "David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth. Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked...HARD!"

David Ellefson concurs: "This is a huge moment for all of us, band and fans alike. It is a great celebration of the music from one of the biggest landmark albums of our career."

Ellefson will join Mustaine and Megadeth band members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar) on tour in support of the group's current CD Endgame, which has received some of the highest critical accolades of the band's career.

"We'd like to thank James LoMenzo for several years of loyal service on the bass, and wish him the very best," Mustaine adds.

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

The opening track "Havoc" for the new Borknagar album Universal will be officially available for streaming the 29th of January at http://www.myspace.com/borknagar.

The band also announced additional info on bonus discs: the bonus disc that comes with the limited digipack edition and the CD BOX Dragon edition will include the 4 episodes of the documentary "Making of Universal", high resolution wallpapers, highquality mp3 version of the album and iTunes booklet. Universal will be released in 4 different versions: normal jewelcase, limited digipack, CD-BOX and gatefold LP with two vinyls. See here for more specific information on each item.

Borknagar's upcoming album Universal will be launched for a worldwide release the 22nd of February 2010 through Indie Recordings. Release date for USA/Canada/Mexico the 2nd of March 2010 through Indie Recordings via The End Records. More info about the album here.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Borknagar

Polish Heavy metal band Crystal Viper have annouced a handful of European tour dates. The band will tour under the banner of "The Tour And The Witch 2010".

30-01-2010 - Progresja Club, Warsaw, Poland
14-02-2010 - Klub Studio, Krakow, Poland (Love It Hard Festival)
26-02-2010 - Sin City, Athens, Greece
27-02-2010 - Harley Club, Thesaloniki, Greece
23-04-2010 - Tauberfrankenhalle, Konigshofen, Germany (Keep It True XIII Festival)
08-05-2010 - (venue tba), Silesia, Poland
19-06-2010 - (venue tba), Sofia, Bulgaria
24-07-2010 - Woodstock Open Air, Borkovany, Czech Republic

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Crystal Viper
Event:	Crystal Viper: The Tour And The Witch

Original news, posted on 12.01.2010

Alto Voltaggio, the rock band featuring Frank Knight (Wild Knight, X-Wild), Igor Gianola (U.D.O.) and Francesco Jovino (U.D.O.), have announced the release of a live CD. The album will be available soon, though limited to 500 copies.

The CD was recorded at the band's latest live show in Switzerland at the end of December last year. The show featured an AC/DC cover set including songs as "Dirty Deeds", "Touch Too Much", "Whole Lotta Rosie" and more. Frank Knight took over the Bon Scott numbers.

Stay tuned for more information. Visit http://www.myspace.com/altovoltaggioofficial for details.

UPDATE (thanks to Bad English)

There are now six new Alto Voltaggio songs available for streaming. Check them out here.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	X Wild

W.A.S.P. have released a new video for the song "Babylons Burning". Watch it below. The song is taken from W.A.S.P.'s 2009 album Babylon.


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Source:	waspnation.com
Band profile:	W.A.S.P.