New drummer in Amaran is: Pär Hjulström. Also the band anounced that "We'll concentrate all our energy into the songwriting of the next album which will be recorded next year, it'll be a new killer - That's a promise!!! ".

http://www.amaran.net/

Band profile:

Amaran

Here is a update from their website:
"hello folks and friends!

We are not dead!

we are working double-shifts to give birth to a new pantokrator album.

We have written a couple of new songs and so far, at least WE like them....faster.....harder.....heavier

We'll try our very best to keep you informed about the working progress.

stay true!

Your friends in Pantokrator. "

http://panto.tk/

"Hi everyone, This morning I got a phone call from Marcus who told me that he is in hospital for quite a few days. Pretending to be a skateboarder he finally stumbled and fell right in front of his house and broke his leg, last Saturday. Since a regular fracture is not enough, Marcus took the severe way and made it a little more complicated. The leg got broken 4 times. He is going to undertake some surgeries and some serious therapies before he will be able to use his leg normally. First surgery will take place somewhere during the week. I will keep you informed.

Hansi "

www.blind-guardian.com

Band profile:

Blind Guardian

The band is recording an album that will be called "Beyond The Sea", and has also recorded the song "MR. Crowley" that will be in an Ozzy Osbourne tribute album.

In the choirs of the album will be partipating Kiko (ex Bethoven R, members of Arwen, Metropolis VI and also some friends of the band. Currently the band is in the New Sin Estudios(Italy), the recording will take place by the end of september and the album will be out at february 2005.

www.rafabasa.com

Band profile:

Dark Moor

The English band that reunited recently during this year (and released an ep) has parted ways with guitarist Rob Engvikson, he will be working in his band Asatru.

Here are few words from Carl Strokes: "There is no malice between the band and Rob, and we wish him well with his Asatru project, and we'll see him down the pub for a beer."

Also the band is concentrated on the writing of the new album.

www.tothegoryend.co.uk

Take it from eidolon website:

"Lots of great, possitive things happening here. So, lets get right to it!!!!

I will be leaving for Gothenburg, Sweden on September 30, to commence drum tracks for the next Eidolon record. I actually, just returned from Toronto, Canada - where myself and Glen programmed click tracks/scratch guitars for my Sweden trip - All went well. The drums will be recorded at "Los Angered Recording" owned by Andy Larocque ( King Diamond ) I am quite looking forword to this trip - I havent seen Andy in a while, so I'm looking forword to that as well.

Nils K. Rue ( vocalist ) will be stopping by the studio from Norway for a few days, which I am looking forword to as well - between Nils and Andy, I should have no problems finding the good coffee shops around town ( man, I hope they have Starbucks - wishfull thinking, perhaps :-)

Glen should be starting guitar tracks around the beginning of December, and will hopefully complete them sometime in early January - 2005. At this point, both Nils and Adrian will receive the record, at which time they can commence on their part of it. We are looking to deliver the record to Escapi by the end of April-2005, if all goes well. I can promise you that this is the best material we have written!!!!

As you probably are aware of at this point, Glen is the new guitar player in Megadeth!! I don't really want to talk too much about this, as it is really not my place to do so ( I will leave that up to Dave Mustaine :-) All of us are excited for Glen, and know that he will do a great job in the band!!!!

That's about all for the time being - I will get back to you upon my return from Sweden..."

www.eidolon-nightmareworld.com

Band profile:

Eidolon

Steve Souze is out of Exodus, here is a message post by Gary Holt on Exodus official forum:

"Okay people, the word has leaked, so I'm here to give you a brief rundown.
Let me give you an idea of what we've had to deal with as far as that fat motherfuckin' shit brick is concerned. He pulled out of going to Mexico city only about twenty four hours before were ready to leave, saying " I'm not getting on the plane, you'll see me on Thursday to go to South America." He lied to our manager, saying that he had talked to me already about this, which was a totall lie. He then ducked every fuckin' phone call and just hid out. The promoter had already paid a non-refundable 8 thousand dollars for the room and it would have been a disaster to have canceled. None of this mattered to that miserable piece of shit. The only thing he cares about is himself and money. If only you could have heard some of the shit that has come out of his fat pie hole over the last couple of years. Things like " Why does Jack get the same money as me, who the hell is he anyway?" "We should hire a body guard for South America", " If the fans want more than 12 songs out of me they should pay more money, they are getting their moneys worth already!", "Why is Gary in the front of this promo picture,I should be in the front, that's copyright infringement!", (true! he said that!). There is soooo much more shit you wouldn't believe it. This motherfucker sat backstage and cried at Provinsi rock fest in Finland like a pussy. Waaaaaah! Now you can keep your fat fuckin' ass at home and go off your Atkins diet ( like it's working lard ass!) and blow up as much as you'd like! If he had been a man and finished his commitments and said that it's too hard and he can't do it anymore I'd have shaken his hand and wished him well, but not now. He is the enemy. I hate him more than I've ever hated anyone on this planet. He is human crap. Fuck him. Some people wonder what will happen now. Well this band will continue. As for tight nit unity! The show in Mexico was the most liberating moment in my career, not have to listen to him bitch and complain once! And you know what? The crowd did not care. But I am not quitting. This is MY band ( the thing that he hated most), I write the songs and I've got some crushing new shit written already. So fuck that pussy. Zetro is dead, love live Exodus"

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Band profile:

Exodus

Graham Bonnet's management have post the following statement:

"Hi everyone. I thought it is about time to let you all know what is happening with Graham Bonnet. The answer to your question is that there will be a new album and world tour in the near future. Yes we have been offered to do a tour of the UK with our friends Dokken although all the dates are not yet confirmed. We are in negotiations to do a tour of Japan in the near future and this will be with an original guitarist from Alcatrazz. I will give an official press release when it is confirmed. Graham Bonnet would like to thank all the fans and is looking forward to touring and recording a new album. Rest assured you will all be the first to know when everything is confirmed. Take care and long live rock and roll. Cheers, Mark Wilkinson Bonnet Management"

www.bonnetrocks.com

The band called F5 consist of David Ellefson (ex Megadeth) on bass, Dale Steele(ex Sick Speed) on Vocals, Steve Conley and John Davis on the guitars and David Small on Drums, to listen to the song go to their official website:

http://www.f5theband.com/Sound/Sound.aspx

Band profile:

Megadeth

Their new album "The Shift" will be release throught Burning Heart worldwide on 11 of october 2004 and throught Relapse (to the us) on 26 of october 2004, also you can check the covert art at:
http://www.nasum.com/images/img/shift_cover_250.gif

And finally the band have post a sound sample at:
http://www.nasum.com/dl_sounds/Nasum-The_Engine_of_Death.mp3

http://www.nasum.com/

Band profile:

Nasum

Here is a statement by the band posted on their website:
"Anyone who's been following the band over the years knows that Lefay is, and always has been Morgana Lefay. The name change was necessary in order to continue the band due to unfortunate business complications. Therefore we are pleased to announce that we have signed a new deal with our old label, Black Mark. In doing so, we have regained the right to our full name and shall from now on once again be named Morgana Lefay. We will begin recording our new album entitled "Grand Materia" in the near future."

Charles, Tony, Peter, Robin & Fredrik / Morgana Lefay.

www.lefay.org

Sensory Records have announced the good news, Ray Alder " has become Redemption's vocalist. He is currently recording vocal tracks for Redemption's second CD, tentatively titled The Fullness of Time, scheduled for release in early 2005."

"I'm incredibly excited that Ray is our singer," comments the leader of the band Nicolas Van Dyk.

for more info visit redemption website.

http://www.ivorygate.com/redemption/

Band profile:

Fates Warning

Guitarist Gus has left the band to dedicate to his own band, but the band already has a new lead guitarist: Mark U Black.

www.dreamevil.se

Band profile:

Dream Evil

The French death metal band "is recording a new album at LBLab studio faster than ever and gonna be released by Season of Mist."

On the other hand the bassist Joel Guigou "has reformed his former Thrash band OUTBURST as guitar player. "Pure Thrash" demo is available.For more infos, visit his home page." (http://pageperso.aol.fr/musicland83/index.html).

The new guitarists for Extol are Tor Glidje (Lengsel, Ganglión) and Ole Halvard Sveen (Lengsel, Ganglión).
Also the band is currently in Denmark, mixing the album.

Band profile:

Extol