At the end of this year Metallica will be releasing a DVD collection of all of their promotional videos. It will be entitled "The Videos 1989-2004". It will be released on the 4th December everywhere except North America (where it will be released on the 5th December). Click here to see the cover of the DVD.

Here is the tracklist:
01. One
02. Enter Sandman
03. The Unforgiven
04. Nothing Else Matters
05. Wherever I May Roam
06. Sad But True
07. Until It Sleeps
08. Hero Of The Day
09. Mama Said
10. King Nothing
11. The Memory Remains
12. The Unforgiven II
13. Fuel
14. Turn The Page
15. Whiskey In The Jar
16. No Leaf Clover
17. I Disappear
18. St. Anger
19. Frantic
20. The Unnamed Feeling
21. Some Kind Of Monster

Bonus:
22. 2 Of One - Introduction
23. One (Jammin' Version)
24. The Unforgiven (Theatrical Version)
25. Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster Film Trailer

Here is a comment by the band: "We've been getting requests for many years to release all the promotional videos on DVD and it's finally happening! In addition to every video we've ever made, for the first time ever the "2 of One," release (which up until now has only been available on VHS) will be available on DVD. Also included is 'Mama Said' which never aired in North America, maybe not even anywhere in the world, and a few little extras such as 'The Unforgiven' theatrical version and the 'Some Kind Of Monster' film trailer. Plus, all the audio has been re-mixed in 5.1 surround sound".

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Source:	metallica.com
Band profile:	Metallica

The recording and mixing process for Doom/Death Metal band Swallow The Sun is now complete. The recording for their so far untitled third album was done at Seawolf Studios in Helsinki. The band have also announced that the mixing for the album will begin on the 16th October at by Minerva Pappi at Finnvox studios.

More information about the information is said to be announced soon.

In the meantime, Mikko and Juha will be on Radio X3M's Metallväktarna to talk about the recording of the new album and everything else next Sunday!

Source:	swallowthesun.net
Band profile:	Swallow The Sun

Another new song from Power Metal band Mob Rules has been posted online. The song is a further preview to the band's upcoming new album "Ethnolution A.D.", which will be released on the 23rd of this month. The song that's available for listening to is called 'With Sparrows'.

Here is a comment by Mob Rules regarding the song: "...an awesome number with an addictive chorus and amazing instrumental performances - an instant classic!".

You can stream the song online here.

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Source:	mobrules.de
Band profile:	Mob Rules

Brent Smedley, drummer for Iced Earth in the later 90's has rejoined the band. He will be the drummer for Iced Earth's upcoming tours, and on the band's recording of their upcoming concept album the "Something Wicked" saga Parts 1 & 2. He will then remain as their drummer in the future. Smedley originally left the band due to 'personal issues'.

Here is a posting by Iced Earth mainman Jon Schaffer on Iced Earth's official website:

"For those of you not familiar you can hear Brent's amazing drumming on the 'Alive in Athens' CD, which in my opinion is the best thing about the recording. I can tell you that on a personal level this makes me very happy. Brent left the band about 7 years ago due to personal issues and I've missed him ever since. WELCOME BACK BROTHER!! The machine gun tight rhythm section is back!!!!

I wish Bobby Jarzombek the best of luck in his future endeavors, it was a pleasure jamming with him in the short time that we did.

Due to a personal situation Ernie Carletti will not be able to participate in band activities.

I will be making a significant announcement concerning the guitar and bass player positions very soon.

Also, the writing is going well and things are on track. I will post some details soon on www.icedearth.com. As challenging as this gigantic story is to tell in music, I have no doubt that it will be the pinnacle of Iced Earth's work thus far".

Source:	icedearth.com
Band profile:	Iced Earth

Power Metal band Helloween have posted a new video on SPV's (their record company) website. The video is of the band's new song 'Light The Universe'. The song (and the video) come from soon to be released single of "Light The Universe". The song features singing from Blackmore's Night vocallist Candice Night. The video was made at Veldenstein Castle in Germany. It was directed by Alexander Diezinger. The "Light The Universe" single will be released on the 13th November this year.

To view more information on SPV's official site, click here. To view the video, click here.

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Source:	helloween.org
Band profile:	Helloween

Black/Death Metallers Zyklon and Kampfar have been added to the list of bands confirmed for Norway's Hammerslagfestival Vinterblot 2006. The festival will take place on the 15th-16th December this year in Tønsberg, Norway. The bands that have so far been confirmed are: Zyklon, Kampfar, Sarkom, Malsain, Cutthroat, Framferd, Pandemi, Dead Mans Hand and Abominat.

The organisation of Hammerslagfestival has hit a glitch as just a couple of days ago when the owners of Støperiet (where the festival was going to be held) have decided that the building can't be used for the festival. The Hammerslagfestival organisers have said: "We also would like to apologise for any frustration that any of you supporters might feel. But remember, Hammerslagfestival is here to stay!

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Source:	hammerslagfestival.net
Event:	Hammerslagfest

Two new songs from Finnish Power Metal band Celesty have been posted online. The first song is "Lord Of Mortals" and the second one is "Arrival." Both songs will be included on the band's upcoming new album "Mortal Mind Creation." You can stream the songs online at Celesty's official myspace page.

As well as that, some photos of Celesty in the studio, working on the new album and some recent live shots have been posted in the "gallery" section of the band's official website. Click here to view them.

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Source:	celesty.net
Band profile:	Celesty

Australian Grind/Death/Industrial Metal band The Berzerker have announced a tour of the UK at the end of this year. The Berzerker will be the headlining act for the tour. To play with them will be four other extreme metal bands. They will be Miksha, Nekkrosis, Abgott and Bazooka.

The Berzerker will be juggling upcoming touring with the recording of their upcoming album. They will be recording it around the time of the tour and it will be released in March next year. All the shows on the UK tour will start at 8.00pm. Costs are to be announced.

Here is a list of all the dates:

Dec 03 - The Engineroom, Brighton, England
Dec 04 - The Nexus, Southampton, England
Dec 05 - The Cavern Club, Exeter, England
Dec 06 - Firstfloor Club, Derby, England
Dec 07 - Hobbits, Weston, England
Dec 08 - Sanctuary Music Venue, Pontypridd, Wales
Dec 09 - The Soundhouse, Bolton, England
Dec 10 - The Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin, Ireland
Dec 11 - The Soundhouse, Glasgow, Scotland
Dec 12 - Musicbox, Manchester, England
Dec 13 - Brickyard, Carlisle, England
Dec 14 - Edwards No 8, Birmingham, England
Dec 15 - The Attic, Rushden, England
Dec 16 - The Dome, London, England

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	The Berzerker
Event:	The Berzerker: UK/Eire Tour

Gothic/Doom Metal band Type O Negative have announced that they won't be touring at all until they complete work on their upcoming album. So, because their album is set for a probable early 2007 release, they won't be touring until then. The band have said that they are focused on the album, and there won't be any time for tours.

This means that Type O Negative won't be playing at Rock & Shock 2006 festival on October 13-14, where previously they were going to make an appearance.

You can find some fairly recent interviews with Johnny Kelly at Lonely Ghost and Lords Of Metal.

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Source:	typeonegative.net
Band profile:	Type O Negative

Folk/Power Metal band Elvenking have announced that they will be entering the studio soon to start the production of their fourth album.
In November the band will enter Gernhart studios in Germany to start recording the drums, before returning to Italy and entering Sherpa studios to complete all the rest of the recording. Nino Laurenne of Sonic Pump studios will be in Italy to set some sounds together with the band and supervise the production. The album will be mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox.

The cover artwork will be done by Gyula Havancsak, who is the same artist that created the artwork for Elvenking's previous album 'The Winter Wake'. The lyrical theme hasn't been revealed as yet, but the band says that "it's gonna be the most challenging thing we've ever done lyrically". The band has said that the album is expected to be ready by March/April 2007 and it should be released around September next year. Further details about the album are said to be announced soon.

Here is a comment by Elvenking guitarist Aydan: "As usual our new album will be pretty different from all our previous works. It's something vital for us, we cannot copy ourselves, what we have done in the past is still there and we need to look ahead. The new material is simply thrilling us out, we can't wait to put it on cd!".

The last live gigs before starting the recordings are:

October 27th, Velvet Rock Club, Gias di Aviano (PN), Italy (+Tystnaden)
November 4th, Ragnarock festival, Perth, Scotland (w/ Gamma Ray, Doro, Dream Evil, ?)

Source:	elvenking.net
Band profile:	Elvenking

Veteran Thrashers Megadeth have announced some dates for touring in Japan. One of the dates, 14th, 16th October will feature Megadeth at Japan's Loud Park Festival. Also playing on that date will be Angra, Dir En Grey, Backyard Babies, Hardcore Superstar and Anvil.

Here is the list of dates:

Oct. 13 - Kawasaki, Japan - Club Citta
Oct. 14 - Tokyo, Japan - Loud Park Festival '06
Oct. 16 - Osaka, Japan - Loud Park Festival '06
Oct. 17 - Nagoya, Japan - Zepp

In other Megadeth news, a video of the band playing their new song 'Washington Is Next' has been posted online. The performance was at their show in Toronto, Ontario on 25th September. 'Washington Is Next' will appear on Megadeth's upcoming album "United Abominations" which will be released early next year.

You can see the Megadeth video here.

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Source:	megadeth.com
Band profile:	Megadeth

"Scum", the first ever album by Death/Grindcore band Napalm Death is going to be re-released next year as a 20th Anniversary version. The release will contain a remastered version of the original "Scum" album and also a bonus DVD. The DVD will contain (among things) interviews with the three original Napalm Death members Nik Bullen, Mick Harris and Justin Broadrick, getting their thoughts on "Scum" getting re-released. The album is set for an early 2007 release.

Here is a comment by head of Earache Records Digby Pearson:

"...the 20th anniversary of the recording of "Scum" should be a good way to re-introduce a new generation to the legendary album that kick-started extreme music and coined the grindcore genre".

Source:	earache.com
Band profile:	Napalm Death

Folk Metallers Skyclad have announced that they won't be doing any touring in the next month or two, so they can concentrate on writing new material. The band had said previously that there was a chance of a small tour in October, but they now stated that it would be too difficult. So for the next couple of months, Skyclad will be writing and recording material for their next album. More details about the new album should be announced soon.

Here is a comment by the band:

"...we will be concentrating on writing and recording some new material for the next album. Following on from the touring we did earlier in the year, we had hoped to organise a 'mini-tour' in October but 'joining up the dots' proved to be too difficult - and, as had happened in April, the band didn't want to drive halfway across Europe between gigs (Paris to Naples then Gent in four days is no fun - honestly)".

Source:	skyclad.co.uk
Band profile:	Skyclad

Veteran Thrash Metallers Flotsam & Jetsam have made an explanation for why they cancelled one of the shows on their upcoming European tour. The band was scheduled to perform at Burgerweeshuis in Deventer, Holland on November 3rd, but then the show was cancelled. Flotsam & Jetsam have said that they will try to reschedule the show.

Here is a statement by Flotsam & Jetsam drummer Craig Nielsen explaining the cancellation:

"Just checking in to explain the European tour cancellation, as the agents who I expected to give a reason in their press release apparently failed to do so. A.K. applied some time ago, long before the tour was being put together, for acceptance into a helicoptor flight training academy in Arizona. He wants to be a helicoptor fire fighter which is an amazing career goal at this point in his life. Ambition does not begin to describe the scope of this undertaking. There is an extreme amount of study, determination, commitment, concentration and BALLS that are required to make it through the education. The thing was, nobody really thought he would be approved for the very large loan for the enrollment. Fortunately for him he was, although somewhat after the dates in Europe were being finalized.

The band very much regrets having to postpone this tour. The Bang Your Head festival 3 months ago was a GREAT time for this band and we really were ready to take Europe by storm on this November tour. The band will definitely attempt to reschedual as soon as school for A.K.winds down. The band sincerely apologises to EVERY single person who was involved with attempting tomake this happen,and of course most of all to all of our fans that were disappointed with the latest news. The band has nothing but love for ALL OF YOU!! Flots Til Death!!".

Source:	flotsam-and-jetsam.com
Band profile:	Flotsam And Jetsam

More dates for Arch Enemy's upcoming European tour in November/December have been announced. Coldworker and Path Of No Return have also been announced as supports for Arch Enemy and will be playing with them at all the shows between 16th November and the 27th November (except for the 20th in Helsinki, Finland).

Here is the complete list of dates:

November 16 - Malmö @ KB (Sweden)
November 17 - Karlskrona @ Kino (Sweden)
November 18 - Göteborg @ Trägårn (Sweden)
November 20 - Helsinki @ Nosturi (Finland)
November 22 - Stockholm @ Klubben (Sweden)
November 23 - Linköping @ Platens Bar (Sweden)
November 24 - Halmstad @ Diezel (Sweden)
November 26 - Copenhagen @ Pumpehuset (Denmark)
November 27 - Århus @ Voxhall (Denmark)
November 29 - Bochum @ Zeche (Germany)
November 30 - Hamburg @ Knust (Germany)
December 1 - Glachau @ Alte Spinnerei (Germany)
December 3 - Zurich @ Rohstofflager (Switzerland)
December 5 - Munich @ New Backstage (Germany)
December 6 - Aschaffenburg @ Colos-Saal (Germany)
December 8 - Antwerp @ Hof Ter Lo (Belgium)
December 9 - Arnhem @ Metal Meeting Festival (Holland)
December 10 - Strasbourg @ La Laiterie (France)

Here is a comment by Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott:

"Right now we are out on the Gigantour in the U.S. with Megadeth etc - having the time of our lives! But, we have not forgotten what an amazing festival summer we had in Europe and we are eager to return and play for the headbangers there!!! See you all soon!!!".

Source:	archenemy.net
Band profile:	Arch Enemy