Galadriel vocalist and bassist Dodo Datel has posted the following statement on their Myspace blog:

"Dear fans !

I'm in bad health state. I have a problem with the hearing damage of my right ear! I'm currently in the healing process. Due to this problem we need to cancel our show in Levice (SK) on 27th February. I hope all fans and organizers too will understand and accept this situation. I hope I'll be OK in the nearest future, because I can't imagine my life without music !!!"

Dodo Datel

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Galadriel

Swedish metallers Avatar have issued the following update on their MySpace blog:

"We are happy to make official that we will support US rockers Warrior Soul on their upcoming tour in March-April. See you out there!"

Announced dates are as follows:

Mar. 25 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust
Mar. 26 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Club
Mar. 27 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
Mar. 28 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
Mar. 29 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
Mar. 30 - Stuttgart, Germany - Röhre
Mar. 31 - Saarbrücken, GER - Garage
Apr. 02 - London, UK - Islington Academy
Apr. 04 - Birmingham, UK - Academy 2
Apr. 05 - Sheffield, UK - Academy 2
Apr. 07 - Weert, The Netherlands - Bosuil
Apr. 08 - Hengelo, The Netherlands - Metropool

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Avatar
Event:	Warrior Soul

US metallers Defiance have issued the following on their MySpace blog:

"After struggling with who should be the next drummer for Defiance and having the wrong drummer in place for one show, Defiance has found a Bay Area gem.

Burton Ortega comes from a traditional thrash metal background, playing for years with bay area thrashers Kaos, came in and delivered the goods.

We were looking for that fifth finger to fill the glove which was something that we felt was essential for a long term fit.

We are very excited about Burton joining Defiance and have had so much fun jamming the old and new tunes and can't wait to unleash the new monster that is Defiance."

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Defiance

Norwegian death metallers Obliteration are set to tour the USA in May/June in what they dubbed as "East Coast Holocaust". They have posted the following statement on their MySpace:

"Hell yes! After tormenting the frostbitten shores of Norway and Northern Europe for years, Obliteration and Nekromantheon are finally set to corrupt the hearts and minds of North America. This spring, they will show America what Norwegian ferociousness is all about. Kicking of their East Coast Holocoaust tour in Baltimore at the legendary Maryland Death Fest, they will spread their grim deaththrashin' horror all the way up the coast, to Quebec and back! These Shores are Damned, indeed. To chant the real "Nekropsalms" and to feel the Divinity of Death, you need to come to the sabbath... See all you hellblazing metal punx in May/June."

Dates are as follows:

27.05 - Baltimore - Maryland Death Fest VIII (with Nekromantheon) -- Pre-fest Party
29.05 - Baltimore - Maryland Death Fest VIII
03.06 - NYC - Tones of Death (with Nekromantheon)
05.06 - Montreal - Katacombes (with Nekromantheon, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Vulcan, Bombnation)
06.06 - Quebec - Ninkasi Club (with Nekromantheon, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Vulcan, Bombnation)
07.06 - Boston - TBA (with Nekromantheon)
11.06 - Philadelphia - The M Room (with Goreaphobia, Anvil Bitch, Nekromantheon)

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Obliteration

Bay Area Thrash band Heathen have posted all 10 tracks from their new album The Evolution of Chaos on MySpace.

The Evolution of Chaos will see its release in the US next Tuesday, February 16th via Mascot Records. The album, which was released in Japan on December 23rd and in Europe on January 25th, has garnered incredible reviews worldwide and recently debuted at #75 on the German charts. Heathen is currently scheduling a tour of Europe in support of the new album, with dates to be announced soon.

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Heathen

Swedish metallers Nominon have issued the following statement on their MySpace blog:

"Salute the hordes of darkness and despair...

The search for a damn frontman is now officially over! Let us introduce you to the guy behind the microphone; Henke Skoog.

Some of you suckers of the underworld might previously have take notice of his name, since he is also a member of the morbid deathsters Eviscerated.

Nominon 2010:

[center][/center]

Witness the debut live performances of these deformed freaks during their upcoming mini-tour of Sweden in May 2010.

You will see blasphemy..."

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Nominon

Danish metallers posted Svartsot the following update on their MySpace blog:

"We are proud to be able to announce the title and release dates of the forthcoming Svartsot album. The album is entitled Mulmets Viser (which translates to "Songs Of The Darkness"), and contains 12 tracks. A limited edition digipack boasting two bonus tracks and an alternative cover will also be available.

The tracklist is as follows:

01. Æthelred
02. Lokkevisen
03. Havfruens Kvad
04. Højen På Glødende Pæle
05. På Odden Af Hans Hedenske Sværd
06. Laster Og Tarv
07. Den Svarte Sot
08. Kromandens Datter
09. Grendel
10. Jagten
11. Lindisfarne
12. I Salens Varme Glød

And the release dates are:

24.03.10 - Spain
26.03.10 - GAS, Benelux, FRA, ITA, SWE
29.03.10 - Rest of Europ
06.04.10 - USA/Canada

Keep an eye on the official Svartsot's MySpace page for new details and features over the next couple of weeks..."

(Also thanks to Sjuk)

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Svartsot

Angra posted the following on their myspace blog:

"Hey folks!

We are very excited to bring you these news! We are almost done writing the songs for the new album, and we couldn't be happier! There is a general feeling that this is gonna be a really great album. Every time I listen to ourselves playing the songs, I can't help smiling. We are totally into every little detail and small part to make this one of the best Angra albums ever.

The rehearsals are taking place at Ricardo's country house, near São Paulo. We don't have TV or internet, and phone signal is very poor, so we can't help but concentrate fully on the composition process, and this is intentional. We have a whole new set of challenges in the new arragements, since every part of them is being taken to the next level, both technically and musically.

We will enter the studio in mid February, and we'll keep you posted on the latest news.

Cheers!
Felipe"

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Angra

Original news, posted on 16.01.2010

Van Canto have uploaded the video to their interpretation of Manowar's "Kings Of Metal". This is the bonus track of the re-released Hero
album. There is also a small sound snippet from our forthcoming album Tribe Of Force online here. The band's third album will be released on 24 February 2010.



Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Van Canto

"Hirudineans", the new video from German metallers Dark Fortress, has been made available online.

"Hirudineans" comes off the band's latest album, Ylem, which was released on January 22, 2010 via Century Media Records.

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Source:	youtube.com
Band profile:	Dark Fortress

Nevermore vocalist Warrel Dane has confirmed a handful of North American dates for March:

3/04/10 - Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, CA
3/05/10 - Ramona Mainstage, Ramona, CA
3/06/10 - Cheyenne Saloon, Las Vegas, NV
3/07/10 - Whiskey A Go Go, West Hollywood, CA
3/08/10 - U.B.'s Bar, Mesa, AZ
3/09/10 - The Rock, Tucson, AZ
3/12/10 - Peter's Room, Portland, OR
3/13/10 - Red Room, Vancouver, BC

Tickets to these shows can be purchased at EnterTheVault.com until January 31, and thereafter will be available at the usual ticket outlets.

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Warrel Dane
Event:	Warrel Dane

Alcest have published the cover art (courtesy of Fursy Teyssier) for their upcoming album, entitled Écailles De Lune. The layout will be made by French graphic designer Metastazis. A release date is scheduled for March 29, 2010.

Écailles De Lune [cover art] tracklist:

01. Écailles De Lune (Part I)
02. Écailles De Lune (Part II)
03. Percées De Lumière
04. Abysses
05. Solar Song
06. Sur L'Océan Couleur De Fer

The album will be released as standard jewelcase CD, limited Digibook CD, limited box set (incl. Digibook CD, wallflag, and set of postcards; lim 1.000), and limited gatefold LP (incl. poster and available in two editions: "classic edition" (black vinyl, lim. 500) and "deep sea edition" (blue vinyl, lim. 500)).

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Alcest

Original news, posted on 19.01.2010

Bay Area Thrashers Heathen have posted the first two tracks from their forthcoming album The Evolution of Chaos on the band's MySpace page. The songs "Dying Season" and "Control By Chaos" are both available for streaming in their entirety.

The Evolution of Chaos will be released in Europe on January 25th and in the U.S. on February 16th via Mascot Records. The album was already released in Japan on December 23rd via King Records. Heathen are currently planning a tour of Europe in support of the new album, with dates to be announced soon. A broadcast quality video of the bands performance at the Thrash Domination 2009 festival in Kawasaki, Japan can be seen here.

UPDATE (thanks to BudDa)

Heathen are streaming two more songs from the upcoming The Evolution of Chaos. Songs are called "Arrows Of Agony" and "Undone". Check them out here.

In other news, the band has been forced to postponed their European tour in March. A message from the band reads: "Unfortuantely, Heathen will be rescheduling the dates for their European tour. The band is disappointed that they will not be able to hit the road in March but is working hard to schedule tour dates in order to support the new album, The Evolution of Chaos worldwide. New tour dates will be posted as soon as they are confirmed."

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Heathen

Sirenia, ex-Tristania mastermind Morten Veland presents his fans with a first teaser of his latest project Mortemia. Gothic metal lovers should check out a full song "The One I Once Was" from the upcoming album Misere Mortem here. The album is scheduled to be released at the end of February via Napalm Records.

Mortemia, whose musical concept is based on a balanced mixture of metal and classical music, is an interaction between Morten's extreme vocals and the dramatic choirs. There are no female vocals here as compared to his previous works.

Morten is credited as the sole producer, in addition to also engineering and mixing the album on his own. The recording sessions and the mixing took place in Morten's own Audio Avenue Studios in Stavanger, Norway. The additional recordings of choirs were tracked in Sound Suite Studios in France. Morten performed and programmed every instrument on the album. The only additional contribution he got externally was that of a French choir.

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Sirenia

Baltimore, MD's Misery Index are currently in the Wright Way Studios recording Heirs To Thievery, the follow-up to 2008's Traitors. Advance song titles from Heirs To Thievery include "Embracing Extinction", "Heirs To Thievery", "Fed To The Wolves", and "Sleeping Giants". A May 2010 release date is expected.

In the meantime, Misery Index have announced a run of US tour dates following their time in the studio. Misery Index will headline three-weeks in the US, kicking things off in Poughkeepsie, NY on February 19th, with support coming from Magrudergrind. A listing of confirmed tour dates and cities can be found below with more to be announced soon.

Misery Index will also join Decapitated, Psycroptic and Origin for an Australian and New Zealand tour this spring. A listing of confirmed tour dates can be found here.

Misery Index + Magrudergrind:

February 19 - Poughkeepsie, NY Popeye's
February 20 - Brooklyn, NY Union Pool
February 21 - Boston, MA Unit 11
February 22 - Waterford, CT Cherry Street Station
February 23 - Wilmington, DE Mojo 13
February 24 - Pittsburgh, PA Belvadiers
February 25 - Indianapolis, IN Melody Inn
February 26 - Lansing, MI Mac's
February 27 - South Bend, IN Elva's
February 28 - Chicago, IL Reggies
March 01 - Des Moines, IA Vaudeville
March 02 - St. Louis, MO Fubar
March 03 - Kansas City, MO Riot Room
March 05 - Oklahoma City, OK Conservatory
March 06 - Amarillo, TX War Legion
March 07 - Dallas, TX Reno's Chop Shop
March 08 - Austin, TX Red Seven
March 09 - San Antonio, TX Sam's
March 10 - McAllen, TX Smokin' Aces
March 11 - Corpus Christi, TX Zero's
March 12 - Houston, TX Walter's

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Misery Index
Event:	Misery Index + Magrudergrind