After the great "Maniacal Renderings" album, the guys around Jon Oliva will put another log on the fire. The new studioalbum "Global Warning" will be released on March 21. The first audio samples announce another brilliant album of the band, based around the voice of Savatage. If you would like to hear the new material live, you can check out the live show of Jon Oliva's Pain at the following dates (Savatage classics included!):

JON OLIVA'S PAIN TOURDATES

25.04.2008 Haugesund (NO), Karmøygeddon Metal Festival
26.04.2008 Copenhagen (DK), The Rock
28.04.2008 Aschaffenburg (DE), Colos-Saal
29.04.2008 Wien (AT), Planet Music
01.05.2008 Pratteln (CH), Z7
02.05.2008 Piacenza (IT), Fillmore
03.05.2008 Florence (IT), Viper Club
06.05.2008 Vitoria (ES), Azkena
07.05.2008 Madrid (ES), Caracol
08.05.2008 Barcelona (ES), Salamandra 1
10.05.2008 Athens (GR), Gagarin
11.05.2008 Thessaloniki (GR), venue tba
13.05.2008 Essen (DE), Turock
14.05.2008 Tilburg (NL), 013

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Source:	afm-records.de
Band profile:	Jon Oliva's Pain
Event:	Jon Oliva's Pain: European Tour

Kataklysm has just finished the recording process for their highly anticipated new album "Prevail". Comments producer/guitarist Jean-François Dagenais:

"Finally... I'm the one who never takes a break in the band and I can finally breathe!! After two months, the album is fucking done! Just layed down a few leads yesterday and double checked everything, the album came out great. The sources are fantastic and don't expect "In the Arms Of Devastation 2" - this album stands on a league of its own, everyone gave it 150%. It's the most brutal since "Temple Of Knowledge" and "Serenity In Fire" and the most catchy since "Shadows & Dust" and "In The Arms Of Devastation". Expect the best, because that's the effort we gave it. Next week we fly to Jason Suecof's studio in Orlando, FL. where we will be putting the final touches to this masterpiece!"

The album is scheduled for release via Nuclear Blast Records May 23rd Europe / May 27th North America and rest of the world. The band will unleash the new breathtaking artwork next month as a preview.

In other news, it's with sad regret that Kataklysm announces that the band won't be able to make the New Zealand dates on March 20th and 22nd due to "timing issues" related to the new album... BUT the band promises to reschedule ASAP!! All remaining dates in Australia will go as planned. Flights have been booked so Kataklysm will be there and is looking forward to meeting all their fans down under for the first time. Expect an explosive set!

Source:	kataklysmrocks.com
Band profile:	Kataklysm
Event:	Kataklysm: Australian Tour (New Zealand Portion CANCELLED)

Deathgrinders have updated their MySpace with the following New Year's message:

"Hails dirty bastards! 2008, a year of likely recession and warpiss is upon us and I'm sure we can all drink to that. It will also mark Circle of Dead Children's 10th year in the ear-slaughter business. 2007 was a bum year for CODC and without a doubt our least active, but after all the craziness I think we're ready to step into 2008 with more fire than ever.

In February, Matt Francis joined as CODC's 4th and hopefully last drummer. Despite the 7-hour distance and infrequent band practices, we've been able to write the majority of a new yet-to-be-titled album which we're confident to say will be the most cataclysmic and venomous release that we've done in 10 years. Matt's addition has allowed the band to step into a new realm of noxious sonic hate.

Shortly after Matt's merger, Joe Horvath became seriously ill and spent several months battling through numerous surgeries and a nearly fatal MRSA staph infection. With the help of bass player Drew Harritan's recording abilities, Joe was able to put a cap onto at end of his health crisis by recording the already infamous guest vocals for the newest Anaal Nathrakh release, "Hell Is Empty and All of the Devils Are Here". A truly nasty audio synthesis; Joe handled all the vocals on their track, "Genetic Noose".

Circle of Dead Children plans to book studio time in February or March of 2008 and deliver a new full-length album later in the year on Willowtip Records.

We are also planning to book a 2008 US west coast tour as well as a 2008 European and possibly South American tour. We'll also be looking for sporadic weekend shows around the east and midwest. Anyone seriously interested in assisting with booking/promotions is asked to get in touch.

New shirt design in the merch store! Grim hoodies and more... All printed with reverse-osmosis virgin lamb blood, no doubt.

Thanks to all who've stuck with us over the past 10 years and to all the new friends we've made. With your help we can kill this fucking world!"

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Circle Of Dead Children

Blabbermouth.net is reporting that former Emperor vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn has set "Angl" as the title of his second solo album, tentatively due mid-spring via Candlelight Records. The follow-up to 2006's "The Adversary" is "in its final completion stages now," according to a Candlelight press release.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Ihsahn

Official Nailboard Records press release:

"Throughout the ages it has been under way. Life has carried itself. Carried secrets in itself... Carried life through life. Ourselves among the bearers. Together we have come from the unknown and are heading... This path begins somewhere and it will lead on to somewhere... to the finite and the endless, in ourselves and in those who will follow... The thirst for life spurs one to heave the fertility stone... to blow life's sparks into a roaring flame, to find answers in oneself to the most primeval roots that fall speechless before our questions. To questions that rise swords and let them fall again, feel harsh fangs and blow warmth to frozen hearts. A human being's questions to life. And the answers scour wild expanses and the frozen high seas, and roam among people and the inner flame...

"Iivakivi" was performed and recorded by Lauri "Mida juua?!" Liivak and Metsatöll in "Forwards" studio, Tartu, November 10220. The sound was polished by Kristo Kotkas in ?Sinusoid" studio, December 10220. Release date 24. February 10221/2008."

"Iivakivi" cover art image] tracklist:

01. Iivakivi Listen]
02. Merehunt
03. Hetk Enne Lahingut
04. Sõjasarv
05. Veelind Listen]
06. Isa Süda
07. Metsaviha
08. Rauast Sõnad
09. Va Lendva
10. Äikesepoeg

More about Metsatöll on http://www.myspace.com/metsatoll and http://www.metsatoll.ee.

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Source:	nailboard.org
Band profile:	Metsatöll

Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie will release its new album, "Slania", in Germany on February 15, 2008. According to the band, the CD is "the perfection of the first album, but still there is enough room to give some new influences a chance. Expect nothing less than a masterpiece of hellish heavy folk metal with an 'x' factor!"

Slania tracklist:

01. Samon
02. Primordial Breath
03. Inis Mona
04. Grey Sublime Archon
05. Anagantios
06. Bloodstained Ground
07. The Somber Lay
08. Slanias Song
09. Giamonios
10. Tarvos
11. Calling The Rain
12. Elembivos

In other news, Eluveitie are confirmed for next years installment of the Summer Breeze festival - taking place August 14-16 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. Other confirmed bands: Exodus, Paradise Lost, Ensiferum, Korpiklaani, Kataklysm and many more?

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Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Eluveitie

Swedish Melodic Death Metal outfit Unleashed recently announced the following on their website: "The result of the pre-production of the new album is very satisfying and we will enter the studio early January to record our 9th full length album. Title, release date and such will be posted on the website soon. The new Unleashed album will continue in the same victorious spirit as our previous album "Midvinterblot"."

Source:	unleashed.se
Band profile:	Unleashed

The Graspop Metal Meeting organization have announced the first bands for Belgium's biggest open air metal festival: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, At The Gates, Forbidden, Sonata Arctica, Ministry, My Dying Bride, Bullet For My Valentine, Volbeat, Hollenthon, Deathstars, Converge and Comeback Kid.

Graspop Metal Meeting 2008 will take place during the last weekend of June: 27,28,29 June at the festivalpark 'De Boeretang' in Dessel! Tickets will go on sale soon.

All info in http://www.graspop.be and http://www.myspace.com/graspop.

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Source:	graspop.be
Event:	Graspop Metal Meeting 2008

Canadian band Symbolic - "the ultimate Death tribute" - have updated their MySpace page to stream tracks recorded on December 12th at Quebec City's Theatre Imperial during the benefit gig in honor of fallen metal hero Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied). Check out the recordings at this location.

For the above mentioned "tribute show", Symbolic shared the stage with Bobby Koelble (Symbolic album), Shannon Hamm, Scott Clendenin (The Sound Of Perseverance album), Daniel Mongrain (Martyr), Marc-André Gingras (Quo Vadis), Jonathan Lee (The Autumn Offering, ex-Acheron), and Nick Barker (ex-Dimmu Borgir/Cradle Of Filth drummer).

All the profits from the show, which was recorded for an upcoming DVD release, will be divided between Schuldiner's foundation for cancer research and a local foundation.

Check out the photos from the show at Capitale du Metal.

The setlist was as follows:

01. Spiritual Healing
02. 1000 Eyes
03. Mentally Blind
04. Scavenger (feat. Shannon Hamm & Scott Clendenin)
05. Spirit Crusher (feat. Shannon Hamm & Scott Clendenin)
06. Zombie Ritual (feat. Jonathan Lee & Scott Clendenin)
07. Perennial Quest (feat. Bobby Koelble)
08. Zero Tolerance (feat. Bobby Koelble & Nick Barker)
09. The Philosopher (feat. Bobby Koelble & Nick Barker)
10. Without Judgement
11. Open Casket
12. Secret Face
13. Lack of Comprension
14. Within the Mind (feat. Marc-André Gingras & Daniel Perron)
15. Bite the Pain (feat. Shannon Hamm, Jon Lee & Scott Clendenin)
16. Moment of Clarity (feat. Shannon Hamm, Jon Lee & Scott Clendenin)
17. Trapped in a Corner (feat. Nick Barker)
18. OveractiveImagination (feat. Nick Barker & Daniel Perron)
19. Misanthrope (feat. Nick Barker)
20. Symbolic (feat. Bobby Koelble)
21. Cosmic Sea (feat. Bobby Koelble)
22. Pull the Plug (feat. Shannon Hamm, Bobby Koelble, Scott Clandenin, Jon Lee & Nick Barker)

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Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Death

As teasers prior to the releases of chapters 2 and 3 of Season of Mist's Underground Activists division, namely Pest's "Rest In Morbid Darkness" and Hegemon's "Contemptus Mundi", Seasons Of Mist are giving you the opportunity to download one MP3 from each release.

Pest were created with the sole goal to deliver pure Black Metal in the old vein, no females or keyboards involved. As 2007 marks the end of the first decade of Pest with two full length albums and several EP's, "Rest In Morbid Darkness" consists of nine hymns bleeding from infernal energies, violent sickness, lurking horror and triumphant bloodshed, all in the spirit of blackened demo metal. The music is spawned in the darkest of depths from the inhuman mind. Deceitful, deranged and depraved music from the true tyrants of Swedish Black Metal.

Download the "Bestial Crucifixion" song here.

Pest
Upcoming release: "Rest In Morbid Darkness"
Release date: Jan. 21st, US Feb. 5th 2008
http://www.pest.se

French Black Metal act Hegemon have always followed their own path without caring for anybody or anything. The unknown line up, which is still the same since the early days, the violence and the anger of the music and the dedication of the band to its art, have helped Hegemon to be one of the most revered Black Metal hordes in the deep underground. The Hegemon entity now unleash its wrath and skilled traditional black metal on earth through "Contemptus Mundi", an album in which once again all energy and spirit have been put into, mocking the image, the so called rules of black metal and everything else that has nothing to do with music!

Download the "Eli, Eli, Lamma Sabacthani" song here.

Hegemon
Upcoming release: "Contemptus Mundi"
Release date: Jan. 21st, US Feb. 5th 2008
http://www.hegemon666.net
http://www.myspace.com/hegemon666

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Source:

season-of-mist.com

Napalm Records are reporting that Swedisch Gothic Doom Metal band Draconian have completed the recording of their fourth album is scheduled for a 29 Feb relase date. With producer Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studio (Katatonia, Amon Amarth) at the helm, the band delivers raw Doom elements combined with the soft vocals of female vocalist Lisa and the ethereal melody lines well-known to fans of Draconian.

Draconian's brand new album "Turning Season Within" cover] will be released the 29th of February (4th of March in the US) through Napalm Records. The band's fourth effort contains the following nine tracks:

01. Seasons Apart sample]
02. When I Wake
03. Earthbound
04. Not Breathing
05. The Failure Epiphany
06. Morphine Cloud
07. Bloodflower
08. The Empty Stare
09. September Ashes

More info on http://www.draconian.se and http://www.myspace.com/draconianmusic.

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Source:	napalmrecords.com
Band profile:	Draconian

Finnish Extreme Power Metallers Norther have finished the work on a new upcoming fifth full-length album, simply called "N". The album will be released in Europe through Century Media Records on the following dates:

Finland: Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
Germany / Austria / Switzerland / Benelux / Italy: Friday, February 22nd, 2008
UK / France / Greece / Denmark / Norway / Rest Of Europe: Monday, February 25th, 2008
Spain / Portugal: Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
Sweden / Hungary: Wednesday, February 29th, 2008

A US release date hasn't been announced yet.

The tracklisting for "N" cover art] is:

01. My Antichrist
02. Frozen Angel
03. Down
04. To Hell
05. Savior
06. Black Gold
07. We Rock
08. Always & Never
09. Tell Me Why
10. If You Go
11. Self-Righteous Fuck
12. Forever And Ever
13. Sabotage

"N" will be available as a CD and limited edition digipak including three bonus tracks.

The CD was produced by Anssi Kippo (Children Of Bodom) at Astia Studios and mixed by Fredrik Nordström (Dark Tranquillity, Arch Enemy, In Flames) at Studio Fredman in Sweden.

Bassist Jukka comments as follows: "Our new album "N" is the reflection of our true identity: it stands for North, Norther and never giving up! The new material sounds very melodic and versatile. There are songs in slow and fast mode as well as some totally new elements. Old sound meets new found power - we're reborn! We are more than pleased with the result and very eager to tour and play it live to all of you as soon as possible!"

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Source:	norther.net
Band profile:	Norther

Legendary Bay Area Thrashers Death Angel have reported that " new recording is done! "Killing Season" was mixed at Studio 606 by Nick Raskulinecz and mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering by none other than Brian "Big Bass" Gardner. It is slated for release on February 26 in the US and February 29 in the rest of the world. Leap year 2008!"

Here is the tracklisting:

01. Lord Of Hate
02. Sonic Beatdown
03. Dethroned
04. Carnival Justice
05. Buried Alive
06. Soulless
07. The Noose
08. When Worlds Collide
09. God Vs. God
10. Steal The Crown
11. Resurrection Machine

To read more about the album, go to this location.

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Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Death Angel

Kataklysm has decided to cancel their upcoming European tour with Behemoth, scheduled for February. Singer Maurizio Iacono explains:

"First I'd like to say how crazy of a ride it's been since the release if ITAOD. we've done over 200 shows in less then two years, nine tours across the world and meeting all our fans was the highlight, they made our last album the biggest and strongest album to date. It's been great but the machine needs time off. Theres nothing more we like than to stay on the road nonstop but we have to come to reality here and see that we need to take a breather, recharge our batteries and come back stronger than ever with a brand new album, because we will have to redo all this all over again in no time. We didn't want to cancel the tour with Behemoth but after much thought it was the right decision. J-f has to keep working through January on the new album so he gets absolutely no break time, which isnt fair. Then we have to mix it and it's in February and we need to be here to supervise this new masterpiece we've created for you guys. "Prevail" is the priority for next year and it needs our full attention.

But don't worry, we have A LOT of plans ahead of us, and we will be back in no time at all. Also, this doesn't affect the New Zealand and Australian dates in late-March, those will go ahead as planned. Other than that the band is doing great. Steph will be rejoining us for the last four shows of this tour with Chimaira wich has been great. We got a couple more dates left. Check our Myspace or website and come check us out. These will be the last dates until the next record comes out. I'd like to wish everyoneout there some happy holidays with your loved ones."

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Source:	kataklysmrocks.com
Band profile:	Kataklysm
Event:	Behemoth: European Tour

Nuclear Blast and UCI Kinowelt are proud to present another series of outstanding highlight events: The world premieres of the first-ever DVD of Die Apokalyptischen Reiter (English: The Apocalyptic Riders) called "Tobsucht - Reitermania over Wacken & Party.San" in selected UCI Kinowelt cinemas!

The Dates:
Leipzig, UCI Kinowelt Nova Eventis:21.01.08 (whole band is on site!)
Berlin, UCI Kinowelt Colosseum: 23.01.08 (some of the band are on site)
Hamburg, UCI Kinowelt Mundsburg: 24.01.08 (some of the band are on site)
Bochum, UCI Kinowelt Ruhr Park: 28.01.08 (some of the band are on site)
Kaiserlautern, UCI Kinowelt: 30.01.08 (some of the band are on site)

At 19.00 the signing sessions with the present members will begin, the DVD will be shown starting at 20.00. The DVD not only contains the legendary concerts from the Wacken Open Air and the Party.San Festival (a special old-school show!), but also a roadmovie from the Russian/Ukrainian tour and a backstage documentation. The tickets only cost 6,00 ? - or try to win some at http://www.nuclearblast.de/win.

"Tobsucht - Reitermania Over Wacken & Party.San" will hit the stores on February, 1. You can watch a trailer for the DVD HERE! For more infos, check http://www.uci-kinowelt.de or http://www.nuclearblast.de.

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Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Die Apokalyptischen Reiter