Vancouver, Canada-based sludge metal act Bison B.C. have parted ways with drummer Brad Mackinnon and have replaced him with former 3 Inches Of Blood drummer Matt Wood.

The band released the following cool story: "So here it is - a couple months back Brad told me he had made the difficult decision to leave the band. We lived and breathed music together for almost five years and it was a fucking honor to share the stage and create music with him, not to mention doing all kinds of fucked up shit that was fucking way fun. It was a hard decision for him, and we wish him all the best, and hey, we still go and get wasted together.

We spent months scouring the city looking for a drummer, which in these here parts is a daunting task. We end up in Chiliwack one night at our favorite sports bar, "Shakerz". Local blues rock band Stone House takes the stage and half way through their set, including a smokin' cover of "Life is a Highway", we notice some drunk dude in the corner dancing on tables, spitting on the band and basically ruining the night for everyone. After the bar lets out we find ourselves at the Greyhound station on our way back to town. We notice the table dancing dude is spare changing to try and get back to town as well, though he is now covered in his own puke. We get to talking and Masa realizes it is his old friend Matt, although through coughing fits and dry heaving he insists his name is Watty Moods, ex-drummer for Stone House.

Masa and Matt used to play in a band called Goatsblood back in '79, so we invite him to come jam with us, purely out of pity. Turns out he's pretty good for a drunk just shy of fifty. So, on behalf of Bison B.C. Inc., we would like to welcome to the band, our new drummer Mr. Matt Wood."

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Bison B.C.

Greek metallic powerhouse Firewind is extremely excited to announce their first-ever headlining North American tour, dubbed the Frets of Fury. This package (sponsored by ESP Guitars, BlackStar Amps and Guitar World) kicks off on October 9th and features a wide array of metal's elite: Arsis, White Wizzard and Nightrage.

General Admission tickets will go on sale everywhere on June 16. Get the dates after the jump.

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Source:	firewind.gr
Band profile:	Firewind
Event:	Firewind: Frets Of Fury North American Tour

Amon Amarth are touring North America again throughout August and September.

Comments the band: "Yes, it is true! We are coming back to tour North America. The spring tour turned out to be so successful, and we had such a great time playing the double sets each night, that we decided to bring "An Evening With Amon Amarth" to the rest of the continent, including Canada! We will perform the new album, Surtur Rising, in its entirety, and after that we're doing a revised second set with all the classics as well as some "wild-cards"."

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Source:	amonamarth.com
Band profile:	Amon Amarth

Sebas Bloeddorst, guitarist and founding member of the Dutch folk metallers Heidevolk, has announced he's parting ways with the band in autumn this year.

He issued the following goodbye statement: "After 9 years I have decided to leave the band Heidevolk. When I founded the band in 2002 I have done this to, as an artist, bring a message to the world, the proud pagan message of Heidevolk. Now I have noticed the time has slowly come for me to look to other things, and there for I have decided to focus myself more on Paganism and other musical projects I always wanted to work on but never had the time for. The next CD will be my last with Heidevolk and I will leave the band in the fall of this year.

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Source:	heidevolk.com
Band profile:	Heidevolk

American metalcore act Unearth has revealed the dates for its upcoming headline "Hell On Earth Tour" across the Europe in August/September this year. Supporting bands on the road will be Evergreen Terrace, Bane, Nasty and Casey Jones with more bands expected to be added at a later date.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Unearth

Finnish funeral doom group Profetus, are now finishing their upcoming second album "?to Open the Passages in Dusk", which is to be released in summer 2011 through Weird Truth productions, Japan. The album, consisting playing time of one hour, and 4 solemn and majestic tracks is again invoking the stream of Dark Scandinavian Doom Metal at its finest. Profetus paints with the brush of long-known tradition, leading the listener towards the sole essence of Scandinavian mind - picturing a desolate landscape, where the gloomy mist circles the thousand lakes, tasting the soil, cascading to the cold air into piercing northern light.

"?to Open the Passages in Dusk" tracklist:

01. When Autumn Cries a Fiery Canticle
02. The Watchers Dusk
03. The Shoreless
04. Burn, Lanterns of Eve

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Profetus

Season Of Mist press release

Ghost Brigade have set Until Fear No Longer Defines Us as the title of their forthcoming third album, which has been scheduled for an August 19th (August 23rd in North America) release.

In order to celebrate the release of Until Fear No Longer Defines Us, the band will embark on a Finnish tour in next September and October. Support for most of the shows comes from Finnish dark hardcore act Unkind.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Ghost Brigade
Event:	Ghost Brigade: Finnish Tour

Official press release

Bassist Novy (ex-Behemoth/Vader, Road's End) will be officially teaming up with Chicago based, multinational extreme act Against The Plagues in support of their second full-length release. The band decided to part ways with previous guitarist Wojtek Lisicki and continuing work on new album as a 4 piece group including Varyen - drums(ex-Forest Of Impaled/Damnation), Marco Martell - guitars (Divine Empire), Novy - bass (ex-Behemoth/Vader, Road's End), Logan Perez - vocals (Vex).

Commented co-founder Varyen Chylinski: "I am proud to announce that one of the best bass player in death metal scene - Novy who previously worked with Behemoth and Vader is officially new member of Against The Plagues! He is great very experienced musician who used to play in several world class bands in the past and I am looking forward to work with him on our upcoming second album. We are very excited and full of energy like never before and I cannot wait to expose our new material to all our loyal followers! Also I want to confirmed that guitarist Wojtek Lisicki is no longer with us. We wish him all the best. Please check out our myspace/facebook sites for all updates."

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Against The Plagues

Finnish metallers Catamenia have issued the short following update:

"We've decided to take the keyboards back to our music, so we want to welcome Jussi Sauvola from Silent Threnody and Decrowned to join the band. His profile can be found here. Welcome to Cata-family, Jussi!"

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Source:	catamenia.net
Band profile:	Catamenia

Official press release

It is with great sadness that we bring to you (the fans) the following news:

Due to unexpected circumstances regarding some potentially serious health issues, our long time lead guitarist and dear friend Tom Klimchuck will unfortunately have to put his musical endeavors on hold for at least the foreseeable future. Although we all wanted so much for Tom to be able to participate in the 20 Year Anniversary tours, we collectively decided that it was too risky and that his health and family should take precedent. Thankfully, (with Tom's blessing) we have found a replacement in Adam Phillips (Indorphine) and so the tours will move forward as planned. The fans can expect a great show, as we have quite an ambitious set list lined up for them. A personal statement from Tom to the fans can be expected shortly. In the meantime, we welcome Adam aboard and we wish Tom a speedy and full recovery. Thank you all for your support during this difficult time and transition, and special thanks to Tom for his many years of flawless commitment to our beloved band (this tour's for you). We hope to see you all at the gigs!"

Official statement from Tom: "Although thoroughly saddened by the realization that my time in Pro-Pain is at its end, I look back with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride. The band has been an absolute blessing to me. It has provided a platform with which to fight the good fight, and bring inspiration through commonality to people all around the world. All the while offering countless, magical experiences that most can only dream of. I owe a massive "Thank you!" to Gary, Marshall, Ricky, and Adam, as well as all previous members, and crew past and present; my brothers. It has been a privilege sharing the stage, and sharing so many incredible times with you all. These are the fabric of our souls, and you are all irreversibly woven into mine. A very special "Thank you." goes out to all the Pro-Pain fans. It is a powerful thing to watch a large group of people, seemingly strangers to one another, find common ground, and even inspiration in something I have put my heart and soul into. This is the show you have given me as I've looked out from the stage to all of you, and the gift you have given me that I will have forever. I am eternally grateful."

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Pro-Pain

Greek extreme metallers Septicflesh will embark on a French Tour later this month. Support act will come from Svart Crown, W.E.B., and Valet Parn.

Announced dates are as follows:

14.05 - Colmar - Grillen
15.05 - Lyon - Marché Gare
16.05 - Marseille - Poste à Galène
17.05 - Bordeaux - Complexe
18.05 - Rouen - 106
19.05 - Paris - Nouveau Casino
20.05 - Lille - TBA
21.05 - Caen - Espace Coisel
22.05 - Nantes - Ferrailleur
23.05 - Toulouse - Ramier

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Septicflesh
Event:	Septicflesh: The Great Mass Tour

Norwegian metallers Circus Maximus have issued the following update on their official website:

"As many of you have been wondering, what has been, or is going on in the Circus Maximus camp these days? What is the status on the recording on the new album? Well... To give you the short and brutal version, here is where we are today:

After finishing the drum tracks in November, the band took the Christmas holidays off, presuming to start up right over new years with drum editing, and continue with guitar, bass, keys and vocals right after that. What we didn't plan out as a result of Mats' grueling long hours in front of the computer, editing drums, was that he got arm inflammation in both arms. Because of this, both the drum editing (that was over half ways finished), and upcoming rhythm guitar tracking had to be postponed until further notice. With this, and other personal/family stuff that had to be dealt with, the recording process stagnated quite a bit.

On a positive note: Mats' arm injury has improved a great deal, and the drum-editing is finished, the band has been rehearsing for their upcoming shows in May and we are filming more for the 'Rockumentary' this weekend up in the mountains of Trysi (Guess there will be more drunken madness than interviews, because it's Mikey's birthday as well).

We are glad to tell you all that things are looking better nowadays with the speed bumps and hickups out of the way, and that we will be putting the 'pedal to the metal' on the recordings from mid May. Circus Maximus is truly grateful for all the support that has been shown, as well as your patience and understanding. There wouldn't be a Circus Maximus without you, the fans. That makes you a little Circus Maximus too... hehe."

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Source:	circusmaximussite.com
Band profile:	Circus Maximus

Dutch metallers Stream Of Passion will release their forthcoming album, entitled Darker Days, on the following dates:

June 22, 2011 - Spain/Finland/Sweden
June 24, 2011 - Germany/Austria/Switzerland, Benelux & Italy
June 27, 2011 - Rest of Europe
July 5, 2011 - USA/Canada

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Source:	streamofpassion.com
Band profile:	Stream Of Passion

Danish metallers Hatesphere have issued the following update on their MySpace blog:

"We have booked the Antfarm Studio, Aarhus, Denmark, from June 13th in order to make you a new album! Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Sick Of It All) will be guiding us through it, hopefully without getting too many grey hairs! Tue has been working with us on four of our releases - and we look forward to doing it once again!!
A little funny anecdote: Tue actually produced our second demo Disconnected '97 back in 1997 as one of his first productions... and this was an actual demo tape! Those were the days."

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Source:	hatesphere.com
Band profile:	Hatesphere

Norwegian metallers Pagan's Mind have issued the following statement:

"Everyone, Amazon.co.uk has uploaded 30 sec samples of all our songs of the standard edition! You really get a great feeling of the album if you listen to this. We hope you guys really enjoy this and that it encourages you to pre-order the album! For other buy links go to our website. Enjoy!

Samples can be listened here.

New album Heavenly Ecstasy will be released on May 20 in Germany, May 23 in the rest of Europe and on May 31 in USA/Canada via SPV/Steamhammer."

Also a video for the song "Intermission" can be viewed at this location.


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Source:	pagansmind.com
Band profile:	Pagan's Mind