Danish extreme metallers Illdisposed have issued the following update:

"All right folks, it's time to reveal Martin's replacement. Our new guitarist is a longtime friend from Copenhagen, always showing up at our shows to party with us. Ladies and gentlemen: Mr. Franz Hellboss. The first time you'll see Franz live on stage with us will be in Copenhagen on Saturday, December 15th where he will join us for a song or two."

Illdisposed is currently mixing its new album at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with Fredrik Nordström for a March 28, 2008 release via AFM Records.

Commented Jakob Batten: "The new album is recorded differently compared to the previous two albums. We didn't really cut into the tracks while recording so nearly everything you'll hear is first takes. We want it all to sound more raw and alive this time. A lot of the new albums you hear these days are so tight and over-produced that it doesn't sound like humans playing anymore and in the long run you get tired of it - I think."

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Source:	illdisposed.dk
Band profile:	Illdisposed

Two new songs from Swedish grinders Retaliation have been put online at this location. The tracks come off the band's upcoming new album "The Cost Of Redemption", which is set to be released in early 2008 via No Tolerance Records.

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Source:

myspace.com

The following message was posted on the official website of Swedish Power metallers Dream Evil:

"Finally we've got a new webmaster and our new site is up and running as you all can see. It's been totally quiet in the news section for a wile, we're sorry about that! We are not dead, only lazy old farts.

So what happened in the Dream Evil camp the last six months?
For family reasons our lead guitarist Mark Black unfortunately left the band and we now have a new (hairy & scary) axe swinger called Dannee Demon .

Dream Evil will release a cd with some new songs and some old songs (which earlier only have been released as bonus tracks in Japan) combined with a live DVD recorded November 25:th 2006 in Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg. The preliminary release date is now set to March - April 2008. The album will be called "Gold Medal in Metal".

We are all working in our metal factories on making new splendid unbloody serious farmer metal anthems that hopefully will show up on our next studio album.

We also hope that the "upcoming live shows"-section on this site will be filled with gigs in a near future near You."

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Source:	dreamevil.se
Band profile:	Dream Evil

Roadrunner Records UK reports: "To coincide with the beginning of the Divine Heresy UK tour we have uploaded "Purity Defiled", a song which is only available on the Japanese version of "Bleed The Fifth". The stream will only be available for the duration of the tour so make your way to our music section to listen to it while it's there. Click here to listen to "Purity Defiled".

Divine Heresy UK Tour dates are:

11 Dec 2007 UNDERWORLD London, UK
12 Dec 2007 ZODIAC Oxford, UK
13 Dec 2007 WEDGEWOOD ROOMS Portsmouth, UK
14 Dec 2007 ARTS CENTRE Colchester, UK
15 Dec 2007 SUGARMILL Stoke, UK
16 Dec 2007 KING TUTS Glasgow, UK
17 Dec 2007 ACADEMY 2 Manchester, UK

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.co.uk
Band profile:	Divine Heresy
Event:	Divine Heresy + Blood Red Throne: European Tour

Blabbermouth is reporting that Anthrax have announced their new lead vocalist. Anthrax have now officially confirmed that it has recruited former Devilsize and Me, My Enemy singer Dan Nelson photo] as the replacement for Joey Belladonna. The announcement was made earlier last evening (10 December) during an online chat with between Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante and members of Anthrax's official fan club. To check a few excerpts from that chat, go to this location.

A Devilsize song titled "Taken" featuring the vocals of Dan Nelson can be heard at this location. Four more Devilsize tracks featuring Nelson ? "The Way", "Explode", "Brooding" and "Freedom's Wings" ? are available for streaming here (click on the play button to the left of each songtitle to launch audio).

In other news, Anthrax will release Sound Of White Noise (Expanded Edition) and Stomp 442 (expanded edition) as digital releases for the first time via Anthrax Ltd/Megaforce Records on December 18, 2007.

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Anthrax

Regain Records has launched a special Dismember Myspace-Page featuring a streaming version of one track ? "Europa Burns" from the Swedish death metal masters' upcoming eight album, which will be released in Europe on February 18, 2008. Get your first impression via http://www.myspace.com/dismemberpromo.

According to the official Regain Records newsletter, the MySpace page will feature a huge competition soon, so re-check it from time to time.

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Source:	regainrecords.com
Band profile:	Dismember

According to Metal Zone Greece, Greek extreme metallers Rotting Christ filmed their December 8, 2007 concert in Athens, Greece for an upcoming DVD.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Intro
02. The Sign Of Prime Creation (Theogonia)
03. Keravnos Kivernitos (Theogonia)
04. Athanatoi Este (Sanctus Diavolos)
05. Enuma Elish (Theogonia)
06. King Of A Stellar War (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
07. The Fifth Illusion (Non Serviam)
08. Archon (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
09. The First Field Of The Battle (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
10. Shadows Follow (Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers)
11. The Sign Of Evil Existence (Thy Mighty Contract)
12. Coronation Of The Serpent (Thy Mighty Contract)
13. The Old Coffin Spirit (Passage To Arcturo)
14. The Mystical Meeting (Apokathilosis EP)
15. Thou Art Blind (Khronos 666)
16. Morality Of A Dark Age (Non Serviam)
17. You My Cross (Sanctus Diavolos)
18. Saturn Unlock Avey's Son (Non Serviam)
19. Exiled Archangels (Thy Mighty Contract)
20. Sorrowfull Farewell (A Dead Poem)
21. Among Two Storms (A Dead Poem)
22. After Dark I Feel (Sleep Of The Angels)
23. In Domine Sathana (Genesis)
24. Nemecic (Theogonia)
25. Under The Name Of Legion (Genesis)

Encore:
26. Societas Satanas (Thou Art Lord cover)
27. Non Serviam (Non Serviam)

Check out pictures from the concert at Metalzone.gr.

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Source:	metalzone.gr
Band profile:	Rotting Christ

Roadrunner Records will be releasing a Best Of Suffocation album on January 29, 2008. The album will contain some of the more popular and influential songs from Suffocation's 19 year career in the Death Metal genre.

Here is the tracklist:

01. Liege Of Inveracity
02. Infecting The Crypts
03. Effigy Of The Forgotten
04. Seeds Of The Suffering
05. Jesus Wept
06. Marital Declimation
07. Prelude To Repulsion
08. Anomalistic Offerings
09. Breeding The Spawn
10. Pierced From Within
11. Thrones Of Blood
12. Brood Of Hatred

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Source:	suffocation.us
Band profile:	Suffocation

California Thrash/Speed Metallers Détente have announced they will be doing a reunion show at Headbanger's Open Air 2008! The festival is scheduled to take place July 24th - 26th, 2008 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.

In a blog the band have revealed the live line up. Vocalist Ann Boleyn (Hellion) and guitarist Juan Garcia (Agent Steel) have joined forces with original Détente members Dennis Butler , Caleb Quinn , and Steve Hochheiser . In addition to Headbanger's Open Air Détente will play additional selected dates in the USA.

More info about the band at http://www.myspace.com/detenterna.

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Source:	blog.myspace.com
Event:	Headbangers Open Air XI

Dutch Thrash band Legion Of The Damned have revealed more information about their upcoming album "Feel The Blade". The album will have a January 4th release via Massacre Records and Season Of Mist USA, and will contain the following tracklist:

01. Nuclear Torment
02. Nocturnal Predator
03. Slaughtering The Pigs
04. Slut Of Sodom
05. Feel The Blade
06. Expire
07. Warbeast
08. Disturbing The Dead
09. Obsessed By The Grave
10. Reapers Call
11. Last Command (Bonustrack)
12. Mask Of Terror (Bonustrack)
13. Chronic Infection (Bonustrack)

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Legion Of The Damned

Roadrunner Records has set a January 29, 2008 release date for a "best-of" collection from legendary Florida death metallers Obituary.

The press release reads as folows:
"If you're a true metalhead, the name Obituary isn't new to you. They made some of vilest and darkest music there ever will be and was once the definitive death metal band. The Best of Obituary comes out on January 8, 2008."

"The Best of Obituary" cover] tracklist:

01. Internal Bleeding
02. 'Til Death
03. Slowly We Rot
04. Cause Of Death
05. Chopped In Half
06. Turned Inside Out
07. The End Complete
08. I'm In Pain
09. Don't Care
10. Final Thoughts
11. Kill For Me
12. Threatening Skies
13. On The Floor

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Obituary

The Deftones have offered the following studio update:

"After a month long stay in Los Angeles, we're back in Sacto at the Spot where we'll continue to work on new material until the holidays. As of right now, there's about 6 to 8 songs finished, and we hope to have a few more completed before we break. As some of you may have read, we've taken a different approach to writing this record than we have the past few years, and so far it's been a lot of fun. The material seems to be flowing freely, and each song is different from the other. We feel like we're accomplishing what we set out to do, which is to write a record that pushes boundaries for us creatively. We can't wait for you all to hear it. More updates to come..."

Source:	deftonesinstudio.blogspot.com
Band profile:	Deftones

The brand new album trailer for Avantasia´s upcoming masterpiece, "The Scarecrow", is online now. Click here to watch it! "The Scarecrow" will be released on January 25th 2008 as a standard CD as well as rare picture (double) vinyl.

Here's the tracklist:

CD:
01. Twisted Mind
02. The Scarecrow
03. Shelter From The Rain
04. Carry Me Over
05. What Kind Of Love
06. Another Angel Down
07. The Toy Master
08. Devil In The Belfry
09. Cry Just A Little
10. I Don't Believe In Your Love
11. Lost In Space
+ Media Player

DVD:
The Scarecrow - interview
Carry Me Over - video clip
Carry Me Over - making of
Lost In Space - Electronic Press Kit
Lost In Space - video clip
I Don't Believe In Your Love - alternate version*

*original version, lead vocals by Tobias Sammet only (audio only!!)

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Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Avantasia

Canadian Death Metallers Cryptopsy have announced the addition of two new members. Vocalist Matt Mcgachy and Keyboard player/Samplist Maggie Durand are joining the band. A picture of the new line up can be found by clicking here.
The band will enter the studio mid December for their upcoming sixth album. Cryptopsy will, for the first time ever, be touring Mexico, Central and South America during the month of february and will possibly hit Mexico once more in April. Tour dates to be announced shortly.

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Source:	cryptopsy.net
Band profile:	Cryptopsy

Notorious British extreme metallers Cradle Of Filth have posted the following short update:

"The world tour for the "Thornography" album, which last saw COF in Russia, Ukraine, U.K., Romania, Slovakia and the USA with Gwar is now complete. The band has now returned home to start writing for a new record over the dark months in the rehearsal room. The new album, which is not yet titled, will be released some time in 2008 via RoadRunner Records. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on our website."

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Source:	cradleoffilth.com
Band profile:	Cradle Of Filth