Finnish melodic death metal band Tracedawn has parted ways with longtime vocalist Antti Lappalainen and are currently on the search for a replacement.

On a lighter note, the band has finished recording the drum parts for their new upcoming album, tentatively scheduled for an autumn release.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Tracedawn

There's excitement in the air! Because the final batch of bands playing at this year's Hellfest Open Air will be announced this Thursday, January 27th at 5pm (GMT+1) sharp. As always, you'll hear it here on Metal Storm first, so spread the word.

Rumors on the final names are running rampant, and the Hellfest organization whispered in our ear they still have a few aces up their sleeves, so start the speculations in the comment section below!

Tickets are going fast as well, so be sure to grab yours before it's too late. All ticket info is available here. And just in case you're that one person who doesn't have it noted in his calendar by now, Hellfest Open Air is taking place June 17-19th in Clisson, France. An up to date festival billing is available over here.

See you next Thursday!

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Source:	hellfest.fr
Event:	Hellfest Open Air 2011

Magnisphyricon, the sophomore release of German symphonic/progressive metal band Sons Of Seasons, will be released via Napalm Records on April 1st.

According to a press release, this second album will be even more impressive than their debut. Magnisphyricon is not a mere continuation of their chosen path, but rather a bold step into unexplored musical territories. Led by mastermind Oliver Palotai (Kamelot, Doro), the band performs the difficult feat of balancing technical prowess with memorable melodies.

The new songs also provide Henning Basse (Metalium) a forum in which to prove his vocal talents and ennoble the album with sweeping renditions. Simone Simons (Epica) again lends her captivating voice, making the track "Sanctuary" one of the album's undisputed highlights. The powerful and lively production completes the listening experience and gives the tracks their crystal-clear quality. Magnisphyricon is a profound and multifaceted melodic symphonic metal album that will whisk you away to a breathtaking sound universe.

Magnisphyricon cover art] tracklist:

01. Magnisphyricon: Temperance
02. Bubonic Waltz
03. Soul Symmetry
04. Sanctuary
05. Casus Belli I: Guilt's Mirror
06. Magnisphyricon: Adjustement
07. Into the Void
08. A Nightbird's Gospel
09. Tales of Greed
10. Lilith
11. Casus Belli II: Necrologue to the Unborn
12. Magnisphyricon: The Aeon
13. 1413
14. Yesteryears

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Sons Of Seasons

Power Quest have announced a handful of headlining UK tour dates in May, in support of their upcoming Blood Alliance. In addition the band also confirmed for Hammerfest III on March 19th, taking place in Prestatyn, North Wales.

Blood Alliance will be released in Europe at the end of March, and in North America on April 5th. More album details are available here.

Keyboardist Steve Williams commented: "We are really excited to hit the road again, it's been way too long for our UK fans and we finally return to Glasgow as well! The demand was so high, we couldn't miss that. And we are also working on a few European dates. So - 2011 will see a lot of us, that's for sure!!"

Blood Alliance tour dates:

May 05 - London, UK - Purple Turtle
May 06 - Derby, UK - Redemption Club
May 07 - Manchester, UK - Satan's Hollow
May 08 - Glasgow, UK - Classic Grand

Festival dates:

Mar. 19 - Hammerfest III, Prestatyn, Noth Wales
May 29-June 8 - Hard Rock Hell Roadtrip, Ibiza
Aug. 13 - Bloodstock Open Air, Derby, UK

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Power Quest
Event:	Power Quest

"New World Shadows", another new video from Finnish melodic death metal band Omnium Gatherum, can now be watched below.

"New World Shadows" is the title track of the band's upcoming album, which will be released via Lifeforce Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: February 4, 2011
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: February 9, 2011
Rest Of Europe: February 7, 2011
North America: March 1, 2011

In other news, Omnium Gatherum will be promoting New World Shadows in their home country on the following dates:

Feb. 09 - Jyväskylä, Finland - Lutakko
Feb. 10 - Kuopio, Finland - Henry's Pub
Feb. 11 - Oulu, Finland - Nuclear Nightclub
Feb. 12 - Karhula, Finland - Sam's Pub
Feb. 23 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia
Mar. 10 - Jyväskylä, Finland - Lutakko (with Evergrey)
Mar. 11 - Oulu, Finland - Club Teatria (with Evergrey)
Mar. 12 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi (with Evergrey)
Mar. 18 - Kouvola, Finland - Rytmikatti
Mar. 25 - Turku, Finland - S-Osis
Apr. 09 - Hamina, Finland - Jack Up

Jul. 01 - Germany - With Full Force Open Air

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Source:	omniumgatherum.org
Band profile:	Omnium Gatherum
Event:	Omnium Gatherum

So, according to the website of the Westboro Baptist Church - cleverly titled godhatesfags.com - the nutjobs kind people of the WBC are planning on picketing Ozzy Osbourne concert tonight at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. With this "peaceful sidewalk demonstrations" the WBC wants to inform everyone that "God hates Ozzy Osbourne". Aha.

The Westboro Baptist Church - a Kansas-based congregation made up mostly of reverend Fred Phelps and his inbred huge family - claims that, "Ozzy promotes all the filth and rebellion he can and has the gall to call the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ "evil" for warning this doomed world?"

Last October the Westboro Baptist Church used lyrics from one of Ozzy's songs at events surrounding the October 6, 2010 Snyder v. Phelps Supreme Court hearing. An attorney - a daughter of the church's founder, along with her sister - paraphrased lyrics from Osbourne's "Crazy Train" at a post-Supreme Court hearing press conference in Washington, DC. "I am sickened and disgusted by the use of "Crazy Train" to promote messages of hate and evil by a "church"," Ozzy responded.

WBC gals live in action at this year's Golden Globe Awards

The nutjobs kind people of the WBC also protested at Ronnie James Dio's funeral back in May. Ozzy also slammed them for that on the radio show Rockline: "I thought it was in such bad taste that those people had those banners about Ronnie James Dio. That's disgusting. They say that we're the anti-christ. Well, what makes them any better?"


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Source:	godhatesfags.com
Band profile:	Ozzy Osbourne
Event:	Ozzy Osbourne + Slash

Metal Storm received the following update on Iced Earth.

On January 24th, Iced Earth joins 39 other metal bands from around the world on the four-day 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise - and promises one hell of a show.

"I'm excited," said Iced Earth founder Jon Schaffer. "We've been looking forward to this for months. This is our first show of 2011 so we intend to go balls-to-the-wall and make some of our own waves in the Caribbean."

Drummer Brent Smedley and lead guitarist Troy Seele agree. "We are so excited about the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise," Smedley said. "So many great bands all in one place! Also, we look forward to hanging out with all of the fans. What better way to start the new year than with TONS of METAL, 2,000 fans, and 24/7 bars. Let the Metal flow, cruise-ship style!"

Added Seele: "The band is excited to be able to get so close to the fans. What better way than to be on a floating island of metal?"

Iced Earth is scheduled to play two blistering one-hour sets, comprised of some two-dozen fan-favorite songs. The full 70,000 Tons of Metal line-up can be found here.

This promises to be a banner year for Iced Earth. Not only is a new album in the works for release late 2011 (followed by a world tour), but Iced Earth will release a 6-hour, three-concert live DVD this Spring. More info on the Festivals of the Wicked DVD release was previously reported over at this location.

Plus, the band was recently confirmed to play European festivals Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting, and Rock am Härtsfeldsee. More festival dates will be announced soon.

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Source:	icedearth.com
Band profile:	Iced Earth

Hypersonic, the young symphonic metal band hailing from Sicily, Italy, has signed with Underground Symphony Records to release their debut effort, Fallen Melodies, on Janaury 31st.

Fallen Melodies features the beautiful voice of singer Alessia Rapisarda and offers typical melodic metal with power, gothic and AOR influences. The album also features a guest appearance by vocalist Jo Lombardo (Metatrone, Orion Riders).

The band's first single, "Rebirth", is streaming on MySpace.

Fallen Melodies cover art] tracklist:

01. The Last Apocalypse
02. My Spirit Free
03. Rebirth
04. Winter Melodies
05. Wheels Of Fire
06. A Lovely Creature
07. A Beautiful Dream
08. Heaven
09. Atlantis Treasure
10. Diamond Hope

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Source:

myspace.com

Original news, posted on 03.12.2010

Polish technical death metallers Decapitated are working on a new album. Guitarist, and only remaining founder of the band, Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka issued the following short update:

"I can already say that we have half an hour of material and work is going very fast. You can expect as usual, album completely different than previous releases... but not as that different. We will begin recording in February."

UPDATE

An update on the new Decapitated album? Yes please!

It seems the Polish technical death metallers will be entering RG Studio in Gdansk, Poland on February 9th to start recording their fifth studio album.

The as-yet-to-be-titled new album will be produced by Wacław Kiełtyka and engineered by Malta Arkadiusz Malczewski. Meanwhile, drums will be recorded with Daniel Bergstrand (Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir), who will also be handling mixing duties.

A mid-year release through Nuclear Blast Records is expected.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Decapitated

Italian power metal band Drakkar have been busy working on a new album When Lightening Strikes which has now entered its mixing stage. No further details have been give though you can in the meantime feast your eyes on the band's album artwork done by Alessandro Bragalini.

When Lightening Strikes is the band's fourth studio effort and it comes after an eight year wait since the release of their last studio album, Razorblade God. Subsequent information and news will be posted on the band's official website.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Drakkar

Italian Prog metal band Twinspirits have unveiled details about their upcoming studio effort titled Legacy. The album is scheduled to be released on 18th February 2011. The band goes ahead to break down the album as follows:

Legacy is divided in 2 main parts. In the first part we have 6 powerful straight ahead songs, still being progressive in nature and with a more direct feel to them than has been heard from the band before. The second part of the album is a multi-suite movement, "The Endless Sleep", divided in 5 songs (symphonic intro + 4 songs) that is more like an album within an album being very theatrical and visionary.

Legacy Tracklisting:
01. Senseless
02. Pay For Their Art
03. Blind Soul
04. Slave To This World
05. Don't Kill Your Dreams
06. Over And Over Again
07. The Endless Sleep / The Endless Sleep
08. The Endless Sleep / What Am I Supposed To Do
09. The Endless Sleep / Legacy
10. The Endless Sleep / I'm Leaving This World
11. The Endless Sleep / Tell Me The Truth

Twinspirits has also uploaded a song sample available for previewing at this location

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Twinspirits

Artillery, the thrash metal band from Denmark, revealed the cover artwork and tracklist of their forthcoming album My Blood. The follow up to the highly acclaimed When Death Comes from 2009 was recorded in late 2010 at the Medley Studios. The cover artwork was designed by the well known Polish graphic designer Graal known from his previous work for bands such as Vital Remains, Sinister, Solitude Aeternus and Bulldozer. Graal was also responsible for the covers of Artillery's Through The Years and When Death Comes.

Metal Mind Productions set up the release date for 14th March in Japan (via Kings Records), 21st March in Europe, 5th April in USA (via MVD). The album will be released as a jewel case CD and as a digipak CD including 2 bonus tracks. Japanese edition of the album will include an exclusive bonus track which won't be available elsewhere.

My Blood tracklisting :

1. Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)
2. Monster
3. Dark Days
4. Death Is An Illusion
5. Ain't Giving In
6. Prelude To Madness
7. Thrasher
8. Warrior Blood
9. Concealed In The Dark
10. End Of Eternity
11. The Great

CD digipak bonus tracks:

12. Show Your Hate 2011
13. Eternal War 2011

CD Japanese edition bonus track:

11. The Almighty 2011

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Source:	metalmind.com.pl
Band profile:	Artillery

Avenged Sevenfold recently posted this on their website:

We recently asked several friends who knew Jimmy and his style, and also knew our music and each of our personalities to suggest drummers to tour with us starting this year. Our long time studio drum tech, Mike Fasano, recommended Arin Ilejay. We've rehearsed with Arin and have been impressed with his technical skills, attitude and work ethic. We're very excited to tour with Arin and hope all of you will give him the warm welcome to the family we have.

Thanks for your never ending support. It means the world to us.

See you on the Nightmare After Christmas.

Arin Ilejay is also the ex-drummer of the band Confide.

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Source:	avengedsevenfold.com
Band profile:	Avenged Sevenfold

Obscura has posted the first preview track, "Septuagint", from their highly-anticipated new album Omnivium online now via the band's MySpace and Facebook pages. Omnivium, the follow-up to the band's acclaimed Cosmogenesis album, will see its North American release on March 29th on CD, double LP, and digitally.

Release dates:

29/03/2011 - US
01/04/2011 - Germany / Belgium / The Netherlands / Luxembourg
04/04/2011 - worldwide

We formerly reported the revealing of the new artwork. That can be found here.

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Obscura

Heavy Devy gets all melancholic on us with a brand new track called 'Fly'. Check out Dev performing the track inside at this weekend's NAMM.


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Source:	metalhammer.co.uk
Band profile:	Devin Townsend