The Swedish melodic metal band Harmony have posted their brand new video for the track "Prevail" online. The track is taken from their album "Chapter II: Aftermath" released last fall in Europe and North America by Ulterium Records, and in February in Japan by King Records.


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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Harmony

US progressive metal act Odd Logic are releasing their new album "Legends Of Monta: Part II", the epic prog metal follow-up to Part I. According to AM Music, this is independent progressive metal at its best. Sonic soundscapes and pounding rhythms take you through epic rock operas. Influences include Jorn, Fates Warning, Queensrÿche, King's X, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Enchant and Rush.

The "Legends Of Monta: Part II" tracklist looks like follows:

01. I. An Old Book Reopens - II. A Call to Gather
02. I. Ruins - II. Anniversary Tears - III. Take Us Away
03. I. The King's Wizard - II. Assembly of Heroes
04. Ship of Lore
05. The Stonelands
06. I. Deceiver - II. Hills of Shadows
07. The Horse Scroll
08. Power of Five
09. A Father's Warning
10. The Jauggerbeast
11. I. Betrayal? - II. Shine as One
12. The Last Scroll
13. I. War of Kyrias - II. Rising Sun - III. An Old Book Ends

The artwork was done by Thomas Ewerhard (Symphony X, Enchant, Spock's Beard, Neal Morse etc.). Samples are available at this location.

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Source:

myspace.com

Ascendance Records are proud to announce that Ram-Zet's fourth studio album entitled "Neutralized" will be released through the label this autumn.

Since 2000 Ram-Zet have built a strong and dedicated following. Led by Zet's creative talents for guitar and vocals and the sultry voice of Sfinx, "Neutralized" is sure to please their fan-base as ever.

The album was recorded during 2008 and early 2009, seeing the band at the peak of their creativity. Ram-Zet employed a lengthy, busy writing schedule with the album being mixed this summer ready for a tentative release date of September. Illustrating the innovative, challenging and intense sound that fans have come to expect from Ram-Zet, "Neutralized" is the perfect next addition to their catalogue.

The cover artwork for "Neutralized" can already be found here.

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Source:

myspace.com

French black metal band Glorior Belli have announced their line-up is complete again. Here is the official message from the band's MySpace:

"Gaël Barthelemy, known for his work with Balrog, Svartcrown, Diabolic, Drowning, Antaeus... is now officially drumming for Glorior Belli. Therefore, Glorior Belli will be available again for gigs shortly."

The line-up is:

Infestvvs (Composition - Guitar/Bass/Vocals)
Alastor (Guitar)
Gaël Barthelemy (Drums)
Caym (Live Bass)

The new Glorior Belli record "Meet Us At The Southern Sign" has been released on May 25th in Europe and June 2nd in North-America by Candlelight Records.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Glorior Belli

DragonForce will be back in the US and Canada for the final round of Ultra Beatdown this year. The band will be unleashing a new set list of new songs, old songs and ones they have never played on any other tours before. Special guests confirmed are Sonata Arctica and Taking Dawn.

Sep. 18 - House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
Sep. 19 - Regency Center @ The Grand - San Francisco, CA
Sep. 20 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
Sep. 21 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
Sep. 23 - Edmonton Events Centre - Edmonton, AB
Sep. 24 - MacEwan Hall Ballroom - Calgary, AB
Sep. 25 - Odeon Events Centre - Saskatoon, SK
Sep. 26 - Burton Cummings - Winnipeg, MA
Sep. 28 - Beaumont - Kansas City, MO
Sep. 29 - The Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
Sep. 30 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Oct. 02 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
Oct. 03 - Le Medley - Montreal, QC
Oct. 04 - Theatre Imperial - Quebec City, QC
Oct. 06 - The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza - New York City, NY
Oct. 07 - Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD
Oct. 09 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Oct. 10 - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
Oct. 11 - Theatre of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA

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Source:	dragonforce.com
Band profile:	DragonForce
Event:	DragonForce: Ultra Beatdown N. American Tour

According to a posting on the band's official website, the band discovered internet porn and are therefore calling it quits:

"OK, that's not entirely true, we knew about the porn all along. But, after two albums , both of which we're hugely proud of, and about a hundred shows, all of them memorable in their own way, the question that remained for us was: what's next? The answer can be short: nothing. "La Muerte" and "Rise To Ruin" are two albums with which we've expanded, and indeed completed our body of work to our full satisfaction. Barring one or two exceptions, all the shows we've done since we decided to reform sometime in 2004 have been tremendously enjoyable. So why quit? Pretty simple, really: Every ride comes to an end. This is ours."

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Source:	gorefest.nl
Band profile:	Gorefest

"Romulus", the debut album from Ex Deo - the band led by Kataklysm frontman Maurizio Iacono - is available for streaming in its entirety at this location until June 18th.

Ex Deo will unleash its monster of a debut album, "Romulus", to the world on June 19 (Europe) and June 30 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records.

The album was recorded with producer (and Kataklysm guitarist) Jean-Francois Dagenais (Misery Index, Despised Icon, Malevolent Creation).

Nergal (Behemoth), Karl Sanders (Nile) and Obsidian C (Keep Of Kalessin) will make special guest appearances on "Romulus". Nergal will appear in the song "Storm The Gates Of Alesia," singing a very famous Caesar quote; Sanders laid down a ripping solo in the song "The Final War (The Battle Of Actium)" which deals with Antony and Cleopatra's defiance of Octivian in Egypt, and Obsidian C lends a majestic and melodic solo to the track "Cruor Nostri Abbas."

Ex Deo will make its live debut this September/October on the special edition of Europe's biggest pagan/folk metal tour, Paganfest.

"Romulus" cover art and tracklist:

01. Romulus
02. Storm The Gates Of Alesia
03. Cry Havoc
04. In Her Dark Embrace
05. Invictus
06. The Final War (Battle Of Actium)
07. Legio XIII
08. Blood, Courage and The God
09. Cruor Nostri Abbas
10. Surrender The Sun
11. The Pantheon (Jupiter's Reign)

Watch the video to the title track "Romulus" here:


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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Ex Deo

The first details about a new Nightwish album are surfacing. In a recent interview, keyboard player Tuomas Holopainen revealed he already wrote three new songs for the new album, including a 3min30 instrumental interlude. In the same interview, Tuomas said the new album will be will be his way to realise his biggest dream since he plays music:

"First of all when it comes to music and Nightwish I have a huge dream and we are doing everything we can to fulfill it on the next album. I am going to be a bit mystical here because I can't reveal to you anymore but there is going to be a big twist so to say, on the next album. I just hope we can realize that because it is going to be the all time dream come true if we can pull it off. It is going to take alot of time, effort, work, and money. We will see what happens, I am really looking forward to it."

The new album will be released by the end of 2010.

In other news, you can watch a full Nightwish live show, from the Exit Festival 2008, by clicking here.

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Source:	nightwish-world.com
Band profile:	Nightwish

Dutch gothic rock band Nemesea have welcomed Lasse Dellbrügge as the newest addition to the fold. The band comments: "We are proud to present to you our new fifth member, an amazing guy and a very talented DJ/keyboard player: Lasse Dellbrügge. He used to play with Orphanage and we are very happy to welcome him aboard."

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Nemesea

News front the Finnish Folk metal camp Korpiklaani:

"The new video from Finnish folk metallers Korpiklaani, "Vodka", will make its online debut on Thursday, June 11, 2009 via the bands MySpace page. The track is currently is available for streaming at this location.

Korpiklaani will release its sixth album, Karkelo (English translation: "Pleasure" or "Party"), on June 26, 2009 (Europe) and August 25, 2009 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Petrax studio in Hollola, Finland."

Track List:
01. Vodka
02. Eramaan Arjyt
03. Isku Pitkasta Ilosta
04. Mettanpeiton Valtiaalle
05. Juodaan Viinaa
06. Uniaika
07. Kultanainen
08. Bring Us Pints Of Beer
09. Huppiaan Aarre
10. Konnin Kuokkamies
11. Vesaisen Sota
12. Sulasilma
13. Kohmelo

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Korpiklaani

Taken from the Profound Lore Records website:

"NY avant-doom metal enigma Bloody Panda have completed work on their suffocating sophomore opus, "Summon".

The follow up to the acclaimed "Pheromone" release, "Summon" sees the nightmare Bloody Panda initially conceived (with their split LP with experimentalists Kayo Dot) taken further into the depths. Recorded in various locations and in different times and spaces, and by crafting a more nightmarish and cryptic opus than all previous works, "Summon" is an artful time-stretching opus that lurks within the deep dark chambers of doom metal horror.

Tracklisting for "Summon" goes as follows:

1. Gold
2. Pusher
3. Saccades I
4. Saccades II
5. Miserere
6. Grey
7. Hashira

"Summon" will be presented as a two-disc, CD/DVD release, the DVD being an abstract visual interpretation of the 20-plus minute track "Miserere". Filmed in various parts of Brooklyn, along with footage captured at Jaliluhur Dam, Indonesia, this visual interpretation is a very dark and mysterious offering featuring renowned butoh dancer Yuko Kaseki.

Bloody Panda are also planning on touring and playing shows to coincide with the release. More news on touring and shows surrounding Bloody Panda to follow.

An MP3 excerpt of the track "Miserere" can be heard via the Profound Lore MP3 section. "Summon" shall officially be unleashed on August 11th.

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Source:	profoundlorerecords.com
Band profile:	Bloody Panda

British doom metal band My Dying Bride has announced the following statement about some line-up changes:

"Katie is no longer taking part in My Dying Bride. After confirming to play all of the shows we presently have booked she decided she did not want to do them, stating the reason being as "I want to concentrate on my career". She is presently a part time psychology student. So make of that what you will.

The kind chap who came in to replace her is called Shaun Macgowan. He has been rehearsing with us for no time at all and has shown great commitment already. He will not be being classed as a full time member until he has passed his probationary period with us, which is now 30 years. If you would like to welcome Shaun in the only way MDB fans can, that would be a great test of his character. And by 'the only way' I mean to complain that he is not Martin. For ever.

The band overall are saddened by the line up change, we think more for you than us. But as anyone who saw the show at the Wave Gotik in Leipzig will confirm, we have lost nothing."

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Source:	mydyingbride.org
Band profile:	My Dying Bride

Greek melodic black metal band Rotting Christ has revealed that they will be entering the studio soon to record their next album. A statement from the band reads as follows:

"New songs composing process has almost been completed and the band is ready to enter the studio for the recording sessions of its upcoming album that will follow up the very successful latest band's album Theogonia.

Sakis will take care of the production again and as being the main composer too he declares that he had his most tripy and exhausted simultaneously experience on his career squeezing his mind drowing down ideas that will follow up the band's latest album Theogonia and the end of the process find him as well as the whole band totally convicted that they finally managed it.

We haven't more to say than proving it with the upcoming recordings and ofcourse with its release that roughly estimated to be released in January 2010."

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Source:	rotting-christ.com
Band profile:	Rotting Christ

Swedish melodic Doom/Death metallers Slumber have issued the following update about new album recordings and line-up:

"The recording of Resonance (the new Slumber album) has been re-set to October 5th - November 15th. It will be recorded at the isolated sphere of "Panic Room Studios" in Skara as the last album. This time though, we have twice the time and much more knowledge. The album will shine!!"

New line-up for the album recording and live performance:

Ehsan Kalantarpour - Vocals / Synth
Jari Lindholm - Guitar
Siavosh Bigonah - Bass / Growl
Markus Hill - Guitar
Ted Larsson - Drums
Mikael Brunqvist - Live 3rd guitarrist and percussionist

Female performances by Ida Sundquvist, Lina Svärd and Vinköl choir.

"This is the moment some of us has been preparing our whole life for. The era of majestic melancholy in music that in time, hopefully can grow into a real live performing large orchestra of... dooom haha. We'll give this album our everything!

I hope you're enjoying the preview of Resonance. We'll put up more songs as we go along.

Take care

/Ehsan and Slumber"

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Slumber

Manowar has posted the following piece of news on their website:

"Hail Brothers and Sisters of Steel! Fantasy becomes reality as Manowar releases the EP, "Thunder in the Sky." The introduction to The Asgard Saga, Manowar's collaboration with Germany's best-selling fantasy author, Wolfgang Hohlbein, will feature 6 songs and a bonus CD with "Father" recorded in 16 versions in 16 different languages. The EP is the prequel to the complete CD "Hammer of the Gods," due to be released at the end of 2009.

Destined to be a collector's item, the tour edition of the EP will be available at all the festivals Manowar headlines on The Death to Infidels Tour 2009.

In addition, the EP will be available for sale online in high-quality, DMR-free, MP3 format only at The Kingdom Of Steel Online Store. The downloadable version of the EP will contain the exact same content as the version on sale during the tour: Thunder In The Sky, God Or Man, Let The Gods Decide, Father, Die With Honor, The Crown And The Ring (2008) and versions of "Father" recorded in German, Italian, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Norwegian, Spanish, French, Greek, Turkish, Polish, Japanese, Croatian, Portuguese and Finnish.

Keep posted to your official Manowar websites for links to sneak previews of the new Manowar songs set to be released on the EP.

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Source:	manowar.com
Band profile:	Manowar