Embraze have issued the following update:

"Embraze has come to the end of the road; we have decided to call it quits. The decision was made together as a band, and we want to throw one more gig and finish the story of Embraze with style.

Lots of water has streamed in River Kiiminkijoki in the past 15 years, when children have become so-called grown-ups. We've experienced moments of joy and success just as well as some setbacks, line-up changes and battles with record labels. Despite the energy-consuming setbacks, however, we have prevailed and made a long career.

One of the best recording experiences we had was recording "Katharsis" in the Finnish Lapland when we packed our gear in a trailer and recorded the album at Raanujärvi with Aki Karppinen and Kake Vähäkuopus. We lived and worked in a 300m² mansion, brought from the 19th century Soviet Union. The doors at the mansion locked themselves on their own from the inside and all kinds of fun and exciting things were going on in the house. It was great experiencing that recording sessions can, indeed, be relaxing and fun.

Tours and gigs have also brought their share of all sorts of events and occurrences, as is expected. Some of the more memorable ones have been immortalized in the book series "Rokatessa Roiskuu." The best stories and memories will only remain in the minds of those who experienced them. The first Finnish tour was, I think, with Afterworld in the winter of 1998, when we had a bus that sometimes had neither breaks nor heating. That's rock'n roll. One of the most enjoyable tours was with Moonspell and Before The Dawn in the fall of 2006.

Our last show will be in Oulu, at Club Teatria on May 1st, 2009. The night will also feature two other local bands - Seith and Reflexion. The original Embraze-bassist, Petri Henell, plays in Seith, and Reflexion is a band with whom we played together already in the mid-1990s, when we were both taking our fist wobbly steps as bands. Juha Kylmänen, the lead vocalist of Reflexion, also plays in For My Pain... with Lauri.

More information on the show at Club Teatria website. Tickets are available through Tiketti and Lippupalvelu (Ticket Service Finland).

Thanks to the bands who gave us an opportunity to tour with them: Afterworld, Moonspell, Sparzanza, Before The Dawn, Maple Cross, Lambs. Thanks to all our friends and families who have accompanied us on the career. Special thanks to our manager Topi Hanhela for his faith, hope and love, from the beginning to the end."

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Embraze

This year, Mayhem are about to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band and you are all welcome to the party! Thunderdome Touring and Season of Mist are proud to announce that the Norwegians veterans will team up with some of the strongest extreme metal acts to tour North America on next May and June! Enter the Blackenedfest, featuring: Mayhem, Marduk, Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation and Withered.

Here are the tour dates:

21 May 09 - New York, NY (US) The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
22 May 09 - Baltimore, MD (US) Sonar (Maryland Deathfest)
23 May 09 - Atlanta, GA (US) Masquerade
24 May 09 - Orlando, FL (US) Club Firestone
26 May 09 - Houston, TX (US) Numbers
27 May 09 - San Antonio, TX (US) White Rabbit
29 May 09 - Albuquerque, NM (US) Sunshine Theater
30 May 09 - Tempe, AZ (US) Clubhouse
31 May 09 - San Diego, CA (US) House Of Blues
02 Jun 09 - Hollywood, CA (US) House Of Blues
03 Jun 09 - San Francisco, CA (US) DNA
04 Jun 09 - Portland, OR (US) Hawthorne Theatre
05 Jun 09 - Seattle, WA (US) Studio Seven
06 Jun 09 - Boise, ID (US) Knitting Factory Concert House
07 Jun 09 - Denver, CO (US) Gothic Theater
09 Jun 09 - St Paul, MN (US) Station 4
11 Jun 09 - Chicago, IL (US) House Of Blues
12 Jun 09 - Cleveland, OH (US) Peabody's
13 Jun 09 - Detroit, MI (US) The Majestic Theater
14 Jun 09 - Toronto, ON (CA) The Opera House
15 Jun 09 - Montreal, QC (CA) Les Foufounes Electriques

Read more ››

Source:	season-of-mist.com
Band profile:	Mayhem
Event:	Blackenedfest Tour

American metallers God Forbid posted their entire new album "Earthsblood" online. "Earthsblood" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

The band's fifth studio album will be released on February 16 in Europe and February 24 in North America through Century Media.

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	God Forbid

The dates for the the Paganfest America Part II Tour are revealed. The upcoming traveling spectacle will include: Finland's folk freaks Korpiklaani as the headliners, Switzerland's Eluveitie, Ireland's Primordial, Finland's Moonsorrow, Canada's Blackguard (formerly known as Profugus Mortis) and straight off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, New Jersey's crazy Pirate Metal drunks, Swashbuckle as the opening party starters throughout the tour!

Apr 28 2009 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
Apr 29 2009 - Montreal, QC - Medley
Apr 30 2009 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial
May 01 2009 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
May 03 2009 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
May 04 2009 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
May 05 2009 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
May 06 2009 - Detroit, MI - TBA
May 07 2009 - Mokena, IL - Chicago Powerfest
May 08 2009 - St. Paul, MN - Station 4
May 09 2009 - Winnipeg, MB - TBA
May 10 2009 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
May 11 2009 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
May 12 2009 - Calgary, AB - Warehouse
May 13 2009 - Vancouver, BC - TBA
May 14 2009 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
May 15 2009 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
May 16 2009 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
May 17 2009 - Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
May 18 2009 - TBA, CA - TBA

Kataklysm frontman and Rock The Nation USA's general manager Maurizio Iacono recently commented: "As 2008's Paganfest was a great discovery for many people and a HUGE success, we are proud to bring it back again for 2009! The demand for the tour is growing and people are really excited. We chose to bring the best and some new blood as well for the next run. We hope (like this year) that all the pagan followers will come back in big numbers and raise their drinks in the air and celebrate a majestic evening not to be forgotten anytime soon!"

For more info on the tour, visit http://www.myspace.com/paganfestusa

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Event:	Paganfest N. America Tour

Finnish metallers Amorphis have revealed some new details about their new fothcoming album, entilted "Skyforger". The album will be released on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork of the album can be viewed at this location.

Tracklisting of the "Skyforger":

01. Sampo
02. Silver Bride
03. From The Heaven Of My Heart
04. Sky Is Mine
05. Majestic Beast
06. My Sun
07. Highest Star
08. Skyforger
09. Course Of Fate
10. From Eearth I Rose

Read more ››

Source:	nuclearblast.de
Band profile:	Amorphis

Swedish melodic death metal band Zonaria are now confirmed as support for Norwegian black metallers Satyricon, during their Scandinavian tour 2009. A tour poster can be found here.

The dates are as follows:

April 13 - SE Göteborg, Trädgårn
April 14 - DK Århus, Voxhall
April 15 - DK Copenhagen, The Rock
April 16 - SE Malmö, KB
April 17 - SE Mariestad, Folkparken
April 18 - SE Sundsvall, Nordfest
April 19 - SE Västerås, Sigurdsgatan 25
April 21 - SE Stockholm, Klubben
April 23 - FI Helsinki, nosturi
April 24 - FI Tampere, Pakkahoune
April 25 - FI Oulu, Teatria
April 27 - SE Umeå, Folkets Hus

Read more ››

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Zonaria
Event:	Satyricon

Original news, posted on 22.12.2008

It's official: the new After All album is called "Cult Of Sin".

The Belgian Thrash metal band comments: "Right now, we're looking at an early March 2009 release. We'll announce the exact date in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, we can already reveal Gabriel Bueno's amazing artwork for the new album. Gabriel has been designing some very interesting stuff lately, for bands like Killswitch Engage, Lamb Of God and Unearth. It's nice to be part of such an impressive portfolio.

Dan Swanö (known from his work for Edge Of Sanity, Hail Of Bullets, Novembers Doom, among others) finished mixing and mastering "Cult Of Sin" earlier this week at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden. Dan provided us with an ultra-heavy, yet crystal clear sound, exceeding any expectation we had - just the way this record was supposed to sound!

Some very special guests performed on the album. We'll be announcing them in the coming weeks, along with snippets of the new songs. All friends of the band that signed up for the newsletter will have the privilege of checking out some new songs first. Be sure you sign up for the newsletter!"

More about After All on http://www.myspace.com/afterallmetal.

UPDATE

The new After All album "Cult Of Sin" - out March 23 on Dockyard1/SPV - contains guest appearances by some of After All's tour buddies: Andy LaRocque (King Diamond), Juan Garcia and Bernie Versailles (Agent Steel), Joey Vera (Armored Saint), and James Rivera (Helstar). Needless to say we couldn't be more stoked about their contributions.

Here's the complete "Cult Of Sin" track list:

01. Another False Prophecy
02. My Own Sacrifice
03. Scars Of My Actions
04. Betrayed By The Gods - feat. Juan Garcia, Joey Vera & Bernie Versailles
05. Devastation Done
06. End Of Your World
07. Land Of Sin - feat. Andy LaRocque
08. Doomsday Elegy (2012)
09. Embracing Eternity - feat. James Rivera
10. Hollow State
11. Release

Bonus track: Scars, Booze And A Bad Case Of Cabin Fever (video)

Read more ››

Source:	home.scarlet.be
Band profile:	After All

Original news, posted on 05.11.2008

Psyopus is proud to announce the release date for their third album "Odd Senses". The album is to be released Feb 17th 2009. The album will list 10 tracks all lending themselves to the Psyopus tech, mathy and experimental formula:

01. .44
02. Medusa
03. The Burning Halo
04. Duct Tape Smile
05. X and Y
06. Boogeyman
07. Imogen's Puzzle Pt 3
08. Choker Chain
09. Ms Shyflower
10. A Murder to Child

Psyopus is also happy to announce their track "The Burning Halo" has been placed on their MySpace page for fans review.

UPDATE (thanks to ArtiA)

Psyopus have posted "Medusa", the second new song coming off "Odd Senses", online over at the band's MySpace.

Read more ››

Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Psyopus

Metallica have won a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance category with the song "My Apocalypse" at the 51st annual Grammy Awards, held in Los Angeles last night. This is Metallica's eight Grammy thus far, including five for "Best Metal Performance."

All the nominees for Best Metal Performance (for solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only):

DragonForce - Heroes Of Our Time (from the album "Ultra Beatdown")
Judas Priest - Nostradamus (from the album "Nostradamus")
Metallica - My Apocalypse (from the album "Death Magnetic")
Ministry - Under My Thumb (from the album "Cover Up")
Slipknot - Psychosocial (from the album "All Hope Is Gone")

"Death Magnetic" won also a Grammy for Best Recording Package, while Rick Rubin went home with a Grammy for Producer Of The Year.

Metallica were also nominated with the track "Suicide & Redemption" for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, but lost that one to "Peaches En Regalia" from Zappa Plays Zappa Featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock. "Death Magnetic" was also nominated for Best Rock Album but lost to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends".

The Mars Volta won in the Hard Rock Performance category, leaving behind Disturbed, Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe and Rob Zombie.
Robert Plant (ex-Led Zeppelin) and Alison Krauss won all five of the categories they were nominated in with the album "Raising Sand".

A list of all nominees and winners can be found here.

Read more ››

Source:	grammy.com
Band profile:	Metallica

Dark Sentiments and Playground Music Scandinavia are set to release Widescreen Mode's highly anticipated sophomore album, "The Hanging Man," on April 8. "The Hanging Man" is the follow up to 2007's "Until the End," which contained the singles, "Everlasting Bomb" and "Dead Inside," both which received massive radio airplay in Scandinavia and topped the singles charts for several weeks. "Everlasting Bomb" was #1 on the Finnish iTunes charts for 16 consecutive weeks in 2007, and "Dead Inside" reached #1 on the Finnish Top 40 in 2008.

"The Hanging Man" showcases a more aggressive and versatile side of Widescreen Mode, while staying true to the band's signature sound and hooks. The album's concept came together on the road as the band played the summer metal festivals. Musically, "The Hanging Man" is return to their metal roots.

Drummer Janne Aaltonen says, "While we were touring we started to scavenge the dusty corners of our record collections and listened to all the gems from bands like Testament, Sepultura and Slayer. We wanted to let go of our old routines, move into some darker grounds and do something really surprising. The old elements are still there, but in the arrangements we really let the demons loose."

"Serotonin," the first single from "The Hanging Man," is now streaming on Widescreen Mode's MySpace page. "Serotonin" provides fans with a first look at Widescreen Mode's new material. The digital single will be available on February 20, and income from the single sales will be donated to charities supporting youth mental health care.

"The song started with the lyrical concept," adds Aaltonen. "Many people deal with serious depression that goes unnoticed by those around them. We are all slaves of this transmitter ruling our brains. 'Serotonin' might not portray the whole package, but it definitely creates a certain bridge between the previous album and the new one."

A video for "Serotonin" was shot in Finland and directed by Markus Aaltonen. The video will be serviced everywhere shortly. The video looks to build on the audience for "Dead Inside," which received airplay in the United States on Fuse and MTV2 last year.

"The Hanging Man" was produced by Jani Loikas and Aksu Hanttu (Entwine, Poisonblack) at Petrax and Sonic Pump Studio. The album was mixed by Aksu Hanttu and mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers.

Read more ››

Source:

widescreenmode.com

Irish metal band Castero have recently been joined by bass player Mog. Mog will be replacing Phil Brett on the bass postition.

Castero are currently working on a new demo. Song titles of the new material include "Intervinus", "World Subsides" and "Thousand fields of Sorrow". "Infiltration Remediation", the band's latest EP was released in November last year.

All info about the band on http://www.myspace.com/casterojaps.

Read more ››

Source:

myspace.com

Netherlands-based death metallers Asphyx have issued the following update:

"Swedish Dan Swanö will mix the upcoming Asphyx album entitled 'Death... The Brutal Way'. The album is recorded in the Sonic Assault studio and engineerd by Frank Klein Douwel, who is also the live sound-mixer of Asphyx. The new album will be Asphyx' heaviest so far for sure. We know, that's a cliché, but it's simply true and if we say this, you bet it's the truth.
Some titles: "Death... The Brutal Way", "Cape Horn", "Der Eisenbahnmörser", "Scorbutics", "Riflegun Redeemer", "Black Hole Storm", "Asphyx II (They Died As They Marched)..."

The album will be released in May/June this year by Century Media Records. War Anthem Records will release the LP version. Liner notes will be presented by Martin."

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Asphyx

Original news, posted on 24.10.2008

Listenable Records has set a February 2nd 2009 release date for Adagio's new album "Archangels In Black" in Europe and Australia. The main cover artwork has been done by artist Guilherme Sevens.

Without being a concept album, "Archangels In Black" evokes the band's convictions about a certain Nightside philosophy and a very personal approach of life and death: "Darkness is a concept with many branches, often misunderstood from outside, but elemental for some kind" guitarist Stéphan Forté says.

"Archangels In Black" tracklisting:

01. Vamphyri
02. The Astral Pathway
03. Fear Circus
04. Undead
05. Archangels In Black
06. The Fifth Ankh
07. Codex Oscura
08. Twilight At Dawn
09. Getsu Senshi

UPDATE, on 03.11.2008 (thanks to Abattoir)

"Vamphyri", the first track from "Archangels In Black" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

UPDATE, 15.12.2008 (thanks to ArtiA)

"Fear Circus", the second single from "Archangels In Black" is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

UPDATE (thanks to K?ulu)

The 5 first songs of Adagio's new album are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.
"Archangels In Black" is set to be released today (Monday Feb 9th) in Europe (UK around 25th).

Read more ››

Source:	adagio-online.com
Band profile:	Adagio

Australian doom metallers The Eternal have announced an Australian tour dates in support of their latest album "Kartika," which was released in November 2008. The Eternal will kick off with an Australian tour in February/March.

Tour dates, support, and venue details of the newly announced Australian shows are below:

Sat, Feb 21@ The Enigma Bar, Adelaide, SA
Doors: 8:30pm, Entry: $12
- With Universum, Black Orchid & Saeturnum

Fri, March 6@ The Arthouse, Melbourne, VIC
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Darker Half (NSW), A State of Flux, Divine Ascension

Sat, March 7@ The Peninsula Lounge, Mooroduc, VIC
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Dialysis, A State of Flux

Thu, March 12@ Brannigan's Tavern, Gold Coast, QLD
Doors: 8:30pm, Entry: $10
- With The Matador & Dead Letter Opener

Fri, March 13@ Monstrothic (Rosies Live), Brisbane, QLD
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Arcane, Mythology & Leadlight Rose

Sat, March 14@ Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Mushroom Giant, Allan Campbell & Rainshadow

Fri, March 20@ The Sandringham Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Doors: 8pm, Entry: $12
- With Darker Half & Destend

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	The Eternal
Event:	The Eternal: Australian Tour

Original news, posted on 04.01.2009

Samael have uploaded the track "Illumination" on their official MySpace. This track comes off the band's forthcoming new album, entitled "Above", which is scheduled for release in Europe on March 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork can be viewed here.

"Above" tracklisting:

01. Under One Flag
02. Virtual War
03. Polygames
04. Earth Country
05. Illumination
06. Black Hole
07. In There
08. Dark Side
09. God's Snake
10. On The Top Of It All

UPDATE (thanks to Abattoir)

Audio samples of all 10 tracks that appear on Samael's new album, "Above", are available at this location.

Read more ››

Source:	samael.info
Band profile:	Samael