Thanx to all the people who voted for metalstorm in the online metal awards... Thanks to you all, metalstorm has ended up in fourth position, which is a really good result after only two years of existence. So congratulations to Ivan the founder, Dream Taster our great Webmaster and to all the staff and forum members and casual visitors for your great support... The first seat is in sight!!!

Complete results here: http://www.onlinemetalawards.com/

After Forever's long-awaited, new album 'Invisible Circles'
will be released on 25 March 2004.

The concept album has the following tracklisting:

1. Childhood In Minor
2. Beautiful Emptiness
3. Between Love And Fire
4. Sins Of Idealism
5. Eccentric
6. Digital Deceit
7. Through Square Eyes
8. Blind Pain
9. Two Sides
10. Victim Of Choices
11. Refelctions
12. Life's Vortex

Band profile:

After Forever

A limited-edition version of Finnish goth-metalers H.I.M.'s upcoming "best of" collection, "And Love Said No - The Greatest Hits 1997-2004", will include a bonus DVD with the following tracks:

01. Soul On Fire
02. The Funeral Of Hearts
03. Beyond Redemption
04. Sweet Pandemonium
05. Buried Alive By Love
06. The Sacrament

"And Love Said No - The Greatest Hits 1997-2004" , due on March 15, will feature the following track listing:

01. And Love Said No
02. Join Me
03. Buried Alive By Love
04. Heartache Every Moment
05. Solitary Man
06. Right Here In My Arms
07. Funeral Of Hearts
08. In Joy And Sorrow
09. Your Sweet 666
10. Gone With The Sin
11. Wicked Game
12. The Sacrament
13. Close To The Flame
14. Poison Girl
15. Pretending
16. When Love And Death Embrace

Go here to take a look at the cover: http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0001GAW2E.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Band profile:

HIM

Finland's NIGHTWISH is the latest band confirmed for Dynamo Open Air, a one-day Dutch heavy metal festival scheduled to be held Saturday, June 5 in the Goffertpark in Nijmegen, Holland. Also scheduled to appear are headlinders SLAYER, plus LIFE OF AGONY, DIMMU BORGIR and CHILDREN OF BODOM.

There will be a total of 14 bands appearing on two stages, "pretty much in the same set-up as in the year 2000 when Dynamo was held at the same location," according to a posting on the festival's official web site. Tickets are 50 euros. The gates will open at 12:00 p.m. (noon) and the first band goes on at 1:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.dynamo.nl

Band profile:

Nightwish

1349, the Norwegian black metal band featuring SATYRICON drummer Frost, have set a May 4 U.S. release date through Candlelight Records for their second full-length album, "Beyond the Apocalypse".

Recorded, mixed and produced at Studio Nyhagen in Norway, the follow-up to last year's "Liberation" was produced by the band, with engineering assistance by Kjartan Hesthagen and Dr. Davidsen.

Formed in 1997, 1349 ? named for the year the plague hit Norway in the 14th Century ? found immediate cult status with the recording and later release of their self-titled mini-album in 2001. Word of mouth spread like wildfire regarding the band's cold and aggressive musical offering, and Frost, who initially joined the group as a session musician, would later ask to become a permanent member. Vocalist Ravn, guitarists Tjalve and Archaon, and bassist Seidemann agreed and 1349 would become complete. The band signed to Candlelight Records in late 2002.

"Beyond the Apocalypse" track listing:

01. Chasing Dragons
02. Beyond the Apocalypse
03. Aiwas Aeon
04. Necronatalenheten
05. Perished in Pain
06. Singer of Strange Songs
07. Blood is the Mortar
08. Internal Winter
09. The Blade

LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE's 6th album will be entitled Ave End. The band currently find themselves in Lungfull Studios and expect to complete the recording in early March. Three of the latest tracks are "Sarah Lou", "Phantom Ballad", "To Bleed or not to Be".

Band profile:

Lacrimas Profundere

Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL have pushed back the release date of their upcoming live album, "De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine", to April 19 through Regain Records. No reason was given for the delay.

The CD, which was recorded on the band's 2003 South American tour, will contain the following track listing:

01. Intro
02. The Arrival Of Satan's Empire
03. An Apprentice Of Satan
04. The Dawn No More Rises
05. Thy Legions Come
06. Hail Murder
07. Goddess Of Sodomy
08. The Secrets Of The Black Arts
09. Vobiscum Satanas
10. Shadows Over Transylvania
11. Open The Gates
12. Ineffable Kings Of Darkness
13. Thus I Have Spoken
14. My Dark Desires
15. Armageddon Finally Comes

DARK FUNERAL are currently writing material for their next studio album, tentatively due in late 2004.

As previously reported, DARK FUNERAL have been confirmed for the Piorno Rock Festival 2004, which is set to take place on Saturday, February 28 in Pinos Puentes (Granada), Spain. Other bands scheduled to appear at the event include STRATOVARIUS, SEPULTURA, MSG, SAXON, KAMELOT, VANDES PLAS, EVERGREY, IRON SAVIOR, AXXIS, CAGE, MOONSPELL, CALLENISH CIRCLE, FINNTROLL, AMON AMARTH, DESTRUCTION, ENSLAVED, EPICA, TANKARD, BATTELORE, and CONTRHA.

taken from blabbermouth.net

Band profile:

Dark Funeral

According to the YNGWIE MALMSTEEN fan site Guitar Alchemy, initial reports from the Joe Satriani camp indicate that Malmsteen will not be taking part in the planned European G3 trek alongside Satriani and Steve Vai. Instead the third slot will likely be filled by Robert Fripp of KING CRIMSON fame. No further information is available at this time.

The G3 DVD and CD sets ? entitled "G3 - Live in Denver" and "G3 Live: Rockin' in the Free World", respectively ? will be released on February 24 through Epic Records. To promote the releases, Satriani, Vai and Malmsteen will be participating in an MSN chat on Monday, February 23 at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST.

Band profile:

Yngwie Malmsteen

STRATOVARIUS webmaster Fred Derf has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Today I received a phone call from Timo Tolkki.

"He sounded like being in a very confused state of mind and was talking about red Kabbalah ribbons and how when he was reading Madonna's biography he felt warm waves all over his body and that the spirit of Jesus entered him and that now he really has found something he has been searching for all his life.

"I am very worried about him, he sounded like completely crazy.

"From this day onwards I will not take the responsibility of whatever is being released on this Website.

"As long as my paycheck arrives, I will continue putting on the site whatever Tolkki asks me to put there.

"But there is nothing I can do about it.

"I just work here."

Read more ››

Band profile:

Stratovarius

The name of the new vocalist of the band Marduk is now anounced: Mortuus

You can see a picture of him on their official website

http://www.marduk.nu/marduk/index.htm

Band profile:

Marduk

ENSIFERUM hasn't yet found a replacement member/members for Jari. However a stand in has been found for the European tour. Vocals and guitars are played by NORTHER's Petri Lindroos. The release of the album "Iron" is sadly been postponed to a later date. Now the album will be released 19.4.2004. The reason for this is that the album hasn't been mastered yet! Deviating from earlier information the album is going to be mastered at Finnvox studios in Finland. On the compilation album "Spinetingler III" there's a new ENSIFERUM song "Tale of Revenge" which was completed before the other songs. Ther'll also be a single of the song "Tale of Revenge". The release date of the single is announced to be 22.3.2004.

Band profile:

Ensiferum

Sweden's DARK TRANQUILLITY will celebrate their 15th birthday by releasing a double CD featuring rare and previously unreleased material. A May 31 release through Century Media Records is expected.

"For many years, we've received lots of questions regarding the possibility of our pre-album material ever being released on CD, and we're very happy to provide old and new fans that are interested in the first chapter of our history with a viable alternative to forking out a small fortune on Ebay for a worn-out original copy of the demo or 7" EP," the band write on their web site.

"After a lot of digging though the vaults, the original DAT tapes for our 'Trail Of Life Decayed' demo (1991) and 'A Moonclad Reflection' EP (1992) were found, and we could happily note that they were intact and had survived the ten years in limbo remarkably well. With the help of some carefully executed mastering magic, the sound quality has been boosted a great deal.

"In addition, we have the pleasure of including a couple of songs that were recorded during the studio sessions for our last three albums. Some of these tracks, like 'Exposure' and 'Cornered', have until now only been available on limited edition versions of the albums, while some others, like 'Static', 'No One' and 'In Sight', are previously unheard by anyone outside the immediate band circle.

"As a special treat, we're also including a second disc with more than 70 minutes of live songs (the audio portion of the recently released 'Live Damage' DVD. Enjoy!

"'Exposures...' comes packaged with an extensive 20-page booklet filled to the rim with exclusive photos from all stages of the band's career as well as liner notes from noted music journalist Chris Dick (www.digitalmetal.com), a initiated long-time observer of the scene.

"The release date for 'Exposures?' will be May 31st via Century Media Records in Europe and the 2-CD will be released for the fair deal of a Single-Disc price. Further international release dates will be announced shortly!"

"Exposures - In Retrospect And Denial" 2-CD full track listing:

Disc 1 (Rare Material):

01. Static
02. The Poison Well
03. Misery In Me
04. Cornered
05. In Sight
06. No-One
07. Exposure
08. Yesterworld
09. Unfurled By Dawn
10. Midwinter/Beyond Enlightenment
11. Vernal Awakening
12. Void Of Tranquillity

Read more ››

Band profile:

Dark Tranquillity

Swedish experimental extreme metal band MESHUGGAH have parted ways with bassist Gustaf Hielm and have replaced him with Dick Löwgren (ex-IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY).

"I'm saddened that they don't want me in there anymore but this is the second time I'm asked to leave so I can handle it by now," Gustaf said in a statement. "And most important, I'm still playing! That will never go away.

"As for MESHUGGAH, I'm glad I got to be in what I consider THE metal band and I wish them and their new bass player the best of luck.

"And you, the fans and listeners... I don't think there are words enough to explain my gratitude towards you. And even if there were there isn't a monitor big enough to justify the font size I'd like to use for my THANK YOU!!! You single-handedly turned seven years of my life into some of the most exciting ones and I will never forget it! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you and THANK YOU!!!"

As previously reported, MESHUGGAH have entered the studio to begin recording their much-anticipated new EP, tentatively due late spring through Fractured Transmitter Records (the label formed by MUSHROOMHEAD vocalist Jason Mann). The one-song disc, which will reportedly clock in at over 20 minutes, is being recorded at the Swedish studio jointly owned by MESHUGGAH and long-running rap-metal act CLAWFINGER.

MESHUGGAH have fulfilled their contractual obligations to Nuclear Blast Records and are currently weighing their label options before recording their next full-length album. The group's last release was the highly acclaimed 2002 effort, "Nothing".

Band profile:

Meshuggah

Dave Mustaine is scheduled to begin mixing the new MEGADETH album "somewhere around the middle of March/beginning of April," the guitarist/vocalist revealed in an online posting. "The time factor is based on Jeff Balding squeezing this session into his previously booked schedule. This worked out great for me because I always wanted to get some perspective in-between and away from the sessions but never had the opportunity." A late summer release through Sanctuary Records is expected.

In other news, Mustaine recently addressed the reasons for MEGADETH's numerous lineup changes over the years and explained his decision to release a new "MEGADETH" album with a virtually entirely new band.

"I am aware of everyone's curiosity about my decisions as of late, and how things may never be as good as back when such and such was in the band," Mustaine began. "Also, that you read this guy said this, and that guy said that, in this magazine or another. It is time to address these things.

"Fortunately, I don't believe what I read from band members when they are being interviewed, because I too have been caught up in the moment when the tape is rolling, and the little 'shit stirrers' are trying to goad me into going off on someone.

"Every story ever written why people got fired, quit, or pouted about something I did had to do with either 'my keeping all the money' (which isn't true) or 'my not using their music' (which in most cases was true due to the quality).

"I have laughed over the years at the bullshit stories from former members about how they were asked to leave or quit, how the idiots from the labels back then said they were wrestling with me and what not, and I can't help but think, what fucking planet were they all on?

"If you were around when Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland were in the band, you probably felt a little uneasy when they were asked to leave. What was to become of the MEGADETH that you know and love?

"Gar and Chris were great, true, but drugs and an enormous gap in musical differences, let alone dedication to other things, left me wanting. I did have the grace of seeing Gar a few times before his untimely death, and Chris and I are friends now.

"However, when a person does an interview, something strange happens. I dunno you just become a smart-ass. So, whatever was said before this session when Chris was out here doesn't, I repeat, doesn't matter to me.

Read more ››

Band profile:

Megadeth

Italian melodic power metallers VISION DIVINE, the brainchild of ex-LABYRINTH mastermind Olaf Thörsen, have signed a deal with Metal Blade Records for the international release (excluding Italy and Asia) of their third album, "Stream Of Consciousness".

The follow-up to 2001's "Send Me An Angel" features new singer Michele Luppi, "an amazing talented voice that fits perfectly into VISION DIVINE music," according to an official press release.

"Stream Of Consciousness" is described as "a new start, a new breath and something very unique," a "concept-story" based on one song (60 minutes long) divided in 14 chapters that are all linked together.

"Stream Of Consciousness" track listing:

01. Stream Of Unconsciousness
02. Secret Of Life
03. Colours Of My World
04. In The Light (instrumental)
05. The Fallen Feather
06. La Vita Fugge
07. Versions Of The Same
08. Through The Eyes Of God
09. Shades
10. We Are, We Are Not
11. Fool's Garden (instrumental)
12. The Fall of Reason (instrumental)
13. Out Of The Maze
14. Identities

"Stream Of Consciousness" is scheduled for release on May 3 through Metal Blade Records.