ICS Vortex (ex-Dimmu Borgir) has issued the following update on his new MySpace page:

"First song is recorded for the I.C.S Vortex album and the rest will follow during this winter. Release early autumn 2010. Studio is booked for Lamented Souls in March and release date is set to late autumn 2010. And for those wondering about the revival of Arcturus, I was told by an alien that 2011 is a lucky number..."

Source:

myspace.com

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

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

From the Nevermore Myspace:

Seattle metallers Nevermore will enter the studio in August with producer (and Soilwork guitarist) Peter Wichers (who previously worked with Nevermore vocalist Warrel Dane on Dane's solo debut, "Praises to the War Machine") to begin recording their long-awaited follow-up to 2005's "This Godless Endeavor", tentatively due in early 2010 via Century Media Records. Longtime friend and collaborator Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Arch Enemy, Exodus, Machine Head) will once again be handling mixing duties.

Commented Dane: "These songs are full of newfound rage, lyrically and musically. Jeff Loomis has come up with some amazing new riffs that will no doubt please old and new fans alike. Also, I think the combination of Peter and Andy will result in something very, very special."

Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Emptiness Unobstructed" and "Without Morals".

Nevemore's "The Year Of The Voyager" DVD last year entered the German DVD chart at position No. 82.

"The Year Of The Voyager" was released in North America on November 25, 2008 via Century Media. The set covers the "This Godless Endeavor" touring cycle, starting with amazing live footage from the U.S. Gigantour 2005, the Metal Mania festival 2006 in Poland, the Wacken Open Air festival in 2006 in Germany and the main DVD show recorded at the Zeche in Bochum, Germany on October 11, 2006. Bonus material includes two songs from Century Media USA 10th Anniversary Party 2001, all promo videos and an interview with singer Warrel Dane which was recorded at the Roax Film Studios in Berlin in the spring of 2008.

For continuing updates on the progress of the upcoming Nevermore album "The Obsidian Conspiracy," fans can follow at Twitter.

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Nevermore

A trailer for "Sacred 2" including some new Blind Guardian music has been posted at http://www.gametrailers.com. The direct link to the high definition version is HERE and to that of the standard definition version HERE.

A more detailed explanation is given at this location. All info on http://www.blind-guardian.com.

Source:	blind-guardian.com
Band profile:	Blind Guardian