METAL NEWS

This unholy alliance will result in releasing the second album called “Necrosodomic Abyss”. The album is already finished and right now we’re waiting only for the layout.

SAXON will perform a historic Eagle Lights Set at this year’s Atarfe Vega Rock Festival. Currently set to take place March 7 and 8 in the city of Atarfe, Spain, confirmed acts include:

ANGELUS APATRIDA, BELPHEGOR, DANGER DANGER, DESTRUCTION, EXCITER, GRAVE DIGGER, KATATONIA, KORPIKLAANI, KOTIPELTO, MAYHEM, MY DYING BRIDE, RATT, SAXON, SLAUGHTER, SYMPHONY X, TRIBAL, UNLEASHED and WITHIN TEMPTATION.

Death metal legends INCANTATION have announced the following upcoming shows focusing on their early ’90s material:

March 1 - Baltimore, MD @ Murderland Metal Massacre Festival
March 14 - Allentown, PA @ March Metal Massacre
May 17 - Louisville, KY @ Mayhem in May 3 Festival
July 12 - Kalamazoo, MI @ Michigan Extreme Metalfest 2
July 19 - Urbana, IL @ Central Illinois Metalfest


Commented INCANTATION mainman John McEntee: “We have been getting a great response from all our loyal die hard supporters. Many people have been requesting songs to play at these shows. I just want to let everyone know that we will be mixing up the set pretty much every night to some extent. We want to make every show a great event and throughout the tour we will be playing almost every song from that era, but obviously not every song in one night.”

Unearth will release a new studio album this fall.

Hopesfall has broken up after nearly ten years as a band. Since the release of their "No Wings To Speak of" EP with Takehold Records, the group has undergone a slew of line-up changes, leaving the band without any of its original members.

According to the group, "[Hopesfall] has broken up and we have all moved on to other things in our lives. Why the break up? Well it`s a long story."

Metal band Khann (Black Market Activities) has announced the recent departures of both their guitarist and bassist. The group has issued the following update:

"To keep it short, our guitarist Matt has returned to his old band and our bassist quit for personal reasons a month ago. Until we find permanent replacements for these members our friends Jake and Zach from the band Republicorpse will be filling in. Unfortunately, we have to drop off our January shows because of this issue. Sorry for the lack of professionalism on our part.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania grind outfit Circle Of Dead Children plans to book studio time in February or March to record a new full-length album. Willowtip Records will release the effort late this year.

Meanwhile the band is also currently planning a West Coast tour in addition to tours of Europe and possibly South America.

Doomriders, featuring Nate Newton of Converge and ex-Cave In drummer JR Conners, has been writing material for a new album as of late. According to the group, "With everyone`s schedules and other bands, it`s been hard to write new songs, so we finally decided that we aren`t going to play shows for a while and just focus on writing new material."

The band recently recorded some demos with Kurt Ballou at Godcity studios and "are very stoked on the direction the songs are going." Fans can expect a new album to surface later this year via Deathwish Inc.

EVERY TIME I DIE will hit the Europe in 2008 starting at Colchester Arts Centre on April 1st.

Due to heavy touring commitments in the USA this will be the first time the Buffalo outfit have been to Europe since the release of their hot new album THE BIG DIRTY

EVERY TIME I DIE
April 2008
1st (UK) COLCHESTER – Arts Centre
2nd (UK) NOTTINGHAM – Rescue Rooms
3rd (UK) MANCHESTER – Academy 2
4th (UK) GLASGOW – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut
5th (UK) OXFORD – Carling Academy
6th (UK) NEWPORT – T.J.’s
8th (UK) WOLVERHAMPTON – Wulfrun Hall
9th (UK) STOKE ON TRENT – Sugarmill
10th (UK) PORTSMOUTH – Wedgewood Rooms
11th (UK) LONDON – Astoria 2
13th (B) BRUSSELS – VK
14th (NL) AMSTERDAM – Melkweg
15th (F) PARIS – Trabendo
16th (D) KOLN – Underground
17th (D) HAMBURG – Molotow
18th (D) BERLIN – Magnet
20th (D) WEISBADEN – Schlachtof
21st (D) MUNICH – Backstage
22nd (I) BOLOGNA – Estragon
23rd (I) RONCADE New Age

THE BIG DIRTY was released on FERRET MUSIC in September 2007 to massive critical acclaim

LET IT BURN RECORDS have just teamed up with RED TAPE PARADE from southern Germany and thus enlargened our roster with one of the most amazing new hardcore/punk bands these days.

Label owner Chris Zehetleitner about the signing: "We here at LET IT BURN just fell in love with the passionate music this band plays and most of all with their upright `we don`t give a fuck` attitude. In times of `clone wars` within the underground scene, a band like RED TAPE PARADE is exactly what we were looking for!"

Oise Ronsberger-Palmer (bassist) about the origin of the band: "So in 2006 i was pretty done with hardcore in a musical sense. More assholes then you can shake a stick at, more clichees that any self respecting punk could take. Punkrock - once a radical form of music that insprired us to escape our own boring lives and to pick up our instruments - now seemed to split up in several ridicolous sub-genres. Macho-jock-metal, self indulgent emo, ironic post-punk hippness and shitty overproduced corporate pop-punk-wolves-in-punk-sheep-clothes. But then i recieved a package from Revelation Records that contained cds by Sinking Ships, Shook Ones and - most important - End Of A Year. I realized that i still wasn` t done playing loud, distored music filled with anger and post-teenage angst. A few phone calls later the musical backbone of what was to become RED TAPE PARADE practised for the first time in december 2006. All of us were active in several punk/indie bands like Static84, Driving The Salt, Anything but yours, John Deere or Là Par Force. Spring 2007 we found our singer Wauz (probably the last Lagwagon fan on planet earth) and after only practising once as a complete band we recorded our eight song demo in a few hours in a messy practise space in Regensburg."

Within a few months the band released their debut demo for free on the internet and got great reactions from both, listeners and press. In order to work on their first full length album, RED TAPE PARADE started talking to labels: "We started to feel them out and we now found some that we think know where we are coming from and what this band is about." The CD version of the album will be released by LET IT BURN RECORDS, the vinyl version by FIELDS OF HOPE. There`s also going to be a south-east-asian CD pressing done by BASEMENT RECORDS.

Oise Ronsberger about the cooperation: " I know Chris for a long time and the fact that he knows the `music business` from both sides - musician and label owner - makes him so much more reliable as a partner."

The debut album will be recorded and mixed in late March 2008 with Californian based producer Mike Drohman at out-o-space studios in Goettingen with the help of engineer Tom Spoetter. The release date is scheduled for July 15, 2008.

Reactivated early `90s hard rockers STEELHEART have issued the following update:

"We are happy to announce the opening of SteelHeart Studios on Thursday, December 20th in Charlottesville, VA. There will be pictures and updates after the party. We will have news for the New Year very shortly about tours and the album release.

"The song `Twisted Future` from the new upcoming [STEELHEART] album will be displayed at the NAMM show for the Tascam DM3200 mixing console. Mili [vocalist Miljenko Matijevic] used this console for recording of his new album. Tascam was so impressed by the recording that they asked if they can use the multi-tracks for their display. SE microphones will also be contributing to the promotion of the album."

STEELHEART last year issued a three-song EP, "Just a Taste", which was previously described as "a futuristic LED ZEPPELIN."

GSR Music is organizing the RISE OR DIE Fest at the 16th of February (and every 6 months after that) in Essen, Germany. The festival is taking place in the JZE Papestrasse in Essen which has a capacity of 1200 people.

With RISE OR DIE I, GSR call back in at the frontline we left a couple of years ago by putting events like the European Hardcore Party and Mid-Summer Hardcore Event, legendary in the European scene, on hold for a while. This time around, GSR has decided not to limit themselves to the Netherlands. In the near future events are planned in Belgium and, like in case of RISE OR DIE I, in Germany.

One might know GSR Music as the record label that released bands like Knuckledust, Backfire, Sheer Terror, Madball, Born From Pain, The Setup, Bridge To Solace, The Setup, Zero Mentality and many more awesome bands over the past years.

In GSR’s opinion the time has come for a hardcore festival with which the European scene can identify, support its bands and celebrate its greatness. Just like the European Hardcore Parties, RISE OR DIE is going to be exactly that festival. RISE OR DIE is not a festival that represents a certain sub-genre in hardcore or limits itself to it. Hardcore in all it’s shapes and colors have a place here. A fact conclusion that can be easliy drawn from this edition’s line-up. Undisputed continental heavyweights like Heaven Shall Burn and Backfire celebrate the release of their new albums at RISE OR DIE I, just like lesser gods Nasty, Misery Speaks and Make It Count.

Besides the bands, RISE OR DIE I, tries to keep the connection to everything that is part of a hardcore lifestyle. Food for thought, vegan/vegetarian/non-vegetarian food, merch (Imperial Clothing) and cd distro (Green Hell) will be present to add more than just bands. Also, Pete (ex-BF29) from Times Of Grace Tattoos, will be taking appointments to put a nice tattoo on you right there and then.

LINE UP:

HEAVEN SHALL BURN (Recordrelease show - Century Media)
BACKFIRE (Recordrelease show – GSR Music)
CATARACT (Metal Blade)
KNUCKLEDUST (GSR Music)
DEADLOCK (Lifeforce Records)
NASTY (Recordrelease show - Goodlife Records)
MISERY SPEAKS (Recordrelease show - Alveran)
IN BLOOD WE TRUST (Filled With Hate)
MAKE IT COUNT (Recordreleaseshow GSR Music)
FURIOUS STYLES (Alveran)
BLOOD STANDS STILL
YOUR DEMISE (Alveran)
ANTICOPS (MadMod/Coretex)
THE PLATOON (MadMob/Coretex)


RISE OR DIE is a festival for everyone who loves hard music and loves the underground the way it is; raw and untamed.

SOILENT GREEN have lined up the following shows for next month:

January 4 - Metairie, LA @ The Bar
January 5 - Austin, TX @ @ Red 7

TARJA TURUNEN, the exceptionally gifted Finnish vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who rose to worldwide prominence as the voice and face of chart-topping, multi-platinum, symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH, is set to unveil her wildly-anticipated solo debut My Winter Storm. An ambitious, adventurous musical foray, My Winter Storm sees TARJA zealously interfuse the worlds of metal / hard rock, opera and atmospheric soundtrack. Fontana International unveils two exclusive U.S. versions on February 26, 2008.

Just released in TARJA’s native Finland, My Winter Storm was certified Gold on the day of release, topping the Finnish music charts at #1. The album simultaneously debuted at #3 on the German rock charts. Led by the first single, ’I Walk Alone’ (inspired by Mozart’s celebrated ‘Requiem’) and produced by Daniel Presley (Jewel, Faith No More, The Breeders), My Winter Storm adds an extra dimension to TARJA’s already expansive approach, using movie soundtracks rather than traditional rock recordings as its palette.

Working alongside Hans Zimmer, world famous Academy Award, Grammy and Golden Globe award-winning film score composer in his Los Angeles-based Remote Control Studios, TARJA was able to realize the vision she hoped her forward-thinking solo material would illustrate. Known for his composed music for many major motion picture blockbusters such as The Lion King, Rain Man, The Preacher’s Wife and Gladiator, Zimmer and TARJA together crafted her long-held musical dreams into an exciting reality. Arranger and composer James ‘Jim’ Dooley handled the album’s choral and orchestral recordings, while Slamm Andrews, fresh from working on The Simpsons Movie, took charge of the mix.

NIDRIKE, the Swedish black metal project featuring VANMAKT mainman Gorgoth and Gjallar from SKALD as the main lyric writer, has issued the following update:

"NIDRIKE is now done with the recording of all basic instruments [for the group`s debut album]. The vocals will be recorded next week and after that it`s time for the mix; that`s almost already done. 12 songs has been recorded, and we will have to see if all of them hits the album. I don`t think so. But the songs that don`t hit the record will be available on the tape.

Middian has been forced to relinquish their name following a cease and desist order from Milwaukee band, Midian. As a result, the group has been dropped from the Metal Blade Records roster. Here`s a statement from the band:

"So, we had a hell of a time finding a name. When Middian was suggested, we did a search and found nothing out there. So we went ahead and called ourselves Middian. However, in October, we received a cease and desist demand from Midian of Milwaukee, LLC. After checking our options, we have found ourselves with no choice but to comply with the demand.

So, Middian no longer exists. We have also been dropped from the Metal Blade roster as a result of this litigation, being unable to sell our album Age Eternal ever again as well.

The three of us are still going to be playing music together. It just isn`t going to be Middian anymore. We do not know what it is going to be called at this point. But we are still really into playing music with each other. Lots of folks were really good to us during the course of our existence and we really appreciate it. Please keep an eye out for us. Hopefully, you`ll be hearing from us very soon. We are too overwhelmed with the situation to respond to e-mails regarding this, so don`t take offense if we don`t reply. Trust that we are grateful for people`s love and support and ours is with you."

Prosthetic Records has officially announced the addition of Canadian progressive death metal band Neuraxis to the label`s roster. The group will tentatively release its Prosthetic debut in mid-2008. "The search for our new label is now over," guitarist Rob Milley comments. "Neuraxis is excited to be joining the Prosthetic Records family. We are working hard on finishing the new album and looking forward to touring like madmen next year!"

Neuraxis recently released "Live Progression" (via Galy Records), the live follow-up to 2005`s "Trilateral Progression," which was released by Willowtip Records.

Hardcore band Allegiance will be calling it quits following a few final shows this winter. Formed in 2002, the group has released material with Rivalry Records and Anchor Records. An official announcement has yet to made.

Misery Signals will head to Vancouver, British Columbia on February 1st to begin recording their next album for Ferret Music. The band will once again be working with producer Devin Townsend, who also produced the group`s debut full-length. According to guitarist Stuart Ross, "Devin has worked with a long list of talented bands and it is an extreme privilege to be working with him again for another album."

This past weekend the band recorded ten new tracks for a pre-production demo. Ross elaborates: "We recorded ten brand spanking new songs, most of which should make the album. The band will be splitting ways over the holidays for a couple weeks, then we will reunite in early January to write a few more songs, get some more demos together and once again send them to Devin... Once again, its hard to express in words just how excited we are to be back working with Devin, and how excited we are about our material. I said it before and I will say it again, I think if you are fan of Misery Signals, you will really enjoy what we have come up with this time around."

SOULFLY has issued the following update:

"Recording sessions for the next SOULFLY album have been completed. Over the course of the last month, Max has been back at Tim Lau and Bobby Burns` Porch Studio in Orlando to finish tracking percussion, samples, most of his rhythm guitar tracks, and vocals for nearly half songs for the album. Drums, lead guitar, bass and a handful of rhythm guitar and vocals tracks for all 13 songs were recorded during the month of September before the band took a break for Max to collect samples for the album. In addition to the guest vocals from David `Evil D` Vincent [from MORBID ANGEL] which were recorded on the last day of the September sessions, Dave Peters from THROWDOWN stopped by the studio to make a vocal contribution to the album this month as well.

"Sadly, the memory stick for Max`s camera was stolen during his trip to Europe in October so we can`t show you many of the photos that we had hoped to, but you can expect more photos (and videos) from the studio to be posted when it gets closer to release time. Andy Sneap will be mixing the tracks this spring, and the album will be in your hands this summer.

"SOULFLY will spend the remainder of the month at home with friends and family, and in January, Max and Marc will be turning all of their attention to their new band — CAVALERA CONSPIRACY. The debut album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY (also featuring Igor Cavalera and Joe Duplantier) will be in stores March 25, 2008."

Norwegian progmetal masters PAGAN`S MIND will be one of the 3 headliners of ProgPower Europe 2008. Because we celebrate our 10th anniversary next year the festival will be a full 3-day event with 3 bands on Friday and 6 on Saturday and Sunday. PAGAN`S MIND will return to ProgPower Europe after their excellent performances back in 2003 and 2005, but this time they will offer you a full show of almost 2 hours.

Nuclear Blast Records continues their rapid roster expansion with the signing of technical metal outfit The Crinn. Formed in 2004 and hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota, the group released an EP earlier this year through Corrosive Recordings.

Following two cancelled tours and a host of rumors, the writing is on the wall: Nodes Of Ranvier is breaking up. The group will apparently play their final show on December 31st at the Ramkota Exhibit Hall in Sioux Falls, SD. During a recent conversation with Robert Morast of the Link blog, Nodes guitarist Jon Parker said, "I don`t think anybody will be too surprised about this... I don’t know if I`m sad or if I feel free. This wasn`t a decision that we made overnight."

Formed in 2000, the South Dakota band has released albums with Victory Records and Facedown Records.

Polish avantgarde metal band ETERNAL DEFORMITY has inked a three-album deal with Code666 Records. The group`s new CD, "Frozen Circus", is scheduled for release in February 2008.

ETERNAL DEFORMITY was founded in 1993 and has released four records so far: "Forgotten Distant Time" (1994), "Nothing Lasts Forever" (1998), "In The Abyss Of Dreams... Furious Memories" (2000), and "The Serpent Design" (2002).

Commented the band: "Our music has developed since publishing the first stuff. We started as a typical doom metal band but now it`s hard to classify our style. Some people tried to describe it as `art death` or `prog gothic metal.` These opinions display both the variety of our ways of expression and the great number of sources that inspire us in the process of creation. However, the musicians have never forgotten about their roots."

Ferret Music has announced the signing of San Diego’s Lower Definition!

The band self-released their debut Moths over the past year, which showcases their melodically driven yet edgy post-hardcore sound, and is very excited to sign with Ferret, tells says drummer Valentino Arteaga.

“We`re ecstatic. They`re loyal to all their bands and a bunch of our favorite bands are on this label as well. We are excited to bring something new and different to the label!”

Lower Definition will be bringing just that on their debut Ferret release, which they will head into the studio to record in February ’08 with acclaimed producer Kris Crummet (Drop Dead, Gorgeous, Kaddisfly, Dance Gavin Dance). The band, made up of Arteaga, Matt Geise (vocals), Stefan Toler (bass), Eddy Marshburn (guitar), and John Martinez (guitar), formed over six years ago, and Arteaga cites their mission as “to be able to share our passion for writing and performing music to people across the world. Our mission is portrayed through our music, we play music because are passionate about it.”

Lower Definition has already been on a number of notable tours, including Taste of Chaos, Warped Tour, and Saints and Sinners. They have shared the stage with bands ranging from Glassjaw to Deftones to Angels and Airwaves, and describe themselves as “privileged to play with many of our favorite bands as well as the ones who were most influential throughout the beginning of our career.” The band will be playing a show in their hometown of San Diego, at Soma, on New Years Eve, and plan to be on tour in 2008.

Due to a delay in the recording process 36 Crazyfists have been forced to push back the release of their upcoming Ferret Music debut, The Tide and Its Takers. The album which was originally slated for a March 4th release is now slated to drop on April 29th. The album will still be produced by the band’s guitarist Steve Holt and mixed by Andy Sneap.

Because of the setbacks in recording the band are also, regrettably, going to have to cancel their UK and European tour plans. The band was scheduled to play with Bullet For My Valentine overseas and is disappointed to say that they will not be partaking in the tour.

36 Crazyfists look forward to getting out on the road and seeing their fans in 2008. Remember to mark your calendars with the new date of April 29th, 2008 for The Tide and Its Takers hitting stores.

Official press release:

For those who were wondering why we were playing with a stand-in bassplayer the last months: After his marriage, Sven figured that he had to focus more on his job and family life and that he couldn´t spend enough time with and for the band.

Within the last months our stand-in David Dattler did an outstanding job. He also turned out to fit perfectly in the band and became a really good friend for all of us. When Sven told us his decision, we knew that there could be only one person to join the band full-time.

We wanna thank Sven for all the good times we had over the last four years and we all wish him the best for his future life and family! We also want to thank David for jumping in and officially welcome him as our new bassplayer.

Though the deal occurred many weeks ago, Solid State Records has now officially acknowledged the signing of Kernersville, North Carolina band Advent. The hardcore/metal outfit features three members of defunct group Beloved. Their Solid State debut, titled "Remove The Earth," will hit stores on February 12th.

Official press release:

The genre-defying extreme metal titans, Cryptopsy, have triumphantly retuned with a vicious new line-up featuring the additions of vocalist Matt Mcgachy and keyboards/samplist Maggie Durand. The band will enter the studio mid-December to begin recording their much anticipated sixth full-length album.

Cryptopsy will also be touring Mexico, Central and South America for the very first time throughout February and will possibly return to Mexico again in April.

Reinventing and redefining metal`s boundaries, Cryptopsy, recognized worldwide for infusing extreme music with awe-inspiring precision, rabidly dynamic rhythms and mouth-foaming viciousness, have earned music fans respect inside and outside the metal community. The band`s viperous recordings and punishing live performance have confirmed their place in music`s elite.

In 2008, Cryptopsy returns to redefine the boundaries of technical extreme metal with an album that is sure to catch the attention of the entire scene.

Italian deathcore act STIGMA has completed the recording process for its debut album, "When Midnight Strikes!", due in the spring through Pivotal Rockordings. The CD was recorded at Db Studios with producer Ettore Rigotti (DISARMONIA MUNDI) and was mixed and mastered by Alessandro Vanara (DISARMONIA MUNDI, SLOWMOTION APOCALYPSE). The cover artwork, which was created by Davide Nadalin, who has previously worked with NILE, THRESHOLD and THE DUSKFALL.

Commented vocalist Vlad: "We`re thrilled about the final result! We knew Ettore is an outstanding producer, but we never thought we could reach this level at only the first album! We`ve recorded everything at its best, using only killer stuff and added all the melodies, solos, atmospheres, insane breakdowns and horrific parts we dreamed about during the songwriting! `When Midnight Strikes!` is truly an amazing debut, and we really can`t wait to offer you the chance to listen to it!"

"When Midnight Strikes!" features guest appearances from Tim Zlinsky (THE CLASSIC STRUGGLE), Alberto Zannier (SLOWMOTION APOCALYPSE), Ivan Odorico (SLOWMOTION APOCALYPSE), and Mike Lunacy (DARK LUNACY). Due to his departure from HATESPHERE, Jacob Bredahl was unable to participate in the recordings. A video for the first single, "I Am Dracula", was filmed by WhereCloudsPart and features a cameo appearance from Belgian breakdancer Metal Girl. A teaser for the clip can be viewed below.

UK extreme metallers DETRIMENTUM announce the worldwide release of their long awaited debut full length album, "Embracing This Deformity", on February 4, 2008 via Grindethic Records.

Honing DETRIMENTUM`s trademark style of blending brutal death metal with elements of black metal and doom, the album is equally at home expressing ferocious aggression with razor sharp blastbeats and guttural vocals, along with moments of dark introspection with soaring melodies and tortured screams.

The album features the stunning artwork from former vocalist Eddie Ruffles and will contain a multimedia section with live video and full set of lyrics which stand head and shoulders above the usual death metal fare, taking an uneasy journey across bleak misanthropic landscapes. The cover artwork can be viewed at this location.

"Embracing This Deformity" track listing:
01. Scalestomeasurethemisfortuneofman
02. Disillusion Ethos (Of Torment and My Bleeding Shadow)
03. Blood Simple
04. Dark Eye Link: (MP3 link)
05. The Flesh Elemental
06. Born To Bleed (Losing Myself To Silence)
07. Negativity Flux
08. Ills To Which The Flesh Is Heir
09. The Contusions Of Remorse
10. Twilight`s Slow Attrition

This album marks the beginning of collaboration between Grindethic Records and distribution company Code7 with their partners at Plastic Head , which will see this release available through high street chains in the UK, mainstream online retailers and pay-to-download networks.

DETRIMENTUM will celebrate the release of their new album with a launch party headline show at the Bar Monsta in London, UK, on 26 January 2008 where copies of the album will be available to purchase for the first time. Other bands scheduled to appear are BLOODWORK, SCYTHIAN and DYSCARNATE. A flyer for this show can be viewed here.

San Diego`s finest will be back soon to continue their victorious crusade they began just three months ago right after the release of their highly succesfull new album "An Ocean Between Us".

Until now one support band has been confirmed - no other than Metal Blade`s very own deathsters NEAERA who also just released their hard hitting third album "Armamentarium"!

AS I LAY DYING and NEAERA will destroy stages throughout March/April 2008

Stay tuned for further info!

presented by METAL HAMMER & HELLFEST

AS I LAY DYINGv + NEAERA*

20.03.08 - UK - York - Fibbers
21.03.08 - UK - Aberdeen - Barfly
22.03.08 - UK - Liverpool - Barfly
23.03.08 - UK - Cardiff - Barfly
24.03.08 - UK - Cambridge - Barfly
25.03.08 - FR - Paris - Trabendo*
26.03.08 - DE - Karlsruhe - Substage*
28.03.08 - DE - Chemnitz - AJZ Talschock*
29.03.08 - DE - Herford - Club X*
30.03.08 - DE - Saarbrücken - Garage*
31.03.08 - CH - Pratteln - Z7*
01.04.08 - IT - Milano - Alcatraz*
02.04.08 - IT - Bologna - Estragon*
03.04.08 - AT - Linz - Posthof*
04.04.08 - AT - Vienna - Planet Music*

The Hunger is a new band from Groningen, The Netherlands playing heavy music not unlike bands as Unbroken, The hope conspiracy and Integrity. The line-up consist of members from bands as: Instil, Miscreants, Straight A`s and Omission.

There are 2 demo songs are up and listenable on their myspace.
www.myspace.com/thehungernl
The two song demo will be released on tape, and only 50 of them will be made, with the help of WAR INSIDE RECORDS. Stay tuned for more info on them.
The songs were recorded with the help of Joop Suelmann, in the month of November `07.

The Hunger got two shows confirmed:
22-12 @ Vera, Groningen, The Netherlands (1st show) 10-01 @ Eurosonic, Groningen, The Netherlands

ONESIDEZERO have announced they have parted ways with guitarist Levon Sultanian. A statement from the group reads as follows:

“We have decided to part ways with Levon due to creative and personal differences,” says frontman Jasan Radford. “The past 11 years that Levon and I played together were some of the best times and some of the hardest, but as time goes on sometimes things change and you grow apart. He will be missed, but we will continue and I see ONESIDEZERO having a strong and positive 2008. A special thanks to everyone for supporting ONESIDEZERO.”

IN THIS MOMENT are currently catching the attention of thousands of people across North America opening for the legendary OZZY OSBOURNE and ROB ZOMBIE, which runs through early next year. This massive three-month arena tour also just afforded the band an opportunity to perform a monumental show at The Staples Center in their hometown of Los Angeles this past weekend. The event was a massive success as the group prepares to close out the year on stage at the legendary Madison Square Garden in NYC, which also marks their biggest show yet.

Chris Howorth (guitars) states: “We just played our hometown show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and it was absolutely fantastic. All our friends and family got to see us at this huge arena opening for OZZY OSBOURNE and ROB ZOMBIE! It’s a dream come true for us, taking the stage at an arena show in L.A. is a feeling that is beyond words to describe, especially for a band that started out having to buy tickets to play The Whisky. We are really excited about every show on this tour because they are all amazing, but we are a little extra pumped up about the Madison Square Garden show in New York. It’s a Christmas show with OZZY at one of the most famous arenas in the U.S. It’s crazy to think about all the legendary sporting events that have taken place and all the huge bands that have played at that venue. I am beyond excited to be playing there and it doesn’t seem real. I am so thankful for where we are and what we are doing right now.”

Montreal`s "classical/black metal" act UNEXPECT will embark on a European tour in late 2008 alongside France`s SEBKHA CHOTT. Exact cities and dates will be announced next year.

UNEXPECT has posted its live performance from a recent episode of Fox TV`s "Fearless Music". Footage of the band playing the song "Desert Urbania" from their debut album "In A Flesh Aquarium" can be viewed below.

Currently in its fifth season, "Fearless Music" features established, as well as up-and-coming bands, as they perform live in a recording studio, a format very similar to the BBC`s "The Old Grey Whistle Test" show from the 1970s, "Austin City Limits", "Sessions at West 54th St.", etc. except without a studio audience.

UNEXPECT will head out on the road this January with TRAIL OF TEARS for a full North American tour.

Official press release:

Tampa, Florida`s very own Hate Eternal is back with the follow up to their critically acclaimed 2005 release "I, Monarch," titled "Fury and Flames." "Fury and Flames" will be the band`s most diverse and emotionally fueled record to date due mainly in part to the passing of bassist and good friend Jared Anderson.

Hate Eternal founder and vocalist/guitarist Erik Rutan recently did an interview with MTVnews.com where he stated, "Jared was one of my best friends, and his passing away really affected me and influenced this record a lot. It`s a very dark and heavy record — not just heavy as in `heavy metal,` but heavy-hearted as well."

"Fury and Flames" will feature cover art by Paul Romano (Mastodon, Animosity) and features the addition of new members Shaune Kelley as second guitarist and Jade Simonetto on drums. The addition of second guitarist Shaune means that this will be the first time Hate Eternal will be able to perform as a four piece live. Something fans will be able to experience on the first tour for "Fury and Flames" when the band heads out with labelmates The Black Dahlia Murder. Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse fame stepped in on bass for the recording, but due to his insane schedule with Cannibal will not be able to tour with the band.

New Orleans` GOATWHORE have been added to the upcoming European tour featuring IMMOLATION and MELECHESH. The trek is scheduled to kick off mid-March. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

From a garage in a Los Angeles suburb in 1982 to becoming the leading true INDEPENDENT Heavy Metal record label in the world, METAL BLADE RECORDS continues to lead the way in introducing artists to the Heavy Metal world, which we have continually defined.

To commemorate 25 years of the LOUDEST, HARDEST, HEAVIEST and the very best HEAVY METAL on the planet, METAL BLADE RECORDS is set to release the definitive LIVE METAL DVD. Recorded on April 28th, 2007 at the NEW ENGLAND METAL & HARDCORE FESTIVAL in Worcester, MA, This live DVD captures LIVE pro shot performances from UNEARTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, THE RED CHORD and JOB FOR A COWBOY as well as current and past METAL BLADE artists, coming together for the first time to celebrate a milestone in HEAVY METAL history.

The DVD will also include a second disc containing 14 official video clips of bands like AS I LAY DYING, AUTUMN, EVERGREEN TERRACE, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, UNEARTH or GOATWHORE.

The set also includes 35 minutes of bonus footage of various musicians and METAL BLADE bands commenting on the 25th anniversary of the label - METALLICA, AS I LAY DYING, UNEARTH, JOB FOR A COWBOY among others...

The set will be available on MID-PRICE once it is released on January 28th (Europe)!

JUDAS PRIEST have posted the following update:

“The JUDAS PRIEST Machine will be rolling out on the road again next year - the tour starts in June 2008 - dates to be announced shortly!!!! Please note that only when dates are announced here on our website are they actually official and confirmed!!”

Vocalist Alissa White-Gluz of THE AGONIST has issued the following update:

“So, after desperately trying to make our way through a blizzard’s Rocky Mountain terrain to get to our Oregon show and continue the ENSLAVED tour… we found ourselves stranded in a ditch, with the trailer upside down on it’s nose. Yes, we crashed trying to get to a show… but nobody was hurt at all. Our vehicle however, a different story.

Long story short, our gear got wrecked, then the van short-fused, we nearly killed a deer (poor thing!-I’m still hyper-ventilating), the wipers broke and we got a flat tire on the trailer while attempting to drive our newly mutated van and trailer combo. Then, I found out that I had yet another family member to bury, the third one since the beginning of tour. I now have missed three funerals in total between the SONATA and ENSLAVED tours…and given the string of bad luck we decided to cut our losses and head home.

So, we apologize greatly for missing those of you on the West coast and through the lower States, we were looking forward to new fans as well as familiar faces… but we will be back there soon with tons of new material to play… so until then … rock on and keep in touch!!”

UK metal band Eternal Lord has officially joined the Ferret Music roster. The group features Edward Butcher, former I Killed The Prom Queen frontman. Their new album, titled "Blessed By This Nightmare" will be available in March 2008.

Emmure will spend the month of December writing a new full-length for Victory Records prior to hitting the studio in January. The band will enter Planet Z Studios on January 9th to track the effort with producer Zeuss (Hatebreed), who also produced their last release. The album is expected to hit stores in April.

Official press release:

Murfreesboro, TN dragon-slayers, Destroy Destroy Destroy are hard a work on their next full-length album for Black Market Activities. Guitarist, Sir Jeremiah Scott comments on the direction of the new material, "The style is the same, with a little more fantasy/epic, and an evil edge. There are more Viking-type folk songs, as well as more chants and mug pounding sing-a-longs. We also plan on putting a cover of Dio`s `Rainbow in the Dark` on the new album."

The addition of their latest, and permanent, keyboardist, Brian Shorter means the keys will be more prominent on their new record. Scott continues, "Expect rich, full orchestra pads in every song to make you feel like you are in another land about to embark on a long journey only to find yourself impaled on the end of a dragons tail in the end."

Destroy Destroy Destroy will be entering the studio in January 2008. More details on their new release will be available soon.

Zeke will release a digital EP, titled "Kings of The Highway" on December 11th through Relapse Records. "Kings of The Highway" will include the three newest Zeke tracks, "Lords Of The Highway", "Kings And Queens" and "Hay Bailer" as well as a cover of GG Allin`s "Die When You Die." The track "Lords of The Highway" can be heard now via the band`s MySpace.

In related news, Zeke has also announced two local shows for this weekend. Tonight, Friday November 16th, Zeke will perform at the El Corzaon in Seattle, WA along with Mudhoney as part of a benefit show. Then on Saturday, November 17th, Zeke will headline a show at Mt. Tabor in Portland, OR as part of a live filming of "The Chronicles of Rock" TV pilot party, as hosted by Jamey Jasta.