Swiss metal experimentalists SAMAEL have moved forward the release date of their eighth album, "Solar Soul" (Nuclear Blast), to June 1 from the previously announced June 15. The CD will contain the following track listing:
01. Solar Soul 02. Promised Land 03. Slavocracy 04. Western Ground 05. On the Rise 06. Alliance 07. Suspended Time 08. Valkyries' New Ride 09. Ave! 10. Quasar Waves 11. Architect (bonus track) 12. Olympus
To check out the new SAMAEL song "Slavocracy", taken from the upcoming CD, go to ' .
Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat is reporting that NIGHTWISH has already chosen a replacement for singer Tarja Turunen, but the band is carefully guarding her identity. However, according to Ilta-Sanomat, the new vocalist is none other than former TRISTANIA frontwoman Vibeke Stene (Photo#1, Photo#2).
There are a number of signs pointing to the fact that Vibeke is Tarja's replacement in NIGHTWISH. For example, influential European music business person Frank Stroebele (manager for WITHIN TEMPTATION and ANASTACIA) recently asked an Ilta-Sanomat reporter, "Have you heard who the new singer of NIGHTWISH is? I understand that it is Vibeke."
Vibeke quit TRISTANIA last month "due to personal reasons," making the timing of her departure perfect if she were to join NIGHTWISH.
However, the only public information about the new vocalist that has come out of the NIGHTWISH camp so far has been offered by the group's manager, Ewo Pohjola (a.k.a. Ewo Rytkönen) of King Foo Entertainment. "She is getting along very well with the guys," he said. "She is very talented, clever and sweet."
ARCH ENEMY's "Black Earth" album, originally released in 1996 on Wrong Again Records, will be reissued on April 24 via Regain Records. In addition to the original nine songs, the reissue will contain three bonus tracks — "Losing Faith" and the IRON MAIDEN covers "The Ides of March" and "Aces High" — as well as a video for "Bury Me An Angel".
ARCH ENEMY is scheduled to enter the studio this spring to begin recording the follow-up to 2005's "Doomsday Machine", tentatively due before the end of the year.
ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer has sent the following update to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
"I just wanted to give you an update of what's happening in ICED EARTH world.
"We just finished mixing and mastering the [new] single, which will be titled 'Overture of the Wicked' and should be released in late May or early June. The four songs that will be featured on this are as follows:
01. Ten Thousand Strong 02. Prophecy 03. Birth of the Wicked 04. The Coming Curse
"'Ten Thousand Strong' will be the song that we will be filming a video for in the following months, most likely in June right around the Sweden Rock festival.
"I'm very happy with the results of our efforts. We've been really working hard on delivering something special to you guys and this single is just a hint of things to come, and it's freakin' awesome.
"We will be finishing the rest of production for Part 1 over the course of the next few weeks, with plans to mix in the early part of May. The title of the full release is 'Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)' and should be out in the late August/September time frame. The 'Framing Armageddon' tracklist will appear as follows:
01. Overture 02. Something Wicked (Part 1) 03. Invasion 04. Man's Motivation 05. The Setian Massacre 06. A Charge to Keep 07. Reflections 08. Ten Thousand Strong 09. Execution 10. Order of the Rose 11. The Clouding 12. Infiltrate and Assimilate 13. Retribution Through the Ages 14. Something Wicked (Part 2) 15. The Domino Decree 16. Framing Armageddon 17. When Stars Collide (Born is He) 18. The Awakening
"The working title of Part 2 is 'Revelation Abomination Something Wicked (Part 2)' and the tracklist is as follows:
01. The Sacred Flames 02. Behold the Wicked Child 03. Minions of the Watch 04. A Gift or a Curse 05. I Walk Among You 06. Harbinger of Fate 07. Ancient Rage of the High Priest 08. A Gathering Threat / Time Marches On 09. Sacrificial Kingdoms 10. Something Wicked (Part 3) 11. Divide Devour 12. Conspiracy / Pilgrimage In Guile 13. Come What May
"The final tracking and mixing for Part 2 will take place between the festivals and world tour and will have a targeted release in February/March of 2008.
"Due to family health issues, Bo Wallace will not be able to be involved with ICED EARTH. I played the bass guitar parts on the single and we will be bringing Dennis Hayes, who worked with Tim [Owens, vocals] on his BEYOND FEAR side project, in to play on parts of the remainder of the recording. He will be doing the live shows as well."
On April 13th, 2007 long-running British gothic metal leaders PARADISE LOST will release the first single taken off their much anticipated upcoming Century Media Records debut "In Requiem", which sees the band combine the classic heaviness of "Draconian Times" with the melodic feel of their more recent studio albums. The new single "The Enemy" will only be released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.
The album "In Requiem" will be released on May 21st, 2007 in Europe.
The single "The Enemy" includes a trailer of the upcoming PARADISE LOST documentary "Over The Madness" (directed by Diran Noubar and debuting at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007) as video enhancement and the exclusive non-album track "Godless".
Here the full track-listing for PARADISE LOST's new single "The Enemy": 1. The Enemy 2. Beneath Black Skies 3. Godless (exclusive single bonus track)
A brand new MÅNEGARM track, entitled "Genom världar nio", has been made available for streaming ' (click on "Play"). The song comes off the Swedish "Viking metal" act's new album, "Vargstenen" (The Wolfstone), due on May 4 via Black Lodge Records. The CD was recorded at Studio Underground with producer Pelle Saether.
"Vargstenen" projected track listing: 01. Uppvaknande-Ur själslig död 02. Minnen-En fallen fader 03. Den gamle talar (acoustic) 04. Genom världar nio 05. Visioner på isen 06. Vargbrodern talar (acoustic) 07. I underjorden 08. Nio dagar, nio nätter 09. Vargstenen 10. Vedergällningens tid 11. TBA (acoustic)
Dutch melodic death/thrash metal outfit DETONATION has made a new song, entitled "Invoking the Impact", available for streaming via the band's ' .
Due in Europe on April 30 via Osmose Productions, "Emission Phase", was recorded with Split Second Sound's Jochem Jacobs (also guitar player for TEXTURES) and Bouke Visser. The cover artwork was created by Eliran Kantor.
"Emission Phase" track listing: 01. Invoking the Impact 02. When Stone turns to Ash 03. Craven Ablaze 04. Into the Emission Phase 05. Chokedamp 06. Defects of the Isolated Mind 07. Modulate 08. Infected 09. Soul Severance 10. Reborn inside the Radiance 11. Fallout (instrumental)
W.A.S.P. will release its new studio CD, "Dominator", in the U.K. on April 16, Scandinavia on April 20, and the rest of mainland Europe on April 27 via Demolition Records. The CD will arrive in South America and Russia in early May.
"Dominator" track listing: 01. Mercy 02. Long, Long Way To Go 03. Take Me Up 04. The Burning Man 05. Heaven’s Hung In Black 06. Heaven’s Blessed 07. Teacher 08. Heaven’s Hung In Black (Reprise) 09. Deal With The Devil
AFTER FOREVER – "Energize Me" taken from the album "After Forever"
The magnificent clip for AFTER FOREVER's brand new single "Energize Me", featuring a thrilling concept around the four elements fire, water, air and earth, can be found here:
THRESHOLD – "Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams" taken from the album "Dead Reckoning"
Take the time and enjoy THRESHOLD's brand new video for the single "Pilot In The Sky Of Dreams"! The atmospheric clip, produced by German company film-m (which has already worked with DISILLUSION, AMON AMARTH, DEADSOUL TRIBE and DEW-SCENTED) can be found at the following platforms:
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THUNDERSTONE – "Face In The Mirror" taken from the album "Evolution 4.0"
Dark & futuristic – THUNDERSTONE, who recently received a superb 2nd position at the Finnish Eurovision finals, take you on a thrilling trip with "Face In The Mirror":
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CHIMAIRA – "Resurrection" taken from the album "Resurrection"
Brutal as a punch in the face – here comes "Resurrection"! The clip was directed by Todd Bell and features an appearance by Mixed Martial Arts fighter Mavrick:
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SIRENIA – "The Other Side" taken from the album "Nine Destinies And A Downfall"
Get ecstasized by the second video off SIRENIA's new album "Nine Destinies And A Downfall". The renowed Serbian production company I-Code created another mystic masterpiece with "The Other Side":
Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal outfit AFTER FOREVER's video for its new single, "Energize Me", has been posted online at ' . The clip was shot last month in Amsterdam, Holland.
The "Energize Me" single is due on March 23, featuring the songs "Energize Me" (radio edit), "Energize Me" (album version), "Sweet Enclosure" (non-album track).
San Diego, California-based heavy metal band CAGE has finalized the track listing for its upcoming fourth album, entitled "Hell Destroyer", due in May via Destroy All Records Entertainment (distributed by BCD Music Group). The cover artwork was created, once again, by Marc Sasso, who worked on CAGE's third CD, "Darker Than Black", and who has also collaborated with HALFORD, DIO, MORBID ANGEL and ROB ROCK, among many others.
"Hell Destroyer" was recorded, engineered, produced and mixed at Richard Carr Studios in San Diego, California by Richard "The Guru" Carr and executive producers, CAGE vocalist Sean Peck and guitarist Dave Garcia. The CD was mastered by two-time Grammy-award winner Gavin Lurssen (GUNS N' ROSES, ALICE COOPER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, MOTÖRHEAD, ROB ZOMBIE) at Lurssen Mastering in Hollywood, California.
"Hell Destroyer" track listing: 01. Hell Destroyer 02. I Am The King 03. Christ Hammer 04. Born in Blood 05. Rise of The Beast 06. Bohemian Grove 07. From Death to Legend 08. Legion of Demons 09. Fall of The Angels 10. Fire and Metal 11. Beyond The Apocalypse 12. Metal Devil 13. King Diamond
Check out the title track at the band's official web site.
Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI have uploaded an audio sample from their upcoming fourth album, "Tervaskanto", ' .
"Tervaskanto" (view cover artwork at this location) was recorded at Fantom Studios in Tampere, Finland with producer Samu Oittinen. 11 songs were reportedly recorded for the follow-up to "Tales along this Road", tentatveily due in May via Napalm Records.
The cover artwork for OMNIUM GATHERUM's new album, "Stuck Here on Snake's Way", has been posted online at this location. Due on April 2 via Candlelight Records, the CD was recorded during November-December 2006 at Southeast Studios in Karhula, Finland with producer Teemu Aalto. An eight-minute video clip documenting the recording sessions for the album has been posted online at ' .
"Stuck Here on Snake's Way" track listing: 01. The Snake and The Way 02. Into Sea ' 03. Dysnomia 04. A-Part of God 05. Undertaker 06. Bastard-O 07. The Third Flame 08. Just Signs 09. Truth 10. Drudgery 11. In Sane World 12. Spiritual '
"Stuck Here on Snake's Way" marks the band's first release with brand new vocalist Jukka Pelkonen, who joined the group in May 2006.
A small version of the artwork that will appear on DARK TRANQUILLITY's new album, "Fiction", has been posted online at Century Media's official web site.
Due in April via Century Media Records, "Fiction" was mixed by the acclaimed Tue Madsen (HIMSA, THE HAUNTED) and encompasses all of the elements on which the band built their career: thought-provoking lyrics, shredding guitar work, captivating melodies and sheer brutality. This offering is perhaps best compared to a modern-day version of the group's revered classics "The Gallery" and "The Mind's I", only with more intensity behind it.
"Fiction" track listing: 01. Nothing To No One 02. The Lesser Faith 03. Terminus (Where Death Is Most Alive) 04. Blind At Heart 05. Icipher 06. Inside The Particle Storm 07. Empty Me 08. Misery's Crown 09. Focus Shift 10. The Mundane And The Magic 11. A Closer End (Japan bonus track) 12. Winter Triangle (instrumental) (Australia bonus track)
AFTER FOREVER guitarist/songwriter Sander Gommans has issued the following update on his HDK project:
Just returned from Germany, where we recorded some vocal parts of André Matos (ex-ANGRA, SHAAMAN, VIRGO) for HDK!!! I'm proud to be able to work with this experienced and appreciated singer in the metal world, and he has certainly contributed a lot to the versatility of the project! Some of the songs will have more melodic parts, some of the songs will be merely filled with screams and grunts and of course there will be combinations of different singers/styles. By the way, André is not only a great singer (and he can sing in an extreme way, you'll hear it), he's also a great person and together with Amanda Somerville [the American singer-songwriter and vocal coach who is better known for her collaborations with various European metal bands, including EPICA, AFTER FOREVER and EDGUY] we had a fantastic time in the studio where André, of course, had to make the famous Brazilian drink."
HDK's musical direction was previously described by Gommans as "modern trash/death metal with a lot of melodic influences." The following musicians are currently involved with the project:
Sander Gommans (AFTER FOREVER) – Guitar, Vocals Ariën van Weesenbeek (GOD DETHRONED) - Drums Peter Vink (STAR ONE, AYREON) - Bass Mike Scheijen (37 STABWOUNDZ) - Vocals Patrick Savelkoul (CALLENISH CIRCLE) - Vocals André Matos (ex-ANGRA, SHAAMAN, VIRGO) - Vocals
SIEGES EVEN will enter the studio in May to begin recording its new album, "Paramount", for a September release via Inside Out Music. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Paramount", "Duende", "Leftovers", "Tidal", "A Wallflower on the Day of Saint Juliana", "The Valparaiso Dreaming", "Where our Shadows Sleep" and "These Rooms Have No Memories".
SIEGES EVEN's current lineup consists of Arno Menses (vocals), Oliver Holzwarth (bass), Markus Steffen (guitars) and Alex Holzwarth (drums, RHAPSODY).
The cover artwork for DIMMU BORGIR'a new album, "In Sorte Diaboli", can be found at this location.
Teaming up once again with producer Fredrik Nordström (OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, AT THE GATES) at the new Studio Fredman in Hyssna, Sweden, "In Sorte Diaboli" is DIMMU BORGIR's first concept album and a treatise on modern-day political and social abuses of organized religion. An epic tale set in medieval Europe, this first-person account of an acolyte is told through his own journal entries, depicting his personal struggle with the teachings of the church. Experiencing a life-altering epiphany, he abandons the church completely, and his spiritual victory is won through his rejection of the concept of god.
"In Sorte Diaboli" will be available in North America on April 24 in two different formats: a jewel-case CD and a limited edition digipak (+ bonus track, + bonus DVD with the Patric Ullaeus-directed video for "The Serpentine Offering", + "The Making Of In Sorte Diaboli" in-studio/behind the scenes footage). The complete track listing is as follows:
01. The Serpentine Offering 02. The Chosen Legacy 03. The Conspiracy Unfolds 04. The Sacrilegious Scorn 05. The Fallen Rises 06. The Heretic Hammer (exclusive North American bonus track) 07. The Sinister Awakening 08. The Fundamental Alienation 09. The Invaluable Darkness 10. The Foreshadowing Furnace
An instrumental version of "The Heretic Hammer" will be available on iTunes.com as an additional North American exclusive.
A virtual release party for MANOWAR's new full-length album, "Gods of War" will start ' on Thursday, February 22 at 23:59 (CET) and will last until 2:00 (CET). You can listen to music from the brand new album, continously streamed in a loop.
Directly after the Virtual Release Party, all songs from "Gods of War" will be available for paid download at the merchandise section of www.manowar.com.
MANOWAR has revealed the complete track listing for its tenth full-length album, "Gods of War", which is scheduled for release on February 23 in Germany (February 26 for the rest of Europe and April 3 for the USA/Canada). It is as follows:
01. Overture To The Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors 02. The Ascension 03. King Of Kings 04. Army Of The Dead, Part I 05. Sleipnir 06. Loki God Of Fire 07. Blood Brothers 08. Overture To Odin 09. The Blood Of Odin 10. The Sons Of Odin 11. Glory Majesty Unity 12. Gods Of War 13. Army Of The Dead, Part II 14. Odin 15. Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors Bonus Track: 16. Die For Metal
Finland's WALTARI has posted a video for the new song "Get Stamped" on its MySpace page. The track comes off the group's new album, "Release Date", due on February 26 via Dockyard 1.
According to a press release, the new CD is "darker" than 2005's "Blood Sample", "but also again crazier in the mix of possible styles and the general frenzy of these Finnish music innovators."
"Release Date" track listing: 01. Get Stamped 02. Big Sleep 03. Let's Puke Together 04. Cityshamaani a. Nightflight b. Morning c. Colgate Country Showdown d. The Incarnation Party e. Sympathy 05. Hype 06. THD 07. Sex In The Beergarden 08. Wish I Could Heal 09. Spokebone (featuring Värttinä)
MORGANA LEFAY will release a new single, entitled "Over and Over Again", on February 26 via Black Mark. Also included on the single will be the new cut "Face of Fear". Both tracks come off the band's new album, "Aberrations of the Mind", due on March 19. Check out audio samples ' . Two more songs from the CD — "The Rush of Possession" and "Reflections of War" — are available for listening on the band's web site, www.morganalefay.se.
The artwork for Australian gothic/classical/doom band VIRGIN BLACK's upcoming album "Requiem - Mezzo Forte" has been posted online at this location. Due on April 3 via The End Records, the album, which is part of the "Requiem" trilogy, will be the first installment (the second of the trilogy) released and will be followed later on this year by "Requiem – Pianissimo" and "Requiem – Fortissimo". An MP3 of the edited version of the lengthy track "...And I Am Suffering" has been posted online at the official The End Records' ' .
"Requiem - Mezzo Forte" track listing: 01. Requiem, Kyrie 02. In Death 03. Midnight’s Hymn 04. …And I am Suffering 05. Domine 06. Lacrimosa (I Am Blind With Weeping) 07. Rest Eternal
ANTIMATTER have just finished working on their fourth studio album "Leaving Eden". After Duncan Patterson left the band in 2005, Mick Moss gathered a number of guest musicians around him - among others Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) - to record the most depressive and heaviest album of ANTIMATTER's discography. This is attested by the dynamics of "Leaving Eden", the increased use of electric guitars and forceful drumming. "Leaving Eden" will be released as a limited first edition in a Digipak on April 16th, 2007.
Final tracklisting: 'Redemption' 'Another Face In A Window' 'Ghosts' 'The Freak Show' 'Landlocked' 'Conspire' 'Leaving Eden' 'The Immaculate Misconception' 'Fighting For A Lost Cause'
Canadian metallers ANNIHILATOR have inked a deal with King Records for the Japanese release of their new album, "Metal". An April 11 release is expected.
The Japanese edition of "Metal" will contain a bonus track, a cover of legendary Canadian act EXCITER's classic "Heavy Metal Maniac", featuring original singer/drummer Dan Beehler on vocals and bassist Allan Johnson on bass.
According to Tangra Mega Rock, French-Austrian dark neoclassical act ELEND will release its long-awaited sixth full-length album, "A World in Their Screams", on April 23 through Holy Records.
ELEND is a dark ambient band formed in France in 1993 by composers and multi-instrumentalists Iskandar Hasnawi of France and Renaud Tschirner of Austria. The band's name is German for "misery." Their music can be described as gothic and orchestral music with post-romantic undertones, or simply neoclassical.
"A World in Their Screams" is the follow-up to 2004's "Sunwar the Dead", which was the second part of the band's new five-album "Winds Cycle."
Swedish black metallers MARDUK have set "Rom 5:12" as the title of their new album, tentatively due this spring. Check out the cover artwork at this location. The CD was recorded at Endarker studio and features guest appearances by ARDITI (the project formed by H. Moller from PUISSANCE and M. Bjorkman), Joakim Göthberg (who played drums on the first two MARDUK albums and sang on the group's second and the third LPs) on a track entitled "Cold Mouth Prayer", and Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill from Irish band PRIMORDIAL on the song "Accuser/Opposer".
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Swiss metal experimentalists SAMAEL have moved forward the release date of their eighth album, "Solar Soul" (Nuclear Blast), to June 1 from the previously announced June 15. The CD will contain the following track listing: 
ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer has sent the following update to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
On April 13th, 2007 long-running British gothic metal leaders PARADISE LOST will release the first single taken off their much anticipated upcoming Century Media Records debut "In Requiem", which sees the band combine the classic heaviness of "Draconian Times" with the melodic feel of their more recent studio albums. The new single "The Enemy" will only be released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.
"Vargstenen" projected track listing:
"Emission Phase" track listing:
"Dominator" track listing:
1. ÂÎÇÜÌÈ ÌÅÍß Ê ÂÎÐÎÒÀÌ ÂÀÂÈËÎÍÀ (ìóçûêà - Mission, òåêñò - Ïóøêèíà)
The "Energize Me" single is due on March 23, featuring the songs "Energize Me" (radio edit), "Energize Me" (album version), "Sweet Enclosure" (non-album track).
"Hell Destroyer" track listing:
Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI have uploaded an audio sample from their upcoming fourth album, "Tervaskanto", ' .
01. The Snake and The Way
"Fiction" track listing:
AFTER FOREVER guitarist/songwriter Sander Gommans has issued the following update on his HDK project:
SIEGES EVEN will enter the studio in May to begin recording its new album, "Paramount", for a September release via Inside Out Music. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Paramount", "Duende", "Leftovers", "Tidal", "A Wallflower on the Day of Saint Juliana", "The Valparaiso Dreaming", "Where our Shadows Sleep" and "These Rooms Have No Memories". 
01. The Serpentine Offering
01. Overture To The Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors
"Release Date" track listing:
MORGANA LEFAY will release a new single, entitled "Over and Over Again", on February 26 via Black Mark. Also included on the single will be the new cut "Face of Fear". Both tracks come off the band's new album, "Aberrations of the Mind", due on March 19. Check out audio samples ' . Two more songs from the CD — "The Rush of Possession" and "Reflections of War" — are available for listening on the band's web site, www.morganalefay.se.
"Requiem - Mezzo Forte" track listing:
ANTIMATTER have just finished working on their fourth studio album "Leaving Eden". After Duncan Patterson left the band in 2005, Mick Moss gathered a number of guest musicians around him - among others Danny Cavanagh (ANATHEMA) - to record the most depressive and heaviest album of ANTIMATTER's discography. This is attested by the dynamics of "Leaving Eden", the increased use of electric guitars and forceful drumming. 
Canadian metallers ANNIHILATOR have inked a deal with King Records for the Japanese release of their new album, "Metal". An April 11 release is expected.
According to Tangra Mega Rock, French-Austrian dark neoclassical act ELEND will release its long-awaited sixth full-length album, "A World in Their Screams", on April 23 through Holy Records. 
Swedish black metallers MARDUK have set "Rom 5:12" as the title of their new album, tentatively due this spring. Check out the cover artwork at this location. The CD was recorded at Endarker studio and features guest appearances by ARDITI (the project formed by H. Moller from PUISSANCE and M. Bjorkman), Joakim Göthberg (who played drums on the first two MARDUK albums and sang on the group's second and the third LPs) on a track entitled "Cold Mouth Prayer", and Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill from Irish band PRIMORDIAL on the song "Accuser/Opposer".