Death metal legends MASTER have been added to the previously announced DERANGED European headlining tour, which is set to take place in May 2007. The lineup for the trek is now as follows: DERANGED, MASTER, RESURRECTED, DEMONICAL and EPICEDIUM. So far the following shows have been booked, with more to follow:
May 01 - Berlin, GER @ Magnet Club May 04 - Cottbus, GER @ Glad House
DERANGED recently announced the addition of bassist Tomas Ahlgren (ARSONIST, PANDEMONIUM) to the group's ranks. "The band has been jamming a while with an incomplete lineup, but it's now complete with Tomas Ahlgren," the group writes in a press release.
DERANGED current lineup:
Rikard Wermen - Drums Johan Axlesson - Guitar Tomas Ahlgren - Bass Martin Shonherr - Vocals
DERANGED recently changed the projected title of the follow-up to their sixth full-length album, "Obscenities in B Flat", to "The Red Light Murder Case" from the previously announced "213". Recording is set to commence "sometime early next year." Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Death Walks on High Heels", "Strip Nude for your Killer", "Watch Me When I Kill", "Too Young Too Die", "The Killer Wore Black Gloves", "So Sweet So Dead" and "The Red Light Murderess".
Finnish melodic power metallers THUNDERSTONE will release their fourth studio album, "Evolution 4.0", on March 14 (except in the U.S., where it will be issued later in the spring). According to the band, the new CD is "a milestone, bringing in more of the heavier stuff that 'Tools of Destruction' already hinted at, but still retaining the landmark melodies of THUNDERSTONE. That's why we thought the title 'Evolution 4.0' best represents where we now stand". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Roots of Anger", "10,000 Ways", "Swirled", "Down with Me" and "The Source".
THUNDERSTONE is one of a dozen acts that will compete to represent Finland in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place May 2007 in Helsinki. The band's third full-length album, "Tools of Destruction", was released in the U.S. in June 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at Timo Tolkki's (STRATOVARIUS) Goldenworks studio with producer/guitarist Nino Laurenne.
The band's second album is some kind of showy work with lyrics in Russian and band's familiar trademark. Hard riffing, sparkling brilliant guitar-keyboard solos have been carefully packed for you to listen. Cover artwork as well as some lyrics were created by famous “sir designer” Leo Hao. Full booklet edition contains bonus track “Give Me Your Hand” (English version for ARIA’s “Day Ruku Mne”).
Jerry Lenin (ex-4 Tarakana, Lady's Man) became a new vocalist of russian prog-metal band MECHANICAL POET.
Message on the band's official site: "We have already recorded all vocals. Everything was done perfectly and we were more than satisfied with the results. So now we’re looking forward and going to start the mixing as soon as possible;)"
"CT4FC" track-listing: 1. Welcome To Creepy Tales 2. Urban Dreams 3. Bubble Bath 4. Spikyhead + Miremaid 5. Vesperghosts Of Milford Playhouse 6. A Rose For Michelle 7. Dolly 8. Lamplighter 9. The Afterguide 10. Aztec Zombies* 11. The Dead, The Living And The City 12. Hide And Seek With Cary Nage 13. Once Upon A Day 14. The Dead, The Living And The City - Russian version** 15. The Afterguide - Russian version** 16. Vesperghosts Of Milford Playhouse - Russian version**
In other news, the band will playing on the ProgPower Europe 2007. The festival will be held in the first weekend of October in Baarlo, a small village in the South of The Netherlands.
Musicians comments: "Together with 13 other bands you will be able to see 1 hour of Mechanical Poet. Other bands confirmed so far are JON OLIVA, HEAVEN'S CRY, CIRCUS MAXIMUS, MEYVN and DREAMSCAPE. Check the homepage of ProgPower for all the details about the festival and ticket sales, ' !
LUCYFIRE, the side project of TIAMAT mastermind Johan Edlund, is working on its second album, tentatively due in 2007. The follow-up to 2001's "This Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse" is being produced by TIAMAT drummer Lars Sköld. No further information is currently available.
The cover artwork for the forthcoming SIRENIA album, "Nine Destinies and a Downfall", has been posted online at this location. Due on February 26 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD will contain the following track listing:
01. The Last Call 02. My Mind's Eye 03. One By One 04. Sundown 05. Absent Without Leave 06. The Other Side 07. Seven Keys And Nine Doors 08. Downfall 09. Glades Of Summer
Two absolutely new EPIDEMIA DVDs have hit the Moscow music stores yesterday: "10 Let Puti" (including a first half of a show which took place at DK "Gorbunova" lately last year as well as some bonus videos) and "Elfiiskaja Rukopis'" which features theatrical performance of this popular metal opera during the aformentioned show.
DVD1 tracklist: 1)Vrata Vremeni 2)Zvon Monet 3)Na Krayu Vremeni 4)Volya K Jizni 5)Jizn’ V Sumerkah 6)Ya Molilsya Na Tebya 7)Guitar’s solo 8)Snova Byt’ S Toboy 9)Feanor 10)Kol’co Vsevlast’ya 11)Vsadnik Iz L’da 12)Vernis’ 13)Cherniy Mag 14)Drum’s solo 15)Noviy Den’ 16)Beliy Sokol +BONUSES
DVD2 tracklist: 1)Zolotie Drakoni 2)Bitva Barabanshikov 3)Chas Ispitaniya 4)Rojdenniy Dlya Bitvi 5)Proydi Svoy Put’ 6)Krov’ El’fov 7)Na Poroge Ada 8)Vechniy Voitel’ 9)Romans O Sleze 10)Magiya I Mech’ 11)Oskolki Proshlogo 12)Epilog
SIRENIA, the Norwegian gothic metal band featuring former TRISTANIA guitarist/vocalist Morten Veland, has completed work on a video for the song "My Mind's Eye" from the group's new album, "Nine Destinies and a Downfall". The clip will be made available to all video outlets in early 2007.
As previously reported, Nuclear Blast Records has set a February 26 European release date (February 23 in Germany) for "Nine Destinies and a Downfall". The track listing for the CD is as follows:
01. The Last Call 02. My Mind's Eye 03. One By One 04. Sundown 05. Absent Without Leave 06. The Other Side 07. Seven Keys And Nine Doors 08. Downfall 09. Glades Of Summer
Finnish melodic death/thrash metallers MORS PRINCIPIUM EST have parted ways with guitarist and main songwriter Jori Haukio. According to the group, Jori "decided to leave the band after seven years and three albums" because "he felt that MORS PRINCIPIUM EST was not his thing anymore." The group has already acquired a session guitarist/replacement in the form of friend Karri Kuisma.
MORS PRINCIPIUM EST's third album, "Liberation = Termination", is due in early 2007 via Listenable Records. The follow-up to "The Unborn" was recorded at Astia Studio in Finland and was mastered at Imperial Mastering in Concord, California.
"Liberation = Termination" track listing: 01. Orsus 02. The Oppressed Will Rise 03. The Animal Within 04. Finality 05. Cleansing Rain 06. Forgotten 07. Sinners Defeat 08. The Distance Between 09. It Is Done 10. Terminal Liberation 11. Lost Beyond Retrieval
Swedish melodic metallers NOSTRADAMEUS will release their fifth album, "Pathway", on January 26. The CD will feature the following track listing (in no particular order):
01. Wall of Anger 02. No Trace of Madness 03. Not Only Women Bleed 04. MDCC Pt. 1 05. MDCC Pt. 2 06. The Untouchebles 07. Death by My Side 08. Until the End 09. Demon Voices 10. Welcome to Living 11. P.I.R
Liechtenstein-based romantic gothic metal band WELTENBRAND was in Düsseldorf, Germany last week to film a new video. Check out photos from the shoot ' .
AMORPHIS, KOTIPELTO, NORTHER and THUNDERSTONE are among the featured artists on the soundtrack to the new Finnish film "V2: Jäätynyt Enkeli" (cover), due in Finland on January 5 via King Foo Entertainment. The complete track listing is as follows:
01. NORTHER - "Frozen Angel" 02. KOTITEOLLISUUS - "Pullon Henki" 03. TAROT - "Ashes To The Stars" 04. BLAKE - "Black And Cold" 05. THUNDERSTONE - "10.000 Ways" 06. AMORPHIS - "House Of Sleep" 07. TURMION KÄTILÖT - "Pirun Nyrkki" 08. CHARON - "Ride On Tears" 09. KIUAS - "Bleeding Strings" 10. PRIVATE LINE - "Sound Advice" 11. TIMO RAUTIAINEN - "Hiljaisen Talven Lapsi" 12. MANA MANA - "Liisa" 13. VENDETTA - "Search In The Darkness" 14. THE SCOURGER - "Maximum Intensity" 15. KOTIPELTO - "Sleep Well"
According to STRATOVARIUS bassist Lauri Porra, the Aleksi Mäkelä movie "V2: Jäätynyt Enkeli" is "a private-detective thriller and a sequel to the movie 'Vares' which was a very succesful movie in Finland a couple of years ago. This is the first time I have written a score to a movie, which has been a longtime dream of mine."
Finnish epic/pagan metallers MOONSORROW have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Summer Breeze festival, set to take place August 16-18, 2007 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. Also scheduled to appear are AMON AMARTH, IN EXTREMO, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER.
As previousky reported, Spinefarm Records has revealed the track listing for the new album from MOONSORROW, entitled "V: Hävitetty". It is as follows:
01. Jäästä syntynyt varjojen virta 02. Tuleen ajettu maa
The cover artwork for "V: Hävitetty" can be viewed here (artwork created by Travis Smith). The CD is scheduled for release on January 10, 2007 via Spinefarm Records.
MOONSORROW has been confirmed for next year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2007 in Wacken, Germany. They are also scheduled to appear at the Arnhem Metal Meeting on Saturday, December 9 at Musis Sacrum in Arnhem, Holland.
MOONSORROW's most recent CD, "Verisäkeet", was issued last year via Spikefarm.
After three albums produced by Norwegian producer Terje Refsnes, French power metallers NIGHTMARE are ready for a new challenge. The recording of the group's sixth studio album will start May 7, 2007 at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL).
NIGHTMARE's follow-up to 2005's "The Dominion Gate" will be released by Sweden's Regain Records in the fall of 2007, followed by full European and U.S tours. The band has also joined forces with an international booking agent, MDM Concerts in Germany (in cooperation with Blue Steel Agency).
Guitarist/vocalist Anders Lundemark of the Danish extreme metallers KONKHRA has issued the following update:
"We have recorded two new songs and we will be starting three more next week. We should be halfway [done with the material for the band's sixth album] around Christmas; we're in no hurry because we want to make sure it comes out the best way it possibly can.
"The songs are typical KONKHRA — they're metal. They're uncompromising. And by the way: [new drummer] Mads [Lauridsen] kicks humongous ass. Can't wait to let you all know what we sound like now. We have never sounded this brutal before."
A new KONKHRA instrumental demo track, which has the working title "Killswitch One", has been posted online at the band's ' .
KONKHRA released their latest CD, "Reality Check", in May 2003 through Code666 Records. The album was recorded at guitarist/vocalist Anders Lundemark's own Starstruck Studio and was the group's first since their split with longtime label Diehard Records.
Finnish melodic death/doom metallers SWALLOW THE SUN shot a video for the song "Don't Fall Asleep" last weekend. It was produced by Medialouhos and directed by Antti Hyyrynen. The track comes off the group's forthcoming third album, "Hope", due on February 7, 2007 release via Spinefarm Records. Audio samples of three songs from the CD — "Hope", "These Hours of Despair" and "Too Cold for Tears" — are available ' .
Sweden's PAIN OF SALVATION has posted the following update on its official web site:
"The long-awaited 'Scarsick' album is now done, and is expected to hit the stores late January 2007, just a few weeks before the European tour that will start mid-February. The album is (of course) a concept album, and clocks in at 67 minutes, consisting of the following tracks:
01. Scarsick 02. Spitfall 03. Cribcaged 04. America 05. Disco Queen 06. Kingdom of Loss 07. Mrs Modern Mother Mary 08. Idiocracy 09. Flame to the Moth 10. Enter Rain
"The cover artwork and track titles have already spawned a lot of discussions in forums and lists around the net regarding the possibility that 'Scarsick' might actually be 'The Perfect Element' part II in disguise. Interviews with the band will undoubtedly start to pop up in magazines and online the following months, so keep your eyes and ears open...
"Now that 'Scarsick' is finished, the band will focus on finding a new bass player. The first auditions are already scheduled for December, but the quest will be 'as long as it takes to find the right guy.' Applications have been pouring in from all around the world, despite the band's request for a bassist living in Sweden. Thus, focus will be on the 'domestic' applications. But this also means that the field is still open, in case you are hesitating.
"The 'Scarsick' tour is taking shape. The European tour will be taking place in February/March 2007. The band says that more shows are planned for 2007 in other parts of the world, but nothing is 100% confirmed yet."
PAIN OF SALVATION tour dates: Feb. 17 - Oslo, Norway @ John Dee Feb. 18 - Gothenburg, Sweden @ Musikens Hus Feb. 20 - Warsaw, Poland @ Progresja Feb. 21 - Krakow, Poland @ Klub Studio Feb. 22 - Budapest, Hungary @ Schiff A38 Feb. 23 - Wien, Austria @ Planet Music Feb. 25 - Treviso, Italy @ New Age Feb. 26 - Rome, Italy @ Alpheus Feb. 27 - Milan, Italy @ Rolling Stone Mar. 01 - Pratteln, Switzerland @ Z7 Mar. 02 - Amsterdam, Holland @ Paradiso Mar. 03 - Paris, France @ Elysee Monmartre Mar. 04 - Vosselaar, Belgium @ Biebob Mar. 06 - Augsburg, Germany @ Spectrum Mar. 07 - Aschaffenburg, Germany @ ColosSaal Mar. 08 - Bochum, Germany @ Zeche Mar. 10 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ The Rock
German power metallers RAGE filmed their show in St. Petersburg, Russia earlier in the year in front of 15,000 fans for an upcoming live DVD, tentatively due on February 23, 2007 via Nuclear Blast. Entitled "Full Moon in St. Petersburg" (cover), the double DVD will consist of the following: DVD 1 will contain the complete concert in St. Petersburg, Russia, including highlights from the group's last album, "Speak of the Dead", along with several oldies and other fan favorites. The audio will be available in 5.1 Surround Sound or in normal stereo sound. According to a posting on the group's web site, "The concert is a unique adventure with an exceptional light show, marking a great contrast to the last DVD, which was recorded in an intimate atmosphere at the Zeche Bochum." Additionally, DVD1 will include the band's last two promotional videos, Brazilian TV footage, and RAGE perfoming live at the "Masters of Rock" festival 2006 in Tschechien.
Meanwhile, DVD2 will consist out of comprehensive bonus material, including a full-length documentary shot on the band's last Russian tour, a detailed documentary recorded on the last European tour, featuring insight into the band's life "on the road" and backstage. In addition, each member of the band has contributed personal footage, such as guitarist Victor Smolski's involvement in car racing and his solo appearances; frontman Peavy Wagner discussing his ice age bone collection and his newest hobby, the casting of skulls; and drummer Mike Terrana conducting a short drum workshop and playing his latest drum solo.
The first edition will be available in a special steelbook with two DVDs and an audio CD, but will also be available as a separate DVD or audio CD. The artwork was once again designed by Anthony Clarkson, who was responsible for the cover of the "Speak of the Dead" album.
Nuclear Blast Records has set a February 6, 2007 North American release date for the new THERION album, entitled "Gothic Kabbalah". The CD was recorded and mixed in Stockholm by Stefan Glaumann (RAMMSTEIN, EVERGREY, EUROPE) and features Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL) sharing the vocal duties with Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KRUX, AT VANCE) and two female singers — Katarina Lilja on solo and choral vocals; and Hannah Holgersson on solo, choral, and soprano vocals.
"Gothic Kabbalah" track listing:
CD 1: 01. Der Mitternachtlöwe 02. The Gothic Kabbalah 03. The Perrennial Sophia 04. Wisdom And The Cage 05. Son Of The Staves Of Time 06. Tuna 1613 07. Trul 08. Close Up The Streams
CD 2: 01. Wand Of Abaris 02. Three Treasures 03. The Path To Arcady 04. TOF - The Trinity 05. Chain Of Minerva 06. The Falling Stone 07. Adulruna Rediviva
Metal-Temple.com / Rock Hard writer Orpheus Spiliotopoulos recently conducted an in-depth interview with SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva. An excerpt from the chat follows:
Q: I'd like to ask you why you left SPV Records and how [much] better do you feel it is with AFM Records now?
Jon Oliva: "The SPV people are very nice people but I think what happened there is the top people there who are people whose acts we're not really associated with... You know, we're kind of pissy about the whole SAVATAGE thing. When I did my record, they just took it and dropped it out, they didn't do anything to promote it or anything at all. A lot of kids were complaining that they couldn't find it. So I was like instead of doing this, I'll take it to a smaller label, the guys from AFM and I like those people; I got to hang out with them already when I was writing songs for Zach's [Stevens; CIRCLE II CIRCLE singer] record. I got to meet them back then, I got to talk to them and we had a relationship with them for a year before we made a deal. They actually paid me on time [laughs]! I like their attitude. The people there are all young and hungry to make a name for themselves and they treat the bands with respect! I wasn't feeling that with SPV. I was feeling like a little fish in a big ocean. They have so many bands and I was just getting ignored because it wasn't SAVATAGE and all they cared about was SAVATAGE. I was like, 'Well, I can't give you SAVATAGE but here I'll give you this which would have been the next SAVATAGE album.' The first JON OLIVA'S PAIN record was the next SAVATAGE record. The only difference is that it's a different name and different people playing the material but the material would have been the next SAVATAGE record so... They just didn't get that, they just didn't understand."
Q: Wow! But by saying that, Jon, you do know that there's a lot of your fans, a lot of SAVATAGE fans who wonder what's going on with SAVATAGE...
Jon Oliva: "You know, I'm glad you asked that because I can put that whole thing to rest. There's nothing going on. The situation is very simple. You've got the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA which is a multi-platinum, selling 30,000 tickets a night, band that is actually SAVATAGE with a different name and different singers, that has become successful. And you've got SAVATAGE which has a loyal core audience that is a lot smaller. You're talking worldwide about maybe a couple hundred thousand people where you know, I'm sitting here, talking to you on the phone, looking at my wall and I've got five platinum albums and not one of them says SAVATAGE. And that's not saying anything bad about SAVATAGE. We all loved SAVATAGE but we gave SAVATAGE its chance to get to the level where it was supposed to get to and it never did, for whatever reasons, you know — we had tragedies, everything like that. But to me SAVATAGE was never SAVATAGE after Criss died. All these other lineups of the band that people heard from 'Edge Of Thorns' (1993, Atlantic Records) on, to me was more like TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA actually than SAVATAGE. 'Dead Winter Dead' (1995, Atlantic Records), 'Handful Of Rain' (1994, Atlantic Records), 'The Wake Of Magellan' (1998, Atlantic Records)... those were the albums that spawned the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. Because we knew we had that sound, especially with 'Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12-24' and going in SAVATAGE we were getting no sales and no interest! People don't understand that whether they want to accept it or not, it is a business. I have mouths to feed, I have a family, I have bills just like everybody else and it's kind of asinine for people to sit there and argue with me about why I'm not doing SAVATAGE when SAVATAGE never made us any money. I mean we spent far more money of our own, keeping the band together and putting the band on the road than we ever earned. And we did that for a long time! A lot of bands would have cashed it in after 3-4 years of not making any money. We kept the band together for 15-20 years without making any money! And it just got to the point where it was like well, what do you do? Do you go play a club in Greece for 2,000 people or do you play Madison Square Garden in New York for 25,000 people?"
Veteran Florida-based extreme metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION have issued the following update:
"The band has completed the writing and pre-production demos for 13 songs and will begin the recording of their tenth full-length album, 'Doomsday X', in the coming weeks of November. We're very happy with the direction the music has taken for this new album with songwriting credits by each of the bandmembers, and each song having its own identity but retaining the classic MALEVOLENT CREATION sound. It is truly amazing to have everyone writing for this album and brings a lot of new ideas to the songs. Fear not, each song is extremely brutal and covers a lot of territory as far as extreme metal is concerned.
"The album's recording and touring lineup is: Jon Rubin - Guitars Phil Fasciana - Guitars Dave Culross - Drums Jason Blachowicz - Bass Brett Hoffmann - Vocals
German metal webzine www.sounds2move.de is currently premiering audio samples from the upcoming ELIS album, "Griefshire", ' . Also available at the same location is an exclusive interview (in German) with ELIS bassist Tom Saxer.
"Griefshire" is scheduled for release in Europe on November 24 via Napalm Records (January 16 in the U.S.).
The recordings for "Griefshire" were completed prior to the death of ELIS' lead singer, Sabine Dünser, who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on July 7 during rehearsal and passed away the following day in hospital. The Liechtenstein-based gothic metal group has since announced that it will continue with a new vocalist and is currently accepting submissions from female singers. The requirements are: "Versatile and dynamic voice. It doesn't matter if it's trained or not; you only have to carry a tune. Good English and German articulation. A professional attitude, self-confidence, charisma, good looking and an awesome stage performance are also an advantage as much as experience in songwriting."
"Griefshire" (view cover here) track listing: 01. Tales from Heaven or Hell 02. Die Stadt 03. Show Me the Way 04. Brothers 05. Seit Dem Anbeginn Der Zeit 06. Remember the Promise 07. Phoenix from the Ashes 08. How Long 09. Innocent Hearts 10. Forgotten Love 11. The Burning 12. A New Decade 13. Heaven and Hell (bonus track on digipack)
DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess will appear as a special guest at a battle of the Italian DREAM THEATER cover bands PROGENY (Milan) and YTSEJAMKR (Crotone). Organized by Italian Dreamers, the official Italian DREAM THEATER Fan Club, the event will be held at Teatro in Rimini on November 25, and Jordan will act as "president of the deciding jury for the contest."
ARCH ENEMY frontwoman Angela Gossow has laid down guest vocals in the track "Your Shadow Moves Faster Than Mine" on the new CD from Cologne, Germany-based old-school grind band WORLD DOWNFALL, entitled "Beyond Salvation". Check it out ' . Gossow and WORLD DOWNFALL also teamed up to record a TERRORIZER cover, "Corporation Pull In".
Finnish gothic rock sensation ENTWINE's second single, "Chameleon Halo", from the band's fifth studio album, "Fatal Design", has entered the national chart in the group's home country at position No. 15. View the whole chart ' . The single contains the title cut backed with an unreleased song called "In Delight", an outtake from the "Fatal Design" sessions.
As previously reported, ENTWINE has posted the video for its song "Surrender" ' . The clip was shot with director Markus Nieminen of Routafilmi AB.
.: Main .: News .: Concerts .: Live Reports .: Interviews .: Reviews .: Magazines Reviews .: Soc. Polls .: Competitions .: 
Death metal legends MASTER have been added to the previously announced DERANGED European headlining tour, which is set to take place in May 2007. The lineup for the trek is now as follows: DERANGED, MASTER, RESURRECTED, DEMONICAL and EPICEDIUM. So far the following shows have been booked, with more to follow:
Finnish melodic power metallers THUNDERSTONE will release their fourth studio album, "Evolution 4.0", on March 14 (except in the U.S., where it will be issued later in the spring). According to the band, the new CD is "a milestone, bringing in more of the heavier stuff that 'Tools of Destruction' already hinted at, but still retaining the landmark melodies of THUNDERSTONE. That's why we thought the title 'Evolution 4.0' best represents where we now stand". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Roots of Anger", "10,000 Ways", "Swirled", "Down with Me" and "The Source".
The band's second album is some kind of showy work with lyrics in Russian and band's familiar trademark. Hard riffing, sparkling brilliant guitar-keyboard solos have been carefully packed for you to listen. Cover artwork as well as some lyrics were created by famous “sir designer” Leo Hao. Full booklet edition contains bonus track “Give Me Your Hand” (English version for ARIA’s “Day Ruku Mne”).
Jerry Lenin (ex-4 Tarakana, Lady's Man) became a new vocalist of russian prog-metal band MECHANICAL POET.
LUCYFIRE, the side project of TIAMAT mastermind Johan Edlund, is working on its second album, tentatively due in 2007. The follow-up to 2001's "This Dollar Saved My Life at Whitehorse" is being produced by TIAMAT drummer Lars Sköld. No further information is currently available.
01. The Last Call
Two absolutely new EPIDEMIA DVDs have hit the Moscow music stores yesterday: "10 Let Puti" (including a first half of a show which took place at DK "Gorbunova" lately last year as well as some bonus videos) and "Elfiiskaja Rukopis'" which features theatrical performance of this popular metal opera during the aformentioned show.
SIRENIA, the Norwegian gothic metal band featuring former TRISTANIA guitarist/vocalist Morten Veland, has completed work on a video for the song "My Mind's Eye" from the group's new album, "Nine Destinies and a Downfall". The clip will be made available to all video outlets in early 2007.
Swedish melodic metallers NOSTRADAMEUS will release their fifth album, "Pathway", on January 26. The CD will feature the following track listing (in no particular order):
01. NORTHER - "Frozen Angel"
01. Jäästä syntynyt varjojen virta
After three albums produced by Norwegian producer Terje Refsnes, French power metallers NIGHTMARE are ready for a new challenge. The recording of the group's sixth studio album will start May 7, 2007 at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström (DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL).
"We have recorded two new songs and we will be starting three more next week. We should be halfway [done with the material for the band's sixth album] around Christmas; we're in no hurry because we want to make sure it comes out the best way it possibly can. 
01. Scarsick
German power metallers RAGE filmed their show in St. Petersburg, Russia earlier in the year in front of 15,000 fans for an upcoming live DVD, tentatively due on February 23, 2007 via Nuclear Blast. Entitled "Full Moon in St. Petersburg" (cover), the double DVD will consist of the following: DVD 1 will contain the complete concert in St. Petersburg, Russia, including highlights from the group's last album, "Speak of the Dead", along with several oldies and other fan favorites. The audio will be available in 5.1 Surround Sound or in normal stereo sound. According to a posting on the group's web site, "The concert is a unique adventure with an exceptional light show, marking a great contrast to the last DVD, which was recorded in an intimate atmosphere at the Zeche Bochum." Additionally, DVD1 will include the band's last two promotional videos, Brazilian TV footage, and RAGE perfoming live at the "Masters of Rock" festival 2006 in Tschechien. 
"Gothic Kabbalah" track listing:
Metal-Temple.com / Rock Hard writer Orpheus Spiliotopoulos recently conducted an in-depth interview with SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva. An excerpt from the chat follows: 
Veteran Florida-based extreme metallers MALEVOLENT CREATION have issued the following update:
"Griefshire" (view cover here) track listing:
DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess will appear as a special guest at a battle of the Italian DREAM THEATER cover bands PROGENY (Milan) and YTSEJAMKR (Crotone). Organized by Italian Dreamers, the official Italian DREAM THEATER Fan Club, the event will be held at Teatro in Rimini on November 25, and Jordan will act as "president of the deciding jury for the contest."
ARCH ENEMY frontwoman Angela Gossow has laid down guest vocals in the track "Your Shadow Moves Faster Than Mine" on the new CD from Cologne, Germany-based old-school grind band WORLD DOWNFALL, entitled "Beyond Salvation". Check it out ' . Gossow and WORLD DOWNFALL also teamed up to record a TERRORIZER cover, "Corporation Pull In".
Finnish gothic rock sensation ENTWINE's second single, "Chameleon Halo", from the band's fifth studio album, "Fatal Design", has entered the national chart in the group's home country at position No. 15. View the whole chart ' . The single contains the title cut backed with an unreleased song called "In Delight", an outtake from the "Fatal Design" sessions.