Old News / Tours - January 2005


Old News / Tours - January 2005 - Back
January 28th, 2005	ANCIENT FLAMES OVER EUROPE Tour (February 2005) with: SKYFORGER / SEAR BLISS / SALACIOUS GODS Latvia Hungary Holland 03 Feb. Berlin (Ger) - K17 + Todtgelichter (Hamburg) 04 Feb. Schwerin (Ger) - Dr.K 05 Feb. Dortmund (Ger) - Das Zentrum/Scharnhorst 06 Feb. Arnhem (Hol) - Goudvishal 07 Feb. Gent (Bel) - Frontline 08 Feb. still TBA 09 Feb. Prague (Cz) - TBA 10 Feb. Stuttgart (Ger) - JH Anna 11 Feb. Innsbruck (A) - Hafen 12 Feb. Halle (Ger) - Uhrenwerk www.skyforger.lv Displeased Records NEW SIGNINGS COBALT (USA): Powerful epic raw War Metal from the States! Combine the riffing of Destroyer 666, the precision of Unpure and the intensity of Throneum, and you get Cobalt! This conquering brutal act will deliver their debut full length, simply called 'War metal', this coming April. Black/death for the dedicated! SADUS - Confirmed Sent from the Internet (Details)Long-running San Francisco Bay Area thrashers SADUS, featuring current TESTAMENT/SEBASTIAN BACH bassist Steve DiGiorgio, have been confirmed for this year's Minneapolis Mayhem 2 festival, set to take place on May 7. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are German thrashers SODOM and the Las Vegas, NV-based AVENGER OF BLOOD. More bands will be announced soon. For more information, visit www.minneapolismayhem.com ESTUARY's debut full length recording "To Exist And Endure" is out now! The CD Includes 10 tracks of Thrash-tinged Death Metal that combine ripping riffs, memorable melodies, sick drumming & the most brutal female death vocals ever conjured. The cover art was done by Mike Bohatch, who has done work for ROTTING CHRIST, DEW-SCENTED, PSYCHOTOGEN to name a few. Get your copy now. The official release of "Festering Earth" by FUNERUS This version will have cover art by the legendary artist Chris Moyen who has done art for DERKETA, AMORPHIS, MORTICIAN, BLASPHEMY, INCANTATION and many more. The debut CD includes 9 barbaric songs of total low-end sewage death metal, in the vein of ROTTREVORE, GRAVE, CARNAGE and BOLT THROWER. Featuring John McEntee & Kyle Severn of Incantation. Get your copy now. www.funerus.com First official release SUPREME LORD - X99.9 KILL YOUR ENEMIES. Album consists with 8 new composition completely, plus as special bonus from '95 remastered demo "At the Black Moon Night" and the same disc include two video-clips "Death Metal Beast", "Terrorzone". 1. X99.9 kill your enemies 2. Nail him 3. Death Metal Beast 4. Terrorzone - mp3 5. Flashback 6. Hegemony 7. Dark heresies 8. Traitors corpse + re-mastered demo for 95' "At the Black Moon Night" + 2 video ("Death Metal Beast", "Terrorzone") www.conquerec.com STRAPPING YOUNG LAD – “ALIEN“ to visit us March 21st, 2005 Fasten your seat belts! March 21st, 2005 will be the day of the “Alien“. Canada´s finest and most relentless metal band STRAPPING YOUNG LAD will abduct you to a journey of total chaos and sonic mayhem. Killer songs as “Love?“ and “Imperial“ pilot the starship to unknown dark quadrants. EYE FOR AN EYE – The New Breed Of Hardcore & Metal on DVD Century Media Records will release the DVD compilation "EYE FOR AN EYE – The New Breed Of Hardcore & Metal" on February 21st, 2005 in Europe. Name it the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal, Metalcore, Emocore, Screamo, Mathcore or whatever – this is just a collection of modern bands that share their true love to Hardcore or Metal music. MUDVAYNE TO GIVE FANS LIVE PREVIEW OF NEW MATERIAL BAND ANNOUNCES HEADLINING CLUB TOUR FEATURING SONGS FROM HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM LOST AND FOUND ALBUM HITS STORES IN EARLY APRIL Epic recording artists Mudvayne will be giving fans a live preview of upcoming album LOST AND FOUND with a tour that begins January 29th at the Boardwalk in Sacramento, CA. The band's highly anticipated new album hits retail in early April. "As a band, it's important to remain focused on your roots and remember the people who supported you during the early struggles," says lead vocalist Chad Gray. "With that in mind, we're going to show our core of diehard fans and friends our appreciation by returning to the venues where we started and giving them a preview of some new songs from our upcoming album." The quartet (Gray, guitarist Greg Tribbett, bassist Ryan Martinie and drummer Matt McDonough) recorded LOST AND FOUND at The Plant in Sausalito, CA with producer Dave Fortman (Superjoint Ritual, Evanescence). The album follows 2002's gold-plus release The End of All Things To Come, a sonic juggernaut that wowed fans and critics alike with hits such as "Not Falling" and "World So Cold." Mudvayne toured endlessly in support of the album, including a coveted spot on the high-profile Summer Sanitarium Tour, in which they tore up stages alongside Linkin Park, Deftones and headliners Metallica. Diehards will note that unlike past releases, LOST AND FOUND finds Mudvayne breaking from the gate sans makeup and pseudonyms. "We've never been defined by the makeup," says McDonough. "That's just one of the artistic tools that we've used to communicate ideas. We're not apologizing for it or even saying that we won't wear it again in the future. But right now, this is how we're expressing ourselves." Over the course of the past few years, Mudvayne have sold more than two million units worldwide and racked up four RIAA Gold-certified releases. They've garnered extensive radio and video airplay and were honored with the first-ever MTV2 Award. They've played hundreds of sold-out shows around the world and were even written into a pivotal episode of HBO's smash mafia drama "The Sopranos." Their remarkable success story continues with LOST AND FOUND.Tour dates are as follows: DATE MARKET VENUE 1/28 Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk 1/30 Henderson, NV @ Roadhouse 1/31 LA @ Whisky A GoGo 2/2 San Antonio @ The Sanctuary 2/4 St. Louis @ Creepy Crawl 2/5 Alsip, IL @ O'Malleys 2/6 St Paul @ The Lab 2/8 Detroit @ Magic Stick 2/9 Cleveland @ Peabody's 2/10 Toronto @ The Reverb 2/12 Boston @ Axis 2/13 Philly @ North Star Bar 2/15 Pittsburgh @ Mr Small's 2/16 W.Springfield,VA @ Jaxx 2/17 NYC @ CBGB's FINNISH METAL EXPO, 28.-29.1. CABLEFACTORY, HELSINKI, FINLAND - Hilselinko-band contest four finalists selected - New comer Teräsbetoni added to the program - Instrument clinics present the best of Finnish Metal musicians - All stands reserved, list of exhibitors complete - International Metal Meeting attracts interest throughout Europe, The Finnish Ministry of Trade and industry supporting our cause Finnish Metal Expo, the new metal music event taking place at the Cablefactory in Helsinki, Finland during January 28.-29. is starting to take its final shape. The band contest collaboration between FME and Tuska Open Air Metal Festival was more popular than anticipated. The jury went through a total of 148 demos of various quality and chose the four following gems to appear live at the Finnish Metal Expo: - Agonizer - Codeon - Kill The Romance - SinKing All these bands are extremely skilled at the style of metal they have chosen and are definitely on the rise. A new addition has been made to the artist roster in the form Teräsbetoni. Go to www.terasbetoni.com and let the truth speak for itself. The instrument clinics present the very best of Finnish metal knowledge. Rotten Sound-drummer Kai Hahto shows the proper grindcore chops on Friday and Saturday is dedicated to guitar-and bass artists. Lauri Porra (Sinergy & Kotipelto), Euge Valovirta (Godsplague), Roope Latvala Featuring Alexi Laiho (C.O.B), Tuomo Saikkonen and Kuisma Aalto (Mokoma), Petteri Hirvanen (Monster Ball & Rivendell) and Petteri Sariola - Acoustic, are all scheduled to appear on Saturday the 29th. All exhibition stands have been reserved. The list of exhibitors currently reads as follows: Spinefarm Records, Kingfoo Entertainment, Fullsteam Records, EMI, Firebox Records, Dynamic Arts Records, Welldone, Hamara, Inferno, Noise.fi, Imperiumi, Sue, Suomimetalli.net, Stalker Magazine, Ilosaarirock, Sauna Open Air, Pellavarock, Nummirock, Nuor.As.Kesk/MD-Studio/Ääni ja Vimma, Elmu ry / Nosturi, Suomen Muusikkojen Liitto, Gramex, Suomen Verkkopaita Oy, Musamaailma Oy, Pro Center (F-Musiikki), DLX Deluxe Music, Levytukku Oy, Tähtiraketti, Warner Music Finland, Melscene Helsinki Oy, Taikasammakko Oy, Miasma Magazine, Joy Factory, Sakara Records, WCH -Metal, Meteli.net, Freedom Underground, Raskamusiikkiteollisuus, Tuhma, Chambers Magazine, Fullhouse Records, Legacy Tattoo, Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, Backline Rental Finland, Astia Studio and Poison Arrow Records. International Metal Meeting, the professional event for the industry types, has attracted participants from Russia, Sweden, U.K., France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States representing labels, promoters, agencies, managements and medias. The list is increasing daily. The Finnish government has shown its approval to metal, as the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry has granted support to International Metal Meeting. The funds will be used to flying key figures and journalists to The Finnish Metal Expo. Schedules, maps and latest updates at www.fme.fi. Tickets for FME are currently on sale through Lippupalvelu (www.lippupalvelu.fi). We sell one day tickets only, 20 euros each. FME is an all-ages event with bars to those over 18 and feel the need for such services. Finnish Metal Expo roster at this point: Tarot Sonata Arctica Mnemic (DEN) Finntroll Machine Men Total Devastation Callisto Godsplague Pain Confessor Purity Teräsbetoni Hevein The Scourger www.fme.fi www.tuska-festival.fi VICTORY RECORDS reports that three of their bands have charted this week on Billboard's Top 200: Taking Back Sunday (#113), Hawthorne Heights (#120), and Straylight Run (#196). Furthermore, four of their bands are on the Heatseekers chart: Hawthorne Heights (#1), Silverstein (#47), Bury Your Dead (#96), and Action Action (#111). Metal Update MERCENARY has received Album of the Year, Vocalist of the Year, and Guitarist of the Year honors from the Danish Metal Awards. Their winning album '11 Dreams' will be released in the U.S. on February 8th. Metal Update DEVILINSIDE Drummer Dan Johnson (ex-With Dead Hands Rising), vocalist Joe Talbot (Richard Pryor on Fire), and bassist Patrick Morris (Demonicon) have been added to the lineup. Devilinside will begin touring with Suffocation in February, continue touring in March in support for Cryptopsy. Metal Update SYSTEM OF A DOWN is currently mixing their two-disc set entitled, "Mesmerize/Hypnotize," with Andy Wallace. The first disc is expected to be released in the Spring, with the second disc being released six months later. Metal Update

January 20th, 2005	ENSIFERUM regretfully announces that the bass player, Jukka-Pekka Miettinen, has resigned from the band for personal reasons. He doesn't have time for Ensiferum anymore. Miettinen will play in the two last gigs of 2004 at the X mass festival Dec. 18 in Holland and Dec. 19 in Belgium. A new bass player is found for Ensiferum. Bass will be played by Sami Hinkka. also: It is confirmed that Petri Lindroos (from Norther) will be a steady member in Ensiferum. He will be a vocalist and a guitarist in the band. ENSLAVED ONLINE VIDEO PREMIERE ISA AMERICAN RELEASE DATE APPROACHING Philadelphia: Candlelight Records in cooperation with Digital Metal proudly announces the worldwide premiere of "Isa," the title track from Enslaved's new album. Digital Metal will premiere the lead video from the album at 3pm EST on Saturday, January 1. Log on to www.digitalmetal.com to view the streaming video plus read one of the first US features on the new album and enter to win a copy of the record before its February 8 US release date (the US pressing containing extra material not on the current European release). Recorded at Grieghallen Studios (Mayhem, Emperor), Isa is the new album from two-time Norwegian Grammy and Alarm Award nominated Enslaved. Terrorizer Magazine gave the album high nods as "Album of the Month" for their November issue, noting "for an album that resonates so deeply, whatever destination Isa is headed for, surely the status of a ‘classic’ is high on the list of possibilities." Based in Bergen, Enslaved has given Norwegian extreme metal a unique diversity since their formation in 1991. Their respected ability to twist various genre-specific elements of musical expression into a wholely new direction has been called both dynamic and challenging. Online music resource Rock Detector calls the band, “one of the foremost exponants of Viking Metal.” Enslaved's first commercially available product was released in 1992 as a split with country-men Emperor. It was followed by a split recording with Satyricon. Tours would keep the band busy while multiple recordings would find the band a growing and loyal following. The Peter Tagtgren-produced Blodhemn would further see commercial expansion as the band’s participation on Europe’s massive metal package - featuring Morbid Angel, The Crown, Behemoth, and Dying Fetus would exponentially increase their profile. The band made their US live debut in 2003, a two-week showcase tour that included a stop at the Milwaukee Metal Fest. With the US release of Isa and a world tour planned in support, set to kick off early 2005 with labelmates Vreid in support and expected to hit the US this fall, Enslaved's growth and worldwide acclaim is expected to continue. www.enslaved.no Swedish deathsquad CENTINEX has signed a worldwide deal with Cold Records/Metal Blade Records. Here is a statement from the band: "After two highly acclaimed studio albums and several re-releases Centinex and Candlelight Records have decided to go separate ways. The reasons for this will remain unanswered from our side. Centinex has signed a new deal with swedish based Cold Records, a sublabel to Metal Blade Records. We are extremely thrilled about this new deal and are really looking forward to work with such wellknown and strong partners". -Martin [Centinex] The next album - entitled "World Declension" - will be recorded in march 2005 for a june release. www.centinex.org Swedish heavy metal heros DEDICATION are qurrently recording a new promo-CD which will be sent out to labels in order to find a new deal. Their debut album from last summer - "Reflections of Time" has received great reviews around the globe. www.dedication.se NIGHTSCAPE, this young swedish power metal band has recently signed with Lion Music. The debut album - entitled "Symphony of the Night" - will be recorded during January & February for a spring release. Expect a true melodic power metal masterpiece, influenced by bands such as Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen and Helloween. www.nightscapehome.tk Legendary German Thrashers SODOM has been confirmed to perform at next years Minneapolis Mayhem 2 Metalfest May 7, 2005. This will be their only North American performance. Also, will appear is Las Vegas, NV thrashers Avenger Of Blood. More Details about the show and more bands to be confirmed will follow shortly. http://www.sodomized.info http://www.minneapolismayhem.com CHEVELLE TO HEADLINE WINTERFRESH SNOCORE TOUR PRESENTED BY MTV2 BAND TO TOP BLOCKBUSTER LINEUP FEATURING HELMET, CROSSFADE, FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD AND STRATA Epic recording artists Chevelle will headline this year's Winterfresh SnoCore tour presented by MTV2. The platinum trio will amplify a lineup that features heavy hitters Helmet, Crossfade, Epic labelmates Future Leaders of the World and Strata. The trek begins January 22 at 8150 in Vail, Colorado. "When people look back at the music of 2004, they'll remember it as the year of lip-synching and 'wardrobe malfunctions,'" says Chevelle drummer Sam Loeffler. "So what better way to launch 2005 than with a tour featuring real rock bands? There won't be any gimmicks or fake vocals--just a huge show featuring a killer lineup. That's called starting the year off right." "We're really psyched about this tour," adds vocalist Pete Loeffler. "SnoCore has supported a lot of great bands and this year's bill is one of the best. Plus," he laughs, "It's a chance for us to rock out with our snow boots on." The brothers Loeffler (Pete, drummer Sam and bassist Joe) are touring in support of acclaimed new album THIS TYPE OF THINKING (COULD DO US IN), the follow-up to 2002's platinum-plus-selling chartbuster, Wonder What's Next. The Chicago-based powerhouse is picking up where it left off, debuting on Billboard's Top 200 at #8, scoring a No. 1 hit in lead single "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)" and going gold in just six weeks. In addition, they've appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and CNN, while the "Vitamin R" video is in rotation on MTV, MTV2 and Fuse. They'll maintain momentum with blistering new single "The Clincher," which is already a fan favorite thanks to its inclusion on EA Sports' top-selling video game Madden NFL 2005. The song impacts radio in early 2005. Chevelle recently wrapped an arena tour with Korn. Future Leaders of the World are currently touring in support of their Epic Records debut LVL IV, an album infused with relentless rhythms, visceral guitars and socially-conscious rants. The disc, co-produced by GGGarth (Chevelle, Mudvayne) and Mike Flynn and mixed by Andy Wallace (Jeff Buckley, Jane's Addiction) and Michael Barbiero (Metallica, Soundgarden), features hit single "Let Me Out," currently tearing its way up the rock charts. The Buffalo-based quartet (vocalist Phil Taylor, guitarist Jake Stutevoss, bassist Bill Hershey and drummer Carl Messina) recently won Launch's "Who's Next?" artist competition, beating out Le Tigre, Rilo Kiley and Skindred. The band is fueled by Taylor, whose past of poverty and homelessness drove him to succeed. LVL IV tells the story of his journey and the different people and experiences he encountered along the way. The Winterfresh SnoCore tour presented by MTV2 is now in its 10th year. Founded by the band Sublime, booking agent Rick Bonde and music entrepreneur John Boyle, SnoCore has become the nation's premier annual winter festival tour. Over the course of the past few years, SnoCore has featured System of a Down, Incubus, Blink 182, Primus, Alien Ant Farm, Trapt and many others. This year's tour dates are as follows: Date City Venue 1/22 Vail, CO @ 8150 1/23 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue 1/24 Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint 1/25 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theater 1/27 San Diego, CA @ Soma 1/28 Anaheim, CA @ The Grove 1/29 Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues 2/1 Reno, NV @ New Oasis 2/3 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theater 2/4 Spokane, WA @ Big Easy 2/5 Boise, ID @ Big Easy 2/7 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater 2/8 Wichita, KS @ Cotillion Ballroom 2/10 Minneapolis, MN @ The Quest 2/11 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave 2/12 Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater 2/14 St. Louis, MO @ Pageant 2/15 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts 2/16 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall 2/18 Detroit, MI @ Harpo's 2/19 Toronto, ON @ TBA 2/21 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues 2/22 Albany, NY @ Northern Lights 2/23 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground 2/25 New York, NY @ Spirit Performing Center 2/26 Providence, RI @ Lupo's 2/27 Worcester, MA @ Palladium 3/1 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre 3/2 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero 3/4 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom 3/5 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 3/6 Poughkeepsie, NY @ Mid-Hudson Civic 3/8 Baltimore, MD @ Sonor 3/9 Norfolk, VA @ Norva 3/10 Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues 3/12 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution 3/13 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues (Additional dates to follow) 16. WACKEN : OPEN : AIR 2005 http://www.wacken.com 04.08. - 06.08.2005 Here the latest list of confirmed bands for W:O:A 2005:+ ACCEPT + AXEL RUDI PELL + CORVUS CORAX + EDGUY + EISREGEN + ENDSTILLE + ENSIFERUM + FINNTROLL + ILLDISPOSED + MARDUK + MERCENARY + NIGHTWISH + OBITUARY + OVERKILL + POTENTIA ANIMI + SAMAEL + SUFFOCATION + TORFROCK + TURISAS + Info: http://www.wacken.com UMBRAE are promoting the first single from their new album All that is lost, which was recorded from March through October of 2004 at Virtual Studios, Mexico and mastered by Mikka Jussila at Finnvox, Helsinki, Finland. This new album has not been released yet and should hit stores and distributors early in 2005. www.umbraemetal.com INCANTATION News Update 12/25/2004 SMNnews.com and Metal Maniacs presents "WINTER MIGRATION BROOOTALITY '05" w/ MORTICIAN, INCANTATION, THE CHASM (from Mexico), ARSIS and FUNERUS. This is Incantation's first U.S.tour to support the new album "Decimate Christendom". This tour will hit the east cost only. The band is looking forward to touring with long time friends Mortician and The Chasm. AURORA BOREALIS has finally started work on the 5th CD and the lineup has come full circle at long last. Tony Laureano (Nile, Dimmu Borgir, AngelCorpse) will be Drumming as well as collaborating on writing of the new material. Tony played on the very first Aurora Borealis cd in 1996. Recording will be done at Nightsky Studios (www.nightskystudios.org) beginning January 31st. Any interested labels etc should contact Ron Vento @ AURORA4DTH@aol.com or visit www.auroraborealis.org for more info. The CD of PAGAN "The Last Circle of the Abyss... to the Coming" is out now. Co-release POSSESSION PRODUCTIONS / WEREWOLVES RECORDS. Limited to 500 copies. http://werewolves.cjb.net werewolves88@mail.ru MALEVOLENT CREATION will be bringing their Warkult on a European onslaught in 2005. The Southern Front will be opened in March and include offensive positions in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Iceland! The Northern Front will be opened in April and operations will be executed in the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic. Look out for further information through the usual underground outlets.Interested promoters should contact First Contact Agency at ae@firstcontactagency.com while some dates are still open. www.malevolentcreation.cjb.net NASUM vocalist Mieszko Talarczyk was vacationing in Thailand and is missing following the massive tsunami that struck the region. Metal Update SATYRICON's touring guitarists Steinar Gundersen and Arnt Gronbech have been charged with administering a stupefying drug and sexual assault in Toronto. They allegedly drugged and raped a female fan after she accompanied them onto their tourbus following their performance at a local venue. Metal Update Germany's LIFEFORCE RECORDS has announced that after ten successful years, they will be opening a U.S. office in Philadelphia, PA. The new office will open on January 10, 2005. Metal Update Drummer Dave Krull has left MEATLOCKER SEVEN to resume full time duties with Gorilla Monsoon. He has been replaced by Lincoln McCulloch (Pariah, Self Inflicted). Guitarist Tony Oliveira has also departed, and has been replaced by Darryl Curren (Pariah). Metal Update

January 13th, 2005	Screaming Ferret Wrecords/Escapi Music Reissues Rare CIA Release Attitude Intense Solo Album By Glenn Evans Of Nuclear Assault Delivers 9 Tracks Of Pure Aggression In whetted anticipation of the forthcoming Nuclear Assault studio effort, Screaming Ferret Wreckords/Escapi Music has delved into the vaults and, on January 4th, is issuing a re-mastered edition of Attitude, the extremely rare sophomore solo effort by Nuclear Assault’s legendary drummer Glenn Evans under the moniker CIA. Originally released to limited capacity in 1992, Attitude displays both Glenn’s amazing musical prowess, and his humanity. According to Glenn, “The CIA Attitude album was recorded in a period of my life when things were beginning to fall apart…my marriage, Nuclear Assault, and life in general. Everyone has those periods in their life at one time or another. I had a lot of emotions flowing through me and the easiest way to get them out was through music. I was proud of it then, and I’m proud of it now. It never really had a proper release, and this time around it will.” Glenn describes this album as “one of the proudest moments of my insane life.” And for good reason. The 9 blistering tracks on Attitude really show Glenn’s abilities beyond just amazing skills as a drummer. Glenn is a songwriter, and it shows. The opening track “Ace in the Hole” compels the listener to chant along to the chorus, while “No Need to Impress” illustrates Glenn’s feelings of self-reliance. The complete tracklisting for Attitude includes: Ace In The Hole No Remorse Don’t Waste My Time Pull The Trigger Can’t Find My Way No Need To Impress Sword Of Democles Land Of Gloom And Doom Right Or Wrong Perhaps the most impressive fact about this album is that it couples Nuclear Assault’s trademark aggression with Glenn’s advanced technical musicianship as he plays guitar, drums, bass, and provides vocals. Glenn shares guitar duties with original Nuclear Assault axeman Anthony Bramante and longtime friend, Dave DiPietro. This revival of a creative teaming from the past would later lead to a strong addition to the Nuclear Assault ranks: “It was also the beginning of re-uniting with Dave DiPietro, my early co-band mate with T.T. Quick” says Glenn, “In fact, this album was the stepping-stone for Dave to joining Nuclear Assault for the Something Wicked album and tour. He is an amazing guitarist, and I was proud to have him perform on the record.” With fans eagerly awaiting the new Nuclear Assault album due for release in early 2005, Attitude is guaranteed to keep the metal masses satisfied. After more than six years, all four original members of MOTLEY CRUE have reunited. Their "Red, White & Crue Tour 2005 . . . Better Live Than Dead" worldwide trek will begin in February. Metal Update GRAMMY AWARDS: Nominations for this year's Grammy Awards have been announced. Best Metal Performance: Cradle of Filth, Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, Motorhead, Slipknot Best Hard Rock Performance: Incubus, Metallica, Nickelback, Slipknot, Velvet Revolver Metal Update MURDER WEAPON have confirmed that the band has called it quits. Their final performance is scheduled for December 26th in Richhmond, VA. Metal Update Maniacal Canadian extremists STRAPPING YOUNG LAD have finalized the track listing for their new album, Alien, tentatively due March 22, 2005. The follow-up to the group's critically acclaimed 2002 release, SYL , was recorded at the Armoury and Greenhouse Studios (both in Vancouver) as well as in mainman Devin Townsend's studio in Maple Ridge (suburb of Vancouver). Alien final track listing: 01. Imperial 02. Skeksis 03. Shitstorm 04. Love? 05. Shine 06. We Ride 07. Possessions 08. Two Weeks 09. Mega Bulldozer 10. Zen “Dressed with scars” is a title of the Debut of this sickness band H8 . Recorded in the famous Exponent Studios this masterpiece will strike you like a lightning! With straight, strong guitars and vocals from beyond, H8 spread a kind of music that reaches far beyond the narrow minded boundaries of conventional Metal! In this age of blatant plagiarism and unoriginality H8 promise a monument to creativity and innovation! Set yourself free from this hypocrite Pop-culture and take the next step of musical experience! Enter the mysterious and psychedelic world created by Noctifer who takes you on a trip you’ll never forget H8 music moves from extreme thoughts with morbid atmospheres, without compromises for the listeners. This is an extreme metal Music.!!!!! . “Unique music for unique people.” Track list: 01 – INTRODUCTION 02 – OBSESSION 03 – NO HEALING 04 – ELEMENTAL FORCE 05 – BEYOND THE MASK 06 – BORN TO DIE 07 – GALAXY OF ETERNAL DAWN 08 - DESPISE YOU ALL 09 – H8 10 – TOTAL ADDICTION 11 – IMMORTAL HATE 12 – PRISONER OF DELUSION MORE INFORMATION www.pulsarlight.net LABYRINTH have inked a deal with Arise Records. The band's new album will be entitled "Freeman". Recorded and mixed at Elnor Studio in Milan, Italy and mastered at The House Of Audio Studios in Germany, the album is being called "a big step in the new frontier of Labyrinth's sound". "Freeman" will be released in March 2005. It's difficult to say in which direction the 2005 Lab's sound is gone, if we consider that in the 10 tracks on "Freeman" we can find the most various things. From the band's most aggressive song ever, 'Dive In Open Waters', to the mid-tempos with killer riffs and harmonics melodies and '70's - or speedy - periods, to disquieting 'Malcom Gray', a song that will give a thrill to more than a few people!". Arise records will also re-release "No Limits" (originally released in 1996), the first album of the band with Fabio Lione (Rhapsody) on lead vocals. The album has been re-mastered and contains 2 bonus tracks and new graphic!. Out in March 2005. The new DREAM OR NIGHTMARE CD "Light Burning Bright Till the Dawn" has been released!!!! It includes 4 studio quality recorded songs as well as professional packaging and graphics. For ordering or promotional information, please write to: DorNinfo@aol.com for all the details. This is a disc that no metal fan will want to miss!!!!! www.dreamornightmare.com DARK MOOR will release their new album entitled "Beyond The Sea" in March 2005. The album was recorded at M20 (drums and backing vocals) and New Sin Studios. The cover artwork has been painted by Derek Gores (Kamelot). The first edition of the album will be limited to 5.000 copies and contains an exclusive bonus track. In this new amazing album the band shows less baroque elements, heavier guitars and more powerful sound than in their previous recordings. Probably, the tracks are more direct than in the past, this time the band wanted to be more focussed in the search of the right melodies than in an overloaded production. Tracklisting : 1. Before the Duel 2. Miracles 3. Houdini's The Great Escapade 4. Through the Gates of the Silver Key (Interlude) 5. The Silver Key 6. Green Eyes 7. Going On 8. Beyond the Sea 9. Iulius Caesar (Interlude) 10.Alea Jacta 11.Vivaldi´s Winter (Bonus Track) GRAVE DIGGER added also a couple of new shows to their first part of the Last Supper World Tour: 11.02.05 D-Andernach - Juz-Live -Club 12.02.05 D-Langen/b.Frankfurt - Stadthalle 13.02.05 D-Ludwigsburg - Rockfabrik 14.02.05 D-Berlin - C-Club 15.02.05 D-Hamburg - Markthalle 16.02.05 DK-Cobenhagen - The Rock 17.02.05 D-Bochum - Matrix 18.02.05 D-Lichtenfels - Stadthalle 19.02.05 D-Glauchau - Alte Spinnerei 20.02.05 D-München - New Backstage 21.02.05 I-Mailand - Transilvania 22.02.05 CH-Pratteln - Z7 06.03.05 GR - Athen-Club Rodon 11.03.05 A - Vienna- Planet Music 07.05.05 BS- Sao Paulo - Direct Music Hall 24.06.- 26.06. BG - Graspop Festival 08.07.05 D- Rock Harz Festival 31.07.05 SW- Gates of Metal Festival 03.09.05 D- Polheim- Festival SUPERCHRIST is proud to announce the worldwide release of TWO essential albums on CD format. 'Heavy Metal Tonight' is a live album recorded in Chicago in May, with excellent sound quality, dashing artwork, and 13 of our biggest hits. It's our first live album and our first release with Boston-area independent Bestial Onslaught Productions. Our much-acclaimed and most recent studio album 'South of Hell' was just pressed in a new expanded edition by Autopsy Kitchen Records. Those few of you who obtained a copy from us earlier in 2004 should be sure to upgrade to AKR's much more stylish offering. Copies of both are available straight from us at an unholy price. Ordering information and MP3s can be found on our website. http://www.SUPERCHRIST.net NEGURA BUNGET NAME NEW ALBUM AND STARTS RECORDINGS Transilvanian Black Metallers NEGURA BUNGET started recording their new album scheduled for late march 2005 on code666, titled "OM" ("man" in romanian). Another concept-album, this time dealing with purification, part of a ritual to transform the listener into an evolved individual after it... like the previous "n crugu bradului", "OM" will be released in a very special "never-seen-before" packaging, including an exclusive DVD with a stunning music video of the title-track, exclusive interviews with the band, Live-footage, making of the album and various unreleased material. www.negurabunget.com SCALD SIGN WITH CODE666! We are happy to announce that Sludge Grinders Scald from Northern Ireland signed a License-deal with code666, we'll release and promote worldwide their next Instrumental Opus titled "Vermiculatus", planned for september 2005. here's the band statement to present the album: "Vermiculatus is Scald's most experimental, innovative and un-commercial project to date. The work consists of a singular album length instrumental track, two thirds of which is performed by the band and is a complex composition of no repeated parts, followed by the final third, which is an ambient mix of the performance part. This is accompanied on the CD by a short animated film (Vermiculatus B1) with a further remixed soundtrack. This is not a promotional video; instead it is an integral facet to the work and concept as a whole. The limited edition oversized 6 panel digifolder packaging will be lavish and the artwork will be free from graphics and text. Scald are not known for being free with explanations behind their concepts, preferring each mind to discover it's own truth, but it can be stated that the on going conceptual metaphorical representations of the parasitic worm as psychological states has been further evolved from the "Nematoid" & "Headworm" material. Without the use of words or human voice these emotional and neurological conditions must be conveyed through the visual and aural stimulus of the Vermiculatus whole. It is not necessary to understand only to be aware" website: http://www.scald.me.uk DIABOLICUM RECORD NEW ALBUM FROM SCRATCH Swedish Maniacs DiabolicuM spent the whole summer 2004 in studio recording their third album titled "Vengeance (The Matricide)", unfortunately the final result did not match their expectations, so they decided to re-record everything from scratch. In the meantime they composed new killer songs and they will enter another studio in February 2005. The Album is expected in the second half of 2005, and will bring the darkness back to code666... THE AXIS OF PERDITION MIXING NEW ALBUM UK Noise Blacksters The Axis Of Perdition are finishing to record their brand new Full-Lenght album titled "Deleted Scenes From the Transition Hospital", scheduled for march 2005 on code666. MANES PLANNINGS Manes are planning a busy 2005, with the recording of an EP and of the new Full-Lenght album: EP Title: "[view]" will include 2 new tracks, a couple of cover and 4 remixes. Album workingtitle: "Invention - or how the world came to an end and why we did it". Gigs: Manes will play the 2005 Quart festival. Other bands confirmed are Foo Fighters and Green Day. there's also plans for both Norwegian and foreign gigs in early 2005 and to shoot a music video. website: www.manes.info SOILWORK NEWS In a short period of years, SOILWORK's increasing success has evolved from their initial status of a diminutive, yet promising Swedish extreme melodic metal band to their present position as one of the most popular and audacious entities to have explored new musical territories. Meticulously developing swift progressions, SOILWORK establishes sounds without limits, outranking any competition and setting an untouchable musical standard. The latest SOILWORK release, Stabbing The Drama, has been scheduled to street March 8, 2005 on Nuclear Blast Records. A one-minute clip of the title track is attached to this email in Real Media format. To top off the release of Stabbing The Drama, an American tour with Hypocrisy, Mnemic and Dark Tranquility is currently being booked to begin in the Spring of 2005! See details below. Stabbing The Drama track list: 01. Stabbing The Drama 02. One With The Flies 03. Weapon Of Vanity 04. The Crestfallen 05. Nerve 06. Stalemate 07. Distance 08. Observation Slave 09. Fate In Motion 10. Blind Eye Halo 11. If Possible Confirmed 2005 tour dates: 04/05 Buffalo Icon, Buffalo, NY 04/06 House Of Blues, Chicago, IL 04/07 Eagles Club, Milwaukee, WI 04/08 Granada Theatre, Lawrence, KS 04/09 Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO 04/10 Lo-Fi Café, Salt Lake City, UT 04/12 Graceland, Seattle, WA 04/14 The Pound, San Francisco, CA 04/15 House Of Blues, Anaheim, CA 04/16 Key Club, Los Angeles, CA 04/17 Venue Of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ 04/19 Back Room, Austin, TX 04/20 Engine Room, Houston, TX 04/22 Al Rosa Villa, Columbus, OH 04/23 Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA 04/26 Masquerade, Atlanta, GA 04/27 The Social, Orlando, FL 04/29 Jaxx, W. Springfield, VA 04/30 Webster Theater, Hartford, CT 05/01 B.B. Kings, New York, NY 05/03 Le Capitole Theatre, Quebec City, QC 05/05 Opera House, Toronto, ON 05/07 Harpo’s, Detroit, MI Metal Maniacs AMON AMARTH releases new video!! Amon Amarth have finished shooting their first video for the new album Fate Of Norns. The chosen song is "The Pursuit Of Vikings" and the video turned out great! Young directors Philipp Hirsch and Heiko Tippelt brought in some great ideas and did an awesome job in filming and editing the clip as well. "We recorded the video in an old abandoned railway house in Bischofswerda, close to Dresden, Germany", says singer Johan Hegg. "We got to work a lot with pyrotechnics, and using that indoors of course created a lot of soot, so we were blowing black snot out of our noses for about four days afterwards. The recording took all day, about ten hours all in all, and after that we were supposed to perform on stage for 90 minutes. Needless to say, we were all pretty damn tired after that day, but in the end it was all worth it. The video turned out great in my opinion, and the film team really managed to capture the mood of the song in the video." amonamarth.com Metal Maniacs VEHEMENCE live video released & update from John: Vehemence has just released a live video for the track "By Your Bedside" off of their 2004 release Helping the World to See. The was recorded June 8th, 2004 at The Mason Jar in Phoenix, AZ. Click here to check out the video. "For the new year expect Vehemence to undergo the writing process for our next album, and process further touring for the spring and summer. The next album will include every godly skill from all your favorite metal albums combined into a hybrid of diversity that we have not experienced with yet." -John from Vehemence www.vehemence.com Metal Maniacs DARKTHRONE REFUSE ALARM AWARD NOMINATION Legendary black metal band, Darkthrone, nominated in the metal category for the highly coveted Norwegian Alarm Awards last Wednesday, has now been removed from the list of nominees. Darkthrone, one of five candidates in the metal category for their outstanding album, Sardonic Wrath, communicated their dissatisfaction at being nominated in an article published in Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten the day after the selected names were released to the public. "We play real and honest black metal," drummer Fenriz commented in the article. "And we have no interest in being part of the glitter and showbiz side of the music industry." Alarm Awards' chief, Svein Bjørge, though surprised by the band's reaction, hasted to find a solution that culminated in the band's elimination from the category altogether. On hearing the news that their wish had been granted, Fenriz commented - "I just wanted to say my piece about the whole Alarm nomination thing last week and whether they kept us in or not would have been no skin off my nose." "I have everything AGAINST awards for black metal," Nocturno Culto added. "What a fucking circus this has become." "I am not against awards in general," Fenriz concluded, "I just thought it was not for us." Darkthrone's unique stance will never cease to amaze. The reason of all this stir, 'Sardonic Wrath' is out now on Moonfog. www.moonfog.com Metal Maniacs KRISIUN TO RELEASE BLOODSHED Brazilian hyperspeed godfathers KRISIUN return! Bloodshed, although not considered a full-length studio album, delivers 8 new studio tracks (including 3 intros/outros) recorded 100% analog at De Tribo Studios (Abhorrence, Horned God) in the band’s hometown of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Unquestionably Krisiun, these tracks show the band clear-cutting their way into uncharted territory exploring a groove-oriented sound. New tracks on Bloodshed include more mid-paced tempos while still highlighting the band’s trademark extended interludes of rapid-fire machine gun guitar riffs. The kings of unholy compositions have not however backed away from their utter brutality; the new tracks emphasize the band’s continuing infernally ferocious songwriting. Bloodshed also includes 4 tracks from their rare, cult, underground first release Unmerciful Order EP (1993). Metal Maniacs SOILENT GREEN will be entering Mana Recording Studios in Tampa, Florida with Eric Rutan (Hate Eternal) at the helm on January 5th, 2005 to proceed with the recording of their newest release to be out in May 2005 through Relapse Records. Album and song titles will be posted via www.soilentgreen.net as the album takes more solid form by mid-January 2005. A video will also be in the works to tie in around the release date of the new album. More information will be posted on www.soilentgreen.net. Metal Maniacs SHADOWS FALL Join The Subliminal Verses Tour After years of conquering clubs, and stealing the show at Ozzfest 2003 and the inaugural Headbanger's Ball tour, metal’s hottest band has now graduated to arenas on the massive Subliminal Verses Tour alongside Slipknot and Lamb of God this spring. The Fuse- sponsored trek, which kicks off on March 4th and runs through May 2nd, will mainly cover major markets and is the perfect follow-up to the group’s highly successful co-headlining U.S. tour with Damageplan and The Haunted, which wrapped up this past week. This is the second major tour in support of their critically acclaimed new release, The War Within, which has garnered mainstream accolades in Billboard, Blender and Rolling Stone. The album also debuted at #20 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, making it one of the highest metal debuts of the year and leading Spin magazine to name the group a “Band To Watch In 2005.” The hit single for “What Drives The Weak” has been added to over 40 Commercial Active Rock stations so far, and the album has made its way to #37 on the R&R Active Rock Chart this week. Brian Fair (vocals) further explains the group’s excitement over the upcoming tour; “Just when you think things couldn’t get any better – along comes this tour, which we are totally excited about. Not only do we get to play with bands that are our friends, but also fans of their music. It’ll be a new round in the drinking competition with myself and Randy (Lamb of God), and we hope that Slipknot will join in. Although we have been friends with Slipknot for a while, we have never had the opportunity to actually tour with them, and there should be lots of interesting road stories to add to our growing list.” www.shadowsfallrocks.com Metal Maniacs MORGUL signs to Season of Mist It has been a long time. It has been in hiding. It has been in seclusion. Plotting against all of humanity. But now, from the depths of a mind insane, IT returns… MORGUL’s 5th album All Dead Here brings back the familiar sound of twisted dementia and horror. ‘Old’ listeners will immediately recognize the heavy onslaught and eerie atmosphere that is the music of MORGUL. ‘New’ listeners will be stunned by the band’s willingness to explore different genres and moods within their music. With tracks such as “Sanctus Perversum," “The Need to Kill" and "Hategrinder" the listener is left with little to be desired. Other tracks include “All Dead Here”, “Willingly Shakcled”, “Empty” and “The Mask of Sanity”. All of which are tributes to the abhorrent and anthems of disgust. Out on Season of Mist April 2005. Metal Maniacs NECROPHAGIA complete recording new album Audio horror masters NECROPHAGIA have almost completed the recording of their upcoming monsterpiece Harvest Ritual Vol.1 to be released in Europe by Season of Mist in the Spring of 2005. Songs include “Cadavera X,” “Return to Texas,” “Dead Skin Slave,” “Unearthed,” “Deathtrip 69,” “London (13 Demon Street),” “Excommunicated” and “Stitch Her Further” (which was co-written by Joey Jordison / SLIPKNOT/MURDERDOLLS, who also contributed guest vocals and will be in the video for the song as well). NECROPHAGIA will be hitting the road as the new release hits stores this Spring with all new Horrific stage show. Bill Mosely aka Chop Top from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and Rob Zombies' House of 1,000 Corpses has also contributed to the new record and will star in the video for London (13 Demon Street). Harvest Ritual Vol.1 was recorded in state of the art studios around the world and has been ten months in the making and will be mixed in Tampa Florida by Mark Prator (MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE, OBITUARY etc.). Metal Maniacs PAUL DIANNO during his performance on Friday, December 10, in Tel Aviv, Israel, former Iron Maiden singer Paul Dianno was attacked by a crazed fan. Security put a stop to the attack and a shaken Dianno finished the show. Metal Update The newest TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA album, 'The Lost Christmas Eve,' released on October 12th, has been certified gold after six weeks. TSO's two previous holiday albums, 'Christmas Eve & Other Stories' and 'The Christmas Attic,' have been certified double platinum and platinum respectively. Metal Update SNAPCASE has called it quits, citing "...an impasse where our core fan-base had been dwindling due to disenfranchisement with our newer material..." in addition to other reasons for their decision. Snapcase will play their farewell show in their hometown, Buffalo, NY, on January 22nd. Metal Update PSYCHOTOGEN founding bassist Tony Pernia has amicably parted ways with Psychotogen. The band is currently in search of a replacement. Metal Update German gothic metal pioneers DARKSEED will release their 6th longplayer over Massacre Records on January 24th. The website www.darkseed.com contains 7 samples of "Ultimate Darkness" for your hearing pleasure.

January 2nd, 2005	ENSLAVED US RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED TO FEATURE BONUS MATERIAL Philadelphia: Candlelight Records confirms February 8 as the US release date for the new album from two-time Norwegian Grammy and Alarm Award nominated Enslaved. Titled Isa, the US pressing is set contain bonus material not featured on the current European release. Recorded at Grieghallen Studios (Mayhem, Emperor), Isa is already finding amazing response following its recent European release. Terrorizer Magazine gave the album high nods as "Album of the Month" for their November issue, noting "for an album that resonates so deeply, whatever destination Isa is headed for, surely the status of a ‘classic’ is high on the list of possibilities." Based in Bergen, Enslaved has given Norwegian extreme metal a unique diversity since their formation in 1991. Their respected ability to twist various genre-specific elements of musical expression into a wholely new direction has been called both dynamic and challenging. Online music resource Rock Detector calls the band, “one of the foremost exponants of Viking Metal.” Enslaved's first commercially available product was released in 1992 as a split with country-men Emperor. It was followed by a split recording with Satyricon. Tours would keep the band busy while multiple recordings would find the band a growing and loyal following. The Peter Tagtgren-produced Blodhemn would further see commercial expansion as the band’s participation on Europe’s massive metal package - featuring Morbid Angel, The Crown, Behemoth, and Dying Fetus would exponentially increase their profile. The band made their US live debut in 2003, a two-week showcase tour that included a stop at the Milwaukee Metal Fest. With the US release of Isa and a world tour planned in support, set to kick off early 2005 with labelmates Vreid in support and expected to hit the US this fall, Enslaved's growth and worldwide acclaim is expected to continue. Track Listing for Isa is confirmed as: Intro: Green Reflection, Lunar Force, Isa, Ascension, Bounded by Allegiance, Violet Dawning, Return To Yggdrasill, Secrets Of The Flesh (Instr.), Reogenesis, Outro: 'Communion' (Excerpt) plus video extras - a candid interview with members of Enslaved, new screensavers, the album's lead video for album title track "Isa" and the unreleased song "Sleipnr." www.enslaved.no ENTOMBED'S UNREAL ESTATE TO SEE US RELEASE Philadelphia: Candlelight Records confirms February 22 as the US release date for Unreal Estate, a special live recording of the band's now infamous sold-out performance at Stockholm's Royal Opera Hall. The beautifully packaged digipak release features an elaborate picture book that documents from start to finish the performance and its rehearsals. Photographer Mats Backer compiled the photographs day and night, cataloging the band, the dancers and beautiful architecture of the hall. It is assumed one would ask how a death metal band could come to perform at a famed Opera house alongside classically trained ballerinas? It’s a question The members of Entombed still ask themselves when pondering a recording that now stands as a unique and special moment in the band’s decade-long history. What started as an off-the-wall idea of choreographers Bogdan Szyber and Carina Reich resulted in one of the most lavish and unique ensembles surely in both Entombed’s and Stockholm’s Royal Opera Hall. Recorded (absolutely no overdubs) on March 1, 2002, Unreal Estate is without a doubt the best live recording of the three-time Swedish Grammy nominated band to date. For the band it documents a fantastic experience with their original songs specially re-arranged for the 45-minute performance. Surrounded by more than 30 of Sweden’s finest and most celebrated ballet dancers, the performance marked the first time in the history of Royal Opera Hall that earplugs were distributed to the guests at the door. The media immediately described it as “one of the most powerful and moving experiences ever.” Even the first glimpse via the widely-respected and collected Nihilist material, listeners and now decade long fans knew early on that Entombed was to go far. Since their formation, giving rise to the classic “Swedish death metal” sound, Entombed have not rested on their extensive accomplishments but rather up’ed the ante on each and every curve. Unreal Estate follows the stateside release of the band’s latest studio album, the 2cd Inferno/Averno. Unreal Estate see US release during the band’s planned US tour alongside labelmates Crowbar, Pro-Pain and The Mighty Nimbus, announced two weeks ago. Track listing for Unreal Estate is: DCLXVI / Intermission, Chief Rebel Angel, Say it in Slugs, It is Later Than You Think, Returning to Madness, Mental Twin, Night Of The Vampire, Unreal Estate, In The Flesh, Something Out Of Nothing Left Hand Path (outro). www.entombed.org VREID CONTINUE TO BUILD AS STATESIDE RELEASE DATE APPROACHES Philadelphia: Six weeks from stateside release of their debut album, Norway's Vreid continue to build momentum, having recently confirmed the direct support slot on Enslaved's upcoming European tour. Featuring the remaining members of Windir, disbanded after the tragic death of band founder/leader Valfar (aka Terje Bakken) earlier this year, Vreid (Norwegian for "wrath") have composed an impressive first offering that is already finding acclaim. England's Terrorizer Magazine recently called Kraft, “a collection of first-class barbed and vitriolic riffs that will tear through your soul like a flail through rare steak... multi-faceted yet always malicious, this album will prove a surefire antidote to Christmas cheer.” Norway's Scream Magazine adds, “the future looks bright for these Norwegians.” Recorded at Studio 1184 (bassist Hvall’s new studio) and mixed at Subsonic Society Studios (Dismember, Susperia, Red Harvest, Darkthrone), Kraft will immediately appeal to fans of Enslaved, Emperor, Darkthrone and Immortal. Holland’s Vampire Magazine proclaims, “an absolute fantastic album,” further noting the recording’s diversity and sheer creativity; heavy, dark, aggressive and absolutely dominating Norwegian extreme/black metal. Formed in 1994, Windir leave behind four incredible recordings, all recorded for Head Not Found Records. The band graced stages at Inferno, Quart and Hole in the Sky European Festivals plus an appearance (and now only US show) at Milwaukee’s Metal Fest. The band was set to record their fifth album and first to receive worldwide release before Valfar’s untimely death. Family and friends of the fallen musician recently gave tribute to him in a memorial concert held at Oslo's Rockefeller, an event that featured performances from Enslaved, Mindgrinder, and Finntroll, among others. Hvall says, "I am very proud of what we did in Windir, but now we need a fresh start. Kraft goes back to our roots." Lyrically he says the album is, "a mixture of hate and aggression, but also sadness and longing because of what happend to us. Valfar and I wrote for Windir on a grand scale, based on big themes. Now I write more personal lyrics about smaller issues." Kraft will be released in the US on January 25. European dates for the band in support of Enslaved can be found at http://www.vreid.no/ ENTHRALLMENT will mastered in IMPERIAL MASTERING (USA) The third album of ENTHRALLMENT will be mastered by Colin Davis and Imperial Mastering (USA). Colin is popular with him's work to the albums of DEEDS OF FLESH, MANGLED, VILE, DISGORGE and some others. We wish to thanks to Jacoby & DEEDS OF FLESH (http://www.deedsofflesh.net) for the great support and information about this studio. THANK YOU JACOBY !!!!! DYNAMIC LIGHTS' debut CD to be released in March In March of 2005 we will release the debut album of the Italian progressive rock/metal band Dynamic Lights. In support of this album, the band will do a short tour with Swedish Nightingale and will bring the band in Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands. In our first newsletter next year we will have full details about the album and the tour, in the meantime check out the homepage of the band, www.dynamiclights.net. EIGHTEEN VISIONS ANNOUNCE HEADLINING TOUR NEW SINGLE "I LET GO" IMPACTS RADIO IN JANUARY After a triumphant tour overseas, where they spent two months tearing up stages as openers for Lostprophets and 36 Crazyfists, Eighteen Visions are returning home for a headlining tour that begins on January 11th in San Luis Obispo, CA. The band, who are among a select group praised as "The Future of American Metal" by Revolver magazine, are touring in support of their blistering new record OBSESSION, called "The Album of the Year" by Metal Hammer magazine. Produced by Mudrock (Godsmack, Avenged Sevenfold) and released this past summer, OBSESSION quickly made its mark, wowing fans and critics alike with explosive tracks such as "Waiting For The Heavens" (whose video is currently in rotation on "Headbanger's Ball" and Fuse) and "Tower of Snakes." Wrote OC Weekly, "...the group is focused and driven, crafting their most accessible hard rock/metalcore album to date. Instead of a dizzying collage of song parts, as besieges the genre, OBSESSION is crushing but tuneful...". The Orange County, CA-based quintet (vocalist James Hart, guitarists Keith Barney and Ken Floyd, bassist Mick Morris and drummer Trevor Friedrich) will maintain momentum with new single "I Let Go," impacting radio in January. Prior to crossing the Atlantic, Eighteen Visions played to packed-house crowds across the nation during tours with Lostprophets, The Used, Midtown, 36 Crazyfists, From Autumn To Ashes, HIM, Fear Before The March of Flames, Atreyu and Underoath, as well as Warped Tour dates, on which they amplified a lineup that included the likes of Bad Religion, Good Charlotte, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday and dozens more. In a review of the show, The Orange County Register singled out the band's set, describing it as "a notch above the rest." Formed by Hart and Floyd in 1995, Eighteen Visions rose up through Orange County's fertile hard music scene with sound and style all their own. Though rooted in metal, the band refused to be limited by the genre's narrow confines and went on to develop a diehard international following on the strength of three explosive albums (Until The Ink Runs Out, Lifeless, Vanity) and a frenetic live show. With OBSESSION, the band retains the key elements of its speaker-shredding signature sound while revealing a range that broadens with each listen. Hear it for yourself during Eighteen Visions' upcoming headlining tour with openers Emery, Remembering Never and Misery Signals. Tour dates are as follows: DATE MARKET VENUE 01/11/05 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA @CLUB SLO BREW 01/12/05 HOLLYWOOD, CA @ TROUBADOUR 01/13/05 SAN DIEGO, CA @ SOMA-SIDESTAGE 01/14/05 PHOENIX, AZ @ MASON JAR 01/15/05 ALBUQUERQUE, NM @ LAUNCHPAD 01/17/05 DALLAS, TX @ TREES 01/18/05 SAN ANTONIO, TX @ SANCTUARY 01/19/05 HOUSTON, TX @ THE ENGINE ROOM 01/20/05 NEW ORLEANS, LA @ TWIROPA 01/21/05 S. JACKSONVIL, FL @ JACK RABBITS 01/22/05 FT. LAUDERDALE, FL @ CULTURE ROOM 01/23/05 ST. PETERSBURG, FL @ STATE THEATRE 01/24/05 ORLANDO, CA @ THE SOCIAL 01/26/05 ATLANTA, GA @ MASQUERADE 01/27/05 COLUMBIA, SC @ NEW BROOKLAND TAV. 01/28/05 WINSTON SALEM, NC @ BREW HA HA 01/29/05 RICHMOND, VA @ ALLEY KATZ 01/30/05 BALTIMORE, MD @ THE OTTOBAR 02/01/05 FARMINGDALE, NY @ THE DOWNTOWN 02/02/05 SYRACUSE, NY @ THE FURNACE 02/03/05 MANCHESTER, NH @ BOMB SHELTER 02/04/05 PORTLAND, ME @ SPOT SHOT BILLIARDS 02/05/05 WORCESTER, MA @ PALLADIUM UPSTAIRS 02/07/05 LATHAM, NY @ SARATOGA WINNERS 02/08/05 PHILADELPHIA, PA @ THEAT FOR LIV ARTS 02/09/05 BUFFALO, NY @ THE BUFFALO ICON 02/10/05 CLEVELAND, OH @ PEABODY'S 02/11/05 DETROIT, MI @ MAGIC STICK 02/12/05 INDIANAPOLIS, IN @ EMERSON THEATRE 02/13/05 MILWAUKEE, WI @ MAD PLANET 02/15/05 IOWA CITY, IA @ GABE'S OASIS 02/16/05 MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ ASCOT ROOM 02/17/05 CHICAGO, IL @ BOTTOM LOUNGE 02/18/05 ST. LOUIS, MO @ CREEPY CRAWL 02/19/05 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK @ GREEN DOOR 02/20/05 LAWRENCE, KS @ GRANADA THEATRE 02/22/05 DENVER, CO @ ROCK ISLAND 02/23/05 SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ WAGSTAFF SHOWCASE 02/24/05 BOISE, ID @ THE VENUE 02/25/05 SEATTLE, WA @ GRACELAND 02/26/05 PORTLAND, OR @ MEOW MEOW 02/27/05 SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ THE POUND 03/01/05 ORANGEVALE, CA @ THE BOARDWALK 03/02/05 FRESNO-VISALIA, CA @ BIG GAME STUDIOS 03/03/05 BAKERSFIELD, CA @ JERRY'S PIZZA 03/04/05 POMONA, CA @ GLASSHOUSE (additional dates to follow) ZAKK WYLDE AND 357 CUSTOM CHOPPERS JOIN FORCES 357 CUSTOM CHOPPERS RELEASES A SERIES OF 9 CUSTOM BLS CHOPPERS WITH MATCHING DIE-CAST REPLICAS HOLLYWOOD (December 8, 2004) – Zakk Wylde and 357 Custom Choppers are joining forces to build a series of 9 custom choppers signed personally by Zakk himself with matching die-cast replicas. The Nine Custom Choppers are designed to reflect the styles of Mr. Wylde's famous guitar schemes. The Metal Chopper is #1 in the Zakk Wylde Chopper Series. This is Zakk's personal ride. An undetermined number of this chopper design will be die cast and made available to the public. The second Chopper is fashioned after Zakk’s new Camo Gibson Les Paul, and is a numbered limited edition and is due out just in time for Christmas. The Bullseye Chopper, created after The Grail, Zakks famous bullseye guitar is #3 in the Zakk Wylde Chopper Series. Only 300 of each chopper design will be die cast and made available to the public. The Bullseye Chopper is a Special Collector's Edition and currently 125 of this die-cast are left. #4 of this series is Zakk’s black & orange Saw Blade Chopper. An undetermined number of this chopper design will be die cast and made available to the public. The last 5 choppers are works in progress as The King of Shred is working hard on the designs of each and every one of the upcoming choppers and die-casts. Also available is Zakk Wylde gear associated with these choppers to complete your collection. Collect Them All! Each Die Cast measures approximately: 2 1⁄2 inches in height by 7 3⁄4 inches in length. Order yours online at http://357customs.com/zakk.php. Pre-orders are available. Orders take approx 4 months to fill. Please note the die casts are not signed by Zakk Wylde.