*GIRLSCHOOOL celebrates their 30th anniversary this year. The band have announced a new album, to be released in September 2009 through Wacken Records/SPV worldwide. The album will feature some very special guests, including Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH), Ronnie James Dio (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, DIO), Lemmy and Phil Campbell from MOTÖRHEAD, 'Fast' Eddie Clarke (FASTWAY, ex-MOTÖRHEAD) and a couple of members of TWISTED SISTER.
*NASHVILLE PUSSY recently hung out with country music outlaw Willie Nelson while recording the band's new album at Willie's Pedernales Studios in Austin, Texas. Read all about it on the group's MySpace blog.
*Danie Powers of POWERS COURT has completed "The Red Mist Of Endenmore" companion book. The book is a professionally printed and bound paperback, that features the original story behind the concept of their latest CD "The Red Mist of Endenmore". The book and more info is now available through their My Space page
*MORNING is very pleased to announce the release of their second full-length album "Moments of Truth". For the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, MORNING signed a deal with Snakebite Records, who will release the album on Sept. 3rd. While Renaissance Records will release the album on Sept. 16th in North- and South-America.
*Guitarist Bjørnar Landa has decided to part ways with SIRENIA in order to have more time for his family and studies. SIRENIA's new guitarplayer is Michael S. Krumins, who previously played in TRAIL OF TEARS and GREEN CARNATION. The band recently recruited 25-year-old Spanish singer Ailyn as the replacement for Monika Pedersen, who left the group last fall.
*Croatia-based power/thrash metallers RISING DREAM have tapped former VISIONS OF ATLANTIS singer Melissa Ferlaak to lay down guest vocals on the song "Dreams Come True", to be included on their forthcoming album, "Failed Apocalypse", due on July 1 via Dallas Records.
*Brazilian female-fronted metal outfit SHADOWSIDE has posted two new tracks on its MySpace page. The songs "Nation Hollow Mind" and "In the Night" will both be included on the group's forthcoming album, "Dare to Dream", due before the end of the year. The album was produced and mixed by Dave Schiffman (SYSTEM OF A DOWN, AUDIOSLAVE, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) and will be mastered by Howie Weinberg (AEROSMITH, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, PANTERA) at Masterdisk Studio in New York.
*THE MARTINI TWINS, the self-proclaimed "hot twin sisters that put the 'mmm' back in metal, are currently hard at work in the studio, both re-mastering their demo and recording 20 new songs. The Los Angeles-based identical twin sisters Jazindra and Genieva Martini, who list IRON MAIDEN, MEGADETH, STRATOVARIUS and NIGHTWISH as just a few of their influences, were born on October 30, 1981 in the sleepy mining town of Bisbee, Arizona (the haunted little town was featured in Stephen King's 2006 movie "Desperation"). They have received more than 20,000 views for their YouTube cover of CHILDREN OF BODOM's "Bodom After Midnight", which was posted in December 2007, and they have since added their takes on TARJA's "Die Alive" and CRADLE OF FILTH's "Nymphetamine".
*SKEW SISKIN have parted ways with Randy Black (PRIMAL FEAR and DUSK MACHINE drummer) due to scheduling conflicts. His replacement is already found in Sansi Janiba.
*More drummer news: VAINGLORY has parted ways with recently acquired drummer Mike Oliviero. Interested parties can contact VAINGLORY via the band's MySpace page for information on how to submit a resume and demo package. VAINGLORY recently inked a deal with Locomotive Records.
*BATTLELORE recently entered Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland, with producer Janne Saksa to begin recording its fifth album, tentatively titled "The Last Alliance". The band is recording nine-ten songs for the forthcoming CD, which will be mixed and mastered by the Swedish multi-instrumentalist and producer Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, ex-BLOODBATH).
*SIEBENBÜRGEN have finalized the track listing of their new album "Revelation VI", due on May 30 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Studio 301 in Stockholm and Sonic Train in Varberg and is the group's first to feature guitarist Joakim Ohlsson and new vocalist Lisa Bohwalli Simonsson.
*On May 18, Michelle Meldrum, leader of MELDRUM and former PHANTOM BLUE guitarist, was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California in critical condition. Three days later, on May 21, she passed away as a result of a cystic growth on her brain that had restricted oxygen and blood flow to her brain, rendering her braindead. Michelle had just completed writing and recording MELDRUM's soon-to-be-released third album with drummer Gene Hoglan, along with the group's latest additions, Michele Madden (vocals) and Laura Christine (bass). The surviving bandmembers plan to release the CD later this year in tribute to their fallen bandmate. Rest in Peace, Michelle!!!
*CRUCIFIED BARBARA will enter the studio in May to begin recording its second album, tentatively due before the end of the year. More information will be made available soon.
*Vocalist Ann Boleyn (HELLION) and guitarist Michael Carlino (FEAR OF GOD) have joined forces with original DÉTENTE members Dennis Butler (drums), Caleb Quinn (guitar) and Steve Hochheiser (bass) to perform as DÉTENTE at this year's installment of the Headbangers Open Air festival, set to take place July 24-26, 2008 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany. The band will also play select dates in the US, including a one-off show at The Black Castle in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 19.
*TRISTANIA recently announced the addition of Italian singer Mariangela "Mary" Demurtas to the group's ranks.
*IN THIS MOMENT has made its cover version of SLAYER's "Postmortem" available for free download on the group's MySpace page. The track was recorded in 2006 for a tribute album, that unfortunately never happened.
*NEMHAIN has completed work on its debut album at Studio Fredman in Sweden. They recorded 13 songs in three weeks and the tracklisting will be revealed soon.
*EMPTY DREAMS, the Transylvanian female-fronted melodic metal band, has made its "Winterfall's Symphony" EP available for free download via the group's official web site. The EP is available as a promo CD and digipack version, both of them containing the following songs: 01. End Of My Dreams (orchestral version); 02. Lost Souls Of Love (orchestral version; prev. unreleased) and a bonus track (IRON MAIDEN orchestral cover version). The digipack version will contain hidden bonus tracks.
*EPICA will take part in a special concert dubbed 'Classical Conspiracy' on June 14 at the Miskolc International Opera Festival in Hungary. They will perform classical pieces from Mozart, Dvorak, Verdi, Orff, Prokofiev, Grieg, Vivaldi in EPICA's style and of course symphonic versions of EPICA songs. Some EPICA songs will be rewritten — to make it more bombastic — only for this event.
*WITCHBREED (from Portugal) will start recording their debut album in May and June. The album will be mixed and mastered in Germany by Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, THE GATHERING, SAMAEL, TIAMAT, MOONSPELL)in July and is expected for a release this autumn by Ascendance Records.
*TACERE and singer Helena Haaparanta have gone their separate ways. Because of this, TACERE is now looking for a new female singer to fill the position left open by Helena. The application process is open for anyone and more information about how to apply for the position can be received by sending e-mail to: taceresinger@gmail.com. The band has also announced that despite of the vocalist situation, the recordings of their new (2nd) album will start at the end of May at the Astia-Studio, Lappeenranta, Finland. The album will be produced by the band's frontman Karri Knuuttila together with producer guru Anssi Kippo, who is known for his groundbreaking work with bands such as CHILDREN OF BODOM.
*LUNATICA has inked a deal with Napalm Records. The group is currently recording its fourth album for a winter release. Michael Levine has provided his expertise on one track. In addition, Jimi Jamison (former SURVIVOR vocalist) and John Payne (ex-ASIA) will guest on two songs.
*HYDROGYN has completed work on its new album, entitled "Deadly Passions". Among the tracks set to appear on the CD are "Deadly Passion", "Rejection", "I Know", the power ballad "Shadow", and a cover of ALANIS MORISSETTE's mega-smash "You Oughta Know".
*CRYSTAL VIPER have set "Metal Nation" as the title of their new album, due late 2008 through Karthago Records (CD version) and High Roller Records (limited vinyl version). Songtitles set to appear on the LP include "Metal Nation", "1428", "Die By The Blade", "Zombie Lust", "The Anvil Of Hate", "Crimson Tears", "Bringer Of Light" and a cover version of the AGENT STEEL classic "Agents Of Steel". The cover artwork was designed by Chris Moyen, who has previously worked with such bands as BLASPHEMY, BEHERIT and DESASTER.
*LITA FORD has signed a deal with Coallier Entertainment, the New York-based company, whose list of clients include such artists as TWISTED SISTER and SEBASTIAN BACH. Lita will also be making her comeback at the Rocklahoma festival, held on July 11, 2008 at the Catch The Fever Festival Grounds, four miles north of Pryor, Oklahoma, USA.
*Bassist Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, FATES WARNING, ANTHRAX) has joined the backing band of 22-year-old Estonian female singer Marya Roxx (a.k.a. Maarja). The group, which is rounded out by guitarist Paul Crook (MEAT LOAF, ex-ANTHRAX, SEBASTIAN BACH) and drummer John Miceli, is currently rehearsing in Las Vegas, Nevada while performing every Wednesday and Thursday night at Divebar in preparation for the band's slot at Musexpo 2008.
*The German branch of Nuclear Blast Records has set an April 11 release date for the "Beautiful Voices Vol. 3" DVD+CD combo featuring female-fronted rock and metal bands. It is the follow-up to the successful first and second parts in the series.
*DESENSITISED will continue under the name MURDER SYNDICATE.
*VAINGLORY has inked a deal with Locomotive Records. The group is hard at work recording the follow-up to 2007's self-titled "Vainglory" CD for a July 2008 release. The new album is tetatively titled "Manifesting Destiny" and will contain eleven tracks. According to a press release: "The sound of this CD will be a bit different than the previous in that the songs are heavier, tougher, the choruses bigger and feature the best performances from all the bandmembers".
*KITTIE has announced the departure of bassist Trish Doan. Doan has been diagnosed with the eating disorder anorexia-athletica-nervosa, which she developed during the recording of KITTIE's "Funeral For Yesterday", Doan's first release with the group. Doan has been battling the disease for nearly two years.
*UNSHINE will release its second album, entitled "The Enigma of Immortals" in Finland on April 2 via Low Frequency Records. Release dates for other territories will be announced soon.
*Montreal's classical/black metal act UNEXPECT and Brazilian female-fronted power metallers SHADOWSIDE have been confirmed as the headliners of this year's Flight Of The Valkyries festival, set to take place June 28 at Station 4 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Also scheduled to appear are BENEDICTUM, DENDURA, SOMETHING TO FEAR and ARIA SHARP. Tickets for the Flight of the Valkyries festival will go on sale on Saturday, February 16 at 10:00 a.m. Ticket prices are $15 in advance or $20 on the day of show. Doors will open at 3:00 pm. The show is 18+. Flight Of The Valkyries is the only music festival of its kind in the US devoted to metal bands with female lead vocalists. The festival showcases all metal sub-genres with the only unifying factor being that a female vocalist obviously must front the band.
*Nienke de Jong has recently left AUTUMN and her replacement will be singer Marjan Welman. Marjan is considered to be a promising talent with her warm voice and perfect timing. Her recent vocal contribution on the AYREON album "01011001" received outstanding reviews.
*Former Canadian Metal Queen LEE AARON has lined up several dates where she will be performing some of her early hard rock-oriented material along with "rocked up" versions of some of her newer songs (after singing jazz for the past several years).
*EDENBRIDGE has unveiled the cover art for its sixth studio album "MyEarthDream" due out in April via Napalm Records. The art was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, among other artists. The mixing sessions for the CD were completed at Thin Ice Studios in England with Karl Groom (THRESHOLD). The mastering is currently taking place at the Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland with Mika Jussila.
*WALLS OF JERICHO's new EP, tentatitlvey titled "Redemption", will be released in the spring via Trustkill Records. Produced by Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR) at his Iowa home studio, the CD will feature acoustic instruments, fleshed out arrangements and Taylor's voice on several songs.
*Dutch thrashers IZEGRIM have inked a deal with Rusty Cage Records. The group's new album "Tribute To Totalitarianism" will be released as a digipack on February 29. All recordings are mixed and mastered by Jochem Jacobs (of Split Second Sound), who has worked for bands such as TEXTURES, AUTUMN, THE LUCIFER PRINCIPLE and many others. IZEGRIM, along with labelmates NON-DIVINE, will support FLOTSAM AND JETSAM on their Europen tour, where they also play the Metalmania Festival in Poland.
*Drummer Hans Rutten of THE GATHERING has issued the following update: "Century Media is about to release "Sand and Mercury", a 10-CD box with all Century Media releases gathered in a nice box for a fair price (around 30/35 Euros). The box set is limited to 3,000 copies.
*The legendary Los Angeles-based, all-female rock/punk band BETTY BLOWTORCH is the subject of an upcoming tribute album that will benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Created in memory of late BETTY BLOWTORCH frontwoman Bianca 'Butthole' Halstead, the collection will feature bands from around the globe celebrating Bianca's life and music for a worthy cause. Scheduled for a late spring 2008 release, the "Betty Blowtorch Tribute Album" has received the full blessing and support of surviving BETTY BLOWTORCH members Blare N. Bitch, Sharon Needles and Judy Molish. In fact, Blare has officially signed on to perform on the album with her current band SUCKERSTAR. The "Betty Blowtorch Tribute Album" is a joint effort between musician/author Joel Gausten and Milwaukee musician Sarah Mundane.
*Long time bassist Elena Luciano has left IMAGIKA after six years due to personal issues. Her replacement is SF Bay Area Metal veteran Jim Pegram. Also Cory Krick comes in as second guitarist.
*Founding member Beverley Barrington has rejoined IGNITOR in their search for a new guitarist.
*Following doctor's advice, AFTER FOREVER has decided to take a break of at least a year, because of the health issues of guitarist Sander Gommans. The band is hoping, that everybody will respect their decision and assures their fans that they all will be active in the music scene to focus on projects. You can check their official website and myspace sites for updates about those projects.
*HOLY MOSES has set "Bloodbound" as the title of its new album, tentatively due in the spring. According to a press release, fans can expect another blast of old-school thrash with modern elements and the classic HOLY MOSES style!
*BATTLELORE will enter Sound Supreme studios in Finland on March 31 with producer Janne Saksa to begin recording their new album for an August/September 2008 release via Napalm Records. Mixing duties will be handled by Dan Swanö.
*ARCH ENEMY were honored with the P3 Guld award for their criticially acclaimed "Rise Of The Tyrant" release from Swedish radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album of the Year" category. The awards show was broadcasted live on national radio on Friday, January 18, 2008.
*ANNATAR have announced Liesbeth Cordi as their new lead vocalist. Liesbeth was already helping the band out as a temporary replacement for Madicken de Vries, who left the band earlier. In the next couple of months, ANNATAR will concentrate on writing and recording a lot of new material and new gigs are being booked and planned, as we speak.
*WITHIN TEMPTATION will play their first-ever show in Russia on February 17, 2008 at the Shadow Club in Moscow. Their show at the Beursgebouw in Eindhoven, Holland on Nov. 24, 2007 was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due next summer. The sold-out show at the 8,000-capacity venue included lots of special effects, an acoustic section, Broadway-style musical elements and guest appearances by Anneke van Giersbergen (AQUA DE ANNIQUE, ex-THE GATHERING) and George Oosthoek (ex-ORPHANAGE).
*EPICA has been confirmed as the support act for SYMPHONY X on their upcoming North American tour in April/May 2008.
*Los Angeles-based symphonic metal band DREMORA has decided, that they will continue on with a new female soprano voice local to Los Angeles, while singer Juliana Novo will pursue her own passions and music career in Brazil.
*Australian outfit BABY ANIMALS has gotten back together for the first time in thirteen years. They have recorded an unplugged album of their greatest hits, that they are calling “Il Grande Silenzio” for Liberation Records. BABY ANIMALS is also re-releasing their first two albums, including their self-titled debut from 1991, which remained at number 1 on the Australia charts for six weeks and sold a total of 560,000 units.
*Fires at Midnight Films has officially announced the start of preproduction on the supernatural thriller “House Of Eternity”. The story revolves around the mysterious disappearance of Danielle Sykes and the desperate search that ensues amid the deep North Carolina woods. The movie sees QUEENSRYCHE frontman Geoff Tate making his long-awaited acting debut as Alder Grayson, the film's antagonist, husband to Emily Grayson, portrayed by Candice Night (BLACKMORE'S NIGHT). The movie will also feature new music by Candice Night and BLACKMORE'S NIGHT.
*AYREON - the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen has released its new rock opera, entitled "01011001", in three different editions: a regular two-CD edition with a 28 page booklet; a special edition: a box containing the regular 2CD edition and a bonus DVD; and a deluxe limited edition, a DVD size fold-out case with embossed silver lettering on the slipcase. This edition contains the 2 CDs and a bonus DVD plus a 36 page booklet with additional artwork.
*Capital Chaos has posted video footage of the reunited '80s Sacramento, California thrash band SENTINEL BEAST performing on November 10, 2007 at The Kennel Club in Sacramento, California. Watch the clip below. SENTINEL BEAST is currently working on its second album, tentatively due next year. SENTINEL BEAST has returned with the belting vocals of Debbie Gunn, Kenny Eckhart and Dana Lindstrom on guitars, Nic Atomica X on bass, and the fresh drum attacks of Scott Fuller.
*For their new video, OTEP created a spiritual, but nightmarish vision for their cover of NIRVANA's "Breed" from their new album, "The_Ascension", which came out October 30. The band shot the clip earlier this year with director Paul Brown, who helped OTEP craft a surreal commentary about materialism, the media and perceptions of happiness.
*IGNITOR singer Erika and lead guitarist Annah Moore have recently quit the band. Currently, IGNITOR is auditioning singers and rhythm guitarists, male or female, to reinforce the band on a tour in the Northeast US and Europe in 2008 to support "Road of Bones".
*TO-MERA have announced the release of their new album "Delusions" on February 18, 2008. A song from the album, entitled "The Lie", has been posted on the group's MySpace page.
*NEMHAIN, the British band featuring ex-CRADLE OF FILTH/AT THE GATES drummer Adrian Erlandsson and his wife, fetish model Morrigan Hel (a.k.a. Amber England) has issued the following update: "Stevie Lee [guitar] has decided to leave NEMHAIN, so we are looking for a suitable replacement. "We are looking for someone serious that can rehearse at least 1-2 times a week in London, UK; has their own pro equipment and is dedicated; must be able to do leads and rhythm guitar. "We have a lot of good things ahead of us next year. U.S. showcase gigs in January with labels attending. Album recording in March at Studio Fredman, Gothenburg Sweden, with touring to follow. "So if you think that you have the chops for the gig please get in touch with us! Email: band@nemhain.com."
*BENEDICTUM will release their sophomore album, "Seasons of Tragedy", in Europe on January 11, 2008 via Locomotive Records. The CD will contain ten original songs plus a cover version of the ACCEPT classic "Balls To The Wall". The digipack edition will also include a cover of RAINBOW's "Catch The Rainbow". Guest musicians on the CD include George Lynch (ex-DOKKEN), Manni Schmidt (ex-RAGE, GRAVE DIGGER), Jeff Pilson (ex-DOKKEN, FOREIGNER) and Craig Goldy (DIO).
*WYKKED WYTCH will release its fourth album, "Memories Of A Dying Whore", through the group's own label Perish Music. The CD will be available for online purchase the first week of December and will expand to retail outlets worldwide in January. The album has been remixed by Eric Rachel (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ATREYU, GOD FORBID) at Trax East Studios and is currently being mastered by Alan Douches (UNEARTH, MASTODON, SHADOWS FALL) at West West Side Music in NY.
*The End Records has set a February 19, 2008 release date for VIRGIN BLACK's "Requiem – Fortissimo", the much-anticipated follow-up to 2007's "Requiem - Mezzo Forte". On its latest album — the second instalment of a trilogy — VIRGIN BLACK exhumes the death/doom vibe of early PARADISE LOST and MY DYING BRIDE albums. This is by far the band's rawest and heaviest work to date. The album's cover art was created by esteemed fashion photographer Andrew Dunbar, whose work will be seen throughout the series.
*MELDRUM has scheduled a headlining show at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on January 17, 2008. The group will also appear at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), which is being held January 17-20 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
*Reunited all-female hard rock band JADED has just returned from a trip to Bloomington, Indiana, where it recorded new tracks for its upcoming sophomore release with legendary producer Gary Katz, best known for his works with multi-platinum recording artist and classic rock icons STEELY DAN. Katz has also worked with multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated recording artist JOE COCKER. JADED will make its live debut with new singer Marina Storm on December 7 at Bill's Bar in Boston, Massachusetts. This show - which is the highly anticipated showcase for a major manager in the music industry – will also be filmed for a live DVD. The first 20 pre-sold ticket holders will receive the new three-song EP which will only be available at this show and to those 20 people.
*US metal band RUSTY EYE has posted their video for "Mr. Cannibal" on YouTube. The clip was professionally filmed in the city of Glendale, CA on 16 mm and was directed, co-produced, and financed by noted cinematographer Alejandro Ordoñez. Their female drummer/singer Miss Randall was a finalist at NAMM 2007 World's Fastest Drummer competition reaching, within the feet category, 728 hits in one minute."
*MIDNATTSOL, the German-Norwegian band featuring vocalist Carmen Elise Espenaes (the younger sister of LEAVES' EYES singer Liv Kristine), has completed the guitar tracks for its second album, entitled "Nordlys", for a March 2008 release via Napalm Records. "Nordlys" will be mixed by Tue Madsen while the mastering will be handled by Mika Jusilla at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.
*EPICA has posted the following bulletin on its official MySpace account: "We are very happy and proud to announce that after having worked with us as a session musician for about a year now, Ariën van Weesenbeek [drums; also of GOD DETHRONED] has decided to join EPICA as a full time member! We also want to thank Koen Herfst for helping us out with all the live shows he did in the last couple of months and we want to wish him all the best with BAGGA BROWNZ."
*NIGHTWISH will release a platinum edition of its latest album, "Dark Passion Play", which will include all thirteen songs from the original version plus five bonus tracks: "Erämaan Viimeinen" (new track); "The Escapist" (new track); "Meadows Of Heaven" (orchestral version); "The Poet And The Pendulum" (demo) and "Bye, Bye Beautiful" (DJ Orkidea remix).
*LORDI have postponed their previously announced hometown gig on December 14 at Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi due to ongoing post-production work on the band's upcoming feature film "Dark Floors". Tickets already purchased for the December concert will be valid for the new show. Tickets will also be refundable at the point of purchase. In other news, Sony BMG Finland will release LORDI's new single, "Beast Loose in Paradise", on December 19. The single's title cut - which is one of two new songs the band recently recorded -is set to appear in the forthcoming movie.
*VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have officially launched a search for a new female singer, after Melissa Ferlaak and her boyfriend, guitarist Wolfgang 'Wops' Koch left the band, due to musical differences. If you feel like having the talent, commitment and dedication for joining VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, please send a demo of your vocal abilities and 2-3 pictures to this e-mail address: thomas@listenup-management.com. Koch has since been replaced by the returning guitarist Werner Fiedler, who was responsible for much of the songwriting on the group's first two records.
*VAINGLORY recently parted ways with guitarist John Michael Youngblood. An as-yet-undisclosed replacement has already been found. VAINGLORY has commenced the songwriting process for its new album, due sometime in 2008.
*TARJA TURUNEN (formerly NIGHTWISH) performed her new single, "I Walk Alone", last night (Friday, November 30) at the farewell fight of the German female boxing champion (and DORO's close friend), Regina Halmich. The event took place at the DM Arena in Karlsruhe, Germany."My Winter Storm" will be released in North America on February 26, 2008. The CD was produced by Daniel Presley (FAITH NO MORE, JEWEL, THE BREEDERS), who has been joined in the studio by a truly stellar line-up of musicians.
*TRISTANIA will team up with SAMAEL, OVERKILL and ENSLAVED for three shows in Russia and the Ukraine. TRISTANIA recently announced the addition of Italian singer Mariangela "Mary' Demurtas to the group's ranks.
*Vocalist Ann Boleyn (HELLION) and guitarist Juan Garcia (AGENT STEEL) have joined forces with original DÉTENTE members Dennis Butler (drums), Caleb Quinn (guitar) and Steve Hochheiser (bass) to perform as DÉTENTE at next year's installment of the Headbangers Open Air festival, set to take place July 24-26, 2008 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany. The band will also play select dates in the U.S, to be announced soon. DÉTENTE's classic album "Recognize No Authority" was reissued in July via MVD Audio. "Recognize No Authority" was a critically acclaimed recording that maintains a cult following to this day. It was also the launching ground for nu-metal metal producer Ross Robinson (KORN, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, SOULFLY) who plays guitar on the album. The CD also marked the first full-length release by FEAR OF GOD's Dawn Crosby, who sadly passed away on December 15, 1996.
*AFTER FOREVER will release a new single "Equally Destructive" on September 21. The limited-edition DVD single will contain the following videos: "Equally Destructive", "Discord" and exclusive bonus material from Lowlands 2007.
*Dutch rock diva ANOUK will release a new album, entitled “Who’s Your Momma” on November 23, containing eleven brand new tracks. Prior to the album, a new single with the title “Good God” is due out at the end of October. The album was recorded in Los Angeles under the guidance of producer Glen Ballard, who co-wrote one song with ANOUK for the album. Furthermore ANOUK wrote songs for the album with her husband POSTMAN frontman Ramon Stotijn (a.k.a. The Anonymmous Mis), next to her writing partner Bart van Veen.
*Former VIXEN bassist Maxine Petrucci (sister of ex-VIXEN drummer Roxy Petrucci) has posted a new song on her MySpace page, called "My QT". The track is taken from her forthcoming album "Don't Hate Me". Also available at the same location is a video of a show called "Have Sword Will Travel", which features a couple of Maxine's new songs. Maxine has put a band together and hopes to start playing live shows as soon as possible.
*RUNEMAGICK has just released its new album "Dawn of the End" via Norway's Aftermath Music. The CD was recorded and mixed during 2006 at Los Angered Recording and Magick Sound Studio. It is available in 999 hand-numbered digipack CDs from http://www.aftermath-music.com.
*Japanese all-girl trio GALLHAMMER will release its new album, "Ill Innocence" on September 24 via Peaceville Records. Following the introduction in early 2007 to this extra-special band with the release of "The Dawn of..." (a CD/DVD of demo/rehearsal material with a ton of live footage), the much-anticipated Peaceville debut was recorded and mixed by Makota Fujishima of Weird Truth Productions in Japan during late 2006/early 2007 and was mastered in Oslo by Nocturno Culto of black metal legends DARKTHRONE.A GALLHAMMER mini-site containing downloads, album info, new tracks, and CD/t-shirt bundles can be found at: http://www.peaceville.com/gallhammer/illinnocence/
*NEGATIVA, the Quebec-based band featuring former GORGUTS members Steeve Hurdle (guitar, vocals) and Luc Lemay (guitar,vocals), along with Etienne Gallo (drums, AUGURY) and Miguel Valade (bass, ex-ION DISSONANCE), is currently seeking a female vocalist with a clean singing voice. Interested parties can contact the group at negativaband@hotmail.com. Any level of experience will be considered. NEGATIVA recently returned to Wild Studio with producers Pierre Remillard and Jean-Yves Theriault (a.k.a. Blacky, former bassist of VOIVOD) to record three new songs.
*Koch Records has announced a new revenue-sharing, multi-album, worldwide partnership with the Los Angeles-based band OTEP. The first release under this new agreement is the band's much-delayed new full-length album, "The Ascension", due on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.
*THE GATHERING will issue the "A Noise Severe" 2-DVD and 2-CD sets on October 31. Both releases contain recordings of the group's March 24, 2007 performance at the 4,000-capacity theatre Teatro Caupolicán in Santiago, Chile.
*AYREON, the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen, has posted an audio sample of the next guest singer, who will appear on the the band's upcoming album, tentatively due late 2007/early 2008: former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen, who now fronts her newly formed band AGUA DE ANNIQUE. Other vocalists scheduled to appear on the CD include Jonas P. Renske (KATATONIA), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Magali Luyten (VIRUS IV), Simone Simons (EPICA) and Liselotte Hegt (DIAL). A total of fifteen singers have been confirmed to guest on the album, with more to be added.
*DORO, SAXON, W.A.S.P., U.D.O., PRIMAL FEAR and HIGH 'N DRY have been confirmed for the Heavy Christmas Meeting 2007 festival, set to take place December 15, 2007 at Philipshalle in Düsseldorf, Germany.
*GIRLSCHOOL have been forced to cancel their previously announced German and U.S. dates, due to problems encountered while trying to obtain the necessary work permits to play the U.S. shows. The band would like to apologize to all their German and American fans and the concert promoters. On August 20, GIRLSCHOOL played a special one-off tribute show to the group's late guitarist Kelly Johnson at the Rock And Roll Kabaret held at the Soho Revue Bar in London. GIRLSCHOOL was joined on stage during their seven-song set by former members Cris Bonacci and Tracy Lamb (who played the whole set in place of the absent Enid Wiliams) and VICE SQUAD frontwoman Beki Bondage.
*Former GUANO APES frontwoman Sandra Nasic will release her solo debut "The Signal" on September 28 via G.U.N./Supersonic Records.
*After landing on the heavy metal import chart in Japan with its debut album "Beautiful Darkness", the dual-fronted (male and female) Finnish melodic metal group TACERE has finally signed a deal to get the CD officially released in Japan and Asia. "Beautiful Darkness" will be released in Japan on October 24, 2007 through Marquee/Avalon, and it will include two exclusive bonus tracks.
*EYES OF EDEN, the new band featuring Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., DESPAIR), will release its debut album "Faith" somewhere in August/September through Century Media. "Faith" is described as an exciting orchestral masterpiece of gothic rock/metal and features (young) singer Franziska Huth on vocals.
*Universal Music has set a November 9 German release date for the debut solo album from former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, entitled "My Winter Storm". A single "I Walk Alone" will precede the album in mid-October. The CD will feature a guest appearance by ANGRA guitarist Kiko Loureiro.
*MY RUIN has set "Throat Full of Heart" as the title of its upcoming album, due this fall via an as-yet-undisclosed label. Co-produced by MY RUIN guitarist Mick Murphy and producer/engineer Duane Burda, "Throat Full of Heart" was recorded at The Hobby Shop in Highland Park, California, which was built and is owned by producers Mudrock and Scott Gilman.
*Florida-based GENITORTURERS, featuring MORBID ANGEL frontman David "Evil D" Vincent on bass, has posted a live recording of its song "Public Enemy" on the group's MySpace page. The track was recorded live in St. Peterburg, FL at the State Theater and will be featured on the GENITORTURERS' upcoming DVD, entitled "Live in Sin", to be released this fall by MVD Visual.
*German metal queen DORO is planning a new U.S. tour that will take place in the spring of 2008. More information will be made available soon.
*PAT BENATAR says, that she's planning an acoustic album featuring stripped down versions of her biggest hits. Benatar says that she and her husband, guitarist Neil Giraldo, decided to hold off on recording an all-new studio set after her current tour wraps up: "We're not going to be putting out a record with new material. We're actually going to be putting out probably acoustic versions of a lot of the past hits and obscure songs that we've done. Just because we do a fairly large acoustic set in the show, and people really love that so we thought we'd do an acoustic record instead. We're going to start recording in September and I doubt that it'll be out for Christmas. It'll probably be out for spring." Among the songs BENATAR says will be included in the collection will be unplugged takes of "Love Is A Battlefield," "Promises In The Dark" and "Hell Is For Children," among others.
*Ann Wilson of HEART will release her first-ever solo effort "Hope & Glory" on September 11th on Zoë/Rounder Records. Produced by Ben Mink (K.D. LANG, FEIST), Hope & Glory features guest appearances from iconic artists ELTON JOHN, GRETCHEN WILSON, ALISON KRAUSS, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, Ann’s sister Nancy Wilson and others on unique renditions of songs made famous by LED ZEPPELIN, BOB DYLAN, JOHN LENNIN, NEIL YOUNG and more. "Immigrant Song" will probably be the first single taken from her solo album.
*On October 20, MADDER MORTEM will team up with RED HARVEST at John Dee (Pandemonium Metal Club) in Oslo, Norway for a celebration of the venue's ten-year anniversary.
*Liechtenstein-based romantic gothic metal band WELTENBRAND will utilize no less than three singers on its next album, which is tentatively due in early 2008 via Napalm Records.
*LACUNA COIL’s frontwoman Cristina Scabbia appears as a guest on APOCALYPTICA's new song "SOS", which is taken from the group's new album, "Worlds Collide", due in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on September 14 via G.U.N. Records.
*Kelly Johnson, original member of GIRLSCHOOL, passed away on Sunday the 15th of July after fighting a six-year battle with cancer of the spine. Words can not express our feelings, but Kelly will live on in our memory forever! R.I.P. dear Kelly and thank you for your music!!!
*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, has been confirmed as one of the guests on "The Scarecrow", the third installment of EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA solo project. The album is being produced by Sascha Paeth, who also played the rhythm guitar on the CD. The drums were laid down by KISS/ALICE COOPER drummer Eric Singer and the bass is being handled by Tobias himself. Also scheduled to appear is former MASTERPLAN/ARK frontman Jorn Lande.
*Anneke van Giersbergen, singer for world-renowned Dutch rock act THE GATHERING, has decided to leave the band and pursue new goals in life and music. She has formed a band, called AGUA DE ANNIQUE and will release an album called "Air" in the fall of 2007. The last gig of THE GATHERING with Anneke will be the Ankkarock Festival in Finland on August 4th. The new GATHERING DVD, "A Noise Severe", as well as the double live CD will still be released this summer. After that, THE GATHERING (without Anneke) will be working on new material with male and female vocalists. Expect a CD release somewhere in 2008.
*Reunited '80s Sacramento, California thrash band SENTINEL BEAST is currently working on its second album, due out before the end of the year. In the meantime, the group has scheduled several Sacramento dates, including July 20 at the Kennel Club, August 11-12 at The Roadhouse, and August 19 at The Kennel Club with VICIOUS RUMORS. SENTINEL BEAST has been confirmed for the Keep It True X festival, dubbed "Reign Of The Tyrant", set to take place April 4-5, 2008 at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany. The band will also appear at the Up The Hammers festival in Athens, Greece. A European tour with OMEN is said to be in the works.
*LUNARMILE, the British band featuring frontwoman Toni-Marie Iommi (daughter of BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi) and bassist Alex Hill (son of JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill), has announced plans to work with producer Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH, THIN LIZZY) on new material this summer. LUNARMILE's latest EP features the three tracks "4 AM", "Get Over Yourself" and "I Know", all of which are also available via iTunes. In addition, the CD format includes a bonus acoustic version of the track "Stay".
*CAPRICORN, the band featuring Phil Caivano (guitars/vocals; ex-MONSTER MAGNET), Philthy "Animal" Taylor (drums; ex-MOTÖRHEAD), Corey Parks (bass; DIE HUNNS, ex-NASHVILLE PUSSY) and Todd Youth (guitar; THE CHELSEA SMILES, ex-DANZIG), has begun writing and rehearsing in Los Angeles in preparation for the recording of its debut album in August and tour dates to follow in fall. CAPRICORN is being managed by former Metal Edge editor Paul Gargano.
*NIGHTWISH's new album, "Dark Passion Play" is scheduled for release on September 28 via Nuclear Blast Records (most of Europe), September 26 via Spinefarm Records/Universal (Finland) and October 2 via Roadrunner Records (USA). The "Amaranth" single will precede the album on August 24 (Nuclear Blast) and August 22 (Spinefarm/Universal). It will be available in several different versions, the details of which will be announced later.
*Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band AFTER FOREVER will embark on a U.K. tour in September, to be continued by a North American tour in October. AFTER FOREVER's June 15, 2007 concert at Bibelot in Dordrecht, Holland was scheduled to be filmed for the "Discord" promotional video, to be used primarily for the American market, as well as for an upcoming DVD/video release. No further details are currently available.
*EDENBRIDGE announce Robert Schoenleitner and Sebastian Lanser as their two new members. Robert Schoenleitner already played guitar on EDENBRIDGE's last tour through England and Asia, while Sebastian Lanser will replace Roland Navratil on drums. EDENBRIDGE therefore is officially a five-piece again after more than five years.
*Texas-based heavy metallers IGNITOR have inked a deal with Italy's Cruz Del Sur to license and distribute the group's upcoming full-length album, "Road Of Bones". "Road of Bones" features artwork by famous artist Joe Petagno (MOTÖRHEAD) and will be released on September 11, 2007. IGNITOR is currently playing dates throughout Texas in support of the new album.
*ZNOWHITE - one of the fastest speed metal bands of the '80s - returns with the re-release of their debut album “All Hail To Thee”. The re-release of “All Hail To Thee” contains nineteen songs and features Ian Tafoya on guitars, his brother Sparks on bass and cousin Nicky on drums.
*Locomotive Records has set a September 11, 2007 North American release date for the sophomore album from MELDRUM, the Swedish/American band led by former PHANTOM BLUE guitarist Michelle Meldrum (wife of EUROPE axeman John Norum). Entitled "Blowin' Up the Machine", the CD was issued in Europe last month on Frontiers Records. MOTÖRHEAD mainman Lemmy Kilmister makes a guest appearance on the track "Miss Me When I'm Gone", for which he wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music. In addition, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD/ex-DARK ANGEL drummer Gene Hoglan can be heard on four songs, while Meldrum's former PHANTOM BLUE bandmate Linda McDonald was responsible for laying down the drum tracks on the rest of the CD.
*In addition to GIRLSCHOOL, the Power Box Festival will feature performances by BENEDICTUM, THE IRON MAIDENS, KITTIE, MCQUEEN and VIXEN, among many others. The lineup consists of some of the best known female rock acts from the last three decades. According to the organizers this four-day event will be featuring and developing at least thirty-three different rock bands. There will be beer garden for adults, food vendors and arts and crafts booths for the younger crowds to enjoy. Part of this event's proceeds will be going to Caring Coaches, a non-profit organization for cancer research awareness."
*VIXEN will release its first-ever live album, "Live in Sweden", on October 8 via Castle. The CD was recorded at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2005 and features live recordings of the hit tracks "Love is a Killer" and "Edge of a Broken Heart", among many others. The cover art and photography was done by VIXEN's very own Lynn Louise Lowrey. VIXEN will return to the U.K. for a tour in November and will also make an appearance at the Hard Rock Hell festival.
*OTEP has announced the release of the highly anticipated new album “The_ Ascension” which is slated for unveiling on March 20. Produced by Grammy-winning producer Dave Fortman (EVANESCENCE, MUDVAYNE) and recorded throughout 2006 in New Orleans, the album is the band’s fourth label release, following 2004’s celebrated “House of Secrets”. In addition to writing with longtime comrade and original bass player, eViL j, the band recruited guitarist Karma Cheema and drummer Brian Wolff. The multitalented OTEP teamed with Grammy-nominated Mudvayne guitarist Greg Tribbett in composing “Invisible”, “Crooked Spoons” and the powerful protest anthem “Confrontation”. She also collaborated with Grammy-winning songwriter, Holly Knight, to create the hauntingly beautiful “Perfectly Flawed”.
*Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of DANTE FOX new studio album entitled "Under The Seven Skies" on March 23rd, 2007. Recorded at MadHat Studios in Wolverhampton, UK, DANTE FOX's long awaited third album has all the classic signature hooks running through their veins with tracks like "Hold Out Your Hands" and "Goodbye To Yesterday" being typical examples. The new material has a strong classic hard rock flavour making this album something special when compared to the band’s previous releases - more energy, more power and extreme excitement.
*The English version of NIGHTWISH's official biography, "Once upon a Nightwish - The Official Biography 1996-2006", is tentatively scheduled for release in late February. The book, which was written by veteran music journalist Mape Ollila, is said to be "thorough, dramatic and beautifully illustrated," featuring extensive interviews with bandmembers, co-workers, family members, friends, fans and colleagues. It can be pre-ordered for 24.90 euros. NIGHTWISH is currently working on its new album for a tentative late summer release. The band is expected to announce a new singer and release a brand new single at the end of May.
*SUICIDE CITY, the new group featuring ex-BIOHAZARD guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei and former KITTIE bassist Jennifer Arroyo, entered the studio early January to begin recording its new full-length album, tentatively due this spring. SUICIDE CITY will make its next live appearance this Friday, January 19 at The Silo in Reading, Pennsylvania.
*Mr. Lordi, frontman for Finnish monster hard rock act LORDI, has been keeping busy with the new LORDI-themed restaurant, Lordi's Rocktaurant, which opened December 15, 2006 in Rovaniemi, Finland. "Everything on the menu that is related to LORDI is our own ideas," he explained. "Like everything with this band, we always have our hands on all projects.
*BLOWSIGHT, the Swedish band featuring former DRAIN STH guitarist Flavia Canel on bass, has inked a deal with Sony/BMG for the release of a single/EP, entitled "I'll Be Around". In other news, BLOWSIGHT has signed a contract with Scandinavia's 'leading tour company' 2Entertain.
*AFTER FOREVER has been confirmed for the ProgPower USA VIII festival, set to take place October 5-6, 2007 at Center Stage Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.
*The Los Angeles-based female-fronted metal band ECHOES OF ETERNITY will film a video for the song "Voices in a Dream". The track, which was chosen by the fans via a poll conducted at the band's official MySpace page, comes off the group's forthcoming debut album, "The Forgotten Goddess", due in the U.S. on February 20, 200 via Nuclear Blast Records (February 2, 2007 in Europe). The CD was recorded with the assistance of Los Angeles-based engineer Eric Ryan.
*The American melodic hard rock band HYDROGYN has announced, that they will be moving from Chavis Records over to their new record label DA Records. The move has been made due to the fact, that the band has several new major projects in the works for 2007 in order to streamline the business operations of the group. HYDROGYN has announced the first part of its European tour and more dates are currently being booked. Also coming is the new Julie (vocals) calendar (March 2007). Finally, a HYDROGYN DVD will be released late spring 2007, to be followed by new HYDROGYN CD towards the end of the year.
*ARCH ENEMY is scheduled to enter the studio in March/April to begin recording their new album, entitled "Rise of the Tyrant", tentatively due in spring.
*Berlin, Germany-based deathcore act KARRAS has signed a deal with Maintain Records for the release of the band's debut album. The group, which features three beautiful girls alongside frontman Devrim, mixed and mastered the CD last year with Jacob Bredahl (HATESPHERE) in Copenhagen. The multicultural four-piece (the roots of two of the girls are in Persia and Jordan) will tentatively release the album in April. More information is available at http://www.KarrasMusic.com.
*FABULOUS DISASTER will soon release their new full-length album "Love At First Fight" in three years!
*The Dutch/Swedish alternative rock band DIAL (Kristoffer Gildenlöw, LiLo and Rommert van der Meer) has signed a contract with Prog Rock Records (US). During the summer of 2006, DIAL recorded its debut album `Synchronized´ in Vienna, together with producer/singer Devon Graves (DEADSOUL TRIBE/ex-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) and drummer Dirk Bruinenberg (PATRICK RONDAT/ex-ELEGY/ex-CONSORTIUM). Release date is scheduled in the beginning of May 2007.
*Austrian/American epic metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS has uploaded audio samples of all eleven tracks that are set to appear on the group's upcoming album, "Trinity", due in May via Napalm Records. "Trinity" was recorded at Dreamscape Studios and was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The CD's cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, HYPOCRISY and EXODUS, among others.
*NIGHTWISH will release a new single, entitled "Eva", on May 30. "Eva" will be an internet-only single release, all profits from which shall be donated to a charity that will be announced later. In Finland, the single will be available exclusively from NetAnttila. "Eva" will feature new NIGHTWISH vocalist Anette Olzon (a.k.a. Anette Blyckert), who was chosen from about 2,000 applicants.
*After nearly two years of delays, Reality Check TV is finally putting out its first nationally released DVD compilation, "Real Rock Divas". THE DVD features such well-known acts as KITTIE, LACUNA COIL, THE DONNAS, LITA FORD/SANDY WEST (RUNAWAYS), BIF NAKED, DORO PESCH, L7, HEMI-CUDA, BUBBLE, LUNACHICKS, BETSY BITCH, THE SKIRTS and a rarely seen early peek at STORM LARGE long before "Rock Star: Supernova". "Real Rock Divas" is slated for release this spring. The DVD will be stocked at retail outlets nationally like Target, Best Buy and Wal-Mart, as well as smaller regional chains. To kick off the long-awaited debut, Reality Check TV is throwing a series of parties to celebrate the release of the DVD. The first will take place on May 9, 2007 at The Delancey in New York City. There will be prizes/giveaways (including free copies of the DVD to the first 25 customers), and there will be a variety of bands performing, including SHE WOLVES and THE MYNKS. For more information, visit http://www.realitychecktv.com.
*Italian/German gothic black metal band GRAVEWORM will release its sixth album, "Collateral Defect", in Europe on May 25 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Stage One studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (DEW-SCENTED, CALLENISH CIRCLE, TANKARD, OCCULT).
*CADAVERIA's forthcoming album “In Your Blood” will be released by Season of Mist on May 21, 2007 (May 22 in USA and Canada).
*Due to circumstances beyond their control, DESENSITISED were forced to postpone the recordings for their upcoming "Murder Syndicate" CD indefinitely. The band hopes to finish the songs properly soon and be able to record these new songs by the end of this year.
*After one and a half year of touring and composing new songs, Dutch metalband MORNING is going to enter the studio in April to record a follow-up album for their debut "Hour of Joy" worldwide released in September 2005 by Black Lotus Records. Since the label announced in May 2006, that they stopped all their activities, MORNING will first record this album and hope to find a suitable label very soon. The album will be recorded under supervision of producer Gail Liebling, who already worked with bands like CALLENISH CIRCLE and CRUACHAN as a producer. At the renewed website http://www.morning.nl, you can find a weblog by the band concerning the studio-activities.
*San Francisco power/thrash metallers IMAGIKA have posted a demo version of a new song, entitled "The Sick Sense", on their MySpace page. IMAGIKA recently completed most of the songwriting for the follow-up to "My Bloodied Wings" and is presently recording demos of the new material. Plans exist for the band to enter the studio in September after a ten date West Coast tour in August. An early 2008 release on an as-yet-undetermined label is expected. Interested label representatives can contact the group at: imagika6@gmail.com.
*EDENBRIDGE's upcoming rarities/'best of' compilation, entitled "The Chronicles of Eden" will be released as a double-CD and limited double-digipack on May 25 at Massacre Records. Disc One will contain three new, previously unreleased songs, all Japanese and European bonus tracks and songs, that were included on all out-of-print singles. Disc Two will include a 'best of' selection out of the five released studio albums. The band recently parted ways with drummer Roland Navratil due to personal, musical and financial differences. A replacement drummer has yet to be announced. EDENBRIDGE recently signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. The band's first effort for Napalm will be released in the spring of 2008. Production on the CD is tentatively scheduled to begin next fall. Four songs have already been written and EDENBRIDGE will work with a renowned Czech orchestra for the first time in its career.
*Former Canadian Metal Queen LEE AARON will have her home featured on MTV Canada's "Cribs", airing on Tuesday, May 8 at 6:00 p.m. PDT. Lee's rendition of "Why Don't You Do Right" is included on the "Women's Blues Revue" live CD. AARON and her husband John welcomed their second baby, a boy named Jett Forrester Cody, on January 7, 2006.
*Florida's WYKKED WYTCH are currently seeking a label to release their new album "Memories Of A Dying Whore". The CD was recorded at Redroom Recorders in Tampa with engineer Mark Prator and was mixed by Gus Rios (MALEVOLENT CREATION, KULT OV AZAZEL) at Mercury Studios Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL. Mastering duties were handled by Jim Morris (DEATH, CANNIBAL CORPSE) at Morrisound Studios in Tampa. The CD will include a cover version of THE EURYTHMICS classic "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".
*Liechtenstein-based gothic metal group ELIS have announced Sandra Schleret (DREAMS OF SANITY and SIEGFRIED) as the new vocalist for ELIS. Sandra did also guest appearances for SAMAEL.
*DÉTENTE's classic album "Recognize No Authority" has been completely re-mastered and has restored original artwork. This acclaimed recording, available now at http://www.theendrecords.com, was the launching ground for nu-metal metal producer Ross Robinson (KORN, SEPULTURA, FEAR FACTORY, SOULFLY) who plays guitar on the album. The recording also marked the first full-length release by the legendary Dawn Crosby (FEAR OF GOD), who sadly passed away on December 15, 1996. For more information: http://www.myspace.com/detenterna
*Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA have announced Ariën van Weesenbeek (GOD DETHRONED) as the new drummer on the next EPICA album.
*Former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen's Christmas album, "Henkäys Ikuisuudesta" (Breath from Heaven), has been certified platinum in Finland for sales in excess of 30,000 copies.
*LORDI, Finland's monster rock 'n' roll extravaganza and winners of the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, has signed a North American deal with The End Records. LORDI is currently planning its first-ever jaunt of North America this spring and is confirmed for a two-night stint at the annual Bamboozle festival, set for May 5 and 6 in East Rutherford, N.J.
*Season of Mist has announced the signing of Dutch gothic metal act ASRAI. The group's third full-length album is scheduled for a late spring release and will be followed by a European tour.
*Nuclear Blast Records has set a February 26 European release date (February 23 in Germany) for the new CD from SIRENIA, the Norwegian gothic metal band featuring former TRISTANIA guitarist/vocalist Morten Veland. "Nine Destinies and a Downfall" was recorded at Jailhouse studios in Norway with engineer Hans Eidsgard and Soundsuite studios in France with Terje Refsnes. It features the 27-year-old Danish female singer Monika Pedersen, who joined SIRENIA as the replacement for Henriette Bordvik, who quit the band last September.
*HOLY MOSES, DORO, AFTER FOREVER, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, SIRENIA, IMPERIA and VALKYRIE are some of the confirmed bands for the Metal Female Voices Fest V, set to take place on Friday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007 at the Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium.
*WYKKED WYTCH has dropped off the upcoming No Mercy Festivals 2007 tour, which is set to feature MOONSPELL, NAPALM DEATH, BEHEMOTH, DEW-SCENTED and ROOT.
*Greek female heavy metal trio ASTARTE released its fifth album, "Demonized” on Avantgarde Records. The CD was mixed at Tico Tico studios in Finland. It features guest appearances on vocals by ARCH ENEMY's Angela Gossow, MAYHEM's Attila Csihar, GOD DETHRONED's Henri Sattler and LLOTH's Nicolas Sic Maiis.
*Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal outfit AFTER FOREVER has finished the recordings for its new self-titled album for a spring 2007 release via Nuclear Blast Records. Produced by Gordon Groothedde (Dutch studio luminary), the record also contains a session with the Prague Symphonic Orchestra, according to a press release.
*ROKTOPUSS, which features Lorraine Lewis (ex-FEMME FATALE], Roxy Petrucci (ex-VIXEN, drums) and E.J. Curse (NO DUH, bass) will shortly enter the studio to do some recording with renowned producer Michael Wagener (SKID ROW, HAMMERFALL, ACCEPT, KING'S X).
*Sweden's THERION has announced the addition of singer Lori Lewis from Minneapolis, Minnesota to its touring lineup. "She is the singer of AESMA DAEVA (a band that actually supported THERION on one of the shows on the U.S./Canada tour 2005)", the group writes on its web site.
*OTEP's video for its new song "Ghostflowers" has been posted online at http://www.otep.com (free registration required). The track comes off the group's forthcomng third full-length album, "The Ascension", tentatively due in March 2007. The CD was recorded at a New Orleans studio with producer Dave Fortman, known for his work with such bands as MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE and SUPERJOINT RITUAL. Along with longtime bassist eViL j, vocalist/songwriter Otep Shamaya was joined in the studio by ex-AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE guitarist Karma Cheema and drummer Brian Wolff (formerly of SYNAPSE).
*West Virginia's HYDROGYN has announced plans to enter the studio next year to record its third album, tentatively due late 2007/early 2008. The band will also embark on the U.K. 'Sex And Sins' Tour in February 2007. A promotional tour in France will follow in March. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.
*KITTIE's new album "Funeral for Yesterday" is due on February 20, 2007 via KITTIE's record label, X of Infamy. The album was recorded at Retromedia Studio in Red Bank, New Jersey with producer Jack Ponti, who has previously worked with BON JOVI, SKID ROW and ALICE COOPER. The girls will team up with WALLS OF JERICHO, DEAD TO FALL, 36 CRAZYFISTS and IN THIS MOMENT for "The Funeral for Yesterday Tour" beginning in early February.
*Austrian/American epic metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS has set "Trinity" as the title of its third album, tentatively due in March 2007 via Napalm Records.
*The Finnish fantasy metal band BATTLELORE will release its fourth album, "Evernight" in February 2007 via Napalm Records. It was recorded at MusicBros Studio and produced by Miitri Aaltonen, who worked with the group before.
*Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS have released its fifth album, "Existentia" via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Soundsuite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes and includes contributions from French female singer Emmanuelle Zoldan and Norwegian keyboard master Bernt Moen.
*Polish female-fronted metal/alternative band DELIGHT, who are said to be the first Polish band to land a record deal with Roadrunner Records, have just released their new album, "Breaking Ground", in Europe. DELIGHT will support the Italian band EXILIA in Switzerland, Germany and Austria beginning January 17.
*Germany's GUANO APES have released a posthumous collection of early recordings, entitled "The Lost (T)Apes" via G.U.N. Records.
*Mariska Veres (59), singer of the well-known Dutch pop band SHOCKING BLUE, died from cancer on December 2nd. The band got world-famous in the early seventies with their biggest selling hitsingle “Venus”, which was covered by many artists. Mariska will be missed by many fans and her death is a huge loss to the Dutch music scene.
*Canadian "gothic metallers" HOWLING SYN have entered the studios to begin recording their third album, entitled "A Taste of Modern Evil". HOWLING SYN recently parted ways with longtime drummer Éric Mireault.
*WYKKED WYTCH is busy recording its fourth album, "Memories Of A Dying Whore", tentatively due next spring. The CD was mixed by Gus Rios (MALEVOLENT CREATION, KULT OV AZAZEL) at Mercury Studios Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL and is currently being mastered by Jim Morris (DEATH, CANNIBAL CORPSE) at Morrisound Studios in Tampa. Two demo tracks that are set to be included on the forthcoming CD, "The Awakening" and "Beneath Our Skin", have been put at their My Space website.
*FAIRYLAND recently inked a deal with Napalm Records. The group's new album, "The Fall of an Empire", which is already available in Japan, will be released in other parts of the world in early 2007, accompanied by the reissue of the band's "Of Wars in Osyrhia" debut (2003).
*WALLS OF JERICHO is one of the latest confirmed bands for the the With Full Force festival, set to take place June 29 – July 1, 2007 at Flugplatz Roitzschjora in Löbnitz, Germany.
*Vocalist Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION, ELFONÍA) has been confirmed as a special guest at the third annual "Tribute to The Gathering" party, to be held in Mexico City on December 15, 2006 at DADA X Club.
*Swedish dark death metal act RUNEMAGICK will return to the studio in December to mix some of its recently recorded material. New songtitles include "Voyage to Desolation", "Chthonic Temple Smoke", "The 3rd Moon", "Volcano Throne" and "Bound in Magick Haze".
*IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris' daughter Lauren Harris and her band have been added to MAIDEN's European tour for all dates from and including Den Bosch, Holland on November 26 through to the two nights at Earl's Court, London December 22-23.
*LANA LANE and her keyboardist/producer/husband Erik Norlander have just completed a pair of covers albums for release this winter. It has been a tradition in Japan for the two to release a Lana Lane "specialty album" every two years. The first album is LANA LANE's "Gemini", an collection of classic rock covers from the '60s and '70s featuring the backing musicians Vinny Appice (drums), Tony Franklin (bass), George Lynch (guitar), Mark McCrite (guitar, vocals) and Erik Norlander (keyboards) along with Kelly Keeling (GEORGE LYNCH, BATON ROUGE, MSG) providing additional duet and harmony vocals. The second album is ERIK NORLANDER's "Hommage Symphonique", a collection of progressive rock covers recorded by Erik along with Gregg Bissonette (drums), Don Schiff (bass), Mark McCrite (guitar) with Kelly Keeling handling all of the vocal duties. Both albums will be released on November 23, 2006 on the Avalon label in Japan and then on January 30, 2007 on Think Tank Media/ProgRock Records with advance sales starting in December 2006.
*Sandy West, drummer for the influential all-female band THE RUNAWAYS, has died on October 21 after a long battle with lung cancer. She left a huge mark on rock music as a founding member of THE RUNAWAYS and as a leading inspiration for many musicians. Rest in peace, wild thing; we will miss you eternally!!!!!
*AFM Records has set a November 24 release date for DORO's "Warrior Soul Winter Edition (20 Years a Warrior Soul)" — a career overview of one of the most successful female hard rock artists of all time. The set will be released in three separate editions: 1) The regular "Winter Edition" of "Warrior Soul", which will come with a bonus CD featuring live tracks and a brand new, previously unreleased cut. 2) The "20 Years A Warrior Soul" edition, containing a high-quality double DVD produced in the currently best and technically most developed DVD9-format. On the first DVD, you will get a 90-minute documentary about the the 20-year anniversary show in Düsseldorf with guests like Lemmy of MOTORHEAD and many more. It will also contain a road movie about the "Warrior Soul" tour featuring footage from tour stops in Germany, Spain and Russia, as well as through big festival events (Sweden Rock). The second DVD will feature the entire 180-minute anniversary show from Düsseldorf. 3) For all collectors and true fans, there will also be the exclusive, limited-to-1,000 pieces, spectacular "Fan Box" with a special shirt, sticker, and autograph card as well as a "Warrior Soul" snow globe.
*EPICA have parted ways with drummer Jeroen Simons and is currently seeking a new drummer. Interested parties can contact the group at: info@epica.nl. EPICA is currently working on material for its third full-length album, which they expect to begin recording before the end of the year.
*OCTAVIA SPERATI has started recording their next album. The release is scheduled for April 2007.
*BLACKMORE'S NIGHT has parted ways with bassist Sir Robert of Normandy. The new bass player is named Baron St James. AFM Records has set a November 24 release date for BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's holiday album "Winter Carols".
*California's traditional melodic metal band CRESCENT SHIELD, which features bassist Melanie Sisneros (SINERGY, NEW EDEN, THE IRON MAIDENS) will release its debut album, entitled "The Last of My Kind" on November 20 Cruz Del Sur Music.
*The Dutch all-female pop rock band BAD CANDY has decided to spilt up. The band enjoyed a certain reputation after their own television serie on Nickelodeon, which was also sold to German television.
*Austrian angelic bombast metal act EDENBRIDGE has announced the addition of Robert Schoenleitner as the second guitar player for live shows from now on.
*Liechtenstein-based gothic metal group ELIS will release their new album "Griefshire" on November 24 by Napalm Records. The recordings for "Griefshire" were completed prior to the death of ELIS' lead singer, Sabine Dünser. The band 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."
*Tairrie B. of MY RUIN was recently involved in a car accident and her left arm was seriously injured. After her last (fourth) surgery on Oct. 18th, Tairrie is recovering remarkably well, but she has still a long way to go, physically and mentally. In the meantime, Tairrie would like to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts and kind words at this time. MY RUIN is currently recording their new album in a studio in Los Angeles for an early 2007 release. Besides that, they are also still editing footage from both the UK tours and plan to release a DVD at the same time.
*KITTIE has recently completed their fourth full-length album, which was recorded in July/August at Retromedia Studio in Red Bank, New Jersey. The CD was produced by Jack Ponti, who has previously worked with BON JOVI, SKID ROW, and ALICE COOPER. Songtitles set to appear on the new album, include "Never Again", "Funeral For Yesterday", "The Change", "Breathe", "Last Goodbye", "Slow Motion" and "Flowers of Flesh and Blood". The band recently finished mixing the effort with producer Kevin Shirley (IRON MAIDEN, DREAM THEATER) for a tentative March 2007 release.
*Metal industrial act HANZEL ÜND GRETYL have announced their upcoming CD to be released this autumn 2006. The band are also planning a North American festival tour October-November 2006 to support the release on Metropolis Records.
*Drummer Kikken of the Norwegian metal band OCTAVIA SPERATI has decided to leave, as he could not find the time for two bands. The band are currently holding auditions for drummers preferably living in the Bergen area. Interesting parties, please contact the band at: octavia@octavia-sperati.com.
*Austrian epic metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have confirmed their first appearance in China. Rock Empire Music will release the band's album "Cast Away" in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and VISIONS OF ATLANTIS will promote it with a concert in Beijing, China on December 16, 2006.
*Candice Night of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT has been crowned as 'Official 2006 Queen Of The Fairies' at the Western Pennsylvania Fairie Festival on June 10, 2006.
*Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY will release their first DVD "Live Apocalypse" on August 8 via Century Media. The disc is full of live footage, in-depth interviews and promotional video clips.
*Sonia of FORGOTTEN TALES was asked to sing on Beto Vazquez’s new album, entitled “Flying Toward The New Horizon”. It will be a mixture of power and gothic metal and the song chosen for Sonia is a ballad, called “Secret”. Many other singers from around the world will also participate to the album.
*Nuclear Blast are scheduled to release a deluxe edition of SINERGY's debut album "Beware The Heavens" on July 14, 2006. The CD, which originally came out in 1999, will feature three bonus tracks, all of which have been previously released on assorted tribute albums: "Rock You Like A Hurricane" (SCORPIONS), "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" (ABBA) and "The Number Of The Beast" (IRON MAIDEN). SINERGY's long-awaited new album "Sins Of The Past" is tentatively due later this year.
*Liechtenstein-based gothic metal band ELIS has posted the following message on its official web site, http://www.elis.li: "Deeply confused and sad, we have to inform you, that Sabine Dünser [vocals] isn't among us anymore. During the band's rehearsal on Friday, July 7th, Sabine suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, from which she died a day later at the hospital. Out of respect for Sabine's family and friends, we have decided to take the homepage from the net. We need time now to decide if and how we approach further and we will not answer any mails at the moment." Sabine Dünser was born June 27, 1977 and joined ELIS, then still known as ERBEN DER SCHOPFUNG, in 2001.
*Dutch melodic death metal band HER ENCHANTMENT has parted ways with female singer Lucy Straates. The band is currently looking for a professional mezzo soprano, who can fill thevacant slot. Interested parties can contact the group at: herenchantment@hotmail.com. HER ENCHANTMENT is currently writing material for a new album, which should be released at the end of 2007.
*Liquor and Poker Music has assembled its first compilation, a collection of female tribute bands paying homage to some of classic rock and metal's biggest names. In store on August 22, the 13-track "Girls Got Rhythm", features such well-known groups as THE IRON MAIDENS, CHEAP CHICK and MISTRESS OF REALITY, as well as three acts celebrating AC/DC.
*Italian female-fronted quartet EXILIA will release a new full-length album, entitled "Nobody Excluded" on July 21 via G.U.N./BMG Records. The album was produced by Udo Rinklin and recorded by the infamous Resetti Brothers (Jörg Umbreit and Vincent Sorg), with Jeff Collier helping out with the vocal recordings.
*MYSTERY BLUE has signed up with the legendary heavy hetal label Mausoleum Records and their new album "Claws Of Steel" will be released on Sept. 15, 2006.
*Sandy West (formerly THE RUNAWAYS) has been very ill since last year September. She was diagnosed with lung cancer and is still having chemotherapy these days. On top of that, they also discovered a brain tumor in July. According to her management, she is currently undergoing radiation therapy in addition to the chemotherapy. As it s a very hard time for Sandy, her management at Times Square Productions have set up a special e-mail for 'Get Well' letters. Sandy won't be able to respond, but she will read them all for sure. The greatest joy in Sandy's life are her fans. She considers all of them family and would sincerely benefit from their letters of encouragement at this time. Please email your Get Well wishes to: lettersforsandy (at) yahoo.com. TSP have also set up a Paypal account for Sandy. Even though she has some medical insurance, her bills are piling up alarmingly, and any amount you'd like to donate, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated. Please go to the official Runaways website for more info at: http://www.therunaways.com.
*Capitol recording group OTEP has entered a New Orleans studio to begin recording their highly anticipated third album. Assisting OTEP in the recording is producer Dave Fortman, known for his work with such bands as MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE and SUPERJOINT RITUAL. Along with longtime bassist eViL j, vocalist/songwriter Otep Shamaya is joined in the studio by ex-AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE guitarist Karma Cheema and drummer Brian Wolff (formerly of SYNAPSE).
*Dutch hard rock/heavy metal granny, Hanny van Schagen, has recently died at the age of seventy-eight. Hanny and her already deceased husband Flip used to publish Heavy Metal Explosion 'zine in the mid-90's, in order to support the Dutch metal scene. Hanny was very beloved by many people and yours truely (we learned the first "ropes" from them, when writing for Heavy Metal Explosion) and we will surely miss her!!! Rest in peace, dear Hanny - we will NEVER forget you!!!!
*STREAM OF PASSION, featuring AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen, will be releasing a live DVD and live CD this summer as two separate products. The live recordings were made on February 17, 2006 at the Lucky & Co. venue in Rijssen, Holland during the band's "Embrace The Storm" tour. STREAM OF PASSION have been confirmed for the Bospop Festival, set to take place July 7-9 at Sportpark Boshoven in Weert, Holland.
*MELISSA ETHERIDGE and her wife Tammy are anouncing that Tammy is pregnant, and are expecting their twins sometime around this fall. To answer the obvious question: they used an anonymous donor from a bank. These are their first two babies conceived together, but not their first time mothering together. For the past five years, they have been parenting two children, from a previous time in Melissa¹s life.
*Due to illness of vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen, THE GATHERING have been forced to cancel all shows in Europe, scheduled between April 19th and May 28th. "Anneke is suffering from an obstinate bronchial and sinus infection, which has taken a turn for the worse over the past few days", according to an official comment. "The band very much regrets having to take this step, but Anneke's health will have to come first. We are consulting with promoters to try to reschedule the concerts to later this year, so that tickets would remain valid", declares the band’s management.
*EVANESCENCE has set October 3 as the release date for its second major label album, "The Open Door". It is the first album with Terry Balsamo on guitar, who left COLD in late 2003 to replace founding EVANESCENCE guitarist Ben Moody. The band has officially picked "Call Me When You're Sober" being the first single.
*On June 6th, JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS will release a new album, entitled “Sinner” on Blackheart Records. The track listing is as follows: "Riddles", "ACDC", "Five", "Naked", "Everyone Knows", "Change The World", "Androgynous", "Fetish", "Watersign", "Tube Talkin’", "Turn It Around", "Baby Blue", "A Hundred Feet Away" (re-recorded version) and "Bad Time".
*DANTE FOX have signed a world-wide deal with Z Records. Featuring the immense vocal talents of Sue Willetts and song writing of Tim Manford, the band recently appeared at Z Rock 06 pt1 despite illness. The band are currently preparing to enter the studio to record their third studio album and a September release is currently planned.
*Moody metal group TAPPING THE VEIN are almost done with their new album. The drum, bass and guitar tracks are all finished, and singer Heather Thompson plans to wrap up her vocal tracks this week. According to drummer Eric Fisher, it's sounding much heavier and dark, à la KATATONIA.
*Britain's AREA 54 have parted ways with bassist Laura Salmon. The band are currently seeking a replacement. Interested parties can email Lakis at: lakisarea54@yahoo.co.uk. AREA 54's as-yet-untitled third album is tentatively due later in the year. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "My Hate" and "Losing Grip".
*San Francisco power/thrash metallers IMAGIKA have officially split with Mausoleum Records and are currently looking for an interested label to issue the "My Bloodied Wings" CD in Europe and other territories. North America will be handled by Crash Music Inc.
*LEAVES' EYES have completed recording of a new mini-album, presenting five brand-new exclusive tracks, entitled "Legend Land". The EP will be released for the price of a single at the end of April/beginning of May 2006 in connection with the band's upcoming tours, which includes dates througout Europe, USA, Canada, South America, Australia and New Zealand. The tracks included on the EP are: "Legend Land", "Skraelings", "Viking's Word", "The Crossing" and "Lyset".
*AFTER FOREVER's former record label, Transmission Records, has announced plans to release a compilation album containing the best songs from the band's first ten years of existence and four entirely new tracks.
*LORDI will represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Hard Rock Hallelujah".
*Finland's NIGHTWISH have announced more details about their upcoming live CD/DVD package, entitled "End Of An Era". Due out June 2, it will contain recordings/footage of NIGHTWISH's final concert with singer Tarja Turunen, which took place on October 21 at the Hartwall arena in Helsinki, Finland. In addition to the live footage, the DVD will include a slideshow of pictures from the Hartwall show and a 55-minute documentary, "A Day Before Tomorrow", featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the band in the 15 days prior to the Hartwall Show.
*Florida's WYKKED WYTCH have inked a deal with the U.K. based label SixSixSix Records. SixSixSix Records is owned by CRADLE OF FILTH bassist Dave Pybus and is distributed in the U.K. via RSK Entertainment. WYKKED WYTCH will enter the studio in late April to record their fourth album, "The Awakening", tentatively due in October. Two demo tracks that are set to be included on the forthcoming CD, are "The Awakening" and "Beneath Our Skin".
*TRISTANIA recently entered Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, MOONSPELL, SAMAEL) to begin recording their new album, tentatively due late August via SPV Records.
*Irish folk metal band CRUACHAN have finished mastering their fifth album, "The Morrigan's Call", tentatively due in June via Greece's Black Lotus Records. It will be preceded by the release of a single, "The Very Wild Rover".
*Liechtenstein, Germany-based female-fronted gothic metal band ELIS recorded the final parts for their upcoming album at Mastersound Studios in Stuttgart. A summer release via Napalm Records is expected. ELIS will be opening for LEAVES' EYES on select European dates in April and May.
*Swedish all-female quartet CRUCIFIED BARBARA - whose debut album, "In Distortion We Trust", will be released by Liquor and Poker Music on May 30 — just completed a short Scandinavian tour during which they supported metal legends IN FLAMES and SEPULTURA. The North American version of "In Distortion We Trust" will contain one bonus track — a cover of MOTÖRHEAD's "Killed By Death" — as well as music videos for each of the group's three singles ("Losing The Game", "Rock 'n' Roll Bachelor" and "Play Me Hard") that have been released in their home country.
*Swedish progressive metallers AMARAN called it quits.
*Former FEMME FATALE guitarist Bill D'Angelo (43 year-old) has passed away on Nov. 21, 2005 from complications of methamphetamine overdose. It took the state toxicology lab four months to finish tests.
*LACUNA COIL's new album, "Karmacode", is tentatively scheduled for release in March 2006 via Century Media Records. "Karmacode" was co-produced once again by Waldemar Sorychta and mixed by Ronald Prent (RAMMSTEIN, H.I.M., IRON MAIDEN). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include: "What I See", "Fragile", "In Visible Light", "Fragments Of Faith", "Within Me" and "Our Truth".
*Raleigh, North Carolina-based melodic metallers WIDOW have released their second album. "On Fire" was released in Europe on Cruz Del Sur Music and is slated to be released in Brazil via Zenor Records. The band are currently working on touring plans to support the album for 2006.
*One of the greatest female voices, Azucena Dorado, the original singer of the eighties spanish heavy metal band SANTA, died a few months ago. AZUCENA sang on the first two SANTA albums, and the argentinian Leonor Marchesi on the last one. They were very famous in Spain, and their guitarist Jero is a member of the current most successful heavy metal band SARATOGA. AZUCENA was getting reading for her comeback to the music scene, and her dead is a big loss. [for more info, email Beatriz at: heavybea@yahoo.es].
*Check out the brand new spanish all-female band, called SWEET LITTLE SISTER. They play hard rock and have released their first CD in October 2005, called “Livin’ Rockin’. Here's their website: http://www.slsrock.com. You can listen to them in the mp3 section, where they've uploaded a few videos as well.
*There's a new album in the making of VIXEN, tentatively called “Live & Learn”. Furthermore, in May 2006, Sony/BMG will be releasing a LIVE CD recorded at the Sweden Rock festival this year, and the band hopes to bring out a DVD of those performances in 2006.
*LORDI's upcoming album, "The Arockalypse", will feature guest appearances by TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider (on the album's intro, entitled "SCG3 Special Report") and guitarist Jay Jay French (on "Chainsaw Buffét"), as well as former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider (on "They Only Come Out At The Night") and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick (on "Snowing In Hell"). Other news is, that Awa joined the band in October. She came into the group at a time when the band was still in the studio, and she played all the keyboards and piano parts on the new album.
*SERPENT LIGHT, the new Orlando, Florida-based "progressive black/power metal" band featuring Swedish guitarist Mika (Sadist) Leppänen (formerly in NIFELHEIM) and American metal vocalist Sheena Khan, are seeking a bass guitarist and a drummer to complete their permanent line-up. Interested parties can contact the group at: Serpent_Light@hotmail.com. SERPENT LIGHT are currently working on eight songs, three of which will be released on an upcoming demo (which will also be available for download in MP3 format).
*Vocalist Martine Thijs has recently left the Dutch gothic metal band TRISOMY. The band has already found a replacement in Eva Kokken, 22 years old and living in Tilburg, where she attend the Rockacademy, studying vocals/performer. Eva is currently finishing her study.
*Los Angeles thrashers DREAMS OF DAMNATION (featuring ex-DARK ANGEL guitarist/founder Jim Durkin and vocalist Loana dP Valencia) have announced their upcoming 2006 release, entitled "Epic Tales of Vengeance".
*EPICA's performance at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland on May 4 will be filmed for an upcoming DVD. To make this evening even more special, EPICA will also be presenting their unique photo and soundbook, "The Road To Paradiso". This book will contain a lot of pictures and stories, but will also feature an audio CD with interviews, unreleased live material and other rarities.
*THE GATHERING are currently finishing up work on their ninth studio album with Attie Bauw. "Home" will be released sometime in the spring on the band's own label, Psychonaut Records (available on The End Records in North America).
*British folk/metal act SKYCLAD are currently working on a special EP, that will be released in April. The CD will feature a brand new recording of the instrumental track "Jig-a-Jig", along with the songs "The Roman Wall Blues", "They Think It's All Over - Well Is It Now?" and "Mr Malaprope" (from the "A Semblance Of Normality" sessions). This EP will not be available in any record stores. It will only be available from the band's webshop and on tour. Meanwhile, SKYCLAD are also working on a new album which is to be recorded over the summer and released before the end of the year.
*WITHIN TEMPTATION have been awarded the Dutch Pop Prize at Popprijs 2005, which recognizes the band's significant contribution to the Dutch pop industry, for the third year in a row. At the moment, the band is busy working on new songs for a new album, which is due to be released in the fall of 2006. Starting in April, WITHIN TEMPTATION will be playing at many festivals throughout the summer, with an international tour to follow in the end of 2006.
*German hard rock singer DORO (ex-WARLOCK) has completed work on her new album, "Warrior Soul", due on March 27 via AFM Records. The CD will be issued in a regular version (featuring twelve songs) and a limited edition, containing two bonus tracks.
*San Francisco power/thrash metallers IMAGIKA have finalized the track listing for their new CD, entitled "My Bloodied Wings", tentatively due late spring/early summer. The album was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California and was mixed at Los Angered Recording in Gothenburg, Sweden with Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND fame).
*Swedish melodic black metallers SIEBENBÜRGEN have split up.
*The Dutch gothic metal band SYLVER MYST has signed a contract with Sirenette Music Industries [http://www.sirenette.com]. They are the first band signed with this brand new American label, which is allied to Sonic Cathedral Inc. Soon SYLVER MYST will start recording their first full length CD. The recordings are planned for March 2006 at Excess Studios in Rotterdam.
*In July 2005, AFTER THE SILENCE devided in two halves, when Joop de Rooij, Marcel van Rooij en Edward van Galen (respectively keys, bass and drums) left the band. After many auditions, Ingrid van den Hof-van den Berg (vocals) and Willem van den Hof & Ardy van Breemen (both guitar) have their line-up complete again with Daniël van den Engel (bass), Erik Slooten (keys) and Ron Vielvoye (drums). For further information, please check their website at http://www.afterthesilence.nl
*BATTLELORE are currently writing material for their fourth album, tentatively due before the end of the year.
*Austrian angelic bombast metal act EDENBRIDGE will release their their fifth album, "The Grand Design", on May 19 via Massacre Records. The first single will be "Evermore". As a special bonus on the single, EDENBRIDGE will include their first cover version ever — the James Bond classic "For Your Eyes Only", originally sung by SHEENA EASTON.
*ELIS frontwoman Sabine Duenser has recorded guest vocals on two songs ("Protect Me" and "Devil In A Gucci-Dress") for the debut album from the Swiss band STONEMAN.
*NEXX has a new keyboardist. His name is Benjamin Andrea. Also, the recording sessions for the new album "Again!" have finished and it's expected to be released sometime in the spring of 2006. More info at: http://www.webnexx.com
*TAKE IT FOR GRANTED has been reformed and a new album will follow in the course of 2006. For more info, visit: http://www.johndirven.com.
*ANOUK will release a DVD of her December 17th show in Ahoy, Rotterdam. The disc is due at the end of April.
*Dutch female-fronted metal band AFTER FOREVER have parted ways with longtime label Transmission Records. The band found it was time for a cooperation with a new partner. AFTER FOREVER will be playing at several festivals in Belgium, Luxemburg and The Netherlands this summer. In the second half of this year, they will also tour through Latin America again, like they did in 2005. Next to several venues and clubs, the band will perform at three large festivals in Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Mexico City.
*America will get its first taste of female metal band KITTIE's new lineup as the band hits the road this spring in support of its latest material, which was released in the form of a downloadable EP entitled "Never Again" on February 7 through Rock Ridge Music. The "Never Again Tour" will give audiences their first glimpse at the band with new bassist Trish Doan and guitarist Tara Macleod joining KITTIE mainstays Morgan Lander (guitar/vocals) and Mercedes Lander (drums).
*IMPERIA, the new band fronted by former TRAIL OF TEARS singer Helena Iren Michaelsen have inked a recording deal with Black Lotus Records. The band recently entered Spacelab studios in Germany with producers Christian "Moschus" Moos and Oliver Philipps (EVERON, ANGEL) to begin recording their sophomore album, tentatively titled "Queen Of Light".
*SUICIDE CITY (formerly RODEK), the new band featuring BIOHAZARD guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei and former KITTIE bassist Jennifer Arroyo, will be supporting TAKING BACK SUNDAY on an eleven date tour beginning on April 13. Since the May 2005 release of their self-financed EP, entitled "Not My Year", SUICIDE CITY have reportedly sold over 4,000 CDs hand to hand, without the help of 'proper' distribution.
*German female-fronted gothic metal band FLOWING TEARS are currently writing material for their seventh release, tentatively due later in the year via Century Media Records.
*The new SHADOWSIDE official website is online. The fans can get hold of all the latest news, as well as downloading wallpapers, watching live videos and listening to samples of the new album "Theatre Of Shadows". Besides, SHADOWSIDE vocalist Dani Nolden just launched her personal website containing information about her career as a singer and producer, plus the latest news about SHADOWSIDE and her new project (Dani is currently working with british guitarist Garreth Neilly), pictures and lots more. Access http://www.shadowside.ws and http://www.dani-nolden.com and check it out!
*KRUNK, the long-running side project of 80's drum legend James Kottak (SCORPIONS, ex-KINGDOM COME) and his wife Athena Lee (sister of MÖTLEY CRÜE's Tommy Lee), have completed work on their new studio album, entitled "Therupy". The band, who describe their sound as 'CHEAP TRICK meets GREEN DAY on a bad day', will issue the CD through their own label, S.N.U.G. Records.
*Doro Pesch has just released a new EP, entitled "In Liebe Und Freundschaft" (For Love and Friendship) via AFM Records. While finishing her very first movie "Anuk – Path of the Warrior" in Switzerland, DORO produced a new video clip for her upcoming album. The track, entitled "Warrior Soul", was reportedly co-written with KROKUS frontman Marc Storace and is scheduled to appear on the film's soundtrack, as well as on Doro's upcoming CD. A DVD release is also possible but not yet confirmed.
*Long-running German thrashers HOLY MOSES had their early albums "Finished With The Dogs" (1987) and "The New Machine Of Liechtenstein" (1989) reissued through Armageddon Music in August. The CDs were digitally re-mastered and were released in the jewel-case format, with full booklets, lyrics, liner notes, modified artwork and never-before-seen photos of HOLY MOSES and the group's frontwoman, Sabina Classen. HOLY MOSES will have their 1986 debut, "Queen Of Siam", released on CD for the first time on November 24. As a special bonus, the "Queen Of Siam" reissue will contain an ultra-rare demo recording with the group's old drummer, Snake. Armageddon Music have also announced plans to re-release the rest of HOLY MOSES' early catalog, including 1990's "World Chaos" (Jan. 30, 2006), 1991's "Terminal Terror" (Febr. 20, 2006) and 1992's "Reborn Dogs" (March 20, 2006).
*ANGTORIA, the new Swedish/British orchestral/metal band formed by female singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS), composer Chris Rehn (ABYSSOS) and Tommy Rehn (MOAHNI MOAHNA), have inked a deal with France's Listenable Records. The group's debut album is tentatively scheduled for release in the spring. A full-length MP3 of the ANGTORIA demo track "Six Feet Under's Not Deep Enough" has been made available for download at Angtoria.com. Other songtitles expected to appear on the upcoming CD, include "Confide In Me" (KYLIE MINOGUE cover), "Little Girl", "Deity Of Disgust" and "I Cried Alone".
*U.K. power metallers SHADOWKEEP, whose current lineup includes vocalist Richie Wicks (ex-ANGEL WITCH, TYGERS OF PAN TANG) and drummer Scott Higham (ex-SAMSON, ANGEL WITCH), will enter Thin Ice Studios on December 12 with producer Karl Groom to begin recording their third album, tentatively due in early 2006. Richie and Scott join original guitar duo Chris Allen and Nicki Robson, plus U.S.-based bassist Stony Grantham, for what is proving to be the heaviest, prolific and most productive band lineup in SHADOWKEEP's history, according to a press release. For more information, visit SHADOWKEEP's brandnew web site at: www.shadowkeepmetal.net.
*American boogie rockers RAGING SLAB are currently in the studio recording a new album with their new rhythm section, Niklas Matsson (drums) and Mats Rydstrom (bass), both of whom are also members of Swedish band BACKDRAFT. RAGING SLAB's new CD is expected next year.
*British female hard rockers GIRLSCHOOL have released their first internet-only single featuring new recordings of "Emergency" (25th Anniversary version) and "London" (2005 version). A donation of all proceeds from "Emergency" will go to the London Air Ambulance fund. To download, go to: http://www.karmadownload.com.
*CADAVERIA, the Italian band featuring former OPERA IX vocalist Cadaveria and ex-OPERA IX drummer/NECRODEATH vocalist Marçelo Santos (a.k.a. Flegias), have finished writing ten new songs their third album, tentatively due next year via Scarlet Records. The recordings for the new CD will begin in early 2006.
*Austrian epic metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS will teaming up with XANDRIA and REGICIDE for the "Romantic Darkness Tour 2006" beginning mid-February. As previously reported, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS recently announced the departure of singer Nicole Bogner. Replacing Nicole in the group's lineup is professional soprano singer Melissa Ferlaak, who has worked in the operatic field, most recently as Musetta in "La Boheme", and has been singing with AESMA DAEVA.
*EPICA's performance at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland on May 4, 2006 will be filmed for an upcoming DVD. Only 1,450 tickets are available and will go on sale December 3, 2005 through Ticketservice at: http://www.ticketservice.nl. Support acts and other details will be announced soon.
*Drakkar has set a March 3, 2006 release date for the new album from Finland's LORDI, entitled "The Arockalypse". The CD will feature guest appearances by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider (on "They Only Come Out At The Night") and ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick (on "Snowing In Hell").
*Both DEMONIC CHRIST CDs "Punishment For Ignorance" and "Demonic Battle Metal" on BlackMetal.com Records are now available. "Punishment For Ignorance" has been re-mastered and contains four live tracks with brand new fourteen page delux booklet. "Demonic Battle Metal" has two live videos and all new sixteen page delux booklet. It is confirmed that long time comrade, Proscriptor (ABSU) will be drumming on the new album and fellow old schooler, Sabathan (ENTHRONED) will occupy the bass position. This is an exciting combination and should most definitely prove to be the best material of DEMONIC CHRIST. Recording of the album will begin in spring 2006.
*SUZI QUATRO has recorded a TV show with Gene Simmons, called “Rock School" to be aired in Febr. 2006 on the UK television (BBC). Furthermore, EMI Music has announced information on the release of Suzi's new album "Back To The Drive". The album release will be late February 2006 and features twelve new songs. The album is a sweet blend and a raw fusion of Suzi's unique rock. This fantastic album truley captures something new from Suzi while maintaining the hard edge. Suzi's daughter Laura performs a brillant duet "Walk Through The Fire With You". Also look out for a gutsy Suzi version of Neil Young’s "Rockin In The Free World".
*Singer/guitarist, Kathie Jarra (formerly JARRA) will release her long awaited third CD (and first solo CD) "Bleed" worldwide through The Karma Records Group on January 12, 2006 with the debut of her new band, Kathie Jarra's STYGMATA. The CD was recorded with a session band in Arizona, but the singer has announced there will be a new touring band in place for touring the CD next year, including metal guitarist and veteran shredder, Jack Frost (SEVEN WITCHES/ex-SAVATAGE/METALIUM).
*Spanish hard rock outfit NEXX has signed to all new UK label Angel Milk Records for a new album. The album will be mixed and produced by Pete ‘Peewee' Coleman at the famous Jellyjam Studios in the UK. Recording starts early December 2005 for an early Febr/March 2006 release. Website: http://www.webnexx.com and http://www.angelmilkrecords.co.uk.
*Prog metal band MASTERMIND [featuring lead vocalist Tracy McShane, brothers Bill (guitar, synth, vocals) and Rich Berends (drums), Laura Johnson (bass) and Jens Johansson (keys; STRATOVARIUS), have announced their first official release in four years. The long-awaited studio album is entitled “Insomnia” (due early 2006) and will be accompanied by a special CD single/EP release, called “Broken”, which features two tracks from the forthcoming album, as well as five tracks newly recorded just for this EP. For more info or pre-order, visit their website at: http://mastermindband.com.
*Female fronted goth rockers SENGIR have finished recording the follow up for their debut album "Guilty Water". "Sign Of Devotion" will be released on January, 23th 2006 and was recorded at the Midas Studio’s in Lokeren (Belgium) with producer Tony De Block. It will feature eleven guitar-driven, yet very melodic tracks.
*On Wednesday evening December 7th, Sharon den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION) gave birth to a nice little daughter. The little girl was in such a hurry, that she was born eight weeks earlier than expected. Her name is Eva Luna, weight is 1,755 gram, she has beautiful, large eyes and dark curly hair. Despite an early start, the girl and her proud parents are in good shape.
*Canadian gothic metallers HOWLING SYN have finished writing thirteen new songs and are getting them ready for the studio in early 2006.
*CREST OF DARKNESS have set "Give Us The Power To Do Your Evil" as the title of their fifth full-length album, tentatively due next year.
*Norwegian singer Liv Kirstine's (LEAVES' EYES, ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY) new solo album "Enter My Religion" will be released in March via Roadrunner. Preceding the album, a digipack EP, entitled "Fake a Smile" will see the light on January 27th, which will include four non-album tracks and the video for "Fake a Smile".
*Puerto Rican all-female operatic death metal band MATRIARCH are recording their debut album in December for a 2006 release. Created in June 2002, the band features ex-DUEL OF FATE soprano vocalist/guitarist Vanessa Urrutia and former ETHER vocalist/guitarist Aracelis López. Their first product was a four track 2003 demo 'Black Apples', with follow up 'Sinful Decadence' arriving in August 2004.
*Frontiers Records has announced the release of LANA LANE's brand new CD/DVD package in March 2006, celebrating her first ten years of recording. After ten years of recording CDs, LANA LANE proudly releases her "10th Anniversary Concert" DVD containing the full concert from her final show in Tokyo on the LANA LANE tenth anniversary tour. Recorded on June 30, 2005, the two-hour dual layer "DVD-9" disc contains all nineteen songs from the concert along with a video tour diary containing candid 'behind-the-scenes' footage of the entire tour from Europe to the USA to Japan.
*Dario Grillo (PLATENS, ex-THY MAJESTIE) is working on the production of the band VIOLET SUN, the new gothic power metal sensation from Italy, led by soprano Alessandra Amata. Their style is described like a meeting point among EVANESCENCE, NIGHTWISH, KOVENANT and LACUNA COIL. The official line-up is: Alessandra Amata (vocals), Dario Grillo (vocals/guitars/keys/synth), Alessandro Scarlata (drums) and Claudio Nicotra (bass).
*Dutch gothic doom/death metal band ORPHANAGE have officially split up after eleven years.
*Sacramento thrash band REDRUM has recently reformed with Debbie Gunderson, ex-ZNOWHITE/ICE AGE/BRUTAL GROOVE, on vocals.
*Liv Kristine (LEAVES' EYES, ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY) recently recorded a duet with NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala for one of the tracks on the upcoming album from DELAIN, the new project of WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerhold. Liv appears on two songs on the DELAIN CD, which will be released in 2006 via Roadrunner Records.
*Austrian epic metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have announced the departure of singer Nicole Bogner. Replacing Nicole in VISIONS OF ATLANTIS' lineup is professional soprano singer Melissa Ferlaak.
*The two albums by 1994 are being reissued on remastered CDs by the British label Rock Candy Records. Fronted by singer Karen Lawrence, who had previously worked with the LA JETS, 1994 recorded two albums on A&M records in the late 1970s. Their style was described at the time as AEROSMITH meets HEART. The first album, "1994" was issued on October 10. The second album, “Please Stand By”, should be available in January 2006.
*Doro Pesch recently finished shooting her very first movie in Switzerland. The film, entitled "Anuk - The Path of the Warrior", was produced by Swiss director Luke Gasser and set for a theatrical release in in Switzerland, Austria and Germany sometime in 2006. A DVD release is also possible, but not yet confirmed. Also, DORO will release a new EP "In Liebe Und Freundschaft" ("For Love And Friendship") on November 4 via AFM Records. The EP's title cut will be a first taste of her upcoming album, tentatively titled "Warrior Soul", which is due on March 24, 2006.
*FIREBALL MINISTRY, the Los Angeles quartet, will release their new offering, "Their Rock Is Not Our Rock" (Liquor and Poker Music) October 18. In addition, the band currently appears on the recently released "Bam Margera Presents: Viva La Bands" compilation CD.
*NIGHTWISH's brand-new CD collection, entitled "Highest Hopes - The Best Of Nightwish", has been certified platinum in Finland for sales in excess of 40,000 copies. The album, which was released in two different formats, features a cover of PINK FLOYD's "High Hopes" and a new recording of the song "Sleeping Sun", for which the band recently shot a video in Prague, Czech Republic.
*Norway's THEATRE OF TRAGEDY have inked a deal with AFM Records. The band has recently entered the studio, recording their 'as-yet-untitled' new album, which will be the group's first to feature singer Nell (formerly THE CREST). A March 24, 2006 release is expected.
*Austrian angelic bombast metal act EDENBRIDGE have set "The Grand Design" as the title of their fifth CD, tentatively due next spring via Massacre Records.
*Canadian metal band KITTIE have confirmed a new line-up at their official website http://www.kittierocks.com. It features new guitarist Tara McLeod, (formerly with Ontario area band SHERRY), bassist Trish Doan (who played with Ontario rockers HER) and of course the sisters Morgan (guitar/vocals) and Mercedes (drums) Lander. KITTIE will soon release a downloadable EP to introduce their new material.
*WITHIN TEMPTATION are currently preparing the release of a new live DVD which will contain the special concert they did on Amsterdam's Java Island, cuts from many other live shows, interviews and backstage footage plus the promo videos since the previous DVD (the "Mother Earth" tour). The release of the DVD is planned for November 18 and it will be titled “The Silent Force Tour”. There will be a new album in 2006, maybe around the summer. Before that though, a new band member will see the light of day... Sharon is five months pregnant and she and Robert expect a baby in January 2006.
*German female-fronted rockers SKEW SISKIN will have two songs included on a MOTÖRHEAD tribute CD, due on December 1 through the French label Bad Reputation. The tracks are called "Boogeyman" and "B4", a re-recording of the SKEW SISKIN song, featuring MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy on bass and sharing lead vocals with SISKIN's Nina C. Alice.
*MY RUIN have inked an European deal with Undergroove. The group's new album, "The Brutal Language", will be available throughout Europe on November 7 under license from the band's very own Rovena Recordings. To celebrate the European release, MY RUIN will hit the U.K. in December. A tour of mainland Europe is also being booked for early 2006. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon. MY RUIN recently announced the addition of two new members, Chris Lisee (bass) and Jason Brunk (drums), next to Mick Murphy (guitars) and ex-TURA SATANA singer Tairrie B.
*ARCH ENEMY have now settled on Fredrik Åkesson as a replacement for Chris Amott (guitar) for the continued "Doomsday Machine" touring campaign.
*STREAM OF PASSION, the new band featuring AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen, will hit the road for a European tour starting January 25, 2006. The band will perform songs from their debut album, as well as songs from the AYREON back catalog. STREAM OF PASSION's debut album "Embrace the Storm" is scheduled for release on October 24 via Sony/BMG Benelux. STREAM OF PASSION features Mexican singer Marcela Bovio (one of the vocalists on AYREON's 2004 rock opera, "The Human Equation") and Lori Linstruth (WARBRIDE) on lead guitars.
*AREA 54 (feat. Laura Salmon on bass) recently completed the first part of the recording process for their as-yet-untitled third album, tentatively due later in the year. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "My Hate" and "Losing Grip".
*Heavy slammin' groove queen Roxy Petrucci (formerly VIXEN drummer) has teamed up under the name of MONS VENUS with guitarist Brian Young from the DAVID LEE ROTH band, bassist Doug McRoy (formerly of ROXANNE) and vocalist Lenita Erickson, who toured with Bruce Kulick. The band make their debut performances at the Cat Club (July 24th) and the Joint (July 27th) in Hollywood, CA. Don't be square, be there!
*STREAM OF PASSION's upcoming CD "Embrace the Storm" is scheduled for release on September 26 via InsideOut Music.
*Los Angeles quartet FIREBALL MINISTRY have officially joined the roster of Liquor and Poker Music. The group's new album "Their Rock Is Not Our Rock" will be released on October 18.
*MY RUIN are to release a new album "The Brutal Language" at the end of September. It will be on their own label Rovena Recordings. This is the band's first record with the new rhythm section of bassist Chris Lisee and drummer Jason Brunk.
*Brazilian heavy metallers SHADOWSIDE have uploaded the cover artwork for their full-length debut, entitled "Theatre of Shadows" at http://www.shadowside.ws. The Japanese edition of the album will include a cover of MARI HAMADA's "Don't Change Your Mind" (with lyrics in Japanese) while the European version will feature a cover of DIO's "Rainbow in the Dark".
*Apparently, THE DISTILLERS have broken up. There is no official news as to why, except that Brody broke it off to what seems to be 'personal' reasons. According to sources close to the band, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman Josh Homme and Brody Dalle are expecting their first child in December.
*BENEDICTUM (formerly BOUND), the San Diego-based band fronted by powerhouse female vocalist Veronica Freeman, have inked a deal with Locomotive Records. The group's debut album, which will be produced by Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER), is scheduled for release on October 17. BENEDICTUM were reportedly being discovered by DIO guitarist Graig Goldy.
*THE GATHERING and Century Media are opening their archives to present a luxurious double CD set full of rare and unreleased material. "Accessories - Rarities And B-Sides" will be released in Europe on August 22, 2005.
*NASHVILLE PUSSY have inked a deal with Steamhammer/SPV Records. The group's new album "Get Some" was produced by Daniel Rey (RAMONES) and mixed by Glen Robinson (VOIVOD, ANNIHILATOR). The CD features the IKE & TINA TURNER cover "Nutbush City Limits" and is scheduled for release on September 26.
*Florida-based extreme metal act ROYAL ANGUISH will enter Razzor Media/Mana Studios on September 2 to begin tracking the follow-up to their EP, "Tales of Sullen Eyes". ROYAL ANGUISH's current lineup includes frontman/founder Matt Knowles on vocals and rhythm guitar, the angelic and mesmerizing female vocals of Katy Decker, the lead guitar marksmanship of Marius Kozlowski, ex-WYKKED WYTCH/KAMELOT bassist Sean Tibbetts, and drummer Sean Currie.
*Roadrunner Records U.K. has announced the signing of Dutch goth-metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION for the U.K., Australian, and Japanese territories.
*Vancouver-based rock singer BIF NAKED has covered METALLICA's "Nothing Else Matters" on her latest disc, "Superbeautifulmonster", available on her own indie label, Her Royal Majesty's Records.
*SINERGY have had the release date of their new album, "Sins Of The Past" (Nuclear Blast), pushed back to March 6, 2006. No reason was given for the delay.
*West Virginia's HYDROGYN (feat. frontlady Julie on vocals) have posted a cover of the AC/DC classic "Back In Black" on their web site, located at: http://www.hydrogyn.com. The track is an early mix produced by Michael Wagener (OZZY OSBOURNE, SKID ROW) and hints at the dynamic final version to be featured on their forthcoming album "Bombshell", to be completed later this summer.
*Japanese all-female band SHOW-YA have reunited for their 20th anniversary with the old line-up, consisting of Keiko Terada (vocals), Miki Igarashi (guitars), Satomi Senba (bass), Miki Nakamura (keyboards) and Miki Tsunoda (drums). The band will be playing a one-off show in Tokyo on October 23.
*Finland's LULLACRY have set "Vol. 4" as the title of their new album, due on September 7 via Spinefarm Records.
*Clementine, founding member and the drummer for three-piece metal band BOTTOM, has left the group after nine years. Her new web site http://www.clemthegreat.com will track ZEPPARELLA, the female LED ZEPPELIN tribute band, and all other future projects.
*AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen has officially unveiled his new band STREAM OF PASSION, which also features singer Mexican singer Marcela Bovio, one of the vocalists on AYREON's 2004 rock opera "The Human Equation" and Lori Linstruth, an amazingly skilled American female guitarist residing in Sweden.
*AFTER FOREVER recently spent time at the Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany recording their fourth full-length album "Remagine".
*VANILLA NINJA has entered the Eurovision song contest with the song “Cool Vibes”. They made it to the position 8 with 128 points.
*SKEW SISKIN recently announced the addition of PRIMAL FEAR drummer Randy Black and bassist Henning Menke to the group's ranks. The band are currently working on material with famous German rock-star rebel Udo Lindenberg for their first-ever album in the German language. In addition, the band are writing material for their fifth album in the English language. Lemmy Kilmister from MOTÖRHEAD will once again be contributing lyrics to the CD.
*CRISIS frontwoman Karyn Crisis has launched her own women's t-shirt line, dubbed Exorsister. The Exorsister line will be launched with the first design of the series "Avenging Angel". Exorsister shirts are currently only available at CRISIS shows.
*FORGOTTEN TALES recently announced that their drummer Cédric Prévost has left the band.
*BLACKMORE'S NIGHT have set "Castles and Dreams" as the title of their upcoming DVD, due in Europe in PAL format on May 31, 2005. The disc will contain an entire concert of Burg Veldenstein/Neuhaus, TV appearances, music videos, interviews, and personal home movies from the archives of Candice and Ritchie. "Castles and Dreams" will be released in USA/Canada, Brazil and Japan end of September.
*A full-length MP3 of the ANGTORIA demo track "Six Feet Under's Not Deep Enough" has been made available for download at http://www.Angtoria.com. ANGTORIA, the new Swedish/British orchestral/metal band formed by female singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS), composer Chris Rehn (ABYSSOS) and Tommy Rehn (MOAHNI MOAHNA) completed a five-song "industry-only" demo at Virtual Symphony Studios in Sundsvall, Sweden and are currently seeking a record deal.
*KITTIE bassist Jennifer Arroyo teamed up with the new band SUICIDE CITY (formerly RODEK) of BIOHAZARD guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei. The band recently joined the "Mouth of Madness" tour with OTEP (amongst others) for several dates in early June.
*Dutch bands go ‘reality-soap’! While KREZIP are featured on MTV in their first TV program, called “On Krezip”, BAD CANDY have just started their Nickelodeon series, “Bad Candy was here”, featuring new singer Natalie James. The band has reduced to being a four piece and their first single, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” is available now.
*EPICA have recorded a new DVD of their recent show at Pinkpop on Whit Saturday. No release date has been set yet.
*ANA POPOVIC has released her first live CD/DVD on Ruf Records. It has been recorded in Amsterdam 2005 and it’s a must for all blues/rock fans! The DVD contains some excellent bonus material (acoustic session, interview, photo gallery, etc.).
*MAHAVATAR has signed with Cruz Del Sur Music and released their debut album “Go With The No”.
*HAMKA is the name of the new band featuring Willdric Lievin (ex-FAIRYLAND) and Elisa C. Martín (DREAMAKER, ex-DARK MOOR, ex-FAIRYLAND). A release date for their full-length debut album, entitled "Unearth", will be announced soon.
*THE IRON MAIDENS have released their first self-titled full-length album, which was conceived by former IRON MAIDEN designer Derek Riggs. The album will be sold at THE IRON MAIDENS' upcoming shows and via their website, www.theironmaidens.com, since the band have no distribution network to rely on.
*COOKIES DOWNTOWN are back! They have added a new vocalist with Karol, who joined a few months ago. A new EP is on the way, too. More info at: www.cookiesdowntown.com.
*LACUNA COIL recently completed a second recording session for their upcoming album, tentatively due this fall via Century Media Records.
*Candlelight Records has set a June 14 U.S. release date for "Winter Enclosure", the debut album from Norway's six-piece, all-female band OCTAVIA SPERATI. Recorded in their hometown of Bergen, Norway, the album was produced by Herbrand Larsen and Arve Isdal, both members of labelmates ENSLAVED.
*Raleigh, North Carolina-based melodic metallers WIDOW have uploaded the cover artwork for their new album at http://www.burning-village.com/sounds.php. The follow-up to "Midnight Strikes" (Tribunal Records), "On Fire" is scheduled for release in June via Cruz Del Sur Music.
*KITTIE recently parted ways with guitarist Lisa Marx and bassist Jennifer Arroyo. No replacements have yet been named. The band also announced, that Artemis Records have released them from their recording contract.
*Escape Music have secured a triple album deal with one of the most exciting concepts in female fronted rock from the early eighties, Chicago based TANTRUM, who had not one, but three lovely ladies fronting the band. Their third album "Breaking Away", one of the most famous unreleased albums of all time, is included in the package along with "Tantrum" and "Rather Be Rockin'".
*Reality Check TV's long-awaited home DVD/video, "Real Rock Divas", is finally complete, and has been sent in to the distributor, MDI. The disc will be pressed/manufactured by MDI, and be available for purchase online and in stores at www.MDIDistribution.com. Featured on the disc are RCTV's encounters with all-girl or female-fronted acts like THE DONNAS, LITA FORD and SANDY WEST (THE RUNAWAYS), L7, DORO, BETSY BITCH, KITTIE, LACUNA COIL, BIF NAKED, BUBBLE and more, including some local San Francisco and California unsigned bands.
*LEAVES' EYES, the new band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY (who are fronted by Liv's husband Alexander Krull), have set a June 18 U.S. release date (May 2 in Europe) via Napalm Records for their six-track mini CD, entitled "Elegy". The group will issue their sophomore album, "Vinland Saga", on May 30 (in Europe) via Napalm.
*German gothic/dark metal band ATARGATIS, featuring female singer Stephanie Luzie (DARKWELL), have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band will enter Hellion studios (DARKSEED, EQUILIBRIUM) in Munich, Germany in June/July to record their full-length debut, tentatively due before the end of the year. The as-yet-untitled CD will include a new version of the group's "hit" song "Angels Crying", which topped the German dark metal chart at www.mp3.de for ten months straight with more than 12,000 downloads. The album, which will be mastered at Alex Krull's Mastersound studios, will feature a guest appearance by singer Sandra Schleret (DREAMS OF SANITY). For more information, visit www.atargatis.de.
*CRISIS have begun the songwriting process for their next album with drummer Justin Arman (ex-SOCIETY 1). The album is not expected to be completed until early next year.
*British extreme metal pioneers BOLT THROWER have launched their official web site at http://www.boltthrower.com. Included on the site are song rarities, videos, an official forum and other features. BOLT THROWER are currently in final rehearsals for their eighth, as-yet-untitled studio release and sees the return of original vocalist Karl Willetts as a full-time member. *THE GATHERING are expected to record a new album in the fall with producer Attie Bauw (who worked with the group on their "How To Measure A Planet?" CD). An early 2006 release is expected. In the meantime, the band will release a DVD at the end of this summer, entitled “A Sound Relief”, focussing on the more quiet songs of fifteen years THE GATHERING. Also, in 2006 they will work on a more rock-orientated concert DVD, which will be called “A Noise Severe”.
*ARCH ENEMY will release their new album “Doomsday Machine” on August 22 in Europe.
*CRESCENT SHIELD, the California-based traditional melodic metal band featuring bassist Melanie Sisneros (SINERGY, THE IRON MAIDENS, NEW EDEN), have entered their own studio to begin recording their debut album, released later in the year through an as-yet-undetermined label.
*TANG (NY) are working on a new album and are back to being an all-female trio. The hottest new addition is Vanessa on keyboards. She comes from a classically trained background and has toured Europe and the US with the gothic metal band VASARIA.
*DEVIL KIT is back to its original members with drummer Helen Destroy. The band are very busy writing new songs at the moment.
*LULLACRY fourth full-length (yet untitled) album is tentatively due early September via Spinefarm Records. A new single, "Stranger In You", featuring a cover of KISS' "I Stole Your Love", will precede the album this summer.
*Seattle punk-rock band THE GITS, whose lead singer, Mia Zapata, was murdered in 1993, are the subject of a new documentary, "The Gits Movie", which is scheduled to premier on Friday, May 28 at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). Check out a trailer for the movie at the film's official web site at: www.thegits movie.com.
*GIRLSCHOOL are officially confimed to support MOTORHEAD on their upcoming UK tour this fall. Check our concert page for the dates.
*Gothenburg, Sweden-based female-fronted metal band DRACENA have completed work on their debut album, "Infernal Damnation". The CD is tentatively due this spring through an as-yet-undetermined label. DRACENA had previously issued two demo CDs: "Labyrinth Of Darkness" (‘01) and "Demonic Women" (‘99).
*Italy's LACUNA COIL recently spent time in Milan in pre-production with producer Waldemar Sorychta (TIAMAT, GRIP INC., SAMAEL). The band will soon enter the studio to record the first three songs for their much-anticipated follow-up to 2002's "Comalies". A late 2005 release via Century Media Records is expected.
*British extreme metal pioneers BOLT THROWER have announced the return of original vocalist Karl Willetts as a full-time member. Willetts rejoins the group as the replacement for Dave Ingram, who left the band in August due to long-standing "health and personal problems”. The now complete line-up of BOLT THROWER - Willetts, Gavin Ward, Barry Thomson, Jo Bench and Martin Kearns - will spend the next few weeks finishing off the new material before going into the studio to record their eighth album. The upcoming CD will be the follow up to 2001's "Honour, Valour, Pride", which was the only BOLT THROWER release to feature Ingram on vocals.
*After having many auditions, TRISOMY found a vocalist suiting the profile: Martine Thijs. Yes, this is the same vocalist Trisomy played several gigs with last spring, and recorded "V" with last summer, both resulting in very positive reactions. Directly after the recordings she wasn't able to join TRISOMY, but her personal situation changed for the better and both TRISOMY and Martine are very excited to get started.
*ANCIENT's Aphazel and ex-ANCIENT singer Deadly Kristin have signed a contract with the Greek label Sleaszy Rider for the release of DREAMLIKE HORROR's first album, "Delightful Suicides". The CD will include the five (re-arranged) tracks from the unreleased 2000 promo and five brand new tracks, which are in process of being composed/recorded. A March 15, 2005 release is expected. Furthermore Sleaszy Rider is going to re-release ANCIENT's "Det Glemte Riket" on February 15, 2005 as well as ANCIENT's first dem