In Flames Release 'Take This Life' Video Online

IN FLAMES' video for the song "Take This Life" has been posted online at Aftonbladet.se. The clip was shot in late October in Sweden with director Patric Ullaeus, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL and KAMELOT, among many others. "Take This Life" (mp3) is the roll-out single and video from the group's upcoming album, "Come Clarity", due in North America on February 7 through Ferret Music. The follow-up to the band's 2004 album, "Soundtrack to Your Escape", "Come Clarity" was mixed at Tonteknik studio in Umeå, Sweden and is "the best [CD] we've ever done," according to IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad.

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Buried Inside To Begin Recording New Album

Ottawa quintet Buried Inside will begin the recording process for its sophomore Relapse Records effort. The band will hole up in a Philadelphia, PA studio atarting January 14th. These tracks will set the tone for the follow-up album to the band's Relapse debut Chronoclast. The band is keeping tight-lipped on the theme of this record but they do promise that this will be their most calculated and aggressive effort to-date.

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Phoenix Mourning Sign With Metal Blade

Metal Blade Records has officially inked a worldwide deal with the Tampa, FL screamo/metalcore act Phoenix Mourning. The band’s first release with Metal Blade Records, "When Excuses Become Antiques," will also mark the bands first full length CD since forming in the summer of 2004. When Excuses Become Antiques was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer Tom Morris who has also produced acts such as Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse and Seven Mary Three.

"We are absolutely honored to have signed to Metal Blade Records. A label we all grew up admiring for their amazing roster year after year. It feels amazing to now be in the family with such acts as As I Lay Dying, The Black Dahlia Murder and hometown friends The Absence. We look forward to many, many years of success with Metal Blade and the staff that makes this label so remarkable." - Phoenix Mourning

“We are really excited to add Phoenix Mourning to the Metal Blade family. They provide us with a new and fresh approach and something that we were really looking for.” – Brian Slagel/Owner & CEO Metal Blade Records Inc.

You can check out Across Twenty-Six Winters off of Phoenix Mourning’s upcoming release When Excuses Become Antiques on their Pure Volume page or on their MySpace page. When Excuses Become Antiques will be in stores April 18th, 2006 with the band hitting the road shortly before street date.

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Morgana Lefay, Agent Steel On Chicago Powerfest

Swedish metallers MORGANA LEFAY and California's AGENT STEEL have just been confirmed for Chicago Powerfest 2006. Due to an overwhelming response stemming from both last year's Powerfest performance and the success of their latest release, "Grand Materia", MORGANA LEFAY has been invited to return for a repeat performance. The last remaining band (headliner) will be announced in the next week or two, with additional ticket and event details to follow.

Chicago Powerfest, the fourth annual metal fest featuring both veteran and up-and-coming bands from various sub-genres of metal, will take place on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 at Mr. Kelley's Music Box in Chicago Heights, IL. Also scheduled to appear at the festival are ELDRITCH, BIOMECHANICAL, ION VEIN, TWELFTH GATE, GRACEPOINT, MIRROR BLACK and WITHERING SOUL.

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New Battered Song Available For Download

A brand-new BATTERED track, entitled "Oblivion Awaits", has been made available for download at this location. The song comes off the Norwegian group's self-titled debut album, which is scheduled for release in Norway on February 25 on Tabu Records, in Europe on March 13 and in the U.S. on April 14 via Candlelight Records.

"Battered" (view cover here) was recorded at Sifa Lydstudio and was mixed at Top Room Studio with producer Børge Finstad.

BATTERED — who feature in their ranks former EINHERJER members Frode Glesnes (a.k.a. Grimar, vocals/guitar), Aksel Herløe (guitar) and Gerhard Storesund (a.k.a. Vivar, drums) — recently teamed up with producer Rome Ramsies of Vision Valley to shoot a video for the song "Not One" from the group's debut album. "The whole video was shot in bluescreen and the CGI will be done in Australia," the band write on their web site. The clip is expected to premiere in February.

BATTERED's current lineup is rounded out by bassist Ole Moldesæther and vocalist Sigurd Olaisen (HEADBLOCK).

Tentative track listing for BATTERED's debut album (in no particular order):

01. Oblivion Awaits
02. New Lament
03. Industrial Killing
04. The Flagellant
05. Not One
06. Perfect Illusion
07. The Dig
08. Demagog
09. Parasight
10. Derelict

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Sonic Syndicate, Avatar, Inevitable End Tour

SONIC SYNDICATE have announced that they will be joining forces Swedish Metal artists AVATAR, and INEVITABLE END for The Sweden United – Metal Tour 2006. The dates on the tour include gigs in many of Sweden’s major cities as well as other towns the bands have not
played in before. Commented SONIC SYNDICATE guitarist Roger Sjunnesson, “We will do a mini tour together with the great bands INEVITABLE END and AVATAR, under the name Sweden United - Metal Tour 2006. Most of the dates are now confirmed and more dates will be announced in the coming weeks. The Tour will take off in Gothenburg 28 January on the very well known place Meeths unga Salonger. We're all very happy to be on tour and it will surly be a blast!”

The following are the confirmed dates for the Sweden United – Metal Tour 2006. More will be confirmed in the near future.

Sweden United - Metal Tour 2006
Jan 28 – Göteborg, Meeths
Feb 04 – Alingsås, Fabriken
Feb 11 - Falkenberg Smedjan
Feb 17 – Halmstad, Rockstugan
Feb 24 - Trollhättan, Magasin 15
Feb 25 – Varberg, Musikenshus

Other Confirmed Sonic Syndicate Shows
Feb 03 - Stockholm Tantogården (w/Dismember, CD Release Party Show)
Feb 08 - Göteborg Sticky Fingers (w/ Sovereign)

SONIC SYNDICATE will be entering StudioMega (THE CROWN, BEESECH) next week to begin pre-production for their follow up to “Eden Fire”, which was released on September 15, 2005 through Pivotal Rockordings.

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Headline News

YOB Breaks Up

YOB, who released their last album with Metal Blade Records in 2005, have officially broken up. Here's a statement from the band:

"This is Mike from YOB. I regret to say that YOB is disbanding after almost 10 years of existence. The time we spent with YOB exceeded our wildest expectations and hopes and it has truly been a dream come true. Travis Foster and Isamu Sato left the band in July, and I have been trying to decide what to do for the last six months. YOB has had 3 other line-ups, but this one was the best. At the end of the day the best thing for YOB is to call it a day. I want to thank everyone who has been supportive to YOB over the years...labels, bands, fans, the venues, our families...without you none of this would have been possible. I will be working on a new band called AGE that will very much be in the vein of YOB, with some new twists."

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Savage Circus Album Gets N. American Release, MP3

"Dreamland Manor," the highly anticipated debut album from Germany’s power metal newcomers SAVAGE CIRCUS, will see North American release March 21st, 2006. The MP3 for “Evil Eyes” has been posted here. Already released in Europe, the album has received rave reviews from press. Century Media’s North American version will include the “Evil Eyes” video. Commenting on the album’s North American release drummer Thomen Stauch said, “We are proud to confirm having signed a deal with the right label for Dreamland Manor’s North American release! Century Media has convinced us with their long-time experience of releasing great metal albums in the United States of America.”

Seeing his musical style diverge from his primary band Blind Guardian’s, drummer Thomen Stauch yearned to compose music reminiscent of their classic albums, Tales From The Twilight Worlds and Imaginations From The Other Side. Stauch founded SAVAGE CIRCUS in 2004 and immediately sought like-minded musicians to round out the band’s lineup. Long time friend Piet Sielck (Iron Savior) recommended members of the Swedish band Persuader, guitarist Emil Norberg and vocalist Jens Carlsson, whose sophomore album he had produced. Instantly feeling a connection with their musical style, Stauch contacted Norberg and Carlsson who agreed to work with him. Stauch then turned to Sielck asking him to complete the band’s circle, playing guitar and recording bass tracks. Following the 2005 recording of Dreamland Manor and his musical visions realized, Stauch decided to leave Bland Guardian making SAVAGE CIRCUS his full-time band.

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Witchery Release New MP3 and Artwork Online

WITCHERY’s first spell, “Plague Rider,” from their upcoming album Don’t Fear The Reaper, has been posted here. Scheduled for North American release March 21st, the album was recorded at Berno Studios (Amon Amarth, Dark Funeral) in 2004, with mixing duties entrusted to Tue Madsen and his Antfarm Studios (The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn). Original artwork by David Diaz (P.O.D.) has been posted here. The North American release features an exclusive track, a cover version of Satanic Slaughter’s classic “Legion Of Hades.”

Sweden's Witchery recently returned from a two year hiatus to sign a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. "Don't Fear The Reaper" will be the band'sr fourth full-length offering.

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Strapping Young Lad To Release Album In 2006

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD drummer Gene Hoglan has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"We have just commenced writing for the follow-up to 'Alien'. We're only a week in, and we're already up to four wicked new tunes! I'm really psyched with the new stuff, hell, we all are. And Jed's [Simon, guitar] not even here yet! As everyone knows, STRAPPING is sort of an evolution in progress, and this album will be no different. Anyone looking for an 'Alien Pt. II', or a 'City Pt. II', or hell, even a 'Chicken Feather Pt. II', knows that's not how we work. Fresh new STRAPPING sounds for a fresh new chapter. And, what an exciting chapter this is looking to be. Because, one of the other reasons 2006 is gonna be so rippin' is that, come July, upon the new one's release, STRAPPING has some CRAZY touring plans, which we'll go into later. But, suffice it to say, this will be our most prodigious year, indeed. I'll tell ya all about it next month, no problem... Not that I'm gonna wait a month to drop a new a new batch of verbiage on ya or anything, but, indeed, next month we'll just know more...

"Now, on a side note, I've been hearing from a lot of folks that many of you have not been able to see the 'Zen' video, and we don't have it posted on this site. Well, I promise to get that thing uploaded on here [as soon as possible]. As soon as I figure out how to upload stuff, as I am still a web-troglodyte. Fuck, a 10 year-old kid is a GENIUS compared to me on computers. Yeah, but I bet I could kick ANY 10-year-old's ass in a fight! 'Put 'em up, ya little ankle-bitin' fuckers!' Hey, it could happen..."

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Vinnie Paul To Introduce Signature Snare

Vinnie Paul of PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN will be attending the 2006 Winter NAMM show (National Association of Music Merchants), which runs between January 19 and January 22 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Paul will be appearing in the Pearl Drums booth at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21. Vinnie will be there to introduce his new signature snare, which he designed with Pearl. This 14x8 six-ply maple snakeskin-covered, spike-tipped monster is said to be "every bit as badass as Vinnie could make it." He will also be promoting the new REBEL MEETS REBEL CD, due in April via his newly launched Big Vin label. This record features Paul alongside other ex-PANTERA members "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (guitar) and Rex Brown (bass) in a collaborative effort with country outlaw David Allan Coe.

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P.O.D. To Guest On Tonight Show & Carson Daly

P.O.D. will be performing live on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on January 30th and on "Last Call With Carson Daly" on January 31st. The band, who expect to kick off a US headlining run in late March, will release their new album "Testify" this month on January 24th.

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Dillinger Escape Plan Post Album Update On Website

The Dillinger Escape Plan are writing new material for their next album, an update on that is available over at www.dillingerescapeplan.com.

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The Gathering Sign Deal With Sanctuary Records

Sanctuary Records has signed a European licensing deal with the world-renowned Dutch act THE GATHERING.

THE GATHERING recently entered the studio to commence work on their ninth studio album, entitled "Home". For this recording the band has set up a professional studio in a quaint old church in the small town of Maurik, located in the south of Holland. Under direction of Attie Bauw (producer of the band's 1998 effort "How to Measure a Planet?"), the band worked there for a month before heading to the Bauwhaus studio to mix and master the music. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Shortest Day", "Home", "Fatigue", "Your Troubles are Over", "Solace", "The Quiet One", "A Noise Severe", and "Alone".

Commented singer Anneke van Giersbergen: "We built our own studio there because we wanted to do something different and create a new atmosphere. As for working with Attie Bauw, he is a very inspirational man with great ideas and we were very eager to work with him again."

The new album, "Home", is once again a journey for ear and mind. It’s a story without taking you by the hand but rather wants you to make it your own. Both musically and lyrically it deals with the challenges and victories of everyday life. All this translated in to good and solid heavy pop and rock songs where melody, dynamics and emotion play the leading role. More...

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Listen To Underworld: Evolution Soundtrack Online

AOL Music held an online listening party for the 'Underworld Evolution' soundtrack, on Tuesday January 10. You can still listen to all the songs online here. The complete Underworld: Evolution Soundtrack tracklisting is as follows:

01 - Puscifer - "The Undertaker" (Renholder Mix)
02 - Chester Bennington (of Linkin Park) vs. Julien-K - "Morning After"
03 - Hawthorne Heights - "Where Do I Stab Myself In The Ears" (The Legion Of Doom Remix)
04 - My Chemical Romance - "To The End" (RnR Cheryl Mix)
05 - Slipknot - "Vermillion Pt. 2" (Bloodstone Mix)
06 - Alkaline Trio - "Burn" (Alleged Remix)
07 - Aiden - "The Last Sunrise" (Dusk Mix)
08 - Senses Fail - "Bite To Break Skin" (The Legion Of Doom Remix)
09 - Atreyu - "Her Portrait In Black"
10 - Trivium - "Washing Away Me In The Tides"
11 - Mendozza - "Eternal Battle"
12 - Lacuna Coil - "Our Truth"
13 - Gosling - "Cat People (Putting Out The Fire)"
14 - Bobby Gold - "Why Are You Up"
15 - Meat Beat Manifesto - "Suicide"
16 - Cradle Of Filth - "HW2"

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Hatesphere Hold Live Webcam Chat This Month

Danish death metallers HATESPHERE have posted the following update at their website:

"On January 26th at 20.00 Hatesphere will participate in a live webcam chat on the biggest Danish chatroom Nationx.dk. Sign up and join the chat if you want to ask the band a question or just want to see who is faster at chugging beer!"

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Dragonforce Album Delayed in North American

DragonForce post these details on myspace:
"The release of 'Inhuman Rampage' has been delayed in North America while a new record deal is negotiated. Unfortunately we cannot expand on this further for the time being, but there will be news soon and you will see it here first!"

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