Dark Moor Writing New Material, Seeking Label

Dark Moor has begun writing new material for their next album, wich is planned to be recorded by the second half of this year 2006. The band is currently looking for a new label through its management agency Metallian, after the ending of their contract with Arise Records. You can check out some video clips and mp3 samples on the band's official website.

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Apiary Enter Studio To Record Ironclad Debut

Apiary have issued an update regarding their impending Ironclad Recordings debut:

"Hey, we just wanted to give everybody a heads up on what's going on right now. We have everything written for the new album which is being titled "Lost In Focus." The track listing will become available in the weeks ahead. We go into Castle Ultimate Studios with Zack Ohren on engineering/mixing/mastering duties for most of January. We should be done Jan. 30th, just in time for the Scarlet, The Esoteric, Fight Paris, Calico System show in San Francisco on Jan. 31st. While we are in the studio we will be giving in-depth updates daily on www.apiarymusic.com and www.myspace.com/apiary with the details of how the recording is going. "Lost In Focus" will be coming out in April 2006 on Ironclad Recordings/Metal Blade Records and we expect to hit the road in early March 2006 and stay out for the rest of the year."

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Obituary Talks About Split With Roadrunner

OBITUARY vocalist John Tardy recently spoke to Zach Palmer of DoomsdayMusic.com about the band's split with Roadrunner Records, among other topics. Here are a few extracts from the conversation:

Doomsday Music: Now, this album, if I'm not mistaken, this was the final album on the Roadrunner contract, is that correct?

John Tardy: "Yeah, we are all done with Roadrunner."

Doomsday Music: Ok. Are there any plans to resign with Roadrunner, or are you going to look elsewhere? Or is there even going to be another album?

John Tardy: "Oh, there's definitely [going to be another]. We've already got some songs written as a matter of fact. We're kind of working on some new stuff, poking around here, so we definitely plan on next year doing another record, but it will not be with Roadrunner, no."

Doomsday Music: Now, I know you probably can't talk about too much specifics if it has even gotten that far, but as far as your preference, what kind of label are you looking for? Are you looking for the size of Roadrunner or bigger like Warner Brothers or are you going for more Nuclear Blast or Century Media size?

John Tardy: "Well, we've gotten some contact from some of those record companies, and we're really just approaching it like all options are open. We've even half-kicked around the fact that we might just do it on our own. So it just all depends here, there's going to be a lot that happens. I think people are just well aware of the fact that we won’t be back with Roadrunner. It just all depends on what's next for us and that's the way we're going to approach it. We're so relieved, we just got off the record deal, we got all our merchandising back, and everything is just in our own laps to do what we want with it, and it's just so nice not to have those ropes tying you down like we had being with Roadrunner for so long and just some of the stuff that they did, we're just so happy to be free of that. So we're leaving all our options open and we'll see what happens."

Read the full article at Dooms Day Music.

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Sadus Post Another New Track Online

Another brand-new SADUS track, entitled "Out for Blood", has been uploaded to to the group's MySpace.com page. Also available on the site is the new song "Sick". Both cuts come off SADUS's upcoming album, "Out for Blood", due on February 27 via Holland's Mascot Records.

Mascot has uploaded a video trailer for "Out for Blood" at their web site. Check it out: Large (755 KB), Small (270 KB) (Windows Media).

The follow-up to 1997's "Elements of Anger", "Out for Blood" (view cover here) was recorded at Trident Studios in California with producer Børge Finstad (MAYHEM, BORKNAGAR, VINTERSORG, EXTOL), engineer Juan Urteaga and manager Rob Lewis. The album features a guest appearance on one track by TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy.

With regards to the upcoming CD, SADUS bassist Steve DiGiorgio (SEBASTIAN BACH, ex-DEATH, TESTAMENT) had previously said, "Eleven new songs, some bonus crap and a cool behind the scenes video are all comprising the fifth album.

"Man, I know it's so cliché to say this...but this is by far our best-sounding shit... Holy crap, we're psyched for you to get some of this shyssa (scheiße)! Hopefully the wait will be worth it when you get infected from the contagious brutal aggression found through all the varying songs."

In other news, SADUS recently ran a MySpace.com contest through the bulletin feature of the site, asking for the fastest 50 fans to simply send in their street address and full name to receive an envelope containing SADUS memorabilia signed by all members of the band. The contest took place on December 30, 2005 and participants from all over the world sent in their messages within 40 minutes of the release of the bulletin. SADUS guitarist/vocalist Darren Travis took time out to personally send the envelopes out to the fans. "I gave everyone two stickers — one signed by band members and one not, a Darren Travis/SADUS signature plectrum, and a personal message on a chili ticket stub, telling them to show their support on February 27," said Travis.

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El Caco Nominated For Norwegian Grammy

El Caco has been nominated for a Norwegian Grammy. Their last album “The Search” is nominated for best metal album of 2005. The other nominees are Audrey Horne, Extol and Stonegard. The awards takes place at Chateau Neuf in Oslo, Norway on the 28th of January, and there will also be a live broadcast on Norwegian TV2.

El Caco has one live gig planned in the near future:

JAN 27 2005: Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller (+Stonegard)

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Moss Releases Debut Album

Punishing UK doomsters MOSS have released their debut album 'Cthonic Rites' via Aurora Borealis. Produced by Jus Oborn of UK doom metal legends ELECTRIC WIZARD, 'Cthonic Rites' contains two colossally crushing tracks of ultra primitive and monolithic slowed-down crust within 66 minutes and 6 seconds. You can hear a clip of their "Crypts of Somnambulance" here.

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Bane, Silent Drive, and FC Five Japanese Tour Date

Bane, Silent Drive, and FC Five will be touring Japan in February. Here are the dates:

02/02 Tokyo Shibuya, Japan @ Eggman
02/03 Kyoto, Japan @ Club East
02/04 Yamaguchi, Japan @ Club Squad
02/05 Fukuoka, Japan @ Wow!
02/06 Ehime Matsuyama, Japan @ Salon Kitty
02/07 Osaka, Japan @ Pipe Rock
02/08 Nagoya, Japan @ Zion
02/09 Shizuoka, Japan @ Spiral Mart
02/10 Yokohama, Japan @ Bay Jungle
02/11 Tokyo Shinjuku, Japan @ ACB
02/12 Ibaraki Tsukuba, Japan @ Park Diner

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The Divining Plan East Coast US Tour

The Divining will tour the East Coast briefly this month. Here's the schedule:

1/4 Fayetteville, NC @ Huske Hardware House
1/5 Wilmington, NC @ Gracies 121
1/6 Myrtle Beach, SC @ 007 Hardrock Tavern w/ Sky Set Unfold
1/7 Augusta, GA @ Sector 7G w/ Ligeia, Waking Judea
1/8 Panama City, FL @ Showcase Music Venue w/ Waking Judea
1/10 Savannah, GA @ Le Morte Rouge
1/11 Athens, GA @ Tasty World
1/13 Kernersville, NC @ Creation Skatepark w/ Sky Set Unfold, Waking Judea
1/14 Madison Heights, VA @ Madison Heights Ruritan Club
1/15 Burnham, PA @ Fraternal Order of Eagles

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Theudho Announce New Album, New Line-up

Flemish pagan metal band THEUDHO will release the follow-up to the 2004 critically acclaimed debut album “Treachery” in the first half of 2006 through NEPHEREX, home of such underground acts as WANHOOP, KLUDDE, IRON CLAD, ...

The new material, conceptually based on a yet undisclosed theme in Germanic literature, is currently being recorded at the same facilities where “Treachery” was recorded. Raf, lead guitar player of the Flemish black metal gods ANCIENT RITES, will mix and master the album early 2006.

Starting out as a one-man band in 2003 and performing as a two-piece the last year, THEUDHO is proud to announce the arrival of two new members: bassist Filip (GORATH, MAHLSTRØM, P:407) and drummer Joachim (WANHOOP).

Since all slots in the line-up are filled, the band is contemplating on accepting some of the offers they have received to perform live.

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Dissection Announce Album Title

Reactivated Swedish death metallers DISSECTION have set "Reinkaos" as the title of their long-awaited third album, tentatively due this spring via the band's own label, Black Horizon Music.

"The ritualistic and black magical work on 'Reinkaos', which has taken 11 years to conduct as well as 11 months in the recording studio, has in the long hard road to manifestation been steadily accompanied with constant struggle, internal and external turbulence, occult practice, murder sentences, scandals, Satanic crime, media boycott and censorship, violence, death and chaos," reads a posting on he band's official web site. "After all… 'Reinkaos' is now finally to be unleashed!"

Commented singer/guitarist Jon Nödtveidt: "We have invested our souls in this album, gone through fire and brimstone to make everything work."

Black Horizon Music will also re-release the bands back catalogue, including the classic albums "The Somberlain" and "Storm of the Light's Bane". A documentary film about DISSECTION is currently in production.

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Exodus Reveal North American Tour Dates

More dates have been released for EXODUS' upcoming North American headlining tour:

April 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
April 17 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre

with CRYPTOPSY, IMMOLATION:
April 27 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
April 28 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
April 29 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
April 30 - New York, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club

with IMMOLATION:
May 2 - Montreal, QC @ Le Medley
May 3 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace

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Dark Tranquillity To Open For Opeth On U.S. Tour

DARK TRANQUILLITY and the DEVIN TOWSEND BAND will be opening for OPETH on their upcoming North American tour. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:

February 15 - Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
February 16 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
February 17 - Towson, MD @ Recher Theatre
February 18 - Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small's
February 19 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's
February 21 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall

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Headline News

Metalunderground.com's Best of 2005 Awards

Having just wrapped up another year, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on what made this year a great year in metal.

Like last year, I've polled the entire staff here at metalunderground.com about their favorite albums of 2005. This year we've also added a few more categories as well. At the end of announcing the winners of all of the categories, the entire ordered list of nominees will be presented, because there was simply so much good metal to check out.

So without further ado, I'll present Metalunderground.com's staff picks for the following categories: Best Metal Album of 2005, Best Metal Newcomer of 2005, Best Live Act of 2005, and Most Anticipated Release for 2006.

Best Metal Album of 2005

There were some great metal albums released in 2005, although dare I say not many landmark albums. Still, a few great releases rise to the top of 2005 and the nod for Best Metal of 2005 goes to:

Nevermore's "This Godless Endeavor"

Runners-up:
Chimaira's "Chimaira"
Behemoth's "Demigod"
Dark Tranquillity's "Character"
Strapping Young Lad's "Alien"
Rammstein's "Rosenrot"

Best Metal Newcomer of 2005

Bands eligible for "Best Metal Newcomer of 2005" included bands who have released their first full length album or released their first album on a somewhat major metal label, or even have no formal release at all. This is a tough category to get consensus on, since we all have different tastes in metal and will hear of only a relatively few new bands each year. The band who rose to the top should be no surprise, however, as they've made waves and generated loads of press for being such a young band. Metalunderground.com's Best Metal Newcomer of 2005 is:

Trivium

Despite there being many great new bands coming out in 2005, only one other band got multiple nominations from the staff at metalunderground.com in this category.

Runner-up:
3 Inches of Blood

Best Live Act of 2005

Best Live Act was by far the most competitive category we voted on, since it was not restricted to releases from this year. The winner may not be expected by many metal heads, but at the same time may come as no surprise to those who have seen them live. Metalunderground.com's Best Live Act of 2005 is:

Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica embarked on their first full-fledged headlining US tour in 2005, and won the top votes from two of our staff (including myself) - enough to ensure victory. While the band plays cellos, their performance is as heavy and intense as any true metal band's you'll ever see.

As I mentioned, the competition was tight in this category, and we had seven more bands get multiple nominations and were right on the heels of Apocalyptica when the votes were counted.

Runners-up:
Megadeth
Anthrax
Mudvayne
Children of Bodom
Therion
Amon Amarth
Killswitch Engage

Most Anticipated Release for 2006

Most Anticipated release for 2006 as a category also generated a wide range of nominations due to the complete difference in people's tastes in metal. However, the few bands that got multiple nominations were really no surprise. The Most Anticipated Release for 2006 is:

Slayer

Slayer is well overdue for an album. Between their parent label being bought up and touring heavily, Slayer has delayed putting out an album since 2001's "God Hates Us All." Still, several other bands are garnering a lot of anticipation for new releases, including these:

Runners-up:
In Flames - Come Clarity
Metallica
Vader

Looking back, 2005 was a great year in metal despite there being few or no landmark releases. Nu-metal was all but nonexistent with the exception of its few top remaining bands such as Disturbed, Korn (who have moved away from metal once again) and System of a Down. Metalcore seemed less of a huge trend than the previous year, as the good bands have risen above the label and hardcore/metalcore elements have found their way into other styles of metal.

Last year was a huge year for many newer and up and coming bands putting out albums. But it was an even bigger year for many seasoned bands and old school metal bands - some recently reunited - on the tour circuit. 2006 looks to be even bigger with a slew of big releases by big name bands slated for release and more headlining tours by many of last year's up and comers as well as those bands reunited in 2005.

Finally, here is the entire list of nominations for the 2005 categories voted on, because all of these bands are worth looking into: More...

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Headline News

Aborted Part Ways With Two Members

Aborted have posted the following announcement in regards to their future plans and the departure of two members:

"A new year, a new beginning: On those notes we start off the new year, wishing everyone including all our fans the best of luck with their plans and projects for 2006. Unfortunately, we have some unpleasant news to bring as well at this point. Due to personal issues that could not be resolved, Aborted, Tace and Free had to part ways. The culmination of smaller and bigger problems in the past so and so months has made it virtually impossible to keep cooperating together as a collective unit. Tace and Free are not vanishing, they will remain active in their other projects. People will see Free in his other band "Forced Hate" and Tace has just started a new band."

"On a more positive note, we want to state that absolutely nobody out there should worry about shows getting canceled and so on. The February tour with Cryptopsy, Grave, Dew-Scented a.o., will go on as planned! Stepping in are Seb (Genital Grinder/Balrog) on guitar, Olivia (ex-No Return/Balrog) on bass and Matty (Emeth) on guitar as well since Steph could not commit him self to this tour due to his lady sitting at home pregnant, ready to give birth."

"We have already rehearsed our setlist with the new line-up several times and things are working out perfectly. The motivation and "drive" is back in the band, something that was missing since a while ago, and it feels great to be jamming out the tunes with fresh blood incorporated. Throughout the years this band has been struggling with the line-up, having more than a couple of line-up changes. However, Aborted has proven that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, and this time it should be no exception."

"We also started working on the successor to "The Archaic Abattoir," which is set to be recorded later this year. Again we would like to thank all of those who have supported us, and we're glad you are still doing so. We will see many of you on tour in February!"

Metalunderground.com recently interviewed now-departed guitarist, Tace. You can read that interview here.

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Cave In and Pelican European Tour Dates

Dates for the upcoming Cave In and Pelican European tour have been announced and are as follows:

2/1 Munich, Germany @ Backstage Club
2/2 Aschaffenburg, Germany @ Colos Saal
2/3 Bielefeld, Germany @ Forum - Visions
2/4 Dormund, Germany @ FZW - Visions
2/5 Berlin, Germany @ Kato
2/7 Koln, Germany @ Prime Club
2/8 Tillburg, Holland @ O13
2/9 Deventer, Holland @ Burgerweeshuis
2/10 Groningen, Holland @ Vera
2/11 Hamburg, Germany @ Logo
2/13 Geneva, Switzerland @ Usine
2/14 Bern, Switzerland @ Reitschule
2/16 Torino, Italy @ Spazio 211
2/16 Roma, Italy @ Cicolo Degli Artisti
2/17 Bologna, Italy @ Estragon Club
2/19 St. Feliu, Spain @ Palm Beach
2/20 Madrid, Spain @ Grunta 77
2/22 Lyon, France @ L'Epicerie Moderne
2/23 Poitier, France @ Le Confort Moderne
2/24 Paris, France @ La Boule Noire
2/25 Strasbourg, France @ La Laiterie
2/26 Antwerp, Belgium @ Hof Ter Loo
2/28 Birmingham, UK @ Academy 2
3/1 Glasgow, UK @ ABC 2
3/2 Manchester, UK @ Academy 3
3/3 Sheffield, UK @ Corporation
3/4 London, UK @ Garage

Cave In recently completed a US tour with Doomriders, while Pelican just returned from a UK tour in December.

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Blaze Announces Two UK Gigs

Blaze's management has announced the following at BlazeFans.com:

"Hi Metallers,

There will be two Blaze shows in February so come along for they will be the first shows of 2006!!!

The band will play at Edwards No8 in Lower Severn Street in Birmingham on Friday 17th (www.edwardsno8.com) and at the Kings Pub in Accrington on Saturday 18th February (www.accringtonmcc.org.uk).

Please check the venue websites for ticket details.

See you there!!"

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