Dimefest Benefit Concert To Take Place In December

ELEMENT EIGHTY, FAKTION and PREMENISHEN (featuring late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's cousin Heather Manly on bass/vocals) are among the nine Texas-based acts who have been confirmed to perform at Dimefest, an all-day event scheduled to take place December 10 at the Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth, Texas. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund, which has been set up to help the victims of the Alrosa Villa shootings in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 2004, which took the life of Dimebag.

The lineup for Dimefest is as follows:

04:30 p.m. - DERISION (Tyler, Texas)
05:30 p.m. - DIESEL (Dallas, Texas)
06:30 p.m. - MANDITORY (Dallas, Texas)
07:30 p.m. - NECROGAZM (Fort Worth, Texas)
08:30 p.m. - MOD EFFECT (Dallas, Texas)
09:30 p.m. - LOCKJAW (Cleburne, Texas)
10:30 p.m. - PREMENISHEN (Abilene, Texas)
11:30 p.m. - FAKTION (Dallas, Texas)
12:30 a.m. - ELEMENT EIGHTY (Dallas, Texas)

For more information, visit dimefest.com.

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Deftones To Headline Taste of Chaos Tour In 2006

According to PunkNews.org, DEFTONES have been confirmed as the headliners of the 2006 edition of the Taste of Chaos tour. The popular alternative metal act recently released their "B-Sides & Rarities" DVD+CD compilation which included the band's interpretations of JAWBOX, HELMET, THE SMITHS and DURAN DURAN, as well as various rarities.

The band are continuing to work on new material for their 2006 full-length which is expected in the spring. It will be their first since 2003's "Deftones".

The Taste of Chaos tour, organized by Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, will soon complete their first year of shows. The inaugural bill included THE USED, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, and SENSES FAIL. The European edition of the tour will begin shortly.

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Silent Force Sign With AFM Records

SILENT FORCE, the power metal band featuring ex-ROYAL HUNT singer D.C. Cooper, have inked new deals with Germany's AFM Records and Japan's King Records. The band will enter House of Music studio in Winterbach, Germany in the next couple of weeks with producer Dennis Ward to begin recording the drums for their new album, tentatively due in early 2006. Guitars, bass and keyboards will be laid down at Guitars from Hell studio in Krefeld, Germany, while the vocal recordings will be done at Dennis Ward's new studio in Bruchsal, Germany. "The song material is in the same direction like the last album, 'Worlds Apart'," according to a posting on the group's web site.

SILENT FORCE's third full-length album, "Worlds Apart" was released in the U.S. in October 2004 via Noise Records.

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Spawn of Possession Sign To Neurotic Records

Swedish technical death metal outfit SPAWN OF POSSESSION have signed a multiple album deal with Neurotic Records. The band will utilize Pama Studios in Kristianopel Sweden once again together with highly acclaimed producer Magnus Sedenberg for an intense period somewhere between January and February 2006. The band is expected to tour right after the expected late winter/early spring release of this as of yet untitled masterpiece. SPAWN OF POSSESSION will not only re-visit familiar territories, but will also expand to newer, untouched ones in support for this album.

This follow-up to 2003’s “Cabinet” album will be even more technical, but at the same time it consists of more grooving and recognisable parts, while also being more epical approached all over. Simply put, old fans will absolutely love this, yet new souls will be collected largely. The writing process is in full progress, and so far about half a full length’s worth of material has been completed. The lyrical approach, music and artwork will all benefit the reflection of a concept based on a, what at this point is best described as, “surreal ghost story”.

Ruud Lemmen, founder of Neurotic Records, comments: “We are extremely delighted to announce SPAWN OF POSSESSION as latest addition to our roster. We absolutely love the band ever since we saw them at their first gig out of Sweden and we have always been in great contact for various reasons. We see a bright future ahead for them, and we are truly honoured to be the privileged ones to push them forward for their next few steps. These lads are not on their top yet, and the world has yet to see the very best of them.”

SPAWN OF POSSESSION bass player Nick Dewerud adds: “It feels great to become a part of the ever growing and promising Neurotic cycle. Together with them we are prepared and ready to climb even higher on the ladder of sophisticated brutality and set new standards in the community of extreme music. Brace yourselves for a substantial assault from SPAWN OF POSSESSION!”

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Behemoth Announce Australian Tour Dates

Australia's PyroMusic.net has revealed that BEHEMOTH will be Down Under playing a string of shows in January 2006. Dates and venues as listed:

January 6 – Adelaide @ Enigma Bar
January 7 – Melbourne @ The Esplanade Hotel
January 8 – Melbourne @ The Tote
January 10 – Perth @ Black Betty’s
January 13 – Brisbane @ Her Majestys Bar
January 14 – Sydney @ Gaelic Club

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Sick Of It All Sign To Abacus Recordings

Abacus Recordings has announced the signing of New York City's SICK OF IT ALL.

As one of the longest-standing bands still proudly waving the flag of New York hardcore, SICK OF IT ALL have made their mark as one of the cornerstones of NYHC, proving that heart, hard work and dedication to hardcore is about more than just the music and an image — it's a way of life.

"After discussing our situation quite a bit, we realized that we needed to be on a label that was run by a fan of our music," says drummer Armand Majidi. "We found that in Abacus, because the head of the label wanted to sign us all the way back in 1993, and hasn't lost his enthusiasm for SICK OF IT ALL. That's dedication — something rarely found in this industry. We're excited to be a part of something that's just taking off."

The four-piece will be celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2006 and coinciding with that monumental event is the release of the band's ninth full-length record (not including several EPs, singles and compilation recordings). The upcoming album, entitled "Death to Tyrants", will be recorded with producer Dean Baltulonis (GIVE UP THE GHOST, BOUNCING SOULS, MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD) at Atomic Studios this winter. Mixing duties will be handled by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HEAVEN SHALL BURN) at Antfarm studios in Aarhus, Denmark. An early 2006 release is expected.

"This a landmark album for us, so it's important for it to be strong and heavy," says Majidi. "We've never started writing a record with a masterplan because we like our albums to represent what we really are and what we were thinking in different stages of our lives. Although the songs growl in a new way, they're SOIA through and through, with something to offer all our fans from every era. There's a political slant to a number of songs, because of the more desperate world view we share nowadays, but we still share personal experiences, philosophies and moods that we hope everyone can relate to."

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Anthemon Complete Work On Third Album

French dark metal band ANTHEMON are about to release their third full-length album, "Kadavreski", through Thundering Records.

Recorded and mixed this past summer at Tico-Tico studio in Finland by Ahti Kortelainen (MORS PINCIPIUM EST, NIGHTFALL, SENTENCED), the CD is said to follow the tradition of the '70s concept albums; four songs for a total of 45 minutes of music. The first track has the distinction of being a "cadavre exquis." In other words, each member of the band composed a part of the song without knowing anything about the other members' work and ideas. By some sort of magic, all the parts now fit together perfectly without a glitch.

ANTHEMON had previously released two full-length albums (2004's "Dystopia" and 2003's "Arcanes") and two EPs (2000's "Talvi" and 1998's "Nocturnal Contemplations").

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Blessed By A Broken Heart Get Stranded In WY

Blessed By A Broken Heart has issued the following statement on the road in Wyoming:

"So we are stranded in Wyoming, the middle of nowhere, our bus broke down, we are broke, far from home, haven't showered in a while. We wouldn't be writing this if we weren't in total need of your help. We have two months of booked shows ahead of us, and we really want to make it out to them, but things are looking dim. Everything would be going great if it werent for that bus, the tour was going good, but the bus just brought us down. Some of the band members were so discouraged they just wanted to pond their guitars, and hitch hike home, we have no money to pay for repairs. Last night we got bag lunches from the police station because we have no money. Obviously there are people in worse situations out there but if you can find it in your heart to help us out, we would be very greatful. It doesn't matter it you donate a lot or a little anything would help. If you donate more than 30 bucks we can send you a t-shirt if you give us your address."

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The 69 Eyes 'Devils' Listening Party

AOL Music is hosting an online listening party for The 69 Eyes' new album 'Devils', released getting a domestic release on Tuesday (October 25). You can listen to the album in full here.

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Charlie Benante Promo Video Online

A video interview with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante has been posted online at VicFirth.com. Benante promoted the band's live album 'Alive 2' and 'Anthrology' and revealed his drum stick of choice.

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Down To Nothing UK Tour Dates

Down To Nothing will be touring the UK briefly in November.

11/4 London UK @ Chat's Palace
11/5 Sheffield UK @ Broomhall Centre
11/6 Durham UK @ The Rowing Club
11/7 Hull UK @ The Ringside
11/8 Manchester UK @ The Phoenix
11/9 Cardiff WALES @ The Liberal Club
11/10 Brighton UK @ All Saints Church Hall
11/11 Canterbury UK @ TBA

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Drowning Pool Recording, Issue Update

Drowning Pool drummer Mike Luce has issued the following update on the band's current activities: "As you may or may not know, Drowning Pool is hard at work here in Dallas putting together the 'demos' for the next record — THE RECORD!

"In case you're not privy to the process of 'demo-ing'... please, allow me. 'Demoing' is the process in which the band is rehearsing and putting together new music and recording said new material by a number of means. We hope you are understanding in that we want this to be our defining record! We, by no means, are dragging ass! But we are sure to take our time with each and every song! We enter a local Dallas/Denton studio, track new songs, then send copies of our new babies to the record label. By doing this you are able to keep all parties involved (in the album-making process) in the loop as to where the band/songs are musically. That being said, the band then is informed as to when they can expect to release a record."

"All this being equal... we are expecting to be knee-deep in 'the new sh**' by January 2006!! If that remains... I would hope to have the record on shelves anytime from early spring/mid-summer 2006! If all this seems like a long time... it is. But rest assured that if you grow too impatient to wait for the record, you can always come check out a show. We ARE playing new sh** at the shows. Playing the songs live and getting your reaction and input is another important part in the whole process of writing new songs and then demoing it for the record. Of course all views herein are strictly that of the drummer and all other parties hold no responsibility or involvement in my opinions or actions!"

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Cazares Working on New Project w/ ex-Nile Drummer

Former Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares is currently working with ex-Nile drummer Tim Yeung on a new, as yet unnamed project. The duo are now looking for a suitable singer.

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The Gathering Release "Mandylion" Deluxe Edition

It was ten years ago when the Gathering recorded their break-through album "Mandylion" and the European metal scene has never been the same since. Produced by one of the top teams, Siggi Bemm (Woodhouse Studio) & Waldemar Sorychta, who already helped Tiamat, Moonspell and Sentenced to find their sound, "Mandylion" became a blueprint for female fronted gothic metal – but it was only the beginning of a long story.

From their rough metal roots, to the atmospheric tunes "Mandylion" had to offer, to dreamy, profound songs on "Nighttime Birds" or "How To Measure A Planet?" to their latest adventures within the progressive/triprock field, the Dutch crew always remained true to themselves while building up a continuously increasing fan base.

Time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Mandylion" with a special deluxe edition. The double CD set features new artwork, a 16-page booklet with song-by-song linernotes from the band and never seen before photos from the recording session. CD2 contains the first demo recordings the Gathering did with Anneke van Giersbergen in June 1994 and early 1995. "Solar Glider" is a complete unreleased instrumental while "Third Chance" appeared 2 years later in a different version on the "Nighttime Birds" album.

"Working with THE GATHERING on this album is one of my most beautiful memories. To record with such an open-minded band like them... they'd need three sounds when other bands needed 100, and those three sounds were enough to create a gorgeous atmosphere" , states producer Siggi Bemm and it's this special atmosphere that still stands out 10 years later.

Track-Listing "Mandylion Deluxe Edition" (2CD): More...

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Evergrey Postpone Mexico Tour

The following message has been posted on the official Evergrey website:

"To all our Mexican fans, we would like to let you know that the Mexico dates have been postponed until January 2006. We do not have the exact dates right now but as soon as everything is finalized we will post them here on the site.

"Until then...stay grey!"

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Corrosion Of Conformity Announce Headlining Dates

Corrosion of Conformity have announced the following headlining tour dates:

Nov. 28 Buffalo, NY - Showplace Theater
Dec. 04 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
Dec. 10 Rochester, NY - Penny Arcade
Dec. 21 Charlotte, NC - Treemont Music Hall

Other upcoming tour dates with Disturbed: More...

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