Metal News for March 19, 2003
Last updated on October 6, 2025 at 2:37 AM ET
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Hot Topics
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17 news articles posted on this day.
Slayer Delays War
Slayer have had the release of their DVD ‘War At The Warfield’ delayed until next month. This was filmed at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco just before Christmas, 2001. It’s one of the last shows featuring drummer Paul Bostaph.
Megadeth Lyrics Defile Church
Lyrics to an unspecified Megadeth song were daubed on a church in Brooklyn, which has also been defiled by the painting of a large swastika. This is the third time in 18 months that the Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church in Marine has been attacked in such a manner.
Unreleased Vader MP3 For Download
Polish metallers Vader have made a track called ‘Chaos’ available for download at Empire Records' site. This was recorded during the original sessions for their debut album ‘The Ultimate Incantation’, which were subsequently scrapped. In fact, they have a dozen Vader MP3s for download right here.
Rammstein Not Splitting Up
Rammstein have moved quickly to deny recent reports that they are about to split up. The band are currently taking a break, but will regroup to record a new album, for release next year. They’ve also been asked to do a remix of the Marilyn Manson track ‘mOBSCENE’, from upcoming album ‘The Golden Age Of The Grotesque’.
Exodus Drummer Pulls Out of Angel Witch
Exodus drummer Tom Hunting has pulled out of the planned Angle Witch reunion project in order to focus all his time on upcoming touring and recording commitments with his main band. In his place, Angel Witch mainman Kevin Heybourne, bassist Jon Torres (Warning SF, Ulysses Siren, Laaz Rockit) and Lee Altus (Heathen, Die Krupps) have recruited former Heathen and current Deconstruct drummer Darren Minter.
Subzero Postpone Tour
New York’s Subzero decided to postpone their tour to a later point in time. Once new dates are available they will be posted. Further information was not given.
Blood of Christ Bassist Moves to Vocals
Blood Of Christ's bass player, Dany, will handle the vocals from now on. The band is now looking for a new bass player as a result. If you are interested contact them at tlfoa@hotmail.com.
Bury Your Dead to Return
Bury Your Dead has officially reformed, following their break-up in January, minus a few original members. The new lineup consists of Rich Casey (bass) and Brendan Macdonald (guitar) in addition to newcomers Mike Nunez (vocals) and Chris Sansone (drums). The band has lined up their comeback show, which will take place on March 28th at Oddfellows in Stratford, CT with The Distance, For Her I Can Be a Hero, and others.
Finntroll Guitarist's Death Alcohol Related
Finntroll/Impaled Nazarene guitarist Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta died Sunday morning (March 16) of injuries sustained in an alcohol-related accidental fall, it has been officially announced. Teemu was 25 years old.
As previously reported, Finntroll recently completed work on an "acoustic/experimental" CD, titled "Visor Om Slutet" (the group's first with new singer Tapio Wilska), and were set to embark on a European tour next month with Katatonia. It is not presently clear if the band will proceed with their touring plans in light of Somnium's passing.
Opeth, Lacuna Coil on 'Blackest' Tour
More changes have been made to the lineup for the Danzig-headlined "Blackest of The Black" festival mini-tour, set to take place in early May.
Sweden's Meshuggah, who were previously said to be participating in the package, have now dropped off the event and have been replaced by Opeth and Lacuna Coil.
The revamped lineup for "Blackest of The Black" now looks as follows:
Danzig
Superjoint Ritual
Nile
Opeth
Lacuna Coil
Other groups are expected to be announced soon.
Confirmed dates so far are as follows: More...
New Candlemass "very heavy, evil, brutally hard"
After an extremely successful Summer of Doom Reunion 2002 tour and appearances at such big German festivals as Bang Your Head and Wacken, plus packed halls with fanatic fans in places like Athens, London, Oslo and Stockholm, the kings of doom — Candlemass — are ready to kick some serious heavy ass again. Another summer of festivals is currently being booked, and will include additional gigs in Europe, as well as an appearance at the BW&BK 6 Pack Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, June 14 alongside such acts as Trouble, Jag Panzer and Evergrey, among others. More...
Iron Maiden Begin Mixing New Disc
Iron Maiden have commenced the mixing process for their as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2000's "Brave New World" at a London studio with producer Kevin Shirley.
"Well, I started mixing the Maiden album [on Monday, March 17], and kicked off with a blistering and heavy rocker, which turned out quite nicely — well wicked son, indeed!" Shirley wrote on his web site. "Had to mix frantically to avoid it being too slow and cumbersome, as is evident in the action snap [here]! For you tech heads - It's an SSL 9000 J console - and behind me are SSL compressors, then a rack with 6 Fatso's, an 1176 with a dbx De-esser (which is my vocal chain), Drawmer EQ's and compressors, and a Urei 1178 compressor on the bottom. Now the tricks out the bag ... have fun, and let's hope this damn war is over very soon. More than ever, Peace!"
Destruction Post New Tracks Online
Veteran German thrashers Destruction have posted several new demo cuts in streaming audio in Windows Media format at this location.
All songs were recorded during a recent demo/pre-production session at Little Creek Studio in Gelterkinden, Switzerland and were produced by V.O. Pulver and Franky Winkelmann. According to the group's official web site, "these songs are demo tracks, and therefore don't necessary resemble songs for the upcoming new LP, neither show the final production state. Nevertheless, bang your head!!!!"
The tracks available for listening are as follows: More...
Stratovarius Cancel Moscow Show
Finland's Stratovarius have been forced to cancel their previously announced show in Moscow, Russia on May 2.
According to the group's official web site, "The promoter, 'Ghost Music', did not fulfill the terms we agreed on twice and didn't send the money to pay the flights to Moscow. After the second deadline ran out last Thursday and there was still no sign of cooperation in a professional matter we saw ourselves in the situation to cancel the show.
"We really don't know what exactly happened but we heard from other bands that this promoter cancelled shows before. When there are fans outside who actually bought some tickets for this show and now won't get the money back it would be nice to let us know in order to avoid any work with Ghost Music in the future. This might be also important for other bands. It also makes us wonder that we did several interviews with Russian magazines and nobody of these journalists saw this show advertised somewhere in or around Moscow.
"Right now our booking agency is trying to find another promoter in Moscow to make an appearance of Stratovarius possible there." More...
Grave Cancel European Tour
Long-running Swedish death metallers Grave have cancelled their European tour with Defleshed "for reasons out of the band's control and due to problems with the organization of the dates," according to an official press release. Plans exist for the group to embark on a full European tour later in the year.
Grave will return to North America in May/June for a tour with Immolation, Goatwhore and December.
Dreams of Damnation add Gaines on Guitar
Los Angeles-based thrashers Dreams Of Damnation, featuring ex-members of Dark Angel, have officially added ex-Abattoir guitarist Steve Gaines to the rhythm section, a statement from the group says.
"I am honored and thrilled to be a part of this band," explains Gaines. "I spent so much time around them that I learned their songs on guitar, and as a goof, I sat in with them at a rehearsal, and it went from there. From their first show in 2000 (when Abattoir shared a bill with them), I have had the good fortune of watching them grow from an incredible power trio into a world-class band with the addition of Loana. I have probably been their biggest fan, and have been their head roadie, and would've continued to do so if not for the fact that they asked me to join - as a guitar player, no less! I can give Dreams Of Damnation 100% of my attention and honor my commitments to Abattoir and Pagan War Machine. Charlie, Mayhem, Loana and Jimmy are great people, good friends, and the kind of people you would go into battle with and for. I love their work ethic, and above all, their fearlessness. I cannot wait for what comes next..." More...
Summary/Misc
Daily Reviews
Metal Judgement has a load of new reviews this week:
- God Dethroned 'Into the Lungs of Hell'
- Old Man's Child 'In Defiance of Existence'
- Destroyer 666 'Cold Steel for an Iron Age'
- Grief 'Turbulent Times'
- Reprobation 'Undoing Creation'
- Neuraxis 'Truth Beyond. . .'
- Twelfth Gate 'Summoning'
- Tyrants From The Abyss: A Tribute to Morbid Angel
- March Metal Meltdown V - Concert Review
- Judas Priest 'Defenders of the Faith' (Classic Review)
- 7th Nemesis (Demo Review)
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