If He Dies He Dies Breaks Up

A month after the departure of their guitarist, If He Dies He Dies has announced their plans to disband. Here's the full explanation from the band:

"Today, June 5th, 2009 we regretfully announce that IF HE DIES HE DIES will no longer be a band. A month ago we told everyone that a guitar player had been let go and that we were more motivated then ever to attack our common goal of being a touring, working band with our new guitar player Addison Eilers. We practiced hard in a short amount of time and turned in a great performance opening for The Used at the Orbit Room on May 16th, to 1,367 crazy fans. Everyone in the band felt that we were back on track and ready to take on anything and everything. Following that show, we got on to booking a great number of shows through the summer and were in talks with a couple of different major label bands about opening out first full fledged American tour in September. With all of these obligations on the fore front we sat down to discuss the next move for IHDHD and as the discussion carried on it became very evident that not everyone was on the same page. The more things were discussed it become very apparent that the original focus and belief of IHDHD wasn’t carried in everyone’s heart anymore. So instead of having what IF HE DIES HE DIES achieved cheapened by a constantly changing line up, it has been decided to bring it to an end now and let those that want to continue on do so with a new aggressiveness.

"We want to thank Jeff Vandenberg and Friction Records for believing in us from the beginning and helping us try to realize our dream. We would also like to thank Mike D. Williams & Marc Paffi for performing on our albums and lending us a little class. To Brian Mercer, Scott Hull, Steve Austin, Tommy Jones, Jeff Brinn & Lance Eichler thank you for making us sound and look like we knew what we were doing.

"We would definitely like to thank every fan, band, promoter, booking agent and anyone else that believed in what IHDHD did over the last five years. I wish I could say that we gave it everything we had and that you saw the best IHDHD had to offer, but it wasn’t even close.

"We are going to perform two final shows to say goodbye to everyone in the way IHDHD knows how to do best, which is live. All the details are below and we hope to see everyone that can make it out to get their asses there. Good friend and fan Brian Mercer is saying goodbye by giving us an exclusive limited edition poster design that we will have for sale at both shows. They are going to be very limited, so make sure to look for them early. We are going to be filming and recording both shows for a possible posthumous DVD / CD project. So come make some history with IHDHD.

"On a side not look for the new project from Daine, Addison & Ephraim in the coming months. The ride isn’t over yet." More...

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Leaves' Eyes Announces New Single "My Destiny"

Leaves' Eyes have issued the following announcement about releasing a new single:

"Finally the time has come! LEAVES’ EYES will release their new Single 'My Destiny' at July 24th 2009! This precursor of the upcoming Album 'Njord' will contain 6 Tracks!"

The cover artwork for the single can be viewed here.

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Cloudscape Recruits New Bass Player Hakan Nyander

Swedish metallers Cloudscape have issued the following announcement about recruiting a new bassist:

"A few weeks ago Haynes Pherson decided to leave Cloudscape. His decision is totally based on personal issues and has nothing to do with Cloudscape as a band or the bandmembers. Haynes and the members in Cloudscape are still great friends and the band respects and understand Haynes reasons for leaving and wishes him all the best for the future.

"Nonetheless Cloudscape have done a few auditions to find a good and worthy replacement to Haynes. Haynes was a great bassplayer and a great performer on stage so, it hasn't been easy to find the right guy to replace him but, recently Cloudscape did a few rehearsals with Håkan Nyander who also is the bassplayer in "Supreme Majesty" so, everything felt right and everything clicked really well with Håkan both musically and personally so, in other words Cloudscape is really happy to announce and welcome Håkan Nyander as their new and permanent bassplayer in Cloudscape.

"2009 hasn't been the greatest year for Cloudscape because of member changes and stuff but, the pieces are coming together now and Cloudscape is more hungry than ever!!. They are aiming to have a new album ready for release in 2010."

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Soul Embraced Parts Ways With Guitarist

Christian death metal band Soul Embraced has issued the following statement about parting ways with their guitarist and canceling all upcoming live shows:

"Unfortunately we have parted ways with our friend and guitarist Devin Castle. We love Devin and wish him all the best with his other projects Altus Pocket and The Vail. SE will continue with a new guitarist next year when we get ready to record the new record. We'll do shows after we get a new guitarist and start working on a new record next year."

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Cirrha Niva Announces New Album Release Date

Dutch progressive metal band Cirrha Niva has issued the following statement about the release date for their new album:

"Hello friend,

"We are glad to announce that we have started taken Pre-Orders on our new album 'For Moments Never Done'. By doing so you will receive the new CD a few weeks before the actual release date of September 03, 2009!

"All Pre-Orders made before August 1, 2009 will be shipped on August 1. All Pre-Orders made after August 1, 2009 will be dispatched within 72 hours.

"Not only will you receive the CD prior to the release date, we will also add an EXCLUSIVE (not for sale) Cirrha Niva Band logo shirt to your order in the size of your choice (M, L or XL) and just for fun we will add a signed promotional bandpic to the package also."

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Belphegor Added To Metalcamp Festival 2009

The Metalcamp Festival 2009 will take place in Tolmin, Slovenia from July 2nd-8th. Austrian metallers Belphegor have issued the following brief announcement about playing at the festival:

"BELPHEGOR are proud to announce that they are confirmed to appear at the METALCAMP open air in Tolmin, Slovenia on July 4, 2009."

The currently confirmed line up for the festival is as follows: More...

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Susperia Issues Tour Recap

Susperia has issued the following post-tour update:

"We're back from the UK tour and the madness of being on the road is at an end. Thanks to all you metal heads who helped us kick ass!! A most enjoyable experience to once again see the Susperia hordes showing their support. It was good to see old friends and also to get some new fans on board. Our touring buddies - Breed 77, Illuminatus and Sworn Amongst - were all top class guys and a joy to be on the road with.

"As always none of this is possible without the guys behind the scenes keeping the whole circus on the road. So big thanks to our crew Dave, Solj, Daz and Martin for suffering the whims and stresses that we put you through - we do appreciate what you do. We have to give a special mention to Bernt Fjellestad who made the tour possible. He did an excellent job standing in for Athera on vocals at short notice. Thanks Bernt we really appreciate it. Athera will be back soon, so keep checking in."

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Woods Of Ypres Issues Recording Update

Woods of Ypres has issued the following update about recording a new album:

"Greetings Woodsfolk of the MySpace Blog,

"This process of pre-production for W4 had been weighing heavily on my mind for quite some time. I got right to work as soon as we returned from our tour of Eastern Canada in May. It was daunting at first, as it always is, but a week later I'm really excited about what we're about to create. I have a very strong sense of what this album is about, why we're making it and where it fits into the grand-scheme of all that is WOODS. The guys are all hard at work on their respective parts. We are working with 16 song-skeletons, about 64 minutes of music at approximately 4 minutes each, and other conceptual multiples of the number four. The sounds range from strange to straightforward and obviously heavy. I, personally, really, really, really like what we have here, and we hope you will too.

"It's not even black metal, nor is it 'I Can't Believe it's not Black Metal.'

"But it will be interesting and HEAVY!!! So, get spreading the good word. Thanks as always! More soon!"

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Evile Issues Recording Update

U.K. thrashers Evile have issued the following recording update:

"Hello all,

"New album FINISHED!!! (almost) Today is our last day in the studio so we're having a final check through of all the mixes to make sure everything rocks as hard as it can before we journey back up north. And bon jovi it really does rock hard....

"We've had an excellent time down here with Russ and Jimmy Frankles, and the new stuff sounds just as excellent, we're proud of what we've done and we can't wait for everyone to hear the final product.

"Feel free to keep throwing questions at us via the blog whenever you want, anything you want to know just ask, and we promise to try and answer at least half unsarcastically.

"Cheers, keep your eyes open for track listing/artwork/audio samples/nude photos in the run up to release!!"

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Nightrage Streaming Entire New Album Online

Nightrage has issued the following announcement about streaming their entire new album online:

"Now you can listen on the entire new Nightrage album, exclusively here on MySpace. The album will be available for two weeks here up until its European/Japanese release the 22nd of June."

"Wearing a Martyr's Crown" track listing:

01. Shed The Blood
02. Collision Of Fate
03. A Grim Struggle
04. Wearing A Martyr's Crown
05. Among Wolves
06. Abandon
07. Futile Tears
08. Wounded Angels (this song is not available for streaming due to MySpace restrictions)
09. Mocking Modesty
10. Failure Of All Human Emotions
11. Sting Of Remorse
12. Holier Than Thou (Metallica cover, Japanese bonus)
13. Failure Of All Human Emotions (demo version, on Japenese + European digipak)

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Ava Inferi Streaming New Song "Tempestade" Online

Ava Inferi has issued the following announcement about streaming a new song online:

"Another new song available for streaming on our myspace page. 'Tempestade" is 1 out of 2 Portuguese-sung contributions on our '...Bacchus' release.

"Remember; should be enjoyed with a bottle or 2 of red.... Now go get that album :))"

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Tarja Turunen Posts Video Of Deep Purple Cover

A new video has been posted online of Tarja Turunen performing a cover of "Child In Time" by Deep Purple alongside Rata Blanca. The video can be viewed below. More...

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Odin's Court Issues Recording Update

Odin's Court has issued the following statement about recording two albums:

"Hey, everybody! I've been in hiding. Some updates for you...

"My new D2C Studios has been busy. As such, I haven't had as much time to work on Odin's Court material as I'd like, since I've been recording other people. However, we have been working on the new material, and things are going well (though slow).

"We have 2 albums worth of material: The first CD will be 13 songs. They are electric with the full band and 100% brand new material. The average song length is about 4:20, and the tunes are more catchy and focused than Deathanity's pieces. The exception is the main track, which is about 19 minutes. This album is the priority, and we're hoping to get all the recording and mixing done in 2009.

"The second CD will be 100% organic: acoustic guitar, drums, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, piano, double bass, and vocals. It will be 8 (or so) songs, including various alternate takes from the 13 above, as well as 2 completely new arrangements of songs from Deathanity (you won't recognize them) and 2 new arrangements of songs from Driven by Fate. We also hope to finish recording in 2009, though the mixing will probably be done after the electric album is released. More...

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Nekrasov Completes Recording Of New EP

Australian black metal band Nekrasov has issued the following update about finishing the recording of their new EP:

"Recording is complete for the free RADICAL MATTERS download release. I will be uploading it tomorrow so it should see a 'release' soon.

"The track is called INNER STALKER METRICS and clocks in around 36mins of dark noise hostilities. An excellent accompaniment to bring forth the foul black abyss from within."

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Samael Selling Own Brand Of Wine

Swiss metallers Samael have issued the following announcement about selling their own brand of wine:

"Some of you could feel it coming... today we're proud to present you the first SAMAEL wine. 'Alliance' is a fine assemblage made from grapes of Gamay, Diolinoir and Sangiovese. It should surprise the connoisseurs by its mixtures of dark and deep aromas.

"Only a very limited edition of this 2009 vintage is branded SAMAEL, so if wine is 'your cup of tea,' don't lose time. You can order your bottle right now from the SAMAEL online shop."

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Incubus Plans Best-Of and Rarities Album

Incubus is readying a greatest hits album with a disc of rarities, entitled "Monuments and Melodies."

"Monuments and Melodies" includes one disc of hits from Incubus' six studio albums as well as two new songs, "Black Heart Inertia" and "Midnight Swim," recorded in Los Angeles during Einziger's last winter break from Harvard University, where he's been "just taking courses for personal enjoyment." The second disc features rarities, including a newly recorded cover of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy." The set is also available on four vinyl LPs, and copies of the album come with a unique code that will allow buyers to access a new section of exclusive music, photos and other material at a special section called The Vault on the enjoyincubus.com web site.

Incubus' tour for "Monuments and Melodies" gets under way July 9 in San Diego. Einziger says he expects getting back on the road will get the band started on writing for its next album -- the follow-up to 2006's "Light Grenades"

Read the full article at Billboard.com.

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Chimaira To Play Free MySpace Secret Show

Cleveland metal band Chimaira will be playing a free all-ages MySpace secret show in thie hometown on Wednesday, June 10 at The Grog Shop.

This show comes before the band embarks on some headlining summer dates and then embarks for Europe and Russia for more tour dates with Unearth in late summer and early fall.

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