This Time It's War Tour Dates

Richmond, VA's This Time It's War is heading out on an east coast tour in January. If you can help with any of the unconfirmed dates, contact them via their MySpace page.

1/3 Maryland @ TBA
1/4 Pennsylvania @ TBA
1/5 Oswego, NY @ Knights of Columbus
1/6 Sterling, VA @ Sterling Community Center
1/7 Thomasville, NC @ The Soundvent w/ Abigail Williams
1/8 Southport, NC @ Jaycee Building
1/9 Myrtle Beach, SC @ City Cafe
1/10 South Carolina @ TBA
1/11 Jonesboro, GA @ Breakers Music Hall
1/12 LaGrange, GA @ CyberMAXX w/ Fight Paris
1/13 Jacksonville, FL @ Thee Imperial
1/14 Florida @ TBA
1/15 Hanceville, AL @ The JC Arena
1/16 Tennessee/Kentucky @ TBA
1/17 Danville, VA @ Plan B w/ Cassius

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Spearhead To Record Debut Album In January

Germany's SPEARHEAD (ex-FEARER) will enter Audio Tech Studio in January 2007, to record their first, as of yet untitled full length album. It will contain 9 brand new tracks in the vein of old Bolt Thrower.

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Killing Joke Plan Double CD Of Unreleased Material

A double CD of previously unreleased KILLING JOKE material is due out February on Candlelight Records. This is a fan's dream come true! A double CD of Killing Joke material taken from the band preparation for the "Extremities" album, rare mixes, a TOTALLY unheard track "The Fanatic" and a full live show from the Extremities tour. Here is the complete tracklisting:

Disc 1 – Live in Pied – France 7th June 1991
1. Inside The Termite Mine
2. Money Is Not Our God
3. Extremities
4. Complications
5. The Beautiful Dead
6. Change
7. Frenzy
8. Age of Greed
9. Requiem
10. The Wait
11. Intravenous
12. Wardance
13. Pssyche
14. Love Like Blood

Disc 2 – Rehearsals V1+ Mixes
1. Money Is Not Our God (Instrumental)
2. Money Is Not Our God (Hideous Remix)
3. Intravenous (1)
4. Money
5. Slipstream (Intro)
6. Slipstream
7. Struggle (Instrumental)
8. Struggle ((Vocal 1)
9. Struggle (Vocal 2)
10. Struggle (vocal 3)
11. Intravenous (2)
12. The Fanatic (Live)

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Report

Leaves' Eyes, Blind Guardian Live Report & Photos

It was a surprisingly warm but torrential first December day. This evening I made an extra effort to get to Worcester on time because Leaves' Eyes were opening. I've been an ardent admirer of Liv Kristine since, naturally, her Theatre Of Tragedy days and I'll always regret not seeing her with them. Several years ago, she and her former mates were accumulating hordes of devoted fans around Europe, but after Liv was gone the fairytale came to an abrupt stop and the band pretty much fell into oblivion. Luckily, Liv didn't let her talent go unused and formed a new band with all of Atrocity's members.

The show started at 9 as there were only two bands tonight. By that time the Palladium was full of beaming and mostly teenage fans. As usual, I was sceptical about the local reception, dreading Leaves' Eyes wouldn't get half of the recognition they deserve as they are not necessarily well known around here, at least for now. I'm glad to report that my fears were banished as the audience quickly warmed up to their sound and even though there were no sing-alongs, the front rows really got into it. But then again, who can resist the utterly charming Liv Kristine? Clad in a fetching red dress topped with a corset (think album cover attire), her serene and mesmerizing voice paired with Atrocity's heavy guitars brought about an emotional, almost intimate atmosphere. You could see she was sincerely into the lyrics, trying to convey the feeling through her theatrically expressive face and gestures. More...

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Antigama Complete Work on New Album

Poland's ANTIGAMA has recently completed work on their Relapse debut album, Resonance.

Resonance was recorded in December at Studio X in Olsztyn, Poland by engineer Szymon Czech. The 18 song effort is set for a May 2007 release. Advance song titles for Resonance include: “Seismic Report”, “Ecstasy”, “Pursuit”, “Neutral Balance”, “Order”, “Pending”, “Remembering Nothing”, “By And By”, “Shymrok”, and “Stars”.

“It's certainly the best sounding and most mature album of Antigama” says guitarist Sebastian Rokicki, “In short it's the most brutal, wild, astonishing, uncommon and experimental piece of music we've ever made.”

ANTIGAMA vocalist Lukasz Myszkowski adds: “It was the first time we had so much time for the recording session. We freed ourselves of the inhibitions and discharged all of the animal emotions and toxic waste. Resonance is coming!”

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Rwake Unveil New Song and Album Details

RWAKE have posted an advance track, “Leviticus”, from their brand new full-length record Voices of Omens exclusively via their MySpace page.

RWAKE (Gravy – guitar, Jeff – drums, C.T. – vocals, Reid – Bass, B. – moog / samples / vocals, Kiffin – guitar) recorded Voices of Omens with Sanford Parker at Electrical Audio (HIGH ON FIRE, NEUROSIS, PELICAN, ZAO) and Parker’s own Volume Studios (PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS, UNEARTHLY TRANCE) in October. This record, RWAKE’s debut release for Relapse, has been set for a February 20th North American release date (February 26th internationally). Voices of Omens’ complete track listing is as follows: "Intro", "The Finality", “Crooked Rivers”, "Fire and Flight", “Leviticus”, “Of Grievous Abominations”, “Bridge”, “Inverted Overtures” and "The Lure of Light".

The album art for Voices of Omens, designed by artist Orion Landau (ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, HIGH ON FIRE, MINSK), can be previewed at this location.

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Interview

Interview with Sons Of Poseidon's Carter Evenson

The best part of my job this year has been getting to discover true rockin gems from the underground scene. Fargo, North Dakota's SONS OF POSEIDON are one of those rare jewels that you come across that just makes you scratch your own damn head and ask: "How the hell are these guys still unsigned after playing their scene for over ten years now?" SOP have just newly released their third album, entitled 'North American Metal' and these guys have straight up delivered a knockout punch that I do believe will finally get them the notoriety that they deserved long ago. I also want to say that with all the primadonnas in this business that I deal with, mainly coming from guys that couldn't hold a candle to this heavy as all hell band, my experience with SOP has been one to remember. They are that down to earth and appreciative of the work that I do here. I got some Q&A in with their front man, Carter Evenson. More...

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Sphere Signs With Empire Records

Polish technical death metal newcomers SPHERE — featuring ex-members of HATE and PYORRHOEA — have signed a record deal with Empire Records. The band's debut album, entitled "Damned Souls Rituals", will be relased in January 2007, attached to Thrash 'Em All magazine.

"Damned Souls Rituals" track listing:

01. Vomit The Soul
02. Saved From Heaven
03. Greed
04. Why Don't You Just Kill Yourself?
05. Next Morning's Mass
06. Sin Of 17
07. Invincible Majority
08. Ritual Of Rotten Flesh
09. Hate Legalised Inside
10. Grandnekromother
11. Ultimate Saviour
12. Damned Souls Rituals

Check out cover artwork at this location.

For more information, visit their myspace page.

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Solace of Requiem Post New Song Online

Virginia death metal band, Solace of Requiem, have posted a new song on their Myspace page entitled To Suffer Mortality. The song has also been posted on their website for download.

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Kingdom Come Post New Video Online

The video for "Ain't Crying For The Moon", the title track from KINGDOM COME's new studio album, has been posted online at YouTube.com.

"Ain't Crying For The Moon" was released in Europe on October 20 via Frontiers Records.

"After having done a lot of experimenting with 'Perpetual', I thought it was the time to take out the axe again and rock the house," said Lenny Wolf, the mastermind behind KINGDOM COME. The new CD [is] one of my heaviest recordings ever. I was trying to build 'walls of guitars' in combination with that typical KC moody and spacey approach. It does not have the typical 'blues' factor anymore, which many of you may remember from the first records. I have transported my roots into the year 2006."

Check out audio samples at this location. More...

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Cloven Hoof Announce New Guitarist

NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) legends CLOVEN HOOF have issued the following update:

"After exhaustive auditions, a second guitarist, Mick Powell, has been recruited to complete the HOOF lineup. He will play twin lead parts and keyboards live, so the band can faithfully re-create songs like 'Mistress of the Forest' and 'Cloven Hoof'. Mick was nearly part of the band's original lineup back in 1984; now the band finally has their man. He will make his debut at the Limelight club Crewe on Thursday 29th March 2007."

CLOVEN HOOF was recently rejoined by vocalist Russ North. "Russ has been previously unable to commit fully to the band due to contractual obligations in Spain," the group wrote on its web site. "However these have been resolved and he has rejoined the band in England to start work on the follow up album to 'Eye of the Sun'. The opus will be called 'Throne of Damnation'. Lee Payne said it will be a return to 'A Sultan's Ransom' epic power, but with a modern cutting edge."

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Blinded Colony Post New Video Online

Karlshamn Sweden's BLINDED COLONY has posted the video for its first single, "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", at YouTube.com. The song comes off the band's forthcoming album, "Bedtime Prayers", due on January 9 via Pivotal Rockordings. The clip was filmed in the band's hometown of Karlshamn and was produced by director Thomas Tjäder (IN FLAMES).

Commented guitarist Tobias Olsson, "As you can see, we released our official video for 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' today. It was originally recorded in late 2005, but re-edited once again by Thomas Tjäder (IN FLAMES). Some of you may have seen the old version of the video with 'demo' version of 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy', but we encourage you to not watch that one since it is now outdated. Check out the new one, spread it to your friends, and enjoy it!" More...

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To-Mera Announce U.K. Dates

TO-MERA, the new U.K.-based dark progressive metal band formed by former WITHOUT FACE vocalist Julie Kiss and bassist Lee Barrett (ex-EXTREME NOISE TERROR, DISGUST, MUSSOLINI HEADKICK), has lined up the following dates:

Feb. 03 - Stoke, UK @ Sugar Mill
Feb. 14 - Wrexham, UK @ Central Station
Feb. 16 - Milton Keynes, UK @ Pitz
Feb. 18 - Glasgow, UK @ Cathouse
Feb. 19 - Leicester, UK @ Charlotte

As previously reported, TO-MERA has posted its video for the song "Blood" at this location.

TO-MERA's debut album, "Transcendental", was released in Europe on September 11 via Candlelight Records. A U.S. release followed in early October.

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Depressed Mode Signs With

Finnish melodic funeral doom metal band DEPRESSED MODE has inked a deal with the Firebox sub-label Firedoom Music. The band features Natalie Koskinen, who is known for her past contributions to SHAPE OF DESPAIR.

DEPRESSED MODE is currently recording its debut album for a summer 2007 release via Firedoom. Audio samples are available at the group's MySpace page.

Ossy Salonen - Compositions, Lyrics, Programming, Vocals
Natalie Koskinen - Female Vocals and Arranging
Tomppa Tupeinen - Guitars

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Embraze Post Live Video Footage Online

Finnish band EMBRAZE, which features in its ranks FOR MY PAIN… guitarist Lauri Tuohimaa, has issued the following update:

"Thank you all for the past year. That year was very fruitful: our new album rose to the official chart in Finland, which was the first time in our career, we did a excellent tour with MOONSPELL and BEFORE THE DAWN this tour extended beyond Finnish borders, which was also a first for EMBRAZE. We have gotten loads of new fans from all over the world (welcome to Camp Embraze, fellows!!). Hopefully next year 2007 will bring lots of more gig's and will see our album released in your countries too. Finally we wish you a very sweet holidays and a metallic new year 07."

Check out video footage from the band's April 2006 concert at Club Teatria in Oulu, Finland at YouTube.com.

EMBRAZE recently shot a video for the song "The One" with director Marko Siekkinen. The track comes off the group's latest effort, "The Last Embrace", which entered the album chart in Finland at position No. 29.

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Death Breath Reveal New EP Title

DEATH BREATH, the new Swedish old-school death metal project featuring former ENTOMBED drummer and main songwriter Nicke Andersson (currently the frontman of his rock 'n' roll band THE HELLACOPTERS), has set "Let It Stink" as the title of its new mini-album, which is currently being recorded for a spring 2007 release. More information will be available soon.

DEATH BREATH has posted its video for the song "Death Breath" at this location. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Stinking Up The Night", which was released in North America on October 17 via Relapse Records (the CD was issued in Europe on September 22 through Black Lodge).

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WMG To Acquire Majority of Roadrunner Records

Warner Music Group Corp. today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 73.5 percent of Roadrunner Music Group B.V., which includes Roadrunner Records, one of the leading hard rock and heavy metal labels, for $73.5 million in purchase price and other considerations.

In the United States, Roadrunner will become a freestanding label group within WMG's Atlantic Records Group. Roadrunner's international affiliates will become freestanding units within WMG's Warner Music International. Roadrunner Managing Director, Cees Wessels, will continue to run the company he founded. There will be no staff changes as part of the acquisition.

Lyor Cohen, WMG's Chairman and CEO of U.S. Recorded Music, said, "Very rarely do you find a record company with such a longstanding reputation and distinct viewpoint that its very name rises to the level of true brand. Roadrunner, from its strong artist roster to its deep catalog and first-rate creative team, embodies the hard rock aesthetic to its core. Cees and I shared great success when we brought Roadrunner into the IDJ family in 2001, so naturally I'm thrilled today to welcome Cees and his team to Warner Music Group. We look forward to building upon Roadrunner's 25 years of success together."

"It was predestined that Lyor Cohen and I would work together again. Five years ago, before Nickelback broke massively worldwide, Lyor recognized the power of the Roadrunner brand, its artists and the creative talent of the staff," comments Cees Wessels on his initial partnership with Cohen. "Today, after continuous strong growth of the label, I feel proud that we are partners again. Roadrunner has become part of a forward-thinking group of companies that not only looks with confidence to the future, but also still retains the creative spirit of the founder of Atlantic, Ahmet Ertegun."

Founded in 1980 in the Netherlands, Roadrunner Music Group is one of the industry's leading Hard Rock label groups, with subsidiaries in eight countries around the world. The group's headquarters will remain in the Netherlands with offices in New York within the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and Australia.

The company has enjoyed strong momentum over the past several years. This year alone, Roadrunner has increased its SoundScan market share in the Hard Music genre (which includes both Hard Rock and Heavy Metal) by more than two percentage points. The label's multi-Platinum, Grammy-nominated artist, Nickelback, is responsible for the No. 1 Hard Music album for 2005 and year-to-date 2006 in the U.S.

In addition to Nickelback, Roadrunner's roster includes multi-Platinum Grammy winner Slipknot, Grammy-nominated Stone Sour, Killswitch Engage, Theory of a Deadman, Megadeth, Black Label Society and Trivium, among others.

Roadrunner has been at the forefront of the Hard Music genre for more than 25 years, a genre that has outpaced the overall U.S. industry. According to NPD MusicWatch, Hard Rock/Heavy Metal has experienced the greatest increase in market share of any subgenres of Rock in 2006 over the prior year.

In four of the last five years, Roadrunner has had at least one of the five top-selling Hard Music acts in the U.S. with releases from Nickelback. With the acquisition of Roadrunner, WMG will have the top three labels in Hard Music based on 2006 year-to-date SoundScan figures: Warner Bros. at No. 1; Atlantic at No. 2; and Roadrunner at No. 3.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in Germany and is expected to close in January 2007.

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Blessed By A Broken Heart Seeks New Singer

Montreal's Blessed By A Broken Heart is currently searching for a new vocalist. The band, who recently signed with a "major independent label," will begin tracking their new album in February and seek a "good looking, in shape" vocalist who has melodic singing ability as well as screaming. For more information, click here.

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Deceased Delay New Album

Arlington, Virginia's DECEASED has issued the following update:

"Our new album, Surreal Overdose, has been pushed back until the end of the year. We won't get in to start recording it until Fall of 2007 at the earliest. We are taking our time with writing the songs which are coming along nicely. No word yet on when this new CD will be released.

We will be re-releasing Fearless Undead Machines as a 2 CD release in the near future. The album has been out of print for a while and we want to do something extra with this re-release. The first CD will have a re-mastered version of the album. The second CD will contain demo versions of songs, studio outtakes, and live versions of the songs. The accompanying booklet will tell the story of the making of the album, from rejected artwork to funny stories that happened while in the studio. The first 100 copies will include a zombie/Deceased logo metal pin and a patch to coincide with the 10 year anniversary of this album. More related merchandise will be available soon.

We will start playing shows again next Spring. We are currently working in our new live guitarist Shane Fuegel, who is coming along great. Once we are ready with him, we will be playing a lot of shows. Chicago, California, Florida, New York and a whole lot of other places that haven't been confirmed yet."

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Bloody Panda Signs To Level Plane Records

Diverse indie label Level Plane Records proudly adds New York doom act Bloody Panda to its ranks.

Driven by the mournful, melodic vocals of Japanese frontwoman Yoshiko Ohara, Bloody Panda's transcendent sound finds its roots in the dirge-like power of Swans, the amplifier-worshipping textures of Earth, and the ethereal tension of Skepticism, as well as in various traditional styles from around the globe. The band synthesizes its esoteric influences into focused, powerful, anthemic songs, hailed by Decibel Magazine as "Khanate-caliber doom metal" and by CMJ New Music Monthly as "New York microtonal funeral doom".

Backing Ohara are guitarist Josh Rothenberger, bassist Bryan Camphire, keyboardist Blake McDowell, and drummer Dan Weiss. Weiss' ongoing work in the jazz and world music genres has earned him worldwide acclaim; he has collaborated with such players as Mr. Bungle's Trevor Dunn and has made his mark as a solo artist through his critically-worshipped reinterpretation of traditional Indian tabla music.

Bloody Panda has been turning heads since 2003 with its live show -- an intense, theatrical experience in which band members perform in executioner's hoods -- and, in that time, has shared stages with the likes of Thrones, Akron/Family, Kayo Dot, Unearthly Trance, Wolf Eyes, Mouth Of The Architect, Zombi, and Genghis Tron. Among the converted is Eyehategod's Brian Patton, who witnessed the live spectacle and personally invited the band to contribute a track to the Eyehategod tribute album, "For The Sick" (out in January 2007 on Emetic Records, with Bloody Panda's cover of "Anxiety Hangover".)

Bloody Panda can also be heard on a split EP with experimental act Kayo Dot, out now on Holy Roar Records.

Bloody Panda's full-length debut will be released on Level Plane in April 2007. The album was recorded by Jason Marcucci (Flaming Lips, White Stripes) and mastered by Sarah Register (Lou Reed, Calla). The band will be touring in support of the album.

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Ramallah Tour Dates

Ramallah has lined up a handful of Winter tour dates, primarily in support of Agnostic Front. Here are the tour dates:

dates w/ Shattered Realm, Wisdom In Chains:
1/12 Kingston PA @ The Backstage
1/13 Wilmington DE @ The Harmony Grange
1/14 Asbury Park NJ @ Club Deep

dates w/ Agnostic Front
1/19 Baltimore MD @ Otto Bar
1/20 Richmond VA @Alley Katz
1/21 Wilmington NC @ Lucky's Pub
1/22 Charlotte NC @ Tremont Music Hall
1/23 West Columbia SC @ New Brooklyn Tavern
1/24 Atlanta GA @ Masquerade

dates w/ Agnostic Front, Madball
1/25 Jacksonville FL @ Thee Imperial
1/25 Ft. Lauderdale FL @ TBA
1/27 St. Petersburg FL @ State Theater
1/28 Orlando FL @ Backbooth

2/24 Albany, NY @ Valentine's (Freedom Fest)

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All That Remains Comment On Sold Out UK Tour

Massachusetts' ALL THAT REMAINS have returned from a sold-out tour of the United Kingdom alongside DragonForce and are currently taking a short break back home before gearing up for the band's first headling tour, set to begin Jan. 23. Support will come from Misery Signals with rotating appearances from Sanctity, Cellador, The Human Abstract and labelmates LIGHT THIS CITY.

"We just got back from our fourth UK tour and it was a great time," frontman Phil Labonte said. "This time we were lucky enough to go out with our great friends in DragonForce. This is our third tour with these guys so its like touring with old pals. Of course all the shows were sold out and a great time! Thanks to all our old friends for coming out and cheers to all the new cool people we met this time! We'll be back in March/April so make sure you come on out and buy us a drink!!"

Continuing to support the band's latest release, 'The Fall of Ideals,' ALL THAT REMAINS has had a busy year, already appearing on the second stage of Ozzfest, hitting Europe on Sounds of the Underground 2006, and opening for Killswitch Engage as well as touring with DragonForce both at home and abroad. In March and April ALL THAT REMAINS will head to Europe again to headline with support from Misery Signals and Textures.

MTV has also nominated the band's video for "This Calling" for video of the year on Headbangers Ball.

Here is a current list of All That Remains tour dates: More...

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Byzantine Release Trailer For "Salvation" DVD

BYZANTINE have unveiled a trailer for the upcoming 'Salvation' DVD which will see an early 2007 through Prosthetic Records. The DVD will feature a live performance film featuring a new, unreleased song, guitar and bass tutorials from guitarist Tony Rohrbough and bassist Skip Cromer, interviews with the band members along with behind the scenes footage. The trailer is available at the band's MySpace page or on YouTube.

Currently working on the follow-up full-length album to 2005's '...And They Shall Take Up Serpents,' BYZANTINE will take a break in February from recording with Aaron Fisher to hit the road with God Forbid, Goatwhore, Mnemic and Arsis on the "Chains of Humanity" tour before returning to the studio to complete the recording of the yet-untitled new BYZANTINE DVD which will also see a 2007 release through Prosthetic.

"We have so far 11 songs in the bag and most likely will have 15 penned by the time pre-production starts," vocalist/guitarist OJ Ojeda previously stated. "Normally we write 10 and use 10, but riffs are flowing like mad and all four of us are writing material this time, which has been very interesting. All I can say is if this album doesn't kick our first two albums' asses, something is wrong! Some songs are pure thrash, some songs are off time as hell and some songs are depressing and dark. This album WILL be our finest effort."

BYZANTINE will also appear on the upcoming EyeHateGod tribute record, 'For The Sick: A Tribute to Eyehategod,' performing the track "Shoplift." The record is currently slated for a Feb. 20 release through Season Mist America and Prosthetic labelmates THE ESOTERIC and KYLESA will also contribute. More details are available here.

Byzantine tour dates follow: More...

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