Ensiferum To Recruit Norther Vocalist

Finnish folk-metal act ENSIFERUM are still without a permanent singer following the departure of vocalist Jari Mäenpää, who left the band upon completion of their current album, Iron, to focus on his solo project, WINTERSUN. Having had a successful tour with NORTHER singer Peter Lindroos as a stand-in, the band has offered him a permanent spot in the line-up.

No word yet as to whether Lindroos has accepted the offer, but he will perform the following dates with Ensiferum:

Aug 14 – Party San Festival (Germany)
Aug 21 – Summer Breeze Festival (Germany)

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Anathema Looking For A New Label

Liverpool doomsters ANATHEMA have posted the following update on their official website:

“Music For Nations, Anathema's record label, has officially closed it's doors due to takeovers involving Zomba and Sony-BMG. We are now out of contract and currently considering new offers. Any companies wishing to contact us about our current situation can reach us @ management@anathema.ws

We are pleased to announce that we will be playing a special acoustic show at London's Mean Fiddler as special guests to BLACKFIELD, a new project featuring Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE and Aviv Geffen. The show will take place on the 10th of September. Tickets are now available from ticketmaster."

The band has confirmed two more live shows by the end of this year:

1/10 at Beyoglu Music Hall (Yenimelek) in Istanbul, Turkey
2/10 at Beyoglu Music Hall (Yenimelek) in Istanbul, Turkey

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Silentium Confirm New Members

Finnish doomsters have posted the following message on their official website:

"Now (we) are getting things roll again with the new band members Riina Rinkinen (female vox) and Jari Ojala (drums and yes, he's the very same man they begun Silentium with...) and I have to admit, the sound is better than ever. It could take a while before we see them on stage, but don't be hasty, your patience shall be truly rewarded. Silentium is also rehearsing new material and songs to play."

Silentium's last record, "Sufferion - Hamartia Of Prudence', was issued by Spikefarm Records last October.

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Paradise Lost Finish Recordings Of New Album

PARADISE LOST have completed the recordings for their upcoming album at Chapel Studios in Oxfordshire, UK. Vocalist Nick Holmes, who co-produced the album with Rhys Fulber, will return from recording vocals in LA this week and the final process of mixing and mastering will begin.

Some working titles of songs expected to be featured on the new album include: ‘Through The Silence’, ‘Shine’, ‘Sun Fading’, ‘Sanctimonious You’, ‘Redshift’, ‘Forever After’, ‘Getting Over The Madness’, ‘Accept The Pain’, ‘Close Your Eyes’ and ‘The Laws Of Cause’.

More details on the forthcoming release as they become available.

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Nightwish Sign To Roadrunner Records

The following message has been posted on Roadrunner Records' official website:

Roadrunner Records proudly welcomes the latest addition to the RR family, Finland's celebrated and successful Nightwish. Nightwish is a sound unto its own, a band that combines elements of metal, goth and classical orchestration in a manner as majestic as it is unique.

Nightwish will be starting a Canadian and US tour come August 16th (2nd US trek). Roadrunner will be releasing the band's Once CD later this year in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (CD already released in Europe). More details and music to come. Until then, welcome aboard to our new Finnish friends, Nightwish.

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The Nine Orders Of Angels To Record Soon

Hailing from Allentown, PA and featuring ex-members of ACROSS FIVE APRILS and DRAWN FROM WITHIN, THE NINE ORDERS OF ANGELS have signed to United Edge Records. The band's blend of hardcore and post-hardcore, with plenty of heaviness, has been impressing audiences throughout Pennsylvania and gained the attention of United Edge. THE NINE ORDERS OF ANGELS will be recording their debut release in the near future, with more information coming soon.

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Cleveland's Strhessfest Details

In an effort to help the underground music scene to thrive, the people behind Strhess (namely artist DEREK HESS), the company responsible for Strhess Clothing and the recent Strhess Tour, have planned Strhessfest. Planned for August 15th, 2004 in Cleveland, OH at the Scene Pavilion, the festival will showcase both musical and visual artists of various levels of success.

Bands scheduled to appear include: THURSDAY, FINCH, CONVERGE, SHADOWS FALL, RECOVER, STRETCH ARMSTRONG, SPITALFIELD, CHRISTIANSEN, AS I LAY DYING, WITH HONOR, UNDYING, RINGWORM, CRITERIA, COUNTERFIT, WHEN SPARKS FLY, REMEMBERING NEVER, BURNT BY THE SUN, HIMSA, SENSES FAIL, BELOVED, CODESEVEN, MIDTOWN, WIRES ON FIRE, MURDER BY DEATH, BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ABOVE THIS FIRE, AT WIT'S END, and PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS.

Additionally, visual artists BASK, JAKE BANNON, ASTERIK STUDIOS, DARREN DOANE, DAVE QUIGGLE, TES ONE, NØKTURNAL, and AMATHIN, as well as DEREK HESS himself, will be exhibiting their work in the Strhessfest Gallery.

For more information about Strhessfest, including how to get tickets and directions to the venue, visit strhessfest.com.

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George Lynch Discusses Relationshop With Dokken

In an in-depth interview with Electricbasement.com, ex-DOKKEN guitarist GEORGE LYNCH talks about the early underpinnings of his severely strained relationship with vocalist DON DOKKEN. Lynch claims the vocalist snuck material from him prior to him joining Dokken. Lynch was in a SoCal band called Xciter at the time. "...Don said he had an interest in recording one of my songs. He had a publishing deal in Europe. I said, 'I'm listening.' So next think you know, he's asking to come by and hear my material and do a deal. He wanted to record it for some money. I said 'cool.'

"But he never called me back or showed up. He went to Europe and sold the song, but didn't put our names on it. He put his name on it, made money and spent it. He came back to America and asked for me to form a band with him. During this conversation, I brought up the song issue.

"I asked to see the paperwork on the publishing deal. He was very nervous about it. In the back pages (of the contract) was a signatory page with his signature on it. It said 'Paris Is Burning' written by Don Dokken."

When asked why he didn't sue Don, Lynch explains, "When Don rips someone off, he covers his ass. He really does. That's exactly what happened." Lynch also said he didn't have enough to get a laywer at the time and also, suing in Europe would have proved too much of a hassle, "...but what was I going to do, pay in Deutsche marks?! I drove a liquor truck, so I didn't make enough money to hire a lawyer. On the one hand, you can sue; on the other, you can join his (Don's) band. It's always a dangling carrot. He's a very clever con artist."

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The Economic Scale Of Heavy Metal And Drugs

Seb Hunter spoke with Entertainment Weekly about his memoir 'Hell Bent For Leather: Confessions of a Heavy Metal Addict', profiling his time in failed bands Rag 'n' Bones and the Trash Can Junkies. Asked his most ridiculous tale of chemical excess, Hunter responded, "There's a sliding economic scale. The smaller your band, you take speed and mushrooms. Then you get a bit bigger and you take cocaine and so on, until you've got a full-blown heroin habit and that's when you know you've made it. We never really got behind amphetamine sulphate. We used to put speed in our tea like sugar. It's quite English."

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