THE GATHERING

New singer announced

Dutch rock outfit THE GATHERING has recruited Silje Wergeland from the Norwegian band OCTAVIA SPERATI as its new lead vocalist. Drummer Hans Rutten says, "Silje has been the singer of OCTAVIA SPERATI for eight years, including several other projects. She did a superb job [on the new THE GATHERING LP, 'The West Pole']. This album also includes two very talented guest singers: the Dutch Anne van den Hoogen and Mexican Marcela Bovio (from STREAM OF PASSION), and some other guest musicians."... More...

NOUMENA

Working on new material

Bassist Hannu Savolainen from Finnish death metallers NOUMENA has issued the following band update: "It's been quite a while since the last sign of life, but we're here. Noumena has enjoyed a torpor or winter sleep for a couple of months. We are - after all - from a town with zoo, so I guess we just aped some bear habits. Seriously and actually, we decided to have some time off from Noumena.... More...

MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND

Upcoming DVDs detailed

Danish singer King Diamond (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND) has issued the following update: "As you all know, 80% of the original MERCYFUL FATE lineup (vocalist King Diamond, guitarist Hank Shermann, guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen) re-recorded with present MF drummer Bjarne T. Holm two ultimate MERCY classics for the upcoming Metallica: Guitar Hero game.... More...

KROKUS

Official anthem of Ice Hockey World Championship

Legendary Swiss hard rockers KROKUS have recorded the official song of the Ice Hockey World Championship, which will be held between April 24 and May 10, 2009 in Zurich and Bern, Switzerland. Bassist (and producer) Chris Von Rohr and lead guitarist Fernando Von Arb wrote the track, entitled "Live For The Action", and will perform it live — along with the rest of the band — in Bern at the opening game of the Ice Hockey World Championship between Switzerland and France. The event will be held in a packed stadium and broadcasted via TV to 800 million viewers in over 100 countries.... More...

TARJA TURUNEN

Digital single available

Spinefarm Records has just released a new digital single from former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen entitled "Enough". The single features the title track plus the bonus song "Wisdom Of Wind"; both cuts are brand new recordings, although it's yet to be determined if they will feature on the singer's second full studio album under the Tarja banner.... More...

BURZUM

Varg to be released from prison soon

Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh) — the former BURZUM mastermind who is currently serving a Norwegian prison term for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous) and setting fire to three churches — will soon be a free man. In September 2008, Vikernes's fourth application for parole was denied, but a couple of weeks ago he finally received the message he has been waiting for: after almost 16 years in prison, he will be released.... More...

JACKSON GUITARS

Unveils Adrian Smith signature model

Jacksonguitars.com has issued the following press release: Jackson couldn’t possibly be more thrilled to at last welcome UK metal titans IRON MAIDEN to the Bloodline in the form of the sleek new Adrian Smith Dan Dimas Dinky signature guitars. Introduced in January 2009, Smith’s pair of signature Jackson guitars at long last formally cements the relationship between Jackson and one of metaldom’s biggest, most enduring and most beloved acts. Smith’s molten, incredibly fast legato guitar work is an integral part of why Iron Maiden has remained such an influential band over the decades, and the man himself is a most enthusiastic champion of his namesake signature model—as evidenced by its frequent use on Maiden’s top-grossing 2008-2009 Somewhere Back in Time tour.... More...

DEVILDRIVER

In mixing mode

Santa Barbara, California's DEVILDRIVER recently completed recording its fourth album, "Pray For Villains", tentatively due on July 14 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Edge of the Earth studios in Los Angeles with producer Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY)... More...

O.S.I

New album details

OSI (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE), the project featuring FATES WARNING guitarist Jim Matheos and ex-DREAM THEATER keyboardist Kevin Moore, will release its third album, Blood, on April 27th in Europe and May 19th in North America via InsideOut Music. A new press release reads as follows:... More...

STRATOVARIUS

Burying the hatched?

According to an online post by STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, he and ex-STRATOVARIUS guitarist/mainman Timo Tolkki met for dinner this past Thursday night (March 5) in an apparent attempt to bury the hatchet following a bitter Internet war of words over the use of the STRATOVARIUS name. Timo Tolkki's new band, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, will release a new album, "Age Of Aquarius", on March 23 via Scarlet Records. It is described in a press release as "by far the darkest, heaviest and most symphonic album that Tolkki has ever been involved in."... More...

DECAPITATED

Guitarist seeking drummer and vocalist

DECAPITATED guitarist Vogg has issued the following announcement: "Hello everyone. I was thinking about that for a long time and it’s really hard decision for me, but I have decided to continue this band and keep Decapitated alive. I know it will be not the same anymore but I want to try and I’m sure Witek and Covan will support me and will be happy about that.... More...

IRON MAIDEN

111 arrested in Colombia after the show

Latin American Herald Tribune reports that Colombian police arrested a total of 111 people on the weekend in this capital after they participated in street disturbances and tried to enter a concert given by British heavy metal band IRON MAIDEN without tickets, local authorities told the press on Sunday.... More...