MOONSPELL

Fernando Ribeiro sings fado

Vocalist Fernando Ribeiro of the Portuguese metal band MOONSPELL makes a guest appearance on an album called "Amália Hoje", which is scheduled for release on Portugal on April 27. The CD features a number of Portuguese artists paying tribute to Amália Rodrigues, who was the unchallenged queen of fado — the Portuguese equivalent of flamenco or blues. Ribiero can be heard on two songs — "O Grito" and "Formiga Bossa Nova". Also scheduled to appear on the album, which was produced by Nuno Gonçalves (THE GIFT), are Sónia Tavares (THE GIFT) and Paulo Praça (ex-TURBO JUNKIE), among others.... More...

TARJA TURUNEN

Touring line up announced

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen's band for her upcoming tour will consist of the following musicians: Tarja Turunen - Vocals, Mike Terrana (MASTERPLAN, SAVAGE CIRCUS, ex-RAGE, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Drums, Maria Ilmoniemi - Keyboards, Oliver Holzwarth (BLIND GUARDIAN, ex-SIEGES EVEN) - Bass, Alex Scholpp (ex-FARMER BOYS) - Guitar, Max Lilja (HEVEIN, ex-APOCALYPTICA) - Cello.... More...

HORDE OF HEL

Release date announced

HORDE OF HEL, which features "members from different elite death metal and black metal bands from Sweden," will release its debut album, "Blodskam", on May 5 via Moribund Records in the U.S. and Blooddawn Productions in Europe. The CD, which contains contains 14 songs of raw and evil black metal and industrial madness, was mastered by engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson of MARDUK at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden. A video for the song "Leave Life Behind" is also in the works.... More...

CHROME DIVISION

Shagrath issues update

CHROME DIVISION, the Norwegian five-piece featuring DIMMU BORGIR frontman Shagrath (a.k.a. Stian Thoresen) on guitar, has issued the following update: "There's a lot of things happening in the Chrome camp nowadays. First off, the live situation is brighter than ever. Two more festivals in Germany are confirmed. Details will follow later. Then the Underworld Club of London, England will most certainly get Chromed in the near future. Then there's rumours of a trip over to the US, more specifically Los Angeles, to show the Americans what Norwegian doomsday rock'n'roll is all about.... More...

VITAL REMAINS

Guitars stolen, the band offers a reward

New England-based death metallers VITAL REMAINS have issued the following update: "Tuesday night [March 24] thieves broke into our trailer at our hotel in Austin, Texas and stole some of our gear and 300+ shirts. A make-up date is in the works for the canceled performance at the Riot Room in Kansas City and will be announced shortly...... More...

WITHIN TEMPTATION

DVD certified gold in Holland

"Black Symphony", the latest double-DVD from the popular Dutch symphonic metal band WITHIN TEMPTATION, was certified gold in Holland. The set, which was released on September 22, 2008, is also available as a double-CD. The band's most ambitious staging to date, Black Symphony was a unique concert at Rotterdam's Ahoy Arena on February 7, 2008. Sold out months in advance, the show featured WITHIN TEMPTATION performing to 10,000 fans with the 60-piece Metropole Orchestra and a 20-voice classical choir, as well as on-stage stilt performers, costume changes, and an array of stunning pyrotechnic and lighting effects. The colossal production extended to Europe's largest video screen (a massive 400 sqm), reaching across the entire width of the stage, and 14 full HD cameras. Special guests on the night included Keith Caputo (LIFE OF AGONY), Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-THE GATHERING), and George Oosthoek (ORPHANAGE).... More...

FORBIDDEN

Guitarist issues update

Guitarist Craig Locicero of reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrahers FORBIDDEN has issued the following update: "First off, we've been crazed busy over the last couple of months! Multiple levels of work and play going on around here. Getting ready for our California dates that start [Thursday, March 26] at the Key Club in Hollywood and end with a home show blow-out in San Jose at the Voodoo Lounge. That has turned into the priority for now. Obviously first and foremost [guitarist] Steve Smyth [ex-NEVERMORE, TESTAMENT] being the 'new dude' and getting up to speed was important. He and I had been working on Skype a few days a week for the last few months before he finally arrived here from London last week. That prepared Steve to walk in and play the older songs with conviction and purpose.... More...

SARKE

New album featuring Nocturno Culto coming soon

SARKE, the Norwegian band featuring Sarke (KHOLD, TULUS, OLD MAN'S CHILD, SENSA ANIMA) and Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE), will release its debut album, "Vorunah", on April 6 in Norway and April 27 in the rest of Europe via Indie Recordings. An e-card for the CD featuring audio samples of the entire album can be found at this location. SARKE might sound like a new name, and in fact it is, but this grim story has more pages than one first might think.... More...

SUSPERIA

Singer's successful operation

Despite further complications, SUSPERIA singer Athera (Pal Mathiesen) successfully underwent open heart surgery on Monday, March 16th at Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Originally scheduled to have a triple by pass operation, surgeons discovered further problems which resulted in the vocalist also having a main artery - which previously ran to his lungs - connected directly to his heart. Athera will remain in hospital to recuperate and has been advised by doctors that full recovery will take between three and five months.... More...

LAY DOWN ROTTEN

New album coming soon

German death metal gang LAY DOWN ROTTEN have finished the recordings and mixing duties for their upcoming fifth album Gospel Of The Wretched. The album was recorded at the Desert Inn studios in Germany and mixed by the infamous Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH) at Unisound studios in Örebro, Sweden!... More...

TRISTANIA

Mainman issues new album update

TRISTANIA founder Østen Bergøy has issued the following update on the band's forthcoming album and the process of writing lyrics in general: "To be main lyricist in Tristania feels like an honour and a curse at the same time. I know that most of our fans read our lyrics and some know them by heart. We've heard you sing along - I have seen your lips - moving to the melodies at our concerts. That is very touching. Continue doing that.... More...

CANDLEMASS

Entire new album streaming online

Swedish/Texan doom legends CANDLEMASS have made their new album, "Death Magic Doom", available for streaming in its entirety on their MySpace page. Due in Europe on April 3 and in North America on May 5 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Death Magic Doom" features the following track listing:... More...