The songwriting process for the new DIO record is coming along nicely, and if all goes as planned, the band should be ready to start recording sometime in January 2004, according to a post on the group's web site.

In other news, DIO have been officially confirmed confirmed for the 2004 edition of Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-8, 2004 in Wacken, Germany

According to an official newsletter from the festival's organizers, next year's event will be a celebration of the festival's 15th anniversary with special performances by "new hits, old hits, reunions, newcomers and top acts."

The list of bands currently scheduled to appear at the festival is as follows:

AMON AMARTH
ANTHRAX
BAL-SAGOTH
BRAINSTORM
BÖHSE ONKELZ
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CATHEDRAL
CHILDREN OF BODOM
DESTRUCTION
DIO
EKTOMORF
GRAVE DIGGER
HYPOCRISY
MAYHEM
NEVERMORE
SAXON
SCHANDMAUL
ZODIAC MINDWARP

More confirmations will be announced soon.

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