Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS have recorded four new songs with producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD). The recordings took place last weekend at the new Polar studios in Stockholm, Sweden and the band say that they are very happy with the result. “The songs are pretty much in the same vein as the stuff on the [self-titled 2005] reunion album, maybe a bit darker," says bassist/songwriter Leif Edling.

CANDLEMASS's next studio session will take place in May. The band's new album is tentatively scheduled for release in October 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.

CANDLEMASS last month won a Swedi ...

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MONSTER MAGNET have cancelled their European tour after the group's mainman, Dave Wyndorf, was hospitalized following a drug overdose.

"The battle with one's inner demons is the most personal fight any of us can undertake," said MONSTER MAGNET's manager, Steve Davis of Davis Entertainment Group. "The fight is at times a lonely, confusing journey. On the evening of February 27, Dave Wyndorf suffered a setback in his own fight and was hospitalized due to a drug overdose. His full recovery is expected. We ask that all those he has encountered over the years or simply affected by his music to take a moment to think good thoughts of and for him. W ...

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King Diamond will be lending his inimitable voice to acclaimed director Kevin Smith's next movie, "The Passion of the Clerks", which is a sequel to the 1994 independent classic "Clerks", and is due to arrive in theaters later this year.

The movie is set 10 years later, but Dante and Randall are still spending time together, sitting around work, not working.

"Welcome Home", from 1988's gothic masterpiece "Them" is the song in question. There has been no word yet on whether Jay and Silent Bob will launch into fits of air guitar or burst into a joint chorus of "GRANDMAAAAAA!"

IGN's

American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We are pleased to announce that KAMELOT will be returning to Norway for the Ragnarock Festival (web site) in August 2006.

"Work continues on KAMELOT's first DVD, 'One Cold Winter's Night'. The [disc] is tentatively [slated] for a fall/winter release and is sure to please all the fans. The incredible concert in Oslo includes special appearance from Simone Simons (EPICA), Sascha Paeth and Snowy Shaw, plus many more!

"Next album news! In ...

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Audio samples of the new ISOLE tracks "The Beyond" and "Beyond the Black II" have been made available for download at the group's official web site, www.forevermore.se. Both songs will be included on the Swedish doom metal quartet's upcoming 7" vinyl release, "The Beyond", due on March 13 via I Hate Records. The single marks the group's first recording with new drummer Jonas Lindström, who is also a member of the death metal quartet WITHERED BEAUTY and black metal quintet UNDIVINE. The single's title cut, "The Beyond", is described in a press release as "a relatively up-te ...

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Escapi Records will re-release all five albums from the acclaimed band WARRIOR SOUL. On March 14, Escapi will re-release the band's 1990 "Last Decade Dead Century" debut, the 1991 "Drugs God & The New Republic" follow-up, and 1992's "Salutations From The Ghetto Nation". Then, on April 4, WARRIOR SOUL's groundbreaking fourth album, "Chill Pill" (originally released in 1993) and "Space Age Playboys" (originally released in 1995) will be re-released. All tracks on all albums will be remixed and remastered.

The constant in all five albums is frontman Kory Clarke. It's Clarke's vision that permeates the proceeding ...

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Here is something that sure not many of you anticipated - Misha has been welcomed back on the MR staff and has accepted the position of the reviewer again. All of us were able to rise above our old differences, and bygones should remain just that, bygones. The past will not be dredged out again. We are sure that Misha will continue to provide excellent reviews for this site, and will open your horizons to many cool and possibly less known bands.

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We are pleased to announce the addition of Kayla to the MetalReviews.com staff. Most of you probably recognize her as Carnifex Umbris from the forums. We welcome her aboard, and hope that she enjoys being a part of this site!

The MetalReviews Team

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Florida-based metal/hardcore legends PRO-PAIN have announced tour dates for their upcoming "Prophets Of Doom" tour. They are as follows:

14.04 (GR) ALEXANDROUPOLIS @ DOMUS
15.04 (GR) THESSALONIKI @ MYLOS XYLOURGIO
16.04 (GR) ATHENS @ UNDERWORLD
17.04 (NL) TILBURG @ 013 NO MERCY FESTIVAL
18.04 (D) HANNOVER @ MUSIK ZENTRUM
19.04 (D) KOLN @UNDERGROUND
20.04 (F) POITIERS @ BSC CAFE
21.04 (F) COLMAR @ LE GRILLEN
22.04 (B) HASSELT @ MUSIEK-O-DROM
23.04 (D) LUDWIGSBURG @ ROCK FABRIKM
24.04 (CZ) PLZEN @ DK SERIKOVA
25.04 (CZ) ZLIN @ ROCK CAFE
26.04 (A) DORNBIRN @ CONRAD SOHM
27.04 (CH) BERN @ ISC
28.04 (CH) LUZERN @SEDEL
29.04 (D ...

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German death metallers NECROPHAGIST have announced the addition of Helsinki, Finland-based guitarist Sami Raatikainen (CODEON) to the group's ranks. "We look forward to working together with an extremely talented fella, as we never met someone working faster or harder before," the band write in a statement. "We would also like to thank the applicants that didn't get the spot, you guys have done a great job! But in the end, there can only be one. Thank you all!"

Raatikainen joins NECROPHAGIST as the replacement for Christian Münzner, who left the band earlier in the month due to "scheduling conflicts."

As previously reported, NECROPHAGIST< ...

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