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WOLF: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
17 Mar 2009

"Ravenous", the new album from the Swedish heavy metal band WOLF, is available for streaming in its entirety at MetalKult.

"Ravenous" will be released in North America on March 24 via Century Media Records. Out in Europe since late last month, the CD features a guest guitar solo by Hank Shermann (FORCE OF EVIL, MERCYFUL FATE) and guest vocals by Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROYAL HUNT).

For the fierce and bloody artwork, the band once again decided to work with its longtime cover artist Thomas Holm (MERCYFUL FATE).

"He has the ability to 'paint our music' and that's something we're no ...
Metal Maniacs and Metal Edge magazines to close doors?
17 Mar 2009

Several writers for Metal Maniacs magazine have reported receiving word yesterday (Tuesday, February 3) that both Metal Maniacs and its sister publication Metal Edge have shut their doors effective immediately, with one more issue of each title still set to come out. It should be noted, however, that the two magazines' publisher, Zenbu Media, has not yet officially corroborated this information.

Metal Edge and Metal Maniacs, two of the leading heavy metal magazines in the U.S., have been publishing for 24 years and 19 years, respectively. The two publications were acquired by Zenbu Media in February 2007.

Covering bands across the hard rock spectrum — from classic me ...


SUSPERIA VOCALIST TO UNDERGO OPEN HEART SURGERY
16 Mar 2009

OSLO, NORWAY: SUSPERIA vocalist Athera (Pal Mathieson) remains under close observation at Akershus Universitetssykehus Hospital in Lørenskog, Norway following his heart attack last week. The singer has been diagnosed with a previously undetected genetic disorder that will require the replacement of three narrowed arteries and three heart valves. He will undergo a triple heart by-pass operation through open heart surgery on Monday March 16th 2009. Meanwhile the singer is being kept on heavy doses of medication to keep his blood thin and his heart rate down.

Though in a serious, but stable condition, a highly spirited and medicated Athera speaking from his hospital bed sen ...


GORGOROTH TRADEMARK VERDICT REACHED
16 Mar 2009

Oslo City District Court has delivered a verdict on the main question in the GORGOROTH trademark case, which took place at the end of January 2009. The court has decided that King Ov Hell's trademark registration #243365 of the band name GORGOROTH is NOT valid and shall therefore be deleted. The court states that King ov Hell and Gaahl excluded themselves from the band GORGOROTH when they tried to fire Infernus in October 2007. The court further states that Infernus cannot be excluded from GORGOROTH, unless he himself decides to quit. Infernus is very pleased, but not surprised, by this verdict. The remaining issues concerning financial matters and such are yet ...


THE PROJECT HATE Putting Finishing Touches On New Album
14 Mar 2009

THE PROJECT HATE — the Swedish band featuring vocalist Jörgen Sandström (ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE), guitarist Lord K. Philipson (GOD AMONG INSECTS, ex-LEUKEMIA), bassist Michael Håkansson (ENGEL, ex-EVERGREY), singer Jo Enckell (IGNORANCE BLISS), guitarist Anders Bertilsson (RUIN, COLDWORKER) and drummer Thomas Ohlsson (KAMTJATKA, AXENSTAR, SEVEN WISHES, CELLOUT) — recently began mixing its new album with Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH) at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden. According to Philipson, "Mr. Swanö's now got his hands full this weekend for the first corrections of the mix that is needed. He's done an amazing job with the sound but there are some stuff that we are no ...
HEAVEN & HELL's 'The Devil You Know': Final Artwork, First Single Revealed
12 Mar 2009

After finishing several heralded world tours as HEAVEN & HELL last summer, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice were tighter than ever before, both musically and personally.

Agreeing that it would be a shame to stop making music together at tour's end, the quartet began writing, first in England at Iommi's home studio and later in Los Angeles at Dio's studio. "The band had gotten too good to just walk away," Dio says. "We wanted to show people that we were still capable of giving them new music that measured up to what we'd done in the past."

With that goal in mind, the band once again converged on Rockfield Studios in Wales last winter, the sam ...
THE GATHERING Announces New Singer; Audio Samples Available
12 Mar 2009

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."

Hans continued, "What can we say about 'The West Pole'? It's a very vital, atmospheric and extravert rock orientated album, with all the quality and power THE GATHERING is so famous for, also with ...
ORPHANED LAND Launches Studio Diary
12 Mar 2009

Israel's progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND are currently recording the highly anticipated follow-up to 2004's "Mabool". "ORwarriOr" will be mixed by legendary musician/producer Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE, OPETH) and is tentatively due in the fall via Century Media Records.

Commented vocalist Kobi Farhi: "The album is going to be more than 70 minutes long, and, as usual, many traditional instruments and languages will be involved in the process. In my opinion, this is the best ORPHANED LAND album ever! We can't wait for you to put your hands on it and we look forward to tour and meet you all on the road!"

You can read ORPHANED LAND's regularly updated studi ...
AVA INFERI To Release 'Blood Of Bacchus'
12 Mar 2009

AVA INFERI, the Portugal-based band whose lineup includes Norwegian guitarist Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. ex-MAYHEM guitarist/songwriter Blasphemer), will release its third album, "Blood Of Bacchus", on May 25 via via France's Season Of Mist.

The final track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Truce
02. Last Sign Of Summer
03. Colours Of The Dark
04. Black Wings
05. Appeler Les Loups
06. Be Damned
07. Tempestade
08. Blood Of Bacchus
09. Memoirs

The album features guest appearances by Kristoffer Rygg (ULVER), Live Kostöl (PANTHEON I), Fredrik Söderlind (PUISSENCE) and the "amazing piano talent" Arne Martinussen.

...
NIGHTWISH: 'Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)' Five-Minute Preview Clip Available
11 Mar 2009

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have posted an extended five-minute preview clip (see below) of their new CD/DVD, "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)".

Due on March 13 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)" will contain a DVD documentary (with a running time of approximately 45 minutes) of NIGHTWISH's world tour in support of the band's latest album, "Dark Passion Play", as well as a CD featuring live recordings from the trek. The documentary footage was reportedly directed by Ville Lipiäinen.

"Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)" track listing:

CD (running time - 66:13):

...