"Deathsmarch", the new video from Toronto, Canada's hardcore/metal band CANCER BATS, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's sophomore full-length album, "Hail Destroyer", which came out last year via Black Market Activities. The CD was co-produced by Eric Ratz (BIG SUGAR, THEORY OF A DEAD MAN, BILLY TALENT), Kenny Luong (BILLY TALENT), and Greg Below (ALEXISONFIRE) and recorded at Vespa Studios. According to a press release, "Hail Destroyer" sees CANCER BATS "mature sonically and evolving as they incorporate the past, present of hardcore while they pave out its future."

In a February 2008 interview with ChartAttack.com, Liam Cormier stated about the CD, "This album is ...

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Swedish viking metallers AMON AMARTH will embark on a tour of South America and Mexico in May.

Commented the band: "For the first time, AMON AMARTH will finally go to South America. This is something we've been waiting for and working on for a very long time! We know a lot of our friends and fans have been waiting for this for a very long time but it has not been possible for us to go there until now. All we can say is that it's about time!"

So far the following dates have been confirmed:

May 05 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - The End
May 07 - Santiago, Chile - Teatro Novedades
May 14 - Bogota, Columbia - Teatro San Remo
May 17 - Mexico City, Mexic ...

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STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson has commented on the newly released song from REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, the new band led by former STRATOVARIUS mastermind Timo Tolkki.

The title track of REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's forthcoming album, "Age Of Aquarius", is available for free download at this location (MP3, 9.3 MB).

Commented Jens: "I am (thank God) not a professional music critic, but I sort of like it! It's not blatantly melodic or commercial, the melodies are little more complex than [Timo] normally makes them. Good lyrics. Guitar solo kicks ass. Will be really interesting to ...

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"New Messiah", the new video from ARTIFACT, the Norwegian band featuring former SIRENIA guitarist Björnar Landa, can be viewed below. The clip features a special guest appearance by TRISTANIA singer Mariangela Demurtas.

ARTIFACT released its debut album, "The Only Salvation", in June 2008 via Spiralchords. According to a press release, "The Only Salvation" is "a multifaceted adventure that blends dark rock, metal and industrial elements in a remarkably strong way. Juicy riffs, crunchy synths and huge choruses amalgamate with varied atmospheres which pend between aggressive volcanos ('Dead Eyes', 'New Messiah') and emotional, thoughtful beauty ('Scapegoated & Demonized')."

The cover artwork for "Resplendent Grotesque", the second album from CODE — the British/Norwegian black metal project featuring bassist/backing vocalist Viper (a.k.a. Vicotnik from DHG), guitarist/songwriter Aort, drummer Adrian Erlandsson (AT THE GATES, CRADLE OF FILTH) and vocalist Kvohst (DØDHEIMSGARD) — can be viewed below.

Commented the band: "[The artwork was] created, painted and lovingly slaved over by the enigmatic, brilliant and cult artist Stephen Kasner. We are eternally grateful and blessed for his vivid and inspired portrayal of our music. As the man himself remarked, 'I feel very successful in channeling the emotions and ideas, in my own way, as they were descr ...

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MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update from the "Priest Feast" tour, also featuring JUDAS PRIEST and TESTAMENT:

"Today I was able to talk with Mike Gitter [A&R executive] from Roadrunner Records, who has graciously allowed me to make this [new MEGADETH] record and to let me do it without some of the ridiculous things that he was ordered to tell me, and I think we are going to have a really good record.

"Lemme see, I sent him the music for Track 2, and he said, 'This just got my dick hard,' which suggests success. I am really excited about the lyrics and the title that I have chosen for this penultimate offering to Roadrunner.

"We are p ...

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London: Candlelight Records today confirms the worldwide signing of England’s ANAAL NATHRAKH. The popular extreme metal duo are currently in the studio working on their label debut titled "In The Constellation Of The Black Widow". The album is expected for a summertime release. Vocalist V.I.T.R.I.O.L. says, “Candlelight have shown a strong belief in ANAAL NATHRAKH and looking at some of the acts on their roster both past and present it seems they are capable of backing up their good intentions. With their help we hope we can finally get the planet cracked in half.”

Formed in 1998, ANAAL NATHRAKH have recorded five full-length albums, their most recent "Hell is Empty and ...

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Italian hard rock band LACUNA COIL, which offers the dual vocals of male singer Andrea Ferro and female vocalist Cristina Scabbia, will release its much-anticipated new album, "Shallow Life", via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Europe: April 20
North America: April 21

The CD was recorded in September/October at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Don Gilmore, who has previously worked with LINKIN PARK, TRAPT, AVRIL LAVIGNE, GOOD CHARLOTTE, THE VERONICAS, PEARL JAM, TRUST COMPANY and DURAN DURAN.

"Shallow Life" track listing:

01. Survive
02. I Won't Tell You
03. Not Enough
04. I'm Not Afraid
...

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"Trenches", the new video from Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in December 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden with director Daniel Larsson of Addictive Alliance.

THE HAUNTED has just completed an extremely successful European co-headlining tour with ALL THAT REMAINS. Guitarist Anders Björler states, "We got back from the ALL THAT REMAINS tour about a week ago and it's been an awesome ride. Cool guys (and girls), pretty much on the same level as ourselves. It was a very relaxed and laid-back tour for us, where we could concentrate fully on making good shows each night. Sharing a bus has never been so easy. We want to thank all the people who came do ...

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AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen has announced the details of his new project, GUILT MACHINE.

As AYREON fans have come to expect from Arjen, the music of GUILT MACHINE ranges from dark and heavy to atmospheric and melancholic. But GUILT MACHINE introduces some new twists as well, particularly when it comes to the vocals. Rather than putting together an ensemble cast of vocalists from the prog, rock and metal scene, Arjen has enlisted the talents of a single alternative rock vocalist, Jasper Steverlinck.

How did Arjen get an alternative rock vocalist to switch genres and sing on a prog rock project? "In the beginning, it was hard to convince Jasper to sing on this album, ...

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