Guitarist Bill Hudson has quit the Nebraska-based extreme power metal babd CELLADOR. His statement on the matter reads as follows:

"After thinking about it for a long time and after a very relaxing holiday season, which included appearances at the NAMM show in Anaheim, I have decided that it's best for me if I part ways with CELLADOR.

"I'll be flying back to Omaha tomorrow, but the band is already aware of my decision. I'm really only going back to take care of the last details, before I move to L.A. permanently.

"CELLADOR and I did great things together, and a good fan-base was built. I played some of the most insane shows of my lif ...

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West Virginia's forward-thinking thrashers BYZANTINE have issued the following update:

"As of today, BYZANTINE is no longer a functioning band. Due to various circumstances the band will not be touring or performing together.

"We would like to first thank everyone that has supported this band throughout the years. You are the people that really made everything worthwhile and we are amazed at the wonderful response we have had from all of you. Because of you, we were part of something special and without you none of this would have been possible. Next, we would like to thank all the kick-ass bands that we have played shows with and hung out with. These were good ...

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AVIAN, the melodic metal band featuring singer Lance King and guitarist Yan Leviathan, has been confirmed for the Nightmare Metal Fest, a brand new festival set to take place March 21-22 at Bourbon Street in New Port Richey, Florida. Also scheduled to appear are WARMACHINE, CAGE, DISASTERPEACE (the new band featuring singer Wade Black [CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEASH LAW, BLACK REIGN, LEATHERWOLF], former KING DIAMOND guitarist master Pete Blakk, renowned drummer Jesse Martillo [CRIMSON GLORY] and bassist Chris Baylor), X-THIRTIEN, ORDER OF NINE, ...

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The winners of the competition are Nick Ledesma, Mark Lawless and Anthony Carriuolo, congratulations to all of you, your prizes will be in the post soon!

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Esteban Parra of The News Journal reports that former ICED EARTH guitarist Ernie Carletti (mug shot, promotional photo) declined to show remorse this morning before being sentenced to 33 years in prison for kidnapping, raping and torturing a University of Delaware student in 2003.

"I feel, your honor, that anything I say is not going to be able to contribute," 32-year-old Carletti told S ...

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Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have set "Hammer Battalion" as the title of their ninth full-length album, due later in the year via SPV Records. According to the band, "The result of the pre-production of the new album is very satisfying. . . The new UNLEASHED album will continue in the same victorious spirit as our previous album 'Midvinterblot'."

Fan-filmed video footage of UNLEASHED's November 27, 2007 concert at Bolwerk in Sneek, Holland can be viewed below (courtesy of "letthemetalflow").

UNLEASHED's eighth full-length album, "Midvinterblot", was released in the U.S. on October 10, 2006 via SPV Reco ...

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Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL entered Antfarm studios in Denmark earlier this month with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD) to begin recording the follow-up to 2006's "Memorial" for a tentative late spring/early summer release via SPV.

Commented vocalist Fernando Ribeiro: "'Night Eternal' will be the title of the new MOONSPELL album. The recording sessions will take place between the 7th and the 31st of January 2008 in Denmark's finest metal studio, Antfarm. Tue Madsen, who worked with the band on the 'Under Satanae' project, will be producing MOONSPELL ...

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Metal Blade Records has inked a North American deal with Polish extreme metalers BEHEMOTH. The band recently finished up an extremely successful year which saw the band as direct support to headliners HATEBREED on the second stage at Ozzfest and a co-headlining spot on the Radio Rebellion tour alongside now labelmates JOB FOR A COWBOY. BEHEMOTH played over 150 shows in 2007 and has no plans on slowing down for 2008. Expect to see a new release in the form of an EP out in the summer/fall of 2008 along with a Stateside tour in the spring.

Commented Metal Blade CEO Brian Slagel: "We are honored and very excited to work with < ...

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Reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS have scheduled a number of U.S. shows in February/March alongside TERROR, SWORN ENEMY, SHAI HULUD, DOWN TO NOTHING and RECON. So far the following dates have been announced:

Feb. 29 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Mar. 01 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
Mar. 02 - Pittsburgh, PA - The School
Mar. 03 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
Mar. 04 - Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
Mar. 05 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
Mar. 06 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
Mar. 07 - Logan, UT - Club NVO
Mar. 08 - Boise, ID - The Boise
Mar. 09 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
Mar. 10 - Portland, OR - ...

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Just as the melancholic depths of Black Metal reflect the pain and uselessness of life, so Metal Reviews sets the krieger section of its readership at each other's pathetic human throats with a competition! Italian label ATMF has produced some of the best underground Black Metal to hit our ears over the course of 2007, and we're offering six lucky winners the chance to get their hands on some of their finest output, completely free of charge! So if you think that you're kvlt enough, and would like to get your hands on an extremely special and limited copy of Locus Mortis - Voust, Forgotten Woods - Race Of Cain or Janvs - Fvlgvrs, then all that you have to do is email Zadok@metalreviews.com explaining (in 100 words or less) not just why you deserve to win, but why everyone else doesn't.

Winners will be picked by merit alone. Closing date for entries is midnight 21st January, winners will be announced on the 22nd January.

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