As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported yesterday, it has now been officially confirmed that CANNIBAL CORPSE's Alex Webster will play bass on HATE ETERNAL's new album following the recent departure of Randy Piro Jr.

"I am very excited to be participating in the recording of HATE ETERNAL's next album," Webster says in a statement. "Erik [Rutan, HATE ETERNAL leader] is an amazing guitarist and songwriter, and one of my best friends. As bassist for the new album, I will do my best to make the stronges ...

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Former HATE ETERNAL bassist Randy Piro has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding his departure from the group:

"As you may have heard by now, I have decided to relinquish my bass and vocal duties in HATE ETERNAL. Despite the overall accuracy of the official HATE ETERNAL press release regarding my departure, I feel it is necessary to address this issue personally, and in more detail.

"My reason for leaving HATE ETERNAL is to direct my focus and energy to the GIGAN beast exclusively. ...

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Bassist Michael Nicklassonn from Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY has posted the following message on the band's web site:

"I've gotten some mails and questions concerning my health during this tour from fans that are worried about my weight loss and my numbness. The thing is that I just got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes one week before this tour, so I just started with insulin. I'm getting a little better day by day and it's a real struggle for me, but I'm trying to do my best for the band and the fans. I wanted to post this so everyone knows the facts about this. As it is right now my body doesn't work as it's supposed to and that means that I'm ver ...

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Artwork for Norwegian melodic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR's upcoming album, "In Sorte Diaboli" — which is scheduled for an April 24 release in North America — has been banned by retailers. Slipcover artwork can be viewed at this location.

The North American version of the "The Serpentine Offering" single will be available for digital download at iTunes.com beginning April 3 (not March 30 as previously stated) and will include the following three songs: " ...

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Night of the Vinyl Dead has just reissued KREATOR's 1999 album "Endorama" on "bicolored vinyl," limited to 333 hand-numbered copies. The track listing is as follows:

Side A

01. Golden Age
02. Endorama
03. Shadowland
04. Chosen Few
05. Everlasting Flame
06. Passage to Babylon

Side B

01. Future King
02. Entry
03. Soul Eraser
04. Willing Spirit
05. Pandemonium
06. Tyranny

For more information, visit NightOfTheVinylDead.com.

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Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING has finished recording its new album and is about to leave for Helsinki, Finland to begin the mixing the effort at Sonic Pump Studios. Due this fall via AFM Records, the CD will feature a guest appearance on two tracks by Swedish guitarist Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, FIREGOD, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, CANDLEMASS).

Commented the band: "It's an honor to have Mike soloing on our songs. It's always amazing having one of your heroes playing in your album. And the leads he played are amazing — pure guitar art!"

ELVENKING released its third ...

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MANOWAR's video for the song "Die for Metal" has been posted online at YouTube. Portions of the clip were filmed on February 24, 2007 in Bochum, Germany, during the release party for the band's new album, "Gods of War". Besides the fans, the video stars well-known German actor Tim Sander.

"Die for Metal" comes off MANOWAR's tenth full-length album, "Gods of War", which was released on February 23 in Germany (February 26 for the rest of Europe and April 3 for the USA/Canada).

An e-card for "Gods of War" has been made available at

TAAKE's record label, Dark Essence Records, has issued a statement distancing itself from the Norwegian black metal band after the group' singer appeared on stage in Essen, Germany last week with a swastika symbol drawn on his chest.

Commented the label: "In the last days, there's been a lot of controversy around TAAKE, because of an extremely stupid stunt at one of their gigs in Germany. In case somebody wonders, Dark Essence Records has NOTHING to do with the swastika scandal in Essen, and don't support that at all. Hoest [ ...

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Swedish death metal supergroup BLOODBATH has issued the following update:

"BLOODBATH is finally back to put elite death metal on the map. The brand new line-up is shortly to be officially revealed, but has already paved way for a band hungrier than ever to bathe in the blood of a new recording. So in early June, we'll once again enter Fascination Street studios (same place 'Nightmares Made Flesh' was done) to cut a couple of new songs. In good tradition, each member will contribute to the writing with one song each. The final result will be unleashed in the form of a mini-CD scheduled for release in late summer. This affair will be self-financed and releas ...

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Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have announced that original guitarist Christopher Amott is rejoining the band with immediate effect. The group, having finished an intense 18-month touring cycle all over the world promoting the "Doomsday Machine" album and "Live Apocalypse" DVD, is currently busy working on songs for their new studio album.

Christopher surprised many by departing ARCH ENEMY at the end of the "Doomsday Machine" recording sessions in 2005, having been in the band for 10 years (starting with ARCH ENEMY at age 18). Christopher followed his urge to see the outside world and find what else is out th ...

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