NILE mainman Karl Sanders has issued a statement explaining his band's decision to take part in the 2007 Ozzfest tour. LAMB OF GOD and LORDI will perform on the main stage with headliner OZZY OSBOURNE, while HATEBREED will headline the second stage, supported by MONDO GENERATOR, ANKLA, CIRCUS DIABLO, NILE and THE SHOWDOWN. The 24-city tour begins July 12 in Seattle.

Commented Sanders: "Been getting a lot of messages about Ozzfest, and the general concensus is, we are either giving a good reason for metalheads to go to the show, or we're going someplace we don't belong becuase we're 'too ...

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Progressive metallers SYMPHONY X are continuing work on the follow-up to 2002's "The Odyssey", entitled "Paradise Lost", tentatively due late June. The CD is currently being mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH) at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. According to a posting on the group's web site, the mastering should happen within the next week or two.

Upcoming SYMPHONY X shows:

May 25 - New York, NY - B.B. Kings
May 27 - San Juan, Puerto Rico – [to be confirmed]

With SANCTITY and ECHOES OF ETERNITY:

Jul. 12 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
Jul. 16 - ...

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California-based female-fronted band OTEP has parted ways with guitarist Karma Cheema (ex-AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE).

Commented OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya: "Karma has decided to pursue other opportunities and we are happy to announce the new addition of Aaron on guitar. [Thursday night, March 22] was his first night with us and he did an amazing job. He is a true musical magi of the highest degree."

Check out Aaron's MySpace page at this location.

Otep Shamaya recently issued a statement in response to the persistent rumors that the band has been dro ...

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A Swedish court has ruled that the parents of a seven-month-old girl in Kungälv, Sweden can name their child Metallica, according to the Swedish newspaper GP. The girl's parents wanted to give their daughter a name that combined their first names. After picking Metallica and checking twice with the Swedish tax agency Skatteverket if the name was acceptable, they were told that it shouldn't be a problem since there is already a girl in Sweden called Metallica. When they filed Metallica as one of the girl's three first names, the Skatteverket suddenly objected, cla ...

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ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer has sent the following update to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"I just wanted to give you an update of what's happening in ICED EARTH world.

"We just finished mixing and mastering the [new] single, which will be titled 'Overture of the Wicked' and should be released in late May or early June. The four songs that will be featured on this are as follows:

01. Ten Thousand Strong
02. Prophecy
03. Birth of the Wicked
04. The Coming Curse

"'Ten Thousand Strong' will be the song that we will be filming a video for in the following months, most likely in June right around ...

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ARCH ENEMY's "Black Earth" album, originally released in 1996 on Wrong Again Records, will be reissued on April 24 via Regain Records. In addition to the original nine songs, the reissue will contain three bonus tracks — "Losing Faith" and the IRON MAIDEN covers "The Ides of March" and "Aces High" — as well as a video for "Bury Me An Angel".

ARCH ENEMY is scheduled to enter the studio this spring to begin recording the follow-up to 2005's "Doomsday Machine", tentatively due before the end of the year.

Watch ARCH ENEMY's entire 25-minute performance at the U.K.'s Download festival from ...

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DOWN — the acclaimed New Orleans band featuring CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower (EYEHATEGOD, SUPERJOINT RITUAL guitarist), bassist Rex Brown (ex-PANTERA), guitarist Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR), and vocalist Philip Anselmo (SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PANTERA) — has issued the following statement regarding the cancellation of the band's scheduled concerts with HEAVEN AND HELL and MEGADETH in Edmonton (March 13), Calgary (March 14) and Regina (March 16):

"When something like strep throat is caught by just one member of your band or crew, it is ...

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On March 14, 2007 Delp's family revealed that his death was a suicide and he was found in his apartment by his girlfriend. His family gave no other information. Associated Press reported that, according the the New Hampshire medical examiner, Delp's death was the result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Delp had consideration for the one(s) that found him by leaving notes on doors warning them about the carbon monoxide. Delp sealed the doors of the master bath with towels where two charcoal grills were used to generate the killer gas.

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In 1982, Metal Blade Records began operating in a young Heavy Metal fan's mom's garage in suburban Los Angeles.

The result of that metal fan's enthusiasm was the first Metal Blade Records release, "Metal Massacre", a local band compilation that included METALLICA's first recorded release, BLACK N BLUE, MALICE, CIRITH UNGOL, DEMON FLIGHT, BITCH, AVATAR, and PANDEMONIUM.

Twenty-fve years later, in 2007, Metal Blade Records has grown into an international brand – occupying offices in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Canada and Japan — all the while maintaining its independent label identity and the or ...

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Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band Boston, was found dead Friday in his home in southern New Hampshire. He was 55. Atkinson police responded to a call for help at 1:20 p.m. and found Delp dead. Police Lt. William Baldwin said in a statement the death was "untimely" and that there was no indication of foul play.

Delp apparently was alone at the time of his death, Baldwin said.

The cause of his death remained under investigation by the Atkinson police and the New Hampshire Medical Examiner's office. Police said an incident report would not be available until Monday.

Delp sang vocals on Boston's 1976 hits "More than a Feeling" and "Longtime." He also sang on Boston's most ...

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