San Francisco Bay Area progressive metallers ZERO HOUR have completed the songwriting process for their new album, "Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond", tentatively due in early 2006. "This is easily our most technical CD to date and it's going to be our best," stated guitarist/keyboardist Jasun Tipton. "We can't wait to get this CD out to everyone. It's a MONSTER!!!"

"Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond" tentative track listing:

01. Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond
02. The Falcon's Cry
03. Face the Fear
04. I am Here
05. Zero Hour
06. Evidence of the Unseen

ZERO HOUR's most recent CD, "A ...

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Swedish progressive metallers AMARAN have called it quits. The group's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"This year comes to an end and we are sad to say that AMARAN does the same. Since Johanna [DePierre, vocals] left us in July we have really been struggling looking for a replacement. We have tried by contacts, friends, ads, headhunting, hostile kidnapping and threat without any success. Our bad luck always seems to keep up with us. This issue has simply unplugged our tub of motivation, and we all decided to put AMARAN six feet under.

"We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in any way with us during these A ...

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Italy's LACUNA COIL have confirmed on their official web site that the recording, mixing, and mastering of their forthcoming album, "Karmacode", is complete. The CD is tentatively scheduled for release in early April via Century Media Records. The highly anticipated follow-up to 2002's "Comalies" was co-produced once again by Waldemar Sorychta and was mixed by Ronald Prent (RAMMSTEIN, H.I.M., IRON MAIDEN). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "What I See", "Fragile", "In Visible Light", "Fragments of Faith", "Within Me" and "Our Truth".

In a recent interview with Decibel

Vocalist Urban Breed has left acclaimed Swedish metallers TAD MOROSE. In an official statement announcing his departure, Breed writes, "Due to personal differences I have decided to leave the band. This wasn't something I took lightly. However, I really don't see how I could've continued. In fact, I believe had I not made this decision someone else would've made it for me eventually. We just didn't share the same vision. I wish the rest of the band the best of luck in the future. To all of you out there that made the ride worthwhile, thanks and see you sometime, somewhere!"

Urban Breed joined TAD MOROSE in 1995 following the departure of previous singer Kristian "Krille" Andrén. Breed has appeared on the group's last four studio albums: 1997's "A Mended Rhyme", 2000's "Undead", 2002's "Matters of the Dark" and 2003's "Modus Vivendi".

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Justin Donnelly of The Metal Forge recently conducted an interview with OPETH guitarist Peter Lindgren. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On criticism the band received from their fans for signing with Roadrunner Records:

Peter Lindgren: "At first, it sort of pissed us off. I mean, look at us. We've been doing our own thing for fifteen years. We weren't going to sign with Roadrunner Records and suddenly turn into a nu-metal band, you know. I think people are stupid when they believe that a record label like Roadrunner Records can change an ...

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Norwegian black metallers MAYHEM have posted the following message on their official web site:

"MAYHEM have been BANNED in Malaysia so the date at Kuala Lumpur on the Asian Legions tour is cancelled but all other dates in Asia remain the same. There has also been another show added to the 'Live' section to take place in Oslo on March 3rd at the Rockefeller Music Hall for the venues 20th birthday. MAYHEM will have a new 'fucked up' stage show in their arsenal as well as a taste of songs from the forthcoming album. Be there or fucking die!"

Upcoming MAYHEM shows:

Jan. 29 - Bangkok, Thailand - Hollywood Awards Hall
Feb. 3 - Taip ...

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Montreal's eclectic black/classical/technical outfit UNEXPECT have revealed the tentative track listing for their upcoming The End Records debut, tentatively due in the first half of 2006. Entitled "In a Flesh Aquarium", the 60-minute effort will include the following songs:

01. Chromatic Chimera (band version)
02. Feasting Fools
03. Desert Urbania
04. Summoning Scenes
05. Silence_011010701
06. Megalomaniac Trees
07. The Shiver
08. Psychic Jugglers (In a Flesh Aquarium)

In other news, a Canadian tour is being planned for April 2006 with Montreal mates AUGURY. The band will also support FINNTROLL and SODOM on January 10, 2006 at L'Imperial in Quebec City, Quebec.

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Norwegian/American hard rockers TNT were scheduled to play with the Oslo Symphony Orchestra and gospel choir on Tuesday (Dec. 21) in a performance that was to be recorded and shown on Norway's NRK channel around the holidays. The band reportedly performed the LOUIS ARMSTRONG classic "What A Wonderful World", which appears on the band's latest CD release, "All The Way to the Sun". TNT were named the featured artist at this year's Christmas Special.

In other news, TNT have confirmed the following Spanish dates in March 2006:

Mar. 22 - Razzmatazz II - Barcelona, SPA
Mar. 24 - Cafe Antzokia - Bilbao, SPA
Mar. 25 - Divino Aqualung – Madrid, SPA

TNT's "All the Way to the Sun" entered the official Norwegian album chart at position No. 29 back in mid-November.

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Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, have completed work on their new EP, "Dragonheads", due on February 15, 2006 via Spinefarm Records. The mini-CD was recorded and mixed in November at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki by Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. It will contain one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers.

"Dragonheads" track listing:

01. Dragonheads
02. Warrior's Quest
03. < ...

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MONSTER MAGNET have officially entered the recording phase for the follow-up to 2004's "Monolithic Baby". The as-yet-untitled album will be released in March 2006 via SPV and will coincide with the group's European tour. The CD is being produced by friend and veteran MAGNET producer/mixer Matt Hyde ("Powertrip" and "God Says No"). The band are currently in Los Angeles, laying down the new tracks at both Sound City and Paramount recording studios for what promises to be another rock milestone for the quartet.

With excitement building around the new studio album, the news that re-releases of their classic albums "Tab" ...

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