This year you have the chance to make your metal preferences heard.

We have decided it would be really interesting to see what our dear readers thought about what the best albums of 2005 were. Here's how we'll go about it:

• In the Reviews forum we have created a sticky where you can vote for your top 5 albums in any genre.
• Under each genre forum we have created stickies where you can vote for your top 5 albums in that genre. Given some genres are fairly large, we'll probably break them down further.
• The voting will be open between December 1st and December 25th. Results will be posted shortly thereafter.
• To help us ke ...

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Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have finished recording their ninth studio album, "Pro Patria Finlandia", at Sonic Pump studio with producer Tapio Pennanen and will mix the CD in January. The album will be mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox studios for a tentative March 28, 2006 release through Osmose Productions. Cover artwork will be handled by Ritual. The group had previously described the new material as "fast, brutal as fuck, in-your-face IMPALED NAZARENE."

"Pro Patria Finlandia" track listing (in no particular order):

01. Weapons to Tame a Land
02. Something Sinister
03 ...

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The New York Daily News is reporting that after a long and nasty rent fight, the owner of the legendary rock club CBGB agreed yesterday to move out of its grungy East Village site next year.

"I guess money talks. That's the name of the game," said Hilly Kristal, who opened the dank punk mecca in 1973. "We tried our best."

CBGB, which gave bands like the RAMONES and TALKING HEADS a start, will leave its home on the Bowery next Halloween.

Kristal is hoping to move the club to a new spot on the lower East Side and has looked at several spaces.

But he also is cons ...

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SYSTEM OF A DOWN, AUDIOSLAVE, MUDVAYNE and SLIPKNOT are among the nominees for the 48th annual Grammy Awards, set to be broadcast live on CBS from Los Angeles' Staples Center on February 8, 2006. The nominees in the "Hard Rock" and "Metal" categories are as follows:

Hard Rock Performance:

AUDIOSLAVE - "Doesn't Remind Me"
NINE INCH NAILS - "The Hand That Feeds"
ROBERT PLANT - "Tin Pan Valley"
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - "Little Sister"
SYSTEM OF A DOWN - "B.Y.O.B."

Metal Performance:

MINISTRY - "The Great Satan"
MUDVAYNE - "Determined"
RAMMSTEIN - "Mein Teil"
SHADOWS FALL - "What Drives the Weak"
SLIPKNOT - "Before I Forget"

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Aaron Beck and John Futty of The Columbus Dispatch have issued the following report:

Fans in line for a heavy-metal concert at the Alrosa Villa last weekend knew what was coming.

By the time they reached the door of the North Side club, they had opened purses or jackets — or both — for a search.

"Security is everywhere in here now," Sunbury resident Becky Riley said after entering the club. "I feel safe. And there aren't even glass bottles anymore that used to get smashed all over the floor."

One year after a Marysville man climbed the stage during a concert an ...

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QUEENSRŸCHE returned to the studio this summer to record the long-anticipated sequel to 1988's acclaimed concept album "Operation: Mindcrime". Praised by critics and certified platinum, the original remained on Billboard's album chart for more than a year and its dynamic music and powerful message still resonate today. Rhino Records helps unravel the mysteries of the original with "Operation: Mindcrime II". The album is available March 14 at regular physical and digital retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested retail price of $18.98.

"Operation: Mindcrime II" contains a 15-song story and is performed by the Seattle-based quintet †...

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After a production time of more than two years, German guitarist Hubi Meisel has completed work on his new concept album, "Kailash", which will be released through Lion Music on February 27, 2006. This time the concept story is all about the Himalayas, Tibet and the secrets of ancient Buddhist/Hindu culture and mythology.

Like on his previous concept disc "EmOcean", Hubi Meisel closely co-operated with French keyboardist/composer Vivien Lalu on the new CD. Musicians featured on album include world-class players from five different countries:

Hubi J. Meisel - Vocals
Vivien Lalu (LALU) - Keyboards
Marcel Coenen (SUN CAGED) - Guitars
Jorge Salán (MAGO DE OZ) - Guitars
Daniel Flores (MIND'S EYE) - Drums
Johan Niemann (THERION) – Bass

For more information, visit www.HubiMeisel.com.

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DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND are in talks to possibly open for OPETH on their upcoming U.S. headlining tour beginning in February 2006. No further details are currently available.

DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND recently completed work on their new studio album, "Synchestra", tentatively due in the spring. The making of the album "was a very enjoyable experience for Devin," according to a recent Hevy Devy newsletter. "He worked on this project stress-free and he did practically everything from song writing to mastering and engineering. There are 13 songs on this record, with five or six 'big' songs. 'Synchestra' is a very refreshing change from the rest of ...

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Sweden's KATATONIA have set "The Great Cold Distance" as the title of their seventh full-length album, due on March 13, 2006 via Peaceville Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Viva Emptiness" was recorded at Fascination Street studios in the outskirts of Örebro, Sweden and was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.

"The Great Cold Distance" track listing:

01. Leaders
02. Deliberation
03. Soil's Song
04. My Twin
05. Consternation
06. Follower
07. Rusted
08. Increase
09. July
10. In The White
11. The Itch
...

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According to the official DIO fan club newsletter, DIO will be working on a new album in January/February and going back on the road sometime in March for an extended South American tour. The band will resume work on the new CD in April/May, with plans to complete the album by the end of the year. The band's management has also confirmed that DIO will be making several European festival appearances during June, July and August. No U.S. tour plans for 2006 have yet been announced.

The current DIO touring lineup includes guitarist Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE), who has been filling in for an injured Craig Goldy since early October. Craig