The first dates have been announced for this fall's "International Extreme Music Festival" North American tour. The five-week trek, which is scheduled to begin in September, will include appearances by GOD DETHRONED, NIGHTRAGE, BYZANTINE, EPOCH OF UNLIGHT, HELL WITHIN and LILITU. The initial dates are as follows:

Sep. 18 – Boise, ID @ The Core
Sep. 24 – Seminole, FL @ Boomerz Boileroom
Sep. 30 – Detroit, MI @ Harpos Concert Theater
Oct. 01 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
Oct. 07 – Toronto, ONT @ Opera House

For more information, and to visit the official "International Extreme Music Festival" message board, visit www.IEMFtour.com

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Lauren Harris (Video Trailer, Photos#1, Photos#2, Photos#3), daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris, will be performing with her solo band this Saturday, July 23 at Surf Cafe in Boca Rat ...

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TEMPLE OF BRUTALITY, the new band featuring former MEGADETH/current F5 bassist David Ellefson, W.A.S.P. drummer Stet Howland, guitarist Peter Scheithauer (BELLADONNA, KILLING MACHINE) and vocalist Todd Barnes (13-A), have completed work on their debut album, "Lethal Agenda", due later this summer in Japan and Europe, with other markets to follow. The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Lethal Agenda
02. Hammer
03. Already Dead
04. Doesn't Matter
05. Hate Machine
06. Isabel
07. Beating the Man
08. Built to Last ...

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German epic metallers BLIND GUARDIAN have announced a replacement for drummer Thomen Stauch, who left the band in April after 20 years.

The new man behind the kit is fellow German Frederik Ehmke, who is said to be "fairly unknown in the world of metal." A photo of the group's new lineup can be found at this location.

The band have released the following statement regarding Ehmke's addition to the group:

"The seemingly endless time of waiting for a new drummer and speculations who could possibly be the new one has finally come to an end. We have f ...

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Legendary Canadian act PILEDRIVER have posted four full-length new demo tracks from their forthcoming album, Metal Manifesto. Head to http://www.sofa-q.com/demos.html to hear 'Blood Bath' (3.3mb, Stereo), 'Metal Manifesto' (4.3mb, Stereo), 'Battle Axe' (3.3mb, Stereo) and 'Road Pigs' (2.9mb, Stereo). Piledriver continue work on the long- awaited followup to 1986's Stay Ugly. Pile recently told BW&BK that "My throat hasn't been this strong in 15 years, and I can't wait to drop jaws across the planet! This will indeed be the year of the Pile."

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According to a posting on STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto's official web site, Timo recently spent time working on new material with bassist Lauri Porra (STRATOVARIUS, SINERGY) and guitarist Tuomas Wäinölä for a possible third Kotipelto solo album. "I can't even say yet what year the album will come out, if it [even] will," Timo writes on his web site.

STRATOVARIUS recently enlisted bassist Porra as the replacement for longtime member Jari Kainulainen, who left the group a few weeks ago.

STRATOVARIUS' new self-titled album is scheduled for release on September 5 via Sanctuary R ...

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Abrasive Rock recently conducted an interview with NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Abrasive Rock: You said that [new guitarist] Steve [Smyth, ex-TESTAMENT] had some input [in the new album, "This Godless Endeavor"] then?

Jeff Loomis: "Yeah."

Abrasive Rock: So he just jumped right in and took some charge then.

Jeff Loomis: "Yeah, he did actually. Number one, a lot of readers and fans probably know that we've gone through quite a few guitar players in the past and it's not a ...

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Rumors are flying about former VAN HALEN vocalist DAVID LEE ROTH taking over for HOWARD STERN. The Roth rumor was started by a report from Steppin' Out Magazine's Chaunce Hayden. In an online post, Hayden wrote: "Howard Stern's successor has been found! It's none other than '80s rocker David Lee Roth. Infinity Broadcasting isn't commenting and Roth has been asked to keep mum until it's officially announced. But an inside source at Infinity has confirmed the signing. Roth auditioned for the job both in L.A. and Boston and got very positive feed back from listeners. Roth has been running ads in trade publications looking for a producer "For a HUGE radio show." Roth is said to be taking over for Stern in early September, 3 months before the shock jock's contract is due to expire."

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STRATOVARIUS recently parted ways with long time bassist Jari Kainulainen. They have issued the following statement via their official website, announcing Lauri Porra (SINERGY, KOTIPELTO, WARMEN) as his replacement: "Long-time bass player Jari Kainulainen has left Stratovarius. There is no drama or bad blood. Jari just doesn't have it in his heart to tour this heavily anymore. Jari is not dropping out of the scene, he will continue to play metal. The new bass player is Lauri Porra. He is 27 years old and a native of Helsinki, Finland. He has previously played with Sinergy, Warmen and Kotipelto.

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Roadrunner Records has set an August 30 release date for the new OPETH album, "Ghost Reveries".

"Ghost Reveries" was mastered on June 16 at the Cutting Room facilities in Stockholm and will feature a running time of 66 minutes. The full track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Ghost of Perdition
02. The Baying of the Hounds
03. Beneath the Mire
04. Atonement
05. Reverie/Harlequin Forest
06. Hours of Wealth
07. The Grand Conjuration
08. Isolation Years

Check out the album cover artwork (designed by Travis Smith) at this location.

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