On July 23 at Ozzfest in Pittsburgh, PA, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER guitarist Brian Eschbach was arrested for indecent exposure while filming footage for Fuse TV's "Uranium". Brian was given "Uranium" host Juliya's camcorder and was walking around the second stage area interviewing random bands and fans when someone pulled his towel off, which happened to be the only thing he was wearing. The police immediately seized Brian and escorted him away to a holding cell on site where he was detained for about 30 minutes before being let go with a citation. Luckily Fuse's "Uranium" was onsite and caught everything on camera w ...

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NocturnalCult.com recently conducted an interview with DARKTHRONE guitarist/vocalist Nocturno Culto. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Q: I understand you are basically finished recording your new album, tentatively titled "The Cult is Alive", which seems pretty straightforward for an album title from you guys. Can you tell us a little about it and how it compares to the rest of your albums? Also what are some of the song titles?

Nocturno Culto: "Yeah, you're right, we're almost finished. Two songs left to record. The title will of the album will tell you lots ...

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IN FLAMES's "Used & Abused - In Live We Trust" two-DVD/two-CD set — directed by Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, KAMELOT) — has entered the Swedish music DVD chart at position No. 1. The set also debuted on the official German Media Control chart at position No. 56.

As previously reported, Nuclear Blast Records has pushed back the projected release date of the new IN FLAMES album, "Come Clarity", to February 2006. No reason was given for the delay.

The follow-up to 2004's "Soundtrack to Your Escape", "Come Clarity" was mixed at Tonteknik studio in Umeå, Sweden and will be "more uptempo" and will feature "more guitar harmonies" than its predecessor, according to IN FLAMES singer Anders Fridén.

IN FLAMES are currently touring the U.S. as one of the main-stage acts at this year's Ozzfest.

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Danish/American hard rockers ROYAL HUNT have announced the addition of bassist Per Schelander (HOUSE OF SHAKIRA, SPIKE) to the group's ranks. "A great bass player, capable singer/actor and, all in all, quite a colorful personality — welcome aboard, Per," the band write in a statement. "And while he's killing himself learning tons of ROYAL HUNT tunes we HAVE to tell you — he's such a great addition to the band! Just wait and see."

ROYAL HUNT recently announced the tentative routing for their upcoming European tour in support of their latest album, "Paper Blood". The follow-up to 2003's "Eyewitness" was recorded at North Point studio in Copenhagen and was mixed at EMI/Medley Studio in Copenhagen with André Andersen (keyboards) and Lars Overgaard behind the board.

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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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