ENGEL, the new Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA), bassist Robert Hakemo (ex-GARDENIAN, GOOSEFLESH) and vocalist Mangan Klavborn, have launched their official web site at www.engelpropaganda.com. Available for download on the site is a brand new demo track, entitled "Walk the Wounded". Check it out at

Norwegian supergroup SCUM's debut, Gospels for the Sick, to be relaesed September 2005 through Dogjob Records, a division of Tuba Records.

Scum is: Chasey Chaos (Amen), Samoth (Zyklon, Emperor), Faust (ex-Emperor), Happy Tom (Turbonegro), Cosmocrator (Mindgrinder); lyric contributions by Mortiis (ex-Emperor)

www.scumband.com

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According to a post on the NORTHER fan site EndlessWar.net, the group's new EP, "Solution 7", will contain the following track listing:

01. Day Zero
02. YDKS
03. Hellhole
04. Thorn
05. Chasm (remix)

Due on March 30 in Finland via Spinefarm and June 13 in outside territories, "Solution 7" was mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. Recording sessions for the disc began on December 24 at Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland. Download the track "Day Zero" at Spinefarm.fi.

NORTHER's third full-length album, "Death Unlimited", was released last year through Spinefarm Records.

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GORGOROTH founder/guitarist Infernus recently spoke to the Swedish webzine MetalHeart.se about a number of topics, including the controversial concert in Poland that resulted in the group being investigated for offending religious feelings, singer Gaahl's conviction for beating a 41-year-old man and threatening to drink his blood, and the group's upcoming studio album. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

MetalHeart.se: [GORGOROTH singer] Gaahl stands accused of assulting a 41-year-old man, and has been sentenced to 14 months in prison. What has been your, and the rest of ...

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Three performances from AC/DC's forthcoming live double DVD, "Family Jewels", due March 29, have been posted online at Viva.tv:

"Highway to Hell" (1980) – Video
"Thunderstruck" (1990) – Video
"You Shook Me All Night Long" (1986) – Video

"Family Jewels" DVD

As previously ...

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German power metallers HELLOWEEN have selected the track "Come Alive" as the first single from their upcoming album. The single will be released on July 4, while the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2003's "Rabbit Don't Come Easy" (Sanctuary Records) will follow a few weeks later from SPV Records. Accompanying the single will be a promotional video featuring the band.

HELLOWEEN, who recently replaced drummer Stefan Schwarzmann with former RAWHEAD REXX skinsman Dani Löble, are promising "awe-inspiring loads of double-bass madness and the trademark HELLOWEEN-style of songs and arrangements on their upcoming album," ac ...

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Reunited death metal legends OBITUARY have posted the following message on their official web site:

"WE ARE DONE! We are all done with the mixing of the new CD and we are now going to sit on it for about a week and make sure we are totally happy before mastering, which should be sometime next week! It has been so awesome to be back in the studio and we are really pumped about the new songs. Can't wait to get out and play them live!

"Allentown, PA get ready because we are coming! We will be playing at this year Louder-Harder-Faster Festival on June 4th at the Crocodile Rock Cafe. We have not been in PA in sometime and it will be good to see all of you!"

Sweden's IN FLAMES may be touring with JUDAS PRIEST and preparing to release a DVD at the end of March. But that has not kept them from already getting some tunes together for a new album.

Singer Anders Fridén told Nuclear Blast magazine, "Nine or ten songs are written, and the drums will be recorded drums in two and a half weeks." As for the direction of the album, Fridén stated that "it will be more uptempo" and feature "more guitar harmonies." Most of the songs have titles by now, but the frontman declined to name them, especially since he was still writing lyrics will travelling in support of JUDAS PRIEST. The tour ended on Mond ...

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OVERKILL frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth recently spoke to MetalEater.com about the group's new album, "ReliXIV", and the current state of the metal scene. An excerpt from the interview follows:

MetalEater.com: Recent reunions by bands like PRIEST and MÖTLEY CRÜE...any thoughts on those?

Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth: "You know, I'm a little sick of the reunion. I think that in many cases it's for the sake of, as opposed to, adding something to music. What I mean by that is, "We're going to have a reunion because everybody else is having a reunion." It's j ...

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MONSTER MAGNET mainman Dave Wyndorf has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"I'm announcing with deep regret that Phil Caivano, guitarist, singer and my longtime friend, has decided to 'move on' from MONSTER MAGNET.

"Phil joined the band in 1998 and has been a solid contributor since day one. No one I know has ever been more dedicated to his craft. He is a unique and talented individual who excels at everything he does and I wish him all the best.

"Phil himself will let you know what he's doing in his own good time, but for the record, this is an amicable split.

"Needless to say, there ...

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