CRYPTOPSY guitarist Jon Levasseur has officially left the band. His statement on the matter is as follows:

"Jon Levasseur here writing to officially announce my departure from CRYPTOPSY. It is something I strangely felt coming on since a year prior to my departure (August 2004) as my inspiration for such extreme music was growing thin. After 10 years in the band, I now wish to step back, lay low and explore other things in music. Who knows, maybe one day this new chapter in my life could turn out into something interesting!

"That being said, I want to say that I'm very proud of what CRYPTOPSY has accomplished as a band and I consider m ...

---

According to a posting on the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes-Of-Bodom.com, KYLÄHULLUT, the Finnish project featuring Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Vesku Jokinen (KLAMYDIA) and Tonmi Lillman (ex-TO/DIE/FOR, SINERGY), released their new full-length album, entitled "Turpa Täynnä" (Hammered), in Finland last Wednesday (Jan. 26).

The band, whose name is roughly translated to "Village Fools", reportedly spent a week in the studio recording 12 songs of what is being described as "straight-forward punk." "Alexi sings a few s ...

---

The cover artwork for the new YNGWIE MALMSTEEN album, "Unleash the Fury", has been posted online at this location.

As previously reported, Universal has set a February 23 Japanese release date for "Unleash the Fury". U.S and European release dates have not yet been confirmed. 19 songs are tentatively set to appear on the CD, including "Drinking with the Devil" (described by Yngwie as "a very intense, personal song), "Cherokee Warrior" (featuring Yngwie on vocals), "Boogie Man" (Yngwie: "Has a riff that just won't quit." ...

---

Launch Radio Networks is reporting that BLACK SABBATH will be back in action this summer. Singer-bassist Glenn Hughes, who's finishing up a new album with SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi, said that Ozzy Osbourne and company will hit both Europe and North America this year, and that he might also be on the bill. "They are doing the, the festival run in Europe, and I believe — if I'm not shooting my foot off here — that they will be playing Ozzfest," he said. "And there's a rumor that Tony and I will be, with our new project, on that same bill, but I can't say that's gonna happen — but you never know."

BLACK SABBATH

NILE guitarist/vocalist Karl Sanders has issued the following update on the recording sessions for the group's new album:

"We finished the guitar, bass vocal and additional instrument tracking at the Soundlab in Columbia, SC with [producer] Neil Kernon and Bob Moore. It was an utterly grueling session, with every single day of those 2 1/2 weeks being a 14-16 hour working frenzy. The next phase will be to start mixing on Friday at Rax Trax in Chicago. We have 10 days scheduled there with Neil Kernon mixing/producing.

"Based on what we have heard from the recordings so far, this is easily our strongest work yet. There are 10 songs as well as two reasonably short intro/instrumentals , with total album time weighing in at a pre-mix length of 65 minutes.

"We are seriously intense about these new songs, and can't wait for people to hear them. Be prepared to be crushed."

---

BOLT THROWER bassist Jo Bench recently spoke to Sweden's Global Domination webzine about the return of original vocalist Karl Willetts and the group's upcoming follow up to 2001's "Honour, Valour, Pride", tentatively due later in the year via Metal Blade Records. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Global Domination: So, Karl is back now. How long will he stay this time you think? With all the vocalists in the scene, how come you decided to use [Dave] Ingram when Karl bailed? He did a decent job but we wouldn't say he was the ultim ...

---

BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch has posted the following message at the group's official web site:

"Though you have not heard a lot from us during the last months we have not been lazy at all. There are a lot of things going on at the moment. Just to mention a few: the DEMONS AND WIZARDS production is making good progress and the same can be said about the songwriting for the next BLIND GUARDIAN album which is at a very important point.

"André [Olbrich, guitar] and I have completed five songs for the new album and 10 songs for the orchestral project. Yesterday, we had a meeting with Charlie Bauerfeind (who is going ...

---

Norway's Imhotep Zine recently asked more than 60 heavy metal and hard rock musicians to answer the following two questions related to last month's shooting death of PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott: 1) Can aggressive music led people to kill others? 2) Is there any connection between heavy music and violence / killings / crimes against humanity? Several select responses follow:

Alex Skolnick (ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, SAVATAGE, TESTAMENT):

"Unfortunately, any form of communication can get misinterpret ...

---

San Francisco Bay Area thrashers EXODUS have announced the addition of singer Rob Dukes (pictured here with EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt) to the group's ranks. "[Rob] has been absolutely crushing in practice and only gets stronger every day," guitarist Gary Holt writes in the group's official forum.

"I know some of you will want details, i.e. what bands has he been in, etc., but I'll have to get back to you on that one," Holt added. "I've heard some of his old demo stuff, but he is a virtual unknown. But he is going to blow people's minds. He does i ...

---

NBC4.tv is reporting that MÖTLEY CRÜE will not appear on NBC again because of singer Vince Neil's use of an obscenity when wishing bandmate Tommy Lee a happy new year in the midst of performing "Girls, Girls Girls" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", Jeff Zucker, president of the NBC Universal Television Group told a meeting of the Television Critics Association Friday (Jan. 21).

The profanity, broadcast live after midnight in the Eastern time zone, was removed when the taped show was replayed in the Pacific and Mountain time zones.

The next New Year's Eve edition of "The Tonight Show" will be shown on a five-second delay because of Neil's slip-up, Zucker said.

The Federal Communications Commission received complaints about the New Year's Eve "Tonight" show and subsequently began a preliminary probe. But it's likely little will come of it.

---