Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE have parted ways with male vocalist Patrik Mennander. Patrik "left the band since he no longer has enough time to give this project 100%," reads a posting on the group's weeb site. "The decision was made with full understanding on both sides and the whole BATTLELORE crew wishes all the best for Patrik and his family. BATTLELORE will play their last gig with Patrik in the RingCon festivals, October 29th. Patrik will not join the band for either of the tours with LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY."

Replacing Mennander in BATTLELORE's lineup is EVEMASTER front ...

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Reunited NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) legends DIAMOND HEAD have issued a follow-up statement regarding their decision to part ways with singer Sean Harris. The statement reads as follows:

"Since the success of the acoustic dates in 2000, events have moved on rapidly-for DIAMOND HEAD at least! With the recording of a new album during 2002 things would have appeared on the surface going well. It is therefore somewhat ironic that the band has had to confront arguably the most fundamental upheaval since its very formation - a DIAMOND HEAD without Sean Harris.

"Times and people move on, personal and professional objectives ...

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Norway's based Tristania finally finished the recording of their long awaited new album. It is scheduled for a January 2005 release.

The new ablum is entitled Ashes and will be released on SPV. It will includes songs such as The Gate, Cure, Libre, The Wretched, Equilibrium, Shadowman as well as 4 or 5 new songs. The album has been recorded in TopRoom Studio with the collaboration of Børge Finstad as co-producer. The artwork for the album will be done by Christian Ruud.

The band is now preparing for the European tour together with Therion and Trail of Tears in October-November and the band will take the opportunity to present some of the new material.

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LEATHERWOLF, on the verge of a comeback with RACER X singer Jeff Martin in the driver’s seat, have uploaded two new full length audio clips of the songs ‘Behind The Gun’ and ‘Disconnect’ at their official website. Go to this location to check them out.

The band is currently searching out a record deal with these two tracks and the song ‘Burned’, which is available at the same location. They describe the new material as "the most powerful and progressive LEATHERWOLF songs ever written! Very heavy!"

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KISS bassist/vocalist GENE SIMMONS has issued the following message via his official website (www.genesimmons.com):

"Talked today about a possible (..gulp) Queer Eye For The Straight Guy appearance. They called and asked me if I would do it. I'm a fan of the show. We may shoot on the 28th of September And, while the PR people at most places prefer not to "leak" any info until they're ready, I don't play like that. As soon as I make up my mind about something, I will let you all know. On September 11th, we are going off to the NASCAR races to see our KISS Cars race...all three of em!!! Check out Kissonline.com for all the details. On September 17th, Friday at 9 or 10 pm (depe ...

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Norwegian black metallers WINDIR will be joined by Vegard Bakken, the older brother of the band's late frontman Terje "Valfar" Bakken, during their final concert on Friday, September 3 at the Rockefeller Arena in Oslo, Norway. "Vegard wants to honour his brother's memory by doing some of the singing this evening," reads a posting on the group's web site. "Cosmocrator will also be joining WINDIR again and [doing] some of the clean vocals." The band will perform the show as a tribute to the singer, who tragically pas ...

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Limb Music (www.limb-music.de) report that Germany’s WIZARD are currently working on the songs for the successor of their 2003 released concept-album Odin, and will start with the pre-production soon.

According to the band, the lyrics will be "Wizard style" again and just as the fans expect them to be. The recording of the album is planned to take place in January/February of 2005 with the release set for May.

On a private note, two anticipated "releases" - or captures? - are taking place within the next few days. Guitarist Michael Maass will be the last of the Wizards to let go of his bachelor's life. His new marital duties are not the reason for him to take ...

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After different reports like the steel horse accident of Oscar Dronjak and the new solo albums of Joacim Cans and Magnus Rosen, the focus is set finally on HAMMERFALL again.

This time, the Swedish crusaders have chosen a quiet place in the middle of Denmark for the recordings of their next album.

Together with star producer Charlie Bauernfeind, they will settle down there for September and October.

The release of the follow-up to the Crimson Thunder album is planned for March 7th, 2005. A single from the release will be available in January.

Tracks to appear on the forthcoming album include: ‘The Templar Flame’, ‘Born To Rule’ and ‘Fury Of The Wild’.

Guitarist Oscar Dronjak comments, "We will certainly outdo all our previous albums and get one step closer to the immortality of Heavy Metal."

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Don Dokken will soon be featured on That '80s Show with Codi Jeffreys, on radio station Majic 100.3 in Ottawa - airing in September. Majic is broadcast Live over the Internet also, so watch www.majic100.fm for details.

Don Dokken, Codi Jeffreys and Mitch Lafon pre-taped a co-hosting 'segment" for the Majic 100 radio show, a preview of which I am pleased to present now.

Mitch starts off: "Let's talk Internet and George [Lynch] for a sec. Lots of stuff going on about he's begging you to come back and he's saying that you're begging him to come back to the band. It's like a back and forth tennis match – Where's the reality?"
Don Dokken – " There is no reality on tha ...

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German power metallers FREEDOM CALL, who feature in their ranks GAMMA RAY drummer Dan Zimmermann, have commenced the recording process for their new album, tentatively due in early 2005 through SPV Records. No further details are available at this time.

FREEDOM CALL issued a live album, entitled "Live Invasion", in May through SPV. The disc, which was recorded on the band's tour with BLIND GUARDIAN, includes a special bonus CD featuring the "Tears Of Taragon" EP plus two tracks that were previously only available in Japan.

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