Longtime AMORPHIS singer Pasi Koskinen has officially left the band, according to a posting on the group's web site. Pasi's last live appearance with the band will take place at the Kontu Rock festival on August 21. "All touring plans will go ahead as scheduled and rumors of a replacement already exist," the posting reads. "We are waiting for a statement from Pasi in the near future."

As previously reported, AMORPHIS are scheduled to support TYPE O NEGATIVE on a U.S. tour beginning in early October. Confirmed dates so far include the following:

Oct. 07 - Toad's Place - New Haven, CT
Oct. 11 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY
Oct ...

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German progressive metallers VANDEN PLAS have finished writing new 15 songs and are planning on recording 10 of them for their upcoming album, tentatively due in early 2005. In addition, the band are working on a rock musical entitled "Monte Cristo". The new VANDEN PLAS album will also be based on this topic.

Commented guitarist Stephan Lill: "First we wanted to do an album called 'Monte Cristo', which should have been kind of a rock musical. But after a while we realized that it would be very hard to find a good solution regarding the songwriting. If the songs are too hard, no one in the theater-scene would listen to them. If they are too soft, our ...

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Finland's NIGHTWISH have posted the following message on their web site regarding the group's cancelled North American dates:

"Many fans have asked us why the shows in Canada had to be cancelled due to U.S. visa problems. The band's manager Ewo Rytkönen explains:

'The band COULD have done the shows in Canada, because we would not need Visas/Working Permits to Canada, since the band do have a second set of passports.

'However, since these second passports are NOT valid to enter to USA, even as a tourist, because they lack certain barcodes etc. which the US customs officials require in order to enter the country.

'So, after doing these two shows in Ca ...

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Bassist/vocalist David Vincent will be rejoining MORBID ANGEL for their rescheduled tour of South America following the departure — for the second, and apparently final, time — of the group's most recent frontman Steve Tucker. "MORBID ANGEL and World Management would like to thank Steve Tucker for his contribution on several MORBID ANGEL records as well as multiple great tours," reads a posting on the group's web site. "We all wish him well and are sure he will succeed in his new endeavors."

Tucker had the following to say regarding his decision to leave the group:

"After many problems and much discussion with the people around me, the people I trus ...

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W.A.S.P. cancelled their sold-out concert at Foufounes Electriques in Montreal Sunday night (August 8) after the club's stage was allegedly deemed not strong enough to withstand the 1,000-lbs. mic stand (presumably the same one pictured here during the band's show in San Diego, courtesy of OnTrackMagazine.com) that W.A.S.P. wanted to use as part of their live show, according to a statement by the concert organizers posted outside the club. The promoters allegedly tried to get the stage adjusted in time without success, claiming that they had only become aware of the massive stage piece 48 hours before the show. The statement went on to claim that Foufounes Electriques and the show organizers offered W.A.S.P. more money to show up, but the band allegedly refused to come. The group have yet to comment on the cancellation.

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Roadrunner Records has set an October 20 North American release date for the fifth NIGHTWISH album, "Once". The label will also issue the set in Australia and New Zealand. In July, the Spinefarm/Nuclear Blast release topped the European Top 100 Albums chart.

"We are very pleased [about the deal with Roadrunner]," NIGHTWISH drummer Jukka Nevalainen said, "because it seems that people in North America are slowly starting to understand the music of NIGHTWISH."

The follow-up to 2002's "Century Child", "Once" has already been certified gold in Germany for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.

NIGHTWISH's North American tour will kick off on August 16 in Toronto. Support at all shows will come from fellow Finns LULLACRY

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According to online CD vendor CDXpress, a two-disc IRON MAIDEN DVD, entitled "Early Years", is scheduled for release in October 2004. The set, which will apparently feature Region 2 (PAL) encoding, is expected to include the following:

Disc One:

* Concert - "Live at The Rainbow" ...

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Former DEEP PURPLE/BLACK SABBATH singer Glenn Hughes has posted the following message on his web site:

"I had dinner with [BLACK SABBATH guitarist] Tony Iommi on Sunday night. We are pleased to announce that the album which was originally bootlegged [issued under the title 'Eighth Star' and featuring material originally recorded back in 1996 for what was then to be Tony Iommi's first official solo release and later abandoned for what eventually did become Tony's first official solo album, 'Iommi' - Ed.] will be officially released with an extra track called 'Time Is the Healer'. It has been re mixed and mastered. It ...

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TNT bassist Morty Black has announced he is leaving the band. Two announcements were forthcoming - one from the band and another that Morty sent out himself. They read as follows:

"TNT announces the departure of long time bassist Morty Black! After 21 years as the bass player for TNT Morty has decided to move on into other musical interests. The band is of course sad to see him go but wishes him the best of luck with all future endeavors. Morty will play his final show with TNT on August 7th in Trondheim."

"Dear fans and music lovers! I want to use this opportunity to thank all of you a lot for supporting TNT and me these 21 years I've been a member of the band. It's with ...

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The title of the album comes from the marraige of two words... nymphette and... amphetamine. Loosely translated, sex and drugs combine to describe an unhealthy, beast-like addiction to the classical fairer gender or one female ideal in particular. A dark Goddess figure. If women have a sexual, venusian substance, then this relates to the abuse of that substance in vast and unhealthy amounts.

01. Satyriasis (Intro)

02. Gilded Cunt

03. Nemesis

04. Gabrielle

05. Absinthe with Faust

06. Nymphetamine (Overdose)

07. Painting Flowers White Never Suited My Palette (Instrumental)

08. Medusa and Hemlock

09. Coffin Fodder

10. English Fire

11. Filthy Little Secret

12. Swansong For A Raven

13. Mother of Abominations

 

New track Gilded Cunt is available for download on their web page, as well as the new cover artwork.

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