Long-defunct Swedish thrashers AT THE GATES have launched a new official web site at this location. Included on the site are a bunch of rare photos, recordings and other memorabilia.

One of the more melodic death metal bands to expand beyond Sweden and spread their sound across the world alongside peers such as ENTOMBED, AT THE GATES played a significant role in the death metal genre before breaking up in 1996, leading to the formation of THE HAUNTED (courtesy of the group's Yahoo!

Sweden's OPETH are officially free agents as a result of having been dropped by BMG/Zomba after their previous label, Music For Nations, was folded into parent company Zomba Records Group (the world's largest independent music group). The band are looking through new offers at the moment.

As previously reported, OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has started writing material for the group's next album, tentatively scheduled to be recorded sometime in the early spring of 2005. Åkerfeldt has also visited No Man Studios in Hemel Hampstead, U.K. to lay down some guitars and backing vocals for the next, as-yet-untitled PORCUPINE TREE record. Mikael plays guitar on one track and sings backing vocals on another five songs. The album is due for release late this year.

---

JUDAS PRIEST have set a December 28 release date through Epic Records for their first studio album with singer Rob Halford since 1990's "Painkiller". "The band and I had meetings with our new label Epic (Sony) when we were in New York," PRIEST Management Co-ordinator Jayne Andrews writes on the group's web site. "Their support and enthusiasm was great — we really look forward to working with them all. A world tour will be following starting early in 2005."

As previously reported, JUDAS PRIEST filmed their show in Barcelona, Spain last month for an upcoming live DVD, tentatively due in 2005. No further information is currently available.

A brand-new SHADOWS FALL song, entitled "The Power of I & I", has been posted online in MP3 format at this location.

"The Power of I & I" is the first single off the group's new album, "The War Within", due on September 21 through Century Media Records. The follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed disc, "The Art of Balance", was produced by Zeuss (HATEBREED) at Planet Z Studios in the band's home state of Massachusetts. "The War Within", the band's fourth full-length release, features 10 tracks of "sonic devas ...

---

Brazil's ANGRA have completed work on their follow-up to 2001's "Rebirth", tentatively due this fall through SPV Records (NTS Records in France). The band have posted the following message regarding the as-yet-untitled effort: "First of all, the songs are awesome! Really, really good! The production is perfect too, the sound of instruments is even heavier and clearer than in our previous albums. The band sounds more powerful and tighter as well.

"This is a very complex record, truly sophisticated. It's not just another metal album, it’s much more than that. The richness of the songs can be felt in the concept, the versatility, the spontaneity, the te ...

---

In a recent interview with the Las Vegas Mercury, W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless spoke about having his music slammed by the Parents' Music Resource Center (PMRC) during the mid-'80s due to the songs' "objectionable" lyrics.

"As the story goes, [PMRC founding member] Tipper [Gore] was walking down the hall in her house and her 12-year-old son had [W.A.S.P.'s] 'Fuck Like a Beast' playing on his stereo, and she lost her mind," Lawless said. "I don't know if that's true, but that's the story I've b ...

---

SLAYER fan site Slayer Saves has posted a review of the group's July 11 show in Augusta, Maine, which was filmed for an upcoming live DVD, entitled "Reign in Blood Live: Still Reigning". As previously reported, the disc will feature a full performance of the 1986 album "Reign in Blood" by all original members of the veteran thrash metal outfit. The DVD, due on September 28, will have an approximate 75-minute running time and will retail for $14.98. An excerpt from the Slayer Saves review follows:

"The band took a short encore pause from 'Angel of Death' to 'Piece by Piece' ...

---

ANNIHILATOR leader Jeff Waters has commented on the recently revealed news that MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and the Canuck guitar legend are speaking about the possibilities of working together. Regarding the news that was announced earlier today at BraveWords.com, Waters says that "YES we are talking alot!"

Waters also sheds more light on his contact with Mustaine in 1989, when present Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young is fired and the band begins their search for a replacement which ends up being MARTY FRIEDMAN. It was during a North American tour with TESTAMENT that Waters had contact with Mustaine. The guitarist fills ...

---

MAYHEM drummer Hellhammer recently spoke to Holland's Lords of Metal webzine about the group's early days. "I do not miss [former members] Euronymous or Dead, nor the old times," he said. "I like to progress instead of looking back. Neither bandmember was a big loss: both members left this world at a pretty appropriate time for MAYHEM. In order for this band to exist like it does today, both bandmembers had to die. So melancholy is not my thing. Never resent, never regret."

In the same article, former MAYHEM vocalist Attila Csihar (TORMENTOR, ABORY ...

---

METALLICA's music video for "Some Kind of Monster" has been posted online at the group's official web site. Check it out here.

METALLICA's "Some Kind of Monster" deluxe CD+T package is being released today (July 13) in conjunction with this past weekend's opening of the METALLICA documentary film "Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster". It features six live METALLICA classics as well as two versions of the title-track, one drawn from METALLICA's 2003 album "St. Anger" plus a fully remixed and edited version for this d ...

---