RAGE bassist/vocalist Peavy Wagner and guitarist Victor Smolski are currently at the Blind Guardian Studio in Germany with producer Charlie Bauerfeind (HELLOWEEN, MOTORHEAD, SAXON, BLIND GUARDIAN) completing work on their upcoming DVD, tentatively titled "From the Cradle to the Stage".

The two-disc set will consist of the complete January 2004 in Bochum, Germany in 5.1 sound, a documentary history of the band's rise to the status of one of Germany's premier power metal outfits, the "making of" of the DVD, all the old video clips, a studio documentary, additional live footage from various shows (including Wacken

Former JUDAS PRIEST/current ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens told the Cleveland Free Times during a phone interview a few days ago that he plans on finishing a solo album when he gets a break from touring with ICED EARTH.

"I've written the music to it and it's a basic classic-type metal, PRIEST-meets-SABBATH type stuff," he said. "I'm going to have a bunch of [Ohio-]area musicians jam with me. I have enough material for the record already. I have about 10 songs done. The first step is to get the deal and then come back and start recording the record and maybe writing a few new tunes."

Tim also reiterated the fact th ...

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STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson has posted the following message in the band's official forum:

"This is a sort of informal update.

"I went to Helsinki, basically to try and help with anything I could. Am here now.

"Jörg Michael will play on the next STRATOVARIUS record (as he is very good of course, and there was no other good drummer materializing out of thin air.)

"He has finished most of the drums, whether Timo will like them or not when he is ready to listen we will see.

"The drums are being recorded in Helsinki. Timo disappeared right on the day they were starting the basic tracks. So for the week be ...

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Rafer Guzmán of Newsday writes: "Is heavy metal - once the angriest and scariest form of rock on the planet - going soft? The genre has always taken different forms, from the devilish BLACK SABBATH in the 1970s to the rap-rocking LIMP BIZKIT of today. But these days, metal is taking on a surprising new face: that of the sensitive guy. When head-banging gods METALLICA (who play two nights at Nassau Coliseum starting Tuesday) can be heard screaming, 'I want my anger to be healthy,' you know something has changed.

"The transformation is most striking among the slew of so-called alternative metal bands that now dominate rock radio. While the music still ...

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Finland's CHILDREN OF BODOM have set "Trashed, Lost & Strungout" as the title of their upcoming EP, due this summer through Spinefarm Records.

The CD was recorded at Astia studio with Anssi Kippo, and it was mixed by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox Studios.

"Trashed, Lost & Strungout" will include two new songs, a couple of cover versions and "a lot of extra stuff," according to a posting on the band's web site.

CHILDREN OF BODOM will embark on a North American tour with ICED EARTH and EVERGREY beginning on April 18 in Cleveland, Ohio.

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UFO's American tour has been officially cancelled.

The following is guitarist Vinnie Moore's statement on the matter:

"Hello everyone, Vinnie here. I am extremely sorry to have to report that the UFO U.S. tour has been postponed. I was just informed that we have run into an immigrations problem that no one in their wildest dreams could have ever anticipated.

"Before going any further though, let me first assure everyone that the European dates are definitely still happening and that we WILL tour America later in the year."

The official press release on the matter follows:

"Dear Purchasers:

"Today, the U.S. Embassy in Lo ...

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MOTÖRHEAD have set a June 22 North American release date through Metal-Is Records (subsidiary of Sanctuary) for their as-yet-untitled new album (the previously announced title, "Flash", has now been scrapped, according to the band's webmaster). The cover for the CD is once again being provided by esteemed cover artist Joe Petagno. No further information is currently available.

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German power metallers FREEDOM CALL, who feature in their ranks GAMMA RAY drummer Dan Zimmermann, have set a May 10 release date through SPV Records for their long-awaited live album, "Live Invasion".

The disc, which was recorded on the band's tour with BLIND GUARDIAN, will include a special bonus CD featuring the "Tears Of Taragon" EP plus two tracks that were previously only available in Japan.

"Live Invasion" (view cover here) track listing:

Disc 1:

01. Eyes of the World
02. Freedom Call
03. Tears of Tarago ...

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German power metallers BLIND GUARDIAN have set a tentative June 14 German release date for their upcoming live DVD, "Imaginations Through The Looking Glass". The disc, which was recorded primarily at the Blind Guardian Open Air festival in Coburg, Germany last June, will come with a bonus DVD, featuring interview and behind-the-scenes footage as well as additional live material.

"Imaginations Through The Looking Glass" DVD track listing:

DVD 1 - Blind Guardian Open Air (Coburg):

01. War of Wrath
02. Time Stands Still
03. Banish from Sanctuary
04. Nightfall
05. The Script for my Requiem
06. ...

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Colorado power metallers JAG PANZER have set "Casting the Stones" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in October through Century Media Records.

The CD will be recorded at Tampa's Morrisound studio with producer Jim Morris and will feature artwork by Mattias Noren. Guitarist Mark Briody recently described the new compositions as "a more aggressive version" of 2001's "Mechanized Warfare".

JAG PANZER's most recent release, "Decade of the Nail-Spiked Bat", was a two-CD set containing the best tracks from the group's pre-Century Media releases ("Tyrants" EP, "Ample Destruction", "Dissident Alliance" and the "Chain Of Command" bootleg) re-recorded "as if they were new songs," according to Briody.

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