Progressive metallers SHADOW GALLERY will enter a San Diego recording studio Thursday, March 18 to begin tracking the drums for their fifth album, tentatively due later in the year. "The recording sessions of drummer Joe Nevolo, along with Gary Wehrkamp was originally slated for February 8th, but due to an unforeseen family emergency they were rescheduled for March 18th," reads a post on the group's web site. "At this time the title of next CD has not been released. For now this is just the next chapter in the book of SHADOW GALLERY."

SHADOW GALLERY's last studio album, "Legacy", was released in April 2001.

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Ronnie James Dio has confirmed in a radio interview that bassist Jeff Pilson (ex-DOKKEN) will be rejoining DIO in the studio next month for the recording of the group's new album, tentatively due in late June/early July through Spitfire Records. "It's a real wonderful, comfortable situation for Jeff to come in," Ronnie said during a telephone interview with the "Eddie Trunk Rocks" radio show Friday night (March 19). Pilson replaces Jimmy Bain, who recently exited the band of his own accord, according to Dio, who called Bain's decision a "career move."

According to Ronnie, DIO have complet ...

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The cover artwork for SKYCLAD's new album, "A Semblance Of Normality", has been posted online at this location.

"A Semblance Of Normality" is scheduled for release in May through Demolition/Dreamcatcher Records. The album was mixed and mastered at the Damage Inc. Studio in Italy by Dario Mollo, who has previously worked with ANATHEMA, CRADLE OF FILTH, TONY MARTIN and GLENN HUGHES, among others.

"A Semblance Of Normality" track listing:

01. Intro (Pipes Solo)
02. Do They Mean Us?
03. A Good Day ...

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Three short video clips of the reunited death metal legends OBITUARY performing live at last weekend's March Metal Meltdown VI in Irvington, New Jersey have been posted online at this location.

Formed in 1984 as EXECUTIONER (later shortened to XECUTIONER), OBITUARY are widely considered to be one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands in the death metal genre. After releasing several successful albums in the late Eighties/early Nineties (including the classic 1989 debut "Slowly We Rot" and its equally punishing 1990 follow-up, "Cause of Death"), the band ...

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Veteran German hard rockers SCORPIONS have set a May 3 release daye for their new album, "Unbreakable". The follow-up to 1999's "Eye II Eye" was recorded at Peppermint Park Studio in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at Wisseloord studios in Hilversum, Holland. The band, who recently announced the addition of Polish bassist Pawel Maciwoda (SECTION 31, URBANATOR) to their ranks, are also working on a DVD which should be released later in the year.

"Unbreakable" (view cover here) track listing:

01. New Generation
02. Love 'em ...

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Nuclear Blast in Germany has sent out the following press release concerning EDGUY’s successful King Of Fools single and Hellfire Club album. "With Hellfire Club, Edguy already now have their most successful album ready to go! The single King Of Fools has been staying in the German single charts for already six weeks and got presented two times in the McDonalds Chart show on Pro7. On Monday, March 15th, Edguy's new album Hellfire Club (was released) and today's Media Control news is a real sensation: position #4 in the album trend charts! Edguy strike the right note with their Melodic Metal and prove once more that also German bands can hold a leading role." In other news, vocalist Tobias Sammet has now answered some fan questions in Tobi's Corner at the band's website at this location.

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GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen and BLIND GUARDIAN's Hansi Kürsch are among the guests confirmed to appear on ANGRA's much-anticipated follow-up to 2001's "Rebirth", tentatively due this summer through SPV Records (NTS Records in France).

According to an official press release from NTS, the as-yet-untitled effort "is a conceptual one. It tells a very interesting [story] developed by guitar player Rafael Bittencourt. The writing is extremely well done and the lyrics of each song are tightly connected to the others." Other guests scheduled to appear on the CD include Brazilian musician Milton Nascimento, Douglas Las ...

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RUSH have announced the details of their upcoming European tour - the band's first trip to the continent since 1992.

RUSH "30th Anniversary Tour" European dates:

Sep. 08 - London, UK - Wembley Arena
Sep. 09 - London, UK - Wembley Arena
Sep. 11 - Birmingham, UK - NEC Arena
Sep. 12 - Manchester, UK - MEN Arena
Sep. 14 - Glasgow, UK - SECC
Sep. 15 - Birmingham, UK - NEC Arena
Sep. 17 - Oberhausen, GER @ Konig-Pilsner Arena
Sep. 19 - Stuttgart, GER @ Schleyerhalle
Sep. 21 - Milan, ITA @ Mazda Palace
Sep. 22 - Munich, GER @ Olympiahalle
Sep. 24 - Frankfurt, GER @ Festhalle
Sep. 25 - Prague, CZR @ T-Mobile Arena
Sep. 27 - Hamburg, GE ...

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Guitarist Buckethead has officially left GUNS N' ROSES. According to MTV.com, Buckethead became fed up with GUNS' inability to complete an album or tour and stopped working the group late last year, his manager said.

Although Buckethead appeared on the green carpet at the Grammy Awards last month and was introduced by PARLIAMENT/FUNKADELIC bassist Bootsy Collins as a member of GUNS N' ROSES, he had already told GUNS frontman Axl Rose he no longer wanted to be in the band, the manager told MTV.com.

The guitarist will now focus on numerous projects, including two solo albums - "Po ...

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Three tracks from the forthcoming IN FLAMES album, "Soundtrack to Your Escape", have been posted online in streaming format at the German Metal Hammer web site. Listen to the songs "The Quiet Place", "Touch Of Red" and "Borders And Shading" at this location. Three more cuts from the CD will be uploaded to the site on Monday, March 22.

"Soundtrack To Your Escape" is scheduled for release in North America on April 6 through Nuclear Blast Records. The CD will arrive in Europe one week earlier (March 29).

As previously reported, IN FLAMES will be teaming up with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE for a co-headlining North American tour beginning on May 3 in the Midwest. The month-long run will tentatively wrap up on June 4 on the East Coast. Also appearing on the bill will be AS I LAY DYING.

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