German hard rock singer Doro Pesch will reunite with her early band WARLOCK for a special reunion show at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-8, 2004 in Wacken, Germany.

According to the festival's organizers, Doro will play a "best of" set, to be followed by a special performance with the Metal Classic Night Orchestra for a unique program of her best hits and other metal classics. As a special bonus, Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O., ex-ACCEPT) and Blaze Bayley (BLAZE, ex-IRON MAIDEN) will join Doro on stage for several numbers.

The list of bands currently scheduled to app ...

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Norwegian black metallers DIMMU BORGIR are strongly rumored to have parted ways with drummer Nick Barker (ex-CRADLE OF FILTH, LOCK UP).

The group, who recently cancelled their Japanese/Australian tour, have yet to officially comment on the matter.

Barker joined DIMMU BORGIR in 1999 as a replacement for original drummer Tjodalv (a.k.a. Kenneth Åkesson). He has since appeared on two full-length studio albums with the band: "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia" (2001, Nuclear Blast) and "Death Cult Armageddon" (2003, Nuclear Blast).

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Former JUDAS PRIEST drummer Dave Holland has been convicted of trying to rape a special needs youngster, according to the BBC News.

Holland was also found guilty of five charges of indecently assaulting the teenager.

The musician, who played with JUDAS PRIEST in the 1970s and 1980s, was convicted of the charges at Northampton Crown Court on Friday.

Holland, 55, of The Green, Stoke Bruerne, denied all the charges.

All the offenses took place at the drummer's Northamptonshire home between June and December 2002 when he was giving the 17-year-old drumming lessons.

Holland wept in the dock as the verdicts wer ...

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Drummer Anders Johansson (HAMMERFALL) has officially left STRATOVARIUS less than a week after joining the group.

The following is STRATOVARIUS' leader Timo Tolkki's statement regarding the Anders' departure:

"[Anders] gave me a call and said that he doesn't want to join the band permanently and that he is happy to be in HAMMERFALL playing True Metal.

"Since I am looking for a permanent member, we agreed in good spirits to go separate ways.

"I am very disappointed that he didn't want to join STRATOVARIUS permanently, but at the same time I wish him and the HAMMERFALL guys well and best of luck wi ...

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Tristania has booked Toproom Studio with Børge Finstad as producer for the recording of the upcoming album. The recording will occur in April and May 2004.

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EDGUY's video for the brand-new track "King of Fools" has been posted online in Real Media format at this location.

"King of Fools" is the title cut of EDGUY's new EP, due on February 2 through Nuclear Blast Records. In addition to "King of Fools", the five-song effort will contain a 15-minute "making of" video clip (for Macintosh & PC) plus several exclusive cuts that will not appear on the band's forthcoming full-length album, "Hellfire Club", due on March 15.

The follow-up to 2001's "Mandrake", "Hellfire Club" was produced by EDGU ...

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Finland's LULLACRY have been officially confirmed as the support band for NIGHTWISH's first-ever tour of North America, which is set to take place in late August/early September,
Confirmed dates so far are as follows:

Aug. 16 - Toronto, ONT @ Opera House
Aug. 17 - Montreal, QUE @ Metropolis
Aug. 19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Aug. 20 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Aug. 22 - New York, NY @ B.B. King's Blues Club
Aug. 23 - Cleveland, OH @ Phantasy Theater
Aug. 25 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Aug. 26 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club
Aug. 30 - Phoenix, AZ @ Cajun House
Aug. 31 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Sep. 02 - Hollywood, CA @ House of ...

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The album features KROKUS frontman Marc Storace and was produced by guitarist Joe Floyd and Warren Croyle (HALFORD, DICKINSON, GODHEAD, GWAR, HOUSE OF LORDS). Warrior released the long sought-after Fighting For The Earth in 1985 (MCA), Ancient Future in 1998 (Metal Blade) and the Rob Rock-fronted Code Of Life in 2001 (Nuclear Blast).

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WINDIR frontman Valfar (a.k.a. Terje Bakken) (photo#1, photo#2) was found dead on Friday, January 16. He was 25 years old. Bakken's family are asking that speculation as to the nature of his death be withheld until the official report has been released.

Sogndal, Norway-based black metallers WINDIR (web site) had issued four albums, the last being "Likferd" through Head Not Found Records in July of 2003.

The band, wh ...

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A brand-new interview with STRATOVARIUS members Timo Tolkki (guitars), Jari Kainulainen (bass), and the group's latest addition, vocalist "Miss K" (a.k.a. Katriina Wiiala), has been posted online at the band's official web site. The following are a few select excerpts from that interview:

Question: The new line up was announced on Thursday (Jan 15). It's all over the media and quite surprising for many people it seems. How do you feel about the reaction?

Timo Tolkki: "It is quite surprising. I have received about 20 emails, where my life has been threatened directly. Be them real or not, it surely doesn't feel nice. I am sure th ...

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