Acclaimed actor Christopher Lee ("Star Wars - Episode 2: Attack of the Clones", "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", "Gremlins II", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow") will be joining Italian symphonic metal group RHAPSODY for the production of their next album, tentatively due in early 2004 through SPV Records. A classically trained opera signer, Christopher will be providing powerful narrations as well as featuring as the main singer in a dramatic orchestration epic. Lee will start recording from the second week of November.

Christopher Lee (we ...

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German power metallers EDGUY have signed a long-term deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The group's first release for the label - an as-yet-untitled EP - will surface in early 2004, to be followed by the band's new full-length studio effort, "Hellfire Club" in March. Singer Tobias Sammet describes the album as the group's "most diverse and majestic" offering so far. The follow-up to 2001's "Mandrake", which includes a collaboration with the German film orchestra Babelsberg (SCORPIONS), was produced by EDGUY and Norman Meiritz, with additional assistance from Sascha Paeth (RHAPSODY, ANGRA), who was responsible for the mighty drum sound on the album. The final mix took place at the famous Finnvox Studios (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS) in Helsinki, Finland.

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ICED EARTH have announced the details of their upcoming European tour in support of their "The Glorious Burden" CD.

The band's ninth full-length album, "The Glorious Burden" will be released through SPV Records on January 13, 2004. To whet the fans' appetites until the full album is released, ICED EARTH are releasing a special four-song single for "The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)" on October 21 (nearly three months prior to "The Glorious Burden"'s street date). The single will contain the aforementioned song, as well as "Valley Forge", "Hollow Man", and "When The Eagle Cries (Unplugged)". Adding to the "special" nature of this release, this version of "When The Eagle Cries" is exclus ...

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Former HELLOWEEN/METALIUM drummer Mark Cross has received a clean bill of health from his doctor a year after he was forced to bow out of HELLOWEEN as a result of being struck by the malicious (EBV) Epstein-Barr virus (also known as mononucleosis).

According to a post on Cross' web site, Mark's physician has confirmed that the virus lies in the past and [Cross'] physical condition is back to 100%!"

Says Mark: "The past 12 months of carrying this heavy load of fear, coping with the pressure of not knowing when to be healthy again, were definitely the most difficult days and months of my life! I'm happy and very grateful tha ...

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U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider recently spoke to Spain's Metal Soldiers about the possibility of an ACCEPT reunion at some point in the not-too-distant future. "Personally we're really good friends, but we decided to try a different way for our music," he said. "I can say that U.D.O. is a successful band. For me, it's a bit [of a] risk [to pursue] a reunion, maybe we will make some shows, an album... Nobody knows what can happen. [It] is a risk, and I [don't] think it [would] work for me, but I'm sure it [would] work for the fans. We stay in contact, we're good friends, without problems, but [to] work ...

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The leader of the rock band Hell on Earth said Monday that an onstage suicide will be conducted during a private St. Petersburg concert this weekend in defiance of a new city law designed to stop the act.

``The show will go on,'' Billy Tourtelot said. ``It will be available on the Internet and it will be in the city limits (of St. Petersburg).''

Earlier Monday, the St. Petersburg city council unanimously approved an emergency ordinance that makes it illegal to conduct a suicide for commercial or entertainment purposes, and to host, promote and sell tickets for such an event.

``While I still think it's a publicity stu ...

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In a recent interview with Germany's Rock Hard magazine, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing addressed former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno's claim in his autobiography that he was the main reason for the old feelings of rivalry that existed between MAIDEN and PRIEST during the early '80s.

"Paul apologized personally to me - what a great gesture," Downing said. "But he wasn't the main reason for the rivalry. At the time of 'British Steel', PRIEST was the bigger band and MAIDEN was the supporting act. They were saying that they [would] blow us off the stage without any problem - well, I thought their ...

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AINA's "Days Of Rising Room", a metal opera from the hands and minds of Robert Hunecke-Rizzo, Amanda Somerville, Miro and producer Sascha Paeth, will be released in November through Holland's Transmission Records.

Among the guests set to appear on the album are the following:

Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH)
Candice Night (BLACKMORE'S NIGHT)
Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA)
Marko Hietala (NIGHTWISH)
Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN, SUPARED)
Andre Matos (ex-ANGRA, SHAMAN)
Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN)
Thomas Rettke (ex-HEAVEN'S ...

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The cover artwork for DREAM THEATER's forthcoming album, "Train Of Thought", can be viewed at this location.

"Train Of Thought", due on November 11 through Elektra Records, was produced by guitarist John Petrucci and drummer Mike Portnoy and engineered by Doug Oberkircher. It was mixed by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN and JOURNEY, among others.

The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. As I Am
02. This Dying Soul
03. Endless Sacr ...

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German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have changed the title of their forthcoming studio CD to "Devil's Ground" from the previously announced "In Metal". The band will enter the studio on Tuesday (September 30) to begin recording the effort for a February 23, 2004 release through Nuclear Blast Records (JVC/Victor in Japan).

The tentative track listing for "Devil's Ground" is as follows:

01. Metal Is Forever
02. Suicide And Mania
03. The Healer
04. Visions Of Fate
05. Colony 13
06. Herat Of The Brave
07. Sea Of Fleames
08. In Metal
09. Wings Of Desire< ...

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