CHARON's latest single, "Religious/Delicious", has entered the Finnish single chart at No. 8. "Religious/Delicious" is the second single off the Finnish group's forthcoming fourth full-length album, "The Dying Daylights", due on September 22 through Spinefarm Records.

The follow-up to last year's "Downhearted" was recorded at BRR Studios in the group's hometown of Raahe and was mixed at Helsinki's Finnvox Studios. The album includes a guest appearance on backing vocals by NIGHTWISH/ex-SINERGY bassist Marco Hietala and Jenny Heinonen. The latter had performed a similar role on the group's last two albu ...

---

Dutch gothic/atmospheric doom metal act AFTER FOREVER have set "Exordium" as the title for their forthcoming mini-CD, tentatively due before the end of October through Transmission Records. The EP, which contains four originals and two covers, was recorded at Excess studios in Rotterdam, Holland with producers Hans Pieters and Dennis Leidelmeijer. In addition, the group - who recently filmed a video for an as-yet-undisclosed track off "Exordium" - have completed the bulk of the recordings for their upcoming full-length CD, tentatively due in early 2004. AFTER FOREVER's last full-length effort, "Decipher", was released in 2001.

---

ARCH ENEMY's "Anthems Of Rebellion" CD has entered Billboard's Heatseekers Chart at No. 26, making it the most purchased album one week after release in the history of Century Media Records. The good news doesn't stop there: ARCH ENEMY are on the cover of the Terrorizer and Metal Maniacs. Alternative Press gave "Anthems Of Rebellion" a 5 out of 5 review, calling it "the best melodic death metal album of 2003… the kind of monster tracks most death metal bands only wish they could write." Kerrang! gave it a coveted 5 out of 5 Ks. "Anthems Of Rebellion" has also been the #1 album on the CMJ Loud Rock charts f ...

---

Italian "pagan metal" act ELVENKING have set "Wyrd" as the title for their forthcoming album, due in the fall through AFM Records.

The band used several studios for the recording sessions, including Gernhart Studio in Siegburg, Germany and the House Of Music facility in Stuttgart, Germany with producer Achim Kohler (PRIMAL FEAR, BRAINSTORM).

The follow-up to 2001's "Heathenreel" will contain the following cuts:

01. A Poem for the Firmament
02. Another Haven
03. Disappearing Sands
04. A Fiery Stride
05. Jigsaw Puzzle
06. The Losers' Ball
07. Moonch ...

---

The release of ICED EARTH’s forthcoming album, The Glorious Burden, and new single, ‘The Reckoning’, have been pushed back in order to have a proper set up for the releases. ‘The Reckoning’ single will now be released in North America on October 21st (October 27th in Europe), and The Glorious Burden album will now come out on January 13th, 2004 (January 12th in Europe) through SPV.

As previously reported, ‘The Reckoning’ single features the following tracks: ‘The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)’, ‘ When The Eagle Cries’ (unplugged), ‘Valley Forge’ and ‘Hollow Man’.

Iced Earth’s current lineup includes guitarist Jon Schaffer, singer Tim Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST/WINTERS BANE), drummer Richard Christy, bassist James MacDonough and guitarist Ralph Santolla.

---

According to W.A.S.P. Nation, the bands forthcoming album, The Neon God, won't be out until February 2004 and the second album will probably be released by late April/early May 2004. Both records will be issued through Sanctuary. The albums are being recorded in Los Angeles under a veil of secrecy with producer Bill Metoyer.

---

KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood has posted the following message to the band's official web site:

- At the moment we are still working on shows for Dec/Jan, we wanted to take a short hiatus due to [bassist] Glenn Barry's new baby coming this month. I do not want to announce anything until we have confirmation. Also, I am going to the Norwegian countryside in October for the first part of the songwriting sessions for the new album. We were not sure whether the next album would be a non-concept release but after long discussions we all agree that the yet untitled release will be the 2nd part of 'Epica', we are excited about finishing the 2nd part story l ...

---

Sweden's IN FLAMES have commenced the recording process for the follow-up to 2002's "Reroute To Remain", tentatively due in early 2004. "Daniel [Svensson] has finished laying down the drums on all tracks," reads a post on the group's web site. "In a couple of weeks the band will enter the studio again to record everything else and finalize the upcoming CD. Release of the yet untitled product can be expected next spring. Producer info, whereabouts and time period will be [announced] soon!!"

---

Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR have completed work on their fourth, self-titled album at New Sin Studios in Italy with producer Luigi Stefanini. "Dark Moor" will contain 11 tracks and will be released on November 24 through Arise Records.

"We have been a month working at New Sin Studios in Italy with the producer Luigi Stefanini & I think we have recorded the best album in our career," guitarist Enrik Gracia said in an official press release. "We have got a clean production with heavy guitars & the orchestral arrangements sound better than ever, mainly the strings. We were searching for a new dimension in our soun ...

---

Reunited thrash metal band NUCLEAR ASSAULT are currently recording their first new studio album in 10 years at the studios of Timothy Koukos, head of Screaming Ferret Wreckords, in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Vocalist/guitarist John Connelly, guitarist Erik Burke, bassist Danny Lilker and drummer Glenn Evans are putting the finishing touches on their latest songs. Some are brand new while others were written by Connelly after the band first broke up in the early 1990s.

Connelly, Lilker, Evans and guitarist Anthony Bramante resurrected NUCLEAR ASSAULT in 2002 at the urging of mutual friend ...

---