Vocalist Joe Comeau (ex-OVERKILL, LIEGE LORD) has issued a statement confirming his departure from ANNIHILATOR.

Comeau's press release reads as follows:

"Hello friends,

"As you are probably now aware, I am no longer working with ANNIHILATOR. I would first like to thank all my friends and supporters who have emailed me encouraging notes.

"As you all deserve to know the truth in this matter, basically there was a non-musical difference which I thought was something we both could work out to a mutual underst ...

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Finnish melodic power metallers THUNDERSTONE are recording their sophomore album at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki with producer/guitarist Nino Laurenne. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to last year's "Thunderstone" is tentatively due in late 2003 through Nuclear Blast Records.

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New extremelly skillfulled and potential finnish power/heavy metal four piece CITADEL finished recently their debut album "Transition" recordings. Recordings and mixing took place at Pop Studios (f.ex Demigod) Loimaa, Finland. Album was finalised and mastered at famous Finnvox Studios by Mika Jussila.

"Transition" will hit firstly the streets of Japan the 24th of July. Album will be released by Soundholic Co Ltd (which is known for releasing such bands as Soilwork, Grave Digger, Marduk etc). Rest of the world release date follows in late 2003.

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QUEENSRYCHE's new studio album, "Tribe", is due on July 22 through Sanctuary Records. One-minute MP3 samples of all of the album's 10 tracks can be downloaded from the group's official web site at this location.

The follow-up to 1999's "Q2K", which is expected to include a guest appearance by original QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Chris DeGarmo, was engineered by Scott Olson, who has worked as the "full-time right hand" to Terry Date (producer for such bands as the DEFTONES, PANTERA and LIMP BIZKIT, among others) and was mixed by Adam Kasper, whose past credits include PEARL JAM and the FOO FIGHTERS.

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SILENT FORCE, the band featuring ex-ROYAL HUNT singer D.C. Cooper, will enter House of Audio studio in Karlsdorf, Germany on June 20 with producer Dennis Ward (ANGRA, PINK CREAM 69) to begin recording their third album, "Line Of Attack", for a late 2003 release.

"Line Of Attack" is the follow up to 2001's "Infatuator", which garnered rave reviews and was followed up by European tours with ANGRA and U.D.O. and an appearance at the sold-out ProgPower USA show in Atlanta, Georgia.

"We went through a difficult year," the band write on their official web site. "It started with the flipped disc ...

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BLIND GUARDIAN have posted an album's worth of live outtakes from various shows recorded for their recently-released live album, simply entitled "Live".

The band issued the following statement announcing their decision to make the recordings available to the public:

"As most of you probably know, for the release of 'Live' there was going to be a special third CD with outtakes from various shows. Unfortunately it wasn't possible to include this CD with the normal release of the double CD set. Therefore the band has decided to make this material available for download via the Internet.

"Since the quality of this material is lower than that of the offic ...

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We are pleased to feature 2 tracks available for download in our "Sounds" section from the Florida U.S.A based Too Old To Rock. Fans of great hard rock guitar instrumental music with a progressive edge, a great sense of melody, and amazing musicianship should check these guys out. They are as yet unsigned. More complete songs can be found at these locations:

MP3.COM

Ampcast

Modern Rock

CD Baby

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Drummer Henry Ranta has left Sweden's SOILWORK in order to dedicate more time to his personal life.

"After playing in SOILWORK for five years, our dear friend and drummer Henry Ranta has decided that he can no longer continue to play in SOILWORK," the band said in an official statement announcing Ranta's departure from the group. "There are no hard feelings between Henry and us in any way, and we will still remain amazing friends, he will always be a true Soilworker. We wish him all the best of luck with his decision and we're sure we'll cross paths again in the future!"

Henry, who is also a member of THE DEFACED (featuring DARKANE guitarist Klas Ideberg), has issued a ...

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The site added that frontman Bruce Dickinson took the band's headlining performance at the Download festival at Donington Park in England this weekend as an opportunity to announce the long-awaited details of their new album due out September 9th. The album was produced by Kevin Shirley with bassist Steve Harris at Sarm Studios in West London during the spring. About the 6-piece that also features drummer Nicko McBrain and guitarist Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers, Shirley commented: "The band are so in sync with each other Ð it's incredible. There is very little friction in the studio, and the sessions couldn't have been any more fun and productive, and they rock so f**king hard ...

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Vocalist Matt Barlow has announced his departure from ICED EARTH in order to pursue a career doing administrative work for the Department of Homeland Security.

The following is Barlow's official statement on the matter:

"In December of last year, prior to ICED EARTH signing a new record deal, [ICED EARTH mainman] Jon [Schaffer] and I had a sit-down concerning what I felt was best for my future and the future of ICED EARTH. I told him that my heart was no longer into performing music and I intended to stand down from my position in the band in pursuit of what I felt would be a more satisfying career and consequently a more fulfilled life. Jon was very adamant that I sho ...

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