Sweden's IN FLAMES will kick off a month-long North American headlining tour on June 26 in Toronto, Canada. Support at all shows will come from SOILWORK, CHIMAIRA and UNEARTH.

Confirmed dates so far are as follows:

Jun. 26 - Toronto, ON @ The Guvernment
Jun. 27 - Montreal, QC @ The Medley
Jun. 28 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Jul. 01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theatre
Jul. 03 - Detroit, MI @ Harpo's
Jul. 04 - Syracuse, NY @ Hellfest
Jul. 05 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora
Jul. 06 - Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
Jul. 07 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Quest
Jul. 14 - Tempe, AZ @ Cajun House
Jul. 17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Palace
Jul. 18 - San Francisco, CA @ outdoors at The Pound
Jul. 19 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
Jul. 20 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
Jul. 21 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom

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Swedish death metal act THE FORSAKEN have entered Studio Abyss with producer/engineer Tommy Tägtgren to record their third full-length album, tentatively titled "Traces Of The Past". The follow-up to last year's "Arts Of Desolation" will contain 12 tracks and will mark the recording debut with the group of new bassist Stefan Berg, who replaced Michael Hakansson a few months ago. A late 2003 release through Century Media Records is expected.

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The 2003 Metal Gods North American Tour, a multi-band package featuring HALFORD, co-headliners TESTAMENT, IMMORTAL, CARNAL FORGE, PRIMAL FEAR, PAINMUSEUM, and AMON AMARTH, has been officially cancelled due to "contractual difficulties."

The following is the official statement on the matter from HALFORD manager John Baxter:

"I'm sorry to have to report the following, but the tour has to be brought to an end after this weekend's New York performances because of contractual difficulties.

"I learned on Tuesday, that inappropriate activity had been carried out days prior to the Chicago show, without my knowle ...

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Finland's NIGHTWISH have finalized the contents of their upcoming DVD, "End Of Innocence", due on May 26 through Spinefarm.

According to www.nightwish.com, the DVD will contain the following:

1. "End Of Innocence" documentary

- The history of NIGHTWISH by Tuomas and Jukka
- Total running time around 150 minutes!
- Features shitloads of the footage from their tours all over the world from the very beginning to the Century Child World Tour

2. Music clips
- 01. End Of All Hope *
- 02. Dead To The World *
- 03. 10th Man Down

Germany's METALIUM have set "In League As One - Chapter Four" as the title for their forthcoming studio album, tentatively due in late 2003 through Massacre Records. The follow-up to last year's "Hero-Nation Chapter III" will reportedly contain the longest song of METALIUM's career -an as-yet-unnamed 13-minute epic that includes a "very unusual" middle section featuring METALIUM bassist Lars Ratz on fretless bass.

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Dark Moor has a new singer, his name is Alfred Romero. The new line-up of the band will be completed in the next weeks. Their next album will be recorded at New Sin Studios in August to be released in November 2003.

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RATT guitarist Warren DeMartini has officially joined DIO as the band's new touring guitarist. Warren replaces Doug Aldrich, who has spent the past few months touring with the reunited WHITESNAKE.

DeMartini's first appearance with DIO will take place as part of the group's upcoming North American tour with IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD, which is set to kick off in late July.

During an online chat conducted in February, Aldrich alluded to a possible scheduling conflict between his upcoming WHITESNAKE touring activities and the touring/songwriting sessions with DIO, potentially jeopardizing his status in the latter band.

"Ronnie [James Dio ] is at the moment working on the story ...

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The leadoff track from the forthcoming Cage album, Darker Than Black is available in our sounds section.

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Reunited NWOBHM legends DIAMOND HEAD have completed work on their first full album of new songs since 1993's "Death & Progress" and are currently looking to secure the right deal to ensure that the album is given the best marketing, promotion and distribution possible.

The as-yet-untitled CD - which was recorded at recorded at Mad Hat Studios in Wolverhampton, England with producer/engineer producer Andrew Scarth - is being described by vocalist Sean Harris as "the best time we have had in the studio since the first album, great songs all of equal quality, lots of love and attitude."

The complete track listing for the LP is as follows (in no p ...

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QUEENSRYCHE appear to have once again parted ways with guitarist Chris DeGarmo.

"Due to scheduling conflicts, Chris DeGarmo will not be able to go on the QUEENSRYCHE European tour as originally planned... but - The show must go on and it will be a great one!!!" drummer Scott Rockefield wrote on the band's official web site. "We have a great new record and a full-scale tour planned and hope to continue to work with Chris in the future. We hope to see all of you on tour this year!!!!! Keep well..."

It is not presently clear who will assume the second-guitarist duties during the band's upcoming tour, but speculation is that it will be M ...

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