DEF LEPPARD and THIN LIZZY are in talks to tour North America together beginning in late February. Although no official announcement has yet been made on the matter, it is understood that the drummer slot in THIN LIZZY for the duration of the trek will likely be filled by either Rod Morgenstein (DIXIE DREGS, WINGER) or Brian Tichy (OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL). A four-stringer has yet to be chosen for the group, who were most recently utilizing the services of drummer Tommy Aldridge and bassist Marco Mendoza (both currently in WHITESNAKE). More information is expected to be made available soon.

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German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER have set "Rheingold" as the title for their upcoming CD, due on May 26 through Nuclear Blast Records. According to an official press release from the band, "The concept is following the Saga of the Nibelungs. We worked out 'The Ring Of The Nibelungs' from Germany's famous composer Richard Wagner . The record is split in four parts as there are: Rheingold, Valkyrie, Triumph-Glory-Agony and Twilight of the Gods. [These] are the four operas of the 'Ring Of The Nibelungs' . It's a very mystical story based on the old German saga of the Nibelungs. We worked also with some melody lines of the operas. The music includes all typical GRAVE DIGGER trademarks like s ...

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Veteran Florida metal act ICED EARTH have inked a new worldwide deal with SPV/Steamhammer Records. The band are presently working on their new studio album, "Glorious Burden" CD, due in late spring/early summer. Commented SPV Managing Director Manfred Schütz: "ICED EARTH is one of the best bands in heavy metal and there is still a lot of potential in the creativity. ICED EARTH fits our repertoire perfectly and I am very happy that the band decided to continue their success with SPV." ICED EARTH were previously signed to Century Media Records.

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Former SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and current OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Robert Trujillo is rumored to have made three trips to METALLICA 's Bay Area headquarters in the recent weeks to audition for the vacant bassist slot in the group. Also said to have tried out for the band is former MARILYN MANSON bassist Twiggy Ramirez, a close friend of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich who had previously auditioned for the second-guitarist slot in QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (a position that eventually went to A PERFECT CIRCLE axeman Troy Van Leeuwen).

As previously reported, the only confirmed candidate for the slot left vacant by the departure of Jason Newsted is former KYUSS and current UNIDA bassist Scott Reed ...

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Sweden's AMON AMARTH have posted the following update via their official web site:

"At the moment we are negotiating an American tour and if everything turns out for the best, we'll be hitting the shores of North America in February/March. Apart from that we're working on a four-show tour of the UK in May, we have a couple of more European festivals lined up for the summer and with any luck we'll be able to go to Poland and Czech Republic for a couple of shows."

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Eternal Tears Of Sorrow have split up. Here's the official statement: "With mixed feelings we have to announce that Eternal Tears Of Sorrow have decided to split up. Eternal Tears Of Sorrow has been on a break since March 2002. During the break, it has become obvious that it is time to quit. This band started as a free-time activity about ten years ago. As we got more success, we also needed to give more and more of our time to the band. Day by day, we realized the band had become a full-time job for us. Now it's time to move on and do something different. This band achieved much more than we could imagine when ...

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In an exclusive interview with Music Insight conducted last October, QUEENSRYCHE guitarist Michael Wilton alluded to a possible rift with vocalist Geoff Tate over the musical direction of the group's forthcoming CD, tentatively due in April via Sanctuary Records.

Wilton , a fan of modern heavy music who believes that a return to a harder sound would be advantageous to the band's career, has pushed for a more aggressive approach on the as-yet-untitled effort. A position that has apparently met with resistance from Tate.

"I believe this album should be hard and intense, [but] what I have heard so far is not that," Wilton said. "I have no desire to change QUEENSRYCHE into an adult ...

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A video recording of Brazil's ANGRA performing the track "Acid Rain" at last November's Prog Power Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, has been made available for download at this location.

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IRON MAIDEN producer Kevin Shirley, who is currently working with the band at a London studio on their as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2000's "Brave New World", has posted the following recording update via his official web site:

"IRON MAIDEN/London. Got in to the studio yesterday [Jan. 9] at 11.30am. [Vocalist] Bruce [Dickinson] was the last to arrive, and then he went out and sang fucking great straight off the bat! Cut a great, typical 8-minute MAIDEN song, which sounds just fantastic. A little rehearsal and take-off! First take was interrupted by Steve [Harris ] after about 5 minutes, as he was struggling with his headphone mix. Then take 2 was fantastic, as was T3, and I thought we h ...

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Norway's SUSPERIA have set "Unlimited" as the title for their upcoming third full-length album, tentatively due in the fall through an as-yet-undetermined label.

The group, who recently parted ways with Nuclear Blast Records , are "currently in heavy negotiations with several record labels all over the world and whom the future partner will be, will be announced as soon as the new deal is worked out," according to the band's official web site (www.susperia.net).

"The new and third album ? is already finished and ready to be recorded. This will happen in spring time. The return of SUSPERIA will blow you far away and corrode your skin off!"

With regards to the band's split w ...

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