Israel's progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND will release their highly anticipated fourth studio opus, "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR", in Europe on January 25, 2010 and in the U.S. on February 9 via Century Media Records. Mixed by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE, OPETH), who is also responsible for several keyboard parts on the new CD, the effort is a sophisticated concept album which takes ORPHANED LAND's unique brand of exotic, heavy music to soaring new heights in terms of complexity and catchiness.

The band is preparing to launch a series of introspective webisodes documenting the making of the album and the first album trailer can be viewed below. This clip featu ...

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Guitarist Paul Allender of British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH has issued the following update:

"I'm about half way through writing the material [for the new CRADLE OF FILTH album] and it's turning out just the way I wanted it. I've mentioned to a few people that it's a lot faster and heavier than [2008's 'Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder']. Well, to be honest, the new material has been taken up quite a few gears."

"Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 37. The CD sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"G ...

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Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION have issued the following update:

"It has been a long time since you have heard anything new from THERION now, so I thought I should give a few updates.

"As you may or may not know, THERION is in progress of recording a new album. As usual, THERION is being very secretive about the entire process, but I will reveal some details:

"A new studio has been built for most of the recording of this album. The mix, and a few recordings, will be done at another studio — 'A truly legendary studio!' according to Chris [mainman Christofer Johnsson]. Expect something spectacular, even by THERION's standards!

...

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DREAM THEATER's promotional video for the song "Wither" can be viewed below. Footage for the clip was shot at the following shows on the band's recently completed European tour:

Oct. 04 - Zenith - Paris, France
Oct. 06 - Zenith - Lille, France
Oct. 07 - Ahoy - Rotterdam, Netherlands
Oct. 09 - Apollo - Manchester, UK
Oct. 10 - Wembley - London, UK

DREAM THEATER recently released the "Wither" EP via online retailers.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Wither (Album Version) (5:25)
02. Wither (Piano Version) (5:07)
03. Wither (John Petrucci Vocal Demo) (5:24)
04. The Best of Times (Mike Portnoy ...

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Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh), the BURZUM mastermind who was convicted of murdering MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous) in August 1993 and setting fire to three churches, has issued the following update:

"As you might already know, my dear ladies and gentlemen, and others individuals too, I am no friend of the modern so-called black metal culture. It is a tasteless, low-brow parody of Norwegian so-called black metal anno 1991-1992, and if it was up to me, it would meet its dishonourable end as soon as possible. However, rather than abandon my own music, only because others have soiled its name by claiming to have something in common with it, I will stick ...

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Veteran British doom/stoner band CATHEDRAL will enter Chapel studios (THE DARKNESS, NAPALM DEATH, URIAH HEEP, WET WET WET, SIMPLE MINDS) in Lincolnshire, U.K. in November to record its ninth full-length album and second for the Nuclear Blast label. Entitled "The Guessing Game", the new CD will once again be produced by Warren Riker (DOWN, CROWBAR) and sport stunning new artwork from band collaborator Dave Patchett. Songtitles set to appear on the CD (among others) include:

* Journeys Into Jade
* The Casket Chasers
* Funeral Of Dreams
* Death Of An Anarchist
* La Noche Del Buque Maldito (a.k.a. Ghost Ship Of The Blind Dead)
* Open Mind Surgery

"T ...

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Live Nation Announces Ultimate Access Wednesday with Anvil!
October 28th with Anvil at The Hard Rock Café in Toronto
TORONTO - This Wednesday Live Nation gives fans ultimate access Anvil. For one day fans will be given the chance to meet the band and buy a ticket to their upcoming concert
with no service fees.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 28th from 5-7pm

WHAT: “Ultimate Access Wednesday”
- Come down to hang out with Anvil
- Purchase a $20 ticket to their upcoming concert on January 8th at The Phoenix Concert Theatre with no service fee.

WHERE: Hard Rock Cafe Toronto, 279 Yonge St. at Yonge and Dundas Square

...

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British vocalist Martin Walkyier (SABBAT, SKYCLAD) has issued the following update:

"It is my great pleasure to announce that I am currently working upon writing and recording some brand-new material for THE CLAN DESTINED.

"Due to the literally thousands of emails and messages I've received from you kind people via the THE CLAN DESTINED website and my MySpace page, I have now decided that the time has come to compose a follow-up to the critically acclaimed 'In The Big Ending...' CD and DVD release. I also promised my father that I would write something to honour his memory just one week before he died in February 2007; and as I'm sure you will all appreciate, this was ...

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A cult band with an extensive, highly cherished back catalog, KARMA TO BURN reunited earlier this year after laying dormant for most of the decade and soon embarked upon a reunion tour, including a coveted spot on this year's Download Festival. All this action is captured on the Live 2009 - Reunion Tour DVD, to be released domestically on December 15th by Napalm Records, the band's new label home. Here are the band's current confirmed dates/venues:

10.22.09 - Mechaniscsburg, PA / West Shore Hardware Bar

10.23.09 - Columbus, OH / Ravari Room

10.24.09 - Richmond, VA / Canal Club

10.25.09 - Jacksonville, NC / Hooligans

10.27.09 - F ...

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In advance of its October 27th release, all eight tracks of PELICAN's upcoming Southern Lord debut album What We All Come To Need is now streaming on the band's Myspace page! Stop by and check it out today: http://www.myspace.com/pelican.

PELICAN is out on a full US tour with label mates Black Cobra now through mid-December. Please note, the NYC show initially scheduled for December 2nd has also been moved to November 30th.

10/20/2009 The Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO w/ Black Cobra, Sweet Cobra

10/21/2009 Club Vegas - Salt Lake City, UT w/ Black Cobra, Sweet Cobra

10/22/2009 Neurolux - Boise, ID w/ Black Cobra, Sweet Cobra

10/24/2 ...

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