Springfield, Massachusetts grindcore act AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED has posted a new song, "Agorapocalypse Now", on the band's MySpace. The track comes off the group's fourth full-length album, "Agorapocalypse", which is scheduled for an April 14 North American release (April 20 internationally) via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded by the band's own Scott Hull at his Visceral Sound studios and contains 13 tracks, including "Moral Distortion", "Question Of Integrity", "Trauma Queen", "Agorapocalypse Now" and "Flamingo Snuff". The artwork was created by AGORAPHOBIC NOSEB ...

Miika Tenkula, the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the acclaimed Finnish band SENTENCED, passed away earlier today at the age of 35.

Nalle Österman (GANDALF, LULLACRY, CHAOSBREED) told BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "It's true, confirmed personally by [former SENTENCED] drummer Vesa Ranta.

"The fact remains that Miika had a serious drinking problem for many years which escalated after SENTENCED was buried. They don't call it King Alcohol for nothing...

"The metal scene in Finland mourns now for one of the most talented metal guitarists to ever emerge from [the country]."

SENTENCED's posthumous DVD, "Buried ...

It finally managed to happen and manifest, France’s AMESOEURS (featuring Neige of ALCEST and award winning animation filmmaker Fursy Teyssier of LES DISCRETS) have completed work on their mind-blowing debut album, simply titled "Amesoeurs".

Being released in North America by Profound Lore (Code666 in Europe), following the band’s highly praised and acclaimed 2007 "Ruines Humaines" EP and with the justifiable praise and hype built upon the EP, the AMESOEURS self-titled debut full-length is easily one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

Formed by Neige and vocalist Audrey Sylvain in 2004, "Amesoeurs" is a ...

Legendary Swedish guitarist YNGWIE MALMSTEEN will release an all-instrumental acoustic album, "Angels Of Love", which will contain rearrangements of his ballad songs played on acoustic guitar and string and choir arrangements only. It is a masterpiece showing the tender, delicate version of his classic songs as well as a new composition. A March 10 release via Rising Force Records is expected.

"Perpetual Flame", the new album from Malmsteen, sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Released on October 14, 2008, the CD is the first-ever Yngwie effort to be issued via Rising Force Rec ...

Finnish folk metal band FINNTROLL has issued the following update:

"You may have noticed that there aren't any shows booked for us so far, but this doesn't mean that we won't play at all this year. We just decided after the Heidenfest tour that we will have half a year off from playing and be concentrating on writing a new and the best FINNTROLL album so far, also working on the DVD is a priority.

"We have now got the chance to start from a clean slate and so we will do. All gigs will be handled by ourselves for the time being, which means that if you have a festival/show/tour that you want us to play on, please be kind send your request to the following ...

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN have updated their official web site with the following message:

"After finishing the first part of their studio recordings [for the new RAMMSTEIN album] successfully, RAMMSTEIN have started to put the final touches to their new songs. For example, they're thinking about the usage of strings and choirs. Therefore, the band sat down with the orchestra arranger Sven Helbig last week. Aside from the last musical changes, the final lyrical changes are being made, too. We're highly awaiting the next steps of the album production: the mixing of the songs. It is supposed to start mid-March and will take about six up to eight we ...

Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND), Juan Garcia and Bernie Versailles (AGENT STEEL), Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT), and James Rivera (HELSTAR) make guest appearances on "Cult Of Sin", the new album from Belgian metallers AFTER ALL, due on March 23 via Dockyard 1 in Europe (Locomotive Records in the U.S.). The CD was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö (BLOODBATH, HAIL OF BULLETS, NOVEMBERS DOOM) at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden and features the artwork of Gabriel Bueno (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, LAMB OF GOD, UNEARTH).

"Cult Of Sin" track listing:

Long-running Italian technical Death Metallers GORY BLISTER will release their new album, "Graveyard of Angels", on April 6 via Mascot Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Skymorphosis" contains nine tracks that "reach a very technical Death Metal made with old-school anger," according to the band.

Commented guitarist Raff: "This new record is the natural prosecution of GORY BLISTER's goal to mix old-school aggression, technical skills and progressive music into classic Death Metal. The sound has acquired a lot more personality; you'll always experience originality both in riffs and lyrics. As for the lyrics, they're written from a point of view inspired ...

THE GATHERING is currently mixing their 9th studio album which is due to be released in April/May 2009! The new album will be called 'The West Pole'.

The band's former singer Anneke van Giersbergen left THE GATHERING in 2007, and the band has since been working on new songs with different singers to complete the new line up. THE GATHERING have now found a new (female) vocalist, and will also have two (also female) guest singers on 'The West Pole'.

Hans Rutten (the band's drummer) had this to say about 'The West Pole': ’We have now started the mixing process and I can tell you we are very, very proud and we feel we have made ...

Audio samples of all 12 tracks that appear on QUEENSRŸCHE's upcoming album, "American Soldier", are available for streaming at Rhino.com.

QUEENSRŸCHE's twelfth studio release, the epic concept album "American Soldier", will be available from Atco/Rhino on March 31 for a suggested list price of $18.98 (CD) and $9.99 (digital). The ambitious album encompasses a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, the group's singer and chief songwriter, who was intent on telling their story using their words. After speaking with soldie ...