Its been long in the works, but the 2.0 version of MetalReviews is finally here. This version is mostly a transition phase for the site, so the mechanics of accessing pages and their layout haven't changed much, but with this platform its now possible for us to add more services in the future, while we work on the next release of the site, for which we can't really give a date, except it probably won't be for 2008.

In the meantime there are still a few little things to be ironed out with this version, so please bear with us and in case you have any issue with the site, thanks to use the contact form to let us know. Som ...

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Edguy are currently preparing to hit the studio to work on the successor of their recent album "Rocket Ride".

Tobias: "People think that we are quite fast but that's not the truth. I completed the Avantasia album last autumn, the Avantasia songwriting itself was completed even way back in 2006. All the new ideas I've had since then could be taken for Edguy. In fact, this is a long time to refresh your creativity and gather new stuff. The material sounds very fresh, it embraces all the different trademarks of Edguy, I think it is a logical continuation of Rocket Ride and Hellfire Club. Maybe it doesn't come across as goofy as Rocket Ride, but I am sure if we have fun in the studi ...

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BLABBERMOUTH.NET exclusively unveiled the first photo (see below) of INSIDIOUS (formerly INSIDIOUS DISEASE), the international metal project featuring members of DIMMU BORGIR, NAPALM DEATH, OLD MAN'S CHILD and MORGOTH. The currently unsigned band recently spent time at a studio in Norway recording 12 songs with Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus) of SUSPERIA in the producer's chair.

Speaking to BLABBERMOUTH.NET, the group's vocalist Marc Grewe (ex-MORGOTH) described INSIDIOUS' musical direction as "very, very old-school," adding that "it is the best stuff I have recorded since [MORGOTH's ...

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EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet has issued the following update on his AVANTASIA solo project:

"I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for your great support. 'The Scarecrow' is an album that means a lot to me and it was quite a commercial risk to just follow my heart instead of doing exactly what people expected. But if I take a look at the chart positions and sales — it went into the album charts in 16 countries, hitting the Top10 in four countries — it seems like you appreciate my honesty! Thank you!

Now preparing for the festival summer with AVANTASIA seems so surreal. AVANTASIA has never been on stage before and all of the s ...

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Samples include parts of the songs "Hell", "Straight To Hell", "Stab U In The Back", "The Power and The Glory", "USA For Satan", "Evil Perfection", "Hand of God" and "Dirge".

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Long anticipated and now officially confirmed: KROKUS is back in its classic formation. Marc Storace (vocals, 56), Fernando Von Arb (guitar, 53), Chris Von Rohr (bass, 56) and Freddy Steady (drums, 55) have reunited and are performing together again.

On August 2, KROKUS will play its only concert planned for 2008 in the band's native Switzerland at Stade De Suisse stadium in Bern. Afterwards, the group will begin work on its comeback album, tentatively due mid-2009.

The classic KROKUS lineup reunited for an appearance on November 18, 2007 on a TV show honoring the greatest Swiss songs of all time. The "Die grössten Schweizer ...

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Vocalist John Tardy of the long-running Florida death metallers OBITUARY has issued the following update:

"We leave today for South America for a couple of weeks. This is always a great time with insane fans!!! This trip will take us to places we have been and places we have not been too yet, so we are really getting excited! We have four shows in Brazil and 1 in Chile, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador!

"We have so much going on when we get back it is just crazy.

"We started to write new music for an EP that we plan on releasing in a few months and we need to get that recorded, so Redneck Studios will be getting fired back up for that!

"We ...

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Bob Mitchell has decided to leave resurrected '80s metallers ATTACKER. Here, in his own words, is Mitchell's explanation: "Just wanted to express that I had the greatest time at the KIT Festival over the past weekend. Attacker rocked Germany once again and everyone was, as usual, gracious and enthusiastic about what we have accomplished. With that said, it is with heavy heart that I announce my departure from Attacker. Outside of the band, I have commitments to college as I am currently earning my Associates Degree and will soon be entering the nursing program, my work at the hospital, which is my greatest passion and my family. In truth, I just could not commit myself at a 100% level and with each passing day it became more difficult. I walk away without regrets and with a sense of pride and accomplishment. I thank all of you for the great times and wonderful memories. I love Attacker, I love our fans for now and always. God Bless and ciao for now."

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Swiss avant-garde/metal pioneers CELTIC FROST have released the following statement via their official web site:

"CELTIC FROST singer and guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer has left CELTIC FROST due to the irresolvable, severe erosion of the personal basis so urgently required to collaborate within a band so unique, volatile, and ambitious."

It was reported earlier in the year that CELTIC FROST was putting together an album tentatively titled "Monotheist Companion" that will feature unreleased songs from 2006's "Monotheist" sessions and rearrangements of tracks from the album. The disc is tentatively due in the summer.

A video ...

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