Guitarist Bill Hudson has quit the Nebraska-based extreme power metal babd CELLADOR. His statement on the matter reads as follows:

"After thinking about it for a long time and after a very relaxing holiday season, which included appearances at the NAMM show in Anaheim, I have decided that it's best for me if I part ways with CELLADOR.

"I'll be flying back to Omaha tomorrow, but the band is already aware of my decision. I'm really only going back to take care of the last details, before I move to L.A. permanently.

"CELLADOR and I did great things together, and a good fan-base was built. I played some of the most insane shows of my lif ...

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West Virginia's forward-thinking thrashers BYZANTINE have issued the following update:

"As of today, BYZANTINE is no longer a functioning band. Due to various circumstances the band will not be touring or performing together.

"We would like to first thank everyone that has supported this band throughout the years. You are the people that really made everything worthwhile and we are amazed at the wonderful response we have had from all of you. Because of you, we were part of something special and without you none of this would have been possible. Next, we would like to thank all the kick-ass bands that we have played shows with and hung out with. These were good ...

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AVIAN, the melodic metal band featuring singer Lance King and guitarist Yan Leviathan, has been confirmed for the Nightmare Metal Fest, a brand new festival set to take place March 21-22 at Bourbon Street in New Port Richey, Florida. Also scheduled to appear are WARMACHINE, CAGE, DISASTERPEACE (the new band featuring singer Wade Black [CRIMSON GLORY, SEVEN WITCHES, LEASH LAW, BLACK REIGN, LEATHERWOLF], former KING DIAMOND guitarist master Pete Blakk, renowned drummer Jesse Martillo [CRIMSON GLORY] and bassist Chris Baylor), X-THIRTIEN, ORDER OF NINE, ...

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Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have set "Hammer Battalion" as the title of their ninth full-length album, due later in the year via SPV Records. According to the band, "The result of the pre-production of the new album is very satisfying. . . The new UNLEASHED album will continue in the same victorious spirit as our previous album 'Midvinterblot'."

Fan-filmed video footage of UNLEASHED's November 27, 2007 concert at Bolwerk in Sneek, Holland can be viewed below (courtesy of "letthemetalflow").

UNLEASHED's eighth full-length album, "Midvinterblot", was released in the U.S. on October 10, 2006 via SPV Reco ...

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Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL entered Antfarm studios in Denmark earlier this month with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD) to begin recording the follow-up to 2006's "Memorial" for a tentative late spring/early summer release via SPV.

Commented vocalist Fernando Ribeiro: "'Night Eternal' will be the title of the new MOONSPELL album. The recording sessions will take place between the 7th and the 31st of January 2008 in Denmark's finest metal studio, Antfarm. Tue Madsen, who worked with the band on the 'Under Satanae' project, will be producing MOONSPELL ...

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Swedish metallers LOST HORIZON have issued the following update:

"Almost five years have passed since the release of 'A Flame To The Ground Beneath' and after the turbulence the band experienced. The remaining members now realize this period was necessary to regain the energy, strength, motivation and inspiration needed to continue with the unearthly creations.

"Only, this time things will be done a lot different than before.

"While continuing the search for the voice, which will be embraced by our music, the recording of the new material will be carried through independently of that and immediately, with start on January 2008. All instruments will be succe ...

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MINISTRY mainman Al "Alien" Jourgensen has penned a special Christmas poem entitled "T'was The Night Before Impeachment". It goes like this:

T'was 2007 and all through the year
Not a creature was buying this climate of fear
The stockings were hung in a foreclosure scare
In hopes that the Banks would forget we were there!
The soldiers were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of extended tours messed with their heads
And Dick and Lynn Cheney with shotguns in lap
Had just pardoned Scooter for shutting his yap
When down at the White House there arose such a clatter
I sprang out the door to see what was the matter!
Away to the pr ...

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Singer Tim "Ripper" Owens has released a statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding his surprising departure from ICED EARTH three months after the release of the group's latest album, "Framing Armageddon - Something Wicked Part I".

ICED EARTH mainman/guitarist Jon Schaffer issued a press release last week (Statement#1, Statement#2) announcing that the band was parting ways with Owens and was on ...

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Canadian death metallers KATAKLYSM have cancelled their previously announced tour of the UK and Iberia with Poland's BEHEMOTH (scheduled for February 2008).

Commented KATAKLYSM singer Maurizio Iacono: "First, I'd like to say how crazy of a ride it's been since the release of 'In the Arms of Devastation'. We've done over 200 shows in less then two years — nine tours across the world — and meeting all our fans was the highlight; they made our last album the biggest and strongest album to date.

"It's been great, but the machine needs time off. There's nothing more we like then to stay on the road non-stop but we have to come to reality here ...

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ICED EARTH mainman/guitarist Jon Schaffer has issued the following statement:

"Hello, dear friends!

"Once again the winds of change are upon us, and this time I can say that I am very happy about the result.

"While out on the European tour I had several in depth discussions with many loyal ICED EARTH fans. A common theme of these discussions was how much Matt is missed. I agreed with the fans that things were not the same and that it was a very special period in ICED EARTH's history.

"When I heard several months ago that Matt [Barlow] was going to be doing a project in music again, I was thinking about contactin ...

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