Nearly ten years since X JAPAN's New Year's "farewell" concert and nine years after the death of the band's influential lead guitarist Hideto "Hide" Matsumoto, X JAPAN has officially reformed and is planning a new tour and single, tentatively due before the end of 2007.

According to an article in the Japanese newspaper Sponichi, X JAPAN founder Yoshiki summoned former vocalist Toshi to Los Angeles in November 2006 to work on a song that was written as a tribute to late guitarist Hide, entitled "Without You" (originally released instrumentally on Yos ...

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After three months of auditions, Nebraska extreme power metallers CELLADOR have announced the addition of drummer Rick Halverson to the group's ranks.

"Wow! I'm so excited about the new music and lineup!" commented Halverson. "We've all known each other for a while and it just seemed like a no-brainer decision for me to join the band. We're gonna blow some minds...that's for sure!!"

Baz Anderson of MetalStorm.ee recently conducted an interview with MASTERPLAN/ex-HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

MetalStorm.ee: So how well do you think the album "MK II" has come across?

Roland: I think pretty good, honestly, because I think people, you know, lost a bit of faith in this band and when we released the album of course many people checked it out to see "how bad we are" — but people were surprised that nothing really changed so much, I mean the music is still the same kind of style and yeah, it's good. We did our b ...

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Chad Bowar of About Heavy Metal recently conducted an interview with CELTIC FROST mainman Tom Gabriel Fischer. An excerpt from the chat follows:

About Heavy Metal: You've been on the road with TYPE O NEGATIVE for about a month. How has it been going?

Tom Gabriel Fischer: It's fantastic. Both bands are mutual fans of each other. We have a very good relationship with them. The only thing that's difficult sometimes is that since we are not playing huge places a lot of times, the stage size is really small. Sometimes we have to make do with very l ...

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Finnish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have recruited 35-year-old Swedish singer Anette Blyckert (a.k.a. Anette Olzon) to replace Tarja Turunen. A photo of the new vocalist can be found here. A short video "greeting" from Anette is available for download at this location (MPEG, 5 MB).

Regarding her musical background, Anette said, "I was raised in a musical family and I've been singing since childhood. My mom also forced me to play the oboe for 8 years! I toured constantly with my mom and he ...

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Florida-based death metallers DEICIDE have parted ways with guitarist Ralph Santolla. A replacement axeman has not yet been announced.

Santolla (ex-DEATH, ICED EARTH) told BLABBERMOUTH.NET last month that he was looking to join a new band "in any genre of metal." "I like to keep busy writing, recording and touring," Santolla said. "Down time drives me nuts. Anyone looking for a guitarist can contact me at ralphsantolla@hotmail.com."

Santolla appears on DEICIDE's latest CD, "The Stench of Redemption", which was released in August via Earache Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Scars of the Crucifix" ...

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Peter Lindgren has stepped down from his guitar-wielding duties in OPETH after 16 years. His official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"It is with sadness I announce that OPETH and I are going separate ways after almost 16 years. The decision has been the toughest I've ever made but it is the right one to make at this point in my life.

"The reason behind this is that I feel that I simply have lost some of the enthusiasm and inspiration needed to participate in a band that has grown from a few guys playing the music we love to a worldwide industry. The love of music has always been, and still is, our motive, but I personally have lost something alo ...

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ICED EARTH guitarist/leader Jon Schaffer has posted the following message on the band's web site:

"Our new guitar player's name is Troy Seele. Troy did a few solos on the new record and will be touring with us. He's been a friend of mine for about 10 years and is from the Indianapolis (Indy) area. He's by far the best guitar player in Indy and will be bringing some cool vibes to the table."

A 30-second audio sample of the ICED EARTH song "Ten Thousand Strong" has been posted online at this location (Real Media). The track comes off the group's u ...

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Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor from the mythological occult metal outfit ABSU has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"After five years of silence, I am pleased to announce the new lineup of ABSU.

"It was a difficult task to replace both Shaftiel and Equitant after being together for nearly 11 years, but now is the time to carry on. Here is the new reorganization of the band:

* Proscriptor McGovern - Percussives, Mellotron, Voices & Lyrical Magick
* Vastator Terrarum - Guitars, Bass Guitar, Analog Synthesizers & Backing Voices
* Aethyris MacKay - Guitars, Bass Guitar, Analog ...

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KING'S X frontman Doug Pinnick has issued the following update:

"The new KING'S X [album] is finished. Ty [Tabor, guitar/vocals] is mastering it now. The release date is tenative right now. It's called 'Go Tell Somebody', so if you like what you hear, then go tell somebody, if you like what you hear, then go tell somebody, if you like what you hear, then go tell somebody, it's judgement time, it's judgement time...

"More info coming soon!

"I am in L.A. now making my solo CD! Got a bunch of people playing on it! Wally Farkas on guitar (GALACTIC COWBOYS), Dave Henning on bass (BIG WRECK), Kelli Scott< ...

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