Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR will embark on a North American tour in late April. Support at the shows will come from KATAKLYSM, DEVILDRIVER and UNEARTH. The dates so far are as follows:

Apr. 20 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
Apr. 21 - Detroit, MI – Harpo's Concert Theatre
Apr. 22 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
Apr. 23 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
Apr. 24 - Quebec City, QC - Theatre Capitole
Apr. 26 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre
Apr. 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Apr. 29 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar
Apr. 30 - Charlotte, NC - Amos Southend
May 05 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings
May 07 - Calgary, ...

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After the metalreviews.com reviewer awards for 2006, you can now discover the Poeple choice awards. Enjoy !

Poeple Choice Awards 2006 !

The MetalReviews.com Team

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On May 1, Rhino Handmade will release BLACK SABBATH: Live At Hammersmith Odeon, which features Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice getting hot one December night in London during Sabbath's 1981 tour for The Mob Rules. Previously unreleased, the concert spotlights Sabbath as they storm through 14 of the Dio-era's best including 'Neon Knights', 'Heaven And Hell', 'Children Of The Sea' and 'Country Girl'. The band also performs several pre-Dio classics including 'Paranoid', 'Children Of The Grave' and a white-hot version of 'War Pigs'. The album will be available from Rhino Handmade as an individually numbered limited edition of 5,000 copies, available only at www.rhinohandmade.com for a suggested re ...

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SLAYER was awarded The Grammy yesterday for Best Metal Performance for 'Eyes Of The Insane' from their Christ Illusion album. This was Slayer's second Grammy nomination, the first being in 2002 for the track 'Disciple' from God Hates Us All, also in the Best Metal Performance category. Slayer is currently headlining a North American tour and did not attend the Grammy presentation, but vocalist/bassist Tom Araya had this to say about the win from his hotel room in Columbus, OH: " Jeff (Hanneman, guitarist) and I put a lot into 'Eyes Of The Insane' so we're thrilled that the Grammy voters took the time to listen to it, and then vote for it. We're out here on the road and we're all really, really happy."

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MALEVOLENT CREATION guitarist Phil Fasciana has issued the following update:

"We just finished recording the new MALEVOLENT CREATION album ['Doomsday X'] and I am pleased to say that this is the BEST M.C. album ever written!!! I want to just say thanx to the members of my band, Brett Hoffmann [vocals], Dave Culross [drums], Jon Rubin [guitar] and Jason Blachowicz [bass], for helping me create our best album to date!!! You fans will have to hear it to believe it, but if it wasn't the best album we have ever done, I would put an end to the band now.

"We are rehearsing songs for our upcoming European tour which is going to be a long one. I may be a little slo ...

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Back in 1999, Utopian Vision Music released a three-song self-titled EP by Odyssey, a band featuring the legendary Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale), Rick Gustafson (ex-Memory Garden), and Kenth Philipsson (Dark Funeral, The Project Hate). The EP has long been out-of-print and sought after, nearly since its release.

Sometime in 2007, Vic Records, who recently bought the rights, will re-release this outstanding slab of epic progressive metal. The EP will be remastered by Swanö and will feature one brand new track written by Swanö and Philipsson. Commenting on the new track, Swanö says, “The new Odyssey track will be a b ...

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CRIMSON GLORY has re-hired Astronomica-era singer, Wade Black (ex-SEVEN WITCHES/LEATHERWOLF) after sacking resurrected original vocalist Midnight following a recent DWI escapade. "Just recently, I was booking a show for my solo band, BLACK REIGN" says the singer. "I guess the agent was interested in a Crimson Glory show too, so he got in touch with Jon (Drenning, guitar), who got in touch with me. I saw Jon again when the members of Crimson Glory played with KAMELOT (September 16, 2006). It was the first time I'd seen him in seven years. He said something like, 'I always knew you'd be a star.' I've had a good relationship with Jeff (Lords, bass) and Ben (Jackson, guitar, whom Black briefly p ...

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CRIMSON GLORY have issued the following update: "CRIMSON GLORY is saddened to announce, that we have been forced to officially part ways with our longtime friend and vocalist, Midnight. This was a difficult, but necessary decision for original band members who recently reunited for a rare performance at the Rockwave Festival, last year in Greece. We are brokenhearted by Midnight's personal crisis, and pray that he seeks help for his problems. We love and care for him very much, and really wanted him to be part of the future of this band. Unfortunately, working with Midnight at this time would be difficult, as his current state of mind and his present physical condition would impede plans we have in place for future appearances, releases and recordings. Crimson Glory is currently in the planning stages for additional shows in Florida beginning in March 2007, featuring former CG vocalist, Wade Black (Astronomica; Spitfire Records (USA) and Rising Sun Records (Europe) 1999)."

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In a recent interview with Spain's Laestadea.com, MASTERPLAN guitarist Roland Grapow has confirmed plans for a collaborative project with his ex-HELLOWEEN bandmates Michael Kiske (vocals) and Kai Hansen (guitar, vocals). An excerpt from the chat follows:

Q: About Hansen and Kiske, there's a rumor of a project. Is that right?

Grapow: "It's not a rumor, it's true. We’re just waiting for the right moment. We gathered together two or three times in the last two years. What happens is that Michael doesn't want to do anything with too much hard rock or too much heavy metal, too much dark or negative, he wa ...

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British black metal pioneers VENOM have parted ways with guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey; ex-CARCASS, CATHEDRAL). "Personal unavoidable commitments in the U.S. have forced Mykvs to announce that he cannot commit 100% to VENOM's 2007 schedule," the band writes in a statement. A new guitarist by the name of Rage has already been drafted in to replace Mykvs and is currently working in the studio with the rest of the group on demos for their next album.

Commented drummer Antony "Antton" Lant (brother of VENOM frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant): "[Rage] is a proper metalhead. It's great hearing the ...

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