You can now order Devin Townsend's latest creation, HUMMER, via the Hevydevy Records web site. HUMMER is Devin's second ambient release (after DEVLAB), and only 500 copies are available. Devin previously said that the "recording (like DEVLAB) is really different so don't expect something similar to the DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND or STRAPPING YOUNG LAD." A more in-depth update follows:

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mainman Devin Townsend's wife Tracy — who takes care of much of Devin's business affairs (including his label HevyDevy Records) — has ...

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MTV.com is hosting an exclusive download of MEGADETH's new song, "Gears of War", at this location. The track comes off the group's new album, "United Abominations", tentatively due in March 2007 via Roadrunner Records.

Said MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine about the track: "This was a mix made by [British producer] Andy Sneap [NEVERMORE, MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY, CRADLE OF FILTH] to apply for the job as mixer on this record and I was so impressed I wanted him to help me finish up the last parts ...

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Vocalist Mikael Stanne of the Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY has issued the following update:

"I can't believe it... We made it! It's done and there is nothing I can do about it.

"Just got back from the studio where everything is now shipped off to Denmark where Tue Madsen will perform his magicky magic on the things we've been working on these last 7 weeks. I just finished the last vocal lines a couple of days ago and it feels sweet.

"As always with recordings, there is alot of stress and self-doubt, but being in a more than familiar environment in Martin's [Henriksson, guitar] studio (Rogue) has helped trem ...

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Stockholm, Sweden-based death metallers CANOPY have inked a deal with Disconcert Music. The group's debut album, "Serene Catharsis", will be made available across Canada in all good stores via Fusion 3 distribution.

CANOPY plays Swedish death metal "in the vein of EDGE OF SANITY or AMON AMARTH, but with enough originality to make it their own," according to a press release.

"Serene Catharsis" track listing:

01. And Oceans
02. The Lie that You Once Told
03. Firmament Part I
04. Firmament Part II
05. Concentric
06. Last Point of Reference
07. The Bleeding Earth
08. We are Not to be of This World
09. Subtle
10. Serene Catharsis

For more information, visit www.entercanopy.com.

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Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have finished mixing their new album at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producers Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten for an early 2007 release via Nuclear Blast Records. The group's guitarist, Silenoz, has issued the following update on the recording/mixing process:

"After what we can call a pretty mellow and relaxed mixing session (at least from a dimmucratic point of view), 'In Sorte Diaboli' is now mixed and ready for mastering! Ooops…happened to mention the album title there.

"Anyways, mastering duties will be done pretty soon courtesy of Russ Russell at ...

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Spinefarm Records has revealed the track listing for new album from Finnish epic/pagan metallers MOONSORROW, entitled "V: Hävitetty". it is as follows:

01. Jäästä syntynyt varjojen virta
02. Tuleen ajettu maa

The cover artwork for "V: Hävitetty" can be viewed here (artwork created by Travis Smith). The CD is scheduled for release on January 10, 2007 via Spinefarm Records.

As previously reported, MOONSORROW has been confirmed for next year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2007 in Wacken, Germany. They are also scheduled to appear at the Arnhem Metal Meeting on Saturday, December 9 at Musis Sacrum in Arnhem, Holland.

MOONSORROW's most recent CD, "Verisäkeet", was issued last year via Spikefarm.

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Nuclear Blast Records has set a February 6, 2007 North American release date for the new THERION album, entitled "Gothic Kabbalah". The CD was recorded and mixed in Stockholm by Stefan Glaumann (RAMMSTEIN, EVERGREY, EUROPE) and features Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL) sharing the vocal duties with Mats Levén (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KRUX, AT VANCE) and two female singers — Katarina Lilja on solo and choral vocals; and Hannah Holgersson on solo, choral, and soprano vocals.

"Gothic Kabbalah" (view artwork at

MEGADETH was featured in the MTV special "Gears of War: The Race to Launch" dedicated to the most-anticipated Xbox 360 game of 2006, Gears of War. The band performed its song "Gears of War" (from the upcoming "United Abominations" album) at a release party for the game, which took place at at Six Flags in Springfield, Massachusetts.

You can see MEGADETH play the game, discuss it, and hear clips of the song, in this video posted at YouTube.com.

As previously reported, Dave Mustaine will host this weekend's special edition of "Headbanger's Ba ...

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A new HIRAX track, entitlted "Lucifer's Inferno", is available for download at thius location. "Lucifer's Inferno" and "City of the Dead" are slated to appear on the compilation "Speed Kills Again", to be released on Heavy Artillery, a subsidiary of Punk Core Records. Three other tracks, "Summon the Death Dealers", "Assassins of War", and "Invasion", will tentatively be released on limited edition vinyl through Black Devil Records. The compilation will also feature two songs each from MERCILESS DEATH, WARBRINGER ...

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RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli has issued the following update:

"I just came back from Wolfsburg where I ended the first part of the production for the second DREAMQUEST album (please check www.dreamquest.eu for more details). During that time I had also the possibility to plan the production of my fourth solo album. I can already tell you that the next album will be the solo album I always dreamed of. Olaf Hayer will be the absolute hero of the fourth release. I always thought his voice sounds very similiar to the one of Michael Kiske (please check our cover of 'I'm Alive' if you have some doubts!). And I will never deny that thanks ...

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