Wes Orshoki of Billboard.com is reporting that SLAYER will preview their first album in five years with an EP exclusively available at Hot Topic stores. The album will include "Cult", the lone new song the band plans to play live on the upcoming Unholy Alliance tour.

"People are probably going to think it's a sequel to 'Disciple', but it's not," guitarist Kerry King told Billboard.com of the new track. He adds that the EP will most likely include a live version of "Dead Skin Mask", among other tracks.

SLAYER's still-untitled follow-up to "God Hates Us All", whi ...

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Melodic metallers MASTERPLAN have parted ways with vocalist Jorn Lande (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/ARK) due to "musical differences." During the songwriting process for the band's third album, it became increasingly apparent that the members of the group had different visions and plans for the band's musical direction. While Jorn wanted MASTERPLAN to follow a more melodic path, the rest of the band wanted to return to the metallic roots of their debut album.

Commented drummer Uli Kusch (ex-HELLOWEEN): "We are not really happy about Jorn's decision [to leave the band], but on the other side it doesn't make sense to continue if the ...

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WINTERSUN, the band led by former ENSIFERUM singer Jari Mäenpää, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We entered the studios [on May 2]. The day went setting up the drums, changing the drumheads, miking the drums, making the basic drumsound and Kai playing too fast all day long (and driving Nino crazy). Jiiiihhaaaaa! [On May 3] we [started] the actual recordings.

"In this studio session we will be recording only the drums, rhythm guitars and bass. I [Jari] will continue recording the vocals, solos and synths/samples at my home 'studio'/rehearsal place during the summer. The melody/acoustic guitars I will be ...

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New York metal band GREY SKIES FALLEN has begun pre-production for their fourth full-length album. Tentatively self-titled, this album will be an eclectic mix of styles from all three of their prior records; this time with an emphasis on the heavier elements. Demoing of select songs will commence early summer, allowing the band to debut these tracks on their MySpace page before recording the album.

GREY SKIES FALLEN owns and operates their own label, Xanthros Music. However, without the backing of a "real" record label, the band is limited in terms of traveling for tours due to financial constraints. The band hopes that the recent release of "Two Way Mirror"

Sweden's Slumber have announced an upcoming band name change. Previously there was mention online of some internal issues with the band members fighting over the band name. Apparently this is the result:

Sadly we have to announce that we will be known by a different name in the future. What it will be is yet to tell but this is the first you'll be able to find out.

This does however not affect the progress of songwriting for the new record, although a recording in May as we had hoped for seems a bit too optimistic at the moment.

But be sure we will respawn.

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Norwegian symphonic metal band TRISTANIA have issued the following update:

"We are eager to announce that the new album is completely finished. We are all delighted with our latest creation, which has been named 'Illumination'. The planned release is in September. Some titles from the album are 'Sanguine Sky', 'Open Ground', 'Lotus', 'Down' and 'Mercyside', to mention a few. All titles will be revealed at a later date.

"True to tradition, we have made an album with a definite and unmistakably Tristanian sound, but which also brings a lot of new and fresh material. The album is another evolutionary step and lets us explore new ar ...

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ANGRA vocalist Eduardo Falaschi's official web site has been updated with the following details of his upcoming solo album:

"ANGRA's vocalist Edu Falaschi is recording his first solo album. The project is called 'Almah' and it relies not only on Edu's talents as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer but also on the likes of drummer Casey Grillo (KAMELOT), guitarist Emppu Vuorinen (NIGHTWISH) and bassist Lauri Porra (STRATOVARIUS). 'Almah' has participations of several guest musicians, such as Mike Stone (QUEENSRŸCHE's guitar player) and Edu Ardanuy (DR. SIN's g ...

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Epic doomsters While Heaven Wept have posted an album update on their forum, the message is as follows:

"The album is nearing completion.....we'll be resuming the sessions in May, and won't stop until the album is completed!

The release date is uncertain, as it's primarily up to Black Lotus, but I imagine it will either be the last major release for them of this year or the first one of 2007. Believe me, once it's out, you won't miss it (massive promo campaigns are lined up everywhere).

Meanwhile, there's been a demo of the title track on the myspace page for months now, and I'll ...

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Guitarist Andre Olbrich of the German power metal giants BLIND GUARDIAN revealed in an interview with Metal Temple magazine's Michael Dalakos that the band has been working on a strictly orchestral album, due for release in 2008. An excerpt from the interview follows:

Metal Temple: Virgin never really took care of releasing your albums with bonus material and cool editions. Will this ever change?

Andre: "Yes! There will be a limited-edition pack with one bonus track from our upcoming orchestral album. I don't know what else Nuclear Blast Records is planning but they are ...

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Nebraska-based melodic metallers CELLADOR have completed the mastering process for their debut album, "Enter Deception", for a June 27 release on Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Mana Studios in Tampa, Florida with producer Erik Rutan (MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL).

"Enter Deception" (view cover artwork here) final track listing:

01. Leaving All Behind
02. A Sign Far Beyond
03. Never Again
04. Forever Unbound
05. Seen Through Time
06. Wakening
07. Releasing the S ...

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