11.30.04 (MusicPortal.com) DEVILDRIVER are currently holed up in Texas recording the follow-up album to their self-titled debut for Roadrunner Records. Working with producer Colin Richardson, the still untitled release will be mixed in England by Richardson after sessions are through, with a mid-2005 release date planned. DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara checked in with the following update from Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso: "First of all, DevilDriver would like to thank you all for a great year - anyone who supported us, bought the record, came to a show, our appreciation goes out to you. We'd also like to thank the following bands who believed in us and have taken us on tour over the past year: Superjoint Ritual, Morbid Angel. Opeth, In Flames, Caliban, and Ozzy, Sharon, and the whole Ozzfest camp. "Sorry no update in a while, but things have been extremely busy. Here's what is going on: We are currently in the studio with Colin Richardson, and having a great time. We started recording about 12 days ago, and are done with drums and well into the guitars. We've got 14 tracks, each one brutal as hell. All the musicians in this band, myself included, have stepped up. We're gonna wrap up 2 days before Christmas...and we're looking forward to a healthy dose of touring starting February 1st, the schedule is being worked out as we speak. "HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DEVILDRIVER, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR."
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11.29.04 (MusicPortal.com) Returning home to the U.K. after bludgeoning North American audiences with their punishing live performances, NAPALM DEATH vocalist Barney Greenway sent fans this message: "We would like to send out a hearty thanks to everyone who came out to support us on the U.S. tour. It was a really funny old time being there for the elections and seeing the sadly inevitable result, which I think gave us more of an incentive to try and rock like bastards. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that we had a truly fantastic time, and for us it bodes well for coming back on another tour sometime in the first half of next year. Peace, tolerance and respect." Supporting their October Century Media debut, "Leaders Not Followers: Part 2," the band performed 28 American dates with CANNIBAL CORPSE, KATAKLYSM and GOATWHORE, and 8 headlining dates with MISERY INDEX. In early 2005, NAPALM DEATH will release a new full-length studio album in "The Code Is Red... Long Live The Code." Guest vocalists include Alternative Tentacles boss Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and MTV2's Headbangers Ball host Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed). NAPALM DEATH have been at the forefront of the Death Metal movement since they were established in Birmingham, England in 1982. By incorporating Hardcore and Thrash with Metal riffs, NAPALM DEATH virtually created what is now considered "Grindcore," and to this day have remained a sonically defiant and dissonant musical force.
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11.26.04 (MusicPortal.com) NOCTURNAL RITES and Century Media have announced the celebration of the popular Power Metal band's 10-year existence with an upcoming double CD set entitled "Draw In Time: The Early Years Of Nocturnal Rites," which will contain the first two albums recorded by the band. NOCTURNAL RITES' debut, "In A time Of Blood And Fire," appeared in a limited production in1995 on a megaskirt record, while 2 years later the band's second opus, "Valley Of Mystery And Imagination," first appeared in Japan and was released one year later via Century Media. Both albums have not been available for some time now. NOCTURNAL RITES posted the following update on their website recently regarding the coming release of "Draw In Time: The Early Years Of Nocturnal Rites": "Hi all... Well, I guess we missed updating you on the fact that our two first albums will be out again in February of next year. The album will be really special. It has some old photos, new bonus material, and so on. Also, next year we celebrate our 10th anniversary as recording artists. Isn't that just weird? 10 fucking years... That has to mean we're getting old. Scary. However, we are planning next year right now and we hope to be able to do some really special shows and more. The new album is taking shape. We are still writing and will do so till we feel we have the strongest album in our career written. Lots of ideas are being thrown around and it's all just some heavy, melodic shit! It will be great, I am sure."
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11.24.04 (MusicPortal.com) Finnish Melodic Thrash titans CHILDREN OF BODOM will release their long awaited "Trashed, Lost & Strungout" EP on February 22nd via Century Media. The release features two new tracks (the title track and the song 'Knuckleduster'), two covers (Alice Cooper's 'Bed of Nails' and Andrew W.K.'s 'She Is Beautiful'), a video for the title track and a CD-ROM enhanced video of the band that takes the viewer on a tour of CHILDREN OF BODOM's hometown of Helsinki. Recorded once again by Anssi Kippo at Finnvox Studios, "Trashed, Lost & Strungout" is the first official recording to feature new CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Rope Latvala (ex-Stone). Two years ago, CHILDREN OF BODOM were merely an underground phenomenon, but with three major U.S. tours now under their belt, the band has become one of the genre's most acclaimed artists. Straight off the heels of their highly successful tour alongside FEAR FACTORY, LAMB OF GOD and THROWDOWN, CHILDREN OF BODOM bassist Henkka T. Blacksmith checked in with the following report; "Unfortunately, our third U.S. tour has just ended. It was a long one, but it was very well worth it. When I first heard the lineup, I was very excited about the package. It sounded so strong with Fear Factory and Lamb of God, and it turned out to be a very successful tour. Not only that was great, but also each band musically was just my taste. I enjoyed Throwdown's hardcore aggression, Fear Factory's very tight playing, and Lamb Of God's great show. I was watching in the crowd almost every night."
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11.23.04 (MusicPortal.com) Remaining fairly quiet since their last studio album, 2001's "Toxicity," SYSTEM OF A DOWN have been holed up since July with producer Rick Rubin, pumping out an extraordinary amount of material that has justified the release of a double-disc album early next year, entitled "Hypnotize/Mesmerize." The twist, however, is that each of the two full length discs will be released individually, six months apart, with "Hypnotize" slated for a March/April release and "Mesmerize" set to hit stores around August/September. SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist Daron Malakian says that while they never intended to do a double album, the recording sessions were so prolific, and the quality and cohesion of the tracks so good, that it was impossible to split the set up. "We didn't chase this idea, it chased us," Malakian comments. "When we started recording, we were focused on making every song the best it could be. Doing a two-album set never entered into our thought process. But when we looked at all the songs we had and arbitrarily tried to choose 'the best' 14 for one album, we realized we had two albums' worth of really great songs, and that they all connected with each other." As with past SYSTEM OF A DOWN releases, fans can expect the album to have strong political and social currents running through it. "There has been a great deal of upheaval ... for all of us over the past year or so," says vocalist Serj Tankian, "and that has brought forth a lot of emotional material. There's a good amount of social commentary in the new songs, as well as songs where we deal with love, reminiscing, relationships, politics and funny experiences."
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11.22.04 (MusicPortal.com) Artemis Records has announced the signing of underground Experimental Metal band DOG FASHION DISCO to an exclusive worldwide contract. A new live album by the group, entitled "The City Is Alive Tonight...Live In Baltimore," is slated for release on January 25th via Artemis. Recorded at Fletcher's in Baltimore, MD on June 14th of this year, "The City Is Alive Tonight...Live In Baltimore" will contain a full-length live audio CD as well as a bonus 75-minute DVD of live concert footage by the band. Hailing from Baltimore, MD, DOG FASHION DISCO have created a buzz as of late, mainly through years of relentless touring with the likes of bands such as LAMB OF GOD, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, LACUNA COIL, SLAYER, P.O.D., and many more. After issuing a self-released album in 1999 entitled "The Embryo's In Bloom," DOG FASHION DISCO made their major label debut to critical acclaim on Spitfire Records with the album "Anarchists Of Good Taste" in 2001, which featured a guest appearance by SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist Serj Tankian. In 2003, their subsequent album, "Committed To A Bright Future" was also released via Spitfire. "The City Is Alive Tonight...Live In Baltimore" Track Listing: 1. Worm In A Dog's Heart • 2. Rapist Eyes • 3. Baby Satan • 4. Love Song For A Witch • 5. Vertigo Motel• 6. Toothless Dream • 7. Acid Memoirs • 8. 9 To 5 At The Morgue • 9. Pink Riots • 10. Valley Girl Ventriloquist • 11. G Eye Joe • 12. Leper Friend • 13. A Corpse Is A Corpse • 14. Breed • 15. Rat On A Sinking Ship • 16. Albino Rhino
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11.19.04 (MusicPortal.com) THE RED CHORD have posted the following update on their official web site regarding the recruitment of a new drummer into the band: "After the last year of having a rotating spot behind the kit, we have finally found a drummer who we believe will be the permanent guy from here on out. His name is Brad Fickeisen. Some folks from Massachusetts may remember his playing from being in a band from the area called Eviscerate years back. We had some pretty huge shoes to fill with previously working with drummers like Mike Justain, Jon Dow and John Longstreth. Brad can definitely hold his own, though. He has some great chops, hits hard and can blast with the best of them. He has an interesting style that flows with our new material. I definitely don't foresee there being any disappointment from people familiar with us once you all get to check this guy out. As for the new recording, we are going into the studio with Zuess at Planet Z starting the first week of January, which sets us at a May release date for the release of 'Clients.' Some songs that will definitely be on the new album include 'Fixation On Plastics,' 'Upper Decker,' 'Stupefaction,' 'Hospice Residence' & 'Antman.' The band will resume playing shows in February/March after the recording is complete, and will probably be on the road for the majority of 2005."
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11.18.04 (MusicPortal.com) German Melodic Metal band EVIDENCE ONE have shot a video for the song 'Virus In My Veins' off their recently released new album for Nuclear Blast Records, "Tattooed Heart." Produced by the Huckleberryking company, who has done videos for J.B.O. and others, EVIDENCE ONE vocalist Carsten "Lizard" Schulz called the shootings a real strange experience: "We shot it outside Nurnberg at a deserted factory, where it was nothing but awfully cold! The story was that I was a patient in a sanatarium - the real psycho! I was to be punished by people in rude wards, only to be saved and rescued afterwards by a, in fact, beautiful young lady named Sarah. There was also a car chase... me breaking off the straightjacket, real cool! Unfortunately, when I had to break free and had to kick away chairs and stuff, I hurt my right foot so bad that I could hardly walk, even thugh I had to do all the escape and running scenes the next day! Anyway, especially the performing with the band inside that old facility was awesome, and we ended up with a great video! We shot 20 hours of video in just two days." Former DOMAIN vocalist Schulz formed EVIDENCE ONE in 2001 with FRONTLINE mastermind Robby Boebel, via a hook-up with AOR Heaven boss Georg Siegl at a KANSAS show in Munich earlier that year.
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11.17.04 (MusicPortal.com) THE CHASM's Wicked World debut, "The Spell Of Retribution," has been released. Comprising 10 tracks with a running time of over 66 minutes, "The Spell Of Retribution" represents THE CHASM's most ambitious project to date, noticeably setting the band apart from the rest of the current Death Metal scene. Dark, somber and furious, the new album is rooted in the band's allegiance to the music of the old masters of Metal such as CELTIC FROST, SLAYER, BLACK SABBATH, SACRIFICE, and DESTRUCTION, plus an infusion of more contemporary acts like CARNAGE, WINTER, AUTOPSY, early MAYHEM and DISMEMBER, yet shines with its own utterly personal and creative style. Dark, epic and relentless, THE CHASM describe their own sound as "Melancholic Apocalypse." Intoxicated by the arcane aroma of ancient myths, legends and philosophies of their Mexican ancestry, the band construct a Metal utopia with "The Spell Of Retribution"'s highly conceptual epic themes that incorporate THE CHASM's unique and complex sound. Attention metal fans in Chicago and beyond: The official release party for the new album is set for this Sunday, Nov 21st at the Denim & Leather Party at Exit in THE CHASM's current hometown of Chicago. Arrive early and hear "The Spell Of Retribution" in its entirety, then stick around for Earache CD and t-shirt giveaways, and DJ sets by THE CHASM's frontman Daniel Corchado throughout the night.
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11.16.04 (MusicPortal.com) GOD FORBID guitarist Dallas Coyle checked in recently with the following road report from the band's current European tour on the Century Media recording label web site: "Dallas here again from Oslo, Norway to let you in on what's happening. First and foremost, we got the new video for 'Gone Forever' from Zach Merck (Atreyu, Shadows Fall), and we're all happy to say that it's amazing. He caught the live vibe of the band and shows us having fun and kicking ass. A lot of you Jersey boys might be in the video, so look out for it when it hits Headbangers Ball and Uranium. We are still in Europe right now with Caliban and Machine Head, and the shows are getting better and better. We finally got a new bus because our old one was what we called 'The Dirt Oven.' The new one is definitely like Las Vegas - mirrors, lights and clean! Some of our crew are gambling addicts so that just adds to the Vegas vibe. I want to send a big thank you to the kids in Helsinki, Finland for giving us the best shows we've played so far in Europe. Finland loves their metal! We can't wait to come back. We're really spreading the God Forbid name, and all the promoters and kids can't wait for us to come back. We have 6 more weeks in Europe left, so we still got a ways to go! Well, that's it from me. We'll see you all soon."
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11.15.04 (MusicPortal.com) Swedish Melodic Death Metal All-Stars SCAR SYMMETRY have finished up with the recording of their upcoming debut album for Cold/Metal Blade Records, entitled "Symmetric In Design." The new offering can most closely be described as a mix of styles of Metal somewhere between EDGE OF SANITY and SOILWORK. SCAR SYMMETRY's much-traveled vocalist Christian Alvestam (Incapacity, Unmoored, Solar Dawn, Torchbearer, Carnalized, Evendim, Lord Of Thrones, Orgy Of Flesh, Sattyg, Red Skies Dawning, The Stink Bug Collective) is without a doubt one of the top five clean Metal voices in Sweden at the moment, not to mention the talent of well-respected guitarists Jonas Kjellgren (Carnal Forge, Dellamorte, Centinex) and Per Nilsson (Altered Aeon), whose twin guitar leads combined with heavy riffing and varied drum playing are all accompanied with keyboards to highlight the melodic aspects of the band on the debut as well. Other members of SCAR SYMMETRY include bassist Kenneth Seil and drummer Henrik Ohlsson (Altered Aeon, Theory In Practice, Mutant). Recorded at Black Lounge Studios in Sweden with Kjellgren at the helm in the role of producer as well, the "Symmetric In Design" album will come packaged in digipack form, with artwork designed by Par Johansson. A release date of January 31st has been confirmed.

11.12.04 (MusicPortal.com) THE HAUNTED are currently in the midst of a tour alongside DAMAGEPLAN and SHADOWS FALL, the first U.S. tour for original vocalist Peter Dolving, who recently returned to the fold on the band's new album, "rEVOLVEr." Dolving checks in with the following tour report: "Holy shit, it's been intense so far! I'm a bit embarrassed to say I almost missed the show in Las Vegas... Well, on the good side I am glad to say that we passed through Florida and Texas unscathed. The audiences were great, and a few girls persisted in giving shows of their own. Honestly, whatever you might think, you gotta love a girl in a school uniform. Our friends from Hatebreed and Malevolent Creation showed up in Tampa, and the boys from Lamb Of God who are out on tour right now with Fear Factory came to the show in Ft. Worth. I'm not passing out from screaming anymore, so I take that as a sign that we're getting in shape after the first couple of weeks and it proves that my body's getting back into tour mode, which comes along with this constant state of familiar aching. It seems like Damageplan and Shadows Fall are getting into it as well. Brian from SF got fucking strep throat and laryngitis the first week and I got to help out and sing with them which was great, but now he's back rockin' hard as ever. Except for that, it's pretty much the old sleep all day stay up all night hyper media consumption mind numbing blindly staring in to the passing landscape getting ready to rock your brains out one hour per day thing that we call touring. I love this shit."
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11.11.04 (MusicPortal.com) Candlelight Records has confirmed January 25th as the U.S. release date for "Kraft," the debut album from Norway's VREID. Formed earlier this year, the band features the surviving members of WINDIR, who disbanded due to the unexpected death of singer/founder Valfar. On "Kraft," VREID (Norwegian for "wrath") have composed an impressive first offering that is sure to find acclaim far and wide. Holland's Vampire Magazine has already claimed "Kraft" to be "an absolutely fantastic album," noting the recording's diversity and sheer creativity. "Kraft" is filled with heavy, dark, aggressive and absolutely dominating Norwegian Extreme/Black Metal. Recorded at Studio 1184 and mixed at Subsonic Society Studios (Dismember, Susperia, Red Harvest, Darkthrone), "Kraft" should appeal immediately to fans of baands such as ENSLAVED, EMPEROR, ARCTURUS, DARKTHRONE and IMMORTAL. Meanwhile, WINDIR, founded by Valfar in 1994, leave behind four classic recordings, which were all recorded for Head Not Found Records. The band graced stages at the Inferno, Quart and Hole In The Sky European Festivals plus an appearance (and now only US show) at Milwaukee's Metal Fest. WINDIR were set to record their fifth album (their first to receive worldwide release via Candlelight/Tabu Recordings) before Valfar's death. With VREID, vocalist/guitarist Shure bassist Halle, drummer Steingrim and new guitarist Esa paint a new future for their continuing dark musical concepts and visions.
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11.10.04 (MusicPortal.com) GOATWHORE have posted the following update on their official website: "We have a bunch of information to share with everyone at this time. We wanted to get this up sooner, but due to certain circumstance it was unable to happen. Let's begin with the Deicide tour we just finished up. The overall outcome for all of the shows was overwhelming and we would like to welcome any new fans we may have gained from the experience. We would like to thanks everyone that come out and supported, old and new fans, thanks and see you all again in November. We are sure everyone that knows us would like to know where our bass player Pat Bruders was. Well, he had to sit out for the Deicide run in order to take care of some personal home issues and legalities. He is currently back out with us, and we are very pleased to have him back. Come out to some upcoming shows and buy him a beer or a shot. For the Deicide tour a friend of ours from Severed Savior, Shon Benham, filled in on bass duties. He is actually one of the guitar players for Severed Savior, and helped out by filling in on bass for us. Thanks goes out to him and his crew in San Francisco. Now let's step into what would be the future for us. We are planning to enter the studio in March 2005 with a release date falling in the August/September 2005 time frame. Studio information, album title and song titles and all other future news will be posted here when we have it ready. Until then... peace fuckers!"
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11.09.04 (MusicPortal.com) Canada's INTO ETERNITY have announced that they will be touring the U.S. with veteran Finnish band AMORPHIS and BEYOND THE EMBRACE. The band just returned home after completing a 15-country European tour with KATAKLYSM, MYSTIC PROPHECY and GRAVEWORM. Excited to have the opportunity to bring their unique metal to the U.S., lead axeman and vocalist Tim Roth sent this message: "Hey Everyone! We just got off a 15-country tour of Europe, and now we have heard the great news about touring the U.S.! I cannot wait to get out on tour with Amorphis and Beyond The Embrace. It has been too long since we have seen our fans in America and we promise that this tour is going to crush! We are going to give 110% every single night. See you all very soon...." Confirmed Dates: 3/2 Phoenix, AZ [The Mason Jar] • 3/3 Los Angeles, CA [Key Club] • 3/4 Santa Ana, CA [Galaxy Theatre] • 3/7 Seattle, WA [Studio Seven] • 3/9 Denver, CO [Bluebird Theater] • 3/10 Omaha, NE [Ranch Bowl] • 3/11 Sauget, IL [Pop's] • 3/12 Minneapolis, MN [Ascot Room] • 3/14 Cleveland, OH [House Of Blues] • 3/15 Toronto, ON [Club Rockit] • 3/16 Montreal, QC [Cafe Campus] • 3/18 Poughkeepsie, NY [The Loft] • 3/19 Worcester, MA [Palladium] • 3/20 New York, NY [B.B. King's] • 3/21 Philadelphia, PA [Trocadero] • 3/22 Pittsburgh, PA [Rex Theater] • 3/23 Baltimore, MD [Thunderdome] • 3/24 Springfield, VA [Jaxx] • 3/25 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 3/26 Tampa, FL [Masquerade]
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11.08.04 (MusicPortal.com) Candlelight Records has confirmed January 25th as the U.S. release date for "Forbidden Empathy," a 2-CD retrospective from Holland's CALLENISH CIRCLE. Featuring 29 songs that chronicle the five-piece's complete and previously unavailable early recordings, the upcoming release looks like a good bet for stateside fans of the band. CALLENISH CIRCLE recorded their first and only demo, "Lovelorn," in 1995. Produced by Han Swagerman (The Gathering), it swiftly sold-out its limited 1,000-copy pressing. The band's full-length debut, "Drift Of Empathy," would be issued in 1996, foolowed successfully thereafter by their "Escape" EP and 1998's impressive "Graceful Yet Forbidding." All releases, however, failed to reach the U.S. via proper channels, with potential fans now curious about the Dutch band from positive media reviews. Commenting on the coming release of "Forbidden Empathy," CALLENISH CIRCLE vocalist Patrick Savelkoul says: "Definitely in the U.S. these recordings were extremely hard to find, so we are very excited that our fans in the US will be able to buy all of our previous material in one single purchase." Originally formed in 1992, CALLENISH CIRCLE have since released four full-length albums, and have performed at numerous high profile festival performances including Wacken Open Air, Summer Breeze and European Ozzfest. The band are currently writing material for their fifth studio album, expected sometime in late 2005.
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11.05.04 (MusicPortal.com) EVERY TIME I DIE have posted a new message following the band's recent change of touring plans in the UK: "We here at Every Time I Die apologize sincerely for our recent and unexpected cancellation of the December tour with Atreyu which was to take us to and fro (though mostly fro and/or hither) across the supple expanses of your glorious 241,590 sq miles full of rugged hills and low mountains with level to rolling plains in east and southeast, through your bustling cities where the population of 60, 270, 708 grows annually at a rate of 0.29% and consists of an impressive 17% either living on or below the poverty line, though your GDP has risen by .4% in Q3 2004, which is unfortunately down .9% from the previous quarter. And lest we forget the true freedom we Americans cannot fully understand that is delegated by your constitutional monarchy, whose laws are mandated partly by statutes, partly by common practice instead of an antiquated document issued by a constitution based federal republic with strong democratic traditions. The truth of the matter is, we have only been to the UK twice and are terribly afraid of things we don't understand or recognize on a map. Until recently, the only source of information we had about the United Kingdom was that they assumedly made our British Knights sneakers. Please forgive us, and come to see us when we return early next year. We love and need you."
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11.04.04 (MusicPortal.com) German Modern Thrash Metallers NEAERA have posted the following update on their official website from vocalist Benny Hilleke: "Hey folks! Once more, as promised, some important news for you guys: First of all, and most importantly, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all you guys who attended our recent shows! You guys ROCK! We are really thrilled and amazed by all the positive feedback that you keep giving us! Thanks also to all the bands that we had the privilege to play with, we had a great time with you all! That having been said, we wanna give you a quick update on what we have planned for the days ahead: At the beginning of January, we are going to play a couple of dates in Austria, a small tour if you will, with none other than Burning Season Records metal formation DEVIL ATE MY SON. At this point we wanna thank Pat from BSR for organizing the whole thing. Dates for the tour will be posted on our website as soon as everything's fixed! The artwork for our debut CD - due early 2005 - will be designed by art student Martin Grossmann from Steinfurt. We don't want to give away too much at this point, all we can tell by now is that the ideas and concepts we have seen so far look more than promising. The title of our debut album will be "The Rising Tide Of Oblivion"! See you guys soon. Peace!" NEAERA were offered a recording contract by Metal Blade Records back in the Summer after performing briefly under the name THE NINTH GATE.
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11.03.04 (MusicPortal.com) Darkened Doom Metallers THE PROVENANCE are slated to deliver their third full-length release in January via Scarlet Records. Entitled "How Would You Like To Be Spat At," the album is "a 53 minute struggle with life and all its dark features," according to the band. Recorded at Gesperrt Studios over a period of two months, the production of the album can be described with words like pure and simplified - although it most definitely contains no shortage in detail. The band's sound is more elaborate than ever on the upcoming release, with THE PROVENANCE once again managing to renew themselves in fine fashion. The band has been occupied with countless shows and recordings since forming in 1995. Having recorded a number of illustrative demos from 1996 to 1999, THE PROVENANCE signed a contract with Scarlet Records soon afterwards, who have to date released two previous albums of high quality entitled "25th Hour; Bleeding" (2001) and "Still At Arms Length" (2003). The worldwide Metal media has since praise THE PROVENANCE's work, with reviews of the albums elevating the band to the heights where they rightfully deserved to be. Although the band has managed to earn respect from many and stand proudly on the pillars of remembrance, they do not dwell on the past -- choosing instead to churn out Doom-laden Metal for the masses involving topics like drug addiction, sexual misadventures, sickness and suicide.
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11.02.04 (MusicPortal.com) Sacramento, California Technical Metalcore band WITH PASSION has hooked up with Earache Records on a new recording deal. WITH PASSION deliver melodic, blackened, extreme Metalcore, inspired by the legends of European Melodic Death Metal such as DISSECTION and AT THE GATES, as well as the best of the contemporary US-Canada Metal/Hardcore crop, from CRYPTOPSY to BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME. WITH PASSION formed in the Summer of 2002 from the ashes of local Sacramento bands ATHENA IN HADES, SEVERANCE and IMPULSE 120. They quickly made their mark on the Northern California scene, playing shows with a wide array of national Metal and Hardcore acts including AS I LAY DYING, HIMSA, MISERY SIGNALS, THE RED CHORD, SCARS OF TOMORROW, SIX FEET UNDER, STRETCH ARM STRONG, TERROR, and many more. After some line-up changes, the band arrived at its current line-up of Samuel McLeod on vocals and keyboards, Shaun Gier on guitar and backing vocals, Andrew Burt on guitar, Michael Nordeen on bass, Brandon Guadagnolo on keyboards, and Jacob Peete on drums. WITH PASSION frontman McLeod stated: "We are very proud to be working with Earache. We look up to the bands that this label works with and look forward to releasing our album worldwide." WITH PASSION's latest release, the EP "In The Midst Of Bloodied Soil," is currently available on Reflections Of Ruin Records.
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11.01.04 (MusicPortal.com) Century Media has announced the signing of Greek Melodic Power Metal band FIREWIND to a worldwide, multi-album deal. FIREWIND's label debut and third album of their career will be entitled "Forged By Fire," and is set for a January 24th release date in Europe. The band's two previous albums, "Between Heaven And Hell" (2002) and "Burning Earth" (2003), were recorded for guitarist David T. Chastain's Leviathan Records label and were both released in Europe via Massacre Records, as well as on EMI Records in Japan. When asked about signing to Century Media, FIREWIND guitar phenom and band leader Gus G. commented: "FIREWIND was always happy to work with David Chastain and Leviathan, but both the label and band felt that we needed to jump to a bigger level, as we feel this 3rd album is our most important one. I personally have been very satisfied working with Century Media in the past with Dream Evil and Nightrage. We have great co-operation and chemistry, and they have always believed in my music since day one." To record "Forged By Fire," the band utilized three different studios (one each in Greece, Germany and Norway), before finally mixing of the album at Studio Fredman in Sweden with Gus G.'s former DREAM EVIL bandmate Fredrik Nordstrom as well as Patrik J. Sten. New to the FIREWIND line-up is Sri Lankan vocalist Chity Somapala (Avalon, Faro, Moonlight Agony), who replaced Stephen Fredrick (ex-Kenziner).
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[Metal News: October 2004]
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