(added August 20, 2008)

According to the Polish booking agency Massive Music, DEICIDE's previously 
announced European tour with VADER, which was scheduled to take place in 
October, has been pushed back to January 2009. The trek will last three weeks 
and will feature DEICIDE in the headlining slot and VADER as direct support. One
more act will be added to the tour.
On August 25 in Europe and September 2 in the U.S., Earache Records will reissue
"Scars Of The Crucifix", the classic 2004 album from Floridian death metal legends 
DEICIDE, as part of the Earache Classic Series.
"Scars Of The Crucifix" is due to be reissued with a bonus DVD, featuring a 
never-before-seen live show filmed in Nottingham, UK in 2003. "Scars Of The Crucifix" 
was the last DEICIDE album with guitarists Brian and Eric Hoffman, and this exclusive 
DVD will be the first and only official DVD release to feature the brothers!
DEICIDE's latest album, "Till Death Do Us Part", sold 2,900 copies in the United States
 in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It is the follow-up to "The Stench 
of Redemption", which registered a first-week tally of 4,000 back in 2006.

SARKOM
The new album of the Norwegians, "Bestial Supremacy", will be unleashed on 
November 14. At the moment you can listen to two new songs on SARKOM`s 
MySpace profile, but they will be deleted in 4 days.

GORGOROTH I
Infernus spread the following: “In the past few months there have been several 
news stories concerning the dispute between Infernus and his former bassist 
and vocalist. Contrary to what the opposition might say, the trademark ownership
 matters are still as undecided as they were six months ago, and will not be resolved 
until a verdict is made in a to-be-announced trial in Oslo, Norway.
Also, due to disagreements between Regain Records and the aforementioned former 
bassist and vocalist, a temporary injunction has been issued, suspending the distribution
 of the 'True Norwegian Black Metal - Live in Grieghallen' album until the matter can be 
handled in a trial in Malmö, Sweden
All this has understandably led to confusion among the fans, and the focus seems to 
have drifted away from the musical aspects.
It is therefore time to get back on track and release this little update on the progress 
of the next album, Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt:
The past few months have been spent rehearsing the new material in Tomas Asklund's 
Monolith Studio outside of Stockholm. A pre-recording has been made, containing drums,
guitars and bass. At the moment, Infernus is working on the arrangements, with assistance
from former Gorgoroth member Tormentor. When all the songs have been arranged into
a satisfactory form, the drums will be recorded in Monolith Studio. Infernus will then record
 the guitars in the Laboratório 6 studio in Brazil, with engineering help from Fabio 
Zperandio (Ophiolatry), and Frank Watkins will record the bass lines. No vocalist has been
added to the line-up as of the present time, but there are several strong candidates being
 considered by Infernus. So far, everything has gone according to schedule, and the album
 is tentatively scheduled for a spring/summer 2009 release by Regain Records. An autumn
 2009 tour is in the planning stages.”

DARK FUNERAL
On Monday Aug 18, Chaq Mol and I will enter the studio together with producer Örjan 
Örnkloo (Misery Loves CO) to begin the songwriting process of a new, yet untitled
full-length album.
”Exactly how long it will take is hard to say, but we hope to be done with a pre-production 
within the next 3-4 weeks. We already have quite some material written so I feel that we 
are as pre-prepared as we can be at this stage. We will only work in the studio during the
 weekdays. So every weekend when we're home we'll post a studio report to keep you updated. 
Lord Ahriman & Dark Funeral“

British folk metal act SKYCLAD has entered Damage Inc. Studio in Italy with Dario Mollo 
(who has previously worked with ANATHEMA, CRADLE OF FILTH, TONY MARTIN and 
GLENN HUGHES, among others) to begin recording its 14th studio album. SKYCLAD 
recently signed a deal with the Newcastle-based Offbeat Management. SKYCLAD in 2006
 issued an EP, entitled "Jig-a-Jig". The disc featured a new recording of the instrumental
 track "Jig-a-Jig", along with the songs "The Roman Wall Blues", "They Think It's All Over - 
Well Is It Now?" and "Mr Malaprope" from the "A Semblance Of Normality" sessions.
SKYCLAD's most recent album, "A Semblance Of Normality", was released in 2004 through
 Demolition/Dreamcatcher Records. The CD was mixed and mastered at Damage Inc. in 
Italy by Dario Mollo.

Germany-based epic Black Metal band SYCRONOMICA has announced the addition of
bassist Robin Fischer (ex-HAGGARD) to the group's ranks. In addition, SYCRONOMICA
has been rejoined by drummer Michael Bayer. The band's new lineup will make its live debut 
at the Helion Festival in Munich on October 4. 

American Heavy Metal legend ANTHRAX are back and about to enter the studio. ANTHRAX 
drummer Charlie Benante has issued the following update: "We're entering the studio in
October to start recording. We wanted a Halloween vibe. I wanna do my drum tracks dressed
 like Ringo." Furthermore, ANTHRAX will play their first Korean show ever, playing the Dongducheon 
Rock Festival.

ASPHYX have released this statement: "Good news. Within a year after the first reunion show
at the Party.San festival [in Germany], ASPHYX already has written eight new songs, maybe one
song more to go. The tracks include all typical ASPHYX elements. Next week we'll record some 
kind of instrumental pre-production/demo for ourselves. We expect the unexpected release of a new
album in 2009 at Century Media Records! According to drummer and founding member Bob, this
new album could be one of the best ASPHYX ever has released. So prepare for the new upcoming
brutality!!!!"

SINISTER’s new album will be titled "THE SILENT HOWLING" (released via Massacre Records 
on August 22).

ENSLAVED have signed to Indie Recordings. A new album is scheduled for September this year, 
titled “Vertebrae”.

EQUILIBRIUM
After hitting the German Media Control Charts real hard (#30 first week, #60 second week, #85 third
week) Epic Pagan metallers EQUILIBRIUM will play a release show for their current album "Sagas" at 
this year ´s Helion Festival on October 4th in Munich ´s "Feierwerk". The band will play a special set lasting 
more than one hour in total which will also be filmed. A release party that surely comes a bit late, but yet
less intensive! 

NECROPHOBIC(Swe) is going to release a limited metalbox called "Satanic Blasphemies" via Regain
Records in september 2008. The metalbox will include a CD, a poster, a patch and a extensive booklet.
 The disc features the material of the first two legendary demos ("Slow Asphyxiation" 1990 & "Unholy
Prophecies" 1991) + the legendary 7"EP "The Call" 1992! The material comes fully remastered!

VANDÖD
“As”, the first full-length album from Swedish Black Metallers VANDÖD will be released on Vinyl by 
the Belarus-based Possession Productions label during August.  Originally released in 2007 on the
 Swedish label Ex Mortem Records, “As” is also shortly due to get it’s first release in South America, 
having been picked up by Brazil’s Parabelum Records.  Both the Vinyl and the Brazilian versions will be 
released with a cover of VON’s “Watain” as a bonus track, whilst the LP will also come in a limited edition
 that will include something special for the fans.
During August of last year the band supported Mayhem on the Copenhagen date of their tour, and a 
fan-filmed video of VANDÖD performing “The Bastard King” from that occasion has been posted on the 
band’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/vandoed.  
VANDÖD, formed in 2004 by guitarist Henrik Wendel and drummer Daniel Wikforss, and featuring 
Niclas Ankarbranth on vocals, recently added PROSECUTOR vocalist Martin Linde on bass to replace
the departing Ville Kemi.   Work on the second album is currently under way.

German Folk Rock/Metal masters SUBWAY TO SALLY have just announced the release of their new 
live DVD/CD "Schlachthof!". The extensive DVD and CD package will document the band ´s highly 
acclaimed gig in Dresden, venue "Alter Schlachthof", on December 28th, 2007 while playing the first leg
 of their "Bastard" tour. Expect an awesome show full of energy, Rock, pyros and, of course, a lot of emotion. 
The double feature will be available as a limited DVD digi plus CD, limited CD digi plus DVD as well as on 
blue ray disc. "Schlachthof!" is set to be unleashed on September 5th.

BLOODBATH
The new album "The Fathomless Mastery” will be released on October 6 via Peaceville Records.

BALFOR
“Behold My Hate” a track that will feature on “Barbaric Blood” the forthcoming album from Ukranian 
Black Metallers BALFOR, has been uploaded onto the band’s MySpace page at
 www.myspace.com/balforhorde 
BALFOR, whose style crosses the divides between Black, Death and Battle Metal, and who define
 their music as “Barbaric” Black Metal, continue to explore the theme of their country’s dark barbaric 
past in the new album, which, according to vocalist and guitarist Thorgeir, represents a considerable 
step forward for the band.  “As we started recording the new album, we realised that the material actually
 required a fuller sound than the three members alone could produce, so we drafted in Alex Brilliant (who 
really lives up to his name) to do some of the guitars here and there, and we have added keyboards. The
 preview track gives a good idea of what we are aiming for, and we are very happy with the way things are
 progressing with the album, and so far fans who have heard the preview track, seem to like the direction
 we are taking”. 

IMPIOUS
“We are currently writing tons of new stuff and we are working very hard on our new songs. If everything
goes according to plan we'll start recording a pre-production in a couple of weeks and when we are totally
satisfied with the songs, we'll move on and start recording the songs for real. All we can give away at this
moment is that our new stuff is by far the most brutal stuff we've ever written. It's super fast, super heavy and 
it will without a doubt rip you guys a couple of new assholes. It will be so worth waiting for.”

HATE
“We are proud to inform that HATE’s new album “Morphosis” will have an American premiere only 
on the 17-th of August!!! The record will be distributed in North America by Koch International. “Morphosis” 
has also been officially released in Brasil on Sadistico Records in June this year.”

KOLDBRANN
Koldbrann have released  the MCD "Stigma: På kant med livet" (Digi):
1. Opium Fields Forever
2. Intifada
3. Fredløs (re-recording)
4. Avmaktens Isolat
5. Bestial Lust (BATHORY cover)

(added June 15, 2008)

A new ANCIENT WISDOM album is under production and the working title is "Towards Your Destruction". Some of the titles that will appear are "Breaking the Circle of Life", "Those Who Do Not Exist", "Hæc Est Mors Secunda" and "Towards Your Destruction".
To celebrate Ancient Wisdoms 16 years of darkness, the two first albums will be re-issued in a not too distant future. They both will contain bonusmaterial and new artwork. 

Andreas Hedlund (VINTERSORG, BORKGNAGAR) and Andreas Stenlund (TME) have created a new band project called GRAVISPHERE. 

Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have commented on the passing of Ichtys Niger from the Brazilian black metal band EVILWAR.
”ICHTYS NIGER R.I.P. - We just heard ,some month after his "departure", that Ichtys Niger, from Brasilian Evilwar took his life on January 7th, 2008.
Enthroned toured with Evilwar in South America in 2004 and we had good memories of those guys and Ichtys Niger (founding member and friend since we met when he served in Brasilian force:Murder Rape). We wish you farewell and we will meet in the next life!”
Ichtys Niger was reportedly found in his backyard with a gunshot wound in his head, the victim of an apparent suicide.

KORPIKLAANI:
“Dear friends,
We are sorry to tell you that the Castle Festival which was to be held in Smederevo Fortress (Serbia) on July 1-5 is cancelled.  See you some other time!”

KEEP OF KALESSIN have released their new album “Kolossus” on June 6, 2008.

Due on August 22 via AFM Records, DESTRUCTION's new album, "D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.", was recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen. UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore has contributed a few solos to the title track of "D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N."
"D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N." track listing:
01. D.evolution
02. E.levator To Hell
03. V.icious Circle - The 7 Seven Deadly Sins
04. O.ffenders Of The Throne
05. L.ast Desperate Scream
06. U.rge (The Greed Of Gain)
07. T.he Violation Of Morality
08. I.nner Indulgence
09. O.dyssey Of Frustration
10. N.o One Shall Survive
"Celebrating 25 years of DESTRUCTION is, of course, an additional motivation to record a new classic," Schmier previously stated. "But the band has never before been so well prepared for a recording, and the new material is very dynamic crashing straight in your face! All thrash maniacs can now look forward to a merciless and varied album which will put its predecessors in the shade! Beware!!"
There are also plans for a full DESTRUCTION DVD release later in the year — all in the cause of celebrating one-quarter century of classic German thrash metal with all the faithful fans worldwide.
DESTRUCTION's "Thrash Anthems" album, a collection of reworked/re-recorded versions of the band's classic tracks, was released in January 2007 via AFM Records.

Swedish melodic Black Metal horde LORD BELIAL will return with a new album in September 2008. The new masterpiece will be called "The Black Curse" and offers ten tracks of pure melodic Swedish Black Metal!  REGAIN RECORDS will re-release the old LORD BELIAL demos on one CD called "Ancient Demons" - out in June 2008!!!

After almost four years guitar player Bjørnar Landa has decided to part ways with SIRENIA, in order to have more time for his family and studies. The guys end the co-operation as great friends, just as they started it it. The band would like to wish Bjørnar all the best for the future, and thank him for all the great experiences we shared over the years. SIRENIA’s new guitar player is Michael S. Krumins.

Dutch folk band HEIDEVOLK are searching for a violin player. HEIDEVOLK rehearse in Arnhem, The Netherlands.

Rafi Kirder (bass, vocals) and Sevan Kirder (flute, bagpipe, whistles, vocals) have left the Swiss folk Metal band ELUVEITIE.

Following the departure of guitarist Thorbjørn, the Norwegian band HELHEIM have announced Syrach guitarist Noralf as replacement, who had filled in for his predecessor during the band’s recent European tour.

Finnish melodic Black Metallers CATAMENIA have parted ways with singer Olli-Jukka Mustonen.

MELDRUM vocalist Michele Madden has issued the following statement on the passing of her bandmate, MELDRUM/ex-PHANTOM BLUE guitarist Michelle Meldrum, who died on May 21 as a result of a cystic growth that had restricted oxygen and blood flow to her brain, rendering her braindead.
"My black heart is broken”, comments singer Michele Madden, of the loss of her band mate and good friend Michelle Meldrum a little over 2 weeks ago. "It has taken me a while to get my head around all of this, but I wanted to thank all the fans of both Meldrum and Tourettes who have reached out to me over this horrible time. We are all so saddened, and I have been inundated with so much mail from those who were touched by Michelle that I have been unable to answer all of it. That’s why I wanted to get this out, to let the fans know that it is gratefully received and that it means so much to me right now..."
Madden and her Meldrum band mates are still pushing forward putting the finishing touches on the new album to release later in the year. They decided that they will continue recording and touring as a unit, keeping the project name to honor their fallen band mate.
meldrum.nu

ZYKLON's longtime axemeister Destructhor (a.k.a. Thor Anders Myhren) is announced to be the additional guitarist in MORBID ANGEL.
MORBID ANGEL Official Myspace Online!
http://www. myspace. com/morbidangelofficial

CORPUS CHRISTII has signed to Agonia Records for one MCD release.
This MCD will be called "Carving a Pyramid of Thoughts".Consists of 4 unreleased tracks and 1 prevously released just on the "Tormented Belief" LP version.
All tracks are from the "Torment" trilogy, 1 from "Tormented Belief" recording session, 2 from "The Torment Continues" and 2 other from "Rising". Current schedule is for September.

Black Metallers FROSTMOON ECLIPSE this week release “The Legacy” on God Is Myth Records. Specially packaged in a DVD case, and designed to look like a weathered old leather-bound book, the CD contains tracks taken from hard to find and limited edition MCD’s and EP’s, and includes previously unreleased material and live tracks recorded in Verona in 2008.

Swedish Band SHINING have changed the title of their upcoming sixth album to "VI / Klagopsalmer". The new CD was recorded at The Slaughterhouse studios with producer Rickard Bengtsson and is scheduled for release later in the year via Osmose Productions.
VI / Klagopsalmer
1. Vilseledda Barnasjälars Hemvist
2. Plågoande O'Helga Plågoande
3. Krossade Drömmar Och Brutna Löften
4. Fullständigt Jävla Död Inuti
5. Ohm - Skoj Att Leva
6. Total Utfrysning

RAGNAROK (Norway) are back with a new line up. Only band leader Jontho remains from the original line up. Read all about the new line up in the Ragnarok interview here in Sheol’s interview section!

Some of you by now will be familiar with SVARTTJERN, the Oslo based band that plays Black Metal in the true Norwegian style. What you probably didn’t know is that some of their members have formed BLOODSPAWN, to play vicious sounding Death Metal. A demo will be recorded before the end of the year.

KRISIUN have up dated its MySpace lay out (www.myspace.com/krisiun666) and posted the new track "Combustion Inferno", which is part of the album, "Southern Storm", that will be released on July 21st by Century Media Records.

After some troubles with the festival area close to Mikulov and the area close to Divisov, we decided to organize the Dunkelheit Festival again in Brno, but in a club with a better and bigger venue than last year. The place is called Fléda, is located in the centre of Brno.

Black Flame: IMPERIVM out for Regain Records/Forces Of Satan Records.
Release Date 23.06.2008

MOTÖRHEAD will release its new album, entitled "Motörizer", through SPV Records on the following dates:
USA: August 26
Germany: August 29
Rest of Europe: September 1

UNLEASHED have released the following statement:
”The campaign for Hammer Battalion Europe 2008 will start on November the 14th.
It will be the first of at least two Headlining European tours on which we hope to form
a new local "Hammer battalion" in every city of conquest.
Warriors....this day belongs to you! It is YOUR battalion !!!
The same goes for all the warriors of North America/Vinland, we have heard your call
and are extremely eager to come back for more......see you all in Sept/Oct!
 Johnny & The Boys”
unleashed.se

German Symphonic Pagan Metal band EQUILIBRIUM has finished the work for their new effort "Sagas", their long-awaited second album. The album will be released on June, 27. The album features a guest appearance from Ulrich Herkenhoff. He is one of the most famous pinpipe players and can be heard on the soundtrack of "The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King". "Sagas" also features a violin solo by Agnes Malich, deputy concertmaster of the Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Equilibrium will embark on a tour in late October, early November, promoting "Sagas" live. 

Guitarist Christofer Malmström by Swedish Technical Thrashers DARKANE has issued the following update about the recording sessions for the group's new studio album, which will be called "Demonic Art": "We still have some mixing to do before we can send away the finished album to Nuclear Blast. About three more weeks, but I'm sure the end result will be very good. Here's our seventh video blog including Jens Broman recording some vocals. We hope you'll enjoy it.”

Nuclear Blast: “The ink on the contract hasn't dried yet and we can already proudly report the return of Nuclear Blast-veteran Peter Tägtgren and his Industrial Metal band PAIN! After more than ten years have been passing by since the release of the self-titled PAIN debut on Nuclear Blast, the swedish mastermind and Hypocrisy-mainman is already busy working on his comeback album that is scheduled for a release in October 2008. Welcome home, Peter!”