RONNIE JAMES DIO has announced the possibility of further collaborations with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi: "We've already written one (new) song together. The reason for that is that there's a release coming out, it's called Black Sabbath: The Dio Years - they've already done one, of course, Black Sabbath: The Ozzy Years; that was the beginning and, really, the best part of it all - but they've decided to do one, again, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, and we wanted to make it a little but more special, not just give you things you've not heard from a live perspective. These are two things you'll never hear again - two new songs. We are going to do that. It's been fun already. The one we ...

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Bay Area prog-metallers Zero Hour are gearing up for a short East Coast tour starting in November in support of their upcoming album, Specs Of Pictures Burnt Beyond (view album cover here). The tour shapes up as follows (TBA dates remain unconfirmed):

Nov. 2: TBA (tentative) w/Odin’s Court
Nov. 3: TBA (tentative) w/Odin’s Court
Nov. 4: Orion Studios in Baltimore, MD w/Suspyre
Nov. 5: NJ Prog House in Metuchen, NJ w/Suspyre
Nov. 8: TBA (tentative) w/Odin’s Court
Nov. 9: The Lucky Dog in Wor ...

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Former MARDUK vocalist Legion (a.k.a. Erik Hagsted) has issued the following update on his ELIZIUM project (formerly REBELANGELS), which also features ex-MARDUK bassist B.War (a.k.a. Roger "Bogge" Svensson):

"First off, we have a lineup change. Our guitarist Jimmy Larsen is no longer in our ranks, which sucks since the guy is awesome, but we all agreed that it was all for the best since he has not enough time to make it work and he rather see us getting somewhere than feeling like a break pad that cannot fully commit. The decision is mutual and we still remain good friends and we wish him all the best for the future.
< ...

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Century Media Records has revaled more information about the upcoming ICED EARTH "Alive in Athens" DVD (view cover at this location), which was filmed in 1999.

ICED EARTH's first and only live album, "Alive in Athens", was recorded at two sold-out shows on the nights of January 23 and January 24, 1999, at the Rodon Club in Athens, Greece. Originally released as a triple-CD and five-picture-vinyl set in summer 1999, "Alive in Athens" entered the German charts at No. 55 and stayed at No. 1 in Greece for two weeks, where it w ...

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http://www.magiccirclemusic.com

Thursday, September 21, 2006

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JUDAS PRIEST Management Co-Ordinator Jayne Andrews has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"As usual when the band are working on a new album, the website will be very quiet. The guys do not want any information being given out at this time. As soon as they are ready to announce anything, I will do so for them!! They are taking a very short break just now but will continue working on the album next week. It is going incredibly well!! So please, be patient and as I always say... it will be worth waiting for!!!"

In a June 2006 interview with MTV.com, JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford said about the group's upcoming ...

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TWISTED SISTER's version of "White Christmas" (written by Irving Berlin and famously performed by Bing Crosby) has been posted online at the band's official MySpace page. Also available at the same location is the group's rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" (written by Thomas Connor; first recorded by Jimmy Boyd in 1952). Both songs will be included on TWISTED SISTER recently completed "final" disc, "A Twisted Christmas", featuring metal versions of holiday classics, including "Deck the Halls" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful".

In a rec ...

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Indianapolis-based death/thrash metal band DEMIRICOUS has announced the addition of drummer Dustin Boltjes to the group's ranks. "Boltjes is the former drummer of THE DREAM IS DEAD, and is a longtime friend of DEMIRICOUS," reads a posting on the group's web site. "Upon completing a string of dates with the guys on a recent HIMSA tour, they made their final decision and are back to being a four member band. Without wasting any time at all, the band has already begun writing new material for their second album release with Metal Blade Records."

DEMIRICOUS is tentatively scheduled to enter the studio February 15, 2007 to begin reco ...

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"A Twist in the Myth", the latest album from the German power metallers BLIND GUARDIAN, has moved up to position No. 2 on the Greek national chart after debuting at No. 3 last week.

"A Twist in the Myth" first-week chart positions:

Greece: #3
Germany: #4
Italy: #9 (Media Market Chart)
Sweden: #10 (#2 in the Rock Chart)
Spain: #15
Austria: #19
USA: #21 (Billboard Independent Chart)
Japan: #21 (#11 International Artist Album Chart)
France: #21
Switzerland: #27
Finland: #30
U.K.: #33 - UK (Indie Albums Chart)
Norway: #38

A 12-minute audio interview with BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch, conducted recently by Andrew Haug of Triple J's "Full Metal Racket" (based in Australia), can be downloaded at this location (4.61 MB).

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Tonight at 10pm (replay at 2am) on the Discovery channel will be a one-hour documentary called Death Metal Music.

"This film investigates the possible links between Death Metal and a series of gruesome crimes from California to Italy. With exclusive access the film tells the inside story of a violent satanic cult in Milan."

Check your local listings for details.

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