SLAYER have set "Christ Illusion" as the title of their new album, due on August 8, 2006 via American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records (NOTE: The release date change was first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET yesterday).

"Christ Illusion" is SLAYER's first new studio album since 2001, and the first recorded by the band's original line-up — Kerry King (guitars); Tom Araya (bass, vocals); Jeff Hanneman (guitars); Dave Lombardo (drums) — since 1990's "Seasons In The Abyss". "Christ Illusion" was produced by Josh Abraham and executive produced by Rick Rubin.

"Christ Illusion"< ...

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ANNIHILATOR mainman Jeff Waters has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Working hard on the vocals for the new CD... then [Dave] Padden [guitar, vocals] plays his rhythm tracks. We are gonna have a cool 'live' feel on this new CD. ANNIHILATOR have always had the reputation of being a really tight-playing band. No different on this new CD except with Padden playing, things are a bit looser than when I play both rhythm tracks. Very tough for me to 'let go' of that precision factor but, in the end, it has much more 'feel' than if I had played both tracks. Padden rocks.

"Padden, myself and Lord T ...

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Two brand new METAL CHURCH tracks — "A Light in the Dark" and "Mirror of Lies" — are available for streaming at MP3.com. Both cuts come off the group's upcoming album, "A Light in the Dark", due in Europe on June 19 (June 16 in Germany) and in the U.S. on June 27 via SPV. The CD will include a new version of the classic "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to vocalist David Wayne, who passed away in May 2005.

Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, who doubled as sound engineer and producer during the recordings, promises an offering featuring all ...

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BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"[The second leg of Polish 'Demigod' tour] was simply a blast. Touring with such a company and playing in front of packed venues was a perfect ending for this never-ending tour. I loved the fact that we also finally played a decent crowd and a nice venue in our hometown. I'm sure that none everyone who saw us in action wasn't disappointed. We gave our very fuckin' best and it feels to good to see you guys gave so much in return! Moreover, sharing stage with VIRGIN SNATCH, HERMH and CORRUPTION was an awesome experience and the whole tour turned out to be ...

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To honor the symbolic date of June 6, 2006 — the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year; as in 666, the "number of the beast" or Anti-christ in the Bible's Book of Revelations — Yahoo! Music has delared today "Metal Day!" Have a black celebration with black metal videos by CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR, and others, plus check out other metal specials at this location.

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Ex-IMMORTAL frontman Abbath (real name: Olve Eikemo) — who is in the studio recording the debut album from his new project I — has told Germany's Rock Hard magazine that a reunion of his former band is currently in the works. Speaking to Volkmar Weber in the magazine's May 2006 issue, Abbath said, "We will come back, stronger than ever. I [recently] met with Horgh [ex-IMMORTAL drummer, curently in HYPOCRISY] for the first time in over a year. He's built his new house here [in Norway], right around the corner. In the next few days we will begin to rehearse our old 'Blizzard Beasts' [1997] classics. I'm already r ...

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Swedish Viking death metal heroes AMON AMARTH recenttly entered Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden to begin recording their sixth full-length album. The group will record and mix all through May until June 14 with producer Jens Bogren. The as-yet-untitled CD is scheduled for release in September via Metal Blade Records.

Commented the band: "Finally after five very long — but productive — weeks all recording is done and today we started mixing the album. Nine tracks have been successfully recorded — no thanks to the huge ammount of alcohol consumed, but nonetheless successfully — and we can now reveal some of the titles: 'Valhall Await ...

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Imperial has ended KRIEG officially as of 6/05. Currently writing a novel and working on a new music project. Also has recently joined NACHTMYSTIUM as full-time bassist.

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NACHTMYSTIUM's Azentrius is currently embarking on a yet-to-be-titled side project with members of ISIS and LEVIATHAN. No more info is available at the moment but this sounds very very good.

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STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mainman Devin Townsend has told MTV.com that he's planning on hoping to take some time off this fall to recover from the last decade of touring and recording.

"I'm going to take a hiatus from making records for a while," Townsend said. "In the past 10 years, I've put out 20 records." That includes STRAPPING, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND and his own solo projects, like 2001's TERRIA. "[It's been] bang-bang-bang-bang. As soon as I finish one, I'm writing another, and when that one's done, I'm writing another. I just don't wan ...

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