NEVERMORE guitarist Steve Smyth has been diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure, the result of a congenital birth defect. Says Smyth: "I have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and have been advised to preserve my health as much as possible at this time, as I am facing 'complete renal failure' within six months, and ultimately, a transplant. Due to my recently diagnosed condition, I have decided not to join the band on the IN FLAMES U.S. tour. I want to be fair to the fans, and be able to give them a show I know I can deliver night after night. I will, however, join NEVERMORE on all four of the European festivals on our itinerary in early J ...

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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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Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON were in London earlier in the month to film the video for their new single, "K.I.N.G." (mp3) "The cast was a gathering of some of the most bizarre people from London's underground club scene that were to inflict pain upon each other, themselves and the band," frontman Satyr said. "The video has all the ingredients of a good rock and roll video and sets a new metal video standard for good photography and clever editing." Watch the clip online at this location.

According to a posting on SMASHING PUMPKINS' web site, the band have officially reformed and are currently writing songs for their upcoming album, their first since 2000. No release date has yet been set, but the group plans to begin recording this summer.

In early February, onetime SMASHING PUMPKINS bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur as well as an undisclosed source "close to the situation" confirmed to MTV News that PUMPKINS bandleader Billy Corgan has been working on material that will, at some point, surface in the form of a new SMASHING PUMPKINS album. "Everyone knows Bil ...

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Arvato Mobile has acquired one of Europe's largest independent record labels SPV as a partner and will be realizing worldwide marketing and content production for the Hanover-based company. SPV's venture with Europe's number one provider of mobile entertainment marks the company's entry into the mobile marketing arena.

The alliance with SPV will enable Arvato Mobile to strategically expand its rock and metal portfolio. The two companies' joint offerings will zero in on exciting content such as MOTÖRHEAD, SEPULTURA, TYPE O NEGATIVE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, JUDAS PRIEST and BLACKMORE'S NIGHT.

"SPV will ...

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Metal Asylum recently conducted an interview with DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal Asylum: How successful was your tour with KREATOR in the States a few years ago? Was there a lack of audience the reason why DESTRUCTION has not been back?

Schmier: "I think it was pretty successful given [that] since then KREATOR has been back for two more tours with one going on right now. But those guys also have an American manager so that helps and something we don't have. It's hard to get a tour going without that ...

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Canadian extremists STRAPPING YOUNG LAD have set the tentative track listing for their new album, "The New Black", due in July 2006 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to last year's "Alien" was recorded at the Armoury and Profile studios in the band's hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia and is currently being mixed by Mike Fraser, who has previously worked with AC/DC, AEROSMITH and METALLICA, among others.

"The New Black" tentative track listing (in no particular order):

01. Decimator
02. You Suck
03. Antiproduct
04. Hope
05. Wrong Side
06. < ...

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The complete track listing has been revealed for the three CDs that will be included in the upcoming BATHORY box set, "In Memory of Quorthon", due on June 3 via Black Mark Records. As previously reported, the full package will contain three CDs, one DVD, a book and a poster. Börje "Boss" Forsberg — owner of Black Mark Records and father of late BATHORY mainman Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg — had previously stated that the package would contain "Quorthon's and BATHORY's complete musical history."

"In Memory of Quorthon" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Song to Hall up High
02. Oden's Ride over N ...

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