OPETH's April 1, 2006 performance at at the Theatre Club in Tel Aviv, Israel completely sold out within nine days of tickets going on sale, according to the concert organizers.

As previously reported, OPETH have been confirmed as the headliners of the Close-Up Festival, set to take place April 15-16 at Münchenbryggeriet in Stockholm, Sweden. The event, which is being arranged by Close-Up magazine to celebrate 15 years as Sweden's leading magazine for metal, hardcore and punk, will feature additional appearances by BOLT THROWER, AMON AMARTH, EVERGREY, BLINDSIDE, CULT OF LUNA, KHOMA, BURST, TAINT, S ...

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Drummer Stet Howland has announced his departure from W.A.S.P.. I na posting on the band's official web site, Howland wrote, "I appreciate the kind words and I am sorry if some of you are sad about my departure. Out of respect to the band and the upcoming tour, I didn't send out a press release about this, as I didn't want to cause possible worry to you good people.
I just got in from a long weekend and my ass is kicked, so I'll keep this short and to the point.

"Without going into detail that would most likely get turned into something negative, let me give a Reader's Digest version of what's up.

"In mid-January, Blackie [Lawless, W ...

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London-based "extreme power metal" band DRAGONFORCE have found themselves a new bassist. Stepping up to fill the slot vacated last year by Adrian Lambert, who left the band to spend more time with his family, is DRAGONFORCE's current "touring bassist" Frederic Leclercq. Formerly guitarist with French metal outfit HEAVENLY, Fred is a longtime friend of DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li. While out on the road with DRAGONFORCE, the band realized that Fred fit into the band perfectly and invited him to join on a permanent basis.

Fred is a bit of a super-talented "multi-man." As well as being fluent in the English, ...

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A brand new THE GATHERING track, entitled "Shortest Day", has been made available for download at this location (MP3, 3.8 MB). The song comes off the Dutch rock act's upcoming album, "Home" (view cover at this location), due on April 18 via The End Records in North America.

Ever since their inception 15 years ago THE GATHERING have continued to evolve, never settling on one set style and rarely ever duplicating themselves. They have embraced chan ...

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REDEMPTION's primary songwriter and guitarist/keyboardist Nicolas van Dyk has posted the following message on the group's official web site:

"We have finished the writing for our new CD, 'The Origins of Ruin', and we have scheduled studio time in March and April to record the CD with a hopeful release in September.

"We are once again collaborating with well-known producer Tommy Newton (UFO, CONCEPTION, HELLOWEEN, ARK, ELEGY, etc.) and he will be joining us in Los Angeles to start tracking in a few weeks.

"The new material is in a similar vein as 'The Fullness of Time', and the band has really hit our ...

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SPV Records has set an April 21 German release date for the new MOONSPELL album, entitled "Memorial". The CD was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.) and will contain around 8 to 10 new songs, including "Once It Was Ours!", "Blood Tells", "Sanguine", "Finisterra", "Upon the Blood of Men" and "At the Image of Pain". The material is being described by the group as "the best music we ever wrote together" and "an homage to the Nineties scene and bands," of which they became a strong symbol of. A DVD, entitled "Lunar Still ...

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San Francisco Bay Area progressive metallers ZERO HOUR have announced the addition of singer Chris Salinas (formerly of POWER OF OMENS) to the group's ranks. "The guys couldn't ask for a better person and vocalist for the band," the group write in a statement. "This will be the lineup for many CDs and live appearances."

According to the band, "ZERO HOUR recorded a track to see how the four members would work together in the studio (finding out from our past that this is a very, very important issue with band) and that everyone was willing to put in the maximum effort possible. The results are simply the best ZERO HOUR has ever had and we are excited ...

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Hardradio.com sources close to ANTHRAX have revealed that although current frontman Joey Belladonna is at this point unsure if he will be singing on the band's next album, he will be on tour with the group through and beyond this summer. Due to demand from their fans, a new Anthrax album is said to be among the group's plans for 2006, with the core writing team having already put together bits and pieces for some new songs.

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Norwegian goth-inspired symphonic metal band WHERE ANGELS FALL have just released their full-length debut, "Illuminate", via Edgerunner Music. The CD was recorded at Toproom Studio and is the follow-up to the band's "Dies Irae" EP, which was issued in 2004.

According to the group's official bio, "WHERE ANGELS FALL can be described as groovy metal with elements of gothic, classical orchestrations and electronica. Melodic female vocals stands out as an opposite to the hard riffing. They have a reputation as an energic and good liveband with choirs and orchestrations on tape to give the audience the full spectrum of symphonic metal live!"

WHERE ANGELS FALL's next live appearance will take place on March 15 at Underdog in Oslo, Norway. Also appearing on the bill will be NONE.

For more information, visit www.whereangelsfall.com.

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