MANOWAR will relerase a brand new single, "The Sons Of Odin", on February 27, 2006. This 10-minute epic, in classic true metal style, sets the perfect tone for the impending release of the yet-untitled full-length album, scheduled for April 3, 2006.

Entitled "The Sons Of Odin", the upcoming CD will feature MANOWAR's patented, lion-hearted metal riffs mixed with arena-rock stomping grooves and orchestral arrangements. The single will also feature a remixed and re-recorded version of last summer's first single, "King Of Kings", another fast and furious outing originally released only as a bonus on the band's latest DVD, "Hell On Earth IV".

In an interview with Tartarean Desire chief editor Vincent Eldefors conducted on January 16, 2006, SODOM frontman Thomas "Tom Angelripper" Such revealed that the title of the band's upcoming studio album will simply be "Sodom".

The follow-up to 2001's "M-16", "Sodom" has already been recorded and the mixing will take place next week with a tentative release date in April via SPV Records. In April the band will also undertake an East European tour, covering countries like Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Summer festival appearances are possible, to be followed by more extensive touring in the fall/winter.

SODOM's current line up is:

Tom Angelripper - Bass, Vocals
Bobby Schottkowski - Drums
Bernemann – Guitar

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German power metallers RAGE have finalized the track listing for their new album, "Speak of the Dead", tentatively due this spring via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Soundchaser" (SPV/Steamhammer) was recorded at the VPS studios in Hamm, Germany.

"Speak of the Dead" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Mortituri te Salutant
02. Prelude of Souls
03. Innocent
04. Depression
05. No Regrets
06. Confusion
07. Black
08. Beauty
...

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REBEL MEETS REBEL, the project featuring three of the founding members of PANTERA (Vinnie Paul, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and bassist Rex Brown) together with legendary country singer/outlaw David Allan Coe, have launched their official web site at www.rebelmeetsrebel.com.

Described as a unique crossover of country, metal and rock, REBEL MEETS REBEL's self-titled CD was recorded and mixed over a four-year period (1999-2003) at Chasin Jason studios in Dalworthington Gardens, Texas and is set to contain a total of 12 tracks, including "Nothin' To Lose ...

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A demo version of a new DEICIDE track has been posted online at this location. The song will be included on the band's upcoming album, "The Stench of Redemption", tentatively due in May via Earache Records. A full European tour is currently being booked to follow the release.

"The Stench of Redemption" will be the first DEICIDE album to feature new guitarists Jack Owen (formerly of CANNIBAL CORPSE) and Ralph Santolla (ex-DEATH, ICED EARTH), who have been touring with the band since the departure of the Hoffman brothers in ...

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Montreal-based metal act NEURAXIS have announced the departure of founding member and guitarist Steven Henry. "NEURAXIS wish to express the split is due to both personal and musical differences," the band write in a statetement. "However we will still remain close friends. We wish Steven the best of luck with all his future projects. NEURAXIS will continue as a four-piece, and will begin the search for a live session guitarist for its upcoming tours."

The following is a statement from Steven Henry regarding his departure from the group:

"After 13 years as guitarist and founder of NEURAXIS, I decided to take a different path. ...

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Audio samples of BLIND GUARDIAN's upcoming single, "Fly", have been posted online at this location. The single, which is scheduled for release on February 24 via Nuclear Blast, will contain the following track listing:

01. Fly
02. Skalds and Shadows (acoustic version)
03. In A Gadda Da Vida (IRON BUTTERFLY cover)

Check out the cover artwork at this location.

The acoustic version of < ...

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THE GATHERING is finishing their 9th studio album together with Attie Bauw. The album will be called Home.

Some song titles are:

Shortest Day
Home
Fatigue
Your Troubles Are Over
Solace
The Quiet One
A Noise Severe
Alone

The band has recorded 13 tracks but don't know yet if they all appear on the new album. They've also signed a licensing deal for Europe with Sanctuary Records as they all felt Psychonaut was a little too small to promote them in a proper way. Home will be released in spring 2006, supported by an international Homelands Tour 2006 and festival appearances throughout the summer 2006.

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MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande (ex-ARK, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) will release his fourth solo album, "The Duke", shortly through Germany's AFM Records. The CD was produced by Lande and PAGAN'S MIND guitarist Jörn Viggo Lofstad, and was mixed at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark by Tommy Hansen. Recording musicians include:

Jorn Lande (vocals)
Jörn Viggo Lofstad (PAGAN'S MIND) - Guitar
Tore Moren (CARNIVORA) - Guitar
Morty Black (TNT) - Bass
Willy Bendiksen (COMPANY OF SNAKES) -Drums

Also featured on drums is Stian Kristoffersen of PAGAN'S MIND and ...

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A brand-new KRISIUN track, entitled "Vicious Wrath", has been posted online at this location. The song comes off the Brazilian death metal outfit's upcoming album, "AssassiNation", due on February 21 via Century Media Records. A video for "Vicious Wrath" is part of three bonus enhancements to be found of the retail version of "AssassiNation", the other two being live videos of "Hatred Inherit" and "Murderer".

After recording two albums in their native country, the trio went back to Stage One Studios in Bühne, Germany to work ...

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