German progressive black metallers SECRETS OF THE MOON will release their new album, "Privilegivm", on September 11 in Germany and September 14 in the rest of Europe via Prophecy Productions. The CD's cover art, which was designed by "France's best media artist" Metastazis, can be viewed below.

"Privilegivm" was was produced by Markus Stock and was mastered by Peter in De Betou at Stockholm, Sweden's Tailor Maid Production.

"Privilegivm" track listing:

01. Privilegivm
02. Sulphur
03. Black Halo
04. I Maldoror
05. Harvest
Part I: I Forgive Myself
Part II: The Tree Of Life
Part III: Exsultet
06. For They Know Not
07. ...

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GORGOROTH Complete New Record

The ninth GORGOROTH album, Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt, is complete! The album was recorded in Tomas Asklund's Monolith Studio and features Infernus on guitars, Frank Watkins on bass, Pest on vocals and Tomas Asklund on drums. Since Infernus wrote all the music and because of all the rehearsals and pre-recording prior to the return of second guitarist Tormentor last year, it was decided that it would be more convenient for Infernus to record all guitars on the album. Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt was produced by Infernus and co-produced/engineered by Tomas Asklund. It will be mastered at Cutting Room ...

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Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM have set From Afar as the title of their fourth album, slated for a US release on September 8, 2009 (September 9th for the rest of the world) via Spinefarm Records. The CD was produced by Tero Kinnunen (Nightwish, Amorphis) and Janne Joutsenniemi, who produced the band's previous offering, Victory Songs and mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Sentenced, Amorphis). The band will embark on a European headlining tour in support of From Afar in October with a return to the states to follow shortly thereafter.

From Afar Track Listing:

01. "By The Dividing Stream"

02. "Fro ...

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Finnish metal band INSOMNIUM will release its fourth album, "Across The Dark", on September 7 via Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded at Fantom studio (where the group recorded its 2006 LP, "Above the Weeping World") and it features guest clean vocals by Jules Näveri (PROFANE OMEN, ENEMY OF THE SUN).

An e-card for "Across The Dark", which contains audio samples of three new songs — "Equivalence", "Down With The Sun" and "Where The Last Wave Broke" — is available at this location.

Guitarist Ville Friman previously described the new songs as follows: "One ...

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Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will release a new album, titled "Skeletons In The Closet", in the fall through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to last year's "Blooddrunk" is a selection of cover versions, some of them existing recordings, others specially laid down for this release.

CHILDREN OF BODOM has been recording covers since the early days of its career, some predictably heavy ("Silent Scream" by SLAYER, for example), others reflecting an altogether broader taste ("Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON).

"Skeletons In The Closet" track listing (split by territory):

Europe:

01. Lookin' Out My Back Door (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL)
02. Hell ...

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New York death metal veterans IMMOLATION have inked a worldwide, multi-album contract with Nuclear Blast Records. The band's eighth studio LP will be released in early 2010.

Commented the group: "We are looking forward to working with Nuclear Blast, a classic label that has become one of the largest driving forces in metal today. We intend to have a new album out for early next year. Expect the new one to have some of the most dark and intense music we've ever put together!"

Jaap Wagemaker, who works for the A&R department at Nuclear Blast's headquarters in Germany, stated: "Nuclear Blast is very proud to announce the signing of IMMOLATION! Few other bands have the abil ...

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California metallers AGENT STEEL recently entered the studio to record a few new songs for demo purposes for the band's label and management. The group writes on its MySpace page, "We tracked four new AGENT STEEL songs this week in North Hollywood, California. The drums, bass and rhythm guitars are mostly completed! One official title thus far: 'Leave No Trace' (a very dark and moody song; think BLACK SABBATH with a thrashin' speed metal part in the middle) Up next; the mighty Bruce Hall will be recording vocals, and then we anticipate Bernie's [Versailles] arrival to add his guitar wizardry, shreddin' solos, and additional rhythms. The drum sound is pounding; we will make sure the kick, and ...

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Sacramento's DEFTONES — whose bassist Chi Cheng is said to be "in semi-conscious state" following a November 2008 car accident — has issued the following update:

"We want to take a minute and address all of you regarding Chi and our new record.

"First and foremost, we are all still praying and hoping for our brother's and bandmate's recovery. He continues to get hospital care, but often it feels as if we're no closer to knowing what is ultimately going to happen to him as he continues to fight off infections as part of an ongoing battle with his condition. We trust all of you have been following his progress at [the] One Love For Chi [web site]; we have as well. Wh ...

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Swedish black metallers MARDUK have set "Wormwood" as the title of their eleventh album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Regain Records. The CD is being recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson. The album's release will be followed by a world tour, dubbed "Funeral Nation 2009/2010", which will kick off in Europe.

MARDUK's latest CD, "Rom 5:12", was released in North America in May 2007 via Regain/Koch.

MARDUK was formed by guitarist Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson with the goal of becoming the "most blasphemous band in the world." The group's musical style started out as straight-forward, death metal-in ...

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