André Matos, former lead singer of the Brazilian metal bands ANGRA and VIPER, has died at the age of 47. His death was confirmed by ex-ANGRA drummer Ricardo Confessori, who wrote on his Facebook page: "It is with deep pain in our hearts that we say goodbye to André once again, this time definitively."

André performed last Sunday (June 2) at the Espaço das Américas in São Paulo with SHAMAN and also made a guest appearance with the show's headliners, AVANTASIA.

AVANTASIA leader Tobias Sammet wrote on his Facebook page: "I am devastated by the tragic news about the passing of my friend André Matos whom I shared the stage with only five days ago. I am in shock. My th ...

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Swedish masters of progressive heavy rock OPETH have today the title and track listing of their 13th album, "In Cauda Venenum", due out in the fall via Moderbolaget / Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Recorded last year at Stockholm's Park Studios, "In Cauda Venenum" will be released in two versions, in both Swedish and English languages. Various physical and digital formats will be available and additional details will be announced in the coming months.

"In Cauda Venenum" track listing:

01. Livet's Trädgård / Garden Of Earthly Delights (Intro)
02. Svekets Prins / Dignity
03. Hjärtat Vet Vad Handen Gör / Heart In Hand
04. De Närmast Sörjand ...

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Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend will release his new album, "Empath", on March 29 via InsideOut Music.

In the lead-up to the album's release, Devin will walk fans through how "Empath" came together with a series of documentary episodes recorded as phone conversations during the course of the albums recording. Watch him explain more in the video below.

Devin comments: "Hello everybody, this is Devin Townsend and I would like to formally announce that after almost a year and a half of working, I have finished 'Empath'. Now, this record has taken me down a lot of very interesting psychological and technical avenues and the process was documented from the very ge ...

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DEMONS & WIZARDS, the side project of ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer and BLIND GUARDIAN singer Hansi Kürsch, is tentatively planning to release its long-awaited third album in January 2020.

Schaffer spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to 2005's "Touched By The Crimson King" during an appearance on the ICED EARTH-centric podcast "Podcast In Stone". He said: "I have written some of the best instrumental pieces in my entire career in the last few weeks, and I'm very, very excited to hear what Hansi does on top of these things. So, the feeling is really good. He's very into what I sent him. He's gonna start doing some recording tomorrow.

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The staff at MetalReviews would like to wish you a very happy new year! Here's a great 2019 full of metal. (In case you missed it, our 2018 awards are up!)

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Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will release their tenth album, "Hexed", on March 8, 2019 via Nuclear Blast Records.

CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman, guitarist, and mastermind Alexi Laiho comments: "People have said that this album is generally catchier. So I started thinking about that; perhaps the song structures are easier to grasp on initial listen. But there's some crazy shit in there — almost progressive or at least technical. There are certain melodies across the album that could have come from jazz songs, although they're completely metal with us, of course. [Laughs]"

"For me, it has always been very hard to describe our new music," comments bassist Henkka Sepp ...

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Swedish doom metal legends CANDLEMASS have parted ways with singer Mats Levén and have been rejoined by Johan Längqvist.

Längqvist sang on CANDLEMASS's debut album, 1986's "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus", before exiting the group and being replaced by Messiah Marcolin.

Commented CANDLEMASS: "We wanted to find our way back to the roots of CANDLEMASS, back to the soul and essence of the band. Johan Längqvist is back and we hope this will give us some new energy and kickstart the heart of doom again. We don't know if it will last 10 more years or even five, but if it will give us just another year of having fun and playing the music that we love so much, it will be a blas ...

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Mark 'The Shark' Shelton of Manilla Road has passed away at age 60. Suspected heart failure due to heat exhaustion.

Manilla Road was playing Brande-Hornerkirchen, Headbangers Open Air festival in Germany on July 26, 2018 in extreme heat.

Quote from a friend at the gig.

"Absolutely shocking!! He got sick after his show last night and they sent him to the hospital. Probably heart related. It's ridiculously hot here. Even at night it's about 30c. "

Singer of Manilla Road Bryan Patrick shared on his Facebook page:

"July 27th 2018: I'm very sorry to announce today that my long time brother and Best Friend since 1981 has passed through the Halls ...

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Florida death metal veterans DEICIDE will release their long-awaited new album, "Overtures Of Blasphemy", on September 14 via Century Media. The follow-up to 2013's "In The Minds Of Evil" was produced by Jason Suecof (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, TRIVIUM) at AudioHammer Studios in Sanford, Florida. The cover artwork was created by Zbigniew M. Bielak (GHOST, PARADISE LOST, MAYHEM) and can be seen below.

DEICIDE frontman Glen Benton states: "This album came together over time, meaning we didn't want to rush it.

"A few people might remember an interview where Steve Asheim (original member, drummer/songwriter) said 'the material is done, but it's just not there yet.' Well, that ...

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ALICE IN CHAINS will release its new album, "Rainier Fog", on August 24. The much-anticipated follow-up to 2013's critically acclaimed album "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" was recorded was recorded in Los Angeles, Nashville, and for the first time in more than 20 years, the band's hometown of Seattle. Mixed by Joe Barresi (TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE), "Rainier Fog" is the group's third straight album recorded with Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES), who produced 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue" and 2013's "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here".

"Rainier Fog" track listing:

01. The One You Know
02. Rainier Fog
03. Red Giant
04. Fly
05. Drone