Night of the Vinyl Dead has just reissued KREATOR's 1999 album "Endorama" on "bicolored vinyl," limited to 333 hand-numbered copies. The track listing is as follows:

Side A

01. Golden Age
02. Endorama
03. Shadowland
04. Chosen Few
05. Everlasting Flame
06. Passage to Babylon

Side B

01. Future King
02. Entry
03. Soul Eraser
04. Willing Spirit
05. Pandemonium
06. Tyranny

For more information, visit NightOfTheVinylDead.com.

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Italian folk/power metal band ELVENKING has finished recording its new album and is about to leave for Helsinki, Finland to begin the mixing the effort at Sonic Pump Studios. Due this fall via AFM Records, the CD will feature a guest appearance on two tracks by Swedish guitarist Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, FIREGOD, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, CANDLEMASS).

Commented the band: "It's an honor to have Mike soloing on our songs. It's always amazing having one of your heroes playing in your album. And the leads he played are amazing — pure guitar art!"

ELVENKING released its third ...

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MANOWAR's video for the song "Die for Metal" has been posted online at YouTube. Portions of the clip were filmed on February 24, 2007 in Bochum, Germany, during the release party for the band's new album, "Gods of War". Besides the fans, the video stars well-known German actor Tim Sander.

"Die for Metal" comes off MANOWAR's tenth full-length album, "Gods of War", which was released on February 23 in Germany (February 26 for the rest of Europe and April 3 for the USA/Canada).

An e-card for "Gods of War" has been made available at

TAAKE's record label, Dark Essence Records, has issued a statement distancing itself from the Norwegian black metal band after the group' singer appeared on stage in Essen, Germany last week with a swastika symbol drawn on his chest.

Commented the label: "In the last days, there's been a lot of controversy around TAAKE, because of an extremely stupid stunt at one of their gigs in Germany. In case somebody wonders, Dark Essence Records has NOTHING to do with the swastika scandal in Essen, and don't support that at all. Hoest [ ...

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Swedish death metal supergroup BLOODBATH has issued the following update:

"BLOODBATH is finally back to put elite death metal on the map. The brand new line-up is shortly to be officially revealed, but has already paved way for a band hungrier than ever to bathe in the blood of a new recording. So in early June, we'll once again enter Fascination Street studios (same place 'Nightmares Made Flesh' was done) to cut a couple of new songs. In good tradition, each member will contribute to the writing with one song each. The final result will be unleashed in the form of a mini-CD scheduled for release in late summer. This affair will be self-financed and releas ...

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Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have announced that original guitarist Christopher Amott is rejoining the band with immediate effect. The group, having finished an intense 18-month touring cycle all over the world promoting the "Doomsday Machine" album and "Live Apocalypse" DVD, is currently busy working on songs for their new studio album.

Christopher surprised many by departing ARCH ENEMY at the end of the "Doomsday Machine" recording sessions in 2005, having been in the band for 10 years (starting with ARCH ENEMY at age 18). Christopher followed his urge to see the outside world and find what else is out th ...

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NILE mainman Karl Sanders has issued a statement explaining his band's decision to take part in the 2007 Ozzfest tour. LAMB OF GOD and LORDI will perform on the main stage with headliner OZZY OSBOURNE, while HATEBREED will headline the second stage, supported by MONDO GENERATOR, ANKLA, CIRCUS DIABLO, NILE and THE SHOWDOWN. The 24-city tour begins July 12 in Seattle.

Commented Sanders: "Been getting a lot of messages about Ozzfest, and the general concensus is, we are either giving a good reason for metalheads to go to the show, or we're going someplace we don't belong becuase we're 'too ...

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Progressive metallers SYMPHONY X are continuing work on the follow-up to 2002's "The Odyssey", entitled "Paradise Lost", tentatively due late June. The CD is currently being mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH) at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. According to a posting on the group's web site, the mastering should happen within the next week or two.

Upcoming SYMPHONY X shows:

May 25 - New York, NY - B.B. Kings
May 27 - San Juan, Puerto Rico – [to be confirmed]

With SANCTITY and ECHOES OF ETERNITY:

Jul. 12 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
Jul. 16 - ...

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California-based female-fronted band OTEP has parted ways with guitarist Karma Cheema (ex-AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE).

Commented OTEP frontwoman Otep Shamaya: "Karma has decided to pursue other opportunities and we are happy to announce the new addition of Aaron on guitar. [Thursday night, March 22] was his first night with us and he did an amazing job. He is a true musical magi of the highest degree."

Check out Aaron's MySpace page at this location.

Otep Shamaya recently issued a statement in response to the persistent rumors that the band has been dro ...

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A Swedish court has ruled that the parents of a seven-month-old girl in Kungälv, Sweden can name their child Metallica, according to the Swedish newspaper GP. The girl's parents wanted to give their daughter a name that combined their first names. After picking Metallica and checking twice with the Swedish tax agency Skatteverket if the name was acceptable, they were told that it shouldn't be a problem since there is already a girl in Sweden called Metallica. When they filed Metallica as one of the girl's three first names, the Skatteverket suddenly objected, cla ...

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