Massachusetts-based metal/grind band THE RED CHORD is seeking a new second guitarist following the departure of Jonny Fay.

Commented the group: "We will be auditioning guitar players during February and March. Tablature files have been prepared for the song 'Black Santa'. Those interested should make a video or audio recording of themselves playing the song.

"We are looking for someone diverse in their abilities as a guitar player who is willing to be on the road 8-10 months out of the year. Touring experience is a must. Get in touch with us at theredchord@hotmail.com or through www.myspace.com/ ...

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Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have issued the following update:

"Our album 'Nihil' has officially entered Germany's Index list A on 17th of January. This means that 'Nihil' is officially BANNED in Germany.

"Looking back on 2006 and 2005, being unable to play concerts in Italy, Austria, France, Poland and Germany, one can only conclude that freedom of speech and freedom of religion, things that are supposed to be the foundation of the European Union, are not existing. Your lives are terrorized by deranged catholic sects and glue-sniffing communists. Braindead imbeciles tell you what you should/what you cannot listen to, read or watch. Happy fuc ...

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Legendary producer Rick Rubin (SLAYER, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, AUDIOSLAVE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), who was named "Producer of the Year" at this past weekend's Grammy Awards, spoke to MTV.com about his work with METALLICA on their much-anticipated follow-up to 2003's "St. Anger", tentatively due before the end of the year via Warner Bros.

"I saw [the warts-and-all METALLICA documentary 'Some Kind of Monster'], and it made me really nervous," Rubin said. "Then we started working, and it's the opposite direction of that. They're really productive, really communicative — it seems like they really like ...

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Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR will embark on a North American tour in late April. Support at the shows will come from KATAKLYSM, DEVILDRIVER and UNEARTH. The dates so far are as follows:

Apr. 20 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
Apr. 21 - Detroit, MI – Harpo's Concert Theatre
Apr. 22 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
Apr. 23 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
Apr. 24 - Quebec City, QC - Theatre Capitole
Apr. 26 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre
Apr. 28 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
Apr. 29 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar
Apr. 30 - Charlotte, NC - Amos Southend
May 05 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings
May 07 - Calgary, ...

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After the metalreviews.com reviewer awards for 2006, you can now discover the Poeple choice awards. Enjoy !

Poeple Choice Awards 2006 !

The MetalReviews.com Team

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On May 1, Rhino Handmade will release BLACK SABBATH: Live At Hammersmith Odeon, which features Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice getting hot one December night in London during Sabbath's 1981 tour for The Mob Rules. Previously unreleased, the concert spotlights Sabbath as they storm through 14 of the Dio-era's best including 'Neon Knights', 'Heaven And Hell', 'Children Of The Sea' and 'Country Girl'. The band also performs several pre-Dio classics including 'Paranoid', 'Children Of The Grave' and a white-hot version of 'War Pigs'. The album will be available from Rhino Handmade as an individually numbered limited edition of 5,000 copies, available only at www.rhinohandmade.com for a suggested re ...

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SLAYER was awarded The Grammy yesterday for Best Metal Performance for 'Eyes Of The Insane' from their Christ Illusion album. This was Slayer's second Grammy nomination, the first being in 2002 for the track 'Disciple' from God Hates Us All, also in the Best Metal Performance category. Slayer is currently headlining a North American tour and did not attend the Grammy presentation, but vocalist/bassist Tom Araya had this to say about the win from his hotel room in Columbus, OH: " Jeff (Hanneman, guitarist) and I put a lot into 'Eyes Of The Insane' so we're thrilled that the Grammy voters took the time to listen to it, and then vote for it. We're out here on the road and we're all really, really happy."

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Eight of BLIND GUARDIAN's albums will be re-released in June to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary. The LPs due to be reissued are as follows:

* Battalions of Fear (1988)
* Follow the Blind (1989)
* Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
* Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
* Tokyo Tales (1993)
* Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
* The Forgotten Tales (1996)
* Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)

All albums will be digitally remastered and will feature new liner notes and pictures.

BLIND GUARDIAN has been confirmed for the Bloodstock Open Air festival, set to take place Saturd ...

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Roadrunner Records has announced the signing of progressive metal pioneers DREAM THEATER. A new studio album, "Systematic Chaos", is due in June. DREAM THEATER will hit the road in support of the album for a world tour, including major festival appearances in Europe.

Since their first studio release in 1989, this U.S.-based five-piece has notched up record and DVD sales in excess of six million and headlined to audiences of 20,000. Having undertaken seven world tours across 42 different countries, DREAM THEATER has established a live reputation that has swept them to arena-status around the globe. They have appeared alongside acts such as DEEP ...

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IRON MAIDEN's new live DVD, "Death on the Road", captured live during their 2003 "Dance of Death Tour" and filmed at the Westenfalenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany, will debut on the big screen on February 21, 2007.

This special one-night-only event will take place in eight cities across America and be presented in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. The event features 120 minutes of classic MAIDEN tracks, including "The Number of the Beast", "Run to The Hills", "Wrathchild" and many more. In addition, fans attending the show will see exclusive footage of MAIDEN performing "Where Eagles Dare" and "Phantom of the Opera" from their bl ...

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