Spinefarm Records has revealed the cover artwork for the fifth FINNTROLL album, entitled "Ur Jordens Djup" ("From the Depths of the Earth"), due in Finland on March 28. Check it out at this location. The CD, which was recorded by Nino Laurenne at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, will be the group's first release with new vocalist Mathias Lillmåns (a.k.a. Vreth; TWILIGHT MOON) following the departure of Tapio Wilska (SETHIAN, ex-WIZZARD, former session vocalist for NIGHTWISH) last spring. Lillmåns is reportedly 24 yea ...

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After triumphantly headlining the annual Wacken Open Air festival in Germany and four capacity performances in America last summer, Norwegian black metal pioneers EMPEROR have announced their return to the United States for three encore appearances this spring.

"We have made a decision to return to the U.S. for a few additional shows," notes guitarist Samoth. "This time Chicago is also put on the map.

"The shows last summer were very successful and we had an amazing turnout and support from all the fans. It was also a bit stressful because of the embassy hassle that we unfortunately had to endure. So we feel a few more shows are due and this time ...

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OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has slammed the "new breed of idiot OPETH 'fans'" for questioning the abilities of the group's current drummer, Martin Axenrot (BLOODBATH, WITCHERY, NIFELHEIM), when compared to that of Axenrot's predecessor, Martin Lopez.

Lopez officially left OPETH in May 2006 after being plagued by illness and anxiety attacks, which forced him to miss several of the band's tours. Åkerfeldt stated at the time, "However sad I and the rest of the band feel in light of Lopez's departure, I want to thank him for his incredible work with OPETH and immense dedication to the b ...

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Ozzy Osbourne has told Dan Epstein of Revolver magazine (web site) that he has finally found the perfect setting for making records: the newly soundproofed guest house behind his Beverly Hills mansion, which he's outfitted with a mixing desk and a ProTools rig.

"When I made records before, I'd have to get up, get in a cab or car, go to the studio, and wait for everyone to turn up," Osbourne explained. "If you're already inspired before you leave for the studio, you're fucked by the time you get there! But now I have the luxury of working in my own home. I can play the music on my own sound system, a ...

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THANATOS guitarists Stephan Gebédi and Paul Baayens have joined forces with former PESTILENCE/ASPHYX-singer Martin Van Drunen, GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby and former HOUWITSER bass player Theo van Eekelen in a brand new project. The as-yet-unnamed band will record a three-track promo CD later this year. "We're simply going to crank out some brutal old-school death metal stuff — nothing more, nothing less!" says Gebédi.

In other THANATOS-related news, the band's guitarist Paul Baayens has joined forces with the revamped ASPHYX. The lineup is completed by Martin van Drunen on vocal ...

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Holland's Lords of Metal e-zine recently conducted an interview with former MASTERPLAN vocalist Jorn Lande. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Lords of Metal: A while back I was quite surprised by the announcement that you left MASTERPLAN. Of course musical differences was given as the reason, but can you be a bit more specific about the actual cause for the decision?

Jorn: Musical differences is part of the truth, there are in most cases unofficial issues about somebody's departure from a band. The main reason for me to leave MASTERPLAN was the fact that for the first two rec ...

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Peter Beste of Vice Films is currently in Norway making a documentary about vocalist Gaahl of the black metal band GORGOROTH. The resulting footage will appear on a Vice DVD with several other related segments. The first pressing of this DVD is 100,000 units, and will be distributed in all major music retailers in the U.S. and most in Europe.

As previously reported, Gaahl, was released from prison last month after being jailed since the spring of 2006. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison in February 2005 for beating a ...

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Canada's Dose.ca recently conducted an interview with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On the group's recent North American tour opening for IRON MAIDEN:

"I wish the crowds could have been a bit nicer to us — especially in Quebec City. They weren't very nice … It's not very nice when you're trying to do a set and, all through it, 15,000 MAIDEN fans are chanting for MAIDEN to come on. [But] you've got to laugh. You can't be upset for a long time."

On the band's incessant touring over the past 18 months:

"I forget wher ...

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SAVATAGE / TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA / DOCTOR BUTCHER guitarist Chris Caffery has issued the following update:

"Home...good thing. It was for a day or so.

Then it started. Reality! Holy S#@%! I have so much to get together for the solo thing.

Deadlines, decisions, business, tours, merch, photo shoots, artwork...you name it, I have been dealing with it. That and the zillion mails and daily internet stuff I usually deal with. The site may go down tomorrow for 24 hours. Do not panic. It is supposed to be a nice weekend! Watch football, be with your family, clean the house... I know you can make it! I believe some of you organized a sub-site to deal with e ...

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VINTERSORG, the Swedish band led by BORKNAGAR frontman Andreas Hedlund (a.k.a. Vintersorg), has issued the following update:

"The new album, 'Solens Rötter' [Swedish for 'The Sun's Roots'], is nearly recorded, [only] some bass is missing. Still we've started to mix the album at Ballerina Audio with the engineer Nils Johansson. It has taken some time to completed this album but it hasn't been about not having ideas; instead it has taken us some time to understand what kind of album we wanted to do and how to reach that vision. A more ethnic approach is obvious but still with a fresh vibe as we see it ourselves, hymn-like passages mixed ...

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