London's progressive metal thrashers BIOMECHANICAL have posted an advance preview of their JUDAS PRIEST cover track "Painkiller", which they recorded last week with the original song's producer Chris Tsangarides at the helm. Their cover of one of metal's all-time standout cuts is now available on MP3 for fans to preview at this location.

The "Painkiller" cover was recorded over three days at Tsangarides' own studio in Dover, U.K. Singer John K from BIOMECHANICAL recently spoke about his appreciation of the track, which has featured as a highlight of the band's se ...

---

Ex-HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske has announced that will rearrange and re-record all of the songs that he wrote with his former band for an upcoming CD, to be released next year through Frontiers Records.

Commented Kiske: "Since I always need a bit of time to get another (good) record written. I talk with Frontiers Records right now about a full acoustic CD with all my old HELLOWEEN songs re-arranged. Serafino (owner of Frontiers Records) had this idea and I like it very much. But we are still sorting the deal out. I think this is a very good thing to do, because it shows people how those songs can also sound. And I still like most of them. But it will be very different!"

Michael Kiske's latest solo album, simply entitled "Kiske", was released in May via Frontiers Records.

---

DETENTE's clasic album "Recognize No Authority" will soon be reissued in the USA and Germany by Cognitive Records. Details will be posted at www.myspace.com/detenterna.

"Recognize No Authority" was a critically acclaimed recording that maintains a cult following to this day. It was also the launching ground for nu-metal metal producer Ross Robinson (KORN, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY, SOULFLY) who plays guitar on the album. The CD also marked the first full-length release by FEAR OF GOD's Dawn Crosby, who sadly passed away on December 15, 1996.

---

Drummer Uli Kusch (ex-HELLOWEEN) has left MASTERPLAN, the German melodic metal band he formed with guitarist Roland Grapow. An official announcement on the matter is expected shortly.

MASTERPLAN recently began recording its third album — the group's first without singer Jorn Lande, who announced his departure in early May. The band's final show with Lande took place on August 8 at Lokersefeesten in Belgium.

According to a statement released by MASTERPLAN in May, Lande's exit was caused by increased "musical differences" between the vocalist and the rest of the band. During the songwriting process for the group's t ...

---

Osmose/The End Records has tentatively set a January 23, 2007 release date for new album from Mesopotamian metallers MELECHESH, entitled "Emissaries". The CD will arrive in Europe on October 30.

"Emissaries", the fourth album from MELECHESH, is the much-anticipated follow-up to 2003's brilliant opus "Sphynx". Easily the band’s top album to date, and debut for new drummer Xul, "Emissaries" is a collection of Sumerian spells, Mesopotamian mysticism and its cosmic connection. The album also features a cover of the song "Gyroscope" by world-renowned Canadian band THE TEA PARTY. THE TEA PARTY gave the ba ...

---

Solitude Aeturnus have revealed the final cover artwork (below) for their upcoming album, Alone. The artwork was once again done by Travis Smith, who did the artwork for their Adagio album.

A slightly different version of the album artwork was previously posted online—the color was blue, not brown. As previously reported,

Texas doomsters Solitude Aeturnus and Massacre Records are eyeing a November release date for Alone, the follow-up to 1998's Adagio. There will be a regular edition and a digipak edition; there ...

---

RONNIE JAMES DIO has announced the possibility of further collaborations with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi: "We've already written one (new) song together. The reason for that is that there's a release coming out, it's called Black Sabbath: The Dio Years - they've already done one, of course, Black Sabbath: The Ozzy Years; that was the beginning and, really, the best part of it all - but they've decided to do one, again, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, and we wanted to make it a little but more special, not just give you things you've not heard from a live perspective. These are two things you'll never hear again - two new songs. We are going to do that. It's been fun already. The one we ...

---

Former MARDUK vocalist Legion (a.k.a. Erik Hagsted) has issued the following update on his ELIZIUM project (formerly REBELANGELS), which also features ex-MARDUK bassist B.War (a.k.a. Roger "Bogge" Svensson):

"First off, we have a lineup change. Our guitarist Jimmy Larsen is no longer in our ranks, which sucks since the guy is awesome, but we all agreed that it was all for the best since he has not enough time to make it work and he rather see us getting somewhere than feeling like a break pad that cannot fully commit. The decision is mutual and we still remain good friends and we wish him all the best for the future.
< ...

---

Century Media Records has revaled more information about the upcoming ICED EARTH "Alive in Athens" DVD (view cover at this location), which was filmed in 1999.

ICED EARTH's first and only live album, "Alive in Athens", was recorded at two sold-out shows on the nights of January 23 and January 24, 1999, at the Rodon Club in Athens, Greece. Originally released as a triple-CD and five-picture-vinyl set in summer 1999, "Alive in Athens" entered the German charts at No. 55 and stayed at No. 1 in Greece for two weeks, where it w ...

---

http://www.magiccirclemusic.com

Thursday, September 21, 2006

---