Brazilian thrashers SEPULTURA have yet to comment on yesterday's announcement that their drummer and co-founder, Igor Cavalera, has left the group due to "artistic differences." However, according to a posting on the band's official web site, guitarist Andreas Kisser, Derrick Green and Paulo Xisto Jr. have vowed to continue with the group despite this major setback. In the meantime, SEPULTURA's latest CD, "Dante XXI", will receive its long-awaited South American release (featuring two bonus tracks) next month. Tour dates in Brazil and North American are expected to be announced soon.

Igor announced earlier in the year that he wa ...

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2006 is a very special year in the career of Brazilian heavy metal band ANGRA: the group is celebrating its 15th year of existence. Tours, all sorts of promo events and a brand new studio album shall definitely make it a remarkable year for the band. After all, very few Brazilian acts managed to survive this far.

Angra spent the first semester of 2006 resuming the touring for its latest album, "Temple of Shadows". The tour began back in mid-2004 and results of such intense work couldn't be different: as usual, ANGRA won several prizes in the annual readers' polls of Brazilian magazines. Rock Brigade, Comando Rock and Roadie Crew are the most ...

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Legendary death metallers SUFFOCATION have begun tracking their new album. The self-titled CD is being recorded at Full Force Studios in Long Island, NY for a September 2006 release via Relapse Records. Additionally, SUFFOCATION have enlisted tattoo artist JonZig from Skingraver Tattoo Studio in Austin, TX to create the album's artwork.

SUFFOCATION's latest CD, "Souls to Deny", was released in April 2004 through Relapse. The band's first full album of new material since 1995's "Pierced From Within" was recorded at Full Force with engineer Joe Cincotta and was described by drummer Mike Smith as "the cleanest, heaviest SUFFOCATION album to date."

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SLAYER have set "Christ Illusion" as the title of their new album, due on August 8, 2006 via American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records (NOTE: The release date change was first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET yesterday).

"Christ Illusion" is SLAYER's first new studio album since 2001, and the first recorded by the band's original line-up — Kerry King (guitars); Tom Araya (bass, vocals); Jeff Hanneman (guitars); Dave Lombardo (drums) — since 1990's "Seasons In The Abyss". "Christ Illusion" was produced by Josh Abraham and executive produced by Rick Rubin.

"Christ Illusion"< ...

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Two brand new METAL CHURCH tracks — "A Light in the Dark" and "Mirror of Lies" — are available for streaming at MP3.com. Both cuts come off the group's upcoming album, "A Light in the Dark", due in Europe on June 19 (June 16 in Germany) and in the U.S. on June 27 via SPV. The CD will include a new version of the classic "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to vocalist David Wayne, who passed away in May 2005.

Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, who doubled as sound engineer and producer during the recordings, promises an offering featuring all ...

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BEHEMOTH frontman Nergal has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"[The second leg of Polish 'Demigod' tour] was simply a blast. Touring with such a company and playing in front of packed venues was a perfect ending for this never-ending tour. I loved the fact that we also finally played a decent crowd and a nice venue in our hometown. I'm sure that none everyone who saw us in action wasn't disappointed. We gave our very fuckin' best and it feels to good to see you guys gave so much in return! Moreover, sharing stage with VIRGIN SNATCH, HERMH and CORRUPTION was an awesome experience and the whole tour turned out to be ...

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To honor the symbolic date of June 6, 2006 — the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year; as in 666, the "number of the beast" or Anti-christ in the Bible's Book of Revelations — Yahoo! Music has delared today "Metal Day!" Have a black celebration with black metal videos by CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR, and others, plus check out other metal specials at this location.

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Ex-IMMORTAL frontman Abbath (real name: Olve Eikemo) — who is in the studio recording the debut album from his new project I — has told Germany's Rock Hard magazine that a reunion of his former band is currently in the works. Speaking to Volkmar Weber in the magazine's May 2006 issue, Abbath said, "We will come back, stronger than ever. I [recently] met with Horgh [ex-IMMORTAL drummer, curently in HYPOCRISY] for the first time in over a year. He's built his new house here [in Norway], right around the corner. In the next few days we will begin to rehearse our old 'Blizzard Beasts' [1997] classics. I'm already r ...

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Swedish Viking death metal heroes AMON AMARTH recenttly entered Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden to begin recording their sixth full-length album. The group will record and mix all through May until June 14 with producer Jens Bogren. The as-yet-untitled CD is scheduled for release in September via Metal Blade Records.

Commented the band: "Finally after five very long — but productive — weeks all recording is done and today we started mixing the album. Nine tracks have been successfully recorded — no thanks to the huge ammount of alcohol consumed, but nonetheless successfully — and we can now reveal some of the titles: 'Valhall Await ...

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Imperial has ended KRIEG officially as of 6/05. Currently writing a novel and working on a new music project. Also has recently joined NACHTMYSTIUM as full-time bassist.

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