NACHTMYSTIUM's Azentrius is currently embarking on a yet-to-be-titled side project with members of ISIS and LEVIATHAN. No more info is available at the moment but this sounds very very good.

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STRAPPING YOUNG LAD mainman Devin Townsend has told MTV.com that he's planning on hoping to take some time off this fall to recover from the last decade of touring and recording.

"I'm going to take a hiatus from making records for a while," Townsend said. "In the past 10 years, I've put out 20 records." That includes STRAPPING, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND and his own solo projects, like 2001's TERRIA. "[It's been] bang-bang-bang-bang. As soon as I finish one, I'm writing another, and when that one's done, I'm writing another. I just don't wan ...

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Guitarists Larry Barragan and Rob Trevino from the "Remnants Of War"-era lineup of HELSTAR have revealed to LivingForMetal.com in a recent interview that the band is officially back together and that plans exist to record new material. The group's current lineup is completed by singer James Rivera (also in VICIOUS RUMORS, KILLING MACHINE), bassist Jerry Abarca and drummer Russell DeLeon. An excerpt from the chat follows:

LivingForMetal.com: So would you say HELSTAR is officially back and you plan to record a new album and ...

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Swedish extreme metallers DISSECTION have announced that they will be splitting up imediately following their final performances in support of their newly released CD "Reinkaos". In an interview published on the band's official forum, the band's mainman Jon Nödtveidt stated, "What we have in front of us now are a few extremely select concerts that will mark the end of DISSECTION, out of which the Dissection Midsummer Massacre in Sweden on the 24th of June will be the only European concert, as well as the last. We will also make our first and last concert in Israel, as well as two final concerts on the American continent.

"I have reached the limitati ...

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Chicago-based prog/power metallers ION VEIN have patred ways with longtime vocalist Russ Klimczak. "Russ has been an integral part of ION VEIN, and one of my best friends, for the past 10 years so as you can imagine, this has not been an easy thing," said band founder Chris Lotesto in a statement.

"The decision is strictly a musical one and not personal in the least.

"ION VEIN has been continually evolving musically over the past 10 years and we have finally reached a point to where Russ' vocal style and approach is just not working with the music any longer.

"This has been a very difficult time for Brian, C ...

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The finland metal monsters of Lordi managed a huge surprise by winning the Eurovision Song contest 2006 in Greece ! Congratulations Lordi !

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BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Time to break the silence, time to say hello. As you all most probably know: we have finished the album some days ago and started doing some first shows already. It has been a blast to be back on stage again and do these small shows in Rijssen and Vosseljaar. We appreciate the kindness and the support of the people there and enjoyed the club atmosphere a lot. Istanbul was a great experience and 'The Bard's Song' sung by more than 2000 Turkish fans has been nothing but spectacular. I could go on like that but I guess what you are more interested in at the moment ...

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Portugal's MOONSPELL will be teaming up with KATATONIA and DAYLIGHT DIES for a North American tour beginning around October 12. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

As previously reported, MOONSPELL's latest CD, "Memorial", recently entered the Portuguese album chart at position No. 1. "Memorial" also entered the charts at Nr. 68 in Germany and Nr. 181 in France. The album was produced by Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, THE GATHERING, SAMAEL) at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany.

MOONSPELL are expected to release a DVD, entitled "Lunar Still/13 Years of Doom", via Century Media later in the year.

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Nebraska-based power metallers CELLADOR have posted a track from their upcoming album, "Enter Deception", on their MySpace.com page. The song, entitled "Leaving All Behind", was also used for the band's first video, which should debut on June 24. The video shoot took place in Los Angeles, CA between May 8 and May 11 with director Dan Dobi (CANNIBAL CORPSE, INTO THE MOAT). According to the band: "It was a fantastic first experience in the music video world for us and the resulting neck and head pains from the nine hours of thrashing we will cherish in our hearts for many days to come. We c ...

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German power metallers BLIND GUARDIAN have confirmed "A Twist in the Myth" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in September via Nuclear Blast Records.

"A Twist in the Myth" (view cover here) track listing:

01. This Will Never End (5:07)
02. Otherland (5:14)
03. Turn the Page (4:16)
04. Fly (5:43)
05. Carry the Blessed Home (4:03)
06. Another Stranger Me (4:36)
07. Straight through the Mirror (5:48)
08. Lionheart (4:15)
09. Skalds and Shado ...

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