The new album "Human Antithesis" has been completed.
Void of Silence has begun the recording sessions in the "Sick Lab' s Studios" in Rome (Italy).
new singer Alan Nemtheanga (Primordial) will come in Italy to record the vocal parts in February 2004.
Tracklist and cover preview soon revealed!
www.voidofsilence.com

Band profile:

Void Of Silence

Hello, we are the band Further Lo. We are a 5 piece power metal band based in Columbus, Ohio. We are currently signed to a multi record deal with Power Play Records(NY) and are currently planning a tour to support our debut CD just released for Power Play Records. The CD is titled "Further Lo" and contains 10 songs and 2 bonus tracks. The CD is currently available everywhere as well as online at the record label site: Power Play Records and it is also available throughout Europe and can be purchased online in Europe and other countries at: Just For Kicks.

The band is full of experienced Musicians which have shared the stage with such bands as Iced Earth, Nevermore, Napalm Death, King Diamond, Merciful Fate, Flotsam and Jetsam, Bruce Dickinson, Pantera,Armored Saint, Anthrax,Ratt,Machine Head as well as many, many more. The band features former members of Acheron,Soul Destruction, and Hybrid Nation. All bands which were successful in their own rights and toured extensively.

We invite you to please stop by out website and check out the band. We have plenty of pictures, updated news,links and even some music for you to listen to. Some of our song samples from the new CD "Further Lo" can be found on the record label site as well as recent reviews from various reputable magazines and webzines. The music of this new CD "Further Lo" is solid metal with influences ranging from Alice In Chains,C.O.C,Testament, The Scorpions,Tool,Slayer, and even a touch of Black Sabbath. "Further Lo" is a very strong effort and has a wide range to suit a lot of different metal tastes. Our music is neither death metal or black metal, but it is an interesting mixture of power metal,thrash,and even a small touch of industrial metal with great vocals and a very clean sound that is sure to satisfy even the most hard to please metal head. Please check out the music and see what you think and stop by the Official band site and check us out. We will be all throughout Europe and the US in 2004 so please check us out, we hope that you enjoy the music and we hope to see you on the road. Please feel free to stop by, listen to a couple of songs and see what you think.

Thank you for taking the time to check us out and take care,
Further Lo

http://www.FurtherLo.com (check out the band's official site)

http://www.Power-Play-Records.com (visit the record label site)

From the official Opeth website:

Good news!

Lopez is feeling much better and will join the band in Seattle this Saturday!
Due to Lopez sickness Opeth were forced to cancel the gig in Edmonton. In Calgary and Vancouver Opeth played a reduced set.

The upcoming USA tour will feature support from American band Devil driver as well as Portuguese legends, Moonspell.

Martin Lopez is now in a much better state. As expected, the doctor's ordered a few weeks of relaxation due to overload of stress!

Band profile:

Opeth

Bassist Paul Barker has left MINISTRY after 18 years with the industrial-metal pioneers, according to MTV.com.

"Last summer Al was extremely enthusiastic about the possibilities of what the band could do, and I wasn't as excited. I thought, 'What are we going to do and what am I going to get out of it?' and I realized that now would be the perfect time to bow out," Barker told MTV.com.

According to Barker, his decision to leave the band was cemented by the death of his father on the final night of MINISTRY's summer European tour.

"When something like that happens, you tend to reassess what the hell you're doing and wonder what it's all about and whether it's ultimately satisfying," Barker said. "I kept thinking, 'What have I learned in the past 18 years?' "

Barker told MTV.com that he plans to produce other groups and write music on his own.

"I wanna make big, ugly, heavy music because that's what I love," he said. "But it's pop music. It has verses and choruses. It's not abstract and experimental."

MINISTRY have hired John Monte (ex-MIND FUNK, M.O.D.) to replace Barker, and they're in the studio in Tornillo, Texas, working on the follow-up to 2003's "Animositisomina", titled "Houses of the Molé". A late spring release through Sanctuary Records is expected.

Band profile:

Ministry

Norway's TRISTANIA will enter Toproom studios in Oslo in April with producer Børge Finstad to begin recording the follow-up to 2001's "World of Glass", tentatively due this fall through Napalm Records.

In other news, the band have announced that they have signed with Continental Concerts for booking and management. All inquiries regarding the band (not fan mail) should from now on be directed to Continental Concerts.

Band profile:

Tristania

From the Official Homepage:

Statement from Timo Tolkki regarding the departure of Anders Johansson:

"He gave me a call and said that he doesn´t want to join the band permanently and that he is happy to be in Hammerfall playing True Metal.

Since I am looking for a permanent member, we agreed in good spirits to go separate ways.

I am very disappointed that he didn´t want to join STRATOVARIUS permanently, but at the same time I wish him and the Hammerfall guys well and best of luck with their career.

I suspect that the decision of Anders has something to do with my reputation. I can understand him very well, I wouldn´t join a band in which I would be playing in.

I have already contacted a Finnish drummer and I hope I can announce his name very soon."

In Metal, Timo Tolkki

Band profile:

Stratovarius

Dream Theater fans, get your "Premium" tickets for "An Evening With Dream Theater - Train of Thought 2004 World Tour" before they go onsale to the public!

Tickets for the following shows will be available at http://www.fanfire.com/artistName=Dream+Theater&sourceCode=DRAWEB beginning on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21ST at 10am PT/1pm ET.

Date Location Venue
Wed Mar 03, 2004 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Fri Mar 05, 2004 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theater
Sat Mar 06, 2004 Los Angeles, CA The Pantages Theater
Thu Mar 18, 2004 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
Fri Mar 19, 2004 Chicago, IL Riveria Theater
Tue Mar 23, 2004 Greensburg (Pittsburgh), PA The Palace Theater
Thu Apr 01, 2004 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
Sat Apr 03, 2004 New York City The Theater at Madison Square Garden

Bronze Presale - for a $10 service fee over
Ticket in rows 16-30
Gold Package - $100 Ticket Package to include
Ticket in rows 6-15
Exclusive Gold Package Dream Theater T-shirt
Collectible Dream Theater laminate
Platinum Package - For $250, Dream Theater fans can live their biggest fantasy with:
Ticket in the first 5 rows
Exclusive Platinum Package Dream Theater T-shirt
A real VIP laminate
Autographed Photo
Meet and Greet with Dream Theater
Photo with Dream Theater!
Note: Packages and seat locations may vary by venue.
Please read the show's ticket description.

For more information please check the Dream Theater Ticket FAQ.

Specific questions about tickets, existing ticket orders, etc. can be sent to tickethelp@fanfire.com.

Issues related to the premium tickets site can be sent to webmaster@fanfire.com.

Read more ››

Source:	dreamtheater.net
Band profile:	Dream Theater

Veteran German power metallers HELLOWEEN have been officially confirmed for the 2004 edition of Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-8, 2004 in Wacken, Germany.

According to an official newsletter from the festival's organizers, next year's event will be a celebration of the festival's 15th anniversary with special performances by "new hits, old hits, reunions, newcomers and top acts."

The list of bands currently scheduled to appear at the festival is as follows:

AFTER FOREVER
AMON AMARTH
ANTHRAX
BAL-SAGOTH
BRAINSTORM
BÖHSE ONKELZ
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CATHEDRAL
CHILDREN OF BODOM
DEATH ANGEL
DEICIDE
DESTRUCTION
DIO
EKTOMORF
GRAVE DIGGER
HELLOWEEN
HYPOCRISY
MAYHEM
MOTÖRHEAD
NEVERMORE
SAXON
SCHANDMAUL
THUNDERSTONE
ZODIAC MINDWARP

More confirmations will be announced soon.

Band profile:

Helloween

OPETH was forced to cancel their Edmonton show yesterday due to their drummer, Martin Lopez, reportedly being sick and still in Sweden. According to someone who spoke to the band (they ended up doing an autograph signing instead), Martin is currently seeing a Psychologist in Sweden after a recent Panic Attack, in which he has recently had problems with. OPETH has found a replacement drummer, and is using the time to rehearse the songs with him. It is also 'unlikely' that the band will play a rescheduled Edmonton show on Thursday, but it is possible. The calgary show may or may not be played tonight, as there's no word on their official site.

Band profile:

Opeth

The following is the press release on the Century Media Records website:

"The Century Family is proud to announce it's joining forces with New Jersey-based label Now Or Never Records. This exciting collaboration will result in the Century Family, and its affiliated imprints, handling the manufacturing, marketing, and retail distribution of current and upcoming Now Or Never releases. This includes highly anticipated releases from DIECAST, DEVILINSIDE and THE POSTMAN SYNDROME.

Now Or Never has made a name for itself as more than just a typical hardcore label, but as a diverse operation showcasing a wide spectrum of aggressive styles, featuring acts like DIECAST, THE DILLENGER ESCAPE PLAN, BRAND NEW SIN, DEVILINSIDE, WORTHLESS UNITED, ALL ELSE FAILED and THE POSTMAN SYNDROME. Its artists have landed impressive tours that include SLAYER, MOTORHEAD, HATEBREED and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, among others, while being backed by a team of dedicated, energetic music lovers with quality distribution to aid in their already imminent impact on the music world. Now Or Never and the Century Family's emphasis continues to focus on building up their artists in a "classic" artist development sense, a valued ethic that has been lacking throughout much of the music industry. It's this ideal that has garnered much success with both labels' diverse rosters and lasting relationships with their bands."

In addition to entering The Billboard 200 chart at No. 145 with their new album, "The Glorious Burden", ICED EARTH have debuted at No. 15 on the German charts, No. 24 in Austria, No. 30 in Finland, No. 80 in France and No. 77 in Switzerland.

ICED EARTH are gearing up for a full-scale North American tour beginning April 18, with support coming from CHILDREN OF BODOM. A European trek with PRIMAL FEAR and THUNDERSTONE will kick off on March 18 in Tilburg, Holland.

Band profile:

Iced Earth

Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS will enter Dub Studio on March 1 with producer Endre Kirkesola (GREEN CARNATION, BLOOD RED THRONE) to begin recording their fourth, as-yet-untitled album. The band expect to spend 8-10 weeks recording the follow-up to 2002's "A New Dimension of Might", tentatively due this summer through Napalm Records.

As previously reported, TRAIL OF TEARS recently recorded a version of DEAD CAN DANCE's "The Arcane" for the upcoming DEAD CAN DANCE double-CD tribute album, "The Lotuseaters". The set, which will be released through Greece's Black Lotus Records, will include additional appearances by such acts as THE GATHERING, ULVER, GREEN CARNATION, SEPTIC FLESH, HELENA IREN MICHAELSEN (IMPERIA, ex-TRAIL OF TEARS) and ANTIMATTER.

Sweden's IN FLAMES have re-signed with Nuclear Blast Records for the North American territory after their previous contract with the label had expired and have set an April 6 North American release date for their new album, "Soundtrack To Your Escape". The album will arrive in Europe one week earlier (March 29).

As previously reported, the follow-up to 2002's "Reroute To Remain" was recorded at a rented house/converted studio in Denmark with producers Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Örjan Örnkloo (ex-MISERY LOVES CO.) and was mixed at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium. Mastering duties were handled at the Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden.

Band profile:

In Flames

ANTHRAX have launched a contest to allow 25 "lucky winners" (each winner gets to bring one guest) to see "metal history get made" on Monday, January 26 as the band record a collection of Joey Belladonna/Neil Turbin-era songs sung by current vocalist John Bush, dubbed "Metallum Maximum Aeturnum". The recording sessions will take place at Avatar Studios in New York City.

Contest Rules:

01. Winners must be in the NYC-Connecticut-Massachusetts-Philly-Jersey area and able to be in NYC on 01/26/04.

02. All winners chosen at random.

03. All winners get to bring one guest with them of their choosing.

04. ANTHRAX reserves the right to accept or deny any admission.

05. Exact time and location will be issued to all winners via e-mail.

06. Send an e-mail to winners@anthrax.com to enter. Put your name and location in the body of the e-mail.

Band profile:

Anthrax

Former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens recently spoke to Cleveland's "The Classic Metal Show" about Rob Halford's decision to announce his homosexuality on MTV the very same day in 1998 that PRIEST were performing their first show with Owens as the singer.

"Well, you've got to remember that was at the time when Rob was doing the TWO thing," Tim explained. "You know, if anyone ever saw the video, would have had to come out and admit he was gay, you know. So I figured that it was something that he had to do for himself. You know, who really cares? Every show that PRIEST did on that tour, there were flyers passed out for the TWO band. It was a publicity thing that he was doing, and I believe that it was the timing even with that, because he could have came out a year before or whatever. I'm glad he did, and I think almost everybody is. Who cares? You know, I might care if it was somebody else, but for some reason it hasn't bothered me ever. He's the ultimate singer and the Metal God. But it was a publicity thing, and everybody does it. It backfired, and so be it." Elaborating further on the interviewer's observation that Halford's announcement came on the same day as Owens' first live appearance with PRIEST, Tim said, "Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he comes out to New York while we're there. He was even in the same hotel we were in. It was an odd thing. Maybe I'm gonna drop a bombshell on PRIEST one of these days, and I'll strategically plan it too! (laughing). I'm going to wait until they're in town and I'm going to stay in the same hotel and then release it, just to see what happens! It probably won't work. (laughing)"

Band profile:

Judas Priest