Rhapsody Of Fire have announced their first tour since the split with founding member Luca Turilli. These will be the first shows with new members Oliver Holzwarth (bass) and Roberto De Micheli (guitar).

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Band profile:

Rhapsody

An update on the official Black Sabbath Facebook page has announced that the legendary guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer related to the immune system.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Black Sabbath

Former US death metal band Incantation bassist Joey "Fingers" Lombard passed away on January 3rd, 2012, at the age of 42. Lombard played with Incantation from 2001-2005.

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Source:	metalshockfinland.wordpress.com
Band profile:	Incantation

German power metallers Blind Guardian will be celebrating the band's 25th anniversary in 2012. The band is releasing the compilation Memories Of A Time To Come on January 20th, 2012 through Virgin/EMI Records, the full details of which can be found here.

In the days leading up to the release of the compilation, the band has launched "Guardian TV", a series of videos. Episode 1 of the series with questions submitted by the fans can be seen below.


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Source:	blind-guardian.com
Band profile:	Blind Guardian

German thrashers Destruction have posted on the band's official Facebook page that they are currently working on the 30th anniversary album, tentatively due to be released before the end of the year.

The band stated: "Thanks for the amazing support last year thrashers! 2012 will be an interesting year: the band is working hard on the 30th anniversary album already - next shows in Latin America in April! Thrash Till Death!"

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Destruction

According to Bolt Thrower's official event website, the Boltfest is now sold out! Here is the statement from the band: "Sold out! Well, what can we say? We certainly didn't expect the first piece of news on the new Boltfest website to be that it is now sold out!"

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Source:	boltfest.boltthrower.com
Band profile:	Bolt Thrower
Event:	Bolt Thrower: Boltfest

German death metallers Obscenity have proudly presented their new record label - Apostasy Records.

The band commented: "We just inked a deal with Apostasy Records for our forthcoming album that will be released in summer 2012. The Soundlodge Studio will be entered again on early April. The working title will be probably Atrophied In Anguish."

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Obscenity

After signing with Napalm Records, Icelandic viking folk metallers Skálmöld have now, according to their Facebook page, begun aligning riffs for a new album. The new album will be the follow-up to 2010's Baldur and it will be released via Napalm Records.

Short statement from the band: "Laying low and creating new material, loads of riffs in the making. Can I get a 'Hell Yeah' to that!?"

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Skálmöld

Finnish progressive metallers Hevein just released their digital Gentle Anarchy Promo EP containing the previously published, re-mixed Nor and three new songs.

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Source:	hevein.tumblr.com
Band profile:	Hevein

German Teutonic thrashers Kreator has entered the studio to record the band's thirteenth full-length studio album and follow up to 2009's Hordes Of Chaos.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Kreator

US hard-rock legends Van Halen have made the official tour 2012 announcement and revealed the February 7th release date for their new album entitled A Different Kind Of Truth during a performance at Café Wha? in New York on January 5th.
The new Van Halen tour with original singer David Lee Roth will kick off on February 18th at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Kool & The Gang has also been announced as a special guest for select tour dates. Tickets for most shows through the end of March go on sale January 14th.

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Source:	monstersandcritics.com
Event:	Van Halen: North American Tour 2012

Swedish gothic/doom metallers Draconian are searching for a new female singer following the departure of Lisa Johansson in November of 2011. The band posted the following on their official Facebook page: "Since Lisa left the band we are as you know searching for a new brilliant singer to take her place. If you think you're woman enough to fill her shoes or if you know someone who could, please contact us. As we live and rehearse in Säffle in Sweden it's necessary that you either live close by or don't have a problem with traveling. This is a serious question so please, only serious suggestions. Hails!"

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Draconian

Samples from Japanese avantgarde black metallers Sigh's new album In Somniphobia are now available at this location. The album will be released in March through Candlelight Records. More album details were previously reported here.


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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Sigh

"Fisheye", a brand new video from Norwegian avantgarde metallers Shining (NOR) is now available for viewing below. The song is taken from the band's latest album Blackjazz, released in 2010 by Indie Recordings. The video was directed by Kyrre H. Larsen.


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Source:	shining.no
Band profile:	Shining (NOR)

UK black metallers Wodensthrone have announced the following update on Facebook about their upcoming album Curse: "Album update: the mix is now complete, mastering will start next week, cover art almost finished, previews will be coming soon!"

Curse has been cited for a March 2012 release and will be the follow-up to 2009 debut Loss.

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Source:	facebook.com
Band profile:	Wodensthrone