Finland's STRATOVARIUS have announced the addition of a new singer and drummer to the group's ranks.

The following is the band's official statement on the matter:

"New vocalist for STRATOVARIUS is called 'Miss K' (photos at this location: http://www.stratovarius.com/index2.php'section=vocalist_missk).

"The vocal talents of this sultry Finnish lady vary from raunchy rock to classical operatic. Her voice range is over 3 octaves and she is capable of transforming STRATOVARIUS sound to something unique, something that has never been heard in Metal before.

"She is 30 years old and has a background in gymnastics, where she has twice become a Finnish Champion, and in acting.

"She has until now been singing in some local bands and has done over 200 gigs.

"Drummer for the next album will be Anders Johansson, the brother of Jens Johansson.

"After selling over 1 500 000 copies of their previous records, STRATOVARIUS is now ready to take the next step in their career.

"The band will enter the studio, a secret place, in May to record 11th studio album, which has a working title 'PopKiller'.

"The album is due February 2005 followed up by massive World Tour.

"In legal news, Sanctuary Records is asking Timo Tolkki to pay back 1 Million Euros from the recording agreement advance. Tolkki refuses to pay it, and comments: 'They have sent me a notification and are asking me to pay that amount back. Their position is that the agreement was for the old line up. My legal staff doesn't interpret the agreement this way, and have advised me not to agree to this demand. It means that we might be going to court in Berlin, but I am confident I will win this case and that justice will prevail.'

"The old line up of STRATOVARIUS are still supposed to play the following festival dates, which were confirmed earlier before the line up change took place:

Feb. 28 - Piorno Rock - Granada, SPA
May 21 - Tavastia Klubi - Helsinki FIN
May 22 - Rotonde Festival - FRA
May 23 - Transbordeur - Lyon FRA
May 30 - Rock Hard Festival - Dortmund GER
Jun. 05 - Gods Of Metal - Bologna ITA
Jun. 06 - Dynamo Festival - NETH
Jun. 24 - Raumanmeren - Juhannus FIN
Jun. 25 - Nummirock - FIN
Jul. 02 - Masters Of Rock Festival - Senec SLO
Jul. 03 - Masters of Rock Festival - Vizovice CZR

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Band profile:

Stratovarius

The Swedish melodic death metal band Skyfire signs with Arise Records, after two albums released through Hammerheart Records "Timeless Departure" (2001) and "Mind Revolutions" (2003), the band will record their third album in February/March 2004 at Los Angered Studios & Underground Studios (Sweden) to be released in May 2004.

Band profile:

Skyfire

The Swedish black metal band Dark Funeral will release their first live album (recorded in South America 2003), entitled "De Profundis Clamavi De Te Domine" through the Swedish label Regain Records later on this year.

"De Profundis Clamavi De Te Domine" tracklist:
01. Intro
02. The Arrival Of Satan's Empire
03. An Apprentice Of Satan
04. The Dawn No More Rises5. Thy Legions Come
06. Hail Murder
07. Goddess Of Sodomy
08. The Secrets Of The Black Arts
09. Vobiscum Satanas
10. Shadows Over Transylvania
11. Open The Gates
12. Ineffable Kings Of Darkness
13. Thus I Have Spoken
14. My Dark Desires
15. Armageddon Finally Comes

Band profile:

Dark Funeral

Some links of very interesting "real" gothic music projects, check it !!!

http://www.laurieannhaus.com -Laurie Ann Haus Wesbite - personal home page of musical projects of Laurie.

http://www.ephemeralsun.com - Ephemeral Sun Website- a new female fronted experimental, etherial, progressive metal featuring ex-Rain Fell Within (Dark Symphonies) members.

http://www.darksymphonies.com/autumntears - Autumn Tears - (Dark Symphonies), neoclassical Dark wave music, new LP coming out soon.

http://www.todesbonden.com - Todesbonden Website - a new Classical/Renaissance influenced doom-metal, female fronted band started by Laurie.

Posted on the Official Homepage:

-Hypocrisy announces line-up changes-

Hello everybody,

We would like to inform you of a change in the Hypocrisy line-up.

We had a band meeting today and the three of us decided that, for "our own" reasons, Lars Szöke will no longer play in the band.

It's always heavy when an orginal member leaves a band. Lars and I have been playing together for 20 years in different bands and he's been kicking the shit out of the drums in Hypocrisy for 13 years. But now it's time to move on.

The new drummer for Hypocrisy is none other than Horgh (ex-Immortal, Grimfist) and we´re convinced that he will kick the shit out of the drums as well... We will see you on The Arrival tour in either Europe or the USA, giving you 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (see tourdates for confirmed dates)

Enjoy the new album, because we are..... Peter/Hypocrisy

Band profile:

Hypocrisy

Former JUDAS PRIEST/current ICED EARTH singer Tim Owens has revealed to Revolver magazine that he was worried that joining forces with ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer was a bad idea shortly after the band started a press tour of Europe in October. No sooner had he and Schaffer arrived in Spain than the guitarist hit the bar and began pounding drinks. "I went to bed at 11 o'clock, and at two in the morning I hear Jon yelling in the hallway," recalled Owens. "He was still drunk when he got up in the morning to fly to Germany, and he pissed me off so bad. He was screaming obscenities in the airport, and on the plane he kept yelling, 'Tim will have prune juice! Tim will have prune juice!' I said to the publicist, 'If he's not sober by the time we do the interviews, I'm not doing them.' If we had been on a boat, I would have pushed him off. I thought, 'Man, I'll never make it through a tour with this asshole.'

"At the end of the flight, Jon looked at me innocently and goes, 'Are you mad at me?' He really couldn't understand because he didn't remember a thing that had happened. Which was a relief, because it meant he didn't do anything on purpose."

In the same article, Schaffer revealed that he's laying the foundation for his most multidimensional project yet: a science-fiction conspiracy concept album based on songs from the band's 1998 disc, "Something Wicked This Way Comes". The story will cover 12,000 years of human history, and Schaffer hopes it will be a springboard for a series of comic books and possibly a motion picture.

"I haven't written down the plot yet," he said. "But I have all the outlines for the story in my head, and I'm really excited about how it's coming together. This could be my 'Star Wars'."

Band profile:

Iced Earth

Brazilian melodic metallers ANGRA have commenced the recording process for the follow-up to 2001's "Rebirth", tentatively due this summer through SPV Records.

The initial recording sessions for the CD are taking place at Mosh Studios in São Paulo, Brazil under the guidance of producer Dennis Ward (SILENT FORCE, PINK CREAM 69). So far, all the drums have already been completed and bass and guitar recordings will start this week.

Band profile:

Angra

After a long time of silence, the Uruguayan melodic Black Metal band Requiem Aeternam has come back!

By the middle of 2002, their guitarist and vocalist José Romero decided to move all his activities to New York City (NY, USA).
At that time, a new era had started for the band...

Now, with a new line-up, they are almost ready to record "Philosopher", the long awaited second album.
Why almost? Because they are still looking for a drummer. Possible interested, contact the band!

If you don't know the band, try to check their new website at www.requiem-aeternam.com. There you will find all the latest news, an updated biography, music and very soon a few videos to download, etc...
They are one of the most respected South American acts.

Stay alert!


Requiem Aeternam

RELEASES FOR 2004:

VICIOUS "Vile, Vicious & Victorious" CD
-SRP.027
-Street date: March 22, 2004
-Melodic Death/Thrash Metal from Sweden
-Featuring Henrik Wenngren of SKYFIRE on vocals.
-Guest appearances: P. Kuusisto (CARNAL FORGE) and M. Söderman (LOST SOULS)
-Recorded at The Underground Studios (Ebony Tears, Carnal Forge)
-Masterebed by Peter In de Betou (Hypocrisy, In Flames, Darkane)
-Band webpage: http://www.viciousonline.tk

MEMORIZED DREAMS "Theatre Of Life" CD
-SRP.028
-Street date: April 16, 2004
-Melodic Power Metal from Norway.
-Featuring Olaf Hayer (LUCA TURILLI, DIONYSUS) as guest vocal on one song fully!!!
-Recorded at Skansen Studios (Atrox, Griffin, The Third And The Mortal)
-Mastered by Tommy Newton at Area 51 studios (Kamelot, Elegy, Crystal Ball)
-Artwork by JP Fournier (Avantasia, Edguy)
-Band webpage: http://www.memorized-dreams.tk/

UNCHAINED "Unchained" CD
-SRP.029
-Street date: May 2004
-Melodic Heavy Metal from Sweden
-Guest appearance: Janne Stark (LOCOMOTIVE BREATH).
-Recorded at Pama Studio (Karmakanic, Silverseraph, and The Flower Kings)
-Mastered at The Digital Audio Studios (Royal Hunt, Glen Hughes, and Ring Of Fire)
-Artwork by Mattias Norén (Evergrey, Lost Horizon)
-Band webpage: www.unchained.n3.net

GHOST MACHINERY "Haunting Remains" CD
-SRP.030
-Street date: June 2004
-Neo-classical Power Metal from Finland
-Featuring Pete Ahonen of BURNING POINT
-Guest appearance: Ville (SENTENCED)
-Mastered at Bazement Musik studios (Symphony X, Vanden Plas, Metalium)
-Artwork by Mattias Norén (Evergrey, Derek Sherinian, Lost Horizon)
-Band webpage: http://www.ghost.tapsanet.net/

GAIA EPICUS "Symphony of Glory" CD
-SRP.032
-Street date: October 2004
-Speed Power Metal from Norway
-It will be recorded at Skansen Studios (Atrox, Griffin) in June 2004
-It will be mastered at House Of Music studios (Symphorce, Primal Fear, Sacred Steel)
-Artwork possibly done by JP Fournier (Avantasia, Edguy)
-Band webpage: http://www.gaia-epicus.com

EXCALION "t.b.a. " CD
-SRP.033
-Street date: November 2004
-Symphonic Power Metal from Finland
-It will be recorded at Watercastle Studios (used in Requiem "The Arrival") in August 2004
-The album will be produced by Arto Räisälä (REQUIEM´s guitarist)
-Band webpage: http://www.excalion.com/

Finnish goth-metallers ENTWINE have set "DiEversity" as the title of their new album, due in Finland on March 1 through Spinefarm Records (Century Media in the rest of Europe and the U.S.)..

The follow-up to 2002's "Time Of Despair" was recorded at Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland with producer Anssi Kippo (CHILDREN OF BODOM, SINERGY, NORTHER) and was mixed at Finnvox studios in Helsinki with Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, STRATOVARIUS).

ENTWINE will celebrate the release of their new album with a March 5 performance at Sibelius house's Finlandia club in Lahti, Finland.

"Time Of Despair" entered the Finnish album charts at No. 24 upon its release in June 2002. The album's first single, "The Pit", debuted at No. 6 on the Finnish singles chart.

Band profile:

Entwine

From Blabbermouth.net

Former STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto has completed work on his second solo album, tentatively due in the spring through Century Media Records.

The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2002's "Waiting For The Dawn" (issued under the KOTIPELTO banner) reportedly features "more or less the same" recording lineup as that on the debut, which featured contributions from Mike Romeo (guitars, SYMPHONY X), Roland Grapow (guitars, MASTERPLAN/ex-HELLOWEEN), Arjen Lucassen (guitars, AYREON), Sami Virtanen (guitars, JOE DOAKES), Jari Kainulainen (bass, STRATOVARIUS), Mirka Rantanen (drums, TUNNEL VISION), Gas (drums, H.I.M.), Janne Warman (keyboards, CHILDREN OF BODOM) and Mikko Harkin (keyboards, SONATA ARCTICA).

Commenting recently on his departure from STRATOVARIUS, Kotipelto said, "I know a lot of fans are sad about this situation. And I really am SORRY about it. There are a lot of things in the world that I alone can't control... One thing is for sure, it's not about money. The problems are somewhere else." Regarding his final appearance with STRATOVARIUS at the upcoming Piorno Rock festival in Spain on February 28, Kotipelto said, "Unfortunately, yes, I have to . I have signed the contract . But I try to give my best to the fans. I don't care what happens at the backstage..."

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Band profile:

Stratovarius

A secret Edguy show has been announced for the 21st or 22nd of January in Cologne! The exact date of the show will be announced within 24 hours here at the official site!

Edguy is going to play an exclusive "secret" show in Cologne's mini club Underground, that will be video-taped for the German music TV show WDR-Rockpalast. Tickets will be strictly limited as the club has only a capacity of a maximum of less than 250 people, a great atmosophere and an unforgettable party will be guaranteed. Besides the classic songs Edguy will present some of their new songs world exclusively! You'll be informed during the next 24 hours on this site, where to get the tickets. Tickets will probably be available for less than 10 Euros, and to avoid black-market-dealing probably only two tickets will be available per order. Stay tuned to the site for exclusive details!

Band profile:

Edguy

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have updated their site with the following message:

"Time for some new-year activity on the site. As you probably have noticed, updates have been somewhat scarce recently, but rest assured that we're not resting on our laurels. The songwriting for the next album is commencing with full force, and in a not-too-distant future we'll begin recording our seventh full length album. More details regarding where, when and why will be posted here soon.

The DVD is now available in the US as well - finally! For a list of (worldwide) online vendors selling it, please visit Gtranquillity's site at www.dark-tranquillity.nl.

For an upcoming project, we'd like to hear from people with DARK TRANQUILLITY tattoos, so if you're one of the lucky few, please get in touch via info@darktranquillity.com.

The mini tour in Italy about a month ago was a huge success, and we'd like to thank all of you that made it such a great experience. Photos from some of the shows will be uploaded in the near future.

Other than this, there are a few promising things, that doubtlessly will make many of you happy, in the pipeline, but before anything is 100% confirmed, we can't go public with any details."

Band profile:

Dark Tranquillity

Revolver magazine has named LAMB OF GOD's "As the Palaces Burn" as 2003's "Album of the Year."

Commented the band: "This is absolutely flattering, and it came totally unexpected. We'd like to express our sincerest gratitude to Revolver's readers and staff, and to our fans worldwide who've made 2003 an amazing year for us. Things are bigger and better than we ever dreamed they could become. We remain grateful to our friends, fans and family for their support and continue to be inspired by their dedication.

"We're home now, working harder than ever on the follow up to 'As the Palaces Burn'...it's a thrilling time for each of us in this band. We are looking forward to the coming year, a new album and new tours...our sincerest thanks."

Band profile:

Lamb Of God

Former MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine will make an appearance at the ESP booth at NAMM on Saturday, January 17 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

In other news, MEGADETH have entered into an agreement with merchandise company Bandmerch to bring high-quality apparel and other MEGADETH-related items for sale at MEGADETH's official web site, www.megadeth.com. Many new styles and designs are currently being considered, but for now, this is the only official MEGADETH merchandise available.

Mustaine is currently working on his first solo album, due later in the year through Sanctuary Records.

Band profile:

Megadeth