LULLACRY have posted the following recording update at their official website (www.lullacry.com):

"Lullacry has been busy this week! Some new material has been recorded at the Astia Studios, Lappeenranta, Finland with Mr. Anssi Kippo. You can definitely expect some kick ass rockin´ heavy metal to be released within this year as a single or EP. The Music is produced by A. Kippo and Sami Vauhkonen and will be mixed at the Finnvox Studios by Mikko Karmila. You can also expect to see some pictures from the recording sessions soon. ROK!!!"

As previously reported, Lullacry's upcoming studio album, Killer, will feature the following tracks: 'Zero', 'Fire Within', 'The Stranger In You', 'The No. 1 Rebel', 'Close Your Eyes', 'Killing Time', 'King Of Pain', 'Fate', 'You Are The One'. The album will hit stores in January 2005.

Also, Lullacry will do their first-ever tour of North America with NIGHTWISH, which is set to take place in late August/early September 2004. A three-week-tour will include 14 shows all over North-America.

Band profile:

Lullacry

Sweden's LAKE OF TEARS will enter the studio on Friday, February 13 to begin recording the follow-up to 2002's "The Neonai", entitled "Black Brick Road". "The album cover will be done by the brilliant artist Kristian Wåhlin, who painted all of the previous LAKE OF TEARS covers except 'Forever Autumn'," according to a post on the band's web site. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Greymen", "Black Brick Road", "Making Evenings", "Crazyman" and "A Trip With The Moon".

LAKE OF TEARS have scheduled the following summer 2004 European festival appearances:

Jun. 10/12 - Sölvesborg, SWE @ Sweden Rock
Jul. 02/04 - Leipzig, GER @ With Full Force
Aug. 19/21 - Abtsgmünd, GER @ Summer Breeze

Band profile:

Lake Of Tears

For My Pain?, the Finnish "gothic metal" band featuring Tuomas Holopainen (NIGHTWISH) on keyboards, Altti Veteläinen (ex-ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) on bass, Lauri Tuohimaa (EMBRAZE) on guitar, Olli-Pekka Törrö (ex-ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) on guitar, Juha Kylmänen (REFLEXION) on vocals, and Petri Sankala (ex-ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW) on drums, will enter the studio in March to record a couple of new songs for an upcoming EP/single. A late spring release through Spinefarm Records is expected.

As previously reported, FOR MY PAIN have been nominated for a Femma Gala 2004 award in the "Listeners' Choice" category. Voting is currently open online at this location. The award ceremony will be held on February 20 at Nosturi in Helsinki.

DEATH ANGEL guitarist Ted Aguilar has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Hello to all the DEATH ANGEL fans out there. Happy New Year (better late than never, right).

"We've been locked away at SF Soundworks in San Francisco recording a new album. We've been in here since Jan. 3rd & we are almost done with basic tracking) with a few days off before we start mixing it all down). We have 13 complete songs (one being an instrumental). Here are some titles (which we been showcasing live): '5 Steps of Freedom', 'The Devil Incarnate' & 'Prophecy'. But one song that really sticks out for me is 'Thrown to the Wolves'. Man, this song is so INSANE!!! It sounds like it would have been off 'The Ultra Violence'.

"Brian Joseph Dobbs is doing a OUTSTANDING job producing this album. The tones are HUGE & the vibe is all good. Brian really pushes us to do our best & to capture the best performances from us. Right on Dobbs!!!!

"That's it for now. I will update you all when we start mixing. Along with more pics and maybe the title of the album (which is very close to being finalize). For now, enjoy these pics from the basic tracking days. Can't wait for all of you to hear this album."

DEATH ANGEL's their first CD since 1990's "Act III" is tentatively due this spring through Nuclear Blast Records.

The Italian Post-Metal Kollective will enter "One Voice Studio"
during March 2004 to record their new masterpiece titled "A Clockwork Highway".
here's some titles to be included in the tracklist:

Dopecity
Who Dares to Kill the Lion?
The Gospel According an Exit Solution
Babilonia Café
An Affecter of Change

As the Label says: "Do not expect a "New Era Viral Order part 2.",
as usual The Kollective morphed in a new Entity with a new line-up
(including the Industrial Guru Bad Sector and long time friend Nordvargr)
and a new music style, this time more close to the Apocalyptic post-core scene (Isis, Neurosis)
the new songs are a slow, hypnotic, tribal trip in a noise soundtrack,
like William Gibson in Mescal Overdose"

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

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.

Finland's SINERGY will enter the studio in the spring to begin recording their fourth full-length album, tentatively due in late 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records.

"We actually have the majority of written now, but we haven't actually been able to rehearse most of the songs yet with the whole line-up due to everyone's different schedules," singer Kimberly Goss said in an online posting. "I can tell you as of now myself, Alexi , and Roope have written about 3 songs each. Some of them still have to be worked on, so perhaps the end result will be that more riffs are contributed from and/or changed by other members, therefore not making the song 100% mine, or Alexi's, or Roope's. This is the way we've always written. If you look at the songwriting credits on our previous albums, you'll see many songs that were written by more than one band member, and others that were written solely by just one of us. I just got off the phone with all the guys and we'll be starting some hardcore rehearsal sessions this week and continue until all the song arrangements are completed. The album will be recorded in the spring. Exact dates are not confirmed, but we should know very soon."

Read more ››

Band profile:

Sinergy

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

PARADISE LOST are hoping to enter the studio in April to begin recording the follow-up to "Symbol Of Life", tentatively due in August.

"Symbol Of Life", PARADISE LOST's ninth studio album, was produced by Rhys Fulber (FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY) and was released in October 2002 through G.U.N./ BMG Records in Europe (Koch Entertainment in North America).

Band profile:

Paradise Lost

Norwegian metallers AETERNUS will enter Grieghallen Studios in June to begin recording their new album, tentatively due in late 2004 through Nocturnal Art Productions. The follow-up to last year's "A Darker Monument" will once again be produced by Pytten, who has previously worked with ENSLAVED and MÖRK GRYNING, among others.

Says AETERNUS mainman Ares: "We got more or less 4 songs so far, though they are all not 100% done...working on them nearly every day. Like I've said in several interviews, it's interesting now to work on new material as we are putting weight on leaving the death metal elements behind now...though the brutality and extreme atmosphere remains. Only it's shape and face are changed to put it that way...we're experimenting quite a bit actually. Some paths we wander leads back to some elder roots too...

"A lot of the music on next album might also make you feel: 'Eh? Is this AETERNUS?'...as we are trying to explore a bit these days. Allowing us to give you more/different and interesting metal to listen to. Though we are still dedicated to darkened music/metal and don't think we'll be turning AETERNUS into some cheap crap or whatever as we SHALL and WILL always create darkened music for extreme minds! Make no mistake about that!"

Band profile:

Aeternus

Swedish metallers VOMITORY have updated with their second studio diary from drummer Tobias Gustafsson:

"The last week of recording went really smooth. We're not really used to take things so easy during a recording session, so this was definitely a new experience to us - and a nice one indeed!

All guitars, bass and vocals are now done and so far we, including Henrik the producer, are all very content with the result. The first thing that strikes me when I listen to the recording is that Erik's voice has become even stronger and more brutal than on our previous albums! Fuck yeah! This is without any doubts his best vocal work to date and he could never have ended his vocal duties in Vomitory in a better way!

"Primal Massacre" will contain ten songs and as usual, there are some songs that still are untitled, but here are some of the definite titles "Autopsy Extravaganza", "Stray Bullet Kill", "Demons Divine" and the titletrack - "Primal Massacre".

On Friday the 19th, Lord K Philipsson from The Project Hate paid us a visit in the studio to chat, drink beer, listen to the album and take some pictures. click here to see the pictures - posted and commented by Lord K. And while you're there, don't foget to join the official Vomitory forum!

We left the studio on Saturday, December 20th - a bit hungover from yesterday but we were happy to get to rest our ears during the holidays. We'll begin mixing the album in Berno Studio, Malmö/Sweden, on January 5th together with Henrik Larsson.

More news when we're done with the mixing!"

Band profile:

Vomitory

Swedish viking/death metallers AMON AMARTH have written the following message on their official website:

"Again we are back home from touring and again we would like to thank all bands and crew featuring on the european x-mas festivals. The tour was really successful and that is all thanks to you fans that showed up on the shows to support the tour. We couldn't ask for a better way to end this year of versus the world touring. A big thanks as well goes out to all of you others that been supporting the band during this year! It has been a hectic year and also a very rewarding one. Now we are going to rest for a week or so and then start to work on our next album.We are scheduled to enter berno studio in mid may. Be well and don't forget that beer gives you immortality, poetry-knowlegde and wisdom."

Band profile:

Amon Amarth

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson will be hosting a new seven-part series featuring the best in hard rock and heavy metal.

The series, dubbed "Masters Of Rock", will be airing on November 27 on BBC Radio 2.

Last time round "Masters of Rock" looked at six key years in the music's history. This time each part looks at different aspects of the world of heavy rock, starting with a program devoted to LED ZEPPELIN.

Band profile:

Iron Maiden

The material for the new record is coming along nicely, and if all goes as planned, the band should be ready to start recording sometime in January 2004. Also, Ronnie wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Band profile:

Dio