The band posted the following on their MySpace a few days ago:

"Hi folks, what's going on??? It's time for us to inform you about what's happening in Eldritch: Rob Pek Proietti played his last show on the last October 4th. Sunday 11th in Rome it was Rudj Ginanneschi's debut gig!!! After this show, the band is taking a break from live performances and is concentrating their energy on songwriting. In the meantime we wish Pek all the best for the future and wish the same luck that Pek had in the band to Rudj. Eldritch is a big family and we'll never forget anybody's contribution to the band's career. Ok, keep your eyes wide open on the next bulletins!! Cheers."

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Eldritch

Original news, posted on 19.06.2009

The band posted the following on their MySpace:

"It is with great regret that our long time keyboard player Sammy Giaccotto has decided to leave Eyefear. We wish him all the best and thank him for his contribution. It's been an awesome ride !!!!!!
On the positive side we will be introducing our new keyboard player in the next few days."

Sammy's statement was posted as well, and reads as follows:

"Life is full of many decisions, and this was by far one of the most difficult I've had to make.

I have decided to leave Eyefear so I may concentrate more on music recording/production and less on live performance, etc. This is not to say that I wont be performing live any more, I'm sure that in the future I will submit to creativity and write and record a studio album to play live once or twice, this project may even include some Eyefear members, who knows!

I'd like to thank all those both here at home and overseas for supporting Eyefear and myself. All my family and friends, bands we've played shows with, both here and overseas, venues, promoters, industry people, media people, soundguys, etc. And of course, the fans and music lovers who go to gigs and support bands like Eyefear, you all rock! All those involved in helping the band in any way, thank you.

Thanks to Claus and Lars from Intromental management, for believing in Eyefear and doing all you can. Keep up the great work guys. Thanks to all the gang at Dockyard1.

A special thanks to the members of Eyefear, Danny, Con, Zain, Rob (ex-bass player) and Evan. I consider you all as family and wont forget the killer times we had both on and off stage! It's been a blast!

I wish you all the best.

Regards,

SammyG"

UPDATE (thanks to 28097)

Australian metallers Eyefear have issued the following update:

"We'd like to welcome the newest member of Eyefear - Seb Schneider.

We are extremely happy to have found someone that not only is he a great musician but will contribute to the writing process for the next album and just as important is a great guy. It really feels like a fresh start with both Seb and Evan now in the band and we are really looking forward to playing some great shows in the next few months and then of course begin writing the next album."

Seb's statement: "As the new keyboard player for Eyefear I feel extremley privileged to have been asked to come on board to replace the awesome sammy giaccotto whose previous work with the band has been phenominal and whose shoes will be challenging to fill.

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Eyefear

The band posted the following in their MySpace blog:

"The new Leaves' Eyes EP "My Destiny" will finally be out on July 24th 2009! Besides the title track, you can also find some exclusive tracks! Here's the tracklist:

1. My Destiny
2. The Battle Of Maldon (Non Album Track)
3. Scarborough Fair (Non Album Track)
4. Northbound
5. Nine Wave Maidens (Non Album Track)
6. My Destiny (Non Album Track)"

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Leaves' Eyes

The band has issued the following update through their MySpace:

"Greetings everybody,
It has been a while since we have posted any news so as expected their is lots to fill you in with.
Firstly their has been another line up change in the band. We will be introducing the new member that has joined in the next few days. All i can say for now is that he is an unbelievable talent and will not disappoint.
Also we have a heap of shows we will be announcing over the next few weeks. I'm sure alot of you have already heard they we will be performing at this years Australian Metal Awards in Sydney. We are really looking forward to what should be a great night. For full details and tickets got to Australian Metal.
We are just waiting for confirmations for shows in Melbourne , Brisbane and Adelaide also so once we have all the details confirmed we will let you all know.
I can also tell you that we will be supporting Queensrÿche in Melbourne and Sydney.
Thanks for all the mail we have been receiving over the last few weeks. It's great to see that people haven't forgotten about us,

Horns Up
EYEFEAR"

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Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Eyefear

Varg Vikernes has in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet confirmed that he has been released from prison.

He was released a couple a weeks ago after 16 years in prison, and is now living at a small farm in Telemark with his French wife and 18 months old son as planned when he was granted parole (see here).

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Source:	dagbladet.no
Band profile:	Burzum

Posted on the festival website:

"It's with great pleasure we can now announce the next two bands for PROGPOWER SCANDINAVIA 2009:

Headliner for the first night of our main-event will be Swedish doom metal kings Candlemass (www.candlemass.se). 10 full length albums, a live album, a couple of live DVDs and a bunch of EPs, into their career and they are sounding better than ever, a statement to which the new album "Death Magic Doom" (their second with American vocalist Robert Lowe) serves as bullet-proof evidence. Although Candlemass isn't exactly power or progressive metal, we feel that their heavy-as-hell blend of classic metal infused riffs and doom-stomping beats makes them the prime example of how genre-descriptions doesn't really matter - it's all about the quality! We're sure that any open minded music fan will be able to embrace this fantastic band and enjoy witnessing them headline the first night of PP Scan 2009.

As second band on Saturday 26th of September Swedish/Norwegian melodic power metallers Saint Deamon (www.saintdeamon.se) will be performing. Built on the ashes of power metal band Dionysus, Saint Deamon continues with a highly melodic blend of heavy metal, hard rock and powerful metal, musically somewhere between Hammerfall, Europe, Dream Evil and Royal Hunt. A total feast for all fans of big melodies and sing along choruses."

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Source:	progpowerscandinavia.com
Band profile:	Candlemass
Event:	ProgPower Scandinavia 2009 [CANCELLED]

An official statement regarding the band's activities was posted on their MySpace page on Thursday and reads as follows:

"It's about time we rise from the dormant and break the silence, to give you all an update from the Mnemic camp!

Its been too damn long since the last update, which i must apologize for. First of all, a really late Happy New Year from the lads in Mnemic to all of you reading this. Since we took a break from touring in 2008, apart from playing a few shows with Metallica (Yes, I still mention this cause I'm damn proud of it!), things have been quite productive. We have definitely not been lazy, that's for sure. As we did recharge our batteries, in this break, we also fell the hunger for creativity and started writing new material. Already by now I can confirm that we have 11 brand new songs written, and we are still a long way from finishing. The plan is of course to write as many songs as possible until we are 110% satisfied with all the material. For now the title of the album is set as "Sons of the System".

Why is this taking so long you may ask? Because we want to be 100% satisfied with this release and not put out an album we just worked on two months in advance prior to the recordings. On the other hand, as the release date has not yet been set, I assure you, this will definitely not be a Chinese Democracy in the making.

On a last note, we have quite a few surprises up our sleeve for this release?.and as for touring, there will only be shows co-inciding with the release of the new album, which means you'll have to wait a bit if you want to see us live. Its all part of a greater plan ;-)

/mircea"

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Mnemic

Vocalist Hansi Kürsch announces:

"We have already accomplished eight new songs. What can I say about these songs? They rule, of course. You want a more precise description? Impossible. All I can say is that each and every song is 100% Blind Guardian, which naturally means there is a wild bunch of different things going on from time to time (always?).

According to atmospheres: we have everything from the more Nightfallish "Curse My Name," to the Scriptish "Wheel Of Time." In comparison to A Twist In The Myth the lyrical direction will be more on the fantasy side as you most probably can figure out by these titles. The song "Sacred" will give you an idea about the quality and the direction of the songs.

We have mixed modern elements with traditional ones throughout the whole songs. We may need two or three more tracks before we can call it a complete album, but being that far in the songwriting process we nevertheless have made first plans for a production start in September or October 2009.

Apart from songwriting we will be heavily engaged in preproduction activities and in playing festivals during the next months. As a majority of the new songs seem to demand a sort of "live" atmosphere, we consider it to be good idea breathing in some real "live" air before we will finally get lost in the "Twilight Hall studios" again.

In accordance to these events I can promise you some surprising songs (though most probably no new ones) and a nice stage set up. In total we are not going to play more than ten shows, I would think. I am sure they all will turn out to be a great blast and a unique experience for everyone joining us."

Source:	blogs.myspace.com
Band profile:	Blind Guardian

In a recent interview with the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet Varg Vikernes confirmed that he's soon to be released from prison. Here's what he said (roughly translated from Norwegian):

"I can confirm that I'm soon to be released" he told the paper.

The 36 year old will move to a small farm in Telemark, where his wife and 1,5 year old son has been living for the last couple of years.

"I barely haven't seen my son since he was born. Even though I hear his voice almost every day on the telephone it's really hard not to be present when he's growing up. I miss my family and I look forward to the day where I can work on the farm, make music, write books and be with my wife and child 24 hours a day - and live a normal family life."

To the question about him being ready for society, he responded:
"I'm ready for society - and I have been for many years. I've learned from my mistakes and I've become older. Now I just want to be with together with my family. My mind has never been imprisoned."

Source:	dagbladet.no
Band profile:	Burzum

Posted on the event's website:

"We're hereby announcing the next band for ProgPower Scandinavia 2009:

FREAK KITCHEN is more than just another "heavy metal band" - Freak Kitchen is an experience!!! With a high-octane live show, these three Swedes take the audience through a blitzkrieg flash of rock, fusion, metal, jazz and prog, all held together by extreme musicianship. They are a band not afraid to laugh at themselves while delivering some of the most incredible music ever to grace ProgPower Scandinavia."

Source:	progpowerscandinavia.com
Band profile:	Freak Kitchen
Event:	ProgPower Scandinavia 2009 [CANCELLED]

Posted on the band's MySpace page:

"The limited vinyl version of CRYSTAL VIPER's "The Last Axeman" album, will be available in 500 copies (100 on blue vinyl / 400 on black vinyl) through High Roller Records. Except new artwork and insert with many rare photos, you will find there several exclusive bonus tracks: LP version won't include any live songs, but few special studio recordings:

Side 1:

The Last Axeman
The Anvil Of Hate
The Banshee
Flaming Metal Systems (Manilla Road cover)
The Last Axeman (Polish version)

Side 2:

Blood And Gasoline feat. David DeFeis & Josh Block (Virgin Steele cover song)
Demons' Dagger (Epic Version 2008)
Out There Survivors (Mirage cover)
Atlantis (Angel Witch cover)
Sleeping Swords (Epic Version 2008)

More information & ordering: http://www.high-roller-records.de"

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Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Crystal Viper

An update from the band:

"We are proud to announce that the 4th Thy Majestie full lenght has been completed. Recording, mixing and mastering are now finally over. We are ENTHUSIASTIC of the final result. We think (and we don't say that only because it's usual to say these things after a new album) that this is the best album Thy Majestie have ever recorded

Catchy melodies, amazing guitars and keyboards solos (thanks to the guitar hero Simone Campione and the virtuoso Valerio Castorino) and a great, stunning, unbelievable vocal performance by Dario Cascio, "DAWN" cover]is ready and will be released by Dark Balance Records in July the 2nd .
Thy Majestie will be headliners at FEAR DARK festivals in Holland in the end of May and we'll play at Stuttgard (Germany) in the 2nd of June"

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Source:	thymajestie.com
Band profile:	Thy Majestie

The following has been annonced on the new Power Quest (PQ) website:

"As some of you may know, PQ bassist Steve Scott currently on extended vacation in New Zealand, we have decided to appoint a temporary bassist for live shows as Steve will be unable to commute for one/off shows and short tours. We are pleased to welcome Jon Hoare (Mercury Rain) into the PQ family and look forward to sharing a stage with him very soon."

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Source:	power-quest.co.uk
Band profile:	Power Quest

The following announcement was posted on the official ProgPower Scandinavia homepage a while back:

"Finally we can announce the last band for PP Scan '08 - the headliner for Friday October 31st:

Vanden Plas from Germany is one of the most well-respected melodic progressive metal bands around. With a 20 year history behind them, the band made their big mark on the scene back in the mid-nineties with such great discs as "Colour Temple" and "The God Thing". Their latest release, the impressive conceptual album "Christ O" from 2006 see the band taking another step further in combining easy-listening hard rock melodies with technical prog-metal.
Last time Vanden Plas played in Copenhagen was almost 10 years ago, as support for Dream Theater in front of 5.000 fans. With their show on ProgPower Scandinavia, Friday October 31st 2008, we're bringing back Vanden Plas for a long overdue performance here in Denmark."

For the full lineup click here

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Source:	progpowerscandinavia.com
Band profile:	Vanden Plas
Event:	ProgPower Scandinavia

Pagan's Mind has announced the following:

"The Scandinavian version of the ProgPower festival that launched last year has booked Pagan's Mind for this years event. October 31st and November 1st 2008 will the doors open for the second edition of ProgPower Scandinavia."

Also confirmed for the event are:
Pain Of Salvation
Wuthering Heights
Anubis Gate
Raintime
Nostradameus
Cloudscape
Zero Hour

The two remaining headliners are yet to be announced.

Read more ››

Source:	pagansmind.com
Band profile:	Pagan's Mind
Event:	ProgPower Scandinavia