Dissection singer/guitarist Jon Nödtveidt announced in an exclusive interview segment with fans only on the band's website forum, titled 'An Interview by the Fans for The Fans', that the band has come to a close.

In the words of founder Jon Nödtveidt: "With Reinkaos we have reached the ending chapter. Dissection's work is done and this is our legacy."

On June 24th, 2006 the first European gig based on the material of Reinkaos will be performed. The first, as well as the last. The Midsummer Massacre will mark the victorious end of Dissection. "We will also make our first and last concert in Israel, as well as two final concerts on the American continent."

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Source:	dissection.nu
Band profile:	Dissection
Event:	Dissection Midsummer Massacre

The Death In The Forest Festival, previously set to take place on May 20 at the Orange County Fair Grounds in upstate New York, has been relocated to the Club Avalon at 47 West 20th Street @ 6th Ave in New York City. Trouble with the weather has forced the organizers of Watchers Entertainment to move the festival to Catskill Montain Ranch in Sullivan County where they encountered legal problems with the town officials of Mamakating, forcing them to relocate the festival once again, this time to New York City. As to meet time constraints the event will now be running from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m..

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Event:	Death In The Forest Festival

German power metallers Masterplan parted ways with their singer Jørn Lande due to musical differences. The statement of their label AFM Records reads as follows:

Sometimes ways can separate from each other: due to musical differences singer Jorn Lande has left Masterplan last week. During working on the new album the band had to experience that both sides were having different ideas and wishes for the songwriting. While Jorn would have loved to push the style of the band more into the melodic direction, the rest of the band wanted to go back to the metal-roots of the debut album. So the decision was made to go separate ways in the future.

Drummer Uli Kusch about it: "We are not really happy about Jorn's decision, but on the other side it doesn't make sense to continue if the ideas are that different. The music would suffer from it and the music is why we are doing it. We wish Jorn a successful future and want to thank him for everything he did for us. It was a great and interesting time!"

The band is currently searching for a new singer. "There are already some possibilities that might be interesting for us, but nothing is decided yet", Uli explains. "We hope that we can already present the new singer on the gigs we are playing this year. And for sure there won't be any changes in the musical style of Masterplan. We are currently working on the songs."

Source:	afm-records.de
Band profile:	Masterplan

The German power metallers Majesty have announced Christian Münzner as replacement for their former guitarist Rolf Munkes. Münzner, who parted ways with his former band Necrophagist in February, already performed his first show with Majesty on May the 6th in Berlin. Photos and infos about Christian will be online on the band's official website soon.

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Source:	majesty-metal.de
Band profile:	Majesty

Legendary Swedish death metallers Grave have completed work on their new album, "As Rapture Comes", for a July 25 release via Century Media Records (one day earlier internationally).

Commented vocalist/guitarist Ola Lindgren: "The new album is finally completed. Nine tracks which can only be described as the most aggressive, evil and brutal stuff we have ever created both sound and song-wise. The album was recorded by ourselves at Studio Soulless and the final mix was made in the Abyss Studio with Peter Tägtgren. This one takes Grave into a new dimension while still staying true to our legacy of brutal, heavy death metal."

The artwork for "As Rapture Comes" was designed by the Polish artist Jacek Wisnieswki, who has previously worked with Grave on their "Back From The Grave" and "Fiendish Regression" albums, in addition to designing artwork for such acts as Krisiun, Vader and Decapitated, among others.

"As Rapture Comes" track listing:

01. Intro - Day Of Reckoning (0:49)
02. Burn (6:24)
03. Through Eternity (3:45)
04. By Demons Bred (4:16)
05. Living The Dead Behind (6:26)
06. Unholy Terror (3:44)
07. Battle Of Eden (3:38)
08. Epic Obliteration (4:02)
09. Them Bones (2:32)
10. As Rapture Comes (5:34)

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Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Grave

Sweden's Soilwork have acquired guitarist Daniel Antonsson (Dimension Zero, Pathos) as the replacement for Peter Wichers, who left the band in December to pursue a career in producing. A video clip of the new Soilwork lineup performing the track "One with the Flies" on April 11, 2006 at Voxhall in Aarhus, Denmark can be found at . A photo of Antonsson and fellow Soilwork guitarist Ola Frenning playing live on March 2, 2006 in Budapest, Hungary can be viewed at www.photopit.com.

Soilwork will make their North American live debut with Antonsson this fall when returning for a five-week tour that will take them coast to coast starting October 5. Also appearing on the bill will be Darkest Hour, Mnemic and Threat Signal. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Oct. 05 - Jaxx - West Springfield, VA
Oct. 06 - The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
Oct. 07 - Webster Theatre - Hartford, CT
Oct. 09 - The Opera House - Toronto, ON
Oct. 10 - L'Imperial - Quebec City, QC
Oct. 11 - Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC
Oct. 12 - Saratoga Winners - Cohoes, NY
Oct. 13 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Oct. 14 - Peabody's Down Under - Cleveland, OH
Oct. 15 - The Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
Oct. 16 - Sokol Underground - Omaha, NE
Oct. 17 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
Oct. 19 - The Pound - San Francisco, CA
Oct. 20 - House of Blues - Hollywood, CA
Oct. 21 - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
Oct. 22 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
Oct. 23 - Launch Pad - Albuquerque, NM
Oct. 24 - White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX
Oct. 25 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
Oct. 27 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Oct. 28 - The State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL
Oct. 29 - House of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL
Nov. 01 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Nov. 02 - Planet Rock - Jacksonville, NC
Nov. 03 - The Norva - Norfolk, VA
Nov. 04 - Sonar - Baltimore, MD
Nov. 05 - B.B. Kings Blues Club - New York City, NY
Nov. 07 - Starlight Ballroom - Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 09 - Rex Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA
Nov. 10 - Penny Arcade - Rochester, NY
Nov. 11 - Harpo's Concert Theatre - Detroit, MI

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Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Soilwork

Unfortunately we have to report that Nevermore guitarist Steve Smyth has been recently diagnosed with end stage kidney failure, the result of a congenital birth defect.

Smyth comments: "I have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and have been advised to preserve my health as much as possible at this time, as I am facing 'complete renal failure' within six months, and ultimately, a transplant. Due to my recently diagnosed condition, I have decided not to join the band on the In Flames US tour. I want to be fair to the fans, and be able to give them a show I know I can deliver night after night. I will, however, join Nevermore on all four of the European festivals on our itinerary in early June: Gods of Metal, Rock Hard, Rott Fest, and Sweden Rock, after which, the doctors should have some news about the next step in my treatment. I will say this: I will fight this, and I will be back!"

Jag Panzer guitarist Chris Broderick will fill in for Smyth on the upcoming US tour, after which Smyth will rejoin the band for the aforementioned European festival dates. For more from Smyth about his health situation and future career plans, please visit http://www.stevesmyth.com .

Source:	centurymedia.com
Band profile:	Nevermore

Emperor frontman Ihsahn's solo album "Adversary", released on April 10, 2006 on Candlelight Records, has been uploaded to mp3.com as full stream. You can listen to the entire album for free at this location.

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Source:	mp3.com
Band profile:	Ihsahn

The Austrian black/death metal band Belphegor posted the following message on the official website:

"Barth has had an accident in January, resulting in a bad wound on the right hand. He had an operation, but at this time its uncertain whether he can play the bass for Belphegor again.
The band write in a statement: However, he´ll always be a member of Belphegor, taking care of the merchandise on the road and similar stuff now. Get well soon bro!
Belphegor absolved the recent gigs with a session bass player, named A.X. from Germany, who´s also gonna do the next shows.

With that being said Belphegor are currently looking for a bass player, anyone interested can contact the bands management through e-mail at: belphegor@aon.at

The requirements are as follows:
* u don´t need to be Austrian ( but able to rehearse in Austria )
* professional musicians only, preferably with stage-tour experience
* must be at least 25 years
* main interest in death/black metal, metal in general"

Source:	belphegor.at
Band profile:	Belphegor

Guitarist Sathonys of the German black metallers Agathodaimon has issued the following update:

"Our bass player, Darin 'Eddie' Smith, recently left, so we're looking for a replacement and are testing some potential candidates currently.

"If you have a professional attitude and would like to apply for the job (area Mainz/Darmstadt/Frankfurt preferred), send a mail to: management@agathodaimon.de along with further info about you and your musical background.

"Besides, the new website will be relaunched early next month. Meanwhile, check out the new page at myspace: www.myspace.com/agathodaimon and join our friends list if you like. Of course, we're also working on the yet untitled successor 'Serpent's Embrace'. A release date is set to November 24th. More news soon!"

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Agathodaimon

I, the new band consisting of former Immortal frontman Abbath, original Immortal drummer Armagedda, Enslaved guitarist Arve Isdal and Gorgoroth bassist King ov Hell, have signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band will enter the studio at the end of this month to begin recording their debut album, which will feature lyrics written primarily by former Immortal guitarist Demonaz. A late 2006 release is expected.

I will make their live debut on August 26 at the Hole In The Sky festival in Bergen, Norway. Additional live appearances will be announced soon.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Immortal

Lars Brandle of Monsters and Critics is reporting that Finnish "cello rock" group Apocalyptica has signed a worldwide, multi-album recording deal with 20-20 Entertainment, Martin Dodd's New York-based joint venture with Sony BMG International.

According to a statement issued Monday (March 20) from Sony BMG, the band is to enter the studio later in the year to record their sixth album, which will feature new material with unidentified collaborations.

"We are immensely proud to sign Apocalyptica," comments Maarten Steinkamp, president, Sony BMG Continental Europe and chairman/CEO of the company's German operations. "Apocalyptica are unique and we look forward to working with them and developing their success yet further."

In the statement, Steinkamp describes the decision to sign the act as "another example that shows how highly committed we are to working and breaking repertoire from all across Europe."

Since the release of their debut 1996 album "Plays Metallica by Four Cellos" on Finnish indie label Zen Garden, the band has sold roughly 2.5 million albums, Sony BMG says.

Until recently, the act was signed to Universal Music Germany. Their most recent album, "Apocalyptica" (Vertigo/Universal), its first set of original material, was released in Europe in early 2005.

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Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Apocalyptica

According to the Austrian black metal webzine BlackMetal.at, Peter Kubik (a.k.a. Virus 666) has put his Hellbound and St. Lucifer projects to rest and has reformed the acclaimed Austrian black metal outfit Abigor. "There're different reasons for this decision, and some might hate me about it, but I give a shit on them," Kubik is quoted as saying. "I know, I wrote that I am pissed by the black-metal scene as I split Abigor back in 2003, and still I am, but maybe this 'not being involved' made me thirsty again. However, I don't feel the need to justify my point of view anymore. Accept it or not, Abigor is back! Currently it's me and Lukas Lindenberger on drums, but T.T., Thurisaz and Silenius are still invited to join the band again, time will tell. Don't expect a rise of the 'old' Abigor, it's 2006. Abigor is reborn, and it'll be a new area ? we're back, still hell!"

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Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Abigor

Roadrunner Records is proud to announce the signing of legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde and his band, Black Label Society.

Having sold over 1.4 million albums worldwide BLS is currently working with producer Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Red Hot Chili Peppers) on Shot To Hell, their first release for Roadrunner, which will be released this summer. "After spending a lifetime as Wylde Z. Coyote, I guess it was just a matter of time before I'd catch the Roadrunner," comments Wylde.

Shot To Hell is the follow up to Mafia, which debuted in March 2005 at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and at #1 on the Top Independent Albums chart. The top rock track "In This River" from Mafia will be on the upcoming MTV2 Headbangers Ball: The Revenge album, out April 11th.

BLS, who were just announced as the Ozzfest second stage headliner, will tour the world extensively in support of the new album, which is being finished now, even while Zakk also writes and records with Ozzy Osbourne for his new album.

"Signing Zakk and Black Label Society is an honor," stated Roadrunner Director of A&R Mike Gitter (Killswitch Engage, Cradle of Filth). "The guy is genuine, rock royalty whose talent is only matched by his vision. He is the real deal and his legacy as one of the greatest guitarists of all time has already been cemented."

Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Black Label Society

Groundbreaking Japanese metal act Sigh have signed a worldwide deal with The End Records and will release their seventh album "Hangman's Hymn" sometime later this year.

The Japanese outfit has become one of the most respected and creative entities in the metal music scene thanks to the versatile and unique albums they have released, most notably 1997's black metal opus "Hail Horror Hail" and the psychedelic-tinged sounds of 2001's "Imaginary Sonicscape."

On the sound and direction of the new album, Sigh frontman/leader Mirai Kawashima says that "Hangman's Hymn" is "thrash-metal-meets-German-symphonies! Fast, heavy, bombastic and majestic!"

Click here to preview a pre-production quality medley of material from the forthcoming album:
http://media.theendrecords.com/Sigh7Preview.mp3

Source:	theendrecords.com
Band profile:	Sigh