Arizona-based death metallers Vehemence have left the following message on their official website:

"Vehemence will no longer be working with vocalist Sean Vandegrift (ex-From A Second Story Window). We wish him the best of luck. We now would like to take this time to announce Adam Cody as his replacement. Adam Cody, as some of you may know is also vocalist in Glass Casket(Abacus/Century Media). He filled in on vocals for us during our spring tour with The Red Death and Crematorium, and did an excellent job. He is already working on lyrics and demoing some of our new material. We are glad to be getting back into gear, and expect a very busy 2006.

On another note, we will be remixing/remastering our first full-length CD, 'The Thoughts From Which I Hide', during the month of September. The CD will contain new packaging, and will be made available only at our shows, and on our website, www.vehemence.com. Also, congratulations to our bassist Mark Kozuback for scoring an endorsement deal with Madison Amps.

We'll see you all out there soon!"

Band profile:

Vehemence

Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott has posted the following message on the band's official website:

"Wow, that was 2 months that went by quickly - we had a blast this summer in the US! The Ozzfest dates were very successful for us and we enjoyed seeing our music connect with so many fans, new and old. Also our new album "Doomsday Machine" coming out while we were actually in the U.S.A (a first for us) was a highlight!

We'd like to thank all the great fans for coming out and seeing us play (more often than not at a not-so-metal time of day) and supporting us at our signing sessions at the FYE and Jägermeister tents - you are the true spirit of the metal scene.

Thank you to all the cool bands on Ozzfest - it was a pleasure sharing the 2nd stage with you - good luck to you all in the future! A metal salute to Jake at FYE (Ozzfest) for going out of his way to get my Black Sabbath box set signed - hopefully see you in November!

Right now we are back home in Sweden, we'll be starting rehearsals next week? With a new guitar player - a Swede this time! That's going to be really cool?I am excited about this new guy - he's a sick ripper! More on this very soon?

Of course, we want to thank our Greek friend Gus for coming in and doing this summer with Arch Enemy in the US! The boy did good!!! (I am personally going to miss my Greek language lessons?I was making great progress...really, honestly!).

Ahead of us lies a bunch of European dates (it's been awhile!) and Japan (always amazing) - we are super excited about this of course!
(Rumors have it that we'll also be making a trip to a continent Arch Enemy has not yet visited - this should be very close to being confirmed now?).

Ok. That's it. The next chapter of the Doomsday tale is soon upon us? We won't be breathing Swedish air for much longer.."

Band profile:

Arch Enemy

Canadian death metallers Kataklysm have posted the following message on their official website:

"Hello everyone!

As many of you know, the contest for the artwork is done. Kataklysm and our record label Nuclear Blast have looked at every single one (hundreds!) over the last 4 weeks and couldnt really come up with a decision together, so we decided to let you guys decide our next album's artwork!... We brought it down to the last 5 artworks that hit a nerve with us the most.

This is how it will work; NUCLEAR BLAST will have the 5 finalists' designs on their website at www.nuclearblast.de and all you have to do is click on the contest link and vote!!! The voting will run for 1 week and will end on September 9. We will then announce the winner shortly afterwards.

All the runner ups will not leave empty handed, as Kataklysm will give all 5 finalists a pair of guest list passes to any Kataklysm concert, any time any place!!

The winner will have his or her artwork on the next Kataklysm album "In the Arms of Devastation", on merchanside and posters, and will also have the whole line of products which the art will be displayed on. And of course, the good part - the winner will also receive 500$!... You didn't think we would take advantage of anyone did you? Now at least, we know all the artworks sent was from the heart, not for the cash.

So go and vote!

Cheers!"

See the artwork choices and cast your vote at
http://www.nuclearblast.de/katavoting.php

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Kataklysm

Guitarist Allen West has announced his departure from Obituary West's exit from the group comes on the eve of Obituary's U.S. tour with Napalm Death and Allen feels that the fans deserve no surprises when they don't see the band that they were expecting. Allen will concentrate fully on Lowbrow, whose revamped lineup consists of founding members West, Curtis Beeson (Nasty savage) and Richard Hornberger, along with new bassist Jon Fronza. Lowbrow will continue without former members Ben Meyer (Nasty Savage, Acheron) and Richard Bateman (Agent Steel, Nasty Savage).

LOWBROW are currently preparing material for a new recording to follow 2001's "Sex. Violence.Death". More information will be made available soon.

Although Obituary have yet to comment on West's departure, singer John Tardy posted the following message on the band's official message board in response to a fan who complained about West being too "wasted" during the group's appearance at the Hole In The Sky festival in Norway this past weekend (August 28th).

"First, I would like to apologize for Allen and that is all I can do. We (Obituary) did what we could and just could not control Allen that day...he was a mess! You were at the show and could see that we tried our best and Allen was just too drunk to play a good show. You hear stories like this all the time (with all bands) and just like me you have to wonder why someone just can't be professional with what they are doing! We have all the time in the world to party as much as we want after the show and you would think you could show up ready to play and give your fans 100%! In this case Allen failed us! We are not happy and have talked with him about this and I am not sure what we are going to do! He has to make up his mind as to what he wants to do! Once again I can only apologize and and tell you that where the rest of the band gives it 100% everyshow no matter what and one weak link (Allen) can bring all that down! I also realize that his perfomance is a reflection on the whole band and that is what hurts the most when I look at how hard the rest of the band works to be the very best that we can! We can only hope that Allen gets his priorities straight!"

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Obituary

Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett will perform with Flux during a show with the ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET on September 15 in San Francisco, CA at Herbst Theatre. The press release for the concert reads as follows:

"The 50th Anniversary Season begins with an electrifying concert featuring special guest artist, Metallica's Kirk Hammett, performing with Flux Quartet in a World Premiere collaboration: SAS (for string quartet and improvised electric guitar), a work written by the Quartet's experimental violinist Thomas Chiu. "Flux and Kirk are a perfect fit for this innovative and aleatoric composition," says Artistic Director Saul Gropman. "Flux has an 'anything goes' spirit, and Kirk's broad improvisational skills bring this piece together as a magical marriage of two styles." Mr. Hammet previously forayed into experimental territory with his heavy metal band and the San Francisco Symphony, under the baton of Michael Kamen, in April 1999; the result was the release of Metallica: S&M. Also on the Gala Concert program is the St. Lawrence String Quartet, an ensemble the New Yorker hails as "remarkable not simply for the quality of their music making?but for the joy they take in the act of connection." The St. Lawrence performs Quartet Opus 96 in F Major (American Quartet) by Antonin Dvorak and then is joined by the Flux and San Francisco Symphony bassist Stephen Tramontozzi for Last Rounds (for double string quartet and double bass) by Osvaldo Golijov. Flux rounds out the program with a "classical" work, String Quartet by Conlon Nancarrow

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Metallica

Relapse Records recording artists The Dillinger Escape Plan have been forced to pull out of their remaining Gigantour live dates because of an injury to guitarist Ben Weinman. Weinman severely re-injured his arm Sunday night (having originally injured it several months ago) during the tour's stop in Atlantic City, NJ and was told by a specialist yesterday that he will be unable to perform until further notice.

Weinman commented, "We were enjoying playing every night as part of Gigantour, and to not be able to finish the tour is an enormous disappointment to us."

Gigantour is the traveling hard rock festival founded by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine. Mustaine -- who suffered a nearly career-ending arm injury several years ago -- said, "We really respect and enjoyed The Dillinger Escape Plan -- and will miss them. Meanwhile, I personally hope that Ben has a successful and speedy recovery."

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	The Dillinger Escape Plan

After dedicating a full year to their new album "Ashes of the Wake," Lamb Of God have achieved true success in the industry with their recent DVD release "Killadelphia" hitting Gold. In the past year, Lamb Of God have made an impact on two major summer tours (Sounds Of The Underground, Ozzfest 2004) and have played over 150 dates worldwide, and have even graced the covers of Outburn, Revolver, Metal Maniacs, and more.

Now, Lamb Of God's recent DVD release "Killadelphia" has officially sold over 50,000 DVDs to make it Gold. Here's what the band had to say:

Randall Blythe band vocalist states, "I woulda never thought ten years ago that our antics would be seen by so many people. I hope the DVD is made out of real gold so I can hock it and buy a new lawn mower."

Drummer, Chris Adler states "In today's age of gimmicks, lies and faux reality trying to make celebrities out of everyone with a few dollars, it was important for us to not stage or hype up a damn thing - to simply show Lamb Of God on the road; the good times, the bad times and one hell of a show- and for that stripped down, no-holds-barred approach to be received this well certainly flatters us, but also continues to make a dent in the industry full of fakes and talentless image. It's nice to know that we didn't have to be anything other than ourselves to achieve such success with this DVD, but the real praise should go to our friends and fans who picked up Killadelphia and in doing so have sent a message to the powers that be that we are sick of the over hyped, fake "real world" being shoved down our throats - we are all ready for the honest, genuine bands and music to take center stage once again."

"As a band we are extremely humbled by this achievement - it's rare that a band like ourselves receives this honor. Again, we pass along the thanks and praise to those of you who picked up Killadelphia. This is an accomplishment that we share with all of you. Thank you, congratulations and cheers!"

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Lamb Of God

Posted By "Zac" on the official website: http://cephaliccarnage.net

As most of you may know we had to drop off of the Suffocation, Cryptopsy, Aborted tour due to internal reasons that we will get in a lot of trouble for talking about publicly. Just know it had nothing to do with any of the bands, their members, of their management. We were looking forward to this tour more than any of you could possibly imagine, and it really, REALLY sucked to have to do that, but that's just life sometimes.

I'm sure most of you also know that shortly after we dropped off of the Suffocation tour we were asked to join The black dahlia murder, Between the buried and me, and Into the moat for a full length tour across the states and Canada. We are very excited to get out there and play some of the new songs for what will hopefully be a pleasant mix of old friends and an unsuspecting public.

This is really our first full-length tour supporting "Anomalies" in the states and we can't be more excited and ready to go. For those "purists" out there that have any sort of miscommunication about the situation revolving around our decision to take this tour over the Suffocation tour, we ask that you:
A. you not look at it like that, as that's not the situation and
B. come see us when we're in your neck of the woods, and we'd be more than happy to elaborate over a beer or two.

-Tour dates will be posted very soon.

Saturday Aug. 27th marks a special occasion for us as it will be the debut of our video (albeit an edited version) for the hit single(haha) "Dying will be the death of me" on MTV2's Headbangers ball. Again, for all the "purists" out there, yes we have totally sold out, and it's fucking rad.

You should see me right now rubbing $100 bills all over my bare chest in slow motion. The clip is already in solid rotation at Fuse's Metal Asylum and Music choice among many others. So a huge thanks goes out to those stations/programs for giving us a chance.

Lastly, we will be uploading new pictures from our last jaunt through the states and Canada with Shadows Fall, Terror, Zao, Origin, and Dead to fall, as well as our 6 weeks in Europe. If you were at any one of those shows, chances are there is probably a pic of you there. If not, send us what you have and we'll do our best to post it.

-Steve and I are finishing up work on a handful of songs to be tabbed.

Band profile:

Cephalic Carnage

Old Mans Child Galder (Dimmu Borgir) returned to Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden (In Flames, Arch Enemy), with Patrik J. Sten and Fredrik Nordström helping to create a new monster of an album, grimly dubbed "Vermin". Putting an end to the two-year silence since their last album, "Vermin" showcases Galder handling the vocals, stringed instruments and keyboards himself, propelled by Danish beat-machine Reno H. Kiilerich, who was drafted by Dimmu Borgir as a live drummer after stints with Vile, Exmortem(and who won a drum contest displaying the fastest footwork after exceeding over 800 hits on the double-bass pedals in one minute). Also guesting on the album for a lead guitar piece is Testament, Dragonlord guitarist Eric Peterson, while the artwork was created around the album's lyrical concept by Greek designer Set (Rotting Chirst, Paradise Lost, Heaven Shall Burn). Punishing catchiness, challenging instrumental performances and an intense overall atmosphere are enhanced further by Galder's demonic vocal delivery, bringing the Old Mans Child name to a new level of coherence and savagery. "Vermin" is yet another masterpiece by Old Mans Child to add to your collection if you call yourself a supporter of quality black metal.

Tracklisting is as follows:

1. Enslaved And Condemned (4:15)
2. The Plague Of Sorrow (4:09)
3. War Of Fidelity (4:19)
4. In Torment's Orbit (5:04)
5. Lord Of Command (Bringer Of Hate) (4:51)
6. The Flames Of Deceit (4:39)
7. Black Marvels Of Death (4:22)
8. Twilight Damnation (4:42)
9. ...As Evil Descends (1:11)

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Old Man's Child

Candlelight Records confirms October 4 as the American release date for the new studio album from Norway's 1349. Titled "Hellfire", it is the third studio album from the rapidly growing black metal band.

Recorded at Studio Studio in Nyhagen, Norway, Hellfire is already expected to be a highly regarded and fan sought recording early on in its initial release. And with a European tour already booked with US labelmates Gorgoroth (new album coming February 2006), could US fans finally witness this rising, molten beast?

Tracklisting is as follows:

1. I Am Abomination
2. Nathicana
3. Sculptor of Flesh
4. Celestial Deconstruction
5. To Rottendom
6. From the Deeps
7. Slaves to Slaughter
8. Hellfire

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	1349

Candlelight Records confirms November 29th as the American release date for the new studio album from Sweden's Dark Funeral. Titled "Attera Totus Sanctus", it is the fourth studio album from the widely respected black metal band.

Recorded at Dug Out Studios and produced by the renowned Daniel Bergstrand, "Attera Totus Sanctus" is surely Dark Funeral's most eagerly anticipated recording in their now decade-long career. Raw, fierce, and evil it will rightly reclaim the unholy band's title at the top of black metal's premiere elite. Early reviews already have journalists citing, DARK ark Funeral give the word "uncompromise" a whole new meaning. The record explodes with hate, anger, apocalypse and speed.

Tracklisting is as follows:

1. Angel Flesh Impaled
2. 666 Voices Inside
3. Attera Totus Sanctus
4. Atrum Regina
5. Godhate
6. Angel Invasion (Destroyed, Erased)
7. King Antichrist
8. Final Ritual

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Dark Funeral

Commemorating its 20th anniversary by touring with its original lineup for the first time in 13 years, Anthrax is exclusively playing its classics from 1985 to 1991, both on the Gigantour in early September (western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest) and with Judas Priest from September 24 through October 18 (across Canada as well as the East and Midwest of the U.S.) with additional Judas Priest and Anthrax headline dates to be added.

Those gems are also heard on the band's most comprehensive "best of" collection ever issued, its first two-CD retrospective, "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)", and its first video compilation, the DVD Anthrology: "No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) The Videos" (both on Island/UMe), and on separate live CD and DVD packages "Alive 2 (2005)" (on Sanctuary Records) which documents the group's momentous summer 2005 reunion tour. All four packages will be released September 20, 2005.

Tracklistings are as follows:

Alive 2 (2005):

Among The Living
Caught in a Mosh
A.I.R.
Antisocial
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
Deathrider
Medusa
In My World
Indians
Time
Be All End All
I Am The Law

Alive 2 (2005) THE DVD:

Among The Living
Caught in a Mosh
A.I.R.
Madhouse
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
Deathrider
Medusa
In My World
Indians
Time
I'm The Man
Be All End All
I Am The Law

No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) The Videos

Metal Thrashing Mad (Live in Germany)
Madhouse
Indians
Armed And Dangerous (Live in London)
Among The Living (Live in London)
Caught In A Mosh (Live in London)
I Am The Law
I'm The Man
Who Cares Wins
Belly Of The Beast
Got The Time
In My World
Bring Tha Noize With Public Enemy

Bonus

Madhouse (MTV Version)
I'm The Man (Live Montage

No Hit Wonders (1985 - 1991)

Disc 1

A.I.R.
Lone Justice
Madhouse
The Enemy
Armed And Dangerous
Medusa
Gung-Ho
Among The Living
Caught In A Mosh
I Am The Law
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
A Skeleton In The Closet
Indians
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
I'm The Man (Def Uncensored Radio Version)

Disc 2

Be All, End All
Make Me Laugh
Antisocial
Who Cares Wins
Now It's Dark
Finale
Time
Keep It In The Family
In My World
Intro To Reality
Belly Of The Beast
Got The Time
Discharge
Bring Tha Noize With Public Enemy
Antisocial (French version)

Read more ››

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Anthrax

Relapse Records recording artists Nile will see their latest video make its MTV2 premiere on this week's edition of 'Headbangers Ball'. This Show airs Saturdays from 10-12 PM on MTV2.

The video, for the song "Sacrifice Unto Sebek" was shot on location in Atlanta, GA by Director Chad Rullman (Neurosis, Mastodon, Soilent Green) for Supercollider Films and features Nile (guitarist / vocalist Karl Sanders, guitarist / vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade and drummer George Kollias) performing inside an eerie Egyptian burial chamber, replete with design motifs of ancient Egyptian culture. Exclusive stills from the video can be viewed at this location: http://relapse.com/preview/nilevideo.jpg

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Nile

Music Video Distributors and Euroralph are pleased to announce the home viewing release of Voivod's "D-V-O-D-1" for worldwide distribution on DVD, except for Canada, on October 25th.

"D-V-O-D-1", the first DVD from Voivod, covers the original line-up period (1983-1991). Included are all the 80s videos, plus rare live and studio performances of classic Voivod songs. From the start, their goal was to sound completely unique and incorporate odd musical tempos and futuristic story lines into their songs. They influenced and inspired other thrash and metal bands with their one-of-a-kind styles of performing and writing.

Videos

Voivod (1984)
Ripping Headaches (1986)
Ravenous Medicine (1987)
Tribal Convictions (1988)
Psychic Vacuum (1988)
Astronomy Domine (1989)

Live

- Montreal Spectrum 10-12-86: Blower
- Montreal Spectrum 8-20-88: Tribal Convictions, Ravenous Medicine
- Montreal Musiqueplus 1989: The Unknown Knows, Inner Combustion/Missing Sequences/Nothing Face
- Montreal Backstreet 5-24-91: Inner Combustion, Freedoom

Footage

- Video Shoot for Ravenous Medicine 24-03-87:
- Video Shoot for Psychic Vacuum 25-09-88
- Recording Nothing Face @ Victor Studios 14-05-89

Extras

Artwork, Photos, Iron Gang Demos, Morgoth Invasion December 1984, and Montreal Spectrum September 1987

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	Voivod

World renowned Dutch rock band The Gathering is set to release their double-DVD "A Sound Relief" in the US/Canada on October 25th via The End Records. The DVD will be made available in Europe through the band's own label, Psychonaut Records, in mid-October.

The two-disc set features a wide array of items for fans of the band to enjoy. Disc I includes the live concert the band recorded on May 23rd, 2005 at the famous Paradiso in Amsterdam. The live recording was recorded in DTS 5.1, a truly remarkable sound quality, which enhances the already emotional and powerful flow of the band's musical delivery.

Disc II features great bonus extras like their own tour impressions caught on video, video interviews and a TV special about 15 year career of The Gathering. The bonus disc also showcases a collection of beautiful 3-D animation clips, which were especially designed for the band by promising Dutch and Polish 3-D artists Michel de Klein and Marcin Pazera.

Also of note, The End Records mail-order will be offering a very limited package for the DVD release. It will include the double-DVD, a shirt and poster style photo from the show signed by the band.

Tracklisting for the DVD is as follows:

Disc I

Live concert at Paradiso, Amsterdam, May 23rd 2005:

1. The big sleep
2. Broken glass
3. Rescue me
4. Alone
5. Travel
6. Red is a Slow Colour
7. A life all mine
8. Golden grounds
9. Amity
10. In Motion II
11. Marooned
12. Souvenirs
13. Like fountains
14. Herbal movement

Disc II

Tour Impression 2004

Bonus features:

Dutch TV special '15 year The Gathering'
Italian video-interview

Animation Music Clips:

Marooned
The Big Sleep
Alone
Broken Glass
A life all Mine
Red is a Slow Colour

Read more ››

Source:	smnnews.com
Band profile:	The Gathering