Thyrfing has signed a deal with Swedish Regain Records (a.o. Danzig, Marduk, Samael, Overkill) for their next album. The plan right now is to release the album in September. Information about studio and recording will follow shortly at their official website.

Source:	thyrfing.com
Band profile:	Thyrfing

Following news is taken from www.taburec.com

It´s with great pride and joy, that we announce that Enslaved is honoured with a Grammy Award for their latest masterpiece, ISA. The Norwegian Grammy ceremony was held in Oslo Spectrum for the 33rd time on Saturday the 26th of February, and was broadcasted live on national TV. This is was the band´s third Grammy nomination. So it´s safe to say that is was well deserved. The other nominees in the metal genre was Mayhem and domestic phenomenon Black Debbath. Enslaved was not able to attend the actual ceremony as they are currently touring Europe, but we´re thrilled when the received the news. Ivar Bjørnson had the following comment: This Grammy Award means very much to the band and reflects the recognition of our efforts not only for this record alone, but for years of hard work. After two nominations, it felt extremely good to get the recognition from the mainstream music circus and to finally finish first for a change. Ivar Bjørnson´s father took the stage, and received the Award on the band´s behalf with the following statement: There is more to the picture, than meets the eye...Rock´n´Roll will never die!
Enslaved has also received the independent Alarm Award for best metal album in 2004. Enslaved was nominated for their latest studio album, Isa, in the metal genre. The other nominees was: Susperia, Khold, Red Harvest and Mayhem.
Enslaved is the first Norwegian band to be confirmed for this years Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Enslaved will also play the Fury Fest in France and Graspop in Belgium this summer. You can still catch Enslaved on tour at the following venues in Europe:

2005.03.03 Antidox Torino Italy
2005.03.04 La Gabbia Bassano del Grappa Italy
2005.03.06 Gaswerk Winterthur Switzerland
2005.03.09 Black Pes - Prague (Czech Republic)
2005.03.10 Arena - Wien (Austria)
2005.03.11 Mostovna Nova Gorica Slovenija
2005.03.12 Mochavara - Zagreb (Croatia)
2005.03.13 E-Klubb - Budapest (Hungary)
2005.03.14 Stara Pekaren Nitra Slovakia
2005.03.15 Underground Cologne Germany
2005.03.16 Voxhall - Aarhus (Denmark)
2005.03.20 Folken - Stavanger (Norway)

Label mates Vreid are providing more than a worthy support to these fine Norse boatmen in Europe.
More and updated info on Enslaved and other Tabu artists will be posted on www.taburec.com frequently.

Band profile:

Enslaved

Dear fans,

We bring sad tidings.
Our friend and drummer Andre has been admitted to hospital. De doctors have found cancer and surgically removed a tumor.
The medical staff is satisfied about the result of the surgery.

In consultation with Andre and his friend Cris we decided to continue our show in The Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam on February 11.
Ed Warby will replace Andre for this occasion,but Andre will be more present than ever on this evening.

If you want to support Andre in this difficult period in his life you can send a card or letter to:
Andre Borgman Tromsöldreef 50 3076 DL Rotterdam The Netherlands

We count on you and expect a load of reactions and consolation for Andre. Via the site we will keep you informed.

Source:	afterforever.com
Band profile:	After Forever

The current lineup of Poisonblack ? Ville Laihiala (vocals, guitar, also in Sentenced), Janne Markus (guitar), Marco Sneck (keyboards), Antti Remes (bass) and Tarmo Kanerva (drums) ? are scheduled to return to the studio in April to complete the recordings for their sophomore album, tentatively due in August/September via Century Media Records.

Laihiala had previously stated about the new album's musical direction: "The new one has the same spirit and theme that was on , but presented with a lot more dirtier and rougher sounds without forgetting the melodies," he said. "But if you are waiting for a soft goth-rock album you'll be surprised." Several photos from the studio sessions can be viewed at this location.

Read more ››

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Poisonblack

Finland's Eternal Tears Of Sorrow have reformed and have signed a new record deal with Spinefarm Records. Compared to the line-up on the previous album, "A Virgin and a Whore", the group's new formation includes two brand new members.

The current lineup is as follows:

Altti Veteläinen - Bass, Vocals
Jarmo Puolakanaho - Guitar
Risto Ruuth - Lead Guitar
Janne Tolsa - Keyboards
Petri Sankala - Drums

"Both of the new members are already known from their work with other bands: Janne from the legendary Finnish heavy metal band Tarot and Risto from an Oulu-based heavy metal band Scyron," the band write in a press release.

"At the moment, Eternal Tears Of Sorrow are preparing new songs for their fifth album that will be recorded during this year. The title, song list and the release date of the album will be announced later."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Eternal Tears Of Sorrow

Sonata Arctica is one of the nomineés at the emma-gaala (Finnish Grammys)
in the category, best hardrock / metal - album. The band will also perform one song live at the event on the 26th of February.

Source:	sonataarctica.info
Band profile:	Sonata Arctica

Icelandic/German one man band Falkenbach reports on his official website that he is working on a new material and going to enter the Tdalwave Studio soon to record his 4th album. The recordings and mixing should be completed between march and april 2005. More details and information about the new album will follow within upcoming weeks on www.falkenbach.de

Band profile:

Falkenbach

Dimmu Borgir bassist /vocalist Simen Hestnaes (a.k.a. ICS Vortex, ex-Borgnagar, Lamented Souls) has officially rejoined Arcturus as the group's permanent vocalist. His first appearance back with the group will take place at the Inferno Festival kick-off event at the Underworld in London on January 27

Hestnaes had previously performed vocals on three tracks and written the lyrics for one song on Arcturus' 1997 album, "La Masquerade Infernale".

Arcturus announced earlier this month that vocalist Øyvind Hægeland (Spiral Architect) had left the group. No reason was given for his departure.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Arcturus

After all the turmoil of 2004, we are happy to announce that Stratovarius has reunited with the classic line-up: Timo Tolkki, Timo Kotipelto, Jörg Michael, Jari Kainulainen and Jens Johansson.

Since his breakdown in April, we have patiently been waiting for Timo Tolkki's health to improve. It has been, and since about 6 weeks he has been strong enough to go back to work.

Also during the past months, after much talk, soul-searching and reflection most of the damage within the band has been repaired. The rest of us now understand Timo's condition, and have slowly come to terms with it. There has been forgiveness, and everyone has a good relationship again.

Many of the immense problems we were facing have now found concrete solutions.

Lastly, we can announce that work is already in progress on completely new material.

Stratovarius

Source:	stratovarius.com
Band profile:	Stratovarius

Finnish Folk metal band Korpiklaani has set the release date for their 2nd album, Voice Of Wilderness will be released 24th of january.
They've also completed work on the video to "Hunting Song", off the upcoming album. The track, along with eight others, are sure to inspire fans of the Finnish woodsmen, as well as fans of the Folk Metal genre.

Download the video to catch a glipse of these wildmen caught in the middle of Finnish film history: The images seen in the video are the only footage remaining of a 1927 film destroyed in a fire. The 18 seconds of rescued material are a unique piece of Finnish film history. The rights to use the footage were granted to KORPIKLAANI by the son, now 87 years old, of the original copyright holder. The film was entitled "Ei auta itku markkinoilla".

Read more ››

Source:

Napalm Records

Ensiferum regretfully announces, that the bassplayer Jukka-Pekka Miettinen has resigned from the band for personal reasons.
He doesn't have time for Ensiferum anymore. Miettinen will play in the two last gigs this year in X mass festival 18.12.2004 in Holland and 19.12.2004 in Belgium. A new bass player is found for Ensiferum. Bass will be played by Sami Hinkka.

Source:	ensiferum.com
Band profile:	Ensiferum

My Dying Bride are busying themselves preparing for their next full-length DVD release, planned for spring 2005. They are working with David Palser again to produce a new video clip exclusively for this release. The track is "The Blue Lotus" and "it is going to be a stunning work," according to a posting on the group's web site. "A great new photo shoot by Lady Morgana has also been completed, which shows the band like you have never seen them before. Expect to be amazed. The previously available DVD, 'For Darkest Eyes', has been repackaged and will be available at a special price from March. If that wasn't enough, we're also expecting the writing of a new studio album for 2006 release."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	My Dying Bride

Vintersorg mainman Andreas Hedlund (a.k.a. Vintersorg) has issued the following update regarding the group's current activities:

"We're working hard on the new material. The songs feel very artistic, some progressive elements are of course there, but it's taken a more symphonic approach. The recording of the piece will take place next year and we're really looking forward to it. With so many ideas and visions, we feel that we can produce a very good album. I've also written material for a MCD that takes a look back to the past, while remaining innovative and inspiring. We plan to to record it in 2005 as well."

With regard to his Fission project, in which he is joined by Vintersorg live session drummer Benny "Hägge" Hägglund, Hedlund said, "In the Fission camp everything is great. We have four songs for the next album and are now fine-tuning our sound. So be prepared for a very energetic and thrashy album, where melody is still present. It will have some very haunting moments as well."

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Vintersorg

Guitarist/main songwriter Kari Kainulainen has left the Swedish progressive metallers Amaran. "I have decided to leave Amaran to devote my energy to my new band, Sibliance," Kainulainen writes on the band's web site. "I not not leaving Amaran because of any personal indifferences... Amaran has just been working poorly lately, which has made me frustrated. I can remove by stepping down. Furthemore, I haven't been satisfied what so ever about the situation with Listenable (I guess that's the biggest issue)...

"I wish the Amaran guys all the best and all the best of luck!!!"

Amaran's sophomore effort, "Pristine In Bondage", was released in January through Listenable Records. The follow-up to "A World Depraved" was recorded at Studio Underground in Västerås, Sweden and is the group's first since the departure of bassist Mikael Andersson (he has since been replaced by Julie Laughs No More drummer Ronnie Bergerståhl).

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France's Listenable Records has issued a statement in response to former AMARAN guitarist Kari Kainulainen's assertion that his disssastisfaction with the label was the main reason he chose to leave the band. Listenable's statement reads as follows:

"We feel AMARAN has always been a very promising band and we've always tried to support them as much as possible as well as all the other artists on our roster.

"The band has unfortunately become frustrated because we didn't want them to record the new album so soon like one year after the 'Pristine in Bondage' album release coz we could only release this new album in September 2005 (9 months later) in order to give it the right focus and use our best efforts to possibly put them on tour right after the release, which is quite hard considering the heavy competition in European tours nowadays and also get a release date in coordination with the Japanese company involved in this new album with us.

"We thought a recording period right before the summer was also more suitable to us financially due to the priorities we have coming out first semester 2005. We kept being unaware of this growth of frustration (apparently leading to Kari's departure) until the news was spread today on the 23rd of November.

"We're hoping the fans willl not have misconceptions reading Kari's news and about our work."

Read more ››

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Amaran

Holland's Within Temptation will take part in an online chat on Monday, November 22 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The band will answer the fans' questions regarding their recently released album, "The Silent Force", and their upcoming European tour.

You can join the two chatrooms at Within-Temptation.com and Wt-Music.de.

Read more ››

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Within Temptation