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Latvian dark death metalers Preternatural has posted online their new EP08.03.2010.
Latvian dark death metalers Preternatural has posted online their new EP called "Cryophobia" for FREE downloading.
In october of 2009 the band released their debut video "Cryophobia". Now, the so-titled audio follower is available through the internet only, and is absolutely FREE for downloading or listening.
EP was recorded and mixed with the help of sound engineer Gint Lundberg at "Pentagon Music" studio in Latvia. It contains two new songs from the upcoming album, one song from the band's first demo record, re-recorded and re-arranged, and 2 live tracks performed in Riga, Latvia in 2009.
Vocalist Serg comments on this: "Currently, we're busy with the new album making process, so this is a gift to all of you in order not to be bored, while waiting for the new album. Keep one metal!"
Cryophobia EP tracklist:
1.Cryophobia
2.Reptile wings
3.Paranormal Phenomena 2010
4.Reflections (live)
5.Statical (live)
THE EP is available on the band's official website www.preternatural.lv or Myspace page www.myspace.com/preternaturalofficial

FORBIDDEN - SIGN WITH NUCLEAR BLAST!06.03.2010.
Nuclear Blast proudly announces the signing of legendary Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN!
"We are very proud to announce that FORBIDDEN has signed to Nuclear Blast Records! Ultimately, we all knew that there is NO better label in the world to handle Metal and bring it to the masses with authority.
For the last year, we have been intensely working on our craft while re-examining our past with a perspective we'd never had before. Our vision is clear and we know exactly who and what we are today. FORBIDDEN is in an amazing creative space and we can't wait for everyone to hear it! We began recording on March 1st.
We must thank Jaap Wagemaker and everyone else at Nuclear Blast for making their enthusiasm known to us since we've committed to writing this record. Also, there are so many other amazing friends that helped us along the way and we appreciate everything you've done for us to get FORBIDDEN back into a position of strength. If you feel in your bones that - Craig, Russ, Matt, Mark and Steve
Added Nuclear Blast A&R Manager Jaap Wagemaker: "We are totally stoked to announce that FORBIDDEN has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast!! It is no secret that the staff of Nuclear Blast has a soft spot for thrash metal! We all grew up here with classics such as "Forbidden Evil" and "Twisted into Form"!
I am sure you can imagine that we were totally thrilled when we heard the news that FORBIDDEN were coming back and after seeing them live several times since then and seeing them doing a smoking rendition of "Twisted into Form" it was totally clear to us! FORBIDDEN needs a new home and that home is called Nuclear Blast! This feeling became even bigger after Craig had sent us the 2 new songs last year! Needless to say that a dream is coming true!
The future belongs to FORBIDDEN and together with Nuclear Blast, we will bring the band back on the metal map! What the future will bring? I cannot tell you! Cause it is..... forbidden!"

RHAPSODY OF FIRE - LISTEN & DOWNLOAD A NEW TRACK FOR FREE06.03.2010.
RHAPSODY OF FIRE have finished their work on the new record „The Frozen Tears Of Angels", which is once again an outstanding, monumental and epic masterpiece.
On April, 30th the new record will be released as a standard version jewelcase, as a highsize digipak with two bonus tracks and as a gatefold double-vinyl.
As a present for all fans of the band, you can now download the opening track of the album, called „Sea Of Fate" for free. Click on the following link:
http://www.nuclearblast.de/gratisdownload/index.php?link_kampagne=RhapsodyOfFire-SeaOfFate
More news under: www.rhapsodyoffire.com I www.nuclearblast.de

THEATRE OF TRAGEDY03.03.2010.
After nearly two decades, long-running Norwegian goth metal outfit THEATRE OF TRAGEDY are officially parting ways. In a collective message from the band: "After nearly 17 years in existence THEATRE OF TRAGEDY decided to call it a day and close down. This has not been an easy decision and we have thought about this for a long long time. We finally agreed to this during the production of our latest album Forever Is The World.
THEATRE OF TRAGEDY will come to an end on October 2, 2010, exactly 17 years after we started making music together. Over the years all of us have strived to combine THEATRE OF TRAGEDY with everyday life but in the end it has proven more and more difficult. We have come to appreciate our family lives and jobs, which makes it very hard to continue this life of rock 'n' roll on the road.
We know that some of you will probably be very disappointed, but we also hope you will continue to listen to our music, which all of you learned to appreciate and love so much.
We want to thank everyone of you for all your support over the past 17 years! THEATRE OF TRAGEDY wouldn't have been possible without you! Be sure to catch us on the last THEATRE OF TRAGEDY shows ever this year! The final gig will take place on October 2nd in Stavanger, where it all began. Our music will live on... and forever is the world."

GRAVDAL ALBUM DETAILS AND ARTWORK REVEALED22.02.2010.
Norwegian Black Metallers GRAVDAL have revealed the artwork and track list details for their upcoming album “Torturmantra”, which is due for release on Unexploded Records in the spring. The nine-track “Torturmantra” is a follow up to 2008’s “Sadist”, and will be the band’s second full-length album. Artwork on “Torturmantra” is by the Norwegian artist Robert Høyem who has worked with bands like SLAGMAUR and GALAR. Track listing as follows:
1. Hydrestund I Helvete
2. Slave
3. Eg E Ditt Helvete
4. Mishandlet
5.
6. Torturmantra
7. Pulsen Vakler
8. Klastrert På Ambolt
9. Slutt
According to GRAVDAL, "Torturmantra" represents a massive step forward in the band’s approach to music, adding depth and variety to the trademark “in your face” black metal in terms of both sound and concept. Making a guest appearance on vocals for the track “Mishandlet” is SHINING founder and front man Niklas Kvarforth, who delivers an atmospheric performance perfectly suited to the subject of abuse that this slower track explores lyrically. "Torturmantra” is produced by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen, and recorded by Larsen, Bjørnar E. Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR) and Arve Isdal (ENSLAVED, AUDREY HORNE) at their Earshot and Conclave studios in Bergen.
GRAVDAL, whose line up includes Galge on vocals, guitarists Specter and Phobos (AETERNUS, MALSAIN, GALAR), and Taakesjel (BIZARREKULT) on drums, will be joined on bass by Dreggen (BLACK HOLE GENERATOR, AETERNUS, SWORN, ex-TAAKE) for the band’s appearance at the Inferno Festival in Oslo on the 31st March at the Garage, and for the European tour with GORGOROTH and KEEP OF KALESSIN.

I SHALT BECOME09.02.2010.
A long-legendary name in black metal, I SHALT BECOME are currently working on a new studio album for MORIBUND RECORDS, with the band slated to enter the studio next month. As yet untitled, I SHALT BECOME's new album for MORIBUND will be their second full-length for the label (the band's cult Wanderings demo was reissued by the label in 2006, with 2008's Requiem the band's first post-retirement recording) and also the first to feature real, live drums. Mainman S. Holliman reports, "Honestly, I'm not sure what I can say about it as it's genuinely unlike anything else I've heard," while drummer A. Scherer offers that it's "atmospheric, orchestral plague metal for those whom ride gallant on black steed from the foul, gaping maw of Hell itself to wage War on ignorant mortals" or just "really fucking good."

“DEVILSTONE Open Air” is looking for bands03.02.2010.
“Devilstone Open Air”, the Lithuanian metal music festival, which will occur for the second time this year in Anykščiai, on July 16-18, is interested in professional and qualitative different metal bands to enrich the festival’s line-up, which will consist of approximately 20 bands. Thus the bands, which are interested in playing in the premier Lithuanian metal music open air, are welcome to contact tadas@devilstone.net

TROLLFEST IN THE STUDIO TO RECORD FOURTH ALBUM. VIDEO UPDATE RELEASED01.02.2010.
TROLLFEST, the Oslo-based black metallers who describe their music as True Norwegian Balkan Black Metal, recently entered the Strand Studio in Oslo to record the band’s fourth full-length album and have released an update on the proceedings via a video. In what has become something of a tradition with TROLLFEST, the whole recording process is once again being filmed by Manskow Productions and the first update contains interviews with various band members, as well as clips from the studio that give a taste of what can be expected from the new album. The band will be looking for a new label to release the album. The video can be seen on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/trollfest With a line up that includes musicians from bands as varied as URGEHAL, PANTHEON I, UNTIME, MELCH, HALLUCINATIONS, POWERSWORD and SARKOM, TROLLFEST’s members bring with them not only a wealth of experience and the skill to make use of instruments like the accordion, the banjo and the saxophone, but also a sense of diversity that allows the band to create a sound that is distinctly its own. Whilst “True Norwegian Balkans Black Metal” goes some way towards describing the TROLLFEST sound - hinting as it does at the extreme end of metal, with a good pinch of local traditional folk - it doesn’t really go the whole way towards capturing the sense of fun and sheer exuberance with which the band tackles everything it does, whether it involves playing in the studio or performing live.
Commenting on the new album, guitarist Mr Seidel said: “As things stand now, and of course baring any unexpected inspiration that might come to us during the consumption of large quantities of alcoholic beverages, the new album will consist of nine tracks. Tracks, which, incidentally, we consider to be the most exotic tunes we’ve produced to date, and which, needless to say, will bear the all hallmarks of the usual over-the-top madness that the fans have come to love and expect from TROLLFEST!”

GERMANY’S ARRANGED CHAOS SIGNS WITH APOLLON RECORDS 30.01.2010.
The German Metalcore Band ARRANGED CHAOS has inked a deal with the Netherlands based label Apollon Records, who is set to release the band’s first full-length album “As Time Goes Bye” in late spring of this year. Founded in Leipzig, Germany, in the autumn of 2005 by drummer Patrick Küffner, guitarist Philipp Küffner, and then-bass player Ricardo, the band started life as GODFACE, and underwent the obligatory name and line up changes that most bands are subjected to, before settling on the name ARRANGED CHAOS. Guitarist Claudius Herbst joined the band following a jam session, and on his recommendation Felix Kießig (BLUTROT) was quickly added as vocalist. Encouraged by a rapidly growing and very enthusiastic fan base, ARRANGED CHAOS continued to work on new material, and the first demo “Unleashed” appeared in July 2008. For the past year and a half ARRANGED CHAOS has concentrated on perfecting both the band’s own Metalcore sound and its stage presence, with a series of live performances, and participation in a number of national and international contests which saw the band consistently appear amongst the best finalists - an unusual feat for such an extreme metal band. Johannes Richter (NITROLYT (R.I.P.), MSL-BIGBAND) replaced the outgoing Ricardo on bass, and the current line up was completed in September of 2009.
Work is currently progressing on “As Time Goes Bye” and the title track can be heard on ARRANGED CHAOS’ MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/arrangedchaos

Nahash „Wellone Aeternitas“ re-released27.01.2010.
One week since Svartthron's „Kraujo Estetika“ release, but Siauliai Black Metal forge Inferna Profundus Records is restless and has some more news for the extreme music maniacs. This time the label presents the new re-release of NAHASH „Wellone Aeternitas“ and continues the resurrection of band's best creations for the second life ( „Nocticula Hecate“ demo was re-released in 2007)
„Wellone Aeternitas“ - the first NAHASH full lenght album was first released in 1997 by French label „Drakkar Productions“. The album contains four compositions, which breathe with frost and darkness, filled with mysticism and supernaturality and have all the strongest features of occult Black Metal. Album was bought up in a very short time, when it first was released, so today „Wellone Aeternitas“ can be reputated as collector's rarity.
In collaboration with Inferna Profundus Records NAHASH decided to please all their fans, so since tommorow this masterpiece, which took the new shape is available for all who want to purchase it. The new re-release of „Wellone Aeternitas“ will have new sound quality: all sound re-mastering works were done by band leader Vytas ( Xe Xe Chax Heyatha Zhaiyrhous) at own „Ophis“ studio. Album listeners will also find never published „bonus“ song in the album, which was recorded in 1995 during „Wellone Aeternitas“ record session.
Album is released as CD with 8 page booklet. Artwork remained the same as original, so that it could reflect the spirit of the release, however the cd design has one nice feature – the playable side of the disk, made in non-traditional way will have visible occult symbols.
CD can be ordered directly from Inferna Profundus Records via e-mail. CD price 10 euros + 3 euros for p&p.

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