The band is currently working in studio, the working title of the album is "Faces in the Dark".

Band profile:

Circle II Circle

The Band formed by Kjetil Nordhus (Green Carnation & Trail Of Tears) on vocals, Gøran Bomann (Carpathian Forest) on Guitars, Anders Kobro (Green Carnation, Carpathian Forest & In The Woods) on drums, Kjell Jacobsen on Guitars and Endre Kirkesola on bass/keyboards signed for 2 albums with the Portuguese label Sound Riot Records, these are some words from the band:
"We will start the recording for our first album this year,it will contain 10 songs and one acoustic song!We are pleased to have joined the sound riot company and are looking forward to a good partnership!"

The release is expected to be in early 2005.

The Kovenant are working on their new album to be called "Aria Galactica", they plann to record the album during the winter of 2004, the band describes the album as "the most exiting, surprising, energetic and accomplished Kovenant record so far" and "a very characteristic Kovenant record".

Band profile:

The Kovenant

The Vocalist/Bassist from Nile Karl Sanders is going to release a solo album this 26/10/2004 through Relapse Records, The track list of "Saurian Meditation" is as follow:

01. Awaiting the Vultures
02. Of the Sleep of Ishtar
03. Luring the Doom Serpent
04. Contemplations of the Endless Abyss
05. The Elder God Shrine
06. Temple of Lunar Ascension
07. Dreaming Through the Eyes of Serpents
08. Whence No Traveller Returns
09. The Forbidden Path Across the Chasm of Self Realisation
10. Beckon the Sick Winds of Pestilence

Band profile:

Nile

The band formed by Lars Nedland (Borknagar, Solefald, ex Carpathian Forest) on Vocals, Eikind (ex Khold/Tulus) on Bass, Hellhamer (Mayhem, Winds, ex-The Kovenant, ex-Covenant, Jørn, Shining, Mezzerschmitt, Antestor) on Drums, Andy Winter (Winds) on Keyboards, Extand and Kobbergaard (By Pale Light) on Guitars, will be releasing their Debut album "Accelaration" this 4 of october of 2004.

A mp3 is available at:
http://media.theendrecords.com/AgeOfSilence_Acceleration_TheConceptOfHaste.mp3

Band profile:

Winds

The project of Christian Rivel (Narnia & Divinefire) & Lars Chriss (Lion´s Share) has set a release date for their album at 22/02/2005.

"The album features many great musicians Bruce Kulick (Grand Funk Railroad & Ex. Kiss), Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman & Ex. Yngwie Malmsteen´s Rising Force), Tony Franklin (Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Firm)
Mats Levén (At Vance & Ex. Yngwie Malmsteen´s Rising Force) Mic Michaeli ( Europe) and many more."

http://www.rivelrecords.com

Guitar player Torbjörn Weinesjö (Veni Domine, Thorb) has left the band "Due to musical differencies and the way it has progressed production wise".

He will be concentrated on promoting new Veni Domine album and working with his other band Thorb.

The Finnish symphonic extreme band is working on their new yet-untitled album that's planned to be released on october of this year.

Italian Melodic Black metallers GRAVEWORM will record their new album "N(u)tobia" in the end of September with producer Andy Classen in the Stage One Studios in Borgentreich, Germany. The finished record is expected to show up in early 2005.

http://www.nuclearblast.de

Band profile:

Graveworm

The Norwegian gothic band is going to release a new album at late 2004 called "Free Fall into Fear". These are the songs of the new album (random order):
The Architect of my Downfall, Joyless Trance of Winter, Drink Away the Demons, Point Zero, Dry Well of Life, The Face of Jealousy, Carrier of the Scars of Life, Watch You Fall, Frail Expectation, Cold Hand of Retribution.

I have lots to report this time, so lets get to it!!! Guitar player Dee Harrington is now back in the band and we are very excited about it!! This summer we're going to re-record Warriors Of The Son in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of it's release In 1984. This will give us a chance to do some recording in our new studio before we put out the next full length project, next year. It will be limited to 1000 copies, and I know some of you cringe at the thought of limited production runs, but the market is saturated with Saint reissues. Of course Dee will be playing as well as Jerry Johnson and Josh Kramer, but on drums we're going to have Tim Lamberson play this time, please don't confuse him with the drum tracks on The Perfect Life, that wasn't him. I'm sure you will be (if you happen to buy this project) very impressed with Tim's ability to pound, I am. Two songs that weren't put on the EP will also be included on this project. The new tracks are The Reaper and Destroyers. Keep praying for us and hit those radio stations up!!! We need a full fledged SAINT revival.

Richard Lynch, Saint

Swedish power metallers Hammerfall entered Lundgaard Studios in Denmark with producer Charlie Bauernfeind (Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Rage) on Saturday (Sep. 4, thats today) to begin recording their new album, probably done on March 7, 2005 through Nuclear Blast Records. A single will be released on January 31. Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2002's "Crimson Thunder" include "The Templar Flame", "Born to Rule" and "Fury of the Wild".

"After finishing the songwriting and rehearsing the material over the last week, I can honestly say I'm very, very excited!" guitarist Oscar Dronjak writes on the group's web site. "The feelings I get from the songs so far are heavy, metal, and HAMMERFALL. ;-) Seriously, I think everyone will recognize the band in the new songs, but I do think some of them tend to be a bit heavier than we have done before. You will see (hear...) eventually, as will we."

Band profile:

HammerFall

As you probably noticed, new album "Love's Burial Ground" suffered some delays with the final release-date, but it will be finally available next week!!

The band is currently assembling material for the mighty "Live Manipulation" DVD. The DVD will include a professionally shooted live-show + other 3/4 amateurish (yet good-sounding) gigs, as well as some other bonus material (backstage, interviews, pics gallery, rehearsals, studio-reports, etc.). Expect this monumental curse to be unleashed upon feeble mankind in the beginning of 2005!!

The band is working on the re-release of "Obscura Arcana Mortis" too. The remastering of the MCD as well as the recording of the "Obscura Arcana Mortis MMIV" track will be done around October. This new version will see the presence of a special-guest recording some extra-vocals...

We know it could sound really bizarre, but the band has been asked by a french underground label to take part in a Black Metal Motorhead-tribute LP!! The band is currently deciding what song will be covered. It seems that many other bands are already confirmed for this tribute, so expect a damn fucked up Black n' Roll release, as well as the most bizarre FT recording ever!!

http://www.forgottentomb.com

Band profile:

Forgotten Tomb

Slayer were forced to cancel their show in Myrtle Beach, SC Wednesday night (September 1) after the band's frontman, Tom Araya, was allegedly rushed to a hospital as a result of suffering a bad allergic reaction. There has been no official update with regards to Tom's condition.

Band profile:

Slayer

Orphanage, a heavy metal band from Utrecht, the Netherlands, anounced the following news:

"We decided to stop continuing to work with our keyboard player Lasse. It was a tough decision to make as Lasse is a very friendly and honest guy. At the other hand we still want to grow as a band in several ways and we need a radical change of plan to make this happen."

"Guus will play keyboards again, like he did in the past. At the moment we are working with two guitar players. We have good faith cooperation with both guitar players will work out well. We will introduce the new band members soon!"

Just keep an eye on their site: http://www.orphanage.nl/

Band profile:

Orphanage