Chilean thrash metal band CRIMINAL have completed their line-up with original bass player Juan "Kato" Cueto, who is rejoining the fold. Cueto will be travelling to the UK in April to join the rest of the band in the pre-production for their fifth studio album, due out in September via Metal Blade Records. The creative core of the band, comprised of Rodrigo Contreras (lead guitar) and Anton Reisenegger (guitar/vocals), relocated to Europe in 2001, being joined by Zac O'Neil (EXTREME NOISE TERROR) on drums.
"It's so great to have Kato back in the band", Reisenegger commented. "He's like the soul of CRIMINAL. We went back to South America last year to play a few shows, and since we didn't have a permanent bassist at that time, we asked Kato to help us out. We only had like two days to practice, and from the moment he hit the first note it became clear that he was still a part of the band. The shows went fuckin' great, and I think that's when he decided he was going to give it a go and come to Europe."
Details on the forthcoming CRIMINAL album, which follows up the 2004 release "No Gods No Masters", will be made available shortly.
http://www.criminal1.com

In April 2004 SCAR SYMMETRY recorded a demo of the song "Seeds of Rebellion", which caught the interest of Cold Records, and very soon a recording contract was inked. A period of intense songwriting followed. In July the same year SCAR SYMMETRY entered the Black Lounge studio (Centinex, Incapacity) to start the recording of the debut album "Symmetric in Design", an album that would showcase 12 songs of excellent musicianship and outstanding songwriting. After 3 months in the studio the album was finally finished and scheduled for a February 2005 release. Songs like "Veil Of Illusions" and "2012, The Demise Of The 5th Sun" display an incredibly heavy side of the band, while "Chaosweaver" and "Dominion" bring forth a considerably higher tempo without losing any of the intricate harmony structures. The lyrics delve deep into the human subconscious, attempting to resurrect imagination and awe in the listener, which is also reflected in the brilliant album artwork designed by Pär Johansson (pjillustrations).
Brace yourself! Because SCAR SYMMETRY will leave scars, symmetric in design!
"Symmetric In Design" will be released on February 07, 2005 through Metal Blade Records!

VANITAS, Dark Metal from Austria) have recorded a video of the song "Endlosschleife" from their current CD "Lichtgestalten" (CCP Records, www.ccprecords.com). This video is available at http://www.vanitas.at

Metalmania 2005 Festival - 19th Edition - Metalmania, the biggest heavy-metal music festival in Central-Eastern Europe will take place on 12th of March 2005 in Spodek in Katowice!! During 25 hours, on two stages 25 bands will play live shows. Stars of polish and world's heavy metal will as usually play on the main stage.
Cradle of Filth - demonic Dani Filth together with his band will play their premiere material form their newest record. Apocalyptica - Scandinavian kings of the strings are going to present their newest, exceptionally heavy pieces of music. Also on main stage one of the greatest polish heavymetal bands Turbo will celebrate their 25th anniversary which comes with new, fresh album called "Identity". There will also be playing live: Napalm Death - the absolute metal legend, theatrical Arcturus, veterans form Metal Church red hot once again.
The darkness will come along with Swedish quintet Katatonia and their compatriots form Dark Funeral . Peter Tagtgren and co. (Pain) will surely kick out some really heavy, sic k and twisted gig.. Swedish Amon Amarth and polish Dies Irae i Darzamat also announce their presence. We'll also have a chance to see what Russian metal scene has to offer with some dark riffs from ANJ

On the small stage we'll see: Pyorrhoea, Abused Majesty, Naumachia, Thunderbolt, Valinor, Mess Age, Hell Born, Supreme Lord, Quo Vadis, Hermh, Dead By Dawn, Hedfirst .

GATES OPENING: 9:00 / SMALL STAGE 9:30 / MAIN STAGE: 10:30

Check the festival's official website at http://www.metalopolis.pl/metalmania
Tickets: pre-sale 30, - Euro. For all the ticket info call at: tel.: +4832/205 25 00 (ext. 101),
e-mail: . Online sale: +4832/205 25 00 (ext. 187), , http://www.metalopolis.pl

German Black Metal Band ZARATHUSTRA will enter Swedish Necromorbus Studio (Watain, Funeral Mist,...) from 26th of February until 7th of March to record their follower of "Perpetual Black Force" (CD/LP). "Contempt" will be released as a mini-album to shorten the time until their 3rd album (Winter '05). Await "CONTEMPT" strictly limited and hand-numbered on CD (1000) and LP (500, including one bonus track). "CONTEMPT" should see the day of light in April/May. More news at http://www.zarathustra-online.net & http://www.undercover-records.de

Conquer Records: DEVILYN's new album consist of 9 grinding songs. The portion of music served by Bony and his band is very mature and breaks the rules the band established and followed themselves before. It is much different from Devilyn's previous recordings, and turns out to be a revelation. BONY: After a few years, reborn we return with the album that starts new chapter in band's history. After all that time i can say i managed to recreate devilyn with people who perfectly understand my conception, i managed to bring all my visions to life. I think it's exactly what i wanted devilyn's music to be like, and i find this material to be the best of all our albums. Words like dynamics, brutality, intensity, technique are not enough to describe "11". For me - it is like turning to different space of death metal. First of all, everything is now clear and much more understandable. We made a lot of changes in sound. Drums are very strong and clear, and Domin plays very fast. Guitars are really heavy and clear as well, due to Erian's feel and Cyprian's professionalism. The technique skills of Michal are very high and all the lyrics Tolovy wrote are easy to hear. We are fully satisfied with all we did during such a short recording session. We are proud this album is our own masterpiece.

Polish Deathsters SUPREME LORD are set to come out fighting in early 2005 with the attack of new CD 'X99.9 KILL YOUR ENEMIES' primed in summer 2004 in Europe and a UK tour supporting Polish Death Metal veterans BEHEMOTH starting January 13th. As first support act is danish Deathsters EXMORTEM.
http://www.conquerrec.com

KAAMOS - LVCIFER RISES! The release date for the second full-length album has been set to February 28th 2005 A.D. More LIVE MASSACRE will be performed during February the 18th in Stockholm with Marduk and Khold.
http://www.kaamos.nu

There is a song from the brand new ALTERED AEON album now available for download at http://www.alteredaeon.cjb.net (see the mp3-section)!!! Check it out and SPREAD THE WORD!

NYIA's new album, whose working title reads: "More Than You Expect", will invite Mick Harris as a guest. The CD will contain 10 new compositions, additionally enriched by Mick Harris's musical mélange. The artistic work of this award-winning musician known for the cooperation with Nick Bullen, Bill Laswell, John Zorn, James Plotkin, encompasses a wide range of trends and genres. Also any of Scorn's accomplishments have always been perceived as far from current trends, extremely individualistic and as explorations of unknown musical dimensions by both the critics and the listeners.
http://www.nyia-team.com

Deathbound's New album will be entitled "SYRINGE - Death And Addictions". Deathbound will hit Soundlab Studios Örebro, Sweden and the heads will start rollin'...on the 22nd of November... Hmm, and why use this studio for recordings? Here's some of the crappy bands that have visited the studio: The Hives, Millencolin, Exhumed & Rotten Sound! The insanity will surely be close to perfection this time around... Some titles revealed: A Hell As Nice As This, Shake Their Hands, X-Tinct, Remake The Reneved. Q known as a guitarist of Rotten Sound has re-joined Deathbound as a bass player. Q played drums on the debut album. Deathbound is also touring in December with their label mates Scorngrain and Swedish Cult of Luna in Finland. While waiting for the album, checkout split release on 7 inch format with Finland's Deathrash Legion Deathchain. Split will be in stores on January.
http://www.deathbound.net

Salem's new video "Flames" is now available for download at www.salemband.com. "Flames" is a track off of the band's 1998 release "A Moment of Silence", an album that was produced by Colin Richardson (Cradle Of Filth, Machine Head, Fear Factory...) and never lived up to it's potential outside Israel. Check it out.

NARROW MIND - it's the new bulgarian death metal band. The band leader is Vesko Furnigov (ex-Necrophilia - 1988-1991) and will include members from some other extreme bulgarian bands. The ENTHRALLMENT's part is Chris (guitar) and Ivo (drums).

Minas Morgul in studio with Harris Johns - East Germans MINAS MORGUL are the latest acquisition of Black Attakk. Soon the recordings for the still untitled successor of "Schwertzeit" (2002) will start. No other than studio god Harris Johns will take care of it. Meanwhile supporters of excellent Pagan Black Metal can look forward to the re-release of the genre-classic "Schwertzeit" which is soon to come. http://http://www.minasmorgul.org

Bloodbeast to be unleashed! - Groovy Death Metal in the vein of Six Feet Under is the trade mark of DEBAUCHERY. This South German band signed to Black Attakk just now. The recordings of their new album "Rage of the Bloodbeast" are finished. It´ll be released at the end of October. DEBAUCHERY also will support OBITUARY for two Gigs in Germany on 17th and 22nd of October. http://www.debauchery.de

On melodic paths - From Munich comes the band SYCRONOMICA. These Bavarians who are active since 1996 play filed, technical Melodic Black Metal. Their debut "Paths" will be released at the end of October. Music samples and additional infos offers the bands' homepage. http://www.sycronomica.de

Into the abysses - Recently signed band INSIGNIUM have recorded their debut "In die Abgründe" (=Into the abysses). It´ll be released at the end of November and offers a mix of the best parts of Black, Death, Heavy and Thrash Metal. Visitors of the band-homepage can download tracks of their smashing demo "Insignia Risen..." (1999) and also a video featuring one of the brand new tracks called ""Moorleiche" (=bog body). http://www.insignium.de

Turis Fratyr comes as Digi-Pack - Shooting stars EQUILIBRIUM have gathered a big fan following in best time. For the die hard fans therefore the first edition of the album "Turis Fratyr" will come as limited Digi-Pack containing a bonus song. Expect a release at the beginning of November. http://www.equilibrium-metal.de

Black against white - The band GRABNEBELFÜRSTEN will soon enter a studio to record their third LP "Schwarz gegen Weiß" (=Black against White). Those who are acquainted with the band, know, what awaits us: Avantgardistic Black Metal. This time their music will be a bit more plausible than their old material. Fans of Eisregen are recommended to risk an ear, too.

BLACK ATTAKK