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-- NEWS --


MINISTRY
John Monte (M.O.D., Mindfunk, Dragpipe) has replaced longtime bassist
Paul
Barker

STRATOVARIUS
drummer Anders Johansson (Hammerfall) has decided not to join the band
–
the search for a permanent drummer is ongoing

VENOMOUS CONCEPT
this new supergroup features bassist Shane Embury (Napalm Death),
guitarist Buzz Osborne (Melvins, Fantomas), drummer Danny Herrera
(Napalm
Death) and vocalist Kevin Sharp (Brutal Truth) – the music is described
as
outlaw punk

ANNIHILATOR
bassist Russ "The Woodsman" Bergquist has left the band for undisclosed
personal reasons

EXHUMED
drummer John Longstreth (Origin, Skinless) will join the band for
upcoming
tours

SKINLESS
in the wake of John Longstreth’s departure, drummer Bob “The Big Guns”
Beaulac will return to the fold for some shows in March and some
European
touring

RAGING SPEEDHORN
guitarist Jaye Thompson (Defenestration) has replaced Tony Loughlin

SINGLE BULLET THEORY
drummer John Sasso has left the group

THROCULT
the new lineup is as follows: Ivan Alcala (v,g), Nick Jackson (g), Dave
Borusch (b) & David Csicsely (d)

ION VEIN
Chuck White (Spirit Web, Winterkill, Michael Angelo) is the band’s new
drummer

CIRCLE OF FEAR
Brian Keeley (Chopcore) has been added as new guitarist

ICED EARTH
‘The Glorious Burden’ debuted at #145 on The Billboard 200 chart and #4
on
Billboard’s Top Independent Albums chart

LACUNA COIL
the band has proved to be Century Media Records’ most successful
European
band in the company’s 13-year history with commercial radio play all
over
the USA and strong sales of ‘Comalies’ - in light of the excellent
support
throughout the years and because of the good relations with the
worldwide
Century Family, Lacuna Coil will renew their record deal with the label

CENTURY MEDIA
the Century Family has become majority owner of New Jersey based Now Or
Never Records - this collaboration will see Century Media handling the
manufacturing, marketing, and retail distribution of current and
upcoming
Now Or Never releases

CRASH MUSIC
the label has signed an exclusive distribution deal for the United
States
with Blunt Force Records, the label owned by Dying Fetus – this new
relationship will see the release of the following Fetus albums:
‘Infatuation With Malevolence’, ‘Purification Through Violence’,
‘Killing
On Adrenaline’ & ‘Grotesque Impalement’

JUDAS PRIEST
BBC new reports that former drummer David Holland has been found guilty
of
trying to rape a teenage boy who visited his home for drum lessons

DRUMS OF THE DEAD
Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Grip Inc., Fantomas) will be performing drums
for
the soundtrack to the upcoming re-make of the classic horror flick
‘Dawn
Of The Dead’

PROBOT
Dave Grohl recently informed the Metal Update that he will be hosting a
future episode of Headbanger’s Ball that will feature all old school
metal
– he further revealed that he will be joined by Eric Wagner (Trouble)
and
Wino (The Hidden Hand) to perform “My Tortured Soul” off of the Probot
album – for more information, see this week’s feature

NEW SIGNINGS
Century Media: Heaven Shall Burn
SPV Records: Raging Speedhorn
Crash Music: Gurkkhas
Firebox Records: Necare
Willowtip Records: Crowpath
Frontiers Records: Lionsheart
Konqueror Records: Deceiver
NotCommon Records: Conifer, Raising Kubrick



-- HELP WANTED --


DRUMMER wanted – Philadelphia’s Single Bullet Theory seeks drummer –
currently in preproduction for next full length for Crash/Pavement –
contact: thebullettheory@aol.com

GUITARIST wanted - Southern MA black/ thrash/ technical death band
Shadows
Of The Unseen seeks a lead guitarist - material already written -
recording this spring - pro attitude a must – contact:
Asouza3843@aol.com

BASSIST wanted - Framingham, MA’s Trauma Concept seeks bassist -
influences: Fear Factory, Slayer, Pantera, Sepultura, Machine Head,
Cryptopsy, Nothingface, Killswitch Engage - has management & booking
support, and plans on shopping to labels in 2004 - must be dedicated -
practice 3 times a week - preferably between age 18-26 – must be able
to
tour – contact: lostangelslayer@aol.com

BASSIST wanted – Canada’s Horde Of Worms seeks bass grinder with pro
attitude and gear – must reside in the GTA or move here - also seeking
a
Moog/ Sequencer/ Noisemaker and drummer if they exist – contact:
hordeofworms@hotmail.com

BASSIST wanted – Houston, TX’s Crimson Massacre seeks permanent bassist
–
influences: Morbid Angel, old Emperor, Cryptopsy, Suffocation,
Monstrosity, Angelcorpse, Averse Sefira - must devote heavy amounts of
time to touring and upcoming recording – contact: JmJ109@juno.com

MUSICIANS wanted - San Antonio, TX female-fronted melodic metal band
seeks
a permanent, dedicated 2nd guitarist and possible drummer who is fluent
with double bass - no drug addicts - influences: Lacuna Coil, In
Flames,
Nightwish, Children Of Bodom, Ozzy, Theatre Of Tragedy,
Type-O-Negative,
Evanescence – contact: OfInfinityEmail@aol.com



-- FEATURES --


PROBOT
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewprobot.html

In the early 90's, Nirvana rose from the underground to become
unwitting
leaders of the grunge movement. The three-piece and their Seattle Sound
ushered in a dark era in which metal became a dirty word. Only the true
of
heart remained to recall the glory days and plot the eventual return of
metalcraft. It is ironic that one of the three, drummer Dave Grohl,
should
now ride onto the battlefield waving the tattered metal flag.


. . .and in case you missed these recent features:

Chimaira
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewchimaira.html

2003: The Year In Metal
http://www.metalupdate.com/yir2003.html

Moonspell
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmoonspell.html



-- REVIEWS --


- METAL JUDGMENT -
http://www.metaljudgment.com

Exodus 'Tempo of the Damned'
(Abyss, Death, Hel)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/albums/exodus_frames.html

The End 'Within Dividia'
(Abyss, Death, Hel)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/albums/theend_frames.html

Premonitions of War 'Left In Kowloon'
(Jotun)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/pow_frames.html

Mourning Beloveth 'The Sullen Sulcus'
(Lugubrious)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/mb_frames.html

Sleep 'Dopesmoker'
(Redwolff)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/sleep_frames.html

Majhas 'Stepping Into Character'
(Slither)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/majhas_frames.html

Built Upon Frustration 'Resurrection'
(Blind)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/buf_frames.html

U.D.O. 'Live From Russia'
(Solomon)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/udolfr_frames.html

My Dying Bride 'Turn Loose The Swans' - Classic
(Requiem)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/classics/mdb_frames.html

Centrifuge - Demo
(Ember)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/centrifugev_frames.html

Myles Of Destruction - Demo
(Requiem)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/mylesod_frames.html

Destroyed By Anger - Demo
(Metal Militia)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/dba_frames.html

Malstrom - Demo
(Blind)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/malstrom_frames.html



-- NEW RELEASES --


1/12 - Thunderstone - The Burning
1/12 - Cadaveria - Far Away From Conformity
1/12 - Dawn - Slaughtersun
1/12 - The Black League - Man's Ruin Revisited
1/12 - Demilich - Nespithe
1/12 - Type O Negative - The Least Worst Of... (CD/DVD)
1/13 - Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden
1/13 - Magnitude Nine - Decoding The Soul
1/13 - Yngwie Malmsteen - Attack!!
1/13 - The End - Within Dividia
1/13 - Chaos Breed - Unleashed Carnage
1/13 - Relapse Records - Contaminated VI
1/13 - Conspiracy A.D. - Humanity = Destruction
1/13 - Evemaster – Wither
1/13 - Big Iron - Falling Down
1/13 - Decrypt - Holy Erotic Rapture
1/13 - Brutus – Slachtbeest
1/13 - Solitude Aeturnus - Into The Depths Of Sorrow
1/19 - Drudkh - Autumn Aurora
1/13 - Deceased - Rotten To The Core
1/19 - Marduk - Funeral Marches And Warsongs (DVD)
1/20 - Facebreaker - Bloodred Hell
1/26 - Blood Duster
1/26 - Axxis - Time Machine
1/26 - Dimmu Borgir / Old Man's Child - Sons of Satan...
1/26 - Septic Flesh - Sumerian Daemons
1/26 - Nile - In The Beginning
1/26 - Attacker - Soul Taker
1/26 - Farmer Boys - The Other Side
1/26 - The Gathering - Sleepy Buildings
1/26 - Watch Them Die
1/26 - Divine Empire - Nostradamus
1/26 - In The Eyes Of Death #4
1/26 - Macabre Minstrels - Morbid Campfire Songs
1/26 - Visual Rebellion (DVD)
1/26 - Dismember - Hate / Kill / Live (DVD)
1/27 - Spiritus Mortis
1/27 - The Kiss Of Death
1/27 - Force Of Evil
1/27 - Pig Destroyer - Splits
1/27 - Fantomas - Delirium Cordia
1/27 - Pyrexia - Cruelty Beyond Submission
1/27 - Fall Of The Bastards - Dusk Of An Ancient Age
1/27 - Gorerotted - Only Tools And Corpses
1/27 - Shining Fury - Last Sunrise
1/27 - Symphorce - Twice Second
1/27 - Stampin' Ground - A New Darkness Upon Us
1/27 - Deathwitch - Violence, Blasphemy, Sodomy
1/27 - Dimension Zero - Penetrations From The Lost World
1/27 - Organic Infest - The Way To Temptation
1/27 - Vesania - Firefrost Arcanum
1/27 - Pyrexia - Cruelty Beyond Submission
1/27 - Bayside - Sirens And Condolences
1/27 - Premonitions of War - Left In Kowloon
1/27 - Secret Heroes - Loose, High & Free
1/27 - Monsters Of Metal Vol. 1 (DVD)
1/27 - Relapse Records - Contamination Festival (DVD)
1/30 - Elite - Kampen
1/31 - Tyranny - Bleak Vistae
1/31 - Mar De Grises - The Tatterdemalion Express
2/02 - Probot
2/02 - Edguy - King Of Fools
2/02 - Exodus - Tempo Of The Damned
2/02 - Threshold - Critical Energy (CD/DVD)
2/03 - Gadget - Remote
2/04 - Leviathan - The Tentacles Of Whorror
2/06 - Atomizer - The Only Weapon Of Choice



-- IN PRINT --


EXPLICITLY INTENSE
http://www.explicitlyintense.com

issue #13 is out now featuring: Nevermore, The Devin Townsend Band, The
Black Dahlia Murder, Monstrosity, Enslaved, Jadis, Divine Rapture,
Engine,
Immersed In Blood, Mindfield, Wehrwolfe, Kill 2 This, Sinister,
Battlelore, Goatwhore, Leviathan, Pentacle, Six Feet Under,
Mirrorthrone,
plus free CD



-- ON THE NET --


ETERNAL FROST WEBZINE
http://www.frostgrind.cjb.net

the final issue (#15) is now online featuring: Blood Cult, Chemikiller,
Darkness Eternal, God Is Myth Records, Hellacaust, Honey for Christ,
Human
Taxidermy, Nokturnel, Nunslaughter, Rain Paint, Secrets She Kept,
Shroud
of Bereavement, Seraphidian, Terminal Descent, Witches Brew, Spawn of
Satan / All That Is Evil, Damnation Army / Rotten Minds


HIT THE PIT
http://www.hitthepit.com

new interviews: Converge, Arson, Unearth, Killswitch Engage, Jetfuel,
Lamb
Of God, Shadows Fall


TRANSIENT
http://www.transientband.com

the space rock side project of Shadows Fall vocalist Brian Fair and
former
Overcast guitarist Scott McCooe, has launched their official website -
MP3s of their latest demo are available for download



-- TOUR DATES --

(dates are subject to change - check local listings)


ARCH ENEMY w/ ZYKLON & STAMPIN GROUND

2/17 Cologne, Germany
2/18 Aalen/Stuttgart, Germany
2/19 Munich, Germany
2/21 Vidia, Italy
2/22 Bergamo, Italy
2/24 Barcelona, Spain
2/25 Madrid, Spain
2/27 Paris, France
2/28 Hellendoorn, Netherlands
2/29 Eindhoven, Netherlands
3/02 Hamburg, Germany
3/03 Osnabruck, Germany
3/04 Essen, Germany
3/05 Antwerpen, Belgium


DREAM THEATER

1/24 Stuttgart-Boblingen, Germany
1/25 Brussel, Belgium
1/26 Frankfurt-Hochst, Germany
1/27 Koln, Germany
1/29 Paris, France
1/30 Dortmund, Germany
1/31 Nôrnberg-Fôrth, Germany
2/02 Berlin, Germany
2/04 Frauenfeld, Switzerland
2/05 Milan, Italy
2/06 Bologna, Italy
2/07 Rome, Italy
2/10 Barcelona, Spain
2/11 Madrid, Spain
2/12 Oporto, Portugal
2/14 Istanbul, Turkey
3/03 Portland, OR
3/05 San Francisco, Ca
3/06 Los Angeles, CA
3/25 Toronto, ONT
3/26 Quebec City, QUE
3/27 Montreal, QUE
4/01 Boston, MA
4/02 Philadelphia, PA
4/03 New York, NY
4/22 Nagoya, Japan
4/23 Osaka, Japan
4/24 Osaka, Japan
4/26 Tokyo, Japan
4/28 Seoul, Korea


EXHUMED

2/05 Sacramento, CA
2/06 Las Vegas, NV
2/07 Albuquerque, NM
2/08 Amarillo, TX
2/09 Oklahoma City, OK
2/10 Little Rock, AR


ICED EARTH w/ PRIMAL FEAR & THUNDERSTONE

3/19 Antwerpen, Belgium
3/20 Hardenberg, Netherlands
3/21 London, United Kingdom
3/22 Paris, France
3/23 Lyon, France
3/24 Madrid, Spain
3/25 Bergara, Spain
3/27 Barcelona, Spain
3/29 Milan, Italy
3/30 Pratteln, Switzerland
4/01 Koln, Germany
4/02 Nurnberg, Germany
4/03 Filderstadt, Germany
4/04 Wien, Austria
4/06 Hamburg, Germany
4/07 Malmo, Sweden
4/08 Gothenburg, Sweden
4/09 Stockholm, Sweden
4/11 Helsinki, Finland


ICED EARTH w/ CHILDREN OF BODOM

4/18 Columbus, OH
4/19 St. Louis, MO
4/20 Chicago, IL
4/21 Minneapolis, MN
4/23 Detroit, MI
4/24 Milwaukee, WI
4/25 Cleveland, OH
4/26 Toronto, ON
4/28 Montreal, QC
4/29 New York, NY
4/30 Philadelphia, PA
5/01 Worcester, MA
5/02 Washington DC
5/04 Atlanta, GA
5/05 Orlando, FL
5/07 New Orleans, LA
5/08 Houston, TX
5/09 Austin, TX
5/10 Dallas, TX
5/12 Denver, CO
5/14 Vancouver, BC
5/15 Seattle, WA
5/17 San Francisco, CA
5/18 Santa Ana, CA
5/19 Phoenix, AZ
5/21 Los Angeles, CA


OPETH w/ MOONSPELL & DEVILDRIVER

1/23 Vancouver, BC
1/24 Seattle, WA
1/25 Portland, OR
1/27 Los Angeles, CA
1/28 Phoenix, AZ
1/29 San Diego, CA
1/30 Anaheim, CA
1/31 San Francisco, CA
2/02 Denver, CO
2/03 Lawrence, KS
2/05 Dallas, TX
2/06 Austin, TX
2/07 Houston, TX
2/09 Tampa, FL
2/10 Fort Lauderdale, FL
2/11 Orlando, FL
2/13 Atlanta, GA
2/14 Charlotte, NC
2/15 Washington, DC
2/16 Cincinnati, OH
2/18 Minneapolis, MN
2/19 Chicago, IL
2/20 Detroit, MI
2/21 Latham, NY
2/22 Montreal, QC
2/24 Toronto, ON
2/25 Rochester, NY
2/26 Philadelphia, PA
2/27 New York, NY
2/28 Worcester, MA


FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF TOUR DATES GO TO:

http://www.metalupdate.com/tour.html



-- SPONSORS --


EVIL EYE PRODUCTIONS
http://www.evileyesight.com

UNRESTRAINED!
http://www.unrestrainedmag.com

METAL BLADE RECORDS
http://www.metalblade.com



-- LINKS --


MINISTRY
http://www.animositisomina.com

STRATOVARIUS
http://www.stratovarius.com

VENOMOUS CONCEPT
http://www.venomousconcept.com

ANNIHILATOR
http://www.annihilatormetal.com

EXHUMED
http://www.exhumed.us

SKINLESS
http://www.4skinless.com

RAGING SPEEDHORN
http://www.ragingspeedhorn.co.uk

SINGLE BULLET THEORY
http://www.singlebullettheory.net

THROCULT
http://www.throcult.com

CIRCLE OF FEAR
http://www.circleoffear.com

ICED EARTH
http://www.icedearth.com

LACUNA COIL
http://www.lacunacoil.it

CENTURY MEDIA
http://www.centurymedia.com

CRASH MUSIC
http://www.crashmusicinc.com

DAVE LOMBARDO
http://www.davelombardo.com

PROBOT
http://www.probot-music.com

HEAVEN SHALL BURN
http://www.heavenshallburn.com

NECARE
http://www.necare.net

CROWPATH
http://www.crowpath.com

LIONSHEART
http://www.lionsheart.com

DECEIVER
http://www.cruor.com/emf/

CONIFER
http://www.coniferkills.com

RAISING KUBRICK
http://www.raisingkubrick.cjb.net

DELTHOID
http://www.delthoid.com

RICHARD CHRISTY
http://www.richardchristy.com



-- READER SUPPORT --


METAL UPDATE DONATIONS
http://shorl.com/janimopratika

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