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September 3, 2010 |
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BEHEMOTH Mainman Needs Bone Marrow Transplant
Posted: August 25, 2010 at 11:51 (PST)
BEHEMOTH mainman Nergal has just found out he needs a marrow transplant to fight the sickness he has recently been diagnosed with, leukemia. In light of this he wants to remind everyone about the need to be on the marrow registry. The more people get tested and donate, the more of a chance for life there is for him and people in the same situation.
BEHEMOTH and Metal Blade would like to thank everyone for their support and well wishes during this difficult time. The best thing we can all do right now is learn about the marrow donation process, not only help save one of metal's leaders, but to also help save countless others out there struggling with the same disease.
Learn more about how you can register to donate bone marrow.
The METALEATER crew wishes Nergal a speedy recovery so he can get back to doing what he does best.
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TARJA TURUNEN - New Video Online
Posted: August 23, 2010 at 11:39 (PST)
Finnish superstar Tarja Turunen (ex-NIGHTWISH) has released the brand new video for the track "Until My Last Breath", filmed earlier this summer in Iceland. The Track is the first international single from her sophomore effort, "What Lies Beneath", which will be released in North America on September 14, 2010 through The End Records.
Featuring US exclusive artwork and bonus track, What Lies Beneathwas recorded and produced by Tarja and mixed by Tim Palmer (PEARL JAME, THE CURE, Robert Plant), Colin Richardson (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and Slamm Andrews (scores of Angels And Demons, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Gladiator).
Special guests on What Lies Beneath include Phil Labonte (ALL THAT REMAINS), Joe Satriani, Jason Hook (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH), Will Calhoun (LIVING COLOUR), Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and Choir and more. A Deluxe Edition will be released simultaneously and features and additional three tracks.
"What Lies Beneath" is the follow up to Turunen's debut album "My Winter Storm" that was released in 2008 and was certified platinum in Finland.
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WHITESNAKE Introduce New Bassist
Posted: August 23, 2010 at 11:34 (PST)
Fronteirs Records has sent METALEATER this announcement:
After months of speculation, WHITESNAKE are thrilled to announce their new bass player/singer... 35 year old Michael Devin.
Recently Michael has been playing with LYNCH MOB with new WHITESNAKE drummer, Brian Tichy.
This completes the new WHITESNAKE line-up and Devin will be featured on their new album, alongside guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach and keyboardist Timothy Drury.
Michael Devin says: "It's an honor to be welcomed into the WHITESNAKE family. I'm a big fan. WHITESNAKE is notorious for exciting musicianship, Davids history is rich, and I'm very proud to be here."
The album is currently being recorded for release on Frontiers Records in early 2011. The band will be also returning to touring in support of the new album's release.
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INSOMNIUM Sign With Century Media
Posted: August 16, 2010 at 13:18 (PST)
Century Media has sent METALEATER this press release:
Century Media Records is proud to announce the signing of INSOMNIUM who recently won the Finnish Metal Awards earlier this year for Best Band and Best Album (for the 2009 album "Across The Dark").
The band comments:
"We are very happy to announce that we have signed a deal with the mighty Century Media Records. Throughout the spring and summer we negotiated with several attractive labels but in the end it was clear that Century Media would be our home for the years to come. Their enthusiasm, professionalism and genuine love for music made an instant impact on us. We are convinced that this alliance will lead to even greater achievements in the future and also avails us to tour outside Europe more often. And naturally it is a great honor for us to stand in the same team with the likes of DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, PARADISE LOST, THE HAUNTED, FINNTROLL and TURISAS. A new exciting chapter in the story of INSOMNIUM has begun!
We want to thank Jens Prueter and the whole Century Media crew for putting their trust in us. We thank our manager Jukka Varmo for handling the negotiations very smoothly. We also wish to thank our previous label Candlelight Records for the decade that we spent with them. We salute you all!"
Jens Prueter, Head Of A&R Century Media Europe:
"It's great to welcome a band that has developed over the past year to one of the most exciting bands in the Metal scene. I always liked their unique mix of Finnish melancholy with Melodic Death Metal and even more so they always blew my mind seeing them live. You can feel that this is a band of brothers who haven't changed their line-up since their debut album in 2002. In case of doubt go and see them on their tour with DARK TRANQUILLITY this Fall - you won't be disappointed! I cheer my horns up North and thank INSOMNIUM for their trust in Century Media Records."
Over the last decade INSOMNIUM has slowly but surely made itself a household name among the melodic deathsters. Formed in 1997 in a somnolent town of Joensuu, in Eastern Finland, these stern men have ever since redefined the boundaries of the genre. Two highly acclaimed demos already set the standard and in 2001 the band signed to UK label Candlelight Records.
At this point the founding members Markus Hirvonen (drums), Ville Friman (guitars) and Niilo Sevanen (vocals and bass) attached guitarist Ville Vanni to the band. Since then INSOMNIUM released four highly acclaimed albums that combine aggression and violent riffing to melancholic atmosphere - a marriage of Scandinavian death metal and traditional Finnish tunes, catchy but progressive, melodic but brutal.
After long tours in Europe and North America with bands like AMORPHIS, KATATONIA, ENSLAVED, SATYRICON and their last co-headline tour with GHOST BRIGADE, INSOMNIUM will be main support to DARK TRANQUILLITY this Fall before they enter the studio to record the follow-up to their 2009 album "Across The Dark". Stay tuned!
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BLIND GUARDIAN - New Video Online
Posted: August 05, 2010 at 15:10 (PST)
BLIND GUARDIAN's brand new video for the song "A Voice In The Dark," directed by Ivan Colic and produced by Stanimir "Staca" Lukic, has been posted online. It was shot in Belgrade, Serbia in early June 2010.
BLIND GUARDIAN vocalist & lyricist Hansi Kursch checks in about the finished product:
"The storyboard of the video is just an individual interpretation by the video producer in accordance to the lyrics of 'A Voice In The Dark' and the album cover. Storyboard-wise, I think it is the perfect output of what art is supposed to be about: A constant inspiration to progression and new worlds. We luckily did have the chance to visit the pyramids in Mexico when we played there in 1998. They, of course, have been my inspiration when I spoke to Felipe [Machado Franco, artist] about the album cover artwork and possible pyramids to be involved. Due to that, they also were an inspiration for Ivan [Colic]. Our intention, of course, is to have some of the images [incorporated] into our live set."
As far as the band's personal beliefs on the meanings of events involving celestial bodies, Kursch clarifies:
"We personally do not believe that incredible things will happen during eclipses - usually. Things like that can definitely and easily irritate your mind, though. According to the Mayan calendar, we already have appointments on planet Earth for 2013."
"A Voice In The Dark" comes off BLIND GUARDIAN's tenth studio album "At The Edge Of Time", which will be released in North America on August 24 and features album artwork created by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco (ICED EARTH, AT VANCE, AXEL RUDI PELL).
Pre-order bundles for "At The Edge Of Time" are now available at Nuclear Blast USA's online store.
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FEAR FACTORY Narrowly Escape Devastating Bus Fire
Posted: August 05, 2010 at 15:06 (PST)
METALEATER has received this press release:
Northamptonshire, England:
FEAR FACTORY in the early morning hours narrowly escaped fire that quickly engulfed their tour bus while in route to London. The fire reportedly stemmed from a back wheel tire before spreading throughout the double-decker coach. BBC News confirms the fire closed down two lanes of the southbound M1 as Northamptonshire fire officials battled the blaze.
FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares released the following comment moments ago: "We had just finished playing a sold out show in Sheffield and we were on our way to London. Everyone was asleep except for two of our crew. At about 3:30am the bus driver noticed smoke coming from the back right wheel. He stopped, jumped out and noticed a flame underneath the wheel well. He tried to extinguish it but the flames were too much. Everyone on the bus was woken up by one of our crew yelling 'Get everyone up and out of the bus.' Everyone grabbed their bags and ran off the bus. We stood on the side of the freeway going 'thank god we all made it out' until someone noticed our merchandise guy was still asleep on the bus. A good friend of ours ran back on the smoked-filled bus and got him out just minutes before the bus was completely in flames."
FEAR FACTORY are currently on tour in the UK continuing performances in support of their latest album, Mechanize. The band completed their most recent American tour on July 27 to a captivated audience in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The following evening the band departed from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport for an additional three weeks of dates in the UK and other various European festivals.
Cazares adds, "our eyes are burning and we were all coughing from the smoke. Some of us lost wallets, money, computers but that's not important compared to our lives. It only took about 20 to 30 minutes for the bus to be completely covered in flames. The fire trucks and the police finally arrived but it was too late to save anything on the bus. A coach bus picked us up and brought us safely to a nearby hotel. We found out only a short while ago that the trailer was saved where all our gear was. But the bus is just a metal frame on the side of the road."
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ACCEPT - Track Listing For Exclusive Dig-Pak Revealed
Posted: August 05, 2010 at 15:04 (PST)
Nuclear Blast USA's Webshop is now taking pre-orders for the exclusive North American mail-order digi-pak edition of ACCEPT's forthcoming new album, "Blood Of The Nations". This exclusive release features the bonus track "Time Machine". The pre-order bundle includes an ACCEPT "Teutonic Terror" t-shirt.
Here is the full track listing for the "Blood Of The Nations" digi-pak:
01. Beat The Bastards
02. Teutonic Terror
03. The Abyss
04. Blood Of The Nations
05. Shades Of Death
06. Locked And Loaded
07. Time Machine (North American Bonus Track)
08. Kill The Pain
09. Rollin' Thunder
10. Pandemic
11. New World Comin'
12. No Shelter
13. Bucketful of Hate
"Blood Of The Nations", ACCEPT's twelfth full-length studio album was recorded at Backstage Studio in England with famed producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY), and will be released in North America on September 14.
ACCEPT's 2010 line-up (which features three on-going members) is: Wolf Hoffmann, guitar; Peter Baltes, bass; Stefan Schwarzmann, drums; Herman Frank, guitar; and Mark Tornillo on vocals.
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GRAVE DIGGER - Wrong Cover Artwork For New Album In Circulation
Posted: August 02, 2010 at 14:11 (PST)
German metallers GRAVE DIGGER have checked in with this bulletin:
"Hello fans,
Triggered by Blabbermouth, there's a WRONG cover artwork of the new album on it's way in the web. This reputed release of the cover artwork has not been authorized by the band and the record company and does not illustrate the final artwork.
The RIGHT artwork will be releases worldwide Monday, August 9!!!
Metal on."
As reported earlier on METALEATER, GRAVE DIGGER's forthcoming album, "The Clans Will Rise Again", will be released in Europe on October 1, 2010 through Napalm Records. Here is the complete track listing:
01. Days Of Revenge
02. Paid In Blood
03. Hammer Of The Scots
04. Highland Farewell
05. The Clans Will Rise Again
06. Rebels
07. Valley Of Tears
08. Execution
09. Whom The Gods Love Die Young
10. Spider
11. The Piper Mcleod
12. Coming Home
13. When Rain Turns To Blood
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TESSERACT Sign With Century Media
Posted: July 27, 2010 at 11:44 (PST)
Century Media has sent METALEATER this press release:
Hailed as one of the best unsigned bands from everyone from the Washington Post to UK's Rock Sound magazine, TESSERACT are pleased to finally shed the "unsigned" tag as they announce a worldwide recording deal with Century Media Records. The band comments:
"TESSERACT is very excited to be working with Century Media. We have been looking for a long time and have spoken to many companies but feel that the hard work ethic and enthusiasm that Century Media showed will help take us to the next level and will see TESSERACT emerge from the underground and on to the international scene."
TESSERACT has spent the last year finalizing their debut album, One, which was produced by band mates, Acle Kahney and Amos Williams. With constant support from the UK media, TESSERACT has been able to achieve a loyal following in their home country as well as the rest of Europe, having their video for Concealing Fate Part II in constant rotation on Scuzz TV and other media outlets. They've toured throughout the UK and EU playing everything from clubs to festivals and last spring made it over to Russia for the first of what will surely be many stops. Their international touring plans continue as they are pleased to announce they were invited as special guests on Devin Townsend's North American West Coast run.
"For TESSERACT to be on the road with Devin Townsend is just unbelievable for us. From his work with Steve Vai to the craziness of SYL and all the way through to his latest solo albums, he's always been way out there, pushing the boundaries of modern rock and metal and has been a constant in cutting edge music. It'll be a great opportunity for us to watch and learn from a very creative and accomplished musician and song writer. We cannot wait for October to come!"
Formed in 2003 as a solo writing project in the mind of guitarist Acle (who was a founding member in Fell Silent) TESSERACT first broke through in the scene with their 2007 demo and later appearances at UK's Bloodstock, Hammerfest, Caos Emergente in Portugal and the Hellfire 2 festival at the Birmingham NEC arena. TESSERACT soon became one of the most talked about bands among musicians and tech-heads, thanks to the quintet's time signatures and musical complexity. TESSERACT are far from an exclusionary exercise in tech metal pomposity though. They fully embrace their experimental, Prog sensibility without excessive indulgence or pretentiousness, delivering atmospheric, metallic songs that stir strong emotions and evoke powerful mental images.
TESSERACT is:
Acle Kahney - Guitars
Amos Williams - Bass
Dan Tompkins - Vocals
Jay Postones - Drums
James Monteith - Guitars
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GWAR - New Album Title Revealed
Posted: July 27, 2010 at 11:41 (PST)
Metal Blade has sent METALEATER this press release:
After a triumphant European tour that included appearances at the With Full Force and Dour Festivals, Antarctic Rock gods GWAR have returned to their ice-bound fortress, to drink blood and begin work on their newest and most gut-crushing album yet. That's right, right now, at the sorta halfway point of GWAR's special two-year long 25th Anniversary Slay-a-Bration, Slave Pit Inc. and Metal Blade Records are proud to announce the title of GWAR's new album.
"Our new album is called 'Bloody Pit Of Horror'," said Oderus Urungus, front-thing and leading female impersonator. 'We are fully aware that there is a movie of the same title, I assure you it has nothing to do with it, save the title, which we stole from them. But you see, we're calling it 'GWAR's Bloody Pit Of Horror', and that's a little different, so hopefully we won't get sued!"
The new album is reportedly "heavy as fuck", and features songs like "Hail to Genocide", "Storm is Coming", and "Tick-Tits". "That's a song about a chick whose tits are covered in ticks...big fat gray puffy ones", said Oderus. A full track listing and official release date is expected soon.
In other GWAR news, the Slave Pit, GWAR's pit of slaves, located in Richmond, VA. (because of the excellent crack and large art school), is busily preparing for the re-awakening of an ancient GWAR tradition, the GWAR-B-Que! Back in the early days of GWAR, the slaves used to throw parties in the Pit in the hopes of attracting helpless women. These parties grew in size and fury as other bands and insane artists got involved...but then just stopped happening...
"Because of 9/11, man..." said Slave Pit spokesman James Nasium.
But the GWAR-B-Q is back! On August 8, 2010, at the Bike Lot in Richmond, VA.! Check GWARBQ.com for full details, directions, and more.
GWAR's new album, "GWAR's Bloody Pit Of Horror" is out this fall on Metal Blade Records. In the meantime look for GWAR back in Europe this summer, at the Bloodstock fest and more!
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ENSLAVED - New Album Cover Artwork Revealed
Posted: July 19, 2010 at 13:21 (PST)
Norway's ENSLAVED have revealed the cover artwork for their forthcoming album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", which will be released in Europe through Indie Recordings on September 27 and in North America on September 28 through Nuclear Blast Records.
The artwork was created by Norwegian artist Truls Espedal. ENSLAVED bassist/vocalist Grutle Kjellson has this to say about collaborating with the man who has painted every ENSLAVED album cover since 2001's Monumension:
"On every new album cover, me and [rhythm guitarist/songwriter] Ivar [Bjornson] come up with the idea of what the cover art shall include in terms of elements, symbolism and so forth. After that, we contact Truls and tell him about our ideas for the cover art. Then we arrange a meeting where we sit down for a couple of hours making sketches. Truls also has the opportunity to come up with his own ideas of how we can transform our original ideas the best possible way. He has made a masterpiece this time as well! The cover art is simply amazing! Amazing."
Artist/painter Truls Espedal reveals how much black paint was used for the artwork's creation and shares his thoughts on being back in action with ENSLAVED:
"I'm always excited about working with ENSLAVED, which is the reason I feel that too much time goes by between releases - ha, ha! But once again I sat down with Ivar and Grutle, and their ideas were more complex and interesting than ever. Also, their expectations and confidence that I'm able to come up with something better than before pushes me to set the bar even higher. This time around, we set out to expand further what we have done on earlier works: adding more textures and mixing the figurative paintings with the 'symbolic' design even more. By doing this, I feel that we are able to convey a lot more atmosphere, story, and a visually more interesting cover throughout. Hopefully, other people will think the same. It's really important for me that the artwork is handcrafted and that the printed images on the CD and vinyl versions really show the brush strokes and have that feel to them. That is a big issue! And about the amount of black paint I used - a lot. Good times."
Produced by Bjørnson, Kjellson, and keyboardist/backing vocalist Herbrand Larsen, the groundwork for "Axioma Ethica Odini" was recorded at three different studios in Bergen, Norway: 1) Duper Studios; 2) Earshot Studios (belonging to ENSLAVED members Larsen and lead guitarist Ice Dale); and 3) Peersonal Sound (owned by Bjornson). The album was mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, BLODBATH, AMON AMARTH) at Fascination Street Studios in Orebro, Sweden and mastered by Chris Sansom (MORTIIS) at Propeller Music Division in Oslo, Norway.
ENSLAVED will embark on the "Circling Above and Within Tour" of Europe for seven shows beginning October 15.
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OBSCURA Begin Recording New Album
Posted: July 19, 2010 at 12:53 (PST)
Relapse Records has sent METALEATER this press release:
Progressive Death Metal act OBSCURA has begun recording the follow-up album to their breakthrough release "Cosmogenesis" at Woodshed Studio in southern Germany. Engineer V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS) will helm the recording. An early 2011 release date is expected with additional album details to be announced soon.
OBSCURA founder Steffen Kummerer commented on the new album; "We are glad to work with our long-time friend V.Santura once again to record our new album. The new material feels broader in some way as everybody in this band brought many unique ideas to the songwriting and we were able to integrate different elements into our sound. More open chords, more acoustic guitars, more seven string shred-tunes. Remember: more is always more. We are excited to create another album of progressive Death Metal and to start touring through the whole world in early 2011."
OBSCURA's recording and touring line-up remains as Kummerer on guitar and vocals, Christian Muenzner on guitar, Jeroen Paul Thesseling on bass and Hannes Grossman on drums. The band will round out the "Cosmogenesis" touring cycle with a performance as part of the Mezcal Metal Festival in Mexico City, Mexico in September.
Additionally, OBSCURA's Thesseling was recently interview by PETA2 at this location. The renowned fretless bass player talks about his decision to go vegetarian 16 years ago and current OBSCURA happenings.
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SOULFLY Split With Bassist
Posted: July 19, 2010 at 12:46 (PST)
SOULFLY have split with their bassist, Bobby Burns.
On his Twitter profile, Burns briefly states: "To all the fans... SOULFLY and I have decided to part ways. Stay tuned for my next projects already in the works. Thanks 4 ur support!!!"
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THERION Split With Snowy Shaw
Posted: July 16, 2010 at 12:46 (PST)
Sweden's THERION have released this statement:
"We are sad to confirm that Snowy Shaw has suddenly decided to not do any of the upcoming shows with THERION. This decision took us by surprise, because, up to now, we have had a great collaboration. The reason is simply that he has been working on an album with another big band (as a bass player - that came as a surprise too!), who have now offered him a deal he felt he could not refuse. We don't think this is a good decision, but accept the situation and wish him good luck.
We realize many will miss Snowy, who did a great job during the more theatrical direction THERION took during the 'Gothic Kabbalah' era (as well as on the coming album, Sitra Ahra). Like all the other close guest collaborators in the history of the band (Mats Leven, Andy "the bald guy" Engberg, Karin Fjellander, Sara Jezebel Deva, Martina Hornbacher, Dan Swano...), he contributed with something unique and put his mark on the ongoing THERION development. And just like the choice of Mats Leven was questioned in the beginning, (for being too Rock 'n' Roll for THERION) and later became a beloved part of the band's identity at the time, Snowy also made the journey from being regarded as a somewhat odd choice to becoming a popular character in the THERION show.
This vacancy, however, gives us an opportunity to yet again take a different direction. We are right now in the process of creating the new production that will be used for the 'Sitra Ahra' World Tour, and we have some thrilling options to choose from. As always, THERION will deliver something unique and challenging that will turn the water of the skeptics into the wine of a classic set-up. Stay tuned!"
THERION's new album, "Sitra Ahra", will be released later this year. It was mixed by Lennart Ostlund (LED ZEPPELIN, ABBA) at the legendary Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. Here is the full track listing:
01. Sitra Ahra
02. Kings Of Edom
03. Unguentum Sabbati
04. Land Of Canaan
05. Hellequin
06. 2012
07. Cu Chulain
08. Kali Yoga III
09. The Shells Are Open
10. Din
11. After The Inquisition: Children
In May 2009, Johnsson announced that vocalist Thomas Vikstrom (ex-CANDLEMASS) had official permanent member status. Johnsson recently recruited Christian Vidal (ex-THE ROAD VULTURES, ex-CUERO) from Argentina as the band's new guitarist, who his live debut with THERION on June 4, 2010 in Mexico City. Comprising THERION's new rhythm section are Johan Koleberg (ANIMAL, ZAN CLAN, LION'S SHARE) on drums and Nalle "Grizzly" Pahlsson (TREAT, ZAN CLAN, VINDICTIV) on bass.
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GRAVE DIGGER - New Album Title, Track Listing Revealed
Posted: July 16, 2010 at 12:40 (PST)
German metallers GRAVE DIGGER have sent METALEATER this bulletin:
"The deed is done! The new GRAVE DIGGER album has been recorded and mixed! Together with new member Axel Ritt on guitars, the band entrenched themselves from mid-May to mid-July at the Meadow Studios of Axel Ritt and the Principal Studios, the place all albums have been recordet since 'Heart Of Darkness' in 1995. Mixed by Jorg Umbreit and produced by Chris Boltendahl, 'The Clans Will Rise Again' will lead the listeners back to the Scottish highlands.
Chris Boltendahl, Jens Becker, Stefan Arnold, HP Katzenburg and Axel Ritt offer an explosive mixture of the typical GRAVE DIGGER riff Metal, combined with awesome epic chorus hooks, which will fascinate the fans from the very first note. THE CLANS ARE BACK FOR ATTACK!
'The Clans Will Rise Again' is a loose sequel of the TUNES OF WAR album, but this time not a concept album about the Scotish history, rather a work about Scotland, it's mysticism and it's people."
"The Clans Will Rise Again" will be released in Europe on October 1, 2010 through Napalm Records. Here is the complete track listing:
01. Days Of Revenge
02. Paid In Blood
03. Hammer Of The Scots
04. Highland Farewell
05. The Clans Will Rise Again
06. Rebels
07. Valley Of Tears
08. Execution
09. Whom The Gods Love Die Young
10. Spider
11. The Piper Mcleod
12. Coming Home
13. When Rain Turns To Blood
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