Dark Tranquillity Part With Bassist

Swedish death metallers, Dark Tranquillity, have parted ways with bassist Michael Nicklasson. The band, who are about to head out on tour, will continue on with a session bassist.

A statement from Michael, from an email sent out by label, Century Media:

"After almost 10 years and tons of tours and festivals, I chose to leave D.T. for personal reasons. It's been so cool all this time to meet all the people and the tons of fans around the world, and all the friends that I got during this amazing journey - crew, fans and all the people I (we) worked with. I can't name everyone, as the list would take up all the space on the web site, but I'm going to miss all of you that worked and supported us (me) during these years, but this is the right thing to do, I really need a break."

"There are no hard feelings in the band; it's a thing that we all felt was the best for DT. Now I'm going to kick back for a while, and then I'll see what's in the future for me. I wish the best for the rest off the boys in my old crew, and to all: I'm coming back in one way or another......thanks to all off you! Cheers!"

The dates for the tour are as follows:

Oct 24 2008 8:00P kato berlin, Berlin
Oct 25 2008 8:00P Grünspan hamburg, Hamburg
Oct 26 2008 8:00P Bibelot Doordrecht
Oct 27 2008 8:00P Biebob vosselaar
Oct 28 2008 8:00P Locomotive paris
Oct 29 2008 8:00P Ninkasi kao Lyon
Oct 31 2008 8:00P Rolling Stone milano
Nov 1 2008 8:00P Estragon Bologna
Nov 2 2008 8:00P Alpheus rome
Nov 4 2008 8:00P New Age treviso
Nov 5 2008 8:00P Gala Hala Ljubljana
Nov 6 2008 8:00P Szene Vienna
Nov 7 2008 8:00P Orpheum Graz
Nov 8 2008 8:00P Salzhaus Winterthur
Nov 9 2008 8:00P Backstage Munich
Nov 10 2008 8:00P Röhre Stuttgart
Nov 11 2008 8:00P Underground Cologne
Nov 12 2008 8:00P Pumpehuset Copenhagen
Nov 13 2008 8:00P John Dee Oslo
Nov 14 2008 8:00P Brewhouse göteborg
Nov 15 2008 8:00P Valhall skövde
Nov 16 2008 8:00P Tyrol stockholm
Nov 18 2008 8:00P Hårdrocksklubben östersund
Nov 20 2008 8:00P Platens linköping
Nov 21 2008 8:00P KB malmö
Nov 22 2008 8:00P Folkets Park Huskvarna

For more information on the band, head on over to their Myspace page:

www.myspace.com/dtofficial

The Haunted Complete And Name New Album

Swedish metallers, The Haunted, have completed work to their new album, which shall be released in the autumn, and will be called Versus.

Here's what the band had to say, taken from an email from their label, Century Media:

"So we're about to let people outside the box start peeking inside. The album we've come up with is one we decided to call Versus. Pretty much it's turned out to be exactly what we had hoped for! We decided to record the whole album live, and add vocals and solos once we had the songs down with the right energy and groove.

"Like always, Peter confused the hell out of everyone by presenting 25 ideas almost a year before we were even going to record, but later calmed the mood by explaining it was mostly to inspire and provoke. It worked. Anders and Jonas started dropping CD's of scatterbrained ideas and mixed riffs and we started digging; Anders bringing industrial and melodic ideas to the table, and Jonas traditional metal roots. Initially Jensen felt he didn't know where to go with it. He told Peter, 'All I come up with is grind...' So what?! Then write grind riffs! It's all gonna sound like THE HAUNTED in the end anyway. Pete told him, and shortly after Jensen started pounding us with typical, simplistic, Jensen trademark riffs.

"So what does it sound like? Definitely THE HAUNTED: Great songs, catchfire-riffing, hooks catchier than herpes on a biker slut, explosive groovy beats and lyrics as sharp, dark and dripping sarcastic bile like someone who just got back from Hell with a bone to pick.

"It's safe to say we're really looking forward to letting this b**tard sink its fangs into your minds. Ladies and gents, it's clobbering time!"

Aborted - New Album Release

German metallers Aborted have a brand new album, "Strychnine.213", which is due to be released on the 23rd of June in the UK (24th in the US) through Century Media.

You can check out their studio sessions from the album here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P6fAYRgSEU

They also have an eCard up which you can find here:

www.centurymedia.com/eCard/Aborted/Strychnine213

The band are about to head out on the Summer Slaughter tour in the US, along with The Black Dahlia Murder, Kataklysm, Vader, Cryptopsy, The Faceless, Despised Icon, Born of Osiris, Psycroptic and Whitechapel.

06/20 Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI
06/21 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
06/22 Headliner’s Music Hall – Louisville, KY
06/24 Northern Lights – Albany, NY
06/25 The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
06/27 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
06/28 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
06/29 The National – Richmond, VA
06/30 Ground Zero – Spartanburg, VA
07/01 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
07/02 Jannus Landing – St. Petersburg, FL
07/04 The White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX
07/05 Meridian – Houston, TX
07/06 House of Blues – Dallas, TX
07/08 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
07/09 Club 101 – El Paso, TX
07/10 Marquee Theater – Phoenix, AZ
07/11 House of Blues – Los Angeles, CA
07/12 The Dome – Bakersfield, CA
07/13 SOMA – San Diego, CA
07/15 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
07/16 The New Oasis – Sparks, NV
07/17 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
07/18 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
07/19 Big Easy Concert House – Spokane, WA
07/20 Big Easy Concert House – Boise, ID
07/21 Club NVO – Logan, UT
07/23 Cervantes Ballroom – Denver, CO
07/24 Sokol Underground – Omaha, NE
07/25 First Ave. – Minneapolis, MN
07/26 The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
07/27 Pop’s – St. Louis, MO
07/28 House of Blues – Chicago, IL

LACUNA COIL announce Australian tour dates!

Article taken form the band's Myspace page:

MILAN, ITALY – Century Media Recording artists LACUNA COIL have announced today that they will return to Australia this June for a run of headlining tour dates.

The band who have spent the past several months writing songs for their forthcoming new album (release date: TBD), will take some time away from their rehearsal room to play a series of headlining dates before hitting the recording studio later this summer.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Hell yeah, that's EXACTLY what I yelled when I heard we were going back to AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!" Comments Lacuna Coil frontwoman Cristina Scabbia. "If you know Lacuna Coil you already know how many times we said we had a blast on the Gigantour with Megadeth and that we were just waiting to come back and kick ass again. This time we get to play more material for you, and spend more time hanging out with everyone in that wonderful place. Now it's the right time, and WE ARE COMING BACK! And trust me, it's gonna be FUN! Love you all, rock on!"

These will be the first headlining dates for the band in Australia. Previously Lacuna Coil has only been to Australia once before as a part of the incredible Gigantour tour 2007 alongside Megadeth, Devildriver and Static-X.

AUSTRALIA JUNE 2008
FRIDAY JUNE 20 - PERTH @ METRO
SUNDAY JUNE 22 - ADELAIDE @ FOWLERS
TUESDAY JUNE 24 - MELBOURNE @ BILLBOARD
THURSDAY JUNE 26 - SYDNEY @ THE ENMORE
FRIDAY JUNE 27 - BRISBANE @ THE ARENA

Norther - N

There is nothing bad I can say about N, well apart from the inclusion of the NO WAY OUT EP tracks as bonus tracks. This may leave anyone who bought the EP feeling a little hard done by. Other than that, N has all the elements any Norther fan would ask for in an album. From the thrash guitars of opener My Antichrist to the omen style ballad that is Frozen Angel, with its catchy Scandinavian keyboard intro.

Unlike their MDM cohorts, Children of Bodom, Norther have had no need to make up for previous mistakes. They have continually written more of the same, adding bits here and there, and only ever making their music much bigger and better.

This album has seen Kristian (Ranta) being given more of a chance to sing, but the balance is perfect. To Hell being a perfect example of that balance. At points having Petri (Lindroos) and Kristian singing in tandem. It shows how they have become masters of their sound.

The track that follows To Hell has some of the best guitar work on the album. With a lovely melodic solo after the 3 minute mark. Saviour is very epic sounding, with Jukka (Koskinen) adding some beautiful Keyboard/Synth layers.

They are definately setting themselves a place at the top table of Melodic death metal with this album. Why they aren't as well known as Children of Bodom can only be put down to then not getting the breaks Children of Bodom have done. So, If you haven't heard Norther by now, then it's something you should remedy. Soon.

Whether you like sweeping solos (We Rock, Self Righteous f**k), Epic ballads (Frozen Angel) or Thrash guitars (Self Righteous f**k, My Antichrist), this is an album for everyone.

All in all a great album.

It is out now via Century Media.

Official Site: http://www.norther.net/
Merch: http://www.fanzone.fi/norther/