--------- METAL UPDATE ---------
-- http://www.metalupdate.com --

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This week's Metal Update went out to over 14,175 subscribers.



-- NEWS --


STRATOVARIUS
a Finnish lady dubbed Miss K has been enlisted as the band’s new
vocalist
– she is said to have a 3 octave range and according the the band’s
website: “she is capable of transforming Stratovarius’ sound to
something
unique, something that has never been heard in metal before” – in
addition, the drummer for the next album will be Anders Johansson, the
brother of Jens Johansson – meanwhile, Sanctuary Records is asking Timo
Tolkki to pay back 1 Million Euros from the recording agreement advance
based on their position that the agreement was for the old line up –
Tolkki disagrees with their position and refuses to pay

HYPOCRISY
Horgh (Immortal) has officially replaced drummer Lars Szöke

JUDAS PRIEST
former drummer David Holland has been accused of sexually abusing a
17-year-old boy who visited his home for drum lessons – Holland
reportedly
faces one charge of attempted rape and five counts of indecently
assaulting the teenager

LABRAT
drummer Nathan Perrier was rushed to Naas General Hospital in Southern
Ireland for emergency surgery to remove part of his lower intestine
after
being diagnosed with “necro-intesto” – he will be laid up for 2 to 3
months while he recovers – the band was forced to cancel scheduled tour
dates

VYNDYKATOR
drummer John "JC" Cona (Matriarch) has been added to the lineup

JACOBS DREAM
the band has announced that Chaz Bond (Biogenesis) is the new vocalist

SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE
vocalist Paul Kuhr (Novembers Doom) has been added as main vocalist for
the highly anticipated debut EP ‘Temporary Psychotic State’

JOACIM CANS
Hammerfall's vocalist recently recorded his first solo album with the
help
of Matt Sinner (Sinner), Metal Mike Chlasciak (Halford), Stefan Elmgren
(Hammerfall) and Mark Zonder (Fates Warning) - ‘Beyond The Gates’ is
due to be released on Noise Records on April 26, 2004

WARMACHINE
David Ellefson (Megadeth) makes a guest appearance on three tracks and
assisted in the production of the band’s forthcoming debut

SCORPIONS
bassist Pawel Maciwoda (Section 31, Urbanator) has replaced Ralph
Rieckermann

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
TSO played to over 400,000 fans in 2003 and was ranked as one of the
top
15 grossing concert tours of 2003 by Pollstar magazine

CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
the label has cut a deal that will see all Candlelight, Abstract Sounds
and Dead Ringer titles distributed by Caroline in the U.S. effective
March
1

NEW SIGNINGS
Listenable: Hate
Arise Records: Skyfire
Galy Records: Bloodshoteye
Massacre Records: Razorback
Iron Glory Records: Wind Wraith
Extreem Music: Godüs
Sanctuary Records: Joacim Cans, Tommy Stinson
Candlelight Records: Cadaver, Khold, Blut Aus Nord, Niya, Mithras



-- HELP WANTED --


DRUMMER wanted - Florida black metal band Secrets She Kept seeks
drummer -
must be in the north-central FL area - must be dedicated and
professional
– contact: secretsshekept@yahoo.com

GUITARIST & BASSIST wanted – Belgium death metal band Emeth seeks bass
and
guitar – influences: Suffocation, Deeds Of Flesh, Nile, Disgorge – CD
and
tour plans in the works – contact: emeth@pandora.be

DRUMMER wanted - Tampa Flordia's Denounce seeks drummer – influences:
Cryptopsy, Immolation, Nile, Spawn Of Possession, Dying Fetus, Emperor
-
must be able to play at extreme speeds into crushing breakdowns with a
lot
of time changes - double bass and triggers is a plus - no hard drugs or
slackers - serious inquries only - session drummers OK – contact:
demonized25@hotmail.com

DRUMMER & BASSIST wanted - Houston, TX black metal horde seeks skilled
drummer and bassist - band consists of ex-Crimson Massacre members and
former Tragic Dawn guitarist - must have gear and transportation and be
willing to put a lot of time in – influences: Demoncy, Emperor,
Dissection, Satyricon (old), Marduk, Absu, Darkthrone – contact:
gatesoe@hotmail.com

MUSICIANS wanted - new black/death band from Takoma Park, MD named
Fires
Of Gomorrah seeks bassist, vocalist and second guitarist – band
features
former True Unholy Death, Pessimist & Black Mass members contact:
blasphemousruss@hotmail.com



-- READERS’ POLL 2003 –-


according to Metal Update readers:


BEST ALBUM OF 2003

1. DIMMU BORGIR – DEATH CULT ARMAGEDDON
2. Dream Theater – Train Of Thought
3. Vital Remains – Dechristianize


BEST BAND WEBSITE

1. OPETH
http://www.opeth.com

2. Dimmu Borgir
http://www.dimmu-borgir.com

3. Anthrax
http://www.anthrax.com


BEST LABEL WEBSITE

1. CENTURY MEDIA
http://www.centurymedia.com

2. Relapse Records
http://www.relapse.com

3. Metal Blade
http://www.metalblade.com


BEST MAGAZINE WEBSITE

1. BRAVE WORDS & BLOODY KNUCKLES
http://www.bravewords.com

2. Metal Maniacs
http://www.metalmaniacs.com

3. Terrorizer
http://www.terrorizer.com


BEST METAL WEBSITE

1. BLABBERMOUTH
http://www.blabbermouth.net

2. Return To The Pit
http://www.returntothepit.com

3. Digital Metal
http://www.digitalmetal.com


thanks to all those who participated

prize winners will be notified by email

special thanks to Relapse Records and Metal Blade for delivering the
goods



-- FEATURES --


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

Chimaira are one of those bands that are riding the fine line of being
underground metal heroes and reaching commercial success. Being linked
to
the supposed New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement and landing a
slot
on Ozzfest, it's clear that their perseverance is paying off. Metal
Update
landed a face to face interrogation with vocalist Mark Hunter and
cleared
up how he became Metal Moses, the fiery filming of “Down Again” and who
can drink the most in metal.


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

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

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

Travis Smith
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewsmith.html




-- REVIEWS --


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

Iced Earth ‘The Glorious Burden’
(Abyss, Death, Hel)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/albums/ietgb_frames.html

Stampin’ Ground ‘A New Darkness Upon Us’
(Abyss, Death, Hel)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/albums/sganduu_frames.html

Meatjack ‘Days Of Fire’
(Redwolff)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/meatjack_frames.html

Tidfall ‘Nucleus’
(Behemoth)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/tidfalln_frames.html

Rune ‘The End of Nothing’
(Sabbath)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/rune_frames.html

Revenge ‘Triumph.Genocide.Antichrist’
(Lugubrious)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/revenge_frames.html

Until the End ‘Let the World Burn’
(Slither)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/ute_frames.html

Torman Maxt ‘The Foolishness of God’
(Solomon)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/tmtfog_frames.html

Death by Stereo ‘Into the Valley of Death’
(Jotun)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/dbs_frames.html

Pacifier ’Pacifier’
(Savage)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/pacifier_frames.html

Cream Abdul Babar / Kylesa Split
(Blind)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/cabk_frames.html

Kreator ‘Live Kreation: Revisioned Glory’ DVD
(Requiem)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/kreator_frames.html

Superjoint Ritual w/ Hekill Three & Pumpjack - Concert
(Goatwhore)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/summary/sjrhtp_frames.html

Exodus ‘Pleasures of the Flesh’ - Classic
(Death)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/classics/exoduspotf_frames.html

Beyond Therapy - Demo
(Savage)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/bt_frames.html

Divine Lust - Demo
(Metal Militia)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/divinelust_frames.html

Militia - Demo
(Blind)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/militia_frames.html

Driver 13 - Demo
(Savage)
http://www.metaljudgment.com/demos/d13_frames.html



-- NEW RELEASES --


1/01 - Skinned - Grimoires
1/01 - Infliction - Denouncing the Flesh
1/05 - Witchmaster
1/05 - Haemorrhage - Visions From The Morgue (DVD)
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 - 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)
1/31 - Tyranny - Bleak Vistae
1/31 - Mar De Grises - The Tatterdemalion Express



-- IN PRINT --


TERRORIZER
http://www.terrorizer.com

issue #115 is out now featuring: Exodus, Gorerotted
Anthema, Rush, Burst, While Heaven Wept, Place Of Skulls, Grand Magus,
In
Flames, Burnt By The Sun, Misery Index, Devil Driver, Mistress,
Diamanda
Galas, Immemorial, 2003 Readers Poll



-- ON THE NET --


PIVOTAL RAGE
http://www.pivotalrage.com

new interviews: Shadows Fall, Bleed the Faith, Dew-Scented, Chimaira,
Dead
Elizabeth, Syx