Finnish melodic death metal group INSOMNIUM have announced a four date U.K. tour this coming July. The details are as follows:

July 14th - Rock City – Nottingham, UK
July 15th - Bradford Rios - Bradford, UK
July 16th – Corporation - Sheffield, UK
July 17th - Camden Underworld - UK

Swedish legends IN FLAMES have posted photos of their recent recording sessions. They can be viewed at this location on their official website.

Swedish Metal machine ARCH ENEMY have announced that their forthcoming album will be titled "Doomsday Machine" and will be unleased over Europe on July 25th.

Details of the band's extended record deal can also be found at the Century Media website by clicking here.

NORTHER have recently posted a live video clip - available for download from their official website. It shows the band playing the track "Nothing" in Helsinki last month. Download the clip here.

It all seems to be happening in the RAM-ZET camp. After several months of inactivity - some news at last. The band have announced their new album, which was actually recorded last year with Swedish producer Daniel Bergstrand, will be named "Intra". The release date is set for May 30th. The band have also inked a new record deal with Norweigan label "Tabu" - home to acts such as SUSPERIA.

In other news, band member Magnus has reportedly left the ranks of RAM-ZET, however, he managed to complete recording duties on the new album and the band are currently searching for a suitable replacement.

For those of you that can't wait until Monday next week, NINE INCH NAILS have posted an online preview of their forthcoming album "With Teeth" - in it's entirety! Check it out at this location.

Italian Folk-Metal act ELVENKING have posted the latest installment of their studio diary - including photos and video footage from their most recent recording sessions. You can view the report here.

Finnish metal band BATTLELORE have announced the tracklisting for their forthcoming album "Third Age of the Sun" - due in June via Napalm Records.

The tracklisting is as follows:

01. Usvainen Rhûn (intro)
02. Storm of the Blades
03. Ghân of the Woods
04. Gwaith-i-Mírdain
05. Trollshaws
06. Elves of Lúva
07. Valier - Queens of the Valar
08. Thousand Caves
09. Cloaked In Her Unlight
10. Of Orcs and Elves
11. Touch of Green and Gold
12. Pallando - Forgotten Wizards I
13. Alatar - Forgotten Wizards II
14. Elessar's Call
15. Gollum's Cry (outro)
16. Dwimmerlaik (bonus track on limited edition digipack)

Angela Gossow of ARCH ENEMY recently posted an addition to the band's studio diary online, having completed her vocal recordings for the album. Read the report here.

GREEN CARNATION are allowing fans to listen to the pre production recordings of their 2001 album "Light of Day, Day of Darkness".

By logging on here and clicking on "Light of Day Pre Production" it will be possible to hear some of the band's original ideas behind the 60-minute opus.

Having only just recently wrapped up their highly explosive tour of the UK back in February, German pyromaniacs RAMMSTEIN have announced a new Arena tour of the UK.

The dates are as follows:
14.07.05 Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
15.07.05 Birmingham, NEC
16.07.05 Glasgow, SECC
18.07.05 Cardiff, Arena

Tickets can be purchased here.

THE GATHERING drummer Hans Rutten has recently issued the following statement regarding future DVD plans:

"The sessions/concerts we will play in Paradiso [in Amsterdam] the 23rd of May will be recorded for a DVD release end of the summer 2005. The title will be 'A Sound Relief' and will focus on the more quiet songs of 15 years THE GATHERING. In 2006 we will work on a more rock-orientated concert DVD, which will be called 'A Noise Severe'. In between both releases we will work on a new album, no title yet. But first of all, 'A Sound Relief'!"

Finnish Doom Metal outfit SHAPE OF DESPAIR have announced the release date of their new self titled effort to be July 27th through Spinefarm Records. Although not a new album, this budget cd features rare and unreleased demo material as well as one new track "Sleeping Murder" which was recorded just last month.

Extreme black metal act GORGOROTH have announced a 1-off UK date - they will play the Camden Underworld on Saturday, August 13th. It is still not clear how exactly this will work - considering their lead singer and his recent problems with Jail!

Austrian gothic metal outfit SUNTERRA have re-launched their website today - and have also posted the video to the new track "Graceful Tunes" (available here) which is from the same-titled album. "Graceful Tunes" is due for release next week via CCP Records.

Finnish doom act SILENTIUM will enter the studio on May 2nd to begin recording their fourth CD, tentatively due in late 2005 via Dynamic Arts Records.

SILENTIUM, who recently announced the addition of vocalist Riina Rinkinen and returning drummer Jari Ojala to the group's ranks, released their third album, "Sufferion - Hamartia of Prudence", in 2003 through Spikefarm Records. Produced by NIGHTWISH mainman Tuomas Holopainen, the CD was recorded at Sundicoop Studio in Savonlinna, Finland and featured a guest appearance by former LULLACRY and current SOULGRIND frontwoman Tanja Kemppainen.

Swedish thrash metal band CARNAL FORGE have slammed CHILDREN OF BODOM for using almost exactly the same title ("Are You Dead Yet") for their upcoming CD as that of CARNAL FORGE's latest effort, 2004's "Aren't You Dead Yet". Writing on their official web site, CARNAL FORGE said, "CHILDREN OF BODOM has chosen to use almost the same title for their upcoming album as our latest album... don't they have Google in Finland? Read the comments from Blabbermouth...". So then, two bands that can't name albums to save their lives ;)

CARNAL FORGE are shortly embarking on the following UK live dates:

May 01 - London @ The Underworld
May 02 - Edingburgh @ The Subway
May 03 - Nottingham @ Rock City

According to the band's official website, Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) has booked off half of August and all of September to record the new DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND album. It is tentatively called "Sychestra" (changed from from the previously announced "Human"). The DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND DVD will likely be released as a bonus disc with the album and not independently. Like in 2003, Devin thinks that the two records will artistically compliment as well as contradict one another.

Finnish "fantasy metal" outift BATTLELORE have completed work on their third album - "Third Age of the Sun" - tentatively due June this year via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2003's "Sword's Song" was recorded at SoundSuite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes.

BATTLELORE recently announced the departure of founding member Miika Kokkola due to "personal reasons." Replacing him in the group's lineup is Timo Honkanen, who has already toured with the group as Kokkola's temporary replacement on their tour with ATROCITY and LEAVES' EYES last year. In addition, the band have announced that vocalist Tomi Mykkänen has been named a full-time member of BATTLELORE and has contributed vocals to their third album.

According to the Spinefarm Website, CHILDREN OF BODOM'S forthcoming album is due for release on September 21st and is titled "Are You Dead Yet?". Whether or not this is a wind-up remains to be seen!

It has been confirmed this evening that AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE guitarist Bryan Ottoson died from a prescription drug overdose. Sad then, that the metal world loses yet another musician to drugs.

MY DYING BRIDE have posted the artwork to their forthcoming CD Boxset "Anti-Diluvian Chronicles" at this location. The collection is due out May 23rd via Peaceville Records - further info and the tracklisting can be found here.

According to Blabbermouth, AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE guitarist Bryan Ottoson was reportedly found dead in his bus bunk earlier today prior to the band's scheduled appearance in North Charleston, SC. There has yet to be any official announcement from the band.

The web site of the Plex concert venue in North Charleston, SC, where AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE were due to perform Tuesday night (April 19) with MUDVAYNE, LIFE OF AGONY and BLOODSIMPLE, has been updated with the following message:

"The MUDVAYNE show scheduled tonight 4/19/05 had to be postponed due to the tragic death of a member of AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE. The new show date will be scheduled within the next few days. You will be notified of the new date and all tickets will be honored at that time. The Plex would like to extend our sympathy to the members of AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE for their tragic loss, and thank all guests for their understanding during this situation."

A brand-new SENTENCED track, entitled "May Today Become the Day", has been made available for download at this location.

According to Blabbermouth.net, Finnish metal act AMORPHIS have recently re-inked a deal with German record label Nuclear Blast. More details as we get them.

Finnish act STRATOVARIUS have revealed the tracklisting for their forthcoming album today. The self-titled album will be released via Sanctuary Records later on this year.

Tracklisting:
01. Maniac Dance
02. Fight
03. Just Carry On
04. Back To Madness
05. Gypsy In Me
06. Götterdämmerung (Zenith of Power)
07. The Land of Ice and Snow
08. Leave The Tribe
09. United

Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM have finished recording the drum tracks for their new album, tentatively due in September via Spinefarm Records. "Now the band will start working with guitar and bass tracks," reads a posting on the group's web site. "Recordings should be ready by the end of May!"

Liv Kristine's current band LEAVES' EYES have posted samples online - from their forthcoming EP "Elegy". The EP, a precursor to the full album "Vinnland Saga", is due for release May 2nd. Download the samples here.

OLD MAN'S CHILD guitarist Galder (also of DIMMU BORGIR) has recently posted on the band's website that the new album has now been recorded, and is awaiting it's final mix. The tentative title of the album is currently "In the Orbit of Torment" and is due out later this year via Century Media Records.

Peaceville Records has set a May 23rd release date for the new MY DYING BRIDE CD box set, entitled "Anti-Diluvian Chronicles". It features tracks from the band's 10 albums, including live tracks and three brand-new remixes of "The Wreckage of My Flesh", ""My Wine In Silence" and "The Raven and the Rose".

"Anti-Diluvian Chronicles" track listing:

Disc 1:
01. Catherine Blake
02. My Wine In Silence
03. A Doomed Lover
04. The Blue Lotus
05. The Dreadful Hours
06. My Hope, the Destroyer
07. The Deepest of all Hearts
08. She is the Dark (live)
09. The Light at the End of the World
10. The Fever Sea (live)

Disc 2:
01. The Raven and the Rose
02. Sear Me III
03. The Whore, the Cook and the Mother
04. Der Uberlebende
05. Under Your Wings and into Your Arms
06. Like Gods of the Sun
07. Here in the Throat
08. For My Fallen Angel
09. The Cry of Mankind
10. From Darkest Skies

Disc 3:
01. The Wreckage of My Flesh
02. Turn Loose the Swans
03. Black God
04. Sear Me
05. The Forever People
06. The Bitterness & the Bereavement
07. Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium
08. God Is Alone
09. The Thrash of Naked Limbs
10. The Sexuality of Bereavement

DREAM THEATER have recently posted the artwork for there forthcoming album "Octavarium" at this location. The album is due for release on June 6th via Atlantic Records.

IN FLAMES have reportedly completed work on their upcoming promo video for the track "My Sweet Shadow". The video was directed by Patric Ullaeus, who is responsible for the "Quiet Place" video, along with other work for LACUNA COIL and DIMMU BORGIR.

IN FLAMES are currently in the studio recording the follow up to last year's "Soundtrack to your Escape".

In connection with news earlier this week that SUIDAKRA were planning a UK date - it seems from their tour page - they are currently in talks to play at this year's BLOODSTOCK INDOOR FESTIVAL!

Obviously the date is still to be confirmed (Sat 03/09/05 Derby) but still, promising news.

British power metal act INTENSE have today been confirmed as part of the line-up for this year's DONG OPEN AIR FESTIVAL held in Germany.

INTENSE are among other Metal Monk Approved acts playing this year, which includes FINNTROLL, ELVENKING and SKYCLAD. Full details & lineup at the festival website

MY DYING BRIDE have recently updated their website with stills from their forthcoming DVD "Sinamorata". These also include shots from the new promo video of "The Blue Lotus".

Since our last news story on the DVD release, Play.com have adjusted the release date to 22nd August, but there is still no official word from Peaceville Records.

Swedish black metallers NAGLFAR will release their latest offering "Pariah" across Europe on the 20th June this year. In the meantime, you can catch them live - supporting FINNTROLL & AMORAL on their upcoming UK tour.

It has been announced today that popular power-metal act BLIND GUARDIAN have inked a record deal with Nuclear Blast Records. More info is available at the Nuclear Blast website.

Death metal legends OBITUARY completed the recording process of their new album on Wednesday of this week. The band are hoping that Roadrunner Records will release the album in time for July. A studio report from the band can be viewed here.

German "Battle/Death" Metal outfit SUIDAKRA have posted on their official website today. They expect to confirm a UK gig date very soon! Their live show will be well worth checking out.

In the meantime, the band have recently posted a track from their new album "Command to Charge", which is due for release in the UK on April 25th. You can listen to it here.

British gothic metal legends PARADISE LOST have officially been confirmed for this year's BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR FESTIVAL.

Their new self titled album will be released in the UK in May. Read the exclusive Metal Monk UK Review - by clicking here.

It has been officially announced that NIGHTWISH will play a short set at this year's Metal Hammer Awards. For more info on NIGHTWISH, their performance - and also award nominations - please go to Oceanborn - The Official UK Fanclub.

German power metal act GRAVE DIGGER have announced they will be filming their "25th Anniversary" show on May 7th, at a venue in Sao Paulo, Brazil - for an upcoming DVD release. No further details have been given.

VADER will soon be embarking on the "Sign of the Beast" tour across the UK, with support from LOST SOUL and DESECRATION. The tour dates so far are as follows:

13th June - Manchester @ Satans Hollow
14th June - Nottingham @ The Basement, Rock City.
15th June - Birmingham @ Edwards No.8
16th June - Milton Keynes @ The Empire
17th June - Pre Deathfest Party @ The Camden Underworld

For those of you who suspected Norweigan "avante-garde" metal act MADDER MORTEM (and their new album) had disappeared - the band have finally posted this update on their website:

"To all of you whose waiting for our new album, we can tell you that things are happening and it's on its way. We're still not sure about when it'll be released, but within summer/fall sometime it will be out in the stores. The album was actually finished in September last year, so we're just as impatient as you guys to get it released! The reason why it's taking so long is because of paperwork and contracts being negotiated. That's all we can say for now. But it won't be long until you'll have lots of good news to read here!"

ZYKLON, the Norweigan Black/Death Metal outfit featuring ex-EMPEROR guitarist Samoth, have recently posted their latest promo clip online.

You can download the new video for the track "Core Solution" at this location.

ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott has recently updated the studio diary on the band's official website. He goes into detail about the recording of the new album, part of which is as follows:

"I do feel that we are capturing some of that old metal magic here! You know, back in the day when bands would spit out one classic riff after the other with such incredible ease and flair! Sometimes I think that the KILLER hard rock/metal riff is in danger of dying! But we are doing out best here to revitalize it!!! Wooohoooo!!!"

Erm, quite. See the update at the official site (bottom right) or view new studio photos here

BESEECH are currently putting the finishing touches to their fifth album, "Sunless Days", tentatively due in September through Napalm Records. The follow-up to last year's "Drama" is set to include an as-yet-undisclosed DANZIG cover and a re-recording of the song "Manmade Dreams" from BESEECH's second album, "Black Emotions".

Finnish legends STRATOVARIUS have recently completed filming on the promo video for their forthcoming single "Maniac Dance". The single, which has yet to be given a release date, is taken from the band's new album, due later in the year via Sanctuary Records.

Finnish "battle metal" merchants TURISAS have been confirmed for the 2005 Earthshaker Festival. The two-day event takes place July 22nd to 23rd in Geiselwind, Germany.

The line-up is currently shaping up nicely. For more details and the full line-up, visit www.earthshaker-fest.com

Finnish power metallers THUNDERSTONE have posted an MP3 file containing a medley of the songs from their upcoming third full-length album, "Tools of Destruction". The LP is due on April 18 via Nuclear Blast Records. Download the file here.

Finnish "Fantasy Metal" outfit BATTLELORE have announced that the title of their forthcoming album will be "Third Age of the Sun". The album is tentatively set for release this summer via Napalm Records.

Israel based Prog-Metal geniuses ORPHANED LAND have posted the new promo video for their track "Norra El Norra" online. Download the video here.

In other news, it was recently announced that ORPHANED LAND are to support PARADISE LOST on their current european tour. Any UK dates have yet to be announced.

According to the Falkenbach Website, the band are currently working on material for their forthcoming album, and between March and April the recording and mixing will be completed at Tidalwave Studios. According to Falkenbach mastermind Vratyas Vakyas, this record will follow a slightly different direction to 'Ok Nefna Tysbar Ty'. Further details are expected shortly.

EXTOL, BEHEMOTH, MESHUGGAH, MORTIIS and MASTODON have all been nominated in the "Best Underground Act" category for the upcoming "Metal Hammer" awards in London. You can also vote for NIGHTWISH and RAMMSTEIN in other categories. Make your votes count at this location.

According to Play.com the new MY DYING BRIDE music DVD "Sinamorata" is due for release on the 18th of this month! However, there has yet to be any official word from the band on it's release date - so don't hold your breath!

Extreme metal nutcases SYL have posted the new promo video to their track "LOVE?" online at this location. The video is a clever homage to the movie "Evil Dead 2" - and fans of the film would do well to download!

In other news, the band have recently announced a 1-off UK show at the London Astoria on Sunday June 5th. Tickets are available from Aloud.

According to Blabbermouth, American/Norweigan supergroup "SCUM" have recorded guest vocal slots with both MORTIIS and Nocturno Culto of DARKTHRONE. The project, featuring Samoth (ZYKLON, ex-EMPEROR), Faust (ex-EMPEROR), Happy Tom (TURBONEGRO), Casey Chaos (AMEN) and Cosmocrator (MINDGRINDER) is tentatively scheduled for release in September via Dogjob Records.

A brand new interview with Ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and LEAVES' EYES frontwoman Liv Kristine has been posted online at the band's official website. It is available in the "specials" section.

Austrian Gothic Metal outfit SUNTERRA are poised to release their 3rd album "Graceful Tunes" through Austrian label CCP Records.

The tracklisting is as follows:
1. Confusion
2. Graceful Tunes
3. Hidden
4. The Spirit of Light
5. Somewhere
6. Quid est Libertas
7. Veil of Darkness
8. Charons pond

The release date is tentatively set for April 25th.