TOP NEWS
Crematory announces that they are working on new material
Will Haven calls it quits
Steve “Zetro” Souza parts ways with Exodus only to rejoin the band at a
later date after disputes are ironed out
drummer Max Duhamel leaves Kataklysm
vocalist Mathias Blad leaves Falconer
Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell (guitar) and Vinnie Paul (drums) announce that
they have a new band called New Found Power - the band name is later
changed to Damageplan
Children Of Bodom's 'Hate Crew Deathroll' debuts at number one on the
Finnish charts
legendary Fates Warning vocalist John Arch signs a deal with Metal Blade
Records
SPV/Steamhammer Records signs Iced Earth
Crash Music signs Soulless
KEY RELEASES
1/08 - Green Carnation - Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness
1/03 - Compos Mentis - Fragments of a Withered Dream
1/07 - Children Of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll
1/14 - Amon Amarth - Versus The World
1/20 - Old Man's Child - In Defiance Of Existence
1/28 - Nightingale - Alive Again
1/28 - Grave - Back From The Grave
1/28 - Raunchy - Velvet Noise
1/28 - Blood Red Throne - Affiliated With the Suffering
HOT FEATURE
NUCLEAR ASSAULT
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewnuke.html
TOP NEWS
Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Ozzy) signs on
as Metallica's new bassist
Queensrÿche's founding guitarist, Chris DeGarmo, rejoins his former
bandmates to write new material
rapper Ice T announces that he is bringing back Body Count after a six
year hiatus
drummer Steve Schwarzmann (Accept, Running Wild) replaces Mark Cross in
Helloween
drummer and founding member Jensa Paulsson is replaced by Cristofer
Barkensjö (Kaamos) in Grave
an announcement is made that Lollapalooza will return after a five year
hiatus and feature Jane's Addiction, Audioslave, Incubus and Queens Of
The Stone Age
Limbonic Art splits up
Spock's Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio takes over as lead vocalist in the
wake of Neal Morse’s departure
Ozzfest lineup will include Cradle Of Filth, Shadows Fall, Killswitch
Engage and VoiVod
Korn wins Grammy for Best Metal Performance
InsideOut Music America signs The Devin Townsend Band
Season Of Mist signs E-Force
KEY RELEASES
2/10 - Lost Horizon - A Flame To The Ground Beneath
2/11 - Madder Mortem - Deadlands
2/11 - Twelfth Gate - Summoning
2/11 - Strapping Young Lad - SYL
2/11 - Corporation 187 - Perfection In Pain
2/11 - Rapture - Songs For The Withering
2/11 - Behemoth - Zos Kia Cultus (Here and Beyond)
2/11 - Stratovarius - Elements Part 1
2/18 - Blood Red Throne - Affiliated With The Suffering
2/19 - While Heaven Wept - Of Empires Forlorn
2/24 - The Gathering - Souvenirs
2/24 - Marduk - World Funeral
2/24 - Anthrax - We've Come For You All
2/25 - The Haunted - One Kill Wonder
HOT FEATURE
RAPTURE
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewrapture.html
TOP NEWS
Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta, guitarist for Finntroll and Impaled
Nazarene, dies in Helsinki, Finland when he falls from a bridge onto ice
below
bassist Jason Newsted (Flotsam & Jetsam, Metallica, VoiVod) joins the
Ozzy Osbourne band
bassist Mike Inez (Ozzy, Alice In Chains) joins Black Label Society on
bass guitar
guitarist Larry Tarnowski leaves Iced Earth
Von Blomberg (aka Hellhammer) leaves The Kovenant
Usurper parts ways with drummer Dave Hellstorm
Deceased parts ways with Relapse Records
Queensrÿche and Dream Theater announce plans to team up for a summer
tour
Sanctuary signs Anthrax
SPV/Steamhammer signs Rhapsody
EMI Records signs Amorphis
Metal Blade signs As I Lay Dying and The Black Dahlia Murder
KEY RELEASES
3/03 - Enslaved - Below the Lights
3/04 - VoiVod
3/10 - Cradle Of Filth - Damnation And A Day
3/11 - God Dethroned - Into the Lungs of Hell
3/11 - Necrophagia - Divine Art of Torture
3/18 - Biohazard - Kill Or Be Killed
3/24 - Katatonia - Viva Emptiness
3/25 - OverKill - Killbox 13
3/25 - Dawn of Relic - Lovecraftian Dark
3/31 - Bathory - Nordland II
3/31 - The Devin Townsend Band - Accelerated Evolution
HOT FEATURE
VOIVOD: Part 1 - Interview with Away
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewvoivod1.html
VOIVOD: Part 2 - Interview with Snake
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewvoivod2.html
TOP NEWS
Dave Lombardo announces that he is working on new material with Slayer
Edge Of Sanity's Dan Swanö announces his plans to release ‘Crimson II’
Kittie and their producer, Garth Richardson, file suit against Artemis
Records
Alabama Thunderpussy parts ways with founding vocalist Johnny
Throckmorton
Technocracy calls it quits as guitarist Phil Demmel, Robert Flynn’s
former Vio-lence bandmate, joins Machine Head
guitarist Tuomo Louhio (Antidote) joins Impaled Nazarene
guitarist Tony White and bassist Scott Crochet join Soilent Green
longtime members Joe Calandra (bass) and Jon Kleiman (drums) leave
Monster Magnet
Twisted Sister announces that the classic lineup will reunite for select
headlining dates
Arch Enemy's Angela Gossow (vocals) and Michael Amott (guitar) reveal
that they are an item
Century Media signs melodic death supergroup, Nightrage, featuring:
guitarist Gus G. (Dream Evil, Firewind), guitarist Marios Iliopoulos
(Exhumation), drummer Per M. Jensen (The Haunted, Invocator), melodic
vocalist Tom S. Englund (Evergrey), main vocalist Tomas Lindberg (The
Great Deceiver, At The Gates) and bassist Brice Leclercq
Capitol Records signs Jane’s Addiction
KEY RELEASES
4/01 - Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Altered States Of America
4/22 - Black Label Society - The Blessed Hellride
4/22 - Cage - Darker Than Black
4/22 - Cult Of Luna - The Beyond
4/22 - Carnal Forge - The More You Suffer
4/22 - Usurper - Twilight Dominion
4/22 - 1349 - Liberation
4/22 - Leadfoot - We Drink for Free
4/22 - Vital Remains - Dechristianize
HOT FEATURE
MADDER MORTEM
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewmadder.html
TOP NEWS
Headbanger’s Ball returns on MTV2
Halford's Metal Gods North American Tour comes to a premature end amidst
a storm of controversy
Morbid Angel welcomes bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker back to the fold
Annihilator splits with vocalist Joe Comeau (OverKill, Liege Lord)
Dick Delicious And The Tasty Testicles disbands in the wake of the
departure of Dick Delicious
Electric Wizard's Mark Greening (drums, piano) and Tim Bagshaw (bass)
leave the band to form a new group called Ramesses
Blind Guardian drummer Thomas Stauch is unable to tour because he is
suffering from ongoing problems with nerves in his hand - Rhapsody's
Alex Holzwarth sits in
Dave Mustaine announces that he is working on a solo album to be
released by Sanctuary Records in 2004
bassist Jim Baglino (Lord Sterling) replaces Joe Calandra in Monster
Magnet
guitarist Craig Goldy rejoins Dio
new supergroup, Chaos Breed, arrives on the scene featuring: drummer
Nalle Österman (Gandalf), bassist Oppu Laine (Amorphis, Mannhai),
guitarist Marko Tarvonen (Moonsorrow), guitarist Esa Holopainen
(Amorphis) and vocalist Taneli Jarva (Sentenced, The Black League)
Nasum bassist Jesper Liveröd announces that he will leave the band to
concentrate on Burst
Crash Music signs Transport League
Candlelight Records signs Grimfist
Rage Of Achilles signs While Heaven Wept
Century Media signs My Ruin
Cleopatra Records signs Flotsam And Jetsam
KEY RELEASES
5/05 - Callenish Circle - My Passion // Your Pain
5/05 - Helloween - Rabbit Don't Come Easy
5/06 - Circle Of Dead Children - Human Harvest
5/06 - Lamb Of God - As The Palaces Burn
5/13 - Dying Fetus - Stop At Nothing
5/13 - Chimaira - The Impossibility Of Reason
5/13 - Nasum - Helvete
5/13 - Dysrhythmia - Pretest
5/20 - Darkest Hour - Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation
5/20 - Hatesphere – Bloodred Hatred
5/20 - Forest Stream - Tears Of Mortal Solitude
5/20 - Sleep - Dopesmoker
5/20 - Soulless - Agony's Lament
HOT FEATURE
ANTHRAX
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewanthrax2.html
TOP NEWS
vocalist Matthew Barlow leaves Iced Earth
Soilwork drummer Henry Ranta is replaced by Richard Evensand (Ebony
Tears, Dog Faced Gods)
bassist Novy (Behemoth, Devilyn) replaces Simon in Vader
Coal Chamber’s Dez Fafara dubs his new project Devildriver
vocalist Nicke Holstensson (Nominon) Isidor in Thy Primordial
Metallica's ‘St. Anger’ debuts at #1 on the Billboard album chart
Century Media signs Watch Them Die
Nuclear Blast signs Fireball Ministry
Thrash Corner Records signs Deceased
SPV/Steamhammer Records USA signs Sepultura
Willowtip Records signs Watchmaker
KEY RELEASES
6/05 - Metallica - St. Anger
6/09 - Agent Steel - Order Of The Illuminati
6/10 - Throcult - Soldiers Of A Blackened War
6/10 - Divine Empire - Nostradamus
6/16 - Green Carnation - A Blessing In Disguise
6/17 - Type O Negative - Life Is Killing Me
6/17 - The Black Dahlia Murder - Unhallowed
6/17 - John Arch - A Twist of Fate
6/17 - Alchemist - Austral Alien
6/17 - Skinless - From Sacrifice To Survival
6/23 - Kalmah - Swampsong
HOT FEATURE
VITAL REMAINS
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewvital2.html
TOP NEWS
Rob Halford officially reunites with Judas Priest
Crowbar recruits bassist Rex Brown (Pantera, Down)
Immortal calls it quits
the words “headbanger” and “mosh pit” are added to Merriam-Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary
Earache / Wicked World signs The Chasm
Liquor and Poker Music signs Nebula
Nuclear Blast signs Cathedral
KEY RELEASES
7/01 - As I Lay Dying - Frail Words Collapse
7/07 - Transport League - Grand Amputation
7/15 - Jane's Addiction - Strays
7/15 - Withered Earth - Of Which They Bleed
7/21 - Chaos Breed - Unleashed Carnage
7/22 - Circle II Circle - Watching In Silence
7/22 - Superjoint Ritual - A Lethal Dose Of American Hatred
7/28 - Nevermore - Enemies Of Reality
7/29 - A Life Once Lost - A Great Artist
7/29 - Exhumed - Anatomy Is Destiny
HOT FEATURE
HELLFEST 2K3
http://www.metalupdate.com/hellfest03.html
TOP NEWS
vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest, Winters Bane) is drafted by
Iced Earth
Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain is arrested and charged with assault
after allegedly hitting a parking attendant with his car
Küth (drums & percussion) and Brat (keyboards & live effects) join The
Kovenant
vocalist Bob Mitchell (Vyndykator, Alchemy X) reunites with Attacker
drummer Randy Black (Annihilator) replaces Klaus Sperling in Primal Fear
vocalist Johan Liiva (Hearse, Arch Enemy) and drummer Matte Modin (Dark
Funeral, Defleshed) bail out on Nonexist
guitarist Glenn Ljungström (In Flames) leaves Dimension Zero
Electric Wizard revamps the lineup with the addition of drummer Justin
Greaves (Iron Monkey, Teeth Of Lion), second guitarist Liz Buckingham
(13, Sourvein) and bassist Rob Al-Issa
vocalist Liv Kristine leaves Theatre Of Tragedy
EatUrMusic signs Satyricon
Relapse Records signs Suffocation
Nuclear Blast signs Exodus
Century Media signs Impaled
KEY RELEASES
8/04 - Entombed - Inferno
8/04 - Farmakon - A Warm Glimpse
8/12 - Wehrwolfe - Godless We Stand
8/12 - Extol - Synergy
8/12 - Gorgoroth - Twilight Of The Idols
8/25 - The Quill - Hooray! It's A Deathtrip
8/25 - Dew-Scented - Impact
8/25 - Psychotogen - The Calculus Of Evil
8/25 - Arch Enemy - Anthems Of Rebellion
8/26 - Edge Of Sanity - Crimson II
8/26 - Misery Index - Retaliate
8/26 - Goatwhore - Funeral Dirge For The Rotting Sun
HOT FEATURE
TYPE O NEGATIVE
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewtypeo.html
TOP NEWS
Cancer reforms with the following lineup: Carl Stokes (drums), John
Walker (guitars & vocals), Rob Engvikson (guitars) and Adders (bass)
vocalist Bobby Liebling reforms Pentagram with the following lineup:
guitarist Kelly Carmichael (Internal Void), bassist Adam S. Heinzmann
(Internal Void) and drummer Mike Smail (Penance)
guitarist Roope Latvala (Sinergy, Stone) replaces Alexander Kuoppala in
Children Of Bodom
Motörhead is inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk Of Fame
original Usurper drummer, Apocalyptic Warlord, returns to the fold
drummer and founding member Col Jones leaves Exhumed
Life Of Agony reveals plans to record a new studio album
Arch Enemy's ‘Anthems Of Rebellion’ becomes the most purchased album one
week after release in the history of Century Media’s existence
Dimmu Borgir's ‘Death Cult Armageddon’ becomes the most purchased album
one week after release in the history of Nuclear Blast’s existence and
lands at #169 on the Billboard album chart
Superjoint Ritual's ‘A Lethal Dose Of American Hatred’ debuts on the
Billboard album chart at #55
Iron Maiden's ‘Dance Of Death’ debuts at #18 on the Billboard album
chart selling over 40,000 copies in the first week
Hammerheart Records closes its doors, however owners Peter van Ool and
Guido Heijnens start a new label under the name Karmageddon Media
Century Media completes the worldwide purchase of Olympic Recordings
RCA Records signs Velvet Revolver
Season Of Mist signs Mayhem
KEY RELEASES
9/08 - Place Of Skulls - With Vision
9/09 - Radiation 4 - Wonderland
9/09 - Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
9/22 - Morbid Angel - Heretic
9/22 - Vader - Blood
9/22 - Krisiun - Works Of Carnage
9/23 - Monstrosity - Rise To Power
9/23 - Six Feet Under - Bringer of Blood
9/23 - Zyklon - Aeon
9/23 - Grimfist - Ghouls of Grandeur
9/23 - Nebula - Atomic Ritual
9/23 - Burst - Prey On Life
HOT FEATURE
EXTOL
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewextol.html
TOP NEWS
former Omen vocalist, J.D. Kimball, passes away after a three year
battle with cancer
original vocalist Peter Dolving returns to The Haunted
former guitarist Scott Sergeant (Laaz Rockit, Killingculture) returns to
Skinlab
former Malevolent Creation drummer Dave Culross (Suffocation,
Incantation) rejoins the band
Nasum adds bassist Jon "Elle" Lindqvist (Sayyadena, Victims) and former
live-only guitarist Urban Skytt
Alabama Thunderpussy recruits vocalist Johnny Weils (Barbed Wire Dolls)
drummer Brian "Bob" Fouts (Burn it Down, Amongst the Swarm) joins
Harakiri
former Helloween and Metalium drummer, Mark Cross, announces that he has
beat the Epstein-Barr virus
drummer Mike Mangini returns to Annihilator as a replacement for Randy
Black (Primal Fear)
Soulfly announces that Max Cavalera will be joined by drummer Joe Nunez,
guitarist Mark Rizzo and former Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson for the
recording of the band’s fourth album
the MTV2 Headbanger's Ball soundtrack debuts at #34 on the Billboard
album chart selling over 31,000 copies in its first week
Burzum's Varg Vikernes (aka Count Grishnack) allegedly escapes from
prison while on leave from a low-security facility – he was apprehended
when the stolen car he was driving was forced off an Oslo highway by
police
Deicide's Eric Hoffman and a member of the band’s crew are reportedly
arrested by U.S. customs inspectors when drugs and weapons are found in
their possession at the Canadian border
Kalmah keyboardist Pasi Hiltula leaves the band
bassist Frank Banx leaves Angel Dust
drummer Frank Gilchriest (Virgin Steele) joins Riot
bassist Hugo Prinsen Geerligs leaves The Gathering
guitarist/vocalist Andrew LaBarre leaves Impaled
Nuclear Blast signs Death Angel
Epic Records signs Lamb Of God
Metal Blade signs Unearth
KEY RELEASES
10/07 - Watch Them Die
10/07 - Macabre - Murder Metal
10/07 - Fireball Ministry - The Second Great Awakening
10/07 - MTV2 Headbangers Ball
10/14 - Kill 2 This - Mass.[down]-sin.(drone.)
10/21 - Destruction - Metal Discharge
10/21 - The Crown - Possessed 13
10/21 - King Diamond - The Puppet Master
10/21 - Moonspell - The Antidote
10/21 - My Ruin - The Horror Of Beauty
10/21 - All Out War - Condemned To Suffer
10/22 - Penumbra - Seclusion
10/27 - Stratovarius - Elements Part 2
10/28 - Hatebreed - The Rise Of Brutality
HOT FEATURE
NEVERMORE
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewnevermore.html
TOP NEWS
original Riot vocalist Guy Speranza dies due to pancreatic cancer
vocalist Legion leaves Marduk
bassist Byron Stroud (Strapping Young Lad) joins Fear Factory
Cryptopsy parts ways with vocalist Martin Lacroix
all Circle II Circle members other than vocalist Zak Stevens leave the
band
Septic Flesh calls it quits
drummer Micheal Wildwood (Chrome Locust) leaves Monster Magnet
Hatebreed's ‘The Rise of Brutality’ debuts at #30 on the Billboard album
chart
Dream Theater's ‘Train of Thought’ enters the Billboard album chart at
#50
Fear Factory signs to D3 Entertainment for the U.S. and Roadrunner
Records for Europe
Sanctuary signs Stratovarius and Brides Of Destruction
KEY RELEASES
11/04 - Akercocke - Choronzon
11/17 - Judas Priest - Electric Eye (DVD)
11/25 - Slayer - Soundtrack To The Apocalypse (Box)
HOT FEATURE
NEW JERSEY METAL & HARDCORE FESTIVAL
http://www.metalupdate.com/nj03.html
TOP NEWS
Ozzy Osbourne is seriously injured in a quad bike accident
bassist Rob Nicholson (Rob Zombie) replaces Jason Newsted (Flotsam &
Jetsam, Metallica, Voivod) in the Ozzy Osbourne band
original vocalist Lord Worm returns to Cryptopsy
Wino parts ways with Place Of Skulls to focus on The Hidden Hand
vocalist Timo Kotipelto and drummer Jörg Michael leave Stratovarius
drummer Robert "Bob" Pantella (Raging Slab) replaces Michael Wildwood in
Monster Magnet
Hammerheart Records releases a statement that the company plans to
release the unfinished Control Denied album that was in the works when
Chuck Schuldiner died
drummer Bård "Faust" Eithun (Emperor) leaves Dissection as he is unable
to stand behind the band's satanic ideology
Savatage’s Jon Oliva recruits the former members of Circle II Circle to
back him in his solo project
Heathen announces that they have reformed and are working on new
material
vocalist General Diabolical Slaughter quits Usurper
Mötley Crüe announces plans for a reunion tour and possible album in
2004
The End Records signs Crisis
Century Media signs Chaos Breed
Earache Records signs Blood Red Throne
Regain Records signs Danzig and Dark Funeral
KEY RELEASES
???
HOT FEATURE
TRAVIS SMITH
http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewsmith.html
| CREDITS |
 |
Compiled by: Brant Wintersteen [ editor@metalupdate.com ]
Webmaster: Sean Jennings [ sean@metalupdate.com ]
|
