Due to irreconcilable differences between DC Cooper and the other members of ROYAL HUNT, the band is replacing him and is looking for a new lead singer to continue recording their new studio album.

DC Cooper not wanting to be an equal member of the band, decided to become a "hired gun" (freelance singer). He has also made it clear, that if the offer wasn t big enough, he would not be interested in continuing to work with the band. ROYAL HUNT has no intention to fulfill his unreasonable demands and feels that DC Cooper is only concerned about the financial side of the deal and is no longer looking into the best interests of the band and it s creative development.

The band will stay put to all obligatory contracts and be as timely as possible with the delivery of the new master. However, there may be a slight delay due to the above mentioned fact. Our management will update you with the progress as usual.

GARDENIAN recently in January/February recorded their new album entitled "SoulBurner". It contains 11 new tracks and stretches over 47 minutes. The sound is now more mature and complete. They have gone towards a harder direction more power and crunch, less melodic wildly stuff . They also have more clean vocals on this album put down by old power metal singer Eric Hawk from the Icelandic band ( ARCH ). This combination makes a very interesting listening, The SoulBurner album was recorded in Fredman studio. Quote Mr Fredman: It’s one of the heaviest and best productions I’ve ever made. The album will reach the record stores in early June.

Another new signing on Serious Entertainment is the Greek power/prog metal band BREAKING SILENCE. Their style can best be described as a mixture between older Queensryche and 90's power metal, and the album is most likely gonna be a classic within the scene. Their demo CD "The Calling" received stunning reviews from all over the world, and was voted 10 out of 10 in Greek Metal Hammer. The album was recorded recently, and titled "Impact".

LTE 2, due out in June now features 3/4 of DREAM THEATER: guitarist John Petrucci, drummer Mike Portnoy and keyboardist Jordan Rudess.

According to German sources, STARTOVARIUS has signed a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast.

RIOT's forthcoming CD is called Sons Of Society and will be out in mid-summer. Some song titles include 'Twisted Of Fate', 'Sons Of Society', 'Time To Bleed', 'Wings Of Life' and 'Cover Me'.

Italy's progressive heroes LABYRINTH will be issuing a new EP called Timeless Crime this summer. A full length is due out in October.

DEVIN TOWNSEND's Infinity - Live In Japan is a Japanese-only release out in late May, featuring seven live tracks recorded in Japan at the Shinjuku Luquid Room in February, 1999. Tracks include: 'Seventh Wave', 'Regulator', 'Truth' & 'Hide Nowhere', 'Infinity', 'War', 'Bad Devil' and 'Christeen'.

Guitarist and leader of one of the coolest prog-neo- bands of the late 80's (Tony Friedinelli from Apocrypha) is making a dramatic comeback.The project is called"MILENIUM SHRED CONCERTO" and it will be billed as a modern year 2000 version of CACOPHONY.The lineup will be as follows: Tony FRIEDINELLI (GUITAR),ADRIAN ENGLISH(A Varney spotlight guy,Guitar),Brad Russell(from the eversopopular Bernd Steidl disc on BASS),Lale Larson(a virtual unknown oter than demo work from Todd Duane and Milan Polak on KEYS) and last but not leastDeen Castronovo on drums.The disc is slated for a fall release.Produced by both Tony Friedinelli and Mr. Mike Varney.

Hey folks, just wanted to take a few minutes of your tiime to give you a bit of info. There is a new band emerging on the metal scene here in Colorado Springs For now they are know as "The Band With No Name". The band consists of former members of Psyco Drama and a new face, (new to me, anyway). The line-up is Corey Brown on vocals & keyboards, Hercules Castro on guitar, Toby Kinneman on guitar, Ian Ringler on bass and Jeremy, (sorry, don't know his last name), on drums. My brothers and I had a chance to hear the guys gig at their practice space and let's just say, WOW!!! Having been fans & friends of Psyco Drama for several years, it was really great to hear some new tunes played with a new attitude and "more intensity and more t....." to quote a participant of the night's jam. It was, dare I say, "refreshing" to see the band reacting positively to one another. The new band is featuring some outstanding 7 string guitar work by Herc and Toby, kickin' bottom end bass work from Ian, via the very cool 12 string bass, very good time keeping and a bit of flash from "newbie" Jeremy and the always incredible vocals from Corey. When this band starts playing out, you need to see 'em. This is amazing talent right here in Colorado. The guys previewed several brand new songs with some outstanding riffs, nice keyboard work and the unmistakable harmonies that had been missing from some of the past songs performed by the "former" band. They also have in their stable a couple of songs we had already heard including one from some English blokes. Sorry to ramble on, but we just wanted to let everyone know that there is going to be a new band on the scene. Thanks for readin' Bruce, Dave & Brad

-Hello once again. For those who are interested in knowing the latest news regarding PsycoDrama, please read on. Psyco Drama is officially broke up. As of January 1999 the band decided to call it quits. The classic story of band members losing focus and loosing interest in the music style. Also with end of the band and it's name, also an end of a legal obligation with greedy agents, and record labels. As of current, I have been involved with a new group, I am taking care of the vocals, Hercules J. Castro on 7 string guitar, Toby Kinnaman on 7 string guitar, Ian Ringler on 12 string bass, and Jeremy Hoffman on drums....I know the amount of strings doesn't mean much, but we are very diverse and heavy. We have 8 songs written, with styles being compared to Fates Warning, Kings-X, Tool, and Pinkk Floyd. We don't have a band name yet, so that is a major road block as far as playing out. We should be ready to play out by late May. Studio time is being planned for this summer! I am also working on Magnitude 9's second album slated for a fall 1999 release. Please check out the website for more info... http://members.aol.com/magtude9/ . Thanks for your continued support of music and hope to see you all at a show in the near future. Any bands that are looking for and opener, please contact me as we need exposure! Thanks again,
Corey Brown

Crimson Glory-Astronomica has now been postponed. It is hoped to be released between June and October 99.

Lefay are now in the studio to re-record there first album "Symphony Of The Damned" and release it as a CD this time, with all of the songs from the "Symphony..." album plus some cover. The album will be released soon, check back later for more details and release date. -Hi guys, here is the complete list of metal-bands playing at this summer's "Örestads Festival" in Copenhagen. There will be three stages: two outdoor and one inside a tent. I will let you know about where to order tickets (and how much they cost) when I know.
Keep on proggin'
Claus

-Hey, all. Leon from AZTEC JADE here, and I just wanted to let you all know that we are scheduled to begin work on our new CD this July at CMG Studios in Saratoga, NY. This follow up to "Frame of Mind" promises to be heavier, with more involved song structures and an overall more progressive feel, with the usual Aztec touch of melody and hooks. I feel this will be our best album yet! Don't forget to look for our upcoming tracks on Energie records tributes to Dream Theatre and Queen, with the songs "Another Day" and "The Show Must Go On". Thanks! Leon- AZTEC JADE

6 samples (MP3, realaudio) from the upcomming freedom call's firt album "stairway to fairyland" are now online. Follow this link:
http://perso.infonie.fr/
gammaray/freedom.html The members of freedom Call : Dan Zimmermann (gamma Ray) : drums Chris Bay (ex-moon doc) : vocals Sascha Gerstner : guitars Ilker Eisin : bass guitars

M9 are currently writing songs for the next MAGNITUDE 9 cd. It is planned to be released this fall/winter.

Helreid are going to release a double mini CD set, around the half of May.

TT is planning to do another solo album this year.

Anekdoten have been rehearsing once a week for a long time now, in order to be able to start the recording of their next studio album in August. They are doing a demo recording session at the moment, and they have booked a studio called Atlantis in August.

Their plan is to have the new album out by the beginning of October in time for a European tour, which they will undertake during that month. There will not be much gigging until then, but occasional shows might take place. No shows before October have been planned at the moment though.

Atlantis is one of the most renowned studios in Sweden. It was called Metronome back in the 60's and 70's when among others Abba, Cornelis Vreeswijk, Fred Åkerström, Monica Zetterlund and Björn J:son Lindh recorded there. More recent visitors include Motorpsycho, Lenny Kravitz and Bo Kaspers Orkester.

Azazello have changed the URL of their web page; you can visit it if you're interested: http://www.artrock.msk.ru/english/
review/russian/azazello/azazello.htm

Yesterday they signed up a contract with a small Californian label called Moonchild Records on distributing their album "The black day '98". Now they're recording new, very interesting material, but again in a cheap studio.

Singer Thorsten Fries has left Winterland. Due to private and professional committments, he will quit the music business. There was no arguing involved, Winterland respect his honesty and his decision, and they will remain friends, thank him for the great years and wish him all the best for the future.

The change didn't come as a total surprise, and because of this they can already announce WINTERLAND's new singer:

Stephan Hugo (formerly just on guitar) will from now on be responsible for the lead vocals. This might sound like Stephan is a second choice, but that's definitly not the case. Stephan Hugo had been WINTERLAND's first singer way back in 1996 (you wouldn't find that in any infos), but wanted to focus on the guitar because he wasn't satisfied with playing AND singing simultaneously. Now that the new album will be a "studio-only" production, that problem doesn't exist anymore.

Stephan's voice is probably a more conventional Rock-voice than Thorsten's, he also attended classical trainings, and does have a way more extensive vocal range. The demos they have recorded so far sound absolutely terrifying, so we will see...

Proximity is proud to announce the release on Monday 19/04/1999 of the brand new ELEGANT SIMPLICITY album MOMENTS OF CLARITY. >From the heavy rock of the title track, to the lush orchestral ballad 'A Cradle Of Stars', this album has the lot! Complex epics and guitar driven melodicism abound on this new release from the UKs premier underground progressive/melodic rock band. Once again, this album features the stunning vocals of Ken Senior (of Evolution) and he gives an emotionally charged performance worthy of any leading rock vocalist. With hints of Camel, Floyd, Tull, Pendragon and all the greats, this original and melodic album showcases the songwritng skills of guitarist and composer Steven McCabe to fine effect.

The CD comes with a full colour 8 page booklet, detailed sleeve-notes, full lyrics and is exclusively marketed and distributed by Proximity. Like our previous releases, it will be stocked by all the major vendors and looks set to be more successful than 1998s best-selling 'Purity and Despair'.

To the Proximity website

Aussie progressive metalheads VAUXDVIHL will be entering the studio soon to commence work on their third album, The Art Of Kannley. The band are also planning to repress their debut, To Dimension Logic.

The reformed ANNIHILATOR will not include original bassist Wayne Darley due to illness. The 'reformed' line-up will be as follows - Jeff Waters (guitar), Randy Rampage (vocals), David Scott David (guitar), Ray Hartmann (drums) and Russ Bergquist (bass).

Germany's HEAVEN'S GATE will have two records out in Europe soon. The first is their new opus, Menergy. The band will also release a double-CD titled In Control/In The Mood Ltd., featuring the remastered version of their first album, In Control, plus two EPs - Open The Gate And Watch from 1990 and More Hysteria from 1992. The second CD is the complete unplugged album, In The Mood, a Japan-only release from 1997).

Spitfire Records has signed TNT to a new worldwide deal that includes the new TNT album, Transistor, and the reissue of Knights Of The New Thunder (1984), Tell No Tales (1987) and Intuition (1989). All four (4) albums will be released on August 10, 1999 via Spitfire/St. Clair.

Guitarist ALEX MASI recently inked a deal with the Japanese based Avalon/Marquee label. His new album, In The Name Of Bach, is being released in the late spring.

Angular Records and Pangaea working together with their next release, "Welcome To The Theatre". Songs are for the moment being worke on and it looks like their will be some power on the next album. Also expect a few surprises on this one. Website - http://home.swbell.net/hargadin.

It is with great regret that Arena must announce their decision to part with vocalist Paul Wrightson.

Paul has been an important part of the band over the last three years, and he will always have a place in the Arena story. However, since the beginning of The Visitor tour, personal problems have arisen, and remain, between Paul and the other members. We believe that no individual has ever been greater than the whole and if the band is to continue to grow, now is the right time to act.

Thus opens a new chapter in the history of Arena.

His replacement will be Rob Sowden who has previously worked with guitarist John Mitchell. We were all extremely impressed by his voice, his personality and his passion for singing. We know that Rob will make a great contribution to Arena and this will be a positive move forward into the next Millennium.

We wish Paul all the best, and trust that he will be both successful and happy in whatever he decides to do in the future.

Paul Wrightson (voc) has left Arena due to personal problems. His replacement will be Rob Sowden who has previously worked with guitarist John Mitchell.

The band met in Norway in February and March for intensive rehearsals. A lot of new material for the next album was written. After the pre-production in July, Kamelot plan to enter a studio in Wolfsburg (Germany) to record the next re http://www.noiserecords.com/Ourbands/
metal/kamelot/index.htm.

Germany's HEAVEN'S GATE will have two records out in Europe soon. The first is their new opus, Menergy. The band will also release a double-CD titled In Control/In The Mood Ltd., featuring the remastered version of their first album, In Control, plus two EPs - Open The Gate And Watch from 1990 and More Hysteria from 1992. The second Cd is the complete unplugged album, In The Mood, a Japan-only release from 1997).

TNT's next album will be out in the UK in May via Roadrunner.

Aside from a guest spot on Kaleidoscope, HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow's upcoming second solo album, keyboardist Jens Johansson's also laid down some tracks for the next BLACKMORE'S NIGHT album.

Lynch Mob's third album, Smoke This, is out now. Led by former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch, the album contains 13 tracks. Also available from Lynch Mob is the EP Syzygy, featuring three previously unreleased songs, the last recordings by the original Lynch Mob line-up of George Lynch, Oni Logan, Anthony Esposito and Mick Brown. Tracks are 'Into The Light', 'All Things Must Pass' and 'Waterfall'.

Dream Catcher in Europe will be releasing YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's classical album, Concerto Suite in late May. The album has done incredible business in Japan where it has sold over 100,000 units! As with the Japanese release, there will be two versions available. One designed for the rock market and the other suitable for the classical market. Expect a new Yngwie studio album in October. Dream Catcher has also signed Y&T guitarist/vocalist DAVE MENIKETTI and they will release his blues-flavoured On The Blue Side album in May. The album was originally released in Japan last year.

The Sweden Rock Festival (formerly known as Karlshamn Rock Festival), being held from June 11-12, has put together a MONSTER METAL bill! Here's the lineup: DIO, GAMMA RAY, DEEP PURPLE, SCORPIONS, MANOWAR, U.D.O., CAPTAIN BEYOND (reunion!), CANNED HEAT, DAVE HOLE, DASH RIP ROCK, DARE, MERCYFUL FATE, HAMMERFALL and FREAK KITCHEN. For more info check out the following sites: http://www.karlshamnrock.com or http://www.swedenrock.com.

The power blew out at a recent STRATOVARIUS show in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but after a three-hour delay guitarist Timo Tolkki and singer Timo Kotipelto came out for a mic-less acoustic set, with the stage lit only by "a few candles and a car battery lamp." Acoustic set list: 'Hold To Your Dream','The Kiss Of Judas', 'Coming Home', 'Paradise, 'Forever', 'Father Time'. The show was going to end there, but the lights came back on and the band treated the remaining faithful to a plugged-in set: 'Chasing Shadows', 'Twilight Symphony', 'Against The Wind', 'I Surrender' (RAINBOW cover), 'The Hands Of Time' and 'Cold Winter Nights'. In related news, Stratovarius guitarist Timo Tolkki hopes to get a new album out on March 10, 2000.

P.F recently completed recording their new album, Jaws Of Death at Tampa's Morrisound Studios. Produced by Achim Kohler and Matt Sinner, the record will feature the band's newest member, guitarist Stefan Leibing. Confirmed song titles include: 'Church Of Blood', 'Horrorscope', 'Save A Prayer', 'Play To Kill', 'Nation In Fear', 'Final Embrace', 'Under Your Spell', 'Hatred In My Soul', 'When The Night Comes', 'Fight To Survive', 'Into The Future', 'Kill The King' (which will also appear on an upcoming RAINBOW/DIO tribute album). Primal Fear also recorded 'Breaker' for the upcoming ACCEPT tribute album, being released by Nuclear Blast this summer.

Some details about the Fabio solo album. There is no name yet found for the project, but they have already recorded 4 songs for the first demo. Said to be in the Rhapsody vein !

Black Sun Records will release a tribute to Yngwie Malmsteen. Bands to appear are Narnia ("Dark Ages"), Destiny ("Anguish & Fear"), Treasure Land ("Icarus"), Evergray ("Rising Force"), Stormwind ("Too Young To Die…" from Alkatrazz), Mayadome ("Deciples Of Hell"), Daniel L Daley and Freak Kitchen's Mattias Eklundh, who will actually be the only one not doing a cover, but an interpretation of "Yngwie 2000".

MATTIAS "IA" EKLUNDH of previously mentioned Freak Kitchen has just finnished the recordings of his solo-record. I've heard some and it's earthquaking! No guitar-record has ever sounded like this… well, he never has either. Guitar-freaks will freak out!

Art Rebellion, a high class progressive band, has also been writing, demoing and rehearsing in waiting for musical perfection. Well, it seems it has now been achieved and the five-piece's album, is recorded and ready, but no label is as yet decided.

Luca is working very hard on his first solo album which will be released in the beginning of october. The cd will be titled "King Of The Nordic Twilight". The record will be produced by Sascha Paeth & Miro (the magical duo from «S.O.E.L.») at the Gate-Studios in Wolfsburg (Germany) next april.

Detroit progressive hard rock band TILES has released their third album, Presents Of Mind, in Europe and South America on the InsideOut/SPV and Rock Brigade labels respectively. Mixed by Terry Brown (RUSH) and featuring artwork by Hugh Syme, Presents of Mind will be released by King Records in Japan April 23rd (with 2 bonus tracks) and in North America June 29th by Magna Carta (with 2 live bonus tracks). Visit the Tiles website at www.tiles-music.com for more information.

Queensryche have signed up with Ray Daniels/SRO Management in Toronto. Daniels also manages such big names as RUSH and VAN HALEN. See http://queensryche.com for confirmation.

Progressive rockers MASTERMIND has released Excelsior, featuring Jens Johansson on keyboards.

Progressive rockers MASTERMIND has released Excelsior, featuring Jens Johansson on keyboards.

LABYRINTH are finishing working in a new EP, which will include a cover of Die For My Sins, from Sanctuary. The CD will also bring reworked demo songs and some live tracks. The record will mark the debut of vocalist Moby, who replaced departed Rob Tyrant."

They begin recording their new album entitled 'Playing Dead', this month. All their previous albums have been a struggle to complete, and that seems to be the case once again. They are still looking for a drummer to complete the line-up.

The DT Tribute will be released by the end of April; I already have in my hands all of the final masters and I have to say that I've been really blew away from most of the versions. I'm sure so many people will be amazed by the whole product !!! I think I'll do the final mastering next week and then I'll go for the final decision on the track-list.

The Evil Wings third CD called "Colours Of The New World" will be out by the end of April as well. I finished working with them in the recording-studio just yesterday and I think the result is SUPER !!! I'll have to do final mastering and decide the tk-list as well. But here you get the tracklist at the actual stage with a few comments on it; basically the Cd is very close to the RUSH productions with melodies very KING'S Xesque, and with a lot of '70s feeling.

Here is the song list:
- "Colors Of The New World" (the most accessible and catchy track they ever wrote, but still with a so hard-progressive feeling)
- "Flowers" (A really Rush oriented song with a chorus who will stay in your mind definetely)
- "Away" (Really powerful song; it reminds me the fastest Pearl Jam songs) - "Starship" (Cosmic ballad, with '70s influences)
- "Searchin' " (Really technical song, with melodies very Rush / King's X) - "Big Old Roundabout" (The most technical song Evil Wings ever wrote; very close to the Fusion/Chick Corea productions)
- "Bridge" (2nd great progressive rock ballad of the album; very bluesy, like old Whitesnake)
- "The Secret" (A 21 minutes long suite that kills...Have I to talk about Fates Warning ?)
- "Stageline" (A short introduction in the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" style) - "Sell My Soul" (A pure Rock'n'Roll song)
- "Try To Live" (Funky but still Progressive Rock)
- "20th Of May" (Third and definitive ballad of the album; the lead singer/guitarist Franco wrote that song for the birth of his first son...emotions and feelings overall)
- "Colors Of The New World - Revisited" (Final track with a lot of surprises, including a section in the middle of the song very close to the historical Led Zeppelin productions).

The final timing will be around 71/72 minutes !

Knut Hassel has after ten years in DESTINY decided to leave the band. Fortunately enough Pagan guitarist Anders Fagerstrand was available and after just two rehearsals with the band he was invited to replace Knut on a permanent basis. With the addition of new drummer Tomas Fredén and the return of former guitarist Gunnar Kindberg (Nothing Left To Fear), DESTINY with original members bassist Stefan Björnshög and vocalist Zenny Gram once again have a full five man line up.

The first taste of this new dynamic line up is now completed. It's the recording of "Anguish and Fear" for the upcoming Yngwie Malmsteen tribute album, "A GUITAR ODYSSEY".

Destiny's version of the song will probably surprise quite a few people as it differs quite a bit from the original Yngwie song. This is also the first time in eleven years that DESTINY features twin lead guitar on a studio recording.

The band have now decided to also re-record "Atomic Winter" as well as "Beyond All Sense" and "Nothing Left To Fear". The albums should be released next year as a trilogy with the working name.

"Millennium Trilogy part I - Beyond All Sense".
"Millennium Trilogy part II - Atomic Winter".
"Millennium Trilogy part III - Nothing Left To Fear".

The re-recording of Beyond All Sense will start in April or May.

Platypus will begin writing their new album on May 14th, 1999. The band will be rehearsing for a week at Morgenstein's house, and is planning to have the album recorded by the end of June. Hopefully, "Platypus 2" will be out early next year. According to Derek Sherinian, John Myung is still part of the band.

According to Rod Morgenstein there are plans to record another Rudess Morgenstein Project album. Apparently, 3/4 of the music is already written, and it's only a matter of scheduling.

A new Jordan Rudess CD-R entitled "Resonance" is now available from Medius only at http://www.mediusvision.com/e-store

"This CD captures the magic of Jordan spontaneously improvising at his keyboard. ("I sat down at my instrument and just let the flow out of me with out any pre-conceived compositional ideas") Featuring his distinctive piano work, originally this music was recorded as healing music for his long time friend Cohen who had to undergo heart surgery earlier this year. For those who liked the intimacy of "Secrets Of the Muse", there many more secrets revealed in these performances. This next offering from Jordan will definitely bring you on a wonderful journey! (Note: this is CD-R)"

Magna Carta's amazing Emerson Lake and Palmer tribute CD, with Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess, James LaBrie and Derek Sherinian, will be released this Tuesday (April 6th, 1999).

This is a must have for Fish/Marillion fans, who have always wondered what the band would've sounded like, if Fish hadn't left in 1988. The bonus disc contains twelve tracks of which seven are previously unreleased demos, featuring a confusing mixture of music off Marilion's "Seasons End" CD, and lyrics Fish ended up using on his solo albums. Also, the bonus disc includes a special "hidden track", that can only be accessed through a machine specific password you can request from the official Marillion site. All the Marillion remasters (eight) can be ordered directly from the band at: