Bloc Party will follow its weekend performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival by hitting an Irish studio to record the follow up to its 2004 debut, “Silent Alarm.” The set is expected late in the year via Vice/Atlantic.The band has spent the last several weeks demoing cuts in London with producer Jacknife […]

Despite the previous announcement from Candlemass singer Messiah Marcolin that he was quitting the Swedish band, it now seems that may not be the case. Candlemass claim that he’s been suffering from what’s described as ‘severe pre-recording psychosis’, and that he will be on their new, as yet untitled record.

US metalheads SpeedKill/Hate have signed to Escapi Music. However the band (featuring current and former members of Overkill) have confirmed that former Megadeth bassist James MacDonaugh will not be joining them for the upcoming US ‘Metal Crusaders’ tour.

Alter Bridge have left the Wind-Up label, after the release of one album, ‘One Day Remains’. The band expect to announce details of a new deal soon.

The Lostprophets have a new drummer. He’s Ilan Rubin. The band’s new album, ‘Liberation Transmission’, is released at the end of June.

King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp has teamed up with REM’s Peter Buck and Bill Rieflin (guitar and drums, respectively) in a new band called Slow Music. Expect an album, ‘Live At The Croc’, to be released shortly.

Isis start recording their new, as yet untitled album in June, with producer Matt Bayles. It should be released on Hallowe’en – October 31.

Gamma Ray, Dream Evil and Astral Doors are all confirmed for the Ragnarok UK Metalfest, which happens on November 4 in Perth.

In early 2007, Versailles Records will release Slip Of The Tongue: A Millennium Tribute To Whitesnake, featuring current/former members of Blue Murder, Dio, Whitesnake, Kiss, Badlands, Alice Cooper Band, King Cobra, Lillian Axe, David Coverdale Band, Quiet Riot, House Of Lords, as well as Richard Kendrick, the RadioVipers, Chris Catena, Chris Heaven, Marko Pukkila, and […]

(hed)pe are to have a 15-track compilation released in June by Jive Legacy. It’s to be called ‘The Best Of (hed) Planet Earth’.