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Het laatste nieuws uit het metalen wereldje, grotendeels verzameld door Richard V., Richard G., Nima, Neithan, Ramon en Horst. Elke dinsdag vind je hier een nieuw weekoverzicht. Wil jij het meteen weten dat er nieuw nieuws is? Volg ons dan via http://twitter.com/lordsofmetal

LAATSTE UPDATE: (31 augustus 2010)

HAMMERHAWK frontman Thys Bruyns has died. After a short endeavour in the punk band BLITZROCK, in which he was the only one with long hair, he started the metal band HAMMERHEAD in 1981, which was renamed Hammerhawk shortly after. You can check out Thys out in action here. Thys is remembered as a metal fan that happened to have the opportunity to hit the stage himself. Due to continuing illness he lost the will to go on in life and he wanted to decide for himself when the time was right to get out. The funeral will be held on Friday September 3, on 11 oclock at de Duinhof Cemetary in IJmuiden (NL). The service is open to all inclined to pay homage. Last words can be written down here.

Roadburn is very proud to report that New York's legendary and recently resurrected SWANS have been confirmed as the headliner at Roadburn Festival 2011. For more info, please visit: www.roadburn.com

DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie will release his new solo album, ‘Static Impulse’, on September 27 via InsideOut Music. http://www.jameslabrie.com

‘Zombie’, the new EP from THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, is available for streaming in its entirety at this location. http://www.tdwpband.com

SHADOWS FALL will release a new concert DVD, ‘Madness In Manila: Shadows Fall Live In The Philippines 2009’, in the fall via Ferret Music. The disc will include footage that was shot on April 30, 2009 at the Pulp Summer Slam in Manila, Philippines. http://www.shadowsfall.com

‘Blood In The Gears’, the fourth album from THE SHOWDOWN, can be streamed in its entirety at this location. http://www.myspace.com/theshowdown

OZZY OSBOURNE/FIREWIND guitarist Gus G. will release a new instructional DVD for Rock House on September 15. Behind-the-scenes footage from the filming can be viewed at this location. http://www.myspace.com/gusgofficial

NEAERA will release their fifth album, ‘Forging The Eclipse’, on October 22 via Metal Blade Records. http://www.neaera.com

Upscale publishing house Genesis Publications has set a September 27 release date for ‘Zoso’, the new career-spanning pictorial autobiography of LED ZEPPELIN guitar legend Jimmy Page. For more information, go to this location. http://www.jimmypageonline.com

‘7th Symphony’, the new album from APOCALYPTICA, is available for streaming in its entirety at this location. http://www.apocalyptica.com

HAIL OF BULLETS' second full-length album, which is scheduled for release in North America on October 12 via Metal Blade Records. http://www.hailofbullets.com

SYSTEM DIVIDE's full-length debut, ‘The Conscious Sedation’ will be released on September 14 release via Metal Blade Records. The video for the song ‘The Apex Doctrine’, which appears on the album, can be viewed at this location. http://www.myspace.com/systemdivide

EYES SET TO KILL's frontwoman Alexia Rodriguez (a.k.a. Lexia) will release her new solo album, ‘Lexia: Underground Sound’ on October 12.

Tom Galley, the creator of PHENOMENA, will release his new album, ‘Blind Faith’ on September 24 via Escape Music. http://www.myspace.com/tomgalleysphenomena

AMBERIAN DAWN will release their third album, ‘End Of Eden’, on October 20 via Spinefarm Records. http://www.amberiandawn.com

Gibson Custom Shop has announced the release of the legendary 1974 Les Paul Custom guitar that Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads played on the classic albums ‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ and ‘Diary Of A Madman’, which has been one of the most requested reissues ever. More information will be made available soon. http://www.gibson.com

HALFORD recently made the new single, ‘Made Of Metal’, available for paid download at HalforMsic.com. Those who order the track will receive its accompanying animated video on the clip's worldwide release date of September 13. http://www.halfordmusic.com

HELMET will release its new full-length album, ‘Seeing Eye Dog’, on September 7. http://helmetmusic.com

Bassist Simon Holzknecht has left SERENITY due to personal reasons and has been replaced by Fabio D'Amore (PATHOSRAY, FAIRYLAND). http://www.myspace.com/serenitybandtyrol

DAATH will release its third, self-titled full-length album on October 26 via Century Media Records. http://www.myspace.com/daath

SUICIDAL ANGELS have signed a deal with NoiseArt Records. The band has completed work on its on third album, ‘Dead Again’, for a November 19 release. http://www.suicidalangels.com

MISERY INDEX and GRAVE will team up for a four-week European co-headlining tour starting on November 1 in the Netherlands, accompanied by ARSIS, THE LAST FELONY and THE ROTTED:
Nov. 01 - Zaandam, Netherlands - Kade
Nov. 02 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
Nov. 03 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
Nov. 04 - Kassel, Germany - Kulturfabrik Salzmann
Nov. 05 - Berlin, Germany - K17
Nov. 06 - Zabrze, Poland - Wiatrak
Nov. 07 - Munchen, Germany - Feierwerk
Nov. 08 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Randal Club
Nov. 09 - Ostrava, Czech Rep. - Boomerang
Nov. 10 - Wien, Austria - Viper Room
Nov. 11 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Gala Hala
Nov. 12 - Bolzano, Italy - UFO
Nov. 13 - Vicenza, Italy - Mac2
Nov. 14 - Rome, Italy - Init Club
Nov. 15 - Luzern, Switzerland - Schuur
Nov. 17 - Barcelona, Spain - Mephisto
Nov. 18 - Madrid, Spain - Ritmo & Compas
Nov. 19 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27 Blue
Nov. 21 - Paris, France - Glazart
Nov. 22 - London, UK - Relentless Garage
Nov. 23 - Dublin, Ireland - Whelans
Nov. 24 - Plymouth, UK - White Rabbit
Nov. 25 - Gent, Belgium - Minus One
Nov. 26 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013
Nov. 27 - Leipzig, Germany – Theaterfabrik

QUEENSRŸCHE has signed a new deal with Loud & Proud Records, a Roadrunner Records imprint focusing on established artists. The group is currently working on a new CD for a tentative spring release. http://www.queensryche.com

For a limited time, OPETH are offering a free download of ’Dirge For November’ in anticipation of the September 21 DVD release of ‘In Live Concert At The Royal Albert Hall’. http://www.opeth.com

DYNABYTE has set ‘2KX’ as the title of its new album, due on October 10. http://www.dynabyte.it

HOLY GRAIL will be leased their debut album, ‘Crisis In Utopia’ on October 26 via Prosthetic Records. http://www.myspace.com/holygrail

Adam "Nergal" Darski, the 33-year-old guitarist/vocalist from Poland's greatest extreme-metal export, BEHEMOTH, has been diagnosed with a life-threatening form of leukaemia. As a result of Darski's illness, all of the band's previously announced shows have been cancelled.

‘Misled By Certainty’, the new album from Denver, Colorado-based technical death/grind metallers CEPHALIC CARNAGE, (to be released on August 31 via Relapse Records), is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page.

SNOWY SHAW has announced his departure from DIMMU BORGIR and return to THERION. http://www.myspace.com/snowyshaw

DEICIDE/ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Jack Owen has joined the death metal band GRAVE DESCENT. http://www.myspace.com/gravedescent

CRYSTAL VIPER will release its brand new studio album, ‘Legends’, on October 22 via AFM Records. http://www.crystalviper.com

Norwegian metallers RED HARVEST have announced that the band has officially split up in May 2010. http://www.redharvest.com

October 5th is the release date of DOWN's forthcoming double-DVD/CD, The Diary Of A Mad Band, via Down/Ada. Down feature in their ranks guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan (CORROSION OF CONFORMITY), drummer Jimmy Bower (EYEHATEGOD, SUPERJOINT RITUAL guitarist), guitarist Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR), and vocalist Philip Anselmo (SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PANTERA). The Diary Of A Mad Band captures Down in all its sludged out intensity. This special DVD/CD collection features over 130 minutes of live video footage + a full never-before-released concert. The CD is different from the DVD.

GUNS N' ROSES' UK Reading Festival set ended in chaos Friday night, when the sound was cut after the band overran by more than an hour. The band took to the stage over an hour after schedule, at 10:30pm (BST), to play their headline slot at the festival. Despite earlier warnings from festival organiser Melvin Benn that he would not tolerate the band playing past 11:30pm, they still managed to play the majority of their set until roughly midnight - when they walked offstage after playing 'Night Train'. However, as the band tried to return for an encore, the sound was cut. Led by Rose, they still tried to launch into 'Paradise City', though only the drums could be heard as all other instruments had been switched off. As the crowd started to sing the track, Rose tried to greet members of the audience while singing through a megaphone.

On October 5, Epic Records will release an expanded two-CD version of OZZY OSBOURNE's Scream album. This Tour Edition package will feature seven bonus songs:previously unreleased tracks and live recordings. Three of the songs - 'One More Time' and 'Jump The Moon', plus the never-before-released 'Hand Of The Enemy' - are from the Scream sessions. The other four songs are live tracks - 'Bark At The Moon', 'Let Me Hear You Scream' and 'No More Tears', as well as the BLACK SABBATH nugget 'Fairies Wear Boots' - that were recorded this year in Folkestone and Birmingham in the UK. The package will also contain video content including the Jonas Akerlund-directed video for 'Let Me Hear You Scream' and behind-the-scenes footage from the set of the video, along with footage documenting the making of the Scream album. Epic nwill also issue a four-sided vinyl edition that includes five bonus tracks: the three aforementioned songs from the Scream sessions and the live version of 'Let Me Hear You Scream', along with the single version of 'Life Won't Wait' (the second single from Scream).

In October, HELIX will be releasing Running Wild In The 21st Century, a compilation CD of songs released between 2000 and 2010 with two bonus tracks and an edited version of 'Monday Morning Meltdown'. The two bonus tracks are 'The William Tell Overture' and the cover of the AC/DC classic 'It's A Long Way To The Top If You Want To Rock And Roll', featuring THE MUDMEN on bagpipes. Mike Uzilac played bass on this song. The song order of this CD is as follows: 'I'm A Live Frankenstein' 'X-Ray Eyes' 'King of the Hill' 'Cyberspace Girl' 'Get Up!' 'Boomerang Lover' 'Make 'Em Dance' 'Monday Morning Meltdown' (edited version) 'When The Bitter's Got The Better Of You' 'The William Tell Overture' 'It's A Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock And Roll'. According to an update from singer Brian Vollmer, "the second CD we'll be recording is an acoustic CD of all the Helix hits. Sean Kelly will be helping out on this one. This will be a pared down bare bones CD focusing on vocals and acoustic guitar. We're thinking of calling this disc simply The Hits Unplugged."

EMI Records is proud of their 30 year, career long involvement with IRON MAIDEN and the astonishing first week Global Chart success of the band's fifteenth studio album, The Final Frontier, which was released on EMI Records worldwide on August 16. (excluding USA, released by Ume on August 17). Iron Maiden have more than earned their status as one of the foremost contemporary and influential rock bands in the world as they debut at #1 in the UK (their fourth No 1 album here, the first being 1982's seminal The Number of the Beast album) and 20 other countries to date with The Final
Frontier. In addition to the phenomenal number of No.1 debuts in all parts of the world, Maiden are currently No. 2 in Australia, Belgium and Holland, No. 3 in Ireland Poland and Turkey, No. 4 in USA and No. 5 in Singapore. The debut at No. 4 on the Billboard chart in the USA is the band's highest-ever chart position.

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN is currently in the studio working on a new album that will be delivered later this year. On June 29th, Malmsteen released Raw Live, "providing an unprecedented and unique look at the rise of a guitar god," according to a press release. Spanning from 1981 through 1999 and encompassing extremely rare footage of Malmsteen's early years in Sweden, this video displays the infancy of Malmsteen's prodigious skills well prior to his first worldwide album and travels through Malmsteen's masterful career, including his masterful performances from his first solo albums, Rising Force, Marching Out, and Trilogy. Also included in this unique video are never released behind the scenes footage of Malmsteen and newly shot personal touches of the guitarist which open up the viewer to a side of the guitar maestro which is rarely seen by the public.

Epicus Records have compiled a new tribute album to HELLOWEEN and Gamma Ray called HELLORAY, due out later this year. According to a label update: "Our goal for this album was to not choose the most obvious songs like 'Ride The Sky', 'Future World' and other songs that is the first choice when bands want to cover these two great metal legends. Also many of the biggest hits have already been released on tributes. Even though we might have one or two of the biggest hits, we have managed to get a very special selection of great songs. We have songs from the year 1985 to 2007!" The final tracklisting for the album is as follows: 'Tribute To The Past' (Gamma Ray) - GUARDIANS OF MANKIND 'Warrior' (Helloween) - GAIA EPICUS 'The Spirit' (Gamma Ray) - PARALLAX 'Mr. Torture' (Helloween) - AILLION 'Anywhere In The Galaxy' (Gamma Ray) - OPERA MAGNA 'Ain't Got Nothin' Better' (Helloween) - KICK HUNTER 'Last Before The Storm' (Gamma Ray) - SONEM 'Where The Rain Grows' (Helloween) - ARMORY 'A Tale That Wasn't Right' (Helloween) - DRACHEN 'Lust For Life' (Gamma Ray) - MIDAS FATE 'Just A Little Sign' (Helloween) - RAMPART 'Leaving Hell' (Gamma Ray) - ROTTEN Judas (HELLOWEEN) - 5th ELEMENT 'Heaven Or Hell' (Gamma Ray) - BURN UNIVERSE Before the war (HELLOWEEN) - ILUNGARA Land Of The Free' (Gamma Ray) - DEIMOS.

Amorphis bassist Niclas Etelavuori has provided an ear shattering bass track for a song on the new Hexfire album! The recording session took place in Finland. Jacob Liszko says: “Having a guest bass track on our album from such a legendary bassist is a real honor for us! We’re so proud. I do like
Niclas’ style and what he has done with the song. The bass track is amazing. It’s so powerful, melodic and sounds very metal! That is what we needed exactly. I must say a big THANK YOU to you, Niclas! You’re a legend!” As previously reported, the other session & guest musicians on the new Hexfire album are Jonno Lodge (Biomechanical, ex- Paul Di’Anno), Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody of Fire, Avantasia), Diego ‘Grom’ Meraviglia (formerly Ancient, Doomsword), Kasper Gram (Manticora), Martin Arendal (Manticora, Wuthering Heights), Kristian Larsen (Manticora) and Kel’Thuz (Spiritual Demise, Kelthuzzar, Sorcerer). For more info visit: www.myspace.com/hexfireofficial

After setbacks in the Netherlands, AEROSMITH also suffers from disappointing ticket sales in the U.S. The August 26th show held in New York, for which they were guaranteed one million dollars, gave room to 17,000 people, but under 9,000 tickets have been sold for the gig. Apparently the hype around the replacement of Steven Tyler did not work. You can read the entire article here.

CANTATA SANGUI has parted ways with vocalists Kari Husa and Anna Pienimäki and has announced the addition of Suvi Grym of VANGUARD/DEEPSNAKE fame. According to the band, Suvi "will take over the lead-singer duties while the rest of us will provide background chanting support."

On September 28, Metal Blade Records will re-release OSI's (OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE) self-titled 2003 album.

IMPERIAL CONQUEST have finished recording their new mini-album, "Omnipotence", with producer Juan "Punchy" Gonzalez (MORBID ANGEL, KARL SANDERS, DIABOLIC). The CD will be released independently by the band on September 18 with a release party at the Brass Mug in the group's hometown. http://www.myspace.com/imperialconquestfl

"Nightfall", the classic 1987 album CANDLEMASS, will be reissued by Peaceville Records on September 20. This special vinyl edition of "Nightfall" features new liner notes from bassist/songwriter Leif Edling. It is limited to just 2,000 numbered copies and comes presented on heavyweight (180-gram) gold-colored vinyl with gatefold sleeve. "Nightfall" is often regarded as the definitive CANDLEMASS album, and the pinnacle of the epic doom scene.

Bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such of SODOM has joined forces with longtime friend Detlef "Magic" Lauster in a brand new project called DIE KNAPPEN (old German word for "miner"). The group's debut album, "Auf Kohle Geboren", will be released at the end of October.

THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX has inked a deal with Season of Mist. The band's seventh album will contain six songs with a running time of over 60 minutes and is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2011. The CD will be mixed and mastered by Swedish producer and multi-intrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE).

NILE drummer George Kollias and Modern Music School will embark on a drum-clinic tour in September. Dubbed "Loud & Fast", the trel will run from September 19 to September 28 and will include 10 cities in Germany where you can see George performing NILE songs and explaining in detail everything he does.
The "Loud & Fast" tour is sponsored by Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals and Vic Firth Drumsticks.
The dates are as follows:
Sep. 19 - Leipzig
Sep. 20 - Brilon
Sep. 21 - Bad Kreuznach
Sep. 22 - Bexbach
Sep. 23 - Ulm
Sep. 24 - Brühl
Sep. 25 - Koblenz
Sep. 26 - Speyer/Landau
Sep. 27 - Trier
Sep. 28 – Weiskirchen

Sebastian Bach is currently working on material for his next solo album, which he expects to release sometime in 2011.

DGM will celebrate their 15-year aniversary with the release of a "stunning" live DVD, "Synthesis", due next month via Scarlet Records. Recorded in April 2010 in Rome, Italy, the DVD will be made available in a special package containing extra material plus a bonus CD featuring the band's greatest hits, re-recorded specifically for this release, as well as two previously unreleased tracks, "Just Like Before" and "The Only One".

Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, AMON AMARTH, BRAINSTORM) has finished mixing and mastering "Visions Of The Seeker", the sophomore album from Iranian power metallers ANGBAND.

SODOM, GRAVE DIGGER and EXCITER are among the confirmed bands for the Italian installment of the Rock Hard Festival, set to take place on September 19 at Estragon in Bologna.

POISON frontman Bret Michaels hosted the 2010 Miss Universe pageant on Monday, August 23 alongside NBC's "Today" show anchor Natalie Morales at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay. Jimena Navarrete, 22, of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2010. "You look beautiful," Michaels told the Mexican beauty. The Miss Universe organization is owned by "The Celebrity Apprentice" boss Donald Trump, hence the connection with Bret Michaels. The last Dutch girl ever to win was actress Angela Visser (from Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel), who was crowned “best miss universe ever” in 2002 by the site Global Beauties.

AGAINST THE PLAGUES has commenced the songwriting process for its as-yet-untitled second album.

Cyclone Empire Records has released "Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy", the debut album from reactivated Swedish old-school death metallers INTERMENT, on limited-edition 180-gram vinyl (limited to 500 copies), featuring a lyric sheet and a cover version of the CARNAGE song "Torn Apart" as a bonus track.

Madball will release their new album, ‘Empire’, on October 12 via Good Fight Music. The CD was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan, who has previously worked with Misery Index, Cannibal Corpse and Goatwhore, among many others. A track from the forthcoming album, ‘R.A.H.C.’, is now available for streaming on the Madball MySpace page.

Children of Bodom recently entered Finland's Petrax Studios to begin work on their as-yet-untitled seventh studio album. The band has enlisted famed rock producer Matt Hyde (Slayer, Monster Magnet) to oversee the new recording and will remain in the studio through late September. The new record will see release in early 2011.

Melechesh's fifth album, ‘The Epigenesis’, will be released on October 1 via Nuclear Blast Records. The 11-song effort was recorded in the newly built Babajim Studios in Istanbul, Turkey and was mixed by Reuben de Lautour and mastered by Pieter Snapper.

Icelandic extreme metal band Changer will release a new album, ‘Darkling’, in early September. The CD contains eight new songs, a new version of the track ‘Feelings: Deleted’ from the ‘Inconsistency’ EP (2001), and a cover version that the group is keeping a secret for the time being. Changer's founder and drummer Kristjan B. Heidarsson put Changer back together in late 2008 with a new lineup after the band had unexpectedly split up at the end of 2007. Joining Kristjan are vocalist Haraldur Anton Skulason (ex-Munnridur, ex-Denver), bassist Arnar M. Ellertsson (ex-Palmprint In Blood, Moldun), Polish guitarist Rob-D (ex-Abused Majesty, Cinis), and returning guitarist Hordur Halldorsson (formerly known as Hudson).

Sodom have completed work on their new album, ‘In War And Pieces’, for a November 23, 2010 release (one day earlier internationally) via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was produced by Waldemar Sorychta, who has previously worked with Tiamat, Moonspell, Lacuna Coil and Sentenced, among many others.

Chainfist will release its debut album, ‘Black Out Sunday’, on October 15 via SAOL/H'art/Zebralution. The CD, which features a guest appearance by guitarist Jakob "Batten" Hansen from Illdisposed, contains 12 songs will also be available in digital format worldwide through Zebralution. The cover art and design concept was developed by Gustavo Sazes (Arch Enemy, God Forbid, Musica Diablo).

2010 marks the 20th anniversary of My Dying Bride. To commemorate two decades of doom and gloom, the band embarked upon a project to re-work familiar melodies and themes from My Dying Bride's extensive catalogue into long, flowing symphonic compositions, including new vocals and passages from vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe. These arrangements have been brought to life, in cooperation with keyboard maestro Johnny Maudling (of Bal-Sagoth fame), and will be released as ‘Evinta’ this fall on Peaceville Records.

‘Hammer Of The Scots’, a brand new song from Grave Digger, is available for streaming on YouTube. The track comes off the band's new album, ‘The Clans Will Rise Again’, which will be released in Europe on October 1 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded between mid-May and mid-July at the Meadow Studios, which is owned by Grave Digger's new guitarist Axel Ritt, and Principal Studios, where all of Grave Digger albums since 1995's ‘Heart Of Darkness’ have been tracked. It was produced by Chris Boltendahl and mixed by Jörg Umbreit.

Cauldron have entered Rogue Studios in the band's hometown of Toronto to begin recording their new album. Titled ‘Burning Fortune’, the follow-up to Cauldron's critically acclaimed 2009 debut album, ‘Chained To The Nite’, is due to be released on Earache Records in early 2011.

Frontiers Records has announced a worldwide partnership with The Poodles.The band's concert DVD, ‘In the Flesh’, and accompanying live album, ‘No Quarter’, will be released before the end of 2010, followed by The Poodles' fourth studio CD in early 2011.

BEHEMOTH's Nergal answers back to the overwhelming response of those offering to set up benefits in the vocalists honor. The singer's main goal is to raise awareness and get people involved by registering to be a bone marrow donor.

Since news on Nergal's recent health issues has been released, the band, management, and label has received an overwhelming response from fans and bands all over the world asking how they can directly help Nergal. In response to everyone offering his or her help in terms of setting up benefits and shows to raise money for the frontman of the Polish blackened death metal band BEHEMOTH, Nergal has issued the following statement:

"I haven't intended to manifest myself in any way and, especially at this stage, to share my feelings or any other news with the world for obvious reasons. It is simply too early for it. But it was YOU who provoked me to say a few words. Regarding my personal low opinion of humankind, I'm shocked by the reaction to my illness. I actually expected NOTHING yet received feedback which surpassed all expectations. I want to ensure you I read EACH mail I receive, although I'm unable to reply to all of them. The power of your words is pure magic and I thank you all for it. You are a gigantic indestructible army that truly inspires me in this difficult time. The fact is that a fight with this illness is going to last for many months. Most of this time I will spend in hospital and I will go through various psychophysical states. If you know the history of Behemoth you also know we achieved everything by hard work and a steely determination. The same goes for my private life. I happen to be a strong son of a bitch. I have no faith but rely on a 100% victory and I am sure I will get out of it stronger than ever. Sun Tzu in his 'Art of War' said that if you know your enemy and yourself the result of a thousand battles will not surprise you… I enter the ring with this Nietzschean attitude and I will leave it as a winner, as usual. Just watch and see!

So I want to emphasize that Behemoth will by no means goes through any hibernation state. Obviously all concert plans must be postponed until some unknown point in the future, but things are happening! Lately our newest video for '…Alas, Lord is Upon Me' has premiered and stirred up quite a storm in mass media, which fills us with utter pride. Plus we've just finished the project of our new DVD; Evangelia Heretika is a three disc release, a real encyclopedia of Behemoth with nearly 5 hours of material and a bonus audio CD that will be out in November (Metal Blade US - Nuclear Blast Europe). Expect an experience of visual madness as we went to hell and back to make it! Our official Webstore has been functional for a couple of days and official merchandise and some very exclusive stuff can be bought there. At the beginning of 2011, Peaceville in Europe and Metal Blade in US will reissue the EPs with new artwork, bonuses, liner notes, and more. As you can see, despite a complicated situation and difficult circumstances we're remaining active wherever we can.

Finally, I want to comment on some opinions which, provoked by religious circles, lead to far-fetched and inaccurate interpretations. I was surprised to hear my illness became a pretext for some people to embark on their own crusade. Opinions suggesting I might come closer to God or abandon my ideals and grovel to the only correct world view in this country not only surprised but also frightened me. This is a typical example of supporting one's own views by preying on someone's misfortune. 'He fell ill so he will convert to Christianity, he will discover the religion he fought against is actually close to him.' Halt! Why should the illness change my point of view? It is true this is a difficult time for me and the thoughts of ultimate matters are hard to chase away. But the idea that I will change my opinions, priorities, and values as a consequence of my illness sounds as if someone regards my head, and not my body, ill. Suggesting I might convert are ridiculous. To what would I convert? After all, I know Christian mythology pretty well, not only in its literary version, and I find nothing good, creative or beautiful in it. I read books better and wiser than the Bible. War, blood, blackmail, rapes, incest, pedophilia, zoophilia, collaboration and treachery – each page emanates with evil. Some may say I don't understand the message of the Bible. I'd rather say the Christianity is nothing more than a rusty and archaic structure that is going to fall down any moment. It lasts only because of the gullible that follow the shepherd blindly; without any questions, without any consideration, not to any promised land, but to an intellectual slaughter. So, I say to those, who see some chances to break my rules, and myself because of the illness: over my dead body!"

Nergal's official view on benefit concerts, fund raisers, etc. is focused on marrow donations as a whole issue, not his specific situation. If you want to help Nergal the best thing you can do is set up a marrow drive or register to be a bone marrow donor. Every person that registers to be a donor increases the chances of survival for Nergal and every other person out there suffering from the same illness.

To learn more about how you can register to donate marrow check out:
http://www.marrow.org/

Fans wanting to help out, register for the marrow program, or have questions on running a marrow drive may contact the organization Music Saves Lives by email at iCare@musicsaveslives.com or visit Music Saves Lives at http://www.musicsaveslives.org/

http://www.behemoth.pl
http://www.myspace.com/behemoth
http://www.facebook.com/behemoth
http://www.youtube.com/user/Behemothofficial

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