Double Diamond stayed 2 days in drummer Wouter’s home-studio to record a demo-cd with all the 12 songs for the new, yet untitled, album.

This raw, primitive, recordings will be used by producer Axel Ritt (guitarplayer of German band http://www.domainband.de/) to prepare the real recordings as good as possible and to deliver a real powerful album.

The album will be released, as its predecessor “Stand Up And Fight”, by the Belgian label Mausoleum Records!(http://www.mausoleum-records.com/) Expect some great true-metal tunes!

Some songtitels for the hungry ones:

Hell Or Paradise, Warmachine, Firestorm, Man The Guns, We Rule The Night, Crecy – 1346…

http://www.doublediamond.be

http://groups.msn.com/DoubleDiamond

http://www.myspace.com/doublediamondmetal

Excalion was born in December 2000 in Konnevesi, central Finland.

Keyboard player Jarmo Jappe Myllyvirta had written some melodic power metal-style songs and began looking for a group to play his ideas aloud.

So it happened that four people gathered in a tiny rehearsal room: Jappe, drummer Henri Pirkkalainen, bassist Timo Sahlberg and guitarist Tero Vaaja.

After some playing, some chatting and some playing again, those four people realized that they had a band.

For reasons that have partly escaped everyone, the band was named Excalion

Where did the name Excalion originate from and what meaning does it have to the band?

Our former bass player Timo came up with that name. He didn?t remember the name he was planning and it turned into Excalion. We thought that it was good enough and that?s it. It has no special meaning to us, it is just a name.

Where can I find Excalion cd's?

Our debut album was released by "Sound Riot Records" in Europe and by "Art Union Group" in Japan. Here you can find the list of distributors for Sound Riot-releases. If you can find your country on the list, you?ll definately find the cd from the best record stores.

Distributors:

Avispa (Spain)
Cargo (UK)
Century Media (USA)
Disk Heaven (Japan)
Firebox (Finland)
Masterpiece (Italy)
Melodicpia (South Korea)
Non Stop Music (Switzerland)
PHD (Canada)
Rock Inc (BeNeLux)
Sleaszy Rider (Greece)
Soundholic (Japan)
Sound Pollution (Sweden)
The End (USA)
Trinity (Hong Kong)
Twilight (Germany & Austria)
Underclass (France)

Has Excalion made any music videos?

We didn't shoot any videos of "Primal Exhale" but we're pretty sure that we'll film a video for our next full length album.

Who has done the artwork and what meaning does it have? And how important do you feel it is to have a great cover?

Chrille Anderson made the cover which we like VERY much. He listened to our cd and this is the picture he came up with. I guess it reflects the mood that he got of "Primal Exhale". It's really important to have professional cover-art as it is the first thing that U see of the band.

Which bands have their influence on Excalion?

I guess Stratovarius was the biggest to almost every single one of us when we started. After that there has been various bands and artists from rock to metal that have left their marks on Excalion.

Main-songwriter is Jappe (Jarmo Myllyvirta). Would be great if you can explain us "normal" Metalfans how song-writing continues in your band. Does Jappe come to the rest with complete songs or ideas or is everybody in the band involved this process ?

Jappe composes all the songs, but the final arrangement for the song is done together in our rehearsals. Jappe and Tero mainly writes the lyrics. Henri has also written lyrics for a song.

Where do Excalion members live today and what do they do besides play metal music?

Every one of us still lives in middle-Finland somewhere near the city of Jyvaskyla and we all are either studying or working....or both.

How did you end up signing a record deal with "Sound Riot Records"?

We recorded a home-made demo in 2003 and started spreading it to media and record labels. We didn't put so much of an effort to the recording itself so we were quite a surprised when the guys of "Sound Riot" contacted us telling us that they were really interested in signing us to their label. We thought it was the best way to go and chose it.

What cover songs has Excalion performed on their gigs?

We have played various hard rock and metal songs on our gigs past few years. Some of them include: Dio-Rainbow In The Dark, Bon Jovi-You Give Love A Bad Name, Stratovarius-No Turning Back and Distant Skies. Nowadays we don?t play that much cover songs because we have enough own songs for a gig but it?s sometimes very nice to do something different on the stage.

DigiFestival.net, the first multimedia art festival in streaming video, adds to the sponsoring institutions the government of District of Milan who, after a careful review and discussion on the project, considered to support the festival for its value and internationality.

DigiFestival.net, added a sixth important art discipline in this second edition: Video Art.
The Art in Vision staff considered to offer artists another category to include those works produced and thought for the digital realm, and non strictly having reference with cinema, in which the visual communication broke the traditional obstacles among the various art genres.

In these two months from the opening of subscription artists from all over the world joined the festival: Italians, Americans, Canadians, Russians, Africans, and considering the number - wished, nevertheless surprising - it can be reasonably foreseen that all the 2005 edition numbers will be at least doubled in 2006, multiplying the number of artists in the contest and the events on the Italian territory.

An important partnership has been closed between Digifestival.net and the entertainment service agency ULTRA Promotion (http://www.ultraitaly.com) and with label ULTRATEMPO Records in order to put in action the realization of the DigiFestival.net Events on October/November 2006 in many venues of the city of Milan.
In the closing of this edition will not be missed the usual appointment with Mercafir (Florence). The exact events dates will be communicated shortly through our newsletters and press releases and in the news section of the website.

Continues the promotion of the winning videos of the 2005 Edition of DigiFestival.net - Cantiere of virtual art.

The five winning videos will be featured in Saint Petersburg during the Open Cinema Festival - II International open-air festival.

The event dedicated to short movies and animation opens to new means of contemporary visual communication and will take place on August 2006 in the wonderful frame of one of the beaches inside the Saint Peter and Paul Fortress, in the heart of the city.

For more detailed info please write to digifestival@digimusic.net.

DigiFestival.net - Ass. Cult. Art in Vision - Via G.B. Amici, 19 - 50131 – Florence, Italy

Tel +39 334 62 52 500

Lost Horizons

Release – dates :

USA/Canada : July 18

Guitar virtuoso Luca Turilli, best known for his work as lead guitarist, co-composer and co-founder in film score metal band Rhapsody, has presented us with his new band: Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest. Not wishing this to be viewed just as a side project, Luca asserts that Dreamquest is an additional outlet for the abundance of overflowing musical ideas of this prolific composer. Fear not Rhapsody fans, Dreamquest, while an entirely separate band, will not interfere with Rhapsody’s progress. The debut album, Lost Horizons introduces a new style and technique to Luca’s already mighty repertoire, enriched by modern elements: new metal, opera, techno-electronic music and gothic-symphonic atmospheres.

Lost Horizons displays Luca’s previously unknown ability to call forth majestic tones from the keyboard. The unique sounds produced by Luca’s instrumentation bring forth musical landscapes and haunting melodies, invoking images of sirens and nymphs. Luca’s passion for the keyboard is clear. Before founding Rhapsody with keyboardist Alex Staropoli, Luca had studied piano. However, Rhapsody’s immediate success had encouraged Luca to focus his efforts on the guitar, an instrument that he had already mastered. Three years ago, Luca felt inspired to return to the keyboard, influenced by the melancholic melodies of great artists such as Chopin and Alexander Scriabin. Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest gives Luca the opportunity to unleash the pianist inside of him.

Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest is the fulfillment of a dream that Luca has had in mind for many years and he is looking forward to the opportunity to perform Dreamquest material in a live forum as soon as possible. The music on Lost Horizons combines powerful metal instrumentation with angelic, operatic, female vocals to create a sound that might best be described as 'Symphonic Electro-Metal'. The first single “Virus,” is a prime example of the majestic musical flavor that Dreamquest is made of, while the operatic “Sospiro Divino” showcases the boundless possibilities presented by this exciting new band. Although favorable comparisons to popular acts are inevitable, make no mistake: Luca Turilli’s Dreamquest is a fresh and unique experience.

www.dreamquest.it

BLUDGEON

World Controlled

Release – dates :

USA/Canada : July 18

Bludgeon is a unique metal entity from Chicago that is not afraid to cause mayhem. The first band signed to Magic Circle Music, Bludgeon takes extreme metal by the balls and doesn’t let go. Their sophomore album, "World Controlled" is a brutal assault on the senses that is sure to leave a lasting impression on fans of death, thrash, hardcore and speed metal.

Bludgeon has earned several distinctions in their relatively young career. When Manowar bassist and Magic Circle Music founder Joey DeMaio discovered the band, he agreed to produce their debut album, Crucify The Priest - an honor never before bestowed upon a band other than his own - and signed them to his label.

On the new album, World Controlled, Bludgeon further evolves the sound and attitude that helped them to make such an impressive start. By incorporating hardcore influences into their already powerful death/thrash metal sound, the band has reached a new level of anger and brutality. Vocalist/guitarist Mark Duca explains, "I always write what I feel; half the record was written when I was going through pain and suffering. But I don’t see that as a bad thing." Songs like "Carnage Begins" and "Consumed By Anger" illustrate the thoughts and feelings of a band that faces the challenges of everyday life with the aggression and persistence needed to come out on top. "You have to suffer to move forward. It’s like you have to prove how faithful you are."

Bludgeon has not only grown musically, but the lineup has also changed. This evolution was not an easy process, but it truly helped to shape the lyrics and themes of World Controlled. "The band was going through personal problems with the lineup change when I was writing the lyrics," says Duca. "I felt like people were trying to control me and that is where the album title comes from. You might go through changes, but Bludgeon will always stay true to metal."

World Controlled also contains approximately 20 minutes of video footage showcasing the Bludgeon production cycle.

www.bludgeon.tv

Sinn

Sinn concentrates on the album's preparation, explaining therefore the lack of concerts until september. An appearance for fun on the 24 June is scheduled, as well as a date at the end of August which will allow to celebrate the new opus. The songs are finished, the band has just to refine the last details. The drums sessions will start next month. All photographs and recording reports in the next NL.

The band is searching for a 2nd guitarist for concerts (only), for a better visual impact. Experience, charisma and precision in playing asked. For any further informations or candidacies, send an email at grinmg@hotmail.com

Here is exclusively a great part of the next album tracklist which will include 11 tracks. This should be called "SUSPENSION".The songs order is not defined yet.

-SCARS (Save the planet...)

-THE ONE THAT NO ONE SEES

-ONLY ONE HATE

-YCAGD

-KING' S ANCIENT FLAW

-STILL REMEMBER THE PAIN

-DEAD SCREAM FOR REVENGE

-SUSPENSION

INNER SURGE TO TOUR ACROSS CANADA WITH FORMER IRON MAIDEN SINGER PAUL DI'ANNO
(As on Blabbermouth)
INNER SURGE is set to tour with former IRON MAIDEN vocalist PAUL DI'ANNO.

Di'Anno will be make 20 stops on the Canadian leg of his world tour this September in support of his new album, The Living Dead (Zain Records) and the June release of Early Classics, featuring re-recorded early Iron Maiden material produced by Canadian music veteren Tom Treumuth.

"This tour was a natural progression for us", explains frontman Steve Moore.

Inner Surge's career has been growing in leaps and bounds, with the recent release of their Signals Screaming album through Cyclone Records. Press is responding positively to the release, some calling it "one of the best exports that Canada has to offer" by a band that "will reach worldwide notoriety." With the inclusion of their human rights centered track 'Retribution Song' on the Polania Pictures' Cabras soundtrack and a video by Cabras director Fredy Polania released on May 2nd, that exposure will grow even further.

Dates and locations for Inner Surge's tour with Paul Di'Anno are still to be determined. Stay tuned for further updates.

CYCLONE RECORDS "EYE OF THE STORM" PODCAST

Cyclone Records(www.cyclonerecords.ca) has launched it's long-anticipated new podcast called "Eye of the Storm" featuring Inner Surge, Creature Republic, Pitch Union, Allen Christie, and hosted by resident DJ's Josh MacNeil and Ike Lackey. Listen to the 1st episode at http://eyeofthestorm.libsyn.com.

INNER SURGE MUSIC VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW

Inner Surge's music video for the 1st single off "Signals Screaming" entitled "Retribution Song" launched May 2nd at www.cabrassoundtrack.com where it is available for stream or download. The downloads can be played on the new video iPods and PSP's.
"CABRAS" director Fredy Polania of Polania Pictures directed the video. To download go to www.cabrassoundtrack.com.

"SIGNALS SCREAMING" AVAILABLE NOW

Inner Surge's new album, "Signals Screaming" is available for purchase at www.innersurge.com in the shop section.

CANADANOISE.COM REVIEWS INNER SURGE

"By now this CD has been out for weeks, so if you haven’t listened to it already then shame on you. Signals Screaming is a battering-ram of an album that is impressive and powerful, both in sound and in message. Delivered through a screaming fury along with sung words that are weighted with disdain, the force of its lyrics is impossible to shut out. INNER SURGE practice a kind of intelligent metal that inspires a sense of bitter unrest towards the state of humanity, their consistently angry vocals speaking of political issues and worldwide concerns. Such militant words are fueled by pummelling bass, deep guitars, and energetic drumming with tons of double-kick action. This is a mostly heavy album, being focused as a whole towards a harder, faster metal sound than the band’s previous release.

The opening track, “Azura,” makes a quiet entrance but is only misleading of the aggression to come. Any notion of this being a timid record is dispelled when the album launches into the loud and distorted fierceness of “The Outcome,” followed by a barrage of other songs of a similar power. At their most aggressive they contain thundering bass drum, finger-tapping guitar riffs and soul-crushing screams that are all made clear and intense by the album’s production. There are many softer moments within these songs as well, but things don’t truly ease up again after the first track until “Wolves.” This song fits in as a quiet change from the distortion-driven tracks preceeding it, lacking screams and consisting of some excellent clean guitar picking. However, this is only a slight break between the pounding force that INNER SURGE have to offer in large servings. Things pick up heavier than ever with the next track, “Where The Door Locks,” and remain so with occasional melodious interruptions until the climactic ending of the nearly colossal “No Profit In The Cure.”

This album expresses INNER SURGE’s talent for creating music that hits hard like a brick in the gut. While the structures of the songs vary and the tone and pace change rapidly, their music maintains an excellent flow that can easily capture a person’s attention throughout the course of the album by way of its vicious force and melodic intervals. The vocal and musical harmonies are well executed, as are the contrasting ambush of screams and discordant instrumentals, making for a collection of songs that does not become dull at any instant. Signals Screaming promises to be an essential contribution to Canadian metal this year, the impact of its message and aggressive style being sure to turn heads. INNER SURGE’s music is a voice that screams out to be heard, and a voice I would recommend listening to."

NEW INTERVIEWS

Two new interviews have been posted in the Press section at www.innersurge.com. Inner Surge talk about the themes behind "Signals Screaming", religious fanaticism(shouldn't it be mentioned in every conversation) and what's in store for Inner Surge fans on the upcoming Canadian tour with Paul Di'Anno. They also take a swing at Bernard Goldberg. Maybe he will put them on his 'list' next year.

Insanity of the Obsessed on Deathquake Records August 15th

Deathquake Records is proud to present Death Metal Trio WARFACE and their full-length debut Insanity of the Obsessed. Hailing from San Diego, CA the trio is comprised of Laura Christine (Lead guitar), Dave Smith (vocals/bass) and Scott Ellis (drums).

Insanity of the Obsessed is a follow up to their self-titled EP Warface, which was released in 2001. Their previous release achieved them critical acclaim in the underground. Metal Maniacs Magazine praised WARFACE as "A little piece of all the major players that defined death metal is packed into one little three-piece [Warface]."

Since the release of their EP, WARFACE has grown and developed its unique style and chemistry giving fans music that they can really sink their teeth into. When Deathquake Records came knocking, they recognized the brutal metal music this band created and signed the Death Metal trio immediately. After signing the band was sent straight to the studio to work with world-class engineer/producer Alan Sanderson (SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SLAYER, ROLLING STONES, JOHNNY CASH,).

Insanity of the Obsessed blends complex yet catchy moody-melodies with low brow pounding grooves that hook. This style of writing makes the songs memorable and sticks in the listeners head and soul.

One other unique dynamic of this extreme metal band is their female lead guitarist Laura Christine. The extreme metal genre has yet to see a female out front handling all rhythm and lead guitar duties single handedly as well as writing and producing. Metal Curse Magazine declared that Warface is something that you don't see every day: Brutal Death Metal with not only a female guitarist, but in fact a female guitar hero!"

WARFACE is not trying to reinvent metal, but simply carry on the tradition of bringing quality metal music to the masses. Insanity of the Obsessed was written and performed to honor the great legends before them. Insanity of the Obsessed will be available in stores and the web August 15th, 2006.

www.warface.net
www.deathquakerecords.com

   &  

Italy's Gods Of Metal Festival 2007 May Not Happen

An official statement issued today by Magic Circle Management, announced

that the promoters of The Gods Of Metal have reported that, due to financial

constraints placed upon their company, the festival may not take place in

2007.

As a result, they will not honor their original agreement made with Magic

Circle Management for what would be Manowar's 4th headlining appearance,

bringing with them Rhapsody Of Fire as special guests and the Italian debut

of HolyHell. As a side note, Manowar holds the record of headlining the Gods

Of Metal Festival more times than any other band. Manowar and Magic Circle

Music would like to clarify that they are in no way responsible for the

cancellation of next years Manowar¹s performance.

Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio says: "We wanted to inform fans as soon as

possible so that they would not purchase tickets expecting to see Manowar

perform at the festival. The promoters have, in the past, been known as men

of honor and our trust in them went so far as to allow them exclusively to

announce our appearance for 2007. We as a band understand that our Italian

fans will surely be disappointed, but make no mistake about it. This was not

our decision. We too are disappointed. We have been preparing a very special

show just for our Italian fans and we will now seek every opportunity to

bring this massive show to Italy. We will never let our fans down."

www.manowar.com / www.mightyrhapsody.com / www.holyhell.com

www.magiccirclemusic.com

2 New Videos of A.N.A.E.L. (live) are available on :

http://www.anaelmusic.com

"Too Blind" (live version) and "Ov3r" a song from our next album!!!

You can find some new pix too!  

ENJOY !!!!!!!!

Next shows:

"Die "Offenbach-Post" geht ab"
MBAF, COURAGEOUS and more
Saturday, September 9th 2006
In the middle of Offenbach/Main, Germany

"This Godless Endeavor Tour 2006"
NEVERMORE, ABANDONED & COURAGEOUS
Monday, September 25th 2006
Showtime: 8 p.m. - Doors: 7 p.m.
Entry: 16,- ˆ
www.batschkapp.de

"No Sleep Til Eschersheim - 30 Years Of Batschkapp"
TANKARD, REBELLION, COURAGEOUS, V8WANKERS, EVERFEST, ABANDONED, DOPPELBOCK & LIGHTMARE
Thursday, November 16th 2006
First Band: 8 p.m. - Doors: 7 p.m.
Entry: 10,- ˆ
www.batschkapp.de

What's going on in the C-Camp? Short News:

· The machine has started! The promotion for the new album "Downfall Of Honesty" (worldwide release October 13th) has just begun. Eleven brand new songs with all the trademarks of the band are ready to blast away every ear, break every neck and kick every single butt. Beware of this metalstrike!

· Many thanx again to all the people from the last weekend, when COURAGEOUS played at the "Burning Air Festival" in Dauborn, Germany with KNORKATOR and many other great bands. Rainy and cold weather, but the audience was phenomenal. You just ruled!

· New features on the homepage www.courageousmusic.de - a new picture gallery from the show in Nehren, Germany with DORO and a funny memory-onlinegame for the players out there. Beat the highscore!

ROCK AND ROLL - www.courageousmusic.de