Metal news (Weeks 18 & 19)
Lots of Metal news!
~ DEMONIC CHRIST NEWS!!! May 10, 2005 ~
Dana is in the process of writing the new DEMONIC CHRIST album. It is confirmed that long-time comrade, Proscriptor McGovern (ABSU) will be drumming on the new album and fellow old-schooler, Lord Sabathan (ENTHRONED) will occupy the bass position. This is an exciting combination and should most definitely prove to be the best material from DEMONIC CHRIST. Recording of the album will begin in November for an early 2006 release on BlackMetal.com Records. *For more info: www.demonicchrist.com
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~ ENSLAVED Film Norwegian Gig For Upcoming DVD ~
Norwegian extreme metallers ENSLAVED have posted the following message on their official web site:
"The gig ENSLAVED did in Bergen the 4th of May was taped and filmed, and will soon result in a brand new DVD released by Tuba. Some bonus material from the band's European tour and a quite silly interview will also be included on the DVD. The sound will be handled by Lars Klokkerhaug (mixed 'ISA') and the editing of the footage by Stig 'Ese' Eliassen (guitarist of VREID, ENSLAVED's support band on their recent European tour), so both sound & picture are in the best hands. More news about the DVD as soon as they appear!"
ENSLAVED recently won the "Metal Album of the Year" prize at the Norwegian "Grammy" awards, Spellemannprisen, for their latest release, "ISA". The band also received the independent Alarm Award for "Best Metal Album" of 2004.
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~ GORGOROTH Guitarist Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Rape ~
GORGOROTH guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) was sentenced in a Norwegian court to three years in prison for rape. The incident happened April 27, 2004 when Tiegs, 34, and a friend, 32, brought a 29-year-old woman they met at a nightclub called Garage in Bergen back to Tiegs' appartment after closing hours. The two men allegedly punched the woman in the face and forced her to have sex with them. The defendants admitted that they had sex with the woman, but claimed it was consensual.
"The verdict is full of factual errors and lacks logic and reason. I'm convinced that both these men are innoncent," the defense attorney, Jørgen Riple, told the Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende.
Tiegs and his friend, whose name has not been disclosed by the media, were each ordered to pay 100,000 NOK (approximately $16,000) in court costs and an additional 55,000 NOK (approximately $9,000) in punitive damages. Both men have appealed the verdict.
In February 2005, GORGOROTH frontman Gaahl was sentenced to 14 months in prison for beating a 41-year-old man and threatening to drink his blood.
The 29-year-old, whose real name has not been revealed by the Norwegian media, was charged with a crime that carries a maximum penalty of nine years in prison.
The black metal vocalist was sentenced to one year and two months in jail by the Gulating court of appeals. The original 18-month sentence, which was handed down last May, was reduced by four months while the amount in damages Gaahl is required to pay to the victim was increased from 100,000 NOK (approximately $16,000) to 190,000 NOK (approximately $30,400)
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~ New Invictus web site launched today www.invictusproductions.net ~
Invictus Productions, in association with Black Ace Records from the Netherlands (www.blackacerecords.com) and StrataNel Promotions from the UK are proud to present the first ever Tyrants Festival (www.tyrantsfestival.com) in the Baroeg, Rotterdam, The Netherlands on Saturday May 28th 2005. The line up for the festival is: Dismember (Swe), Watain (Swe), Antaeus (Fra), Arkhon Infaustus (Fra), Kaamos (Swe), Nox (Hol) and Hell Militia (Fra). Tickets for the event are 18euros and are available from Black Ace Records, Postbus 4009, 5604 EA Eindhoven, The Netherlands or via Paypal from k_de_sade@hotmail.com">k_de_sade@hotmail.com (for Paypal transactions please add 4% of the total amount).
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~ IMMOLATION: 'Harnessing Ruin' Video To Receive 'Headbanger's Ball' Premiere ~
IMMOLATION's video for the title track of their new album, "Harnessing Ruin", will debut on this weekend's edition of MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball", airing Saturday night (May 7) beginning at 10:00 p.m. EST.
The "Harnessing Ruin" clip was directed by the Dutch production company Lowlife Media (EXODUS, PRIMAL FEAR, ABORTED).
"Harnessing Ruin", available now on Listenable Records in Europe (Olympic Recordings in the U.S.), was recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios with Paul Orofino producing. The album marks the recording debut with the group of their new drummer Steve Shalaty.
IMMOLATION will embark on a U.S. tour with DEICIDE beginning on May 30. A complete list of the band's upcoming tour dates can be found at the IMMOLATION fan site www.EverlastingFire.com .
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~ Ex-AMERICAN HEARTBREAK Drummer Joins PROUDFLESH ~
PROUDFLESH, the San Francisco-based band featuring ex-CRUCIFIX mainman Sothira, have announced the addition of drummer Erik Lannon (ex-MORDRED, AMERICAN HEARTBREAK) to their recently revamped lineup. Although the band is currently seeking a permanent lead guitarist, they have also announced plans to enter the recording studio in July to begin work on their first full-length album, expected later this year on Wired Gnome Records. Ex-CRUCIFIX/PROUDFLESH and current FANG/RESISTOLEROS guitarist Jimmy Crucifix will handle lead guitar duties, pending a permanent replacement. Guitarists interested in auditions should contact sothiraproudflesh@yahoo.com">sothiraproudflesh@yahoo.com for more info.
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~ KULT OV AZAZEL To Tour East Coast With BLOOD STORM, TERATISM, HORN OF VALERE ~
Floridian black metallers KULT OV AZAZEL have posted the following message on their official web site:
"A two-week East Coast tour is being booked in August. Being billed 'Hellstorm of Unholy Legions' this will also consist of BLOOD STORM, TERATISM and HORN OF VALERE. The tour will begin in New England and continue for 13 days until the tour comes to an end in South Florida. Confirmed dates for this will be posted in the next update. KULT OV AZAZEL will also be storming the Culture Room again on May 29th at the Memorial Metal Meltdown with DIVINE EMPIRE, HELLWITCH and others. This will also serve as a CD pre-release gathering with copies of the new album 'The World, The Flesh & The Devil' being available this one time only before the planned street date of June 28th. Also available will be the KULT OV AZAZEL/HORN OF VALERE 'Through War or Suicide' 10"."
KULT OV AZAZEL recently announced the departure of guitarist/backing vocalist Nocturath due to "personal obligations." His replacement in the group is VJS from DEMONCY and INCURSUS. VJS' first recorded appearances with the band will be the split releases with VROLOK and HORN OF VALERE.
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~ ROTTING CHRIST Respond To MEGADETH Mainman's Threats Of Greek Concert Cancellation ~
Frontman Sakis Tolis of the Greek black metal act ROTTING CHRIST has issued the following statement — exclusively via Metal Temple magazine — concerning the issue that has arisen due to Dave Mustaine's (MEGADETH frontman) comments (see previous BLABBERMOUTH.NET stories: Story#1, Story#2) regarding the announcement that ROTTING CHRIST were going to provide support for (at least one of) MEGADETH's live concerts in Greece:
"Unfortunately, we find ourselves in the difficult position to have to announce to our fans that we feel like canceling our upcoming participation in two big festivals (something that we have done several times before, too), with the reason being our band's name. A name that expresses our opposition to any kind of religion, a name that opposes to any fake visions of an eternal calmness and peace, a name that is a punch at the conservative basis of the hypocritical and religious so-called democratic societies.
"Unfortunately the middle ages still find their way into the new millennium and METAL must support the freedom of the mind, something that it has been doing since its foundation."
*(Thanks: Orpheus Spiliotopoulos / Metal-Temple.com)
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~ EXHUMED Part Ways With Guitarist, Announce Replacement ~
Californian gore-metallers EXHUMED have parted ways with longtime guitarist Mike Beams. "Mike felt that he had burnt himself out on EXHUMED through all the touring and everything and just wasn't really motivated to continue on and give 110 percent the way that he had in the past," stated band founder Matt Harvey.
Beams' decision to leave the group came in the middle of the recording sessions for the band's new album of cover songs, "Garbage Daze Re-Regurgitated", which in turn set back recording deadlines. New guitarist Wes Caley (ex-UPHILL BATTLE) came into the band after much of the initial recording was done and contributed guitar solos on the new album. "Wes is a great guitar player, and was the perfect addition to the band," stated Harvey.
"We all wish Mike the best, and we're sorry to see him go, but we respect his decision and are thankful for all the years he's put into the band. We think that bringing Wes in is going to take what we're doing to a whole new level." Caley added: "I've been a fan of EXHUMED for a long time, so this is a really great thing! We are on the same page musically, and with everything else as well. I can't wait to get out and play some serious metal! I am happy to drink all the free beer that I hope will be in abundance out there, all over the world..."
Due to the delay caused by the lineup change, the release of "Garbage Daze Re-Regurgitated" will be postponed until late summer. The album is being mastered by Scott (PIG DESTROYER ) Hull and produced by the band themselves, along with Matt (CRETIN) Widener. More details as they are confirmed.
As previously reported, songs set to appear on "Garbage Daze Re-Regurgitated" include the following (original composer/performer listed first):
HEXX – "Twice as Bright, Half as Long"
EPIDEMIC - "In Fear We Kill"
AMEBIX - "The Power Remains"
UNSEEN TERROR - "Uninformed"
G.B.H. - "Necrophilia"
PENTAGRAM - "The Ghoul"
SIEGE - "Drop Dead"
MASTER - "Pay to Die"
METALLICA - "Trapped Under Ice"
EXHUMED recently announced the addition of bassist/vocalist Leon del Muerte to the group's ranks. Leon, known for his guitar work with EXHUMED (1996-1997) and IMPALED (1998-2001), has been with the band as a touring bass player throughout the "Anatomy is Destiny" tour work, encompassing three U.S. tours, two European tours, as well as in Japan, Canada, Australia and Iceland.
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~ CELTIC FROST Complete Work On New Demo ~
CELTIC FROST frontman Tom "Warrior" Gabriel Fischer has posted the following message on his official blog:
"We finished the demonstration songs yesterday. They will be used for various industry purposes. We focused entirely on heavy material, and these songs are a clear indication of what the album is going to be like, they are dark, ferocious, sometimes very unique, and very intense. The full album will be more varied, but the general direction is obvious.
"All the recordings were made at our rehearsal studio, and we used live versions for most of the tracks. We spent Sunday mixing at Oakland Recording in Winterthur, Switzerland. Erol [guitar] engineered, and Martin [bass] and me managed to annoy him constantly with our demands/comments/immaturities.
"Almost everything came out as intended. The only song that doesn't yet work is 'Os Abysmi vel Daath'. This is a bitter pill to swallow, for it is one of our earliest dark songs for the new album, and we had a lot of faith in it. We will have to go back and put some very concise work into it. The song seems so simple, and yet it is very complex and has managed to defeat us every step of the way so far.
"The other songs of the demo sound extremely CELTIC FROST to me, in details sometimes astonishingly close to 'Morbid Tales' or 'To Mega Therion'. 'Ain Elohim' and 'Temple of Depression' are perhaps my favourites among these songs. Although it is a new song, the title and some of my contributions to 'Temple of Depression' go back to the original CELTIC FROST of many years ago.
"If all goes according to plan, Martin is going to pick up a well-known Swedish producer from the airport in just a few hours. We'll talk for a day about a possible collaboration, and he'll hear almost the entire album on Tuesday."
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~ CATHEDRAL To Enter Studio This Month ~
British doomsters CATHEDRAL will enter New Rising studios later this month with producer Warren Ryker (DOWN, CROWBAR) to record their eighth full-length album.
Tentatively titled "The Garden of Unearthly Delights", the follow-up to 2002's "The VIIth Coming" marks the band's debut release for new home, Nuclear Blast.
When asked to comment, vocalist Lee Dorrian had this to say: "We're are really excited about the new material, it's a lot heavier and slightly more unusual than our last album. It will be an album of two halfs, shall we say; though I'm not really going to give much more away than that, at this stage."
After a career lasting over 15 years, the band have seen many trends come and go, yet have continued forge ahead with their own interpretation of classic metal/rock with dark psychedelic/progressive leanings, seemingly non-fazed by the ever-changing face of modern metal. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Tree of Life & Death", "Upon Azraels Wings", "Corpsecycle" and "Oro the Manslayer".
"The Garden Of Unearthly Delights" will once again feature the epic artwork of long-standing CATHEDRAL sleeve artist Dave Patchett. The album is scheduled for an autumn release.
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~ Report: 666 Not So Evil? '616' Revelation Might Bedevil Metalheads ~
Teri van Horn of MTV News has issued the following report:
Legions of metalheads who've saluted "the number of the beast" may need to subtract 50 from the numeral that adorns their notebook doodlings, T-shirts and tattoos.
A newly discovered fragment of the Book of Revelation challenges the conventional belief that the Antichrist's mark is 666, indicating instead that it is 616. Expert classicists used multi-spectral imaging to get a better view of the text, which is written in archaic Greek and dates to the late third century.
"It is clearly an important new manuscript, giving us a relatively very early copy of the text of Revelation," said Christopher Tuckett, a theology professor at Oxford University's Pembroke College. "It is probably not the earliest manuscript of Revelation that we have ... but this is the first time [the 616 reading] has been found in such an early text."
Fear of 666 is so extensive it actually has a name — hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia — and has inspired everything from televangelist speeches to Hollywood films. The numbers have long been appropriated into the heavy-metal lexicon and symbology. BLACK SABBATH, ROB ZOMBIE, DANZIG and SEPULTURA have featured depictions of "666" on their album covers, SLIPKNOT have decorated their stage set with 666 signs, and hordes of other bands have incorporated 666 symbols into T-shirts, stickers and other merchandise.
Most famously, 666 provided the title of IRON MAIDEN's groundbreaking 1982 album, "Number of the Beast". The title track begins with the Revelation passage "Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number. Its number is 666."
Read the rest of the article at MTV.com .
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~ Good news on severed goat heads: Satan not involved ~
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - A lazy worker, not a satanic cult, was responsible for severed goat heads that caused a scare at a Vancouver-area school, Canadian police said on Monday.
Police were called in after goat heads were twice found on a bench outside a school in nearby Chilliwack, British Columbia, prompting fears in the suburban community that it had been targeted by a satanic animal killing.
A 19-year-old worker at a local slaughterhouse has admitted he took the two heads with the intention of having them mounted, but then changed his mind and left them at the school in hopes a janitor would dispose of them.
"(Police) want to reassure the community that there were no satanic intentions in relation to these incidents," the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said, adding that the man "should have known better."
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~ AETERNUS Announce New Session Guitarist ~
Norwegian Black/Death Metal veterans AETERNUS have acquired a new session guitarist by the name of Dreggen. "He will work with us and basically be there for us when we will do gigs in the future," stated mainman Ares in an online posting.
AETERNUS recently spent time at Grieghallen Studios in Norway recording their new album, "Hexaeon", for a tentative summer release via Nocturnal Art Productions. The follow-up to 2003's "A Darker Monument" was once again produced by Eirik "Pytten" Hundvin, who has previously worked with ENSLAVED, BURZUM, IMMORTAL, and MÖRK GRYNING, among others.
Commented Ares: "'Hexaeon' is still under production. This has been a slow proccess and it's sad to say it is still going slow...I will keep you updated as things progress — they ARE, but not so very fast as we all want it to. Sorry for this, I know you all wanna hear 'Hexaeon', we too want it out and we wanna start making new songs too...after all...this album was recorded last summer."
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~ DESTRUCTION: New Song Clip Posted Online ~
German Thrash Metal pioneers DESTRUCTION have posted a "making of" studio clip, featuring an unmastered rough-mix recording of one of their new songs, "Soulcollector", at their official web site. Check it out at: http://www.destruction.de/ .
DESTRUCTION are currently recording their new album, "Inventor of Evil", with producer Peter Tätgtren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN), V.O. Pulver (GURD) and their live engineer Franky Winkelmann at studios in Germany and Switzerland for an August 15 release via AFM Records. The mix will be done by Tätgtren at the Abyss Studios in Sweden.
DESTRUCTION's most recent album, "Metal Discharge", was released in September 2003 through Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2001's "The Antichrist" was the first DESTRUCTION album to feature drummer Marc Reign, who replaced Sven Vormann in 2001
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~ ARCH ENEMY Announce New Agreement With CENTURY MEDIA ~
Metal titans ARCH ENEMY — whose dynamic mixture of melody and aggression has earned them massive critical acclaim, a rabid worldwide fan base and a slot on this summer's Ozzfest — have officially signed a new agreement with Century Media Records. The new deal will see Century Media, in conjunction with band leader Mike Amott's Savage Messiah Music label, become the home for the group's future albums worldwide outside Southeast Asia.
The band is currently wrapping up work on their highly anticipated new full-length album, "Doomsday Machine", which is set for a July 26 release in North America (July 25 in Europe). "We have all been working hard in the studio to make the ultimate metal album," Mike says. "The drums sound totally amazing, as Daniel (Erlandsson, percussion) has excelled himself yet again and the grooves he's created are catchy but powerful as hell. People will be stunned when they hear what he has done.
"I think all great metal needs that killer mix of classic riffs and ripping solos, something that has been a bit of a dying art recently," he continues. "We are doing our best to recreate that mix on this new album, and one thing I can guarantee is that there will be tons of guitar for fans to headbang to. All in all, I am really happy with the songs and I believe we have found the right balance of melody and brutality — the ARCH ENEMY trademark! Welcome to the Doomsday Machine."
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~ Australian Church Arsonist Blames Norwegian Black Metal Hero ~
Australia's TheAge.com.au is reporting that a devoted follower of a Scandinavian band notorious for its heavy metal anti-Christian music burnt down a majestic Moonee Ponds church in a multimillion-dollar arson attack.
Novak Majstorovic had drunken visions of the 107-year-old Ascot Vale Uniting Church being responsible for society's problems with law, ethics and morality. Majstorovic, 19, admitted his passion for the band BURZUM, whose lead singer was allegedly involved in burning down numerous Norwegian churches in the 1990s, helped create a heavy metal ideological imagery based on good and evil.
"It can be explained through any real meanings, you know, but using God and Satan is just like a... it's an image," he told police after his arrest.
Victorian arson squad detectives treated Majstorovic as a suspect after investigations revealed his interest in BURZUM and "black metal" music and culture. Police learned the band's lead singer Varg Vikernes, now in jail for murder, was commonly referred to as a Satanist, but was regarded more as deeply anti-Christian and anti-Semitic.
Majstorovic on Wednesday (May 4) appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to plead guilty to arson and burglary from the fire in Maribyrnong Road, Moonee Ponds, on August 29, 2004. His lawyer Shannon Dellamarta said the damage was valued at more than $3 million.
In a summary tendered to the court, the church, widely used by its local community, was described as majestic and ornate. Its irreplaceable pipe organ and historic records were destroyed in the fire.
Majstorovic, who had drunk half a bottle of bourbon, had earlier left a party, telling guests he was going to burn the church. After entering, he lit Bibles, scrap paper, books and flags near the pulpit and left. Asked days later by Detective Sergeant Andrew Kerr if he considered the elderly who had cried over the church or what it had stood for, Majstorovic replied: "It was what it stood for, but it's... it's just an object, you know. It's just a building. Faith lies with the individual."
Pressed by Sergeant Kerr about it being sacred and a "heart and soul of things", he said that the church "doesn't like people to cling to any sort of idols here on earth".
Majstorovic said that because he was drunk and near a church he thought he would act on an ideological belief the church was responsible for society's problems.
"A lot of the concepts of my ideologies and stuff would, sort of, stem from heavy metal, from the imagery of heavy metal, from the metaphors that heavy metal uses with the, like, Christian sort of metaphors of good and evil and such," he said.
Magistrate Lisa Hannan bailed Majstorovic, of Hoppers Crossing, to appear in the County Court on August 23. *[ News found at blabbermouth.net ]
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~ NIHILIST: Limited-Edition Box Set Due This Fall/Winter ~
A limited-edition box set pre-ENTOMBED recordings is tentatively scheduled for release this fall/winter via Threeman Recordings. "This box will not only be a limited luxurious lookin' motha, it will also have all kinds of rare NIHILIST recordings on it and even some pre-NIHILIST stuff such as BRAINWARP and more!" reads a statement from the label.
Threeman Recordings recently issued a one-CD collection of NIHILIST demos, entitled simply "Nihilist". The album features liner notes from former Metal Maniacs contibutor/current label manager for Century Media Records, Ula Gehret
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~ ASPHYX: Debut Album To Be Reissued On Vinyl This Month ~
From Beyond Productions, a Displeased Records subsidiary specializing in "(re)releasing extreme (oc)cult metal recordings," will issue a limited vinyl version of the very first ASPHYX album, "Embrace the Death", on May 28. Originally written in 1988-1989 and recorded in 1990, the LP was shelved for several years due to problems with the original record label and was eventually issued in CD format by Century Media in 1996. For the first time on vinyl, this version will contain original artwork from that era as well as pictures from the early days of the group and a biography by drummer Bob Bagchus.
"Embrace the Death" LP track listing:
~ Side A ~
01. Intro
02. Embrace the Death
03. The Sickened Dwell
04. Streams of Ancient Wisdom
05. Thoughts of an Atheist
06. Crush the Cenotaph
~ Side B ~
01. Denying the Goat
02. Vault of the Vailing Souls
03. Circle of the Secluded
04. To Succubus a Whore
05. Eternity's Depths
06. Outro
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~ ASSASSIN: German Thrashers Return With Long-Awaited Third Album ~
ASSASSIN, the reunited German thrash act that released a couple of promising albums in the late '80s via the SPV label (1987's "The Upcoming Terror" and 1988's "Interstellar Experience"), have just issued their long-awaited third offering, "The Club", via their official website http://www.assassin-online.de/ .
The complete track-list for the CD is as follows:
01. Bushwackers
02. Go Insane
03. The Club
04. I Swear
05. Not With Us
06. The Price of Power
07. Real Friends
08. Psycho Terror
09. A Whole Life In One Moment
10. JinTian Shen Huo (Live for Today)
11. Raging Mob
12. No Fear
13. Thunder and Lightning (THIN LIZZY cover)
ASSASSIN will be performing at Cobra in Solingen, Germany on July 2. Also appearing on the bill will be DAEVAS and ZARATHUSTRA. The band have also been confirmed for a festival in Rovereto, Italy on June 18.
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~ BRUTALITY Split Up (Again) ~
Tampa death metallers BRUTALITY have apparently once again disbanded after Poland's Still Dead Productions "completely backed out of their end of the deal" to release the band's next album, according to a post on the group's web site. The band's final recording lineup was as follows:
Scott Reigel - Lead Vocals
Jeff Acres - Bass/Vocals
Mausolus Arguelles Von Kiszka - Vocals/Guitars
Demian Heftel - Lead Guitars
Jim Coker – Drums
A three-song demo was completed in June 2003 with the above lineup containing the songs "As Darkness Falls", "I Deny", and "Ashes and Snow". All three cuts, along with "Brutality" and "Gates of Thorn", were expected to be re-recorded for the album.
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~ Norwegian Court Convicts First Woman for Rape ~
A Norwegian court has sentenced a woman to nine months in jail for raping a man, the first such conviction in the Scandinavian country that prides itself for its egalitarianism.
The 31-year-old man fell asleep on a sofa at a party in January last year and told the court in the western city of Bergen he woke to find the 23-year-old woman was having oral sex with him.
Under Norwegian law, all sexual acts with someone who is "unconscious or for other reasons unable to oppose the act" are considered rape.
The court sentenced the woman Wednesday to nine months in jail and ordered her to pay 40,000 Norwegian crowns ($6,355) in compensation.
"This is a very harsh sentence," the woman's lawyer, Per Magne Kristiansen, told the Norwegian news agency NTB. The woman argued the man had been awake and consented.
The prosecutor had sought a 10-month sentence and argued the court should not be more lenient with a woman than a man. It was Norway's first conviction of a woman for rape.
Norway has long traditions of equality -- 40 percent of the cabinet of Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, for instance, are women.
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antinome666 on 05.12.05 @ 04:14 AM PST [link]
