SUNCHARIOT will re-release their demo "Betrayal Light Of Fertile Ground" on CD through Canadian Soundscape Music in late 1997 / beginning of 1998

COVENANT will release their second album in February 1998. For those who are still not familiar with the band (I doubt, if there are any...) - COVENANT is the main project of Nagash Blackheart (also known thanks to DIMMU BORGIR, TROLL and CARPE TENEBRUM), performing some kind of mystical Norse black metal with plenty of keyboards.

"Stormbirds", the third effort from German EVER EVE probably will be out in March.

Hmmm, ENSLAVED looks like black metallish SLAYER, at least when it comes to drummers...  Now they fired Harald Helgesen (who replaced Trym Torson (now - EMPEROR) in 1996)

"As Life Fades Away", third masterpiece created by genius named Karsten Hamre, is to be issued in January.  There's not much time left, so all you lovers of dark Norse piano-based ambient, keep your money while now...

Finnish sympho-black metallers CRIMSON MIDWINTER signed with Black Mark Productions. As Jussi told me, they are going to enter Egotrippi studio for recording debut CD (yet untitled) on January the 3rd and will stay there for a week, creating "most supreme crimson art"...

Norse legend EINHERJER split up in two parts - Frode and Gerhard will
continue playing music under the old name, while two others, Rune Bjelland and Stein Sund, formed a band called TUNDRA, which also includes ex-ENSLAVED drummer Harald Helgesen and another guy namely Rune on guitars. As to Audun Wold, he is out of musical business, at least for now.

LET ME DREAM have four completely recorded and arranged tracks for the new release, entitled "Medley Rain". It's still uncertain in what format it'll be issued (demo or MCD), nevertheless this masterpiece (I hope so...) looks like to be available very soon!

Israelian BM band ARAFEL (the whole line-up consists of ex-Russian citizens) fights it's way through christian barriers of light and is ready to release first demo. This tape will be recorded in studio, owned by MELECHESH, so sound quality seems to be pretty good.

Swedish PROPHANITY was signed to UK-based label Blackend / Platic Head and preparing themselves for debut CD release.

MORBID ANGEL can be found in Morrisound Studio, recording new album
entitled "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh". This CD will feature Steve Tucker as bassist / vocalist, a replacement for departured David Vincent.

Await the new releases from:
DEATHWITCH "The Ultimate Death" (in January)
MERCYFUL FATE (in February)
KING DIAMOND (in May)

New RAISON D'ETRE CD entitled "In Sadness, Silence And Solitude" is out, claimed to be their best release so far. Besides, there are some plans for re-releasing their old material through Australian label Bloodless Creations.

"Dimed by the long wait, today we are free again. Our hate is free towards the ones who have betrayed us. We are at war again". "And Evil Returns...", new CD from Brazilian occultists MURDER RAPE is out on Evil Horde Records, appearing as the excellent example of great South-American mystical black metal... (Evil Horde Rec., P.O. Box 4912, Curitiba - PR 82530-970, Brazil)

"Absolute Supper" - new compilation from Cold Meat Industry is out now. Here's the track list:
CD I:
IN SLAUGHTER NATIVES - "INRI... Raped By The Cross"
THE PROTAGONIST - "Imitation And Zordaster"
ORDO EQUILIBRIO - "The Perplexity Of Hybris, I Glorify Myself"
SANCTUM - "The Liberian"
PUISSANCE - "Love Incinerate"
ARCANA - "Winds Of The Lost Soul"
MORTIIS - "Child Of Curiosity And The Old Man Of Knowledge"
DESIDERII MARGINIS - "Chaos Undivided"
SEPHIROTH - "R'lyeh"
RAISON D'ETRE - "The Verge Of Somnolence"
HAZARD - "Who Blew Out The Northern Lights?"
CD II:
BRIGHTER DEATH NOW - "I Wish I Was A Little Girl"
FROZEN FACES - "Zyklon B Doll"
MZ.412 - "N.B.S. Act I - Begravning"
MEGAPTERA - "Don't Desecrate The Dead"
DEUTSCH NEPAL - "Logo"
NACHT - "Svartsinn"
ARCHON SATANI - "A Time Of Ruin"
ILDFROST - "Hearts Perturbe And Slept Awake"
CINTECELE DIAVOLVI - "The Devil Must Kill"

AMON AMARTH, Swedish black / death band is working under their first
full-length album for Music For Nations (! - ED), entitled "Once Sent From The Golden Hall". Hopefully, it will be out in February.

TON returns with their long-awaited fourth release, "Blind Follower"
presenting five most viciously brutal songs ever recorded... (TON, 7163 Raleigh St. NW Massillon, OH 44646)

New ARKONA ("Zeta Reticuli" CD), ARATHORN and NOX INTEMPESTA (full-length CD) will be out next year on German Folter Records.

Do you have new HYPOCRISY ("The Final Chapter"), IN FLAMES ("Whoracle") and DEICIDE ("Serpents Of The Light") albums? If not, go and buy them now!

Now available through Metal Agen Records:
SCALD "Will Of Gods Is A Great Power" (dark doom with brilliant "clean" vocals)
TALES OF DARKNORD "Obliteration Allegory" (black/techno-death/grind)
ORA PRO NOBIS "Dedication" (romantic doom with lyrics in Russian)
GRENOUER "Border Of Misty Times" (unholy death metal with grind and BM elements)
REGRESSUS AD INFINITUM "Empty Illusions" (doom in the vein of German bands, like CREMATORY, NOX MORTIS, etc.)
GODS TOWER "The Turns" (pagan gothic doom)
BROKEN SOUL "Taedium Vitae" (symphonic black / death, kinda mix of
MISANTHROPE and CRADLE OF FILTH)