Led Zeppelin - New Releases In November

As posted on the official Led Zeppelin website:

On November 13th, a new two cd 24-track "best of" entitled "Mothership" will be released, with songs selected by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones. The long awaited remastered edition of "The Song Remains the Same" follows and features bonus material.

"We have revisited "The Song Remains The Same", says Jimmy Page, "and can now offer the complete set as played at Madison Square Garden. This differs substantially from the original soundtrack released in 1976, and highlights the technical prowess of Kevin Shirley, who worked with us on "How The West Was Won". When it comes to "The Song Remains The Same", the expansion of the DVD and soundtrack are as good as it gets on the Led Zeppelin wish list."

To read the full press release, go to this location

Orphaned Land - Part Ways With Drummer

Israeli metal band Orphaned Land have parted ways with drummer Avi Diamond. The group's official statement on the matter reads as follows:

"If there's a lesson to be taken from nature's seasons, it is that everything is dynamic around us, and it's nature's way to remind us that we need to freshen up and move on from time to time.

"After several years filled with challenges and hard work, we've utilized our work with Avi Diamond.

"During this period we've recorded the album "Mabool", toured the globe, headlined festivals and dozens of events worldwide. We've put the Israeli metal scene into the spot-lights, and created precedents in the metal world as a whole, and in the Israeli metal history in particular.

"Avi Diamond is a world-class professional drummer and we had the privilege to play with one of the best drummers in the scene.

"We are not disqualifying the opportunity to return and work together in the future.

"We are confident that Avi will succeed in his path ahead, and wish him best of luck and all the greatness that this world has to offer."

Orphaned Land vocalist Kobi Farhi recently stated about the group's current activities, "We are still in the writing process of our next album, 'OrwarriOR'. We know it [is taking] quite a while, but you all know how complex our latest album, "Mabool", was and we want to give you no less than that. The final result is most important to us and we simply haven't found the formula to produce an album every year. However, I can assure you that your patience will be rewarded! Right now, to keep the flame burning, we have confirmed a few headline and co-headline shows on some summer festivals and we hope to meet all of you there

Testament - Italian Dates Cancelled

Veteran San Francisco Bay Area Thrashers Testament have cancelled their previously announced dates in Italy due to "scheduling conflicts." The promoter of the Italian gigs, Debbie Bisceglia, has released the following statement from Testament's management regarding the cancellations: "Due to events beyond their control, Testament are cancelling two upcoming shows in Italy only, August 31 and September 1. The band wishes to express their grief in cancelling these two shows."

There has been a difficult situation recently involving band drummer Nick Barker having visa issues and due to scheduling conflicts the band are going into the studio earlier at the end of August, earlier than anticipated, to begin recording their forthcoming Nuclear Blast release. Testament wishes to thank the fans for their continued support as well as Debbie and the Italian promoters of these shows for being so generous with their understanding of the situation. Testament will be back in Italy soon and make it up to everyone. The affected dates are as follows. Aug. 31st Velvet - Rimini, Italy and Sep. 1st Route To Hell Fest - Palamaggio-Caserta, Italy

Darkane - Vocalist Quits

Darkane vocalist Andreas Sydow has decided to leave the band and issued his official statement on the Darkane website:

"The time has come, my friends for me to step down from my position as vocalist of the greatest band in the world!

I feel I've reached a stand still in the creative process with Darkane and together we came to the decision to let fresh blood into the band for the upcoming fifth album. Darkane is constantly evolving and I'm sure that this ignition will be great for the band.

We certainly part ways as very good friends and we're in fact still working together on finishing the long awaited DVD. Hopefully the Darkane "Layers of Live" DVD will be released this autumn and, in a way, sum up my 7 years with Darkane and be the perfect closure.

I feel very honoured and privileged to have been a part of such a great musicianship as Darkane and I have tons of great memories from all we've experienced together. I'm really gonna miss it!

I want to send out a great big thanks to all the people I've met and gotten to know over these 7 years! To all family and friends for supporting me and the band. To all the great bands we've met, played and toured with, especially to Devin Townsend (I wouldn't have made it through the U.S. without you!). To all the crew that has helped us out over the years. To Erin Lynch for believing in us and coping with all our bad habits, misshapes, accidents and illnesses (You sure are the Darkane tour mama!). To the Nuclear Blast crew, in Europe as well as in the USA (Thanks for helping me fulfil one of my biggest dreams, Gerardo! Keep working those vocals, Loana, and keep your enthusiasm flowing!). To all the fanzine's that spread the word about Metal all over the world. Your work is extremely important and appreciated! And finally a HUGE thanks to all the fans all over the world for coming to the shows and supporting Darkane! You are my, and Darkane's, true inspiration!"

Pagan's Mind - New Album Update

This following text was posted at the Pagan's Mind Official Forum:

"NEWSFLASH!!!

So people it is time for us (Øyvind "Docrock" Doksrød & Kai "Otherman" Hansen), to update you on the latest stuff from the Pagan camp.

Guess you all would like to know the title of the forthcoming masterpiece, or? Would you like to know? Would you?!? Allright then, here it is; "GOD'S EQUATION".

So lets get into the stuff that went down tonight: the PM boys rounded up a mix of fellow local musicans, friends, family and fans - a total of 26 persons - to lay down some backing vocals, a choir thing - AWESOME! [watch picture here]

The working-title for the track is "RETURN OF OSIRIS"!

Well thats all we had for this time-STAY TUNED! "

Threshold Singer Andrew McDermott Quits

Mac has confirmed that he's left Threshold. In a statement he told fans that he knew the timing was bad but thanked them for all their support. He also wished the band all the best and expressed his gratitude to the band's original singer Damian Wilson for standing in for him at last weekend's festivals.

Mac replaced Damian Wilson as Threshold's vocalist in 1998 and recorded five studio albums with the band as well as various live and fan club releases. He was previously lead singer for German band Sargant Fury who released three albums in the 1990's.

Threshold had confirmed that Damian Wilson would once again perform with them at the Subtacto Festival in Oslo, Norway on 4 August, however the Progfest has announced financial difficulties and has cancelled Threshold and Pendragon from the bill.

A statement posted on the Subtacto website explained that "The reason for this is that we as organisers don't have enough funds to see this through. We therefore have to reorganise the event, and that means that we can't afford those two bands."

Threshold are disappointed at the cancellation and expressed their sympathy to all their fans who bought tickets and were hoping to see them perform. The festival is offering full refunds to fans who no longer want to attend. Talks are also in progress to see if Wilson can perform at all of Threshold's remaining 2007 shows.

The band recently released their 8th album "Dead Reckoning" on March 23.