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Underage fans have been turned away at the door during Sunday night's Opeth's Brisbane All Ages show after Liquor Licensing Division revoked the Arena's all ages license just days before the concert was scheduled. Many under-18 fans were unaware of the recent license revocation, arriving at the venue to either find out while standing in the queue, or when they were turned away by security guards at the door. The Arena usually separates the venue into 18+ and all ages sections for an ... Read More

Given the relative size of each genre in the Australian music market, it could well be said that heavy metal is dominating the charts this week. For the first time ever for both band and label, Slipknot and Roadrunner Records Australia are celebrating the number 1 position with Slipknot's latest album titled 'All Hope Is Gone'. This effort eclipsed the band's previous best on the Australian charts - #2 for their two releases in 2002 and 2004. Also sneaking into the top 20 ... Read More

Australian Progressive Metal band VANISHING POINT have announced a 'Farewell Show' in Melbourne as the band prepares to head across to Europe to join the 19-stop 'Sonata Arctica European Tour 2008'. The band's Melbourne farewell show - scheduled to take place on September 27th at The Corner Hotel in Richmond, will also feature local acts Divine Ascension and Vampora. Doors open at around 8pm and entry is just $15. The European tour will be in support of the band's fourth studio album titles 'The ... Read More

Adelaide's DOUBLE DRAGON has parted ways with guitarist James Cunningham due to "personal issues." Cunningham replaced original lead guitarist Ben "Moify" Murphy and did not record any tracks with the band. Drummer Dan Busch states "The whole Jimmy thing not working out has cost us some time, but at least it gives us time to bolster our lineup and practice hard so we can get back to playing kick-ass shows to the standard that DOUBLE DRAGON supporters have come to expect over the ... Read More

American metallers Slipknot recieved their first ever Australian #1 debut with their fourth studio album titled "All Hope Is Gone". This was also Roadrunner Records Australia's first ever chart-topper, so it's understandable they couldn't resist a gleeful swipe at the opposition. They crowed: "'All Hope Is Gone" didn't just inch over the line but absolutely decimated the competition, outselling their closest rival in the #2 spot 3 to 1 and 2 to 1 on the digital charts where they have also claimed the ... Read More

Yet another band to add to the busy end of the heavy metal year, with Swedish Thrash band THE HAUNTED scheduling a number of Australian tour date for this coming November. The tour will be in support of the band's 6th studio album titled 'Versus', due out in mid-September through Century Media Records. Support bands will be announced in the coming weeks. Read More

US Death Metal Kings DEICIDE have announced a headlining tour of Australia for December. The tour will likely be the final time the band will hit Australian shores, so get your tickets early to make sure you don't miss them! Read More

Here is a review of 'The Euphony Fusion' - a free Australian Metal Compilation created by Welkin Entertainment. A limited number of copies are available at the conclusion of all OPETH AUSTRALIAN TOUR events. Distribution gigs: Tuesday, September 2: OPETH @ Metro City, Perth Thursday, September 4: OPETH @ The Barton Theatre, Adelaide Friday, September 5: OPETH @ The Palace Theatre, Melbourne Saturday, September 6: OPETH @ The Big Top, Sydney Sunday, September 7: OPETH @ The Arena, Brisbane Vespers Descent (WA) - Deciever To begin this Compilation CD courtesy ... Read More

Melbourne power metaller's, Crimsonfire are on the look out for a new bass player. The band have plans to record a new album and want to get back into the local live scene. If you have what it takes, drop them a line at info@crimsonfire.com.au For more information, please visit www.crimsonfire.com.au Read More

In an effort to help further promote the many great metal bands we have across Australia, Welkin Entertainment have put together another promotional metal compilation featuring a selection of 15 fantastic bands, of a wide variety of metal genres, from across the country. 1000 copies of this compilation will be handed out for free at the conclusion of each show on OPETH’s Australian tour, September 2-7. Read More

Paindivision are set to tear the world apart with their second album “One Path” set for release 27/09/08 nationally by RIOT Entertainment. “This time we have really infused a lot of our influences like Motorhead and WASP meets RACER X, again with our own brand and power. We have just finished tracking the album with mixing to start ... Read More

With their first australian shows in a year coming up, and the pending release of their new album, Kartika, Metal Obsession spoke to Mark Kelson from The Eternal about 'Kartika', the upcoming tour, and what we can expect from both. MetalObsession.net: Cheers for taking some time out to chat with metalobsession.net. Could you please give our readers a quick introduction of yourself and The Eternal? Mark: The Eternal formed in 2003 after the end of my previous band Cryptal Darkness. Cryptal Darkness had really ... Read More

In 2002 Cog released their debut EPs Just Visiting Parts I and II. The EPs were originally recorded and intended to be released as a debut album, but other plans got in the way, and they were released as 2 EPs. "Now in 2008 Cog have the opportunity to re-release the recordings in their original album format with the intended track listing and with the never previously heard original (long) version of Bondi. Additionally Lucius spent time at Studios 301 tweaking the audio master ... Read More

Eyefear have announced further details of their new album, including track listing and a change in album name. It was originally announced the title was to be "Eternal Illusion", but this title has now been changed to "The Unseen". The new album will be mixed by Tommy Hansen (Halloween, Jorn, Circus Maximus, Pagans Mind), unlike their previous releases, who the band hope will give them the sound they are looking for. The full track listing is as follows: 1 - Hypnosis (intro) 2 - ... Read More

Victorian progressive metal band Alarum have been confirmed for the tenth-anniversary edition of the ProgPower Europe festival, set to take place October 3-5 at JC Sjiwa in Baarlo, The Netherlands. It will be a one-off European show for the band. The festival billing is now shaping up as follows: Friday Oct 3: Pagan's Mind (Nor) Atrox (Nor) Division By Zero (Pol) Saturday Oct 4: Cynic (USA) Zero Hour (USA) Alarum (Aus) Wolverine (Swe) - original 1999 setlist from their show at the first ProgPower Europe Cilice (Hol) Sunday Oct 5: Threshold (UK) Wolverine (Swe) - regular ... Read More

While there has been no official release yet, Sydney-based death metal band Synperium have announced that they will be supporting Deicide on the Melbourne and Sydney dates of their Australian tour. The following post was made on Synperium's Myspace: "DEICIDE will be touring australia in december this year, exact venues, dates, times and ticket prices will be posted asap. But we can announce that Synperium is confirmed as support act in Sydney and Melbourne." More details will be posted on: www.justsayrock.com.au Read More

From the mouths of those within - After more than fifteen years of meandering and stagnation the rotten fruits of our labours are almost ready to be choked on. "Further Steps to a Perfect World" will see its official release Friday November 28th 2008 through Obsidian Records. In 2006, Oracle of the Void officially released their demo from 1995 – In Darkness is Found The Greater Enlightenment' MLP. After a handful of shows in the last few years showcasing their blackened catalogue ... Read More

The soon to be released album by Tasmanian Tech Death band PSYCROPTIC will contain a bonus DVD contain studio diaries and plenty of live footage. 'Ob(Servant)' was mixed and mastered by former MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader (DIVINE HERESY, GOJIRA) and was recorded once again by guitarist Joe Haley. The DVD features a studio diary as well as performance footage from a 2006 gig in Amsterdam, Netherlands and 2008 concert in Wellington, New Zealand and run for approximately 85 minutes. Listen to ... Read More