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The MCD of Australia's oldschool Thrashers HELLBRINGER (formerly FORGERY) will be released on vinyl through Iron Pegasus Records sometime in August. www.myspace.com/hellbringeraus

Wendy Dio, wife / manager of RONNIE JAMES DIO has just released the following statement to Blabbermouth.net: "Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. (on Sunday) 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever." Rest in peace, Ronnie! You will always be remembered!

Blabbermouth.net also reported that DEBBIE ABONO, well-respected and much-loved manager and promotional machine behind some of San Francisco Bay Area's strongest Metal bands (POSSESSED, FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, VIO-LENCE, SKINLAB), passed away today (Sunday, May 16) as well at appoximately 9:59 a.m. PST after a battle with cancer. Rest in peace, Debbie!

According to Modern Drummer, ex - TWISTED SISTER drummer JOE MARKOWSKI (aka "Fast" Joey Brighton) died on April 14. He was 57 years old. Markowski was well known in the New York area as a drum teacher in the '70s, working out of VANILLA FUDGE drummer Carmine Appice's Oceanside drum studio. Top drummers - including Bobby Rondinelli (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) and Joe Franco (GOOD RATS, TWISTED SISTER) - studied with Markowski, who himself had played with the GOOD RATS and TWISTED SISTER.

'Venomous Habitations', a track from Florida Death Metal masters DIABOLIC's upcoming new full-length album "Excisions Of Exorcisms", has been uploaded to the Deathgasm myspace player at www.myspace.com/deathgasmrecords

Nicola Costantini, editor of the great ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SVENSK DÖDSMETALL, has been very busy working on a worthy follow-up release. Here's some quotes of a blog he just posted: "What I’m proudly announcing here, is a new edition of the Svensk Encyclopedia. This will be by no means a reissue, but something really new. So beware, I'm returning with a new massive book! This will have 50% of the old material and 50% new for a whole package of more or less 400 A4 pages. Every single old article has been re-arranged in a different way and enriched with a different approach, with more in-depth details, different artwork and so on." Among others, the most relevant new features include new interviews with DISSECTION's Peter Palmdahl (about the early days with Jon since kindergarten to the very first days of DISSECTION), DISMEMBER's David Blomqvist (prepare to see tons of photos of the very first days of DISMEMBER: first gig, first time in Sunlight, days with the NIHILIST guys), Jens Näsström (regarding the "Projections Of A Stained Mind" history), a list of all MORBID bootlegs (courtesy of Joakim Westerlund), Johan 'Liiva' Axelsson (in depth on FURBOWL, DEVOURMENT and more amazing details about CARNAGE), Anders Nyström (a very very long interview about KATATONIA's early days when they were still called MELANCHOLIUM), Martin Larsson (about HOUSE OF USHER), Jocke 'Grave' Göthberg (on DARKIFIED, GRIMORIUM), Orvar Säfström (on NIRVANA 2002 and more details about his time in ENTOMBED), Janne Rudberg (on EXHUMED, MORPHEUS and MASTICATION), David Isberg aka 'Unholy Emperor' tells the story of his metal affair with Christoffer Johnsson in PROCREATION and OPETH, Sandro Cajander (on MEFISTO), Patrik Jensen (recalling his first attempts in SÉANCE, ORCHRISTE and SATANIC SLAUGHTER) and Willy Wilhelmsson (on RABBITS CARROT). Nicola has covered all the bands from Eskilstuna (MACRODEX, CHRONIC DECAY, DEATH RIPPER, ASMODEUS) and the Mjölby-Motala-Linköping area (SALVATION, BELSEBUB, LUCIFER, NEFARIOUS, FUNERAL FEAST) as well as many other new chats with CEMETARY, GODDEFIED, CABAL, LUCIFER, ABSURD, SARCASM, ABHOTH, EMBALMED, MEGA SLAUGHTER, EXCRETION, MACRODEX, INTERNAL DECAY, SACRETOMIA, ALTAR, INCARDINE, SUFFER, CEMETARY, UNCANNY, DECAMERON, RUNEMAGICK-MASTICATOR, MACABRE END, VIRGIN SIN, BRAINDEAD, DION FORTUNE, MALFEITOR, DEAD END, ATROCITY, SCYPOZOA, NOCTURNAL RITES, MIDAS TOUCH… and more to come. The new edition will also have different artwork, courtesy of Daniel Desecrator from Chile and the title will probably be "Encyclopedia Of Svensk DödsMetall... The Return", unless someone comes up with a better idea. It'll probably be printed in a very small amount of copies only (300 or something), so you better reserve yourself a copy! No release date has been set as of yet, but expect something for the end of this year or within the first months of 2011. We'll keep you posted! More info and updates you will always find at www.myspace.com/nicola.costantini

Philadelphia's Black Metallers BLASPHEMOUS have parted ways with their longtime bassist, Decrepit. Vocalist RK has issued the following statement regarding the situation: "We have decided to part ways with bassist Decrepit. He's been part of BLASPHEMOUS for most of our existence, covering two different stints with us. It always is tough to make a change, but sometimes it has to be done. We wish him luck in his future projects. Right now all live activity will be on hold until we find a replacement. We hope to see you all again soon. BLASPHEMOUS is looking for a new bass player. We have a couple releases out, including our newest release "Bearer Of The Darkest Plagues". We are looking for a dedicated bass player. We currently practice in Lindenwold, NJ (right outside of Philadelphia). Must have equipment and transportation. Someone who is a quick learner. The ability to write is a plus too. We are looking for someone thats over 18, preferrably from the PA / NJ / DE area. Be able to practice at least once a week. Be available for shows in and out of the Philly area. No drug addicts. No rock star egos, this is underground Metal, not Hot Topic Metal, so if you're looking for fame and fortune you are looking in the wrong direction. Contact blasphemousmetal@hotmail.com if you are interested."

Relapse Records has announce a partnership with Perseverance Holdings Ltd. and the Schuldiner family to reissue the catalog of DEATH, CONTROL DENIED and MANTAS. Chuck Schuldiner’s DEATH, one of the most important and influential metal bands of all-time, will see the first official digital releases of it’s legendary albums "Scream Bloody Gore", "Leprosy", "Spiritual Healing", "Human", "Individual Thought Patterns" and "The Sound Of Perseverance" today at this location. These digital releases will come two days before Chuck Schuldiner would have celebrated his 43rd birthday. Schuldiner passed away on December 13, 2001 after fighting a long, recurring battle with brain cancer. Relapse will also reissue an expanded version of the classic debut album, "The Fragile Art Of Existence", from Schuldiner’s progressive Heavy Metal band CONTROL DENIED in late 2010 as well as the first-ever collection by his pre-DEATH project MANTAS. The expanded version of “The Fragile Art Of Existence” will include bonus tracks, extra band photography, expanded art and packaging and more. Details on both releases are forthcoming. Long-range plans include the completion and official release of the final CONTROL DENIED album "When Man And Machine Collide". Recorded over 10 years ago at Morrisound Studios with producer Jim Morris, the album was tracked by Schuldiner but left incomplete upon Chuck’s passing. A range of officially-licensed DEATH, CONTROL DENIED and MANTAS merchandise has also been issued here. Many classic album art designs will follow in the coming months, making some highly sought-after designs available officially for the first time in years. Stay tuned to EmptyWords.org, the official DEATH / CONTROL DENIED / Chuck Schuldiner website, and www.relapse.com for more information. Guitar World Magazine has released a special DEATH guitar transcription issue, available exclusively at this location. The book contains eight complete guitar and bass tabs for the following DEATH songs: 'Pull The Plug', 'Zombie Ritual', 'Together As One', 'Spiritual Healing', 'Flesh And The Power It Holds', 'Crystal Mountain', 'The Philosopher' and 'Scavenger Of Human Sorrow'. All songs were transcribed by Guitar World’s ace transcription team and are note-for-note accurate. The book also features the complete life and times of Chuck Schuldiner, including interview with those who knew him best.

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Long-running California Metallers AGENT STEEL have issued the following update: "As some of you may or may not have already heard the news that AGENT STEEL has parted ways with vocalist Bruce Hall. We as a band would like to acknowledge the accomplishments together with Bruce and the three solid Metal offerings; "Omega Conspiracy", "Order Of The Illuminati" and "Alienigma". Together we had the fortune of touring and sharing the stage in some amazing places and visited some breathtaking countries. Bruce dedicated over a decade to AGENT STEEL and for this he should be recognized, and we part on good terms. We as a band still have the fire and passion to deliver the Metal goods to fans from the past, present and future. We had been writing new material for the next chapter of AGENT STEEL and after the news got out that we separated from Bruce, we were contacted by original singer, John Cyriis. Call it destiny; call it what you will, but now the communicative channel is open between AGENT STEEL and vocalist Cyriis; we are in talks about an imminent AGENT STEEL reunion tour possibly involving Summer / Fall 2010 appearances and an extensive '2011' Metal blitz. Honestly, we do not know how long this reunion will last; however this could be the long-awaited destiny of AGENT STEEL originally interrupted, so long as everything moves forward in an evolving good working climate. Our objective regarding this AGENT STEEL reunion is attached with the intentions of providing the opportunity to not only the dedicated fans, but also to a whole new generation of Metal fans the chance to see AGENT STEEL live on stage with Cyriis; the original voice on the classic "Skeptics Apocalypse", "Unstoppable Force" and "Mad Locust Rising" releases. The legacy continues...stay tuned." More info and updates on www.myspace.com/agentsteel

Per Valla, maincomposer and guitarist of the extreme metalband ELITE, has just released his first soloalbum "4. September" as VREDEHAMMER. The first 200 copies come as a digipack with different layout. More info at www.myspace.com/vredehammer

ASPHYX have recorded two tracks at Sonic Assault studio for an upcoming split 7" with Finnish Doom / Deathers HOODED MENACE. A new track entitled 'We Doom You To Death' plus 'Bestial Vomit', which is a cover of MAJESTY (U.S.), that originally appeared on their 1988 demo. The EP will be released via Doomentia Records. www.doomentia.com