MEGADETH drummer Sean Drover has issued the following brief update:

"I hope all of you will have a great 2007!!! I know that both myself and Megadeth certainly WILL look forward to seeing you on the 'Killing Road' in the not so distant future."

As previously reported, Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine is returning to England on January 3rd to finish the band's upcoming album, United Abominations, due out this spring via Roadrunner.

Source BW&BK

Rage has announced the following message regarding new lineup of new drummer:

Hi friends, Peavy and Victor here. We proudly present our new man on the drums, André Hilgers. During works on the Nuclear Blast Anniversary album we were very surprised, how perfectly Andres style matched to our new song "Terrified". So it was obvious, that we jammed through the Rage classics, and the sparks flew immediately. Andre had a lot of new ideas that fitted perfectly to our style and the understanding among us was harmonically. He brings a lot of fresh blood and power to the band and we have loads of fun again playing our music.

Andre's 32 and he's from our area, what makes work a lot easier. With him he brings meanwhile 16 years of experience in studio and live work. He, as a metalfan from the beginning, followed the carreer of RAGE from its start, so he's perfectly into our material ( even the old stuff). Though he's got extraordinary musical abilities, he never lost touch and stayed based, in all his musical projects he focused more on playing for the songs and bands, than to boost his ego.

Hi Metalheadz, André Hilgers here. I would like to inform you today, that with immediate effect I'm the new drummer of RAGE. Surely I was very happy regarding the request of the guys, and it’s a great honor, belonging to RAGE now after drummers like Jörg Michael, Efti or Mike Terrana, lambasting the kettles. The studio job for the anniversary sampler for Nuclear Blast was so much fun, that I really look forward for the teamwork with Victor and Peavy, as it’s also a challenge for me, to work with such versed blooded musicians like Vic or an inherent part of the German metal scene... ,namely Peavy. Meanwhile, we’ve started rehearsal and we will present you a great show in Illingen, with some real highlights out of the RAGE history. I would like to wish Mike good luck with Masterplan and his next projects, as for me, he’s still a great drummer, putting an levelling bar for me! I also would like to clarify, that I remain part of Axxis and Silent Force. 

So dear friends, looking forward to a cool 2007 and what will happen and ..... surely you! Keep the metal flame alive... 

Cheers André

Source RAGE

NIGHTWISH have uploaded a new video blog, featuring footage of the band at Abbey Road Studios in London, England working with arranger Pip Williams and conductor James Shearman on the orchestral parts for the group's new album, due later in the year. Check it out at this location. Photos from the sessions can be found here.

NIGHTWISH is accepting demo submissions until January 15, 2007 for its vacant singer position. More information is available at this location.

Source BBM

U.D.O., led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, has been confirmed as the headliner of Borstrock 2007, a two-day festival set to take place May 18-19 in Nieuw-Vossemeer, in the south of the Netherlands. Also scheduled to appear are VENGEANCE, SOMEWHERE ON STAGE (IRON MAIDEN tribute) and SCRUM. More acts will be announced soon.

As previously reported, U.D.O. has set a May 4, 2007 release date for its new album. No further details are currently available.

Source BBM