STRATOVARIUS have issued the following update:

"In two days we are entering Sonic Pump Studios [in Helsinki] to record our 12th album. Jörg [Michael, drums] is flying in tomorrow [Saturday, Feb. 24]. We are keeping you updated with blogs and podcasts and we try to set up the webcam for you by Tuesday so you can see us actually playing in the studio. Blogs and podcasts you will find at www.stratovarius.com.

"We don´t know when this album 'R....... R' [two-word title, with both words beginning with the letter 'R'] will come out at this point, but sure thing is that not this year. Of course we will let you know when we know anything concrete. In the meantime, [Timo Kotipelto, vocals] and [Timo Tolkki, guitar] will be quite busy so you won't get bored."

Upcoming STRATOVARIUS shows:

May 22 - Osaka, JPN @ Big Cat
May 24 - Tokyo, JPN @ Liquid Room
May 25 - Tokyo, JPN @ Liquid Room (Finland Fest)
Jul. 14-15 - Vizovice, CZR @ Masters of Rock
Aug. 2-4 - Wacken, GER @ Wacken Open Air

Source Stratovarius

Relapse will reissue "Unrest", the one-and-only full-length album from Boston's crust-hardcore kings DISRUPT. The legendary record, widely considered amongst the most extreme and influential hardcore grind albums in the early '90s, has been completely re-mastered and repackaged and will be released on April 3 (April 9 internationally).

Along with "Unrest", Relapse will issue "The Rest", the first official collection of DISRUPT splits, demos, vinyl-only EPs and previously unreleased live recordings. "The Rest" clocks in at almost two hours in length, with 78 tracks over two discs spanning the band’s history from early demos to latter-day live recordings.

Additionally, Relapse will issue an extremely limited, one-pressing-only DISRUPT box set, titled "DisruptDead". "DisruptDead" contains "Unrest", "The Rest", the first-ever DISRUPT DVD featuring four live shows, a 52-page booklet and more. "Unrest" and "The Rest" will be available in stores nationwide starting April 3 (April 9 internationally), while "DisruptDead" will only be available exclusively via Relapse.com.

Disrupt was an anarcho-punk/crust band from Boston, USA. Although they only released one official album (Unrest on Relapse), the band acquired quite a cult following on the strength of several 7-inch EPs and compilation appearances.

Members of the band have gone on to play in many other bands since the dissolution of Disrupt, including State Of Fear, Grief, Consume, Noosebomb, Chicken Chest and the Bird Boys, The Sqwags and Superpower.

Source Relapse

DIMMU BORGIR's new single, "The Serpentine Offering", will be available as a digital download beginning on March 30. In addition to the regular album version of the title cut, the single will also contain two non-album versions of the same track: "The Serpentine Offering" (video edit), "The Serpentine Offering" (instrumental version).

Source BBM