The anarcho-punk / crust metal band, Requiem Aeternam posts the following message on their website:

Requiem Aeternam is ready to begin writing the music for their third opus, planed to be recorded in 2008. Lyrically, this new work will be based on the second book by Jose Romero Sum, which is supposed to be finished in about a year. Such a work sums up Romero's complete philosophical production, which by any doubt have influenced substantially RA's music: philosophical metal. Musically, the line of composing will drastically change in comparison to their former outcomes, since it will be fundamentally guided by classical music (from Mozart to Stravinsky). This long pause between albums is deemed totally necessary so as to accomplish this project, which shall be the most ambitious deed of a band that in reality is –still– eternally alive.

As a promotion in order to finish the year the heaviest way Requiem Aeternam can, we are launching a big sale for all those fans who couldn't get to our CDs in the past. Now you all can get both of our albums and a "Philosopher" t-shirt for just USD 20.00 (shipping included)!!!

Source Requiem Aeternam

Former lead Iron Maiden lead singer, Blaze Bayley has posted the following comments on his website:

"Hello dear fans and friends from me the singer. I thought I would let you know what is going on with the band right now.

First, we are working on new songs. I am putting my ideas together with the rest of the band, and I feel very positive about everything we have done so far.

The new material even in its most raw and basic form, it's a big step forward for the band and me personally as an artist.
because of the focus on new material we felt that we should not do a Big Bash this year. The main reason is that we would not have time to rehearse a new set for December because all our rehearsals are spent working on the new songs. so we thought, and we hope you all agree, it is better to work on the new album and get it out on time than play a sub standard Big Bash and risk comprising the album.

I am taking a short break from writing to go to Germany and have some fun with some muso friends, as a special guest singer, on Saturday 21st of October in a small town near Düsseldorf. It's probably my last live appearance this year and because its not a Blaze show I can relax and let some one else have all the stress of organizing the gig. If any of you are planning to make the trip to come and see this show please see the link about tickets and directions. I will be signing stuff but at the moment I don't know if it will be before or after the show. If I find out then I'll put details on here.

That's it for now. As always, thank you all for the support and encouragement you have given me and the rest of the band so far this year. missing you all a lot and looking forward to seeing you out there in the world with some new songs next year."

Cheers,
Blaze Bayley
The Dark Messiah

Source Blaze Bayley

Savatage guitarist, Chris Caffery recently gave statement to Metal Asylum about the band's latest CD, "Pins and Needles" and the future of the band. Partial interview scripts are:

Metal Asylum : What is the album called and how would you compare it to "Faces" ?

Chris : It's called "Pins and Needles" , like when your foot falls asleep, and I don't think you can compare the two. It's like when your sitting there and your foot gets numb. It's kinda like sometimes in life you keep taking the same crap and dealing with the same things so much that after a while you become numb to it, ya know?!

There's a focus and maturity with this record. When I recorded "Faces" , I had so much material I wrote over the years to go through, I had no idea what people were going to like, I never sang before and basically I was like a kid in a candy shop as far as what I wanted people to hear. Now with "Pins and Needles" there is a set direction and its definitely not what people are expecting. I am very looking forward to people hearing it.

Metal Asylum : Recently some pro shot video footage of SAVATAGE when Criss Oliva was in the band during the "Streets" era, along with footage from your time with the band during the "Wake of Magellan" tour have surfaced online. When it is time to compile footage for a SAVATAGE DVD, will footage of this nature be included?

Chris : Yeah that's the plan. The idea is to make a special compilation DVD with all the videos, classic live footage from when Criss Oliva was still alive and Jon Oliva was still the lead singer, some candid stuff, plus a new live concert with everyone involved who has recorded with SAVATAGE . I know there is one concert from the Dynamo festival with the "Mountain King" lineup that had a pro shoot, actually that week they asked me to re join the band for "Gutter Ballet" was when they were flying over for the show two days later and if I had a chance to rehearse with the band at all in time I would have been part of it too. I have a copy of that show and its about an hour or so and it's the only real pro shot footage that includes Criss Oliva at all.

Metal Asylum : Can you predict the possible future of SAVATAGE and who will be involved in the band?

Chris : Well, I really could not tell you exactly. I know we are going to do something for the anniversary. Maybe we will do one big huge concert, record an album including all the past and present members of the band, maybe a big European festival tour. If we do a special concert tour it will include SAVATAGE 's original drummer Wacholz playing the older music and probably include Alex Skolnick doing some stuff. It's just a matter of everyone getting on the same page, ya know. I'm up for anything. I think the fans want to see more than one show, I know I do.

Read whole interview here