BW&BK recently reported that:

Canuck thrash legends EXCITER have confirmed a replacement for singer Jacques Belanger, who quit this past May (for the third time in ten years!) due to "differences in opinion." His name is Kenny "MetalMouth" Winter from Brooklyn, New York. Says the band in a press release; "After holding auditions this past summer, the band was blown away with Kenny's three and a half octave range, delivered with tremendous intensity and conviction. Exciter's metal maniac fans throughout the globe will witness Kenny`s vocal performance on upcoming new release, thrash speed burn, due early 2007 !

The band will be entering the studio on November 24th to commence recording their new album, "Thrash Speed Burn", due out through Osmose in early 2007.

Guitarist John Ricci added: "We've had offers European festivals in 2007, so hopefully next year will be a good one for Exciter."

Exciter's last studio release was 2004's New Testament - Coven Of Re-Recorded Classics, which was released by Osmose Productions.

Source BW&BK

CMJ has announced the following news:

The 26th annual CMJ Music Marathon, held October 31-November 4 at Lincoln Center and its neighboring Tower Records in New York, will present more than 100 panels and discussions featuring dozens of high-profile artists, executives, journalists, industry veterans and pop-culture icons debating the state of today's volatile music business and its prospects for the future.

“The panels allow festival attendees the opportunity to get up close and personal with artists, label executives, industry experts and more,” says Joanne Abbot Green, CMJ Music Marathon executive producer. “Each year, the panels generate dynamic discussion about the state of music, technology, the industry and what's next. They are a vital part of CMJ Music Marathon.”

Three panels unique to the touring industry:

OZZfest 10th Anniversary Reunion (November 1): The artists and major players of Ozzfest reveal secrets of the event, disclose how and why it has impacted them and the music industry, share their favorite memories and discuss some of their Ozzfest experiences that were not in the media. The moderator is Billy Graziadei, former guitarist/vocalist of Biohazard/current guitarist of Suicide City. Panelists include:

Mercedes Lander, drummer of Kittie;Morgan Lander, lead singer of Kittie; Dez FaFara, former lead singer of Coal Chamber/current lead singer of DevildriverShaun Lopez, lead singer of The Revolution Smile;Alan Robert, Life of Agony bassist/Spoiler NYC bassist;Ryan Tooker, lead singer of Grade 8; andDustin Tooker, guitarist of Grade 8.

Read more details at CMJ

Europe has revealed their set list after their first world tour stop in Lund, Sweden.

"Hello out there. We have just finnished our first gig in Sweden. We are pleased. Tired... but pleased. It feels great to have done the first show. The crowd in Lund gave us a big welcome.

Tonight we played 5 new songs, 'Secret Society', 'Always The Pretenders', 'Getaway Plan', 'Let The Children Play' and 'Love Is Not The Enemy'. It proved to be good choices. The new album has only been out for a day so a lot of people haven't heard the new songs yet but they still seemed to enjoy themselves.

Earlier today we did a CD signing in a local shopping center, people showed up from all over the place. Sweden off course but also from Holland, Spain, Italy, Taiwan, England, Poland. On this tour we will be doing CD signings and local promotion pretty much every day.

It's been a long day. Our support band STEREOLITH also did a great job. Nice lads with some good tunes.

Now we are getting ready to go on the bus and ride through the night to Kalmar. We'll put on a movie in the bus and relax after a long days work. We will arrive at 5 in the morning where some of us will book into a hotell and the others will sleep in the bus.

Stay on the site and we will keep you up to date with whats happening on the "Secret Society" tour."

The tour launch included the following set list: 'Secret Society', 'Always The Pretenders', 'Getaway Plan', 'Superstitious', 'Seven Doors Hotel', 'Let The Children Play', 'Flames', 'Sign Of The Times', 'Carrie', 'Love Is Not The Enemy', 'Ready Or Not', 'Girl From Lebanon', 'Start From The Dark', 'Yesterday's News', 'Rock The Night', 'Got To Have Faith', 'Let The Good Times Rock', 'The Final Countdown'.

Read more details at BW&BK