News editor: Mikael Kahrle

Marilyn Manson album cover and first tour dates

• Marilyn Manson has showed the cover for the new album "Holy Wood (in the Shadow of the Valley of Death)". A crucified Manson is likely to generate the usual desired amount of provocation.
The new tour has been named "Guns, God and Government" and here is the first US dates: October 27 Minneapolis, 28 Milwaukee, 30 St Louis, 31 Kansas City, November 2 Tulsa, 3 Houston, 4 New Orleans, 6 Charlotte, 7 Atlanta, 9 Orlando, 10 Tampa, 11 Sunrise, 13 Greensboro. More dates will follow this weekend. /Mikael Kahrle

Front 242 side project Nude back in business
• On PopKomm (music fair in Cologne) Marc Werner, Isabelle Gernand (both ex Sabotage), Tim Kroker and Daniel B (Front 242) showed a five track promo-CD. The music reaches from trip hop and big beat to electro, and all is coalesced. /Jens Krause

New releases from darkwave legends Clan of Xymox

• After 15 years of music making in the goth, darkwave, electro, pop and techno genres, the Dutch Clan of Xymox deliver their first live album. It's a double CD simply called "Live" with 19 songs in high quality similar to the studio takes. They're ranging from 4AD classics like "Stranger" and "A Day" to new hits from the comeback era like "Out of the Rain" and "Jasmine & Rose". The recordings are from gigs in Central and South America with an enthusiastic audience. Two low-budget video clips are included as well.
On October 20, Clan of Xymox plan to release the new single "Liberty". We have it and can say that it is another step in the Sisters-style dark rock direction. The single has three songs, as well as a mix of the title track by Greg Rule, who has previously worked with KMFDM (many people have, it seems).
A new album should see the light of the day in the spring. /Mikael Kahrle

Icon of Coil, new electro-stars from Norway
• One of this year's electro breakthrough acts will without a doubt be the Norwegian boys in Icon of Coil. Their first maxi and EP hit like bombs. Icon of Coil has among other things reached number four in the German Alternative Charts (DAC). Their debut album "Serenity Is the Devil" will be out shortly. /Jens Krause

Depeche Mode tribute CD shows the Polish synthpop scene
• The Depeche Mode tribute "Mode in Poland - Polish Independent Tribute" gives you a complete view over the Polish synthpop scene. The most known name must be Common Dream and they make a cover of "If You Want". Their new album will be released in connection to the tribute-CD in the beginning of October. /Jens Krause

Swedish EBM band Run Level Zero signed
• Run Level Zero has just been signed to a label called DSBP. The band has previously released two self-made demo CD:s. Run Level Zero has scheduled an album with new songs and remixes for the beginning of 2001. /Mikael Kahrle

Depeche Mode halfway through successful album recordings

• Depeche Mode are back in the studio again, after their summer break. They are currently working with nine or ten new songs in USA together with producer Mark Bell, a string quartet and a solo cello player called Knox Chandler. Enthusiasm is high and the band hope to be finished by Christmas, after the mixing process in the end of the year.
On the official site, there's a video greeting where David Gahan, among other things, says:
- We are probably about half way through, maybe a little bit more, recording our new album, as yet untitled of course. It's going really well. Martin's written some great songs. We're all in good shape.
He also promises Depeche Mode will go on tour next year, after the album release in the spring. /Mikael Kahrle

Mastertapes lost in space
• S.P.O.C.K's new single "Where Rockets Fly" should have landed yesterday. And the album "2001: A S.P.O.C.K Odyssey" later this autumn.
In a subspace communication, Alexander "Android" Hofman pleads guilty to losing all the mastertapes in an exciting poker game aboard "PS9". The single and album have to be re-recorded and further heavy delays are obviously inevitable.
The new single date is October 20. For the album, a release date will be set in February 2001. At least, now the year fits the title.
The US market should be an obvious priority for a Star Trek pop band and finally it's time for a real US launch with this album. A skilled PR company has been hired and a marketing tour is being put together as we speak. Ten days of concerts, radio, TV, autograph sessions and the rest of the usual Ferengi-like activities are to be expected. A smaller attack on Switzerland is also in the planning stage. But first, S.P.O.C.K will need an album to promote. /Mikael Kahrle

Decimated De/Vision without record company
• After keyboarder Markus left the band, De/Vision now also stands without a record company. WEA Germany has not renewed their contract. But De/Vision has offers from other major companies. The next album is planned for a 2001 spring release. /Jens Krause

Beborn Beton: new maxi-CD and album
• Synthpopband Beborn Beton's new album "Rückkehr zum Eisplaneten" ("Return to the Ice Planets") is here. On this CD there will are remixes of the German tracks, made by among others Apoptygma Berzerk, Covenant and Camouflage. /Jens Krause

Live album and new tour with The Mission

• The Mission's newest release is the live album "Ever After" (Receiver Records), with material from the "Resurrection Tour" as well as some old live pieces.
On November 3, The Mission kicks off a new extensive tour in Scandinavia which lasts to mid-December with stops in several European countries. /Mikael Kahrle

Wolfsheim singer produces No Comment

• Wolfsheim's vocalist, Marcus Reinhardt, has laid his hand on the new No Comment maxi-CD "I Don't Cry" as well as the forthcoming album "Underwater Tales". /Jens Krause

Erik Almgren takes a break
• Release Erik Almgren has been one of Release main writers for several years. He started off with articles and reviews in the old printed Release and when we moved on to the web, he followed and switched to English (from Swedish) together with the rest of the staff. He has efficiently produced lots of reviews and News every month ever since.
For private reasons, he will now take a break and it is uncertain if he will be back in Release again. He has three more reviews to complete, but no News.
We thank him for his great work and support. /Mikael Kahrle

Lots of news on Marilyn Manson

• The new much talked-about Marilyn Manson full-length "Holy Wood (in the Shadow of the Valley of Death)" is now scheduled for a November 13 release in Europe. For some reason, the US release date is November 14.
The first single pick is called "Disposable Teens", but has no definite release date as of now. Four song clips as well as video interviews have been released on the official site. The songs are typical Manson, but the sound is more in the metal direction, than on "Mechanical Animals".
The new US tour will start in Minneapolis on October 27. The Union Underground and Godhead will join the first half of the tour as support acts. On the second half, Godhead stays, but The Union Underground are replaced by Cold.
Mr Manson has earlier said that he has plans for a European leg early next year, but we have to get back regarding his exact tour plans. Expect more Manson details to go official within the nearest future. /Mikael Kahrle

No Elegant Machinery reunion show because of accident
• Richard Johansson of Elegant Machinery has been through an accident. The band can't play the planned reunion gig in Mexico City on September 22. The concert is likely to take place at a new later date.
Johansson got a head concussion and an injured nose when he fell badly the other day. /Mikael Kahrle

Misery Loves Co's comes to and end
• The Swedish industrial metal band Misery Loves Co has decided to split. /Mikael Kahrle

Apoptygma Berzerk pulled out of two US shows

• The current US tour with Apoptygma Berzerk and VNV Nation has been troublesome for the bands. Not in one, but two cities, the bands were forced to pull out. They say the agreed specifications in the technical riders were not met in Washington DC (September 10) and Cleveland (September 15), but the organisers may differ in opinion. The bands apologize for not being able to perform. There are now three joined dates left for the two artists and then three more dates for VNV Nation. /Mikael Kahrle, Kenneth Fredstie

Dreadful Shadows split and embark on final tour
• The Berlin goth-rockers Dreadful Shadows split after six years and five albums. They haven't been able to solve internal problems.
A large farewell tour is being put together for October. /Jens Krause

Soft Cell cancel live show in London
• It was Soft Cell's intentions to perform live in London this year, but the legendary pop duo has been forced to postpone their plans to next year. /Mikael Kahrle

The German Dark Storm festivals hits six cities with huge line-up

Letzte Instanz.

• Many live news today apparently; here's one more. Also, this year, the Dark Storm Festival will take place in the end of December (25-30). And One, Philip Boa & the Voodooclub, Zeromancer, Hocico, Letzte Instanz and Mila Mar are just a part of the line-up. More top-acts will follow.
The Dark Storm will hit Chemnitz, Lahr, Herford, Berlin, Rostock and one more city. /Jens Krause

The Smashing Pumpkins' controversial farewell album spreads over the net
• The Smashing Pumpkins have just released their new album "Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music". But not in an ordinary way, one could say.
Since Virgin refused to produce it, the band has released it as MP3 files and 25 numbered vinyl double albums with three hand-cut 10" EP:s. The records were given to friends, who were encouraged to do what they wanted with the material (like putting it out on sites like Napster). Some of the new songs will also be played on stage in future shows.
"Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music" consists of as much as 25 previously unreleased songs, recorded during the last years. It's the very last album from the alternative rock stars. /Mikael Kahrle

Elegant Machinery re-united for one gig

Johan Malmgren, Robert Enforsen and Richard Johansson of Elegant Machinery.

• The synthpop trio Elegant Machinery will re-unite at one occasion, for a live show in Mexico City on September 22.
- We said yes to this concert, because we have never before had the chance to play for our fans in Mexico and it's going to be great fun to go there, says Richard Johansson, once keyboardist of the band. /Mikael Kahrle

Jeff Mills to produce new "Metropolis" soundtrack
• According to NME, techno star Jeff Mills, has made a new, slightly odd record. He has put together a new soundtrack for the 1926 cult movie "Metropolis". No release date is set as of now, but Tresor in Berlin will release it. Mills own Axis label will make a double vinyl version as well.
- It is our intention to re-introduce and educate the theories and ideology of Fritz Lang's 1926 masterpiece to the cyber youth of today, Mills says. It seems fitting that this movie, the movie that shaped the young minds in the twenties, with its timeless message of solidarity and the romanticising of its utopian dream world be reiterated and reintegrated at the beginning of our new century. /Erik Almgren

Restricted Area is back with four-song single on new label

• The Stockholm based electronic band Restricted Area has been signed to the new German label Life Is Painful Records. A new EBM single, "Turn Like the Devil" is out now, with four songs. One of them is the cover "These Boots Are Made for Walking", with guest vocals from a girl called Emma Johansson. This classic song has been performed by among others Nancy Sinatra in the past.
The new Restricted Area album "Realtime" is due for release one month from now. /Mikael Kahrle

Massive Attack will sue the Conservative Party
• NME reports that Massive Attack are to take legal action against the Conservative Party for unauthorised use of one of their tracks "Man Next Door", from "Mezzanine". The duo, 3D and Daddy G, has expressed their rage through a statement saying:
- We're completely fucked off with the Tories. How dare they use our music to promote their bullshit. Massive Attack have not and will never support the conservative party or their policies. If our music has been used by the Tories it is without our knowledge or our permission. The mis-appropriation of our music by any organisation or broadcaster will be dealt with in the strongest way we can. /Erik Almgren

Catching up with Cocteau Twins

• Cocteau Twins have scheduled a best of-album named "Stars And Topsoils, a Collection (1982-1990)". It will offer 18 tracks and will be released on October 16 through 4AD.
The tracklisting: "Blind Dumb Deaf", "Sugar Hiccup", "My Love Paramour", "Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops", "Lorelei", "Pandora", "Aikea-Guinea", "Pink Orange Red", "Pale Clouded White", "Lazy Calm", The Thinner the Air", "Orange Appled", "Cico Bluff", "Carolyn's Fingers", "Fifty-Fifty Clown", "Iceblink Luck", "Heaven Or Las Vegas" and "Watchlar". /Erik Almgren