KATATONIA

Despite just putting out their latest CD this past November, Sweden’s Katatonia also released a four-track EP on March 15. Entitled The Longest Year, it features the track by the same name along with a remix of “Day & Then the Shade” along with an alternate version of “Idle Blood”, all of which appeared on Night is the New Day. In addition, there is an unreleased track called “Solid Heart” and two videos of “The Longest Year” and “Day & Then the Shade”.



Katatonia is currently headlining a tour across Europe. You can check out the dates here:

2010 Tour Dates
Mar 3, Logo Hamburg, Germany
Mar 4, Luxor Cologne, Germany
Mar 5, Doornroosje Nijmegen, Netherlands
Mar 6, P60 Amstelveen, Netherlands
Mar 7, Biebop Vosselaar, Belgium
Mar 9, Manchester Academy 3 Manchester, UK
Mar 10, Rock City Basement Nottingham, UK
Mar 11, Garage London, UK
Mar 12, Hammerfest II Prestatyn, Wales, UK

Mar 13, Barfly Cardiff, UK
Mar 14, Little Civic Wolverhampton, UK
Mar 15, Kulturfabrik Luxemburg, Luxemburg
Mar 16, Noveau Casino Paris, France
Mar 17, Camij Nijort, France
Mar 18, Apolo 2 Barcelona, Spain
Mar 19, Ramdall Madrid, Spain
Mar 20, Bordeaux Espace Tatry, France
Mar 22, CCO Villeurbanne Lyon, France
Mar 23, Kofmehl Solothurn, Switzerland
Mar 24, Alcatraz Milano, Italy
Mar 25, Alpheus Rome, Italy
Mar 26, Rockplanet Cervia, Italy
Mar 27, Gala Hala Ljublana, Slovenia
Mar 28, Scene Vienna, Austria
Mar 29, Dürer Kert Budapest, Hungary
Mar 30, Exit Chmelnice Prague, Czech
Mar 31, Rotunda Krakow, Poland
Apr 1, Stodola Warsaw, Poland
Apr 2, Lido Berlin, Germany
Apr 3, Zeche Bochum, Germany
Apr 4, Conne Island Leipzig, Germany
Apr 5, Batschkapp Frankfurt, Germany
Apr 6, Backstage Munich, Germany
Apr 8, Sofia Hristo Botev Hall, Bulgaria
Apr 10, Principal Club Theater Thessaloniki, Greece
Apr 11, Gagarin 205 Athens, Greece
Apr 13, Tel Aviv Barby, Israel
Apr 15, Moscow Plan B, Russia
Apr 16, ST pete Orlandia, Russia
Jul 17, Ilosaari , Finland
May 21, Rock Hard Festival Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Jun 20, Hellfest Clisson, France

If you still can’t get enough of the band, check out singer Jonas Renske’s tour diary that he is writing for UltimateGuitar.com. Check the bottom of this page for the link.

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BARREN EARTH

Barren Earth’s debut record, Curse of the Red River won’t be released until April 6 in the U.S. However you won’t have to wait that long to get a sneak peak. The band has combined forces with MetalSucks.net and is issuing a preview of a new track called “The Leer”. It’s available exclusively at this location



Barren Earth is a relatively new band featuring members you all know from other groups. The lineup includes: vocalist Mikko Kotamäki from Swallow The Sun, bassist Olli-Pekka Laine - ex-Amorphis and Mannhai. Kasper Mårtenson on keyboards - ex-Amorphis and Ben Granfelt Band. Guitarists Janne Perttilä (Rytmihäiriö) and Sami Yli-Sirniö (Kreator, Waltari). On drums is Marko Tarvonen – (Moonsorrow).



The band released their debut EP Our Twilightlast November and played a single show in Helsinki. They plan a series of shows later this spring.