Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Roadrunner is proud to welcome FAKTION to the family. Faktion’s music is described as “emotional, melodic, but aggressive rock with a metal edge.” The band’s influences “include, but are not limited to, Flaw’s aggression and Sevendust’s live performance, combined with Staind or Fuel’s engaging diapason.” The quintet will start recording their debut album around November in Orlando, Florida with producers Brett Hestla and Justin Thomas. In a note on their official site, Faktion announce: “OK, so it’s finally official, we’ve signed a record deal with a major label! We couldn’t be happier to be on Roadrunner with such talented acts as Nickelback, Slipknot, Thornley, Killswitch Engage, Theory of a Deadman, Fear Factory, Ill Nino and my personal favorite 36 Crazyfists. We’ve come a long way, but this is still only the beginning. This has been a long term goal of ours for such a long time, yet it is merely step one in the music business. We are going back to Orlando in November to record our debut album with Brett Hestla and Justin Thomas. Soon after that process is complete, we will be ready to hit the road early 2005. Many of you have been with us since day one, and you’ve stuck with us. You’ve watched us change and grow into the musicians we are today. You have given us some of the best times of our lives and we look forward to many, many more. Because of you, we have achieved something most bands only dream of. You are all a part of Faktion and always will be. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.” Stay tuned for a new artist section for more information.

Are you mourning the departure of the Unholy Alliance tour with Mastodon, Hatebreed, Slayer and Slipknot? We’ve made you wait long enough. Revisit the HATEBREED and SLIPKNOT photo galleries, for some live photos from the tour. Maybe you’ll even spot yourself amongst them, for we’ve also posted up some shots of you guys at the gigs, a dude with a rat called ‘Sid’, and some of our meet the band competition winners (with the band, of course)!

The highly anticipated new album “A Types” from Hopesfall will be released on November 1, and we are excited to launch an e-card with 2 full songs on it for you to check out! http://www.trustkill.com/hopesfall/atypes On the e-card you can listen to “Icarus” and “It Happens” and see some sweet art from the new album!

What’s going on with Thornley on the road? The latest news from the band, as follows: “Sitting in San Francisco for the second day in a row. Sorry to those of you who made the trip down here for the show last night. It was late in the day when we found out that the show here was going to be cancelled. “We spent the day hanging around Haight – Ashbury. Pretty cool area. Sekou bought the dvd of Black Samauri – we have been looking for this for a while. Sekou also bought the coolest new computer bag, he has fulfilled his new look as the Urban Warrior. Worm is, of course, jealous. Shaner found a new springy toy – you figure it out. Sekou does not want to be represented as a geek and he wants it made clear that it is a knapsack, not a computer bag. It actually has a compartment to hold his skateboard as well. “We hung out last night at the Phoenix hotel. It was a pretty cool experience. Hotel by day, nightclub by the pool at night. Shaun wants a mention on the site – there. “We did have fun in Reno. Well, not really – the show was a blast but the day off was a little unfulfilling. We went to see a movie and ended off with over four hours to kill in this wonderful little gambling spot. If you don’t gamble there is nothing else to do. So we waited. Worm, all high and shit, entertained himself by chatting with local authorities. Shaner drank Margaritas not knowing that they contained tequila. He got sick.” News: – Sekou and Ian got new nike air force Two’s. – Our new commander in chief, Shaun, is getting used to the rigors of the Thornley camp. – Sekou slashed Worms leg open with a projectile cymbal. Good and deep. – We got woken up on the highway by a bus fire. Twice. As it turns out it was a blown rad, hence we are still in SF instead of travelling. Out of the four busses this year we have been pretty lucky with things thus far so we can’t really complain. – Chris from Dayton Boots is meeting us in Vegas for a few days of partying. This should be fun. – Tumor from LoPro is coming out to the LA show.

Remember we’ve mentioned the cool debut Ill Nino DVD release? Because some extra content is being added to the DVD, the release date has shifted back a little to November 22 – still in plenty of time before Xmas though!

The stunning new Slipknot ‘Vermilion’ single is instores NOW! Available on enhanced CD (퉌£1.99) & strictly limited edition 7í¢ä‰åŒ pic disc featuring exclusive tracks, you can pick it up from HMV, Virgin and your local official ‘Roadrage’ store! Plus, if you’re an insanely mad Maggot, a Slipknot fan of huge proportions, then here’s something you’ll definitely want to get your hands on.To celebrate the fact that the band’s new album ‘Vol 3:(The Subliminal Verses)’ has now been certified gold in the UK (100,000 copies), we have an exclusive personalized Gold Disc to give away. It doesn’t come any more rare than this as the disc will have the winner’s name on it! Enter HERE.

Guess what Wednesday fans? Wednesday 13 has added 2 more dates to the Look What The Bat Dragged In tour! The extra dates are: November 6 – Staffordshire, The Rugeley Rose November 12 – Bristol, Bierkeller Not only that, we’re pleased to let you know that his solo album will be coming out right here on Roadrunner in early 2005! You can now stay tuned to Wednesday 13’s solo artist page HERE for more news updates, or check out his official site over at: www.Wednesday13.com. Do stop by the In The Pit section too, for a couple of free Wednesday 13 desktop wallpapers we’ve just added.

The stunning new Slipknot ‘Vermilion’ single is instores from Monday Oct 18th. Available on enhanced CD (퉌£1.99) & strictly limited edition 7í¢ä‰åŒ pic disc featuring exclusive tracks, you can pick it up from HMV, Virgin and your local official ‘Roadrage’ store as well as your usual online retailers! Also, be sure to check back here on Monday Oct 18th for the entry questions to win a personalised Slipknot gold disc… full details up now in the FREE SHIT section.

“Ironic my arse, this is awesome.” “Cam Pipe’s extraordinary falsetto rings as sure and true as King Diamond’s ever did.” “Quite simply, 3 Inches Of Blood make all other music sound like shit.” NO, those are not OUR made up quotes, but actual quotes from KERRANG! and NME, from their review of 3 Inches Of Blood’s upcoming release, Advance And Vanquish. Check out the band’s PHOTO GALLERY HERE to read for yourself. It is all legit. 3 Inches Of Blood Advance And Vanquish in stores Oct 18th. On tour in the US now with Metal Church

Calling Obituary fans…. Head on over to Noiseweb, for the guys over at this French web mag have posted up a nice bundle of new live shots Obituary – taken at the Belgium show last Saturday!