Former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and current MASTERPLAN frontman Jorn Lande has parted ways with his solo backing band, which included current MAYHEM/KOVENANT drummer Hellhammer. Personal differences are being blamed for the split, which coincides with Lande's announced departure from WILD WILLY'S GANG, the "just-for-fun" project of ex-ROAD drummer Willy Bendiksen and his friends.

BORKNAGAR will record their yet-to-be titled album at the end of May. The band is set to work on their fifth full-length with co-producer Borge Finnstad at Fagerborg and Top Room studios. Finnstad handled the production duties for MAYHEM's Grand Declaration of War.

"I look forward to working with Borge Finnstad because he seems to be very professional and we have the best recording facilities available," said ringleader Oysten G. Brun. "Production wise we'll head for the best to date possible!" The new album is also the first release with newcomers Tyr (bass) and Vintersorg (vocals). "I am exited in the sense that it will be a great recording session," Brun confirmed. "I am fully convinced that the costellation will result in a killer album!" There are a myriad of new forces in the Borknagar camp, but Brun reaffirmed that the album will still retain the essence of Borknagar. "Nobody should be afraid that we'll do a sudden change of style or something," the guitarist said. "Compared to Quintessence it will be a bit more diverse. There will be a bit more of everything really. I think the new album will be slightly more epic than Quintessence, and a bit more complex as well. But how the final result comes out in the end of the day, we have to see as well."

Mayhem are heading out for a European tour in support of their latest CD, Grand Declaration Of War. The tour, which includes support from Borknagar, Red Harvest and Griffin, kicks off on September 8th in the Netherlands and winds it's way through Europe before wrapping up in France on September 24th. A professional video will be shot throughout the tour for an official release at a later date.