A series of short items to report: "Italian metal-progsters Mind Key are happy to announce that the band's brand new booking and management agency, the great Red Lion Music! The band's very proud to be part of a roster which includes bands like Jon Oliva's Pain, Circle II Circle, Aspera, Neverland and Symphonity.

"All MK members wanna thank Anett and the entire RLM Staff, and the band'll soon come back to play live."

Italian band Kingcrow recently filmed a video for the song "Evasion," directed by Mauro Marani, that will be soon released. The video will promote band's new studio album entitled Phlegethon (which was released May 17 via Scarlet Records). There is also the new song "Islands" available at their official MySpace page www.myspace.com/kingcrowband

Mangala Vallis reports; "The band is busy working on the new album. In the new line up, Cristiano Roversi stands out as a strategic keyboardist and composer. All members of the band are involved in writing and arrangeing the new material.

"Very exciting apepars the project of bringing Italian lyrics into the world of Mangala Vallis. On this item, the band is interacting with Enrico Papi, formerly lyricist for major Italian artists.

"[Having started] in April [and continuing] through May, drum sessions will take place at Macchina Magetica.

"MV new album will be released by Distilleria Music Factory."

Echolyn, who have been silent for far too long, posted an update to their Yahoo Group in mid-May, with Brett Kull writing, "[E]cholyn has 4 killer tracks recorded with more on the way. recording to start again soon. we've been searching for inspiration and newness.

"Brett is playing a solo gig on june 12th at 8pm at the World Cafe Live in philadelphia. Paul will be joining him on drums."

Tom Hyatt replied, "To add to what Brett just said, I (Tom) have completed my guitar parts on an Echolyn track called 'Some Memorial.' I am also collaborating with my old friend John Karpowicz on some of my own material which will hopefully turn into the greatest solo album of any bass player who has ever played for Echolyn other than Ray, Jesse, or Brett!"