Regina, Saskatchewan-based Canadian extreme progressive metallers Into Eternity recently tapped Amanda Kiernan of the Edmonton, Alberta-based metal band The Order Of Chaos as their new touring vocalist. Kiernan takes over from Stu Block, who was hired away last year by American metallers Iced Earth, leaving Into Eternity without a full-time singer.

Into Eternity founder and guitarist Tim Roth told the Regina Leader-Post that he invited Kiernan to Regina to try out for the band after hearing a tape of her performing his songs.

"I had all these guys who told me they could do the songs and hit the notes Stu could. So I had them try out and it was like, 'No way.' Nobody could do it," Roth said. "But Amanda's got this great voice ... none of the dudes could hit the notes Stu could, so maybe it makes sense that only a chick can do it. Besides, she already fits in like she's one of the guys."

Kiernan, who said she's been an Into Eternity fan since she was in high school, told the Regina Leader-Post about her audition, "At first, I was pretty intimidated. These guys are rock stars to me. There were times when I was sitting around with the guys, and then all of a sudden I'd get this little burst of energy because I reminded myself that I was sitting with Into Eternity."

They uploaded in mid-January an audio teaser of their new single “*****ushima," due out in February. "Check out studio and rehearsal footage of the song written about the crisis in *****ushima Daiichi, Japan" here

"About the status of Into Eternity singer Stu Block ... guitarist Justin Bender told BraveWords.com recently: 'The cool thing about the new singer is that Stu was over working on parts with us every day and so he is still very involved.'"

At the end of last year (at very, very end, as it happens), it was reported that "War On Music Records will be issuing several albums by Into Eternity for the first time ever on vinyl. Starting with Dead Or Dreaming (2001), Buried In Oblivion (2004), and with Scattering Of The Ashes (2006) following soon after, these albums will be made available, each as a limited LP release starting early spring 2012.

"Singer/guitarist Tim Roth had this to say [though not about the (re)issues]: 'Happy New Year! Things are getting busy again for the band. Our drummer Bryan flies down on January 3 2012, so we’ll be putting in long days rehearsing old and new Into Eternity material. The new songs are coming along quite well and we’ll have 2 new songs finished and mixed in the upcoming weeks. So far five songs have been recorded (30 minutes) and we are looking forward to get working on the next batch of new Into Eternity songs.'"

On February 24, Into Eternity will perform at the 11th Annual Manitoba Metalfest 2012, to be held at the The Zoo in Winnipeg. Also on the bill for the fest - which is on both February 24 and February 25 - are: Alphakill, Annex Theory, Dissolution, Hoarfrost, Legion Of Liquor, Seventh Sin, Suffocation, Untimely Demise.

[Source: Blabbermouth.net and Into Eternity website]