The following updates from the HELLOWEEN camp:

"JVC Victor - the Japanese label of Helloween - will release a special 2CD version of Gambling With The Devil on January 23rd.

Next to the 1st CD which contains the Japanese-only bonus 'We Unite' the 2nd CD will contain the European-bonus track 'See The Night' and the previously unreleased demo version of 'As Long As I Fall'.

SPV/Steamhammer will also release Gambling With The Devil on a 2 LP gatefold vinly on February 8th.

More informations will follow soon..."

Another message reads: "The second Knock Out Festival - held in the Europahalle in Karlsruhe, Germany on January 12th - turned out as a big success.

The Europahalle filled with almost 4,000 enthused fans welcomed Netherland’s EPICA and Germany’s AXXIS with standing ovations – in the case of Axxis even with encore-screams. GAMMA RAY followed up with a performance full of adrenaline and a storming version of the Helloween classic 'Ride The Sky'. PARADISE LOST followed-up with a solid performance and prepared the ground for the return of Helloween. Karlsruhe-born Helloween-singer Andi Deris and his colleagues - guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Dani Löble - returned to Karlsruhe two years after their sold-out performance in the Festhalle Durlach during their last world tour and delivered the goods in a big way. From the first riff of the opening track 'Halloween' through the classics 'March Of Time' and 'Eagle Fly Free' or the actual single 'As Long As I Fall'. The hall hailed the band in a big style and almost exploded during the medley-part or the buffoon theatre improvisation part. The following jam session of Helloween and Gamma Ray ended up in unbelievable fan-reactions and toped even all expectations.

The co-headliners of the evening - WITHIN TEMPTATION - closed the festival with an impressive performance despite the fact that they have been forced to perform with one guitarist only. Within Temptation satisfied the gothic fans in the audience and proved the well-balanced mixture of the different musical styles contained in the festival billing.

To sum things up. The promoters of the festival are already planning the third part of Knock Out for x-mas 2008. The exact date and the first confirmed band names will be released soon."

The final post reads: "The second part of the Hellish Rock Tour started into the new year with two double show in the French capitol Paris. Added to the in advance sold-out concert in the Elysee Montmartre on January 6th the concert on January 5th has almost been sold out and presented the three bands – Axxis, Gamma Ray and the headliners Helloween in a great shape. The package went on to Tilburg in the Netherlands and has performed in the 013. A perfect performance of all the three bands in the legendary London concert hall Shepherds Bush Empire has definitely been the first highlight of the second leg of the tour. Following a performance in the Hof Ter Lo venue in Antwerp/Belgium the bands returned to Germany and performed together with Within Temptation, Paradise Lost and Epica on the 2nd Knock Out Festival in Karlsruhe. Next on the plan is Oberhausen in Germany. From there the three bands will leave to Spain and play five concerts in Spain which will close the European part of the tour."