TAPPING THE VEIN Putting Finishing Touches On New Album

According to MTV.com, moody metal group TAPPING THE VEIN are almost done with their new album. The drum, bass and guitar tracks are all finished, and singer Heather Thompson plans to wrap up her vocal tracks this week. "It's sounding much heavier and dark, à la KATATONIA," said drummer Eric Fisher of the record. "Less programming, much more band." The yet-untitled disc — the follow-up to 2002's "The Damage" — should be out by the end of the year.