Earache Records reports Polish death metal veterans VADER will headline the American portion of the "Metal Crusaders Tour" in May/June 2006, teaming up with bands like KATAKLYSM (headliner of the Canadian leg of the tour), NUCLEAR ASSAULT, SPEED..KILL/HATE (featuring members of OVERKILL) and THE ABSENCE.

As previously reported, Candlelight Records USA has set a January 24, 2006 release date for the new mini-CD from VADER, entitled "The Art of War". This special mini-album contains six brand new songs ("Para Bellum!!!", "This Is The War", "Lead Us!!!", "Banners On The Wind", "What Colour Is Your Blood?", "Death In Silence") and was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland, with the Wieslawscy brothers at the helm. The MCD also features the band's new video clip (created by Arek Jurcan in 3D systems, well known from computer games) for the track "This Is The War".
VADER will perform a benefit show on December 11 at the Proxima Club in Warsaw in memory of the group's late drummer Krzysztof "Doc" Raczkowski (1970-2005). Other acts scheduled to appear include CETI, HATE, DEAD INFECTION, LOST SOUL, CORRUPTION, AZARATH, CHAINSAW and VIRGIN SNATCH. The bands will play there for free, to raise money to help Doc's wife and daughter.