Veteran Swedish hard rockers 220 VOLT have announced the addition of singer Anders Engberg (pictured below; THERION, LION'S SHARE) to the group's ranks. The band's current line is completed by founding members Thomas Drevin and Mats Karlsson on guitar, returning drummer Peter Hermansson and Mike Krusenberg on bass.

"The time is right," says Karlsson in a statement. "2013 will be great for us, things are moving in the right direction again, forward that is. We're lettting people hear a few samples of our new demos, and we hope to be releasing new music in the next few months, but a full album will not be out until late this year."

220 VOLT describes its new songs as "as classic hard rock/metal — a bit harder than before, but still melodic."

Sony/BMG has just reissued 220 VOLT's first five albums ("220 Volt", "Power Games", "Mind Over Muscle", "Young And Wild" and "Eye To Eye") digitally with some bonus tracks added on to the "Power Games" and "Eye To Eye" LPs. They are now available on iTunes, Spotify and similar platforms, though it may still be a few weeks before they are released in the U.S.

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of 220 VOLT's self-titled first LP and the 25th anniversary of their landmark effort, "Eye To Eye". The band recently released short stories on their Facebook page about the recordings of each of their albums. They're posted in chronological order and take us album by album up to date.

"Pulvis Et Umbra", the new album from French doomsters SURTR, will be released on March 15 via Altsphere Production on CD and transparent blue limited-edition vinyl.

"Pulvis Et Umbra" track listing:

01. Rise Again
02. Three Winters of War
03. Sonic Doom
04. The Call
05. Rebellion
06. I Am The Cross
07. Fred Karno's Army

The video for the song "I Am The Cross" can be seen below.

SURTR started in 2009, inspired by bands like BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS, REVEREND BIZARRE, COUNT RAVEN and CANDLEMASS.

SURTR is confirmed for this year's edition of the Hellfest festival in Clisson, France, where they will share the stage with such bands as CANDLEMASS, SLEEP, MANILLA ROAD, GHOST and PROCESSION.

SURTR is:

Régis Beck: Drums
Julien Kuhn: Bass
Jeff Maurer: Guitar, Vocals

Finnish thrashers HATEFORM will release their third album, "Sanctuary In Abyss", on March 1 via Spinefarm Records. Drums for the CD were recorded at Petrax Studios (CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH, ENSIFERUM) with engineer Santeri Salmi. Guitars, bass, and vocals were laid down at Ansa Studio with engineer Jori Haukio. The CD was mixed by Thomas "Plec" Johansson (WATAIN, ESKIMO CALLBOY, SCAR SYMMETRY, GRAVEWORM, MORS PRINCIPIUM EST, AS YOU DROWN) and was mastered by Mika Jussila (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM) at Finnvox Studios.

"Sanctuary In Abyss" track listing:

01. Origin Of Plague
02. Born Exiled
03. Morphine
04. Sculpture Of Flesh
05. All Becomes Nothing
06. Perpetual Cold
07. Rise Beyond
08. Burn To Feel
09. Illusion For The Absolved
10. Redemption For The Awake

A five-minute teaser for the album is available below.

HATEFORM signed a deal with Spinefarm Records in the fall of 2011.

The band's previous albums, "Dominance" and "Origin Of Plague", were released via 7:45 Records.

HATEFORM is:

Tomy Laisto (guitar)
Petri Nyström (vocals)
Tom Gardiner (guitar)
Tuomo Latvala (drums)
Joni Suodenjärvi (bass)

Swedish melodic gloom lords OCTOBER TIDE will release their fourth album, "Tunnel Of No Light", on March 25 in Europe and April 16 in North America via Pulverised Records. The CD was recorded at Black Lounge Studio (SCAR SYMMETRY, CARNAL FORGE, IN MOURNING, CENTINEX) in Avesta, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren.

"Tunnel Of No Light" track listing:

01. Of Wounds To Come
02. Our Constellation
03. Emptiness Fulfilled
04. Caught In Silence
05. The Day I Dissolved
06. Watching The Drowners
07. In Hopeless Pursuit
08. Adoring Ashes

The song "Adoring Ashes" can be streamed using the widget below.

Vocalist Tobias Netzell and bassist Pierre Stam last year left OCTOBER TIDE in order to focus on their family lives and other projects and have since been replaced by Mattias Norrman (ex-KATATONIA) and Alexander Högbom (VOLTURYON, SPASMODIC), respectively.

OCTOBER TIDE's current lineup:

Fredrik Norrman (KATATONIA, UNCANNY) - Guitar
Mattias Norrman (KATATONIA, DELLAMORTE) - Bass
Alexander Högbom (VOLTURYON, SPASMODIC) - Vocals
Robin Bergh (AMARAN, GOREMENT) - Drums
Emil Alstermark (MANDYLON) - Guitar

OCTOBER TIDE's latest album, "A Thin Shell", was released in North America in September 2010 via Candlelight Records. The band's first CD in ten years followed the 2009 reissue of its debut, "Rain Without End" (Candlelight).

Formed in 1995 by then-KATATONIA guitarist Norrman and KATATONIA/BLOODBATH vocalist Jonas Renkse, OCTOBER TIDE quickly made a mark with two albums recorded and released during the years 1997 and 1999 ("Rain Without End" and "Grey Dawn", respectively). Much of the band's music was written during a short break up of KATATONIA which later proved only temporary as the band would reform and continues today. OCTOBER TIDE would not perform live during this short period of activity and few interviews with the members were granted despite praise from both media and fans. The band, until reforming in late 2009, would maintain a cult status throughout the doom/metal community.

TESTAMENT's February 15 concert at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York as part of "The Dark Roots Of Thrash" tour was professionally filmed for a 90-minute DVD, to be released later this year via Nuclear Blast.

Fan-filmed video footage of the show can be seen below.

"We haven't shot a live DVD or CD since our 'Live In London' release and we've had two killer albums since then," commented TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy. "We thought it would be cool to put out a live DVD/CD focusing on the last three records ('The Gathering', 'The Formation Of Damnation' and 'Dark Roots Of Earth') mixed in with a good amount of classics, too. Last time we recorded anything live in America was for 'Live At The Fillmore' on the West Coast. This time we thought we'd give the East Coast a chance to show the world how crazy and loud they can be."

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Rise Up
02. More Than Meets the Eye
03. Burnt Offerings
04. Native Blood
05. True American Hate
06. Dark Roots of Earth
07. Into the Pit
08. Practice What You Preach
09. Riding the Snake
10. Eyes of Wrath
11. Trial By Fire
12. The Haunting
13. The New Order
14. D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
15. 3 Days in Darkness

Encore 1:

16. The Formation of Damnation

Encore 2:

17. Over the Wall
18. Disciples of the Watch

TESTAMENT's new album, "Dark Roots Of Earth", sold more than 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on July 31, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. The cover artwork for the effort (see below) was painted by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

Professionally filmed video footage of former NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis' January 26 performance at the 11th annual Schecter Guitar Research NAMM party at The Grove of Anaheim in Aneheim, California can be seen below.

Loomis last year released a brand-new song, "A Liar's Chain", recorded with his touring band consisting of Joe Nurre (guitar and vocals), Anup Sastry (drums) and Greg Macklin (bass).

Loomis's second solo album, "Plains Of Oblivion", sold 2,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 179 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 2 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Plains Of Oblivion" was released on April 10, 2012 in North America (one day earlier in Europe) via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES) and features cover artwork by Colin Marks of Rain Song Design, who has previously worked with ALL SHALL PERISH, THE END and XERATH.

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman, who last year announced the formation of his new project DEVICE, also featuring former FILTER guitarist Geno Lenardo, has posted the following message online:

"My brothers and sisters, my blood, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for coming with me on this new journey that is DEVICE.

"I am eternally grateful for the love that you all have for DISTURBED, and I also understand the defensiveness that can come with any thing that could potentially be perceived as a catalyst to some sort of 'breakup theory' that, I assure you, has no base in the first place.

"If you read the DEVICE bio that was posted on the DEVICE Facebook page, you will learn that the whole project came together quite accidentally, and I'm very glad it did. I think you will be too.

"DISTURBED is still on hiatus. A hiatus is an extended break, not 'breakup.' We have fought long and hard together, all of us, to make DISTURBED what it has become, and are not just walking away from it. We all needed to just give ourselves some time away from it. The existence of DEVICE does not in any way shape or form mean the end of DISTURBED. They are two completely separate entities, and I hold them both in the highest regard. You are about to get your first taste this coming week.

"You have all of my love and respect."

DEVICE will play a number of shows this spring and summer in support of its debut album, which is due out April 9. The CD will feature guest appearances from AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows, SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist Serj Tankian, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes.

Lenardo will not be part of the DEVICE touring band due to previous commitments.

Other members of the live lineup include EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt and DOPE guitarist Virus.

A 44-second teaser for DEVICE's forthcoming album can be seen below.

The first single from the DEVICE album, called "Vilify", arrives at rock radio on February 19. A video is being produced as well.

Former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo was interviewed for the cover story in the March 2013 issue of Revolver magazine. During the in-depth chat, the singer spoke about reconnecting with Sterling Winfield, co-producer of PANTERA's 2000 album, "Reinventing The Steel". "I didn't know there was a rift between Sterling and I until I spoke with him several months ago," Anselmo said of the first time they'd talked in 12 years. "He chose sides at one point, and picked Vinnie Paul's [Abbott, former PANTERA drummer] side, which is a psychotic side."

He continued: "I feel bad for Vince. People should pity the guy. I wasn't there when Dimebag [late PANTERA guitarist and Vinnie Paul's brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was killed on stage while performing with DAMAGEPLAN in December 2004] was murdered, but he sure as fuck was. That's his flesh and blood, murdered right in front of him. It's a shame that Vince never reached out to Rex [Brown, former PANTERA bassist] and I. I think the healing process would have been beneficial to him, instead of his knee-jerk reaction to fear, and his therapy through tit bars and whiskey."

Returning to his story about Winfield, Anselmo explained: "He said that he drank heavily after Dimebag's death. He admitted that he hated my guts but then he got sober. Over his first two years of sobriety, he realized that these bad feelings towards me were unfounded completely."

Anselmo also reflected on PANTERA's downfall, telling Revolver: "One guy can't break up a band. After we broke up, why was Rex with me and not with Dimebag and Vince? You have to understand, it goes all four ways when a band breaks up. Yes, I made mistakes. Yes, there was a lack of communication on both sides and some of it is my fault — a lot of it is my fault."

Anselmo, whose comments in the U.K. music press about how Dimebag should be "beaten severely" were unfairly linked to some of the guitarist's shooter's motive, stated about his former bandmate: "Two mornings ago, the first thing I thought of when I woke up was Dimebag. I think about Dime a lot. Last year was very rough. I don't know what it was about last year, but I got into a severe depression about the loss of Darrell and what it meant and how huge it is. How heinous it is for him not to be here and to go out the way he did. There are still a few days to go [before the eighth anniversary of Dimebag's death] [the interview was conducted in early December 2012. — Ed.], and hopefully it's just not as bad as last year. But if it is, so be it.

"Dimebag was a lifer," Anselmo continued. "He was meant to be this guitar hero. He was born for it. We would have made amends. I would like to think he would be proud of me for pulling myself out of the muck, the abyss. I'm not a believer in the afterlife. I think this is our shot. But I guess, in an atavistic way, you hope that the fallen one's mighty spirit is looking down and smiling on you. I just choose to remember the positive things. He was almost like the perfect counterpoint to me. We may have clashed to a certain extent, but we would always find a happy medium, It was a vital relationship that I miss greatiy."

"PANTERA had an almost supernatural freakin' alchemic chemistry, not of this world," he added. "I have not felt it since. DOWN has its own chemistry, but it's not PANTERA."

"His Will", the new ZerOonE-produced video from Swedish metallers REVENGIA, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Lake Of Fire", which was released on November 11, 2012 via Dirge Entertainment through Sound Pollution distribution. The CD was mastered at Bohus Sound Studios by Dragan Tanaskovic.

The band previously described its new songs as "heavy, fast, doomy and melodic, just as usual in REVENGIA-land!"

"Lake Of Fire" track listing:

01. Free From Sin
02. His Will
03. Lake Of Fire
04. The Day I Die
05. Alone
06. Purest Of Emotions
07. Sin For Sale
08. Asylum
09. Bloodline
10. Termination By The Hand Of Creation
11. The Galleon
12. The One (bonus track on first pressing)

The cover artwork was painted by Petra Christensen and can be seen below.

REVENGIA recently announced the addition of touring guitarist Andreas Stolt (NASCENCY) to the group's ranks.

Andreas made his live debut with REVENGIA on November 3, 2012 at Sparbankshallen in Varberg, Sweden.

REVENGIA's previous album, "Eraser", was released in Japan on November 21, 2007 via Soundholic Records.

The band in 2007 split with ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson due to scheduling conflicts. He has since been replaced by Conny Pettersson (ANATA, TRENDKILL, ETERNAL LIES).

GUNS N' ROSES' June 2012 performance at London, England's O2 Arena will be broadcast on VH1 Classic on March 9 as part of a five-hour GN'R special. The night will kick off at 8:00 p.m. with a one-hour, all-GUNS N' ROSES video block hosted by "That Metal Show"'s Eddie Trunk, followed by the London concert and a rebroadcast of the Axl Rose "That Metal Show" episode.

The big-screen premiere of GUNS N' ROSES' 2012 performance at O2 Arena was scheduled for last October at select theaters in Europe but was "postponed" by the band's management.

A trailer for the concert film, which promised to show the grand finale of the band's U.K. tour in "stunning" HD quality and Surround Sound, can be seen below.

GUNS N' ROSES has been added to The Governer's Ball festival, set to take place June 7-9 on Randall's Island in New York City. They join the likes of KANYE WEST, KINGS OF LEON, GRIZZLY BEAR, ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, KENDRICK LAMAR and many others. GUNS N' ROSES will also co-headline this year's edition of Rocklahoma, which is scheduled to take place over the weekend of May 24-26 at the Catch the Fever Festival Grounds in Pryor, Oklahoma. The event, now in its seventh year, will also feature sets from KORN, ALICE IN CHAINS and many more older and newer acts.

In addition sole original member Axl Rose (lead vocals), the current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES includes guitarists Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Richard Fortus and DJ Ashba, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.

Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD have released the following statement:

"VOIVOD has had to postpone any shows for the immediate future as Snake [vocalist Denis Belanger] needs four-six weeks rest due to a procedure for diverticulitis, a common digestive disease. This affects the MS Benefit in Ottawa and the SXSW shows, this should not affect the Santiago, Chile Metal Fest appearance in April. More tour news to be announced shortly."

VOIVOD's new album, "Target Earth", sold around 1,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD was issued on January 22 via the band's own company, Iron Gang Factory, and Century Media.

VOIVOD's previous album, "Infini", opened with around 840 units back in July 2009.

"Target Earth" was recorded in early 2012 at Pierre Rémillard's (OBLIVEON, CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN, MISERY INDEX) Wild Studio in a small town called St-Zénon in Quebec, Canada and was mixed by Sanford Parker (PELICAN, NACHTMYSTIUM). The follow-up to 2009's "Infini" contains the band's first music to be written with guitarist Dan Mongrain (MARTYR) following the passing of original axeman Denis "Piggy" D'Amour in 2005. The original art was once again drawn by drummer Michel "Away" Langevin and features color schemes from each one of the band's previous albums.

New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL have released the following statement:

"We are terribly sorry that we had to cancel our performance last night [Friday, February 15 at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York], but let's put the rumors to rest, before speculation runs rampant.

"Blitz [singer Bobby Ellsworth] was diagnosed with what is called 'walking pneumonia,' and was medically advised to not perform due to it potentially getting worse if he did. When the health risk is no longer an issue, he'll be ready to kick ass once again."

OVERKILL and TESTAMENT are currently on the road in North America together part of "The Dark Roots Of Thrash" tour, also featuring FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and 4ARM.

OVERKILL's new album, "The Electric Age", sold 6,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 77 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was recorded and mixed at Gear Recording Studios in New Jersey, owned and operated by OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni.

Bassist Bobby Ferkovich has hit the ground running in 2013. The new year begins with work on his fourth release with Kurdt Vanderhoof’s (METAL CHRUCH) prog-rock outfit PRESTO BALLET. This follow-up to 2012’s Relic of the Modern World will be released later this year with tour dates around the world to follow.

Ferkovich is also back into the studio with POWERTRAIN, (featuring Kendall Bechtel of FIFTH ANGEL on guitar and vocals) on their (as yet untitled) fourth release, the follow-up to last year’s effort Off The Rails.
As if this wasn’t enough, Ferkovich is currently in the studio working with legendary former W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper on his new solo project (release dates and tour dates coming soon) and is also slated to hit the road with world renowned power-vocalist Pamela Moore (QUEENSRŸCHE’s 'Sister Mary') following the release of her highly anticipated upcoming album Resurrect Me.

March will also see Ferkovich in the studio with shred guitar virtuoso Gabriele Palermo (from Germany’s TRAGEDIAN) along with Bobby’s former HEIR APPARENT band mate, drummer Jeffrey McCormack. The project, simply titled M.P.F. is slated for a late 2013 release. No tour plans have been scheduled at press time.

“It’s amazing to be so incredibly busy this year, and such an honor that it’s with such remarkable artist," says Ferkovich,

For more details visit Bobbyferkovich.com.

According to here, Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, the world’s biggest record company, agreed to sell the label of BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN and MEGADETH to BMG Rights Management as part of disposals required by regulators.
The deal for Sanctuary Records is among the asset sales asked for by European regulators after Universal Music’s acquisition of EMI Group and is the second label bought by BMG Rights among those on offer, BMG Rights said in a statement today. The Sanctuary label was sold for 40 million pounds ($62 million), two people with knowledge of the transaction said.

Sanctuary, which also holds rights to THE KINKS and MOTÖRHEAD, is the second label Universal Music has sold this month. Last week, the record company agreed to sell Parlophone, home to COLDPLAY, THE PET SHOP BOYS and TINA TURNER, to Warner Music Group for $784 million. BMG Rights, controlled by KKR & Co., is a Berlin-based management and rights company expanding into recorded music.

“We have made no secret of our ambition to create a new force in the music industry focused on delivering service and revenue to artists,” BMG Chief Executive Officer Hartwig Masuch said in the statement.

Virgina-based symphonic black death metal act WARTHRONE - featuting former members of DYING FETUS and WITCH-HUNT - are hard at work finalizing the new album which is tenatively set to be self-released summer 2013:

"Recording and mixing is finished and promises to satisfy any fan that can appreciate a mixture of DIMMU BORGIR, OLD MAN'S CHILD, MARDUK to new brutal bands such as old school death metal influenced from bands like MALEVOLENT CREATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE and OBITUARY. Check out the new Facebook page here."

Brazilian thrash metallers MASTERPIECE have released a video for the track ‘Revenge’, featured on their latest album, Heirs Of Freedom. The clip, produced and filmed by Eduardo Wosniak, can be seen below:
Heirs Of Freedom was released via Digmetalworld. It was produced, recorded and mixed by Regisson Silva at RVB Records, and mastered by Caio Duarte at BroadBand Productions, both in Brazil.

The cover art for the album it was designed by Denisson Silva and can be seen below:

Tracklisting is as follows:

'Harbinger’
‘Revenge’
‘No More’
‘Mr. Disgrace’
‘Drowned In The Sea Of Lie’
‘Hecatombe’
‘For the Heir of Freedom (Another Invite To The Suicide)’
‘Trajectory Of Death’
‘Lane’
‘The Thing Out Of Control
‘The Collector’
Masterpiece is:

Denisson Silva - lead vocals, rhythm Guitars
Regisson Silva - lead guitars, accoustic guitars, backing vocals, Keyboards
Pedro Bianchi - bass guitar, backing vocals
Thiago Chiarelli - drums, backing vocals

Montreal-based death metal powerhouse DEPTHS OF HATRED have released a new single entitled 'Secluded Redemption'. A full length audio clip is available for streaming below:
'Secluded Redemption' can be purchased via the band's official Bandcamp page here.

The band’s debut album, Aversionist, was released in March 2012 through Galy Records. The album was mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, NEURAXIS, THE LAST FELONY).

Depths Of Hatred's music video for 'Revocation', which features a guest appearance from Elliot Desgagnes (BENEATH THE MASSACRE), can be seen below:
Depths Of Hatred lineup:

Dominic D.D. - Vocals
Martin Trottier - Guitar
Christian Mongrain Theriault - Guitar
Karl Desjardins - Drums
Antoine Millette - Bass

More on Depths Of Hatred at this location.

After signing a deal with Dark Star Records in the fall of 2012, Illinois-based metal band LOW TWELVE has released a new CD/DVD digipak, entitled Skin In The Game. The release contains a 12-song CD with tremendous production, and a bonus DVD that features a documentary, 13 Brutal Years. There is also a 12-page full color booklet featuring artwork by Brian Uziel with lyrics, pics, and more.

Lead singer and bass player Pete Altieri commented, "This is our fifth CD and second DVD release. We're incredibly proud of how well it turned out and so far the reactions have been great. The digi looks awesome!"

This release features the latest Low Twelve lineup of Pete Altieri (bass/lead vocals), Meister (guitar/vocals), Les Aldridge (guitar),. and Travis Waterman (drums). The band is based in Bloomington, Illinois - peforming more than 300 shows, they have supported national acts such as CANNIBAL CORPSE, GWAR, PRO-PAIN, MASTODON, and more.

Two tracks from the new CD have already been selected to be featured on horror movie soundtracks. On their debut release, the song 'Brutal World' was used in the movie Jigsaw.

Skin In The Game is available now on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Rhapsody, Loud Trax, Google Music, and through Dark Star Records.

A promo clip for the release can be seen below:
Low Twelve is:

Pete Altieri - bass/lead vocals
Meister - guitar/vocals
Les Aldridge - lead guitar
Travis Waterman - drums
More on Low Twelve at this location.

Original TROUBLE drummer Jeff "Oly" Olson (who is currently playing with RETRO GRAVE and IN-GRAVED) will appear on TROUBLE's next, as-yet-untitled album, due for release later in the year. Olson states: "[I've] been working on some [keyboard] intros [for the CD]."

TROUBLE announced in February 2012 that it recruited Kyle Thomas as the band's new singer following the departure of the group's frontman of the four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

Thomas, former lead vocalist for EXHORDER, FLOODGATE and ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, was no stranger to TROUBLE as he previously fronted the band for four live shows between 1997 and 1999, including Stoner Hands Of Doom festival in Maryland and Expo Of The Extreme in Chicago. Thomas has also collaborated on projects with members of SLIPKNOT, DOWN, OBITUARY and DEICIDE.

Olson left TROUBLE in 1986 to teach music while also writing musical scores and later receiving a Bachelor Of Music degree in Film Scoring (cum laude) from Berklee College of Music. Olson returned to the band for the albums "Run To The Light" (Hammond Organ), "Trouble" (pre-pro for drums, keys), "Plastic Green Head" (drums), "Simple Mind Condition" (drums, French Horn), "Unplugged" and "Live in L.A.".

In July 2008, Olson announced his departure from TROUBLE. His last show with them took place at The End in Nashville, Tennessee on July 19, 2008.

TESTAMENT's February 15 concert at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York as part of "The Dark Roots Of Thrash" tour was professionally filmed for a 90-minute DVD, to be released later this year via Nuclear Blast.

"We haven't shot a live DVD or CD since our 'Live In London' release and we've had two killer albums since then," commented TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy. "We thought it would be cool to put out a live DVD/CD focusing on the last three records ('The Gathering', 'The Formation Of Damnation' and 'Dark Roots Of Earth') mixed in with a good amount of classics, too. Last time we recorded anything live in America was for 'Live At The Fillmore' on the West Coast. This time we thought we'd give the East Coast a chance to show the world how crazy and loud they can be."

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Rise Up
02. More Than Meets the Eye
03. Burnt Offerings
04. Native Blood
05. True American Hate
06. Dark Roots of Earth
07. Into the Pit
08. Practice What You Preach
09. Riding the Snake
10. Eyes of Wrath
11. Trial By Fire
12. The Haunting
13. The New Order
14. D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
15. 3 Days in Darkness

Encore 1:

16. The Formation of Damnation

Encore 2:

17. Over the Wall
18. Disciples of the Watch

TESTAMENT's new album, "Dark Roots Of Earth", sold more than 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on July 31, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. The cover artwork for the effort (see below) was painted by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

Wall TV has uploaded professionally filmed video footage of Taiwanese metallers CHTHONIC performing in Taipei last December. Check out the clip below.

CHTHONIC recently returned to Sweet Spot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden with producer Rickard Bengtsson (ARCH ENEMY, NEMESIS) to begin recording its seventh album for a June 2013 release.

CHTHONIC's sixth full-length effort, "Takasago Army", was released in North America in September 2011 via Spinefarm Records. Produced by Bengtsson, this 10-track outing completes a trilogy of CHTHONIC releases, telling a story that binds together the band's "Seediq Bale" and "Mirror Of Retribution" albums, released in 2007 and 2009, respectively.

Coinciding with the North American release of "Takasago Army", CHTHONIC embarked on a three-week tour as one of the opening acts for ARCH ENEMY. The North American Khaos 2011 trek featured additional support from DEVILDRIVER and SKELETONWITCH.

Tuomas Holopainen, keyboardist and main songwriter of the Finnish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH, has eight songs "roughly ready" for his "The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck" project. According to Tuomas, there are "only two months" remaining until he hits "the demo studio" to record the material.

Tuomas previously stated about how the idea for the project came about: "It was back in 1999, during the 'Oceanborn' tour, that I remember first having the idea of writing a 'soundtrack' to my all-time favorite piece of Disney comic, 'The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck', by Don Rosa, the apparent heir of the almighty Carl Barks. This book has had such an overwhelming effect on me throughout these years, and finally I have the means and the time to make that dream a reality.

"It all started with a story called 'Last Sled To Dawson', which was published in a Finnish Donald Duck magazine in the late '80s. It instantly became one of my favorite Scrooge/Donald stories and also introduced Mr. Don Rosa to my Disney universe. This story is not part of the actual 'Life And Times' opus, though, but 'a companion story,' set in between the chapters #8 and #9. Then when the massive 12-chapter piece was released in mid-'90s, I was completely and utterly hooked. It was similar to reading 'The Lord Of The Rings' as an 8-year-old, or seeing 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' for the first time. Adventure, fun and the strangely familiar feeling of home.

"With Scrooge, there was also a much deeper level hidden between the stories and the gags.

"This is a book about life itself. What an unfathomable privilege it is, what are the things that truly matter during our existence. It's about the immense beauty of the world and its possibilities seen through the eyes of a very relentless, honest and complex character. It's about love and family, gain and loss, darkness and rebirth.

"And on top of that, well, it's just your good old-fashioned storytelling fun!

"I have been twiddling around with certain themes for some months now and have an idea for five songs, but I will start working on this project 24/7 after the Australian leg of the tour, in February 2013. The demo recordings are scheduled for May 2013, just before the festival season starts and we're off with NIGHTWISH again. The actual recordings then start in August-September and should be finished by the end of the year, making a release during the first half of 2014 a possibility.

"Mr. Pip Williams has agreed to do the orchestral and choral arrangements and we will use pretty much the same London session musicians as we did on 'Imaginaerum'. Troy Donockley will bring Scrooge's Scottish origins to life with his pipes and whistles, and there will also be a few more guest musicians and singers involved.

"This journey is very, very dear and personal to me and I'm honored to have Mr. Rosa's approval on the project. It'll be a beautiful storytime, once again!"

STONE SOUR performed its new single, "Do Me A Favor", live for the first time this past Tuesday, Febraury 12 at Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

"Do Me A Favor" is the first single from "House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2", the second part of STONE SOUR's two-album series, "House of Gold & Bones", which will be released on April 9 via Roadrunner Records. The albums were recorded at Sound Farm Studios just outside of the band's native Des Moines, Iowa with producer David Bottrill (TOOL, MUSE) at the helm.
"Do Me A Favor", was made available digitally on February 12. The video for the track will be directed by Phil Mucci, whose video for HIGH ON FIRE's "Fertile Green" was named best video of 2012 by Revolver. Singer Corey Taylor gave The Pulse Of Radio a preview of what to expect from the song. "It's quite aggressive, and actually the label asked me if I would go in and tame stuff down and I was like, 'No.' I'm not doing that," he said. "This is going out the way it is and I'm not gonna touch it up. I'm not gonna have people looking for a song that doesn't exist. This is the way it is on the album, that's the way it's going to be when we put it out to radio."

"House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2" track listing:

01. Red City
02. Black John
03. Sadist
04. Peckinpah
05. Stalemate
06. Gravesend
07. '82
08. The Uncanny Valley
09. Blue Smoke
10. Do Me A Favor
11. The Conflagration
12. The House Of Gold & Bones

"House Of Gold & Bones - Part 1" came out last fall.

STONE SOUR is on tour in North America through February 17, and will return in March for the Road To The Golden Gods tour, which will run through May 2.

Taylor recently told Billboard.com recently that the group is planning a world tour in 2014 during which they will spend two nights in each city and perform both halves of its "House Of Gold & Bones" double album in their entirety.