The Pulse Of Radio reports that Seattle police have released photos to the press that were part of four undeveloped rolls of film taken at the home of NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain on the day he was found dead of a self-inflicted shotgun wound. According to USA Today, the police had Detective Mike Ciesynski revisit the files in anticipation of media interest in the 20th anniversary of Cobain's death, but determined that neither the photos nor any of the existing evidence offered anything new.

Among the things shown in the photos, one displayed a box with a spoon and needles, half a cigarette and sunglasses. Another showed cash, a cigarette pack and a wallet with what looks like Cobain's ID next to the closed box.

Ciesynski wrote on the Seattle Police Department's online blotter that any conspiracy theories still surrounding Cobain's death were "completely inaccurate. It's a suicide. This is a closed case."

The singer/guitarist's body was discovered on April 8, 1994 when an electrician came to his house, three days after police determined that he had shot himself.

Earlier that year, Cobain had tried to kill himself in Rome by taking an overdose of tranquilizers.

NIRVANA will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 10 — five days after the 20th anniversary of his death — alongside KISS, Linda Ronstadt and others.

After several months off the grid, metallic punk radicals ENABLER now pledge full-on annihilation in 2014, today announcing their revamped lineup, a plethora of upcoming live actions, and the completion of their second LP.

Since the fall release of Flies, things with the band have been seemingly quiet on the public front, but the band has been working harder than ever behind-the-scenes, and now confirm that 2014 will be their most frantic and busy year yet, beginning with the announcement of their newest lineup. Enabler officially confirms Ryan Steigerwald as their full-time drummer. Steigerwald previously hails from the Chicago band THE OX KING, in addition to having filled-in as RINGWORM's drummer for the past nine years, and now takes the throne as Enabler's first full-time skinsmasher since the departure of FALL OUT BOY's Andy Hurley in 2012.
Having already performed locally with the stripped-down new lineup - rounded out by bassist/vocalist Amanda Daniels and founding vocalist/guitarist Jeff Lohrber - Enabler has also been secretly recording their latest material over the past few months, and just this week put the finishing touches on their second LP, which will see release later this year; detailed info will be available soon.

The band will tour harder than ever in 2014, the first major trek of the year now confirmed to embark on April 10th as the trio forges across the country on their way to rip shit up at the sixteenth annual New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in Worcester, Massachusetts on April 17th. On the opening evening of the gigantic festival, Enabler will join The Compound labelmates, Philly's d-beat activists, COP PROBLEM, as well as ALL THAT REMAINS, BLEEDING THROUGH, BROKEN HOPE, FALLUJAH, OCEANO, SCARS OF TOMORROW and others. From there, Enabler and Cop Problem will share stages in four more cities before Enabler forges homeward. Other standout spots on the tour include Skeletal Lightning Fest II in Champagne, Illinois, Forward Ohio Fest in Columbus and more.

Subsequent to the tour, Enabler is already confirmed to perform at Pouzza Fest in Montreal this May, followed directly by their first time invading Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore, and No Tomorrow Fest in Appleton, Wisconsin, with their participation in at least three more major North American tours being confirmed for announcement in the coming weeks.

Tour dates:

April
10 - Dragonfly Lounge - Madison, WI
11 - Error Records - Champagne, IL @ Skeletal Lightning Fest II
12 - Bier Stube - Moline, IL (with Northless)
13 - The Demo - St. Louis, MO
14 - The Donut Shop - Covington, KY
16 - Badlands - Syracuse, NY
17 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA @ New England Metal & Hardcore Fest (with Cop Problem)
18 - The Worthen - Lowell, MA (with Cop Problem)
19 - Grand Victory - Brooklyn, NY (with Cop Problem, Go Deep, Agitator)
20 - Backroom Studios - Rockaway, NJ (with Cop Problem)
21 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA (with Cop Problem)
22 - Hook Up - Virginia Beach, VA
23 - Strange Matter - Richmond, VA
24 - Mr. Roboto Project - Pittsburgh, PA (with Die Choking, Black Mask, Meth Quarry, Rabid Pigs)
25 - Carabar - Columbus, OH @ Forward Ohio Fest
26 - Blind Bob's - Dayton, OH
27 - Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL

May
16 - Centre-Ville De - Montreal, QC @ Pouzza Fest
25 - Baltimore Soundstage - Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest

June
14 - Sharks Club & Billiards - Appleton, WI @ No Tomorrow Fest

METALLICA debuted a brand new song called "The Lords Of Summer" on Sunday night (March 16) during the opening show of the band's South American tour in Bogota, Colombia. As promised, the band played a nearly all-request set, with 17 songs chosen online by fans prior to the gig and the last slot filled by the new track.

METALLICA has just posted official footage of "The Lords Of Summer" live debut via the band's official YouTube channel. Check it out below. Drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that the new song "is fairly representative of where our creative headspace is at right now. It's one of those things that's like, 'Here, we're writing and we're creating.'"

Guitarist Kirk Hammett told The Pulse Of Radio that coming up with music is not a problem for the band. "We're a band that never has a shortage of ideas," he said. "You know, you hear about these bands that are like, oh, they're sitting in the studio and they don't have any songs, what are they gonna do? That's not METALLICA. METALLICA's problem is the total opposite: we have too many ideas, which ones are we gonna use. And so that's pretty much how it stands with us."

Ulrich cautioned, however, that "The Lords Of Summer" may not even end up on METALLICA's next album at all, or at least not in its current form. He explained, "We did the same thing when we went out and played a bunch of dates in 2006. We were writing and played two different new songs over the course of that summer, and none of them made the record (2008's 'Death Magnetic')."

The Metallica By Request tour will hit Europe this summer, with a single North American date confirmed in Montreal, as the band continues working on its 10th studio album. The rest of METALLICA's "by request" show in Bogota featured such "rarities" as "Master Of Puppets", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "Sad But True", "Fade To Black", "One" and "Enter Sandman".

"The Lords Of Summer" official performance footage:

During an appearance at this year's South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, legendary guitarist Slash, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012 as a member of GUNS N' ROSES, was asked by Artisan News about the Rock Hall's decision to induct only the original KISS lineup and not honor KISS' longtime guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer.

"It's one of those things where, having been in that sort of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame situation, where original members and not original members, and this and that and the other… They're gonna do what they wanna do and it's none of my business to have a real public opinion about it," Slash said (see video below). "I mean, I'd like to see the original [KISS] guys there."

KISS frontman Paul Stanley told The Pulse Of Radio that for the April 10 induction ceremonies in Brooklyn, the Rock Hall was unbending in its decision to ignore the other members of KISS that joined following Peter Criss and Ace Frehley's respective departures.

"Bringing up the idea of inducting other members other than the original four, which is a very valid argument considering that there are people that played on multi-platinum albums and played for millions of people and were very important to the continuation of this band," he said. "The fact that when this was brought up, it was shut down as a non-starter. I don't appreciate that as somebody who is a self-appointed expert."

Simmons and Stanley have chosen to have Thayer and Singer dress up as Criss' and Frehley's respective "Spaceman" and "Catman" personas (designs owned by Simmons and Stanley).

Frehley left KISS after the band's 2002 "Farewell" dates, saying afterwards that he took the word "farewell" seriously.

Criss claimed that his contract with KISS wasn't renewed in March 2004.

Both charges have been disputed by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

The 29th annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 10 at Barclays Center.

The television broadcast will premiere on HBO on May 31.

Members of DISTURBED, TESTAMENT, LAMB OF GOD, HATEBREED, MACHINE HEAD, SHADOWS FALL and DEVILDRIVER are among the musicians who have reacted to the passing of Dave Brockie, better known as Oderus Urungus, the founder and lead singer of renowned Richmond, Virginia metal band GWAR. Roommates reportedly found Brockie's body at his home Sunday evening (March 23). Detectives do not suspect foul play at this time and the Medical Examiner's Office will determine cause of death.

Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT):

"Waking up 2 news of the loss of my friend Dave Brockie (aka Oderus Urungus). In shock, sad."

Chris Kael (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH):

"Just read about the passing of Dave Brockie — Oderus Urungus from GWAR. We had the privilege of playing with GWAR just one month ago at Soundwave festival in Australia. Dave was always right there on the side of the stage that FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH were playing on — watching every band, laughing and enjoying life. As he entertained us in life, may his death remind us that life is short. Tell the ones around you that they are loved. Live life with a smile and a laugh. Just as Dave and I shared a laugh while talking at Soundwave. We love you. Each and every one of you. R.I.P. Dave Brockie — Oderus Urungus."

David Draiman (DISTURBED):

"SADDENED TO HEAR, RIP; GWAR Frontman Dave Brockie A.K.A. Oderus Urungus Dead At 50."

Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD):

"Much love and respect out to the Brockie family and GWAR camp. Sad loss."

Chris Beattie (HATEBREED):

"R.I.P. Dave Brockie"

Kevin Skaff (A DAY TO REMEMBER):

"Sad to hear about GWAR's singer Dave Brockie passing. He was such a nice guy to all of us in ADTR. RIP Oderus."

Mark Morton (LAMB OF GOD):

"I'm so lucky to have known Dave Brockie. Godspeed my friend. We love you."

THE AGONIST:

"THE AGONIST never had the privilege of touring with GWAR but we know from many friends that Dave was as unique and entertaining a person in real life as he was on stage. A true talent. RIP Dave Brockie."

ORIGIN:

"Sad day. RIP Dave Brockie aka Oderus Urungus of GWAR."

Brad Fickeisen (ex-THE RED CHORD):

"I can't believe it. Dave Brockie, you will be missed. An inch of a mile in time, I spent over 6 months of my life with you and the GWAR family. You are one of the most genuinely honest and caring people I've met along the way. I will miss your comedic genius. Safe travels back home. Sending my best to the rest of GWAR and friends."

RINGWORM:

"Sad news. Whether you liked GWAR or not, here's no denying the great talent, creativity, humor and unabashed social commentary that Dave contributed to this shitty planet. He's going to be missed by many. RIP Dave."

James Monteith (TESSERACT):

"RIP Dave Brockie, without a doubt one of the biggest characters in metal. The beheading of Tony Abbott will be with me forever."

Violent J (INSANE CLOWN POSSE, via Billboard.com):

"I am devastated to hear of the passing of Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie). GWAR are true pioneers of the underground and without them there would have been no blueprint on how to do-it-yourself in the world of music. Oderus was one of our true heroes and he recently appeared on 'ICP Theater' and we had plans to do a Halloween tour together. His passing is a terrible loss to the world and we will miss our friend greatly."

DARKEST HOUR:

"By now to many people have posted this info, and as much as we want this to be a joke, it must not be. Our heart is with the good dudes in GWAR and the rock community in RVA, This is just devastating. Dave was one of the most badass OGs we have ever toured with. No words can contain his awesomeness and his memory will live on with us and his music. So honored to have been able to share the stage with him and the boys. On to the next dimension Dave… but those of us here we will miss you for eternity!"

CANCER BATS:

"RIP, Dave Brockie, aka Oderus Urungus. We were so fortunate to have toured with Brockie and GWAR a year an a half ago. Day one of tour he walked into our dressing room, and welcomed us into the GWAR camp with a huge grin and open arms. We bonded together about him being Canadian like us and we were shocked at how friendly and down to earth someone who's been in such a legendary band for 30 years could be. It's crazy to think, when you can remember being about 11 years old and hearing this amazing band for the first time and then 20 years later we were touring together and hanging out as friends! Our minds were blown! GWAR and Dave Brockie have always represented the best parts about music to us. The kind of band that cut through all the horseshit of mainstream pop culture and pushed all the boundaries while always teaching us not to take ourselves too seriously. At our hometown show with GWAR, Oderus came up on stage and performed 'Sabotage' with us that night! What an awesome moment that was for us and a special memory we will always cherish. Thank you, Brockie, you made 4 kids from Canada beyond happy that night! We will miss you brother! You are one of a kind! Scumdogs forever!"

Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD):

"I got a very sad call tonight from my buddy Chris Bopst, who was one of the original members of GWAR. My friend Dave Brockie, a.k.a. Oderus Urungus, the singer of GWAR, has left the building and taken off back to his home planet. He was 50 years old.

"I do not know details of why he died yet, just that he passed away at home and his roommates found him.

"When someone dies, a lot of the time people will say, 'Oh, he was a unique person, really one of a kind, a true original.' Most of these people no idea of what they are talking about; they obviously had never met Dave.

"Dave TRULY WAS ONE OF A KIND. I can't think of ANYONE even remotely like him. That's VERY HARD TO SAY.

"My band learned how to become a real touring band from GWAR. They gave us out first shot at this thing.

"I learned many things from Dave, many of which I am eternally grateful for, and some of which I am deeply ashamed of.

"I took this picture at his birthday party a few months ago — Dave kissing his Oderus birthday cake.

"Right now, if I were to truly honor Dave in the way HE would do it if it were ME that had died, I would make a completely tasteless joke about his death. But I do not have the stomach for that — Dave would, but not me. He never put much stock in 'limits.'

"Richmond has lost one of its most creative people.

"This is a crying shame to me.

"Thank you, Brockie, for all the crazy shit you did. Thank God you existed, so you could do it and I didn't have to. It was an honor to know you, to be your Shaky Slave, to serve in the Blood Vomits along side you (let's ride!), and to be soaked by your sweet cuttlefish.

"RIP Dave Brockie. Oderus, enjoy your trip back home."

Tony Foresta (MUNICIPAL WASTE):

"I'm so devastated right now. One of the most fun, brilliant, inspirational and creative people I've ever had the privilege to call a friend has passed. I'm going to miss you so much, pal."

Dez Fafara (DEVILDRIVER, COAL CHAMBER):

"Rest in peace, my brother!"

EMMURE:

"We are deeply saddened by the news of our fellow comrade passing away. Dave was a admired individual amongst us. He spoke highly of EMMURE and whether he knew it or not, we were very passionate about him as well. R.I.P., Oderus Urungus. GWAR FOREVER."

Ben Orum (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH):

"Dave, You were a creative genius. Thank you for bringing so much joy to me and my friends as we grew up with GWAR. RIP."

Jason Bittner (SHADOWS FALL):

"RIP Oderus (Dave Brockie) from GWAR. You will be missed by all of us in SHADOWS FALL."

Mark Holcomb (PERIPHERY):

"Sad to hear about Dave Brockie's passing. 50 is far too young. RIP."

Danko Jones:

"RIP Oderus Urungus a.k.a. Dave Brockie of GWAR. Someone I always wanted to meet. Born in Ottawa, he was Canada's greatest Canadian."

Jeff Kendrick (DEVILDRIVER):

"RIP Dave Brockie, I am going to miss you, Oderus Urungus."

VALIENT THORR:

"Oh no. Just heard terrible terrible news. RIP Dave Brockie. I don't know what to say right now."

Devin Townsend:

"Ah shit... R.I.P. Dave Brockie. One of my favorite people ever, and a good friend. :( Person closest to his primal nature of all times."

Brendon Small (DETHKLOK):

"RIP Dave Brockie. I can't believe it. Hilarious, satirical, creative pioneer. He made the genre so much fun. God dammit."

Philip Labonte (ALL THAT REMAINS):

"My timeline is awash in memories. I'm a really sad dude today. I'm sure Dave would be touched. But then Oderus would touch you, with a sword, and feed you to a giant worm."

Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein (MISFITS):

"Dave Brockie…one of the most genuine people in this business who I have ever met...I've toured with him many, many times with the MISFITS… We were going to do our first DOYLE tour with him and our GWAR family. Dave was actually one of the funniest, nicest, most insane and talented human beings I have ever met. It was always a pleasure to be around him and all those guys. When we toured with them, it was like an army of insane monsters. They are all my family and my heart is broken today. Hail Oderus Urungus!!! A dear friend…"

The official video for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's surprising cover of the classic folk song "The House Of The Rising Sun" can be seen below. The song is the next single from the Las Vegas-based band's recently released album, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2". The disc came out on November 19, 2013 and is the second half of a two-record set, with "Volume 1" coming out in July 2013.

The gasoline-soaked cinematic video was filmed in the high deserts of Nevada, directed by FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory in conjunction with Thought Pirates Films' Brian Neal, while Steve Darnell of the famous Welder Up Garage built the cars and handled the set design.

Zoltan explains: "This video was an experiment, the initial step toward something we always wanted to do, which is to make a full-length DEATH PUNCH movie somewhere down the line. We jumped into this knowing that we'd shoot more footage than we could possibly fit in one music video. We went out there with two helicopters, two gyrocopters, twenty-something crazy cars, a big cast and an arsenal of cameras. We ended up with so much amazing material, the hardest task was to compress it down into a three-minute video, so we made an extended version with a long intro and we are making an even longer 'director's cut' as we speak."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, the original author of "The House Of The Rising Sun" is unknown and the song's roots may date back to the 16th century.

The oldest known existing recording is by Appalachian artists Clarence "Tom" Ashley and Gwen Foster, who recorded it for Vocalion Records in 1934.

The most successful commercial version was recorded by the English rock group THE ANIMALS in 1964, which was a No. 1 hit in the U.K., the U.S., Sweden, Finland and Canada.

The members of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH discussed in a recently released video clip how they changed up the classic song to give it a hard-rock vibe, most notably, by switching the song's time signature from 6/8 to 4/4.

"We had the idea to do this for a while," explained guitarist Zoltan Bathory. "The interesting thing about this song is that [it's] actually in a time signature of 6/8 which is a waltz… and rock music and waltz doesn't necessarily mix right."

He continued: "So basically the challenge was: 'How do we make this song work? How do we take away that goofy vibe and how do we make it into a rock structure?'"

"The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2" sold 77,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The first half of "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart, selling 113,000 copies in its first week of release.

The "Metal All Stars" performed their first-ever show to a sold-out Arena Armeec in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 23. The lineup of musicians performing at the event included:

* Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY)* Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, ex-SEPULTURA)* Joey Belladonna (ANTHRAX)* Ross "The Boss" Friedman (MANOWAR)* Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O., ex-ACCEPT)* Brian Fair (SHADOWS FALL)* Brittany Paige (KOBRA AND THE LOTUS)* Kenny Earl "Rhino" Edwards (MANOWAR)* Jasin Todd (SHINEDOWN)* Jon Donais (ANTHRAX, SHADOWS FALL) * Aaron Rossi (MINISTRY)

Philip Anselmo (PANTERA) and Nick Menza (ex-MEGADETH), who were originally announced to be taking part in the tour, were unable to join the trek. Menza has since released a statement claiming that "the agreement made between the 'Metal All Stars' and myself wasn't kept." He added: "For my best interest, my manager Robert Bolger pulled me off the tour."

Vince Neil (MÖTLEY CRÜE) will be joining the "Metal All Stars" tour at later dates.

The "Metal All Stars" musicians performed metal classics from their own catalogs as well as classics by BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN and more.

"Metal All Stars" was formed by Gabe Reed Productions, the same concert promoter which in 2012 organized the ROCK N ROLL ALL STARS tour of South America, featuring Gene Simmons (KISS), Joe Elliott (DEF LEPPARD), Duff McKagan (ex-GUNS N' ROSES) and others.

"Metal All Stars" plans to tour South America later in 2014.

GWAR's manager, Jack Flanagan, has released the following statement: "It is with a saddened heart that I confirm my dear friend Dave Brockie, artist, musician, and lead singer of GWAR, passed away at approximately 6:50 p.m. EST Sunday, March 23, 2014. His body was found Sunday by his bandmate at his home in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond authorities have confirmed his death and next of kin has been notified. A full autopsy will be performed. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963. "My main focus right now is to look after my bandmates and his family.

"More information regarding his death shall be released as the details are confirmed."

Richmond Police spokeswoman Dionne Waugh said in a statement: "At approximately 6:53 p.m. on Sunday, Richmond Police were called to a residence in the 4800 block of West Seminary Avenue for a report of a deceased individual. When officers arrived, they found David M. Brockie, 50, deceased inside the home. Detectives do not suspect foul play at this time and the Medical Examiner's Office will determine cause of death."

Brockie is not the first member of GWAR to die at an early age. GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot, who played the character of Flattus Maximus for over ten years, was discovered dead on the band's tour bus on November 3, 2011. He was 34 years old.

In a January 2012 interview with Full Metal Jackie, Brockie stated about Smoot's passing: "I think Cory's death is a big wake-up call for all of us. We all breathed a big sigh of relief when we found out it wasn't a drug overdose, to speak quite frankly. But then to think that he was 34 and died of a heart attack — it's really scary."

He continued: "Everybody out there needs to take care of themselves, especially you guys who are playing in bands and starting to get up into your 40s and you're all sitting there just like me saying, 'Holy shit, this is still going on and I can keep doing this probably for the rest of my life?' Yeah, you can, but you have to take of yourself. You really, really, really, really do. So I'm trying to quit smoking right now."

GWAR's latest album, "Battle Maximus", sold around 3,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 109 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD — the band's first full-length studio effort since the loss of Flattus Maximus — was issued on September 17, 2013 on Metal Blade Records.

GWAR's previous CD, 2010's "Bloody Pit Of Horror", opened with around 2,800 units — roughly half of the first-week tally registered by 2009's "Lust In Space", which premiered with 5,000 copies to land at No. 96.

Dave Brockie, better known as Oderus Urungus, the founder and lead singer of renowned Richmond, Virginia metal band GWAR, has died. Roommates reportedly found Brockie's body at his home Sunday evening (March 23). "I wish it was a joke," former GWAR bassist Chris Bopst, a music writer for Style Weekly, told the site. "Everyone is in shock." Brockie was 50 years old. Richmond Police also confirmed Brockie's death.

"At approximately 6:53 p.m. on Sunday, Richmond Police were called to a residence in the 4800 block of West Seminary Avenue for a report of a deceased individual," a Richmond Police spokeswoman said in a statement. "When officers arrived, they found David M. Brockie, 50, deceased inside the home. Detectives do not suspect foul play at this time and the Medical Examiner's Office will determine cause of death."

"Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I've known," former GWAR bassist Mike Bishop told Style Weekly. "He was brash sometimes, always crass, irreverent, he was hilarious in every way. But he was also deeply intelligent and interested in life, history, politics and art. His penchant for scatological humors belied a lucid wit. He was a criminally underrated lyricist and hard rock vocalist, one of the best, ever! A great frontman, a great painter, writer, he was also a hell of a bass guitarist. I loved him. He was capable of great empathy and had a real sense of justice."

Vocalist Randy Blythe of fellow Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD, who toured with GWAR in 2009, wrote on Instagram: "I got a very sad call tonight from my buddy Chris Bopst, who was one of the original members of GWAR. My friend Dave Brockie, a.k.a. Oderus Urungus, the singer of GWAR, has left the building and taken off back to his home planet. He was 50 years old.

"I do not know details of why he died yet, just that he passed away at home and his roommates found him.

"When someone dies, a lot of the time people will say, 'Oh, he was a unique person, really one of a kind, a true original.' Most of these people no idea of what they are talking about; they obviously had never met Dave.

"Dave TRULY WAS ONE OF A KIND. I can't think of ANYONE even remotely like him. That's VERY HARD TO SAY.

"My band learned how to become a real touring band from GWAR. They gave us out first shot at this thing.

"I learned many things from Dave, many of which I am eternally grateful for, and some of which I am deeply ashamed of.

"I took this picture at his birthday party a few months ago — Dave kissing his Oderus birthday cake.

"Right now, if I were to truly honor Dave in the way HE would do it if it were ME that had died, I would make a completely tasteless joke about his death. But I do not have the stomach for that — Dave would, but not me. He never put much stock in 'limits.'

"Richmond has lost one of its most creative people.

"This is a crying shame to me.

"Thank you, Brockie, for all the crazy shit you did. Thank God you existed, so you could do it and I didn't have to. It was an honor to know you, to be your Shaky Slave, to serve in the Blood Vomits along side you (let's ride!), and to be soaked by your sweet cuttlefish.

"RIP Dave Brockie. Oderus, enjoy your trip back home."

Bassist Chris Kael of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH said: "Just read about the passing of Dave Brockie — Oderus Urungus from GWAR. We had the privilege of playing with GWAR just one month ago at Soundwave festival in Australia. Dave was always right there on the side of the stage that FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH were playing on — watching every band, laughing and enjoying life. As he entertained us in life, may his death remind us that life is short. Tell the ones around you that they are loved. Live life with a smile and a laugh. Just as Dave and I shared a laugh while talking at Soundwave. We love you. Each and every one of you. R.I.P. Dave Brockie — Oderus Urungus."

Vocalist Tony Foresta of another Richmond, Virginia band, MUNICIPAL WASTE, which toured with GWAR in 2012, wrote on Instagram: "I'm so devastated right now. One of the most fun, brilliant, inspirational and creative people I've ever had the privilege to call a friend has passed. I'm going to miss you so much, pal."

Dez Fafara (DEVILDRIVER, COAL CHAMBER): "Rest in peace, my brother!"

EMMURE: "We are deeply saddened by the news of our fellow comrade passing away. Dave was a admired individual amongst us. He spoke highly of EMMURE and whether he knew it or not, we were very passionate about him as well. R.I.P., Oderus Urungus. GWAR FOREVER."

Ben Orum (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH): "Dave, You were a creative genius. Thank you for bringing so much joy to me and my friends as we grew up with GWAR. RIP."

According to Australia's TheMusic.com.au, GWAR's management will issue a statement regarding reports of Brockie's passing at approximately 1:00 p.m. EST today.

Brockie is not the first member of GWAR to die at an early age. GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot, who played the character of Flattus Maximus for over ten years, was discovered dead on the band's tour bus on November 3, 2011. He was 34 years old.

In a January 2012 interview with Full Metal Jackie, Brockie stated about Smoot's passing: "I think Cory's death is a big wake-up call for all of us. We all breathed a big sigh of relief when we found out it wasn't a drug overdose, to speak quite frankly. But then to think that he was 34 and died of a heart attack — it's really scary."

He continued: "Everybody out there needs to take care of themselves, especially you guys who are playing in bands and starting to get up into your 40s and you're all sitting there just like me saying, 'Holy shit, this is still going on and I can keep doing this probably for the rest of my life?' Yeah, you can, but you have to take of yourself. You really, really, really, really do. So I'm trying to quit smoking right now."

GWAR's latest album, "Battle Maximus", sold around 3,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 109 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD — the band's first full-length studio effort since the loss of Flattus Maximus — was issued on September 17, 2013 on Metal Blade Records.

GWAR's previous CD, 2010's "Bloody Pit Of Horror", opened with around 2,800 units — roughly half of the first-week tally registered by 2009's "Lust In Space", which premiered with 5,000 copies to land at No. 96.

Audio samples of all the songs that will appear on "Shine", the debut solo album from former NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon, can be streamed at Amazon.de. The CD will be released via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group, on the following dates:

Germany: March 28France: March 31Italy: April 1Benelux: March 31Poland: March 31Czech Republic: March 31Sweden: March 26Finland: March 28Norway: March 31Denmark: March 31Russia: March 28Spain: March 28UK: March 31USA: April 8

"Shine" track listing:

01. Like A Show02. Shine03. Floating04. Lies05. Invincible06. Hear Me07. Falling08. Moving Away09. One Million Faces10. Watching Me From Afar

The "Lies" can be seen below. The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, KAMELOT).

"Shine", which was co-produced by Anette Olzon and Johan Kronlund, is a collaboration with some of the most successful teams in rock and pop in Scandinavia: Stefan Örn (songwriter and producer of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest-winning track "Running Scared") and Johan Glössner. The album was mixed by Kronlund, Nicklas Flykt and Ronny Lahti (known for his work with Loreen and Roxette).

The official lyric video for the song "Falling" can be seen below.

"I am so thrilled to finally release my first solo album," says Olzon. "I've been working on it for a long time by now...

"The album is very personal with songs I have started writing already in 2009 but also very recent songs.

"The overall message of the album is that life can be really dark and filled with hardship and sadness, but you can always choose to see some light coming through, to make you stronger and full of life — making you SHINE… no matter what."

Regarding the CD's musical direction, Anette said: "In the end, it is a rock album. Well, a pop rock album, maybe, or would you call it pop metal?"

Olzon was fired from NIGHTWISH in September 2012 in the middle of the band's North American tour. She has since been replaced by former AFTER FOREVER and current REVAMP singer Floor Jansen.

Spanish black metallers WRONG have inked an agreement with Xtreem Music for the imminent release of their second album, Pessimistic Outcomes, which will include five tracks with a total length of 47 minutes, and will be released on April 22nd.

This duet, formed by Phlegeton (WORMED, BANISHED FROM INFERNO) and DP Rey (THE YTRIPLE CORPORATION, NEVERDIE), started as a project in November 2012 and in February 2013 released their debut album, Memories Of Sorrow, through the Scottish label, Aphelion Productions.
Pessimistic Outcomes was entirely produced by the band themselves at their own Delta314 Sound Studio and means a logical progression to the atmospheric and oppressive musical style adopted in their previous album Memories Of Sorrow but this time, going one step further, with more mature and progressive compositions, highlighting its powerful and defined production.

Wrong displays a very particular vision of black metal, performed with conviction and skills, near the Swedish SHINING, full of desperate and mysterious passages, disturbing pianos, similar to LIFELOVER or LUNAR AURORA sharp guitars that reveal hypnotic melodies and dark dissonances in the style of BLUT AUS NORD, combined with raw mid-paced passages that reminds to KHOLD but somewhat more dynamic, incorporating powerful galloping rhythms similar to CRAFT, and of course without giving up traditional quick bursts like TAAKE or early SATYRICON. All this accompanied by a very different and heartbreaking voice that we aren’t used to hearing from PHLEGATON, much more sharp and agonizing, telling awful stories of a decadent humanity, without resources in a world consumed by the ashes, where there's only misery and despair, transporting us into unfathomable depths of doom and darkest hell.
Tracklisting:

'Thru The Grey Path To Nowhere'
'His Hatred Breathes'
'Pessimistic Outcomes'
'Dragging My Soul Until The Sunset'
'I Thought I'd Woken'

'Pessimistic Outcomes':

The current band line-up remains as a duet being accompanied on live shows by the following session members:

Setesh: Guitar (KHANESH, REDRUM 237)
Guillemoth: Bass (WORMED)
Gabriel: Drums (INFECTED PLAGUE, ex-ERED, ex-ABRAHEL)

Together with the fourth and final song to be released, Brazil-based metal act SOMAGNET have launched the digital version of their Haunted Mansion EP.
Tracklisting:

'Don’t Play As A Fool'
'Healed'
'Go Get ’Em'
'Haunted Mansion'

The EP can be heard below, and purchased at this location.

Haunted Mansion by Somagnet

Haunted Mansion was mastered by the legendary Flemming Rasmussen, producer of masterpieces such as METALLICA's Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets and …And Justice for All, MORBID ANGEL's Covenant, BLIND GUARDIAN's Imaginations From The Other Side and Nightfall In Middle-Earth, among others.

"Harder Than Steel - The Official Keep It True Festival Tribute Album" — a unique compilation album featuring cover songs of bands that played at the Keep It True festival performed by other bands that also played at the festival — will be available exclusively at this year's edition of Keep It True, seet to take place on April 25-26. The CD's front cover artwork, painted by the longtime festival partner Dimitar Nikolov, can be seen below. Limited to only 500 copies, the collection will be released by Skol Records. It was produced by Bart Gabriel and Oliver Weinsheimer.

"Keep It True is not only a festival, it's a community," says festival organizer and co-founder Oliver Weinsheimer. "Not only among the fans, but also among the bands.

"It's now eleven years after we started the festival, and with most of the bands we still share a great friendship.

"Last year, Bart Gabriel came up with this brilliant idea for this tribute sampler, and we were really flattered by that, and how fast the bands agreed to do this special thing for us. That's something unique and we are very proud of that!"

"Harder Than Steel - The Official Keep It True Festival Tribute Album" track listing:

01. ATTACKER - "Fire Down Under" (RIOT)02. PARADOX - "March Of The Saint" (ARMORED SAINT)03. CRYSTAL VIPER - "Night Of The Demon" (DEMON)04. WITCH CROSS - "Angel Witch" (ANGEL WITCH)05. OSTROGOTH - "Plan Of Peace" (LETHAL)06. JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR - "Children Of The Storm" (VIRGIN STEELE)07. SACRED STEEL - "All For One" (RAVEN)08. NIGHT DEMON - "Axe Crazy" (JAGUAR)09. WIZARD - "Mind Body Spirit" (VIRGIN STEELE)10. BORROWED TIME - "Bound To Be Free" (SAVAGE GRACE)11. SATAN'S HOST - "See You In Hell" (GRIM REAPER)12. DEADLY BLESSING - "Notorious" (LIZZY BORDEN)

For more information, visit www.keep-it-true.de.

METALLICA's nine-minute medley of four tracks, titled "Ronnie Rising Medley", that the group culled from the iconic metal singer's mid-Seventies band RAINBOW, is available for streaming using the SoundCloud widget below (courtesy of RollingStone.com). The medley is featured on "This Is Your Life", the tribute to album to Ronnie James Dio, which will be released on April 1 via Rhino.

"[Dio's] music is so much a part of what's in METALLICA's DNA, the harder, edgier, blues-based hard rock from the Seventies," METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich tells RollingStone.com. "It was fairly effortless to put this together, because it's something that we were all reared on. I don't recall sitting there in a band meeting or anything deciding what to play. Somebody starts playing 'Stargazer' — which is sort of just like something that's in our arsenal to jam — and then that whole period there, 'Tarot Woman', 'Kill The King', 'A Light In The Black' — that's just really effortless to jump into."

Ronnie James Dio is one of the most beloved figures in rock history. His gifts, both as a singer and songwriter, are instantly recognizable, whether he was with RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, or leading DIO. Sadly, Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer in 2010 but his towering voice and legacy live on.

To celebrate one of rock's most powerful voices, an all-star group of his friends and fans recorded 13 of their favorite tracks for a tribute album, 100% of proceeds from which will go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. Produced by his longtime manager and wife Wendy Dio, the album includes contributions by such metal heavyweights as METALLICA, MOTÖRHEAD, SCORPIONS, ANTHRAX, and Rob Halford, as well as appearances by many of the musicians who performed with Dio over the years.

Although the songs featured on the album touch on the different eras of Dio's career, several spotlight his time with RAINBOW, including METALLICA's epic, nine-minute "Ronnie Rising Medley", which combines the RAINBOW songs "A Light In The Black", "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer" and "Kill The King". SCORPIONS add a scorching take on "Temple Of The King" while MOTÖRHEAD is joined by Biff Byford from SAXON on "Starstruck". Rob Halford teams with frequent Dio collaborators Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, and Scott Warren for "Man On The Silver Mountain". The final lineup of Dio's solo band — Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo and Scott Warren — are joined by Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) for "Catch The Rainbow", a track from RAINBOW's 1975 debut.

ANTHRAX and ADRENALINE MOB honor Dio's memorable stint with BLACK SABBATH with their takes on "Neon Knights" and "The Mob Rules", respectively, as does a group, led by Oni Logan on vocals along with Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, and Brian Tichy, which performs "I" from "Dehumanizer".

"This Is Your Life" also includes songs from Dio's back-to-back platinum albums "Holy Diver" (1983) and "The Last In Line" (1984), with DORO's take on "Egypt (The Chains Are On)", HALESTORM tackling "Straight Through The Heart", Corey Taylor (STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT) covering the classic "Rainbow In The Dark" and TENACIOUS D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) putting their signature spin on "The Last In Line". KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's cover of "Holy Diver", a hit in its own right when released in 2006, is also included here.

Fittingly, Ronnie James Dio provides the finale (and the album's title) with his moving performance of "This Is Your Life". Originally released on "Angry Machines" (1996), the song's lyrics explore mortality and are backed by a stark and beautiful arrangement that features Dio accompanied only by his longtime keyboardist Scott Warren on piano. The song serves as a poignant reminder that we will never hear a voice like Dio's again.

"I'm letting them pick what songs they wanna do in the way they wanna do it," Wendy told Artisan News in 2011.

"We reached out to Wendy Dio about wanting to be a part of the Dio tribute that's getting put together," METALLICA singer James Hetfield told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. "We're very honored to be a part of that, and to be a part of a celebration of Ronnie's life and his great contribution, man."

In an interview with Guitar International, former ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano stated that the band's cover version of "Neon Knights" "came out pretty smoking."

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable fund dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.

"This Is Your Life" track listing:

01. "Neon Knights" - ANTHRAX * 02. "The Last In Line" - TENACIOUS D * 03. "The Mob Rules" - ADRENALINE MOB 04. "Rainbow In The Dark" - Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher * 05. "Straight Through The Heart" - HALESTORM * 06. "Starstruck" - MOTÖRHEAD with Biff Byford * 07. "Temple Of The King" - SCORPIONS * 08. "Egypt (The Chains Are On)" - DORO 09. "Holy Diver" - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE 10. "Catch The Rainbow" - Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren * 11. "I" - Oni Logan, Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy * 12. "Man On The Silver Mountain" - Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren * 13. "Ronnie Rising Medley" (featuring "A Light In The Black", "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer", "Kill The King") - METALLICA * 14. "This Is Your Life" - DIO 15. "Heaven And Hell" - STRYPER (Japanese bonus track) 16. "Stand Up And Shout" - DIO DISCIPLES (Japanese bonus track)

* Previously unreleased

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a privately funded 501(c)(3) charity organization which has already raised more than $600,000 in its short history. Monies raised to date have been committed to the cancer research work of the T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research and the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life.

Gothenburg, Sweden's MIASMAL has completed work on its second album, "Cursed Redeemer", for an April 28 European and May 13 North American release via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded by Fredrik Nordström in Studio Fredman (AT THE GATES, OPETH, WOLFPACK, AGRIMONIA, MARTYRDOD) and contains eight tracks of ruthless, straight-forward death metal. The cover artwork was created by Mattias Frisk (GHOST, VAMPIRE, VANHELGD).

"Cursed Redeemer" track listing:

01. Cursed Redeemer02. Call Of The Revenant03. Whisky Train04. Excelsior05. A Veiled Remembrance06. Until The Last07. Frozen In Time08. 2013

The song "Until The Last" can be streamed below. MIASMAL will present "Cursed Redeemer" at a special showcase in Gothenburg with labelmates MORBUS CHRON and VAMPIRE. To honor the special event, Century Media will release a limited seven-inch split EP that offers one exclusive new track from both MIASMAL and VAMPIRE. MIASMAL's self-titled full-length debut was released in 2011 on CD by Dark Descent Records and given the vinyl treatment through Detest Records and Me Saco Un Ojo.

Swedish progressive metallers OPETH have completed work on their 11th studio album for a tentative June release via Roadrunner Records.

The last OPETH album, 2011's "Heritage", received mixed reactions, with some fans claiming that the group had detached itself from its death metal past and gone for a more experimental approach, changing its sound in various new ways.

Speaking to Loudwire, OPETH guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt stated about the band's as-yet-untitled new CD: "If it sounds like us, that's good. And if it sounds like something we don't know, that's also good."

He continued: "This album has some parts that sound like us and some parts that sound kind of new too. It's a bit heavier than 'Heritage' at times and it's a bit more melodic. I think it should be a bit easier to get into this record because there's a lot of focus on the melodies.

"We're a progressive band. Sometimes we sound like a metal band and sometimes we don't."

Åkerfeldt previously told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about the musical direction of OPETH's new album: "[It] is going straight into the territory of 'all over the place!' I think that's our strength, that we can do all these different things. We have a couple of calm songs, a couple of really heavy songs, one proper heavy metal song and I have one epic old-school OPETH song that reminds me of the first two records, with lots of riffs stacked up! I'm really happy with it all. I think we have something big on our hands this time."

As always, Mikael is not at all bothered about how his band's new material will be received.

"I can't say if 'Heritage' haters will love or hate this album," he told Metal Hammer. "I don't want to accommodate anyone, Like, 'Oh, sorry guys! We made a mistake! We'll make a proper record for you this time so you're all happy!' I don't think along those lines. This isn't going to be a death metal record. If you know me and what I like, it won't be such a big surprise. It's a metal record and a progressive record and something else too. Each song is representative of OPETH. It's what I want to listen to, so it's business as usual."

Åkerfeldt revealed to Decibel magazine in a separate interview that he plans to enrich at least a few of the new OPETH tracks with strings.

"Some of these things could easily be done with synthetic sounds or effects," he said, "but recording the STORM CORROSION LP with Steven Wilson made me realize what a massive difference it can mean to incorporate the real shit. I'm semi-pretentious in my songwriting and sometimes I go all in. I think it's time for 'all in' with strings and the full monty. Hopefully it won't be a mess."

One of the songs that will appear on OPETH's forthcoming album was previously described by Åkerfeldt as a "crazy rip-off" of Italian prog outfit GOBLIN, which formed in 1972 and ran for ten years before splitting (the band has since reformed).

"It's a jam I came up with during the MASTODON/GHOST tour," he told Decibel, "that we ended up soundchecking. After a few days, you'd hear people in the corridors humming it. It's a fucking hit! But basically it's a not-so-subtle headbanging-type nod in GOBLIN's direction. And to avoid confusion, the song is even called 'Goblin'. My rip-off deteriorates mid-song and becomes fusion-esque darkened prog rock like MAHAVISHNU or ELP (yikes!). But it swings! It really does."

Asked if the forthcoming effort will be heavier or softer than 2011's "Heritage", Mikael told the Swedish newspaper Expressen in September: "Maybe a little bit heavier. Not death metal heavy, but hard rock/heavy metal heavy. There's also lots of progressive elements and acoustic guitars, but also more sinister-sounding riffs."

Åkerfeldt also revealed that he was going to produce the new OPETH album himself, explaining: "I love the way DIO's 'Holy Diver' sounds, this early-'80s sound where you can still hear the '70s, but the production is heavier. Right now I'm into having a similar production that isn't retro but it still sounds like real instruments and it's heavier than 'Heritage'."

"Heritage" sold 19,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2008's "Watershed", opened with more than 19,000 units to land at No. 23.

The fifth installment in Relapse's exhaustive reissue campaign of DEATH's immensely influential catalog is "Leprosy", the band's titanic second album. Originally released in 1988 the pioneering LP built upon the thrash sounds of METALLICA and SLAYER but added a previously unheard level of raw extremity. These songs are the roots of an entire genre: death metal. While this was only the second record DEATH released, it immediately cemented them as heavy metal icons. The "Leprosy" reissue will be made available on April 25 in Benelux, Germany, Finland; April 29 in North America and April 28 in the the rest of the world. The entire album, as well as the bonus material, has been painstakingly remastered by Alan Douches (MASTODON, NILE) and will be reissued in the following format:

* 2xCD/Limited Edition* 3xCD/LP/Picture Disc LP/Limited Edition* 2xLP Box set/Digtal

The Deluxe 2xCD contains 50 minutes of previously unheard and unreleased "Leprosy" demos and rehearsal material housed in an embossed o-card package with a 24-page booklet featuring unseen pictures of the band as well as brand new liner notes from Ian Christe (SiriusXM) and Jeremy Wagner (BROKEN HOPE). The LP features the remastered core album on wax together with a download card for all of the music included on the 2xCD.

A remastered version of the death metal classic "Pull The Plug" can be heard below. In addition to the 2xCD reissue, a super limited 3xCD version will be available exclusively from www.relapse.com featuring everything included on 2xCD version plus an exclusive third CD featuring over 40 minutes of unreleased live material, housed in a deluxe embossed eight-panel digipak with a 24-page booklet, limited and numbered to 2000 copies. Finally, a super-limited deluxe vinyl box set (limited to 500 copies) will be available exclusively from www.relapse.com containing: the remastered core "Leprosy" album on exclusive colored vinyl; a second LP containing unreleased rehearsal material from the "Leprosy" sessions housed in an exclusive jacket with original flyer art on exclusive colored vinyl; an exact replication of the original Combat newspaper print LP insert, a "Leprosy" turntable slipmat, and a download card of all three discs.

Pre-orders, including an exclusive new line of official DEATH merch, are available here.

Digital pre-orders are available via Bandcamp here. Disc 1 01. Leprosy02. Born Dead03. Forgotten Past04. Left To Die05. Pull The Plug06. Open Casket07. Primitive Ways08. Choke On It Disc 2 Leprosy - 9/23/87 Rehearsal

01. Open Casket02. Choke On It03. Left To Die04. Left To Die - Take 2 Leprosy - 12/05/87 Rehearsals

05. Left To Die06. Open Casket07. Pull The Plug08. Choke On It09. Born Dead10. Forgotten Past Disc 3 Live at Backstreets, Rochester, NY - December 13th, 1988

01. Leprosy02. Open Casket03. Zombie Ritual04. Pull The Plug05. Left To Die06. Mutilation07. Forgotten Past08. Born Dead09. Denial Of Life10. Primitive Ways11. Infernal Death Live at The Dirt Club, Bloomfield, NJ - December 11, 1988

12. Leprosy13. Pull The Plug14. Forgotten Past15. Primitive Ways Digital Deluxe ONLY Bonus Tracks - Live at The Dirt Club, Bloomfield, NJ - December 11, 1988

16. Open Casket17. Mutilation18. Infernal Death

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment has announced the label's all-star line-up of 7" and 12" vinyl titles for Record Store Day 2014, celebrated at independent record stores worldwide on Saturday, April 19.

For Record Store Day 2014, Legacy is offering limited edition and collectible titles from classic artists, four classic AEROSMITH 12" LPs, individually numbered on 180-gram audiophile vinyl.

* "Rocks" - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP in an individually numbered jacket. AEROSMITH's 1976 classic "Rocks" captures AEROSMITH at the band's most raw and rocking, featuring "Back In The Saddle" and "Last Child".

* "Draw The Line" - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP in an individually numbered jacket. AEROSMITH's 1977 release "Draw The Line" responded to then-emerging punk with a full-on straight-ahead hard rock assault, wrapped in an iconic cover art by American caricaturist Art Hirschfeld.

* "Night In The Ruts" - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP in an individually numbered jacket. 1979's "Night In The Ruts" includes "No Surprize", which recounts the band's early history, as well the driving "Chiquita", the jamming "Three Mile Smile", the furious "Bone to Bone", and a pair of covers: THE YARDBIRDS' "Think About It" and the novelty number "Reefer Head Woman".

* "Rock In A Hard Place" - 12" 180-gram audiophile vinyl LP in an individually numbered jacket. Originally released in 1982, "Rock In A Hard Place" is the only album in AEROSMITH history to not include guitarist Joe Perry. The band still created world-class rock as evidenced in the title track as well as "Prelude To Joanie", "Lightning Strikes", "Jailbait", "Bitch's Brew" and "Bolivian Ragamuffin".

According to KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, his bandmate, KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, got a tattoo of Jesus on the cross on the left side of his face.

Head posted a photo on Instagram earlier today (Friday, March 21) showing Fieldy's new mark. Head wrote: "My boy Fieldy's new face tattoo… REPRESENTING."

Fieldy's 2009 memoir, "Got The Life: My Journey Of Addiction, Faith, Recovery And Korn", details his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction during KORN's early years and how he became a born-again Christian to help get his life together and get sober.

In an interview with NewReleaseTuesday.com, Fieldy was asked if he ever reached a point, as many others have, where he thought God couldn't forgive him. "You know, I didn’t have that problem," he said. "Now that I believe in God, it's obvious He's almighty. He created the universe. Because He created something so big, my biggest problems are so small to Him! Once you realize that Jesus died on the cross and forgave you of your sins, you're like, 'Wow, somebody did that for me!' It's pretty crazy to know that someone died for us — yet we're all sinners! I've done so many things and asked for His forgiveness. But even today, I know I'm still going to fall short in certain ways. I'm still a work in progress."

Fieldy also spoke about what life out on the road with KORN is like, now that he is clean and sober. "When I'm out on the road, I have to rethink and reschedule everything I do," he said. "I started planning my schedule during the day because I've realized there's nothing out there at night. There's nothing that comes out of it, except a bunch of people partying. The conversations are such a waste of time that I've decided to do positive things during the day. Now, I'll go out and see the city we're in while on tour, or I'll get up and go work out, or make music during the day. I've just replaced my old lifestyle by doing all kinds of things that are rewarding."

Welch abruptly quit KORN in early 2005 and announced that he had been saved by Jesus Christ. His announcement in front of 10,000 people in Bakersfield, California set off a media frenzy, as people from around the world sought to understand what led this rock star into the "light."

Welch rejoined KORN for a live performance in May 2012 before officially becoming part of the lineup again in early 2013.

Mesopotamian kings of blackened thrash metal MELECHESH have announced the addition of drummer Sasha Horn to the group's ranks.

Commented MELECHESH mainman, songwriter, singer and guitarist Ashmedi: "After a lengthy search, MELECHESH are proud to announce the inclusion of new drummer Sasha 'Sin' Horn. Sin as in the Mesopotamian moon god. He will be appearing on the upcoming album, which we will follow up with more details. Meanwhile, he flew in from the USA to our rehearsal room in Germany to work with the band on new material and meet the label guys and the chemistry was great. His drumming skills will sure bring in an extra kick to the new album."

Since there were rumors and uncertainties of the current second guitarist of MELECHESH, the pioneering band clarified the situation in the following statement: "After one show, it became obvious things wouldn't work out with Sirus, so we mutually agreed to go separate ways. For now, the position is not vacant until a great talent crosses our ways. Ashmedi will track guitars and former guitarist and longtime friend Moloch might be flying to the studio for recordings, but not touring as well. We have two great touring guitarist who are friends of ours and will step in as live session musicians."

MELECHESH is currently writing material for its upcoming sixth album.

The band's latest CD and Nuclear Blast debut, "The Epigenesis", was released in 2010 and received rave reviews all over the globe, followed by eight tours with the likes of SEPTICFLESH and NILE.

Tony Morabito, the artist formerly known as ex-RIOT frontman Tony Moore, has teamed up with double-kick monster Todd "Vinny"Vinciguerra (V.H.F., also featuring Tony Franklin and Joel Hoekstra) and WARRIOR guitar slinger Joe Floyd to form the heavyweight power trio BIG MUFF PI.

BIG MUFF PI will feature Tony on bass as well as vocals, a role he's been passionate about since his early rock 'n' roll days.

According to Morabito, "It started out as a garage band — we were playing old-school hard rock tunes, LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, DEEP PURPLE and the like, just to play the local joints and have some fun. Then we started banging some grooves around, and it got serious pretty quickly…"

Writing sessions have begun at Joe Floyd's Silvercloud Recording (where Tony did many of the vocal tracks on RIOT's acclaimed "Immortal Soul" and Vinny recorded his drum tracks for the soon-to-be-released V.H.F. CD) and new material is expected later in 2014. Visit www.bigmuffpi.net for news and updates.

Drummer Michael Vafiotis of Melbourne, Australia-based metallers 4ARM has issued the following update:

"We are pleased to announce that once again Matt Hyde has been tapped in to mix the next album.

"As we all know by now, Hyde is a well-known producer and engineer who has previously worked with such acts as SLIPKNOT, TRIVIUM and MACHINE HEAD, to name a few.

"Since working with Matt on the last album and being gobsmacked by the end result, we didnt think twice in approaching him a second time.

"The album is scheduled to be mixed mid-July. Currently, we are working on ten tracks still in the pre-production stage. I can assure fans that they are too expect another dose of heavy, ball-tearing thrash laden music, with some of our fastest material to date. Markus [Johansson, guitar/vocals] has also brought something fresh and new to the table, which adds further dynamics to the new 4ARM sound. No album title nor release date has been set yet, but we will be sure to update you guys as soon as more details are confirmed."

Markus Johansson, lead vocalist and guitarist for SYLENCER, joined 4ARM in January as the replacement for Danny Tomb.

Johansson previously played guitar for 4ARM on the road in 2013 following the departure of John Paul Glovasa, who left the band due to "serious family issues."

Danny Tomb exited 4ARM in January for personal reasons.

4ARM's third studio album, "Submission For Liberty", was recorded at Melbourne Records with Danny Tomb and drummer Michael Vafiotis producing. Mixing the CD was U.K. engineer Matt Hyde (MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT, TRIVIUM) and mastering duties were handled by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City. The cover artwork was designed by Brent Elliot White, who previously worked on ARCH ENEMY's "Khaos Legions".

4ARM is:

Markus Johansson - Vocals, GuitarMichael Vafiotis - Drums Andy Hinterreiter - Bass

According to Style Weekly, Dave Brockie, better known as Oderus Urungus, the founder and lead singer of renowned metal band GWAR, has died. Roommates reportedly found Brockie's body at his home Sunday evening (March 23). "I wish it was a joke," former GWAR bassist Chris Bopst, a music writer for Style Weekly, tells the site. "Everyone is in shock." Brockie was 50 years old.

"Dave was one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and energetic persons I've known," former GWAR bassist Mike Bishop told Style Weekly. "He was brash sometimes, always crass, irreverent, he was hilarious in every way. But he was also deeply intelligent and interested in life, history, politics and art. His penchant for scatological humors belied a lucid wit. He was a criminally underrated lyricist and hard rock vocalist, one of the best, ever! A great front man, a great painter, writer, he was also a hell of a bass guitarist. I loved him. He was capable of great empathy and had a real sense of justice."

Vocalist Tony Foresta of fellow Richmond, Virginia band MUNICIPAL WASTE, which toured with GWAR in 2012, wrote on Instagram: "I'm so devastated right now. One of the most fun, brilliant, inspirational and creative people I've ever had the privilege to call a friend has passed. I'm going to miss you so much, pal."

According to Australia's TheMusic.com.au, GWAR's management will issue a statement regarding reports of Brockie's passing at approximately 1:00 p.m. EST today.

Brockie is not the first member of GWAR to die at an early age. GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot, who played the character of Flattus Maximus for over ten years, was discovered dead on the band's tour bus on November 3, 2011. He was 34 years old.

In a January 2012 interview with Full Metal Jackie, Brockie stated about Smoot's passing: "I think Cory's death is a big wake-up call for all of us. We all breathed a big sigh of relief when we found out it wasn't a drug overdose, to speak quite frankly. But then to think that he was 34 and died of a heart attack — it's really scary."

He continued: "Everybody out there needs to take care of themselves, especially you guys who are playing in bands and starting to get up into your 40s and you're all sitting there just like me saying, 'Holy shit, this is still going on and I can keep doing this probably for the rest of my life?' Yeah, you can, but you have to take of yourself. You really, really, really, really do. So I'm trying to quit smoking right now."

GWAR's latest album, "Battle Maximus", sold around 3,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 109 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD — the band's first full-length studio effort since the loss of Flattus Maximus — was issued on September 17, 2013 on Metal Blade Records.

GWAR's previous CD, 2010's "Bloody Pit Of Horror", opened with around 2,800 units — roughly half of the first-week tally registered by 2009's "Lust In Space", which premiered with 5,000 copies to land at No. 96.

METALLICA has uploaded fly-on-the-wall footage shot by the MetOnTour reporter on March 16 in Bogotá, Colombia. The 20-minute clip, which can be seen below, includes the band in the tuning room working on the new song "The Lords Of Summer", which was debuted that night, as well as "...And Justice for All". Also included is the new "By Request" intro video with some commentary from frontman James Hetfield, the band in the pre-show huddle, and "Blackened" from the show.

As promised, the band played a nearly all-request set in Bogota, with 17 songs chosen online by fans prior to the gig and the last slot filled by the new track.

Drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that "The Lords Of Summer" "is fairly representative of where our creative headspace is at right now. It's one of those things that's like, 'Here, we're writing and we're creating.'"

Guitarist Kirk Hammett told The Pulse Of Radio that coming up with music is not a problem for the band. "We're a band that never has a shortage of ideas," he said. "You know, you hear about these bands that are like, oh, they're sitting in the studio and they don't have any songs, what are they gonna do? That's not METALLICA. METALLICA's problem is the total opposite: we have too many ideas, which ones are we gonna use. And so that's pretty much how it stands with us."

Ulrich cautioned, however, that "The Lords Of Summer" may not even end up on METALLICA's next album at all, or at least not in its current form. He explained, "We did the same thing when we went out and played a bunch of dates in 2006. We were writing and played two different new songs over the course of that summer, and none of them made the record (2008's 'Death Magnetic')."

The Metallica By Request tour will hit Europe this summer, with a single North American date confirmed in Montreal, as the band continues working on its 10th studio album. The rest of METALLICA's "by request" show in Bogota featured such "rarities" as "Master Of Puppets", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "Sad But True", "Fade To Black", "One" and "Enter Sandman".

"Holy Motherfucker", the new video from reunited Swedish heavy rockers TRANSPORT LEAGUE, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Brooklyn, New York in late February and was directed by the media company 11 Frames, which has previously worked with such bands as THE UNGUIDED, CRUCIFIED BARBARA, OUTSHINE, ICON IN ME and DEGRADEAD.

TRANSPORT LEAGUE is currently working on some pre-production for a upcoming recording. New songtitles include "Hallelujah Vampire", "Evil Engine", "Bag Of Bones", "Black Mountain" and "Gasoline Hog".

TRANSPORT LEAGUE released a three-song EP titled "A Diezel Smelling Aftershock" on February 10 through frontman Tony Jelencovich's (DEATHDESTRUCTION, B-THONG, MASSIVE AUDIO NERVE, MNEMIC, ICON IN ME) Hoffa Communications. The EP was released digitally but was also made available in physical form as a 300-handnumbered-copies limited edition.

The Diezel Package containing the EP, an A2 poster, A6 aticker and a TRANSPORT LEAGUE pick can be ordered at this location.

TRANSPORT LEAGUE's latest album, "Boogie From Hell", was released digitally on May 20, 2013 via Hoffa Communications.

"Boogie From Hell" was tracked over a 17-month period and was mixed by Svein Jensen at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg, Sweden. The CD's sound is described in a press release as "groovy, shaky-boogie-rock 'n' roll metal … for the fans of CLUTCH, CATHEDRAL, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, MUSTASCH and even VOLBEAT."

TRANSPORT LEAGUE last fall completed a short tour of Sweden and The Netherlands. Guitarist Peter Hunyadi was forced to sit out most of these shows due to "serious health problems." Filling in for him on the road was Dan Johansson (GENEROUS MARIA, MARY BEATS JANE).

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson joined Billy Joel on stage last night (Friday, March 21) at Madison Square Garden in New York City to perform the AC/DC classic "You Shook Me All Night Long". Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below

AC/DC will enter a studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada this May to begin recording its 16th studio album. The project will be the first set of new AC/DC material since 2008's "Black Ice" album. In addition, the band intends to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year by playing 40 shows in selected cities around the world which are yet to be announced. The plans were revealed by Johnson in a surprise phone call he made on February 14 to a radio station in West Palm Beach, Florida. Johnson is a resident of the state.

Asked about the group's plans, Johnson said, "We've been denying anything, 'cause we weren't sure. One of our boys was pretty ill, so we didn't like to say anything, and we're very private about things like this, so we didn't wanna say anything. But I think we'll be going in the studio in May in Vancouver. Which means, we should be getting ready."

Johnson added, "It's been 40 years of the band's existence, so I think we're gonna try to do 40 gigs, 40 shows, to thank the fans for their undying loyalty. I mean, honestly, our fans are just the best in the world, and we appreciate every one of them. So, like I said, we'll have to go out, even though we're getting a bit long in the tooth [Laughs]."

Johnson alluded to one of the members of the band being ill in a 2012 interview, adding that the unnamed member was "getting better" with a "full recovery fully expected."

Meanwhile, bassist Cliff Williams hinted in March 2013 that guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young were writing music for the band's next album.

ALTER BRIDGE will release a new live CD, DVD and Blu-ray entitled "Live In Milan" in early June. The show was taped at the legendary Mediolanum Forum in Milan, Italy on November 12, 2013 in front of a sold-out crowd of over 10,000 fans. Shot in beautiful HD with 18 cameras and directed by award-winning filmmaker and longtime ALTER BRIDGE director Daniel E. Catullo III, the show includes 18 songs off all four of the band's studio albums. One of the tracks, an acoustic rendition of the ALTER BRIDGE song "Watch Over You", features a special guest appearance by HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale.

A trailer for "Live In Milan" can be seen below.

ALTER BRIDGE celebrated its 10th anniversary on January 6 with the release of "Alter Bridge X", a massive, 27-disc box set that was limited to just 3,000 copies worldwide. The set includes all four ALTER BRIDGE studio albums, along with DVD, Blu-ray, and vinyl audio copies of "Live From Amsterdam" and "Live At Wembley", including a 3D version of the latter. Also in the box was every webisode to date, hours of unreleased interviews and documentary footage, a coffee table book, a signed poster, and much more.

The complete set contains 16 DVDs/Blu-rays, seven CDs and four vinyl discs.

The hardcover coffee table book contains more than 100 pages of exclusive photos spanning the group's decade-long career.

The 3,000 copies were split between 1,500 for Europe, 1,000 for the U.S. and 500 for the rest of the world.

ALTER BRIDGE recently completed a headlining tour of Europe in support of its latest album, "Fortress", which featured the Active Rock Top 15 single "Addicted To Pain". ALTER BRIDGE was started by the three instrumental members of CREED and guitarist Mark Tremonti told The Pulse Of Radio how ex-MAYFIELD FOUR singer Myles Kennedy became the final piece of the puzzle. "When we first started the band, we were desperately looking for a singer, and my buddy had brought me a MAYFIELD FOUR CD and, you know, hearing the CD, I was blown away — this guy's, you know, not doing anything right now and he's this good?" he said. "I made demos and sent 'em his way, and he sang over them and he seemed to be into the songs and we loved what he did and he flew down January 2, 2004, and we've been a band ever since."