MILLENNIAL REIGN, the project led by ASKA bassist Dave Harvey, is putting the finishing touches on the songwriting process for its sophomore album, tentatively titled "The God Particle".

Whether MILLENNIAL REIGN will seek label support or release independently is still yet to be decided.

A rough demo version of song that will appear on the upcoming disc, "Forever Changed", can be streamed using the ReverbNation widget below.

Formed as Harvey's solo project, MILLENNIAL REIGN released its debut album in January 2012. All guitar, bass and keyboard tracks for the CD were written and recorded by Harvey. Also performing on the effort were vocalist Trae Doss and drummer Bryan Diffee.

After seeing the interest in MILLENNIAL REIGN's first album, Dave expanded the project into a full-fledged band. Joining him in the group's current lineup are lead vocalist James Guest (EDEN'S REALM), guitarist Mike Hamill, bassist Neil Bertrand and drummer Michael Feighan, who is well known for his work in "white" metal bands WHITECROSS and KING JAMES.

One more MILLENNIAL REIGN demo song will be released after it is finished.

ASKA, fronted by vocalist/guitarist George Call (ex-OMEN, BANSHEE, VIOLENT STORM), has been together more than 20 years, has played in over 40 countries and is signed to Pure Steel Records, based in Schwarzenberg, Germany.

Female vocalist Pamela Moore — who is best known for her performance as Sister Mary on QUEENSRŸCHE's 1988 epic release "Operation: Mindcrime" and 2006's sequel "Operation: Mindcrime II" — joined the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE on stage on January 3 at the Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, Washington to perform the band's song "A World Without".

QUEENSRŸCHE's setlist was as follows:

01. Queen Of The Reich02. Speak03. Walk In The Shadows04. The Whisper05. En Force06. Redemption07. Warning08. X2 / Where Dreams Go To Die09. A World Without (feat. Pamela Moore)10. Michael Wilton / Parker Lundgren Guitar Solo11. The Needle Lies12. NM 15613. My Empty Room14. Eyes Of A Stranger15. Empire

Encore:

16. Fallout17. Jet City Woman18. Silent Lucidity19. Take Hold Of The Flame

In a July 2013 interview with Amps And Green Screens, Moore stated about what it was like to perform "Suite Sister Mary" with the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE: "Those guys are my friends and family, I've known them over 25 years now, so having them ask me to come sing with them was fun. I'd done it a couple of times before. Whenever they were in town, they'd ask if I wanted to come down and I'd always say yes. This time was a little bit different; I was singing 'Sister Mary' with Todd. He's a wonderful singer, and he has a lot of admiration for the band, so for him to be in the situation that he is now, it's like a dream come true for him, I'm sure. But he also is his own man. We had gone over the song a couple times in rehearsal, and finally when it came time for me to come onstage, I waited 'till the last minute and Todd was on fire! I was like, 'Well done!' It was really a fun situation to be in; the band was on, everyone seemed very lucid and relaxed, and I just wish them all the best."

She continued: "The whole breakup situation [between Tate and the rest of QUEENSRŸCHE] has been tough for everybody in both camps, but sometimes when the smoke clears, the change is for the best, and you move on. And I really feel good about the guys, and what they're doing, and more so they have to feel that way about themselves. At the end of the day, that's all that matters."

QUEENSRŸCHE's new, self-titled album sold around 13,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 25 via Century Media Records.

"Frequency Unknown", the latest album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, opened with around 5,500 units to debut at No. 82.

"Queensrÿche" marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast. The cover artwork was created by Craig Howell, who has previously worked on designs for "Star Wars", SLIPKNOT and "American Idol", to name a few.

"Purgatory Hill", the new video from Swedish hard rockers THE QUILL, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Tiger Blood", which was released on May 24, 2013 via Metalville Records. The effort was made available on CD, vinyl and digitally.

"Tiger Blood" consists of 10 tracks, with one additional song on the iTunes release.

As with THE QUILL's 2011 album, "Full Circle", the band worked with producer Petter Diamant at Jakaranda Studio in Gävle and the 491 Studio in Oskarshamn. The CD was then mixed by Patrik Frisk (CRASHDIET, CORRODED, TAKIDA) at Sidelake/Ninetone Studios in Sundsvall.

Comments the band: "The goal for this our seventh release was to make an album that was straight to the point without any excess luggage.

"Early on in the writing process, we all agreed on trying to make an album with a lot of variation giving the listener a broader picture of what THE QUILL is all about. With the album finished, we can honestly say we managed to achive what we aimed for."

Johan Hegg (AMON AMARTH), Lars Göran Petrov (ENTOMBED) and Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES, THE GREAT DECEIVER, LOCKUP, DISFEAR, THE CROWN) joined Swedish death metallers VOMITORY on stage at the band's last-ever show on December 27, 2013 at Metal Clüb / Nöjesfabriken in Karlstad, Sweden. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

VOMITORY announced its decision to disband in February 2013, explaining in a statement: "After 24 years, eight albums and hundreds of live shows across 30 countries, we have finally come to the end of the road. We in the band — Tobias, Urban, Erik and Peter — have made the collective decision to end VOMITORY by the end of 2013. It has been a blast on all accounts, but all good things come to to an end, and for VOMITORY, it is now."

VOMITORY's eighth full-length album, "Opus Mortis VIII", was released in 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Leon Music Studios outside Karlstad, Sweden with producer Rikard Löfgren.

VOMITORY was:

Erik Rundqvist - Bass/VocalsTobias Gustafsson - DrumsUrban Gustafsson - GuitarPeter Östlund - Guitar

AHOLA, the new "vital rock act" launched by Jarkko Ahola of the Finnish metal groups TERÄSBETONI and NORTHERN KINGS, is putting the finishing touches on its sophomore album for a spring release. AHOLA states: "There are only few more songs to sing and some backing vocals to do, but all in all the whole new AHOLA album is getting ready and finding its final form.

"We are all very excited about the songs, production, sounds, guitar solos... you name it.

"If you haven't heard our first recording, 'Stoneface', get it — and get ready for something even better!"

"Stoneface" entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 41. Released on April 25, 2012, the CD was recorded at Headline Studio in Tampere. AHOLA in August 2011 announced the addition of guitarist Antti Karhumaa to the group's ranks.

According to a press release, AHOLA "has a suitable mix of past and present — which is always an essential part of rock music. The band's musical core consists of hit tunes, feeling and of course the skill to write and play true and powerful rock music, wherein the authenticity and emotion are relevant, leaving the vain posing to others."

Commented Ahola: "AHOLA is something I've been working on for a long time.

"From the beginning I've written rock songs in English, but since being a musician, you find yourself doing something you did never expect like singing and playing in a huge act called TERÄSBETONI or participating a cool project called NORTHERN KINGS. I guess that's part of the fascination!

"Anyway, still riff-based rock being the heart of my musical world, I wanted to add some spice to the soup and do something that I wasn't so familiar with: super tightness, speed… a flavor of punk rock, you might say."

He continued, "The way I want to see AHOLA's music is: songs are, I dare say, approachable with catchy choruses but when giving the songs a deeper thought, loaded with layers you can dig into. You can hear echoes from classic rock of the '70s, alternative rock and metal of the '90s and last decade, pop music in general, that punk rock I mentioned and… well, listen to yourselves."

AHOLA is:

Jari "Jamo" Laitinen: BassJarkko Ahola: Vocals, GuitarAntti Mäkelä: DrumsAntti Karhumaa: Guitar

For more information, visit the AHOLA Facebook page.

"Stoneface" audio samples:

Fan-filmed video footage of GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS, the world's first all-girl tribute to MÖTLEY CRÜE, performing on January 4 at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City can be seen below.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS hails from New York City and has taken the world by storm since its breakout performance at a New Jersey strip club in 2007. The band consists of four dynamic women whose energies explode when hitting the stage. Blonde heartthrob and frontwoman Vixen Neil charms and captivates audiences with her fierce vocals and outrageous stage antics. Mercedes Mars, an accomplished musician from years on the New York City metal and punk scene, commands the lead solos with ease and finesse. Tiny powerhouse Tawny Lee provides the hard and steady backbone on drums, while occasionally wooing the crowd on other songs that call for keys or rhythm guitar. California newcomer Lucky Sixx puts the bad-ass in bass while stealing your heart.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS covers all eras of MÖTLEY CRÜE while embodying the same decadence and spirit of rock that the world's most notorious rock band made famous — every show is a party!! Expect all the same dirty, old-school rock'n'roll fire and excitement of the live CRÜE, but amped up with a little more hairspray and higher heels.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS is:

Vixen Neil - Lead VocalsLucky Sixx - BassMercedes Mars - Lead GuitarTawny Lee - Drums

THE SANITY DAYS — the project featuring four former members of legendary Bristol, England thrash metallers ONSLAUGHT — entered Doghouse Studio in their hometown to begin recording their debut album for a late spring release via Candlelight Records.

The first video clip from the studio can be seen below.

The band states: "The album will feature nine original songs which have been written over the past 15 months and promises to be a mixture of dark, metallic, interweaving, spine-chilling riffs topped with melodic haunting vocals thunderous drums and a driving bass sound. Perhaps not what a lot of people are going to expect it to sound!

"The final mix is being completed in London by a producer that we have selected to get this sounding exactly how we need it to sound.

"We don't intend this to be a Pro Tools classic as much of the stuff you hear today is, but will have a more retro-sounding vibe with a more natural feel."

Multi-camera video footage of THE SANITY DAYS performing a new song, "My Demon Mind", on December 7, 2012 at Riffs Bar in Swindon, England can be seen below.

THE SANITY DAYS is intended as a bit of fun for the musicians and an opportunity for fans to hear music that no longer features in ONSLAUGHT's live repertoire.

THE SANITY DAYS was launched by Steve Grice, former drummer and founding member of the ONSLAUGHT, who played on all ONSLAUGHT albums thus far. He is joined in the new project by former ONSLAUGHT guitarist Alan Jordan (2007's "Killing Peace"), bassist Jase Stallard (1985's "Power From Hell" and 1986's "The Force"), and ex-GRIM REAPER singer Steve Grimmett, who fronted ONSLAUGHT for the 1989 album "In Search Of Sanity".

Released on London Records in 1989, "In Search Of Sanity" was the last album ONSLAUGHT recorded before it disbanded. Despite reaching the U.K. Top 50, its mainstream production proved controversial among bandmembers and fans alike. "We were always pleased with the songs, though," states Grice. "Over the past few years, people have nagged me to play tracks from the 'Sanity' album, but we always struggled to get them sounding right without Steve Grimmett's involvement."

Former GRIM REAPER frontman Grimmett lent his powerful voice to ONSLAUGHT for just this one album and now returns as a member of THE SANITY DAYS. "It's been a long time since I sang any songs from 'In Search of Sanity', but this was an opportunity I couldn't turn down," he said. "I have also been asked to play these songs, but it never seemed the right thing to do after ONSLAUGHT got back together."



(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

Post by "The Sanity Days" featuring Grimmett, Grice, Stallard and Jordan.

Swedish death metallers SKINEATER have recruited Martin Pedersen (ex-VISCERAL BLEEDING) as their new frontman.

Says Martin in a statement: "I've been off the death metal ride for almost two years now, getting some much-needed time to reflect on what I want to do.

"When I talked to the guys in SKINEATER about this, I immediately felt that this is something I want to be a part of.

"It feels great to finally be back doing what I love to do and I look forward to recording songs as well as playing live with these guys."

Vocalist Jörgen Ström left SKINEATER last month "because of lack of time and motivation to put in all the hard work that is necessary to keep the band moving forward."

SKINEATER's "Dismantled" video can be seen below. The clip was produced by Uppsala-based digital production company Oddville.

"Dismantled" comes off SKINEATER's debut album, "Dermal Harvest", which was released in North America on Febuary 19, 2013 (January 28 in Europe) via Pulverised Records.

According to a press release, the CD "showcases some of the most resilient veterans in the Swedish extreme scene, with past and present members from WOMBBATH, IN THY DREAMS, DARK FUNERAL, CARNAL FORGE, DEFLESHED, etc. The end result is an unstoppable skin-butcher unit literally flaying everything in its path! Never has death metal extremity been so well brewed with melodic darkness in a long time." Recorded at various locations, mixed and mastered at Sweden's Studio Underground (CARNAL FORGE, STEEL ATTACK, FLESHCRAWL, NECRODEATH), and with the striking album artwork designed and conceptualized by Mathias Björkbacka, "Dermal Harvest" is without doubt a world-class audioviolence with sick torturous intent. SKINEATER in 2011 announced the addition of drummer Matte Modin (DARK FUNERAL, RAISED FIST, DEFLESHED, SPORTLOV) to the group's ranks.

Formed in late 2008, SKINEATER features scene veterans Håkan Stuvemark (ex-WOMBBATH, ex-IN THY DREAMS) and Stefan Westerberg (ex-CARNAL FORGE, ex-IN THY DREAMS).

For more information, go to this location.

CAMP FREDDY brought in the New Year at the world-famous The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California this past Tuesday night (December 31) with a show that featured SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor belting out classic songs from AEROSMITH, VAN HALEN, STONE TEMPE PILOTS and ALICE COOPER. Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be viewed below.

CAMP FREDDY is the Los Angeles-based "jam" group featuring Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), Billy Morrison (ex-THE CULT bassist, CIRCUS DIABLO vocalist), Matt Sorum (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Donovan Leitch (son of legendary folk singer Donovan), and Chris Chaney (JANE'S ADDICTION, ALANIS MORRISETTE).

Taylor's recently published book, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven (Or, How I Made Peace With The Paranormal And Stigmatized Zealots And Cynics In The Process)", chronicles Taylor's experiences with the paranormal and his quest to find an explanation for such incidents. "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven" landed at No. 23 on the New York Times "Hardcover Non-fiction" best sellers list, three positions higher than his first memoir, 2011's "Seven Deadly Sins".

Taylor posted a message on Twitter on December 29, dispelling rumors that SLIPKNOT is finished following the departure of drummer and founding member Joey Jordison. Ironically, Taylor himself has often been cited as the member of the band most responsible for the delays in making a new album, as he wrote, recorded and toured three full records with STONE SOUR in the past three years.

SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray, also a key songwriting in the band, died in May 2010. The band's last album was 2008's "All Hope Is Gone".

SLIPKNOT is slated to begin work on a new album later this month.

Nuclear Blast USA's webshop will be the exclusive online distributor of the 10 seminal albums from SLAYER's American Recordings catalog on clear, Collector's Edition vinyl. Each album will be sold individually, is strictly limited to 666 hand-numbered copies, and can be shipped internationally. Full audio has been remastered from the original analog flat master tapes and pressed on the highest-quality, 180-gram audiophile vinyl to satisfy the most discerning turntables and SLAYER collectors.

Featuring original album artwork (including exact reproductions of the original 12x12 vinyl sleeves), the nine studio releases comprising the American Recordings discography are:

* "Reign In Blood" (1986)* "South Of Heaven" (1988)* "Seasons In The Abyss" (1990)* "Divine Intervention" (1994) * "Undisputed Attitude" (1996)* "Diabolus In Musica" (1998)* "God Hates Us All" (2001)* "Christ Illusion" (2006)* "World Painted Blood" (2009)

Also included is SLAYER's live double album "Decade of Aggression: Live" (1991).

Extreme pagan metallers FORTID are celebrating the start of 2014 with the release of a video for the title track from their 2012 album "Pagan Prophecies". The clip was filmed and edited by Hannu Mikola of Visual Vortex and includes footage of the band performing live during their 2013 tour of Finland, as well as a series of images that point to the doom of mankind. Mikola accompanied the band throughout the tour and filmed their performance of the song each night.

FORTID was originally formed by Icelandic musician Einar Thorberg (CURSE, DEN SAAKALDTE) as a solo project in 2002, and the subsequent release of what is known as the "Völuspá Trilogy", comprising three full-length albums, "Thor's Anger", "The Arrival Of Fenris" and "Fall Of The Ages", established FORTID's reputation and led to Thorberg's move to Norway between the release of the second and third parts of the trilogy, where he recruited a permanent lineup. Aside from Thorberg on guitar and vocals, FORTID's current lineup includes Øystein Hansen (ex-THORNBOUND) on guitars, Rikard Jonsson (FORSEFED HORSEHEAD, ex-DEJECT) on bass and Daniel Theobald (CURSE, DEN SAAKALDTE, ETHEREAL FOREST) on drums.

The band's fifth full-length album has just been recorded and is ready for the mixing stage, and, while not wanting to go into too much detail yet, Thorberg recently revealed that the lyrics for the as-yet-unnamed CD will be in Icelandic.

KXM, the new project featuring drummer Ray Luzier (KORN), bassist/vocalist Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) and guitarist George Lynch (LYNCH MOB, DOKKEN), will head into the studio this coming weekend to to "put a few final touches" on their upcoming debut release, due later in the year via Rat Pak Records.

Says the label: "The songs are truly amazing. Ray's drumming sounds like three-dimensional thunder, George's guitar playing will leave you to wonder if he's really playing through an amp or if he's directly plugged into some kind universal energy that only the guitar gods have access to… Then add in Doug Pinnick, who brings his rock-solid bass grooves, intelligible lyrics and seasoned songwriting talents to the table…

"No hype and no joke, KXM is the real deal and you are going to love this album!" A trailer featuring the song "Gun Fight" from KXM's forthcoming debut release can be seen below. In this introductory trailer, the KXM bandmembers describe how they came together, the meaning behind the name KXM and they give us a glimpse into their stellar songwriting ability.

In a recent interview with the "Talking Metal" podcast,Lynch stated about how KXM came together: "When you are in the music scene here, especially in Southern California, you run into everyone, everybody loves everybody, it's a mutual admiration society. You're hanging out, you are playing gigs and you run into your buds and your friends, and invariably, with all of us, it's, like, 'Let's form a project, let's do something together,' because, ya know, we all want to play together and usually it never goes anywhere, but this time it actually did. It's really amazing. Things lined up.

"Doug has been... The first time I heard KING'S X with 'Out Of The Silent Planet' and 'Gretchen Goes to Nebraska', oh, to me, he was the benchmark. This is the guy that I was born to play with, ya know? He has got it all. He comes from gospel roots, he's got the blues thing, he just does it all. I just knew would be a natural fit. Doug is so good he's a natural fit with anybody. He is a self-contained machine. He's got that very unique bass attack and sound and obviously his vocal styling. He is a poet. He is a great lyricist. A great frontman, the whole nine yards. And Ray and I have been in other little projects and have done things together. We would always touch base but never really got serious.

"I don't remember exactly how this all fell together.

"We all have limited time being that were all in other projects but we said, 'Let's really, really do this and quit talking about it.'"

A video teaser with behind-the-scenes and studio footage for the forthcoming, as-yet-untitled full-length debut album from heavy doom metallers EXORCISM, featuring the song "Zero G" that appears on the CD, can be seen below.

EXORCISM, which features in its ranks guitarist Joe "Shredlord" Stump (RAVEN LORD, ZVEKAN, HOLYHELL), will release its first CD in the spring via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music.

EXORCISM's music is "doomy and lush while it flows lava like down your spine," according to a press release. "[It features] dark-themed lyrics and melodies that could haunt you for life."

EXORCISM is:

Csaba Zvekan (RAVEN LORD, ex-KILLING MACHINE) - VocalsJoe Stump (RAVEN LORD, HOLYHELL) - GuitarLucio Manca (RAVEN LORD, ex-SOLID VISION) - BassGarry King (ACHILLEA) - Drums

Zvekan comments: “We're totally excited, having found the right home with GoldenCore, and are looking forward to unleash these tracks very soon."

"Burning Shine", a brand new song from SILENT VOICES, the Finnish melodic metal band featuring SONATA ARCTICA keyboardist keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg and bassist Pasi Kauppinen, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track is taken from SILENT VOICES' new album, "Reveal the Change", which was released on November 29 in Europe and December 3 in North America through Inner Wound Recordings. The CD, which features guest appearances by by Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, ex-THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA), Mike Vescera (OBSESSION, ex-LOUDNESS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and Mike DiMeo (ex-MASTERPLAN, RIOT), was mastered by Ted Jensen (BON JOVI, DREAM THEATER, MEGADETH).

"Reveal the Change" track listing:

01. The Fear Of Emptiness02. No Turning Back03. Reign Of Terror04. Faith In Me05. Black Water06. Burning Shine07. Through My Prison Walls

SILENT VOICES recently announced the addition of vocalist Teemu Koskela (WINTERBORN) to the group's ranks. Teemu already fronted SILENT VOICES for three successful shows in the U.K. and Czech Republic last year.

"Reveal the Change" can be ordered at the Inner Wound Recordings store.

Lifelong horror enthusiast and METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett will host his first annual horror convention, dubbed Kirk Von Hammett's Fear FestEviL, on February 6-8, 2014 at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California. The three-day event will include musical performances by Nuclear Blast artists EXODUS, CARCASS, DEATH ANGEL and ORCHID.

In addition to hosting the convention, Hammett will join EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL for their encores.

Says EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt: "EXODUS is stoked as fuck to announce that none other than Kirk Von Hammett himself will be jamming with us during our encore at Fear FestEviL! What song? Hmm, that remains to be seen! I guess you will have to be there to find out!"

Hammett's relationship with DEATH ANGEL goes back more than two decades, when the METALLICA guitarist produced DEATH ANGEL's 1986 demo, "Kill As One".

Hammett was a member of EXODUS' original lineup before replacing Dave Mustaine in METALLICA in 1983. In fact, Hammett was not only the person who came up with the EXODUS name, but also the first from the band to meet original EXODUS singer Paul Baloff and brought him into the group.

Visit www.FEARFESTEviL.com for the latest information on horror's newest and coolest fan convention.

In 2012, Hammett released "Too Much Horror Business - The Kirk Hammett Collection", an oversized 228-page hardback book documenting his love of all things related to the horror genre and features more than 300 photos of items from the collection of horror memorabilia he has accumulated over the years. The book also included three lengthy interviews with Hammett, who also wrote the captions for many of the photos.

Hammett told the San Francisco Chronicle, "I've been into [horror] stuff since I was five years old . . . My love for this stuff is insane and totally obsessive-compulsive. It's just one of those things. I'm still waiting to outgrow it or get tired of it or get bored with it. But it does not seem to happen."

Hammett, who has been collecting items and watching horror movies since he was a child, told Loudwire why he thinks the genre is so popular. He explained, "They're just fun. They're a fun experience. It's not unlike a roller coaster ride, you know? A good horror movie should have peaks and valleys, a good horror movie should move you emotionally, a good horror movie should be exciting to watch and energizing in a weird kind of way . . . horror movies deliver that." Hammett added, "I've always been attracted to the darker things in life. I was never one to go for light, airy stuff, even as a child. My whole aesthetic has always been one of the darker side. That rings true also in my tastes in music."

Asked to name his favorite horror films, Hammett mentioned movies like 1932's "The Mummy" and a '70s low-budget cheesefest called "Dracula Vs. Frankenstein" before saying, "To me, it's just endless. I think about certain movies and I think, 'Oh, that's my favorite.' Then I think about others and I say, 'No, that's my favorite.' It's so difficult for me."

Hammett has hosted Kirk's Crypt, a haunted house stocked with posters, film props, vintage comics and custom guitars, at the first two installments of the Orion Music + More festival, a music and lifestyle festival created by METALLICA and their friends at C3 Presents.

Fan-filmed video footage of British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) performing on December 20, 2013 at Aquarius Rock Bar in São Paulo, Brazil can be seen below.

Bayley, Thomas Zwijsen and Anne Bakker are currently out on tour in Brazil in support of their release "Russian Holiday".

The "Russian Holiday" EP was recorded during 2012 and released on February 7, 2013.

The EP received favorable reviews, with a Swedish magazine crediting the trio for inventing the genre "acoustic heavy metal."

"Russian Holiday" features acoustic re-recordings of three songs recorded and released during Blaze's years as a solo artist, a re-recording of the IRON MAIDEN classic "Sign Of The Cross" and one new song, "Russian Holiday".

The track listing is as follows:

01. Stealing Time (4:57)02. Russian Holiday (4:19)03. Soundtrack Of My Life (5:17) 04. One More Step (3:30)05. Sign Of The Cross (10:02)

Bayley released a career-spanning double-disc collection, "Soundtracks Of My Life", on October 31, 2013.

Metal Mind Productions recently released the two-CD version of Blaze Bayley's "Alive In Poland" (previously available only as part of the limited-edition "Alive In Poland" DVD) in Europe and North America.

"Alive In Poland" was recorded in Poland in April 2007 during the 21st edition of Metalmania festival in Katowice, Poland. It features a fantastic, over-one-and-a-half-hour show during which Blaze presented the best tracks from his discography, as well as select tracks from IRON MAIDEN ("Man On The Edge", "Futureal").

Bayley's latest studio album, "The King Of Metal", was released in March 2012. The CD was recorded at Fear Studio in Ravenna, Italy.

The 50-year-old Bayley, who was born in Birmingham, was the original frontman in WOLFSBANE, but left in 1994 to replace Bruce Dickinson as the lead singer of IRON MAIDEN.

"Entering A New State", a brand new song from MONUMENT OF MISANTHROPY, the new brutal death metal project formed by NECROPHAGIST drummer Romain Goulon, guitarist Jean-Pierre Battesti and vocalist George "Misanthrope" Wilfinger (RAISING THE VEIL, DISFIGURED DIVINITY, ex-MIASMA), can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the group's full-length debut, "Anger Mismanagement", which will be released February 2014.

In order to finance the CD, MONUMENT OF MISANTHROPY launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.com, offering autographed CDs and exclusive T-shirts. The campaign has already reached the 4,000-euro goal, with 30 days to go.

"Anger Mismanagement" was recorded last summer by Goulon in his home studio (drum tracks), by Camille Mougins at Kairos Studio and by Mamad Rafati at Transonix Studio (guitars and bass tracks). Vocals were tracked by Stefan Kaschel (AudioRiot Recordings), who also took care of the whole editing, engineering and mixing process. The nine-song CD is being mastered at Iguana Studios (NECROPHAGIST, DEADBORN, MALADIE) with producer Christoph Brandes and will include an ultra-fast cover version of KREATOR's "Flag Of Hate".

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, the band led by brothers and founding SEPULTURA members Max (also of SOULFLY) and Igor Cavalera, has entered the studio to begin recording its third album for a mid-2014 release via Napalm Records..

A couple of photos from the studio can be seen below.

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY recently recruited Nate Newton of CONVERGE as its new bassist.

Johny Chow, who had been touring and recording with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY for the past few years, in 2013 joined STONE SOUR as that band's new touring bassist.

Joining CAVALERA CONSPIRACY on stage last year for its tour of South America and Mexico was SOULFLY bassist Tony Campos.

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY released the critically acclaimed and universally praised albums "Inflikted" and "Blunt Force Trauma" through Roadrunner Records.

"Blunt Force Trauma" sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 122 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's debut CD, "Inflikted", opened with 9,000 units to enter the chart at No. 72.

"Blunt Force Trauma" was once again tracked with ex-MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who co-produced the LP with Max. Logan also mixed the effort.

Although fans were hoping to get their hands on all of the new LED ZEPPELIN remasters this year, the wait for the majority of the band's catalogue continues. According to The Pulse Of Radio, Jimmy Page posted an update on his officiate web site, JimmyPage.com, stating, "The first of the LED ZEPPELIN reissues — comprising of 'Led Zeppelin I', 'Led Zeppelin II' and 'Led Zeppelin III' — will be released this year. I’ve also been working on some of my own material from the archives that will be unleashed in 2014." The wait for "Led Zeppelin IV", "Houses Of The Holy", "Physical Graffiti", "The Song Remains The Same", "In Through The Out Door" and "Coda" will likely stretch into 2015.

Page told The Pulse Of Radio that after all the success LED ZEPPELIN had, the real reward has been that the music has lasted so long. "The most satisfying, the most rewarding part of it, is having been part of music like that, which has stood up to the test of time," he said. "Every musician hopes that their music will hold up. And it's wonderful."

Page, who produced all of LED ZEPPELIN's live and studio albums, has served as the band's chief archivist and personally oversaw the remastering of the band's catalogue back in the nearly '90s.

November 2012 saw the release of LED ZEPPELIN's live collection, "Celebration Day", which was recorded and filmed at ZEPPELIN's December 10, 2007 reunion show at London's O2 Arena. The concert film was released on CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc through Swan Song/Atlantic Records.

LED ZEPPELIN is up for two Grammy awards — "Best Rock Performance" for "Kashmir (Live)" from "Celebration Day", and the album itself, "Celebration Day", in the "Best Rock Album" category.

The song "The Ten Plagues" from the Slovak melodic metal band SIGNUM REGIS can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the group's third album, "Exodus", which was released on November 15 in Europe and December 3 in North America via Ulterium Records. The CD features guest vocals by Lance King (ex-PYRAMAZE, BALANCE OF POWER), Michael Vescera (OBSESSION, ANIMETAL USA, ex-LOUDNESS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), Matt Smith (THEOCRACY), Daísa Munhoz (VANDROYA, SOULSPELL), Eli Prinsen (SACRED WARRIOR, THE SACRIFICED), Samuel Nyman (MANIMAL), Thomas L. Winkler (GLORYHAMMER, EMERALD), Göran Edman (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOHN NORUM) and Mayo Petranin (CASTAWAY). The album was mastered by Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, JORN, CIRCUS MAXIMUS) and the artwork was created by Felipe Machado Franco (BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY OF FIRE).

"Exodus" is a historical concept album about the Israelites who were enslaved in ancient Egypt.

"Exodus" track listing:

01. On The Nile02. Enslaved03. The Promised Land04. Let Us Go!05. Wrath Of Pharaoh06. The Ten Plagues07. Last Days In Egypt08. Exodus 09. Song Of Deliverance10. Sole Survivor11. Mountain Of God (CD bonus track)

"Exodus" can be ordered at the Ulterium Records store.

Black metal veterans GORGOROTH have finished recording their new album, "Instinctus Bestialis", for a mid-2014 release. The recording lineup for the eight-song CD consisted of Infernus (guitar), Tomas Asklund (drums; ex-DISSECTION, DARK FUNERAL), Bøddel (a.k.a. Frank Watkins, bass, ex-OBITUARY), and new vocalist Atterigner from the Serbian band TRIUMFALL.

The mixing sessions for "Instinctus Bestialis" will begin this month.

"Under The Sign Of Hell 2011", the re-recording of GORGOROTH's third album, was made available in 2011.

On "Under The Sign Of Hell 2011", Pest and Infernus repeated their roles as vocalist and guitarist/bassist, respectively, from the original 1996 recording, while Tomas Asklund handled the drums.

GORGOROTH's ninth album, "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt", was released on October 21, 2009 in Europe via Regain Records. The CD, which was made available in the U.S. on November 11, 2009, was recorded at Monolith Studio and featured Infernus on guitar, OBITUARY's Frank Watkins on bass, Pest on vocals and Asklund on drums.

"Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" was produced by Infernus and co-produced/engineered by Tomas Asklund. It was mastered at the Cutting Room in Stockholm.

LIZZY BORDEN's "Appointment With Death" lineup — Ira Black, Joey Scott, Marten Andersson and Lizzy Borden — will reunite for a one-night-only performance on Friday, January 24 at the Epiphone party at NAMM at Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, California. You do not need to be a part of NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California to get tickets for this concert.

LIZZY BORDEN's Dario Lorina has joined BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as that band's new guitarist.

Said LIZZY BORDEN frontman and namesake: "We are extremely proud and happy for Dario Lorina on being selected as Zakk Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's new guitarist.

"It's been an amazing ride performing all around the world with Dario. He is a true professional and an incredible blues-driven artistic guitarist, adding so much to the BORDEN sound. Personally, it was a privilege for me to have him on my left side for the last four years and I know Zakk, his band and their fans are going to love Dario, as we all do.

"Dario will be missed in the BORDEN camp but he will always be one of us and we wish him all the luck in the world."

LIZZY BORDEN celebrated its 30th anniversary by embarking on the "30 Years Of American Metal" tour. The trek included "a brand new show, created from the ground up just for this monumental occasion. The new show encompassed songs from each and every LIZZY BORDEN record to date, including classic songs like "Me Against The World", "American Metal", "Master Of Disguise", plus songs the band has never performed live."

LIZZY BORDEN has spent the past few years working on material for the follow-up to 2007's "Appointment With Death"

Swedish Viking metallers KING OF ASGARD will return to Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden in March with producer (and KING DIAMOND guitarist) Andy La Rocque to begin recording their third album.

According to a press release, KING OF ASGARD's new CD is "as much a step forward as it is a new chapter for the band."

Comments KING OF ASGARD singer/guitarist Karl Beckman: "The epic/melodic songwriting of the first two albums is enhanced with monophonic warlike hymns and fierce riffage that hint on the various band members past projects. Somewhat darker in its approach, creating atmospheres not alien to KING OF ASGARD, but still something not heard on the previous two albums. All the KING OF ASGARD significative elements are represented yet carrying a somewhat new execution."

KING OF ASGARD's second album, "…To North", was released in July 2012 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was the first KING OF ASGARD album to feature second guitar player Lars Tängmark.

KING OF ASGARD is:

Karl Beckman - Vocals/GuitarsLars Tängmark - GuitarsJonas Albrektsson – BassKarsten Larsson - Drums

Swedish metallers SABATON entered the studio earlier today (Thursday, January 2) to begin recording their new album.

SABATON played its first show with new drummer Hannes Van Dahl on November 16 at the Metal Hammer Paradise festival in Germany.

Regarding their decision to enlist Hannes Van Dahl, SABATON said in a statement: "For some time, there has been rumors about Robban [Bäck] coming back soon, or that Snowy [Shaw] would fill in for a while longer, or even take Robban's place permanently behind the drums.

"To put an end to these rumors we now present our new full-time member in SABATON: Hannes Van Dahl.

"Hannes has previously played in EVERGREY, which we have toured with in the past, and he has also worked side by side with us as drum technician for Snowy during his time in SABATON."

SABATON's latest album, "Carolus Rex", was released on May 22, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which was made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).

SABATON in 2012 parted ways with guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr.

Massacre Records has announced the signing of the German metal band EDGEDOWN.

Influenced by IRON MAIDEN, DIO and SAVATAGE, EDGEDOWN will release its debut album, "Statues Fall", on April 25.

EDGEDOWN previously recorded an untitled three-track demo in 2010.

"Statues Fall" track listing:

01. Intro 02. Statues Fall 03. In A Dream 04. Rising 05. Shot In The Dark 06. Wasting Time 07. Live Together, Or Die Alone 08. No One's Prey 09. Fate10. Flames

EDGEDOWN is:

Andreas Meixner - Vocals Michael Zebhauser - GuitarMathias Gaßner - GuitarPeter Ramspott - Drums Stefan Rehrl - Bass

Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES, THE GREAT DECEIVER, LOCKUP, DISFEAR, THE CROWN) joined Swedish death metallers VOMITORY on stage at the band's last-ever show on December 27, 2013 at Metal Clüb / Nöjesfabriken in Karlstad, Sweden to perform the song "Revelation Nausea". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

VOMITORY announced its decision to disband in February 2013, explaining in a statement: "After 24 years, eight albums and hundreds of live shows across 30 countries, we have finally come to the end of the road. We in the band — Tobias, Urban, Erik and Peter — have made the collective decision to end VOMITORY by the end of 2013. It has been a blast on all accounts, but all good things come to to an end, and for VOMITORY, it is now."

VOMITORY's eighth full-length album, "Opus Mortis VIII", was released in 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Leon Music Studios outside Karlstad, Sweden with producer Rikard Löfgren.

VOMITORY was:

Erik Rundqvist - Bass/VocalsTobias Gustafsson - DrumsUrban Gustafsson - GuitarPeter Östlund - Guitar

QUIET RIOT's new lineup — featuring vocalist Jizzy Pearl (LOVE/HATE, L.A. GUNS, ADLER'S APPETITE, RATT) — made its live debut on New Year's Eve (December 31) at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort in Flagstaff, Arizona. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali spoke to Chris Epting of Loudwire about the band's future following the recent addition of Pearl.

"I knew that resurrecting QUIET RIOT was going to be a major challenge and undertaking," Frankie said. "You simply don't replace a singer and personality like [late QUIET RIOT singer] Kevin DuBrow because he was the complete package, the real deal and my best friend.

"I never set out to replace Kevin, I set out to continue the band in his memory.

"We tried to work with Mark Huff on vocals and he just wasn't right for the band. We tried it with Scott Vokoun on vocals and in the end he also just wasn't a fit, and we parted company amicably.

"It's not just about singing, performing, work ethic, priorities, perception and personality, it is about all of those things and so much more.

"If I am guilty of anything, I am guilty of trying to get it right for QUIET RIOT."

Banali also spoke about QUIET RIOT's upcoming album, which will contain six new studio tracks with Jizzy Pearl on vocals and four live tracks from 2007 with Kevin DuBrow, which are from the last professionally recorded live shows DuBrow and QUIET RIOT played.

"One of the things Kevin and I always took great pride in was to continue to record new music and release records even when we knew that in the deflated almost nonexistent music industry, records don't sell or are illegally downloaded," Banali said. "We continued to do it for the music, for the fans, for promotion and for self fulfillment. That was my mindset, to continue the recorded history of QUIET RIOT beyond the loss of Kevin. I wanted to do it because guitarist Alex Grossi had yet to appear on a QUIET RIOT record. This is also the first time in 18 years that Chuck Wright has recorded with the band. I also invited Rudy Sarzo to play on two songs; he last appeared on record with QUIET RIOT 12 years ago in 2001 and Tony Franklin on two tracks, who played bass on the 2006 'Rehab' record."

Asked what he thinks Kevin would have to say about all of this, Banali replied: "Knowing Kevin as I did, he knows why I do things and how I do things and he would approve.

"We always prided ourselves in doing the best we could for QUIET RIOT and this is no exception.

"With the new songs, I know he would get it, and there is one song in particular which is my personal farewell to Kevin and very tongue in cheek. And don't expect it to be a ballad!

"The choices I made for the four live songs would be the same ones Kevin would have agreed with.

"Kevin and I had an understanding. I always expected to die before Kevin and we had both agreed that no matter who went first, the other would continue QUIET RIOT. That was set in stone years before Kevin died. I just never saw it coming and even knowing that Kevin was fine if I continued QUIET RIOT past his lifetime, it still took me three years of mourning to even think about continuing and here I am six years later still trying to get it right."

QUIET RIOT's current lineup is as follows:

Jizzy Pearl - VocalsFrankie Banali - DrumsChuck Wright - BassAlex Grossi - Guitar

Kevin DuBrow died in November 2007 of an accidental cocaine overdose. He was 52 years old.

QUIET RIOT was perhaps best known for its 1983 cover of "Cum On Feel The Noize". The song, featuring DuBrow's powerful, gravelly voice, appeared on the band's album "Metal Health" — which was the first by a metal band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart.