Power Prog has announced the signing of Italian modern power metal act 4TH DIMENSION.

Says the label: "After their extremely well rated debut album, The White Path to Rebirth, from 2011, our first common goal will be to release their second longplayer in spring 2014."
4th Dimension lineup:

Andrea Bicego (Vocals)
Talete Fusaro (Keyboards)
Massimiliano Forte (Drums)
Michele Segafredo (Guitars)
Stefano Pinaroli (Bass)

More on 4th Dimension at Facebook.

"Scars Of Misery", the new video from Stockholm, Sweden-based melodic death metallers DEGRADEAD, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's fourth album, "The Monster Within", which was released on August 23 via Metalville. The CD was recorded between January 14 and February 2 at Panic Room studios in Skara with producer Thomas "Plec" Johansson and marks the group's first release with new drummer Amit Mohla. According to the band, "This album ended up being the best DEGRADEAD album so far! More dynamic, more melodic, more thrashy, more of everything!"

Commented Johansson: "It has been great going back to the roots even on this one. No drum triggers or sample replacements used whatsoever, which is otherwise so commonplace in today's metal productions. We did it the hard way, with getting the right sounds from the start and having Amit actually playing the parts until we got the takes we needed, tuning the drums in between takes, switching snares for different songs etc... No plugins were used in the process either other than for very surgical tasks and special FX. All other processing are real chambers, hardware reverbs, delays, compression and EQ. Five times more work, but five times more fun and inspiring plus it's five times more fun to listen to."

"The Monster Within" track listing:

01. One Against All02. The Monster Within03. For Better Or Worse04. Dead Will Come Alive05. We'll Meet Again06. The Dark Mind07. Strive To Struggle08. Scars Of Misery09. Tendency To Sin10. Sorrow Never Survives

DEGRADEAD's singer, Mikael Sehlin, earlier in the year joined fellow Swedes ENGEL as their new frontman.

Regarding what impact Sehlin's addition to ENGEL will have on his status in DEGRADEAD, DEGRADEAD said: "Mikael is still our vocalist and he is still 100% dedicated to DEGRADEAD and this will not affect DEGRADEAD." DEGRADEAD's third album, "A World Destroyer", was released in North America on June 28, 2011 via Metalville Records.

On August 6, 2010, DEGRADEAD played for their first time at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken. Germany. Their full set, as performed on the W.E.T Stage before an enthusiastic audience, along with many extras, is included on the DVD release, "Live At Wacken And Beyond", which was released on February 28, 2012 via Metalville Records. The disc also contains "From Tullinge To Hyderabad", a 50-minute documentary following DEGRADEAD from their first years in Tullinge, a small suburb south of Stockholm where the band was formed, to their successful tour of India in February 2011. It includes interviews, live clips and a lot of other "interesting stuff for the fans."

The official lyric video for the new song "Pariah" from FOR TODAY can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new studio album, "Fight The Silence", which will be released on February 4, 2014 via Razor & Tie.

The video for the "Fight The Silence" title cut was directed by Daniel Davison, who has previously worked with AUGUST BURNS RED, THE CHARIOT, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA and NORMA JEAN. The song has a strong social message and proceeds from the sale of this track and forthcoming album will go to support the A21 Campaign to help shine a light on the issue of human trafficking.

FOR TODAY lead vocalist Mattie Montgomery had all of the lyrics written for the song before he arrived at the studio to record it. He explains: "The morning before we got in, I watched a video someone sent me called 'Girls Going Wild In The Red Light District'. They were, like, 'Ignore the title. Just watch the video.' In the video, there are six girls standing in the window of a brothel in Amsterdam. This song starts playing and these prostitutes all start doing this synchronized dance to this music. Then at the end of it, these girls get done and the windows go black and this screen at the top of the building comes on and says, 'Every year thousands of girls are promised a dance career in Western Europe. Sadly they many of them end up here."

Mattie sat in the studio and wept for a good twenty minutes. "I was sobbing, snot coming out of my nose, tears coming down my face.

"How can we help? Where do we even start?

"I literally went through the lyrics to this song called 'Hope', which is ironic. I went through the lyrics that I had written and selected everything and I hit delete.

"You know what? I want the world to hear about this thing. So I re-wrote them in 45 minutes that morning. Then we recorded it. That's 'Fight The Silence'." FOR TODAY will work to raise funds via the album and touring to continue the global effort to rescue and rehabilitate those who have been victimized and to oppose and prosecute those who are responsible for the buying and selling of other human beings.

FOR TODAY was recently announced as one of the first five acts confirmed for the 2014 Vans Warped Tour. The band will perform on the entire nationwide run from June 14 through August 3. FOR TODAY will also headline this January's "Fight The Silence Album Release Tour" with LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES, STRAY FROM THE PATH, THE PLOT IN YOU and FIT FOR A KING.

Fan-filmed video footage of NAPALM DEATH's December 13 performance at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting at Effenaar in Eindhoven, The Netherlands can be seen below.

NAPALM DEATH earlier in the year took part in Decibel magazine's second annual national tour alongside the preeminent gore institution CANNIBAL CORPSE and New York death metal stalwarts IMMOLATION.

NAPALM DEATH's latest album, "Utilitarian", sold around 2,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 14 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

NAPALM DEATH's previous album, 2009's "Time Waits For No Slave", opened with around 1,800 units to land at No. 19 on the Heatseekers chart.

"Utilitarian" was released on February 27, 2012 in Europe and February 28, 2012 in North America via the band's longtime partner, Century Media Records. The cover artwork perfectly fits the album's theme and was created by the Danish artist Frode Sylthe, who is also responsible for THE HAUNTED's "rEVOLVEr" artwork.

RollingStone.com spoke to KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons about the band's upcoming induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Asked what lineup of the band is going to play at the induction ceremony, Simmons replied: "Well, KISS is Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. It's like, if you introduced me to your wife and I go, 'Wait, where are all the other wives?' It's like, 'Yeah, I was married to them and now I'm here.' You can argue that point and we'll figure everything out as time goes on. This one is for the fans. If the fans didn't care, we wouldn't be here. If it meant nothing to them, we wouldn't be here."

Regarding whether he is open to the idea of playing with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley that night, Simmons said: "Sure, why not?... They were equally important in the formation of the band. When you have kids with your first wife, you give kudos. The fact you got remarried doesn't delete or minimize the important. Hey, 'You have gave birth to this thing, KISS, with Ace, Peter, Paul and Gene.'"

When The Pulse Of Radio last caught up with Paul Stanley, they posed the question as to what members of KISS should be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should the band finally be voted in. "Well, that's a really good question," he replied. "We would — y'know, it obviously would be something to think about if and when it happened. There've been a lot of people who have been a part of this — some longer than others, some adding less than others, and some who deserve recognition more than others. So, it would be something to think about."

He told Billboard.com earlier today: "Peter and Ace are undeniably at the beginning of the band, and we built a foundation which has stood the test of time and has allowed us to build a monument for 40 years, so today I wholeheartedly embrace and acknowledge Peter and Ace and, likewise, a lot of people who have been in the band and also standing by the band — and that includes the fans. But the idea of misleading or giving anybody a sense that we would ever go back to that [original lineup] situation is totally off the table. We've done that and, with all respect, it crashed for very similar reasons both times and things have moved on. I say without any animosity and with all respect that we wouldn't be here without what Peter and Ace contributed, and we wouldn't be here with them today."

Frontiers Records will release VANDEN PLAS' new concept album, "Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld (Path 1)", on February 21, 2014 in Europe and February 24, 2014 in North America.

With "Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld", the German progressive metal combo continues the pattern of development from album to album that th eband's fans have grown accustomed to. This time the progress is quite substantial, since the input for this new release came from Wolfgang Hohlbein, who, with 43 million books sold worldwide, is not only Germany's biggest-selling author but also a fan of VANDEN PLAS. He suggested a creative collaboration: a rock opera for the stage based on his series "The Chronicle Of The Immortals". The result was "Bloodnight" ("Blutnacht"). The libretto was written by VANDEN PLAS singer Andy Kuntz, together with Hohlbein and his manager Dieter Winkler, himself a respected author. The VANDEN PLAS team of Stephan Lill, Günter Werno and Andy Kuntz composed 19 songs for the stage theater production.

"Bloodnight", with Kuntz in the leading role and the VANDEN PLAS musicians in the orchestra pit, celebrated a stunning premiere on the stage of the Pfalztheater in Kaiserslautern in 2012. 25 sold-out performances in the 2012 and 2013 seasons with standing ovations that never seemed to end speak for themselves. Overwhelmed by this success, Hohlbein responded by writing another novel: the story of "Bloodnight".

The next step for the band was to turn the successful theatre piece into an equally successful VANDEN PLAS album. "Chronicles of the Immortals - Netherworld" has 10 tracks comprising the first act of "Bloodnight". "Path 2", the second half of the album, is scheduled to bring the story to a conclusion in early 2015. Kuntz, in agreement with Hohlbein, adapted the stage version to fit an album format. On it he appears as the storyteller, so that unlike the stage production he is not only the main character Andrej Delany, but also embodies the roles of the other protagonists. In this way the storyline is richer and more easily understood by the listener for whom the powerful visions from the stage production are not available.

The music of "Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld" is pure VANDEN PLAS. The songs are noticeably heavier than the stage version and several amendments to the live arrangements can be heard with certain scenes that were rewritten from scratch. Some large chorus scenes from the stage production reappear with stark intimacy on the album, while in other sections a lush orchestral accompaniment replaces the piano line that had led the action in the stage version. At the same time, all the elements come into play that have long been distinctive to VANDEN PLAS. Kuntz's incisive lyrics are interwoven with Lill's defining riffs and Werno's diverse keyboard parts. A solid base is provided by bass player Torsten Reichert and drummer Andreas Lill, whose collaboration has produced an atmosphere that seems more homogenous and transparent than ever.

It is the attention paid to details that make this album different from any other earlier VANDEN PLAS recording. It is evident that this album recounts the story from a newly staged theatre production, which makes the VANDEN PLAS music to "Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld" even more diversified and vivid.

VANDEN PLAS fans will immediately feel at home with this album. Hohlbein was also thrilled from the first time he heard the music. He said: "Great album. I loved it! I'm happy that fans of 'The Chronicles Of The Immortals' can re-experience the story through the rock opera 'Bloodnight'."

VANDEN PLAS is:

Andy Kuntz (Vocals)Stephan Lill (Guitar)Günter Werno (Keyboards)Torsten Reichert (Bass)Andreas Lill (Drums)

Matt Phelps of Über Rock recently conducted an interview with vocalist Joey Tempest of Swedish hard rockers EUROPE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Über Rock: How does the feeling onstage playing the newer stuff compare to the feeling you get when you blast out those really early songs like "Paradize Bay" and "Seven Doors Hotel"?

Joey: There's an emotional side attached to playing stuff like "Paradize Bay", "In The Future To Come", "Prisoners In Paradise" and all this stuff. You look around and see your mates thirty years on from when we recorded them and it's amazing, so there's that element towards those songs. But at the same time there's a special element to the new songs, we really enjoy playing them. "Last Look At Eden", for instance, that's our favorite song to play right now, so it has a new value to it. The old ones have more of a nostalgic, emotional value but it is more fun to play new songs. On these occasions though when you do a sort of career-spanning DVD, it's amazing to play the old stuff because it's part of the catalogue and those are our favourite old songs as well.

Über Rock: Looking back at the two distinct eras of EUROPE, your original run from '83 to '92 and then when you came back with "Start From The Dark" in 2004 to today, which would you say has been the most enjoyable personally?

Joey: It's really difficult, because the first period was where we first got to tour in the U.K. and the U.S.; that was our dream when we started. We were just a little band from Stockholm, so there was a really big fulfilment there. Also to get a record deal with CBS in New York and to become one of the biggest rock bands on the planet for a while. But everybody wanted a piece of you, and we had to go on promotion tours for three months without playing live and stuff. It really wears on bands, and it was a lot of hard work in that sense. Playing wasn't hard, but doing all these playback shows and TV shows and not playing live that was hard, that was the other side to it. But we did feel fulfilled in the first period because we set out with the dream we had to become a touring band like THIN LIZZY and tour in England and tour America and we got our dream. But what is so satisfying with this new period is that we're doing it on our terms. We own our music and we license it out. We choose who we want to work with, management and agents. We plan our tours more. We're in control; that's a very satisfying feeling. Also we've been lucky this second time because we've gained some respect again and done some decent rock albums. The feeling is amazing to do it the second time around and it's even more gratifying to be able to do it on your own terms completely. It's a really good feeling.

Über Rock: Has there been talk of maybe a new album? Album number ten!

Joey: Yeah, album number ten. We're talking about it all the time now and we want to record next year. Whether we manage to get it out next year, we'll have to wait and see. But we are definitely writing and recording it next year and it's a big moment for us. Ten albums might not be a lot for some bands, but for us it's a milestone; it's very important and we're really looking forward to it. Having done "Live At Sweden Rock", and having done these four comeback albums, it's amazing to do a fifth studio album. That will mean we'll have done as many studio albums now, the second time around, as the first time around.

Sweden's EVOCATION have announced the departure of drummer Janne K. Bodén and guitarist Vesa Kenttäkumpu.
A message from the band states: "We have some sad and glad news to announce from Evocation. We’ll start with the sad news; since some months ago we received word from Janne and Vesa that they would no longer be a part of the band after 2013. There is no big drama behind the departure of the two brothers, it’s just that they no longer have the energy or motivation to continue and also they have different priorities in their lives nowadays. You can read their comments about leaving Evocation below. We all feel sad but we respect their decision and want to wish them good luck with their future endeavours. Also we want to thank them for all their contributions and being a part of the band ever since the beginning in 1991. Thank you and good luck Janne & Vesa!

OK, now to the glad news... we have already recruited a new guitar player who will step in after Vesa. The new guitar player and Marko have already started working on the fifth Evocation full length album. At the moment almost half of the new album is already written. We will let you know more details of the writing process in the months to follow and the identity of the new Evocation guitar player will be revealed within the next days so stay tuned...

Also we would like to take the opportunity and announce the search for a new drummer to Evocation. All interested drummers please send an e-mail before December 27th to: marko@evocation.se with some lines about yourself, photo and links to videos with yourself playing.

Please read the comments below from Janne and Vesa concerning their departure from Evocation."
“Hey you all... It breaks my heart to tell you that after a long time of struggle with myself trying to make the band and my family work side by side, I have to let you guyz know that my hammering behind the drums in Evocation will come to an end. My priorities in life has changed and I realize that life moves pretty fast and if you don’t stop and just look around and catch the moment, soon there will not be any moments left to enjoy. To all my friends, fans and band colleagues all over Europe and USA, who I have had the pleasure to get to know, and all the fucking great moments we shared and all the awesome party´s we had, I don´t mention any names because the list would be endless, but you who know me, knows who I mean. Hopefully I’m gonna see some of you somewhere sometime... Thank you!!!” - Janne K Bodén

“I have thought for a long time now and it receives to say I will not continue with Evocation anymore. The motivation is not there and to succeed as a musician you have to spend an enormous amount of time and energy and there is no room for that in my living situation. I've had the best time with Evocation and I've gotten to experience everything I ever dreamed of. I hope the very best for all the guys in the band and keep up the spirit in the future. I’m going to miss you!” - Vesa

Every year SKAP awards scholarships and prizes to celebrate Swedish creativity across all musical genres. The awards ceremony takes place in tandem with SKAP's annual spring party which is organized with the composers in mind and creativity as the main focus.

This year Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH was awarded an exclusive scholarship for his services to the Swedish and international music scene. Mikael was presented with the scholarship and diploma at an intimate event in the south side of Stockholm on December 9.

"I'm quite honored to receive this," said Mikael. "Apparently, you can't apply for this scholarship, a board of legendary musicians decide that you're the right person for this award.

"I had never even heard of SKAP before they contacted me. I'm happy and surprised there's some focus on heavy Swedish music and genuinely chuffed that they focused in on me.

"Through time I've been handed some awards and whatnot, but this one resonates more in me personally. No glitz and glamour, just some appreciation for what we and I do musically. It's well appreciated!"

OPETH spent the last few months of 2013 putting the finishing touches on the writing and recording process for its next studio effort, which will be released sometime next year.

Speaking to the Swedish newspaper Expressen in September, Åkerfeldt stated about OPETH's plans for the upcoming CD: "We've been looking at [tracking the next album at] Rockfield Studios in Wales where QUEEN recorded 'Bohemian Rhapsody', but we haven't made a decision yet. But it will be an expensive album. There's a lot going on, lots of string arrangements that we haven't had in the past."

Asked if the forthcoming effort will be heavier or softer than 2011's "Heritage", Mikael said: "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.

Indie Recordings has announced the signing of Helsinki, Finland's WOLAND. The band's new studio album, "Hyperion", will be released on February 24 (February 17 in Norway and February 21 in Germany/Austria).

WOLAND's music relies on a foundation without boundaries and a focused vision. When others crawl in the mud and idolize the past, the band gazes to the future with a Nietzschean vision and welcome it with opened arms. The core idea is to rise above one self and become one with divinity, to be everything you can be.

While the music and lyrics are not tied to any specific events or follow any single dogma, they are heavily influenced by some of the modern worlds most prominent philosophers and writers as well as inspired by mythology with its gods and heroes.

Founded in the year 2010, WOLAND released a double single called "Conquer All & Live Forever" in February 2011 for the international event Finnish Metal Expo. While the songs have been freely streamable online, WOLAND concentrated on writing the full-length album "Hyperion", which is since completed and features elements from flamenco guitar to jazz piano, resulting in a unique and modern outcome. The album also features additional vocal performances from artists like Geir Bratland (DIMMU BORGIR), Mathias "Vreth" Lillmåns (FINNTROLL) and Janica Lönn (BLACK SUN AEON).

"Hyperion" track listing:

01. Conquer All02. Art Of Ascension03. Living Water04. None05. Extacy And Rapture06. Honey In The Lion07. Live Forever08. Elevated Existence

Italian progressive metallers ELDRITCH will release their new album, "Tasting The Tears", on February 17 in Europe and February 18 in North America via Scarlet Records. The CD was produced by Eugene Simone and was mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM).

"Tasting The Tears" features 11 new tracks plus cover versions of two famous songs, to be revealed soon.

The first single from the CD, "Alone Again", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

ELDRITCH's eighth studio album, "Gaia's Legacy", was released in September 2011 via Scarlet Records. A concept effort dealing with global warming based on Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth", the CD saw ELDRITCH going back to its technical progressive roots, with lots of influences raging from thrash to AOR and a modern approach still in the band's distinctive style. Frontman Terence Holler wrote all the lyrics after a deep search of information on every kind of source for three years.

ELDRITCH 2013 is:

Terence Holler - VocalsEugene Simone - Lead and Rhythm GuitarRudj Ginanneschi - Rhythm GuitarJohn Crystal - BassRaffahell Dridge - DrumsGabriele Caselli - Keyboards

The entire LED ZEPPELIN catalogue is now available for streaming via Spotify. ZEPPELIN, along with other high-profile artists — including THE BEATLES, AC/DC and Peter Gabriel — have long balked at allowing the site to stream their albums. No sooner have the last bunch of ZEPPELIN albums hit the site, that Spotify will soon have to gear up for ZEPPELIN's newly revamped albums, with Jimmy Page telling Mojo, that's he just wrapped work on overhauling the ZEPPELIN catalogue — including previously unreleased songs and unheard alternate tracks. According to The Pulse Of Radio, Page explained, "I've done my bit. Technology has moved on since the last set of remasters and you can hear the difference in these new versions. They're quite something. Obviously there's not that much material that we could add from the first two albums, but from 'Led Zeppelin III' there is." There's been no timetable announced for the new ZEP remasters starting to roll out.

Out now is the new Robert Plant biography, titled "Robert Plant: A Life", by former Q magazine and Kerrang! editor Paul Rees. Rees chronicles Plant's life both on and off the stage during his time fronting LED ZEPPELIN and beyond.

Paul Rees told The Pulse Of Radio what exactly sets Robert Plant apart from his peers in terms of having that rare "third act" in rock. "You don't have to like every bit of music he's made since LED ZEPPELIN, but he continues to make interesting music," he said. "I think 'Raising Sand' — the record he did, obviously, with Alison Krauss — is as good as anything he's done. And I think that makes him a great rarity. There's an awful lot of biographies, autobiographies of people of his generation where it sort of stops around the mid-'70s in terms of what they did musically. They stopped making great music. And it becomes this round of going on tour and doing the hits and there's really not a lot to talk about — and he doesn't do that."

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 56th annual Grammy Awards will take place Sunday, January 26 at the Los Angeles Staples Center and will be broadcast live at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

Wind-Up Records has announced the signing of Central Pennsylvania's CROBOT. The band is currently in the studio with famed producer Machine (CLUTCH, LAMB OF GOD, COBRA STARSHIP, GYM CLASS HEROES) working on the follow-up to its independently issued debut album, "The Legend Of The Spaceborne Killer", for a 2014 release. Commented CROBOT singer Brandon Yeagley: "CROBOT has found the mother caravan in signing with Wind-Up Records who will keep our stones from growing moss. After all, you can take the heart out of a gypsy, but you can't take the gypsy out of a heart." CROBOT embodies a mixture of groove-heavy riff-rock that will want to make you bang your head and shake your ass. Think of them as WOLFMOTHER's American cousins on acid who smell like leather and whose music scorches your ears like hot sauce to the taste. You can't help but feel that you are taken into another dimension and back again with the songs of CROBOT. CROBOT will be on tour in select cities across the United States in 2014 with CLUTCH and THE SWORD. The 15-date tour begins on January 2 in Asheville, North Carolina.

CROBOT is Brandon Yeagley (lead vocals, harmonica), Chris Bishop (guitar, vocals), Jake Figuroa (bass) and Paul Figuroa (drums).

SIN CITY SINNERS' brand new CD, "A Sinners Christmas 2", was made available on November 26 at TheSinCitySinners.com and iTunes and includes guest performances by Tiffany, Mark Kendall (GREAT WHITE), Frank Dimino (ANGEL), Ron Keel (KEEL) and Paul Taylor (WINGER)

This will be SIN CITY SINNERS' fifth CD release and it includes the brand new original single and future holiday anthem "Christmas In Vegas".

A portion of the sales from "A Sinners Christmas 2" CD, as well as all proceeds from "Christmas In Vegas" will be donated to the Toys For Tots Las Vegas chapter, who help to make sure less fortunate children have toys for Christmas.

"Christmas In Vegas" can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

What began in 2007, led by FASTER PUSSYCAT's Brent Muscat, as a weekly "just for fun" jam at a local dive bar quickly evolved into standing room only shows featuring appearances by some of rock's hottest musicians and celebrities. As the band's reputation grew, so did the need for larger venues and the band quickly became one of Vegas' top headliners.

SIN CITY SINNERS have released four original CDs, the critically acclaimed "Exile On Fremont Street", the all-acoustic "Broken Record", the holiday favorite "A Sinners Christmas" and a collection of some of their favorite covers, "Divebar Days Revisited".

The SINNERS' local charitable efforts have raised well over $150,000 for various causes in the community, including the St Baldrick's Foundation to fight cancer and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

As part of TESTAMENT's ongoing "12 Days 'Til Christmas" video feature, the bandmembers share some of their favorite Christmas childhood memories.

"Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York this past February, was made available on October 18 (Europe) and October 29 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD). It captures a total of 19 live tracks with countless cams onstage and high above the audience, plus a special moshpit cam that makes you feel like you're a part of the show.

"Darks Roots Of Thrash" was made available in a variety of different formats, including the standard DVD+2CD and 2CD versions. A limited Blu-ray+2CD (Europe only), LP (Europe only), as well as Nuclear Blast mail-order-only items (LP colored in gatefold, DVD+2CD digi + tour pass and limited Blue-ray+2CD digi + tourpass) are also for sale via shop.nuclearblast.com. TESTAMENT was recently on the road alongside LAMB OF GOD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and HUNTRESS.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told BBC Radio One that he's nervous about letting fans select the band's set list for each night on its European tour next summer. Ulrich, who usually writes the set list, explained, "It certainly gives me butterflies in the stomach in a good way and I think it should be a lot of fun for the fans. This at least puts a stop to the whining about the set list because it's basically the fans that are picking it.” Starting about 10 years ago, METALLICA began changing its set list nightly, with Ulrich telling The Pulse Of Radio a while back that it keeps the show fresh. "When we started the 'St. Anger' touring cycle, we started just changing the set every night," he said. "Up through the Nineties, we got a little stuck, and it got a little rigid, and we would go out and play the same set list for six months every night. So we're really trying to just play different stuff every night. It's pretty cool."

Fans who purchase tickets online to the European dates will be invited to vote on the set list METALLICA will play at their show, choosing from close to 140 recorded songs.

The band's traditional 18-song set will include the 17 top voted songs along with a brand new track.

Ulrich added that he's excited to play a new song during the tour, saying, "Since 2014 is basically about the next METALLICA record and we're so excited about writing and getting all that off the ground that it only is right to bring a new song out there. Obviously we haven't quite figured out what that's gonna be, but as we get a little closer, hopefully we'll come up with something cool."

The tour, dubbed the "Metallica By Request" tour, will kick off on May 28 at the Sonisphere festival in Helsinki, Finland and travel across Europe through July 11.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has announced the inductees for the 2014 class. The six artists selected for the Performer Category are: KISS, Peter Gabriel, DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES, NIRVANA, Linda Ronstadt and Cat Stevens.

Ahmet Ertegun awards will go to THE BEATLES' late manager Brian Epstein and original THE ROLLING STONES manager/producer Andrew Loog Oldham. The Award for Musical Excellence — formally known as the Side-Men category — will be presented to the E STREET BAND.

DEEP PURPLE and YES were among the rock acts who were nominated but did not make this year's final list.

"For once… I'm speechless," said Dave Grohl of NIRVANA's induction. "From the basements, to the dingy clubs, to the broken down vans, to… the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

"I'd like to thank the committee not only for this induction, but also for recognizing NIRVANA for what we were: pure rock and roll. Most of all, thank you to all of the fans that have supported rock and roll throughout the years, and to Kurt and Krist, without whom I would not be here today."

Krist Novoselic added: "This is a great honor. Thank you to the people who nominated and voted for us. Thank you most of all to Kurt Cobain. And to everyone who's kept rock music going strong for 60 years and counting."

NIRVANA's 1991 album "Nevermind" went on to sell over 14 million copies while drastically changing landscape of rock n' roll. Novoselic told The Pulse Of Radio why he thinks NIRVANA took off so explosively. "Well, it was a phenomenon. I think a lot of it was timing as what was going on in the music business. And a lot of the Sunset Strip hair bands were past their prime and people were ready for something new. Nirvana always tried to be sincere."

The 29th annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 2014 ceremony will again be open to the public, as it has been for the induction ceremonies in Cleveland in 2009 and 2012, and Los Angeles in 2013. This will be the first time that the ceremony will be open to the public in New York City.

MEGADETH took part in a funny holiday skit on last night's (Monday, December 16) episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in which they debuted their new holiday disc, "Thrashing Through The Snow: A Very Megadeth Christmas". In addition, they performed the song "Kingmaker" live on the show's outdoor stage in front of a standing-room-only crowd. Check out video footage below.

MEGADETH's tour with FEAR FACTORY and NONPOINT kicked off on November 23 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

MEGADETH's latest album, "Super Collider", has sold 74,000 copies in the United States since its June 4 release. The CD arrived in stores via MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).

"I think 'Super Collider' is kind of like a really broad [distillation] of what our whole catalog represents," Mustaine told The Morning Call in a recent interview. "There's aggressive stuff, there's thrashy stuff, there's kind of more of the heavy metal stuff. There are someof the more introspective lyrics. There are some simple lyrics and soon and so forth. I think that's what really makes the record refreshing is that it shows everything that we've done. It's almost like a biopic of our career. It's a pretty good slice of everything I've learned over the years."

Dutch symphonic rockers WITHIN TEMPTATION will release their sixth studio album, "Hydra", on January 31, 2014. The album will be available in several luxury formats. The cover artwork was created by by Romano Molenaar ("X-Men", "Batman", "The Unforgiving"), and can be seen below.

Pre-order "Hydra" via iTunes now, and you will instantly receive the first two singles: "Dangerous", featuring a guest appearance by former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones and "Paradise (What About Us?)" featuring ex-NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen.

"Dangerous" will be available on iTunes Europe starting December 20. A preview can be found below.

The Hydra, a mythological serpent creature from ancient Greece, couldn't be killed. When one of its many heads was cut off, two more grew in its place…

"It's like us – undefinable!" laughs WITHIN TEMPTATION guitarist and songwriter Robert Westerholt. "What's more, 'Hydra' is a perfect title for our new album, because like the monster itself, the record represents the many different sides of our music."

WITHIN TEMPTATION collaborated with several other special guests on "Hydra": Dave Pirner of SOUL ASYLUM and U.S. hip-hop icon Xzibit.

Says Robert: "Xzibit is amazing.

"'And We Run' song is about how you've got to live your life now. He's rapping at full force on this song, it's really heavy." Singer Sharon Den Adel adds: "Xzibit brings a new element to our music that we've never had before! It's a new cross-over and we love it!" As for the mighty Tarja, Sharon recalls: "The way she delivers those high melody lines left us all speechless. We had a great time, and the fans responded beyond our expectations."

One of the album's heaviest tracks, "Dangerous", was recorded with the former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones, whose epic vocals are a perfect fit for Sharon's.

"I always loved Howard's voice," she says. "He makes the song even heavier than it already is. That song is one of my favorite songs on the record and one of the fastest we've ever written. It has the most bass drums we've ever used, too, and a very fast riff which we doubled with synths. It's not a typical synthesizer, though — it's distorted like a guitar, and it's very aggressive."

"Hydra" goes from strength to strength with "Whole World Is Watching", featuring SOUL ASYLUM singer Dave Pirner.

"When we wrote 'Whole World Is Watching', Dave was at the very top of our list. He has such a captivating voice: it made the song exactly how it needed to be."

Right now, "Hydra" can be pre-ordered in two luxury formats: the digital premium version and a deluxe box set including extra "Hydra" products.

The digital premium album, complete with digi-booklet, will be available on iTunes and includes 18 audio tracks and a music video. The digital premium album features bonus "Evolution Versions" of four new songs, which contain audio commentary from Robert and Sharon and give you unique access to the development of the songs, their lyrical inspiration and the sound of the initial demos and vocals.

"Hydra" digital premium album track listing:

01. Let Us Burn02. Dangerous (feat. Howard Jones)03. And We Run (feat. Xzibit04. Paradise (What About Us?) (feat. Tarja)05. Edge Of The World06. Silver Moonlight07. Covered By Roses08. Dog Days09. Tell Me Why10. Whole World Is Watching (feat. Dave Pirner)11. Radioactive (originally performed by IMAGINE DRAGONS)12. Summertime Sadness (originally performed by Lana del Ray)13. Let Her Go (originally performed by PASSENGER)14. Dirty Dancer (originally performed by Enrique Iglesias)15. And We Run (evolution track)16. Silver Moonlight (evolution track)17. Covered By Roses (evolution track)18. Tell Me Why (evolution track)19. Paradise (What About Us?) (feat. Tarja) music video (exclusive to iTunes premium version)

Aside from the digital premium version, "Hydra" will also be released in a deluxe box set including exclusive items many of you have been asking for, for a long time:

"Hydra" deluxe box set

* "Hydra" 18-track album including bonus tracks in the form of a media book with a hot foil print cover, featuring a 100-page booklet consisting of unique photos* Double gatefold black vinyl version of the album including bonus tracks* Instrumental version of the entire album* Songbook with sheet music of the songs of the album* "Hydra" guitar pick* Packaged in an especially designed LP-sized box

ADRENALINE MOB recently inked a North American deal with Century Media Records, the label the group was previously signed to only for the European territory. The band's second full-length album, "Men Of Honor", will be released February 18 in North America and February 24 internationally. ADRENALINE MOB's current lineup includes Russell Allen (vocals; also of SYMPHONY X), Mike Orlando (guitar), John Moyer (bass; also of DISTURBED), and the band's latest addition, drummer A.J. Pero (also of TWISTED SISTER).

"Men Of Honor" features 11 new original songs produced by Allen and Orlando. 01. Mob Is Back02. Come On Get Up03. Dearly Departed04. Behind These Eyes05. Let It Go06. Feel The Adrenaline07. Men Of Honor08. Crystal Clear09. House Of Lies10. Judgment Day11. Fallin' To Pieces

The song "Dearly Departed" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

Drummer Mike Portnoy (FLYING COLORS, THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) quit ADRENALINE MOB in June due to "scheduling conflicts."

In a recent interview with Brazil's "Wikimetal", Allen stated about Portnoy's departure from ADRENALINE MOB: "He's been, obviously, real busy with THE WINERY DOGS. The truth of it is we wanna keep working, we wanna keep doing ADRENALINE MOB and we don't wanna wait around for Mike to have the time [to put into ADRENALINE MOB]. And he doesn't know when he will have the time again, so that's really what's going down. Mike Portnoy was asked to be in the band by myself. Me and Orlando had already written all the material, so [ADRENALINE MOB's debut album] 'Omertá' was completely finished before Mike joined the act. And it's a bummer, but he's got his sights on other things, and he's not gonna stick around. So we wish him the best of luck, but the MOB's gotta go on."

ADRENALINE MOB released "Covertá", an eight-track EP featuring cover versions of some of the group's favorite songs, on March 12.

Fan-filmed video footage of CORONER's December 14 performance at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting at Effenaar in Eindhoven, The Netherlands can be seen below.

CORONER will reportedly play one more show with drummer Marquis Marky (a.k.a. Marky Edelmann) in Zurich, Switzerland in 2014 before continuing with a replacement drummer.

Filmmakers Bruno Amstutz and Lukas Ruettimann recently released a teaser for the upcoming documentary about CORONER. Due next year, the film will feature interviews with Tom G. Warrior and Martin Ain (CELTIC FROST), Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA, SOULFLY), Franz Treichler (YOUNG GODS), Chris von Rohr (KROKUS), Chris Glanzmann (ELUVEITIE), Stephan Eicher and more.

Originally part of the road crew for fellow countrymen CELTIC FROST, CORONER went on to become one of the most progressive extreme metal acts of the Eighties. The connection between the Zurich band and CELTIC FROST was so strong, in fact, that CELTIC FROST frontman Tom G. Warrior offered to handle vocals for the emerging band's demo. Warrior and CORONER entered Switzerland's Magnetix studio on October 10, 1985, and nine days later they walked out with the impressive four-song 1986 release, "Death Cult". While subsequent bootlegged CDs included the bonus tracks of "Arrogance in Uniform" and "Hate, Fire, Blood", the original four-track demo consisted of the following tracks: "Spectators of Sin", "Spiral Dream", "Aerial Combat" and "The Invincible". (Only "Spiral Dream" would make it onto CORONER's 1987 debut LP, "R.I.P.")

According to The BNR Metal Pages, CORONER "progressed from the raw speed of 'R.I.P.' to the more laidback style of 'Grin', releasing five albums (not counting the semi-compilation 'Coroner' album) that are all different and yet all are undeniably related, and undeniably CORONER. The band called it a day in 1994, actually before the release of 'Coroner', with Marky Edelmann joining APOLLYON SUN and Tommy T. Baron going to KREATOR, though neither is still with those bands."

Dutch thrashers LEGION OF THE DAMNED will release their new album, "Ravenous Plague", on January 7, 2014 via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by Andy Classen (TANKARD, KRISIUN, HOLY MOSES) at the Stage One Studio in Germany.

"Ravenous Plague" track listing:

01. Intro: The Apocalyptic Surge (by Jo Blankenburg) 02. Howling For Armageddon 03. Black Baron 04. Mountain Wolves Under A Crescent Moon 05. Ravenous Abominations 06. Doom Priest 07. Summon All Hate 08. Morbid Death 09. Bury Me In A Nameless Grave 10. Armalite Assassin 11. Strike Of The Apocalypse

The official video for the song "Doom Priest" can be seen below.

"Ravenous Plague" will be LEGION OF THE DAMNED's first album with new guitar player Twan van Geel who joined the band two years ago following the departure of Richard Ebisch.

The CD's intro was created by Jo Blankenburg, whose tracks have been used in advertising campaigns of major Hollywood feature films such as "The Hunger Games", "Harry Potter", "X-Men", "Lincoln", "Hitchcock", "The Wolfman" and "How To Train Your Dragon".

Norwegian black metallers ISKALD will release their new album, "Nedom Og Nord", on January 14 in Europe via Indie Recordings.

A teaser for the album can be seen below.

According to a press release, "this new masterpiece is a tribute to their artic, majestic and dark home — the northern part of Norway. ISKALD ('ice cold' in English) makes you feel like you're alone on the top of an iceberg in the middle of an artic storm!

"'Nedom Og Nord' is by far [ISKALD's] most epic album to date, containing six long masterpieces, each with different lyrical themes.

"This is their first Norwegian-entitled album, in which half of the lyrics are based on their mother tongue.

"And finally, their self-titled song 'Iskald' was finished and put on the new record. It's a monumental hymn dedicated to the surroundings and people of their home; Nordland."

"Nedom Og Nord" track listing:

01. A Fading Horizon02. Underworldly03. Iskald04. The Silence05. Nidingsdåd06. Nedom og Nord

The song "Nidingsdåd" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Former NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon will release her debut solo album, "Shine", in February via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group. The CD, 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).

"Shine" release dates:

Feb. 26 - Sweden Feb. 28 – Germany, Finland, Russia, Spain Mar. 03 – France, Benelux, Poland, Czech, Norway, Denmark Mar. 04 - Italy Mar. 18 - North America Mar. 31 – UK

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 in 2011 released two demo tracks that she recorded in 2009 for what was supposed to become her debut solo album. She said at the time, "The songs are not mixed or produced, just recorded in the moment, and therefore are very rough songs. But I still want you to hear them since I am proud of them and I think they show another part of me than you hear in NIGHTWISH." She added, "The first song is called 'Floating' and I call it the 'circus' song. It gives me a happy feeling and the vibe in it is happy and joyful. The second song ['Invincible'] is a song I wrote for my son and therefore it's very special to me."

Olzon announced in April 2011 that she decided to push back the tentative release date of her debut solo album to after NIGHTWISH had completed touring in support of its then-yet-to-be-released new studio album, "Imaginarium".

Olzon worked on material for her solo CD in 2009 with Swedish producers Stefan Örn and Johan Glössner. The album was slated to be co-produced by Swedish producer/songwriter Anders Bagge, who has previously worked with MADONNA, CELINE DION, JANET JACKSON and JESSICA SIMPSON, among others. He was also one of judges on the Swedish TV talent competition "Idol" and a producer of the TV series "Made in Sweden".

Olzon in 2009 hired a personal manager — the Swedish management company Hagenburg Management, which also represents EUROPE and THE CARDIGANS.

Olzon abruptly left 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.

Photo credit: Annicka Photography

British hard rock act SCREAM ARENA has signed a worldwide licensing deal with the Danish label Mighty Music / Target Group. In addition, SCREAM ARENA frontman Andy Paul has inked a publishing deal with Once Bitten Music, administered worldwide by Notting Hill Music and in Japan by Sony Music Publishing.

Andy says: "It has been a bit of a long highway to get to this point but thanks to the belief of Dave Tedder at Head First Entertainment and Michael Andersen and the staff at Target, SCREAM ARENA can really launch in 2014.

"The lineup has changed along the way but now SCREAM ARENA is where it should be; Aside from myself, we now have lead guitarist Phil O'Dea who was an integral part of BIG GUNS, who were part of the U.K. rock scene causing a great impression in Japan in the mid-to-late 1990s, bass player, Lincoln J Roth is a go to man from the Billy Sheehan/Marcel Jacob school of playing, drummer Mick Maleckjy sits in the pocket and hits the spot, while rhythm guitarist Alex Mullings brings taste and drive to the menu. I think we're ready to do a bit of damage out there."

SCREAM ARENA's self titled debut will be made available in the spring. The band is in the planning stages of a full-scale European tour in support of the release.