GENERATION KILL, the band featuring EXODUS frontman Rob Dukes, will release its sophomore album, "We're All Gonna Die", on November 15 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL and SOULFLY, among others.

Commented Dukes: "We called this album 'We're All Gonna Die' because, for the most part, the lyrics are about the darker side of the existence of humans on this planet.

"The album as a whole is so diverse, drawing from our influences that we grew up on.

"We achieved our goal of creating something that we all are so proud of. I personally think this is the strongest vocal performance of my career, and as a band we can't wait for the hard rock/metal world to hear this album."

Added Zeuss: "This album is not an EXODUS clone. This is an album of music where five guys got together an explored our own roots of music, the records we grew up listening to and wrote songs paying homage to what we love."

"We're All Gonna Die" track listing:

01. Born To Serve02. Prophets Of War03. Self Destruction04. Friendly Fire05. Carny Love06. Vegas07. There Is No Hope08. We're All Gonna Die

The official lyric video for the song "Prophets Of War" can be seen below.

GENERATION KILL's debut album, "Red White And Blood", was released in September 2011. The CD was recorded at J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York (where the vocal tracks for EXODUS' "Let There Be Blood" and OVERKILL's "Ironbound" were previously laid down).

GENERATION KILL is:

Rob Dukes - VocalsRob Moschetti - Bass/Backing VocalsJason Trenczer - Lead GuitarJason Velez - Lead GuitarJames DeMaria - Drums

The as-yet-unnamed project featuring Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, ex-SEPULTURA), THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN frontman Greg Puciato, Dave Elitch (ex-THE MARS VOLTA) and Troy Sanders (MASTODON) has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast for the release of its debut album, tentatively due in mid-2014. The CD is being recorded at Fortress Studio in Los Angeles, California with producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, GOJIRA).

A brand new audio interview with Cavalera — conducted by Greece's Metal Kaoz — in which he discusses the upcoming project, among other topics, can be streamed below.

Talking to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine, Max said about the project with Puciato, Elitch and Sanders: "It's going to be cool. We just don't have a name yet. The name is a pain in the ass to find a name, but the music is great. We have been working on this for two years."

He continued: "Greg approached me kinda like how Alex [Newport; FUDGE TUNNEL] approached me to do NAILBOMB in that he was really, really trying to get me to do this project. I told him already I was pretty busy doing SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY [and] I was not really looking for an extra thing, but he was pretty insistent and then I just gave up and was, like, 'Let's fucking do this!'

"It started with just me and Greg and then we got Dave Elitch — he's an amazing drummer — and then Greg knew Troy and we asked him to be the bassist so it kind of became a supergroup all of a sudden. We jammed a couple of times and the last jam we did it sounded killer; the songs are really powerful real heavy. It's hard to describe but I think the coolest thing about this project is that all three of us are going to sing on every song."

Earlier this year, Puciato told Noisecreep about how the project started: "We were at a DEFTONES show in L.A. at the Palladium and we were talking backstage about old thrash metal, punk and hardcore and we found ourselves referencing many of the same things and we were like, 'Fuck, man, we should make a record together and do it as a one-off like NAILBOMB.' A month later, I talked to Max again and he said we should actually do that.

"No one in metal makes collaborative records like people in jazz and hip-hop do. It doesn't have to be like a band that you're launching from the ground that you go on tour with. There is something to be said for collaboration and throwing yourself out there and learning something new from working with different people. Dave was a buddy of mine already and he's a phenomenal drummer. He was the first person I thought of to play drums.

"We [DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN] spent a lot of time touring with MASTODON and Troy seemed like a really obvious fit. We had a really easy time writing. We can't release it right behind the DILLINGER record and we also have to figure out when the MASTODON record is coming out and the same for whatever Max is doing next. It's going to come out. It's just going to be a matter of logistics as to when."

Interview (audio):

German hard rock legends SCORPIONS were awarded the prestigious Der Steiger award on Saturday, October 12 in Bochum, Germany.

Der Steiger, an international award which recognizes notable accomplishments in various fields, is awarded at an annual ceremony.

The award is presented to individuals for their achievements in the fields of charity, tolerance, film, music, art, sport, the environment and commitment to the European community.

Der Steiger honors qualities such as honesty, openness, responsibility, hard work and humanity.

One of Germany's most successful musical exports, SCORPIONS was one of the biggest rock bands in in the mid-'80s and has remained a huge tour and festival act across Europe ever since.

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of the Chicago, Illinois four-piece psychedelic rock/doom metal band MOUNT SALEM featuring the talents of Emily Kopplin (vocals and organ), Cody Davidson (drums), Mark Hewett (bass) and Kyle Morrison (guitar).

Metal Blade is preparing to reissue the band's sold-out EP, "Endless", in the spring of 2014, including two brand-new tracks, making the release a full-length.

Says Hewett: "Coming up listening to Metal Blade bands that have influenced mine and countless others' musical taste, it never crossed my mind that I might be a part of such an influence.

"We are very excited to meet new people, play with some new bands, see new places, and have a good time!

"We are honored to be a part of Metal Blade, a label that has such a great timeline of music history. We are looking forward to contributing to that history as well."

MOUNT SALEM is currently touring and writing new material for a follow-up full-length effort.

Swedish death metallers VANHELGD have inked a deal with Pulverised Records.

Relentless, uncompromising and with an obscure darkness vibe, VANHELGD came on to the scene with its debut full-length record, "Cult Of Lazarus", but year 2011 saw the band unleash probably their strongest material to date with "Church Of Death". Forward to present time, VANHELGD strikes back with a vengeance in 2014; promising the upcoming record to be a death-doom supreme beast.

VANHELGD recently completed the songwriting process for the new CD and is scheduled to enter the studio in November.

"VANHELGD are very pleased to sign a deal with Pulverised for our next, yet-untitled, album. The journey continues along the eerie paths we explored on 'Church Of Death', but the songs seem somewhat darker this time," states VANHELGD frontman / six-stringer Mattias Frisk.

"The writing process has been much more focused to our rehearsals this time with everyone involved, trying to make the absolutely best out of every song and not letting anything pass unnoticed. A lot of ideas have been thrown away, leaving us with eight strong tracks drenched in death, destruction and pure malevolence.

"The recording will start in November 2013 and will be the first with our new bass player Jonas Albrektsson."

Pulverised Records label manager Roy Yeo also commented on the new signing: "We took notice on VANHELGD when they released 'Church Of Death' and back then, there was already something about VANHELGD that we enjoyed. Perhaps it was a little of the sorrow vibe ala early AT THE GATES / PARADISE LOST that was hidden beneath all that filthy death metal that was on 'Church Of Death', so we immediately agreed on releasing their upcoming album when the band approached us. We believe that for a band such as VENHELGD, their material can only get stronger with each release and further solidify the signature sound that they already possessed."

Long-running German metallers PARADOX have signed a new worldwide deal with AFM Records, extending their contract with the label. The band's new studio album is due in fall/winter 2014.

Says the label: "We're looking forward to another killer thrash album from Charly [Steinhauer, PARADOX guitarist/vocalist] and his boys, which should arrive in late 2014."

Added the band: "We've been 13 years with AFM Records and happy to continue working with a label which we rely."

PARADOX's latest album, "Tales Of The Weird", was released in December 2012 via AFM Records. The CD was produced by Steinhauer and was mixed and mastered by Victor Bullok (a.k.a. V. Santura; TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS) at Woodshed Studio in Landshut, Germany. The cover art was created by Claudio Bergamin.

"Tales Of The Weird" featured guest appearances by Bob Katsionis (FIREWIND) and Gus Drax (SUNBURST).

PARADOX is:

Charly Steinhauer (vocals, guitar)Christian Muenzner (guitar)Olly Keller (bass)Daniel "Evil Ewald" Buld (drums)

MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy spoke to U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine about his health issues that have caused the band to cancel a number of European festival appearances this past summer — including shows in France, Germany and Russia. The dates were called off when doctors discovered an unspecified haematoma, a pool of leaked blood gathered in Lemmy's muscles. The legendary rocker is also suffering from Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed more than a decade ago, and has had a defibrillator fitted earlier this year to iron out the uneven bumps in his heart.

"I don't mind you asking about my health," Lemmy told the magazine. "I've been poorly. There's no point lying about it or trying to deny it. I've never done that. It's all part of life's rich tapestry, isn't it? I understand you've got to ask. And I'm feeling better."

According to Lemmy, people are telling him to slow down — that living life at breakneck speed is beginning to take its toll.

"It was the same when people were telling me to stop smoking," Lemmy said. "'You've got to stop smoking, Lem,' they kept saying." "Fuck you. I don't like people telling me what to do, even if they might be right."

Lemmy did, however, stop smoking cigarettes a year ago. "I was having breakfast one morning, coughing and hacking my way through a cigarette and I stopped and thought: 'What am I doing here?'" he explained.

Although it's been reported that Lemmy used to drink a bottle of Jack Daniel's a day, he claims that those days are behind him.

"I stopped drinking Jack Daniel's and Coke because the sugar in the Coke wasn't good for my diabetes," he said. "I don't drink much [anymore]."

Lemmy takes two pills every day for his diabetes, which has affected the circulation in his legs. As a result, his legs stiffen and ache if he walks too far and his back hurts if he stands for too long. "But I can still stand at that mic every night and play my songs," he said. "I wouldn't know about the defibrillator if it wasn't for that fucking lump in my chest," he said. "I'm getting better. By the time this article is out, and the tour comes around, I'll be all right. I'll be ready."

When told that some people have suggested that MOTÖRHEAD's upcoming album, "Aftershock", might be the band's last, Lemmy replied: "Really? Who said that? I've never said that. Phil [Campbell, MOTÖRHEAD guitarist] has never said it. Mikkey [Dee, MOTÖRHEAD drummer] has never said it. We plan to go on. Maybe, if we can't tour any more, we'll just make albums. We'll be like THE BEATLES after 1966."

Lemmy, who turns 68 years old in December, told Classic Rock he didn't expect to still be here at 30,

"I don't do regrets," he said. "Regrets are pointless. It's too late for regrets. You've alreadydone it, haven't you? You've lived your life. No point wishing you could change it.

"There are a couple of things I might have done differently, but nothing major; nothing that would have made that much of a difference.

"I'm pretty happy with the way things have turned out. I like to think I've brought a lotof joy to a lor of people all over the world. I'm true to myself and I'm straight with people."

Asked if his illness this year has made him more aware of his own mortality, Lemmy said: "Death is an inevitability, isn't it? You become more aware of that when you get to my age. I don't worry about it. I'm ready for it. When I go, I want to go doing what I do best. If I died tomorrow, I couldn't complain. It's been good."

The November 2013 issue of Classic Rock magazine featuring the MOTÖRHEAD cover story can be ordered at this location.

HIGH ON FIRE has released a brand new single titled "Slave The Hive" today. As part of the band's upcoming Scion A/V-sponsored headlining tour, HIGH ON FIRE drops the new single which marks the first new music from the California metal champions since the spring 2012 release of "De Vermis Mysteriis". A limited-edition seven-inch single will be available at all tour dates with a video for the song to be released simultaneously.

The previously announced Scion A/V-presented HIGH ON FIRE tour will run from November 10 through December 12. Norwegian rock sextet KVELERTAK, who have had one of 2013's buzziest hard rock releases with the Kurt Ballou-produced (CONVERGE) album "Meir", will open all dates. DOOMRIDERS (Nov. 10 to 23), PACK OF WOLVES (Nov. 25-27) and WINDHAND (Nov. 29 to Dec. 12) will be featured as the evening opener on different legs of the tour.

HIGH ON FIRE released the first official live recordings of its career with the two volume set "Spitting Fire Live", which has been hailed as "high-volume intensity" by the Austin Chronicle, "hot as the infernos" by Pitchfork and a "documentation of the band's undiminished ferocity onstage" by the SF Weekly. Recorded over a two-evening New York City headlining stint at both Bowery Ballroom and Brooklyn's Music Hall Of Williamsburg last winter, "Spitting Fire Live" showcases HIGH ON FIRE at its incendiary best, containing songs from each of the band's critically acclaimed studio albums including last year's "De Vermis Mysteriis".

The official lyric video for the song "Tongue" from Swedish metallers SOILWORK can be seen below. The track comes off the band's ninth studio and first dual-disc album, "The Living Infinite", which sold around 7,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 60. The effort also landed at No. 11 on the Independent Albums chart, and No. 2 on the Hard Music chart. "The Living Infinite" entered the iTunes Metal Top Albums chart at No. 1 and was the No. 1 most added album on the CMJ radio chart.

"The Living Infinite" was produced by Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH) and boasts artwork by MNEMIC's Mircea Gabriel Eftemie. The CD features Justin Sullivan — lead singer of the English band NEW MODEL ARMY — as a guest vocalist on the track "The Windswept Mercy" and also marks the recording debut of longtime SOILWORK touring guitarist David Andersson (also of THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA).

SOILWORK will release a lavish deluxe version of its 2001 classic breakthrough album "A Predator's Portrait" on October 18 in Europe and October 15 in the U.S. The effort will be reissued as a digipack with an all new artwork and will contain two previously unreleased live bonus tracks.

Commented drummer Dirk Verbeuren: "I view 'A Predator's Portrait' as a milestone in several ways. It's our first recording for Nuclear Blast, still our home to this day, six albums later. It marks the first time Björn 'Speed' Strid pushes his vocal talents into the melodic realm. And it concludes the early SOILWORK years, with follow-up 'Natural Born Chaos' starting something new and different altogether.

"Now that we've come full circle with our ninth album, 'The Living Infinite', the time is right to revisit 'A Predator's Portrait'. This ultimate re-release comes with re-imagined artwork by original cover artist and SOILWORK keyboardist Carlos Del Olmo Holmberg as well as two live renditions of classic 'A Predator's Portrait' tracks performed by the band's current lineup during the 2013 North American 'Infinity' tour."

Quality fan-filmed video footage of U.D.O. — the German metal band fronted by former ACCEPT singer Udo Dirkschneider — performing on October 13 at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg, Sweden can be seen below.

U.D.O.'s new album, "Steelhammer", was released on May 24 via AFM Records. The CD was produced by Dirkschneider and Fitty Wienhold.

Guitarist Igor Gianola recently left U.D.O. and was replaced by Finnish axeman Kasperi Heikkinen.

U.D.O. last year announced the addition of guitarist Andrey Smirnov to the group's ranks. He replaced Stefan Kaufmann, who left the group for health reasons.

Stefan will continue to work with U.D.O. behind the scenes and produce other bands at his Roxx studio.

Kaufmann was the drummer for ACCEPT on nine albums but was forced to give up drumming towards the end of the band's initial run due to health problems.

Stefan joined U.D.O. as a guitar player in 1996, following ACCEPT's second breakup, and has recorded nine albums with them.

"Live In Sofia", the new DVD+CD and Blu-ray+CD from U.D.O., entered the Music DVD chart in Finland at position No. 1 and in Germany at No. 4.

"Live In Sofia" contains footage of U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria.

A trailer for "Omen Of Disease", the sixth album from reformed Chicago death metallers BROKEN HOPE, can be seen below. The CD sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on October 1 (September 30 internationally) via Century Media Records. The album's drum tracks were laid down at Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin with engineer Chris Wisco (LAZARUS A.D., JUNGLE ROT, ORIGIN, GORGASM), while the remaining instruments were tracked at Mercenary Digital Studios in Zion, Illinois with engineer Scott Creekmore (DIRGE WITHIN, PUTRID PILE, LIVIDITY).

"Omen Of Disease" features a special guest appearance by Trevor Strnad of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER on the new BROKEN HOPE track "Rendered Into Lard". The cover painting for the CD was created by world-renowned horror artist Wes Benscoter (SLAYER, CATTLE DECAPITATION, AUTOPSY, KREATOR). Comments guitarist Jeremy Wagner: "Wes Benscoter is one of my favorite artists, EVER. In my opinion, he's right up there with Frank Frazetta, Michael Whelan and Todd Schorr.

"Ever since Benscoter did our 'Repulsive Conception' and 'Loathing' album covers, I've wanted to work with him again. I was beyond thrilled when Benscoter agreed to take on the 'Omen Of Disease' project… and he nailed it! He's captured the vile essence, putrid vibe, and apocalyptic, disease-laden horror of 'Omen Of Disease'." BROKEN HOPE tapped James Murphy (DEATH, OBITUARY, TESTAMENT) to mix and master "Omen Of Disease" at Murphy's studio, Safehouse Production. "Omen Of Disease" — a title conceived by Wagner — is also a song on the new album, marking the first BROKEN HOPE "title track" since their 1991 debut LP, "Swamped In Gore". BROKEN HOPE is currently supporting DEICIDE on the "No Salvation Tour 2013". Also appearing on the bill are DISGORGE and NECRONOMICON. BROKEN HOPE 2013 is:

Damian Leski - VocalsJeremy Wagner - GuitarsShaun Glass - BassChuck Wepfer - Lead GuitarsMike Miczek - Drums

Swedish death metal overlords AEON have announced their plans to continue following the recent departure of guitarist Daniel Dlimi.

Says the band: "We always knew that this point in our career would come.

"When we would be asked to tour more and more, but the touring does not cover the loss of income from our day jobs... and it is a very difficult point.

"With this band, we do get paid, we just have to cut on our losses. But the rest of us still wanna give it a try!! We still have faith that there is a need for some true death metal in this world!! THE FIRE STILL BURNS!!!!

"We will also be looking for a replacement for Daniel, of course. More info on this will come soon.

"And we just got started working on our next album....

"How about that, folks???"

Dlimi announced his departure from AEON last week, explaining in a statement: "I simply can't afford doing this no more. To tour with a band in our size, you actually lose money on each and every tour. For us, the expenses is always higher then the income, and if that wasn't enough, I also need to take time of from my daytime job which means absolutely no income at all during the period of a tour plus the extra expenses I get from the tour that does not get covered by the tour income.

"We have done four tours this year alone and each one of them has made us lose money. I have actually NEVER done a single tour and made a single dime in the end of the day. I am actually paying money to do shows for you guys. And the saddest thing about this is that the industry expects you to do so. Something must be seriously fucked up when, for example, the driver, the sound guy, the merch guy, the tour manager etc makes more money on a tour compared to bands on the bill that is not headlining?!?

"The one thing I love doing the most with my band is actually being on stage performing for you guys. But my passion for the music simply won't pay my bills. And as we all know, the record industry is suffering as hell and the record sales are lower then ever. So the only way to grow your band bigger is to do new albums and tour like hell… If you are lucky enough, one day you will be at a level where you actually get paid for you job, And like I said, I can't afford doing all the tours required to maybe one day be a big enough name to do headline tours and actually make money out of it. Neither do I see an option to stay with AEON and only record albums since the reward for me with doing an album is to actually perform the songs on stage. And if I can't do that, there is simply no point for me to go on."

AEON released its fourth studio offering, "Aeons Black", on November 20, 2012 via Metal Blade Records. The mammoth 15-track effort was recorded at Empire Studio in Östersund, Sweden, engineered, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström (Garageland Studios) and featuring cover art by Kristian "Necrolord" Wåhlin (BATHORY, AT THE GATES, DISSECTION, EMPEROR).

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine will be a featured soloist with the San Diego Symphony in April 2014 in a program that will include Wagner's "Ride Of The Valkyries" from "Die Walküre", Vivaldi's "Winter" from "The Four Seasons" and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 (the "New World" symphony). The classical special concert, billed as "Symphony Interrupted" will take place at Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego, California on Saturday, April 12 at 8:00 p.m. Ticket are on sale now at SanDiegoSymphony.org.

In a recent interview with the Colorado Springs, Colorado radio station 94.3 KILO, Mustaine stated about the upcoming San Diego Symphony concert: "There's all kinds of classical songs that are really kind of scary kind of things. Like the 'Ride Of The Valkyries' and, you know, 'Fantasia', that one song 'Night On Bald Mountain' and, you know, the 'Hall Of The Mountain King', and certain songs like that that are, you know, they're really creepy songs. And I said that I would love to do 'Dave Mustaine interprets the dark classical ditties,' something like that. And we talked with the San Diego Symphony, and a friend of mine runs the San Diego Opera, and she talked to them, and they were all about it. And we went down there and met the maestro, Jahja Ling, whatever his name is. I can't pronounce his name worth a darn, but we met, and he was all about it. So we're developing the program right now. It's basically gonna be a symphony orchestra playing these really dark scary songs and me coming in and out of the performances playing guitar over it… It's gonna be really cool. I think it's exciting."

Asked if the performance will be professionally filmed and recorded for future release, Mustaine said: "I'm sure they're gonna tape it. They're gonna want to tape it. You know, it's a symphony, so the building there is acoustically perfect. I mean, I don't know how loud I'm gonna be playing, but, you know, the great thing about orchestras is the majority of them aren't miked, because everything's acoustically tuned perfectly. So I think it'll be really neat."

KURAI, the new project featuring guitarist/vocalist Scott "SVH" Von Heldt (formerly of KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch's pre-LOVE & DEATH solo band), MUDVAYNE bassist Ryan Martinie and drummer Abel Vallejo (longtime KORN drum tech), will release its debut EP, "Breaking The Broken", on December 17 on their own Sonic Velocity label.

Says Von Heldt: "'Kurai' is a term that I came across almost 20 years ago in a Japanese martial arts encyclopedia. It means to achieve a state of mind in which you become one with your art. That really embraces the sentiment of our music and where we are as artists.

"We want to create music with the intention of stirring up emotion and bringing some raw passion back to metal and we hope that transcends to the listener with this new EP."

KURAI's first single will arrive around Halloween.

For more information, visit www.kuraiband.com.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows told the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF that he isn't bothered by recent comments from MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn, in which Flynn called the band's new "Hail To The King" CD a "covers album." Flynn specifically called the band out for songs like "This Means War", which bears a strong resemblance to METALLICA's "Sad But True", along with others. Shadows told WAAF's Mike Hsu (hear audio below): "I think, more than anything, [Robb's comments] brought a lot of attention to the record.

"I saw a lot of people saying, 'Oh, well, I didn't like AVENGED before, but now I'm gonna check it out, and I like this record.' So that was kind of funny.

"But, you know, [I'm] just trying to be displomatic about the whole thing."

He continued: "I don't really care what anyone says, but when people ask you about it over and over, you have to have some sort of response. And my response is just, look, I know the guy. He can say whatever he says. He's a grown-ass adult. He's 40-something years old and has an opinion on our record. I guess he can write and say whatever he wants."

When Hsu suggested that the increased criticism leveled at AVENGED SEVENFOLD is the result of the band having a No. 1 record, Shadows replied: "Well, you definitely see it a little more. I guess it's expected, you know. AVENGED SEVENFOLD is selling a lot of records right now, and I can attest it to our fans more than anything.

"People seem to get a skewed opinion about us based on record sales when, really, we're just a bunch of guys that, like I said, we go and work really hard on songs sitting in a room all day, and we just wanna play them live. And there's nothing corporate about it, there's nothing different than what we've done before about it, it's just that our fan base is very strong, which is a cool thing."

Flynn didn't pull any punches in his critique, writing, "Congratulations to AVENGED SEVENFOLD On their latest 'covers album' coming in at #1. Who knew that re-recording METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, and MEGADETH songs could be such a worldwide hit!!?? Ba-dap Psssssss!!"

"Hail To The King" sold 159,000 copies in its first week of release, giving the California band their second straight chart-topper after 2010's "Nightmare".

WAAF interview (audio):

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield recently spoke to The Detroit News about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to the band's 2008 album "Death Magnetic".

"We have been pushing that further and further away," Hetfield said. "We want to make a record, that's what we do best and that’s what we've gotta do in springtime. We've got skeleton bones that we're starting to lay out to make something out of it, but there's a lot of work ahead of us that we're really excited about doing. And that will be next year."

Hetfield was also asked if the group planned to stage a third installment of its Orion Music + More festival in Detroit next year, after bringing the show's second edition there last June.

The guitarist/vocalist replied: "I sure hope so, that is the plan. The festival itself is not 100 percent greenlit yet. There’s gotta be a powwow where all of us get together and make sure we’re on the same page."

This year's Orion two-day event drew at least 20,000 people a day to see METALLICA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, DEFTONES, SILVERSUN PICKUPS, RISE AGAINST and more.

METALLICA surprised fans at Orion Music + More on June 8 by playing its 1983 debut disc "Kill 'Em All" from beginning to end on a smaller stage at the event. METALLICA was officially announced to play a headlining set on June 9 to close out the festival, but hit the stage at 4:30 p.m. one day earlier for a 10-song set that started with "Hit The Lights" and finished out with "Metal Militia".

The afternoon slot was officially taken by an "act" called DEHAAN — which METALLICA fans may have recognized as the name of actor Dane DeHaan, who is starring in the band's 3D movie, "Metallica Through The Never". Another hint was dropped when Hetfield posted a message on Instagram which read, "Don't miss Dehaan! #MUYA #mff #UwillRegretMissingThem #IfUdoUmightKillEmAll #winkWink #getIt?"

Hetfield came onstage first to introduce "DEHAAN," after which the rest of the members of METALLICA came out and began playing.

At last year's Orion festival, METALLICA played both 1991's self-titled "black album" and 1984's "Ride The Lightning" in their entirety on separate nights.

Colorado Satanic metal masters SATAN'S HOST will release their eleventh studio album, "Virgin Sails", on November 19 (one day earlier internationally) via Moribund Cult Records. The CD was once again recorded at Flatline Audio with producer Dave Otero (CATTLE DECAPITATION, DEMONICA, NIGHTBRINGER, ALLEGAEON, CEPHALIC CARNAGE) and features cover artwork by Joe Petagno (MOTÖRHEAD, MARDUK).

"Virgin Sails" track listing:

01. Cor Malifecus - Heart Of Evil02. Island of the Giant Ants03. Dichotomy04. Of Beast and Men05. Akoman06. Reanimated Anomalies07. Infinite Impossibilities08. Vaporous of the Blood09. Taromati10. Virgin Sails

Video footage of SATAN'S HOST performing the song "Cor Malifecus - Heart of Evil" on March 16 at La Respuesta in San Juan, Puerto Rico can be seen below.

SATAN'S HOST's "Celebration For The Love Of Satan" was released on November 22, 2011 via Moribund Records. The disc was a collection of re-recorded versions of songs spanning the band's entire career, excluding the material that was released on the "By The Hands Of The Devil" album, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the release of SATAN'S HOST's classic debut LP, "Metal From Hell". The disc, which also included two new songs, was recorded with Otero at Flatline Audio and had exclusive artwork by world-renowned artists Chris Moyen and Joe Petagno, with photography by Brent Boutte of Mirrorlife Productions.

"Cor Malifecus - Heart of Evil" (new song) performance:

Denmark-based symphonic metal band EVIL MASQUERADE has issued the following update:

"Most of you are aware of that [vocalist] Apollo [Papathanasio, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, ex-FIREWIND] hasn't been seen much with the band this year. He feels that he needs to slow down and take a time-out from his musical career for a while and focus more on his private life that has suffered from busy schedules. The band fully understands and respects this.

"This is nothing new and everyone saw this coming. Therefore, as you have already seen, EVIL MASQUERADE decided to move on several months ago. Now approaching a new album it's time to officially introduce the new singer.

"It hardly comes as a surprise for people attending EVIL MASQUERADE's shows this year that the microphone has been handed over to Swedish powerhouse singer Tobias Jansson [SAFFIRE, THE LAW]. In very short time, he has grown close to the whole EVIL MASQUERADE family and the band already sounds like a well-oiled machine live. You can look forward to hear him on the upcoming album, 'The Digital Crucifix'.

"Welcome to EVIL MASQUERADE, Tobias!"

Video footage of EVIL MASQUERADE performing a cover version of the OZZY OSBOURNE classic "Mr. Crowley" — with Tobias Jansson on vocals — can be seen below.

EVIL MASQUERADE's fifth album, "Pentagram", was released in May 2012 via Dark Minstrel Music. The CD was once again produced by guitarist Henrik Flyman and mixed by Tommy Hansen (JORN, HELLOWEEN) at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark.

"The Power Of Three", the third album from Monte Pittman, the guitarist known for his work with metal legends PRONG and the illustrious pop star Madonna, will be released on January 21, 2014 through Metal Blade Records. The first single, "A Dark Horse", is available for streaming using the SoundCloud widget below.

According to a press release, "A Dark Horse" reflects Monte's return to his metal roots while demonstrating his Orange gear sound and tone to perfection.

Flemming Rasmussen, famous for his work with METALLICA, produced "The Power Of Three", which is hard and heavy and follows on from Monte's highly successful, critically acclaimed second album, "Pain, Love & Destiny".

Artist Cam Rackam created the artwork for the cover of "The Power Of Three". The piece features a portrait of Charon, the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. This represents Monte's musical journey from what he has done before and where he is now with "The Power Of Three" and beyond.

"A Dark Horse" is also available now as an iTunes single and features artwork created by Gustav Klimt (used with kind permission) titled "The Golden Knight (Life Is A Struggle)". It is a textured, symbolic painting which tells a similar story as the music does.

"The Power Of Three" track listing:

01. A Dark Horse02. Delusions Of Grandeur03. Everything's Undone04. Blood Hungry Thirst05. On My Mind06. Away From Here07. Before The Mourning Son08. End Of The World09. Missing10. All Is Fair In Love And War

Monte is credited with co-writing songs on PRONG's 2003 album, "Scorpio Rising", and co-writing/co-producing their 2007 CD, "Power Of The Damager", to which he also added backing vocals and bass.

Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD have released a brand new trailer for their feature film "As The Palaces Burn" (which shares its title with the band's 2003 album, shortly getting a remastered 10th anniversary re-release). According to EmpireOnline.com, the initial intention for the documentary, directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Don Argott and produced by 9.14 Pictures ("Last Days Here", "Art Of The Steal", "Rock School"), was to turn his cameras away from LAMB OF GOD and towards the band's international, multicultural fanbase. However, LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe's arrest in Prague, Czech Republic in June 2012 forced the project to drastically switch tracks.

The "As The Palaces Burn" film will premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam between November 20 and December 1. Theatrical and home releases will follow next year.

On June 5, Prague, Czech Republic's High Court upheld Blythe's "not guilty" verdict in connection with the death of a fan three years ago. The court's decision is final.

Blythe was facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a May 2010 incident in which 19-year-old Daniel Nosek, who attended a LAMB OF GOD performance in Prague, died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage.

Though Blythe faced up to 10 years in prison, during the closing argument, prosecutors only asked the judge for the minimum sentence of five years.

In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie, LAMB OF GOD bassist John Campbell spoke about what has been the most life-changing aspect of everything that's happened over the last year. "It definitely makes you wonder where exactly you're headed, what options you have in front of you," he said. "I would say just the not knowing whether or not we were going to continue on with the band was an interesting situation to deal with."

He added: "The incident in Prague was a situation where things were not done the way they were supposed to and a tragedy occurred. There's a reason why things are supposed to happen a certain way and people are supposed to make sure they happen that way this point forward. Randy takes the stage to make sure everybody's there to have a good time and to watch out for everybody, I don't think it’s changed anything at all."


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Capital Chaos TV has uploaded video footage of KATATONIA's October 7 performance at Slim's in San Francisco, California. Check it out below.

KATATONIA's North American tour, "Uncrowned & Vertikal Tour", with CULT OF LUNA plus special guests INTRONAUT and TESSERACT, commenced on September 23 in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Dethroned And Uncrowned" is KATATONIA's debut album on Kscope (sister label of Peaceville), home to ANATHEMA, AMPLIFIER, STEVEN WILSON and most recently, WISDOM OF CROWDS, the new project from Bruce Soord of THE PINEAPPLE THIEF and KATATONIA's very own Jonas Renkse. "Dethroned And Uncrowned" was released on September 10 in North America to celebrate Kscope's fifth anniversary.

The album was funded by a successful PledgeMusic campaign that helped make the recording possible.

Anders Nyström (guitar/vocals) commented, "The synopsis is simple and album title [doesn't] lie; the drums [were] dethroned and the distorted rhythm guitars [were] uncrowned! Instead, we place[d] the emphasis on the many layers of ambience, with the melodies staying central and the vocal harmonies representing the heart of the album. "Think of the album like a person's face in the hands of a surgeon, whose appearance is gonna change, but it's still the same person behind that face and we guess an important factor, in this case, would be that the surgeon itself is obviously KATATONIA, not a stranger! If there's one album in our repertoire that's suited for a thing like this, it's 'Dead End Kings'."

KATATONIA will support PARADISE LOST on the "Tragic Illusion" 25th-anniversary tour in October alongside LACUNA COIL.

Concurrently, also celebrating their own 10th anniversary for their masterful sixth album "Viva Emptiness", KATATONIA will perform the album in its entirety each night to make these shows even more special.

Legendary BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward recently suffered a perforated diverticulitis (a very serious gastrointestinal condition in which the walls of the intestine have become perforated) and underwent surgery in California. The procedure was successful, and Ward is expected to make a full recovery over the next several weeks. As a result, the artist reception with Ward on October 26 at the Annapolis Collection Gallery in Maryland — where he was scheduled to discuss his fine art debut collection, "Absence Of Corners" — is being postponed.

"I am truly sorry that I have to postpone the 'Absence Of Corners' gallery reception," said Ward. "The feedback I have received from everyone about this project has been astounding, and I was so looking forward to this event. I want to thank the Annapolis Collection Gallery for everything they are doing. I am honored that they are exhibiting my art, and I hope to get there to celebrate this collection with you all very soon."

The gallery and Bill Ward have agreed to find another date in the future which will allow him time for a complete recovery.

BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne recently took issue with Ward's contention that he was physically capable of playing drums for the band, which the group has suggested was one reason why he is not on their current tour nor on the band's new album "13". Ward said in an interview that he "would never, ever show up for a commitment that I could not do physically . . . I'm the drummer in SABBATH and quite capable of doing the job." He cited contractual issues as the reason why he declined to participate in the reunion. Ozzy told the New York Daily News about Ward: "I don't think he could have done the gig, to be honest. He's incredibly overweight. A drummer has to be in shape. He's already had two heart attacks. I don't want to be responsible for his life." Despite this, however, Ozzy said "the door is always open" for Ward to return and admitted that without him "it's not the same."

Ward said he would return on one condition, that he "play all or nothing." It's been speculated that SABBATH wanted Ward to play only part of its live shows because he wasn't in shape to perform an entire concert.

Ward was on board for the reunion when it was first announced in November 2011, but backed out soon after.

SABBATH has used Ozzy's regular touring drummer Tommy Clufetos since then for live work. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk laid down the drum tracks on "13", which came out June 11.

Unique Leader, by way of Ninetone Records, has announced the signing of technical death metallers SOREPTION.

Formed in 2005 in Sundsvall, Sweden, SOREPTION hurls forth a bone-shattering onslaught of sharp technical riff sequences, schizophrenic time shifts, thick catchy grooves and ravaging vocals. Released in 2010, the band's debut full-length, "Deterioration Of Minds", was produced and mixed by brothers Tommy and Chris Rehn from symphonic black metal collective ANGTORIA at Ninetone Studios and, commended for their "superior sense of rhythm and razor-sharp precision that will appeal to fans of bands such as CANNIBAL CORPSE, SUFFOCATION, DYING FETUS and THE FACELESS" (Underrated Reviews), quickly earned critical acclaim from the underground elite. Elaborated Global Domination in an 8/10 review of the record, "The tech-death phenomenon leaves no room for error or soul. It's all about technical riffs and arrangements, not to mention the quantized-to-hell drums and cleaned up stops and gos. But if you are into this genre, it's hardly because you want hear soulful playing or actual human groove; no — you expect precision and impressive musicianship. And that is exactly what you get with SOREPTION." SOREPTION will unleash its sophomore full-length CD, "Engineering The Void", in early 2014 followed by a reissue of "Deterioration Of Minds", both via Unique Leader Records. Official worldwide street dates and further info to be announced in the coming weeks.

"Engineering The Void" track listing:

01. Reveal The Unseen02. The Nature Of Blight03. Breaking The Great Narcissist04. A Speech To Survival05. Utopia06. Monumental Burden07. I Am You08. Engineering The Void

SOREPTION is:

Fredrik Söderberg - VocalsAnton Svedin - GuitarsStefan Nordlander - Session GuitaristRickard Persson - BassTony Westermark - Drums

MAYAN — the band featuring EPICA guitarist/songwriter Mark Jansen alongside Jack Driessen (ex-AFTER FOREVER) and Frank Schiphorst — has parted ways with Isaac Delahaye (EPICA).

Said MAYAN in a statement: "As many of you have noticed, Isaac wasn't on our latest band photo.

"We all enjoy being part of this awesome band, but we also realize that each bandmember has a busy career next to it... We all agreed to respect that from each other when we started this adventure.

"Isaac has decided to not take part in MAYAN anymore.

"We hugely thank Isaac for his amazing contributions, the funny moments and dedication. Possibly we'll share the stage again in the future.

"We're already working with a very likely replacement for the job. Soon more news on that.For now, we stay focussed on mixing the upcoming album. We can't wait to share it with you!!!"

Added Isaac in a statement: "I recently decided to leave MAYAN because I want to concentrate on other things. For 'Quarterpast', I got asked to join as a session musician, and I've gladly helped them out. Now I feel it's time to pass this on to someone else.

"It was absolutely awesome to be part of this, to help build up this band, and I wanna thank the fans, the band and everyone involved for the good times. Now all MAYAN has to do is finish that new album so I have some decent stuff to listen to!"

MAYAN recently entered the studio to begin recording 11 new songs for its sophomore album, tentatively due in January 2014 via Nuclear Blast Records. The concept for the CD is based on "the current state of the world which is going totally insane," according to a press release. "For example the explosive situation in Syria, governments who constantly accusing each other of lying, spying and using tricks to revoke their own population." As a very special guest, Floor Jansen, singer of both REVAMP and NIGHTWISH, will contribute her enchanting voice.

Says Mark Jansen: "I am very happy with the songs.

"The first album was one big (cool!) experiment, but I have the feeling that the new material is more coherent and in balance.

"The philosophy of MAYAN is to let things happen intuitively and be totally open-minded for each other’s ideas. This resulted in music that I can't stop listening to myself!"

MAYAN's debut album, "Quarterpast", was released in Europe on May 20, 2011 and in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded and mixed by Sascha Paeth (EPICA, KAMELOT).

In an interview with The Great Southern Brainfart, Mark Jansen stated about MAYAN, "It started as just something for fun but soon it grew into something that had to be perfect as well. I thought it was just for fun to make music with old friends but now it's as serious for me as EPICA is. Of course, EPICA remains my priority band and that's the band that's doing the most of the tours but MAYAN will fill in the gaps."

When asked if the MAYAN material is — conceptually and lyrically — similar to EPICA, Mark replied, "Lyrically, you will find a lot of comparisons because it's my style of writing. I didn't attempt to write about completely different stuff. It could have been lyrics for an EPICA CD as well but music-wise it's completely different. It contains way more grunts and it's way more heavy. It is still symphonic because I love that kind of music. It's like a mixture of SYMPHONY X and OPETH style. That kind of direction."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALTER BRIDGE may have just released its fourth album, titled "Fortress", but singer Myles Kennedy is already working on music for his other band, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS. Kennedy told Billboard.com that Slash's third solo disc is on track for next year, saying, "Slash is sending me his riffs and ideas, so I've been [sending parts to him] via the old phone voice memo. We'll probably get together here later with the other guys, start chipping away at some things, and the goal is to record it next year." Kennedy became Slash's touring vocalist after the ex-GUNS N' ROSES axeman released his self-titled solo debut in 2010. Kennedy took over on lead vocals in the studio as well for last year's "Apocalyptic Love".

Slash has recently added film producer to his resume with this month's release of "Nothing Left To Fear", the first horror movie issued under his Slasher Films production banner.

Meanwhile, ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti will also get to work on the second album from his self-named group toward the end of this year as well, saying, "I'll be getting with the guys and trying to find a window maybe in December or January just to write some material. The next time we tour as TREMONTI will probably be after we get some new material done, so it will probably be at least six months till we play some shows."

The touring version of TREMONTI featured VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen in the lineup, although it's not clear whether he'll appear on the next CD.

ALTER BRIDGE's "Fortress" arrived last Tuesday (October 8) and follows up the group's last release, 2010's "AB III".

The band jets off to Europe for a month of shows starting on October 16. Full North American tour plans are still to be announced.

Cult Swedish black/death metal act NECROPHOBIC has officially parted ways with vocalist Tobias Sidegård.

A Swedish appeals court last month reduced the prison sentence for Sidegård, who was accused of beating his wife multiple times between September 2011 and April 2013.

Sidegård was originally sentenced to 18 months in prison for "gross violation of a woman's integrity," and offense that was first introduced into the Penal Code in 1998 dealing with repeated punishable acts directed by men against women who have or have had a close relationship with the perpetrator.

On September 20, the Svea appeals court found Sidegård guilty of simple assault — a less serious offense than "gross violation of a woman's integrity" — and reduced his prison sentence to six months. The musician was also ordered to pay his wife 16,000 Swedish kronor (approximately $2,500) in damages plus interest.

Said NECROPHOBIC in a statement: "Tobias is no longer a member of NECROPHOBIC. The verdict following his trial regrettably left us, the band, with no other choice.

"As stated before, NECROPHOBIC do not accept or tolerate domestic violence in any way. "We will now search for a replacement. "Tobias will make a statement of his own within the next couple of days, which he will publish on his Facebook page."

In addition to allegations of violence against his wife, Sidegård was suspected of physically abusing his daughters with a homemade bullwhip.

The Swedish-language document detailing the Svea appeals court's decision to reduce Tobias' sentence can be downloaded as a PDF file at this location.

Two separate Swedish media reports (in which Sidegård was not identified by name) from May 2013 regarding the allegations against the NECROPHOBIC frontman can be found by following these links:

* Aftonbladet.se* Expressen.se

Sidegård previously denied all charges through his attorney, claiming that the injuries suffered by Tobias' wife that were described in the indictment occurred in "other ways" than through physical abuse perpetrated by the musician.

Tobias sent an e-mail to the Metal Insider and MetalSucks web sites last month insisting that he was "set free after second appeal in higher court." "I've been fucking innocently accused and never hit a woman in my life," he wrote.

NECROPHOBIC will release its seventh full-length album, "Womb Of Lilithu", on October 29 (four days earlier in Europe) via Season Of Mist. A digital single featuring the new song "Splendour Nigri Solis", taken from the forthcoming CD, was released exclusively through Spotify on August 19 (September 3 in North America).

"Womb Of Lilithu" track listing:

01. Womb Of Lilithu02. Splendour Nigri Solis03. Astaroth04. Furfur05. Black Night Raven06. The Necromancer07. Marquis Phenex08. Asmodee09. Marchosias10. Matanbuchus11. Paimon12. Opium Black13. Infinite Infernalis14. Amdusias

The song "Asmodee" can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below (courtesy of RevolverMag.com).

"Covenant", the classic album from Floridian death metal legends MORBID ANGEL, is due to be reissued in Europe on limited edition Full Dynamic Range vinyl LP to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the LP's release.

Originally issued in 1993, "Covenant" is the band's third album and has been specially remastered from the original tapes in Full Dynamic Range (FDR) audio, allowing the music's nuances to shine through and giving the album a more ferocious, immersive and dynamic sound than ever before.

MORBID ANGEL vocalist/bassist David Vincent comments: "'Covenant' was and still remains a very important release in our career.

"We are all excited to revisit this album in celebration of its 20th anniversary, both on stage and on wax.

"For purists and vinyl aficionados alike, this new full dynamic master pressing is sure to illuminate the analog sonic fury that we captured in 1993."

The vinyl will be available in the following quantities and colours:

100 - Green (Earache Webstore exclusive) **200 - Clear (Earache Webstore exclusive) **200 - Dark Blue with Light Blue Splatter *300 - Clear with Black Marble *300 - White with Black Splatter **400 - Clear with Red Marble **1400 - Black *

* includes free sticker** includes free sticker and slipmat

The "Covenant" Full Dynamic Range vinyl is due to be released on November 4 through the Earache European webstore, and will also be available in limited quantities directly from the band on the band's "Covenant" 20th-anniversary U.S. tour.

The vinyl will be available for pre-order on Friday, October 18 from the Earache webstore at this location.

The Full Dynamic Range edition of "Covenant" will also be released in Europe on iTunes on November 4.

Dark Sirens recently conducted an interview with former NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Dark Sirens: Now that you're on your own, have you received invitations from new bands to join them? Or would you like to create a new band?

Anette: I get invitations from different projects all the time, but so far, I haven't found any of them suitable for me.

Dark Sirens: What are your plans musically?

Anette: Some plans are still secret, but my solo album will be out next year.

Dark Sirens: How is the process of writing your new album? Will it be a personal album or have a concept?

Anette: It's a personal album and the songs are written mostly in 2009 but also some are done now. I write quite sad songs and I guess it's because I'm like the clowns who look happy on the outside but have a lot of sorrow and hurt on the inside. Things that have been painful in the past is easy to use in my lyrics.

Dark Sirens: What will be the genre of this new music? Anette: Hard to say a genre since there's so many different songs.

Dark Sirens: What do you think about the duet between [former NIGHTWISH singer] Tarja [Turunen] and [WITHIN TEMPTATION frontwoman] Sharon [Den Adel on the new WITHIN TEMPTATION single, "Paradise (What About Us?)"]?

Anette: I think it's great and the song is catchy and fun. Both ladies are amazing singers, so can't be anything other than a hit!

Dark Sirens: Would you like to do a duet with Tarja?

Anette: Yes, that would be fun.

Dark Sirens: What do you think about the drama that is happening to Carly Smithson, singer from WE ARE THE FALLEN, when people compared her with Amy Lee from EVANESCENCE? You've been in that situation where people criticized. What would you say to those fans who criticize without knowing anything about Carly's music?

Anette: I think the whole comparison between singers is a bit sad, 'cause everyone is good in their own way and should be appreciated for their talent. I understand some fans who can feel disappointed in singer changes, but there's a difference in being sad about it and then to hate and spit out their frustration in YouTube and other forums. If you don't like the new singer, listen to the old singer's albums and move along. Do not give innocent people hate they do not deserve.

Dark Sirens: Do you think that [the new NIGHTWISH singer] Floor Jansen will go through the same situation as you and Tarja?

Anette: She might have to do that, but after knowing our situations, I guess she also has the choice of not taking the job so she has the power still to choose.

Dark Sirens: Having been so criticized and despised by many fans for not have a lyrical voice, how does it feel to know that there are many fans who miss your voice and want your solo album?

Anette: That's so nice and there's a lot of fans who liked my voice in NIGHTWISH, but they aren't the ones who write in the Internet. We sold so many albums of 'Dark Passion Play", which only proves I was liked by many, so I am happy I'm gonna release my solo for those who liked my voice. There are so much more to show people than I've done so far.

Italian heavy rockers LACUNA COIL have have completed recording their new album with producer Jay Baumgardner (P.O.D., SEVENDUST, EVANESCENCE, PAPA ROACH) for an early 2014 release via Century Media Records.

Says LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia: "I am so anxious to hear it mixed and mastered."

LACUNA COIL co-vocalist Andrea Ferro previously stated about the new CD: "We met Jay a few years ago in L.A. and had a really positive feeling about him, as he has produced and mixed some of my favourite records and some very relevant rock/metal albums.

"We have decided to work with him, because he has the ability to work together with the band towards a common vision without driving the band away from their sound.

"In the studio, there is the right energy that allows common people to achieve uncommon results!"

Cristiano "Pizza" Migliore (guitar): "Yeah, we're very excited about finally recording new songs — and I can assure you that the new stuff kicks ass!"

LACUNA COIL will soon join the "Tragic Illusion Tour" that will celebrate PARADISE LOST's 25th anniversary. A few days earlier, they will perform at the Metal Female Voices Fest in Belgium.

LACUNA COIL's latest album, "Dark Adrenaline", sold around 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart. It marked the band's second CD with producer Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) at the helm.

"We changed producers on our last album, 'Shallow Life', and we wanted to work with Don," Scabbia told KNAC.COM. "I think that we wanted to change producers mainly to see what we could do with a different person. A producer is much like a teacher and we wanted to learn something new and we found that our goals and Don's were much the same. When listening to 'Dark Adrenaline', I can say that there is so much different. We are more experienced now and more confident in our sound and we get inspired to try to do more with each new record."

The official lyric video for the song "Swoop Of The Falcon" from HAIL OF BULLETS, the Dutch death metal band featuring GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby, THANATOS guitarists Stephan Gebédi and Paul Baayens, vocalist Martin Van Drunen (HAIL OF BULLETS, PESTILENCE, ASPHYX) and former HOUWITSER bass player Theo van Eekelen, can be seen below. The track comes off HAIL OF BULLETS' third album, "III: The Rommel Chronicles", which will be released on October 29 (one day earlier internationally) via Metal Blade Records.

"III The Rommel Chronicles" began to take shape in the second half of 2012 when HAIL OF BULLETS started writing songs for this third album, which sees the band approaching things a bit differently lyric-wise. Instead of describing a certain campaign or theatre of war, this album focuses on the military life, rise and fall of German field marshal Erwin Rommel.

Despite fighting on the wrong side, Rommel was undeniably a great strategist who was both feared and admired by his enemies.

Musically, "III The Rommel Chronicles" recalls a bit of their debut album. The songs are faster, more raw, more aggressive and direct than on "On Divine Winds" which had a more epic, heroic feel. Once again, production duties were handled by Ed Warby and the album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö. A new lyrical approach also necessitated a different style of artwork, which was provided by Dutch artist Erik Wijnands.

Swanö stated about the new HAIL OF BULLETS longplayer: "HAIL OF BULLETS return for their third album, armed to the teeth with a thunderous death metal onslaught that combines the raw ferocity of the first album with the more expanded arrangements of the second. A death metal masterpiece!"

"III The Rommel Chronicles" track listing:

01. Swoop Of The Falcon02. Pour Le Mérite03. DG-704. To The Last Breath Of Man And Beast05. DAK06. The Desert Fox07. Tobruk08. Farewell To Africa09. The Final Front10. Death Of A Field Marshal

As previously reported, a picture-disc version of HAIL OF BULLETS' debut album, "Of Frost And War", was released on February 4 via Metal Blade. The picture disc is strictly limited to 500 copies.

HAIL OF BULLETS's second full-length album, "On Divine Winds", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 75.

HAIL OF BULLETS is:

Martin Van Drunen - VocalsPaul Baayens - GuitarStephan Gebédi - GuitarTheo Van Eekelen - BassEd Warby - Drums