"DG-7", a brand new song 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 streamed using the SoundCloud widget below (courtesy of Stereogum). 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

STRYPER's November 16 concert at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California will be filmed a for a forthcoming CD/DVD. Tickets for the show can be purchased at Ticketweb.com.

STRYPER's new album, "No More Hell To Pay", will be released on November 5 in North America via Frontiers Records. The effort will be made available in two formats — standard CD and deluxe digipak featuring exclusive video content. Produced by Michael Sweet himself, the set features some of STRYPER's strongest and heaviest material ever.

"No More Hell To Pay" includes STRYPER's cover version of "Jesus Is Just Alright", a gospel song written by Arthur Reid Reynolds. STRYPER guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet said, "It rivals our cover of EARTH, WIND & FIRE's 'Shining Star' — riffs!"

"No More Hell To Pay" track listing:

01. Revelation02. No More Hell To Pay03. Saved By Love04. Jesus Is Just Alright05. The One06. Legacy07. Marching Into Battle08. Te Amo09. Sticks & Stones10. Water Into Wine11. Sympathy12. Renewed

Regarding the musical direction of STRYPER's new material, Michael Sweet told Screamer Magazine: "The song 'God', which is on 'The Covering'; if you took that song along with 'Bleeding From Inside Out' and 'Blackened' [from 'Second Coming'], and you put it on the same album, that's a pretty good indication of where we are going and where we are at right now. But at the same time this album is all its own."

He added: "Every song has a hooky guitar riff. Everything is in minor keys, so it's a little darker sounding and a little tougher. It's definitely our heaviest record and I think people will be pleasantly surprised.

"The people who do like the poppier side of STRYPER, like 'Calling On You' and 'Holding On', this record isn't going to really give them that. There are a lot of vocal hooks and melodies going on, but it's a little darker, and a little edgier. To reference, there is less songs like 'Calling On You' and more songs like 'To Hell With The Devil'. It's more in that vein than the poppier vein."

Seattle metal band SHADED ENMITY has released a song called "And Life Was Great..." featuring Warrel Dane (NEVERMORE, SANCTUARY) on lead vocals. The track, which was recorded, mixed and mastered by Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES, JEFF LOOMIS, INTO THE FLOOD) at Envisage Audio, is exclusively available for download on Bandcamp.

"And Life Was Great..." was laid down during the sessions for SHADED ENMITY's most recent release, "Forsaken And Forgotten", which came out in June. The album is currently available via iTunes, Bandcamp and various other digital music providers.

SHADED ENMITY plans to press a limited-edition digipack version of "Forsaken And Forgotten" which will also include the single "And Life Was Great..." featuring Dane.

Due to "unforeseen circumstances," NIGHTRAGE's former singer, Jimmie Strimell (ENDS WITH A BULLET, ex-DEAD BY APRIL, DEATHDESTRUCTION) was unable to rejoin the band for their September 20 concert in Gothenburg, Sweden. Handling lead vocals at the show was Ronnie Nyman from ALWAYS WAR. Also appearing with NIGHTRAGE founder/guitarist Marios Iliopoulos at the Gothenburg concert were drummer Marcus Rosell (ENDS WITH A BULLET, DORM PATROL) and guitarist Jesper Strömblad (THE RESISTANCE, CEREMONIAL OATH, ex-IN FLAMES).

Fan-filmed video footage of the September 20 performance can be seen below.

Vocalist Antony Hämäläinen left NIGHTRAGE in June in order "to explore other musical ventures."

Iliopoulos recently revealed that he was preparing to begin the songwriting process for the band's new album, which is expected in 2014. The group is also seeking a suitable label home for the upcoming CD following NIGHTRAGE's split with Lifeforce Records.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Hämäläinen was unable to perform with NIGHTRAGE at the Gothenburg Sound Festival on January 5 at Trädgårn in Gothenburg, Sweden. His replacement for this show was NIGHTRAGE's former frontman Tomas Lindberg from AT THE GATES.

Lindberg — who is also known for his work with THE CROWN and LOCK UP — appeared on NIGHTRAGE's first two albums (2003's "Sweet Vengeance" and 2005's "Descent Into Chaos") before being replaced by Jimmie Strimell, who sang on 2007's "A New Disease Is Born".

NIGHTRAGE's fifth album, "Insidious", was released in September 2011 via Lifeforce Records. The CD featured guest appearances by Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND), Tomas S. Englund (EVERGREY), Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS), John K (BIOMECHANICAL) and Lindberg.

Ex-PAPA ROACH drummer Dave Buckner rejoined his former bandmates on stage on September 14 at the the Aftershock festival at Discovery Park in Sacramento, California to perform the song "Last Resort". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

PAPA ROACH was sued in 2008 by Buckner, who claimed that he had not been receiving his fair share of the group's earnings and that he had not received a complete accounting from the group or its management. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix told The Pulse of Radio in early 2009 that the suit was being settled, and that his feelings about Buckner had not been affected by it. "Legal is legal, you know, but it's like the essence of the lawsuit is to dissolve his business relationship with us, which is completely understandable," he said. "But as far as like personal goes, I, you know, we wish no ill will on him."

PAPA ROACH permanently split with Buckner at the beginning of 2008, following a year-long period in which he went to rehab twice. He was replaced by ex-UNWRITTEN LAW drummer Tony Palermo.

The reunited METAL CHURCH — Ronny Munroe on vocals, Kurdt Vanderhoof and Rick Van Zandt on guitars, Steve Unger on bass, and Jeff Plate on drums — will release tenth studio album, "Generation Nothing", on October 22 via Kurdt's label Body Of Work Recordings in conjunction with Rat Pak Records.

"Generation Nothing" track listing:

01. Bullet Proof 02. Dead City 03. Generation Nothing 04. Noises In The Wall 05. Jump The Gun 06. Suiciety 07. Scream 08. Hits Keep Comin' 09. Close To The Bone 10. The Media Horse

The "Generation Nothing" title track can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

According to Vanderhoof, "Generation Nothing" — which was recorded at Kurdt's English Channel studio in Washingtion — marks a "return to [METAL CHURCH's] classic metal sound. It has elements of the first album and 'The Dark', but still embraces the new sound of the band without chasing the past."

Munroe said in a recent interview with Metal Assault that the new METAL CHURCH effort would contain material that is "very reminiscent of the old days with some stuff that's very 'now.'" He added: "There's a bit of… I'm not going to say 'prog' because it's not, but there's a couple of elements in there that are a little bit progressive. For the most part, out of this batch of songs, they really sound more reminiscent of the early days than anything we've done before with this lineup. This excites me very much, and I think the fans are really going to dig it."

Regarding the circumstances that led to METAL CHURCH's breakup in 2009, Ronny said: "Well, in a nutshell, without going into a huge and long story here, it was certain aspects of things that had continued to happen to the band throughout its career. Not having the proper management and the proper people in place that were handling us. You know, we ended up taking some shows we shouldn't have taken and that just led to where Kurdt was really getting fed up and then we all kind of got that way. Basically, we figured before we end up disbanding because of other reasons such as maybe starting to fight with one another or whatnot, we decided to go ahead and end it then. We all ended up friends and we wanted to keep it that way. So I won't go into specifics, but we all know what the music industry is like now compared to what it was like back then. We just didn't have the right people in our camp."

Asked what the band is going to do differently this time around to avoid falling into the same trap, Ronny said: "This time around we're going to release this next record on Kurdt's label. Basically, Kurdt and the band and whatnot are taking a lot more control of the situation. Yes, maybe the downloading thing is even worse than 2009, but also on the other hand, if you know what you're doing and you use the Internet correctly, you can actually have success. Kurdt's been doing that with his prog band PRESTO BALLET and whatnot. In this day and age, the time is right to go and try something on your own. If it doesn't work, you can always end up going out and searching for a label or something. We're going to take a shot at it and see what happens and I think we're probably going to have some decent success."

British heavy metal legends SAXON produce a series of alternative takes on classic favorites to herald a worthy new entry to the Saxonian Institute of Metal.

There is always feral beauty in a raging beast…and with "Unplugged And Strung Up", SAXON's selection of unique, fresh and adventurous interpretations of material previously heard only with raw heavy metal thunder, the point is triumphantly underscored.

"Unplugged And Strung Up" reveals layers and pieces previously dormant in many of the 14 classic SAXON songs chosen for this makeover, thanks to some ear-catching new arrangements and mixes. Recorded, mixed and mastered with Andy Sneap in Derbyshire, U.K. earlier this year, "Unplugged And Strung Up" contains re-evaluated, re-worked and re-energized versions of "The Eagle Has Landed" and "Crusader" by introducing orchestral dynamics to offer added dimension. "Frozen Rainbow", from the band's 1979 debut, gets a stunning acoustic reprisal which transports it into a power ballad to be proud of, while "Red Star Falling" soars and sweeps the emotions with its orchestrally arranged dovetail.

As if this reinvention wasn't enough, SAXON superfans and collectors can purchase a digipak version of the release which will include 2002's storming set of full-volume, pedal-to-the-metal re-recorded hits "Heavy Metal Thunder". Featuring staple SAXON stormers such as "Motorcycle Man", "Strong Arm Of The Law" and "Dallas 1pm", it is a quintessential part of any collection.

The standard single CD of "Unplugged And Strung Up" will come in a jewel case, and a double-vinyl gatefold sleeve version of the release will also be available. The digipack will be a two-disc version of the release featuring the bonus disc "Heavy Metal Thunder", and there will be a digital release of the same.

"Unplugged and Strung Up" track listing:

01. Stallions Of The Highway (remix)02. Crusader (orchestral version)03. Battle Cry04. The Eagle Has Landed (orchestral version)05. Red Star Falling (orchestral version)06. Broken Heroes (orchestral version)07. Call To Arms (orchestral version)08. Militia Guard09. Forever Free (re-recorded version)10. Just Let Me Rock (re-recorded version)11. Frozen Rainbow (acoustic version)12. Iron Wheels (live acoustic version)13. Requiem (acoustic version)14. Coming Home (acoustic version)

"Heavy Metal Thunder" track listing:

01. Heavy Metal Thunder02. Strong Arm Of The Law03. Power & The Glory04. And The Bands Played On05. Crusader06. Dallas 1pm07. Princess Of The Night08. Wheels Of Steel09. 747 (Strangers In The Night)10. Motorcycle Man11. Never Surrender12. Denim & Leather13. Backs To The Wall

Swedish thrashers DARKANE has joined forces with Helsingborgs Brewery to create Darkale. The band says: "You guessed it, we’re talking beer. Ale to be specific. This delightful ale will unfortunately only be available in Sweden."

This fall, Helsingborgs Brewery will step over to the dark side to give you a delicious hybrid of thrash metal and Skåne ölkunnande. The result is a tough and complex ale, equally inspired by fair means commodities of ferocious double pedals and heavy riffs. Meet Darkale, a proud partnership with Helsingborg, Sweden-based band DARKANE. You get a dark and tasty brew with unexpected nuances and many levels.

Helsingborgs Brewery describes Darkale as a "dark mahogany red-brown ale with a light foam. The taste is a bit malty with some burnt notes and caramel fudge. Easy hopped with fruity and some ortiga tones. Easy to drink for its variety and is perfect for your favorite metal music and some snacks. "

Says DARKANE: "We are extremely proud of this collaboration.

"We started actually recording our latest album, 'The Sinister Supremacy', which came out last summer, with a beer tasting at Helsingborgs Brewery and already there were sown enough seeds of this amazing collaboration. We hope all the avid beer drinking headbangers around the country will like this ale as much as we do."

Darkale will be on sale at Systembolaget in the Helsingborg vicinity and in the rest of the Sweden through Systembolaget's ordering catalog from the middle of October and for a limited period.

British guitarist Mario Parga has announced that he has formed a new Los Angeles based all-acoustic trio called BONNET, PARGA & HEAVENSTONE with his longtime friend Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MSG, ALCATRAZZ) on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Beth-Ami Heavenstone (HARDLY DANGEROUS, TOMI RAE BROWN) on acoustic bass and backing vocals. Mario will provide lead acoustic guitar and backing vocals to the trio, who are currently recording new material and rehearsing for live shows around the world.

Mario said: "I've always loved acoustic music and have played the acoustic guitar along with the electric since I began playing years ago.

"The acoustic trio will give us the opportunity to play a variety of songs, from old to new and a couple of instrumentals in an 'unplugged' environment with a clear, clean sound.

"The acoustic guitar has great dynamics, and it can be used to great effect for rhythms and solos.

"Graham sounds particularly amazing in an acoustic setting; he's able to use his entire vocal range and dynamics, from the softest melodies to, well, Graham!

"Beth-Ami's acoustic bass powers and grooves the trio with the bottom end, and her backing vocals complement Graham's voice.

"Beth's been around on the L.A. circuit for decades and can play just about anything.

"We have a few new songs that are being recorded at my place and will be featured on our website soon (www.acoustictrio.net).

"Live shows are currently being set up and will be announced on the trio's website

"We hope to see our old fans and new at the acoustic shows, and for them to hear us in a new setting."

Pennsylvanian rockers HALESTORM will release their new EP, "ReAniMate 2.0: The CoVeRs eP", on October 15 via Atlantic.

The EP marks the acclaimed hard rock band's first new release since their stunning Grammy Awards triumph earlier this year, as well as the follow-up to 2011's "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP". As with its predecessor, "ReAniMate 2.0: The CoVeRs eP" sees HALESTORM putting their distinctive brand on a strikingly eclectic collection of classic songs, including legendary tracks by JUDAS PRIEST, AC/DC, PAT BENATAR, FLEETWOOD MAC, MARILYN MANSON, and DAFT PUNK.

"Like our first 'ReAniMate' EP, the songs included here are a collection of both our favorite songs and songs to challenge ourselves," said HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale. We decided to go more 'bare bones' with this EP, meaning minimal production with live, gritty performances. We recorded this EP the week of the Grammys, so the excitement and debauchery you hear through your speakers is very real. We hope all our fans have as much fun with 'ReAniMate: 2.0' as we did!"

"ReAniMate 2.0: The CoVeRs eP" track listing: 01. Dissident Aggressor (originally performed by JUDAS PRIEST)02. Get Lucky (originally performed by DAFT PUNK)03. Shoot To Thrill (originally performed by AC/DC)04. Hell Is For Children (originally performed by PAT BENATAR)05. Gold Dust Woman (originally performed by FLEETWOOD MAC)06. 1996 (originally performed by MARILYN MANSON)

The "Get Lucky" cover is now available for streaming using the SoundCloud widget below (courtesy of RevolverMag.com).

2011's "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP" contained covers of tracks from SKID ROW, LADY GAGA and GUNS N' ROSES. Singer Lzzy Hale told The Pulse Of Radio that recording other artists' songs helps her own writing. "There's just nothing like singing and playing and picking apart an already proven amazing song," she said. "I think it helps you as a songwriter. I'll write a song and be like, 'Well, is that as good as HEART's 'All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You', and I'll have to be like, 'No, back to the drawing board.'"

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

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 official video for the song "The Enemy Inside" from progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER can be seen below (courtesy of Billboard.com). The track comes off the band's new, self-titled album, which will be released on September 24 via Roadrunner Records. Directed by Bill Fishman (RAMONES, STEVE RAY VAUGHAN), the strictly conceptual clip deals with the torment of a soldier who's struggling with reintegrating into his life back home due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Regarding the song's lyrics, guitarist John Petrucci tells Billboard.com: "At the time that we were in the studio working on the [new DREAM THEATER] album and I was writing lyrics, the Boston Marathon bombings happened. There was a lot of discussion of terrorism and PTSD as if affects people who witness traumatic events like terrorism, so it was just very on my mind. It linked very well with the mood of the song, and as we started to get into it, I watched some documentaries and things like that. I was like, 'This is really something that needs to be written about.'"

Speaking to Ultimate-Guitar.com, Petrucci stated about "Dream Theater": "I think it's building on [what we did on the "A Dramatic Turn of Events" album], but taking it to the next level. One of the things I really wanted to do on 'A Dramatic Turn of Events' was to create something that was sonically very rich and high-def and powerful and I think we accomplished that. But on this album, I wanted to take that even further…. [I wanted to] get more cinematic with it and more earthy and aggressive and bigger. I wanted a bigger, more forward in-your-face kind of sound. I think that kind of dictated the sounds we went for while we were writing and recording and then ultimately how it was mixed. So yeah, it was kind of building on that, but taking it to the next level. You always need to progress and to try and do something different and kind of have a little bit different take on it and a different perspective. But hopefully make it better as you go."

The nine-track disc was recorded at Cove City Studio in Glen Cove, Long Island, with Petrucci producing and Richard Chycki engineering and mixing. It's the band's second album with drummer Mike Mangini, and the first one on which he was a part of the writing process from Day One.

In January, Petrucci said of Mangini's work: "When people hear the drumming on this album, they're gonna be pretty freaked out. On the last album, he did a great job, but he wasn't there for the writing process and he was interpreting drum parts that I had programmed. Even though he used his creativity, of course, to change them up and do his thing, I feel like now he's just Mike Mangini unleashed. It's all him. It's all his creativity, all his decisions and ideas and man, the guy's an animal."

"Dream Theater" track listing:

01. False Awakening SuiteI. Sleep ParalysisII. Night TerrorsIII. Lucid Dream02. The Enemy Inside03. The Looking Glass04. Enigma Machine05. The Bigger Picture06. Behind The Veil07. Surrender To Reason08. Along For The Ride09. Illumination TheoryI. Paradoxe de la Lumière NoireII. Live, Die, KillIII. The Embracing CircleIV. The Pursuit of TruthV. Surrender, Trust & Passion

"Dream Theater" will be available in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard and special edition CDs, 180-gram double LP, and a limited-edition boxed set.

DREAM THEATER will be on tour in Europe in January and February 2014, and in North America in March 2014.

"Live At Luna Park", DREAM THEATER's live concert, which was previously scheduled for release in May via Eagle Rock Entertainment, will now drop in North America on November 5 as a Blu-ray, 2DVD, 2DVD + 3CD, Blu-ray + 3CD, deluxe edition with 40-page book, Blu-ray + 2DVD + 3CD, and digital video via iTunes.

"Live At Luna Park" was filmed over two nights in South America — home to one of DREAM THEATER's most ardent fanbases. The DVD was filmed August 19 and August 20, 2012 at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina after a 15-month world tour, hitting 35 countries.

The official video for "Beneath A Veil Of Crying Souls", the new single from Swedish progressive/power metal veterans TAD MOROSE, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Studio 4 at the Thrash Mansion in Bollnäs, Sweden. The single will be released on September 28.

After a 10-year hiatus, TAD MOROSE will release its seventh album, "Revenant", on November 20 via Despotz Records. The CD was recorded at Claustrophobic Studio in Gävle, Sweden.

"TAD MOROSE is a band that I've followed since my teenage days," said Despotz founder Ömer Akay. "They have their unique sound of melodic power metal and a touch of prog metal.

"After a decade of silence, it will be an honour to put TAD MOROSE back on the map again!" Added TAD MOROSE guitarist Christer "Krunt" Anderson: "It was through our new management, Lena Graaf at GMR Music Group, that we came in contact with Despotz Records. They seem to be a hard-working and innovative record label, so to sign with them feels very good. It will be very exciting to work with them and we look forward to the release of our seventh album, 'Revenant', in November." TAD MOROSE debuted back in 1993 with the album "Leaving The Past Alive" and has since released five LPs and toured all around the world.

TAD MOROSE in August 2008 announced the addition of singer Ronny Hemlin (STEEL ATTACK) and bassist Tommi Karppanen (ex-MORGANA LEFAY) to the group's ranks.

TAD MOROSE is:

Guitar: Christer "Krunt" AnderssonDrums: Peter MorénBass: Tommi KarppanenVocals: Ronny HemlinGuitar: Kenneth Jonsson

The official lyric video for the song "Temple Of The Living Dead" from Swedish rockers NOCTUM can be seen below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Final Sacrifice", which will be released on October 29 via Metal Blade Records. The cover art was painted by Timo Ketola (SUNN O))), ARKTAU EOS) and fits perfectly with the album's raw, natural sound.

"Final Sacrifice" is a fictional horror story where each song communicates a portion of the overall narrative. The "final sacrifice" is like a red thread that ties the songs together and is the concept behind the art. "Final Sacrifice" is an analog piece of art in both audio and visual aspects.

In the town of Uppsala, Sweden in the year 2009, a band called SÉANCE was formed. Moving at breakneck speed the band formed in September, recorded a two-song demo after adding guitarist Per Wikström to the lineup in October, and by November had changed their name to NOCTUM. Within those three months, the band signed an LP deal with High Roller Records, and a CD deal with Stormspell Records.

NOCTUM's debut album, "The Séance", was released in September 2010 via High Roller and in December by Stormspell. The band finally embarked on its first European tour in July of 2011, and followed that up with a new EP, "The Fiddler".

By August of 2011, NOCTUM created enough buzz in the underground to gain the attention of Metal Blade Records, which led to a new worldwide record deal.

With a new record deal in place with a global label, NOCTUM spent the majority of 2012 refining their sound and writing new songs. Their search for original and interesting material led them to a heavier and darker sound. The progression came very naturally for the band and differs from the typical '70s vibe. The new material successfully evokes a heaviness and emotion one might not expect from a "retro"-sounding band.

NOCTUM toured Europe again in 2012, and then welcomed the addition of drummer Fredrik Jansson after Gustaf's departure. Jansson, who spent time in WITCHCRAFT, COUNT RAVEN, and ABRAMIS BRAMA, was added to the lineup in time to record "Final Sacrifice" in April 2013.

"Final Sacrifice" track listing:

01. Conflagration02. Liberty In Death03. Resurrected In Evil04. Deadly Connection05. Void of Emptiness06. The Revisit07. A Burning Will08. Temple Of The Living Dead09. Azoth

NOCTUM is:

David Indelöf - Guitar/VocalsDaniel Johansson - GuitarTobias Rosén - BassFredrik Jansson – Drums

Florida death metal veterans DEICIDE will release their new album, "In The Minds Of Evil", on November 26 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at AudioHammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER).

"In The Minds Of Evil" track listing:

01. In The Minds Of Evil02. Thou Begone03. Godkill04. Beyond Salvation05. Misery Of One06. Between The Flesh And The Void07. Even The Gods Can Bleed08. Trample The Cross09. Banished By Evil10. Kill The Light Of Christ11. End The Wrath Of God

The cover artwork (see below) was taken from Australian artist Simon Cowell's painting Power Of The Mind, and offers a fitting face to the album's 11 tracks.

DEICIDE drummer Steve Asheim recently told Decibel magazine about the band's working relationship with Suecof: "It's awesome! I've known Jason since '08. I had been going out to do the ORDER OF ENNEAD records with him. The last DEICIDE record we did with Mark [Lewis], but I've known Jason a long time, so I asked him if he was into it. He said, 'Absolutely!' I wanted to get one done ovith him before something happens. You never know."

Regarding the lyrical themes covered on the new DEICIDE album, Asheim said: "[The lyrics] are typical Glen Benton. Blasphemous, brutal rhetoric. We're going to get down and dirty this Blasphemous, brutal rhetoric. We're going to get down and dirty this time around, so expect the lyrics to be brutal."

According to Asheim, longtime fans will pick up on nuances inspired by the almighty "Legion" effort. "Jason wanted to capture the 'Legion' feel," the drummer said. "We're wanting Glen's vocals to sound more old-school. So, it's a bit of the new with a little throwback action."

As for DEICIDE's time at Audiohammer, Asheim said: "It's pretty cut-and-dried these days. I've known Jason a few years. I kind of know his methodology, how he works. It's a far drive, so we'll spend two or three nights there. Once we knock it out, we'll end up partying. We repeat that the next day."

"To Hell With God" sold 2,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

DEICIDE's previous CD, "Till Death Do Us Part", opened with 2,900 copies back in May 2008.

The official lyric video for "The Dream Calls For Blood", the title track of the seventh album from San Francisco Bay Area metallers DEATH ANGEL, can be seen below. Due on October 11 in Europe (except for the U.K. where it will arrive three days later) and October 15 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records, the follow-up to 2010's "Relentless Retribution" was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER), and once again features cover art by Brent Elliot White (JOB FOR A COWBOY, CARNIFEX, WHITECHAPEL). Fans will be able to purchase a standard jewelcase version of the album or digipak edition that includes a bonus track and bonus DVD.

"The Dream Calls For Blood" track listing:

01. Left For Dead02. Son Of The Morning03. Fallen04. The Dream Calls For Blood05. Succubus06. Execution - Don’t Save Me07. Caster Of Shame08. Detonate09. Empty10. Territorial Instinct / Bloodlust11. Heaven And Hell (digipak bonus track)

Digipak bonus DVD

* The Making Of "The Dream Calls For Blood"

DEATH ANGEL's North American headlining tour in support of "The Dream Calls For Blood" will kick off on October 18 in San Francisco. Support on the trek will come from 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, BATTLECROSS, REVOCATION and DIAMOND PLATE.

"We are so excited to announce this upcoming tour," commented DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda.

"We worked so hard writing, and recording this record! Especially writing this while on the road for the last three years of touring. And it reflects the triumphs, and mainly hardships, of all we went through while touring. The anger, perseverance, and energy was captured on the recording of 'The Dream Calls For Blood'.

"This tour is the PERFECT springboard to launch off of and back on the road; hungrier and more focused then ever! With a lineup of bands handpicked by us, you’re basically sonically ravaged from the moment the lights dim at the beginning of the night until the lights turn back on at the end! I'm confident every band on this bill plan on sending you home feeling like you've survived a massacre that you can't help but brag about.

"Look forward to feeding off each other's energy!

"Stay hungry! Stay thrash! See you on the road, in the pit, and at the bar!!!"

The San Francisco, Hollywood and Ramona gigs are considered CD-release shows and everyone that purchases a ticket will also receive a copy of the new DEATH ANGEL album at the show.

The new version of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS featuring LINKIN PARK's Chester Bennington will release an EP, "High Rise", on October 8 via 13Star Records. The effort will contain five new tracks:

01. Out Of Time02. Black Heart03. Same On The Inside04. Cry Cry05. Tomorrow

The official lyric video for the song "Black Heart" can now be seen below.

"Out Of Time" reached the No. 1 position on both the Mediabase Active Rock and Mainstream Rock chart last month.

"In terms of style, when the DeLeo brothers [Dean and bassist Robert] get in the studio and start writing, they have a very unique way of putting chords together and structures and the type of chord progressions they put together," Bennington told Fuse News of the writing process in the new STP. "So, in that sense, it's gonna be undeniably the sound of STP — I mean, they're the heart and soul of the band. Naturally, I'm not [former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer] Scott [Weiland], so I'm not gonna think of the same melodies, I'm not gonna think of the same lyrical content and such, so in that sense, naturally, there's gonna be a difference in terms of how I interpret what the band puts together musically. I think that's one of the reasons why we're so eager to get the [new STONE TEMPLE PILOTS] EP out, because we want people to hear the new direction and feel the vibe of the new music. Because there's definitely a vibe in that EP that is fresh and it's new but it still feels very STP."

He added: "When we started writing, the ideas came so fast; every single day, it semed like there was four or five things that we were all bringing in and contributing in terms of new songs. We could have easily spent three more months on this thing and had a full-length record out. There's enough material there for us to do that and start getting into the next one. So in terms of the amount of creativity that's been going on, it's very healthy."

STP fired Scott Weiland in February after reuniting with him in 2010 for a series of tours and one self-titled album. The band had previously been on hiatus since 2002, primarily due to the singer's struggles with drugs and alcohol.

The group sued Weiland in May, accusing him of using the band's name to advance his solo career, while claiming that his poor performances, late arrivals, and addiction struggles harmed the band's career.

Weiland has countersued, claiming that the band cannot use the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS name without him.

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of Italian metallers DESTRAGE. The band's new album, "Are You Kidding Me? No.", is complete and is scheduled for an early 2014 release. A trailer for the CD can be seen below.

Plans are currently in motion for videos in support of "Are You Kidding Me? No.", as well as more extensive touring in 2014.

DESTRAGE formed in 2005 and has released two full-length albums so far: "Urban Being" in 2009, and "The King is Fat'N'Old" in 2010. Their animated live shows have taken them on tour all over Europe, and even over to Japan.

DESTRAGE opened for EVERY TIME I DIE and PARKWAY DRIVE this summer, and headlined a variety of Italian festivals, including Machete Fest, Rock In Riot, MAV Festival, and more.

Comments DESTRAGE on joining the Metal Blade roster: "It's quite difficult for us to describe in few words our feelings about this moment. We just signed with one of the most important and historical metal label in the world, being welcomed as members of a big family; this is simply amazing!

"We've listened to Metal Blade artists since we were just fresh-faced kids and now we're stoked to be part of such a great roster.

"We are really excited for the upcoming release and we can't wait to bring this work on stage and tour around as much as we can."

DESTRAGE is:

Paolo Colavolpe - Vocal Matteo Di Gioia - Guitar Gabriel Pignata - Bass Ralph Salati - Guitar Federico Paulovich - Drums

The official lyric video for the song "Industry" from Kansas City's deathcore/electronica band THE BROWNING can be seen below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Hypernova", which is due to be released on October 1 in the USA via Century Media/Earache, and on October 7 in Europe through Earache. The CD was recorded at Planet Red Studios in Richmond, Virginia with producer Andreas Magnusson (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, IMPENDING DOOM).

Comments THE BROWNING frontman Jonny McBee: "It has been a crazy two years for THE BROWNING. We have done crazy tours all over the world and I am so proud of everything we have accomplished! But our new album, 'Hypernova', is my proudest thing to be a part of in my life. I can't wait for the world to hear how far we have pushed electronics in metal with 'Hypernova'!"

THE BROWNING has just kicked off a headlining U.S. tour. The seven-week trek features support from THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE, HONOUR CREST, TEAR OUT THE HEART and MYKA RELOCATE.

THE BROWNING is:

Jonny McBee - Vocals/ElectronicsCollin Woroniak - GuitarDrew Ellis - BassCody Stewart - Drums