Legendary Norwegian black metallers EMPEROR are confirmed for next year's edition of the Sweden Rock Festival, taking place June 4th - 7th in Solvesborg, Sweden.

Organizers state: "Few can boast a reputation in black metal like Norway’s Emperor. The band, centered around frontman Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) and guitarist Samoth (Tomas Haugen), were pioneers in grandiose, keyboard-laden black metal. This without alienating underground purists in the process. The debut, In The NIghtside Eclipse (1994) became one of the seminal black metal releases and will be performed in it’s entirety at SRF. The second album, Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk, saw the band break through in a wider sense, with the album being named "Album Of The Year" in several metal magazines, and a video for the single 'The Loss And Curse Of Reverence' being played on MTV. In 2001, after merely four studio albums, Emperor folded. This obviously only added to the legend. For a while, in the mid-00s, the band did some live performances internationally, to then go their separate ways once more. Now these days are finally here again. In 2014, Emperor will return to a few select concert stages. Including Sweden Rock Festival as an exclusive show for Scandinavia."
Other acts on the bill for Sweden Rock Festival 2014 include: PHENOMENA, W.A.S.P., TRANSATLANTIC, SODOM and MONSTER MAGNET.

More details at this location.

As previously reported, Emperor will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album, In The Nightside Eclipse, at next year's Wacken Open Air. Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) and Samoth (Tomas Haugen) will be joined by Faust on drums, and they will perform the album in its entirety.
"There will be no new studio album or a worldwide tour, only a few exclusive festival appearances next year, to mark the celebration of this landmark album."

AMON AMARTH, APOCALYPTICA, ARCH ENEMY, AVANTASIA, BEHEMOTH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, ICED EARTH, KING DIAMOND, KREATOR, PRONG, and SCHANDMAUL are also among the first batch of acts confirmed for Wacken Open Air 2014.
Organizers state: "The biggest metal party of the year is still in full swing and you made the festival an unbelievable event. We're looking forward to celebrating the last hours of W:O:A 2013 with you! And already we announce the first package of stunning mega acts for next year! In 2014 we will celebrate 25 years of Wacken Open Air – 25 years of metal madness – together with you!

The biggest metal party of the world is what it is because of you – the fans! And we will again present a high-class and varied line-up with great Wacken debutants, bands which haven’t played for a long time and also some of the beloved Wacken classics."
Pre-sale and ticket package information can be found here.

Check out a first teaser video below:

It's finally here. Having kept us waiting since their 2005 release of WW, Unravel is GEHENNA’s latest addition to the Norwegian black metal experience. It carries the spirit from WW, and twists it to confront a more post-apocalyptic era – rather than the ragnarok of the bourgeoise, the individual, and the failings of western society – Gehenna faces 21st century existence head on. There is no remorse, no compromise – there is only perfect hate.

Indie Recordings will release Unravel on October 14th worldwide.
Unravel tracklisting:
'The Decision'
'Unravel'
'Nothing Deserves Worship'
'Nine Circles of Torture'
'A Grave of Thoughts'
'Lead to the Pyre'
'End Ritual'
'Death Enters
Gehenna is:
Dolgar - bass
Sanrabb - guitar and vocals
Skinndød - guitar
Slaktaren - drums

Blues rock guitarist JOE BONAMASSA has launched The Pickup – a brand new unique and entertaining weekly internet radio show blending music history, carefully curated songs, an encyclopedic knowledge of guitar facts, and illuminating insights into the mind of one of the world’s greatest musicians.

New shows will be premiered online every Friday at ThePickupRadio.com, while previously aired episodes will be available to listen to on-demand.

Whether it’s unusual knowledge of a vintage Les Paul, played on an obscure record from the '70s, or a friendly debate on how to name your guitar, each episode weaves together witty banter, fun facts, and amazing tour stories from the guitarist who’s always on the road.

In other news, Derek Sherinian, former BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION keyboardist, has joined Bonamassa’s solo band as a full-time member. Sherinian toured South America with Bonamassa in August 2013, and will continue to feature as part of Joe’s UK tour in September.

Says Bonamassa: “Derek is a great player and we’re ecstatic to welcome him as the latest member of the band.”

Tickets for Joe Bonamassa’s UK tour are available now from 0844 478 0898 and at this location. Dates are as follows:

September
18 - Cardiff, UK - Motorpoint Arena
20 - Bournemouth, UK - BIC
21 - Manchester, UK - Arena
23 - Aberdeen, UK - AECC
24 - Edinburgh, UK - Playhouse
27 - Birmingham, UK - NIA
28 - Brighton, UK - Centre (Sold Out)

NYC rockers STREETLIGHT CIRCUS have unveiled a brand new music video for the song 'Downside'. The track leads off the band's self-titled debut album and has been a popular staple of their live set.
Upcoming Streetlight Circus tour dates:

September
28 - Main Street Music Festival - Ellicott City, MD

October
3 - Dingbatz - Clifton, NJ (with Dizzy Reed's HOOKERS & BLOW)

Canadian death/doom band AS AUTUMN CALLS will release their second full-length album, Cold, Black & Everlasting, on October 25th via Rain Without End Records.

The album cover is an original canvass painting by Wallace R. Gillard:
Tracklisting:

'Haunted
'Black Night Silent'
'These Doleful Shades'
'The Light Which No Longer Shines'
'Darkness Reflected'
'Darkness Confined'
'Darkness Everlasting'
More on As Autumn Calls at Facebook.

Tampere, Finland-base death/thrash metallers THE JASSER ARAFATS will release their Aftermath EP, digitally and on CD on September 20th via Violent Journey Records.
Tracklisting:

'Koma'
'Traitors'
'Doomsday Declaration'
'The Aftermath'

'Koma':
Band lineup:

Jesse Liukkonen - Guitars
Jaakko Helle - Drums
Jari Kurki - Vocals
Maxecution Pekkonen - Guitars
Simo Hautamäki - Bass
More information at Facebook.

THE MELVINS cut their August 19 concert in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada short after the band's lead vocalist/guitarist Buzz Osborne was hit in the chest with a bottle that was thrown by someone in the crowd.

A fan who attended the gig told Alternative Nation: "Towards the end of the show, someone threw a bottle that reportedly hit Buzzo in the chest. The music stopped, he said 'Fuck you, guys' and walked off. Dale [Crover, drums] came up and demanded to know who had thrown it. When no one owned up, he said 'See ya' and the roadies proceeded to take down gear. One roadie collected all the setlists and put them in his pocket. However, the perpetrator had been apprehended by some of the crowd members and handed over to security. He was brought outside and identified by Buzzo himself who proceeded to get into a vehicle and leave, ignoring everyone but the authorities. The bottle thrower was arrested."

Fan-filmed video footage of the incident can be seen below. (Note: The bottle can be seen hitting Buzz around the 35-second mark.)

POP EVIL have debuted a brand new song by way of music video, for their next single, 'Deal With The Devil'.
Lead singer Leigh Kakaty comments: "It's exciting to finally get the opportunity to release a song with a music video. We worked really hard to come up with a visual that captures the energy of the song as well as taking the imagery to a new high."

Directed by Johan Carlén, the video for 'Deal With The Devil' is the second installment of a three part series working in reverse, we saw the conclusion of the trilogy with the band's video for 'Trenches'.
Starting October 4th, PAPA ROACH will be touring Canada with Pop Evil and AGE OF DAYS (unless otherwise noted). Confirmed tour dates below:

October
4 - Vancouver, BC - Boulevard Casino
7 - Calgary, AB - Cowboys
8 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
9 - Regina, SK - Pure
11 - Lloydminster, AB - Kooler
12 - Winnipeg, MB - The Oak
19 - Rama, ON - Casino Rama (with BLEEKER RIDGE)
20 - Quebec City, PQ - Imperial
22 - Montreal, PQ - Metropolis

The Sunflower Superjam 2012 was a once-in-a-lifetime event that you can now experience with the release of the DVD, due on September 16. On stage together for the only time, you can watch Alice Cooper, Brian May (QUEEN), Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN), John Paul Jones (LED ZEPPELIN), Ian Paice (DEEP PURPLE), Mark King, Alfie Boe and a host of other exceptional musicians "jam" at the Royal Albert Hall, making the iconic London venue rock like never before. Plus, enjoy the Sunflower Superjam 2011 on the bonus disc with performances from DEEP PURPLE, Rick Wakeman, Joe Bonamassa, Newton Faulkner and including the last live performance from the legendary Jon Lord (DEEP PURPLE). Produced by The Sunflower Jam charity, all monies raised will go directly to supporting the research and application of holistic and non-toxic treatments for children and young adults suffering from cancer.

DVD 1 track listing:

01. Ain't No Telling - The Temperance Movement
02. Behind Blue Eyes - Bruce Dickinson
03. Black Night - Bruce Dickinson
04. Elected - Alice Cooper
05. Emerald - Bruce Dickinson
06. I Want To Know What Love Is - Alfie Boe
07. Lessons In Love - Mark King
08. Pictured Within - Steve Balsamo
09. Rock n' Roll - Alfie Boe
10. Sails of Charon - Uli Jon Roth
11. School's Out - Alice Cooper
12. Since You've Been Gone - Brian May & Kerry Ellis
13. Smoke On The Water - Ensemble
14. Something About You - Mark King
15. This Wheel's On Fire - Sandi Thom

DVD 2 - Bonus Disc with Sunflower Superjam 2011 plus extra footage tracks from Sunflower 2012

2011 footage

01. Bohemian Rhapsody - Newton Faulkner
02. Born To Run - Danny Bowes
03. Bourée - Jon Lord
04. Eleanor Rigby - Rick Wakeman
05. Good Golly Miss Molly - Gary Brooker
06. I Just Want To Make Love To You - Margo Buchanan
07. It's Not As Big As It Was - Jon Lord & Rick Wakeman
08. Life on Mars - Newton Faulkner
09. Midnight Blues - Joe Bonamassa
10. Pictured Within - Steve Balsamo
11. Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple feat. Bill Bailey
12. The Ballad of John Henry - Joe Bonamassa
13. The Thrill Is Gone - Joe Bonamassa
14. Whiter Shade of Pale - Gary Brooker

2012 footage

01. Freedom Jazz Dance - Brian Auger
02. Born Free - Brian May & Kerry Ellis
03. I Loved A Butterfly - Brian May & Kerry Ellis
04. Substitute - Margo Buchanan
05. Help Me - Sandi Thom
06. November Rain - Sandi Thom
07. Only Friend - The Temperance Movement

Official MetOnTour video recap of METALLICA's August 11 appearance at the Summer Sonic festival in Osaka, Japan can be seen below. The 12-minute clip includes drummer Lars Ulrich in the meet-and-greet, "Cyanide" in the tuning room, and "Ride The Lightning" from the show.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Hit The Lights
02. Master Of Puppets
03. Ride The Lightning
04. Harvester Of Sorrow
05. Fade To Black
06. The Memory Remains
07. Cyanide
08. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
09. Sad But True
10. ...And Justice For All
11. One
12. For Whom The Bell Tolls
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman

Encore:

16. Creeping Death
17. Battery
18. Seek & Destroy

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine recently spoke to Artisan News about the band's split with Roadrunner Records and decision to release the group's new album, "Super Collider", via Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).

"We were obviously very unhappy [with Roadrunner]," Mustaine said (see video clip below). "But I just wanna make clear: there's a lot of great people that were there working [for Roadrunner] that we had great relationships [with]. Unfortunately, [there was a] lack of leadership [at the label]. You can have the greatest people in the world, but if you don't have anybody to quarterback the team, you're a loser. And we tried, we stuck it out, we honored the contract, we fulfilled all of our commitments, and when the time was up, it was time to move on. I've heard that a lot of the people that we really cared about and we admired and liked working with have moved on to better gigs, and we're very happy for them. Because, like I said, we have a lot of people that we really care about and love. Notwithstanding, going on to Universal right now, we're at a place that not only understands us and respects us but takes care of business. They don't say they're gonna do something and not do it or not have the clout to be able to get something done. There's nothing worse than somebody going to a radio station and saying, 'Oh, if you don't play MEGADETH, we're not gonna let you have our baby band that sells 800 records.' 'Really? Promise?' [chuckles] Versus us being with a label now that… I've got my own label, we've got complete support and love and respect of so many people that are working at Universal, who were our friends from before at Capitol. Plus, they bought Capitol and EMI, so almost everything I've ever recorded or written, it belongs to them now, so it's really great the way it all worked out."

"Super Collider" has sold 61,000 copies in the United States since its June 4 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. By comparison, MEGADETH's previous CD, "TH1RT3EN" — which came out through Roadrunner — shifted around 80,000 units during the same period.

"Super Collider", sold 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. "TH1RT3EN" opened with 42,000 units back in November 2011 to enter the chart at No. 11. The band's 2009 CD, "Endgame", premiered with 45,000 copies to debut at No. 9. This was slightly less than the 54,000 first-week tally registered by 2007's "United Abominations", which entered the chart at No. 8. 2004's "The System Has Failed" premiered with 46,000 copies (No. 18) while 2001's "The World Needs A Hero" moved 61,000 units in its first week (No. 16).

FestivalBlog.be recently conducted an interview with keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen of Finnish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

FestivalBlog.be: So about "Imaginaerum", how do you compare it to previous albums?

Tuomas: Well, it's special in a way that it included the movie. We kinda went for the movie first into the project, that was the main thing of the release. The album is kind of a soundtrack to the film, so that was really special. It is the most theatrical, most orchestral album that we have ever done, it felt like the right thing to do at the time. I don't really know what we're going to do next. I have a gut feeling that it is going to be something a bit more simple, a bit back in time.

FestivalBlog.be: So a bit back to the roots.

Tuomas: Yeah, a bit more like a band album, because we have kinda searched this orchestral, really varied spectrum to its maximum now; that's how I feel. But maybe, you never know how the mind works… But I have three new songs done already, it's again something a bit different.

FestivalBlog.be: Did you write those songs during the tour?

Tuomas: During the past month I'd say. Whenever I go back home I just write stuff and I have three new songs now.

FestivalBlog.be: What are the plans for the near future for NIGHTWISH?

Tuomas: Well, we all have our side projects. I have this solo album about Scrooge McDuck coming up, so the next two months I'm going to be busy with that one. Floor [Jansen, vocals] is going to go on with REVAMP, Marco [Hietala, bass/vocals] is going to do his own projects, Emppu [Vuorinen, guitar] has BROTHER FIRETRIBE. Maybe take some time off, spend time with the family. I'm going to have a little vacation in New Zealand next spring. So all this kinda stuff is going to load the batteries to write songs and be ready for next summer. The first of July, we will enter the rehearsal room.

FestivalBlog.be: From what I've heard, there are still no plans to officially continue with Floor as vocalist. Do you have any comment on this or can you tell me something about that?

Tuomas: Yeah, well… The thing is that we haven't really thought about it in a concrete way, because there is no need to… It's been such a mess once again, I feel I need a month or two just to not think about the vocal issue at all. Then by the end of this year, we have to make some decisions. But everyone realizes that she is on top of the list, naturally. But I don't want to do anything official, I don't want to make this decision just yet.

FestivalBlog.be: Of course, I understand.

Tuomas: But she's incredible. I have nothing bad to say about her.

FestivalBlog.be: The music business has changed a lot in the recent years. Digital downloads, the rise of vinyl, social media, … How do you experience this?

Tuomas: I'm not an expert on the issue, but I realize that something needs to be done because the trend is what it is. And the fact is that people will never stop listening to music, they want to have music but if that trend goes as it goes, we don't have the resources of doing these kind of albums anymore because the record sales have just dropped phenomenally bad.

FestivalBlog.be: In comparison to the past?

Tuomas: Exactly, for like ten years ago. I mean, I feel that there are more people at our shows than ever before, but still "Imaginaerum" sold about half of "Dark Passion Play". But that's how it goes these days; it's the same for all the bands. We have to concentrate on the digital downloads and this side of music business, because there is no fighting back, you just have to adapt. You have to find ways of making that, so that you can profit from that as well. If we don't get anything back, we don't get to do albums; [that's] a plain fact. So we have to work some ways, but it's a good thing we have those big boys over there who know more.

Norway's celestial dark rock outfit ULVER will release its new album, "Messe I.X - IV.X", on October 8. The effort will be available this fall as a vinyl, download and CD, which also features a 5.1 surround mix of the album.

Fans can pre-order "Messe I.X - IV.X" through the Kscope webstore.

A new song "Glamour Box (Ostinati)" is currently streaming online on the "Messe I.X - IV.X" mini-site.

"Messe I.X - IV.X" track listing:

01. As Syrians Pour In, Lebanon Grapples With Ghosts Of A Bloody Past
02. Shri Schneider
03. Glamour Box (Ostinati)
04. Son Of Man
05. Noche Oscura Del Alma
06. Mother Of Mercy

The follow up to 2011's acclaimed "Wars Of The Roses", "Messe I.X - IV.X" is a different entity; reverberating 2007's somber and solemn "Shadows Of The Sun", with the band even going as far as to say it feels like a companion piece to it. The album also echoes the early electronic experiments of EPs "Silence Teaches You How to Sing" and "Silencing The Singing", and is furthermore said to invoke the ghost of an abandoned Nattens madrigal renaissance-project.

Six compositions altogether written, produced, recorded and mixed by ULVER, this time consisting of Ole Alexander Halstensgård, Kristoffer Rygg, Jørn H. Sværen and Tore Ylwizaker, with additional aid and advice from composer Martin Romberg, who also arranged the music for the 21 members of Tromsø Chamber Orchestra. The album also features the extraordinary talents of contemporary composers/musicians Ole-Henrik Moe and Kari Rønnekleiv.

The Norwegian master has evolved over the past two decades to cross an astonishing body of disciplines, taking in ambient, avant-garde, electronic, psychedelic, prog and jazz influences. Now it is the electronic, atmospheric and classical sensibilities which come to the fore on "Messe I.X - IV.X".

After recently signing to Century Media Records for their upcoming studio album, Swedish black metallers DARK FUNERAL are now ready to present a series of stunning reissues for their previous six albums that offer melodic yet blasting satanic hymns in absolute perfection. Created with the band's close cooperation, the first batch of DARK FUNERAL reissues covers the self-titled MCD (plus bonus material), "The Secrets Of The Black Arts" (including the remixed/remastered eight-track Unisound mix as a bonus), and "Vobiscum Satanas" (including live tracks). These titles will be released in Europe on September 9 and in North America on November 12 via Century Media Records.

In regards to these upcoming re-issues (plus DARK FUNERAL's new vocalist search), the band's mastermind, Lord Ahriman (guitar), comments: "I'm proud to announce that we are finally doing proper re-issues of our classic albums through Century Media. And to really spice things up, I have dug deep into my personal photo archives to come up with some killer photos/flyers, previously mostly unseen by the public eye. These will be the definite versions of our classic albums, especially the nice vinyls! Each album also contains detailed liner notes — and besides myself, Themgoroth, Dan Swanö and some other old friends that were present at the time I formed the band contributed to this. Unfortunately, I could not finish off these reissues with Blackmoon, who sadly passed away earlier this year, but he was fully aware of them and for 'In The Sign...' and 'The Secrets...' we at least added a tribute page to commemorate him.

"We've just ended our festival season with a killer show at Germany's Summer Breeze festival. Now, my/our main focus will be to resume writing the next masterpiece, tentatively set for release in 2014. More news to come...

"DARK FUNERAL is currently looking for a permanent new vocalist — preferable from Scandinavia. Serious applications can be sent to [email protected]
/* */
!"

All reissues will be available on black vinyl, in addition to a limited transparent blue vinyl (only 100 copies!) at CM Distro. With previously unseen photos, extensive liner notes by Olivier "Zoltar" Badin (Terrorizer, Iron Fist), bonus material and revamped layouts, these remastered classics are essential for every black metal maniac out there.

"In The Sign..." (reissue+bonus) track listing (**available as CD, LP (plus poster), digital download**)

01. Open The Gates (4:36)
02. Shadows Over Transylvania (4:22)
03. My Dark Desires (3:52)
04. In The Sign Of The Horns (3:43)
05. Equimanthorn (BATHORY cover) (3:21)
06. Call From The Grave (BATHORY cover) (4:34)
07. Open The Gates (live 2003) (3:54)
08. Shadows Over Transylvania (live 2003) (3:16)
09. My Dark Desires (live 2003) (3:48)

Note: tracks 1-4 are taken from the self-titled MCD (1994), tracks 6-7 are taken from "In Conspiracy With Satan" BATHORY tribute sampler

"The Secrets Of The Black Arts" (reissue+bonus) track listing (**available as 2CD, Gatefold 2LP (plus poster), digital download**)

CD1:

01. The Dark Age Has Arrived (00:18)
02. The Secrets Of The Black Arts (03:40)
03. My Dark Desires (03:46)
04. The Dawn No More Rises (03:58)
05. When Angels Forever Die (04:06)
06. The Fire Eternal (03:54)
07. Satan's Mayhem (04:52)
08. Shadows Over Transylvania (03:41)
09. Bloodfrozen (04:20)
10. Satanic Blood (VON cover) (02:12)
11. Dark Are The Paths To Eternity (A Summoning Nocturnal) (05:56)

CD2:

01. Shadows Over Transylvania (Unisound version (03:39)
02. The Dawn No More Rises (Unisound version) (03:40)
03. The Secrets Of The Black Arts (Unisound version) (03:26)
04. Satan's Mayhem (Unisound Version) (04:48)
05. Bloodfrozen (Unisound Version) (03:36)
06. My Dark Desires (Unisound Version) (03:21)
07. Dark Are The Paths To Eternity (A Summoning Nocturnal) (Unisound Version) (05:39)
08. The Fire Eternal (Unisound Version) (03:38)

"Vobiscum Satanas" (reissue+bonus) track listing (**available as CD, LP, digital download**)

01. Ravenna Strigoi Mortii (04:26)
02. Enriched By Evil (04:40)
03. Thy Legions Come (04:11)
04. Evil Prevail (04:28)
05. Slava Satan (03:56)
06. The Black Winged Horde (04:37)
07. Vobiscum Satanas (05:00)
08. Ineffable King Of Darkness (03:38)
09. Enriched By Evil (live 1998) (04:43)
10. Thy Legions Come (live 1998) (04:14)
11. Vobiscum Satanas (live 1998) (05:00)
12. Ineffable King Of Darkness (live 1998) (03:28)

Performance (Bloodstock Open Air 2013):

Nik Turner, the founding member of pioneering space-rock band HAWKWIND, returns to his intergalactic roots with his soon-to-be-released, mind-blowing new CD titled "Space Gypsy". Featuring all-new material, "Space Gypsy" boasts guest appearances by fellow HAWKWIND alumnus drummer Simon House, and GONG guitar legend Steve Hillage, along with Nicky Garratt of the UK SUBS, Jurgen Engler of German industrial band DIE KRUPPS, and Jeff Piccinini of '70s punk icons CHELSEA. Making the CD release even more exciting, Nik Turner has filmed a dark, hypnotic new video called "Time Crypt featuring Simon House". This is the second video Nik has released in support of "Space Gypsy", the first being "Fallen Angel STS-51-L"; from the album's first single about the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Nik Turner's "Space Ritual Tour" runs in the U.S. from October 9 through November 17 in support of the new CD.

Turner was a founding member of HAWKWIND during what has been considered their most commercially successful and critically acclaimed period for the band from 1970 to 1976. He wrote/co-wrote some of the group's most popular songs such as "Brainstorm" and "Master Of The Universe".

HAWKWIND's fourth, and possibly most popular, album, "The Space Ritual Alive In Liverpool And London", was recorded in 1972 (released in May 1973). Reaching No. 9 in the U.K. album chart and No. 179 in The Billboard 200, the double-record was recorded during the tour to promote the band's "Doremi Fasol Latido" (third) release. "The Space Ritual" show attempted to create a full audio-visual experience. The performances featured dancers, lightshow by Liquid Len and poetry recitations by Robert Calvert. Nik Turner recently brought his version of the historic show to the U.S. shores, recreating the magic once again!

Says Nik Turner: "This single, 'Fallen Angel S-TS51-L', is the epitome of epiphanic, orgasmic, cathartic embodiment of my space dreams, become one man's reality, exploding into space. Expect lots more on this awesome album."

Nik Turner's "Space Gypsy" will be released in three different formats: a regular CD release packaged in an attractive digipak with original artwork; a limited edition gatefold vinyl with bonus etched seven-inch single; and for the ultimate collector — the complete experience! A special limited-edition deluxe box version of "Space Gypsy", which includes a bonus CD of rough mixes and instrumental versions that feature additional flute and saxophone improvisations from Nik not included on the album. Also included are four postcards, a gorgeous full-color patch and collectible pin.

Stockholm, Sweden-based rockers DYNAZTY have inked a deal with Spinefarm Records. The band's fourth album, tentatively titled "Renatus", will be released in early 2014. The CD was recorded at The Abyss studios in Dalarna, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW).

DYNAZTY recently announced the addition of bassist Jonathan Olsson to the group's ranks. The band said: A beast of a bass player, a fantastic person and a great singer, he now completes our lineup and the next step that we take towards a new horizon."

Bassist Joel Fox Apelgren left DYNAZTY in April because he could "no longer give the band 110% of [his] devotion."

DYNAZTY released its third album, "Sultans Of Sin", in February 2012. The CD was produced by Peter Tägtgren at The Abyss studio and was the band's first to feature guitarist Mike Lavér, who joined DYNAZTY in November 2011.

DYNAZTY took part in last year's edition of Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Land Of Broken Dreams".

Despotz Records has announced the signing of Swedish progressive/power metal veterans TAD MOROSE.

After a 10-year hiatus, TAD MOROSE will release its seventh album, "Revenant", this November. The CD is being 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" Andersson
Drums: Peter Morén
Bass: Tommi Karppanen
Vocals: Ronny Hemlin
Guitar: Kenneth Jonsson

German hard rock veterans MAD MAX will release their new album, "Interceptor", on November 5 (October 28 in Europe) via Steamhammer/SPV. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Thomas Ewerhard and it alludes to Mel Gibson's legendary desert car in the movie classic "Mad Max".

The four MAD MAX musicians — Michael Voss (vocals, lead guitar), Jürgen Breforth (guitar), Roland Bergmann (bass) and Axel Kruse (drums) — promise "full throttle from start to finish" and sum up the direction of their new record in just two words: "It rocks!" Or, as guitarist Jürgen Breforth puts it: "Whereas some rock groups become insipid and balladesque with time, we've taken the opposite route and deliver nothing but pure energy."

Like its predecessors, "Interceptor" was produced by frontman Michael Voss at his Kidpool Studio in Münster, with the drum recordings completed at the renowned Principal Studios in Senden. The record was mastered at the MSM Studios in Munich, where once upon a time GOTTHARD added the final polish to their works. Breforth says: "This time we made a conscious decision to allow ourselves more external output, yet without overdoing it."

There are ten new songs to marvel at on "Interceptor", including "Turn It Down", the obligatory cover song by THE SWEET. "It's what our fans are used to, so we just have to grit our teeth," jokes Breforth.