"Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting Bay Area veterans TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York this past February, will be made available on October 11 (Europe) and October 15 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy Jones (DEATH ANGEL, KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK) and mixed by Juan Urteaga (VILE, EXODUS, SADUS, MACHINE HEAD). It captures a total of 19 live tracks with countless cams onstage and high above the audience, plus a special moshpit cam that makes you feel like you're a part of the show.

Commented TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson: "Metalheads! In case you've missed us on our 'Dark Roots' campaign tour, here's a day in the life and good representation of our show! Check it out, and put on your list of metal to get!"

Vocalist Chuck Billy added: "For all you diehard metal heads out there, 'Dark Roots Of Thrash' is a must-have for your collection. This live DVD and CD is something you can put in you player and crank up for the feeling of a live TESTAMENT performance! You will get 18 songs from the early days of thrash metal to where we are today. Heavy metal forever!"

"Darks Roots Of Thrash" will be made available in a variety of different formats, including the standard DVD+2CD and 2CD versions. A limited Blu-ray+2CD (Europe only), LP (Europe only), as well as Nuclear Blast mail-order-only items (LP colored in gatefold, DVD+2CD digi + tour pass and limited Blue-ray+2CD digi + tourpass) will also be for sale via shop.nuclearblast.com.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" DVD/2CD track listing:

DVD:

01. Intro
02. Rise Up
03. More Than Meets The Eye
04. Burnt Offerings
05. Native Blood
06. True American Hate
07. Dark Roots Of Earth
08. Into The Pit
09. Practice What You Preach
10. Riding The Snake
11. Eyes Of Wrath
12. Trial By Fire
13. The Haunting
14. The New Order
15. Do Not Resuscitate
16. Three Days In Darkness
17. The Formation Of Damnation
18. Over The Wall
19. Disciples Of The Watch
20. Credits

Bonus content:

21. Backstage Footage
22. Native Blood (video clip)

CD1:

01. Intro
02. Rise Up
03. More Than Meets The Eye
04. Burnt Offerings
05. Native Blood
06. True American Hate
07. Dark Roots Of Earth
08. Into The Pit
09. Practice What You Preach

CD2:

01. Riding The Snake
02. Eyes Of Wrath
03. Trial By Fire
04. The Haunting
05. The New Order
06. Do Not Resuscitate
07. Three Days In Darkness
08. The Formation Of Damnation
09. Over The Wall
10. Disciples Of The Watch

"Dark Roots Of Earth" 2CD track listing:

CD1:

01. Intro
02. Rise Up
03. More Than Meets The Eye
04. Burnt Offerings
05. Native Blood
06. True American Hate
07. Dark Roots Of Earth
08. Into The Pit
09. Practice What You Preach

CD2:

01. Riding The Snake
02. Eyes Of Wrath
03. Trial By Fire
04. The Haunting
05. The New Order
06. Do Not Resuscitate
07. Three Days In Darkness
08. The Formation Of Damnation
09. Over The Wall
10. Disciples Of The Watch

BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler recently spoke to the Chicago Sun-Times about the band's new album, "13", and current North American tour, which is scheduled to hit Toronto, Ontario, Canada tonight (Wednesday, August 14).

Asked if he still feels up to his powers as a musician, Butler said: "I've always said as long as I can play, as long as I can do it to a good level, then I'll keep doing it because I still really enjoy playing. I'll know when the day comes I can't do this anymore, can't play to my usual standards. That's when I won't go out anymore. I won't do that to me self. But at the moment, I just love playing with the band. It probably will be the last time, will probably be the last tour. But I want to go out on a high. The band is playing really well at the moment."

When pressed to elaborate on why he thinks this will be the last BLACK SABBATH tour, Butler said: "I don't know. I just got a feeling. It's getting tough, it really is. I can't lie about that. I'm old now. It really is tough going on every night. You wake up next day, all the pains you never had before. I don't want to go onstage for the sake of the money. You have to have a lot pride in yourself, and I honestly think I'm coming to the end of the top of my job."

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi said he'd love to make another record with the band — but admitted that it all depends on how his health holds up. Iommi, who was diagnosed with cancer in January 2012 and continues to undergo treatment for the disease, told CT.com, "It's a question that's been asked a few times. I don't really have an answer. Because of my treatments and stuff I can't commit to doing another two years or anything like that. I have to play it as it comes now."

Iommi added, "I'm really enjoying it. If the rest of the year goes well, then we'll look at it and see if it's possible to do another album. It would be very nice to. You can't beat that feeling of walking onstage, especially with your old mates, you know. I think it's better than it was 40 years ago."

Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler reunited last year to record "13", their first album together since 1978.

The reunion was marred by Iommi's illness and founding drummer Bill Ward's refusal to participate over a contract dispute.

With RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk sitting in on drums, the band and producer Rick Rubin ended crafting "13", which came out in June and became the group's first-ever No. 1 album in the U.S.

When The Pulse Of Radio asked Ozzy recently about the possibility of doing a follow-up to "13", he replied, "If we do do another album, it'd be great, but if we don't, this will be a nice way to round it up. The only sad thing is that Bill never played on it."

SHADOWS FALL guitarist Jon Donais, who has been touring with ANTHRAX since Rob Caggiano's departure in January, will continue to play with ANTHRAX for the foreseeable future.

Speaking to Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas for the "Metal Hammer" radio show on TeamRock Radio (hear audio below), ANTHRAX's founding rhythm guitarist Scott Ian stated about the band's current second-guitarist situation: "Jon's been with us since February, and I think I can safely say he's passed the audition… [laughs]. I know we haven't said anything official yet, but in my mind, he's the guy. I'm sure some type of official announcement… because in this world, people apparently need that kind of information so they can sleep well at night. But as far as I'm concerned, Jon is the guitar player in ANTHRAX."

Donais previously stated about playing with ANTHRAX: "I grew up on ANTHRAX, they're the thrash scene, they're one of the 'Big Four,' I'd be crazy to not want to play with them. Initially, Rob called and told me he was leaving the band, and asked if I'd be interested in filling in. Then Scott called me and everything fell into place."

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante is recovering from surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. He is expected to rejoin his bandmates on the road on September 13 in San Bernardino, California.

ANTHRAX's current touring lineup includes former TESTAMENT/SLAYER and current ANIMETAL USA drummer Jon Dette.

Dette previously filled in for Benante on ANTHRAX's European tour last fall as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD and Australia's Soundwave Festival in February/March.

Resurrected cult classic progressive thrashers TOXIK have recruited Ralph Santolla (ex-DEATH, OBITUARY, DEICIDE) as their new second guitarist.

Josh Christian, TOXIK's founding member and lead guitarist, comments on Ralph's addition to the group: "Ralph was the first choice. I had talked to other friends about tour spots and playing as guests, but the new material is pretty deep arrangement wise and complicated in its layering. We need that second voice on the instrument. Ralph's experience level is top-shelf, plus he has a very diverse musical approach. Sure, he's played great heavy music with legendary bands and artists, but he also has an amazing ear for melody. The guy can really play! Most of all, he's a brother.

"Ralph Santolla and I go way back, I can remember Chuck Schulinder [DEATH] sitting in the lounge at Morrisound watching Ralph and I trading ideas and saying, 'You guys should play together.' So, with Chuck's blessings, I think the next album just took a giant leap for mankind."

Santolla adds: "I'm really excited and humbled that Josh has asked me to be part of the reformed TOXIK.

"Here's how all of this started.

"I basically grew up at Morrisound, I wouldn't be surprised if I was their longest-running client. I've answered the phone there and taken the garbage out quite a few times. Jim [Morris] and Tom [Morris] have taught me a lot and I owe them quite a bit.

"Back when TOXIK was recording the first album, Tom called me and said there was a band down from New York, and the guitarist was amazing. He said he thought we should meet, so I came down to the studio. Josh and I hit it off immediately, and we've been great friends ever since. We have hours-long conversations about guitar, art, religion, music, politics, you name it. He's an extremely deep, intelligent guy. So when he told me he was putting TOXIK back together, I was psyched for him. He started sending me music to check out, and I was blown away. I told him, 'Dude, you only get to make one comeback record, give this everything you possibly can, hold nothing back,' and he seems to be doing that . Eventually, he asked me to play live, and that led to being in the band.

"It's a big challenge; the stuff he's writing is ultra-fast and technical. And for bonus points, Jason Bittner!!"

TOXIK is now well into the recording sessions of its as-yet-untitled follow-up to 1989's "Think This", with a projected release date of late fall 2013. Further details regarding album release date, cover art, title and live actions will be revealed in the coming months.

TOXIK recently announced the addition of SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner to the group's ranks.

Hailing from New York's Hudson Valley area, TOXIK released a pair of classic thinking-man's thrash metal albums in the late '80s. An upstart record label named Roadrunner Records (later home to SLIPKNOT and NICKELBACK) released the band's two astounding masterworks, 1988's "World Circus" and 1989's "Think This". Both releases saw TOXIK take the aggression and brutality of speed metal and mix it with the technicality and proficiency of progressive hard rock.
TOXIK left the Hudson Valley region and toured the United States and the world, playing shows with the likes of PANTERA, SEPULTURA, EXODUS, KING DIAMOND and others in their quest for metal ascendancy before their premature implosion in 1992.

TOXIK released a DVD, "Think Again", in August 2010. The set contained both vintage and brand new never-before-seen footage. The main feature was a 1989 headlining set from the Paramount Theater in TOXIK's hometown of Peekskill, New York. This performance came shortly after the release of "World Circus" and the energy level of the band wa truly at its peak for TOXIK's first headlining show. The DVD contains all the tracks from "World Circus" and an early version of "Spontaneous" that later appeared on "Think This".

Reformed industrial metal pioneers GODFLESH will release their first new recording in over 12 years through Decibel magazine's Flexi Series in October. A cover of the track "F.O.D. (Fuck of Death)" by legendary death thrashers SLAUGHTER (Canada) will be included in the subscriber version of the magazine's November issue (streeting October 5).

To obtain the GODFLESH flexi disc, subscribe to Decibel by 9 a.m. EST on September 3 to ensure its arrival. Anyone who currently has an active Decibel subscription will automatically receive the GODFLESH disc.

In a recent interview with the French radio station Le 106, GODFLESH's Justin Broadrick stated about the band's forthcoming album — which is tentatively titled "A World Lit Only By Fire" and due in early 2014 — "It will be [musically] similar to the first two or three [GODFLESH albums]. I just think, like we're playing these shows, we feel very pure about we're doing and honoring the initial intentions with what we originally set out to do. Which, I think, like most bands and musicians and all the rest of it, by the time you get on to your fourth album, it's somewhat of a dilution going on to what you initially tried to achieve. It will definitely sound aggressive and it probably won't sound like any of the other records we've made, but it will have the minimalism of the first few records."

Added GODFLESH bassist G.C. Green: "It won't sound like the first two record; it will be more the spirit… When you make records over the years, you change as people, you change as musicians, you progress, you develop and you take other styles on, but I think, having had a break from it and come back to it, it seems that we've gone straight back into what the essence of it was originally, and that's why it feels good."

Continued Justin: "It's getting straight back to the core of what this is all about. And I think having a break from it has probably even more inspired… It's like refocusing and obviously, we're somewhat older and wiser. It's gonna be a really interesting record. It's extremely minimal and very, very brutal — a fairly unforgiving record, really, I think."

GODFLESH's seminal debut full-length album, 1989's "Streetcleaner", was remastered and reissued in a deluxe digipak in Europe on June 21, 2010 and in North America on August 10, 2010 via Earache Records.

"Streetcleaner" was GODFLESH's second release, proving to be one of the band's finest and most recognized albums and helping them to become one of the most influential industrial bands ever. Now "Streetcleaner" was brought up to date as a special expanded version, with all tracks remastered by GODFLESH founding member Justin Broadrick. The album also includes a bonus disc featuring 12 previously unreleased live tracks, alternate mixes and demos, and comes housed in a deluxe multi-panel digipak with detailed liner notes.

CAGE is returning to the stage from an 18-month hiatus with an all new lineup. This long-running heavy metal band of 21 years re-emerges with original members Sean Peck and Dave Garcia and three new additions.

First is Sean Elg, drummer from Southern California thrashers NIHILIST. "This guy doesn’t stop! He is a machine!" says Dave Garcia. "He has played literally thousands of shows and just loves metal. We dig that about him."

Next up is Dwight Magic, bass player from the band DETONATED. "He plays a six-string fretless bass and has committed his soul to that instrument and the art of metal itself, I tell you! He is by far the most skilled guy we have ever had at the position and is a great writer too," says Peck.

Last but not least is new guitarist Casey “The Sentinel" Trask, formerly of the San Diego band MONUMENT.

"At just 22 years old, it is crazy that he has such an old-school love for the kind of metal that makes CAGE go," says Dave. "The first jam, we had I knew he was the guy. He has a great feel and just goes wild at practice. He pulls killer riffs out of thin air and is fun as shit to hang out with.

"We gave him the nickname The Sentinel, based on some comic nerd stuff that everyone who knows the X-Men will get, and it is also my favorite PRIEST song too.”

Citing a busy schedule with their other bands as the reason for the long layoff, CAGE is back and playing several live shows across the U.S. Peck says: "I have been slammed with the DEATH DEALER release and Dave has been finishing up his solo album called HELLSCREAM with ex-IMAGIKA singer Norman Skinner, which is killer, by the way! But we now have found some time to finish up our seventh record."

CAGE is currently in the studio working on its next release, which is a horror-concept CD set in London in 1869. Peck states: "It is very much influenced by HP Lovecraft and will ship with a 90-page mini novel telling the story in detail. It is really a massive challenge for us, but so far we love it! During all this, we also knew we had to get out and play some shows with the new guys. These dudes are a young and hungry bunch of thrashers!"

From the harrowing doom of their 1990 debut, "Lost Paradise", to 1991's genre-defining "Gothic", to 1995's break-out masterpiece "Draconian Times", to 1997's electronically tinged "One Second", to 2007's return to a heavier form "In Requiem", to last year's opus "Tragic Idol", British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have continued to evolve since their inception in 1988, inspiring countless artists throughout the years. To celebrate their influence on the scene, a special compilation will be released this fall to commemorate the band's 25th-anniversary landmark.

Entitled "Tragic Illusion 25 (The Rarities)" , this album will be released on October 21 in Europe (digitally on October 29 in North America) and features artwork by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has worked with artists such as ORPHANED LAND, MORBID ANGEL, WATAIN, and more than 150 others. All tracks found on the compilation are previously released rarities — except the new track "Loneliness Remains", and newly recorded "Gothic 2013" and "Our Saviour 2013".

"Tragic Illusion 25 (The Rarities)" track listing:

01. Loneliness Remains
02. Never Take Me Alive (SPEAR OF DESTINY cover version)
03. Ending Through Changes
04. The Last Fallen Saviour
05. Last Regret (Lost in Prague Orchestra Mix)
06. Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us (Lost in Prague Orchestra Mix)
07. Cardinal Zero
08. Back On Disaster
09. Sons Of Perdition
10. Godless
11. Missing (EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL cover version)
12. Silent Heart
13. Gothic 2013
14. Our Saviour 2013

PARADISE LOST's Aaron Aedy (guitar) comments: “The years surrounding our formation in the 20th century would have earmarked this as a B-sides collection. These were the songs that were left over from an album recording session you couldn't fit on to the sound quality restrictive, optimal length of both sides of a vinyl LP. You then usually used these for the flip side of your single as a nice extra for fans and also perhaps, as an incentive for the collectors to purchase to help any important charting or sales which could facilitate radio airplay, the best and most important way for your band to heard at that time.

"Yes, my friends, it's hard to imagine now, there was a time before the Internet! A time when, even during the recording and writing of songs for our 'Lost Paradise' album, tape-trading demos and live tracks on the underground scene via mail (the real physical post kind!) were essential to a band's chance of being known by the people who would 'get it.' The magazines Metal Hammer, Metal Forces and Kerrang! also had a couple of champions of the underground scene too, helping bands like ourselves be known on a wider scale, but rarer still indeed back then were the audio and visual outlets. In the U.K., we had the legendary 'Friday Rock Show With Tommy Vance', who introduced myself and many others to a lot of the bands they went on to love for life. Later, TV shows 'The Powerhour', 'Raw Power' and, of course, 'Headbangers Ball' on MTV. All, of course, pre-empted that Smörgåsbord of information, the Internet, for the discerning and hungry-for-more rock music fans to feast upon.

"Twenty five years has seen a lot of change, not just musically for the band — take 'Our Saviour' and 'Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us', for instance. The Internet has broadened the choice of music we can readily hear enormously, and more importantly, hear and see for ourselves to form our own opinion — not just what the larger commercial companies and stations want us to hear!

"Added to our extra tracks from the past, we've included the recent re-recordings of 'Gothic' and 'Our Saviour'. This is something as a musician you find a strange experience.

"We as a band have always been an album rather a single band, and re-recording old songs is most often best left alone — but when we rehearsed 'Our Saviour', a song long lost from our live sets for a good twenty years, we found it pretty exciting and fun! We decided before hitting the studio that we would not record it as a perfect 21st-century studio version, as I don't feel this song would benefit from it (in fact more so, lose its original charm), but we decided to just do it quick and almost demo speed. Whilst recording to capture the most raw element, we drafted in our old friend and producer Simon Efemey, who worked on our 'Shades Of God', 'Icon' and 'Draconian Times' recordings to capture this, which whilst working to make it sound raw, made it fun too! Don't think of the re-recordings as replacements for our originals, but just as five blokes having fun and re-visiting the past in the studio.

"I hope this collection helps some of the people who like our music have a more completed playlist of our most recent album sessions' songs. I personally am very pleased that 'The Last Fallen Saviour' is here, as I would love to have had that on the 'Tragic Idol' album. Also 'Cardinal Zero', which only just didn't make the cut for 'Faith Divides Us…' due to it having a very different vibe to the other album tracks. Both nonetheless, I feel are very strong songs and show a slightly different side to those writing periods.

"CD and downloads not having a 'flip side' or 'side B' had almost made that term redundant, but for a resurgent vinyl hardcore that has thankfully kept that one alive, I'm pleased to say. I often reminisce those teen years of travelling home excited on the bus with a new LP, reading all the lyrics, enjoying the large enough cover to make artwork intricately delightful and worthwhile. Great heart-warming memories for me, indeed. Yet the music new and old I'm discovering on the Internet these days in the 21st century is an absolute joy! I'm pleased to have had both experiences during my years with PARADISE LOST and the future holds who knows what. I for one am very excited though to see where we go next!

"Here's wishing everyone all the best from PARADISE LOST and most importantly, thank you very much from us all for your amazing support, which humbles us greatly. Twenty five years and counting!"

PARADISE LOST has also confirmed that its 25th-anniversary "Tragic Illusion" tour has been extended to now include a number of European dates. As with the U.K. shows, the band will be supported by both LACUNA COIL and KATATONIA (who will be playing the entire "Viva Emptiness" album at all shows).

Metal Shock Finland 's Blackdiamond conducted an interview with guitarist Wolf Hoffmann of reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT on August 9 at the Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Hall, Walton-On-Trent, West Midlands, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked about the status of the songwriting and recording sessions for ACCEPT's follow-up to 2012's "Stalingrad", Wolf said: "Our upcoming album is hopefully going to be out next year. We've started working on writing some songs; we haven't recorded anything yet. But over the winter — maybe early next year — we'll start recording it and try to make it every bit as good as the last one, maybe even better, if we succeed, we'll see... It's going to be as heavy as the rest."

ACCEPT's April 12 concert at Teatro Caupolicán in Santiago, Chile was professionally filmed for the band's forthcoming DVD.

Hugely influential British melodic hard rockers MAGNUM will release their 19th studio album, "Escape From The Shadow Garden", in January 2014 via Steamhammer/SPV. A European tour will kick off in March.

Says MAGNUM bassist Al Barrow: "The recording has been done! Moving on to mixing next week.

"It's a killer album; you're gonna love it. Very up-tempo, balls-to-the-wall guitars, lots of keyboards and Bob's [Catley] done some fantastic vocals. Tony [Clarkin, guitar] has surpassed himself once again with the songwriting. Harry [James, drums]... well, that goes without saying, he's got us rocking our socks off.

"I will be working on new artwork as soon as I'm back from Sweden ready for the January 2014 release.

"Lots of exciting things happening in the MAGNUM camp. Details will be confirmed and shared very soon, we hope."

MAGNUM's latest CD, "On The 13th Day", came out in September 2012.