In the summer 2013 issue of U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne spoke candidly about what happened with original drummer Bill Ward, who was announced as part of the band's reunion in late 2011 but bowed out a few months later,

Ozzy said: "Here's the bottom line: being a drummer is the most physical part of any band. And when Bill turned up, he looked like an old guy. I don't think he had the stamina to play for an hour or so on stage. If I'd had a heart attack like Bill had, I'd go, 'Fuck, I'm going to lose some weight.' I train — I work my arse off. So you can't expect someone who's been sitting on their fucking arse, eating shit, to come along and go, 'Equal split.' It's insane. I honestly don't know what went down with that deal, but I suppose it's something along those lines. There wasn't any other reason. We didn't gang up on him. And it wasn't like, 'Bill's just the drummer.' I didn't go, 'Oh, if Bill's not here, I get more money.' I don't fucking need any more money, man."

Classic Rock: Isn't Bill Ward as important to BLACK SABBATH as John Bonham was to LED ZEPPELIN or Keith Moon was to THE WHO?

Ozzy: "I'd be a fucking liar if I said I'm glad Bill never made the [new SABBATH] album ['13']. It's kind of a SABBATH album to a point, but it would have been great if Bill could have worked on it. But if we'd had Bill, I honestly don't think we'd have been this far up the road. It was time to shit or get off the pot."

Classic Rock: Meaning what?

Ozzy: "Are we going to do this fucking album, or are we going to sit with our thumbs up our arses forever? It was time to stop fucking around and get on with it. I'm 65 this year, Tony's [Iommi, guitar] already 65, Geezer's [Butler, bass] coming up to 64. We all realized that if we keep hanging on any longer we're going to be fucking dead! I mean, fuck me, Tony could have croaked."

Classic Rock: You've always said that Bill was your closest friend in BLACK SABBATH.

Ozzy: "I love him. We were the Crazy Twins. Tony and Geezer would always travel on their own because they didn't want to be around us. We were always doing some fucking shit or other. Bill is a very dear friend of mine and he will always have a place in my heart."

Classic Rock: So is the door still open for him?

Ozzy: "If he gets his shit together. I'm not going to slag Bill off. But it's not our fault. For some reason, getting us all on the same page is the hardest thing in the world."

Mesopotamian black/thrash pioneers MELECHESH are hard at work on pre-production for the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2010 album, "The Epigenesis". In addition, the band has parted ways with longtime guitarist and close friend Moloch and drummer Xul. Moloch had officially been out of MELECHESH for eight months while he has been focusing on his academic career.

While it is still to be announced who will fill the drumming position, Moloch will be replaced by new guitarist Sirius (pictured below).

MELECHESH mainman Ashmedi and bass player/backing vocalist Scorpiros will debut the new lineup on the stage late fall early winter 2013 during the band's North American tour.

Commented Ashmedi: "I talked with Moloch and asked him maybe it is better he is no longer a part of MELECHESH because we needed to have an active guitar player. He fully agreed and was thinking the exact same thing. He is one of my best friends but this has to do with MELECHESH and music — nothing else. In fact, we will be hanging out soon in Jerusalem and catching up. He is always welcome to come jam or do a guest appearance. Like I said, this man is one of the closest people to me personally. We are literally family. I wish the best of luck for his new and interesting Journey.

"A couple of weeks ago I did what I was considering for a while: I asked Xul to leave. In the past, I thought such things are impossible, but you know what, family , companies, governments, kingdoms all go through changes. In a naive or a romantic way, we all think change is not good in such cases. On the contrary, it could be extremely vital for the longevity of music. What I am trying to say is I made these decisions for the sole purpose of improving the music and preventing stagnation. I was not happy with the status quo, so I had to do something about it. I wish Xul the best of luck I am certain he enjoyed this ride which was a good learning experience for everyone. Anyway I don’t worry about him as he plays in several other bands, so it's all good.

"I am a very loyal person — anyone with over two brain cells knows this (the ones with one brain cells do not get it...) — but my focus and priority is the well being and progress of MELECHESH.

"You can also hear some of Aybar's (Sirius) work on the soundtrack of the movie 'The Last Will And Testament Of Rosalind Leigh' where he did the entire soundtrack for this film."

Belgian progressive hardcore mentalists BEAR have signed a deal with up-and-coming U.K. label Basick Records. The band's new album, "Noumenon", will be released in October.

Check out an album teaser below.

Mixing extreme chaos with dazzling technical flair is the four-piece's forte, and Basick boss Nathan Barley Phillips was compelled to sign them after witnessing their off-the-scale live show at last year's Euroblast festival.

Barley comments: "I had the misfortune of a near-death experience when I chanced upon BEAR playing at a small venue in Germany last year… It's not often that I genuinely fear for my own safety when watching a band, but experiencing BEAR's live show is about as close to armageddon as it gets. I'm thrilled to welcome them to Basick."

Adds BEAR: "We are insanely stoked to announce that BEAR is now an offical member of the Basick Records family: Effective Immediately!!! Joining their already immpressive roster is a dream come true and we can't wait to drop our next beast of a record everywhere."

BEAR is confirmed for Eierfest in Belgium on August 23 as well as another appearance at Euroblast festival in Germany on October 11, and with tour announcements in the pipeline, expect a stage near you to be decimated very soon.

Norwegian black metallers SARKOM have inked a two-album deal with Dark Essence Records. The band's third full-length CD, titled "Doomsday Elite", will be released later this year.

"Doomsday Elite" track listing:

01. Doomsday Elite
02. I Utakt Med Gud
03. No Loose Ends
04. Inside a Haunted Chapel
05. Predators in Disguise
06. Solemn Disorder 'til Human Extinction
07. Cosmic Intellect
08. Stigma

Formed in 2003 in Oslo, Norway, by frontman Erik Unsgaard (SO MUCH FOR NOTHING) and then-drummer Eirik Renton (ex-URGEHAL), SARKOM, whose core members comprise Unsgaard on vocals and Sgt. V. (SVARTTJERN) on bass, will shortly present a new live lineup, ready for the release of "Doomsday Elite", something Unsgaard is feeling very positive about.

"Regarding our collaboration with Dark Essence Records," the frontman said, "we are very much looking forward to working with everyone at the label. I've heard a lot of positive things, and hopefully they are in the right position to take SARKOM one step further on this journey of ours!"

Commenting on the new album and SARKOM's place in the black metal scene, Unsgaard went on to say: "It is said that black metal is about individuality and not following trends. I am not saying that SARKOM is a black metal band, but it sure is extreme enough and most likely that is how we will be categorized. Personally, I don't mind what label people tag us with, but with this album I can say that we have gone beyond the borders of what is accepted within the 'scene,' at least the scene as defined by those who see themselves as 'true.' According to the trend nowadays, which has absolutely nothing to do with what black metal is actually about, we should probably have played either old school heavy/prog or occult trash/black metal to gain maximum publicity. But fuck that. We do what we want and that's exactly how it should be. We also have no intention of repeating ourselves and it is my hope, and intention, that SARKOM will keep developing in the future, in one way or the other. I am sure that some SARKOM fans are expecting another 'Bestial Supremacy' and they will be surprised by 'Doomsday Elite'. With four songwriters from different backgrounds this is, and is meant to be, an album without boundaries. Hopefully you will like it, but if not, you can always listen to 'Skyforger' or something,"

PROPHAJNT is a brazilian heavy metal band formed in 2007 with a musical proposal that ranges from the classic heavy metal to hard rock and AOR. They recently released their first EP, entitled A New Beginning. It was recorded in AudioFARM Studios, with production, mix and master by Mateus Borges.

According to the band "A New Beginning gathers seven songs that were composed in distinct moments of the band, including even those that precede its formation, occurred in 2007. The songs talk about various feelings that are; in general, present in the daily lives of people, like optimism and pessimism, motivation, missing someone and the will of doing something different."

A New Beginning tracklisting:

‘Un Sentiment’
‘Strong Enough’
‘Face Your Truth’
‘Inner Mess’
‘Angel Of Mine’
‘Escape From The Fire’
‘A New Beginning’

Prophajnt is:

Verônica Pasqualin - vocals
Márcio Ritter - guitar, keyboards
Gustavo Refosco - bass
Rodrigo Marques – drums

The EP can be ordered in digital or physical copy through the band's website, where one of the songs, ‘Escape From The Fire’, is available for streaming.

UK-based heavy metal warriors CONQUEST OF STEEL are set to unleash their fourth album Of Fire And Steel. The record is scheduled to be released in November on CD, LP and digital download. The record will feature ten tracks of fist banging heavy metal in the vein of MANOWAR, DIO, MAIDEN, WASP. In short, it is 80's metal for the new generation - the sound of the true wave of British heavy metal.

Check out a promo video below:

Conquest Of Steel have a series of shows lined up in preparation for the album launch and will be playing tracks from Of Fire And Steel at all shows.

September
13 – Newcastle, UK – Trillians
14 – Edinburgh, UK – Opium

November
9 – Wakefield, UK – Snooty Fox
30 – Bradford, UK – Gasworks

December
6 – Leeds, UK – Wharfe Chambers

For more info visit this location.

Mighty Music has announced the signing of the French dark/death metal band SOLEKAHN. After nine years of silence the band is now ready to release their second full-length album Nightlights throughout Europe on October 14th.

There has been silence around Solekahn for nine years, but now the band is ready to release their second full-length album Nightlights.

Olivier DB comments: “It was not easy to achieve a worthy follower to The Great Divider … actually it took six years to record Nightlights between 2006 and 2012.”

Six years during which the band had time to transcend their own dark atmosphere, in order to deliver their best effort so far.

The lyrical themes on the album deals with an obscure world interpreted through dreams and nightmares, focusing on the fact that for some individuals, the dark can be seen as light.

Nightlights tracklisting:

‘Haste To Decline’
‘Silence Until Chaos’
‘Nightlights (The Burning Side)’
‘As Raw Hell’
‘Underestimate & Fail’
‘Emissaries’
‘Seven More Needles’
‘Separate Part, Separate Art’

Listen to the track ‘Haste To Decline’ below:

Italian black/death metallers STIGMHATE have announced the addition of drummer Matia “Ahrin” (ex- ABHOR, ARS MACABRA, XEPER) as permanent member.

Mike: "It was a right moment to find a right musician behind the drums. Matia ‘Ahrin’ is the right person in a right moment in the band's life."

Matia "Ahrin" : "Being entered in the Stigmhate's family marks a new chapter for me, I immediately felt at ease with the guys and their music clearly reflects what I want to play. I was greeted by professional musicians with clear ideas, real people who believe in what they do."

The band is currently working on their fourth album, more news coming soon.

For more info visit Facebook.

Dynamic, progressive dark-rock visionaries VULTURE INDUSTRIES have announced a new live theater project with the Happy Gorilla Dance Company. The project, titled "Turning Golem" will combine a unique take on theatrical performances, with live music from VULTURE INDUSTRIES' forthcoming record, "The Tower". "Turning Golem" will be staged on three separate dates: August 17 at the Dark Bombastic Evening in Transylvania, Romania; October 25 at the Garage in Bergen, Norway; and on October 26 at Phantoms of Pilsen Festival in the Czech Republic. VULTURE INDUSTRIES will debut five tracks from "The Tower" during the show.

Regarding the performance, VULTURE INDUSTRIES frontman Bjornar Nilsen said: "This project is a great opportunity for us to cultivate our theatrical side, and to cross breed the howling hounds of hell with the delirious dingoes of drama. Those familiar with the energy and singularity of a VULTURE INDUSTRIES live show and who wonder how much further we can take it, are about to find out."

"Turning Golem" is a performance based on the premise of our need for meaning in life. A short movie about "Turning Golem" is also in the works.

"The Tower" is slated for release on September 27 (October 1 in North America) via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at the Conclave & Earshot Studios in Bergen, mixed by Herbrand Larsen (ENSLAVED) and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, KATATONIA, DEVIN TOWNSEND, IHSAHN, ENSLAVED).

"The Tower" track listing:

01. The Tower
02. Divine - Appalling
03. The Hound
04. Blood On The Trail
05. The Dead Won't Mind
06. A Knife Between Us
07. The Pulse of Bliss
08. Sleepwalkers
09. Lost Among Liars

Through their charismatic musicianship, VULTURE INDUSTRIES quickly earned the reputation of a formidable live act, characterized by the fusion of technical prowess with eccentric, manic performances by frontman Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen.

To say that NIRVANA's third and ultimately final studio album, "In Utero", was 1993's most polarizing record would be the understatement of a decade. The unadorned sonic rawness of Steve Albini's recording laid bare every primal nuance of the most confrontational yet vulnerable material Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl would ever record. And with its 1991 predecessor, "Nevermind", having sold some 30 million copies, singlehandedly returning honest rock 'n' roll to the top of the pop charts, "In Utero" was essentially the first record NIRVANA would make with any expectations from the public. So from the opening quasi-shamble melodics of "Serve The Servants" through the bittersweet closing strains of "All Apologies", "In Utero" was the sound of the most incredible yet conflicted rock 'n' roll band of the era at the peak of its powers coming to terms with a generational spokes-band mantle they'd never seen coming-and ultimately surmounting these struggles to make the record they needed to make. As Rolling Stone's David Fricke said in his review at the time, "'In Utero' is a lot of things-brilliant, corrosive, enraged and thoughtful, most of them all at once. But more than anything, it's a triumph of the will."

Universal Music Enterprises will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the unwitting swansong of the single most influential artist of the 1990s with a multi-format release that spreads more than 70 remastered, remixed, rare, unreleased and live recordings over configurations ranging from a 3-CD/1-DVD Super Deluxe Edition to a standard digital/CD remaster of the original album. Material exclusive to the various versions of the "In Utero" 20th-anniversary reissue will include a veritable treasure trove of never-before-heard demos, B-sides, compilation tracks including:

* Kurt Cobain's handwritten lyrics
* A new 2013 mix of the entire album
* The original never-before-heard Steve Albini mixes of "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies"
* The recently unearthed NIRVANA instrumental "Forgotten Tune"
* The original Dave Grohl solo demo of "Marigold" from December of 1990 — the earliest Grohl composition/recording ever released.
* A four-page letter from Albini to the band outlining his plans for how the album should be recorded.
* Liner notes by Bobcat Goldthwait
* A remixed and newly mastered CD of the entire December 13, 1993 "Live And Loud" show at Seattle's Pier 48 featuring the final touring lineup of Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl, and Pat Smear
* The complete "Live And Loud" show along with several never-before-released bonus performances, that will also be released separately as a standalone DVD and digital download on September 24.

Super Deluxe:

This 20th-Anniversary 3CD/1DVD Super Deluxe Edition featuring more than 70 remastered, remixed, rare and unreleased recordings, including B-sides, compilation tracks, never-before-heard demos and live material featuring the final touring lineup of Cobain, Novoselic, Grohl, and Pat Smear. This box set also includes a DVD of the complete "Live and Loud" show from Seattle's Pier 48 on December 13, 1993 plus over 35 minutes never-before-released bonus material.

CD One - Original album remastered plus all B-sides & bonus tracks recorded at Pachyderm

01. Serve The Servants (Albini mix/original release) - 3:39
02. Scentless Apprentice (Albini mix/original release) - 3:47
03. Heart-Shaped Box (Litt mix/original release) - 4:41
04. Rape Me (Albini mix/original release) - 2:51
05. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle (Albini mix/original release) - 4:09
06. Dumb (Albini mix/original release) - 2:32
07. Very Ape (Albini mix/original release) - 1:55
08. Milk It (Albini mix/original release) - 3:54
09. Pennyroyal Tea (Albini mix/original release) - 3:37
10. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (Albini mix/original release) - 4:51
11. Tourette's (Albini mix/original release) - 1:35
12. All Apologies (Litt mix/original release) - 3:55
13. Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip (ex-U.S. bonus track) - 7:35
14. Marigold (B-side; "Heart Shaped Box) - 2:34
15. Moist Vagina (B-side; "All Apologies") - 3:33
16. Sappy (from "No Alternative" compilation) - 3:28
17. I Hate Myself And Want To Die (from "The Beavis And Butthead Experience" compilation) - 2:59
18. Pennyroyal Tea (Litt mix) - 3:36
19. Heart-Shaped Box (Albini mix/unreleased) - 4:42
20. All Apologies (Albini mix/unreleased) - 3:58

CD Two - 2013 album mix plus pre-album demos

01. Serve The Servants (2013 mix) - 3:36
02. Scentless Apprentice (2013 mix) - 3:49
03. Heart-Shaped Box (2013 mix) - 4:41
04. Rape Me (2013 mix) - 2:49
05. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle (2013 mix) - 4:12
06. Dumb (2013 mix) - 2:32
07. Very Ape (2013 mix) - 1:57
08. Milk It (2013 mix) - 3:56
09. Pennyroyal Tea (2013 mix) - 3:32
10. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (2013 mix) - 4:51
11. Tourette's (2013 mix) - 1:35
12. All Apologies (2013 mix) - 3:55
13. Scentless Apprentice (Rio demo) - 3:54
14. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle (Laundry Room demo) - 4:33
15. Dumb (Word Of Mouth demo) - 2:39
16. Very Ape (Rio demo) -- 2:21
17. Pennyroyal Tea (Word Of Mouth demo) - 3:31
18. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (Word Of Mouth demo) - 2:40
19. Tourettes (Word Of Mouth demo) - 2:14
20. Marigold (Upland Studios demo)- 3:25
21. All Apologies (Music Source demo) - 4:25
22. Forgotten Tune (Rehearsal) - 2:04
23. Jam (Word Of Mouth demo) - 5:44

CD Three - Live & Loud: Live At Pier 48, Seattle, Washington – December 13, 1993

01. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
02. Drain You
03. Breed
04. Serve The Servants
05. Rape Me
06. Sliver
07. Pennyroyal Tea
08. Scentless Apprentice
09. All Apologies
10. Heart-Shaped Box
11. Blew
12. The Man Who Sold The World
13. School
14. Come As You Are
15. Lithium
16. About a Girl
17. Endless, Nameless

DVD - Live & Loud: Live At Pier 48, Seattle, Washington – December 13, 1993

01. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter*
02. Drain You*
03. Breed*
04. Serve The Servants*
05. Rape Me*
06. Sliver
07. Pennyroyal Tea*
08. Scentless Apprentice*
09. All Apologies
10. Heart-Shaped Box*
11. Blew
12. The Man Who Sold The World
13. School
14. Come As You Are
15. Lithium*
16. About a Girl
17. Endless, Nameless*

Extras:

18. Very Ape (Live & Loud Rehearsal)
19. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (Live & Loud Rehearsal)
20. Rape Me (Live & Loud Rehearsal)
21. Pennyroyal Tea (Live & Loud Rehearsal)
22. Heart-Shaped Box (Original Music Video + Director's Cut)
23. Rape Me (Live on "Nulle Part Ailleurs" - Paris, France)
24. Pennyroyal Tea (Live on "Nulle Part Ailleurs" - Paris, France)
25. Drain You (Live on "Nulle Part Ailleurs" - Paris, France)
26. Serve The Servants (Live on "Tunnel" - Rome, Italy)
27. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (Live in Munich, Germany)
28. My Best Friend's Girl (Live in Munich, Germany)
29. Drain You (Live in Munich, Germany)

Deluxe Edition - 2CDs

20th-Anniversary 2CD Deluxe Edition featuring the original album remastered at Abbey Road Studios plus never-before-heard demos, mixes, B-sides and bonus tracks from the original album release.

CD One - Original album and bonus tracks remastered
CD Two - 2013 album mix plus pre-album demos

Deluxe Edition - Vinyl (Original Album & Bonus Tracks on 3LPs)

20th-Anniversary 3LP Edition featuring the original album remastered at Abbey Road Studios on 2LPs and for the first time available at high-fidelity 45 RPM, plus a 33 1/3 RPM LP of all the remastered B-sides, never-before-heard original mixes and bonus tracks from the original album release. All 3LPS are on 180 gram vinyl.

Original Album Mix Remastered (1CD)

20th Anniversary Edition of the original album remastered at Abbey Road studios in 2013.

DVD - Live & Loud

The complete "Live and Loud" show from Seattle's Pier 48 on December 13, 1993 plus over 35 minutes of never-before-released bonus material.

Digital Formats:

Super Deluxe Audio
Deluxe Audio
Original Album Remastered
Live & Loud: Longform Digital Video and Streaming/Rental Outlets

Roadrunner Records celebrates its three-decades-plus legacy as one of the most highly regarded labels in heavy metal and hard rock history by releasing a four-CD boxed set covering a broad spectrum of heavy music with tracks from dozens of the world's most legendary artists.

The set, due for release on October 1, includes 54 tracks spread across four discs, packaged in a deluxe fold-out paneled box, at a retail price of $39.98. Decibel contributor Chris Dick has written the liner notes, which trace Roadrunner's entire history and include quotes from founder Cees Wessels; legendary A&R guru Monte Conner; and artists such as KING DIAMOND, SEPULTURA/SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY mastermind Max Cavalera, TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy, OPETH leader Mikael Åkerfeldt, SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison, and more.

"XXX: Three Decades Of Roadrunner Records" delivers a blistering overview of the label's formidable first three decades of existence spread across four carefully assembled CDs. The first disc, "Foundations," highlights the label's early, reputation-building years with ultra-heavy tracks by MERCYFUL FATE, CARNIVORE, DEICIDE, BRUJERIA, SUFFOCATION, BIOHAZARD, TYPE O NEGATIVE and more. The second disc, "Horns Up," sums up Roadrunner's indelible impact on the metal scene of the 1990s with moshpit-detonating anthems from SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA, COAL CHAMBER, FEAR FACTORY, and many others. The third disc, "And Metal For All," brings the listener into the 2000s and up to the present with the pounding sounds of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TRIVIUM, DREAM THEATER, OPETH, GOJIRA and more, as well as a track from 2005's "all-star" Roadrunner United album. The final disc, "Rock For The Ages," focuses on Roadrunner's hard rock contingent with tracks from mainstays such as RUSH, NICKELBACK, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, AIRBOURNE, BLACK STONE CHERRY, and KORN featuring Skrillex, among others.

A documentation of not just Roadrunner's history but metal itself, this four-disc set is testimony to the fact that as metal and heavy rock have morphed and changed over the years, Roadrunner was always, and continues to be, at the epicenter.

"XXX: Three Decades Of Roadrunner Records" will also be available digitally from all major online retailers.

The full track listing is as follows:

Disc 1 - Foundations:

01. MERCYFUL FATE - "Evil"
02. WHIPLASH - "Power Thrashing Death"
03. KING DIAMOND - "Abigail"
04. CARNIVORE - "Carnivore"
05. OBITUARY - "Slowly We Rot"
06. ANNIHILATOR - "Alison Hell"
07. DEICIDE - "Sacrificial Suicide"
08. SUFFOCATION - "Infecting The Crypts"
09. BIOHAZARD - "Punishment"
10. TYPE O NEGATIVE - "Christian Woman"
11. BRUJERIA - "Matando Güeros"
12. CYNIC - "Veil of Maya"
13. LIFE OF AGONY - "Through and Through"
14. TREPONEM PAL - "Excess and Overdrive"

Disc 2 - Horns Up:

01. NAILBOMB - "Wasting Away"
02. MACHINE HEAD - "Imperium"
03. DOG EAT DOG - "No Fronts (Jam Master Jay's Main Edit)"
04. DEATH - "Crystal Mountain"
05. SEPULTURA - "Roots Bloody Roots"
06. COAL CHAMBER - "Loco"
07. SOULFLY - "Eye For an Eye"
08. FEAR FACTORY - "Shock"
09. SLIPKNOT - "Spit It Out"
10. SPINESHANK - "New Disease"
11. CHIMAIRA - "Pure Hatred"
12. 36 CRAZYFISTS - "Bloodwork"
13. ILL NIÑO - "What Comes Around"

Disc 3 - And Metal For All:

01. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - "My Last Serenade"
02. TRIVIUM - "Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr"
03. DEVILDRIVER - "I Could Care Less"
04. CRADLE OF FILTH - "Nymphetamine Fix"
05. HATEBREED - "Destroy Everything"
06. CAVALERA CONSPIRACY - "Inflikted"
07. ROADRUNNER UNITED - "The Dagger"
08. PORCUPINE TREE - "Fear of a Blank Planet"
09. DREAM THEATER - "On the Backs of Angels"
10. OPETH - "Heir Apparent"
11. MEGADETH - "Head Crusher"
12. DOWN - "Witchtripper"
13. HEAVEN & HELL - "Bible Black"
14. GOJIRA - "L'enfant Sauvage"

Disc 4 - Rock For The Ages:

01. NICKELBACK - "Side of a Bullet"
02. JERRY CANTRELL - "Anger Rising"
03. STONE SOUR - "30/30-150"
04. KARMA TO BURN - "Ma Petite Mort"
05. GLASSJAW - "Pretty Lush"
06. THE DRESDEN DOLLS - "Girl Anachronism"
07. AIRBOURNE - "No One Fits Me (Better Than You)"
08. MURDERDOLLS - "Dead in Hollywood"
09. THEORY OF A DEADMAN - "Bad Girlfriend"
10. BLACK STONE CHERRY - "Lonely Train"
11. KORN feat. Skrillex - "Get Up!"
12. RUSH - "Headlong Flight"
13. LYNYRD SKYNYRD - "Still Unbroken"

DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie has ruled out the possibility of a reunion with the band's former drummer, Mike Portnoy, saying that Portnoy's replacement, Mike Mangini, "will be our drummer until the day that we finish doing this."

On July 30, Portnoy was asked by Chile's Radio Futuro whether he would one day be willing to reunite with DREAM THEATER and rejoin the band as their drummer. "Sure," he replied. "I would do it in a heartbeat. They are the ones that have closed the door on it. I've only needed a break, and I've had that break. So I'm ready, willing and able. But I honestly don't think they ever will; they've closed their door on it and I think they're too headstrong in having to prove themselves without me. So I wouldn't count on it. But my door is always open."

In a brand new interview with the same radio station, LaBrie was asked to respond to Portnoy's comments. "That possibility, I don't see it ever happening; it's not gonna happen," the singer replied. "Because, first and foremost, Mike Mangini is a full-fledged member of the band now, he's a phenomenal drummer and he's doing everything that we could possibly want as a drummer in a band. He's helping us realize exactly what we wanna do right now musically. And he will be our drummer until the day that we finish doing this, when we conclude. Mike Portnoy was a big part of our past, but I think that's where it's going to remain. He was a drummer from the past. And as far as presently and into the future, it will be Mike Mangini, and we all feel very strongly about that. He's an incredible drummer, he's an incredible asset to the band, and he is fulfilling out wildest dreams as far as what we're doing musically and what we're doing with each album. So that's the way it stands."

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 27 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

Portnoy played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them for the entire second half of 2010.

Portnoy announced his departure from ADRENALINE MOB in June due to "scheduling conflicts." A replacement drummer has not yet been announced.

Now political people and organizations are trying to prevent the band from entering Russia due to some uneducated politician who tries to convince the Russian immigration and government that SABATON are nazis.


SABATON now released the following statement:

Did the Nazis win the battle of Stalingrad?
We have been reached by the news that some organizations and political representatives who claims to have studied us has come to the conclusion that Sabaton are a nazi band, and because of that our scheduled appearance at the 70:th anniversary of the battle of Stalingrad should be cancelled. This show is to take place in a few weeks in Volgograd.
Further, these people believe that we will desecrate the Russian flag during our concert (which we have never done and of course have no intention of doing) and they are now trying their best to ban Sabaton from all of Russia!!!
We know that the people of Russia is far more intelligent than this and thus we hope that reason will allow us to play this concert in honor of this historical event and the Sovjet soldiers who fought for their freedom.
Sabaton is and has always been a NON-POLITICAL and NON-RELIGIOUS band and holds a lot of respect to the veterans of war and the heroic and non-selfish acts that was performed in a time of need.
Ps. It should be noted that Sabaton has been awarded honorary membership of the "Scions of the 17:th Airborne Division", an organization that consists of veterans from the very same airborne division who fought against the nazis in "The battle of the Bulge" and "Operation Varsity".

German grindcore artists GOREGAST are set to release Covered In Skin, a 7” vinyl EP featuring two newly recorded songs, on September 27th via FDA Rekotz.

The band's first recorded output since 2011's Desechos Humanos, the tunes featured on Covered In Skin will serve as a taste of things to come when Goregast releases their fourth full-length album in the spring of 2014. Expect some of the most rancid, dark, intense and catchy classic death metal set to tape with Covered In Skin. The EP was mixed and mastered by Andreas Hilbert (GOLEM) with cover artwork by Dedy (BADIC ART).

Covered In Skin will be limited to 500 copies. Two editions will be offered, a clear green edition with an embroidered Goregast patch and sticker (100 copies) and a funeral black edition (400 copies, shipped with sticker). T-shirt/vinyl bundles are also available. Preorders for Covered In Skin are now being taken at this location.

Covered In Skin tracklisting:

Side A
‘Covered In Skin’

Side B
‘Mindcreeper’

Check out a teaser clip below:

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German thrash metallers TOXIC WALTZ are currently looking for a label to release their debut full-length album.
In early f 2009, Toxic Waltz were founded by lead guitarist Jimi and ex-drummer Tim. Bass guitar player Rahman, vocalist Angelo and rhythm guitarist Alex joined the band soon to form a thrash metal ensemble that is clearly affected by the US Bay Area genre (EXODUS, HEATHEN, DARK ANGEL), neither leaving out influences from other genres nor lacking recognition value.
Toxic Waltz are delivering aggressive, but artistically demanding thrash, characterized by diversified songwriting. The band's unique style and live experience, originated with many smaller gigs, earned them bigger venues. Toxic Waltz shared the stage with well-known bands like SIX FEET UNDER, ALPHA TIGER and DEBAUCHERY.

Updates to follow.

German metallers MESSENGER will release their new album, Starwolf - Pt. I: The Messengers, on September 6th via Massacre Records.

The album was produced by Rolf Munkes (MAJESTY, RAZORBACK) at the Empire Studio. Andy Horn is responsible for the mastering at the Red Room Studios. Wiebke Scholz, who has established her reputation in the fantasy and games scene, is responsible for the cover artwork of the album.
Tracklisting:

'Raiders Of Galaxy'
'The Spectre'
'Salvation'
'Pirates Of Space'
'Chosen One'
'Earth, Water And Power'
'Reign Of The Righteous'
'Thousand Suns Of Eternity'
'Starwolf'
'The Path Of Science'
'Born To Face The Wind'

'Salvation':
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