"Relic Of The Past", a brand new song from Dutch thrash/death metallers IZEGRIM, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Congress Of The Insane", which will be released on September 15 via Listenable Records. The CD cover artwork was created by Mariano Villalba and features a concept based on the evil in the deceiving human nature.

Comments IZEGRIM bassist/vocalist Marloes Voskuil: "Nowadays everyone seems normal until you get to know them. Some freaks are here, they're real, they are alive!"

"Congress Of The Insane" will contain 11 songs, including "Manifest Of A Megalomaniac", which features a guest appearance by Sabina Classen from HOLY MOSES.

"Congress Of The Insane" track listing:

01. Relic Of The Past
02. Decline And Fall
03. Celebratory Gunfire
04. Endless Strife
05. Deterioration From Perfection
06. Unchallenged Dominance
07. Modern Day Freak
08. The Legion
09. Carousel Of Death
10. Manifest Of A Megalomaniac
11. Carnival Of Deception

IZEGRIM is:

Jeroen Wechgelaer - Guitar
Marloes Voskuil - Bass/Vocals
Bart Van Ginkel - Guitar
Ivo Maarhuis - Drums

According to DesMoinesRegister.com, the home of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor was robbed by a "friend" of the singer and his wife while they were in Europe on a month-long tour. More than $36,000 worth of musical equipment — including two bass guitars from SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray's signature line from Ibanez — was allegedly taken from their property.

A police report filed by Corey Taylor states that his wife was told by a friend that she believed the suspect had been stealing musical equipment from the couple's West Des Moines home and storage units. Another friend became suspicious when he heard the suspect asking to buy equipment back from a local guitar store. Some of the equipment has since been located at the guitar store and the store's manager is working to retrieve equipment that was already sold.

SLIPKNOT has performed live over the past two years but has not recorded a new album since 2008's "All Hope Is Gone".

STONE SOUR issued "Audio Secrecy" in 2010, "House Of Gold & Bones - Part 1" last fall and "House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2" in April.

Taylor has also written two books, with the second one, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven (Or, How I Made Peace With The Paranormal And Stigmatized Zealots And Cynics In The Process)", due out on July 16 through Da Capo Press.

A one-and-a-half-minute trailer for "Surgical Steel", the comeback album from reactivated British extreme metal pioneers CARCASS, can be seen below. The CD will be released on September 16 in the U.K., September 13 in the rest of Europe and September 17 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The effort was produced by Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY).

Joining guitarist Bill Steer and bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker in CARCASS' current incarnation are new drummer Dan Wilding (ABORTED, TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) and guitarist Ben Ash (PIG IRON, DESOLATION, LIQUEFIED SKELETON).

CARCASS' first studio LP since 1996's "Swansong" will feature guest vocals from original sticksman Ken Owen.

In a recent interview with Chile's Radio Futuro, Walker stated about the new CARCASS CD: "We think we've made a good album, so it's gonna be very interesting when people get to hear the record. We can't wait to see what people think."

He continued: "It sounds like CARCASS. Even the drumming sounds like CARCASS. Everything about it… I think it's gonna shock people, how good it is. I think it's got all the elements that people like, yet it still sounds fresh. So that's all I can say, really, 'cause we don't really sound like any other band, and the fact that after 17 years, we wrote music and it still sounds like CARCASS, I think it's good."

In a separate interview with Terrorizer magazine, Steer spoke about how the decision to record a new CARCASS studio album came about.

"I found myself playing riffs that sounded like CARCASS," he said. "This was after the band had finished the whole reunion cycle of shows and festivals. So, officially, I would have been playing with other bands and stuff, but for some reason whenever I picked up a guitar at home I was coming up with riffs that sounded like CARCASS. I got on the phone to Jeff and said, 'We could have a crack at writing a couple of tunes and seeing if they're strong enough and take it from there.' We also agreed if it didn't sound like carcass or have that kind of vibe to it, we would just drop it. So that was the thing, we got together and started working on some stuff and just immediately got the excitement back very quickly."

He added: "It definitely sounds like CARCASS. I think we just generally by accident captured the flavor of past music that we have done and you can't help but push it forward. We have really been creative and when you are looking at things like guitar harmonies, it's way more adventurous on this record. It's not just parallel harmony like we did in the past, things branch off in different directions.

"A lot of what is happening now is based on rhythms rather than actual riffs. We were discussing this a lot during record sessions about how the riff is almost dying or dead already. People spend a lot of time chugging on the bottom string [but] that's a rhythm, it's not a riff. We can't write a song, never mind an album, without it being chock-full of riffs."

Stated Walker: "I'd like to feel like we are giving CARCASS fans what they want again. I'm a realist and I think Bill has realized and Dan know what people like about CARCASS. We're definitely delivering."

While the final track listing has yet to be confirmed, the following songs were recorded during the sessions:

* The Master Butcher's Apron
* The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills
* A Congealed Clot Of Blood
* A Wraith In The Apparatus
* 316l Grade Surgical Steel
* Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
* Captive Bolt Pistol
* Intensive Battery Brooding
* None Compliance To Astm F899-12 Standard
* Mount Of Execution
* 1985/Thrasher's Abattoir
* Unfit For Human Consumption
* Zochrot
* Livestock Marketplace

Regarding the sound of the forthcoming CARCASS album, Walker previously stated: "We've taken stylistic cues from all the albums because it's in our blood, but it's no rehash or mess of ideas. I think it sounds almost like the missing link between the third and forth albums but with some groove in there. I've jokingly christened some parts 'trad blast' and some 'death sleaze'… don't think for a minute this is just some nostalgic throwback album — we're setting up another 17 years of ideas for other bands to copy and clean up on. [laughs]"

Asked if this means we'll be hearing some death metal vocals out of Bill for the first time since "Necroticism", Walker told Decibel, "Yes, already in the can. It's more along the lines of how I envisioned him backing me up on 'Heartwork'. That said, my own vocals have a hell of a lot more range than they did in the past solely down to the luxury of having time to record them — I did all the vocals for 'Heartwork' in two days and it shows!"

Guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, who had been touring with CARCASS since the band's reunion was announced in 2007, are no longer involved with the group due to scheduling conflicts with their main band, ARCH ENEMY.

CARCASS will support AMON AMARTH on their upcoming European tour.

Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER will release their new, self-titled album — the band's 12th studio release overall, and fourth with Roadrunner Records — on September 24.

Says guitarist John Petrucci about "Dream Theater": "I see every new album as an opportunity to start over. To either build or improve upon a direction that has been evolving over time or to completely break new ground.

"This is the first self-titled album of our career and there is nothing I can think of that makes a statement of musical and creative identity stronger than that. We've fully explored all of the elements that make us unique, from the epic and intense to the atmospheric and cinematic.

"We're incredibly excited about 'Dream Theater' and can't wait for everyone to hear it."

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 Suite
I. Sleep Paralysis
II. Night Terrors
III. Lucid Dream
02. The Enemy Inside
03. The Looking Glass
04. Enigma Machine
05. The Bigger Picture
06. Behind The Veil
07. Surrender To Reason
08. Along For The Ride
09. Illumination Theory
I. Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire
II. Live, Die, Kill
III. The Embracing Circle
IV. The Pursuit of Truth
V. 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. Pre-orders are scheduled to launch in July at the Roadrunner Records webstore.

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.

SOUNDGARDEN's appearance on the PBS concert program "Live From The Artist's Den" will premiere the week of July 11. A crew from the Emmy-nominated series filmed SOUNDGARDEN's February 17 concert at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, the last gig of a three-night stand there, with that night's set featuring 28 songs from all eras of the band's career.

A performance clip of the song "A Thousand Days Before" from the SOUNDGARDEN episode of "Live From The Artist's Den" can be seen below.

Season 6 of "Live From The Artists Den", which pairs world-class musicians with unique venues to create intimate, once-in-a-lifetime concerts, premiered nationwide on American public television the week of July 1.

In front of a rapturous crowd, SOUNDGARDEN interwove brand new songs with classics, radio hits with rarities never before performed for a live audience. Over a varied set, they showcased their history, dazzled with their musicianship and captured the imaginations of everyone in the room.

SOUNDGARDEN has been touring in support of "King Animal", its first album of new material since 1996.

The disc was released last November and features the singles "Been Away Too Long" and "By Crooked Steps". The video for the latter song has been directed by Dave Grohl.

German guitar wizard AXEL RUDI PELL has parted ways with drummer Mike Terrana (pictured below; TARJA, RAGE).

Says Axel: "Due to scheduling conflicts with his other commitments, I had to make this decision, unfortunately. He wouldn't be available for our shows in 2014 and that wouldn't make sense to carry on with him.

"I would like to thank Mike for the past 14 and a half years, where we successfully worked together and wish him all the best for his future career!

"The new studio album will be released in January 2014 followed by an extensive European tour. Stay tuned for more info!"

AXEL RUDI PELL's latest studio album, titled "Circle Of The Oath", was released in March 2012 via SPV/Steamhammer.

In addition to Terrana, AXEL RUDI PELL's most reecent lineup included singer Johnny Gioeli, keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg and bass player Volker Krawczak.

"Fallout", the first official video from the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Gelsenkirchen, Germany this past May during the annual Rock Hard Festival and features footage from the band's set and some behind-the-scenes shots. The song comes off the group's self-titled new album, which sold around 13,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 25 via Century Media Records.

"Frequency Unknown", the latest album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, opened with around 5,500 units to debut at No. 82.

QUEENSRŸCHE's 2011 studio CD, "Dedicated To Chaos", registered a first-week tally of around 8,000 to enter the chart at No. 70. The band's 2009 effort, the epic concept album "American Soldier", premiered with 21,000 copies to debut at No. 25. This was roughly half the first-week tally registered by QUEENSRŸCHE's "Operation: Mindcrime II" album, which shifted 44,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in April 2006 to land at No. 14 on The Billboard 200 chart.

QUEENSRŸCHE's 2003 effort, "Tribe", sold 20,000 copies in the first week while 1999's "Q2K" opened with sales of 28,000.

QUEENSRŸCHE's top-selling album by far is 1990's "Empire", which was certified triple-platinum in October 1994 for sales in excess of three million copies in the United States. The original "Operation: Mindcrime" release (1988) attained platinum status in August 1991, while 1994's "Promised Land" reached the same plateau in December 1994.

"Queensrÿche" marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast. The cover artwork was created by Craig Howell, who has previously worked on designs for "Star Wars", SLIPKNOT and "American Idol", to name a few.

"Elegy", a brand new song from Italian symphonic death metallers FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, can be streamed in the YouTUbe clip below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Labyrinth", which will be released on August 16 in Europe and August 20 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed and mastered by Stefano "Saul" Morabito. The cover artwork was once again created by Colin Marks, who was also responsible for several neoclassical pieces of art in the massive inlay.

Comments FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's Francesco Paoli: "'Labyrinth' is going to be THE album for FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE. It's the perfect combination of all our strong points with the best production we've ever had. It's definitely the most FLESHGOD thing we've ever thought with the most FLESHGOD riffs, lyrics, melodies, drumparts, solos, etc. We went deep inside the core of this music, we broke it, and we finally unleashed these eleven songs.

"I want to be honest, it needed so much work and time to come up with this, but now I'm like, 'OK, next time will be tough to reach this point!'

"Honesty and quality pay, always, and all of you guys supporting the band DESERVE THE BEST.

"You might think that I'm overrating it just because it's our 'child,' but trust me, this album is fuckin' dangerous. Just take your time, listen to it and get lost into the 'Labyrinth'."

Added Tommaso Riccardi: "The concept of this album is based on the myth of the Labyrinth of Knossos and every character related to it. We focused on the philological aspect in order to represent all the elements of the classic world and, through a manic and meticolous research, we managed to create a metaphor with our times, as the maze can be associated with the endless search for what we really are. We're sure you will be stunned by this as much as we are."

"Labyrinth" track listing:

01. Kingborn
02. Minotaur (The Wrath Of Poseidon)
03. Elegy
04. Towards The Sun
05. Warpledge
06. Pathfinder
07. The Fall Of Asterion
08. Prologue
09. Epilogue
10. Under Black Sails
11. Labyrinth

After their successful European tour with SEPULTURA, Tel Aviv-based neo-thrashers HAMMERCULT are recording the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album, "Anthems Of The Damned". Entitled "Steelcrusher", the new 12-song CD will be mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris and is currently scheduled for an October 28 release through Sonic Attack Records/SPV in Europe and North America.

HAMMERCULT will perform the "Steelcrusher" title track at festival appearances in Slovenia and Germany during July and August.

The limited-edition vinyl version of "Anthems Of Damned" is out now with new cover artwork and three bonus tracks.

"Anthems Of Damned" vinyl track listing:

Side A

01. Above The Ruins
02. Let The Angels Burn
03. Riding Through Hell
04. Diabolic Overkill
05. We Are Hammercult
06. Black Horseman
07. Stealer Of Souls
08. Hell's Unleashed

Side B

01. Devil Chainsaw Fuck
02. Hellbent
03. Into The Death Gate
04. The Damned
05. Santa Satan
06. Ironbound (bonus track)
07. Damnation Arise (bonus track)
08. Liar (bonus track)

Philip Anselmo, legendary frontman of PANTERA and DOWN, will release his career-first solo album, "Walk Through Exits Only", on July 16 via his own Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce). "Walk Through Exits Only" will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl.

Produced by Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over the past couple of years at Philip's New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair, with his band THE ILLEGALS — guitarist Marzi Montazeri (ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL) and drummer José Manuel Gonzales (WARBEAST) — "Walk Through Exits Only" is abrasive, aggressive, anthemic and 100% Anselmo. The album's eight songs are as unstrained as it gets, from "Battalion Of Zero" to "Usurper's Bastard Rant", to the album's title track that goes against the grain and right through the exits. Brash, brutal guitars cut through punishing percussion as Anselmo screams with uncompromising ferocity and uncontainable fire.

"Walk Through Exits Only" track listing:

01. Music Media Is My Whore
02. Battalion Of Zero
03. Betrayed
04. Usurper Bastard's Rant
05. Walk Through Exits Only
06. Bedroom Destroyer
07. Bedridden
08. Irrelevant Walls And Computer Screens

The official video for the song "Bedridden" can now be seen below.

"It wasn't about doing a paint-by-numbers thrash or heavy metal record," Anselmo explained about the project. "It's an angry album that only I could do. I don't see anybody else out there screaming about the same shit I'm screaming about. On this album, there isn't any wordplay, there isn't any hidden message, it's all right there in front of you."

The genesis of "Walk Through Exits Only" proved both comfortable and natural for its architect. In fact, everything began to slowly come together in the frontman's New Orleans home back in 2010.

"It started right there in the fucking black bedroom where I haunt," he smiles. "When I get an itch, I've got to scratch it. The sole idea at the beginning was to be unorthodox. It wasn't about doing a paint-by-numbers thrash or heavy metal record. I've always believed there are different elements of groove. It's definitely not a cemented science. It's an angry album that only I could do. I don't see anybody else out there screaming about the same shit I'm screaming about. I tried to portray it as personally as I possibly could."

Gonzales puts it best. "I think it's going to put the rock 'n' roll back in extreme music," he says. "That combination is very different. For as extreme as it is, it's controlled chaos."

"It's meant to be very unpredictable," Anselmo affirms. "When I hear enough of the same thing, I want to rebel. That was a key factor. Right when you think you've got it pegged, it goes in a different direction. That's what keeps things interesting."

In order to harness that unpredictability and realize his vision, he enlisted the talents of longtime friend Houston-based shredder Montazeri. Filling the seat behind the kit is Gonzales, who entered the fold at the tender age of 19. Back at Anselmo's studio Nodferatu's Lair, they recorded in spurts between DOWN's own rigorous recording and touring schedule. In the process of those intense sessions alongside engineer Stephen "The Big Fella" Berrigan, the record was born.

"There's nobody like Philip," says Montazeri. "For years, I've always wanted to do something completely original and meaningful with him. I'm just trying to bring something pure to this. Nothing gets in the way of this band's purity. When all of us get together, it's automatic. If I have an idea, Philip always welcomes it. We share a love for extreme music, and I feel like we've got an unbreakable bond."

Gonzales agrees, "These guys pushed me to limits I didn't even know I could be pushed to. We've been able to create something really special together."

The world's proper introduction to PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS came on the "War Of The Gargantuas" split with WARBEAST at the top of 2013. The two songs included on the split — "Conflict" and "Family, Friends, and Associates" — were only a separate and small taste of what was come to come on the full-length though.

In many ways, "Walk Through Exits Only" embodies the same underground spirit and ethos that Anselmo has proudly possessed for his whole life. Since his career began, he consistently shined light on what was happening beneath the typical "surface" of music, whether by inviting MORBID ANGEL, EYEHATEGOD, CROWBAR, or NEUROSIS onto a PANTERA tour or donning a DARKTHRONE or MAYHEM t-shirt on television or in a major publication. He's gone against the grain, past the tides, and right through the exits. Now, that sentiment pipes through loud and clear on the record's viciously vital title track.

"It does create an unorthodox approach to things," Anselmo continues. "The hook is a powerful line. Why make music the 'right' way? There really aren't any fucking rules. You've got to simply take what’s there and make it your own."

The opener "Music Media Is My Whore" lays all speculation to rest with its focused pummeling. About the title, he laughs, "I've gotten my share of fucking licks from the media over the years. I figured I'd give them one back. Lyrically, there was always something driving me though. I couldn't put my finger on it for the longest time, but it's very reality-based. I didn't mince any words."

"The message comes across in a crazy way," adds Montazeri. "That goes for the entire record though. There's no similarity between this and any other band. It breaks from tradition."

Not only does "Walk Through Exits Only" break from tradition, it lays the groundwork for a new road.

"Fuck another chapter," concludes Anselmo. "This is a whole new book. Some might call it ambitious. I say it's natural. I can do anything I want with this, and I will. I want people to take that unpredictability with them. If you're in a younger band, I want you to realize you don't have to play by the fucking rules. I want everyone to see that there's a lot more to the story than they'd ever realized when it comes to me. You can't and won't be able to tell what comes next from the kid. You can't pin me down unless it's in my own fucking corner which will be painted black and say, 'Reserved for Philip H. Anselmo.' You're very welcome to do that."

The official listening and release party for "Walk Through Exits Only" will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 10:00 p.m. at Duff's Brooklyn in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The address is:

Duff's Brooklyn
168 Marcy Avenue (between S 5th & Broadway)
Williamsburg, New York

For more information, visit www.duffsbrooklyn.com.

"Bedridden" video:

The official lyric video for "Ruthless", a brand new song from Californian metallers DEVILDRIVER, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's sixth album, "Winter Kills", which will be released on August 27 via Napalm Records. The instrumental parts for the CD were recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida while the vocals were laid down at singer Dez Fafara's home studio, with Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, ALL THAT REMAINS) handling production duties. The album's cover artwork features a photograph by Dean Karr. The layout was done by Ryan Clark of Invisible Creature.

"Winter Kills" will be made available in four configurations, including a deluxe digibook with CD (including two bonus tracks, "Shudder" and "Back Down To The Grave") and live DVD (featuring 45 minutes of live raw DEVILDRIVER power — no studio overdubs at all, just the band at their best — and including fan favorites "Clouds Over California" and "The Wretched"), standard CD version, digital version and, for the first time in DEVILDRIVER history, a 2LP gatefold edition.

"Winter Kills" is now available for pre-order on iTunes. Pre-ordering the album entitles you to an instant grat track download of "Ruthless".

Exclusive pre-order bundle packages for "Winter Kills" are now available at IndieMerch.com. These bundle packages include designs and items that are unavailable anywhere else.

"Winter Kills" track listing:

01. The Oath
02. Ruthless
03. Desperate Times
04. Winter Kills
05. The Appetite
06. Gutted
07. Curses And Epitaph's
08. Caring's Overkill
09. Hunting Refrain
10. Tripping Over Tombstones
11. Sail
12. Shudder (deluxe-digibook bonus track)
13. Back Down To The Grave (deluxe-digibook bonus track)

DEVILDRIVER previously worked with Lewis on 2011's "Beast" and 2007's "The Last Kind Words".

Comments Fafara: "This is by far DEVILDRIVER's most cohesive, powerful, groove-laden record to date! We delivered our signature California groove sound alongside a raw and biting guitar tone, mixed it with massive hooks, added in thunderous drums to rethink, and reshape another different sounding unique piece of rock and roll!

"Cutting our own path is something to be proud of.

"DEVILDRIVER has always and will forever be about thinking outside the box and delivering on something different from record to record. We cannot be assimilated into any scene or even genre of metal, and we will continue to do things our own way with a massive middle finger in the air to the status quo!"

In an interview with Loudwire, Fafara stated about the musical direction of the band's next CD, "Every record is different. That being said, I thought 'Pray For Villains' was kind of an out-of-the-box record for us. I thought 'Beast' was a weird out-of-the-box record for us. We've kind honed back in to where we are. This new record sounds a lot like the first three records. It's got an intense groove to it, and I'm really happy. The writing is going extremely well. That being said, I think we've laid back on our laurels right now and be like, 'We're a groove band.' The fans started calling us 'the groove machine, The California groove machine.' Everybody needs a title; we'll take that one and we're going to give them that on the new record, for sure."

DEVILDRIVER's fifth album, "Beast", sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart.

On Friday, July 5, Taiwanese metallers CHTHONIC were the invited guests at the opening game of the second season of Taiwan's professional baseball league. Check out video footage of their appearance below. Photos are available at this location.

CHTHONIC's seventh album, "Bú-Tik", was recorded at Sweden's Sweetspot Studio by producer Rickard Bengtsson, who also worked on 2011's critically lauded "Takasago Army" full-length and finds the band sharpening their signature brand of self-dubbed symphonic "orient metal."

"Bú-Tik" was released in North America via Spinefarm Records in the U.S. digitally on June 18 and on CD on June 25.

With "Bú-Tik", CHTHONIC continue their mission to build awareness of the myths of Taiwan and the tragic events in their country's history. Centered around the story of the 228 Massacre, the Bú-Tik Palace and the Mirror Of Retribution, "Bú-Tik" highlights what bassist Doris Yeh describes as "righteous violence, justifiable defense, and the armed spirits!"

EUDAIMONY, the band that features current and former members of NAGLFAR, DARK FORTRESS, NACHTREICH and SECRETS OF THE MOON, has debuted the title track from the forthcoming album "Futile", which is set for release on the Cold Dimensions label in the autumn. Check it out the title track using the SoundCloud widget below.

EUDAIMONY was formed in 2007 by Matthias Jell (ex-DARK FORTRESS) and Marcus E. Norman (NAGLFAR, BEWITCHED, HAVAYOTH, ANCIENT WISDOM), and, having written and recorded three songs quite early on, it has been somewhat tardy in completing and releasing its debut album, due mainly to the commitments of the various members to their other projects, as well as some label issues. With a new label in place, EUDAIMONY was free to begin recording "Futile" in March 2013. The album, which includes a guest appearance on vocals by ANTIMATTER's Mick Moss, was mixed and mastered by Markus Stock (EMPYRIUM, THE VISION BLEAK) at the Klangschmiede Studio E in Germany. Artwork for "Futile" is by Ben Borucki (SONIC REIGN).

As well as Jell on vocals and Norman on guitars, bass, synthesizer and programming, EUDAIMONY's lineup consists of Jörg Heemann (SECRETS OF THE MOON) on drums and Peter Honsalek (NACHTREICH) on viola and piano. Given the sick, disturbing and negative subject matter the band has chosen to write about, it is inevitable that EUDAIMONY would be slotted into the black metal genre, a misconception Jell is keen to correct: "We realize that unfortunately the black metal tag is going to follow us around given our respective backgrounds, but EUDAIMONY really sits uneasily in this kind of categorization. Our music, our lyrics and our visual concepts deal with emotional hopelessness and the futility of life, rather than the usual subject matters you tend to find in black metal and its various sub-genres."

Dutch female-fronted metallers THE CHARM THE FURY will release their new album, "A Shade Of My Former Self", on September 17 in North America via Pavement Entertainment and on September 16 in the rest of the world through Listenable Records.

"A Shade Of My Former Self" track listing:

01. The Unveiling
02. A Testament
03. Carte Blanche
04. A Shade Of My Former Self
05. The Enemy (feat. Jamie Graham)
06. Colorblind (feat. Daniël de Jongh)
07. In The Wake Of Pride
08. Living Saints
09. Heartless, Breathless
10. Virtue Of Leadership
11. A New State Of Mind
12. Deliverance

THE CHARM THE FURY's debut CD, "The Social Meltdown", saw a frenzy of hype surround the band, with extensive coverage across national radio, including BBC Radio One, and in Europe's acclaimed music magazines such as Metal Hammer and Kerrang!

THE CHARM THE FURY graced stages with the likes of I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN, OH SLEEPER and TEXTURES during 2012 and put on a memorable performance at Groezrock festival that raised the bar and offered a greater platform to reach new fans.

The female-fronted quintet not only offers something creatively different with its female screamer but a collection of high-energy monstrous anthems that have hooked the industry with full effect.

Says vocalist Caroline Westendorp: "It is so exciting to see how fast the band has grown in such a short space of time. Reactions have been so positive and it is great to welcome the two labels on board and make the next release a real big deal across seas. You can expect some cool surprises in the new record and we cannot wait to show the fans what we have in store for them."

THE CHARM THE FURY is:

Caroline Westendorp - Vocals
Mathijs Parent - Guitar
Rolf Perdok - Guitar
Lucas Arnoldussen - Bass
Mathijs Tieken - Drums

California death metallers CARNIFEX have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band will enter Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida later this month with producer Mark Lewis (ARSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER) to begin recording their new album for an early 2014 release.

Comments CARNIFEX frontman Scott Lewis: "Signing with Nuclear Blast is a career-defining moment for CARNIFEX.

"To be aligned with the largest metal label on earth is a true honor.

"This worldwide deal signals a turning point for us as a band and individuals.

"Together with Nuclear Blast, you will see CARNIFEX like you have never seen us before.

"Prepare yourself for an album that crushes any and all expectations. An album that will stand as the definitive mark for modern metal."

In other news, CARNIFEX has announced the addition of longtime friend Jordan Lockrey as the band's new lead guitarist.

CARNIFEX's latest album, "Until I Feel Nothing", was released on October 25, 2011 via Victory Records. The CD was produced by Tim Lambesis of AS I LAY DYING.

Former and current members of GOD FORBID, DOPE, KITTIE and DIVINE HERESY have joined forces in a new cover band called PARADISE CITY. The group, which performs "metal, alternative and hard rock classics from the '90s to today," will make its official live debut on Wednesday, July 10 at the Tammany Hall in New York City.

PARADISE CITY is:

* Tommy Vext (VEXT, SNOT, ex-DIVINE HERESY) - Vocals
* Doc Coyle (GOD FORBID) - Guitar
* Matt Wicklund (GOD FORBID) - Guitar
* Acey Slade (ex-DOPE, MURDERDOLLS) - Bass
* Jennifer Arroyo (SUICIDE CITY, ex-KITTIE) - Bass
* Moe Watson - Drums

Says Coyle: "So back in May, my old buddy, Tommy Vext, asked me if I would do an acoustic set of cover songs for a performance at a benefit show for our mutual friend, Tim No 37, at Tammany Hall in NYC. I wanted a more full sound, so I asked GOD FORBID guitar player Matt Wicklund to play second guitar. Our other old pal, Acey Slade, came in to play bass on a couple songs. We weren’t very well rehearsed, but we had a really good time, and apparently the set went over well enough that the venue offered us a residency to do a rock/metal full cover set. We rallied the troops and have been hard at work to put the most badass show together. It kicks off this Wednesday at Tammany Hall, and we look to play there every week. We've also enlisted my fellow School Of Rock brethren and drummer Moe Watson as well as New York City rock royalty Ms. Jenn City as a second bassist.

"I've always wanted to do something like this. Jamming out some of your favorite songs with your friends is as good as it gets. It's going to be rock, it's going to be metal, but above all, PARADISE CITY will be about having fun, so spread the word and come out to Tammany Hall on Wednesdays. We will also be looking to take the party on the road, so be on the lookout."

NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) legends PRAYING MANTIS have announced the addition of Dutch musicians John "Jaycee" Cuijpers (vocals; AYREON, COOPER INC.) and Hans In 'T Zandt (drums; CHINAWHITE, VENGEANCE) to the group's ranks.

Jon and Hans are seasoned professional musicians with a vast amount of experience and will bring an extra dimension to the MANTIS sound.

PRAYING MANTIS 2013 is:

John Cuijpers - Lead Vocals
Tino Troy - Guitar, Vocals
Chris Troy - Bass & Vocals
Andy Burgess - Guitar, Vocals
Hans In 'T Zandt - Drums

The new PRAYING MANTIS lineup will make its live debut on July 27 at the Headbangers Open Air festival in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.

PRAYING MANTIS earlier this month parted ways with singer Mike Freeland and drummer Gary Mackenzie.

In a statement, Freeland said: "It is with great sadness that I have to tell you all that I am no longer a member of PRAYING MANTIS. Please know that this was not my decision.

"On a more positive note, I've had the most incredible seven years; I have been to some truly amazing places and met some fantastic people — you guys. I can't thank you all enough for your support and for the great times. Keep the faith!"

Added Mackenzie in his own statement: "Following on from Mike Freeland's post, which some of you may have seen, I am very sad to report that I am also on the list of ex-PRAYING MANTIS members. This was not of my choosing.

"I will miss many aspects of being in the band, but one of the things I'm most sad about is the fact that I won't get to say goodbye in person to the many, many terrific fans I've met around the world — so many of you have shown such amazing support, enthusiasm, commitment and affection for the band and for me, and I am truly grateful to have met and played for you all. Stay lucky, and keep the faith."

February 2011 saw PRAYING MANTIS release a special limited-edition EP to celebrate 30 years since the release of their critically acclaimed album "Time Tells No Lies". Entitled "Metalmorphosis", the effort included five songs, some of which were from the original album re-recorded by the most recent MANTIS lineup.

PRAYING MANTIS' latest album, "Sanctuary", was released in Europe in June 2009 via Frontiers Records (July 2009 in the U.S.). The CD was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia under the direction of producer/engineer Andy Reilly (ASIA, THE CULT, BRUCE DICKINSON, FM).

Fan-filmed video footage of Swedish melodic death metal pioneers AT THE GATES performing a cover version of the SLAYER classic "Captor Of Sin" on June 21 at this year's Hellfest in Clisson, France can be seen below.

When introducing the track, AT THE GATES vocalist Tomas Lindberg said: "This next song is not an AT THE GATES song, it's a cover. Without this band, the music that we love so much would not exist in this world as we know it. We wanna send this one out to one of the greatest songwriters of modern days. This one goes out to Mr. Jeff Hanneman. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you 'Captor Of Sin'."

Members of SLAYER released a statement on May 9 saying that Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis. He is credited for writing many of the band's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

The guitarist, who passed away in Los Angeles on May 2, had actually not been playing with SLAYER for more than two years since he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard in January 2011. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.

Hanneman's last appearance with SLAYER was in April 2011, when he played an encore with the band at the "Big Four" concert in Indio, California.

Drummer Steve Flynn (pictured below) of reactivated seminal technical metal pioneers ATHEIST was recently involved in a serious car accident after another vehicle pulled in front of him at 50 mph. Flynn was taken by ambulance to a hospital and was treated for injuries to his wrist, neck and jaw. He still requires some physical therapy, but he is improving swiftly at his home in Atlanta.

The first three studio albums from ATHEIST — "Piece Of Time" (1989), "Unquestionable Presence" (1991) and "Elements" (1993) — were re-released on vinyl in North America on June 11 via Season Of Mist. The new editions are remastered on colored vinyl and limted to 500 copies per title worldwide.

ATHEIST — Kelly Shaefer (vocals), Steve Flynn (drums), Tony Choy (bass), Christoper Martin (guitar), Jason Holloway (guitar) — is writing material for its new full-length album and follow-up to 2010's critically-acclaimed "Jupiter" CD.

"Jupiter" landed at position No. 88 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Jupiter" was released on November 9, 2010 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at LedBelly studios in Atlanta, Georgia with engineer Matt Washburn and was mixed by Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER). The cover artwork was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE celebrated the release of its self-titled new album with a headlining performance on June 26 at The Crocodile in Seattle, Washington. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

"Queensrÿche" sold around 13,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 25 via Century Media Records.

"Frequency Unknown", the latest album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, opened with around 5,500 units to debut at No. 82.

QUEENSRŸCHE's 2011 studio CD, "Dedicated To Chaos", registered a first-week tally of around 8,000 to enter the chart at No. 70. The band's 2009 effort, the epic concept album "American Soldier", premiered with 21,000 copies to debut at No. 25. This was roughly half the first-week tally registered by QUEENSRŸCHE's "Operation: Mindcrime II" album, which shifted 44,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in April 2006 to land at No. 14 on The Billboard 200 chart.

QUEENSRŸCHE's 2003 effort, "Tribe", sold 20,000 copies in the first week while 1999's "Q2K" opened with sales of 28,000.

QUEENSRŸCHE's top-selling album by far is 1990's "Empire", which was certified triple-platinum in October 1994 for sales in excess of three million copies in the United States. The original "Operation: Mindcrime" release (1988) attained platinum status in August 1991, while 1994's "Promised Land" reached the same plateau in December 1994.

"Queensrÿche" marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast. The cover artwork was created by Craig Howell, who has previously worked on designs for "Star Wars", SLIPKNOT and "American Idol", to name a few.

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 the band: "MAGNUM have been back in the studio working on the new album for a few months now. [Guitarist] Tony Clarkin had in advance written many many new ideas ready for the new album. He brought the files into M2 studios and started working on what he thought were going to be the best of the bunch. Bob Catley has had chance to get into the studio and put down the vocals on a few of the new tracks even though his jet set agenda sees him on a world tour with AVANTASIA right now. He's been a very busy chap!

"All the bass tracks and drums by Al Barrow and Harry James have been completed now. Tony is still writing lyrics for the album and awaiting Bob's return to finish the vocals. We're expecting Mark Stanway in for keyboards over the next few days. Once again, the artwork will be straight from the illustrative mind of Rodney Matthews. Rodney and Tony have come up with some great concepts for the new artwork."

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

On June 13, SHINEDOWN took part in an interview and acoustic performance for an exclusive group of listeners of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF. You can now watch the entire 45-minute session below.

SHINEDOWN's fourth album, "Amaryllis", was released last year. The CD debuted atop Billboard's "Rock Albums" chart and at #4 overall on The Billboard 200 — SHINEDOWN's biggest chart debut thus far — with over 105,000 units sold its first week out.

"Amaryllis" arrived in stores almost four years after the band issued "The Sound Of Madness". SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith told The Pulse Of Radio that even though the band really came together on that last effort, they didn't want to rest on their laurels while making "Amaryllis". "We're never really a band that's gonna ever be satisfied," he said. "We're never gonna be complacent with 'Oh, well, that'll do.' We're the band that's looking for the doors that everyone is afraid to find, because we like that. We like pushing the envelope constantly. It keeps us on our toes."

The release of "Amaryllis" was accompanied by an e-book called "For Your Sake: Inside The Making Of Amaryllis", a 75-page, "completely interactive" e-book that contains commentary, photos, video footage and other content exclusively chronicling the creation of the new record.

SHINEDOWN will headline the 2013 Carnival of Madness tour, which will kick off on August 13 in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to SHINEDOWN, the bill will feature PAPA ROACH, SKILLET, IN THIS MOMENT and new act WE AS HUMAN.

It's with mixed emotions that we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of SLAYER's classic fourth album, South Of Heaven, which was released on July 5, 1988. It's been just over two months since the passing of Jeff Hanneman, whose handiwork is all over the masterpiece, the guitar legend wrote the music for the entire album (three with Kerry King) aside from the JUDAS PRIEST cover of 'Dissident Aggressor'. To this day the glorious title track which smashes into 'Silent Scream', 'Mandatory Suicide', 'Live Undead', 'Ghosts Of War' and the haunting closer 'Spill The Blood' are timeless classics that will endure forever.
But how does one follow-up what most people consider the greatest thrash album of all-time, Reign In Blood? The band certainly threw us for a loop with the first notes of the title track, a slow building bruiser with an infectious lead, possibly the band's finest anthem aside from 'Angel Of Death'. "Bastard sons begat your cunting daughters" … pure extreme metal poetry.

South Of Heaven - Slayer's second collaboration with Rick Rubin - peaked at number 57 on the Billboard 200 album chart and on November 20, 1992, became the band's second album to be certified gold in the US.

BraveWords asked guitarist Kerry King recently about how South Of Heaven has stood the test of time.

“Yeah, that’s always historically been not an album I hate," King said, "but in between Reign In Blood and Seasons (In The Abyss), it’s my least favourite of the three. At the time, that’s one of the only times we went out of our way, before we wrote any songs, to say, 'all right, I don’t want it to be like Reign In Blood.' Not because Reign In Blood sucked or because we were tired of doing that, but because it was so fast we needed things to offset it with live. So we wanted to explore the heavier side of Slayer without having eighty-percent of it being light-speed.”

Here's a toast to the Jeff Hanneman-driven South Of Heaven!
Amazon.com Widgets

Official MetOnTour video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Blackened" at the band's sophomore Orion Music + More festival, which took place June 8-9 in Detroit, Michigan, can be seen below.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo said on the ground at the festival that he was eager to bring the show back to Detroit in 2014. "We've got to come back here, you know," he said. "This is a great place. This city needs it. The weekend has been a blast and I can't wait 'til next year. I've already got ideas for next year, so we're looking forward to it."

As previously reported, METALLICA played a surprise set on June 8 under the name DEHAAN, playing their entire 1983 debut disc "Kill 'Em All" from front to back.

The band's headlining set the following night, which closed out the festival, featured rarities like "Carpe Diem, Baby", "I Disappear" and "Disposable Heroes" alongside the band's more traditional hits and live favorites.

The members of METALLICA were also spotted hanging out at their personal lifestyle exhibits, with James Hetfield seen at his custom car display, Trujillo overseeing the skateboarding at the Vans Vert Ramp, and drummer Lars Ulrich premiering a clip from the upcoming movie "Metallica Through The Never" alongside director Nimród Antal.

The Metallica Museum displayed the bass that Cliff Burton played at his final concert before his 1986 death in a Swedish bus crash, as well as other instruments, stage props and vintage concert flyers.

Robert Trujillo played two other sets during the course of the weekend, first with a reunion of funk-rockers INFECTIOUS GROOVES and then with his own TRUJILLO TRIO.

Spokesperson Charlie Walker of promoter C3 Presents said that around 20,000 attended the first day, with possibly more showing up on Sunday. As for whether Orion will return to Detroit next year, he replied, "We'll go through this one, wrap it up, see what the feedback is . . . Then we'll sit down and try to get a grip on what to do next."

A total of 37 groups, including the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, DEFTONES, SILVERSUN PICKUPS, RISE AGAINST and BASSNECTAR, performed on Orion's five stages.

THE JOY FORMIDABLE was unable to perform their show after arriving late in Detroit due to travel issues.

James Hetfield personally introduced the SILVERSUN PICKUPS and watched their set from the side of the stage.

Cliff Burton's father Ray was in attendance for METALLICA's surprise "Kill 'Em All" performance on Saturday.

Detroit native Bob Seger was rumored to be showing up to sing his classic "Turn The Page" with METALLICA. Although the band played the song, Seger was a no-show.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine recently spoke to Radio.com about the band's new album, "Super Collider"; almost hiring late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abott to play in MEGADETH; and politics, among other topics. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked which band should have included if the "Big Four" (METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX) were expanded and considered the "Big Five", Mustaine said: "You know, people will say there's a whole another generation, like the 'Medium Four' [laughs], and I think there's a lot of great bands that fit that bill, too. But I think probably EXODUS, because there was nobody else at the time that had that kind of pull or that kind of importance in the metal community. Granted, it was with [late EXODUS singer Paul] Baloff, and Baloff had a voice that you had to have an acquired taste for, but you know, I liked him."

"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. The CD arrived in stores on June 4 via Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). The effort is available as a limited-edition CD with 3-D cover and bonus tracks, regular CD, regular LP, limited LP plus a bonus colored seven-inch single with two bonus tracks, and a download voucher.

"Red Hatchet", the new video from London progressive metallers THE SAFETY FIRE, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's second album, "Mouth Of Swords", which will be released on September 3 in North America via InsideOut Music. The CD was once again produced by the band's own Derya "Dez" Nagle (guitar), who previously worked with Frank Turner (MONGOL HORDE), RISE TO REMAIN, and THE HAARP MACHINE. It follows the release of last year's acclaimed debut album, "Grind The Ocean", which saw the band tour the world with the likes PERIPHERY, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, GOJIRA, PROTEST THE HERO, among others.

The brilliant artwork for "Mouth Of Swords" was created by Kim Taylor. In addition, Tommy Rogers from touring partners BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME has provided guest vocals on one track.

Comments Nagle: "We are all so incredibly proud of this album and feel 'Red Hatchet' is a great introduction to 'Mouth Of Swords'."

"Mouth Of Swords" track listing

01. Mouth Of Swords
02. Glass Crush
03. Yellowism
04. Beware The Leopard (Jagwar) (feat. Tommy Rogers)
05. Red Hatchet
06. Wise Hands
07. The Ghosts That Wait For Spring
08. I Am Time, The Destroyer
09. Old Souls

AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis, who is out of custody on $2 million bond posted at the end of May after being arrested on suspicion of soliciting the murder of his estranged wife, has posted the following message on his official blog:

"I've come across many comments, both private and public, asking me to explain more about my case or to explicitly state what my current worldview is.

"First, I simply am not allowed to do either of those things.

"Some day I will be able to tell the story of all that has happened in detail to get the facts straight and representing the many sides to this fairly complex story. In the meantime, many of you will make your assumptions and take the sensationalism of the press focusing on selling points at face value. I can't stop that from happening, and I've learned something by not having that kind of control. The people who want understanding will wait until the formalities and trials are done. Strangely enough, those type of minds are the people least likely to be judgmental even if I am found guilty. Those reporting from the courtroom will only pass along select facts and the case itself will only require select facts that do not encompass the entirety events. On the other hand, the seemingly larger percentage of people delight in voicing their opinion even though I personally have never said a word about even a single detail related to my case. Unspecific to me, that is a terribly sad reality greatly in contrast to the type of discussion I intend to start by choosing to post again.

"Second, all I have the ability to do right now is keep learning.

"By posting again I hope to attract people like me who are willing to look at all sides of a philosophical issue to learn before they speak. In fact, I'd be happy if this whole thing was just a way to recommend further readings to each other. However, I do accept that there will be some true geniuses who will try to turn each comment section into what topic they would like to discuss instead as if they created the original post and we all stumbled on their page.

"I'm out on bail, but on house arrest. My family has jobs and the ability to run errands or take an afternoon/evening out. I have the unique opportunity of being able to focus and study like I may never have again in life after this. While I can't say that I always enjoy it, it is more valuable than I originally acknowledged.

"Lastly, while I can't say exactly what it is I believe epistemologically or metaphysically, I can explain what I'm interested in learning.

"I grew up in a Christian home and held that belief myself for many years. In the process of sincerely trying to defend that belief in a scholarly way and shortly after finishing my degree, I felt that it was unreasonable to call myself a Christian in light of the evidence. Many AS I LAY DYING fans picked up on the not-so-subtle hints at my worldview change in a couple songs on 'Awakened'. It was never really hidden.

"Anyway, after my incarceration I found myself re-evaluating topics that I had previously sworn I would never waste my time looking at again. Many can chalk that up as one point for pure boredom in an isolation cell, or you can look at it providentially as the needed circumstance and only possible way to get me to humble my mind. Either way, I don't want to just read aimlessly. These daily lists are a way for me understand what I've already covered and which topics I should get more material on to read more in depth. Since these lists are public, it is also a way for me to discover the ignorance of many people who post.

"To be most helpful, please stay on topic."

"Utter Chaos", the new video from Wisconsin death metallers JUNGLE ROT, can be seen below. Masters of no-nonsense riffs, the band dominated a sold-out stage at Reggies rock club in Chicago and Victory Records was there to capture the insanity. The song is comes off the group's eighth studio album, "Terror Regime", which was released on March 19 via Victory Records. Recording took place at Bell City Recording in Racine, Wisconsin with longtime friend and engineer Chris Djuricic. The artwork was once again completed by Gyula Havancsák (DESTRUCTION, ANNIHILATOR, GRAVE DIGGER).

"'Terror Regime' has lots of speed, groove and hate coming your way", warns frontman Dave Matrise.

"Terror Regime" track listing:

01. Voice Your Disgust
02. Terror Regime
03. Utter Chaos
04. I Am Hatred
05. Blind Devotion
06. Scorn
07. Rage Through The Wasteland
08. Ruthless Omnipotence
09. I Don't Need Society
10. Carpet Bombing
11. Pronounced Dead

In a recent interview with Target Audience Magazine, Matrise stated about JUNGLE ROT's new CD: "It's a lot thrashier; we've been doing a lot of touring. We've toured a lot more than we ever did on the 'Kill On Command' record. We played some songs every night we could see which ones go over with the fans. I think just by touring it just gave us a little hint to do on the next one."

Asked if there was any pressure to outdo "Kill On Command", Matrise said: "No, there was no pressure. It was a great record, but like all of them, we try to top every one of them. I think a lot of it had to do with our new drummer, Jesse. We've finally found a drummer that can play anything. This kid is unbelievable; whatever we throw at him, he can do it."

JUNGLE ROT recently announced the addition of Scott Fuller (ABYSMAL DAWN) as a guest drummer for the band's European festival appearances.