Singer Antony Hämäläinen (pictured below) has officially left mutinational melodic death metallers NIGHTRAGE. He says: "There is no drama or bad blood. Quite the opposite actually as we all remain great friends. I personally would just like to explore other musical ventures. It's as simple as that."

He adds: "I want to thank [NIGHTRAGE founder] Marios Iliopoulos for giving me a chance to play in his band, and write two amazing albums with him. He is one of the most underrated guitar players in the world, and I am sure he will create more amazing music in the years to come.

"In other news, [drummer] Johan Nunez and I, have finished recording a new album of total melodic death metal with several of our best friends on board. This is a project we have been working on for a few years now and we can't wait to share it with you. There will be more news on that in the weeks to come so stay tuned!"

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

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

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

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

SOUNDGARDEN bassist Ben Shepherd will release his debut solo album as HBS, "In Deep Owl", on August 27. The collection of songs was recorded in the industrial neighborhoods of Georgetown and Interbay in Seattle, Washington and was produced by Dave French, Ben Shepherd, Chad MacMurray and Nathan Yaccino. It features guest appearances by SOUNDGARDEN drummer Matt Cameron and former PEARL JAM drummer Matt Chamberlain.

The first song off the album, "Baron Robber", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

Regarding the CD title, Shepherd told Bass Player magazine: "That's an old nickname for the neighborhood where I hang out."

He added: "[The album] was done before SOUNDGARDEN returned to doing anything, and then it was put on the back burner."

Speaking about SOUNDGARDEN's reunion, Ben said: "I don't think we should have split up in the first place. We definitely needed a hiatus, and we took one. It was just longer than everyone thought. I can see all the proactive goodness of it. It's ironic that two days before the call, I was finishing my solo album and telling everyone I would never be in another band — ever. I will help other guys make records. I've been a hired gun to my friend Mark Lanegan [SCREAMING TREES, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE]; it’s fun to be a part of a creative process and play live, but for me nothing compares to SOUNDGARDEN taking the stage. That's the big daddy of them all. I knew we'd always be in business together, so we might as well do the cool part — make music."

On September 3, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release "The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert" on a triple DVD set, as an SD Blu-ray — with upscaled standard definition original material with uncompressed stereo and DTS-HD surround sound for the best possible quality — and digital. This release boasts newly remastered sound across both sections of the concert and represents the first time the opening acts' performances have been made available on DVD or Blu-ray.

On April 20, 1992, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon, the surviving members of QUEEN, took to the stage at Wembley Stadium for the start of one of the biggest events in rock history, which the band had organized to pay tribute to their former colleague — the incomparable Freddie Mercury. QUEEN were joined by some of the greatest musical talent in the world to celebrate Freddie's life and work and to increase public awareness of AIDS, the disease that had prematurely ended his life the previous year.

"The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert" features many QUEEN classics in unique performances, including "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Hammer To Fall", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Radio Ga Ga", "I Want To Break Free", "Under Pressure", "Somebody To Love", "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions". Special guests include David Bowie, Roger Daltrey, DEF LEPPARD, EXTREME, Bob Geldof, GUNS N' ROSES, Ian Hunter, Tony Iommi, Elton John, Annie Lennox, METALLICA, George Michael, Liza Minnelli, Robert Plant, Mick Ronson, Seal, Lisa Stansfield, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Young and Zucchero.

As well as being great entertainment, the concert raised a huge and still growing sum of money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity formed at the time by Roger Taylor, Brian May and QUEEN's longtime manager Jim Beach whose charter is the relief of suffering from AIDS throughout the world. Profits from this release will be donated by the Mercury Phoenix Trust to AIDS charities around the globe.

By overwhelming popular demand, the Dagger Records exclusive release THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: Live In Cologne will be released on compact disc on July 9th, and is available exclusively at this location. Pre-Orders are now being accepted at the introductory price of $11.98.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live In Cologne, originally the twelfth release in the Dagger Records official bootleg series released as an LP and now on CD, documents this spirited, January 13, 1969 performance at the Sporthalle in Cologne, Germany.

Hendrix kicked off the proceedings with a scalding 'Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)' from Electric Ladyland. This EARL KING chestnut had long been a favorite of Jimi’s and here he began with a driving solo introduction before signaling Redding and Mitchell to join. Next followed a blistering version of 'Foxey Lady', a perennial stage favorite.

An abrupt tape cut precedes a memorable rendition of 'Red House'. Thankfully the performance is essentially complete lacking only Jimi’s prefacing stage banter, offered as he likely changed guitars before starting. 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)' followed next, not yet established as Jimi’s closing number as it would become later in 1969 and remain so throughout his career, but no less muscular.

Jimi then shifted directly into 'Fire' and then a thunderous 'Spanish Castle Magic'. The Experience were clearly locked in sync, pushing each other throughout all to the delight of their audience. The Experience never backed off, launching next into their first single 'Hey Joe'. Jimi had to do some quick tuning on the fly, but he pressed on undaunted, boldly dashing off a lick from THE BEATLES’ 'I Feel Fine' as he barreled through this up-tempo rendition. This driving intensity built up after the solo, underscored by Jimi’s rhythm guitar work and Mitchell’s superb drumming before culminating in a rousing finale.

"Shine On", the new video from Chicago heavy rockers SOIL, can be seen below. The song, which is dedicated to the SOIL fans for standing by the band throughout the years, comes off the band's sixth studio album, "Whole", which will be released on August 20 via Pavement Entertainment. It's the band's first 100% independent release.

"We wanted to call all the shots on this album and, for the first time ever, hold our future in our own hands," explains bassist Tim King.

"Whole" is the first SOIL album with original frontman Ryan McCombs since 2004's "Re.De.Fine" (after which he joined DROWNING POOL). It sees SOIL returning to its classic sound that fans have come to admire, with a pres release calling it the CD "that could have come directly after the 'Scars' album in 2001."

Following the 2012 release of its first-ever live DVD, "Re-LIVE-ing The Scars", SOIL began writing new material and entered the studio in February 2013 with producer Ulrich Wild (PANTERA, BREAKING BENJAMIN) to begin recording.

"This was by far the most comfortable and natural recording process we have ever experienced," says guitarist Adam Zadel. "From the writing, pre-production, and through the main tracking and mixing, everything was smooth and fluid."

Other songs featured on "Whole" include "The Hate Song", "Loaded Gun" and "Way Gone". Another track, "Amalgamation", sees McCombs taking songtitles from both the SOIL and DROWNING POOL releases he was a part of and weaving them into verses of the song.

"I think, lyrically speaking, those that are familiar with the work I've done are going to get the next chapter that they would expect," McCombs says about the lyrical process. "Words from a heart and mind that has lived them.

"One of the greatest things I experience as a lyricist is when people come up and share with me how a song, or a specific verse or line from a song, got them through a hard time or times in their lives. It reminds me of the times music did that for me and how powerful music and/or a lyric can be in a person's life."

Drums and percussion on "Whole" were performed by Will Hunt (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, EVANESCENCE, DEVICE).

"Will added a whole new dimension to the songs," states King. "He added a monstrous and aggressive vibe to the album."

A guest guitar solo on "Wake Up" was performed by longtime friend Mike Mushok of the band STAIND.

"Whole" track listing:

01. Loaded Gun
02. The Hate Song
03. Ugly
04. Way Gone
05. Psychopath
06. Shine On
07. Wake Up
08. Amalgamation
09. My Time
10. Little Liar
11. One Love

"Shine On" video:



"My Time" (new song) performance:

Italy-based label Frontiers Records has issued the following announcement regarding the planned collaboration between STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet and T&N guitarist George Lynch:
"Frontiers Records can proudly announce to be the label behind the yet unnamed new band project featuring Stryper's Michael Sweet, former DOKKEN and Lynch Mob axeman George Lynch, former WHITE LION bass player James Lomenzo and ex-WHITESNAKE drummer Brian Tichy.

The debut album will be recorded in early 2014 with Sweet overseeing production duties, for a release pencilled right after the summer of 2014.

This is the first of a number of new exciting band projects put together personally by Serafino Perugino, President and Head of A&R of Frontiers Records, which will see the light of day during 2014. Stay tuned as more exciting news will be unfolding soon!"

Stryper recently completed work on their forthcoming new studio album, No More Hell To Pay, due for release later this year via Frontiers Records.
Says the band: "We could not be more excited to release this record later this year with Frontiers Records! Release date coming soon."

No More Hell To Pay tracklisting:

'Revelation'
'No More Hell To Pay'
'Saved By Love'
'Jesus Is Just Alright' (cover of famous gospel track written by Arthur Reid Reynolds, also performed by THE BYRDS and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS)
'The One'
'Legacy'
'Marching Into Battle'
'Te Amo'
'Sticks & Stones'
'Water Into Wine'
'Sympathy'
'Renewed'
Stryper lineup:

Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals / Guitar
Robert Sweet - Drums
Oz Fox - Guitar / Vocals
Timothy Gaines - Bass/Vocals

More on Stryper at this location.

Relapse Records has announced the signing of the Charlotte, North Carolina death metal/grindcore outfit COLUMNS. The band will enter the studio soon to record its new album for a 2014 release.

Featuring former members of Relapse cult grinders HEMDALE plus renowned death metal acts VEHEMENCE and GLASS CASKET, COLUMNS formed in 2003 and has released a series of blistering EPs since 2006.

A song from COLUMNS' most recent EP, "Please Explode", is available for free download via the Relapse Records 2013 Bandcamp sampler.

Commented the band: "COLUMNS is super stoked to be a part of the Relapse Records family! We have followed so many bands on the Relapse roster for so long. We are looking forward to our releases having the backing they need to reach a much bigger audience! GRIND!"

Los Angeles-based experimental heavy rock band IWRESTLEDABEARONCE will release its third studio album, "Late For Nothing", on August 6 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered by the group's guitarist/programmer Steven Bradley at the band's home studio in Los Angeles. It also marks IWRESTLEDABEARONCE's first record with their new singer Courtney LaPlante, who joined the band with only a day's notice during last summer's Vans Warped Tour.

Newly recharged with the addition of LaPlante, Bradley and cohorts John Ganey (guitar/programming), Mike "Rickshaw" Martin (bass) and Mikey Montgomery (drums) are set to keep their fans guessing with "Late For Nothing". While the band's signature, avant-garde style is well intact on the new album; their style has progressed immensely. By far their boldest and most accessible release to date, "Late For Nothing" rips and roars with blunt force intensity, incorporating their brain joggling breakdowns with a unique blend of electronics, jazzed-out time signatures and break neck riffage.

"The entire album came together as a result of us wanting to do something different," affirms Bradley. "We didn't want to make another weird IWRESTLEDABEARONCE album or whatever people were expecting. We set out to make something different and better than anything we've ever released. It's a more evolved version of the band. We explored new styles and genres as well — especially in terms of the more spacey, epic, and beautiful parts. It's got the most melodic moments of our career as well as the heaviest."

Featuring the forthcoming, schizophrenic first single "Thunder Chunky", "Late For Nothing" scales the summit of heavy rock/metal with twelve teeth gnashing tracks that find a happy medium between crushing metal and beautifully orchestrated melody. The album's opener, "Thunder Chunky", sets the tone for the album as they slash their way through songs like "Letters To Stallone" that showcases LaPlante's incredible balance of full throttle screams and melodic choruses, and "Carnage Asada", which features a guest solo from the legendary Steve Vai.

IWRESTLEDABEARONCE will head to Europe for a summer run before returning to support the release of "Late For Nothing" in the U.S. on The All Stars Tour 2013 with EVERY TIME I DIE.

"Late For Nothing" track listing:

01. Thunder Chunky
02. Letters To Stallone
03. Snake Charmer
04. Boat Paddle
05. Firebees
06. Mind The Gap
07. Carnage Asada
08. The Map
09. That's A Horse Of A Different Color
10. I'd Buy That For A Dollar
11. Inside Job
12. It Don't Make Me No Nevermind

The song "Firebees" can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

METALLICA returned to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on April 19 for a headlining performance at the du Arena, Yas Island.

The band previously performed in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Arena in October 2011 — a gig that scored the Best Music Event award at the Best In Abu Dhabi 2012.

An eight-minute MetOnTour video recap of this year's concert can be seen below.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said in a new interview with Rolling Stone that the band has compiled nearly 600 song ideas for its tenth studio album, most of them coming during jam sessions on tour and organized this past January and March in several rehearsal sessions. But that doesn't mean the group is rushing to whittle all that music down to 10 or 12 solid tunes and record them. Ulrich explained, "I understand there are people waiting for a new record, and so are we. But I can't stress about it. It's not like, 'Fuck, hurry up and get this record out.' Hurry up for what? So we can go play gigs? We already play gigs. We'll get there."

Frontman James Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio that making the new record was a question of time and not lack of material. "We've come up with enough material for a record, for sure," he said. "We've gone through maybe one-tenth of the material that's on our riff CDs, but we've got enough for an album. We just haven't had the time to really focus on it and dial in and start whittling at these masterpieces, hopefully."

METALLICA is not likely to get down to serious recording until later this year or early 2014, with the new album probably not expected to arrive until 2015. The band's last studio effort was 2008's "Death Magnetic".

Earlier this month the band headlined the second edition of its Orion Music + More festival, which was held in Detroit on June 8-9. The group headlined the second day while also playing a surprise afternoon set on the first day at which it played its entire 1983 debut disc "Kill 'Em All".

The group has a scattering of festival slots lined up into September, just before its upcoming 3D movie, "Metallica Through the Never", premieres on IMAX screen in North America on September 27.

METALLICA filmed the movie last August, combining live performance footage from three shows in Vancouver with a storyline following a fictional member of their crew, played by actor Dane DeHaan, who's sent on a mission during a concert.

Texas-based metal veterans HELSTAR are in pre-production for their new album, tentatively due in erly 2014 via AFM Records. According to the band, "eight songs [are] in the can, with just a few more to go."

Bassist Jerry Abarca is taking an extended break from the HELSTAR for health reasons and was temporarily replaced for the band's recent shows by Mike LePond of SYMPHONY X.

HELSTAR released "30 Years Of Hel", a DVD containing footage of the band's March 24, 2012 30-year-anniversary hometown show at Warehouse Live in Houston, on October 2, 2012 in North America (August 31, 2012 in Europe) via AFM Records. The DVD+2CD set includes footage of the band performing songs spanning its entire career, including material from the often-overlooked "Multiples Of Black" release. The package also features interviews with each bandmember, as well as with the entire group, conducted by "Robb's MetalWorks" and focusing specifically on this milestone.

HELSTAR released its latest album, "Glory Of Chaos", in November 2010 via Germany's AFM Records.

Formed in Houston in the early '80s, HELSTAR cut its teeth playing backyard parties and small club gigs. It soon became apparent that HELSTAR had much more to offer then its contemporaries. Combat Records snapped up the band and released HELSTAR's debut, "Burning Star", in 1984. Next came "Remnants of War", followed by HELSTAR's breakthrough album, "A Distant Thunder", in 1988. The success of "A Distant Thunder" ultimately set up HELSTAR's most critically acclaimed album, 1989's "Nosferatu".

Los Angeles thrashers WARBRINGER have entered the studio to begin recording the follow-up to their third album, "Worlds Torn Asunder". The band will once again be working with producer Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SEPULTURA, SYMPHONY X) on this currently untitled new full-length at his studio, The Omen Room, in Garden Grove, California.

Set to record for a month's time, WARBRINGER has already written 11 songs that explore the band's diversity and musicianship while also remaining true to their signature fast and heavy thrash attack.

Comments drummer Carlos Cruz: "Moving forward with our fourth full-length album has been a tremendous feat for the band and we are proud of the album we've written.

"The growth of the band with two new members (guitarist Jeff Potts and bassist Ben Mottsman) has produced a very eclectic-sounding album that covers a lot of musical ground within the heavy metal genre. It's been a true collaboration and all five members have been able to write and contribute something new to the collective WARBRINGER sound.

"We hope all our fans will keep an open-mind towards our musical growth, but we promise no one will be disappointed.

"Deciding to work with Steve Evetts again was the best decision for the group because of our prior experience with him. His personality, attention to detail and ability to sonically capture what the band represents will make for an amazing fourth-album experience.

"Two years is a long time to improve upon your craft, so we're excited to see what has become of Steve as a producer, and for him to see what has become of WARBRINGER since our last album."

WARBRINGER's new CD is tentatively scheduled for an October release via Century Media Records.

WARBRINGER will tour North America with KREATOR and OVERKILL this fall in support of this release, in addition to playing some one-off shows around the world.

Video footage of EUROPE's June 21 press conference at Hellfest in Clisson, France can be seen below.

EUROPE's 30th-anniversary performance at this year's edition of the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden was the band's only Swedish concert of 2013 and the stage show was one of the greatest, if not the greatest of the band's entire career. The setlist was specially composed from EUROPE's entire nine-album discography, including their cult debut "Europe" (1983), multi-million-seller "The Final Countdown" (1986) and their most recent outing, "Bag Of Bones" (2012), which has now reached gold status in Sweden. The performance was also filmed for a DVD release.

For the record: today's version of EUROPE is identical to the classic "The Final Countdown" lineup: Joey Tempest (vocals), John Norum (guitar), John Levén (bass), Mic Michaeli (keyboards) and Ian Haugland (drums).

"Bag Of Bones" was released in Europe on April 27, 2012 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.

Press conference:

Bassist Jared MacEachern (pictured below) made his live debut with San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD last night (Monday, June 24) in Spokane, Washington. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Some fans might remember MacEachern from MACHINE HEAD's 2007 "The Black Tyranny" tour, on which he performed with his previous band, SANCTITY. MACHINE HEAD, challenged to find a fill-in bass player for the North American tour after an injury sidelined their then-four-stringer Adam Duce, also found themselves in need of someone to sing harmony with singer/guitarist Robb Flynn. Flynn remembers: "We had locked in Brandon Sigmund of local boys HOSTILITY to play bass on that tour, but we soon realized we'd need someone to hit the high harmonies. Our A&R guy [at Roadrunner Records], Monte Conner, recommended Jared since he was already on the tour, and that ended up being a great call. Jared flew out a few days before the tour and rehearsed with us and did great. What was most impressive about the whole thing was that he was doing double duty — opening for MACHINE HEAD with his band at the time, SANCTITY, and then later singing with us. He would stay sober until after our set, and often get in the van and drive all night. His seriousness and dedication was awesome to see and it stuck with us."

Earlier this year, MACHINE HEAD conducted an extensive search for candidates through various channels, the most fruitful of which proved to be video submissions. Sifting through more than 400 videos, the band personally reviewed and evaluated everyone's performances, including MacEachern, who made the short list without a second thought. Lead guitarist Phil Demmel recalls: "There were dozens of amazing players, and it was interesting to watch each one take on our tunes. One of our biggest criteria for this gig was to be able to sing the high harmonies. That was our litmus test. And Jared passed with flying colors."

After reviewing all of the submissions, the band narrowed down the 400-plus candidates to a short list of seven, each of whom took a trip to Oakland to perform a handful of songs in person and spend the day hanging with the band. Drummer Dave McClain remembers: "Jared came in to the audition and just killed it! Besides being able to nail the bass and vocal harmonies, he also had the vibe and personality to make it feel like we were a BAND again. It was a great feeling and we all knew he was the guy."

MacEachern first picked up concert bass at 12, and around the same time discovered metal. Jared recalls: "I heard the [METALLICA] song 'Unforgiven' and really liked it. The next day my friend gave me [METALLICA's first album] 'Kill 'Em All' and it was over. I became completely enamored with all the metal bands of that time; METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and PANTERA, but when it came to bass, it was all about Cliff Burton, he was, and is my dude." With a brief stint at the Brevard School for Music Performance, Jared has consistently played bass for the past 22 years, most notably in SANCTITY, where oddly enough, the band needed a guitar player. "That was purely out of necessity," he explains, "I'd been a bass player, but that gig opened up and I gave it a shot on the six-stringer."

After extensive global touring with SANCTITY and the birth of Jared's daughter in 2007, the band's release from their label ignited Jared's sense of responsibility and he quit the group to focus on her. But music stayed a part of his life and he continued to jam locally throughout the south with death metal bands FROM A DIG and TELIC, until he saw MACHINE HEAD were in need and thought he'd try out.

Frontman Robb Flynn reflects: "We really wanted a guy that was hungry for this, someone who could live and breathe this with us. Dave would joke around that we didn't want to get someone too green that'd be, like, 'Oh my god, is this a dressing room?!', but we also didn't want someone who was too jaded by the whole thing and 'been there done that.' We thought the perfect guy would be someone who'd paid some dues, who had done nine or ten crummy van tours, and wasn't broken by that, but inspired to keep going and play music, and in many ways that was Jared. I mean, hell, the guy's only rode in a bus for two nights, one of which was with us! It brings a really cool level of appreciation to the table, and it shows where his heart's at."

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine released the following statement today: "Many amazing bands have come forward to aid Oklahomans since the May tornadoes came and tore apart their homes and lives. Now it's time for heavy metal to give to this community!"

Mustaine's Gigantour, playing the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre on July 16 with MEGADETH headlining, is donating MEGADETH's proceeds from this festival to aid Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

The festival on July 16 will not be the only effort to benefit disaster victims while Mustaine and Gigantour are in town. On Monday, July 15 at ASA Hall of Fame Complex, there will be an all-star softball game with MEGADETH and other bandmembers from the festival tour, plus local celebrities and more to be announced. 100% of the proceeds benefit Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The ASA Hall of Fame Stadium is located at 2801 NE 50th Street and has generously donated the field for this fun, entertaining event. Softball game patrons are asked to make a minimum $5.00 donation to come see some heavy metal celebrities and local celebs have fun on the softball field Monday night!

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma has been providing for victims non-stop and will be doing so for months to come by way of a food pantry in Moore serving over 200 families each day, daily food boxes and care packages to disaster agencies and volunteers that continue clean-up and rebuilding efforts, and so much more.

SEVEN WITCHES will release its ninth studio album, "The Rebirth", on July 16 through Entertainment One's FrostByte Media imprint. The CD was recorded at Canyon Music in Toms River, New Jersey and was mixed at Sonorous studio in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

"The Rebirth" track listing:

01. Man In The Mirror (Enemy Within)
02. Claustrophobic (No Way Out)
03. Nightmare Man
04. Stand Or Fall
05. Hang 'Em High
06. True Blood
07. Head First
08. Rebirth
09. Riders Of Doom
10. Poison All The People

The official video for the song "Claustrophobic (No Way Out)" can be seen below.

Alan Tecchio last year stepped down as the SEVEN WITCHES lead vocalist, feeling that he could not be fully committed to the project. The band's new CD will, however, feature Alan singing his version of one of the new cuts (same music, different lyrics and melodies) as a bonus track.

"We are very excited to unveil the latest incarnation of the band," exlaims vocalist Anthony Cross (a.k.a. Anthony Regalbuto), who is said to have "a completely different approach to the SEVEN WITCHES brand.

"I'm happy to be a part of the band and look forward to continue in the history that is SEVEN WITCHES."

After over 20 different vocalist submissions, Cross was chosen to bring a different dimension to the already well-known WITCHES sound. In recent years, he spent time singing for bands like LIVESAY, SHADOW IMAGE, FISCHEL'S BEAST, ATTACKER, and most recently, the IRON MAIDEN tribute act SANCTUARY. Rounding out the new lineup is the massive rhythm team of Ronnie Parkes (SLIPPERY WHEN WET, FARCRY) on bass and Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, DANZIG, SEVENTH VOID, A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH) on drums.

SEVEN WITCHES states: "Our goal is to bring you something unpredictable that you can sink your teeth into and walk away feeling 'till the next morning."

Vocalist James Rivera (HELSTAR, VICIOUS RUMORS, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) announced his departure from SEVEN WITCHES in September 2011.

Rivera sang on SEVEN WITCHES' "Passage To The Other Side" (2003), "Year Of The Witch" (2004) and "Call Upon The Wicked" (2011) albums.

"Call Upon The Wicked" was released on June 3, 2011 via Massacre Records.

Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED are teasing their fans on Facebook with photos of the bandmembers' silhouettes (see below) as they prepare to announce their new lineup.

Although there has been no official confirmation, THE HAUNTED's latest incarnation appears to include the return of drummer Adrian Erlandsson (also of AT THE GATES and PARADISE LOST) and singer Marco Aro (also of THE RESISTANCE). They are joined by original THE HAUNTED members Patrik Jensen (guitar) and Jonas Björler (bass) alongside the band's newest addition, guitarist Ola Englund (SIX FEET UNDER, FEARED).

Vocalist Peter Dolving, guitarist Anders Björler and drummer Per Møller Jensen left THE HAUNTED last year and are pursuing separate new projects.

THE HAUNTED's seventh studio CD, "Unseen", sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort landed at position No. 33 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.

"Unseen" was released on March 29, 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD was once again recorded with longtime producer Tue Madsen (MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST, SICK OF IT ALL) at his Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark.

Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD were joined by their former bassist Jason Newsted and DOWN/ex-PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo during their June 23 performance at Hellfest in Clisson, France. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Newsted joined VOIVOD in 2002 and served as producer for the metal legends' self-titled album in 2003 on the Chophouse Records label (in association with Surfdog Records).

Longtime friends and pioneers of metal music, Newsted and original VOIVOD vocalist Snake (a.k.a. Denis Belanger), guitarist Piggy (a.k.a. Denis D'Amour), and drummer Away (a.k.a. Michel Langevin) first began working together at Newsted's Chophouse studio in 1995, intent on keeping the music alive between busy touring schedules. However, with Newsted's departure from METALLICA in January 2001, he was free to join VOIVOD as a full-fledged member and would remain involved with the group until 2008.

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN picked up the "Inspiration Award" at this year's Kerrang! Awards, which was held on June 13 at London, England's Troxy Club. The band was honored for its pioneering role in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement, which emerged in the late 1970s.

IRON MAIDEN's "Inspiration Award" was introduced by ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian, who co-hosted this year's Kerrang! Awards with Mark Hoppus of the pop punk outfit BLINK-182.

Says Ian: "The piece I wrote was too long to say the whole thing, so I figured I’d post it [on my official web site] for you all to check out."

Test of Scott Ian's introduction to IRON MAIDEN's "Inspiration Award" at Kerrang! Awards:

"When I was a kid, I used to go to the record store every day. I'd hang out there after school and go through the rock and metal sections looking for something new, something that I could blow my friends away with at lunch the next day on the shitty little tape player we used to listen to music on. I was always on the lookout for heavier, harder, faster, louder and usually you could tell if an album was going to live up to those criteria just by it's cover.

"I remember buying MOTÖRHEAD's 'Ace Of Spades' just because I thought the three dudes on the cover looked cool. I got the record home, put on the first song, 'Ace Of Spades', and holy crap, the first thing I thought was, 'Who the hell are these three Mexicans and how do they play so fast?' They looked like banditos. Years later I told Lemmy that and they used that quote on their 'Everything Louder Than Everything Else' record.

"I can remember being in the record store the week JUDAS PRIEST's 'British Steel' came out. I was already a PRIEST fan and was fucking stoked to have a new PRIEST record to tear my head off. I had 'British Steel' safely tucked under my arm and I was flipping through the record bins, and I saw an album cover that I had never seen before. An album cover to my then 16-year-old eyes that was the coolest fucking thing I had ever seen. The name of the band and the logo were so cool I would've bought the record just because of that. That logo, in just a few years, would define heavy metal. The artwork, a zombie with Johnny Rotten's hair maniacally staring at me from the cover, telling me that this record HAD to be great.

"This was the only copy they had of this record so I grabbed it and when I got home I couldn't wait to listen to it. The monster on the cover was compelling me, my hands violently ripping the plastic from the cover, sliding the vinyl out of its sleeve, I was sweating with anticipation as I dropped the needle on to track one and the first chords of 'Prowler' assaulted my ears and in that instant, my whole life changed.

"IRON MAIDEN ruled my world for the next decade. No other band was as big of an influence on ANTHRAX. Creatively, we looked up to them as a band because they did everything their own way, not giving a shit about what was trendy or popular because they were IRON MAIDEN. Professionally, we looked up to them because their organization was from band to management to crew an incredible massive machine that would travel the planet on tour and night after night after night never give less than 100%.

"We were lucky enough to be taken under their wing early on, touring with them for months at a time and getting the greatest education a band could ever get. We went to fucking MAIDEN school and we were better for it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to give the Kerrang! Inspiration Award to the greatest metal band of all time, IRON MAIDEN."

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "The Sinister Supremacy", the new album from Swedish thrashers DARKANE, can be streamed at this location. The CD will be released on the following dates:

* June 28 in Europe through Massacre Records
* July 2 in North America through Prosthetic Records
* June 19 in Japan through Trooper Entertainment

"The Sinister Supremacy" track listing:

01. Sounds Of Pre-Exsistence
02. The Sinister Supremacy
03. Mechanically Divine
04. Ostracized
05. The Decline
06. Insurrection Is Imminent
07. In The Absence Of Pain
08. Humanity Defined
09. Hate Repentance State
10. Collapse Of Illusions
11. By Darkness Designed
12. Existence Is Just A State Of Mind

Regarding the album's title, the band said: "'The Sinister Supremacy' is a metaphor for the evil that controls us. It's the dark part of our minds and it’s inside us all. It tells us it's OK to do bad things, to hurt other people, and hurt ourselves. It guides us into making choices based on pure selfishness, and it thrives on complete chaos.

"The cover art by Carlos Holmberg is a Rorschach test as seen by an individual who has completely succumbed to the sinister supremacy."

The first photo of the current lineup of DARKANE — featuring returning vocalist Lawrence Mackrory — can be seen below.

Vocalist Jens Broman left DARKANE in August 2011 due to "personal issues." He explained in a statement, "At the moment my life is in a phase where I'm unable to find inspiration for new adventures with DARKANE and therefore it's best for me to pass on the mic."

Mackrory sang on DARKANE's debut album, "Rusted Angel" (1999), and made a guest appearance on the song "Chaos vs. Order" on the band's 2002 effort "Expanding Senses".

"Demonic Art", the fifth album from DARKANE, debuted at No. 104 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.

"Demonic Art" was released in North America in February 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. The North America version of the CD, which came out in Europe on October 24, 2008 via Massacre Records, contains a bonus track and a bonus DVD.

"Mechanically Divine" audio stream: