"Beautiful", the new video from Christian hard rockers P.O.D. (PAYABLE ON DEATH), can be seen below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Murdered Love", which sold more than 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Murdered Love" was released on July 10, 2012 via Razor & Tie. The band's long-awaited follow-up to "When Angels & Serpents Dance" sees them reunited with longtime producer Howard Benson, who also produced the group's massive "Satellite" album as well as hit CDs for Kelly Clarkson, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DAUGHTRY, THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS and MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. The CD cover and packaging was illustrated and designed by Invisible Creature, whose previous credits include the FOO FIGHTERS, NORMA JEAN, Chris Cornell and many more.

In a 2012 interview with PureGrainAudio, vocalist Sonny Sandoval stated about the "Murdered Love" album title: "When we started PAYABLE ON DEATH, we were young kids at the time. It's a religious term, y'know, when someone passes on, what they leave behind — we've always related that to our faith in Christ. We believe in faith in the ultimate sacrifice for sin and doing that, we have redemption. So that's the pathway to our music. 'Murdered Love' is a very similar concept. It started out with the song 'The Day We Murdered Love', which was based on the idea that the moment Christ was crucified, how dark, how somber and sad it was. The earth quaked, the sky went black. It's talking about desperation for the people who believed in him, just the anguish that must've been felt. Y'know, just the idea that we crucified the Savior of the world; we murdered... love!"

METALLICA surprised fans at Orion Music + More on June 8 by playing its 1983 debut disc "Kill 'Em All" from beginning to end on a smaller stage at the event. METALLICA was officially announced to play a headlining set on June 9 to close out the festival, but hit the stage at 4:30 p.m. one day earlier for a 10-song set that started with "Hit The Lights" and finished out with "Metal Militia".

The afternoon slot was officially taken by an "act" called DEHAAN — which METALLICA fans may have recognized as the name of actor Dane DeHaan, who is starring in the band's upcoming 3D movie, "Metallica Through The Never". Another hint was dropped when METALLICA frontman James Hetfield posted a message on Instagram which read, "Don't miss Dehaan! #MUYA #mff #UwillRegretMissingThem #IfUdoUmightKillEmAll #winkWink #getIt?"

Hetfield came onstage first to introduce "DEHAAN," after which the rest of the members of METALLICA came out and began playing.

Official Metallica TV footage of the pre-show rehearsal in the "tuning room", as well as the actual DEHAAN performance, can be seen below.

Featured songs:

"Jump In The Fire" in tuning room (starting at 0:05)
"Hit The Lights" from the show (starting at 3:31)
"Phantom Lord" from the show (starting at 7:55)

Next month is the 30th anniversary of the release of "Kill 'Em All", which was issued on July 25, 1983.

At last year's Orion festival, METALLICA played both 1991's self-titled "black album" and 1984's "Ride The Lightning" in their entirety on separate nights.

Drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio recently that the band didn't necessarily want to do the same thing each year with a different record. "Obviously, it's something that's a lot of fun to do, but you've got to just walk a fine line because you don't — obviously, METALLICA's not interested in being, you know, a nostalgia act only. So we want to just find that right line."

Other acts performing at the second annual Orion Music + More festival this past weekend included the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, RISE AGAINST, DEFTONES, THE SILVERSUN PICKUPS, BASSNECTAR, GOGOL BORDELLO, FOALS, TOMAHAWK, THE JOY FORMIDABLE, THE BRONX and DROPKICK MURPHYS.

Side-of-the-stage video footage of NEWSTED — the new band led by former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist Jason Newsted — performing at the Spanish edition of the Sonisphere festival on May 31 at Auditorio Miguel Ríos in Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Madrid can be seen below.

NEWSTED's full-length debut, "Heavy Metal Music", will be released on August 6 in North America via Chophouse Records/Collective Sounds and August 5 in Europe through Spinefarm Records. Jason told Billboard.com the 11-song album will be very similar to the band's debut EP, "Metal", which sold around 6,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 62 on The Billboard 200 chart. "The EP was always intended to be the primer, a sampler of what was to come on the LP," he said. "It's all metal all the time. It's not all fast, but it is all heavy."

"Heavy Metal Music" track listing:

01. Heroic Dose
02. Soldierhead
03. ...As The Crow Flies
04. Ampossible
05. Long Time Dead
06. Above All
07. King Of The Underdogs
08. Nocturnus
09. Twisted Tail Of The Comet
10. Kindevillusion
11. Futureality

NEWSTED has been confirmed for this year's edition of Gigantour, the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. Also scheduled to appear on the bill are headliners MEGADETH, along with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DEVICE, HELLYEAH and DEATH DIVISION.

NEWSTED kicked off its first-ever U.S. tour on April 19 at Red House in Walnut Creek, California. The 14-date trek concluded on May 23 in Asbury Park, New Jersey and has led into a number of European festival appearances for the band, which is rounded out by STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok, drummer Jesus Mendez Jr. and guitarist Jessie Farnsworth.

NEWSTED is:

Jason Newsted - Bass, Lead Vocals
Jesus Mendez Jr. (THE NAPOLEON BLOWNAPARTS) - Drums
Jessie Farnsworth - Guitar, Backing Voice
Mike Mushok (STAIND) – Guitar

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, the company which creates "beautiful lullaby versions of your favorite artists," will release "Lullaby Versions Of Slipknot" on July 2 via Roma Music Group.

"Lullaby Versions Of Slipknot" track listing:

01. Wait And Bleed
02. Psychosocial
03. Before I Forget
04. Dead Memories
05. Duality
06. Left Behind
07. Pulse Of The Maggots
08. Snuff
09. Spit It Out
10. Sulfur
11. (Sic)
12. Vermillion, Pt. 2

A full-length version of "Before I Forget" can be streamed below.

Audio samples of the entire album are available at Amazon.com.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star is the premier pop music lullaby line, with more than a hundred titles to choose from across soundtracks, pop, rock, metal, country, alternative and more.

In its mission statement, Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star says, "We feel our lullaby line fills a vacant musical niche. There are other lines of pop music lullabies but we decided to take the approach of being high end musically rather than simply doing these as a novelty. After all, just because the music is for a baby it doesn’t have to sound unsophisticated. We feel we owe it to the artists that we are covering to do their music justice and our standard of quality transcends the lullaby genre. In fact, in addition to soothing babies our fans use our music for yoga, massage and sleep therapy or just general relaxation. We like to call them 'lullabies for all ages' and the diversity of use is testament to that."

For more information, visit www.ttlrs.com.

BLACK SABBATH, MOTÖRHEAD and ALICE IN CHAINS are among the artists who were honored at this year's Metal Hammer Golden Gods, which took place earlier tonight (Monday, June 17) at London, England's Indigo2. In addition, the event featured live performances from MOTÖRHEAD, AIRBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, COAL CHAMBER and PARADISE LOST.

"From honoring the lords of our world — BLACK SABBATH — and the crown princes of rock 'n' roll — MOTÖRHEAD — as well as today's most cutting-edge acts, there's simply no other event like it," said Alexander Milas, editor of Metal Hammer magazine, which organizes the annual awards.

This year's Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards winners:

Best New Band: BLEED FROM WITHIN
Best Underground Band: THE ALGORITHM
Dimebag Darrell "Shredder": Eric Calderone
Breakthrough Artist: ASKING ALEXANDRIA
Best Event: The Heavy Metal Census Campaign
Best International Band: STONE SOUR
Best Live Band: GOJIRA
Best UK Band: BLACK SABBATH
Best Album: BLACK SABBATH - "13"
Metal As Fu*k: BURGERKILL
Riff Lord: Scott Gorham (THIN LIZZY, BLACK STAR RIDERS)
Spirit Of Hammer: Brian Blessed
Inspiration: PARADISE LOST
Legend: Doro Pesch
Icons: ALICE IN CHAINS
The Golden God: MOTÖRHEAD

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "Deceiver Of The Gods", the ninth studio album from Swedish melodic death metallers AMON AMARTH, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap (OPETH, MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed 2011 "Surtur Rising" full-length delivers ten fiery battle hymns made of buzzsaw riffs and epic harmonies all driven by vocalist Johan Hegg's commanding Viking roar and absorbing accounts of Norse crusades and treachery.

"Deceiver Of The Gods" comes adorned with another outstanding Tom Thiel-created cover portraying a mythical battle between the Norse Gods Loki and Thor. As an added bonus, Messiah Marcolin (CANDLEMASS) makes an appearance as guest vocalist on eighth track, "Hel".

"Deceiver Of The Gods" will be released in North America via Metal Blade Records on June 25, in Europe June 24 and Japan on June 26.

Following a run of European festival dates, AMON AMARTH will open the main stage of this year's edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, set to commence June 29 in San Bernardino.

In a recent interview with France's LoudTV.net, Hegg stated about the recording process for "Deceiver Of The Gods": "It was pretty much six or seven weeks in January and February this year. So it went pretty quick. But when we went into the studio, we were very well prepared; we had all the songs written, we were well rehearsed. It went really quickly. We didn't have to change much. Everything was pretty much written. Every time you record something, there's always gonna be small changes, obviously, with songs, because when you rehearse it, maybe you don't hear that it didn't work perfectly, so you have to find another way. Or you come up with an idea of how something could be a little bit better. But all the songs were 99 percent ready, basically."

Asked if it was weird getting Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) to produce "Deceiver Of The Gods", Hegg said: "I don't think so. I mean, if you know where Andy comes from — HELL and SABBAT. He kind of has the same musical background as us; we were listening to the same stuff. And for us, we realized that his style of producing would fit the band. So when we decided to go for a new producer, Andy was a pretty definite choice, because we liked the stuff that he's done recently with ACCEPT, for instance, and KREATOR, and we felt that he could contribute something to our sound, and I think he did; I think it was a good choice. It was good for us to work with [previous producer] Jens [Bogren], but you know, after three albums, it felt like we needed a new challenge, a new voice in the whole production. For us, it felt natural to go with Andy. Especially after meeting him the first time… We were actually on tour and we met him in Wales. We just sat down and had a couple of beers and talked, and I think we hit it off straight away; it really felt good. So I think it was a good choice to work with Andy; he's a great producer and I think he did a perfect job."

Regarding whether Sneap has made AMON AMARTH sound more dynamic on the new album, Hegg said: "I think so. I think that the whole recording process, and the sound, and everything, is more organic, it feels more 'live,' [there's] a better groove to it than with Jens. I mean, Jens is a great producer — he has a very, very good ear for music — but somehow his productions are a little bit too clinical sometimes; they're too bang-on. I mean, some people love that. I wanna have that little groovy… so you get that live feeling, and I think that's important for a band like us as well. So I think it was a good choice to work with Andy for this album. Especially, also, when you consider the material that we had. There is a bit more groove to it, there is more ups and downs in the tempo, and I think it's easier to get that across if you do, as I said, a more organic, more natural flow kind of recording. Like I said, great job from him, and I'm glad that we lived up to it as well. [laughs]"

On the topic of whether "Deceiver Of The Gods" is AMON AMARTH's most diverse album to date, Hegg said: "I think so, yeah. And I think that's going back to what I said before — that we decided to let our influences shine through a lot more than we used to in the past. I mean, our influences have always been there, but we always kind of tried to keep them on the low side, not too evident, but now we let them come up in the production much more, and I think that was a good choice because it definitely gave the album a wide range."

"Deceiver Of The Gods" track listing:

01. Deceiver Of The Gods
02. As Loke Falls
03. Father Of The Wolf
04. Shape Shifter
05. Under Siege
06. Blood Eagle
07. We Shall Destroy
08. Hel
09. Coming Of The Tide
10. Warriors Of The North

Fan-filmed video footage of TESTAMENT's June 15 performance at the Copenhell festival at Refshaleøen in Copenhagen, Denmark can be seen below.

To honor and celebrate Record Store Day, Nuclear Blast and TESTAMENT released a limited-edition (1000 copies) seven-inch picture disc containing two bonus songs the band recorded during the sessions for their latest album, "Dark Roots Of Earth". Side A is a cover of the SCORPIONS song "Animal Magnetism", while side B is TESTAMENT's take on IRON MAIDEN's "Powerslave". Both covers can also be found on the deluxe edition of "Dark Roots Of Earth".
The "Animal Magnetism" / "Powerslave" picture disc was released on April 20.

TESTAMENT's February 15 concert at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York as part of "The Dark Roots Of Thrash" tour was professionally filmed for a 90-minute DVD, to be released later this year via Nuclear Blast.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" sold more than 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on July 31, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. The cover artwork for the effort was painted by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

The new self-titled album from the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, can be streamed in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below. The CD will be released on June 25 via Century Media Records. 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.

"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.

"Queensrÿche" track listing:

01. X2
02. Where Dreams Go To Die
03. Spore
04. In This Light
05. Redemption
06. Vindication
07. Midnight Lullaby
08. A World Without
09. Don't Look Back
10. Fallout
11. Open Road

Several versions of "Queensrÿche" are now available for pre-order:

*** Standard Jewel Case Version
Regular CD that includes a 4x4 patch.

*** Deluxe Box Set Edition CD (North America only)

Regular CD with the following bonus tracks:

* Queen Of The Reich (live)
* En Force (live)
* Prophecy (live)
Housed in a small box with an exclusive patch, sticker, guitar pick and button pack.

*** 2-CD Media Book (For Europe only)
Standard CD, plus 2nd CD with the following bonus tracks, all recorded live in Snoqualmie, WA on October 27, 2012:

01. Queen Of The Reich (live)
02. En Force (live)
03. Prophecy (live)

*** LP Version
One LP with the standard cd inserted into the sleeve as a bonus.

Side A

01. X2
02. Where Dreams Go To Die
03. Spore
04. In This Light
05. Redemption
06. Vindication

Side B

01. Midnight Lullaby
02. A World Without
03. Don't Look Back
04. Fallout
05. Open Road
06. Queen Of The Reich (live)
07. En Force (live)

*** iTunes Digital Version
Standard CD version, plus the following bonus tracks:

01. Queen Of The Reich (live)
02. En Force (live)

Asked which album in QUEENSRŸCHE's catalog would most closely compare to what the band is doing now, drummer Scott Rockenfield told "Noize In The Attic": "Our big goal was, once we kind of made our transition last year and moved on as a band, and Todd being in the band, and our focus of the live shows and everything, it's always kind of been about looking at what really made QUEENSRŸCHE special. And for the live show, it's the old stuff. And we've been focusing a lot, in the show, doing that, for the last year, and we're continue to focus on doing that. On the record, I think the vein of what the record is a combination of all that great old stuff that we're kind of known best for. I mean, for me, I kind of summarize it by saying, to me, it's everything from the [debut] EP up to 'Empire', or maybe even 'Promised Land' at that point, which is, to me, the most defining catalog that we've ever done. And I think for this record, it's visiting that and taking that into the future."

Added guitarist Michael Wilton: "I also think that when you hear this record, each song is gonna be unique in its own. For people that have heard the single that's on YouTube called 'Redemption'. Everybody's asking, 'Is the album gonna sound just like that?' And I can say, 'No.' What's great about this record is that every individual here was in the creative process and the writing — there was no outside writers, like [there were] on the last few albums. And it really shows, and it's a real great blend of everybody's strength and their creative elements, and the songs are definitely reflective of the personalities of this band right now."

Continued Scott: "I think that's important. Especially what Michael was saying. I think the focus of that earlier stuff, there was a massive chemistry between all of us that really worked, and we wanted to find that chemistry again, 'cause we've, unfortunately, had to struggle with that the last few years. But we always knew that that's what we wanted to do, so now that we're able to do that, finding that chemistry and that energy that got us to make those records is what that energy now is in this record. And Michael's right: the songs, there's a great variety of things in it, but they're all QUEENSRŸCHE, they're all us doing it, it's our chemistry of working together."

Said Michael: "If you listen to all the other albums, like from 'Promised Land' back to the EP, you're gonna hear all these dynamics, from song after another song — you're gonna hear those dynamics, and that's the same sort of approach we wanted to take on this new one."

The live video for "Medicine 2.0", a brand new song from the French progressive metalcore outfit AS THEY BURN, can be seen below. The track comes off the group's new album, "Will, Love, Life", which was released on February 19 via Victory Records.

Regarding the CD title, AS THEY BURN guitarist Fabio Meschini told Live-Metal.net, "Will, Love, Life are three things that we can't separate. If now we are who we are, it's because of those three things have permitted us to do all the things we've done! Our passion is only what motivates us every day to give the best! All the lyrics are talking about that. Like (our previous album), 'Aeon's War', Thelema is really present in the meaning of the lyrics."

Asked about the band's decision to sign with Victory, b>AS THEY BURN vocalist Kevin Traore said: "From the day we decided to be a band, we realized our common dream to become musicians, and from that moment forward, we did everything we could to make this happen. We are musicians and that's it. We're not businessmen, managers or anything else. We worked very hard to promote our music, release CDs and book shows, but it seems that we needed more support to reach the next step. We had a very good feeling with Victory Records before all of this happened. We met Mr. [Tony] Brummel, the owner of Victory, in Paris during the summer time. We discussed of everything concerning this collaboration, and both of us agreed on many points, so we decided to make this happen, and we're very satisfied."

Emerging from the streets of Paris, AS THEY BURN was formed in 2007 by bassist Ronald Pastor, guitarist Fabio Meschini and drummer Milton Bakech. Vocalist Kévin Traore, known for his chillingly aggressive vocals, was enlisted shortly thereafter, along with guitarist Hoby Arinosy.

AS THEY BURN's debut album, "Aeon's War", was digitally released on June 20, 2011.

"Mechanically Divine", a brand new song from Swedish thrashers DARKANE, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's new album, "The Sinister Supremacy", which 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 track listing for the CD is as follows:

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:

"Lifeless", the new video from SOCIETY 1, can be seen below. Directed by vocalist Matt "The Lord" Zane and Noah Raskin, the "Lifeless" clip is the first complete track made available from SOCIETY 1's recently recorded EP "Screams Of Sadist" that was produced by Raymond Herrera, with mixing and mastering done by Logan Mader. SOCIETY 1 wanted to release the video prior to securing a means of distribution in order to showcase the band's current lineup and sound.

"Of course, we could just record and release albums on our own, do small tours, basically just make it a DIY situation but after being back in the game for the past year it seems that it would a better decision to try and sign with some type of label that has a few more resources than we do at our immediate disposal," said Zane. "It seems video's are a great way to gain interest these days because it is so easy to reach so many people. I've even know a few new artists acquire deals directly from their YouTube views before even playing a show."

With the band's decision to create and release a video, the question came down to which track from the EP should be used to represent where SOCIETY 1 stood musically and visually after all these years.

Added Zane: "I think 'Lifeless' may be my favorite song I've ever written. The music and lyrics just seem to encapsulate everything I am for good or for bad. I'm really proud of that track. As far as the video, I knew it had to be a lot of performance because people would be curious about what we look like now. Good news is none of us are fat and I'm not bald. Dirt Von Karloff, our bassist, is actually in better shape." The video also features actress, model and nutritionist Cambria Gonzalez playing the role of what seems to be a dead or shock victim placed on a couch in a questionable position.

"If you listen to the lyrics, you'll get it, but in case you can't understand me, I say 'Death hides inside sex…'," Zane said. "She is basically playing a girl who was fucked to death but that girl also represents aspects of my own innocence, health and spirit. These things that make us human or alive are just dead, taken away through excessive, violent and perverse sex. That's why I'm sitting next to her crying. It's my own death as well as hers. She is me and I finally realize it."

EvilG of Metal-Rules.com recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal-Rules.com: Tell us a bit about the writing process for ["Super Collider"] and what involvement you had.

Shawn Drover: We recorded "Super Collider" at our recording studio (Vic's Garage) in California over the course of about three months or so. About 4-5 songs were pretty close to being written musically, while the others were created from musical ideas, etc. The tune "Built For War" was a song that I wrote most of the music for along with Chris [Broderick, guitar] and Dave [Mustaine, vocals/guitar]. All in all I have good memories creating this record.

Metal-Rules.com: "Super Collider" debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top 200 albums in the USA and #4 on Canadian Billboard charts. That's the highest ranking since "Youthansia" back in 1994, so congrats! According to sales figures, "Super Collider" sold below "TH1RT3EN" for week one… Do you attribute that to changing times, illegal downloading, etc?

Shawn Drover: Of course it is. We are certainly thrilled to have a #6 record on Billboard in America and #4 in Canada, but sales are way down for the entire music industry right across the board, which is a real drag. Internet piracy, torrent sites and all that are the reason why. Concert attendance for us is still great around the world, so we are definitely happy about that.

Metal-Rules.com: As this is the first MEGADETH album since leaving Roadrunner Records, what has been the biggest difference you've noticed so far regarding promotion, etc.?

Shawn Drover: I have seen a ton of promotion for "Super Collider" in Europe while on tour, which was really cool to see. Just walking around town and seeing an HMV store with huge displays for "Super Collider" was great.

Metal-Rules.com: I believe you are now the longest-serving MEGADETH drummer. So congrats for lasting so long. To what would you attribute your continued success with the band?

Shawn Drover: I think just respecting the legacy of this band and keeping myself grounded is a big part of it. Knowing how to conduct yourself as a person and as somebody representing this band is also a key factor in longevity, I think. We are all friends in this band, so we respect each other and laugh a lot, which is something I highly recommend to anybody. Life is too short to not have fun and enjoy what you are a part of, believe me.

Metal-Rules.com: Does Dave Mustaine talk about his politics and his other beliefs with the band, or does he keep that mostly to himself, or to interviews where he's asked about such things?

Shawn Drover: Nah, we really don't talk about politics that much, though, like most people, we have opinions about this and that. For me, I would rather just let the music do the talking and keep whatever my beliefs are to myself. I always admired LED ZEPPELIN's mystique they had back in the day and wished more bands would go back to that. I'm not sure if that is realistic in this day and age, though, when anything you say can be spread worldwide within minutes on the Internet, for better or for worse.

Read the entire interview from Metal-Rules.com.

Washington, D.C. metallers DARKEST HOUR have inked a worldwide deal with Sumerian Records. The band's new full-length album will be released in 2014.

Comments the band: "To say that Sumerian Records and label owner Ash Avildsen are big supporters of this band would be a huge understatement. We have been proud to call Ash our friend since our early years and this friendship has flourished greatly since then via our relationship with his sister company, The Pantheon Booking Agency.

"When you start a band, you dream that one day you can do what you love with great friends and family around you. Now it all seems to have come full circle. With the good people at Outerloop Management, Sumerian Records and the Pantheon Agency, we finally feel right at home. Every aspect of the group is being handled by long-time trusted friends and is in reliable hands. This safe haven has given us the shelter we need to put together a life-changing new album.

"Before we could see it coming, we've been thrust out of Oceanic Studios (where we've been working with producer Taylor Larson) and back out on the road.

"Please come see us live with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE if we're coming to your city and it will also be our first tour with new drummer Travis Orbin.

"As soon as we get home, we'll be back to the hermit life in the studio where we can finish up this album.

"To our brother Ash, Sumerian and all of you out there, here's a huge cheers to 2014, a new DARKEST HOUR album and the future."

Adds Ash Avildsen: "DARKEST HOUR are some of the best dudes I have ever met in music. They're also one of the most underrated bands in metal and Sumerian is here to change that. Their influential debut album, 'The Mark Of The Judas', which never saw the real light of day due to their label at the time going under the day it came out, will finally get a proper release this fall, along with a new studio record. D.C. pride."

DARKEST HOUR is currently on tour throughout North America with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, MISS MAY I and THE WORD ALIVE.

Legendary Danish heavy metal singer King Diamond (real name: Kim Bendix Petersen; KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE) has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"A few days ago, I did [a Danish-language] interview with one of the biggest Danish newspapers, and when I got the chance to read it yesterday, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the most inaccurate interview I have ever seen. So absolutely wrong, that it's almost funny sometimes. There are passages which have been completely made up, lots of things I would never ever have said, plus the journalist even went so far as to invent titles for songs I have never written.

"For those of you who have already read it, you know what I'm talking about.

"For those of you who have not yet had the chance to read it, be aware, you're in for one hell of a ride if you come across it. This guy has made me sound like a complete paranoid lunatic.

"One thing that might have contributed to this 'interview' turning out to be so horrible is that the journalist did not record the interview, but merely now and then wrote down words onto his notepad.

"I will never again do another interview with a journalist who uses nothing but a pen and a notepad.

"Without a recording, this guy had nothing to fall back on whenever he forgot parts of what we had talked about, and must have decided to just make up what was missing. Totally disregarding the facts.

"TOO BAD.

"Just thought I'd share."

Swedish metal titans WOLF have launched their own Wolf label absinthe. The Scandinavian four-piece are longtime patrons of absinthe (indeed it is their favourite tipple on the road) and even wrote a song (see video below) dedicated to the infamous drink on their most recent album, "Legions Of Bastards", so it was only a matter of time before they got their claws into their own Wolf label absinthe.

This, alongside their ferocious Wolf's Blood hot sauce (666 on the Scoville scale, naturally), deserves a special place in your metal hearts!

The Wolf Absinthe is manufactured by Sankta Annas Bränneri AB, Sweden, and can be ordered from www.absinthes.com.

WOLF in 2011 parted ways with guitarist Johannes "Axeman" Losbäck and replaced him with Simon Johansson (ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, BIBLEBLACK, MEMORY GARDEN). Simon previously played with WOLF in 2009 when they supported W.A.S.P. for four shows.

WOLF's sixth album, "Legions Of Bastards", was released in April 2011 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Ravenous" was produced by Pelle Saether at Studio Underground in Vasterås, Sweden. The cover artwork was once again created by Thomas Holm (the man who was responsible for the legendary MERCYFUL FATE "Melissa" and "Don't Break The Oath" covers).

Black Tears has announce they have reached an agreement with CADAVERIA - the Italian band featuring former OPERA IX vocalist Cadaveria and ex-OPERA IX drummer/NECRODEATH vocalist Marçelo Santos - for the reissue of their The Shadows' Madame album. Released in 2002, the cult album that marked the beginning of the band's career and has become extremely rare. This new reissue, proposed with a brand new layout, is completely remastered and it contains songs such as 'Spell' and 'Circle of Eternal Becoming' that have become classic hits of the band.

The release of The Shadows' Madame reissue is scheduled for July 16th and it will be distributed by Black Tears Mailorder and Masterpiece Distribution.
The Shadows' Madame tracklist:

'Spell'
'Declaration of Spiritual Independence'
'In Memory of Shadows' Madame'
'Circle of Eternal Becoming'
'The Magic Rebirth'
'Black Glory'
'Absolute Vacuum'

For more information visit Cadaveria.com.

Brazilian symphonic black metallers FROST DESPAIR are finishing the recordings of their debut album, Surreal, the follow up to 2011's The God Delusion EP. The debut was recorded in Hurricane Studios, and produced by Sebastian Carsin (ENTHRONED, BESTIAL).

The artwork was created by Marcelo Vasco (DARK FUNERAL, DIMMU BORGIR, BORKNAGAR), who stated: "This illustration for Surreal was forged through the general concept of his title and acclimated in the most dirty and chaotic way, mixing elements biomechanics with nature and science where everything becomes a kind of bestial and psychological heart."
Surreal has the following tracklisting:
'The Sixth Bell'
'Creation'
'Thrones Of Human Power'
'Darkly Strike'
'Genesis'
'Surreal'
'Fall Into The Darkness of Illusion'
'Claim For The Apocalyptic Eradication'
'God's Nightmare'
'Slaves To Superstition'
'Thrones Of Human Power' (orchestral version) (bonus track)
'Claim For The Apocalyptic Eradication' (orchestral version) (bonus track)

A release date will be announced soon.

For more details visit Facebook.

More rare DEF LEPPARD concert has surfaced on YouTube from the band's 1996 mini-tour of South Africa on the Slang Tour courtesy of RockBrigadeForum.com.

The Pro-Shot TV special on aired in South Africa when the band performed on December 5th, 1996 at Johannesburg Stadium, Doornfontein in Johannesburg in front of 40,000 people. Def Leppard's first shows in South Africa also included Durban and Cape Town.
Def Leppard performed the following setlist:

'Rock Rock (Till You Drop)'
'Action Not Words'
'Work It Out'
'Deliver Me'
'All I Want Is Everything'
'Slang'
'Two Steps Behind' (Acoustic)
'Photograph'
'Rocket'
'Armageddon It'
'Pour Some Sugar On Me'
'Let's Get Rocked'
'Rock of Ages'

Check out more live footage below:

Vancouver's GOLERS new single 'Alcoholics Unanimous' is officially available now on iTunes. ‘Alcoholics Unanimous' is the first new material from Golers since 2008's Backwoods Messages. The band hit the legendary Mushroom Studio's R.I.P. with producer/engineer/manager Rob Shallcross (GENE HOGLAN, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, WEST OF HELL) in 2012-2013 to record the new release In 'N' Outlaws slated for release this summer.

Golers have this to say about their new release: "We are very proud of our newest album In 'N' Outlaws, it is a fine example of what we consider to be "the Goler sound". It's fast, evil, punk-metal!"
Golers are currently on an extensive tour of Canada:

June
14 – Red Deer, AB – Slumland
15 – Edmonton, AB – DV8
16 – Saskatoon, SK – Lepps
17 – Regina, SK – The Exchange
18 – Winnipeg, MB – Royal Albert
20 – Sault St. Marie, ON – The Rosie
21 – Toronto, ON – Hard Luck
22 – Oshawa, ON – Atria
23 – Montreal, QC – The Death House
24 – Fredericton, NB – The Capitol Complex
26 – Halifax, NS – Gus’ Pub
30 – Ottawa, ON – Legion

July
2 – Toronto, ON – Bovine Sex Clube
3 – Barrie, ON – DIY
10 – Vancouver, BC – Iron Roads Studio

Formed in the summer of 2010 in the heart of Cascadia, Winterwheel is the second offering from blackened folk metal duo MOSS OF MOONLIGHT and will be released this summer solstice on June 21st.

Described as "a true rarity in the black metal genre" by Pure Gain Audio, Winterwheel follows the debut Seed, a concept album about a band of Pacific North Western rebels that rise up and create the Republic of Cascadia. Winterwhee' digs deeper into the earth; with a 45 minute trance into the otherworld’s. Using Anglo-Saxon chanting, haunting female vocals, visceral growls, and a giant atmosphere, Moss of Moonlight has put ancient Pagan ritual into song. It's an album of Anglo Saxon gods and primal Paganism and as the band says, "it reaches far beyond Seed, into colder and darker territories."

Jenn Grunigen of the band recently discussed the upcoming album in more detail and touched on the actual writing process:

“Winterwheel is a ritual put to song. It embraces the turning of the seasons, and the necessary, vicious loop of birth and death. Each song delves into the nature of a different Anglo Saxon god or goddess, and is steeped in the old, cyclic roads of our Pagan ancestors, as well as the very language of the Anglo Saxons. With this wisdom and craft, we made new rites--in other words, Winterwheel, this sacrifice to the gods, the cosmos. With each play, the ritual is brought to life once more, and anyone willing to listen is a participant in the offering.”

“The writing was natural, but is still a momentary step away from our Cascadian heart. Our first album, Seed, was created with the majestic, deep, damp forests of Cascadia in mind--a viscera that the music, of course, reflected. Winterwheel is rooted and broad in its own way, but is more grounded in our Pagan past. We extricated it from the typical tropes of folk metal--the usual woodwind riffs and such. Instead, this is an album of long, epic swells, swollen with meditative chants and percussion, cold chunky guitars with a tale to tell.”

Check out the lyric video to 'Eole' below:

Winterwheel tracklisting:

‘Gaet’
‘Eole’
‘Catte’
‘Hraefne’

Cavan Wagner of the band took the cover image himself though the artwork throughout the digipack's booklet is photography by both band members, Cavan and Jenn. “The artwork represents a photographic microcosm of Cascadia's seasons. The cover image itself is simply another form of the wheel: the rose hip, an insomniac bud of life across the still sleep of winter.”

Wiesbaden's WOUND, whose 2012 demo, Confess To Filth, received Demo of the Month honors from Rock Hard Magazine and earned the band spots on this year's Extremefest and Party San Open Air, make their full-length debut with Inhale The Void.

Wound comes from the dirty, fat, punky and nasty school of classic death metal that falls somewhere between AT THE GATES, ASPHYX, NECROWRETCH or even WOLFPACK. Inhale The Void was recorded at Haunted Studio and mastered at Soundsight Studio. The first 100 CDs purchased through FDA's mail order will come with a free 420g Stonepaper postcard. The vinyl version of Inhale The Void will come from Weed Hunter Records.

Inhale The Void tracklisting:

‘Odium’
‘Codex Arcanum’
‘Echoes’
‘The Unsolved Obscurity’
‘Forever Denial’
‘Confess To Filth’
‘Corroded From Within’
‘Among You’
‘The Price Of Tyranny’
‘Inhale The Void’
Check out the song ‘Codex Arcanum’ below:

Pre-orders for the CD, vinyl, and t-shirts are being taken at this location.

After signing with FDA Rekotz earlier this year, Berlin-bred death metal lunatics DEHUMAN REIGN are set to make an explosive debut with the 20-minute mini-CD Destructive Intent. This young band is composed of experienced musicians who cut their teeth on the finest and fastest classic American-styled death metal gurus such as SUFFOCATION, IMMOLATION and DEICIDE.

Destructive Intent was mastered by Matias Ahonen at Finnish Audiamond Studio (SOLSTAFIR, HOUR OF 13) and offers an authentic DM sound that pummels the listener into lifelessness. The album's cover art was masterfully drawn by Dedy of Badic Art (DEMONICAL, GOREGAST, SKELETAL REMAINS). Each CD purchased comes with a Dehuman Reign logo sticker and the first 100 orders will get a free poster of the cover art. Vinyl treatment for Destructive Intent is coming soon.

Destructive Intent tracklisting:

‘Prelude To Perdition’
‘Extinction Machine’
‘Invocation I Black Seed’
‘Irreversible Soul Consumption’
‘Staring Beyond The Edge Of Time’
‘Invocation II Scorched Earth’
‘Veil Of Ignorance’
‘Masks Of Sorrow’
Check out the track ‘Masks Of Sorrow’ below:

CDs and t-shirts are now available for preorder this location.