BLACK SABBATH made a rare television appearance when the band performed a new song on the season finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation". The episode aired on May 15 on CBS-TV. The band world premiered a song called "End Of The Beginning" from their new album "13".

You can now watch the full-length "End Of The Beginning" performance below.

The episode's plot followed the CSI team as they investigated a series of murder that resembled the sins in "Dante's Inferno", with the trail leading the detectives played by Ted Danson and Marc Vann to attend a SABBATH concert.

"I'm not an actor," said SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne. "It's like a hurry-up-and-wait. When you see it on TV, it's all done, but when you're filming, there's a lot of stuff going on."

He added about the band's return to the spotlight: "It's been a long time, but the wait has been well worth it, 'cause the album is really good. I'm really pleased with the outcome.

"It's good fun and it's a good way of telling people that we're back together, you know?"

"13" was released on June 11 and is the first SABBATH album in 35 years to feature Ozzy, bassist Geezer Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi.

Ozzy told an Australian radio station that the new album is "mindblowing," adding, "It's better than my wildest dreams; it's so good."

The drum tracks on the album were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the reunion.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" concluded its 13th season and regularly wins its time period with nearly 12 million viewers per episode.

It is also a global ratings hit, earning the International TV Audience Award for the "most-watched show in the world" for the third consecutive year and its fifth time in seven years.

Danish thrash metallers HELL'S DOMAIN - formed by Bjørn Bihlet (guitar; ex-KOLDBORN, BOIL), Lars Knudsen (bass; ex-CRIONIC), Anders Gyldenøhr (drums; ex-HATESPHERE, ARTILLERY) and Alex Clausen (vocals; MONSTAH) has posted online a brand new song titled 'Dead Civilization'. The track comes off the band's new studio album which will be released by Punishment 18 Records in September. The album was recently mixed by Tue Madsen (DARK TRANQUILLITY, Hatesphere).
Hell's Domain recently revealed that they are working with legendary metal artist Ed Repka (DEATH, MEGADETH) on the album artwork.
Check out an album teaser below:
More on Hell's Domain on Facebook.

It was in Houston back in 1969 that Billy F Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill joined as ZZ TOP. The band that would unassumingly go on to be known as That Little Ol’ Band From Texas went on to make rock history with a string of hugely successful record releases and tour dates. Over the next 20 years, the trio went on to critical and commercial acclaim, selling millions of albums and concert tickets around the world, while earning induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and status as one of the only bands to have been awarded an RIAA Diamond (domestic sales of 10 million or more) album. They were even named Official Heroes of the State of Texas by an act of the legislature.
At long last, original mixes of the band’s first 10 studio albums are available, mastered specifically for iTunes. These include ZZ Tops’ First Album (1971), Rio Grande Mud (1972), Tres Hombres (1973), Fandango! (1975), Tejas (1976), Degüello (1979), El Loco (1981), Eliminator (1983), Afterburner (1985) and Recycler (1990). The albums are available for individual download or bundled together in ZZ Top: The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990). All 10 albums are also available on CD in a boxed set of the same name, with each album presented in a wallet sleeve that faithfully reproduces the original artwork, including the gatefold designs used for Tres Hombres and Tejas. This marks the first time that the original mixes for ZZ Tops’ First Album, Rio Grande Mud and Tejas are available on CD and as digital download.
Additionally, a dozen of ZZ TOP’s iconic videos are now available for the first time on YouTube. The band’s classic videos are some of the most legendary of all time including The Eliminator Trilogy, the videos for 'Legs', 'Gimme All Your Lovin’' and 'Sharp Dressed Man', starring the ’33 Ford three window coupe with the ZZ striping along its flanks and a cadre of leggy beauties. A full list of ZZ Top videos are now available on YouTube below:
Today, Gibbons, Hill and Beard remain together performing and recording as, they often say, “the same three guys playing the same three chords.” The trio offered a statement regarding the release of ZZ Top: The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990): “We're gratified that the albums from the first 20 years of the band are going to be made available in this set. We're especially delighted to note the restoration of ZZ Top's First Album, Rio Grande Mud and Tejas has been incorporated; it's good to have been made whole again on a certain level.”

ENTER SHIKARI released a brand new track last night, entitled 'Radiate'. The track received it's world exclusive first airing courtesy of Zane Lowe & Daniel P Carter last night on their special joint Radio One Rocks show as their "Single Of The Week". The band have also released a video for the track.
'Radiate' follows the release of the track 'The Paddington Frisk' back in April, and is the second of three tracks to be released throughout 2013. Stay tuned for news of the third track.

'Radiate' returns to more 'traditional' (if such a word is suitable in reference to anything the band does) format after the 1mi 16sec of 'The Paddington Frisk', touches lyrically on the subject of 'freedom of expression' and celebrates how lucky we are to be allowed it in a majority of the west, while reminding us of artists in other parts of the world who are denied and punished for it

A video for 'Radiate' was shot last week in Pinewood Studios, with editing and post-production being knuckled down on over the weekend ready for release. Editing literally finishing two hours before the video was made available to the public.

As well as Radio One Rock Week, Download and Glastonbury in the UK, the band have a heavy European festival schedule, taking in appearances in Germany, France, Hungary, Russia, the Ukraine and Romania amongst many more.

The band have also announced the world premier live show by their 'electronic alter-ego' the Shikari Sound System at this year's Reading / Leeds Festival, headlining the Lock-Up Stage.

More news is forthcoming.

Norwegian metallers TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK have checked in with the following update:

"We are proud to announce that Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR) has been confirmed for a third song for our upcoming (concept) album. This new song is called 'One Final Prayer' and is featured as track 7 on the album. The other tracks he did are track 1, 'Within The World Of Dreams' and track 8, 'Fly Away'. Stay tuned for more news!"
The debut album from Tomorrow's Outlook, called 34613, was released through the leading Australian label Battlegod Productions in May 2012. The album features guest appearances by the legendary singers Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) and Graham Bonnet (MSG/RAINBOW/IMPELLITTERI).

Tracklist:
'As Darkness Falls (Intro)'
'Gate To Freedom'
'Glass Mountain'
'A Song For You'
'Doubt'
'The Ethereal Dream'
'34613 (Instr.)'
'White Lightning'
'Liquid Scream'
'Kill Again'
'March Of The Demons'
'Red Rum' (LIZZY BORDEN Cover)
'The Ethereal Dream (Reprise)'
For more on Tomorrow's Outlook visit Tomorrowsoutlook.com.

Montreal's BLACKGUARD are currently holed up in the studio working on their third official album, Storm. The band recently posted the following picture online:
"The mighty Morphin Morgan Lander from KITTIE graces us with her presence and jiu jitsu skills! Sounds killer!"

Rare live footage of Kittie's first ever performance with guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Trish Doan in 2005 has been unearthed and posted on YouTube. It was shot in at Call The Office in the band's hometown of London, Ontario. Check it out below:
On April 24th, Kittie's Morgan (vocals/guitars) and Mercedes Lander (drums) were featured guests on London Indie Underground. Fans can view the entire podcast below:

Norwegian heavy rockers WOLVES LIKE US will release a new 10" single, 'Get Gone', later this month. The black vinyl release - limited to 500 copies worldwide - includes the eight-minute title track and a colossal cover of QUICKSAND's 'Too Official'. The cover art was created by Polish artist Dawid Ryski.
Pre-orders will ship at the end of June, so grab yours from Prosthetic's US store here or European store here before they're gone.

The quartet have also unveiled a music video for the title track.
Wolves Like Us signed to Prosthetic Records in 2011. The group features ex-members of Norwegian acts AMULET, INFIDELS FOREVER, JR EWING and SILVER. The band are currently in an Oslo studio recording the follow-up to their 2011 debut Late Love. The new album is scheduled for release before year's end; more details will follow shortly.

Singer Cristina Scabia of Italian heavy rockers LACUNA COIL is currently "demoing some vocal ideas" on songs that are being written for the band's next studio album, tentatively due in 2014. She writes on Facebook: "You guys are gonna be blown away! AAAAARGH!"

LACUNA COIL's latest album, "Dark Adrenaline", sold around 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart. It marked the band's second CD with producer Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) at the helm.

"We changed producers on our last album, 'Shallow Life', and we wanted to work with Don," Scabbia told KNAC.COM. "I think that we wanted to change producers mainly to see what we could do with a different person. A producer is much like a teacher and we wanted to learn something new and we found that our goals and Don's were much the same. When listening to 'Dark Adrenaline', I can say that there is so much different. We are more experienced now and more confident in our sound and we get inspired to try to do more with each new record."

Asked about LACUNA COIL's approach to having two lead singers — Scabbia and Andrea Ferro — Cristina told Metal Sucks: "I think having two singers — one male and one female — gives you the opportunity to do something different. My voice might be more dreamy and angelic and nice, and Andrea's is more aggressive than mine. Of course, we are a man and a woman singing together. We don't sit down and think about how to share the parts. It comes out really naturally. To our ears, it's really easy to pick out what sounds better. There are parts that are better if he sings it, and the other way around, just the opposite. Sometimes I can write parts for him that he will sing, and he writes parts that I will sing on the actual final recording. We don't think too much about that. We don't want to force anyone to eat two meals at the same time. [laughs] We just treat our voices like two instruments that we can add to the composition. It doesn't really matter who sings what."

Boston-based, female fronted crossover band MONGREL have just unveiled the official lyric video for the song 'C & 1/2' from their album Reclamation.
The album recently secured physical distribution for the Reclamation album (THC-Music/Vanity Music Group) in both the US and UK. Reclamation was recorded and mixed by Jim Foster (P.O.D., SULLY ERNA). Mongrel plans on premiering the full video for 'C & 1/2' in the coming weeks.

"We're really excited for the new video and we thought the lyric video was a nice way to get people more familiar with the song as it's become a popular sing-a-long at shows," says guitarist, Adam Savage. "Let's face it, we all know someone who goes that extra mile to make our lives a little more annoying and this song is about them. We'll be debuting the real video soon but we hope you'll enjoy this one as well as we definitely had some laughs putting it together."
Mongrel will be playing in New York City this Saturday June 15th at The R-Bar and has announced dates throughout the northeastern US this summer including shows with HALESTORM (July 14 - Hartford, CT), and Godsmack (August 10 - Gifford, NH).

WITCHES MARK, the self-professed 'Bringers Of Heavy Metal Death' hailing from Austin, Texas have released a video for the title track of the upcoming Witching Metal Ritual album, due to be released through Heaven And Hell Records on July 15th.
Witching Metal Ritual features eight tracks that blend elements of thrash, speed, doom, black, and death while anchoring their overall sound firmly within the framework of traditional heavy metal. Co-produced by the band and Stuart "Batlord" Laurence (AGONY COLUMN, IGNITOR), with mixing and mastering by Brendon Bigelow (Ignitor) Witching Metal Ritual features a stunning post-apocalyptic inspired album cover courtesy of Yannick Bouchard of Illusory Dreams. Fans can also expect a number of exciting guest appearances on Witching Metal Ritual; including Ross "The Boss" Friedman (MANOWAR) Jack Starr (VIRGIN STEELE) Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS) and Martin Debourge (DAMIEN THORNE).
Witching Metal Ritual will be released in Enhanced-CD format, including bonus video content featuring a music video for the album's title track. The main tracklisting is as follows;

'Bringers Of Heavy Metal Death'
'Salem's Fire'
'Swarm'
'Slaves To Their Own Sin'
'We Die'
'Cauldron Born'
'Witching Metal Ritual'
'Where None Can Follow'

A promo video for the album can be seen below:

German heavy metallers GLORYFUL released their debut album, produced by Dan Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE), on May 24th via Massacre Records. Belgian artist Kris Verwimp is responsible for the cover artwork.
The Warrior's Code tracklisting:

'The Riddle Of Steel'
'Gloryful's Tale'
'Heavy Metal - More Than Meets The Eye'
'The Warrior's Code'
'Breaking Destiny'
'Evil Oath'
'Chased In Fate'
'Far Beyond Time'
'Fist Of Steel'
'Sedna's Revenge'
'Death Of The First Earth'

'The Warrior's Code' video:
For more details visit Gloryful.net/.

Sweden's AEON have launched a brand new performance demonstration video for 'Still They Pray', from their new album, Aeons Black.
Fans can watch Daniel Dlimi, Emil Wiksten, Zeb Nilsson, and Tony Östman perform their parts now:
As previously announced, Aeon will be touring the US for the first time this year as part of The Summer Slaughter Tour. The 7th annual Summer Slaughter Tour is now officially slated to run from July 19th through August 20th. It features such heavyweights as THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, PERIPHERY, NORMA JEAN, CATTLE DECAPITATION, THE OCEAN, REVOCATION, Aeon, and more.

Daniel Dlimi of Aeon comments: "Yes, we are finally going to tour the US and we are really fucking stoked about it to say the least. And there couldn't possibly be any better way to do so than to be a part of the Summer Slaughter Tour. And with today's line-up and our latest release "Aeons Black" we stand stronger than ever and will treat you with some real death metal. See you on the road."

Aeon lineup:

Tommy Dahlström - Vocals
Zeb Nilsson - Guitars
Daniel Dlimi - Guitars
Marcus Edvardsson - Bass
Emil Wiksten - Drums

More on Aeon at this location.

CELLADOR from Denver, Colorado has released a lyric video for the song 'I'm Omega' from their latest EP, Honor Forth.
Catch Cellador live at the following shows:

June
13 - The Church Nightclub - Denver, CO
21 - Marquis Theater - Denver, CO

July
18 - The Church Nightclub - Denver, CO
19 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO Tickets RSVP Share
27 - The Roxy Theater - Denver, CO

Cyprus-based metallers ARRAYAN PATH return with their new, fourth album, titled IV: Stigmata, released worldwide today, June 10th.

The album’s production, mixing and mastering was handled once again by the very capable Vagelis Maranis (ex-SANVOISEN) who also created some beautiful choirs using just his own voice. More guest appearances on the album include vocals by Jimmy Mavrommatis (ARMAGEDDON), guitar solos by Kikis Apostolou (Armageddon), Alexis Kleidaras (ex-DECEPTOR) and George Kousa.
IV: Stigmata is also available through all major MP3 stores. The CD version includes a bonus track, 'Mystic Moon', which is a re-recording of the opening song of the band’s first demo. Another bonus track ('Charming Paranoia') will be available as an exclusive download. A special edition of the album (limited to 50 numbered copies) will include the new album as a CD/cassette bundle with both covers signed by singer Nicholas Leptos.

The song, 'Midnight And The First-born Massacre', is already available for streaming and free download below, while all album pre-orders from the Pitch Black Records online store here will receive access to 'Charming Paranoia', the bonus download track of the album.

IV: Stigmata tracklisting:

'Clepsydra'
'The Bible Bleeds'
'Midnight And The First-born Massacre'
'Judas Iscariot'
'Stigmata'
'Cursed Canaan'
'Pharaoh’s Wish'
'Harbingers of Death'
'Disguising your Soul'
'The Storyteller'
'Mystic Moon' (Bonus Track)
'Charming Paranoia' (Bonus Download Track)

'Stigmata' lyric video:
'Midnight And The First-born Massacre':
Arrayan Path is:

Nicholas Leptos – vocals
Socrates Leptos – guitars
George Kallis – keyboards
Paris Lambrou – bass
Stefan Dittrich – drums

More on Arrayan Path at this location.

In honour of what would have been his 72nd birthday today (June 9th), the website for late DEEP PURPLE keyboard legend JON LORD has posted an exclusive and previously unseen clip of Jon rehearsing 'Lazy' with Doogie White and the DCRS in Essen, Germany on November 15, 2010.
In other news, Jon’s family and management are planning a deluxe photo book to celebrate Jon’s life.

The site explains: "It will contain lots of previously unseen photographs and come with a recording of Jon’s unreleased choral work From Darkness Into Light.

To accompany the photos, the editors are assembling anecdotes, quotes or reflections that people may have on Jon.
If there’s a story, a quote or a joke he told, anything that you would be happy to see printed in the book and attributed to you – it can be one line or two pages, whatever feels right – please send it to book@JonLord.org.

If you have a photo that you would like to share as well, this would also be gratefully received."

Italy's ZOMBIE SAM released their new album, Self Conscious Insanity, on June 4th via Coroner Records. The band have now released a video for the album track, 'A Hallow Tale'.
Self Conscious Insanity mixed and mastered by Ettore Rigotti at The Metal House Studio (DISARMONIA MUNDI, BLOOD STAIN CHILD, SLOWMOTION APOCALYPSE, DESTRAGE), produced, recorded and arranged by Alessio Neroargento at AExeron Media Studio. Sophia (former Blood Stain Child) and Alessio Neroargento appear as guest vocals on some tracks.

Self Conscious Insanity tracklisting:

‘A Hallow Tale’
‘Woman In White’
‘Never Betray’
‘Family Portrait’
‘Through The Looking Glass’
‘Retry’
‘The Awake’
‘Brake The Fate’
‘A Beautiful Zombie’
‘Stay Away From Me’
‘Unreal’
‘The End, For Now…’
‘A Hallow Tale’ (orchestral version, exclusive digipak bonus track)

Album preview:

Long-running UK rockers STATUS QUO have released a new video, for the track 'Looking Out For Caroline', from their new double album, Bula Quo!, out now via earMUSIC/Edel/Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Bula Quo! was inspired by the band's incredible adventures filming their first ever feature-film of the same title. The first disc features nine brand new tracks, written as the soundtrack for the duo’s madcap escapades in the movie. Disc 2 contains exclusive reworked studio songs or live versions of 10 classic Quo hits, which are also featured in the film (including an amazing Fijian-style rendition of 'Living On An Island').

Tracklisting:

CD1 (The New Album):

'Looking Out For Caroline'
'GoGoGo'
'Run and Hide (The Gun Song)'
'Running Inside My Head'
'Mystery Island'
'All That Money'
'Never Leave A Friend Behind'
'Fiji Time'
'Bula Bula Quo (Kua Ni Lega)'

CD2 (Studio And Live):

'Living On An Island' (Fiji Style)
'Frozen Hero'
'Reality Cheque '
'Rockin' All Over The World' (Bula Edit)
'Caroline' (Live)
'Beginning Of The End' (Live)
'Don't Drive My Car' (Live)
'Pictures Of Matchstick Men' (Live)
'Whatever You Want' (Live)
'Down Down' (Live)

Status Quo is enjoying an exciting phase in their long and successful career, after the critical acclaim and the support received by their loyal audience for their previous studio album Quid Pro Quo and the relative tour. The 90-minute action movie Bula Quo! features the band as themselves and stars Craig Fairbrass [Cliff Hanger, Rise Of The Footsoldier, Eastenders] and Laura Aikman [Keith Lemon The Movie, Freight, Surviving Picasso] with Jon Lovitz [Saturday Night Live, The Critic, Friends, The Wedding Singer]. The film was directed by Stuart St. Paul, who has worked on projects ranging from DURAN DURAN’s seminal 'Wild Boys' video, to Aliens, Batman and three James Bond films. The movie will hit the stores and theaters soon after summer.

“Making the film in Fiji was a fantastic experience and we couldn’t help but be inspired by our surroundings,” states vocalist/lead guitarist Francis Rossi. “We had no plans to write and release a new studio album as well as filming our parts for the movie, it just happened.”

Adds singer/rhythm guitarist Rick Parfitt: “We hope that Quo fans will enjoy the film, which is certainly something new for the band, but we know they are going to love the music.”

As the new material sounds inspired and fresh, it is one album not to be missed and the film is destined to become a cult for Quo fans. For everybody else… Bula Quo! will “simply” be one of their strongest releases ever!

The limited edition deluxe box set includes:

- 2xCD edition of Bula Quo!
- An exclusive gatefold vinyl LP
- 7” single
- Collector’s flight ticket (individually numbered certificate of authentication)
- Set of glossy postcards
- Full color poster

To pre-order the album, visit StatusQuo.co.uk.

A trailer for the film can be viewed below:
Status Quo will release a range of live material recorded on the Frantic Four Tour this past March which will be released this September. The cornerstone release is a six disc earBOOK that will contain all of the material that is to be released across the various formats (except the vinyl) which is available to pre-order now.

The release dates for all formats is September 14th.

Live At Wembley - Blu-ray / DVD
- Will feature the full show live from Wembley.
- Both formats will include a single CD of Wembley audio (selected tracks).

Live At Hammersmith
- A newly compiled and re-mastered double CD recorded live at Hammersmith, with audio taken from across the two shows on March 16th/17th

Live In Glasgow
- In a nod to the classic 1976 release Live!, a vinyl version will be released, taking the form of a double LP recorded, with audio taken from the two shows on March 9th/10th, also newly compiled and re-mastered.

The Limited Edition, single print run, earBOOK includes:
- Blu-ray and the DVD
- Two x CD Live at Hammersmith
- Single Wembley CD (from the Blu-ray and DVD packages)
- An exclusive disc of video extras filmed on tour and at rehearsals

The earBOOK itself boasts 120 lavish pages packed with outstanding photography from across the tour, both on and offstage, and rehearsals providing a real window onto the Frantic Four dates.

It was written by Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent for Sky News and features photography by original tour photographer Danny Clifford; both his vintage material and exclusive live and backstage material from the reunion shows.

Fans can actually become a part of this historic project too, anyone pre-ordering the book before the production date will get their name printed in it. Additionally the band is asking fans to share their favorite live Quo memories on the Status Quo Facebook page and elsewhere online using the hashtag #FranticFour - the best of which will be featured in the book itself.

To pre-order the package visit this location.

New York-based metal band PIROSAINT have released a second promo audio/single from their upcoming album, Pirosaint. The track 'Tonight' can be heard below:
The music of the track 'Tonight' was recorded at Oily Sound Studios in New Windsor, NY by Ignacio Orellana and the vocal tracks were recorded at Nacrur Studios by Andres Nacrur in Santiago, Chile. The mixing and mastering was done at Ignacio Figueroa's studios in Viña del Mar, Chile. The album is expected to be release late 2013 or beginning of 2014. A lyric video will be released in the next few weeks.
Drummer Ignacio Orellana commented: "We are very happy to be working with Ignacio Figueroa, he has been a very patience man and he has giving us the sound that we have been looking for… to be working over the internet has been always a hassle for everyone we know but he have a clear idea of working this way, plus he is a very talented musician and you can see it when you start listening to his band Naioth, he knows what he is doing.

To make a song talking about going to a concert it may sound a little weird today's day after YouTube's way of showing everything day after day, but... back then it was a whole new experience, just remember yourself getting ready to go see to our favorite artists and such waiting for a friend or picking up to a friend before going out. Today we have lost the excitement and expectations about it, so we wanted to pay tribute to that with this song."

Another track, 'A New Yesterday', is streaming below:
'A New Yesterday' features original singer Gonzalo Rodriguez, this is the first recording available with the band since the EP New God in 1997. The music was recorded at Oily Sound Studios in New Windsor, NY by Ignacio Orellana and the vocal tracks were recorded at Nacrur Studios by Andres Nacrur in Santiago, Chile. The mixing and mastering was done at Ignacio Figueroa's studios in Viña del Mar, Chile. The album is expected to be release late 2013 or beginning of 2014. Another track will be released in the next few weeks along with a lyric video.
gnacio Orellana commented: "As we said it when we started in 1989, 'warriors will never surrender,' so, now in 2013 we're here again, Now the Warrior has learnt, bring metal back, bring Pirosaint back!! It's been a real pleasure to work again with our original vocalist Gonzalo, it feels home and this song is about that, on how the band has always found the way back to metal. We are looking forward this album, it will contain pure classic metal music. Hope you enjoy it like we are doing it!"

Pirosaint is:

Gonzalo Rodriguez: vocals
Bill Smith: guitars
Ron Buckner: bass
Ignacio Orellana: drums

For more information visit Pirosaint.com.

Dutch death metal dominators THANATOS have re-released their third album, Angelic Encounters. Released back in 2000, this album shows a bigger picture of Thanatos’ abilities of combining excellent musical skills with complex yet straight-forward songs that perfectly blend the ferocity of riff-oriented thrash metal with the sheer brutality of death metal.

The sound on this re-release has been remastered by Dan Swanö. Thanatos’ members Stephan Gebédi (vocals, guitars) and Paul Baayens (lead guitars) have contributed liner notes to this release and as an extra bonus the CD version includes all tracks of the rare Beyond Terror MCD.

Angelic Encounters is available as a standard jewelcase CD, offered for midprice, as well as on limited vinyl. Be sure to get your hands on the super-rare blue vinyl version, of which only 100 copies have been made. This version is exclusively available at www.cmdistro.com – and almost sold out by now.
Tracklisting (CD):

'Angelic Encounters'
'In Utter Darkness'
'Sincere Chainsaw Salvation'
'Infuriated'
'The Howling'
'Gods Of War'
'The Devil's Concubine'
'Speed Kills'
'Thou Shalt Rot'
'Corpse Grinder'

Tracks from the Beyond Terror MCD:

'L'Aldila - Beyond Terror'
'Devour The Living'
'Rites Of Retaliation'
'Angelic Encounters 2002 AD'
'Satan's Curse'
'Into The Crypt Of Rays'

Tracklisting (LP):

Side A
'Angelic Encounters'
'In Utter Darkness'
'Sincere Chainsaw Salvation'
'Infuriated'
'The Howling'

Side B
'Gods Of War'
'The Devil's Concubine'
'Speed Kills'
'Thou Shalt Rot'
'Corpse Grinder'
Century Media Records recently announced the signing of Thanatos. Thanatos is not only the Greek God of Death, but one of the oldest (if not the oldest) and longest running extreme metal bands from the Netherlands. Founded in 1984, Thanatos have released numerous highly acclaimed albums during their career. Be it the infamous debut album, Emerging From The Netherworlds, the equally great second output, Realm Of Ecstasy (both re-released on Century Media Records on CD and LP in 2012) or the band’s last studio work, Justified Genocide, Thanatos have always managed to deliver high-class death metal laced with a lethal dose of thrash.

Already being in close connection with Thanatos’ long time guitarist Paul Baayens due to his involvement in ASPHYX, Century Media got in touch with Thanatos in early 2012.

Philipp Schulte, A&R and product manager at Century Media, comments: “I remember talking with Stephan of Thanatos about the band’s back catalogue. Back then we simply wanted to work with the band on their previous albums, not really knowing they intended to record a new studio album. When Stephan and Paul visited the CM headquarters in Dortmund in autumn last year, they told us about their plans to record a new album which they’d like to release in 2014, the year of Thanatos’ 30th anniversary. Of course we wanted them to release it on Century Media. Thanatos is without a doubt of the most legendary bands from the heydays of the death metal scene and we strongly believe their sixth studio album will bolt you down with pure withering death/thrash metal violence.”
Asked about the signing of the deal, Thanatos’ vocalist and guitarist Stephan Gebédi answers: "Even after being in ‘the business’ for so many years, we’re really excited to become part of the Century Media family, which is without any doubt one of the best and most important labels for metal today. We can’t wait to start working on new material and it’s our intention to record an absolute death/thrash metal monster to coincide with our 30th anniversary in 2014! We come from an era when there was no strict boundaries between thrash and death metal which resulted in masterpieces like DARK ANGEL’s Darkness Descends and POSSESSED’s Seven Churches and it’s our mission to transport the legacy of those albums to 2014 and beyond…”
Thanatos lineup:

Stephan Gebédi – vocals, guitars
Paul Baayens – guitars
Marco de Bruin – bass
Yuri Rinkel – drums

More on Thanatos at this location.

SINGLE BULLET THEORY currently in the studio finishing up its fifth record titled The Arena. The record follows 2011's IV which was released by Goomba Music. The Arena was produced and engineered by SBT main man Matt Difabio with the exception of the drum tracks which were recorded at 0X1 studios in Cherry Hill Nj by engineer Jason Ruch. Mixing duties will be handled by Carlos Alverez at Dirty Viking Audio. The record will also be mastered by James Stephenson at Stymphalian Productions. The band is in talks with several labels and have not reached an agreement as to who will be putting out The Arena as of yet.
In live news: Single Bullet Theory will be doing a handful of dates with BYZANTINE this summer as well as a few shows on the Metal Masters tour with VICIOUS RUMORS, LEATHERWOLF and SEVEN WITCHES.
Exact dates are as follows:

June
21 - Murfeesboro, NC - Zakks COffeehouse
22 - Charleston, SC - Sandshack bar and grill (with Byzantine)
23 - Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant street (with Byzantine)
28 - Charleston, WV - The Sound factory (with Byzantine)

July
26 - Levittown, PA - Mcstews (Ride for Dime pre show)

September
19 - TBA (with Seven Witches, Power Theory)
20 - Akron, OH - Rippers Rock House (with Byzantine, Shatter Messiah)
21 - Indianapolis Metal Fest
22 - Columbus, OH - Shrunken Head (with Byzantine)
28 - Rochester, NY - The Montage (with Vicious Rumors, Leatherwolf, Seven Witches)
29 - Toronto, ON - Virgin Mobile Center mod club (with Vicious Rumors, Leatherwolf, Seven Witches)

October
3 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge (with Vicious Rumors, Leatherwolf, Seven Witches, Power Theory)
19 - White Marsh, MD - House of Rock

American doomsters BLOODY HAMMERS have completed work on their forthcoming album Spiritual Relics, to be released worldwide on October 1st.

"We didn't have any live shows booked when our current self-titled album was released," said Anders Manga, Bloody Hammers' vocalist/bassist and songwriter. "It was much more successful than anticipated, but we didn't have much to do at the time, so we went back in the studio while waiting for tour dates to be confirmed. We're very pleased with the result and look forward to getting it out to the fans. The album is packed with more heavy fuzzed out eeriness and horror, as well as some chilled-out creepy southern gothic pieces. It will be released just in time for Halloween, and our performance at Phil Anselmo's Housecore Horror Film Fest in Austin, TX."
Bloody Hammers are also playing the following live shows with ANCIENT VVISDOM in August:

August
6 - Atlanta, GA - Purgatory/Masquerade
7 - Nashville, TN - Exit In
8 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
9 - Baltimore, MD - Side Bar
10 - New York, NY - Saint Vitus Bar

A 36-second audio snippet of "You", a brand new song from Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's fourth studio album, which will now be released on July 30. The disc is the first half of a two-record set titled "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell", with the second half due to arrive sometime this fall.

Singer Ivan Moody told The Pulse Of Radio that the band turned down tour offers last year to instead focus on making the new record. "The thought process was, get it while it's hot," he said. "You know, we love what we do, man, and I don't want to be one of those bands that we write an album, tour for two years and then take a year and a half off. That's not what I'm about and we're not getting any younger. It just seemed like the logical thing to do — get back in, really get to the grind, and now that we get to go back and co-headline with ROB ZOMBIE on Mayhem Festival this summer, it all kind of ironed itself out."

The deluxe edition of "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1" will come with a bonus 15-track live CD titled "Purgatory (Tales From The Pit)", plus a redeemable limited-edition T-shirt.

A box set limited edition will be available for pre-order at the band's webstore on June 18. It contains the deluxe version of the album with the bonus live CD, an early free download of an exclusive new track, a FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH lunch box and assorted other collectible items.

The album features guest appearances from IN THIS MOMENT singer Maria Brink, SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera, HATEBREED vocalist Jamey Jasta and JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford, who contributes to the first single, "Lift Me Up".

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will co-headline the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival this summer alongside ROB ZOMBIE, with the tour kicking off in San Bernardino, California on June 29.

After a long search for a new keyboardist, goth-opera metallers AONIA have recruited Tim "The Machine" Hall to take on keyboard duties. Tim will be making his debut with Aonia this Friday, May 31st at The Hall Cross in Doncaster.

Aonia vocalist and founding member Melissa comments: "He's a really nice and talented guy with spades of experience and is immeasurably professional - he's going to add a whole new dimension to the music while still keeping it Aonia - and it's going to be epic! With Slick's talent and creativity and Jo's angelic voice, the three new members we've added in 2013 are going to take us to a whole new level of awesome."
Aonia's UK live schedule is as follows:

May
31 - Doncaster - Hall Cross Pub

June
29 - Hull - Metieval Festival

July
12 - Sheffield - The Dove and Rainbow
13 - Bridlington - Shades Nightclub

August
27 - Nottingham - The Maze
29 - Redcar - The Apsire

September
7 - Bridlington - Valk-Fest Fundraiser

November
2 - Whitby - Whitby Goth Weekend
30 - Bridlington - Valkyrian Festival 2013

For more details visit Aonia.co.uk.