Decibel magazine’s July issue (on newsstands in June) features a nine-page tribute to late SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman in the form of a moving retrospective obituary, some of Hanneman's most biting quotes, and a litany of heartfelt remembrances from EXODUS, Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA), AT THE GATES, TESTAMENT, CANNIBAL CORPSE and countless other contemporaries, including AT THE GATES and LOCK UP frontman Tomas Lindberg.

"One of the first records I waited for to come out was 'Hell Awaits'," Tomas said. "I still remember the process of buying it — and I mean the whole process of buying it — to this day.

"I was totally obsessed with the whole concept of the album. I sat with headphones on (you know, the big '70s kind) for days and days listening to it on repeat, staring at the pictures, reading the lyrics, learning them by heart.

"This will sound totally cheesy, but back in those days, I always had a favorite dude in every band — a dude you wanted to be or pretended to be when you listened to it (remember, I was 13 when 'Hell Awaits' came out). And in SLAYER, that person was Jeff Hanneman.

"I remember going to the hair parlor with the record under my arm, asking to get my hair cut like Jeff — the fact that he had longer and much thinner hair didn't seem to bother me. When I later learned that he had penned a lot of my favorite songs in the SLAYER catalog — including the groundbreaking 'South Of Heaven' album — the more I thought of him as a cornerstone of my metal upbringing. He was the Cliff Burton of SLAYER to me.

"I always had a hard time picturing SLAYER without Jeff, and when they had to continue for a while without him (with an exceptional temporary replacement in Gary Holt, I must say), it was hard to get my head around it. If you have someone like Kerry King in your band —you (in my world) need at least one Jeff Hanneman in it to [balance it out].

"I have had tons of great SLAYER moments in my life, some of them life-changing. It would be hard to come out with one special story, although finally getting the chance to see them live for the first time at age 16, on the 'South Of Heaven' tour, was amazing!

"Thank you for everything, Jeff, even if I never had the chance to actually meet you. You were an integral part of my life! I and the rest of AT THE GATES and LOCK UP will miss you immensely."

Decibel's Jeff Hanneman tribute issue can be purchased here.

Hanneman passed away on May 2 from liver failure at the age of 49.

Members of SLAYER released a statement on May 9 saying that Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis.

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

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

The official lyric video for the song "I Smell A Massacre" from the BUTCHER BABIES can be seen below. The track comes off the band's debut album, "Goliath", which will be released on July 9 via Century Media Records.

The Los Angeles-based band — frontwomen Carla Harvey and Heidi Shephard, guitarist Henry Flury, bassist Jason Klein and drummer Chris Warner — wrapped its tour with MARILYN MANSON in late February and went straight into the studio with producer Josh Wilbur (GOJIRA, LAMB OF GOD, HATEBREED).

"Working with Josh Wilbur was an incredible experience because he helped us explore ourselves as musicians and further develop the unique sound that is the BUTCHER BABIES," said the band of their recording experience. "Being a debut album, this has been in the works since we were young, and we are so proud to have created a collaboration of all our personal influences into one complete sound."

"Goliath" track listing:

01. I Smell A Massacre
02. Magnolia Blvd.
03. C8H18 (Gasoline)
04. Grim Sleeper
05. Goliath
06. In Denial
07. Give Me Reason
08. The Mirror Never Lies
09. Dead Poet
10. The Deathsurround
11. Axe Wound

In a recent interview with Rock Confidential, Carla said: "We're really excited for our full-length album through Century Media. We've been in the studio every single day writing. We're like little kids now, we're so excited." Heidi added: "To have it released through a label is going to be so awesome for us, especially a label we all looked up to. Century Media has always been like family to us. For them to take us on board and give us such high hopes and good support is really great." Carla continued: "We needed a label to take us to that next level. We're very proud of what we did on our own, but it was time to give the reins to someone else. We're very hands on. We run everything, but we need that machine behind us as well."

Despite the fact that Heidi and Carla often perform topless with nothing but nipple tape on, they believe that what they do is actually empowering to women. "I think we can definitely touch on that regardless of what we wear," Heidi said. "We can empower women or people in general to do what they want. Female empowerment is obviously where it started, but it can be about anybody that has a dream and a goal they really want to go for. It's never too late. We're not 21-year-old girls. We wish we were! We've had different careers, different paths in life. I got married once. We've done different things. We thought every time that was the end-all-be-all. It's never too late to follow your dreams. That's something that both of us really stand for."

BUTCHER BABIES will celebrate the album's release as part of this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, where they will be a mainstay on the Jägermeister stage and spend the summer alongside heavyweights ROB ZOMBIE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, MACHINE HEAD, MASTODON and AMON AMARTH. The tour kicks off June 29 at the San Manuel Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California and runs through August 4 in Dallas, Texas.

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of the British three-piece rock band called THREE LIONS. This new group consists of Vinny Burns (DARE, TEN, ASIA) on guitar, Greg Morgan (DARE, TEN) on drums and introduces the talents of Nigel Bailey on vocals and bass guitar.

THREE LIONS formed when Vinny, Greg and Nigel were introduced by Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino to producer Alessandro Del Vecchio at Firefest in October 2012. The guys hit it off straight away and immediately set about writing new material for an album. The songs were written without an agenda and these songs were sent to Perugino for consideration, who loved the material and immediately commissioned an album. 12 songs were chosen, (two of which see the band collaborating with Del Vecchio) and recording commenced at The Viper Room and Coil Tap Studios in the U.K. and then at Ivory Tears Studio in Milan, Italy.

"We set out to write good songs, the only criteria was that all of us liked them," said Nigel Bailey. "Working with Vinny and Greg has been a blast and we were all determined to make the best album possible and are immensely proud of the songs that have made it onto the final record."

From the Eastern-influenced "Kathmandu", to the driving power of "Hellfire Highway" and "Twisted Soul", to the heartfelt ballads "Made For One Another" and "Don't Let Me Fall", this new album in the works promises to deliver passionate performances from the guys. Vinny's trademark guitar work is, as you would expect, filled with emotion and feel.

"I wanted to start with a blank canvas for the guitars," says Vinny. "This album allowed me to show a different side to my playing whilst retaining the familiar sound and feel fans of DARE and TEN will recognize."

"Working with Vinny again has been great fun and Nigel brings something new to the table," said Greg. "This is definitely a record made by a band, not just a studio project, and that really comes across in the songs. We had an instant connection as musicians but also as people and we cannot wait to get out and perform these songs live soon."

THREE LIONS WILL make its live debut supporting SNAKECHARMER at the Manchester Academy on Friday, June 21.

THREE LIONS is:

Vinny Burns - Guitar
Nigel Bailey - Vocals, Bass
Greg Morgan - Drums

Veteran New Jersey thrashers WHIPLASH have released a new song from their upcoming EP titled "Old School American Way, Volume 1". The single, "Sword Meet Skull, Skull Meet Sword", was produced by WHIPLASH mainman Tony Portaro at his Concrete Island Studio. All drums were recorded and engineered by Kostadin "Mozart" Kamcev at Studio Mozart in Clifton, New Jersey. The single was mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris of Planet Z Recording (ALL THAT REMAINS, CROWBAR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, SUFFOCATION).

With Tony Portaro (guitar/vocals) and Dank DeLong (bass) on the U.S. East Coast, and drummer Dan "Loord" Foord located in London, U.K., the band has been juggling writing and recording in between touring.

"Old School American Way, Vol. 1" track listing:

01. Sword Meet Skull, Skull Meet Sword
02. Red Tape Riot
03. Prophet of Lies
04. Dead Man Calling
05. Power Thrashing Death *

* A re-recorded, remixed, remastered version of WHIPLASH's classic song from "Power And Pain"

"I am very confident that this record will be seen as the return to the thrash core that WHIPLASH started out doing," Portaro said in a recent interview.

He added: "WHIPLASH now has a strong foundation with Dan 'Loord' Foord [SIKTH] — one of the best drummers in England — and Dank De Long, a solid bassist from New York that makes WHIPLASH thrash harder than ever."

WHIPLASH is a three-piece power trio hailing from New Jersey. The band was assembled back in 1984 when Portaro and Tony Scaglione (drums) joined forces, then recruited Tony Bono on bass.

"Unborn Again", the latest album from WHIPLASH, was released in 2009 via Pulverised Records.

A 35-second snippet of "Dot Your Eyes", 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 effort, which will be a double album that they will release in two installments. The first volume, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1", will now arrive on July 30 (one week later than previously announced), with the second half, "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2", to surface sometime later this fall. 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, "Purgatory [Tales From The Pit]", alongside the 14 songs featured on the album. The release will be accompanied by a redeemable limited-edition t-shirt with the physical pressing only. On June 18, a collectible limited-edition box set featuring a FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH lunch box, the deluxe version of the album with the bonus live CD, an early free download of an exclusive new track from "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1" and assorted collectible items will be available for pre-sale exclusively through the band's webstore.

"The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1" features guest appearances by JUDAS PRIEST vocalist Rob Halford, SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera, HATEBREED singer Jamey Jasta, IN THIS MOMENT frontwoman Maria Brink and rapper Tech N9ne (on a cover version of LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out").

The imagery for both "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell" albums was created by legendary comic book artist and illustrator Greg Capullo ("Batman", "Spawn").

Says guitarist Zoltan Bathory: "The album artwork was done by one of my favorite illustrators, Greg Capullo, the 'Dark Lord' of ink-splattered violence. Greg is a metalhead and he is funny as hell so it was riot working with him…"

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.

The new double disc follows up 2011's "American Capitalist", the group's third studio album and its third consecutive release to reach gold status for sales of half a million copies or more.

As part of the continuing series of reissues of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS' acclaimed catalog via Virgin/UMe, the iconic alternative band is set to release four separate versions, all fully remastered, of their platinum-selling 1996 box set "The Aeroplane Flies High": 6-CD +1 DVD; 5-LPs and Deluxe Digital and Standard Digital editions. The CD/DVD, 5-LP version and digital configurations will be released July 23.

The original "The Aeroplane Flies High" was a five-disc box set that featured expanded versions of singles from their acclaimed 1995 double album "Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness", including "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", "1979", "Zero", "Tonight" and "Thirty-Three". "Mellon Collie" achieved Diamond certification by the RIAA for sales of 10,000,000 discs and digital equivalent per disc (5 million copies of the double album).

These new limited edition box sets of "The Aeroplane Flies High" feature the original 33-track version — remastered by Bob Ludwig — and expanded to 104 tracks (90 audio and 14 audio-visual) encompassing unreleased demos, alternative versions and live recordings. In addition to expanded versions of "Aeroplane"'s original 5 discs, a sixth disc contains live recordings from the 1996 "Mellon Collie" tour, while the DVD content is taken from a July 4, 1997 performance in Belfort, France. Included is a 46-page book with liner notes written by David Wild, plus extensive track-by-track notes by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS founder-singer-songwriter-guitarist Billy Corgan — for the original release's 33 tracks. The box set has unique packaging with embossed foil wrap & twinkle stock for jackets.

To view the full tracklisting of each box set and DVD, go here.

As David Wild writes, "'The Aeroplane Flies High' is a trip, and perhaps fittingly for Billy Corgan, it was an exciting, exhausting and scary one that reveals a lot about THE SMASHING PUMPKINS at this point in their musical journey."

Notes Corgan in the 46-page book: "What I like about 'The Aeroplane Flies High' is that it's almost the existential backwater of the 'Mellon Collie' album," Corgan says today. "Listening to the music gathered here is a little bit like seeing what goes on behind the walls of Disneyland. I've always been fascinated with places that are very well constructed, and finding out what's really going on just over the fence. You look over that gate and notice that things on the other side are not well painted — or maybe you spot that guy dressed as some character sneaking a smoke on his break. At least for me, the behind the scenes feel heard on 'The Aeroplane Flies High' represents something revealing not found on the main album. In retrospect, it's a nice document of how we arrived at the apex of 'Mellon Collie' — and also what standing on that apex did to us personally."

"The Aeroplane Flies High" follows 2011's acclaimed reissues of the band's groundbreaking first two albums, "Gish" (1991) and "Siamese Dream" (1993), as well as 2012's "Pisces Iscariot" (1994), the band's third album, as well as their fourth album, "Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness" (1995). *

As THE SMASHING PUMPKINS get the fully remastered treatment via these reissues, the band is excited to be moving forward by creating new music. They will soon start recording the follow-up to 2012's acclaimed album "Oceania". The band launched their 2013 world tour in Mexico this past March and is heading to Europe and Japan for summer dates through August 11.

Voodoo Dawn, the third album from death/doom metal act SKELETAL SPECTRE, will be released on June 25th in North America on Pulverised Records.

With the entire full-length effort written and recorded at Morbid Apparition Studios while mixing and mastering duties were reined under the watchful eye of Patrick Bruss (RIBSPREADER, ACID WITCH, CIANIDE, IMPETIGO), and with the artistic scarring by Adam Geyer (BONE GNAWER, FONDLECORPSE, WOODEN STAKE) Voodoo Dawn is a tormenting solace of the most hideous hex-ridden death metal to ever cross one's path.

Voodoo Dawn tracklisting:

‘Voodoo Dawn’
‘Altar Of Damballah’
‘Serpent Moon’
‘Bone Dust’
‘Shallow Grave’
‘Black Augury Hollow’
‘She-Wolf Of Devil’s River’
‘Haunted Gallows’
‘The Flip-Side Of Satan’

Massachusetts metallers THE ACACIA STRAIN have announced the addition of two new full-time members, Devin Shidaker and Richard Gomez, both on guitar. After many years of service, Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz will no longer be writing music for THE ACACIA STRAIN and the band wishes him the best in all of his future endeavors.

Comments THE ACACIA STRAIN: "As a band, our perspective is for all of us to be involved and be a team, not only on the road but for every aspect of the band and all be a part of it. Richie and Devin bring experience and passion to the table and offer a forward-thinking perspective to this band which has been wanted and needed for some time. We plan on getting started right away with the writing process to give you some new songs soon, and, of course, a new album. We are excited to start this new chapter of THE ACACIA STRAIN and look forward to seeing you all on tour!"

During THE ACACIA STRAIN's tenure with Prosthetic Records, the band released four acclaimed studio albums — two of which, 2008's "Continent" and 2010's "Wormwood", cracked the Billboard chart — as well as a Top 10 live DVD. To commemorate the end of an era, Prosthetic has assembled "Money For Nothing", a compilation of rarities, B-sides and previously unheard tracks by the band. The six-track release, which was released on February 19, was made available as a specially priced digital EP and a limited-edition digipak.

"Death Is The Only Mortal", the latest album from THE ACACIA STRAIN, sold 8,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 50 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on October 9, 2012 via Rise Records, the CD was produced by Laskiewicz at his Western Massachusetts studio.

Guitarist Mike Dykins of Welsh metallers IMPALED EXISTENCE is leaving the band. His statement follows:
Statement from Mike Dykins Guitarist for Impaled Existence.

''After over 12 yrs and the founding member of Impaled Existence, the time has finally come for me to part ways with the band. This has been a very difficult decision for me to make, unfortunately I have been finding my position in Impaled Existence stressful, I have had a lot of responsibility within the band and of late I have been finding it hard to manage with my family and work life.

Impaled Existence have a busy schedule ahead for the next year and this has been the realisation for me that I just cannot commit enough of my time. I have seen the band come so far, from start-up as a GREEN DAY/METALLLICA/IRON MAIDEN style cover band (and yes we were called Impaled Existence for that!) - to today's modern progressive direction.

It has been a blast on all fronts, as a band and as band mates we have been through so much and this time within Impaled will be remembered until the day I die with fond memories! I wish the guys Craig, Danny, Nathan and Andy all the best for the future, and I wait with ears open on what is coming our way. I look forward to honouring the next three shows Impaled existence have coming up, a big thanks to all who have supported Impaled Existence and to those who made it possible, the promoters, the sound engineers, family.

As I take a back-step from the stage I will be moving forward at live shows to see these guys!!

Much love and much appreciation, Mike 'Tweek' Dykins."

Stay tuned for updates. More on Impaled Existence at this location.

Louisville, Kentucky-based black metal perpetrators ANAGNORISIS have completed the recording of their second LP, the beast now in the final stages of preparation before being released this summer.
Their first full-length since 2007, Anagnorisis now confirm the title of the new opus as Beyond All Light, the album containing the band’s most expansive material to date, following months of production as the band recorded everything themselves at guitarist Zak Denham’s own One by One Studios. Now completely harnessed, the masters have been passed to Ken Sorceron (ABIGAIL WILLIAMS) who is currently handling mixing and mastering duties. The band will unleash Beyond All Light on their own in a plethora of configurations, including CD, LP, cassette and digital formats. Confirmed release dates will be announced in the coming days.

Additionally, Anagnorisis will take their terror back to the highways coinciding with the release of Beyond All Light, with a tour from late July through mid-August in the devising stages.

Anagnorisis live:

July
27 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Deathfest
28 – Westland, MI – Token Lounge

At the inaugural installment of the Beastival festival — which took place from May 30 to June 1 in Geiselwind, Germany — "The Big Teutonic 4", the legendary quartet of German thrash metal bands that shaped the European heavy metal scene like no other since the '80s and established "thrash made in Germany" as a quality seal all around the world, shared the same stage on the same evening, performing in front of thousands of enthusiastic metalheads. Now, all four bands share their memories and thoughts of this memorable night.

KREATOR's Mille Petrozza: "My personal highlight were the fans! We had real bad luck with the weather and during our gig, there was not just heavy rain but also a real storm so that it would rain on stage all the time. Our fans once more proved to be the toughest and best in the world and partied with us till the end. Touching and impressive at the same time. Beastival was a KILLER festival overall!"

SODOM's Thomas "Angelripper" Such: "Beastival was a special event for SODOM. The Big Teutonic 4 sharing the same stage... this event will go down in history. Aside of that, everything else was just classy as well. I've barely experienced a festival as well-organized as this. And a special thank you also goes out to all the metalheads that stuck with us despite the heavy rain and made this festival a memorable and great experience for all of us! We're hoping on a repetition!"

DESTRUCTION's Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer: "Wow, the day finally had come — after more than 30 years! I had only one thing on my mind all the time: why the hell did it take so long for all of us to play at the same festival? It was truly legendary! This gathering of Germany's four thrash initiators was a class reunion with a killer audience who had a hard time because of the constant rain. My deep respect for as much love for uncompromising rock music! KILLER! Personally, I would be very delighted to do a mutual tour with the so-called Big Teutonic 4! DESTRUCTION would definitely be on board... metal fans worldwide are waiting for this, that's for sure! Thanks, Beastival, for this food for thought and the amazing time! Let's hope that whatever comes afterwards will go down in history as well!"

TANKARD's Andreas "Gerre" Geremia: "It was amazing to see The Big Teutonic 4 share a stage after more than 30 years! Many thanks to the fantastic crowd that made this event a memorable one — despite the constant rain! This definitely demands more! Thrash metal will never die!“

An exclusive photo that was taken after the shows by renowned artist Stefan "Heile" Heilemann of Heilemania can be seen below.

In an interview with Greece's Metal Kaoz, Petrozza stated about the possibility of a full-fledged tour with SODOM and DESTRUCTION: "We have been talking about this all the time. We have been having this discussion since the last time we were in Greece along with SODOM and DESTRUCTION about getting that tour in the U.S. But this never happened and you wanna know why? … There are certain people who don't want to tour. [DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist] Schmier wants to tour, we want to tour but Tom [Angelripper] from SODOM does not. And, as you can understand, we can only do this tour with the three bands onboard because otherwise it would not be the same. So, without SODOM, this will never happen and I am really sorry to say this."

U.K. metallers HEART OF A COWARD have inked a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. The quintet, hailing from Milton Keynes, recently hit the studio to record its second ferocious album and follow-up to its debut CD, "Hope & Hindrance", that was released in 2012. The as-yet-untitled effort is scheduled for release before the end of 2013.

Jamie Graham (vocals) comments on joining the team: "Century Media are on our wavelength in terms of where we want to take HEART OF A COWARD, as well as boasting releases from some of our favourite bands and influences. It's an honour to be a part of the CM family and we are really excited to have such an awesome label on board."

HEART OF A COWARD can look back to memorable performances at the likes of Ghostfest, followed by joining the Metal Hammer Razor Tour alongside DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL and HEIGHTS in 2012 as well as supporting their new label mates in BLEED FROM WITHIN throughout the U.K. in April 2013. While they are still working on their upcoming Century Media Records debut HEART OF A COWARD have already lined up an impressive list of forthcoming events and tours in the coming months including Download festival and Summerjam festival. Not to mention an anticipated return to the main stage of Ghostfest for the second round. With interest in the band spreading overseas fast, the band will also cross over to Russia later this year as main support to BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME. HEART OF A COWARD’s live show does not only deliver complete aggression across any venue, but brings forward a sound that fans can relate straight back to the record to relive their tight, precise sound.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, LED ZEPPELIN bassist John Paul Jones has his sights on a new opera — not a reunion with his former bandmates. The ZEPPELIN fan-base has been drooling over Robert Plant's recent comments to Australia's "60 Minutes", which insinuated that it wasn't him who's holding the band back from reuniting and that his 2014 schedule is clear. Jones revealed to Red Carpet TV News that his upcoming original opera is based on August Strindberg's "The Ghost Sonata", and admitting, "It's unlike anything else. It's the emotion, the passion."

Jones, who is halfway through the opera's first act, revealed that he has no time for any serious live work, saying, that he only has time "to do little gigs that I don't have to prepare too much for." Regarding the prospects of ZEPPELIN reuniting in 2014, Jones said, flat out: "2014's full of opera for me at the moment."

John Paul Jones told The Pulse Of Radio that writing on his own is entirely different than collaborating as part of a band. "It's just a different process," he said. "You really can fine-tune an idea that you have, and take care of every aspect, exactly the way you want it. The downside is, of course, that you don't get the input that will change it into something else entirely. You don't know how it's gonna end up. If you do a song yourself, you've got a pretty good idea of how it's gonna end up."

Robert Plant meanwhile, credits his creative resurgence to the people and musicians in the Nashville scene, telling LA Weekly, "I have had an amazing education the last few years. The time I spent around all of those men and women was an eye-opening experience. The thing about working with musicians in Nashville is that they generally are always moving on to the next thing.. . . For the last year or so I've been writing quite a lot, and I like the way my voice sounds now. It's not the same as it was years ago. I'm not a castrato anymore but I've learned to get down into that pocket and have it sound good. So here I go again."

Sumerian thrashing metal pioneers MELECHESH will embark on a North American headlining tour later this month, with support from VREID, LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH and REIGN OF LIES. Ralph Santolla (DEATH, DEICIDE, OBITUARY, ICED EARTH) will be filling the second-guitarist slot in MELECHESH for the trek, which will include the band's first-ever appearance in Mexico.

Commented Ralph: "I'm psyched to be doing the MELECHESH tour. We've been talking about it for a while , and this was the perfect time. [MELECHESH mainman] Ashmedi and I are good friends, and I love the music. Looking forward to seeing all of my friends in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada soon!"

Added Ashmedi: "We are looking forward to touring North America and this time as headliners. The crowd made us feel very welcome on previous occasions. It will be a great tour with special and talented guests playing with us. Naturally, this time we will have the chance to extend our live set, offering Sumerian sonic magick. Last but not least, it will be our first time playing Mexico; about time! Having Ralph on board will positively add to the MELECHESH dynamics; he is a very talented guitar player."

MELECHESH released a digital EP called "Mystics Of The Pillar II" in April 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. The effort contained a different version of the song "Mystics Of The Pillar" and instrumental versions of the tracks "The Epigenesis" and "Sacred Geometry".

MELECHESH's latest album, "The Epigenesis", was recorded at Babajim Studios in Istanbul, Turkey, was mixed by Reuben de Lautour and mastered by Pieter Snapper.

The "The Epigenesis" cover art was created by the U.K.-based renowned occult artist John Coulthart, who had already collaborated with MELECHESH in the past.

Roadrunner Records has announced the eagerly anticipated new album from progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER. "Dream Theater" — the first self-titled collection in the Grammy-nominated band's nearly three decade career — arrives at last on September 24.

"Dream Theater" was recorded at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, with founding guitarist John Petrucci producing and studio luminary Richard Chycki (AEROSMITH, RUSH) engineering and mixing. The album marks a brilliant new chapter for the always adventurous band, their first to have been written and recorded with drummer Mike Mangini wholly integrated into the creative process from the start.

"I see every new album as an opportunity to start over," says Petrucci. "To either build or improve upon a direction that has been evolving over time or to completely break new ground. This is the first self-titled album of our career and there is nothing I can think of that makes a statement of musical and creative identity stronger than that. We've fully explored all of the elements that make us unique, from the epic and intense to the atmospheric and cinematic. We're incredibly excited about 'Dream Theater' and can't wait for everyone to hear it.”

"Dream Theater" will be available in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard and special-edition CDs, 180-gram vinyl double LP, and a limited-edition box set. Pre-orders are scheduled to get underway sometime in July at the Roadrunner Records webstore.

Asked whether having drummer Mike Mangini involved in the songwriting process this time around has made a difference in the new CD's overall sound, keyboardist Jordan Rudess recently said: "It really has. This is the first album where Mike Mangini [who joined the band in Ocober 2010] has been there and really part of the writing process. He's such a sweet guy and he has so much energy, and it's just great to have that energy involved when we're writing the music, 'cause he'll come up with stuff that's really cool. We'll be composing along our merry way and stop to maybe look at the next part, and he offers this other perspective which we never had in the same way that we have it with him, which is that he has a super math brain — a rhythmic math brain; he's really an expert in that field, more so than myself or [guitarist] John Petrucci or anybody in the band — so he can say, 'Guys, if you play 10 measures at 7, and if you play triplets five times, and you do this and that, it's all gonna equal out in 21 measures. Go ahead and try it.' And at first, we're , like, 'What?' But he kind of sees that; he sees that map."

In a recent interview with Roadrunner Records, Petrucci stated about the making of DREAM THEATER's new CD: "First of all, it's been going great with [Mangini], and as much as we've been a band together for about 15 years, we haven't really experienced that process together. We've been in the studio for a few weeks now, and he's been amazing. Chemistry is great, the writing process and the whole vibe is great, and his role is to let his personality shine as a drummer, creatively and to have his input and his musical personality really come through. And I gotta tell you, it's happening. When people hear the drumming on this album, they're gonna be pretty freaked out. On the last album, he did a great job, but he wasn't there for the writing process and he was interpreting drum parts that I had programmed. Even though he used his creativity, of course, to change them up and do his thing, I feel like now he's just Mike Mangini unleashed. It's all him. It's all his creativity, all his decisions and ideas and man, the guy's an animal."

"Live At Luna Park", DREAM THEATER's live concert, which was previously scheduled for release in May via Eagle Rock Entertainment, will now drop in North America on November 5 as a Blu-ray, 2DVD, 2DVD + 3CD, Blu-ray + 3CD, deluxe edition with 40-page book, Blu-ray + 2DVD + 3CD, and digital video via iTunes.

"Live At Luna Park" was filmed over two nights in South America — home to one of DREAM THEATER's most ardent fanbases. The DVD was filmed August 19 and August 20, 2012 at Estadio Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina after a 15-month world tour, hitting 35 countries.

Reactivated British extreme metal legends CARCASS have inked a deal with Trooper Entertainment for the Japanese release of the band's comeback album, "Surgical Steel".

Commented CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer: "As many of you will be aware, this is the first CARCASS album for eighteen years. We have not taken this venture lightly, and finding the right home for this recording has been crucial to us.

"In all honesty, when it came to a Japanese release, from the beginning there was only one name that we gave serious thought to — Trooper. There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, over the last few years, Trooper has established an enviable reputation as a metal label with integrity. But also on a personal note, I have been fortunate enough to consider Tetsu Miyamoto a friend for some time now. He's an impressive human being and a genuine connoisseur of heavy metal music. We are genuinely looking forward to working with him and the rest of the Trooper team."

CARCASS has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records for the worldwide release (outside Japan) of "Surgical Steel". Due in the fall, the CD was mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY) after the project's producer, Colin Richardson (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE), quit the project two weeks into the mixing process. During a March 2013 concert at the Underworld in London, CARCASS bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker claimed that Richardson walked away from the mix in order to work on the new TRIVIUM album.

The first official photo of the new lineup of CARCASS can be seen below (courtesy of Adrian Erlandsson of Murder Mile Studios). Joining guitarist Bill Steer and Walker in the band's current incarnation are Wilding and guitarist Ben Ash (PIG IRON, DESOLATION, LIQUEFIED SKELETON).

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

In a recent interview with Chile's Radio Futuro, Walker stated about the new CARCASS CD: "We think we've made a good album, so it's gonna be very interesting when people get to hear the record. We can't wait to see what people think."
He continued: "It sounds like CARCASS. Even the drumming sounds like CARCASS. Everything about it… I think it's gonna shock people, how good it is. I think it's got all the elements that people like, yet it still sounds fresh. So that's all I can say, really, 'cause we don't really sound like any other band, and the fact that after 17 years, we wrote music and it still sounds like CARCASS, I think it's good."

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

Photo credit: Adrian Erlandsson of Murder Mile Studios

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

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "Walk Through Exits Only" can be streamed at Amazon.com.

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

"Walk Through Exits Only" track listing:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anselmo and THE ILLEGALS will support the new album with a major North American tour planned for this summer.

"Namaste", the new video from Norwegian progressive metallers CIRCUS MAXIMUS, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's third album, "Nine", which was released in June 2012 via Frontiers Records.
Five years after the release of the concept album "Isolate", CIRCUS MAXIMUS is back with what is described in a press release as "a strong and mature CD."

"A lot happened in our personal lives during the past few years," explains drummer Truls Haugen. "Three of us had kids, plus we also had a several bumps in the road with the production. So it has not exactly been a joyride, but it feels great to finally be done, and after all this time we are ready to unleash our new monster!"

CIRCUS MAXIMUS worked hard to further refine its sound. The band's musical formula is not easy to accomplish — take jaw-dropping musicianship, add a singer like Michael Eriksen with a voice from heaven and toss it together with hooks, anthemic melodies and enough groove and heavy riffing that really gets into your head.

For this new record, CIRCUS MAXIMUS presents the best of both worlds — offering their most melodic and at the same time heaviest moments of their repertoire, with class and maturity which is really from another world.

"The majority of the material on the new record was written by Mats Haugen and he has taken the music to a kind of simpler and more accessible approach, yet kept the progressive elements and the 'nerve' that is CIRCUS MAXIMUS," says Truls. "We're actually more melodic and heavier on this new record than we've ever been."

"Nine" track listing:

01. Forging
02. Architect Of Fortune
03. Namaste
04. Game Of Life
05. Reach Within
06. I Am
07. Used
09. The One
10. Burn After Reading
11. Last Goodbye

CIRCUS MAXIMUS is:

Michael Eriksen - Vocals
Lasse Finbråten - Keyboards
Mats Haugen - Guitars
Truls Haugen - Drums
Glen Cato Møllen - Bass

German melodic death metallers DEADLOCK will release their sixth full-length album, "The Arsonist", on July 26 via Napalm Records. The drums for the CD were laid down at the Chemical Burn Studios with Alexander Dietz (HEAVEN SHALL BURN) at the helm. Eike Fresse (CALLEJON, OOMPH!, GAMMA RAY) mixed the new songs at the Hammer Studios in Hamburg. The mastering duties were handled by Olman Viper (CALIBAN, EMIL BULLS, ZSK) at the Hertzwerk Studios. The artwork was created by Niklas Sundin (DARK TRANQUILITY).

"The Arsonist" track listing:

01. The Great Pretender
02. I'm Gone
03. Dead City Sleepers
04. The Arsonist
05. Darkness Divine
06. As We Come Undone
07. Hurt
08. The Final Storm
09. Small Town Boy (BRONSKI BEAT cover)
10. My Pain
11. Dead City Sleepers (Erode Remix)(bonus track)
12. As We Come Undone (Philip Abbas Remix) (bonus track)

DEADLOCK is:

Sabine Scherer - Vocals
John Gahlert - Vocals
Tobias Graf - Drums
Ferdinand Rewicki - Guitar
Sebastian Reichl - Guitar

According to BBC News, singer Ian Watkins of the Welsh rock band LOSTPROPHETS will go on trial in the fall to face a total of 23 offenses, including two charges of raping a baby. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 25 and is expected to last a month.

Watkins, 35, allegedly twice raped the child, who was under 12 months old at the time.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were revealed on Monday, June 3 when Watkins appeared at court via video link from prison.

A statement from the singer was read outside court. It said: "I want to thank my family, friends and all the fans for there continued support throughout this whole ordeal. Your support gives me strength.

"I deny all the allegations made against me and will continue to fight to the end to clear my name."

Watkins faces further charges of possessing, taking and making indecent photographs of children — the oldest of them dating back to March 2007.

Two women — one aged 20 and the other 24 — are facing a child-sex charge alongside Watkins.

LOSTPROPHETS members Lee Gaze (guitar), Mike Lewis (guitar), Stuart Richardson (bass), Jamie Oliver (keyboards) and Luke Johnson (drums) released a statement on their official web site expressing their shock at the charges against Watkins.

LOSTPROPHETS has sold more than three million albums worldwide and topped the U.K. chart with 2006's "Liberation Transmission".

The band's most recent CD, "Weapons", came out in April 2012.

"Rise Of The Elder Ones", the new album from the Canadian extreme blackened death metal horde NECRONOMICON, can be streamed in its entirety using the widget below. The CD will be released on June 10 (three days earlier in Europe) via Season Of Mist.

"Rise Of The Elder Ones" track listing:

01. Resurrected
02. The End Of Times
03. The Living God (Pharaoh Of Gods Part II)
04. The Nuclear Chaos
05. From Beyond
06. Rise Of The Elder Ones
07. The Valley Of The Lost Souls
08. Celestial Being
09. Dark Corners Of The Earth
10. The Fallen

Regarding the signing, the band released the following statement: "Many people know that for some years in the past NECRONOMICON have been through some really dark years and that starting with 'The Return Of The Witch', or what we called the return to the source, we rose out of that period with more determination and strength than ever. As for now, some months ago we had the opportunity to join forces and work with one of the most respected labels in the dark metal area. That's why we decided to move on in that direction. Working with people that care, are professionals, and do what they said without trying to find excuses to not do what they agreed to. It is with honor that NECRONOMICON joined the Season Of Mist family and wish for this relationship to be long and prosperous."

NECRONOMICON in May 2011 announced the addition of bassist Armaros to the group's ranks.

Bassist Diego "D" left NECRONOMICON in 2010 in order to undertake "different professional and personal projects" that he wouldn't be "able to do simultaneously with [his previous] band duties."

NECRONOMICON's last album, "The Return Of The Witch", was released in June 2010 via Austria's Napalm Records. The CD was mastered with reputed engineer Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION) and features guest appearances by Arianne Fleury (ex-AUGURY) and Roxanne Constantin (NEGATIVA, QUO VADIS), among others.

VISTA CHINO, the group comprised of two founding members of the legendary rock band KYUSS — Brant Bjork and John Garcia — and guitarist Bruno Fevery, will release its debut album, "Peace", in the early fall via Napalm Records. The cover artwork for the CD was created by the renowned California art collective The Date Farmers.

Commented Bjork: "The Date Farmers are native to the desert where we are from. It is an honor to work together with such prolific artists!"

"Dargona, Dragona", the first song from VISTA CHINO's highly anticipated first full-length album, is available for streaming at this location.

VISTA CHINO's first North American performance will take place at this year's Orion Music + More festival — curated by METALLICA — in Detroit, Michhigan. VISTA CHINO will play on Sunday, June 9 on the "Frantic Stage." A full North American tour will be announced shortly.

The final live appearances of KYUSS LIVES! — featuring the same lineup as VISTA CHINO — took place in early 2013 as part of Australia's Soundwave Festival.

KYUSS LIVES! decided to change its name after a lawsuit launched by former KYUSS members Josh Homme and Scott Reeder prevented KYUSS LIVES! from recording and releasing any new material.

Commented Garcia: "KYUSS LIVES! is now VISTA CHINO!...it feels great just to write that....and to say it out loud, feels even better. Now that our relationship with Napalm Records is official; it's time to forget about the past year, move forward, and execute our original plan, which was to make kick-ass music and tour the world!"

Speaking to Music Feeds, Brant was asked whether there was a slight sense of relief that the legal dispute over the KYUSS name is over. "Absolutely," he replied. "There's always relief when conflict is resolved and people can just let go and move forward. That's where we're at and we feel great. It's always unfortunate to experience differences with specific people, but we feel great as a band. We're really, really excited to move forward into the future and focus on what it is that we do, which is play music."

Regarding whether the change of band's name to VISTA CHINO would have happened had it not been for the lawsuit, Brant said: "That's a good question. The answer to that question is: I don't know. Possibly. We didn't really think about it. We were really just looking at what was in front of us and making our decisions based on what our present situation was. But now we just came to a point where we felt that changing the name was appropriate and was the fastest way for us to get back to playing music."

IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain celebrated his 61st birthday during the band's concert last night (Wednesday, June 5) at Bercy in Paris, France.

Fan-filmed video footage of MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's lengthy French-language introduction, along with a crowd sing-along of "Happy Birthday" to McBrain, can be seen below.

BocaNewsNow.com reported in late April that Nicko McBrain's 20-year-old son Justin was arrested for allegedly burglarizing an occupied dwelling and second-degree petit theft.

Nicko McBrain's wife, Rebecca McBrain, 50, was arrested on February 24 and charged with battery after she allegedly tried to stab the man with a decorative lance. Although the stabbing attempt failed, Rebecca was allegedly successful in hitting the man with logs that had been sitting in a firepit behind the house, causing minor injuries. She was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and later released on bond.

According to a 1994 article in the Sun Sentinel, Nicko and Rebecca met in 1984 at the Button South in Fort Lauderdale. They married five years later and have made a home in Boca Raton around their son, Justin.

Back in July 2003, Nicko McBrain was arrested for allegedly hitting a parking lot attendant — on purpose — with his black Jaguar after a disagreement over McBrain's VIP credentials before a concert at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York. "It's one of those things that happened that shouldn't have happened, but it did, and over time, you sort of look at it and go, 'Gosh, that was silly,'" Nicko said in an August 2004 interview. "And the other guy that was involved with it, I'm sure he's sitting there thinking [the same thing]."

Tuomas Holopainen, keyboardist and main songwriter of the Finnish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH, has completed the songwriting process for his "The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck" project.

In a new posting on his official web site, Tuomas writes: "Since returning from the lovely tour-ending trip to Thailand with the whole band and crew, I've been hibernating deeply in the wondrous world of Don Rosa's Scrooge McDuck stories.

"It's been four months of heavy songwriting, arranging, toying around with ideas, lyric writing and demoing.

"We hired a log cabin in the middle of the woods in Southern Finland, and during an intensive 10-day period, we recorded a demo with Tero (TeeCee Kinnunen) of all the songs.

"Tero will take care of the engineering and mixing of the album. The guy has incredible insight and ears, and he already came up with a couple of good points regarding some of the songs. (As some of you might remember, [NIGHTWISH's] 'Nemo' was originally over 6:30 long, much more uptempo, with a duet rap-part with Tarja and Marco in the c-part (!!) Hah! Tero was the one to open my locked-up, stubbornly stuffy ears with that one…)

"There will be a total of 10 songs, with running time between 55-60 minutes. Six of them will feature vocals, both male and female. It's quite difficult to categorize the genre of the album, but to my ears, it's somewhere between film music, folk and classical, echoing distantly the works of Vaughan Williams, Enya, Mike Oldfield and Michael Nyman. Loaded with keys, piano, orchestra, Metro Voices and ethnic percussion, it will also feature acoustic guitars, banjo and some human voices.

"I feel extremely enthusiastic about how the songs turned out, they echo the 'Life And Times' storylines well. A whole new challenge for me was to find a way to catch the comical side of the chapters into some of the songs. Humor is such an essential part of the book I just couldn't / didn't want to ignore it. But writing soundtrack to comedy was a sweaty ordeal. I leave it up to you to judge how I was able to pull it off.

"Also, I chose not to be too slavish to the chapters of the book. So that the songs would make sense even though you never read the book. For example, the opening track is inspired by the first chapter of the book, and while keeping the atmosphere of that story in mind, I purely imagined what it would have been like in Scrooge's childhood, in Scotland of the 1870s.

"These 10 songs are what I hear inside my head when I read those awe-inspiring stories. That's the best way I can put it.

"Pip (Williams) now has all the material and the next three months will be spent discussing the arrangements and practical issues in the phone and via e-mail. Then at the end of August, the fun in London begins… Beautiful scenes ahead!"

Tuomas previously stated about how the idea for the project came about: "It was back in 1999, during the 'Oceanborn' tour, that I remember first having the idea of writing a 'soundtrack' to my all-time favorite piece of Disney comic, 'The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck', by Don Rosa, the apparent heir of the almighty Carl Barks. This book has had such an overwhelming effect on me throughout these years, and finally I have the means and the time to make that dream a reality.

"It all started with a story called 'Last Sled To Dawson', which was published in a Finnish Donald Duck magazine in the late '80s. It instantly became one of my favorite Scrooge/Donald stories and also introduced Mr. Don Rosa to my Disney universe. This story is not part of the actual 'Life And Times' opus, though, but 'a companion story,' set in between the chapters #8 and #9. Then when the massive 12-chapter piece was released in mid-'90s, I was completely and utterly hooked. It was similar to reading 'The Lord Of The Rings' as an 8-year-old, or seeing 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' for the first time. Adventure, fun and the strangely familiar feeling of home.

"With Scrooge, there was also a much deeper level hidden between the stories and the gags.

"This is a book about life itself. What an unfathomable privilege it is, what are the things that truly matter during our existence. It's about the immense beauty of the world and its possibilities seen through the eyes of a very relentless, honest and complex character. It's about love and family, gain and loss, darkness and rebirth.

"And on top of that, well, it's just your good old-fashioned storytelling fun!"

Sensory Records has released the second album from Pleasanton, California-based progressive metal outfit CYNTHESIS. Cynthesis reunites three of the original members of top-tier extreme progressive band ZERO HOUR - brothers Jasun and Troy Tipton (guitars and bass, respectively, both also of ABNORMAL THOUGHT PATTERNS) and vocalist Erik Rosvold, along with ENCHANT drummer Sean Flanagan.
Formed in 2010, Cynthesis released their debut album DeEvolution through Sensory in April of 2011, causing celebration within the prog community with these members aligning, and in some cases realigning, their talents. Following another massive undertaking and countless hours of constructing and executing this new album, now two years later, the middle part of the dystopian trilogy is about to see the light of day as ReEvolution. A shaman, the central character of the series, is sent out to gather more slaves. He comes across a tribe and senses a light within them that triggers a distant memory of his past, making him realize that this is the original tribe he was taken from. He brings them back to the city and encounters what was done to the population and sets them free.

ReEvolution was mixed and co-produced by Forrester Savell and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side, and features nearly forty-five minutes of some of the most creative and imaginative progressive metal likely to be released this year.

The cover artwork by Mario Sánchez Nevado can be seen below:

ReEvolution tracklisting:

'Divine Night'
'Convergence'
'The Grand Façade'
'A Most Trivial Pursuit'
'Persistence Of Visions'
'The Noble Lie'
'Release The Deity'

ReEvolution can be heard streaming in its entirety below:
Check out a track-by-track breakdown of ReEvolution by vocalist Erik Rosvold:

'Divine Night': "The journey back to the city. May the shadows fall and so display, a righteous path and show us the way."

'Convergence' (instrumental)

'The Grand Facade': "They scale the cities walls. Within they witness the oppressed masses of 'porcelain women and mannequin men' who follow a 'straight and narrow course, not by willing but by force.'"

'A Most Trivial Pursuit': "A key is handed to him by one of the oppressed in the line, 'the one with lucid eyes.' Upon seeing this the others break rank and pursue the tribe. In the resulting melee he finds himself at a door. 'Now I'm at the door I feel as if I've been here before. Angels sin for me, if beyond lies the answer I hold the key.'"

'Persistence Of Visions': "He opens the door to find a hallway filled with immense screens outlining plans for the populace. Realizing he was made a frontman for their schemes he smashes them to pieces. In doing so a chamber is revealed. 'Through shattered glass he will pass, phantasms meet your iconoclast.'"

'The Noble Lie': "Four figures appear before me, four to rule over the innocent. He poses a series of questions to them and in the end: 'I touch them, tear off their shrouds, each face a state of my being and each one falls to the ground.'"

'Release The Deity': "From a prisoner to a prophet as a prophet I return. Now knowing the essence of his origin he transforms into a being of light."

More on Cynthesis at this location.

"Came Back Haunted", the new single from NINE INCH NAILS, is available for streaming using the SoundCloud widget below. The track will appear on the band's new album, which will reportedly be called "Hesitation Marks" and is scheduled for release on September 3.

"Came Back Haunted" "harkens back to early NINE INCH NAILS," says Lisa Worden, Music Director for Los Angeles alternative station KROQ. "I think it's in line with the first two albums," Worden continues. "It's got a great beat, it's not the experimental material [NINE INCH NAILS mainman] Trent's [Reznor] done in the last five years." Worden indicated the song didn't strike her as angry. Rather the beat is what made an impression. "I wouldn't say that it's dance-y, but it does have a great beat, a groove. Trent really brought it with this song. It's going to sound amazing to new fans and old. It's just cool."

Six years after his NINE INCH NAILS contract with Interscope Records expired and he became an independent artist, Reznor has signed a new deal for NINE INCH NAILS with Columbia Records, marking NIN's return to the major label industry. Reznor's other act, HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS, made a deal with Columbia last year, so extending the partnership to NINE INCH NAILS doesn't seem like much of a stretch. A new NINE INCH NAILS album will arrive later this year.

Reznor said, "For the last year I've been secretly working non-stop with Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder on a new, full-length NINE INCH NAILS record, which I am happy to say is finished and frankly fucking great. This is the real impetus and motivation behind the decision to assemble a new band and tour again. My forays into film, HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS and other projects really stimulated me creatively and I decided to focus that energy on taking NINE INCH NAILS to a new place."

Reznor officially resurrected NINE INCH NAILS a few months ago after a four-year break for an extended tour that will kick off this summer.

The band is performing at a number of festivals, including Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Leeds, Reading, Made In America and the Voodoo Festival.

The new band lineup will debut on July 26 at the Fuji Rock festival in Japan. The show will mark NINE INCH NAILS' first live performance in nearly four years.

Reznor officially put NINE INCH NAILS on hiatus after the final shows by the last version of the group in September 2009.

Since then, Reznor and collaborator Atticus Ross have scored two films, including "The Social Network", for which they won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award in 2010.

Along with Reznor's wife, singer Mariqueen Maandig, Reznor and Ross also launched HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS, whose debut disc, "Welcome Oblivion", came out in March.

Fan-filmed video footage of GHOST's June 4 performance at the Impact Fest in Warsaw, Poland can be seen below.

GHOST's sophomore album, "Infestissumam", sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 28 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The CD topped the official chart in the group's home country after selling nearly five times as many copies as the No. 2 album, MISS LI's "Wolves".

The release date of "Infestissumam" was reportedly pushed back a week to April 16 after four compact disc manufacturers allegedly refused to print a piece of artwork that was meant for the deluxe version of the new CD. The manufacturers all took issue with the sacrilegious imagery, inspired by the work of Gustave Dore, which showcases what looks like a forest nymph orgy. The controversial art can still be found on both the vinyl and European copies of the "Infestissuman" CD.

GHOST was forced to modify its name in the U.S. to GHOST B.C. for "legal reasons."

Hailing from Linköping, Sweden, GHOST formed in in 2008. They released their heralded debut album, "Opus Eponymous", in 2010. In 2011, GHOST performed at the annual Download festival in the United Kingdom. The band's fanbase began to swell and not long after added some of hard rock's finest to this group. Additionally that year, GHOST took part in the "Defenders Of Faith III" tour with TRIVIUM, IN FLAMES and RISE TO REMAIN. In early 2012, they embarked on their first tour of the United States and later that year shared the stage with MASTODON and OPETH on their "Heritage Hunter Tour" in North America. That summer the band was invited by METALLICA's James Hetfield to perform on the main stage of METALLICA's first annual Orion Music + More festival.

Fan-filmed video footage of SUFFOCATION's June 4 performance at Gala Hala in Ljubljana, Slovenia can be seen below.

SUFFOCATION has recruited John Gallagher (DYING FETUS) to handle lead vocals on a number of shows this spring. Gallagher is filling in for SUFFOCATION's regular vocalist, Frank Mullen, who is unable to make the dates due to personal commitments.

"I'm stoked to be performing on several shows with longtime friends and my brothers in metal, SUFFOCATION," said Gallagher a couple of monts back. "It's going to be a blast and since I'll JUST be singing the vocals, they are going to be super sick and guttural. So make sure to come out and party with us and witness the brutality!"

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam", the new album from SUFFOCATION, has entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 58. The CD was released on February 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.

As previousy reported, "Pinnacle Of Bedlam"sold 3,200 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land at position No. 152 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at position No. 2 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.

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" was produced by the band at Full Force Studios in New York with longtime collaborator Joe Cincotta. The mixing and mastering of the effort was handled by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, ARSIS, SUICIDE SILENCE).

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" features 10 genre-defining-bone-crushing tracks and also marks the return of drummer Dave Culross, who previously played on the "Despise The Sun" EP. Founding member and former drummer Mike Smith also makes a special guest appearance on the re-recorded "Breeding The Spawn" track "Beginning Of Sorrow".

OLIVER DAWSON SAXON, the British heavy metal band featuring founding SAXON members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson, will release a new live album, "Blood And Thunder", in September via Angel Air Records. The CD was recorded on tour in Europe and will feature eight previously unreleased live tracks.

OLIVER DAWSON SAXON released its latest studio album, "Motorbiker", on February 27, 2012 via Angel Air Records. The CD was described by Dawson in an interview as "what me and Graham do best . . . a hard rock album, maybe metal . . . in that classic SAXON tradition."

OLIVER DAWSON SAXON is:

Graham Oliver (ex-SAXON) - Guitar
Steve Dawson (ex–SAXON) - Bass
Haydn Conway (ex-SHY) - Guitar
Brian Shaughnessy - Vocals
Paul Oliver - Drums

After spending a few years battling with Biff Byford and Paul Quinn over the SAXON name, Oliver and Dawson reached a settlement in 2003 with the members of the original band SAXON over the usage of the name and logos belonging to the original partnership.

OLIVER DAWSON SAXON, consisting of Oliver and Dawson, acknowledged that the band featuring Byford and Quinn will continue to be known as "SAXON", and have use of the logo. In return Byford and Quinn acknowledged that OLIVER DAWSON SAXON has a legitimate use of the name in that form.

Formed in the late '90s, OLIVER DAWSON SAXON previously recorded and released an album called "Re-Landed", which got a limited release on a local label before being reissued via Angel Air as "Re-Landed..Plus".

Video footage of OLIVER DAWSON SAXON performing on September 30, 2012 at Melodka in Brno, Czech Republic can be seen below.