SALIVA will release its eighth full-length album, "In It To Win It", in North America this summer via Rum Bum Records. The first single from the CD, the aggressively anthemic title track, is now available on iTunes.

"In It To Win It" was produced by Bobby Huff (known for his songwriting work with MEAT LOAF, HALESTORM, DROWNING POOL, PAPA ROACH, 3 DOORS DOWN and more) and executive-produced by Rum Bum Records owner Luis Bacardi and new SALIVA lead singer Bobby Amaru.

Since forming in Memphis in 1996, SALIVA has produced a number of chart-topping hits and earned a Grammy nomination for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for their record "Your Disease". A number of tracks from records have also been featured in major films, including "The Fast And The Furious" and "Talladega Nights" as well as successful games like Tiger Woods PGA.

"We want to sell 10 million records," said Amaru. "In the end, what's most important is coming out with songs that we're excited to play, that our fans are excited to hear and that the combination of the two results in a great tour. That's what it's all about."

SALIVA's last studio album was 2011's "Under Your Skin", which featured the Top 5 rock single "Never Should've Let You Go".

Vocalist Josey Scott left SALIVA in 2011 to pursue a solo Christian recording career.

Rum Bum Records is an independent record label based in South Florida. Led by a team of industry veterans dedicated to finding original talent of all genres, the label offers worldwide distribution, and provides artists with the resources necessary to develop and expand their careers.

Video footage of PHILM's entire April 23 concert at Init in Rome, Italy can be seen below.

PHILM is the Los Angeles-based experimental post-hardcore triumvirate featuring drummer Dave Lombardo (SLAYER), guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE), and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR).

The band's debut album, "Harmonic", was released on May 15, 2012 via Ipecac Recordings.

"When people hear about my involvement in PHILM, they automatically assume that it will compare to SLAYER's sound," explained Lombardo. "They couldn't be more different. I have scaled down my drum set to a four-piece, reminiscent of the drummers from the late '60s that influenced me. Each song is unique in itself, I like to refer to it as 'rhythmic emotion.' It's almost like taking all the heavy songs of the '60s and bringing that era to a modern plateau, then blending them with the modern trance and psychedelic sounds of today."

"We decided to record 'Harmonic' in the intimate setting of a home, with various vintage recording equipment," added Lombardo on the band's debut album. "The music was written collectively in an improvisational manner, unlike the majority of recordings I've done before. This was very important given this is my first recording where I'm carrying the title of producer and performer. The album achieves a dense, unholy convergence of tones and discords. We also touch on haunting, desolate, ambient sounds. Our music tends to be written in a manner where we never know the outcome until we listen back to what we recorded. A harmonic journey."

Lombardo sat out SLAYER's recent Australian tour due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group. Also missing from the shows was guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who is still recovering from necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease which he is believed to have gotten from a spider bite. Filling in for them were Jon Dette (TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX) and Gary Holt (EXODUS), respectively.

Asked if he will be sitting behind the kit for SLAYER when they return to Europe this summer, Lombardo told Greeece's Rock Overdose: "I don't know yet. I hope to be there, but at this point, I don't know if I'm returning or not." He added. "I love my fans so much and they've been so supportive through the years; they've always been there. And their concern and sadness for what happened in Australia is more than I could have ever imagined fans to react. It's unbelievable. I just love my fans and I hope to continue playing for them. This is all I do. This is my life. I don't do anything else. I don't have a snakefarm, I don't have a farm with cows… I'm not like that. Music is my passion and my life, and this is all I do. So for the fans to be this nice and kind and concerned, I just love them."

Guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier of French progressive metallers GOJIRA revealed during an interview with France's Metal XS that the band's March 24 concert at O2 Academy Brixton in London, England was professionally filmed for a DVD release.

GOJIRA's setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Explosia
02. Flying Whales
03. Backbone
04. The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe
05. L'Enfant Sauvage
06. Toxic Garbage Island
07. Wisdom Comes
08. Oroborus
09. Drum Solo
10. The Axe
11. The Gift Of Guilt

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

GOJIRA and the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT recently completed a North American tour.

The trek, which was announced during Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, also included support from THE ATLAS MOTH.

GOJIRA's fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", sold almost 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Way Of All Flesh", opened with 4,200 units back in 2008 to land at No. 138.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" entered the official chart in France at position No. 7 (No. 17 on the digital chart).

"L'Enfant Sauvage" (which translates to "The Wild Child") features 11 tracks of mind-bending, thunderous metal. The CD was recorded at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).

Inner Wound Recordings will release a limited 12-inch double gatefold edition of TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON's album "The Land Of New Hope" on June 19. The edition is strictly limited to 700 copies.

"The Land Of New Hope" is available for pre-order at the Inner Wound store.

The track listing is as follows:

Disc 1

Side A

01. Avalanche Anthem
02. A World Without Us
03. Enshrined In My Memory

Side B

01. In The Name Of The Rose
02. We Will Find A Way
03. Shine

Disc 2

Side A

01. The Magic Of The Night
02. To The Edge Of The Earth

Side B

01. I'll Sing You Home
02. The Land Of New Hope

"Enshrined In My Memory", the new video from TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others. The song is also available for download and legal streaming through all fine shops such as iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

Frontiers Records has set a May 21 North American release date for TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON new metal opera, "The Land Of New Hope". The CD's story takes place more than 40 years in the future when most of the planet has been destroyed by natural disasters. The title of the opera refers to the safe haven that a small group of survivors seek.

"The Land Of New Hope" is composed by one of the forefathers of the power metal genre, former STRATOVARIUS main songwriter and guitarist Timo Tolkki.

The album will be available in two formats: a standard CD and a deluxe edition featuring a 30-minute documentary on the making-of the album and two videos.

For this unique concept album, Timo Tolkki was able to gather some of most accomplished international singers: Michael Kiske (UNISONIC), Elize Ryd (AMARANTHE), Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI), Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), Sharon Den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION) and Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA). Rounding out the stunning lineup of this album are world-renowned musicians Alex Holzwarth (RHAPSODY OF FIRE) on drums, Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS), Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) and Mikko Härkin (SONATA ARCTICA) on keyboards, and Tolkki himself taking care of all guitars, bass and production duties.

"The Land Of New Hope" came about as the result of a discussion that began years ago between Timo Tolkki and Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino. Perugino, a longtime STRATOVARIUS fan, suggested Tolkki return to the original STRATOVARIUS sound in a more symphonic fashion. In August 2012, Tolkki began work on what would become "The Land Of New Hope". Tolkki explained: "I sort of rediscovered myself musically in the process of making this album. I wrote the story first and started composing the music after that. My aim was to write memorable songs with good melodies that would support the story.

"In STRATOVARIUS back in the early '90s, I was one of the creators of the power metal genre, so it is only natural that people may associate this music style with me... but on this album, you will find lot of dynamics including fully-orchestrated songs that sound very, very big."

With the full support of Frontiers Records and Serafino Perugino's executive production, "The Land Of New Hope" opens a new chapter in Tolkki's career. Tolkki added, "'The Land Of New Hope' is one part of the story, the end of it, actually. The story is longer and goes back to the time before this album's concept, so two more metal operas are likely to follow to complete a trilogy.

"In general, I find the metal opera concept fascinating and logical to me at this point of my career. I love classical music and just like in classical opera, in metal opera you can also create stories and have almost limitless possibilities musically.

"It is not so easy to stay fresh after a 25-year career, but this album is truly something special."

A "The Land Of New Hope" EPK (Electronic Press Kit) can be seen below.

The second part of a new "Rock Climbing" feature with Joel O'Keeffe (vocals/lead guitar) of Australian hard rockers AIRBOURNE can be seen below.

AIRBOURNE's third album, "Black Dog Barking", will be released on May 21 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2010's "No Guts. No Glory." was produced by Brian Howes, who has previously worked with HINDER, DAUGHTRY and PUDDLE OF MUDD.

The Full Throttle edition of AIRBOURNE's new single, "Live It Up", will be made available for the opening of Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, the tallest, fastest looping roller coaster in the world. The Full Throttle edition of "Live It Up" will be featured throughout the newly themed five-acre section of the park where guests will experience high-energy action through fast-paced imagery, sound and lights, with additional music featuring various Roadrunner artists. The launch will be further supported nationally in all theme parks, Roadrunner and Six Flags online and social media channels, live events and press outreach.

AIRBOURNE's infectious music has been used in more than 20 video games, countless films, trailers and more.

AIRBOURNE is Joel O'Keeffe (vocals/lead guitar), Ryan O'Keeffe (drums), David Roads (guitar) and Justin Street (bass).

Last night (April 27th) METALLICA played in Johannesburg for the first time in their 30-year career, seven years after playing in nearby Centurion in 2006. This was the last show of their brief four-date April tour. Up next for the band will be the Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show next week in Los Angeles and Orion Music and More in Detroit in June.
Metallica played 18 songs including:
'Hit The Lights'
'Master Of Puppets'
'Ride The Lightning'
'Harvester Of Sorrow'
'Fade To Black'
'The Memory Remains'
'Cyanide'
'Sad But True'
'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)'
'Orion'
'One'
'For Whom The Bell Tolls'
'Blackened'
'Nothing Else Matters'
'Enter Sandman'
'Creeping Death'
'Battery'
'Seek & Destroy'

Check out more photos by Ross Halfin Photography here.

Check out fan-filmed video below:

Romanian progressive death metallers ILLUMINATI are streaming their new album, The Core, which was released today (April 30th) at this location.

Mixing and mastering on The Core was done by Tymon Kruidenier (EXIVIOUS, ex-CYNIC), guitars recorded by Adrian "OQ" Neagoe (NEGURA BUNGET) and drum parts were recorded with the producer Marius Costache (WHITE WALLS, AVATAR, MEDIOCRACY).

The Core features the following guests: Kelly Shaefer (ATHEIST), Tony Choy (Atheist, ex-PESTILENCE, ex-CYNIC), Daniel Mongrain (MARTYR, VOIVOD), Mike Browning (NOCTURNUS, ex-MORBID ANGEL, ex-ACHERON), Patrick Mameli (PESTILENCE) and Luc Lemay (GORGUTS).
Illuminati lineup:

Andrei Popa (ex-NEGURA BUNGET, CYBORG, MY SHADOW) - vocals, guitar, synthesizer
Peter Ifitimie (SPECTRAL, ex-Cyborg, SHADOW RISING) - guitar
Matthew Tibacu-Blend (LOST SOCIETY, Cyborg) - drums, bass, percussion, vocals, other instruments
For more details visit Facebook.

THRAWSUNBLAT, the blackened folk metal brainchild of former WOODS OF YPRES guitarist Joel Violette, will release the new album Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings on March 13th. A full length clip of the song 'Once Foreveined' has been posted online and is available for streaming below:
The new album is now available for pre-order via PayPal: $20 CAD (North America) or $25 CAD (World), shipping included. Send funds to thrawsunblat@gmail.com.

The tracklist for Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings is as follows:

'Lifelore Revelation'
'Once Fireveined'
'We, The Torchbearers'
'Goose River (Mourners' March)'
'Bones in the Undertow'
'Wanderer on the Continent of Saplings'
'Maritime Shores'
'View of a Million Trees'
'Borea (Pyre of a Thousand Pine)'
'Elegy Across the Silence'
'Song of the Nihilist'
'I Am the Viator'
Violette has reprised his role as songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for the album, and enlisted Rae Amitay and Brendan Hayter to handle drums and bass respectively. The pair was chosen to complete the Woods of Ypres line-up for the band's European tour in support of Woods 5: Grey Skies And Electric Light. Unfortunately, the tragic passing of David Gold put an end to those plans, but drummer Rae Amitay says, "Thrawsunblat II is an incredibly special way for the three of us to create music together. It's an amazing project, and I'm honoured that Joel has chosen us to be a part of it."

Thrawsunblat II was recorded in July and August, in studios in both Canada and the United States.

The band's first official release - the Canada 2010 "demo" - is still available via BandCamp.com. Go to this location to check out audio samples and to purchase.

The tracklist is as follows:

'Black Sky'
'Set Us Ablaze'
'Misted Shores'
'Slake the Earth'
'Through the Ice'
'Fire Still Burns'
'She, Arboreal'
'Vastland'

THE RESISTANCE - the Swedish metal band featuring guitarists Jesper Strömblad and Glenn Ljungström (both ex-IN FLAMES), vocalist Marco Aro (ex-THE HAUNTED, FACEDOWN), drummer Chris Barkensjö (ex-KAAMOS, ex-GRAVE) and MINORA guitarist Claudio Oyarzo - will release their debut album, Scars, on May 10th in Europe, May 13th in the UK via earMusic and the 14th in North America by Eagle Rock imprint Armoury Records.

The new song 'To The Death' is currently streaming online at Gun Shy Assassin.

Check out a new video interview with Marco Aro and Chris Barkensjö talking about the new album below:
The 12-track album Scars is a pure reminiscence to the good old days of Swedish death metal back in the 1980s/1990s when berserk bands like ENTOMBED, GRAVE or DISMEMBER proved how insanely brutal and relentless, yet immensely captivating and technically adept extreme music can be. Well, apparently some established Swedish musicians did miss them, so they put things right: They brought back the old Swedish Death Metal.

“If you listen to Entombed's 'Left Hand Path' today, it still blows everything away. And it's over 20 years old,“ says Jesper Strömblad, main musical force behind Stockholm/Gothenburg based squad The Resistance, about an album classic that still gives him the shivers after all those years. He adds: “Just awesome death metal!”

Scars will be released on CD (as an elaborated digi-pack), on classic vinyl as well as a download. Scars is featuring brand new, never before released songs only.

Check out the artwork and tracklisting below:
Scars tracklist:
'Clearing The Slate'
'Your Demise'
'To The Death'
'Expand To Expire'
'Imperfected'
'I Bend - You Break'
'The Serpent King'
'Eye For An Eye'
'My Madness'
'Warmonger'
'Scars'
'(I Will) Die Alone'

The band recently unveiled the official lyric video for the new song 'The Serpent King' below:
For more details on The Resistance visit Facebook.

Spain's RISE TO FALL are streaming their new track, 'Diaries From The Gloom', online at this location.

'Diaries From The Gloom' was originally recorded to be included on the band's Defying The Gods album, but was eventually discarded.
In other news, Rise To Fall have the following live dates scheduled:

June
4 - City Pub - Kiev, Ukraine
5 - Churchill - Kharkiv, Ukraine
6 - TBA - Voronezh, Russia
7 - Oblaka - Lipetsk, Russia
8 - Relax - Moscow, Russia
9 - Ok - Ryazan, Russia
10 - 28 Street - Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
11 - TBA - Kazan, Russia
12 - Podval Club - Izhevsk, Russia
13 - Nirvana - Ekaterinburg, Russia
14 - TBA - Chelyabinsk, Russia
15 - TBA - Ufa, Russia
16 - TBA - Samara, Russia
17 - TBA - Saratov, Russia
18 - The Beatles Rock Bar - Volgograd, Russia
18 - Tochka Club - Rostov On Don, Russia

PTSD have released a lyric video for the track 'Event Horizon', featured on their new album, A Sense Of Decay, to be released on May 20th via My Kingdom Music. Watch the clip below:
A free download of 'Event Horizon' is available at this location.

A Sense Of Decay tracklisting:

'Event Horizon'
'A Reason To Die'
'Parasomnia'
'Staring The Stormwall'
'Suicide Attitude'
'A Sense Of Decay'
'Breathless'
'Solar Matter Loss'
'By A Thread'
'Heavy On My Heart' (Anastacia cover)
'...If?'
'Event Horizon' (Forgotten Sunrise rmx)

The album artwork can be seen below:
Recorded with the presence on drum of Marco Minnemann (KREATOR, NECROPHAGIST, EPHEL DUATH, etc.) and mixed and mastered by Jim Caruana (AEROSMITH, LENNY KRAVITZ), A Sense Of Decay will include a remix performed by Forgotten Sunrise and a cover of the ANASTACIA anthem 'Heavy On My Heart', performed with the new drummer Marco Lancs.

Watch the official album teaser below:
More on PTSD at this location.

Hungary's ANGERTEA have released a new video, for the Nr. 4: Songs Exhaled album cut, ' Lions’ Region'. Watch below:
An update from the band states: "After having won the Best Album Of 2012 title at the Hungarian Metal Awards, and having toured intensively in the Eastern-European region, we’re taking a bit of a break from September till March, as Angertea bass player Miguel is expecting his first child then. But we’re gonna work on two more videos during that time, and are planning a Western- European Tour for 2014!"
Angertea released Nr. 4: Songs Exhaled, their fourth full-length album, in September 2012 via Smash Fabric Records. The album was recorded at Black Hole Sound studio in Szeged with producer Gábor Vári.

Nr. 4: Songs Exhaled tracklisting:

'No Computation' (featuring Bill Gould)
'Demons Surfaced'
'V.'
'In Light Air'
'Decay'
'Lions' Region'
'A For Afrodita'
'Akråm'
'Meeting Satan On The Way To Personal Desertification' (featuring Tibor Rákos)
'Distance Of You'
Billy Gould from FAITH NO MORE makes a guest appearance on the release, on the track 'No Computation'. A lyric video for the track can be seen below:
The video for the track 'Meeting Satan On The Way To Personal Desertification' was shot last fall in Szentes, Hungary. Watch below:
The video for 'Demons Surfaced' is below:
More on Angertea at this location.

Northern Californian progressive metal instrumentalists ABNORMAL THOUGHT PATTERNS have revealed the album cover and the first track 'Velocity and Acceleration: Movement 5' off their forthcoming new album and Lifeforce Records debut Manipulation Under Anesthesia.

The track 'Velocity and Acceleration: Movement 5' can be heard below:
Manipulation Under Anesthesia artwork:
Manipulation Under Anesthesia release dates:
June 14th - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland
June 17th - Europe
June 25th - North America

Manipulation Under Anesthesia was mixed by Matt LaPlant (SIKTH, NONPOINT) and mastered by Alan Douches (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). Artwork by Erick "Wurm" Pollard.

Twin brothers Jasun (guitar) and Troy Tipton (bass) along with Mike Guy (drums) are the collective creative force behind Abnormal Thought Patterns. In 2008, Jasun wrote and recorded a 12-minute instrumental that would ultimately lead to the founding of this new instrumental band. Prior to forming this group, the trio was the backbone of prog-metal powerhouses ZERO HOUR, releasing five albums. This exactly is what the Californians are continuing with Abnormal Thought Patterns – but this time with instrumental music.
For more details visit Facebook.

Swedish metallers MEAN STREAK will release their third album, Trial By Fire, on June 14 via Black Lodge Records. Check out the artwork and tracklisting below:
Trial By Fire features:

'We Are One'
'Shine On'
'Thunderbolt'
'A Heartbeat Away'
'Bad Blood'
'Cast Away'
'Hangman's Daughter'
'Into The Night'
'Let Love Rain'
'Tunnel Vision'
'Saints Are Falling'
'Trial By Fire'
'The Fugetive' (Japan Bonus Only)
'Crimson Sky' (Acoustic Version Japan Only)

The official lyric video for 'Shine On' can be seen below:
The follow-up to 2011's Declaration Of War was produced by Thomas "Plec" Johansson, who has previously worked with DEGRADEAD and SOLUTION .45.

Mean Streak are:
Peter Andersson - bass
Andy La Guerin - vocals
Jonas Källsbäck - drums
Thomas Johansson - lead guitar
David Andersson - lead guitar
For more details visit Meanstreak.se.

British rockers VOODOO SIX have announce they will now release new album Songs To Invade Countries To' worldwide on May 27 via Universal Music, before embarking on the biggest tour of their career so far as main support to metal legends IRON MAIDEN on their European dates.

Songs To Invade Countries To consists of 11 tracks mixed by Tony Newton and Pedro Ferreira (THE DARKNESS, ENTER SHIKARI, THERAPY?) and mastered by Ade Emsley (IRON MAIDEN, STEVE HARRIS).

Voodoo Six will join Maiden in Portugal for their summer tour dates in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Poland and Sweden.

Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris comments: "I've been keeping an eye on Voodoo Six for a while now and they've produced a cracking new album with real promise. It's great to support true British up and coming talent such as theirs and it'll be a pleasure to have them out with us on tour."
Voodoo Six vocalist Luke Purdie adds: “This is a huge deal for us and an amazing opportunity to support arguably the most iconic band in metal history. We came up with the album title ‘Songs To Invade Countries To’ ages ago since we’ve been wanting to get our music across to European shores for a long time - but it’s been made a reality now that we’ve been chosen to support Iron Maiden on these dates. It’s going to be a very exciting year!”

Prior to their dates with Iron Maiden, Voodoo Six headline The Garage in London UK on May 9, the final date of their UK tour.
'Songs To Invade Countries To' tracklisting is as follows:

'Falling Knives'
'All That Glitters'
'Lead Me On'
'Sink Or Swim'
'You Don’t Know'
'Your Way'
'Sharp Sand'
'Stop'
'Brick Wall'
'Waiting In Line'
'Higher Ground'

Check out the 'Sink Or Swim' video below:
For more details visit Voodoosix.com.

According to the unofficial BLACK SABBATH web site Black-Sabbath.com, North American retailer Best Buy will carry a version of "13" — the first BLACK SABBATH record in 35 years to feature singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together — containing the exclusive bonus track "Naïveté In Black".

"13" is due out June 11 on Vertigo/Republic. This marks BLACK SABBATH's return to Vertigo, their original label, and the group's first studio album together since 1978's "Never Say Die!"

Details of the album's deluxe edition surfaced on April 19, with the band revealing that the eight-song effort will be accompanied by three bonus tracks called "Methademic", "Peace Of Mind" and "Pariah".

Several versions of "13" are available for pre-order, including a standard CD, a double CD that includes a second disc of exclusive bonus audio, a heavyweight vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve and a "Super Deluxe Box Set" containing the double CD, the vinyl album, an exclusive DVD documentary on the band's reunion, 13 photographic prints and hand-written lyrics.

"13" track listing:

01. End Of The Beginning (8:05)
02. God Is Dead? (8:52)
03. Loner (4:59)
04. Zeitgeist (4:37)
05. Age Of Reason (7:01)
06. Live Forever (4:46)
07. Damaged Soul (7:51)
08. Dear Father (7:20)

Deluxe-edition bonus tracks:

09. Methademic (5:57)
10. Peace Of Mind (3:40)
11. Pariah (5:34)
12. Naïveté In Black (Best Buy exclusive track)

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.

Scott Kara of The New Zealand Herald has written a track-by-track review of "13". Check it out at this location.

Regarding "End Of The Beginning", which SABBATH will perform on the season finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" on Wednesday, May 15 at 10:00 p.m. ET on CBS, Kara wrote: "The first thing you notice — apart from Tony Iommi's glorious, grinding guitar licks, and the brain-rattling bass and rumbling drums — is that unique SABBATH tempo. For any other band, it would sound plodding, but they somehow turn it into a fearsome lurch. While 'End Of The Beginning' is no 'War Pigs', it's an impressive epic that moves from foot-planting heaviness, to eerie tranquility, and then into one of Ozzy's tender serenades."

On the topic of "God Is Dead?", Kara wrote: "The first single off the album — which, at almost nine minutes and the longest on the record, isn't exactly radio friendly — comes creeping and crawling out of the speakers like a prowler. But then it rumbles and pummels its way to an early crescendo like a brawler. And you can't help but laugh and throw a cheeky heavy metal goat salute when Ozzy sings a line like, 'Out of the gloom, I rise up out of my tomb, into the impending doom.'"

Osbourne went on the BBC in England to discuss the band's new single, "God Is Dead?" and the inspiration behind the track. Ozzy explained, "I was in somebody's office and there was a magazine on a table and it just said, 'God Is Dead', and I suddenly thought about 9/11 and all these terrorist things and religion and how many people have died in the name of religion. When you think about the tragedy that's happened throughout time, it just came in my head. You'd think by now that their God would have stopped people dying in the name of, so I just starting thinking that people must be thinking, 'Where is God? God is dead' and it just hit me."

Ozzy added that the question mark at the end of the title is his way of showing that he's not sure about the answer himself, saying, "At the end of the thing, there's still a bit of hope because there I sing that I don't believe that God is dead. It's just a question of when you see so many dreadful people killing each other with bombs, and blowing the tube trains up and the World Trade Center."

Ozzy told an Australian radio station that "13" is "mind-blowing," adding, "It's better than my wildest dreams; it's so good."

SABBATH kicked off its world tour in support of "13" on April 20 in Auckland.

"Methademic" performance:

"Anomima", the fourth album from CHAOSTAR, the band led by SEPTICFLESH guitarist Christos Antoniou, can be streamed in its entirety using the widget below. The CD will be released on May 10 in Europe and May 14 in North America via Season Of Mist. The limited-edition version of the effort will come with a bonus DVD entitled "Anomimata".

"Anomima" track listing:

01. (Ma)
02. Un Pensiero Per Il Destino
03. Sorrow Descending
04. Medea
05. Dilate The Time
06. Les Réminiscences Extatiques
07. Truth Will Prevail
08. Beatiful Daughter
09. The Charmer
10. L'idée Fixe
11. Misery's King

"Anomima" features guest appearances by David Vincent (MORBID ANGEL) and Fernando Ribeiro (MOONSPELL).

The cover artwork was designed by Metastazis and can be seen below.

Commented Christos: "David narrates the prologue of the most vicious song on the album, shading his dark and imposing shadow over the band's music. I consider that cooperation as one of the most representative of CHAOSTAR's new work. A tragic heroine taken from the ancient Greek tragedies meets the devilish power of the unsurpassable voice of Mr. Vincent."

With regards to Ribeiro's involvement with the CD, Antoniou said, "His deep gothic voice will give a completely powerful atmosphere to a duet."

CHAOSTAR's current lineup is as follows:

Christos Antoniou: Composer/Synths
Androniki Skoula: Vocals
Fotis Benardo: Percussion
George Diamandopoulos: Traditional Instruments
Charalampos Paritsis: Electric Violin
John Thermos: Synths

After the independent release of their first record, "The Underworld" (2000), CHAOSTAR signed a deal with the French label Holy Records, which issued the "Chaostar" (2000), "Threnody" (2001) and "The Scarlet Queen" (2004) albums, as well as the compilation "Underworld" (2007).

When SEPTTICFLESH returned from a self-imposed creative break with their highly successful album "Communion" (2008) on Season Of Mist, Christos also revived CHAOSTAR and placed his trust in the same label.

Reactivated British extreme metal legends CARCASS recently recruited Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY) to mix their comeback album, "Surgical Steel", after the CD'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 last month's 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.

A photo of Sneap on the studio last week mixing "Surgical Steel" can be seen below. The band states: "[It's] sounding killer! Few little tweaks and it will be finished! We should be able to give you more info on a release date soon!"

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 new drummer Dan Wilding (ABORTED, TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) and guitarist Ben Ash (PIG IRON, DESOLATION, LIQUEFIED SKELETON).

CARCASS' first studio LP in 17 years, "Surgical Steel" is due in late 2013 via an as-yet-undetermined record label. The band's first studio outing since 1996's "Swansong" will feature guest vocals from original sticksman Ken Owen.

In a brand new 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.

Video footage of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS — the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (ex-FIREWIND) — performing on April 28 at the Toulouse Metal Party at Le Saint Des Seins in Toulouse, France can be seen below.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS eighth studio album, "Earth Blues", was released on April 16 (one day earlier internationally) via InsideOut Music.

"Earth Blues" track listing:

01. Wise As A Serpent
02. Turn The Tide
03. Sweet Magic Pain
04. Hello Sorrow
05. One Man's Curse
06. Dreamer
07. Too Old To Die Young
08. Kingmaker
09. Road To Madness
10. Dead End Town
11. Freedom Song
12. Legends Collapse

Amott previously stated about the new CD: "I had the idea for this artwork from my time as a child, seeing posters of two young lovers watching a romantic sunset on the beach — just your typical tacky bedroom art in the '70s, really... Also, growing up in what is now referred to with some nostalgia as the Atomic Age — the threat of nuclear war was always looming over our heads it seemed. I wanted to combine these two images of my youth in one paradoxical image and Per Wiberg of Hippograffix (and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS keyboardist) really managed to capture the melancholic feeling perfectly. Earth Blues, indeed."

Regarding the making of "Earth Blues", Amott said: "We started the recording process of 'Earth Blues' with an eight-day-long session at Fat Guitar Studios (Sweden) with knob-twiddler Roberth Ekholm, a truly great dude who really knows how to capture a band jamming live, sadly a rare quality in recording engineers nowadays! We continued with some overdubs at various studios in Sweden, and it's all come together super easy this time. Sonically, I think this might be our finest hour yet. It's a raw, heavy and honest record."

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2013 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar
Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - Drums
Per Wiberg (OPETH) - Keyboards
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) – Vocals

Multinational heavy metal band RAVEN LORD have announced the addition of bassist Craig Gruber. Gruber is best known for his work with bands like GARY MOORE, ELF, DIO and early RAINBOW and helped co-write BLACK SABBATH’s top selling album, Heaven And Hell, with RONNIE JAMES DIO on vocals.
Raven Lord are currently recording their second album, due to be released in 2014. The record will contain tracks from metal guitar virtuoso Joe Stump, combined with modern edge riffage by George Karafotis (aka G.K “The Kid”). This next album will also include unreleased material from Craig Gruber’s work with Black Sabbath and Rainbow.
Singer and songwriter Csaba Zvekan will also produce this second record very much in the same manner as Descent To The Underworld, which was released earlier this year.

Csaba Zvekan states: ”With a smile on my face I seem to go to bed at night only to wake up with the very same expression on my face. I am overjoyed and absolutely happy to work with one of the top notch bass players on this planet. It is much more than that as Craig Gruber has played this music style in all his bands and makes the perfect addition to Raven Lord. On top of the good news we are also using songs that didn’t make it on Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell or were songs from the Rainbow era. This is absolutely fantastic as we can give the fans an up to date version of some lost and found songs.”
Gruber comments on joining the band: “I am very pleased to announce I have been asked to join the newest premier metal band on Earth!! Raven Lord! I have accepted this great opportunity to work record, and tour as bassist starting early Spring 2013. I am looking forward to putting out some great new music this year alongside (Csaba Zvekan, Joe Stump, GK “The Kid”, Rich Smith and Alessandro Duo). We are writing the CD as we speak! Lets put it like this friends…The Rainbow/Dio/Black Sabbath fans are going to be happy once again!! Cheers, see you all at the shows this year!! The Rainbow shines on!”

In the latest edition for their video podcast Raven Lord TV, Csaba Zvekan with rhythm guitarist George Karafotis (aka G.K “The Kid”) talk about the recording sessions.

Watch below:
Raven Lord recently announced that they will be workin in close collaboration with R-Mine Productions. The Belgium based booking agency is known for their many summer festivals that they organise in Europe as well as tour planing for many bands. Raven Lord is already confirmed for the R-Mine Metalfest 2013 playing main stage Saturday, June 22nd. On later this year an EU/UK tour is in planning in early October 2013.
Csaba Zvekan comments on this venture: “The interest for Raven Lord has grown rapidly so I had to outsource even the booking part that I was doing myself before. The workload was simply getting too much work so I contacted Gianni Riga from R. Mine. I wanted a professional outfit who can handle and organise our tour and festivals with ease. I’m very confident we have great results with R-Mine Productions.”

Booking agent Alessia Menegatti from R-Mine Productions comments: “I am very pleased and honoured to work with these guys. They’re not just great and experienced musicians but also very cool and nice people. First album is amazing and the interest of medias, press and fans is growing amazingly fast. It’s a true revelation for all metal fans; also the bored ones! This band is setting sail to far destinations and I am glad to be on board!”

More on Raven Lord at this location.

DISTURBED guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren have launched a new project called FIGHT OR FLIGHT, with the band's debut album, "A Life By Design?", due out on July 23. The first single, "First Of The Last", will arrive at radio on May 21. In addition to Donegan and Wengren, the group features EVANS BLUE singer Dan Chandler, Sean Corcoran of RA on bass and Jeremy Jayson on guitar.

Donegan began writing songs on his own last year and approached Chandler about a possible collaboration. The two began emailing music to each other and getting together to write whenever Chandler was in Chicago, where Donegan lives, until they had enough material to record a full album.

In a brand new posting on the DISTURBED Facebook page, Donegan writes: "[I] just wanted to thank you all for taking the time to check out mine and Mike’s new side-project FIGHT OR FLIGHT! No, this does NOT mean the end of DISTURBED, as David [Draiman, DISTURBED singer] has also made that clear.

"We love you the fans that have given us this life and the outlet to express ourselves for many years now. This has just become another extension of us.

"I get it, I understand why some of you may be mad that we are all doing other things right now, but let me assure you that all of us are looking forward to the day we return as DISTURBED to show you how much you mean to us. But in the meantime, we are all focused and giving 110% to our individual projects.

"Whether you love it or hate it, we all pour our blood, sweat and tears into making music for us and the satisfaction we get from it. We hope you find a connection with it as well …

"Music has always been therapeutic for everyone. That’s why we do it. It makes me feel good and any worries go away. It brings me peace in my life and I cannot live without it.

"I look forward to hopefully seeing some familiar faces once we hit the road with FIGHT OR FLIGHT and then again with DISTURBED someday!"

Donegan told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he liked the idea of playing with other musicians. "This whole career with DISTURBED, I've always been jamming with the same people, which has been amazing. But I want to feel that I can actually, you know, just continue to expand and explore, you know, different paths as we progress, hopefully, in the future, maybe if there is another album from us."

Donegan said in a statement about the FIGHT OR FLIGHT album, "This is more hard rock. It's got edgy moments, but there's more melody across the board. We had the chance to experiment as well. There are acoustic guitars and some electronics even. It's different all around."

Dan Chandler has been the vocalist for EVANS BLUE since 2009, when he replaced original singer Kevin Matisyn. The band's most recent offering was 2012's "Graveyard Of Empires".

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman released the self-titled debut album from his new project, DEVICE, earlier this month. The record entered the Billboard album chart No. 11. The act, which also features members of DOPE and EVANESCENCE, is on tour now.

According to The Courier, collector Neil McDonald has loaned more AC/DC memorabilia to the Gateway to the Glens Museum in Kirriemuir, Scotland — late AC/DC singer Bon Scott's birthplace and home of his family in his early years.

Neil told The Courier: "In addition to the permanent Bon Scott display, the museum has decided to use one additional case for Bon Fest [the annual event paying homage to one of Kirriemuir's most famous sons]. Consequently, I have provided them with several more rare items of memorabilia — some of which I have never displayed before. These include an extremely rare reel-to-reel tape from 1979 of tracks from the then forthcoming album 'Highway To Hell', which was produced at Basing Street Studios in London.

"To promote the continuing legacy of Bon Scott, there are also a number of Bon-related items which have been produced since he died in 1980.

"Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend Bon Fest in person this year due to other commitments, but I am certain that both the existing exhibits and the new ones will generate considerable interest amongst Bon Scott and AC/DC fans alike."

Often regarded as the greatest frontman in the history of rock music, Bon Scott tragically died on February 19, 1980 but his memory lives through the music he created with AC/DC. From 1975's Australian album "High Voltage" to 1980's "Highway To Hell", Bon Scott and AC/DC were a global force to be reckoned with.

AC/DC formed in 1973 but it wasn't until the latter half of 1974 that Scottish-born singer Robert Belford Scott joined the fold. Scott would help take AC/DC to legendary heights of success. Although the bands success did not arrive quickly, they released a stream of stunning albums and were undoubtedly the most electrifying live rock band of the 1970s.

PALMS, the musical collaboration between DEFTONES vocalist Chino Moreno and former members of ISIS (Aaron Harris, Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide), will release its self-titled debut album on June 25 via Mike Patton's (FAITH NO MORE) Ipecac label.

A song from the CD, "Patagonia", can be streamed via Pitchfork.com.

The quartet has also announced its first tour dates: a four-date West Coast run this July, with stops in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and San Francisco:

July 10 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up Tavern
July 11 - Santa Ana CA - The Observatory
July 12 - Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
July 13 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s

Tickets for the shows are on sale as follows: Los Angeles on May 2, Orange County (Santa Ana) and San Diego on May 3 and San Francisco on May 5.

PALMS came together following the demise of ISIS, with Jeff Caxide (bass), Aaron Harris (drums) and Clifford Meyer (keyboards/guitar) electing to continue playing music together.

"After a little time, Jeff, Cliff, and I decided that it was insane that we all still lived here in Los Angeles and weren't playing together," Harris says. "It just sort of happened naturally, probably because we have been playing together for so long, and things started to come together. But we didn't want to be instrumental: We wanted vocals. We just weren't exactly sure who that would be at first." The band, knowing that Chino had been a fan of ISIS, thought he would be a great fit and he agreed.

"A chance to work with the guys from ISIS sounded like a lot of fun," Moreno says, "I've always been into the atmospheric sounds they had created with that project and felt my sense of melody would meld well with theirs."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, TOOL frontman Maynard James Keenan and drummer Danny Carey were interviewed this week by New Zealand publication Rip It Up, and naturally the subject of a new album came up. What did they have to say? Carey explained, "Maynard deals with the lyrical content. He's been pretty busy with his wine and other projects lately, but right now it's just Justin and Adam and I working on things and, you know, little bits and pieces, lots of musical things."

That sounds like very little progress has been made since TOOL's webmaster claimed to have heard about half an album's worth of music earlier this year.

Keenan was even more casual about the record's progress or lack thereof, talking more about balancing his other bands and his winemaking business.

He remarked, "Well, with the wine — it's attached — it's basically part of my house. And it's just my wife and I that work it . . . when I am working on any kind of music in terms of writing and recording, especially with PUSCIFER, it's right here . . . When it comes to writing with TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE, it's a whole different process and, uh, that requires a whole different set of patience."

TOOL has not released a new album since 2006's "10,000 Days".

Guitarist Adam Jones recently told Revolver magazine, "It's unfortunate that we haven't put anything out in a while, but you know, we've changed as a band . . . We've become even more eclectic and distant, so getting things done and getting together is very hard."

TOOL is playing in New Zealand, Australia and Japan during the first two weeks of May.