"Coal Chamber: The Complete Roadrunner Collection 1997-2003" was made available digitally in the U.S. last month and will be released in Europe both digitally and on CD at the end of May/early June. As the title implies, the collection features COAL CHAMBER's entire Roadrunner Records catalog:

* "Coal Chamber" (1997)
* "Chamber Music" (1999)
* "Dark Days" (2002)
* "Giving The Devil His Due" (2003)

COAL CHAMBER and SEVENDUST are currently taking part in a U.S. co-headlining tour. Also appearing on the bill is LACUNA COIL.

In a recent interview with the WGRD 97.9 FM radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, COAL CHAMBER frontman Dez Fafara (also of DEVILDRIVER) stated about theband's current status: "COAL CHAMBER, for me right now, is like a really fine woman, man. I've gotta re-date her — she's back in my life, I've gotta see how she is, and we've gotta take our time with each other. And that's what we're doing. And I think that's the important thing — we're doing it for the love of the music as well. There's a lot of people that never got to either see COAL CHAMBER live or haven't seen us in a long time due to the breakup.

"It's good to see [the other guys in the band] off hard drugs, man, and you can see their guys are crystal clear, and it makes me wanna do music with them again.

"Right now, with COAL CHAMBER, that's what we're doing — we're taking it slow. [Last September], they sent me some new tunes and said, 'Hey, would you ever think about doing a new record? Here's some new tunes.' And they were absolutely killer. They were moving forward with their sound, but yet you could tell it was COAL CHAMBER, but it wasn't so linear. So who knows what's gonna happen in the future, man? We're just playing it by ear at this point. I've got a lot going on right now, so we just have to really see."

Regarding why neither of the two former COAL CHAMBER bassists — Nadja Peulen or Rayna Foss — is involved in the band's reunion, Dez told Full Metal Jackie in a separate interview, "Rayna was not [asked to be a part of it]. Rayna has been out of the band for a very long time. We did speak to Nadja. She has other things going and it wasn't really in the headspace where we were at as a band. We found Chela; she's Canadian and she's a bad-ass player. She's been playing for nearly [15] years. She plays five-string and it's good to have her on bass. She grew up with COAL CHAMBER. Where Meegs and Mikey and I am right now, we're really excited so we needed someone that filled that excitement drawer and she did for sure; she's stoked."

COAL CHAMBER rose to prominence with a gold-certified debut album in 1997 that established the group as one of the most promising bands on the then-emerging, so-called "nu metal" scene.

Nadja Peulen replaced COAL CHAMBER bassist Rayna Foss Rose in 1999 during Rose's pregnancy for almost 12 months while the band was on the road supporting its second album, "Chamber Music". Rayna came back to the band after her pregnancy leave and recorded COAL CHAMBER's third album, "Dark Days". Shortly after recording "Dark Days", Rayna quit the band and Nadja was recruited for the touring cycle that followed the CD's release. The band broke up during the "Dark Days" tour in 2002.

Earlier this week, BUSH launched a North American tour with a sold-out show at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, Texas. The band's set included two brand-new songs, "This House Is On Fire" and "Loneliness Is A Killer", both recently written during sessions for their upcoming album, due out later this year. The U.S. tour will be followed by dates overseas, including shows in Russia, London and Vienna, among others.

BUSH (vocalist Gavin Rossdale, guitarist Chris Traynor, bassist Corey Britz, drummer Robin Goodridge) recently released "Live From Austin, Texas", an electrifying concert DVD featuring footage from an August 2011 sold-out show at Stubbs. The disc, also available on Blu-ray, features fan favorites "Machinehead", "Glycerine" and "Comedown" — along with new hits "All My Life", "The Afterlife" and "The Sound Of Winter".

BUSH made rock radio history with "The Sound of Winter", becoming the first band ever to hit No. 1 at Alternative Radio with a self-released single. The song appears on the group's most recent release, "The Sea Of Memories", which was the first BUSH disc to be released via the band's own imprint, Zuma Rock Records. "The Sound Of Winter" also holds the distinction of being the reunited group's first No. 1 single since 1999's chart-topping hit "The Chemicals Between Us".

Over the course of their career, BUSH has sold more than 16 million albums in the U.S. and Canada alone. They've also compiled an amazing string of 15 consecutive Top 40 hit singles on the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, including 11 that hit the Top 5. Five of these became No. 1 hits: "Comedown", "Glycerine", "Swallowed", "The Chemicals Between Us" and "The Sound Of Winter". In 2008, Rossdale returned to the top of the charts with his solo single, "Love Remains The Same", which hit No. 1 on iTunes and generated more than 1.6 million downloads.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will perform at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona tomorrow night as part of their trek with DANZIG which began on April 17. The short tour allows the trio a momentary break from work on the follow-up to 2012's self-titled album. The dates with DANZIG follow the band's recent festival appearance in Santiago, Chile; the band playing The Metal Fest alongside DOWN, TWISTED SISTER, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and others.

Vocalist/bassist Mike Dean comments: "We took time out from writing and recording to play Chile for the first time. We had a blast hanging out with DOWN. Of course, Pepper [Keenan, DOWN and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist, who is not part of the band's current lineup] played a couple of songs with us and I got to listen to Jimmy Bower and Pat Bruders sing EAGLES songs for the entire flight back to the States.

"We picked up some rented gear in Los Angeles and drove through the desert to start the DANZIG tour in Las Vegas. Things have been rolling since then and it has been really good travels. Denver and Albuquerque were particularly awesome. Austin was great too."

The band's current set includes a mix of new and old songs, including "Deliverance", "Priest Brains", "Strong Medicine Too Late", "Holier", "Mad World", "Hungry Child", "Technocracy", plus "Psychic Vampire", "Your Tomorrow" and "The Moneychangers" from their 2012 self-titled album. It merely taps the creative output of the legacy band that originally formed in 1982.

On the conclusion of the tour, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, consisting of guitarist Woody Weatherman, drummer Reed Mullin, with Dean, will return to the rehearsal room to pick up on the remaining songwriting and album work before hitting the recording studio. Dean confirms: "We have a lot of lyric writing to refine but a lot of solid musical arrangements in place. We plan to begin basic tracking for half the songs as soon as we return to North Carolina."

Continuing he notes: "During the recording of the 'Megalodon' EP (Scion A/V, 2012), we settled into a good style of collaboration with our longtime producer John Custer. The band, and myself in particular, get our hands dirty in creating the recording and this next round will be a continuation of that method. We actually can't wait to get back to work on the new songs."

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is a confirmed performer at the upcoming Scion Rock Fest, slated for June 1. This year's fest will include 32 artists performing at four separate venues around downtown Memphis.

Guitarist Chris Impellitteri (IMPELLITTERI, ANIMETAL USA) has posted his thoughts online regarding BLACK SABBATH's comeback single, 'God Is Dead?':

"Just heard the new Black Sabbath single. Great job Tony,Geezer, and Ozzy.

One of the coolest shows I have played was when Impellitteri got to share the headlining stage with Black Sabbath at a European festival. And although most people know me for shredding solos, Tony has definitely been a big influence on my rhythm playing. Here's to a successful album, dear Sabbath friends!"

Black Sabbath released the new digital single 'God Is Dead?' on April 19th. The track can be found on their upcoming album, 13, Black Sabbath's first album in 35 years to feature singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, and guitarist Tony Iommi.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE drummer Brad Wilk replaces Bill Ward behind the kit for 13.

Check out the near nine-minute 'God Is Dead?' streaming below:
13 was recorded primarily in Los Angeles and was produced by Rick Rubin (SLAYER, METALLICA). The album will be released on Vertigo (worldwide) and Vertigo/Republic in North America on June 13th.
13 clocks in at nearly 60 minutes and features the following tracks:

'End Of The Beginning' (8:07)
'God Is Dead?' (8:54)
'Loner' (5:06)
'Zeitgeist' (4:28)
'Age of Reason' (7:02)
'Live Forever' (4:49)
'Damaged Soul' (7:43)
'Dear Father' (7:06)
13 is available for pre-order on a variety of formats via BlackSabbath.com.

Options include:

- Standard CD album

- Deluxe double CD album in a deluxe soft-pack (includes a second disc of exclusive bonus audio material) as follows:

'End Of The Beginning' (8:07)
'God Is Dead?' (8:54)
'Loner' (5:06)
'Zeitgeist' (4:28)
'Age Of Reason' (7:02)
'Live Forever' (4:49)
'Damaged Soul' (7:43)
'Dear Father' (7:06)
'Methademic' (6:00)
'Peace of Mind' (3:43)
'Pariah' (5:35)

- Vinyl: a 12” heavyweight (180g) vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve

- Super Deluxe Box Set: a Limited edition 12” clamshell box set which contains: Deluxe double CD album, 12” heavyweight (180g) vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve, Exclusive DVD containing Black Sabbath--The Re-union documentary, plus 5 behind-the-scenes videos, Download card containing exclusive track by track interview with Black Sabbath, 13 exclusive photographic prints and hand written album lyrics.
Current Black Sabbath dates can be found here.

Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK SABBATH's April 25 concert in Brisbane, Australia can be seen below. Joining singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler on stage was Ozzy's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos, who also previously sat behind the kit for SABBATH's three shows last year: a warm-up gig in Birmingham, England, a headlining spot at the U.K.'s Download festival in June, and a second headlining set at Chicago's Lollapalooza in August.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. War Pigs
02. Into The Void
03. Under The Sun
04. Snowblind
05. Electric Funeral
06. Black Sabbath
07. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
08. N.I.B.
09. End Of The Beginning (new song)
10. Fairies Wear Boots
11. Symptom Of The Universe (intro only)
12. Drum Solo
13. Iron Man
14. God is Dead? (new song)
15. Dirty Women
16. Children Of The Grave

Encore:

17. Paranoid

"13", the first BLACK SABBATH record in 35 years to feature Osbourne, Iommi and Butler all playing together, 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 Friday (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.

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.

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 Saturday (April 20) in Auckland.

"Ride The Void", the new video from Southern California traditional metallers HOLY GRAIL, can be seen below. The song is the title track of the band's sophomore album, which sold around 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 9 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.

Released in Europe on January 18 via Nuclear Blast Records and in North America on January 22 through Prosthetic Records, "Ride The Void" was made available as a limited CD version including a bonus track, a black 2LP version and a strictly limited clear 2LP version. The follow-up to 2010's "Crisis In Utopia" was recorded with producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED, CHILDREN OF BODOM) throughout the year, working around national tours with DRAGONFORCE and VALIENT THORR. The cover artwork was created by famous American digital matte artist Dylan Cole, who is well-known for his work on movies like "The Lord Of The Rings", "Avatar" and "Daredevil".

"Ride The Void" track listing:

01. Archeus
02. Bestia Triumphans
03. Dark Passenger
04. Bleeding Stone
05. Ride The Void
06. Too Decayed To Wait
07. Crosswinds
08. Take It To The Grave
09. Sleep Of Virtue
10. Silence The Scream
11. The Great Artifice
12. Wake Me When It's Over
13. Rains Of Sorrow
14. Can't Hide The Wolf (bonus track)

HOLY GRAIL has just completed the the Metal Alliance tour with ANTHRAX, EXODUS, HIGH ON FIRE and MUNICIPAL WASTE.

Former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist and current NEWSTED frontman Jason Newsted has uploaded a new 12-minute video clip in which he answers a number of fan-submitted questions. Check it out below.

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

NEWSTED has just completed recording its first full-length album, to be released later this year. NEWSTED began mixing the effort last week, with more details to be announced soon.

Mushok had said earlier when he joined the group, "I loved the old-school vibe of [NEWSTED's] 'Metal' EP, and when we got together to jam, it really felt great. STAIND is taking a break for a while, so when Jason asked if I was interested in joining them to record an album and play on the upcoming tour, it was perfect timing. All I could say was, 'Hell yeah! I'm totally down for this.'"

Newsted himself told ARTISTdirect.com about Mushok: "Before we even played, I knew he was the dude. For the first five or ten minutes, we were just hanging around. Sense of humor-wise, professionally, clear-eyed, hardworking and determined — he was all of those things. It was like check, check, check. That's what I do and he does. Nobody is stupid drunk or on drugs or any of that retarded shit. Every night we have dinner together. We'll drink a bottle of wine together. We have our fun, but we choose our time for it. We'll get a good one on, but we take our music very seriously. Once Mike started playing with us, it was on. It didn't take long at all. He makes the heavy music heavier. I didn't think that was possible. Because he plays seven-string, baritone, and all of these fucking psycho tunings, he reminds me so much of Piggy [VOIVOD] in so many ways. We set up for the auditions so we could see each other when we jam. That way we could communicate and fucking rock 'n' roll. I watched him, and I was like, "Oh my God!" With the way he was swinging his head and playing all of those psycho chords, he reminded me of Piggy. I miss Piggy so much. He was a great teacher and friend. He was taken way too fucking early. Mike brings that color and flavor. He knew the songs right away. He puts some great energy into the new songs. It's fucking amazing. There's no weak link on this stage."

"Metal" sold around 6,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 62 on The Billboard 200 chart.

NEWSTED is:

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

"The Evangelist", the new video from Swedish epic doom metallers MEMORY GARDEN, can be seen below. The clip was filmed and directed by Ronny Hemlin of ProVid Flm & Sound.

Says the band: "We spent one day in February recording the video for 'The Evangelist'. It was all shot in a chapel, which fit both the song and MEMORY GARDEN like a glove. The video contains two parallel stories, one with the band playing in the chapel and one where you can follow 'The Evangelist' and his flock of sheeps."

"The Evangelist" comes off MEMORY GARDEN's fifth album, "Doomain", which was released on April 15 in Europe and April 16 in North America via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Annoying Sound Factory and SolnaSound Recording by the bandmembers themselves, with a little engineering assistance from Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND) during the lead guitar sessions. The mix was handled by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound studios in Örebro, Sweden.

"Doomain" track listing:

01. The Evangelist
02. Latent Lunacy
03. Daughters Of The Sea
04. Barren Lands
05. Violate & Create
06. Doomain
07. The King Of The Dead
08. A Diabolical Mind
09. Misfortune

Comments the band: "The recording of 'Doomain' must be the most relaxed album session we've ever done.

"We recorded most of the album ourselves in our own studio and took the time we wanted and needed to get it done. Dan Swanö helped us getting the rig together and he provided us with the tools to do it and from there we did it ourselves. The lead guitar sessions were done at SolnaSound Recording by Simon and Mike Wead. When it all was done, it was sent to Dan Swanö and Unisound for mix and mastering. The final album is amazing and we are so thrilled to get it out to all of you"

Regarding the CD title, the group states: "We wanted a short and effective title to this album. It's a little game of words referring to the style of music we play 'doom metal' and the actual word 'domain.'

"We see this album as a statement of what MEMORY GARDEN stands for music-wise and this album is certainly down our alley, it's in our Doomain."

MEMORY GARDEN was formed in 1992 in Sweden and has since then released four albums, two of them under the flag of Metal Blade Records ("Verdict Of Posterity" in 1998 and "Mirage" in 2000).

MEMORY GARDEN is:

Stefan Berglund - Vocals
Simon Johansson - Lead Guitar
Andreas Mäkelä - Guitars
Johan Fredrikson - Bass
Tom Björn - Drums

"The Evangelist" video:

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for SKID ROW's new EP, "United World Rebellion - Chapter One", can be seen below.

"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" sold around 1,500 copies in the Unted States in its first week of release. Released in North America on April 16 via MRI, the effort is the first in a series of EPs that the reincarnated band — Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass), Scotti Hill (guitar), Johnny Solinger (vocals) and Rob Hammersmith (drums) — plans to release in the near future.

"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" reignites the youthful energy and blistering sound that SKID ROW is recognized for around the world. "That sound and energy is what resonates with people and knocks them on their ass," says Hammersmith. "We had a lot of great ideas to work with, so we're all really excited about this new music."

SKID ROW's rebellious tunes hit the big time in the late 1980s. However, after several Top Ten singles, gold and multi-platinum sales, No. 1 Billboard-charting tracks and more, the band split in 1996. In 2000, to the delight of fans everywhere, SKID ROW reformed and returned to the stage to open for KISS. They then released two new musical offerings in the form of 2003's "ThickSkin" and 2006's "Revolutions Per Minute" with new singer Johnny Solinger out front. Seven years later, the band is back again with new music, ready to take over in the new age of heavy metal.

"When we put the band back together, we needed to reintroduce SKID ROW as relevant without relying too much on past success," explains Bolan. "We sunk our heart and soul into it, letting people know we weren't doing it for lack of nothing better to do."

For the new EP series, Bolan and Sabo tapped again into the potent songwriting collaboration that built SKID ROW. Sabo says they were eagerly up to the challenge. "We seem to be at our best when we're faced with adversity. It's us against the world again — and by us I mean the band and the fans who stick with us and carry the SKID ROW torch without fail."

"The idea [of releasing EPs] really appealed to me," adds Bolan, "Especially with the constantly changing musical climate. I like the idea of a steady flow of new music, as opposed to releasing a full-length album then riding it for the next two years."

And although striving to reintroduce themselves and try something different, these boys are still strong in their roots. They got older, but SKID ROW never really grew up. "United World Rebellion" is still the youth gone wild, their musical spark still burning gasoline.

"I will always be that 16-year-old kid in front of the mirror, pretending to be Ace Frehley or Michael Schenker," admits Sabo. "It's still about writing a great song with your friend, praying it connects with someone. That has never left me. That willfulness will always exist, and there's so much left to say!"

"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" track listing:

01. Kings Of Demolition
02. Let's Go
03. This Is Killing Me
04. Get Up
05. Stiches

"United World Rebellion - Chapter One" will be released in Europe at the end of May via Germany's UDR Music. The European version of the EP will include two bonus tracks, both of them cover tunes. "I won't say what they are," guitarist Scotti Hill told Eyes From The Mosh Pit. "One of them you'll know very well and one of them you may have to go back into the archives… [It's] a little more obscure. But it's really cool."

The official lyric video for the song "Indoctrinate" from New York death metal veterans IMMOLATION can be seen below. The track comes off the band's ninth full-length album, "Kingdom Of Conspiracy", which will be released on May 14 in North America, both digitally and physically, via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Majesty And Decay" was recorded at Sound Studios in Millbrook, New York with longtime producer Paul Orofino, and mixed and mastered once again by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH, SUFFOCATION).

The "Kingdom Of Conspiracy" cover imagery was brought to life this time by Pär Olofsson, who has previously worked with IMMORTAL, THE FACELESS and ABYSMAL DAWN, among others.

"The figures in the artwork have all been bound and chained and have their eyes and mouths sewn shut symbolically, showing the chilling of speech and the intentional blinding of the masses," explains IMMOLATION guitarist Robert Vigna. "They all make up the huge ominous structure behind them, which is symbolic of the growing security state as well as our failing structures today, and how they are slowly and methodically consuming and controlling us all. It has a very Orwellian feel to it, which is what we were going for since the album is very dark in a slightly different way."

In regards to "Kingdom Of Conspiracy"'s lyrical content, Vigna says: "The album deals with the world today and the slow unraveling and breakdown of our societies and the systems and structures behind them. It speaks of the human side to all this and how we have all lost our way and have fed into these very systems that are slowly coming apart. This is the common thread running throughout the album and the cover paints a very dark picture of the future, where these systems have completely absorbed our world, and our freedoms and we have become a part of the very fabric of these structures that we have created. Each song is a symptom of this mass sickness that has brought the world to the point it is at now, and we paint a very bleak picture of this slow and gradual breakdown and the human failures that sped this process along. This is the 'Kingdom Of Conspiracy'."

"Kingdom Of Conspiracy" track listing:

01. Echoes Of Despair
02. Keep The Silence
03. Kingdom Of Conspiracy
04. Serving Divinity
05. The Great Sleep
06. Indoctrinate
07. A Spectacle of Lies
08. God Complex
09. Bound To Order
10. All That Awaits

For photos of the band in the studio, click here.

Catch the band on the Decibel Magazine Tour this spring with CANNIBAL CORPSE and NAPALM DEATH.

"Majesty And Decay", was released in March 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD sold around 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 29 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.

U.K. thrashers XENTRIX played their first show in almost seven years onApril 14 at the Moses Gate in Bolton, England. More video footage of the concert can be seen below.

XENTRIX has returned to action with a handful of live dates as special guests for KREATOR and EVILE in April as well as the promise of new material!

The band have had numerous offers to reform over the years but original singer Chris Astley always declined and as guitarist Kristian Harvard states "without him, it wasn't really XENTRIX." Astley has since had a change of heart and the promise of recording new material has prompted him to return to the fold and bring back one of the U.K.'s best-loved thrash bands.

Originally thrust into the public eye in the late '80s after their demo received a five-K review in Kerrang!, which in turn caught the attention Roadrunner Records, XENTRIX soon found themselves in the studio making "Shattered Existence".

Of course, their now-infamous cover of "Ghostbusters" remains a firm favorite with fans old and new as does the band's phenomenal second album, "For Whose Advantage?", which is regarded as a bonafide thrash classic.

The band went onto enjoy a short-but-successful career that saw them share stages with SLAYER, TESTAMENT, SEPULTURA, ANNIHILATOR, SABBAT, TANKARD and SKYCLAD before calling it a day in 1996, having become disillusioned with the U.K. metal scene.

XENTRIX previously reunited with their original lineup in 2006 for a two gigs in their home country.

XENTRIX released four albums on Roadrunner Records: "Shattered Existence" (1989), "For Whose Advantage" (1990), "Dilute to Taste" (1991) and "Kin" (1992). They also issued "Scourge" (1996) on Heavy Metal Records with Simon Gordon on vocals and Andy Rudd on guitar.

Caleb Smith of New Zealand's "The Sick Room" radio recently conducted an interview with Chris Astley. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

Performance:

The Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE hit the road earlier in the month to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band's epic 1988 release, "Operation: Mindcrime", performing all fifteen songs from the album along with other well-known hits and rarities from the catalog they've compiled over the past 30 years.

Fan-filmed video footage of last night's (Wednesday, April 24) concert at Club Emo's in Austin, Texas can be seen below.

The setlist for the show was as follows:

01. I Remember Now
02. Anarchy-X
03. Revolution Calling
04. Operation: Mindcrime
05. Speak
06. Drum Solo
07. Spreading The Disease
08. The Mission
09. Suite Sister Mary
10. The Needle Lies
11. Electric Requiem
12. Breaking The Silence
13. I Don't Believe In Love
14. Waiting For 22
15. My Empty Room
16. Eyes Of A Stranger

Encore:

17. Silent Lucidity
18. Best I Can
19. I'm American
20. Jet City Woman
21. Neon Knights (BLACK SABBATH cover)
22. Empire

Although a lineup for Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed. The band now features Tate along with bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT), guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and new additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).

Deadline Music/Cleopatra Records recently released "Cold", the new single from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, via iTunes. The track, which was mixed by Anthony Focx (NEWSTED, AEROSMITH, NIGHT RANGER, TED NUGENT), will also be released as a special limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single with a newly recorded version of the QUEENSRŸCHE classic "Silent Lucidity" — mixed by Jürgen Engler (DORO, DIE KRUPPS) — on the B-side.

"Cold" comes off QUEENSRŸCHE's new album, "Frequency Unknown", which was released on April 23 via Deadline Music/Cleopatra. The CD was produced by Jason Slater at a studio in Northern California.

"Frequency Unknown" is packaged with bonus tracks — four QUEENSRŸCHE classics, newly recorded, including the smash hit single "Silent Lucidity". Guest musicians on the CD include K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST), Chris Poland (MEGADETH), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS), Lita Ford, Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER), Dave Meniketti (Y&T) and Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN).

Algy Ward, founder and frontman of British metal legands TANK, will release "the definitive" new TANK album entitled "Breath Of The Pit", on June 3 via 4Worlds Media. The CD will feature 10 brand new recordings that "will blow your face off in true filth hounds tradition," according to a press release. Algy himself produced the effort, which is being described as "a real TANK album for genuine TANK fans."

"Breath Of The Pit" track listing:

01. Breath Of The Pit
02. T-34
03. Kill Or Be Killed
04. Healing The Wounds Of War
05. Stalingrad (Time Is Blood)
06. Victim
07. Crawl Back Into Your Hole
08. Retribution
09. Conflict Primeval
10. Circle Of Willis

All songs were written, played and shouted by Ward. The CD was engineered and recorded by Ward and Guy Denning at the Tankroom Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England and The Granary Lamberhurst, Kent, England. The album was mixed and produced by Ward and Denning. Mastered duties were handled by Tim Turan.

Algy's TANK is not to be confused with the other version of the band — featuring Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans on guitar alongside ex-RAINBOW/YNGWIE MALMSTEEN frontman Doogie White and ex-BRUCE DICKINSON bassist Chris Dale and former HELLOWEEN drummer Mark Cross — which released a new DVD, "War Machine Live", last December in the USA through MVD. The set, which came out in Europe in November via Metal Mind Productions, features live performances filmed on March 9, 2012 at Stodola in Warsaw, Poland and August 10, 2011 at Metal Hammer Festival in Katowice, Poland, plus band interviews, on-the-road footage and the promotional video for "War Nation", the title track of the band's most recent studio album.

In a 2009 statement to Classic Rock magazine, Ward slammed his former bandmates for taking a version of the band out on the road in Europe without him. He said: "I wish the loyal TANK fans around the world to know that the band playing various European festivals under the name of 'TANK' do so without my consent.

"The band name TANK, associated logos and images are my sole intellectual property and copyright.

"I am currently unable to perform live due to poor health but continue to write and record."

The official lyric video for "Underworld", a brand new song from British thrashers EVILE, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's fourth album, "Skull", which will be released on May 27 in Europe on Earache Records and in North America via Century Media/Earache Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Five Serpent's Teeth" was once again recorded with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR) at Parlour Studios in Kettering, England. The artwork for the album was painted by artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, SODOM, HATEBREED).

Commented EVILE frontman Matt Drake: "We are proud to release the first full track from our upcoming album, 'Skull', for you to wrap your ears around. Hopefully this gives you a good idea of what's in store for you all come May 27th.

"'Underworld' is a title I've wanted to use for a very long time but hadn't found the right song for it; it's named after the venue in London of the same name as it's been one of my favorite places to play for years now. The song itself isn't directly about the venue, but it's definitely dedicated to it. The song is inspired by a short sci-fi story I read about the earth's surface becoming uninhabitable and people being forced to live deep underground. It ties in to one of the overall themes of the album which is about things being hidden, be it thoughts, feelings, motivations or truths. At the same time it's about something else but I don't want to give everything away all at once; it's better if you make up your own mind!

"Hope you enjoy what you hear and we will see you in a few days time with the mighty KREATOR where we will be playing new songs for the first time. See you there!!"

As previously reported, EVILE celebrated this year's Record Store Day by releasing a split seven-inch picture disc vinyl with Swedish death metal legends ENTOMBED.

The limited-edition release features ENTOMBED's classic 1990 track, "Drowned", along with EVILE's 2012 cover version, available on vinyl for the first time. The seven-inch was available in independent record stores on April 20 in strictly limited quantities.

Finnish hard rockers RECKLESS LOVE will release a new single, "Night On Fire", on April 26. The accompanying music video can be seen below. The song is taken from the flamboyant Finns' upcoming third album, which goes "from sleaze to cheese," according to guitarist Pepe.

RECKLESS LOVE's second album, "Animal Attraction", was released in October 2011 in Finland via Universal Music.

RECKLESS LOVE plays exceptionally good rock n' roll. With its rousing and joyful attitude, the band offers a true alternative for today's rock scene where everything seems too dull, dark and serious. RECKLESS LOVE's formula is simple; big hard rock just for the fun of it!

The band was founded in 2001 and started to gradually gain underground reputation as an energetic live act. Eight years of small-scale touring, two lineup changes and four demos later, the group finally took its current form and found its own recognizable sound.

Swiss grindcore squad MUMAKIL is preparing to expel an exceptionally punishing grindcore album of monstrous proportions with their recently completed third LP, "Flies Will Starve", nearing deployment late this spring.

Since 2004, the destructive MUMAKIL has infiltrated the grind circuit with a blasting whirlwind approach, through an arsenal of demos and D.I.Y. releases, splits with the likes of BLOCKHEADS, THIRD DEGREE and MISERY INDEX, and two previous LPs, the latter of which, "Behold The Failure", was also released via Relapse in 2009 following their split seven-inch single with INHUME on the label's cult Slimewave seven-inch series in 2007. Touring across Europe, Cuba and beyond has also helped fuel the fires in the engines of this death machine, also taking them to festivals including several installments of Obscene Extreme and more.

Recorded by the bandmembers themselves at Terrier 5 Studio in Geneva, the MUMAKIL faction's first album in four years, "Flies Will Starve" will devastate listeners with twenty-four tracks of precision grindcore teetering on the edge of insanity in the vein of BIRDFLESH, MISERY INDEX, ANTIGAMA and KILL THE CLIENT. The oppressive percussion only lets up to build-up to the next blinding blast, the strings jackhammering forth the band's most death-influenced riffing yet and of course the razorchoked vocal bloodbath is nothing short of nauseatingly awesome.

Relapse will dispense "Flies Will Starve" on CD, LP and digitally on June 25 in North America, preceded by its release June 21 in Germany/Benelux/Finland and June 24 in the U.K. and abroad, in conjunction with new bursts of touring across Europe, Canada and beyond over the coming months.

The carnage-heavy cover art for "Flies Will Starve" was conceived by Remy Cuveillier of Headsplit Design.

"Flies Will Starve" track listing:

01. Death From Below
02. Dawn Of Slugs
03. War Therapist
04. Fucktards Parade
05. Built Of Lies
06. Shit Reminders
07. Designed To Fail
08. Get Exorcised
09. Fresh Meat For The Grinder
10. Repudiate
11. Army Of Freaks
12. Hailing Regression
13. Cockroaches
14. Wrong Turn
15. Let The World Burn
16. Piss Off (Part 2)
17. Waste By Definition
18. Unfair For Whom?
19. Bring Them To Ruin
20. Begging For The Obvious
21. Redline
22. Blind Disciples
23. Betrayer
24. Behind The Mask

Boston thrashers RAMMING SPEED — who are currently on tour with GOATWHORE and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD — will release their Prosthetic Records debut, "Doomed To Destroy, Destined To Die", in North America on June 25. More details on the CD, recorded with Kurt Ballou (HIGH ON FIRE, CONVERGE, KVELERTAK) at GodCity Studio, will be released shortly.

The album's track listing is as follows:

01. Doomed To Destroy, Destined To Die
02. Anticipating Failure
03. Grinding Dissent
04. Gorgon's Eye
05. Cretins And Cowards
06. Anthems Of Despair (Summer Jam)
07. Ashes
08. Minisitry Of Truth
09. The Rhetoric Of Hate And Other Examples Of Wildly Unchecked Ignorance
10. Extinction Event
11. Under The Monolith
12. Hollow Giants
13. Dead Flags

Described as "one of the hardest-working bands in heavy metal" (Noisecreep) and "the perfect blend of thrash, punk and light-hearted enthusiasm" (Lambgoat), RAMMING SPEED will tour this summer with VALIENT THORR and GYPSYHAWK.

New York hard rockers BLACK WATER RISING will release their as-yet-untitled sophomore album in July. The follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed self-titled debut is described in a press release as "another honest, barebones, no frills rock album.

"The recipe is the same as the first. I didn't deviate from what I believe BLACK WATER RISING music to be, I didn't set out to grow or mature," says frontman Rob Traynor.

"I feel this new album is not much of a departure from the first, and I believe that's a good thing. Besides, I don't think fans would want it any other way. I'm still writing from the same place I was writing from before, I'm still the same guy... for better or for worse. We're still the same band, with the addition of a killer new guitarist, Dennis Kimak, who joined us after the departure of our original guitarist Johnny."

The first single from the new album, "Show No Mercy", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

BLACK WATER RISING was formed from the ashes of various national touring acts. After releasing two albums with a band called DUST TO DUST, Traynor locked himself away in his Brooklyn, New York recording studio, later emerging with a collection of songs that would become the seeds of BLACK WATER RISING's debut album. Traynor was soon joined by former BOILER ROOM drummer Mike Meselsohn, former STEREOMUD guitarist Johnny Fattoruso and bassist Oddie McLaughlin and they would unleash their self-titled debut album on March 2, 2010.

Invigorated and eager to capitalize on the success of their debut album, the band's new material promises to be riff-heavy and proudly anchored in the foundations of traditional hard rock and metal songwriting, with hooks and catchy choruses to pull you in. New songs like "Show No Mercy", "Pissed And Driven", "Last Man Standing" and "Fire It Up" combine the band's love of THIN LIZZY and JUDAS PRIEST with the sonic stomp of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, all while retaining a musical identity of their own.

BLACK WATER RISING is:

Rob Traynor - Vocals, Guitar
Dennis Kimak - Guitar
Mike Meselsohn - Drums
Oddie McLaughlin - Bass

Danish/American hard rockers ROYAL HUNT have extended their contracts with Frontiers Records and Marquee/Avalon in order to include a brand new studio album, which is expected to be released in October/November this year.

Frontiers Records released ROYAL HUNT's new box set, "20th Anniversary - Special Edition", on November 23m 2012 in Europe and January 21, 2013 in North America.

After the highly successful 20th-aniversary tour in support of ROYAL HUNT's latest album, "Show Me How To Live", ROYAL HUNT decided to celebrate the occasion with this very special "best-of" package containing three CDs and one DVD. The release includes the best ROYAL HUNT songs from all 11 albums, a brand new song plus three newly recorded acoustic versions of three additional tracks and a DVD featuring all the promotional video clips shot by the band during their long ride.

Jack Mehoff of the Colorado Springs, Colorado radio station 94.3 KILO recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below. A transcript of the interview follows.

Jack Mehoff: Tell me a little bit about the new record, because I'm excited for that.

Dave Mustaine: Well, this is our second record since [bassist] David Ellefson's returned. It's our second record with [producer] Johnny K. This is the second round of songs that I've worked with [drummer] Shawn Drover [on], and [guitarist] Chris Broderick actually has some songwriting on this record. I think "Super Collider" probably is gonna be one of our best records. And there's only been one other time in my career I felt like every single thing was in its place and that was "Countdown To Extinction". Because, you know, whenever you do a record, you always… you know where the squeak is and, you know, I remember listening to digital version of a LED ZEPPELIN live song — I think it was "The Lemon Song" or something — and you could hear the pedal, the kick pedal squeaking. So, you know, there's always gonna be something you can hear, and with "Countdown", you know, it was perfect. Every single thing was perfect. And this is the first record I've done since then why I'm absolutely 100 percent confident and satisfied with everything on the record.

Jack Mehoff: What was the process for this? Like from start to finish. You just start demoing songs? Everybody throws an idea in the hat? How was this different as recording in the past?

Dave Mustaine: You know, it was kind of like building a bridge from one side of a bay over to the other with no support in the middle, just going for it. And the velocity of the construction of the record — we were so busy with the whole, you know, recording of the record. I was songwriting as we went, that, you know, it was almost like I didn't look down to see that we were out over the middle of the ocean and, you know, so I think sometimes when you see those old pictures of the ironworkers in New York on the skyscrapers when they're up there eating their lunches and stuff with no restraints or no safety devices, you kind of ask yourself, "Man, those guys were superhuman back then."

Jack Mehoff: Now after you and I are done talking, I'm going to debut to the whole wide world "Super Collider". What can you tell me about "Super Collider" and your love behind that song?

Dave Mustaine: That song itself is a little bit of an older chord progression and I was listening through some old riffs from a while ago and found that song, added a couple of little pieces to it to make it… to complete the song, and before you knew it, the song was done. I was really excited about it. And, you know, sometimes when you're writing a song, you know, you find yourself having to scratch your head and come up with parts and stuff like that. And this was one of those songs that when it was done it was kind of like, "Oh, wow, it's done." That's only happened a couple other times in my career. It happened with "In My Darkest Hour". I sat down and I wrote that all in one fell swoop. And then the song "Use The Man", because I had just gone over to a friend of mine who was running a halfway house at the time and some guy just got out of prison and went and scored heroin and shot up and died there that day.

Jack Mehoff: Wow. That's some kind of inspiration there, man.

Dave Mustaine: Sometimes there's really crazy inspiration for songs that makes them come out of the blue.

Jack Mehoff: Dave Mustaine, you have had quite the illustrious, long career and I imagine that comes with many, many memories. From all these years, I'm sure it's hard to pinpoint just one or a few, but what moment in your career where you looked around and thought, "You know, this is [bleep] awesome."

Dave Mustaine: You know I've gotta tell you right now, I'm probably experiencing the most looking around right now. There's been a lot of stuff that's happened recently that was almost like a metaphorical completing of a circle, so to speak. You know, like the thirtieth anniversary with my previous band [METALLICA] and going and playing with them again. You know, I don't think anybody ever thought that was gonna happen. And then, you know, we're doing "Big Four" dates and the next thing you know I'm up there playing with my old band again. And it did a lot of healing for me. You know, there was a time where I really was wanting to do that again and now that I've done it it's out of my system and I'm great. I'm ready to move on. And I think that, you know, as you grow up you don't necessarily have to grow old. But as you grow up you start to really appreciate things more in life. Like I appreciate live radio personalities so much more than some of the stuff that's on the Internet where it's all taped.

Jack Mehoff: Well, hell man, it's hard to find live people on the radio anymore. I appreciate live radio personalities as well.

Dave Mustaine: Of course you do.

Jack Mehoff: Oh, this is actually a very big deal for me, man. Not to date myself but when I was ten years old, not allowed to purchase heavy metal or rock and roll, I have a distinct memory of me holding a boom box up to "Headbangers Ball" and recording onto tape MEGADETH songs. And, so many years later I appreciate you taking the time and talking to me.

Dave Mustaine: Oh, wow. That's a great story. You know it's funny how they used to control the things that young kids would get and just kind of protect people more. And nowadays it's such a different place. You know, you can hear any kind of music. There's not any kind of restrictions. And I kind of think that in a way that, you know, certain types of music, you know, the songwriter has a responsibility to what they say to their fans and stuff. You know, I've always been provocative in my lyrics, but I've never really tried to promote, you know, any kind of harm to anybody or any kind of hatred towards anyone's belief system or another. You know, it's always been about trying to instill some kind of sense of self-worth and to spur on creative thinking. I think that it's really cool to question stuff and just to find out, you know, "Hey, am I right here or am I wrong here?" Because if I was wrong about something I would certainly want to know.

Jack Mehoff: With a new album, "Super Collider", coming out Dave Mustaine, what are your plans for the summer?

Dave Mustaine: Well, we have — obviously, we've announced our IRON MAIDEN dates at the end of the summer here in the States. Gigantour's gonna be coming up. It's a great lineup this year. I was talking earlier with some of your brethren and had mentioned that David Draiman [DISTURBED, DEVICE] had appeared on the record with me and that we hit it off well enough that I asked him if, you know, he wanted to be part of Gigantour this year. So he's the first band that we're actually saying who's on there. We have everybody confirmed but we're kind of holding back and just kind of teasing our fans and stuff to have fun with them. After that we're gonna be going to South America with another huge legendary band and, of course, you know, next month we leave for Europe for a month of dates over there.

Jack Mehoff: That's exciting. That's a good year, man.

Dave Mustaine: Yeah, very busy. Very busy.

Jack Mehoff: That's good.

Dave Mustaine: And then next year I've got my debut with the San Diego Symphony which is gonna be totally killer.

Jack Mehoff: I'm not aware of this. What exactly is that?

Dave Mustaine: Well, you know, there's all kinds of classical songs that are really kind of scary kind of things. Like the "Ride Of The Valkyries" and, you know, "Fantasia", that one song "Night On Bald Mountain" and, you know the "Hall Of The Mountain King" and certain songs like that that are, you know, they're really creepy songs. And I said that I would love to do Dave Mustaine interprets the dark classical ditties, something like that. And we talked with the San Diego Symphony and a friend of mine runs the San Diego Opera and she talked to them and they were all about it. And we went down there and met the maestro and Jahja Ling, whatever his name is. I can't pronounce his name worth a darn but we met and he was all about it. So we're developing the program right now. It's basically gonna be a symphony orchestra playing these really dark scary songs and me coming in and out of the performances playing guitar over it.

Jack Mehoff: Really, that's exciting.

Dave Mustaine: Yeah, it's gonna be really cool. I think it's exciting.

Jack Mehoff: Are you gonna — is this a DVD or are you gonna release something from it?

Dave Mustaine: I'm sure they're gonna tape it. They're gonna want to tape it. You know, it's a symphony so the building there is acoustically perfect. I mean I don't know how loud I'm gonna be playing but, you know, the great thing about orchestras is the majority of them aren't miced because everything's acoustically tuned perfectly. So I think it'll be really neat.

Jack Mehoff: Cool, man. I look forward to hearing something from that.

Dave Mustaine: Yeah, yeah. We're gonna do a couple interpretations of some MEGADETH songs, too, so that's cool.

Jack Mehoff: Mr. Dave Mustaine. Being in heavy metal royalty, I hope that's a decent label to throw your way, as you look around the landscape of heavy metal and rock and roll right now, who are the new bands that you enjoy yourself?

Dave Mustaine: Wow, there's not a lot of really new bands that I've been listening to. I appreciate and respect a lot of them but I've been kind of going through my old-school phase lately so, you know, I would just be saying names just for the hell of saying names right now and I wouldn't be being sincere at all. One band that I did hear recently that I really liked was the opening band on Gigantour. It's an unknown band. The bass player from DANZIG and the drummer from MORBID ANGEL formed this band called DEATH DIVISION. And they're opening up Gigantour. My son manages them and if Tradecraft [Mustaine's label imprint] could sign anybody, I would sign them. They're that good. When I heard them, I said, "Well, who's their label?" And Justis [Mustaine's son] said they don't have a label. And I said, "Really? Well, you know what? They can open Gigantour if they want to." And they're on it. And the band's got one of the best guitar players I've heard in a very, very, very long time.

Jack Mehoff: That's got to be an exciting place to be where you come across a band…

Dave Mustaine: To give something back, yeah. It's a great place to be.

Jack Mehoff: You come across a band, "You know I dig your stuff. Let's go on tour."

Dave Mustaine: It's really rewarding kind of feeling, too, when you can do something nice for somebody because, you know, so often in life everybody's trying to get something from you. To just give something to somebody is so awesome. You know, because if you're giving something to somebody, trying to get something in return, you're not really giving at all. It's bartering. You know, there's a condition on it. So with Gigantour, we just freely give to the bands that are on the tour. And, you know, let them share in the success that I've been able to garner for myself and this gigantic publicity machine that's Gigantour.

Jack Mehoff: Dave Mustaine, what do you do when you're not being, you know, a heavy metal rock star? What happens in your down time?

Dave Mustaine: I like to read a lot. I spend a lot of time helping my friends. You know, there's weird little things that we do that we just kind of try and do stuff for people and not let them know about it. And, you know, that's like the greatest feeling. One of the things I was talking about earlier was, you know, there's a soup kitchen in Haiti that our fans helped us get and, you know, we donated it to the people of Haiti. And every day down there in Port-au-Prince, one of the most violent cities in the world, every day there are thousands of meals prepared for orphans and widows thanks to MEGADETH fans. That is the coolest thing in the world.

Jack Mehoff: You know what…

Dave Mustaine: No matter what anybody says about me, it doesn't matter at all because I know that there are kids down there that are getting fed because of our relationship between me and the MEGADETH fans and the music that binds us.

Jack Mehoff: That's very cool.

Dave Mustaine: It's cool. It's really cool. You know, not a lot of people are willing to get out of themselves and give, you know. Oh sure, they'll sign a guitar. The guitar doesn't cost anything. That's kind of like, you know, the difference between bacon and eggs. The chicken made a contribution but the pig's butt's on the plate, you know. And when you really put your money where your mouth is, that's when it really starts to be something that feels good at the end of the day. That's why we take bands out that some people never heard of, you know, that's what this whole thing with this opening band's about. You know, and taking Dave's band out and DEVICE. Sure, he's a superstar and DISTURBED is massive. DEVICE is brand new. He knows that I trust him and take a chance on me. And it's like, "Chance, shmance. You know what? This is gonna be great." But, I mean, when you look at it from a corporate kind of mentality, it is taking a chance.

North American metallers ICED EARTH have set "Plagues Of Babylon" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in October via Century Media Records. The CD will be recorded and mixed in between a string of European festival appearances this summer.

Songtitles set to appear on the CD (among others):

* Plagues of Babylon
* Democide
* Among The Living Dead
* The Resistance
* If I Could See You
* Peacemaker
* Cthulhu
* Parasite

Commented ICED EARTH founder/guitarist Jon Schaffer: "We are very excited about how killer things are sounding this early in the writing/demo process

"I expect this album will be something very special!"

The first part of ICED EARTH's 2014-2015 world tour will kick off on January 9, 2014 in Saarbrücken, Germany.

Tickets and VIP packages for these shows will be on sale by the end of April.

ICED EARTH has been hitting it relentlessly, with the recent studio album, "Dystopia", being the most toured album in the band's illustrious history.

One of the many highlights of the "World Dystopia Tour", a headline show at the historic Kourion Amphitheatre in Cyprus, was recently released on Blu-ray, DVD and in many other formats under the title "Live In Ancient Kourion".

"We are ready!" says Schaffer. "We are ready to enter the steel pirate ship that is our tour bus and spend another 18 months traveling the world. We look forward to reaching even more people and bringing ICED EARTH to many new territories on this next massive world tour. We have a very exciting and groundbreaking schedule planned and we will be bringing the metal to the masses big time! This is what we do!"

"Dystopia" was released in October 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD marked the band's recording debut with singer Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY), who joined ICED EARTH in March 2011 following the departure of Matt Barlow.

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has completed mixing her new solo album in Austin, Texas with producer Tim Palmer (PEARL JAM, U2) for an August/September release via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Neverlight", "500 Letters" and "Never Enough". Tarja says: "Tim did, once again, an amazing job. I am very happy!"

A lyric video for the song "Never Enough" was recently filmed in Zlin, Czech Republic and will make its online debut soon. Tarja says: "I didn't want to make a traditional, boring lyric video for the song, so I am going to appear on the video not just the lyrics of the song…. This video is not what we can call the official first music video from my new album, but just an improved version of a lyric video. The filming took only couple hours with Martin, who worked also on directing my first solo live rock DVD, 'Act I'."

Although rock will remain Tarja's main musical field in the months to come, earMUSIC and the artist are also planning to release further high quality productions in diverse musical genres.

The spectacular "Beauty And The Beat" tour was filmed earlier this month, and the success of the album "Harus" will be followed by the first-ever classical studio album by Tarja Turunen.

In a recent interview with the Music Legends web site, Turunen stated about her upcoming CD: "I have just recently found my style and sound so I would like to establish it with the third studio album. The elements on the album will remain the same as in my previous albums, also the versatile style of songs. I like to keep the big dynamic changes between my songs, so that album songs feel radically different from each other.

"I am not stressed at all this time, even though I am producing the album on my own again. I have been lucky to gather around a group of musicians who are willing to work with me, so everything is going smoothly."

Tarja and her husband/manager Marcelo Cabuli recently became the parents of their first child.

"Act I" was released in North America on September 4, 2012 in 2-CD, 2-DVD and Blu-ray format via the Eagle Rock imprint Armoury Records, in conjunction with earMUSIC.

Tarja's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 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.

Bassist Joel Fox Apelgren of Stockholm, Sweden-based rockers DYNAZTY has released the following statement:

"After more than five years filled with amazing experiences, I have decided that my journey together with DYNAZTY has come to an end.

"I have come to a point where I feel that I can no longer give the band 110% of my devotion, something I think is a necessity in a band like DYNAZTY.

"The past years have been absolutely amazing, and I will certainly miss writing music, rehearsing, hanging out and touring with the guys.

"Over the years I have had the privilege of meeting a lot of wonderful people; musicians, technicians and especially fans, from all over the world, and for that I am truly grateful.

"As you probably understand, this decision has not been easy for me to make, seeing as my life has basically revolved around this band for many years, but I feel that it's time to move on. I'm certain that the rest of the guys will keep bringing you kick-ass metal under the

"Thank you for your support. I hope to see you all in the future!"

DYNAZTY released its third album, "Sultans Of Sin", in February 2012. The CD was produced by Peter Tägtgren at The Abyss studio and was the band's first to feature guitarist Mike Lavér, who joined DYNAZTY in November 2011.

DYNAZTY took part in last year's edition of Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Land Of Broken Dreams".

"Bitter Sand", a brand new song from reunited Swedish heavy rockers TRANSPORT LEAGUE, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Boogie From Hell", which will be released digitally on May 20 via frontman Tony Jelencovich's (DEATHDESTRUCTION, B-THONG, MASSIVE AUDIO NERVE, MNEMIC, ICON IN ME) Hoffa Entertainment. A physical CD will also be printed for release through the Bengans record store.

"Boogie From Hell" was tracked over a 17-month period and is currently being mixed by Svein Jensen at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A CD-release party is scheduled for Friday, May 24 at Sticky Fingers Bar & Grill in Gothenburg and an appearance at the Tuska festival afterparty in Helsinki, Finland is also scheduled for June 29.

"Boogie From Hell" will feature the following songs:

* Swing Satanic Swing
* Electric Wolf
* Hi-Octane Slave
* Demon Apparatus
* Barabbas Venomous
* A Pork Named Jack
* Blood Inn
* Doctor Demon
* Holy Mother Fucker
* Speedhead
* Bitter Sand
* King Of Doom
* Fight Back
* Snake Infested Swamp

A seven-minute audio file containing snippets of five songs that will appear on "Boogie From Hell" can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

The CD's sound is described in a press release as "groovy, shaky-boogie-rock 'n' roll metal … for the fans of CLUTCH, CATHEDRAL, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, MUSTASCH and even VOLBEAT."

TRANSPORT LEAGUE played its first reunion show on May 15, 2009 on the Terass stage at Henriksberg in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Commented the group: "TRANSPORT LEAGUE was the band who invented the phrase 'boogie from hell,' well known and well heard on the two first albums, 'Stallion Showcase' (1995) and 'Superevil' (1997). Just listen to tracks such as 'Cosmical Satanical' and 'Lost In The Desert Of Habib' and you will understand what we are talking about.

"TRANSPORT LEAGUE no doubt paved the way for such artists as VOLBEAT and MUSTASCH, drawing from many sources to create a new format for heavy guitar-driven groovy rock."

TRANSPORT LEAGUE's fourth full-length album, "Multiple Organ Harvest", was released in November 2003 through Holland's Seamview Records.

TRANSPORT LEAGUE 2013 is:

Tony Julien Jelencovich - Vocals, Guitar
Lars Häglund - Bass
Matt Starander - Drums
Pete Hunyadi - Lead Guitar

"Bitter Sand" audio stream:

CANDLELIGHT RED — Ryan Hoke (lead vocals), Jeremy Edge (guitars), Jamie Morral (bass) and Brian Dugan (drums — is ready to reclaim its place in the Active Rock community with the release of the band's second album, "Reclamation", which is due out June 4 on Imagen Records. The CD's first single, "Feel The Same", will be made available to radio May 14.

"Reclamation" is the follow-up to CANDLELIGHT RED's 2011 debut album, "The Wreckage", which spawned the Active Rock hit "Closer". Their "Demons" EP, released in 2012, featured the Top 30 Active Rock single "Demons".

The new album is a summation of the band's mixture of hard-hitting riffs mixed with melodic songs and heartfelt lyrical content. SEVENDUST drummer and newly appointed Imagen Records Vice President of A&R Morgan Rose was brought in to produce "Demons" and the chemistry was evident immediately. Four months later, they teamed up again at The Architekt Studios in Butler, New Jersey to write and record the new album with the help of mixer/engineer Mike Ferretti.

"After recording the EP, I knew the bar would be set very high and I think that we surpassed that with ease," says Rose.

Guitarist Jeremy Edge couldn't agree more. “We are excited and very proud of what we were able to accomplish on this record!" he says. " It was an honor working with Morgan again and we can't wait for everyone to hear what came out of the sessions!”

When CANDLELIGHT RED burst onto the scene in 2010, they turned heads right away, especially after beating out over 10,000 other bands to win the 2010 national Guitar Center "Onstage" contest, which landed them an opening slot for KISS. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley specifically chose the band from among 22 regional contest winners. As a result, the band had the honor of opening for KISS in Pittsburgh in late 2010.

As KISS' Gene Simmons said of CANDLELIGHT RED, "Once upon a time, someone gave KISS a chance. We have always believed in giving back. From giving our fans the Hottest Show on Earth to giving new talent a shot. Congratulations to CANDLELIGHT RED on being selected by KISS and winning the Guitar Center's 2010 'Onstage Contest.' Well deserved."

In touring news, the band recently wrapped up a tour supporting SEVENDUST, COAL CHAMBER and LACUNA COIL and will announce new dates in the coming weeks.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

Finland's ENSIFERUM have spent the past 18 years honing the steel of their folk-infused battle metal auditory attack. Their albums are further bolstered by a live show that has become one of the most entertaining in all of metal. Proof of ENSIFERUM's status as one of the most vital bands in modern metal was made apparent through their headlining slot on this year's Paganfest USA tour.

To further spread the band's music to a worldwide audience, ENSIFERUM has forged a deal with Metal Blade Records. The band signed the agreement with Metal Blade CEO Brian Slagel during the Paganfest USA tour, and all parties are enthusiastic about new music and new possibilities.

Comments ENSIFERUM bassist/backing vocalist Sami Hinkka: "We are really looking forward to our co-operation with such a great and legendary label as Metal Blade. The next full-length album should be out in early 2015. We have already started working with the new songs and it's obvious that the next album will be another step ahead for ENSIFERUM. And now that we have united forces with mighty Metal Blade nothing can stop us! The next album is going to be something that will rock the very foundations of folk metal genre.

"We also would like to thank Spinefarm Records for all these 13 years, it's been as blast but now it is time for us to move on and head bravely towards new challenges.

"The future looks bright for Sword Bearers!"

ENSIFERUM will be touring throughout Europe and South America this summer as they continue their live campaign in support of their most recent album, "Unsung Heroes".

"Unsung Heroes" was released on August 27, 2012 via Spinefarm. The CD was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED) at Petrax studio (CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH) in Hollola, Finland and other locations in the Hämeenlinna area.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

In May 1973, BUDGIE guitarist Tony Bourge unleashed the riff to "Breadfan" — widely hailed as a precursor of thrash metal — on an unsuspecting world. Forty years on, the now-ex-BUDGIE riffmaster has a new 20-track album named "Crank It Up" released under the moniker of Anthony Bourge. The album CD a wide variety of styles, from riff-based rockers reminiscent of the metal Bourge forged with budgie, to songs and instrumentals steeped in the blues, to ethereal pop numbers.

According to a press release, "The album's 'Shw Mae Mama' is a dark, heavy blues song — with a Welsh language chorus that translates as 'How are you Mama?' "Mother Earth has a hole in her head but she's not dead, and neither is BUDGIE," Bourge says, referring to both the song's subject and the influential Welsh rock band's legacy.

"East Bound" is an instrumental inspired by a painting one of Bourge's sons did before he left for China. "There was a large dragon's tail and two birds flying over the sea, heading east towards a very large setting sun. Strangely enough, the red sun and the dragon's tail seemed very Welsh," Bourge says.

"Crank It Up" is available from online music stores.

According to the Nottingham Post, CRASHDÏET's manager Michael Sundén (pictured below) died last Friday (April 19) after a fall in the basement of the Rock City club in Nottingham, England. A native of Stockholm, Sweden, he was 45 years old.

In a statement to the Nottingham Post, Rock City said: "On Friday, April 19, at around 11.30pm a male visitor to the SAXON live music event at Rock City fell unconscious.

"The circumstances are as yet unclear but are not being treated as suspicious.

"Rock City's on-site medical team attended the scene immediately. An ambulance was called within one minute of the man being found and police officers stationed at the front of the venue were also called to the scene.

"Two police officers began emergency resuscitation before the ambulance arrived and took him to hospital.

"Rock City was informed the next day that the man had subsequently died. Rock City is co-operating fully with the authorities in a post-mortem.

"Rock City would like to offer its deepest condolences to his family."

A Nottingham Police spokeswoman said: "He is believed to have slipped and hit his head against a brick wall in the basement area. The medical staff performed CPR and he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. We are not treating it as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner."

A spokesman for the Nottingham City Council said: "They carried out assessments of the venue and were satisfied that there was no ongoing risk to members of the public. It appears the man tripped on two steps in the venue and hit his head on a wall but there were no defects at the venue which contributed to this tragic accident.

"There is no ongoing investigation and the venue can continue to operate as normal."

Michael, who previously managed the BACKYARD BABIES, is survived by his wife, Carina, and their two young daughters.

Season Of Mist has announced the signing of Phoenix, Arizona noise innovator GOG. Masterminded by Michael Bjella, GOG has toiled in the underground noise community for a decade, releasing records that have been widely respected and regarded as essential.

GOG's latest album, "Ironworks", was released on vinyl in December of 2012 was recorded in a late 19th century/20th century blacksmith shop; the album is an ode to the death of the American dream.

Regarding the signing, Michael Bjella states: "I started GOG to explore the darker sides of thought and life. I want to create things without restriction and form that can transport people and possibly make them confront their own fears. Things that are truly dark but have contrast. To borrow a line from one of my favorite artists, in case there might be harmony, then it is the harmony of accident, of chaos. I’m not trying to make harmony. Season Of Mist has shown that they are not afraid to push the envelope with challenging music and sound. With their support I will continue to do that in GOG and bring my ideas to a new and bigger audience, I'm beyond excited. "

GOG will make a rare live appearance tonight (Wednesday, April 24), opening for BORIS at the Crescent Ballroom.

NK — the new Long Island, New York-based band that featuring members of ENVY ON THE COAST and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN — will release its debut album, "Nothing To Be Gained Here", on May 21 via Triple Crown Records. According to a press release, the LP "takes the listener through the multiple personalities of the band, creating a powerful trip for the listener. The album's peaks and valleys are strung together by the monstrous and soulful rhythm section, comprised of Michael Sadis on bass and Billy Rymer (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) on drums, as well as Ryan Hunter's (ENVY ON THE COAST) visceral and uninhibited lyrics and vocal style. On 'Confessional', 'Shoulder Gorilla', 'Kings' and 'Set a Fire', the band shows their affinity for heavy music, with Rymer giving the listener a bit of his signature drumming style he's become known for, but also embracing a more open, deeper style of playing we haven't heard on his prior work. Abrasive guitars and fuzzed out bass tones match Rymer's style of playing, while Hunter's vocal style is a fusion of rhythmic aggression and a unique approach to melody. On 'Vacation Days' and 'Memo', the band turns down the gain and embraces a warmer, down-tempo, soulful side. With Mike Sapone (BRAND NEW, TAKING BACK SUNDAY, O' BROTHER) and Hunter taking on production duties, 'Nothing To Be Gained Here' is an extremely rhythmic, lyrically dense, and dynamic debut full-length."

Pre-orders for "Nothing To Be Gained Here" have launched on the Triple Crown web site. The LP will also be available in three limited-edition vinyl color ways (orange, blue and clear) starting in mid-June.

NK will play a hometown record-release show on June 15 at Revolution Bar & Music Hall in Amityville, New York with SHONE, A GREAT BIG PILE OF LEAVES and HAPPY BODY SLOW BRAIN.