The cover artwork for MEGADETH's new album, "Super Collider", can be seen below. The CD is scheduled for a June 4 release via MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, which is distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). Horn player Bob Findley — who previously appeared on the track "Silent Scorn" from MEGADETH's 2001 CD, "The World Needs A Hero" — is a featured guest on the song "A House Divided" on the new album. Other tracks set to appear on the effort include "Forget To Remember", "Dance In The Rain", "The Blackest Crow", "Super Collider", "Burn", "King Maker" and "Don't Turn Your Back", a snippet of which can be streamed at MegadethGame.com.

In a recent interview with the "Shockwaves"/"HardRadio" podcast, Mustaine stated about the "Super Collider" title track and cover artwork: "I was up in Santa Barbara, and USA Today, as a newspaper, I started reading a long time ago because it had Sudoku in it. I'm not really down with a lot of the viewpoints of the newspaper, but I kind of got used to reading it because of the puzzles in it — 'cause I love word puzzles; I like to enrich my word power. And there was a story in there about how they finally had identified the mass that goes around the molecules and stuff; it's called the Higgs Boson and we had done that with the Super Collider. And I thought, 'Wow, that's a really cool story.' Actually, the stuff's called the 'God particle.' And I thought, knowing how closed-minded people are with my faith and thinking that that's gonna change who I am as a person — which it did — and that that would also correlate into changing my guitar playing, which it didn't, I didn't wanna have a song called 'God Particle', because every village has its idiots, and unfortunately for me, a bunch of them follow me on the Internet. So we opted to call it 'Super Collider'. And this first song is kind of, like, a song about no matter how bad things get, come with me, we'll take the high road and we'll hang out and have a great time and we'll stick together until the end of the world, so to speak, when the world explodes like a Super Collider. Because the whole theory of the super collider is atoms swirling into one another at millions of miles an hour, I guess. I love the concept, I love the artwork that we have for this record — it's the Hadron Collider, and that is a remarkable machine. And if you look at the Super Collider, the thing itself — whether it does a damn bit of good or not, nobody really knows; I don't know how it's gonna correlate to lowering gas prices or anything like that, or getting people to stop trying to run everybody's lives right now and the dumbing down of America… But it's really cool if you look at how big it is. A lot of pictures on the 'Net will show this enormous machinery and guys the size of ants next to it. And the one picture that we used for our cover was, like I said, the Hadron Collider and it's just beautiful stuff, man. Science is really interesting. I mean, I don't believe in evolution, I believe in creation, so science only goes so far with me, but I really dig looking at that whole way that's set up with the tubing and the piping and the reactors and all the stuff that goes along with it. You have to see it for yourself."

"Super Collider" is MEGADETH's first release since its recent split with Roadrunner Records.

Los Angeles glam metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER have revealed that they will perform at the wedding of NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger and singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne.

A video message from STEEL PANTHER guitarist Satchel and bassist Lexxi Foxx in which share their excitement about taking part in such an event can be seen below.

Kroeger contributed guest vocals to and collaborated on the song "It Won't Suck Itself" from STEEL PANTHER's 2011 album, "Balls Out".

"We play a lot of shows, and we have weekly residencies in L.A. and Hollywood," STEEL PANTHER drummer Stix Zadinia told Audio Ink Radio. "Chad was in L.A. for a while, and he would come to our shows and get up onstage and jam. We got to know him, and at one of the shows, we were like, 'Dude, we should write together!'" Kroeger did the classic, "Yeah, bro!" But for a while, nothing came of the friendly exchange. "We kept saying it enough times that finally, we were like, 'Let's do it.'"

When STEEL PANTHER was in Vancouver, they called Kroeger. "We started writing the song together from scratch, and it's a true collaboration," Zadinia said. "It wasn't a riff lying around that hadn't been used yet or something that was recycled. We walked out of there with the core of what is that song."

HATRIOT, the new San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band led by former EXODUS and LEGACY (pre-TESTAMENT) frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza, filmed a video for the song "And Your Children To Be Damned" on March 10 at Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa, California. The clip — whih was directed by Mike Sloat (MACHINE HEAD, TESTAMENT), can be seen below.

"And Your Children To Be Damned" was written about Countess Bathory, a countess from the renowned Báthory family of nobility in the Kingdom of Hungary, who has been labeled the most prolific female serial killer in history, although the number of murders is debated.

Several photos from the video shoot can be seen below (all pictures courtesy of Walter Morgan).

"And Your Children To Be Damned" comes off HATRIOT's debut album, "Heroes Of Origin", which was released on January 25 via Germany's Massacre Records. The CD was recorded with producer Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TESTAMENT) and features guest appearances BY TESTAMENT 's Chuck Billy and MACHINE HEAD's Phil Demmel . The cover artwork, which can be seen below, was created by Mark DeVito, who has previously worked with MOTÖRHEAD and ANVIL CHORUS, among others.

"Heroes Of Origin" track listing:

01. Suicide Run
02. Weapons Of Class Destruction
03. Murder American Style
04. Blood Stained Wings
05. The Violent Time Of My Dark Passenger
06. Globicidal
07. And Your Children To Be Damned
08. The Mechanics Of Annihilation
09. Shadows Of The Buried
10. Heroes Of Origin

The entire album can now be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

HATRIOT's drummer is none other than Steve's son, Nicholas Souza. Nicholas auditioned for the band after the departure of Alex Bent and "proved himself to be the best choice," according to Steve.

HATRIOT's lineup also includes Zetro's son Cody, who got his first bass as a present from his father after Zetro bought it off current EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. "I told him," Zetro said in a recent interview with Metalholic.com, "'You have to try out [for the bassist position in HATRIOT if you want to be in the band]. There's no nepotism here, boy. If you can hang, you're on.' So he actually tried out, and he got the gig."

Regarding HATRIOT's musical direction, Zetro said, "It's in the vein of typical Bay Area thrash, but these guys are a lot younger, so there's gonna be some blast-beats in there. There's gonna be some kind of death [metal] approach to it, a little bit. 'Cause these guys are new. They're raw, and they're fast, young, heavy, hard and aggressive, and I'm trying to convey that along as well."

He added, "These new kids seem to understand what we did in the '80s, but still bring a little bit of a new essence to it. We put that together with what I write vocally and it's turned out to be really, really killer. It's good stuff."

Asked why he thinks thrash metal has enjoyed something of a revival in more recent years, Zetro told Über Röck, "You know, I get asked this a lot, and I think it is because the first wave of thrash came and went so fast. I mean, it started in the mid-'80s and was gone by 1991 or so. The older bands still have something to say, and I feel that's why they are still able to put out great music so many years later. Now the fans that were young kids back then have bands of their own, so these new bands are naturally influenced by the old sound and it has come full circle. Of course, with technology and things like they are today, it is a totally different ballgame when it comes to marketing the music. I don't know that there will ever be another band as big as the 'Big Four' or anything, because the business structure just isn't there anymore, but it is really cool to see these new bands carrying the torch of what we helped invent back in the old scene."

HATRIOT is:

Steve "Zetro" Souza - Vocals
Kosta Varvatakis - Guitar
Miguel Esparza - Guitar
Nicholas Souza - Drums
Cody Souza - Bass

SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo revealed to Greece's Rock Overdose in a new interview that Casey Chaos from AMEN will front a resurrected version of Lombardo's GRIP INC. project. A tour is in the works, with the possibility that a new studio album will follow.

GRIP INC.'s fourth studio LP, "Incorporated", was released in March 2004 through SPV Records. The follow-up to 1999's "Solidify" was recorded and mixed at Woodhouse studios in Hagen, Germany and was produced by the group's guitarist, Waldemar Sorychta (THE GATHERING, LACUNA COIL, SENTENCED, MOONSPELL).

GRIP INC.'s lineup also included vocalist Gus Chambers, who died on October 13, 2008 at the age of 52. Chambers reportedly took his own life.

Lombardo, Chaos, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt and ex-QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE bassist Nick Oliveri recently joined forces to record music for a documentary about House Of Shock, the infamous New Orleans haunted house attraction founded in 1992 by ex-PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo. Helming the sessions was producer Ross Robinson (SLIPKNOT, KORN, DEFTONES), who was approached to provide music for the film by director Dean Karr (best known for his landmark videos for MARILYN MANSON) and producer Sean E. Demott.

Pictured below (left to right): Dave Lombardo and Casey Chaos

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees BLACK SABBATH — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler — will make a rare television appearance when they perform a new song in the season finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", Wednesday, May 15 (10:00-11:00PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

As the "CSI" team investigates a trail of murders with horrifying similarities to the sins in "Dante's Inferno", the band will share a scene with D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) when he and Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann) attend a BLACK SABBATH show. The appearance will mark the band's world premiere of the song "End Of The Beginning" from their much-anticipated new album "13", 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!" They have sold more than 70 million albums together.

"When we first heard that BLACK SABBATH was interested in premiering a song on 'CSI' from their first studio album in 35 years, we were all really excited. So many of us are longtime fans," said executive producer Don McGill. "And seeing as the album is titled '13' and this is the finale of 'CSI''s Season 13, it seemed like the perfect match. We couldn't be more thrilled."

Currently, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" wins its Wednesday (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) time period in viewers (11.85m), adults 18-49 (2.9/08) and adults 25-54 (3.8/09). It is also a global ratings hit, earning the International TV Audience Award for the "most-watched show in the world" for the third consecutive year, its fifth time in seven years.

Osbourne told Australian radio station Triple M that the new BLACK SABBATH album is "mind-blowing." Ozzy added, "I'm so over the moon about the way the album turned out. We wrote 16 songs ... and I put it on my CD player, expecting me to be unhappy with the end result, but this big grin came on my face and my hair on the back on my neck (stood up) . . . It's better than my wildest dreams; it's so good."

Ozzy said, "If you're a SABBATH fan, you will not be disappointed. It's so SABBATH-y, it's scary. It's the album we should have made after [1973's] 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'."

The legendary singer continued, "Believe me, I'm the guy that goes, 'Ah, there's a mistake there.' I look for the mistake. If there's one mistake, I'll find it. But this album is great, perfect. It's very, very heavy, there's no getting away from the fact that it is BLACK SABBATH, and you can hear every instrument and everything clearly. It's so heavy. I'm so excited about it."

Songs set to appear on the disc include three seven-plus-minute behemoths called "End Of The Beginning", "God Is Dead" and "Epic", along with "Dear Father" and "Methademic".

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.

SABBATH will launch a world tour in support of the album later this month in New Zealand, Australia and Japan, with North American dates to follow this summer.

The band, with Ward initially on board, announced its current reunion in November 2011, six years after they had last played together.

Plans for extensive touring were curtailed by the January 2012 revelation that Iommi had been diagnosed with an early stage of cancer. He continues to receive treatment.

In late 2012, Italian epic death metal band RAGING AGE signed a deal with Wormholedeath/Dreamcell11/Aural Music Group. On January 14th the band entered Realsound Studio in Parma, Italy with producer Wahoomi Corvi (CRYSALYS, THE WAY OF PURITY, HATERIAL).

Wormholedeath/Dreamcell11 will release their debut album, Regions Of Sorrow, worldwide in September through Aural Music Group. The album artwork can be seen below:
As a preview, the band are streaming the album's title track. Listen below:
The band previously commented: "We spent some months into examinating several bids, but now we are pleased to announce we have signed with WHD Label. Its absolute professionalism has convinced us. Raging Age needed a strong network for the lauch of the first full lenght and signing with WHD was a natural choice."
Wormholedeath label manager Worm further commented: "It was quite a long time that we didn't sign bands from Italy but Raging Age just broke into our office, with very violent a kick on the door ... Unpolite?? No, they just didn't talk much, they just acted and that's how I like it...

The ‘Italian style bla bla bla’ can be left to the politicians, musicians can't talk so much, like them. Raging Age's music is absolutely intense, epic and brutal at the same time, the guys are real musicians but of course this was not enough for WHD's standards but when I met the guys I suddenly understood that they were ready to join our roster of selected bands... Simple people, with anti-rockstar attitude: let's welcome Raging Age, they deserve your support!"
More on Raging Age at this location.

THE RELAPSE SYMPHONY's five-song EP, Time's Running Out, was released on December 4th, 2012, via Standby Records. The band have released an official video for the track 'Panic! (Time's Running Out)'.

Says the band: "Shooting 'Panic! (Time's Running Out)' was quite an experience. We filmed it entirely outside in the middle of winter, in 14 degree weather! Between takes we would huddle together in heat blankets just to make it through to the next shot. We were honored to work with Director Scott Hansen, and he really understood what we were going for as a band. We wanted to capture the intensity of our live show, as well as the very real emotion of the song. Despite the trying shoot, we couldn't be more pleased with how our very first music video came out and we hope all of our fans enjoy it!"

Watch the new video below:
A lyric video for 'Panic! (Time's Running Out)' can be seen below:
The band commented on their debut EP: "Time's Running Out is the soundtrack to the last seven months of our lives. It is the culmination of personal experiences, a sense of rebellion against the fleeting trends in "the scene", and an unbridled release of emotion. We are so proud of what we have created for our fans and we can't wait to get to work on our upcoming full length album."
Tracklisting:

'Forgotten'
'Make Your Move'
'The Other Side Of Town'
'Burning Bridges'
'Panic! (Time's Running Out)'

Audio samples at this location.

Italian death metal veterans WORSTENEMY recently signed a deal with Wormholedeath/Aural Music Group. The band released their debut album, Revelation, world-wide through Aural Music Group with a further help from Grom Records in the eastern countries. The album was recorded and mixed at Mathlab Recording Studio (Italy) with producer Jonathan Mazzeo, and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finvox Studios (Finland).
Listen to the album track, 'V.I.T.R.I.O.L.', below:
A&R "Worm" stated: "Worstenemy is a solid band since 1997 and finally they have found their way with this great new album. Wormholedeath decided to support them as they never gave up in 15 years of hard work and struggle. This is not a release for death metal fanatics only as we are sure that fans from many other musical styles will love this very fresh and tuneful release. Check Worstenemy out, this is not only a sonic assault...This is true passion for death metal and underground. "
More on Worstenemy here.

Billboard is reporting that BON JOVI mainman Jon Bon Jovi has put his 7,400 square-foot duplex in Soho on the market for $42 million, according to a listing on Zillow.com.
Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, purchased the property for about $24 million in 2007.

A description reads:

Astonishing Soho Duplex. The journey begins when you step off the elevator into the lower level foyer. Off the foyer is the massive Great Room, which has a wood-burning fireplace, a dining area and a modern chef's kitchen. On this level is the outstanding Master Bedroom Suite with a dressing room and marble bath. Additionally, on this level, are 4 bedrooms, each with a bath, a powder room and laundry room. This apartment offers protected, panoramic views looking over all of Soho and beyond. The 11 foot ceilings and the unique arched windows add to the drama. The journey continues up the staircase to the upper level which can also be accessed directly from the elevator. One finds a formal Living/Dining Room with a wood-burning fireplace, plus another chef's kitchen. There are three landscaped terraces of unparalleled proportions with staggering views. The largest terrace is designed for entertaining while the others have a Zen quality. There is a private screening room with projection room. A bedroom, home office, full bath and a powder room complete this level. This one of a kind apartment is for the discerning buyer who can appreciate fine craftsmanship and all of the modern conveniences. Experience living high above Soho on a quaint cobblestone street in the New Museum Building, a full service, prewar, Landmarked condo. The apartment is offered furnished with all of the audio/visual equipment included. This penthouse is truly captivating, a unique masterpiece.

Madrid, Spain-based symphonic metallers DARK MOOR have announced the release of their new album, Ars Musica, on June 18th via Scarlet Records. The album artwork can be seen below:
With the follow-up to their Ancestral Romance album, Dark Moor have taken another step forward in their career, forging a more identifiable sound and expanding their songwriting in multiple directions. They still pay homage to the Spanish cultural heritage in songs such as 'First Lance Of Spain', ‘Gara & Jonay’ and ‘El Último Rey’, but elsewhere they go more personal, still giving high priority to their trademark melodies and elaborate harmonies. Talented singer Alfred Romero offers his best performance to date, whilst orchestrations are less classical and more grandiose and epic.

Ars Musica was once again produced by Luigi Stefanini (RHAPSODY OF FIRE, LABYRINTH, VISION DIVINE). Further details are forthcoming.
Dark Moor lineup:

Alfred Romero - vocals
Enrik Garcia - guitars
Roberto Cappa - drums
Mario Garcia - bass

More on Dark Moor at this location.

Spanish four-piece KILLUS have reveald the official video teaser for their new opus entitled Feel The Monster:
Scheduled for release on May 31st in Spain, and sometime in June throughout the world via Art Gates Records, Feel The Monster will be characterized by a more devastating, direct and metal based sound than the previous albums of the band, which will be reflected by the anger of the band on stage.

Feel The Monster has been completely produced and recorded by Killus, and mastered by Portugal's Daniel Cardoso (NOCTEM, ANATHEMA).

Feel The Monster tracklist:

'We're Alone In This World' (Intro)
'Feel The Monster'
'Bastards'
'I Can'T Feel It'
'Forever And Ever'
'Crush Our Minds'
'Fuck'N'Roll'
'The Night Of The Knife'
'The Darkness Of The Crypt'
'Holy Bible'
'I'm Dead Tonight
'Satanic Verse'
(Bonus Track)

Norwegian power/thrash metallers WITCHHAMMER have issued the following update:

"As you may have noticed there have been some silent weeks from the Witchhammer camp - this don't mean that nothing have happened...

Our time has been filled with ups and downs, where we can start with our biggest issue, finding a replacement for Thomas, as he now has decided to leave the band. All has been sorted out in friendly matters, and we wish Thomas and his family all the best in the future .

At the same time, our creativity with the new forthcoming album has been outstanding.

We are now looking for someone who really wants to put his creativity, effort and mind into this project, as we've now almost finishing the writing process for our new yet-untitled album, but need an inspirational final touch from our new singer.

For those of you who wants to apply for an audition, or feels like this is the band you want to be a part of - send an email to
witchhammer@witchhammer.com."
Witchhammer line-up 2013:
Totto Håkonsen - guitar
Finn Gjerlaugsen - bass
Morten Skute - guitar
Marlyn Smørsgård - vocals, keyboards
Jan Erik Eide - drums

For more details visit Facebook.

Swedish death metallers DEMONICAL have parted ways with drummer Fredrik Widigs and guitarist Johan Jansson due to "personal and priority-related matters." The remaining members of the band write in a statement: "These decisions have been in the making for quite some time but now all parties consider them final and official. Both Johan and Fredrik have been loyal soldiers and we thank them for their participation. However, rest assured, as the main songwriters are still in the band the mission, goal and outcome of DEMONICAL stays determined and intact."

They add: "Currently we are looking to secure new members and we are hoping to present an updated lineup within the nearest future (applications are welcome, although we are already trying out a couple of potential candidates).

"We are soon rounding up the recordings of our fourth album, 'Darkness Unbound', at Necromorbus Studios in Stockholm but we have decided to postpone the release date to August in order to better match our upcoming live activities and anticipated world tour."

Regarding the musical direction and visual presentation of "Darkness Unbound", DEMONICAL previously said: "The new material is clearly our most sinister, vicious and dark work up until to date and we are confident that 'Darkness Unbound' will be an important milestone not only for us as a band but also an album that will have a certain impact on the current death metal scene and especially the Swedish old-school wave.

"The artwork and visual concept of the album follows the same somber path as the music making it a solid entity of perpetual death metal darkness."

DEMONICAL last year announced the addition of guitarist Daniel Gustavsson to the group's ranks.

The band's third album, "Death Infernal", was released in April 2011 via Cyclone Empire.

"Kingmaker", a brand new song from SPIRITUAL BEGGARS — the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (ex-FIREWIND) — can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The song comes off the group's eighth studio album, "Earth Blues", which will be 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

The "Wise As A Serpent" video can be seen below.

Commented Amott: "We chose this particular song as the first video off 'Earth Blues' 'cause it's an explosive track and also the shortest song on the album! I filmed and directed the video myself and Anders Björler (AT THE GATES) did a great job on the edit. We're more than pleased with the end result; it's done in true DIY spirit...raw and authentic."

Amott previously stated about the upcoming 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."

In order to promote this upcoming release as well as the band's anniversary, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS have confirmed a European tour for April with support by German rockers ZODIAC, as well as some European summer festivals.

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

Massachusetts metallers REVOCATION have completed work on their new album for a late 2013 release via Relapse Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Chaos Of Forms" will be the first full-length album with bass player Brett Bamberger who joined the band in 2012 and was featured on the group's last EP, "Teratogenesis", which was released by Scion A/V.

Commented REVOCATION frontman Dave Davidson: "We're very pleased to announce that the new record is completely finished and is now in the hands of the good people over at Relapse. This release features our best playing to date and we cannot wait for it to be released this summer. RevoManiacs will not be disappointed!"

REVOCATION will take a quick break from working on their new album this spring when it hits the road with GOATWHORE, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD and RAMMING SPEED. REVOCATION joins the tour in Bucksport, Maine on April 28 and will play six shows, winding things down in Toronto on May 3.

REVOCATION's latest album, "Chaos Of Forms", was released in August 16, 2011 in North America and September 5, 2011 internationally via Relapse. The follow-up to 2009's "Existence Is Futile" was recorded at Damage Studios in Southbridge, Massachusetts with engineer Pete Rutcho and features 12 tracks with a running time of a little over 45 minutes.

The official lyric video for the song "Scornstar" from Virginia-based melodic tech-death metal masters ARSIS can be seen below. The track comes off the band's fifth full-length album, "Unwelcome", which will be released on April 30 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Starve For The Devil" was tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER). The artwork was handled once again by longtime collaborator Mark Riddick.

"So, we've had 'Unwelcome' finished for quite some time now and we are happy to finally be able to share the finished product with everyone," commented founder and lead guitarist/vocalist James Malone.

"As a band/musician, it's sometimes difficult to separate yourself from your work and visualize how others are going to interpret your work. In other words, it's sometimes hard to know whether or not your ideas are relevant to anyone but yourself. With 'Unwelcome', we certainly put all of our everything into the writing and recording and stopped paying attention to what's trendy or what we think might appeal to a larger audience. In doing so, I feel we have created one of the most sincere ARSIS albums and perhaps one of the most relevant."

"Unwelcome" track listing:

01. Unwelcome
02. Carve My Cross
03. Handbook For The Recently Deceased
04. Choking On Sand
05. Let Me Be The One
06. Sunglasses At Night
07. Martyred Or Mourning
08. No One Lies To The Dead
09. I Share In Shame
10. Scornstar

Fans can hear the debut of new guitarist Brandon Ellis and drummer/longtime session member Shawn Priest on the "Lepers Caress" EP, which can be downloaded for free here. The effort was released via Scion Audio/Visual (a.k.a. Scion A/V), the in-house record label and lifestyle marketing division of the Scion marque produced by Toyota Motor Corporation for the North American market.

Brandon Ellis replaced guitarist Nick Cordle, who was tapped to replace Christopher Amott in the Swedish/German extreme metal act ARCH ENEMY.

ARSIS's 2010 album, "Starve For The Devil" (Nuclear Blast Records), sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release, landing at No. 13 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart.

Progressive instrumentalists SCALE THE SUMMIT will release their new album, "The Migration", in North America on June 11 via Prosthetic Records. Recorded earlier this year at North Carolina's Basement Studios with producer Jamie King (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, HE IS LEGEND, FOR TODAY), the CD will feature cover artwork by illustrator Duncan Storr (HAWKWIND, EDGE OF SANITY).

"The Migration" track listing:

01. Odyssey
02. Atlas Novus
03. The Olive Tree
04. Narrow Salient
05. Oracle
06. Evergreen
07. The Dark Horse
08. Willow
09. Sabrosa
10. The Traveler

"The Migration" marks the recording debut of new SCALE THE SUMMIT bassist Mark Michell. The album will be released just days after SCALE THE SUMMIT hits the road with INTRONAUT on a summer North American tour.

SCALE THE SUMMIT's 2011 effort, "The Collective", saw the band tour alongside the likes of PERIPHERY, CYNIC, FAIR TO MIDLAND, THE CONTORTIONIST, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT, PROTEST THE HERO and TRIOSCAPES. Since that album's touring cycle ended late last year, the band has kept busy, with guitarist Chris Letchford launching his own signature series Strandberg guitar and bassist Mark Michell releasing an instructional book.

SCALE THE SUMMIT's third album, "The Collective", sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 39 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.

The follow-up to 2009's "Carving Desert Canyons", "The Collective" was recorded at Paint It Black Studios in Orlando, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (DEVILDRIVER, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER).

SCALE THE SUMMIT formed in 2005 while attending the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. The band relocated to Texas in 2006, where they recorded their first, self-released album. After signing with Prosthetic, they issued "Carving Desert Canyons", which Revolver called "a cinematic blast of intricately melodic fretwork and pummeling percussion," in 2009.

Century Media Records has announced the signing of Swedish metallers BOMBUS. The band's new album, "The Poet And The Parrot", will eb released in August. A track from the CD, "Apparatus", will precede the full-length effort on a strictly limited (to 500 copies) seven-inch vinyl single and as digital download. The single will be available from May 2, to coincide with BOMBUS' European tour as the support act for DANKO JONES.

BOMBUS was started late 2008 in Gothenburg by axemen Feffe and Matte as a two-piece but then quickly emerged to a full band with Ulf (bass) and Peter (drums) joining the party. Heavily influenced by MOTÖRHEAD, MELVINS, METALLICA and POISON IDEA, the freshly expanded four-piece started to play its first live shows and evolve their own unique sound more and more. After releasing three seven-inch vinyl singles and the a self-titled debut album in 2010, the band matured a lot by laying down a good amount of live shows what also gained them a massive die-hard fan base. Recently the new bass man Jonas came in the band, as Ulf stepped back from his duties on stage and now takes care of the band's artworks and videos. The story continued and it was the summer of 2011 when Century Media Records got an eye on BOMBUS.

Comments BOMBUS in statement: "BOMBUS are proud to announce that we are teaming up with Century Media Records for the release of our upcoming album 'The Poet And The Parrot'. Century Media has always been a prominent label with a high-quality roster, and we are happy as pigs in shit to now be a part of it."

To celebrate Record Store Day on April 20, Prosthetic Records will release a special gray marble vinyl re-pressing of LAMB OF GOD's 2000 release, "New American Gospel". Limited to 500 copies, the Record Store Day edition will feature the remastered "2006 versions" of the album's original track listing. All proceeds will go toward the Justice Now defense fund for vocalist Randy Blythe, who — despite being exonerated earlier this year — still faces substantial legal bills in the wake of his recent trial in the Czech Republic. You can also make a donation to Justice Now directly.

Produced and engineered by Steve Austin (TODAY IS THE DAY), "New American Gospel" — the band's Prosthetic debut, and their first release under the LAMB OF GOD moniker — is a "groove metal" landmark, and an important step in the band's ascent to the top of the "New Wave Of American Heavy Metal" scene. Praised by Revolver as one of the "69 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time" and by MetalSucks as one of the "21 Best Metal Albums Of the 21st Century...So Far," the album has sold more than 100,000 copies in the U.S. alone.

Founded in 2007 and officially kicked off in 2008 by METALLICA, Record Store Day takes place on the third Saturday of every April and brings together artists and independently owned record stores around the world to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and sold in independent stores.

For a list of participating retail outlets, visit www.recordstoreday.com.

"Circle", the eleventh album from Finnish melancholic dark metal forerunners AMORPHIS will be released on April 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. Production and mixing duties for the follow-up to 2011's "The Beginning Of Times" were handled by HYPOCRISY and PAIN mastermind Peter Tägtgren, who has previously worked with such bands as CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL and DIMMU BORGIR. The recordings took place at Petrax Studio (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KORPIKLAANI) in Hollola and 5K Studios in Helsinki. The cover artwork was created by Tom Bates (BLEED FROM WITHIN, DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL) and can be seen below.

A six-minute video clip containing snippets of all songs on the album, as well as a track-by-track commentary by guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen, can be seen below.

Commented AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen: "The mystic, androgynous person on the cover represents a spiritual guide. This character was sent from another time and place to help the album's protagonist find a new path for his life."

"Circle" track listing:

01. Shades Of Gray
02. Mission
03. The Wanderer
04. Narrow Path
05. Hopeless Days
06. Nightbird's Song
07. Into The Abyss
08. Enchanted By The Moon
09. A New Day
10. Dead Man's Dream (bonus track)

The album's limited digibook version will come with a bonus DVD containing the following:

* The Making Of "Circle"
* Nightbird's Song (video clip)

Apart from the CD+DVD digibook version, "Circle" will be available on CD (without the bonus track), black 2LP in gatefold, brown 2LP in gatefold and as a bulging limited box, including three bonus tracks and a wristband — exclusively via the Nuclear Blast mail order.

A short summary about the album's concept/story that spreads throught out the lyrics by Pekka Kainulainen, who wrote the lyrics for most recent AMORPHIS albums: "The protagonist has been dealt a bad hand at birth. He’s always felt himself an outsider with strong potential to become marginalized. Through an accident, after a crisis, he finds a connection with his inner powers. A guide is sent to him, from some other time and place. He gets a chance to take hold of his own life and change his destiny. From the past of Carelian Finland he finds his own spiritual tribe and the power to turn the course of his doomed life. This is a story of survival."

Joutsen added about the album title: "'Circle' represents integrity. Back in the days, when there was something special to talk about, wise men used to sit in circle. Not everyone was invited to join them. But in this story, the protagonist was invited among the wise men's circle."

Regarding the direction of the new AMORPHIS material, the band's guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen said: "While promoting 'The Beginning Of Times', we started to feel that we were giving the same explanations over and over again when people asked about the studio process and how the songs came about. Even though the music was very strong, the making process didn't offer any surprises and appeared to be quite secured. Now the addition of a new dimension to the developing process has inspired us to focus on our material even more. The songs are extremely strong, bombastic and skull-pummelling."

"The Beginning Of Times" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.

Behemoth Bike, as the project is initially called, is a custom motorcycle inspired and currently being created in collaboration with the global Polish icon of metal music - BEHEMOTH and particularly band's leader - Adam "Nergal" Darski. The project was initiated and is being enforced by Game Over Cycles, a Polish company producing custom motorcycles. The bike is planned by the designers to be a powerful dark machine with exceptional technical parameters and unprecedented ornamentation. Construction started in January 2013. Currently motorcycle's main components such as body, frame, suspension arms are already completed and the machine is being prepared for test drives. Completion of construction is scheduled for May and will be unveiled during the Impact Festival on June 4th in Lotnisko, Warsaw, Poland.
The whole process can be followed on Game Over Cycles' Facebook profile here.
Behemoth Bike’s basic components:

Engine - RevTech 110"
Front wheel - 19"
Back wheel - 18"
Air suspensions - front and back (by Legend)
Back tire, Monster model, size 360mm.

"Stigmatized", a brand new song from German thrash metal veterans SODOM, can be streamed at NPR.org. The track comes off the band's new album, "Epitome Of Torture", which will be made available on April 29 in Europe and May 7 in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. Vocalist/bassist Thomas "Angelripper" Such, guitarist Bernd "Bernemann" Kost and new drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald recorded a total of twelve new tracks (plus a MOTÖRHEAD cover) which "present SODOM as more diverse and multi-faceted than ever," according to a press release.

The band recently filmed a video for "Stigmatized" in Berlin with director Ronald Matthes and Roax Media (SODOM's "Lords Of Depravity" volumes 1 and 2, VOLBEAT, MOB RULES).

"SODOM haven't had an official video clip for some time, so it's about time we did one," Angelripper said. "That’s why the mini film will be uncompromising, a shocking clip which our fans can look forward to!"

"Epitome Of Torture" track listing:

Limited-edition digipak:

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)
04. Stigmatized (02:56)
05. Cannibal (04:19)
06. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)
07. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
08. Katjuscha (03:43)
09. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)
10. Tracing The Victim (04:46)
11. Waterboarding (05:06) (bonus track)
12. Splitting The Atom (04:28) (bonus track)

Jewel Case:

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)
04. Stigmatized (02:56)
05. Cannibal (04:19)
06. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)
07. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
08. Katjuscha (03:43)
09. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)
10. Tracing The Victim (04:46)

2LP (colored vinyl):

LP 1

Side 1

01. My Final Bullet (04:40)
02. S.O.D.O.M. (03:46)
03. Epitome Of Torture (03:31)

Side 2

01. Stigmatized (02:56)
02. Cannibal (04:19)
03. Shoot Today - Kill Tomorrow (04:01)

LP 2

Side 1

01. Invocating The Demons (04:25)
02. Katjuscha (03:43)
03. Into The Skies Of War (03:51)

Side 2

01. Tracing The Victim (04:46)
02. Waterboarding (05:06) (bonus track)
03. Splitting The Atom (04:28) (bonus track)
04. Ace Of Spades (02:36) (bonus track)

"'Epitome Of Torture' features not only your typical SODOM fare, but also two or three numbers which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us," says Angelripper, "so wait and see!"

SODOM will celebrate the release of "Epitome Of Torture" on April 26 at Endzeit in Essen, Germany.

"Katjuscha" has little to do with the same-named folk song by Mikhail Isakovsky, but is about the Russian rocket launcher which has been responsible for death and destruction thousandfold.

"The Katjuscha has been produced since World War II and is still used today," the SODOM frontman explains. "It's been responsible for the death of more people than Stalin's organ. To name such a deadly weapon after a girl is as grotesque as giving the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima the code name 'Little Boy'."

It's obvious that SODOM hasn't changed its scornful view of the world, presenting an album in "Epitome Of Torture" that is as uncompromising as ever in musical as well as lyrical terms.

"Unfortunately, there's still plenty of inspiration for angry lyrics around," says Angelripper. The bitter thrash metal attack "Waterboarding", which deals with torture methods, fits perfectly into this context.

"It always surprises me how inventive — in the most negative sense of the word — people can be when it comes to torturing others," states the vocalist. "At the same time, 'Epitome Of Torture' features not only typical SODOM numbers, like the title track, our new hit 'S.O.D.O.M.' and 'Stigmatized', the toughest SODOM number in ages, but also two or three recordings which are slightly more moderate and melodic than what people have come to expect from us." Angelripper is referring to songs such as "Cannibal" and "Tracing The Victim", which allow Bernemann to present his impressive musical skills, as well as "Into The Skies Of War", on which Angelripper allowed himself to be inspired by icons such as MOTÖRHEAD and TANK. "Luckily, it's impossible to hide my influences," he says.

"Epitome Of Torture" was produced by Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., ENEMY OF THE SUN), whose expertise as a sound engineer and audio magician thoroughly enhanced SODOM's previous CD, 2010's "In War And Pieces". Angelripper says: "Waldemar is a true authority. He doesn't let you get away with anything, he knows all our weak spots. Which occasionally makes working at the studio a little demanding, but at the end of the day, it's all worthwhile, as the result shows." The SODOM frontman describes the sound on "Epitome Of Torture" as "hard as nails and contemporary, without ignoring our tried-and-tested old-school attitude."

"Epitome Of Torture" will be available in four different formats: a limited-edition digipak, including two bonus tracks and a poster; regular jewel case; as a double gatefold vinyl, including three bonus tracks; and as a digital download. The cover artwork featuring SODOM's popular "Knarrenheinz" logo was developed by graphic designer Meran Karanitant, who has previously worked with SIX FEET UNDER, HATEBREED and DIMMU BORGIR, among others.

"Spectral Light", the new video from the Finnish atmospheric rock act THE CHANT, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's third album, "A Healing Place", which was released last August via Lifeforce Records.

"A Healing Place" track listing:

01. Outlines
02. Spectral Light
03. Riverbed
04. The Black Corner
05. Ocean Speaks
06. Distant Drums
07. My Kin
08. Regret

THE CHANT is a seven-member band from Finland. The current lineup has been existence since 1999, but it took some years and a couple of demo recordings before the group's debut album, "Ghostlines", was released in 2008. It already based on this unique melancholic music full of beautiful melodies and harmonies, THE CHANT have become known for. With "This is The World We Know" (2010), the Finns strengthened their approach of playing atmospheric rock with gothic and progressive influences.

The majority of the songs for "A Healing Place" were recorded by THE CHANT themselves and showcase a band going deeper into an even more complexand layered sound with unexpected twists and an arcane ambience. The Finns take their listeners into a place where they have to fumble ingrey mist, before being able to see all the shades of color. The agonizing sides of life have to be faced, before being able to clean oneself from them. The seemingly positive exterior of "A Healing Place" hides bitter and dismal moods.

With "A Healing Place", the Helsinki-based septet takes a stand as one of Finland's progressive rock bands people have to be aware of. Based on a deeply atmospheric, almost cinematic sound, THE CHANT rely on dreamy guitarmelodies, spherical piano-playing and a remarkable voice. This album full of soundscape-driven, ambitious rock music should please fans of ANATHEMA, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA, PORCUPINE TREE and A PERFECT CIRCLE.

"Inner Sanctum", a brand new song from German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA, can be streamed in the YouTube studio clip below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Eternal Defiance", which will be released on May 24 via AFM Records. The CD's cover artwork was created by Kris Verwimp and can be seen below.

"Eternal Defiance" track listing:

01. Storming The Walls
02. Inner Sanctum
03. Beneath The Red Eagle
04. March Of Conquest
05. Pair Dadeni
06. The Mindsong
07. Rage For Revenge
08. Dragon’s Head
09. Defiant Dreams
10. Damnatio Memoriae
11. Mrs Mcgrath (bonus track)

Commented SUIDAKRA singer Arkadius Antonik: "As on the previous two releases, it will be a concept album again, created by [famous Belgian graphic artist] Kris Verwimp in cooperation with us. Our new concept includes a lot of new elements and suprises which will be reflected in the music as well."

In a 2012 interview with Metal Kaoz, Antonik stated about SUIDAKRA's new material: "The songs … are bombastic and we also finished the first song with Tina's [Stabel] female vocals. This time, it's gonna be a faster song with a real epic and catchy chorus."

Bassist Marcus Riewaldt last year announced his departure from SUIDAKRA. He said in a statement, "After more than 250 shows and 10 years being in the band, I feel that now time has come to change my priorities a bit and see what else life has to offer for me. No hard feelings involved; it's just that I cannot motivate myself for another writing-rehearsing-recording-promoting-touring cycle and that I'm really annoyed by some of the music business mechanisms that one has to deal with in order to continue this beautiful and exciting, but at the same time very time- and energy-consuming hobby. I wish SUIDAKRA much luck and success for the future — it would all be well deserved!"

SUIDAKRA has already secured a replacement bassist in Tim Siebrecht, who was a stand-in guitar player for SUIDAKRA on several occasions in recent years.

SUIDAKRA's tenth album, "Book Of Dowth", was released on March 25, 2011 via AFM Records.

German metallers TERVINGI, the new band around ex-LYFTHRASYR guitarist Johann Frey, have released a video for the song 'Die Seherin' which can be viewed below:
'Die Seherin' can be found on the band's first album, Gotensaga, which deals with the story of the westgoths, which are also called Tervingi. The band plays catchy metal somewhere between death and heavy metal, which is a a guarantee for great entertainment, according to a press release.
Band lineup:
Johann Frey - lead, rhythm guitars and vocals
Aria Keramati Noori - lead and rhythm guitars
Todd Goldfinger - bass guitar
Tomasz "Nefastus" Janiszewski - drums
Julian Pešek - keyboards
More on Tervingi at this location.

The official lyric video for the song "The Serpent King" from THE RESISTANCE, the Swedish extreme metal band featuring former members of IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED and GRAVE, can be seen below. The track comes off THE RESISTANCE's full-length debut, "Scars", which will be released on May 10 in Europe and May 14 in the U.S. via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group. The 12-track CD is reminiscent of the good old days of Swedish death metal back in the 1980s/1990s when bands like ENTOMBED, GRAVE and 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 THE RESISTANCE/ex-IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad. "[It's] just awesome death metal!"

"Scars" will be released on CD (as an elaborated digipack), on classic vinyl as well as a download.

"Scars" track listing:

01. Clearing The Slate
02. Your Demise
03. To The Death
04. Expand To Expire
05. Imperfected
06. I Bend - You Break
07. The Serpent King
08. Eye For An Eye
09. My Madness
10. Warmonger
11. Scars
12. (I Will) Die Alone

THE RESISTANCE will embark on a short European tour in May. Support on the trek will come from BETZEFER and COLOSSUS.

THE RESISTANCE released its debut EP, "Rise From Treason", in North America on January 29 via earMUSIC. The EP was made available on CD, limited-edition seven-inch vinyl and as a digital download.

The band last year parted ways with bassist Alex Losbäck Holstad (ex-DESPITE, DECAMERON, CARDINAL SIN). A replacement has not yet been announced.

The song "Eye For An Eye" was originally made available on the sampler CD that was distributed to the subscribers of Sweden's Close-Up Magazine in the August 2011 issue.

THE RESISTANCE made its live debut on October 8, 2011 at Club Distortion in Stockholm, Sweden.

THE RESISTANCE's lineup is as follows:

* Marco Aro (FACE DOWN, THE HAUNTED) - Vocals
* Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES, DIMENSION ZERO) - Guitar
* Glenn Ljungström (IN FLAMES, DIMENSION ZERO) - Guitar
* Chris Barkensjö (CARNAL FORGE, GODSIC, GRAVE) - Drums

Strömblad quit IN FLAMES in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.

Brazilian thrashers DEATHRAISER have released their first video, for the song 'Terminal Disease', which can be seen below. The video was produced and directed by Nicolas Gomes, (VIOLATOR, EXPOSE YOUR HATE), and according to the band, his work was "exceptional, reaching the goal in full and leaving all proud!"
'Terminal Disease' appears on Deathraiser's debut album, Violent Aggression. Originally issued in 2011 by Spanish label Xtreem Music, Violent Aggression was re-issued in 2012 by Brazilian label Kill Again Records.

Comprised of: vocalist/guitarist Thiago Martins, guitarist Ramon Bedim, bassist Junior Gaetho, and drummer William Fernandes, Deathraiser is already preparing for their second album.

Swedish black metal band SVARTSYN has revealed the first track off their upcoming full-length entitled Black Testament. The album will be released May 28th in Europe, and June 11th in North America via Agonia Records.

The song 'Demoness With Seven Names' can be streamed below:
Black Testament will contain the following seven songs:

‘Revelation In The Waters’
‘Venom Of The Underworld’
‘Demoness With Seven Names’
‘Carving A Temple’
‘Eyes Of The Earth’
‘Rising Beast’
‘Black Testament’
Band founder Ornias comments: “Black Testament can be described as a sinister mix between Destruction Of Man and Timeless Reign releases.”

To pre-order Black Testament, visit this location.