Quebec-based metallers RIOTOR will enter the studio on June 29th to record their second album, entitled Rusted Throne. Eleven songs will be recorded, including 'Rusted Thrones', 'Into The Riot', 'Desintegrator', 'Learning To Hate', and 'Narcotic Death'.

"Expect a total devastation as usual from your favorite Canadian thrashers for the fall of 2013."

Check out the song 'Desintegrator' at this location or via the widget at the bottom of the page.

More on Riotor at this location.

Email newsletters for bands at ReverbNation.com

Audio samples of all the tracks that will appear on "Now What?!", the 19th studio album from British hard rock legends DEEP PURPLE, can be streamed at Amazon.co.uk. The CD will be released via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group, on the following dates:

* Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Spain: April 26
* UK, France, Benelux, Poland, Czech Republic, Norway, Denmark: April 29
* North America, Italy: April 30
* Sweden: May 1

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. A Simple Song
02. Weirdistan
03. Out Of Hand
04. Hell To Pay
05. Body Line
06. Above And Beyond
07. Blood From A Stone
08. Uncommon Man
09. Après Vous
10. All The Time In The World
11. Vincent Price

"Now What?!" will also be released in a limited quantity with a bonus track and a bonus DVD featuring DEEP PURPLE in conversation plus additional audio material. This edition will be available in a digipak with a cut out front cover. "Now What?!" will also be released as double vinyl LP containing a bonus track, as in the limited-edition CD.

After various songwriting sessions in Europe, the band recorded and mixed the album in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, PETER GABRIEL, ALICE COOPER, KANSAS). The CD contain 11 tracks, including "Out Of Hand", "Weirdistan", "Uncommon Man" and "Above And Beyond". The latter song references the band's late keyboard player, Jon Lord, in the lyric "Souls having touched are forever entwined."

According to a press release, "Now What?!" was recorded with no musical rules… and it shows a modern and fresh production… to the point that DEEP PURPLE have never sounded so close to the spirit of the '70s in the last 20 years as they do now. The CD has the excellence and elegance of "Perfect Strangers" and the wild freedom of "Made In Japan".

Texas heavy rockers DROWNING POOL played a intimate acoustic show on March 19 at the Musician Rehearsal Center in Sparks, Nevada. You can watch video footage of their performance below.

DROWNING POOL's fifth studio album, "Resilience", is scheduled for release on April 9 via Eleven Seven Music. The band teamed up with producer Kato Khandwalla at House of Loud Studios in New Jersey, as well as John Feldmann (THE USED, STORY OF THE YEAR), and completed the album in Dallas.

DROWNING POOL bassist Stevie Benton recently spoke to AOL's Noisecreep about the latest addition to the group lineup: singer Jasen Moreno. Moreno, who previously fronted fellow Texas band THE SUICIDE HOOK, is DROWNING POOL's fourth and newest frontman. Jasen replaces vocalist Ryan McCombs, who exited the group at the end of 2011 after a six-year stint in the lineup.

Asked how DROWNING POOL's chemistry has been affected by the singer changes over the years, Benton said: "Well, it's a forced form of band evolution, I would say, certainly not something you strive for and not something that I would advise other bands to do, because it's a lot of extra work and it's hard on you at times, but for us, we still had a such great time with Dave [Williams, DROWNING POOL's original singer] and such great vibes still remains and we've been trying to recapture that ever since then. It feels cheap to stick with a chemistry that just doesn't feel right and so maybe that's why we've had a lot of turnover. We knew if we switched singers again that a lot of people would look at it and make comments, but for us it seemed like it was worth it to take that shot at capturing the best chemistry we ever had. So we did. Look, sometimes you have to shift gears and I'm sure some of our ex-singers feel the same way: 'I can't wait to get the hell out of here.'"

He added: "One thing we have learned is that each singer has strong points and weak points and we've learned to craft the sound of the band that will benefit the singer at the time. It can be tricky at times to learn the nuances of it, but this time around, one fortunate thing is Jasen, our new singer, is a Dallas guy, we've know him for years and so it's not like having a stranger coming in. We had a great idea about him though, who he is and what he is about, and so we've been able to hit the ground running."

Moreno made his live debut as a member of DROWNING POOL on July 8, 2012 at a club in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

UK prog-rockers hAND have announced that they have signed to Brutal Elite Records for the release of their upcoming third album Kintsugi.

The four piece are due to head to Seriously Heavy Studios in July to begin recording the new album. After meeting up with producer Nick Hemingway the band excitedly wrote on their news feed, "After talking things over with Nick we can't tell you how hyped we are about this album; we reckon it is going to sound a bit different to the last two production wise, we have so many ideas already!"
Having digitally released their second album Breathing through Brutal Elite Records, the band felt it was a positive and natural progression to fully sign to the label.

A free sampler of some of the bands previous work is available to download here including demo versions of upcoming tracks.

For more details visit Handtheband.com.

The official video for the song "Adrenalize" from Southern California's IN THIS MOMENT can be seen below. The track comes off the band's fourth album, "Blood", which sold around 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Commented IN THIS MOMENT: "We are thrilled to finally unleash the 'Adrenalize' video on the masses. We created something that surpasses our highly successful video for 'Blood' and now that we have your attention we are going to make you feel filthy, captivated, and at the same time disturbingly aroused. Love or hate us, we guarantee you will keep coming back for more."

Released on August 14, 2012 via Century Media Records, "Blood" was once again produced by Kevin Churko, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, among others.

IN THIS MOMENT began work on the new album just a few months following the departures of drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel, who left the band in 2011 in order to join the backing group of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin. Fabb and Bunzel have since been replaced by Tom Hane (THYATEIRA) and Randy Weitzel (FLATLINE, 3/13, AMERICAN MASSACRE), respectively.

"Blood" was released in December as a double-disc set through Hot Topic. The special package contained the full original "Blood" album on one disc, and a second disc that featured a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Closer", as well as four additional new remixes of songs on "Blood":

* "Blood (Sluggo Remix)"
* "Adrenalize (Mr. Kane Remix)"
* "Whore (Nikka Bling Remix)"
* "The Blood Legion (Mitch Marlow Remix)"

"Adrenalize" video:

The official video for "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown", the first single from Rob Zombie's eagerly awaited new album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", can be seen below. Zombie himself directed the clip, which is described by the rocker as "pretty fucking cool.' He adds: "For all of you hoping for an old-school, weirdo-style Zombie video… well, you are gonna get it. Big time!"

"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" will be released on April 23 on Zodiac Swan/T-Boy/Ume. The CD was produced by Bob Marlette, who has previously worked with everyone from BLACK SABBATH and ALICE COOPER to WILSON PHILLIPS and LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

Asked what the story is behing the album's title, Rob told Revolver magazine: "There's no real story behind it. I just thought of it one day. With every album I've ever made, we'll get it basically one hundred percent done and everyone will go, 'OK, what's the title?' And I'm like, 'I don't know what the fuckin' title is yet. It hasn't hit me.' And then one day I'll just blurt out, 'La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1!' or 'Hellbilly Deluxe!' It's the same with this one. I have it written down somewhere, but I don't remember doing it."

He added: "Truthfully, the whole record was conceived as a concept album. But I'm not really selling it that way. I was getting obsessed watching things like 'Tommy', 'The Wall', 'Quadrophenia', where you have a movie to go with the album and it's a whole big concept. So I thought I'd write this album with that in mind: That maybe one day — it could be a year, it could be 10 years — I could turn the concept of this record into a movie. That being said, nothing about the concept of the record will make any sense to anyone until it's a movie. The band doesn't even know the storyline. No one does, except me. But I won't discuss it because it'll all make sense someday. Or it won't. [laughs] lt doesn't matter. The songs work fine even if you don't know the concept."

Regarding his decision to include a a heavy-duty cover of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's "We're An American Band" on "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", Rob said: "I've never recorded a cover song as a solo artist, and I only recorded a few with WHITE ZOMBIE [KISS' 'God Of Thunder', BLACK SABBATH's 'Children Of The Grave' and KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND's 'I'm Your Boogie Man']. But you always wanna add new songs into your live show, so [Zombie's guitarist] John 5 and I would always sit in the back of the bus listening to stuff we could cover, but it was always like, 'Nah, that one's not right.' Cover songs are tricky. You gotta find just the right one. 'We're An American Band' hit us because it just felt so much like our life. We're a quintessential American band — everything that's right or wrong in Americana in one band. It wasn't like we were trying to say anything deep or meaningful. [laughs] It was just like, 'Yeah, we're in a rock band. Fuck you — it's awesome.'"

"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" track listing:

01. Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
02. Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown
03. Revelation Revolution
04. Theme For The Rat Vendor
05. Gong Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
06. Rock And Roll (In A Black Hole)
07. Behold! The Pretty Filthy Creatures
08. White Trash Freaks
09. We're An American Band (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD cover)
10. Lucifer Rising
11. The Girl Who Loved The Monsters
12. Trade In Your Guns For A Coffin

Zombie told The Pulse Of Radio what goals he set for himself in making the new album. "I wanted someone to hear it and go, 'Wow, I haven't heard that before,'" he said. "I wanted it to be just different. We really went out of our way with the sounds, so every song has a very different sound, a very different guitar sound, drum sound, just everything, where the sound, the actual sound becomes very important. You know, after all these years you want to still try to feel that you can break through new, creative areas in your own mind, and that's really what we're just trying to do, you know."

"Daughters Of The Sea", a brand new song from Swedish epic doom metallers MEMORY GARDEN, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's fifth album, "Doomain", which will be 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

"Daughters Of The Sea" audio stream:

"Monstrance Clock", a brand new song from the mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "Infestissumam", which will be released on April 16 via Loma Vista Recordings, the new record label founded by Tom Whalley in partnership with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group.

According to SPIN.com, the release date of "Infestissumam" was pushed back a week after four compact disc manufacturers allegedly refused to print a piece of artwork that was meant for the deluxe version of the new CD. The manufacturers all took issue with the sacrilegious imagery, inspired by the work of Gustave Dore, which showcases what looks like a forest nymph orgy.

"We kept on getting turned down because of the CD art, which is basically a 16th century illustration of an orgy," a source close to the band told SPIN.com. "[The bandmembers] weren't surprised. The comment was 'Well, I thought this would have happened sooner.' The artwork was meant to provoke some sort of thought, but it's been one obstacle after another."

The controversial art can still be found on both the vinyl and European copies of the "Infestissuman" CD. "Vinyl manufacturers don't have a problem with the artwork. Neither does Europe," the source told SPIN.com.

"Infestissumam" track listing:

01. Infestissumam
02. Per Aspera Ad Inferi
03. Secular Haze
04. Jigolo Har Megiddo
05. Ghuleh / Zombie Queen
06. Year Zero
07. Idolatrine
08. Body And Blood
09. Depth Of Satans Eyes
10. Monstrance Clock

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

The band's debut album, "Opus Eponymous", was released in late 2010 in Europe and in early 2011 in North America via Rise Above Records.

The Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE has just hit the road 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. The trek kicked off this past Saturday, April 6 at Peppermill Casino in Wendover, Nevada and featured the following setlist:

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

Encore:

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

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

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 has 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 is scheduled for release 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).

Guitarist ANDY TIMMONS (ex-DANGER DANGER) released his latest album ANDY TIMMONS BAND: Play Sgt Pepper at the end of 2011. Check out a promo clip for the track 'She's Leaving Home' posted in March 2013:
The album's tracklist is as follows:

'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
'With A Little Help From My Friends'
'Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds'
'Getting Better'
'Fixing A Hole'
'She's Leaving Home'
'Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!'
'Within You, Without You'
'When I'm Sixty-Four'
'Lovely Rita'
'Good Morning, Good Morning'
'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)'
'A Day In The Life'
'Strawberry Fields Forever'

Brazilian traditional heavy metal quintet FIRE STRIKE - formed by female vocalist Aline Nunes vocals, guitarrists Henry / Helyad, bassist Edivan and drummer Jean Praelli - are about to issue their first album titled Lion And Tiger, which will be released by independent label 13 Records.
Lion And Tiger features the following tracks (not in this order):
'Night Fever'
'The True Dream'
'Streets Of Fire'
'Master Of The Seas'
'Lion And Tiger'

Lion And Tiger was self produced and the front cover was done by the great artist Celso Mathias. The band will begin pre-production for the recording of their first official video clip for the track 'Streets Of Fire' soon.

For more details visit Facebook.

Scottish ambient act RAMAGE INC. has released their new album Feel The Waves which can be downloaded via Bandcamp. Mainman Bryan Ramage put together the solo band and also sings for the Dutch metal band Celice and a press release recommends the album for fans of DEVIN TOWNSEND.

Check out a video of the album launch below:



Feel The Waves tracklisting:

‘By The Way Side’
‘Scape’
‘Gave Up My World’
‘As The Wind Blows’
‘So Far Away’
‘Feel The Waves’
‘Horizon’
‘Sin’
‘Ups & Downs’
‘Dreamer’
‘Don’t Bring Me Down’
‘Majestica’
‘Weakness’
‘Starfield’

For more info on Ramage Inc. visit Facebook.

According to Noise11.com, producer/engineer Andy Johns, who worked on classic albums like LED ZEPPELIN IV and the ROLLING STONES Exile On Main Street, has died.
Johns came from a family of sound engineers. His older brother is Glyn Johns (THE WHO, EAGLES, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin) and his nephew is Ethan Johns.

Andy Johns began his career as a tape operator in Olympic Studios in London working with ROD STEWART, JETHRO TULL and HUMBLE PIE.

Johns worked with the Rolling Stones from 1968-1973 and captured the sounds for Exile On Main Street from Keith Richards’ mansion in the South of France in the early '70s.

He then moved to Los Angeles and worked with OZZY OSBOURNE, JOE SATRIANI and VAN HALEN.

According to Ninemsn, Australian bass player Neil Smith, a one-time member of AC/DC and ROSE TATTOO, has lost his battle with cancer.
The following statement on Smith's Facebook page has confirmed that he died early on Sunday morning.

"Neil Smith passed away in the early hours of the morning, Sunday, April 7th. He was sleeping peacefully and surrounded by family," the statement said. Neil is now in peace and is no longer battling with cancer.

There is not a person out there who has met him and not felt like their lives were better for the experience. He was a loving and devoted father, a loyal friend and all round generous person. He was larger than life, and his passing will be felt.

Thanks to all his friends for their support and love, especially during the final stages of his life."

Neil was a member of the AC/DC rhythm section in 1974. Rob Bailey, then Mark Evans replaced him before Cliff Williams took over the role permanently.

Footage from Neil's last gig with Rose Tattoo at Parramatta Goal in 1979 can be seen on YouTube below:

BLACK SABBATH will embark on a European tour in November/December. Confirmed dates are as follows:

Nov. 20 - Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
Nov. 22 - Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
Nov. 24 - Telenor Arena, Oslo, Norway
Nov. 26 - Forum, Denmark, Copenhagen
Nov. 28 - Ziggo Dome, Holland, Amsterdam
Nov. 30 - Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
Dec. 02 - Bercy, Paris, France
Dec. 05 - Fiera Arena, Milan, Italy
Dec. 07 - 02 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
Dec. 10 - 02 Arena, London, UK
Dec. 12 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Ireland
Dec. 14 - Arena, Sheffield, UK
Dec. 16 - Hydro, Glasgow, UK
Dec. 18 - Arena, Manchester, UK
Dec. 20 - LG Arena, Birmingham, UK

BLACK SABBATH's new album, "13" — the first in 35 years to feature bassist Geeezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and singer Ozzy Osbourne — will be released on June 11 via Vertigo/Universal Republic in the U.S. and Vertigo in all other territories. The drum tracks on the group's first LP with Osbourne since 1978 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, Iommi and Butler recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include three seven-plus-minute behemoths "End Of The Beginning", "God Is Dead" and "Epic", as well as a track about killing pedophile priests ("Dear Father") and another about the scourge of methamphetamine addiction ("Methademic").

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 in July and August.

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

However, plans for extensive touring were curtailed by the January 2012 revelation that Iommi had been diagnosed with an early stage of cancer.

He received treatment throughout the year, with the band initially beginning its recording sessions in London so that the guitarist could be near his doctors.

SABBATH did play 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. All three featured Ozzy's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos on drums.
"13" album teaser:

NEWSTED, the new band led by former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist Jason Newsted, has completed recording its first full-length album, to be released later this year. NEWSTED is scheduled to begin mixing the effort later this week, with more details to be announced soon.

NEWSTED will kick off its first-ever U.S. tour on April 19 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.

"It was obvious from the word go that Mike is one of us," Jason said about Mushok's addition to the group. "Professional, focused, happy and grateful to be able to make our beautiful noise together!"

"I loved the old-school vibe of [NEWSTED's] 'Metal' EP, and when we got together to jam, it really felt great," added Mushok.

"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.'"

"Metal", the debut EP from NEWSTED, 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.

"Metal" was released on January 8 exclusively via iTunes. The EP was made available as a physical CD on January 15.

"Metal" contains the following tracks:

* Soldierhead
* Godsnake
* King Of The Underdogs
* Skyscraper

"Soldierhead", the first video from NEWSTED, can be seen below. Directed by Leon Melas, the clip was filmed on December 15, 2012 in an abandoned factory in California.

NEWSTED is:

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

A photo of the current NEWSTED lineup can be seen below.

Oakland, California death metallers SUFFOKATE have recruited Canadian singer Matt Krawchuk as the replacement for Ricky Hoover, who left the band last year.

Krawchuk's SUFFOKATE audition video can be seen below.

Hoover quit SUFFOKATE in May 2012, claiming that it was "in the best interest for everyone" for him to depart. He revealed that he "could no longer continue" to front the band due to reasons he "[wouldn't] get into." He added, "I have no bad feelings or ill will towards the band and will always have love for them and the music I was fortunate enough to help create. I have poured my all and given everything I have into these last two albums and will always be grateful for them and everyone who supported me. No matter what happens, the guys in SUFFOKATE will always be my brothers. I will do whatever i can to help them out. They are some of the greatest people I have ever met and I'm truly thankful I've gotten to do this with them."

SUFFOKATE's latest album, "Return To Despair", was released in September 2011 via Mediaskare Records. The CD was recorded at Undercity Studios in North Hollywood, California.

Melodic progressive power metal act ARTIZAN will release its new album, "Ancestral Energy", on May 10 via Pure Steel Records. The cover artwork for the CD, which can be seen below, was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, SIGH, ATHEIST and AGHORA.

Commented ARTIZAN founder/drummer Ty Tammeus: "Eliran has impressed me with his previous illustrations; he is a young, gifted artist, who will inject his unique talents into a masterpiece for the new ARTIZAN album. I am amazed how he has completely immersed himself into our music, and the story of our characters, to develop a concept for the album cover unlike anything I have ever seen."

"Ancestral Energy" was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with legendary metal producer Jim Morris. Ex-ICED EARTH singer Matt Barlow makes a very special guest appearance on the CD's title track.

ARTIZAN's new song "The Death Of Me" can be streamed below. According to a press release, the track "showcases all of the elements ARTIZAN established on their first album, 'Curse Of The Artizan'." Fantasy artist Marc Sasso created artwork for the "The Death Of Me" single which displays the Artizan character with Sasso’s unique conception of the Grim Reaper.

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have posted behind-the-scenes footage from their February tour of Russia. Check it out below.

SONATA ARCTICA's latest album, "Stones Grow Her Name", was certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. Released in Europe on May 18, 2012 and in North America on May 22, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded in several studios all over Finland, mixed at Sonic Pump Studios by Mikko Karmila and mastered at Chartmakers by Svante Forsbäck. The effort was released as a limited-edition digipak, standard jewel case, vinyl and download.

"Stones Grow Her Name" sold around 2,100 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.

TMZ reports that "guitarist Richie Sambora is bailing on the BON JOVI world tour because of 'personal issues,' but it has nothing to do with substance abuse... it's all about a war that's exploded between Jon and Richie."
Apparently, "sources directly connected to Bon Jovi tell TMZ... tensions between Jon and Richie have been running high for years and it's finally erupted. One source tells them, 'It's a classic Jagger/Richards blowup.'

Their sources go on to say part of the problem is that Jon constantly belittles Richie. But there's another part of the problem - they're fighting over money."

Further details can be found at TMZ.

Bon Jovi's next show is tomorrow, April 5th in Winnipeg, MB; guitarist Phil X is filling in for Sambora. The current leg of the tour is scheduled to end April 25th in San Jose, CA. Bon Jovi's complete live itinerary can be found here.

"I had two choices: pack up and go home or give you everything I got ... Richie Sambora won't be performing for a while. If there's ever a night I need you, it's tonight, Calgary!"

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the legendary show in Budokan, Japan, CHEAP TRICK are excited to announce that they will play the exact April 28th, 1978 Budokan set on April 28th at the John Varvatos Bowery boutique in New York City, sponsored by Sony Experia and Legacy Recordings.
As the space that formerly housed the seminal underground music club CBGB’s, the Varvatos store seemed the perfect place to celebrate this historic moment. This legendary band began its relationship with Varvatos in Spring 2008 when they starred in the seasonal brand campaign photographed by Danny Clinch.

“I’m proud to host this momentous show for my friends Cheap Trick at my Bowery store which is celebrating its own 5th anniversary this month,” says designer John Varvatos.

Fans around the world will be able to watch the show live via Livestream.com by visiting this location.

PopMarket.com will offer 50 VIP ticket bundles on April 4th at noon which will include entry to this private show, a meet and greet, a signed commemorative poster, the Cheap Trick Complete Epic Albums CD Box Set, plus the Budokan! 3 CD/1 DVD box set.
On April 30th, the band will perform the exact April 30th, 1978 Budokan set at the El Rey in Los Angeles, CA. this show will air live nationally on AXS TV. Axs TV will also give home viewers a unique concert experience using social media. On twitter, fans can get connected with the live experience by following @axstv and using the hashtag #axscheaptrick. On Facebook, fans can enter here to win autographed copies of the Budokan! box set.

Bolstered by the hit singles, 'I Want You To Want Me', and 'Ain’t That A Shame', 1978’s Cheap Trick At Budokan is the album that catapulted the Rockford, IL, quartet to superstardom. The album rocketed all the way to #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and went triple platinum, and Rolling Stone has since called it one of the top 500 albums of all time.
Since the 70s, Cheap Trick have been blending elements of pop, punk and even metal in a way that is instantly catchy and recognizable. With a multitude of timeless classics to their name, Cheap Trick is a musical institution that resonates as much today as they did at the height of their stardom in the ‘70’s. Anyone familiar with Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will note that Cheap Trick wrote and performed the theme song. They have more than 5,000 performances under their belt, 20 million records sold, 29 movie soundtracks and 40 gold and platinum recording awards.

Guitar legend STEVE VAI will be touring and performing his new orchestral and rock compositions with THE EVOLUTION TEMPO ORCHESTRA throughout Europe.
An update reads: "First, in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the first performance of Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring', The North Nederlands Orkest has commissioned Steve's new composition called 'The Still Small Voice' - the second part of Vai's The Middle Of Everywhere which debuted last year. We can't say too much but the ENTIRE Fire Garden Suite will be performed with a full orchestra and Vai himself. After the Stravinsky Festival, Steve will tour for 2 1/2 weeks with the orchestra and rock ensemble on a String Theories Tour throughout Russia, Ukraine, Italy and Spain, with very special Alien Guitar Secret Masterclasses interspersed."
Visit this location for info and ticket links.

Atlanta, GA-based metal act TRIPHON have announced the start of their sophomore album. The follow-up to the album Distance is scheduled for release in late 2013. The 16-track effort is twice the length of their debut album and will include one bonus track and one cover song.
Since the release of their debut album a mere 8 months ago, Triphon has been smashing their way into the modern metal scene. Distance peaked at #3 on Amazon upon it's release with two singles, 'Open The Gates' and 'Fall Of The Tyrant', making the Top 50 as well. Triphon has also ranked among the top 1% of all metal bands, worldwide on Reverbnation in 2012.

The forthcoming album, which is yet-untitled, continues to showcase the band's eclectic chemistry; further infusing melodic death, power and thrash metal. "It's heavy as hell and we haven't slowed down one bit." comments frontman Kyle Morrison. "This is an amazing leap forward for us as a band and as songwriters. We've found our groove in working with each other and have been incredibly prolific over the past few months."

The band has confirmed a number of special guests appearing on the album but will remain unnamed at this time. Triphon will be documenting their journey from pre-production to album release on their YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Triphon lineup:

Kyle Morrison - Lead Singer & Screamer, Keyboards
Justin Rogers - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Stephen Gladney - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Brian Dawley - 4, 5 & 6 String Bass
Morten Løwe Sørensen - Drums

More on Triphon at this location.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz recently spoke to Decibel magazine about his much-buzzed-about project with former THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER drummer Shannon Lucas and CANNIBAL CORPSE vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher.

"It was supposed to be a big hush-hush, but I think people are starting to catch wind of it," Adam said.

"When [KILLSWITCH] toured with CANNIBAL CORPSE and BLACK DAHLIA on the [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival], I was just hanging out with George one night, and I was like, 'Dude, if I wrote you a bunch of songs to sing over, would you do it?' And he was like, 'Fuck yeah, man!' So, I've written about eight songs. I've played them for George and Shannon, and they're both down. So, we're just looking for a time get into the studio."

Asked if this was material he had sitting around that he thought George would be good for, or if these were songs that were written specifically for George to sing, Adam said: "They were written specifically for him. He's one of my favorite singers of all time, and I thought there wouldn't be any harm in at least asking him. Once he said yes, it was like, 'Alright — let's go!'"

Regarding the musical direction of the new project, Adam said: "It's not straight death metal — there's some melodic elements in there — but it's much faster and more aggressive than KILLSWITCH is. And the drums are blazing, so Shannon is probably one of the only guys on the face of the earth who could pull this off."

Last night's (Friday, April 5) VISION DIVINE concert in Guatemala was reportedly canceled after violence broke out between the police and unruly fans, resulting in the shooting of a local heavy metal musician. Details are sketchy at the moment, but it appears that police were called after several drunken fans started trouble outside the venue. Two shots were reportedly fired, with one of them hitting Cristian Arevalo, a guitarist for the Guatemalan band NOVA EPICA, who was apparently not involved in the dispute.

A statement on the NOVA EPICA Facebook page reads as follows: "It is unfortunate that musicians can fall victims to violence in this country. Yesterday at the concert of VISION DIVINE, unknown people were firing outside the event, and, unfortunately, those bullets were able to penetrate the gate and injure our brother and guitarist, Cristian, who is in a very delicate state. We are praying that he will be able to it get through this. Cristian is an excellent person, and we are all comforted by the knowledge that he is a fighter and that he will succeed. We also hope that the authorities of this country will not let the responislbe parties go unpunished."

VISION DIVINE said in a statement: "We just arrived in Mexico, after having left Guatemala.

"As some of you have probably already heard, we stopped the show in Guatemala 'cause a fan got shot during the concert (still we're not 100% sure about the facts).

"We have no words to comment what just happened... All we can say is that we're close to the family of the guy and that we feel sorry for all the people of Guatemala and the producers of Hominis Nocturna. There's nothing else we feel like commenting, for the moment.

"Thank you for understanding."

VISION DIVINE is touring in support of its seventh studio album, "Destination Set To Nowhere", which was released on September 14, 2012 via Germany's earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based rock branch of Edel Group.

CHURCHBURN is the new musical collaboration between two of the undergrounds masters of misery: Dave Suzuki, best known for his mesmerizing guitar work and brutal drumming in VITAL REMAINS, and Ray McCaffrey, who carved out sonic drum patterns for SIN OF ANGELS and GRIEF.
They have checked in with the following update:

"Dave and I (Ray) are sorry to report that Shawn McCoy has decided to step away from the band. Shawn was faced with some very tough and real life decisions regarding his financial/employment situation. We wish Shawn well. He is an amazing talent and a great friend of the band!!

Going forward Kevin "Edwards" Curley will handle guitar duties alongside Dave. Also, we are very happy to announce the addition of Mike Cardoso ( I, DESTROYER, SUFFERING BASTARD, HAXEN) on bass. Mike brings a lot to the band in experience and overall knowledge of music. We can't wait to introduce our fans to this war machine that is Churchburn!"

their first live events for June 29th and June 30th.

June 29th will be in their hometown Providence, RI at club Fete with death metal legends INCANTATION and ACHERON.

June 30th Churchburn will make their national debut, along side some of the heaviest and darkest bands on the planet, at this years installment of Martyrdoom Fest at Public Assembly in Brooklyn, NY

This will mark the first time Dave Suzuki has taken the stage since his departure from Vital Remains in 2007.

"It will be great to get back in front of a live audience again and introduce this new body of work Ray and I have brought to life" Dave Suzuki.

The groups self tilted three song debut EP, witch is available via their official Bandcamp page.

"Churchburn is very different from Vital Remains," said Suzuki. "Ray and I wanted to do something slow and heavy...just something pummelling to the listener."

According to a press release, Suzuki and McCaffrey have set out to share with the world their love of the riff, not only the heaviest but also the most haunting. Each songs is crafted with the most sinister of intent. Churchburn wants the listener to feel a true sense of dread as the song progresses.

The tracklisting for the EP is as follows:
'Come Forth The Swarm'
'Crown Of Fallen Kings'
'Kneel Upon Charred Remnants'

The band is currently writing and demoing material for its debut album, tentatively due in late 2013 via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

For information and updates on Churchburn go to their official Facebook page here.

JON OLIVA of SAVATAGE and JON OLIVA'S PAIN fame is gearing up for the release of his very first official solo album. The record will be released via AFM Records on June 5th.
Jon Oliva's Pain drummer/producer Christopher Kinder recently checked in with the following update:

"The first (and probably last, ha-ha) Jon Oliva solo record is now complete. Oliva will be the first to admit that it took one hell of a challenge writing, performing 90% of all the tracks himself and vocals... he is exhausted for sure. It's a very interesting and powerful offering. Diverse, emotional, and varying styles of writing and music everywhere. A truly great accomplishment for the mountain king indeed.

Special thanks to Tom Morris and everyone at Morrisound once again for a job well done."

As previously reported, Oliva has assembled a collection of ideas from the past four-five years and recorded nearly all the instrument tracks and vocals himself and also playing drums on several tracks.