Swedish melodic rock outfit OSUKARU will return with not only one, but two releases by the end of May this year; the new album Triumphant, and a special EP called Covered Up.
Triumphant is the band's second full album, but the fourth release in total, and it features the brand new lineup including Oz Osukaru (guitars, keyboards), Fredrik Werner (lead vocals, guitars), Cecilia Camuii (lead vocals), Jens Björk (saxophone), Adrian Lopez (piano, keyboards), Axel Ryberg (drums) and co-founder Ryan Coyle (drums, percussion).

"To me, this version of Osukaru is more like a new band, a reboot so to speak, and in a way Triumphant is like a debut album", Oz says. "However, that doesn't mean that I'm not proud of our previous releases, because I really am. But to make Osukaru grow I felt that it was time for a change."
Triumphant will include a total of 14 tracks with titles like 'Walk In Balance', 'Triumphant', 'Prisoner Of The Night', 'Believe', 'Never Play With Fire' and a song called 'Mafia Rules', featuring Erik Heikne (MISS BEHAVIOUR) on lead guitars.

As if this wasn't enough, a special EP, titled Covered Up, will be released the very same day, featuring five cover songs getting the full Osukaru treatment. This EP is strictly limited to 500 numbered copies and you can only get it as a bonus if you order Triumphant directly from the band or their label City of Lights Records.
Covered Up will be included with the album as a free gift to their fans and the songs featured on the disc are 'Who Cries Now' (UNRULY CHILD), 'Tough Times Don't Last' (BAD ENGLISH), 'Midnight Blue' (LOU GRAMM), 'Waiting For Love' (ALIAS) and a rock version of 'Hair' (LADY GAGA) featuring the pop singer Jessica Frost on lead vocals. Jessica Frost is also the cover model for both Triumphant and Covered Up, and the artwork is, as always, created by Oz Osukaru himself.

More on Osukaru at this location.

Mansfield, CT-based black metallers AUTOLATRY have revealed details on their upcoming full-length, Native, set to be independently released on June 18th. The band’s latest effort is a concept album, telling a tale of Native American assimilation at the time of the colonial settling in New England.

Vocalist Karl Chamberlain comments, “This album represents a powerful look into New England’s history as well as our history as a band. For the first time, the whole band was in one room when we wrote the album and the collaboration forced us to step up our game. Autolatry has always had an underlying concept, but “Native” was created to flow conceptually, lyrically, and musically together. I see this as not just the next step, but an entire new beginning for us.”

The album was engineered and mixed by guitarist/songwriter Dave Kaminsky at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, FL and at the band’s home base in Mansfield. Album artwork created by Casey Stone-Pirrie can be seen below:
Tracklisting:

'Colony
'Waning Moon'
'Unrest With The Tide'
'Pale Dishonor'
'Setting Of The Sun'
'Native'
Autolatry lineup:

Dave Kaminsky - Guitar
Joe Makuch - Guitar
Matt Kaminsky - Drums
Karl Chamberlain - Vocals
Sean Hart - Bass

More on Autolatry at this location.

Sydney, Australia-based "triumphant war metal" band BANE OF ISILDUR are set to release a new studio recording containing two new tracks on April 5th. The EP will be released on limited 7” vinyl and digital download through mediums such as iTunes, Amazon mp3, Spotify etc. and features a brand new, unheard original called '…And The Earth Becomes Aflame' as well as a cover of 'Resurrection Of The Wild' composed by Viking metal gods WINDIR.
The release coincides with the 2013 tour with ENSIFERUM and will be officially launched at a local Sydney show on May 4th.

The 7” vinyl will be strictly limited to 300 copies between Australia and Japan, pre-orders for will be available through the band on the March tour and via email at info@baneofisildur.com.

...And The Earth Becomes Aflame was recorded and mixed at Sydney’s Adversary Studios in 2013 by Aaron Worboys and was mastered by Aphotic Mote in Brisbane.

Guitarist JOE STUMP (RAVEN LORD, HOLYHELL) has posted some live footage online along with the following update:

"'The Ritual Begins' and 'Man Your Battlestations' from one of the NC shows last week. Unfortunately, my drummer had a family emergency so I had to do the backing track thing . But plenty of gratuitous shred footage nonetheless."
Stump's live schedule is now as follows:

March
23 - Dewey's Pub - Seymour, CT
30 - Vail Leavitt Music Hall - Riverhead, NY

April
6 - Fiddler`s Green - Stamford, CT

May
17 - 89 North Music Venue - Patchogue, NY (with SHADOW EDEN)
24 - Intermission Lounge - Pittsburgh, PA (with Pete Rossi)
25 - Token Lounge - Detroit, MI

Stump's new album, Revenge Of The Shredlord, is out now via Lion Music.

"Revenge Of The Shredlord is quite heavy and classically influenced," Stump remarked recently. "This one’s all metal from start to finish, very dark and focused with gratuitous amounts of shredding throughout. Also, thanks to the great work of engineer Ducky Carlise and mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum, it’s my best sounding record to date as well."
Revenge Of The Shredlord contains the following 12 songs:

'The Ritual Begins'
'Man Your Battlestations'
'Pistoleros'
'Shredlord's Sonata'
'Master's Prelude'
'In The Master's House'
'The Black Knight's Castle'
'Enter The Coven'
'Evil Beasts Below'
'Strat Outa Hell'
'White Knuckle Mayhem'
'The End Approaches'

>

SPECTRES OF NIHILISM is a new project by launched by WILLOW WISP's Tony F. Corpse, heralding in "a new era of invigorating metal for disenfranchised future ghosts, blending '70s rock/progressive, early '90s death metal, blackened thrash and cathartic doom. All instruments (drums, vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards) to be performed by Tony F. Corpse. New muse-ick will see the dreaded light of day in due haste."
Tony has checked in with the following status report:

"Just recently finished tracking guitars for my Spectres Of Nihilism project. Five songs are ready for drums and then I will add bass, lead and rhythm ideas, keyboards and finally vocals. My last addition will be a cover of NEIL YOUNG's 'My, My, Hey Hey (Out of The Blue And Into The Black)' which I shall keep half traditional with acoustic and clean vocals and half doom laden and dark in ultra slow tempo."

For updates and information go to the Spectres Of Nihilesm Facebook page here.

Dark Star Records has announced the signing of THE PROJECTIONISTS, the progressive experimental band featuring Jon Wagner, son of former TROUBLE singer Eric Wagner, on rhythm guitar and vocals. THE PROJECTIONISTS' "Dysphoric Illuminations" EP, which was produced by Eric Wagner and made available independently last November, will be re-released in the spring. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Ryan Carrie and can be seen below.

Based in Aurora, Illinois, THE PROJECTIONISTS "has already caused quite a stir with its trippy psychedelic music, somewhat reminiscent of THE DOORS and PINK FLOYD, but with its own true original dark alternative sound," according to a press release.

The band's next live appearance will be on March 24 at the House Of Blues in Chicago.

THE PROJECTIONISTS is:

Jon Wagner - Rhythm Guitar/Vocals
Bryan Ramirez - Drums/Percussion
Daniel Silva - Lead Guitar
Andrew Shoyer - Bass Guitar

A GUNS N' ROSES fan is reportedly planning on taking legal action against the band's lead singer, Axl Rose, after the rocker threw his cordless microphone into the crowd during the opening night of GUNS N' ROSES' Australian tour in Perth on Saturday, hitting the fan in the face and damaging his two front teeth.

39-year old Darren Wright says he was left bleeding, and wants Rose to pay his dental bills, with the tour promoter apologizing and offering a signed microphone from the musician instead.

"With the bright lights and explosions, I couldn't see anything," Wright told The West Australian. "The next thing I knew, I was whacked in the mouth. I thought I had been punched. I was quite stunned and it took a few seconds to realize what was going on. I could feel bits of teeth in my mouth. Then someone is climbing through my legs to grab the microphone."

He added: "I don't think [Axl] intended to do it, but it came at me at a fairly flat and hard trajectory. Those cordless microphones are not light. I'm surprised it didn't do more damage. At the very least, I want someone to pay to get my teeth fixed."

Wright said a dentist told him he would have to have months of dental work costing at least AUD 5000 (approximately $5154).

GUNS N' ROSES' six-date Australian headlining tour with ZZ TOP and ROSE TATTOO is scheduled to wrap on March 20 in Brisbane.

"People, Hell And Angels", an essential new album premiering twelve previously unreleased studio recordings completed by guitarist Jimi Hendrix, sold 72,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.

A testimony to the abiding vitality and importance of the trailblazing American musician, "People, Hell and Angels" marks Hendrix's highest-charting album since "Electric Ladyland" spent two weeks at No. 1 in 1968. Jimi's last conceptually curated from-the-vaults studio album, 2010's "Valleys Of Neptune", also on Legacy Recordings, debuted and peaked at No. 4.

"People, Hell And Angels" achieved No. 1 debut sales numbers at a variety of the nation's retailers, both online and traditional brick-and-mortar. Many of the nation's indie are also reporting No. 1 positions for the album, a newly curated album of 12 fully realized studio cuts, more than a hour's worth of previously unheard Jimi Hendrix music.

Heralded as an essential addition to the artist's musical canon, "People, Hell And Angels" has triggered a resurgence of interest in the legendary guitarist, who would've turned 70 last November. In the wake of "People, Hell And Angels"'s success, several Hendrix catalog titles — including "The Best Of...", "South Saturn Delta", "Are You Experienced" and "Axis: Bold As Love" — are moving up on this week's Top Catalog Albums charts.

"People, Hell And Angels" showcases the legendary guitarist working outside of the original JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE trio. These twelve recordings encompass a variety of unique sounds and styles incorporating many of the elements — horns, keyboards, percussion and second guitar — Jimi wanted to incorporate within his new music. "People, Hell And Angels" presents some of the finest Jimi Hendrix guitar work ever issued and provides a compelling window into his growth as a songwriter, musician and producer.

"People, Hell And Angels" is co-produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer and John McDermott. Kramer first met Hendrix at Olympic Studios in London in January 1967. Hendrix, who would have turned 70 on November 27 this year, developed a unique rapport with Kramer. As a result, Kramer engineered every album issued by the guitarist in his lifetime and recorded such famous Hendrix concerts as the Woodstock festival in August 1969. Since 1997, Kramer has teamed with Janie Hendrix and John McDermott to oversee the release of each Jimi Hendrix album issued by Experience Hendrix.

According to KCBD.com, a fan of Danish/American metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT died in an accident during the band's concert in Lubbock, Texas this past Monday night (March 11).

After 39-year-old Jubal Colvin, 39, was denied entry to the show at the Lonestar Event Center, he allegedly jumped a fence and entered the premises. Security personnel attempted to remove him, but he fled on foot into a restricted area that was fenced off. He then fell approximately 20 feet from the hillside and struck his head on the concrete covered ground, according to police

First responders gave Colvin CPR on the scene, and he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Wes Nessman of FMX, which promoted the concert, wrote on the Lubbock radio station's web site that Colvin "appeared to be drunk or had been drinking and was stopped at security for having a knife. At some point he got agitated and threw the knife at security and started running. He was told to stop several times by security and police. He ran past several fences and barricades before either running off the roof or attempting to jump roof to roof."

Nessman added: "This was on a side of the property that is NEVER used and hasn't been used in about six years. This man was running from officials in a clearly off limits area."

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI have parted ways with accordion player Juho Kauppinen.

Says Juho in a statement: "I have decided to set my goals elsewhere, as a result of which KORPIKLAANI will go on without me from now on.

"KORPIKLAANI was a prominent part of my life for long, but after these eight and a half years I played in the band, I have come to realize that I currently want to experience and pursue something else.

"Accordion has never been my primary instrument. I also understood that performing in front of an audience is not exactly what I hugely enjoy. Strange as it sounds, what I most want from making music nowadays is playing guitar at home. That is what I find relaxing and free of stress.

"Some people love touring, but because I am a very private person, I found living and traveling on the tour bus for four weeks in a row a little challenging. Nevertheless, I got to experience many things I am deeply grateful for and want to thank all KORPIKLAANI's listeners, fellow bands, crew members and our staff who enabled all of this. I am glad that the band has now found a truly professional accordionist to take the place of me to take care of the future tours and shows as planned. I wish everyone well. The journey has just begun."

KORPIKLAANI's eighth studio album, "Manala", sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 51 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.

"Manala" was released on August 14, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork was created by Finnish artist Jan Yrlund.

The limited digipack edition of "Manala" comes with a bonus CD containing the entire album with English lyrics.

KORPIKLAANI vocalist Jonne Järvelä previously stated about the band's new album, "'Manala' is the realm of the dead — the underworld in Finnish mythology. Tuonela, Tuoni, Manala and Mana are used synonymously. This place is best known for its appearance in the Finnish national epic Kalevala, on which many of our new songs are based. In the 16th poem of Kalevala, Väinämöinen, a shamanistic hero travels to Manala to seek for knowledge about the dead. On the journey he meets the ferrywoman (similar to Charon), a girl, Tuonen tytti, or Tuonen piika (Death's maid), who takes him across the river of Tuoni. However, on the isle of Tuoni he is not given the spells he was originally looking for and he barely manages to escape the place. After his return he curses anyone trying to enter the place alive."

"Manala" marks the recording debut of the band's new fiddler, Tuomas Rounakari.

Performance footage (August 29 at Club Soda in Montreal, Quebec, Canada):

Virginia-based melodic tech-death metal masters ARSIS will release their fifth full-length album, "Unwelcome", 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.

OUTWORLD's self-titled debut album from 2006 will be reissued in CD format via Rebel Tide Entertainment. The new pressing will include a bonus track, "Polar".

OUTWORLD features guitarist Rusty Cooley (DAY OF RECKONING) and vocalist Kelly Sundown Carpenter (FIREWIND, DARKOLOGY, BEYOND TWILIGHT), along with two members from prog-metal group EUMERIA.

The release date is set for March 26. Distributors include CM Distro and Laser's Edge.

Vocalist Apollo Papathanasio left FIREWIND in January and was temporarily replaced by Carpenter for the band's recent North American tour with TURISAS.

Asked if there is any FIREWIND material that is hard to sing and that doesn't fit his voice, Kelly told Sweden Rock Magazine correspondent Daniela Pilic: "No. When I started out singing, I was into BEATLES and I have a really diverse musical background, so I can be sort of a chameleon with my voice and change, adapt it to sound in many different ways so... It hasn't been difficult at all."

In a brand new interview with Metal Sucks, guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD was asked to weigh in on the contractual dispute that forced SLAYER's Dave Lombardo to sit out the band's recent appearance at the Soundwave festival in Australia.

"Being in a band is hard — much harder than anybody realizes, especially after all that time," he said. "It's a lot more fragile than people want to believe."

He continued: "This is the third time he's quit, I'm sure he'll be back at some point.

"I wish both parties the best.

"Dave is a great dude, amazing drummer, and SLAYER are one of the greatest bands in history, thrash or otherwise."

In a February 2008 online post, Flynn stated about SLAYER: ""If it weren't for SLAYER, there would be no MACHINE HEAD, and I have no problem saying that. Even before we toured with them, I had seen SLAYER more times than any other band in my life. My friends and I lived and breathed SLAYER, and Phil [Demmel, guitar], Adam [Duce, bass], and I all shared many pre-MACHINE HEAD moments worshipping SLAYER, whether it was driving across country listening to 'Seasons' on the first VIO-LENCE tour, or driving all over California as friends for hours to follow the band around. At this point I can confidently say, that including the over 90 shows MACHINE HEAD have played with them, I have seen probably 130 SLAYER shows all together, more shows than any other band in existence for me."

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante (pictured below) has released the following statement regarding the passing of former IRON MAIDEN drummer Clive Burr:

"Clive Burr...One of my favorite drummers of all time.

"A quick story. It was 1981. I was hanging with friends in the back of the Palladium in New York City. JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN were playing. Two taxis pull up and MAIDEN get out, Steve [Harris, IRON MAIDEN bassist] and Clive hang and talk for a bit. Clive at the time was an up-and-coming drummer that I thought played with a style all his own. The drumming on 'Killers' inspired me to kick it up a notch and I did. I spoke with him and asked him for a pair of sticks. When he was done signing things, he went into the venue and 10 minutes later came out with a pair of sticks for me. I still have those sticks.

"He was awesome. I was bummed when MAIDEN let him go.

"RIP, Clive, You have influenced so many, and to this day nobody plays like you."

Burr died last night in his sleep at his home at the age of 56 after suffering from multiple sclerosis for many years.

Clive joined MAIDEN in 1979 and performed on the first three albums — "Iron Maiden" (1980), "Killers" (1981) and "The Number Of The Beast" (1982). Prior to that, he was a member of SAMSON, the band Bruce Dickinson fronted before he, too, joined MAIDEN.

U.K. heavy rockers VOODOO JOHNSON recently entered Foel Studios in Mid-Wales with co-producer Gazz Rogers (ROBERT PLANT, EDITORS) to begin recording their sophomore album, "The Hope That Killed Us All", for a summer release. The follow-up to 2010's "10,000 Horses" is currently being mixed and mastered by producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, GINGER, MERCENARY, XERATH) at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark.

"We're all delighted to have Jacob Hansen mix the album as i think the style he's known for will really suit the new songs," said VOODOO JOHNSON guitarist Paul Gethin. "The album is a bit heavier and grittier than anything we've done before, but the hooks are still there, and there are a few surprises."

"The Hope That Killed Us All" will include the single "Black Skies Mist", featuring a guest appearance by guitarist Brian Tatler of NWOBHM legends DIAMOND HEAD.

VOODOO JOHNSON is:

Nik Taylor-Stoakes - Vocals
Carl Gethin - Guitar
Paul Gethin - Guitar
Luke Middleton - Drums
Rich Bellamy - Bass

MEGADETH has officially completed recording its new album, "Super Collider", for a June release via MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, which is distributed by Universal Music Enterprises(UMe). Mustaine sang the very last note on the album earlier today (Wednesday, March 13) at his Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, california. The next step in the process is to finish mixing the album.

Commented Dave via Twitter: "More 13 weirdness… We finished the record on 31313. 13 of 14 songs used; song 13 left off. It was 13 years since we tracked 'Silent Scorn'." [Horn player Bob Findley played on the track "Silent Scorn" from MEGADETH's 2001 CD, "The World Needs A Hero", and is a featured guest on the song "A House Divided" on the new album.].

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

With the recent acquisition of EMI, UMe now brings together MEGADETH's classic, 14-year, seven-album Capitol catalog, which includes one multi-platinum release ('92's "Countdown To Extinction"), four platinum records ('86's "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" ; '88's "So Far, So Good... So What?"; '90's "Rust in Peace"; '94's "Youthanasia"), and one gold ('97's "Cryptic Writings"). In all, the band has scored five U.S. Top 10 albums (including 2007's "United Abominations" and 2009's "Endgame") and two Top 5 releases, with 2011's "TH1RT3EN" debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart.

Video footage of French symphonic/gothic metallers WHYZDOM performing on March 9 at La Charrue in Marmoutier, France can be seen below.

WHYZDOM recently parted ways with singer Elvyne Lorient for "professional" reasons and replaced her with Marie Rouyer.

Rouyer made her live debut with WHYZDOM on March 8 at the Night Of The Beauties festival in Herdorf (near Siegen), Germany.

WHYZDOM's sophomore album, "Blind?", was released on October 30, 2012 via Scarlet Records. The CD was produced by Vynce Leff, recorded and mixed in Paris at Powermania Studio and mastered by Mathieu Gillon and Vynce Leff at 120dB Studio. The stunning artwork is a collaboration between X-Nihilo Design, Les Créations Vultus and Florent Cuaz.

WHYZDOM's debut album, "From The Brink Of Infinity", came out in September 2009 via Ascendance Records.

Bassist/producer Chris Von Rohr of veteran Swiss rockers KROKUS is searching for the "craziest dogs in the world" to be part of the band's video for "Dög Song". The best dog videos worldwide will be integrated in the official music video around the new mascot of the band, the English Bulldog Da Dög, who is pictured on cover of KROKUS' latest album, "Dirty Dynamite".

Send your dog's funniest videos to gewinnen@ringier.ch (subject: KROKUS). The band will select from all submissions the most original ones.

"We want to create a totally crazy clip," says Von Rohr. "We are looking for the craziest, out of this world dogs in the world."

Vocalist Marc Storace adds: "It should be really funny. Dogs in all actions and positions are desired, which makes for a great doggy-style party!"

"Dirty Dynamite", the 17th studio album from KROKUS, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 17. This marks the first time in KROKUS' history that the band has landed in the Top 20 of the German chart.

KROKUS has tapped Dani Löble (HELLOWEEN) to sit behind the kit for the band's upcoming "Dirty Dynamite Tour", which is scheduled to kick off in early May.

KROKUS's official video for the title track of their new album, "Dirty Dynamite", can be seen below.

"Dirty Dynamite" was released on February 22 in Europe via Sony Music and in North America on March 5 via The End Records. The CD marks the return of KROKUS guitarist Mandy Meyer after 30 years. Sound engineer for the recording sessions was again Dennis Ward, who also recorded the band's last album, "Hoodoo".

KROKUS 2013 is:

Marc Storace - Vocals
Chris Von Rohr - Bass
Fernando Von Arb - Lead Guitar
Mark Kohler - Rhythm Guitar
Mandy Meyer - Guitar

Drummer Freddy Steady left KROKUS in May 2011 because he "concluded that he really wanted to play music just for fun in small clubs rather than conquering the world, playing arenas on huge stages with pyro props, etc.," according to guitarist Fernando Von Arb.

Fan-filmed video footage of HALESTORM performing cover versions of "Dissident Aggressor" (JUDAS PRIEST) and "Straight Through The Heart" (DIO) on March 11 in Nottingham, England can be seen below. Both tracks are expected to appear on the band's upcoming EP of cover songs, which was recently recorded and is tentatively due later in the year. The group issued its first set of remakes, "Reanimate", in 2011.

"Reanimate" contained covers of tracks from SKID ROW, LADY GAGA and GUNS N' ROSES. Singer Lzzy Hale told The Pulse Of Radio that recording other artists' songs helps her own writing. "There's just nothing like singing and playing and picking apart an already proven amazing song," she said. "I think it helps you as a songwriter. I'll write a song and be like, 'Well, is that as good as HEART's 'All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You', and I'll have to be like, 'No, back to the drawing board.'"

HALESTORM was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. HALESTORM was nominated for the track "Love Bites (So Do I)" , from the band's 2012 album "The Strange Case Of…" The group was up against ANTHRAX, IRON MAIDEN, LAMB OF GOD, MARILYN MANSON and MEGADETH in the category.

"A Drug For All Seasons", the 2005 debut album from F5, the Phoenix-based band featuring MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, ex-SICK SPEED vocalist Dale Steele, drummer David Small, and guitarists Steve Conley and John Davis, has been reissued via iTunes with a bonus track, "Sleeping Giants".

F5, whose sound was described as guitar-heavy melodic hard rock, recorded the CD in 2004 at a Phoenix-area studio with producer Ryan Greene, who had previously worked with Ellefson in 1991 on the demos for MEGADETH's "Countdown to Extinction" album.

"A Drug For All Seasons" was originally released in North America in September 2005 via Cleopatra Records.

"A Drug For All Seasons" reissue track listing:

01. Faded
02. Dissidence
03. Fall To Me
04. A Drug For All Seasons
05. What I Am
06. Bleeding
07. Dying On The Vine
08. Hold Me Down
09. Defacing
10. X'd Out
11. Look You In The Eyes
12. Forte Sonata
13. Sleeping Giants (2013 bonus track)

F5 released its sophomore album, "The Reckoning", in Europe in January 2009 via Silverwolf Productions. The European version of the CD included a cover version of FIGHT's "Nailed To The Gun" as a bonus track. A video for the track, which was laid down during the recording sessions for "The Reckoning", was produced by Wisch Dr. Productions.

"The Reckoning" was released in the U.S. in August 2008 through OarFin Distribution. The CD was produced by Ryan Greene at his Crush Recording facility in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Fan-filmed video footage of the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE performing on March 12 at Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Queen Of The Reich
02. Speak
03. Walk In The Shadows
04. The Whisper
05. En Force
06. Child Of Fire
07. Warning
08. The Needle Lies
09. Roads To Madness
10. I Don't Believe In Love
11. My Empty Room
12. Eyes Of A Stranger

Encore:

13. Silent Lucidity
14. Empire

QUEENSRŸCHE has inked a deal with Century Media Records for the release of the band's new studio album. Due on June 11, the CD marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast.

"QUEENSRŸCHE is excited to begin writing this next chapter of our career with Century Media. Their passion and love for music has been apparent since early discussions and we are pleased to call them partners on this journey," states Jackson. "We are also thankful for all of the fans who have supported us from day one and helped us get to where we are today. Todd, Scott, Parker, Michael and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for each and every one of you."

QUEENSRŸCHE frummer Scott Rockenfield tells Billboard.com: "Century Media has been extremely enthusiastic ever since they came into the equation with us, and for what it's worth it's hard to find enthusiasm like that. After 35 years I guess I'm gracious and honored that we have people that are that enthusiastic about the band, so we're really happy about moving forward with them."

Century Media president of North America Don Robertson wrote in an email to Billboard.com about the label's interest in the band: "Many of us at the label have been longtime fans of QUEENSRŸCHE as a band. When we heard they were recording a new record, we were all definitely interested."

"Recording is finished. It's that final stage where we mix and we master . . . It's been quite crazy so we're winding down so we can focus on the final section of the record, which is the artwork and the name and everything else," Rockenfield says.
In a recent interview with Metal Assault, drummer Scott Rockenfield stated about QUEENSRŸCHE's renewed collaboration with Barton: "It's a great thing — we're really excited about it, he's really excited about it. We've wanted to work with him for a while, but for whatever reason, we just hadn't gone there yet. This is a great time for us to do that, though. We all discussed who we wanted to do the record with, and he was one of the first names that came up. It was easy for us to pick up the phone and call him. It was like our relationship picked up right where it left off, so it's gonna be a lot of fun. He's a very creative guy that did some great records with us in the past. I think that's one of the most important things when it comes to why we want to work with him."

Asked if fans will see a return to the progressive metal sound QUEENSRŸCHE had in the '80s, Scott said: "What we're trying to do, and what has been really interesting since Todd has jumped into the band, we're trying to revisit the old QUEENSRŸCHE catalog — stuff off of the EP and "The Warning". That's always been a part of what we are, so yeah, definitely! I think in my opinion, we're really revisiting that vibe of why that music was special back then for us. There will be a modern flair to it, though, just because we're in the modern age. The fun thing about Jimbo being a part of it is that he can help tie together the two sides. He does come from our past and some of the great records and some of the great sounds that we're known for, but he's also living in the modern age and doing some interesting things as well. I think it's going to be a really great QUEENSRŸCHE record. People are going to go, 'Wow, that's QUEENSRŸCHE! That sounds just like what we've known them to be, and what we would expect them to now be.' That's what I think peple will get out of it."

On April 30, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release RAINBOW's "Live In Munich 1977" on 2CD, DVD, and 2LP.

Captured during the band's 1977 European tour, "Live In Munich" is the only full live concert ever filmed with the classic Ritchie Blackmore/Ronnie James Dio/Cozy Powell classic lineup. With newly remastered sound, this is also the first time this complete concert is available on vinyl.

RAINBOW was the brainchild of legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, created in 1975 after his departure from DEEP PURPLE. A string of hit albums ignited immediate success, which persevered until 1983, when Blackmore disbanded the group (and rejoined DEEP PURPLE). Featuring the line-up of Blackmore, Cozy Powell (drums), Bob Daisley (bass), David Stone (keyboards), and premiere rock and roll vocalist Ronnie James Dio, the excitement in the air during this night was electric. This might be due, in part, to Blackmore's late arrival to Munich just before the concert, after being smuggled out of Austria after trouble with the police at a gig two nights earlier. This seemed to inspire both the band and the audience to create a truly remarkable gig.

The DVD includes original promo videos for "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll", "Gates Of Babylon" and "L.A. Connection", a photo gallery, slideshow with audio commentary, interviews, and the "Rainbow Over Texas '76" feature, which includes additional interviews and performance footage. Truly, "Live In Munich 1977" is a brilliant showcase of the primal electricity of RAINBOW.

THE RETICENT mastermind Chris Hathcock has returned to the realm of extreme music, in the form of black metal project, ZEROMUS. In the vein of bands such as GORGOROTH and DARK FUNERAL, Zeromus is a straight forward and grim expression of aggression.
Hathcock states: "I just needed to do something different. The Reticent offers me a lot of emotional release but sometimes you need to just be outright hostile. Rather than sing you just want to scream with as much hatred as you can muster. I love bands like Gorgoroth for their intensity, aggression, and disregard. This is just my diversion to create and release that hostility and have some fun."

Hathcock said he plans to release an album with Zeromus. An EP titled The Four Fiends is in the works but release may be delayed due to his work with The Reticent.

Two demo tracks have been posted on Reverbnation at this location.

More on Zeromus here.

Columbus, Ohio power rockers THE GODZ are gearing up for an onslaught on the rock community.

THE GODZ leader Eric Moore (bass, guitar, lead vocals) has announced that he has found the best musicians in the Midwest for the new lineup of the band. Vinnie Salvatore remains on guitar and occasional bass, along with new guitarist Jeff Westlake from HYDROGYN and drummer John Cardillno from BLACKSTONE.

THE GODZ will soon enter Ridgeline Studio in Ashland, Kentucky to record a brand new album, tentatively scheduled for release later in 2013. The band is planning a slew of other releases for the next year, including some very cool things that fans have long been clamoring for.

European female-fronted metallers FACE OFF have released their first single entitled 'Fragile' from their debut album The Colour of Rain. The Colour of Rain was released on February 14th worldwide, via the Canadian Label Maple Metal Records.

'Fragile' is streaming online below:

Another song, the title track from ‘The Colour of Rain’ is streaming below:

Face Off will be touring Europe, and making European Festival appearances this Summer and Fall in support of their new album.

Current Face Off lineup:
Marija Kovacevic - vocals
Stefan Vitasovic - guitars
Aleksandar Djordjic - guitars
Stanislav Stanojevic - bass
Zoltan Simon - drums

More on the band at this location.

Italy's MESMERIZE have posted an official lyric video for the song '2.0.3.6.', taken from their new album Paintropy, which is scheduled for a spring 2013 release via Punishment 18 Records. The release marks the band's 25th anniversary.

Check out the clip below:

Paintropy tracklisting:

'It Happened Tomorrow'
'2.0.3.6.'
'A Desperate Way Out'
'Monkey In Sunday Best'
'Midnight Oil / Within Without'
'One Door Away'
'Paintropy'
'Shadows At The Edge Of Perception'
'Mrs. Judas'
'You Know I Know'
'Masterplan'
'Promises' (THE CRANBERRIES cover)

"Paintropy is a word that combines the concepts of Pain and Entropy" - says guitarist Piero Paravidino, "and it refers to a chaotic and painful state of mind, coming from the aggregation of negative events or emotions. In turn, this state can cause a reaction of total inertia or the exact opposite, unleashing a downright furious transformation. These concepts will be depicted both in the songs and in the graphics of the album."

Art Gates Records has welcomes SECRETPATH to the label's roster of bands. This four-pieced combo from Italy were born in summer 2008. The band has no limits in their creative process and doesn't follow any model from previous music genres.
It is possible to find the main elements of the band's sound, which is based in extreme metal which is open to any kind of influence, from death, black and gothic metal to operatic music, from progressive rock to folk.

Each side of the band's sound palette is based on each member's different background, while the goal of Secretpath is to create an original synthesis from all of these elements. On the conceptual side, the lyrics - written mainly in English, with some parts in ancient Latin and in Italian - are centered mainly on philosophy, inner struggles, madness, fears, fighting to follow our path.

Secretpath will release their debut album this year. Stay tuned for updates.

Secretpath lineup:

Paolo " The Voices" Ferrante - Vocals
Pierluigi "Aries" Ammirata - Guitar
Domenico De Cicco - Bass
Francesco "Storm" Borrelli - Drums

More on Secretpath at this location.

Instincts is the upcoming album from Costa Rica-based melodic metal band SIGHT OF EMPTINESS, and tells stories based on the region's flora and fauna; the richest wildlife imaginable. The album focuses on nature, and its gravest threat: mankind. Songs are based on animals, insects and natives. Lyrics explore two different perspectives: animals' lifestyle in their environment, and humans not being able to respect it and co-exist with them.
'Passion' tells the story of tropical birds: they fly free in the skies, but feel a deep unease about their future; they're afraid that one day they might end up confined in a cage just to satisfy humans desire to have total control over everything around them. The track is streaming below:

Instincts was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Thomas "Plec" Johansson at The Panic Room Studios, Sweden. The album features the following tracklisting:

'Essence' (featuring Whit Crane - UGLY KID JOE, ANOTHER ANIMAL)
'Instincts' (featuring Ole Halvard Sveen - EXTOL, MANTRIC)
'Obsession' (featuring Ralph Santolla - DEICIDE, DEATH, ICED EARTH, OBITUARY)
'Fearless' (featuring Glen Drover - MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND, and Christian Älvestam - SCAR SYMMETRY, SOLUTION .45, MISERATION)
'Paradox' (featuring Manuel Obregon - Costa Rica's Minister of Culture)
'Deception' (featuring Christian Älvestam - Scar Symmetry, Solution .45, Miseration)
'Hostility' (featuring Christian Älvestam - Scar Symmetry, Solution .45, Miseration)
'Passion'
'Genetics'
'Sanctuary' (Instrumental)
'Departure'
'Obsession 2.0' (Remix Version)
More on Sight Of Emptiness at this location.