Finnish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH were honored in the "Metal Album Of The Year" and "Band Of The Year" categories at this year's Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent), which was held on March 1 at Barona Areena in Espoo, Finland. Other "Metal Album" nominees were MOKOMA ("180 Astetta"), TERVEET KÄDET ("Musta Hetki"), and STAM1NA ("Nocebo").

Video footage of NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala accepting the "Metal Album Of The Year" award for "Imaginaerum" can be seen below.

"Imaginaerum" was released in North America on January 10, 2012 via Roadrunner Records.

NIGHTWISH released a limited-edition "Trials Of Imaginaerum" 10-inch picture disc for last year's Record Store Day (April 21). The effort included four previously unreleased demo recordings with Marco Hietala on lead vocals. It also came with a download of the previously unreleased track "The Heart Asks Pleasure First", a cover with lyrics from the movie "The Piano".

"Trials Of Imaginaerum" featured a picture of "The Crew, The Owl And The Dove" on one side, and the "Imaginaerum" grounds on the other side.

NIGHTWISH released a special "tour edition" of "Imaginaerum", on April 13, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. It was a 2CD+DVD digibook in slipcase.

"Imaginaerum" sold 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2007's "Dark Passion Play", opened with 11,000 units to land at No. 84.

Florida metallers TRIVIUM have completed recording their sixth album for a late summer release via Roadrunner Records. The CD is being produced by DISTURBED/DEVICE frontman David Draiman at a studio in Austin, Texas.

In a recent interview with PitCam.TV, TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy stated about the songwriting sessions for the band's next CD: "I can tell you we do have a title, we do have songtitles, we do have 20 to 25 songs demoed, we do have an artist. Everything is set up — all the visuals and everything — but it's all secret. Hopefully it comes out the third quarter of next year. We're recording in January, February and March in Austin, Texas; that's all I can say [about] that. It's gonna be great; it's gonna be really, really great. It's too difficult to describe in metal adjectives, like 'heavy,' 'brutal,' melodic,' all this stuff, like every band does. Also, the classic phrase: 'our best album ever.' I can say that with 'In Waves', it was finally an album that all the fans of the previous four… We've got very divided fans: 'I just like 'Ember'.' 'I just like 'Crusade'.' 'I just like 'Ascendancy'.' 'I just like 'Shogun'.' Everyone could agree on 'In Waves'. And simultaneously, everywhere in the world, 'In Waves' received the biggest reaction. With the next record, people can expect the best parts of everything we've ever done across all five records on one."

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In Waves", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart — the highest U.S. chart entry of the band's career. The group's previous CD, "Shogun", opened with just under 24,000 units back in October 2008 to debut at No. 23. The effort followed up "The Crusade", which registered a first-week tally of 31,000 copies in October 2006 to enter the chart at No. 25.

Pictured below: TRIVIUM at studio in Austin with David Draiman

Finnish gothic metallers UNSHINE will release their third album, "Dark Half Rising", on August 23 via Massacre Records. The artwork for the CD was created by Jan Yrlund at Darkgrove Design (KORPLIKAANI, EDGE OF SERENITY, TÝR, IMPERIA). Songtitles set to appear on the effort include "The Oath To Wilderness Of Unredeemed Nature", "Idyl", "Defender Of His Faith" and "Ikuinen Taistelu".

UNSHINE in 2010 parted ways with Low Frequency Records after releasing two full-length CDs through the label.

The band's second album, entitled "The Enigma Of Immortals", came out in April 2008.

UNSHINE is:

Susanna Vesilahti (vocals)
Harri Hautala (guitar, synth)
Jari Hautala (guitar)
Teemu Vähäkangas (bass)
Jukka Hantula (drums)

"Rise Of A Digital Nation", the new video from the Swedish "alternative metal" band MACHINAE SUPREMACY, can be seen below. The song is the title track of the group's latest album, which was released last October via Spinefarm Records. According to a press release, the CD "echoes the musical simplicity of [2008's] 'Overworld' and faithfully reflects the issues and state of a Generation Online in its lyrics." The album was recorded in MACHINAE SUPREMACY's own studio in Luleå, Sweden, with additional recording at the 4Sound Studio in Stockholm. It was mastered by Henkka Niemistö at Chartmakers in Finland.

MACHINAE SUPREMACY's video game-inspired sounds and melodies, masterful guitar work and unique vocal style has set the band apart from the mainstream mass of generic rock and metal since their beginning in 2000. Metal Hammer calls MACHINAE SUPREMACY "one of the most interesting bands of the current era" in their review of the U.K.-only best-of collection "The Beat of Our Decay" from 2011.

Since the release of its fourth studio album, "A View From The End of The World", MACHINAE SUPREMACY has toured Europe with CHILDREN OF BODOM and ENSIFERUM, and signed with Spinefarm for three more albums.

"Rise of a Digital Nation" track listing:

01. All of My Angels
02. Laser Speed Force
03. Transgenic
04. Rise of a Digital Nation
05. Pieces
06. Cyber Warfare
07. Republic of Gamers
08. Battlecry
09. 99
10. Hero

MACHINAE SUPREMACY is:

Robert Stjärnström - Vocals
Jonas Rörling - Guitar
Andreas Gerdin - Bass
Niklas Karvonen - Drums

Helsinki, Finland-based hard rockers AMORAL entered the studio today to begin recording their sixth album, due later this year via The End Records. The drums for the CD — which will feature an all-star cast of Finnish music industry people — are being recorded at Sound Supreme studios in Hämeenlinna with Janne Saksa. Then the sessions will move to Helsinki and finally to Kuopio where Marco Hietala of TAROT and NIGHTWISH fame will produce the vocals for the new album.

"Working with Janne has always been a lucrative proposition, but after four albums together, we felt like it would be healthy to try new approaches to making an album," says AMORAL guitarist Ben Varon, who is also producing the new CD. "Spending a weekend with Janne recording the drums gives us a welcome illusion of familiarity and security, before we take the plunge for ourselves. As for working with Marco, it's something we have discussed since Ari [Koivunen, vocals] joined the band, but due to conflicting schedules this is the first time we get to test out this working combo"

The as-yet-unnamed album will contain eight songs wth a running time of almost an hour. In addition, the songs and lyrics form a whole, so it is possible to view the album as a thematic one.

"We're kind of in the prog-phase that we started exploring on the opening and closing songs from [2011's] 'Beneath'," says Varon. "We felt like those were the pieces that the band enjoyed playing and listening to the most, and much to our surprise, it seemed to be what the audience responded to as well. When the first new songs started coming along, they where leaning in this direction, so I asked the band what they would think if for the first time in the history of AMORAL, we would actually concentrate on putting the music in a somewhat defined framework instead of featuring all sorts of musical idioms from song to song. The idea of a more progressive and metal album sounded good to every one. Not that we could write an genre specific album this time either! There's a lot of side paths taken on this one too, but not to the extent as on the previous two records."

The album will be mixed by Mikko Karmila, who is no stranger to dealing with large conceptual pieces.

"We thought long and hard about the mixing engineer for this album and we feel that Karmila is the guy who will make this music play in the best possible way," says Varon.

The band will try some of the new material on stage before hitting Asia for some shows. The one-off concert in Finland will take place at On The Rocks and tickets are now on sale at Tiketti.

In addition to the Pulp Summer Slam festival in the Philippines, AMORAL will be doing assorted performances in Asia during April and May. More information on these will be released soon.

Photographer Freddy Hernandez, a resident of Palm Beach County, has filed a lawsuit against MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee. Attorney Robert Dixon of the Law Offices of Robert Dixon is representing the plaintiff.

The lawsuit alleges that on July 7, 2012, Lee was at a public beach in Palm Beach County, Florida. Hernandez was also a visitor at the same beach, taking pictures of Lee. The lawsuit alleges that Lee touched and/or struck Hernandez without the photographer's permission, by hitting his camera, while Hernandez was holding said camera — and as a result, Hernandez suffered injuries.

The Law Offices of Robert Dixon is a personal injury law firm with offices located in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

DIO's "Finding The Sacred Heart – Live In Philly 1986" DVD will be released on May 28 via Eagle Vision.

"Finding The Sacred Heart – Live In Philly 1986" was filmed at The Spectrum in Philadelphia on June 17, 1986 during the second leg of the "Sacred Heart" tour, which featured new guitarist Craig Goldy. The show was issued in an edited form first on VHS and then DVD. Now for the first time the full concert is being released in the original running order, restored from the original 16mm film and with remastered sound. It's an extraordinary live show with a giant animatronic dragon towering over the stage and spectacular lasers and pyrotechnics. Ronnie James Dio is in fine voice as ever and the band deliver a blistering live performance featuring tracks from their first three albums alongside BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW classics.

"Finding The Sacred Heart – Live In Philly 1986" track listing:

01. Draco Ignis
02. King Of Rock And Roll
03. Like The Beat Of A Heart
04. Don't Talk To Strangers
05. Hungry For Heaven
06. Medley: 'The Last In Line / Children Of The Sea / Holy Diver / The Last In Line (reprise)
07. Drum Solo
08. Heaven And Hell
09. Keyboard Solo
10. Guitar Solo
11. Sacred Heart
12. Medley: Rock 'n' Roll Children / Long Live Rock 'n' Roll / Man On The Silver Mountain / Rock 'n' Roll Children (reprise)
13. Time To Burn
14. Stand Up And Shout
15. Rainbow In The Dark
01. We Rock

Bonus features include:

* "Sacred Heart Tour" Featurette
* Interview '86
* Interview with Ronnie & Craig
* "Rock 'n' Roll Children" music video
* Behind The Scenes

"Finding The Sacred Heart – Live In Philly 1986" will also be released on Blu-ray, CD and LP.

DIO's lineup on the DVD:

Ronnie James Dio - Vocals
Jimmy Bain - Bass
Vinny Appice - Drums
Craig Goldy - Guitar
Claude Schnell - Keyboards

According to Billboard.com, PEARL JAM guitarist Mike McCready (pictured below) has joined forces up with ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan, and ex-SCREAMING TREES drummer Barrett Martin in a brand new side-project.

"Duff and Barrett and I got together. We wrote some new stuff and we took some of those old MAD SEASON demos from that [unreleased] second 'Disinformation' record, so we are trying to find something to do with those," McCready says. "We're talking to Jaz from KILLING JOKE and I've been trying to find some singers to work on some of that stuff."

McCready hopes to release songs by the as-yet-untitled group with McKagan and Martin on his own new label, Hockeytalkter Records.

"I have a little record company called Hockeytalkter Records — it's what my three year old son calls a helicopter. I would like to put some of this stuff out on 45. If that happens, it'll be great."

McCready previously contributed to a pair of tunes to the self-titled 2012 album from McKagan and Martin's other band, WALKING PAPERS.

Italian metallers NO MAN EYES has inked a deal with Mighty Music. The band's debut album, "Hollow Man", will be released on June 10.

NO MAN EYES was founded in Genova in 2011 from the ashes of the Italian power/heavy metal band GRAVEYARD GHOST. Soon after GRAVEYARD GHOST's breakup, the group's guitarist Andrew Spane and drummer Michele Pintus (MECHANICAL GOD CREATION) started recruiting new members for their common vision of a modern dark-sounding heavy metal band. Fabio Carmotti (vocals) and Alessandro Asborno (bass) completed the lineup and under the new moniker NO MAN EYES, they started to record "Hollow Man" in 2012. Eleven songs were laid down with an attitude pretty much distant from power metal. Even though the melodic content is still prominent, thanks to Fabio's super-clean and mid/high-pitched vocals, the work of the rhythmic section is heavy and pounding. Guitars often exhibit a "NEVERMORE-ish" flavor, still retaining a classic metal mood partially hidden under the heaviness of Spane's seven-string guitars. Alessandro's bass guitar bounces from pounding notes to neoclassic inserts, while Michele's drums are fast and sharp, played with an attitude that resemble the complexity of death metal in the fastest tracks.

"Hollow Man" track listing:

01. Strive
02. Hollow Man
03. Isolation
04. Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars
05. Costantinopolis
06. Killing The Liar
07. Forsaken By The Light
08. Until The End
09. Rock And Roll
10. Mystery Of Life
11. Revelation

The video for the CD's title track can be seen below.

Video footage of Fingers and Stickboy of the three-robot act COMPRESSORHEAD performing a cover version of the classic AC/DC song "TNT" on the German TV program "Die Bülent Ceylan Show" can be seen below.

COMPRESSORHEAD, which hails from Germany and consists of guitarist Fingers, bassist Bones and drummer Stickboy, plays a selection of well-known covers.

COMPRESSORHEAD's mission statement:

"Did you ever wonder what Danny Carey would sound like if he had four arms?

"How about if Angus Young had 78 fingers? Imagine what Robert Trujillo would sound like if he was actually made of metal?

"Well, wonder no more, meatbags.

"COMPRESSORHEAD is the world's heaviest metal band.

"Stickboy, Fingers and Bones are guaranteed to shake and rattle the world of meatbag music.

"Stickboy was created to exacting specifications. Four arms, two legs, one head, no brain. he plays a Pearl 14-piece kit with double kick. Stickboy junior, the bastard child of an unknown mother, takes control of the hihat shuffle. Inception date: 2007.

"Fingers joined Stickboy in 2009 and brings 78 purpose-built fingers, enough to play the entire fret board and pluck.

"Bones is the highest-precision bass player in known existence, and the youngest member of the band. Inception date: 2012.

"Stand aside, meatbags. Oil is thicker than blood."

A two-minute trailer for the forthcoming self-titled debut album from b>DEVICE, the industrial-style project featuring DISTURBED frontman David Draiman and former FILTER guitarist Geno Lenardo, can be seen below.

"Device" is due out April 9 and features guest appearances from AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows, SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist Serj Tankian, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes.

The first single and video from DEVICE's debut CD, "Vilify", were officially released on February 19. Draiman told The Pulse Of Radio where the track is coming from musically and lyrically: "It is a very fierce introductory track for this record. It has a very strong fusion of that electronic element in there. Still very heavy, still very rhythmic. Very anthemic, very intensely melodic. It's a song that lyrically is talking about everyone out there who likes to make me out to be such a bad guy, this monster of epic proportions, which I'm really not."

The "Vilify" clip was directed by P.R. Brown, who has previously collaborated with such artists as MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Prince, AUDIOSLAVE, MÖTLEY CRÜE and SIXX: A.M.

Draiman launched DEVICE last year after DISTURBED announced in the fall of 2011 that it was going on an extended hiatus.

Lenardo will not be part of the DEVICE live band due to previous commitments, but the touring lineup includes EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt and DOPE guitarist Virus.

The group will make its debut at several big U.S. rock festivals this April and May, including Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion and Rock On The Range.

"Device" track listing:

01. You Think You Know
02. Penance
03. Vilify
04. Close My Eyes Forever (Ozzy Osbourne & Lita Ford cover) (feat. Lzzy Hale)
05. Out Of Line (feat. Serj Tankian, Geezer Butler)
06. Hunted
07. Opinion (feat. Tom Morello)
08. War Of Lies
09. Haze (feat. M. Shadows)
10. Through It All (feat. Glenn Hughes)

"Device" album trailer:

Reactivated Swedish old-school death metallers INTERMENT have issued the following update:

"Well, INTERMENT is still alive if you have been wondering and finally we have some good news to share with you:

* INTERMENT will enter the studio next weekend (March 8-10) to nail four new songs and one oldie for some split EPs. One of them will be a 10-inch split with our fellows in BRUTALLY DECEASED (Czech Republic) released by Lavadome Productions spring 2013. Then we'll contribute with one song for the 'Imperial Anthems' split seven-inch series released by Cyclone Empire and also to a split seven-inch with ANATOMIA (Japan) released by Goatgrind Records in the end of the year.

* The 'Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy' will be re-released on LP by Black Vomit Records soon. It will be 333 copies on black and white vinyls. The LP was first released by Cyclone Empire 2010 in 500 copies on red vinyl and is sold out.

* We don't have any gigs/tours/festivals 2013 booked or confirmed so far but we're working on it and will let you know as soon as we can!

* For those who wonder when we will get the fingers out and record a new full-length, we can't tell you more than we hope to enter the studio earliest this autumn/winter. Be patient, freaks..."

"Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy" was recorded at Erebos Studios with Peter Bjärgo (TYRANT, CRYPT OF KERBEROS). The cover artwork was created by Polish artist Rafal Kruszyk.

INTERMENT released a split CD with FUNEBRARUM, "Conjuration Of The Sepulchral", in January 2007 on Conqueror Of Thorn Records.

The band played its first gig since 1992 at Daniel Ekeroth's (INSISION bassist) release party for his book "Swedish Death Metal" on January 26, 2007 at Kafe 44 in Stockholm.

INTERMENT made its first appearance outside Sweden at the 2007 edition of the Party.San Metal Open Air festival, which was held August 9-11, 2007 in Bad Berka, Germany.

"Mechanical Illusion", a brand new song from Swedish melodic metallers AMARANTHE, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's sophomore album, "The Nexus", which will be released on March 26 (one day earlier internationally) via Spinefarm. The cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes and can be seen below. The album was once again recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen.

Comments AMARANTHE guitarist/composer Olof Mörck: "To give a second taster of 'The Nexus' is truly exciting! The first single and title track showed a familiar, yet amped-up AMARANTHE. 'Mechanical Illusion' is quite different from what people have heard from us so far. Probably the heaviest track yet, a dystopian vision steeped in a darkened futuristic atmosphere, combined with a mega-catchy chorus that is likely to ring in your head for days. Brace yourselves, the illusion is upon us!"

"The Nexus" track listing:

01. Afterlife
02. Invincible
03. The Nexus
04. Theory Of Everything
05. Stardust
06. Burn With Me
07. Mechanical Illusion
08. Razorblade
09. Future On Hold
10. Electroheart
11. Transhuman
12. Infinity

The album's title track was released as the first single single via iTunes and the video the track was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others. Check out the clip below.

Commented Mörck: "This time we went all the way with our futuristic dream-nightmare — a no-compromise vision steeped in deep contrast between the mechanically ultra-heavy and shimmering serene melody. 'The Nexus' is everything we dreamed about doing with our debut album; we laboured to make this offering as diverse as it is direct and catchy… and remember, no-one can be told what 'The Nexus' is — you have to hear it for yourself!"

He added: "Our main inspiration behind the ['The Nexus'] video was to create a decidedly cinematic feel, in the vein of a Hollywood action movie, with a slightly darker angle than our previous videos. We wanted to have lots of extras and explosive action scenes, and we wanted it to be done well; we knew Patric Ullaeus was the right man for the job. The end result is a dynamic, intense and entertaining music video with an original flair."

The guitarist previously stated about the upcoming CD: "We have lived and breathed the same 12 songs from the first album every day for a year now, and to introduce a number of completely fresh tracks will really lift AMARANTHE to the next level!
"The theme and atmosphere of the album is futuristic and ultra modern, [and] the music itself [is] instantly recognizable as AMARANTHE, but there is definitely a new and unique twist to the songs.

"People often ask us if there is a big pressure to follow up such a successful album, and always say 'no, not one bit.' Not when you sit down and listen to new tracks such as 'Invincible', 'Burn With Me' and 'Stardust'. We simply cannot wait to hit the road all over the world with these new babies!"

AMARANTHE's self-titled debut album was released in Europe in April 2011 via Spinefarm Records.

AMARANTHE vocalist Elize Ryd has been filling the female singer spot on KAMELOT's European, South and North American tours.

AMARANTHE is:

* Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE, DRAGONLAND) - Guitar, Keyboards
* Jake E (ex-DREAM EVIL, DREAMLAND) - Clean Vocals
* Andy Solveström (WITHIN Y, EVILDOER, CIPHER SYSTEM) - Screams
* Morten Lowe Sorensen (THE ARCANE ORDER, SUBMISSION) - Drums
* Johan Andreassen (ex-ENGEL) - Bass
* Elize Ryd - Female Vocals

Finnish melancholic dark metal forerunners AMORPHIS have set "Circle" as the title of their eleventh album, due 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.
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)

The official lyric video for the song "Hopeless Days" can be seen below.

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.

Heavy music presenter Christina Rowatt of Soundwave TV conducted an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King on Sunday (February 24) at the Sydney stop of this year's Soundwave festival in Australia. You can now watch the chat in two parts below.

On how stand-in drummer Jon Dette is doing on the Soundwave festival tour:

Kerry: "It's amazing that yesterday was the fifth time we played — period. It was just devastating; it was awesome. He's doing really good, because if we didn't say anything and nobody was paying attention, you wouldn't know. So that means he's doing a great job… It's amazing. He was completely out of playing for awhile, he told me. And then to just be at the level of playing that he is, it's really awesome."

"Last Tuesday. I [first] hit [Dette] up [about playing with us at Soundwave]. And in the thought process, I'm thinking big picture. I''m like, 'How are we gonna get a visa for whoever goes with us?' I went, 'Alright, Jon's with ANTHRAX. Jon knows our stuff. If he couldn't do it, I don't think I could have taught it to anybody in time. So we rehearsed three times and the first show was Brisbane."

On the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new SLAYER album:

Kerry: "I've got 11 songs done. I don't know who's gonna do 'em — I don't know who's gonna produce it, I don't know who's gonna play it. I think METALLICA's got [producer Greg Fidelman] monopolized. He had February open and I was hoping to get some work done in February and then February just got too busy for us. I don't know. If he gets another window, I would like to do it between Australia and Europe in June. That would be great — just be done with it, and it could get mixed while I am out on tour and be out in September or October. That's the perfect world, so we'll see."

"Two [new songs] are done; we recorded two last year with Greg Fidelman, and they just never got mixed. The're done — there are vocals, leads; they are done. And they were gonna put 'em out before [our appearance at the Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] last year. But that never got done, so I said, 'Why waste 'em on an EP for nothing? [Let's] save them for the record.' Those two are done. The nine others I've just gotta teach whoever's gonna play 'em, and they're ready to go."

"I've been working on the new maerial a lot, and I worked on it a lot with [SLAYER drummer] Dave [Lombardo]. So I haven't decided — if we move on [without Dave] — I haven't decided if I play the new guy what we've done or just play him the guitar stuff that I made up and say, 'What do you think?' 'Cause I know what I want to be there, and I can tell him if it's going in the wrong direction. 'Nah, you've gotta play this.' I haven't even thought this far yet."

On drummer Dave Lombardo's current status with SLAYER:

Kerry: "This just happened a week ago… ten days ago… so I mean, I don't know… It's unfortunate that Dave couldn't be with us; I planned on him being here up until the Monday before I left. And then I saw trouble in paradise, and since I am the mastermind on making decisions like this, I was, like, 'Alright, I've got a backup plan. Just in case.' 'Cause I would have hated to have just Australia blown out. Can you imagine how shitty that would have been? So I did what I thought was best, and we pulled it off."

On whether he saw the dispute with Dave coming:

Kerry: "Tom [Araya, SLAYER bassist/vocalist] did. Tom's been on the fence about Dave for awhile and I was pretty much the one that said, 'Nah, I'm not comfortable moving on [without Dave].' And then it got thrust in our face and I took action immediately and I got a very lucky culmination of things that happened."

Lombardo is sitting out SLAYER's current tour due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group, while guitarist Jeff Hanneman is still recovering from necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease which he is believed to have gotten from a spider bite. Filling in for them are Dette and Gary Holt (EXODUS), respectively.

SLAYER's setlist for the Sydney show was as follows:

01. Disciple
02. Die By The Sword
03. War Ensemble
04. Chemical Warfare
05. Altar Of Sacrifice
06. Jesus Saves
07. Mandatory Suicide
08. Seasons In The Abyss
09. Dead Skin Mask
10. Angel of Death
11. South of Heaven
12. Raining Blood

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

In an interview with Soundwave TV conducted on Saturday, SLAYER frontman Tom Araya stated about performing with Dette again: "He actually played in the band [in the late 1990s] for, like, three years. It's gonna be good. He's matured and I'm sure he's gotten much better on the drums. It'll be exciting, and I think that's just gonna pump everything up even more. I can tell you this: Jon's gonna have a lot of energy. He's known to play very fast, and he's gotten better at that."

Prior to joining SLAYER, Dette appeared on TESTAMENT's "Live At The Fillmore" album, which came out in 1995.

Dette is currently also playing with ANTHRAX as a temporary replacement for the band's longtime drummer Charlie Benante, who "is dealing with personal issues right now and can't leave" the U.S., according to ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian.

Interview part 1:

Multinational melodic metallers MASTERPLAN will release their new album, "Novum Initium", on April 26 via AFM Records. The CD's cover artwork can be seen below.

The band last month filmed a video for the song " Keep Your Dream Alive" in the Luftverteidigungsbunker Erndtebrück, also called "Bunker Erich."

A photo of MASTERPLAN's new lineup can be seen below. Joining drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka (CRADLE OF FILTH) are vocalist Rick Altzi (AT VANCE, SANDALINAS, THUNDERSTONE), who replaces Jorn Lande, and bassist Jari Kainulainen (STRATOVARIUS, SYMFONIA, DEVIL'S TRAIN).

Commented MASTERPLAN guitarist/leader Roland Grapow: "The last years have not been easy for MASTERPLAN. Because of several factors, we have been unable to play festivals and tours — even though we had plenty of offers. But this will definitely change now.

"I'm very happy to welcome Rick and Jari on board now. Beside their undoubted musical qualities, they both fit perfectly into our team.

"We feel a huge motivation to get things going now.

"2013 will be see a new MASTERPLAN album, several festivals and a tour! It's time to return with full force."

MASTERPLAN's new lineup:

Rick Altzi - vocals
Roland Grapow - guitars
Axel Mackenrott - keyboards
Jari Kainulainen - bass
Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka - drums

Back in March 2012, Grapow revealed that he had 15 songs written for MASTERPLAN's next album. He added, "We are looking for a more powerful album this time... still with great melodies and feelings, but also with more orchestration and faster stuff again… just more metal."

In an August 2011 interview with the Czech web portal Kultura21.cz, Grapow stated about the status of the songwriting sessions for the next MASTERPLAN album, "This time we tried not to make demo productions, which have a poor sound — so we wanted to make really nice pre-production [recordings] which sound very close to the album sound, which is very easy [to do] in my studio now. I think we have many, many new ideas which, I guess, are a little bit more modern and more aggressive as well. So we try not to follow any trends of MASTERPLAN — I'm not saying we're reproducing the first album or the third one or the fifth one. I think we always have to try to make some surprises for the people. The 'Time To Be King' album is great, but this new album sounds a bit different again. I always want to do this, because I'm not that kind of guy who wants to make every year the same album."

On the topic of MASTERPLAN's numerous lineup changes, Grapow said, "I think it's always difficult in this band, I guess. If you see, the first album just came out after a big turbulence — leaving HELLOWEEN, Uli [Kusch, drums] and me. I think this band always needs some very bad moments to some great songs. [laughs] And it looks like MASTERPLAN, basically, is my main band, and whoever will sing and whoever will play in the band, I'm happy with. But, basically, at the moment, I'm thinking the main songwriters are Axel now and me. So whatever happens, this band will continue. It's very important for me to show that we still have the power and the ability to write beautiful melodies and some aggression and rock and metal songs. Whatever we do, we want just to make good-quality stuff."

MASTERPLAN's last CD, "Time To Be King", was released on May 21, 2010 through AFM Records. The CD's first single, "Far From The End Of The World", was issued on April 16, 2010.

Singer Björn "Speed" Strid and bass player Ola Flink of Swedish metallers SOILWORK recently answered a few questions that were submitted by the band's fans via the Nuclear Blast Facebook page. Watch their answers below.

SOILWORK's ninth studio album and first dual-disc release, "The Living Infinite", will be unleashed in Europe on March 1, and in North America on March 5 through Nuclear Blast Records. Produced by Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH), the CD features artwork by MNEMIC's Mircea Gabriel Eftemie.

"The Living Infinite" features Justin Sullivan — lead singer of the English band NEW MODEL ARMY — as a guest vocalist on the track "The Windswept Mercy" and also marks the recording debut of longtime SOILWORK touring guitarist David Andersson (also of THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA).

SOILWORK's world tour launches with a 55-show headlining trek through the U.S. and Canada this March. Support will come from JEFF LOOMIS, BLACKGUARD, THE BROWNING and WRETCHED.

"Anthems", ANTHRAX's long-awaited, eight-track EP that pays tribute to the classic songs by some of the band's favorite acts from the 1970s, will be released in North America on March 19 (MRI/Megaforce), and on March 22 in Europe (Nuclear Blast).

"Anthems" track listing

01. Anthem (RUSH cover)
02. Jailbreak (THIN LIZZY cover)
03. TNT (AC/DC cover)
04. Smokin' (BOSTON cover)
05. Big Eyes (CHEAP TRICK cover)
06. Keep On Runnin' (JOURNEY cover)
07. Crawl (album version)
08. Crawl (special remix)

ANTHRAX's cover of THIN LIZZY's "Jailbreak" can be streamed below.

Speaking to Music Radar, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante stated about the decision to cover "Jailbreak": ""Like BOSTON, they had the twin-harmony guitars. That kind of approach influenced IRON MAIDEN, and then MAIDEN influenced us and the whole thrash metal thing. That's why I went back to THIN LIZZY and BOSTON — if it weren't for them, you might not have had IRON MAIDEN and all the bands that came after them.

"Phil Lynott is one of those people who is a god in the U.K. and Europe, but I don't know if he's fully appreciated in the rest of the world like he should be. Some artists just don't get their due.

"I don't know how you can begin to pick between THIN LIZZY songs. 'Jailbreak' is probably an obvious choice for a cover. I might have gone for something more obscure, but when I hear the lyrics to this one — 'Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak somewhere in this town' — I can't deny how cool they are."

The "Anthems" EP will be available on CD as well as digitally via iTunes and other online retailers. In addition to "Anthems"' cover art, Benante and artist Stephen Thompson have subtly redesigned each track's original album cover art to "Anthrax" it. The "Anthems" EP will first be housed in one of the "re-imagined" digipak covers, and then inserted inside the main CD cover sleeve. The main cover sleeve has been designed in such a way so fans will be able to see which one of the six "re-imagined" covers is inside.

"Anthems" was produced by ANTHRAX, Jay Ruston and Rob Caggiano and recorded for the most part throughout 2012 literally all over the world: at Benante's home studio, in Ruston's New York studio, on the band's tour bus while on last summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, in hotel rooms, and backstage at their Berlin show last December.

The Grammy-nominated ANTHRAX has just hit the road in support "Anthems" with dates in Australia, and will return to North America to headline the Metal Alliance Tour that kicks off March 22. For all of these dates, ANTHRAX is being joined by SHADOWS FALL guitarist Jon Donais.

Viking folk music constellation WARDRUNA — which features multi-instrumentalist Einar "Kvitrafn" Selvik, Kristian "Gaahl" Espedal (ex-GORGOROTH, GOD SEED), and vocalist Lindy Fay Hella — will release its second album, "Yggdrasil", on March 15 in Norway, on March 25 in the rest of Europe and on April 2 in North America via Indie Recordings.

"Yggdrasil" is the follow-up to 2009's "Gap Var Ginnunga" and is the second album in the group's planned "Runaljod" trilogy based on the interpretation of the runes of the elder futhark.

"Yggdrasil" track listing:

01. Rotlaust Tre Fell
02. Fehu
03. NaudiR
04. EhwaR
05. AnsuR
06. IwaR
07. IngwaR
08. Gibu
09. Solringen
10. Sowelu
11. Helvegen

Total running time: 66:14

The second trailer for "Yggdrasil" can be seen below.

"Yggdrasil" will be available as regular jewel case CD and as digibook CD with an exclusive 32-page booklet. Vinyl version will be available through Back On Black. The digibook version will also be sold together with a limited-edition necklace as a package.

About the new album, Kvitrafn commented, "It has taken me quite a while to find the necessary calmness and time needed in order to create the way I do. Last year in November, I began recording 'Yggdrasil', the second part of the 'Runaljod' trilogy. The creative process has been time-consuming and demanding, but I am very happy...

"Like our previous album, it is partly recorded outdoors and in places or situations relevant to the given song. Although the instruments are more or less the same as on 'Gap Var Ginnunga', the nature of the set of runes featured on 'Yggdrasil' have naturally made it a very different album. It is also worth noting that this time I've been working more closely with Lindy and Gaahl during the creative process. We are all very satisfied with the result so far, and we are looking forward to presenting this new piece of old-rooted culture!"

WARDRUNA recently performed at the medieval/fantasy festival Castlefest in the Netherlands, about which Selvik commented: "A lot has happened since the release of our debut album in 2009. We have been lucky enough to be able to perform at some really special places and interesting festivals. A concert with WARDRUNA is in my view two-way communication, and meeting our audience has been both overwhelming and very inspiring for us."

Additonally, the band has been confirmed to perform at this year's Inferno metal festival, set to take place March 14-16 in Switzerland, alongside acts such as ANAAL NATHRAKH, PRIMORDIAL, DARK FUNERAL, MY DYING BRIDE and AURA NOIR.

In September, WARDRUNA will make its American live debut at the Stella Natura Festival, an ambient/folk/black/doom-centered event to be held at Shinnyboo Creek Resort in California's Tahoe National Forest.

Norwegian doom rockers DEVIL return with their second opus, after pleasantly surprising many with their 2011 debut, "Time to Repent".

"Gather The Sinners" will be released on March 22 through Soulseller Records — on CD, limited gatefold LP and digital format.

The new album is a step up both in song writing, performance and production. It also varies from the doomiest they've ever done to the most classic heavy metal they ever done, and if that's not enough: the most garage they've ever done. Fans of DEVIL will not be disappointed, and with a higher standard on all accounts, everyone can be confident that "Gather The Sinners" will be a worthy sophomore album.

"Gather The Sinners" track listing:

01. Coffin Regatta
02. Beyond the Gate
03. They Pale
04. Legacy
05. Restless Wanderer
06. Ladies of the Night
07. Darkest Day
08. Mother Shipton Pt. I
09. Mother Shipton Pt. II
10. Demons on Wheels
11. Southern Sun

The song "Southern Sun" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Comments the band: "As you all will experience this represents the doomier side of DEVIL, but we all ensure you that the album will contain everything from even doomier songs to plain heavy rock. We've accomplished so much in our short period of existence, and we're still very humble, and hope you all will find pleasure in the new stuff as many of you did with the prior songs, and wish to take the opportunity to thank everyone out there who's still keeping heavy metal alive and supported us on our way."

DEVIL is:

Stian Fossum - Guitar
Ronny Østli - Drums
Thomas Ljosaak - Bass
Kai Wanderås - Guitar
Joakim Trangsrud - Vocals

A trailer for "III: Cut Loose", the third album from German heavy rockers THE NEW BLACK, can be seen below. Due on March 15 via AFM Records, the effort will be made available in different configurations, including a "big, fat digipak" with loads of bonus tracks. According to a press release, "There's also talk of guest singers, free downloads and video clips with nasty spiders and middlefingers."

"III: Cut Loose" was once again recorded and produced by the bandmembers themselves. Mixing duties were handled by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, PRETTY MAIDS) who commented: "These guys completely floored me with their stylish mix of both modern metal and vintage rock 'n' roll. This is a band that could get big if things are done the right way!" The CD finds the band finetuning their signature style while keeping heaviness and catchiness fully intact.

"III: Cut Loose" track listing:

01. Innocence & Time
02. Count Me In
03. Muzzle & Blinkers
04. Superhuman Mission
05. Cut Loose
06. Any Colour You Like (As Long As It's Black)
07. Burning D
08. Not Quite That Simple
09. Sharkpool
10. The Unexpected Truth
11. One Thing I Know
12. Antidote

THE NEW BLACK's music has been described in the past in the following way: "This is our kind of party: BLACK LABEL SOCIETY bring the booze, PANTERA spice it up, THIN LIZZY add some taste, and ALTER BRIDGE smooth it over before METALLICA turn it black. And you can be there, too!"

In April, THE NEW BLACK will embark on the "Rock'n'Roll Overdose" tour alongside PSYCHOPUNCH, MOTORJESUS, '77 and SUPERCHARGER.

THE NEW BLACK's sophomore CD, "II: Better In Black", came out in January 2011 in Europe via AFM.

THE NEW BLACK is:

Fludid (Vocals)
Christof "Leimsen" Leim (Guitar)
Fabian "Fabs" Schwarz (Guitar)
Günt (Bass)
Chris Weiß (Drums)

Singer Scott Weiland claims that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' announcement of his "termination" from the band is nothing more than a publicity stunt in order to hype an upcoming concert tour.

Speaking to TMZ.com at the Los Angeles airport prior to the launch of his new solo tour, Weiland said: "STP is not broken up. It's a whole thing to try to boost ticket sales."

According to Scott, there the members of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS are forbidden from using the name STP on another group unless all the individual musicians are involved.

Asked if he's still fronting the band, he replied, "I started it."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS issued a terse statement on Wednesday that simply read, "STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland." No further details were revealed. This is the second time that the band has parted ways with its often troubled frontman, following a split in 2002. This is also the second gig that Weiland has been dismissed from within five years, after he was given his walking papers by VELVET REVOLVER IN 2008.

The singer responded with his own statement, saying, "I learned of my supposed 'termination' from STONE TEMPLE PILOTS this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be 'terminated' from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that's something for the lawyers to figure out. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday."

Rumors that STP's relationship with Weiland was on the rocks again first surfaced late last year, after the singer hinted that he was possibly rejoining VELVET REVOLVER.

But VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash shot that down, saying that Weiland was talking about reuniting with VELVET REVOLVER because he got fired from STP."

Weiland rejoined STP right around the time of his firing from VELVET REVOLVER, with the band touring constantly for the next few years and releasing its self-titled sixth album in 2010.

That last album was recorded with the band playing together in one studio and Weiland recording his parts on his own at his own facility, but bassist Robert DeLeo told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that the band was able to make it work. "There's a certain understanding you have with each other at that point, that you know what the person is gonna like and dislike, and you know what's gonna work," he said. "And, you know, even though it is challenging, you're not in the same room, I think we've gotten to that point where it's a great achievement being able to write and produce and do this record the way we did."

As usual, Weiland's behavior on tour was unpredictable, with the singer often showing up late or going missing before shows, giving lackluster performances and even falling off a stage at one gig.

It's not clear at this point whether STP plans to carry on with a new singer. As for Weiland, he is indeed hitting the road on Friday (March 1) for a solo tour with his band THE WILDABOUTS.

The show on this trek will focus heavily on material from STP's first two efforts, "Core" and "Purple", along with other material.

Century Media Records has announced a worldwide partnership with reputable U.K. indie Siege Of Amida Records (known as SOAR).

This new deal sees SOAR utilized as a central launch pad for the metal and hardcore genres, focusing predominantly on the increasingly vibrant U.K. underground scene and launching emerging international acts onto the circuit.

Century Media is one of the leading independent labels in the industry, boasting a gigantic back catalog and a roster that spans almost every sub-genre within the sphere, as well as a reputation for being one of the strongest metal labels in the world.

Century Media label manager Antje Lange says of the deal: "We feel honored and excited to work with the highly acclaimed label Siege Of Amida. They've proved that they have the Midas touch and the instinct for catching great new bands early and we are confident that we can put the label to the next level on a worldwide basis."

After starting the careers of the likes of WHITECHAPEL, ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY, HEART IN HAND, INGESTED, TRC and DYSCARNATE, as well as being the European vessel for U.S. bands such as IMPENDING DOOM and MOLOTOV SOLUTION, SOAR is reputed for being one of the leading labels spearheading a movement of new exciting bands within extreme music. Many of their past bands are now with larger, internationally established labels such as Metal Blade, Victory, eOne and Nuclear Blast; this deal sees them no longer in the shadow of larger labels and able to compete with the heavyweights on every level.

SOAR director Jamie Graham adds: "After six years of building this label from a comparatively low level, starting out in our bedrooms, we looked back at our catalog of releases and at the bands that moved onto bigger labels and our current roster. We realized we had something special to build on there. Century and their team understand the vision I have for this label and this deal allows our distribution and promotional network to increase a hundred fold. Working with a company as diverse, reputable and ambitious as Century Media in order to take SOAR to the next stage is the logical step for us to take. It will mean great things for our artists and for the label's growth as a whole."

The first release to emerge from this new partnership will be from fast rising U.K. crew HEART IN HAND, in the form of their second full-length, "Almost There", on May 13.

"Together As One", the first video taken from "Cayne", the new album from the Italian goth rockers CAYNE, can be seen below. The CD released on February 14 via Graviton Music Services, the new label founded by Menno Kappe, longtime Roadrunner Records employee.

"Together As One" is not only one of the songs of CAYNE, but it is also a kind of manifesto which represents the soul and true nature of the band. A creature with six hearts encased in a single body, and with as many variations which comes with the atmosphere their music creates.

CAYNE was formed in 1999 by Claudio Leo — who tragically passed away at the age of 40 after a suffering from a fatal illness, only weeks before the release of the new album — and Raffaele Zagaria, both former guitarists and founding members of LACUNA COIL, after they decided to leave the band in the aftermath of the release of the eponymous album for Century Media. The duo immediately gathered its forces to create this new band and signed a record deal with Scarlet in Milan to record their first album. This first release is the full-length "Old Faded Pictures", which came out in 2001. In 2002, after the tour to promote the CD, the band took a step back and remained dormant for the next four years. Thanks to the encounter of Claudio Leo and Marco Barusso (guitarist and producer), the project was slowly brought back to life from 2006 onwards. Since then, the band's lineup has gradually evolved to what CAYNE is today, with Guido Carli (drums), Giovanni Lanfranchi (electric violin and keyboards), Andrea Bacchio (bass), and Giordano Adornato (vocals).

CAYNE is delighted that some established names have been keen to contribute to their second album. On "Through The Ashes", Andrea Ferro from LACUNA COIL performs a duet with Giordano. Paul Quinn from the mighty SAXON puts his skills at work by doing the solo on "Black Liberation" and so does the acclaimed Jeff Waters from ANNIHILATOR on "King Of Nothing".

Says Bacchio: "Most critical to this album has been the achievement of Marco Barusso, our guitarist, who has also been in charge producing, arranging and mixing our album (Marco has also mixed 'Dark Adrenaline', LACUNA COIL's latest CD, and was involved in numerous collaborations with the likes of HIM, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, COLDPLAY and others). Marco is the one who has managed to create the unique signature to our sound, which allows our music to traverse between that what defines a rock band with the elements defining bands from the metal and gothic scene. We think this aspect differentiates us from a lot of bands currently out there and gives us our specific and very personal sound."

"The Riff", the new video from Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "To Beast Or Not To Beast", which will be released on March 1 in Europe (excluding Finland) via AFM Records. The CD will be made available in North America on March 19 through The End Records.

"The Riff" was issued as as single on February 9. You can see the official lyric video for the song below.

"To Beast Or Not To Beast" was recorded last fall at WireWorld Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with renowned producer Michael Wagener (METALLICA, OZZY OSBOURNE, SKID ROW, DOKKEN, RAVEN, MEGADETH). The CD marks the recording debut of LORDI's new members, keyboardist Hella (replacing Awa) and drummer Mana (replacing Otus).

"The road to this album has truly been paved by hardships," LORDI leader Mr. Lordi says. "However, the new lineup of the band has given us new and fresh touch and an energetic edge to the recording process, and to the album itself."

He added: "The album cover painting is actually a part of a larger picture. The original artwork had this vintage-styled lady holding a horned skull, which, however, was not the main point of the art piece. There was something not quite right with the setting, so I made experiments with various versions and framings. Album title was 'Upgradead' at that point in time, and the painting was done with that title in mind. But now, with a changed concept of the artwork, the title did not seem to fit anymore. We did not consider it an A-class name either. Our guitarist Amen came up with the final title, which we felt suitable and perfect both for the cover artwork and the album."

"To Beast Or Not To Beast" track listing:

01. We're Not Bad For The Kids (We're Worse)
02. I Luv Ugly
03. The Riff
04. Something Wicked This Way Comes
05. I'm The Best
06. Horrifiction
07. Happy New Fear
08. Schizo Doll
09. Candy For The Cannibal
10. Sincerely With Love
11. SCG6: Otus' Butcher Clinic

LORDI previously worked with Wagener on 2010's "Babez For Breakfast", which sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 43 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 Riff" video:

Swedish metallers IN FLAMES have issued the following update:

"Ever wanted to be a part of an IN FLAMES music video? Now is your chance! IN FLAMES invites all fans worldwide to be a part of the upcoming video for 'Ropes'. By simply uploading your very own video clip of ANYTHING IN FLAMES related, you have the chance to be in the actual video!

"Check out MakingOfRopes.com to upload your video clip. But that's not all, tomorrow (March 1) a mobile version will also be released, enabling you to film and upload your clip while you are attending an IN FLAMES show."

In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, IN FLAMES vocalist Anders Fridén stated about the band's plans for the next studio album: "I wish we can write on the road but we can't. We have all the time in the world, but I don't know — too much beer to drink. We're looking into writing and recording something at the end of [this] year, I think. So we're hoping to have a release in early 2014. It seems so far away, but it's not."

IN FLAMES is in the middle of a U.S. headlining tour with support from DEMON HUNTER, ALL SHALL PERISH and BATTLECROSS.

IN FLAMES' tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" (Century Media), sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.

IN FLAMES' previous CD, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58.

SIX FEET UNDER frontman Chris Barnes is working with a "brutal side project" called IHATE.

A video for the song "Stretcher", which features Barnes on vocals, can be seen below.

SIX FEET UNDER's tenth full-length album, "Unborn", will be released on March 19 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-to to 2012's "Undead" was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL and SOULFLY, among others. The cover artwork for the CD can be found below.

"Unborn" will be released as an exclusive European box-set edition which will include the limited digipak of "Unborn" and a bonus track entitled "Illusions". Additionally the box will feature a poster, a patch, two pins and a sticker plus enough space for last year's "Undead" album. The bonus track will be featured on the vinyl version of "Unborn" as well.

The unique, artful Japanese rock band DIR EN GREY will release a mini album, "The Unraveling", on April 3. The effort will contain seven tracks, including a new song, "Unraveling". The cover features original artwork by artist and sculptor Yasuyuki Nishio. This intriguing artwork is the result of the fusion between DIR EN GREY's expressions to this day with Yasuyuki Nishio's perspective of the world, bringing forth yet another release that exhibits an overwhelming sense of existence.

"The Unraveling" track listing:

01. Unraveling
02. Karma
03. Kasumi
04. Karasu
05. Bottom Of The Death Valley
06. Unknown.Despair.Lost
07. The Final

For more information, visit www.direngrey.co.jp.

DIR EN GREY released a new single, "Rinkaku", in December. According to a press release, "the track is unlike anything you have heard before, almost overturning the band's musical concept on a new scale, coming in with a range full of depth with Kyo's vocals that evoke classical elements in this beautiful and intricate melodic track which builds up dramatically with the intertwining guitars and bass. 'Rinkaku', mixed by an internationally acclaimed engineer, has turned out to be an inimitable track with an intense sound."

The initial limited version of the "Rinkaku" single features a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the single's recording sessions. The limited deluxe version features a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the recording of "Rinkaku" and the band's November 11, 2011 concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.