Music Feeds conducted an interview with former KYUSS and current KYUSS LIVES! and VISTA CHINO drummer Brant Bjork on Sunday (February 24) at the Sydney, Australia stop of this year's Soundwave festival. You can now watch the chat below.

KYUSS LIVES! is performing its final shows as part of Soundwave. Once the festival has finished, the band will begin anew under the name VISTA CHINO.

Comprised of Bjork and fellow former KYUSS bandmates John Garcia (vocals) and Nick Oliveri (bass), along with Bruno Fevery (guitar), KYUSS LIVES! decided to change its name after a lawsuit launched by former KYUSS members Josh Homme and Scott Reeder prevented KYUSS LIVES! from recording and releasing any new material.

On whether there is a slight sense of relief that the legal dispute over the KYUSS name is over:

Brant: "Absolutely. There's always relief when conflict is resolved and people can just let go and move forward. That's where we're at and we feel great. It's always unfortunate to experience differences with specific people, but we feel great as a band. We're really, really excited to move forward into the future and focus on what it is that we do, which is play music."

On whether the change of band's name to VISTA CHINO would have happened had it not been for the lawsuit:

Brant: "That's a good question. The answer to that question is: I don't know. Possibly. We didn't really think about it. We were really just looking at what was in front of us and making our decisions based on what our present situation was. But now we just came to a point where we felt that changing the name was appropriate and was the fastest way for us to get back to playing music."

On whether changing the name has reinvigorated the band after the psychological toll that the lawsuit took:

Brant: "Yeah, it did take its toll psychologically and spiritually and certainly financially, but we are musicians, and I'm not interested ultimately in names or business or things of that nature. I'm a professional musician; music's my passon. It didn't break my musical spirit, and I think I speak for everyone else [as well]. So we just learned a lot from it. It was a strange trip, and now we're just back to rocking."

On the status of the recording and mixing sessions for the VISTA CHINO debut album:

Brant: "The record is… We're mixing it right now. And it's great. We're really, really excited. We can't wait to drop the bomb, so to speak. It’s a good record, man. I think people are gonna dig it. So we'll drop that this summer, and we'll go to work, man. We haven't formally chosen any particular song to be a single, but we are playing one VISTA CHINO track [tentatively titled 'Dragona'] here at the Soundwave, so you've just gotta kind of listen out for it.

Reactivated Swedish death/thrash metallers THE CROWN have issued the following update:

"A lot of things are happening with THE CROWN at this very moment. We are in the middle of recording a true masterpiece. Marko [Tervonen] is more or less done with his rhythm guitar work and Magnus [Olsfelt] has started with the bass stuff. He recorded a bass track for one song today before we all got together and filmed a small 'jingle' for our Japanese friends.

"Only three months until we hit Japan for the very first time. We are extremely excited about this. Hopefully we'll see YOU there.

"Last but not least, we are very proud to announce our new lineup. Yes, we have a new member in the band. His name is Robin Sörqvist and he fits the band more than perfectly. You have probably heard him in the band IMPIOUS before. He's got the lead guitar skills and the will to kick ass, just as the rest of us.

"Please embrace Robin with a big and loud HELL YEAHHHHH!!!!"

THE CROWN 2013 is:

Johan Lindstrand - Vocals
Marko Tervonen - Rhythm Guitar
Robin Sörqvist - Lead Guitar
Magnus Olsfelt - Bass
Janne Saarenpää – Drums

THE CROWN played its first concert with returning vocalist Johan Lindstrand on May 5, 2012 at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg, Sweden. This marked the band's first appearance in Gothenburg in 12 years and was the group's only show in Sweden last year.

THE CROWN's latest album, "Doomsday King", came out in September 2010 via Century Media Records. The CD was the group's first — and only — release to feature vocalist Jonas Stålhammar.

End of January, the LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA - founded by German heavy metallers RAGE as an orchestral side-project - made its live debut over the course of 2013’s 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise: On the high seas in the Caribbean, the 15-member band played two highly celebrated gigs in the packed Chorus Line Theater on board the Majesty Of The Seas cruise ship. Enthusiastic feedback by both fans and the press provided the combo with another boost of motivation for the upcoming recordings of the debut album that are due in April under the musical direction of Victor Smolski. Right in time for several booked festival shows (on this year’s Wacken Open Air, among others), Lingua Mortis Orchestra’s debut record is set for an early August release.
Victor Smolski – guitarist and head of the project – comments on the work progress: “Back from Florida’s heat to Germany’s iciness, but there can be no talk of feeling chilly – we’re boiling over with work in our studio! I’m already back in arranging and composing mode, while mountains of scores are piling up on my desk. I’m already fascinated by the new Lingua Mortis Orchestra songs due to their multifacetedness: Rock-hard tracks, some of them even heavier than those of our latest Rage record 21, are contrasted with balladic melodies of sheer beauty. The first official Lingua Mortis Orchestra album will be something very special for us, as we’ve never created anything like this before. You can look forward to a concept album with long tracks, sung by Peavy and enriched with female vocals as well as with exotic orchestra instruments. I’ll keep you posted!“

Check out the Lingua Mortis Orchestra on the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise below:

"Acid Overlord", a brand new song from Italian hard rockers TOMBSTONE HIGHWAY, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The trak comes off the band's debut album, "Ruralizer", which will be released on March 12 in Europe and April 16 in North America via Agonia Records.

TOMBSTONE HIGHWAY's music is described in a press release as "a classic blend of feisty stoner/southern rock and doom metal, with catchy guitar solos and old-school heavy metal parts that are reminiscent of LYNYRD SKYNYRD, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, PRIDE AND GLORY, DOWN, BLACK SABBATH, or even ZZ TOP. Apart from hard rock instruments, the band uses also a banjo and Hammond organs.

"Ruralizer" features guest appearances by electric guitar virtuoso Mario Percudani (HUNGRYHEART, MITCH MALLOY), Hammond maestro Paolo "Apollo" Negri (WICKED MINDS, BLACK WIDOW, HASSELVANDER) and Razor SK (FORGOTTEN TOMB).

Joe Hasselvander (PENTAGRAM, THE HOUNDS OF HASSELVANDER) commented on the release: "Absolutely cool! Good old swamp-infested blues metal!"

"Ruralizer" will consist of eight original songs and a cover of MOUNTAIN's "Mississippi Queen", with a running time of almost 50 minutes. The album will be made available on digipack CD and digital download. "Ruralizer" was recorded at Elfo Studios by Daniele Mandelli who is also in charge of mix and mastering.

The band commented: "We're very proud of how the album came out and we strongly believe it's the perfect way to begin our legacy. People into heavy, ballsy southern-tinged hard rock should take note!"

"Ruralizer" track listing:

01. Old Blood
02. Acid Overlord
03. Graveyard Blues
04. Hellfire Rodeo
05. Ruralizer
06. Bite The Dust (And Bleed)
07. At The Bitter End
08. Mississippi Queen (MOUNTAIN cover)
09. Hangman's Friend

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH were recently forced to cancel their 2013 North American tour with THE FACELESS, DECAPITATED and THE AGONIST due to "immigration issues beyond the band's control."

In a new blog post, CRADLE OF FILTH frontman vocalist Dani "Filth" Davey commented on the cancelation, saying that "there is still no one more pissed off about this than me, over nothing more than a silly visa issue. Still, what can you do, the more you complain about the immigration laws, the less likely we are to get in next time we intend to tour."

He continued: "Unfortunately, there is no way of getting around this problem, whatever anybody says, and believe me, we have tried vigorously through various official channels and at some expense,. It is just a hard, cold fact of entry into the U.S. at the moment. So, better that we postpone/cancel than lead people on any further in the hope that CRADLE will be making at least some of these current dates, including Canada, which comes cost-wise part and parcel of touring North America as a whole. It truly is a royal nightmare, as the tour obviously took a lengthy time to route and organize, plus there are the other bands, booking agents, bus companies, local promoters, venues, venue staff and, of course, our loyal fans in attendance to consider. Still, if it's any consolation at all, it does mean that there is a distinct possibility that when the visas are eventually processed, we will be able to come back to the States on a much longer tour, seeing as there was a huge amount of people on our Facebook page complaining about the band not playing anywhere near where they lived. Believe me when I say this, we hear you, and the next tour will take all these requests into ardent consideration. So, if you want CRADLE to come to your country, town or city, make your sepulchral voice heard now… Fuck it, speak to the local promoters if you have to!

"I'd like to end this section of my blog by offering a massive apology to everybody that has been let down by this cancellation, especially the all-important Crewdle Of Filth, THE AGONIST, DECAPITATED and THE FACELESS. If there was any way we could change this, we indefatigably would. Without question. Our friends and fans are the most important thing to this band. Period."

CRADLE OF FILTH's tenth studio album, "The Manticore And Other Horrors", sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous full-length effort, "Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa", opened with 5,800 units in November 2010 to land at No. 99.

CRADLE OF FILTH's 2008 CD, "Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder", premiered with a little over 11,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 48. This was slightly less than the first-week tally registered by 2006's "Thornography", which shifted nearly 13,000 copies the first week out to enter The Billboard chart at No. 66, and "Nymphetamine", which premiered with almost 14,000 copies back in October 2004.

"The Manticore And Other Horrors" was released in North America on October 30, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Recorded in eight weeks at both Springvale and Grindstone studios (where it was also mixed by Scott Atkins), Suffolk, "The Manticore And Other Horrors" is a testament to the longevity of the 'FILTH, as not only does it reek of CRADLE's (feared or revered) brand of delicious metal vamperotica, but this thoroughly modern album places the band firmly in fresh killing fields anew.

On February 20, acclaimed vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (DIO DISCIPLES, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) played a solo headlining concert at Unplug The Plug 6 at Le Plug Rock Bar in Tunis, Tunisia. Joining Owens on stage were Marcel Coenen (SUNCAGED, STORMRIDER) and Marc "Speedy" Reign (MORGOTH, DESTRUCTION) along with members of the local Tunisian band CARTHAGODS. Fan-filmed video footage of Owens' performance can be seen below.

Featured songs in the video:

* Scream Machine (BEYOND FEAR)
* Starting Over (TIM "RIPPER" OWENS)
* The Human Race (BEYOND FEAR)
* Hell Bent For Leather (JUDAS PRIEST)

Released in May 2009, Owens' first solo album, "Play My Game", landed at position No. 66 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.

Owens is without doubt among the most important metal vocalists of the past 15 years. When he succeeded Rob Halford, joining JUDAS PRIEST in May 1996, the press rubbed their eyes, surprised as well as impressed: Owens had previously been a fairly unknown quantity to international music journalists and only a few new of him from the band WINTERS BANE, but he recorded his first PRIEST album, the Grammy-nominated "Jugulator" (1997) with more aplomb than even insiders had expected. Following successful tours with the British metal legends, the strong studio recording "Demolition" (2001), and the live recordings, "Meltdown - 98 Live" (1998) and "Live In London" (2003), and the movie "Rock Star" that was loosely based on Tim's experience with JUDAS PRIEST, Halford's return put an end to Owens' stint with JUDAS PRIEST. More or less immediately, he was enlisted by Jon Schaffer to team up with ICED EARTH and sang on "The Glorious Burden" in spring 2004. Three years later, Owens followed suit with the ICED EARTH album "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Pt. I)", which succeeded the self-titled highly praised debut by his own band BEYOND FEAR. Spring 2008 saw Owens move on to join one of the world's best guitar players Yngwie Malmsteen, debuting with a sensational vocal performance on "Perpetual Flame".

Fame and fortune have always played a minor role in KINGDOM COME mastermind Lenny Wolf's longstanding career. In fact, his more than 30 years as an artist have been fuelled first and foremost by musical challenges and the desire to keep evolving. His credo has always been authenticity before commercial considerations.

"Naturally, nobody is happier than I am when my music is loved by as many fans as possible," he says, "but these kinds of aspects are irrelevant when it comes to creating a new album. The only thing that matters is testing myself as an artist and embarking on new paths."

To avoid any misunderstandings: the new KINGDOM COME album, "Outlier", presents flawless rock music with a welcome tendency towards melancholia and a gift for anthems. But with "Outlier", Lenny is starting a new chapter of his diverse creative career, expertly positioning his charismatic voice between traditional rock structures and modern sound elements, which add a third dimension to this album.

"I simply felt the need to delve deep inside of me and run riot in the infinite expanse of the audio cosmos. The result is a friction of mercilessly mechanical, heartless sound collages, combined with my typical melancholy-melodious style," Wolf explains the album's artfully interwoven experimental approach to his sound, which never detracts from the familiar atmospheric basic mood of his songs. "A whole number of souls happen to dwell in my breast, which is why experimentation and the development of my musical existence simply belong together." Lenny purposely takes into account that this approach may also lead to friction and requires an open mind of its listeners: "It's of secondary importance to me whether this is clever in business terms. To me, it's all about creating optimum varieties of sound signals which go through the ear straight into the heart. Some call it a vocation. Hallelujah."

A vocation which is reflected in ten haunting, stirring and diverse songs. Some numbers are welcome reminders of KINGDOM COME's glorious past, other songs document a future-oriented direction.

"I could have written a track such as 'Let The Silence Talk' back in 1988 during our 'In Your Face' period, whereas listening to 'Rough Ride Rallye' and 'When Colors Break The Grey' for the first time may have you think: Oops, what's all this about," Lenny confesses, knowing fully well that it's precisely those opposite poles which make "Outlier" a very special album. Especially since "one song by itself cannot reflect the character of a whole album. To understand this record, you have to take time and become one with those compositions, some of which are extremely diverse."

"Outlier" is well worth the effort, especially in view of the album's deep lyrical content. As ever, Lenny's lyrics are personal snapshots straight from his soul, touching on autobiographical subjects on "Don't Want You To Wait" and documenting — for example on "God Does Not Sing Our Song" and "Skip The Cover And Feel" — an attitude which is as fierce as ever and deeply rooted in Lenny Wolf. He has also consciously chosen the album title in line with this: "The term 'Outlier' suits me to a tee. It symbolizes my whole personality, the musical media I work with, the story of my life."

"Outlier" was recorded at Wolf's own Hamburg studio, the Two Square Noise Factory. With the exception of the solo guitar parts contributed by Eric Förster, all instruments were recorded by the KINGDOM COME boss himself. In addition, Wolf produced, engineered, mixed and mastered his new album.

"Eighteen months of struggle and madness lie behind me, a period which saw me go through the usual alternating bath of euphoria and doubt," he says. "As an artist, you can never be quite sure just what you've cooked up, but I happen to be an idealist and simply have to keep embarking on new adventurous journeys. The path of predictability has never satisfied me."

"Outlier" is KINGDOM COME's first studio album featuring completely new material since the arrival of their 2009 release, "Magnified". The album is bound to provoke discussion, in every respect, which is precisely the intention Lenny has with his compositions: "I never write to please anybody, I simply stretch my means of expression as a musician as far as possible. Always in the hope that others will like the result."

"Outlier" will be released worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer and will be available as CD and download in Germany on April 26, in the rest of Europe on April 29 and in the U.S./Canada on May 7.

"Outlier" track listing:

01. God Does Not Sing Our Song (04:05
02. Running High Distortion (04:14
03. Rough Ride Ralleye (04:35
04. Let The Silence Talk (03:29
05. Holy Curtain (03:59
06. The Trap Is Alive (04:41
07. Skip The Cover And Feel (03:37
08. Don`t Want You To Wait (04:31
09. Such A Shame (03:18
10. When Colors Break The Grey (05:03

A single, "God Does Not Sing Our Song", will be released digitally worldwide on April 5.

"God Does Not Sing Our Song" single track listing:

01. God Does Not Sing Our Song (radio version)
02. God Does Not Sing Our Song (album version) (taken from "Outlier")
03. Should I (taken from "Rendered Waters")

In his new autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic", Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER has nothing nice to say about KROKUS, the veteran hard rockers from Switzerland. For an entire chapter, he rages about KROKUS, calls the band "Crapus" and states: "You have no idea how close you came landing on the bottom of a lake."

The reason for his outburst: KROKUS commissioned Snider's wife Suzette in 1982 to sew stage outfits for the band's U.S. tour, but the former KROKUS manager refused to pay her for her services.

"These guys ripped off my wife and threatened her," says Snider, who points out that his wife's mother emigrated from Switzerland.

"I was proud of this rock band from the home country of my mother," says Suzette. But the pride has turned into rage.

KROKUS bassist/producer Chris Von Rohr recalls: "The clothes did not match at all our expectations. Too much harlequin style. So we made a bonfire of it."

Many years have passed and KROKUS are older and wiser. "If we have not treated his wife with due respect, we are sorry," Von Rohr says

Von Rohr proposes to Dee and his wife to bury the hatchet and drink a beer or two together at a festival this year where both bands will perform in reconciliation of an event that happened over 30 years ago.

Swiss newspaper Blick reached Snider by phone and submitted KROKUS' peace offer. "If they are serious, I think it's a nice gesture," says Snider. "But I have to ask my wife first if she is ready to forgive KROKUS."

Dallas, Texas-based producer/engineer/mixer Kerry Crafton has finished mixing the long-awaited fourth and final release from the legendary Texas thrash metal band RIGOR MORTIS. Entitled "Slaves To The Grave", the CD was recorded at 13th Planet Studio in El Paso, Texas in February 2012. Mike Scaccia produced the sessions and MINISTRY frontman Al Jourgensen was the executive producer. Completion of the CD was delayed while Scaccia was on a European tour with the band MINISTRY and then by Scaccia's sudden passing.

Scaccia brought the tracks back to Dallas to be mixed by longtime friend Crafton. Crafton engineered the first RIGOR MORTIS album, "Rigor Mortis", for Capitol Records in 1988. Crafton was the producer, engineer and mixer on the third RIGOR MORTIS release for Triple X Records, "Rigor Mortis vs The Earth". He now closes out the RIGOR MORTIS legacy by mixing the band's final CD.

Mixing began in December and Crafton and Scaccia had only one day together to begin the mixing process before the tragic onstage passing of Scaccia at the Rail Club in Ft. Worth while playing with RIGOR MORTIS.

Commented Crafton: "After Mikey died, it was very hard to open up the session and get back to mixing. I expected to have my buddy Mike with me as I did all the mixes. Instead, we had just one day together to set up basic tones and for him to explain what was what. It was a couple of weeks before I was able to begin again. When I got back to it, I found it both heartbreaking and cathartic. Though Mike was gone physically, I still was blessed with his musical presence every day as I soldiered on through the tears.

"This record is amazing. Mike, Bruce Corbitt, Harden Harrison and Casey Orr all performed brilliantly in the recording of this album and I believe they all did the best work of their lives. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to mix this project for such a great group of musicians and friends. The depth and breadth of the material is really awesome. This will, obviously, be the last project from RIGOR MORTIS, but it is a great final musical statement."

The CD is currently being shopped to several interested labels and a release is expected this summer.

Former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland has released the following statement regarding his dismissal from the group:

"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."

Weiland is getting ready to embark on a tour where he will perform songs from the first two STONE TEMPLE PILOTS albums, 1992's "Core" and 1994's "Purple".

"Originally, it was an idea I came up with for STP for the anniversary of 'Core' to do the 'Core' album in its entirety," Weiland told MLive. "The rest of the guys didn't want to do it. So, it was still something that there was a lot of public interest in. Having that said, the idea was brought up to me through management. I talked to the guys in my solo band, THE WILDABOUTS, and they were totally into it, as were the promoters. It worked out."

Weiland and THE WILDABOUTS will kick off the 20-city trek, dubbed the "Purple At The Core Tour", on March 1 in Flint, Michigan. The singer will stop by several U.S. cities during the run, including New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Boston, Houston, and Dallas.

In a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone, Weiland stated about the status of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS: "I think we kind of overplayed ourselves by playing the same set over and over. I think the band needs to take some time off and be creative again. I always felt that our creativity and the growth we made within making records as artists was equally as important as we were as a live band. The transformation from 'Core' to where we ended up before we took that time off, when I started with VELVET REVOLVER, was enormous. I think we need to get back to that. I don't think that touring consistently with a greatest-hits package gets you anywhere. It diminishes things."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo told New Jersey radio station WRAT in a March 2012 interview that contrary to earlier reports, the quartet was not in the studio recording its seventh studio effort. When asked if the band would work on a new disc anytime soon, DeLeo answered, "Possibly, we're just kind of enjoying home life right now and raising our kids and enjoying the loves of our lives."

Word of a new STP album first surfaced as early as the fall of 2010, just months after the band released its self-titled sixth effort.

That 2010 album came nine years after STP's last record, "Shangri-La-Dee-Da", and followed the band's 2008 reunion after a seven-year hiatus.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS released their first-ever live DVD/Blu-ray last June. Entitled "Alive In The Windy City", the effort contained the band's entire concert from March 27, 2010 at the Riviera Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

Reactivated British extreme metal legends CARCASS have set "Surgical Steel" as the title of their first studio album in 17 years, to e released later this year via an as-yet-undetermined record label. The band's first studio outing since 1996's "Swansong" will be the first to feature new drummer Dan Wilding (ABORTED, TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) and also features guest vocals from original sticksman Ken Owen. The CD was produced by Colin Richardson, who has previously worked with FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE.

CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer tells U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine: "I found myself playing riffs that sounded like CARCASS. This was after the band had finished the whole reunion cycle of shows and festivals. So, officially, I would have been playing with other bands and stuff, but for some reason whenever I picked up a guitar at home I was coming up with riffs that sounded like CARCASS. I got on the phone to Jeff [Walker, bass/vocals] and said, 'We could have a crack at writing a couple of tunes and seeing if they're strong enough and take it from there.' We also agreed if it didn't sound like carcass or have that kind of vibe to it, we would just drop it. So that was the thing, we got together and started working on some stuff and just immediately got the excitement back very quickly."

Adds Bill: "It definitely sounds like CARCASS. I think we just generally by accident captured the flavor of past music that we have done and you can't help but push it forward. We have really been creative and when you are looking at things like guitar harmonies, it's way more adventurous on this record. It's not just parallel harmony like we did in the past, things branch off in different directions.

"A lot of what is happening now is based on rhythms rather than actual riffs. We were discussing this a lot during record sessions about how the riff is almost dying or dead already. People spend a lot of time chugging on the bottom string [but] that's a rhythm, it's not a riff. We can't write a song, never mind an album, without it being choc-full of riffs."

States Jeff Walker: "I'd like to feel like we are giving CARCASS fans what they want again. I'm a realist and I think Bill has realized and Dan know what people like about CARCASS. We're definitely delivering."

While the final track listing has yet to be confirmed, the following songs were recorded during the sessions:

* The Master Butcher's Apron
* The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills
* A Congealed Clot Of Blood
* A Wraith In The Apparatus
* 316l Grade Surgical Steel
* Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
* Captive Bolt Pistol
* Intensive Battery Brooding
* None Compliance To Astm F899-12 Standard
* Mount Of Execution
* 1985/Thrasher's Abattoir
* Unfit For Human Consumption
* Zochrot
* Livestock Marketplace

Guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, who have been touring with CARCASS since the band's reunion was announced in 2007, are no longer involved with the group due to scheduling conflicts with their main band, ARCH ENEMY. "For live, we'll obviously add another guitarist — we have someone in mind but we are not interested in a 'name' player," Walker told Decibel magazine in December.

Regarding the sound of the forthcoming CARCASS album, Walker stated: "We've taken stylistic cues from all the albums because it's in our blood, but it's no rehash or mess of ideas. I think it sounds almost like the missing link between the third and forth albums but with some groove in there. I've jokingly christened some parts 'trad blast' and some 'death sleaze'… don't think for a minute this is just some nostalgic throwback album — we're setting up another 17 years of ideas for other bands to copy and clean up on. [laughs]"

Asked if this means we'll be hearing some death metal vocals out of Bill for the first time since "Necroticism", Walker told Decibel, "Yes, already in the can. It's more along the lines of how I envisioned him backing me up on 'Heartwork'. That said, my own vocals have a hell of a lot more range than they did in the past solely down to the luxury of having time to record them — I did all the vox for 'Heartwork' in two days and it shows! Also, (hopefully) [drummer] Ken [Owen] [who is not involved in the band's current reunion because he suffered a near-fatal brain hemorrhage in February 1999 and has had some rather serious health problems since then. — Ed.] will make an appearance — we just need to tidy a few loose ends before the mix."

CARCASS is in the process of booking a number of live shows for 2013, including appearances at year's Maryland Deathfest, Germany's Party.San Open Air, Czech Republic's Brutal Assault, U.K.'s Damnation, The Netherlands' Neurotic Deathfest and Chile's Metal Fest.

CARCASS' last album, 1996's "Swansong", was re-released in July 2008 via Earache Records. The reissue came fully remastered on a DualDisc (combined CD and DVD) in a deluxe digipak with extra artwork and a free sticker sheet featuring exclusive CARCASS designs, and included part 5 of a mini-documentary series entitled "The Pathologist's Report" as bonus video material, plus an exclusive bonus track, "Deathrider Da".

METALLICA, in conjunction with their friends C3 Presents, are pleased to announce the lineup for the 2013 Orion Music + More festival, to be held at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan on June 8 and 9. Headliners will include METALLICA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, RISE AGAINST, DEFTONES and BASSNECTAR, while the festival will also feature amazing acts including GOGOL BORDELLO, FOALS, TOMAHAWK, THE JOY FORMIDABLE, DEATH GRIPS and local Detroit bands THE DIRTBOMBS, DEATH and BATTLECROSS.

"Last year's Orion Music + More festival was hands down the highlight of the METALLICA calendar. A great time was had by all, especially the band members," said METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich. "The fact that it also resonated with enough of our fans and friends that it warrants another go-around in '13 is beyond exciting. I can think of no better place than the Motor City, with its rich and diverse history of music, for the second ride on our Orion festival train. Bring it the fuck on!"

Orion Music + More will feature more than 30 bands across five live music stages plus a lifestyle element that reflects each of METALLICA's band members many personal interests. Detroit will see the return of James Hetfield's Custom Car & Motorcycle Show, Kirk Hammett's Crypt, Lars Ulrich's Hit the Lights Film Tent and Robert Trujillo's Vans Vert Ramp alongside the Metallica Museum and many other fan favorite attractions.

The METALLICA Met Club fan club presale starts February 26 at 10 a.m. (Eastern) and runs through February 28 at 10 p.m. (Eastern). Met Club members get first dibs on buying festival tickets with a couple of options to choose from:

* A super special price at $125 including all fees for a 2-Day Pass or
* The Met Club Ultra 2-Day Pass, which includes Front of Stage Viewing for METALLICA's set, Exclusive Ultra Lounge Access and more for $225 including all fees!

Orion Music + More E-list members will get a chance to purchase $150 2-Day Passes before they go on-sale to the public. This presale starts February 27 at 10 a.m. (Eastern) and runs through February 28 at 10 p.m. (Eastern).

Tickets will go on-sale to the public on March 1 at 10 a.m. (Eastern) for $150 for a 2-Day Pass including all fees.

2013 Orion Music + More festival lineup:

METALLICA
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
RISE AGAINST
DEFTONES
BASSNECTAR
DROPKICK MURPHYS
GOGOL BORDELLO
FLAG
SILVERSUN PICKUPS
FOALS
TOMAHAWK
DESTROID (EXCISION + KJ SAWKA + DOWNLINK)
THE JOY FORMIDABLE
DATSIK
BORGORE
JAPANDROIDS
DILLON FRANCIS
ADVENTURE CLUB
12TH PLANET
DEATH GRIPS
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
DIRTYPHONICS
THE DIRTBOMBS
DEATH
FU MANCHU
THE BRONX
FIDLAR
ALL SHALL PERISH
THE ORWELLS
BATTLECROSS
CAULDRON

In a new interview with John Parks from Legendary Rock Interviews, former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin talks about his solo work, the current goings on with Sabbath and much more. An excerpt follows:
Q: You are very forthright with the fans who have supported and continued to support you during your career. Do you think that the current situation with Bill Ward and the Sabbath situation is one of the more divisive or difficult things fans have had to swallow over the years?

A: "The Bill Ward thing is weird cause they always loved Bill. In fact, they never had a bad thing to say about him so I don’t quite get why they wouldn’t take time out to nurture him back into the fold. If he had any problems I cant see how a period of rehearsal and help from his band would not fix them and if its about money then WHAT THE FUCK??. He IS the original drummer, so yes he should be given a good cut of whatever, BUT I am not privy to the conversations between them so I don’t really know. I just see bands like DEF LEPPARD who’s drummer had an arm RIPPED off in a car accident and they waited for YEARS until he developed a drum kit he could play with ONE ARM!!!!! Amazing dedication, which proves so well that nothing is impossible these days. THAT is why I dont get the Bill Ward thing."

Q: "You’ve been on the inside at various points and have maintained communication with your fans possibly more than any other member of the band. Do you think Black Sabbath fans have a tremendous amount of patience and forgiveness for some of the business end of things?

A: "Sabbath fans are just as awesome as other rock fans, they will always want to see what the next chapter of the story is EVEN if it is just to criticize. In some ways it is a reflection of life in general, we don’t wanna look sometimes but we HAVE to! Not sure its patience as much as the human condition, but I DO know that rock fans in general are the most loyal and determined fans in the world. Great to see old timers STILL wearing the shirts and young things singing songs that were written WAY before they were born... All good... all good!! I just wish people regarded the music itself more respectfully, its become a worthless art now and music has become a cheap throw away product, a fate that it does not deserve."

Read the full interview at this location.

Earlier this year, Martin signed a new publishing contract with Sony/ATV Music Publishing Limited.

Says Tony: "Very pleased!! Signed by Alan Bambrough... Looking forward to working with you Alan. VERY cool."

Nuclear Blast Entertainment has announced the newest addition to its growing label roster: ANTI-MORTEM.

Formed in 2008 and fronted by vocalist Larado Romo, ANTI-MORTEM's line-up includes older brother-guitarist Nevada Romo, guitarist Zain Smith, bassist Corey Henderson and drummer Levi Dickerson. With over 300 shows to their name, these Chickasha, Oklahoma natives (aged between 18 and 22) spent their formative nights and weekends woodshedding their sound on the concert stage they built themselves in the Smith family barn (originally intended to store an old car collection).

While Zain's parents were away working on the weekends, ANTI-MORTEM would turn their barn rehearsal space into a makeshift venue and hone their chops by inviting friends and family in Chickasha over for an afternoon of gravel-throated vocals, crunch-laden riffs, thick grooves, and some good ol'-fashioned Southern hospitality.

Nuclear Blast Entertainment President Monte Conner states: "ANTI-MORTEM connect with a fist-to-the-face, combining the power of American heavy metal and the down-home flavor of the classic Southern rock and blues they were raised on. I've been watching them develop for the past two years and they are now ready to show the world how a good ass-kicking is delivered."

"We are beyond pumped to be signing with Nuclear Blast Entertainment and to have Monte Conner in our corner," shares ANTI-MORTEM vocalist Larado Romo. "We are looking forward to a very long worldwide career with Nuclear Blast and are excited to finally have the opportunity to spread our music and message."

ANTI-MORTEM will record their debut album in March with Hollywood-based producer Bob Marlette (BLACK STONE CHERRY, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, SHINEDOWN, ROB ZOMBIE). The band's first full-length will be released later this year.

ANTI-MORTEM's debut music video for "Stagnant Water" can be seen below. You can also download a free demo version of the song. The track was produced by Provo Provenzano and the video was directed by Clark Deal — both fellow Oklahoma natives.

ANTI-MORTEM are managed by Justin Arcangel at 5B Artist Management, whose roster includes SLIPKNOT, TRIVIUM, AMON AMARTH and AS I LAY DYING.

Drummer Jason Rullo of progressive metallers SYMPHONY X was admitted last week to the hospital for heart failure. Jason spent a week in the hospital, and has since been released. He has started a rehab program and has been told that his recovery will take a minimum of 3-6 months under doctors' care.

Commented Jason: "I would just like to say that I am happy to be home with my family after what was quite a week. We had a few scary days in there, but I made it through what was hopefully the worst of it.

"Doctors say I have a very good chance for a full recovery, so I plan to be back at 100%, even if it takes awhile. I will go through cardiac rehab so I can be monitored while returning to form, so that I'll know when it's safe for me to return to drumming the way I always have, if not better.

"Thanks to my friends and family for the support, and to the fans, I love you all!"

SYMPHONY X's ninth studio album, "Iconoclast", sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 76 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Paradise Lost", opened with around 6,500 copies back in July 2007.

"Iconoclast" was released in Europe on June 17, 2011 and in North America on June 21, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA have commenced the songwriting process for their next album, tentatively due in late 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Several photos from the first day of the writing sessions can be found at this location.

SEPULTURA played its first show with drummer Eloy Casagrande (GLÓRIA, ANDRÉ MATOS) on November 25, 2011 in Lichtenfels, Germany.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA as the replacement for Jean Dolabella, who left the band because he could no longer handle being away from home for long periods of time.

Eloy is a 21-year-old drum prodigy from São Paulo, Brazil who won the Modern Drummer "Undiscovered Drummer" contest as a teenager in 2006.

Asked what Casagrande has added to the band, SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green told Metal Hammer, "Definitely the fact that he's young and that energy helps a lot. He's a very disciplined drummer — he's been playing since he was seven. And he's been doing a lot of things by himself and playing with different people, and that's really, really impressive. He had a lot of things put together before we even met him; he's already done so much. And I think with us, a combination us together, it's a great learning process for him to grow and at the same time, we're learning a lot from him, so we can do this together. And this is something extremely important when you're doing a band that's been together for so long, to have this connection. And we felt this connection with him immediately. And we could tell that he was very focused and very committed to doing extremely good music."

Dolabella left SEPULTURA after a five-year run of relentless touring and two studio albums. He joined SEPULTURA in 2006 following the departure of the band's original drummer, Igor Cavalera.

SEPULTURA has spent most of the past year and half on tour in support of its 12th studio album, and Nuclear Blast Records debut, "Kairos", which hit stores in July 2011.

If you wanna rock hard, you need the right beer.

AC/DC, the infamous hard rock legends from Down Under, have been delivering true rock for the last 40 years. Now they give their name for true, pint-sized Australian taste as well.

"AC/DC Premium Lager Beer" is 568mL of true German Premium Lager with mouthwatering 5.0% alc.

This lager fires up your tongue like TNT, comes with a great beer-loving taste and is brewed in accordance with the rock 'n' roll manifesto of 1973 and the German purity law of 1516.

Other bands who have released signature brands of alcohol include KISS, MOTÖRHEAD, WHITESNAKE and WARRANT.

For more information, visit ACDC-Beer.com.

AC/DC last year expanded the availability of their range of wines following their official release in 2011 in Australia. AC/DC The Wine has become a huge hit with fans while also achieving critical acclaim.

San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT have released the following statement:

"To all our friends in China and Taiwan:

"It is with regret that we must inform you of the cancellation of our performances in Shanghai and Taipei until further notice due to visa issues beyond the control of the band or promoter. Fans in the Asian Pacific region are encouraged to come visit us at our shows in Japan. As we had a terrific experience performing in China and Taiwan in 2007, we eagerly await the resolution of the visa issues and hope to visit again very soon.

"Thanks for your understanding and your undying support."

TESTAMENT's February 15 concert at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, New York as part of "The Dark Roots Of Thrash" tour was professionally filmed for a 90-minute DVD, to be released later this year via Nuclear Blast.

"We haven't shot a live DVD or CD since our 'Live In London' release and we've had two killer albums since then," commented Chuck Billy. "We thought it would be cool to put out a live DVD/CD focusing on the last three records ('The Gathering', 'The Formation Of Damnation' and 'Dark Roots Of Earth') mixed in with a good amount of classics, too. Last time we recorded anything live in America was for 'Live At The Fillmore' on the West Coast. This time we thought we'd give the East Coast a chance to show the world how crazy and loud they can be."

TESTAMENT's new album, "Dark Roots Of Earth", sold more than 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on July 31, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. The cover artwork for the effort (see below) was painted by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

The official video for "In Due Time", the new single from Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE — singer Jesse Leach, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarist Joel Stroetzel and drummer Justin Foley — can be seen at RollingStone.com. The song comes off the band's forthcoming album, "Disarm The Descent", which will be released on April 2 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 2009's self-titled release is the band's first album with original singer Leach at the vocal helm since 2002's now-classic, genre-defining "Alive or Just Breathing". Leach returned to the band in January 2012 after a decade-long absence. The artwork for the new CD was created by D'Antonio.

"I [originally had] the idea of doing a sort of a tongue-in-cheek video, as I am a huge fan of some of the early FOO FIGHTERS videos," Leach tells RollingStone.com. "However, when I read the treatment that [directors] Ian and Mike sent over, it was perfect. To me, this video shows the band as we are, a balanced push and pull of intense and sincere verses fun-loving, down-to-earth guys. We had our actual crew and friends in the shoot to create a natural vibe. So what you see is what we are: a band and a family that doesn't take ourselves too seriously."

"Disarm The Descent" was selected by Alternative Press magazine for its "Most Anticipated Albums of 2013" issue, and the band was profiled in Guitar World as one to watch in 2013. Clearly, buzz from fans and the metal and hard rock community regarding new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE remains deafening.

"It is with a grateful spirit that we prepare for this record's release," Leach said. "From the music, to the lyrics, to the artwork, we are all proud of what we have accomplished. To me, this is by far my best vocal performance, much thanks to Adam's guidance and faith in my abilities. I am very grateful to be where I am in life, back in an amazing band with a record we are all excited for the world to hear. Thanks to all the fans for their warm welcome back and their undying love for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE."

2012 marked a busy year for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE.

With Leach firmly installed as the frontman for the last 12 months, the band spent its summer on the road. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE shook the bedrock of venues across the country as part of the first-ever Trespass America tour alongside FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH.

The band recently embarked on a tour that celebrated the 10th anniversary of "Alive Or Just Breathing". They performed the album in full, with a few fan favorites and hits from their gold-selling albums, 2004's "The End Of Heartache" and 2006's "As Daylight Dies", sprinkled into the setlist. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE were also profiled by Decibel in the magazine's highly respected "Hall of Fame" feature for "Alive Or Just Breathing".

In between tours, the band put its nose to the grindstone to work on what would become "Disarm The Descent", with Dutkiewicz producing. The wheels have been turning for the past year, as the band supplemented recording with touring. The time is upon us for the next chapter of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, who were at the forefront of the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal resurgence that defined the '00s and have remained vital into the new decade.

"Disarm The Descent" track listing:

01. The Hell In Me
02. Beyond The Flames
03. New Awakening
04. In Due Time
05. A Tribute To The Fallen
06. The Turning Point
07. All That We Have
08. You Don't Bleed For Me
09. The Call
10. No End In Sight
11. Always
12. Time Will Not Remain

"Disarm The Descent" was mixed by veteran British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, ACCEPT, ARCH ENEMY and NEVERMORE.

"[The recording process] was great," Leach told Loudwire. "I came off tour I was filled with energy, ready to go, we knocked out a bunch of stuff. I had joined the band, the record was there, we're on tour so I really didn't have time to write. I took the past two months not only recording but writing so I'm there with an idea, being in the other room writing and going to Adam saying, 'Here's my idea I just wrote, what do you think?' So there's real spontaneity some of the songs that we just finished up. I had maybe five or six solid ideas when I came off tour and the rest had to be developed as we were recording it. It was exciting but at the same time tough because for me I'm digging deep down into my emotions and my psyche trying to come up with stuff that is honest and emotive and relevant, hopefully for the listener. It's tiring but well worth, anything that's worth achieving you got to suffer a little bit for it. I think mentally and spiritually and a little bit physically we were suffering but all of that made for an amazing record that I'm really proud of."

He added, "The music is definitely the fastest KILLSWITCH record ever. It's very heavy but still maintains the signature KILLSWITCH hooky, melodic stuff there, too. There's definitely melody attached, but I pulled out some new styles vocally, yelling and screaming and growling and layers and it sounds massive."

Asked what the vibe has been working on the new record with the other members, Leach said, "These guys have welcomed me back with open arms and just very encouraging and digging the stuff that I'm doing and these guys were just like, 'Wow! We're really excited. We feel like it's been a long time since we've been this excited about music,' and that just makes me feel amazing. It makes me feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing."

Fan-filmed video footage of DROWNING POOL's February 26 performance at Wally's Pub in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire can be seen below.

DROWNING POOL's fifth studio, "Resilience", will be released on April 2 via Eleven Seven Music. The band teamed up with producer Kato Khandwalla at House of Loud Studios in New Jersey, as well as John Feldmann (THE USED, STORY OF THE YEAR), and completed the album in Dallas.

The band says of "Resilience": "Ultimately, it isn't a new beginning or an end. It's a continuation of the DROWNING POOL legacy — and a fitting one at that."

"Resilience" track listing:

01. Anytime Anyplace
02. Die For Nothing
03. One Finger And A Fist
04. Digging These Holes
05. Saturday Night
06. Low Crawl
07. Life Of Misery
08. Broken Again
09. Understand
10. Bleed Wth You
11. Skip To The End

Bonus tracks:

12. In Memory Of
13. Blindfold

The official lyric video for "One Finger And A Fist" can be seen below.

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

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

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

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

In an exclusive interview in the September 2012 issue of Guitar World magazine, Moreno said, "I am extremely happy and very grateful to be a part of the DROWNING POOL family. Everyone's been so welcoming, especially the fans. I can't praise them enough. They've made me feel right at home."

"In Memory Of" was released in August 2012 to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the band's original singer, Dave Williams.

Williams died on tour in 2002 after singing on the band's debut, "Sinner". He was replaced by Jason "Gong" Jones, who also contributed to one record, "Desensitized", before being shown the door in 2004.

DROWNING POOL's video for the song "Saturday Night" was directed by Jon Bertorelli and produced by Daniel Livschultz, both of Vulpine Films.

German epic pagan metallers WOLFCHANT will release their new album, "Embraced By Fire", on March 1 via NoiseArt Records. According to the band, the follow-up to 2011's "Call Of The Black Winds" is "the most elaborate and detailed album in our band history so far! We've made sure to create catchy and interesting song structures and to deploy a multifarious instrumentation. Andre Hofmann of Forte Fortissimo studio supplied a very forceful and clear sound, which fits perfectly to the new songs."

"Embraced By Fire" track listing:

01. Devouring Flames
02. Embraced By Fire
03. Element
04. Turning Into Red
05. Einsame Wacht
06. Autumns Breath
07. Freier Geist
08. Winters Triumph

A video clip in which the WOLFCHANT bandmembers present the digipak edition of "Embraced By Fire" and offer a glimpse into their headquarters can be seen below.

WOLFCHANT was recently featured in the Cartoon Network's "Aqua Something You Know Whatever". Three members of the band appear in the episode called "Totem Pole" as the band TOTEM POLE performing the song "Polegasm". Check out snippets at this location.

"Aqua Something You Know Whatever" began its long run on Adult Swim under the title "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" for its first seven seasons, then was renamed "Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1" for a season before the creators decided to change the title again.

WOLFCHANT will take part in the Paganfest Europe tour alongside ALESTORM, ARKONA, EX DEO, THYRFING and BORNHOLM.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have announced they have "officially terminated" their lead singer, Scott Weiland. No reason was given for the split. A spokeswoman said the band has no further comment at this time.

Weiland is getting ready to embark on a solo tour where he will perform songs from the first two STONE TEMPLE PILOTS albums, 1992's "Core" and 1994's "Purple".

"Originally, it was an idea I came up with for STP for the anniversary of 'Core' to do the 'Core' album in its entirety," Weiland told MLive. "The rest of the guys didn't want to do it. So, it was still something that there was a lot of public interest in. Having that said, the idea was brought up to me through management. I talked to the guys in my solo band, THE WILDABOUTS, and they were totally into it, as were the promoters. It worked out."

Weiland and THE WILDABOUTS will kick off the 20-city trek, dubbed the "Purple At The Core Tour", on March 1 in Flint, Michigan. The singer will stop by several U.S. cities during the run, including New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Boston, Houston, and Dallas.

In a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone, Weiland stated about the status of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS: "I think we kind of overplayed ourselves by playing the same set over and over. I think the band needs to take some time off and be creative again. I always felt that our creativity and the growth we made within making records as artists was equally as important as we were as a live band. The transformation from 'Core' to where we ended up before we took that time off, when I started with VELVET REVOLVER, was enormous. I think we need to get back to that. I don't think that touring consistently with a greatest-hits package gets you anywhere. It diminishes things."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo told New Jersey radio station WRAT in a March 2012 interview that contrary to earlier reports, the quartet was not in the studio recording its seventh studio effort. When asked if the band would work on a new disc anytime soon, DeLeo answered, "Possibly, we're just kind of enjoying home life right now and raising our kids and enjoying the loves of our lives."

Word of a new STP album first surfaced as early as the fall of 2010, just months after the band released its self-titled sixth effort.

That 2010 album came nine years after STP's last record, "Shangri-La-Dee-Da", and followed the band's 2008 reunion after a seven-year hiatus.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS released their first-ever live DVD/Blu-ray last June. Entitled "Alive In The Windy City", the effort contained the band's entire concert from March 27, 2010 at the Riviera Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS — the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (ex-FIREWIND) — will release its eighth studio album, "Earth Blues", on April 16 (one day earlier internationally) via InsideOut Music.

The first track released from the CD, "Turn The Tide", can be streamed below.

Commented Amott: "I had the idea for this artwork from my time as a child, seeing posters of two young lovers watching a romantic sunset on the beach — just your typical tacky bedroom art in the '70s, really... Also, growing up in what is now referred to with some nostalgia as the Atomic Age — the threat of nuclear war was always looming over our heads it seemed. I wanted to combine these two images of my youth in one paradoxical image and Per Wiberg of Hippograffix (and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS keyboardist) really managed to capture the melancholic feeling perfectly. Earth Blues, indeed."

Regarding the making of "Earth Blues", Amott said: "We started the recording process of 'Earth Blues' with an eight-day-long session at Fat Guitar Studios (Sweden) with knob-twiddler Roberth Ekholm, a truly great dude who really knows how to capture a band jamming live, sadly a rare quality in recording engineers nowadays! We continued with some overdubs at various studios in Sweden, and it's all come together super easy this time. Sonically, I think this might be our finest hour yet. It's a raw, heavy and honest record."

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

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS in 2011 released a live CD entitled "Return To Live: Loud Park 2010" in Japan via Trooper Entertainment. The disc features eight songs, capturing the bands high-energy performance at Loud Park 10 at Saitama Super Arena, Japan on October 17, 2010. The live recording was mixed in Sweden by Staffan Karlsson and Rickard Bengtsson at Studio Landgren 5.3 and The Sweet Spot Studio in December 2010. The artwork and design was handled by Hippograffix.

The new lineup of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS made its live debut on October 1, 2010 at Kyttaro club in Athens, Greece.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS's seventh studio album, "Return To Zero", was released in Japan on August 25, 2010 via Trooper Entertainment Inc. — the label founded by legendary Japanese heavy metal music industry guru Tetsu Miyamoto. The Japanese special edition comes in a glossy paper box with a poster and a sticker of the CD front cover. The Japanese edition also features a bonus track, a thunderous cover of URIAH HEEP's "Time To Live" off the legendary U.K. band's 1971 "Salisbury" record.

"Return To Zero" was released in North America on October 12, 2010 via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Demons" was recorded at Sweetspot Studio with producer Rickard Bengtsson.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2013 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar
Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - Drums
Per Wiberg (OPETH) - Keyboards
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals

The Mighty Z of Capital Chaos TV conducted an interview with guitarist Jeremy Wagner of reformed Chicago death metallers BROKEN HOPE on February 23 at The Awakening festival at Neck Of The Woods in San Francisco, California. You can now watch the chat below. Also available is performance footage from the San Francisco concert.

In regards to BROKEN HOPE's next studio CD, Wagner previously said: "We finished writing the new BROKEN HOPE album and plan to start recording in March with Chris Djuric at Belle City Sound and Scott Creekmore at Mercenary Digital Studios. As reported recently, the 11 tracks include 'The Flesh Mechanic' and 'Give Me The Bottom Half'...and these are just the tip of a massive and sick iceberg. We plan to turn this new monstrosity in to Century Media in May — before our appearances at Extremefest (Germany) and Maryland Deathfest 2013."

BROKEN HOPE was formed in 1988 by Wagner, while he was in high school. Shortly after formation, they recorded two demo tapes and signed with indie label, Grind-Core Records. Then in 1991, they released their debut album, "Swamped In Gore", launching the band out of the underground and into the mainstream. From there, the band signed to Metal Blade Records and released three more albums, all stellar examples of BROKEN HOPE's fury, which etched their place in death-metal history.

After BROKEN HOPE's last album (1999's "Grotesque Blessings") and world tours, Wagner cleaned house and put BROKEN HOPE into "metal hibernation" in 2000. On January 20, 2010, original BROKEN HOPE vocalist Joe Ptacek tragically committed suicide. He was only 37 years old. Before his death, Ptacek met with Wagner and Glass and discussed the resurrection of BROKEN HOPE. With Ptacek's death, Wagner and Glass took time off to reconsider their next moves.

In 2012, BROKEN HOPE signed with Hard Impact Management and vowed to make BROKEN HOPE a full-time monster. Wagner and Glass recruited longtime friend and GORGASM vocalist Damian Leski as their new frontman and shortly after marked their return on the highly successful Carnival Of Death tour. BROKEN HOPE's high-intensity concerts received top praise, and confirmed the band was back and more rabid than ever.

BROKEN HOPE 2013 is:

Damian Leski - Vocals
Jeremy Wagner - Guitars
Shaun Glass - Bass
Chuck Wepfer - Lead Guitars
Mike Miczek - Drums

Interview: