German death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN will release their new album, "Veto", via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway: April 19
Rest Of Europe: April 22
Australia, New Zealand, Finland: April 26
USA, Canada: April 30

The cover of "Veto" shows the John Collier painting of Lady Godiva (c.1898). HEAVEN SHALL BURN guitarist Maik Weichert comments as to why this piece of art works perfectly with the underlying concept of the album: "It as an icon regarding the fight for social justice. The image also represents a contemporary issue: i.e. today's leading class being isolated from the people and the conflicts arising from that. It is also a great way to show our fans how current problems and topics can be reflected and derived from historical artworks."

"Veto" track listing:

01. Godiva
02. Land Of The Upright Ones
03. Die Stürme Rufen Dich
04. Fallen
05. Hunters Will Be Hunted
06. You Will Be Godless
07. Valhalla
08. Antagonized
09. Like Gods Among Mortals
10. 53 Nations
11. Beyond Redemption

Do you fancy hearing the song "Land Of The Uprising Ones" off "Veto"?

Head to LandOfTheUprightOnes.com, but this time you will need to do a bit of work in order to get a hold of your download: Century Media has chopped up the song in eight pieces and will leave it up to you to work out the right sequence. Once you solve the puzzle, you can download the song for free.

Says Weichert about the track: "The song is dedicated to Thomas Sankara, a relatively unknown revolutionary whose fate is closely linked to Burkina Faso which can be translated to 'Land of upright/honest people' or 'Land of honest people.' It's a very heavy track."

To celebrate the release of "Veto", HEAVEN SHALL BURN will play three exclusive release shows in Europe:

April 20 - Leipzig, Germany - Impericon Festival III, Agra
April 26 - Vienna, Austria - Impericon Festival, Gasometer
April 27 - Zürich, Switzerland - Loudfest, Komplex

HEAVEN SHALL BURN's latest album, "Invictus", landed on the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 9. This marked HEAVEN SHALL BURN's and Century Media Records' first-ever Top 10 release in Germany. The CD also charted in Austria (#15), Switzerland (#38) and Greece (#14).

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH have recruited a new member for their live performances. Canadian multi-instrumentalist Lindsay Schoolcraft, singer and songwriter of her own solo project SCHOOLCRAFT, is the new keyboardist for the band, and will also assist them on backing vocals.

A short interview with Schoolcraft can be found at RockOverdose.gr.

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.

San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans VICIOUS RUMORS will release their eleventh studio album, "Electric Punishment", on April 26 in Germany, April 29 in the rest of Europe and May 7 in U.S./Canada via Steamhammer/SPV. It will be available as a jewel case, on double gatefold colored vinyl and as a digital download. The cover artwork was once again created by German artist Christoph Schinzel, who has previously worked with ANVIL, CIRCLE II CIRCLE, RAVEN and AGENT STEEL. The CD was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California with producers Juan Urteaga and VICIOUS RUMORS guitarist Geoff Thorpe.

Thorpe, Brian Allen, Larry Howe, Stephen Goodwin and Thean Rasmussen are back with nine new songs and a wicked cover of "Strange Ways" by KISS, all of which are sure to satisfy the faithful VICIOUS RUMORS fans. "Black X List" and "D-Block" are thrashy speed killers while "Escape (From Hell)" and "Together We Unite" add a classic flavor.

"Electric Punishment" will feature special guest appearances by Mark McGee, Brad Gillis and VICIOUS RUMORS' touring guitarist Bob Capka.

States Thorpe: "We have permanently grown. There have been no two identical albums in our career because each album has a new, fresh approach. Still, we've never strayed from our course — perhaps precisely for this reason. We've remained faithful to our ideals and have always been honest with our fans. I think our loyal followers value that VICIOUS RUMORS have never jumped on any kind of bandwagon. Everything we do comes from the heart and 'Electric Punishment' documents that no other band on this planet sounds like VICIOUS RUMORS. To us, that's an incentive, a challenge and a quality feature all in one. And it's something our fans can rely on when we set off on our next monster tour in spring 2013."

VICIOUS RUMORS will embark on a club tour in May and will play important festivals in Europe before going on to Japan and the USA.

"Electric Punishment" track listing:

01. I Am The Gun
02. Black X List
03. Electric Punishment
04. D - Block
05. Escape (From Hell)
06. Dime Store Prophet
07. Together We Unite
08. Eternally
09. Thirst For A Kill
10. Strange Ways (KISS cover)

VICIOUS RUMORS released a new live album, "Live You To Death", on November 27, 2012 (one day earlier internationally) through SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was recorded by Pontus Norgren of HAMMERFALL, mixed by Juan Urteaga and produced by VICIOUS RUMORS guitarist Geoff Thorpe.

2011 was the year VICIOUS RUMORS stormed European stages with their highly acclaimed studio album, "Razorback Killers", playing 92 shows in 12 months.

"Live You To Death" was recorded in December 2011 on the band's European tour as the support act for Swedish metallers HAMMERFALL. It features 11 songs, including two very special studio recordings: cover versions of "Sign Of The Southern Cross" by BLACK SABBATH and "Running Wild" by JUDAS PRIEST.

"Razorback Killers" was released in Europe in March 2011 and in the U.S. in April 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California with Urteaga and Thorpe.

CHAOSTAR, the band led by SEPTICFLESH guitarist Christos Antoniou, will release its fourth album, "Anomima", on May 10 in Europe and May 14 in North America via Season Of Mist. The limited-edition version of the CD will come with a bonus DVD entitled "Anomimata". A trailer for the DVD can be seen below.

"Anomima" will feature guest appearances by David Vincent (MORBID ANGEL) and Fernando Ribeiro (MOONSPELL).

Commented Christos: "David narrates the prologue of the most vicious song on the album, shading his dark and imposing shadow over the band's music. I consider that cooperation as one of the most representative of CHAOSTAR's new work. A tragic heroine taken from the ancient Greek tragedies meets the devilish power of the unsurpassable voice of Mr. Vincent."

With regards to Ribeiro's involvement with the CD, Antoniou said, "His deep gothic voice will give a completely powerful atmosphere to a duet."

CHAOSTAR's current lineup is as follows:

Christos Antoniou: Composer/Synths
Androniki Skoula: Vocals
Fotis Benardo: Percussion
George Diamandopoulos: Traditional Instruments
Charalampos Paritsis: Electric Violin
John Thermos: Synths

After the independent release of their first record, "The Underworld" (2000), CHAOSTAR signed a deal with the French label Holy Records, which issued the "Chaostar" (2000), "Threnody" (2001) and "The Scarlet Queen" (2004) albums, as well as the compilation "Underworld" (2007).

When SEPTTICFLESH returned from a self-imposed creative break with their highly successful album "Communion" (2008) on Season Of Mist, Christos also revived CHAOSTAR and placed his trust in the same label.

"After six years of silence, I am very pleased to continue my experimental side with Season Of Mist," commented Christos."I know how they work and they understand what CHAOSTAR is about."

He added, "I am thinking about writing an 'opera' based concept on Euripides' drama masterpiece 'Medea'. I will definitely not follow the previous atmosphere, which was rather based on 'classical' music. A combination of extreme metal sounds and modern textures will play a dominant role in my forthcoming sound."

The second of three trailers for "Power & Volume", the forthcoming debut album from FREE FALL, the Swedish rock band featuring guitarist Mattias Bärjed (SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES) and drummer Ludwig Dahlberg (THE [INTERNATIONAL] NOISE CONSPIRACY), can be seen below. The CD will be released on February 22 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Power & Volume" track listing:

01. Power & Volume
02. Free Fall
03. Midnight Vulture
04. Top Of The World
05. Attila
06. World Domination
07. Love Bombing
08. Damnation
09. Meriola Blues
10. Meat

Bonus:

11. Change Coming
12. Yeah!!!

The video for the "Power & Volume" title track can be seen below. The band states: "The purpose of this video is to replace an empty mind with an open mind."

The "Power & Volume" song was made available as a seven-inch single on black (retail version) and white vinyl (Nuclear Blast mailorder only) as well as digitally via iTunes. All versions also include the rare non-album track "Stand Up For Your Rock 'N' Roll".

FREE FALL is:

Jan Martens - Bass
Mattias Bärjed - Guitar
Kim Fransson - Lead vocals
Ludwig Dahlberg - Drums

Atlanta, Georgia-based metallers HALCYON WAY have completed the writing process for their fourth album, to be released in the second half of 2013. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to "IndoctriNation" (Nightmare Records) will once again feature the hook- and riff-infused brand of metal HALCYON WAY has been notorious for.

HALCYON WAY's new album is being produced by the band's own Jon Bodan (guitar), while Lasse Lammert will once again handle mixing. Additionally, the group will work for the first time with Seth Von Paulus, the vocal engineer who has worked with names such as Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera and SMASHING PUMPKINS, among others.

"We're all very excited about the material that we have in our hands," says Bodan. "We believe that this will be our best release yet, and with both Lasse and Seth onboard, I believe this will be the album that will help cement the HALCYON WAY brand once and for all."

In touring news, HALCYON WAY will hit the road in North America as the support act for U.D.O., the German metal band fronted by former ACCEPT vocalist Udo Dirkschneider. The ten-show trek kicks off on April 9 in Amityville, New York and runs for eleven days throughout the Northeastern/Midwestern U.S. and Canada.

Swedish death metallers VOMITORY have released the following statement:

"After 24 years, eight albums and hundreds of live shows across 30 countries, we have finally come to the end of the road. We in the band — Tobias, Urban, Erik and Peter — have made the collective decision to end VOMITORY by the end of 2013. It has been a blast on all accounts, but all good things come to to an end, and for VOMITORY, it is now. We will still play as many shows as possible during 2013, and we hope to see as many of you fans as possible there, so we can thank you for your true support during all these years!"

VOMITORY's eighth full-length album, "Opus Mortis VIII", was released in 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Leon Music Studios outside Karlstad, Sweden with producer Rikard Löfgren.

VOMITORY is:

Erik Rundqvist - Bass/Vocals
Tobias Gustafsson - Drums
Urban Gustafsson - Guitar
Peter Östlund - Guitar

A PERFECT DAY, the Italian hard rock power trio led by Andrea Cantarelli, guitarist and co-founding member of the Italian heavy metal band LABYRINTH, has released its cover version of "Skyfall", ADELE's official theme song to the James Bond film of the same name. Check it out in the YouTube clip below.

Formed in 2011, A PERFECT DAY started when Andrea presented the concept of starting from scratch a new hard rock band — which could work on strong melodies and aggressive guitar riffs — to his bandmate Roberto Tiranti. He immediately loved the music that Andrea played him and started to work on songs and melodies. The lineup was then completed with Alessandro Bissa (LABYRINTH, VISION DIVINE) on drums.

A PERFECT DAY's debut album and the band's direction revolves around the rock and hard rock of the American post-grunge sounds. As for music, melody plays a leading role. Although, on the one hand, it is supported by a very relaxed atmosphere, it contrasts, on the other, with the wall of sound created by the heavy guitar riffing.

The moniker A PERFECT DAY alludes to everyone's daily experiences. It obviously refers to the positive ones, but it is also an attempt to point out, with a certain touch of irony, the good side of the most difficult and sad happenings of our lives.

A PERFECT DAY is:

Roberto Tiranti: Vocals, Bass
Andrea Cantarelli: Guitar
Alessandro Bissa: Drums

Former THE HAUNTED frontman Peter Dolving will release his solo album entitled "Thieves And Liars" on March 19 via Deadlight Entertainment.

According to a press release, "Thieves & Liars" "is far from the idea of metal and hardcore. Instead, [the CD] spring from layers of guitars, classic rock, eclectic melodies and even goth. THE CURE, NEW ORDER, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, MASSIVE ATTACK and Mark Lanegan are names that spring to mind in describing the record that was recorded in 2011/2012, mixed by BURST and SÓLSTAFIR producer Fredrik Reinedahl and mastered by legendary producer/engineer Tue Madsen (SICK OF IT ALL, HATESPHERE)."

Regarding how the effort came together, Dolving said, "Beginning in July 2011, I had come to a place in my life and art where for some reason I knew, this is it. No more adapting to groups, superficial ideas of genres, or styles. I started recording, with no censoring, complete flow of consciousness. Free creation. Finally. Without restraints. And I made a couple of songs every weeks, it just kept pouring out. I realized this was a truly inspired record falling into play.

"As the songs kept coming, I asked Per Möller Jensen, who I'd been playing with in THE HAUNTED for 10 years if he would like to play on the record, and he was completely open for diving into it. He explained he wanted time to really put his heart into and certainly he did. Mixing an amazing classic rock feel and a energetic inspiring jazz influence his drums blew my mind as I heard what he had come up with for the songs.

"I spoke to [producer] Tue Madsen, who I had befriended during hours of work with THE HAUNTED, we share a deep love of music and we decided that he would master. Fredrik Reinedahl who got involved with HOUSE OF DOLVING back when we started recording in 2011 has become a dear friend along the process. We met each other for the first time back in summer of '95 and he kept playing stuff to me that I really love that he had or was mixing. BURST, PASSENGERS, ABANDON and later SÓLSTAFIR. The man is a bona fide sound wizard and really one of the smartest, loving people I know.

"And a year after a couple of hundred alone long nights at end, it's all in place. This is 'Thieves And Liars'.

"I really hope you will enjoy it as much we have making it."

"Thieves And Liars" track listing:

01. Meinhof
02. Song For You
03. Hands On
04. One Sweet Moment
05. Ordinary Folk
06. Sunday Mornings
07. Cocksucker Blues
08. My Will To Die
09. No Solicitors
10. So Sick
11. All This Beauty

"Hands On" can be streamed below.

Previously a vocalist for MARY BEATS JANE, Dolving joined THE HAUNTED in 1997 and sang in their debut self-titled album. In 1998, he left the group to concentrate on a band called ZEN-MONKEY but returned in 2003 following the departure of Marco Aro (the vocalist which took over Dolving's spot after Peter's 1998 exit). He has since appeared on the studio albums "Revolver" (2004), "The Dead Eye" (2006), "Versus" (2008) and "Unseen" (2011).

Brendan Crabb of TheMusic.com.au recently conducted an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On metal's current state:

Kerry: "It seems to me like it's just cruising along, status quo. I'm yet to see anything new that's like a threat; not even a threat, like the next suitor to the throne. You've first got your MAIDEN, SABBATH and PRIEST and then you've got METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT and bands like that. After that, there's a lot of bands, but I don't think anybody's the chief, you know what I mean?"

On SLAYER's forthcoming studio album:

Kerry: "As usual, every time we get ready to put out a record, [Rick Rubin's] American Recordings changes distribution, so that always holds us up. So we've got three weeks 'til we're done in Australia, and hopefully all their pieces fall where they need to fall, we can get some contracts done and start recording. We've got plenty of music; I'm taking my days off in Australia to work on lyrics, so hopefully we'll just get closer to the end product, so we're not going to waste a lot of time in the studio. I think it's pretty much SLAYER. As a guitar player I try to come up with things I've never heard us do or maybe I've never heard anybody else do, but still in the parameters of super heavy music. If you get a surprise, I would say chances are it's still heavy; you're just not used to hearing heavy in that way."

On the status of SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who has been absent from the road for the past two years while he is recovering from contracting necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite:

Kerry: "If he came in, knocked on my door in five minutes and said, 'Hey dude, I'm ready, let's go practice', I'd say, 'Good, get your gear, let's go practice.' But until that day comes, I've gotta cover SLAYER's butt and have his gig filled in. 'Cause I don't want it to be a carousel, where there's, if Gary [Holt of EXODUS] can't do it, we get somebody else, and if he can't do it, we get somebody else again. I want to have continuity. We told Gary when our schedule is and said, 'Please keep it open,' because we don't know when Jeff's gonna be able to play guitar. Jeff's kind of like a wait-and-see thing.”

On whether SLAYER plans to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album, "Show No Mercy":

Kerry: "I always think reissues, unless there's something of serious value on it… A fan could just see that as a big rip-off, and that's certainly not what we're about. That being said, if we came up with some great content or something, sure, I could see that happening. Later on in the year, maybe we might do more 'Show No Mercy' songs. I can't imagine playing the whole record, but I know there's at least one song we're playing down in Australia on this run.

"I wish somebody told us before 'Reign In Blood' we didn't need reverb. But it's good shit, you know? People always ask me, 'Do you think you should go re-record 'Show No Mercy' and 'Hell Awaits'?' I say no, because those are a moment in time and that's what SLAYER was. If we were recording them again now, the way SLAYER sounds… Rule number one: it would sound like a completely different record. Which could be good or bad, I don't know. But people love those historically for what they are.”

Read more from TheMusic.com.au.

Canadian black metallers EMPYREAN PLAGUE have released the official video for 'Imprint Evidence Destiny', the title track from the band's 2011 release.

The video was directed by Christopher M. Ray (VANQUISHED) and produced by Hora Morior Productions. Check it out below:
Empyrean Plague lineup:

Mike Burge - Guitar, Vocals
Kyle Tayler - Guitar
Liam Ahola - Drums
Kye Bell - Bass
More on Empyrean Plague at this location.

Raleigh, NC-based metal act BLATANT DISARRAY have begun recording their second full length album, which is being engineered and produced by guitarist/vocalist Mike Schaefer in his studio in Raleigh.
The new album will be released this summer via Tribunal Records. Stay tuned for complete details.

Blatant Disarray lineup:

Mike Schaefer - Guitar, Vocals
Ryan Johnson - Lead Guitar
Trey McLamb - Drums
Patrick Strickland - Bass
More on Blatant Disarray at this location.

Arizona-based thrash metal act SARGON have covered JUDAS PRIEST’s classic, 'Hell Bent For Leather'. Judas Priest is one of Sargon’s biggest influences/inspirations and are directly responsible for the band’s thrash n' roll sound. The track was recorded at Ryan Arcane Digital Studios by Ryan Butker, mixed at PTY Studios by Ignacio Molino, and mastered at The Audio Refinery Studios by Eric Koondel.
The track is streaming below:
In addition, the band announces that they have started the writing process for the follow-up to their full-length album, In Contempt, released in 2011 via Old Cemetery Records.

Sargon welcome the addition of lead guitarist Jack Fliegler and drummer Michael Ohlson who stepped in for former drummer Rickard Stjernquist after he decided to focus on his main band, BENEDICTUM, and other projects. The band is thankful for the work Rickard put into Sargon’s 2012 EP The Bitter End and wishes him much success in all his endeavors.
Sargon lineup:

Frank Van Kwartel: Guitar/Vocals
Kelly Conlon: Bass
Michael Ohlson: Drums
Jack Fliegler: Lead Guitar

More on Sargon at this location.

Indie Recordings has announced the signing of Belgium's STEAK NUMBER EIGHT, and the release of their second album, The Hutch. The new album will be released on April 22nd in Europe, April 19th in Norway, Germany and Austria, and March 18th in Benelux.

Get a taste of the new album by checking out the first song, 'Black Eyed', below:
Steak Number Eight surfaced for the first time in 2008 crushing windows with their bare hands and storming stages. The Steak Number Eight blitzkrieg soon turned into a genuine metal offensive. By touring intensively the band was soon known for its crushing live reputation and it wouldn’t take too long for them to record their first full-length album.

Meanwhile, two years and three UK tours further down the line, Steak Number Eight have evolved into a band that can make a difference and leave behind their tracks of musical mayhem. The audience licks their wounds. Performances at Graspop Metal Meeting, Dour Festival and Pukkelpop not only turned Steak Number Eight into an experienced, well-oiled touring machine... the band also recorded 11 smashing new tracks for the long awaited successor of the debut album All Is Chaos.

On the new album, The Hutch, Steak Number Eight digs deeper than ever before, finding a perfect balance between devastating guitars and a hopeful sense of melody.

More on Steak Number Eight at this location.

French atmospheric doom metallers ANGELLORE signed a deal with Dreamcell11/Aural Music Group in 2012 for the release of their debut album, entitled Errances. The album will finally be released on March 18th.

The track 'I Am The Agony' can be heard below:

The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in December 2009. The mixing and mastering parts were taken care of by Florent Krist at Studio AV in France.

For information and updates on Angellore go to this location.

Andorra-based progressive seath metallers PERSEFONE have issued a new video for the title track, 'Spiritual Migration', taken from their upcoming fourth album Spiritual Migration, to be released by Vicisolum Productions on March 29th.
Spiritual Migration was mixed by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, PRETTY MAIDS, MERCENARY, PESTILENCE, DESTRUCTION), at Hansen Studios in Denmark, and is a portrait of all the emotions the band has gone through within the first decade of their existence. Fine-tuning has never been a better word to describe the progression of a band, than in the case of Persefone.

The artwork for Spiritual Migration was created by Travis Smith (KATATONIA, NEVERMORE).
Spiritual Migration tracklisting:

'Flying Sea Dragons'
'Mind As Universe'
'The Great Reality'
'Zazen Meditation'
'The Majestic Of Gaia'
'Consciousness (Pt.1): Sitting In Silence'
'Consciousness (Pt.2): A Path To Enlightenment'
'Inner Fullness'
'Metta Meditation'
'Upward Explosion'
'Spiritual Migration'
'Returning To The Source'
'Outro'

On April 5, EISREGEN will release a digital compilation, entitled Der Tod Ist Ein Meister Aus Thüringen. It will contain 20 tracks including a song that hasn't been available as a download before.
Der Tod Ist Ein Meister Aus Thüringen tracklisting:

'Der Mann Mit Dem Koks Ist Da'
'Engelmacher'
'Madenreich'
'Schakal - Ode An Die Streubombe'
'Madenreich' (Remix)
'Eisenkreuzkrieger'
'Erscheine!'
'Elektro-Hexe'
'N8verzehr'
'Leichenlager'
'Eine Erhalten'
'Alphawolf'
'Das Liebe Beil'
'Zauberelefant'
'Eispalast'
'Frischtot'
'1000 Tote Nutten'
'Salz Der Erde'
'Knochenkult'
'Tod Senkt Sich Herab'

Listen to snippets from the compilation here.

METALLICA has denied asking the U.S. military to stop using its music to psychologically torture prisoners of war.

The Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden recently opened up to Esquire magazine about the raid on the Al Qaeda leader's compound and the shots that took his life, as well as the personal aftermath for the SEAL and his family. The SEAL, who is only referred to as "The Shooter" in the article, also mentions that he used the music of METALLICA on prisoners before interrogations — until the band asked them to stop.

The Shooter explained, "When we first started the war in Iraq, we were using METALLICA music to soften people up before we interrogated them. METALLICA got wind of this and they said, 'Hey, please don't use our music because we don't want to promote violence.' I thought, 'Dude, you have an album called 'Kill 'Em All'."

He added, "We stopped using their music, and then a band called DEMON HUNTER got in touch and said, 'We're all about promoting what you do.' They sent us CDs and patches. I wore my DEMON HUNTER patch on every mission. I wore it when I blasted Bin Laden."

"The Shooter" insisted that he did not torture prisoners, but that "repetitive questioning and leveraging fear was as aggressive as he'd go."

In a brand new statement posted on METALLICA's official web site, the band responded to The Shooter's comments in the Esquire article, saying: "There has been a lot of talk recently about us asking the military not to use our music to 'soften people up before interrogation.' We NEVER commented to the military either way on this matter. Any statements that have been made otherwise are not correct."

In a 2009 appearance on MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show", METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said that the band did not "advocate or condone" the use of the band's music for torture, adding that if someone really wanted to use music to torture others, there were groups that were far more extreme:"If there are people that are dumb enough to use METALLICA to interrogate prisoners, you're forgetting about all the music that's to the left of us. I can name, you know, 30 Norwegian death metal bands that would make METALLICA sound like SIMON AND GARFUNKEL."

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was asked by a German TV network in 2008 how he felt about the band's music being used to torture prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He replied, "Part of me is proud is because they chose METALLICA . . . And then part of me is kind of bummed about it that people worry about us being attached to some political statement because of that."

On March 5th, Experience Hendrix LLC and Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release JIMI HENDRIX' People, Hell & Angels, an essential new album premiering 12 previously unreleased studio recordings completed by Hendrix.
All 12 tracks were recorded between 1968 and 1970 and were meant for First Days Of The New Rising Sun, the follow up to Electric Ladyland that Hendrix was working on when he passed away in 1970.

Now NME is streaming the track 'Earth Blues' at this location.
The full tracklisting for People, Hell & Angels is:

'Earth Blues'
'Somewhere'
'Hear My Train A Comin''
'Bleeding Heart'
'Let Me Move You'
'Izabella'
'Easy Blues'
'Crash Landing'
'Inside Out'
'Hey Gypsy Boy'
'Mojo Man'
'Villanova Junction Blues'

According to Amarillo.com, West Texas A&M University professor Martin Jacobsen recently fused metal music and literature classes by using the "Out Of The Silent Planet" track off IRON MAIDEN's 2000 album "Brave New World" during a class exercise, presenting visual diagrams of lyrics construction with the music playing at the same time.

"The students were mad for it," the professor tells Amarillo.com. "They just thought it was crazy and they loved it. I threw it out there just as an offhand comment one day — 'What we ought to do is have a class in heavy metal' — and there was universal agreement from the students in the class, like, 'Yes, we should actually do that.'"

The class exercise was such a hit that Jacobsen is now teaching a new course called "Introduction To Literature: Heavy Metal As A Literary Genre". The professor explains that many metal lyricist have been inspired by some of the greatest writers of all time.

"You constantly see these nods to the intellectual tradition that these writers, these lyricists come from," he said. "It's connected itself and grounded itself in literary tradition. Therefore it's reasonable to conclude that it is a form of literature as well as a form of music. In much the same way, you might say country music is a species of folklore."

22-year-old student Eric Bauer, who got really into heavy metal in middle school with METALLICA, thinks heavy metal is a broader genre than it gets credit for.

"In the lyrics of heavy metal, you can write about anything," he said. "Social issues, the human experience, wizards and dragons — if you're interested in a subject, there's probably a heavy metal song about it."

Century Media Records has announced the signing of Los Angeles' own AWAKEN THE EMPIRE.

With influences ranging from NIRVANA, THE CURE and SMASHING PUMPKINS to A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, GWEN MARS and HANS ZIMMER, AWAKEN THE EMPIRE has created an organic and cinematic sound that is all their own, each song complete with soaring vocal melodies, addictive hooks and a passion that is audible with each note.

"Signing with a label that believes in and supports what I want to create as an artist, and what we want to accomplish as a band, has been nothing short of a miracle," says Damien Lawson, the mastermind and vocalist behind AWAKEN THE EMPIRE. "In a world where artists are turned into mindless label slaves, we could not be more excited to be a part of a family will let us create our own destiny."

"We are excited to welcome AWAKEN THE EMPIRE to Century Media's diverse and unique roster of amazing artists," says North American President of Century Media Don Robertson. "Damien has a rare musical and atmospheric vision and we look forward to helping him spread that vision around the globe."

AWAKEN THE EMPIRE's debut single, "Rise And Fall", will be available digitally on March 5. The music video for the track premiered on MTV's Buzzworthy Blog and within 24 hours it peaked as the #7 "Most Popular Music Video" on MTV.com, the #1 "Most Commented Video" and the #1 "Most Shared Video."

AWAKEN THE EMPIRE — Damien Lawson (vocals/guitar), Daryl Falconer (drums) and Shivan Somaratne (guitar) — is preparing its Century Media debut for release later this year.

Glasgow, Scotland-based atmospheric, post-black metal band FALLOCH has issued the following update:

"We're very pleased to announce that we have finalized our lineup for the next album. Taking over the vocals and second guitar position will be Tony Dunn. We are currently finishing off the writing for the second album and are planning to record it over the summer. We will be playing a couple of live shows before we start recording. More info about those will follow soon."

FALLOCH's aim is to create music which conveys atmosphere and emotion through a wide variety of styles including metal, post-rock and folk inspired by the atmosphere of bands such as ALCEST, AGALLOCH and PRIMORDIAL, as well as minimalist composers such as Yann Tiersen and Arvo Pärt. The lyrics focus around the themes of nostalgia, sorrow, nature and longing. Having a deep connection with the Scottish landscape, the band took their name from the Falls of Falloch waterfall in Crianlarich.

FALLOCH started recording its debut album, "Where Distant Spirits Remain", in 2010. Upon the recording's completion, they managed to secure legendary producer Ronan Chris Murphy (ULVER, KING CRIMSON) to master the album in early 2011, with the chance to sign to the revered Candlelight Records shortly after.

According to Britain's The Sun newspaper, Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack is the brains behind the behind-the-scenes video (see below) that takes viewers into the studio for a glimpse of the making of BLACK SABBATH's new album, "13". All three original members — singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler — seem enthusiastic about finally working together again after 35 years, with Iommi saying about the album, "You can't always repeat what you've done, you've just got to go on. It'll be today's version of how it was 40 years ago, I suppose."

Ozzy has consistently said over the years that any new SABBATH project had to live up to the standards of the band's early, classic records. "If I had an album which blew 'Master Of Reality' off the map, I'd be crazy not to do it," he said, according to The Pulse Of Radio. "I don't want to put an album out, just for the sake of us four being on an album."

Elsewhere in the video, Ozzy says, "This BLACK SABBATH album is quite possibly the most important album of my career," while Butler adds, "We'll probably all be dead soon, so while we still can play and sing, then we've got to do it."

The three originals are joined on the album by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE drummer Brad Wilk, who may or may not tour with them as well. Founding drummer Bill Ward is sitting out the reunion over a contractual dispute.

"13" is expected out this June, with a North American tour to follow in July and August.

Jack found fame through his family's MTV reality show "The Osbournes" and has since appeared in several other TV programs. In 2011 he produced a documentary about his father called "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" which, according to The Telegraph, contained admissions from the singer's five children that Ozzy was not a good father in their younger years, and that their abiding memories were of him hopelessly intoxicated, or, more usually, absent altogether.