ALICE IN CHAINS has set "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" as the title of its new album. The band's fifth studio LP and second without original vocalist Layne Staley was once again produced by Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES) and is scheduled for release in May. Fueling excitement is the first track "Hollow", which was initially released as a lyric video but has taken on a life of its own, hitting No. 1 in America on the Mainstream Rock radio chart and closing in on No. 1 on the Active Rock radio chart.

The band posted the lyric clip on their official site back on December 18 and it quickly went viral. As word spread among fans, radio programmers nationwide bypassed traditional procedure and began playing the song on air. Rather than wait to receive an official edited track from the record company, stations played the almost-six-minute-long version of "Hollow" in its entirety. Over the course of the weeks that followed, the song's radio spins increased exponentially, making it the No. 1 Top Gainer at Active Rock for six consecutive weeks.

The song was amplified by the VEVO premiere of an official companion video, which was shot by award-winning director Roboshobo (a.k.a. Robert Schober; METALLICA, MASTODON). The stunning sci-fi-themed clip is already nearing the one-million-views mark.

"I don't think you'll be surprised by anything you hear," b>ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell told Revolver about the new CD's musical direction. "It's us. But it's also really unique. It's got all the elements of any record we've put out, but it's unlike any record we've put out. Basically, it's the next chapter in the ALICE IN CHAINS book, and it's going to be a big one."

The new disc will follow up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", which ended a 14-year gap between studio efforts for the group and featured singer/guitarist William DuVall.

"In my opinion, that record stood up to anything else we've put out in our career. Hopefully, the new album will connect with people in the same way," Cantrell told Guitar World.

DuVall told The Pulse Of Radio while the band was touring behind that album that he was seeing a new generation of ALICE fans at the shows. "There's a lot of young people showing up, so that this thing has become a generational band now," he said. "So you've got people, 15, 16, 17 years old, that are coming of their own volition. I mean, they're not being brought there by their parents or anything. They're coming on their own. They're bringing their friends. So that's one thing that's a real sign that perhaps you're onto something."

ALICE IN CHAINS began working on new material in 2011, but the sessions for the album were delayed when Cantrell had to undergo shoulder surgery.

GUNS N' ROSES played a special acoustic set last night (Wednesday, February 13) at the Soho House in West Hollywood, California at the after-party for the launch of fashion industry mogul Tommy Hilfiger's new flagship store. Singer Alicia Keys also performed at the event, the ticket for admission to which was a wristband handed out at entrance of the Hilfiger store on Robertson Blvd. earlier in the night.

GUNS N' ROSES' setlist for the show was as follows:

01. You're Crazy
02. Used to Love Her
03. Welcome to the Jungle
04. Better
05. Sweet Child O' Mine
06. Patience
07. Don't Let It Bring You Down (NEIL YOUNG cover)
08. Paradise City

Encore:

09. Knockin' on Heaven's Door (BOB DYLAN cover)

Check out photos at this location.

A couple of short video clips of GN'R's performance can be seen below.

Hilfiger and GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose got into an altercation back in 2006 at Rosario Dawson 's 27th birthday at New York nightclub The Plumm. According to reports, Hilfiger was annoyed by Rose 's attempts to move his girlfriend's drink on a table and told him to put the beverage back.

Los Angeles-based, occult-themed, female-fronted traditional heavy metal band HUNTRESS has entered the studio with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED, MUNICIPAL WASTE) to begin recording its sophomore album for a late 2013 release.

Comments HUNTRESS singer Jill Janus: "HUNTRESS is seriously stoked on Zeuss. He's the real deal; a true heavy metal producer that shares our vision. We are ready to deliver a killer second album, and Zeuss is the man to make it happen. Hail metal!"

HUNTRESS, whom LA Weekly called "true to the roots of melodic heavy metal with a penchant for thrash, death and black metal," released its buzzworthy debut album, "Spell Eater", in 2012 via Napalm Records. The CD, which Metal Hammer called "a magical debut from the hottest new act of 2012," was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Chris Rakestraw (DANZIG, CHILDREN OF BODOM, SKELETONWITCH).

HUNTRESS was spawned from the preternatural union of Jill Janus and the Southern California metal band PROFESSOR. Janus began her ascension into the realm of heavy metal in the Catskill Mountains of New York, where she first developed her unique vocal abilities. Born with a four-octave range, Janus spent years performing as a coloratura soprano. Her classical training is now the foundation for her screams.

The band will perform at European festivals planned for the next few months, including Download and Hammerfest.

"Spell Eater" landed at position No. 56 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.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/huntresskills.

First TOOL vocalist Maynard James Keenan reportedly told a Chilean radio station earlier this month that the band would not release a new album in 2013, only for drummer Danny Carey to tell a New Zealand station a few days later that a new CD would arrive "sometime this year." But, according to The Pulse Of Radio, now Keenan has told Spin.com that while he has been "jamming" with both TOOL and, surprisingly, A PERFECT CIRCLE, neither act is close to having an album's worth of material ready. Keenan said, "Basically, right now it's a lot of ideas. Jamming. There's no actual songs for either project. It's still kind of noodles in a big basket . . . Lots of noodles, just no dishes."

It's been seven years since TOOL last released an album, 2006's "10,000 Days", and nine years since A PERFECT CIRCLE has released a new disc as well.

Despite the long wait, TOOL remains as popular as ever. Danny Carey told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that he feels the band's integrity has kept the fans coming back. "We truly are an alternative band," he said. "It's an alternative to what other people label as alternative, that actually all sounds the same or whatever. And I think people can identify that and they can relate to it, and they desire the real thing when it's available. You just gotta stick to your laurels and believe in what you're doing, and not do it for money, do it for the art of it, then you can't lose."

Meanwhile, Keenan's other band PUSCIFER is streaming its new EP, "Donkey Punch The Night", online at Spin.com ahead of its release next Tuesday (February 19).

One track on the new set, called "Dear Brother", is dedicated to several people who have passed away recently, including Adam "MCA" Yauch of the BEASTIE BOYS. Keenan explained, "That was a sad day when I got that news. It also pays tribute to our friend Edward Willie, Jr. from UNCLE SCRATCH'S GOSPEL REVIVAL — they're a band who opened up for us, out of Ohio in the area where I was born. And Ray Beckwith was an Australian winemaker, who, in a way, reinvented the wheel in winemaking."

Both TOOL and PUSCIFER will play some live shows later this spring and possibly summer, while Carey also hinted that TOOL may also be getting ready to release some of its massive amount of live material on CD or DVD.

British thrashers EVILE took part in a live question-and-answer session earlier today (Thursday, February 14). The band's vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Matt Drake, and lead guitarist, Ol Drake, appeared with producer Russ Russell live on Google Hangouts from Parlour Studios in Kettering, England, where the band is currently recording its fourth full-length album. They chatting with and answered questions from fans, which were submitted on EVILE's Facebook page and on Twitter.

The question-and-answer session was hosted live on Earache Records' YouTube channel and can now be seen below.

Comments Ol Drake: "A week into recording EVILE album #4 and Ben's finished all the drum tracks. Now we're onto bass and guitar. In true musician fashion, I'm going to say 'It's sounding huge!' — why wouldn't I say that? If it didn't sound huge, we'd make it sound huge. I could say 'It sounds pretty crap' to be different, but it sounds huge. We can't wait to get this album out to you all."

EVILE's latest album, "Five Serpent's Teeth", was released in Europe on September 26, 2011 via Earache Records.

Savannah, Georgia's BLACK TUSK has commenced work on material for a new EP, due this spring via Relapse Records.

Comments drummer James May: "This new release is a mean one. It reminds me of a new twist on an old days BLACK TUSK sound. We got back together with Jay and Phillip Cope to turn this out with some of that earlier, brutal sound you might have heard back in the beginning albums. We figured it was about time to see what the old gang could do years later."

BLACK TUSK will take a break from the studio in March for a short run of headline dates, followed up by a run of shows with TODAY IS THE DAY, KEN MODE and FIGHT AMP. The tour begins March 1 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and runs through April 7 in Chicago, Illinois.

BLACK TUSK is scheduled to appear at this year's SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas. Details and location will be announced shortly. Additionally, BLACK TUSK is working with UnBlock The Rock (UBTR), an independent grassroots movement, working tirelessly to bring Cuban metal band ESCAPE to the United States in March for this year's SXSW Music Festival And Conference in Austin, Texas to perform the first Cuban heavy metal concert on U.S. soil. To help UBTR quickly raise funds over the next few weeks to cover ESCAPE's travel and visa costs to SXSW, BLACK TUSK donated a track to "The Red Album", UBTR's first compilation CD now available by donation at www.unblocktherock.com.

BLACK TUSK's latest release, "Set The Dial", is available for purchase via Relapse.com.

Razor & Tie has announced the signing of the Finnish rock band HIM (His Infernal Majesty) to its North American label roster. The band has completed work on their forthcoming new studio album, "Tears On Tape", which will be released on April 30 on Razor & Tie in North America and on April 29 on DoubleCross (Cooking Vinyl's specialist rock imprint) in the U.K. and Ireland.

HIM lead vocalist Ville Valo comments: "We're infernally glad to be dressed sharply enough for our dearest comrades in the U.S.(for once), R&T A-Go-Go!!!”

Razor & Tie A&R Executive Mike Gitter adds: "Few artists are able to tap into rock at its most emotional and forlorn and make it sound so damn uplifting and powerful. That's Ville Valo and HIM's stock-in-trade. They take the rawest of emotions and channel them into unforgettable anthems- invoking the spirit of great rock and roll in the process."

The "love metal" band's eighth official album, "Tears On Tape" was recorded at Helsinki's Finnvox Studios with longtime producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (APOCALYPTICA, AMORPHIS, MOONSPELL) and was mixed in London, England by Tim Palmer, who previously helmed 2005's "Dark Light" and 2007's "Venus Doom".

"Basically, we're making what I'd call 'modern retro,'" HIM singer Ville Valo told Revolver magazine about the musical direction of the new album, which he says will sound like "ROY ORBISON meeting METALLICA." "We wanted it to be nasty, fucked-up, and messy, and have that punk-rock attitude. But then on the other hand, it would also have that Roy Orbison naive, sentimental, dream-like quality."

According to Valo, HIM was originally scheduled to begin work on "Tears On Tape" at the end of last year, but a repetitive-strain injury suffered by drummer Mika Kristian Karppinen (a.k.a. Gas Lipstick) — which left the skinsman unable to lift even a cup of coffee, much less pound a drum kit — forced the bandmembers to re-evaluate their desire to carry on.

"I think because he had the ailment, we had the opportunity to reassess what we had," Valo explained. "It was a miniscule existential crisis. We had to figure out what we really want to do and if we really like each other enough to continue through the hardest times-or do we want to call it a day?"

Asked about the meaning of the new HIM album title, Valo said, "For me, what it means is how songs —I'm not talking about our songs, but songs in general — can be milestones. You hear a song and it brings you to where you heard that song for the first time, or when it meant something really big to you. 'Tears On Tape' means that I appreciate the people who have really poured their souls and hearts out on tape, and showed that to the rest of the world for the better or for the worse. I wouldn't be here without those tears of Elvis Presley on tape."

HIM's current lineup is Ville Valo (vocals), Mikko "Linde" Lindström (guitar), Mikko "Migé" Paananen (bass), Janne "Burton" Puurtinen (keyboards), and Mika "Gas" Karppinen (drums). The band is managed by Seppo Vesterinen at Hinterland, Inc. and represented for U.S. touring by Justin Hirschman/AGI.

A formidable live act, the band will be announcing a U.S. tour next week and is already confirmed to perform at this year's U.K. Download festival in mid-June.

HIM performed a brand new song entitled "I Will Be The End Of You" during their headlining concert at the Helldone festival on December 29, 2012 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

Professionally filmed video footage of EXODUS' January 26 performance at the 11th annual Schecter Guitar Research NAMM party at The Grove of Anaheim in Aneheim, California can be seen below.

EXODUS' latest album, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", was released in North America on May 18, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The CD sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 114 on The Billboard 200 chart.

EXODUS' previous album, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", opened with 3,600 units back in October 2007.

TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French has issued the following update:

"Within the next year, a documentary about the history of the first 10 years of TWISTED SISTER will finally be exhibited from the [German] filmmaker Andy Horn.

"Andy has been working on this documentary for the last four years. The idea came to him after an interview with me concerning another artist named Klaus Nomi who opened for us at the Soap Factory around 1981. At that time, Andy really knew very little about us and became fascinated by the story of our long and winding road to a record deal.

"While most of the world thinks that TWISTED SISTER started in 1984, there are those who know a much different story.

"The band's die-hard fans in the U.K. thought the story began a couple of years earlier when Secret Records signed us in England.

"There does exist, however, a subset of fans who know the real story. Those fans are from the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Those fans spent years supporting us.

"Because of the sheer number of super-sized night clubs that started operating in the tri-state area around 1976, there exists a fan base that only knew us with me, Dee [Snider, vocals], Eddie [Ojeda, guitar] and, for a short time, bassist Ken Neill (with an assortment of changing drummers).

"However, before that, TWISTED SISTER played hundreds of shows at places like the Mad Hatter in East Quouge, Mr. T's & Maxis in Wantagh, in Long Island, The Satellite Lounge, The Wreck Room, Dodd's, The Colony III, The Joker II, The Searchlite, Spruce Goose, The Capricorn and the George Inn in NJ and the Sahara located in Adams, Massachusetts.

"This version, when you look at the photo history of the band, contained me and four people most of you don't know. Vocalist Michael Valentine, guitarist Billy Diamond, bassist Kenny Neill and drummer Mell Starr. Except for Kenny, these former members were either fired or left under very bad circumstances. What happened as a result of the experiences that I had with these ex members formed the basis of my management skills and taught me what to look for in future hiring. In fact, the first breakup of the band in December of 1974 led to a personal crisis at the age of 22, that forever changed my life and taught me how to cope in the face of total failure both professionally and emotionally.

"In short, the lessons learned over those first two years formed the basis of the future of TWISTED SISTER. without having gone through it, the band, as it exists in the hearts of millions of fans around the world, would never had existed.

"To be clear, this in no way implies that Dee, Mark, Eddie and AJ [Pero, drums] would not have found fame in their own right. These are all immensely talented musicians. I can also state that I can't see where I would have succeeded without these guys.

"It was clear to me early on that the first version of the band was never going to make it. None of the members, except Kenny, had what it takes. The lack of focus, professionalism and raw talent of the fist version became obvious and the proof is that of all the original five members, I alone remain standing.

"I will say this, however, about the very early days of TWISTED SISTER: Our agent worked us to death, playing five-six nights a week four-five shows per night. Some shows ended as late as 6 a.m.!

"In those days, you played in one club for three-six nights in a row. In the case of the Mad Hatter in East Quouge, we played 78 nights between May and September.

"So here then, for the first time, is the show schedule of TWISTED SISTER's first year. While rehearsals were well under way in February, the first dates began 40 years ago in March, 1973.

"Have fun. Maybe some of you remember!"

Finnish melancholic dark metal forerunners AMORPHIS will perform their eleventh album, "Circle", in its entirety at a special record-release show on on April 25 at Circus in Helsinki.

"Circle" will be released on April 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. Production and mixing duties for the follow-up to 2011's "The Beginning Of Times" were handled by HYPOCRISY and PAIN mastermind Peter Tägtgren, who has previously worked with such bands as CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL and DIMMU BORGIR. The recordings took place at Petrax Studio (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KORPIKLAANI) in Hollola and 5K Studios in Helsinki. The cover artwork was created by Tom Bates (BLEED FROM WITHIN, DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL) and can be seen below.
Commented AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen: "The mystic, androgynous person on the cover represents a spiritual guide. This character was sent from another time and place to help the album's protagonist find a new path for his life."

"Circle" track listing:

01. Shades Of Gray
02. Mission
03. The Wanderer
04. Narrow Path
05. Hopeless Days
06. Nightbird's Song
07. Into The Abyss
08. Enchanted By The Moon
09. A New Day
10. Dead Man's Dream (bonus track)

The album's limited digibook version will come with a bonus DVD containing the following:

* The Making Of "Circle"
* Nightbird's Song (video clip)

Apart from the CD+DVD digibook version, "Circle" will be available on CD (without the bonus track), black 2LP in gatefold, brown 2LP in gatefold and as a bulging limited box, including three bonus tracks and a wristband — exclusively via the Nuclear Blast mail order.

A short summary about the album's concept/story that spreads throught out the lyrics by Pekka Kainulainen, who wrote the lyrics for most recent AMORPHIS albums: "The protagonist has been dealt a bad hand at birth. He’s always felt himself an outsider with strong potential to become marginalized. Through an accident, after a crisis, he finds a connection with his inner powers. A guide is sent to him, from some other time and place. He gets a chance to take hold of his own life and change his destiny. From the past of Carelian Finland he finds his own spiritual tribe and the power to turn the course of his doomed life. This is a story of survival."

Joutsen added about the album title: "'Circle' represents integrity. Back in the days, when there was something special to talk about, wise men used to sit in circle. Not everyone was invited to join them. But in this story, the protagonist was invited among the wise men's circle."

Regarding the direction of the new AMORPHIS material, the band's guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen said: "While promoting 'The Beginning Of Times', we started to feel that we were giving the same explanations over and over again when people asked about the studio process and how the songs came about. Even though the music was very strong, the making process didn't offer any surprises and appeared to be quite secured. Now the addition of a new dimension to the developing process has inspired us to focus on our material even more. The songs are extremely strong, bombastic and skull-pummelling."

"The Beginning Of Times" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.

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

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

"Yggdrasil" track listing:

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

Total running time: 66:14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On February 26, SST Records will release "Life is Too Short To Not Hold A Grudge", the debut album from GOOD FOR YOU, the brand new band featuring influential guitarist and bandleader Greg Ginn and professional skateboarder and musician Mike Vallely (a.k.a. Mike V). Featuring eleven uniquely distinct high-energy rock songs blistered with themes of betrayal, regret, disillusionment, resolve, determination and independence propelled by Ginn's distinctive, stun-gun guitar, "Life Is Too Short To Not Hold A Grudge" sets a new course for both musicians and delivers a strong statement of intent that begs to be heard.

Recorded at Ginn's Casa Destroy Studios in Taylor, Texas, "Life Is Too Short To Not Hold A Grudge" teams the singular guitarist — named as one of Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" — with the creative, aggressive Vallely for the first time since BLACK FLAG's 2003 reunion shows in Los Angeles where Mike V performed the entire "My War" album from start to finish with the world-renowned punk rock band at the invitation of Ginn.
As the founder, guitarist and driving influence behind BLACK FLAG, Greg Ginn defined the West Coast punk sound and the DIY ethos of punk rock. In many ways, Vallely is the perfect frontman to lead Ginn's first hard rock band since the dissolution of BLACK FLAG. A strong-willed, determined, intense and inspirational figure, Vallely (owner and creative mind behind Elephant Brand Skateboards) has earned a devoted, worldwide following over the course of his two decade plus career as a professional skateboarder and years fronting the bands MIKE V AND THE RATS and REVOLUTION MOTHER. The vocalist first saw BLACK FLAG perform at City Gardens in Trenton, New Jersey in 1984, crediting it as a life-changing experience. Greg and Mike first met in Long Beach, California in May 2003 when MIKE V AND THE RATS started a supporting run of shows for Greg that would eventually lead to the guest vocal spot at the BLACK FLAG reunion shows. A friendship was formed and the two have kept in touch through the years with the intention of collaborating on new music at some point. In February 2012, Ginn presented Vallely with new music and the singer spent the next five months filling notebooks with lyrics. The duo's intense songwriting chemistry generated both a solid set of dynamic songs that would become "Life Is Too Short To Not Hold A Grudge" and the formation of an entirely new band: GOOD FOR YOU. "Life Is Too Short..." features the traits of a benchmark release. Rarely is rock so pure and hard-hitting.

"Greg and I had been talking about writing music together for many years," comments Vallely. "There was no real plan in place to "team up" or anything like that. It was more so just about the music. Creatively and artistically we just found a common road and from that came an output that became this new music and this new record.

"Working with Greg really opened me up as a writer and vocalist," he continues. "His approach to writing, recording and producing was so free that for the first time I feel I was really able to honestly express myself in the studio."

"I can't wait to deliver these songs live with Mike," says Ginn. "I have the feeling that things are going to get wild."

"Life is Too Short To Not Hold A Grudge" track listing:

Side A:

01. I'd Rather Die
02. No Plan B
03. Free
04. Hanging Around
05. Knife in the Face

Side B:

01. Stupid Me
02. Good Sport
03. It's Just Business
04. Dreams
05. Blaze Of Glory
06. True Companion

The song "Blaze Of Glory" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

GOOD FOR YOU is currently offering fans a taste of what "Life Is Too Short To Not Hold A Grudge" holds in store, streaming the new song "Hanging Around" via its SoundCloud page. The band is expected to debut a number of additional new songs from the LP prior to the release of the record.

This spring, GOOD FOR YOU will get in the van and hit the road and stages across the U.S. in support of the debut. Stay tuned to the GOOD FOR YOU Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and breaking news.

Y&T mainman Dave Meniketti has recorded a guest appearance on the new album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, due later in the year via the Los Angeles-based independent label Cleopatra Records.

Although a lineup for Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed. The band will now feature Tate along with bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT), guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and new additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).

Wright takes over for previously announced drummer Bobby Blotzer, who will be returning to RATT as an integral part of the band that made him famous.

"I'm very much looking forward to being involved in the QUEENSRŸCHE project with Geoff," stated Wright. "I've always admired his singing and songwriting and working with Rudy Sarzo again is going to be cool! Between this and my other project, DIO DISCIPLES, I look forward to a very busy year!"

Other guest musicians on the new album from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE include legendary guitar slinger K.K. Downing of JUDAS PRIEST, KING'S X guitarist Ty Tabor, NIGHT RANGER guitarist Brad Gillis and Blotzer.

Tabor comments, "I'm very happy that Geoff considered me for this record. It will be great to play with all of these great musicians."

Beginning in early April, Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE will be hitting the road to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band's epic 1988 release, "Operation: Mindcrime", performing all fifteen songs from the album along with other well-known hits and rarities from the catalog they've compiled over the past 30 years.

"I try to surround myself with the best players available and feel our longtime fans deserve nothing less," says Tate. "I expect the forthcoming effort to be one of our best yet."

Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June 2012 after fronting the group for three decades, last year sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him. While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13, 2012 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.

Last November, Tate released his first solo CD in over a decade titled "Kings & Thieves" (InsideOut Music) and toured with his solo band in support of the CD, which included dates with the legendary ALICE COOPER.

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe returned to the U.S. last week after it was announced in a Czech Republic court his trial would be delayed.

Blythe's defense team asked for the delay because a key witness was sick, according to The Prague Post reporter Jonathan Crane who is helping cover the trial for WTVR.com. The defense team wanted that witness to testify in person.

The singer will be allowed to return to the U.S. until his trial resumes on March 4. He indicated in court that he would definitely return to Prague next month.

Blythe is facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a May 2010 incident in which a fan, Daniel Nosek, who attended a LAMB OF GOD performance in Prague, died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage.

The parents of the alleged victim, Daniel Nosek, are demanding compensation of 10 million Czech Koruna (approximately $530,000).

In a series of postings on his Instagram account earlier today (Tuesday, February 12), Blythe wrote: "I am back in Richmond, Virginia here in the U.S. of A., and I am certainly glad to see my home and friends here. But I shall return to Prague for the end of my trial, March 4 and 5. Hopefully it will finally be settled.

"The judge told me I did not have to return for the end of the trial, but my head and my heart will remain in Prague until I see this thing through.

"Prague has built a strange place for itself in my heart. It is a beautiful place, one I have gotten to know rather well, and even love to a degree. But it is a city of contrasts for me, for I see Prague's beauty through a lens of tragedy.

"The city and what brought me there will always remain with me for the rest of my life. I must pay attention to the nature of this dichotomy, and learn its lesson, no matter what happens.

"Nothing has just one side to it, and I believe it is a mistake to judge things immediately by exterior appearances alone. For example, take this clock. Prague has many, many, many towers and clocks, including the astronomical one in Old Town Square. The astronomical clock is one of the coolest clocks I have ever seen. People from all over the world gather every hour to watch it strike the hour, with all its mechanized statues popping out and spinning around. It's basically a gigantic version of the world's coolest cuckoo clock. Prague has many other cool clock towers as well.

"Someone might look at this tired old clock and say, 'Ugh! Tear that thing down! Why would you have that clock when there are so many others here that are so pretty?' But to me, this clock is beautiful. It holds a strange place in my heart, like Prague itself. The clock is beautiful to me because in there, in Pankrác Prison, it was the only way I had to tell time for a long while.

"After my last day in court recently, my wife, a friend, and I took the subway over to Pankrác. I needed to see it, to take pictures, to look at what was my home for over a month. It was a strange feeling returning there, and I think some wouldn't do it.
I don't know. My trial is not over yet. I could return to a cell behind these walls. But I just wanted to see the place. The outside is nothing like the inside; once again, the dichotomy of my life in Prague.

"This is a beautiful row of birch trees planted alongside the outer wall of this 123 year old prison. On the other side is another world.

"We walked the entire perimeter of the prison, through neighborhoods with nice gated houses and grim-looking apartment high rises. I kept looking for my cell until I found it. It is the tiny square you see in the middle of this picture. That was my last cell, on the top floor, where I could look out and see where I took this picture from. I used to stare at the apartment building I took this picture from and wonder what was happening in there. Most of the time, I was in the basement, though, and the view from my cell window looked something like this picture, without as much sky. Without much of a view, I had to look inside myself. Dichotomy.

"Pankrác is a grim place, but I kept my spirits up in there. If I felt sorry for myself, I quickly reminded myself that there are many in the world who would be grateful to have the food I had, to escape a war-torn homeland in exchange for three hits and a cot, even in a prison for a bit.

"Suddenly being thrown into a foreign prison wasn't fun, but it wasn't the worst thing that could happen to a man. I had food, clothes, and shelter.

"Remain grateful for what you DO have, not resentful over what you DON'T.

"We finished walking and got on a subway back to the center of Prague.

"I was glad I came to look at the prison. I would love to have a camera in there — it's amazing inside, in a really messed up way.

"I do not know what the future holds for me. Maybe I will return to behind these walls, but I do know that I have to do the right thing as my conscience dictates. For me, that is going back to finish the trial, as I said I would.

"The family of the young man who is dead is in court every day, along with mine. They have shown remarkable kindness by not attacking me in the press or anywhere else. It must be very difficult for them to look at my face, regardless of my guilt or innocence. They have behaved honorably, and so shall I. I will do my best to give them the answers they deserve.

"I ask people not to judge the family of this young man for wanting these answers. Their family has lost a son. Who would not want answers?

"I'm not so sure I would have displayed the class and reserve they have if the tables were turned.

"Remember, no story has just one side. Try to look at everything from different angles, to not make snap judgements. Put yourself in another's shoes for a second. Otherwise we all just remain in a prison of our own making.

"Thanks for all your support. I will put up some cheerier pictures soon, I promise."

Dutch extreme metallers THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT will release their fourth full-length album, "Tetragrammaton", on May 14 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Gods Amongst Insects
02. H.W.A. (Human Wave Attack)
03. Drugs, Thugs & Machetes
04. Todesnacht von Stammheim
05. S.A.D.M. (Svpreme Avantgarde Death Metal)
06. Qasr Al-Nihaya
07. Aslimu!!! - All Slain Those Who Bring Down Our Highly Respected Symbols To The Lower Status Of The Barren Earth

A trailer for the album can be seen below.

Says the band: "This vile assault on the fundamental canons of human decency, progress and civilization will take no fewer than 59 minutes and 40 seconds of the precious life you have left on this wretched clump of rock."

According to THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT, the CD's overall lyrical theme will be roughly the same as on "Trivmvirate" and "The White Crematorium" (2005). "But then again," said guitarist/vocalist Michiel Dekker, "who cares about lyrical themes in death metal?"

As on "Trivmvirate", producing duties and Pro Tools wizardry was done by Pascal Altena. Mixing duties were handled by Guido Aalbers.

"This Pain", the new video from Stockholm, Sweden-based modern rockers BLOWSIGHT, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Tim Aßmann at Visionary Moments in Burscheild, Germany. The song comes off the band's new album, "Life & Death", which will be released in North America on April 9 via Eclipse Records.

"The story that this song itself tells, is about getting rid of those demons, or obstacles in life", states BLOWSIGHT singer and guitarist Nick Red. "We all have them, but they are shaped in different ways for different individuals."

In the "This Pain" video, we find ourselves lost in the middle of a corn field, witnessing the apparent "stalking" of a young girl by an individual (performed by Nick Red). As he chases her through the corn stalks, we cut back and forth between scenes of the band performing in an abandoned farm house nearby. The "stalker" diverts his attention to the residents of the abandoned house (performed by BLOWSIGHT band members Seb, Mao and Fabs), where he attacks them. After leaving a macabre scene in the abandoned house, he transforms into a young boy. The little girl immediately recognizes him, as they hold hands and walk off into the distance.

Red continues: "The children in the video (to me) represent the innocent. You know, the part of your life when you're still young, completely free from prejudice, or hatred towards another person, race, sexuality, species, or anything really. You're like a blank piece of paper and what happens throughout the rest of your life colors the upcoming story. That, ironically, is where most of humanity gets lost… The corn fields represent being lost, in a struggling panic to grasp whatever is left of the child you once were. Luckily, the demons (represented by my band members in the abandoned house) get killed, eventually making myself the "fairly" stainless paper again."

A press release states: "Sweden has always been a guarantee for the export of infamous rock bands and epic pop melodies; however… this is rarely combined in one package. BLOWSIGHT have internalized the essence of both, and united them to create an extremely amazing, unique band with epic potential for success."

"I can honestly say that I haven't been this excited about signing an artist to Eclipse for a long, long time," states Eclipse Records president Chris Poland. "BLOWSIGHT are just amazing in every way possible. They're different, fresh, new and just what the music scene needs. I think what makes them so unique is the diversity of their songwriting."

"BLOWSIGHT is like a big melting pot of everyone's favorite music," addsNick Red. "It doesn't matter if it's influenced by METALLICA, QUEEN, LADY GAGA, SHINEDOWN, TRIVIUM or MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE… everything fits together. If we want to break stuff, we write a metal song, if we're feeling emotional, we write a ballad. Sometimes we even write pop songs that sound like they could be on Top 40 stations… to us, it doesn't matter what we play, just as long as we play what we want."

BLOWSIGHT's second album, "Dystopia Lane", came out in the fall of 2010. An EP, "Shed Evil", followed in time for the band's appearance at the 2011 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

BLOWSIGHT is:

Nick Red (lead vocals/guitar)
Seb (guitar/vocals)
Mao (bass/vocals)
Fabz (drums/vocals)

Croatian Metal And Rock's Ivana Prica was on hand for SLASH with MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS' sold out February 10th concert at Gasometer in Vienna, Austria.
The band performed the following setlist:

'Ghost'
'Standing In The Sun'
'Nightrain' (Guns N' Roses song)
'Mean Bone' (Slash's Snakepit song)
'Back From Cali'
'Mr. Brownstone' (Guns N' Roses song)
'Nothing To Say'
'Shots Fired'
'Gotten' (First time played on tour)
'Doctor Alibi' (Todd Kerns on lead vocals)
'Jizz Da Pit' (Slash's Snakepit song)
'Rocket Queen' (Guns N' Roses song)
'No More Heroes'
'Starlight'
'Anastasia'
'You're A Lie'
'Sweet Child O' Mine' (Guns N' Roses song)
'Slither' (Velvet Revolver song)

Encore:
'Welcome To The Jungle' (Guns N' Roses song- Todd Kerns on lead vocals)
'Paradise City' (Guns N' Roses song)

Check out Ivana's show report and a photo gallery at this location. Ivana's video compilation from the show can be seen below:

Norwegian metallers TOMORROW'S OUTLOOK have checked in with the following update:

"Just wanted to inform all our friends and fans, we're doing another song with the legendary Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR, ex-GAMMA RAY). Ralf spent a couple of hours in the studio today, and he will finish the new track tomorrow. It's called 'Within The World Of Dreams' and it's the opening track from the forthcoming Tomorrow’s Outlook album. This song serves as a rough summary of the concept for the album; it’s a starting point for the story which is told throughout the album. Each song will be an individual part of the story and they will be presented in chronological order as the events unfold."
The debut album from Tomorrow's Outlook, called 34613, was released through the leading Australian label Battlegod Productions in May 2012. The album features guest appearances by the legendary singers Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) and Graham Bonnet (MSG/RAINBOW/IMPELLITTERI).

Tracklist:
'As Darkness Falls (Intro)'
'Gate To Freedom'
'Glass Mountain'
'A Song For You'
'Doubt'
'The Ethereal Dream'
'34613 (Instr.)'
'White Lightning'
'Liquid Scream'
'Kill Again'
'March Of The Demons'
'Red Rum' (LIZZY BORDEN Cover)
'The Ethereal Dream (Reprise)'
For more on Tomorrow's Outlook visit Tomorrowsoutlook.com.

On February 11th, Toronto, ON-based black metallers PANZERFAUST released their third full length album, Jehovah-Jireh: The Divine Anti-Logos, via Boonsdale Records. Check out the album artwork below:
Jehovah-Jireh: The Divine Anti-Logos tracklisting:

'Jehovah-jireh'
'Ephphatha'
'The Mirror Of Mirrors'
'The Lord Is A Man Of War, The Lord Is His Name'
'Spear Of Famine'
'Holy Living, Holy Dying'
'...And Jesus Wept'
'Alpha/Omega: Twilight Of The Anti-sphere'
'The Apple Of Infinite Knowledge'

The album was recorded and mixed by Greg Dawson at BWC Studios, mastered by Magnus 'Devo' Andersson at Endarker Studios, Sweden.

Panzerfaust will release a music video for the track 'The Lord Is A Man Of War, The Lord Is His Name' later this week. The video was directed by Rouzbeh Heydari, who can be recently accredited for the filming and directing of MELECESH's video for the song 'Grand Gathas Of Baal Sin'.

After the most recent performances at both the Messe Des Morts festival in Montreal and their headlining show in Hamilton, Panzerfaust will be embarking on their first tour since last years tour with American death metal titans VITAL REMAINS. They will be setting off on a Canadian tour with Norway's EINHERJER, setting to commence this March.

Tour dates:

March
15 - Toronto, ON - Hard Luck Bar
16 - Sudbury, ON - Byscenen
18 - Ottawa, ON - Maverick
19 - Montreal, QC - Katacombes
20 - Quebec City, QC - L'Agité
21 - Jonquière, QC - Place Nikitoutagan
22 - Trois-Rivières, QC - Rock Cafe le Stage
23 - St-Hyacinthe, QC - Bar le Trash
Panzerfaust lineup:

Goliath - Vocals
Kaizer - Guitar/Vocals
Lord Baphomet - Drums
Morbid - Bass

More on Panzerfaust at this location.

JOE BONAMASSA's An Acoustic Evening At The Vienna Opera House will be released in the UK on 2CD, 2LP, 2DVD & Blu-ray formats by Provogue Records on Monday, March 25th March (followed by a North American release on Tuesday, March 26th). The release dovetails Bonamassa’s run of four exclusive London concerts which kicks off on March 26th at The Borderline.
The concert was recorded at the historic Vienna Opera House in July 2012 during a very special unplugged tour, played to a limited audience over seven exclusive European shows. Varying from Bonamassa’s predominantly electric blues shows, this presentation was an all-acoustic concert performance, making it a unique and very special show fans had been waiting years to experience.

The Opera House in Vienna, regarded as the “City of Music,” was chosen for the main event because of its history and splendour, and association with many legendary composers. Accompanying Bonamassa on stage are traditional Irish fiddler Gerry O’Connor, who also plays mandolin and banjo; Swedish multi-instrumentalist Mats Wester on the nyckelharpa, a keyed fiddle; Los Angeles-based keyboardist Arlan Schierbaum texturing the mix with celeste, accordions, toy pianos, and assorted “organic” instruments; and renowned Puerto Rican percussionist Lenny Castro.

Joe recalls, “Originally, when I had the idea of doing an all-acoustic concert, I imagined doing it solo. I’d surround myself with a bunch of guitars, tell the background story of each song, and then play it. Kevin believed the show would be more exciting with a band and he got to work. All of a sudden, we had a five-piece group, and 72 hours to rehearse 20 or so songs. It was amazing, different than anything I’d ever done before.”

An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House features gorgeously textured music made with a wealth of rare, vintage, organic, and “oddball” instruments. Highlights among the 22 songs include 'Woke Up Dreaming' —the one acoustic song, and fan favourite, that Bonamassa regularly plays during his electric shows, as well as 'Around The Bend', 'Driving Towards The Daylight', and 'Sloe Gin'.

Tracklistings for the various formats can be seen in the images below:

CD:
Vinyl:
DVD:
Blu-Ray:
To download the free MP3 of 'From Athens To Athens', click here.

A trailer for the release can be seen below:

Chris MacDermott of The Aquarian Weekly recently conducted an interview with vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth of New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Aquarian Weekly: The production on "The Electric Age" is brutally heavy. Who's responsible for it?

Blitz: It's produced by the band. We do all of our work since 2004 down at [bassist] D.D. Verni's studio. He's down in the Red Bank area. When the studio's in the family, the clock is not running. We can come in with ideas anytime we want. One of the things I'm most proud about with this record is its production. I think it's a record that sounds loud at three.

The Aquarian Weekly: I read that you did tracking in between tours. Do you think that's reason it's so heavy and live sounding?

Blitz: I think so. We'd get the drums finished, then shoot over to Europe and do three shows. Then you come back and you're adding guitars. Your last experience prior to recording has been on the stage. You can't feign that type of energy. I think that when we do live shows in between tracking that it really seems to translate over to tape.

The Aquarian Weekly: You seem to be selling more concert tickets now and to younger fans of the new thrash bands.

Blitz: Yeah, no doubt. We're selling more tickets because we're incorporating younger people into this. On a tour like this, you get to see what was then and what is now at the same time. I think that's where that interest comes from and therefore, selling more tickets. It's cool. Plus it's a great kick in the ass to the older guys. It works out to our advantage for motivation.

The Aquarian Weekly: The first time I saw OVERKILL at L'Amour in Brooklyn in 1984, you definitely raised the bar on what I expected from bands on stage, especially in terms of volume.

Blitz: We are an aptly named band. There's always been a high quality of presentation. We were like the house band at L'Amour. We'd bring in all of our production and, let's say, more power than was necessary. It was great to start with excess, not work our way up to it.

The Aquarian Weekly: One of the loudest things I've ever experienced was an explosion you guys let off on stage that was just terrifying.

Blitz: It scared the shit out of us, too. I remember this explosion. We had a guy working for us who loved doing "the bombs." He had done it before in other places but this time he over packed it with gunpowder. If I remember correctly, it took a few minutes to get the P.A. back on because it was just so loud that it blanked out all the mics.

The Aquarian Weekly: How's your hearing?

Blitz: What? [laughs] As loud as this band has always been, it's much louder out front. I have some low and high-end loss, but the amount of shows I've done is in excess of 5,000. I should be deaf but I'm not and I suppose that's because of where I've stood on the stage all these years, with the drums at my back and away from the audible death zone. I think I have more damage overall from individual shows I've attended out in front. Before we got into a band, we were fans of this. I would never go to a show and stand on the side of the stage and watch it. I wanted to see MOTÖRHEAD from the front of the stage, or METALLICA or ARMORED SAINT. I think that's where my hearing loss comes from, being a fan.

Read the entire interview from The Aquarian Weekly.

Truth Inc Records has announced the signing of the Queensland black/death metal act KYZER SOZE.

With a sound that is influenced by THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, BEHEMOTH and HOUR OF PENANCE, the band brings a new intensity to the label's growing Australian and international roster.

"Both Jason and myself were introduced to KYZER SOZE when TRUTH CORRODED shared the stage with them in the band's home state," comments Truth Inc label manager and partner Greg Shaw. "Immediately we recognised the potential the band had, and after witnessing the band destroy in other states since then, we knew they were our next choice for developing the label.

"Queensland has some of Australia's most promising heavy music bands, and KYZER SOZE is a great example of what excellence this state, and Australia is producing. We look forward to the band delivering a crushing debut album."

KYZER SOZE will enter the studio mid-2013.

KYZER SOZE is:

Dan Petley - Lead Vocals
Alex Cabrera - Guitar/Vocals
Tyler Welykitscholowik - Guitar/Vocals
Matt Dunstan - Bass/Vocals
Dan Roine - Drums

Quality footage of San Francisco Bay Area thrashers HATCHET performing two news songs on February 9 at Thee Parkside in their hometown as the support act for SABATON can be seen below.

HATCHET will release its sophomore album, "Dawn Of The End", on March 5 via The End Records. According to a press release, the CD "showcases a much more aggressive and professionally oriented band" than was the case on 2008's "Awaiting Evil".

"Dawn Of The End" track listing:

01. After The Dark
02. Silenced By Death
03. Screams Of The Night
04. Fall From Grace
05. Revelations Of Good And Evil
06. Signals Of Infection
07. Dawn Of The End
08. Sinister Thoughts
09. Welcome To The Plague
10. Vanishing Point

Growing up in the San Francisco area suburbs as young metalheads can make it quite likely to take influence from the pioneers of metal that spanned the area in the 1980s. So it's no surprise that HATCHET describes its sound as "pure, uncompromising, Bay Area thrash metal."

Since the release of "Awaiting Evil", HATCHET has completed three full DIY U.S. tours that have helped put them on the map for up-and-coming thrash metal bands. Unfortunately, in this time, the band also saw its share of personnel shuffles, which stalled the group's overall progress. Throughout the changes, founding member Julz Ramos always had the passion to keep the band going, even moving to take on vocal duties. Now in 2013, the band has never been stronger with its most dedicated, mature, and musically inclined members since its birth.