Northern Finnish metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW will release a two-song digital single, "Dark Alliance", on February 8.

The single will feature the following tracks:

01. Dark Alliance
02. Baptized By The Blood Of Angels

"Dark Alliance" comes off ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's new album, "Saivon Lapsi", which will be released on February 22 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded by Ahti Kortelainen and Janne Tolsa, mixed by Mikko Karmila and mastered by Mika Jussila. The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith.

In an interview with Headbanger's Helsinki, ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW guitarist Jarmo Puolakanaho stated about the new CD title: "'Saivon Lapsi' could be translated as 'Child Of Saivo'. And Saivo is the underworld of the Saami people, the people of Lapland. It basically is another story in the Angelheart series as well as the series of our stories of Lapland and Northern Finland."

"Saivon Lapsi" track listing:

01. Saivo
02. Dark Alliance
03. Legion Of Beast
04. Kuura
05. Dance Of December
06. The Day
07. Sound Of Silence
08. Beneath The Frozen Leaves
09. Swan Saivo
10. Blood Stained Sea
11. Angelheart, Ravenheart (Act III: Saivon Lapsi)

The "Swan Saivo" video can be seen below. The clip was created and produced by Oulu-based company Mutant Koala Pictures.

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW is:

Altti Veteläinen - Vocals, Bass
Jarmo Kylmänen - Vocals
Jarmo Puolakanaho - Guitar
Mika Lammassaari – Lead Guitar
Janne Tolsa - Keyboards
Juho Raappana - Drums

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's sixth album, "Children Of The Dark Waters", entered the official chart in the group's home country at position No. 19. The CD was released in Finland on May 27, 2009 via Suomen Musiikki. As was the case with the band's previous five LPs, the effort was recorded at Tico-Tico Studio in Kemi, Finland. It was released in the rest of Europe via Massacre Records and in Asia through Marquee/Avalon.

U.K. hard rockers HEAVEN'S BASEMENT will release their debut album, "Filthy Empire", in North America on February 5 via Red Bull Records. The follow-up to the independently released "Unbreakable" EP was produced by John Feldmann (THE USED, PAPA ROACH, BLACK VEIL BRIDES).

"Filthy Empire" track listing:

01. Welcome Home
02. Fire, Fire
03. Nothing Left To Lose
04. When The Lights Go Out In London
05. I Am Electric
06. The Long Goodbye
07. Heartbreaking Son of a Bitch
08. Be Somebody
09. Can't Let Go
10. The Price We Pay
11. Jump Back
12. Executioner's Day

The lyric video for "Nothing Left To Lose" can be seen below. Also available is the official video for the track, which is brimming with energy and neck snap dynamics of great rock 'n' roll accompanied with an irrepressible chorus.

HEAVEN'S BASEMENT has been making a name for itself overseas via their relentless touring and fiery live show plus music that features huge guitar riffs, killer melodies and an arena-rock sound. The band recently supported HALESTORM and SEETHER on separate European tours.

Originally formed in the East Midlands in England in 2007 (although the band's current lineup came together more recently in 2009), HEAVEN'S BASEMENT has already toured with the likes of BUCKCHERRY, PAPA ROACH, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, SHINEDOWN, and more and played this year's Download festival in the U.K. to a packed tent of more than 5,000 fans. Kerrang! magazine declared, "HEAVEN'S BASEMENT play as if their lives depend on it. They should already be a big name — bristling riffs and jagged, riotous hooks are their poison and exceptional is not too strong a word."

HEAVEN'S BASEMENT is Aaron Buchanan (vocals), Sid Glover (guitar), Rob Ellershaw (bass), and Chris Rivers (drums).

Former SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach's brand new CD/DVD package, "ABachalypse Now", has now been set for a March 26 North American release via Frontiers Records. The "ABachalypse Now" Ultimate CD/DVD Edition includes never-before-seen footage from last year's Graspop Metal Meeting festival in Dessel, Belgium, the full never-before-seen Hellfest set from France and the fully-remixed and remastered Nokia show from Los Angeles (originally broadcast on AXS TV), as well as bonus music videos. The DVD contains a running time of nearly 160 minutes. "ABachalypse Now" will be available in two configurations: the Ultimate CD/DVD Edition (2 CDs + DVD) and a standalone DVD.

"ABachalypse Now" track listing:

DVD:

* Live at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 16, 2012
* Live at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California on August 2, 2012
* Live at Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium on June 24, 2012
* Bonus music videos: "Kicking & Screaming", "TunnelVision", "I'm Alive"

CD1 - Live At Hellfest in Clisson, France, 2012

CD2 - Live at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California 2012

Setlists:

Live at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 16, 2012

01. Slave To The Grind
02. Kicking & Screaming
03. Here I Am
04. Big Guns
05. Piece Of Me
06. 18 & Life
07. American Metalhead
08. Monkey Business
09. I Remember You
10. Youth Gone Wild

Live at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California on August 2, 2012

01. Big Guns
02. (Love Is) A Bitchslap
03. Piece Of Me
04. 18 & Life
05. American Metalhead
06. Monkey Business
07. I Remember You
08. TunnelVision
09. Youth Gone Wild

Live at Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium on June 24, 2012

01. Kicking & Screaming
02. Dirty Power
03. Here I Am
04. Big Guns
05. 18 & Life
06. American Metalhead
07. Monkey Business
08. I Remember You
09. TunnelVision

According to Sebastian, "ABachalypse Now" will include "special guest appearances by Jinxx from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, Roy Z (HALFORD), and Brent Woods (VINCE NEIL)."

He previously stated about the forthcoming set: "I am so excited for all of you to witness and experience 'ABachalypse Now'. We have included three recent concerts and the footage is totally kickass! It's remixed and remastered for full audio and video quality. The performances and energy of the crowds are killer throughout the DVD and you really feel like you are at the shows. Prepare yourselves for the coming ABachalypse — now!"

Bach in July 2012 posted a letter on his Facebook page in which he said he was willing to reunite with SKID ROW. "For the fans, I would be willing to put my ego aside and do something that would be special for the people who put us where we are today," he wrote. "I do not personally want it myself. But it's not always about 'what I want.' If the fans really want to see us together, I would do it for the fans. Sometimes you can do things for people other than yourself."

Bach said he wanted to write the letter in response to current SKID ROW singer Johnny Solinger's interview in which Johnny said a recent tweet by Bach about a possible SKID ROW reunion was an attempt to "get attention."

Bach's most recent solo album, "Kicking & Screaming", sold 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The singer's previous CD, "Angel Down", opened with 6,400 units back in November 2007 to debut at No. 190.

Anthony Morgan of Metal Forces recently conducted an interview with former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist and current NEWSTED frontman Jason Newsted. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On forming NEWSTED:

Jason: "The drummer's name is Jesus Mendez Jr., and I've known him for 12-13 years. He started out as a local crew guy that helped over at METALLICA headquarters, and that's how I met him back in the '90s. He was a drum tech on the ECHOBRAIN tour, and then we started playing in my studio called the Chophouse about ten years ago. We've been making music since then. I met a guitar player named Jessie Farnsworth about five years ago, so we've had this trio going for about five years. Jessie plays guitar and bass, and sings.

"I got together with Jesus and Jessie, and started working on these songs. They were written fairly quickly, once I got going on the GarageBand. I put them together in August of 2012, pretty much all of them. 'Skyscraper' is little bit of an older song but everything else are fresh, new songs, just a couple of months old. I wrote them all on GarageBand on the iPad, and then I gave them the songs in August of 2012 to learn. They went and learned them, and then we've been recording. We recorded some in October, and recorded another batch in December. The plan is to release 11 songs in the first six months of 2013 in three different batches. The first batch is four songs [the 'Metal' EP], the four songs that are available via iTunes."

On "Soldierhead":

Jason: "Its lyrical content is basically what I think would go on in a soldier's mind. The song says in the beginning 'Bombs go off around me / Bullets chase my head / I try to not get dead.' It's basically that, my shout out to the soldiers. That's what it is for me. It was written fairly quickly, like the other ones. When I sit down with a guitar and concentrate it just shows, just like my paintings. It comes from the sky, and I just have to be channeling the music. I don't really think about it too much — it just happens. 'Soldierhead' was a pretty quickly written song. I'm very proud of the lyrics; I'm very excited for people to read all of the lyrics, but that's what that one's about.

"As a fan of METALLICA it's like old-school METALLICA, like 'Kill 'Em All' [1983] or something. It's that old thrashy thing. I think it has the younger voice. The singing voice I'm using now is much different than the cookie-monster voice, like 'Die, motherfucker, die!' or any of that kind of thing. It's quite a bit different. It's a real singing voice this time, so that's what the music is. It's old-school metal; 'Soldierhead' particularly is like speed metal, old-school thrash metal."

On "Godsnake":

Jason: "'Godsnake' is kind of a heavier track, more like BLACK SABBATH. The words talk about judging, and not judging people. Not judging things, and not judging until you know what the facts are. Basically, that's what it talks about. You never know what you're gonna get with people, so don't pretend that you know what they are until you know what they are, and that kind of thing."

On "King Of The Underdogs":

Jason: "I see it as a really cool live song that people can sing along to, chant along to, and scream together at a live show. It's kind of like a heavy groove-oriented song. I think there's a lot of nice space in it. It's almost funky, in a way. It's like a heavy, funky song for the first minute or two, and then it gets considerably heavy [laughs]. It really has the most groove out of any of the songs, so that's that one. It's a little bit mid-tempo. It reminds me possibly of some riffier [LED] ZEPPELIN stuff, personally."

On "Skyscraper":

Jason: "It has really big guitar riffs, like happy, upbeat rock 'n' roll guitar riffs. Not happy in the sappy way, but happy in the upbeat way. It has a great message, which just speaks of no war. Please no more war, basically. You'll have to hear it for yourself, but each one of the songs has a great meaning to me and I hope they have a great meaning to other people. There are no wasted words, or anything. I'm very proud of those lyrics, so I hope everybody likes them."

On ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA:

Jason: "If you think about that one, you've got the two biggest Hollywood rock star bands involved with a guy from the purest metal band. You've got GUNS 'N ROSES, which is so much fakey, Hollywood stuff. You've then got MÖTLEY CRÜE which is even more fakey, Hollywood stuff, and then you've got real metal. It was not easy to get them to come to rehearsals, or even play songs. We only got to have like five rehearsals in the entire existence of the band. That's not the way I do things. I work hard and I practise hard, and I always have. I don't do that kind of Hollywood shit, man. [laughs]"

On whether he is trying to prove he isn't a has-been:

Jason: "The only difference about that deal is I chose to do what I did. I made all the decisions. I did it my way, okay? It wasn't a thing like, 'DOKKEN is no longer any good because they suck. They're has-been,' or 'So and so band player is no good anymore because they can't play for shit,' or 'So and so is no good anymore because he got kicked out of the band for doing too much heroin,' or whatever. That's a has-been. I chose my path, what I wanted to do. I made my own decisions throughout my own life. Therefore, I was successful the whole time. I played in METALLICA for 15 years, and finished that 12 years ago. That was, that once was. That was good, but I have a whole new thing now. I am.

"I've always been, so has-been? Yeah. I have been in FLOTSAM, I have been in ECHOBRAIN, I have been in OZZY [OSBOURNE], I have been in VOIVOD, and I have been in METALLICA. [laughs] Yes I have, and now I'm in this band, and I'm still alive. It doesn't bother me even one little bit about any of those kinds of comments, and please don't feel bad about saying anything like that. I'm gonna tell you, dude: life is pretty good. If I had stayed in METALLICA, METALLICA would no longer be alive. It would no longer be a band. People need to… There's one thing… I haven't said this to anybody else, but I'll say it to you. I saved METALLICA when I entered their band, and I saved them when I left their band. Because I did both of those things, they're still around. I didn't do it by myself, so don't take it like that. It wasn't single-handed, or nothing. I'm not taking credit like that."

On recurring rumors he might rejoin METALLICA:

Jason: "Every time there's a picture of us together or somebody brings some other picture up, everybody says, 'Are you going back to the band? Please go back to the band' and all this stuff. That's not on the cards. I was already in their band; I was already in their band for half of the band's life. I'm good. I don't need to be in their band goddammit. [laughs] I was already in that band."

On NEWSTED's forthcoming album:

Jason: "The final product — the album in May — will be distributed properly. We'll be doing four songs every eight to ten weeks. There'll be new songs, and at the end of those three periods – two months, two months, two months, and then that six-month period — that's when the whole thing will be put together."

On the title of NEWSTED's forthcoming album:

Jason: "My plan is that all three of the different offerings of songs will be titled something different to make up the final title at the end. You'll be able to get the whole album on vinyl. It'll be a whole title that is made up of the other titles. You'll see."

Read the entire interview at www.metalforcesmagazine.com.

Australia's Yahoo!7 News recently conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist DJ Ashba. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose being portrayed in a negative light:

Ashba: "I think a lot of people and the press try to blow it up and say he's an asshole but everyone can be an asshole if you get them on the wrong day. One thing people don't seem to get is that he's genuinely funny and he's always joking around and telling stories to make people laugh. I always say that if he wasn't a musician he'd be a great comedian. I wish the world could see that side of him because it's the opposite of what people have branded in their brains."

On how Axl treats his GN'R bandmates:

Ashba: "Axl is in a position where he doesn't have to be cool with the band but he treats us like gold. He lets us write our own solos and gives everybody their time to shine on stage and I think that says a lot about who he is. He has no problem sharing the spotlight, in fact he quite likes it — otherwise he'd be doing this interview and not me."

On GUNS N' ROSES' latest album "Chinese Democracy", which came out in 2008 after a 15-year wait:

Ashba: "I came in right after 'Chinese Democracy' was released and I've seen a huge difference over the last four years in how fans react to those songs. A lot of people are singing along to them now that they're more familiar."

On how "production issues" are mostly to blame for GUNS N' ROSES' continual stage tardiness, with long waits for Axl just as much a definite at a the band's concert as hearing "Paradise City" or "Welcome To The Jungle":

Ashba: "We have a huge rig and pyrotechnics so often it's the case of fitting all that into the venue. Our number one priority is to make the shows safe. [The criticism from fans on social media] kills us as a band because we're not doing any of this on purpose. Our main goal is to go and give the fans a show they will never forget and we understand how expensive tickets are. We take that into account and when we do hit the stage, it's almost impossible to get us off."

On GUNS N' ROSES' next studio album, for which the bandmembers have already begun collecting ideas:

Ashba: "It won't be another 'Chinese Democracy' but then again we're in no rush to make a bad record. Failing is not an option so we're putting our heart and soul into this one."

Read more from Yahoo!7 News.

Hello everybody,

we have to inform you that Igor has left U.D.O. due to conflicts between band appointments and his private life and business.

Since the business of U.D.O. develops and the band tours more and more all over the world Igor simply wasn´t available for so many different long periods. The band respects his decision and wishes him all the best for the future. Igor was with the band since nearly 15 years now and became a very important and highly respected bandmember.

Thank you very much Igor!!!!!!!


Thanks to our metal god the band already found a new bandmate: finnish guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen. Well we can write now that together with our other new guitarist Andrey Smirnov they are one of the best guitar teams in metal but we don´t want to do that because every other band does like this. We´re sure you will find out by yourself and than you will write exactly that fact!

The band is very happy to have found Kasperi and now the metal machine will go ahead better than ever. Watch out for the Steelhammer!!!!!!!


Some personal facts about Kasperi:

Kasperi Heikkinen (born August 4th 1980) is a Finnish rock musician, a guitar player and a guitar teacher. He's also the founding member and the songwriter of the Finnish heavy metal band MERGING FLARE. The debut album of MERGING FLARE, "Reverence", was released in 2011 and was highly praised among the critics. His past activities include 4 studio albums and international touring with symphonic metal band AMBERIAN DAWN, 2 studio albums with the progressive death metal outfit ELENIUM (Fin), 1 studio album with traditional hard rock/heavy metal line-up CONQUEST, and various smaller releases such as EPs and singles.
Besides that Kasperi has worked with some tribute bands, such as GUARDIANS OF MANKIND (Gamma Ray), VICARS OF HELL (Judas Priest) and MACDETH (Megadeth). He has also done some live session touring in Europe and Russia with German power metallers GAMMA RAY.


Finally Igor has a personal message for the fans of the band:

"It was a great time and I want to warmly thank everybody who shared it with me, band members, crew guys, and everyone who supported and worked with us to make it happen!
A really big and special thank goes to our fans for their incredible support, you were great !!!

Wish you all the best! Igor"


New U.D.O. album will be released May 24th, 2013!!!

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was on hand at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show today (Wednesday, January 23) at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, to show off his new Dean double-neck guitar.

Originally a one-off which was built for Dave to play at the "Big Four" shows, the guitar will go into full production this year.

Mustaine said the guitar "plays like a motherfucker."

"When I went to Dean, I found out that the guitars were very responsive," Mustaine said. "And one of the most important things was the attention to detail. Also the relationship with me as an artist. Because the previous companies I was with, the guitars were good, but the relationship was sour. And I found that being with Dean was really good for me, because they took care of me as an artist, they took care of the guitars, they also knew what the public liked."

He continued: "Those of you that are distributors, you know that the younger generation, they want guitars that look cool and play great, that are affordable and that icons use. For me, I'm flattered to be considered an icon, but I'm just a guitar player. And to have this kind of backing and support from a company that is as reputable as Dean is really flattering."

Video footage of Mustaine's NAMM press conference from earlier today can be seen below (courtesy of Stephanie Cabral).

"Impasse", the new video from WALK AS CHAOS, the new "extreme progressive metal" collaboration between Alan Sacha Laskow (DIVINITY, ENDITOL) and Jerrod Maxwell-Lyster (OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, AUTOBODY), can be seen below. The clip was helmed by one of Alberta's leading independent music video directors, Doug Cook, and it incorporates various filmmaking techniques like old-school stop-motion photography, computer graphic elements mixed with live action along with fantastic set and costume design to bring "Impasse" to the visual forefront.

"We are super excited about our new music video for 'Impasse'," Laskow said. "Doug Cook went the extra mile and we are proud to say we feel it sticks out as being modern and inventive — just like our music.

"When we started talking about how to bring the song into the visual realm, Doug decided the backdrop should be a futuristic world made up of lines that had a difficult time connecting with each other, like a maze. He also wanted to put Jerrod and I into situations that showcased our collaboration (singer/engineer) but also the frustration one can be faced with when being at a impasse, whether is be Man vs. Man, Man vs. Tech and Man vs. Nature etc."

WALK AS CHAOS is described in a press release as "two musical comrades from the northern wasteland collaborat[ing] to create a unique hybrid between true progressive and extreme metal leanings. All instrumentation is programmed and played by MIDI except the guitar and vocals. Think CYNIC and ANIMALS AS LEADERS meeting MESHUGGAH and DECAPITATED and you're getting there. A continuation of ENDITOL with a fresh start and new name, WALK AS CHAOS is essentially a playground for their minds to unleash whatever they feel like and put down to 'tape', just pure expression and an honest attempt to communicate."

KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque will make a guest appearance on the sophomore album from Danish rock singer Maryann Cotton (born Jackie Patino), the son of KING DIAMOND bassist Hal Patino.

La Rocque previously played on Cotton's debut CD, last year's "Free Falling Angels", on the tracks "Crazy", "Night Train To Paris", "Miss Misery", "Shock Me" and "Maryann".

Maryann (pictured below) states: "Andy is a genius on the guitar, and I am very proud to present him again on the upcoming album. The solos he did on the last album were brilliant, especially the one he did on 'Maryann'; it's definitely one of my favorites, and absolutely one of the best he ever has done, in my opinion !''

"All the ideas for the album is down, and I can't wait to unveil some of the big things that are in the progress right now. The only thing I can tell is that we will start the recordings in February, and that I'll be back with more updates about the whole thing very soon!"

Maryann Cotton's new CD, which is tentatively due this summer, will also feature a guest appearance by ALICE COOPER guitarist/collaborator Dick Wagner.

Maryann Cotton debuted his new band on September 14, 2012 at Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"Free Falling Angels" was released on June 15, 2012 via Pure Steel Records. The CD featured guest appearances by four musicians who performed on KING DIAMOND's 1990 album, "The Eye" — Hal Patino, guitarists Andy La Rocque and Pete Blakk, and drummer Snowy Shaw.

Maryann Cotton's career was launched in 2006 when he performed live on Danish TV as part of the "Scenen Er Din" program (Danish version of "Star Search").

Oslo's OKULAR have set March 4th as the date on which their sophomore effort Sexforce will be self-released.

The brainchild of composer/lyricist Andreas Aubert, Sexforce features an appearance by SUSPERIA's Athera who performs half of the lead vocals on seven of the 13 tracks, while BORKNAGAR's Vintersorg makes a guest appearance on 'The Greatest Offender'. Lyrically, Okular presents poetry describing aspects of the human existence, in a vital and experientially-based form, rather than as philosophical discourse. In a ringing endorsement of Aubert's creation, Borknagar's Øystein G. Brun describes OKULAR as a "death metal parallel" to his own band.
Sexforce tracklisting:
'House Full Of Colours'
'Not Separate'
'Sexforce'
'The Greatest Offender'
'Ride The Waves Of Emotion'
'Rest In Chaos'
'The King Of Life'
'Exposing The Good Citizens'
'Feast Upon The Illusory'
'Birth Through Loss'
'To Ring The Bells Of Truth'
'Politically Incorrect Experiences'
'Educated For Enslavement'

The Sexforce album cuts 'Birth Through Loss' and the title track at this location.

Legendary hardcore metal band PRO-PAIN has inked a deal with SPV/Steamhammer.

Commented Steamhammer A&R representative Olly Hahn: "I already worked with [PRO-PAIN mainman] Gary [Meskil] together in the '90s and it was a pleasure to see how dedicated he is for his band and the metal/hardcore family in general. PRO-PAINstands always for energetic music and live performances and I´m looking forward to a new masterpiece in the fall 2013!"

Added Meskil: "We are very happy and proud to be part of the SPV/Steamhammer family! They have a long history of bringing quality thrash to the masses, and so we look forward to releasing some devastatingly brutal new music via this partnership."

Aggressive, meticulous, passionate, righteous — all distinguishing traits that have come to symbolize the fundamentals of metal/hardcore pioneers PRO-PAIN. Since their crushing 1992 NAIRD-nominated debut album "Foul Taste Of Freedom", PRO-PAIN have become a staple in the diets of heavy music listeners around the globe. Their successful and enviable career has perpetually prospered throughout its course, and yet they still manage to find room to improve, and more importantly, impress.

Formed by vocalist/bassist Gary Meskil (ex-CRUMBSUCKERS), PRO-PAIN has over the years benefited from substantial support from an ever-growing and loyal fan base, the metal press, hard rock radio, and MTV's "Headbanger's Ball". With bandmates Marshall Stephens (rhythm guitar), Adam Phillips (lead guitar) and Jonas Sanders (drums), Meskil is set to tour Europe in February and March extensively, with a new studio album expected in the fall.

PRO-PAIN's latest album, "Straight To The Dome", was released in North America in September 2012 via the Chicago independent record company Goomba Music. The CD was recorded at Little Creek Studio in Gelterkinden, Switzerland and produced by V.O. Pulver.

Jacob Grant of Capital Chaos conducted an interview with Chrigel Glanzmann, frontman, bandleader, songwriter and lyricist for Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE, on November 30, 2012 at Oakland Metro in Oakland, California. You can now watch the chat below. Also available is performance footage of the Oakland concert.

ELUVEITIE performed its latest concept album, "Helvetios", in its entirety during the band's recent North American co-headlining tour with Finnish epic metallers WINTERSUN. The trek commemorated ELUVEITIE's 10th anniversary as well as served as WINTERSUN's introduction to North American shores. This momentous event also included the German pagan metal band VARG.

"Helvetios" sold 4,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 143 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 3 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.

"Helvetios" was released in Europe on February 10, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe says that he prepared for his new role in the supernatural thriller "Horns" by listening to heavy metal music.

In "Horns", Radcliffe plays Ignatius "Ig" Perrish, a 26-year-old guy who wakes up to find horns sprouting from his head. And to help him unleash the demon within, Radcliffe turned to rock music.

"I'm listening to a lot of metal and allowing that slightly demonic rock 'n' roll spirit out. There's nothing else like it," the 23-year-old actor told The Sun.

Radcliffe previously described his new role as "deeply emotional and also incredibly outrageous in some ways."

He added: "To play somebody who, in the midst of a time in his life of great turmoil anyway, undergoes this horrific transformation into a devil character — it was very, very exciting."

Based on the novel by Joe Hill, "Horns" was directed by Alexandre Aja and written by Keith Bunin.

Prosthetic Records has announced the signing of neo-fusion instrumental power trio NIACIN. The supergroup, which consists of legendary bass guitarist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, STEVE VAI, DAVID LEE ROTH), keyboardist John Novello (CHICK COREA, EDGAR WINTER) and world-renowned drummer Dennis Chambers (SANTANA, PARLIAMENT/FUNKADELIC), will release its sixth studio album, "Krush", this spring.

The moniker NIACIN — the common name of the vitamin B3 — refers to the integral musical role played by the Hammond B-3 organ in shaping the band's sound, described by All Music Guide as "part acid jazz, part progressive rock, and part jazz-rock fusion." Inspired by the likes of RETURN TO FOREVER and the MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, the group released their debut album in 1996 on Stretch, the label of jazz legend Chick Corea (who later wrote and performed on a track on NIACIN's second album). With each member already firmly established in their respective genres, the band set out to form a new sound combining their jazz and rock roots, mixed with inspiration from B-3 legends such as BLIND FAITH, Keith Emerson, Jon Lord (DEEP PURPLE), and Ken Hensley (URIAH HEEP). As the buzz spread, the group toured the world periodically over the following decade, during which they released four additional critically acclaimed albums featuring such notable guests as Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) and TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather.

For the last several years, the individual members of NIACIN have worked steadily on various other projects — Chambers, for example, continues to serve as the musical anchor for Carlos Santana's ongoing Las Vegas residency — but in 2012, the group reconvened for the first time since 2006 to write and record "Krush".

More details on the release — the group's first in eight years — will be announced shortly.

Singer Jack Russell of GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL (formerly JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE) was interviewed on the latest edition of "Rockin Metal Revival" with hosts Red and Jerry.

Asked if he could ever envision himself reconciling with his former GREAT WHITE bandmates, Jack said: "No way! Absolutely not. Not over my dead body. Too many things have been said, and too many lies, and just too much hurt, man. I've had the knife stuck in way too deep. I can forgive them, but I can't forget. It's like we were brothers, man, and we were there through thick and thin, and when it came down to it, no, we weren't. It was all a big façade for the public. It's sad; it really is. It was a just a really lousy finale for a once-great rock band."

The entire interview is available for streaming using the audio player below (Note: The Russell chat begins around the 24-minute mark).

Interview (audio):

Legendary rocker Ted Nugent, who is an avid supporter of gun rights and antagonist of President Barack Obama, has blasted TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider for "falling for the big lie" by accusing the guitarist of having dodged the draft.

Speaking to AOL's Noisecreep, Snider stated about Nugent's recent comments about Barack Obama and gun control: "Ted's always been a gun-toting conservative. But what gets me is that he was actually a draft dodger! I mean, to the point where he didn't bathe for a week, and vomited on himself to deliberately avoid the draft. I totally understand why he did that, but all of these Republicans who love Ted don't seem to know or remember that too well. It's crazy that he's become one of the voices of Conservative America even though he was a draft dodger. If you don't believe me, Google it."

After the Snider interview was published earlier today, Nugent took to his Twitter to respond: "Shame on @deesnider for falling for the big lie I challenge u to man up to the truth We xpected btr"

Nugent recently wrote an open letter to Vice President Joe Biden, offering his advice and suggestions on how to focus on the mental health care system to stop potentially violent citizens from acting out crimes.

Norwegian black 'n' roll legion VREID has release a new single, "The Way Of The Serpent", from their forthcoming new full-length, "Welcome Farewell". Cold and compelling, the follow-up to 2011's "V", which Decibel magazine called "VREID's finest hour," was recorded at bassist Hváll's own Studio 1184 and is set for North American release on March 5 via Indie Recordings.

Described by Metal Hammer as a "unique time-travel in metal," commending their merge of '70s rock, '80s classic metal and Norwegian black metal, with the eight-track "Welcome Farewell" VREID again add a new twist to their already difficult-to-pinpoint sound. Hváll says of the new material, "It's been a lot of work, but we are utterly pleased with the result. 'Dark,' 'heavy' and 'VREID' are the three keywords to describe it."

"Welcome Farewell" track listing:

01. The Ramble
02. The Way Of The Serpent
03. The Devil's Hand
04. Welcome Farewell
05. The Reap
06. Sights of Old
07. Black Waves
08. At The Brook

VREID formed in 2004 following the demise of ''Sognametal" legends WINDIR. Some described their music as a fusion of WINDIR's ambiance, the rawness of Norwegian black metal and the molten groove of SEPULTURA, METALLICA and MOTÖRHEAD blended with historically inspired lyrics. Their third and fourth offerings, "I Krig" and "Milorg", were both concept albums based around the liberation work in Norway during World War II. Liberation was also the keyword on "V", but put in a broader historical/philosophic perspective. The lyrics on "Welcome Farewell" describe a lifecycle through a series of short stories, seen from an existential point of view and, inspired by Hváll's own local community with its nature, architecture and historical artists such as Arne Garborg and Otto Valstad, are more personal than ever before.

VREID is:

Hváll - Bass
Sture - Vocals/Guitar
Strom - Guitar
Steingrim - Drums

Drummer Lyle Cooper has confirmed his departure from Los Angeles-based progressive death metal titans THE FACELESS.

Said Cooper in a statement: "After almost five years with the band, I've decided to part ways.

"Over the last couple of years it seemed that the interests, goals and musical approach of the band was not that of my own. Also, managerial issues became too frequent with no resolution. These issues, I felt, made it hard for me as an individual to produce as a creative and enthusiastic member.

"I'm sure that proceeding my departure, the band will have no trouble finding someone with the right mindset and talents to step in and keep the band moving forward.

"Thank you to the fans and everyone who supported THE FACELESS throughout the years. I wish the band and its members nothing but continued success and make sure you catch them on their upcoming tours. I will still be pursuing my other musical projects so look out for new ABSVRDIST and ABHORRENT this year."

THE FACELESS's third full-length album, "Autotheism", was issued on August 14, 2012 via Sumerian Records. The band's first release in over three years saw the group's leader, Michael Keene, enlist a new vocalist, bassist and additional guitarist to help him see his musical vision come to fruition and these new members have delivered tenfold.

According to a press release, "Autotheism" is "a semi-conceptual record following a man's journey of self-discovery and transformation into the all-powerful God of his reality. It starts with his realization of the power he possesses and moves through every step of an ever-evolving reality that the future may have in store. Musically, 'Autotheism' is expansive in all directions. It is a thought-provoking roller coaster with the occasional sledge hammer to the skull and contains more dynamics and diversity than any offering presented by THE FACELESS to date."

DEF LEPPARD will play its 1987 album, "Hysteria", in its entirety as part of the Las Vegas residency, which is scheduled to kick off at the end of March.

DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott tells Billboard.com that the nine-date Viva Hysteria! will give the bandmembers a chance to work on ideas for the follow-up to 2008's "Songs From the Sparkle Lounge", which was named after the backstage writing room the group employed on tour. "This will be the first time in at least 10 years where we're all actually in one room banging out songs from scratch," Elliott explains. "We don't all live on the same continent, so it's increasingly more difficult for us to just do what people expect a band to do — wander into a dusty old rehearsal room and go, 'What you got?' Getting together to write an album is an event. So the whole point of this Vegas thing when we're not on stage is to attack pieces of work we have that aren't finished songs — 'I've got this riff.' 'Great, let's play around with it.' I'm sure everybody's got some individual ideas, and we'll go from there."

Viva Hysteria! follows Hard Rock residencies from MÖTLEY CRÜE and GUNS N' ROSES.

Tickets are on sale now and start at $49.50, with floor seats going for $125.

Speaking to Vegas.com, DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen stated about the band's decision to do the Vegas residency: "A lot of other bands do this stuff, but I think it's a little bit more special because 'Hysteria' was one of the diamond albums, especially in this day and age there are not that many albums that achieve that kind of status. That's why it's so important to us; it's such a big-selling album. It's a challenge as well. We've never actually done that before. We've always said yeah we could do 'High 'n' Dry'. 'Hysteria', that's a lot more challenging. A lot of the songs on there are hard to sing and play at the same time."

Regarding what he thinks it was about that album that continues to attract fans today, Collen said: "Mutt Lange is a genius. He said we can do an ultimate rock album or we can do a rock version of 'Thriller', where we have seven hit singles. But to do that, you have to put the extra effort in. The attitude when the album came out, a lot of people didn't like it. They thought, oh this is too pop or they didn't understand the crossover because it's a perfect hybrid between rock and pop. If you look at Mutt Lange's track record, his biggest successes are, for example, Shania Twain. He definitely brought country to the masses. He successfully fused rock, pop music with country, and I never thought I'd see the day. I remember being in Japan and hearing Shana Twain when I was going up and down in an elevator. That, for us, like I said, it was the perfect hybrid of pop and rock that was actually acceptable. A lot of rock fans didn't like it at first, but by the end of that year, everyone had the record. You couldn't really escape the whole thing. It was pop music, but done rock. We kicked our ass on it. It was very different from anything that had come before it, actually."

Chilean thrash metallers WARCHEST have announced the departure of original drummer, Pato Javier Peláez. He will be replaced by by Christiansen Oros as a permanent member of the band.

The new 2013 lineup is as follows:

Christian Peláez: Guitars/Vocals
José Tomás García: Guitars
Raimundo Correa: Bass
Christiansen Oros: Drums
Christian Peláez commented: "I'm very sad to see my brother leaving the band because first of all he is my brother and second he has been the only drummer I have always played with from the first days, but I do understand that he has today different priorities for his life nowadays. I wish him all the success and we (the band) thank him all his contributions and talent that he put in the band.

On the other hand, we are very happy to announce that Chris (Oros) is the new drummer. The audition process took over 2 months and
we think that he has the right approach to the style of the band. The band objective for this present year is to record the second full album and start playing live with this new lineup, which will be possible this coming February 23rd, more information on our social network
websites."

More on Warchest at this location.

French black metallers SETH have re-signed with Season Of Mist. The band's fifth album, "The Howling Spirit", will be released on June 7 in Europe and June 11 in North America.

SETH's debut CD, "Les Blessures De L'Ame" (1998) was one of Season Of Mist's very first releases. The album was re-released last year in a remastered edition, including two bonus tracks and brand new artwork. It is available in Season of Mist’s e-shop as CD and hand-numbered, double gatefold LP limited to 500 copies.

Commented SETH leader Heimoth: “This is some exceptional moment for us as we are now officially back on the very same label that released our first album in '98 and I guess this truly makes our recent comeback even more worthwhile. Both parties have taken different directions for more than 10 years but we are thrilled to unveil 'The Howling Spirit' together. I personally feel this is a significant step forward born from the special relationship the band and Season Of Mist have had through the years."

"Baphometic Chaosium", the first-ever music video from Los Angeles underground black metallers LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH, can be seen below. The clip was directed by co-founder and lead vocalist Autarch (a.k.a. the metal illustrator Farron Loathing). The project, which also marks Autarch's directorial debut, is the result of a partnership between Farron Loathing and Mortichrome Films. It is described by its creator as "a psycho-dramatic interpretation of the Mass of Chaos and the invocation of Baphomet as performed by a collective of ritual performance artists."

"Baphometic Chaosium" is the title track of LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH's third full-length album, which was released on January 22 via Metal Blade Records. The band has appropriately become a five-piece (completing the pentacle) with the recruitment of lead guitarist "Inverted" Chris Velez, before it began developing what is described as "devotional work", dedicated to their patron god — a mind-altering experience compelled by the embodiment of chaos, death and ecstasy. To record the psychedelic devilry, they returned to Trench Studios, with John Haddad again seeing to the engineering, with Roskva producing, no doubt to the delight of the tributed horned deity.

"Baphometic Chaosium" track listing:

01. Baphometic Chaosium
02. Acid Gate
03. Psychic Waters
04. Cloven Shields
05. Chained To Decay
06. R'Lyeh Wuurm
07. Epicyclarium
08. Oaken Chrysalis

Polish southern metallers J.D. OVERDRIVE are currently working on the material for their sophomore studio album. The as-yet-untitled album is scheduled for release in late May via Metal Mind Productions.

The band commented: "Work on the new album is well underway - drum parts are already recorded, we are giving the finishing touches to the guitar and bass parts. Vocals will be recoded in early February. This time around we invited a few guests to be a part of the new album. The material will be heavier, more metal than on our first release."

A video update from the studio can be seen below:
Lineup:

Wojtek "Suse?" Ka?u?a - vocal
Micha? "Stempel" Stemplowski - guitar
?ukasz "Joorek" Jurewicz - drums
?ukasz "Peo" Pomiet?o - bass

OUTRE's debut EP, titled Tranquility, is scheduled for release this month. The core of the band; Damian Igielski (SERPENTIA) and Andrzej Nowak (FLESHWORLD) had created four compositions in the style of modern black metal with elements of thrash, death and even prog and post metal. The visuals were created by Marcin Gadomski from Upgrade Design Studio. Tranquility will be released as a limited digi-pack and as a digital release. You can buy this EP directly from the band here.
The band also released a teaser of the forthcoming EP, you can watch it here:

Candlelight Records has set ab April 23 North American release date for "Withdrawal", the third album from black metallers WOE. Produced by vocalist/guitarist Chris Grigg and mastered by Colin Marston, the CD features seven new songs with a running time of 43 minutes. It is the first new material by the band since 2010's widely regarded "Quietly, Undramatically". "Withdrawal" reunites the band with artist and longtime friend Justin Miller.

"I spent a ton of time focusing on the production," says Grigg in discussing the album's creation. "We examined what WOE created since its inception in 2007 and broke it down to its core elements. The result is something that is a synthesis of the strongest elements: the unstoppable black metal ferocity of 'A Spell For The Death Of Man' mixed with the bold dynamics and smarter, more direct and personal songwriting of 'Quietly, Undramatically'. It is our most intense, our most cohesive, our most personal."

Recorded at studios in New York and New Jersey during the latter months of 2012, "Withdrawal" is a robust and penetrating album. It benefits from 18 months of live performances; something unavailable to WOE in the early years.

"This is music that was made to be performed live," Grigg notes. "Working with other people keeps WOE fresh. They bring new ideas and perspectives, fill in the gaps of my own abilities, and keep things moving when I slow down. This is the first WOE album to include not just riffs written by others but entire songs. Ruston (Grosse, drums) wrote 'Ceaseless Jaws'. Ben (Brand, guitar) wrote the initial draft of 'Exhausted' and then we reworked it. It's also the first album to include vocals other than mine: Grzesiek (Czapla, bass/vocals) doesn't just do backups; he has entire verses in a number of songs and is more 'second vocalist' than anything else."

A/V Club calls WOE "one of the best of a strong wave of young American black metal bands willing to play around with the boundaries of the genre." Metal Sucks says, "sincere and relentlessly creative, WOE put a new spin on an old method. The band crafts something that gives you a good sense of the possibilities that still exist in the genre. This is the sound of black metal to come." Popdose adds, "WOE burns the black metal rule book to create something wholly unique and desirable."

Originally launched as a one-man project, WOE released their debut, "A Spell For The Death Of Man", before teaming with England's Candlelight Records in 2009. Their label debut, "Quietly, Undramatically", was released late October 2010 and immediately found praise. Decibel called the album "an intriguing, revolutionary blend of black metal and shoegaze-tinged post-rock sophistication." Terrorizer found it to be, "a raging slab of barely contained aggression, immeasurable parthos, and damn fine songwriting." Shortly after release, WOE was invited to perform at the March 2011 Scion Rock Fest in Pomona, California. The band would follow that up with a number of regional dates before heading out with MAYHEM for their American tour later that year.

"Withdrawal" track listing:

01. This Is The End Of The Story
02. Carried By Waves To Remorseless Shores Of The Truth
03. All Bridges Burned
04. Ceaseless Jaws
05. Song Of My Undoing
06. Exhausted
07. Withdrawal

According to The Pulse Of Radio, KORN made a sick fan's dream come true when the members of the band met with him last October, and now the fan has posted a video journal of that experience online (see below). KORN agreed to meet with a fan named Tyler Sims after receiving a request from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Sims suffers from lupus, an auto-immune disease that leads to excruciating arthritic pain and other physical ailments.

Sims, who says he's always wanted to meet the group, traveled to Phoenix with his family to connect with them at a concert there. In his video, he describes being picked up in a limo and driven to the venue, where he got to watch from the side of the stage as the band went through their soundcheck. Sims then meets each band member, finally sitting down with singer Jonathan Davis to share stories about themselves.

Davis told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that ever since the group's earliest days, KORN's first and foremost priority has always been its fans. "We've always been a band about our fans, even when we first started out, when we playing clubs," he said. "I miss it so much. We'd play a gig, and we'd go out there and we'd hang out with the fans. We used to go to their houses, have barbecues, have parties, do all that stuff. Once the band got bigger, we weren't able to do that, so we're just continually trying to have that relationship with the fans."

Sims says in his video that Davis "really connected with me kind of deep. It felt good that they actually cared." He adds, "I've been a KORN fan since I was 10 years old. As I got older, I really connected with all the lyrics and I mean every song means something to me. It says something to me and it really gets me through a lot of the rough times I go through."

KORN spent much of 2012 on tour behind its 10th studio album, "The Path Of Totality", but plans to begin work on a new set of material early this year.

The group will reunite with founding guitarist Brian "Head" Welch for several festival shows next summer, with Welch playing full shows with the band for the first time since 2004.

THE MOANING’s only album, Blood From Stone, is one of those “I read about it, but never listened to it” albums. Why? Because the band comes from Luleå, which back in the days was quite isolated from any kind of metal scene. Because the band never toured outside of its home town. Because the cover artwork got delayed for quite some time although the album was already announced. Because all band members were still so young.

All those reasons might serve as an explanation why Blood From Stone never made it big. Still the album has managed to stand the test of time and nowadays is hailed as a classic piece of dark Swedish death metal with an evil melodic touch. Blood From Stone offers everything one can ask for: harsh vocals, somber riffs, eerie yet beautiful melodies, a grim production, a fantastic uncanny cover artwork.

Being out of print for many years now, Blood From Stone has become pretty sought-after nowadays. With the re-release of the album you now once more get the chance of listening to one rare, unjustly overlooked and excellent piece of Swedish death metal history. Kristian Wåhlin has supplied us with an excellent new scan of the outstandingly great cover artwork which now unfolds its pure beauty, especially on the LP cover and the 60x60 cm poster that comes with the vinyl. The entire layout has been reworked and includes lyrics and liner notes.

Blood From Stone will be released on January 28th as a standard CD jewelcase (initial print comes with a black bottom side CD) for midprice and on limited LP (180gr vinyl, printed innersleeve, 60x60cm poster, first time on vinyl). Be quick if you want to get a copy of the vinyl. Only 500 copies are available, of which 100 copies come on solid blue vinyl that can exclusively be purchased here.
Blood From Stone CD tracklisting:

'Blood From Stone'
'Stillborn'
'Of Darkness I Breed'
'Dying Internal Embers'
'A Dark Decade's Rising'
'Dreams In Black'
'Mirror Of The Soul'
'Dark Reflections'
'Blood From Stone' (demo 1995)
'A Battle To Win' (demo 1994)
'Blackened By Death' (demo 1994)
'Twilight Of Eternal Winter' (demo 1994)

Track 9 is previously unreleased. Tracks 10 - 12 are taken from the Promo 1994 demo, previously unreleased on CD and LP.
Blood From Stone LP tracklisting:

Side 1
'Blood From Stone'
'Stillborn'
'Of Darkness I Breed'
'Dying Internal Embers'

Side 2
'A Dark Decade's Rising'
'Dreams In Black'
'Mirror Of The Soul'
'Dark Reflections'