Christian rockers STRYPER will enter the studio in March to begin work on their next all-new original album for a late 2013 release.

In a 2012 interview with Guitar World, STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet stated about the band's plans for the next studio CD: "We're going into this new record with the mentality and thinking of making it like a 'To Hell With The Devil 2'. That's not to say it will actually sound like that album, but we really want it to be as great as 'To Hell With The Devil', which was our biggest album. We want people to put on this record and go; 'Whoa! Wow! This is as good as or better than 'To Hell With The Devil'!' We want the new album to be a powerhouse and we're going to do whatever it takes to make that happen."

Frontiers Records yesterday announced the signing of STRYPER to a multi-album deal. The first CD to be made available the agreement will be a collection of re-recorded versions of the band's classic songs, due in North America on March 26. Entitled "Second Coming" and produced by Michael Sweet, the CD will contain a total of 16 cuts — two from "The Yellow And Black Attack", six from "Soldiers Under Command", six from "To Hell With The Devil", as well as two new tracks, "Bleeding From Inside Out" and "Blackened".

STRYPER's "Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin' Land" DVD was released in October 2012 via MVD Visual. The set was recorded in front of an enthusiastic crowd in 2010.

The band's covers album, "The Covering", was unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it was a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. "The Covering" also included "God", a new original recording from STRYPER.

Photo credit: Tina Enos

Virginia's crushing quintet INTER ARMA will release its second album, "Sky Burial", on March 19 (one day earlier internationally) via Relapse Records.

INTER ARMA merges elements of doom, psychedelic sludge, grind, black metal and more through massive, mighty riffs to create a sound wholly their own. Following several solid demos, splits and an LP via Forcefield Records, this volatile act now delivers their Relapse debut, "Sky Burial", an album easily considered an early contender for heavy music record of the year, even making Decibel magazine's "20 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2013" list.

Emerging from the ever-fertile metal breeding grounds of Richmond, Virginia, INTER ARMA has spent the last few years touring relentlessly, perfecting a hypnotically punishing live show. "Sky Burial" brings that focus onto record, an album truly heavy in all senses of the word, invoking a spiritually intense journey through the halls of extreme metal. INTER ARMA has made a decisively loud proclamation with "Sky Burial" — this is a band that could very well be the next crown-holder in a regal line of iconic Relapse bands.

A YouTube teaser for "Sky Burial" can be seen below.

"Sky Burial" track listing:

01. The Survival Fires
02. The Long Road Home (Iron Gate)
03. The Long Road Home
04. Destroyer
05. 'sblood
06. Westward
07. Love Absolute
08. Sky Burial

Former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin was just signed to a new music publishing deal by Alan Bambrough of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Limited. Martin says he is "very pleased" and is "looking forward to expanding into other areas."

Martin's next release will likely be the fourth album from GIUNTINI PROJECT, the Italian heavy metal band started in 1988 by guitarist Aldo Giuntini as a solo project. Tony thinks the CD should be called "The Shadow Of The Stone" after one of the album tracks, but the effort's working title remains "Giuntini 4" until a decision has been made. This will be the third GIUNTINI PROJECT album Martin has appeared on.

Tony is not one to be idle and has other guest appearances being released soon, including one with young German female artist Layla Milou and a more recent one with American female artist Veronica Freeman, vocalist with BENEDICTUM.

Martin's last solo album, "Scream", was released in November 2005 via MTM Music. The CD featured legendary drummer Cozy Powell (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE) on the track "Raising Hell" as well as songwriting contributions by another SABBATH member, Geoff Nicholls.

BLACK SABBATH released six albums with Tony Martin on vocals: "The Eternal Idol" (1987), "Headless Cross" (1989), "Tyr" (1990), "Cross Purposes" (1994), "Cross Purposes Live" (1995) and "Forbidden" (1995).

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory has blasted the "anti-gun" media and liberal Democrat politicians for their call for tougher state bans on "assault" weapons and high-capacity magazines of ammunition.

In the wake of the United States' recent rash of mass shootings, advocates seeking tougher gun-control laws insist an assault weapons ban is critical to addressing the issue.

But Bathory, like other opponents of the proposed ban, claim they need these weapons for self-defense and sporting purposes.

In a posting on his Facebook page earlier today (Friday, January 11), Zoltan wrote: "Let's talk about 'assault' riffles for a second.

"Anti-gun advocates in the media placing all the emphasis on the word 'ASSAULT' for a reason. It sounds menacing to those who don't know much about weapons, and this particular word also embodies the concepts of 'first strike' and 'aggression'... and the media just loooves that.

"The fact IS, however — a rifle is an inanimate object with no free will or intent on its own. It doesn't plan to assault anyone... So really, this is all just playing with words.... If I called my rifle a 'defensive rifle' — it wouldn't throw up the red flag — and in reality THAT'S WHAT IT IS. I have it for defensive measures so that's what it should be called. A 'defensive rifle.'

"The National Rifle Association and everyone in the favor of their constitutional rights should attempt to educate the masses about what those 'scary' misleading phrases actually mean. The non-gun-owning public imagine fire spewing fully automatic weapons. NO. Private citizens don't and can't have those. Even the phrase 'semi-automatic' can be easily misunderstood by the general public... It doesn't mean it's a 'little bit of blazing fire' — or 'sometimes automatic sometimes not. No — it's one bullet per one pressing on the trigger. Just like a musket... without you having to pour gunpowder in the barrel and drop a led ball in there — the semi auto gun does it all for you — but ONE at the time... So no raining fire blaze Rambo style... NONE of that happens... even though in a case of home invasion, some of you'd probably wish it did.

"Anyway... let's hold on to our rights to own DEFENSIVE RIFLES and DEFENSIVE PISTOLS."

Former DIO and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell revealed in April 2012 that he is planning to join forces with three other original DIO members to play "some gigs" that will see the musicians performing material from the early DIO records that Campbell appeared on. Dubbed LAST IN LINE, Campbell, Vinny Appice (drums), Jimmy Bain (bass) and Claude Schnell (keyboards) will be accompanied by singer Andrew Freeman, who has previously fronted HURRICANE and LYNCH MOB.

LAST IN LINE resumed rehearsing in December and is scheduled to have another rehearsal session tonight. Vivian says: "It sounds amazing; the original band's energy is incredible and Andy Freeman kills it on vocals. This is gonna be so good!"

According to Campbell, the following songs, among others, are being rehearsed for LAST IN LINE's upcoming live show:

* "Holy Diver"
* "Stand Up And Shout"
* "Don't Talk To Strangers"
* "Last In Line"
* "Caught In The Middle"
* "Straight Through The Heart"
* "We Rock"
* "Egypt"
* "Invisible"
* "Shame On The Night"

In a 2012 interview with the MusicLegends.ca web site, Schnell stated about Andrew's performance at the first LAST IN LINE rehearsal, "He did an outstanding job, and if he didn't, I don't believe that he'd be the one that we'd be pursuing the project with. But he did a very, very good job. His online comments about 'preparing to be the world's most hated singer notwithstanding,' I think he's going to do a very credible and very impressive job of covering this material."

On the topic of LAST IN LINE's setlist, Schnell said, "Well, it's largely gonna be material from the first three albums — 'Holy Diver', 'The Last In Line' and 'Sacred Heart' — the albums on which Viv played. I don't think we're gonna be doing any material from the albums on which Craig [Goldy, Vivian's replacement in DIO] played and the later incarnations of the band. But, fortunately, there is no shortage of material and hits on those first few records, so you can count on 'Rainbow In The Dark' and 'Holy Diver' and 'Rock And Roll Children', and so forth and so on. The list goes on and on, on and on."

Regarding LAST IN LINE's touring plans, Schnell said, "We've been putting out some feelers and getting some kind of feedback about… Actually, [there is] a very strong international interest in seeing this back on the road. Again, this is all kind of very ironic and surprising, because quite honestly, initially, the only interest in doing this is a bunch of friends getting together to have a play and socialize a little bit and kind of catch up. But, like I said, it just seemed so organic once we started playing that the notion of doing it more than once seemed inevitable. And, of course, with that being considered, then it was an obvious conclusion that, 'Well, let's see if anybody would be interested in hearing this.' Needless to say, the ears that were listening within the rehearsal hall were on fire. There was an awful lot of, 'Hey, that sounds like that band from way back when.'"

Campbell and Ronnie James Dio worked together on the first three DIO albums 1983's "Holy Diver", 1984's "The Last in Line" and 1985's "Sacred Heart" — before Irishman Campbell left to join WHITESNAKE in 1987. Their subsequent relationship was strained, to say the least.

Original DIO lineup performing live in 1984:

According to a post on the Twisted Sister In The Clubs (Unauthorized) 1976-1983 Facebook page, German filmmaker Andrew Horn is putting the finishing touches on a new movie about TWISTED SISTER's club days. He states: "It begins with them in their earliest incarnation as a glam cover band in New Jersey and ends with them signing their deal with Atlantic at the end of '82 after their legendary appearance on 'The Tube' in the UK. It includes many performances in the clubs from that time and a lot of their legendary schtick such as the 'Sweet Jane' drink-'till-you-vomit gong show, the destruction of Hammerheads and, of course, Disco Sucks (and all that that implies). And a great story!"

In May 2011, Eagle Rock Entertainment released the landmark metal debut of 1982, "Under The Blade" by TWISTED SISTER. The CD — originally produced by Pete Way of UFO — also contains four tracks from their 1982 "Ruff Cuts" EP (never before available on CD) as well as "Shoot 'Em Down", an '82 live track from England's prestigious Reading Festival. The lavish package features the original "Under The Blade" cover, which has not appeared on any domestic versions of the album until now, and reflects the original Secret Records track list and remastered audio mix. The DVD contains the entire previously-unreleased Reading concert.

"Idle Hands", the new Ben Morgan-directed video from the South Wales, U.K. metal/hardcore outfit CONTINENTS, can be seen below. The song is the title track of the band's new album, which will be released on January 22 via Victory Records.

Commented CONTINENTS vocalist Phil Cross: "[The song 'Idle Hands' is] about questioning your beliefs in God.

"I was brought up in Catholic surroundings. Things, situations and events happen to make you question what is preached to you over the years.

"The beginning of the song is about questioning what's going on around you; why would God let these things 'bad' things happen. As the song goes on, it gets darker and more aggressive because you're not getting the answers you want."

Kerrang! magazine described CONTINENTS' sound as "energy-fueled epic-core with lots of aggression, a healthy blend of raw shouts and low end growls and foot stomping hooks."

"We've always tried to put our own passion for our music before external influence, the most important thing for us is that we enjoy the music we play, and if other people enjoy it too then that's awesome," said Cross. "We like to mix elements of our favorite styles and influences, and then put our own perspective on things to see where it takes us."

Formed in 2010, CONTINENTS quickly established themselves within the U.K. music scene. They are five self-proclaimed "lads with a party attitude who love getting groups of people into a room who share their passion for music." In concert, this bunch throws a blistering barrage of songs and energy at the crowd which is evident in their first music video from the band's self-released single "Trials", which received over 10,000 views on YouTube in just the first few days. Thanks to "Trials", the band was voted as a favorite YouTube U.K. metal act in November 2011 and was featured on the YouTube home page.

After a year of composing, writing, producing, designing and recording, Austrian symphonic melodic metallers SERENITY have revealed the first details of their fourth full-length album, "War Of Ages", due out on March 22 in Europe and March/April in the USA and Asia via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Death & Legacy" was once again mixed and mastered by Jan Vacik at Dreamsound Studios in Munich, Germany. The cover artwork was created by Seth Siro Anton, who previously worked with SERENITY on their debut album. The band states: "It likely is his best work to date and the whole cover figurine is just as impressive as the limited-edition closeup." SERENITY also collaborated again with Oliver Philipps on arrangements and orchestration.

"War Of Ages" track listing:

01. Wings Of Madness
02. The Art Of War
03. Shining Oasis
04. For Freedom's Sake
05. Age Of Glory
06. The Matricide
07. Symphony For The Quiet
08. Tannenberg
09. Legacy Of Tudors
10. Royal Pain
11. Fairytales (ballad version; limited-edition bonus track)
12. Love Of My Life (limited-edition bonus track)

Says the band: "While staying true to all SERENITY trademarks such as symphonic orchestras, heavy rhythms, amazing melodic vocals and bombastic choirs, we also brought in some new elements in form of various new sounds in the SERENITY universe and a constant implementation of female vocals supporting outstanding singer Georg Neuhauser."

An eleven-and-a-half-minute audio preview of "Conduit", the sixth studio album from U.K. post-hardcore veterans FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, is available in the YouTube clip below. The CD will be released in North America on Tuesday, February 5 via The End Records.

"Conduit", the follow-up to 2011's critically acclaimed "Welcome Home Armageddon", an album which saw the band approach their music with renewed vigor following the addition of new members Gavin Burrough and Richard Boucher, belts out a tightly wound collection of tracks, bursting with emotion and personal conflict but also full of commentary on the inner workings and experiences of an established band. It's the sound of a band growing and progressing both as a unit and individually.

Again with producer Romesh Dodangoda (MOTÖRHEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, LOSTPROPHETS) at the helm, the album's opening track "Spine", a song handling the issue of intense pressure and overcoming tough obstacles in your life to achieve a sense of personal fulfillment, hope and love, went for radio adds in December.

Last year, the group tapped director Ryan Mackfall of Team Crashburn (FOUR YEAR STRONG, SHARKS, FOXY SHAZAM) to direct the video for "Best Friends And Hospital Beds". Set in a bleak and derelict landscape, the song revolves around themes of friendship and death.

The End Records has assembled the ultimate FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND fan package! The exclusive limited-edition box set contains the new album "Conduit", an exclusive second disc "Live From The Roundhouse", FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND t-shirt, signed poster, cassette version of the album and booklet featuring handwritten notes from all the band about the album. Additionally, the label is taking pre-orders for a limited edition run of 12-inch gatefold splatter color vinyl. All orders will come signed and numbered, strictly limited to 500 copies. Also includes digital download card.

"Conduit" track listing:

01. Spine
02. Conduit
03. The Distance
04. Best Friends And Hospital Beds
05. Nails
06. Death Comes To Us All
07. Travelled
08. Grey
09. Sun-Less
10. Elements
11. High Castles

DEDVOLT, the Sacramento, California-based rock/metal band featuring SKINLAB frontman Steev Esquivel on guitar, will release a three-song EP, "Let It Burn", in February via Felony1 Records. In addition, the group is currently working on material for its debut album, which it hopes to make available sometime this summer.

In other news, DEDVOLT will support NONPOINT on a string of tour dates beginning on February 2 in Spokane, Washington. DEDVOLT states: "It's such a huge honor to share the stage with one of the hardest-working bands in the business! We look forward to playing for their fans and hopefully see some of you Dedheds in the front row representing."

Adds DEDVOLT vocalist Brian Giguere: "DEDVOLT brings emotional warfare to the forefront without pulling a single punch. Our music is the perfect balance between the darkest of ugliness and the beauty of fearless passion.

"We are extremely honored to kick off our musical journey on the road with NONPOINT. Be prepared to jump and sing because we promise to bring epic memorable hooks and devastating lyrics that bring the truth to light."

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

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of San Francisco, California's SLOUGH FEG. Three of the band's early releases that, until now, were only available as imports — "Twilight Of The Idols" (1999), "Down Among The Deadmen" (2000) and "Traveller" (2003) — will be packaged as a 3CD box set and will be released on february 5. Each CD will also be made available on its own digitally.

One of the most unique and underrated metal acts today, SLOUGH FEG has amassed quite the dedicated following over the 20 or so years that it has been active and has churned out such classic American metal albums as "Dawn Amongst The Deadmen", "Twilight Of The Idols" and "Traveler" (the latter being the album many claim as the SLOUGH FEG classic).

Led by the charismatic vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Mike Scalzi, who has easily established himself as one of the best and most distinct vocalists and lyricists in all of metal, SLOUGH FEG's latest album, 2010's "The Animal Spirits" (Profound Lore Records), was another gem in the illustrious SLOUGH FEG repertoire and is considered to be one of the band's strongest offerings.

SLOUGH FEG is:

Michael Scalzi - Vocals/Guitar
Angelo Tringali - Guitar
Adrian Maestas - Bass
Harry Cantwell - Drums

MISFITS will release their first "proper" live album since the 1980s, "Dea.d. Alive!", on February 5 on CD and limited-edition 12-inch vinyl plus MP3 card.

With select tracks from the band's encore set at their hometown show in New Jersey added for good measure, (recorded live on "Devil's Night," no less), "Dea.d. Alive!" is an audio Molotov cocktail guaranteed to have bonfires burning bright with pumpkin faces, day or night, all year round. Speakers will virtually melt as a torrential downpour of "Devil's Rain" engulfs the senses, catapulting you front row center into a jam-packed house of horrors.

The diverse set of modern day MISFITS classics included range from current hits like "Land Of The Dead" and "Curse Of The Mummy's Hand", on through all-new live versions of earlier-era material like "Scream!", "Dig Up Her Bones", "Helena" and more — recorded live, with a level of precision and intensity garnered in over three decades of horror business. In addition to 13 fiendish faves from the band's cryptic catalog, the live set also includes a cover version of the anthem "Science Fiction/Double Feature" (from the cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show") performed by the MISFITS for the first time ever on any release!

The first pressing will be made available on solid gold vinyl limited to 1,500 pieces.

"Dea.d. Alive!" track listing:

01. The Devil's Rain (3:39)
02. Vivid Red (1:44)
03. Land of the Dead (2:00)
04. Curse of the Mummy's Hand (3:18)
05. Cold in Hell (1:54)
06. Dark Shadows (3:18)
07. Death Ray (4:02)
08. Shining (2:39)
09. American Psycho (1:56)
10. Dig Up Her Bones (2:26)
11. Scream! (2:22)
12. Helena (3:24)
13. Science Fiction/Double Feature (3:17)
14. Saturday Night (4:10)

Former THE HAUNTED and current AT THE GATES guitarist Anders Björler has set "The Antikythera Mechanism" as the title of his first solo album, tentatively due later this year. He has also revealed the first session musician that will appear on the CD: Morgan Ågren (MATS & MORGAN BAND, KAIPA, FREDRIK THORDENDAL'S SPECIAL DEFECTS). Drum recordings started today at Morgan's studio in Stockholm. Check out a video clip below.

Anders previously stated about his upcoming album: "This is NOT a 'metal' project. Those of you who are familiar with my soundtrack/movie stuff for THE HAUNTED and AT THE GATES documentaries will know somewhat to expect. It's inspired by Italian film music from the '60 and '70s, post rock, ambient, progressive, jazz, and Swedish folk music."

Björler announced his departure from THE HAUNTED in October. He explained in a statement, "I feel that I have come to the end of the line regarding THE HAUNTED. This is not a sudden or hasty decision. I have been contemplating it for the last couple of years. Peter's [Dolving, vocals] departure [in early 2012] made me more certain than ever that I had reached my personal goal with THE HAUNTED, and that the time was right to call it quits. I have enjoyed every bit of the ride. It's been an overwhelming journey. I would like to thank the other band members especially, our crew through the years, and our fans worldwide for the experience and opportunity. Thank you so much! The memories will be with me forever. I will, of course, continue writing music, but where that leads me? [It's] simply too early to say."

2013 marks death metal juggernauts CANNIBAL CORPSE's 25th year as a band and they are going to celebrate it all year long! The group's official logo has been updated to reflect the monumental occasion and will be used on all things CANNIBAL, from merchandise to packaging, throughout 2013. For the most extreme CANNIBAL CORPSE fan, there are plans to release a box set sometime in March.

In addition to the updated logo only being used this year and the box set, Metal Blade Records issue one picture disc a month from the band's expansive catalog ("Eaten Back To Life", "Butchered At Birth", "Tomb Of The Mutilated", "The Bleeding", "Vile", "Gallery Of Suicide", "Bloodthirst", "Gore Obsessed", "The Wretched Spawn", "Kill", "Evisceration Plague", "Torture"). A total of 12 pictures discs will be released, covering all of the band's full-length studio albums, some of which have never been released on picture disc. The first picture disc available for preorder is "Eaten Back To Life", which was released August 17, 1990. Check back each month to get a glimpse of the next picture disc available for preorder.

CANNIBAL CORPSE's twelfth studio album, "Torture", sold 9,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Evisceration Plague", also opened with 9,600 units to land at No. 66. That was more than 50 percent higher than the opening tally of CANNIBAL CORPSE's 2006 CD, "Kill", which entered the chart at No. 170 after shifting more than 6,000 copies.

"Torture" was again produced by HATE ETERNAL's Erik Rutan at his own Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and features the maniacal cover art by longtime CANNIBAL CORPSE artist Vincent Locke.

The orchestral track "Shred I. Multiverse" from San Francisco Bay Area "blackened, technical post-death metallers" OBLIVION, who feature in their ranks former ALL SHALL PERISH guitarist Ben Orum on bass, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The song is one of three bonus tracks on OBLIVION's new album, "Called To Rise", which was released on January 1.

Commented OBLIVION vocalist Nick Vasallo: "As a band, OBLIVION doesn't want to just fit into the typical death metal category. Sure, we come from primarily a death metal background and we fulfill all the stylistic criteria associated with it. But we want our music to have broad conceptions and extreme depth.

"I composed a piece called 'Multiverse' that exists within two universes: metal and classical. The notes are identical and the music functions both as modern art music and modern extreme metal. We hired some of the top string players in the Bay Area to perform the work and recorded video of the sessions.

"One of the aspects that I want to bring from the metal world into the classical is the physical embodiment of the music. Notice how the musicians are almost obligated to move their bodies and headbang to the music in order to rhythmically play it.

"'Shred' is very rhythmic and, like a metal musician, requires total physical involvement with the music.

"The second movement, 'Long Deaf Hate', is a tribute to a band that every metalhead knows and by the end of the piece they should recognize the quotation from which I draw all the musical material from.

"'Shred' is just one example of the classical music aspects that encompass our structural composition. There is also a lot of counterpoint in our music, like the Canon in E minor, which maybe we'll save for a later video."

"Called To Rise" track listing:

01. Oblivion Part 1 The Chant Of Tyrants
02. Black Veils Of Justice
03. Between Suns Of Light
04. Binary Souls
05. Reclamation
06. Canon 1 In E Minor
07. Annunaki
08. Reigns In Fire
09. Cancer Of Wraiths
10. Multiverse
11. Oblivion Part 2 Infinite Descent
12. Black Veils Of Justice (instrumental version)
13. Shred I. Multiverse (string orchestra)
14. Shred II. Long Deaf Hate (string orchestra)

OBLIVION is:

Nick Vasallo - Vocals
Ben Orum - Bass
Ted O'Neill - Guitar
Victor Dods - Guitar
Luis Martinez - Drums

OBLIVION's video for the song "Reclamation" can be seen below. The special "End Of The World" version of the clip was directed by Brandon Hunt and is the first OBLIVION video to feature the band's two new members: Orum and guitarist Victor Dods (HACKSAW TO THE THROAT).

Orum announced his departure from ALL SHALL PERISH last month, explaining in statement that he "could not fulfill [his] duty as a touring musician any longer" due to the fact that he needed to provide for his family. He added: "While I am done with touring, I will never stop writing music. I am joining the extreme metal band OBLIVION as a bassist and contributing songwriter. We are beyond excited to unleash [our debut album] onto the metal world. I've always been into death metal and extreme music, [and] this is my return to true death metal."

Brazilian death/black metal band GRAVE DESECRATOR check in to reveal their plans for the new year.
Says the band: "We'd like to thank you for all the support during 2012 and inform you some news about the GD activities for 2013. Our split 7" EP in vinyl with the German band AUGRIMMER will be released in some months by the Portuguese/Dutch label, Helldprod. The title is Bloody Deathcross and our title track is 'Satan's Sigh'! It's fucking raw and unclean sound for sure!! Be warned!!!

We're late due to many problems but our waited third full-lengh album shall be launched in 2013 by Pulverised Records. You can wait for some mortal songs in a most particular GD standards. You'll feel some innovations or different approach in some lines, but the same devilish Brazilian blackest metal massacre will stay there and even more destructive and insane!!! Harris Johns will mix and master it, so you can expect one of the most abrasive albuns for this miserable year! Vinyl version by Blood Harvest Records, tape version will be dealed to Helldprod and the US version CD by Hell's Headbangers!!

Some gigs will be announced but no extensive tour for this year... However we're open for proposals to reach all the countries and Brazilian states possible!

The LP version of our live album by Demonhood Productions, as well as other releases, such as a split 7" EP with SLAUGHTERBATH (Chile) and another full 7" EP by Demonhood Productions are in our plans for this year! So beware and stand by the evil metal! The only that never lies!!!"

More on Grave Desecrator at this location.

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of iconic Christian rockers STRYPER to a multi-album deal. The first CD to be made available the agreement will be a collection of re-recorded versions of the band's classic songs, due in North America on March 26. Entitled "Second Coming" and produced by frontman Michael Sweet, the CD will contain a total of 16 cuts — two from "The Yellow And Black Attack", six from "Soldiers Under Command", six from "To Hell With The Devil", as well as two new tracks, "Bleeding From Inside Out" and "Blackened".

Commented Sweet: "We're really excited about this record. The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome... better than the originals in many ways! One word to describe the record? Heavier. We've hooked up with some great people — we've got new management, a great album, a great label. We just feel like everything is coming together, and hopefully some big things are to follow."

"Second Coming" track listing:

01. Loud N' Clear
02. Loving You
03. Soldiers Under Command
04. Makes Me Wanna Sing
05. First Love
06. The Rock That Makes Me Roll
07. Reach Out
08. Surrender
09. To Hell With The Devil
10. Calling On You
11. Free
12. The Way
13. Sing Along Song
14. More Than A Man
15. Bleeding From Inside Out (new track)
16. Blackened (new track)

Added Sweet: "Why did we re-record old songs? That's a multiple-answer question.

"First, because we wanted to cut out the middle men and have a little more control over our own songs.

"Second, we wanted to 'fix' some things that have annoyed the 'hell' out of us for the past 30 years such as: no bass in the mix of 'The Yellow And Black Attack' or 'Soldiers Under Command', and no Tim [Gaines, bass] on the mix of 'To Hell With The Devil'. The fact that I sound a little more like a man instead of a helium-induced kid at Disneyland. :-) The sheer joy of still loving these songs and still being able to perform these songs (well, we'll let the experts be the judge of that). And last but not certainly least? We did it just because we wanted to :-)

"So there you go, the mystery is over and the reasons have been revealed.

"Seriously, we're really excited about this record. It's one of the few re-records that I believe will stand against any of the originals if not surpass them.

"If you liked 'The Covering', you'll love 'Second Coming'!"

"Bleeding From Inside Out" audio clip:

German power metallers CRYSTALLION will release their fourth album, "Killer", on March 1.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Run (5:09)
02. Far Cry (4:07)
03. Dead On Arrival (3:38)
04. Heat Of A Thousand Flames (4:22)
05. Ready To Strike (3:39)
06. Killer (4:57)
07. S.O.S. (4:51)
08. I'm Alive (4:41)
09. Push Comes To Shove (3:48)
10. Change Your Heart (5:03)
11. Full Moon Fever (3:49)
12. The Unwanted (3:34)

The song "Ready To Strike" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

CRYSTALLION's third album, "Hundred Days", was released in October 2009 via Dockyard 1. The CD is said to be "a concept album about the return of Napoleon (after his first exile) until his complete defeat in the battle of Waterloo."

CRYSTALLION's second album, "Hattin", was released in the U.S. on August 12, 2008 via Dockyard 1/Locomotive. The CD was issued in Europe on May 16, 2008.

CRYSTALLION's first CD, "A Dark Enchanted Crystal Night", came out in 2006 and was well received by fans and media. Germany's Rock Hard magazine gave it 8/10 points and stated: "From songs to production to the cover, everything fits here. A very well-done debut for a young and promising band!"

CRYSTALLION's bombastic metal is said to be influenced by RHAPSODY, STRATOVARIUS, HELLOWEEN and SONATA ARCTICA. Their most significant asset is singer Thomas Strübler's multi-octave range, which separates the band from their counterparts.

OMMATIDIA (formerly PRETENCE), the new band featuring Nicolas Chevrollier and Vincent Danhier (ex-THE OLD DEAD TREE), Guillaume Host (DUSTBOWL), Gilles (JARELL) and Olivier (SINN), will enter the studio in May to begin recording its sophomore album for a late 2013 release.

"I did fully express myself all along the writing process," Olivier says. "We have given ourselves a little more time on the composing. I easily built my own drums parts alongside the melodic ideas introduced by our main composers and guitarists Gilles and Nicolas. So I really think I have significantly contributed to the final result of all songs. Can't wait to enter the studio right now..."

OMMATIDIA released its debut album, "In This Life, Or The Next", in March 2011 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Tour Fine Studio and was mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street (PARADISE LOST, OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK) in Örebro, Sweden.

The music of OMMATIDIA has been described as "dark melodic metal" with influences from such acts as PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA, SLAYER and TOOL.

HAIL OF BULLETS, the Dutch death metal band featuring GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby, THANATOS guitarists Stephan Gebédi and Paul Baayens, vocalist Martin Van Drunen (HAIL OF BULLETS, PESTILENCE, ASPHYX) and former HOUWITSER bass player Theo van Eekelen, will enter the studio next month with Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) to begin recording its third album for a late 2013 release via Metal Blade Records.

In other news, a picture-disc version of HAIL OF BULLETS' debut album, "Of Frost And War", will be released on February 4 via Metal Blade. The picture disc will be strictly limited to 500 copies.

HAIL OF BULLETS's second full-length album, "On Divine Winds", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 75.

"On Divine Winds" was released in North America on October 12, 2010 via Metal Blade. The group recorded 11 songs plus an intro for the CD, which, like its predecessor, was produced by Ed Warby was mixed by Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE).

HAIL OF BULLETS' debut album "…Of Frost And War" was a concept album about the Eastern front war of Germany. "On Divine Winds" was another concept effort, this time covering the Pacific battles between Japan and the USA.

The album title "On Divine Winds" is a translation of the Japanese word "kamikaze," as kami stands for "God" and kaze means "wind."

"On Divine Winds" features 12 tracks on the limited first digibook edition and 11 song on the regular jewelcase version.

A three-minute video clip in which Gus and Reggie of the Puppet Shakespeare Players teach you about the letter D with the help of special guest, TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider, can be seen below.

Puppet Shakespeare Players is a New York City-based troupe dedicated to bringing Shakespeare's work to the masses. Their mission is to reinvent and reimagine the Bard's work through comedy, puppetry and a variety of other mediums while staying true to the original intent and spirit of Shakespeare's plays. It is their belief that these works promote conversation across backgrounds, cultures and ages through language, poetry and pure entertainment.

British metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON has parted ways with guitarist Jona Weinhofen and have replaced him with Jordan Fish (formerly of WORSHIP).

Commented Jona: "After a lot of time and thought, I've decided to leave my current position as guitarist with BRING ME THE HORIZON. Things in the band have been very tense, with a lot of disagreements between myself and certain members, who I won't name.

"I'm thankful for my time with BRING ME THE HORIZON and I have met many good friends and been able to travel the world more.

"I'm planning on moving back to Australia to pursue other musical ventures."

BRING ME THE HORIZON's fourth album, "Sempiternal", will be released on April 29 in Europe via RCA and in North America through Epitaph. The follow-up to 2010's "There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret" was recorded in part at Angelic Studio in Banbury, Oxfordshire with producer Terry Date, who has previously worked with such acts as DEFTONES, PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN and PRONG.

"I've never been so confident about an album," BRING ME THE HORIZON frontman Oli Sykes told Kerrang! magazine. "It makes our last record just sound shit. We're doing stuff we could never dreamed of doing before."

BRING ME THE HORIZON performed its new single, "Shadow Moses", live for the first time when they played their only U.K. show of 2012 at the Alexandra Palace in London on November 10 as the co-headliners of the Vans Warped Tour with LOSTPROPHETS.

"There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret" sold 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD also entered the official chart in the U.K. at position No. 13.

Ohio metallers SKELETONWITCH will enter GodCity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts in April with producer Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, KVELERTAK, BLACK BREATH) to begin recording their fifth album for a late 2013 release via Prosthetic Records.

Commented the band: "First off, thanks to everyone who supported SKELETONWITCH during this past year. We did some serious gigging in 2012, and your support on the road and of 'Forever Abomination' was overwhelming. We would be nowhere without you.

"It's not just idle hands that do the devil's work — we're already deep in the process of writing a new record, which is shaping up to be quite an epic slab of metal, if we may say so ourselves."

SKELETONWITCH recently completed the "U.S. Abomination" headlining tour with support from MUTILATION RITES and HAVOK.

The follow-up to 2009's "Breathing The Fire", "Forever Abomination" was recorded at a Los Angeles studio with producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR). The effort included the track "The Infernal Resurrection", the demo version of which appears as the B-side on the final seven-inch of a limited-edition vinyl trilogy. This marked SKELETONWITCH's first recording with the group's new drummer, former DEMIRICOUS skin-pounder Dustin Boltjes.

The vinyl reissues of the SKELETONWITCH's breakthrough releases "Breathing The Fire" and "Beyond The Permafrost" are now available from the Prosthetic store. Both are available in three variants — splatter, half-and-half and 180-gram black wax — and feature gatefold Stoughton "tip-on" record jackets. The black vinyl versions of both albums were made available in select retail stores in April 2012.

Video footage of SKELETONWITCH's November 9, 2012 prformance at Marquis Theatre in Denver, Colorado can be seen below.

Western Massachusetts metal titans WITHIN THE RUINS will release their third album, "Elite", on February 26 via eOne/Good Fight Music. The follow-up to 2010's "Invade" will feature the following track listing:

01. Terminal
02. Solice
03. Feeding Frenzy
04. New Holy War
05. The Charm
06. Ataxia II
07. Elite
08. I, Blashpheme
09. Absolute Hell
10. Weightless
11. Dreamland

WITHIN THE RUINS will take part in this year's "Eat Your Heart Out Festival" next month alongside acts like WHITECHAPEL, I SEE STARS and MADBALL.

In existence for nearly 10 years, WITHIN THE RUINS has released two full-length albums and has amassed an impressive touring resume.

Commented guitarist Joe Cocchi: "This is extremely exciting for us. We're proud to be a part of this new family. We look forward to growing as a band with eOne/Good Fight now behind us, and we're thankful to be working with people who care."

WITHIN THE RUINS is: Tim Goergen (vocals), Joe Cocchi (guitar), Andrew Tate (bass), Kevin McGuill (drums).

"Cycles Of Suffering", a brand new song from New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Pinnacle Of Bedlam", which will be released on February 15 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.

Commented SUFFOCATION bassist Derek Boyer: "This artwork is a perfect portrayal of our music. The cover depicts lyrical content like 'scales tip in degradation' and 'hooded messenger of death is now set forth, punishment for all.' Raymond is an absolute BEAST of an artist!"

Added SUFFOCATION guitarist Guy Marchais: "The artwork for 'Pinnacle' brings another element to an already brutal album. Raymond knew exactly what we were looking for and delivered!"

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" was produced by the band at Full Force Studios in New York with longtime collaborator Joe Cincotta. The mixing and mastering of the effort was handled by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, ARSIS, SUICIDE SILENCE).

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" features 10 genre-defining-bone-crushing tracks and also marks the return of drummer Dave Culross, who previously played on the "Despise The Sun" EP. Founding member and former drummer Mike Smith also makes a special guest appearance on the re-recorded "Breeding The Spawn" track "Beginning Of Sorrow".

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" track listing:

01. Cycles Of Suffering
02. Purgatorial Punishment
03. Eminent Wrath
04. As Grace Descends
05. Sullen Days
06. Pinnacle Of Bedlam
07. My Demise
08. Inversion
09. Rapture Of Revocation
10. Beginning Of Sorrow

SUFFOCATION filmed a video for the track "As Grace Descends" on January 5 at Duff's Brooklyn in in Williamsburg, New York.

Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the clip can be seen below (courtesy of Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks!).

Stated guitarist Terrance Hobbs: "The meaning of the album title 'Pinnacle Of Bedlam', is the tipping point or most elevated moment as we approach the chaotic climax of this existence. The cosmic scale teeters and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

"People should expect nothing less than sheer brutality, as we perform together with this incredible lineup! We feel this CD will be the best SUFFOCATION album ever to have been released and are confident the fans will love it."

"Cycles Of Suffering" audio stream:

"Requiem (Hollywood Forever)", the new video from L.A. GUNS, can be seen below. The song comes off L.A. GUNS' new album, "Hollywood Forever", which was released on June 5, 2012 via Cleopatra Records. The CD was recorded with legendary producer, and old friend, Andy Johns, who has previously worked with LED ZEPPELIN, THE ROLLING STONES, CINDERELLA and VAN HALEN, and who collaborated with L.A. GUNS on their last three albums.

L.A. GUNS spent a few days in Los Angeles shooting three videos to support the record. Videos for "Araña Negra" and "You Better Not Love Me" were also filmed. Videographer Jack Foster was behind the lens for the shoot at the legendary Circus Disco in Hollywood. With an LED logo in the background, the band meshed theatrics with its expected rock energy on the big stage. Later, additional scenes were filmed in L.A.'s colorful Little Mexico and the landmark Hollywood Forever cemetery.

"Hollywood Forever" track listing:

01. Hollywood Forever
02. You Better Not Love Me
03. Sweet Mystery
04. Eel Pie
05. Burn
06. Requiem (Hollywood Forever)
07. I Won't Play
08. Vine St. Shimmy
09. Araña Negra (originally recorded by THE BICICLETAS)
10. Gonna Take You Down
11. Queenie
12. Underneath The Sun
13. Venus Bomb
14. Dirty Black Night
15. Rattlesnake

L.A. GUNS in December announced the addition of guitarist Frankie Wilsey to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "We first met [Frankie] back in 2007 when he was playing in Stephen Pearcy's band, ARCADE, on the Rock Never Stops tour. Frankie spent more time on our bus than his own, impressing us with hours of classic bootleg videos from the '70s and '80s. He was clearly a rock aficionado, truly a scholar and a gentleman.

"Frankie's been playing guitar since 1977. He formed his first band, HEAD ON, in San Francisco in '81 and then went on to form the hometown Bay Area champions SEA HAGS in '88. He moved to Los Angeles in the early '90s, where he teamed up with Stephen Pearcy of RATT and Fred Coury of CINDERELLA to form ARCADE. In addition to lots of sessions in Los Angeles, Frankie recently toured with legendary singer John Waite and also had a residency in Las Vegas as Joe Perry in the definitive AEROSMITH tribute band AEROMYTH.

"Frankie joins [L.A. GUNS] with guns blazing, ready to tour the world and get involved in writing and recording new original material."

Says Frankie: "I met Phil [Lewis, vocals] and Steve [Riley, drums] years ago, traveling down this road. Found out they're blessed with classic-rock style and a road-warrior ethic that is rare in this weakling world of music.

"I have to say I think this is a very good matchup. Let's hope the fans feel the same."

Due to "extenuating circumstances and musical differences," guitarist Stacey Blades announced his departure from L.A. GUNS in early December.

Blades played on four L.A. GUNS albums: "Rips The Covers Off" (2004), "Tales Trom The Strip" (2005), "Loud And Dangerous: Live From Hollywood" (2006) and "Hollywood Forever" (2012). He also authored a book, "Confessions Of A Replacement Rockstar", which was published in 2009.

"Dark Side Of Me", the new video from New York progressive rockers COHEED AND CAMBRIA, can be seen below.

The band will perform the song live on the January 21 episode of Conan O'Brien's nighttime talk show on TBS, "Conan".

COHEED AND CAMBRIA's latest album, "The Afterman: Ascension", sold 49,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 5 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"The Afterman" is being released in two separate full-length volumes. The first volume, "The Afterman: Ascension", was made available on both physical and digital platforms in the U.S. on October 9, 2012 via Hundred Handed/Everything Evil, and distributed through Fontana/Ingrooves (available in Canada via Universal Music Canada). The second volume, "The Afterman: Descension", is due in February.

A deluxe version of "The Afterman" includes a hardcover coffee-table book with expansive art by Heidi Taillefer and Nathan Spoor with collaborative written work from singer/creator Claudio Sanchez and writer Peter David that creates a song-by-song experience.

The two records follow-up to 2010's "Year Of The Black Rainbow", and feature new bassist Zach Cooper and returning drummer Josh Eppard, who have replaced Michael Todd and Chris Pennie, respectively.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA frontman Claudio Sanchez said of the album: "This is, without a doubt, the most honest record I've ever written. Though all the songs can be interpreted through our main character in the story, they were initially written in a very spontaneous manner. In the past, I've always had a predetermined idea of what the story was going to be when I approached the songs. With 'The Afterman' being a new story within 'The Amory Wars' arc, I allowed the events of my life to drive the concept, and therefore opened up the songwriting to a fuller degree."

Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI will release their new album, "To Beast Or Not To Beast", on March 8 in Europe (excluding Finland) via AFM Records. The CD will be made available in North America on March 19 through The End Records.

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

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

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

"To Beast Or Not To Beast" track listing:

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

LORDI previously worked with Wagener on 2010's "Babez For Breakfast", which sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 43 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

British hard rock legends URIAH HEEP have released the following statement:

"Trevor Bolder (bass) is going into hospital for an operation which will require several months' recuperation. Everyone connected with URIAH HEEP wishes Trevor a speedy operation and recovery, and Trevor's wishes are that the band should carry on without him, until he is fit and ready to come back.

"Venerated bass player John [JJ] Jowitt has agreed to deputise for Trevor at short notice, to ensure that the band's show in Israel at the end of January can still go ahead, Having spent 20 years with IQ, plus varying stints with ARK, ARENA, JADIS, FROST and other respected bands, John is renowned for his onstage charisma and has won Classic Rock Society's Bass poll on no less than 10 separate occasions.

"We know all of you out there will support Trevor and the band as we move forward together into 2013. Trevor will use his recuperation period to write songs for the new URIAH HEEP album, the follow-up to 'Into The Wild', which will be put together in the next 12 months."

Added URIAH HEEP guitarist Mick Box: "We all wish Trevor a speedy return to the fold, and in the meantime we are very pleased that JJ has agreed to step in and cover Trev's unique bass panache, so crucial to HEEP's sound. JJ will also contribute to the signature five-part vocal operatics."

Stated John Jowitt: "I have long been an admirer of Trevor Bolder's iconic playing, and it is a huge honour to be asked to stand in for one of the all-time greats of the bass. I intend to bring due respect to the legend that is URIAH HEEP, and I hope I can do justice to Trevor's presence, both on and off stage."

URIAH HEEP's latest album, "Into The Wild", was released in April 2011 via Frontiers Records. The CD was produced by Mike Paxman (STATUS QUO, ASIA) and features cover artwork (see below) by the renowned Greek-American artist Ioannis (LYNYRD SKYNYRD, STYX, SAGA).