During MEGADETH's November 24 performance at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the band's frontman, Dave Mustaine, took the opportunity to bash a writer for The Columbus Dispatch whose review of MEGADETH's Columbus concert four days earlier featured the headline "Megadeth: Thrash metal better than political rants." "What is heavy metal about?" Mustaine rhetorically asked the crowd (see video below), before adding, "I just don't understand why editors at newspapers send people to shows if they don't like the band in the first place."

Mustaine in March made headlines when he told Canadian television and radio personality George Stroumboulopoulos that he is certain that President Obama "was born somewhere else than America."

"I have a lot of questions about [Obama], but certainly not where he was born," Mustaine said. "I know he was born somewhere else than America."

When Stroumboulopoulos pointed out that this school of thought made the musician part of the so-called "birther" movement, Mustaine countered, "I'm not calling a question to it, I just, you know, it's a point. How come he was invisible until he became whatever he was in Illinois?"

Stroumboulopoulos tried to further challenge Mustaine on his claims, causing the MEGADETH frontman to attempt to change the subject.

"I don't want to talk about my president," Mustaine said, before going on to admit that he was going to "have to do some more homework on where Obama came from."

"The Bloodshed Summoning", the eighth full lenght studio album from veteran German metallers SACRED STEEL, will be released on February 16, 2013 via Cruz Del Sur Music. The CD was produced by Bart Gabriel (CRYSTAL VIPER, LONEWOLF, JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR), and will be made available as a limited-edition vinyl LP, CD with three bonus tracks (including a MISFITS cover version) and as a digital download.

"The Bloodshed Summoning" track listing:

01. Storm Of Fire 1916
02. No God / No Religion
03. When The Siren Calls
04. The Darkness Of Angels
05. The Bloodshed Summoning
06. Under The Banner Of Blasphemy
07. Black Towers
08. Crypts Of The Fallen
09. The Night They Came To Kill
10. Join The Congregation
11. Journey Into Purgatory
12. Doomed To Eternal Hell

CD bonus tracks:

13. Perversions Of The Scriptures
14. Unbinding The Chains
15. Dig Up Her Bones

SACRED STEEL, which was previously signed to such labels as Metal Blade and Massacre, established itself in the '90s as one of the leading true metal bands. Their albums "Wargods Of Metal" or "Bloodlust" are considered by many to be some of the best '90s traditional metal releases.

SACRED STEEL's last album, "Carnage Victory", was released in 2009, and was supported by a number of European live shows, including well-received appearances at such festivals as Bang Your Head!!!, Summer Breeze and Rock Hard.

Reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN were the musical guests on last night's (Monday, November 26) edition ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" The band performed two songs — "By Crooked Steps" and "Been Away Too Long" — on the show's outdoor stage in front of a standing-room-only crowd. You can now watch video footage of the group's appearance below.

"King Animal", the first collection of all-new material in 16 years from SOUNDGARDEN, and first since the group reunited in 2010, sold 83,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 5 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on November 13 via Tom Whalley's new record label, a partnership between his Seven Four Entertainment and Republic Records.

SOUNDGARDEN blasted through 23 songs in front of 1,000 people at New York City's Irving Plaza nightclub on November 13 in the first of three such shows to celebrate the arrival of "King Animal".

The band reunited in 2010 after a 13-year break, releasing a retrospective collection called "Telephantasm" and a concert album titled "Live On I-5".

"Set Me Free", the new video from TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon, can be seen below. Recorded in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it features Hannon, Jeff Sandoval on vocals, Mike Araiza on guitars, Aaron Leigh on bass and Cortney DeAugustine on drums.

"Set Me Free" comes off Hannon's latest project, "Six String Soldiers", which is a collaboration with OF THE EARTH (O.T.E.) members Mike Araiza and Jeff Sandoval. The CD was recorded at Hannon's Sacramento, California home studio features guest appearances by legendary guitarists Dickey Betts from THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, Rick Derringer, Pat Travers and Dave Meniketti of Y&T.

"I was very fortunate to have some legendary guitarists contact me, starting with my father-in-law," Hannon, who is married to Betts' daughter, told TheTelegraph.com. "I asked if he would do me the honor of doing a guitar solo on one of the new songs, and he obliged."

"Six String Soldiers" track listing:

01. I'm Alive (feat. Pat Travers)
02. Set Me Free
03. Six String Soldiers
04. Lipstick, Smoke and Gasoline (feat. Dave Meniketti)
05. Invincible
06. Cross Your Mind
07. Touch The Ground (feat. Dickey Betts)
08. I'm Just Sayin'
09. Love, Life And Beauty
10. To The Light (feat. Rick Derringer)
11. Redemption
12. 12.21

Italian traditional heavy metallers MESMERIZE have set "Paintropy" as the title of their fifth album, due in the spring via Punishment 18 Records. The CD mix was completed last week at Octopussy Studios.

Commented MESMERIZE guitarist Piero Paravidino: "'Paintropy' is a word that combines the concepts of pain and entropy, and it refers to a chaotic and painful state of mind, coming from the aggregation of negative events or emotions. In turn, this state can cause a reaction of total inertia or the exact opposite, unleashing a downright furious transformation. These concepts will be depicted both in the songs and in the graphics of the album."

MESMERIZE's fourth album, "Stainless", was released in 2005 via Dragonheart Records.

"Bricks And Mortar", the new video from Canadian metallers CANCER BATS, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's fourth full-length album, "Dead Set On Living", which was released in the U.S. on April 24 via Metal Blade Records. Once again utilizing the legendary Vespa Studios and producers Eric Ratz and Kenny Luong, the CD brings yet another dimension to the BATS' menacing style of thrash-tinged hardcore rock. Tracks like "R.A.T.S." (featuring guest vocals from Rob Urbinati of SACRIFICE) and "The Void" are laced with the gritty, sludgy groove that first emerged on cuts from 2008's "Hail Destroyer", while the blistering first single "Old Blood" roars with the riot-inducing speed and aggression so familiar to the band's fans. The blazing "Bastards!" also features vocal boosts from DEVILDRIVER's Dez Fafara and AN HORSE's Kate Cooper.

Thematically, the album offers a strong focus on the bilateral relationship of dark and light, destruction and construction, life and death. The title track, for example, refers to a close friend of the band who ended up in the hospital in serious condition; only to have the experience cement his will to survive.

Whereas 2010's "Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones" had a much darker tinge, "Dead Set On Living" strikes a tighter balance between the opposing forces and brings listeners closer to the light at the end of the tunnel by encouraging them to push through peril.

Since first turning heads with 2006's "Birthing The Giant", CANCER BATS, made up of Liam Cormier (vocals), Scott Middleton (guitar), Mike Peters (drums) and Jaye Schwarzer (bass), is one of the hardest-working bands in the music industry.

According to Rock Overdose, FIREWIND/OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G. (real name: Kostas Karamitroudis) has begun collecting ideas and recording demos for his first solo album, to be released sometime in 2013. The CD will feature instrumental tracks as well as songs with guest singers.

On the FIREWIND front, Gus revealed a live album will be made available from the band's current tour as a way to celebrate the group's tenth anniversary. In addition, there will be various reissues of bonus material in 2013 as well as a possible box-set release, the details of which will be announced at a later date.

FIREWIND's new album, "Few Against Many", entered the official chart in Greece at No. 42 and in Germany at No. 90. Released in Europe on May 21 via Century Media Records and in North America on May 22 through DisManic, Inc. via eOne Distribution, the CD was mixed by Jason Suecof and Eyal Levi at Audiohammer Studios (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEATH ANGEL) in Sanford, Florida.

Produced by Gus, "Few Against Many" was recorded with his longtime bandmates, vocalist Apollo Papathanasio, keyboardist/guitarist Bob Katsionis and bassist Petros Christo, at Valve Studio in Greece as well as the Sweetspot Studios in Sweden and sees the band expanding on its signature melodic sound with some of its most aggressive songs to date. The CD also marks the recording debut of new FIREWIND drummer Johan Nunez (NIGHTRAGE).

Just in time for the holidays, metal fans can now pre-order an exclusive version of IN THIS MOMENT's fourth album, "Blood". The exclusive double disc set will only be available at Hot Topic and contains the full original "Blood" album on one disc, and a second disc that features a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Closer", as well as four additional new remixes of songs on "Blood":

* "Blood (Sluggo Remix)"
* "Adrenalize (Mr. Kane Remix)"
* "Whore (Nikka Bling Remix)"
* "The Blood Legion (Mitch Marlow Remix)"

Click here to preorder; the set will be available on December 18.

"Blood" sold around 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "A Star-Crossed Wasteland", opened with 10,500 units back in July 2010 to land at position No. 40.

IN THIS MOMENT's sophomore effort, "The Dream", registered a first-week tally of more than 8,000 copies back in October 2008 to land at No. 70.

Released on August 14 via Century Media Records, "Blood" was once again produced by Kevin Churko, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, among others.

IN THIS MOMENT began work on the new album just a few months following the departures of drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel, who left the band late last year in order to join the backing group of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin. Fabb and Bunzel have since been replaced by Tom Hane (THYATEIRA) and Randy Weitzel (FLATLINE, 3/13, AMERICAN MASSACRE), respectively.

American fans can catch IN THIS MOMENT on tour through mid-December alongside HALESTORM for the Jägermeister tour, which kicked off on November 8.

"Blood" video:

"Live In Sofia", the new DVD+CD and Blu-ray+CD from U.D.O. — the German metal band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider — has entered the Music DVD chart in Finland at position No. 1 and in Germany at No. 4.

"Live In Sofia" contains footage of U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Commented the group: "The audience was absolutely fantastic and forced us to play for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes. More than 2,000 fans welcomed back us after 7 years and pushed everybody over his personal limit. Sofia was absolutely great and we will never forget this show."

U.D.O.'s setlist for the Sofia concert was as follows:

01. Rev-Raptor
02. Dominator
03. Thunderball
04. Leatherhead
05. Independence Day
06. Screaming For A Love Bite (ACCEPT cover)
07. Heart Of Gold
08. Vendetta
09. Princess Of The Dawn (ACCEPT cover)
10. I Give As Good As I Get
11. Guitar Solo
12. Neon Nights (ACCEPT cover)
13. Break The Rules
14. Man And Machine
15. Drum Solo
16. Living On A Frontline
17. Up To The Limit (ACCEPT cover)
18. Two Faced Woman
19. Metal Heart (ACCEPT cover)

Encore:

20. The Bogeyman
21. I'm A Rebel (ACCEPT cover)

Encore 2:

22. Balls To The Wall (ACCEPT cover)
23. Burning (ACCEPT cover)

The "Screaming For A Love Bite" performance clip from "Live In Sofia" can be seen below.

Guitarist Stefan Kaufmann recently left U.D.O. for health reasons.

Stefan will continue to work with U.D.O. behind the scenes and produce other bands at his Roxx studio.

Kaufmann was the drummer for ACCEPT on nine albums but was forced to give up drumming towards the end of the band's initial run due to health problems.

Stefan joined U.D.O. as a guitar player in 1996, following ACCEPT's second breakup, and has recorded nine albums with them.

U.D.O. 's latest album, "Rev-Raptor", was released on May 20, 2011 via AFM Records.

Fan-filmed video footage of KILL DEVIL HILL — the new band featuring legendary drummer Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL) alongside Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) on bass, Mark Zavon (RATT, W.A.S.P., 40 CYCLE HUM) on guitar and Jason "Dewey" Bragg (PISSING RAZORS) on vocals — performing on November 23 at the Paramount Theater in Denver, Colorado as the support act for ALICE COOPER can be seen below.

KILL DEVIL HILL's self-titled debut album was released earlier this year via Steamhammer/SPV. The CD landed at position No. 9 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.

"Kill Devil Hill" was produced by Warren Riker, who is best known for his work with DOWN, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SUBLIME and CATHEDRAL. The effort was made available in a standard CD edition, as an iTunes digital download, and double gatefold LP.

According to Appice, KILL DEVIL HILL's sound is "like a cross between BLACK SABBATH, ALICE IN CHAINS and a little bit of LED ZEPPELIN thrown in. It's heavy, but with a lot of cool hooks and melodic overtones, too."

The members of KILL DEVIL HILL previously stated about their songwriting and recording approach, "We are going old school meets new; no sample drums here!!"

KILL DEVIL HILL is:

* Jason "Dewey" Bragg (PISSING RAZORS) - Vocals
* Mark Zavon (RATT, W.A.S.P., 40 CYCLE HUM) - Guitar
* Rex Brown (DOWN, PANTERA) - Bass
* Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO) – Drums

The official lyric video for "Perceptions", the title track of the debut album from German metallers FAREWELL TO ARMS, can be seen below. Released on November 23 via Massacre Records, the CD was recorded at Weltraumstudios in Munich with producer Corni Bartels (HACKNEYED, END OF GREEN) and features guest vocals from THE SORROW's guitarist/vocalist Mathias "Mätze" Schlegel.

"Perceptions" track listing:

01. Resurrection
02. Losses To The Crown
03. Scarless
04. Between The Walls Of Ruins
05. Rejected
06. Mess Of Memories
07. Perceptions
08. From Init To Exit
09. At The Watershed
10. Procession

FAREWELL TO ARMS is:

Manuel Lotter - Drums
Dominik Martin - Vocals
Johannes Denk - Guitar
Gordian Golder - Guitar
Roland Gallus - Bass

"The Reap", a brand new song from Norwegian black metallists VREID, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off he band's upcoming album, "Welcome Farewell", which will be released in North America on March 5, 2013 through Indie Recordings (February 26 in Europe). The CD was recorded mainly at bassist Hváll's Studio 1184. Other parts were recorded on the road as the band extensively toured, including an appearance at the prestigious Damnation festival in Leeds, U.K.

Commented the band: "Two years after we started writing new riffs, our new beast is now complete. 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."

A five-and-a-half-minute video clip featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the studio can be seen below.

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "Spellbound", the new album from legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, can be streamed at Amazon.com. The CD will be released on December 5.

"Spellbound" track listing:

01. Spellbound
02. High Compression Figure
03. Let's Sleeping Dog Lie
04. Repent
05. Majestic 12 Suite 1,2 & 3
06. Electric Duet
07. Nasca Lines
08. Poisoned Mind
09. God Of War
10. Iron Blues
11. Turbo Amadeus
12. From A Thousand Cuts
13. Requiem For The Lost

Check out the cover artwork below.

Acclaimed heavy metal singer Tim "Ripper" Owens (BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), who has been fronting Yngwie Malmsteen's band both live and in the studio since February 2008, does not appear on "Spellbound".

Owens was unable to join Malmsteen at the Getaway Rock in July due to scheduling conflicts with Tim's official Ronnie James Dio tribute band DIO DISCIPLES. Handling most of the lead vocals during Yngwie's set at the Getaway Rock Festival was bassist Ralph Ciavolino.

Swedish bassist Bjorn Englen, who was a member of Yngwie's touring band for five years, left the group earlier this year and is currently on the road with DIO DISCIPLES, which is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy.

Yngwie's last album, "Relentless", came out on November 22, 2010 via Malmsteen's own Rising Force Records.

Yngwie is working on his autobiography. Described as "the only real and true story written by Malmsteen himself," "Relentless", will be released in early 2013. Yngwie has also launched an instructional web site, RelentlessShred.com.

Texas-based acoustic rockers ANCIENT VVISDOM will release their new album, "Deathlike", on February 5, 2013 via Prosthetic Records. The band will promote the CD by embarking on a North American tour as the support act for Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED. The three-week trek, which also features doom metallers PALLBEARER, kicks off on January 30 in Philadelphia.

The "Deathlike" title track can be streamed below. ANCIENT VVISDOM vocalist Nathan Opposition states about the song: "'Deathlike' is a way of life, an ongoing war in the human mind conquering fear over death. It asks the question each human being must ask themselves — an effort to find life on earth."

You can head over to the Prosthetic webstore to pre-order "Deathlike" on CD and LP — which will come in two variants (180-gram black vinyl or a limited-edition variant of clear vinyl with a black swirl) — for 10% off using the Prosthetic Black Friday discount code (BF2012) until Friday, November 30.

"Deathlike", the follow-up to ANCIENT VVISDOM's 2011 critically acclaimed debut "A Godlike Inferno", was once again mixed and mastered by engineer/co-producer Jason Buntz, who this time partnered with ENORMOUS DOOR founder Jack Control (JET, THE DARKNESS, ...TRAIL OF DEAD). The album artwork, which can be seen below, was completed by the renowned Travis Smith (OPETH, DEVIN TOWNSEND, KATATONIA). On working with Smith, Opposition states, "Travis Smith is the man! He brought out every idea in my head, beyond the grave. Grim and then some."

Recorded at Diamond Factory Studios in Austin, "Deathlike" holds true to its moniker, putting listeners into a state of repose. Their only hope lies in Opposition's vocals — which, combined with the impassioned acoustic instrumentation, leaves listeners at the edge of their seat as they try to comprehend the depth of his haunting lyrics.

Swedish glam rockers CRASHDÏET have set "The Savage Playground" as the title of their fourth album, to be released in January. The CD was recorded at Kingside Studios outside Stockholm with producer Otto Wellton.

The first single from "The Savage Playground", "Cocaine Cowboys", will be available on iTunes and Spotify on December 14.

The new CRASHDÏET CD can be preordered at this location.

CRASHDÏET will release a new DVD entitled "Shattered Glass And Broken Bones – Three Years Of Generation Wild" on December 4. The disc features three hours of live and behind-the-scenes footage complied by the band with Bear Productions.

CRASHDÏET has been touring quite a bit in the last two and a half years, opening up for such bands as MÖTLEY CRÜE, OZZY OSBOURNE, MICHAEL MONROE and WEDNESDAY 13, and traveling everywhere from Australia to USA to Brazil.

CRASHDÏET performed a new song "Anarchy" for the first time on June 7 when they played at Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki, Finland as the support act for MÖTLEY CRÜE.

The band's third CD, "Generation Wild", was recently released on vinyl. This gatefold LP features the new bonus track "Hollywood Teaze" as well as updated artwork.

"Generation Wild" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 3.

CRASHDÏET in 2009 announced the addition of Simon "Simme" Cruz from the Stockholm act JAILBAIT as the group's new lead singer.

The band parted ways with its previous vocalist, the Finland-based H. Olliver Twisted, in July 2008.

SEVENDUST played a short snippet of a new song during the band's November 25 concert at the House Of Blues in Orlando, Florida. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

SEVENDUST's ninth album, "Black Out The Sun", is tentatively due in April 2013. The CD was recorded at Architekt Music studios in Butler, New Jersey with engineer Mike Ferretti.

"The craziest thing about this record is finishing it in about a month," guitarist John Connolly told Revolver magazine. "We haven't done that since our debut album [1997's self-titled effort]. This is one of the fastest records we've ever made, but also one of the strongest — working off instinct mostly."

According to Connolly, SEVENDUST's forthcoming CD finds the band exploring "a darker vibe," but "there's still plenty of melody," he added. "The record fits right in with 'Animosity' [2002], 'Alpha' [2007], and our self-titled album. Lots of heavy stuff and some more mellow, moody songs as well It's a nice balance of what makes for the SEVENDUST sound."

Songtitles set to appear on the 12-track CD, which was produced by the bandmembers themselves, include "Mountain" and "Murder Bar". The latter was reportedly inspired by a Butler, New Jersey bar across from the hotel where SEVENDUST was staying while recording the new CD. Rumor had it the place was popular with many of New Jersey's murderers.

"It's a basic SEVENDUST record," guitarist Clint Lowery recently told "Source Of The Sound With Wendy Campbell". "There's nothing, like, too completely different than anything we've done before. It's got a darker vibe to it. We've got a good amount of the programming element in there. It's a lot of what we do — it's heavy and it's got its melodic element in it. So if you're a SEVENDUST fan, it's more along the lines of the second and third records we did — it's kind of like that. It's got a couple of throwback vibes to it. 'Animosity' and 'Home' [1999], if I can put those two records together, it would [sound similar to the new CD]."

SEVENDUST's last CD, "Cold Day Memory", sold around 27,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous effort, "Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow", opened with 25,000 units back in April 2008 to land at position No. 19.

"Cold Day Memory" was released on April 20, 2010 on the band's own 7Bros. Records, through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group.

"Lose Control", the new video from U.K.-based, female-fronted metallers NEVERSTAR, can be seen below. The clip was filmed this past September at London, England's renowned East End studios.

According to a press release, the "Lose Control" video sees NEVERSTAR singer Vega Sims trapped and escaping a psychological prison, while her bandmates contrasts the scene with their live performance. It concludes where the group gets caught in a rainstorm, symbolizing internal turmoil.

An extended version of "Lose Control" will be included on NEVERSTAR's debut album, which will be released during 2013.

NEVERSTAR will continue their tour after their debut album comes out next year.

"Lose Control" was released as a digital single on October 22 and is currently playlisted on several notable stations, including Total Rock radio. The band has the blogging community buzzing and was selected as band of the month on FemaleMetal.com.

Commented Sims: "Creating this video has been an immense experience and amazing learning curve. Originally, we didn't plan on releasing a video for this song, but it somehow made sense to take the idea behind the lyrics and bring them to life. Taking the concept to the screen enabled us to refine the band, and demonstrate our passion for the songs in a whole new way. We loved the process so much that we ended up being completely involved."

"Target Earth", the title track of the new album from Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below (courtesy of MetalSucks). Due on January 22, 2013 (one day earlier internationally) via VOIVOD's own company, Iron Gang Factory, and Century Media, the CD was recorded in January at Pierre Rémillard's (OBLIVEON, CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN, MISERY INDEX) Wild Studio in a small town called St-Zénon in Quebec, Canada and was mixed by Sanford Parker (PELICAN, NACHTMYSTIUM). The follow-up to 2009's "Infini" will contain the band's first music to be written with new guitarist Daniel "Chewy" Mongrain (MARTYR) following the passing of original axeman Denis "Piggy" D'Amour in 2005. The original art was once again drawn by VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin and features color schemes from each one of the band's previous albums. The effort will be available as a CD, gatefold double vinyl and a limited edition deluxe box set.

Regarding what the new VOIVOD songs sound like, Mongrain said in an interview, "As a VOIVOD fan since I am 12 years old and early rise of VOIVOD in late '80s and everything, I think… I'm in conflict of interest right now. [laughs] I like the old stuff as much as the new stuff, so I think it's a blend of everything. It's really a team work and Blacky [Jean-Yves Thériault] is back on the 'blower bass' — he's got the original sound — and we're having a blast jamming. I think it's working pretty good."

On the topic of the lyrical themes covered in the new VOIVOD tracks, singer Denis "Snake" Bélanger said, "The song we played [on the early 2012 European tour] ['Kaleidos'] is about conspiracy involving drugs and the FBI… [Laughs] It's hard to describe because we're kind of early in the process. There's another song called 'Target Earth', which is more like a spacy, conspiracy, controlling the information around the world. The main thing is the 'war' of information. You know, somebody Osama Bin Laden is dead, someone [else] says he's not… It gets to a point where everybody has his own story and nobody is sure what the truth is. There's people above everything controlling the information."

Two-camera video footage of SODOM's November 18 performance at the Underworld in London, England can be seen below.

SODOM recently entered the studio with producer Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., ENEMY OF THE SUN) to begin recording its new album for an early 2013 release.

SODOM's latest album, "In War And Pieces", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64.

SODOM in 2010 parted ways with drummer Bobby Schottkowski due to "personal and private problems between Tom and Bobby," according to a statement released by the band.

SODOM's current drummer, Markus Freiwald, previously played for the German bands DESPAIR and FLAMING ANGER and was involved with the VOODOOCULT project. In addition, he played percussion as a session musician on the MOONSPELL album "Irreligious" and is featured on the 1996 LP "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" by Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST.

"Nothing To Lose", the new solo album from former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, is now available through Artisthead Music. Holmes composed, performed, and produced the music and vocals, and teamed up with former MOTÖRHEAD drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor to perform on and engineer the CD.

"Nothing To Lose" track listing:

01. Nothing To Lose
02. Loser
03. They All Lie And Cheat
04. All Fucked Up
05. Jazz Song
06. Way To Be
07. Down In The Hole
08. Heartbeat
09. Mormon Moron
10. A-Flat Minor

The "They All Lie And Cheat" video can be seen below.

Holmes, who spent 12 years with W.A.S.P., said in a 2011 interview with Marshall Of Rock that he felt both he and the other members of the band deserved to be pictured on the record covers of albums they all worked on. He said: "Blackie [Lawless, W.A.S.P. mainman] wants to be Elvis Presley, he wants to be the only guy. Let's put it this way: he has an ego. He does really shitty things to everybody in the band. The only reason why he kept me that long is to get more ticket sales. You wanna get some really shitty? The money you make off the records is called publishing, and he made me sign my contract in the way that this goes back into the band, so I never saw any of the publishing. I was young, and I said, 'Is this the right thing for me to do?' He said, 'Yeah,' and he knew exactly where it was gonna go. That's why I had really bad issues with the guy. Even today — I'd never play with the guy again, I'd rather be dead. He's only out for himself, he's not out for the whole band. If he was a nice guy, would he keep a few bandmembers? He's always changing band members."

Holmes also expressed doubts about Lawless' Christian beliefs, telling Marshall Of Rock, "I'll tell you what kind of person he is – he's full of shit! If being a Christian can make money, that's what he's doing. It's all about making money and nothing else. When I got off the road, I had to work a job, because he wouldn't give me any money, and I gotta pay the rent, right? He wouldn't pay me, he wouldn't pay the roadies, he wants all the money. That's why I had to do construction, concrete stuff. They say, 'Sell your soul, play rock'n'roll', and that's what I did. I never left, Blackie forced me out. He didn't want me in the band anymore because I got more attention than he did, he always put me down. Remember when I married Lita Ford, the singer from RUNAWAYS, and he made sure I couldn't go to the American Music Awards when she was nominated for 'Vocalist Of The Year.' I hated him ever since that. And the last thing I ever said to him in the rehearsal room was, 'Why the fuck would you do that to somebody?' He got up and as he was walking out of the rehearsal room, he mumbled to me, 'I was jealous'. That's the reason why I hate him today."

"They All Lie And Cheat" video:

Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick (pictured below) was in the studio earlier this month recording lead guitar tracks for the forthcoming album from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project, due in March 2013. Bruce previously appeared on AVANTASIA's "The Wicked Symphony" and "Angel Of Babylon" CDs and Tobias contributed guest vocals to Bruce's last solo release, "BK3".

Commented Tobias: "Bruce and I have been friends for some years now. He is a lovely person and an amazing guitarist. It was really obvious I would ask him to come on board for AVANTASIA once again. Two of the tracks he plays on are more than 10 minutes long, and they include screaming and whammy-bar-driven stuff as well as anthemic MEAT LOAF-ish-type melodies. I love it, because it's got such an old-school quality, and Bruce just has it! Class act!"

The new AVANTASIA album is being recorded in part at VOX Klangstudio in Bendestorf, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth (KAMELOT, EDGUY, EPICA, RHAPSODY). The CD will once again be a rock opera based on a conceptual story very similar to the early AVANTASIA albums and will feature "a legion of guest instrumentalists and vocalists," according to a press release. The drum tracks on the effort were laid down by Russell Gilbrook of URIAH HEEP.

Tobias originally wanted to put AVANTASIA to rest after the release of the "The Flying Opera - Around The World In 20 Days" concert DVD in April 2011, but he has since had a change of heart. He explains, "Even though I love to record and tour with EDGUY, I didn't foresee how much I need AVANTASIA when I decided to finish this chapter of my life in 2011. I didn't know if there would be another AVANTASIA album one day, but I didn‘t feel like doing it. After the worldwide success of the latest studio releases, an arena world tour that was sold out pretty much everywhere, collaborations with childhood heroes like Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Eric Singer of KISS, etc. I 'knew' that I had said everything I could possibly say in the name of AVANTASIA. But that's not what AVANTASIA is all about. I wanna create more great music, I wanna create more fantasy worlds, the bigger and the more epic, the better. And listening to the material that I have created for this forthcoming chapter in the history of AVANTASIA, I know there is no way I am not going to do it! I have got the feeling and the certainty that this is absolutely meant to happen and to be!"

AVANTASIA is planning to embark on a headlining tour for in April 2013. Also in the works are several summer festival appearances, as well as South American and Asian tours at the end of the summer.

"Suck It Up", the new video from veteran rockers BANG TANGO, can be seen below. The clip was shot and edited by Drew Fortier.

According to Hot Metal, BANG TANGO has commenced work on the material for its new album for a tentative 2013 release. Among the tracks set to appear on the follow-up to 2011's "Pistol Whipped In The Bible Belt" is "When Will I Get Paid", written by Johnny Blade and previously recorded by Birmingham, Alabama's PLAYER/KOMMANDER.

"The swinging, funky aspect of our music is something we want to work on, it's what people like about us," drummer Trent Anderson told Hot Metal. "We were really happy with the success of 'Pistol Whipped' and and we're anxious to get back into the studio.

"At this stage, we haven't booked any studio time."

BANG TANGO, along with Drew Fortier, is working on a documentary of the band for release next year. Tentatively titled "The Bang Tango Movie", the documentary will contain interviews with current and original BANG TANGO members as well as most of the in-betweeners who have performed with the group over the years. The film will explore the history of the band and what the original members are up to now, but for the most part it will give insight into the recording of "Pistol Whipped In The Bible Belt".

HE Stones face a whopping £200,000 fine because their historic 50th anniversary gig at London’s O2 was 35 minutes too long.
They were meant to finish at 10.30pm on Sunday — but defied local council rules by continuing to play encores for their cheering fans until 11.05.
The band’s agent Bernard Doherty revealed yesterday: “It means a big fine — but the guys just do their thing.
“There wasn’t a janitor standing there, jangling his keys, saying. ‘I want to go home’.”
The huge fine is unlikely to trouble Mick Jagger and his chums.
They were set to net £15.6million even before a fifth concert was added to the four already announced.
Fellow legends Bruce Springsteen and Sir Paul McCartney paid a different penalty in July when their Hard Rock Calling concert in London’s Hyde Park over-ran. Their mics were cut off.
Gig was a total blur for Ronnie
RONNIE Wood couldn’t see any of the tribute banners from his fans at Sunday night’s gig — because he refuses to wear his GLASSES onstage.
The short-sighted guitarist can’t see the crowds — and relies on his bandmates to tell him what’s going on.
Ronnie, 65, said: “If I haven’t got my glasses on I can only see the first couple of rows.
“It was quite funny the other day with the signs people hold up.
“I went up to Mick and said, ‘What does it say on that sign there?’
“And he went, ‘I think it says you are rubbish’.”

Jimmy Page recently confirmed that he's remastering all nine LED ZEPPELIN albums, with each set being readied as deluxe, expanded editions featuring, "extra music and bonus material." Page, who produced all of LED ZEPPELIN's live and studio albums, has served as the band's chief archivist and personally oversaw the remastering of the band's catalogue back in the nearly '90s.

In Page's new interview with RollingStone.com, he explained, "The catalog was last remastered 20 years ago. That's a long time. Everything is being transferred from analog to a higher-resolution digital format. That's one of the problems with the ZEPPELIN stuff. It sounds ridiculous on MP3. You can't hear what's there properly."

According to Page, LED ZEPPELIN did not record a lot of additional songs for each LP, "but there was an overage of material — different versions of things, different approaches to the mixes," Page explained. The unreleased material includes early alternative takes at Headley Grange, the English manor where ZEPPELIN recorded some of their most iconic work, particularly their 1971 untitled fourth album.

"The classic there was 'When the Levee Breaks'," Page told RollingStone.com, "where the drums were set up in the hallway. You know what it sounded like – immense – from the recorded version. But we used the drums in the hall for a number of things, like 'Kashmir' [on 1975's 'Physical Graffiti'] — some with closer miking. So there were a lot of different approaches. It will be fascinating for people to witness the work in progress."

Released on November 19 was LED ZEPPELIN's new live collection, "Celebration Day", which was recorded and filmed at ZEPPELIN's December 10, 2007 reunion show at London's O2 Arena. The concert film was made available on CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc through Swan Song/Atlantic Records.

Video footage of 24-year-old French female death metal singer Rachel Aspe performing the SYBREED song "Emma-0" on the November 20 episode of "La France À Un Incroyable Talent", the French reality television series which is part of the global British "Got Talent" franchise, can be seen below. The clip has since become an Internet hit, racking up more than 50,000 views on YouTube.

Aspe, a member of the melodic death metal band DIVIDEAD, made a guest appearance on the latest KERÍON CD entitled "Cloudriders" on the track "Fireblast". The official video for the song, which features Rachel, can be seen below. Also available is Rachel's "vocal cover" of the SOILWORK track "Nerve".

"Anyone But You", a brand new song from HINDER, can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). The track comes off the band's fourth album, "Welcome To The Freakshow", which will be released on December 4 via Republic Records.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, HINDER frontman Austin Winkler told Billboard on that a "really dark drug binge" fueled much of his songwriting on "Welcome To The Freakshow". Winkler explained to The Pulse Of Radio what his state of mind was during this tough period. "I was in a very, very, very dark addiction, and you can kind of hear the turmoil in my voice and stuff like that," he said. "And, you know, as soon as we got the record done I went into treatment to get help, and it's interesting to go back and listen to it now."

Winkler told Billboard that he entered rehab as soon as the record was finished. The album follows 2010's "All American Nightmare".

The first single, "Save Me", touches on Winkler's struggle, with him saying, "I had a really nasty attitude in that song, but I had a blast singing and recording it. I think it's our heaviest single yet, and we're getting a pretty good response."

The vocalist called the new disc "really diverse," adding that "it's going to surprise a lot of people."

HINDER plans to mount a full tour once 2013 rolls around.

"Anyone But You" audio stream (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep):

Italian gothic metallers LIGHTLESS MOOR has signed a deal with Wormholedeath/Aural Music Group.

The band commented:"We are extremely proud to announce the beginning of the journey with Wormholedeath! It is one of the main Italian label, and in addition to the excellent established friendship, we are assured of a great professional work!"

Wormholedeath commented: "Lightless Moor is a band that we kept under our radar for a long time ... They evolved so much during the last year that we decided to offer them a deal. The album is just great and produced by our favourite studio ever, the guys are really honest and nice so they really deserve attention from the scene. We'll do everything possible to make people turn their heads toward this amazing band. I would love to thank the musicians involved in this project for their trust. Cry your grief, Lightless Moor are ready!"
Wormholedeath will release their debut album Crying My Grief To A Feeble Dawn world-wide through Aural Music Group.

The album was recorded and mixed at Realsound Studio in Parma (Italy) with producer Wahoomi Corvi (CRYSALYS, THE WAY OF PURITY, HATERIAL), and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finvox Studios in Finland.

The album release date is still to be announced.

Chris Epting of AOL's Noisecreeep spoke to ASKING ALEXANDRIA's Danny Worsnop and PIERCE THE VEIL's Vic Fuentes this past Saturday, November 24 at the sixth annual California Metalfest at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California about SUICIDE SILENCE's late singer, Mitch Lucker, who died November 1, after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle crash in Huntington Beach on Halloween night. You can check out the footage below.

The surviving members of SUICIDE SILENCE will play a special show on December 21 at the Fox theater in Pomona, California as a tribute to Lucker. All proceeds from the event will go towards the education of Mitch's five-year-old daughter, Kenadee Lucker.

A funeral service for Mitch Lucker was held on November 8. The ceremony was attended by family and friends, including SUICIDE SILENCE bassist Dan Kenny, who tweeted afterwards, "Had to bury my brother today, he looked peaceful when I saw him. It was very hard but it was needed! To the fans just know Mitch loved yall"

SUICIDE SILENCE has launched a memorial fund to provide assistance to Lucker's family. Those who donate $20 or more will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lucker struck a light pole near the intersection of Main and 13th streets and was thrown from his 2013 Harley Davidson. The motorcycle continued sliding south on Main Street and struck a northbound 2007 Nissan Titan pickup.

Lucker, who was treated at the scene by paramedics, died shortly after 6 a.m. at UC Irvine Medical Center.