A new trailer for "King Animal", SOUNDGARDEN's first all-new album in 16 years, can be seen below. The CD is due on November 13 via the Universal Republic label.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a new SOUNDGARDEN song called "Been Away Too Long" will be shipped to rock radio stations next Wednesday (September 19).

SOUNDGARDEN drummer Matt Cameron told The Pulse Of Radio that the band's 2010 reunion after 13 years apart never felt contrived. "You know, it never really felt forced or anything to try to make a big comeback and, you know, make a reunion happen, 'cause it can certainly backfire," he said. "I think we wanted to just approach it very methodically, and I think we've been doing so."

The band recently launched a web site and teaser video for "King Animal", which included an excerpt from a track called "Worse Dreams".

The only new SOUNDGARDEN song to be heard in its entirety so far is "Live To Rise", which was the lead single from the soundtrack album of the blockbuster superhero film "The Avengers" this past summer.

SOUNDGARDEN's last full-length album was 1996's "Down On The Upside". The quartet disbanded the following year. Singer Chris Cornell embarked on a solo career and also joined AUDIOSLAVE, while Cameron became a member of PEARL JAM in 1998.

SOUNDGARDEN has yet to announce live plans for the rest of 2012 and beyond.

Uddevalla, Sweden-based metallers HELLENNIUM have tapped Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) to produce their second album at his Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden.

La Rocque previously worked with HELLENNIUM on their self-titled debut CD, which came out in May via Gothenburg, Sweden's Rambo Music, a division of Gain Music Entertainment (which is distributed and partly owned by Sony Music).

Commented the band: "This time around the band has decided to record the album in live studio sessions. Modern-day studio technics with one-on-one recordings just kills too much of the magic. The idea came from that our fans kept telling us how different the magic is when we play live."

Added La Rocque: "The first album was great, but if we could just feed on the full potential this band has for the second album."

HELLENNIUM has completed most of the songwriting for the next CD and is planning on hitting the studio during the coming months.

HELLENNIUM is:

Khaled El Tayara: Vocals
Martin Lindberg: Guitar
David Borg-Hansen: Guitar
Linus Palmqvist: Bass
Dave O'Neill: Drums

Multi-camera video footage of EXODUS's headlining performance at the third annual Slaughter By The Water festival, which took place on August 25 on the USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier in Alameda, California, can be seen below (courtesy of Capital Chaos TV).

When asked whether EXODUS has plans to record the follow-up to 2010's "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" album, bassit Jack Gibson told Peek From The Pit in June, "We're way overdue to do it. We've just been so busy. Actually, we've been getting great tour offers over and over, and we just keep wanting to take them, and that, coupled with the fact that Gary [Holt], our main guitar player and songwriter, is out playing with SLAYER, he's filling in for [SLAYER guitarist] Jeff [Hanneman] on this whole [SLAYER tour]. Nobody really knows how long that's gonna take, how long Jeff's gonna take [to recover from contracting necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, in January 2011]. I mean, it was pretty severe what happened to him, from what I understand. So we just haven't had the time, to be perfectly honest. I know that Gary has songs, and Lee [Altus, guitar] has some stuff — they've been coming up with stuff — [but] we just really haven't had the time to sit down and hammer it all out and then record it. That takes a few months together to make that happen, and we just haven't had the time, basically. But there is gonna be another album, for sure. The way that our writing has been going and our albums have been going, it's gonna be great — I know it. What I've heard Gary noodling with. Me, him and Tom [Hunting, drums] have kind of just fooled around with it here and there, and man, it's gonna be good. Gary, he's the main driver, and [the songwriting] keeps evolving. It's one of the things I really like about the band — the music keeps getting good; it doesn't just stay the same or we don't rewrite the last one. We kind of throw the last one out and do something new each time. So I expect the same and more from the next album."

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

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

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

Christofer Johnsson of Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION has issued the following update:

"Ten years ago or something, I started to work on an opera, but I never managed to finish it. I wrote most of the highlights (the hit parts), but I never managed to write the bridges between them, the 'boring' parts needed to glue it all together and just serve as a background for the singers to sing and act the play.

"Some years ago, it suddenly struck my mind: 'Why not just do what you do best? Re-arrange the opera stuff you've written and do it as opera metal instead.' I already borrowed parts from the opera for 'Blood Of Kingu' earlier, so why not go all the way and make the worlds first REAL rock opera. What is otherwise referred to with that expression is rather some sort of rock musical, let's do a rock/metal opera with only opera singing, with a synopsis, and perform it like that (with pre-recorded orchestra if needed for financial reasons).

"However, completing this rather gigantic project that involved writing music, synopsis/lyrics and designing scenery, clothing etc., will be taking quite some time. Years probably. I don't want to work under pressure, things should grow naturally.

"Meanwhile, to entertain the fans and to do something I wanted to do for several years, there will be an art project in the spirit of celebrating our 25-year anniversary. Fact is this art project was already started in secret some time ago. It will be introduced right before the tour or on the day of the first show.

"The art project is mainly focused around music, but it also contains visual art and certain acts of art. As for the music, it will be released on a CD that will initially only be sold directly from the band. It will be available at the concerts and put into retail later. For those of you not being able to attend the shows, the THERION store will offer it.

"'Flowers Of Evil' tour: The concept of this tour is for it to be a bit of everything:

* Presenting the new project with a few tracks.

* Doing several massive songs like 'Land Of Canaan', 'Via Nocturna' etc. Many of these songs don't make sense without a keyboard player, so as this time we have one with us, it's a great opportunity to have a special focus on those type of tracks.

* Playing some never before played old songs. A new THERION concert should never be predictable.

* Doing a bunch of THERION all-time classics of course!

"This will be the last regular tour we do in a while, as we will be working on the rock (metal) opera and we will only do performances related to the art project (if there's interest for it), the rock (metal) opera when it is ready, and maybe some acoustic shows, we have been talking about that for a while. We'll, of course, play some festivals from time to time where we do regular (but much shorter) sets, but as there won't be any new regular album, there won't be any regular tours. Not until we have finished the rock (metal) opera, performed it live as much as we can, taken a break and then put together a regular album again. That will take a couple of years, for sure. So we are closing an era and opening a new period that will be quite different.

"Also, to celebrate the 25-year anniversary I would really like to meet properly with you guys who made it possible to get this far. I am normally quite shy and have tons of stuff do to on the laptop and rather hide in the tour bus or backstage most of the time (except in Latin America where we always have a tight schedule). Not this time around. I will be trying to hang at the merch booth as much as possible. So mostly there will be no organized one-hour lined up meet-and-greet/signing session. I'd rather hang there for several hours every day, so that everyone who wants to can get a personally dedicated CD, a photo and a chat without any stress.

"Ever wanted to ask something, complain about something, give congratulations for something or just drink a beer with someone who made music that meant something to you? There will be time for all that on this tour.

"'Les Fleurs Du Mal' CD: The CD has 15 tracks, but the edition sold at the concerts will have a bonus track and you will get a small poster with it. My aim is to sign and personally dedicate every single one of them at the shows.

"The CD itself is fully financed by me. Nuclear Blast thought it was a bit too spectacular and we have totally different visions about how we should work on such a project. I've had a fantastic relationship with that wonderful label over the years. I've had total artistic freedom and much patience from them in a way that most other artists at our level only could dream of at many labels. So rather than having disagreements and make compromises, I suggested I release it by myself instead and they generously gave me their blessings for it. So our relation has never been better than now.

"Financing a full THERION audio production mixing at ToyTown with the fantastic Stefan Glaumann, paying for orchestra and the band members and many, many other things isn't cheap. To be more precise, it cost 75.000 euro. On top of that, I also carried costs for video clips, photo session and the costs for creating the art and stuff for the CD. I don't have that kind of cash lying around in a drawer at home, so I had to go to the bank and take a loan.

"I have always bragged about how I never compromise and am ready to risk everything with each release. It's easier to say that when you have a record label being a bank for you. This time I had to put my money where my mouth is. So if you buy the CD, you don't just buy a record with music, you buy a share of an idea, the idea and concept of art where the artist really risks everything to be able to bring out what he wants.

"Some of you will like the CD, some maybe not. But if you feel that I've done something worth raising a toast to over the years, there will be no better way of showing your appreciation than buying this CD. It will be sold at 15 euros and I hope the majority of those going to the shows will walk home with it after the shows.

"I've been called risky and more crazy than usual with my ideas for this art project, by some of those very few who have been initiated into the mysteries of it. Even within the band, there has been quite some strong feelings about it. And clearly the record label didn't think they had a smash hit in their hands. This pretty much reminds me about the feeling when 'Theli' was recorded. I recall the record label saying, 'Do you really think we can sell this? What will your fans say?' But they didn't have much other choice than releasing it and hope for the best. They had just invested more money in the sound production than with any other band in the history of the label — on a band that didn't sell many records. But there were people at the label who really liked it, too, and carefully believed in it. Like the boss, Markus Steiger. But in the band, the atmosphere was really bad. The bass player, Lars, hated it to the core. 'Fucking opera shit!!' The guitarist, Jonas, didn't like it either. It was 'too much classical stuff and opera, should have been just some small elements of it as a spice.' Drummer Piotr kind of liked it, but thought it as kind of odd and didn't have too much hope for it (just like myself, who thought it would flop too). But it turned out to be the album that made THERION a big band.

"This time at least half of the band thinks it's great stuff and believe in it. But now I'm risking my own money and not the record label's.

"When I took the decision of borrowing money and release it myself, I was officially declared out of order in the head by some people familiar with the matter. Well, we will see about that.

"When a fan buys a CD directly from a band, it counts as if they bought 10 CDs at the store released via a record label. With loyal fans buying many CDs at the concerts, a big part of the production costs will be recovered.

"Out of all session vocalists that THERION has worked with over the years, no one has come as close to the band as Snowy [Shaw], who has been a vital part of our records and live shows for the last number of years. Now when THERION is going into another phase and Snowy did not feel the same enthusiasm as we do for making this art project and rock opera, he has decided to work with his own projects instead. He did a smaller contribution to 'Les Fleurs Du Mal', which sounds awesome and we're happy for that, but if he don't feel this is what he is supposed to do, then we think his decision is the right thing and he has our full support. We are sure he will create some really amazing stuff with his own project! However, we would like to stress the fact that there are no doors shut. When we are done with our projects in a number of years and call to arms for the next regular album, we will see where things stand and what Snowy is up to at the moment. If he's available and we feel inspired together, he is more than welcome to continue where we left. If not, we feel we had a great round off with him through our long co-operation with the 25-year anniversary tour we did in Latin America earlier this year and hope he will be successful with his own projects."

Snowy released the following statement on the matter: "What can I say?! I'm truly grateful for the years I had with THERION where I've had the pleasure of touring the four corners of the world as a singer and frontman and meeting and making tons of new fans and friends for life, but over the last few years the urge to move on and do my own thing has become increasingly stronger and so far in my life I've always followed my heart and what makes me happy and I see no reason why I should stop now."

Azorean modern metallers STAMPKASE have announced that Mechanorganism will be the title of their forthcoming debut album to be released November 3rd.

The band commented on the choice: "When you have to make a decision on such important aspect on an album, you must think in something easy to stick to people's ears and minds. However, it turns meaningless if it doesn't catch perfectly, the message and music direction of the authors. That said, we think we couldn't be more happy with the title, once it hits every single target we planned about the album's concept. In the meantime, we are sure it is an easy one to remember and very suggestive too."

Mechanorganism was recorded separately in Azores and Portugal mainland during the last two years.

Drum tracks were recorded in Ultrasound studio (ANGELUS APATRIDA, HEAVENWOOD, W.A.K.O., SWITCHTENSE) in Braga, Portugal with engineer Pedro Mendes. All other tracks were captured in their home with José Miranda and Carlos Rijo. Mixing and mastering duties were handled by Daniel Cardoso (Angelus Apatrida, ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN).

A teaser for the new album can be seen below:

Croatian black metallers BETHRONED has released a preview of their upcoming album, Tragedy of War…, due out on October 31st via Nihil Art Records. Check it out on SoundCloud below:
According to mainman Vargoth: "The Tragedy of War... will follow the story of a man from the beginning of his journey 1942 until the end in 1945. Every song on this album will be a war poem, it will show the horrors of one man in war, the loss, despair and inability to change certain things. It will show the struggle of a man surrounded with death, failure and sadness. This album will be my ultimate challenge because I will use instruments that I never used before. Also, This album will be the first one to use real orchestra sounds in purpose of creating atmosphere of a real battleground. Atmosphere is most important regarding this album. I've tried to insert listener into horrors of World War II, an emotional journey of main character and survival of some of the bloodiest battles. This is, by far, the biggest, most complete and best album of Bethroned so far."
For more details on Bethroned visit Facebook.

MACHINA, the band featuring former EVANESCENCE and current WE ARE THE FALLEN members John LeCompt and Rocky Gray, has inked a deal with Rogue Records for the release of its debut album, "To Live And Die In The Garden Of Eden". Due on September 25, the CD was produced and mixed by Toby Wright (METALLICA, SLAYER, ALICE IN CHAINS, SOULFLY, FEAR FACTORY) and was mastered by Louis Marcusson.

LeCompt formed MACHINA with former FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD vocalist Phil Taylor, and the two are the group's songwriters as well. The lineup also includes bassist Thad Ables and drummer Rocky Gray. Longtime friends, John and Rocky have also played together in the groups KILL SYSTEM, SOUL EMBRACED and MOURNINGSIDE.

"I'm super excited to have MACHINA on Rogue," said label owner Dean Martinetti. "To have guys that are veterans in the industry come to and join our family and bring the style and sound that they have to us...is just a really high honor."

Added MACHINA: "After struggling through a volatile industry with an unwavering determination, MACHINA can officially announce to its fans across the world that we have signed with Rogue Records America. We're excited to work with a team that has both the brass courage and good business sense to help us get our music where it belongs: To the world. We look forward to what will surely be an incredibly productive partnership. And, most of all, we look forward to releasing our long-awaited debut album, 'To Live And Die In The Garden Of Eden'."

MACHINA takes its name from the Latin phrase "Deus ex Machina," which translates to "God out of the machine." The term refers to a plot device in which divine intervention is necessary to resolve a seemingly hopeless situation, at the last possible moment saving the day before imminent disaster.

MACHINA sets itself apart from other modern rock acts by its non-attachment to any one genre. "We're diverse," says Taylor. "Never stuck in any genre or style. Our music is organic. It incorporates grunge, southern rock, heavy metal, and any style that moves us."

Having been in EVANESCENCE, LeCompt and Gray have inevitably dealt with the issue of being labeled "Christian music." Those questions came up again and again for the band. Were they Christians? Were they therefore a Christian metal band? For MACHINA, it's open to interpretation.

"Of course we have our spiritual lives, and naturally, that comes out in our music," says LeCompt, "But we aren't out to label or stereotype ourselves, or others. We just want to spread a positive message."

"We speak our minds and what's on our hearts," says Taylor. "The lyrics on this record cover a wide array of subjects. Whether they be political, spiritual, or personal reflections/struggles, I try to paint a picture, and tell a story with the songs. We strive to create genuine art that expresses hope and the search for truth, in these times of war, political hypocrisy, and overall confusion in today's world."

MACHINA toured rigorously for several months at a time over the past four years in between EVANESCENCE, FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD, and most recently, WE ARE THE FALLEN, promoting a self-titled six-song EP.

HEART sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson will be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on September 25th, on Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Musician’s Institute. The event will be Emceed by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler.

Producer of the Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremonies Ana Martinez commented: “This location is a coveted spot for many Rock n’ Rollers and these ladies will join the likes of bands JOURNEY and MÖTLEY CRÜE who also have stars on that property. We are thrilled with this latest star addition as many young, aspiring female rockers look up to these legendary ladies of rock n’ roll.”



According to a press release: “Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson first showed the world that women can rock when their band, Heart, storming the charts in the 70s with hits like ‘Crazy On You’, ‘Magic Man’, ‘Barracuda’, ‘Straight On’, and so many more. Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs and played the instruments, too, making them the first women in rock to do so. Heart continued topping the charts through the 80s and 90s with huge hits like ‘These Dreams’, ‘Alone’, ‘What About Love’, ‘If Looks Could Kill’, ‘Never’, and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters’ enormous talents as musicians and singers.

Nearly 35 years after their first big hit, Ann and Nancy Wilson were back in the Billboard Top 10 in 2010 with Heart’s Red Velvet Car album, and a Top 5 DVD Night At Sky Church.”

For more info visit this location.

Much to the excitement of progressive rock fans across the globe, UK record label Gonzo MultiMedia has released a vintage concert by YES legends Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe (ABWH) – ANDERSON, BRUFORD, WAKEMAN, HOWE – Live At The Birmingham N.E.C. The concert held on October 24, 1989 in Birmingham, UK has been released in its entirety in this deluxe edition two-CD/DVD box set.
A concept conceived as a return to more traditional Yes sounding music, ABWH recorded their debut studio album in late 1988, with the intial tracks done in Paris before the ensemble relocated to Montserrat with producer Chris Kimsey to complete work on the songs. In support of their self-titled debut release on June 5, 1989, ABWH prepared a major world tour touted as An Evening Of Yes Music Plus. The tour started in the US in Memphis, TN in late July, and featured Tony Levin on bass, Milton McDonald (additional guitars), Julian Colbeck (additional keys) – Jeff Berlin was also featured on bass for several shows due to Tony Levin being ill.

Now for the first time, Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe's live UK performance at the N.E.C. can be watched and heard! Also featured is a short film 'ABWH – Off The Wall' by Julian Colbeck.

This box set is exclusively available from Gonzo MultiMedia and won't be distributed to any shops or on-line sites.

For complete details visit Gonzomultimedia.co.uk.

SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor was honored with the "Legend" award at this year's installment of the Metal Hammer Award Show, which was held this past Friday, September 14 at Kesselhaus in Berlin, Germany. Former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. singer Udo Dirkschneider presented the award to Taylor, who stated, "It's very lucky to be able to do what I do, but I wouldn't be able to do this without the fans, without you guys, so thank you so much. I really appreciate it. And honestly, I wouldn't be able to do this without the people that I grew up listening to, like Udo, like METALLICA, like GUNS N' ROSES. So I followed in really good footsteps, and I hope I can keep doing it for a few more years."

Video footage of Corey's acceptance speech can be seen below.

Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY) hosted the event, which featured performances by SABATON, ELUVEITIE and CALLEJON.

"House Of Gold And Bones - Part 1", the first half of STONE SOUR's upcoming two-disc concept album, arrives on October 23, while the second half will come out next year, probably in May.

SLIPKNOT released a greatest-hits package on July 24 called "Antennas To Hell".

Video footage of CREED/ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti's solo band performing on September 13 at Experience PRS in Stevensville, Maryland can be seen below.

VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen made his first two appearances as part of TREMONTI on Tuesday (September 11) and Wednesday (September 12) as Tremonti kicked off his headlining stint on the annual HardDrive Live tour, presented by HardDrive Radio. Tuesday night's gig took place at Rock Junction in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, while Wednesday night found the group at Highline Ballroom in New York City.

Tremonti introduced Van Halen to the New York crowd by saying, "48 hours ago, he had no idea he was going to do this show. In 24 hours he picked up the entire album." In a statement released on Thursday (September 13) confirming that he'll be on the entire tour, Van Halen said, "I am excited to be joining the band and playing this incredible music with some of my best friends in the business."

Van Halen is replacing Tremonti's bandmate from CREED and ALTER BRIDGE, Brian Marshall, who is sitting out the Tremonti trek for undisclosed personal reasons.

Speaking to Artisan News prior to the New York City gig, Tremonti said about how Van Halen came to be involved with the tour, "It was an amazing turn of events. We had no time to rehearse for this tour. We were just gonna roll right into it. We were gonna get together at our buddies'… EVE TO ADAM was another band that was on tour with us with CREED, and they were nice enough to say, 'You can use our rehearsal pad.' So we rushed into the rehearsal pad. And that day, Brian had something personal come up and he was, like, 'Man, I'm really sorry, I can't do the tour.' And we were just kind of like, 'Ahh… I love you, man, but, man, this is really bad timing.' And these guys kind of whispered to me, 'Wolfgang is in town with the SEVENDUST guys, just rocking in the studio with them.' So I immediately called him and he was, like, 'Hey, how're you doing, buddy?' I was, like, 'Not so good.' [laughs] So I said, 'Brian can't do the tour and I heard you're around. What do you think?' And he's, like, 'Are you kidding me?'"

Added Wolfgang, "It was just so perfect the way this mysteriously worked out. I just happened to have all of my bass equipment — like, everything — just ready to go."

Tremonti contined, "He already knew a handful of the songs, knew the record from listening to it, but picked them up, like… He learns ten times faster than I can learn."

Said Wolfgang, "We rehearsed at midnight the day before the first show [laughs] — just ran through every song once, and that was it."

Mark added, "Our first show last night, I introduced everybody and I said, 'Wolfgang Van Halen,' and I told them the story about how 24 hours prior to this, he had no idea this was happening and we are on stage together right now, and the crowd immediately started [chanting] 'Wolfgang! Wolfgang!'"

Tremonti played every cut from his debut solo album, "All I Was", and did not air any material from either of his other acts.

Wolfgang Van Halen's dad, Eddie Van Halen, is currently recuperating from emergency intestinal surgery, which will keep the VAN HALEN band off the road until early 2013.

TREMONTI will begin the major portion of the tour on September 20 in Flint, Michigan.

LOVE AND DEATH, the band fronted by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, has inked a deal with Tooth & Nail Records. The group's full-length debut is tentatively due on November 6.

LOVE AND DEATH's debut EP, "Chemicals", was released on April 24.

Regarding his decision to call his group LOVE AND DEATH, Welch recently said, "I put this band together in 2009. Since then, we've experienced some very intense highs and lows. Michael Valentine, Dan Johnson, J.R. Bareis and myself have toured around the world playing a lot of killer shows, but we've also had some heart-shattering difficulties along the way. To us, the name LOVE AND DEATH symbolizes everything we've been through as a band over the last few years. We love this band so much and we'll go through hell to connect with our fans. We've proven that to ourselves over and over again."

With LOVE AND DEATH, the music now lives under its own banner.

"Many people have confused my speaking dates and our band dates because they were both being booked as Brian 'Head' Welch," said Welch. "I have wanted to use a band name for branding my music for a few years. It has been an ongoing discussion with my management, but we were just starting to tour and I was in the middle of supporting my third book and it seemed like a bad time to switch names. Now with the new music coming out, it's time to really separate the things I do. I want the music to be about music. I will still be doing public speaking under Brian 'Head' Welch. I am happy that all the confusion will be over."

LOVE AND DEATH formed when Welch decided to have open auditions on YouTube in 2009. "I picked the guys and then had a jam session in Phoenix," says Welch. "Over the last couple of years, there have been a few lineup changes as we went through normal growing pains. The current band has been together and touring for a while now and they are a big part of the new music and the future of LOVE AND DEATH."

The "Chemicals" video can be seen below. The intense, semi-animated clip was shot by POAB Designs/Martillo Pictures.

For more information, visit www.loveanddeathmusic.com.

Joey Tempest and John Norum of Swedish hard rockers EUROPE played a special acoustic show for listeners of the U.K. digital radio station Planet Rock this past Thursday, September 13 in London, England. Video footage of the performance can be seen below.

EUROPE's ninth studio album, "Bag Of Bones", was recently certified gold in the group's home country for sales in excess of 20,000 copies. According to the band, the CD entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2 and "has since then continued to sell steadily." The group added, "'Bag Of Bones' is fast becoming the most successful record since the reunion."

Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Sweden has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach gold status in the country twice in the last seven years — from the pre-2002 level of 40,000 to the current 20,000.

"Bag Of Bones" was released in Europe on April 27 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.