Former THE WILDHEARTS frontman Ginger (real name David Walls) will celebrate his 48th birthday with a very special show in London on December 17.

This year's concert is particularly special as it will feature a one-night-only reunion of THE WILDHEARTS for the first time in three years to play a headline set at the Kentish Town Forum.

Special guests will be none other than Ginger himself, who will play a solo set prior to THE WILDHEARTS taking the stage (with a band consisting of Chris Catalyst, Jon Poole, Rich Jones, Victoria Liedtke and Denzel). Ginger's solo set will feature material from his fourth solo album, "555%", which came out this past March

Eighty percent of tickets have already been sold in the first week and this event is expect to sell out soon.

Fan-filmed video footage of reunited death metallers BROKEN HOPE performing on September 8 at The Haven Lounge in Winter Park, Florida as part of the Carnival Of Death tour can be seen below.

After 12 years, a sleeping death-metal monster praised by the likes of SLIPKNOT, DEVILDRIVER, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DYING FETUS, JOB FOR A COWBOY and more, has awoken from the bowels of Chicago. BROKEN HOPE announced not only its comeback, but also its direct-support position on the Carnival Of Death tour, brought to you by Rock The Nation and sponsored by Fender. The tour features headliners OBITUARY, as well as additional support from DECREPIT BIRTH, JUNGLE ROT and ENCRUST.

In a recent statement, BROKEN HOPE guitarists Jeremy Wagner and Shaun Glass said, "For over a decade, we've listened to fans worldwide who've asked us to return. We've listened to our peers in bands who seen us at shows and said, 'When is BROKEN HOPE coming back?' Well, you have finally been heard, and frankly, we just miss it too goddamn much — the clubs, the metal, but especially you: the diehards, the most.

"We decided as a first step to return back to the place that always felt like home: the road! So we are proud to announce that this fall, BROKEN HOPE will join forces with OBITUARY and join the Carnival Of Death tour! This tour will solidify that extreme music is still alive and well, we are ready, focused, and hungry to show you what we have in stored for you all! Moreover, we cherish and promote the legacy of our fallen brother, vocalist Joe Ptacek, as we travel from show to show and honor him, he will not be forgotten. With this being said, we would like to introduce Damian Leski of GORGASM on vocal duties, who will handle the tough task for the upcoming tours. Be ready to be 'Swamped in Gore'!!!!"

BROKEN HOPE was formed in 1988 by guitarist/chief-lyricist Jeremy Wagner while he was in high school. In 1991, after releasing two demo tapes, BROKEN HOPE secured a recording contract with an independent record label which released "Swamped In Gore" worldwide. "Swamped In Gore" was the first death-metal album to ever be recorded digitally. By 1993, BROKEN HOPE quickly signed to Metal Blade Records and released four albums: "The Bowels of Repugnance", "Repulsive Conception", "Loathing", and the Metal Blade re-release of "Swamped In Gore". The band's third album, 1995's "Repulsive Conception", reached CMJ New Music Monthly's Metal Top 25 chart, as did the follow-up, 1997's "Loathing".

The first four albums during the Metal Blade years are great examples of BROKEN HOPE's original fury and they are the albums that etched BROKEN HOPE's place in death-metal history. The first ten years of BROKEN HOPE's existence were filled with non-stop writing, touring, and constant visibility with these albums. By the end of the '90s, BROKEN HOPE parted ways with Metal Blade and went through lineup changes. The band produced one last album before the decade closed, the 1999 release, "Grotesque Blessings". After North American and European tours for the album and a few unsatisfactory lineup changes, the band went on hiatus in 2000.

On January 20, 2010, original BROKEN HOPE vocalist Joe Ptacek committed suicide. Before his death, Ptacek met with Jeremy Wagner and Shaun Glass to discuss the resurrection of BROKEN HOPE. A plan was in motion with these three members to make the band a functioning reality. After taking some time off after Ptacek's death to reconsider their next moves, BROKEN HOPE signed with Hard Impact Management And Booking with the intention to make the band a full-time monster again. Now, BROKEN HOPE continues onward with main songwriters Jeremy Wagner and Shaun Glass keeping the beast alive… brutal as ever… and with live tour dates worldwide.

Pure Steel Records has set a September 28 release date for "Saved From The Truth", the third studio album from Iranian power metallers ANGBAND. As was the case with 2010's "Visions Of The Seeker", the mixing and mastering for the new CD was handled by Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, AMON AMARTH, BRAINSTORM).

ANGBAND promises that the new album is "no less heavy but more melodic" than its predecessor.

"Saved From The Truth" track listing:

01. Seasons Of My Pain
02. Fight For Life
03. Man Of The New Time
04. Saved From The Truth
05. Angel
06. Persia
07. Kill The Hatred
08. Fearless Dream
09. Bitter Truth

Three songs from the CD can be streamed below.

ANGBAND released its debut album, "Rising from Apadana", in August 2008.

The band is believed to be the first Iranian metal act to release its work intenationally through a European label.

ANGBAND is:

Mahyar Dean (Guitars)
Ashkan Yazdani (Vocals)
Ramin Rahimi (Drums)
Farshad Shokuhfar (Bass)

CEREMONIAL OATH, the late '80s/early '90s Swedish extreme metal band whose members went on to create or join such acclaimed acts as IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL and TIAMAT, has inked a deal with Century Media Records for the re-release of the majority of its catalog, up to and including the 1993 CD "The Book Of Truth". A tentative late December release date is expected.

As previously reported, CEREMONIAL OATH will reunite for an appearance at the inaugural edition of The Gothenburg Sound festival, set to take place January 5-6, 2013 at Trädgår'n in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Formed in 1988 under the name DESECRATOR, CEREMONIAL OATH released three demos, one EP and two full-length albums before calling it quits in 1995. The band's former members include such internationally recognized names as Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES), Oscar Dronjak (HAMMERFALL), Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES) and Anders Iwers (TIAMAT).

CEREMONIAL OATH is:

Oscar Dronjak (HAMMERFALL): Guitar, vocals
Anders Iwers (TIAMAT): Guitar
Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES): Bass
Markus Nordberg: Drums

BON JOVI guitarist RICHIE SAMBORA's new solo album, Aftermath Of The Lowdown, is going to be released digitally on September 18th, with the CD version arriving in stores one week later on September 25th. The cover art can be viewed below:




Aftermath Of The Lowdown will feature the following 11 songs:

'Burn That Candle'
'Every Road Leads Home To You'
'Taking A Chance On The Wind'
'Nowadays'
'Weathering The Storm'
'Sugar Daddy'
'I'll Always Walk Beside You'
'Seven Years Gone'
'Learning How To Fly With A Broken Wing'
'You Can Only Get So High'
'World'

In live news, Richie is beginning to announce European tour dates in support of his new album. Thus far the following shows have been confirmed:

October
9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
12 - Munich, Germany - Circue Krone
13 - Berlin, Germany - Huxley's
16 - London, UK - Shepard's Bush

In a brand new interview with Albania's Top Channel web site, WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale was asked what fans can expect from the band in the near future. "I am always reticent to discuss in detail what we're planning as I still enjoy 'surprises.'"

He continued, "In this day and age, with global technology and overwhelming social media, it is getting harder and harder to keep anything secret until they are ready to be presented. We host a very interactive global web site with Whitesnake.com and I answer people's questions as much as I can without giving too much away."

"We are very, very active this year behind the scenes. Many exciting things in the pipeline. Two projects I can tell you about are related to completing the 'Forevermore' project. An in-concert DVD from last year's tour and also a double live CD featuring different shows. It's shaping up very well indeed and I think a lot of people will enjoy re-living the concert experience they had with us in 2011. We have also started Whitesnake TV, which is off to a fantastic start and seems to be making a lot of people happy."

Asked if WHITESNAKE will tour next year, Coverdale said, "There are plans to start in Europe in May, I heard, but as yet there is nothing concrete. But, of course, we hope to be out there again. We have too much fun with audiences to stay at home for too long!"

Regarding whether all his plans involve WHITESNAKE, or if fans can expect any other collaborations or solo projects, Coverdale said, "WHITESNAKE is my priority and at this time I have no other plans to collaborate with other artists. But, you know rock and roll… Everything can change with a phone call."

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has uploaded behind-the-scenes and performance footage from the third and fourth concerts on the band's "Countdown To Extinction" 20th-anniversary tour on September 7-8 at Teatro Caupolicán in Santiago, Chile. Check out the 15-minute clip below.

MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine previously stated about the band's plans for the "Countdown To Extinction" anniversary celebration, "MEGADETH will be going down to South America, we're going celebrate 'Countdown To Extinction''s 20th anniversary and 'Peace Sells… But Who's Buying''s 25th anniversary, so depending on where we're at we might end up doing more than one show. We're definitely going to do 'Countdown To Extinction' in its entirety and if we get a second night, we'll probably play most of 'Peace Sells'. There's a couple of songs on there I don't really like playing anymore, but other than that, it's a fun record to play."

MEGADETH's fifth LP, "Countdown To Extinction" was released on July 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. The band's best-selling full-length CD to date, it was certified double-platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for U.S. shipments in excess of two million copies. The album also produced the band's most successful hit singles, "Symphony Of Destruction", "Sweating Bullets", "Skin O' My Teeth" and "Foreclosure Of A Dream".

Finnish doomy dark metal band 0XÍST will release its debut album, "Nil", in early October as a joint effort by French labels Ostra Records and Cold Void Emanations. The CD was recorded and mixed at D-Studio in Klaukkala. The cover art and the booklet layout were designed by French artist YhN.

"Nil" track listing:

01. Old World Vanished
02. Nil
03. Cold Dark Matter
04. Arrival
05. Anemone Patens MCCXLIX
06. Of Wood, Stone And Bone
07. Shrivel

The song "Shrivel" can be streamed below.

"Nil" is the first 0XÍST release to feature Mikael Ahlstén (ex-SAATTUE) on drums.

0XÍST recently announced the addition of bassist Sameli Köykkä, formerly of COLOSSEUM.

0XÍST, which stands for "zero exist," "performs metal that is slow, heavy, menacing and stands truthfully for what it is being described to be — dark metal," according to a press release.

0XÍST's first CDEP, "Unveiling The Shadow World", was released in April 2010 via Ostra Records. In August and September 2010, the band recorded a demo containing two new tracks: "Old World Vanished" and "…Of Wood, Stone And Bone". A limited demo-CD-R edition (100 copies) was released to prepare for 0XÍST's first full-length album.

Long-running Canadian metal band SOULSTORM have just released a new album entitled "Fall Of The Rebel Angels". The CD contains 10 new tracks, including "The Nihilism Quotient", which features guest vocals by Rob Urbinati of SACRIFICE fame.

One of the original death metal and industrial hybrid terror units, SOULSTORM "combines the brutality of classic death metal with the eerie coldness of GODFLESH-inspired industrial madness," according to a press release. "Foreboding rhythms, gloomy, abrasive, and most importantly an immersive listen comparable to bands like GODFLESH, SWANS, OBITUARY and CELTIC FROST."

"Fall Of The Rebel Angels" track listing:

01. Soulless
02. Interwoven
03. Fall Of The Rebel Angels
04. Kingdom Of Rats
05. Control.Suppress.Deny
06. Descent Into Desolation
07. The Nihilism Quotient (feat. Rob Urbinati)
08. Plague Of The North Winds
09. Residual Traces
10. Catalyst Rising
11. Return To The Eve (live) (CELTIC FROST cover)

Swedish black metallers ASTROPHOBOS have inked a deal with Abyss Records. The band will enter the studio this month with producer Erik Nilsson (A SWARM OF THE SUN, AORIA, KAUSAL) to begin recording its debut album for an early 2013 release. They have enlisted the services of Fredrik Widigs (DEMONICAL, THE UGLY) as session drummer for the recordings.

ASTROPHOBOS has posted two pre-production teasers for the as-yet-untitled CD. Check them out below.

The Stockholm-based black metal outfit has been described as "distinctly Swedish-sounding," referring to the sound of bands like DISSECTION, NAGLFAR, VINTERLAND and WATAIN. With the Swedish and Norwegian black and death metal scene that emerged in the early '90s as the main source of inspiration, the band's harsh yet melodic take on black metal has attracted a lot of attention.

Formed in 2009 by Martin Andersson (guitar), Jonas Ehlin (guitar) and Micke Broman (vocals and bass), ASTROPHOBOS combines the members long experience in writing and playing extreme metal. With skills based on both musical training and raw talent, the result is intense and memorable with much variation in style and sound.

Swedish metallers SABATON have posted the first in a series of video reports from the "Swedish Empire Tour" with ELUVEITIE and WISDOM. Check it out below.

SABATON's new album, "Carolus Rex", was released on May 22 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which was made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).

The band previously stated about "Carolus Rex": "For the first time ever we have had an expert to help us out with the theme, the well-known Swedish historian Bengt Liljegren. We have also added some extra time in the studio to find the absolute right sound on 'Carolus Rex', and our producer, Peter Tägtgren, says that this album will mark a brand new standard for how a heavy metal album should sound like!"

Liljegren's published works include acclaimed biographies of Adolf Hitler and Karl XII. He also appeared in the popular Swedish TV series "Boston Tea Party".

SABATON recently parted ways with guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. The band's new touring lineup is as follows:

Joakim Brodén - Vocals
Pär Sundström - Bass
Chris Rörland (NOCTURNAL RITES) - Guitar
Thobbe Englund (WINTERLONG, RAUBTIER) - Guitar
Robban Bäck (BALTIMOORE, PREY) - Drums

Peek From The Pit just uploaded a two-and-a-half-hour video review of this year's edition of the Tuska open-air festival, which was held June 29 - July 1 in Helsinki, Finland. In addition to some footage from the crowd, there are also interviews with the following bands:

* SAINT VITUS
* EXODUS
* INSOMNIUM
* NAPALM DEATH
* ANAAL NATHRAKH
* AMORAL
* SABATON
* FOR THE IMPERIUM
* TEXTURES
* SONATA ARCTICA
* SUICIDE SILENCE
* APOCALYPTICA
* SKELETONWITCH
* BARONESS
* OVERKILL

Check out the report below.

Danish death metallers CROCELL have parted ways with lead singer Magnus Jørgensen and have replaced him with Asbjørn Steffensen (also in MORDAX).

Comments CROCELL guitarist Tommy Christensen: "A number of skilled vocalists auditioned, but when Asbjørn visited, we knew straight away that we had found our new guy. Asbjørn could already sing most of the songs perfectly and together CROCELL sound better than ever before. We can't wait to finish our next album with the new lineup and hopefully play a shitload of concerts."

Asbjørn will make his live debut with CROCELL on October 6 at Club Brutal in Aarhus, Denmark. Also scheduled to appear on the bill is the German band D.A.M.N.

CROCELL is putting the finishing touches on two brand new songs, which will be produced by Jacob Olsen at JBO Sound and made available for free in the near future.

CROCELL's second album, "The Wretched Eidola", was released in May 2011 via Ultimhate Records.