Irish hard rockers THE ANSWER have inked a deal with Napalm Records. The band is currently working on material for a new album for a 2013 release.

Commented THE ANSWER: "THE ANSWER are thrilled to be working with Napalm. This label knows what it is to develop a band properly and provide their artists with a solid foundation from which they can flourish and achieve real success. We're very excited to be given this opportunity and can't wait to get started. 2013 belongs to THE ANSWER...you heard it here first!"

THE ANSWER will support GOTTHARD on a Swiss tour in late November and early December.

THE ANSWER's latest release, the "Rise" EP, came out on July 2 via the band's own The Answer Productions label. The EP consists of a new 2012 radio edit mix of "Rise", an extended full-length version, a very special acoustic/orchestral version and a brand new mix of another rockin' gem called "Lost".

In a recent interview with Glasswerk, Neeson stated about "Rise", "It's a bit different to anything we've done before. The title track, 'Rise', has a forty-piece orchestra playing on it for a start. It's a great tune that has been kicking around for a while. But we feel that now is the time for people to hear it, so here's hoping our fanbase will enjoy it because we're proud of it!! There's also a belter of a tune on there called 'Lost' which is probably the most Celtic-sounding track in our repertoire. All in all, it's a great EP...but I would say that."

MVD Visual has set an October 23 release date for the "Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin' Land" DVD from Christian hard rockers STRYPER.

Celebrating almost 30 years of incredible melodies and musicianship, "Live In Indonesia" features hits and rarities delivered in impeccable sound and video.

Recorded in front of an enthusiastic crowd in 2010, this is the definitive STRYPER DVD.

"This show was an unexpected, but welcomed, addition to our tour schedule," said STRYPER singer, guitarist and songwriter Michael Sweet. "It was added last minute and we scrambled to make it happen, but I'm glad it worked out. It was an opportunity to go to a primarily Muslim country and share our faith. Java Rockin' Land was a highlight moment of our career and I'm thrilled that we were able to capture its on video. It's definitely one of the better live performances by the band in a long time, and the fact that it was captured on video makes it even more exciting. I think the fans are going to really enjoy it."

Without a doubt, STRYPER is one of the top Christian rock bands of all time, and certainly the most celebrated Christian metal band of all time. Comprised of Sweet (vocals/guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Tim Gaines (bass), and Robert Sweet (drums), STRYPER has been rocking since 1983, and is responsible for such '80s metal classic albums as "Soldiers Under Command", "To Hell With The Devil", "In God We Trust" and such MTV hit singles/videos as "Calling On You", "Free" and "Honestly".

After a sabbatical for much of the 1990s, STRYPER returned strong in the early 21st century. But it was not until their 2011 covers set, "The Covering", that the aforementioned definitive STRYPER was reinstated, as the band welcomed Gaines back into the fold.

"Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin' Land" track listing:

01. Sing Along Song
02. Murder By Pride
03. Loud 'N Clear
04. Rock That Makes Me Roll
05. Reach Out
06. Calling On You
07. More Than A Man
08. Honestly
09. Open Your Eyes
10. All For One
11. To Hell With The Devil
12. Soldiers Under Command

The DVD can be pre-ordered at SeeOfSound.com.

Fan-filmed video footage of ETHS' August 17 performance at the Motocultor Festival in Theix, France can be seen below.

The Marseille, France-based female-fronted metalcore band's sound was described in a press release as "dark and powerful metal with tortured atmospheres, led by charismatic female singer Candice Clot, who with her amazing voice sings, talks, whispers and growls."

ETHS's new video, "Adonai", was shot in the Frioul Islands and the band's hometown with director Louis Vignat of Scandale Productions.

"Adonai" comes off ETHS' third album, "III", which was released on April 6 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others.

ETHS was recently rejoined by the band's original drummer, Guillaume Dupré.

ETHS' sophomore album, "Tératologie", was released in France in October 2007 and was made available in other parts of Europe in April 2008 via Season of Mist.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA recently guested on the Dutch TV show "Niks Te Gek", which gives mentally disabled people the chance to make their dreams come true. Ruurd Woltring's biggest wish was record one of his songs with EPICA, and so the band took his music and lyrics and arranged it into an EPICA track, inviting him into the studio to record with them.

The song they recorded is entitled "Forevermore", and a video clip of the recording can be seen below.

The video will air on "Niks Te Gek" on September 16 on Nederland 2.

Commented Ruurd: "On 14 and 15 August, I've been in the studio with the Dutch symphonic metal group EPICA, to record an official EPICA version of my self-written song 'Forevermore'!

"Now, you all probably want to know how this came to. Well, a couple of months ago, I heard from some sort of Dutch TV program called 'Knoop In Je Zakdoek' (Knot In Your Handkerchief) from NTR, where people from 18 years or older with a mental or physical restriction can send in one favorite wish, to do an activity together with their greatest idol. Anyhow, I signed up for the program, sent in my wish, discussed some details with the editor of the program (who by then told me it would be broadcasted in a different program, called 'Niks Te Gek' ('Nothing Too Weird') from NTR), did a couple of camera shots in my hometown, went to EPICA's concert at the Rock Harz open air festival in Ballenstedt (Germany) on Friday 13 July 2012, exclusively met the band backstage, played an acoustic version of my song on the keyboard of Coen Janssen (the pianist and keyboardist of the band) and guess what... THEY ALL SAD YES! Yahoo! I'm so excited!

"Oh, and for those who live in Belgium and/or the Netherlands, starting from Sunday 2 September, you can see 'Niks Te Gek' on TV (Dutch only), each Sunday around 4:30 (in the afternoon) on Nederland 2. The exact date of my broadcast is Sunday 16 September."

The official trailer for AEROSMITH's 15th studio album, titled "Music From Another Dimension!", can be seen below. The CD will arrive on November 6 via Columbia Records.

"Music From Another Dimension!" track listing:

01. What Could Have Been Love
02. Beautiful
03. Street Jesus
04. Legendary Child
05. Oh Yeah
06. We All Fall Down
07. Another Last Goodbye
08. Out Go the Lights
09. Love Three Times a Day (Hello Goodbye)
10. Closer
11. Shakey Ground
12. Lover A Lot
13. Freedom Fighter
14. Up On The Mountain

AEROSMITH began work on its first all-new album since 2001 last year, with the rest of the band working on music while Steven Tyler made his "American Idol" debut.

"Music From Another Dimension!" was helmed by producer Jack Douglas, who previously worked with AEROSMITH on classic early albums like "Toys In The Attic" and "Rocks" as well as on 2004's "Honkin' On Bobo".

"This record is different from the recent past, say the last 20 years, where everybody is getting in the studio and throwing down their songs," guitarist Joe Perry recently told Billboard.com. "This record is a lot more band-written stuff than there has been in the recent past."

The official video for "Legendary Child" can be seen below. The clip was filmed with director Casey Patrick Tebo, who also is helming a new concert film titled "Aerosmith: Rock For The Rising Sun". According to Tebo's official web site, the movie, which will focus on AEROSMITH's relationship with the group's Japanese fans, will be released later this year or in 2013.

"Legendary Child" recently landed on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart at No. 32 and the Hard Rock Digital Songs chart at No. 2. On the former chart, the song was the group's first entry since 2006, when "Devil's Got a New Disguise" reached No. 15.

"Legendary Child" was supposed to be included in the upcoming summer film "G.I. Joe: Retaliation", but that movie was abruptly bumped from its June 29 release date to March 2013.

AEROSMITH premiered "Legendary Child" with a live performance during the season finale of "American Idol". It is a reworked version of a song originally written in 1991 during the sessions for the "Get A Grip" album.

German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION are currently in Gernhart Studios in Troisdorf, Germany with engineer Martin Buchwalter recording their 30th-anniversary album, "Spiritual Genocide", for a November release via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD, which will be mixed by Andy Classen, feature guest appearances by Thomas "Angelripper" Such (SODOM), Andreas "Gerre" Geremia (TANKARD) and Ol Drake (EVILE). In addition, the "Mad Butcher"/"Release From Agony" lineup of DESTRUCTION — featuring guitarist Harry Wilkens and drummer Oliver Kaiser — will reunite for one song.

Commented DESTRUCTION vocalist/bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer: "For this anniversary album we did a really great job. Our new drummer, Vaaver [real name: Wawrzyniec Dramowicz; INDUKTI, ex-UNSUN], opens up new possibilities of course.

"On this album there are no limits.

"So fast, brutal and yet groovy we haven't ever sounded, probably!

"Also the guest musicians are very special this time: with Gerre and Tom Angelripper, our old friends and companions, are with us, the original 'Mad Butcher'/'Release From Agony' lineup is doing one song and with Ol Drake, we got the hottest young thrash guitarist for a few solos on the album!

"Germany's best extreme metal producer Andy Classen will take care for the brutal and raw production!

"The album will destroy even more than [2011's] 'Day Of Reckoning': fast riffs, double bass attacks and brutal groovy songs, I think this time we found the 100% right mix!

"Also the 'Mad Butcher' returns to the cover.

"Cool artworks are very important for us. For the new thrash thunderstorm, our artist Gyula created a real hammer again! The artwork makes clear immediately where to go — FULL THROTTLE — as it has to be."

DESTRUCTION earlier in the year completed the North American "30th Year Anniversary Tour" with support from WARBRINGER, VITAL REMAINS (who were alternating each night) and PATHOLOGY.

Inspired by IRON MAIDEN, MERCYFUL FATE, MOTÖRHEAD and VENOM, DESTRUCTION was formed as KNIGHT OF DEMON in 1982. The band's original lineup included vocalist and bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer, drummer Tommy Sandmann, and guitarist Mike Sifringer. They soon changed their name to DESTRUCTION and released a demo titled "Bestial Invasion Of Hell" in 1984.

"Day Of Reckoning" landed at position No. 58 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.

Pennsylvania-based extreme metallers INCANTATION have set "Vanquish In Vengeance" as the title of their new conceptual album, due in November via Listenable Records.

Commented INCANATATION mainman John McEntee: "The title track is about the massacre of Saxons in the town of Verdun in 782, called on by order of King Charlemagne.

"As an album title, it has a different meaning to me. 'Vanquish In Vengeance' symbolizes the long history of the band. We have fought many battles over the years to keep things going. We have always stayed true to our original vision and have never caved into trends. After a long wait between albums we are back with a vengeance with some of our darkest and heaviest material to date."

After a very successful tour of Brazil and an amazing European summer festival campaign, INCANTATION is back in the U.S.

Although based in Pennsylvania, INCANTATION has enjoyed a 23-year musical career as one of the leaders the New York death metal scene along with SUFFOCATION, IMMOLATION and MORTICIAN.

INCANTATION and Listenable Records' working relationship resulted in "Decimate Christendom" (2004) and "Primordial Domination" (2006) albums.

This fall MOTÖRHEAD will launch a complete assortment of headphones and earphones. The first generation's assortment will consist of nine products in total, three headphones, and six in-ear models. All will be sold under their new brand name Motörheadphönes.

Motörheadphönes will be the first brand name in the headphone segment that globally will focus on the rock/pop audience, a target group who are critical listeners and goes with the attitude that rock stands for. The rock audience is by far the largest group of music listeners, according to surveys on what music the consumers are streaming.

Price range will be between €39.99 and €49.99 for the earphones and between €69.99 and €129.99 for the headphones. Most models will be smartphone-ready, two of the headphones will be equipped with the new developed microphone "Controlizer," which will be one of the most advanced remote controls on the market. The products will be available on the European market in the end of September.

Commented the band: "No weak-kneed, lily-livered, tin-pot and skinny sounding little pieces of garbage, no, that ain't MOTÖRHEAD's style. These are headphönes designed to deliver everything louder than everything else BUT with the sort of range, clarity and TRUE rock reproduction you'd expect from a band of road warriors who have been at the top of the tree year after year. Because, like üs, these don't fuck around... remember, if it's too loud, you're too old."

The products are developed audio- and design-wise together with MOTÖRHEAD and a longtime experienced sound expertise from the hometown of harder rock in Gothenburg, Sweden, led by Anders Nicklasson with 30 years' experience from Audio development. Distribution and marketing is handled worldwide by Krusell International AB.

Motörheadphönes will be officially launched at a press conference on August 31 at 4:00 p.m. at Motörheadphönes booth at IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) hall 9 booth 313 in Berlin, Germany. Attending the event will be Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD), Ulf Sandberg (Krusell) and Anders Nicklasson (Krusell).

For more information, visit www.motorheadphones.com.

Finnish metallers KALMAH have issued the following update:

"Last weekend we had massive training session. Velski [new keyboardist Veli-Matti Kananen] and Lede [bassist Timo Lehtinen] travelled up north and we gathered at our rehearsal room. At first we finalized the set for Meh Suff and then concentrated on the new pieces. There is five more or less ready and three that needs to be finalized. So it is 8 all in all. Sounds like we have material for a new album..:)

"We also had a short discussion/planning session with the director of our next music video which will be shot late September. Hopefully we get 'Ruska - autumn colors' time for the video since it will take place among the most beautiful Finnish wilderness. We are really looking forward to it."

The first photo of the new KALMAH lineup can be seen below.

Keyboardist Marco Sneck left KALMAH last summer after seven years and three albums with the band.

KALMAH's sixth album, "12 Gauge", entered the official chart in the Finland at position No. 15. The CD was recorded between June and August 2009 at Tico Tico studio in Kemi, Finland and was mastered at the Cutting Room in Sweden.

"Simple Things", the new video from the acclaimed Middle Eastern guitarist Yossi Sassi (ORPHANED LAND), can be seen below. The song comes off his debut solo album, "Melting Clocks", which was released in the U.S. and Canada via End Of The Light Records, with distribution through DisManic and eOne Distribution.

"Melting Clocks" was released in other parts of the world in March via Verycords. The CD, which was produced and composed by Sassi, features guest appearances by several known musicians, including former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman.

Familiar to numerous music fans all over the world by his unique trademarked signature sound, Sassi blends east with west, rock with world music, melodic tunes with progressive passages, and traditional folk instruments with roaring electric riffs.

With over 20 years of experience as a producer, composer/arranger and founding member of ORPHANED LAND, Yossi continues to soar to new horizons.

Yossi is known for being the constant explorer of sound and musical boundaries, driving inspiration from different cultures around the world. Yossi plays 17 (!) different types of guitars and traditional instruments, and has been invited to play live and share the stage with artists such as METALLICA, Marty Friedman, Steven Wilson, Yehuda Poliker and many others.

Yossi has cooperated and recorded with artists from Kuwait to Portugal. He is a veteran performing artist, with hundreds of global shows and major festivals in his record.

Featuring world-known musicians, this album takes you to a journey around the world with traditional instruments such as saz, bouzouki, oud, chumbush and many more.

"Melting Clocks" track listing:

01. Drive (6:18)
02. Fields Of Sunrise (5:07)
03. The Calling: Rush Hour (4:51)
04. Numbers' World (5:10)
05. Melting Thoughts (3:38)
06. Another Day In The Office (4:18)
07. Ain't Good Enough (3:56)
08. The Routine (4:43)
09. Sahara Afternoon (6:56)
10. Sunset (2:16)
11. Simple Things (4:54)
12. Melting Clocks (3:38)

Sassi will support former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman on the "Guitar Universe 2012" European tour in October. Also scheduled to appear is France's Stéphan Forté (ADAGIO).

For more information, visit www.yossisassi.com.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION has set "Afterglow" as the title of its third album, due on October 30. The CD cover artwork can be seen below.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is the English-American rock band featuring the talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE, BLACK SABBATH), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER).

"With this next album, I've had the luxury of being able to write for six months," Hughes recently told GuitarWorld.com. "With the first album I had six weeks, and the second one was about four months. But I've had a lot more time to write this one. If you look at Joe's schedule, he doesn't even have time to wipe his nose. I've been left as the keeper of the keys to write these albums."

In a recent interview with Artisan News, Hughes stated about BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's musical evolution, "We just did two albums back to back, both successful records. And our live DVD is out now.

"We're really, really happy with the progress of where we're going musically. So we're sort of on course now."

Regarding the sound of the forthcoming BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION CD, Hughes said, "It's kind of a continuation… There's gonna be some darker stuff on there, because the lyrics I'm writing are kind of dark. There may be some moments of drama in there — I like drama in the music. So the songs I have ready are definitely a continuation of [the first and the second albums]."

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION released its first concert DVD, "Live Over Europe", on October 24, 2011 (Blu-ray followed on November 15) on the J&R Adventures imprint. The two-DVD live set was filmed with 14 HD cameras and 5.1 Surround Sound during the band's debut tour in the summer of 2011. Over three nights, playing to packed venues in the German cities of Hamburg, Munich and Berlin, the 18-song set list (17 originals and one cover) hits on both of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's albums — 2010's debut and 2011's sophomore release "2".

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION initially came to fruition when producer Kevin Shirley saw Hughes and Bonamassa join forces on stage in Los Angeles in November 2009 for an explosive performance at Guitar Center's King of the Blues event. Shirley then recruited Bonham and Sherinian for the project, which is named after the industrial area in the British Midlands where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised.

When rock 'n' roll began, it was music of rebellion, fighting against the strait-laced world of classical music. The two worlds seemed far apart until the late Jon Lord wrote his Concerto For Rock Group And Orchestra, which combined the forces of his heavy rock group DEEP PURPLE with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The work was premiered in the Royal Albert Hall in London under the baton of Malcolm Arnold in 1969. From then until the arrival of punk in the late Seventies, rockers like the NICE, EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER and Rick Wakeman embraced this hybrid genre with great energy and enthusiasm. Wakeman, in particular, became known for stage shows which matched the ambition of his music.

Lord, in his last-ever recorded interview, talked to the BBC Radio 4's Stuart Maconie about the DEEP PURPLE keyboardist's passion for writing classical music, inspired by his early experiment with his Concerto.

"Rock 'N' Roll In Four Movements" was originally broadcast on Thursday, August 23 and is available for streaming until August 30 at BBC.co.uk.

Jon Lord died on July 16 at age 71 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lord, who was known for his keyboard virtuosity and his reinvention of the Hammond B-3 organ sound, co-wrote such PURPLE classics as "Smoke On The Water" and "Child In Time", among others. Lord and drummer Ian Paice were the only original members to last through the band's initial run from 1968 to 1976. He was on board for their 1984 reunion and stayed on through to his 2002 retirement from the band, after which he's worked primarily in the classical field.

Over the course of his career, Lord also worked with the ARTWOODS, FLOWER POT MEN, PAICE, ASHTON AND LORD, WHITESNAKE and good friend and neighbor, George Harrison.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's A LIFE ONCE LOST will release its sixth opus, "Ecstatic Trance", on October 23 in North America and on November 16 in the rest of the world via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Planet Red studios in Richmond, Virginia with producer Andreas Magnusson (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, IMPENDING DOOM).

"Ecstatic Trance" track listing:

01. Something Awful
02. Gnawing Lisp
03. Madness Is God
04. Miracle Worker
05. Empty Form
06. I Am
07. The Blues
08. People Stare
09. I See, I Hear
10. I Sit Ill

The song "Madness Is God" is now available for streaming on the A LIFE ONCE LOST Facebook page.

The first in a series of video clips featuring footage from the "Ecstatic Trance" recording sessions can be seen below.

A LIFE ONCE LOST vocalist Bob Meadows recently stated about the band's forthcoming album, "It's going to be a beast of a record and fans can expect a little more honesty both musically and lyrically with an amalgamation of the ALOL signature style and some other surprises that have yet to be over played within the metal community. We are making this record because we enjoy the art of making music, not because we have to make a new record. As long as we are happy playing in ALOL, we will continue to grow and take our sound further."

Eagle Records will release the "Re-Machined - A Tribute To Deep Purple's Machine Head" album on September 25.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of this landmark album and in recognition of the influence of the band, and of "Machine Head" in particular. Some of rock music's biggest names have each contributed a version of their favorite track on the album to create "Re-Machined - A Tribute To Deep Purple's Machine Head".

There are two wildly differing versions of the album's most famous track "Smoke On The Water", one from guitar hero Carlos Santana with vocals by Jacoby Shaddix and one from alternative rockers FLAMING LIPS, and METALLICA have contributed their own special take on "When A Blind Man Cries", a track recorded at the "Machine Head" sessions but originally released as the B-side to "Never Before".

IRON MAIDEN's "Space Truckin'" cover was actually recorded back in 2006. Lead singer Bruce Dickinson explains, "Initially we didn't think we'd be able to contribute anything due to our touring commitments. Then we remembered 'Space Truckin'' which we'd recorded as a single B-side during our 'A Matter Of Life And Death' album session, but never used. However now, thanks to Kevin Shirley's remixing skills, we're able to include it on 'Re-Machined'."

Drummer Lars Ulrich of METALLICA, who are also recording a song for the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album, previously said, "We were asked if we'd contribute to the anniversary of 'Machine Head' — we can't turn that down. We're circling the Dio and PURPLE catalogs and hopefully we'll come up with something that is worthy of these wonderful men."

Initially released as a limited edition Classic Rock "fanpack" on September 3, this is a truly unique release that will appeal to rock fans everywhere.

"Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head" track listing:

01. Smoke On The Water - CARLOS SANTANA
02. Highway Star - CHICKENFOOT
03. Maybe I'm A Leo - GLENN HUGHES, CHAD SMITH, LUIS MALDONADO
04. Pictures Of Home - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
05. Never Before - KINGS OF CHAOS (Joe Elliott, Steve Stevens, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, Arlan Schierbaum)
06. Smoke On The Water - THE FLAMING LIPS
07. Lazy - JIMMY BARNES, JOE BONAMASSA
08. Space Truckin' - IRON MAIDEN
09. When A Blind Man Cries – METALLICA
10. Highway Star - GLENN HUGHES, STEVE VAI, CHAD SMITH, LACHLAN DOLEY (exclusive track)

A 26-minute "behind-the-album" video can be seen below.

Several of the tracks — including METALLICA's cover version of "When A Blind Man Cries" and CHICKENOOT's redntion of "Highway Star" — can be heard at UltimateClassicRock.com.

Behind "Re-Machined: A Tribute To Machine Head" album video:

Finnish epic metallers WINTERSUN will release their long-awaited new album, "Time I", on October 12 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Cameron Gray and can be seen below.

WINTERSUN will headline this year's edition of the Heidenfest tour, set to take place in October. Support on the trek will come from KORPIKLAANI, VARG, TROLLFEST and KRAMPUS.

A video trailer for Heidenfest featuring audio snippets of two songs from "Time I" can be seen below.

To celebrate the "Time I" release, WINTERSUN will play two special shows in Finland. The first concert will take place on Octber 12 at Lutakko in Jyväskylä and the second on October 13 at Nosturi in Helsinki. Support at the shows will come from THAUROROD (Lutakko and Nosturi) and MEDICATED (Nosturi).

Commented WINTERSUN: "We're excited to start the 'Time' world tour from our home country with two shows in October! These two special album-release shows will be our first club gigs in Finland since 2006 and the first time ever 'Time I' songs will be heard live! The show attendees will also be the first ones to have a chance to get a signed copy of the new album.

"During the rest of the summer, we'll be rehearsing the new material and working on a new enhanced live show as well as doing some promo and preparing bonus material for the album. Right after the Finnish gigs, we'll continue on to Heidenfest tour in Central Europe and after that... Well, more shows will be announced soon. Stay tuned and hope to see you at the gigs!"

According to WINTERSUN mainman Jari Mäenpää, there are several reasons why the band's new effort, "Time" is being released as two seprate albums, titled "Time I" and "Time II". He says:

* "All the 80 minutes of material won't fit on a regular CD and we didn't want to cut anything out.
* "We want you to be able to hear new material sooner and not wait any longer and we want to go on tour sooner.
* "The music is very full and complex, so listening this kind of 'hard listening (not easy listening)' material straight for 80 minutes is a bit too much (even for me).
* "Both albums will be approximately. nice 40 min epic packages of fireworks.
* "We like the idea of releasing two albums within one year, so the band will stay more visible longer, which is important in these 'modern times.' No more years of silence for us!"

"Time I" track listing:

01. When Time Fades Away
02. Sons Of Winter And Stars
I) Rain Of Stars
II) Surrounded By Darkness
III) Journey Inside A Dream
IV) Sons of Winter And Stars
03. Land Of Snow And Sorrow
04. Darkness And Frost
05. Time

"Time II" will be released in 2013.

WINTERSUN's debut CD was released in September 2004 through Nuclear Blast Records.

NIGHTWISH's long-awaited "Imaginaerum" film — based on the band's album of the same name — will be released theatrically in Finland on November 23.

The official soundtrack to the movie, dubbed "Imaginaerum By Nightwish: The Score", will be made available on November 9.

"Imaginaerum By Nightwish: The Score" audio samples can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Find Your Story
02. Orphanage Airlines
03. Undertow
04. Spying In The Doorway
05. A Crackling Sphere
06. Sundown
07. Wonderfields
08. Hey Buddy
09. Deeper Down
10. Dare To Enter
11. I Have To Let You Go
12. Heart Lying Still
13. From G To E Minor

Several new photos from the "Imaginaerum" movie shoot can be found at this location.

"Imaginaerum" is one of the projects which received grants from the Finnish government institution called the Finnish Film Foundation. The movie, directed by Stobe Harju, about an old man on his deathbed who glimpses a childhood dream in which he refuses to grow old, and fights aging with his imagination, reportedly got $575,000 toward its $3.7 million budget.

During a September 2011 interview with Petri Silas of Finland's Soundi magazine, NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen explained that all the filming for the "Imaginaerum" movie was done in Canada with mostly Canadian actors/actresses. Post-production took place in Canada and Finland. He aso revealed the names of the actors who have two of the main roles in the film: Marianne Farley and Quinn Lord.

Speaking to Loudwire, Holopainen stated about the plot of the "Imaginaerum" film, "Basically it's about this old guy who used to be a composer and he's really sick; he's lying on his death bed in a hospital and he's going through his life, through his dreams — that's the basic storyline. It's all about praising life and life's beauty, imagination and all the strife and the bad stuff we have to face.

"[The storyline] came from the director; I just had the twelve ideas, the twelve visions. He basically wrote the script and storyline around those originally visions and the only one we had to leave out was the 'Ghost River' part, because we didn't have the finance to realize that vision."

Asked if the band appears in the film at all, Tuomas said, "A little bit, we are seen in two different scenes as a band, playing in the background. That's something that I really emphasized to the director, 'Please don't put the band into the movie,' because we want to do a believable story and we have no idea how to act. We are not actors so if your give us some lines and we tried to act, it would look goofy. He insisted to put us into the movie because it's our brainchild, so we're just playing in there as a band; it's a good compromise."

"Imaginaerum" film cast:

* Francis X. McCarthy
* Quinn Lord
* Marianne Farley
* Joanna Noyes
* Ilkka Villi
* Keyanna Fielding
* Ron Lea
* Victoria Jung
* Hélène Robitaille
* Stefan Demers
* Anette Olzon
* Marco Hietala
* Tuomas Holopainen
* Emppu Vuorinen
* Jukka Nevalainen

The "Imaginaerum" album was released in the U.S. on January 10 via Roadrunner Records.

"Born Anew", a brand new song from U.K.-based modern thrash heroes SYLOSIS, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Monolith", which will be released on October 5 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork was created by Dan Goldsworthy and can be seen below.

Recorded with Romesh Dodangoda at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales, "Monolith" features the following track listing:

01. Out From Below
02. Fear The World
03. What Dwells Within
04. Behind The Sun
05. The River
06. Monolith
07. Paradox
08. A Dying Vine
09. All Is Not Well
10. Born Anew
11. Enshrined

Commented SYLOSIS vocalist and guitarist Josh Middleton: "We're beyond pleased with the artwork for 'Monolith'. It needed to be something to accentuate the dark, gloomy vibe of the album without going for anything too cliché or stereotypically metal.

"We listen to a lot of '70s progressive music and with the Art Nouveau style was quite popular at that time.

"At this point, we don't want to reveal too much about the concept but one of the figures on the cover loosely represents the devil in disguise or a satyr. Some of the inspiration behind the concept came from Greek mythology.

"Working with Dan again was awesome. He's very patient, eager to please and can very quickly tap into what we're trying to put across.

"We always like to pay as much attention to the artwork as possible and it's never been an afterthought for us. It's about creating a complete piece of work so the music and the packaging really go hand in hand."

Added Goldsworthy: "Visually, the cover artwork for 'Monolith' has taken notable inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement. Diverting from the usual flowery aesthetic of the style, 'Monolith' has a significantly darker vein running thoughout, as fitting with the sonic nihilism of SYLOSIS' music. As far as the concept goes, it is merely my interpretation of the band's vision. Much like their previous album, 'Edge Of The Earth', the artwork is completely related to certain themes running throughout the songs, so if you wish to extract any deeper meaning, I would recommend studying the lyrics as well.

"Josh and I kept a very close working relationship throughout the entire design process, such was the importance of having the artwork represent his lyrics and the story they tell. However, the cover art and illustrations throughout the packaging are only small snapshots of the bigger picture so open the booklet, press play and enjoy the journey."

Middleton recently stated about "Monolith": "'Monolith' is the best representation of us as a band in terms of our diverse influences and stylistically it's what we've always been aiming for. A mixture of thrash, big doomy riffs and dark atmospherics and ambience.

"Overall, 'Monolith' has a darker vibe to anything we've done in the past, both lyrically and musically. It's a concept album which is just something I like to help guide me writing the lyrics. I like the fact that I can write about personal issues but dress them up in a way that people might not know exactly how they relate to me (if at all in some instances).

"The idea for the concept was very loosely inspired by the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. It's quite far fetched but it's about this guy who loses his wife and tries to bring her back from underworld. This giant monolith starts to grow out of her tomb. The most prevalent theme beneath it all is sort of accepting that you might not be as nice a person as you once thought. It sounds really cheesy but everyone has a darker side to their personality in terms of being selfish, manipulative or dishonest.

"A lot of metal lyrics are always 'you're this, you're that, you suck' and in a lot of cases it's probably really hypocritical. Some of the lyrics on this album are about owning up to those flaws and almost reveling in it.

"Some parts of the album is us covering new ground but everything that people have come to love about our band is still present. It's not necessarily a change in direction or something we're moving more towards, it was just about making a unique vibe for this album as a whole. There's a real urgency to a lot of this material and the really natural and honest production helps mirror that. We really wanted more of a 'live session' feel. Both Romesh and Jens [Bogren; mastering] have done a great job in giving this album a unique sound. Too many bands these days rely on technology and it can just suck all the life and personality out of the music."

German symphonic metallers XANDRIA were the featured guests on a recent episode of the German TV show "Nachtfahrt TV", featuring a bus that drives around German cities. The band answered some questions and then performed acoustic versions of the songs "A Thousand Letters" and "A Prophecy Of Words To Fall". You can now watch video footage of their appearance below.

XANDRIA is currently seeking a new bassist following the recent departure of Nils Middelhauve.

Nils, who joined the band in 2004 just after the release of XANDRIA's second studio album, "Ravenheart", made the decision to leave the band primarily for personal reasons.

XANDRIA's new album, "Neverworld's End", was released in North America on March 6 via Napalm Records.

The band in December 2010 announced the addition of Manuela Kraller to the group's ranks.

XANDRIA in February 2011 parted ways with its singer of one year, Kerstin Bischof.

SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green's first-ever photo exhibition will be held from August 25 to September 25 at the Domina Prestige hotel (Moika Embankment 99) in St. Petersburg, Russia. All proceeds from the exhibition will be used to repair children's home No. 7. This orphanage was chosen after much consultation and discussion with a representative of the public movement "Petersburg Parents", based on the fact that the establishment is in poor condition and is located in a remote area that does not allow it to be supported by the city and business structures to the extent to which it can get a children's home located in the city.

Green's photo exhibition in St. Petersburg is the first of a series of personal exhibitions from the SEPULTURA frontman, with additional events planned for other cities in Europe, including London and Moscow.

During his recent visit to St. Petersburg with SEPULTURA, Derrick was struck by the beauty and grandeur of the city, as well as the breadth of the Russian soul. He subsequently decided that his first exhibition should take place in Russia's cultural capital.

Some of Green's photographic work can be found at this location.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada rockers SLAVES ON DOPE are putting the finishing touches on a covers EP. The band states, "It will be free, and have some really, really fucking cool songs on it. Look for it in the coming months."

SLAVES ON DOPE's latest album, "Over The Influence", was released on February 28 via THC: Music/Rocket Science Ventures. The CD was produced and mixed by Kevin Jardine, features a guest appearance by Jonathan Cabana, lead singer of Quebec deathcore band BLIND WITNESS, on the track "Dear Enemies".

SLAVES ON DOPE's digital-only EP, "Careless Coma", came out on November 1, 2011. The effort featured three new studio tracks, as well as remixes and a radio edit of the title cut.

SLAVES ON DOPE is:

Kevin Jardine - Guitar
Jason Rockman - Vocals
Peter Tzafaris - Drums
Sebastien Ducap - Bass

SLAVES ON DOPE's "Inches from the Mainline" album was released through Ozzy Osbourne's now-defunct Divine Recordings label. After Divine Recordings lost its distribution deal with EMI's Priority Records, the band was left without a label. After a long search, a deal was struck with Bieler Bros. Records. SLAVES ON DOPE's second major album, "Metafour", was released in 2003.

In March 2004, SLAVES ON DOPE announced it was going on hiatus due to Jason Rockman leaving the band. The group officially reformed in 2009.

For more information, visit www.slavesondope.com.