The full track listing for Tim Burton's upcoming stop-motion animated feature "Frankenweenie" has been announced. And surprise surprise, the 14-track compilation features a new track, "Witchcraft", by Robert Smith of The Cure. The album will be available September 25th, while "Frankenweenie" opens in 3D on October 5th.

For The Cure’s Robert Smith it's the second time he joins up with director Tim Burton. In 2010 he was already featured on the OST of "Alice in Wonderland".

The full tracklist for the "Frankenweenie Unleashed!" compilation is as follows:

Karen O, "Strange Love"
Neon Trees, "Electric Heart (Stay Forever)"
Mark Foster, "Polartropic (You Don’t Understand Me)"
Passion Pit, "Almost There"
Plain White T’s, "Pet Sematary"
Kimbra, "With My Hands"
AwolNation, "Everybody’s Got a Secret"
Kerli, "Immortal"
Grace Potter featuring The Flaming Lips, "My Mechanical Friend"
Imagine Dragons, "Lost Cause"
Grouplove, "Underground"
Skylar Grey, "Building a Monster"
Robert Smith, "Witchcraft"
Winona Ryder, "Praise Be New Holland"
"Frankenweenie" is an upcoming 3D black-and-white stop motion-animated comedy horror film, directed by Tim Burton, and is a remake of his own 1984 short film of the same name. Like the 1984 version, it is a parody of and an homage to the 1931 film "Frankenstein" based on Mary Shelley's book of the same name. In the film, a boy named Victor loses his dog and uses the power of science to bring it back to life.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have landed the soundtrack for the new movie "Lawless", a 2012 Prohibition-era (1920 to 1933) gangster film directed by John Hillcoat. The film is based on the novel "The Wettest County in the World" about Franklin County, Virginia, by Matt Bondurant, which was adapted into a screenplay by Nick Cave. It stars Shia LaBeouf ("Transformers"), Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska and Guy Pearce. The film competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

The plot is this one: 3 brothers find their bootlegging business under threat in Prohibition-era in Franklin County, Virginia by authorities who want in on their profits. The story is based on Matt Bondurant's grandfather and great-uncles. You can watch a trailer after the jump.

Included on the OST are 2 versions of Velvet Underground's song "White Light White Heat", a version of Grandaddy's "So You’ll Aim Toward the Sky", Townes Van Zandt's "The Snake Song", Link Wray's "Fire and Brimstone", Captain Beefheart's "Sure 'Nuff", the new Cave / Ellis track "Fire in the Blood" next to the instrumental track "End Crawl".

To coincide with the 25th anniversary edition of the "So" album through Real World Records, Peter Gabriel will now also see the live video of "Live In Athens 1987" released for the very first time on DVD.

Directed by Michael Chapman, with executive producer Martin Scorsese, this previously unreleased Peter Gabriel concert live from Athens has been fully restored and pieced together from over 150 reels of original 35mm negatives and remixed in 5.1.

Note that the the special 3CD edition of "So" will the previously unreleased 2 disc "Live In Athens 1987" 2CD album.

To be released on 22nd October (23rd October USA) we'll post purchase links as soon as they become available. You can see a video trailer taken from the DVD right after the jump.

ad news from our thrash maniacs THE PROPHECY²³!

Mario just posted a statement on the band’s fb page that he’s going to leave the band this summer.

Here’s his statement:

"Hey dudes and dudettes,

unfortunately I have to announce that I will leave THE PROPHECY 23 this summer. This was a hard decision, but because of a move to another city it won't be possible for me to support the band in the right way.
I want to thank all our fans, friends, roadies, merch-girls and party-dudes for the last several months. I would particular like to thank Hannes, Flo, Dennis, Phil and the whole Prophecy-Family. My last gig with THE PROPHECY 23 will be on the Römersee Festival (August, 17th). It would be awesome to celebrate my last show with you guys. Keep it green!"

The band regrets Mario’s decision and comments:

The times on tour, in the studio and during the partyin' won't be forgotten and he will always be a member of the Prophecy-Family.
The band says: All the best for your journey through the galaxy - to infinity and beyond!

These are the final dates of Mario as part of THE PROPHECY²³:

"Five Year Plan", the new CD from the Sheffield based act Uberbyte will be released on Vendetta Music this fall. The album will feature 13 tracks that range from future pop to Drum 'n Bass, from Hardstyle to Industrial. "Five Year Plan" is the follow-up to last year's "NFY" album.

Uberbyte were formed initially as a side project of Killing Miranda by Richard Pyne. He and his wife, Charleen Pyne-Rolander, made their debut supporting Modulate in Manchester, spring 2007.

Uberbyte will join Angelspit across the UK as part of their Wall Street Massacre tour 2012. They'll be playing Leeds, Birmingham and London on 13th-15th September.

Dates:

13/09 Leeds - The Cockpit
14/09 Birmingham - Eddie's
15/09 London - Slimelight (Elektrowerkz)

On August 24, 2012, De/Vision's 13th studio album "Rockets & Swords" will be released. For 'making the waiting time more tolerable' as the band says, they now offer the "Brotherhood Of Man (Radio Edit)" track for free download. You can download the track right here.

The 3-track single "Brotherhood Of Man" will also be available as a limited promo copy which you can only buy here in combination with the limited edition of the new "Rockets & Swords" album which holds 2 bonus tracks including "Kamikaze" (see below). On July 30 and 31, the band also shot a new music video for "Brotherhood Of Man". The international premiere will be on August 24, 2012.

During yesterday's appearance on InfoWars.com, a web site run by radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Mustaine attempted to put his words in context and answer some questions. When asked what he really meant about what he said on stage, Mustaine explained, "To clarify things, no one can deny that there were criminal rogues in the administration. CBS News got the memos, Congress has the information and basically, Larry Pratt, the head of Gun Owners of America, who is a highly respected person, said that if they would stage 'Fast And Furious,' they'd be capable of staging anything. He continued, "And it was all done to blame the Second Amendment. We'd be fools not to look at this. Our U.S. border patrol agents were killed. And like I said, I was just quoting Larry Pratt. That's it bottom line."

Mustaine also admitted that he could have chosen different words to express himself. He told Jones, "In the heat of the moment, when you're onstage and you're talking, sometimes you're not as eloquent as you'd like to be. But like I said, I was just quoting what Larry said." He added, "We really need to investigate this and we need to have the Attorney General release the documents and find out who's responsible for this. People died and the democratic process says, 'Let's investigate this. Let's find out what's going on here.'"

Mustaine wrapped up the interview by saying, "I'm a patriot. I've always been controversial. I'm a political songwriter. And this wasn't done to hurt any of my fellow countrymen. I think that it's something that we really, really need to look into.

"I love our country and I respect it, my whole thing with this is that I think we should just look into it. I just think that we deserve to know the truth — that's it."

Guitarist Craig Locicero of San Francisco Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"So everyone wants to pile on [MEGADETH mainman] Dave [Mustaine], who definitely has douchy tendencies.

"I don't know of anyone that has all of their facts straight on [James] Holmes [the alleged shooter in Aurora, Colorado movie theater massacre], but I STRONGLY believe there is the possibility that he was a patsy. But not summoned by Obama himself. That is where I think Mustaine was непо and gives him too much credit/blame. But used by those who control the ebbs and flows of society.

"Take a long view of this upcoming dog-and-pony show called our 'free' election. If you do, you can see where the lines of division on race, sexuality, religion, freedom of speech and our rights to assemble are being drawn.

"Things are uglier than they have been in any recent history.

"Whichever side wins the fake election in November, there will be a backlash from the polarized extremists on the other side. This government and military are fully anticipating it as a certainty.

"So what does that mean in this very subject?

"These shootings are a possible catalyst to eradicate the right to bear arms in this country. It makes most people say, 'Hey, enough is enough. Let's make guns illegal here!' That sounds dandy to some folks, but it's beautiful music to the ears for those who crave division amongst our citizens.

"Take away the guns from all of the radicals and eradication becomes much easier. But nowhere near everyone with a gun is a radical.

"So while Dave supposedly shoved his feet into his mouth once again, I say he's close to the truth. A lot closer then most people want to accept.

"One thing is certain. People suck.

"Watch these videos for a little more [insight] and go ahead and hate the messenger if you wish."

Craig's recommended video viewing:

* Video #1
* Video #2
* Video #3
* Video #4

Members of TESTAMENT and BROKEN HOPE have slammed MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine for implying during a concert that Barack Obama was somehow responsible for recent mass shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin.

While performing with MEGADETH on August 7 in Singapore, Mustaine told the crowd, "Back in my country, my president is trying to pass a gun ban. So he's staging all of these murders, like the Fast And Furious thing down at the border and Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now the beautiful people at the Sikh temple."

He continued: "I don't know where I'm gonna live if America keeps going the way it's going because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America."

"I think he must be back on drugs to even think what he is saying makes any sense," TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy, whose band has toured with MEGADETH many times before, told New York's Daily News. "There is freedom of speech and there just putting your foot in your mouth."

"I'd like to see Mustaine face any of the victims from either tragedy and tell them that Obama did this to them," said BROKEN HOPE guitarist Jeremy Wagner. "In fact, Mustaine, tell that to Ashley Moser who had a bullet lodged in her throat, a gunshot wound to her abdomen, and lost her 6-year-old daughter Veronica Moser-Sullivan when James Holmes fired upon them.

"I'm one of thousands who wish Mustaine would just keep his volatile mouth shut," added Wagner.

"I find it hard to accept this diatribe at face value," former RIP magazine editor Lonn M. Friend told the Daily News. "I go back 25 years with Mustaine and have long found him to be both a creative and conscious artist, a spiritual man who has battled and survived some pretty savage demons. These accusations are lunacy and just don't sound like the evolved rocker I know. Maybe he broke a string."

During yesterday's appearance on InfoWars.com, a web site run by radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Mustaine attempted to put his words in context and answer some questions. When asked what he really meant about what he said on stage, Mustaine explained, "To clarify things, no one can deny that there were criminal rogues in the administration. CBS News got the memos, Congress has the information and basically, Larry Pratt, the head of Gun Owners of America, who is a highly respected person, said that if they would stage 'Fast And Furious,' they'd be capable of staging anything. He continued, "And it was all done to blame the Second Amendment. We'd be fools not to look at this. Our U.S. border patrol agents were killed. And like I said, I was just quoting Larry Pratt. That's it bottom line."

Mustaine also admitted that he could have chosen different words to express himself. He told Jones, "In the heat of the moment, when you're onstage and you're talking, sometimes you're not as eloquent as you'd like to be. But like I said, I was just quoting what Larry said." He added, "We really need to investigate this and we need to have the Attorney General release the documents and find out who's responsible for this. People died and the democratic process says, 'Let's investigate this. Let's find out what's going on here.'"

Mustaine wrapped up the interview by saying, "I'm a patriot. I've always been controversial. I'm a political songwriter. And this wasn't done to hurt any of my fellow countrymen. I think that it's something that we really, really need to look into.

"I love our country and I respect it, my whole thing with this is that I think we should just look into it. I just think that we deserve to know the truth — that's it."

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH will release their tenth studio album, "The Manticore & Other Horrors", in North America on October 30 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Speaking to Metal-Trails.com at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which took place August 2-4 in Wacken, Germany, CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani "Filth" Davey stated about the musical direction of the band's new album (See video below), "It's a slightly different direction for CRADLE OF FILTH. It's very fresh for people who appreciate our other works. It's a slightly shorter album, but we've concentrated on melody and different techniques that have been slightly missing from our music — it's a bit punkier, a bit more structured, a bit more singalong, but it's still extreme and it's still CRADLE OF FILTH."

He continued, "It's very hard to speak about it, because it's only been two years since our last record, so if it was so familiar, trying to explain what that record was like and what this record is like… Because there's so much going on in our music — there's symphonic parts and then there's really fast parts and slow, romantic interludes and, like I said, punk and New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in there. But it's all kind of wrapped up in theology and cinematic kind of soundscape. So it's hard to break it down and say, 'Well, this is what we're doing this time that's a bit different from the last time.' But it's good. We're really proud of what we're doing. I think people are gonna be very surprised when they hear it and go, 'Wow, that's CRADLE OF FILTH for 2012.'"

On the influences they have incorporated into the songwriting process for "The Manticore & Other Horrors":

Dani: "We're influenced by loads of stuff. We like recording out in the countrysides. We get a lot of influence from where we live. Music, obviously… [We're] very big fans of soundtracks, films and cult literature, 19th-century literature. Anything, really, can influence you, depending on the environment in which the album is created.

"We're very inspirational people, we're very artistic and stuff — sometimes autistic — and I couldn't actually where ideas come from, but, fortunately, we're not too few of them."

On whether CRADLE OF FILTH intentionally experimented on the new album:

Dani: "We had a mind to experiment with different sounds, and different instrumentation, different structures, different guitar sound, different drum sound, different vocal techniques… But again, at the end of the day, it's really about writing good songs and we think we've written 11 really good tracks for the new album and some bonus material for later on. And that can't be contrived — you can't just say, 'We're gonna do this, we're gonna do that,' it really has to be from the heart and the soul. But it doesn't hurt, along the way, to pick up influences from all the things I mentioned."

On CRADLE OF FILTH's touring plans for after the new album is released:

Dani: "The new album comes out October 31 or thereabouts — Halloween — and then we undertake a full European tour called 'Creatures From The Black Abyss'. It's us headlining, GOD SEED, ROTTING CHRIST and DARK END in support of us. There's gonna be a big stage show, it's gonna be very new, very novel, vey heavy metal, very CRADLE OF FILTH."

On whether "The Manticore & Other Horrors" is a concept album:

Dani: "It's probably a concept album as far as other people's concept albums go. 'Cause when people say, 'We've written a concept album,' it's generally just a couple of ideas thrown around a picture on the cover. This one is more like each song is like a satellite orbiting a bigger theme. So it has a concept of, sort of, monsters, personal demons and greater entities. But no, for once [we thought], 'Let's not be too predictable. People will expect something like that.' This time we've just gone and done a collection of really good, fast, intricate, theatrical heavy metal tracks."

On the most difficult part of making the new album:

Dani: "Trying to be fresh with ideas, I guess. I always write all the lyrics, so it's always… not a struggle, but I'm very particular about what I wanna do and try not to be too wordy with it. This time I was trying to balance the attributes that make up CRADLE OF FILTH, but with something that people can sort of sing along to. And that's relatively hard in itself. I guess the whole process of starting again from scratch and coming out with something at the end and feeling like you've worked so hard and that you've achieved something, because nothing comes easy; otherwise everybody would be doing it. So, I guess, before you start a record, you always see the climb and think, 'Oooh, this is gonna be difficult this time,' but it's worth that climb."

On whether he feels like they still have something to prove the fans or themselves with each new album:

Dani: "I think it's more to ourselves. Obviously, the fans are very important, but I think the fans believe enough in the band enough by now — or they should so — to realize and appreciate that if we write for ourselves , it's gonna then spill out onto the record and they're going to embrace that, hopefully."

Recorded in eight weeks at both Springvale and Grindstone studios (where it was also mixed by Scott Atkins), Suffolk, "The Manticore & Other Horrors" is a testament to the longevity of the 'FILTH, as not only does it reek of CRADLE's (feared or revered) brand of delicious metal vamperotica, but this thoroughly modern album places the band firmly in fresh killing fields anew.

"The Manticore & Other Horrors" itself possesses an altogether new atmosphere for the band, incorporating a heavier, faster NWOBBM punk vibe that is both current and cruel, blended with ornate orchestration and the quirky immediateness of 2000's "Midian" opus.

The album's title can be likened to a bestiary, a collection of stories on monsters - personal demons, Chimeras, literary fiends and world-enslaving entities to blame but a few. "Manticore", the ravening title track, is a song about a beautiful mythological horror that comes to be feared as the disfigurehead of foreign occupation in the Indian provinces.

The songs "Illicitus" and "Pallid Reflection" bare the sweet ingredients of vampirism and lycanthropy; the wicked "For Your Vulgar Delectation" and "Frost On Her Pillow" are woven perversely into grim fairy tales, whilst classic, monumental tracks like "The Abhorrent And Siding With The Titans" both extol tentacular Lovecraftian values.

CRADLE OF FILTH is:

Dani Filth - Vocals
Paul Allender - Guitar
James McIlroy - Guitar
David Pybus - Bass
Martin Skaroupka - Drums

Florida-based, female-fronted power metallers SEVEN KINGDOMS have completed work on their third album, "The Fire Is Mine", for an October 9 release via Nightmare Records. The CD was recorded in May at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with legendary producer Jim Morris (ICED EARTH, OBITUARY, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, JAG PANZER).

According to a press release, "'The Fire Is Mine' shows a great solidification in [SEVEN KINGDOMS'] sound and direction; they've amped up every aspect from songwriting, vocals to production and live performance. This one goes to eleven on all counts — including the number of tracks! The vocals and beautiful crystalline melodies of Sabrina Valentine are uniquely set in a furious power/thrash metal attack, blended with epic choirs and the occasional beer-chanting of the men of SEVEN KINGDOMS."

SEVEN KINGDOMS's sophomore album was released in July 2010 via Nightmare Records.

Formed in Deland, Florida in 2007 by Camden Cruz and Bryan Edwards, SEVEN KINGDOMS entered Morrisound Recording in Tampa in August 2007 to record its debut self-financed independent release, "Brothers of the Night", which was lyrically inspired by the literary works of George R. Martin.

After playing shows throughout the Southeastern region of the United States with such bands as SONATA ARCTICA, THE AGONIST, STEPHEN PEARCY and CIRCLE II CIRCLE, SEVEN KINGDOMS returned to Morrisound in 2009 to begin work on its self-titled sophomore effort.

SEVEN KINGDOMS is:

Sabrina Valentine – Vocals
Camden Cruz – Guitar
Kevin Byrd – Guitar
Aaron Sluss – Bass
Keith Byrd - Drums

Fan-filmed video footage of CRIMSON GLORY's August 17 concert at Turock in Essen, Germany can be seen below.

CRIMSON GLORY vocalist Todd La Torre recently joined QUEENSRŸCHE as the replacement for Geoff Tate.

La Torre, who says that QUEENSRŸCHE has been his favorite band since he was 15 years old, first met QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton at this year's NAMM convention in January in Anaheim, California.

Todd La Torre joined CRIMSON GLORY in April 2010 and has played a number of shows with the band during the past two years.

La Torre made his first public appearance with CRIMSON GLORY at ProgPower USA X as one of seventeen guest performers paying tribute to Midnight, the band's original singer.

Essentially unknown to the mainstream progressive metal scene, La Torre spent 22 years earning his stripes and solidifying himself as an unquestionable talent behind the drum kit of various hard rock and heavy metal projects in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. However, his vocal aspirations went largely unfulfilled until 2009 when Matt LaPorte (JON OLIVA'S PAIN), who had only heard La Torre sing on a few occasions, casually mentioned to CRIMSON GLORY guitarist Jon Drenning that he might make a nice addition to the already stellar lineup of performers the band had accumulated. It was only a short time later that La Torre found himself at the band's rehearsal studio, and the pieces began to fall into place.

Midnight passed away in 2009 due to long-term health complications.

EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee joined HALESTORM on stage last night (Saturday, August 18) at the El Paso, Texas stop of the "Carnival Of Madness" tour to perform the HALESTORM song "Break In".

After the show, HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale tweeted, "El Paso, tonight was the first night I've ever had a duet with a woman. Amy Lee rocked it with me on 'Break In'! Love her!"

In response, Lee wrote, "I loved singing with you. Your voice shreds and that is my SONG right now! Thanks for letting me 'Break In' on your set tonight ;)."

Lzzy then replied to Amy directly, writing, "The pleasure was all mine! It was so beautiful! You rule, babe! I'm so grateful for your friendship. You brought new life to 'Break In'."

A photo of Lee and Hale taken right after the "Break In' duet can be seen below (courtesy of the "Carnival Of Madness" Facebook page and the tour's official photographer, Rob Fenn).

In a recent interview with Fuse, Lee spoke about sharing the "Carnival Of Madness" stage with HALESTORM and Lzzy Hale. "We played with HALESTORM [at a previous festival]," she said. "I went on the side of the stage just to hear [Lzzy] sing and she sounded incredible, unreal, like one of those old classic rock voices, and I was like, 'Wow, she's great,'" She added, "It's cool to have another female on the road. Not just because it inspires me musically — because it does — it makes me feel this sort of pride and, 'Yeah, go get 'em' when I see a chick rocking. Also, [Lzzy's] really down to earth. I'm looking forward to hanging out and getting some girl time in."

Photo below courtesy of the "Carnival Of Madness" Facebook page and the tour's official photographer, Rob Fenn

Minnesota-based grind outfit AMBASSADOR GUN has inked a deal with Prosthetic Records.

"We are fucking psyched to be a part of the Prosthetic roster," stated the band. "This is a reputable and integral label in heavy music with amazing bands, and we're grateful for the opportunity."

The AMBASSADOR GUN track "Wounded Knee", taken from the band's forthcoming Prosthetic debut, can be streamed below. The song is described in a press release as "a mix of grindcore with death metal-infused thrash, blended with some punk and crust elements."

AMBASSADOR GUN, whose name stems from a certain style of sunglasses for pilots, was formed by high school buddies Tim Sieler and Luke Olson. After playing in similar punk and metal bands throughout the mid-'90s, the pair relocated to Minnesota in 2000. "From there," Olson recalls, "we started to write a lot of psychedelic, experimental metal in the vein of NEUROSIS and TODAY IS THE DAY and somehow blended it with the stylings of SLAYER and old-school HATEBREED."

This led to the 2007 release of their first EP, "The Streets Have Eyes" (This Dark Reign Recordings). It was not until 2009, however, that the band released their first full-length studio album, "When In Hell", through Pangea Recordings/Relapse Records.

"We had a new enthusiasm to write short, grind–punk-metal songs," said Olson.

After a few lineup changes, drummer Patrick Ruhland joined the band for the release of the 2010 EP "Fear And Coercion". Olson stated, "This guy is a blastbeat metronome. Writing, demoing and recording have been amazing!"

2011 proved to be a busy year for the newly regrouped band, as it saw the release of a seven-inch single titled "Rich" through Minor Bird Records as well as a split EP with Milwaukee thrashers ENABLER.

"We were looking for another band to do a split with," Olson says. "Jeff from ENABLER has been a good friend of ours for years now and heard we were looking from our buddy Logan, who was then playing guitar for ENABLER." Both bands were recorded over a weekend at Tim Seiler's studio, The Gun Range, in March of 2011, and the split was released on cassette and digitally in June of the same year. The split also earned AMBASSADOR GUN a spot opening for ENABLER on a recent East Coast tour, one of several DIY-style treks that have seen the group also perform with the likes of GAZA, IN DEFENCE, TODAY IS THE DAY, AFTER THE BURIAL, OTEP, DEAD TO FALL, RED SPAROWES and several more.

Look for more information about AMBASSADOR GUN's new album — tentatively set for a fall release — in the coming weeks.