"Illsint", a brand new song from TROLLFEST, the self-proclaimed "true Norwegian Balkan metal" band, is available for free download. Go to www.noiseart.cc, click the link and subscribe to the newsletter in order to get access to the free download. The song will be available until Friday, July 6.

Commented the band: "We're always exited to debut a track from a new album, but we're even more so this time because, thanks to NoiseArt, a track from 'Brumlebassen' is not just being debuted, it's being made available to everyone as a free MP3 download. Make sure you get your hands on 'Illsint' — the hottest freebie in town. Enjoy!"

"Illsint" comes off TROLLFEST's new album, "Brumlebassen", which is scheduled for release in August via NoiseArt Records. Responsible once again for the amazing images that vividly depict the story of what will be the band's fifth full-length album, is Swedish cartoonist Jonas Darnell, who originally created the iconic metal duck from TROLLFEST's "Villanden" album, and has worked with the band ever since. Terje Johnsen, who has been working on the design side of TROLLFEST's releases since the "Brakebein" album, has once again teamed up with Darnell to produce the finished package.

Like all TROLLFEST albums, "Brumlebassen" tells a story about one of the characters that inhabit the fantastical universe created by the band. This time the story is about Brumlebassen the Bee Keeper, whose task it is to care for the bees and brew the Honey Mead that is much loved by the Trolls. Brumlebassen adores his bees so much that he would secretly like to become one of them himself and he is therefore depicted wearing a bee costume!

Track listing for "Brumlebassen", which will be available as a gatefold vinyl and limited digipack including 12 tracks plus a bonus cut, is as follows:

01. Brumlebassen
02. Böse Tivoli
03. Illsint
04: Hevlette
05. Finsken, Norsken and Presten
06. Mystisk Maskert
07. Apis Mellifera
08. TrinkenTroll
09. Verboten Kjærleik
10. Bråk
11. Sellout
12. Rundt Bålet
13. Konterbier (bonus track)

TROLLFEST recently parted ways with bassist PsychoTroll and guitarist St Beinhard because "they could no longer dedicate the amount of time needed for a band that's as active as TROLLFEST."

Commented the remaining members of the group: "We have lots of musicians waiting to fill in on stage for us, some of whom you know and love, some of whom you don't know yet, but you're bound to love them once you do."

MAIDEN UNITED, the all-acoustic IRON MAIDEN tribute project featuring Damian Wilson (THRESHOLD, HEADSPACE) and Ruud Jolie (WITHIN TEMPTATION), has revealed the track listing and cover artwork for the upcoming album, "Across The Seventh Sea".

"Across The Seventh Sea" will be released in September on CD, limited-edition vinyl and as digital download.

"Across The Seventh Sea" track listing:

01. Seven Deadly Sins
02. Only The Good Die Young
03. 2 Minutes To Midnight
04. Prowler
05. Flash Of The Blade
06. Children Of The Damned
07. Infinite Dreams
08. 22 Acacia Avenue
09. The Evil That Men Do
10. Wasted Years

The cover artwork for the CD was once again created by Blacklake, who also worked with MAIDEN UNITEDon their first studio album, "Mind The Acoustic Pieces".

MAIDEN UNITED is an IRON MAIDEN tribute project which performs classic MAIDEN songs in newacoustic arrangements. MAIDEN UNITED's debut album, "Mind The Acoustic Pieces" (2010), was described as "an acoustic re-imagining of the entire classic IRON MAIDEN album "Piece Of Mind" with new arrangements."

Contributing artists:

* Damian Wilson (THRESHOLD, HEADSPACE): Vocals
* Ruud Jolie (WITHIN TEMPTATION): Guitar
* Joey Bruers (UP THE IRONS): Bass
* Marco Kuypers (CLOUDMACHINE): Piano
* Mike Coolen (WITHIN TEMPTATION): Drums

For more information, go to www.MaidenuniteD.com.

Rock legends KISS return with "Monster", the 20th studio album in their historic career, set for release in October through Universal Music Enterprises. The 12-track, straight-ahead rock 'n' roll album features collaborations among all four members — including co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer — in an album that shows the band at the top of its game. And that's saying something, considering their illustrious, 40-plus year history — 28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.

"Monster" is the group's first studio album since the band's 2009 smash success, "Sonic Boom", and was also produced by Paul Stanley with Greg Collins at Conway Studios in Hollywood, California, and The Nook in Studio City, California.

The band's first single, the full-throttle, autobiographical rocker "Hell Or Hallelujah", will be available digitally on Monday, July 2, internationally, and on Tuesday, July 3, in North America. Stanley calls the album's lead track, "a battle cry that encapsulates the entire record...one way or another, we're going to do it our way."

"Monster" represents KISS' nod to the music that first inspired them to pick up their guitars and flame-throwers and don makeup to entertain millions. The group goes back to their own beginnings with THE WHO-like "Freak", while Gene lives up to the title track's declaration on the raucous rock of "Back To The Stone Age" and the bludgeoning "The Devil is Me". Even guitarist Thayer takes a turn on his own with "Outta This World". a tribute to his KISS "spaceman" character, while drummer Singer provides the vocals (and the back story) for the arena anthem "All For The Love Of Rock & Roll".

"There are no symphony orchestras, boy choirs, keyboards, outside producers or songwriters on this album," promises Gene Simmons. "The best thing we did was to turn inwards to ourselves. Tommy and Eric have revitalized this band, with a work ethic and the talent to back it up. This is a real band effort. KISS has become a behemoth. We're going where no bands have gone before."

On July 4, the day after "Hell Or Hallelujah" hits digital retail in North America, KISS crosses the ocean for its very own Tea Party, performing an Independence Day show at The Forum in London, a holiday most certainly not celebrated in the U.K., though this show might just offer some reparation for that bitter defeat in 1776. The concert will serve as a benefit for the British "Help For Heroes" organization, which raises money for its wounded, sick and injured troops. The band owes its own debt of gratitude to the English, admitting that "Monster" is influenced by the country's great, legendary rock groups who influenced and inspired them to pick up their instruments in the first place.

"We're all Anglophiles in this band," says Simmons. "America may have invented rock and roll, but England knew what to do with it. They gave us THE BEATLES, THE ROLLING STONES, LED ZEPPELIN and THE WHO."

Timed to coincide with the release of the "Monster" album is the deluxe coffee table, limited edition KISS Monster, a collection of artworks, 126 photos from the band's 40-year career, including never-before-seen images from the world's greatest rock photographers. The three-foot high, two and a half feet wide and two-inch thick Monster will be available in copies signed by all four band members and limited to only 1,000 copies worldwide. More info at www.kissmonsterbook.com.

Swedish death metallers SOREPTION have completed work on their second album for a late 2012 release via Ninetone Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Deterioration Of Minds" was recorded, mixed and produced by Tommy Rehn at Ninetone Studios.

Formed in 2005, "SOREPTION unleash their surgically precise and unique, razorsharp voilence with technically and artistically advanced riffs topped off with in-your-face brutal vocals, leaving the listener nothing short of stunned and ready to bow down to the mature display of how death metal should be played," according to a press release.

SOREPTION is:

Fredrik Söderberg – Vocals
Anton Svedin – Guitars
Stefan Nordlander – Session Guitarist
Rickard Persson – Bass
Tony Westermark – Drums

Polish metallers SARATAN have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band's third album, "Martya Xwar", will be released on November 23. The CD was recorded over the course of five months in five recording studios in Poland and Germany. It was mixed and mastered by V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS, CELTIC FROST) at Woodshed Studio. Cover design and artwork were created by Michal "Xaay" Loranc (NILE, KAMELOT).

According to a press release, "Martya Xwar" "is about forty minutes of apocalyptic death — thrash metal, full of oriental and classical ornaments. Ethnic music, occultism and orchestrations are the main focus on this album.

SARATAN is:

Jarek Niemiec - Bass, Vocals
Adam Augustynski - Guitar
Michal Stefanski - Drums

"The Worst In Me", the new video from the Ohio-based metalcore quintet LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's full-length debut, "When We Don't Exist", which came out in Europe last November via Nuclear Blast Records.

LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES was formed in Columbus in early 2010 by vocalist Chris Roetter, who previously sand for AGRACEFUL and EMAROSA. He had been a Christian, but went through some experiences, upon leaving AGRACEFUL, that caused him to lose his faith, as expressed in many of the band's songs.

LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES is:

Chris Roetter - Vocals
Aaron Evans - Bass
Zach Huston - Guitar
Eli Ford - Guiar
Lance Greenfield - Drums

In a brand new interview with The Press-Enterprise, SLIPKNOT mastermind/percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan spoke about taking part in this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival — the band's first full U.S. tour since losing bassist Paul Gray, who was found dead of an overdose of morphine and fentanyl at a hotel in Urbandale, Iowa in May 2010.

"When I walk out onstage and [Paul's] not there, it's devastating," Crahan said. "But I celebrate him. I talk to him. I ask for his love. I ask for his participation. I ask for him to enjoy himself. Some days I yell at him. Some days I cry. As far as our fans go, I make eye contact because I notice that they notice he's not there, and I feel their pain. So I try to look at them, everybody in the eye and let them know I know what they're going through."

He added, "Paul will always be #2 of nine guys, always, for the rest of my life. Anybody that comes in, this might sound bad, they're not going to be part of the nine. They're going to be an addition. They'll never be part of that sacred nine, the nine that started and are continuing."

According to Crahan, SLIPKNOT plans to wrap up touring in August, and then take a break before reconvening to work in earnest on a new CD.

"We're going to stay strong together," he said. "We're going to move on, and we're going to continue to make SLIPKNOT music, and Paul will always be there. As long as I'm in the band, he will not never be there."

SLIPKNOT's last record, "All Hope Is Gone", was released in 2008.

MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee has posted the following open letter to his fans on the band's Facebook page:

"Dear fans,

"I fucking LOVE my fans! And you know this!!!... If you asked anyone that knows me really well, they would tell ya the same thing... 'Tommy loves his fans. He lives for this shit... he eats, breathes,shits music 24/7.' They'll also probably tell ya that 'he's a down-to-earth grateful life-lovin dude and a nice guy, too.'

"What I have a problem with is... taking pictures! I hate it! Irritates the fuck out of me when people say... 'You owe it to your fans, they put you where you are, etc. etc.!'

"I certainly don't owe anybody anything!

"When I bought all my LED ZEPPELIN records and concert tickets, I didn't say, 'One day these fuckers are gonna owe me a picture.' It's the least they can do for me!...

"[What the fuck], people? You don't admire something so that it can give back... You just cherish it! And to those who say, 'You should be grateful that people wanna take your picture. Maybe one day they won't want it!' That day can't come soon enough!

"[By the way]… I'm not here to take pictures with you, I'm here to entertain you!

"Nobody put me where I am but ME! They may have helped inspire me with their love for what I do... but I put myself right here where I want to be with a lot of hard work, practice, talent, luck, etc. What I do owe myself and others is being THE BEST I can be! And that's making great music, being a good man, father, lover and human being! We all owe that kinda stuff to ourselves and each other.

"People, do we really need a silly picture?... For what?! Bragging rights? Really?.. Who fucking cares! Someone's not gonna believe you if ya don't have the proof pic? Then fuck 'em! I'd never go up to someone that I admired and bug them for a picture!! Why! I might say a quick hello... maybe a handshake? I dunno... It depends on the 'situation'... Most people never consider the 'situation.' That's really important... Ya wouldn't wanna handshake standing at the pisser in the men's bathroom next to me, would ya? And yes, that's happened to me, too... Or when you're eating a nice, quiet meal with your family, some rude jackass comes up and asks for a picture!

"You can't even imagine what kinda crazy has happened to me. I understand the excitement and all, but just take a second and think... Is this cool right now? It's called consciousness; it's the quality or state of being aware of an external object or something within oneself. Be conscious.

"So like I said… yhe fastest way to get me to leave is whip out a camera! Maybe just say hello and I'll probably take ya home with me! Well, I'd have to ask my girlfriend first! Hah!

"Sincerely yours, The Picture Taker Hater! Tommy Lee"

James Iha is excited to announce the release of his new solo album, "Look To The Sky", out September 18 on The End Records. As a member of A PERFECT CIRCLE, the power pop super-group TINTED WINDOWS, and of course, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, Iha has gathered musical depth and craftsmanship inspired by his many bands as well as his production work with THE SOUNDS, WHISKEYTOWN and LADYTRON, to create a new album offering listeners sophisticated pop melodies, lyrical sharpness and guitar driven rock.

Rolling Stone caught up with Iha and is currently streaming cinematic first track, "To Who Knows Where". Check it out here.

Produced by Iha and guitarist Nathan Larson (formerly of beloved indie rockers SHUDDER TO THINK) at Iha's own studio Stratosphere Sound in New York City, the sessions for "Look To The Sky" were designed to create an atmosphere of freedom, experimentation and shared fondness for a variety of enduring genres: from bright, modern rock, to '60s nuggets and cool, clean '80s new wave.

"I wanted this record to be more eclectic and reflect all of my tastes which is why it took so long," Iha explains. "It was important to me for the record to be multi-dimensional and complex. Being a part of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, and working with so many other bands and artists since my last album [1998's solo debut 'Let It Come Down'] gave me a fresh perspective on what music could be."

This free and fun environment attracted friends and peers such as the YEAH YEAH YEAHS' Karen O and Nick Zinner, TEGAN AND SARA's Sara Quin, FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE's Adam Schlesinger, ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS and legendary TELEVISION guitarist Tom Verlaine.

"Working with all of these talented people helped the record evolve in great and unexpected ways," Iha says.

"Look To The Sky" sees Iha returning as a solo artist after nearly a decade and a half, newly inspired, a little wiser and proud to share what he's learned and created. "I feel like everything should lead up to something and this is a culmination of my journey," he says.

SHINEDOWN's new album, "Amaryllis", was released earlier this year and made a #1 chart debut on Billboard's Rock Albums chart, and a #4 debut on The Billboard 200.

The CD's first single, "Bully", hit #1 at rock radio, marking SHINEDOWN's seventh consecutive chart-topper at the format.

Currently riding the success of second single, "Unity", SHINEDOWN has released an alternate video for the song, this time featuring the bandmembers — vocalist Brent Smith, drummer Barry Kerch, guitarist Zach Myers, and bassist Eric Bass — as they were absent from the original clip. Both versions of the video can be seen below.

"Amaryllis", sold 106,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SHINEDOWN landed the biggest debut of its career in July 2008 when its third album, "The Sound Of Madness", sold 50,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200. This marked the first Top 10 album of the band's career.

"Amaryllis" arrived in stores almost four years after the band issued "The Sound Of Madness".

The million-selling "The Sound Of Madness" yielded six chart-topping singles like "Second Chance", "Devour", "If You Only Knew" and the title track. It debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, spending 120 weeks on the album chart.

SHINEDOWN recently headlined the 2012 edition of the Avalanche Tour, with ADELITAS WAY, NEW MEDICINE and ART OF DYING also on the bill.

Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER — James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar and vocals), Jordan Rudess (keyboards and continuum) and Mike Mangini (drums) — launched a major North American headlining summer tour on June 15 in Rochester, New York. The tour includes stops at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles and the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey plus a two-night engagement at the Paramount Theater on Long Island, New York. They are touring behind their 11th studio album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", which had 14 Top 10 debuts around the world. It also produced the band's first-ever Grammy nomination for "On The Backs Of Angels" in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category.

The first in a series of video reports from the road can be seen below.

Joining DREAM THEATER, starting June 16 in Columbus, Ohio and for the rest of the tour, is special guest CRIMSON PROJEKCT featuring Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Markus Reuter, Julie Slick and Tobias Ralph. They are performing the songs of progressive rock legends KING CRIMSON.

DREAM THEATER was among the nominees in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category at the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The cover artwork for "Awakened", the new album from Diego metallers AS I LAY DYING, was created by Metastazis with Tiffanie Uldry and can be seen below. Due on September 25 via Metal Blade Records, the CD was produced by Bill Stevenson, who has played drums for both the DESCENDENTS and BLACK FLAG and is one of the most highly renowned producers in rock. His production credits include work on records by RISE AGAINST, NOFX, PROPAGANDHI, THE CASUALTIES, ANTI-FLAG and many more. The album will be mixed by Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT).

AS I LAY DYING's last release, "Decas", celebrated the band's accomplishments by offering three brand new songs, cover songs that paid homage to just a few of the bands that have influenced AS I LAY DYING, and remixes by Innerpartysystem, Benjamin Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN), Kelly "Carnage" Cairns (AUSTRIAN DEATH MACHINE, WAR OF AGES), and Big Chocolate (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, IWRESTLEDABEARONCE, SUICIDE SILENCE).

AS I LAY DYING's most recent collection of original material, 2010's "The Powerless Rise", sold 38,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. This was roughly in line with the first-week tally of "An Ocean Between Us", which premiered with 39,500 copies back in August 2007.

AS I LAY DYING will take part in the fifth annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, the world's largest touring heavy music festival. The main stage will be the strongest ever with the headlining slot occupied by Grammy Award winners SLIPKNOT. Next up will be the legendary metal acts SLAYER and MOTÖRHEAD. The main stage will also spotlight a ferocious mix of today's best artists in a rotation, including THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and ASKING ALEXANDRIA. The festival will kick off on June 30 in San Bernardino, California.

In the August 2012 issue of Guitar World magazine, legendary VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen spoke about the group's future in glowing terms and dismissed rumors that the he and his bandmates were having a hard time getting along on the road.

"We truly are a band; it's not just a one-off thing," he said. "I don't want to say it's a rebuilding process. If anything it's continuation. It feels more like a band and a family than it ever has, and not just because three-quarters of it is family."

He added, "Working with Dave [Lee Roth, vocals] has been very productive. We're all very opinionated about things, but it's all for the benefit of the music. We're working together better than ever. I can see, I see us doing this for a long, long time. When things feel right, why the hell not keep doing it?

"I can't think of anyone on the planet who is more lucky and blessed. Not only do I get to play with my brother but I also get to play with my son. If my dad was still here now, that would really make things amazing. I have a wonderful wife, wonderful friends, and a son who doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs. I'm just a guitarist in a kick-ass rock and roll band. What more could I ask for?"

Eddie's son Wolfgang joined VAN HALEN in 2007 at the age of 16, replacing original bassist Michael Anthony.

VAN HALEN is touring behind "A Different Kind Of Truth", its first album in 14 years and first with Roth since 1984.

ReGen Magazine recently conducted an interview with guitarist Dino Cazares of Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about FEAR FACTORY's decision to embrace drum-machine technology completely on the band's new album, "The Industrialist", Dino said, "The songwriting process was much quicker, much more efficient, much more cost effective. Obviously, a band like FEAR FACTORY has always embraced the technology from the beginning — we've always been open about it, we've always talked about it. We've always talked about guys like [producer] Rhys Fulber helping us out, ever since 'Fear Is The Mindkiller', which was after 'Soul Of A New Machine'. We've embraced all that. Most people are saying, 'Them using drum programming is no different. It doesn't really sound any different.' You know what I mean?! They can expect it from a band like FEAR FACTORY. Again, it's very cost effective. The way music is going today, a lot of people don't make much money anymore, unless you're a big radio band or something like that. But for metal bands like us, we make most of our money just on touring and selling merchandise. And the record company is not giving much advances anymore. So you have to find ways to cut corners, financially, to try and save money. But this is nothing new for us, again, at the same time, 'cause when me and Burt first did our first demo back in 1990, it was with a drum machine. . . So it's nothing new for us. We started that way. . . And then it wasn't until we met Rhys Fulber when we did the remix album, 'Fear Is The Mindkiller', which was in 1992, and that was when we were like, 'OK, Rhys can afford all this technology. Let's bring it in, let's embrace it, let's use it.' And ever since then, we've always gotten criticized for it. Because most metal fans, they just don't… At the time, back in 1992, it was not really well known in metal to do that kind of [stuff]… I'll put it this way: it wasn't really spoken about. I mean, bands have used other members and other stuff, samplers and stuff like that, to do certain things, but it was never talked about, they never brought it to anybody's attention. We embraced it and that has has kind of always been our concept."

"The Industrialist" sold 9,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Mechanize", opened with 10,000 units back in February 2010 to land at No. 72.

FEAR FACTORY's 2005 CD, "Transgression", registered a first-week tally of 19,000 back in August 2005 to enter the chart at No. 45. This was substantially less than the first-week number registered by its predecessor, "Archetype", which sold 32,000 copies back in April 2004 to debut on the Billboard chart at No. 30.

Released in North America on June 5 via Candlelight Records, "The Industrialist" is a conceptual record based around a story written by Burton C. Bell. Lyrics to the album's ten songs divulge the narrative as discussed recently by Bell with Decibel magazine. The album's artwork was created by American designer Anthony Clarkson with additional direction from the band. The album will be available on three formats — standard CD, a limited edition deluxe digi-book (featuring two additional songs), and 180-gram double vinyl.

"The Industrialist" again pairs FEAR FACTORY with producer Rhys Fulber. Mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, SKINNY PUPPY, MACHINE HEAD), with additional tracking by Logan Mader (GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY), the album is the second written by Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares since reuniting in 2009 after a seven-year split.

FEAR FACTORY recently enlisted Matt DeVries as the band's new bass player. DeVries, previously of CHIMAIRA (where he played guitar) and most recently SIX FEET UNDER, joined FEAR FACTORY as the replacement for Byron Stroud (now with 3 INCHES OF BLOOD). FEAR FACTORY also tapped Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY, SYSTEM DIVIDE) as its new touring drummer.

Denver thrashers SILENCER will release their third full-length album and their first concept record, "The Great Bear", on September 25.

Commented the band: "SILENCER has followed a steady progression of thrash through the years, bordering on the extreme on recent releases. On this album we rewind to more '70s and '80s influences, aiming to bring a bit more rock back into metal without sacrificing any punch; things like big choruses and hooks as opposed to our previous works' all-out intensity and such. We were definitely influenced by concept albums such as RUSH's '2112' and QUEENSRŸCHE's 'Operation: Mindcrime' (among others) in putting together our story. This album musically is more denim, spikes, spit and vodka than anything we've done. Conceptually, SILENCER takes a look at the U.S-Soviet space race of the 1950s/1960s and asks some 'what if' questions. Lyrically, we rewind back to space race era Soviet Russia, and we chose to take a fictional turn towards what would have happened if the Russians chose to one-up the American's moon landing by going somewhere further. We tell the story from the Russian perspective, and try to capture the mentality of a union that could mobilize their entire population to achieve a goal, and also from the perspective of a member of this mission. This sort of story almost wrote itself, and its mood lent us to write some more straightforward yet very heavy tracks. It's definitely more thematic than prior releases, but aims to get to the point and tell a large story fairly efficiently."

"The Great Bear" will be distributed by Vanity Music Group and will be available in stores, iTunes and Amazon MP3. Available physical formats are CD and limited edition 180-gram vinyl.

SILENCER will perform on select warm-up dates and is in the planning stages for tours following the album's release.

"The Great Bear" track listing:

01. Sacred War
02. I Am Thunder!
03. 1969
04. Great Bear
05. Insignia
06. Star City Pt. I
07. Star City Pt. II
08. Orders/Noble Sacrifice
09. The Roar
10. Light
11. The First, The Last

Helsinki, Finland-based gothic metallers THE 69 EYES are putting the finishing touches on their 10th studio album, "X", in Stockholm, Sweden for a late September release through RCA/Sony Music in Finland and Nuclear Blast in the rest of Europe and North America. A single, "Red", will precede the full-length CD in August.

"We've never really celebrated anything, not that we've been playing 20 years or so (vampires don't count decades). Thus this time we thought to celebrate a bit: the new album is entitled as tenth in Roman numbers, it'll be called 'X'," says lead singer Jyrki69.

"X" was mixed by Stefan Boman (THE HELLACOPTERS, BULLET). "The sound is the most melodic, yet melancholic, we've ever had," says Jyrki69. "Listening to the pre-mixes have been giving goose bumps to everyone here. This is the best THE 69 EYES album ever done!"

THE 69 EYES will film its first video in three years in July in Gothenburg, Sweden with Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

To coincide with the new album release, THE 69 EYES will also launch its own vampire-style red wine, simply called as "Red," which will mainly be distributed in Sweden and Finland.

While waiting for the album, the Helsinki vampire enthusiastic can go to listen to singer Jyrki's DJ skills as he hosts his goth'n'roll club nights in Barcelona's Undead club on July 7 and Fangtasia II event in New Orleans on July 21.?

Photo credit: Pauli Rouvinen

Los Angeles, California death dealers MURDER CONSTRUCT have completed work on their highly anticipated debut full-length entitled "Results". Featuring 11 tracks of violent, uncompromising death/grind, the CD displays cut-throat songwriting and top-notch musicianship mixed with the band's own brand of twisted experimentation to create one of 2012’s most punishing auditory experiences.

Due on CD/LP/digital on August 28 via via Relapse Records, "Results" was recorded in Hollywood, California's Architeuthis Sound studio with engineer Sean Vahle while drums were tracked at Trench Studios in Corona, California with John Haddad (ABYSMAL DAWN, EXHUMED, INTRONAUT).

MURDER CONSTRUCT features Travis Ryan (CATTLE DECAPITATION) on vocals, Leon del Muerte (EXHUMED, PHOBIA, IMPALED) on guitar and vocals, Kevin Fetus (FETUS EATERS, WATCH ME BURN) on guitar, Danny Walker (INTRONAUT, EXHUMED, UPHILL BATTLE) on drums, and Caleb Schneider (BADACID TRIP) on bass. The band previously released a seven-song EP in November 2010.

Swedish melodic metallers SOILWORK have announced the addition of guitarist David Andersson (NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA) to the group's ranks.

"We're super-stoked to have David with us," said SOILWORK vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid. "He's a blast to be around and a kick-ass guitarist. Plus, we've known him for so many years, from all the touring together, we just know he's a perfect fit for us."

Andersson has toured, on and off, with SOILWORK since 2006, and most recently during the 2011 festival season in support of the band's acclaimed eighth album, "The Panic Broadcast".

Regarding the recently announced split with founding SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers, who first left the band in 2005 only to return four years later, Speed commented, "We just had to do this. It's in the best interest of both him and us. SOILWORK was born to be out there, tearing up the stage. Peter's been unable to commit to the kind of touring we need to do and it's time for us to move on. David's played with us for so long, he's really grown into the band. It feels natural, like a seamless transition. We're thankful for everything Peter has contributed to SOILWORK over the years and we sincerely wish him the best."

SOILWORK is currently in the process of writing music for its ninth album, "The Living Infinite". "We're working our asses off to put this record together," said Strid. "It's gonna be fantastic, the songs and ideas are flowing like crazy! As far as the musical direction goes, there's tons of crushing, high energy, in-your-face metal. Trust me, we're not about to go mellow anytime soon!"

Wichers originally quit SOILWORK in late 2005 and was replaced by Daniel Antonsson (DARK TRANQUILLITY, DIMENSION ZERO).

Peter played on every SOILWORK album with the exception of 2007's "Sworn To A Great Divide".

SOILWORK's latest album, "The Panic Broadcast", was released in Europe on July 2, 2010 and in North America on July 13, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"The Panic Broadcast" was SOILWORK's studio debut with axeman Sylvain Coudret, who joined in 2008.

Photo below by Hannah Verbeuren

On June 21, AVENGED SEVENFOLD guitarist Zacky Vengeance was interviewed by "Démentièllement Vôtre" on Québec City's CKRL 89.1 FM radio station. The chat can be streamed using the audio player below.

When asked about AVENGED SEVENFOLD's plans for the remainder of the year after this past weekend's appearance at the Orion Music + More festival, Zacky said, "We've been home for awhile, just taking a little rest, and after these shows, we're gonna rest a little bit longer — just for the summer. We've never really had a summer to just be home and just unwind. But after that, as soon as summertime starts winding down, it's gonna be [time to start] getting together to start writing, working on new material. We're gonna be really excited to put out a new album. [We'll] just start the writing process. You never know how it's gonna go once you start, but hopefully we'll have some songs we're really, really proud of and get to work on recording them and get back out on the road again, hopefully sooner rather than later."

"Démentièllement Vôtre" is a metal radio show on the oldest independant Francophone radio station in North America, CKRL 89.1 FM. The show has been airing since February 2003 and can be heard every Friday night from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Interview (audio):

"Left For You", a brand new song from NONPOINT, can be streamed at Banana1015.com. The track comes off the band's as-yet-untitled seventh album, which is scheduled for release in the fall via NONPOINT's new label home, Razor & Tie. The CD was recorded at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago, Illinois with Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, MEGADETH).

Another new NONPOINT track, "I Said It", is available for streaming using the SoundCloud player below.

Founding NONPOINT members Elias Soriano (vocals) and Robb Rivera (drums) last year welcomed three new members to the family: Dave Lizzio (guitar), Adam Wolosyzn (bass), and Rasheed Thomas (guitar). All three musicians come from the Chicago-based rock act INN CINEMA.

NONPOINT's current lineup:

Elias Soriano - Vocals
Robb Rivera - Drums
Rasheed Thomas - Guitar
Dave Lizzio - Guitar
Adam Woloszyn - Bass

NONPOINT will hit the road this summer with CALL ME NO ONE.

NONPOINT's last album, "Miracle", sold around 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 60 on The Billboard 200 chart.

TOMAHAWK, the eclectic rock band featuring Duane Denison (THE JESUS LIZARD, UNSEMBLE), Trevor Dunn (FANTOMAS, MELVINS LITE), Mike Patton (MONDO CANE, FAITH NO MORE) and John Stanier (BATTLES, HELMET), is set to release "Oddfellows" in January.

"It's dark and claustrophobic here, light and spacious there," says Denison of the new album. "Live in the studio, all together in one room. Oddfellows indeed."

"Oddfellows" was recorded at Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville (which is owned by THE BLACK KEYS' Dan Auerbach) and co-produced by TOMAHAWK and Collin Dupuis (THE BLACK KEYS, THE NOCTURNALS).

As Denison recently told Rolling Stone, TOMAHAWK is essentially re-launching after a lengthy hiatus. "Oddfellows" is the band's first new album in five years and marks the addition of bass player Trevor Dunn (Patton's longtime cohort dating back to their teenage years in MR. BUNGLE).

TOMAHAWK's first live performance in nearly a decade is slated for the New Orleans' Voodoo Music And Arts Experience in late October. Additional dates will be announced soon.

Fan-filmed video footage of ADRENALINE MOB's entire June 24 performance at La Maroquinerie in Paris, France can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Psychosane
02. Feelin' Me
03. Indifferent
04. Down To The Floor
05. Angel Sky
06. Freight Train
07. Come Undone (DURAN DURAN cover)
08. Believe Me
09. All On The Line
10. Hit The Wall
11. Undaunted
12. Stargazer (RAINBOW cover)
13. The Mob Rules (BLACK SABBATH cover)
14. War Pigs (BLACK SABBATH cover)

ADRENALINE MOB features in its ranks frontman Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), drummer Mike Portnoy (formerly of DREAM THEATER), bassist John Moyer (also of DISTURBED) and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP).

ADRENALINE MOB's "Indifferent" video was filmed in March in the desert in California and throughout Los Angeles with director Scott Hansen, who has previously worked with A DAY TO REMEMBER, UNEARTH and WILLIE NELSON, among others.

"Indifferent" comes off ADRENALINE MOB's debut album, "Omertá", which sold around 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in Europe on March 19 in Europe via Century Media Records and in the U.S. on March 13 through the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services.

The 11-song effort — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.

Part 1:

RockNLive.org has uploaded video footage of MEGADETH's press conference at this year's edition of the Hellfest festival, which took place June 15-17 in Clisson, France. You can now watch the clip below.

In a recently interview with ChicagoNow.com, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson stated about the recording of the band's latest album, "TH1RT3EN", "The producer in MEGADETH… they come in with all of their acumen and all of their professional abilities but at the same time they have to be able to work with Dave [Mustaine] who is ultimately bringing the vision of MEGADETH to that producer. And if that relationship works, we make great records. If and when it doesn't, we don't. And it's really that simple because a band with a bunch of ideas who can't get them on tape… that ain't a record. So to me, that's the dynamic that has to happen and I think it totally came together on this album."

Ellefson continued, "The creative part of bands can be trying. It can be difficult. You're just laying everything out on the table. Your emotions. In order to make great music and great art you have to make yourself vulnerable. And that's something that a bunch of dudes in a metal band… that challenges that whole dynamic! Yet you have to do it if you really want to make passionate music that translates out of the speakers into people's hearts, ya know? And that's what we're here to do. To get into your head, your heart and your soul. So I think we did it right and it's been great."

When asked what it's like to see the crowd's passionate reaction to MEGADETH's more politically charged music, Ellefson said, "Dave [Mustaine] and I wrote a song together on 'Countdown To Extinction' called 'Foreclosure Of A Dream' which we've now put in the set. We've been playing it. And Dave last night even introduced it and he said, 'This song is just as appropriate twenty years later as it was when we wrote it in 1992.' And boy is that ever the truth. And I think that's the element about MEGADETH is that our songs lyrically and musically have a timeless feature to them. Maybe not all of them but by and large the catalog has that feature. And I really noticed that even when we went out with the 'Big Four' [METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX] and did those shows. Our music didn't sound like, 'Oh yeah, that's a throwback to 1986.' Or 'Remember when that was all popular back in 1991?' MEGADETH doesn't sound like a period piece. It's definitely something that transcends time and because of those lyric topics and the way the lyrics are written they seem to just be something that's kind of like an onging, reoccurring narrative."

Press conference:

METALLICA's two-day festival Orion Music + More took place this past weekend (June 23-24) at the popular Atlantic City, New Jersey concert venue Bader Feld. METALLICA headlined both nights of Orion Music + More and played "Ride The Lightning" in its entirety the first night and "The Black Album" in its entirety the second.

A 49-minute recap of some of the first day's events, including METALLICA's performances of the songs "The Call Of Ktulu" and "Escape", can be seen below.

The band's setlist for the June 23 concert was as follows:

01. Hit The Lights
02. Master Of Puppets
03. The Four Horsemen
04. Sad But True
05. Hell And Back
06. The Call Of Ktulu
07. Creeping Death
08. Escape
09. Trapped Under Ice
10. Fade To Black
11. For Whom The Bell Tolls
12. Ride The Lightning
13. Fight Fire With Fire
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman

Encore:

16. Battery
17. One
18. Seek & Destroy

In an interview with CBS Local, METALLICA lead guitarist Kirk Hammett said, "I know 'Ride The Lightning' forwards and backwards. It's not like 'The Black Album,' where there are three or four songs that we rarely play. Over the course of the years, we've played most of 'Ride The Lightning', except for one song we've never done, 'Escape'. It was pretty easy [to re-learn those songs]. We put way more time into learning 'The Black Album' than 'Ride The Lightning'."

Orion Music + More featured multiple live music stages plus a lifestyle element that reflects each of METALLICA's bandmembers' many personal interests.

When asked why METALLICA would want to do their own festival, guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield said in a recent interview, "First of all, because we can. Why wouldn't you? We're just trying to bring a little more of a mix to what is going on. . . . I think the Europeans are able to look at a festival more as an event than 'my favorite band is playing.' We're not necessarily trying to reproduce that in the States, but we'd like to bring a little taste of that here."

Regarding the significance of the "Ride The Lightning" and "Metallica" albums, Hetfield said, "'Ride The Lightning' started to splinter us off from your SLAYERs and other thrash bands. A song called 'Fade To Black' was an instant thorn in the side of the metal community. It was the first veering off the studded path. [The Black Album] became the album, I guess, that people needed to have. It's a gateway for people to get into METALLICA."

London, England-based tech-metal quintet MONUMENTS will release its long-awaited debut album, "Gnosis", out August 27 in Europe, August 28 in North America and August 31 in Australia/New Zealand through Century Media Records.

A song from the CD, "Doxa", can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"Gnosis" was originally supposed to be released last year via Basick Records. MONUMENTS has since split with the U.K.-based label, which issued the band's debut EP, "We Are The Foundation", in 2010.

MONUMENTS recently recruited singer Matt Rose after they went through a long, grinding, and global search for a new frontman. "We have found the perfect guy right here in our own back yard, we couldn't be happier with the work Matt has done so far," said MONUMENTS guitarist John Browne.

For the past eight months, Rose has been working with the band to make this a monster of an album. Rose entered Fortress Studios last month with Dan Weller (SIKTH) for final vocal production and recording.

MONUMENTS is:

John Browne - Guitar
Olly Steele - Guitar
Adam Swan - Bass
Mike Malyan - Drums
Matt Rose - Vocals

Eagle Rock imprint Armoury Records, in conjunction with Hamburg, Germany-based earMUSIC, has announced the release of the first ever live solo album from Finnish singer Tarja Turunen. Entitled "Act I", the release will be unleashed to North American fans on September 4 in 2-CD, 2-DVD and Blu-ray format. The cover artwork for the CD can now be seen below.

The first ever live audio/video offering from the former NIGHTWISH soprano, "Act I" is a mammoth undertaking recorded and filmed with 10 HD cameras at the breathtaking Teatro El Círculo in Rosario, Argentina in March 2012. With an elaborate track listing of solo tunes, NIGHTWISH classics and various covers, including a rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom Of The Opera", Gary Moore's "Over The Hills And Far Away", WHITESNAKE's "Still Of The Night" and a variety of video extras, "Act I" provides a full-fledged bill of fare to every diehard Tarja fan.

Comments Turunen of the offering: "Those two nights in Rosario were a huge emotional drive to me personally," adding that she was many times "ready to burst into tears."

"Act I" track listing:

CD 1

01. Anteroom Of Death
02. My Little Phoenix
03. Dark Star
04. Naiad
05. Falling Awake
06. I Walk Alone
07. Little Lies
08. Into The Sun (previously unreleased)
09. Nemo (NIGHWISH)
10. Never Enough (previously unreleased)
11. Still Of The Night (WHITESNAKE)
12. In For A Kill

CD 2

01. Boy And The Ghost
02. Lost Northern Star
03. Ciaran's Well
04. Tired Of Being Alone (written with Schiller)
05. Where Were You Last Night / Heaven Is A Place On Earth / Livin' On A Prayer (Medley)
06. Underneath
07. Oasis / The Archive Of Lost Dreams
08. Crimson Deep
09. The Phantom Of The Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
10. Die Alive
11. Until My Last Breath
12. Over The Hills And Far Away (Gary Moore)

DVD 1

01. If You Believe
02. Anteroom Of Death
03. My Little Phoenix
04. Dark Star
05. Naiad
06. Falling Awake
07. I Walk Alone
08. Orpheus Hallucination / Orpheus In The Underworld
09. Little Lies (band jam)
10. Little Lies
11. Into The Sun (previously unreleased)
12. Nemo
13. Rivers Of Lust
14. Minor Heaven
15. Montañas De Silencio
16. Sing For Me
17. I Feel Immortal
18. Never Enough (previously unreleased)
19. In For A Kill
20. Toccata And Fugue D-minor (BWV 565) (Johann Sebastian Bach)
21. The Phantom Of The Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
22. Die Alive
23. Until My Last Breath
24. Over The Hills And Far Away (Gary Moore)

DVD 2

01. Boy And The Ghost
02. Lost Northern Star
03. Ciaran's Well
04. Tired Of Being Alone (written with Schiller)
05. Where Were You Last Night / Heaven Is A Place On Earth / Livin' On A Prayer (Medley)
06. Underneath
07. The Reign
08. Oasis/The Archive Of Lost Dreams
09. Still Of The Night (WHITESNAKE)

Blu-ray track listing is the same as DVD 1 and 2.

In other news, Tarja is in pre-production for her third solo album, which is expected to be released sometime next year. She says, "I have 25 songs where to choose the best ones for the album. Some of the musicians are already working on them with me."

Tarja's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 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.

"What Lies Beneath" was released in North America on September 14, 2010 via The End Records.

CD: