Marilyn Manson will guest star in season six of the Showtime hit TV show "Californication". The controversial rocker will appear as himself, and in the episode will have what is described as an “unforgettable meeting” with David Duchovny's character Hank Moody.

"Californication" is an American dramedy television series that centers on novelist Hank Moody, who moves to California and suffers from writer's block, which complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) and daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin). The show has been nominated for and has won several awards, including winning one Emmy Award (nominated for two others) and one Golden Globe Award (nominated for three others).

As previously reported, Marilyn Manson has the lead role in a short film called "Wrong Cops", which premiered last month as part of the festivities at the Cannes Film Festival in France. The movie was directed by Quentin Dupieux, whose full-length 2011 feature "Rubber" was a surreal tale about an intelligent tire that murders people. His latest movie, "Wrong", debuted last January at the Sundance Film Festival.

Manson, who recently performed with actor Johnny Depp at the Revolver Golden Gods awards in Los Angeles, told The Pulse Of Radio about his part in "Wrong Cops" and other upcoming projects, "I play a street hustler with braces on my teeth, which was an interesting, fun experience (laughs). I'm working on something with Johnny. Working on something with my friend Eli Roth also. And I'm basically just on a roll of having a good time at being bad and I just want to continue doing it."

Manson has previously had roles in movies such as "Jawbreaker" — with then-fiancée Rose McGowan — "Party Monster" and "Lost Highway".

Manson and Depp recently teamed up to record a new version of Carly Simon's classic song "You're So Vain". The track was included on Manson's upcoming album "Born Villain", which came out on May 1.

Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL, DIMMU BORGIR) has uploaded a 12-minute clip featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the Latin American leg of THERION's 25th-anniversary tour. Check it out below.

THERION will celebrate their 25th anniversary by embarking on a European tour in the fall. The trek, aptly dubbed the "25th Anniversary Tour", will kick off on September 28 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

THERION is currently working on its as-yet-untitled new studio album, to be released in September, shortly before the tour kicks off.

THERION's latest CD, "Sitra Ahra", sold around 800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 44 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.

"Sitra Ahra" was released in North America on October 26, 2010 through Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at the legendary Polar Studios in Stockholm by Lennart Östlund (LED ZEPPELIN, ABBA). The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who worked on all of the band's most recent releases in addition to collaborating with EDGUY, AVANTASIA, RAGE and HAMMERFALL, among others.

"Theme From Pillpopper", the new video from Los Angeles, California misanthropic sludge rockers -16-, can be seen below. The clip was filmed live at the Casbah in San Diego, California with was director Tyson Montrucchio, who has previously worked with BRUTAL TRUTH and CATTLE DECAPITATION.

"Theme From Pillpopper" comes off -16-'s new album, "Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds", which was released on CD and LP in North America on April 24 and May 7 in Europe. The CD was recorded with the band’s friend and longtime engineer Jeff Forrest at Double Time Studios in San Diego, California and then mastered by PIG DESTROYER's Scott Hull at Visceral Sound Studios.The artwork was created by Orion Landau (RED FANG, RWAKE) and can be seen below.

The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Theme From "Pillpopper"
02. Parasite
03. Her Little "Accident"
04. The Sad Clown
05. Ants In My Bloodstream
06. Broom Pusher
07. Opium Hook
08. Bowels Of A Baby Killer
09. Beyond Fixable
10. Only Photographs Remain

Commented -16- bassist Tony Baumeister: "The addition of Mateo on drums opened a lot of doors for us creatively. We experimented with different time signatures, different tunings, and finally made the album we've wanted to make all along. The goal was to destroy our last record, and we feel like we achieved that."

In other news, -16- will play a free show with IDES OF GEMINI on July 9 at The Slidebar in Fullerton, California.

"Her Little 'Accident'" video:

"You're Cut Off", the new animated video from the Virginia crossover thrash metal band MUNICIPAL WASTE, can be seen below. The clip was created by Pierre Mousquet and Jerume Cauwe of IMOV Studios.

Commented MUNICIPAL WASTE frontman Tony Foresta: "We've always wanted to see an animated WASTE video and this blew away our expectations. I'm stoked that the Wizard came out of his brief retirement to make an appearance as well. I've watched this thing over 40 times and I still keep finding hidden gems. If you hated our band before, you arereally going to hate us after you witness this beautiful piece of work."

"You're Cut Off" comes off MUNICIPAL WASTE's fifth album, "The Fatal Feast", which sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 3 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. The band's previous effort, "Massive Aggressive", opened with around 2,100 copies back in September 2009 to debut at No. 10 on the Heatseekers chart.

"The Fatal Feast" was released on April 10, 2011 in North America and April 13, 2011 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Justin Osbourn of Slasher Design and can be seen below.

"The Fatal Feast" features guest appearances by John Connelly (guitarist and vocalist for NUCLEAR ASSAULT), Steve Moore (who plays bass and synthesizers for ZOMBI), and vocalist Tim Barry (ex-AVAIL).

"I, Celestial", the first single from THE END OF ALL REASON, the Belgium-based metallers featuring PSYCROPTIC drummer Dave Haley and former ABORTED bassist Sven Janssens, can be streamed below. The track comes off THE END OF ALL REASON's upcoming album, "Artifacts". The CD was recorded with Jochem Jacobs (guitarist and producer of Dutch progressive metallers TEXTURES) and features artwork by Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, IMMOLATION, SPAWN OF POSSESION). The bonus track was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (BLOODBATH, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, AMON AMARTH).

Commented THE END OF ALL REASON: "We play a mix between Death metal and progressive metal with a brutality as a guideline. We're the only Belgian metal band to be financed by our government due to 'artistical relevance.'"

THE END OF ALL REASON is:

Vincent Boedt - Vocals
Tom Sergeant - Guitars
Sven Janssens - Bass
Thaddé Mahmourian - Guitar
Gert Sergeant - Drums

Theory tells that tragedy is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in listening. MISERATION's newest album, "Tragedy Has Spoken", follows this path musically and lyrically.

The theme of the third album of these Scandinavians can be described as sum of the major tragedies of mankind's history. Lyrics for "Tragedy Has Spoken" have been written by Pär Johansson (SATARIEL, TORCHBEARER, THE FEW AGAINST MANY) and band's lead singer Christian Älvestam (SOLUTION.45, TORCHBEARER, ex-SCAR SYMMETRY), and address the diversity of tragedies. Some of which have taken the guise of accidents or natural disasters, while others were carried out with human hands and intent. Behind all this there is to find an imaginary architect, a fictive entity — something powerful, aware, far above the manmade concepts of good or evil: the nature of tragedy itself.

Musically, MISERATION expand their view on forward-thinking, vicious death metal by integrating new instruments to the mix. There still is to find what caused the quality and sustainability of "Your Demons, Their Angels" (2008) and "The Mirroring Shadow" (2009), but in 2012 there is more than technical, intricate death metal with a good dose of melody. "Tragedy Has Spoken" was recorded using 8-string guitars, which gives the wall of distortion a certain distinctive flair. In addition MISERATION are incorporating folk instruments such as the Indian harp Esraj, the Persian hammered dulcimer Santur, sawblade, organ, mandolin and piano, as well as Mongolian throatsinging. Music and lyrics are globally and far beyond standard practice, so there is a lot to discover!

The cover artwork for "Tragedy Has Spoken" was created by acclaimed artist Pär Olofsson (IMMORTAL, ABYSMAL DAWN, IMMOLATION, THE FACELESS) and can be seen below.

"Tragedy Has Spoken" track listing:

01. Stepping Stone Agenda
02. Children Of The Flames
03. Ghost Barrier
04. Ciniphes
05. Hill Of The Poison Tre
06. Disaster Cage
07. On Wings Of Brimstone
08. White Light / Black Rain
09. Tomb Of Tephra
10. Waylayer

The track "Waylayer" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"Tragedy Has Spoken" release dates:

* June 29: Germany, Austria, Switzerland + Digital
* July 2: Rest Of Europe
* July 3: North America
* July 4: Scandinavia

MISERATION's sophomore album, "The Mirroring Shadow", was released in November 2009 via Lifeforce Records.

"Waylayer" audio stream:

"Ballistic", the new video from the American power metal band VAINGLORY, which features in its ranks vocalist Kate French (CHASTAIN) and lead guitar virtuoso Corbin King, can be seen below. The song will appear on the follow-up to 2007's self-titled "Vainglory" album, entitled "Manifesting Destiny", which is expected in the coming months.

VAINGLORY last year announced the addition of second guitarist Jerry Tharp to the group's ranks.

According to a press release, "The sound of ['Manifesting Destiny'] will be a bit different than the previous in that the songs are heavier, tougher, the choruses bigger, and feature the best performances from all the bandmembers." Other songtitles set to appear on the album include "Epidemic", "Manifesting Destiny", "Comin' Back", "Force Centrifical", "Spit", "Time of Reckoning", "Getchu Some", "Waste Of Skin", "Dead To Me" and "To My Face".

French previously stated about "Manifesting Destiny", "It is KICK-ASS!! No fancy frills, no guest appearances, no pricey names backin' us up, no name-droppin' or regurgitated, fake, money-making BULLSHIT, but if you wanna hear US do what we do, with no sugar-coating, THE REAL DEAL... that is what your gonna get and it is IN-YOUR-FACE, total groove-oriented HEAVY METAL!!!"

She added, "This CD, it's much different than anything I've done vocally. I wanted to show every kind of metal vocal style I can do, and I can do it ALL. From death to screamo to the Halford highs, to sissy L.A. girl fairy princess (I don't do that on this, though), but it is still me. Don't be too shocked, I think you'll like it. Not too much, but just enough of everything."

VAINGLORY's self-titled CD was released in Europe in April 2007 via MTM Music.

Dries Van Damme of the Belgian national radio station Studio Brussel conducted an interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo at this year's Graspop Metal Meeting, which took place June 22-24 in Dessel, Belgium. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about how he broke his leg last December, Lombardo said, "I was iceskating with my daughter. It was right before Christmas. We just went out one night and we started iceskating. I took a turn. I wasn't going fast, and I just broke the thin bone. There's two bones on your leg; I just fractured the thin one — that was it. I was scared. I was very, very scared. But I recovered fairly quickly. I eat healthy and I don't drink alcohol that much, so I was able to bounce back quickly. So the doctor even said, 'Wow, you can move your foot that good.' I was playing on it probably a month later, after it was broken, I was already playing drums — playing soft. It hurt, but I did it. So I kept pushing it and pushing it, but if it hurt too much, I wouldn't do it. I would find this little space that I could work with. But I was very aggressive, because I wanna play. I wasn't like, 'Oh, my leg hurts. I don't wanna work.' Nah. 'I wanna work.' Enough. Enough pain — I wanna play.'"

In a recent interview with MTV's "Alternative Nation", SLAYER guitarist Kerry King stated about fellow SLAYER axeman Jeff Hanneman's current state of health (Jeff in January 2011 contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since), King said, "Jeff is… If you look at him, he looks fine. But playing the intricate things that we do, he's not ready to do that. He doesn't know if he has the stamina for an hour-and-fifteen-minute set. He can play any of the slower stuff and do it just like the record. But we made a name for ourselves, historically, for being good live, so we had to make the decision and say, 'You've gotta get better before you try to come back. If you come back, make it a special thing, not just an adequate thing.'"

King also spoke about SLAYER's rumored plans to release a two-song EP this summer, possibly to coincide with the band's appearance at the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. "[The two new SLAYER tracks] are done, but they're just not mixed," he said. "It's [like], do you put them out now or do you just wait for the [full-length] record to be done [and include them as part of the final package]? We're gona finish the record September-October. So I, myself, would rather wait, because I don't like to put those two songs out and then include them on the record. In my thinking, if you put those two songs out, then make ten more songs and put those two on that album just as an afterthought. But I feel like I've gotta give people ten new songs. That's why on the last one [2009's 'World Painted Blood'] we did 11, 'cause 'Psychopathy Red' was already out. So [the two new songs are] done. We'll see what the record company proposes. I think they've been talking about an EP, which is kind of a throwback to the '80s, which is really cool, I think. But we'll just have to see."

EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt is filling in for Hanneman on SLAYER's summer tour, which kicked off last month at All Tomorrow's Parties in England.

Last week, it was reported that ANTHRAX was recording several cover songs, to be issued in September to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the release of the band's latest album, "Worship Music".

While the band does have plans to release an EP of covers that they've done, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian made it clear to VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner that they are "not working on a covers album." He said, "It's not at all what we're doing. [laughs] We just always record cover songs. They just happen when we're in the studio or when we're touring, we get bored of jamming on our own songs at soundcheck, so you end up jamming on cover songs and eventually we'll end up recording them and eventually, somehow, they end up getting released in some way, shape or form as B-sides, but we're definitely not working on a covers album."

Regarding ANTHRAX's plans to write and record new music, Ian told VH1 Radio Network, "We do already have two or three things kind of in the works as far as new music goes, so it's just a case of if you can get into that mode to start working on them. I can't even explain why or how it happens, but sometimes you'll just get into a mode and you're able to create and you're able to work on stuff and move stuff forward, new stuff, but sometimes you just can't. Sometimes you're on tour and there's just no spark, it's just not there, it's just all about what you're doing in the moment, playing those shows."

ANTHRAX has reportedly started recording the following cover songs for possible release:

* AC/DC - "T.N.T."
* BOSTON - "Smokin'"
* JOURNEY - "Keep On Runnin'"
* RUSH - "Anthem"

ANTHRAX also recorded a cover version of BLACK SABBATH's classic song "Neon Knights" for inclusion on the upcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album which is being assembled by the singer's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

According to Ian, ANTHRAX's sold-out March 15 concert at O2 Islington Academy in London, England was filmed for an upcoming DVD.

ANTHRAX's latest album, "Worship Music", sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

Video footage of ANTHRAX performing a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Neon Knights" earlier today (Friday, June 15) at the Copenhell festival in Copenhagen, Denmark can be seen below.

Due to "creative differences," guitarist Peter Wichers and Swedish metallers SOILWORK have decided to part ways for the second time.

Commented Peter: "I want to thank everyone who has supported SOILWORK over the years. It has been a wild and fun ride, but it's time for me to explore different options in my career. I will cherish all the amazing moments I have gathered from my time with SOILWORK, and I would not be where I am today without the help from you fans, my family and SOILWORK."

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.

ATHEIST, the legendary technical metal band, has announced a hometown headline show and warm-up to their "Death To All" tour appearance. The concert will take place on June 29 in Sarasota, Florida at Jake's Tavern and will mark the return of bassist Tony Choy to ATHEIST.

Commented ATHEIST founder Kelly Shaefer: "We're very excited to announce that Tony Choy will be appearing on our upcoming dates; a headlining club gig at Jake's Tavern in Sarasota, Florida and the Orlando date of the 'Death To All Tour' 2012. It's been more than two years since Tony has played live with us. Just having him along will make this 'Death To All' show with the CYNIC guys, Gene Hoglan, Steve DiGiorgio, and everyone else a night to remember."

ATHEIST last year announced the addition of guitarist Jason Holloway to the group's ranks following the departure of Jonathan Thompson, who took a job in the medical field.

ATHEIST — Kelly Shaefer (vocals), Steve Flynn (drums), Tony Choy (bass), Christoper Martin (guitar), Jason Holloway (guitar) — is writing material for its new full-length album and follow-up to 2010's critically-acclaimed "Jupiter" CD.

"Jupiter" landed at position No. 88 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.

"Jupiter" was released on November 9, 2010 (one day earlier internationally) via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at LedBelly studios in Atlanta, Georgia with engineer Matt Washburn and was mixed by Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER). The cover artwork was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has uploaded an 11-and-a-half-minute video clip featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the band's June 25 concert at Stadium Live in Moscow, Russia — including the pre-show search for a local Starbucks, where Ellefson was accompanied by MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick. Check it out below.

MEGADETH was among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band's tenth Grammy nomination was for its single "Public Enemy No. 1", off MEGADETH's latest album, "TH1RT3EN", which came out on November 1, 2011.

"Public Enemy No. 1" actually marked the second Grammy nomination for music from "TH1RT3EN", as the song "Sudden Death" was first unveiled in the 2010 video game "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock" and received a "Best Metal Performance" nod.

METALLICA's two-day festival Orion Music + More kicked off this past Saturday night (June 23) 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.

Professionally filmed video footage of the entire June 23 concert can be seen below.

The band's setlist 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."

Former NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis will enter the studio this week to record three new tracks. Joe Nurre (SHADED ENMITY), who plays guitar with Loomis in Jeff's solo band, will lay down the vocals for the songs.

"After we got off our last tour with PERIPHERY and PROTEST THE HERO, Jeff and I got to talking about how it would be cool to do some heavier, death metal-type stuff with some more aggresive vocals," Joe said. "So Jeff and I will be hitting the studio with producer/engineer Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES), who also recorded and mixed Jeff's latest record, 'Plains Of Oblivion'. We will be playing some of these songs on our upcoming tour with THE CONTORTIONIST, so we hope to see some of you out there."

Video footage of Loomis and his solo band rehearsing the song "Surrender" in March 2012 can be seen below.

Loomis and his solo band recently part in a 24-date, coast-to-coast U.S. tour with PROTEST THE HERO, PERIPHERY, THE SAFETY FIRE and TODAY I CAUGHT THE PLAGUE.

Jeff was accompanied on the stage by the following musicians:

* Joe Nurre (SHADED ENMITY) - Guitar
* Gregory Macklin (SYSTEM DIVIDE, ORDINANCE) - Bass
* Anup Sastry (INTERVALS, SKYHARBOR) - Drums

Loomis will next head out on a North American tour with THE CONTORTIONIST. The trek is scheduled to kick off on July 14 in Indianapolis, Indiana and run through August 3. Support will come from CHIMP SPANNER and 7 HORNS 7 EYES.
Loomis's second solo album, "Plains Of Oblivion", sold 2,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 179 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 2 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.

"Plains Of Oblivion" was released on April 10 in North America (one day earlier in Europe) via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES) and features cover artwork by Colin Marks of Rain Song Design, who has previously worked with ALL SHALL PERISH, THE END and XERATH.

Perhaps better known as the keyboardist and musical mastermind behind TWINSPIRITS, COSMICS and KHYMERA, the multi-talented Daniele Liverani is also a guitarist of considerable skill as his new instrumental album, "Eleven Mysteries", will show when it arrives on July 20 via Lion Music.

While "Eleven Mysteries" is basically a guitar-oriented release, the overall vibe of all the songs is definitely more like a "conceptual instrumental album" where guitar has the role of a "virtual singer." Musically, there's some intense shred, but also some very melodic moments, and the musicianship and arrangements of the talented lineup involved helped to create a wide variety of atmospheres and different musical moments; due to the skills and different influences of the various musicians — drummer Paco Barilla, bassist Tony Dickinson and keyboardist Marco Zago. However, this not only an album for guitar lovers, but for anyone that appreciates musical composition on a more general level with lots to discover in and each and every track along with a first class production.

"Eleven Mysteries" track listing:

01. Mysterious Impulse
02. Inspiration
03. Nervous Forces
04. Supreme Gladness
05. All Is Pure
06. Giving
07. Humiliation
08. Regeneration
09. Freedom
10. Survive
11. Eternal

A performance video for the track "Mysterious Impulse" can be seen below.

Danish thrash metal veterans ARTILLERY have recruited drummer Josua Madsen to replace founding member Carsten Nielsen, who left the band in April "for personal reasons." Madsen previously played for the Houston, Texas-based progressive death act CONSUMED.

Commented ARTILLERY: "Josua has been living the last couple of years in the U.S. playing with different bands. Last Danish band was CLUB HELL. We are looking forward to go on the road with Josua and first gig will be Headbangers Open Air in Hamburg, Germany: Thanx to former drummer Carsten for the 30 years of thrashing!"

ARTILLERY played gigs in May in New York and at the Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore. They then moved to South America to perform in Argentina, Chile and Brazil. At the end of the year, ARTILLERY will return to U.S. to play on the Barge To Hell cruise ship from Miami, Florida to the Bahamas.

ARTILLERY's sixth album, "My Blood", was released in Europe on March 21, 2011 via Metal Mind Productions (April 5 in the U.S. through MVD and March 9 in Japan via King Records). 14 songs were laid down during the sessions at Medley Studios in Copenhagen — 10 brand new tracks, a remake of "Ain't Giving In" (from 1992's "Mind Factory" demo) and three bonus tracks which are all new versions of timeless classics from the 1985 album "Fear Of Tomorrow" ("The Eternal War", "The Almighty" and "Show Your Hate"). The cover artwork was created by well-known Polish graphic designer Graal, who has previously worked with VITAL REMANS, SINISTER, SOLITUDE AETURNUS and BULLDOZER. Graal was also responsible for the covers of ARTILLERY's "Through The Years" box and "When Death Comes".

Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) played four shows in London in November 2011 dedicated to his tetralogy album concept — a great journey through Devin's different states of musical moods — which he started in 2009 with the albums "Addicted" (2009) and "Ki" (2009) and finished with last year's "Deconstruction" and "Ghost". The concerts were professionally recorded and filmed for a unique box-set release, which he has decided to call "By A Thread - Live in London 2011".

Due on June 18 in Europe and June 19 in North America through HevyDevy Records/InsideOut Music, "By A Thread - Live in London 2011" will contain all four shows on four DVDs, plus a five-CD set (the four albums and one disc with all of the encores).

A live clip of the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT performing "Planet Of The Apes" — taken from "By A Thread - Live in London 2011" — can be seen below.

Commented Devin: "The amount of work and memory that went into that event has been captured by an even more herculean event by the folks making the DVDs, and finally I get to see what we did those nights! It's another situation of releasing a product that we think is really cool, and have gone the extra distance to make it worth your while if you're the type that supports by buying physical product... it's great! So if you weren't there, this is as close as you can get."

"Planet Of The Apes" performance clip:

Quality multi-camera video footage of Dutch singer Anneke Van Giersbergen's (AGUA DE ANNIQUE, ex-THE GATHERING) performing the song "Stay" on May 20 at La Machine du Moulin Rouge in Paris, France can be seen below. Also available is the "Fury" performance from the same concert.

Anneke's new solo album, "Everything Is Changing", was released on January 20 via PIAS Holland. The CD was recorded at Ultrasound Studios in Braga, Portugal with producer Daniel Cardoso.

"Everything Is Changing" track listing:

01. Feel Alive (3:37)
02. You Want To Be Free (3:23)
03. Everything Is Changing (3:18)
04. Take Me Home (3:23)
05. I Wake Up (3:30)
06. Circles (4:00)
07. My Boy (4:15)
08. Stay (4:08)
09. Hope, Pray, Dance, Play (3:19)
10. Slow Me Down (2:57)
11. Too Late (4:11)
12. 1000 Miles Away From You (4:59)

Check out audio samples at Amazon.com.

ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN & AGUA DE ANNIQUE's third album, "In Your Room", was released on October 30, 2009. The 12-song effort was written entirely by Anneke except for two tracks: "Just Fine" was co-written with Devin Townsend and "Adore" was composed by AGUA DE ANNIQUE bassist Jacques de Haard and Cyril Crutz.

Three songs from from the Italian "cinematic" metal band LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY — "Clash Of The Titans", "Tormento E Passione" and "March Of Time" — are available for streaming below. The tracks come off the group's new album, "Ascending To Infinity", which was released on June 22 via Nuclear Blast.

The "Dark Fate Of Atlantis" video was filmed in Stockholm, Sweden by Swedish director Owe Lingvall of Dreamday Media (THE RASMUS, KAMELOT's "The Great Pandemonium"). The song comes off LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY's new album, "Ascending To Infinity", which will be released on June 22 via Nuclear Blast. The song was edited and made shorter for the video while on the CD it will appear in its original version of 6 minutes and 29 seconds.

Commented LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY: "This video represents just the first step of the collaboration between RHAPSODY and Dreamday Media, the company of our friend Owe. He was just the right choice for a band willing to sound and look cinematic like ours. We share with him the passion for the cinema. We are amazed by his ability of turning our cinematic visions into reality and at the same time he loves the cinematic impact of our music. This means Owe is, and will be, our artistic partner at all effects, now and in the future. The first results of this unique collaboration will be announced very soon. Therefore please expect great visual surprises in the months to come, headliner tour included!"

RTN Touring and All Access, in association with Nuclear Blast and Owe Lingvall's Dreamday Media, are working right now on the "Ascending To Infinity Cinematic World Tour 2012/2013" which will bring the cinematic metal of RHAPSODY on the stages of the entire world.

In August 2011, RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli and keyboardist Alex Staropoli announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli will continue under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, will make his future efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he will be joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).

"Ascending To Infinity" track listing:

01. Quantum X
02. Ascending To Infinity
03. Dante's Inferno
04. Excalibur
05. Tormento E Passione
06. Dark Fate Of Atlantis
07. Fantasia Gotica
08. Clash Of The Titans
09. Of Michael The Archangel And Lucifer's Fall
I. Alma Mundi
II. Fatum Mortalis
III. Ignis Divinus

You can check out the "Ascending To Infinity" cover artwork below.

The album has a running time of around 65 minutes.

The first official live CD from STAIND, "Live From Mohegan Sun", will be released by Eagle Rock Entertainment on July 10, followed by the DVD and Blu-ray release on August 14. This concert was recorded and filmed in high definition at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville, Connecticut on November 25, 2011, and the chords must still be echoing somewhere deep within the bowels of the building.

Raw, uncompromising, loud, and totally, energetically exciting, STAIND pulls out all the stops in this sixteen-song set. Singer/guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok and bassist Johnny April pummel through a career-spanning set that includes "It's Been Awhile", "Not Again", "Eyes Wide Open", "Right Here" and "So Far Away". Drummer Sal Giancarelli gives a swift kick and a solid boost (replacing original drummer Jon Wysocki who left the band in May 2011).

In addition to these "Live From Mohegan Sun" releases, STAIND will hit the road this summer as part of the Rockstar Energy Uproar festival, sharing the main stage with SHINEDOWN and GODSMACK. This makes 2012 THE year to experience STAIND live.

"Live From Mohegan Sun" track listing:

01. Eyes Wide Open
02. Falling
03. Right Here
04. Throw It All Away
05. Spleen
06. Fade
07. Failing
08. So Far Away
09. Crawl
10. For You
11. Paper Wings
12. Outside
13. Not Again
14. It's Been Awhile
15. Mudshovel
16. Something To Remind You

San Francisco Bay Area metallers EXODUS inaugurated their summer festival season with a performance on June 2 at the Scion Rock Fest in Tampa, Florida. With Gary Holt still handling guitar duties for Jeff Hanneman on SLAYER's North American and European tour, EXODUS invited out none other than former bandmember Rick Hunolt to fill in for Scion and other shows.

Longtime EXODUS fans will recall that Hunolt — the other half of the famed EXODUS "H-Team" who is on every studio recording from 1985 through 2004 and co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs such as "A Lesson In Violence" and "Deliver Us To Evil" — left EXODUS after the band's highly-acclaimed 2004 reunion album, "Tempo Of The Damned". "Murder In The Front Row", the recent photo book documenting the pinnacle of the Bay Area thrash scene, aptly documents Hunolt's tenure in the band.

Following his departure, Hunolt was replaced by HEATHEN guitarist Lee Altus.

Holt joined his EXODUS bandmates for their Graspop Metal Meeting performance in Desel, Belgium this past Saturday, June 23 for a special lesson in violence with a three-guitar attack! Check out fan-filmed video footage of the performance below.

Hunolt previously rejoined his former bandmates at a special concert in celebration of Holt and Lisa Perticone's wedding on September 24, 2011 at Avalon in Santa Clara, California. He also performed with them at "Bonded By Baloff: A Decade Of Remembrance", a special concert which marked the 10-year anniversary of former EXODUS singer Paul Baloff's passing. The event took place February 4 at the Oakland Metro Operahouse in Oakland, California.

DOWNSPIRIT, the German/Swiss blues/metal-oriented band formed by SYMPHORCE/ex-FREEDOM CALL guitarist Cedric "Cede" Dupont, has set "Bulletproof" as the title of its sophomore album, due in Europe on July 27 and in North America on August 14 via Metalville.

"Bulletproof" track listing:

01. Greed
02. Life After her
03. Get the F*** Up
04. The Wish
05. Human Gift
06. Are you Proud?
07. Hellyeah
08. Overload
09. Gotta Get Away
10. What a Way to Die
11. I'm a Survivor
12. The Look

DOWNSPIRIT will support ADRENALINE MOB for five German shows in late June and early July.

DOWNSPIRIT's debut album, "Point Of Origin", was received well, with much positive feedback all over the world, and brought the band's touring schedule to include more than 60 shows around Europe.

DOWNSPIRIT is:

Steffen Lauth - Vocals
Cede Dupont - Guitar
Dennis Wohlbold - Bass
Steffen Theurer - Drums

U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria was professionally filmed for the band's next official live DVD, "Live In Sofia", due later in the year.

Commented the group: "The audience was absolutely fantastic and forced us to play for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes. More than 2,000 fans welcomed back us after 7 years and pushed everybody over his personal limit. Sofia was absolutely great and we will never forget this show. To make sure all the fans can participate of this great event, we will do everything to release the DVD/CD/Blu-ray as soon as possible."

U.D.O.'s setlist for the Sofia concert was as follows:

01. Rev-Raptor
02. Dominator
03. Thunderball
04. Leatherhead
05. Independence Day
06. Screaming For A Love Bite (ACCEPT cover)
07. Heart Of Gold
08. Vendetta
09. Princess Of The Dawn (ACCEPT cover)
10. I Give As Good As I Get
11. Guitar Solo
12. Neon Nights (ACCEPT cover)
13. Break The Rules
14. Man And Machine
15. Drum Solo
16. Living On A Frontline
17. Up To The Limit (ACCEPT cover)
18. Two Faced Woman
19. Metal Heart (ACCEPT cover)

Encore:

20. The Bogeyman
21. I'm A Rebel (ACCEPT cover)

Encore 2:

22. Balls To The Wall (ACCEPT cover)
23. Burning (ACCEPT cover)

The cover artwork for the DVD can be seen below.

"Celebrator", a collection of rare tracks from U.D.O., will be released on double vinyl on August 17 via High Roller Records. It is limited to 500 copies in three different colors:

* 100 x white vinyl
* 200 x yellow vinyl
* 200 x black vinyl

"Celebrator" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 73.

The set was made available in Europe on May 4 via AFM Records and was released in North America on June 19.

U.D.O.'s latest album, "Rev-Raptor", was released on May 20, 2011 via AFM Records. The recordings for the CD took place between June 2010 and February 2011 at Roxx studios (owned by U.D.O. guitarist and ex-ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann) in Pulheim, Germany. The effort was mastered by Manfred Melchior at MM Sound Digital studios in Steinhagen, Germany. The album's cover artwork is once again a comic-like motif: but the "Dominator" character is this time "a lot more effectual and colorful," according to a press release.

A five-minute video clip in which Finnish/Swedish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS introduce their new drummer, 24-year-old Rolf Pilve, can be seen below.

Last year Jörg Michael announced his departure from STRATOVARIUS after sixteen years of incredible drumming, countless tours and nine studio albums. Jörg played his final tour with the band in 2011. One of the last concerts in Finland was recorded, and will be released as a live DVD/Blu-ray on June 27. It is titled "Under Flaming Winter Skies - Live In Tampere". The DVD is the first live DVD the band has ever released, and sadly it is the final for Jörg Michael. It includes two hours of a very powerful live show, plus a 30-minute-long documentary about the band with interviews with all band members. It is a must-have for all STRATOVARIUS fans with lots of inside information, very honest interviews, and the once-in-a-lifetime departure of an outstanding member and friend: Jörg Michael. Even though he will still be working for the band on the management and agency side, it was a dramatic and nostalgic moment when he finally left the stage. As a bonus track, the Blu-ray disc contains a 5.1 mix of the 18 minute song "Elysium" from the last studio album with the same name.

It was not easy to find a new drummer who is not only an excellent musician and a cool guy, but also courageous enough trying to fill the big hole Jörg Michael has left. Pilve from Finland is that courageous and gifted drummer.

Commented STRATOVARIUS singer singer Timo Kotipelto: "Although the competition was fierce, Rolf was clearly the best one of the bunch. His precise playing, sureness and right attitude was there right away. He has an astonishing technique and to top that of he has a very musical way of playing, so he can bring something of his own into our old songs as well. Rolf has played a variety of different styles of metal, so fast tempos or more progressive parts will not be a problem. Whatever songs we might compose in the future — I have no doubt that he will be able to play them."

Added Rolf: "I had prepared for the audition thoroughly, learning all the songs we agreed on, with the live endings and everything. In addition to that, I had also learned some extra songs just to be safe. Playing with the guys was excellent, and already the next day after the audition I got to hear that I had been the best one of the drummers they had auditioned. What followed was yet another audition where we would play more casually and jam."

STRATOVARIUS received more than 100 applications, some of them very competent and high-caliber Finns, but also included were some foreign drummers who had already made a name for themselves.

Timo Kotipelto describes the criteria the band had for the new drummer: "He had to be a really good player, but also a nice guy. We were not looking for a Jörg Michael clone.“

STRATOVARIUS has been an influence for Pilve for years, and now he gets to step into the big boots of his idol. Rolf Pilve will join STRATOVARIUS first time on stage at Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland on July 11.

A short video clip in which French progressive metallers GOJIRA explain the cover artwork of their fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", can be seen below.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" (which translates to "The Wild Child") features 11 tracks of mind-bending, thunderous metal. The CD was recorded at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).

In a recent interview with Metalshrine, GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier stated about the new album title, "We couldn't call it 'The Wild Child', because it's hard to translate 'L'Enfant Sauvage'. It's not really the wild child as understood in English, because a wild child for me, has an aspect like someone out of control somehow. 'L'Enfant Sauvage' in French… 'Sauvage' is something that is not educated or something that is like free and completely free in nature. A wild flower that goes wherever she wants and becomes something beautiful. The idea with 'L'Enfant Sauvage' is like with a human that would grow up in nature, raised by wolves, for example, without the influence from others and the influence from institutions or society in general. Without a social security number. [laughs] Not even a name. This is what you are and I am on the inside, right? How much the education and the culture, emotions and the guilt are interacting with us and it changes us and how far are we from this pure child inside? That's the question we had on this album."

A special collector's package of "L'Enfant Sauvage" will feature two bonus tracks and a double-colored vinyl version of the record, along with an exclusive t-shirt.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" track listing:

01. Explosia
02. L'Enfant Sauvage
03. The Axe
04. Liquid Fire
05. The Wild Healer
06. Planned Obsolescence
07. Mouth Of Kala
08. The Gift Of Guilt
09. Pain Is A Master
10. Born In Winter
11. The Fall

GOJIRA will release a new DVD/Blu-ray, "The Flesh Alive", in the U.S. on July 31 via Mascot. The set will be made available in the following formats:

* 2-DVD+CD
* Blu-ray+CD with free poster

The three-disc "The Flesh Alive" chronicles the making of GOJIRA's 2008 album, "The Way Of All Flesh", and the touring activity that followed the CD's release.

One of the greatest Brazilian heavy metal bands has rejoined forces with its original lead singer after 22 years. VIPER reunited with vocalist André Matos (ANGRA, SHAAMAN) in order to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the release of the group's album "Soldiers Of Sunrise". For the first time ever, VIPER played its first two LPs, "Soldiers Of Sunrise" and "Theater Of Fate", in their entirety, on June 22 at Central Rock Bar in Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

In addition to Matos, VIPER's current lineup includes Pit Passarell (bass, vocals), Felipe Machado (guitar) and Guilherme Martin (drums). Hugo Mariutti has replaced Yves Passarell during the trek, the setlist for which contains "nice surprises for the fans."

The "To Live Again Tour 2012" will take place in July and will be the only opportunity for fans to check out VIPER in this formation.

Rehearsal + Interview: