Professionally filmed video footage of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's June 1 performance at the Rock Am Ring festival in Nürburgring, Germany can be seen below.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE 's April 22 performance at at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival marked the band's first concert with singer Jesse Leach in more than nine years.

Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark 2002 Roadrunner debut "Alive Or Just Breathing". Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on "Alive Or Just Breathing" has always been revered by diehard, longtime KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans.

"Honestly, we didn't want to jump into anything too quickly," Adam told AOL's Noisecreep in a recent interview. "We were in a position where we could take our time and try out as many singers as we wanted. There are a lot of talented singers out there, and we didn't want to rush everything. We ended up mulling it over a bit, and we tried out a few different people.

"When we got back in the rehearsal room with Jesse, it just felt right. He's one of my good friends, and the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time, and all of that stuff, was gone when he jammed with us again. We also knew what Jesse is capable of, so it just took all of us getting in a room together again to remember how cool it once was. He blew us away."

Regarding the reasons for Leach's original departure from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ten years ago and whether those same issues will come into play now, Adam said, "He was feeling a lot of frustration [back in 2002]. He didn't know how to take care of his voice, and he would blow it out every couple of shows. We had to cancel a lot of shows because of that. He was also a newlywed, and they didn't know how tough it would be to be in a relationship when the other person is a road dog. It was a lot of pressure on him. All of those things piled up, and it put him in that bad place. But these days he's really learned how to take care of himself on the road. His marriage is also going great, and they've figured out how to make it work, even though one of them is a touring musician. Jesse's in a much better place now, that's for sure."

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is hard at work on material for the follow-up to 2009's second self-titled album.

In a recent interview with the "Brock And The Fatguy" radio show, Jesse stated about KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's new material, "I have the 14 demos for the new KILLSWITCH record, and let me tell you, I'm glad that they didn't turn into TIMES OF GRACE [songs], and I'm glad that KILLSWITCH is gonna have the opportunity to write another record with me — or a few more, God willing. I can tell you right now from the demos, the people are gonna be really surprised; they're setting the bar up high once again. I'm literally within day three of just listening to them and just sort of digesting them. It's really fast and it's really heavy. It's not what people are going to anticipate, I'm sure. I literally am getting chills right now talking about it. It's gonna blow the doors off people, man. It's gonna be great."

SLIPKNOT will make a "big announcement" on Monday, according to a posting on the band's official Facebook page. The artwork that accompanied the message can be seen below.

As previously announced, SLIPKNOT's greatest-hits album, "Antennas To Hell", is scheduled for release on July 17 via Roadrunner Records.

There is no word yet on which tracks will be included on "Antennas To Hell", and if it will contain any previously unheard music or other bonus content.

SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor has confirmed that the group is finally "putting together demos" for its fifth major label album, which it is expected to begin recording next year for a mid-to-late 2013 release.

SLIPKNOT is getting back to work after an extended hiatus following the passing of bassist Paul Gray in 2010. May 24 was the two-year anniversary of Gray's death from an overdose of drugs.

Playing bass on SLIPKNOT's recent tours has been early band member Donnie Steele. Percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan told The Pulse Of Radio that Steele has been doing a great job, but no decisions on a permanent replacement have been made. "Donnie's a beautiful person and he's just done a remarkable job," he said. "He's always got a smile on his face and he's doing Paul proud and Paul's proud of it and it's amazing. He's filling in for Paul now and we'll see what happens in the future, but it's way too early to even remotely even entertain those ideas."

Crahan said in an interview with Metal Injection in March that all the members of SLIPKNOT had been writing music, adding, "But nothing is done because we're not together yet. And there is no reason to get together and talk about it because there are other things moving, like the grieving process."

SLIPKNOT will headline the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour this summer in the U.S., starting on June 30 in Devore, California.

SKID ROW's Rachel Bolan has laid down the bass tracks on the forthcoming fourth studio album from STONE SOUR, tentatively due in October via Roadrunner Records. He has described the material on the record as "fucking fierce."

A photo of Bolan in the studio with STONE SOUR can be seen below.

STONE SOUR parted ways with bassist Shawn Economaki earlier in the year. The band's guitarist Jim Root stated about the split, "A lot has happened in the past year… We need to move forward and [there will] be more detail when the time is right. He's still a great friend and we're in touch."

Economaki left STONE SOUR in April 2011 in the middle of the "Avalanche Tour" to deal with "personal issues." He was temporarily replaced by Jason Christopher, who has since joined Sebastian Bach's touring band.

STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor recently spoke to Revolver magazine about the band's forthcoming CD. The project — which will likely end up becoming a double effort — will follow up 2010's "Audio Secrecy".

“Picture [PINK FLOYD's] 'The Wall' crossed with ALICE IN CHAINS' 'Dirt' with some good heavy blasts in there," Corey said. "The heaviest song is a total ass-kicker that sounds as if SLAYER and ANTHRAX had a baby. Then, there's a darker bluesy dirge that has the vibe of LED ZEPPELIN's 'In My Time Of Dying'. There's even a little industrial vibe. It's definitely going to blow people's fucking minds.

Taylor added that he came up with a very ambitious concept for the disc.

"The album is a morality play about a man who's standing at the crossroads of his life trying to figure out what to do next," he said. "He's going, 'Do I move foward and evolve? Do I become more responsible or do I run backwards and pilfer the basket of youth?' Sometimes it's romantic to live in the mistakes that you made when you were 20, and condemn yourself to perpetual adolescence."

The album is being recorded at Sound Farm Studios, just outside STONE SOUR's home base of Des Moines, Iowa, with producer David Bottrill (TOOL, MUSE, STAIND).

Guitarist Josh Rand recently said that the CD will be "another progression for the band," adding. "Musically, we have always challenged one another to push things to our limits, and this record is no exception."

Taylor and STONE SOUR guitarist Jim Root will also be busy this summer with SLIPKNOT as that band headlines the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

Camine Appice (ROD STEWART, VANILLA FUDGE, CACTUS), Vinny Appice (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, KILL DEVIL HILL), Frankie Banali (QUIET RIOT), Fred Coury (CINDERELLA), Jimmy D'Anda (BULLETBOYS), Ray Luzier (KORN), Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, ADRENALINE MOB), Glen Sobel (ALICE COOPER), Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, S.U.N.) and Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO) are among the musicians who paid tribute to legendary LED ZEPPELIN drummer John Bonham at "Bonzo's Birthday Bash" this past Thursday, May 31 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

After three groundbreaking tribute shows entitled "Bonzo: The Groove Remains The Same", as well as popular demand and a collective passion and respect amongst all the participating drummers, past and present to Bonham, Brian Tichy and Joe Sutton have decided to go for it once again!

WHITESNAKE drummer and "Bonzo's Birthday Bash" founder Brian Tichy previously stated about the event, "When I first thought of this, the idea seemed too cool and simple NOT to try; get a John Bonham replica drum set, complete with gong and timpani, up front, center stage, and have each drummer perform their favorite LED ZEP song with a house band (THE MOBY DICKS). There are no rules other than to have fun putting your own groove and character into your song choice! It's such a unique night, seeing how all these great drummers approach the same drum set making it their own! And THE MOBY DICKS hold their own as a true force to be reckoned with! We have structure and within the structure there is total freedom, making the pace and vibe of this show somewhere between a backyard party and a.... backyard party with a killer band playing LED ZEP songs! Haha! Our previous shows were named 'The Groove Remains The Same', but this tribute falls on Bonzo's exact birthday and we wanted to let that be known!

"I am a tried and true Zep Head; a total Bonzo freak! Bonzo is my lifelong most 'listened to' drummer! This is a labor of love. The camaraderie and ego-less respect amongst all involved is something very rare to be a part of these days. Ask any of us! We've never been part of a show quite like this before! There has never been a tribute like this to a musician before! John Bonham deserves it! Bonzo's Birthday Bash is the ultimate tribute show and that's that!"

THE MOBY DICKS lineup:

* Michael Devin (WHITESNAKE) - bass (Whitesnake)
* Stephen LeBlanc (JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEP EXPERIENCE) - keyboards
* Keith St. John (MONTROSE) - Vocals
* Brian Tichy (S.U.N.) - Guitar, Drums
* Brent Woods (BRENTWOOD FOREST) - Lead And Rhythm Guitars

"Just Like Charlie Sheen", the new video from the hard-rocking Ohio trio AMERICAN DOG — consisting of Michael Hannon (lead vocals, electric bass), Steve Theado (guitar, vocals) and Michael "Hazard" Harris (drums) — can be seen below. The track comes off the band's sixth studio album, "Poison Smile", which will be released on June 6 via Colonial Canine in North America and Bad Reputation in Europe. The CD is now available for pre-order on AMERICAN DOG's web site in two different packages. The seluxe version of "Poison Smile" comes with an autographed poster, a three-piece collectors' button set, a sticker and an embroidered patch.

"Poison Smile" features a "Dogatized" version of THE CRAMPS classic "Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?"

A video for "Just Like Charlie Sheen" will debut on the June 8 release date.

AMERICAN DOG will celebrate the release of the CD with a free show on Saturday, June 9 at the Cock-n-Bull in Summit Station, Ohio.

"Poison Smile" track listing:

01. Devil Dog
02. Just Like Charlie Sheen
03. Old Dog, New Tricks
04. The Real Nitty Gritty
05. 2012 A.D.
06. Poison Smile
07. Lust And Greed
08. Bathroom Romance
09. Splinterin' Sally
10. Off The Chain
11. Can Your Pussy Do The Dog?

Original BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler are working on their first new album together in 33 years with legendary producer Rick Rubin (seven-time Grammy winner, two of those as "Producer Of The Year") for release worldwide on Vertigo, and Vertigo/Universal Republic in the U.S.

Speaking to NME.com in a video interview you can watch at this location, the band discussed the direction of the new material, the influence of Rubin and their recent Download warm-up gig in Birmingham.

Commenting on the progress of the sessions, Osbourne said: We've written about 15 songs so far, whether they'll get on an album [I don't know]… You just keep on writing. I was trying to [work out]: where would we be now musically if we'd have stayed together?"

He added: "Next year — 2013 — is a good clue of what we'll call the album."

Regarding how Rubin approached the writing sessions with the band, Butler said, "He sat us down, put the first album on and said 'listen to this', imagine it's 1969, you've just done that, what would you do next?"

Iommi also discussed his battle with cancer and how playing with the band at their comeback show at O2 Academy Birmingham last month (May 19) gave him a "boost." He said: "It was great. Going through what I've gone through over the past year has been like living in a different world — being onstage and to get that [reaction from the fans] is just fantastic, it really boosts you up."

BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward recently announced again that he was declining to join his former bandmates for its scheduled 2012 dates, as well as the recording of a new album, due to a contractual dispute.

He also allegedly had his lawyers direct SABBATH to remove him from photos of the band posted at the official BLACK SABBATH web site "so as to not give the public the wrong impression about his involvement in the current BLACK SABBATH lineup," according to a statement issued by the band's publicist.

Geezer Butler issued a lengthy retort at his own web site, writing that Ward "hadn't told any one of us he was having contractual problems, and frankly those things are worked out between our representatives, and never between the four of us let alone in public."

Butler added that the band did not expect to make a lot of money from its Download appearance and planned to donate the proceeds from the Birmingham gig, saying, "Apparently, this wasn't acceptable to Bill's representatives, they wanted an amount that was so unrealistic that it seemed to have been a joke."

In addition to Download, the members of SABBATH will play at Lollapalooza this August in Chicago, their only scheduled U.S. gig. The rest of the scheduled SABBATH tour dates are being played by Ozzy and billed as "Ozzy & Friends."

Cherry Lane Music has set a June 29 release date for the official, note-for-note matching guitar tab book for "Lulu", the band's collaborative album with Lou Reed. It is now available for purchase from MusicDispatch.com.

In a recent interview with SPIN magazine, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich was asked if he was surprised by the overwhelmingly negative reaction to "Lulu". "It was more spiteful than anyone was prepared for," Lars replied. "Especially against Lou. He is such a sweet man. But when METALLICA do impulsive riffing and Lou Reed is reciting abstract poetry about German bohemians from 150 years ago, it can be difficult to embrace."

Lars also said that he never had second thoughts when sweet Lou came in with lyrics like "I swallow your sharpest cutter / Like a colored man's dick". "I understand that to some 13-year-old in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, it can all seem a little cringe-worthy, but to someone raised in an art community in Copenhagen in the late '60s, that was expected," he said.

Ulrich told Brazil's Wikimetal last September that he felt good about recording "Lulu", which came out to poor sales and disastrous reviews last November. Ulrich said, "It's definitely very unique, and whether it's unique in a good way or unique in a not-so-good way, I have no idea yet. The people whose opinions I trust say it's very good. It feels very good; it's a lot of fun to do. But whether it's making a new sound, or paving a new way, I have no idea."

The drummer added that METALLICA's success has given them the freedom to try new things, which is essential to the band's longevity. He explained, "I think that 30 years in, we have to kind of do these things to keep us alive. If we get stuck doing the same thing over and over again, it becomes automatic . . . that's not the band I'd like METALLICA to be. I know some people would like METALLICA to make the same record every two years, but that's not what I want METALLICA to do, and I'm not interested in doing that."

"Lulu" polarized fans around the world and earned METALLICA some of the most scathing reviews of its career. The effort features the former THE VELVET UNDERGROUND frontman's spoken-word poetry and lyrics combined with METALLICA's musical assault for a jarring experience that doesn't sound like anything METALLICA has ever attempted before. A concept album based on two early 20th century plays by German author Frank Wedekind, the CD was co-produced by Reed, METALLICA, Hal Willner — who has produced albums for Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and Laurie Anderson, among others — and Greg Fidelman. Fidelman also mixed the record.

The collaboration between METALLICA and Reed was sparked by their performance together of Reed's "Sweet Jane" and "White Light/White Heat" at the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at Madison Square Garden in October of 2009.

The songs were all written by Reed with extensive arrangement contributions by METALLICA.

Only two songs on the album are under five minutes in length, while two are more than 11 minutes long and the closing cut, "Junior Dad", clocks in at 19 minutes.

Capital Chaos has uploaded multi-camera video footage of CATTLE DECAPITATION's May 9 performance at The Plea For Peace Center in Stockton, California. Check it out below.

CATTLE DECAPITATION's new album, "Monolith Of Inhumanity", sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 6 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.

CATTLE DECAPITATION's previous CD, 2009's "The Harvest Floor", opened with 1,700 units to debut at No. 16 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.

Released on May 8, "Monolith Of Inhumanity" was produced by Dave Otero of Denver's Flatline Audio and sees the band exploring innovative new techniques in songwriting without abandoning their signature formula of confrontational audio wreckage and self-loathing lyrical content.

German thrashers EXUMER are filming their first-ever official video in their 27-year long history today in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The clip will feature the title track of the band's latest album, "Fire And Damnation", which was released last month via Metal Blade Records.

EXUMER is in the middle of its "South American Damnation" tour with Danish thrashers ARTILLERY, trekking through Argentina, Chile and Brazil.

Commented EXUMER vocalist Mem V. Stein: "It's an amazing opportunity for us to film our first video clip in a country that has a deep connection to the band since the 1980s. Our fans here in Brazil have been very vocal about us returning to play live since the band's last tour in 1988, and there is no better way to document our return to Brazil than to capture it all on camera."

EXUMER's first album in 24 years , "Fire & Damnation", was released in North America on April 10 via Metal Blade Records. The 10-track CD, which was recorded with renowned producer Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., THERION, SODOM, MOONSPELL), "combines a punishing production with aggressive songwriting," according to a press release. "EXUMER manages to capture the intensity and feel of the 1980s thrash metal gems and yet sound up to date on their latest output."

"Fire & Damnation" track listing:

01. Fire & Damnation
02. Vermin Of The Sky
03. The Weakest Limb
04. A New Morality
05. Waking The Fire
06. Fallen Saint
07. Crushing Point
08. Devil Chaser
09. I Dare You
10. Tribal Furies
11. Destructive Solution (bonus live track)
12. A Mortal In Black (bonus live track)
13. Xiron Darkstar (bonus live track)

EXUMER is:

Mem V. Stein - Vocals
Ray Mensh - Guitar
T. Schiavo - Bass
H.K. - Guitar
Matthias Kassner - Drums

Formed in 1985 by Mem V. Stein and guitarist Ray Mensh, EXUMER went on to release two albums (1986's "Possessed By Fire" and 1987's "Rising From The Sea") that are regarded as some of the most cult thrash metal releases ever to come out of Germany. EXUMER was also one of the first thrash metal acts to capture exotic, foreign markets like Poland and Brazil, where their albums were domestically released in the 1980s. The subsequent tours that followed those releases secured the band live shows in front of thousands of fans and an unusually large following outside of Germany.

Plagued by lineup changes and internal turmoil, the band broke up in 1990, and did not perform live, with the exception of 2001 appearance at the prestigious Wacken Open Air festival, until 2009.

Mem and Ray decided to re-activate EXUMER in 2008, and the band embarked on their first tour since 1988. The "5 Nights of Fire Tour", took the band through Europe (Germany, Holland, Greece), and the USA, where they headlined the "Thrasho de Mayo Festival" in front of 1,300 fans in Los Angeles.

EXUMER returned to Europe in spring and the fall of 2010, where the band appeared at Norway's Inferno Festival, among other stops in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Bulgaria during the "European Ignition Tour Part I & II".

"Fire & Damnation" (song) audio stream:

Official Metallica.com footage of METALLICA's meet-and-greet, pre-show tuning-room jam and "Wherever I May Roam" performance at the Sonisphere - Getafe Open Air festival on May 26 in Madrid, Spain can be viewed below.

METALLICA performed its top-selling 1991 LP, "Metallica", a.k.a. "the black album," in its entirety at the Madrid concert. As they have done on all the shows on their current European tour, the band played the LP backwards, starting with closing number "The Struggle Within" and ending with "Enter Sandman".

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Hit The Lights
02. Master Of Puppets
03. The Shortest Straw
04. For Whom The Bell Tolls
05. Hell And Back
06. The Struggle Within
07. My Friend Of Misery
08. The God That Failed
09. Of Wolf & Man
10. Nothing Else Matters
11. Through The Never
12. Don't Tread On Me
13. Wherever I May Roam
14. The Unforgiven
15. Holier Than Thou
16. Sad But True
17. Enter Sandman

Encore:

18. Battery
19. One
20. Seek & Destroy

Asked whose idea it was for METALLICA to play the "black" album in reverse on the current tour, the band's drummer, Lars Ulrich, told Rolling Stone magazine, "If you like the idea, it was mine. If you don't, it was James' [Hetfield, guitar/vocals]. For better or worse, I'm the setlist guy. This is all subject to change if it doesn't work. But the idea of starting off with the lesser-known songs buried down there and ending up with 'Sad But True' and 'Enter Sandman' seems like a winner. You finish with the money shot, which is the first song."

On the topic of the "black" album's shift away from sped metal to shorter, simpler songs, which set the tone for the rest of METALLICA's career, Lars said, "I'm a big believer that the records all thread together. That straighter, four-on-the-floor thing was present on earlier records, in 'Harvester Of Sorrow' and 'Ride The Lightning'. But we went all-out because there was nowhere else to go. Where do you go after 'Dyer's Eve'? You can't get faster. You can't get more pissed off than Hetfield barking at his parents. That was the end of the Eighties for us."

He continued, "We played a show with AEROSMITH in the summer of 1990, right at the time we started writing the 'black' album. I remember sitting under the grandstand with [co-manager] Cliff Burnstein. He said, 'The MISFITS are a huge part of your influence — 'Last Caress' is a minute and a half long, [THE ROLLING STONES'] 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' is part of who you are. You just haven't released it yet.'

"I went back to San Francisco and there was a riff on Kirk's [Hammett, guitar] on tape [hums the 'Enter Sandman' lick]. The whole thing is just that riff. 'Enter Sandman' was the blueprint. The rest of the record appeared over two months."

METALLICA will play the complete "black album" at its own Orion Music + More festival, scheduled for June 23-24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. METALLICA is headlining both days and will perform its entire 1984 album "Ride The Lightning" for the first time ever on the other day of the festival.

"Metallica" in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN's 1997 record, "Come On Over", as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era. To date, the black album has sold 15,776,000 copies in the United States.

Although METALLICA had scored their first radio and video airplay with their previous effort, 1988's "...And Justice For All", the black album was the band's biggest commercial breakthrough, producing five singles and making them into one of the most popular rock bands in the world.

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Izzy Stradlin joined his former band on stage this past Thursday night (May 31) at the O2 Arena in London, England to perform the songs "14 Years", "You Could Be Mine", Dead Flowers", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", "Nightrain" and "Paradise City".

Better-quality fan-filmed video footage of the "14 Years" performance can be seen below.

A number of photos taken at the concert are available at this location.

The last time the "Use Your Illusion II" track "14 Years" was performed live by GUNS N' ROSES was in August 1991, also in London.

Stradlin previously played with GN'R at a few shows in 2006.

Both Izzy and GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose skipped the band's recent induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Stradlin issued a statement the week before the induction, thanking his bandmates, the Hall Of Fame for "the acknowledgment of our works over the years," and the fans who "have supported GUNS N' ROSES from day one."

Former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan joined Axl Rose on stage for the first time in seventeen years at the band's October 14, 2010 concert in London.

For the Rock Hall induction performance, McKagan, guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler were joined by guitarist Gilby Clarke and drummer Matt Sorum for three songs — "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City" — from the band's classic 1987 debut, "Appetite For Destruction". Providing vocals in the absence of Axl Rose was Myles Kennedy, the singer for ALTER BRIDGE and Slash's current solo band.

Sorum played drums for "Mr. Brownstone", while original drummer Adler took over for the other two songs.

ENCHANT, the long-running San Francisco Bay Area long progressive rock band, has inked a new longterm worldwide deal with its perennial label partner, InsideOut Music. The group is currently writing and demoing material for a new album, tentatively due in early 2013.

Originally founded in 1989 and with seven studio albums under their belts, ENCHANT's last official release was the "Live At Last" 2CD/2DVD set, which came out in 2004.

"It's been way too long!" says Douglas A. Ott, main songwriter and guitarist of ENCHANT. "We had to take time off from ENCHANT because a lot was going on in all of our lives. Divorces, marriages, kids, separations... finally the band is stable again and ready to get going on the new album!"

Ott adds, "Everyone is really excited and looking forward to the process again. I'm currently doing preproduction and putting together demos of the new material and very shortly I'll start recording the real tracks. We're taking our time and really focusing on the writing and arranging of this new material."

Thomas Waber, founder and label manager of InsideOut Music, comments on the return of ENCHANT: "InsideOut Music as a label has a long history with ENCHANT and I am very happy that they are making a new album right now. Hopefully we can add many more fond memories to the relationship! It's great to have them back!"

ENCHANT vocalist Ted Leonard (SPOCK'S BEARD, THOUGHT CHAMBER) recently made an appearance on on AFFECTOR's debut album, "Harmagedon", out now on InsideOut Music.

ENCHANT 2012 lineup:

Ted Leonard - Lead Vocals
Douglas Ott - Guitars And Backing Vocals
Ed Platt - Bass Guitar And Bass Pedals
Bill Jenkins - Keyboards
Sean Flanegan - Drums

VINTERSORG, the Swedish folk metal led by BORKNAGAR frontman Andreas Hedlund (a.k.a. Vintersorg), will release its ninth album, "Orkan", on June 29 via Napalm Records.

According to a press release, "Orkan" "combines the best of two worlds. Namely, [Hedlund's] folk-tinged roots and the progressive songwriting of his latest works. The eight tracks provide the listener with rousing and hymn-like refrains, extreme diversified vocal parts, superb riffs and brilliant melodies. Above all the compositions tower VINTERSORG's highly unique vocals which show a wide range of new facets. The new opus is therefore a highly interesting and recommendable album, comprised of all periods of the Swede's creative musical life, thus achieving a whole new level of songwriting."

In a recent interview with Global Metal Apocalypse, Hedlund stated about "Orkan", "VINTERSORG has always been a band that has evolved with every new album and that's a very strong foundation in our art. To feel free to evolve and discover new grounds to embrace, just follow where the inspiration takes you and not calculate how that will affect the band commercially, that's what real art is about from where I'm standing. The album is a continuation from the last one, 'Jordpuls', but with some fresh angles and a more perfected production, I would say. Some songs have a bit darker atmosphere, but I'm all from the inside… so it'll be interesting to see what people from the outside will think. . . It's an album where all the songs need to be there to have the total atmosphere of what we wanted to achieve this time around, but songs like 'Istid', 'Polarnatten' and 'Myren' is some that will dwell your mind for a while, I guess."

"Orkan" track listing:

01. Istid
02. Ur Stjärnstoft Är Vi Komna
03. Polarnatten
04. Myren
05. Orkan
06. Havets Nåd
07. Norrskenssyner
08. Urvädersfången

North Carolina thrashers EUGENIC DEATH have inked a deal with Heaven And Hell Records. The band is currently in the studio recording its debut album, "Crimes Against Humanity", for a summer release.

EUGENIC DEATH is an "uncompromising old-school thrash band" featuring Jonathan McCanless (guitar), Keith Davis (vocals), Shane Lucas (bass), and Ian Pasquini (drums). The group's 2011 demo, "The Devil Waits", has spread through the underground rapidly and now time has come to unleash them to the rest of the world. With a sound akin to ONSLAUGHT, DEMOLITION HAMMER and the Bay Area scene, EUGENIC DEATH stays true to its roots with determination to make it faster and more aggressive. The goal of this band is to attack your senses with unrelenting force.

"Crimes Against Humanity" track listing:

01. The Practice
02. Medication Time
03. Indicative Deity
04. Crimes
05. Medication Time
06. Plagued by Ignorance
07. Epitaph

Das neue MARDUK Album "Serpent Sermon" wurde bei uns am 25. Mai 2012 veröffentlicht. Zur Veröffentlichung am 5. Juni 2012 in den USA wurde das neue Album jetzt HIER komplett zum probehören online gestellt.

"Serpent Sermon" Track List:

01. Serpent Sermon
02. Messianic Pestilence
03. Souls For Belial
04. Into Second Death
05. Temple Of Decay
06. Damnation's Gold
07. Hail Mary (Piss-soaked Genuflexion
08. M.A.M.M.O.N
09. Gospel Of The Worm
10. World Of Blades

ANTIMATTER, the U.K. project whose recording/touring lineup has included current and former members of ANATHEMA, has signed a new two-album deal with Prophecy Productions. Work on the band's fifth LP, "Fear Of A Unique Identity" (formerly "Wide Awake In The Concrete Asylum") is largely completed; its release is tentatively scheduled for the second half year. ANTIMATTER's Mick Moss has also announced plans to release another album in 2013, entitled "The Judas Table".

Commented Moss: "I'm energized to be working again with the label who guided ANTIMATTER through its first decade of existence. If any label deserves these next ANTIMATTER albums, it is Prophecy Productions."

"Fear Of A Unique Identity" will be mastered later this month by Maor Appelbaum (SEPULTURA, THE MISSION, HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Paranova
02. Monochrome
03. Firewalking
04. Here Come The Men
05. Fear Of A Unique Identity
06. Uniformed And Black
07. Wide Awake In The Concrete Asylum
08. The Parade
09. A Place In The Sun

According to Moss, "Fear Of A Unique Identity" "is about the roleplay that goes on in an urban environment. People sell themselves to the common mindset, and if that mindset is evil or aggressive, then they just allow themselves to go with it rather than being 'the odd one out'. This is an extremely dangerous behaviour, and there are plenty of examples in history where this can escalate to something much, much worse."

Prophecy's original contract with Mick Moss and his ANTIMATTER bandmate Duncan Patterson was signed ten years ago in spring 2002 and was the foundation of a fruitful collaboration spanning four albums — "Saviour" (2002), "Lights Out" (2003), "Planetary Confinement" (2005), and "Leaving Eden" (2008) — as well as the comprehensive anniversary compilation "Alternative Matter" (2010).

Chicago-based extremists NACHTMYSTIUM will release their sixth album, "Silencing Machine", on July 31 via Century Media Records. The CD, which is described by frontman/lead guitarist Blake Judd, as "a fuckin' black metal record," was recorded at Engine Studios with the band's own synths/electronics specialist Sanford Parker (YOB, PELICAN) handling production duties.

The "Silencing Machine" title track can be streamed at Pitchfork.com.

Commented Judd: "Thinking back to when we signed to Century Media and decided to do those metal records, I wanted to do two really weird records and then go back to what we've been doing. This was in 2007 and it just so happened that my thought process stayed with me for many years. I missed the live energy of the more agressive stuff. The last two records weren't really that aggressive and they were definitely a step away from that raw black metal foundation we started with.

"I wanted to bring it back for some personal reasons: I like it live a lot and I think it has some great energy. And I really didn't know where to go next with that whole adventuring process we did on those last two records. It's just not what we wanted to do for this record; we wanted to capture what we sound like live in the studio. On this record, there's never more going on in a song than we're capable of recreating live, which is a really big thing for us, because there's so much on those last two records that we can't play without having a number of extra musicians onstage at any given time.

"Overall, my interest in metal has come back, now that I've been away from Battle Kommand and working in record stores for a number of years. I've finally been able to get back into metal as a fan. I got really burned out on it. But now I pay more attention to the bands I like from the genre and I found some new stuff. We're also touring with a lot of metal bands and I've seen some really cool stuff. I think that's rubbed off on us as well."

Gothenburg, Sweden-based psychedelic doom rock band GRAVEYARD has released its own beer, Hisingen Brew. According to the group, it is "made from special Cascade-hops that makes it taste even better lukewarm for your festival nights."

Hisingen Brew is only available in Sweden (in an "ölflak") for the time being and it can be ordered from Systembolaget.

GRAVEYARD was honored with the "Best Hard Rock/Metal" award at the Swedish "Grammis" gala, which was held on February 14 at Kungliga Operan in Stockholm.

The nominees in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal" category were as follows:

* GRAVEYARD - "Hisingen Blues"
* HAMMERFALL - "Infected"
* IN FLAMES - "Sounds Of A Playground Fading"
* OPETH - "Heritage"
* THE HAUNTED - "Unseen"

The bands were all nominated for their most recent releases, all of which came out during 2011.

Last year's Grammis award in the "Best Hard Rock" category went to WATAIN for the band's "Lawless Darkness" album.

GRAVEYARD's second full-length album, "Hisingen Blues", sold 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 48 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.

"Hisingen Blues" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 1. The CD, which was released in North America on April 19, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records, was produced, recorded, and mixed in 100 percent analog by Don Alsterberg (JOSÉ GONZALES, JUNIP, SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES, THE INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONSPIRACY) at Don Pierre Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The third in a series of teaser clips for the forthcoming SLIPKNOT greatest-hits album, "Antennas To Hell", can be seen below. The latest clip focuses on the band's late bassist, Paul Gray

"Antennas To Hell" is scheduled for release on July 17 via Roadrunner Records.

There is no word yet on which tracks will be included on "Antennas To Hell", and if it will contain any previously unheard music or other bonus content.

As previously reported, SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor has confirmed that the group is finally "putting together demos" for its fifth major label album, which it is expected to begin recording next year for a mid-to-late 2013 release.

SLIPKNOT is getting back to work after an extended hiatus following the passing of Gray in 2010. May 24 was the two-year anniversary of Gray's death from an overdose of drugs.

Playing bass on SLIPKNOT's recent tours has been early band member Donnie Steele. Percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan told The Pulse Of Radio that Steele has been doing a great job, but no decisions on a permanent replacement have been made. "Donnie's a beautiful person and he's just done a remarkable job," he said. "He's always got a smile on his face and he's doing Paul proud and Paul's proud of it and it's amazing. He's filling in for Paul now and we'll see what happens in the future, but it's way too early to even remotely even entertain those ideas."

Crahan said in an interview with Metal Injection in March that all the members of SLIPKNOT had been writing music, adding, "But nothing is done because we're not together yet. And there is no reason to get together and talk about it because there are other things moving, like the grieving process."

SLIPKNOT will headline the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour this summer in the U.S., starting on June 30 in Devore, California.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, AEROSMITH members Steven Tyler and Joe Perry will present actor Johnny Depp with the Generation Award at this year's MTV Movie Awards.

The actor is being given the accolade as a celebration of his contribution to cinema over the last twenty years, in films such as "Edward Scissorhands", "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" and "Sleepy Hollow".

The MTV Movie Awards will be hosted by comedian Russell Brand and will air live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Depp joined Alice Cooper, Perry and Tyler on stage at the premier after-party for the new Tim Burton film, "Dark Shadows", on May 7 to play THE BEATLES classic "Come Together".

Australian/Los Angeles tech-metal masters DEVOLVED will release their new album in November. All music was written and performed by John Sankey and Mark Hawkins (ROBOTS PULLING LEVERS), with lyrics and arrangement by Sankey. The vocals were performed by DEVOLVED's new lead singer, Mark Haggblad (UNVEIL THE STRENGTH), following the departure of Kyle Zemanek (DEADSETT). The CD will feature guest appearances from several noteable artists, including ALL SHALL PERISH guitarist Francesco Artusato. Songtitles set to appear on the effort include "Systematic Avenger", "Collateral Damage", "Accelerated Human Degeneration" and "Terminal Enslavement".

A demo version of "Systematic Avenger" can be streamed in the the YouTube clip below.

Commented Sankey: "This is the fastest, heaviest and most accomplished DEVOLVED album yet. We pushed the boundaries as far as possible with these songs, I can't wait for people to hear it!"

In related news, Sankey has just completed laying down drum tracks for the debut album from his other band, THRONE OF ASHES.

Sankey late last year recorded all the demo drum sessions for the new FEAR FACTORY album, "The Industrialist", and co-wrote and programmed all the drum parts, along with FF guitarist Dino Cazares, for the final CD. He was unable to join FEAR FACTORY as the band's new touring drummer due to visa restrictions.

Cazares previously stated about the new DEVOLVED material, "Systematic brutality at its best. Raising the bar once again with their intellectual song arrangements [and] insane drum patterns that would make any tech metal fan turn their heads. This band just keeps getting better and better. Welcome to the end of everything that you once knew and say hello to the future."

DEVOLVED's last album, "Oblivion", was released in May 2011 via Unique Leader Records.

Legendary Swedish doom metallers CANDLEMASS have released the following statement:

"We are sorry to inform you that Robert Lowe is no longer the singer for CANDLEMASS. It has been a very difficult decision for the band and has mainly to do with the quality of the live performances.

"For the upcoming shows, Robert will be replaced with Mats Levén [YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, TREAT, ADAGIO, AT VANCE, KRUX], longtime friend of the band. We are convinced this will work out just great.

"The band is currently rehearsing new and old songs with Mats and we know that nobody attending the gigs at Debaser Slussen, Metaltown, Borås or Southern Discomfort will be disappointed.

"Bring you earplugs….it will be hard, massive and loud!

"Keyboard player Per Wiberg [OPETH, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS] is also joining CANDLEMASS onstage for the live shows."

Lowe — who is still a member of SOLITUDE AETERNUS — joined CANDLEMASS in January 2007 and sang on the band's last three studio albums: "King Of The Grey Islands" (2007), "Death Magic Doom" (2009) and "Psalms For The Dead" (2012).

CANDLEMASS will release its 11th and final album, "Psalms For The Dead", on June 8 via Napalm Records. A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single contaning two album tracks —"Dancing In The Temple Of The Mad Queen Bee" and "The Killing Of The Sun" — preceded the full-length effort on April 13.

CANDLEMASS will celebrate the release of the new album with June 5 performance at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm, Sweden. The band will play a full set that will contain songs from the new CD, a few surprises and some classics.

"Psalms For The Dead" track listing:

01. Prophet
02. The Sound Of Dying Demons
03. Dancing In The Temple (Of The Mad Queen Bee)
04. Waterwitch
05. The Lights Of Thebe
06. Psalms For The Dead
07. The Killing Of The Sun
08. Siren Song
09. Black As Time
10. Sadness Runs Deep (7" bonus single)
11. Beneath The Fire (7" bonus single)

"This record represents everything that is CANDLEMASS," Leif Edling states. "It is big, fat, epic and heavy, and it’s also metal as fuck! We couldn't have done a better album! It's our last one and we put just all we had into it. 'Psalms For The Dead' is an album about the presence and absence of time, false prophets and inner demons....hymns, regret and farewell. Let there be doom!"

Despite the fact that "Psalms For The Dead" is being billed as CANDLEMASS' final studio album, Edling told Terrorizer magazine in a recent interview that the group is not planning on hanging it up anytime soon.

"We're not splitting up," he said. "Yes, this is to be our last album, but we don't plan to disappear from the scene for quite awhile. We will tour this year, hopefully the next one as well, and then there's our upcoming 30th anniversary. So plenty more doom to come! It's just that we want to stop before we get too old and start putting out half-lame albums. Instead, we'll slowly fade away into the sunset with our dignity intact. We're not young anymore. Actually, some of the stuff I've been writing for this album ism in fact, about saying goodbye. It's a bit psalm-like in parts and has got a big epic vibe."

He added, "I have got a very good feeling about this album. It's so metal, so heavy, so doomy, so epic.. It's fucking colossal! I think this will turn out as good as [2009's] 'Death Magic Doom', something I thought would be impossible."

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — who late last year confirmed the recording of their first new album in more than 33 years and a worldwide headlining tour — had to put some plans on hold due to guitarist Tony Iommi's battle with lymphoma. At this time, BLACK SABBATH will perform only one show of this summer's previously scheduled European tour. It will take place Sunday, June 10 at the U.K.'s Download festival.

So as not to let the promoters and fans down, SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne is now performing the majority of the previously scheduled BLACK SABBATH European dates (both festival performances and the headlining shows) billed as OZZY OSBOURNE & FRIENDS. These "first-ever" OZZY OSBOURNE & FRIENDS shows are featuring appearances by "special guest" musicians, including Geezer Butler (who is joining Ozzy for a special BLACK SABBATH set as a show of respect and support to their friend, Tony Iommi) and longtime former Ozzy bandmember Zakk Wylde. In addition, Ozzy is being accompanied by longtime collaborator and friend Slash at select shows, with other "special guests" set to join the tour at various stops along the way (full list of dates, appearances below).

The fifth OZZY OSBOURNE & FRIENDS concert took place last night (Thursday, May 31) at Spektrum in Oslo, Norway.

The setlist for the show was as follows:

Ozzy Osbourne (vocals)
Gus G. (guitar)
Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (bass)
Tommy Clufetos (drums)

01. Bark At The Moon
02. Mr. Crowley
03. Suicide Solution
04. I Don't Know
05. Killer Of Giants
06. Shot In The Dark
07. Rat Salad (BLACK SABBATH song)

Ozzy Osbourne (vocals)
Slash (guitar)
Gus G. (guitar)
Geezer Butler (bass)
Tommy Clufetos (drums)

08. Iron Man (BLACK SABBATH song)
09. War Pigs (BLACK SABBATH song)
10. N.I.B. (BLACK SABBATH song)

Ozzy Osbourne (vocals)
Zakk Wylde (guitar)
Geezer Butler (bass)
Tommy Clufetos (drums)

11. Fairies Wear Boots (BLACK SABBATH song)
12. Into The Void (BLACK SABBATH song)

Ozzy Osbourne (vocals)
Zakk Wylde (guitar)
Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (bass)
Tommy Clufetos (drums)

13. I Don't Want To Change The World
14. Crazy Train
15. Mama, I'm Coming Home

Encore (everybody on stage):

16. Paranoid (BLACK SABBATH song)

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

The lyric video for the song "Pride" from Atlanta-based thundergrinders PRIMATE can be seen below.

Having signed with Relapse Records last year, PRIMATE will formally unleash its debut LP via the label next month.

PRIMATE features the distinctive vocal stylings of Kevin Sharp (BRUTAL TRUTH), ripping fret-board antics by Bill Kelliher (MASTODON) and Mike Brennan, SST-style bass work and backing vocals by Dave Whitworth, and is rounded out by d-beat defender Shayne Huff.

After seeing a limited release by the band directly via a 1,000-run CD pressing in March 2011, PRIMATE's crushing "Draw Back A Stump" will receive an official worldwide Relapse release on July 3 on CD, LP and deluxe digital download. The seven hymns from the initial version now include additional rhythm guitars and have been remixed and remastered, and are joined with three additional previously-unreleased bonus tracks on this edition.

An all-star band comprised of extreme music scene vets hellbent on delivering Grade-A punk the likes of which has not been set loose on the ears of the world since the glory days hardcore, PRIMATE channel decades of international extreme music influences into a glorious record of hellish rage all their own. Upon its initial release Decibel magazine praised "Draw Back A Stump", calling it "grind with elements of classic U.K. crust, Swedish D-beat and American hardcore, plus just enough experimentation to create the aural equivalent of a watch throwing springs and gears in every direction while keeping perfect time," with Metal-Army America adding "'Draw Back A Stump' has all the bells and whistles of old-school hardcore and the best of modern sludgey-grind" and Grind To Death boasted the record is "like no other grind I have heard...borrowing from the crisp clean metal stylings and structures merged with the rhythmical pogo stick bouncings of punk to make its own blend of music."

"Draw Back A Stump" track listing:

01. Draw Back A Stump
02. Global Division
03. Hellbound
04. Silence of Violence [bonus]
05. Drinking and Driving
06. March of the Curmudgeon [bonus]
07. Wasted Youth
08. Pride
09. Get The Fuck Off My Lawn [bonus]
10. Reform?

PRIMATE is:

Kevin Sharp - Vocals
Mike Brennan - Guitar
Bill Kelliher - Guitar
Dave Whitworth - Bass/Vocals
Shayne Huff - Drums

"Celebrator", a collection of rare tracks from U.D.O., the German metal band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, 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 will be released in North America on June 19.

"Celebrator" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Stormbreaker ("Rev-Raptor" Japan BONUS)
02. Tallyman (Taken from the "Rev-Raptor" recording session)
03. Run! (Remix)
04. Free Or Rebellion (bonus "Leatherhead" Single)
05. Bleeding Heart ("Dominator" Japan bonus)
06. The Silencer (Taken from the "Dominator" recording session)
07. Bodyworld (bonus "Infected" Single)
08. Systematic Madness (bonus "Infected" Single)
09. HAMMERFALL feat. Udo Dirkschneider - Head Over Heels
10. Balls To The Wall (piano version)
11. Artificialized (Taken from the "Mastercutor" recording session)
12. LORDI feat. Udo Dirkschneider - They Only Come Out At Night
13. Streets Of Sin (bonus "Wrong Side Of Midnight" single)

CD 2:

01. Tears Of A Clown ("Classical Version")
02. Man A King Ruler ("Mastercutor" Japan bonus)
03. Hardcore Lover (remix from "24/7" single)
04. Scream Killers (bonus "24/7" single)
05. U.D.O. feat. Faktor2 - Platchet Soldat (remix with national Russian artist)
06. Borderline ("Thunderball" Japan bonus)
07. U.D.O. feat. Doro - Dancing With An Angel (remix)
08. X-T-C (remix from "A Tribute To ACCEPT Vol. 2")
09. Azrael (remix from "No Limits")
10. The Key (remix from "No Limits" Japan bonus)
11. Metal Gods (from "A Tribute To Judas Priest")
12. RAVEN feat. Udo Dirkschneider - Born To Be Wild

Check out audio samples using the SoundCloud player below (courtesy of Metal Hammer).

U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 perormance at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria was professionally filmed for the band's next official live DVD, tentatively titled "Rev-Raptor Tour - Live from Sofia", for an August/September release.

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.

"I Said It", a brand new song from NONPOINT, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. 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).

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. Tickets for all headlining dates go on sale today (Friday, June 1).

Commented Soriano, "We are about to hit the road and wanted to give our diehards an exclusive advance mix version of a brand new song we just finished called 'I Said It'. We're excited to play this one along with a few other new songs live soon so show your love in the pit when you hear them!"

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.

"Crush", the new video from VEXT — the new New Jersey/New York-based heavy rock band featuring singer Tommy Vext (DIVINE HERESY, SNOT), guitar virtuoso Angel Vivaldi, and the rhythm section of the now-disbanded MUTINY WITHIN (Andrew Jacobs on bass and Bill Fore on drums) — can be seen below. The song comes off the group's debut EP, "Impermanence", which is scheduled for release on July 3.

"Impermanence" track listing:

01. Exit Wounds
02. In The End
03. Crush
04. Hourglass

The cover artwork of "Impermanence" can be seen below. Also available is a stream of the EP's first single, "In The End".

VEXT is:

Tommy Vext - Vocals
Angel Vivaldi - Guitar
Andrew Jacobs - Bass
Bill Fore - Drums

All copies that are pre-ordered will be autographed by the bandmembers. The EP will also be available on iTunes and many other digital retailers.

VEXT will play a pre-release show on June 12 at Sullivan Hall in New York City.

These four musicians came together in search of a different sound since they had all been previously involved with more extreme metal projects. How they came to know one another is a quite unconventional.

On the evening of September 19, 2010, Vext was the victim of a brutal attack at his home in Brooklyn. Having suffered severe injuries to his skull, abdomen and an open compound fracture to his left arm, Tommy was rushed to the ER. With medical bills soaring above seventy-five thousand dollars, his friends in the music scene banded together to help raise funds.

Enter Roadrunner recording artists MUTINY WITHIN. "We heard that GOD FORBID was doing a benefit concert for Tommy and when we found out why, we immediately jumped on the bill," says Jacobs. A few months later, Andrew introduced Tommy to Bill. After seeing Fore perform with the Angel Vivaldi band, it became apparent to Tommy that Angel and Bill were the missing pieces to this new musical effort.

A video teaser for "Brumlebassen", the new album from TROLLFEST, the self-proclaimed "true Norwegian Balkan metal" band, can be seen below. The CD 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."