Swedish death/black metallers ZONARIA have inked a deal with Listenable Records. The band's long-awaited third album, "Arrival Of The Red Sun", was recorded at Abyss studio in Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, SONIC SYNDICATE, HYPOCRISY, CENTINEX, CARNAL FORGE) for July 23 release in Europe and August 14 in North America.

According to a press release, the "11-track heavy monster" is the band's most defined and accomplished album so far. Get ready for a thick-sounding dose of militant rhythms, smashing heavy riffing and stomping drums!"

"Arrival Of The Red Sun" track listing:

01. Arrival Of The Red Sun
02. Silent Holocaust
03. Gunpoint Salvation
04. Liberation Zero
05. The Blood That Must Be Paid
06. Desert Storms
07. A Lullaby To Those Still Alive
08. Full Spectrum Dominance
09. My Vengeance Remains
10. Face My Justice
11. CC Cowboys (bonus track limited-edition CD only)

ZONARIA's second full-length album, "The Cancer Empire", was released in the U.S. in January 2009 via Century Media Records.

Photo by www.emilmedia.se

The new collaborative project featuring DISTURBED vocalist David Draiman and former FILTER guitarist Geno Lenardo will enter the studio on May 31 to begin recording its debut release. Draiman previously described the new band's sound as in the vein of industrial acts like NINE INCH NAILS and MINISTRY. When asked by a fan via Twitter if the project would be anything "like dubstep," Draiman wrote, "No, it's about as close to it as [NINE INCH NAILS] or MINISTRY or RAMMSTEIN are. Industrial predates dubstep. . . In other words, it is at all times a guitar-driven sound."

Lenardo was initially hired as a touring guitarist for FILTER's "Short Bus" tour in 1995, then later signed on as a full-fledged member, co-writing tracks on FILTER's second album, "Title Of Record" (released in 1999), and the group's follow-up disc, 2002's "The Amalgamut".

Lenardo most recently contributed three songs to the soundtrack to the film "Underworld: Awakening", including "Heavy Prey" (see video below), which was a collaboration with FLYLEAF singer Lacey Sturm. The CD, which came out in January through Lakeshore Records, sold 3,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at position No. 175 on The Billboard 200 chart.

DISTURBED went on an open-ended hiatus last fall, and although the members of the band expressed interest in working on other endeavors, Draiman told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that he wasn't sure if he would do a solo project. "I don't know," he said. "I'm concerned about that, to be honest. I think too many people have tried and failed. You know, I think that the number of artists that have done it and been successful at it, you can count on one hand, and I would never want to stymie my persona or my growth individually by doing something just for the sake of doing it. If I were going to do something, it would have really have to be something special."

DISTURBED has not indicated when it plans to return, although all four members say they're likely to come back.

Aside from Draiman, DISTURBED bassist John Moyer has branched out recently by joining ADRENALINE MOB, a new group also featuring ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy and SYMPHONY X vocalist Russell Allen.

DISTURBED issued a limited-edition box set of all five of its studio albums on vinyl on April 21, Record Store Day, called "The Collection". The six-disc package includes all the records remastered and pressed on 140-gram heavy duty vinyl, with each housed in new artwork that is unique and exclusive to the box. Only 2,500 copies were made available worldwide.

Progressive-power-thrash metal underdogs SACRED OATH have released the video for the song "Blood Storm" to celebrate their best-of digital release, "Spells And Incantations". The clip contains rare performance footage and photos from the band's personal archives spanning their 25-year tenure in the metal underground.

"I think perseverance is something to be celebrated," says Rob Thorne, SACRED OATH's singer/guitarist. "It hasn't been easy for us. It isn't easy for anybody, really, but 25 years is a long time to hang in this business without the support of a record label. I like to think of us as pure, uncut. Or stupid."

"Spells And Incantations" is released today as an iTunes-exclusive metal album. Two previously unreleased bonus tracks are included. A digipack CD will hit stores and other digital outlets on May 29 through Super D and MVD distribution.

Video footage of NONPOINT members Elias Soriano, Rasheed Thomas and Dave Lizzio performing an acoustic version of a new song, "Another Mistake", earlier today (Tuesday, May 15) for the Madison, Wisconsin radio station WJJO 94.1 FM can be seen below.

NONPOINT recently finished recording its seventh album at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago, Illinois with Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (DISTURBED, STAIND, MEGADETH). The CD will be released later in the year via the band's new label home, Razor & Tie.

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 latest 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.

"Miracle" was released in Europe on June 14, 2010 via Powerage Records. The CD was made available in the U.S. on May 4, 2010 via the band's own 954 Records in partnership with Rocket Science Ventures / RED / Sony.

NONPOINT's current lineup:

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

FOZZY frontman and WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho has finished laying down the vocals on the band's brand new album,
due before the end of year via the group's new label, Century Media Records. Jericho says, "This is by far the best singing I've ever done, on the best record of our career. It's only a few more months until you all get to hear it!"

FOZZY guitarist Rich Ward previously stated about the forthcoming CD, "Although every band says 'this is the best thing we've ever done,' I can honestly say that this new album is going to blow everyone away. It's the epitome of who FOZZY is as a band and will expand upon the ultra-heavy yet super melodic and hooky territory that we've refined for the last 12 years. I have a strong feeling that this will be known as our definitive masterpiece for years to come."

FOZZY last year parted ways with bassist Sean Delson and replaced him with Paul DiLeo (ADRENALINE MOB).

FOZZY released the "Remains Alive & Chasing The Grail" two-CD set on July 18, 2011 via Edel's international rock label earMUSIC.

FOZZY was already on the map as the band with the pro wrestler singer, but "Chasing The Grail" broke them as a proper band. It hit #6 on the U.S. Heatseekers charts and the single "Martyr No More" was a theme song for the WWE Royal Rumble. "Remains Alive" is a 2005 live album (recorded in Australia) that was previously available in digital format only.

"Chasing The Grail" sold around 2,200 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.

The soundtrack to the upcoming film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Rock Of Ages", which showcases popular rock songs from the '70s and '80s, features the cast — Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand and Julianne Hough — singing some of the greatest hits of the "hair-band" era.

Due to be released June 5 — ten days before the film hits theatres — "Rock Of Ages: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" features the following track listing:

01. Paradise City (Tom Cruise)
02. Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But a Good Time (Diego Boneta)
03. Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'N' Roll (Diego Boneta)
04. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Catherine Zeta-Jones)
05. Waiting For A Girl Like You Diego Boneta
06. More Than Words/Heaven (Diego Boneta)
07. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Julianne Hough)
08. I Want To Know What Love Is (Malin Akerman)
09. I Wanna Rock (Diego Boneta)
10. Pour Some Sugar On Me (Tom Cruise)
11. Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough)
12. Shadows Of The Night/Harden My Heart (Julianne Hough)
13. Here I Go Again (Diego Boneta)
14. Can't Fight This Feeling (Russell Brand)
15. Any Way You Want It (Julianne Hough)
16. Undercover Love (Diego Boneta)
17. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Diego Boneta)
18. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Julianne Hough)
19. We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It (Russell Brand)
20. Don't Stop Believin' (Diego Boneta)

An audio sample of Cruise singing the DEF LEPPARD classic "Pour Some Sugar On Me" can be streamed below (courtesy of RyanSeacrest.com).

Tom Cruise stars in "Rock Of Ages" as Stacee Jaxx, an aging musician whose glory days are long past. Among the tunes Cruise performs are DEF LEPPARD's "Pour Some Sugar On Me", SCORPIONS' "Rock You Like A Hurricane", BON JOVI's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" and STYX's "Renegade".

Adam Anders, executive music producer for the film and album, recently told The Hollywood Reporter about Cruise's vocal skills, "He had never sung in his life. He was like, 'I need to know that I can do this before I sign on.' So I went to his house to hear him sing and even though he was completely green as a singer, his vocal cords were amazing. He had this voice that blew me away. It was the most powerful voice I had ever heard. So loud. He could do anything and go as high as we wanted. It was like a kid discovering he had a new toy. I left there super-pumped knowing that not only could we make him pass as a singer in the movie, but we would blow people away with what he could do."

He added, "[Tom's] confidence kept growing as we worked together. I think he started off a little nervous, as anybody would who has never done this, but he just bought it 110%. He works harder than anybody I've ever met in my life. By the end of this movie, the guy was just phenomenal. I remember telling him, 'You're a singer!'"

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen recently told VH1 Classic Rock Nights that he and his bandmates got to meet Cruise and that the actor "was a super-lovely guy." Collen added, "I was so impressed because he hadn't sung before and he had vocal lessons. He was literally doing five hours a day, five days a week, like truly real, getting in there and doing it. And we saw him and he was amazing, it was like Iggy Pop meets someone else and he's in great shape and it was like, 'What!?!' It was surreal, but he really pulls it off and it was like he's a total rock star."

It was previously reported that Cruise was preparing for his role by training with Axl Rose's vocal coach. "He's been studying with — seriously — Axl Rose's voice teacher like five hours a day," director Adam Shankman told The Wrap in April. "The prognosis is more than excellent."

The movie is a love story told through the music of PAT BENATAR, BON JOVI, JOURNEY, POISON, TWISTED SISTER and other artists from the 1980s.

"Rock Of Ages" also stars Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti, Malin Akerman and many others. It scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 15.

Former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo joined WARBEAST on stage on April 21 at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas to perform the song "Scorched Earth Policy". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below. The event served as a celebration of the marriage of RIGOR MORTIS/WARBEAST vocalist Bruce Corbitt and Jeanna Jennings. Texas-based hard rock singer Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER, IGNITOR, BROKEN TEETH) is ordained and conducted the ceremony. Texas guitar wizard and lifetime friend Mike Scaccia was the couple's "special guest" guitarist and played the "Bridal March". Plus Jeanna's son Lyric has a band called PSYCLOPS — consisting of 14- and 15-years-olds — and they played before the wedding started as people arrived.

Immediately following the wedding, there ertr some great bands playing for the wedding reception, including EVIL UNITED (featuring Jason McMaster), WARBEAST, HELL GOAT and CREEPER.

"Scorched Earth Policy" comes off WARBEAST's debut album, "Krush The Enemy", which was released in April 2010 via Anselmo's Housecore Records.

WARBEAST is currently recording its second album at Anselmo's barn studio, Nodferatu's Lair, in Louisiana for a late 2012 release via Housecore.

DOWNSPIRIT, the German/Swiss blues/metal-oriented band formed by SYMPHORCE/ex-FREEDOM CALL guitarist Cedric "Cede" Dupont, has completed recording its sophomore album for a tentative late July release.

Comented Dupont: "It's tasty, it's huge, it's just great and yeah, it rocks. 12 songs, grooving, blasting, killing, simply something myself, the two Steffens and Dennis are very very proud of! Can't wait to release it!"

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

"Through Hatred And Devotion", a new song from French death metallers LIVARKAHIL, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's upcoming EP, "Wrath Of God", which features guest appearances by Julien (BENIGHTED), Henrik (AS YOU DROWN) and Mkm (ANTAEUS, AOSOTH), BST (AOSOTH, THE ORDER OF APOLLYON) and INRVI (AOSOTH, VI). This free five-song digital-only release will also be made available as a USB drive with exclusive content (video, tutorials, goodies, tabs).

LIVARKAHIL consists of the following musicians:

HK - Vocals
Traüme - Guitar
Skvm - Drums
Simurgh - Bass
Sonaer - Guitar

LIVARKAHIL's latest album, "Signs Of Decay", came out last year via Listenable Records.

Giorgos Germenis, who plays bass in Greek black metal band NAER MATARON, has been elected to the country's parliament.

Germenis, who is known by the stage name "Kaiadas," will represent the extremist Golden Dawn party, which is described as perhaps the most extreme of the far-right parties in all of Europe. Comparisons are made to Germany's neo-Nazi National Democratic Party and many say Golden Dawn's logo (see below) resembles a swastika.

Stefanos Stefanopolous from the Rockway.gr webzine tells PRI's The World, "[Giorgos] wasn't a well-known musician here in Greece. And to be honest, not many webzines were paying attention to NAER MATARON. It was just another black metal band, a mediocre one, so no one was really paying attention."

Golden Dawn, an extreme right nationalist party with patriotic symbolism and an anti-immigrant stance, won between 5 and 7 per cent of the vote in Greece's general elections on May 6, enough for them to gain representation in parliament for the first time in Greek history.

Germenis says there's an easy solution for Greece's myriad economic problems. First, he says, "Greek factories must be reborn, Their chimneys must be filled with smoke once more, and of course all illegal immigrants must leave. If all the illegal immigrants left — and there are more than three million — there would be three million jobs for Greeks." Germenis was also quoted by PRI's The World as saying, "We Golden Dawn say that Greece is a rich country. In order to rebuild Greece, we also need to revitalize our factories and small workshops. In this way, Greece can stand on its own two feet. We won't need the European Union or anyone else. We'll just need Greeks."

Swedish death metallers SARGATANAS REIGN have announced that Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES, SKITSYSTEM, THE CROWN, LOCK UP) will guest on their upcoming album, "Godwork". The band states, "This man has been around for many years and is still going strong! He has done so much in his career and made important contributions. And what an amazing job he did for us! His voice is like a rusty chainsaw which leaves no one untouched!"

Also making guest appearances on "Godwork" are Joakim Göthberg, the former frontman for DIMENSION ZERO and MARDUK; Mathias Lillmåns, the vocalist of FINNTROLL, THE INIQUITY DECENT and MAGENTA HARVEST; and SCAR SYMMETRY singer Roberth Karlsson.

SARGATANAS REIGN's sophomore album, "Bloodwork - Techniques Of Torture", came out in 2005 via Blooddawn Productions/Regain Records.

According to the band's official bio, SARGATANAS REIGN's take on old-school American death metal creates a unique blend that is sure to attract fans of the most brutal metal and more commercial metal genres alike.

After the release of "Bloodwork", bassist Niklas Samuelsson and vocalist Jonas Matsson left SARGATANAS REIGN due to personal reasons.

Professionally filmed video footage of QUIET RIOT's May 12 performance at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland can be seen below.

QUIET RIOT in March recruited Scott Vokoun as its new lead singer.

The band played several shows in early February with ex-MONTROSE vocalist Keith St. John following the departure of Mark Huff.

QUIET RIOT's current touring lineup is as follows:

Scott Vokoun - Vocals
Frankie Banali - Drums
Chuck Wright - Bass
Alex Grossi - Guitar

QUIET RIOT singer Kevin DuBrow died in November 2007 of an accidental cocaine overdose. He was 52 years old.

QUIET RIOT was perhaps best known for its 1983 cover of "Cum On Feel The Noize". The song, featuring DuBrow's powerful, gravelly voice, appeared on the band's album "Metal Health" — which was the first by a metal band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

AFFECTOR — the highly skilled, new international band consisting of German guitar player Daniel Fries, Dutch drummer Collin Leijenaar (NEAL MORSE, DILEMMA) as well bass player Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) and vocalist Ted Leonard (SPOCK'S BEARD, ENCHANT, THOUGHT CHAMBER), both from the United States — will release its debut album, "Harmagedon", on May 22 (North America, May 21 Europe) via InsideOut Music. The CD's title track can now be heard in its 13-minute entirety using the SoundCloud player below.

Commented Leijenaar: "[The song] 'Harmagedon' features some great soloing from Jordan Rudess [DREAM THEATER] on keyboards and Daniel Fries on guitars, and shows what AFFECTOR is all about."

"Harmagedon", was mixed and mastered at The Mouse House in Los Angeles by Rich Mouser (SPOCK'S BEARD, TRANSATLANTIC, NEAL MORSE). Alex Argento, Neal Morse (TRANSATLANTIC, FLYING COLORS), Jordan Rudess and Derek Sherinian (PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION). Also featured on the album is the Polish orchestra Sinfonietta Consonus. This concept album fuses a dark, apocalyptic scenery with themes of hope and light and features heavy riffs and lightning fast solos, but also has softer and more fragile moments, where the soulful singing of Ted Leonard opens a wide spectrum of vocal harmonies.

Citing broad musical influences and diverse inspirations between prog and classic as well as modern rock acts, AFFECTOR is like an open marriage between progressive rock/metal and orchestral minimalism, destined to appeal to everyone into bands ranging from DREAM THEATER, A.C.T., SYMPHONY X, DARKWATER to QUEEN or RUSH.

"Harmagedon" track listing:

01. Overture Pt. 1: Introduction
02. Overture Pt. 2: Prologue
03. Salvation
04. The Rapture
05. Cry Song
06. Falling Away & The Rise Of The Beast
07. Harmagedon
08. New Jerusalem

AFFECTOR is:

Daniel Fries - Guitar
Collin Leijenaar - Drums
Mike LePond - Bass
Ted Leonard - Vocals

For more information, visit www.affector.net.

METALLICA performed its top-selling 1991 LP, "Metallica", a.k.a. "the black album," in its entirety this past Sunday night (May 14) at Stadio Friuli in Udine, Italy. 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 group's setlist was as follows:

01. Hit The Lights
02. Master Of Puppets
03. Fuel
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 And 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
------------------
18. Battery
19. One
20. Seek And Destroy

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

Photos are available on the Musica Metal web site.

Asked why METALLICA decided to play the "black" album in its entirety on the current tour, the band's drummer, Lars Ulrich, told Kerrang! magazine, "The people at [the U.K.'s] Download [festival] asked. It wasn't our idea."

He added, "The thing is, although we haven't played at Donington for six years, we have been to the U.K. pretty much every single summer since then. So they wanted us to do something different, and that's what they came up with. I quite like the fact that come [this] summer it'll be the 21st anniversary of the 'black album,' not the 20th."

Asked whether he and his bandmates would have to re-learn the two songs from the record — "Don't Tread On Me" and "The Struggle Within" — that METALLICA had never played live before, Lars said, "Yeah. Although to be honest with you, a song like 'The Struggle Within' is a lot easier to re-learn than 'The Frayed Ends Of Sanity'." He added, "I don't think it's going to be too difficult for us to figure out these songs."

During a recent interview with Spin, Lars was asked which METALLICA song he would take back if he could. "'Don't Tread On Me' has that shuffle vibe," Lars replied. "That's not my thing, but I don't wish to erase it from all 97 bazillion copies of the 'black' album."

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 15,772,000 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.

Nach fünf Jahren der Abwesenheit werden die progressiven Kultrocker THE FLOWER KINGS am 18. Juni 2012 (Europa/ US – Release 19. Juni 2012) endlich ihr neues Album veröffentlichen. Der neue Silberling der Truppe um Mastermind Roine Stolt (Transatlantic) wird den Namen "Banks Of Eden" tragen und bei InsideOut Music (Century Media/ EMI) erscheinen. Das Material ist im klassischen Flower Kings-Stil gehalten, mit all den träumerisch-melodischen und filmischen Elementen, welche die Fans über die Jahre lieben gelernt haben. Härtere wie auch psychedelische und dunklere Passagen werden auf dem Album zu finden sein, welche "Banks Of Eden" in einem Prog-Sound-Gewand der späten 60er gemischt mit modernen Klängen der "New Generation Of Art Rock" verschmelzen lassen. Jetzt wurde ein "Banks Of Eden" Album Trailer und die Track List online gestellt.

A previously unreleased cover version of the DROPKICK MURPHYS song "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" from Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track will appear on "Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)", a very special CD+DVD career retrospective in celebration of the band's 15th anniversary, which is scheduled for release on May 22. The release will spotlight specially selected tracks from every one of the group's critically acclaimed albums (1997's "Something Wild", 1999's "Hatebreeder", 2000's "Follow The Reaper", 2003's "Hate Crew Deathroll", 2005's "Are You Dead Yet?", 2008's "Blooddrunk" and 2011's "Relentless Reckless Forever"), plus two newly recorded (and undeniably fun) cover songs and detailed liner notes penned by the members of CHILDREN OF BODOM themselves. The DVD portion of the package will include "candid touring and backstage footage from around the world”, plus the "Shovel Knockout" video.

"'15 Years Of Wasted Youth' is the sound of CHILDREN OF BODOM working hard, partying hard, being relentless and stubborn," says the band's guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho. "We went through many brick walls to get to where we are, and after seven studio albums, two live albums, non-stop touring, bleeding and breaking a lot of bones, I think we are justified in putting this album out. Let the music speak for itself. You have been warned."

"Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)" track listing:

01. Hate Crew Deathroll
02. Shovel Knockout
03. Hate Me
04. Everytime I Die
05. Needled 24/7
06. I'm Shipping Up To Boston (* DROPKICK MURPHYS cover; previously unreleased)
07. Sixpounder
08. Warheart
09. Roundtrip to Hell and Back
10. Trashed, Lost & Strungout
11. Living Dead Beat
12. Deadnight Warrior
13. Blooddrunk
14. Follow The Reaper
15. Are You Dead Yet?
16. Silent Night, Bodom Night
17. Jessie's Girl (* RICK SPRINGFIELD cover; previously unreleased)
18. In Your Face
19. Angels Don't Kill
20. Downfall

CHILDREN OF BODOM's video for the song "Shovel Knockout" can be seen below. The clip, which was directed by Jussi Hyttinen for FLC415 (MTV3, The Finnish National Lottery), adeptly chronicles "what happens from the time a live show ends through to the next gig in a new city" (i.e. lots of drinking and flipping the bird!). The song itself appears on CHILDREN OF BODOM's latest studio album, "Relentless Reckless Forever".


The release of "Holiday At Lake Bodom (15 Years Of Wasted Youth)" continues CHILDREN OF BODOM's year-long anniversary celebration, which kicked off with the band's highly successful "15th Anniversary" headlining tour of North America.

In an interview with MusikUniverse.net, Laiho said that the band is scheduled to commence the songwriting sessions for its next album this fall for a 2013 release. "I have ideas, but I haven't done anything about it," Alexi said. "'Cause the thing is, I can't write when I'm touring; it's not the right kind of environment for me. I know a lot of people do it, but I just can't. And it's OK, 'cause I build a lot of ideas in my head, and my memory sucks, but one thing that I never forget is the riffs; they're always in my head somehow. So it's really not a problem."

"Relentless Reckless Forever" sold nearly 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2008's "Blooddrunk", opened with 19,000 units to land at No. 22. This number was roughly four times the opening tally of "Blooddrunk"'s predecessor, "Are You Dead Yet?", which premiered with 5,000 units back in October 2005 to enter the chart at No. 195.

"Relentless Reckless Forever" was certified gold in the band's home country for first-day sales of over 10,000 copies. The CD was recorded in Finland's Petrax Studios with famed rock producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MONSTER MAGNET).

Nuclear Blast Records has set a July 27 European release date for "Dark Roots Of Earth", the new album from San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT. The cover artwork for the CD — which will likely arrive in North America on July 31 — can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy stated about "Dark Roots Of Earth", "We [recorded] it at our place in Oakland and at Trident Studios and Andy [Sneap, producer] came out and did all the recordings with us — as much as he could — and then we finished off some vocals and guitars at Trident studios. I think over the years Andy really knows the sound of this band, and kinda knows what we want. We've mixed stuff with Andy, so I think he knows without has having to be there physically with him what we are looking for. And I just haven't heard anybody in metal come out with any better mixes! Honesty!"

Regarding some of the songs that will appear on "Dark Roots Of Earth", Billy said, "Well, there's a song called 'Native Blood', which is basically a song about my Native heritage. It's almost like a protest song, that the Native Americans have a voice that needs to be heard — that's the chorus of the song. There's another called 'True American Hate', which was kinds inspired by when we sent all our troops overseas there, and we were just seeing in the news when all that was going on a lot of young kids, under 10 years old, out there with their families burning American flags. And that was a pretty shocking thing to see, to see that generation, a kid that young being taught to hate that much. It makes you think what's going to happen, 10 to 15 years from now when the majority of these kids have just been raised to hate? It struck me as a little odd. There's a song called 'Cold Embrace', which we kinda hoped we'd be able to pitch the song into one of the 'Twilight' series movies; it's a song about a girl becoming a vampire and never being able to see the sun again. 'The Dark Roots Of Earth' is kind of a play on the band we have together, just like a metaphor, like TESTAMENT is a tree and all of us in this group are really embedded in the planet, in the earth, the environment and our surroundings. It was kind of a play on that. 'Rise Up For War' is more of a war song, like your preparing yourself for war, going into battle. There is a lot of cool stuff there."

Due to a "serious injury," TESTAMENT drummer Paul Bostaph was unable to take part in the recording sessions for the CD and was replaced by Gene "The Atomic Clock" Hoglan (DARK ANGEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK). Bostaph has since announced his departure from the group.

When asked if Hoglan — who is currently touring with TESTAMENT — will become a permanent member of the band, Billy told Horns Up Rocks!, "We'd like him to be, but I think right now we're just taking it tour by tour. We don't know yet. We just kind of unexpected had to do this tour before the record came out, so we haven't really thought about it yet."

Regarding how different it is playing with Gene compared to working with Bostaph, Chuck said, "We played with Gene before on our 'Demonic' record [1997], so we knew exactly what Gene was capable of and what he would bring to the table. We knew that it would definitely bring a different style of drumming, 'cause Gene's a different player than Paul. I think it just worked out. Eric [Peterson, TESTAMENT guitarist] had a lot of the [basic drum patterns] already done [for the new album], and Gene just had to kind of put his style on it."

Prior to their May 6 concert at Schleyerhalle in Stuttgart, Germany, keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen and bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala of Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH answered a number of questions that were submitted by fans via the Nuclear Blast Records Facebook page. You can now watch the question-and-answer session below.

NIGHTWISH will embark on a North American headlining tour in September with support from KAMELOT.

For more information, visit EnterTheVault.com.

NIGHTWISH released a limited-edition "Trials Of Imaginaerum" 10-inch picture disc for Record Store Day (April 21). The effort includes four previously unreleased demo recordings with Marco Hietala on lead vocals. It also comes with a download of the previously unreleased track "The Heart Asks Pleasure First", a cover with lyrics from the movie "The Piano".

"Trials Of Imaginaerum" features a picture of "The Crew, The Owl And The Dove" on one side, and the "Imaginaerum" grounds on the other side.

"The Crow, The Owl And The Dove", the second single from NIGHTWISH's latest album, "Imaginaerum", entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 1. The single features the title cut in three versions — radio edit, album version and instrumental — and the previously unreleased song "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" (theme from the movie "The Piano") in two different versions.

NIGHTWISH released a special "tour edition" of "Imaginaerum", on April 13 via Nuclear Blast Records. It is a 2CD+DVD digibook in slipcase.

"Imaginaerum" sold 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2007's "Dark Passion Play", opened with 11,000 units to land at No. 84.

"Imaginaerum" was released in North America on January 10 via Roadrunner Records.

9 years after Diary Of Dreams' "Dream Collector" was launched, the band now launches the second part of this legendary collection of rarities. The sequel comes in a digipak and holds 15 tracks. In addition to rare bonus tracks from sold-out limited editions and rare mixes, you'll also find 9 completely unheard versions of songs.

Tracklist:
Kalt! (Ghost Track)
Undividable (DCII E-Mix Edit)
the Plague (Vers. N4-4 DCII Edit)
the Wedding (DCII Edit)
MenschFeind (DCII Version)
Giftraum (DCII Version)
UnWanted? (DCII Edit)
the Return (DCII Dark Edit)
Never tell the widow (Bonus Track)
Splinter (Original Version)
Psycho-Logic (Alternative Version)
Out of my world (Bonus Track)
King of Nowhere (Club Mix DCII Edit)
Grey the blue (DCII Version)
Element IV: Angst (DCII Version)

SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor joined Sebastian Bach on stage this past Sunday (May 13) at at this year's Lazerfest — which took place at the Central Iowa Expo in Boone, Iowa — for a performance of the SKID ROW classic "Youth Gone Wild". Video footage of Taylor's appearance can be seen below.

As previously reported, STONE SOUR's fourth studio album is now tentatively going to come out in October. Taylor tweeted the fall release plan, adding that the album has a title but that he "won't give it away yet."

The disc is being recorded at Sound Farm Studios, just outside STONE SOUR's home base of Des Moines, Iowa.

Guitarist Josh Rand recently said that the album 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."

The project — which may end up becoming a double album — will follow up 2010's "Audio Secrecy".

Bach completed a short run of North American dates in February and took part in the Rock 'N' Roll Allstars tour, which hit the road in South America in late April.

Sebastian's new album, "Kicking & Screaming", sold 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Rockers THE LAST VEGAS have inked a deal with FrostByte Media for the release of their fourth full-length album. Due on August 28, "Bad Decisions" was produced by Johnny K (MEGADETH, DISTURBED, 3 DOORS DOWN, AIRBOURNE) n the band's hometown of Chicago and contains the straight-up-rock-'n'-roll-meets-garage/punk-rock sound for which the band has come to be known. Lead singer Chad Cherry referred to the new tracks as "a little more raw, a little more groovy and more LAST VEGAS than the previous album...", while guitarist Adam Arling declared with DIY fervor, that the album contains "no samples, loops, backing this, that, whatever a lot of bands do nowadays. Just five guys rocking."

Hailing from Chicago and formed in 2005, THE LAST VEGAS cut its teeth relentlessly playing in support of two independent releases. In 2009, the band burst on to the national scene when MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx saw them play live in Los Angeles and subsequently co-produced their third album, "Whatever Gets You Off". More touring followed, including a stint opening MÖTLEY CRÜE's "Saints Of Los Angeles" tour. Now recharged, with an album that returns to their raw rock n' roll roots, THE LAST VEGAS is ready to hit the road again in support of "Bad Decisions". The Onion referred to their sound as "Swaggering, stomping, balls-out guitar rock," while The Chicago Sun-Times declared them to be "red hot garage-rockers."

THE LAST VEGAS is: Chad Cherry (vocals), Adam Arling (guitars), Danny Smash (bass), Nate Arling (drums) and Johnny Wator (guitars).

"Bad Decisions" track listing:

01. Beat To Hell
02. Other Side
03. Bad Decisions
04. Evil Eyes
05. Don't Take It So Hard
06. She's My Confusion
07. It Ain't Easy
08. My Way Forever
09. Leonida
10. Devil In You
11. You Are The One
12. Good Night

Photo credit: Amy Aiello Photography

Professionally filmed video footage of LOUDNESS's May 12 performance at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland can be seen below.

LOUDNESS recently inked a deal with FrostByte Media. The band's latest album, "Eve To Dawn", will be released outside Japan this summer. The CD was originally made available in the group's home country last September.

In advance of an extensive North American tour around the release of "Eve To Dawn", LOUDNESS played select American dates this month, with a special appearance at M3 Rock Festival and a headlining gig at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City on Monday, May 14.

"Eve To Dawn" track listing:

01. A Light In The Dark
02. The Power Of Truth
03. Come Alive Again
04. Survivor
05. Keep You Burning
06. Gonna Do It My Way
07. Hang Tough
08. Ki-Do-Ai-Raku (instrumental)
09. Comes The Dawn
10. Pandora
11. Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!

LOUDNESS's previous album, "King Of Pain", was released in Japan on May 19, 2010 via Tokuma Japan Communications. The CD included a 32-page booklet, a LOUDNESS original pick, and application card (valid only in Japan).

LOUDNESS released a CD+DVD set entitled "Live Loudest At The Budokan '91" on December 23, 2009 via Warner Music Japan. The album was recorded on May 31, 1991 in Tokyo, Japan and features Mike Vescera (OBSESSION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) on vocals.

Norwegian metallers KRÅKE will release their new album, "Conquering Death", on June 29 via Indie Recordings. The cover artwork for the CD can be seen below.

Original founders and brothers, Dreugh and Beist, conceived KRÅKE in 2007. From the brothers hailing from Kopervik on the west coast of Norway, the idea was to create the best possible symphonic and atmospheric black metal they could possibly achieve. It took five years to turn their vision into reality, but the result is nothing short of impressive.

KRÅKE is Norwegian for "crow," an animal known as a mythical creature throughout history and cultures especially as a herald of woe, a sign of death, but also wisdom. Inspired by this, the band strives to compose music that covers a wide variety of emotions, from anger and pride to anguish and despair. Inspiration is also sought from any source better enabling them to produce the music they want to create, be it classical and soundtrack music, literature and nature imagery. The lyrical themes are based around the darker aspects of life and the certainty of death. As for the actual music, you will find links to bands like DIMMU BORGIR, OLD MAN'S CHILD, BAL-SAGOTH and even bands like TYPE O NEGATIVE.

The first single, "And A Colder Breed", can be heard using the SoundCloud player below.

German thrashers DEW-SCENTED have announced their new lineup. It is as follows (pictured from left to right in photo below):

Rory Hansen - Guitar
Marvin Vriesde - Guitar
Leif Jensen - Vocals
Joost van der Graaf - Bass
Koen Herfst - Drums

Commented DEW-SCENTED vocalist Leif Jensen: "I'm more than proud to be able to present you a new chapter in the history of DEW-SCENTED!

"By early 2011, after four weeks of European touring with NILE, it showed clearly that our previous 'Invocation' lineup was collapsing and one member after another left the fold for different reasons. We decided to play some final festival shows together in the summer and then after Party.San Open Air and Brutal Assault festival, DEW-SCENTED went away from the spotlight in order to re-group and regain new focus. And here we finally are again, back with an improved line-up and a really strong new album coming up in July: 'Icarus'!"

The new lineup re-introduces Marvin Vriesde (SEVERE TORTURE, BLO.TORCH) as main guitarist and songwriter. Not a stranger to DEW-SCENTED's path of life, Vriesde's ties with the band go as far as back as 1996, when he played lead guitars for DEW-SCENTED on the band's first-ever proper tour (with EDGE OF SANITY, LAKE OF TEARS and SADIST), as well as for some additional shows supporting MORBID ANGEL. He later returned as the session guitarist for a European tour with CANNIBAL CORPSE in 2002 or also for various other dates in Europe, Japan and North America all throughout 2005, as well as to appear as a guest guitarist on the "Issue VI" album and in the "Turn To Ash" video.

Added Jensen: "I'm truly happy to have finally managed to team up with my buddy Marvin in DEW-SCENTED. Being one of my closest friends in music and the band's 'longest-running companion,' it's amazing to be able to finally put the band's musical present and future in his hands, giving our music a new safe home with his talent and dedication. I can't wait for you all to hear the great start-up results we achieved with 'Icarus'!"

Commented Vriesde: "Me and DEW-SCENTED have a long history together. I helped the band out on several occasions in the past, studio as well as live situations. So when Leif suggested joining forces for real on the new record, I was thrilled! This allowed me to write DEW-SCENTED songs that I would really want to hear from the band, from a fan's point of view."

Drummer Koen Herfst (I CHAOS, EPICA) and bassist Joost van der Graaf (I CHAOS, CREEPMIME) rounded off the "Icarus" lineup organically, as Vriesde explains in regards to the pre-production process for the new album: "The writing process went really smooth and focused. Me and Leif were bouncing all these awesome ideas around. We realized that these songs deserved to be recorded in the best form possible. That's why I asked a good local friend of mine, Koen Herfst, to handle the drums. On his turn he brought in Joost van der Graaf to handle the bass duties for the album. Both are amazing musicians… and that's what sets 'Icarus' apart for me. I think everyone brought something extra to the table, which really took the album to a higher level. 'Icarus' is a really heavy album, but it somehow has a darker feel to it in comparison to the previous DEW-SCENTED albums."

Last but not least, guitarist Rory Hansen (I CHAOS, BLO.TORCH) was added to the band's ranks as second guitarist shortly after the album recordings. On recommendation of all the other three new members, his presence paves the way for a really skilled and menacing dual-guitar-team.

The new DEW-SCENTED lineup will make their debut shows on July 20 at Metalsplash festival and July 21st at Queens Of Metal festival.

Jensen previously described the "Icarus" main theme as "a modern-times, very apocalyptic adaption of elements of the Icarus myth, using a lot of its symbolism while interlinking with several other personal or observant subjects in true DEW-SCENTED fashion." While the album — recorded at Soundlodge Studio and produced by Jörg Uken (NIGHTFALL, SUICIDAL ANGELS, GOD DETHRONED) — is not quite a concept album per se, Jensen says "Icarus" "has a pretty coherent lyrical flow, and that helps to enhance and also to intentionally enlarge the atmosphere and vibe created by the music." The "Icarus" cover artwork was once created by Björn Goosses of Killustrations.

"Icarus" will be released on July 31 in North America via Prosthetic Records (one day earlier internationally through Metal Blade Records).

Photo by Ester Segarra

Stuttgart, Germany-based sleaze metal band HELLDORADOS will release its self-titled debut album on July 13 via Massacre Records/Soulfood. The CD was recorded between February and April at the legendary Horus Sound Studios (SCORPIONS, HELLOWEEN, KREATOR, VICTORY, GUANO APES) in Hannover, Germany with producer Mirko Hofmann, who previously worked with the group on a four-song promotional EP in 2011. ELOY frontman and founder of the Horus Sound Studios, Frank Bornemann, acted as "a godfather." The cover artwork was created by the Unesco prize winner Timo Wuerz.

Commented HELLDORADOS singer Pierre: "We got to know Timo Wuerz by accident at an art and commerce congress. Between all of the geeks, he looked more like us." They discovered that they had many things in common — including a love for rock music and art. "Moreover, we both grew up in the same small town. That probably [had something to do with it]."

According to a press release, HELLDORADOS' sound are somewhere between the hit potential of a catchy ABBA tune, the sleaze of GUNS N' ROSES and the striking force of PANTERA. A strange mixture but it seems to function."

"Helldorados" track listing:

01. In The Beginning
02. Never Gonna Stop
03. You Live, You Learn, You Die
04. Go To Hell
05. Changes
06. Shout Out
07. Hunter
08. Double Dealer
09. Gone
10. Torture Is My Name
11. Girls
12. Got Laid