Legendary NWOBHM band TOKYO BLADE has released the first of three songs for three charities. Proceeds from the track "Camp 334" will go to the One Spirit charity, which helps make life better for the Lakota Sioux on the Pine Ridge reservation. TOKYO BLADE guitarist Andy Boulton's friend Joe Brave Heart contributed to the song with a fantastic intro prayer in his native tongue. Andy has been working with the charity for some years now and is really overjoyed to be able to use TOKYO BLADE's music and name to raise money for the reservation.

"It's fantastic that we have had so much positive help with this project," says Andy. "Our producer, Chris Tsangarides, gave his time for free also and it really is an honor to have Joe involved and have his blessing. Now I'm begging our fans to go buy it and do some good, Pine Ridge is a desperate place check out the one spirit web site, but we can make a difference folks."

The "Camp 334" EP is available on iTunes, Amazon and all other regular download stores.

TOKYO BLADE's latest album, "Thousand Men Strong", was released in March 2011 via Fastball Music. The CD was helmed by veteran British producer Chris Tsangarides, who has previously worked with THIN LIZZY, Y&T, FREE, BLACK SABBATH, IAN GILLAN, JUDAS PRIEST, OZZY OSBOURNE and ANVIL, among others.

"Divided We Fall", a brand new song from Los Angeles-based thrashers ANGER AS ART, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's fourth album, "Hubris Inc.", which will be released later in the year via OSM Records.
Songtitles set to appear on the CD:

* Hubris Inc. (intro)
* This Is Why I Hate
* Pieces Of Red
* Divided We Fall
* As The Exalted Seethe
* Time Devours Life
* The Evil You Create
* Gods Of Hate
* Pearls Before Swine
* Anger Is the Reason
* Never Forgive, Never Forget
* Head Of The Snake
* Rage And Retribution
* Speed Kills

ANGER AS ART earlier in the year announced the addition of bassist Henry De La Cruz (MANIACAL GENOCIDE, STIGMATA, REVMATIX) to the group's ranks. Henry replaces Angelo Espino, who departed in October.

ANGER AS ART's concert DVD, "Live Dissent", was released last year. The disc features footage from the February 21, 2010 concert at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, California, clips of the band on tour in Europe and in the USA, and a segment of the recording process for the "Disfigure" album.

ANGER AS ART's third album, "Disfigure", was released in November 2009 via Old School Metal Records. The bulk of the tracking was done at Trench Studio in Corona, California with John Haddad, while the vocals and "extra stuff" was overseen by Chris Trent at CT Audio.

ANGER AS ART's current lineup:

Steve Gaines - Vocals, Guitar
Henry De La Cruz - Bass
Rob Alaniz - Drums
Daniel Oliverio - Guitar, Vocals

"Too Late", the first song from REVERENCE, the new power metal band featuring vocalist Todd Michael Hall (JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR, HARLET), guitarist Bryan Holland (TOKYO BLADE, ARREST), drummer Steve "Dr. Killdrums" Wacholz (SAVATAGE, CRIMSON GLORY), bassist Frank Saparti (TOKYO BLADE, OVERLOADED, MINDCANDY), and lead guitarist Pete Rossi, can be streamed below. The track comes off the group's debut album, "When Darkness Calls", which will be released on May 31 via Razar Ice Records, the band's official web site, iTunes, Amazon and various other music providers. The CD cover artwork was designed by renowned artist Jobert Mello of Sledgehamer Graphix (PRIMAL FEAR, SABATON, HYSTERIA) and can be seen below.

"When Darkness Calls" track listing:

01. When Darkness Calls
02. Bleed For Me
03. Phantom Road
04. Devil In Disguise
05. Too Late
06. Gatekeeper
07. The Price You Pay
08. Monster
09. Revolution Rising
10. After The Leaves Have Fallen
11. Vengeance Is Mine
12. Lost Generation (bonus track)

The video for "Too Late" will be filmed on May 12.

"When Darkness Calls" features a guest appearance by SANXTION drummer Tony Rossi.

REVERENCE will embark on a European tour in November. Exact citites and dates will be announced shortly.

For more information, visit www.ReverenceMetal.com.

Tilburg, Holland-based thrash / death metal act THE NEW DOMINION, featuring PESTILENCE drummer Yuma van Eekelen, have issued the following update on their forthcoming second album, Procreating The Undivine:

"We really are fucking siked that we can announce the appearance of guest vocalist Niels Adams (PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT, CENTURIAN, NOX) on our upcoming album, Procreating The Undivine. Niels can definitely be considered to be master of the most obscure and brutal death metal vocals.

On the track, 'The Eclectic Splitting Of Tongues', he will only do what he does best; unleash the most relentless of oral storms upon mankind. However the musical concept and setting differ a lot from what he is used to, the results are simply mind-blowing in terms of aggression and ferocity. This alliance will make the already epic track even more interesting and challenging for the listener and it will put this ear grinding album on an even higher level."

Niels states: "It was definitely a great experience to work with this guys. Something completely different but they know what they want and they for sure know their shit. They put great effort in every detail, they are well prepared and they won’t stop untill perfection has been achieved. This album is going to be insane”

More details concerning the upcoming release will be revealed soon.

Mark Ashby of Über Rock recently conducted an interview with former VENOM and MPIRE OF EVIL and current DEF-CON-ONE drummer Antony "Antton" Lant (brother of VENOM frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Über Rock: Of course, we all know you spent ten years in VENOM. How do you look back at the time?

Antton: Most of it was awesome. The most fun was the "Metal Black" period. I've known Mike [Hickey, guitar] for a long time and he is a very good friend of mine: at that point it was all about the music, and we were all getting along just fine, but then greed raises its ugly head and it all goes pear-shaped again. The period for the "Hell" album was actually hard work — everything seemed so "forced" and it was all about how we could sound like the band did on the first couple of records. It was forced and horrible.

Über Rock: Then you left after the "Hell" album, which seemed to further consolidate the band's position as returning heroes: what prompted your decision to leave at such a seemingly crucial time in the band's career?

Antton: I don't like "Hell"; the songs aren't that good and the production is crap. The recording process was horrible, too; there were lots of arguments and bad feelings. I played the guitar on a few of the tracks and I honestly thought they were guides for the guitarist to play over but they ended up on the final cut... What I do find funny is that some of tracks Mike and me wrote have ended up on their new album. Go figure, eh! The song "Punk's Not Dead" is 100% Mike Hickey's riff. He brought that to the band back in 2004 and I still have it, plus copies of the "Metal Black" lineup playing it at rehearsals...

Über Rock: More recently, of course, you were one third of MPIRE Of EVIL, with Mantas and Tony Dolan. Many would have argued that this was just the "alternative VENOM" — especially with the very public disagreements between Mantas and Cronos which have blighted a large part of VENOM's career (at least for diehard fans): now that you're outside both bands looking in, as it were, how would you answer such a challenge?

Antton: Well, it was not supposed to be "alternative VENOM," or at least that's what I thought: the plan was to be an original band. Unfortunately, me and my so-called brother fell out a few years back, so I have nothing to do with him anymore, but I should have listened to a few of the things he used to say about the other original members. Megalomaniacs! Ya know, saying that, I've never had any problems with [former VENOM drummer] Abaddon; he's always been cool with me. The arguments started when Jeff ["Mantas" Dunn] started chopping my drum parts up. I recorded all my drum parts separately and gave Jeff the drum files: he then chopped my parts up, taking verses and replacing them with choruses from different songs; he then took so long to mix the tracks that we were running out of time with the record company deadline. I first found out that my parts had been changed when I was cc'ed in on an email to the record company. A lot of those songs sound like that because of me: some of the riffs were not going to be used and I suggested them and I changed some of the bits too. The whole chorus for "Hell To The Holy" was my idea, even the melody. I still have all the original shit without the changes, with my vocal ideas, etc. There was a 12-inch vinyl released but it had nothing to do with me: when I asked about the deal etc, I was accused of calling them thieves. But hold on, if there is nothing to hide well then show me the contract. I can now see what was happening, though, and I guess I was a bit stupid to not see it... having me in the band made the whole three ex-VENOM members thing more attractive to agents — and also the Cronos connection kinda gives it a seal of approval somehow. So, when Jeff heard that I had left VENOM, he thought, "Maybe I can use this in my favour..." He was not my friend. I feel a bit stupid now for not seeing it. Then we talked about touring: I wanted to tour straight after the release of the album, not three weeks before it was released — that's stupid. And I thought we were an original band that was going to throw a couple of VENOM songs into the set. Not a full-on VENOM set: come on, man, what's all that about? I have NO desire to be in a VENOM tribute band, NONE. If I wanted to play VENOM songs all night long, I would still be in VENOM... remember, I left VENOM...? Ya know, I don't see the FOO FIGHTERS playing NIRVANA songs live.

Über Rock: Do you still keep in touch with your brother, musically I mean?

Antton: Nope, he's no longer my brother.

Über Rock: So, if Cronos came knocking at your door and asked you to help, you wouldn't exactly be in a hurry to join up with him again?

Antton: No way, and he knows to stay the fuck away from me, too.

Read the entire interview from Über Rock.

Guitarist Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo (MASSACRE, DEATH, MANTAS) is auctioning off one of his prized BC Rich guitars. He'll have as many ex-DEATH members sign it as possible at the "Death To All Tour 2012" stop in Orlando, Florida. Proceeds will go to "the Chuck Schuldiner fund," which is an account specifically for the small but significant remaining medical bills from the debt existing at the time of Chuck's passing. Fans who themselves wish to donate to this can do so directly via attorney Charles Wohlust at 241 North Maitland Avenue, Suite 346, Maitland, Florida, 32751, USA (marked to the Chuck Schuldiner fund).

A number of acclaimed metal musicians will make special guest appearances during the "Death To All Tour 2012" in June/July in benefit of Sweet Relief. This five-city trek, which will feature a majority of DEATH's amazing musicians, will celebrate the life and music of Chuck Schuldiner, as well as to raise awareness of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — a charity that provides financial assistance to career musicians faced with illness, disability or age-related problems.

Chuck died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FOR have inked a deal with Massacre Records. The band's sixth album, "Samsara" — which was made available in Finland last December — will receive a wider European release during the summer.

"Samsara" track listing:

01. Kissing The Flames (4:49)
02. Damned Rapture (5:12)
03. Cry For Love (IGGY POP cover) (4:21)
04. Death Comes in March (3:13)
05. Folie á Deux (7:11)
06. Hail Of Bullets (4:25)
07. Love's A Sickness (5:54)
08. Raving Hearts (3:48)
09. Oblivion: Vision (6:13)
10. Someday Somewhere Somehow (6:38)

TO/DIE/FOR's cover version of IGGY POP's "Cry For Love" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Regarding the musical direction of the new material, vocalist Jape Perätalo previously stated, "[The next TO/DIE/FOR CD] is gonna be much darker compared to [2006's] 'Wounds Wide Open', but it will include some rocking ones, too."

He added, "We are not trying to create anything very 'technically nice' and very 'new'... We just record whatever the fuck we want to . . . We're gonna keep things simple but one thing is important for us... it must have real soul in it!"

TO/DIE/FOR's current lineup is as follows:

Jape Perätalo - Vocals
Juppe Sutela - Guitar
Antza Talala - Guitar
Eza Viren - Bass
Matti Huopainen - Drums
Juska Salminen – Keyboards

TO/DIE/FOR released a "best-of" collection, "Epilogue From The Past - Best Of", in January 2011 via Spinefarm Records. Included on the set was the brand new song "Angelica".

TO/DIE/FOR's fifth album, "Wounds Wide Open", was released in Finland in October 2006. The follow-up to 2005's "IV" was recorded by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studios and by Jari-Jukka Nippala at Sonic Image, and was mixed at Sweden's Abyss Studios by Peter Tägtgren (DIMMU BORGIR, CELTIC FROST).

"Cry For Love" (IGGY POP cover) audio stream:

RUSH's long-awaited new album, "Clockwork Angels", is being turned into a novel by Colorado-based sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson, who wrote on Facebook, "Most of you are aware of my long-standing friendship with (RUSH drummer) Neil Peart . . . For more than twenty years, Neil and I have wanted to collaborate on something MAJOR, a way we could tie together our imaginations, and at last that's happening. I'm writing the novelization of RUSH's forthcoming album, 'Clockwork Angels'."

Anderson added that he worked with Peart to "flesh out the epic story told over the course of the music," which involves "lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life."

The "Clockwork Angels" novel will be released in the fall via ECW Press.

Regarding the book cover, which can be seen below, as well as the rest of the package, Anderson said, "[It is] one of my most beautiful covers ever. The central image is from the forthcoming RUSH album, with the type and cover design by Neil Peart. ECW will publish the hardcover in September (available for preorder now), a full-color volume with paintings and complete lyrics (and the novel itself, of course).

"From the sample pages I've seen already, this will be a gorgeous book.

"The novel is a colorful steampunk fantasy, and I think it has a great deal of heart. Neil and I are very pleased with how it turned out-the creative synergy was amazing.

"'Clockwork Angels: The Novel' follows the story mapped out in the songs of the album, but the book isn't only for RUSH fans (then again, who isn't a RUSH fan???)."

RUSH's first new collection of original material in over five years and their first studio release via Anthem/Roadrunner Records, "Clockwork Angels" will be released on June 12.

MEGADETH will perform its 1992 album, "Countdown To Extinction", in its entirety at the Pepsi Center in Mexico City, Mexico on Wednesday, September 19 and at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara, Mexico on Friday, September 21. Local act RAXAS is confirmed as the support act for both shows. Tickets for Mexico City go on sale to the general public Thursday, May 17 and for Guadalajara on on Saturday, May 19.

As previously reported, MEGADETH will also perform its 1992 album, "Countdown To Extinction", in its entirety on September 7 at Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile.

Speaking to the Artisan News, Ellefson stated about the LP, "'Countdown' was really one of my favorite records of the whole MEGADETH catalog... for a number of reasons. Musically, I think it brought together the best of thrash, the melodic part, writing big, hooky riffs. And that record really launched us into the mainstream, which opened up a lot of other opportunites and things for us to do. But more importantly, I think, than all of that, is it was a really cool time when the four of us were really, probably, our most connected together as a band."

MEGADETH's fifth LP, "Countdown To Extinction" was released on July 14, 1992 through Capitol Records. The band's best-selling full-length CD to date, it was certified double-platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for U.S. shipments in excess of two million copies. The album also produced the band's most successful hit singles, "Symphony Of Destruction", "Sweating Bullets", "Skin O' My Teeth" and "Foreclosure Of A Dream".

"Shatter Them", the new video from Dutch melodic death metallers DISINTEGRATE, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Parasites Of A Shifting Future", which was originally made available independently in 2010. The CD will receive a wider release via Massacre Records on July 27.

According to a press release, "DISINTEGRATE, hailing from the north of Holland, has a definite preference for well-balanced arrangements and raw, energetic vocal lines, nicely served with a feisty death metal-sauce. Every musician in DISINTEGRATE has the freedom to develop his skills and show his musical prowess, thus creating a grooving mixture of aggression and melody.

"DISINTEGRATE is the brainchild of Danny Boonstra (vocals, keyboards), Leo van Leijen (guitar) and Jos Hindriks (guitar). When they started the band in 2005, a clear statement was defined outlining the structure and content for DISINTEGRATE: intelligent melodic death/thrash metal with no boundaries. The band really took flight with the addition of Joran Dijkstra (drums) and Sander Stegeman (bass). By releasing the MCD 'Destructive Capacity', the band received a lot of attention and also played on the prestigious Waldrock festival in 2009 alongside bands like CARCASS, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and HEAVEN & HELL."

"Parasites Of A Shifting Future" track listing:

01. Abecedarium
02. Mediacrity
03. The Art Of Clairvoyance
04. Casus Belli
05. Parasites Of A Shifting Future
06. Twist Of Faith
07. The Architect
08. Shatter Them
09. The Subtle Decay
10. Within The Pain
11. These Scars

DISINTEGRATE is:

Danny Boonstra - Vocals, Keyboards
Jos Hindriks - Guitar
Leo van Leijen - Guitar
Sander Stegeman - Bass
Joran Dijkstra - Drums

The official lyric video for EVANESCENCE's song "Lost In Paradise" can be seen below. The track comes off the band's self-titled third major label album, which came out last October, five years after the group issued its last effort, 2006's "The Open Door".

"Evanescence" sold 127,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart.

In a 2011 interview with MTV News, EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee stated about "Lost In Paradise", "That's the one that made us cry ... like, literally, just in here, working on it, there have been tears. I love that song. When I was writing it, it wasn't anything; it was just pure, it was just for me. I was literally just writing it for me, to soothe my own feelings by expressing them. And I just thought, 'Piano, vocals, I can record it by myself at my house, and that'll be the track. ... It'll be a B-side somewhere or something.'

"[But] then ... as we were working on other songs — focusing more on rock songs — I kept listening to it for fun, because it was mine, and I sent it to [producer] Nick [Raskulinecz] and I was like, 'I want you to listen to this. ... The more I listen to it, the more I think it means something,' " she continued. "And he, instantly, was like, 'We have to do that song.' And it was his idea to bring the band into it, and at first, I was totally like, 'I don't get that.' But once we did, it just blew the thing wide open, in a way I had never thought about before. It's perfect; it's meant to be the way it is."

One of the reasons "Evanescence" took so long to come out is that Lee began work on a version of it in 2010 that she ended up scrapping. The Pulse Of Radio asked Lee why that first attempt at recording didn't work out. "I think it really was a case of us going in the studio too soon," she said. "I think people a lot of times get pressure for moving fast, especially in this day and age — you know, the public has a short attention span, you know, it's all about striking while the iron's hot. I don't believe that. I believe in great music. If this is gonna be our big EVANESCENCE comeback record, it wasn't there yet. So we kept working. We ended up making a record that I'm just, it's my favorite so far. We're all really proud of it."

"Lost In Paradise" lyric video:

"Mother", a brand new song from '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford, can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of the Deciblog). The track, which is dedicated to Lita's estranged sons, Rocco and James (father is former NITRO singer Jim Gillette), comes off her new album, "Living Like A Runaway", due on June 19 in North America via SPV/Steamhammer. "I wrote this song for [my sons]," Lita tells the Deciblog. "I wrote this song to tell them how much I love them and to tell them that I didn't mean for this to happen [for Lita to be forced to live apart from her kids following her divorce from Gillette. — Ed.] and that it's not my fault. I didn't do this to them, although they think I did. I miss them, I love them. They're my life."

"Living Like A Runaway" will be available in four configurations: a double LP, limited edition CD, standard CD and digital download. The artwork for the album was created by famed rock photographer Mark Weiss can seen below.

Standard jewel case version:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask
04. Living Like A Runaway
05. Relentless
06. Mother
07. Devil In My Head
08. Asylum
09. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

Limited edition digipak version:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask
04. Living Like A Runaway
05. Relentless
06. Mother
07. Devil In My Head
08. Asylum
09. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

Bonus tracks:

11. Bad Neighborhood
12. The Bitch Is Back

Exclusive iTunes version:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask
04. Living Like A Runaway
05. Relentless
06. Mother
07. Devil In My Head
08. Asylum
09. Love 2 Hate U
10. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

Exclusive iTunes bonus track:

11. Boiling Point

Double Gatefold LP Version:

LP Side 1:

01. Branded
02. Hate
03. The Mask

LP Side 2:

01. Relentless
02. Devil In My Head
03. Asylum

LP Side 3:

01. Living Like A Runaway
02. Mother
03. A Song To Slit Your Wrists By

LP Side 4:

01. Love 2 Hate You

Bonus tracks:

02. Bad Neighborhood
03. The Bitch Is Back

"Mother" audio stream (courtesy of the Deciblog):

"Roof Top Panty Drop", the new video from Riverside, California's THE DEVASTATED, can be seen below. The clip was filmed and directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini (MUDVAYNE, HATEBREED, ANTHRAX, SHADOWS FALL) and Kevin Boston. The song comes off THE DEVASTATED's new album, "Devil's Messenger", which was released in February via Century Media Records.

The brainchild of former IMPENDING DOOM and OBLIGE members, THE DEVASTATED previously released two brutal singles — "Devil's Messenger" and "Roof Top Drop". Produced by the bandmembers themselves, Chris Eck and co-produced/mixed by Daniel Castleman (AS I LAY DYING), the music was not written with the intent of impressing anyone except the band members themselves.

"Our state of mind was... let's play what we want to hear," says vocalist Greg Wilburn. "Let's write the heaviest, grooviest and ugliest songs we possibly can, and bring something fresh to this extremely watered down scene. If people 'get it' awesome... If not, fuck 'em."

"Devil's Messenger" features a guest appearance by SUICIDE SILENCE frontman Mitch Lucker in the song "Spit Vitriol".

Commented Lucker: "Greg has been a close friend for years. When he reached out to me for the part I was ecstatic! His band is amazing and I can't wait for this record to drop. It's the best shit I've heard in a long fucking time; super original and crushing from start to finish."

"Devil's Messenger" track listing:

01. Drip. Drip.
02. Pseudo Smile Campaign
03. Swallowing Tumors
04. Failure To Thrive
05. Roof Top Panty Drop
06. Devil’s Messenger
07. Spit Vitriol
08. Zombies
09. Bloody Bag Drag
10. Tongue In Cheek
11. Caprice
12. Conductor
13. Hollowed

Fast-rising Berlin rock band KADAVAR will release its self-titled debut in North America on July 10 via Tee Pee Records. Boasting an absolutely killer sound that will find immediate appeal with fans of BLACK SABBATH, PENTAGRAM, SIR LORD BALTIMORE, WITCHCRAFT and GRAVEYARD, KADAVAR's thunderous gloom sounds as if it was "dug out and dusted off" and is the absolute apotheosis of the "SABBATH sound." You might want to rock a monk's robe or a space suit for this one!

KADAVAR is a big black shape with eyes of fire with an immediate sound that induces "chill and numbs from head to toe." Cathedrals in fog emerge from the speakers as KADAVAR's heavy blues-rock, awesomely loud minor-key dirges and Geezer Butler-esque pressure roll bass lines create a paean to the dark mesmerizing power of the distorted blues. Howled vocals full of ominous messages expressing mental anguish and macabre fantasies fly over a seemingly endless supply of monster riffs and rhythm-section chug (including very subtle Ward-like jazz qualities!) that slowly envelope the listener in a hallucinatory haze. Handpicked by both SLEEP and PENTAGRAM as support on each of the Gods of Doom's respective European tours this summer, KADAVAR's strutting style and warm, analog tones are sure to transport audiences to proto-metal oblivion. Heaven's golden chorus sings, Hell's angels flap their wings!

"Kadavar" track listing:

01. All Our Thoughts (4:38)
02. Black Sun (6:17)
03. Forgotten Past (5:41)
04. Goddess of Dawn (4:17)
05. Creature of the Demon (4:54)
06. Purple Sage (8:13)

KADAVAR features Wolf Lindemann (vocals, guitar), Mammut (Rivoli bass) and Tiger (drums).

Knoxville, Tennessee hard rockers 10 YEARS will release their new album, "Minus The Machine", on July 31 via their own Palehorse Records in conjunction with Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group. The CD marks the band's first release on their new label, after a long tenure at Universal.

10 YEARS will kick off the "Minus the Machine" headlining tour on June 27 in New Orleans, supported by FAIR TO MIDLAND and KYNG. They're hitting over 20 cities nationwide including a date in their hometown of Knoxville, and a handful of festivals like Rockfest and Summerjam. They will be touring to support the release of the new album, and they're excited to play some new songs this time around. This year, the band is playing Rocklahoma, sharing the bill with artists like ROB ZOMBIE, CHEVELLE, SLASH, and CREED.

After a solid and successful two years of Brian Vodinh touring as the band's guitarist, he is looking forward to returning to the drum kit. Brian announces, "Even though I started the band with the intention of playing guitar, for some reason drums have been always been the heartbeat of my thought process for the songwriting. After touring for more than two years with me playing guitar, we collectively decided that it felt like the heartbeat had just changed a little and it was time to pump that old blood back into the veins of 10 YEARS. I will be returning to the drum kit with a renewed passion and drive and with the release of 'Minus The Machine', our fans are in for the most emotional and energetic album and live show they have ever seen from us."

10 YEARS frontman Jesse Hasek explained the decision to release the album independently: "We wanted to create an album that has no boundaries. When you feel like you're being told to go through motions and jump through hoops, it takes the heart out of it. It's better to do what comes naturally and then figure out the after-effect."

After a hugely successful year and a half tour to support their previous record "Feeding The Wolves", the rock quartet is ready to get back on the road and see the fans. "We live and die by the loyalty of the club audiences," said Hasek. "Our fans are loyal. They travel with us, and they want us to be loyal to ourselves. What we tried to do on this album is really give them what they want because they've been so good to us through the ups and downs of our career."

Earlier this week, Pablo of the Minneapolis, Minnesota radio station 93X conducted an interview with former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

On the rumors of a possible PANTERA reunion with Zakk Wylde on guitar filling in for the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott:

Anselmo: "Honest to goodness, it's a lot of talk… I'll say this: there would be a number of things that would have to happen before anything like that were to occur. Vince [former PANTERA drummer, and Dimebag's brother, Vinnie Paul Abbott] and I would have to sit down and hash out all kinds of stuff. I have not had that opportunity yet. Rex [Brown, former PANTERA bassist] and I still are very close — we talk, we support each other's music, we're brothers, and all that. However, the Vinnie Paul talk has not happened. That's Vince's choice for right now, and I can't disupute his choice — he's his own man, he makes up his own mind — but I'll leave it like this: my door is wide freaking open. Life is too short, man."

On the idea of getting back on stage and seeing PANTERA fans going crazy to the band's music:

Anselmo: "Of course, when you look at it that way, and just to feel that rush, to play those songs, and to see that particular audience react that way, that would…. Wow, cosmic, to say the least."

On his upcoming solo album:

Anselmo: "Yes, I do have a solo record that is mixed and tracked and all that stuff. All I wanna do is go back and make one more pass on that mix and then get the sucker mastered. I would love to have that out at the end of this year, but if it doesn't happen, because of A) of course, this 'Vulgar Display Of Power' [PANTERA] re-release; I wanna give that time to breathe; and then B) the [new] DOWN [EP], I wanna give that a little time to breathe. If it doesn't happen at the end of this year, I would definitely be looking for that sucker early, early, early, early next year."

"I wrote every note on the record. I wrote every song. Truth be told, I am a creative guitar player. I'm not a technically great guitar player. I've written PANTERA riffs, too. I'll write a riff, but when a guy like Dimebag gets ahold of it, it sounds completely different and probably about 99 to 100 percent better. I have a fantastic guitar player named [Maziar] Marzi Montazeri [ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL], who… Actually, him and Dimebag had known each other since the middle '80s, late '80s, and I've known Marzi almost as long. And really, Dimebag… He was such a killer, killer, amazing player — we all know this — but Dimebag would show so much respect to Marzi. Just to sit there and watch those two guys jam together back in the old days, or just talk guitars… They just had this amazing mutual respect for one another. So Marzi and I have reunited, and he is really an executioner when it comes to right-hand picking, and his left hand blows mine away completely, and he's a great lead player. And the kid who plays drums from WARBEAST, José Manuel Gonzales, he plays drums on my stuff, too. And I've got a local kid playing bass, named Bennett Bartley. And really, man, I orchestrated the whole thing — my words, my songs — but I let Marzi put his fingerprints, so to speak, all over this whole damn thing. Really, man, it's probably — in my estimation — one of the most intense things I've done, ever. What I love about it is you can't slide it into any one particular slot, but it's just as extreme as extreme gets. So I can't wait to catch some feedback on this sucker."

German power metallers PARAGON recently entered Piet Sielck's (IRON SAVIOR) studio to record their tenth album for a late summer/early fall release. The band states, "We are now almost finished with the recording of our new album. We only have to add some more backing vocals as well as some more lead guitars by our new guitar player Jan Bertram.

"The recordings went very smooth and in the end we recorded it much faster than the previous albums we did with Piet.

"We recorded ten songs, one intro and a cover version but have no title for the album so far."

The cover artwork will once again be created by Dirk Illing (SCORPIONS, RUNNING WILD), while the photos will be handled by Stefan Malzkorn (GAMMA RAY, SAXON) and the cover layout will be overseen by Claudia von Bihl (Auburn Records, ACCEPT, ANVIL).

Jan Betram previously played with PARAGON's drummer, Chris Gripp. PARAGON bassist Jan Bünning states, "[Jan] is a longtime PARAGON fan and even wanted to join us a long time ago."

PARAGON 2012 is:

Andreas Babuschkin - Vocals
Wolfgang Tewes - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jan Bertram - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jan Bünning - Bass, Backing Vocals
Chris Gripp - Drums, Backing Vocals

Bünning previously stated about PARAGON's decision to once again work with Sielck on the new CD, "We already worked with him on four of our previous albums ('Steelbound', 'Law Of The Blade', 'The Dark Legacy' and 'Revenge') and it for sure [is] like a coming home for us. Piet worked with bands like SAXON and BLIND GUARDIAN and knows best what we have to sound like."

PARAGON's latest album, "Screenslaves", was released in November 2008 via Massacre Records. The CD was produced by Uwe Lullis (ex-GRAVE DIGGER, REBELLION) at Black Solaris Studio in Frankfurt.

Bünning quit PARAGON after the recording of 2007's "Forgotten Prophecies" because of "musical differences" but rejoined the band in 2009.

Progressive/psychedelic Norwegian black metallers ENSLAVED recently entered the studio to begin recording their new album for a tentative October release via Nuclear Blast Records.

A studio report from NRK Lydverket, including a short audio sample of a brand new ENSLAVED song, is available at this location.

ENSLAVED's last two CDs — "Vertebrae" (2008) and "Axioma Ethica Odini" (2010) — were released via Indie Recordings in Europe and Nuclear Blast in North America.

Commented ENSLAVED: "We're very, very (yes, very) pleased and proud to sign this deal with Nuclear Blast worldwide. We've already worked with Nuclear Blast U.S. through our two latest albums; and our personal friendships with Nuclear Blast guys and gals on both sides of the Atlantic are even older. There's no drama — we take great pride in the fact that there seldom is with us — it is simply a matter of one contract ending, and us going for what seems to be our best option at this point in time and space. This time the best choice for ENSLAVED is changing things up somewhat. We're excited to see what the mixture of passion and professionalism at Nuclear Blast can do with the ENSLAVED name in the years to come. There is no doubt that the level of ambition, the experience and seriousness about what we do, form perfect common ground for ENSLAVED and Nuclear Blast. We're in the process of making a new album that will initiate our new partnership, watch out for the approaching wave of news about that. For now, let's just say that the album will be an absolute (Nuclear) blast!”

Added Gerardo Martínez, label manager of Nuclear Blast USA: "ENSLAVED is one of the most amazing bands to ever come from Norway. We've had the pleasure of working with them on their last two albums in North America, and from this day forth worldwide. Looking forward their new masterpiece to be unleashed to the masses later in the year!”

ENSLAVED were the recepients of last year's Norwegian Artists And Songwriters Association honorary award. The award was presented to the band by the Norwegian minister of culture Anniken Huitfeldt on October 31, 2011.

ENSLAVED last year released "The Sleeping Gods" via Scion A/V as a free downloadable five-song EP. Following up on 2010's near-universally praised "Axioma Ethica Odini", the EP found the quintet once again expanding the boundaries of what metal can be, deftly incorporating influences from across the musical spectrum. Mainly recorded in Solslottet Studio in Bergen, and partly in the band's own home studio, the effort finds the group sounding leaner and more confident than ever, part and parcel of maintaining a presence at the foreground of the international metal movement for 20 years.

Swedish metallers NECROVATION will release their sophomore album, "Necrovation", on June 26 in Europe and August 14 in the U.S. via Agonia Records. The follow-up to 2008's "Breed Deadness Blood" marks a swift improvement over the band's previous raw death metal style, with more classical and heavy metal influences but still with the classic death metal elements that have been the group's trademark since the beginning. The new album is strongly recommended for those who once liked METALLICA, early ENTOMBED and MORBID ANGEL.

"Necrovation" was mixed and produced by Gustav Burn along with the bandmembers and mastered in Necromorbus Studios (WATAIN, DESTROYER 666) in Stockholm, Sweden. The release will be available as a standard, practical CD, limited 12-inch gatefold heavy vinyl with eight pages booklet (first 100 copies of the vinyl on a heavy navy blue vinyl with white haze) and digital download.

"Necrovation" track listing:

01. Necrovorous Insurrection
02. Dark Lead Dead
03. Pulse of Towering Madness
04. Commander of Remains
05. New Depths
06. Sepulchreal
07. Resurrectionist
08. The Transition
09. Ill Mouth Madness (The Many)

"Second Skin", a brand new song from from Maryland extreme metallers DYING FETUS, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Reign Supreme", which will be released on June 17 via Relapse Records. The CD, which was recorded at Wrightway Studios in Baltimore with longtime producer Steve Wright (SLIPKNOT, MISERY INDEX), will feature nine tracks and is "a 'return to roots,' with production focused slightly more on slam than in the band's last few works," according to a press release. "Thematically, the album is set to be a good old-fashioned piece of social and political commentary in the style of DYING FETUS as we have come to know."

Commented DYING FETUS guitarist/vocalist John Gallagher: "The last album had some groove in it, but [it] was basically a lot of tech; this one is a return to form of older DYING FETUS albums, so to speak — more modern production, though, of course. Everything's tight, the sound is crushing, the drums are amazing."

DYING FETUS recently completed the Metal Alliance Tour with DEVILDRIVER, THE FACELESS, JOB FOR A COWBOY, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD and IMPENDING DOOM.

DYING FETUS' latest album, "Descend Into Depravity", sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 166 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at position No. 4 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.

"Second Skin" audio stream:



Studio webisode #2:

KORN was joined onstage by ex-guitarist Brian "Head" Welch last Saturday (May 5) at the Carolina Rebellion festival in Rockingham, North Carolina, marking the first time in seven years that KORN played with Welch, who left the group in 2005. The event, which electrified KORN fans everywhere, has naturally sparked talk of a full reunion with Welch to record and tour. But guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer told The Pulse Of Radio that the band isn't rushing into anything. "The whole thing needs to be approached very delicately, because it's such a fragile thing," he said. "It's just something that has to be super well-planned and it has to come naturally. And our experience with him on Saturday has all started from a positive place, and it wasn't forced and it was just natural. So I think if everything optimistically runs like that, that's all I can hope for. I'm really happy just to reconnect with my old friend."

Welch joined the band onstage to perform its classic song "Blind". According to The Pulse Of Radio, Shaffer later said that Saturday night's reunion was the first contact he had with Welch since his former bandmate left the KORN lineup.

Welch is currently on the road with his new band, LOVE AND DEATH, which recently issued a new EP called "Chemicals". KORN is touring behind its 10th studio effort, "The Path Of Totality".

KORN has just unveiled a new round of June tour dates, which will begin on June 15 in Quebec. Singer Jonathan Davis will do an opening set as DJ J. Devil.

Die amerikanischen Todesmetaller NILE werden im August nach Europa kommen und ein paar Shows absolvieren. Darunter einige Festivals, erstmalig ein Auftritt in der Ukraine und zwei Auftritte in Russland.

02.08. UA Yevpatoriya - Metal Heads Mission
04.08. RUS St.Petersburg - Zal Ozhidaniya
05.08. RUS Moscow - Milk
08.08. SLO Tolmin - Metal Camp
09.08. CZ Jaromer - Brutal Assault
10.08. D Schlotheim - Party San. Festival
12.08. UK Walton On Trent - Bloodstock
16.08. CH Zürich - Dynamo
17.08. D Dinkelsbühl - Summer Breeze
18.08. B Méan - Metal Méan Festival

THE FALLEN DIVINE will release their new album The Binding Cycle on May 18th via Indie Recordings. The album is streaming in its entirety at this location.

According to a press release, the adventure of achieving the perfect sound for the album began in the summer of 2011. The band entered the highly respected Sonic Train studios in Gothenburg, Sweden, with Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND) as their sound engineer. After a couple weeks of intense, yet creative work, the material was sent to Dan Swanö (BLOODBATH, EDGE OF SANITY) for the final mix and mastering.

Dan Swanö: “Another example that proves that Scandinavia rule the progressive death metal scene. Dynamic and bombastic, just the way I like it. These guys have a bright future ahead!"

The tracklist is as follows:
'Dissension'
'Shades of Oppression'
'Fire Lights the Night'
'Patterns Through Eternity'
'Northern Lights'
'Replenished'
'The Tormented One'
'The Binding Cycle'

According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, MANOWAR has set "The Lord Of Steel" as the title of its long-awaited eleventh studio album. The CD, which will celebrate its world premiere and digital pre-release in June, was mixed and mastered at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands with the help of longtime collaborators, mixing engineer Ronald Prent and Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Darcy Proper.

"The Lord Of Steel" will include the track "El Gringo", which will also serve as the theme song for the After Dark Action franchise film "El Gringo", an action western starring Scott Adkins ("The Expendables 2", "The Bourne Ultimatum"), Christian Slater and Yvette Yates ("Without Men").

"El Gringo" marks the first time MANOWAR has written a song specifically for a movie. The song depicts the struggle of a hero torn between his moral code and financial gain, and the challenge of being true to oneself and the real values in life — a recurring theme in MANOWAR's music.

"Everyone loves action movies! Our music, along with ass-kicking visuals and a great story, are a perfect match, not to mention a chance to actually see the music come alive on screen," said MANOWAR bassist and composer Joey DeMaio. "'El Gringo' has been a great experience, the team at After Dark Films has been a pleasure to work with, and we are ready for more!" he continued.

On March 12, a select group of special MANOWAR fans known as The Circle, who represent the band's worldwide fan base, were invited to a private pre-listening session of the forthcoming MANOWAR album, as well as a tour of Wisseloord Studios.

MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio, and longtime collaborators, mixing engineer Ronald Prent and Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Darcy Proper, provided insight into the making of a record, and the specific requirements in the production for a band that is world-renowned for a sound that is louder than any other band and yet equally clear and perfect.

Fans from all over the world were chosen to represent their countries and receive news and updates to share them with their fellow brothers and sisters, and listen to first songs from the new album that is set for release in June/July.

"It was important to us that the fans should be the first to hear the new music. After all, it is all for them!" explained DeMaio.

When asked about the long gap between MANOWAR's last CD and upcoming effort, DeMaio said, "I know that a lot of people don't wanna wait another five years for a MANOWAR record, but we hope that people are gonna think that it was worth waiting the time. Because, you know, you go to a restaurant and you order dinner, if the waiter walks in the kitchen and comes back out two seconds later and puts the dinner on the table, I really don't know what you're gonna get. Every now and then I like McDonald's, too — it doesn't mean something fast is not good — but we're not a fast-food restaurant with MANOWAR. We think it's quality, so we hope you're gonna feel the same way."

MANOWAR will headline several European festivals this summer, celebrating their new album and the 10th anniversary of one of their most popular records, "Warriors Of The World".

"Expendable" rough mix: