One of BLACK SABBATH's biggest fans tells U.K.'s Sunday Mercury that online ticket scalpers have made it impossible for him to see his favorite band's reunion concert in their hometown.

Tickets for the show, which will be at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on May 19, are going for £250 (approximately $400) on the Internet — more than for five times the original price of £45.

Sean May, who has SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne's name tattooed on his knuckles, tells Sunday Mercury, "I've been following the band since I was 14, but the real fans are missing out so these ticket scalpers can make money. I think it's wrong, and it's not the venue or the band that are profiting, it's online ticket touts. It's only a small concert, with 3,000 tickets.

He added, "I tried to get on to the official web site as soon as they went on sale at 9 a.m. on Friday, but it crashed. When I got through to the venue 10 minutes later but they had sold out.

"The venue say they only sell two tickets per person — how on earth did they sell to 1,500 people in 10 minutes?"

BLACK SABBATH's promoter Andy Copping added, "Of course the show sold out quickly, it's BLACK SABBATH playing a small show in their hometown. Sadly, some people feel the need to purchase tickets and put them on the secondary market. I personally find it disgusting and unethical but until the government do something and pass some legislation to outlaw this practice, we are powerless. What makes matters worse is that the show will be making a sizeable financial contribution to charity – maybe the people that are seeking to profiteer from their tickets should donate the additional money they make to the charity, then at least it's going to a good cause."

A donation to Help For Heroes will be made from the proceeds of the show.

BLACK SABBATH was supposed to tour the Europe and North America this year as part of a worldwide trek in support of a new album, but guitarist Tony Iommi's cancer diagnosis put those plans on hold.

Ozzy Osbourne's wife and manager, Sharon, said recently that SABBATH would now play just one date each in North America and the U.K.

Ozzy, Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler recently spent time in London recording their first album together in 33 years, although without drummer Bill Ward it is not the original SABBATH reunion announced last November.

Ward has been sitting out the sessions due to being offered what he called "an unsignable contract" in an open letter to SABBATH fans.

Ward posted an update on February 17 in which he said he "remains hopeful" for a positive outcome to the situation.

The rest of SABBATH's scheduled European summer gigs will be replaced by "Ozzy And Friends", at which the singer will be joined by Butler, former Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde and other special guests, including Slash on selected dates.

Former DIO and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell has revealed via Facebook that he is planning to join forces with three other original DIO members to play "some gigs" that will see the musicians performing material from the early DIO records that Campbell appeared on.

"I met up with the original DIO band guys, Vinny Appice [drums], Jimmy Bain [bass] and Claude Schnell [keyboards] again [Monday] night [April 30]. Now that I've brushed up on how to play those solos again, we're planning to jam some more and plan to do some gigs, too. We found a great singer who can really do justice to Ronnie's [James Dio] parts."

Campbell, Appice and Schnell previously jammed together in late February. Vivian wrote at the time on his Facebook page, "I had so much fun playing 'Rainbow In The Dark' with STEEL PANTHER [in January; see video below] that I've organized a get-together with my old DIO bandmates to jam some more of the old songs. I've been listening to the records trying to remember how the songs and solos go." He added, "Well, that was a hoot playing the old songs with the DIO guys again. I even broke out the original black Les Paul that I recorded them on (needs a re-fret really bad!). All in all, it sounded great and now we're thinking of taking it a stage further." Regarding who handled the vocals during the late-February jam session, he said, "A chap called Andy Freeman (friend of Vinny's) [HURRICANE, LYNCH MOB, BULLETBOYS] stopped by for about a half hour and sang a few of the songs. He was incredible!"

Campbell and Ronnie James Dio worked together on the first three DIO albums 1983's "Holy Diver", 1984's "The Last in Line" and 1985's "Sacred Heart" — before Irishman Campbell left to join WHITESNAKE in 1987. Their subsequent relationship was strained, to say the least.

Speaking to Rush On Rock in January 2011, Campbell had this to say about the passing of the iconic singer: “I was numb to the whole thing. I hadn't talked to Ronnie in 25 years, so it wasn't as if we were close. My mother died nine or 10 days before him, so I was preoccupied with that. And my father died nine months before that. It was a really tough year on a personal level, and I had enough to think about."

He added, "The news about Ronnie James Dio just bounced off me. It was a difficult relationship on a personal level anyway. I was really proud of the music we made together but it was tough being in a band together. But he died way too young."

When asked if he regretted not having had the chance to make up with Ronnie before the vocalist died of stomach cancer in May 2010 at the age of 67, Campbell told Radio Metal last July, "No. Even when I was in the band with Ronnie back in the days, we never had a very strong relationship beyond music. That was what brought us together: we were on stage together, recording and writing songs... It was a very strange relationship between he and I. It was a lot of miscommunication, of misunderstanding and I think a lot of it was generational. Ronnie was a lot older than me and I found it very difficult to communicate with him and vice versa, I think he found it very difficult to communicate with me. A lot of people have thought for years and years that I left the band, which is not true, I was fired. I never wanted to quit the DIO band. I didn't have any reason to contact him again after he fired me. It had been 25 or so years since Ronnie had fired me from the band. I've never seen him again, I've never spoken to him again, he never contacted me. It is what it is. I'm very proud of the records that we recorded together, but you can't go back. You gotta keep moving forward."

In a May 2011 interview with Brazil's Roadie Crew magazine, Ronnie's wife and manager Wendy Dio stated about the controversy surrounding Ronnie's relationship with Campbell (in a 2003 interview Vivian called Ronnie "an awful businessman and, way more importantly, one of the vilest people in the industry."), "[Vivian] always said that he hated all the albums that he played on with Ronnie, and that was very hurtful to Ronnie. Very hurtful. Would you like someone who said something like that about your albums? He said a lot of things in the press that I don't wanna get into, because it really wasn't Ronnie's feud at all. Ronnie didn't fire him. I fired [Vivian]. He wanted as much money as Ronnie wanted. He thought he was as important as Ronnie was, and that was just wrong. But I don't wanna get into that. It's water under the bridge. It doesn't matter."

Inner Wound Recordings has announced the release of a 12-inch vinyl edition of "The Duke", a classic album from Norwegian powerhouse vocalist Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN, AVANTASIA), A deal was struck with the German label AFM Records, and the release date is set for June 1. The edition includes an insert with lyrics.

"The Duke" is available for pre-order at the Inner Wound Recordings store.

Track listing;

Side A

01. We Brought The Angels Down
02. Blacksong
03. Stormcrow
04. End Of Time
05. Duke Of Love

Side B

01. Burning Chains
02. After The Dying
03. Midnight Madness
04. Are You Ready
05. Starfire

Jorn's new album, "Bring Heavy Rock To The Land", will be released on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Frontiers Records.

Ex-KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch rejoined his former bandmates on stage earlier tonight (Saturday, May 5) at the Carolina Rebellion festival at the legendary Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina to perform the band's classic song "Blind". This marked the first time in seven years that Welch and KORN played together.

Video footage and a photo of Welch performing with KORN at Carolina Rebellion can be seen below.

Welch left KORN in 2005 to become a born-again Christian after years of hard drug and alcohol abuse while in the band.

Although Welch has a new band called LOVE AND DEATH, both he and KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu have said that a reunion could be possible one day under the right conditions.

Welch was recently asked by Loudwire what he thought of the recent drama last month at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, where GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose refused to attend the ceremony and be inducted with his former bandmates. Welch — who left KORN seven years ago — replied that if KORN ever got nominated to the Hall, the situation would be very different.

Welch explained, "I've thought about that over the years and I'm friends with them now. I talk to them pretty regularly, so I don't think it would be a big deal for me to go and play a classic or two. I don't understand grown men who are close to 50 years old having issues like that. It just floors me that you can't at some degree, be civil. It's just beyond me. I don't understand that, but you know, everyone is different, I don't judge them. We all have our issues."

KORN will be eligible for induction into the Hall in 2019, 25 years after the 1994 release of the band's self-titled debut album.

The new lineup of FEAR FACTORY performed live on May 2 at Trees in Dallas, Texas as part of its North American tour with SHADOWS FALL, THE BROWNING, THE DEVASTATED and LEGACY OF DISORDER. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can now be seen below.

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

FEAR FACTORY has tapped Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY, SYSTEM DIVIDE) as its new touring drummer.

Commented Heller: "It is an incredible honor to be chosen as the new drummer for FEAR FACTORY! It's something I never would have dreamt of as a kid listening to 'Soul Of A New Machine' and 'Demanufacture' over and over again in middle school. It's also an incredible honor to be following in the footsteps of two of the most amazing and influential drummers in metal drumming history. I hope to continue their legacy, creating some of the most forward-thinking and innovative music available today."

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

Bell notes, "The protagonist (The Industrialist) is the incarnation of all industries in the form of an automaton. The mechanical, technological, and scientific advances through the industrial age led to the creation of The Industrialist. In the story, the automaton becomes sentient as it collects memories with each passing day. Through observation and learning, it gains the will to exist. What was meant to help man, will eventually be man's demise."

"The Industrialist" again pairs FEAR FACTORY with producer Rhys Fulber. Mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, SKINNY PUPPY, MACHINE HEAD), with additional tracking by Logan Mader (GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY), the album is the second written by Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares since reuniting in 2009 after a seven-year split. Cazares says, "Collaborating with Burton again on the new album was like magic. Everything just fell into place naturally. It felt good to recapture the true sound of FEAR FACTORY, taking it back to where it all started while raising it to new levels." Regarding Fulber, Cazares says, "Rhys has been our secret member. He is the one producer who has been able to understand what we have been trying to accomplish from the beginning and has opened our eyes to new things without sacrificing our original sound. His production and keyboard talents has made FEAR FACTORY stand out amongst the many bands of our genre."

"The Industrialist" track listing:

01. The Industrialist
02. Recharger
03. New Messiah
04. God Eater
05. Depraved Mind Murder
06. Virus of Faith
07. Difference Engine
08. Dissemble
09. Religion is Flawed Because Man is Flawed
10. Human Augmentation
11. Blush Response (Difference Engine) *
12. Landfill *

* Available on deluxe digibook only

«Here's an update on things we're working on. We have recorded 2 songs for a split CD with OPHIS. The finishing touches on the mix are being done as we speak. Then the songs of both OPHIS and OT will be sent to Greg of ESOTERIC who will master this. This CD will be called 'Immersed' and will be out on Momento Mori from Spain. The plan is a June release.

We're also still mixing the new full-length. This is taking some time but we want the best possible result, so bear with us. Once the mix is done we'll talk to labels to see if we can come to a workable agreement. We hope the full-length will be out later this year. Anyway, we're working hard on everything».

Video footage of EYEHATEGOD performing a new song, "New Orleans Is The New Vietnam", on April 28 at the Dark Lord Day in Munster, Indiana can be seen below.

EYEHATEGOD's entire Dark Lord Day performance can be seen at Tyronehood.tv.

EYEHATEGOD released an official live DVD in March 2011 via MVD. Simply titled "Live", the 88-minute production features multi-camera footage from 2009 (Baltimore, Maryland) and 2010 (Cleveland, Ohio), with bonus clips from the last show of their 2010 European tour and videos never before released on DVD.

Since forming in 1988, EYEHATEGOD has defied all odds and continues to exist and persist despite personal and professional setbacks. They've been called doomcore, sludge and stoner rock, survived line-up shuffles, label hassles and a short-lived split. And after more than two decades of creating some of the most corrosive, vile music known to man, EYEHATEGOD still hasn't lost the piss and vinegar that fueled it back in '88.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's KAMIKABE has inked a deal with Unique Leader Records. The band's full-length debut, "Aberration Of Man", will be released this summer.

Founded in 2003, KAMIKABE "brings many new elements to the tech, death metal scene while still keeping power and extreme intensity," according to a press release.

Commented the band: "We are extremely excited to be a part of the Unique Leader family! We have listened to, and admired the bands that have been affiliated with the label for years. We have always been into writing extreme, fast, and heavy music and hope we can attract like-minded fans. It is an honor to be added to the roster of such extreme bands and awesome talent! After years of hard work and loads of bad luck, look in the near future for tours, and the release of our debut full-length, 'Aberration Of Man'!"

Veteran metallers OMEN will release their new album, "Hammer Damage", on June 29 via Pure Steel Records. The band's eleventh CD was originally due at the end of April but had to be delayed after OMEN mastermind Kenny Powell's studio was damaged by a tornado.

Commented Kenny: "First off, I hate to be an excuse maker, but I have had a little problem with the studio. I have been putting off a new roof on my house until the record was finished. After several days of heavy rain, the studio was flooded and the roof collapsed in. It took me several days to patch things up and clean up all of the equipment. Thankfully nothing was damaged."

"Hammer Damage" track listing:

01. Hammer Damage
02. Knights Of The Cross
03. Era Of Crisis
04. Epitaph For A Warrior
05. The Canyon
06. Demons
07. Caligula
08. Hellas
09. A.F.U.

OMEN was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983, by lead guitarist Kenny Powell; previously with the rock group SAVAGE GRACE and signed on with Metal Blade Records in 1984, and released their debut album "Battle Cry". In 1985 the second album, "Warning Of Danger", followed, building up OMEN's reputation as one of the forefathers of power metal acts, such as METALLICA, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH, and SLAYER. In 1986, OMEN's successes lead to the release of the blockbuster album "The Curse" on Capitol Records. The hit single "Thorn In Your Flesh" from their release "Escape To Nowhere" topped the metal charts in 1985.

OMEN continued releasing an incredible collection of heavy metal masterpieces over the years, as well as building a loyal fan base via successful worldwide tours.

OMEN in 2008 released a live album, "Into the Arena: 20 Years Live", which contained previously unreleased recordings of the band's original lineup.

OMEN appeared at last year's Keep It True XII festival on April 24-25, 2009 at the Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany.

OMEN 2012 is:

Kenny Powell - Guitar
Andy Haas - Bass
Matt Story - Vocals
Steve Wittig - Drums

MANOWAR and After Dark Films announced today that a track from the band's new album will be 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").

After Dark Action will showcase "El Gringo" and four other original, adrenaline-pumping films theatrically as a commercial film festival in markets nationwide and on VOD (Video On Demand) on May 11. Directed by Eduardo Rodriguez ("Stash House") and written by Jonathan W. Stokes, "El Gringo" is about The Man who crosses into Mexico with a satchel of $2,000,000 cash, a bloody past and a plan to live out his remaining days on a beach. Instead, he gets stuck waiting for a bus in El Fronteras, a sleepy desert town that's so uninviting that — forget about the ocean — he can hardly find a glass of water. Then, word of his money spreads to the underworld. Under sudden attack from corrupt cops, gangsters, and desperados, The Man must push back his retirement plans, lock and load and save sleepy El Fronteras through a dizzying display of spectacular gunfights.

"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.

"We are thrilled to have MANOWAR as a creative collaborator on 'El Gringo'," said Courtney Solomon, a producer on the film, as well as the company owner and CEO of After Dark Films. "The band really invested their talent and energy into the project and we can't wait to share their work with action audiences everywhere."

The new MANOWAR album featuring the song "El Gringo" and many other tracks in the vein of the band's hit record "Warriors Of The World" and the classic MANOWAR hymns will celebrate its world premiere and digital pre-release in June.

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".

Following up the bulldozer that was 2010's "Haven For The Insane", Chicago-based death metal purists CARDIAC ARREST are set to return this spring with their highly-anticipated fourth full-length album. On the aptly titled "Vortex Of Violence", CARDIAC ARREST once again demonstrates what true death metal is all about with a vicious and relentless assault of grinding intensity and neck-snapping aggression. Continually pushing their sound to new levels of extremity and excellence, CARDIAC ARREST's new CD is the mark of a band whose primary goal is to write music that will not only outlive, but absolutely crush any trend that attempts to pollute the genre of death metal.

Commented guitarist Tom Knizner: "Well, the new CARDIAC ARREST album, 'Vortex Of Violence', is about to be unleashed. We have been relatively quiet about this release until now. No need to bore anyone with the details why. 'Vortex Of Violence' was completed in early 2011 and we decided to sit on it until we felt the time was right.

"2011 brought about a line-up change and we decided to work with our new drummer, Nick Gallichio, rather than push an album or do extensive live stuff.

"2011 was a tough but rewarding year for us, and we look forward to 2012.

"CARDIAC ARREST will again perform live a handful of times in 2012, so be sure to catch us when you can. Cheers and beers!"

Added guitarist/vocalist Adam Scott: "Alright ladies and gentlemen, it's with pleasure we give you 'Vortex Of Violence', our new album which will once again be released on Ibex Moon Records. Not gonna sit and yammer about how 'this is our greatest album to date,' because everyone says that; I'm sure you're sick of hearing that. We hope you enjoy the eleven tracks of heart-stopping death rot that ooze from your speakers!!"

"Vortex Of Violence" will be released on May 22 via Ibex Moon Records. Pre-orders are now being accepted at this location and online orders will begin shipping around May 9. To prepare fans for the aural assault to come, CARDIAC ARREST has made the track "Primitive Lunacy" available for streaming on its ReverbNation page.

"Vortex Of Violence" track listing:

01. Portal Of The Damned
02. To Their Graves
03. Relentless Pursuit
04. Conjured Beings
05. Primitive Lunacy
06. Vortex Of Violence
07. Depths Of Despair
08. Ritual Plague
09. Subject To Torture
10. Sacrifice
11. Last Thing That You See

KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley was among the biggest names in TV and radio who joined together at Dick Clark's Malibu, California home yesterday (Thursday, May 3) to pay tribute to the rock 'n' roll icon and TV and radio pioneer who passed away on April 18.

Commented Stanley: "Yesterday, the private memorial for Dick Clark took place, and I was there by invitation along with Erin [Stanley's wife], Gene [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist] and Shannon [Tweed, Gene's wife].

"Dick was a true icon who changed the world of rock and roll while making a career of using his love of music to make icons of others.

"To see rock's greats spanning five decades humbled and giving thanks to this giant only underlined once again the impact this wonderful man had on so many.

"Any of the current 'Idol'/'Voice'-type shows wouldn't exist without the trail that Dick Clark blazed to make them possible. He left an indelible mark on me for the irreplaceable generosity he showed KISS over the years. Always there with a word of guidance, we won't forget him. He will live on through his impact on countless aspects of American pop culture."

Clark died of a heart attack in Santa Monica, California at age 82. According to The Pulse Of Radio, Clark's death came a day after being admitted for an outpatient procedure. Clark, affectionately known as "America's Oldest Teenager," is survived by his wife Kari, and his three children Richard Augustus II, Duane, and Cindy. Memorial plans have yet to be announced.

Over the course of the show's 30 years, artists who performed on "American Bandstand" included the BEACH BOYS, THE DOORS, MADONNA, and literally hundreds of others.

In 1964, "American Bandstand" moved to Los Angeles, where it would remain until 1989 when the show was canceled.

"American Bandstand" became one of television's longest running music shows, and the first network series devoted exclusively to rock n' roll.

The Australian band headed by guitarist Sam Vallen (Quandary) and vocalist Jim Grey (Arcane) has announced it is busy working on a follow up album to last year’s ‘Moments From Ephemeral City’. In the meantime there will be a “special edition” re-release of Moments.., which will include both tracks from the ‘Colossus’ EP released later in 2011. This will be available as a digital download from both www.samvallen.com and on iTunes. There will be CD versions available as soon as we sell out the last copies of the current pressing of ‘Moments…’

The band has also just released a live-in-the-studio clip of Vanishing Rites (Tread Softly Little One) from the Colossus EP.

SANTA HATES YOU ist ein Projekt von Peter Spilles (PROJECT PITCHFORK) und Jinxy. Dies ist keine Übung. Sperrt Frauen und Kinder ein… und die Männer am besten gleich mit: Der SANTA HATES YOU-Kahn ist auf offener See gesichtet worden! Unter dem mit Stolz gehissten Totenkopfbanner "Jolly Roger" nehmen die anarchischen Electro-Piraten Kurs auf die Küste – und diesmal werden sie keine Gnade walten lassen.

In den letzten Jahren konnten sich Peter Spilles und Jinxy von einem der zahlreichen Newcomer zu einer unbesiegbaren und auf allen Weltmeeren gefürchteten Electroflotte hocharbeiten, deren Aufkreuzen landauf, landab erst kürzlich für eine ausgewachsene "P.A.N.I.C." gesorgt hat. Und doch war dies erst der Vorgeschmack auf das, was sich das unberechenbare Duo auf "Jolly Roger" ins Logbuch geschrieben hat. Mit Witz, Verve und Wahnsinn an Bord durchpflügen SANTA HATES YOU die Electrowelt und werden jeden Club, der die Leichtsinnigkeit besitzt, sich den mächtigen Electro-Torpedos zu widersetzen, mit Vergnügen entern.

Wenn die SANTA HATES YOU-Flotte wieder abgezogen ist, steht kein Stein mehr auf dem anderen. Massiver, vielschichtiger und wilder als je zuvor plündert, brandschatzt und kämpft sich das eingeschworene Duo durch die Clublandschaft, bietet auf "Jolly Roger" die perfekte Symbiose aus knallharter Electrokost, hymnischen Refrains und einer extrakräftigen Prise gruseliger Geisteskrankheit, die SANTA HATES YOU schon immer hervorragend zu Gesicht stand. Man nehme nur das wie ein Blitz ins Ohr und in die Beine gehende Club-Monument "Nothing’s Gonna Be Alright", das noisig-hypnotische Horrormanifest "Das Leben fügt Ihnen und den Menschen in Ihrer Umgebung erheblichen Schaden zu", das herrlich absurde "Watch Out Motherfucker, I Know Karate" oder das kantige, verführerische "The Monster In The Maze" – in Sachen clublastiger Innovation, bösem Humor und Unberechenbarkeit macht SANTA HATES YOU so schnell niemand etwas vor.

Schön, grausam und überlegen wie die See, boshaft, hinterhältig und düster wie die peitschenden Tentakel gewaltiger Riesenkraken… "Jolly Roger" lässt alle anderen Electro-Projekte wie Süßwasserpiraten wirken. Hisst die Flaggen! "Jolly Roger" wurde 2011 veröffentlicht!

MORBID ANGEL vocalist/bassist David Vincent joined SOULFLY on stage last night (Friday, May 4) at State Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida to lend lead vocals to the song "Blood Fire War Hate". Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of MetalThrashingMark).

Vincent originally made a guest appearance on the studio version of "Blood Fire War Hate", which was included on SOULFLY's 2008 album "Conquer".

In a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar, SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera stated about "Blood Fire War Hate", "I asked David Vincent to be part of it. A great band I always liked was MORBID ANGEL and he did it and did a great job. The song turned out killer and we recorded 'Conquer' in Florida so it was not far from him and he just drove to the studio in Orlando."

SOULFLY is currently touring in support of its eighth album, "Enslaved", which sold 5,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Omen", opened with 6,000 units in June 2010 to land at No. 73.

SOULFLY's 2008 album, "Conquer", premiered with 8,400 copies to enter the chart at No. 66. This number was in line with the opening tally of the CD's predecessor, "Dark Ages", which shifted a little more than 8,000 copies during its first week of release in October 2005 to debut at No. 155.

"Enslaved" was released on March 13 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at TallCat Studios in Phoenix, Arizona and was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, the seasoned knob twiddler behind some of the most notable bands in metal today, such as SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED, THE RED CHORD and more.

CHROME DIVISION, the Norwegian five-piece featuring DIMMU BORGIR frontman Shagrath (a.k.a. Stian Thoresen) on guitar, has parted ways with bassist Björn "Burn" Luna and guitarist Ricky Black. Luna, who was a member of CHROME DIVISION since its inception in 2004, "will work with us from behind the curtains of doom, and contribute on the lyrical side of things in the future," according to the band.

The group adds, "For a while we have been working heavily on the new album with our new permanent members. Our new bass player Ogee has been filling out as session live guitarist/bassist for a long time and is now onboard for the ride. The perfect successor and a natural choice to welcome into the ranks.

"On lead guitar we present to you the extremely talented Damage Karlsen of former BREED fame. Shoes hard to fill, but he damn near broke the mold!

"Both guys are an inspiring addition to the song writing process and the new material smells like burnt rubber!"

CHROME DIVISION current lineup:

Shagrath - Guitar
Ogee - Bass
Shady Blue (a.k.a. Athera) - Vocals
Damage Karlsen - Guitar
Tony White - Drums

The first photos of the new CHROME DIVISION lineup can be seen below.

CHROME DIVISION's "Ghost Riders In The Sky" video was filmed with director Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, KAMELOT), who previously worked with the group on the "Bulldogs Unleashed" and "Serial Killer" videos (the latter off 2006's "Doomsday Rock 'N' Roll" album).

A cover version of the JOHNNY CASH classic, "Ghost Riders In The Sky" comes off CHROME DIVISION's third album, "3rd Round Knockout", which was released in Europe on May 6, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Marius Strand Studio in Oslo.

CHROME DIVISION in August 2009 parted ways with longtime vocalist Eddie Guz "due to lack of dedication and commitment to the band." His replacement is none other than Athera of SUSPERIA, who filled in for Guz at the Winterfire Festival at Hessenhallen in Giessen, Germany on February 21, 2009 after Eddie Guz was unable to make the gig.

Photos by: Kjell Ivar Lund

The Florida-based death metal band SOLSTICE was formed in 1990 by guitarist Dennis Munoz and drummer Alex Marquez with vocalist/guitarist Rob Barrett. In 1991, they recorded a demo produced by legendary producer Jim Morris and signed a deal with Germany's SPV/Steamhammer and their debut album was released in 1992. It was originally to be titled "The Sentencing", but delays in correspondence led to it becoming simply known as "Solstice". The following year, internal issues, combined with Rob Barrett departing for a position in CANNIBAL CORPSE, forced the band into hiatus, but in 1995 they regrouped (adding guitarist/vocals Christian Rudes) and returned with the magnificent sophomore album, "Pray".

Both albums are considered classics in the death/thrash crossover genre because at that time few bands were pushing the limits like SOLSTICE. The band is currently active once again and in 2011 guitarist Dennis Munoz remixed "Pray" as an exclusive addition to this collector’s set.

Due on June 12 via Divebomb Records, "Pray For The Sentencing" contains a new interview with members of the band, both legendary albums in original form (remastered), plus the newly remixed version of "Pray" as well as the original Ed Repka cover illustration.

"Pray For The Sentencing" track listing:

Disc 1

"The Sentencing" (1992)

01. Transmogrified
02. Cleansed Of Impurity
03. Eternal Waking
04. Survival Reaction
05. S.M.D.
06. Netherworld
07. Plasticized
08. Cataclysmic Outburst
09. Aberration

"Pray" (1995)

10. The Unseen
11. Denial
12. Pray
13. All Life Lost
14. Freedom Denied
15. Close Minded Failure
16. Depression
17. Bleeding Unborn
18. One At A Time
19. Eyes See Red

Disc 2

"Pray" (2011 remix)

01. The Unseen
02. Denial
03. Pray
04. All Life Lost
05. Freedom Denied
06. Close Minded Failure
07. Depression

"Total Förvirring", a song from NERVGIFT ("Nerve-Venom" in Swedish) — the new Örebro, Sweden-based punk/metal band featuring bassist/guitarist Oskar Pålsson (COLDWORKER), vocalist Calle Henriksson (KVOTERINGEN) and drummer Andreas Gustavsson (OND BRÅD DÖD) — can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the group's recenty completed debut demo. The music for the four-song effort was recorded in a basement beneath a municipal school in Kumla between March 23 and March 25, and the vocals were added at COLDWORKER's rehearsal room on March 27.

NERVGIFT is currently seeking a suitable record label to release these four songs as the band's first seven-inch vinyl.

NERVGIFT is:

Oskar Pålsson (COLDWORKER) – Guitar, Bass
Calle Henriksson (KVOTERINGEN) - Vocals
Andreas Gustavsson (OND BRÅD DÖD) - Drums