Thirty years after its eponymous debut album, ASIA ascended to the top of the Billboard Top 100 chart (where it remained No. 1 for nine consecutive weeks), the legendary British classic rock band returns with a brand new studio album, a 30th-anniversary edition of their debut album, 2 DVDs, and a world tour that includes Europe, Japan and America.

ASIA will release its new studio album, "XXX" (pronounced Triple X) via Frontiers Records on June 29 in Europe and July 3 in North America. The new record, produced by Mike Paxman, which is being hailed as ASIA's best album since its classic early '80s releases, will be made available as a CD, collector's-edition CD/DVD (featuring new music videos and behind-the-scenes footage), and on vinyl (limited edition Europe only). Original artwork for "XXX" was created by Roger Dean.

The first single taken from the highly anticipated new album is entitled "Face On The Bridge", released worldwide on May 14. The official video for the song can be seen below.

"We're very pleased with, and confident about 'XXX'," says John Wetton. "It encapsulates, lyrically and instrumentally, the essence of ASIA today. However, it is the very same four people that gave you the original, iconic album 30 years ago. If you loved it then, you will love it now."

"We wanted to recapture the energy of the first album," adds ASIA's guitarist Steve Howe. "ASIA has always been about great songs, and fantastic musicianship. I'm sure fans of the first album will fall in love with 'XXX'."

"XXX" CD edition track listing:

01. Tomorrow The World (Wetton/Downes) (6:47)
02. Bury Me In Willow (Wetton/Downes) (6:01)
03. No Religion (Howe/Wetton/Downes) (6:36)
04. Faithful (Wetton/Downes) (5:37)
05. I Know How You Feel (Wetton/Downes) (4:53)
06. Face On The Bridge (Wetton/Downes) (5:59)
07. Al Gatto Nero (Wetton/Downes) (4:36)
08. Judas (Howe/Wetton/Downes) (4:43)
09. Ghost Of A Chance (Wetton/Downes) (4:21)

Total Time 49:41

"XXX" Special Edition 11-TRACK CD (+ Bonus DVD) - track listing:

01. Tomorrow The World (Wetton/Downes) (6:47)
02. Bury Me In Willow (Wetton/Downes) (6:01)
03. No Religion (Howe/Wetton/Downes) (6:36)
04. Faithful (Wetton/Downes) (5:37)
05. I Know How You Feel (Wetton/Downes) (4:53)
06. Face On The Bridge (Wetton/Downes) (5:59)
07. Al Gatto Nero (Wetton/Downes) (4:36)
08. Judas (Howe/Wetton/Downes) (4:43)
09. Reno (Silver and Gold) (Howe/Wetton) (5:15) (bonus track)
10. Ghost Of A Chance (Wetton/Downes) (4:21)
11. I Know How You Feel (Midnight Mix) (Wetton/Downes) (5:23) (bonus track)

Total Time: 60:20

Bonus DVD

01. Face On The Bridge (Music Video) (4:33)
02. Faithful (Music Video) (4:34)
03. The Making of XXX (Featurette) (20:33)

Total Time: 29:40

In addition, ASIA has also completed work on "Resonance", a DVD concert film of the group's 2010/2011 Omega World Tour, captured live in Switzerland. The effort will be released in the fall.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, ASIA will release a collector's edition box set based on its legendary 1982 eponymous debut album, supported by a myriad of ASIA releases in 2012. The 30th-anniversary edition of the first LP will feature two audio CDs (a remastered edition of the debut album, plus a CD of live rare tracks), an expansive historical booklet, a limited edition ASIA T-shirt, goodies from ASIA's 1982 tour, plus a DVD of the new band documentary: "ASIA - 30 Years On". A newly commissioned painting by Roger Dean updates the symbolic dragon and pearl from 1982 to 2012, the Year of The Water Dragon (in the Chinese calendar).

ASIA is:

Geoff Downes - keyboards
Steve Howe - guitar
Carl Palmer - drums
John Wetton - bass and vocals

GODSMACK will unleash its first-ever live album, "Live & Inspired", on May 15 via Universal Republic Records.

"Live & Inspired" features fierce and furious live renditions of numerous hits from the Massachusetts rockers' five studio albums. Their incendiary and infectious shows have become legendary in modern rock, and they continue to impress both critics and audiences alike every time they hit the stage. The group sounds unchained on rousing performances of "Awake", "Keep Away", "Straight Out of Line", "Whatever", "Voodoo", and "I Stand Alone".

This is the first time that's been captured on CD, and bonus tracks of covers that have "inspired" GODSMACK is also going to be included along with it. The four tracks are quite close to the band's collective heart. The band started ripping through local Massachusetts haunts with their renditions of some of these songs, and these recordings bring everything full circle.

According to HMV Japan's online store, the track listing for "Live & Inspired" is as follows:

CD 1 (Live):

01. Straight Outta Line
02. Realign
03. Awake
04. Moon Baby
05. Changes
06. The Enemy
07. Keep Away
08. Speak
09. Voodoo
10. Batalla De Los Tambores
11. Whatever
12. Serenity
13. I Stand Alone

CD 2 (Inspired):

01. Rocky Mountain Way (JOE WALSH cover)
02. Come Together (THE BEATLES cover)
03. Time (PINK FLOYD cover)
04. Nothing Else Matters (METALLICA cover)

About the collection, frontman Sully Erna reveals, "'Live & Inspired' is our way of saying 'Thank you' to all of our fans for believing in us throughout the years, and helping us to become a great live band! Along with this ass-whooping set live from Detroit Rock City, we've also included four cover songs of our favorite hits in the past to show you that, we too, are simply just fans that appreciate nothing more than good old fashion ass-kicking rock 'n' roll! Enjoy!"

Erna told Loudwire in a recent interview, "We were going to do a compilation with this song from Vegas, this song is from Chicago, this one is from Dallas, but I don't know, the more we listened to the Detroit show, the more we kind of figured out that it was a really good show for us."

Erna also said that GODSMACK has nothing but love for the Motor City, explaining, "It's always a great audience, as any rock band will tell you. Playing there is a special kind of fanbase that they have there, they live up to their reputation. They're a great rock audience."

In addition, the quartet encouraged its legion of supporters to be a part of the release. The collection's packaging actually showcases a variety of fan photos. Fans may submit live snapshots of the group on stage, pictures of themselves rocking out at GODSMACK concerts, or photos of their tattoos of the group's iconic logo on the band's official Facebook. Now, the winning photos adorn the album's booklet and packaging.

The album will hit shelves and digital retailers while the band is in the midst of its Mass Chaos Tour with STAIND and HALESTORM. The jaunt commenced on April 13 in Augusta, Georgia at the James Brown Arena.

The first single from "Live & Inspired", GODSMACK's cover of JOE WALSH's "Rocky Mountain Way", can be streamed using the audio player below.

German alcoholic thrashers TANKARD have set "A Girl Called Cerveza" as the title of their 30th-anniversary album, due at the end of July via the band's new label home, Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is currently being recorded at Studio 23 in Frankfurt with producer Michael Mainx (ONKELZ, DER W, DISBELIEF, D-A-D).

The third part of the "A Girl Called Cerveza" album cover can be seen below (hidden behind beer cans).

TANKARD's fourteenth studio album, "Vol(l)ume 14", was released on December 17, 2010 via AFM Records. The limited-edition digipak version of the album includes a bonus DVD containing footage of TANKARD's performance at the 2009 edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, which took place July 23-25, 2009 in in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.

Spanish death metallers AVULSED have announced the addition of drummer Oscar "Osckar" Bravo to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "After testing three excellent drummers, the decision was taken in favour of Osckar, [who] proved to be not only the best drummer, but also, and very important as well, [that he possessed] great qualities as a person as well as the necessary dedication for the band, which will undoubtly inject fresh and renewed hopes.

"Osckar is one of the best drummers on the Spanish metal scene [who] also plays in the legendary heavy metal band SOBREDOSIS and also on NIGHTFEAR as well as recently departed from melodic death metallers ATMOSPHERE GREY.

"All members in AVULSED feels so happy and proud of having found Osckar to fill the drum spot and he just came to stay as another full-time member, making the band stronger than ever before and can't wait to present him live as well as recording the new album towards the end of the year.

"You can actually see a short video (see below) taken during our first official rehearsal with Osckar where he already played the first five songs he learned for the test. You can see he's perfect for the band!"

AVULSED parted ways with drummer Ricardo "Riky" Mena in March "due to differences on how to deal with different internal issues within the band."

AVULSED last year scrapped plans to release a 20th-anniversary CD, "Fleshcube", due to "several problems regarding the recording sessions that delayed the whole project, to the point that it was going to be impossible to release it [in 2011], so… who knows, perhaps for our 25th anniversary!!" However, this cancellation was taken in a positive way, because this helped the band concentrate on the songwriting of their upcoming album, "Ritual Zombi", to be recorded later this year.

"Revenge ... Best Served Cold", the new video from PRONG, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Carved Into Stone", which will be released on April 24 in North America via Long Branch Records/SPV. The CD was recorded with producer Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was created by Vance Kelly (DOWN, THE SWORD) and can be seen below.

"Our video for the song 'Revenge... Best Served Cold' came out great! It truly reflects the lyric, which is about totally getting back at someone who did you wrong, without really doing anything obvious," PRONG guitarist/vocalist Tommy Victor tells AOL's Noisecreep. "It's about doing things in a cold way. It has a damp and frigid feel. It's one of the best PRONG videos ever. Reminds me a bit of the 'Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck' video!"

According to a press release, "Carved Into Stone" "is quintessentially PRONG. It stretches into the band's earliest and dirtiest foundations on which the band was founded on New York's Lower East Side to the present as a staple of today's post-metal and rock scenes."

Comments Tommy Victor: "It was hardest I've ever worked in the studio on any record I've ever been involved with."

PRONG — whose lineup is rounded out by bassist Tony Campos and drummer Alexei Rodriguez — has taken a major step forward in their constantly evolving brand of sonic schematics.

"I always believed there were many dimensions to PRONG," says Tommy. "Every record we've been associated with different scenes — hardcore, metal, industrial — even dance! I think this record brings all of that together and sounds very modern at the same time."

"Carved Into Stone" track listing

01. Eternal Heat
02. Keep On Living In Pain
03. Ammunition
04. Revenge ... Best Served Cold
05. State of Rebellion
06. Put Myself to Sleep
07. List of Grievances
08. Carved Into Stone
09. Subtract
10. Path of Least Resistance
11. Reinvestigate

Founded in 1986, PRONG is considered to be a pioneer of the American post-hardcore and post-metal scenes whose influence is still being felt today.

PRONG's last release was "Power Of The Damn Mixxxer", the remix counterpart to the band's 2007 album "Power of The Damager".

Norwegian extremists KRAANIUM will release their third full-length of gore-drenched and perverse brutal death, "Post Mortal Coital Fixation", on May 22 via Comatose Music. The album was recorded by Hannes Nystèn at Sweden's Vomitation Studios and mastered by Colin Davis of Imperial Mastering.

"Post Mortal Coital Fixation" track listing:

01. Post Mortal Fixation
02. Stillborn Necrotic Fuck Feast
03. Bursting Rectal Sores
04. Compulsive Mutilation Disorder
05. Slurping the Vaginal Pus
06. Crack Whore Pounding
07. Coprophagial Asphyxiation
08. Slammed Kranial Remains
09. Sculptures of Perverse Suffering
10. Baptized in Boiling Sewage
11. Orgy of Cannibalistic Fornication
12. Entrails Full of Vermin (ABOMINABLE PUTRIDITY cover)

A teaser video can be seen below.

In support of "Post Mortal Coital Fixation", KRAANIUM will join Comatose Music labelmates ATROCIOUS ABNORMALITY and COATHANGER ABORTION for the ComaTour 2012 this June.

KRAANIUM is:

Martin Funderud - Voacals
Vidar Ermesjø - Guitar
Mats Funderud - Guitar
Ian Slemming - Bass
Mitch Rider - Drums

"Shadowmaker", the new album from German metallers RUNNING WILD, can be streamed in its entirety at AOL Music. The CD was released in Germany on April 20, and will be made available in the rest of Europe on April 23 and in the U.S./Canada on April 24 via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be issued as a limited first edition in a black jewel case with silver printing and slipcase plus a 40-minute bonus DVD with a "making-of" documentary and a track-by-track commentary by RUNNING WILD mainman Rock 'N' Rolf. The double gatefold LP will come with printed innersleeves and clear vinyl. There also will be a boxset limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. It contains 2 LPs, the black jewel case with the DVD, a poster, a sticker, a postcard and a 30-page book in LP size about the history of the band.

The cover of "Shadowmaker" is the most unusual in the history of the band, but when you listen to the title track and read the lyrics, you will understand the meaning of it. It was created by Rock 'N' Rolf and Jens Reinhold (EVERGREY, FREEDOM CALL, VIRGIN STEELE), who will also handle artwork for all configurations.

Black Jewel Case + DVD track listing:

CD

01. Piece Of The Action (4:25)
02. Riding On The Tide (4:18)
03. I Am Who I Am (4:51)
04. Black Shadow (5:13)
05. Locomotive (4:35)
06. Me & The Boys (5:00)
07. Shadowmaker (4:25)
08. Sailing Fire (4:14)
09. Into The Black (4:57)
10. Dracula (7:29)

DVD

* Making of "Shadowmaker"
* Track-by-track commentary by Rock 'N' Rolf

Length: approximately 40 min

LP track listing:

LP 1

Side 1

01. Piece Of The Action (4:25)
02. Riding On The Tide (4:18)
03. I Am Who I Am (4:51)

Side 2

01. Black Shadow (5:13)
02. Locomotive (4:35)
03. Me & The Boys (5:00)

LP 2

Side 1

01. Shadowmaker (4:25)
02. Sailing Fire (4:14)
03. Into The Black (4:57)

Side 2

01. Dracula (7:29)

Box Set:

* 2 LPs, clear vinyl
* Black jewel case including DVD
* Poster
* Postcard
* Sticker
* 30 page book in LP size about the history of the band plus photos
* 35 x 35 cm
* Hard cardboard material with top

German modern melodic death metal quintet I SPIT ASHES has inked a deal with Massacre Records.

A press release states: "Without neglecting their roots or following any trends, I SPIT ASHES don't want to sound like any other band, even though they sound familiar. And just like life, the band's songs are sometimes hard and angry, or smooth and sad."

"If you attend a I SPIT ASHES concert, you'll feel like you've seen a flying saucer landing right in front of you!" boasts guitarist Emanuel Seis.

I SPIT ASHES is:

Emanuel Seis - Guitar
Bernhard Lindner - Guitar
Benedikt Rathsmann - Vocals
Daniel Lammich - Drums
Benjamin Müller - Bass

Reunited Canadian metallers WITCHKILLER are currently recording material for a new album, to be released in the fall. The band's lineup for the CD will be the one that that toured Canada in 1986-1987: Domenic Scia Scia on vocals; John Meharey on bass; Steven John Batky on guitar, vocals and percussion; and John D on guitar.

Guitarist Kurt Phillips (WARHAG) last year announced his departure WITCHKILLER, stating that he "no longer [felt] that what WITCHKILLER [was] moving towards represented] what [he was] interested[ed] in being a part of."

Heavily influenced by JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN, WITCHKILLER split up after recording a single 1984 EP entitled "Day Of The Saxons". The effort, which was released via Metal Blade Records (Steamhammer in Europe), has since become a cult classic.

In 1988, Steamhammer released "Day Of The Saxons" as a split CD with OBSESSION's "Marshall Law" EP.

Spandex-Hosen und viel Haarspray, Hymnen, die durch ganze Stadien schallen, in Ohnmacht fallende Frauen, die zuvor ihr Oberteil gelüftet haben. Das waren die 1980er. Wir schreiben aber das Jahr 2012. Die einzigartige Bombast-Produktion des Schweden-Sextetts H.E.A.T lässt einen glauben man hätte einen der bedeutenden 80er Klassiker vor sich. Das Album in Männersprache ausgedrückt: Dicke-Eier-Rock!

Wären ihre Songs in den 1980er Jahren erschienen, würden wir heute beim Durchhören von "Address The Nation" ganz sicher bereits von einem Meilenstein reden. Vielmehr noch: der durchgängig erstklassige Sound auf "Address The Nation", eingängige, aber immer mit spezieller H.E.A.T - Note versehenen Hymnen, ihre Hommage an Szene-Größen wie Europe, Whitesnake oder Def Leppard in vielen Passagen des hochklassigen Albums verheissen Anrecht auf DAS Senkrechtstarter-Album des Jahres.

Darryl Smyers of the Dallas Observer recently conducted an interview with drummer Brann Dailor of Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Dallas Observer: Oftentimes, your music is described as sludge metal, but your newest effort, "The Hunter", doesn't fit that description. Do you agree?

Brann: Yes, there are all sorts of silly ways that people label bands. It's often about each person's musical vocabulary. Some people just throw labels out there so they can have something to write, so that they can try to explain what something sounds like. I don't feel like the new album is that sludgy, but it might have a little of that in there. I try not to label it. I just play it. But I understand the need people have to label bands, to put it somewhere.

Dallas Observer: When "The Hunter" came out, it debuted at number ten on Billboard. Were you surprised?

Brann: Sure, I'm always surprised when somebody buys our records. You know what I mean? I was excited about it. Ten is a good number. It's cool that people still buy records. Our fans are actually committed to buying the music. We are lucky in that regard. But we wanted to move away from making another concept record, so we tried to write the best collection of songs we could and just put them on one album. I guess fans like that idea.

Dallas Observer: Why do metal bands love concept albums?

Brann: I don't know. Maybe it's folks like KING DIAMOND and IRON MAIDEN. Those are two of my favorite bands. For me, it all started with those two and then I started getting into the progressive stuff, even YES' "Close To The Edge".That style has always appealed to me, to my inner nerd.

Read the entire interview from Dallas Observer.

Former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke performed three "Appetite For Destruction" songs with Myles Kennedy at the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony on April 14 in Cleveland, Ohio. Kennedy, who handles lead vocals in Slash's solo band and ALTER BRIDGE, sang "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City", with "Use Your Illusion"-era member Sorum sitting behind the drum kit on "Brownstone" and the man he replaced in GN'R, Adler, pounding the skins for the other two songs.

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

"I am overwhelmed," McKagan said of the honor. He also addressed singer Axl Rose's absence during his acceptance speech, saying, "I don't know if it matters who's here tonight because it's about the music that band created."

Slash said, "We have new fans who have never seen the original lineup and they're pulling for us."

Adler quoted QUEEN's "We Are the Champions": "You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, and I thank you all."

Comedian Chris Rock, during his introductory speech for GN'R's fellow inductees RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, stated about Axl Rose towards the end of the night, "A lot of people are disappointed that Axl Rose isn't here. But let's face it, even if he was going to be here, he still wouldn't be here yet."

GREEN DAY's Billie Joe Armstrong delivered the induction speech for GN'R, saying, "The first time I saw GUNS N' ROSES on MTV, I thought, 'One of these guys could end up dead or in jail,'" He raved about "Appetite For Destruction", calling it "the best debut album in the history of rock and roll."

Clarke played guitar with GN'R in the 1990s but was not inducted.

Some 6,000 fans packed Public Auditorium for the sold-out event.

Check out photos of the event:

* Wire Image - Inside
* Wire Image - Show
* Wire Image - Arrivals
* Wire Image – Press Room
* Film Magic - Show
* Film Magic - Press Room
* Getty Images - Show
* Getty Images - Press Room
* Getty Images - Arrivals

Los Angeles-based traditional metallers WHITE WIZZARD have confirmed a special show in Tokyo, Japan in support of their latest album, "Flying Tigers".

WHITE WIZZARD will perform at Shibuya Club Quattro on May 12, and as a special treat for fans, the band will be joined by vocalist Wyatt Anderson, who sang on "Flying Tigers" as well as the band's first full-length album, "Over The Top"

Commented WHITE WIZZARD mainman and bassist Jon Leon: "To our fans: We have a big show coming up in Tokyo, Japan on May 12, 2012. This is to support the Japanese release of 'Flying Tigers'. Wyatt 'Screaming Demon' Anderson has agreed to do this show for our Japanese fans and we will be performing the entire 'Starman's Son' six-song epic from 'Flying Tigers', as well as many more songs from all releases. We hope to film some great footage and we are excited for the experience!"

WHITE WIZZARD released its new album, "Flying Tigers", on September 19 via Earache Records. The CD features twelve new tracks and expands on the band's traditional heavy metal blueprint, with songs ranging from fist-pumping NWOBHM-style anthems, through the arena rock power of "Starchild", to a six-track epic concept piece featuring science-fiction and philosophical elements tied together with a progressive vibe.

"Flying Tigers" features the core WHITE WIZZARD lineup of bassist, songwriter and founding member Jon Leon, drummer Giovanni Durst and studio vocalist Wyatt Anderson, who featured on the band's debut album, "Over The Top". The album was once again recorded with producer Ralph Patlan in Phoenix, Arizona.

WHITE WIZZARD recently recruited Jake Dreyer as the band's new second guitarist.

Eagle Rock Entertainment/Armoury Records will get heavy on May 29 when it re-releases the double-disc TWISTED SISTER "Live At Hammersmith" as well as "Club Daze 2: Live In The Bars". The two CD packages, sold separately, are an important part of this great band's legacy as it shows just how TWISTED they became over time.

"Club Daze 2: Live In The Bars" starts with two 1984 burners ("Never Say Never" and "Blastin' Fast & Loud") that didn't make their "Stay Hungry" album. Both songs were finally completed in 2001. The next seven tracks were recorded for a 1979 Halloween radio show that never aired. The final four tracks — including TWISTED covers of LITTLE RICHARD ("Long Tall Sally") and CHUCK BERRY ("Johnny B. Goode") — were taken from WLIR and WBAB radio sessions. Bassist Mark Mendoza has remastered all 13 tracks for this release.
"Live At Hammersmith" is a double-doozy: a 1984 blockbuster live performance at London's famed Hammersmith Odeon with two bonus covers from Portchester, New York in 1979 — Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" and the 1951 jump blues "Train Kept A'Rollin'" that's been performed by everyone from Johnny Burnette to THE YARDBIRDS to LED ZEPPELIN to Jeff Beck. The Hammersmith show is an action-ball of 14 well-muscled metal jams which includes "We're Not Gonna Take It", "You Can't Stop Rock'n'Roll", "Under The Blade" and "Burn In Hell".

As the legend of TWISTED SISTER continues to expand worldwide and the demand for their live shows growing larger every year, these two discs complete the re-mastering process of the entire TWISTED SISTER catalog on Eagle Rock/Armoury Records just in time for the summer festival season.

"Club Daze" track listing:

01. Never Say Never
02. Blastin' Fast & Loud
03. Follow Me
04. Under The Blade
05. Lady's Boy
06. Come Back
07. Can't Stand Still
08. Honey, Look Three Times
09. You Know I Cry
10. Without You
11. Plastic Money
12. Long Tall Sally
13. Johnny B. Goode

"Live At Hammersmith" track listing:

Disc One:

01. What You Don't Know
02. The Kids Are Back
03. Stay Hungry
04. Destroyer
05. We're Not Gonna Take It
06. You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll
07. Knife In The Back
08. Shoot 'Em Down
09. Under The Blade

Disc Two:

01. Burn In Hell
02. I Am, I'm Me
03. I Wanna Rock
04. SMF
05. We're Gonna Make It

Bonus Tracks:

06. Jailhouse Rock
07. Train Kept A Rollin'

"Last Parade", the title track of the debut album from CALL ME NO ONE — the new project featuring SEVENDUST drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist Clint Lowery — can be streamed using the Soundcloud player below.

"Last Parade" will arrive on June 5. The CD's first single, "Biggest Fan", will be available to purchase on iTunes on April 24.

"Last Parade" track listing:

01. The World Is Dead
02. Thunderbird
03. Soapbox
04. Hillbilly
05. Alls Well
06. Biggest Fan
07. Please To Meet You
08. Broken Record
09. War Song
10. Last Parade

The record will also include two bonus tracks.

Rose told The Pulse Of Radio that CALL ME NO ONE has turned into something bigger than he and Lowery first envisioned. "This isn't really a side project. This is another band," he said. "I mean, other people have done it, but I guess that the closest thing we could compare it to is like STONE SOUR to SLIPKNOT, you know. I mean, we're gonna go ahead and do this, then when this runs its course, it should be right on time for SEVENDUST to get back and rolling."
Lowery recently described the sound of CALL ME NO ONE as "kind of NINE INCH NAILS meets FOO FIGHTERS."

SEVENDUST guitarist John Connolly and bassist Vince Hornsby also recently launched a new project, joining forces with CREED/ALTER BRIDGE drummer Scott Phillips in a new outfit called PROJECTED.

PROJECTED has already entered the studio to begin recording its debut disc, to be made available later in the year.

SEVENDUST itself will begin writing its ninth studio effort this summer, with plans for an early 2013 release. SEVENDUST issued its most recent outing, "Cold Day Memory", in April 2010.

"Last Parade" (song) audio stream:

Michigan's unstoppable sons of molten melodic death metal THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER have announced the addition of bassist Max Lavelle (BURN IN SILENCE, GORATORY, DESPISED ICON) to the group's ranks.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's latest album, "Ritual", sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 31 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Deflorate", opened with around 12,000 units to enter the chart at No. 43.

Released on June 21, 2011 via Metal Blade Records, "Ritual" is a collection of 12 tracks that see the band staying true to their sound and style while progressing in both writing and musicianship. Guitarist Ryan Knight has delivered truly searing leads that will without a doubt daze and lay waste the ears of both loyal BLACK DAHLIA diehards and burgeoning fans alike. Music for "Ritual" was recorded in early 2011 in Detroit, Michigan, with Mark Lewis (DEICIDE, UNEARTH) and the band producing. The vocal-recording sessions and mixing took place at Audiohammer in Sanford, Florida with Jason Suecof (BENEATH THE MASSACRE, JOB FOR A COWBOY, ALL THAT REMAINS) at the helm.

According to Yahoo! Music, QUEEN's Brian May and Roger Taylor will return to "American Idol" next Wednesday, April 25 to perform with the show's top six finalists. The following evening (April 26) will include a performance by The Queen Extravaganza, the spectacular touring concert show designed to take the glorious music and the live experience of legends of rock QUEEN to generations of fans in cities coast-to-coast across the U.S. and Canada.

As previousy reported, Taylor and May will play four shows with "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert in June and early July. On tap is a June 30 show in Moscow, a concert with Elton John in Kiev as well as two early July shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London to provide "some alternative... for some of the people who had bought tickets" to the recently canceled Sonisphere festival, where QUEEN was supposed to be one of the headliners.

Former BLACK SABBATH, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL and current KILL DEVIL HILL drummer Vinny Appice says that it would be hard to turn down the opportunity to play with BLACK SABBATH again if he was asked to replace original SABBATH drummer Bill Ward , who announced in February that he could not participate in the planned reunion of the band's founding lineup.

"Everybody goes: Well, If you did get asked, would you do it?" Vinny tells Powerline in a brand new interview. "And how could you turn it down? It's part of rock history. It's probably the last album they'll ever make, so who wouldn't want to do it? But I wouldn't want to stop my [new] band [KILL DEVIL HILL] in its tracks. What am I gonna do, stop this and do that? I would say, if it was to happen, it would have to be both things, you know. With my band, maybe we can be on some of the dates and whatever… But it's not gonna happen anyway, because they're moving on. I don't know what's going on, but obviously they're moving on, so … And I got this and I'm stoked, you know. This is my dream right here."

KILL DEVIL HILL — the band featuring Appice, Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) on bass, Mark Zavon (RATT, W.A.S.P., 40 CYCLE HUM) on guitar and Jason "Dewey" Bragg (PISSING RAZORS) on vocals — will release its debut album on May 22 via SPV/Steamhammer.

"I always dreamed I would have my own band," Appice tells Powerline. "And I did have bands in Brooklyn where I grew up but my dream was to make it in the business with my own band. And then I had a band called AXIS and that was becoming a dream but we couldn't do it. It was hard. And I had gotten in Rick Derringer's band, then we broke up and I went back to AXIS and try to make it happen, then I got a call from BLACK SABBATH, so that interrupted that. And then BLACK SABBATH lasted, then Ronnie [Dio] wanted to do a new band so, of course, I'm gonna go with Ronnie. So I always ended up playing with other legendary people, and never had the chance to do my own band. I did it a couple times with WORLD WAR III and a band called 3 LEGGED DOGG, but it just wasn't right at the time. It just fell apart. And then this thing, I still dream about having my own band, you know. And a great band, musically. And this [KILL DEVIL HILL] is more than what I expected. It's perfect."

When asked if Ward will participate in SABBATH's upcoming U.K. and U.S. shows, Ozzy Osbourne's wife and manager, Sharon, told VH1 Radio Network, "We don't know yet, we really don't know. It's up to Bill. The door is open for him to join us, so it's up to him."

Meanwhile, Ozzy, Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler are in London continuing to record their first album together in 33 years, although without Ward it is not the original SABBATH reunion announced last November.

Sharon said about the recording sessions, "It's going good. They're doing really well in the studio. Gosh, they must've written 15 new songs already and it's going great."

She also denied that she was responsible for Ward's current absence from the project, saying, "Everybody's got their own manager, so we have an independent group of people that have come in to manage the project, and I don't, and I get the blame because Bill doesn't want to play with the band; he doesn't like his deal and I get the blame. It's like, 'All right, I'm a big girl, I can take it.'"

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.

Knoxville, Tennessee-based female-fronted metal/hardcore act STRAIGHT LINE STITCH will embark on a U.S. tour on Tuesday, April 24 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The band will be joined on the road by former STRAIGHT LINE STITCH and DARKEST HOUR guitarist Kris Norris, back with the group for two months of shredding alongside Kris Hawkins. Up until the tour begins, STRAIGHT LINE STITCH will continue writing material for its third album, which they hope to be in the studio for by the end of the year.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH recently re-emerged as free agents looking for a new label home. "I think, as a band, we are looking forward mostly to just getting back to basics, and at the very heart of that is hitting the road and letting everyone know that STRAIGHT LINE STITCH is still going strong," states frontwoman Alexis Brown. "There are some new faces in the mix but the feeling and the essence of the band is still the same, which is to go out and give it all we've got."

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH tour dates:

Apr. 24 - Bowling Green, KY @ Berlenz Bar & Grille
Apr. 26 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Geared Up Rock Bar
Apr. 27 - Raleigh, NC @ Berkley Café
Apr. 28 - Enoree, SC @ Carolina MetalFest
May 02 - West Greenwich, RI @ Rock Junction
May 03 - Bristol, CT @ Bleachers
May 05 - Brookfield, CT @ The Room
May 06 - Trenton, NJ @ Championship Bar
May 08 - Reading, PA @ Reverb
May 09 - Albany, NY @ Bogies
May 11 - Rochester, NY @ Montage Musichall
May 12 - Dayton, OH @ McGuffy’s
May 13 - Kent, OH @ Outpost
May 15 - S. Barrington, IL @ Penny Road
May 16 - Crest Hill, IL @ Bada Brew
May 17 - Rockford, IL @ Bar 3
May 18 - Cincinnati, OH @ Inner Circle
May 19 - Danville, IL @ Sarges (w/ Dirge Within)
May 20 - South Bend, IN @ Cheers Pub
May 21 - Ft Wayne, IN @ Wrigley Field
May 22 - Indianapolis, IN @ Visions
May 24 - Clarksville, TN @ The Warehouse
May 25 - Little Rock, AK @ Juanita’s (w/ Psycho Stick)
May 26 - Shreveport, LA @ The Warehouse
May 27 - New Orleans, LA @ Southport, Hall
May 28 - Covington, LA @ Green Room
May 29 - Pascagoula, MS @ Celtic
May 31 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Jun. 01 - Birmingham, AL @ Club Crush
Jun. 02 - Montgomery, AL @ Liquids

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH is:

Alexis Brown - Vocals
Jason White - Bass
Ian Shuirr - Drums
Kris Hawkins - Guitar
Kris Norris – Guitar

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH's sophomore album, "The Fight Of Our Lives", sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 5 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 follow-up to 2008's "When Skies Wash Ashore", "The Fight Of Our Lives" was produced and mixed by the Grammy Award-nominated producer Johnny K (DISTURBED, MACHINE HEAD, SEVENDUST) and includes eleven new songs. Additional work on the album was done by Ben Schigel.

Bert Weedon, a British guitarist whose "Play in a Day" guitar guide taught the instrument to a generation of young hopefuls, died on Friday at his home in Beaconsfield, in the English county of Buckinghamshire. He was 91.

BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler has posted the following message on Weedon's passing: "I had stopped commenting on deaths and disasters, because my [online] 'journal' was starting to resemble an obituary column. However, I cannot ignore the passing of Bert Weedon. Some of you won't have heard of him, but I can safely say that many U.K. and Ireland guitarists from John Lennon onwards throughout the 1960s and '70s would probably have never learned to play without Bert Weedon's 'Play In A Day' book. He produced a book with pictures of chords, rather than musical notation, making it possible for those of us who couldn't afford music lessons, or didn't read music, to gradually learn basic chords on the guitar. I know BLACK SABBATH wouldn't exist without his book, since both Tony Iommi and myself learned to play guitar chords from it. RIP Bert!"

MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil will appear in the season finale of "Ghost Adventures", the weekly American paranormal television series that first premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. The episode featuring Neil was taped at a Las Vegas hotel and will air on April 27. Neil will join the show's team of paranormal investigators — Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin — to check out The Riviera Hotel, which some say is haunted.

"Built in 1955, it's one of the oldest hotel and casinos still standing on the Vegas strip," a show synopsis says. "Filled with history, the hotel has had a roster of celebrity clientele and was formerly connected to the Chicago Mafia — needless to say, the hotel has had its share of good times and bad. Perhaps its most well-known guest was Frank Sinatra, who had his own penthouse suite where he often threw lavish parties. As the 'Ghost Adventures' team heads into the hotel to begin their investigation, exploring paranormal occurrences in Sinatra's room and various guest rooms. Attempting to channel Sinatra, they recreate a party in his suite, which delivers some startling results. As Vince and his entourage experience unexplained first-hand encounters — including scratch marks on one woman's back, cold sensations, voices and knocking — Zak, Nick and Aaron document the multiple EVPs and unexplained events. But it's not until Vince and his girlfriend, Rain, head into room No. 908 that Vince encounters an overwhelming physical experience."

A one-and-a-half-minute preview clip for the "Ghost Adventures" episode featuring Neil can be seen below.

On April 12, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King spoke to Loudwire about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the band's next album, tentatively due later in the yaer. "We've only been working on it for a couple of weeks right now, since our producer from the last record [Greg Fidelman] had a small window and me and Dave [Lombardo, drums] are working on nine songs so we thought we could get in and finish two or three and demo everything else so that’s what we’re trying to do now," he said. "I don’t know if anything will come out by [the time we hit the road as part of this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] or not. Hopefully we’ll get two done and we can get it out to Mayhem."

Lombardo confirmed to Metal Injection at the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards — which was held on April 11 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California — that the band will release a new EP prior to taking part Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

During an interview with The Nervous Breakdown, Lombardo stated about SLAYER's current status, "[We're] writing new music. Kerry [King, guitar] and I are writing new material. We have nine songs and everything's moving forward."

When asked what the new material sounds like, Lombardo said, "[It sounds like] SLAYER. . . Traditional fans will be pacified and non-traditional fans will be like, 'Again?'"

On the topic of when SLAYER fans can expect to hear some new music from the band, Lombardo said, "I don't know, but we're going to do a three- or four-song EP to keep the fans pacified until we come out with the full-length record. Kind of like what we did with 'Psycopathy Red', which was like a two-song 45."

Photo credit: Mark Seliger

Finnish metallers COREDUST will release their full-length debut, "Decent "Death", on May 9 via Inverse Records. The album was recorded last fall at Scandal Recording Studios, with Kari Huikuri handling all the recording, engineering and mixing duties. The drums on the CD, which was mastered at Chartmakers by Henkka Niemistö, were laid down by CHILDREN OF BODOM's Jaska Raatikainen.

COREDUST in February announced the addition of drummer Petri Heinonen to the group's ranks.

Video footage of Raatikainen recording the drums for "Decent Death" can be seen below.

"Decent Death" is the follow-up to COREDUST's "Past Lives" EP, which was released in the beginning of 2008.

"Decent Death" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Without Disguise
03. Dead End
04. Decent Death
05. 03:00 AM
06. Pain Unfiltered
07. Brainwash
08. It's No Good

Die Extreme Metaller WHITECHAPEL aus Knoxville in Tennessee, befinden sich derzeit im Audiohammer Studio in Sanford, Florida. Gemeinsam mit Produzent Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM) wird das vierte und selbsbetitelte Album der Band aufgenommen, das 15/18 Juni 2012 via Metal Blade Records veröffentlicht wird.

"Whitechapel" Track List:

01. Make It Bleed 4:12
02. Hate Creation 3:28
03. (Cult)uralist 3:42
04. I, Dementia 4:43
05. Section 8 4:25
06. Faces 3:12
07. Dead Silence 4:38
08. The Night Remains 2:58
09. Devoid 2:50
10. Possibilities of an Impossible Existence 4:00

At least 30 bands have officially canceled their appearances at this weekend's (April 20-22) Metal Open Air — billed as "the biggest heavy metal festival ever organized in Brazil" — due to organizational and technical problems. The event, which was being headlined by MEGADETH, Rock 'N' Roll Allstars and VENOM, was being held at Parque Independência in São Luís, Maranhão (Brazil's northeast).

According to various Brazilian media reports, the Metal Open Air camping area was set up at nearby horse stables (photos), with no bathrooms, light or water supply available — despite the fact that the event's official web site promised "indoor and outdoor camping with toilets and showers."

Third-day headliners VENOM announced their cancelation on Thursday, claiming that their South American visas were mistakenly sent to Africa. SAXON also announced they weren't making the trip "due to a serious breach of contract by the promoters." The band explained, "Having waited since March the 15th for the fee to arrive, as of Friday [April 20 at] 2 p.m., no money has arrived."

First-day headliner MEGADETH managed to perform last night, albeit several hours behind schedule due to a delay in getting the stage ready as well as unspecified "security" issues. A number of other acts refused to play, and after ANTHRAX pulled out of the event due to a lack of sound equipment, the festival's entire sound crew reportedly quit because they had not received their payment in time.

Commented BLIND GUARDIAN's Hansi Kürsch: "In 25 years of our career, we have managed to fix all problems to make sure our performance is going to take place. No matter what the circumstances were, we intended to play. We have been extremely successful in the avoidance of canceled shows, so far. This, unfortunately, comes to a very sad end here in São Luís. Due to massive technical and administrative problems, we were forced to cancel tonight's show. As far as we understand, it seems to be the local management who has not been able to secure a proper festival environment, anymore. Things are pretty out of hand there. We feel very sorry about this totally unsatisfying situation, but the mistakes made by the local promoter makes an even improvised show impossible. I know that we have the most dedicated fans and I count on your understanding. In the future, we will be more careful in confirming such festivals."

GRAVE DIGGER's Chris Boltendahl: "The Metal Open Air festival is canceled. Problems between the promoter, the P.A. and light company and many others forced us to cancel our participation at the MOA festival. It's a sad day. We travelled so far to be part of this festival and we are so sorry for all the fans which attend to this festival. It is out of our hands."

Rock 'N' Roll Allstars, an 11-piece supergroup comprised of Gene Simmons of KISS, three former members of GUNS N' ROSES, Sebastian Bach and many other big names in rock history, released the following statement regarding their non-participation in Metal Open Air: "Rock 'N' Roll Allstars are saddened to annouce the cancellation of our performance at Metal Open Air festival in São Luís, Brazil. We regret not being able to attend. We are in South America and are ready to rock, but the circumstances are beyond our control: We were informed before flying to Brazil today that many other artists have pulled out of the event, as well as local security. We are very concerned for the safety of the fans and artists whom are already at the festival. We are receiving confirmed reports from other bands and friends on the ground that the event is dangerous and a disaster. Please be safe, and we look forward to rocking for you in the future."

A Portuguese-language Brazilian TV report on the Metal Open Air organizational problems can be seen below.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has released the following statement regarding the band's appearance at this weekend's (April 20-22) problem-plagued Metal Open Air festival, which is being held at Parque Independência in São Luís, Maranhão (Brazil's northeast).

"To the fans last night in São Luís,

"Thank you. It's all I can say. One Big Mega Thank You!

"Yesterday's show in Sao Luis was very challenging, but we did it! It was almost 3:00 a.m. last night, when we finally left the stage.

"One of the highlights for me was when my good friend Michael Romeo [SYMPHONY X guitarist] came up to me during one of the breaks in the show and gave me a much-needed bear hug.

"I love SYMPHONY X!

"I especially want to say thanks to my band and my fabulous crew for making it happen.

"If it weren't for my crew, specifically, the festival probably would not have happened. They are so modest; they'll say something humble, like, 'We just made lemonade out of lemons.' Sure, they did; but it was really like making silk sheets out of pig skin.

"I was told a lot of the talent opted out from coming. I was also told the tickets cost $450 Brazilian Real for the three day weekend, and $250 BRL for just one day. The average person in this area makes $28 BRL a day, so you can do the math. About nine days of work to come to the festival for just one day. Sixteen days for the whole weekend.

"We were playing, no matter what. We weren't playing for the promoter anymore; we were playing for the people!

"That's what this whole thing is about. The MUSIC and playing it for YOU!

"I hope my 'Big Four' brothers in ANTHRAX get to play tonight! Hopefully all of the 'Big Four' will come to Brazil."

Fan-filmed video footage of MEGADETH's performance at Metal Open Air can be seen below.

Nach dem Album-Volltreffer "Sterneneisen" gingen IN EXTREMO on the road, um allein 2011 neunzig Konzerte zu spielen. Schon nach den ersten Aufwärmgigs galt es, eine neue DVD zu filmen. Am 29. April 2011 rückten Kameraleute, Tontechniker, Bildmischer und Regisseur an, um in der Siegerlandhalle von Siegen die Tour zum letzten Album für die Nachwelt festzuhalten. Die Barden auf der Bühne gaben alles, um die Stimmung anzuheizen, von Balletteinlagen der Dudelsackbläser, detonierenden Pyros und Flammenfontänen bis zu goldenem Konfetti-Regen zogen Micha und Co. alle Register.

Titel des Produktes: "Sterneneisen live - Laut sind wir und nicht die Leisen", erhältlich ab 25. Mai 2012 in verschiedenen Editionen auf DVD und CD. Neben der feurigen Show in Siegen zeigt die DVD den Auftritt bei Rock am Ring 2011, mit dem sie für ein furioses Festivalfinale sorgten. Zu den weiteren Bonus-Materialien zählt ein Bericht von ihrem Karibik-Abenteuer "70.000 Tons Of Metal":
"Wir haben zwei Gigs an Bord des Kreuzfahrtschiffs 'Majesty Of The Seas’ gespielt. Da wir beim ersten Auftritt sehr gut ankamen, haben uns die Veranstalter für den zweiten Gig als Headliner engagiert", berichtet Bassist Kay Lutter zufrieden. Vollendet wird der neue Tonträger durch Aufnahmen des InEx-Auftritts in Mexiko vor tausenden entfesselter Latino-Fans.