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 in the Netherlands where the album will be mixed and mastered.

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.

The new album will be "everything you've come to know and to love about MANOWAR; and more," DeMaio recently said in a press conference.

A second preview of the new CD has been posted online. A snippet of the track "Expendable" can be heard in the YouTube clip below.

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."

DeMaio promised that the story behind the song "El Gringo", which could not yet be explained due to confidentiality clauses, will soon be revealed and asked the fans to stay tuned on Facebook. He did mention the word "movie" after the song was played.

"Expendable" rough mix:

According to Wikimetal, one of the greatest Brazilian heavy metal bands has rejoined forces with its original lead singer after 22 years. VIPER will reunite with vocalist André Matos (ANGRA, SHAAMAN) in order to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the release of the group's album "Soldiers Of Sunrise". For the first time ever, VIPER will play its first two LPs, "Soldiers Of Sunrise" and "Theater Of Fate", in their entirety.

In addition to Matos, VIPER's lineup will include Pit Passarell (bass, vocals), Felipe Machado (guitar) and Guilherme Martin (drums). Hugo Mariutti will replace Yves Passarell during the trek, the setlist for which "will contain nice surprises for the fans."

The "To Live Again Tour 2012" will take place in July 2012 and will be the only opportunity for fans to check out VIPER in this formation.

The first "To Live Again Tour 2012" date has already been announced: July 1 in São Paulo, Brazil. Other cities will be announced shortly.

A photo of VIPER's 2012 lineup can be seen below.

Portuguese gothic metallers MOONSPELL will release their new album, "Alpha Noir", on April 27 via the band's new label home, Napalm Records. The cover artwork for the CD — an intricate, marvellous and symbolic creation by Seth Siro Anton, the Greek artist who collaborated with the band on "Night Eternal" — can be seen below. Also available is a preview image of the strictly limited edition "Alpha Noir" deluxe box set containing the limited-edition double album mediabook, including two album covers, and "Alpha Noir"'s counterpart "Omega White" and an exclusive MOONSPELL logo pendant.

"Alpha Noir" deluxe box set track listing:

CD 1

01. Axis Mundi
02. Lickanthrope
03. Versus
04. Alpha Noir
05. En Nome Do Medo
06. Opera Carne
07. Love is Blasphemy
08. Grand Stand
09. Sine Missione

CD 2

01. White Omega
02. White Skies
03. Fireseason
04. New Tears Eve
05. Herodisiac
06. Incantatrix
07. Sacrificial
08. A Greater Darkness

The "Alpha Noir" and "Omega White" preview clips can be seen below.

MOONSPELL's new video, "Lickanthrope", was directed by Filipe Melo, who worked with the band on the "I Will See You In My Dreams" clip ten years ago. The shoot took place in Nandufe, Tondela, in the central region of Portugal.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers DELAIN will release their long-awaited third album, "We Are The Others", on June 1 in the Benelux and Germany; and on June 4 in the U.K. and France through CNR Entertainment and Roadrunner Records. The lead single, "Get The Devil Out Of Me", hit stores on April 13 (April 15 for U.K.) to coincide with the start of the band's European tour.

The "Get The Devil Out Of Me" video can be seen below. The clip features footage from the recording sessions for the new CD and live material, including footage from the Sonisphere festival in the U.K. (used with kind permission of BlinkTV).

Commented DELAIN singer Charlotte Wessels: "Getting 'We Are The Others' recorded has been a challenging process. However, I'm absolutely sure that it forced the best out of us. I'm in love with so many of the tracks on this record! Our fans have shown massive support in the run up to the release. Thank you all so much for that! Now that we've got the date fixed and this great new team behind us, I can't wait to get onstage and blow your minds with our new songs. You rock!!"

Described as "the band's most powerful, most atmospheric and intoxicating album to date," "We Are The Others" was helmed by producer Jacob Hellner — renowned for his work with RAMMSTEIN, CLAWFINGER and APOCALYPTICA — while the vocals were tracked with the Epicentre team of Fredrik Thomander and Anders Wikström (SCORPIONS, BACKYARD BABIES).

A new video interview with DELAIN frontwoman Charlotte Wessels about "We Are The Others" can be seen below (courtesy of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine).

DELAIN previously stated about "We Are The Others": "As you might expect from us, this album again offers some interesting collaborations, both in musical and visual terms.

"This record features none less than FEAR FACTORY shouter Burton C. Bell as a guest singer, and visual artist Glenn Arthur provided the cover artwork [see below].

"We met Burton at the Wacken Open Air festival a year ago and stayed in touch afterwards. When we were working on [the song] 'Where Is The Blood', we didn't hesitate to contact him for cooperation. He's done such an amazing job on the song turning the song into a most violent duet; his exceptional, raw voice fits perfectly to this song!

"The cover artwork was created by Glenn Arthur, a California-based visual artist whose work is inspired by art nouveau design and steampunk imagery. Charlotte [Wessels, vocals] is a big admirer of Glenn's work and she dedicated multiple blogs to his art.

"For the artwork of 'We Are The Others', we gave Glenn the lyrics to the song as inspiration.

"We're incredibly happy with how the cover turned out."

Added Charlotte: "From the first time I saw [Glenn's] work, I've been imagining it as cover artwork; something in the way his work is both esthetically very delicate, but always with a dark undertone, fits our music very well."

"We Are The Others" track listing:

01. Mother Machine
02. Electricity
03. We Are The Others
04. Milk And Honey
05. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
06. I Want You
07. Where Is The Blood (feat. Burton C. Bell)
08. Generation Me
09. Babylon
10. Are You Done With Me
11. Get The Devil Out Of Me
12. Not Enough

At first glance, some songtitles on "We Are The Others" may sound mysterious and conspiratorial, but there is a very serious background: The lyrics to the title track were inspired by the hate crime against a British girl named Sophie Lancaster in 2007. She and her boyfriend were beaten comatose by a gang of youths, because of their goth looks, and Sophie later died from her injuries. This tragedy sent shockwaves throughout the world.

Commented Charlotte: "Sophie's story hit close to home for us, being part of a subculture ourselves but it's in no way an individual case; people are discriminated against — all the time, to the point of violence — based on their cultural or ethnic background everywhere.

"'We Are The Others' is our own 'outsiders anthem' for everybody who, deliberately or not, diverts from the norm. Whether it's by looking different, acting different, or choosing a different path in life then is expected from you."

DELAIN will embark on a European headlining tour in April with support from TRILLIUM, the metal project masterminded by American singer/songwriter Amanda Somerville.

"Get The Devil Out Of Me" video:

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have released the "Zero Distance" digital EP via iTunes.

Commented the band: "For those of you who don't want to buy the tour edition of 'Where Death Is Most Alive' just to get the bonus songs, we've decided to release them digitally."

"Zero Distance" EP track listing:

01. Zero Distance
02. Out Of Gravity
03. Star Of Nothingness
04. To Where Fires Cannot Feed
05. The Bow And The Arrow

DARK TRANQUILLITY's ninth album, "We Are The Void", sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 15 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.

"We Are The Void" was released in North America on March 9, 2010 via Century Media Records. The LP was made available in Europe as a CD, digital download and strictly limited-edition die-cut digipak featuring two bonus songs ("Stars Of Nothingness" and "To Where Fires Cannot Feed") and a bonus DVD.

Sweden's TIAMAT is currently recording its tenth studio album, "The Scarred People", at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Siggi Bemm. An October release via the band's new label, Napalm Records, is expected.

TIAMAT's latest CD, "Amanethes", was produced by Johan Edlund and was recorded mainly at The Mansion in Greece, with additional recordings taking place at Studio Mega in Sweden and Cue in Greece. The album was mixed and mastered by Siggi Bemm in Woodhouse Studios, Germany in January 2008.

Century Media Records released a limited-edition collector's box from TIAMAT entitled "The Ark of the Covenant - The Complete Century Media Years". Limited to 3,000 copies worldwide, this noble box set also includes two exclusive audio CDs, a numbered authenticity certificate, as well as a comprehensive 74-page booklet with all lyrics, terrific artwork, rare photos and extensive liner notes by Anders Iwers.

According to Metal Sludge, original RATT bassist Juan Croucier is rumored to be rejoining the Californian rockers for their upcoming show at the M3 Rock Festival, set to take place on May 11-12 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

In an October 2011 interview with Legendary Rock Interviews, Croucier stated about the possibility of him returning to RATT, "I never say never, because I can't predict the future but there have been some very nasty things said and done to me by my former bandmates in RATT. It has destroyed the trust, bond and respect we once had among each other."

He added, "I have had many offers to go back to RATT (ironically, sometimes while they were deriding me in the press at the same time) and the main reason I have not gone back to the band is because we had a very problematic situation in the first place, and nothing had (or has) changed — we don't get along, it's not fun and things that should be easy are hard. . . Some people like being in tumultuous relationships; I don't. I have been fortunate enough to be able to work in my recording studio, still play in bands and be a father that is present in my children's lives at the same time. It's not 'all about Juan.'"

Bassist Robbie Crane, who had played with RATT since 1997, quit the band last month to focus on LYNCH MOB. During an appearance on the March 22 edition of the "Headbangers At 11" show on the 93.3 KDKB radio station with host Mike Gaube, Crane stated about his decision to leave RATT, "I've been playing in LYNCH MOB since October of 2010. It's a thing that I've always loved doing, and I love playing with the band. . I'd been with RATT for 15 years and it was time to move on. I love being in LYNCH MOB and this is where my heart's at."

"Infestation", the first studio record in 11 years from RATT, sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on April 20, 2010 via Loud & Proud.

"Infestation" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (CHEVELLE, ALTER BRIDGE) at his Virginia studio, marking the first time the band has recorded outside of Los Angeles. The album is full of attitude and of reflection, cycling through a range of emotions. There are party anthems that RATT are known for alongside more contemplative, thoughtful tunes.

"The Voice", the new video from London, England-based, female-fronted metallers MORTAD, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "The Myth Of Purity", which was made available with the February 2012 issue of Metal Hammer magazine. The CD, which will receive a more "official" release later in the year, was recorded last October with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, EVILE).

"The Voice" honors the memory of Neda Agha Soltan, a young Iranian woman who was killed during the pro-democracy up risings in Iran in on June 20, 2009.

MORTAD will release a follow-up video explaining the song, the making of the video, Neda's life and the Iranian freedom movements on June 20.

Commented MORTAD frontwoman Somi Arian, "Lyrically, 'The Voice' is the most important song in 'The Myth Of Purity' album, also the only song that contains some Persian lyrics. I felt that I had something to say, I want to be 'the voice' of the voiceless and to honour the memory of thousands of men and women who lost their lives in a battle to revive the basic human rights for others."

"The Myth Of Purity" track listing:

01. All That's Born Must Be Destroyed
02. Waste Of My Rage
03. The Heights
04. Mirage
05. Feels Like Suffocation
06. The Myth Of Purity
07. I'm Not Interested In Being Interesting
08. By Default
09. The Voice
10. That Which Is Humane

MORTAD was formed in 2009 by Iranian vocalist Somi Arian , whose lyrics take aim at the hypocrisy of religion and the government as well as seeking inner truth and strength in the face of such oppression.

MORTAD released a music video and an EP, entitled "Pandemic Paranoia", in early 2011. This effort brought the band immense attention on the social media sites, placing the group as the No. 1 metal band on ReverbNation London metal chart, and attracting over 40,000 Facebook fans.

MORTAD's "Waste Of My Rage" video was sponsored by the Alchemy apparel clothing brand and produced by the Manchester-based video production company Video Ink. More than a dozen actors were cast for the clip, including Collette Von Tora, who agreed to have her head shaved for this video shoot.

MORTAD will enter the studio in November with Russ Russell to begin recording its sophomore album for a 2013 release.

"The Voice" video:

Norwegian black metal band BLODHEMN will release its new album, "Holmengraa", on May 18 via Indie Recordings. The CD's first single, "Djevelen i Menneskeform", can be streamed below.

BLODHEMN saw the light of night in 2004 as a one-man black metal band formed by Invisus as an outlet for his need to spread his music and lyrics. The first demos raised a lot of eyebrows in the underground scene in 2008, and the critically acclaimed EP "Brenn Alle Bruer" from 2010 made it clear that Invisus and BLODHEMN were very serious about what they were doing. BLODHEMN became an underground phenomena, and also earned a reputation as a stunning live band which amongst others resulted in them being handpicked to play the Norwegian industry festival By:Larm in 2011 at the main stage. The title track from "Brenn Alle Bruer" was also played a lot on national rock radio.

Season 4 of "Metalocalypse" — the smash hit animated series on Adult Swim featuring the fictitious metal band DETHKLOK — premieres Sunday, April 29 at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT. This season will include special guest voice work from members of SOUNDGARDEN and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD; American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor Patton Oswalt; musician Dweezil Zappa; and Jon Hamm of "Mad Men".

"Metalocalypse" co-creator Brendon Small spoke about the show's upcoming season and BRENDON SMALL'S GALAKTIKON "A High Stakes Intergalactic Extreme Rock Album", the debut release from his long-awaited side project, during an interview with Metal Injection conducted at the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards, which was held on April 11 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.

Brutality wields its uncomfortable deth-hammer in the fourth season of "Metalocalypse". Excruciating horrors loom, waiting for the right moment to crush us all into a smooth repugnant paste, with very few lumps. Experience the lurking blackness of dating, the vomitous torture of job insecurity, the repulsive abhorrence of reality, the emasculating woe of dating a co-worker, and the pinching, sweaty waking DETH of flying coach. Will our beloved DETHKLOK survive these deathly trials or will they perish like a flaming serpent cast down by Odin? The Metalocalypse indeed looms nearer.

Created by Small and Tommy Blacha ("Da Ali G Show"), the "Metalocalypse" television series launched in 2006. One of the most popular series on the cable network, "Metalocalypse" portrays DETHKLOK as a Norwegian band with unheard-of popularity, even ranking them as the seventh-largest economy on earth.

"Metalocalypse" is produced at Titmouse Inc. in Hollywood, California.

Adult Swim, launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Adult Swim shares channel space with Cartoon Network, home to the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families, and is seen in 99.4 million U.S. homes.

Die Hard Rocker HEAVEN RAIN kommen aus Bósnia-Herzegowina und werden ihr neues Album mit dem Titel "Second Sun" am 1. Juni 2012 via Music Buy Mail veröffentlichen. Das Label hat jetzt das "Second Sun" Cover Artwork und die Track List enthüllt. Aufgenommen wurde "Second Sun" im Herbst 2011 in den Chainroom Studios in Serbien!

"Second Sun" Track List:

01. Close To Dawn (intro)
02. Heaven Rain
03. Dreamless
04. My Only One
05. Second Sun
06. Face Of Misery
07. Nowhere
08. Raven In Heart
09. When Day Fades To Dark
10. At The End Of Time
11. Veijte Snegori (bonus track)

AFFECTOR — the highly skilled, new international band consisting of German guitar-player Daniel Fries, Dutch drummer Collin Leijenaar (NEAL MORSE, DILEMMA) as well bass player Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) and vocalist Ted Leonard (SPOCK'S BEARD, ENCHANT, THOUGHT CHAMBER), both from the United States — has been preparing for the release of its debut album, "Harmagedon", that will be out on May 22 (North America, May 21 Europe) via InsideOut Music. A first listen of the elaborate, atmospheric songs is now available with the release of a five-minute online album teaser including excepts from various songs off "Harmagedon". Check it out below.

Commented Leijenaar: "With this teaser we hope to give the listener a bit of an idea what 'Harmagedon' sounds like — but since these are only small excerpts of an album that contains about 65 minutes of music, there is much more music to explore, so the best way to really experience it, is to buy it."

He added, "The album cover has been made by designer Daniel Latsch. After he heard parts of the demos when we were writing the album and we told him our story concept, he made this beautiful artwork. We are very proud of it. It really adds something to the complete package. Especially with the vinyl version; one of the benefits of being able to release our album on vinyl also — the artwork is just stunning!"

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

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

"Harmagedon" track listing:

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

AFFECTOR is:

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

For more information, visit www.affector.net.

Dutch blackened metal masters ONHEIL have entered the studio with producers Bart Hennephof (TEXTURES) and Yuma van Eekelen (EXIVIOUS, ex-PESTILENCE) to begin recording their new album, "Storm Is Coming", for a fall release via German metal specialists Cyclone Empire.

ONHEIL is known for having three guitarists and the new set of songs take full advantage of this triple axe attack. "Because of this the album will also sound like a raging storm," vocalist/guitarist Amok comments. "But as there are many different kind of storms, definately do not expect one long blastbeat. We still play our diverse mix of black, thrash, death and heavy metal."

ONHEIL's latest album, "Razor", was released in 2009 via Cyclone Empire. The CD was produced at the Final Focus studio by Bart Hennephof (TEXTURES) and Yuma van Eekelen (PESTILENCE).

BENEDICTUM has announced its continued collaboration with Jeff Pilson on the development of the band's next album, to be released before the end of the year via Frontiers Records. The result will bring back the magic BENEDICTUM and Pilson captured during their earlier releases, 2008's "Seasons Of Tragedy" and 2006's "Uncreation".

This year and 2013 will be exciting for BENEDICTUM following the recent addition of drummer Rikard Stjernquist, known for his exceptional talent in JAG PANZER for 25 years.

Pilson is known for his bass playing in such legendary acts as FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and DIO, as well as for working as a producer with LYNCH MOB and ADLER'S APPETITE, among others.

States Pilson: "I'm very excited about producing the new BENEDICTUM record. I'm very passionate about their music and love working with the band. V's vocals, Pete's guitars, the band's energy and the songs are all something that are very close to my heart. This record will be their crowning achievement — of that I have no doubts!"

BENEDICTUM was formed in 2005. After they were noticed by Craig Goldy (DIO, GUIFFRIA, BUDGIE), the wheels were set in motion and eventually led to their debut CD, "Uncreation".

BENEDICTUM is:

Veronica Freeman (lead vocals)
Pete Wells (lead guitar)
Chris Shrum (bass)
Rikard Stjernquist (drums/percussion)

Fan-filmed video footage of the new lineup of Australian thrash metal veterans MORTAL SIN performing the song "Deny" on March 31 at The Patch in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia can be seen below.

last month recruited Dave Tinelt (NEKROFEIST) as their new vocalist.

Vocalist Mat Maurer quit MORTAL SIN in February month "for personal reasons and irreconcilable differences." He added, "Last year was an incredibly difficult year for me personally and I have decided to put my family first."

MORTAL SIN's latest album, "Psychology Of Death", was released in Europe on November 18, 2011 via NoiseArt Records. The effort includes the group's classic debut LP, "Mayhemic Destruction", as a bonus disc in the limited digipak version. The follow-up to 2007's "An Absence of Faith" was mixed with producer/engineer Darren "jENK" Jenkins and marks the recording debut of guitarist Ryan Huthnance, who replaced Mick Sultana.

Once hailed as the next METALLICA, MORTAL SIN have become legends in their home country Australia, having been inducted into the Kerrang! Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in 2005 and being the only Australian band to have played with the big five of thrash — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and TESTAMENT — on tours in Australia and overseas.

Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne — who served as 2011's Record Store Day Ambassador — will again support the day's fifth annual celebration with two releases: "Ozzy Live", a double LP set taken from 2011's "Blizzard Of Ozz"/"Diary Of A Madman" 30th Anniversary Collector Box, and a seven-inch live version of "Diary Of A Madman"'s classic Ozzy track "Believer". Both are limited-edition, numbered vinyl editions which contain never-before- published archival photos.

For the first time ever, a vinyl version of the "Ozzy Live" CD — recorded on the "Blizzard Of Ozz" tour — will be released as a stand-alone title and issued on 180-gram vinyl. Beyond the live music, side 4 of the double LP features the 2010 Guitar & Vocal Mix of "Goodbye to Romance", along with the lost Randy Rhoads guitar solo "RR".

In another first, the seven-inch vinyl live version of "Believer", taken from the "Ozzy Live" CD, will be issued as a special polka-dot picture disc, inspired by Randy Rhoads' famous polka dot guitar. The track is being released to honor the 30th anniversary (March 19) of the acclaimed guitarist's passing.

Both are available for Record Store Day 2012:

* "Believer" seven-inch single
* "Ozzy Live" double LP

The complete track listing for the "Ozzy Live" double LP is as follows:

Side One

01. I Don't Know
02. Crazy Train
03. Believer
04. Mr. Crowley

Side Two

05. Flying High Again
06. Revelation (Mother Earth)
07. Steal Away (The Night)

Side Three

08. Suicide Solution
09. Iron Man
10. Children Of The Grave
11. Paranoid

Side Four

12. Goodbye to Romance (2010 Guitar and Vocal Mix)
13. RR

The song "The Law", from "Stop The Chaos", the upcoming mini-CD from Warsaw, Poland's revolutionary grind/metal assassins ANTIGAMA, can be streamed below.

The band recorded "Stop The Chaos" at Warsaw's Progresja Studio with sound engineer Pawel "Janos" Grabowski, and commissioned the mixing and mastering duties to longtime friend and prominent Polish music producer Szymon Czech (NYIA, THIRD DEGREE). Featuring six tracks of the band's monolithic crushing power and cutting-edge grindcore tactics, "Stop The Chaos" will be released on May 18 through Selfmadegod Records. The album will be available in a standard CD pressing as well as a limited-edition CD in special screen-printed jewel case box with patch and pin (limited to 100 pieces), and via digital download, with a vinyl version coming later this year.

ANTIGAMA has already begun confirming live attacks throughout Poland to promote the mini-album, beginning with a three-day killing spree in mid-May, including a record-release party in Warsaw on May 18, followed directly by shows in Turek and Poznan. Guitarist Sebastian Rokicki comments: "We are totally stoked about new recordings and can't wait to get them released. So far feedback has been more than great. We look forward to promoting 'Stop The Chaos' on stage this May!"

"Stop The Chaos" track listing:

01. E Conspectu
02. The Law
03. Stop The Chaos
04. Find The Function
05. Intricate Trap
06. The End

This year ANTIGAMA will also release a three-way split with NOISEAR and THE KILL, and will record a new full-length album later in the year.

SLAYER drummer Dave 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 in this summer's 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."

Lombardo's side project PHILM — which also features guitarist/vocalist Gerry Nestler (CIVIL DEFIANCE) and bassist Pancho Tomaselli (WAR) — will release its debut album, "Harmonic", on May 15 via Ipecac Recordings.

Several hard rock musicians have commented on the passing of broadcast legend Dick Clark, the creator and longtime host of the "American Bandstand" show.

Clark became a national icon in the late 1950s, having hosted "American Bandstand" for more than 30 years.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley stated about the 82-year-old the youthful-looking television personality, who was dubbed "America’s Oldest Teenager": "As a little boy, I sat transfixed to our television every afternoon and Saturday night watching 'American Bandstand'. Dick Clark was the face of rock and roll and its best ambassador. His decades of successes both in and outside of the music industry are unparalleled. He championed KISS when others turned away and was instrumental in breaking us through his show 'In Concert'. Through the years, Dick was always available when I had a question or wanted guidance. Dick Clark was the rare exception who was a bigger person in real life than the public image or legend that was also to be his legacy. I will remember him with great respect and gratitude."

David Draiman (DISTURBED): "So sad, really thought he might be a vampire. Never seemed to grow old."

Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY): "RIP, a legend, a pioneer of rock and roll, the guy who set the bar for DJs around the world, Dick Clark, you are an important part of history that will never be forgotten!!"

Glenn Hughes (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE): "RIP to old friend Dick Clark: thanx for bein' part of our Cal Jam TV show."

Kip Winger (WINGER): "RIP Dick Clark, we thought you'd live forever! Rockin' the heavens and beyond!

Michael Sweet (STRYPER): "RIP Dick Clark — it was an honor to perform on 'American Bandstand' and to meet you back then. There was no one like you nor will there ever be."

A 43-second clip featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions for the first new SOUNDGARDEN song in almost 16 years, "Live To Rise", can be seen below. The track was made available as a free download on iTunes beginning April 17 as part of the promotion of "Marvel's The Avengers". The seven-day promotion includes an exclusive clip, "The Face Off", from the superhero team-up movie coming out on May 4.

"Live To Rise" was written specifically for "Marvel's The Avengers" after SOUNDGARDEN was approached about contributing a song to the film.

"The hard part of writing a song for a film is it has to act as a SOUNDGARDEN song, first and foremost, then obviously, it has to coexist with the film," SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell told Billboard.com.

Cornell told Seattle radio station KISW that fans should not think of "Live To Rise" as an indication of what the rest of the group's new record will sound like. Chris explained, "Some of the songs on our new album are pretty far left of center, and sort of zero in on more of a hardcore SOUNDGARDEN fan and not necessarily a family that goes to see a film like that. Although ['Live To Rise' is] not really what I think of as a necessarily family-friendly song, but it's as close as we've ever come."

The singer added that the tune wasn't specifically based on the movie, saying, "I think a film like this appeals to little kids all the way to old people because it's an action film, it's comic book characters, but it's also pretty witty dialog and accomplished actors doing it. So it had to be somewhat open to all of that. But also first and foremost it has to be a SOUNDGARDEN song."

SOUNDGARDEN officially reunited in early 2010 after disbanding in 1997. Since then, the group has played one full-length North American tour, a batch of festival and club gigs, and some overseas shows.

The group also released a career retrospective called "Telephantasm" as well as a concert album titled "Live On I5", which was recorded on its last tour before breaking up.

A release date and title for the new SOUNDGARDEN album have yet to be announced.

Rocker-turned-director Rob Zombie has joined forces with the newly launched Nerdist Channel to bring you "My Name Is Eugene", a new comedy series.

"My Name Is Eugene" follows the sad and hilarious life of Eugene S. Van Dekak, an angry, sex-starved television repairman living in Eagle Rock, California.

Cry not for our hapless hero, Eugene has dreams beyond broken electronics and his lost love Julie… he dreams of the big time. What exactly his idea of the big time is, well, you will have to tune in an find out.

Check out one of the many touching songs he’s written about his lost love Julie in the YouTube clip below.

Zombie's latest film, "The Lords Of Salem", is currently in the final stages of post-production and promises to be Zombie's most insane film yet. "I am enjoying taking my time finishing this film. I hate rushing things at this stage of the process, so it is a luxury to take it slow and really fine-tune every part of the production," stated Zombie. No release date is set yet for the film.

Kevin Lyman, Vans Warped Tour founder and producer of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, has confirmed to Metal Insider that The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival Boat will take place December 7-11. The floating festival will feature performances by LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MACHINE HEAD and SUICIDE SILENCE as well as other, yet-to-be-announced acts from the Metal Blade, Sumerian, Roadrunner and Century Media labels. KORN's Jonathan Davis and SLIPKNOT's Sid Wilson will DJ on the cruise as J-Devil and DJ Starscream, respectively, and there will also be a film festival presented by Fangoria and SLIPKNOT's Shawn "Clown" Crahan, who will also curate a charity art show.

"We are just excited to get to put this together," Lyman told Metal Insider. "It has been a fun process for both of us and really allows us to expand the Mayhem brand and good times."

Legendary rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose (MONTROSE, GAMMA) has been playing music for over 40 years, and believe it or not, "Live At The Uptown" is the one and only live DVD recording of his career, which sadly ended on March 3 when he committed suicide after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.

Ronnie and his band created a very wonderful evening filmed at the Uptown Theater in Napa, California this past January 27, 2012. This DVD includes acoustic pieces, songs you never heard him perform before, and ones you haven't heard him do for years and years and years.

Ronnie rocked the house with a great set list that included many of his big hit songs, including "Rock the Nation", "I Got The Fire", "Make It Last", "20 Flight", "I Don't Want It", "Space Age Sacrifice", "Rock Candy", "Bad Motor Scooter" and "Good Rockin' Tonight".

"Live At The Uptown" will begin shipping on May 1 and is available as a regular DVD, DVD with limited poster and DVD with limited edition poster (no metallic). The limited edition, numbered poster is 12.5" x 19", black Speckletone paper, with three-color — "a very special and historic item!"

For more information and to place an order, go to this location.

According to Sick Drummer Magazine, Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY have tapped Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY, SYSTEM DIVIDE) as their 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."

A two-minute trailer for "The Industrialist", the new album from FEAR FACTORY, can be seen below. 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

The album's lead single, "Recharger", will be available via iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers beginning April 24.

FEAR FACTORY's first tour dates since 2011 kick off with four performances in South America, including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, before starting American dates in San Antonio on May 1. Support on the trek will come from SHADOWS FALL, THE BROWNING, THE DEVASTED and LEGACY OF DISORDER.

Two month ago, Nuclear Blast Records started a videocontest for the second NIGHTWISH single „The Crow, The Owl And The Dove“ - out of their top seller „Imaginaerum“.
About 200 creative fans uploaded their unique creations up on YouTube – and the results were simply unbelievable! The band members, their management and label were totally flashed by the different clips, the great ideas and the amazing results any participant showed. Tuomas Holopainen comments: „We were overwhelmed about the effort people had put into making these videos, wow! This truly caught us by surprise. Wonderful job everyone!“
It wasn’t easy tho choose a winner, as everyone would have deserved a price!
Anyway, the whole band, members of their Management KingFoo and their label Nuclear Blast have decided. The winner is Pedro José Antunes Hipólito Calvo from Portugal!
His beautiful clip simply touched our heart. „The winner has a beautiful thought behind the video and is truly sympathetic and touching in its naivety“, says Tuomas Holopainen.
Pedro will receive a special award, free access to any NIGHTWISH concerts on this tour, a meet and greet with the band and lots of merchandise items.
The 2nd price goes to: Daniel McCarthy from England
The 3rd price goes to: Wolfgang Stefan Jungwirth from Austria
And since we were all so impressed, Nuclear Blast decided to also add more prices for a 4th and 5th place:
The 4th price goes to: Jennifer Klug from Canada
The 5th price goes to: Elizabeth Cooper from Australia

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 this past Saturday night (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.

"The rest of the guys/inductees suggested we get Myles to sing," says Slash, "and I thought it was a great idea."

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."

"It turned out to be a very special evening," says Slash.

In addition to singer Axl Rose, who announced earlier in the month that he would not attend and was not accepting his induction, other missing members included original guitarist Izzy Stradlin and longtime keyboardist Dizzy Reed, who still plays in the current version of the band.

The 27th Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will air on HBO Saturday, May 5 at 9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT.

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

Fan-filmed video footage of the Marseille, France-based female-fronted metalcore band ETHS performing on March 16 at Ferrailleur in Nantes, France can be seen below.

ETHS's new video, "Adonai", was shot in the Frioul Islands and the band's hometown with director Louis Vignat of Scandale Productions.

"Adonai" comes off ETHS' third album, "III", which was released on April 6 via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Voragine
02. Harmaguedon
03. Adonaï
04. Gravis Venter
05. Inanis Venter
06. Sidus
07. Proserpina
08. Hercolubus
09. Praedator
10. Anatemnein

The first leg of ETHS tour in support of "III" features support from fellow French metallers KELLS, who released their new album, "Anachromie", on January 20.

As previously reported, ETHS was recently rejoined by the band's original drummer, Guillaume Dupré.

ETHS' sophomore album, "Tératologie", was released in France in October 2007 and was made available in other parts of Europe in April 2008 via Season of Mist. The band's sound is described in a press release as "dark and powerful metal with tortured atmospheres, led by charismatic female singer Candice Clot, who with her amazing voice sings, talks, whispers and growls."