Miami, Florida's ABIOTIC has inked a worldwide, multi-album deal with Metal Blade Records.

ABIOTIC stormed onto the underground metal scene with the release of the "A Universal Plague" EP in September 2011. Since then, through word of mouth online and steady gigging in the Southeast, ABIOTIC has become one of the top bands to watch. Their music video for "Vermosapien" was released in January 2012 and was viewed over 40,000 times within the first month of its release. The band has proven that they have the wherewithal to stand alongside the best and brightest in the technical death metal genre worldwide. Fans of OBSCURA, VEIL OF MAYA, and CANNIBAL CORPSE will immediately identify with their finely-honed technical attack.

Commented ABIOTIC on the signing; "We can't express how amazing it is to be on the same label as some of our favorite bands and how great it feels to be working with one of the biggest labels in metal!"

Added Metal Blade: "It's rare to come across a band as well put together as ABIOTIC. The video for 'Vermosapien' makes it immediately evident that this band has the chops, songs, work ethic, and live show to perform alongside any contemporary death metal act. We very much look forward to releasing this band's music to a worldwide audience later this year!"

Hometown and Florida-area fans will be able to see ABIOTIC's prowess live and in person on the "Shredded To Pieces Tour" with KING CONQUER, FORTY WINTERS, and IN REFERENCE TO A SINKING SHIP throughout April. Following those dates, ABIOTIC will tour the Midwest/southeast on the "Shred Till You're Dead Tour" with Sumerian Records artists ENFOLD DARKNESS and VALE OF PNATH, who recently signed a deal with Willowtip Records. Also in tow will be AFTER THE SPIRE. These tours feature some of the best up-and-coming talent in extreme metal and should not be missed!

Die Female Fronted Hardcore Band ALL FOR NOTHING aus Rotterdam, Holland hat am 23. März 2012 ihr neues Album mit dem Titel "To Live And Die For" via GSR MUSIC (Vertrieb: CARGO Records Germany GmbH) veröffentlicht.

"To Live And Die For" Track List:

01. Dead To Me (2:20)
02. Not Your Kind (1:28)
03. Idle Hands (2:25)
04. Twisted Tongues (1:54)
05. Without A Doubt (1:47)
06. Point Of View (0:55)
07. The Silence (1:49)
08. Insidious (2:55)
09. Seize Today (2:03)
10. Face The Fact (1:36)
11. Tried And True (2:22)
12. Nothing In This World (2:44)
13. To Live And Die For (2:59)

Maria Voutyriadou and Dimitris Kontogeorgakos of Metal Kaoz recently conducted an interview with guitarist Bruce Franklin and new vocalist Kyle Thomas of Chicago doom metal legends TROUBLE. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Kaoz: Has Kory's [Clarke, vocals] exit caused any problems/setbacks, regarding the new album? I mean do you have to re-record songs or even re-arrange some to fit Kyle's vocals?

Bruce: No setbacks at all. Kyle already has half the album lyrics and singing melodies completed and they are awesome. We didn't need to change any of the music. He really knows how to sing to TROUBLE stuff because he was a fan from way back.

Metal Kaoz: Metal Kaoz doesn't like the "statements war," but it would useful to know the reasons for parting ways with Kory.

Bruce: What seemed like a good idea in the beginning increasingly became obvious that it wasn't the right fit for the band. Even though you might like someone's work with other projects, [it] doesn't mean that it will work within your band.

Metal Kaoz: I can't help it so I'm gonna ask; ex-former TROUBLE members [Jeff "Oly" Olson, Eric Wagner and Ron Holzner] have created THE SKULL. What is your point of view about that, since reunions are so in fashion these days?

Bruce: People like tribute bands. They like nostalgia. Who hasn't gone to see a BEATLES tribute band or a PINK FLOYD tribute band? THE SKULL just happens to have some former members who want to do a tour and make some money.

Metal Kaoz: [To Kyle] Was it an easy decision to take and join TROUBLE?

Kyle: I would say yes, it took very little debate for me to join TROUBLE as an official member. I got the call from Rick [Wartell, guitar], and he had informed me that they wanted to move in a different direction for their new recordings. As a fan and with former experience playing with them live, I agreed to join. We discussed typical artistic and business topics, and shortly after that I spoke with Bruce on the same subject. I love these guys — my entire experience with them back in the '90s was phenomenal. I had no reason not to want this job.

Metal Kaoz: Kyle, how does it feel working with Bruce and Rick again? Do you see this opportunity as a challenge or as a lost chance in your career, since TROUBLE haven't released an album with you on vocals?

Kyle: Every album is a challenge. The ones I have written with the other bands I have played in were, and so will this one be. That is the beauty of art, though. Creating something from nothing is an amazing thing. I really couldn't say it is a lost chance, either. That would be unfair to Eric Wagner, whose presence in this band was obviously deserved when I stepped aside for his return. They had given me four songs to work on when I was jamming with them in anticipation of possibly doing the album that came to be "Simple Mind Condition". I did demo one song, but nothing I did ever made it to the album. Things turned out the way that they have between then and now, and here I am. Lost chance? Naah. Great opportunity by way of a long and storied path? Damn right! As I have already stated, Bruce and Rick have always been great to me as people and business partners. I was made to feel an equal back then, and the same goes for now. That is monumental for me — I grew up listening to these guys and now I am a member of one of my favorite bands. You can't beat that. I guess KISS and BLACK SABBATH are next. (laughs)

Read the entire interview from Metal Kaoz.

TROUBLE's current lineup is:

Kyle Thomas (vocals)
Rick Wartell (guitar)
Bruce Franklin (guitar)
Shane Pasqualla (bass)
Mark Lira (drums)

Italian heavy rockers LACUNA COIL kicked off their "Dark Legacy" tour last night (Saturday, April 7) at Soma in San Diego, California. The band's only headlining run in the United States in 2012 features a set of more than two hours, with material spanning all of LACUNA COIL's albums.

Fan-filmed video footage of last night's concert can be seen below.

Commented LACUNA COIL frontwoman Cristina Scabbia: "The 'Dark Legacy' tour is a dream come true! This tour will present the history of LACUNA COIL, melding old fans with a new generation of Coilers. The 'Dark Legacy' set will offer both the electric and acoustic vibe and absolute melodic epicness!"

Added frontman Andrea Ferro: "We wanted to give our fans a special present for LACUNA COIL's fifteenth anniversary and that was the inspiration for the 'Dark Legacy' tour. The 'Dark Legacy' show will be very special, with a lot of our history in a surprise-filled set. You won't want to miss it!"

LACUNA COIL's new album, "Dark Adrenaline", sold around 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Shallow Life", opened with 21,000 units back April 2009 to land at No. 16.

LACUNA COIL's 2006 album, "Karmacode", premiered with 34,000 copies back in April 2006 to enter the chart at No. 28. It has since sold more than 200,000 units in the U.S.

The band's 2002 album, "Comalies", has shifted more than 300,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON will release a split seven-inch single with Canadian singer-songwriter Feist to celebrate Record Store Day on April 21. This very exclusive and highly anticipated pressing features MASTODON covering the Feist song "A Commotion", while Feist covers MASTODON's "Black Tongue".

In a recent interview with Sweden's Metalshrine, MASTODON drummer Brann Dailor explained how the single idea came about. "We did [the BBC television show 'Later... With Jools Holland'], and right after we got off stage, we went backstage and and we were in the hallway with [Feist], and she was talking to [MASTODON vocalist/guitarist] Brent [Hinds]. They were involved in a conversation and were just like, 'Yeah, let's do that! We should do it for Record Store Day!' Something out of left field and something we'd like to be involved with more of."

He added, "It's fun for us. I mean, most times we end up doing covers of bands that are already sort of heavy or that is already in that vein, like the MELVINS, THIN LIZZY, METALLICA, you know what I mean? What are you gonna do to those songs to make them your own? It's kinda difficult and especially with stuff like METALLICA or the MELVINS where we're so kinda familiar and in love with the versions that METALLICA and the MELVINS and THIN LIZZY have created, you wanna make it sound like theirs because that's what you're so used to hearing. You don't really wanna mess with it. With Feist, it's something that we could really play with and do something different with."

The cover artwork for the MASTODON and Feist split seven-inch single can be seen below.

About Record Store Day: Record Store Day is managed by the Music Monitor Network and is organized in partnership with the Alliance Of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition Of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.

Record Store Day takes place annually on the third Saturday of April.

Video footage of HAIL! — the supergroup featuring vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, BEYOND FEAR), guitarist Dave Linsk (OVERKILL), drummer Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT, SLAYER, EXODUS, FORBIDDEN) and bassist James Lomenzo (MEGADETH) — performing on March 31, 2012 at Demco Steel in Beirut, Lebanon can be seen below. Also available is interview and press-conference footage shot before the Beirut concert.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Ace Of Spades (MOTÖRHEAD cover)
02. Mob Rules (BLACK SABBATH cover)
03. Whiplash (METALLICA cover)
04. South Of Heaven (SLAYER cover)
05. Burn In Hell (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
06. Painkiller (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
07. Desert Plains (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
08. Walk (PANTERA cover)
09. Territory (SEPULTURA cover)
10. Rotten To The Core (OVERKILL cover)
11. Creeping Death (METALLICA cover)
12. Symphony Of Destruction (MEGADETH cover)
13. Bloodline (SLAYER cover)
14. Wrathchild (IRON MAIDEN cover)
15. Fucking Hostile (PANTERA cover)
16. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (BLACK SABBATH cover)
17. Peace Sells (MEGADETH cover)

Encore:

18. Seek And Destroy (METALLICA cover)
19. Stand Up And Shout (DIO cover)
20. Heaven And Hell (BLACK SABBATH cover)

Linsk is filling in for HAIL!'s regular guitarist, Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), who was unable to make the band's current dates due to scheduling conflicts.

Owens, Bostaph, Lomenzo and Kisser completed a South American HAIL! tour in early March.

A slightly different lineup of HAIL! — featuring Owens, Bostaph, Lomenzo and guitarist Glen Drover (MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND) — played in China and Taiwan in December.

HAIL! is planning to release a DVD that will capture the band's entire history and spotlight all of its live shows and special guests and contain exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from its travels, rehearsals, soundchecks, interviews, meet-and-greets.

Interview:

Fan-filmed video footage of JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE's March 31 performance at the Backstage in Tacoma, Washington can be seen below.

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE kicked off its "High Seas" tour on March 3 at Route 46 in Sanford, Florida.

The band's hour-long set featured the following tracks:

01. Call It Rock N' Roll
02. Lady Red Light
03. On Your Knees
04. Save Your Love
05. Face The Day + Guitar Solo
06. House Of Broken Love
07. Mista Bone
08. Rollin' Stoned
09. Save Me
10. Desert Moon
11. Rock Me
12. Paradise
13. Can't Shake It
14. Once Bitten Twice Shy

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE is:

Jack Russell - Vocals
Robby Lochner (FIGHT) - Guitar
Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) - Guitar
Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) - Bass
Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) - Drums

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with the other version of GREAT WHITE, which features Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous (lead vocals).

According to the Courthouse News Service, Russell filed a lawsuit (PDF file) against his estranged bandmates last month claiming that they fired him and stole the group's name while he was recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Named in the complaint were Kendall, Desbrow, Lardie and talent agency Bigg Time Entertainment.

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE will headline this summer's "America Rocks Tour" with support from FASTER PUSSYCAT, BULLETBOYS, PRETTY BOY FLOYD and LILLIAN AXE.

Swedish black metal heathens WATAIN are set to unleash a new DVD upon the masses. Titled "Opus Diaboli", the production commemorates the band's 13 years of chaos by providing a visual and audio documentation of their ceremonial anniversary concert performance in Stockholm and the long years of physical, intellectual and spiritual work leading up to it. "Opus Diaboli" is an epic 90-minute journey into the forbidden realms of wild-hearted Satanic metal and the manifestation of a unique band that has truly chosen a path few have ever dared to tread upon.

Comments the band in a collective statement: "This movie was first meant to be the recording of our 13-year anniversary concert, but as everything with WATAIN, it took on a life of its own and become one of our most ambitious projects to date. It is a very personal and emotional piece of work and is certainly not for the faint of heart. But for those who wish to explore the glimmering abyss of WATAIN further, this will be a rewarding release for sure. The box version of 'Opus Diaboli' [available exclusively through the band's own Wolfwear.net] contains an exclusive photobook. It was an overwhelming experience going through the massive archives in search of photos that best sum up the storm of passionate turmoil that has marked the WATAIN journey, especially since we wanted to stay away from live photos and focus more on moments off stage. The results were however very satisfying and offer a rare and spicy mixture of photos of which most have never been published previously. We are also proud to announce that this will be the first release on our own label His Master's Noise, a name originating from BATHORY who had it in mind for their own label back in the early 1980s. Just like with our merch store Wolfwear.net, from which the limited box set will be available, this time we have chosen to stand by our own and do things our way."

"Opus Diaboli" DVD: A four-panel digipack including the DVD, two audio CDs featuring the full concert plus a 16-page booklet with historical photos and flyers.

"Opus Diaboli" box: Limited 12-inch box including the DVD, two audio CDs and two LPs featuring the full concert plus an exclusive 64-page booklet with historical photos and flyers.

"Opus Diaboli" will be unleashed in North America on June 5.

As previously announced, WATAIN will take part in the inaugural Decibel Magazine Tour alongside BEHEMOTH, THE DEVIL'S BLOOD and IN SOLITUDE. The live ceremonies will commence next week on April 11 in Ohio and bloody 26 stages, including a stop in Oklahoma City, where the trek will merge with the U.S. Torture Tour featuring CANNIBAL CORPSE, EXHUMED, ABYSMAL DAWN, and ARKAIK for an evening of audio devastation.

Virginia-based melodic death metallers ARSIS have recruited Shawn Priest as the full-time replacement for recently departed drummer Mike VanDyne. Priest, who has toured with ARSIS in the past, will be behind the kit for the band's upcoming fifth studio album.

Commented Priest, "After several major tours with ARSIS since 2008, I am more than happy to take the position of full-time drummer. These guys have become some of my best friends and based on the new material we've been putting together, I think the new record will be one of the best and most extreme ARSIS releases to date. Get stoked. people."
Added ARSIS guitarist/vocalist James Malone: "I am beyond thrilled with the pre-production for the new album and the addition of Shawn Priest on drums. Shawn has done many tours for ARSIS and felt we it was time to give him the respect he deserves and bring him on as the full-time drummer. Shawn's input into the new songs has made them more intense than I could have ever imagined."

"We weren't looking for a drummer who robotically plays a thousand miles an hour," said ARSIS bassist Noah Martin. "Anyone who's seen us with Shawn knows he's capable of playing pretty much anything, but with tremendous feel. We've put him through hell, hiring him to fill in on multiple tours over the years, and we're glad we can welcome him to the fold. That being said, we understand and respect the decision Mike made, given the circumstances. I know I speak for all of us when I say it wasn't necessarily an easy one to make. His involvement helped get the band to where it is today, and we'll always miss playing with him.

"We have nine songs so far that we're continuing to tweak, and still tossing around ideas forcover tunes. We hope to create a pivotal album that sums up everything that ARSIS was, is and will be."

ARSIS is currently in the pre-production stages of its impending full-length with producer Mark Lewis. The new record will serve as the follow-up to 2010's "Starve For The Devil" (Nuclear Blast Records), which sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release, landing at No. 13 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart.

"I'm truly excited to be producing the new ARSIS record," said Lewis. "The new material I've been hearing from James is nothing short of awesome. I'm such a huge fan of 'A Celebration Of Guilt', as well as 'A Diamond For Disease', which was produced by my Audiohammer colleague Eyal Levi. This new material sees the band come full circle and I'm so stoked they've landed here at Audiohammer. It's about time!"

The band has posted an updated pre-production version of the new track "Choking On Sand" online to show off Priest's punishing percussionary prowess, and to give fans a glimpse of what to expect on the upcoming album.

"I feel it is safe to say that this is going to be the most brutal ARSIS album to date," added Malone. "So excited!"

DAWN OF DESTINY fühlen sich in vielen Subgenres des Metal zu hause. Auf der Basis von schnellem Power-Metal bereichern sie ihre Kompositionen mit Elementen aus Thrash, Gothic und Death Metal. Die Gruppe um Bassist und Songschreiber Jens Faber ist in Bochum zuhause. Komplettiert wird DAWN OF DESTINY durch Jeanette Scherff (Gesang), Veith Offenbächer (Gitarre), Dirk Raczkiewicz (Keyboard) und Ansgar Ludwig (Drums).

Auf Tour mit Sabaton, Custard oder Tankard haben sich DAWN OF DESTINY ihren Ruf als überzeugende und energiegeladene Live-Band erspielt. Ihr Debut „DOD… begins“ (2007) fand bei Fans und Fachpresse sofort regen Zuspruch. Als Support von „House Of Lords“ (USA) tourte die Gruppe durch Belgien, Niederlande und die Schweiz. Das zweite Album „Rebellion In Heaven“ erhöhte den Bekanntheitsgrad von DAWN OF DESTINY deutlich: Die Scheibe wurde unter anderem über das Major Label Marquee/ Avalon in Japan veröffentlicht. 2009 folgte "Human Fragility", das bislang reifste DAWN OF DESTINY-Album mit den Gastsängern Bernhard Weiss (Axxis) und Ian Parry (Vengeance, Ayreon, Elegy). Festival-Gigs mit Axxis, Primal Fear und Brainstorm rundeten die Veröffentlichung ab. Zudem begleiten DAWN OF DESTINY die deutsche Rocklegende Axxis erfolgreich auf ihrer „20-Years Anniversary Tour“ im Jahr 2011.

Und auch mit "Praying to the World", das am 04. Mai über Phonotraxx im Vertrieb von Soulfood Music erscheint, werden DAWN OF DESTINY die Erwartungen ihrer Fans nicht enttäuschen, sondern toppen.

Video footage of Swedish/German/American extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY perfoming the song "The First Deadly Sin" during rehearsal on April 8 in Sweden can be seen below.

ARCH ENEMY earlier in the year amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with 26-year-old American musician Nick Cordle (ARSIS).

Christopher — the brother of ARCH ENEMY's other guitarist Michael Amott — was a member of ARCH ENEMY from 1996 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2011.

Commented ARCH ENEMY in a statement: "We thank Christopher for the time he's worked with the band and, of course, wish him the very best in his future endeavors. Thankfully, there is no drama behind the scenes here. This is the best way forward for all involved. Christopher simply isn't into playing extreme metal anymore. We have already chosen and rehearsed with a new guitar player and we will complete the 'Khaos Legions' 2012 touring cycle as planned. We are highly motivated and look forward to continue spreading our music around the world! Finally, our deepest thanks go to the ARCH ENEMY fans, whose amazing support and belief inspires us ever onward."

Added Michael Amott: "Nick was my first choice as he ticks all the right boxes for ARCH ENEMY with his musicality and technicality as well as his personality and dedication. [We are] looking forward to having him join us stage, the rehearsals have shown we have a devastating twin axe attack going on!"

Nick Cordle (pictured below) was raised in a musical family in Virginia by parents who teach classical piano and was immersed in 19th-century piano music as a child. Rachmaninoff, Brahms and Liszt are his early memories. There were piano and violin lessons from a very early age but a rebellious streak led to the guitar at the age of 10, and within a few years he discovered the classic thrash metal albums by MEGADETH, METALLICA, and SLAYER. This was his first real musical passion and gateway into extreme music.

Nick studied jazz and music theory at the University of Virginia from 2003 to 2007 but remains self taught in the ways of "shred" and metal. Shortly thereafter, he joined American death metal band ARSIS playing bass and guitar over a three-year period, performing with them on various European tours and countless gigs across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as well as performing and writing on their most recent album, "Starve For The Devil" (2010).

Cordle will make his live debut with ARCH ENEMY on April 13 at the opening date of the band's Japanase headlining tour.

Die schwedischen Deather, die zwischen 2001 und 2003 drei Alben für Century Media Records veröffentlicht haben, haben einen neuen Vertrag mit Massacre Records unterschrieben. Das Comeback Album "Beyond Redemption" der schwedischen Death Metal Maschine THE FORSAKEN kommt im runderneurten Lineup und stärker denn je! "Beyond Redemption" erscheint am 29.Juni 2012!

"Beyond Redemption" Track List:

01. Beyond Redemption
02. Only Hell Remains
03. Foul Messianic Grace
04. No Dawn Awaits
05. There Is No God
06. As We Burn
07. As We Have Sown
08. The Light Divine
09. Force Fed Repentance
10. Blessed With Wrath

Swedish metal project MAD ARCHITECT will release a three-song EP, "Dreamworld", featuring mukti-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL, DIMMU BORGIR) on vocals. According to a press release, the EP contains "20 minutes of brutally beautiful melodic metal" and will be made available on April 10 at iTunes and Spotify.

"Dreamworld" track listing:

01. Dreamworld
02. Altered States
03. Strange Machine

The "Dreamworld" title track is available for streaming below.

Vocals: Snowy Shaw
Guitars: Magnus Daun
Bass: Dennis Forsberg
Drums: Sven Lindsten
Keyboards: Jorgen Oscarsson
Bass on "Altered States": Tomas Reinerson

The EP was mixed at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg and was mastered at The Mastering Room by Goran Finnberg (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH).

Canadian singer Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL, ARKAEA) has recorded a guest appearance on the forthcoming sophomore album from the French melodic death metal band T.A.N.K. (THINK OF A NEW KIND).

A teaser for the track "Inhaled" featuring Howard can be seen below.

Howard joined T.A.N.K. on stage on March 24 in Paris, France to perform "Inhaled". Check out pictures of his appearance at this location.

T.A.N.K.'s debut album, "The Burden Of Will", was released in June 2010 via Symbol Musik (with distribution through Season Of Mist). The CD featured guest appearances by Guillaume Bideau (MNEMIC, ONE-WAY MIRROR, SCARVE) and Steve "Zuul" Petit (ZUUL FX).

T.A.N.K. is:

Raf Pener: Vocals
Symheris: Lead guitar
Eddy Chaumulot: Rhythm Guitar
Clément Rouxel: Drums
Olivier d'Aries: Bass