The third in a series of four clips in which vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway of British/American grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH explains the lyrics and meaning behind each and every song on the band's new album, "Utilitarian", can be seen below. The eight-minute video covers the tracks "Orders of Magnitude", "Think Tank Trials", "Blank Look About Face" and "Leper Colony".

NAPALM DEATH will release its 14th studio album (excluding the cover album "Leaders Not Followers"), "Utilitarian", on February 27 in Europe and February 28 in North America via the band's longtime partner, Century Media Records. The cover artwork (see below) perfectly fits the album's theme and was created by the Danish artist Frode Sylthe, who is also responsible for THE HAUNTED's "rEVOLVEr" artwork.

In anticipation of this release, the band has now launched an "Occupy Napalm" Facebook tab to show their support for the Occupy movement and to provide fans with the latest news about their politically-charged "Utilitarian". With downloadable Occupy-themed stencils and screensavers, plus a special video teaser for "Utilitarian" created by Mitch Harris (guitar, vocals), this Facebook tab is the place to go for everything NAPALM DEATH!

"Utilitarian" track listing

01. Circumspect
02. Errors In The Signals
03. Everyday Pox
04. Protection Racket
05. The Wolf I Feed
06. Quarantined
07. Fall On Their Swords
08. Collision Course
09. Orders Of Magnitude
10. Think Tank Trials
11. Blank Look About Face
12. Leper Colony
13. Nom De Guerre
14. Analysis Paralysis
15. Opposite Repellent
16. A Gag Reflex
17. Aim Without An Aim (bonus track)
18. Everything In Mono (bonus track)

Upon "Utilitarian"'s release, NAPALM DEATH's limited-edition "Analysis Paralysis" seen-inch EP will also be available for purchase at CM Distro in black and clear vinyl. Its B-side includes the exclusive track "Youth Offender", making this a very collectable piece for any diehard NAPALM DEATH fan.

Greenway explains the album title and concept: "After some deliberation, we have decided on 'Utilitarian' as the album title. We generally try to avoid generic titles, and this seemed to have a lot of scope to it. I won't explain the full meaning of utilitarianism here because it's an ethical theory, and as ethical theories go, the depth and debate around it is quite heavy at times. It has a certain 'morality' aspect to it and that isn't something that drives me, so I also certainly have issues with it."

"So, rather than just nail that straight to the mast, of course we wanted to put our own spin on it by suggesting that those (i.e. the utilitarian in us, perhaps) who try to challenge everything, or fight against conventions, well, we go through periods of real self-doubt where we wonder if we're really making a difference. I suppose the conclusion is that, for the sake of all our freedoms, you should never stop, as even the feeling of resistance is at least a signal to those who would like to entirely control and dominate us — meaning everything from our instinctive behavior to our human entitlement to walk the earth unprovoked.

"Regarding the album overall, the final creases should be ironed out fairly soon, and immediately after that, we thought it would be good to top it off with a few U.K. dates. We've been playing one new song ('Quarantined') out on a tour of Canada and it's been well received, so we hope to perhaps throw in another one for now. Either way, we'll be bouncing off the walls again near you very soon."

Fan-filmed video footage of NAPALM DEATH performing two new songs — "Analysis Paralysis" and "Quarantined" — on January 27 at the Vortex club in Siegen, Germany can be seen below.

"Utilitarian" track-by-track - part 3:

"All Tomorrow's Funerals", the new video from the legendary San Francisco Bay Area gore grind act AUTOPSY, can be seen below. The song is the title cut of the band's new collection, which will be released on February 28 via Peaceville Records. This monstrous 22-track effort contains all of AUTOPSY's EPs remastered by the bandmembers themselves, as well as new cuts. Everything from "Retribution For The Dead" to the now-sold-out "The Tomb Within" will be presented on CD and DLP with all original artworks, liner notes from the band and new cover art from renowned artist Matt Cavotta.

"All Tomorrow's Funerals" track listing:

01. All Tomorrow’s Funerals (new track)
02. Broken People (new track)
03. Mauled To Death (new track)
04. Maggot Holes (new track)
05. The Tomb Within
06. My Corpse Shall Rise
07. Seven Skulls
08. Human Genocide
09. Mutant Village
10. Horrific Obsession
11. Feast of the Graveworm
12. Funereality
13. Fiend For Blood
14. Keeper Of Decay
15. Squeal Like A Pig
16. Ravenous Freaks
17. A Different Kind of Mindfuck
18. Dead Hole
19. Retribution For The Dead
20. Destined To Fester
21. In The Grip of Winter
22. Sign of the Corpse

Commented the band: "[The] few new tracks for 'All Tomorrow's Funerals' came out brutal and heavy as hell. Along with the newly written songs, we did a revamped version of 'Mauled To Death', which is the very last of the old songs that needed a proper album quality recording. This album will also contain all four EPs, all of which are out of print, as well as a compilation track from 1991, so the grand total is 22 tracks. It's something we've wanted to do for quite awhile, getting all the loose chunks together in one place rather than having them split up and added on as bonus tracks here and there. Everything has been painstakingly remastered with the band's guidance and sounds better and more crushing than ever. And don't worry, we didn't get carried away and ruin anything! Combine all that with killer new cover art from Matt Cavotta and we've got one hell of release."

AUTOPSY is currently working on all new material for its next album, due out late 2012/early 2013. The band states, "We can definitely promise more of what you would expect from AUTOPSY. There will be no compromise and no holding back. If you want 100% pure death metal brutality, you will certainly get it."

"Macabre Eternal", the first full-length album from AUTOPSY since 1995's "Shitfun", sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 67 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.

"Macabre Eternal" was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California and includes AUTOPSY's first 10-plus minute song "Sadistic Gratification".

AUTOPSY had previously decided to make an official comeback after working together on two songs for the special 20th-anniversary edition of debut album, "Severed Survival", in late 2008; the band having originally split before the release of its fourth album, "Shitfun", in 1995. A five-song EP, "The Tomb Within", came out last September and saw the original trio of Chris Reifert, Danny Coralles and Eric Cutler joined on bass by Joe Trevisano (ex-ABSCESS).

"Fukushima", a new song from Regina, Saskatchewan-based Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY, can be streamed below. The track was written about the Fukushima Daiichi, Japan nuclear disaster, a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. The song talks about the struggles involved, and the amazing ability of the Japanese people to overcome such a tragedy.

"Fukushima", which features guest death vocals by Rob Doherty, was engineered, mixed and mastered by Justin Bender at Touchwood Studios in Regina. The artwork for the single was created by Mattias Norén.

INTO ETERNITY recently tapped Amanda Kiernan of the Edmonton, Alberta-based metal band THE ORDER OF CHAOS as their new touring vocalist. Kiernan takes over from Stu Block, who was hired away last year by American metallers ICED EARTH, leaving INTO ETERNITY without a full-time singer.

INTO ETERNITY founder and guitarist Tim Roth told the Regina Leader-Post that he invited Kiernan to Regina to try out for the band after hearing a tape of her performing his songs.

"I had all these guys who told me they could do the songs and hit the notes Stu could. So I had them try out and it was like, 'No way.' Nobody could do it," Roth said. "But Amanda's got this great voice … none of the dudes could hit the notes Stu could, so maybe it makes sense that only a chick can do it. Besides, she already fits in like she's one of the guys."

Kiernan, who said she's been an INTO ETERNITY fan since she was in high school, told the Regina Leader-Post about her audition, "At first, I was pretty intimidated. These guys are rock stars to me. There were times when I was sitting around with the guys, and then all of a sudden I'd get this little burst of energy because I reminded myself that I was sitting with INTO ETERNITY."

INTO ETERNITY's signature sound has often been described as a hybrid of latter-day DEATH and CONTROL DENIED, combined with the technical stylings of DREAM THEATER.

INTO ETERNITY is among the confirmed bands for the 11th edition of the Manitoba Metalfest, set to take place February 24-25 at The Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

INTO ETERNITY last year released its first new material since 2008 in the form of a new song called "Sandstorm". The track, which is available on iTunes and Bandcamp, features guest death vocals by Rob Doherty and marks the recording debut of Newbury, who was previously known in the western Canadian metal scene as a member of Edmonton, Alberta-based group DEATH TOLL RISING.

"Sandstorm" was written the day the USA took out Osama Bin Laden, and is inspired by the events that transpired.

INTO ETERNITY's last album, "The Incurable Tragedy", came out in 2008 via Century Media.

"To Smoulder", the new video from Hungarian extreme metallers EKTOMORF, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's very special "acoustic" album, "The Acoustic", which will be released on February 17 via AFM Records.

"The Acoustic" contains cover versions (LYNYRD SKYNYRD's "Simple Man" and "Folsom Prison Blues" by JOHNNY CASH), re-recorded EKTOMORF classics ("I Know Them", "Redemption", "Who Can I Trust", "Stigmatized" and "I'm In Hate"), plus five brand new tracks, written specially for this release. All artwork for the CD was created by Tim Eckhorst, who previously did illustrations for the Wacken Open Air festival and various other bands.

"The Acoustic" track listing:

01. I Know Them
02. I'm In Hate
03. Be Free
04. Redemption
05. Simple Man
06. To Smoulder
07. Folsom Prison Blues
08. Again
09. Through Your Eyes
10. Fate
11. Stigmatized
12. Who Can I Trust

EKTOMORF's last album, "Redemption", was released on December 17, 2010 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm studios in Århus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen, who has previously worked with DARK TRANQUILLITY, THE HAUNTED and HEAVEN SHALL BURN, among others.

"Birds Of Sulphur", a brand new song from French progressive technical death metallers GOROD, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The song comes off the band's fourth full-length album, "A Perfect Absolution", will be released in the U.S. on May 8 via Unique Leader Records (March in Europe through Listenable Records). The CD was mixed by producer Frédéric "Elmobo" Motte, who oversaw the recording of the drums, bass and vocals, while all guitars were tracked by GOROD's mastermind Matthieu Pascal at his Bud Records Studio. The mix and the mastering were done at Elmobo's Conkrete Studio by Pascal and Elmobo.

The lyrical concept of "A Perfect Absolution" is based on the history of Kievan Rus during the 10th century.

In the year 945, Igor, King of Kiev, was killed while collecting a "tribute" when he visited a neighbor pagan tribe (the Derevlians) who lives in the forest. He left a widow, Olga, who avenged him in an extremely harsh manner before converting to Orthodox Christianity.

"A Perfect Absolution" features guest guitar solos by Christian Muenzner (OBSCURA) and Mike Keene (THE FACELESS).

"A Perfect Absolution" track listing:

01. Birds Of Sulphur
02. Sailing Into The Earth
03. Elements And Spirit
04. The Axe Of God
05. 5000 At The Funeral
06. Carved In The Wind
07. Varangian Paradise
08. Tribute Of Blood

GOROD will join OBSCURA for the "Omnivium Europe 2012" tour in March/April. Also appearing on the bill are SPAWN OF POSSESSION and EXIVIOUS.

GOROD's last full-length album, "Process Of A New Decline", came out in 2009 via Listenable Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Leading Vision" marked the recording debut of GOROD's new drummer, Samuel Santiago.

GOROD's "Transcendence" EP came out last spring. The disc included a 15-minute-long new song, one acoustic track, a CYNIC cover and two re-recorded songs from the band's first two albums.

Chicago's DIRGE WITHIN will release its sophomore full-length album, "There Will Be Blood", on April 10 via Rocket Science Ventures/THC: Music. The CD was recorded at Mercenary Studios in Zion, Illinois with engineer Scott Creekmore and producer Ari Mihalopoulos and was mixed at Inner Light Studios with Ari and DIRGE WITHIN guitarist Shaun Glass.

A four-and-a-half-minute YouTube clip containing audio samples of the "There Will Be Blood" album songs "For My Enemies", "There Will Be Blood", "Vultures", "Without You", "As We Prey", "Memories" and "Apathy" can be found below.

Guitarist Matt Szlachta recently left DIRGE WITHIN to continue to focus on his passion for teaching guitar to his students and for other personal reasons. He has since been replaced by Chuck Wepfer.

"There's no bad blood at all, man," said vocalist Jeremy "Jerms" Genske. "We're all still good buds and very close. His head and heart just weren't in it anymore, and he wanted to go back to teaching. He really loves it, and that's where he felt he had to be."

DIRGE WITHIN's forthcoming album will be the band's first to feature drummer Frankie Harchut and bassist Jeff Paulick (bassist/vocalist of LAZARUS A.D.), who has been filling on bass duties on tour with DIRGE WITHIN.

"I am very excited about the new songs we've written for this new album, and that people will be able to check out my style of playing a little more," stated Harchut. "We worked our asses off writing these new songs, a lot of long nights, and I'm personally stoked to have our fans hear 'em. I really think they're gonna be into it." Jeremy added, "The songs are heavier, smarter, and more melodic in parts. Some are even a little slower! There were no rules when we were writing at all. No holds barred. Whatever came out, came out. And I think it's gonna make a really good, well-rounded metal album."

DIRGE WITHIN's "Absolution" EP was made available on August 16, 2011. The three-song effort gives fans a taste of what's to come from the band's forthcoming sophomore album.

DIRGE WITHIN's debut album, "Force Fed Lies", came out on September 1, 2009 via E1 Music.

Queens, New York-based deathcore act EMMURE will release its fifth full-length album, "Slave To The Game", on April 10 via Victory Records. The CD was recorded with producer Joey Sturgis (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA), who previously worked with the band on last year's "Speaker Of The Dead".

Commented EMMURE vocalist Frankie Palmeri: "Victory Records is the big reason why EMMURE’s been able to continuously connect to our fans, and our fans are the number one reason why we’re still here today and continue to do what we do."

"Slave To The Game" will mark the recording debut of EMMURE's new drummer, Mark Costillo, who has previously played with BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and BURY YOUR DEAD.

Commented EMMURE guitarist Jesse Ketive: "Mark Costillo has been a good friend for a few years now.

"Mark approached us as he heard through the grapevine that EMMURE needed a helping hand, so at that point I chatted with him about possibly recording our new CD and playing some shows. After jamming the set a few times, we all decided that Mark was the perfect fit for us and undoubtedly should be our new drummer. He is the utmost professional and his work on the new effort in going to really help us bring everything to another level. Everyone better watch out."

A teaser video for "Slave To The Game" can be seen below. Also available is the CD artwork.

EMMURE will support "Slave To The Game" with a full North American tour this spring, hitting 31 cities with WE CAME AS ROMANS and more beginning in March. The band was recently added to this year's Bamboozle lineup for the May 19 date.

EMMURE is:

Frankie Palmeri - Vocals
Jesse Ketive - Guitar
Mike Mulholland - Guitar
Mark Davis - Bass
Mark Costillo - Drums

"Speaker Of The Dead" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 68 on The Billboard 200 chart. The group's previous CD, 2009's "Felony", opened with 7,800 units to land at No. 68.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH, the new band featuring Brooklyn, New York native Sal Abruscato — who played drums on three TYPE O NEGATIVE albums ("Slow, Deep & Hard", "Origin Of The Feces", "Bloody Kisses"), as well as four LIFE OF AGONY releases ("River Runs Red", "Ugly", "River Runs Again", "Broken Valley") — on guitar and vocals, played a headlining show on February 10 at Progresja in Warsaw, Poland . The concert can now be seen in its entirety below.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH recently parted ways with guitarist Bobby Hambel due to scheduling conflicts with his main band, BIOHAZARD, and replaced him with Eddie Heedles.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH last year inked a worldwide recording deal with Steamhammer/SPV for the release of the group's debut album, "And Hell Will Follow Me".

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH made its live debut on February 20, 2011 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey as the support act for MONSTER MAGNET and SEVENTH VOID.

Abruscato previously stated about A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's debut CD, "This is my first album where I composed and play all instruments, including vocals. Along with co-producer/guitarist Matt Brown (SEVENTH VOID), we have accomplished a very fresh sound and it includes guest appearances by Bobby Hambel, Keith Caputo (LIFE OF AGONY) and Ulrich Krieger (LOU REED).

"It is the darkest music I have ever written and recorded in my life, back to my sinister roots and I believe the fans will learn a completely different side of me."

For more information, visit www.apalehorsenameddeath.com.

French brutal djent metal mongers OUTCAST are giving away an exclusive free digital EP entitled "Circles Of Motion" via the French webzine Violent Solutions.

"Circles Of Motion" features two brand new tracks from OUTCAST's forthcoming third album, "Awaken The Reason"; "Allegiance", from the band's second CD, "Self-Injected Reality" (featuring a guest appearance by Jochem Jacobs of TEXTURES), a a cover of the GOJIRA song "Remembrance", recorded live in 2005; and a studio instrumental, "David Winkle's Terrible Adventure". According to a press release, "the latter track is pushing the idea of an instrumental Wagnerian-like composition to its limits as no musical idea is repeated twice, yet building up a story with a standard beginning, its developing stage and an ending. It's going against the usual and common song structure." The band states, "It's a track that you have to accept as it plays by, without much thought. It tells about David's growth , often mentioned as 'Commander Winky', into a sort of 'Jackass' hero (could also be a character in 'The X Files' series). This track was written with Frank Zappa's trademark songwriting in mind, yet obviously displaying more violent and progressive sounds."

"Circles Of Motion" track listing:

01. Abysmal (from upcoming LP, "Awaken The Reason")
02. Remembrance (exclusive EP track – live 2005 GOJIRA cover)
03. Elements (from upcoming LP, "Awaken The Reason")
04. David Winkle's Terrible Adventure (exclusive EP track)
05. Allegiance (from "Self-Injected Reality" – feat. Jochem Jacobs of TEXTURES)

"Awaken The Reason" will be released in Europe on February 20 via Listenable Records. According to a press release, the CD will be the group's "strongest and most solid recording so far," which "genuinely capture[s] the band's musical madness." It features "a modern-sounding-yet-organic production spiced up by some frenzy extreme guitar and drums assaults."

Commmented OUTCAST: "'Awaken The Reason' was recorded between January and September 2010 at The Artist The Office Studio. It was mixed at Split Second Sound Studio by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) in October/November 2010 and then mastered at West West Side Music by Alan Douches (MASTODON, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN). The album was composed between 2006 and 2009, mixing various influences, [including] Steve Vai, GOJIRA, DREAM THEATER, DEVIN TOWNSEND, TEXTURES and SIKTH. Our main goal was to stay away from traditional death music and produce a progressive album with personnal signature. Eighty percent of the album was composed by Nicolas [Soulat, guitar] but everyone was at work to improve melodies and songwriting. That's why the album sounds like a concept album even if it's not. This way of thinking music mixed with several aproaches of riffing and soloing constitute, in our opinion, the main guideline and would confer strong marks to the listener. So our minds were opened and focused on originality using old and new references in the whole metal industry."

Regarding how the new album compares to OUTCAST's earlier efforts, the band said, "The more obvious difference between 'Awaken The Reason' and 'Self Injected Reality', our previous album, is the production, which gives more space and organic feelings to the composition. The composition and songs themselves are more colored and progressive, more subtle in the ambiences are not just full-rooted in death metal."

OUTCAST's second album, "Self Injected Reality", was released in September 2008 via Thundering Records. The follow-up to 2005's "First Call / Last Warning" was recorded at Unmuted Studio with producer Aurélien Mauro (SKELETON CREW) and features guest appearances by Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) and Filip Leo (CORPORATION 187).

OUTCAST is:

Mathieu Santin: Drums
Clément Mauro: Bass
Wilfried Fagnon: Vocals
Nicolas Soulat: Guitar
Jean-François Di Rienzo: Guitar

Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) played four shows in London in November 2011 dedicated to his tetralogy album concept — a great journey through Devin's different states of musical moods — which he started in 2009 with the albums "Addicted" (2009) and "Ki" (2009) and finished with last year's "Deconstruction" and "Ghost". The concerts were professionally recorded and filmed for a unique four-disc DVD release, which he has decided to call "By A Thread". Devin writes on Twitter, "Reviewing the first real cuts of the London show DVDs... Surprisingly awesome!"

DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT released "Contain Us", a special tribute box set for its epic quadrology ("Ki", "Addicted", "Deconstruction" and "Ghost") on November 29, 2011 in North America. "Contain Us" was designed and created by Man Alive's Tom Bejgrowicz (who also conceived the classic and must-have MISFITS "Coffin" box-set) and is the ultimate collection for every diehard Devin fan. The standard box-set is priced at $80.00 while the hand-numbered box with the 10" and a lithograph drawn and autographed by Devin is $100.

Devin previously stated, "I love being able to make huge projects. In this age, it's essential."

Reunited '80s/'90s metallers HADES have digitally released their first 45 rpm single from 1982. "Deliver Us From Evil" featured HADES members Dan Lorenzo (guitar), Tom Coombs (drums), Paul Smith (vocals) and Joe Casilli (guitar). Lorenzo and Casilli split bass duties on the songs "Girls Will Be Girls" and "Social Disease".

Stated Lorenzo, "I wrote the music to these songs while I was in the 11th grade. Paul Smith wrote the lyrics to 'Girls Will Be Girls' a year or two later. The songs sound pretty funny now, but at the time I thought they sounded like AC/DC and IRON MAIDEN.

"HADES printed up 1,000 singles in 1982 of 'Deliver Us From Evil'. There are bootleg copies in Germany that feature our autographs on the cover."

The songs will be on iTunes in a few days. For now, they are available exclusively at CDbaby.

MASSACRE, the resurrected 1990s Florida-based death metal band featuring Terry Butler (DEATH, MASSACRE, SIX FEET UNDER, DENIAL FIEND, OBITUARY) and Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo (MANTAS, DEATH, MASSACRE, M INC.), will enter CGM Studios in Altamonte Springs, Florida on February 17 with Tim Vazquez at the helm to record two brand new songs: "Succumb To Rapture" and "Back From Beyond".

MASSACRE played "Succumb To Rapture" for the first time during the group's January 14 headlining concert at The Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida. Video footage of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of Brutal Broadcast).

The Brass Mug show marked the first-ever appearance by MASSACRE's new lineup, which consists of Butler and DeLillo alongside the band's latest additions, Mike Mazzonetto (drums; M INC., PAIN PRINCIPLE) and Ed Webb (vocals; DIABOLIC, GENERICHRIST, DESTINED TO RUIN).

MASSACRE recently canceled its European tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the band's classic "From Beyond" album. Dubbed "Army Of Darkness", the trek was slated to take place in January/February 2012 and was supposed to feature additional performances from MACABRE and MASTER.

"From Beyond" was recently reissued as a limited-edition digipak CD via Earache Records.The long-out-of-print album was made available on CD with four bonus EP tracks and comes housed in a digipak with extended artwork and a fold-out poster.

MASSACRE will perform at this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4 in Wacken, Germany.

MASSACRE's current touring lineup is as follows:

* Mike Mazzonetto (M INC., PAIN PRINCIPLE) - Drums
* Ed Webb (DIABOLIC, GENERICHRIST, DESTINED TO RUIN) - Vocals
* Frederick "Rick Rozz" DeLillo – Guitar
* Terry Butler - Bass

A different version of MASSACRE — consisting of DENIAL FIEND members Sam Williams (guitar), Curt Beeson (drums; NASTY SAVAGE), along with Terry Butler, Steve Swanson (guitar) and Kam Lee (vocals; MASSACRE, DEATH, MANTAS) — completed a European tour in late 2007.

Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have entered a Thailand studio to begin recording their fourth album. The band's guitarist/vocalist Matt Tuck tweeted earlier today (Wednesday, February 15), "Moose [drummer Michael Thomas] [is] tracking the first song right now!! Sounds incredible!!"

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE released a deluxe CD/DVD edition of its third full-length album, "Fever", titled "Fever Tour Edition", in February 2011. The set featured three new songs recorded live at Xfm radio in the U.K. ("Fever", "The Last Fight" and "Bittersweet Memories") and a DVD of "Your Betrayal", "Fever" and "Waking the Demon", recorded live from Graspop Metal Meeting 2010 in Dessel, Belgium. The DVD also included videos for "Your Betrayal", "The Last Fight" and "The Making of The Last Fight" as well as a BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE track-by-track commentary of "Fever".

"Fever" sold 71,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 3 on The Billboard 200 chart. "Fever" also landed in the Top Five in Australia, the U.K., Japan, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

In a September 2011 interview with Lithium Magazine, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE guitarist Michael "Padge" Paget stated about "Fever", "As opposed to the other albums, this is right up there. This is definitely where we wanted to go as a band and it's definitely the right record when it comes to maturing. It's the third album; it's definitely where we wanted to go and has taken us where we want to be. It's ticking all the boxes so far and hopefully the next record does the same thing . . . We strive to write great songs and I think 'Fever' comes across as a great album, not just songs, and a complete album. You can sit down and listen to the whole thing as opposed to 'Scream, Aim, Fire'. We tried to take it back to the roots to the 'Poison' sort of thing on the new album, if you know what I mean."

Norwegian hard rockers WIG WAM will release a new single, "Wall Street", on February 24 via Frontiers Records. The track is taken from the band's forthcoming album with the same title, to be made available this spring.

"Wall Street" is the story of a musician who trades his guitar for a company brand to make his fortune in the stock market. According to a press release, "It's got the recipe of a great WIG WAM 'smash hit' and is everything you expect from these guys!"

WIG WAM's third studio album, "Non Stop Rock 'N' Roll", came out in 2010 and was the band's first LP to be released simultaneously in Europe and Japan. The effort was certified gold in Norway, and saw WIG WAM touring in support of it all around the world, including in USA, Japan and Europe.

Reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT will release their new album, "Stalingrad", on April 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was once again helmed by British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY), who worked on the band's critically acclaimed comeback effort, "Blood Of The Nations".

"Stalingrad"will be made available in the following formats:

* Limited CD+DVD
* CD
* 2LP (red) in gatefold
* 2LP (white/red) in gatefold - exclusive Nuclear Blast mailorder edition

"Stalingrad" track listing:

01. Hung, Drawn And Quartered
02. Stalingrad
03. Hellfire
04. Flash To Bang Time
05. Shadow Soldiers
06. Revolution
07. Against The World
08. Twist Of Fate
09. The Quick And The Dead
10. Never Forget (bonus track)
11. The Galley

DVD contents:

Official Bootleg

Live at Bang Your Head!!! 2011

01. Princess Of The Dawn
02. Pandemic
03. No Shelter

Live at Masters Of Rock 2010

04. Teutonic Terror
05. The Abyss

Video clips

06. Teutonic Terror
07. Pandemic

Commented ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffman: "ACCEPT and Andy Sneap have the perfect synergy. This was so clear with 'Blood Of The Nations' and we are excited to continue on that path. Andy is not only an amazing and prolific producer but also a very good friend who has long become a member of the ACCEPT family."

Regarding the musical direction of ACCEPT's next album, Hoffmann told The Rock Pit last year, "We're just gonna have the same attitude, the approach; we're just gonna do more of the same, you know, without it being the same. More similar-style stuff, hopefully fresh new ideas. And I mean, we're not gonna… The intention is not to change it right now. I mean, why would we? . . . But I have to say, it's always easier said than done. It's incredibly difficult to write songs that are sort of reminiscent of the past but they're not, you know, rip-offs of your own music. That sounds incredibly very simple, but it's really not, especially if you have a sort of history of 15 albums or whatever we have. Then there are always similarities that you have to avoid. It can't be too close, but it can't be too far away from it. So it's a pretty fine line that you have to walk sometimes, but, you know, hopefully we'll manage again."

ACCEPT's July 15, 2011 performance at last year's edition of the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany marked the band's return to a five-piece format after the group spent a couple of months touring as a quartet due to the fact that guitarist Herman Frank suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in a stage fall on May 6, 2011 in San Antonio.

"Blood Of The Nations" was released in North America on September 14, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. Recorded at Sneap's Backstage Studio in Derbyshire, England, the CD marked the debut of the band's latest addition, vocalist Mark Tornillo (ex-TT QUICK).

ACCEPT 2012 is:

Wolf Hoffmann: Guitar
Peter Baltes: Bass
Herman Frank: Guitar
Mark Tornillo: Vocals
Stefan Schwarzmann: Drums

Radio Metal recently conducted an interview with singer Simone Simons of Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Radio Metal: Nowadays, financial crisis is so frightening that even musicians talk about it in their music. Do you think it's one of the most important crisis we have faced?

Simone: As a musician, you feel it, because a lot of people don't buy records anymore, they just download them. The government is also investing less money in cultural events. So we do feel it. In certain countries, we have to think about how much to charge for a ticket. Yesterday, I talked to somebody from Greece, and he asked me if we were going to lower the price of our tickets, because people can't pay for them anymore. It's a sad thing to think that money is so important and can destroy so much. Hopefully it won't, but it could mean the end of the European Union. Countries like Germany, for example, are investing a lot of money in Greece to get them back on track, but it's a complicated mess!

Radio Metal: What do you think about the news regarding the end of [file-sharing web site] Megaupload?

Simone: I think it's a good thing. But I'm on Twitter, and I read some retweets. Somebody wrote that a child molester will get seven years in jail, and somebody who uploaded music or movies will have to go to jail for fifteen years. It shouldn't be the case. I know that the uploading and downloading thing is a huge world, which is affecting a lot of people. But it's still not ethically wrong as molesting a child, for example. That has an impact on a smaller number of people, of course, but it's something you'll live with for the rest of your life. Piracy is only about economics. It's about missing out on money because people are downloading stuff, but it's not as serious as molesting a child. That should be punished by a hundred years in jail. Piracy should be punished in a different way.

Radio Metal: A lot of people, including musicians, say that this web site was a good thing, because if people could download music for free, the artists would see more people at their shows. In a way, it helped the band to gain notoriety in the world.

Simone: In certain countries, a lot of people just can't afford to buy the record, but they do come to the shows. In Mexico, for example, there's a huge illegal market. When I was walking through the city, I saw a copy of an EPICA album right between the biggest pop singers in the world. I thought it was funny, I even took a photo of it. You can try and fight against it, but in those countries, the illegal market is huge. But then, the people come to the shows. You can tour there and have amazing shows. In the end, it's not like people won't come to the shows because they have the record at home! Those people like to go to concerts and those concerts are always pretty amazing.

Radio Metal: So in a way, it can be a good thing?

Simone: In these countries, it's not a bad thing. But economically successful countries in Europe — not all of them, but the majority — should not download. I don't want to say downloading is ever a good thing. It's just a problem we try to fight. I have to admit I've downloaded a couple of songs myself, to see if I liked the music, but then I bought the record. Nowadays, everybody's got an iPhone or an iPod, and you can just download the music online for a lower price. Everyone wants to have the music on their mp3 players anyway, but the collectors want to have the real deal, the CD and the booklet and stuff. I download a lot of music on iTunes. You pay something like seven euros less, which I think it's cool. And it's legal.

Radio Metal: The other side of the coin regarding the closing of Megaupload is that people are complaining about the attempt against their freedom. Do you think that people are like children? They're given too much and now they're used to listening to music for free, without paying the artist?

Simone: I think because everybody's on the Internet, and the music is also on the Internet, it doesn't feel like you're actually stealing. People don't see it the same way as going to a store, putting a CD up their sleeve and leaving the shop. But it is basically the same. Hopefully people will buy the record and come to the shows. I hope people will finally see it as stealing. Even some family members or friends of mine, they're downloading, and I tell them it's wrong. They say, "Yeah, but it's on the Internet, it doesn't have a price tag on it." Not everybody understands, and teenagers are really stubborn anyway! They do whatever they want and are very selfish. It's not only about how teenagers act, it's about how parents deal with it as well. For me, as a musician, it's very important for people to know that downloading is illegal and it's affecting the musicians in the end. Everybody thinks, "It's just me," but it's not. The whole downloading issue is like a plague.

Read the entire interview from Radio Metal.

"Storm The Sorrow" performance footage:

SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo has revealed via his Facebook page that he and the band's guitarist, Kerry King, "have seven kick-ass songs" written for the group's next studio album. He adds, "You're going to soil your pants!!"

In a recent interview with Artisan News, King stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for SLAYER's next album, "We go back out [on the road] May 25 in Europe, then we'll be back in the States, of course. Hopefully we'll get in the studio to record [the new CD] before then, 'cause it's time-consuming. We're looking to get in March and April, so hopefully be done [recording] by the time [we have to go back out on tour]."

Speaking to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, Kerry described the new material as "really refreshing and energetic." He added, "One thing I can tell you is that the songs are shaping up in the classic SLAYER style. You won't be hearing us doing acoustic stuff. [laughs]"

Kerry is hoping that Greg Fidelman, who co-produced 2009's "World Painted Blood" with Rick Rubin, will be at the helm for the new album. "That's the idea, anyway," Kerry told Metal Hammer. "But it all depends on his availability. . . I don't think we'll spend long in the studio this time, either. We're gonna do it old-school style and get things done fast. In fact, we are already ahead of schedule. The album will be ready for a summer release. But whether it's put out at that time is down to the record label [American]. They might have other plans. But we want it with the fans during the summer."

King also spoke about Hanneman's current state of health. Jeff in January 2011 contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since. Not only did this effectively put him out of action for the whole year, it came close to killing him. Thankfully, he's making a good recovery.

"Yeah, we could go onstage right now with him and do 'Mandatory Suicide'," Kerry said. "If that was the only song in our set, Jeff would be fine. But he's slowly getting back to full fitness and by the time we're ready to tour, he'll be right back onstage with us."

He added, "We always said we'd never entertain the idea of doing an album without [Jeff]. But there he is, getting those riffs ready!"

SLAYER will perform its classic 1986 album "Reign In Blood" in its entirety at All Tomorrow's Parties' second U.K. "I'll Be Your Mirror" event, which is scheduled to take place n the weekend of May 25-27 at Alexandra Palace, London, England. A strange move, considering they've done this several times before.

"The organizers asked us to do it! If it were left up to me, then I'd have turned it down, simply because it's been done, so why repeat it?" King said. "But it's such a classic album that people always ask us to do it."

SLAYER's latest album, "World Painted Blood", sold 41,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI have released the following statement:

"Our dear friend and bandmate, 'Otus' Tonmi Lillman, has sadly passed away. He will be greatly missed and we send our condolences to his family and friends.

"Otus: we thank You from the bottom of our hearts for the short time we got to know you and spend with you together. Rest in peace, friend."

Members of LORDI always wear masks at interviews and have stated their desire for their personal identities to remain private. Therefore, Lillman's status as a member of LORDI had never been publicly acknowledged until now.

Lillman joined LORDI in October 2010 as the replacement for Kita, who was fired from the band after he "made a decision to pursue his own career publicly as himself [under his real name], without his alter ego Kita." LORDI explained at the time that revealing a member's true identity was "in direct conflict with one of the cornerstones of LORDI's image. Therefore it is not possible for [Kita] to continue as a member of the band anymore."

In addition to LORDI, Tonmi previously played with TO/DIE/FOR, SINERGY and AJATTARA, and was part of the parody punk band KYLÄHULLUT (featuring CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho and KLAMYDIA vocalist Vesku Jokinen).

Tonmi, who was actually born Tommi Lillman but changed his name to Tomni in 2004, grew up surrounded by a large assortment of instruments. He received his first drum kit at age nine and started performing live at age 14.

A gifted musician, Lillman also played guitar, bass and keyboards. Over the course of his career, he taught digital recording and drums at Kouvola Musiikkiopisto (Kouvola Conservatoire) and played in numerous folk, dance and pop orchestras. He also sat behind the kit during the "Dimebag Beyond Forever" 2009 tour alongside Rainer "Raikku" Tuomikanto.

Lillman was featured on several albums as a studio musician, including REFLEXION and TWILIGHT OPHERA, and made a name for himself as a studio engineer, having mixed and recorded such bands as BEHERIT, LIE IN RUINS, MYGRAIN, RYTMIHÄIRIÖ and SAATTUE.

Artisan News caught up with Ozzy Osbourne's wife/manager Sharon Osbourne last Thursday (February 9) at The Grammy Foundation's annual Grammy Week preservation event at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, California and spoke to her about the current BLACK SABBATH drummer situation (see video below). When asked if Ozzy, bassist Geezer Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi have found a replacement for the band's original drummer, Bill Ward, she replied, "You know, I don't know. I honestly, honestly don't know. It's all up in the air. The one thing that is for sure is that SABBATH are in the studio with [producer] Rick Rubin and they are going on tour. That's all I know. And Tony is doing brilliantly well."

Ward announced two weeks ago that he could not participate in the planned reunion of the band's founding lineup without what he called a "signable" contract.

The other three members of SABBATH have already announced that they will move forward without Ward, with Ozzy's solo band drummer Tommy Clufetos rumored to be already in the studio with them.

The reunion of the original lineup was announced last November, along with a new album and tour. Iommi's current battle with cancer has put prospects for a full world tour in question at this point.

As previously reported, Bill's son Aron has gone online to defend his father. In a lengthy message posted at Facebook, Aron wrote in part, "The press is spinning this shitstorm to read as if my dad has quit. This is not true. The guys know that. That's why they said the door is ALWAYS open. My dad hasn't 'declined' playing with BLACK SABBATH or 'threatened' to pull out of this reunion."

Addressing accusations that his father is being "greedy," Aron wrote, "He is by no means greedy, man. If he was, he would have settled with whatever contract given him. It's kind of obvious someone else is greedy . . . sadly, the current 'SABBATH' statement reads as if someone would rather see the remaining members play in front of thousands of disappointed, confused and resentful fans then give my dad a dignified agreement."

After defending his father against the "idiots slagging off my dad" — presumably fans not taking his side — Aron concluded with a message to SABBATH members Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Terry "Geezer" Butler, writing, "To Terry (my godfather), Ozzy (my friend when I was little) and Tony (towering hero), I hope that you will listen to your fans. They want all of you together. As YOU are BLACK SABBATH so is my Dad. I hope you guys can work it out."

Due to schedulding conflicts, drummer Tobias Gustafsson (TORTURE DIVISION, VOMITORY) will not take part in the recording sessions for the next album from THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX — the Swedish band featuring Jörgen Sandström (vocals; VICIOUS ART, KRUX, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE), Lord K. Philipson (guitar; TORTURE DIVISION, ex-GOD AMONG INSECTS, HOUSE OF USHER, LEUKEMIA), Anders Bertilsson (guitar; COLDWORKER) and Portuguese vocalist Ms. Roque (a.k.a. Ruby Roque of WITCHBREED). Tobias says in a statement, "I am sorry to tell you that I will not be playing the drums on the upcoming THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX album. There are several reasons for this, but what it basically comes down to is that I am not able to put the time and effort into THE PROJECT HATE at this point. And — as you all probably already understand — it takes a lot of that, if you want to do it right and to make THE PROJECT HATE justice. And I am all about that: do it right, or don't do it at all! So this time I reluctantly have decided not to do it. I simply don't have the time. Thanks to K for showing great understanding and actually supporting my decision. Next time, brother!"

The drum tracks on the new THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX album will be laid down by Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK, SCARVE, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT). Dirk said in a statement, "I'm extremely proud and honored to play drums on THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX's upcoming new album. After no less than eight kick-ass studio records and an equally kick-ass live album, to say they're a criminally underrated band is a hell of an understatement. Any self-respecting metal fan should rightfully embrace this new batch of crushing anthems TPH have concocted… As well as all the previous ones for that matter!

Added Philipson: "Together with Tobben, Dirk's been another one of my absolute fave drummers for many, many years, and it feels absolutely amazing to get him to lay down the thunder for the coming monster when Tobben chose to step down. To take on this task (and being underpaid in the process) in-between his busy schedule is mindblowing, and I can never thank him enough. He sure will have his work cut out for him and I know he will bring some amazing drumming into our music, just like Tobben did on the last album. It is a privilege to be able to work with all these fantastic musicians, lemme tell you that."

According to JonLord.org, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Hagen, Germany will celebrate former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord's music at several of their concerts this year.

Working from plans put in motion early last year, this spring will see the orchestra perform five of Jon's pieces; "The Cathedral At Dawn", a segment of his "Durham Concerto"; "Diguises", released on the "Boom Of The Tingling Strings" album; "From Darkness To Light" in a brand new arrangement for full orchestra; "To Notice Such Things" and "Sarabande".

The dates are as folows:

February 28
Jon Lord: The Cathedral At Dawn
Peter Tschaikowski: Violinkonzert
Dmitri Schostakowitsch: Sinfonie Nr. 9

April 24
Jon Lord: Disguises
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violinkonzert
Franz Schubert: Sinfonie Nr. 6

May 15
Jon Lord: From Darkness To Light (World premiere of version for large orchestra)
Jean Sibelius: Sinfonie Nr. 5

June 12
Johannes Brahms: Haydn-Variationen
Jon Lord: To Notice Such Things
Johannes Brahms: Violinkonzert

July 6
Jon Lord: Sarabande

All concerts take place at Hagen's Stadthalle, and Jon Lord is not scheduled to appear.

Lord revealed last summer that he was fighting cancer.

Jon Lord is recognized for his Hammond organ blues-rock playing and unique sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms. He has most famously been a member of DEEP PURPLE, the band he co-founded in 1968.

Lord last year received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester.

"Feel Again", the new video from EXES FOR EYES — the new project featuring vocalist "Big" James Arsenian from ENDAST and Dave Sheldon, former bassist of ANNIHILATOR and MAN WITH TARGET — can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "The Amsler Grid", which came out last year via Year Of The Sun Records.

EXES FOR EYES is a project born out of an overwhelming amount of mutual respect and admiration between two men. A respect for one another's work ethic, musical proficiency, stylistic taste and, of course, for each other as people. With the musical vision of Dave Sheldon and the lyrical conception of vocalist and frontman "Big" James, the project is very quickly taking shape into something more than either anticipated.

"We've been eager to have the album released for some time now, so to finally have it see the light of day is exciting," commented Arsenian. "Having worked with many of the current and former bands on the Year Of The Sun roster, I can say that they all speak highly of the team at the label. After having had several conversations with label founder/president Chris Benner, it quickly became clear that we are all on the same page and wanted the same thing for this album."

Benner echoed the sentiment. "When we originally started talking to Big James and Dave about EXES FOR EYES, we were already fans of the other projects that they've been involved with," he says. "However, it took some conversations to really understand what this project was about and it was really cool to hear the passion that these guys had regarding it. It's a different band with this really groove-driven sound and the guys had a solid enthusiasm about the songs and working with Year Of The Sun to get this record out there. I really admired that and it's what made EXES a perfect fit for our new roster."

Added Sheldon: "This is an album that really encompasses all of our influences. It's got fast, thrashy elements, and it's got some really epic emotive elements as well. I can honestly say we have poured a lot of passion into this and with the culmination of our combined experience, conditioning, and know-how, it has translated into a solid record. We aren't re-inventing the wheel with 'The Amsler Grid', but we're going to run you over with it."

Quality fan-filmed video footage of DREAM THEATER's February 10 headlining concert at the Wembley Arena in London, England can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Bridges In The Sky
02. 6:00
03. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
04. Surrounded
05. The Root Of All Evil
06. Drum Solo
07. A Fortune In Lies
08. Outcry
09. The Silent Man (acoustic)
10. Beneath The Surface (acoustic)
11. On The Backs Of Angels
12. War Inside My Head
13. The Test That Stumped Them All
14. The Spirit Carries On
15. Breaking All Illusions

Encore:

16. Pull Me Under

DREAM THEATER's new album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", sold 36,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 8. The band's previous CD, 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", opened with 40,000 units to land at No. 6. This was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Systematic Chaos", which shifted 36,000 copies in 2007 to enter the chart at No. 19. 2005's "Octavarium" premiered with 27,000 copies to debut at No. 36.

DREAM THEATER was among the nominees in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category at the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on Sunday, February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Acclaimed Finnish heavy metal drummer Tonmi Lillman, who has previously played with TO/DIE/FOR, SINERGY and AJATTARA, has died at the age of 38. A cause of death has not yet been revealed. Lillman was also part of the parody punk band KYLÄHULLUT (featuring CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho and KLAMYDIA vocalist Vesku Jokinen), and he was the drummer for Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI (under the stage name Otus), a band he joined in October 2010.

The son of a musician, Tonmi grew up surrounded by a large assortment of instruments. Lillman received his first drum kit at age nine and started performing live at age 14.

In addition to drums and bass, which were his primary instruments, Tonmi played the keyboards and guitar.

Over the course of his career, Lillman taught digital recording and drums at Kouvola Musiikkiopisto (Kouvola Conservatoire) and played in numerous folk, dance and pop orchestras. He also sat behind the kit during the "Dimebag Beyond Forever" 2009 tour alongside Rainer "Raikku" Tuomikanto.

Lillman was featured on several albums as a studio musician, including REFLEXION and TWILIGHT OPHERA, and made a name for himself as a studio engineer, having mixed and recorded such bands as BEHERIT, LIE IN RUINS, MYGRAIN, RYTMIHÄIRIÖ and SAATTUE.

X-UFO — the band featuring card-carrying UFO members Laurence Archer, Danny Peyronel and Clive Edwards, along with Rocky Newton from UFO spin-off MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP — has just released a live album. Recorded in Hannover, Germany with producer Steve Mann, "Vol.1: The LIVE Files!" includes "blistering" new recordings of UFO classics "Lights Out", "Only You Can Rock Me", "Rock Bottom", "Doctor Doctor" and more. The effort captures in stunning, raw realism, the high-octane X-UFO set, as well as the equally fervent reaction of their ever-growing, tenaciously loyal audience.

X-UFO plans to enter the studio soon to record its debut album featuring new material, always in the UFO mould they helped develop, and more re-works of some less-performed classics which so many fans believe deserve another sporting chance.

X-UFO's debut appearance saw them headline the Hard Rock Hell Road Trip festival in Ibiza in April 2011, followed by a string of shows and festivals throughout Europe.

"Vol.1: The LIVE Files!" track listing:

01. Intro: Let It Roll
02. Natural Thing
03. Highway Lady
04. Backdoor Man
05. Can You Roll Her
06. Love Deadly Love
07. Armed And Ready
08. She's The One
09. Love To Love
10. Only You Can Rock Me
11. Rock Bottom
12. Encore 1: Lights Out
13. Encore 2: Doctor Doctor

Former Metal Blade recording artists HERETIC will enter the studio in early March to start recording their new album. A late 2012 release is expected.

HERETIC last month announced the addition of ex-HIRAX/REVEREND bassist Angelo Espino and drummer Ignazio Copolla to the group's ranks. The band's current lineup is rounded out by original members Julian Mendez on vocals and Brian Korban on guitar, along with new addition Glenn Rogers (ex-HIRAX) on guitar.

According to The BNR Metal Pages, "HERETIC was a rather typical power/thrash metal band of the Eighties, managing one EP and one album before calling it a day. At least part of the reason for the band breakup was vocalist Mike Howe's departure to METAL CHURCH — ironically, the man he replaced there, David Wayne, recruited two HERETIC members for his then-new band, REVEREND."

HERETIC 2012 is:

Julian Mendez - Vocals
Brian Korban - Guitar
Angelo Espino - Bass
Glenn Rogers - Guitar
Ignazio "Iggy" Coppola - Drums

Japan's SIGH will release its ninth album, "In Somniphobia", on March 13 via Candlelight Records. According to a press release, the CD is "by far more musically varied" compared to the [band's] last two albums. Put heavy metal, classical music, jazz, Indian traditional music, Stockhausen, and Xenakis into a cauldron of hell and stir it, you'll get 'In Somniphobia'. It is a pure sonic nightmare that lasts more than an hour. . . It is not easy to describe its direction, but probably one can say that it is something between 'Imaginary Sonicscape', 'Hail Horror Hail' and 'Gallows Gallery', or rather, simply a nightmarish version of 'Imaginary Sonicscape'."

Founded in 1990 in Tokyo, Japan, SIGH is known for its nontraditional approach to metal and music in general and such is the case with their latest endeavor. Their most musically varied and plainly enthralling recording to date "In Somniphobia" incorporates everything from heavy metal, classical, jazz, traditional Indian music, Stockhausen, and Xenakis. It's a pure, sonic nightmare that lasts more than an hour and an album long time fans are sure to embrace.

Commented SIGH vocalist/keyboardist Mirai Kawashima: "This is your sonic nightmare. This is the music that lies somewhere between your reality and imagination. This is the heaviest, scariest, craziest and by far the best album by SIGH in every aspect. Be sure to smoke first then listen to this with headphones. Bad trip guaranteed."

"In Somniphobia" track listing:

01. Purgatorium
02. The Transfiguration Fear Lucid Nightmares
03. Lucid Nightmare
04. Somniphobia
05. L'Excommunication A Minuit
06. Amnesia
07. Far Beneath The In-Between
08. Amongst The Phantoms Of Abandoned Tumbrils
09. Ending Theme: Continuum
10. Fall To The Thrall
11. Equale (a. Prelude, b. Fugato, c. Coda)

The song "Far Beneath The In-Between" is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

SIGH is:

Mirai Kawashima - Vocals, Keyboards
Shinichi Ishikawa - Guitar
Satoshi Fujinami - Bass
Junichi Harashima - Drums
Dr. Mikannibal - Saxophone, Vocals

The cover artwork for "In Somniphobia" (see below) was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

SIGH's eighth studio album, "Scenes From Hell", was released in January 2010 via The End Records.

GODSMACK is putting the finishing touches on an EP of cover songs. On Saturday, singer Sully Erna informed fans via Twitter that the band has been in the studio working on it for the last three weeks. "Today is last day of mixing the covers EP we're working on for you. I think you're gonna love this!" Erna wrote. "I want to suggest to management when they're all ready to hear, we throw them up online and let all of you decide which one is best [for] radio."

GODSMACK, STAIND and HALESTORM will hit the road together this spring. The trek, dubbed the "Mass Chaos Tour", kicks off April 13 in Augusta, Georgia and wraps on May 18 in Bangor, Maine.

GODSMACK's fifth album, "The Oracle", sold 117,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Los Angeles thrashers HEXEN have completed work on their second album, "Being And Nothingness", to be released later in the year via Pulverised Records. Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Vivid Tone Recording Studio (LIVIDITY, GUTHRIE GOVAN) by producer Rich Bruce, the CD "sees the band going toward a far more mature, comprehensive, and thorough voyage of metal musicality, thus distancing themselves from being just another run-of-the-mill revival band," according to a press release.

To perfectly complement the visual aspects of "Being And Nothingness", HEXEN has engaged the hand-painted mastery of celebrated extreme metal illustrator Kristian Wåhlin/Necrolord (KING DIAMOND, DISSECTION, EMPEROR) for the album artwork.

"Being And Nothingness" will contain nine tracks of progressive thrash proficiency, closing with an epic 8-part suite:

01. Macrocosm
02. Grave New World
03. Defcon Rising
04. Private Hell
05. Walk As Many, Stand As One
06. Stream Of Unconsciousness
07. Indefinite Archetype
08. The Nescient
09. Nocturne:
i. Opus 55 ? 1 in Fmin
ii. Out of Reach
iii. Existential Crisis
iv. Entrance of the Absurd
v. The Unbearable Lightness of Being
vi. With Salvation I Persist
vii. Elegy of the Night
viii. End in Purplexity

Commented the band: "We are completely stoked for this long-worked-on, long-awaited second release and we can't wait to showcase this opus live to all our fans. Unlearn what you have learned about metal!"

HEXEN is:

Andre Hartoonian – Vocals, Bass
Ronny Dorian - Guitar
Tak Arayan - Guitar

VAURA, the new band featuring members of DYSRHYTHMIA, KAYO DOT and RELIGIOUS TO DAMN, will release its debut album, "Selenelion", on February 28 via Wierd Records (sic).

Less a collection of songs and more like an expedition into an elegantly foreboding universe, the eleven tracks that comprise the latest release from Wierd Records sound as if they were each crafted to evoke unearthly scenery and monolithic events.

From harsh distortion and aggressive screams to cold and shimmering clean guitars and vocals, the spectrum of sound on "Selenelion" is both varied and atmospherically cohesive. Thunderous drums, droning synthesizers, percussive metals, acoustic guitars, and vocal arrangements that sometimes approach ritualistic plainchant recall artists like ULVER and SWANS. VAURA's particular blend of brutality and romantic melodicism can be attributed in part to the stylistic mesh of musicians: Kevin Hufnagel, Toby Driver, Josh Strawn, and Charlie Schmid also play in GORGUTS, DYSRHYTHMIA, KAYO DOT, SECRET CHIEFS 3 and RELIGIOUS TO DAMN.

"Selenelion" was recorded and mixed by Colin Marston of progressive black metallists KRALLICE, and signals a nod for Wierd Records to the roots of founder Pieter Schoolwerth who is also member of the seminal noise outfit BLOODYMINDED and a continuing supporter of acts like LOCRIAN. The album title refers to a horizontal lunar eclipse: the moment at which the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen at the same time. With songtitles referencing everything from an Etruscan demoness to a Luciferian take on the conversion of St. Paul, and with artwork by the German photographer Alexander Binder, the unifying thread is an unmistakable sense of shadow-drenched enigma. "Drachma" refers to the coins that bought passage for the dead into the underworld, suggesting that everything following that track is part of an Orpheus-like journey. But repeated nods to the occult literature of Jorge Luis Borges, in particular to "The Aleph" and "The Zahir", two stories that deal with infinity and vision, suggest that beyond the the dark hallucinations there is also a serious meditation taking place on the limits and paradoxes of seeing. Approaching such subject matter by way of something as invisible and intangible as music, VAURA invites the listener to share in a visceral, yet intimate ceremony of sensuality and destruction."