"Barbeque", a brand new song from Dutch hard rock veterans VENGEANCE, can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). The track comes off the band's new studio album, "Crystal Eye", which will be released on February 24 in Germany, February 27 in the rest of Europe and in March 2012 in the USA and Canada through SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be available as a limited-edition digipak (including two bonus tracks), standard jewel case and as a digital download.

Digipak track listing:

01. Me And You (4:02)
02. Bad To The Bone (4:51)
03. Barbeque (3:31)
04. Shock Me Now (3:28)
05. Five Knuckle Shuffle (4:10)
06. Desperate Women (4:03)
07. Whole Lotta Metal (4:11)
08. Promise Me (3:43)
09. Crystal Eye (6:13)
10. Missing (4:51)
11. Jans End Piece (1:16)
12. Paint This Town (3:25) (bonus track)
13. Barbeque (radio edit) (3:35) (bonus track)

Jewel case track listing:

01. Me And You (4:02)
02. Bad To The Bone (4:51)
03. Barbeque (3:31)
04. Shock Me Now (3:28)
05. Five Knuckle Shuffle (4:10)
06. Desperate Women (4:03)
07. Whole Lotta Metal (4:11)
08. Promise Me (3:43)
09. Crystal Eye (6:13)
10. Missing (4:51)
11. Jans End Piece (1:16)

"Barbeque" audio stream:

THE WRETCHED END — the Norway-based band featuring guitarist Samoth (EMPEROR, ZYKLON) and bassist Cosmo (MINDGRINDER) alongside Swedish drummer Nils Fjellström (DARK FUNERAL, IN BATTLE, AEON) — will release its sophomore album, "Inroads", on April 23 via Nocturnal Art Productions/Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded at Strand Studio in Oslo and features cover artwork by Trine + Kim Design Studio.

"Inroads" track listing:

01. Tyrant Of The Mountain
02. Deathtopian Society
03. Death By Nature
04. Cold Iron Soul
05. The Haunting Ground
06. Fear Propaganda
07. Blackthorn Winter
08. Hunger
09. Throne Renowned Of Old

According to a press release, THE WRETCHED END's music "can best be described as 'deathrash,' taking elements from both death metal and thrash metal. Many of the songs are quite groove-orientated, and also offer a melodic side. Influences range from the flavors of old-school as well as a more modern death/thrash metal sound."

THE WRETCHED END was formed in 2008 as creative collaboration between Samoth and Cosmo, who previously worked together on the infamous death-punk project SCUM. Cosmo also played with ZYKLON as a bass player when ZYKLON toured Europe as special guest for MORBID ANGEL in 2001. The two had long spoken about collaborating on an extreme metal project. Throughout 2008 most of the material for the debut album was composed and by spring 2009 a full pre-production demo consisting of 11 tracks was recorded.

The drums for THE WRETCHED END's debut album, "Ominous", were recorded in September 2009 at the Strand Studio in Oslo, Norway. The recording sessions continued through the end of 2009 and the CD was completed in the first half of 2010.

"Valentine", a brand new song from German female-fronted symphonic metallers XANDRIA, is available for free download at this location. The track comes off the band's new album, "Neverworld's End", which will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: February 24
Spain, Finland, Sweden: February 22
Rest of Europe: February 27
USA, Canada: March 6

The "Valentine" video will make its online debut on February 14.

"Neverworld's End" track listing:

01. A Prophecy Of Worlds To Fall
02. Valentine
03. Forevermore
05. Euphoria
04. Blood On My Hands
06. Soulcrusher
07. The Dream Is Still Alive
08. The Lost Elysion
09. Call Of The Wind
10. A Thousand Letters
11. Cursed
12. The Nomad's Crown
13. When The Mirror Cracks (bonus track)

Commented the band: "Although the title may indicate it, this is not a concept album, but there is an overall theme threading its way through most of the songs."

XANDRIA last year took part in the "Out Of The Dark" European tour with VAN CANTO, TRISTANIA, SERENITY and AMBERIAN DAWN.

XANDRIA in December 2010 announced the addition of singer Manuela Kraller to the group's ranks.

Commented Manuela: "My musical life started very late, at the age of 23. In a choir in Finland I discovered singing for me and since then it became my passion. I began to take classical singing lessons, sang in church and gospel choirs and soon I was asked to be a solo singer in choirs, at churchly and also at private occasions. But as I have grown up with metal and rock music I soon wanted to combine it with my classical background. So I started singing rock and metal songs with a friend and also wrote own songs for the first time. Soon after that I joined a metal band called NAGOR MAR (Switzerland) and I also became a singer in the German band HAGGARD, where I had great experiences on stage and on tour. And now a 'new age' has begun for me and I am very pleased to be the new singer of XANDRIA!"

XANDRIA performed several concerts in 2009 with the band's former frontwoman, Lisa Middelhauve, filling in.

XANDRIA in February 2011 parted ways with its singer of one year, Kerstin Bischof. The group stated at the time, "Due to occupational and private reasons, [Kerstin] wants to concentrate on her non-musical career in the future and cannot support XANDRIA the way it would be necessary."

Bischof joined XANDRIA in February 2009 as the replacement for Middelhauve, who left the band in May 2008 for "personal reasons." Lisa stated at the time, "My exit has nothing to do with dispute or controversy within the band. It was just time to split."

XANDRIA's fourth album, "Salomé - The Seventh Veil", was released in May 2007.

The previously unreleased video for the STONE TEMPLE PILOTS song "Cinnamon" has been posted on YouTube and can now be seen below.

The original version of the "Cinnamon" clip was filmed in the summer of 2010 with directors Aggressive (a.k.a Alex Topaller and Dan Shapiro), the Grammy Award-winning duo which has previously helmed videos for MEGADETH, JUANES and BLOC PARTY, among others. However, the band was reportedly unhappy with the end result and decided to reshoot the clip in late 2010 with a new director, Dennis Roberts, who previously worked with STP frontman Scott Weiland on the "Tangle With Your Mind" video.

As previously reported, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean De Leo told RollingStone.com in December that he has plenty of ideas for how the band may celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of STP's multi-platinum debut album, "Core".

"What I'd like to see happen is the band go out and do more intimate shows — really lovely theaters around the country," DeLeo said. "Smaller shows, doing the first album in its entirety, and then maybe take requests."

According to DeLeo, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS does not have many extra outtakes from the "Core" recording session for an expanded reissue, but "We have tons of live recordings from that era, and we didn't multi-track record that stuff. There's no fixes, so they'd sound incredible if we just master them," he says. "I have dozens and dozens of DATs from that era. So this is the true essence of the band — no fixing a guitar part or a vocal part. This is the how it went down."

"Core" was released on September 29, 1992.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Scott Weiland told Billboard.com last November that "there is another album coming" to follow 2010's self-titled effort. The group played three shows in South America in November, then Weiland expected his bandmates to start working on new material. "They usually start before me, just getting some rough ideas together and then putting rough ideas down on ProTools with no lyrics and no melody," he explained. "And then I start listening to it and see if it's just a straight-ahead rock 'n' roll record or if it's more of a concept album like [2001's] 'Shangri-La Dee Da' was. Once we decide that, it should go full speed ahead."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reunited in 2008 for a successful world tour following a six-year hiatus.

LOVE.MIGHT.KILL, the German/Italian melodic metal band led by drummer Michael Ehré (FIREWIND, ULI JON ROTH, METALIUM), is working on material for its second album, to be released in October via Massacre Records (Europe) and Hydrant Music (Japan). The follow-up to last year's "Brace For Impact" will once again be produced by Ehré and mixed by Markus Teske at his Bazement Studios.

While "Brace For Impact" was composed by Michael and Jan, LOVE.MIGHT.KILL now has three more "fantastic" songwriters in its ranks, having been joined by Christian Stöver (guitar), Stefan Ellerhorst (guitar) and Sascha Onnen (keyboards).

LOVE.MIGHT.KILL is:

Jan Manenti - Vocals
Michael Ehré - Drums
Stefan Ellerhorst - Guitar
Christian Stöver - Guitar
Jogi Sweers - Bass
Sascha Onnen - Keyboards

For more information, visit www.lovemightkill.com.

"Down To Nowhere" video:

Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY have finished recording their new album, "The Industrialist", to be released this year in Europe via AFM Records and in the U.S. through Candlelight. The CD was once again co-produced by the band with Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, PARADISE LOST), with additional tracking by Logan Mader (DEVILDRIVER, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SOULFLY). The mixing duties are being handled by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY) and FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares at a studio in Canada.

In a January 2011 interview with SkullsNBones.com, FEAR FACTORY vocalist Burton C. Bell stated about the band's plans to go into the studio to record the follow-up to 2010's "Mechanize", "We wanna take our time doing it. Personally... 'Mechanize', don't get me wrong, is a good record — I'm very proud of it — but it's gotta be better than that. I've got plans where I'd like to do a full-on concept again — story, artwork. Just make it real cerebral."

FEAR FACTORY's most recent touring lineup featured original FF members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (who was credited on the last three FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMERS HOLE) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, TESTAMENT).

Fan-filmed video footage of LOCK UP's February 8 performance at Club Infinity in Clarence, New York can be seen below.

LOCK UP bassist Shane Embury was unable to make the band's current North American trek and is being temporarily replaced by Dan Lilker (NUCLEAR ASSAULT, BRUTAL TRUTH, S.O.D., VENOMOUS CONCEPT).

Originally formed by Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, VENOMOUS CONCEPT), Nick Barker (ex-CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR) and Jesse Pintado (NAPALM DEATH, TERRORIZER) to blast out the most caustic, skin-flaying brand of deathgrind, LOCK UP was joined by the raw throat of Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY) for its debut album, 1999's fearsome "Pleasure Pave Sewers", and Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES, DISFEAR) for 2002's "Hate Breeds Suffering", touring Japan and then falling into inactivity.

Now joined by guitarist Anton Reisenegger (Chile's PENTAGRAM, CRIMINAL) in place of the late Jesse Pintado, LOCK UP is back in the most uncompromising style possible.

Commented Barker: "After many attempts in the past, sadly to no avail, LOCK UP finally gets to make it stateside for a string of shows with our good friends from Louisiana, GOATWHORE. For us in LOCK UP, to play with GOATWHORE in the U.S. is like a dream tour, as they are one of our favorite bands — and being good friends with them too only makes this package even more special to us. Be prepared North America 'cause we're coming over to blast your minds into deathgrind oblivion!"

Remaining LOCK UP dates are as follows:

Feb. 10 - Boston, MA @ Club Lido
Feb. 11 - Montreal, QC @ Katacombes
Feb. 12 - Tortonto, ON @ Wreck Room
Feb. 13 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie's
Feb. 14 - Columbus, OH @ Alrosa Villa
Feb. 15 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
Feb. 16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Europa

LOCK UP's third studio album, "Necropolis Transparent", the was released in North America on July 12, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded in November-December 2010 at HVR Studios in Ipswich, United Kingdom and was mixed in January.

"Necropolis Transparent" features guest appearances by HYPOCRISY/PAIN mainman (and one-time LOCK UP vocalist) Peter Tägtgren along with Jeff Walker (CARCASS, BRUJERIA).

A two-minute audio sample of "Indifferent", a brand new song from ADRENALINE MOB — the band featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), SYMPHONY X frontman Russell Allen and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP) — can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Omertá", will be released in Europe on March 19 in Europe via Century Media Records. The CD will be made available in the U.S> on March 13 through the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services.

The 11-song effort — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.

"Omertá" track listing:

01. Undaunted
02. Psychosane
03. Indifferent
04. All On The Line
05. Hit The Wall
06. Feelin' Me
07. Come Undone (feat. Lzzy Hale)
08. Believe Me
09. Down To The Floor
10. Angel Sky
11. Freight Train

ADRENALINE MOB earlier in the week announced the addition of DISTURBED bassist John Moyer to the group's ranks.

Moyer will make his live debut with ADRENALINE MOB on March 12 at Hiro Ballroom in New York City.

Said Moyer in a statement: "Mike Portnoy called me about auditioning for his new band ADRENALINE MOB. He had heard through the grapevine that I was looking to stay busy while DISTURBED is on hiatus. After jamming with Russ, Mike Orlando, and Portnoy, the chemistry as musicians was undeniable. I am super stoked about joining 'The Family' and I can't wait to hit the road with these guys and see what kind of musical mayhem we can create!"

ADRENALINE MOB will perform at several European festivals this summer, including Graspop Metal Meeting (June 22-24 in Dessel, Belgium) and Gods Of Metal (June 21-24 in Milan, Italy).

ADRENALINE MOB's first-ever headline tour made stops in various markets, including Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. ADRENALINE MOB also opened for GODSMACK on select dates of the Massachusetts act's headlining tour.

ADRENALINE MOB formed in early 2011 when Orlando approached Allen with some material the guitarist had written. Allen and Orlando refined those ideas, at which time Allen reached out to longtime friend Portnoy to see if he had any interest in playing with them. Portnoy jumped on board and soon thereafter DiLeo and Ward were recruited to join the family. From the very first note, the chemistry was apparent and the beast that is known as ADRENALINE MOB was born.

Guitarist Rich Ward (STUCK MOJO, FOZZY) and bassist Paul DiLeo (FOZZY) announced their departures from ADRENALINE MOB last month due to scheduling conflicts with their other projects.

"Consuming The Anti-Life Equation", a brand new song from Icelandic technical death metallers GRUESOME GLORY, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track is a preview of band's forthcoming full-length debut, which will be released later in the year.

Since its formation in May 2009, GRUESOME GLORY has opened for acts such as PESTILENCE and NAPALM DEATH, and has played a number of gigs with SÓLSTAFIR, BENEATH, and SEVERED CROTCH.

Despite the members' young age and the band's relatively short existence, GRUESOME GLORY has proven itself to be one of the fastest-emerging metal bands in Iceland.

Canadian label War On Music Records will reissue several vinyl records from Montreal extreme metal veterans CRYPTOPSY. Two highly renowned classics of the genre, "Blasphemy Made Flesh" and "None So Vile", will be made available as separate LPs, and the cult rarity "Ungentle Exhumation" demos (under license from Galy Records) will be released officially for the first time ever as a limited seven-inch single.

"None So Vile" LP

Side A

01. Crown of Horns 03:57
02. Slit Your Guts 04:02
03. Graves of the Fathers 04:11
04. Dead and Dripping 03:53

Side B

05. Benedictine Convulsions 04:00
06. Phobophile 04:38
07. Lichmistress 02:31
08. Orgiastic Disembowelment 04:51

"Blasphemy Made Flesh" LP

Side A

01. Defenestration 04:32
02. Abigor 03:52
03. Open Face Surgery 04:25
04. Serial Messiah 04:01
05. Born Headless 04:29

Side B

06. Swine of the Cross 03:06
07. Gravaged (A Cryptopsy) 02:47
08. Memories of Blood 03:34
09. Mutant Christ 04:21
10. Pathological Frolic 04:35

"Ungentle Exhumation" 7"

Side A

01. Gravaged (A Cryptopsy) 03:05
02. Abigor 03:46

Side B

03. Back to the Worms 03:31
04. Mutant Christ 04:25

Both LPs and the seven-inch feature the longtime drum virtuoso Flo Mounier, as well as original vocalist Lord Worm and guitarist Jon Levasseur, who recently rejoined the band.

"Blasphemy Made Flesh" and "None So Vile" will be made available with the original artwork, first 250 units on colored vinyl, and first 100 sales will include a clear colored vinyl copy the "Ungentle Exhumation" seven-inch. A late spring release is expected.

CRYPTOPSY is currently finishing up work on a new record which will be released sometime in 2012. Also coming this year will be a new best-of compilation from Century Media.

"None So Vile" was recently inducted into Decibel magazine's lofty "Hall Of Fame" as one of the top 100 extreme metal releases of all time.

For more information, visit www.waronmusic.com.

The official lyric video for "On Wings Of Integrity Pt. 2", a brand new song from MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's third, self-titled album, which is scheduled for release on March 13 via Solid State Records. The eagerly awaited CD is the band's third release in six years, and the first since 2010's lauded "Lost Boy", which debuted at No. 183 on The Billboard 200 chart.

A chugging, monolithic shout-along, "On Wings Of Integrity Pt. 2" is a powerful glimpse into MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE's new, refined sound. The track is an added treat for longtime fans, who will recognize it as a companion to crowd favorite "On Wings Of Integrity", which appeared on the band's 2008 debut album.

For MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE, the self-titled album represents a new chapter for the band, and stamps the advent of a refined sound the members have been chasing since the group's inception.

"That's exactly what this album is, a new beginning," says guitarist Robert Bloomfield. "I really do feel we found our sound. It's definitely MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE still, but with this new flare that we've all loved and understood but never figured out a way to translate it to our music."

Recorded with esteemed producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL), MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE finds the band reaching deep mentally and emotionally for what is without a doubt their crowning achievement thus far, a hard-hitting, experimental, cinematic opus that will set a fire in the hearts of old and new fans alike. With a no-holds-barred approach to programming and effects, and good, old-fashioned brutal riffage — not to mention a new level of dynamics from frontman Matthew Hasting — MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE have boldly redefined themselves for this new chapter of their career.

"I feel like everything we've done as a band all comes together in this one record," Bloomfield says. "Everything we've learned along the way. We put all our love and hate into it. It's the best album in our career so far."

In celebration of the release, the band will be setting sail on a two-month trek alongside FOR TODAY, A SKYLIT DRIVE, STICK TO YOUR GUNS and MAKE ME FAMOUS that includes dozens of stops throughout the U.S. and Canada, culminating in a spot at the infamous New England Metal And Hardcore Festival in Worcester, Massachusetts.

"Baby Come Home", the new video from the reformed British alternative rock band BUSH, can be seen below. The clip was filmed on January 15 in Los Angeles with director Todd Stefani. Stefani previously shot the video for BUSH's cover of FLEETWOOD MAC's "Landslide".

"Baby Come Home" comes off BUSH's new studio album, "The Sea Of Memories", wwhich sold 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 18 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on September 13, 2011, the CD was produced by Bob Rock (AEROSMITH, METALLICA) and is the first BUSH album to be made available via the band’s own imprint, Zuma Rock Records, through an exclusive partnership with eOne Music.

BUSH will embark on an arena tour of North America as special guests of NICKELBACK. The much-buzzed-about road show includes SEETHER and will kick off April 10 at the i wireless Center in Moline, Iliinois. BUSH's set list will include an electrifying mix of classic hits and brand-new songs from their acclaimed comeback album, "The Sea Of Memories", including "Baby Come Home".

BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale said he's happy to be back with his band because things were "odd and weird" when he was a solo artist. He told People magazine, "Even at the height of everything going really well and the great reaction to [my] solo record, there was always, 'When's the band getting back together?'"

He added, "It was this ricochet around my head. For me, it felt like the right place to be because it feels complete. When I wasn't in BUSH, it was just odd and weird being under my name."

The current BUSH lineup includes original drummer Robin Goodridge, guitarist Chris Traynor and bassist Corey Britz. Traynor replaced original axeman Nigel Pulsford in 2001 while Britz has stepped in for Dave Parsons.

Shock rocker Marilyn Manson was interviewed on yesterday's (Thursday, Februaary 9) edition of "The Alan Cox Show" on the Cleveland, Ohio rock station 100.7 WMMS. During the chat, which can be streamed in two parts below, Manson revealed that the first single from his upcoming album "Born Villain", a song called "No Reflection", will be released "soon."

Marilyn Manson's eighth studio album, "Born Villain", will be made available later in the year through Cooking Vinyl Records.

The singer last September unveiled a new music video for the song "Born Villain" directed by actor Shia LaBeouf. Manson and the "Transformers" star met at a KILLS concert, when LaBeouf, a longtime Manson fan, struck up a conversation. LaBeouf said, "He's a big deal to me, and in my childhood, I don't know of a scarier figure in art. He, in my teenage years, was the scariest thing in the world, so part of me has always been intrigued." LaBeouf offered to direct Manson's next video and the singer agreed after LaBeouf showed him a clip he had directed for a band called CAGE. LaBeouf said that Manson is "like a brother to me now. He's a real sweet dude, a real close friend."

Marilyn Manson has also posted the following message about both the album and the film on his official web site, MarilynManson.com:

"'Born Villain' is the title of the new MARILYN MANSON album. While looking to experiment in unlikely collaborations, I met Shia, and we spent a long night at my studio. After seeing 'Maniac', his short film, which is somewhat inspired by 'Man Bites Dog', I was astonished by his directing ability. So I shared quite a few of my favorite inspirations in art, literature, and obviously film. I was impressed with how Shia digested my world, and made what I’d like to think, is both an homage and a mockery of the history of cinema. We ended up writing a short film. The score is from my new album, and is, in the words of Macbeth, 'Full of sound and fury.'"

Drummer Ginger Fish (real name: Kenneth Robert Wilson) quit MARILYN MANSON in February 2011 and has since joined ROB ZOMBIE. He has been replaced by the Los Angeles-based drummer Jason Sutter.

MARILYN MANSON in 2009 parted ways with longtime record label Interscope following the disappointing sales performance of the shock-rocker's latest album, entitled "The High End Of Low".

"The High End Of Low" was Manson's first album with longtime bassist Twiggy Ramirez since 2000's "Holy Wood".

Part 1:

"Smooth Comforts False", the second album from Portuguese progressive metallers THEE ORAKLE, will be released on February 20 via Ethereal Sound Works. The CD was produced at UltraSoundStudios in Braga, Portugal by Daniel Cardoso and THEE ORAKLE guitarist Pedro Mendes.

"Smooth Comforts False" features guest appearances by Yossi Sassi of Israel's ORPHANED LAND, as well as Adolfo Luxúria Canibal of MÃO MORTA and Marco Benevento of THE FORESHADOWING.

"Smooth Comforts False" track listing:

01. Faraway Embrace (05:24)
02. Psi-drama (04:54)
03. Mysterious Hours (04:37)
04. Foretoken (01:46)
05. Evil Dreams (05:42)
06. Winter Threat (03:36)
07. The Bridge Of The River Flowing (04:39)
08. Hopefulness (05:49)
09. Rescue Of Mind (05:15)

To pre-order the album, go to this location.

THEE ORAKLE is:

Daniel Almeida - Bass
Frederico Lopes - Drums / Samples
J. Ricardo Pinheiro - Guitar
Luis Teixeira - Keyboards
Micaela Cardoso - Vocal
Pedro Silva - Vocal
Pedro Mendes - Guitar

An eight-and-a-half-minute audio preview of "Helvetios", the new album from Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE, is available below. Due in Europe on February 10 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at New Sound Studio in Pfäffikon, a municipality in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland, with producer Tommy Vetterli (a.k.a. Tommy T. Baron; CORONER/ex-KREATOR guitarist). According to the band, Vetterli "record[ed] drums, guitars and vocals and also produc[ed] and mix[ed] the record. Most folk instruments and also vocals [were] recorded by Anna Murphy and Marco Jencarelli at the Soundfarm studios in Lucerne."

"Helvetios" track listing:

01. Prologue
02. Helvetios
03. Luxtos
04. Home
05. Santonian Shores
06. Scorched Earth
07. Meet The Enemy
08. Neverland
09. A Rose For Epona
10. Havoc
11. The Uprising
12. Hope
13. The Siege
14. Alesia
15. Tullianum
16. Uxellodunon
17. Epilogue

ELUVEITIE's last album, "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)", sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 23 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.

ELUVEITIE has joined CHILDREN OF BODOM on the Finnish metallers' North American headlining tour in celebration of the band's 15th anniversary. The trek kicked off on January 30 in Rochester, New York and will run through March 4, hitting 26 cities over the course of the five-week jaunt. Boston-based extreme metal band REVOCATION and Canada's THREAT SIGNAL are also on the bill.

"Helvetios" preview:

Slash — the iconic, Grammy-winning rock guitarist and songwriter — will begin mixing his second solo album on Monday, February 13. He writes on Facebook, "The rough mixes sound great. It's a really solid record. [I] can't wait to get it out there!"

The as-yet-untitled disc is due out May 22 on Slash's own label Dik Hayd International distributed through EMI.

In the U.K., the album will be released on May 21 in exclusive Classic Rock Fan Pack form — providing a unique collectable package containing the studio album with bonus tracks alongside a specially created magazine with unseen behind-the-scenes content put together by Classic Rock. The Fan Pack format will also come with free gifts, including a pin badge and artwork poster and will be available to buy via more than 2000 retail outlets on newsstands nationally as well as the traditional high street and online music retailers. Roadrunner Records will simultaneously release the record digitally. The standard physical release of the Slash album will follow through Roadrunner Records on June 18.

For the new album, Slash — along with and his bandmates Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass) — teamed with producer Eric Valentine, who also produced the "Slash" disc. All the songs were written together by Slash and Kennedy, and cameras have been rolling throughout the entire making of the album. Check out exclusive behind-the-scenes footage airing weekly beginning today.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

Video footage of Italian heavy metal singer Fabio Lione (RHAPSODY OF FIRE, KAMELOT) performing a karaoke-style cover version of the QUEEN classic "The Show Must Go On" on the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise — which set sail on January 23 aboard the Royal Caribbean Majesty Of The Seas from Miami, Florida to George Town, Cayman Islands and returned four days later — can be viewed below.

Lione was the lead singer for KAMELOT for their most recent North American, South American and European tours following the departure of the band's longtime frontman, Roy Khan.

Lione stated in a 2011 interview that he would "would love" to join KAMELOT permanently. He said, "The KAMELOT songs are great, I really like the style and Khan is probably one of the few singers that I like. So, of course, I would consider that!!! But first let's do the North American [tour]. Then if they will ask me, I'll be more than happy to join the band permanently."

He added, "Since the first time we met and played together, we had a very good feeling. Everything was easy and natural like we knew each other for years and everybody who saw the band in South America or Europe said we did great shows. I'm happy for the guys and the fans, so let's see what the future will bring for us. Never say never."

"Love", the previously unreleased third album from the long-defunct 1990s Swedish death metal band LEUKEMIA, will be made available next month via Vic Records.

LEUKEMIA was formed in 1989 by Lord K. (THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX, TORTURE DIVISION, DARK FUNERAL, HABITAT) and Jocke Granlund (HABITAT, URBERGET, ALAN HANSEN) as a thrash metal band with death metal influences. LEUKEMIA released its debut album, "Suck My Heaven", in 1993 on the legendary Swedish label Black Mark. Their second album, "Grey-Flannel Souled", followed in 1994 on Step One Records (FURBOWL, MORHPEUS).

By the end of 1994, LEUKEMIA entered Unisound Studios (OPETH, KATATONIA, EDGE OF SANITY) with Dan Swanö to record their third album named "Love", this time with Dan Swanö as a member doing all backing vocals (clean vocals, screams and grunts). After the recordings, the LEUKEMIA members went on to form different bands and projects and they didn't shop around for a record deal for this fully recorded and mixed album. When Vic Records signed THE PROJECT HATE in 2006, Lord K. mentioned this album which was very special to him and which he wanted to see finally released. The deal was signed and Swanö mastered the album 13 years after it was recorded. The cover and booklet art was created by Marko Saarelainen (PESTILENCE, THE PROJECT HATE).

For more information, go to this location.

"Paths Of The Formless", the new video from NIGHTFIRE, the Newark, Delaware-based progressive/melodic/technical death/black metal band featuring members of ANTIKYTHERA, BLOOD OF ABEL and JUNGLE ROT, can be seen below. The song comes off the group's latest album, "Penumbra", which was released on December 22, 2011.

Formed in August 2008, NIGHTFIRE's current lineup consists of Dan Reidinger (guitar), James Dorton (vocals), Jesse Beahler (drums), Ryan "Der Verführer" (bass) and Andy Thomas (guitar). The band toured Europe in autumn of 2009 with JUNGLE ROT, ION, DREAD and VERMIN, and has played live shows with such international acts as MARDUK, DYING FETUS, THE FACELESS, NACHTMYSTIUM, DEICIDE, IMMOLATION and NILE.

German thrash metal veterans KREATOR will release their new album, "Phantom Antichrist" on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is currently being recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH).

The cover artwork for "Phantom Antichrist" was created by Wes Benscoter (SLAYER, DIO, BLACK SABBATH) and can be seen below.

KREATOR will release a seven-inch single containing the "Phantom Antichrist" title track on April 20. The collector's item will be available in colored red vinyl (limited to 250 pieces) as well as in clear vinyl (limited to 250 pieces, exclusively available at the Nuclear Blast mailorder).

A brand new promotional photo of KREATOR can be seen below (photo by Stefan Heilemann of Stuttgart, Germany's Heilemania).

When asked about the musical direction of KREATOR's new material, the band's guitarist/vocalist Miland "Mille" Petrozza stated in a recent interview, "The songs are coming along great and I think it's OK to say that this will be our most epic album so far. There's some classical, a lot of traditional metal, and, of course, a huge dose of thrash metal influences in the new stuff. Everyone in the band is very excited at this point. The demos sound killer so far. We have about 10 songs we're working on so far.

Regarding the lyrical and visual concept for the forthcoming CD, Petrozza said, "It's too early to talk about the lyrics yet; many are written, but they keep changing all the time. Visually, we have tapped Wes Benscoter [BLACK SABBATH, DIO, SLAYER, CATTLE DECAPITATION, BLOODBATH] for the cover art. I can tell you this much: The artwork will be insane!"

In an interview with Aftonbladet journalist Mattias Kling, Petrozza stated about KREATOR's collaboration with Jens Bogren, "He's really good; I like him. I like the sounds that he gets. And I think the combination — Jens Bogren and KREATOR — it will be pretty heavy."

On the topic of how the new material is different from KREATOR's previous output, Mille said, "It's always a little hard for me to talk about music has been written but is not released yet. It will definitely have all the KREATOR trademarks. The lyrics will talk about nowadays stuff, as usual, so it will be like a photography of the year 2012. Also the lyrics will deal a lot of things that are actually happening at this point in time. It will be like reading a newspaper or something [laughs], with all the stuff happening. And, of course, the music will be typical KREATOR, and we also wanna expand the sound and progress as musicians. I mean, this lineup has been the strongest lineup KREATOR ever had since ten years, and now I think we're ready to come out with an album that blows everyone away."

KREATOR is:

Miland "Mille" Petrozza – Vocals, Guitrar
Sami Yli-Sirniö - Guitar
Christian "Speesy" Giesler - Bass
Jürgen "Ventor" Reil - Drums

"Phantom Antichrist" album artwork:

The self-titled debut album from UNISONIC — the band featuring former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN) alongside Dennis Ward (bass) and Kosta Zafiriou (drums) of Germany's PINK CREAM 69 and Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer (who has previously played with ASIA, GOTTHARD and KROKUS) — will be released on March 30 (nine days earlier in Japan) via earMUSIC/Edel. The effort will be made available in the following configurations:

Europe & rest of the world:

* CD jewel case
* CD limited edition Mediabook format with and extended booklet plus bonus track
* Vinyl and CD package limited edition

Japan:

*CD jewel case
* CD limited-edition digipack plus bonus track (exclusive for Japan)

The cover artwork, which was created by graphic artist Martin Häusler (MEAT LOAF, GOTTHARD, HELLOWEEN, MOTÖRHEAD), can be seen below.

"Unisonic" track listing:

01. Unisonic
02. Souls Alive
03. Never Too Late
04. I've Tried
05. Star Rider
06. Never Change Me
07. Renegade
08. My Sanctuary
09. King For A Day
10. We Rise
11. No One Ever Sees Me
12. Over The Rainbow (limited-edition bonus track)

UNISONIC's video for the song "Unisonic" can be seen below. According to a press release, the clip, which was directed by Häusler, "shows a powerful band performance at a magnificent ballroom in Heidelberg, Germany."

UNISONIC released its debut EP, "Ignition" on January 27 via earMUSIC/Edel. The effort includes the track "Unisonic" plus one demo song and a cover version of the HELLOWEEN classic "I Want Out", recorded live on October 15 at last year's edition of the Loud Park festival at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan.

After the addition of Hansen to the group's lineup in early 2011, UNISONIC continued the songwriting process for its debut release, incorporating Kai's talent for writing great anthemic rock songs into its existing material. The recordings for the album started at end of September at ICP studios in Brussels, Belgium.

UNISONIC's music is very versatile and shows a broad approach to heavy rock without sacrificing the power and strong, catchy melodies that characterized the bandmembers' previous projects.

Commented Kiske: "It feels great to finally bring the band to the studio and record the songs we've been working on. We took our time to grow as a band, but it was definitely worth it and we are very proud of the result."

Added bassist/producer Ward: "We have a bunch of very strong songs and can't wait until people can hear them. Everyone in the band is now looking even more positive into the future."

Regarding Hansen's addition to UNISONIC, Kiske previously said, "After so many years of abstinence, I had a lot of fun doing my first live shows with UNISONIC in summer 2010, so I agreed to do the short world tour with AVANTASIA. It was a great experience to be on stage with all those great artists, but with Kai it was something different: We instantly felt the magic again and had a lot of fun together on and off stage. We both realized that we want to be together in band again. He was interested in the open musical concept of UNISONIC and finally asked me if he can join the band. I talked to my bandmates and they all felt great about it. His talent as a guitarist and songwriter is an enrichment for the band and we are looking forward to his contribution for the music of UNISONIC."

Kai Hansen's position in GAMMA RAY will be unaffected by his involvement with UNISONIC.

UNISONIC is:

Michael Kiske (vocals)
Mandy Meyer (guitar)
Kai Hansen (guitar)
Dennis Ward (bass)
Kosta Zafiriou (drums)

Having split with HELLOWEEN in late 1993, Kiske participated in various projects and released several solo albums but had not been part of a real group effort until now.

While collaborating with Ward and Zafiriou on the PLACE VENDOME project five years ago, Kiske found two musical soulmates. They ended up recording two PLACE VENDOME albums before deciding to join forces in a new brand new band. Ward, who had previously produced a record for KROKUS, suggested Meyer as the perfect addition to the group in the vacant guitarist slot.

Kiske, one of the finest and most unique voices in contemporary rock music, explains his motivation of becoming a part of a band again: "Since the PLACE VENDOME productions I was impressed by Dennis Ward's skills as a songwriter and producer. We were occasionally fooling around since then via email that we should do more together in the future, so the idea came up to do a new band. I was generally getting a bit tired of doing everything on my own for so many years, so it just felt like the right thing to do now."

During a brand new interview with the Detroit Free Press, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was asked how he is feeling several months after undergoing surgery for stenosis, a neck and spine condition that he says was caused by years of headbanging. "My neck is completely recovered," he said. "The surgery was a breeze. The doctor I used ... did Peyton Manning's surgery. Fortunately, my recovery time has been a lot faster than Peyton's. He was in before me and I'm out playing before him. I wish him well in his recovery."

When asked if he can still headbang, Mustaine said, "I can headbang, but I've found with the limitation of, 'Do I want to headbang or do I want to be in a wheelchair?' I kind of toned it down a little bit. There's more body parts you can move around. I mean, I'm not dancing or anything like that but I'm making the best use of it I can."

Speaking to Decibel magazine last November, Mustaine stated about his neck injury, "The way [2011's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival] ended, with me being hurt, I knew I was hurt, but I didn't know how bad. Nobody knew the writing was on the wall. I pretty much thought, 'Well, I''m hurt, but I'll just take it easy, have a couple of glasses of wine. I'll get through it, get a couple of trigger point injections, get an epidural.' There were a couple of times they gave me a shot in my neck that numbed me up. I saw chiropractors and masseuses all the time. It inevitably gets to the point where you're starting to take medication, and that's never good, because if you're taking something and you never feel the pain… You saw Curt Schilling when he was playing for the Diamondbacks, and Randy Johnson; I can't remember if [Schilling] was playing for the Diamondbacks that time he had the bloody sock or if he'd gone back to Boston or not yet — [he] did some heroic feat where he had his foot put back together and he went out there and played."

He added, "I'm an athlete, as a guitar player and as an onstage persona. But as far as being a musician that has to do hurdles — I don't think most musicians, when they start playing music, think that they're going to be playing this demanding-type music that those of us who are part of the 'Big Four' and all the bands we influenced and kind of created [play]. With the advent of the headbanging — which was not my invention, by any means; I'm not like Al Gore who invented the Internet — there was that whole headbanging thing that came around, it's hurt a lot us… What is headbanging, anyway? It's kind of like chronic whiplash syndrome, isn't it?"

A two-minute trailer for the forthcoming European headlining tour from Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers DELAIN — featuring audio samples of the band's new songs "Mother Machine" and "Get The Devil Out Of Me" — can be seen below. Both tracks will appear on DELAIN's third album, "We Are The Others", which will be released later in the year via Roadrunner Records. Described as "the band's most powerful, most atmospheric and intoxicating album to date," the CD 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).

Commented the band: "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.

Swedish metallers IN FLAMES were forced to cut their set short last night (Thursday, February 9) at the Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico after someone called in a bomb threat. According to Twitter messages from various members of IN FLAMES and their tour co-headliners TRIVIUM, the police showed up at the venue and pulled the plug on IN FLAMES' performance just as the band was about to play the closing song of its set, "Take This Life".

IN FLAMES is continuing to tour in support of its tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading", which sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.

IN FLAMES' previous CD, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58.

Guitarist Jeff Kendrick of California metallers DEVILDRIVER has revealed via Twitter that he has begun the process of writing the group's sixth album with his bandmates Mike Spreitzer (guitar) and John Boecklin (drums). Kendrick adds, "[I am] excited to get going!"

DEVILDRIVER recently took part in the European "The Eighth Plague Tour" with MACHINE HEAD, BRING ME THE HORIZON and DARKEST HOUR.
"The Eighth Plague Tour" kicked off on November 1 in Oslo, Norway and wrapped on December 6 in Manchester, England.

DEVILDRIVER bassist Aaron "Bubble" Patrick (ex-BURY YOUR DEAD) joined the band as the replacement for Jonathan Miller, who quit DEVILDRIVER in March 2011, calling it "the most difficult decision of my life" but "something that I needed to do for myself."

"Beast", the fifth album from DEVILDRIVER, sold a little over 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart.

MEGADETH played a six-song acoustic set for around 50 contest winners chosen by Detroit, Michigan's WRIF 101.1 FM radio station. The performance took place earlier today (Thursday, February 9) at 3:00 p.m. EST at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan and was streamed online at WRIF.com.

The band performed the following songs:

* Use The Man
* Angry Again
* A Tout Le Monde
* She-Wolf
* Public Enemy No. 1
* Symphony Of Destruction

Video footage of the performance can be seen in the YouTube clip below.

Gigantour — the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by MEGADETH — is making its highly anticipated return for the first time since 2008. The multi-artist bill — with metal heavyweights MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT and LACUNA COIL all personally picked by MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine — kicked off on January 26 in Camden, New Jersey. Before wrapping February 28 in Denver, Colorado, the tour will make stops all across the U.S. and Canada, including a February 24 show in Los Angeles.

MEGADETH is among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band's tenth Grammy nomination is for its new single, "Public Enemy No. 1", off MEGADETH's latest album, "TH1RT3EN", which came out on November 1.

"Public Enemy No. 1" actually marks the second Grammy nomination for music from "TH1RT3EN", as the song "Sudden Death" was first unveiled in the 2010 video game "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock" and received a "Best Metal Performance" nod.

The video for DEVIL'S TRAIN's cover version of THE GUESS WHO classic "American Woman" can be seen below.

DEVIL'S TRAIN is the new band featuring MYSTIC PROPHECY mainman/producer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis Liapakis, STRATOVARIUS drummer Jörg Michael, guitarist Lakis Ragazas, and SYMFONIA/ex-STRATOVARIUS bassist Jari Kainulainen.

"American Woman" is featured on DEVIL'S TRAIN's self-titled debut album, which is scheduled for release on February 17 via earMUSIC/Edel. The CD was recorded at Prophecy and Music Factory studios with the production team of Liapakis and Christian Schmid.

DEVIL'S TRAIN is a project Liapakis had been working on with Greek guitarist Lakis Ragazas for a year and as soon as Michael heard it, he asked to become part of it as the group's drummer.

Commented Liapakis: "I am rock and roll down to my veins and I always had diverse influences in my music, a great part of which are expressed in the music I write with MYSTIC PROPHECY. However, the style of music I have been preparing for DEVIL'S TRAIN with Lakis Ragazas isn't the style that would fit MYSTIC PROPHECY and this is why I decided to initiate a side band. Luckily, other people with whom I have common musical background share my vice for rock 'n' roll and Jörg, as I found out when we toured together [in] January [2010], is one of them."

"Devil's Train" track listing:

01. Fire And Water
02. Devil's Train
03. Roll The Dice
04. To The Ground
05. Forever
06. Sweet Devil's Kiss
07. Find New Love
08. Room 66-64
09. Coming Home
10. Yellow Blaze
11. The Answers
12. American Woman (THE GUESS WHO cover)

Former CHIMAIRA guitarist Matt DeVries has decided to leave his post as the touring bassist for Florida-based death metallers SIX FEET UNDER to pursue other musical endeavors. Details on who will be stepping in as the permanent bassist will be announced in the coming months.

SIX FEET UNDER is currently mixing its new album at Audiohammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM).

When asked about the musical direction of the material SIX FEET UNDER has written for its next album, Barnes said in a recent interview, "The music is gonna be, really, kind of an accelerated version of what we were doing before — faster-paced, more interesting time signatures as well as really wild choruses and some heavy vocals. I think people are really gonna be interested in this album. It's something different, but it's something the same. The feel of it is SIX FEET UNDER, but we've pushed it and added some horsepower."

In a separate interview, Chris stated about the forthcoming SIX FEET UNDER CD, "It's the best album I've written in a long time. Rob Arnold [SIX FEET UNDER guitarist] is writing some songs, got Ben [Savage] from WHITECHAPEL writing some songs. I've got Jari [Laine] from TORTURE KILLER writing some songs and Steve [Swanson, SIX FEET UNDER lead guitarist]. So we're really happy with it. It's really good stuff." He added, "I think that each album's a different journey for me, you know? The music speaks to me, so I kind of write from what it tells me and this album's been such a pleasure to be involved with because it's so interesting and it's given me more options to do different things or do things I haven't done in a while, so it's a lot of fun on that level."

Bassist Terry Butler and drummer Greg Gall announced their departures from SIX FEET UNDER in January 2011. Butler has since joined OBITUARY as a permanent member.

Multi-camera footage of SIX FEET UNDER performing the song "Hammer Smashed Faced" at the July 28, 2011 Sacramento, California stop of the "Summer Slaughter Tour" can be seen below.

SIX FEET UNDER's most recent touring lineup was as follows:

* Rob Arnold (CHIMAIRA) - Guitar
* Kevin Talley (DAATH, MISERY INDEX, CHIMAIRA) - Drums
* Chris Barnes (CANNIBAL CORPSE) - Vocals
* Steve Swanson - Guitar
* Matt DeVries (CHIMAIRA) – Bass

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello (who is Charlie's nephew) rejoined the band on stage last night (Wednesday, Febraury 8) at the Best Buy Theater in New York City after missing several shows on the group's just-completed U.S. tour in order to spend time with Charlie's mother, who was terminally ill. On February 4, Benante informed fans via his official web site that his mother passed away.

Fan-filmed video footage of the New York City concert can be seen below.

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner will fill in for Charlie Benante at the following ANTHRAX shows:

Feb. 11 - Cordoba, Argentina - Cosquin Rock
Feb. 13 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Malvinas

Bittner last joined ANTHRAX on stage on November 8, 2011 at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, New York to perform the ANTHRAX classic "Madhouse".

Bittner previously filled in on drums for ANTHRAX for two shows in January 2006 after Charlie Benante was forced to leave the tour early to attend to his wife Sandra, who gave birth to the couple's first child, Mia Charley Benante.

ANTHRAX's latest album, "Worship Music", has sold more than 80,000 copies in the United States since its September 13, 2011 release.

Cameron Edney of Hardrock Haven recently conducted an interview with vocalist Nick Holmes of British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Hardrock Haven: Do you still enjoy a drop or two whilst on the road?

Nick Holmes: I think drinking and being a travelling musician is the worst combination on earth! I discovered that in the last ten years, it just doesn't work. I think drinking and staying awake is a bad idea. I just can't do that anymore. I can't do a show the next day. In my early twenties, it wasn't a problem, but now, forget it. I try to be semi-professional. The whole rock 'n' roll lifestyle is a bit of a mess, really; most people I know, they don't party as much as perhaps they'd like people to believe.

Hardrock Haven: I've always been curious to know how bands deal with living together on the road. I mean, no doubt at times it can become frustrating when you share buses rooms for weeks, sometimes months, at a time. How do you personally find the best way to deal with other members on the road, especially during those harder, not-so-pleasant moments that occur?

Nick Holmes: It's just a matter of putting your headphones on and switching off. Everyone knows everybody else's tolerance levels, so you can see an argument coming very early on. Usually it's me and Steve [Edmondson], our bass player, that argues, it's usually when we're tired too so when we arrive in Australia [for the Soundwave festival], we'll probably be bickering then. [laughs]

Hardrock Haven: I want to talk to you about life in the studio also, in 2009 you released a great album in "Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us" and the follow-up will be released this year. What can you tell us about that?

Nick Holmes: The new album is called "Tragic Idol". It has ten songs on it. I think that people seem to think that we're going into a more gothic direction, but it's a very "metal" album! I think it's a lot more metal than the last one, to be honest. It's very dark. It's got to be expected, we're not going to do anything out of the ordinary. We're really pleased with it. I was listening to it last night, actually… I can't wait for people to hear it and let us know their thoughts.

Hardrock Haven: "Tragic Idol"… I love the title. Tell us where that came from…

Nick Holmes: "Tragic Idol" is about how if someone is put on a pedestal and they somehow start to believe it, [when] really they're not. With the Internet and the way that media are now at the end of the day, we're all human beings, nobody's better than anybody else. Some are smarter, but that's about it! In England, people love to see people fall from grace. The bigger people get and the more successful that people get, people like to see them fall. I find that to be really sad. People help to get people to where they are, and once they get there, they just want to tear them down. It's a real Northern England thing in particular — everyone wants you to fail in Northern England, and you never get encouragement for anything in your life.

Hardrock Haven: Having recorded twelve studio albums now, I would imagine the creative process in some cases would be a breeze and yet it must at times be a nightmare to come up with fresh material!

Nick Holmes: It's weird… I found this album quite hard to write. Lyrically I quite enjoyed writing this more than some previous albums; overall though I didn't find it all enjoyable which is a weird thing.

Read the entire interview from Hardrock Haven.