According to the Helensburgh Advertiser, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson spent three nights earlier this week on board the nuclear submarine HMS Victorious at the Faslane naval base in Scotland.

The captain of the boat is believed to have given Bruce a special invitation to come on board and get a taste of what life is like living and working on a nuclear submarine.

VIPs are sometimes invited on to the boats for a short period of time and a spokesman for Faslane confirmed to the Helensburgh Advertiser that the private visit had taken place.

A self-confessed submarine fan, Dickinson previously toured a Royal Navy submarine base in December 2003. On that occasion, he toured two classes of boat, the 8,000-ton HMS Sovereign, and the 16,000-ton HMS Victorious at Scotland's largest military establishment, the HM Naval Base Clyde near Helensburgh.

This was the first time Dickinson has been on a submarine, after his fascination was sparked when he met Clyde-based submariner and guitar maker, Leading Operator Mechanic (LOM) Richard Banks.

Banks first met Dickinson when he made a guitar for Dave Murray, IRON MAIDEN's lead guitarist, and the pair soon discovered a mutual interest in music and submarines.

THE SANITY DAYS — the project featuring four former members of legendary Bristol, England thrash metallers ONSLAUGHT who have teamed up to play music from the band's most commercially successful album, "In Search of Sanity" — has recruited ONSLAUGHT's first vocalist, Paul "Mo" Mahoney (who sang on the band's very first record, "Power From Hell", and bass guitar on ONSLAUGHT's second album, "The Force") to play some limited shows in 2012. Paul will make his comeback debut at Hammerfest in March, where THE SANITY DAYS will now play most of the "Power From Hell" album along with Steve Grimmett on vocals playing the entire "In Search of Sanity" LP. This now means THE SANITY DAYS has three of the original four members from "Power From Hell" on stage and four original members in total!

Commented THE SANITY DAYS drummer Steve Grice: "We had our first rehearsal last week, this is the first time Mo has sang these songs for 25 years or so and I have to say they sounded just like they did in 1985. We will be looking to play a handful of festivals and maybe even a few headline shows this year with Mo at the helm alongside Steve Grimmett singing the 'In Search Of Sanity' stuff."

THE SANITY DAYS performed at the Metal Assault II Festival on January 14 at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. In Search Of Sanity (ONSLAUGHT song)
02. Shellshock (ONSLAUGHT song)
03. Blood Upon The Ice (ONSLAUGHT song)
04. Welcome To Dying (ONSLAUGHT song)
05. Lightning War (ONSLAUGHT song)
06. Rock You To Hell (GRIM REAPER cover)
07. Atomic Punk (VAN HALEN cover)
08. See You In Hell (GRIM REAPER cover)
09. Let There Be Rock (AC/DC cover)

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

THE SANITY DAYS is intended as a bit of fun for the musicians and an opportunity for fans to hear music that no longer features in ONSLAUGHT's live repertoire.

THE SANITY DAYS was launched by Steve Grice, former drummer and founding member of the ONSLAUGHT, who played on all ONSLAUGHT albums thus far. He is joined in the new project by former ONSLAUGHT guitarist Alan Jordan (2007's "Killing Peace"), bassist Jase Stallard (1985's "Power From Hell" and 1986's "The Force"), and ex-GRIM REAPER singer Steve Grimmett, who fronted ONSLAUGHT for the 1989 album "In Search Of Sanity".

Released on London Records in 1989, "In Search Of Sanity" was the last album ONSLAUGHT recorded before it disbanded. Despite reaching the U.K. Top 50, its mainstream production proved controversial among bandmembers and fans alike. "We were always pleased with the songs, though," states Grice. "Over the past few years, people have nagged me to play tracks from the 'Sanity' album, but we always struggled to get them sounding right without Steve Grimmett's involvement."

Former GRIM REAPER frontman Grimmett lent his powerful voice to ONSLAUGHT for just this one album and now returns as a member of THE SANITY DAYS. "It's been a long time since I sang any songs from 'In Search of Sanity', but this was an opportunity I couldn't turn down," he says. "I have also been asked to play these songs, but it never seemed the right thing to do after ONSLAUGHT got back together."

"I'm really excited to be involved with Steve Grice again, and playing with Al and Steve Grimmett makes it extra special to me," says Stallard. "For the past six years I have been watching ONSLAUGHT's progress, thinking to myself how much I would love to get out and play again. Now this chance has arisen, I intend to enjoy every second of it."

Hungarian extreme metallers EKTOMORF will release a very special "acoustic" album, "The Acoustic", on February 17 via AFM Records. 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

The song "I'm In Hate" is available for free download until Sunday at this location.

EKTOMORF's latest 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.

Virginia crossover thrash metal band MUNICIPAL WASTE will release its fifth studio album, "The Fatal Feast", on April 10 in North America and April 13 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork for the cD was created by Justin Osbourn of Slasher Design and can be seen below.

Osbourn recently answered a few questions about the artistic process for his masterpiece.

Q: Did you hear any new music before you created this bad boy?

Osbourn: Nope, I wasn't given any of the new song demos beforehand. Ryan [Waste, guitarist] kinda gave me an overall theme and certain elements that they wanted to see in the artwork. Being a fan of the band, I just took that and added what I thought would enhance it further.

Q: Why does the guy being eaten resemble Captain James Tiberius Kirk?

Osbourn: It's kinda weird that you say that... I happen to be quite the fan of the original "Star Trek" series. It would have totally made sense for that to be Captain Kirk being devoured, but unfortunately, that was never my intent. Perhaps it was subconsciously, though? How 'bout we just tell everyone it is.

Q: Anything hidden in the artwork (a la Derek Riggs/IRON MAIDEN covers) that fans should keep an eye out for?

Osbourn: Sorta. The number of cheap beer cans/bottles laying around on the cover are just about the right number I would drink on a night I would call a Pretty Damn Good Night. Oh, and there's an empty half pint of Viaka Vodka in there as well; it's just that it's laying behind The Waste-oids devouring Captain Kirk. Ha ha.

"The Fatal Feast" features guest appearances by John Connelly (guitarist and vocalist for NUCLEAR ASSAULT), Steve Moore (who plays bass and synthesizers for ZOMBI), and vocalist Tim Barry (ex-AVAIL).

"Massive Aggressive", the last album from MUNICIPAL WASTE, landed at No. 10 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.

"Massive Aggressive" was released on August 25, 2009 via Earache Records.

"Submission For Liberty", the new video from the Australian metal outfit 4ARM, can be seen below. The clip was shot five hours out of Melbourne over two days in blistering heat amongst wheat fields and salt lakes, capturing concepts of both the song itself and the album artwork. Once again the video was filmed and edited by Steve Ravic of Majestic Films, who was responsible for the band's previous clip, "Carnal".

"Submission For Liberty" is the title track of 4ARM's recently released third studio album, which was recorded at Melbourne Records with frontman Danny Tomb and drummer Michael Vafiotis producing. Mixing the CD was U.K. engineer Matt Hyde (MACHINE HEAD, SLIPKNOT, TRIVIUM) and mastering duties were handled by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City. The cover artwork was designed by Brent Elliot White, who previously worked on ARCH ENEMY's "Khaos Legions".

In regards to the musical direction of the new album, Tomb said, "'Submission' is far more energy- and passion-driven than anything we've done before. There is a lot more melody and a hell of a lot more thrash. The plan was to create an album that harnessed an energy to it that could be felt, not just heard."

"Submission For Liberty" track listing:

01. Sinn Mact Frei
02. While I Lie Awake
03. Raise A Fist
04. Submission For Liberty
05. The Oppressed
06. I Will Not Bow
07. Taken Down
08. My Fathers Eyes
09. The Warning
10. Blood Of Martyrs

"Parasitic Twins", the new video from THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, can be sen below. The hilarious clip was directed by David Merenyi and produced by Greg Toth. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Option Paralysis", which was re-released last year in a "Paralyzing Edition" exclusively as a digital download. This first-anniversary reissue included four bonus tracks, plus a video in the iTunes version.

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN will head over to the United Kingdom in February to support MASTODON for a week's worth of dates before travelling to Australia for this year's Soundwave Festival. The group states, "While we are in that part of the world, we are going to be playing a few shows with SYSTEM OF A DOWN, plus headlining Malaysia and Thailand for the first time ever!"

In a recent interview with Australia's Loud magazine, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN guitarist Ben Weinman stated about the band's next album, "We're about to start working out ideas and we'll be doing that basically until we come to Australia [in February]. I traditionally come up with the start of most of the ideas and then myself and our drummer will kind of work on them and formulate songs and get the ball rolling."

Regarding the band's songwriting process, Ben said, "You know, every time I finish a record, I feel like I can't make another one. I'm done. I have no more DILLINGER in me. Then after a year or two of just touring heavily on that music, it just seems to come naturally, to start working on new stuff."

On the topic of how each THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN album is recorded, Ben said, "It takes a while. Because one of the things that we try to maintain is a certain level of… we're pretty critical about how we record and the music we make. Sometimes playing those guitars parts takes hours and hours because not only do we have to get it done once correctly — which is difficult enough — we have to do four or five more overdubs. It certainly can be pretty daunting."

South Florida-based female-fronted extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH have released their cover version of the METALLICA classic "Fade To Black". You can listen to it using the SoundCloud player below.

WYKKED WYTCH's version of "Fade To Black" comes off the band's fifth full-length album, "The Ultimate Deception", which will be released on February 14 via Goomba Music. The follow-up to 2008's "Memories Of A Dying Whore" "continues where its predecessor left off and pushes the boundaries of extreme music as well as the legacy of WYKKED WYTCH," according to a press release.

Led by the demonic vocal assault of frontwoman Ipek, WYKKED WYTCH's sound is described as "a unique mixture of black, death, thrash metal with melody, technicality, and aggression which has gained them a strong cult following throughout the world."

Regarding the recent signing and forthcoming release, Ipek said, "We are very excited and proud to announce that WYKKED WYTCH has signed with Goomba Music for the release of our fifth full-length album, 'The Ultimate Deception'.

"Over the past two years we worked really hard creating a modern metal masterpiece and with Goomba behind us we will spread the word worldwide. We would also like to thank Mark and the crew at Goomba for this new partnership. It was the right choice for us and glad to know there is an experienced team of industry vets behind the label that respect the integrity of their artists."

"The Ultimate Deception" was recorded in April/May 2011 at Lambesis Studios in San Diego, California with producer Daniel Castleman (AS I LAY DYING, WINDS OF PLAGUE). The CD was mastered by Alan Douches (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) at West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York. The cover artwork was created by Marcelo Vasco (DIMMU BORGIR, THE FACELESS).

"The Ultimate Deception" includes 10 tracks with a running time of 47 minutes — nine original songs and a cover of METALLICA's "Fade To Black". It marks the recording debut of lead guitarist/songwriter Nate Poulson, who composed nine "badass" tunes that add a whole new dimension and flavor to the band's constantly evolving sound. According to a press release, "the songs are heavy, technical, and melodic with each one standing on its own. Showcased on this release are vocalist Ipek's true abilities that drive the album. Not afraid to take chances, Ipek doesn't hold back and has stepped out of her comfort zone; moving from death growls to high pitched screams to operatic, and clean catchy choruses in the course of a single song. The intense and insane vocals are performed by 'one' woman, not three different vocalists. Also featured is one of the best drummers in metal today, Kevin Talley (DAATH, SIX FEET UNDER, CHIMAIRA) who appears as a session musician and complements the songs with his killer double bass and blast work."

"The Ultimate Deception" track listing:

01. Birthing The Beast
02. The Ultimate Deception
03. Serpents Among Us
04. Despised Existence
05. Prayers Of The Decapitated
06. When The Sleepers Rise
07. Ecstasy
08. Fade To Black (METALLICA cover)
09. Abolish The Weak
10. Eyes Of A Vulture

WYKKED WYTCH "The Ultimate Deception" recording lineup:

Ipek - Vocals
Nate Poulson - Guitars, Bass, Programming
Kevin Talley - Drums (Session)
Salvatore Lopresti - Keyboards/Samples

Touring lineup:

Ipek - Vocals
Nate Poulson - Lead Guitar
Salvatore Lopresti - Keyboards/Samples
Kenny B. - Bass
Matt - Guitar
Steve Brubaker - Drums

"Fade To Black" audio stream:

"Voices From Valhalla", a BATHORY tribute double CD, will be released in May via Godreah Records.

The following artists are scheduled to contribute to the set:

TAAKE
NINE COVENS
OLD CORPSE ROAD
FOLKVANG
THE MEADS OF ASPHODEL
EASTERN FRONT
GODS TOWER
SKYFORGER
SIGH
NOKTURNAL MORTUM
MAEL MÓRDHA
DARKEST ERA
ANCIENT ASCENDANT
VRANI VOLOSA
THRONE OF KATARSIS
RAVENS CREED
BLOODSHED WALHALLA
FOLKVANG
DRACONIS INFERNUM
THORNIUM
HELL SWORD

In addition, there will be a bonus 20-minute rare audio interview with late BATHORY mastermind Quorthon recorded in 1996 for the Godreah 'zine when Quorthon was promoting BATHORY's "Blood On Ice" album.

For more information, visit www.godreah.com.

Rare video footage from the DVD that accompanied BATHORY's career-spanning box set, "In Memory of Quorthon", can be viewed below in three parts.

Released in June 2006 via Black Mark, "In Memory of Quorthon" contains three CDs, one DVD, a book and a poster. Börje "Boss" Forsberg — owner of Black Mark Records and father of late BATHORY mainman Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg — had previously stated that the package would contain "Quorthon's and BATHORY's complete musical history."

Quorthon was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden on June 7, 2004. The 39-year-old, widely considered to be one of black metal's founding fathers, reportedly died of heart failure.

Part 1:

Chicago doom-metal legends TROUBLE have recruited Kyle Thomas as their new singer.

Thomas, former lead vocalist for EXHORDER, FLOODGATE, WITCH, and ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, is no stranger to TROUBLE as he previously fronted the band for four live shows between 1997 and 1999, including Stoner Hands Of Doom festival in Maryland (see video below) and Expo Of The Extreme in Chicago. Thomas has also collaborated on projects with members of SLIPKNOT, DOWN, OBITUARY and DEICIDE.

"We are really excited to be working with Kyle again," states Rick Wartell, TROUBLE co-founder/guitarist. "The shows we played with him in the past were very well-received by the fans and now we'll have an opportunity to work with him in the studio on our new record. His vocals are amazing and a perfect fit for the band."

Bruce Franklin, TROUBLE's other co-founder/guitarist, adds, "The history with Kyle and TROUBLE really goes back to his teenage years as he told me that he and Jimmy Bower (of DOWN) would drive around in his old Pinto and listen to TROUBLE. He's an excellent, highly energetic singer and it's great to have him be an official member of the band now."

TROUBLE is currently working on its ninth studio album with Thomas on vocals and plans to release the record this spring.

TROUBLE's current lineup is:

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

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like "Trouble", "Manic Frustration" and "Plastic Green Head".

Singer Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame) announced his departure from TROUBLE earlier today to start a new project with guitarist Russ Strahan (PENTAGRAM, LAND OF DOOM) called THE BONES OF CHILDREN.

Clarke's predecessor, Eric Wagner, left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

Slash — the iconic, Grammy-winning rock guitarist and songwriter — is currently in a Los Angeles studio putting the finishing touches on his second solo album. 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

Technical-thrash metallers BELIEVER are writing material for their fifth album, due later in the year via Metal Blade Records.

Commented BELIEVER guitarist/vocalist Kurt Bachman: "As we begin the writing process, I feel that this will be the most sensual of all BELIEVER releases. Once again we are striving to create something unique while not throwing away any riff just because it might not fit the typical BELIEVER mold. This is part of the process we love and hate. We love being creative, yet we place intense pressure on ourselves to write something we'll enjoy hearing and playing at least 2060 times. Of course, we are sticking to our two main goals: 1) Have fun and 2) Don't die in the process."

BELIEVER's last album, "Transhuman", was released in April 2011 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was produced by Trauma Team Productions and was mixed by Kevin Gutierrez (RAVEN, PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS) at Assembly Line Studios in Virginia. The mastering duties were handled by Maor Appelbaum of Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Los Angeles.

The band's fourth album, "Gabriel", was released in March 2009 through ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Howard Jones's imprint label Cesspool Records via Metal Blade. The CD featured guest appearances by Jones, Joe Rico (SACRIFICE), CKY/WORLD UNDER BLOOD guitarist/vocalist Deron Miller and Rocky Gray (EVANESCENCE, SOUL EMBRACED, LIVING SACRIFICE).

BELIEVER is:

Kurt Bachman - Guitar/Vocals
Joey Daub - Drums
Jeff King - Keyboards/Guitar
Kevin Leaman - Guitar

After four years and a minimal amount of touring and no record deal or album release date in sight, singer Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame) has decided to leave Chicago doom metal legends TROUBLE to start a new project with guitarist Russ Strahan (PENTAGRAM, LAND OF DOOM) called THE BONES OF CHILDREN.

"This metal album will be high energy, with a fresh artistic approach to the genre without the limitations of the over-50-something religious crowd," Kory laughs. "It will be so nice to be working without the shackles that a previous singer has left behind of a band that is over 30 years old and acts and sounds like it. I like to do progressive, pushing-the-boundary lyrics in an individualistic style. I don't want to sound like Ozzy, like [TROUBLE's] old singer [Eric Wagner] tried to do. I am also glad when I look to my left on stage from now on I will not be seeing 'Derek Smalls' in my peripheral vision. [Laughs]." He adds, "I just cannot play with people who are fundamentalist Christians, or too family-oriented to the point that they can't tour, do records or knock down a few margaritas with me at the bar. This is rock 'n' roll, guys, not the Family Channel."

THE BONES OF CHILDREN will make its debut release available sometime this fall.

TROUBLE's guitarist/co-founder Rick Wartell previously stated about Clarke's contribution to the band, "Kory is an incredibly talented and dynamic singer. He's a great addition to the band as he brings a high level of professionalism, which has positively affected the creative process. Working in a no-limitation environment is great."

TROUBLE has spent the past couple of years working on its ninth album with Bill Metoyer, who has produced albums from SLAYER, D.R.I., SACRED REICH and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, among others, and has worked with TROUBLE in the past. Also involved in the recording process was TROUBLE's longtime engineer Larry Burns, who is entrusted with capturing the band's signature sound not only behind the studio console helm but at the group's live shows.

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like "Trouble", "Manic Frustration" and "Plastic Green Head".

Eric Wagner left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

Berlin, Germany's PitCam Production and More-Metal.com posted professionally filmed, multi-camera video footage of TROUBLE performing the brand new track "Hunters Of Doom" (with Kory Clarke on vocals) on November 30, 2009 at the Magnet club in Berlin. Watch the clip below.

California-based traditional metal revivalists HOLY GRAIL, who have spent the past couple of months in the studio with Grammy-award winning producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, CHILDREN OF BODOM) working on the follow-up to 2010's "Crisis In Utopia", have confirmed a string of U.S. dates in March. The shows will take the band to Austin for South By Southwest, and will also feature HOLY GRAIL's old friends and tourmates SAVIOURS. These concerts are in addition to the previously announced Australian appearances at the Soundwave Festival and the "Sidewave" off dates.

Commented HOLY GRAIL frontman James Paul Luna: "After months of endless writing, re-writing, recording and re-recording, I'm so excited to go back on tour! Not only am I stoked to be playing SXSW but I'm even more stoked to play with our great buddies SAVIOURS, who are pretty much the best dudes ever!

"Touring is a great escape from day-to-day stress and domesticated life and I miss that adventure into the 'real world.' I'm also really excited to see all the rad friends and fans we've made so far, and can't wait to meet and make new ones."

The dates are as follows:

March 11 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
March 12 - Tucson, AZ - Plush
March 17 - Midland, TX - Pine Box
March 19 - Fullerton, CA- The Slidebar (no SAVIOURS)
March 20 - Scottsdale, AZ - Rogue
March 21 - Los Angeles, CA - Satellite
March 22 - Los Osos, CA - Sweet Springs Saloon
March 23 - San Francisco, CA - Elbo Room

HOLY GRAIL has spent much of the past two years on the road, performing alongside AMON AMARTH, BLIND GUARDIAN, EXODUS, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD and more, supporting "Crisis In Utopia", which Revolver named one of the Top 20 metal releases of 2010.

HOLY GRAIL late last year released a holiday-themed seven-inch single, "Seasons Bleedings". Limited to 500 copies (250 red, 250 green), the single included covers of KING DIAMOND's "No Presents For Christmas" and the RAINBOW classic "Kill The King", and featured artwork by Sam Turner (3 INCHES OF BLOOD). This marked the first time that guitarist Alex Lee (ex-BONDED BY BLOOD), who joined HOLY GRAIL last spring, had recorded with the group. The digital version of "Seasons Bleedings" also included covers of JUDAS PRIEST's "Exciter" and ACCEPT's "Fast As A Shark", both of which originally appeared on the group's out-of-print debut EP, "Improper Burial".

Ann Arbor, Michigan hard rock band TAPROOT will release its new album, "The Episodes", on April 10 via Victory Records. The CD was produced by Tim Palatan, who previously worked with the group on 2010's "Plead The Fifth".

"The Episodes", nearly six years in the making, is a complexly developed concept album. Bassist Phil Lipscomb spoke on the band's creative process for this record, "I think our fans have come to expect the unexpected from us. Having written the story for this album before the music, this record sounds more like a soundtrack than a typical album, with the songs flowing together and taking you on a journey."

"Plead The Fifth" came out in May 2010 through Victory.

TAPROOT is:

Stephen Richards - Guitar, Vocals
Mike DeWolf - Guitar
Philip Lipscomb - Bass
Nick Fredell - Drums

Brookvale Records, in partnership with Rocket Science, will release the Ace Frehley "Anomaly" album on vinyl. Due on April 10, it will be a double LP set in special gatefold packaging with the vinyl silver in color. Only 1,000 copies hand-numbered copies will be made. The album will also be available at select retailers starting April 10.

For more information, go to this location.

"Anomaly", sold around 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.

In addition to the standard CD release, unique "Anomaly" packages were made available at Wal-Mart and Best Buy locations. The Wal-Mart version includes an Ace autographed tattoo while the Best Buy edition is printed on silver stock, like the KISS "Double Platinum" album.

Released on September 15, 2009 via Ace's own Bronx Born Records, with Rocket Science providing a full label service platform in the U.S., "Anomaly" was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles.

Seattle-based Christian metallers DEMON HUNTER will release their sixth full-length album, "True Defiance", on April 10 via Solid State Records.

Produced by Aaron Sprinkle (ANBERLIN, EMERY) and mixed by Jason Suecof (ALL THAT REMAINS, TRIVIUM), "True Defiance" finds DEMON HUNTER continuing in their hard rock evolution while embracing the components that have always formed the backbone of their music: true metal, dark rock and balladry.

"This record is without a doubt our most aggressive," says vocalist and band co-founder Ryan Clark. "Every DEMON HUNTER record must be a step up from the last. I know that's a goal for every band, but it seldom works that way — especially today, especially in metal. It seems like most bands' prime years are long behind them. I refuse to let that be the case for us."

On "True Defiance", Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Clark, Tim "Yogi" Watts (drums), Jonathan Dunn (bass) and Patrick Judge (lead guitar) are joined by their longtime friend Jeremiah Scott (guitar), whose credits as a metal musician (THE SHOWDOWN) and producer (LIVING SACRIFICE) are well established. The partnership marks a vital new chapter in the celebrated history of DEMON HUNTER, who are currently marking their 10th year of writing, breaking and erasing the rules of hard rock. Not ones to rest on their laurels, however, the members have created an album that not only lives up to their own lofty standards, but sets a new high-water mark for what DEMON HUNTER is capable of.

"We've been extremely underwhelmed with metal for the last five years or so, and that's been the fuel to create this record," Clark explains. "With an extreme over-saturation of false, fleeting, trend-hopping noise in today's metal scene, we had to make something we've been longing to hear. Something truly meaningful and artistic. Something our fans would love and something that will turn the heads of those who have ignored us for the past decade."

"True Defiance" marks DEMON HUNTER's first outing since 2010's "The World Is A Thorn", which debuted in the Billboard Top 40 and was hailed as the heaviest, fastest, and most aggressive record of the band's career. The album yielded hit videos in "Collapsing", which has racked up 1 million views online, and "LifeWar", which was viewed over 100,000 times in the past month. "The World Is A Thorn" was preceded by "Storm The Gates Of Hell" (2007), "The Triptych" (2005), "Summer of Darkness" (2004), "Demon Hunter" (2002), and the three-disc CD/DVD set "45 Days", which collectively sold half a million copies and garnered airplay on college and specialty radio, Fuse and MTV2's "Headbangers Ball" and earned the band cover features in publications like Revolver and HM.

"True Defiance" track listing:

01. Crucifix
02. God Forsaken
03. My Destiny
04. Wake
05. Tomorrow Never Comes
06. Someone To Hate
07. This I Know
08. Means To An End
09. We Don't Care
10. Resistance
11. Dead Flowers

Floridian black metallers KULT OV AZAZEL have issued the following update:

"We have begun writing the next album. It will be titled 'Violators Of The Covenant', and will be released on Negativity Records, with who we have signed a two-album contract with. Once the writing is finalized, we will record the drum tracks in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at SBS Recording Studio and will track everything else at Noise Farm Studio in Paige, Texas."

KULT OV AZAZEL's latest album, "Destroying The Sacred", was released in June 2009 via Arctic Music. The CD was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida between October 28, 2008 and November 11, 2008. The band also issued a "best-of" compilation titled "Desecrations: A Decade Of Defiling the Cross" through Arctic Music. In addition, Negativity Records released a KULT OV AZAZEL split seven-inch single with TERATISM titled "In League With Satan" as a tribute to VENOM.

MANRAZE — the rock outfit featuring Phil Collen of DEF LEPPARD, Simon Laffy from GIRL and Paul Cook of THE SEX PISTOLS — has just released a brand new high-energy rock/dance track and video called "Take On The World". Check it out below.

The release will be in conjunction with renowned U.K. film director Mark Sloper's sequel to his 2010 release documentary "I Superbiker". Part two, known as "The Showdown: I Superbiker II", chronicles the rise of Tommy Hill as the 2011 British Superbike racing champion.

MANRAZE has once again created an electric theme song that will serve as a tribute to Tommy Hill's historic win.

See the trailer for Mark Sloper's "The Showdown: I Superbiker II" and world-premier sneak peek of MANRAZE's new video below.

MANRAZE recently released a free download of "Over My Dead Body", the first single from the band's recently released LP "punkfunkrootsrock", now available via Rocket Science Ventures/RED. The download is available on SoundCloud where fans can also stream MANRAZE's cover version of the JIMI HENDRIX classic "Fire".

Originally released as a limited holiday download to the MANRAZE and DEF LEPPARD social media outlets, "Over My Dead Body" reached the download limit within 10 minutes, and within 24 hours was streamed over 4500 times. "Fire" has been no less explosive, tearing up internet radio stations worldwide, currently #1 on the iHeartRadio.com's "Rock On Demand" chart, with both tracks set to be released to terrestrial rock radio in the spring.

It all started in 2004 when Phil Collen, after 20-plus years as lead guitarist for DEF LEPPARD, decided to express himself via another creative outlet — something a bit closer to his musical home. After a chance meeting on the street with Paul Cook, MANRAZE finally released their debut album, "Surreal", through Universal Records in the summer of 2008 to rave reviews. The group's debut album was chock-full of rebellious in-your-face mantras ("Turn it Up", "This Is", "Running Me Up"), ranging from hardcore punk to dub.

ANVIL, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, CAULDRON, FUCK THE FACTS and KEN MODE have been nominated in the "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year" category at this year's Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards), set to be held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 26 - April 1.

This new category is an award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the Canadian recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. Eligible albums include metal, metalcore, hardcore, heavy rock, thrash metal, death metal and their respective sub-genres including (but not limited to) nu-metal, power metal, grindcore, extreme metal, industrial metal, viking metal, folk metal, doom metal, gothic metal, speed metal, and sludge metal.

"Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year" nominees:

* ANVIL - Juggernaut of Justice (The End/Sony)
* CAULDRON - Burning Fortune (Earache/eOne)
* FUCK THE FACTS - Die Miserable (Relapse/eOne)
* KEN MODE - Venerable (Profound Lore/Sonic Unyon)
* DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT - Deconstruction (HevyDevy/eOne)

Sean Palmerston, who handles media relations for Sonic Unyon, the Hamilton, Ontaro, Canada label whose roster includes the heavy likes of UNTIMELY DEMISE, SACRIFICE and AUGURY, spoke to The Canadian Press about last fall's announcement that the "Metal/Hard Music" category was being added to the Juno Awards.

"It seems like these musicians are paying their dues, making great records and they definitely deserve at least a little bit of a tip of a hat of an award, just so people can recognize how great they are," said Palmerston, who began campaigning the academy about a year and a half ago, after struggling to find an appropriate category to submit an album by Quebec metal innovators VOIVOD.

"Hopefully it'll just make (fans) say, 'Hey, we have good metal bands in our own backyard.' ... I definitely think it's going to make people pay attention."

For more information about Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences (CARAS) and the Juno Awards, go to www.junoawards.ca.

The cover artwork for "Private Sessions", the forthcoming fourth album from Kentucky rockers HYDROGYN, can be seen below. 13 songs were recorded for the CD, which is due this spring, at guitarist Jeff Westlake's Ridgeline Studio in Ashland, Kentucky and Patrick Liotard's Peek Studio in Boisseron, France.

The U.S. version of "Private Sessions" will feature the following track listing:

01. Something To Say
02. Forbidden Kind
03. Scream
04. I Don't Know
05. Heated Nights
06. Creeper
07. Don'tcha Walk Away
08. Roseline's Song
09. Feeling
10. Un Monde Perdu
11. It Doesn't Matter

The European release is not yet finalized but that will be announced as soon as it is all in place.

Several audio samples can be streamed using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below (click on "Songs" tab)

After months of uncertainty surrounding the band because of singer Julie Westlake's health, the green light was given to Julie and the rest of the band last year to proceed ahead with the new album recordings.

Commented Julie: "This is the quickest we have ever completed a project to date.

"We decided in June that we were going to do another CD after I got clearance from my doctors to get back to work and by August we were in the studio."

For "Private Sessions", things changed up a bit as far as production. For the past two albums, Jeff Westlake handled the production, engineering, mixing, etc., to go along with the writing and song prep. Jeff said he wanted a chance to just worry about the songs on this release with limited production going on from his end. Enter the team of Anthony Dura and Patrick Liotard (who co-wrote the song "Alone" on HYDROGYN's last album, "Judgement"). Anthony and Patrick stepped in and teamed up with Julie and Jeff for this project, not only from a production standpoint but also in the creation of the project itself.

"I love these guys and what they bring to the table," said Julie. "To be able to turn to them and have a new team in the mix for the entire process with fresh ideas and a great perspective as well is just priceless. We were all introduced by our French team at Musiconlights (Mike Jublin) back in 2007 and as time has gone on, we have gotten to know each other. The working part of the relationship is just a natural progression for us all and takes some pressure off Jeff for a change."

A HYDROGYN live CD and a digital-only best-of release called "Phase 1" are also in the works.

As previously reported, former DIO guitarist Tracy "G" Grijalva has joined forces with Julie Westlake to record a collection of songs Tracy had written with Ronnie James Dio for the DIO releases "Strange Highways" and "Angry Machines" along with some of the guitarist's post-DIO material. The recordings are taking place at Tracy's G Factory studios and will include musicians that played on Grijalva's 2011 album, "Controlled Chaos" — Johnny B on drums and vocals and Eddie Frisco on bass. There is also talk of live shows taking place in the Los Angeles area this spring or summer.

"This is a a very ultra cool project that I am honored to be a part of," stated Julie.

Roadrunner Records has announced the signing of STORM CORROSION.

STORM CORROSION is the long-discussed and highly anticipated collaboration between two of the modern progressive rock scene's most innovative and multi-talented artists: Mikael Åkerfeldt of OPETH and PORCUPINE TREE's Steven Wilson. The pair will release "Storm Corrosion" on April 24.

A little background information on the genesis of this project: Åkerfeldt and Wilson have been friends since the late '90s, when Wilson co-produced OPETH's revered "Blackwater Park" album. Over the years, they'd often spoken of working on a project together, but it wasn't until recently that they managed to make something happen, when Mikael flew over to visit Steven in the U.K. and they ended up in Wilson's home studio throwing ideas around. That visit was the nascence of a whole self-titled album, written and produced by the pair, and mixed by Wilson.

The sound of STORM CORROSION can best be described as enchanting, orchestral, ambient, epic (half the album's tracks clock in around the 10-minute mark) and nothing short of surprising to the new ear. However, the musicians' respective fanbases will be primed to appreciate the new output, with Wilson's recent solo album, "Grace For Drowning", and OPETH's "Heritage" having brought them to a logical place to understand STORM CORROSION. This eponymous collection is almost viewed as one side of a musical triangle.

Says Wilson, "If you'd asked me three months ago about the music, I would have said, 'Expect the last thing you would expect.' But actually, now that 'Heritage' and 'Grace For Drowning' have come out, I don't think it's going to be that much of a shock to people, because it's almost like a third part of the trilogy, in a way. If anything, it's even more orchestral, even more stripped down, even more dark, twisted and melancholic… but it certainly feels like it comes from the same place as 'Heritage' and 'Grace For Drowning', which indeed it does because it was written during the same period.”

"Some of the music on this record I think is the most beautiful music I have participated on ever," adds Åkerfeldt. "There's some magical sections on there. Musically, I think we've created something earthy, a bit frightening, exhausting, profound and rather intense. All at the same time. I can safely say I don't know any other band or artist that sounds anything like STORM CORROSION. I guess that was also one of our goals, so to speak."

Roadrunner Senior VP of A&R, Monte Conner, welcomed STORM CORROSION to the Roadrunner family, commenting, "I am honored to have the Roadrunner logo on the STORM CORROSION album. Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt have demonstrated time and time again that they are two of the truest and most important artists working today, and it is not often that I get to work with musicians of this caliber. This album is a beautiful piece of work that will appeal to fans of Steven and Mikael's past records, while at the same time exploring new avenues for both artists."

All photos by Naki Kouyioumtzis

Rock quintet FLYLEAF is currently in Los Angeles with producer Howard Benson recording its forthcoming third album. Singer Lacey Sturm, who welcomed his first child, Joshua "Jack" Lewis Sturm, on April 10, 2011 (father is Joshua Sturm, guitarist of the band KAIROS), will meet her bandmates later this month to begin laying down her vocals for the CD. She tells AOL's Noisecreep, "I'm actually bringing my son with me, so I'm really excited. But I'm not sure what the deadline is like in terms of the album release date and all that. All I know is that it will come out this year [laughs]."

Sturm told The Pulse Of Radio that her baby was named after her husband and her favorite writer, "Chronicles Of Narnia" author C.S. Lewis.

FLYLEAF released an EP called "Remember To Live" in December 2010. The effort featured new recordings of seven rare FLYLEAF tracks that fans have requested over the years, including "Justice & Mercy", "Believe In Dreams" and "Amy Says".

Lacey in 2010 collaborated with Australian singer Orianthi on her new song "Courage".

Two members of the Swedish metal band IN FLAMES — Peter Iwers (bass) and Björn Gelotte (guitar) — are partners in a restaurant in their hometown of Gothenburg with a focus on "quality and service." Named 2112 as a tribute to RUSH's "2112" album, the establishment had its grand opening in April 2011.

2112 has been nominated for a "Best Restaurant" award (Göteborgspriset) by the Swedish magazine Nöjesguiden Göteborg.

A three-minute video report on the 2112 restaurant courtesy of Germany's Metal Hammer magazine can be viewed below.

"We decided to open a place that was part restaurant with fine dining and part pub with a great selection and a good bar menu," Iwers and Gelotte told GAFFA. "Both of us love to go out and drink and eat and that is exactly what you can do here. You can start in the restaurant and continue in the pub, or vice versa."

2112 is located at Magasingatan 5 in Gothenburg.

For more information, visit www.restaurant2112.com.

Portuguese gothic metallers MOONSPELL will release their new album, "Alpha Noir", on April 27 via the band's new label home, Napalm Records.

The cover artwork for the CD — an intricate, marvellous and symbolic creation by Seth Siro Anton, the Greek artist who collaborated with the band on "Night Eternal" — can be seen below.

Commented MOONSPELL frontman Fernando Ribeiro: "A true band has to have to a glorious past, a solid present and a bright future. More than that, a true band has to know how to live throughout all these seasons, dealing with their ghosts, their shadows, their aim at the light, moulding darkness with personality, with the impulse to be better, to do better while getting close to theirselves. Their true heart, soul and flesh.

"Never a MOONSPELL album came so close to be absolute like the new opus magna (masterpiece) 'Alpha Noir', scheduled to be proudly released by Napalm Records on April 27th, when spring racks through the wastes of winter, bursting new colours over familiar sights, once silent and white, now fiery under the blackest of suns.

"The concept of this new record, painstakingly composed by the Portuguese gothic metal knights over the past three years, after the public and critically acclaimed 'Night Eternal', is bulletproof. The band managed to split their heart and soul in half and the result is that they came even closer to themselves, the ambitious band they always were, with a undying wish not to claim any throne but to build their own ships that would take them and their fans to 'give new worlds to the world,' like in the age of discovery where the Portuguese were a leading force in the world.

"With their country drowned in a corrosive crisis, MOONSPELL filled their lungs with pride and created an incendiary album, with nine outbursts of their rockiest and thrashier riffs made superiorly dimensioned by the reindivictative lyrical content and songs structure that take you by storm from the first listen on. MOONSPELL has tapped a notch into their energy filled gothic metal by adding a guitar wall forjed by timeless artists like BATHORY, KING DIAMOND or in a twist ofthe knive to old thrash metal legends like ONSLAUGHT, METALLICA early works or even TESTAMENT and ARTILLERY, making 'Alpha Noir' a truly surpring and fresh record where all the songs have a climax effect about them, an high tension charm that will for sure electricize audiences when played on a stage.

"Songs like the title track ('Alpha Noir'), the infectious 'Versus', the wolf hymn 'Lickanthrope' or the Portuguese sung 'Em Nome Do Medo' (In The Name Of Fear) and the closing epic 'Grandstand', might get you a welcoming chilling of the past but make no mistake: 'Alpha Noir' is a leap of faith and belief in their writing skills and progressive musicianship.

"Together with 'Alpha Noir' packed in a deluxe and special edition on digipack, MOONSPELL and Napalm offers no live DVD, making-of or any kind of filler. Instead they put in the table another offerend: 'Ómega White', the musical twin of 'Alpha Noir', a collection of eight songs of pure atmosphere and shadow, close to their breakthrough album 'Irreligious', in a just homage to their TYPE O NEGATIVE and SISTERS OF MERCY roots. Tracks like the erotic 'Herodisiac', the catchy 'White Skies' or the heartbreaking 'Whiteomega' will for sure keep you in dark company through a night of fear and loss, both soothing and provoking.

"Both masterpieces were produced and mixed by Tue Madsen, pre-produced by Benny Richter.

"Each song a jewel, each song a stronghold!

"Keep your watch and do not miss this new MOONSPELL record, for it is a true mortal sin to stay away from these eighty minutes of music, beautifully and violently craved by one of the most legendary and imaginative bands ever to surface the European scene. Do not forget to get your hands on this masterpiece and to watch the band live in the summer festivals around Europe. 'Alpha Noir'/'Ómega White' will also be played in their entirety in Lisbon's Campo Pequeno, that holds 5,000 fans, in their homeland Portugal in the most daring stage set and visuals the band has ever tried."

MOONSPELL released a DVD, "Lusitanian Metal", in December 2008 in Europe via Century Media Records.

The band's latest album, "Night Eternal", entered the national chart in Portugal at No. 3 and in Germany at No. 62. The follow-up to 2006's "Memorial" was recorded at Antfarm studios in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD).

The original lineup of KILLING JOKE will release its new album, "2012", on April 2 via Spinefarm Records. The effort will be released in CD hardcopy and digital formats. It will also be made available on double colored gatefold vinyl.

The album's key is the end of times, an age of flux, a shift in consciousness…

"I can't see the point contemplating extreme life extinction — it's good for nothing. It's nihilism in the absolute even considering it," states KILLING JOKE mainman Jaz Coleman.

This kind of thinking sets the tone for this powerful record, with 2012 and the state of flux the key issue…

"It's in many different calendars — the great unveiling, the sky and the earth coming together. It's a significant date. In the autumn, there is a major planetary alignment, and on that day I'm doing this rock festival, 'A Party At The End Of The Earth', which is going to be in New Zealand. Everything is speeding up. It's not just our minds shrinking. We are heading towards the Eschaton and no-one really knows what's going to happen."

The album reflects this dark vision, but Jaz Coleman sees the great change in a more positive light — the dawning of the Age Of Aquarius…

"All the remote viewers I know, myself included, cannot penetrate beyond," he says. "This year is about getting our collective dreams in order, restoring the biosphere, the idea of well-being as opposed to economic growth, the idea of partnership and co-creation with fellow human beings, moving away from national boundaries and more towards what Schiller and Beethoven were saying in some of their work."

The album's themes are political, anti-capitalist and forward-looking…

"If we can concentrate on what it can be, the dream of clean streams, of re-forestation, of permaculture, of disengaging all the banks — identifying all the majority shareholders of the top 100 corporations and dismantling them," Coleman says. "If we start dreaming of a fairer system and defining what an elite should be – an intellectual powerhouse and not international bankers."

Jaz laughs that wild laugh and stares.

"This is what I'm touching on with the songs; 'Fema Camp' is about the concentration camps they have been building in America; 'Corporate Elect' needs no explanation; 'Rapture' is the way I perceive a KILLING JOKE concert – it's a spiritual experience for myself to get into that state of grace… music is the theme of mantra. I'm not into organised religion at all, but I've always liked what Fela Kuti did in Nigeria, playing music like it was a temple. Maybe we will evolve into a time where we will be performing for ritualistic and spiritual reasons alone and not for monetary reasons?"

"There's a song called 'On All Hallows Eve', which is about my belief in ancestor worship, backed up by quantum theories that there is no death. You only ever remember the time-line that you are alive in — you can't remember being dead because you never were. 'Colony Collapse' is about what's happening, what's going on out there. 'Poleshift' is the first track on the album and about the potential polar shift of the earth's magnetic field, its erratic behaviour, and also the polar shift that will be needed."

The 11 album tracks are an avalanche of sound that is empowering whilst jolting you awake. They are as fascinating as chatting with Coleman, as he talks of future humans living forever but with no emotions, and of the Age Of Aquarius and the cycles of time, the shift in the earth's electro-magnetic field, the end of extreme capitalism, the Arab Spring and how his trips to Cairo to record music have added to his belief that when Cairo falls everywhere else follows…

"2012" is possibly KILLING JOKE's best album ever, and fittingly Mike Coles, long-time KILLING JOKE collaborator and artistic genius, has completed the artwork.

To celebrate the album's release, KILLING JOKE is streaming the track "Rapture" as a taster on YouTube.

"2012" formats and track listing:

CD/Digital Album

01. Pole Shift
02. Fema Camp
03. Rapture
04. Colony Collapse
05. Corporate Elect
06. In Cythera
07. Primobile
08. Glitch
09. Trance
10. On All Hallow's Eve

Double Colored Gatefold Vinyl

Side A:

01. Pole Shift
02. Fema Camp

Side B:

01. Rapture
02. Colony Collapse
03. Corporate Elect

Side C:

01. In Cythera
02. Primobile
03. Glitch

Side D:

01. Trance
02. On All Hallow's Eve

iTunes exclusive track

11. New Uprising

When their original line-up of Jaz Coleman, Geordie, Youth and Big Paul reconvened in 2008 after working together intermittently, that strange voodoo once again filled the room. Individually, they have a power, but together they have something sulphurous and strong that few bands can match. KILLING JOKE are not an average band with an average agenda; they lock the door and let the ritual commence, and "2012" is the result.

METALLICA has invited more than 22 of its favorite artists from across the music and comedy spectrum to the inaugural Orion Music + More, set to take place June 23-24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. More than just music, the festival will also feature a lifestyle element showcasing the band's individual interests — and allowing fans to interact directly with each of the band members.

METALLICA will headline both nights, and play its classic 1991 self-titled album in its entirety on one of the nights for the first time ever on U.S. soil.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

METALLICA
ARCTIC MONKEYS
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
MODEST MOUSE
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
FUCKED UP
BEST COAST
HOT SNAKES
TITUS ANDRONICUS
GARY CLARK JR.
LUCERO
ROKY ERICKSON
THE BLACK ANGELS
THE SWORD
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
LITURGY

German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER have issued the following update:

"Since last November, we work on brand new songs. 10 compositions are completely done and already in pre-production. One more song is in progress. Also a cover version of a male, 'not-heavy-metal' artist is going to be finished within the next days.

"Don't worry, it won't be another German 'Schlager' song... it will be 150 percent pure GRAVE DIGGER metal. Again we transferred the spirit of the '80s into the sound of 2012.

"Beginning mid-March, we start recording the new masterpiece again in the Principal Studios in Münster and it should be finished by end of May. The cover is also done already, focusing again on our 'reaper.'

"In April, we'll tour Brazil for some more shows with our friends from BLIND GUARDIAN.

"The release of the new album is scheduled for August 2012."

GRAVE DIGGER last fall extended its contract with Napalm Records. The band said in a statement, "Napalm is a small and hard-working team that is as effective and productive as a company of 70 people. Always reachable and competent, they work with their artists individually. These are the strengths of Napalm, and that is why we have signed a deal for three more records under the Napalm banner."

"The Clans Are Still Marching", the latest DVD from GRAVE DIGGER, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 56 (German chart rules allow music DVDs to enter album charts).

GRAVE DIGGER's latest album, "The Clans Will Rise Again", was released in Europe on October 1, 2010 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded between mid-May 2010 and mid-July 2010 at the Meadow Studios, which is owned by GRAVE DIGGER's new guitarist Axel Ritt, and Principal Studios, where all of GRAVE DIGGER albums since 1995's "Heart Of Darkness" have been tracked. It was produced by Chris Boltendahl and mixed by Jörg Umbreit.