Finnish melancholic melodic death metal outfit BEFORE THE DAWN returns after living through a phase of changes and uncertainty – cleansed, renewed and stronger than ever. Leaving pieces of both the musical and personal past behind, mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen, lead guitarist Juho Räihä and their new companions get ready for conquering your ears with the finest blend of northern gloom and harsh melodic death metal.

Their seventh studio album and at the same time second release via Nuclear Blast Records is entitled Rise Of The Phoenix, and will arise from the ashes on April 27th.

The perfectly fitting phoenix symbolism was chosen prudently as main man, vocalist and guitarist Tuomas explains: "Massive changes in the line-up during 2011 ended an era of great frustration and brought back 110% dedication and professionalism into the band. The newfound energy and motivation steered us into a victorious European tour and made it possible to produce the strongest, fastest, heaviest and definitely the most epic Before The Dawn album so far!"

Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY have set "The Industrialist" as the title of their new album, due in May in Europe via AFM Records and in the U.S. through Candlelight. The CD is once again being co-produced by the band with Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, PARADISE LOST). The mixing duties will be handled by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY).

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. But there'll definitely be another FEAR FACTORY record, maybe in 2012."

FEAR FACTORY's most recent touring lineup — featuring 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) — made its live debut on December 4, 2009 at Espaço Lux in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil.

According to SickThingsUK, RUNAWAY PHOENIX — the Phoenix, Arizona-based band fronted by Dash Cooper, son of legendary rocker Alice Cooper — has released its first EP, simply entitled "The E.P.". The six-song effort includes a guest appearance by the shock rocker himself in the lead-off cut "Tug Of War".

"The E.P." track listing:

01. Tug Of War (featuring Alice Cooper)
02. Ladies Of The 80's
03. Win You Over
04. Destination Unknown
05. Invisible To You
06. What I Left Behind

Originally formed in 2002, RUNAWAY PHOENIX "has compiled the hottest new talent to become one of Arizona's most sought-after rock bands," according to the group's official bio. "RUNAWAY PHOENIX puts a modern spin on the sounds of classic metal rock... it's sweet and ballsy and a new sound people cannot get enough of!"

RUNAWAY PHOENIX is:

Dash Cooper - Vocals
Scot Savale - Lead Guitar
Mark Savale - Drums
Chiko Wolf - Rhythm Guitar
Jimmy Baldwin - Bass

For more information, visit www.runawayphoenix.com.

Alternative rock pioneers JANE'S ADDICTION recently filmed a video for the song "Underground" off the band's latest album, "The Great Escape Artist". Shot with director Robert Hales (STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, NINE INCH NAILS, BRITNEY SPEARS, MILEY CYRUS, KID ROCK) in Los Angeles at the club Fais Do-Do, originally a speakeasy from the 1920s with a New Orleans ambience, the clip shows frontman Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins, along with Chris Chaney on bass performing while a cast of vaudevillian characters lurk around the dark, smoky setting.

"JANE'S ADDICTION perform in a Los Angeles brothel built in the 1920s," singer Perry Farrell tells Spinner.com of the concept. "There are Siamese Gargoyles, séances, card games and a man in a white fedora who was also on the cover of 'In Through The Out Door'. People get made love to and murdered in the backrooms while the band plays on."

An explicit version of the video will debut at Playboy.com this Friday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

"The Great Escape Artist" sold around 24,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"The Great Escape Artist" is JANE'S ADDICTION's first all-new studio effort since 2003's "Strays", which opened with more than 110,000 units to enter the chart at No. 4.

"The Great Escape Artist" is only JANE'S ADDICTION's fourth album of original material in 20 years. Like other bands that have reunited in recent years such as BLINK-182, the members of JANE'S ADDICTION recorded a lot of the album in separate studios. Drummer Stephen Perkins told The Pulse Of Radio why this worked in JANE'S' favor. "Back in the day, we spent all our time together playing," he said. "Now we have a big pie. JANE'S is just a slice of that pie. But we still want to work and be efficient musicians, so hey, you can't make it to Burbank, you're in Santa Monica? I'll send you the tracks, let's get to work. So it is still just as raw and as emotional as being in the same room together, but it also lets, I guess, a more efficient way of making the record nowadays that we have different things going on in our life."

The current JANE'S ADDICTION lineup features original members Stephen Perkins, Perry Farrell on vocals and Dave Navarro on guitar.

Although founding bassist Eric Avery initially returned to the band when it reactivated in 2009, he quit the following year.

Dave Sitek of TV ON THE RADIO played bass on and co-produced the new record, while Chris Chaney has returned as touring bassist.

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan also contributed to the album and has songwriting credits on three songs.

HOUWITSER has announced that their original singer and frontman Mike van Mastrigt (SINISTER) is back in their line-up.

According to a band update, "together with their new drummer Marten van Kruijssen (DICTATED, NIBIRUS) and frontman Mike van
Mastrigt, Houwitser will march on to Russia this February to do some shows. The new line-up is writing songs for the sixth full length CD. More news about the progress and release of this album can be expected in the near future."

Houwitser 2012:
Mike van Mastrigt: vocals
Michel Alderliefsten: guitar
Richard Gielen: guitar
Marten van Kruijssen: drums
Ramon Ploeg: bass

SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor and percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan unveiled their new film and TV production company, called Living Breathing Films, this past weekend at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The company, said in a press release to specialize in "mystery, suspense, horror and the dark side of life," held a press conference, launch party and acoustic performance on Saturday (January 21) for media and festival attendees, during which Taylor and Crahan announced their initial projects.


The 15-minute "Thy Shalt I" short film, which was created by Crahan and Taylor and which was shown at this past weekend's launch party can be seen below.

Taylor told The Pulse Of Radio more about his and Clown's vision for the company. "It's something that we're very passionate about, you know," he said. "We have the same passion for film as we do for music and it's really just our way of kind of, you know, learning the business and once we learn a little more, you know, we get a few projects under our belt and we're gonna start accepting scripts and developing our own scripts, and I think it's gonna be something that's really cool."

In a statement, Taylor described the company's first, yet-to-be-named project as "very psychological," adding, "It's a study in 'Did my eyes see what I think they saw?' It's definitely going to stir the pot and get the world talking."

Both Taylor and Crahan are giving input into the first script, with Taylor telling The Pulse Of Radio that Crahan intends to direct a film at some point. The percussionist has directed all of SLIPKNOT's home videos and co-directed its music videos.

SLIPKNOT will tour Australia and New Zealand next month, with a U.S. trek in the works for this summer. Taylor is also working on the fourth studio album from his other band, STONE SOUR.

BLACK SABBATH's official Facebook page has been updated with a message about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's new album following the revelation earlier this month that guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with cancer.

"The guys have moved writing sessions from Los Angeles to Birmingham, England," the message reads. "SABBATH has gone back to where it all started and it’s been just amazing. This is where the writing of the album will be completed. Funny how it all goes full circle sometimes.

BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler last week wrote on his web site, "Today (January 19) we got the engines back up and running at Tony's home studio. Far from being down and depressed about his lymphoma diagnosis, Tony had already written the music for two new songs, and I must say it has given us all a kick up the rump — it's great to hear him churning out those riffs again, assuaging the Demon C."

Butler continued, "Takes more than that to stop Tony. Can't wait for you all to hear our workings; it has been great working on this stuff." He added, "I want to thank the lovely encouraging emails sent to this site giving Tony love and encouragement and great vibes. It really does help, not only Tony, but us as a band — it raises up our spirits and restores our faith in this tarnished world."

Iommi himself told The Pulse Of Radio shortly before his illness was diagnosed, that at the age of 63 he was busier than ever: "There's more than ever. You expect to sort of slow down at this time of life, but it's gone absolutely berserk. And it's great, I love it, being approached by different people to do projects -- and well-known people. It's quite exciting."

SABBATH announced this past November that the band's original lineup — Butler, Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne and drummer Bill Ward — was reuniting to record its first album in 33 years, to be followed by a world tour.

The status of the tour has been thrown into question by Iommi's condition, although it has been reported that Iommi seemed to be responding well to early treatment.

SABBATH is still scheduled to appear at this June's Download Festival in the U.K., although a planned headlining slot at April's Coachella Festival in California was scrapped.

Iommi's bandmate in SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL, legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, died of stomach cancer in May 2010 at the age of 67.

According to Melodic Rock, Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB) and Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG) have tapped Richie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON) to be the guitarist/vocalist of their new project following the recent departure of John Sykes (WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, THIN LIZZY).

Although Portnoy and Sykes demoed a dozen or so songs at a Los Angeles studio last year, their vastly different work ethics and conflicting schedules were solely to blame for the dissolution of their collaboration. Portnoy explained on Twitter, "Sad but true... I tried my best to make it work... Me and [Billy Sheehan] couldn't wait around any longer... [Billy and I are] moving on and now working with another guitarist/singer."

Portnoy and Sheehan were joined by guitarist Tony Macalpine and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) for an appearance at the SABIAN Live event on Friday, January 20 at the Sheraton Park Hotel (next to the Hilton) in Anaheim, California as part of the the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show. Portnoy, Sheehan, Macalpine and Sherinian also performed together on January 14 at the twenty-third annual Guitar Center's Drum-Off, the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered drummer, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

Portnoy played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them for the entire second half of 2010.

A five-and-a-half-minute video clip which shows "what happens when you ask a serious and dedicated band like UNISONIC to film some promotional clips to promote their new album and the debut EP, 'Ignition'," can be seen below.

UNISONIC is 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).

UNISONIC's debut video, "Unisonic", was directed by photographer/director Martin Hausler (MEAT LOAF, GOTTHARD, HELLOWEEN, MOTÖRHEAD) and it "shows a powerful band performance at a magnificent ballroom in Heidelberg, Germany."

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

A full-length UNISONIC album will be made available in March.

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)

Fan-filmed video footage of BIOHAZARD's January 17, 2012 concert at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City can be seen below.

BIOHAZARD's new album, "Reborn In Defiance", was released in Europe yesterday (Friday, January 20) via Nuclear Blast Records.

Not only is "Reborn In Defiance" BIOHAZARD's first original lineup album in 18 years, but it also marks the last album recorded by the band before the departure of bassist and co-vocalist Evan Seinfeld. The effort remains a testament to the four founding members (Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel, Evan Seinfeld and Danny Schuler) and their unique chemistry.

Having last recorded and toured as the fundamental lineup with the release of "State Of The World Address" back in 1994, BIOHAZARD reformed with all four original members back in 2008 to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary. They went back out on the road together over the next two years, during which time inspiration struck.

The legendary Toby Wright (ALICE IN CHAINS, METALLICA, SEVENDUST, KORN) was brought in to produce the 13-track "Reborn In Defiance", which was recorded in Los Angeles.

BIOHAZARD bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld left the band in June 2011 after the band's new CD was completed and was replaced by Scott Roberts, who played on the band's 2005 "Means To An End" album and has been part of the BIOHAZARD extended family since.

BIOHAZARD is currently taking part in the "Persistence Tour 2012" alongside SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, TERROR, WALLS OF JERICHO, LIONHEART and CRUSHING CASPARS.

The much-anticipated new band featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB) and guitarist/vocalist John Sykes (WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, THIN LIZZY) is no more.

Portnoy and Sykes announced their collaboration during a July 2011 taping of season eight of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show". The program's co-host Eddie Trunk tweeted about the project at the time, "I heard demos. Sounds like killer BLUE MURDER meets '1987' WHITESNAKE. Amazing!" He also said that the new group would perform some BLUE MURDER material when it hits the road.

The project last year demoed more than a dozen songs at a Los Angeles studio, with Portnoy describing one track as "copping the [LED] ZEPPELIN/[BLACK] SABBATH vibe" and another as "[PINK] FLOYD meets [DEEP] PURPLE!!! Some serious old-school classic rock."

In a new posting on his official web site, Trunk writes, "There has been much speculation on the status of the band and this project since we first revealed it, and as a friend and fan of both musicians I was very much at the center of it helping where I could and serving as a sounding board with all involved. Sadly, I can confirm that as of now this project is no longer moving forward.

"When I first talked about Portnoy and Sykes working together, I joked with them that I had never met two guys with such different work ethics. Mike wants to do everything yesterday and John really takes his time and is much more conservative. That truly is the only reason why what could have been a killer band has dissolved.

"Obviously, bands are like any relationship — some click, some do not. This was simply a case of two different people not only getting to know each other musically but also personally, and the schedule and timing for making this work just fell apart. Mike and the band's bass player were ready to go, and John simply was not on the same timetable. There is truly no bigger story or any drama to report. It just didn't work and everyone is moving on. Mike has several amazing projects in the works, including the killer ADRENALINE MOB album coming in March, and John may very well do a solo album or something else. He has some great material written and was singing and playing in top form when this dissolved. They both remain friends and I wish them both nothing but the best going forward and who knows what the future holds?"

Commented Portnoy on Twitter, "Sad but true... I tried my best to make it work... Me and the bass player [Billy Sheehan] couldn't wait around any longer... [Billy and I] moving on and now working with another guitarist/singer."

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

Portnoy played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them for the entire second half of 2010.

Sykes announced his departure from THIN LIZZY in July 2009, explaining that "I feel it's time to get back to playing my own music."

Members of ZAPPA, FEAR FACTORY, FORBIDDEN, ALL SHALL PERISH, HAMMERFALL, MALEVOLENT CREATION, WORLD UNDER BLOOD, and representatives from Drum! and Bass Player magazines, Ibanez, Warwick, Vic Firth, Sabian, Sonor, Evans, Trick Drums, Shure Microphones, Toon Track, Line 6, Scion and others attended the listening party for MESHUGGAH's new album, "Koloss", on Thursday, January 19 at The Slidebar Rock'N'Roll Kitchen (owned by guitarist Jeremy Popoff of LIT) in Fullerton, California.

MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake, guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, singer Jens Kidman, and bassist Dick Lövgren flew in from Sweden to attend this very special event held in their honor.

Video footage from the listening party can be seen below. Check out photos on Nuclear Blast's Flickr page. The slideshow version is available here.

"Koloss" will be released in Germany on March 23 and the rest of Europe on March 26 (March 27 in North America) as a CD digi, limited-edition Magic Cube (CD digi plus DVD exclusive to Nuclear Blast mail order) and two-LP brown vinyl via Nuclear Blast Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. I Am Colossus
02. The Demon's Name Is Surveillance
03. Do Not Look Down
04. Behind The Sun
05. The Hurt That Finds You First
06. Marrow
07. Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion
08. Swarm
09. Demiurge
10. The Last Vigil

Check out the cover artwork below.

Commented MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake: "As always, we try to take our music in a slightly different direction with each album and with 'Koloss', we feel that we really nailed what we were going for. Organic brutality, viscera and groove all crammed into a 54-minute metalicious treat, best avoided by the faint of heart!!"

In a 2011 interview with Guitar World magazine, MESHUGGAH guitarist Fredrik Thordendal was asked whether the band has been working on new music. "Yes, we are working on a new album and have been for a long time," Fredrik said. "I'm so excited about this one. We've always tried to change how we write songs to keep it exciting, but on recent albums we've also been moving further away from working together as a band. On this album, though, everyone is working together. Every day that we're in the studio, we'll play whatever song we're working on, record a demo version of it to analyze at home, and then come back the next day, talk about it and try to make it better. I think because of this, it's going to be our best album yet."

Released in March 2008, MESHUGGAH's last album, "obZen", debuted at No. 59 on The Billboard 200 chart and at No. 14 on the iTunes Top Rock Albums chart.

MESHUGGAH's first DVD, "Alive" sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 8 on the Top Music Videos chart.

Guitarist/founder Lanvall of Austrian female-fronted symphonic metallers EDENBRIDGE has issued the following update:

"The past year brought a big challenge and many changes for nearly all in the band, personally and professionally, so EDENBRIDGE had to step back into the second row temporarily. Furthermore, I was struck by a family tragedy through the suicide of my father, which I had to come to terms with and still have to. Moments where nothing is as it was before.

"These events, of course, will have a strong impact on our forthcoming album, which is scheduled for 2012. I believe that this is going to be the most intensive album of our history. 55 minutes of music and six lyrics are already written and I often have goosebumps listening to the songs. Furthermore, I am working on the longest epic track so far, which will be between 15 to 20 minutes. So stay tuned for the album!"

EDENBRIDGE is confirmed for the Castle Rock Festival, set to take place July 7 in Mühlheim an der Ruhr, Germany.

Former EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn (real name: Vegard Sverre Tveitan) will make a guest appearance on the sophomore solo album from ex-NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis. The CD, which is being produced by Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES), is scheduled for release later in the year via Century Media Records.

Commented Loomis: "I know most of you are aware that Christine Rhoades is doing some vocals on my album. At first I thought she'd be the only guest singer on the record, but then this one song started coming together, it's pretty brutal.

"I've always wanted to do really, really heavy music and after hearing this, both Aaron and myself thought we needed some crazy, sick singer on it. We just sat around tossing names out for a bit, nothing really was sticking and then Aaron says, 'I got it...Ihsahn' and it was one of those moments where you knew that was the answer all along, it just hadn't been unlocked in your mind yet.

"Anyway, a few short emails back and forth and we had his vocal track in. It came out amazing. I can't wait for you to hear it.

"Ihsahn, thanks again, it's an honor to have you on my record."

Other musicians who have recorded guest appearances on Loomis' new solo album include fellow axemen Marty Friedman (ex-MEGADETH), Tony Macalpine and Chris Poland (ex-MEGADETH).

After Jeff's departure from NEVERMORE and the release of his solo debut — 2008's "Zero Order Phase" — fans have been craving a new album. With a number of influential musicians appearing on the upcoming release, Loomis is more than ready to deliver.

Jeff was the lead guitar player and main songwriter of NEVERMORE, a band that has certainly made its mark on modern music by forging a unique sound that fuses different forms of metal that has given birth to an authentic and very influential style. His solo CD, "Zero Order Phase", took the #4 spot in a April 2009 Guitar World magazine's readers' poll in the "Best Shred Album Of The Year" category — a notable accomplishment when you consider the top three vote-getters, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani. Jeff has become one of his generation's most recognizable guitarists and the source of many of the last decade's best riffs.

Jeff's complex shredding has been a central part of the progressive power guitar scene since 1992 and is responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring riffs modern metal has ever heard. Nearly every aspiring musician who has been listening to metal for the past 10 years or so has undoubtedly had the pleasure of hearing Jeff Loomis' progressive and technically superior playing.

Loomis' first solo album, "Zero Order Phase", was released in September 2008 through Century Media Records.

"Open Your Eyes", the new video from Birmingham, Alabama hard rockers MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER, can be seen below. The clip, which stars the one and only Danny Trejo, is stylized as a short film.

Commented MAYLENE frontman Dallas Taylor: "We've always been huge fans of Danny Trejo. We were on the same flight a few years ago but I didn't get a chance to meet him. Ever since then, I've wanted him to be in one of our videos. Never in a million years did I think it would happen, so this is really special for us."

As it turns out, video director Scott Hansen had worked with Trejo before and was able to make it happen.

The video was shot in one day in Los Angeles, and stars Trejo as a sadistic mechanic.

The hard rock innovators are gearing up for a nationwide headlining tour in support of their acclaimed new album "IV", out now via Ferret Music. The four-week trek will kick off January 25 in New Orleans and take the band to both coasts, with support from LIONIZE.

Produced by Brian Virtue (JANE'S ADDICTION, DEFTONES, AUDIOSLAVE), "IV" is a departure from MAYLENE's previous albums, shining a spotlight on the band's sleek songcraft, virtuosic prowess and depth of musical identity. The primal-scream therapy of underground star frontman Dallas Taylor takes on a much more multidimensional sense of atmosphere and texture on the record, finding the perfect balance of heavy-meets-euphoric while the band's strong, fluid rock features big riffs, shifting tempos and a spot-on sense of balance. The new saga of MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER's compelling concept has been called "catchy, southern-infused hard rock" by MetalSucks and the band's "most mature and unadulterated album" by Prefix.

On the record, the band continues its focused conceptual and lyrical bent which plots MAYLENE as renegade outlaws from a 1920s gangster / prohibition era real-life crime family. The record's gritty musical shootouts are filled with intricate guitar riffing and whiskey drenched grooves, while the lyrics take your imagination back to a time when the exploits of gangs of criminals gripped the American people and press.

MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER features Dallas Taylor (vocals), Chad Huff (guitar), Jake Duncan (guitar / vocals) and Brad Lehmann (bass).

Vintage Rock's Junkman conducted an interview with legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB, SOULS OF WE, TOOTH AND NAIL) at the 2012 NAMM show on January 21 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below.

Regarding the current status of LYNCH MOB, George said, "We've got a new singer, Jesse Forte from VAINS OF JENNA. So it's Scot Coogan on drums from ACE FREHLEY, we've got Robbie Crane from RATT and myself and Jesse Forte, and that's the new LYNCH MOB. We're gonna be doing a lot of touring this year. And we're trying to get back in the studio in the late winter/early spring to finish up the record that we were doing with Oni [Logan, former LYNCH MOB singer] before we lost Oni last year. So a revamped LYNCH MOB with fresh blood in it, with Jesse — a young guy, great chops, great look."

LYNCH MOB's comeback album, "Smoke And Mirrors", was released in Europe on September 18, 2009 (October 13, 2009 in the U.S.) via Frontiers Records. The recording lineup on the CD included Lynch and Logan alongside bassist Marco Mendoza (WHITESNAKE, THIN LIZZY) and Coogan.

Lynch has joined forces with fellow former/current DOKKEN members Jeff Pilson (bass) and Mick Brown (drums) in a new project called TOOTH AND NAIL. The band's debut album is tentatively due in March. The CD will feature new original material as well as reworked versions of around five or six DOKKEN classics.

Lynch's eleventh solo album in nearly twenty years, "Kill All Control", was released last July via Rocket Science, Inc.

What began as a follow-up to the SOULS OF WE debut, "Let The Truth Be Known", George quickly realized the project was taking on a new direction with the addition of POWERMAN 5000 drummer Adrian Ost. While writing with SOULS OF WE singer London LeGrand (BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION), George noted, "The creative juices flowed and we wrote most of the CD in 10 days."

Flamboyant Finnish rockers RECKLESS LOVE will release a new digital single, "On The Radio", in the U.K. on February 20. In addition to the title track, the single will include the song "Push", which was previously unavailable in the U.K. The accompanying video was partially filmed in Los Angeles and is very much in keeping with the band's "glass half full" approach to both music and life in general.

"On The Radio" comes off RECKLESS LOVE's second album, "Animal Attraction", which was released in October 2011 in Finland via Universal Music.

"Animal Attraction" track listing:

01. Animal Attraction
02. Speedin'
03. Born To Break Your Heart
04. Hot
05. Fantasy
06. Dirty Dreams
07. Dance
08. Fight
09. Switchblade Babe
10. On The Radio
11. Coconuts

RECKLESS LOVE singer Olli Herman (a.k.a. H. Olliver Twisted) joined CRASHDIET in 2006 as the replacement for David Hellman (a.k.a. Dave Lepard), who committed suicide in January 2006.

Olli left CRASHDIET shortly after the release of the band's second album, "The Unattractive Revolution", in order to focus all his attention on RECKLESS LOVE.

The self-titled debut album from RECKLESS LOVE entered the official chart in the band's home country of Finland at position No. 13.

RECKLESS LOVE plays exceptionally good rock n' roll. With its rousing and joyful attitude, the band offers a true alternative for today's rock scene where everything seems too dull, dark and serious. RECKLESS LOVE's formula is simple; big hard rock just for the fun of it!

The band was founded in 2001 and started to gradually gain underground reputation as an energetic live act. Eight years of small scale touring, two lineup changes and four demos later the band finally took its current form and found its own recognizable sound.

Italian dark metal outfit GRAVEWORM has announced that founding member and guitar player Stefan Unterpertinger will return to the band after 10 years. He replaces Thomas Orgler, who left the group for personal reasons. Keyboard player Sabine Mair also exited GRAVEWORM due to personal reasons.

Commented GRAVEWORM vocalist Stefano Fiori: "It's a pity not to have Thomas and Sabine in the band anymore. But, of course, we wish them all the best for their future. All the more we are glad to have Stefan back in the band. We practice hardly and we feel that there's still good chemistry between us. With Stefan, a GRAVEWORM founding member is back, so, welcome home Stefan!"

"See No Future", the latest video from GRAVEWORM, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in Venlo, Netherlands by Maurice from LEGION OF THE DAMNED.

"See No Future" comes off GRAVEWORM's new album, "Fragments Of Death", which was release last October via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Diabolical Figures" was recorded in July 2011 at the Dream Sound Studios in Munich, Germany and was mastered by Jan Vacik. According to a press release, "The songs are about the death in its thousand faces, which is also reflected in the album title and cover art. Musically, the album can be seen as a mixture of the best of the last four records, with some old-school roots and definitive darker than its predecessors."

"Fragments Of Death" track listing:

01. Insomnia
02. Only Death In Our Wake
03. Absence Of Faith
04. Living Nightmare
05. The World Will Die In Flames
06. Anxiety
07. See No Future
08. The Prophecy
09. Remembrance
10. Old Forgotten Song
11. Where Angels Do Not Fly

Bonus track:

12. Awake

U.K. progressive metallers TESSERACT are working on an acoustic EP, tentatively titled "Perspective", for a spring release via Century Media Records. The effort will contain reworked versions of tracks from the band's debut album, "One", plus "a very special" cover version.

Commented TESSERACT bassist Amos Williams: "The EP was inspired by an acoustic session we filmed last year in New York, whilst on tour with PROTEST THE HERO. It made us realize that a few of the tracks sounded really great when re-arranged and approached at from a different perspective.

"Once we finish off this EP, we will stay in the studio and begin work our new album. This is shaping up to continue the TESSERACT sound we began to develop on 'One'. A sound that is dynamic, tender, crushing, soaring, visceral, beautiful, emotive and heavy. A box of contradictions and infinite possibilities. With maybe the exception of Euro House... we're not really that into Euro House... sorry."

In other news, TESSERACT will play day three of Bamboozle Festival on May 20 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

"Festivals are always great to do, but for our first U.S. festival to be Bamboozle is crazy," said the band. "To be on the same bill as INCUBUS, FOO FIGHTERS and BON JOVI is a great boost for us. Bamboozle has a great tradition of mixing things up, and the bill for the 10 year anniversary festival looks to be adhering firmly to this, with bands like TESSERACT, PERIPHERY and WHITECHAPEL sharing the stage with SKRILLEX, JIMMY EAT WORLD and ALL AMERICAN REJECTS. It looks like it's going to be great fun!"

Relapse Records has announced the signing of Melbourne, Australia's doom dwellers INVERLOCH. Featuring one half of the legendary diSEMBOWELMENT, INVERLOCH (Matthew Skarajew - guitar, Paul Mazziotta - drums, Ben James - vocals, Mark Cullen - guitar, Tony Bryant - bass) pick right up where diSEMBOWELMENT left off close to two decades ago, composing crawling, lurching, plodding and downtuned dirges, that are sure to be some of the most powerful and beautiful pieces of crust/death/doom heard in years!

INVERLOCH has completed recording its debut mini-LP, which is set for a spring 2012 release.

In other news, INVERLOCH has been invited to play a pair of rare festival shows this spring, performing for a limited time under the name d.USK. They will be presenting diSEMBOWELMENT's legendary funeral doom opus "Transcendence Into The Peripheral" live in its entirety at Roadburn in the Netherlands and offering a different, though equally devastating set at the legendary Hellfest in France.

Commented drummer Paul Mazziotta: "It has been a pleasure to bring the old diSEMBOWELMENT songs to life, and along the journey we have discovered some new music inside of us that we felt compelled to capture. INVERLOCH is our musical voice of the past, re-discovered...combining heaviness and ambience once more …"

Finnish death metallers TORTURE KILLER will release a new three-song EP entitled "I Chose Death" on March 7 via Dynamic Arts Records. It contains two new tracks and a cover version of DEMIGOD's "Succumb To Dark" song from the "Unholy Domain" demo tape. The cover artwork was created by Mark Riddick and can be seen below.

"I Chose Death" will mark the recording debut of the group's new singer, Pessi Haltsonen (RETALIATORY MEASURES), who is described by his new bandmates as "a perfect fit" and "a human powerhouse."

"I Chose Death" track listing:

01. All Will End In Terror
02. Succumb To Dark
03. I Chose Death

TORTURE KILLER's third album, "Sewers" came out in 2009 via Dynamic Arts Records.

The band's sophomore CD, "Swarm!", was released by Metal Blade Records and featured legendary death metal vocalist Chris Barnes from CANNIBAL CORPSE and SIX FEET UNDER.

For more information, visit www.torturekiller.com.

Solid State Records has set a March 13 release date for MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE's third, self-titled album. 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.

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.

"Dry Bone Valley", the new video from Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON, can be seen below. The clip was directed and animated by Tim Biskup.

MASTODON bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders recently confirmed that the band will team up with Sweden's OPETH and GHOST for a North American tour in April.

MASTODON is among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band's Grammy nomination is for "Curl Of The Burl", the first single from MASTODON's new album, "The Hunter".

MASTODON received its first Grammy nomination in 2006 for the single "Colony Of Birchmen", from the band's Reprise Records debut album, "Blood Mountain".

"The Hunter" sold 39,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Crack The Skye", opened with 41,000 units back in April 2009 to debut at No. 11. MASTODON's 2006 effort, "Blood Mountain", came in with just over 24,000 units — significantly more than the 8,000 first-week tally registered by its predecessor, 2004's "Leviathan" — which put it at No. 32.

"The Hunter" was made available in several configurations that feature an exciting interactive 3D experience known as Augmented Reality. The technology, created by Los Angeles-based company Total Immersion, combines virtual and real worlds to create a 3D one-of-a-kind interactive experience that users can control. Just by using a camera on a computer, their own face and the cover art on "The Hunter", the user can turn themselves into "The Hunter" sculpture that is pictured on the cover.

The follow-up to 2009's "Crack The Skye" was MASTODON's third studio CD to be made available on Reprise Records in the U.S. and Canada and the band's first to be issued through Roadrunner Records outside of North America.

ANTHRAX's video for the song "The Devil You Know" can be seen below. The clip contains clips of all the band highlights of last year.

"The Devil You Know" comes off ANTHRAX's latest album, "Worship Music", which sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

The CD cover artwork for "Worship Music" was handled by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross, who has worked with Marvel Comics and DC Comics and is known for his "Marvels", "Kingdom Come", and "Astro City" illustrations. Ross also did the original artwork for ANTHRAX's "We've Come For You All" and "Music Of Mass Destruction" albums.

"Worship Music" was produced by ANTHRAX, Rob Caggiano and Jay Ruston and recorded over a four-year period at studios in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Singer Joey Belladonna's return to the band prompted some of the songs originally recorded with previous singer Dan Nelson to be re-crafted with fresh lyrics or tweaked to better suit his overall vibe and energy. Some of the songs were completely replaced with brand-new songs and, of course, all have Belladonna's inimitable vocal stamp on them.

ANTHRAX has just kicked off the second leg of its U.S. tour with TESTAMENT and DEATH ANGEL.

SHEAR, the Helsinki, Finland-based six-piece metal act featuring former/current members of AMORAL, OMNIUM GATHERUM, IMPERANON, ELENIUM and CRYSTAL BLAZE, will release its full-length debut, "Breaking The Stillness", via Lifeforce Records on the following dates:

March 13 - North America
March 23 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland
March 28 - Finland
March 26 - Rest Of Europe

A new SHEAR song, "Someone Else's Eyes", is available for streaming on the Lifeforce Records Facebook page ("like" required).

The fourth song on SHEAR's new CD, "Someone Else's Eyes" demonstrates the band's "recognizable sound . . . including the seamless interplay between the guitars, bass, and drums combined with the strong vocal melodies," according to a press release. "The song flows from a heavier verse to a memorable and atmospheric chorus."

Fan-filmed video footage of SHEAR performing two songs from the forthcoming album — "Wounded" and "No Way Out" — on January 19 in Helsinki can be seen below.

The current lineup of SHEAR was finalized in 2008. The members have, however, played together for many years. The guitarists Mikael Gronroos and Lauri Koskenniemi, and keyboardist Lari Sorvo have played together since 2001. Bass player Eerik Purdon joined the group in 2004, and the drummer Juhana Karlsson in 2007.

SHEAR last year made its entire four-song EP, "In Solitude", available for free download on the group's official web site. The CD was recorded in August-September 2009 at Arcada Studios by Mikael Grönroos and was mastered at Chartmakers studios.

SHEAR is:

* Alexa Leroux - Vocals
* Mikael Grönroos (CRYSTAL BLAZE) - Guitar
* Lauri Koskenniemi (THE NIBIRUAN, ELENIUM, CRYSTAL BLAZE, ex-IMPERANON) - Guitar
* Eerik Purdon (THE NIBIRUAN, CRYSTAL BLAZE, ex-OMNIUM GATHERUM) - Bass
* Lari Sorvo (CRYSTAL BLAZE) - Keyboards
* Juhana Karlsson (AMORAL, CRYSTAL BLAZE) - Drums