A trailer for "The Devil's Resolve", the sophomore full-length album from Finnish progressive death metallers BARREN EARTH, is available below.

"The Devil's Resolve" will be released in North America on March 13 via Peaceville Records. The effort will be made available on CD and vinyl, with artwork provided by notable U.S.-based artist Paul Romano (MASTODON).

Mixed by Dan Swanö (OPETH, KATATONIA) at Unisound in Sweden, "The Devil's Resolve" continues with all the trademarks one has come to associate with BARREN EARTH: brutal riffs, gloomy growls, majestic melodies, as well as acoustic and progressive passages. But this time the band has delved even deeper, taking this sophomore effort to the extremes through musical landscapes encompassing brutal death metal, doomy vocals, trippy 70's prog lunacy, pastoral passages and even bagpipes.

"The Devil's Resolve" track listing:

01. Passing Of The Crimson Shadows
02. The Rains Begin
03. Vintage Warlords
04. As It Is Written
05. The Dead Exiles
06. Oriental Pyre
07. White Field
08. Where All Stories End
09. Martyrs of Devotion (special edition)
10. World in Haze (special edition)

BARREN EARTH is:

Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN) - Vocals
Olli-Pekka Laine (ex-AMORPHIS, MANNHAI) - Bass
Kasper Mårtenson (ex-AMORPHIS, BEN GRANFELT BAND) - Keyboards
Janne Perttilä (RYTMIHÄIRIÖ) - Guitar
Marko Tarvonen (MOONSORROW) - Drums
Sami Ylisirniö (KREATOR, WALTARI) - Guitar

Atlantic recording group HALESTORM has announced the release of its hugely anticipated new album. "The Strange Case Of…" arrives in stores and at all DSPs on April 10. The CD is heralded by the electrifying new single, "Love Bites (So Do I)", impacting now at rock radio outlets nationwide. The track — as well as three other highlights from "The Strange Case Of…" — is featured on HALESTORM's new EP, "Hello, It's Mz. Hyde", which is available today at all leading digital retailers.

Produced by Howard Benson (who previously collaborated with the Pennsylvania-based hard rock band on their self-titled 2009 debut), "The Strange Case Of…" was recently named among Revolver's "Most Anticipated Albums of the Year." "Led by one of our favorite rocker babes, singer-guitarist Lzzy Hale, (HALESTORM) promise a more personal album for their follow-up," the magazine noted. "But don't expect them to get all sappy on us. There should still be more than enough of the band's now signature raucous attitude and righteous riffs for any headbanger to get off."

Currently poised to embark on a European tour alongside Atlantic's own SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM will hit the road hard to support "The Strange Case Of…", beginning with a major U.S. trek alongside GODSMACK and fellow Atlantic recording group STAIND. The dates get underway April 13 at Augusta, Georgia's John Paul Jones Arena and then continue through mid-May.

Formed by frontwoman Lzzy Hale and her brother, drummer Arejay Hale, HALESTORM has been hailed far and wide as an incendiary new force in modern hard rock. "Halestorm" made a top 5 debut on SoundScan's "Hard Music" chart upon its 2009 release, simultaneously bursting into the top 40 on the comprehensive The Billboard 200. The album subsequently sold more than 300,000 copies, and half a million cumulative tracks. Produced by Howard Benson (DAUGHTRY, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, FLYLEAF), the album earned extensive acclaim for its infectious hard rock anthems, sexy hooks, and rough-and-tumble grooves.

"The Strange Case Of…" marks HALESTORM's first release since last year's "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP", which saw the band putting their unique stamp on a diverse collection of classic songs, including tracks by GUNS N' ROSES, THE BEATLES, HEART, TEMPLE OF THE DOG, SKID ROW, and LADY GAGA. HALESTORM also unleashed their first-ever live CD/DVD, "Live In Philly 2010", featuring such favorites from the band's self-titled debut as "It's Not You", "Familiar Taste of Poison" and the rock radio smash "I Get Off".
True road warriors, HALESTORM made its bones as a major league hard rock outfit via countless North American gigs alongside such artists as SHINEDOWN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and DISTURBED. Last year saw the band traveling the country on the blockbuster "Avalanche Tour 2011", joining such hard rock luminaries as STONE SOUR, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, ART OF DYING, and fellow Atlantic recording group SKILLET.

"The Strange Case Of…" track listing:

01. Love Bites (So Do I)
02. Mz. Hyde
03. I Miss The Misery
04. Freak Like Me
05. Beautiful With You
06. In Your Room
07. Break In
08. Rock Show
09. Daughters Of Darkness
10. You Call Me A Bitch Like It's A Bad Thing
11. American Boys
12. Here's To Us

Reunited German metal legends RUNNING WILD will release their brand new album, "Shadowmaker", in Germany on April 20, in the rest of Europe on April 23 and in the U.S./Canada on April 24 via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be released as a limited first edition in a black jewel case with silver printing and slipcase plus a 40-minute bonus DVD with a "making-of" documentary and a track-by-track commentary by RUNNING WILD mainman Rock 'N' Rolf. The double gatefold LP will come with printed innersleeves and clear vinyl. There also will be a boxset limited to 1,000 copies worldwide. It contains 2 LPs, the black jewel case with the DVD, a poster, a sticker, a postcard and a 30-page book in LP size about the history of the band.

The cover of "Shadowmaker" is the most unusual in the history of the band, but when you listen to the title track and read the lyrics, you will understand the meaning of it. It was created by Rock 'N' Rolf and Jens Reinhold (EVERGREY, FREEDOM CALL, VIRGIN STEELE), who will also handle artwork for all configurations.

Black Jewel Case + DVD track listing:

CD

01. Piece Of The Action (4:25)
02. Riding On The Tide (4:18)
03. I Am Who I Am (4:51)
04. Black Shadow (5:13)
05. Locomotive (4:35)
06. Me & The Boys (5:00)
07. Shadowmaker (4:25)
08. Sailing Fire (4:14)
09. Into The Black (4:57)
10. Dracula (7:29)

DVD

* Making of "Shadowmaker"
* Track-by-track commentary by Rock 'N' Rolf

Length: approximately 40 min

LP track listing:

LP 1

Side 1

01. Piece Of The Action (4:25)
02. Riding On The Tide (4:18)
03. I Am Who I Am (4:51)

Side 2

01. Black Shadow (5:13)
02. Locomotive (4:35)
03. Me & The Boys (5:00)

LP 2

Side 1

01. Shadowmaker (4:25)
02. Sailing Fire (4:14)
03. Into The Black (4:57)

Side 2

01. Dracula (7:29)

Box Set:

* 2 LPs, clear vinyl
* Black jewel case including DVD
* Poster
* Postcard
* Sticker
* 30 page book in LP size about the history of the band plus photos
* 35 x 35 cm
* Hard cardboard material with top

Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have set "Odalheim" as the title of their 11th full-length album, due on April 20 via Nuclear Blast Records. According to the band, the CD "is the story about the future of Yggdrasil and those who survive Ragnarök. It is the story of the Midgard Warriors who carry on the Viking tradition into the new world Odalheim."

"Odalheim" was produced by UNLEASHED guitarist Fredrik Folkare at his Chrome Studios in Sweden.

UNLEASHED bassist/vocalist Johnny Hedlund previously stated about the CD: ""Anders [Schultz, drums] asked me if this might be the fastest UNLEASHED album to date. I'm not sure, but it's likely close anyhow."

UNLEASHED's most recent CD, "As Yggdrasil Trembles", sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 85 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.

"As Yggdrasil Trembles" was released on April 6, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at guitarist Fredrik Folkare's Chrome studio, and is "the logical continuation from 'Midvinterblot' [2006] and 'Hammer Battalion' [2008]," according to the group. "Lyrically, you will recognize what has become the UNLEASHED trademark since more than 20 years, the combination of the past, present and future of viking struggle and way of life. A few of the songs also mark the beginning of a story never before told."

UNLEASHED's current lineup:

Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan will make his acting debut in "The Devil's Carnival", the new project Darren Lynn Bousman is directing that is being seen as a companion piece of sorts to "Repo! The Genetic Opera".

Commented Crahan: "I am very honored to have been asked to be a part of this project.

"I play a character called The Tamer. And let me tell you, there is a little Tamer in all of us.

"It's always been a dream and a goal for me to try and act in something that is filmed besides music videos.

"I am very honored to have the opportunity to have worked with so many talented actors and people who are involved in making this production come to life."

In addition to Crahan, the "The Devil's Carnival" cast consists of "Repo! The Genetic Opera" co-creator Terrance Zdunich, as well as "Repo!" stars Alexa Vega, Ogre (from SKINNY PUPPY) and Paul Sorvino. Emilie Autumn and Sean Patrick Flanery have also joined previously announced Bill Moseley and Briana Evigan and Marc Senter.

CREED and ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti has set "All I Was" as the title of his debut solo album, tentatively due this spring.

Working songtitles set to appear on the CD:

* All I Was
* Brains
* So You're Afraid
* You Waste Your Time
* Decay
* New Way Out
* Leave It Alone
* Wish You Well
* Don't Claim
* Proof
* Gone
* All That I Got
* Giving Up
* Doesn't Matter

Tremonti handles all lead vocals on the CD, with additional contributions from Eric Friedman (backing vocals, guitar, bass) and Garrett Whitlock (drums)

Tremonti recently said that his upcoming solo album will be heavier than both CREED and ALTER BRIDGE — and contain even more lead guitar solos than he does with either group. Speaking with ARTISTdirect, Tremonti explained, "It's a dynamic record. It's probably heavier than either CREED or ALTER BRIDGE, but it's still melody-driven. Most of the stuff is more up-tempo and heavy-riffing though. I had to write eleven solos for this record so it took me a long time. There's lots of soloing."

Tremonti added that he has finished his parts for the album, and is now just doing some last minute fixes here and there. He hopes to mix the record in February and have it in stores in either March or April. The guitarist told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago about his tentative release plans for the project. "We're trying to do it different," he said. "We're trying to every month put out two songs with, you know, your ringtones, your T-shirts, with — I'm gonna do instructional DVDs and the other guys will do instructional stuff, tutorials on how to play the songs and whatnot. After six months we'll release the whole album, and if everybody downloads the songs along the way, they'll get a signed copy of the whole record. We'll do everything we can to make it appealing to people."

Tremonti probably won't get a chance to mount a solo tour as he and the rest of CREED are heading out on a spring trek in which the band will play its first two albums, 1997's "My Own Prison" and 1999's "Human Clay", in their entirety.

All the small-venue shows will also feature additional tunes from the quartet's four-album catalog.

CREED is also working on a new album for release in 2012, while ALTER BRIDGE is set to tour Australia in late February/early March.

Legendary Danish/American/Swedish heavy metal band KING DIAMOND will play only two shows in Europe this summer:

June 09 - Sweden Rock Festival – Sölvesborg, SWE
June 15 - Hellfest - Clisson, France

A video message from KING DIAMOND's 55-year-old frontman/namesake in which he announces his band's appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival can be seen below.

King Diamond (real name: Kim Bendix Petersen) underwent open-heart triple-bypass surgery in November 2010. He has since completed his cardiac rehabilitation program and has stopped smoking entirely, changed his diet and is getting regular exercise, according to his wife Livia Zita.

King Diamond made his long-anticipated return to the stage with his MERCYFUL FATE bandmates Hank Shermann, Timi Hansen and Michael Denner on December 7, 2011 at the second of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of METALLICA's week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.

KING DIAMOND received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill" off the group's latest album, "Give Me Your Soul … Please".

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 28. The CD also landed at No. 58 on the Danish chart (the second highest new entry on the chart behind VELVET REVOLVER).

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 174 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Southern California's vaunted heavy metal "triple axe attack" LEATHERWOLF will have its January 28 headlining concert at the Ramona Mainstage in Ramona, California professionally filmed for an upcoming DVD.

Featuring original members Michael Olivieri (vocals, guitar), Carey Howe (guitar), and Dean Roberts (drums) along with bassist Patrick Guyton and new guitarist Rob Math, LEATHERWOLF is celebrating both its 30th band anniversary as well as the 25th anniversary of its highly acclaimed major label debut album for Island Records which spawned the MTV single "The Calling".

"We had originally planned to release the 'Live At The Galaxy' DVD but with Rob in the fold we've decided to re-shoot everything. Rob is a killer player who has brought a lot of new energy to the band and we wanted to capture the new and improved LEATHERWOLF for prosperity", states drummer Dean Roberts. "We've already talked to Roy Z (HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON) about mixing and should have everything completed in another couple of months in time for a tentative summer release."

LEATHERWOLF emerged in the early '80s as part of the burgeoning Orange County metal scene, playing shows with contemporaries such as METALLICA, SLAYER and STRYPER before signing with local indie label Tropical/Enigma for the release of their Randy Burns-produced (MEGADETH, KREATOR) eponymous debut in 1984. The band soon caught the attention of Island Records resulting in two further, highly acclaimed releases, "Leatherwolf" (1987) and "Street Ready" (1989). After a lenghty hiatus, LEATHERWOLF re-grouped for a number of shows and issued the "Wide Open" live album in 1999. A new studio album, "World Asylum", followed in 2006, reissued in 2008 as "New World Asylum" with returning frontman Michael Oliveri re-cutting all lead vocals.

Video footage of guitarist Vivian Campbell performing DEF LEPPARD's "Rock Of Ages" and DIO's "Rainbow In The Dark" with STEEL PANTHER on January 21 at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California can be seen below.

STEEL PANTHER last month completed a short U.K. tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE and DEF LEPPARD.

STEEL PANTHER's sophomore album, "Balls Out", sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on November 1 via Universal Republic Records, the follow-up to 2009's "Feel The Steel" contains 14 soon-to-be classics such as "Just Like Tiger Woods", "Gold Digging Whore" and "Weenie Ride". The album also features cameos by Dane Cook on the album opener "In The Future" and NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger and EXTREME axeman Nuno Bettencourt show up on an instant classic "It Won't Suck Itself". "Balls Out" was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/mixer Jay Ruston who produced the band's "Feel The Steel" debut and is known for his work with ANTHRAX, MEAT LOAF, THE DONNAS and MORRISSEY, to name a few.

STEEL PANTHER is Michael Starr (vocals), Satchel (guitar), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums).

EYEHATEGOD frontman Mike Williams, who resides on Philip Anselmo's (DOWN, PANTERA, SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ARSON ANTHEM) 17-acre property in rural south Louisiana, revealed in a tweet yesterday (Thursday, January 19) that Anselmo is currently rehearsing with his solo project. Williams wrote, "Listening to some guy Phil Anselmo's new solo band practice 20 feet from my bedroom and all I can say is you folks are in for a real treat!!"

In a 2010 interview with Hellbound.ca, Anselmo stated about his upcoming solo album, "I'd been demoing, I guess about a year with this one kid on drums, just a local guy, a session guy. So I had, the basic skeletons for these songs sort of in place. You know, not married to one particular part or another. Then I did a whole lot of fine-tuning and I found a drummer that I wanted to jam with: the kid from WARBEAST (Joe Gonzalez), an excellent drummer, a great, great, great drummer. He does play thrash metal in WARBEAST but that doesn't limit him from all spectrums of heavy metal. He's very flexible and diverse, so it's awesome. I get the best of both hands and feet, if you will, out of a drummer. . . I'd say [I will play] about 99% [of the guitar parts on the album], for sure. I might have a couple of guys do some leads. I'm nothing great at leads, I'm kind of creative with themes but as a lead guitar player I'm pretty God-awful! Depending on the music, you know, I'm thinking this particular project might call for someone with a little more lead guitar talent."

He added, "You know, the supergroup thing has been beaten to death in the ground. I didn't want to just assemble this band, another band again, ala SUPERJOINT, ala DOWN, ala something I've done before. So, [this is a] total solo record. I wish I could play drums, though, I tell you that! But this kid is fucking insanely good, I would never aspire to be as good as this kid. He's fucking pretty incredible."

In a separate interview with Icon Vs. Icon, Anselmo said about the musical direction of his solo project, "Well, it's vicious. I have been in so many different side projects, I like to say that not all of them sound alike. With that being said, there is no way I would want to rehash anything traditional, so to speak. I'm gonna touch on tradition, ya know. Tradition is distorted guitar, drums, bass. But yes, I have been writing new stuff. Yes, it is super motherfuckin' aggressive." He added, "I know heavy music. I see where heavy music is. I want to take heavy music like a ball of clay and reshape it, if you catch me. Reshape it differently than it has been shaped before. That is where I am at right now."

Anselmo recently spent time at his barn studio, Nodferatu's Lair, laying down vocals on the six songs that will make up DOWN's new EP, due later in the year. The studio's name is a play on classic horror film vampire Nosferatu, altered to reflect certain musicians' tendency to nod off.

Brazilian gothic metallers ...IN DEVILTRY, featuring founding THEATRE OF TRAGEDY guitarist Tommy Lindal, have checked in with the following update:

"The holidays are over and now 2012 is at our feet. The past year was filled with hard work both inside and around the band. ...in Deviltry is still searching for a second guitar and a permanent keyboarder. Even so, during 2011 they released two new brilliant tracks, 'Even Kings Must Crawl At Feet Of Death', and a short version of 'Where The Grass Of Calm Grows'.

The wait for the first material from ...in Deviltry has been long, as people had big expectations about the band. But we think that everybody can now agree on that it was totally worth waiting for. The feedback has been enormous and very positive both from press and most importantly, the fans. We are all asking for more.

At the current time, the band is concentrating on writing new material, so will the debut and live shows follow in 2012? We are waiting anxiously like never before."

Musicians interested in auditioning for the band should contact them via Facebook here.

"The New Blood", the new video from the Los Angeles hardcore/metal band TERROR, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's fifth album, "Keepers Of The Faith", sold around 2,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 11 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.

TERROR's North American tour with EVERY TIME I DIE, STRAY FROM THE PATH and FORMER THIEVES will kick off next month.

"Keepers Of The Faith" was released on August 30, 2010 in Europe and September 14, 2010 in North America via Century Media Records. Doom Patrol issued the album in Japan on September 1, 2010. The CD contained 13 new tracks produced by Chad Gilbert of NEW FOUND GLORY at Buzzbomb Studios in Orange County, California. It was engineered by Paul Miner (DEATH BY STEREO, ADAMANTIUM) and mixed by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, HATEBREED).

On November 1, TERROR released the "Defining The Faith" DVD as part of the special deluxe reissue of the group's latest CD, "Keepers Of The Faith". Produced, edited, and authored by Carlo Oppermann and Ambitious.Films, "Defining The Faith" features a full live set that is composed of three different TERROR shows in three distinct settings: a small club, a big hall, and a massive European festival. These live performances were filmed at the following concerts: Mach1 festival in Montabaur (June 24), Cafe Central in Weinheim (June 28), and Essigfabrik in Köln (June 29). "Defining The Faith" also features a European tour documentary with band interviews, backstage footage, and more-plus, four music videos taken from the band's "Keepers Of The Faith" album: "Stick Tight", "Keepers Of The Faith", "Return To Strength", and "You're Caught". And as yet another additional bonus, the making-of footage for the band's latest music video, "You're Caught", is also be included in the DVD.

TERROR is tentatively scheduled to enter the studio in May 2012 to begin recording its next album for a late 2012 release.

"When Steel And Bone Meet", a new song from New Orleans, Louisiana's sons of American no-frills-black-metal-meets-death-'n'-roll GOATWHORE, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new studio album, "Blood For The Master", which will be released in North America on February 14 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was once again recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer with Erik Rutan.

"Blood for the Master" track listing:

01. Collapse In Eternal Worth
02. When Steel And Bone Meet
03. Parasitic Scriptures Of The Sacred Word
04. In Deathless Tradition
05. Judgement Of The Bleeding Crown
06. Embodiment Of This Bitter Chaos
07. Beyond The Spell Of Discontent
08. Death To The Architects Of Heaven
09. An End To Nothing
10. My Name Is Frightful Among The Believers

"Blood For The Master" will be available on CD, vinyl, and digitally. Fans of vinyl should note that there will be three different versions of the LP; red with black splatter, half red/half black, and standard black. Also available will be a limited amount of special pre-order bundles containing merch items exclusive to these bundles.

In a recent interview with Decibel magazine, GOATWHORE guitarist Sammy Duet stated that the band's forthcoming CD will feature "the same exact [guitar] sound I used on 'Carving Out The Eyes Of God'. We're just trying to improve on that sound — make it bigger and fatter. That 'Carving' guitar sound was fucking incredible, and that's why me and Rutan spent half the week trying to get it to sound even better, which I believe we achieved. It's gonna have that growly, sub-nuclear kind of sound, but I think it's gonna be almost more refined in a way — but still very nasty."

He added, "The drums are a lot more natural-sounding. A lot of producers today, I don't know; they make the drums sound fake. They sound good, but almost too good. We're just trying to make it sound real and not like a drum machine.

"There's the same amount of solos on 'Carving'; maybe a few more. But there's gonna be a lot of other… I wouldn't exactly call them guitar solos that are gonna be going on underneath the music, but there's gonna be certain things there that will be very different. There's definitely some shit I've never really done before ever that I've just been experimenting with. You have to hear it. It's hard to explain. It's like a solo and not a solo."

"I think a lot of people are expecting us to repeat ourselves, but it's not gonna be like that. We could have easily gone and written 'Carving Out The Eyes Of God Part II' because that album is such a natural feeling for us musically. But we didn't want to do that."

The first single off the album, "Collapse In Eternal Worth", along with "In the Studio" video footage, is now available at MetalBlade.com/Goatwhore. Fans can stream or download the single as well as check out the lyric video for the track that incorporates the artwork from both the CD and vinyl versions of the release, each which features different artwork.

"When Steel And Bone Meet" audio stream:

Drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB), bassist Billy Sheehan (STEVE VAI, DAVID LEE ROTH), guitarist Tony MacAlpine (neo classical-metal style, STEVE VAI) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) headlined SABIAN Live 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. Video footage of their performance can be seen below. Also appearing at the event were Virgil Donati with Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Haslip and Dennis Hamm; Tony Royster Jr. and friends; with special guest appearances by Orestes Vilato and Sandy Perez.

Portnoy, Sheehan, MacAlpine and Sherinian previously 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.

Three-camera video footage of San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans DEATH ANGEL performing the song "I Chose The Sky" on January 20 at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California can be viewed below (courtesy of Capital Chaos).

DEATH ANGEL will release a DVD entitled "A Thrashumentary" in the spring. According to a press release, "A Thrashumentary" is a combination live video and documentary, all wrapped up in one thrashing DVD. The footage was directed by Tommy Jones (SOILWORK, KATAKLYSM) and mixed by Chris Clancy of The Studio. The film gives the viewer an in-depth look into one of the longest-running thrash acts out of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region known for turning out historic thrash bands such as METALLICA, TESTAMENT and EXODUS.

"Relentless Retribution", the latest album from DEATH ANGEL, sold 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position 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. The band's previous album, "Killing Season", opened with around 2,300 units back in March 2008. This number was in line with the performance of its predecessor, "The Art of Dying", which registered a first-week sales tally of around 2,100 back in May 2004.

AEROSMITH's Joe Perry and Steven Tyler were joined by Tyler's "American Idol" co-judge Randy Jackson for a performance of the AEROSMITH classic "Chip Away The Stone" on the January 20 episode of NBC-TV's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno". You can now watch video footage of their appearance below.

As previously reported, Tyler and Carrie Underwood are teaming up for a special "CMT Crossroads", which will air live the night before the Super Bowl. "CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood Live From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam" will air on February 4 at 11 p.m. ET.

Carrie and the AEROSMITH frontman and "American Idol" judge teamed for the first time during last year's Academy Of Country Music Awards, where they weaved together a performance of "Undo It" and "Walk This Way".

"CMT Crossroads" will take place in front of an invitation-only audience at the Pepsi Coliseum in Indianapolis.

This is the second year "CMT Crossroads" will broadcast from the Super Bowl Fan Jam. The first took place with Faith Hill and THE PRETENDERS.

Steven Tyler sang the US national anthem during the AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens yesterday (January 22nd). Tyler appeared with his trademark scarf - this one with the Patriots logo in red, white and blue sequins - as he sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner'.

New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL will release their new album, "The Electric Age", in North America on March 27 via eOne Music. The CD will be made available in Europe on March 30 through Nuclear Blast Records.

"The Electric Age" was recorded and mixed at Gain Studios in New Jersey, owned and operated by OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni.

OVERKILL will embark on the "Killfest 2" headlining tour in April/May. Support on the trek will come from BELPHEGOR, ABORTED, BLACKGUARD, SYSTEM DIVIDE and DIAMOND PLATE.

OVERKILL's latest CD, "Ironbound", sold 4,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 192 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 4 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.

OVERKILL's previous album, "Immortalis", opened with 2,800 units back in October 2007.

"Ironbound" was released on February 9, 2010 via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records). The CD, which was issued in Europe on January 29, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records, was mixed by PAIN/HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren and is described in a press release as "a true thrasher-piece."

OVERKILL is Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (vocals), D.D. Verni (bass, backing vocals), Derek "The Skull" Tailer (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Dave Linsk (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Ron Lipnicki (drums).

A trailer for "Fire & Damnation", the first album in 24 years from German thrash metal veterans EXUMER, can be seen below. Due in April via Metal Blade Records, the 10-track CD, which was recorded with renowned producer Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., THERION, SODOM, MOONSPELL), "combines a punishing production with aggressive songwriting," according to a press release. "EXUMER manages to capture the intensity and feel of the 1980s thrash metal gems and yet sound up to date on their latest output."

Comments singer Mem V. Stein: "We are extremely happy and proud to have found a home with Metal Blade Records, a label that has the 'know-how,' integrity and appreciation for what EXUMER is about and stands for.

"We tried to do everything 'right,' with this album, from writing the new material to working with Waldemar Sorychta as our producer. Hence, Metal Blade Records as a label is the most logical choice for the band, in order to be represented globally and reach every fan that is interested in what EXUMER has to offer in 2012, and beyond."

EXUMER is:

Mem V. Stein - Vocals
Ray Mensh - Guitar
T. Schiavo - Bass
H.K. - Guitar
Matthias Kassner - Drums

Formed in 1985 by Mem V. Stein and guitarist Ray Mensh, EXUMER went on to release two albums (1986's "Possessed By Fire" and 1987's "Rising From The Sea") that are regarded as some of the most cult thrash metal releases ever to come out of Germany. EXUMER was also one of the first thrash metal acts to capture exotic, foreign markets like Poland and Brazil, where their albums were domestically released in the 1980s. The subsequent tours that followed those releases secured the band live shows in front of thousands of fans and an unusually large following outside of Germany.

Plagued by lineup changes and internal turmoil, the band broke up in 1990, and did not perform live, with the exception of 2001 appearance at the prestigious Wacken Open Air festival, until 2009.

Mem and Ray decided to re-activate EXUMER in 2008, and the band embarked on their first tour since 1988. The "5 Nights of Fire Tour", took the band through Europe (Germany, Holland, Greece), and the USA, where they headlined the "Thrasho de Mayo Festival" in front of 1,300 fans in Los Angeles.

EXUMER returned to Europe in spring and the fall of 2010, where the band appeared at Norway's Inferno Festival, among other stops in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Bulgaria during the "European Ignition Tour Part I & II".

"Fire Make Thunder" marks the fourth undertaking for the collaborative duo known as OSI. The CD is slated for a March 27 release via Metal Blade Records.

Formed in 2002 by Jim Matheos (FATES WARNING, ARCH/MATHEOS) and Kevin Moore (CHROMA KEY, former DREAM THEATER keyboardist), OSI is a long-distance partnership, both musicians typically writing and recording alone and sending song ideas back and forth for further elaboration.

Written and recorded throughout most of 2011, this latest release once again reflects the eclectic influences of both Matheos and Moore.

Returning as OSI's session drummer is Gavin Harrison of PORCUPINE TREE, this time co-writing one of the tracks with the band. All other instruments and programming were performed by both Matheos and Moore, while vocals and lyrics were handled exclusively by Moore.

All of the recording for "Fire Make Thunder", with the exception of drums, was done by Moore and Matheos at each musician's respective home studio with drums being recorded at Harrison's home in London. Final overdubs as well as some additional writing/arranging was completed in July 2011 in Jamaica, Iowa, where the band mixed alongside engineer Matt Sepanic at Sound Farm Studio & Recording Environment. Mastering was handled by renowned engineer Roger Siebel. The record was produced by both Moore and Matheos.

"Fire Make Thunder" track listing:

01. Cold Call
02. Guards
03. Indian Curse
04. Enemy Prayer
05. Wind Won't Howl
06. Big Chief II
07. For Nothing
08. Invisible Men

An audio medley of tracks from "Fire Make Thunder" is available in the YouTube clip below.

Massachusetts-based hardcore/metal band CONVERGE will enter guitarist Kurt Ballou's Godcity studios in Salem, Massachusetts today (Monday, January 23) to begin recording its new album, tentatively titled "All We Love We Leave Behind", for a late spring/early summer release via Epitaph.

CONVERGE's latest CD, "Axe To Fall", sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 163 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort was released on October 20, 2009 through Epitaph Records.

Produced by guitarist Kurt Ballou at Godcity, "Axe To Fall" featured guest appearances from Steve Brodsky (CAVE IN), Adam McGrath (CAVE IN), J.R. Connors (CAVE IN, DOOMRIDERS), Uffe Cederlund (DISFEAR, ex-ENTOMBED), John Pettibone (THE VOWS, HIMSA), Steve Von Till (NEUROSIS) and Mookie Singerman (GENGHIS TRON).

Drummer Danny Schuler of New York hardcore/metal veterans BIOHAZARD has left the band's current European tour in order to be at home with his wife and family for the birth of their baby. Danny Lamagna of SWORN ENEMY will sit behind the kit for BIOHAZARD at all upcoming shows until Danny returns.

Remaining dates on the Persistence Tour 2012 — which also includes SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, TERROR, WALLS OF JERICHO, LIONHEART and CRUSHING CASPARS — are as follows:

Jan. 23 - Berlin, Germany - Astra
Jan. 24 - Munchen, Germany - Werk
Jan. 25 - Wien, Austria - Gasometer
Jan. 26 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
Jan. 27 - Saarbrucken, Germany - Garage
Jan. 28 - Dresden, Germany - Eventwerk
Jan. 29 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13
Jan. 30 - Paris, France – Bataclan

BIOHAZARD's new album, "Reborn In Defiance", was released in Europe on 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 Roberts, who played on the band's 2005 "Means To An End" album and has been part of the BIOHAZARD extended family since.

Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD kicked off their short East Coast tour last night (Sunday, January 22) at The National in their hometown. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

In a recent interview with The Aquarian Weekly, LAMB OF GOD bassist John Campbell stated about whether he and his bandmates still feel competitive as performers, "Yeah, from every moment that we're onstage that's kind of part of the character that we take on when we becoming LAMB OF GOD up onstage. DETHKLOK kind of mocks the idea, but when you're onstage, you're the fucking baddest band in the world. And if you're not, what the fuck are you doing onstage? For us, we've worked really hard writing songs that we feel are great songs, that we can perform and blow people away with. And we've made a career of doing that."

LAMB OF GOD's new album, "Resolution" will be released in North America on January 24 via Epic Records (one day earlier internationally through Roadrunner Records). The CD was recorded at various studios in Virginia and New York with producer Josh Wilbur, who worked on the band's last effort, 2009's "Wrath".

"Resolution" features 14 songs and will come in a digipack with artwork by longtime art director Ken Adams.

In other news, LAMB OF GOD has scheduled the following European tour dates:

May 26 - Palace Grounds - Bangalore, India
May 28 - Fuzz Club - Athens, Greece
May 30 - Hangar 11 - Tel-Aviv, Israel
Jun. 01 - Rock Am Ring - Rock Am Park, Germany
Jun. 02 - Forta Rock - Holland
Jun. 05 - Studio - Krakow, Poland
Jun. 06 - Majestic - Bratislava, Slovakia
Jun. 07 - Backstage Werk - Munich, Germany
Jun. 08 - Nova Rock - Austria
Jun. 10 - Download Festival - UK
Jun. 12 - Mandela Hall - Belfast, Ireland
Jun. 13 - Academy - Dublin, Ireland
Jun. 15 - Metaltown - Sweden
Jun. 16 - Copenhell, Denmark
Jun. 17 - Hellfest - France
Jun. 19 - Riviera - Madrid, Spain
Jun. 20 - Razzmatazz 2 - Barcelona, Spain
Jun. 22 - Graspop - Belgium
Jun. 23 - Ear Shaker Days - Switzerland
Jun. 24 - Gods Of Metal - Italy
Jun. 26 - Boogaloo - Zagreb, Croatia
Jun. 27 - Kino Siska - Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jun. 28 - Rock Cafe - Prague, Czech Republic
Jun. 29 - With Full Force - Germany
Jul. 01 - Tuska – Finland

A four-and-a-half-minute trailer for "Steel", the debut album from Finnish female-fronted metallers BATTLE BEAST, can be seen below.

"Steel" — which was originally released in Finland last year via Hype Records — will be made available internationally on January 27 through Nuclear Blast Records.

Formed in 2008, BATTLE BEAST won the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle contest in Finland last year, enabling the band to perform at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany and represent its home country in the international Metal Battle finals. The group beat out 26 other acts from all around the world, which led to a record deal with the world's biggest independent heavy metal label.

Commented Andy Siry, head of A&R at Nuclear Blast: "Young, dynamic but still deeply rooted in traditional heavy metal, BATTLE BEAST breathe new life into the scene and rekindle the sound of the '80s with a fulgent livery. The well-deserved victory at the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle 2010 was the first important step to which we want to live up by supporting these up-and-coming talents energetically. We're looking forward to the cooperation!"

Added BATTLE BEAST guitarist Anton: "We feel honoured that Nuclear Blast show their interest in BATTLE BEAST by releasing 'Steel'. Many thanks to our partners, closest people and most of all to our fans who believed in us and gave us their support. The journey continues!"

"Steel" track listing:

01. Enter The Metal World
02. Armageddon Clan
03. The Band Of The Hawk
04. Justice And Metal
05. Steel
06. Die-Hard Warrior
07. Cyberspace
08. Show Me How To Die
09. Savage And Saint
10. Iron Hand
11. Victory
12. Stay Black (bonus track)

BATTLE BEAST is:

Nitte Valo (vocals)
Anton Kabanen (guitar, vocals)
Pyry Vikki (drums)
Juuso Soinio (guitar)
Eero Sipilä (bass, vocals)
Janne Björkroth (keyboards, vocals)

BATTLE BEAST will support NIGHTWISH on a European tour beginning on April 11, 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The first teaser for the forthcoming seventh album from Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS is available below.

TRAIL OF TEARS in September finished recording its as-yet-untitled new CD at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes. The band is currently seeking a suitable record label to release the effort.

Commented the band: "Cathrine [Paulsen] came through the extreme schedule with flying colours, putting the finishing vocals on the end result and delivered a performance for the history books!

"We believe that we have created something extraordinary and can't wait to share it with you all. Never before has a recording process involved so much blood, sweat and tears!"

TRAIL OF TEARS in 2010 parted ways with guitarist Pål Olsen and opted to carry on as a five-piece.

TRAIL OF TEARS's sixth album, "Bloodstained Endurance", was recorded and mixed over a six-week period at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes. Mastering duties were handled by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Finland. The cover artwork for the album was designed by acclaimed artist Travis Smith (AMORPHIS, OPETH, NEVERMORE).

In 2007, TRAIL OF TEARS was rejoined by vocalist Cathrine Paulsen, who sang on the group's 2002 album, "A New Dimension of Might".

Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED will release their new album, "Obsidium", on March 20 in Europe and on April 10 in North America via Agonia Records.

The cover artwork, which was created by Olve J. W.l., can be seen below.

As previously reported, ENTHRONED's touring guitarist Tzelmoth has quit playing and performing in order to focus on his private life.

ENTHRONED released its eighth album, "Pentagrammaton", on March 22, 2010 via Regain Records.

ENTHRONED in 2010 parted ways with Nguaroth (guitar) and Ahephaim (drums) and replaced them with Neraath and Garghuf (ex-GORGOROTH), respectively.

ENTHRONED is:

Nornagest - Vocals, Guitar
Neraath - Guitar, Effects
Phorgath - Bass, Vocals
Garghuf - Drums
Noens - Live Guitar