12 years after the formation of one of Germany's most successful art rock bands the Freising quintet RPWL takes its first shot at a concept album. Beyond Man And Time is a musical journey through the world outside of Platon's cave. On March 13th in North America and on March 9th in Europe, the record will be released in a standard version as well as an exclusive bonus edition that includes an audio book. The record will also be presented live across Europe in April 2012.

In addition to the regular version of the album there will also be a bonus edition limited of 2,000 copies. This exclusive edition includes an additional audio book that connects the music even more closely to the philosophical approach, plus a topographic map of the new world that is to be explored. Also, RPWL listeners are to be given a special live experience: audiences will be introduced to the record on an extensive European tour in April 2012.

The material is the perfect start for the five musicians as they were translating it into music. They create musical themes for every single character on Beyond Man And Time: oriental percussion, expanded Moog-soli and an Indian sitar take care of a well placed, atmospheric and colorful adaptation. That is why the musical journey naturally culminates in a 16-minute-opus called 'The Fisherman', and ends on a calm and meditative note with 'The Noon'.

"The goal is to open eyes, look further, see more, and see differently. Words that everybody approves of are not going to lead to progress. We call that: "deadlock of the spirit". Too many approaches of our time disappear in the void of the equal - the conformist." -Yogi Lang (vocals)

Tracklisting:

'Transformed'
'We Are What We Are'
'Beyond Man and Time'
'Unchain the Earth'
'The Ugliest Man in the World'
'The Road of Creation'
'Somwhere in Between'
'The Shadow'
'The Wise in the Desert'
'The Fisherman'
'The Noon'

Chicago rockers BIBLE OF THE DEVIL have announced that their sixth full-length album entitled For The Love Of Thugs And Fools will be released May 8th via Cruz Del Sur music.

The band recorded the album at Phantom Manor studios in Chicago with engineer Mike Lust recordings.

According to a press release: “For The Love Of Thugs And Fools is viewed by the band as a document of the many characters they have encountered through the life of the band, whether it be in love, loss, friendship, or hatred. Having toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe since the band's inception in late 1999 and living in the volatile urban environment Chicago, where encounters with crime, violence, and 'street justice' are unavoidable, there has been much subject matter for the band to draw from. Embracing the philosophy that a bottle of whiskey and some loud guitar is often the best cure available for these challenges and ordeals, Bible Of The Devil have chosen to document their grievances in the form of one devastating Rock n' Roll platter."

Singer/guitarist Mark Hoffmann commented: "The few years since the last full-length have been like a dare, A dare to create a soaring, punishing rock n' roll record of this magnitude. It is a dare that we have been forced to answer ourselves."

Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Sexual Overture/While You Were Away’
‘Out For Blood’
‘Anytime’
‘The Parcher’
‘(I Know What Is Right) In The Night’
‘Raw & Order’
‘Can't Turn Off The Sun’
‘Yer Boy’
‘Night Street’

Regina, Saskatchewan-based Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY have recruited Amanda Kiernan of the Edmonton, Alberta-based metal band THE ORDER OF CHAOS as their new touring singer.

States Amanda: "This is a wonderful opportunity for me that I couldn't pass up. I look forward to this experience. However, THE ORDER OF CHAOS will remain my number one priority."

INTO ETERNITY vocalist Stu Block was recently recruited by power metal giants ICED EARTH, with whom he recorded the band's latest CD, "Dystopia".

INTO ETERNITY earlier in the month posted studio and rehearsal footage of their new song "Fukushima", written about the Fukushima Daiichi, Japan nuclear disaster (a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011). You can now watch the one-and-a-half-minute clip below.

As previously reported, Canadian label War On Music Records will issue several albums by INTO ETERNITY for the first time ever on vinyl. "Dead Or Dreaming" (2001), "Buried In Oblivion" (2004) and "Scattering Of The Ashes" (2006) will be made available, each as a limited LP release, starting in early spring 2012.

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

Commented INTO ETERNITY singer/guitarist Tim Roth: "The new songs are coming along quite well and we'll have two new songs finished and mixed in the upcoming weeks. So far five songs have been recorded (30 minutes) and we are looking forward to get working on the next batch of new INTO ETERNITY songs.

"2012 also brings some great news for vinyl-loving fans. Century Media contacted us about releasing our albums on vinyl. It has always been a dream of ours to have our collection put out on vinyl. Thanks to Charley at War On Music Records for finally making this dream a reality. I know a lot of fans have asked us over the years for vinyl, so this is really great news!"

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

Watch www.waronmusic.com for details and pre-orders for the the upcoming vinyl releases.

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

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

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

Pictured below: Amanda Kiernan

"Dark Domains", a collection of tracks recorded by long-defunct Swedish death metallers ALTAR during their six-year existence from 1989 to 1995, has been made available through Konqueror Records. The 17-track compilation was remastered by Swedish multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Dan Swanö at Unisound Studio in Sweden and features a brand new exclusive album cover artwork and layout by Poland's Kontamination Design.

This "Dark Domains" compilation CD is dedicated in loving memory of the late Mieszko Talarczyk (NASUM, ex-ALTAR).

"Dark Domains" track listing:

01. Nothing Human (1992 CD)
02. Lifeless Passion (1992 CD)
03. Daymare / A Message From The Grave (1992 CD)
04. Decapitated (1992 CD)
05. Ex Oblivione (1992 CD)
06. Sleeping Prophet (1993 Demo)
07. Floodgates Of Emotions (1993 Demo)
08. Darklight (1993 Demo)
09. Violent Acts (1994 Demo)
10. Days Forever Grey (1994 Demo)
11. Severed On The Attic (1991 Demo)
12. Decapitated (1991 Demo)
13. Hallucinations (1991 Demo)
14. No Flesh… (1991 Demo)
15. Instrumental (1995 Demo)
16. Severed On The Attic (1992 CD)
17. No Flesh… (1992 CD)

Featuring never-before-seen photos carefully hand-picked by ALTAR, "Dark Domains" is the ultimate collector's gem that every old-school death metal fan will ever need to possess.

Dutch symphonic rockers EPICA will release their new album, Requiem For The Indifferent, in Europe on March 9th and the US and Canada on March 13th via Nuclear Blast.

Says the band: "Here we are with the first official teaser. This time however we're doing it like no one has done before, by weekly releasing an extra layer of music, giving our fans a little more insight in the complexity and the different aspects of Epica's music. As this is the first video in the series, you'll only hear Arien's drums. However, the next seven weeks we will add layer by layer, and make the sample longer and longer. Through these videos we will also weekly release backstage pictures, pieces of the album artwork, tour updates, etc, to make the wait for the album just a little bit more bearable!"

German rockers THE NEW BLACK - featuring SINNER guitarist Christof Leim - have issued the following update:

"Wow, has it been a year already since II: Better In Black came out??? Oh yeah! On January, 21st we released our second album, and we're still damn proud of it. Time really does fly if you're having fun, huh?

To celebrate this, we have a nice little clip for you that has been sitting in the vaults for a while. It's for the song 'Soon', the psychedelic weirdness that was released as a bonus track to the CD version only. Not available on iTunes et al. This tune underwent quite a transition, in fact it was written when Fludid sang his part - and then Fabs changed the music underneath the vocals again. So there's an almost entirely different version floating around, but we like this better, it's heavier.

Directed by our very own Fludid, so it naturally features hot chicks. Haha! Enjoy!"

Die Veröffentlichung der achten Ausgabe der ultimativen Metal-Compilation “MONSTERS OF METAL” auf DVD/Blu-Ray, mit 90 Musikvideos und über 400 Minuten purem Metal, wurde verschoben. Die Compilation erscheint nun am 16. März 2012 via Nuclear Blast.

Die Monstercompliation kommt erstmals zusätzlich zu 2 DVDs mit Blu-ray im edlen Digibook! Jeweils über 400 Minuten Videoclips aus den aktuellen Alben von NIGHTWISH, EDGUY, DIMMU BORGIR, AMORPHIS, DIE APOLKALYPTISCHEN REITER, HAMMERFALL, ACCEPT, BLIND GUARDIAN, AVANTASIA, DEATHSTARS, MONSTER MAGNET, LEAVES’ EYES, TRISTANIA, NEVERMORE, LACUNA COIL, ARCH ENEMY, DREAM THEATER, MACHINE HEAD, OPETH, TRIVIUM, FEAR FACTORY…

www.nuclearblast.de

http://www.nuclearblast.de/de/produkte/tontraeger/dvd-bluray/dvd/v.a.-monsters-of-metal-vol.-8.html

The track list:

DVD1: 205 Minuten, 16:9 PAL, DVD9, Region All, Dolby Stereo

01 Nightwish - Storytime
02 Deathstars - Metal
03 Pain - The Great Pretender
04 Amorphis - You I Need
05 Opeth - The Devils Orchard
06 Lacuna Coil - Within Me
07 Therion - Kali Yuga Part 3: Autumn Of The Aeons
08 Leaves Eyes - Take The Devil In Me
09 Tristania - Year Of The Rat
10 Draconian - The Last Hour Of Ancient Sunlight
11 Saltatio Mortis - Hochzeitstanz
12 Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - Dr. Pest
13 Monster Magnet - Gods & Punks
14 Graveyard - Hisingen Blues
15 Seventh Void - Heaven Is Gone
16 Chrome Division - Bulldogs Unleashed
17 Dream Theater - On The Backs Of Angels
18 Gotthard - Remember Its Me
19 Edguy - Robin Hood
20 Blind Guardian A Voice In The Dark
21 Accept - Pandemic
22 Sabaton - Screaming Eagles
23 Hammerfall - One More Time
24 Rhapsody Of Fire - Sea Of Fate
25 Avantasia - Dying For An Angel
26 Powerwolf - We Drink Your Blood
27 Grave Digger - Rebellion Live@Wacken
28 Hell - On Earth As It Is In Hell
29 Tarot - Wings OfDarkness
30 Bullet - Stay Wild
31 Steelwing - The Illusion
32 Enforcer - Midnight Vice
33 Skullfist - Head Of The Pack
34 White Wizzard - Over The Top
35 Cauldron - Chained Up In Chains
36 Huntress - Eight Of Swords
37 Battle Beast - Into The Metalworld
38 Armored Saint - Left Hook From Right Field
39 Nevermore - Born
40 Alestorm - Shipwrecked
41 Turisas - Stand Up And Fight
42 Heidevolk - Nehalennia
43 Trollfest - Die VerdammteHungersnot
44. Milking The Goatmachine -The Wolf Is Dead

DVD2: 203 Minuten, 16:9 PAL, DVD9, Region All, Dolby Stereo

01 Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
02 Immortal - All Shall Fall
03 Triptykon - Shatter
04 Melechesh - Grand Gathas Of Baal Sin
05 Fleshgod Apocalypse - The Violation
06 MaYan - War On Terror
07 Kataklysm - At The Edge Of The World
08 Immolation - A Glorious Epoch
09 Graveworm - See No Future
10 Hail Of Bullets - Operation Z
11 Machine Head - Imperium
12 Legion Of The Damned - The Hand Of Darkness
13 Death Angel - River Of Rapture
14 Overkill - Bring Me The Night
15 Destruction - Hate Is My Fuel
16 Suicidal Angels - Bleeding Holocaust
17 Evile - Infected Nation
18 Municipal Waste - Sadistic Magician
19 Agnostic Front - My Life / My Way
20 Madball - All Or Nothing
21 Zimmers Hole - When You Were Shouting At The Devil...
22 Fear Factory - Fear Campagin
23 Arch Enemy - Yesterday Is Dead And Gone
24 Soilwork - Let This River Flow
25 Cipher System - Communicate The Storms
26 Channel Zero - In The City
27 Devildriver - Dead To Rights
28 Trivium - In Waves
29 Sylosis - Empyreal
30 Sonic Syndicate - Revolution, Baby!
31 Asking Alexandria - The Final Episode (Lets Change The Channel)
32 Attack Attack! - Smokahontas
33 We Came As Romans - Broken Statues
34 Like Moths To Flames - You Wont Be Missed
35 Of Mice And Men - Second And Sebring
36 Miss I May - Masses Of A Dying Breed
37 Tasters - Please Destroy This World
38 Suicide Silence - Disengage
39 All Shall Perish - There Is Nothing Left
40 The Black Dahlia Murder - Moonlight Equilibrium
41 Darkest Hour - Savor The Kill
42 Winds Of Plague - Refined In The Fire
43 Heaven Shall Burn - Combat
44 Architects - Heartburn
45 TesseracT - Nascent
46 Textures - Reaching Home

Bluray:
408:23 Minuten, 1080p - Dolby Stereo

01 Nightwish - Storytime
02 Deathstars - Metal
03 Pain - The Great Pretender
04 Amorphis - You I Need
05 Opeth - The Devils Orchard
06 Lacuna Coil - Within Me
07 Therion - Kali Yuga Part 3: Autumn Of The Aeons
08 Leaves Eyes - Take The Devil In Me
09 Tristania - Year Of The Rat
10 Draconian - The Last Hour Of Ancient Sunlight
11 Saltatio Mortis - Hochzeitstanz
12 Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - Dr. Pest
13 Monster Magnet - Gods & Punks
14 Graveyard - Hisingen Blues
15 Seventh Void - Heaven Is Gone
16 Chrome Division - Bulldogs Unleashed
17 Dream Theater - On The Backs Of Angels
18 Gotthard - Remember Its Me
19 Edguy - Robin Hood
20 Blind Guardian A Voice In The Dark
21 Accept - Pandemic
22 Sabaton - Screaming Eagles
23 Hammerfall - One More Time
24 Rhapsody Of Fire - Sea Of Fate
25 Avantasia - Dying For An Angel
26 Powerwolf - We Drink Your Blood
27 Grave Digger - Rebellion Live@Wacken
28 Hell - On Earth As It Is In Hell
29 Tarot - Wings OfDarkness
30 Bullet - Stay Wild
31 Steelwing - The Illusion
32 Enforcer - Midnight Vice
33 Skullfist - Head Of The Pack
34 White Wizzard - Over The Top
35 Cauldron - Chained Up In Chains
36 Huntress - Eight Of Swords
37 Battle Beast - Into The Metalworld
38 Armored Saint - Left Hook From Right Field
39 Nevermore - Born
40 Alestorm - Shipwrecked
41 Turisas - Stand Up And Fight
42 Heidevolk - Nehalennia
43 Trollfest - Die VerdammteHungersnot
44. Milking The Goatmachine -The Wolf Is Dead
45 Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
46 Immortal - All Shall Fall
47 Triptykon - Shatter
48 Melechesh - Grand Gathas Of Baal Sin
49 Fleshgod Apocalypse - The Violation
50 MaYan - War On Terror
51 Kataklysm - At The Edge Of The World
52 Immolation - A Glorious Epoch
53 Graveworm - See No Future
54 Hail Of Bullets - Operation Z
55 Machine Head - Imperium
56 Legion Of The Damned - The Hand Of Darkness
57 Death Angel - River Of Rapture
58 Overkill - Bring Me The Night
59 Destruction - Hate Is My Fuel
60 Suicidal Angels - Bleeding Holocaust
61 Evile - Infected Nation
62 Municipal Waste - Sadistic Magician
63 Agnostic Front - My Life / My Way
64 Madball - All Or Nothing
65 Zimmers Hole - When You Were Shouting At The Devil...
66 Fear Factory - Fear Campagin
67 Arch Enemy - Yesterday Is Dead And Gone
68 Soilwork - Let This River Flow
69 Cipher System - Communicate The Storms
70 Channel Zero - In The City
71 Devildriver - Dead To Rights
72 Trivium - In Waves

Vocalist Neil Turbin (DEATHRIDERS, ANTHRAX), drummer/vocalist Jeff Martin (RACER X, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, BADLANDS, DOKKEN, PAUL GILBERT, GEORGE LYNCH) and bassist Rev Jones (STEELHEART, MOUNTAIN, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, FUEL, BLACK SYMPHONY) are among the musicians who took part in the NAMM Metal Jam 2012 on January 18 at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California. According to a press release, these musicians ripped "through hits by JUDAS PRIEST, DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZZY, RAINBOW, ACCEPT, MOTÖRHEAD, WHITESNAKE and much more!" They also paid tribute to Gary Moore and the one and only Ronnie James Dio.

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

New York hardcore/metal veterans BIOHAZARD have pulled the plug on their previously announced plans to give away their new album, "Reborn In Defiance", in its entirety "for free" to all fans in the United States starting January 20.

In what what was being billed as "the first such promotion ever launched," the record was supposed be made available for free download off Revolver magazine's web site, RevolverMag.com, as well as through the technology offered by Repudo.com. Fans were being encouraged to check into BIOHAZARD "Containment Zones" (record stores, venues, and more) across the United States using the Repudo app on their smart phones and download the new record directly to their phones or send it to their email inbox.

A new message on BIOHAZARD's official Facebook page reads as follows:

"We regret to inform you all that due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be able to offer our new record, 'Reborn In Defiance', in the U.S. at this time. We love all of you who have continued to support us through the years and can't wait to share with you a record that we are extremely proud of. Thank you so much for your understanding and patience and a special thanks to our partners Revolver, Repudo and Google for their hard work setting this up. All of our touring plans are still solidified and we are excited to see you all out on the road!"

"Reborn In Defiance" was released in Europe today (Friday, January 20) via Nuclear Blast Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. 9:IIIX6.941
02. Vengeance Is Mine
03. Decay
04. Reborn
05. Killing Me
06. Countdown Doom
07. Come Alive
08. Vows Of Redemption
09. Waste Away
10. You Were Wrong
11. Skullcrusher
12. Never Give In
13. Season The Sky

"Skullcrusher" can also be streamed using the audio player below.

"It's literally almost impossible to rely on the music industry to pay your bills," Billy Graziadeitold Noisecreep. "It's such a crap shoot to begin with. These days it's even harder. So for me, I don't rely on BIOHAZARD to pay my bills, so when we had a chance to go on tour and to reunite... it was on a personal level, it was amazing. And not having to do it as a job or to pay bills is a fucking great place to be. For me, I feel like I came full circle. I do it because I love it. I love to be on stage. It's kind of similar in a lot of ways — we're a lot more savvy with what is up now; we've been through so many different labels. We get up there, we have a blast. We made a record, we worked really hard to make a record we're all really proud of and we're doing it for the love of it. The industry is not the same as when we started. . . At the end of the day, most of this record will be given away but it's a different era and for us. You gotta love what you do, otherwise it's not worth it."

"Skullcrusher" audio stream:

"Dark Adrenaline", the new album from the Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL, will be released in North America on January 24 via Century Media Records. Produced by Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE), the CD promises to deliver the melodic, sensual, metallic rush for which the band has come to be known.

LACUNA COIL fans both old and new will have a variety of options to choose from, as "Dark Adrenaline" will be released in a number of formats, including standard-edition CD and vinyl, deluxe-edition digipak with a bonus DVD, sticker, poster and guitar pick and as an iTunes LP with expanded packaging, five bonus audio tracks and video. The Metal Club edition will feature exclusive artwork designed by the band and will be limited to 3000 units. The Hastings edition will feature a bonus 10-track LACUNA COIL sampler, and the Amazon digital edition comes with a free five-track sampler.

For true fans of LACUNA COIL, the "Darkest Adrenaline" box set will be available. It includes both the digipak and vinyl versions of the album along with a hardcover photo book, a LACUNA COIL custom syringe pen and ink, a lyric pad, signed lithographs created by the band and more, all housed in a LACUNA COIL medical box. This box set is limited to 500 pieces and is available exclusively through CM Distro.

A two-minute video featuring the unveiling of the "Darkest Adrenaline" box set can be seen below.

Fans worldwide will be able to check out a special virtual acoustic performance and question-and-answer session with LACUNA COIL on Tuesday, January 24 via www.stageit.com. The event will be broadcast live at 7:00 p.m. EST from acclaimed record store Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey.

Fans who purchase the new album at any Metal Club store will receive an exclusive code to watch the performance for free.

All proceeds will be donated to Rezophonic, a project with which the band is actively involved, that is dedicated to providing medical assistance to remote regions of East Africa.

Fans lucky enough to live near Vintage Vinyl can actually witness this special acoustic performance in person.

Pre-order LACUNA COIL's new album, "Dark Adrenaline", to get a wristband that will get you into into the in-store performance on January 24. Order online or in person at the store while supplies last. The event is on release date, so you can pick up your copy of the album at the performance.

As previously announced, LACUNA COIL will support MEGADETH on their critically-acclaimed Gigantour. This run will also feature MOTÖRHEAD and VOLBEAT.

Fan-filmed video footage of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen's January 17 performance at Forum Palace in in Vilnius, Lithuania can be seen below.

Turunen's new project, HARUS, last month released a CD/DVD/Blu-ray, entitled "In Concert - Live At Sibelius Hall".

The HARUS live album/DVD was made available worldwide by earMUSIC in collaboration with Edel's classic music division Berlin Classics. This joint venture from two music labels apparently far away from each other would probably sound bizarre at first sight (a label operating in alternative and metal music with one representing traditional classical music artists). The reason lies beneath the many sides of Tarja Turunen's music.

The first output of HARUS features traditional and emotional music from Finland presented together with more international repertoire.

Tarja's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 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.

"What Lies Beneath" was released in North America on September 14, 2010 via The End Records.

Demo versions of four songs that were written during the sessions for CHIMAIRA's latest album, "The Age Of Hell", are available for streaming below. Two of the tracks ("Clockwork" and "Scum Of The Earth") were subsequently re-recorded for the final CD while the last two did not make the cut and had been unreleased until now.

CHIMAIRA's "Chimaira Christmas" concert on December 30, 2011 at the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio marked the band's final performance with guitarists Matt DeVries and Rob Arnold.

Going forward, CHIMAIRA's lineup will be as follows:

Mark Hunter - Vocals
Matt Szlachta (DIRGE WITHIN) - Guitar
Jeremy Creamer (DAATH) - Bass
Emil Werstler (DAATH) - Guitar
Sean Zatorsky (DAATH) - Keyboards
Austin D'Amond (BLEED THE SKY, THE ELITE) - Drums

CHIMAIRA last month released a free digital EP, "The Age Of Remix Hell", via Multiupload.com. The effort, as the title suggests, contains remixed versions of songs from "The Age Of Hell".

"The Age Of Hell" sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Infection", opened with 15,000 units back in April 2009 to land at No. 30. This figure was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by CHIMAIRA's 2007 album, "Resurrection", which shifted 16,000 copies to enter the chart at No. 42.

"The Age Of Hell" was released in the U.S. on August 16, 2011 via eOne Music; in Germany on August 26; and in the United Kingdom, Australia and the rest of Europe on August 29 through Long Branch Records.

"Scum Of The Earth" demo:

Deep in the heart of Hell Paso Texas, MINISTRY's Al Jourgensen re-opened the doors of his industrial compound studio in fall 2011 and invited his favorite co-conspirators Mike Scaccia (RIGOR MORTIS), Tony Campos (STATIC-X), Tommy Victor (PRONG) and Casey Orr (RIGOR MORTIS, GWAR) to climb on board the MINISTRY pirate ship and de-construct and re-construct Jourgensen's monsterpiece, "Relapse".

Thirty years and 12 albums later, as well as a near-death experience in 2010, Jourgensen rises as a phoenix from the ashes with "Relapse" — still angry, still political and very very pissed off. Relapsing back into the music industry after a four-year hiatus, Jourgensen launches his audio assault with "Ghouldiggers", a no-holds-barred metal bullet aimed directly at the pitfalls of the industry he has survived. Everything Jourgensen predicted on "Houses Of The Molé", "Rio Grande Blood" and "The Last Sucker" has transpired and as we approach the Mayan calendar of the End of Days in 2012, Jourgensen, re-invigorated by the global 99 Percenters and Occupy Wall Street movement, navigates through "Relapse" once again as a reluctant prophet accusing, dissecting, cajoling and exhorting greed, corruption and lies.

Reaching back to his punk rock roots, Jourgensen and his MINISTRY pirates cover S.O.D.'s "United Forces" — a track written 20 years ago still relevant today as a call to arms for the unrighteous and to those who feel disenfranchised by the "system" as it stands today.

Cited as the driving force behind a cross-section of metal genres from industrial's NINE INCH NAILS and STATIC-X to nu metal's KORN, LINKIN PARK and LIMP BIZKIT, and receiving six Grammy nominations for "Best Metal Performance", Jourgensen returns with his greatest achievement to date with "Relapse".

"Relapse" track listing:

01. Ghouldiggers
02. Double Tap
03. FreeFall
04. Kleptocracy
05. United Forces
06. 99 Percenters
07. Relapse
08. Weekend Warrior
09. Git Up Get Out 'n Vote
10. Bloodlust
11. Relapse Defibrillator Mix (Special Limited Edition)

"Double Tap" will be released as a maxi-single on February 24.

Jourgensen spoke to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine in August about his band's decision to reform for a new album and tour, including an appearance at next year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

When asked how the resurrection of MINISTRY came about, Jourgensen said, "While I was working on [the BUCK SATAN record], me and Mike Scaccia from RIGOR MORTIS fucked around to pass the time and we had like, 5,6,7 songs and I didn't really want to do anything with them but Mikey was like, 'Dude, these songs are awesome.' They weren't country, they were more like MINISTRY. So he's coming by in September and Tommy Victor's [PRONG; guitar] coming by in October with Tony Campos [SOULFLY, ex-STATIC-X; bass] and we're gonna finish up another MINISTRY album by Christmas called 'Relapse'."

Regarding the sound of the new MINISTRY material, Al said, "I think this is actually gonna wind up being the fastest and heaviest record I've ever done. Just because we did it as anti-therapy therapy against the country music we would just take days off and thrash faster than I've done in a long time, faster than Mikey's done in a long time. He did a RIGOR MORTIS tour and said it was easy compared to this MINISTRY stuff so it's gonna be brutal and it's gonna freak a lot of people out."

Stockholm, Sweden-based apocalyptic post-rock/metal band ATOMA has inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records.

The group's debut album, "Skylight", will be released on the following dates:

Spain, Finland, Sweden: March 28
Rest of Europe: April 2
North America: April 3

Commented the band: "We've inked a deal with Napalm Records, to leave earth behind and explore other worlds. Goodbye, planet earth."

"Skylight" track listing:

01. Atoma
02. Skylight
03. Hole in the Sky
04. Highway
05. Bermuda Riviera
06. Resonance
07. Solaris
08. Rainmen
09. Saturn & I
10. Cloud Nine

ATOMA is:

Ehsan Kalantarpour – Vocal, Synth
Markus Hill - Drums
Siavosh Bigonah – Bass, Guitar

Relapse Records has announced the re-signing of Swedish goregrind legends GENERAL SURGERY.

Originally formed in 1988, GENERAL SURGERY (Joacim Carlsson - guitar, Andreas Eriksson - bass, Andreas Mitroulis - drums, Erik Sahlström - lead vocals) released the seminal "Necrology" EP via Relapse in 1991 before going on a long hiatus until 2002. The band issued numerous splits, EPs, and two full-length albums since then and will be coming back in a blood-soaked rage in 2012!

"A Collection Of Depravation", a compilation of 30 GENERAL SURGERY choice cuts will see its official release via Relapse on March 27. The collection was digitally remastered by PIG DESTROYER's Scott Hull and contains a 24-page booklet with extensive liner notes from the band.

In other news, GENERAL SURGERY will release a new seven-inch EP and record a full-length album in the near future.

Commented GENERAL SURGERY's Dr. Carlsson: "We are honored to announce that we will once again be working with the label that started us off (and in a way, we helped get off to a good start too back in 1990). Things are indeed coming full circle as we enter another phase of our gristle spattered career. The seeds for this collaboration were sown during the process of re-releasing the 'Necrology' EP last year, where both parties felt that further co-operation would be just the right thing for the future.

"Coming up immediately is our new 30-track collection CD, 'A Collection of Depravation', brimming with old putrefying cuts from our earlier split releases. Following that will be a 5-track 7" EP entitled 'Like An Ever Flying Limb', recorded during fall 2011 at Audiohammer (Sweden) studio. As if that wasn't enough, there will be a third full-length album to look forward to in the not so distant future."

Fans that have seen Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH perform live on their recent trips to Alaska, Japan and on their U.S. and Canadian tour with CHIMAIRA may have noticed a new face on stage. The guy behind the kit has been none other than up-and-coming musician Nick Pierce.

Pierce is a self-taught drummer who's been playing since age 10. He grew up playing for local bands in the Seattle/Tacoma area (CULLING THE WEAK, ETERNA NOCTURNA, EMBALMED) as well as Los Angeles-based band THE FACELESS. Nick first sat in behind the kit for UNEARTH in May of 2011 during their two show trip to Alaska. UNEARTH discovered Pierce on YouTube where he had been covering UNEARTH songs, among many other bands, on a series of videos on his YouTube channel.

Comments UNEARTH vocalist Trevor Phipps: "Nick is a beast of a drummer and a great guy to hang with. I look forward to jamming with him around the world for years to come." Guitarist Buz McGrath adds that Pierce has a "great attitude, energy and the knowledge that we can throw the most insane riffs at him and he can create and adequately perform next level beats for said riffs makes it a little easier to sleep at night."

Stated Nick Pierce: "I've been a fan of UNEARTH for many years and I'm excited to shred with a great group of guys and support our fans."

A video clip of Pierce performing the UNEARTH song "Watch It Burn" live can be viewed below.

UNEARTH's new album, "Darkness In The Light", sold 6,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 72 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The March", opened with around 11,000 units back in October 2008 to land at No. 45.

"Darkness In The Light" was recorded at Zing Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts with producer (and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist) Adam Dutkiewicz. The effort was mixed by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM) from Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.

"Balor", the new video from German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA, can be viewed below.

"Balor" comes off SUIDAKRA's tenth album, "Book Of Dowth", which was released on March 25, 2011 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded at Gernhart Studio in Siegburg, Germany with producer Martin Buchwalter. Famous Belgian graphic artist Kris Verwimp once again created the cover artwork and lyrical concept.

Inspired by the darker side of Celtic lore, the concept of "Book Of Dowth" chronicles the mythology of a mysterious race of demonic beings known as the "Fomor." Starting with the discovery of an ancient book at the excavation of Dowth (a Neolithic passage tomb in the Boyne Valley, Ireland), it unveils the yet untold story of the rise and fall of the Fomorian horde throughout history and far, far beyond…

"Book Of Dowth" track listing:

01. Over Nine Waves
02. Dowth 2059
03. Battle-Cairns
04. Biróg's Oath
05. Mag Mell
06. The Dark Mound
07. Balor
08. Stone Of The Seven Suns
09. Fury Fomoraigh
10. Otherworlds Collide

Digipak bonus tracks:

11. Rise Of Taliesin (classically re-arranged version)
12. When Eternity Echoes (classically re-arranged version)
13. Dowth 2059 (video)

SUIDAKRA's ninth album, "Crógacht", was released in the U.S. in March 2009 through Wacken Records/SPV.

Audio samples of three songs that will appear on "Private Sessions", the forthcoming fourth album from Kentucky rockers HYDROGYN, can be streamed using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below (click on "Songs" tab). 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.

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.

Los Angeles-based, female-fronted metallers HUNTRESS will release their debut album, "Spell Eater", on April 27 via Napalm Records.

The official video for the CD's first single, "Eight Of Swords", can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Simon Chan of Artificial Army and was produced/engineered by Chris Rakestraw of Sunset Lodge Recording.

According to a press release, "HUNTRESS lead singer Jill Janus is an operatic banshee with an unparalleled four-octave range and lust for the occult. Born and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York, she toured Europe as a teenage opera starlet. Upon her return to the States, Janus embraced Manhattan nightlife, creating Felliniesque cabarets and parties in a nihilistic club scene. Years later, Janus moved to Los Angeles and began the gestation period of HUNTRESS. In 2009 she met underground metal band PROFESSOR. The universe spread her legs and delivered HUNTRESS to Janus, combining former members of PROFESSOR, DARK BLACK and SKELETONWITCH."

HUNTRESS is:

Vocals: Jill Janus
Lead Guitar: Blake Meahl
Rhythm Guitar: Ian Alden
Drums: Carl Wierzbicky
Bass: Eric Harris

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/huntresskills.

KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday (Friday, January 20) at a surprise party Soho House in Los Angeles thrown by his wife Erin Stanley and KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons. The party was attended by Paul's family, friends and all of his current bandmates, including drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer.

Video footage of Stanley performing a cover of LED ZEPPELIN's version of "You Shook Me" (originally by MUDDY WATERS) with Ty Taylor of VINTAGE TROUBLE at last night's party can be seen below. Also available is a photo of the birthday cake (courtesy of KissOnline.com).

KISS' official web site, KissOnline.com, has posted the following birthday greetings from Paul's bandmates:

Gene Simmons: "Paul, my very best wishes on your birthday. You're the brother I never had. You've always been there. For me. For the band. For the fans."

Tommy Thayer: "Happy birthday, Paul! You're a great friend & a brother in arms... We just made a kick-ass album together and had a great time doing it. You are THE rock & roll champion! Happy 60th!!

Eric Singer: "Paul Stanley, Happy Birthday to the Grand Master of Ceremonies! You're still the best and I wish you only better days ahead..."

Paul Stanley (real name Stanley Harvey Eisen) was born January 20, 1952 in New York City.

Stanley and his wife Erin welcomed daughter Emily Grace Stanley last August in Los Angeles.

Emily, who weighed in at 7 lbs., 10 oz, joined elder siblings Sarah Brianna, 2, Colin Michael, 5, and Evan Shane, 17, Stanley's son from a previous relationship.