Mit SVARTIR SANDAR, ihrem vierten Album, haben Sólstafir ein Epos erschaffen, aus dem sie jetzt den Song 'Fjara' mit einem großartigen Video versehen haben. Es feiert bei uns Weltpremiere.

Sólstafir lehnen sich mit ihrem vierten Album SVARTIR SANDAR weit aus dem Fenster - und schaffen es, die Schönheit ihrer isländischen Heimat in Songs zu schmelzen. Auf zwei CDs verteilt bieten sie ihren Fans eine musikalische Reise mit Seltenheitswert. Dass sie damit unseren Soundcheck-Thron erklimmen konnten, verwundert nicht.

Den Song ‘Fjara' haben sie zusätzlich noch mit einem - dem Album-Anspruch entsprechenden - Video versehen, dass welt-exklusiv hier und jetzt Premiere feiert. Viel Spaß:

Greece's Rockpages recently conducted an interview with guitarist Jason Hook of Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Rockpages: Metal bands that attract what we call "mainstream" are often doomed by hardcore metal fans.

Hook: To have a broad audience is a good thing. I love metal but I also like to sing along to songs. If you look at METALLICA, they aren't that heavy relative to what’s out there these days... James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] is pretty much singing all the way through the songs and they're catchy songs. The "black" album was mainstream and probably turned off some of their hardcore fans but it sold 20 million copies and changed the future of that band forever.

Rockpages: Talking about METALLICA who recently collaborated with Lou Reed, I'd like to ask you what you thought about that. It was something that caused various reactions. Some liked it, others hated it. What about you, what do you think of "Lulu"?

Hook: I played it for the [other] guys [in the band] and we were all speechless. I'm fascinated with [METALLICA's] decision to release something like that. Brave, to say the least.

Read the entire interview from Rockpages.

InsideOut Music has announced the signing of progressive groove metallers STEALING AXION. The band's full-length debut, "Moments", will be released later in the year.

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, STEALING AXION was formed in the winter of 2009 by three friends, Dan Forbrich (vocals, guitar), Josh DeShazo (vocals, guitar), and Phil Willmarth (vocals, bass.) By early 2010, the band recorded and released their buzzworthy self-titled EP while continuing to write and record more material. While "Stealing Axion" circulated around the web, fans and critics praised it for its musical proficiency, atmospheric passages and heavy grooves.

The band then enlisted Charlie Shaughnessy (guitar) and Blake Ferris (drums) to round out their lineup while working closely with Acle Kahney (producer, guitarist of TESSERACT, who mixed and mastered these new tracks). STEALING AXION finally had enough material to put together a full-length CD.

In regards to their signing and the exciting year ahead, STEALING AXION comments, "We're beyond excited to join the InsideOut family! We've been listening to bands from this label for years and are thrilled to be working with an amazing team!"

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

Dutch guitarist Sander Gommans (AFTER FOREVER, HDK, TRILLIUM) has joined forces with his friend Paul Simons to launch a new company called The Rock Station in Sander's hometown of Reuver, The Netherlands.

Commented Gommans: "At this point, we're working out lots of cool plans for musicians. Think of a recording studio, musical educations, record label, etc. It'll take some time before we'll be able to take off, but it will definately become something special."

He added, "I feel very fortunate that all the work I did for bands like AFTER FOREVER, HDK and TRILLIUM and all my experience as a teacher has led to this opportunity."

For more information, visit www.therockstation.eu.

Finnish metallers HEVEIN — who feature in their ranks former APOCALYPTICA and current TARJA TURUNEN cellist Max Lilja — have released a new digital EP containing three new songs ("Spineless", "V", "Gentle Anarchy") and a newly mixed version of "Nor" (originally released as a single in 2011). The tracks were recorded at Sonic Pump Studios and Maximus Studios in Helsinki during 2010 and were mixed by Nino Laurenne and HEVEIN at Sonic Pump Studios.

HEVEIN's "Nor" video can be seen below. Over two years in the making and filmed in five countries, the clip was directed and edited by guitarist Leif Hedström and photographer Tuukka Peltonen.

When asked to describe the video, Leif said, "It's like an epic BBC nature documentry edited to the rhythm of the song. It's kind of like the movie 'Baraka' but with heavy music. No actors, no sets, no band, no naked chicks, no fake crap… just real life."

HEVEIN released its debut album, "Sound Over Matter", in 2005 via Spinefarm Records.

The band is currently seeking a label home for its long-awaited sophomore album, "Gentle Anarchy".

HEVEIN is:

Juha Immonen - Vocals
Leif Hedström - Guitar, Vocals
Max Lilja - Cello
Aino Piipari - Violin
Janne Jaakkola - Bass

Original KISS drummer Peter Criss was inducted this past Saturday night (January 14) as part of the latest Drum Legend class during the grand finals of Guitar Center's annual Drum-Off at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California.

The Drum Legend induction honors icons in the drum world that have paved the way for today's drummers. The award is given to those that have made significant contributions to the craft and have hugely influenced players by their style and illustrious musical career. Past inductees include John Bonham, Billy Cobham, Nicko McBrain, Steve Smith, Dave Garibaldi, Alan White, and Greg Errico.

A short video interview with Criss conducted by Artisan News prior to the drummer's induction can be seen below.

Born Peter George Criscoula on December 20, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York, Criss got his start drumming after discovering legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa and such '60s rockers as THE ROLLING STONES.

"Finally, when I got into rock 'n' roll drumming, I liked Charlie Watts [of THE ROLLING STONES]," said Criss in a 1997 interview. He also cited CREAM's Ginger Baker, THE WHO's Keith Moon and LED ZEPPELIN's John Bonham as big influences on his playing.

Interview:

Lick Library has set a January 31 release date for the instructional guitar DVD "Learn To Play Chickenfoot". It features Danny Gill, a former student of CHICKENFOOT guitarist JOE SATRIANI, teaching you how to play the following five songs note for note, complete with all the riffs and solos:

* Oh Yeah
* Down The Drain
* Soap On A Rope
* Big Foot
* Last Temptation

Danny Gill is a co-author of the Musicians Institute "Rock Lead Guitar" series. His songs have appeared on numerous TV shows, including "The Osbournes" as well as motion picture soundtracks such as "Insomnia" and "Under Siege".

You can pre-order "Learn To Play Chickenfoot" at this location.

Finnish melodic death/power metal band NAILDOWN — which features in its ranks current NORTHER guitarist Daniel Freyberg — has entered Sound Supreme studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland to begin recording its third album. According to Freyberg, the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2007's "Dreamcrusher" will be recorded at several different studios "without stressful deadlines. . . This is gonna be long process, but the engine is finally running again," he adds.

Freyberg, who officially joined NORTHER in early 2010, describes the new NAILDOWN material as "really varied, from epic 10-minute songs to fast and ferocious tracks." He adds, "Even though it's been a while since the last album, the band's sound is still recognizable."

NAILDOWN's forthcoming album will mark the recording debut of the band's new drummer, Heikki Saari, who is also a member of NORTHER and AMBERIAN DAWN.

"I'm thrilled to have Heikki onboard for his first NAILDOWN album," says Freyberg. "His spectacular style and technique is a real asset to the band."

"Dreamcrusher" was released in March 2007 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded at Sound Supreme studios, mixed at Hansen studios and mastered at Finnvox studios.

Formed in November 2003 under the name ACID UNIVERSE, NAILDOWN's sound has been described as a mixture of "CHILDREN OF BODOM, IN FLAMES and SOILWORK, with power metal riffs, while effortlessly alternating between several vocal styles (from the gruffest Alexi Laiho bark to AMORPHIS-style croon)."

Los Angeles-based hard rockers BLACK ROBOT have parted ways with singer Huck Johns and have replaced him with Jeremy Aric.

"We're very excited about moving forward with Jeremy," states BLACK ROBOT bassist Jonathan "JB" Brightman (formerly of BUCKCHERRY). "He's a powerful vocalist with range and style that reminds me of the great British hard rock/heavy metal singers of the past. He was able to deliver great performances on the record that will take BLACK ROBOT to the next level."

BLACK ROBOT — which also features lead guitarist Andy Andersson — is in the studio putting the finishing touches on its sophomore album, to be released later in the year. The CD sees the return of Grammy-nominated producer Dave Cobb (SHOOTER JENNINGS, JAMEY JOHNSON) and Grammy-nominated mixer Mark Needham (THE KILLERS). Also making another appearance is former ALICE COOPER and QUEEN keyboardist Fred Mandel.

A video clip of Andersson and Brightman tracking guitar and bass parts, respectively, for the new BLACK ROBOT album can be seen below.

Formed in 2008, BLACK ROBOT's debut album was released June 8, 2010 on Formosa Records/Rocket Science Ventures.

Brightman is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated rock band BUCKCHERRY, having co-written and performed on that group's self-titled debut album as well as the follow-up CD, "Time Bomb".

BLACK ROBOT is managed exclusively by Ron Rainey and Greg Lewerke for Ron Rainey Management, Inc.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, bassist Glenn Gyorffy (a.k.a. Glenn Five or G5), has left Canadian metal legends ANVIL, citing creative differences.

Glenn Five joined ANVIL in 1996 and has appeared on seven of the band's albums, including "This Is Thirteen" and the group's latest release, "Juggernaut Of Justice", on which he wrote and sang the song "This Ride".

Commented Glenn: "Playing in ANVIL has given me some of the best years of my life. However, after nearly 16 years with the band, the time has come to move on and try new musical endeavors. Although ANVIL has been a great band to play in, I have been limited creatively. I have a wide taste in music and I feel that it’s time to broaden my horizons."

Fan-filmed video footage of ANVIL's December 4, 2011 performance at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland as the support act for SAXON can be seen below.

Three classic albums from ANVIL — "Strength Of Steel" (1987), "Pound For Pound" (1988) and "Worth The Weight" (1991) — were made available in Europe through SPV/Steamhammer as high-class digipak re-releases with new booklets, including liner notes from Steve "Lips" Kudlow (guitar, vocals) and Robb Reiner (drums). There are also gatefold LP versions with colored vinyl and printed innersleeves. This marks the first time "Worth The Weight" have been released on vinyl.

The End Records celebrated ANVIL's career with "Monument Of Metal: The Very Best Of Anvil", a 19-track career retrospective that will earn "must-own" and "must-hear" status for fans both fans new and old.

Released on September 27, 2011, this set collects choice cuts from ANVIL's career and the track listing was hand-selected by the members of ANVIL and spans their three-decade career. It is designed to show you why the aforementioned likes of GUNS 'N ROSES, METALLICA, MOTÖRHEAD, ANTHRAX, SLAYER and more have praised ANVIL as pioneers and way pavers in the heavy metal world. It's a retrospective spanning the band's entire iconic career and a comprehensive heavy metal history lesson captured on record.

"Juggernaut Of Justice" was released in Europe on June 20, 2011 (three days earlier in Germany) via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort was made available as a limited-edition digipak (including two bonus tracks), double gatefold LP in blue vinyl, standard version and a digital download.

"Juggernaut Of Justice" sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 12 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.

Photo below courtesy of Anvil! The Story Of Anvil Facebook page

According to TheNews.pl, BEHEMOTH's guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski former fiancée Dorota Rabczewska — better known as the 27-year-old Polish pop singer Doda — has been fined 5,000 zloty (approximately $1,440) by a Warsaw court for offending religious feelings.

During a 2009 interview with Gazeta Dziennik Prawna, Rabczewska lamented that there were no references to dinosaurs in the Bible, and said it was "hard to believe in something written by someone who was hammered on wine and who'd been smoking herbs."

Ryszard Nowak, chairman of the privately run Nationwide Defence Committee Against Sects, brought the case against Rabczewska.

Rabczewska did not plead guilty, and claimed that she had not intended to offend anyone.

The singer argued that the cited herbs "were certainly therapeutic ones" and that the alcohol in question was "sacramental wine."

In August 2011, Darski was found innocent of offending religious feelings in connection with a September 2007 incident when he reportedly called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during the band's performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible, calling it "a book of lies."

A Polish judge ruled that Darski's ripping up of a Bible during a show was a form of artistic expression consistent with the style of his band.

"I Like It", the new video from California rockers BANG TANGO, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Pistol Whipped In The Bible Belt", which was released on September 27, 2011 via Seventy-Eight Productions. The band's first new studio CD in five years was produced and mixed by Daniel Salcido (TRAPT, POP EVIL, AIRBOURNE) and Kevin Rodgers and was mastered by Anthony Focx (STEVEN TYLER, BUCKCHERRY, VINCE NEIL). Alex Grossi (QUIET RIOT, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES) co-wrote a song on the album called "Suck It Up".

"We are very proud of this record," said vocalist and BANG TANGO founding member Joe Leste, "I am confident that fans of the earlier records as well as fans of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES will dig what we came up with this time around."

"Pistol Whipped In The Bible Belt" track listing:

01. Dick In The System
02. Suck It Up
03. Our Way
04. Bring On The World
05. Have You Seen Her
06. Live Life
07. I Like It
08. Boom Box Seance
09. Drivin'
10. Pistol Whipped In The Bible Belt

"Despised Existence", a brand new song from South Florida-based female-fronted extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's new fifth full-length album, "The Ultimate Deception", which will be released on February 14 via Goomba Music. The follow-up to 2008's "Memories Of A Dying Whore" "continues where its predecessor left off and pushes the boundaries of extreme music as well as the legacy of WYKKED WYTCH," according to a press release.

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

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

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

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

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

"The Ultimate Deception" track listing:

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

WYKKED WYTCH "The Ultimate Deception" recording lineup:

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

Touring lineup:

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

French metallers BROKEN MIRRORS will release their second album, "The Universal Disease", on January 31 via Brennus Music. The follow-up to 2009's "Seven Years" was recorded at Hiroshima Studio and was mastered at Tainted Studio in Finland.

"The Universal Disease" track listing:

01. Strong Enough
02. A Thousand Voices...
03. Pig Marmelade
04. Heaven Can Wait
05. Holding The Triggers
06. Aquarius
07. Anthropophobia
08. Erotic Thirst
09. Overdriven
10. Heartsick
11. Nightmare In Mind (Part I: Falling...)
12. Nightmare In Mind (Part II: A Dream Within A Dream)

The digipack edition will include a bonus song, "Inner Enemy".

BROKEN MIRRORS is:

François Guichard: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Florian Didier: Guitar, Backing Vocals
Julien Racine: Drums
Guillaume Vidal: Bass
Vann Eymery: Keyboards

SOULFLY will tour Brazil for the first time since 2002 in late February. The band's guest drummer for the trek will be SOULFLY/ex-SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera's son Zyon Cavalera, who also plays in LODY KONG.

It is Zyon's unborn heartbeat that can be heard during the intro of SEPULTURA's classic song "Refuse/Resist".

SOULFLY has tapped Thomas Mignone (MEGADETH, SEPULTURA, DANZIG) of Doom Incorporated to direct the video for the band's new song "World Scum". The track comes off the band's eighth album, "Enslaved", which is due on March 13 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Tallcat Studios in Phoenix, Arizona and was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, the seasoned knob twiddler behind some of the most notable bands in metal today, such as SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED, THE RED CHORD and more. SOULFLY vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera also shared production duties.

SOULFLY's current lineup features Max and guitar dynamo Marc Rizzo, with STATIC-X's Tony Campos taking up the bass. The lineup is rounded out by drummer David Kinkade (BORKNAGAR, ARSIS, MALEVOLENT CREATION), a new-school, extreme skinsman whose brutality behind the kit brings a new flavor to the band.

Former RIKETS and current SKINLAB guitarist Provo Provenzano has launched a new project called EVERYBODY PANIC! The band, which is rounded out by Ty (LURE, WHITEFALL) on vocals, Gog (WHITEFALL, GOG & GRUBBS) on bass and TJ (HORSE CALLED WAR, MEMORY DRIVEN) on drums, will make its first single, "When It All Burns", available for free download on Monday, February 6.

A teaser video of EVERYBODY PANIC! in the studio recording "When It All Burns" can be seen below.

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

Jim Barber of Kingston, Ontario, Canada's daily newspaper Kingston Whig Standard recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On MEGADETH's upcoming shows in Canada as part of this year's Gigantour alongside MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT and LACUNA COIL:

Mustaine: "I think our management and agents want to kill us, that's why they booked us in Canada in February. I am sure (Canadian drummer Shawn) Drover is going to be ready. But seriously, it's not so much about any potential inconvenience of discomfort because of the weather, because we're going to be travelling in a nice warm bus. We're coming there to entertain people and to help them feel good. It's just the right thing to do, to not let the elements intimidate you, especially if you're a metal band."

On how a venerable Canadian rock band played a role in a teenaged Mustaine taking music a serious vocation and not just an entertaining pastime:

Mustaine: "I was at a festival called Cal-Jam, and one of your countrymen, April Wine, was playing. And I had gone there because I wanted to see UFO, because I dug Michael Schenker, and VAN HALEN was playing too. And everybody I was with was getting high, and I was really young and still very impressionable, so I went along for the ride with everyone else, and was in sort of la-la land, and the dude does this really great song, doing a harmonica solo and he throws the harp out into the audience, and I am standing there and I swear to God, it just plopped right into my hand. And I was like, 'wow, is this my destiny to be a rock star?' And that was it. That was the moment when the switch was turned on, and then not long after when I first heard AC/DC's 'Let There Be Rock', that was the guitar record that blew my mind."

On MOTÖRHEAD:

Mustaine: "You know what, to tell you the truth I didn't even know who they were until I met Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer]. I went to his apartment when I first met him and on the wall he had a picture of their drummer Phil (Philthy Animal) Taylor. And James [Hetfield, METALLICA guitarist/vocalist] was also really hell bent for MOTÖRHEAD. I've liked them since then, but having them out on tour now is totally awesome, because as I grew as a metal fan, I started to really dig the energy and the longevity of the band. And (frontman Ian) Lemmy (Kilmister) and I have been good friends for a while now. There's kind of a very loyal bond between frontmen, like a frontman's club. I am a terrible liar so if I would have told you I was influenced by Lemmy and MOTÖRHEAD, you'd know I was lying. But I was and am a fan. For me, being a fan and being influenced by something are two different things."

On Gigantour:

Mustaine: "I like the way this format makes people feel, because when you go to a festival, and there are several bands, it's got a really great vibe. You go home feeling a certain way. And let's face facts, the entertainment value of concerts these days is pretty low. When I go to a concert, I want to see some activity. I want to see some movement. I want to see some showbiz, you know what I mean?"

On MEGADETH's new album, "TH1RT3EN":

Mustaine: "We tried hard when we were making this record to really get the best that we could in the amount of time that we had. We only had two months to make the whole record, and the first thing we had to do was make a song for a video game. So that took a week, meaning we only really had seven weeks. But that can be fun when you get under the gun like that, because you really have to dig deep. I think that's what gave this record the kind of energetic feeling that it has, because we were wired. Frenetic is a good word for it."

On MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson's return to the band:

Mustaine: "It was so good when he came back. We had a couple of other bass players in the interim, and they were good guys, but there's a sound that Dave has. When we first started playing together I said, 'You're going to play bass guitar like it's a lead guitar, cool?' And we took that same approach with the drums, because the drum is a percussive instrument, but each shell has its own note. So we would play riffs on the drums that would go along with the guitar riffs."

On MEGADETH garnering its 10th Grammy nomination for the single "Public Enemy No. 1", from "TH1RT3EN", in the category of "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance":

Mustaine: "I haven't won yet, so I don't really know what it means to win a Grammy. The bummer is that if we do win, we won't be there to accept it because we're going to be on tour."

Read the entire interview from Kingston Whig Standard.

Reunited heavy metal band SLEEPY HOLLOW will release its new album, "Skull 13", on March 23 via Pure Steel Records and High Roller Records. The effort will be released on vinyl (limited 500 copies) through High Roller and on CD/DDL through Pure Steel.

SLEEPY HOLLOW will film a video for the song "Spiral Effect" on location in Middletown, Delaware between February 2 and February 3. The clip will make its online debut on the day of the CD's release.

An album release party is currently in the works for Saturday, March 24. Details for the event will be made available soon. A tour of the Midwest is currently in the final stage of negotiations and will be announced soon.

"Skull 13" track listing:

01. Death Of The Horseman
02. Facemelter
03. Black Passage
04. Bleed Steel
05. Rear Window
06. Inquisition
07. Epic (The Legend Retold)
08. Eternal Bridge
09. Misery Waltz
10. Spiral Effect
11. Midnight

"Skull 13" was recorded primarily at No Oulet Studio in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania with producers Steve Stegg and Eric Fisher.

Bassist Mike LePond left SLEEPY HOLLOW in December due to his commitments with SYMPHONY X. He has since been replaced by Alan D'Angelo.

SLEEPY HOLLOW is:

Bob Mitchell - Vocals
Steve Stegg - Guitar
Alan D'Angelo - Bass
Tom Wassman - Drums

Drummer Brooks Wackerman (BAD RELIGION, TENACIOUS D) played with Robert Trujillo (METALLICA) and Armand Sabal-Lecco (PAUL SIMON), both on bass, this past Saturday (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. You can now watch video footage of their performance below.

In addition to all the incredible performances, the night featured the Drum Legend induction of drumming greats Peter Criss (KISS) and Terry Bozzio (FRANK ZAPPA, MISSING PERSONS). The Drum Legend induction honors icons in the drum world that have paved the way for today's drummers. The award is given to those that have made significant contributions to the craft and have hugely influenced players by their style and illustrious musical career. Past inductees include John Bonham, Billy Cobham, Nicko McBrain, Steve Smith, Dave Garibaldi, Alan White, and Greg Errico.

The Drum-Off champion won the grand prize package, valued at nearly $50,000, which includes: $25,000 cash, a feature in Modern Drummer magazine, 2012 NAMM VIP Experience, recording time at the Converse Rubber Track Studios and thousands of dollars in gear and endorsement deals from the drum world's top manufacturers.

Legendary hard rock singer Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TALISMAN, JOURNEY) will release his new solo album, "Damage Control", on March 23 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Frontiers Records.

An extraordinary performer and amazing vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto blasts through these hard-rocking tracks with energy and masters the transition smoothly from heavy rock to a delicate ballad.

For "Damage Control", Jeff has turned to many of his past influences and most requested aspects of his career by blending the art of melodic rock with hard rock.

"I feel 'Damage Control' is more of a return to what my fans would expect to hear from me," says Jeff. "It's a perfect blend of my first two solo albums with Frontiers Records — 'Prism' and 'Lost In The Translation' — but also mixes in some of my favorite moments of my past bands such as TALISMAN and SOUL SIRKUS. It is heavy, AOR, hard rock with loads of great riffs and melodies."

"Damage Control" was recorded in the fall of 2011 and features appearances and writing contributions by Jeff's former and current bandmates, along with many guests, including Jamie Borger and Nalley Påhlsson (TREAT), Casey Grillo (KAMELOT), Joel Hoekstra (NIGHT RANGER) and legendary Y&T founding member Dave Meniketti. Jeff states, "Y&T drummer Mike Vanderhule played drums on a track and suggested I bring Dave on but, as he is a long time friend and one on the 'wish list' of people I would have loved to have, I didn't want to get an excuse that he was too busy or not interested, to my surprise I got neither... he was willing to do it and I was not only grateful but beyond pleased to work with another musical hero!"

"Damage Control" will be released in two exclusive configurations; the basic version in CD jewel box will include 11 songs, while the deluxe edition in digipak format has an additional three bonus tracks and a DVD.

CD:

01. Give A Little More
02. Damage Control
03. Look Inside Your Heart
04. Die A Little
05. Take U Down*
06. If I Never Let Her Go
07. Tears That I Cry
08. BonaFide
09. Elena*
10. Krazy World
11. How To Love Again
12. AfterWorld
13. NeverEnding War
14. Afraid To Die*

* Bonus tracks only available on the Deluxe Edition.

DVD:

* Look Inside Your Heart (videoclip)
* NeverEnding War (videoclip)
* Damage Control (videoclip)
* EPK interview

Jeff Scott Soto is currently planning tour dates that will support the release of the new record. "The plan is to do as much touring as possible wherever the world will have me," he says. "I plan to promote this album with a proper touring regiment!"

Bassist Olivier Pinard (NEURAXIS, VENGEFUL) has officially joined Canadian extreme metallers CRYPTOPSY.

A playthrough bass video of Pinard filmed and edited by Bookaking Productions can be seen below.

Guitarist-turned-bassist Youri Raymond left CRYPTOPSY last month, explaining in a statement that "it's in the best interest of both the band and I to part ways." He added, "As a musician, moving from guitar to bass was a great challenge, but honestly, I never really felt comfortable in that position and my motivation in general was stagnating."

Lead guitarist and songwriter Jon Levasseur rejoined CRYPTOPSY in May 2011.

"The Unspoken King", CRYPTOPSY's sixth full-length and first to feature new vocalist Matt McGachy, was released June 24, 2008 to a wide array of reactions. Drummer Flo Mounier explained his intention in reshaping the dynamics of the band to Decibel magazine: "I'm a fan of different sorts of music, and I think it's most fun when a band puts out an album that has elements of everything; you get this thing called diversity, not boredom. That's what we're trying to do. Still, I think people are going to be surprised how brutal this album is."

"Appomattox", the new video from the Appalachian doom/rock outfit KING GIANT, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's sophomore LP, "Dismal Hollow", which will be released worldwide on Tuesday, January 31 via digipak CD, deluxe digital download and 180-gram gatefold LP available in two color schemes — swamp green with bone swirl, and bone with gold haze. The record will be available internationally via a split release between KING GIANT's band-operated imprint Graveyard Hill Records and The Path Less Traveled Records, part of the MRI Group, with distribution by RED, Code 7 and Plastichead.

Brooding more sinister homage to their rock and metal forefathers than KING GIANT's heralded self-released 2009 debut, "Southern Darkness", the new album further develops the band's well-written hooks and thunderous, harmonized grooves. Clocking in at nearly 48 minutes, "Dismal Hollow" was recorded at Inner Ear Studio (MINOR THREAT, FUGAZI, AVAIL, JAWBOX, Dave Grohl).

"Appomattox" is the third video produced and directed by Kevin James Barker for KING GIANT, in conjunction with Mono/Poly Creative, and was partially funded through massive support from the band's fans via a Kickstarter campaign last year. Filmed on location in historic Waterford, Virginia during the summer and fall of 2011, the cinematic "Appomattox" video rolls in at nearly eight minutes in length, and portrays a high-action, backwoods zombie attack storyline.

KING GIANT has scheduled a record-release show this Saturday night at Springfield, Virginia's infamous Jaxx nightclub to set the release of the new album up properly with their diehard local fans, with opening support from AUROBOROS, THE CRIMSON ELECTRIC and BORRACHO.

Irish metallers STORMZONE have parted ways with guitarist Keith Harris and have replaced him with Andrew Baxter, formerly of LAST KNOWN ADDICTION.

Commented STORMZONE vocalist John "Harv" Harbinson: "Andrew and existing STORMZONE guitarist Steve Moore played together in Irish band FIRELAND so they have already built up a powerful partnership."

A photo of STORMZONE's new lineup can be seen below. Also available is footage of the band performing its first gig with Baxter.

STORMZONE's latest album, "Zero To Rage", will be released in North America on January 17, 2012 via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD was made available in Europe last November.

The first STORMZONE headline show of 2012 will take place in Belfast's Spring & Airbrake on Saturday, April 28 and will see the band doing a full two-hour show featuring songs from all three STORMZONE albums. From that, the group will be choosing the set for a planned European tour shortly afterwards.

"Zero To Rage" track listing:

01. Where We Belong
02. Zero To Rage
03. Jester's Laughter
04. This Is Our Victory
05. Fear Hotel
06. Hail The Brave
07. Uprising
08. Last Man Fighting
09. Empire Of Fear
10. Monsters
11. Voice Inside My Head
12. Cuchulainn's Story

The song "Jester's Laughter" is available for streaming using the SoundCloud player below.

STORMZONE is:

Steve Moore - Guitar
Andrew Baxter - Guitar
John "Harv" Harbinson - Lead Vocals
Graham McNulty - Bass
Davy Bates - Drums

New Zealand-based brutal death metallers DEPTHS have inked a deal with Deadboy Records. The band's new album will be released later in the year.

Commented Deadboy A&R representative Vasely Sapunov: "It is a great pleasure to be working with our newest signing DEPTHS. They are a super-hard-working, great bunch of guys who have proven themselves well over the last year with relentless touring in support of their self-released EP, 'Resurgence', which has won over an impressive amount of fans.

"After seeing the band's relentless live show at the end of 2011, we knew that it was right to begin a relationship with these guys and help them take their music and career to the next level."

DEPTHS plays "a ball-crushingly brutal blend of modern deathcore and traditional death metal for fans of OCEANO, WHITECHAPEL and IMPENDING DOOM," according to a press release.

The band's brand new music video for the song "Of Nothing" can be viewed below.

DEPTHS is:

Sam Bennett - Guitar
Joshua Bain - Vocals
James Power - Bass
Dylan Rober't - Drums
Jae Faithfull - Guitar

San Diego extreme metallers CATTLE DECAPITATION entered Denver, Colorado's Flatline Audio on January 7 to begin recording the highly anticipated follow-up to their critically-acclaimed album "The Harvest Floor" (2009 on Metal Blade Records).

Commented CATTLE DECAPITATION frontman Travis Ryan : "We spent the first two days mapping out tempos and getting things situated, drums mic'd all that stuff. Just started tracking drums today and everything is sounding great! We're excited to start laying down some tones and getting this beast finished and in the hands of our fans and friends."

The band has a small crew filming all steps of the way so fans of the band can look forward to studio video reports via the band's YouTube channel and getting the full album details in the coming weeks when album title, cover image and track listing as well as immediate U.S. and European tour plans are revealed.

Florida-based death metal veterans CANNIBAL CORPSE will release their twelfth studio album, "Torture", on March 13 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Evisceration Plague" offers up 12 tracks of maniacally precise, soul-searing death metal. "Torture" was again produced by HATE ETERNAL's Erik Rutan at his own Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and features the maniacal cover art by longtime CANNIBAL CORPSE artist Vincent Locke.

While "Torture" marks the latest progression in the band's sound, it also witnesses a return to what drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz accurately terms "the frenzied attack of 'Butchered At Birth' (1991) or 'Tomb Of The Mutilated' (1992)," infusing the band's advanced musicianship with the raw savagery that haunted their earlier releases, and in the process conceiving the definitive CANNIBAL CORPSE record. Adds bassist Alex Webster on the outcome of the record: "We're extremely happy with how 'Torture' turned out. Erik Rutan did an amazing job with the production, and the songwriting and performances may be our strongest yet. We can't wait until our fans get to hear the whole thing!"

From the monstrous chugging of "Sarcophagic Frenzy" to the deeply sinister "Followed Home Then Killed" or the loping evil of "Scourge of Iron", every track hits with sledgehammer force, and each one boasts its own hideous character, the band refusing to repeat themselves at any point.

"While we make everything as heavy as possible there's a very strong emphasis placed on song writing in this band, trying to make every song individual, and I think you should be able to hit play at any point on a record and be able to tell one song from another almost instantly," states Webster. "We want all the songs to be brutal death metal, but we also want them to be instantly identifiable from one another, and that's something that is definitely true of the songs on 'Torture'."

Webster also believes that stability in the band's ranks greatly contributes to the record's strength, "Torture" being the third consecutive album featuring the current lineup of himself and co-founding member Mazurkiewicz, alongside guitarists Rob Barrett and Patrick O'Brien, and vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher. "The band is at its strongest right now, and I think we're at our very peak as far as playing ability and song writing maturity. As a result of that this is the album where we've been able to finally best get across what we wanted to do as players and as song writers." Equally, this is their third release to be helmed by producer Erik Rutan (of HATE ETERNAL fame), and while "Kill" and "Evisceration Plague" were recorded entirely at Rutan's Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida, this time out the sessions were split between Mana and Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas. Having tracked 1999's Colin Richardson-produced "Bloodthirst", as well as 2002's "Gore Obsessed" and 2004's "The Wretched Spawn" (both produced by Neil Kernon) at Sonic Ranch, the band were keen to once again experience the isolation of working essentially in the middle of nowhere, this time with Rutan calling the shots.

"The studio is about forty miles outside of El Paso, and we made a point of not having a rental car so we were stuck there, that way all we could think about was the record," Webster states. "When we record in Florida usually the only guy in the studio with Erik is the one recording that day, and having us all together rather than scattered really helped us focus and totally immerse ourselves in the music, and I think that it's a far better record for it." This approach has resulted in a record that not only delivers a devastating punch but also eschews merely replicating the sound of their previous collaborations, and Mazurkiewicz asserts that their relationship with the producer is a tremendously beneficial one. "He's a death metal guitar player and a death metal singer, which makes him 'one of us'. On top of that he's a great guy, a workaholic, and a great motivator because he's not only an extremely talented peer but he's always nitpicking and doing what he's got to do to make everything better. He pushes us to make the best possible record and does what needs to be done to give it a distinctive sound of its own."

Though the band continue to dwell on dark and disturbing lyrical areas, they long ago transcended the early notoriety bestowed upon them (based solely upon their artwork and lyrics) through proving themselves one of the best — and hardest working — live bands in modern heavy music. As such, while they certainly stand defiant as part of the old guard in death metal, through their devotion to touring and consistently releasing bigger and better records they have retained both their relevance and bite while many of the bands that hacked their way out of the scene twenty years ago have fallen by the wayside. Equally, as the genre's profile has begun to once again grow in recent years the band do not concern themselves with thoughts of being dethroned by younger generations of bands following in their wake.

"We get inspired by seeing these other bands doing killer music, but we definitely don't feel threatened by it," Webster states. With a great many contemporary death metal bands perhaps overly concerned with being recognized as the 'fastest' or 'most technical', the art of the song itself seems often overlooked, and that is a trap CANNIBAL CORPSE have never fallen into. "I am very into ultra-fast music that shows off chops, but I think that it's important to develop ability as a musician not to show off that ability but rather to use it to write killer songs. Writing a genuinely memorable, killer song is very challenging, but the best albums are the ones with the best songs, period."

In 2012, CANNIBAL CORPSE have ensured that the twelve songs comprising "Torture" are the very best and therefore cohere to make the best possible album, though they are not content to rest upon their laurels and they are as hungry as ever to unleash their distinctive breed of aural horror upon heaving mosh pits. "I haven't been this excited about a release in a long time," enthuses Mazurkiewicz. "We worked so hard at it and we hope that the fans feel the same way we do. Being out there and getting to play these songs live will once again prove to people we're not going anywhere. We're not going through the motions, we're really trying to be the best band we can be, and we're just getting better."

"Torture" track listing:

01. Demented Aggression
02. Sarcophagic Frenzy
03. Scourge of Iron
04. Encased in Concrete
05. As Deep As the Knife Will Go
06. Intestinal Crank
07. Followed Home Then Killed
08. The Strangulation Chair
09. Caged...Contorted
10. Crucifier Avenged
11. Rabid
12. Torn Through

The song "Demented Aggression" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

As a precursor to the release, CANNIBAL CORPSE will perform a special one-off show at the Culture Room in West Palm Beach, Florida on January 22 then head to the seas to take part in this year's edition of the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise. The band will get a short break before a near month-long march through Europe on the Full Of Hate 2012 tour with labelmates BEHEMOTH.

Chicago's DIRGE WITHIN has set "There Will Be Blood" as the title of its sophomore full-length album, due on April 10 via Rocket Science Ventures/THC: Music. The CD was recorded at Mercenary Studios in Zion, Illinois with engineer Scott Creekmore and producer Ari Mihalopoulos and is currently being mixed at Inner Light Studios with Ari and DIRGE WITHIN guitarist Shaun Glass.

Guitarist Matt Szlachta recently left DIRGE WITHIN to continue to focus on his passion for teaching guitar to his students and for other personal reasons. He has since been replaced by Chuck Wepfer.

"There's no bad blood at all, man," said vocalist Jeremy "Jerms" Genske. "We're all still good buds and very close. His head and heart just weren't in it anymore, and he wanted to go back to teaching. He really loves it, and that's where he felt he had to be."

DIRGE WITHIN's forthcoming album will be the band's first to feature drummer Frankie Harchut and bassist Jeff Paulick (bassist/vocalist of LAZARUS A.D.), who has been filling on bass duties on tour with DIRGE WITHIN.

"I am very excited about the new songs we've written for this new album, and that people will be able to check out my style of playing a little more," stated Harchut. "We worked our asses off writing these new songs, a lot of long nights, and I'm personally stoked to have our fans hear 'em. I really think they're gonna be into it." Jeremy added, "The songs are heavier, smarter, and more melodic in parts. Some are even a little slower! There were no rules when we were writing at all. No holds barred. Whatever came out, came out. And I think it's gonna make a really good, well-rounded metal album."

DIRGE WITHIN's "Absolution" EP was made available on August 16, 2011. The three-song effort gives fans a taste of what's to come from the band's forthcoming sophomore album.

DIRGE WITHIN's debut album, "Force Fed Lies", came out on September 1, 2009 via E1 Music.

ROCK MEETS CLASSIC 2012 backing vocalist Amanda Somerville (TRILLIUM, AVANTASIA) has checked in with BW&BK, revealing that their January 12th show in Munich, Germany at the Olympiahalle was filmed for a future DVD release. They played on the night to an audience of 9,000 people. More details will be revealed in the coming months.

Rock Meets Classic 2012 is an evening with Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE), Steve Lukather (TOTO), Jimi Jamison (SURVIVOR), Chris Thompson (MANFRED MAN'S EARTH BAND), Robin Beck, THE MAT SINNER BAND & The Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague. Check out fan-filmed footage of the final song of the night at the Munich show below

††† (CROSSES) — DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno's latest project with FAR guitarist Shaun Lopez — will release its second EP, "††", on January 24. A song from the effort, "Prurien†", is available for streaming at RollingStone.com.

Lopez tells RollingStone.com that ††† (CROSSES)'s newest song "is one of about 20 or so we've written, and the initial idea was almost metal. It ultimately morphed into something opposite of that – less aggressive, still big and resonating."


††† (CROSSES) has announced a series of four intimate California shows in support of the new album, starting in Pomona on January 31 and wrapping up in San Francisco on February 4.

In a recent interview with ChinaShop, Moreno stated about how ††† (CROSSES) came together, "I remember I mentioned to [Shaun] one day when we were hanging out, y'know, 'We should make a record together.' It just so happened that when I moved to L.A. I ended up living a few blocks away from him. I was down here working on recording some vocals with Shaun. We just clicked. We listened to a lot of the same music. We've always worked well together. With this project in particular, I met [guitarist] Chuck over at Shaun's house. Chuck was working on some of his solo stuff. I don't know when they started working together, but they said they were working on a project together and asked if I was interested in contributing vocals. Whenever they were working, I'd just ride my bike over there. A couple different times, I was just like, 'Let me try singing on this,' and they were like, 'OK, cool.' I'd just go in and throw in a bunch of ideas. Pretty soon they got rid of the idea of getting a bunch of different singers together. We just started working on the record together. And any time I had a break, I'd just head on over there to see what was going on and stuff. This started maybe 9 months ago, and I'd been on tour for a year and a half. I'd just spend some time over at his studio when I could."

When asked if there is somebody who's a sort of designated songwriter, Chino said, "You'd have to ask these guys about that. Most of the songs were written before I came in. I just talked to them and said, y'know, 'I really like this, can I sing on it?' I know Chuck will come in with a bunch of chord progressions. He'll send me a couple chord progressions, with a really lo-fi beat going on, and you can pretty much hear the beat in there, and send it to me, sort of like, 'See what you can come up with for this.' And him and Shaun will work on laying out the rest of the music. When he gives you a copy of the music, do you pretty much get an idea of what to sing. Shaun says that when he's writing a lot of the time, he already has in mind what I'm going to sing, and will sometimes plan it around that. It almost seems like, I'm right there with it. I'm never overwhelmed, like, 'Wow, what am I going to do with this?”' It just seems pretty natural. I”ll just go in and throw out melodies."

German melodic black metal act CRAVING has inked a deal with Apostasy Records. The band's self-titled debut album will be released on January 20 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The CD was recorded in June 2010 at Alpha Sound Studios in Dortmund by Lars Schlüter (THE FLAW) and mixed and mastered in late 2011 by Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (ORDEN OGAN). The drum tuning durung the recording sesions was handled by Markus "Makka" Freiwald (KREATOR, ROTTING CHRIST, SODOM).

"Craving" features guest appearances by Geman singer Helge Stang (EQUILIBRIUM, ARAFEL) and Chilean female virtuoso guitarist Sole Genua (HUMAN FACTOR). The album's lyrics were written in three languages: Russian, German and English.

CRAVING previously released a demo, "Demo 2006", and one EP, "Revenge" (2008).

"Craving" track listing:

01. Lord Of The Flames
02. By The Blowing Wind
03. The Nameless (feat. Sole Genua)
04. Leopard
05. The Song Of The Prophetic Oleg
06. Revenge
07. Into The Forest
08. Ein Funken Abendrot (feat. Helge Stang)
09. Wolfsherz
10. Lug Und Litanei (feat. Helge Stang & Sole Genua)

For more information, visit www.cravingmetal.de.