Los Angeles-based drummer Jason Sutter has joined MARILYN MANSON's touring lineup, beginning with the band's appearances at Australia's Soundwave Festival in February.

The accomplished musician has recorded and performed with a vast array of artists throughout his career, including tenures with FOREIGNER and NEW YORK DOLLS and a three-year stint behind the drumkit for SOUNDGARDEN/AUDIOSLAVE frontman Chris Cornell. He has also played with AMERICAN HI-FI, THE REMBRANDTS, PINK, SMASH MOUTH, JASON FALKNER, VERTICAL HORIZON and JULIANA HATFIELD and is highly sought-after as a session/touring musician.

Born in Potsdam, New York, Jason began playing drums at the age of nine and played his first professional gig at the age of ten with his band PARAGON! Playing his first "bar gig" at thirteen, Jason continued to play clubs two to three times a week throughout his high school years. Upon graduation Jason attended the esteemed University of North Texas where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in music education and later attended the University of Miami. While pursuing his Masters degree in orchestral percussion, Jason taught, performed and recorded with the top ensembles at the University, including its famous "Concert Jazz Band" (CJB) as well as performing professionally throughout Miami. While still in Graduate school, Jason landed his first tour with Atlantic recording artist JULIANA HATFIELD. After Miami, Jason relocated to Boston where he recorded, performed and toured with such artists as LETTERS TO CLEO, JACK DRAG and BEN LEE, among many others.

In 2005 Jason completed an extensive U.K., U.S. and Japanese tour with AMERICAN HI-FI and the following year went on to record and play with multi platinum artists SMASH MOUTH. Following three years of international touring and recording with SOUNDGARDEN/AUDIOSLAVE front-man Chris Cornell, Jason recorded and toured for VERTICAL HORIZON's "Burning The Days" album, sharing drum duties with legendary RUSH drummer Neil Peart during the making of the record. In 2010 Jason completed the "Can't Slow Down" world tour with American rock legends FOREIGNER and then headed straight into touring with punk rock icons the NEW YORK DOLLS across the U.S. (with MÖTLEY CRÜE and POISON) and the U.K. (supporting ALICE COOPER).

The forthcoming MARILYN MANSON world tour marks the next chapter in Jason's impressive and eclectic career. In addition to headline shows the tour will also include major festivals around the world, beginning with Australia's Soundwave Festival in February and a run of European festivals throughout the summer.

Norway's blackened thrashers AURA NOIR will release their fifth full-length studio ablum, "Out To Die", on March 23 via Indie Recordings.

Speaking to Terrorizer magazine shortly after a recent listening session in Oslo, AURA NOIR guitarist/vocalist Aggressor stated about the band's new CD, "It feels right. That's all I can say really. I'm not sitting here digging it; it's more like I'm content with having the finished product there, and now we can go play live. Because I think our music comes into its element when we're playing live. For me, a new album is like, 'Okay, we have more songs to play live now.'"

"Out To Die" marks the return of guitarist Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. ex-MAYHEM guitarist/songwriter Blasphemer), who now resides in Portugal and leads his own band AVA INFERI. Eriksen made several trips back to Norway to work on the new AURA NOIR songs with Aggressor and Apollyon (guitar, bass, vocals, drums; also bassist in IMMORTAL).

"I wish we were all living in the same apartment and rehearsing every day, all three of us together, but obviously that's not possible because we have our private lives and everything," Aggressor told Terrorizer. "But it brought about some new ways of working, and it actually worked out okay in the end."

"Out To Die" track listing:

01. Trenches
02. Fed To The Flames
03. Abbadon
04. The Grin From The Gallows
05. Withheld
06. Priest's Hellish Fiend
07. Deathwish
08. Out To Die

Ben Kuzay (MONSTROSITY, WYKKED WYTCH) just released his third solo album, "Beyond Black Mirrors". His previous LP, "Perpetual Reign", featured guest appearances by several acclaimed musicians, including David Harbour (ex-KING DIAMOND). This new CD features Kuzay playing all of the bass guitar, keyboards and guitar, with Allen Sklar on drums. The disc was produced by Kuzay and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Joel Wanasek at JTW Studios (ROSALINE, SERIANNA, MECHANICAL KIDS), as were his first two offerings. "Beyond Black Mirrors" had additional engineering done by Barry Kuzay at The Wolf Tower.

While Kuzay is best known for his work in the metal genre, having played alongside such illuminaries as Richard Christy, David Harbour, and Joel Wanasek, and having worked with engineers such as Jason Suecof (Audiohammer Studio), this new offering is a work of ambient rock, with forays into classical.

"Beyond Black Mirrors" is an all-instrumental effort that features fourteen tracks with a running time of 56 minutes.

For more information, visit BenKuzay.net.

ZERO1, the hard rock project featuring actor/comedian Hal Sparks, has signed a worldwide recording deal with Rocket Science Ventures/RED. The band's self-titled album, which was produced by KING'S X's Doug Pinnick, will be re-released in March.

Best known for his roles in the hit Showtime series "Queer As Folk", as the host of E!'s "Talk Soup" and as a commentator on VH1 fare, including "I Love The '70s", "'80s", "'90s", "Greatest Hard Rock Songs", and many more, Sparks is also an accomplished film actor, with appearances in "Dude, Where's My Car?", "Spider-Man 2", "Dickie Roberts: Child Star", and the 2009 Mike Judge vehicle "Extract", as well as his own recent Showtime stand-up special, "Charmageddon".

Sparks is an outspoken activist and a strong political voice, as a regular guest host on the syndicated "The Stephanie Miller Show", and host of his own weekly talk program on Chicago's Progressive Talk network. Hal is also a regular guest on CNN, "The View", "The Joy Behar Show", "The Tonight Show", and more, and is co-headliner of 2011's "Sexy Liberals Tour", with Stephanie Miller, grossing over a million dollars in ticket sales.

But despite his achievements as an actor and a comedian, ZERO1 is far from a celebrity "vanity" project; it is a serious, ass-kicking, rock and roll band, with no shortage of chops. Produced by Pinnick (who also appears on several tracks), "Zero1" is 13 cuts of "progressive, catchy-as-fuck, balls to the wall, blue-collar hard rock," according to a press release. "Call it metal, call it rock, call it post-grunge, call it whatever the hell you want, the bottom line is ZERO1 will kick your ass, and they won't stop once you hit the ground."

On tracks like "Mad Season", written about late ALICE IN CHAINS vocalist Layne Staley, and "Helsinki", vocalist/guitarist Sparks belts out powerful, thought-provoking lyrics with the conviction of a seasoned pro (as anyone who saw him trading verses with Dennis De Young and Sebastian Bach on "Celebrity Duets" will attest), destroying any preconceived notions you may have about actor/musicians. Sparks is a consummate frontman, musician, and songwriter, hell-bent on destroying your speakers.

Along with the rest of ZERO1 — Brian Crow (guitar/vocals), Bumper Renga (bass/vocals), and Lance Tamanaha (drums/vocals) — Sparks will hit the road in May for a month-long U.S. jaunt with THC/Rocket Science labelmates OEDIPUS, before a trek across the pond for a handful of major summer festivals.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/zero1nation.

OATH OF INSANITY, the Milford, Connecticut-based old-school thrash band featuring 16-year-old drummer Joey DiBiase (son of former FATES WARNING bassist Joe DiBiase), has completed work on a five-song EP with producer (and drummer for TOXIC HOLOCAUST, KINGDOM OF SORROW and JASTA) Nick Bellmore at Dexters Lab Recording in Milford. The effort contains four original songs as well as a cover version of the EXODUS classic "Metal Command". Since the EP was recorded, OATH OF INSANITY has written four more songs, which "show great progress in [the band's] songwriting prowess," according to a press release.

OATH OF INSANITY's lineup includes 21-year-old guitar prodigy Joey Concepcion, who has previously recorded with Mike Vescera, former lead singer for LOUDNESS, OBSESSION, and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. The band is rounded out by Dan McVerry on vocals and bass guitar, and newcomer Andrew O'Conner on guitar.

OATH OF INSANITY is:

Dan McVerry - Bass/Lead Vocals
Joey Concepcion - Guitar/Vocals
Joey "Chief" DiBiase - Drums/Vocals
Andrew O'Connor - Guitar

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

"Waste Of My Rage", the new video from the London, England-based, female-fronted metal band MORTAD, can be seen below. The clip was sponsored by the Alchemy apparel clothing brand and produced by the Manchester-based video production company Video Ink. More than a dozen actors were cast for the video, including Collette Von Tora, who agreed to have her head shaved for this video shoot.

MORTAD's forthcoming full-length debut album, "The Myth Of Purity", was recorded last October with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR, EVILE) and is scheduled for an early 2012 release.

MORTAD was formed in 2009 by Iranian vocalist Somi Arian , whose lyrics take aim at the hypocrisy of religion and the government as well as seeking inner truth and strength in the face of such oppression.

MORTAD released a music video and an EP, entitled "Pandemic Paranoia", in early 2011. This effort brought the band immense attention on the social media sites, placing the group as the No. 1 metal band on ReverbNation London metal chart, and attracting over 40,000 Facebook fans.

Nick Azinas of Peek From The Pit conducted an interview with Somi Arian on November 26, 2011 at the Intrepid Fox in London. You can now watch the chat below.

"Waste Of My Rage" video:

STONE MOUNTAIN FREEWAY, the Atlanta, Georgia-based band featuring former ARTIMUS PYLEDRIVER/RED RIVER REVIVAL vocalist Dave Slocum, has made three new songs available for streaming using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below. The tracks "Sun Don't Shine", "Kings"and "Dark Days" were recorded at Ledbelly Studios (MASTODON, ARTIMUS PYLEDRIVER) in Atlanta and Ocean Industries Studio (owned by Eric Bass from SHINEDOWN) in Charleston, South Carolina.

STONE MOUNTAIN FREEWAY's debut EP, "Home In Hell", will be released in mid-March at a special CD-release party and will be available for mail order thereafter.

STONE MOUNTAIN FREEWAY is:

Dave Slocum - Vocals
Brad Kemp - Guitar
Joey Robertson - Drums
Ryan "Zilla" Ashhurst - Bass

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

Guitarist Bas Brussaard has quit Dutch brutal death metallers SUPREME PAIN because "he is no longer motivated," according to the remaining members of the band. A replacement axeman has not yet been announced.

SUPREME PAIN in November announced the addition of drummer Eric De Windt to the group's ranks. According to the band, Eric "is a very experienced musician and was part of many bands, such as SEVERE TORTURE (vocalist), SINISTER (vocals on 'Aggressive Measures') and PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT, INHUME and DESTROYER666 (drums). At the moment he is also drummer for the Dutch death metal band TEMPLE."

SUPREME PAIN's third album, "Divine Incarnation", was released in Europe in May 2011 via Massacre Records and in North America on October 25 through Massacre's new distribution via AFM Records' deal with E1 Entertainment. The CD was recorded at Soundlodge Studios in Leer, Germany with producer Jörg Uken. According to the group, the album contains "nine blasting death metal tracks with an evil and twisted atmosphere."

Drummer Paul Beltman was forced to leave SUPREME PAIN last summer after suffering an injury.

Former SCORPIONS drummer Herman Rarebell is working with musicians from California and Brazil — including singer Gustavo Monsanto (REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, TAKARA) — on the follow-up to Herman's 2010 album, "Take It As it Comes". The new CD will issued under the moniker HERMAN RAREBELL AND THE FATAL STING.

"Take It As it Comes" — a disc of material featuring songs written by friends — was released via Dark Star Records.

In a 2010 interview with Noisecreep, Rarebell stated about his songwriting approach, "I make songs that are very commercial, so [each] could be a single. It's a whole new thing. I think all you need is the forum to promote the music. The more people know about the song, the better chances you have. For example, if you have it in a movie, you have an edge because then people come out of the cinema, they hear the song pulsing their brain, they go home and download it. So it's not like in the old days where the next day you go into the shop, you buy the CD and you take out the cover, you study the whole thing. It's a completely different ballgame now."

On the topic of his former SCORPIONS bandmates, Rarebell said, "They do very good, and I probably just think that it was time after 20 years with them just to something else, no bad blood you know. It was just like you make a decision after you're married for 30 years and you say to your husband, 'Look, I want to do something else in life,' and [you] get divorced.

"Shit happens, as you say. My real life philosophy is what the song says. 'Take it as it comes.' There's not much you can do about it except stay positive. Don't look back, look forward and do something ... you really want to do and live your life. It's my philosophy. That's why I say that with my heart fully behind it. I learned that lesson, you know?"

Quality multi-camera video footage of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's November 2, 2011 concert at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California can be seen below.

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's January 19 free concert at the Slidebar in Fullerton, California — the band's "last U.S. [show] for a while" — will be streamed live at 10:00 p.m. at Stickam.com/DillingerEscapePlan.

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

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

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

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

Chicago-based extreme progressive metal titans VEIL OF MAYA have set "Eclipse" as the title of their third full-length album, due on February 28 via Sumerian Records.

A trailer for the upcoming CD can be seen below.

VEIL OF MAYA has just kicked off a massive North American tour alongside IN FLAMES and TRIVIUM.

VEIL OF MAYA's latest album, "[id]", sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 1 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.

"[id]" was released on April 6, 2010 via Sumerian Records. The CD was produced by Michael Keene (THE FACELESS), who previously worked with the group on its last album, 2008's "The Common Man's Collapse".

"Cirque Des Damnés Featuring We Are The Fallen", the new concert film from WE ARE THE FALLEN — the group formed by EVANESCENCE co-founder Ben Moody (guitar) and other former members (LeCompt and Gray) along with "American Idol" powerhouse vocalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien (DISTURBED, KELLY CLARKSON, STATIC-X, METHODS OF MAYHEM,TOMMY LEE) — is available for purchase as a video digital download from the band's official web site.

Filmed at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, California on January 22, 2011, the "Cirque Des Damnés" (English translation: "Circus Of The Damned") concert combines the live show of WE ARE THE FALLEN with aerialists, stage performers, and a carnival-style freak show. Running time for the concert is 1 hour and 5 minutes. You will receive one laminate-style backstage pass that also doubles as a digital download card. Simply use the information on the back of the card to log in and download this concert event.

Moody previously described "Cirque Des Damnés" as "a carnival-style event thrown into the unpredictability of a rock and roll show — bigger than we've ever done before."

WE ARE THE FALLEN's debut album, "Tear The World Down", was made available on May 11, 2010 via Universal Republic. The CD sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 33 on The Billboard 200 chart.

In a May 2011 online post, Moody confirmed that WE ARE THE FALLEN was "no longer part of the Universal Republic roster." He explained, "Over the course of the last year, many changes were made at the label and it became apparent that we were not a priority. But, like everything in the music business, change doesn't happen overnight. After our second single was delayed, then changed, then delayed and changed two more times; the majority of the year was gone and both parties mutually agreed to go our separate ways."

Speaking to Billboard.com around the time of the release of WE ARE THE FALLEN's debut album, Moody stated about the band's decision to sign with a major label, "We had initially intended to go at this alone because we didn't feel like a major label was up to the challenge. I've had mixed experiences in the past, and major labels can fuck things up faster than anybody. But the entire Universal Republic team got what we wanted to do, and it was worth changing our plans and worth the risk to partner with them because we thought the outcome would be greater than something we'd do on our own."

WE ARE THE FALLEN made its live debut on March 23, 2010 at Kings College in London, England. A 28-city U.S. tour as the support act for HIM launched on March 26, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and wrapped on May 9, 2010 in New York City.

Fan-filmed video footage of BATTLE BEAST's December 30, 2011 performance at Pakkahuone in Tampere, Finland as the support act for NEGATIVE can be seen below.

BATTLE BEAST recently inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band's debut album, "Steel" — which was originally released in Finland last year via Hype Records — will be made available internationally on January 27.

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.

Video footage of GENERATION KILL — the crossover metal outfit featuring EXODUS frontman Rob Dukes — performing the METALLICA classic "Disposable Heroes" last night (Friday, January 13) at Fontana's bar in New York City can be seen below.

GENERATION KILL's debut album, "Red White And Blood", was released on September 16 in Europe and September 27 in North America via Season Of Mist. The CD was recorded at J. Rod Production Studios in New City, New York (where the vocal tracks for EXODUS' "Let There Be Blood" and OVERKILL's "Ironbound" were previously laid down).

Commented the writing team of Dukes and Moschetti (bass, backing vocals): "This release is the most diverse project that either of the two of us been a part of. This is an honest, no-holds-barred album containing various styles of music. In a way, it is a bit of a selfish record. We wrote the kind of material that we like. You can't please everybody, so you might as well please yourself. Honestly, that's what true art is. Freedom of expression."

GENERATION KILL is:

Rob Dukes - Vocals
Rob Moschetti - Bass/Backing Vocals
Lou Lehman - Lead Guitar
Jason Trenczer - Lead Guitar
Jim DeMaria - Drums

The "Red White And Blood" video can be seen below. The clip was directed by Craig Cefola based on a concept by Rob Dukes and with animation by Next Media Animation.

Swedish female-fronted heavy rockers SISTER SIN will enter Standstraight Studios in Stockholm in late February with producer Chris Snyder to begin recording their third album for a May 22 release via Victory Records.

SISTER SIN recently released a video for its cover version of the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Rock 'N' Roll". The track, which was made available on all digital platforms worldwide via Victory Records on September 13, features guest vocals from the German metal queen Doro Pesch. It was produced by Snyder at Standstraight and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

SISTER SIN's second album, "True Sound Of The Underground", landed at position No. 97 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.

SISTER SIN in November 2010 announced the addition of bassist Andreas Strandh to the group's ranks.

"True Sound Of The Underground" was released in North America on June 22, 2010 via Victory Records and was issued in Europe on July 23, 2010 through Metal Heaven Records. It was produced by Henrik Edenhed (DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS) in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios.

For more information, visit www.sistersin.com.

Reunited '80s cult metal outfit SANCTUARY — which features in its ranks current NEVERMORE frontman Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard — performed this past Wednesday, January 11 at Gramercy Theatre in New York City.

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

In a recent interview with Rock My Monkey TV, Dane stated about SANCTUARY's future plans, "We're gonna do a new record. We've got a lot of new songs written and we're working on a deal with Century Media; it's kind of an imminent thing. I've been with that label since 1995, so I know the people that work there, I trust them, and I have a very good working relationship with them, so it makes the most sense for me right now. And for the rest of the guys, too. So we'll see. Nothing's ever written in stone, but it looks like that's what's gonna happen."

Regarding how SANCTUARY's reformation came about, Dane said, "[SANCTUARY guitarist Lenny Rutledge and I] always talked to each other, but never really been friends again. And when the whole thing came about, that we were actually friends again, that's when we started talking more about doing it. And it definitely wasn't because NEVERMORE was imploding... which it was, at that point . . . We all just started talking with each other again. That was kind of the groundwork for it. And then we started saying, 'Well, gosh, let's make music again.' And my god! Lenny is writing some stuff that is so friggin great! Obviously, he's been bottling this up for years, because he really hasn't been doing anything... Well, he's had bands here and there. But he's really writing some great stuff that's really inspiring me, and making me fall in love with music again, with the creative process... everything that revolves around that. Really inspiring me to write really evil lyrics."

Regarding the sound of SANCTUARY's upcoming studio album, tentatively titled "The Year The Sun Died", Dane said, "This record is not going to sound like the other two. It might sound very similar to the second one ('Into The Mirror Black'). It's definitely not going to sound like the first one, because we're all a little bit older and I can't come up with a c-clamp for a scrotum and a helium tank . . . It's not going to sound like the old ones... it's 2011. It's still gonna be that good, I think, and there's gonna be high-pitched screaming. I'm making sure of that. With NEVERMORE, high-pitched screaming was never really called for. You know, with SANCTUARY... of course it is."

SANCTUARY recently tapped Brad Hull (FORCED ENTRY) to play second guitar for the band.

Hull and Shannon Sharp, one of the moderators at Metalguitarist.org, were the top picks for the SANCTUARY second-guitarist position. Brad, having previously toured with SANCTUARY, was given the opportunity to play the dates in Atlanta (ProgPower USA XII festival) and Greece.

Hull has spent the last two years playing the role of "James Hetfield" in the METALLICA tribute band BLISTERED EARTH, which plays "classic songs ranging from 1983's 'Kill 'Em All' to 1991's self-titled 'Metallica'."

SANCTUARY's current touring lineup:

Warrel Dane - Vocals
Lenny Rutledge - Guitar
Brad Hull - Guitars
Jim Sheppard - Bass
Dave Budbill – Drums

Earlier today (Friday, January 13), Los Angeles glam metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER visited Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada radio station 99.3 The Fox during "The Jeff O'Neil Show" and performed an acoustic version of their song "If You Really Really Love Me". Video footage of their appearance can be seen below.

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).

According to the webstore of Nuclear Blast Records, Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH have set "Koloss" as the title of their new album, due in Germany on March 23 and the rest of Europe on March 26 (March 27 in North America) as a CD digi, limited-edition Magic Cube (CD digi plus DVD exclusive to Nuclear Blast mail order) and two-LP brown vinyl.

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

Regarding the approach to the new music, MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake told Decibel magazine in a 2010 interview, "Maybe not try to be as anal about every single little hit [that] has to be super-tight but be more focused on the vibe of a track and let some of those tiny errors slip through. I think that kinda breeds a bit of life into a song."

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

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

Legendary Swedish death metallers GRAVE entered their own Studio Soulless last weekend to begin recording their new album, tentatively titled "Endless Procession Of Souls". The band is laying down 12 songs — nine new tracks plus three "very special" cuts — for the CD, which will be released mid-2012 via Century Media Records.

Commented GRAVE guitarist/vocalist Ola Lindgren: "[The recording sessions have] been going very well and [the stuff] sounds killer already at this early stage with only drums and bass tracks done. I would describe it as a mix of our latest two releases with some more old-school, groovy 'Soulless' parts."

GRAVE recently parted ways with its guitarist of three years, Magnus Martinsson.

GRAVE's current lineup is as follows:

Ola Lindgren - Guitar/Vocals
Mika Lagrén - Guitar
Ronnie Bergerstål - Drums
Tobias Cristiansson – Bass

GRAVE's November 12, 2011 concert at Club Distortion/Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden was filmed for future release. The band celebrated the 20th anniversary of its classic 1991 debut album, "Into The Grave", by performing the LP in its entirety, along with "another handful classic tunes."

GRAVE in September completed a North American headlining tour with support from BLOOD RED THRONE, PATHOLOGY and GIGAN.

Alex Rudinger (THREAT SIGNAL) and Hannes Grossmann (OBSCURA, BLOTTED SCIENCE) have been added to the list of musicians who will contribute to "Volume 1", the debut album from STAR MONARCHY, the new project launched by bassist Ray Riendeau (HALFORD, JAMES LABRIE). The release will feature songs written by Ray and some collaborations with other artists. It will be recorded by an ongoing cast of players/singers in various metal genres.

"Volume 1" will feature the following musicians:

* Ray Riendeau (JAMES LABRIE, HALFORD) - Bass
* Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) - Guitar
* Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK) - Vocals
* Dan Tompkins (TESSERACT) - Vocals
* Rody Walker (PROTEST THE HERO) - Vocals
* Danny Handler (THE BETTER DEATH) - Drums
* Peter Wildoer (DARKANE, JAMES LABRIE) - Drums
* Travis Orbin (PERIPHERY, SKY EATS AIRPLANE) - Drums
* Alex Rudinger (THREAT SIGNAL) – Drums
* Hannes Grossmann (OBSCURA, BLOTTED SCIENCE) - Drums
* Sean Dailey (THE BETTER DEATH) - Vocals
* Derek Taylor (STARA ZAGORA) - Guitar
* Thomas Pulda (ANOMALY) - Screams

STAR MONARCHY's first single, "Monarchy", was released last October via iTunes and can be streamed at this location. The track, which was mixed and mastered by Derek Taylor at Milo studios in Texas, features Tompkins on vocals, Artusato on guitar, Riendeau on bass and guitar and Handler on drums.

"Hatred", a brand new song from Norway's EL CACO, is available for streaming on the band's Facebook page. The song comes off the group's new album, "Hatred, Love & Diagrams", which is scheduled for release on January 27 in Europe and January 31 in North America via Indie Recordings.

Commented EL CACO: "'Hatred' is our first single from the upcoming album 'Hatred, Love & Diagrams'. It has a pretty rigid beat around 125 bpm and that is not very usual in the EL CACO camp. So, you can say 'Hatred' is a bit different but at the same time EL CACO made."

"Hatred, Love & Diagrams" track listing:

01. After I'm Gone
02. Hatred
03. Autopsy
04. Equivalence
05. Go Forward
06. Confessions
07. Sixty To Zero
08. Skeleton
09. She Said
10. Disconnect

EL CACO has been an institution and a well-kept secret in the Norwegian music scene for the past decade. The band's music is a culmination of three very talented individuals, each with a very eclectic taste in music. Inspired by the best, but never stripping themselves of their own unique identity, they have the rare ability to grasp the finer elements of their influences and mould them into their own diverse sound.

On their new album, EL CACO "push the envelope even further than they have done before," according to a press release. "Having explored the melodic aspects of rock and metal for more than a decade, this album shows us yet another side of this multi layered band. With an organic and natural sound the trio displays true musicianship and great songwriting skills on this 10-track album which is their definitive peak, their Opus Magna. It sounds more like a band than most other bands. A true organic unit moving fluently with the songs, expressing the underlying emotions through their instruments in a way we know from the greater bands of history."

Long-running Polish death metallers LOST SOUL have announced the addition of drummer Paul Jaroszewicz (CHRIST AGONY, ex-VADER) and guitarist Marek Golas (SAMMATH NAUR) to the group's ranks.

LOST SOUL's new lineup is as follows:

Jacek Grecki - Vocals, Guitar
Marek Golas - Guitar
Damian Czajkowski - Bass
Paul Jaroszewicz - Drums

LOST SOUL has completed work on its anniversary album, "Genesis - XX Years of ChaoZ". The CD will be made available later this year.

LOST SOUL's fourth album, "Immerse In Infinity", was released in 2009 via Witching Hour Productions. The effort contained "eight crushing anthems (57 minutes) of monumental extreme death metal in vein of NILE, HATE ETERNAL and VITAL REMAINS," according to a press release.

A video for the song "216" — taken from "Immerse In Infinity" — can be seen below. The clip was filmed at the 2010 edition of the Brutal Assault festival in the Czech Republic.

"Contradiction", the new video from Chilean thrash metallers WARCHEST, can be sen below. The clip was filmed and edited by Max Molina, Aldo Biggini and Diego Silva and was produced by 100iaudiovisual.

"Contradiction" comes off WARCHEST's debut album, "Aftershock", which came out in 2011.

WARCHEST is:

Chris Pelaéz: Vocals/Guitars
JT García: Bass guitar
PJ Pelaéz: Drums
Domingo Vial: Guitars

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

Norwegian heavy metal band CRITICAL SOLUTION recently recorded cover versions of two heavy metal classics — "Let It Die" (OZZY OSBOURNE) and "Iron Man" (BLACK SABBATH) — for inclusion on a forthcoming tribute album, tentatively due in May. Both tracks were produced and mixed by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque.

CRITICAL SOLUTION will return to La Rocque's Sonic Train studios in Varberg, Sweden later this year to record a full-length album.

CRITICAL SOLUTION's "Evidence Of Things Unseen" EP was recorded at La Rocque's Sonic Train studios in Varberg, Sweden and features the following five songs:

01. Dead Man Walkin'
02. Sad Hill
03. Crime Of Passion
04. Seek And Destroy (METALLICA cover; feat. Andy La Rocque)
05. War Machine

CRITICAL SOLUTION is:

Christer Slettebø - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Egil Mydland - Drums
Tov Glesnes - Rhythm Guitar
Eimund Grøsfjell - Bass

"Seek And Destroy" (METALLICA cover; feat. Andy La Rocque) audio stream:

THIS ENDING, the Swedish death metal band featuring AMON AMARTH drummer Fredrik Andersson, has completed work on a new three-song EP titled "Systematic Worship". The effort was recorded during late 2011 at guitarist Linus Nirbrant's studio Audiohammer, which the band calls "an environment where we are used to rehearse, so it's been the most natural and organic recording for us. This has allowed us to not only deliver more of the same THIS ENDING that our fans have come to appreciate, but also experiment with some new stuff that we hope you'll enjoy as well."

"Systematic Worship" will be released on all official web pages in digital format one song at a time, starting in a matter of days.

"Systematic Worship" track listing

01. Our Creation
02. Army Of (N)one
03. No More Silence

The song "Our Creation" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

THIS ENDING's second album, "Dead Harvest", was released in January 2009 via Metal Blade Records.

THIS ENDING is:

Mårten Hansen - vocals
Leo Pignon - guitar
Linus Nirbrant - guitar
Jesper Löfgren - bass
Fredrik Andersson – drums

Formed in 2005, THIS ENDING existed in a previous incarnation as A CANOROUS QUINTET. After several years of absence from the metal scene the guys decided that the time was right for a new era. Members of the band are/have been active in the following acts: AMON AMARTH, GUIDANCE OF SIN, NIDEN DIV. 187 and SINS OF OMISSION, among others.

Finnish cinematic extreme metallers CHAOSWEAVER have inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. The band has completed work on its second album, due later in the year.

Commented the group: "We are thrilled and honored to join the Napalm family, the home of some of our favorite bands such as TIAMAT, SUMMONING and CANDLEMASS. Cooperation with such a notable and capable label, which shares our vision, is exactly what we were looking for. With the help of our new allies, our dark symphonies will be heard all around the globe. Let the pandemonium spread like wildfire in an ocean of gasoline!"

CHAOSWEAVER's debut album, "Puppetmaster Of Pandemonium", was released in April 2008 via Shadow World Records and distributed by Playground Music Scandinavia in Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. The CD featured guest appearances by Jules Näveri (PROFANE OMEN, ENEMY OF THE SUN), Rotten (ex-DEATHCHAIN, SURVIVORS ZERO), Aleksi Munter (SWALLOW THE SUN) and Ville Sorvali (MOONSORROW).