British metallers ARCHITECTS have entered Outhouse Studios in Reading with producer John Mitchell to begin recording their new album for a late spring release via Century Media Records.

At the end of next month, ARCHITECTS willl release the "The Here And Now 2012 Special Edition" including "Devil's Island" and "Untitled" as well as all video clips ("Day In Day Out", "Learn To Live", "Heartburn", "Delete, Rewind" and "An Open Letter To Myself"), making-of footage for "Learn To Live" and "Heartburn" plus several previously released online clips.

"The Here And Now 2012 Special Edition" release dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Friday, February 24
U.K., Benelux, France: Monday, February 27
Australia, New Zealand: Friday, March 2

ARCHITECTS has just announced the second leg of its U.K./Ireland headlining tour with ROLO TOMASSI and STRAY FROM THE PATH.

Commented ARCHITECTS: "We're absolutely delighted to be hitting up some of the towns we've been neglecting over the last few years!

"Quite a few people were upset when or last tour was only five dates so this tour is our way of saying sorry! We'll be releasing our album shortly after, so it'll be our first opportunity to showcase new material, too, which is always an exciting prospect for us.

"We're delighted to bring along our friends ROLO TOMASSI and STRAY FROM THE PATH, who are both fine young groups."

ARCHITECTS' latest album, "The Here And Now", sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 47 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Here And Now" was produced by Steve Evetts, who has previously worked with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and SEPULTURA, among many others.

"The Here And Now" debuted at position No. 57 on the official U.K. chart.

Swedish death metallers EVOCATION have inked a deal with Century Media Records. The band will enter the studio soon to record the follow-up to 2010's "Apocalyptic" for a fall 2012 release. In addition, Century Media will issue a compilation of EVOCATION's entire demo discography, plus additional footage, comments, liner notes, exclusive artwork and unreleased songs. A summer 2012 release is expected.

Commented EVOCATION guitarist Marko Palmén: "It's time to kick in the year of the apocalypse with the writing of a new chapter and a new era in EVOCATION's history.

"We are very pleased to announce that we have signed a new worldwide recording agreement with Century Media Records. The label feels for us as a natural choice and a perfect partner due to their long experience and commitment with the death metal scene. To become a part of the Century Media family feels for us as coming home. Huge thanx to Jens Prüter, Philipp Schulte, Stefan Franke and [the rest of] Century Media for making this happen!"

Philipp Schulte, A&R Century Media Records Europe, states: "We are very happy to add EVOCATION to the Century Media roster. Century Media's roots are and will always be in the death metal scene. Death metal built up the label's base and reputation and has been our back bone ever since. With EVOCATION we are solidifying the base even further. EVOCATION have proven to be able to deliver outstandingly good material and we therefore are very much looking forward to the release of the new album. Welcome aboard!"

Pictured below: EVOCATION with Christian Sakowitz (booking at Continental Concerts), Philipp Schulte (A&R at Century Media Records) and Stefan Franke (promotion at Century Media Records)

An "enhanced" video clip of VAN HALEN performing the track "She's The Woman" during the band's January 5 concert at the tiny Cafe Wha? nightclub in Manhattan's Greenwich Village can be seen below. The show at the 250-person venue was the band's first since it ended its hugely successful 2007/2008 reunion trek with original singer David Lee Roth. The gig also served to officially kick off the promotional campaign for the new VAN HALEN album, "A Different Kind Of Truth", which will be released on February 7 via Interscope. The CD's first single and video, "Tatoo", arrived on January 10.

The setlist for Cafe Wha? show stuck to VAN HALEN classics from the six albums of the initial David Lee Roth era, with the exception of "She's The Woman". That song originally appeared on the 1976 demo, produced by KISS bassist Gene Simmons, that got VAN HALEN their record deal with Warner Bros. It was left off the group's 1978 debut but has been resurrected for the new disc.

VAN HALEN's setlist for the Cafe Wha? concert was as follows:

01. You Really Got Me
02. Runnin' With The Devil
03. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
04. Everybody Wants Some
05. She's The Woman
06. Dance The Night Away
07. Panama
08. Hot For Teacher
09. Ice Cream Man
10. Ain't Talkin Bout Love
11. Jump
12. Beautiful Girls
13. Unchained

"A Different Kind Of Truth" will be the group's first all-new collection since "Van Halen 3" was issued 13 years ago, and its first with singer David Lee Roth since "1984".

VAN HALEN released details of its upcoming North American tour, which will kick off on February 18 in Louisville, Kentucky. Tickets for the tour will begin going on sale January 14. KOOL AND THE GANG will open for VAN HALEN on selected tour stops.

The second trailer for "Helvetios", the new album from Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE, can be seen below. Due on February 10 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at New Sound Studio in Pfäffikon, a municipality in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland, with producer Tommy Vetterli (a.k.a. Tommy T. Baron; CORONER/ex-KREATOR guitarist). According to the band, Vetterli "record[ed] drums, guitars and vocals and also produc[ed] and mix[ed] the record. Most folk instruments and also vocals [were] recorded by Anna Murphy and Marco Jencarelli at the Soundfarm studios in Lucerne."

"Helvetios" track listing:

01. Prologue
02. Helvetios
03. Luxtos
04. Home
05. Santonian Shores
06. Scorched Earth
07. Meet The Enemy
08. Neverland
09. A Rose For Epona
10. Havoc
11. The Uprising
12. Hope
13. The Siege
14. Alesia
15. Tullianum
16. Uxellodunon
17. Epilogue

ELUVEITIE's last album, "Everything Remains (As It Never Was)", sold around 1,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 23 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.

ELUVEITIE will join CHILDREN OF BODOM on the Finnish metallers' North American headlining tour in celebration of the band's 15th anniversary. The trek will kick off on January 30 in Rochester, New York and run through March 4, hitting 26 cities over the course of the five-week jaunt. Boston-based extreme metal band REVOCATION and Canada's THREAT SIGNAL are also on the bill.

Norwegian avantgarde metallers BORKNAGAR have completed work on their new studio album with Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA) in Örebro, Sweden. Entitled "Urd", the CD will be released on March 26 in Europe and March 27 in North America via Century Media Records.

Commented BORKNAGAR mastermind Øystein G. Brun: "Our new album, 'Urd', was finished in mid December and all in all we spent about six months to record, produce and mix it. In the 'Bork-World' this isn't really long, but I can assure you that we have never before invested so much time, energy and effort into one single production. It has been a tough, yet inspiring ride.

"Since June 2011 I have constantly been working with this album, recording, editing and so forth — day and night. The same goes for my comrades. Never before have we made an album where everybody in the band has been so heavily involved and dedicated as this time around.

"'Urd' is surely the peak of our musical journey so far and we are extremely proud to have made this giant of an album! It's massive, it's emotional, it's fast, it's slow, it's epic, and it's progressive… all the ingredients that we have crafted our musical world on! And not to mention the 'golden threesome' on vocals (Vintersorg, Mr. Vortex and Lazare) really shines on this album… Do I need to say more?!"

Regarding where the album title fits in within BORKNAGAR's historical context, Øystein explains, "Our previous album was called 'Universal' and where should we go after an album title with such a magnitude? Well, we decided to head back home to earth. We really wanted to get back to the core of the band, where it all started - the admiration and pondering about nature and mankind's place therein. 'Urd' is the name of one of the norns that according to northern mythology stands under Yggdrasill and weaves the lifeline of mankind. 'Urd' is representing the past, while 'Verdande' is representing the present and 'Skuld' is representing the future. You might very well say that this is an ancient expression of what we today know as DNA. And I have always been very fascinated by the fact that parts and bits of our DNA actually derive from the very beginning of time. All living creatures are somewhat connected to the very first organic cell. That is some of the story behind the album title…"

BORKNAGAR 2012 is:

* Øystein G. Brun (Cronian, ex-Molested) – Clean and Electric Guitar
* Vintersorg (VINTERSORG, FISSION) - Grim Vocals, Clean Vocals and Choirs
* Lars A. Nedland (SOLEFALD, ex-CARPATHIAN FOREST) - Keyboards, Clean Vocals, Choirs
* Jens F. Ryland (ICS VORTEX) - Lead Guitar
* ICS Vortex (ex-DIMNMU BORGIR, ARCTURUS, ICS VORTEX) - Bass, Clean Vocals and Choirs

Drums and percussion on "Urd" were performed by David Kinkade (SOULFLY, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION).

A 2012 "teaser" from WE ARE THE RIOT, the new Los Angeles, California-based "post-punk" project featuring COAL CHAMBER members Miguel "Meegs" Rascon (guitar) and Mikal "Mikey" Cox (drums), can be seen below.

WE ARE THE RIOT's current lineup is rounded out by Andy Cole (bass), Jonny Sculls Flanagan (vocals) and Cheyne Fritts (guitar).

In an interview with Hollywood Music Magazine, Meegs stated about WE ARE THE RIOT, "The music that I’m playing in WE ARE THE RIOT is exactly representative of where I'm at as an artist right now. The chemistry, bond, and unity in this band is beyond anything I expected. Everyone in this band is literally in unison, musically and personality-wise. I'm having so much goddamn fun with a bunch of musicians that are very talented and very emotional. Chaotic, raw and insane."

WE ARE THE RIOT made its live debut on January 14, 2011 at The Juke Joint in Anaheim, California.

For more information, visit www.wearetheriot.net.

COAL CHAMBER — which is fronted by current DEVILDRIVER singer Dez Fafara — will reform for next year's Soundwave festival in Australia.

Teaser:

Former STRATOVARIUS and current SYMFONIA guitarist/songwriter Timo Tolkki has released the following statement via his official blog:

"As I am writing this on Friday morning sipping my coffee, many thoughts and feelings enter my mind.

"Ever since I published the blog about retiring from music business, many people have contacted me and asked me not to do so. That is why I decided to clarify some things and write some more about it.

"First of all, if someone got the picture that I am blaming the fans about the current situation in music business, I am really sorry. That is not at all how I think. I cherish and thank each and everyone that have given me and my music the amazing support in good and bad times.

"Secondly there have been some criticism about my decision, even some people have called me a coward.

"I know it is hard to understand what is really going on in the business at the moment. I mean, globally, in the whole world. Not just in your city.

"The signs have been there already about 10 years and, of course, this was expected. People don't buy records anymore.

"Before you rush to say, 'But I do,' let me tell you that I have a better vantage point to the whole music business globally to say this.

"There are reasons for me to act the way I do. This is not even about the quality of music in the vein of if I make bad records and people don't want to buy them.

"It really is true that the records sales are down and are going down and more and more changes will happen and they will not be for the better. The remaining record companies are extremely careful what kind of bands and music they will sign and if they sign, they will control the music and the style very aggressively.This will result to a controlled and boring system musically and ultimately could even kill the music as a physical or digital format.

"In the times of Bach and Beethoven, there were no records. The music was only heard live. But also live music suffers from declining sales because people don't have the money to see all those 30 bands in a month that come to the city. All this made me to think really hard about my future and the next 10-15 years.

"Having worked extensively in the last 20 years, I simply think it is time to evaluate what it is that I have left to say.

"I always said that I will play as long as people want to listen. But one thing has dawned me in the last few months: it doesn't matter to me if people want to listen to my music anymore. This means the ultimate freedom musically.

"Another thing is that although I have written about retirement from music business, I haven't written about retiring from music. I believe music is a gift. And this gift must be used. But sometimes it is not easy. I believe that my 22 years in
STRATOVARIUS and five CDs I have released after that, the music seminars I have held all over the world, the productions and all that goes with it are a lot. How much can you give after you have given it all?

"Anyway, I haven't given up music.

"I look at the scene and understand that I have nothing to do with what used to be so important to me, for example, when I was 30 years old.

"I believe in evolution in music and musical career. Evolution as a whole. Not picking a random record and say[ing], That sucks.' The whole body of work.

"I think that every record I ever made, has its place in the discography of my life.

"As I grow older, soon being 46, I can envision my music evolving towards goals and themes that are closer to my soul than the music I wrote when I was 32.

"I don't believe in singing about Legions of the Twilight when I am 50, but that's just me.

"I think I have a lot of music developing in me but what kind of music it is, not even I know. The future will tell, but I think you will hear from me still one day. My intuition is telling me this."

Tolkki drew up and signed an official waiver on May 20, 2008 giving up all rights to the STRATOVARIUS name. The remaining STRATOVARIUS members — Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards) and Lauri Porra (bass) — have since recorded and released two additional STRATOVARIUS albums with guitarist Matias Kupiainen.

STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor, who recorded an album's worth of material with VELVET REVOLVER in late 2010 and early 2011, spoke to Roger Lotring of ESPN.com about what could have been had he been chosen to front VR as the permanent replacement for Scott Weiland.

VELVET REVOLVER has still not found a new singer following its April 2008 split with Weiland and is more or less on hiatus, although it will reunite with the current STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman for a short one-off performance at "Love You Madly: A Concert For John O'Brien" on Thursday, January 12 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

While the team-up of Taylor with VELVET REVOLVER never officially took off, VELVET guitarist Slash did confirm that the band got together with Taylor to jam and even record some new material.

When asked what would he have brought to the VELVET REVOLVER team, had he quarterbacked it, Taylor told ESPN.com, "What I would have brought to VELVET REVOLVER would have been more of the attitude that I think they wanted from Scott, but they got the negative side of it, you know what I'm saying? Scott, to me, has always been the guy who — he's much more interesting when he's being a dick to other people than he is onstage, to be honest. I mean, he does the lizard weird-thing-dance and everything, but that gets old after a while. When you need that strong frontman, he just really didn't do it because he was too busy just being into himself instead of engaging the audience."

Corey added, "So I would have tried to basically build a bridge between what [the members of VELVET REVOLVER] had with Axl [Rose during their time with GUNS N' ROSES] and what they had with Scott, but with a little more good time feel to it — 'cause I can have an attitude and still smile, all fucking day. I think, in a lot of ways, they could have relaxed a little bit, knowing that they wouldn't have to worry about, What's the singer going to do? Are we going to be able to go onstage on time? Are we going to be able to play our show without a fit being thrown? Are we going to be able to play the songs the way they were written?

"I am a firm believer in, give the fans what they want. Do what you do, but give the fans what they want. They're the whole reason that you are where you are, and they deserve every fucking bit that you can give them."

The Pulse Of Radio asked Taylor what he and VELVET REVOLVER worked on at those rehearsal and recording sessions a year ago. "We did a bunch of stuff, you know," he said. "We did a bunch of stuff from the first album, we did a bunch of stuff that we had been kind of demoing back and forth and whatnot, seeing if it would work, you know, just like that, and it was a lot of fun, man. You know, we ended up writing a bunch of stuff as well and just kind of seeing what would happen in that creative sense, you know."

Slash admitted in a recent interview that he was the main reason why Taylor didn't get the frontman job, explaining, "It just didn't seem to fit right to me. And he's great, and I love Corey, but it didn't seem like the answer to the VELVET REVOLVER problem."

Taylor told a Canadian radio station after hearing of Slash's comments, "I guess it just wasn't working for him, which . . . He's Slash and he's entitled to have that, and I'm not gonna argue with him. But it was cool to just be able to get together and jam with those guys and I made some really cool friends."

Epitaph Records has announced the signing of the Los Angeles-based heavy melodic hardcore band THE GHOST INSIDE. The group is currently working on its as-yet-untitled new album with producer Jeremy McKinnon (of A DAY TO REMEMBER).

"Signing to Epitaph is a dream come true for me," THE GHOST INSIDE singer Jonathan Vigil says. "The label is home to some of my all-time favorite bands. Epitaph continues to be successful while maintaining the integrity of an independent label. I really look forward to the future of THE GHOST INSIDE and Epitaph. There's honestly no other place I'd want to call home."

Formed in 2007, THE GHOST INSIDE has built a following with two previous records, "Fury And The Fallen Ones" and "Returners", as well as their riveting live performances touring with bands such as BRING ME THE HORIZON, PARKWAY DRIVE and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

THE GHOST INSIDE's powerful and affecting sound merges insightful and introspective lyrics with charging drums, lightning fast riffs and devastating breakdowns.

RIOT founder and guitarist Mark Reale has been admitted to a San Antonio hospital in critical condition due to complications of Crohn's disease. Subsequently, there is a possibility that he may not appear in the band's upcoming performances in the Northeast and aboard the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise to Grand Cayman.

Mark has been battling Crohn's for most of his life, working and performing while enduring almost constant pain and the side effects of treatment for his illness. He was in Texas bravely attempting to practice for the shows, but was felled by a severe onset of Crohn's symptoms leaving him in the Intensive Care Unit at an undisclosed facility.

The band has agreed that the performances will take place as scheduled with the possibility that Mark may not be well enough in time to appear. RIOT would also like to acknowledge that Mark has been struggling with these symptoms throughout the production of their new album, "Immortal Soul", and that guitarist Mike Flyntz recorded a major portion of the guitars on the album with Mark's creative direction while he was unable to perform. For this reason, fans can be assured that the show will be as exciting as anything RIOT has ever staged, even if Mike needs to hold down double guitar duty. Mark will be sorely missed in this event, but the shows will go on.

RIOT is asking fans and friends of the band to pray for Mark's speedy recovery, and to support the group in their efforts to bring you the RIOT reunion shows that have been so long in the making. While Mark's family insists on privacy during this difficult time, your prayers and good wishes will make it to his bedside until he is able to return to the stage.

Art Scenics recently conducted an interview with bassist Adam Duce of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about MACHINE HEAD's former touring mates METALLICA, Duce said, "METALLICA is a phenomenon. So many things have lined up perfectly for those guys, and it just exploded. They are so many miles beyond the closest one in the pack. There's METALLICA way out here and then there's everybody else way back here. We're way back here with everybody else. [Laughs] And they've been pretty bulletproof up until now. They could do whatever they wanted to and it was gonna sell because it had METALLICA's name on it, because METALLICA has consistently put out outstanding quality.

"I'm not a fan of the 'Lulu' thing [referring to METALLICA's collaborative album with Lou Reed. — Ed.], but what I can say about it is that [METALLICA] do whatever they want, and they don't care what you think about it, and I think that's awesome. [Laughs]"

MACHINE HEAD's new album, "Unto The Locust", sold more than 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart — putting MACHINE HEAD in the Top 25 for the first time in the band's 17-year history.

MACHINE HEAD has consistently averaged more than 100,000 copies sold in the U.S. for each of its seven albums and has shifted double that overseas (accruing several silver records in the U.K.), resulting in cumulative worldwide sales of more than 2.4 million.

MACHINE HEAD's previous CD, "The Blackening", opened with just under 15,000 units back in April 2007 to debut at No. 54 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's 2004 effort, "Through The Ashes Of Empires", premiered with less than 12,000 copies to land at No. 88.

MACHINE HEAD will embark on a North American headlining tour in January/February with support from SUICIDE SILENCE and DARKEST HOUR.

Interview:

Former Metal Blade recording artists HERETIC have announced the addition of ex-HIRAX/REVEREND bassist Angelo Espino and drummer Ignazio Copolla to the group's ranks. The band's current lineup is rounded out by original members Julian Mendez on vocals and Brian Korban on guitar, along with new addition Glenn Rogers (ex-HIRAX) on guitar.

HERETIC is writing material for a new studio album, to be released later in the year.

According to The BNR Metal Pages, "HERETIC was a rather typical power/thrash metal band of the Eighties, managing one EP and one album before calling it a day. At least part of the reason for the band breakup was vocalist Mike Howe's departure to METAL CHURCH — ironically, the man he replaced there, David Wayne, recruited two HERETIC members for his then-new band, REVEREND."

HERETIC 2012 is:

Julian Mendez - Vocals
Brian Korban - Guitar
Angelo Espino - Bass
Glenn Rogers - Guitar
Ignazio "Iggy" Coppola - Drums

Tampa-based death metal legends CANNIBAL CORPSE have just completed work on their twelfth studio album appropriately titled Torture, which is due out through Metal Blade in March.

"We've approved the artwork and the album has been finished since the middle of November," Alex Webster tells BraveWords.com. But how hard is it this deep in their career to choose a title that the band and their rabid fanbase can revel in?

"Possibly Paul (Mazurkiewicz; drums) has chosen the most titles," the bassist reveals. "We all work together on this stuff. We have a lot of ideas and it doesn't automatically just happen. Basically in this band we have two kinds of album titles. We have the lengthier ones that are a bit more descriptive like Eaten Back To Life or The Wretched Spawn and then we have the simple one-word titles like Vile, The Bleeding, Bloodthirst, Kill and now this one, Torture. It's kind of cool being in the position that we're in because it might be a little more difficult for a smaller, less-known death metal band to use a title like Kill or Torture. Something like that works well for some reason. You'll notice a lot of underground bands that have very complex titles. For us we like to keep it simple. There are a lot of songs that relate to torture and execution on this album and it seemed to work for that reason. Naming it something loner and descriptive, I don't know if it would've been as effective."

Torture was recorded in September at Sonic Ranch studios in Tornillo, Texas with producer Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL) and the following month completed at Rutan's Mana Studios in Tampa, Florida. Rutan worked with Cannibal Corpse for both Kill (2006) and Evisceration Plague (2009) and is returning for a third battle.

Webster dissects the process: "We did the first part of the recording at Sonic Ranch; bass, drums and most of the rhythm guitar tracks. We did the guitar solos and George's ("Corpsegrinder" Fisher) singing in Florida. And we did the mix in Florida. We love Sonic Ranch. The isolation, the tranquillity and the excellence in gear they have out there is a great place to work on music."

This is just a sample of our chat today (January 11th) with Alex Webster who also talks about his jazz-fusion influences, the longevity of a death metal band, the upcoming Torture tour which will hit North America twice this year (prior to that: Destroyers Of The Faith in the UK, Extremefest and Full Of Hate in Europe) and more torture tactics in creating album number 12! Stay tuned!

Former DEATH manager and President of Perseverance Holdings Ltd. Eric Greif has issued the following statement:

"The giant news announcement... kinda got out of hand. Making announcements in this running format (on Facebook) is weird because there is then a thread of hundreds of responses (some, about Chuck coming back from the dead, were a bit OTT... but nevermind). I know it isn't possible to make everyone happy, but we're trying like hell for the fans. Anyhow, the news is this: Roadrunner has sent me a contract after working on this for well over a year, allowing for Symbolic to be part of a monster Death, 14 disc box set on Relapse. Obviously that would allow us to do Symbolic-era bonus material, as well. We could also (obviously) include stuff NOT on the reissues. Looking at 2013 +. If this hadn't been worked out with RR, it would have only included 6 Death albums. So, this is fucking killer news."

Coming a little sooner is the next chapter in Relapse's Death reissue campaign - Vivus! - a deluxe 2CD collection compiling two separate Death concerts.

Chile-based bashers NECROSIS have announced a new band line-up for this year 2012 and are working on new material, to be release in early 2013.

The new line-up is as follows:

Pablo Garriga - vocals
Sergio Aravena: - guitars
Juan Pablo "Hueso" Vallejos - bass
Andy Nacrur - drums/backing vocals

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, it was revealed on Monday (January 9). Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system. According to a statement issued by his publicist, the 63-year-old metal legend is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan and remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery.

The news comes as the original SABBATH lineup — Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — are writing and recording their first album together in 33 years. The disc is set for release this fall and SABBATH is scheduled to embark on a world tour, although Iommi's illness could affect those plans.

SABBATH has been working on its new album in Los Angeles, but now will head back to London to accommodate Iommi's plans for treatment.

In a brand new statement posted on his official web site, Iommi writes, "My fans, friends and colleagues,

"I just want to say how overwhelmed I am with all your messages of support, thank you so much.

"Well, it's not what I wanted for Christmas, that's for sure, but now I can't wait for the test results to come in and get going with the treatment.

"It's really good that the guys are coming over so that we can continue working on the album as things are going great in the studio.

"Well, not much else to say at this time, so thanks again.

"Bless you all, Tony."

Iommi told The Pulse Of Radio that ever since re-learning how to play guitar after severing two fingertips as a teenager, he's always been determined to fight his way through anything. "I've always been the same," he said. "I always have to try to get over that barrier, whatever it may be, and do it, you know. And that's continued in what I do with the music. People have said over the years, 'Well, why do you still keep playing and why do you still hold BLACK SABBATH together through the different lineups?' Because I'm determined to do it, I'm determined to carry on. And it's been with everything like that."

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

Acclaimed Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH, started mixing the new album from New Brunswick, New Jersey's melodic, thrash-metal warriors GOD FORBID earlier today (Thursday, January 12) at Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden. Due this spring via Victory Records, the bulk of the CD was recorded by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM), with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) stepping in during the the vocal-tracking stage.

A demo version of a new GOD FORBID song, "Where We Come From", is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below. The track was originaly given away as a free download as part of a Victory Records Labor Day digital sampler.

GOD FORBID guitarist Doc Coyle previously stated about the material for the band's forthcoming CD, "It's always difficult to tell how a new album will sound this early in the process, but I can say that our new guitar player Matt Wicklund [ex-HIMSA] is contributing tons of material. His stuff is very hook-oriented with a Scandinavian twinge.

"The stuff I've been writing has been varied from evil MORBID ANGEL, black metal shit to mid-tempo/power groove MACHINE HEAD-type stuff, and signature GOD FORBID material that is a logical progression from our previous albums."

GOD FORBID will debut some of its brand new material at the following East Coast shows in February:

Feb. 18 - Brooklyn, NY - St. Vitus
Feb. 24 - Clifton, NJ - Dingbatz

Commented Doc Coyle: "With only one show in 2011 and two months spent in the recording studio, we have been itching to get out and play. We thought it would be a great idea to get into an intimate setting in our area for the real GOD FORBID fans. Expect to hear some new songs and some old cuts that haven't played in a while."

"Where We Come From" (demo version):

Mama's Fallen Angels recently conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES/SIXX: A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

When asked how soon fans can expect to hear a new GUNS N' ROSES album, Ashba replied, "I can't give anybody a definite date, because I'm not gonna give anybody false hope. But what I can say is [making a new album] absolutely is our main priority. And I cannot wait to get [working on it]. I mean, Axl [Rose, GN'R lead singer] has tons and tons of stuff recorded as it is. I mean, he sits there in his hotel room and he'll play me hours of stuff. And I've written over ten songs — I think 12 songs now — for him that he really likes. And I think now that we're off tour, we're gonna kind of start talking about, 'Hey, let's start piecing together what we feel would be the next best GUNS N' ROSES record.' It's absolutely everybody's goal to get out an album within a reasonable amount of time. That is everybody's focus."

SIXX: A.M. — the band consisting of Nikki Sixx (also of MÖTLEY CRÜE), DJ Ashba and James Michael — has begun writing material for its third album. According to Sixx, the CD will "probably [be] a 2013 release considering the body of work we're setting as a goal."

"7", the latest EP from SIXX: A.M., came out last month and sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort contains acoustic versions of songs from the group's first two albums — 2007's "The Heroin Diaries" soundtrack and 2011's "This Is Gonna Hurt".

SIXX: A.M. will be "doing a proper video" for its next single soon, according to Sixx. In addition, "tour options keep coming, but we haven't found the right fit yet to open up the conversations," Nikki writes on his Facebook page.

SIXX: A.M. recently revealed plans to film a video for the song "Skin" in the Los Angeles area. The band put out a casting call for people whom the song has affected personally because of their own scars — whether physical or under the surface.

In addition to Ashba and sole original member Axl Rose, the current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES includes guitarists Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.

"Chinese Democracy", the 2008 album released by the current edition of GUNS N' ROSES after a 15-year wait, was officially certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 3, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of one million copies.

"Chinese Democracy" was made available exclusively through Best Buy.

After playing select shows in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, USA and Canada to give fans a chance to get "up close and personal" with new singer Marc Hudson, U.K. based metal heroes DRAGONFORCE have announced their first U.K. headline concert with Hudson on February 16 at at the 100 Club on Oxford Street in London. The gig is timed to give DRAGONFORCE fans an opportunity to celebrate with the band the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, and the fact that the group's new album is finally finished and due for release in the spring.

Commented guitarist Herman Li: "We are all glad to be finished in the studio, especially given that the new record is sounding fantastic! We're looking forward to letting off steam at the 100 Club and announcing that in the Year of the Dragon, DRAGONFORCE are well and truly back!"

DRAGONFORCE performed two brand new songs — "Last Fallen World" (described by singer Marc Hudson as "the fastest, most extreme DRAGONFORCE song so far") and "Cry Thunder" — during its October 21, 2011 concert at the Gramercy Theater in New York City. Fan-filmed video footage of the show can be seen below.

After entries from thousands of hopefuls across the globe, DRAGONFORCE in March 2011 welcomed 23-year-old Marc Hudson to the band to fill the boots left by ZP Theart, who parted ways with the group in March 2010.

Born in Oxford England, Marc was picked from the thousands of applications via a number of impressive video auditions and live performances, which left the rest of the band in no doubt that they'd found their man. Since the age of 16, Marc has been building his vocal skills gigging with bands in the U.K. underground scene, developing a powerful style with influences which include Bruce Dickinson, Michael Kiske and Sebastian Bach.

The band has been working on a new album since early 2010, recording in various studios in California, London and the South of France. The follow-up to 2008's hugely successful "Ultra Beatdown" album will be highly anticipated, with top 10 and top 20 chart positions all over the world and a Grammy nomination in the United States setting the precedent. With Marc brought into the fold, the band is enjoying an injection of enthusiasm and hunger that sees DRAGONFORCE prepared to return more focused and determined than ever before.

For this year's Record Store Day (April 21), Niji Entertainment Group, the record label Wendy Dio and her late husband Ronnie James Dio (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, RAINBOW, ELF) formed before his untimely passing, will release a deluxe picture disc of RAINBOW's "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll". Each picture disc is numbered and only 2,500 were made. 250 units will be held back for fans that live outside the USA and will be made available via the Niji webstore.

About Record Store Day: Record Store Day is managed by the Music Monitor Network and is organized in partnership with the Alliance Of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), the Coalition Of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) and celebrates the culture of independent record stores by playing host to in-store events/performances, signings and special product releases on a global scale.

Record Store Day takes place annually on the third Saturday of April.

Bassist Bob Daisley, who was a member of RAINBOW from 1977 to 1979, in August 2010 posted high-quality video footage of of RAINBOW performing the songs "Gates of Babylon", "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" and "L.A. Connection" at a New York studio prior to the release of the band's third studio album, 1978's "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll'. You can watch the clips below.

Although Bob Daisley and David Stone are listed on the "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" credits for their contributions, they joined RAINBOW after the recording sessions had already commenced and only appear on a couple of tracks. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore played most of the bass parts himself for the album.

"Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" was remastered on CD for the U.S. market in April 1999, with the European version following later. The U.S. version had a matte booklet/insert, which matched the original vinyl sleeve for all markets, whereas the European issue was the standard glossy type.

This was RAINBOW's last album to feature Ronnie James Dio on vocals. He left, later to join BLACK SABBATH, and was replaced by Graham Bonnet.

In June 2009 a CD-size book about the making of album was released in the series "Rock Landmarks" called "Long Live Rock N' Roll Story". It was written by RAINBOW and Blackmore expert Jerry Bloom.