A TV trailer for "Unbreakable", the new album from German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR, can be seen below. Due on January 24, 2012 in the U.S. via Frontiers Records,the CD was tracked in part at House Of Music studios in Winterbach, Germany with producer/bassist Mat Sinner and engineer Achim Köhler (EDGUY, MASTERPLAN).

According to a press release, "Unbreakable" "combines the skills of the strongest PRIMAL FEAR lineup ever with a well-balanced 'back-to-the-roots" vibe and an ambitious learning process during their longest tour so far. Classic and ultra-fresh PRIMAL FEAR riff-rockers like 'Strike', 'Give 'Em Hell' or the high-speed track 'And There Was Silence' will hit the bulls-eye, like the rhythm paced metal anthem, first single and new video clip 'Bad Guys Wear Black'. Less experiments, more rock! But there will be a nine-minute epic journey with a lot prog approach named 'Where Angels Die', a classic wonderful ballad 'Born Again' and the melodic power bomb 'Metal Nation'."

Commented singer Ralf Scheepers: "The plan was to record an album for the fans with rough metal riffs, screaming vocals and good melodies ...and finally it became a monster — a tough 'bang-your-head' metal album called 'Unbreakable'."

"Unbreakable" track listing:

01. Unbreakable (Part 1)
02. Strike
03. Give 'Em Hell
04. Bad Guys Wear Black
05. And There Was Silence
06. Metal Nation
07. Where Angels Die
08. Unbreakable (Part 2)
09. Marching Again
10. Born Again
11. Blaze Of Glory
12. Conviction
13. Night Of The Jumps (Bonus Track)*
14. Bad Guys Wear Black (Video)*

* Only available in the first pressing in digipak

The digital-only single "Bad Guys Wear Black" was made available for download on December 5. The single also includes "Metal Nation" in an exclusive single mix.

Check out "Unbreakable" audio samples at Amazon.de.

Regarding the musical direction of the new PRIMAL FEAR album, Ralf Scheepers told Greece's Rock Overdose, "You can really expect an album which is somehow skipping back again to the very basics of PRIMAL FEAR, with very rough metal riffs and screaming vocals and good melodies on it. So people can really expect a pure PRIMAL FEAR album with melody and beating drums and very harsh guitars."

He added, "Of course, every musician will somehow advertise his own album, but I'm really convinced that people will like this one, because it's got very catchy hooklines and it's a really 'bang-your-head' metal album.

"When you look back on the [PRIMAL FEAR] back catalog, from the very first album to this album now, I think there were quite some changes — on 'Seven Seals', for instance, and also when we came [out with] 'New Religion'. We somehow now have a combination in between a good, bombastic sound with more back-to-the-basics guitar riffing stuff. Also we have two ballads on it, which are not [really] ballads. There's one mid-tempo song with some acoustic guitars in it and one song which has a little bit more keyboards. It's still not an acoustic-guitar ballad— it's still with drums and stuff — so I think it's a pretty tough album [overall]."

PRIMAL FEAR asked fans to submit suggestions for the new CD title and received more than 500 responses.

"Unbreakable" TV trailer:

The fourth episode of the NIGHTWISH "Imaginaerum" online game can be found at this location.

"Imaginaerum", the first album in four years from NIGHTWISH, entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 1.

According to Rytmi.com, "Imaginaerum" sold 50,000 copies in Finland in its first two days of release. The band's first CD since 2007's "Dark Passion Play" — which was then-new singer Anette Olzon's debut — is due in North America on January 10, 2012 via Roadrunner Records.

NIGHTWISH will kick off the "Imaginaerum" world tour in Los Angeles. The very first show of the trek will take place at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on Saturday, January 21. This will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.

Ottawa grindcore powerhouse FUCK THE FACTS are offering a free compilation, celebrating the band's "10 year history of grinding people's faces off".

10 Fucking Years: 2001 - 2011 includes the following tracks:

'Lifeless'
'Wake'
'Everyone Is Robbing The Dead'
'Kelowna'
'The Sound Of Your Smashed Head'
'Dear Shit Book'
'No One Remembered Who Started'
'Born To Kill Live To Thrill'
'Greed Whore'
'Don't Call My Slammin' Outfit Cool, Whitebread!'

Download the compilation at this location.

After the overwhelming reviews of their first record, ...To The Pit, and many crazy live shows (including Wacken Open Air 2011), THE PROPHECY²³ announce their second record, Green Machine Laser Beam.

The album will be produced by Kristian "Kohle" Kohlmannslehner (CREMATORY, POWERWOLF) in the Kohlekeller Studio in January and February 2012.

Green Machine Laser Beam will be released via Massacre Records in spring/summer 2012. The cover artwork was again drawn by Marvin Clifford (MAD Magazine, etc.). Check it out below:

While the new album, Amongst These Walls, is being finished in the studio, Brazilian doom/death metal act LACRYMA SANGUINE decided to post their EP, As The Autumn Ends, for free download.

As The Autumn Ends was released by Killzone Records and it still being well praised through the underground scene. The tracklist of the EP as it follows:

'Her Bloody Wings'
'As The Autumn Ends'
'One Last Kiss'

Lemi, Finland-based metallers STAM1NA will release their fifth album, "Nocebo", on February 8. The CD was recorded at Petrax studios with producer Joe Barresi (TOOL, BAD RELIGION, APOCALYPTICA, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, WOLFMOTHER).

"Nocebo" track listing:

01. Pirunpaska
02. Valtiaan uudet vaateet
03. Tavastia palamaan!
04. Puolikas ihminen
05. Aivohalvaus
06. Rabies
07. Lepositeet
08. Nomad
09. Ei encorea
10. Arveton on arvoton

The digipack version of "Nocebo" will come with an extended booklet and a DVD containing a half-hour "making-of" documentary, filmed at Petrax studios and produced by STAM1NA's bassist, Kai-Pekka Kangasmäki.

STAM1NA will promote the release of "Nocebo" by embarking on a spring 2012 tour of Finland, dubbed "Irti arjesta".

For an updated list of tour dates, go to this location.

According to a press release, the collaboration between Barresi and STAM1NA came about as a result of a meeting the producer had with the band in February 2010 when Joe was in Helsinki working on the latest APOCALYPTICA album.

STAM1NA was honored in the "Metal Album Of The Year" and "Band Of The Year" categories at this year's Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent), which was held on February 26 at Barona Areena in Espoo, Finland.

STAM1NA's fourth full-length album, "Viimeinen Atlantis", entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 1. The CD, which was certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 10,000 copies, was recorded at Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland and was produced by Miitri Aaltonen, who helmed the first two STAM1NA albums.

Video footage of ENGEL performing the song "Heartsick" live on October 25, 2011 at Le Divan du Monde in Paris, France during the band's European tour as the support act for PAIN can be seen below.

ENGEL is the Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), vocalist Mangan Klavborn, drummer Jimmy Olausson (ex-MARIONETTE) and bassist Steve Drennan (LOCUS).

ENGEL last month entered Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark to begin recording its third album, "Blood Of Saints", for a spring 2012 release. According to the group, the new CD "is going to be a good mixture between both [previous ENGEL efforts] 'Threnody' [2010] and 'Absolute Design' [2007], but with some new angles as well! If you liked 'Threnody', you will LOVE 'Blood Of Saints'!"

ENGEL played two shows with

Guitar virtuoso Joe Stump (HOLYHELL, REIGN OF TERROR) has completed work on his new instructional DVD, entitled "Shred Guitar 101". He says, "I think it'll be very useful learning tool for players on many levels and it'll be released by the Shred Academy early next year."

In other news, Stump has finished recording his new solo record, to be released in 2012. He states, "It's all recorded, mixed, and I'll be sending it off to be mastered within a week or so. It came out killer — my best-sounding record, both sonically and playing-wise."

Over the next few months, Stump will begin recording guitar for the new HOLYHELL album.

Three-camera video footage of Joe Stump shredding the axe at a guitar showcase at Sam Ash in Cincinnati, Ohio in June 2010 can be viewed below.

Stump's last solo album, "Virtuostic Vendetta", was released in April 2009 via Lion Music.

Greece's Rock Overdose recently conducted an interview with vocalist Angela Gossow of Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Rockoverdose.gr: "Khaos Legions" is the eighth album of the band that was released six months ago. Are you satisfied with the final result and what has the response been so far from fans and music press?
Angela: The response has been really good. We can tell by the fact that more and more people come to our live shows.

Rockoverdose.gr: Compared with the previous albums, what is in your opinion the main difference of "Khaos Legions"? I think in a way, it's more powerful with fast, sharp-riffing songs. What do you think?

Angela: The album is more complex. We used four years' worth of riffs and melodies. So there is a lot of stuff happening on the album. More is more — that was our approach to this record. Make it an intense journey.

Rockoverdose.gr: Based on your tour itinerary, you have an extremely busy schedule with shows day after day and short breaks. Where did you find all this energy on the stage during the concert?

Angela: Yes, we play a lot of shows and my workload as the manager and vocalist in ARCH ENEMY is immense. I have to be strong and healthy for that — so I take good care of my body, I am a vegan, I work out a lot. I will also take a year or more off after we finish the touring cycle for "Khaos Legions" in 2012. I need some time to recharge my batteries. ARCH ENEMY will go on hiatus for a while.

Rockoverdose.gr: Would you say you prefer touring or being in the studio?

Angela: I prefer the real thing — playing live.

Rockoverdose.gr: One of my favorite tracks is "No Gods, No Masters". This song has amazing lead guitars and depressive but angry vocals, combined with deep inner lyrics. Would you like to give us more details about it?

Angela: "No Gods, No Masters" represents what ARCH ENEMY is about: anarchist atheists. It is about finding that inner strength instead of looking for phantasy help "from above." It is about finding yourself really and fighting for your dreams, taking responsibility for yourself. It is quite a personal song — it reflects exactly how I feel and how I live my life.

Rockoverdose.gr: What do you like to do, to relax in your spare time?

Angela: I love working out, relaxing in a sauna, smoking weed, watching documentaries, educating myself.

Rockoverdose.gr: How would you describe yourself? Extrovert or introvert?

Angela: I have become very introvert over the years. The more "public" and known I am getting, the more I need privacy and silence. I am very extroverted on stage, so the rest of the day I am almost invisible.

Rockoverdose.gr: How would you like people to remember ARCH ENEMY? Have you ever thought about it?

Angela: I hope they remember us for the music we created and what we are: a dedicated, hard-working, intelligent metal band which toured all over the world and broke many preconceptions and boundaries and played in many exotic places.

Read more from Rock Overdose.

Texas crossover thrashers BIRTH A.D. will enter Pyramid Sound on January 3 to begin recording the full-length follow up to their critically acclaimed "Stillbirth Of A Nation" EP. Titled "I Blame You", the album will be engineered and produced by Alex Perialas (S.O.D. , TESTAMENT, OVERKILL, CARNIVORE, NUCLEAR ASSAULT).

"We chose Alex not only because he presided over many releases that allowed BIRTH A.D. to exist," explains vocalist/bassist Jeff Tandy, "but also he is still a commando producer of the highest order. He is very hands-on, and sometimes his enthusiasm exceeds our own. With his direction the new album will be amazing no matter what!"

"I Blame You" will be recorded, mixed and mastered in the space of 12 days and will feature a guest appearance by ROTTING CHRIST frontman Sakis Tolis.

"Sakis has already been a strong supporter of the band," says Tandy. "The fact that he offered to appear on the new album is a huge honor. He knows his metal, so we couldn't ask for a better endorsement."

BIRTH A.D. is currently seeking a suitable record label to release the upcoming CD.

Kevin Hufnagel (DYSRHYTHMIA, GORGUTS) has just released his second solo guitar album, "Transparencies", via his own imprint, Nightfloat Recordings. The effort can be streamed in full and purchased at BandCamp.com, along with Hufnagel's past recordings, including a rare, self-released cassette demo from 1997, titled "While I Wait".

An album preview trailer for "Transparencies" — created by Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu and using photography taken by Hufnagel — can be viewed below.

For "Transparencies", Hufnagel decided to work primarily with electric guitar as opposed to his last release "Songs For The Disappeared", which was entirely acoustic-based. The concept this time was to create dark and lush tapestries of sound, rich with texture, but without forsaking melody and detail to composition. Recorded at home by Hufnagel himself, the album displays his knack for using experimental guitar ideas and minimal recording techniques to craft strangely beautiful soundworlds.

"Transparencies" track listing:

01. Sunshower (02:48)
02. Ever Rest (05:10)
03. Arferno (05:12)
04. Slow Motion Return (03:59)
05. Passing On (02:46)
06. Static Aquarium (04:26)
07. Early Light (05:12)
08. The Bell Garden (04:19)
09. Station Hum (03:35)
10. Seen From A Distance (03:41)
11. Aftermath (03:31)

THE GATES OF SLUMBER's "Suffer No Guilt" album will be reissued in a glorious six-panel, matte-finished digipak through Deep Send Records.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER should be a household name to all lovers of true doom metal. To the uninitiated, their magnum sophomore album, "Suffer No Guilt", is the perfect place to start your journey.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER started in 1998 as a backlash against the stoner rock trend prevalent at the time and with their mixture of BLACK SABBATH, SAINT VITUS, PENTAGRAM, and prime-era CELTIC FROST, the band has crushed or converted unbelievers ever since. Considered by many to be their most powerful and crushing opus, "Suffer No Guilt" features stunning artwork by Ken Kelly (KISS, MANOWAR, RAINBOW) that perfectly illustrates this totalitarian doom metal crusade!

For more information, visit www.deepsend.com.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER' latest album, "The Wretch", was released in May via Rise Above/Metal Blade. The CD was recorded at England's Orgone Studios with producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, ANGEL WITCH).

Former INTO ETERNITY guitarist Rob Doherty has released the long-awaited debut album from FINAL DARKNESS. The project was put on hold when the label it was originally to be released under changed priorities and decided to go in a different direction, but Rob remained determined to push forward and bring FINAL DARKNESS to life.

Doherty rewrote and reworked some of the songs from the original project and began recording the new music earlier this year at Touchwood Studios. The recording was engineered by Justin Bender (INTO ETERNITY), who also provides additional guitars on the track "Memories". The album also features guest performances from Tim Roth (INTO ETERNITY) on the songs "Kill Room", "Memories" and "Darkness Falls".

A big break came when legendary producer/engineer Neil Kernon (NILE, NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE) agreed to do the final mix for the project. Neil also helped hook Rob up with mastering engineer Alan Douches from West West Side Music in New Windsor, New York to help give the album a killer sound.

The video for the song "Memories" can be seen below.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/final_darkness.

According to the UK's The Sun, the chances of Led Zeppelin playing the London Olympics are slim. The band peformed a one-off show at London's O2 in 2007 but shelved a full-scale reunion because singer Robert Plant refused to sign up.

Now Jason Bonham, who covered for his late father John on drums at the charity gig, has admitted a performance for the Games is unlikely.

He said: "I haven't spoken to Robert for about six months but he is really enjoying himself.

"For me you can never say never. If you ask me today is it gonna happen immediately, well no, there is no talk of it. But if you said to me in 2007 I would play with Led Zeppelin in December that year I would say you're nuts, so you never know."

STYX vocalist/guitarist Tommy Shaw has posted the following update:

“It was truly an amazing year. Some of the highlights: Styx toured with YES, and released Regeneration: Volume II, and did our best to come to a venue close enough so you could come get your Styx fix, Lawrence released and toured behind Return Of The Strange Animal, Todd released Methods And Mechanics II and I finished and released The Great Divide and performed songs from it live at the Grand Ole Opry. Plus we returned to the UK and toured with JOURNEY and FOREIGNER, then we continued on our own to Sweden Rock. Now we're all enjoying some time with our families and friends at home, and the schedules are starting to come together for what looks like another very busy Styx year in 2012. Thank you all for making this possible! Cheers! T Shaw”

Italian thrashers NEURASTHENIA will release their new album, Possessed By Your Omen, on April 10th, 2012.

The album is a compilation of songs extracted from their albums Possessed (2009) and Your Omen (2009), all competeley re-recorded, re-arranged, remixed and remastered. The album will also include the single, 'When Nightmare Comes True' (released only in digital version by Spider Rock Promotion in 2011), 'I, Walking With A Zombie' (previously unreleased taken from the demo tape, Full Force Of Thrashers), and KISS cover 'I Love It Loud'.

The album has been recorded in Neura-studios by Lehmann, and it will be a co-production by Neurasthenia, Bologna Rock City (responsible of worldwide physical distribution in CD and vinyl) and Spider Rock Promotion (digital distribution and promotion). Mastering will be done by Simone Mularoni (DGM, EMPYRIOS) in Domination Studios.

Possessed By Your Omen tracklisting:

'When Nightmare Comes True'
'I, Walking With A Zombie'
'Fell Possessed'
'No Politics'
'Screaming Corpse'
'Go Fuck Themselves'
'Assassination'
'T.B.T (Thrash Is Back In Town)'
'Your Omen'
'The Last Order Of God'
'I Love It Loud' (KISS cover)

InsideOut Music recently announced the signing of THE SAFETY FIRE. As a part of the ever-growing UK progressive metal scene, The Safety Fire features Sean McWeeney on vocals, Lori Peri on bass, Calvin Smith on drums, and Derya Nagle and Joaquin Ardiles on guitar.

With their expansive atmospheres and soaring melodies, The Safety Fire has pushed the boundaries of technical progressive metal in the ever-growing British progressive music scene since their inception in 2006, and now the band is finally ready to release their first full-length album, Grind The Ocean.

As the epic sequel to their critically acclaimed EP Sections, Grind The Ocean will be released on February 27th in Europe and February 28th in North America, so be prepared for The Safety Fire's new progressive metal masterpiece coming soon.

The Safety Fire guitarist Derya "Dez" Nagle produced and mixed Grind The Ocean as part of his BlackBear Productions operation, through which he also produced bands such as RISE TO REMAIN (Century Media), THE HAARP MACHINE (Sumerian), and PALEHORSE (Eyesofsound).

Grind The Ocean tracklisting

'Huge Hammers'
'Floods Of Colour'
'DMP (FDP)'
'Anomalous Materials'
'Animal King'
'Circassian Beauties'
'Sections'
'Seagraves'
'Grind The Ocean'

For anxious fans that can't wait for Grind The Ocean's release, the album's first single, 'Huge Hammers', is now available for purchase on iTunes here. The Safety Fire will also be premiering their music video for 'Huge Hammers' in the coming days, so stay tuned for even more new material from the band coming soon.

Southern Lord Recordings have announced they will be re-releasing several titles from Portland, OR's explosive punk/hardcore metallers POISON IDEA.

Southern Lord will be releasing CD versions of several Poison Idea re-issues that TKO Records are currently re-releasing on vinyl. All of the material is being re-mastered by Jack Control (WORLD BURNS TO DEATH) and each release includes new, extensive liner notes as well as never before seen photos and previously unreleased bonus material.

The Poison Idea reissue series kicks off January 31st, with the re-release of Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years. Boasting twenty-nine tracks from the band's earliest days, the album includes the 100% previously unreleased ‘Boner's Kitchen’ demo from 1981, the complete Darby Crash Rides Again demo from 1982, the complete uncut live-on-the-air set from the 1983 KBOO radio benefit, and outtakes from the Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes recording session.

Much of this material has either been out-of-print or never before officially released! The booklet contains liner notes, old flyers and tons of previously unpublished photos from the band's beginnings.

Following Darby Crash Rides Again in January, Southern Lord will also re-release The Fatal Erection Years (Pick Your King/Record Collectors are Pretentious Assholes), War All The Time, Ian Mackaye, Feel The Darkness, We Must Burn and Last Will & Testament throughout 2012.

Austria's CRIMSON CULT, featuring ex-STYGMA IV members Günter Maier and Alex Hilzensauer, have inked a deal with Pure Steel Records subsidiary Pure Legend Records, and will release their new album, Tales Of Doom, in March 2012, worldwide.

The label states: "Another really fine band with found with the austrian Rockers of Crimson Cult. The new album from the band is in the same great quality the metal public now wants from the Austrian metal scene."

The band states: "Its a honour to us now being part of the Pure Steel family. "We are very glad and proud on the worldwide releases of our new CD, Tales Of Doom, to be in the shops in March 2012."

Indie Recordings have announced the signing of RIBOZYME for the release of their new album out on February the 10th in Europe and February the 14th in North America.

According to a press release, "for over a decade Ribozyme has been a connoisseur’s choice and a front-runner for the diversity and integrity of Norwegian rock and metal. Ribozyme’s solid approach to their work has been evident from day one. Ribozyme has been compared to numerous giants of their genre: from TOOL to FILTER, from NINE INCH NAILS to SIGUR RÔS, although the distance to the above has never been greater."

With their new album, Ribozyme once again continue to push boundaries and redefine the trio format, through a horizontal vision on songwriting and, in the words of lead singer and guitarist Kjartan Ericsson; ”combining power, precision and melody in an unpretentious way.

Three former members of the Baltimore-based sludge/thrash/hardcore act SWARM OF THE LOTUS have joined forces with vocalist Jason Borowy in a brand new project called GRAVEN. The band states, "[Jason] is an old friend as well as a sick vocalist and has played in local Baltimore area bands, which some of you may remember, DEADLAMB, SET THE WHORE ON FIRE and LAST PIG IN THE YARD. The first two being with our own drummer, Chris Csar. It's a natural fit, personally and stylistically, and [we] feel it's a good marriage. We've had a few rehearsals and he already has vocals/lyrics for three out of the five tracks on the forthcoming EP. Our focus now, as well as his, is to get in the studio [as soon as possible] to finish that up and get it out. We're very excited about this and the practices we've had have been sick. Sends everything over the top and finally puts the icing on the cake."

GRAVEN is:

Peter Maturi - Guitar
Chris Csar - Drums
Bobby "Digital" Brockmeyer - Guitar
Jason Borowy - Vocals

Shred-metal adventurers BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART are charging forth with a new glam-tastic tour de force, Feel The Power, out January 23rd on Tooth & Nail / Rude Records.

The band have revealed that the Japanese edition of the album will include three bonus tracks: 'Champion', 'Shred The Dead' (Shred Sean instrumental), 'Unleash The Fury' (Shred Sean instrumental).

'Forever' is available for digital purchase for fans who don’t want to wait that long to own a piece of Feel The Power, which is set to drop in stores and online January 23rd. 'Forever' is indicative of the type of pulse-rasing, headbang-inducing, '80s-influenced rock assault that Blessed will deliver on their Tooth & Nail / Rude Records debut.

Feel The Power, the follow-up to the band's celebrated 2008 album Pedal To The Metal (Century Media), sees the band shrugging off metalcore trappings in favor of something more heartfelt.

The band is at the same time giving fans a first glimpse at the album's tracklisting (listed below), as well as the artwork, reminiscent of the space-punk apocalypse for which BBABH's music is the perfect soundtrack.

"The whole band is still obsessed with the ’80s, and that's bled into our lifestyles. It's not just when we're on tour: We all kind of dress ’80s; we still have mullets. It's become part of our lives,” explains singer Tony Gambino. “On the last album, we used more of the cheesy side of the ’80s, and this album we used a little more of the mature side. It's a little less fluff, a lot less cheese, a little more serious. We’ve kind of gone a little more classic metal and heavy rock ‘n’ roll. It's real organic how it all came together," he adds. "We're not in this to follow the trends—we're in it to do what we love.”