This winter is shaping up to be PAGAN's busiest yet. In addition to working on their next studio album with new vocalist Jennifer Renee Price, and celebrating five years since the release of their debut EP with the limited edition compilation CD, The Sinner By Your Side (coming January 31st to select stores), they have also released Yule Nocturnes as a free download.

This EP features three new dark ambient tracks offered as DRM free WAV files here.

"It is important to us to give something back to the people who support our music, and that is where the Halloween soundscape and Winter EP come in", explains founding member Michael Bilinski. "If all goes according to plan there will be another free download before the album comes out."

While these downloads represent the bands ambient interests, their next album will be decidedly heavier.

"The songs on the album are some of the hardest we have. It is still too early to know which tracks are going to make the final cut, but I would say at this point that most of them could fit nicely in a playlist alongside WHITE ZOMBIE or MINISTRY."

The album, titled Heathen, will be released in the second quarter of 2012 via The Genepool/Universal and will be supported by Pagan's first tour. Venues and dates for the first leg will be announced in the coming weeks.

Pagan previously released a promo spot for the upcoming compilation, The Sinner By Your Side. The set features tracks from their two proper studio albums On Black Wings and A Season In Hell alongside EP selections and rarities. All of the songs, most of which have never been available on CD, are taken directly from the uncompressed studio session files.

N0LoveLost announces the worldwide release of their self titled debut album. 'The highly anticipated release of North Carolina's newest Melodic/Hard Rock sensation, N0LoveLost, hit the streets in November. Formed in the fall of 2006, all of the members of N0LoveLost are seasoned veterans of the southeast rock circuit and their timeless influences, songwriting skills, and passion for their music, shine through in each of the 13 tracks.
Mixed and produced by Brian Asbelle, N0LoveLost is melodic hard rock at its best! "Wow, what a great CD!! Well done guys..." ~ Bill Leverty/Firehouse.
Available now at online music retailers everywhere! Visit www.nolovelostmusic.com for more information.

QUEEN guitarist Brian May joined THE DARKNESS on stage during the encore of the reunited U.K. rockers' November 25, 2011 concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England to perform three songs — "Bareback", "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" and a cover version of QUEEN's own "Tie Your Mother Down".

THE DARKNESS has posted professionally filmed video footage (watch it below) of "I Believe In A Thing Called Love", which opens with May's introduction of "I just want to say, how happy are we that THE DARKNESS are back together and conquering the world again? How happy are we? How fucking happy are we?"

After the show, THE DARKNESS frontman Justin Hawkins wrote on his Facebook page, "Brian May joined us onstage for three songs. A dream came true for us tonight."

THE DARKNESS will embark on a three-week North American headlining tour in February. The trek will feature all the guitar mastery and wild pyrotechnics that THE DARKNESS shows have become well-known for. The group will perform music from 2003 album "Permission To Land", including favorites "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" and "Get Your Hands Off My Woman"; 2005's "One-Way Ticket To Hell And Back" with "One Way Ticket" and "Is It Just Me?"; as well as several new songs off their forthcoming yet-to-be-titled third album. This marks the band's first return to the States since their 2004 tour supporting "Permission To Land". THE DARKNESS will hit North America starting February 1 in Toronto and wrapping February 21 in San Francisco.

THE DARKNESS made its U.K. live comeback on June 5 in front of just 200 people at the Norwich Waterfront.

THE DARKNESS' appearance at the Download festival at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom in June marked the band's first festival appearance since splitting up in 2006.

THE DARKNESS' first album, "Permission To Land", was released in 2003, hitting the No. 1 spot in the U.K. chart and winning "MasterCard British Album" at the 2004 Brit Awards (along with "Best British Group" and "British Rock Act").

Between 2003 and 2006, THE DARKNESS was honored with many awards and accolades; along with three Brit Awards, the band won an Ivor Novello in 2004 for "Songwriters Of The Year", four Kerrang! Awards, two Metal Hammer Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award and even an Elle Style Award in 2004 for "Most Stylish Band".

Three demo songs from WILDSIDE RIOT, the U.K.-based band led by former WRATHCHILD frontman Rocky Shades, can be streamed in the YouTube clips below. The group, which promises to "bring together the old and new style of sleaze rock with songs designed to make you feel good and want to start a riot," is currently in the studio recording its debut album for an early 2012 release. According to Shades, the CD is "ripping its way through the mixing console like a thing possessed and is causing cranial damage to electrodes, diodes and other things that spark and light up, recreating Halloween, Christmas and the birth of the chosen one all over again and again... at the flick of a proverbial switch."

WILDSIDE RIOT is:

Rocky "Wrekkless" Shades - Vocals
Joss Riot - Lead Guitar
Jimmy Gunn - Guitar
Gaz Wilde - Drums
J.C. - Bass

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

Norwegian death metallers BLOOD RED THRONE have parted ways with vocalist Osvald "Vald" Egeland and bassist Erlend Caspersen and have replaced them with Yngve Bolt Christiansen (GODDAMN) and Ole Bent Madsen (HORIZON ABLAZE), respectively.

BLOOD RED THRONE's sixth album, "Brutalitarian Regime", was released in August via Sevared Records.

Quality multi-camera footage of BLOOD RED THRONE's September 7, 2011 performance at Peabody's in Cleveland, Ohio can be seen below (filmed in 1080p high definition by Ken Kitt and Kim Schleeper; edited and produced by Ken Kitt for BLOOD RED THRONE and Vidz-R-Us.com).

Reactivated German melodic death metallers BEHIND THE SCENERY have inked a deal with Serial Six Records. The band is currently in the studio recording its as-yet-untitled fourth album for an early 2012 release. According to a press release, the follow-up to 2004's "Rétroviseur" "will contain about nine songs plus an intro and an outro."

BEHIND THE SCENERY is:

Holger Speidel - Vocals
Immanuel Rein - Guitars
Marcel Renning - Guitars
Simon Abele - Guitars
Guntram Berger - Bass
Uwe Kurz - Drums

In March 2007, BEHIND THE SCENERY announced its retirement from the active music scene. In July 2011, following intense discussions between the members, this decision was adjourned. The band simply felt that it was the right time and place in order to come up with a creative output strong and diverse enough to stand as the logical follow-up to "Rétroviseur".

For more information, visit www.behindthescenery.com.

John Corabi — who sang onMÖTLEY CRÜE's sixth and self-titled album, which was released in 1994 — says that he would not rejoin the band if asked.

Corabi originally joined MÖTLEY CRÜE in 1992 as the replacement for the group's original singer, Vince Neil, who was fired due to personal differences. With Corabi on vocals, MÖTLEY CRÜE released one critically acclaimed full-length CD, which ended up being a commercial failure in the wake of grunge despite a Top-Ten placing on the album chart. When Neil returned to the fold in 1997, Corabi was left on his own and formed the band UNION with ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

Earlier this week, Neil told the Las Vegas Sun that he is seriously contemplating a split from MÖTLEY CRÜE after their run of concerts at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel from February 3 to February 19, 2012. "It's not definite, but I am thinking seriously about it," Neil said, before adding, "This is all about me thinking about the second half of my life, thinking about my future, and that future might not include MГ–TLEY CRГњE after Vegas. There are so many opportunities that are in front of me that I'm really excited about. I just don't want to look back later in life and regret that I didn't pursue them. I'm just not sure I can give these opportunities the time and effort I'll need to and continue with the band. It's been a great ride, and I've enjoyed every second of it, but being out here relaxing in this beautiful place has given me the chance to reflect on what direction I want the rest of my life to take. I'm really giving it a lot of thought."

In response to the fan reaction that followed the publication of Neil's interview with the Las Vegas Sun, Corabi wrote on his official Facebook page, "Woke up today, signed on to Facebook, and had about 50 emails asking about the [Vince Neil] interview."

He added, "I can honestly say, that barring the second coming of Christ, MГ–TLEY has NO intentions of EVER asking me back, nor would I go back, if they did ask...What's done is done!!!! I love those guys, and wish them the best, but I'm looking towards the future with my new record, and band."

Corabi recently completed work on an acoustic album which he says will include "old songs, new songs and just a sample of things to come." Tentatively due in the spring, the set will contain two versions of the MÖTLEY CRÜE's song "Hooligan's Holiday" — a stripped-back acoustic version and a more elaborate but still acoustic-based band arrangement — as well as a version of the CRÜE's "Loveshine" and even a song by Corabi's first band, ANGORA, which was originally produced by Steve Vai.

FNA Records is reissuing Los Angeles-based cult metallers WITCH's 1984 cult album The Hex Is On, a proper release with the addition of numerous additional tracks. The tracks on The Hex Is On...And Then Some have been given a full overhaul and sound better than they ever have.

Witch shared the stages with such notable artists like SLAYER, W.A.S.P, MEGADETH, GREAT WHITE, LIZZY BORDEN, MSG, POISON, GUNS N' ROSES, EXCITER, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, STRYPER, GRIM REAPER, LOUDNESS, STEELER, MALICE, ODIN, KEEL, WARLOCK and many other bands of the era.

Witch drummer Punky Peru states: “We wanted something heavy yet theatrical...We were trying to take part of our influences from Alice Cooper and The Sweet and mix it together with MOTÖRHEAD and DIO. The outcome was Witch.”

The tracks on The Hex Is On...And Then Some have been given a full overhaul and sound better than they ever have. Peter Wabitt proclaims, "This album finally sounds the way I always imagined it would sound. If it would've sounded this way when it first came out, we would've sold a lot more copies."

With updated artwork, the album features a Peter Wabbitt interpretation of Shakespeare's MacBeth, followed by the remastered versions of The Hex Is On, the mega-rare 'Nobody Sleeps' 12" two track single, and the Rock Climbers compilation only track 1:45. Added to the stellar tracklist is the 1988 demo for a Witch track entitled 'Take Me Away'. The last nine tracks of the Hex Is On...And Then Some represent the 1997 regathering of Peter Wabbitt and Punky Peru. Recording together for the first time in nearly a decade, we get to see the pure magic that results when these two unite. A more current version of the Witch song Take Me Away appears along with eight other tunes featuring such great guest musicians as: Slash (Guns N' Roses), Steve Stevens (BILLY DOL), Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.), Rowan Robertson (Dio), and Keith Emerson (ELP).

The Hex Is On...And Then Some tracklisting:

'Intro'
'Nervous Wreck'
'Damnation'
'Bewitched'
'Wet and Wild'
'Cinderella'
'Can’t Take Our Rock'
'Victory Without Pain'
'1:45'
'Take Me Away' (version 1)
'Mad for Life' (with Rowan Robertson of DIO on guitars)
'Games that People Play' (with Rowan Robertson of Dio on guitars)
'Playing in the Rain' (with Slash of Guns N' Roses on lead guitar, Keith Emerson on piano, Rowan Robertson on guitars, Phil Chen on bass)
'Black Magic' (with Steve Stevens on lead guitar, Rowan Robertson on guitars, Phil Chen on bass)
'Pay the Due' (Rowan Robertson on guitars, Phil Chen on bass, Howard Leese on keyboards)
'Take Me Away' (version 2) (Rowan Robertson on guitars, Phil Chen on bass, Howard Leese on keyboards)
'Nothing Last Forever' (Rowan Robertson on guitars, Phil Chen on bass, Henn Stone on guitars)
'Crazy' (with Chris Holmes of W.A.S.P. on guitar, Rowan Robertson on guitars, Phil Chen on bass)
'Conviction' (Rowan Robertson on guitars, Phil Chen on bass, Henn Stone on guitars)

For audio samples and to order visit this location.

LIBERTY N’ JUSTICE have announced that their 11th studio album entitled Hell Is Coming To Breakfast will be released on March 1, 2012 via Roxx Records. The album is available for presale right now at this location.

Band founder Justin Murr commented: “We recorded so many songs for our yet to be released two CD project entitled The Cigar Chronicles and with the delay on this release not happening until late in 2012 or early 2013 we didn’t want the fans to have to wait that long to get some new LNJ in their hands. So when Bill and Roxx Records approached me and asked if we had anything else up our sleeves we could release, we realized we had to many songs that were not all going to fit on Cigar so we took the six songs that we couldn’t fit and then recorded another brand new song which is the title track ‘Hell is coming to breakfast’ especially for this release and added five more previously unreleased rare cuts and demos just for this one, I am really excited for our fans to hear this collection”

In addition to the seven brand new tracks and various demos the release also includes, and on CD for the very first time, the original acoustic demo version of ‘Sin’ featuring the late Jani Lane of WARRANT out front on vocals.

Full Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Hell Is Coming To Breakfast’
‘Madhatter’
‘Whack A Mole’
‘Thankful Heart’
‘Nakatomi Plaza’
‘Stretch Armstrong’
‘Get Down’
‘Your Memory Just Won't Do’
‘Thy will be done’
‘What do you believe?’
‘Monkey Dance" (alternate mix)
‘Sin’ (original acoustic demo)

Metal Mind Productions recently announced the release of an unique album in early 2012, Granite, by DOOGIE WHITE & LA PAZ.

The album artwork and tracklisting have been revealed, and can be seen below:

Tracklisting:

'Too Good To Lose'
'This Boy'
'Lesson In Love'
'Amy'
'Just For Today'
'What Do You Say'
'Still In Love'
'Young And Restless'
'Shame The Devil'

La Paz were formed in Lanarkshire, Scotland in the summer of 1984 by Chic McSherry (guitars), Doogie White (vocals) and Alex Carmichael (bass). They had all been playing in the local music scene for a number of years and had run across each other often enough but the time hadn't been right to work together until then.

At the first rehearsal together they hit it off immediately on a personal level - they also liked the same music and they had the same influences and heroes (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW, JOURNEY, GARY MOORE) so they started to recruit other members to try to form a band and go do some gigs. They decided to add keyboards right away as, at that time, the "classic" guitar/keys combination had declined from favour and it immediately made them different from the other all-guitar bands that dominated the circuit at that time.

Andy Mason joined the trio and he fitted in from the start, even though he was still at school when he joined and his middle-class parents were not at all happy about him hanging out with a bunch of rockers from the wrong side of the tracks. Drummers were always a problem and, over the life of the band, La Paz went through almost as many as SPINAL TAP, although none of them died in bizarre gardening accidents or spontaneously combusted. Unquestionably the loudest and the most accomplished was/is their current drummer, Paul McManus.

La Paz played live regularly, sometimes playing up to a hundred gigs in a year. They played the world-famous Marquee Club in London as well as at some festivals in Milton Keynes and they were featured regularly in the metal press and attracted interest from a number of UK and US record companies, finally agreeing terms with one of them for a three album deal. But it was not to be - for reasons which were never explained by the record label the deal fell through at the very last minute.

These things happen in the music business but after five or six years of hard graft it was a real blow and sadly the band didn't survive for very long after that. They did their last gig on October 15th, 1988 and then DOOGIE WHITE moved to London to join MIDNITE BLUE, RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW, CORNERSTONE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and now the mighty TANK. That was pretty much that for La Paz, apart from a single reunion gig about a year after the split and a brief appearance at a Glasgow rock club on Chic's 40th birthday.

And then legendary DJ Tom Russell of 96.3 Rock Radio called Doogie and asked him if he would do some acoustic numbers at The Garage in Glasgow for Rock Radio's Birthday Bash in January 2008. Doogie agreed and asked Chic to play guitar. It was a big ask after 20 years: almost 1,000 people, Doogie singing alone and Chic with one flamenco guitar!

"We had such a blast though and it woke up so many great memories in both of us that we decided to give it a go with the full band for my 50th birthday" said Chic.

And so the full band started to rehearse and it was clear that they could still play a bit. Three dates were booked and Doogie flew in from London the night before the first show to rehearse with everyone for the first time. The band just gelled: just like old times and the gigs were a terrific success.

And so the notion of re-recording some of the favourites from the set that had never had a proper production job was floated by Paul: “What if we just gave it a try...”

Chic states: "Recording started in early 2011 and culminated in Granite, the album that we should have made back in the day. It has six of the live favourites: 'Too Good To Lose', 'This Boy', 'Lesson In Love', 'Amy', 'What Do You Say', 'Still In Love', as well as three brand new tracks - 'Just For Today', 'Young And Restless', and 'Shame The Devil'."

Production was by Doogie and Chic with mixing and mastering by the renowned Rolf Munkes gave it a final injection of adrenalin.

Granite is an album with its roots in the past but its energy in the present. Metal Mind Productions will release Granite on February 13th, 2012 in Europe and March 6th, 2012 in the US (via MVD).

WITCHAVEN's Terrorstorm album will be released on limited edition digipak CD on February 14th via Metalhit. The album was previously published on cassette by Thailand's Witchammer Productions and on vinyl by Sweden's Blood Harvest Records.

Witchaven formed in 2006, derived of musicians steeped in thrash, black, punk and crust. The band has toured the US three times and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

Terrorstorm features cover art by Sickness666. Check it out below:

Terrorstorm tracklisting:

'A.D.D.
'Terrorstorm'
'Black Thrash Assault'
'Absolute Profit'
'No End In Sight'
'Conflagration'
'Ardent Lust'
'Dawn Of The Unholy'
'Empty Chasm'
'Unholy Copulation'

Jon Gillooly of the Marietta Daily Journal recently conducted an interview with legendary rocker Alice Cooper. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Marietta Daily Journal: Are you still on a high from having the band inducted into the Rock And Rock Hall Of Fame?

Cooper: 2011 was a big year for me. Getting in the Hall Of Fame, having "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" out, I did a movie with Johnny Depp in London, "Dark Shadows", and the tour. It's really been a full year, so I'm ready for six months off. The Hall Of Fame thing was definitely one of those things that you never quite realize. You think, well, it's going to happen eventually, but who knows when? We got on the ballot the first time, that was our first nomination, and went in on the first ballot. So it was really cool.

Marietta Daily Journal: You're 63. What is the secret to surviving as a rock star for as long as you have?

Cooper: It's all on the songwriting. All the bands that are still here from the '60s had hits on the radio that were really good songs. I try to tell young bands that all the time. I go, look, your image is important, your stage production is important, but if you don't have the songs, you don't have anything. You have to have the cake before you can put the icing on it. And songwriting is everything. We had 14 Top 40 hits. If you don't have those songs, I don't know how far you can go.

Marietta Daily Journal: What is the difference between performing now compared to your twenties and thirties?

Cooper: For one thing, I'm a better singer now, and I've got more energy. I'm actually in better shape now than I was when I was 30. When I was 30, I was drinking a bottle of whiskey a day. I haven't had a drink in 30 years, so at 63 I do five shows a week that are an hour and 45 minutes long and we start in fourth gear. This show is 26 songs that are 90 percent hard-rock songs, so I never stop on stage. I'm in better shape now than I've ever been.

Marietta Daily Journal: Would you say your fans are different from back in the day to now?

Cooper: The crazy thing about classic rock is that music has not changed at all in 45 years. If you go listen to the FOO FIGHTERS or THE WHITE STRIPES, they're all '70s bands. You could take the FOO FIGHTERS and put them in 1974, and they would fit right in. Musically, nothing has changed. Technologically, how we make records, how we sell records, how we listen to records, that's entirely different. I feel sorry if I were a young band right now. I don't know how you make any money with records. It's just almost impossible. So I tell young bands if I were you, I would be the best live band in your state. That's what you got to go for, because they can't take that away from you. The recording part, though, I just don't see how anyone can make money.

Read the entire interview from the Marietta Daily Journal.

Bay Area progressive metal act IN VIRTUE have revealed the cover artwork and tracklisting for their upcoming apocalyptic concept album, Embrace The Horror, due out January 1st, 2012.

Embrace The Horror tracklisting:

'Suspense Of Disbelief'
'Twin Species: The Virtuous And The Vengeful'
'Witch Hunt'
'In Service To His Madness'
'Alea Lacta Est'
'The Essence Of Unreason'
'Foresworn II – Parabola'
'Cataclysmic Shock'
'Dead Black Eyes'
'Afterture (Requiem For Planet Earth)'

Guitarist/vocalist/composer Trey Xavier says of the album: "It's been a lot of hard work for us as an independent band to create the kind of huge, sprawling epic sound we wanted without a huge label budget, but in the end it allowed us to make the exact album we wanted, and we are beholden to nobody. It has the scope and grandeur we were trying to capture on our first EP but with the refinements of time and experience. We really nailed the sound we were going for this time, with a lot of really interesting and freaky twists. The music is terrifying, in both lyrical concept and performance. Each song is a different possible apocalypse scenario - a biblical sized flood, the earth exploding from the core, a zombie pandemic, etc."

In regards to the cover: "It's a picture of the first person to look up and see that the world is about to come to an end. Everyone else is going about their business, but he is stopped dead in the middle of the street, bottom falling out of all he knows."

The band is currently seeking distribution, and the album will be released independently.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH, the new band featuring Brooklyn, New York native Sal Abruscato — who played drums on three TYPE O NEGATIVE albums ("Slow, Deep & Hard", "Origin Of The Feces", "Bloody Kisses"), as well as four LIFE OF AGONY releases ("River Runs Red", "Ugly", "River Runs Again", "Broken Valley") — on guitar and vocals, has released the following statement:

"Due to conflicting schedules with BIOHAZARD, Bobby Hambel is unable to tour any further with A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH. We wish Bobby and BIOHAZARD all the great success they deserve on their upcoming release in January 2012. Eddie Heedles has been chosen as the new replacement for Bobby. Eddie is a shredding guitarist who has worked with the likes of Corey Glover (LIVING COLOUR), T.M. Stevens, Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR), SEKOND SKYN and THE WHITE CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE. We are excited to get back on the road and do what we do best see you soon."

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH earlier in the year inked a worldwide recording deal with Steamhammer/SPV for the release of the group's debut album, "And Hell Will Follow Me".

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH made its live debut on February 20, 2011 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey as the support act for MONSTER MAGNET and SEVENTH VOID.

Abruscato previously stated about A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's debut CD, "This is my first album where I composed and play all instruments, including vocals. Along with co-producer/guitarist Matt Brown (SEVENTH VOID), we have accomplished a very fresh sound and it includes guest appearances by Bobby Hambel, Keith Caputo (LIFE OF AGONY) and Ulrich Krieger (LOU REED).

"It is the darkest music I have ever written and recorded in my life, back to my sinister roots and I believe the fans will learn a completely different side of me."

For more information, visit www.apalehorsenameddeath.com.

As previously announced, Metal Mind Productions will release a brand new DVD by legendary British band PENDRAGON. The live DVD entitled Out Of Order Comes Chaos, will be available in March 2012. It contains a show recorded in Katowice during the Polish leg of the tour promoting the band’s most recent album Passion. For the first time in their career, live material will be released also on a Blu-ray.

Vocalist Nick Barrett commented: "We've tried to do material that we haven't played very much before, particularly in Poland, and for the DVD we've changed the set drastically so that people don't buy the new DVD and it's just got the same songs as the last one.”

‘Passion’
‘Back in the Spotlight’
‘Ghosts’
‘Not of this World’
‘Comatose’
‘If I Were the Wind’
‘Freakshow’
‘Empathy’
‘This Green and Pleasant Land’
‘Shane’
‘Feeding Frenzy’
‘Nostradamus’
‘Last Man on Earth’
‘Indigo’
‘Prayer’
‘Paintbox’

Bonus video:
Interview with Nick Barrett
Some of the Order
Some of the Chaos

Also includes:
Biography
Discography
Photo gallery

Lion Music's CONSORTIUM PROJECT special edition reissues series continue on January 27th, 2012 with the powerful second movement Consortium Project II - Continuum In Extremis. Consisting primarily of 11 progressive melodic power metal tracks, including a inspirational rock ballad with additional two bonus tracks in demo versions of 'Intrusions Of Madness' and 'Poetic Justice', both discovered in the Consortium Project archives.

This second movement in the five part story sees lead vocalist and band mastermind Ian Parry (ELEGY, CRYSTAL TEARS) base his fictional concept story on many of the present day issues and created a theoretical idea of a world run by a new singular female species called NOEFEMS.

Ian Parry comments: “I was flicking through pages in the Oxford English dictionary and it suddenly dawned on me, that the word feMALE is derived from the masculine word MALE, and apart from the word FEMININE, women do not have a word purely of feminine origin to describe their own singular gender”, and thus the idea was born.”

This formidable and awe inspiring story, incorporates many issues and topics, which were in the media at the time of original release in 2001 such as the discovery of the Human Genome, Global Warming (the Kyoto agreement), the issue of human cloning and also the hysteria we've seen around Reality TV programmes. All these relevant points have been pieced together with real historical facts. The creation is a fictional world going out of control, which is saved by women (Neofems), who prevent man from destroying the planet. Their realization is a new peaceful world enclosed in a Biosphere, where Man (now referred to as Monomales), have no part of this new order.

The strength of Consortium Project II lay not only in Ian’s unique lyrical concept and story telling skill, but is also in the incredible performances and co-written songs by some of the world’s best sympho-progressive metal guitarists in Stephan Lill (VANDEN PLAS), Patrick Rondat (Elegy) and Thomas Youngblood (KAMELOT), who enhance the atmosphere of this cleverly written concept album.

Ian Parry who produced and personally coordinated the production duties for Consortium II recorded the album in various studios throughout Europe and the US. Continuum In Extremis was mixed by ex-VICTORY guitarist/producer Tommy Newton (HELLOWEEN, Elegy, Kamelot, ARK) at his Area 51 studios in Germany.

The tracklisting:

'Continuum (In Extremis)'
'Asylum Seekers'
'The Catalyst'
'Intrusions Of Madness'
'(Momentary) Lapse Of Reason'
'Mirror Image'
'Sentiment In Sanctuary'
'What You Sow, You Reap'
'Asphyxia'
'Collide-O-Scope (When Past And Present Collide)'
'Poetic Justice'
'Intrusions Of Madness' (bonus demo)
'Poetic Justice' (bonus demo)

JON OLIVA'S PAIN drummer/producer Chris Kinder has checked in with the following update:

"Jon and I are getting together again later next week to continue working on new music and to finalize some really important stuff. Have a great holiday everyone, and check back here on January 1st, 2012 for a late, great Christmas present. You'll be glad you did!

Wishing all of you, our great supporters, the very best life has to offer this holiday season and 2012. Thanks for everything."

Cheers,
Chris

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions will release the debut album from Philadelphia extreme death metal destroyers FISTHAMMER, entitled Devour All You See, on CD format on January 24th, 2012.

Hailing from the outskirts of Killadelphia, Fisthammer play extreme yet melodic technical death metal that destroys. Devour All You See is the intense debut album from these devastating warriors of metal, full of brutality, passion and conviction. Apocalyptic lyrical themes complement the musical atmosphere, resulting in a grim barrage of despair with mind blistering riffs, intense blast beats, ripping solos and fierce vocals... killer!

'Intro'
'Razor Waves'
'Aten: Fear The Obliteration Of Earth'
'Kull The Conqueror'
'Bullet Rape'
'Berzerkers'
'Doom Of The Gods'
'Harvest'
'Zombocalypse'
'Cross The Lines In Blood'
'The Resurrection Of Bastet The Devourer'

A "party" to celebrate the life of David Gold — a founding member of the Ontario, Canada-based black and doom metal band WOODS OF YPRES — will take place on December 28 in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. According to his sister Marie, "a formal service" for David will be held the first week of January, once holidays are over. She added, "It's been really amazing to see how David has positively influenced people all over this world; it truly warms my heart."

David was killed last Wednesday afternoon (December 21) in a car accident near Barrie, Ontario. He was 31 years old.

According to Ontario Provincial Police, the accident — which involved a vehicle and a pedestrian — occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 400 north of Highway 89.

The police shut down the northbound lanes at Highway 89 and traffic was diverted from the scene as OPP highway safety investigators collected evidence.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

The accident occurred just hours after Gold texted his mother in Sault Ste. Marie that he was on his way home, according to Local2.ca.

There were no other injuries.

WOODS OF YPRES' new album, "Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light", will be released in 2012 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded with producer Siegfried Meier (KITTIE) at Beach Road Studios in Ontario, Canada, and was mixed by John Fryer (NINE INCH NAILS, PARADISE LOST).

Earache Records set up a memorial page on its web site after learning of Gold's death.

Formed in 2002, WOODS OF YPRES has earned critical acclaim for its ever-evolving, envelope-pushing mix of blackened doom metal. Most often compared to bands such as AGALLOCH and TYPE O NEGATIVE, WOODS OF YPRES toes a thin line between the catchy, the artistic and the extreme to create an unmistakable signature sound.

WOODS OF YPRES' recently released single, the now-ominously-titled "Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye)", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

VAN HALEN has released a video trailer confirming that it will tour later in the year, with the first tickets set to go on sale on January 10. The two-minute clip (see below) — which was shot on November 14 at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California — apparently features visuals of the VAN HALEN bandmembers performing a brand new song (from the yet-to-be-released track's official video) set to the audio of several David Lee Roth-era VAN HALEN classics.

VAN HALEN's new record deal with Interscope was finalized last month and marks the first time the band has recorded away from Warner Bros. Records, which signed the group in 1977.

The new VAN HALEN album, its first with Roth since "1984" was released on the last day of 1983, will reportedly come out in 2012, possibly in February.

ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti recently said in an interview that he had gotten an opportunity to hear new VAN HALEN music through his friendship with bassist Wolfgang Van Halen (guitarist Eddie Van Halen's son), saying it sounded like "vintage VAN HALEN."

Producer Ross Hogarth spoke with Ultimate-Guitar.com about the work he did on the project, saying, "The whole VAN HALEN record has been recorded and we're all excited. I'm really stoked about it, as it is the original band, Eddie and Alex with Wolf playing bass, and David Lee Roth singing, it's the killing side of VAN HALEN at the top of their game again with Diamond Dave, and the band on fire."

VAN HALEN reunited with Roth in 2007 for a successful year-long reunion tour — minus original bassist Michael Anthony, who now plays with ex-VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar in CHICKENFOOT.

Video footage of ANOTHER ANIMAL — the side project started by GODSMACK members Tony Rombola on guitar, Robbie Merrill on bass and Shannon Larkin on drums — performing on the ShipRocked 2011 "music and lifestyle cruise" last month can be seen below.

ShipRocked 2011 set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 14 to the tip of Mexico and its popular stretch of gorgeous Caribbean water known for scuba diving, shopping and bars aplenty, and returned five days later.

Although ANOTHER ANIMAL's 2007 debut album failed to interest the public, the group, which also features original GODSMACK guitarist Lee Richards and ex-UGLY KID JOE singer Whitfield Crane, recently released a new song called "Fall Of Rome". Larkin told the Naples News that if the single takes off, a new album could be in the works.

The Pulse Of Radio asked Larkin last year if he thought there would ever be a second ANOTHER ANIMAL outing. "I'm not sure about the ANOTHER ANIMAL project," he said. "You know, we love the record still, we had a Top 10 hit at rock radio and we had a great, great time doing it. But for whatever reasons, the people didn't go out and buy the record so, you know, the label wasn't like, 'You guys got to get back to the studio and make another record!' So it's still out there, and if everybody goes out and buys that record, we'll make another one."

Larkin told Naples News that "Fall Of Rome" is "a heavy, charged track about the recent overthrowing of lame leaders and governments by the ones with the real power: the people. Egypt, Tunisia and now Libya are repeating history before the eyes of the world stage, and this song is like an oppressed person talking directly to an unjust dictator saying enough!"

The drummer added, "If the song does well enough at radio, we will tour in the fall and make a new record as well."

Quality video footage of U.D.O.'s December 10 concert in Memmingen, Germany can be seen below.

U.D.O.'s November 16 perormance at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria was professionally filmed for the band's next official live DVD, due in 2012.

Commented the group: "The audience was absolutely fantastic and forced us to play for nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes. More than 2,000 fans welcomed back us after 7 years and pushed everybody over his personal limit. Sofia was absolutely great and we will never forget this show. To make sure all the fans can participate of this great event, we will do everything to release the DVD/CD/Blu-ray as soon as possible."

U.D.O.'s setlist for the Sofia concert was as follows:

01. Rev-Raptor
02. Dominator
03. Thunderball
04. Leatherhead
05. Independence Day
06. Screaming For A Love Bite (ACCEPT cover)
07. Heart Of Gold
08. Vendetta
09. Princess Of The Dawn (ACCEPT cover)
10. I Give As Good As I Get
11. Guitar Solo
12. Neon Nights (ACCEPT cover)
13. Break The Rules
14. Man And Machine
15. Drum Solo
16. Living On A Frontline
17. Up To The Limit (ACCEPT cover)
18. Two Faced Woman
19. Metal Heart (ACCEPT cover)

Encore:

20. The Bogeyman
21. I'm A Rebel (ACCEPT cover)

Encore 2:

22. Balls To The Wall (ACCEPT cover)
23. Burning (ACCEPT cover)

U.D.O.'s latest album, "Rev-Raptor", was released on May 20 via AFM Records. The recordings for the CD took place between June 2010 and February 2011 at Roxx studios (owned by U.D.O. guitarist and ex-ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann) in Pulheim, Germany. The effort was mastered by Manfred Melchior at MM Sound Digital studios in Steinhagen, Germany. The album's cover artwork is once again a comic-like motif: but the "Dominator" character is this time "a lot more effectual and colorful," according to a press release.

U.D.O. is:

Udo Dirkschneider - Lead Vocals
Stefan Kaufmann - Guitar, Vocals
Igor Gianola - Guitar
Fitty Wienhold - Bass, Vocals
Francesco Jovino - Drums