Metal Kaoz' Maria Voutyriadou and Dimitris Kontogeorgakos recently interviewed Erlend Hjelvik, singer of Norwegian metallers KVELERTAK, who revealed some details about the band's upcoming new album. An excerpt follows:

Q: I just have to ask; what about the next album: is there any type of pressure for this? Do you feel that you have to compete with yourselves?

A: "We really don’t think like that. The way we see it is that the most important thing is that we like the album first and then people can take it or leave it. We have already made two new songs and hopefully we will record the new album sometime next year. Or I’d should better say we will try it to have it ready next year (laughs)."

Wolfen has announced the band's new album "Chapter IV" will see release via Pure Legend Records on January 27th, 2012. The track listing and artwork for the album are available below.

1. Revolution / Evolution
2. D.F.A.I.T.
3. The One
4. Nefilim
5. Hole In The Sky
6. I am I
7. Dolor Mundis
8. Unbroken
9. Birmingham 6
10. Soul Collector
11. White Chapel
12. Demons

Brazilian power progressive metallers SUPREMA have released their brand new video, 'Nightmare', a song from the upcoming debut album, Traumatic Scenes.

It’s the first video in the band’s history and it is inspired by the works of famous Belgian artist René Magritte. The clip can be seen below:

Traumatic Scenes is a conceptual album. Following this story, the fans will travel between the real and supernatural world passing through various phases of the human mind life. At the moment the band is finalizing the production of the CD in Barulho Estudio, São Paulo.

Also, this week SupreMa confirmed the new drummer, Rafael Rosa (ex-ANDRE MATOS, ANCESTRAL), the replacement of Helmut Quacken who worked at the drum parts for Traumatic Scenes.

According to the guitarist Douglas Jen: “Rafael Rosa is the most full-fledged drummer that I have ever played with! Besides his incredible talent, he is a very well organized and dedicated person. Rafael recorded drums for the famous album of Andre Matos band, Time To Be Free. Since the very first rehearsals with him everything has been calm and clear, and simply fantastic. Our chemistry appeared with the first cords and I’m totally sure that he will surprise all our fans in the forthcoming tour that will start in February 2012!”

Traumatic Scenes is planned to be released in the first half of 2012. The cover artwork and track list will be revealed soon.

Hungarian death metallers CASKETGARDEN have announced that their fourth album entitled The Estrangement Process will be released in the beginning of 2012.

The record will come out first as part of HammerWorld February 2012 attachment CD (with simpler, incomplete cover art). International release for the album will follow via Nail/Hammer Records in March 2012.

Preorder for the new album can be done here until January15, 2012.

The Estrangement Process was recorded in M and SuperSize Recording studios in Hungary. It was produced by Zoltán Varga (ABSURDITY, BLIND MYSELF, SUBSCRIBE, BRIDGE TO SOLACE) and Balázs Tóth. The album was also mixed and mastered by Varga at SuperSize Recording.

Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Black Hole Maelstrom’
‘Unlike’
‘They’
‘A Machine Within’
‘So Eager To Play’
‘Confess’
‘The Eternal Tremble’
‘Disgusting Soul’
‘The Minus Terminus’
‘Where Sanity Ends’

'Let's Unite In Rock' was written by Henrik Flyman (EVIL MASQUERADE) to the benefit of Metal For Cancer. Go to Metalforcancer.com and buy a copy of the song. It’s for a very good cause and all income is donated to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

Check out the 'Let's Unite In Rock' below:

Metal For Cancer is an idea put together by Richard Ofsoski where carefully selected quality heavy metal and hard rock artists contribute music for digital download to help raise funds for the fight against cancer. All proceeds go to ACRF (Australian Cancer Research Foundation) and approved by them.

The band:
Henrik Flyman - guitar (Evil Masquerade)
Peter Wildoer - drums (JAMES LABRIE, DARKANE, ARCH ENEMY)
Thor Jeppesen - bass (Evil Masquerade)
Artur Meinild - keyboard (Evil Masquerade)

Singers:
Mats Leven (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN)
Snowy Shaw (Therion, MERCYFUL FATE, DREAM EVIL)
Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA, NORTHERN KINGS)
Apollo Papathanasio (Evil Masquerade, FIREWIND, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS)
Tony Mills (TNT, SHY)
Silvio Massaro (VANISHING POINT)
Richard Ofsoski (OFSOSKI, SEDITION)
Henrik Flyman (Evil Masquerade)
Lance King (AVIAN, PYRAMAZE)
Dagfinn Joensen (FATE)

Lead guitarists:
Glen Drover (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EIDOLON)
Henrik Flyman (Evil Masquerade)
Stu Marshall (Empires Of Eden)

Mixed and mastered by:
Jacob Hansen
Hansen Studios

Composed and produced by:
Henrik Flyman

Cover artist:
Barbara Ahearn

Video:
Thomas Trane
Crazy Trane Productions

German bashers SUIDAKRA have issued the following update:

"2011 is almost over, so this will be the final update for this year. We don't want to spend much time looking back, but instead we're planning our actions for 2012: Our first show in South America was just confirmed! We're looking forward to meet our fans in Brazil for the first time! Estamos ansiosos para vos encontrar! (Or something like that... Haha) In addition a major US tour is in the making - we're just waiting for our visas and paperwork before we'll release the dates in early 2012. And last but not least there are plans go to India in February, so keep your eyes peeled for new confirmed tour dates! Apart from the mentioned shows we'll not play live that much in 2012 (except from some cool festivals which are confirmed already!) but concentrate on writing a new record which is supposed to be recorded by the end of next year. Unfortunately our Christmas present will be late... The video clip editing for 'Balor' is finished, but the release was re-scheduled for sometime in January now. Anyway have a great holiday season and best wishes for the coming year!"

Austria's Stormbringer.at webzine has released a video documentary on the recently completed "Thrashfest Classics" European tour featuring SEPULTURA, EXODUS, DESTRUCTION, HEATHEN and MORTAL SIN. The 18-minute clip, which can be seen below, includes performance footage from the December 18 concert in Vienna as well as interviews with Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA), Gary Holt (EXODUS), Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer (DESTRUCTION), David White (HEATHEN) and Mat Maurer (MORTAL SIN).

SEPULTURA's setlist for "Thrashfest Classics" consisted of material exclusively from the "Beneath The Remains", "Arise" and "Chaos A.D." albums. The trek's other co-headliner, EXODUS, performed songs from the "Bonded By Blood", "Pleasures Of The Flesh" and "Fabulous Disaster"; DESTRUCTION played tracks from "Sentence Of Death" and "Infernal Overkill"; and HEATHEN performed selections from "Breaking The Silence" and "Victims Of Deception". MORTAL SIN's setlist consisted of material from the "Mayhemic Destruction" and "Face Of Despair" albums.

ICED EARTH mastermind Jon Schaffer's SONS OF LIBERTY project has released a brand new five-song EP, "Spirit Of The Times", via iTunes and "other digital channels." Schaffer states, "We have chosen to not involve a record label for now. We wanted to do this directly from us to you."

Schaffer developed SONS OF LIBERTY for the purpose of spreading awareness about the current state of affairs worldwide. Jon's goal for this project is not to sell records, t-shirts or tickets, but rather wake people up and to get them to start researching and talking with each other.

"Spirit Of The Times" track listing:

01. Alive
02. Full Spectrum Dominance
03. Molon Labe
04. Mind Control
05. Spirit Of The Times

The title track can now be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Says Schaffer: "It is my sincere hope that this EP will continue to spread brushfires of liberty in the minds of people from all corners of the globe.

"I wish I would have had time to write, record, and mix more songs, but with the intense and demanding schedule that ICED EARTH is requiring from me, this is the best I could do.

"On this recording, I was once again joined by Jim Morris (guitar solos, backing vocals) and Ruben Drake (bass guitar). Jim and I programmed the drums in order to keep recording costs down.

"As you know, SONS OF LIBERTY is about the message and the idea, but there are costs involved to keep it going.

"Though I still encourage you to make copies and pass them out to everyone you can, there will not be a free download available this time around.

"Due to my recording and touring schedule with ICED EARTH, I have not been as present as I would like to be in the cause for liberty.

"Please know that I stand with all of you freedom fighters in spirit, regardless of what race you are, what language you speak, or which God you choose, or not choose, to worship. I will be there when duty calls; count on it.

"The free human spirit is rising all over the planet.

"I've been fortunate enough in my travels to speak with some amazing and very awake people in the last few years, and I can honestly and gladly state, that we are having an effect.

"Continue to educate yourselves, think for yourselves, use your power of discernment, and most importantly; be there for each other.

"Good people all over the world can band together and make this a world of peace and prosperity for all of its inhabitants if only we truly connect with the power and will of the free human spirit.

"Thanks so much for supporting the cause!"

Released in July 2010, SONS OF LIBERTY's debut CD, "Brush-Fires Of The Mind", landed at position No. 132 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.

Fore more information, visit www.sons-of-liberty.net.