German melodic metallers FREEDOM CALL will release their new album, "Land Of The Crimson Dawn", on February 24 in Germany, February 27 in the rest of Europe and February 28 in the USA/Canada via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be made available in three versions: as a jewel case featuring 14 songs; as a limited double CD digipak including six additional bonus tracks (versions of popular FREEDOM CALL numbers by POWERWORLD, SECRET SPHERE, DOWNSPIRIT, MANIMAL, NEONFLY and Hannes Braun [KISSIN' DYNAMITE]); and on double colored vinyl LP.

Commented FREEDOM CALL vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay: "The new tracks simply have more of that rock 'n' roll feel. Everything sounds much rawer, there's more focus on the guitars than before, and the musicians had more freedom during the recordings than they used to have."

Digipak track listing:

CD 1

01. Age Of The Phoenix (3:37)
02. Rockstars (5:08)
03. Crimson Dawn (6:29)
04. 66 Warriors (5:20)
05. Back Into The Land Of Light (5:39)
06. Sun In The Dark (4:49)
07. Hero On Video (3:50)
08. Valley Of Kingdom (4:32)
09. Killer Gear (4:42)
10. Rockin' Radio (4:13)
11. Terra Liberty (4:09)
12. Eternity (4:23)
13. Space Legends (4:04)
14. Power & Glory (3:30)

CD 2

01. Flame In The Night (performed by POWERWORLD)
02. Hunting High And Low (performed by DOWNSPIRIT)
03. Fairyland (performed by SECRET SPHERE)
04. Palace Of Fantasy (performed by MANIMAL)
05. Land Of The Light (performed by NEONFLY)
06. Warriors (performed by Hannes Braun of KISSIN' DYNAMITE)


Jewel case track listing:

01. Age Of The Phoenix (3:37)
02. Rockstars (5:08)
03. Crimson Dawn (6:29)
04. 66 Warriors (5:20)
05. Back Into The Land Of Light (5:39)
06. Sun In The Dark (4:49)
07. Hero On Video (3:50)
08. Valley Of Kingdom (4:32)
09. Killer Gear (4:42)
10. Rockin' Radio (4:13)
11. Terra Liberty (4:09)
12. Eternity (4:23)
13. Space Legends (4:04)
14. Power & Glory (3:30)

LP track listing:

LP 1

Side A

01. Age Of The Phoenix (3:37
02. Rockstars (5:08)
03. Crimson Dawn (6:29)

Side B

01. 66 Warriors (5:20)
02. Back Into The Land Of Light (5:39)
03. Sun In The Dark (4:49)

LP 2

Side A

01. Hero On Video (3:50)
02. Valley Of Kingdom (4:32)
03. Killer Gear (4:42)
04. Rockin' Radio (4:13)

Side B

01. Terra Liberty (4:09)
02. Eternity (4:23)
03. Space Legends (4:04)
04. Power & Glory (3:30)

FREEDOM CALL's current lineup:

Chris Bay - Vocals & Guitar
Lars Rettkowitz - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Samy Saemann - Bass, Backing Vocals
Klaus Sperling - Drums, Backing Vocals

The first out of six short conceptual teaser clips for "Dark Adrenaline", the new album from the Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL, can be seen below. Due in North America on January 24, 2012 via Century Media Records, the CD was helmed by acclaimed producer Don Gilmore (LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and "promises to deliver the melodic, sensual, metallic rush for which the band has come to be known," according to a press release.

Fans both old and new will have a variety of options to choose from, as "Dark Adrenaline" will be released in numerous formats, including standard-edition CD and vinyl, deluxe edition digipak with a bonus DVD, sticker, poster and guitar pick and as an iTunes LP with expanded packaging, five bonus audio tracks and video. The Metal Club edition will feature exclusive artwork designed by the band and will be limited to 3,000 units. The Hastings edition will feature a bonus 10-track LACUNA COIL sampler, and the Amazon digital edition comes with a free five-track sampler. Finally, for true fans of the band, is the "Darkest Adrenaline" box set, which includes both the digipak and vinyl versions of the album along with a hardcover photo book, a LACUNA COIL custom syringe pen and ink, a lyric pad, signed lithographs created by the band and more, all housed in a LACUNA COIL medical box. This box set is limited to 500 pieces and is available exclusively through CM Distro.

"Dark Adrenaline" track listing:

01. Trip The Darkness
02. Against You
03. Kill The Light
04. Give Me Something More
05. Upsidedown
06. End Of Time
07. I Don't Believe In Tomorrow
08. Intoxicated
09. The Army Inside
10. Losing My Religion
11. Fire
12. My Spirit

The "Trip The Darkness" video can be seen below. The visually stunning performance clip was directed by Sitcom Soldiers (FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND, THE BLACKOUT).

In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, LACUNA COIL singer Cristina Scabbia stated about "Dark Adrenaline", "I really feel that it is really, really a good album with good songs. I think that it totally captures the essence of LACUNA COIL because it's definitely a mixture of our roots and something completely new. We never repeated ourself with any album, but this one, it's a perfect balance between the old stuff and the new. And the new stuff, it's more obscure than the usual. It's definitely heavier — the sound is way heavier than we did before. A lot of people will be surprised. I think so. . . I believe that, you know, it's something that they don't really expect from us. They probably expect us to go, I don't know, more melodic and mellow and actually this is not the direction we are taking. [Laughs] We're kind of getting heavier while everybody else is getting mellower. [Laughs]"

When asked if she and her bandmates had specific aims when they went into the studio, Cristina said, "No, not really, because I think that when you are writing songs, it's not about what you want to achieve. You just go with the flow and you just like what you hear. And if you like something, you just, like, work on it. I don't think it would make sense for us just to think about a song or like, Oh, the album is going to sound like that. That wouldn't be honest and that wouldn't be hard, you know? Of course, you kind of know what you want to do, just because you know that's your taste, but you don't really know what's gonna be the final result. You just, you know, put down layers and layers and layers and layers, and then you just hear the result at the very end. Actually, after the mixing you're just like, Oh, wow! [Laughs] It's hard to see things, you know. You just kind of draw the image of what you think it's gonna be, but you don't really know what's gonna be in the end."

Teaser clip #1:

"Ways To Make You Fall", the new video from MEDICATED — the Finnish metal band featuring former IMPERANON and current NORTHER vocalist Aleksi Sihvonen, can be seen below. The song is the title track of the group's EP, which came out last year.

MEDICATED's "Magnum For Amen" EP, was released in 2008.

Formed in 2005, MEDICATED describes its music as "thrash/death metal with big choruses, screaming and clean vocals, hard rhythms and fast lead guitars."

MEDICATED is:

Aleksi Sihvonen (NORTHER) - Vocals
Samuli Hyttinen (SERAPHIEL) - Guitar
Dani Nuutinen - Guitar
Jani Kinnunen - Bass
Pertti Pätsi - Drums

Greek old-school thrashers SUICIDAL ANGELS will release their new album, "Bloodbath", on January 27, 2012 via NoiseArt Records. The CD features cover artwork by Ed Repka, who has previously worked with MEGADETH and DEATH, and who was responsible for the cover to last year's "Dead Again".

"Bloodbath" was recorded at Prophecy & Music Factory Studios in Kempten, Germany with Greek producer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis, who helmed SUICIDAL ANGELS' last CD and is said to "know better than anyone else which sound the group is looking for."

You can now stream the "Bloodbath" title track in the YouTube clip below.

In February 2012, SUICIDAL ANGELS will embark on the "Full Of Hate" tour alongside BEHEMOTH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, LEGION OF THE DAMNED and MISERY INDEX.

"It's truly a pleasure to hit the road, every time that it happens," SUICIDAL ANGELS said in a statement. "And who could ask for a better lineup than the one in Full Of Hate! Probably the best tour of 2012, and what do you know, you've got it all! CANNIBAL CORPSE, BEHEMOTH (finally back in action), LEGION OF THE DAMNED and MISERY INDEX: bringing brutality to a venue near you...! And what better way for us to promote our new record, planned to be released shortly before the tour kicks off... We've got nothin' more to say... We know we'll see all of you crazy thrashers on the road!"

Industrial veterans MINISTRY inked a worldwide deal with AFM Records. The band's first album of original material since 2007's "The Last Sucker", "Relapse", will be released on March 30, 2012.

In support of the "occupy movement," MINISTRY will release the new song "99 Percenters" via iTunes on December 23 and stream the track on their Facebook site starting Christmas day.

Commented MINISTRY mastermind Al Jourgensen: "Our 13th Planet Records releases have been distributed in Europe via AFM through our partner Soulfood Music in Germany for several years now, and we have established a solid business relationship, so it made perfect sense to take the next step and have AFM Records come on board and be involved with the new MINISTRY release for worldwide and digital distribution. I'm pretty psyched about the collaboration, based on the response and enthusiasm I've received from AFM so far…"

According to Revolver magazine, "99 Percenters" is a rally cry for all of the protesters that have gathered across the country to demonstrate against corporate greed, cutthoat capitalism, and the one percent of Americans who earn millions of dollars a year, but receive substantial tax cuts on their income. Jourgensen said the chorus for the track, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 99 percent" was inspired by COUNTRY JOE AND THE FISH's Vietnam protest song "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag".

"Putting out this song is the least I could do," Jourgensen told Revolver. "We wanted to fly to New York and protest and get arrested and pepper sprayed. But we can't do it because I got a Christmas deadline on this album. But I'm with 'em in spirit so the least I could do is give them a chant-along song. I'm going, 'Hey man, here's your song. All you gotta do is chant the chorus.'"

Jourgensen spoke to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine in August about his band's decision to reform for a new album and tour, including an appearance at next year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

When asked how the resurrection of MINISTRY came about, Jourgensen said, "While I was working on [the BUCK SATAN record], me and Mike Scaccia from RIGOR MORTIS fucked around to pass the time and we had like, 5,6,7 songs and I didn't really want to do anything with them but Mikey was like, 'Dude, these songs are awesome.' They weren't country, they were more like MINISTRY. So he's coming by in September and Tommy Victor's [PRONG; guitar] coming by in October with Tony Campos [SOULFLY, ex-STATIC-X; bass] and we're gonna finish up another MINISTRY album by Christmas called 'Relapse'."

Regarding the sound of the new MINISTRY material, Al said, "I think this is actually gonna wind up being the fastest and heaviest record I've ever done. Just because we did it as anti-therapy therapy against the country music we would just take days off and thrash faster than I've done in a long time, faster than Mikey's done in a long time. He did a RIGOR MORTIS tour and said it was easy compared to this MINISTRY stuff so it's gonna be brutal and it's gonna freak a lot of people out."

MINISTRY's upcoming tour will feature the lineup of Al Jourgensen, Mike Scaccia and Tommy Victor on guitar, Tony Campos on bass, Aaron Rossi on drums, and John Bechdel on keyboards.

Video footage of EXODUS performing the song "Deranged" on December 16 at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting at the Effenaar in Eindhoven, Holland can be seen below.

EXODUS is currently taking part in the "Thrashfest Classics" European tour with SEPULTURA, DESTRUCTION, HEATHEN and MORTAL SIN.

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

EXODUS's latest album, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", was recorded in December 2009 in Northern California with producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ARCH ENEMY, KREATOR).

The CD sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 114 on The Billboard 200 chart.

EXODUS' previous CD, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", opened with 3,600 units back in October 2007.

"Exhibit B: The Human Condition" was released in North America on May 18, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Video footage of Australian thrash metal veterans MORTAL SIN performing the song "Mayhemic Destruction" on December 16 at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting at the Effenaar in Eindhoven, Holland can be seen below.

MORTAL SIN's new album, "Psychology Of Death", was released in Europe on November 18 via NoiseArt Records. The effort includes the group's classic debut LP, "Mayhemic Destruction", as a bonus disc in the limited digipak version. The follow-up to 2007's "An Absence of Faith" was mixed with producer/engineer Darren "jENK" Jenkins and marks the recording debut of guitarist Ryan Huthnance, who replaced Mick Sultana.

MORTAL SIN in 2009 released a live album, "Into the Inferno (Live in Oslo)", via Riot! Entertainment. The CD, which contains the group's March 2008 performance in Oslo, Norway, was described by the band as "possibly the best live show MORTAL SIN have ever had recorded."

Once hailed as the next METALLICA, MORTAL SIN have become legends in their home country Australia, having been inducted into the Kerrang! Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in 2005 and being the only Australian band to have played with the big five of thrash — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and TESTAMENT — on tours in Australia and overseas.

MORTAL SIN is:

Mat Maurer - Vocals
Andy Eftichiou - Bass
Luke Cook - Drums
Nathan Shea - Guitar
Ryan Huthnance - Guitar

Video footage of HEATHEN performing the song "Opiate Of The Masses" on December 16 at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting at the Effenaar in Eindhoven, Holland can be seen below.

HEATHEN played its first show with returning bassist Jason VieBrooks on February 4 at Madhouse in San Francisco, California.

VieBrooks replaced previousHEATHEN bassist Jon Torres, who was forced to leave the group in order "to focus on his health."

HEATHEN's current touring lineup is as follows:

David White - Vocals
Lee Altus - Guitar
Kragen Lum - Guitar
Jason VieBrooks - Bass
Darren Minter - Drums

HEATHEN's latest album, "The Evolution Of Chaos", was released in the U.S. on February 16, 2010. The CD was issued in Japan on December 23, 2009 via King Records and was made available on January 25 in Europe via Holland's Mascot Records.

HAIL! — the supergroup featuring a rotating list of musicians, including current and former members of SEPULTURA, JUDAS PRIEST, TESTAMENT and MEGADETH — kicked off a nine-date tour of Russia on December 2 in Irkutsk.

HAIL!'s lineup for the trek includes drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, FORBIDDEN), vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, BEYOND FEAR) , bassist James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) and newest member, guitarist Glen Drover (MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND, TESTAMENT).

Video footage of HAIL!'s December 12, 2011 pre-show soundcheck and actual concert at Planetaryi in Ryazan, Russia can be seen below.

A two-part diary from the tour can be found by following the links below.

* Part 1
* Part 2

The band's setlist for the December 11 show in Moscow was as follows:

01. Stand Up And Shout (DIO cover)
02. Flight Of Icarus (IRON MAIDEN cover)
03. Seek & Destroy (METALLICA cover)
04. World Painted Blood (SLAYER cover)
05. Wake Up Dead (MEGADETH cover)
06. The Mob Rules (BLACK SABBATH cover)
07. Burn In Hell (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
08. Painkiller (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
09. Symphony of Destruction (MEGADETH cover)
10. War Pigs (BLACK SABBATH cover) (with snippet of Money)
11. Walk (PANTERA cover)
12. Heaven And Hell (BLACK SABBATH cover)

Encore:

13. Ace Of Spades (MOTÖRHEAD cover) (with snippets of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "TNT")
14. Creeping Death (METALLICA cover)
15. Peace Sells (MEGADETH cover)

Commented the band: "This was a great tour — amazing shows, excellent food and insane fans.

"Our travels provided a glimpse of the world that many people only dream of and we had a wonderful time.

"Everybody gets so close on tour that when the end comes, it always creates a melancholy feeling.

"All of the members of HAIL!, past and present, are a close-knit family, we are all close friends and we all stay in constant personal contact with each even when we are not together.

"We know we have created something special and we all cherish our participation in this unique life experience.

"In the last three years we have played over 60 shows in 15 different countries and we are not stopping. We already have concerts scheduled in 2012 for Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Lebanon with more to follow.

"We appreciate each and every one of you – all the promoters who made it happen, the local crew who help every show, the hotel staffs who keep us comfortable, our drivers, translators, security guards, the guys who make our merch, and those of you who proudly wear it, our endorsers who help supply us gear, the radio stations, magazines and journalists who continuously spread the word, and all of you who came to share a night of your life with us — thank you!

According to BBC's 6 Music, 2011 has been quite the year for the legendary British rock band QUEEN, which celebrated its 40th anniversary. As well as re-releasing, remastered versions of its back catalogue the group also picked up a number of awards, including being named Global Icons at the MTV Europe Awards.

"It really is great to be appreciated and to be part of what is often regarded as a young persons medium," QUEEN guitarist Brian May told BBC's 6 Music.

So where do the band, which is essentially just Brian May and Roger Taylor, go from here?

"Are we QUEEN? In a sense we are, but in another sense, we never can be," he said. "We keep getting asked to do things, which is great, but it's that being QUEEN thing. I think we'll have to make a film, 'Being QUEEN, what does it mean?' The good thing about it is, we are a sort of open book; we can interact with people when it comes up."

You can listen to the interview using the audio player below.

QUEEN drummer Roger Taylor recently told Billboard that he and May are in talks to hit the road next year with "American Idol" singer Adam Lambert. After going public with the fact that QUEEN is essentially retired as an active touring unit, Taylor said, "[Lambert] has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice with a range that's great. We would like to work with him again. There's nothing signed just yet but we're talking about live dates. It could be very exciting."

"Evangelion", the 2009 album from Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH, was certified gold by the Polish Society Of The Phonographic Industry (ZPAV) for sales in excess of 15,000 copies.

As previously reported, BEHEMOTH's "Evangelia Heretika - The New Gospel Three" DVD (2010) — a three-disc set featuring two full shows ("Live In Paris 2008" and "Live In Warsaw 2009"); every BEHEMOTH music video ever made; "Evangelion" tour documentary featuring band interviews plus tons of backstage footage; and a bonus "Live in Warsaw" audio CD — was certified platinum in the Poland for sales in excess of 10,000 copies.

Commented BEHEMOTH guitarist/vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski: "We are proud as fuck! Thank you for all the faith and trust in the band. It can only give us an extra kick to rise higher and brighter in the upcoming years!"

In a 2010 interview with The Metal Forge, Darski stated about how "Evangelion" has been received by the fans and critics alike, "I'm extremely happy. To be honest, I couldn't be happier. The feedback from both media and fans has been nothing but great. It's been awesome. We've fucking storming the charts in Europe, we've dominated some of the polls in some of the biggest magazines. We're like number one in Metal Hammer, in Kerrang!, and some other big magazines… so it's amazing."

When asked if he was satisfied to reach this level of success at this point in BEHEMOTH's's career, Darski said, "Oh yeah, totally. We've worked on that for years, right? I'm really happy to see that it's finally happening. And you know what? To be honest, I'm happy that it's happening now with the ninth record and not with the second or third album, you know what I mean? Because it kinda gives us a new life; it's like a new exciting chapter for us. We've been around for [almost 20] years and sometimes, band's with this much history, they basically repeat themselves, repeat their formula and they don't do anything exciting anymore. We still manage to put out new and exciting music and having new labels and new contracts behind us and the fact that there are so many new people coming into the music and supporting us, it helps out. It's very inspirational. It's awesome!"

BEHEMOTH recently released a video for the song "Lucifer", off "Evangelion". The Grupa 13-directed clip features Polish singer, guitarist, and poet Maciej Malenczuk, who also contributed guest vocals to the track.

Dutch hard rock veterans VENGEANCE will release their new studio album, "Crystal Eye", on February 24 in Germany, February 27 in the rest of Europe and in March 2012 in the USA and Canada through SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be available as a limited-edition digipak (including two bonus tracks), standard jewel case and as a digital download.

Digipak track listing:

01. Me And You (4:02)
02. Bad To The Bone (4:51)
03. Barbeque (3:31)
04. Shock Me Now (3:28)
05. Five Knuckle Shuffle (4:10)
06. Desperate Women (4:03)
07. Whole Lotta Metal (4:11)
08. Promise Me (3:43)
09. Crystal Eye (6:13)
10. Missing (4:51)
11. Jans End Piece (1:16)
12. Paint This Town (3:25) (bonus track)
13. Barbeque (radio edit) (3:35) (bonus track)

Jewel case track listing:

01. Me And You (4:02)
02. Bad To The Bone (4:51)
03. Barbeque (3:31)
04. Shock Me Now (3:28)
05. Five Knuckle Shuffle (4:10)
06. Desperate Women (4:03)
07. Whole Lotta Metal (4:11)
08. Promise Me (3:43)
09. Crystal Eye (6:13)
10. Missing (4:51)
11. Jans End Piece (1:16)


The recording lineup on "Crystal Eye" incudes Leon Goewie (vocals), Chris Slade (drums; ex-AC/DC), Keri Kelli (guitar; ex-ALICE COOPER), Chris Glen (bass; ex-MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP), and Timo Somers (guitar; son of VENGEANCE guitarist Jan Somers, who sadly died of a heart attack in January 2011).

"More than ever before, this is a band which consists of friends," states Goewie, whose excellent reputation as an exceptional vocalist made this impressive lineup possible. Goewie, Slade, Glen and Kelli also form the nucleus of the AC/DC cover band CHRIS SLADE'S STEEL CIRCLE, which rocks clubs around the globe whenever the musicians' schedules allow it.

"Crystal Eye" was produced by Michael Voss, who composed most of the songs in collaboration with Goewie. The title track was penned by former VENGEANCE guitarist Arjen Lucassen (AYREON, STAR ONE), while Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH) contributed "Whole Lotta Metal", which is said to be "tailor-made for Goewie and VENGEANCE." The album closes with the instrumental "Jan's End Piece", which features the last guitar solos recorded by Jan Somers before his tragic death.

"I've listened to the new tracks a couple of times now and consider this the most professional album I've ever done," says Goewie proudly, adding, "The fun and humor which are typical of VENGEANCE are all there on 'Crystal Eye', but in addition, the material is perceptibly more serious, which I feel really suits VENGEANCE mark 2012."

VENGEANCE will embark on a European tour in support of "Crystal Eye" in March/April 2012.

"Fire And Ice", the new video from Dutch symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION, can be seen below. The clip features both live footage and video footage that was filmed for use during the band's live performances."Fire And Ice" comes off WITHIN TEMPTATION's fifth studio album, "The Unforgiving", which sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 50 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on March 29, the CD was produced by Daniel Gibson and is based on a comic book story written by script writer Steven O'Connell (BloodRayne, Dark 48). The band asked comic artist Romano Molenaar (Witchblade, Darkness, X-Men) to draw the characters and scenery of "The Unforgiving", which was made available via Sony Music in Continental Europe and Roadrunner Records in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, Japan and Australia. WITHIN TEMPTATION guitarist Robert Westerholt recently announced that he would step down from touring duties in order to focus on taking care of the three children he has with Sharon den Adel. His replacement on stage is Stefan Helleblad, who has been working with the band behind the scenes for a few years.

MERCYFUL FATE members King Diamond (vocals), Hank Shermann (guitar), Timi Hansen (bass) and Michael Denner (guitar) were among the musicians who joined METALLICA on stage on December 7 for the second of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of METALLICA's 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.

Longtime MERCYFUL FATE/KING DIAMOND manager Olé Bang has posted the following recap of the event on King's official web site:

"I have received a couple of mails asking me to post a few notes about the 'METALLICA event'... so here a short rundown of what was going on.

"It actually started a while ago, when [METALLICA drummer] Lars Ulrich approached the original MERCYFUL FATE members to find out if able and willing to participate. It was all to be secret to keep in line with the surprise effect. When that was sorted, we went to San Francisco; Timi, Michael, Hank and myself from Denmark, and King, obviously, from [his home base of] Dallas [Texas].

"It would be King's first appearance since he joined METALLICA on stage in Dallas, and his first since the bypass.

"We were all anxious and excited about the event, and met up at the San Francisco hotel booked for us.

"[It was] really nice to see the guys together again; a first time in 18 years.

"The following morning (December 7th), we were taken to soundcheck, which was also kept under tight secrecy... [We] actually, had to enter the Fillmore through the kitchen of a Korean restaurant, and up the fire escape staircase.

"The soundcheck was a blast for me to watch.

"Michael and Hank were given each a METALLICA flying V guitars and a bass was ready for Timi.

"A few moments later, the eight guys on stage went through the medley already agreed on, spending quite some time on getting detail absolutely right. King and James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] went over who would sing which part and after some adjustments on the monitors, it ended with a complete run-through of the medley. Altogether it was a very smooth soundcheck, with a really nice and friendly METALLICA crew, whom we all owe a huge 'Thank You!'

"During soundcheck, both Livia [King's wife] and I got some photos of the action, some of which have already been posted online. METALLICA had their own photographers all over the place, so you'd surely seen the action by now.

"The Fillmore was set for a great evening, and we now realized who would be the other surprise guests of the evening. They turned up one by one for their soundcheck, and we spend some time checking out the 'Metallica Museum' with rare and unusual effects on display. We then had an afternoon break and returned in the evening around 9 p.m.

"The place was packed, and upstairs in the VIP area we had a chance to meet up with a lot of old friends in the business, whom we had not seen for years. One very important person in the MERCYFUL FATE history is [former KUSF radio DJ and Metal Mania fanzine editor] Ron Quintana, who was partly responsible for spreading the word of the band, way back in the early '80s.

"Our label boss, [Metal Blade Records head honcho] Brian Slagel, was there, and we simply just ran into people we knew again and again.

"King arrived in full makeup and made his way to a small dressing room, right by the stage, at the time when Lou Reed performed on stage. He might have gotten a small surprise when he got off stage, or maybe someone had warned him.

"When Jason [Newsted, former METALLICA bassist] went on stage, it was time for MERCYFUL FATE to be ready. Only a few seconds after he left stage, we heard Lars starting his story of the 'good old days' back in Copenhagen when recording their first albums. The next 10 minutes are documented on all the video footage much better than I can describe it... and after this, there's really not much to say.

"It was an amazing experience and I believe there are loads of comments and stories about how it was to be in the audience.

"The following morning we checked out and flew back home...

"Oh, yes, we did hang out for a while after the show, and yes, we did go to a place for after-hours drinks... but that's another (private) story."

HOTEL DIABLO, the new band featuring vocalist Rick Stitch (LADYJACK, ex-ADLER'S APPETITE), guitarist Alex Grossi (QUIET RIOT), bassist Mike Duda and drummer Mike Dupke (both of W.A.S.P.), will release an EP on January 10 via iTunes and other online stores. The six-song effort, entitled "Psycho, California", will consist of the material the group recently recorded with producer (and former GUNS N' ROSES/ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA guitarist) Gilby Clarke.

"We are very excited to get this stuff out there," says Grossi. "We have been taking our time in the studio and I think people will be into what we have so far."

Audio samples of the tracks "All These Years", "What You Do To Me" and "Psycho California" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Guitarist Kris Norris (STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, ex-DARKEST HOUR) has joined forces with ex-ANNIHILATOR touring bassist Dave Sheldon and ex-DARKEST HOUR drummer Ryan Parrish in a new project called A CANCEROUS AFFAIR.

Several early demo recordings from A CANCEROUS AFFAIR, which features Sheldon on lead vocals, can be streamed below.

Commented Norris: "I love all styles of music — from pop and jazz to black metal — and with this being a project band with no intentions other than to write music we enjoy, I'm not pigeonholed into oh this song needs a fast riff or a crazy solo. It's a nice relief from the other projects and bands I'm involved in and have been involved in. I get to take my experiences from all of them and combine it into one."

He added, "So far what we put up is just the writing of the demos with some demo vocals added. The songs have already been crafted into much better versions but I thought it'd be cool to at least release this stuff, hopefully get some feedback of what people are digging and hating."

Regarding the project's name, Norris said, "The title comes from Dave. I liked it alot because it fits what we are doing. Just a bunch of musicians from different parts of the world, getting together behind their other various music projects backs almost, and creating something. His voice to me is just infectious, so when he said the name, I was, like, 'Hmmm, that's it.'"

Singer Robin McAuley will reunite with legendary guitarist Michael Schenker (SCORPIONS, UFO) for their first full together in almost 20 years.

The full band lineup for the trek will be as follows:

* Michael Schenker (SCORPIONS, UFO) - Guitar
* Robin McAuley (SURVIVOR) - Lead Vocals
* Elliot Rubinson (Dean Guitars) - Bass
* Wayne Findlay - Keyboards, Guitar
* Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE) - Drums

The dates are as follows:

Feb. 15 - San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
Feb. 16 - Santa Rosa, CA @ The Last Day Saloon
Feb. 17 - Portland, OR @ Dantes (w/ Anvil)
Feb. 18 - Tacoma, WA @ Backstage Live
Feb. 19 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Feb. 20 - Victoria, BC @ 9 One 9 Nightclub
Feb. 21 - Vancouver, BC @ Venue Nightclub
Feb. 23 - Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk
Feb. 24 - Corona, CA @ Marquee 15
Feb. 25 - West Hollywood, CA @ House Of Blues
Feb. 26 - San Diego, CA @ 4 Th And B Concert Theatre
Mar. 01 - Libertyville, IL @ Austins
Mar. 03 - Detroit, MI @ Harpos
Mar. 04 - Etobicoke, ON @ The Rock Pile
Mar. 05 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
Mar. 07 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Mar. 08 - Foxborough, MA @ Showcase Live
Mar. 09 - Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony
Mar. 10 - New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre
Mar. 11 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
Mar. 16 - San Antonio, TX @ Backstage Live
Mar. 17 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
Mar. 21 - Tempe, AZ @ Club Red
Mar. 22 - Las Vegas, NV @ Vamp'd
Mar. 23 - Agoura Hills, CA @ The Canyon Club
Mar. 24 - San Juan Capistrano, CA @ The Coach House

The first audio sample from DEDVOLT, the new San Francisco Bay Area rock/metal band featuring SKINLAB frontman Steev Esquivel on guitar, can be streamed using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below.

DEDVOLT is currently recording a five-song EP for an early 2012 release.

Commented Esquivel: "[I'm] really excited about this band. [It's] in the vein of [Steev's previous group] RE:IGNITION — just a little more metal... more distortion and heavy as hell!"

DEDVOLT is:

Brian Giguere - Vocals
Steev Esquivel - Guitar
Carlos Barrientos - Guitar
John Riggs - Drums
Slim Vengince – Bass

ESP (ERIC SINGER PROJECT) — the band featuring Bruce Kulick (KISS, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD), Eric Singer (KISS, ALICE COOPER) and John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, RATT) — completed a short European "unplugged" tour in early December. The trek didn't include the group's regular bassist, Chuck Garric, who was busy touring with ALICE COOPER.

Journalist and musician Barbara Caserta of Italian web radio Linearock.it conducted an interview with ESP when they came through Italy. You can now watch the entire 27-minute chat below. Also available is footage of an entire ESP concert from the December 2011 unplugged tour.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Hard Luck Woman
02. Love (I Don't Need It Anymore)
03. Do You Love Me
04. Strutter
05. October Morning Wind
06. Hooligan's Holiday
07. If I Never Get To Say Goodbye
08. No Friend Of Mine
09. I Walk Alone
10. Loveshine
11. Every Time I Look At You/Forever
12. Hide Your Heart
13. Man In The Moon
14. Nothin' To Lose
15. Beth
16. Some Kind Of Wonderful
17. God Gave Rock'n Roll To You II
18. Home Sweet Home
19. Oh! Darling

After a highly successful run of European festivals and select club shows, Swedish melodic metal maestros SOILWORK have started writing music for the follow-up to 2010's "The Panic Broadcast".

Commented vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid: "It's been an intense summer and at this point, me and the boys are hibernating in pretty much every corner of the world and putting our next album together. Many songs are yet to be written but the inspiration is flowing! People can expect a continuation of the intensity and presence of 'The Panic Broadcast', only taken to a higher level. That's the mindset. We will do some touring next year as well, before we hopefully enter the studio sometime in the early fall. The album title is already set: 'The Living Infinite'. Chew on that for a bit and don't spit it out until the music is invading your ears, folks!"

Veteran Canadian hard rockers HELIX are talking to several record companies in various territories (Canada, U.S. and Europe) about the possibility of releasing a HELIX "anthology" CD. The collection would include about 20 tracks, covering all the HELIX LPs over the years plus a couple of songs from singer Brian Vollmer's solo album, "When Pigs Fly". Also included on the CD would be re-recorded versions of some of HELIX's biggest hits: "Rock You", "Heavy Metal Love", "Deep Cuts The Knife" and "Wild In The Streets".

Tentative track listing for HELIX "anthology' CD:

01. Billy Oxygen
02. It's Too Late
03. Heavy Metal Love
04. Rock You
05. Deep Cuts The Knife
06. Wild In The Streets
07. Dream On
08. Good To The Last Drop
09. Running Wild In The 21st Century
10. That Day Is Gonna Come
11. The Same Room
12. Wrecking Ball
13. Jaws Of The Tiger
14. I'm A Live Frankenstein
15. F.U.G.L.Y.
16. Six Feet Underground
17. Cyberspace Girl
18. Make 'Em Dance
19. Monday Morning Meltdown
20. Skin In The Game

Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT have tapped Hank Shermann of MERCYFUL FATE to play guitar on their their upcoming North American tour as part of "Gigantour".

Shermann most recently shared the stage with METALLICA at one of four intimate shows which took place at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of METALLICA's 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.

"It's a true honor getting to work with Hank, whose guitar work has inspired all three bandmembers long before VOLBEAT was formed," says VOLBEAT frontman Michael Poulsen. "I'm very thankful that Hank has the time to join us on Gigantour in his busy schedule."

The multi-artist Gigantour bill — with metal heavyweights MOTÖRHEAD, VOLBEAT and LACUNA COIL all personally picked by Dave Mustaine of headliners MEGADETH — will kick off on January 26 in Camden, New Jersey.

Former HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe joined MOTÖRHEAD on stage last night (Sunday, December 18) at Cable Factory in Helsinki, Finland to perform the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Killed By Death".

Commented Monroe: "MOTÖRHEAD was brilliant [last night] in Helsinki, as expected! I had the great honour of being invited on stage to guest on 'Killed By Death'."

Lemmy makes a guest appearance on Michael's latest album, "Sensory Overdrive", which was released in the U.S. and Canada on August 23 via Spinefarm/Universal. The CD, which was released in Europe on March 14, features an additional appearance by three-time Grammy-winning country/folk singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams.

German modern metallers CALIBAN will release their eighth studio album, "I Am Nemesis", via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway: Friday, February 3
Spain, Italy: Tuesday, February 7
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, February 8
Rest Of Europe: Monday, February 6
Australia, New Zealand: Friday, February 10
U.S., Canada: Tuesday, February 28

The CD will feature guest appearances by Marcus Bischoff (HEAVEN SHALL BURN) and Mitch Lucker (SUICIDE SILENCE).

After spending 10 months writing new material, the band is very excited to get the record out to fans. "It was important to us to have an elaborate album without any fillers," says lead guitarist Marc Görtz. "Additionally, the sound of the album is the best we've ever had by far: it is heavy and brutal without being chaotic."

Lyrically, "I Am Nemesis" is a continuation of the band's last record, "Say Hello To Tragedy", and focuses on controversial and often overlooked world issues. Musically, Görtz says, "The album breaks new soil without forgetting our roots. There are new influences such as shimmering guitar melodies and technical grooves with MESHUGGAH-like heaviness."

"I Am Nemesis" track listing:

01. We Are The Many
02. The Bogeyman
03. Memorial
04. No Tomorrow
05. Edge Of Black
06. Davy Jones
07. Deadly Dream
08. Open Letter
09. Dein R3.ich
10. Broadcast To Damnation
11. This Oath
12. Modern Warfare

The "Memorial" video can be seen below.

GuitarWorld.com has the exclusive premiere of the new track "With Our Love" from legendary vocalist Paul Rodgers. Check it out using the SoundCloud player below. The song was co-written and performed by Perry Margouleff, whose friendship with Rodgers goes back more than 20 years when they met in the U.K. while Margouleff was performing with THE PRETTY THINGS.GuitarWorld.com has the exclusive premiere of the new track "With Our Love" from legendary vocalist Paul Rodgers. Check it out using the SoundCloud player below. The song was co-written and performed by Perry Margouleff, whose friendship with Rodgers goes back more than 20 years when they met in the U.K. while Margouleff was performing with THE PRETTY THINGS.

Legendary hard rock vocalist Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ULI JON ROTH, ROYAL HUNT) makes a guest appearance on "Time Of The Equinox", the new album from the Lebanese guitarist Amadeus Awad.

Due on January 13, 2012, the CD will feature Boals in the progressive metal trilogy "Paper Dreams", which consists of the following movements:

I - Requiem
II - Dies Irae
III - The Tempest

Check out two teaser tracks ("Spiritus Devi" and "The Origins Of Light") from "Time Of The Equinox" below.