Louisiana rockers LILLIAN AXE have inked a deal with Germany's AFM Records. The band's new album, "XI: The Days Before Tomorrow", will be released on January 27. The CD was recorded at Sound Landing Studio in Covington, Louisiana, with the band's guitarist/songwriter Steve Blaze acting as producer and Rob Hovey engineering. The mixing duties were handled by Sylvia Massey (TOOL, JOHNNY CASH, DEFTONES, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, PRINCE, BLACK CROWES). Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Bow Your Head", "Gather Up The Snow", "Soul Disease" and "The Great Divide".

Commented Blaze, "This is an important album as it introduces Brian Jones on vocals.

"As I have been writing this record, there has been a feeling of creativity that is similar to that of when I wrote 'Psychoschizophrenia'.

"The band has really done a great job so far. We can't wait to get back out on the road to support it."

LILLIAN AXE in March announced Jackson, Mississippi native Brian Jones as the band's new lead vocalist.

The cover artwork for "The Inherited Repression", the forthcoming fifth studio album from Australian technical death metallers PSYCROPTIC, can be seen below. The CD will be released on February 7 in North America and February 10 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented PSYCROPTIC guitarist Joe Haley: "'The Inherited Repression' is far and away my favorite PSYCROPTIC record thus far — all of us in the band think this.

"It's the age-old cliché from bands when they talk about their new album as being the best of their career, blah, blah, but I have to say it because it's true. We wouldn't think there is a point of going on if we couldn't outdo each record prior. We are certainly not playing music for anything else than the love of creating it and performing it.

"'The Inherited Repression' is quite different from anything we have done in terms of songwriting and structure, and we spent a lot longer writing and demoing the songs before we recorded it, which you can tell. It's a very dynamic album — the fast elements faster, the slow elements slower, and a lot of light and dark binding it together. It's a very catchy album as well — you can tap your foot, bang your head or anything else you want. Basically, it has a lot of groove on it from start to finish."

"The Inherited Repression" was produced, engineered and mixed by Haley, while Alan Douches will handle mastering duties.

"We had the luxury of recording in my home studio without deadlines, so we spent a long time on getting it how we wanted," said Haley. "We can't wait for people to hear it, and get out and play the songs live!"

"The Inherited Repression" track listing:

01. Carriers Of The Plague
02. Forward To Submission
03. Euphorinasia
04. The Throne Of Kings
05. Unmasking The Traitors
06. Become The Cult
07. From Scribe To Ashes
08. Deprivation
09. The Sleepers Have Awoken

PSYCROPTIC is:

Jason Peppiatt - Vocals
Cameron Grant - Bass
Joe Haley - Guitars
Dave Haley - Drums

Lou Reed, King Diamond (MERCYFUL FATE), Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE), Timi Hansen (MERCYFUL FATE), Michael Denner (MERCYFUL FATE) , Marianne Faithfull, Ray Haller (SWEET SAVAGE), Kid Rock and John Bush (ARMORED SAINT) joined METALLICA on stage last night (Wednesday, December 7) for the second of four intimate shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of its 30th anniversary as a band for fan club members only.

After opening sets from THE SOUL REBELS brass band and ARMORED SAINT, as well as an appearance by ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian — who took to the stage with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett to tell stories of hanging out with late METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton — METALLICA rocked the capacity crowd with a 20-song set which featured selections from all periods of the band's career, including a previously unreleased track from the "Death Magnetic" sessions called "Just A Bullet Away".

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. To Live Is To Die (premiere)
02. Enter Sandman
03. Holier Than Thou
04. Disposable Heroes
05. Bleeding Me
06. Wasting My Hate
07. My Apocalypse
08. Just A Bullet Away (previously unreleased song from "Death Magnetic" sessions; premiere)
09. Breadfan (BUDGIE cover) (with METALLICA fan Andrew Dowis)
10. The Memory Remains (with Marianne Faithful)
11. Killing Time (SWEET SAVAGE cover) (with Ray Haller)
12. Turn The Page (with Kid Rock)
13. The Four Horsemen (with John Bush)
14. Iced Honey (with Lou Reed)
15. The View (with Lou Reed)
16. White Light/White Heat (with Lou Reed)
17. Creeping Death (with Jason Newsted)
18. Battery (with Jason Newsted)
19. Mercyful Fate Medley (MERCYFUL FATE cover) (with Hank Shermann, Michael Denner, Timi Hansen and King Diamond)
20. Seek & Destroy (with Jason Newsted, Scott Ian, Ray Haller, John Bush, Joey Vera, Gonzo Sandoval, and THE SOUL REBELS)

GUNS N' ROSES is among the artists that will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at its 27th annual ceremony on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum. Also scheduled to be inducted are RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, BEASTIE BOYS, THE SMALL FACES/FACES, Donovan and Laura Nyro. Freddie King well enter the Hall Of Fame as an Early Influence, while the late producer and TV host Don Kirshner will receive the Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award and producers Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns will receive the Award For Musical Excellence.

The current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES has posted the following collective statement on Facebook regarding the upcoming induction:

"So close yet still far away from the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Congratulations to all the 2012 inductees and our sincerest thanks to the Hall's organizers, committee members and voting delegates who supported the GN'R induction — it's a humbling honor to be recognized on this first ballot."

Facebook and Twitter statements from other current and former members of GUNS N' ROSES follow below.

Current GN'R guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal: "25 years of great music, great shows, and great fans :) Thanks to all who made it happen!"

Current GN'R guitarist DJ Ashba: "My sincerest congratulations to Axl Rose and everyone else who has been apart of this band's history. Time to deck the halls with destruction!"

Former GN'R guitarist Slash: "Thanks for all the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame mentions. It's quite an honor to be inducted. Cheers!"

Former GN'R drummer Steven Adler: "Thank you all for your support in making this happen. It really means a lot to me. I am happy and excited to be a part of this!"

The ceremony will be taped for broadcast by HBO, which plans to air it in early May. Like the 2009 inductions, which were also held in Cleveland, the event will be open to the public; tickets go on sale for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame + Museum members at 10 a.m. on December 16, and to the general public at 10 a.m. the next day. Tickets are $50 and $100, with a two-ticket limit on all orders. More information is available at www.rockhall.com.

Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA opened the week-long celebration of METALLICA's 30th anniversary on Monday, December 5 at The Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco.

Besides their own set, APOCALYPTICA also joined METALLICA on stage for a few songs.

After supporting METALLICA several times (the first one being in Helsinki on November 18 and November 19, 1996), this was the very first time the two bands actually played together.
The concert this Monday launched the anniversary party which METALLICA is holding exclusively for its fan-club members in San Francisco.

Commented APOCALYPTICA's Eicca Toppinen: "What can you do when METALLICA invites you to perform at their birthday party? You can only say YES!!!

"We are honored and very pleased to be part of this unique event. METALLICA have always been one of our greatest influences which makes this performance such a special experience for us.

"Cliff, James, Lars, Kirk, Rob and Jason.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Sacramento, California rockers TESLA will receive the key to the city from their hometown mayor Kevin Johnson today (Wednesday, December 7) at 12 (noon) at the Sacramento Rock And Radio Museum at 20th and I streets (in the building that once housed Crabshaw Corner and The Oasis Ballroom).

Commented the band: "We are very honored."

Known as the originators of the "unplugged" craze of the '90s, California rockers TESLA launched the 20th-anniversary tour last month of their legendary "Five Man Acoustical Jam" in full acoustic fashion in support of their new album, "Twisted Wires And The Acoustic Sessions".

TESLA released "Twisted Wires And The Acoustic Sessions" in Europe on July 25 via Scarlet Records. The CD, which came out in North America on July 12, features six songs that were recorded back in 2005 at bassist Brian Wheat's J Street Recorders studio — which also serve as the last recordings with original member Tommy Skeoch — and six newly recorded tracks, including acoustic remakes of songs from TESLA's entire catalog and two brand new songs, "Second Street" and "Better Off Without You".

GUNS N' ROSES is among the artists that will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at its 27th annual ceremony on April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum. Also scheduled to be inducted are RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, BEASTIE BOYS, THE SMALL FACES/FACES, Donovan and Laura Nyro. Freddie King well enter the Hall Of Fame as an Early Influence, while the late producer and TV host Don Kirshner will receive the Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award and producers Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns will receive the Award For Musical Excellence.

The ceremony will be taped for broadcast by HBO, which plans to air it in early May. Like the 2009 inductions, which were also held in Cleveland, the event will be open to the public; tickets go on sale for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame + Museum members at 10 a.m. on December 16, and to the general public at 10 a.m. the next day. Tickets are $50 and $100, with a two-ticket limit on all orders. More information is available at www.rockhall.com.

GUNS N' ROSES was nominated in its first year of eligibility.

"It's a great honor," former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Gilby Clarke told The Plain Dealer. "The band deserves it. It was a long time coming."

Acts become eligible 25 years after the release of their first record.

Eccentric singer Axl Rose is the only original member of the current GUNS N' ROSES lineup, and while he has recently been on friendlier terms with guitarist Izzy Stradlin and bass player Duff McKagan, he and guitarist Slash are not on speaking terms.

Asked about what the former bandmates will do if they are inducted, Axl told VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" in October, "I don't know what it means in terms of me with the old band and the old lineup. If we were to be invited, I don't know what they would ask of me. It's up in the air."

Drummer Steven Adler told Rolling Stone magazine that he remains skeptical that Axl will be willing to perform with the original lineup. "You figure that time heals all wounds," he said. "But some people just REALLY hold a crazy grudge. I just had lunch with Slash two days ago. He loves Axl. He holds no grudges towards him. Twenty years of great music wasn't created because of some stupid grudge... Can't we just be fucking people who played music and accomplished a huge goal in their life and just play a couple songs? It's only rock and roll, my god! It's not rocket science."

Earlier this year, former GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan spoke to MusicRadar.com about the possibility of the band being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

"My only experience with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was when VELVET REVOLVER played it and we were inducting VAN HALEN," he said. "That whole band was supposed to be there, including David Lee Roth — we were going to do a song with him. It all started falling apart in the two weeks leading up to the gig. It was sad to watch…

"We were just the innocent band that was there to play VAN HALEN songs, and we saw their whole thing crumble. To see Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar show up, when it was supposed to be everybody... Michael and Sammy were really cool guys and good sports about it, but they took all the heat over the situation. A lot of heat.

"I don't know if I want to set myself up for heat. It's going to be a debacle, isn't it? A press debacle. I just don't know what else to say about it."

Asked about what the former bandmates will do if they are inducted, Slash said, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there . . . If they're gonna pass you over, I don't think it's worth worrying about too much."

Slash said that he was glad to see Alice Cooper going in this year, and as for who has been overlooked, the guitarist said, "The one that comes to mind right off the bat — and it's not even a band that I'm a huge fan of but definitely is eligible — is KISS. And I know that they've been passed over every fucking year."

Steve DiGiorgio (DEATH, TESTAMENT, SADUS, OBSCURA), Karyn Crisis (CRISIS) and Marco Minemann (PAUL GILBERT, NECROPHAGIST, KREATOR, TONY MACALPINE) will appear on the forthcoming EP from EPHEL DUATH, the formerly Italian, currently U.S.-based band which is known as a modern mixture of avant-garde metal and progressive rock with jazz-fusion and hardcore punk elements.

Due in the spring via Agonia Records, EPHEL DUATH's new EP will be recorded in January 2012 at Sharkbyte Studios (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, HIGH ON FIRE) in Oakland, California. Erik Rutan will handle the mixing duties at his Mana Recording Studio (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL, GOATWHORE, AGNOSTIC FRONT) in St. Petersburg, Florida. Alan Douches will master the material at West West Side Music (DEATH, SWANS, MASTODON, CONVERGE, BARONESS, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, CLUTCH) in New Windsor, New York.

Former NONPOINT members Zach Broderick (guitar) and Ken MacMillan (bass) have joined forced with DROWNING POOL's C.J. Pierce (guitar) and Mike Luce (drums) in a brand new project called VOODOO CORPS.

The band's mission statement: "From the collective bowels of the South rides forth the culmination of what can only be deemed as the kick in the ass that rock so desperately needs. Forged in the fires of what makes life truly great: friends, family, and a deep seeded love and appreciation for those who support rock music, VOODOO CORPS is here to stomp your ass and then take you out for snow cones!!!"

The first VOODOO CORPS song, "Lights Out", which apparently features Luce on lead vocals, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

German female-fronted symphonic metallers XANDRIA will release their new studio album, "Neverworld's End", via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: February 24, 2012
Spain, Finland, Sweden: February 22, 2012
Rest of Europe: February 27, 2012
USA, Canada: March 6, 2012

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. A Prophecy Of Worlds To Fall
02. Valentine
03. Forevermore
05. Euphoria
04. Blood On My Hands
06. Soulcrusher
07. The Dream Is Still Alive
08. The Lost Elysion
09. Call Of The Wind
10. A Thousand Letters
11. Cursed
12. The Nomad's Crown
13. When The Mirror Cracks (bonus track)

Commented the band: "Although the title may indicate it, this is not a concept album, but there is an overall theme threading its way through most of the songs."

Today, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces its inductees for 2012, including Red Hot Chili Peppers!

The inductees are:

Performer Category:
· Beastie Boys
· Donovan
· Guns N’ Roses
· Laura Nyro
· Red Hot Chili Peppers
· The Small Faces/The Faces

Early Influence:
· Freddie King

Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award:
· Don Kirshner

The Award for Musical Excellence:
· Cosimo Matassa
· Tom Dowd
· Glyn Johns

The 27th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio and premiere on HBO in early May. The 2012 ceremony will again be open to the public, as it was – for the first time in the event’s history – at the 2009 Inductions in Cleveland.

Tickets to the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony go on-sale to the public on Saturday, December 17, 2011 beginning at 10 a.m. EST. There will be a two ticket limit on all orders. To purchase tickets, click here.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum Members can purchase Induction 2012 tickets in advance, beginning Friday, December 16, 2011 at 10 a.m. EST. To be eligible for the Member pre-sale, fans must become members by 11 p.m. EST on December 12, 2011 and have a valid Member ID. To join please call 216.515.8425 or click here.

Lifeforce Records has announced the signing of SHEAR, the Helsinki, Finland-based six-piece metal act featuring former/current members of AMORAL, OMNIUM GATHERUM, IMPERANON, ELENIUM and CRYSTAL BLAZE. The band's as-yet-untitled full-length debut will be released in March 2012. The group previously described the new tracks as "really diverse, ranging from very melodic songs to heavier riff-oriented songs."

The current lineup of SHEAR was finalized in 2008. The members have, however, played together for many years. The guitarists Mikael Gronroos and Lauri Koskenniemi, and keyboardist Lari Sorvo have played together since 2001. Bass player Eerik Purdon joined the group in 2004, and the drummer Juhana Karlsson in 2007.

SHEAR last year made its entire four-song EP, "In Solitude", available for free download on the group's official web site. The CD was recorded in August-September 2009 at Arcada Studios by Mikael Grönroos and was mastered at Chartmakers studios.

"In Solitude" track listing:

01. In Solitude
02. Scorched
03. Trapped in A Shell
04. Mistakes

According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell participated recently in a chat at ESPN.com, where he was asked about the status of a follow-up to the band's 2009 comeback album, "Black Gives Way To Blue". Cantrell replied that a new disc will come out "whenever we're done," adding, "We're never really forced to make music. If it doesn't happen, then it doesn't. We've been writing a lot. I also had shoulder surgery earlier this year. I'm at the tail end of rehabbing that. That put us back a little bit. But we have some stuff . . . Hopefully we'll have it out next year. We'll put it out when we feel that it's worth putting out."

ALICE IN CHAINS released "Black Gives Way To Blue" after a 14-year hiatus between full-length albums.

During that period, original singer Layne Staley died in 2002 and the band was all but defunct for a few years.

But they re-emerged and began playing shows again in 2006, with singer/guitarist William DuVall joining the band.

Cantrell said about that period, "It kind of grew into something a lot larger than we anticipated . . . To recreate ourselves without losing our identity and having the fans support us through that and have the quality of music come out like it did. Transitioning from the old lineup of the band and moving on, it was a lot. It's a career worth of changes in six, seven years. It's nice to have a second life and we're in the midst of that."

ALICE IN CHAINS has not toured since last year, but did recently play some shows in Chile and Brazil.

CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band led by former SAVATAGE frontman Zak Stevens, has parted ways with guitarist Rollie Feldmann and drummer Johnny Osborn and has replaced them with Andy Lee and Jayson Moore, respectively.

Commented the group: "CIRCLE II CIRCLE would like to announce the return of guitarist Andy Lee to our full-time lineup after a leave-of-absence from touring this year. CIRCLE II CIRCLE is also announcing the addition of our new drummer Jayson Moore. Jayson shares quite the musical history with Zak Stevens while they were growing up and he performed alongside Zak in the drum line at Brookland-Cayce High School in West Columbia, South Carolina.
"The CIRCLE II CIRCLE lineup (Zak Stevens - vocals, Mitch Stewart - bass/vocals, Andy Lee - guitars/vocals, and Jayson Moore - drums) is ready to go and will be featured at all live shows going forward and on the new CIRCLE II CIRCLE album, 'Seasons Will Fall', to be released in spring/summer 2012.

"Consequently, this means the departures of guitarist Rollie Feldmann and drummer Johnny Osborn from the lineup.

"We want to wish Rollie and Johnny all the best in their future endeavors and successes and we thank them for all the hard work they put into CIRCLE II CIRCLE while they were with us. Onward...

"We currently have 12 songs for the new CD. All of the bass and drum tracks are complete and recording will resume after Christmas."

Keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen of Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH was interviewed on the December 2, 2011 edition of the Finnish talk show "Korkojen Kera". You can now watch video footage of his appearance below (in Finnish, with English subtitles).

According to Rytmi.com, "Imaginaerum", the first album in four years from Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH, 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.

Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in Finland has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach platinum status in the country from the pre-2010 level of 30,000 to the current 20,000.

The band examined its catalog when sitting down to write what would become "Imaginaerum". The songs for the album were written between 2008 and 2010, after the "Dark Passion Play" tour cycle ended.

NIGHTWISH's new single, "Storytime", recently topped the official chart in Finland.

"Storytime" was released as a single on November 11 via Nuclear Blast Records.

French tech-death metallers GOROD have begun mixing their new album with producer Frédéric "Elmobo" Motte for an early 2012 release.

Elmobo oversaw the recording of the drums, bass and vocals, while all guitars were tracked by GOROD's mastermind Matthieu Pascal at his Bud Records Studio.

The mix and the mastering are being done at Elmobo's Conkrete Studio by Pascal and Elmobo.

Mobo states: "The new album is fantastic, you guys should prepare yourselves for a blaaast!"

Dani Kammler of Neuweltmusic conducted an interview with guitarist Silenoz (real name: Sven Atle Kopperud) of Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR on November 29, 2011 at The Academy in Dublin, Ireland. You can now watch the chat below.

DIMMU BORGIR kicked off its "An Evening With Dimmu Borgir" tour on November 11 at the Patronaat in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The band perfomed its epic 1997 release, "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant", in its entirety during the first set, while the second set consisted of a number of DIMMU BORGIR classics.

High-quality photos from the show can be found at Metal-Experience.com.

DIMMU BORGIR's most recent touring lineup included Geir Bratland (APOPTYGMA BERZERK, THE KOVENANT) on keyboards and Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus; SUSPERIA) on bass.

"Abrahadabra", the ninth album from DIMMU BORGIR, sold 9,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 42 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "In Sorte Diaboli", opened with 14,000 units back in May 2007 to debut at No. 43. This was more than double the 6,400 first-week tally achieved by its predecessor, "Death Cult Armageddon", which came out in September 2003 and landed at position No. 169 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The word "abrahadabra" (which roughly translates into "I will create as I speak") first publicly appeared in Chapter III of "Liber AL vel Legis" (commonly referred to as "The Book Of The Law") written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in 1904.

"Abrahadabra" was released in Germany on September 24, 2010, in the rest of Europe on September 27, 2010, and it was made available in North America on October 12, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

DIMMU BORGIR will embark on a tour of South America and Mexico in February/March 2012.

NEUROSIS' two landmark records, "Souls At Zero" (originally released in 1992) and "Enemy Of The Sun" (originally released in 1993), will be made available on LP for the first time in nearly two decades and for the first time ever in their full form on vinyl, on February 14, 2012 via Relapse Records. Both albums have been fully remastered and presented with newly expanded artwork.

The initial pressing for "Souls At Zero" will be 1,000 180-gram black 2XLPs and 1,000 180-gram grey marble 2XLPs and the initial pressing of "Enemy Of The Sun" will be 1,000 180-gram black 2XLPs and 1,000 180-gram red/black marble 2XLPs. Each album comes packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on style jacket with a custom finish and two printed inner sleeves.

IN FLAMES, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, GRAVEYARD and THE HAUNTED have been nominated for a P3 Guld award from Swedish radio station P3 in the "Best Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" category. The winners will be announced on January 21, 2012 during a live awards ceremony broadcast from the Lisebergshallen in Gothenburg, Sweden.

For first the first time in the eight-year history of the awards, it will be up to the public to cast their votes rather than industry professionals.

P3 Guld nominees in the "Best Rock/Metal Album of the Year" category are as follows:


* ARCH ENEMY - "Khaos Legions"
* GRAVEYARD - "Hisingen Blues"
* THE HAUNTED - "Unseen"
* IN FLAMES - "Sounds Of A Playground Fading"
* OPETH - "Heritage"

Christian hard rockers STRYPER have released short audio clips of "Bleeding From Inside Out" and "Blackened", the two new tracks which will be included on a collection of re-recorded versions of the band's classic songs, to be released in the summer of 2012. The CD will contain a total of 16 cuts — two from "The Yellow And Black Attack", six from "Soldiers Under Command", six from "To Hell With The Devil", as well as the two aforementioned new tracks.

In other news, STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet will enter the studio on December 18 to begin recording his new solo album. Sweet states, "Kenny Aronoff [CHICKENFOOT] will be drumming on the record, there will be a few 'guests' musicians/singers as well." Sweet is also writing his first "book/autobiography," which he promises "will outline my life and give you a page-by-page layout of the early years, the ups and downs of being in a Christian rock band, behind-the-scenes stories of what really goes on 'behind the scenes' of a successful Christian rock band (good and bad), getting through the toughest battle of all, joining the legendary classic rock band BOSTON, and much much more."

STRYPER's covers album, "The Covering", sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 175 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, 2009's "Murder By Pride", opened with 5,900 units to land at No. 73.

Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, "The Covering" is unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it's a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. "The Covering" will also include "God", a new original recording from STRYPER.