JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the band led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, is currently working on material for its fifth album for a 2012 release.

Commented JON OLIVA'S PAIN drummer Christopher Kinder: "We received a bunch of emails asking about the demo phase of each record and how the songs are put together. We hope this shines an interesting light on the process...

"Jon and I record each and every idea whether it is a riff or entire parts of songs. We record as many instruments as possible. Guitars, bass, strings, and finger drums on the keyboard. Then I make a mix of those ideas and CDs are created.

"So far we have dozens of CDs to review and we will begin seaming some of those ideas together as working templates. From there he/I take them home and then we get together again and add or subtract from those ideas....and on and on.

"Jon plays all the instruments on the demos.

"We rarely, if ever, rehearse live to put these songs together. Everything can be done quickly in Pro Tools and then for further review.

"To address the band player situation...

"As for the 'band,' we have made no decisions on anything at this point. The first objective right now is the songs. So we will continue the process as we have done since 'Maniacal Renderings', which is basically Jon's ideas and me crafting them into working songs and then we will worry about the rest of the details. Everything and everyone else involved with work itself out in the very near future."

According to a Twitter message from the unofficial BLACK SABBATH web site Black-Sabbath.com, former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin is considering re-releasing his first solo album, "Back Where I Belong", for its 20th anniversary next year. The new version of the LP would come with previously unreleased leftover tracks and concert video footage.

"Back Where I Belong" was recorded after Martin was briefly replaced in BLACK SABBATH by Ronnie James Dio in the early Nineties. Released in 1992, the album featured guest appearances by QUEEN guitarist Brian May, former WHITESNAKE bassist Neil Murray and longtime BLACK SABBATH keyboardist Geoff Nicholls, among others. The LP also included a cover version of the song "Jerusalem", which originally appeared on "Tyr", a BLACK SABBATH album on which Martin sang.

"Back Where I Belong" track listing:

01. If It Ain't Worth Fighting For
02. It Ain't Good Enough
03. If There Is A Heaven
04. Back Where I Belong
05. Ceasefire
06. Why Love
07. Sweet Elyse
08. The Last Living Tree
09. Now You've Gone
10. India
11. Angel In The Bed
12. The Road To Galilee
13. Jerusalem

Martin's last solo album, "Scream", was released in November 2005 via MTM Music. The CD featured legendary drummer Cozy Powell (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE) on the track "Raising Hell" as well as songwriting contributions by another SABBATH member, Geoff Nicholls.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale told The Saginaw News that she has a secret dream to form a female super group — a modern version of the cult '70s band THE RUNAWAYS — with SICK PUPPIES bassist Emma Anzai, SKILLET keyboardist Korey Cooper and drummer Jen Ledger, and ALICE COOPER guitarist Orianthi. She explained, "It's funny, we secretly talk about it when we hang out. But the truth is that here we are, women in rock, and most of our influences come from our parents' generation."

Hale added that she sees the female musicians she named as part of a positive trend in music, saying, "There are so many of us out there, talented women making it in the business. We're breaking the rules in a business that hasn't had any real rules before. You can put a short skirt on anybody and go for cute, but this is a nice, refreshing trend. They inspire me to do better."

The vocalist says she's also influenced by artists like HEART's Ann and Nancy Wilson, as well as former THE RUNAWAYS guitarist Joan Jett.

Although Hale says she'd love to perform with some of her fellow women, she told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that she loves touring with the guys as well. "One of the most incredible things just from hanging out with all of these boys is that they're incredibly nice," she said. "And I'm gonna completely ruin their reputations, but they really — I mean, they're smart men you can actually have a conversation with, and it's incredible like how supportive they are to each other and it's just a complete pleasure to just be in the company of these guys."

HALESTORM has some scattered gigs on tap throughout the month of December, but the band is mainly gearing up to issue its sophomore album sometime in early 2012.

The release of the new CD was delayed from this fall to next year so that the band could work on additional songs for the set, which may also feature songwriting collaborations with Rivers Cuomo of WEEZER and others.

Some of the new song titles that could make it to the next CD are "American Boys", "Love Bites (And So Do I)" and "I Hate It When You See Me Cry".

HALESTORM's debut featured the rock radio hits "Familiar Taste of Poison", "I Get Off" and "Bet U Wish U Had Me".

Sweden's CARNIVORE has changed its name to ERUPTED.

Commented vocalist Daniel Ocic Sundberg: "[We have decided to change the name of the band] out of respect for the late [TYPE O NEGATIVE mainman] Pete Steele's CARNIVORE.

"Back when we picked the band name, we actually had not heard of the earlier CARNIVORE, and once we did, we guessed that a local band using the name really couldn't be such a big deal, we didn't expect the promo to get us signed or that we would get a chance to actually record a full-length. But, as things have worked out far beyond our imagination, we want you to wave goodbye to Växjö's CARNIVORE and give ERUPTED a brutal fucking welcome!! Same shit, new name."

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have begun rehearsing for their "Imaginaerum" world tour, which will kick off on Saturday, January 21 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California. This will be the biggest NIGHTWISH show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off — there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.

In a posting on NIGHTWISH's Facebook page, the band's lead singer, Anette Olzon, writes, "Last Thursday we went to our rehearsal place already in the morning and it was really nice to get in front of the microphone again and hearing what the guys had done the days before. We have some nice things planned and it's always interesting to hear if it works out, and yeah, it did.

"Singing the songs from [the new NIGHTWISH album] 'Imaginaerum' live for the first time was interesting, and it's always this weird thing that songs I thought would be easy to sing live can be a bit tricky, while the ones I thought would be hard went really easy. This is something that happens every time, and some songs seem to come alive even more in the rehearsing space.

"This first day we practiced for many hours and it takes some time to get into the songs so the day after we all sounded even better. I felt how we all started to get more and more into every song and leaving that day behind me felt very rewarding and anticipating of the rehearsals yesterday when our dear Troy [Donockley, who handles assorted Celtic instrumentation] joined us and made our group complete. For me, personally, Troy gives me calmness and positiveness and everything feels so fun, the music flows and we just had so fun together all day.

"Yesterday [November 29] was the last rehearsing day for this time and even if I long to go home to my dear boys at home, I already long for our rehearsals in January 'cause I leave Helsinki with a sense of joy and knowledge that next year will be wonderful and fun together with these guys and with the music I love to sing."

Norwegian blackened punk metallers KVELERTAK have brewed their own beer called Kvelerbier. The beer will be on sale exclusively at the band's Vienna, Austria concert at Szene on December 3. It's limited to 30 bottles only. There will also be a limited amount of fantastic tour posters and a special Vienna tour poster available, too.

According to a press release, Kvelerbier is "made out of honey and hate on Halloween 2011. Alc. vol. 6,66%. Brewed by brewmeister Thomas Shellraiser."

KVELERTAK's self-titled debut album, was released June 21, 2010 via Indie Recordings. Produced by Kurt Ballou and mixed by Alan Douches with artwork by John Baizley and guest appearances by Hoest (TAAKE), Andreas Tylden (JR Ewing and ALTAAR), Ivar Nikolaisen (SILVER), and Ryan McKenney (TRAP THEM), "Kvelertak" has been dubbed "the best Norwegian debut album of all time," and the band "the new MASTODON."

"Kvelertak" received a North American release on March 15 via The End Records. The North American edition includes six bonus tracks: live recordings of the songs "Fossegrim", "Sjøhyenar (Havets Herrer)", "Blodtørst" and "Mjød" from the BBC Sessions last year, as well as demo

Canadian metallers CANCER BATS have set "Dead Set On Living" as the tentative title of their fourth album, due in early 2012. Lead singer Liam Cormier tells AOL's Noisecreep that he and his bandmates have been looking outside the heavy music universe for inspiration.

"In a lot of ways we get really inspired by non-metal bands," he says. "For me, I find I really like looking at other things because I just don't want to make a traditional hardcore record lyrically. So for me, I listen to a lot of indie rock and I've been getting super psyched on a lot of that, like the new 'Helplessness Blues' by FLEET FOXES..."

Despite this, Cormier insists that he has no interest in moving away from the thrash-stoner-punk-hardcore sound which has characterized CANCER BATS' first three albums — 2006's "Birthing The Giant", 2008's "Hail Destroyer" and 2010's "Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones".

"I love what we do," he says. "I don't want to make this record be us trying to be MUSE, or us trying to extend ourselves into other things, like me trying to do clean singing parts so we can get played on the radio. When you hear bands that you love try shit like that it's just such a bum-out.

"The new stuff definitely doesn't sound like 'Bears' or 'Hail' or 'Birthing', but it sounds like where we should be at, trying to really fuckin' go for it.

"We really looked at it like, 'Let's make this album the ultimate party in every way that I know CANCER BATS fans want to get down.' Because I'm not sick of what we do, I fucking love playing these songs every night. That's the kind of vibe I still want to have going."

He continues, "I think the big thing, too, we've all turned 30. I'm going to be 32. Now that we're all older, we all really understand CLUTCH. I think there's like an age factor in understanding that band. If you're too young, you just don't get it.

"If you listen to CLUTCH, all their records sound like CLUTCH, and they're the best at doing that, but they still take really rad chances and do different things that are fun. Like, a lot of vocal stuff that's goofy, but it doesn't ruin the song, it just makes it really fun. I'm looking at someone who's been able to do that and still nobody's going to call those dudes a bunch of pussies, you know what I mean?

"So looking at that and not being too hung up on things we could over-think at this point, like, 'Ah, it needs to be super heavy and negative and brutal — metal can only be like this.' It's like, 'Naw, we can do whatever the fuck we want.' Because we're not 100 percent a metal band; we're like punk-weird-hardcore-whatever band."

Radio Metal recently conducted an interview with new GOTTHARD singer Nic Maeder. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Radio Metal: What were your impressions and feelings during your auditions with GOTTHARD?

Nic Maeder: It was sort of a pretty long process. I think I spent three different auditions with the guys and we spent time together. It started at the beginning of the year; it was a very long process. Then you never know, you know? [laughs] You just give it your best shot and hope for the best. We got along really well from day one. The chemistry was always great from the beginning. Even when at one point we spent two weaks writing songs together, it just worked fantastically — we wrote a lot of stuff — and yeah, it's just really good.

Radio Metal: Since you were still a completely unknown musician five days ago, before the official announcement, could you tell us about your background, your musical projects, etc?

Nic Maeder: I've been playing music all my life. I started to play a bit piano of when I was 8 years old. I didn't like it that much and I quit. My piano teacher
told my dad, "Oh, don't worry, one day he'll pick up a guitar probably," and
I did. I really started singing a bit after that and then had a lot of different bands and day jobs in between as well. Sometimes I could make a living from some bands for a little while, but never very long. That's how I've been doing this. Last year I've been doing accoustic covers in pubs in Australia and stuff. Then I started the auditioning process for this and here I am!

Radio Metal: Didn't you feel any pressure replacing Steve Lee or maybe were afraid of the reaction of Steve Lee's fans?

Nic Maeder: Yeah, of course, there's definitely a lot of pressure. I think you need not to think about it too much. [laughs] It really helped me with it. And it's really good having the guys here… It's like family; everybody sticks together and everybody's fighting the pressure, not just me. It makes it a lot easier.

Radio Metal: I guess it must be kind of embarrassing since you're replacing someone who passed last year… Did you feel somehow ashamed of the feeling of being enthusiastic to be in the band?

Nic Maeder: No, not at all. The band really wanted to continue; that's something that they're really passionate about doing. I was really happy they asked me to do this and to be part of it. I think it's fantastic.

Radio Metal: To be honest, your voice is very similar to Steve Lee's. Was he one of your vocal influences?

Nic Maeder: I grew up with AC/DC. But yeah, I was always a fan, you know, I always thought he had a fantastic voice. But it's funny, because some people say it sounds very similar and some people don't. It's a hard one. Personally, I don't think that I sound very similar. There are similarities, but I still see the differences.

Radio Metal: What is your level of contribution to the new album?

Nic Maeder: Well, I compose as well, so I compose music and lyrics and everything along with the others guys. It's really a shared work with everybody.

Radio Metal: Freddy [Scherer, guitar] told us a few weeks ago that a song will be dedicated to Steve Lee. Who will write the lyrics?

Nic Maeder: This is actually something that Leo [Leoni, guitar] wrote. I helped a little bit, but it's his.

Radio Metal: What are your projects now? You're gonna dedicate yourselves to the album?

Nic Maeder: We're starting production at the end of the week, and we hope that the album will be out for spring next year. Then we'll start touring.

Dutch doom death metal legends ASPHYX have completed work on their new studio album, "Deathhammer", for a February 27, 2012 release in Europe and February 28, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.

The cover artwork for "Deathhammer" was created by ASPHYX's longtime partner in designs, Axel Hermann. Hermann not only worked on all of the early ASPHYX artworks and most recently on their "Live Death Doom" release, but is also responsible for many of the classic Century Media artworks by bands like MORGOTH, UNLEASHED, SAMAEL and GRAVE.

Commented ASPHYX's Martin van Drunen: "ASPHYX and Axel Hermann is a fusion that has always functioned perfectly… from the days of 'The Rack' back in 1991, 'till 'Deathhammer' in 2012. Like others such as Dan Swanö, Axel may be considered as an external member of the band and when we asked him to do the 'Deathhammer' cover — and as usual we would leave him free in his expression — we were very pleased to hear he was willing to take it on. …And the man has exceeded himself! To the perfect death metal album comes the perfect cover that still leaves enough to everyone's imagination. We hope he is as proud as we are on the final result. It seems all falls into place for this deathdozer of an album. I guess Axel can expect an offer from Le Louvre any time now."

Added Hermann: "A cover is the visual extension of an album that translates music and emotional intentions (or should I say aggression) into a clear statement of what to expect before taking the record off the shelf. In seldom cases you're ending up with two perfect sides of the same coin. With ASPHYX and myself, it has always and luckily been that case. And I am really proud of that! Show 'em death and hit them with a hammer…visually and musically! Guess, we flipped the coin once more!?"

UNISONIC, the new band featuring former HELLOWEEN vocalist Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN) alongside Dennis Ward (bass) and Kosta Zafiriou (drums) of Germany's PINK CREAM 69 and Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer (who has previously played with ASIA, GOTTHARD and KROKUS), will release its debut EP, "Unisonic: Ignition" in late January via earMUSIC/Edel. The effort will include the title track plus one demo song and a cover version of the HELLOWEEN classic "I Want Out", recorded live on October 15 at this year's edition of the Loud Park festival at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan.

A full-length UNISONIC album will be made available in March.

Cleveland thrashers SOULLESS have parted ways with longtime guitarist Jim Corrick.

After spending the better part of the past ten years melting faces and crushing kegs, Jim has decided to move on to greener hop fields. Jim will join his SOULLESS bandmates for their shows December 23 in Parma, Ohio and January 13 in Cleveland, and from there will ride off on his trusty steed directly into the Forbidden Zone to seek his future. Filling the void will be long time north coast axemaster Matt Sorg (BLOOD OF CHRIST, FROM THE DEPTHS, DECREPIT, BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM).

Commented the band: "Matt is a longtime friend, incredible player and a drinking champion. We're thrilled that circumstances are allowing him to join us in SOULLESS. He's a perfect fit and we plan on getting busy with him as soon as possible, teaching him our material and beginning the songwriting process for our next full-length."

Added Jim: "Sadly, my time in SOULLESS is up. This would have been an easier decision if Chris, Jim, Dave and Wayne weren't such god-damned rippers! It's time for someone else to forge ahead with this metal juggernaut; I'm glad to hear my good friend Matt Sorg is stepping in to continue the assault... I can't think of anyone else better suited for the task."

Stated Matt: "It's great to be joining Cleveland's best metal band! I've been in bands with Chris Dora for over 17 years now and I'm glad to keep that going! I've known all these guys forever and I'm excited to get to thrash with them!"

SOULLESS is currently at Bad Back studios with producers David Johnson and Snacks Mahone putting the finishing touches on its latest opus, "In Death's Grip", which should be out in early 2012.

Wacken Open Air 2012 organizers have announced that next year's event is sold out.

"Amazing! Wacken is sold out for the seventh time in a row! For the seventh time in a row Wacken Open Air is sold out and never before in such a short time! All 75,000 tickets are sold. Thanx for your support, metalheads! A huge part of the billing is already announced including several special and exclusive shows as well as high-class acts. As every year we have made every effort to provide a terrific billing! And the announcements don´t stop. Via our online advent calendar at least one band will be announced every day during December. Together we will turn the 23. Wacken Open Air into a mega party!"

Confirmed acts for Wacken Open Air 2012, which is set to take place August 2nd - 4th in Wacken, Germany, include: AMON AMARTH, BROILERS CORONER, CRADLE OF FILTH, DARK FUNERAL, DIMMU BORGIR (with orchestra), ENDSTILLE, FORBIDDEN, GAMMA RAY, HAMMERFALL, IN EXTREMO, IN FLAMES, DANKO JONES, MACHINE HEAD, MINISTRY, MOONSPELL (with orchestra), NAPALM DEATH, OPETH, PARADISE LOST, AXEL RUDI PELL, HENRY ROLLINS (spoken work engagement), SATURNIAN, SCORPIONS, SICK OF IT ALL, SIX FEET UNDER, SUICIDE SILENCE, U.D.O. (Birthday Party), VOLBEAT, WATAIN, WINTERFYLLETH.

"Fragmented Illustrations Of Anger", the first video from VOICES, the new black metal project featuring AKERCOCKE/MY DYING BRIDE drummer David Gray alongside AKERCOCKE members Peter Benjamin and Sam Loynes (also of DIMINISHED FIFTH), can be seen below. According to a press release, the clip was "self-produced by the band as a sonic indication and visually astute representation of what [they] are pursuing creatively." The group adds, "This music video version of 'Fragmented Illustrations Of Anger' is the beginnings of our sound that we have been expanding and perfecting upon through constant rehearsal at the Goat Of Mendes studios with a burgeoning relentless drive to play horrifically weird black metal music. We are also currently midway through the recording of our first album that we hope will rear its ugly head before too long. We are also gearing up and preparing for our first set of U.K. dates in the early months of next year. Thus far we have confirmed a hometown London date at the infamous Intrepid Fox playing with our peers and brothers in madness TED MAUL on the 18th February."

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

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."

"Rebels", the new EP from Los Angeles theatrical rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES, will be released on December 13, exclusively through iTunes. Pre-sales begin on December 6. The EP contains "Coffin", a new original track; a cover version of Billy Idol's '80s anthem "Rebel Yell", which BLACK VEIL BRIDES has been performing live; and a cover of KISS' "Unholy", featuring a guest guitar solo by Zakk Wylde. The EP, which features artwork by longtime BLACK VEIL BRIDES artist Richard Villa, also includes the six-minute director's cut of BLACK VEIL BRIDES' latest video, "Rebel Love Song", which hasn't been seen anywhere until now.

"Rebels" track listing:

01. Coffin
02. Rebel Yell (BILLY IDOL cover)
03. Unholy (KISS cover, ft. Zakk Wylde)
04. Rebel Love Song (6-minute extended director's cut music video)

BLACK VEIL BRIDES is currently on the road as the support act for AVENGED SEVENFOLD on the "Buried Alive Tour". The trek kicked off November 23 in Fort Myers, Florida and is scheduled to conclude on the West Coast in mid-December.

wedish progressive death metallers IN MOURNING have inked a deal with Spinefarm Records. The band's third full-length album, "The Weight Of Oceans", will be released next year.

IN MOURNING's latest CD, "Monolith", was released in January 2010 via Pulverised Records. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered at Black Lounge Studio in Avesta, Sweden in with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CENTINEX, WORLD BELOW). The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith (NEVERMORE, OPETH, KING DIAMOND, AMORPHIS).

IN MOURNING's full-length debut, "Shrouded Divine" (2008), was released on vinyl on November 20, 2009 via Kolony Records. Limited to 500 copies worldwide, it came with new exclusive artwork for this version only and inner sleeve containing all lyrics and info.

Timo Kotipelto (vocals) and Jens Johansson (keyboards) of STRATOVARIUS will make guest appearances on the forthcoming fourth album from Finnish female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN. AMBERIAN DAWN's mainman, keyboardist and guitarist Tuomas Seppälä composed all ten songs for the CD — which is due in 2012 — and vocalist Heidi Parviainen penned the lyrics.

Johansson previously guested on AMBERIAN DAWN's third album, "End Of Eden", which was released in October 2010 via Spinefarm Records.

Commented Tuomas: "I and the whole band have put even more effort on this album than never before and I'm sure that this new album is going to be best AMBERIAN DAWN album so far... Some songs on this album are propably best that I've ever composed and there's also one instrumental song on this album, which I wrote in 1992 and it was supposed to be released on some rock opera project. Unfortunaly, this project never happened due some unfortunate happenings. But now, after 20 years, this one song is going to be released. All other songs are new and are not covered with dust.

"If you liked the sound of 'The Clouds Of Northland Thunder' [AMBERIAN DAWN's second album, 2009], which was mixed by Teropekka Virtanen, you'll going like the fact that this new album is going to mixed by the same guy at legendary Finnvox Studios in Finland...

"As you know, guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen injured at summer and was unable to play at all for several months. That's why Kasperi was replaced by our ex-guitarist Emppu on our latest European tour this fall. It even seemed like Kasperi wasn't able to play on this new album at all. But a miracle happened and Kasperi got his hand better only a few days before the mixing sessions started and he was able to play something on this new album after all!! So, Kasperi is back on our happy lineup again."

"LifeWar", the new Cale Glendening-directed video from Seattle-based Christian metallers DEMON HUNTER, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "The World Is A Thorn", which debuted with the group's highest placement on The Billboard 200 chart thus far, signifying the continued passion of the "Hunters" and the "Blessed Resistance", as their official fan community is called. Also available online is "The World Is A Thorn" Digital Deluxe Edition, which contains the band's music video for "Collapsing" and four acoustic tracks, including the never-before-heard cover of the ALICE IN CHAINS classic "Down In A Hole".

"Blood Of My Enemies", the new video from long-running Australian thrashers MORTAL SIN, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Psychology Of Death", which 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.

Commented the band: "What we wanted to do was a simple thrash album.

"Sometimes you can get so caught up in the complexities of everything that you forget about what thrash is all about. This time around we said we wanted to go back to our roots, we were going to write an album like 'Mayhemic Destruction' — simple old-school thrash!