U.K.'s Rhythm magazine recently conducted an interview with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Rhythm: Going back to the "Garage Days" EP — didn't you start playing "Run To The Hills"?

Ulrich: "We've always been around English people. In those years all our tour managers, our minders, our crew guys were all Brits and so there was always a very strong sense of English cynicism and sarcasm and a bit of twisted humour. We all incredible MAIDEN fans, obviously, and I don't think METALLICA would be where METALLICA is today if it wasn't for IRON MAIDEN, not only paving the way but also for just inspiring me in 1981 to form a band. We were sitting there recording the 'Garage' thing in L.A. and it was a pretty loosey-goosey set of sessions and one day we started going into 'Run To The Hills' which is one of those things that anybody could attempt at any time.

"Sometimes those harmonies could be a bit tricky for a few of the guitar guys and I think a few of them were slightly off-whack. There may have been a couple of people who thought that we were taking the piss, but obviously it was meant as a tribute in our own perverse METALLICA way having been around basically nothing but English people for the better part of the previous five years. I'm sure no ill will was taken. About a year later, I think it was right when we finished the 'Justice' album, I had been in New York mastering the album and MAIDEN were playing at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, it was probably July of '88. I went out and went to the gig. Obviously at that time, whenever you went anywhere you were pretty lubed up and continued to be as lubed up as possible. I was standing behind Nicko [McBrain], they were doing the 'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' tour, and I was watching him, hanging out. I think 'Run To The Hills' was the first encore and he handed me the sticks and pointed. I was like, 'Huh?' I crawled up the stairs and I remember hearing Bruce [Dickinson] introduce me, then I started playing 'Run To The Hills' in front of 20,000 people. I may have gotten just about as far as I did on the METALLICA version that came out. The whole thing was a complete clusterfuck and I don't even think we got through the first verse. Note to self, don't play drums in public when drinking! We gave it our best shot but I don't think we even made it to the first chorus."

Rhythm: Ever talked drums with Nicko?

Ulrich: "That's not my bag so much. I'm more interested in how they function as people than how they tune their snare drums so when I'm around other drummers that inspire me I'm more interested in who they are and what makes them tick, bigger picture stuff than what their secret snare tuning is. I don't think I have that relationship with a lot of other drummers, it doesn't do that much for me, that type of stuff. I can barely tune my own snare drum! Being around creative people is inspiring to me and I love to try to understand what their inspirations are. I'm very interested in musical lineage and history. I'll sit and talk with Nicko about when he did that with TRUST or when he did this with so-and-so. Every time I've even looked at his drum kit, it's so overwhelming and frightening. He's got one of the biggest set ups in rock'n'roll — I try to be a little more low-profile — but I've never done any of the technical wizardry stuff with them."

Rhythm: You and Nicko are both very animated on stage

Ulrich: "I have spotted that, yes. It's the feeling, you get up on stage in front of 20,000 people and it goes to another level. Nicko was always great and obviously still is great because he has personality and there is an approachability about him. People really felt that he was enjoying himself and there was something slightly nutty about him but never Keith Moon level, it was never scary. He just really enjoyed what he was doing. I've always really enjoyed playing. People talk to me about, 'Why do you stick your tongue out while you're playing?' I don't have an answer for that, it just happens. I'm the one that has to sit and look at the pictures, I know it looks ridiculous, it just happens. I turn into this little gremlin. There is no cosmic thought or premeditated thing."

Former EUROPE guitarist Kee Marcello and his manager, TMS Management, are currently "negotiating with a lot of major world famous acts" for the first-ever KeeFest, set to take place June 28-30, 2012 on the Åby racetrack in Mölndal, Sweden, right outside Gothenburg. According to TMS, "It goes without saying that Kee Marcello will be performing — not only with Kee Marcello band, but also with some of his former bands.

"As it has, the location of KeeFest is ideal: Gothenburg is located just 316 km from Copenhagen, 294 km from Oslo, 468 km from Stockholm and 270 km from Malmö.

"Besides Scandinavia, the whole continent is litterally around the corner; Germany is only 500 km away. With only a few hours by car, train or boat we reach over 40 million people.

"The huge audience capacity of Åby racetrack is creating some amazing scenarios: the blues/jazz/folk/acoustic stage (double the size of Ullevi football stadium); the main stage (four times the size of Ullevi football stadium!)."

Bassist Lars Lindén of Swedish thrashers CARNAL FORGE has issued the following update:

"Since all the members have chosen to drop off CARNAL FORGE due to different reasons to work on new projects, CARNAL FORGE will take a pause and the band will be put on ice for an unspecified time.

"I don't know if there will ever be another CARNAL FORGE album or if we'll play live again. I sure do hope so and I will work for it, but only the future will tell.

"The material of 20 songs, that I over the last year have written for CARNAL FORGE's seventh album, will now be put a into a new thrash metal project called DELERIUM. Working album title for the debut is 'Friendly Fire'. Album cover and songtitles are set, but to be revealed later on. At the moment I'm recording pre-production versions of all of the new songs in my home studio.

"It's great fun to be back on my main instrument, guitar, again."

ENGEL — the Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), vocalist Mangan Klavborn, drummer Jimmy Olausson (ex-MARIONETTE) and bassist Steve Drennan (LOCUS) — will enter Antfarm studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark next week to begin recording its third album, "Blood Of Saints", for a spring 2012 release. According to the group, the new CD "is going to be a good mixture between both [previous ENGEL efforts] 'Threnody' [2010] and 'Absolute Design' [2007], but with some new angles as well! If you liked 'Threnody', you will LOVE 'Blood Of Saints'!"

ENGEL played two shows with
The band recently recorded two songs with Hellmans Drengar. One of the tracks, "In Darkness", was released as a single.

"Threnody" was released in Europe on November 8, 2010 and in the U.S. on January 11, 2011 via Season Of Mist. The CD was issued in Japan on April 20, 2010 via Avex.

ENGEL recorded "Threnody" at PUK studio in Gjerlev, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL).

The band was previously signed to SPV Records which issued ENGEL's debut album, "Absolute Design", in 2007.

On November 24th, 1991, Freddie’s struggle against AIDS ended when he passed away just over 24 hours after he had publicly announced he had the disease. Musicians and fans from all over the world paid their highest respects as the passing of rock’s most innovative, flamboyant ambassador signified the end of an era at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium on April 20, 1992 which gave birth to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity set up in Freddie’s memory by the remaining members of Queen and Freddie’s Executor, Jim Beach.

Agence France Press, the third largest news agency in the world, have syndicated this piece worldwide today having consulted with Queen Productions Ltd.

***

Queen still reigns 20 years on from Mercury's death

By Robin Millard

LONDON — Freddie Mercury died 20 years ago on Thursday but his star has only burned brighter in the two decades since, with Queen and their larger-than-life frontman as popular as ever.

The British rockers, marking their 40th anniversary this year, are among the world's biggest-selling artists ever -- with most of their sales coming in the 20 years since Mercury died.

Queen's guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor are busier than ever and Mercury's songs such as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Don't Stop Me Now" still endure as classics.

The Independent on Sunday newspaper said the singer's death "seemed a mere hiccup in his career".

In the years since, Mercury's stock has risen, with a new generation of artists citing Queen among their influences, including Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Foo Fighters and Muse.

Mercury, 45, died at his London home on November 24, 1991. He had been diagnosed HIV positive several years earlier and died of bronchial pneumonia, brought on by AIDS.

Queen's lead singer is remembered for his captivating live performances, spellbinding vocals and enduring hits including "We Are The Champions", "Killer Queen", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love".

The jukebox musical "We Will Rock You", launched in 2002, still plays to a packed house in London and has been staged around the world from Australia to South Africa, Japan, Europe and Las Vegas.

With interest still high, a film about Mercury, starring Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen, is in the pipeline, focusing on the years leading up to Queen's stellar performance at the Live Aid concert in 1985.

"Even though physically he is not here, his presence seems more potent than ever," May wrote in a blog marking Mercury's 65th birthday in September.

"He will always epitomise the perfect frontman -- the consummate channel of communication between a band and an audience.

"He devoured life. He celebrated every minute. And, like a great comet, he left a luminous trail which will sparkle for many a generation to come."

In a statement on November 23, 1991, Mercury confirmed from his death bed that he had AIDS.

Within 24 hours he had fallen into a coma and passed away, having handled his illness in private and never complained of his suffering.

As one of the highest-profile victims of AIDS, his death brought greater awareness of the virus and helped remove the stigma from a disease now ravaging southern Africa.

In a 1987 interview, Mercury told journalist David Wigg he had no fears of becoming a lonely, rich 70-year-old.

"I've lived a full life and if I'm dead tomorrow, I don't give a damn. I really have done it all," he said.

Born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946 to a Parsi Indian family living on the East African spice island of Zanzibar and educated at an English-style boarding school in India, the shy teenager arrived in London when his family fled the 1964 Zanzibar revolution.

The classic image of Mercury is him in his 1986 touring costume, moustachioed and with one fist raised to the sky, a pose captured in the statue of him in Montreux on the Swiss shores of Lake Geneva.

When they felt able, his three bandmates painstakingly produced full tracks from scraps of vocals an ailing Mercury had recorded there in 1991, in precious hours when he could muster the strength.

Once he could no longer record, Mercury decided to come off his medication.

The subsequent album, "Made In Heaven", released in 1995, is one of Queen's best sellers.

Facing up to life without Mercury was tough.

May plunged into severe depression, having also lost his father and his marriage and contemplated suicide.

Like May, Taylor produced two solo albums in the 1990s, but despite their efforts to move on from Queen, they learned to embrace their legacy.

Bassist John Deacon retired in 1997 and has vanished from the public eye, though May and Taylor have his blessing to carry on.

Launching the rock theatrical "We Will Rock You" in 2002 was a gamble that paid off, breathing new life into Queen's music by allowing fans to enjoy their hits played live.

More than 13 million people have seen it worldwide, including 5.5 million at London's Dominion Theatre.

A sequel is planned, using songs not in the existing musical, though the original keeps packing out theatres.

Queen went back on the road again in 2005 when they joined forces with former Free singer Paul Rodgers.

Their collaboration spawned giant arena tours plus a studio album "The Cosmos Rocks" (2008) before Rodgers returned to his solo career.

One outdoor show in Kharkiv -- Queen's first in Ukraine -- played to 350,000 people, highlighting the enduring support for the band.

KISS' official web site, KissOnline.com, has been updated with the following message:

"Twenty years ago today, our friend Eric Carr passed away after losing his battle with cancer. Over the eleven years Eric spent with KISS, he played over 800 concerts to millions of fans around the world, and he brought joy to and touched the lives of so many people. Here are some thoughts and memories that the band would like to share."

Paul Stanley (guitar, vocals): "At a time when KISS was in the midst of upheaval and turmoil, Eric brought calm and an optimism that refocused our priorities so we could move forward. I can't overstate his contribution to our rebirth. His dedication to his music was only matched by his dedication to his fans. He was a kind soul who couldn't say an unkind word about anyone and I think of him all the time."

Eric Singer (drums): "Eric Carr was a beloved member of KISS for eleven years. His drumming was as powerful as his love and devotion for the fans and remains in the hearts of many to this day..."

Tommy Thayer (guitar): "Eric Carr was a special person and a friend. He would always go out of his way to be friendly and say something nice. I remember the band was mixing 'Hot In The Shade' back in 1989 at Cherokee Studios in L.A. 'Hot In The Shade' was a mish-mash of sorts and everyone was throwing in their two cents on the mix — you know, 'Turn up the guitars, turn up the bass...' I was listening and remember saying to the engineer, 'Where's the drums?' At the end of the night, Eric quietly pulled me aside and said, 'Thanks for mentioning the drums.' He appreciated that... A good guy."

Gene Simmons (bass, vocals): "I never knew anyone more humble in my life. Eric Carr was a kind soul who never said anything bad about anybody. He was also a double threat on drums, and vocals. I miss him."

IRON MAIDEN frontman and pilot Bruce Dickinson has vowed to resurrect a UK airline which has gone into administration.

Bruce Dickinson, IRON MAIDEN singer and airline pilot, will be doing more rather than less in the aviation industry following the closure of Astraeus Airlines with whom he was a Boeing 757 captain.

Gatwick-based Astraeus went into administration on Monday, November 21 — and by coincidence Dickinson was captain on the very last flight, operated on behalf of BMI, from Jeddah to Manchester.

Bruce Dickinson said: "I'm amused that the less well informed seem to be portraying me as having to resort to busking on the streets following the closure of Astraeus. The more astute members of my circle are aware there's rather more going on in my world.

"Firstly, I'm already working on a plan to try to save Astraeus, or at least create a new business with new jobs for my friends and former colleagues at Astraeus. This is a serious plan involving people who are very good at their jobs.

"Frankly, now Astraeus has been relieved of the business model imposed upon it by Icelandic owners, who, to be honest, perhaps did not fully appreciate the way the key commercial aviation markets operated, I see the potential for a viable operation should acquisition of the company prove achievable. There is no reason why the original business model, which established Astraeus as possibly the best and most successful organisation in its sector, cannot be resurrected to the benefit of former employees and airline partners and clients alike.

"Secondly, I am also involved in a project which could mean the creation of as many as 1,500 jobs in aerospace in South Wales. That could be a very good news story.

"Thirdly, I'm a long way into the development of a flight training company — Real World Aviation — which will be perfectly placed to help address the aviation industry's perennial challenge: producing new and qualified pilots. For some reason, even in difficult economic times, there is still a shortage of qualified commercial pilots

"I'm extremely upbeat about these opportunities, particularly the potential for a revival, in some form, of Astraeus. The removal of Icelandic ownership from the mix has removed a huge burden and barrier to the redevelopment potential. The enthusiasm is also fuelled by the deluge of messages I received from the second I switched on my phone after landing the last Astraeus flight on Monday, and, of course, the interest of a number of prospective investors.

"I will be back at the controls of a commercial airliner before I am very much older — but I may also be at the controls of the company that operates that airliner, and others like it."

Dickinson flew IRON MAIDEN, its 60-member crew and 12 tons of equipment around the world on the band's own customized Boeing 757, Ed Force One.

According to Reuters, Jimi Hendrix was named the greatest guitar player in history by Rolling Stone magazine in a list compiled by a panel of music experts and top guitar players.

"Jimi Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be: He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage," said RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello in the magazine, citing Hendrix's "Purple Haze" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" as key tracks.

The panel of experts recruited to vote for their favorite guitar players included musicians such as Morello, METALLICA's Kirk Hammett, ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell, the SMASHING PUMPKINS' Billy Corgan, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Mick Mars, PEARL JAM's Mike McCready and MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine. McCready called Eddie Van Halen "a master of riffs" and Joe Perry praised Jimmy Page's "vision of how to transcend the stereotypes of what the guitar can do."

Below is a list of some of the hard rockers in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

01. Jimi Hendrix
03. Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)
08. Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN)
24. Angus Young (AC/DC)
25. Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH)
36. Randy Rhoads (OZZY OSBOURNE)
40. Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE)
65. Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)
73. Kurt Cobain (NIRVANA)
87. James Hetfield (METALLICA)
92. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (PANTERA)

Following the news earlier this week that Astraeus Airlines has sadly now ceased operations, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson has disclosed he is currently working on a number of new aviation-related projects, some of which may involve his former Astraeus colleagues. One of his new ventures, which you will already be familiar with, is the upcoming Bruce Air Flight 666 Experience in the Boeing 737 Simulator.

Bruce's commitment to his aviation career remains as passionate as ever, and he wanted to reassure all MAIDEN fans that this includes the continuation of the Bruce Air fan club trips and more touring with Ed Force One at some point in the future.

Comments Bruce: "The good news is that Ed Force One will fly again, and we have time to prepare so there should be no problems the next time we need her. In the meantime, I'll get on with the business of flying until MAIDEN are out on the road again!"

STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor played the fourth show of his solo tour this past Friday night (November 18) at Trees in Dallas, Texas. Called "An Evening With Corey Taylor", the concerts feature Taylor doing both spoken-word and acoustic performances, along with question-and-answer sessions with the audience.

When asked by an audience member about his experience working with legendary producer Rick Rubin (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SLAYER, AUDIOSLAVE, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, METALLICA) on SLIPKNOT's 2004 album, "Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)", Corey said (see video below), "That's a dangerous, dangerous question. . . Now, there are some people who would love for me to just be [politically correct] and toe the party line, which is, basically, [to say] 'You know, working with Rick Rubin was a very enriching experience. He is truly a great mind. . .' Let me give you the fucking truth of it. Rick Rubin showed up for 45 minutes a week. Yeah. Rick Rubin would then, during that 45 minutes, lay on a couch, have a mic brought in next to his face so he wouldn't have to fucking move. I swear to God. And then he would be, like, 'Play it for me.' The engineer would play it. And he had shades on the whole time. Never mind the fact that there is no sun in the room — it's all dark. You just look like an asshole at that point. And he would just stroke his huge beard and try and get as much food out of it as he could. And he would go, 'Play it again.' And then he'd be, like, 'Stop! Do that over.' And he had an assistant who was seven feet tall. He had that disease where you can't grow hair on your body, so he was just bald. He looked like Mr. Clean's neurotic cousin. But he basically ran Rick Rubin's life — like, he was just fucking on it, on it, on it, on it. About half way through our precious 45 minutes, he would bring in this plate of shit. I assume it was food. It was bluish green. It smelled like someone had just plunged a fucking toilet somewhere. And he would eat it as fast as he could — just get it in there, all over himself. Which is, when you're working, so wonderful to look at . . . I will say this: I respect what Rick Rubin has done, I respect the work that he has done in the past to get to where he is now. But… this is a huge but… this is a J.Lo-sized 'but...' I will say this: The Rick Rubin of today is a thin, thin, thin shadow of the Rick Rubin that he was. He is overrated, he is overpaid, and I will never work with him again as long as I fucking live."

In a 2008 interview with Revolver magazine, SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn Crahan stated about working with Rick Rubin, "'Vol. 3' was all about rebuilding friendships and since we were rebuilding, it was reall easy to rebuild the innovation of our music. Listen to that fucking record. It's spiritual. Rick Rubin's the oracle. He sat us down with each other. I heard things from the other members I don't care to repeat. I gained a couple of friends. I might have created a couple of enemies. We all agreed we were going to get on a plateau of communication and that's what we did."

In the same article, SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root was quoted as saying about Rubin, "Rick was really attentive to what we needed as a band. He knew I was going through major anxiety. I got a knock on my bedroom door one day, and his assistant came up and he had this herbal drop that you put on your tongue to mellow out. A lot of the guys in the band say Rick was unavailable. And yeah, he takes on a lot of projects at one time, but he also does things that are beneficial. He would listen to what we'd done, then have us retrack things that needed work. He's kind of like Big Brother up on the hill. Even though he wasn't there physically every day, he was. That's my favorite record we've done."

Also speaking to Revolver, Corey said, "I wouldn't know what it's like to work with Rick Rubin. I only saw him about four times. Rick Rubin is a nice man. He's done a lot of good for a lot of people. He didn't do anything for me. I'm not happy with the vocals on that record. There were a lot of takes that I thought were much better than the ones they fuckin' used and I wasn't asked about a lot of shit. It sounds amazing; the songs are great. But we were being charged horrendous amounts of money. And for me, if you're going to produce something, you're fucking there. I don't care who you are."

Matthew Wilkening of Ultimate Classic Rock recently conducted an interview with vocalist Rob Halford of British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Ultimate Classic Rock: Is it true you've got a bunch of songs done for your next album?

Halford: We do, yeah! Glenn [Tipton, guitar] and I started to write in the early part of January this year. We just went to it from the heart really, there was no specific agenda or idea, as opposed to what we had to do with "Nostradamus", which was very focused and a real anchor of a project. This one has just been some straight-forward, classic British heavy metal. Some of it feels a bit like "Painkiller", some of it feels like "Sad Wings Of Destiny", some like "British Steel". We didn't do much research, we didn't bother checking some of our previous releases, we didn't do any homework, we just sat down and played, you know? Glenn came up with riffs and I came up with vocal melodies. There was no outside influence or interference in the writing sessions. We just started the day, plugged in some amps, got the mic up and made the metal that way. It's a very pure record, in that respect.

Ultimate Classic Rock: Were you surprised the response to your "American Idol" appearance was so positive?

Halford: Nothing surprises us now. That's not to slight the importance of "American Idol". I think what I'm trying to say, it's just that, when you've been in and seen and done as much as we have in JUDAS PRIEST, and we say that with tremendous gratitude, not with cynicism… you know. It was really special to be invited to that great show — and we call it a great show, because the essence of it is really important — it's just a nice, big strong way to introduce new vocal talent to America. To be there for James Durbin and to be there for heavy metal, in 30-million-plus American homes that night, was tremendously exciting. Whatever we do, there may have been some people who said, "Aww, why is my PRIEST on that chump show 'American Idol'?" Well, it ain't a chump show, it's a very important music show, and for the first time ever, heavy metal was in the mix.

Ultimate Classic Rock: Hopefully some young, impressionable kids were watching..

Halford: Well, yeah, that's exactly why we jumped in with both feet! James is spreading the message, James is hardcore metal maniac. This is a great way for a lot of people who didn't know about metal to see PRIEST and see this new talent James rocking out and delivering the goods.

Ultimate Classic Rock: You recently did a 30th anniversary "British Steel" tour. Any such plans next year for "Screaming For Vengeance"?

Halford: The thing is, of course, there was a period where PRIEST was literally making a brand new record every year — I don't know how we did that! It was amazing. We'd come off a big world tour, catch our breath and go straight into the studio and keep, you know, making new music, that's how it was in those days. So now, it seems like anniversary after anniversary is coming up. In all honesty, we would love do it. But (laughs) in practical real world, it's not possible. That's not to say we might not do something like that in the future, but "British Steel" was very important for JUDAS PRIEST, and probably for heavy metal, to an extent. There were songs on that record that crossed over and went into people's lives through rock and roll radio for the first time ever.

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of DOKKEN for the worldwide release of the band's forthcoming studio album in the spring of 2012.

The cooperation between Frontiers and DOKKEN started with the European release of the group's "Lightning Strikes Again" CD in 2007. The album marked a return to DOKKEN's signature style with melodic hooklines and blazing guitar riffs that epitomized the band's sound on such records as "Tooth And Nail", "Under Lock And Key", "Back For The Attack" and "Dysfunctional".

"So far we have written 10 songs in only eight weeks," says singer Don Dokken. "Usually we spend a year or more on our music. I can't explain why this time it came so fast; it just happened. So far the music is very uptempo and heavy. Of course we know our fans like the classic DOKKEN sound and this is where our new music is headed. It's been a band of brothers doing what we love: 'music.'"

DOKKEN plans to finish the new album recordings by the end of February and go out on the road in June.

"In a perfect world, we would like to release the new album before the summer and then play the festivals in Europe. Then hopefully we can jump on a package tour in the U.S.," says Don Dokken. "We want to give everyone a great CD that will keep all music fans 'rokkin'' during these troubled times!"

DOKKEN's current lineup consists of Don Dokken on lead vocals, Jon Levin on guitar, Sean McNabb on bass and Mick Brown on drums.

DOKKEN's greatest-hits package, "Greatest Hits 2" — a collection of all-new versions of tracks such as "Dream Warriors", "Breaking the Chains" and "Just Got Lucky", paired two new songs and two covers (including a version of "Lies", originally recorded by THE KNICKERBOCKERS, available on the Japanese version of the CD only) — was released in Japan on April 21, 2010 via King Records and in the U.S. on Cleopatra's Deadline Records imprint.
DOKKEN's latest album "Lightning Strikes Again", was released in the U.S. on May 13, 2008 via Rhino Records. and definite return" to the band's classic sound, according to a press release.

In addition to the regular European version of "Lightning Strikes Again", Frontiers released a special limited edition of the CD on April 11, 2008 in a glossy slipcase. The limited-edition version included an exclusive bonus track for Europe, entitled "Sunset Superstar".

Swedish death metal juggernaut THE FORSAKEN has signed a European deal with the German label Massacre Records. The band's fourth album is tentatively due in the spring. The CD, which will be mixed at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, will feature the same trademark THE FORSAKEN sound and hellish groove established on previous releases ("Manifest Of Hate" [2001], "Arts Of Desolation" [2002] and "Traces Of The Past" [2003], all of which were released worldwide via Century Media Records), as well as showcased during European road work with such bands as NILE, THE HAUNTED, GRAVE, SOILWORK and CALIBAN.

THE FORSAKEN's current lineup consists of almost all original members, the latest addition being guitarist Calle Fäldt (ex-DERANGED, FEARED CREATION), who replaces Stefan Holm. A full-time member since winter of 2010, Calle is a perfectly adjusted wheel in the machinery of THE FORSAKEN, fitting perfectly both in his string execution and in the band's chemistry.

Atlanta's NORMA JEAN is hitting the road one last time this year with the headlining "Pizza Riot 2011" U.S. tour. The trek will kick off on November 29 in Savannah, Geogia and will make stops nationwide before concluding in Asheville, North Carolina on December 18. The December run will be the last time fans can see NORMA JEAN in the U.S. for some time. The band will hit the studio to record its sixth full-length album before taking off on a European tour with THE CHARIOT in February 2012 — the first time the bands will tour Europe and Russia together.

NORMA JEAN is currently writing material for the follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed "Meridional" and will begin recording the effort in January with producer Jeremy Griffith.

"After making 'Meridional', we really didn't know what we were going to do next. It's hard to imagine that after coming out of so much work and thought being poured into something, but we're starting to see this new record take shape and all I can say right now is it's going to be nasty," said NORMA JEAN lead vocalist Cory Brandan. "If anything, 'Meridional' ended up inspiring us to continue moving forward and doing what we love to do. We also moved our writing space out of Atlanta this time for a new atmosphere where I live in Arkansas. We isolated ourselves a lot more and spent a lot of time together. We're really excited and are having a blast."

The next chapter in Relapse's DEATH reissue campaign is Vivus!, a deluxe 2CD collection compiling two separate Death concerts.

Each recorded in 1998, Disc One features the band at the height of their prowess tearing the roof off of the infamous Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles while Disc Two is a brilliant recording of the band on the festival stage at Dynamo Open Air.

Vivus! is set for a February 28th North American release date, March 2nd in the Benelux / Germany, and March 5th in the UK and rest of Europe. Vivus! follows the recent Relapse Records reissues of Individual Though Patterns, The Sound of Perseverance and Human. Like those reissues, this collection will contain extensive liner notes from Death insiders and never-before-seen photos of the band.

Pre-order options and additional release information to follow.

Vivus! tracklisting:

Disc 1 - Live In L.A. – 1998

'The Philosopher'
'Spirit Crusher'
'Trapped In A Corner'
'Scavenger Of Human Sorrow'
'Crystal Mountain'
'Flesh And The Power It Holds'
'Zero Tolerance'
'Zombie Ritual'
'Suicide Machine'
'Together As One'
'Empty Words'
'Symbolic'
'Pull The Plug'

Disc 2 - Live In Eindhoven – 1998

'The Philosopher'
'Trapped in a Corner'
'Crystal Mountain'
'Suicide Machine'
'Together As One'
'Zero Tolerance'
'Lack Of Comprehension'
'Flesh and the Power It Holds'
'Flattening of Emotions'
'Spirit Crusher'
'Pull the Plug'

cclaimed progressive extreme metal all-stars BLOTTED SCIENCE — featuring guitarist/mastermind Ron Jarzombek (WATCHTOWER, TERRESTRIAL EXILED, SPASTIC INK), bassist Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL), and drummer Hannes Grossmann (OBSCURA, TERRESTRIAL EXILED) — have posted the "Ingesting Blattaria" visual companion piece, the third in a series of four "scored" videos in conjuction with their newly released "The Animation Of Entomology" EP.

Commented Jarzombek: "With everyone sitting down to eat their Thanksgiving turkey tomorrow, I can't think of anything better to go with the stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie than... a swarm of roaches! Gobble, gobble!"

"The Animation Of Entomology", which was released in the U.S. on October 4 via Jarzombek's EclecticElectric label, will be made available in Europe on November 28 through Basick Records. The cover art was created by Atlanta, Georgia-based artist Richard Morley of Morley Arts and can be seen below.

Described as "a cross between CANNIBAL CORPSE, SPASTIC INK, and a Bugs Bunny cartoon," "The Animation Of Entomology" takes Jarzombek's fascination with animated cartoons and creepy crawlies to a whole new level. Having experimented with writing complex pieces of music to sync up with movie sequences in the past with his previous outfit SPASTIC INK, the concept has now been applied to BLOTTED SCIENCE over the course of seven songs and a total of 24 minutes of music.