W.A.S.P. have announced that on September 21st, 2012 they will begin the 30 Years Of Thunder anniversary tour starting in the United Kingdom and continue worldwide.

The two-hour show will consist of three parts. A one-hour set contains songs from the first four albums. The second set will be a 25-minute shortened version of The Crimson Idol complete with the movie accompaniment. A third set will consist of material from the new studio album, older material and everything in between. This show will see multiple video screens, pyrotechnics, and elements from the early W.A.S.P. shows and Blackie’s moving microphone stand Elvis.

Tour dates to be announced soon.

"A Dramatic Turn Of Events", the new studio album from progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER, sold 36,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 8. The band's previous CD, 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", opened with 40,000 units to land at No. 6. This was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Systematic Chaos", which shifted 36,000 copies in 2007 to enter the chart at No. 19. 2005's "Octavarium" premiered with 27,000 copies to debut at No. 36.

"Worship Music", the new studio album from ANTHRAX, sold 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous studio CD, 2003's "We've Come For You All", opened with just under 10,000 units to debut at No. 122.

The new self-titled seventh album from Massachusetts rockers STAIND sold 47,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 5 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Illusion Of Progress", opened with 92,000 units to debut at No. 3.

STAIND topped the chart with 2001's "Break The Cycle", 2003's "14 Shades Of Grey", and 2005's "Chapter V".

"Welcome 2 My Nightmare", the new album from legendary rocker Alice Cooper, sold 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart. Cooper's previous CD, 2008's "Along Came A Spider", opened with just under 10,000 copies to debut at No. 53.

"Dead Throne", the new album from the Dayton, Ohio Christian metalcore band THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, sold 32,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Sympathetic Resonance", the debut album from ARCH/MATHEOS — the new progressive rock band featuring FATES WARNING/OSI guitarist Jim Matheos and former FATES WARNING singer John Arch — sold around 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 13 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Sympathetic Resonance" entered the official chart in Germany at No. 27, in Austria at No. 67, and in Switzerland at No. 78.

Bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling (PESTILENCE, ex-OBSCURA) has joined forces with producer and guitar/keyboard virtuoso Tommy Talamanca (SADIST) in a new recording project dubbed NUFUTIC.

"We are very stoked about this new collaboration," says Talamanca. "Our working field will be fusion-influenced metal, a direction that allows us to combine progressive elements of our musical backgrounds."

The Dutch/Italian project is holding video auditions for drummers who play jazz-fusion and metal. Interested parties should send their background info and performance web links via email to: contact [at] jeroenthesseling [dot] com.

Tommy has played with the Italian prog/death band SADIST since 1991 and appeared on their albums "Above The Light" (1993), "Tribe" (1996), "Crust" (1997), "Lego" (2000), "Sadist" (2007) and "Season In Silence" (2010). Last year, Tommy contributed a guitar solo to the track "Euclidean Elements" on OBSCURA's latest album, "Omnivium".

Thesseling collaborated with OBSCURA from 2008 to 2011 and recorded the band's full-length albums "Cosmogenesis" (2009) and "Omnivium" (2011). In 2009 Jeroen rejoined Dutch death metallers PESTILENCE after a 15-year hiatus. He recorded PESTILENCE's fourth and sixth studio albums, "Spheres" (1993) and "Doctrine" (2011).

The outrageous and popular '80s-style "hair" band STEEL PANTHER will release its new album, "Balls Out", on November 1 (one day earlier in the U.K.). The CD's first U.K. single will be "If You Really, Really Love Me", an audio sample of which can be heard in the YouTube clip below. (Note: The first single in the U.S. will be "17 Girls In A Row".)

"Balls Out" track listing:

01. In The Future
02. Supersonic Sex Machine
03. Just Like Tiger Woods
04. 17 Girls In A Row
05. If You Really, Really Love Me
06. It Won't Suck Itself
07. Tomorrow Night
08. Why Can't You Trust Me
09. That's What Girls Are For
10. Gold-Digging Whore
11. I Like Drugs
12. Critter
13. Let Me Cum In
14. Weenie Ride

Check out the "Balls Out" cover artwork below.

FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, the project featuring James "Munky" Shaffer (KORN) on guitar, Billy Gould (FAITH NO MORE) on bass, Steve Krolikowski (REPEATER) on vocals and Brooks Wackerman (BAD RELIGION) on drums, will release its debut album digitally on October 25. The effort was produced by Jim Monti and Leo Ross.

FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM was an idea Shaffer had while on a long break after the release of KORN's "untitled" album. He had the extremely cool epiphany of putting together a "supergroup" comprised of top class musicians he admires and had become friends with.

"I had been sitting at home for too long of a time," Shaffer explains. "When you are a creative person, you can't sit still for very long!"

Adds Wackerman, "The inception of FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM began through Munk. After I did the KORN record, he asked if I would be interested in playing on this music project, which was un-named at the time. I'd had a great experience with him with KORN, so I was eager to see what this was."

"Zac Baird and I had worked on a few ideas while touring with KORN," Shaffer continues. "So, when we started to record, those song ideas were our jumping off point. But, 90% of the album was created on the spot, then recorded.

"We were lucky to get the people we wanted to become involved with the project.

"During the songwriting process, I wanted everyone to contribute equally, and feel open to try any and every idea they wanted. Then we would record it and see if it would work in any of the songs later. In the studio, it really began with Brooks laying down some amazing drum tracks for the rest of us to write and arrange the songs around. That is where most of the initial creative spark started. Also, I wanted to everyone to have a good time recording.

"There was no label (except myself) pushing any of us to do this or that, no schedules… we all wanted to have fun and write some interesting music."

Quips Wackerman , "Besides hiring a band therapist, I remember it going well.

"All kidding aside, it was one of the best sessions I've had as a musician. I had a lot of freedom to experiment with.

"Most of these songs seemed to form in the studio, so we were able to go at it with different angles and maintain spontaneity throughout. Plus, the variety and quality of musicianship on this record added a lot to the sound."

According to FAITH NO MORE's always-gracious bassist Billy Gould, "There are some stellar tracks on this album, and I have to say that James and the guys did a great job on it, and I tried to help where I could."

The band name itself, FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, pretty much says it all. The music fits the name: powerful, in-your-face and just a bit unsettling… in a good way.

"At the time of recording this album, I was, let's say, 'feeling unusual,'" Shaffer laughs. "I was getting into lots of books, movies, and music. I had been listening to the album from the band PEEPING TOM, thus I researched the 1959 movie 'Peeping Tom', where the band had gotten their name. The writer and the director's stories were very inspiring to me. After obsessively viewing the film, I discovered that one of the characters (a psychiatrist) in the movie had written a series of books called 'Fear And The Nervous System'. In the movie, the character's father would conduct disturbing and frightful experiments on his son, then film and document them."

"The first time I heard the name, I thought it represented the whole enchilada," Brooks agrees.

So what else is in the cards for FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM? "Besides world domination? Hopefully we can take this to the stage when our schedules allow it," Wackerman says. "I think the fans would love to see FEAR AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM live, and I know we'd love doing it."

Track listing:

01. Hell/Intro
02. Choking Victim
03. Chosen Ones
04. No Secrets
05. Chinatown
06. Beautiful Side
07. Triggers
08. Dissolve
09. Jaguar
10. Slow Motion
11. Last Drive
12. Ambien

According to The Pulse Of Radio, STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor has told Artisan News that the band's next album may be a double-disc concept record. Taylor explained, "The thing I can say is that it's like little bits and pieces of the first three albums, but it's very dark. I've got a story . . . it's almost a concept album that I'm writing right now — and it might turn into a double album. There's a lot of really good material that we're all kinda coming up with and I'm really excited to get in to the studio and see what happens."

The follow-up to last year's "Audio Secrecy" may be out in 2012 — a shorter gap than usual between STONE SOUR projects.

Meanwhile, a STONE SOUR live DVD packaged with a covers EP is expected out before this Christmas. Taylor told The Pulse Of Radio why he and many musicians enjoying covering other artists' songs. "The thing I love about playing covers is that a) it's a chance to walk in the footsteps of your heroes," he said. "It's a chance to have fun. There's a certain amount of relaxation that comes when you don't have to worry about your song. This is someone else's song, you know. This is where you can relax and just remember why you're a music fan in the first place."

According to DesMoinesRegister.com, SLIPKNOT percussionist M. Shawn Crahan has announced plans to create a "Maggot Bible", a crowdsourced book made up of 1,000 works of art submitted by the band's fans, affectionately called "maggots."

"Okay, I am going to do the very best I can to describe this crazy dream I had about a book called the Maggot Bible," he writes in a two-page introduction on the MaggotBible.com web site, displayed to look like an open holy book.

"We all have to feed off what the world puts us through, in order to grow and experience life's greater opportunities.

"My connection with you on the Internet or in person has always been surrounded by these ideas of art and how art can help ease the pain of life."

"When you feel a certain way and you think you're alone, you can open this book up and read stories, poems and glare at photos or other mediums of creation to help you breathe and realize you are not alone."

"Blodtørst", the new Torjus Førre Erfjord-directed video from Norwegian blackened punk metallers KVELERTAK, can be seen below (courtesy of Metal Hammer magazine). The song comes off the band's self-titled debut album, which 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."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, DISTURBED frontman David Draiman and fiancée Lena Yada (a Japanese-American model, actress, professional tandem surfer and professional wrestler) will tie the knot on Sunday (September 25) at a secret, undisclosed location. The Pulse Of Radio asked Draiman how he thought becoming a married man might change his music. "You know, I can only imagine that it would give me more inspiration to write," he said. "I think that when you all of a sudden become a family man, and you have more to worry about than just yourself, your concerns, they build, in terms of things going on with the world, in terms of your life, in terms of your fears and your hopes and your dreams. And so I really think it'll be a tremendous catalyst for potential inspiration."

Meanwhile, DISTURBED has announced November 8 as the release date for its previously announced B-sides compilation, "The Lost Children", in addition to the full track listing.

Ronald S. Beinstock, an attorney for progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER, has contacted BLABBERMOUTH.NET to make it clear that there is currently "no pending litigation" between the current members of DREAM THEATER and the band's former drummer, Mike Portnoy.

Courthouse News Service reported on April 28 that Portnoy filed a document listing his former bandmates as defendants in which he claimed that they "wrongfully excluded" him from the group and were "wrongfully using the name of the band in connection with [their] recording of an album without the participation or consent of [Portnoy]." In addition, the document alleged that the defendants — John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), Jordan Rudess (keyboards), James LaBrie (vocals), along with associated companies Ytse Jam, Inc. and Infinity Tours, Inc. — were "wrongfully using the name of the band in connection with the promotion of live performances by the individual defendants, without the participation or consent of [Portnoy]."

In a letter to BLABBERMOUTH.NET dated earlier today (Tuesday, September 20) Bienstock wrote, "On or around April 27, 2011, Mr. Portnoy filed a 'Notice With Summons.' This document is not a formal complaint. Further, the document was never served on any of the named defendants, rendering it moot. There is no pending litigation between DREAM THEATER and Mr. Portnoy."

Writing on his official forum earlier today, Portnoy commented, "I did NOT sue them [referring to the current members of DREAM THEATER. — Ed.] ....and second of all, I DESPERATELY tried to discuss matters with them personally to avoid ANYTHING LIKE THIS and yet THEY insisted on only using lawyers...so my lawyers filed those papers (BACK IN APRIL, mind you) as that was the position they chose to take...if the band would've talked to me, it would've NEVER come to that!!!

"All that aside, this was 6 months ago....so yes indeed, we have all moved on since then...

"I'm still really not allowed to discuss any of this publicly, but I feel everybody's hasty and half-truth filled witchhunt yesterday deserves to be addressed to help at least try to clear my name and reputation that was so wrongly tainted by yesterday's false conclusions...

"The fact is, when you have a band (or a corporation or marriage) for 25 years, there are business and financial things that need to be sorted out behind the scenes...however, it was incredibly LAME of Blabbermouth to exploit these private issues and divulge personal information that is clearly nobody's business other than our own. They are creating hate and negative propaganda and poisoning the minds and spirits of music fans around the world...shame on them."

Video footage of Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend rehearsing for his upcoming special shows in U.K. can be seen below.

Commented Devin: "After a week of computer problems, here's the footage of the 'Deconstruction' jam, complete with synch issues and a weird aspect ration... *sigh*

"ANYWAYS, this was the second group of rehearsals for the four shows in London, personnel: Dirk Verbueren on drums, Dave Young on guitar, Mike Young on bass.

"We had four days to practice this stuff and it wasn't nearly enough time, but we got through it without ahitch and came out the other side with less hair.

"'Addicted' is next!"

Belgian death metalers ABORTED have completed work on their seventh studio album, "Global Flatline", for a January 2012 release via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded, mixed, and mastered by the Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, PESTILENCE, HATESPHERE) at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark. The artwork was once again created by Justin Osbourn from Slasher Design.

"Global Flatline" track listing:

01. Omega Mortis
02. Global Flatline
03. The Origin Of Disease
04. Coronary Reconstruction
05. Fecal Forgery
06. Of Scabs And Boils
07. Vermicular, Obscene, Obese
08. Expurgation Euphoria
09. From A Tepid Whiff
10. The Kallinger Theory
11. Our Father, Who Art Of Feces
12. Grime
13. Endstille

Century Media will release a digital single of the title track, "Global Flatline", on October 15.

The regular jewel-case edition of "Global Flatline" will include 12 tracks while the limited-edition digipack will have 14 tracks.

"Global Flatline" features several guest vocalists, such as Trevor Strnad (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER), Julien Truchan (BENIGHTED), Jason Netherton (MISERY INDEX), and Keiijo Niinima (ROTTEN SOUND). Their comments follow below.

Trevor Strnad: "It's a pleasure to offer my vocals to Sven and the guys... The new material is fucking sick and I'm glad they would let me be a small part of it. Cheers to the masters of gore, ABORTED!"

Julien Truchan: "I'm so honored to be a part of ABORTED's new baby! So far, what I heard sounds absolutely devastating, sick and furious. Their best album for sure!"

Jason Netherton: "When I got the track for the guest vocals, we loaded the files up and immediately our ears melted! A face-ripping, next-level entry for a new decade of death metal-it was a sheer pleasure to contribute some screams, and I am completely stoked to hear the entire album as soon as it drops!"

A video for the track "Origin Of Disease" was shot in the U.K. this summer with director Phil Berridge (CEREBRAL BORE).

Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL will release its new album, "Dark Adrenaline", on January 24 via Century Media Records.

Commented LACUNA COIL's female singer Cristina Scabbia, "As some of you know, the release for 'Dark Adrenaline' was postponed a bit... and this made me even more nervous because I had to wait even more to spit it out! I am so thrilled I can finally say something about this album — ha! I simply love it. I feel this is the best work we have ever done, and it absolutely captures the essence of who we are. The atmosphere of the record will make a lot of old-school fans very happy, and the newer fans will enjoy the vibrant energy and the dark blood running through the songs. I really believe the 'Dark Adrenaline' will wake you up. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to enjoy the trip!"

"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

Frontiers Records has set a November 1 North American release date (three days later in Europe) for "Alloy", the debut album from TRILLIUM, the new metal project masterminded by American singer/songwriter Amanda Somerville.

"Alloy" is a collection of songs that's charged with emotion and exploration and a very personal statement from Amanda.

"Since I'm an eclectic and diverse person and musician, that certainly comes out in this album," the singer states in a press release. "I think that the diversity is what is going to set this album apart from other stuff that's out there right now. It's got big choruses and epic symphonic hits, guitar solos you could imagine being played on a mountain top with an aerial camera view, but it's also got a lot of soul added to the raise-your-fists-in-the-air-and-make-a-mean-face vibe".

Musically, TRILLIUM melts rock and metal in a new, interesting and different way from anything Amanda has worked on so far. "Alloy" is also graced with the talents of several musicians with whom Amanda had the honor of working in the past. Sander Gommans (AFTER FOREVER, HDK) and Sascha Paeth (KAMELOT, AVANTASIA, EPICA, AFTER FOREVER) were the main songwriters along with the American singer on this album. They have brought a lot to the project and have certainly allowed the sound to be a lot richer and stronger.

"Sander is all around an awesome songwriter and guitar player, and he's especially good at coming up with riffs and movements of a song, while Sascha is a fantastic producer who can play any instrument there is — and play the hell out of it — and his sense of songwriting is really strong!" says Amanda.

Other contributing musicians include Miro Rodenberg, who handled all of the orchestral and keyboard arrangements, Robert Hunecke on drums, Olaf Reitmeier on acoustic guitar, Simon Oberender on keyboards (and mastering). But there are more surprises are on the record.

"Working with Mat Sinner on KISKE-SOMERVILLE established a solid professional relationship and I also found a good friend in him," says Amanda. "We co-wrote 'Love Is An Illusion' together for this album and it was a pleasure working with him once again!"

And last, but in no way least, Jorn Lande has lent his epic voice to the song "Scream It". Somerville tells the story: "I actually wrote that song with Jorn in mind not for his status in the scene, but because I absolutely love his voice, he's a wonderful friend of mine through working together on AVANTASIA and he was the perfect 'actor' to play the character in the song. And he nailed it!"

"Alloy" will be released in a lavish digipack CD edition and will include the following songs:

01. Machine Gun
02. Coward
03. Purge
04. Utter Descension
05. Bow To The Ego
06. Mistaken
07. Scream It
08. Justifiable Casualty
09. Path Of Least Resistance
10. Into The Dissonance
11. Slow It Down
12. Love Is An Illusion *

* bonus track

"Machine Gun" audio sample:

VICIOUS ART — the Swedish death/thrash metal band featuring former DARK FUNERAL members Matias Mäkelä and Robert Lundin, along with Jörgen Sandström (THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE) on bass — has issued the following update:

"To keep it short since it is not a very long story to tell: VICIOUS ART as a band has decided that after the November 12th gig, the band will exist no longer. Reason is shortly that Tobbe [Sillman; guitar] doesn't wanna be a part of VICIOUS ART anymore. No hard feelings, is based on the decision or any other member rejects Tobbe out of our family, we all totally respect his decision. It is just a case of lack of motivation, nothing else. Due to that decision, we all agreed to pull the plug. There is no VICIOUS ART if it is not the five of us in the band.

"Our last gig will be in Stockholm on November 12th, together with GRAVE and GENERAL SURGERY and we do hope that you all can come there and join us!

"Thanks to all of you for supporting that band over the years!! We love you!"

Former METAL CHURCH singer Ronny Munroe will release his new solo album, "Lords Of The Edge", on October 18 via Rat Pak Records. The CD features the guitar mastery of Stu Marshall (EMPIRES OF EDEN), Chris Caffery (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, SAVATAGE), and Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE) and is described in a press release as "a true metal offering that delivers an onslaught of fist-pumping, guitar-driven heavy metal."

"We wanted to create something that was totally new, but at the same time, true metal fans could hear everything that we were influenced by growing up in the classic metal era," says Ronny. "'Lords Of The Edge' sounds a little bit like what would happen if you put METAL CHURCH's 'Light In The Dark' CD into a blender with QUEENSRŸCHE's first EP and JUDAS PRIEST's 'Painkiller', then mixed it with some present-day themes and a shot of pure adrenaline."

The opening tracks, "Just Breathe" and "Full Circle", offer fast and furious guitar assaults with high-energy vocals, while tracks like "The Vision" and "Touched By A Demon" take on a more haunting melodic approach that set up the listener for the gritty, power-metal influenced tracks like "Let Them Feed" and "Rock And A Hard Place".

"Lords Of The Edge" track listing:

01. Just Breathe
02. Full Circle
03. Pierced By The Maiden
04. The Vision
05. The Fear Of What's To Come
06. Let Them Feed
07. Rock And A Hard Place
08. Blood Red Skies
09. Lords Of The Edge
10. Touched By A Demon
11. Still Alive
12. Goodbye To The Black

"Beneath", the fifth album from the Finnish metal/hard rock outfit AMORAL, will be released on October 26. Visit the official AMORAL webshop to see the different bundle options of the CD with all-new shirt designs. All pre-ordered albums will be signed by the whole band. The album comes equipped with a stunning 18-page poster booklet (made by Spanish artist Marta Nael), expanding the cover artwork into all its glory.

"Beneath" track listing:

01. Beneath
02. Wrapped in Barbwire
03. Silhouette
04. Things Left Unsaid
05. (Won't Go) Home
06. Closure
07. Same Difference
08. Hours of Simplicity
09. Wastelands
10. This Ever Ending Game
11. No Future
12. Of Silent Stares & Fire Lost

DISTURBED has set a November 8 release date for its upcoming B-sides compilation album, "The Lost Children".

The track listing for the collection is as follows:

01. Hell
02. A Welcome Burden
03. This Moment
04. Old Friend
05. Monster
06. Run
07. Leave It Alone
08. Two Worlds
09. God of The Mind
10. Sickened
11. Mine
12. Parasite
13. Dehumanized
14. 3
15. Midlife Crisis (FAITH NO MORE cover)
16. Living After Midnight (JUDAS PRIEST cover)