DISTURBED singer David Draiman spoke to Revolver magazine about the speculation regarding the band's future, which he started last month when he hinted that the group's current tour could be its last for a while — if not for good.

"The absolute truth is we've been touring nonstop — make a record, tour, make a record, tour for 12 years straight, and it hasn't afforded us the opportunity to do anything else as artists and individuals," Draiman said. "Our entire world has always been encompassed by DISTURBED."

Addressing rumors that DISTURBED's decision to take a break is fuelled in part by strained relationships within the band, Draiman said, "I want to make it very clear that it is absolutely, unequivocally not due to any animosity between bandmembers because there is none. I just had dinner with everybody for [guitarist] Danny Donegan's birthday the other night. We had a great time. Danny and Mike [Wengren, drums] are standing up at my wedding, for God's sake. There's no animosity whatsoever. These guys are my brothers and we have a tremendous love and admiration for each other and this hiatus has nothing to do with any perceived or conceived infighting between the band members."

Regarding why DISTURBED has chosen to go on an indefinite hiatus after five studio albums — four of which have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — and worldwide sales of more than 13 million, Draiman explained that the instability within record companies and the music industry is largely to blame.

"The state of the music industry is very apparent to everyone," he said. "I'm not enlightening anyone by saying that it is in a state of decline. I'm not enlightening anyone by saying it is in a state of reformation and it needs to figure itself out again. It's just a very difficult time to function as a musician within the music industry when personnel are lost left and right and people you've counted on for years are suddenly cast by the wayside. People are much more concerned with how the company looks on a balance sheet to a potential buyer as opposed to concerning themselves primarily with things like artist development. That's definitely a factor in why we chose to do this indefinite hiatus now. If things were gangbusters in the industry it would be much more difficult to turn away for a little while and concentrate on other things we'd like to do. It would be cutting off our nose to spite our face. Where things go with any of us in our own individual projects during this hiatus will determine how long it lasts or if it is, in fact, indefinite."

Draiman also insisted that he was taken out of context by Billboard magazine when was quoted as saying the indefinite hiatus is partially due to "the demise of hard rock and metal right now."

"When I spoke about the demise of hard rock and heavy metal, I was talking about the disrespect for the genre, the fact that it is relatively ignored by the mass media," he said. "It's never given its due even though here we are on one of the biggest tours of the summer, yet the tour is relatively ignored and brushed under the carpet, with the exception of the metal press. We've always been champions of the genre, and I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that I've never been more proud to be a part of it. And I think bands like ourselves and GODSMACK and certainly METALLICA are making it very clear that hard rock and heavy metal are here to stay. They're not going anywhere. And we're very happy to have been champions of that cause and will continue to do that even during the hiatus."

Below you can find a new promo clip for the reissues of QUEEN's final five albums, all to hit stores with bonus material from September 5th:

Between 1984 and 1995, Queen released their last five studio albums and consolidated their reputation as the biggest, brashest and boldest band in the world. They achieved legendary status as they delivered THE defining performance of the century at Live Aid as well as headlining massive stadium concerts all over the world. Queen also released some of their best loved and most anthemic work in this period, before and after the passing of FREDDIE MERCURY in 1991.

Now, in 2011, Island Records reissue the five Queen albums from this period on September 5th (to coincide with what would have been Freddie Mercury’s 65th birthday) as part of the band’s 40th Anniversary celebrations – The Works, A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, Innuendo and Made In Heaven. The reissues will be accompanied by the third in the Queen: Deep Cuts series, which looks at some of the lesser known tracks from these albums.

On Monday, August 8, SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor will begin recording an audio version of his book "Seven Deadly Sins - Settling The Argument Between Born Bad And Damaged Good". Taylor states via Twitter, "[I am] so stoked. [I] can't wait to read a chapter AS Christopher Walken!!"

When asked in a recent interview with The Nervous Breakdown if he was going to work on an audiobook release of "Seven Deadly Sins", Taylor replied, "Now I am. The publisher wasn't originally interested. They were like, 'Well, with these types of books they don't do well.' And then the fans really came out of the woodwork. I was getting a question at every signing: 'When's the audiobook coming out?' 'When are you putting an audiobook out?', etc. Finally [the publisher said], 'Whatever you want… whatever you want, please do it. Go ahead. You record it and we'll get it out there. We'll make sure it happens…' I said, 'See, if you'd have just listened to me in the first place, [laughs] we'd have had this out already."

"Seven Deadly Sins - Settling The Argument Between Born Bad And Damaged Good" landed at position No. 26 on the New York Times "Hardcover Nonfiction" best sellers list.

"I've been threatening to write a book for a long time, but since every Tom, Dick and Harry writes an autobiography, I didn't want to just do that. My approach to writing is the same as my approach to music: I don't want to do what everybody else is doing," said Taylor about "Seven Deadly Sins".

"That Metal Show"'s Jim Florentine recently conducted an in-depth interview with Corey about the book, his life, and his music, and the conversation was aired in three parts so fans don't miss a word of it. Check it out below.

Released in the U.S. on July 12 via De Capo Press, "Seven Deadly Sins - Settling The Argument Between Born Bad And Damaged Good" sees Taylor speaking directly to his fans and sharing his worldview about life as a sinner. While the 256-page hardcover book is Taylor's personal story, it's also described as "a larger discussion of what it means to be seen as either a 'good' person or a 'bad' one."

Italian black metallers APOSTOLUM are currently finising their new album for Moribund, to be entitled Winds Of Disillusion.

The follow-up to the band's previous record for Moribund, 2007's Anedonia, the quartet's Winds f Disillusion should be completed by September or October, with an early 2012 release likely.

Guitarist Stone reports: "Winds Of Disillusion is the consecration of Apostolum, and will be a long ladder through the planes of existence, a journey inside the ruins of life, against a stupid existence of human life. The work will be very different from Anedonia - a disc much more complex, oppressive and obsessive, a record that clears the positive emotions. To suffer is to produce knowledge...."

Das neue Album ''Svartir Sandar'' der Isländer von SOLSTAFIR wird am 14. Oktober 2-Disc-Form erscheinen.

Hier ist die Tracklist:

Disc 1 "Andvari":
1. Ljós í Stormi
2. Fjara
3. Þín Orð
4. Sjúki Skugginn
5. Æra
6. Kukl

Disc 2 "Gola":
1. Melrakkablús
2. Draumfari
3. Stinningskaldi
4. Stormfari
5. Svartir Sandar
6. Djákninn

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada-based post-hardcore act ALEXISONFIRE has called it a day.

In a statement posted on the band's official web site, ALEXISONFIRE vocalist George Pettit explained that the group played what its last-ever show with guitarist/vocalist Dallas Green on December 19, 2010 in ALEXISONFIRE's hometown.

"Almost a year ago, Dallas informed us he would be leaving after we finished our [2009 album] 'Old Crows/Young Cardinals' tour cycle," Pettit said. "Trying to balance his life between touring with us [and] CITY AND COLOUR was a task too difficult to continue managing. He informed us he wanted to focus his efforts on CITY AND COLOUR."

George added that the remaining members of ALEXISONFIRE had planned to continue, but a series of "personal issues . . pulled [us] further and further" from the band. Finally, after guitarist Wade MacNeil's recent decision to quit in order to focus on another project, the rest of the musicians — drummer Jordan "Ratbeard" Hastings and bassist Chris Steele — felt it was better to go their separate ways than to let it "get old and ugly."

"Replacing one guitar player/singer/writer was something we thought possible, but replacing two would run the serious risk of perverting the legacy of what we had achieved," explained George. "We took a good hard swallow and decided to end it so it would never get old and ugly. Was the break-up amicable? Not really. Was it necessary? Probably. The members of this band are my family and I wish them nothing but good fortune."

"The Hunter", the new album from Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON, will be released in several configurations that feature an exciting interactive 3D experience known as Augmented Reality. The technology, created by Los Angeles-based company Total Immersion, combines virtual and real worlds to create a 3D one-of-a-kind interactive experience that users can control. Just by using a camera on a computer, their own face and the cover art on "The Hunter", the user can turn themselves into "The Hunter" sculpture that is pictured on the cover.

Though the track "Black Tongue" from "The Hunter" has already made its presence known, "Curl Of The Burl" will be the first official single from the album and will be digitally released worldwide on August 16 through all digital music retailers. A video for the track will be filmed in the near future.

The physical configurations for "The Hunter", which will be released by Reprise Records on September 27, are as follows:

* Standard CD: Includes the album's 13 tracks, plus a basic Augmented Reality Experience in which the users head becomes the "creature" on the album's front cover in full 3D.

* Deluxe Physical CD/DVD: Sold as a 13-song digipack with an alternative cover, this package includes the standard CD, with the basic Augmented Reality Experience, plus a DVD that includes a track-by-track, psychedelic visualizer, the "Deathbound" and "Black Tongue" videos.

* Direct-To-Fan Package: This exclusive package will be comprised of the complete 13-song digipack album. Additionally, buyers will receive two digital bonus tracks on day of release (more on that soon). An exclusive insert will be included which triggers an enhanced Augmented Reality Experience and contains additional embedded content (again, more on the subject to be revealed shortly). Also included is a 20" x 30" lenticular poster of the standard album cover artwork.

Andrew "Mac" McDermott, the former lead singer of U.K. progressive metallers THRESHOLD, passed away in England on Wednesday, August 3. He succumbed to kidney failure after spending four days in a coma. He was only 45 years old.

McDermott had "serious health problems" in the months leading up to his death, according to a June 2011 statement from the German melodic metal band POWERWORLD, with whom McDermott recorded the 2010 album "Human Parasite".

Commented THRESHOLD guitarist Karl Groom: "Mac played a large part in the story of THRESHOLD and appeared on five studio albums. He also sang on numerous fan club releases and live albums. Although I have not seen him since 2007 for the last video shoot in Leipzig, he still remains in our minds and there is a big sense of loss. I have spoken to and seen ex-members of the band over the last two days who are all very saddened by this turn of events. We remember Mac as being so vibrant and full of life, so find this news is hard to accept."

Added THRESHOLD keyboard player Richard West: "Mac had such a big personality and one of the world's greatest rock voices, it's so very sad that we lost him so young. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones."

Stated Ilker Ersin of POWERWORLD: "A friend is gone! We are very sad about our big loss. We can't find the right words in this moment. Our sympathy and condolence goes to his family. The world lost a gently, nice, honest and warm-hearted person. We will miss him."

Peaceville Records has set a September 5 release date for the reissue of DARKTHRONE's seventh album of primitive black metal, "Ravishing Grimness", featuring new artwork selected by the band, plus a bonus commentary disc with Fenriz and Nocturno describing their inspirations, as well as memories from the time of recording.

DARKTHRONE began in the late '80s as a thrash/death metal act and progressed through technical death/doom metal experimentation to become legends of the black metal world and one of the original leading bands of the Norwegian scene.

"Ravishing Grimness" was DARKTHRONE's seventh studio album, originally released in 1999. The LP contained more mid-paced black metal than some of their previous releases — with CELTIC FROST-inspired riffs once again an important factor in DARKTHRONE's music — as well as featuring more rock and punk elements than earlier albums. Most of the tracks on "Ravishing Grimness" were this time written by Nocturno Culto, as well as guest lyrics on "The Beast" appearing courtesy of Aldrahn and Fog (DØDHEIMSGARD).

TRACKS

Disc 1:

01. Lifeless
02. The Beast
03. The Claws of Time
04. Across the Vacuum
05. Ravishing Grimness
06. To the Death (Under the King)

Disc 2:

* As above, including commentary from Fenriz and Nocturno Culto

Norwegian black metal act THRONE OF KATARSIS will release its new album, "Ved Graven", on October 24 in Europe and November 1 in the U.S. via Candlelight Records.

According to a press release, "the album title 'Ved Graven' can be translated to 'At the Grave', and is by far the darkest material written by the band to this date.

"Cold, raw, and with the bizarre aura of an everlasting funeral, THRONE OF KATARSIS delivers their requiem in honor of the final darkness. During three long nights the seven rites of this album was recorded. The séance was done in darkness and with poisoned minds, and with a dedication closer to a possession rather than anything else. All instruments and vocal were recorded live in the studio, in order to capture the aura the band creates during their convocations. A couple of guitar leads were added to the mix, and also church organ — recorded at nighttime at a local church during a highly blasphemic ceremony.

"To complete the vision, Njard drawed the cover art, and Stein Sund assisted the mixing and mastering of the album. This is their third studio album, and continues the march towards the funeral."
After seven years as a "demonic duo," THRONE OF KATARSIS is now a quartet, consisting of Infamroth (voice, guitar and church organ), Skinndød (guitar), Sanrabb (bass) and Vardalv (drums).

"Ved Graven" track listing:

01. Profetens Siste Vandring
02. Helvete Kaller
03. Av Dypets Kulde
04. The Holy Remains The Weak
05. Mesterens Tilbakekomst
06. Åpne Alle Sår
07. The Ultimate Shrine

THE DARKNESS frontman Justin Hawkins has revealed to U.K.'s Total Guitar magazine that the band's third album is almost complete.

"To use one analogy, the house is built," Justin tells Total Guitar as part of an exclusive interview for issue 218. "And it's a lovely house. How we decorate it is the next conundrum. We're getting to the stage where it's like, how much do we want to blow it?

"We could do all those big QUEEN arrangements, it's just whether we want to. Do you overblow it? Do you underblow it? Do you cup the sack while administering said blowjob? Do you pop a finger up the arse? We have to decide how the happy ending goes."

The as-yet-untitled comeback CD was rehearsed in THE DARKNESS' Lowestoft hometown and was recorded at guitarist Dan Hawkins' home studio.

"Home is where the heart is," says Justin. "When you write songs, you need a grounding to set the stories in. There's a lot about small-town life. The album has songs about stuff that's happened to us in the town. [As for influences], it's AC/DC, QUEEN, AEROSMITH, et cetera."

"There's some really great, almost 'DIRE STRAITS' Strat stuff from Justin on the record," says Dan. "That's another big influence.

"There are some interesting wah sounds, and we made a point of ditching all that click track shit, because rock music needs to breathe. It's party music. With something like 'Cannonball', every single part of the song is a riff!"

THE DARKNESS made its U.K. live comeback on June 5 in front of just 200 people at the Norwich Waterfront.

STATIC-X frontman Wayne Static will release with his first solo album, "Pighammer", on October 4 via Dirthouse Records.

According to a press release, "Pighammer" "has a disarming raw quality of heavy driving guitar riffs and lyrics that will take hold of your bowels and into the mind of Static's dark past and warped mind. This is blatant, as the first single, 'Assassins Of Youth', was inspired by Wayne Static's last days of drugs and partying.

"I wrote this song while living in a hotel room, listening to PINK FLOYD, drinking Crown and doing whippits," explains Static. "I started the song in that condition but never finished it until years later after dumping off the drugs. Now the song has a whole new meaning from when I started it."

"Assassins Of Youth" is an old-school term for drugs. The first verse is about doing drugs, the chorus is going dry and the second chorus is about getting off and no longer being slave to the drugs.

With Static's transformation, his mind has creatively twisted to a side that he has waited to unleash.

"The 'Pighammer' concept conjures up bizarre images," Static explains. "It's about a mad plastic surgeon, with a pig fetish, that likes to convert hot chicks into pigs. It is the total opposite if what a plastic surgeon would do. He has this crazy hammer device made from a pig foot. The images of the surgery in the CD package are only a dark comedic visualization of the real theme of the album, which is my transformation."

"Pighammer" is the bastard child of Wayne Static's transformation after a 12-year journey of metal annihilation.

"It's hard to believe that it's 12 years since the release of [STATIC-X's debut album] 'Wisconsin Death Trip', and now my warped musical lunacy will take me down a new path of metal destruction. I'm looking forward to seeing you all on the upcoming fall tour."

"Pighammer" track listing:

01. Pighammer
02. Around The Turn
03. Assassins Of Youth
04. Thunder Invader
05. Static Killer
06. She
07. Get It Together
08. Chrome Nation
09. Shifter
10. Slave
11. The Creatures Are Everywhere
12. Behind The Sky

Tuomas Saukkonen: «There are evenings when support from the fans is more valued than all the money in the world, when you feel privileged to have top professionals like Manu Holappa and Matti Impola in your team, when you get to share the stage with amazing musicians like Joonas Kauppinen, Pyry Hanski, Mikko Heikkilä, Saku Moilanen, Juuso Turkki (+ of course my wingman Juho Räihä) and when you get to bring life something you thought was dead and buried. Sunday 24.7. will remain as a special day! Before The Dawn is now officially been reborn. With new found motivation and energy BTD crew will now put 110% focus on the 7th album and will enter the studio in the end of september and escape from the depths of OneManArmy studios into a European tour with mighty Insomnium!!».