British black metal pioneers VENOM have set "Fallen Angels" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in August/September via Universal Music. The CD was mixed with producer Tom Belton at his London studio and will contain 13 new "classics." The band is also in the process of making a promotional video for one of the new songs, as well as finalizing live DVD footage.

Commented VENOM's latest addition, drummer Danny "Danté" Needham (TONY MARTIN): "Yeah, everything is on schedule and coming along great. We're really busy getting ready for the launch. It's amazing how positive everyone is about the new record, so we're really eager for the 'Legions' to finally hear it. We've had to put our live shows on hold for the time being while we fully concentrate on the new album release and video work, plus we've now started to schedule the interviews and photo shoots, etc., but the management are working on some live shows for later in the year, so we will be back on the road soon, and playing the new songs which are already part of the new live set list."

"Fallen Angels" will feature the following songs:

* Hammerhead
* Nemesis
* Pedal To The Metal
* Lap Of The Gods
* Damnation Of Souls
* Beggarman
* Hail Satanas
* Sin
* Punk's Not Dead
* Death Be Thy Name
* Lest We Forget
* Valley Of The Kings
* Fallen Angels

Regarding what fans can expect to hear from the next VENOM studio LP, bassist/vocalist Conrad "Cronos" Lant told The Quietus, "The new tracks are tremendous. Basically, if you think of the way [former VENOM drummer] Antton [Antony Lant, who is also Cronos' brother] was playing, especially on the last album 'Hell', he is a nu-metal drummer and comes from that kind of background. He's hung 'round VENOM most of his life and it was just good to introduce him to the whole VENOM concept of playing like the way [original VENOM drummer] Abaddon used to play. Basically Abaddon came from a rock background and then basically developed a black metal, speed metal, thrash metal style. The nu-metal drumming is very different and it was a steep learning curve for him. At the end of the day he's got his own style and he wants to be known for what he's done and not be in my shadow, which is totally understandable. Some of the guys we had coming to the rehearsals were not ex-CRADLE OF FILTH but they were still, 'I've been in this band, I've been in that band,' but they were all far too young, you know. We were looking for someone in their thirties upwards who understood rock music."

When asked how the new songs compare to those off "Hell", Cronos said, "I would say more like those off 'Metal Black'. More like our earlier stuff. 'Hell' was getting a bit too much like session tracks. Too . . . polished. And polish isn't a good word for VENOM songs. VENOM songs need to be off the cuff, loose, a little bit thrash. Once you start polishing songs up a bit much you end up going in the wrong direction. There's a spontaneity about VENOM songs that I've always loved. When we're coming up with new VENOM songs there's one thing that I always try and keep in mind: 'Is that kid in his bedroom on his knees playing air guitar and going 'Yeah! Get in!'' You know? I'm not interested in Joe Satriani sitting there and discussing whether it's technically correct or not! That's the last thing on my mind."

"The World Won't Hold Your Hand", the new video from British vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva — who has toured and/or recorded with CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS and ANGTORIA — can be viewed below. The track comes off Sarah Jezebel Deva's sophomore solo album, "The Corruption Of Mercy", which was released in Europe on June 27 via Listenable Records. The cover art for the CD was created by CRADLE OF FILTH artist Matt Lombard and will come in a slipcase due to its slightly "dark/close-to-the-mark" nature.

Commented Sarah: "We decided on the song 'The World Won't Hold Your Hand' and shot the video at Murder Mile Studios in London, which is owned by Adrian and Amber Erlandsson. The producer of the video is David Kenny, who did the last video, 'A Sign Of Sublime', but has also produced video's for TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED and THE DEAD LAY WAITING."

"Road To Khitai", the first-ever video from ARTISAN, a Norwegian project and media experiment led by Jens F. Ryland (BORKNAGAR, ICS VORTEX), can be seen below. The fan-made clip features footage from the online game "Age Of Conan" by Funcom.

Commented Ryland: "I play 'Age Of Conan' actively and this is my tribute to a brilliant game.

"Playing 'Age Of Conan' is in itself a good inspiration to create music, and that is why this whole band and this particular song has come to life."

The recording lineup for "Road To Khitai" was as follows:

* ICS Vortex (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, ICS VORTEX, BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS) – Bass, Vocals
* Mustis (ex-DIMMU BORGIR) - Keyboards
* Asgeir Mickelson (ex-BORKNAGAR, ex-TESTAMENT, SPIRAL ARCHITECT. SARKE, ICS VORTEX) - Drums, Guitar
* Jens F. Ryland (BORKNAGAR, ICS VORTEX) - Guitar, Video Production

Added Ryland: "As a band, we will continue to make music without being tied to a genre or put in a shelf. As a media project, Asgeir Mickelson and myself will continue to make posts about our lives as musicians on this blog along with creating new possibilities to implement our music."

ARTISAN is unsigned and has no plans to perform live.

Reunited Seattle grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN kicked off their first full-fledged tour in 14 years last night (Saturday, July 2) at the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

"Welcome to the first show of the first tour in 13, 14 years," said vocalist Chris Cornell before adding, "This is the best place to start. It sounds like bullshit, but it's not bullshit.”

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Black Rain
02. Searching With My Good Eye Closed
03. Spoonman
04. Gun
05. Rusty Cage
06. Blow Up the Outside World
07. Let Me Drown
08. Jesus Christ Pose
09. My Wave
10. The Day I Tried to Live
11. Outshined
12. Beyond the Wheel
13. Fell on Black Days
14. Ugly Truth
15. Burden in My Hand
16. Superunknown
17. Black Hole Sun
18. 4th of July

Encore:

19. Face Pollution
20. Like Suicide
21. Slaves & Bulldozers

Atlantic recording group STAIND has announced details of its hugely anticipated new album. "Staind" — which marks the iconic hard rock band's seventh studio album and first full-length release in three years — arrives in stores and at all digital retailers on September 13.

Produced by Johnny K – known for his work with 3 DOORS DOWN, DISTURBED, and SEVENDUST, not to mention his Grammy Award-nominated collaboration with STAIND, 2008's "The Illusion Of Progress" — and mixed by the legendary Chris Lord-Alge, "Staind" stands as STAIND's most intense and powerful work to date. The album is heralded by the new song, "Eyes Wide Open", which can be heard below. "Not Again", the first official single from "Staind", will then impact multi-format rock radio outlets nationwide in mid-July.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Aaron Lewis recent described "Staind" as "the heaviest thing we have recorded in a long time. It's definitely one of the heaviest collections of songs that we have put together."

"It's completely different than the last record," agrees guitarist Mike Mushok. "It's more of a throwback to where we came from. I definitely think it's fresh. It's a modern-sounding version of a heavy STAIND record. It's pretty cool."

"Staind" has already earned advance acclaim from ARTISTdirect, which hailed the album as a "timeless masterpiece," praising Lewis' vocals for "reach(ing) heights that only legends can touch."

In other news, STAIND will perform at KROQ's annual rock festival, Epicenter 2011, slated for September 24 at Irvine, California's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

"Staind" track listing:

01. Not Again
02. Eyes Wide Open
03. Failing
04. Wannabe
05. Throw It All Away
06. Now
07. The Bottom
08. Take a Breath
09. Paper Wings
10. Something To Remind You

STAIND recently parted ways with drummer Jon Wysocki after seventeen years of playing together. Drummer Will Hunt (EVANESCENCE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, TOMMY LEE) sat behind the kit for STAIND for several shows in May.

SEPULTURA's Andreas Kisser is filling in for ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian at 11 shows in July while Ian spends time with his family following the birth of his first child.

Kisser made his live debut with ANTHRAX yesterday (Saturday, July 2) at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany as part of a "Big Four" show with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below.

Prior to yesterday's concert, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante commented, "[We had a] great rehearsal with Andreas Kisser. He knows the songs better than we do."

Added Ian: "[I was] watching ANTHRAX rehearse in Germany via Skype while I [fed] my kid! Crazy!!! Sounds killer. Andreas is nailing it."

ANTHRAX's setlist was as follows:

01. Caught In A Mosh
02. Madhouse
03. Got The Time (JOE JACKSON cover)
04. Among The Living
05. Antisocial (TRUST cover)
06. Indians
07. Fight 'Em Till You Can't
08. Metal Thrashing Mad
09. Medusa
10. SEPULTURA riffs / I Am The Law

After a long period of intensive work in Greece and Sweden along with producer Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY) at Fredman studios, Athens, Greece-based death/thrash metal band DESCENDING has completed work the follow-up to its debut album, "Enter Annihilation", which was released in European and Japanese markets in 2008-2009. The new CD, "New Death Celebrity", will be made available on September 23 via Massacre Records. A single, "How Much This Life Weights?", is now available for free download at this location.

Commented the group: "Those two years were crucial for the musical and artistic course of the band. This time our vision was to deliver a massive album having as a gnomon the psychoacoustic result, even from the composing stage."

According to a press release, DESCENDING combines "both bombastic aggressive metal riffage and melodic hook lines in their songs. Their debut album 'Enter Annihilation' [shakes] the foundations of modern metal community! This modern metal masterpiece features astonishing belting vocals by Jon Simvonis giving a deadly touch with his wide range of vocal palette, from deep growls-to ecstatic emotional screams. Also blazing rhythm/lead guitar work by a new guitar hero Constantine (ex-NIGHTRAGE) who combines his fast and furious solo pyrotechnics along with his strong melodic phrasing giving to the album a unique flavour of his own shredcore fashion."

German metal queen Doro Pesch filled in for singer Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) for the first time during last night's (Friday, July 1) DIO DISCIPLES concert at Rockstar Live in Bilbao, Spain.

DIO DISCIPLES features former DIO members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) alongside bassist James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) and singers Owens and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN)

DIO DISCIPLES pays tribute to the legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy, who recently posted that "there will never be another Ronnie, but we want to keep his music alive and hope you will support the band and become one of the DIO DISCIPLES."

Fan-filmed video footage of the Bilbao performance can be seen below.
Owens is unable to make the Spanish shows as he is attending his daughter's wedding.

Remaining DIO DISCIPLES shows with Doro:

July 02 - Heineken - Madrid, Spain
July 03 - Bikini - Barcelona, Spain

Prior to the Bilbao concert, Pesch states about performing with DIO DISCIPLES, "I'm so excited to be a part of this tour. I listened day and night to Ronnie James Dio's amazingly wonderful songs and I will try me very best to do a good job with them. I feel so honored and blessed to be a part of this and to keep Dio's music and magic alive. He was truly the greatest rock and metal singer of all time. We love you, Ronnie. I will sing my heart out for you and the fans. "

In a recent interview with Rocksalt.mx, Pesch spoke about a new song she has written as a tribute to Ronnie James Dio. "I was always such a big [Dio] fan, like so many other people, [I] just adored him and loved him," she said. "But there's one song, we will be working on that and I think it will be wonderful. But I first want to show it to Wendy Dio [Ronnie's wife/manager] and let her listen to it, so that's one thing. I kind of want to make many versions of that song, I think it's beautiful and I like it a lot . . . It's called 'Hero' and it has a beautiful melody and I would like to make many versions of it, like an acoustic version and a full-blown band version and maybe an orchestral version… and we are just working on it. I definitely want to take care of that one — that song's nice. But first I want to let Wendy listen to it. I'm really hoping… but I'm sure she will like it a lot. Every time everybody is listening to it in the studio everybody is crying and so — wow — so touching."

EX DEO — the Ancient Roman-themed arsenal led by KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono — will enter JFD studios in Dallas, Texas and Montreal, Canada in the fall with producer Jean-François Dagenais (KATAKLYSM, MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX, DESPISED ICON) to begin recording its sophomore album, "Caligula", for an early 2012 release via Austria's Napalm Records. According to the band, the CD will feature "the most intense 'epic metal soundtrack' to come out in recent history."

Commented Iacono: "The album will once again have the honor of some elite guest appearances. The band promises an album that will shake the metal scene!"

The artwork and layout for "Caligula" will be handled by classic artist Seth (SEPTICFLESH). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "I, Caligula", "Burned to Serve the Nocturnal Light", "In War & Conquest/Roma Caput Mundi" and "Teutoburg (The Ambush of Varus) - Part 1".

EX DEO last year completed a North American tour with NILE, PSYCROPTIC and KEEP OF KALESSIN.

"The Final War (Battle Of Actium)", the latest video from EX DEO, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by renowned director Ivan Colic and producer Stanimir "Staca" Lukic (MOONSPELL, KAMELOT, DEATHSTARS, TYPE O NEGATIVE) in Belgrade, Serbia.

"Romulus", the debut album from EX DEO, landed at position No. 90 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.

Released in June 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Romulus" was recorded with producer (and KATAKLYSM guitarist) Jean-Francois Dagenais (MISERY INDEX, DESPISED ICON, MALEVOLENT CREATION).

Norwegian blackened punk metallers KVELERTAK were the support act for the FOO FIGHTERS in front of 22,000 people last Friday, June 24 at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway.

After the show, Indie Recordings and Dave Grohl surprised KVELERTAK by presenting them with the Norwegian gold record for sales in excess of 15,000 copies of the band's self-titled debut album.

Commented KVELERTAK vocalist Erlend: "When we met living legend Dave Grohl, we knew nothing. We were walking around with a huge package we thought we were going to give Dave Grohl. We thought it was the world's biggest chocolate. So when he suddenly told us to open the package, you can imagine our faces when it turned out to be a gold record! That's two things we never thought would happen right there!"

Swiss thrashers GURD have inked a booking and record deal with Rock The Nation and NoiseArt Records. The band's new album, "Never Fail", will be released on October 28.

Commented the band: "With our new record, 'Never Fail', we do have a true masterpiece ready for take-off and we are happy that it's in good hands and taken good care of. We're happy to have found a competent and enthusiastic partner for future crimes. Be prepared for a serious thrash attack!"

Added Rock The Nation and NoiseArt CEO Stefan Hattinger: "With GURD we did sign a true thrash metal legend and their new album, 'Never Fail', sounds very fresh and lively and offers only killer tracks, one after another. We're looking forward to be working with them."

The title track of the new GURD album, "Never Fail", is available for streaming on the band's Facebook page.

Former MANOWAR guitarist David "The Shred Demon" Shankle has joined HOUSE OF HOLLAND, the band led by vocalist Tommy Holland.

Tommy first landed the job as the frontman/lead singer of STEPPENWOLF, early in his early career, following the departure of John Kay. In 1984 in Chicago, after fronting STEPPENWOLF and THE BZZ, in which he played with future W.A.S.P. and L.A. GUNS drummer Steve Riley, Tommy formed the band HOLLAND. HOLLAND spawned the career of internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso Michal Angelo Batio. In 1985 HOLLAND signed with Atlantic Records and released "Little Monsters" with hits such as "Wake Up The Neighborhood" and "Gotta Run".

Drummer Bobby Fields grew up playing bass guitar with scattered bands around the Madison, Wisconsin scene. Discouraged by years of various projects that lacked any real chemistry, he took a 10-year "break" from the live music scene. While on hiatus, Bobby grew an affinity for tinkering around on the drums, an interest which soon grew into a passion and desire to get back into live performing. Driven by a new hunger, a new attitude, and a new role, Bobby came to Chicago to play drums with one of Chicago's most legendary frontmen, Tommy Holland.

You might say bassist Drew Lawrence was born to play music. His father taught at Eastman school of music in New York so he was exposed to it at a very early age. In his own words, "I just thought that's what you did when you grew up." The apple didn't fall far from the tree and by age 11 he was playing and singing his own compositions on the "Easter Seals" telethon and at 18 was playing the Chicago circuit with Joe Rayfield. Over the years he has played and recorded with many outstanding musicians, some of the most notable being Buddy Miles (JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE), Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD) and Gary Putnam (DREAD ZEPPELIN).

Guitar virtuoso and master instructor Shankle is one of the most respected and talented composer guitarists shredding up the metal scene today. He is well known for playing seven-string over-the-neck scales, arpeggios and string skipping, along with being a master of many other guitar techniques. David was a member of MANOWAR from 1988 to 1994, playing on the epic album "The Triumph Of Steel" and co-writing "Master Of The Wind", "The Burning", "Ride the Dragon" and "Demon's Whip". David left in 1994, after countless sold-out tours all over the world, and attended Roosevelt Music University in Chicago to improve his jazz and classical guitar skills. David's signature over the neck style guitar playing can be seen on many videos, including "Ashes To Ashes" and the 2005 MANOWAR "Earthshaker Fest" DVD. Now having refined and nearly perfected his craft, David brings decades of experience and hard work to the table with HOUSE OF HOLLAND.

SUBSIGNAL, the new German band featuring former SIEGES EVEN members Arno Menses (vocals) and Markus Steffen (guitar), will release its second album, "Touchstones", on September 30 via ZYX Music. It will be issued in the following formats:

* Compact disc
* Digital download
* Double vinyl

The vinyl version comes with two bonus live tracks, "Where Angels Fear To Tread" and "Paradigm".

"Touchstones" track listing:

01. Feeding Utopia
02. My Sanctuary
03. Echoes In Eternity
04. The Size Of Light On Earth
05. As Dreams Are Made On
06. Wingless
07. Finisterre
08. The Essence Called Mind
09. The Lifespan Of A Glimpse
10. Embers - Part 1: Your Secret Is Safe With Me
11. Touchstones
12. Con Todas Las Palabras

The "Big Four" bands of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX — kicked off their European tour earlier tonight (Saturday, July 2) at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

The highly anticipated onstage performance of the "Big Four" bands at the same time happened near the end of METALLICA's set, between "Enter Sandman" and "Battery". Members of ANTHRAX and MEGADETH joined METALLICA on stage for a cover of DIAMOND HEAD's "Helpless" (with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine cranking out the guitar solo) before METALLICA ended the night with "Creeping Death".

SLAYER couldn't join tonight's jam due to their travel arrangements to get to tomorrow's concert. Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) is filling in for ANTHRAX's Scott Ian on the tour and took part in the jam.

The first fan-filmed video footage of the "Helpless" performance can be seen below.

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Hit the Lights
02. Master of Puppets
03. The Shortest Straw
04. Seek & Destroy
05. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
06. The Memory Remains
07. All Nightmare Long
08. Sad But True
09. Wherever I May Roam
10. The Call of Ktulu
11. One
12. For Whom the Bell Tolls
13. Blackened
14. Fade to Black
15. Enter Sandman

Encore:

16. Helpless (w/ MEGADETH, ANTHRAX)
17. Battery
18. Creeping Death

A track from WOLFPAKK — the new melodic metal project led by former CRYSTAL BALL vocalist Mark Sweeney and Michael Voss (MAD MAX, CASANOVA) — will be premiered on "The Metal Madman Radio Show" on Wednesday, July 6 between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. EST. You can listen to the program via the Internet at www.themetalmadman.com.

With the help of 30 world-class guest musicians, Voss and Sweeney (who composed all the songs) have created a very special album.

These are the involved guest musicians:

Vocals:

* Paul Di'Anno (ex-IRON MAIDEN)
* Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH)
* Jeff Scott Soto (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TALISMAN)
* Rob Rock (IMPELITTERI)
* Mark Boals (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN)
* Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH)
* Paul Shortino (ex-QUIET RIOT)
* Mark Fox (ex-SHAKRA)
* Michaela Schober (TANZ DER VAMPIRE)
* Jean-Marc Viller (CALLAWAY)
* Pearl
* Molly Duncan

Bass:

* Tony Franklin (ex-BLUE MURDER, ROBERT PLANT)
* Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER, VOODOO CIRCLE)
* Matthias Rethmann (ex-LEEZ, SILVER)
* Nils Middelhauve (XANDRIA)
* Neil Murray (WHITESNAKE)
* Barend Courbois (VENGEANCE)

Guitar:

* Igor Gionola (U.D.O.)
* Andy Midgeley (POWER QUEST)
* Ira Black (ex-VICIOUS RUMORS, LIZZY BORDEN)
* Torsten Koehne (EDEN'S CURSE)
* Doc Heyne (BISS)
* Tommy Denander (DAN REED, PAUL STANLEY)
* Nadja Kossinskaja (PETER MAFFAY)
* Freddy Scherer (GOTTHARD)
* Olaf Lenk (AT VANCE)
* George Solonos (TOMMY LEE)

Keyboards:

* Alessandro Delvecchio (GLENN HUGHES, IAN PAICE)
* Ferdy Doernberg (AXEL RUDI PELL, ROUGH SILK)

Drums:

* Gereon Homann (EAT THE GUN)

"Wolfpakk" will be released on August 26 via AFM Records.