SLIPKNOT played its first headlining show since the death of bassist Paul Gray last night (Tuesday, June 21) at Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany. As was the case with the band's appearances at the Sonisphere festivals in Greece and Turkey over the weekend, Gray's red jumpsuit, mask and bass guitar stood at the back of the stage while his bandmates performed. The rest of the group's members donned red jumpsuits and older versions of their trademark masks from SLIPKNOT's earlier days, in tribute to their fallen bandmate.

The band's setlist for last night's concert was as follows:

01. 742617000027
02. (sic)
03. Eyeless
04. Wait and Bleed
05. The Blister Exists
06. Liberate
07. Before I Forget
08. Pulse Of The Maggots
09. Purity
10. Left Behind
11. Disasterpiece
12. Psychosocial
13. The Heretic Anthem
14. Duality
15. Only One
16. Spit It Out

Encore:

17. (515)
18. People = Shit
19. Surfacing

SPV/Steamhammer has set a September 27 release date (one day earlier internationally) for "The Ballads IV", the new compilation from German guitarist AXEL RUDI PELL. In addition to all of the group's ballads since the release of "The Ballads III" (which came out in 2004), the disc includes three newly recorded songs.

"The Ballads IV" will be released as standard version, double gatefold LP in colored vinyl and as a digital download.

"The Ballads IV" track listing:

01. Where The Wild Waters Flow (5:34) (new recording)
02. Holy Diver (4:49) (new recording)
03. Hallelujah (4:16) (new recording)
04. Northern Lights (6:22)
05. Noblesse Oblige (Opus #5 Adagio Contabile) (4:08)
06. Love Gun (4:03)
07. Glory Night (5:44)
08. In The Air Tonight (8:37)
09. Touching My Soul (6:32)
10. Like A Child Again (4:47)
11. No Chance To Live (6:17)
12. Haunted Castle Serenade (Opus #4 Grazioso E Agresso) (3:51)
13. The Curse Of The Damned (9:57)

"Where The Wild Waters Flow", "Holy Diver" and "Hallelujah" were recorded, mixed and co-produced by Charlie Bauerfeind at Twilight Hall Studios in Grefrath, Germany, in May 2011. The CD was mastered by Ulf Horbelt at DMS Mastering Studios in Marl, Germany. The cover illustration was created by Martin McKenna and can be seen below.

Pell's commentary on the three new recordings:

"Where The Wild Waters Flow": "My own composition in the true AXEL RUDI PELL ballad style. This song is not about love, it has a more mysterious content and it captures the long and hopeless journey of human beings trying to get away from some dark mights. One can apply this to many different thoughts and situations nowadays. I definitely think that this song is one of the strongest ballads I've ever written with a hookline that will stick to everyone's ears!"

"Holy Diver": "As everybody knows, my soulmate and friend Ronnie James Dio sadly passed away last year. It was very clear to me using one of his songs to pay him tribute. It had to be a song, which was very easy recognizable as one of his tunes and therefore I picked 'Holy Diver'. Of course, the original track isn't a ballad, so I decided to re-arrange the song completely and we made a piano version out of it, featuring some orchestra — strings, a cello and a clean and melodic guitar solo. Johnny [Gioeli] gave his very best vocal performance and after the track was finished, there were lots of tears in some eyes…"

"Hallelujah": "At least one of the best ballads around. Originally written and released by Leonard Cohen in 1984, it wasn't his version giving me the idea to cover this tune. Actually it was all the good and bad performances of some TV casting show participants, who gave me the real kick to create one of the, hopefully, ultimate versions of this song. We recorded a children's choir for this, which fits perfectly to Johnny's emotional and soulful voice. There are two different versions of this track: the CD album version which features a slightly wilder guitar solo and the 'single' (and downloadable) version which features a calmer guitar solo."

British thrashers EVILE will release their third album, "Five Serpents' Teeth", on September 26 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded at Parlour Studios in Kettering, U.K., with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR), who also worked on the band's previous CD, 2009's "Infected Nations".

"Five Serpents' Teeth" track listing:

01. Five Serpents' Teeth
02. In Dreams of Terror
03. Cult
04. Eternal Empire
05. Xaraya
06. Origin of Oblivion
07. Centurion
08. In Memoriam
09. Descent Into Madness
10. Long Live New Flesh

SÓLSTAFIR has become the first Icelandic band to sign to the French label Season Of Mist. The group's new album is tentatively due in the fall.

Commented SÓLSTAFIR frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason: "On behalf of SÓLSTAFIR, I can honestly say that we are delighted to have signed to Season Of Mist, and we have full faith in that they will work with us in taking the band to a new level.

"Our new album will for sure make some jaw drop and surprise many, and we feel that we have found the right home to spread the light of SÓLSTAFIR all over the planet for years to come!"

Formed in 1994, SÓLSTAFIR has released material on several labels, gaining momentum and expanding its fan base each time. The band's last full-length CD, "Köld", came out in 2009 via Spikefarm Records.

California rockers TESLA will release "Twisted Wires And The Acoustic Sessions" on July 12. The album will feature six songs that were recorded back in 2005 at bassist Brian Wheat's J Street Recorders studio — which also serve as the last recordings with original member Tommy Skeoch — and six newly recorded tracks, including acoustic remakes of songs from TESLA's entire catalog and two brand new songs, "Second Street" and "Better Off Without You".

TESLA released a live album, "Alive In Europe!", in Europe on April 23, 2010 via Frontiers Records.

TESLA's latest studio album, "Forever More", sold more than 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 33 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on October 7, 2008 on Tesla Electric Company Recordings. The European version of the album, which was made available on November 7 via Frontiers Records, contains two bonus tracks not found on the American version.

For "Forever More", TESLA reunited with producer Terry Thomas, who was behind the boards for the band's 1994 gold-certified "Bust A Nut" album, and engineered by Michael Rosen who worked with TESLA on "Into The Now".

Dayton, Ohio Christian metalcore band THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA has inked a deal with Roadrunner Records for all territories outside North America. The group's as-yet-untitled new album will be released in the U.S. on September 13 (one day earlier internationally) via Ferret Music. The follow-up to 2009's critically acclaimed "With Roots Above and Branches Below" was recorded at Zing Studios in Massachusetts with producer Adam Dutkiewicz (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TIMES OF GRACE). Additional synth/key production was handled by Joey Sturgis (who has worked on all of the THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA records so far) with further assistance on the vocal production by Jeremy McKinnon (A DAY TO REMEMBER).

Canada's DANKO JONES has parted ways with drummer Dan Cornelius and has replaced him with Atom Willard.

With a history in bands like ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT, THE OFFSPRING and SOCIAL DISTORTION and being a current member of ANGELS & AIRWAVES, the experience and talent Atom is bringing to the band will be the beginning of a very exciting new chapter.

"Both JC and I have been fans of Atom Willard for years," Danko said. "We own the records he's on and hell, we even wrote a song about his old band ["RIP RFTC" about ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT]. Yes, we're ecstatic he's coming out with us."

"When I saw Atom Willard in the crowd 6 years ago at The Troubadour in Los Angeles watching us, I was dumbstruck," Danko added. "I almost stopped the show just so I could get my copy of 'The State of Art Is on Fire' 10-inch signed. Now that he'll be playing with us, that'll be the first order of business."

Atom's first show with the band will be in Gothenburg on June 15, followed by about a dozen European festivals lined up throughout the summer. More North American dates will be announced shortly.

"I have been a fan of this band and these songs for a long ass time, so when they asked if I could do it, and I could, I was stoked!" Atom said. "I love rock and roll!"

DANKO JONES will re-release its latest full-length album, "Below The Belt", on June 21 as a deluxe reissue featuring two new bonus tracks titled "Guest List Blues" and "Rock N Roll Proletariat". The reissue will also include the recently completed "Below the Belt" music video trilogy, starring Elijah Wood, Selma Blair, Ralph Macchio, Jena Malone, Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD), Mike Watt (MINUTEMEN, THE STOOGES) and many more. Billboard.com hailed the final installment of the trilogy for "I Think Bad Thoughts", as being "filled with badassery on so many levels" and called it "the ultimate action-film music video."

"Predictable Tragedy", the new video from Costa Rica-based melodic extreme metal band SIGHT OF EMPTINESS, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed on February 5, 2011 during SIGHT OF EMPTINESS' appearance at "Festival Rock En El Farolito", which was held at Parque Morazán in downtown San José, Costa Rica's capital.

Commented SIGHT OF EMPTINESS singer Eduardo Chacón: "Imagine 3000 crazy metalheads gathered in one of the nicest parks in downtown San José, a beautiful temple right in the middle of the park called 'Templo de la Música' = 'Music's Temple'. Can't go wrong, right?

"Well, let me guide you through the process: Few weeks prior to the concert, we asked all our fans to filmed the show with their cellphones, cameras (regular or pro), etc., in order to use some of their footage for our new video. After a few weeks, we received lots of great footage, our loyal fans, that we actually baptized as 'La Familia S.o.E.' did a spectacular job, they really captured the vibe and energy of our live performance and that's what really makes this video so special; since you can actually see the band through their eyes and emotions. We can't be more thankful to them. Our good friend and staff member, Andrés Montero from B2crea, put all the pieces together and took the video to the next level, he really deserves your attention, this is our best video so far, no doubt about it. Shows the band doing what they do best and in front of the most loyal fans around."

Legendary guitarist Leslie West is recovering in a Biloxi hospital after having part of his leg amputated.

West had flown in to Mississippi to perform at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with his band MOUNTAIN. On Saturday, his leg began to swell, and as a diabetic he was rushed to the emergency room. It was decided that an amputation was required in order to save his life. Surgery was a success and the procedure removed his limb up to the knee.

West is expected to fully recover and faces extensive rehabilitation.

The guitarist's family has requested that the public and media respect his privacy while he comes to terms with this life-changing transition.

West is a guitar god. From the Sixties through today, he has been revered by artists and fans alike. He has been in command of one of the biggest, boldest electric guitar tones known to humankind, from the 1969 Woodstock Festival that placed his band MOUNTAIN in to historical lore through his upcoming release, "The Unusual Suspects".

At age 65, West continues to remain current, as witnessed by the assemblage of legends joining him on his next album, which includes Billy Gibbons, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Joe Bonamassa and Steve Lukather, alongside Kenny Aronoff. As West noted, "These guys don't show up to play on everybody's albums. They're stars in their own right and fantastic players — everyone with their own sound and style, and about as far from 'the usual suspects' as it gets."

The release date for "The Unusual Suspects", and further information on West's recovery will follow in due time.

Professionally filmed video footage of SODOM's entire June 18, 2011 performance at Hellfest in Clisson, France can be viewed below (courtesy of Arte [Association Relative à la Télévision Européenne], a Franco-German TV network).

SODOM recently announced the addition of drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald to the group's ranks.

Freiwald previously played for the German bands DESPAIR and FLAMING ANGER and was involved with the VOODOOCULT project. In addition, he played percussion as a session musician on the MOONSPELL album "Irreligious" and is featured on the 1996 LP "Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers" by Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST.

A photo of SODOM's new lineup can be found below.

SODOM in November parted ways with drummer Bobby Schottkowski due to "personal and private problems between Tom [bassist/vocalist Thomas 'Angelripper' Such] and Bobby," according to a statement released by the band.

SODOM's new album, "In War And Pieces", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64. The CD was released in North America on January 11, 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer.

"Vid Rosornas Grav", the new video from Swedish metallers FALCONER, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's seventh album, "Armod", which was released in Europe on June 3 via Metal Blade Records. The CD features 11 songs completely sung in Swedish and four bonus tracks that are said to be English versions of the bandmembers' favorite new songs.

Commented FALCONER guitarist Stefan Weinerhall: "Let's see how the fans react to an album entirely in the worldwide spread language Swedish.

"For us it feels good to finally have focused on our native heritage in music, although it could have been even more focused, but, of course, we have to have the familiar FALCONER stuff stuffed in here and there.

"To promote this album in the true FALCONER style, we will take a year off to do other things.”

"Armod" was once again recorded at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden during December and January. FALCONER stated, "The recording and mixing process went smoother than ever before.

"The album is embracing the Swedish folk music to a greater extent than before making it sound slightly more down to earth.

"The music spans from acoustic songs with cello, flute and fiddle to songs with blast beats and really heavy riffing.

"As said before this is a 'one-time-only' album and does not define the future sound of FALCONER, but it was about time to pay full notice to the infuence that has always made us different. Now we have that out of our system!"

FATES WARNING/OSI guitarist Jim Matheos and former FATES WARNING singer John Arch are currently working together on a new full-length album, "Sympathetic Resonance", that will be released in North America on September 13 via Metal Blade Records. The band, called ARCH/MATHEOS, began tracking the drums on January 12 and continued to record through mid-February with both John Arch and Jim Matheos producing the album.

ARCH/MATHEOS features an all-star lineup, including the talents of Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX, FATES WARNING, SEVEN WITCHES) on bass, Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, FATES WARNING, SEBASTIAN BACH, RIOT) on drums, and Frank Aresti (FATES WARNING) on additional lead guitar.

Comments Matheos: "I think John and I work really well together. There's a lot of mutual respect and trust in what we do. But we're also both very critical of ourselves, and each other. This can make for a long and sometimes tedious process. But ultimately it's one I enjoy because I think it brings out the best in both of us."

Adds Arch: "When I first heard some of the arrangements Jim had written and recorded, it took quite some time before I could wrap my mind around the odd time signatures and guitar work going on here. There are some long compositions, so putting anxiety and apprehension on the back burner it was time to dissect these numbers into digestible bits. After the lengthy process of lyrics and melodies, listening to the songs now, I can't imagine them any other way."

In terms of the lyrical content on "Sympathetic Resonance", John Arch notes that "the lyrics this time around are more in line with [Arch's 2003 solo EP] 'A Twist Of Fate' and not of the mystical nature of some past albums."

ARCH/MATHEOS recording lineup:

* John Arch (FATES WARNING) - Vocals
* Jim Matheos (FATES WARNING, OSI) - Guitar
* Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX, FATES WARNING, SEVEN WITCHES) - Bass
* Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, FATES WARNING, SEBASTIAN BACH, RIOT) - Drums
* Frank Aresti (FATES WARNING) - Additional Lead Guitar

EVANESCENCE is currently recording its third album at a Nashville studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz (RUSH, FOO FIGHTERS, VELVET REVOLVER, DEATH ANGEL, TRIVIUM) for a tentative October 4 release via Wind-up Records.

"The process has been much more of a collaboration between the whole band," singer Amy Lee tells Billboard.com. "Usually it's me and one main co-writer...This time everybody had something to do with it from the ground up." Consequently, the music has "a lot more about a live feeling about the band. The way everyone is playing strong, it's like we've been playing the songs on tour for a year."

Lee began recording an album last year with producer Steve Lillywhite (DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, U2) that leaned heavily in the direction of electronic and dance music, but her label reportedly rejected that project and made her start from scratch on a more traditional EVANESCENCE offering.

"I've come to realize now I was making like a solo record, and if it was going to be an EVANESCENCE record, we needed to come together and make it like a band," Lee tells Billboard.com. "That was a hard time for me. I thought I knew what I wanted and it sort of didn't happen like I wanted it to...But I have to say I feel so strong about what we're doing now...We still have some of the same songs from those sessions but we've made them about the band."