ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET — the Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand — has issued the following update:

"There has been some major changes in the band. [We] will not go into any details right now but yes, Mattias [Bolander, guitar] is no longer in the band. He was very dedicated to music, but his vision kind of crashed with how we wanted to proceed with the ARMY. There is no need in going into more details.

"Our new band member is called Pierre Lysell. An awesome guy in every way. But we are kinda taking it day by day with him to see if both he and us can be together for the long run.

"As you all know, we have had pretty bad luck when it comes to guitar players in the past. But so far it has been totally great so in a few weeks we can hopefully give you more info on the matter."

Commented Lindstrand: "We really are close to perfection now. It just feels great to get back in our death metal shape again after being away for some while now."

Polish technical death metal band DECAPITATED will release their fifth studio album, "Carnival Is Forever", in North America on July 12 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD's cover art was created by Lukasz Jaszak and can be seen below.

"Carnival Is Forever" track listing:

01. The Knife
02. United
03. Carnival Is Forever
04. Homo Sum
05. 404
06. A View From A Hole
07. Pest
08. Silence

NECRONAUT, the solo project of former DISMEMBER/CARNAGE drummer Fred Estby, performed at this year's edition of the Sweden Rock Festival, which was held June 8-11, 2011 in Sölvesborg in southern Sweden.

NECRONAUT is no ordinary project. When the celebrated, eponymous debut album was released last fall, Swedish daily paper Expressen wrote, "If Dave Grohl had dared getting his hands dirty, PROBOT could have turned out as well as former DISMEMBER drummer Fred Estby's solo project".

Death metal veteran Fred Estby gathered some of Sweden's hardest, most uncompromising musicians for a unique appearance at Sweden Rock Festival. According to the band leader, this may very well turn out to be NECRONAUT's only public concert ever.

Musicians that took part in the Sweden Rock Festival show:

* L.G. Petrov (ENTOMBED)
* Fred Estby (ex-DISMEMBER)
* Nicke Andersson (IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC, ex-HELLACOPTERS, ex-ENTOMBED)
* Tomas "Tompa" Lindberg (AT THE GATES)
* Erik Danielsson (WATAIN)
* Tyrant (NIFELHEIM)
* Hellbutcher (NIFELHEIM)
* Janne "JB" Christoffersson (GRAND MAGUS)
* Andreas "Drette" Axelsson (TORMENTED, ex-EDGE OF SANITY)
* David Blomqvist (DISMEMBER)
* Tobias Christiansson (DISMEMBER, GRAVE)
* Robert Pehrsson (DUNDERTÅGET, DEATH BREATH)

"Under The Sign Of Hell 2011", the re-recording of GORGOROTH's third album, will be released by Regain Records has had it release date pushed back to August 29 from the previously announced June 20 due to "manufacturing problems." On the LP, Pest and Infernus repeat their roles as vocalist and guitarist/bassist, respectively, from the original 1996 recording, while Tomas Asklund handles the drums.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Revelation of Doom
02. Krig
03. Funeral Procession
04. Profetens åpenbaring
05. Ødeleggelse og undergang
06. Blood Stains the Circle
07. The Rite of Infernal Invocation
08. The Devil Is Calling

GORGOROTH is continuing work on its new album of original material and is planning to enter the studio later this year.

Swedish epic power metallers SABATON will release their first-ever live album, "World War Live: Battle Of The Baltic Sea" on August 5 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented bassist Pär Sundström: "Over the years so many people have told us we should make a live album and finally we fell to the demands of all of you, our fans.

"'The World War Tour' was amazing and we wanted to record it and keep the shows alive forever. So, during the magic night aboard the SABATON Cruise 2010 we recorded the whole show and now we stand ready to release it as the first-ever official SABATON live CD. And as if it was not enough, we also recorded many shows all around Europe and put together a whole CD with mixed songs from various cities. And finally we decided to release the recording we did at the first Rockstad:Falun festival 2008 from Falun as a bonus for you who buy the limited edition. In total it will be over 20 different songs and we have also collected a lot of pictures from the tour and put them in a massive booklet."

CD1:

Battle Of The Baltic Sea (Live At SABATON cruise, December 2010):

01. The March To War (intro)
02. Ghost Division
03. Uprising
04. Aces In Exile
05. Cliffs Of Gallipoli
06. White Death
07. Swedish Pagans
08. Wolfpack
09. 40:1
10. The Art Of War
11. Attero Dominatus
12. The Price Of A Mile
13. Primo Victoria
14. Metal Medley
15. Dead Soliders Waltz (outro)

CD2 (bonus CD):

World War Tour Live (Recorded during World War Tour 2010):

01. Screaming Eagles
02. Coat Of Arms
03. Into The Fire
04. Talvisota
05. Final Solution
06. Back In Control
07. Panzerkampf
08. 7734
09. Hellrider
10. Panzer Battalion
11. Rise Of Evil
12. 40:1

DVD (bonus DVD):

* Live 2008 at Rockstad:Falun
* "Coat Of Arms" (video clip)
* "Uprising" (video clip)
* "Screaming Eagles" (video clip)

German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN have assembled a retrospective of their most significant songs, to be released in the fall in conjunction with the band's new European headlining tour. Entitled "Made In Germany 1995 - 2011", the set will include 20 of RAMMSTEIN's best tracks, one new song, as well as the entire video catalogue for the first time on CD/DVD.

RAMMSTEIN's European headlining tour will kick off November 6 and will feature a completely new show.

"Made In Germany 1995 - 2011" tour dates:

Nov. 06 - SK - Bratislava Zimny Stadion Ondreja Nepelu
Nov. 10 - HU - Budapest Sportarena
Nov. 12 - CZ - Prague O2 Arena
Nov. 14 - PL - Gdanks/Sopot Ergo Arena
Nov. 17 - D - Leipzig Arena
Nov. 20 - D - Munich Olympiahalle
Nov. 21 - D - Friedrichshafen Rothaus Halle
Nov. 23 - A - Vienna Stadthalle
Nov. 25 - D - Berlin O2 World
Nov. 28 - D - Hamburg O2 World
Nov. 29 - D - Bremen Arena
Dec. 01 - F - Strasbourg Zénith
Dec. 02 - LUX - Luxembourg Rockhal
Dec. 04 - D - Düsseldorf ISS Dome
Dec. 08 - D - Frankfurt a. M. Festhalle
Dec. 10 - D - Stuttgart Schleyer-Halle
Dec. 12 - CH - Zurich Hallenstadion

David Fricke of RollingStone.com spoke to METALLICA and legendary rocker Lou Reed about their new collaborative studio album. The as-yet-untitled CD features 10 songs composed by Reed with significant arrangement contributions by METALLICA and is described by Fricke as "a raging union of [Reed's] 1973 noir classic, 'Berlin', and METALLICA's '86 crusher, 'Master Of Puppets'."

On their unlikely collaboration:

Reed: "A marriage made in heaven. I knew it from the first day we played together: 'Oh, man, this is perfection, right in front of me.' "?

Lars Ulrich (METALLICA drummer): "I don't think we've ever felt this free. There's nothing that's totally outside of the boundary for us, nothing that feels like 'Oh, what happens if we go there?' The strength of us" – he gestures at Reed – "is it feels like we cannot land on a wrong place."?

Reed: "They're bringing METALLICA, with all that power. And because they're pretty sophisticated, wherever I go, they're still with me."?

James Hetfield (METALLICA guitarist/vocalist): "Lars and I listened to [Reed's demos] and it was like, 'Wow, this is very different.' It was scary at first, because the music was so open. But then I thought, 'This could go anywhere.'"

Kirk Hammett (METALLICA guitarist): "It doesn't feel like we're his backup band. It feels like we're a different band, in a situation we've never been in before."

Robert Trujillo (METALLICA bassist): "It's making us a better band."?

On their first performance in October 2009 at the 25th-anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame concerts in New York:

Reed: "We knew from then that we were made for each other."

On how and when the album will be released (Reed does not have a record deal, and METALLICA is no longer on Warner Bros.):

Lars Ulrich: "We are free to go wherever. I'm obviously psyched for people to hear this, in whatever way we feel is right."?

James Hetfield: "I told Lou I want to be there when people hear it. I want to see their faces."

Songtitles set to appear on the CD include the seven-minute "Pumping Blood", which — according to Fricke — "opens with a drone that breaks into a crunching march, goes into speed-metal gear and breaks into free-fall sections," and "Mistress Dread", which "features Reed singing across a relentless staccato riff played at manic velocity."

Finnish melodic death metallers OMNIUM GATHERUM have announced the addition of guitarist Joonas "Jope" Koto (MALPRACTICE, ex-TO/DIE/FOR, ex-HATEFRAME) to the group's ranks.

Commented the band: "OMNIUM GATHERUM is a twin-guitar squad again and what's even better is that now we have Jackson guitar tour de force on both sides of the stage!

"[Joonas] has been playing already a big bunch of gigs with OMNIUM GATHERUM as session live member as the previous guitarist Harri Pikka left the band over a year ago, and Jope was even filling up Harri in some gigs even before we separated ways.

"Jope has been [OMNIUM GATHERUM guitarist] Markus' [Vanhala] partner in crime in a progressive metal band MALPRACTICE for many years by now, so he was the first, the most natural and the only candidate for the job for us and gladly we got him on board! He has been playing and recording previously in TO/DIE/FOR and HATEFRAME too, so he is a hardcore professional dude."

Added Joonas in a statement: "After two years as a session guitarist, the guys finally asked me to join OMNIUM GATHERUM and I didn't hesitate one second! From the get-go I have felt like part of a family. The guys are very great as persons and professional as musicians. I'm very happy and proud to be a part of such a great band of brothers."

OMNIUM GATHERUM officially announced Joonas' addition to the band during their performance at last week's Sauna Open Air festival in Tampere, Finland.

JUDAS PRIEST members Glenn Tipton (guitar), Richie Faulkner (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums) joined the Norwegian JUDAS PRIEST tribute band PAINKILLER on stage on June 14, 2011 at Hard Rock Café in Oslo, Norway to perform the PRIEST classic song "Metal Gods". Video footage of their appearance — which took place after PRIEST played a headlining show at the Spektrum in Oslo earlier that same night — can be viewed below.

Writing on his Twitter account the next day, Faulkner said, "Great show in Oslo last night. Me, Scott and Glenn played a few songs with a PRIEST cover band in the Hard Rock too!! Was a blast!!!"

HALFORD guitarist "Metal" Mike Chlasciak is putting the finishing touches on his new solo album, "The Metalworker". He says, "DAATH's Kevin Talley executed drum duties a few months back and he just killed it. . . Carlos Zema has also completed his vocal tracks and I was giddy like a little school girl when we were tracking his takes. He has such an amazing instrument. He's a fantastic writer, very melodic, but just as insane of a heavy metal vocalist.

"I am back to clean, but still aggressive vocals on my album. It is awesome.

"I am completing my guitars as we speak, and next up we will have a bass demon we all love. I hope he won't forget to bring his frets this time around.

"Parts of the album will have vocals and parts of the album will remain instrumental.

"Some of the song titles include 'On Leather Wings', 'Don't Shoot The Crown' and 'Hell No'.

"I like to show respect to the classic era of metal, an era which I love and where I got my influences from, but at the same time we are here, not yesterday, but today. And, this record is a perfect reflection of that."

Mike has released five solo-based albums with bands PAINMUSEUM and ISOLATION CHAMBER. He recently released "This River Shall Burn", an e-book containing dark and introspective collection of lyrics. He previously wrote two metal guitar instructional books, "Ridiculous Riffs For The Terrifying Guitarist" and "Monster Coordination - Guitar Boot Camp". He currently writes the "Metal For Life" guitar column for Guitar World magazine.

Richmond, Virginia thrashers MUNICIPAL WASTE have inked a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented MUNICIPAL WASTE frontman Tony Foresta: "It took a real long time to decide what we were going to do for our next record. We wanted to work with a label that were not only fans of the band and our music, but were willing to get behind any ridiculous idea that we could think of. Once we realized this, Nuclear Blast was the obvious choice.

"The Blast has been friends with the band long before doing a record was even a possibility.

"I feel like we're starting off with a clean slate and decade of experience to start back up on the right track.

"Expect some great things in the near future from the WASTE. This is only the beginning!"

Added MUNICIPAL WASTE drummer Dave Witte: "Nuclear Blast has shown their love for the WASTE for years. And when it came time for a new deal, it was a no-brainer in my eyes. Nuclear Blast all the way.

"We are thrilled to be included among a roster of great bands and hard-working people that love them. I can't wait to get into that studio!"

Gerardo Martínez, longtime MUNICIPAL WASTE fan and label manager of Nuclear Blast USA, commented on the newest members of the Nuclear Blast "family": "We've known the WASTE guys for some time and when the moment was right to bring them on board, we did not hesitate one second. They are the best and most relevant band at what they do, and a pleasure to be around… not to mention they are some of the funniest and down-to-earth people we've met. The excitement level for a new MUNICIPAL WASTE record is at its highest and we are ready to deliver this to the masses!"

The WASTE will be entering the studio this summer to record its fifth full-length album for a 2012 release.

Liechtenstein-based gothic metallers ELIS have announced the addition of singer Simone Christinat (LEGENDA AUREA, FELONY) from Schaffhausen, Switzerland to the group's ranks.

Commented Simone: "I am really happy to be announced as the new singer of ELIS. I feel honored to be a part of this great band and I'm looking forward to a lot of good moments with ELIS. It feels like the beginning of a new chapter in my life and I am excited to get many new experiences as the new ELIS singer. The first show will be in July. Until then there have a couple of rehearsals to be done. Of course it would be great to meet you ELIS fans soon at one of our upcoming shows."

ELIS recently parted ways with singer Sandra Schleret. The band explained in a statement, "We knew that it wouldn't be easy to go on with ELIS after [former ELIS singer] Sabine's [Dünser] death [Sabine suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on July 7, 2006 during rehearsal and passed away the following day in hospital. — Ed.] and therefore we needed a strong personality as our new singer. We found this person in Sandra and it felt like we have sought and found each other. We played great concerts and tours and we created a brilliant record, 'Catharsis', in which we've put a lot of heart blood and personal feelings. But as time [went] by, Sandra's and our interests moved in different directions and it became more and more difficult to find a common denominator. So we weren't very surprised as Sandra told us that she [was considering] leaving the band. We talked for a long time and came to the conclusion that it would be the best for all to part ways.

"Yet again we had to decide if we should go on with ELIS and how it should look like. We agreed to give it one more try, but with a fresh start. We felt that a cut has to be done, to leave the past behind and move forward into the future.

"We found a great new singer and are writing new songs right now.

"Our goal is to enter the studio by the end of this year to record a new album. We also are rehearsing regularly, to get ready for the stage as soon as possible."

Finnish melodic death metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROWhave entered the studio to begin recording their seventh album for a 2010 release.

Commented guitarist Jarmo Puolakanaho: "We have finished our first recording session at Tico-Tico Studios.

"We are recording this album in two main sessions, plus some extra sessions throughout this year. This way has proven to be the best for us and our timetables and we've been using the same 'take it slowly, make it good' method ever since our comeback in 2005.

"What we did during the past weeks was recording the basic tracks for six songs. Now, it's time for a short summer holiday after which we're going to do the vocals and the keyboard tracks, and, of course, to write more new songs for the second main recording session, which is going to take place at the end of this year.

"Trying to verbally describe the new songs is like trying to draw how they sound like. And even if we somehow managed to describe how the new songs sound like, they only represent one half of the forthcoming album.

"Anyway, it has been announced that we're going to play our second (and last) gig in 2011 at Jyrkka 2011 rock festival in Pudasjärvi, which is nice, as this band was formed in the very same town and as a matter of fact, we played our very first gig on the same stage fourteen years ago. And now, after eleven years, we're coming back to our original home town. Nice."

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons spoke to QMI Agency this week about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's new album. "We have all the songs arranged and written and all that," he said. "Like [2009's] 'Sonic Boom', all the songs were written by the band. Paul [Stanley; guitar, vocals] is producing this one, too. The first day in the studio, we cut two songs. So we're steaming ahead, not thinking too much about it."

When asked if KISS is aiming for the same late-'70s vibe as "Sonic Boom" for the new CD, Simmons replied, "It's not just late-'70s, it's the classic sound of all time. Styles come and go; the only thing that sticks is THE [ROLLING] STONES and AC/DC, meat-and-potatoes stuff. That stuff is forever. When was the last time you listened to MEN WITHOUT HATS? I personally would like to find the guy who came up with the name of that band. It's the stupidest name. You will never get laid with a name like that. MEN WITHOUT HATS. Oh my fucking god. Kill me now. You might as well wear a T-shirt that says, 'Please beat me up.'"

Guitarist Peter Wichers of Swedish metallers SOILWORK has issued the following update:

"Thanks for all the great feedback and kind words of encouragement regarding my back injury! I'm feeling much better after several months of resting, but I'm not 100% yet, so I've decided to sit out some of the summer festivals in order to make a full recovery sooner. Filling in for me will be an old friend of the band and an amazing player: David Andersson. David has helped SOILWORK out in the past, and we're grateful that he's offered to step in once again and make these shows possible!"

Andersson will fill in for Wichers during June and July. See the complete list of upcoming SOILWORK shows at this location.

Fan-filmed video footage of JUDAS PRIEST's June 14, 2011 performance at Spektrum in Oslo, Norway can be seen below.

01. Rapid Fire
02. Metal Gods
03. Heading Out to the Highway
04. Judas Rising
05. Starbreaker
06. Victim of Changes
07. Never Satisfied
08. Diamonds & Rust (JOAN BAEZ cover) (first half acoustic)
09. Dawn of Creation
10. Prophecy
11. Night Crawler
12. Turbo Lover
13. Beyond the Realms of Death
14. The Sentinel
15. Blood Red Skies
16. The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
17. Breaking the Law
18. Painkiller

Encore:

19. The Hellion
20. Electric Eye

Encore 2:

21. Hell Bent for Leather
22. You've Got Another Thing Comin' (with Richie Faulkner guitar solo)

Encore 3:

23. Living After Midnight

Doom metallers YOB will release their sixth album, "Atma", on August 16 via Profound Lore Records. The follow-up to 2009's "The Great Cessation" is described in a press release as "dirtier and sludgier than ever before." The CD features guest appearances by NEUROSIS' Scott Kelly on the tracks "Before We Dreamed Of Two Mastered" and "Adrift In The Ocean".

"Atma" track listing:

01. Prepare The Ground (9:05)
02. Atma Mastered (8:57)
03. Before We Dreamed Of Two Mastered (16:00)
04. Upon The Sight Of The Other Shore Mastered (7:34)
05. Adrift In The Ocean (13:33)