The Pulse Of Radio reports that the recording of PEARL JAM's 10th studio album is underway earlier than anticipated, according to RollingStone.com. The site caught up with frontman Eddie Vedder at the Los Angeles studio where the band has been working, noting that the project is "coming together faster than the band expected." Vedder remarked at the beginning of the interview, "I don't want to jinx it, but it's on!"

Vedder himself released a new solo album, "Ukulele Songs", on Tuesday (May 31), consisting almost entirely of just him singing and playing the tracks on ukulele. Vedder explained, "I just wanted it to be the one sound. At first it was kind of a joke, and then it became a little bit of a challenge, a puzzle, to see if I could create 11 or 12 songs with just a ukulele. It's like painting with one color."

The singer is touring behind the album this month, while PEARL JAM will continue its 20th anniversary celebration with its own two-day festival on Labor Day weekend and the release of Cameron Crowe's documentary "Pearl Jam: Twenty" and an accompanying book this fall.

Bassist Jeff Ament told The Pulse Of Radio that he's ready to leave the past behind — which included recent reissues of the band's first three albums — and focus on the new record. "If every two years we were doing one of those kind of box set, you know, like a group of two records or whatever, that would be fine," he said. "But I think that with the movie and this book and all that stuff, I'm ready to make a new record."

Vedder also doesn't want to wallow in PEARL JAM nostalgia too long, saying, "I feel like we have to keep our eyes on the road. Being nostalgic is like taking an offramp and getting a sandwich — and then you get back on the highway. I don't want to be spending the rest of my life at the gas station."

Austrian extreme metallers MASTIC SCUM have issued the following update:

"We are currently working on the new album! We are fucking excited about the new record which follows our last album, 'Dust', our strongest release up to date, of which we are very proud!! However, the new release will be for sure a progression from the songwriting and sound production points of view. Some of the songwriting is already done, but we still have work to do! The new material so far is fucking brutal, combining shredding rhythms, mosh grooves and grindcore blast attacks! We sure give 100% in the songwriting process and we cannot wait to enjoy with everyone the new overdose of brutal distorted structures! Be prepared!! As our goal is to enter the studio earliest in autumn 2011, we are very focused on our work and will play just a few live shows this summer/fall. Nevertheless, we really look forward to grind with you at our upcoming shows!"

"Construcdead", the latest video from MASTIC SCUM, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in Innsbruck, Austria and was produced and directed by Sulinor.

EDGUY haben das Cover zu ihrem neuen Werk 'Age of the Joker' enthüllt, welches ihr euch hier anschauen könnt.
Zudem laden sie euch ein, euch für den "Hellfire Club" zu registrieren:

Ihr habt ab sofort die Chance, als erste Fans weltweit das grandiose neue Coverartwork zur kommenden Platte 'Age Of The Joker' zu sehen. Alles was Ihr dafür tun müsst, ist Euch jetzt zu registrieren, um Zugang zur mysteriösen, sagenumwobenen, grandiosen "Members Only"-Section dieser Website zu erhalten - dem "Hellfire Club"! Und das alles völlig kostenfrei! Wenn Ihr Euch jetzt registriert, könnt Ihr zudem in Kürze exklusiv vorab ins neue Album reinhören. Wir halten Euch dann auf dem Laufenden über alles Wichtige, was im EDGUY-Lager passiert (man nennt das im allgemeinen Newsletter, aber wir werden Euch NICHT mit überflüssigen Scheiß zumüllen, nur mit wichtigen News!). Darüberhinaus erhaltet Ihr exklusiv Zugang zu weiteren kommende Features, die dem Rest der Welt vorenthalten bleiben: z.B. könnt Ihr Euch unveröffentlichte Fotos ansehen, bekommt in Kürze die finale Tracklist des neuen Albums, erfahrt von bestätigten Konzerten noch vor allen anderen usw.. Also, einfach mit einer funktionierenden Emailadresse registrieren, Passwort anlegen und los geht's!


Zudem gibt's im Internet bereits eine vorläufige Tracklist, die angeblich von einem bei der Listening-Session anwesenden französischen Magazin stammt und folgendermaßen lautet:

1. Robin Hood
2. Nobody's Hero
3. Rock Of Cashel
4. Pandora's Box
5. Breathe
6. Two Out Of Seven
7. Fire On The Downline
8. Behind The Gates To Midnight World

According to the Liverpool Echo, a 15-foot statue of late QUEEN singer Freddie Mercury has found a temporary home on Paradise Street in Liverpool, England to celebrate the arrival of the hit QUEEN and Ben Elton musical "We Will Rock You" at the Empire Theatre this September.

Originally the plan was to put the statue on the Empire's canopy on Lime Street, but at 680 kilograms (approximately 1,500 pounds), Freddie was simply too heavy.

Andrew Rawlinson, Liverpool Empire general manager, said: "Our city is often referred to as the World Capital of Pop, so I think the bustling streets of Liverpool One will make a very fitting spot for Freddie.

"This show has audiences rocking wherever it goes and I’m sure Liverpool will be no exception."

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal is recovering from minor injuries he sustained in a road accident that involved four cars. Thal was driving his silver Toyota on Tuesday, May 31 when an SUV "just plowed into [him] full speed." He wrote on Twitter, "Car is totaled. Two other cars she smashed me into." He added, "Well enough to tweet; means I'm not dead yet."

Thal posted a photo of his wrecked vehicle on Twitter and praised Toyota for the "functional seat belt, air bags and crumple zone," which he credits for "saving [his] skull."

He later posted another message which said, "I've spent 24 hours dealing with car rental, insurance and collision folks, banks and police — as the injuries begin to reveal themselves," before telling concerned fans: "Oh, please — I'm in GUNS N' fucking ROSES. This is all like a walk in the park!"

Bumblefoot joined GUNS N' ROSES in early 2006 as the replacement for Buckethead. He made his live debut with the band at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 12, 2006.

The reunited classic "Animosity" lineup of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY — Mike Dean (bass, vocals), Woody Weatherman (guitar) and Reed Mullin (drums) — entered the studio earlier in the year with longtime producer John Custer (1991's "Blind", 1994's "Deliverance", 1996's "Wiseblood", 2000's "America's Volume Dealer", 2005's "In The Arms Of God") to begin recording the band's new album for a late 2011 release.

In a recent interview with UGO, Dean stated about the forthcoming CD, "The title is yet to be determined.?A self-titled release crossed our minds but the album title is a game-time decision. October is a good time but if we miss that, early 2012 would be a fine time for release.? 'The Moneychangers', 'River Of Stone' and 'Rat City' are some of the [song]titles [that will appear on the CD]."

"Part Of The Disease", a brand new song from S.O.S., the new band featuring current and former members of TERROR, HATEBREED, AGNOSTIC FRONT and TRAPPED UNDER ICE, can be streamed at Stereokiller.com. The track comes off the group's debut EP, "I Owe You Nothing", on June 21 in Europe via Good Fight Entertainment. The CD was recorded over several New York winter days with Dean Baltulonis, a producer and engineer who has been involved with some of the genre's most iconic recordings. The result is "a concise, tried-and-true, no-frills hardcore EP," according to a press release.

Darryl Sterdan of the QMI Agency recently conducted an interview with DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

QMI Agency: Why an orchestral tour?

Glover: Well, it's good to have a new hook to hang your coat on. We've toured so much and so many people have seen us. So we thought this was a different kind of challenge. We're best known for the old songs, so it's about time to try something a little different.

QMI Agency: What is the orchestra going to add to songs like "Highway Star", "Hush" and "Smoke On The Water"?

Glover: It'll be just bigger, I suppose. Still the riffs you know and the melodies you know, but bigger and more intricate. But the orchestral-symphonic idea sounds a bit more highfalutin' than it is. I think we're actually leaning more towards the jazz side of orchestral music rather than symphonic. So there will be an element of subversiveness in there.

QMI Agency: It's been six years since your last record — your longest break between albums when you weren't on hiatus. Is that because nobody buys albums anymore?

Glover: There's an element of that. There's been disagreement in the band about whether to do another album. They really don't make money any more. My opinion is that we are an album band and should make them even if it costs us money, because that's what we do. Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I believe we should stay what we are. We can progress with our music, but the way we do it should be the way we've always done it. There's nothing wrong with that. An album is like capturing a moment in time. And in a band with a history like ours, those moments mean a lot.

New York underground thrash metal band PRIME EVIL (not to be confused with PRIMEVIL, the new band featuring former VENOM members Jeff "Mantas" Dunn, Antony "Antton" Lant and Tony "The Demolition Man" Dolan) has reunited with all original members and will take part in "some epic showcase packages" in the Northeast U.S. by late summer/early fall. Vocalist Andy Eichhorn, guitarists Mike Usifer and Gary Day, drummer Todd Gukelberger and bassist Mary Ciullo have been hard at work on rehearsing the classic material as well as writing "absolutely crushing" new songs, according to a press release. PRIME EVIL has plans to record and release these songs in late 2011 or early 2012.

In a recent interview with Glorious Times, Eichhorn was asked about PRIME EVIL's decision to reform 18 years after the band's breakup.

"We have been getting asked to reunite at different times over the last 10 years or so," he said. "The timing or interest never seemed right, and to be honest, a lot of us have been through our fair share of surgeries, accidents, etc., and only recently have all five original members been physically able to participate. I think it's incredible we have all original members on board after 20 years!

"We have been rehearsing I can honestly say there is a spark there that hasn't been since the early days and it's absolutely electric. Going over the classic material quickly expanded into writing new songs and making recording plans.

"We will have a future announcement regarding the studio and producer we will be working with.

"So, to answer your question, this is the REAL-DEAL full-blown reunion and we plan to unleash some nasty old-school-tinged thrash! I can't fucking wait!"

PRIME EVIL was formed in New York in 1986 and was a major player in the early days of the underground death/thrash metal scene. The band plans to explode back on the scene with increased focus and determination.

Due later this month, the original Alice Cooper group box set comes in a commemorative 12-inch square "school desk" box and includes:

** Four CDs from the years 1964-1974:

- Disc 1: Demos, rarities, live, and advertisements
- Disc 2: Demos from "Muscle Of Love", a pre-production of songs from "School's Out",1973 Madison Square Garden live track, and advertisements.
- Disc 3: Spoken word
- Disc 4: Live show of the 1971 "Killer" tour in St. Louis

* DVD (single disc in Amaray case) with three never-before-seen features (over two hours)

64-page, full-color yearbook style book with hard front and back cover:

- Period pictures of all band members, many never before seen
- Book written by Lonn Friend, a well-known heavy metal journalist

Gatefold folder containing:

- Two tour programs
- Ticket stubs
- Set list
- Five prints

* Bootleg Vinyl: 1971 "Killer" live show in St. Louis
* Seven-inch vinyl: Songs "Wonder Whose Lovin' Her Now" and "Lay Down & Die, Goodbye" from The Nazz
* Immediate download of the "Elected" music video (AliceCooper.com exclusive) — available as a M4V or MOV download as soon as you complete the pre-order transaction.

Price: $260.00

The most influential and ground-breaking progressive rock 'n' roll band in history, legendary rockers and Grammy Award winners YES, will release their first studio album in a decade, "Fly From Here", on July 1 in Europe and July 12 in North America through Frontiers Records. The group's long-awaited 20th studio LP is the follow up to 2001's "Magnification" and marks the band's reunion with producer Trevor Horn, who helmed YES' chart-topping 1983 album "90125" and also sang for YES on the "Drama" LP in 1980.

YES is Benoit David on vocals (his first studio recording with YES), Steve Howe on guitars/vocals, founder Chris Squire on bass/vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards and Alan White on drums. Roger Dean, creator of a number of YES' most memorable album covers, also returns with his signature style for "Fly From Here".

"At last we have some shape and dynamics within these tracks that are truer to the
original idea of what a YES recording is about," proclaims Howe.

"The new album represents the best of YES from the '70s and the '80s with a current twist," Squire adds.

All of the songs on "Fly From Here" embody that classic and now iconic YES sound and style. The first single, "We Can Fly", (to be released digitally on June 13) is borne from a piece of music that was written prior to the "Fly" writing sessions — an idea that has now grown into an overture and five subsequent movements that feature the unparalleled musicianship and virtuoso talents that are synonymous with YES. From the first chord of "Fly From Here – Overture" to the last note of the album's closer "Into The Storm", there is no question that the unmistakable technical proficiency of YES carries on.

"It's awesome working with Trevor Horn again; he pays a lot of attention to detail. It was a great pleasure in the studio to play some incredible music with some great players," says White.

First formed in 1968, YES' remarkable career spans over 40 years and the band has time and again redefined the boundaries of rock music.

YES has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide and continues to stretch the boundaries of progressive art-rock with their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical styles.

This summer, YES will return to the road to bring "Fly From Here" as well as some of their classic hits to their loyal following. European tour dates are scheduled for the fall.

"Fly From Here" track listing:

01. Fly From Here - Overture
02. Fly From Here - Pt. I - We Can Fly
03. Fly From Here - Pt. II - Sad Night At The Airfield
04. Fly From Here - Pt. III - Madman At The Screens
05. Fly From Here - Pt. IV - Bumpy Ride
06. Fly From Here - Pt. V - We Can Fly
07. The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be
08. Life On A Film Set
09. Hour Of Need
10. Solitaire
11. Into The Storm

"Fly From Here" will be released in four different configurations: CD, CD plus a bonus DVD including a documentary "Making of the Album" in digipak edition, a gatefold vinyl and a special box set limited edition including the CD, DVD, vinyl, t-shirt, poster, sticker and a lithograph of the cover art.

On June 14, Warner Bros. Records will release the album to the hotly anticipated motion picture "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" — the third film in the Oscar-nominated summer blockbuster "Transformers" series, which hits theaters nationwide on June 29.

Released in Standard, iTunes Deluxe, and Game Stop configurations, the "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" album features music from LINKIN PARK, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, TAKING BACK SUNDAY, ART OF DYING, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, BLACK VEIL BRIDES, SKILLET and MASTODON (who contribute a cover of ZZ TOP's "Just Got Paid"), as well as new music from PARAMORE and GOO GOO DOLLS debuting exclusively on the album. The iTunes Deluxe edition also includes tracks from BIFFY CLYRO, STONE SOUR, and SERJ TANKIAN, while the Game Stop version includes songs from MIDDLE CLASS RUT and D.R.U.G.S.

Contributing the song "Iridescent" (which also appears on LINKIN PARK's 2010 album "A Thousand Suns") to "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is LINKIN PARK's third time working with "Transformers" director Michael Bay. The first "Transformers" film featured the band's smash hit single "What I've Done", which rocketed to No. 1 on both Billboard's Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts, while the second film featured the specially written "New Divide", which topped the Rock, Modern, and Mainstream radio charts simultaneously.

Opening in theaters on June 29, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" stars Shia LaBeouf, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, and Kevin Dunn, with John Malkovich and Frances McDormand. Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky. When a mysterious event from Earth's past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the "Transformers" alone will not be able to save us.

The track-listings for the three editions of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" album are as follows:

Standard Edition (CD/DMD All DSPS)

* LINKIN PARK - "Iridescent" (Exclusive Remix)
* PARAMORE - "Monster" ?
* MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - "The Only Hope For Me Is You"?
* TAKING BACK SUNDAY - "Faith (When I Let You Down)"
* STAIND - "The Bottom"
* ART OF DYING - "Get Thru This"?
* GOO GOO DOLLS - "All That You Are"
* THEORY OF A DEADMAN - "Head Above Water"
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES - "Set The World On Fire"?
* SKILLET - "Awake & Alive" (Exclusive Remix)
* MASTODON - "Just Got Paid"

iTunes Deluxe (Exclusive)

* LINKIN PARK - "Iridescent" (Exclusive Remix)
* PARAMORE - "Monster"?
* MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - "The Only Hope For Me Is You"?
* TAKING BACK SUNDAY - "Faith (When I Let You Down)"
* STAIND - "The Bottom"
* ART OF DYING - "Get Thru This"
* GOO GOO DOLLS - "All That You Are"
* THEORY OF A DEADMAN - "Head Above Water"
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES - "Set The World On Fire"?
* SKILLET - "Awake & Alive" (Exclusive Remix)?
* MASTODON - "Just Got Paid"?

Exclusive to Deluxe Version:

* BIFFY CLYRO - "Many Of Horror" ?
* STONE SOUR - "The Pessimist"?
* SERJ TANKIAN - "Gate 21" (Remix – Feat. Tom Morello)??

Game Stop (Exclusive)

* LINKIN PARK - "Iridescent" (Exclusive Remix)
* PARAMORE - "Monster"?
* MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - "The Only Hope For Me Is You"?
* TAKING BACK SUNDAY - "Faith (When I Let You Down)"
* STAIND - "The Bottom"*
* ART OF DYING - "Get Thru This"
* GOO GOO DOLLS - "All That You Are"
* THEORY OF A DEADMAN - "Head Above Water"
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES - "Set The World On Fire"?
* SKILLET - "Awake & Alive" (Exclusive Remix)?
* MASTODON - "Just Got Paid"?

Exclusive to Game Stop Version:

* MIDDLE CLASS RUT - "Lifelong Dayshift"
* D.R.U.G.S. - "Graveyard Dancing"

DIO DISCIPLES, the new project featuring 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 Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN), will embark on a full U.S. tour in September. Exact cities and dates will be announced soon.

DIO DISCIPLES' European tour will kick off in early June.

Commented Wright: "We are in rehearsal at the moment getting ready to embark on our first European tour.

"It's been very weird and a little emotional getting through the songs without Ronnie. I keep hearing him saying, in my head, 'Let's try that part again,' and 'OK, let's run the set... It helps to remind me that we have to keep playing and get the job done.

"As [Ronnie's wife/manager] Wendy [Dio] said, 'There will never be another Ronnie James Dio.' Absolutely 100 percent right.

"As we know, though, first and foremost Ron was a musician, and loved having a band and the music came first. With that in mind, we all sat down talked and discussed the possibility of doing the DIO DISCIPLES project. The most important point was to be able to bring Ronnie's brilliant songs to the fans and celebrate them in the best way we know how in a live show with all of you. Just as important is that while you read this we are doing this from the heart and for all the right reasons.

"Ron was like a father to me and over the years we became best friends.

"I'm not trying to one-up anybody here; there are lots of people who loved Ron, especially, and, of course, Wendy, but this band is something I feel very strongly about and positive about.

"I wish we didn't have to do this project; I miss Ron every day, but something tells me he would want us to carry on, work hard and continue bringing you, the fans, his music."

METALLICA has been voted the most influential rock group of the last 30 years by the readers of the British magazine Kerrang!

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said: "it gives me a very warm and fuzzy feeling that Kerrang! magazine have voted METALLICA as the band that most changed their lives.

"I remember the first issue of the magazine in 1981. I had made a pilgrimage to England because I was obsessed with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. I travelled all over the country and that first issue accompanied me everywhere."

Lars also paid tribute to IRON MAIDEN, which came in at No. 3 on the list. He said: "IRON MAIDEN have been the blueprint for everything that we have ever wanted to do."

The poll is included in the next issue of Kerrang! magazine, which celebrates 30 years since the magazine launched in June 1981.

The most influential rock groups of the last 30 years, as voted by the readers of Kerrang!:

01. METALLICA
02. GREEN DAY
03. IRON MAIDEN
04. SLIPKNOT
05. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
06. LINKIN PARK
07. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
08. BLINK 182
09. OZZY OSBOURNE
10. FOO FIGHTERS

SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, who was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, will return to his birthplace this week receive the key to the city from Mayor Virginia Reginato. This will be Chile's first official recognition of the musician, who left the country when he was five years old and moved to the U.S. with his family.

Viña del Mar is located 74 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Santiago and 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of Valparaiso on the Pacific Ocean.

This Friday (June 3), SLAYER will play Viña del Mar for the first time.

Araya reportedly remembers very little of his birthplace which he has only visited a couple of times and for a few days. Therefore, he has decided to use his opportunity to spend more time in Viña del Mar and will stay there for several days with his wife and children. He will also celebrate his 50th birthday at Friday's concert, having already ordered a birthday cake which he plans to share with the fans at the show. (Araya officially turns 50 on June 6.)

In a 2005 interview, Araya was asked about the Internet rumors that he and his family left Chile due to political unrest. "No. Actually, it was like '66 when we came over to the States, so that was way before any of that shit started; that happened in '71 and we were already in the Unites States by that time," Tom said.

When asked if he has ever gone back to visit Chile, Araya said, "Yeah, yeah — we went back there around the time right after that happened, like 2 or 3 years later. We flew out to go as a family, and it wasn't bad. It was under a kind of dictatorship, I guess, but I didn't witness anything stupid going on. Everybody obeyed the laws, and that's about it. They have police; they've got riot police just like they do here. And at shows in areas outside the U.S. sometimes the kids get crazy outside the venue, so different countries use different types of… force [laughs] to discipline people. You know, different countries do different things. I saw some of it but it's like, 'Okay, that's how they do stuff here. I don't want to get involved and be in the middle of something I know no business of. [Laughs]"

Jon Wiederhorn of Guitar World magazine recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Guitar World: How do you see the new album as a development from "Endgame"? Will it be heavier, more technical, more melodic?

Mustaine: It's gonna be heavy and not slow heavy like BLACK SABBATH or TROUBLE. It's very, very fast heavy.

Guitar World: How many songs did you write for the new one?

Mustaine: We have 12 songs that we're contracted for this record, and that's all we're doing.

Guitar World: You've been pretty busy touring. When did you have time to write?

Mustaine: Some of the songs are old, some are new. Some were written this morning. Some back in the early stages of my career — songs that weren't previously recorded. It's just a variety of stuff.

Guitar World: This will be your second record with Chris Broderick. You've said in the past his playing reminds you of [ex-MEGADETH guitarist] Marty Friedman, with whom you recorded some of your best albums.

Mustaine: Chris and Marty both have their strengths and weaknesses. We've had great guitar players over the years with MEGADETH, and that's been one constant with us. The guitar-playing ability has been consistently good to excellent. We've had some drummers who are average, and the bass playing has always been good. But Chris and Marty are on a level all their own.

Guitar World: Is it satisfying to be working again with bassist David Ellefson again?

Mustaine: Are you kidding? The guy's great. He doesn't make any mistakes. He's just a well-rounded, mature individual. There were several times during the tour where I looked at him and said, "Who are you?" And I know he thought that was kind of funny, but truth was I really didn't know who he was because he has turned into this amazing person and a smoking bass player. It's the greatest thing ever and now we're all getting along really well.

For more of Guitar World's interview with Dave Mustaine — plus a preview of the upcoming MEGADETH album — check out the August issue of Guitar World magazine, which goes on sale June 28.