Brooklyn, New York trio TOMBS will release its new album, "Path Of Totality", on June 7 via Relapse Records. The follow-up to "Winter Hours" was recorded at Elmwood Recording studios in Dallas, Texas with engineer John Congleton (BARONESS, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, BLACK MOUNTAIN, ST. VINCENT). It will be made available on CD, 2xLP, and digitally and features artwork from Thomas Hooper of Hoopers Electric.

"Path Of Totality" is now available for streaming in its entirety at NPR.org.

TOMBS recently released a 14-songs collection of early material, tracks from split releases, and previously unreleased demos. Titled "Fear Is The Weapon", the collection is strictly limited to a one-time pressing of 1,000 copies and is available exclusively through Relapse mailorder.

TOMBS' last album, "Winter Hours", was released in February 2009 via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded at the Etching Tin Studios in Richmond, Virginia with engineer Ian Whalen.

TANGERINE DREAM: ZEIT (2CD - New 2011 Remaster - Stock # T1415827) Normally 2CD £15.99 - Ltd Offer 2CD £13.99
Esoteric Recordings have announced the release of a Newly Remastered Edition of the classic album 'Zeit' by Tangerine Dream. Released in August 1972 on the OHR label in Germany, 'Zeit' was recorded at the Dierks Studio near Cologne and also featured a guest appearance by Florian Fricke of Popol Vuh. One of the group s finest early albums, 'Zeit' was enthusiastically championed in the UK by the late John Peel, and was a major breakthrough for Tangerine Dream.
This Newly Remastered Edition includes a Previously Unreleased Bonus CD of Tangerine Dream's legendary Klangwaldt performance recorded in Cologne in November 1972, and also fully restores the entire unedited double LP version to Compact Disc and includes a Lavishly Illustrated Deluxe Booklet with New Essay.
Track List - Disc 1 [Zeit - The Original Album]:
01. Birth Of Liquid Plejades
02. Nebulous Dawn
03. Origin Of Supernatural Probabilities
04. Zeit
Track List - Disc 2 [The Klangwaldt Performance - Cologne November 1972)
01. Klangwaldt - Part One
02. Klangwaldt - Part Two

We have to inform you that there are also plans to issue 'Zeit' as a Limited Edition Collectors Boxed Set that will contain the 2CD set (as above), a Double LP pressed Blue Vinyl of the same in a Gate-Fold Sleeve with copy of Original Insert, plus a 7" x 7" Book and Various Postcards Cards etc.
This should happen around June 2011, but the price will be at least £50 + Shipping.
If you are interested, then please let us know a.s.a.p.
These boxed sets will be limited to just 1000 copies worldwide.

TANGERINE DREAM: POLAND (2CD - 2011 Remaster / Complete Un-Edited Performance - Stock # T1415828) Normally 2CD £15.99 - Ltd Offer 2CD £13.99
Esoteric Recordings have announced the release of a Newly Remastered Edition of 'Poland-The Warsaw Concert' by Tangerine Dream. On the 10th December 1983, Edgar Froese, Chris Franke and Johannes Schmoelling performed a legendary concert in the Ice Stadium in Warsaw - a unique event, given the political situation in Poland at the time. The resulting 'live' album was issued as a double LP set on the Jive Electro label the following year to great acclaim. Of all the subsequent CD releases of the album, only two early editions, released in the USA & Germany, featured the full un-edited version of the original double LP. This Newly Remastered Edition fully restores the Entire Unedited Double LP Version to Compact Disc and includes a Lavishly Illustrated Deluxe Booklet with New Essay.

Track List :
Disc One
Poland (22.34)
Tangent (15.51)
Rare Bird (4.01)

Disc Two
Barbakane (18.02)
Horizon (21.10)

Finland's progressive death/doom maestros BARREN EARTH have entered Helsinki's Sonic Pump Studios to record the follow-up to last year's highly acclaimed debut album, "Curse Of The Red River". The band has written 12 new songs, and is currently laying them down with engineer/co-producer Jukka Varmo. Dan Swanö (KATATONIA, OPETH) will once again be at the mixing helm. The tracks mainly continue in the vein of the previous record, having perhaps even more '70s prog influences, but maintaining the basic heaviness and brutality one has come to associate with BARREN EARTH.

The album is due for release in autumn 2011 on Peaceville Records, and the artwork will be made by Paul Romano (MASTODON). Studio reports will be updated at BARREN EARTH's Facebook page.

BARREN EARTH recently completed a successful U.S. tour with fellow Finns FINNTROLL and ENSIFERUM, and received the accolades of "Newcomer Of The Year' at the Finnish Metal Awards and "Best Debut Album" at the Metal Storm Awards 2010 for "Curse Of The Red River".

"Juggernaut Of Justice", the new album from Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL, will be released in Europe on June 20 (three days earlier in Germany) via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be made available as a limited-edition digipak (including two bonus tracks), double gatefold LP in blue vinyl, standard version and a digital download.

Limited-edition digipak including two bonus tracks:

01. Juggernaut Of Justice (3:40)
02. When All Hell Breaks Loose (3:11)
03. New Orleans Voodoo (4:25)
04. On Fire (3:23)
05. Fukeneh! (4:08)
06. Turn It Up (2:57)
07. The Ride (3:12)
08. Not Afraid (3:44)
09. Conspiracy (3:20)
10. Running (2:54)
11. Paranomal (7:04)
12. Swing Thing (3:00)
13. The Station (bonus track)
14. Tonight Is Coming (bonus track)

Jewel case version:

01. Juggernaut Of Justice (3:40)
02. When All Hell Breaks Loose (3:11)
03. New Orleans Voodoo (4:25)
04. On Fire (3:23)
05. Fukeneh! (4:08)
06. Turn It Up (2:57)
07. The Ride (3:12)
08. Not Afraid (3:44)
09. Conspiracy (3:20)
10. Running (2:54)
11. Paranomal (7:04)
12. Swing Thing (3:00)

Double gatefold LP, colored blue vinyl:

LP 1

Side 1

01. Juggernaut Of Justice (3:40)
02. When All Hell Breaks Loose (3:11)
03. New Orleans Voodoo (4:25)

Side 2

01. On Fire (3:23)
02. Fukeneh! (4:08)
03. Turn It Up (2:57)

LP 2

Side 1

01. The Ride (3:12)
02. Not Afraid (3:44)
03. Conspiracy (3:20)

Side 2

01. Running (2:54)
02. Paranomal (7:04)
03. Swing Thing (3:00)

DC4, the Los Angeles-based hard rock band featuring guitarist Rowan Robertson (ex-DIO) alongside brothers Jeff Duncan (ARMORED SAINT, ODIN) on lead vocals and guitar, Shawn Duncan (ODIN) on drums and Matt Duncan on bass, will release its new album, "Electric Ministry", in Europe on August 1 (except in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it will arrive three days earlier) via Metal Blade Records.

"Welcome to the alter of conviction" snarls Jeff Duncan as the band launches into the title track from their fourth release, "Electric Ministry". Tackling subjects such as being on the wrong side of Johnny Law ("25 To Life"), the ultimate male specimen ("Rock God") and the pleasures of the flesh ("XXX") the quartet blast through eleven tracks on the opus produded by Bill Metoyer and co-produced by Jeff Duncan.

Metoyer, who has worked with the likes of ARMORED SAINT, FATES WARNING, W.A.S.P. and SLAYER, among countless other bands, is basically a member of the DC4 family. "I first met Bill when he engineered ARMORED SAINT's 'Revelation' album," says Jeff. "Before long he started showing up at DC4 shows, checking us out. And he kept showing up more and more, it kind of became more than just showing up to see your friend play, ya know? So, we started talking and when the opportunity came up for us to work together he just jumped on board."

"We made a point of making 'Electric Ministry' a real guitar album. Back to our roots as guitarists." says Rowan Robertson. "I think on our last album 'Explode' we still had a bit of that '90s feel in us so we've gotten rid of that now."

"This was the first time we had any special guests appear on a DC4 album," relates, Jeff. "We had Dizzy Reed from GUNS N' ROSES provide keys on the songs 'Dirty Hands' and 'The Ballad Of Rock and Roll', Gonzo from ARMORED SAINT played percussion on several tracks, also. Then we had our cousin, Erin Duncan, do backing vocals on 'The Ballad Of Rock'n'Roll' and Juliette Primrose (MICHAEL FLATLEY'S LORD OF THE DANCE) played violin on 'The Ballad Of Rock and Roll' as well."

"Electric Ministry" track listing:

01. Wrecktory
02. Electric Ministry
03. XXX
04. Rock God
05. 25 to Life
06. Broken Soul
07. People
08. The Ballad of Rock and Roll
09. Glitter Girl
10. Sociopath
11. Dirty Hands

"XXX" is now available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

A "landingpage" for "Electric Ministry" featuring various pre-order options for the CD can be accessed at this location.

Forming as the 21st Century became a reality DC4 came to be when Jeff Duncan met Rowan Robertson, the band's musical pedigree is virtually unrivaled by their peers.

"Jeff and I met when a local promoter named Happenin' Harry asked us both to be in his backing back for a few shows in the LA area and in Chicago," relates Robertson. "When we got back to L.A. he just flat out asked if I wanted to join DC4 and we got along so well and played so great together that I just had to do it."

Jeff recalls that "I wasn't into the whole idea of auditioning guitarists, We would know the right one when he came long and that's exactly what happened. He was looking for the sort of situation we had to offer and as it turned out, we were looking for him!"

Having spent time in such bands as the legendary DIO, metal heroes ARMORED SAINT, the short-lived VIOLET'S DEMISE and ODIN, a band who had reached cult status by the end of the 1980s without ever leaving Hollywood, DC4 is much more than just your average hard rock act.

DC4 is:

Jeff Duncan - Lead vocals, guitar,
Rowan Robertson - Guitars
Matt Duncan - Bass
Shawn Duncan - Drums, percussion

Norwegian progressive/psychedelic extreme metal trailblazers ENSLAVED played a special show on May 29 at the Henie Onstad Art Centre in Oslo.

Henie Onstad Art Centre has Norway's largest collection of international modern art, including works by Picasso and Matisse. The museum also shows changing exhibitions throughout the year.

Henie Onstad is situated in beautiful surroundings by the Oslo Fjord, just 15 minutes west of the city centre.

It is no secret that the members of ENSLAVED have been inspired by music outside their own branch of the metal genre. The Henie Onstad Art Centre therefore asked the band to prepare a special setlist consisting of a mix of cover songs from their favorite bands as well as original songs that they feel relate to their heroes. Among the artists ENSLAVED covered were PINK FLOYD, RUSH, FAITH NO MORE, LED ZEPPELIN and KING CRIMSON.

"ENSLAVED is one of the biggest metal bands and it has proven to be willing to experiment and try new things throughout its long career, thus helping push the genre forward," said musical director Lasse Marhaug of Henie Onstad Art Centre. "Since the band is now celebrating its 20th anniversary, we thought it was a good opportunity to invite them to play a special concert."

Multinational heavy metallers POWERWOLF have set Blood Of The Saints as the title for their upcoming fourth longplayer.

Blood Of The Saints will be released July 29th (Germany/Austria/Sweden) / August 1st via Metal Blade Records in Europe. The album will be released as a regular CD, a limited edition digibook 2-CD (exact content to be revealed shortly) and on vinyl.

The band have launched a landing page where you can check into several pre-order options as well as listening to the brand new song, 'Sanctified With Dynamite', taken off Blood Of The Saints. Surf over to this location to check it out.

The front art has been created by Powerwolf guitarist Matthew Greywolf. Matthew comments on the release of Blood Of The Saints: "We're really excited about this album. It´s been a hard piece of work, but it was so goddamn worth it. I think on Blood Of The Saints we really delivered a striking balance of mighty melodic stuff and some serious wolfish metal madness, all dressed up in some highly catchy tunes. We can hardly wait until the album is finally out and we can celebrate these tunes together with all of you - be prepared!"

Kiss Army Australia recently conducted an interview with KISS drummer Eric Singer. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Kiss Army Australia: It's been a little over 18 months since the release of "Sonic Boom", an album which had the band much sounding much closer to its trademark '70s sound. How do you see that album now? From your perspective was there anything you though "maybe I should have done that differently" or "I didn't quite nail that?"

Eric: "Sonic Boom" was really good and was the first step in the right direction for KISS. The newest record we are now working on at this time will show a natural progression from "Sonic Boom" to KISS 2011 as you will all hear soon enough.

Kiss Army Australia: From the outside looking in it seems as though the band is quite early in the stages of preparing the follow up album. In going about the preparation of the album is there a focus on creating an album that follows in the vein of "Sonic Boom" or is it more of a case of seeing where the band ends up once tracks are "in the can?"

Eric: We are already knee deep into the new record as I write this... All I can say is you will all be very pleased. The material is stronger and more riff oriented and very hard/heavier style. Everyone that has heard material so far is raving about the stuff and we are, too.

Kiss Army Australia: Has your involvement on the new album been any different to "Sonic Boom", or earlier KISS albums?

Eric: As a band we are more comfortable and have more time together under our belts now that really shows in our writing, performances, etc. We work out all the material together in rehearsals as a band before we go into the studio. It really makes for better vibes and performance overall.

Italian hard rock/metal band LACUNA COIL has entered the studio to begin recording the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2009's "Shallow Life" for a fall release via Century Media Records. The group is once again working with producer Don Gilmore (PEARL JAM, LINKIN PARK, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE), this time choosing to record in its native Italy to help focus on the more personal nature of the new material.

Earlier this month, LACUNA COIL members Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro began answering weekly fan-submitted questions about the new album at the band's official fan site, EmptySpiral.net. The first couple of sets of answers can be found below.

Q: How many songs are written yet?

Andrea: "All of the songs for the album have been written and we’re now working on the lyrics. Obviously in the studio some things are gonna change a little bit, but we’ve been quite severe with ourselves and we’ve been throwing lots of stuff in the bin, even before it makes it to a demo."

Cristina: "We definitely write constantly! Whether it's a whole song idea, or a riff, or a vocal melody, we collect everything we create, and this time it's a LOT of stuff! Not all of the material is going to be used for album, or for bonus tracks though... but we still have it all and we keep it. There's always something interesting to go back to and re-listen to again!"

Q: Have you thought about doing a super fan packaging, like super classy and super expensive?

Andrea: "That is actually a pretty good idea! I would love to create something special for our loyal fans. We’ll need to talk about it with the label and see what we can do. Maybe it could be something special for the 10th anniversary of 'Comalies' which is coming up next year."

Cristina: "It's definitely in the air. In the download era I'm still convinced that the material copy of an album is still something cool to have in your hands. Even more so if it's protected by beautiful box enriched with a stunning graphic, visual and artistic ideas, plus gadgets. I personally have TONS of ideas... but with these ideas the cost of the final product might end up being waaaay too high!"

Q: Any "concept" for the album?

Andrea: "No concept. Just a collection of songs inspired by all of the events that we have experienced in the past couple of years. For some of us, it was some really dark times."

Q: Is the direction still "heavier and darker" or has it changed since?

Andrea: "Absolutely, some stuff is pretty tight, probably the heaviest we have ever written. But then we have some cool songs with a dark, 'old-school' vibe, and then some other rocking songs which are a bit more modern and anthemic sounding."

Cristina: "I just want you all to listen to it 'cause I think the old fans will be pleased as well as the new one fans. The collection of songs is the perfect balance between an older and a newer style of rock metal — with a heavy punch and melancholic shadows. It's hard to describe music… I hope you can just enjoy the trip with us!"

Once LACUNA COIL completes the recording sessions for the new album, the band will spend the summer performing at a select number of European festivals, including Greenfield, Graspop Metal Meeting and Sonisphere in Spain.

When asked how the new material is sounding, Cristina said in a 2010 interview with Kerrang! magazine, "It's still a rock sound. I like the direction we took on 'Shallow Life' and this is going to be in that vein. I still love metal to death, but at this point I like rock more. I like being able to bring different things that are not necessarily from metal to the album because I like the contamination between sounds. I like that music is always evolving and that you can be free to take sounds and mix them together."

Regarding whether there are any other surprises in store, Cristina said, "At this stage I actually don't know. We don't plan that, because in some ways I like to stay with that classic sound and in some other ways I like to do something completely different and surprise people. I've learned over the years that you cannot make everyone happy. If you stay classic, there will be some who say you're not innovative, and if you're innovative, people will complain that you sold out or you went off the rails. I can honestly say I don't care anymore. We want to be free to do whatever we want. We love rock and roll and we love metal, but we don't want to put any limitations on what we might make."

According to Rock AAA.com, NINE INCH NAILS mastermind Trent Reznor, who won the 2010 Golden Globe for Best Original Score and the Academy Award with partner Atticus Ross for Best Original Score for their work on The Social Network soundtrack , is composing the music for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

The film is based on the book by best-selling author Stieg Larsson. Reznor and Ross are once again working with director David Fincher (The Social Network). The film stars Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, and Robin Wright.

A clip of Reznor's cover of LED ZEPPELIN's 'Immigrant Song' with the YEAH YEAH YEAH’s Karen O for the movie is available below.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is scheduled to open this December. More details will be revealed soon.

Swedish industrial metallers PAIN, led by iconic producer/musician Peter Tägtgren, have checked in from the road with the following updates:

Saturday, May 28th:
"From Russia with love! Thank you Moscow! You ruled again and convinced us that Moscow really is the home of crazy metal fans. We had a blast, and judging from the videos we've seen you were pretty much enjoying yourself too. Crazy!

At the moment we're resting at a hotel in St Petersburg. The plan was to walk in town, do some shopping, and maybe have a cold in the sun. But there is no sun. It's been pouring down since we arrived early this morning.

Tonight it's St. Petersburg's time to show us how a real metal audience should behave, and we're pretty sure you won't disappoint us. After the show it's PARTY TIME!"

Sunday, May 29th:
"We're speechless! Wow. How do you match something like this...?

A HUGE thanks to all of our fans at the show in St. Petersburg. We had a really good time on stage, and together with you the evening became magic. Pure awesomeness! We already miss you and hope that we can return as soon as possible.

After the show we had a quick stop at our hotel before we went to a bar in the same building to celebrate. The celebrations continued even after the pub had closed and around 4 o'clock we were forced to move the party to the hotel. There's more than one story of what happened after that so we're not really sure, but I think that most of the hotels furnishing was intact. The day after when we checked out they only asked for some of the telephones and what to do with the rubble under the stairs.

Now we're back on Swedish soil and preparing for the next battle, our release party in Stockholm on Thursday. Thanks to all Ukrainian and Russian fans for an awesome weekend! As soon as we get the opportunity we'll come back for more! In the meantime make sure to check out the new album!"

ASESINO — the death metal/grindcore project featuring FEAR FACTORY/DIVINE HERESY guitarist Dino Cazares and ex-STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos (on bass/vocals) — is working on material for its third album for a 2012 release.

"On the new record, it's going to be a continuation from the second record [2006's 'Cristo Satanico']," Cazares told AOL's Noisecreep. "On the first record [2002's 'Corridos de Muerte'], it's an introduction to who Asesino [official character based on an actual person, who was an assassin for a certain mafia] is. It introduces what his job is — to kill. At the end of the album, he gets caught, gets sentenced to death on the electric chair. He dies and goes to hell. Unfortunately, the way he dies was a priest was frightened by what he said on the electric chair. The priest pulled the lever on the assassin. He goes to hell and strikes a deal with the devil. The devil says, 'I will grant you life on Earth but you have to carry out this one task for me.' Asesino says, 'No problem.'

"So, on the second album, 'Cristo Satanico', which means 'Satanic Christ,' Asesino comes back to Earth, since Lucifer granted him life on Earth if he carries out this one task. He had to go out and kill somebody. No problem. But also Asesino had revenge that he wanted to seek on the priest who killed him. He found out that his boss, a person he was killing for, was the person who set him up, got him in prison, and got him into the death sentence in the first place. So he had two people he wanted to go kill. That was his boss and the priest. Obviously when an assassin is going to kill somebody, he investigates where they go, where they work, what time they go to bed, what time they shit... he knows everything about the person before he kills them. So he's investigating the priest, he finds out the priest is a pedophile. He likes to fuck little boys. He's been taking money from the community. He's been living very lavishly, very rich and wealthy. All of the money has been coming from the church and from the people. He's also been molesting little boys and raping them.

"So Asesino goes and captures the priest, tortures him and makes him admit to everything he's doing wrong. He tortures him and buries him alive, so he could suffer down there for all the suffering he's caused. At the end of the album, he confronts his boss and has his boss on his knees, saying 'I know why you set me up.' His boss was jealous of the assassin because he was gaining respect amongst the mafia, more than his boss. He ended up cutting his head off with a machete."

Japanese rockers DIR EN GREY will release their eighth studio album, "Dum Spiro Spero", on August 9. According to a press release, the band's deep, extensive and unique perspective is once again set to break boundaries, with their uncategorizable mix of music which will undoubtedly secure tremendous support from the hardcore fans, as well as gaining recognition from heavy rock fans, guitar enthusiasts and Western-music-obsessed music fans."

DIR EN GREY guitarist Kaoru describes "Dum Spiro Spero" as "more savage, and from a deeper world which is completely different from any of our past works."

"Dum Spiro Spero" features 14 tracks, including "Hageshisa To, Kono Mune No Naka De Karamitsuita Shakunetsu No Yami" (featured on "Saw 3D" soundtrack), "Lotus" and "Different Sense".

An audio clip of the album's first single, "Different Sense", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The single will be released on June 22.

A new interview with legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne will air on Planet Rock on Monday, May 30 at 7 p.m. Ozzy talked to Nicky Horne about the upcoming 30th-anniversary reissues of Osbourne's first two albums, "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman"; his love of touring, the ups and downs of BLACK SABBATH; his one wish that his original guitarist Randy Rhoads would still be alive. Ozzy also revealed that he will go back to basics on his new CD. "On my next album, I can assure you it's going to be back to balls to the wall," he said. "I have already been writing some stuff, [working on] some ideas with my band."

Planet Rock broadcasts on digital radio, Sky 0110, Virgin Media 924, Freesat 730, online www.planetrock.com and on iPhone.

In a recent interview with Metal Messiah Radio's "Heavy Metal Thunder" show, Ozzy stated about his planned follow-up to 2010's "Scream", "I wanna get more back down to basics with this next album.

"I haven't got a title. I've written a couple of ideas down. But I can't really give you much more information. It's not gonna take a long time, I don't think. All I can say to you is I've got a few ideas for songs, but I don't wanna say when it's going to be released because I don't know myself.

"I don't stick to a formula. I just try and experiment a lot. 'Scream' was more like a an experimental album because I didn't have a band at the time. [Guitarist] Gus [G.] came along and the guys played on the album after I'd done a lot of the work myself and my producer, Kevin Churko, in my studio."

Ozzy Osbourne's current touring drummer, Tommy Clufetos, told the "Talking Metal" podcast that early work is already underway for a follow-up to "Scream" and that he thinks Ozzy is "going to return to a classic rock band record." Clufetos added, "What he has expressed is that he wants to make it the band playing live in a room so wherever that takes us. Less technology and more amps and drums."

Ozzy recorded much of "Scream" in a studio at his home in Los Angeles with producer Kevin Churko, doing most of the writing and recording on computers. He told The Pulse Of Radio he liked working that way but wanted to do something different next time out. "At the end of the day, the end result was pretty cool, but I don't know whether I want to continue to do it that way," he said. "I like to — like the earlier albums, I'd go rehearse and jam out with the band, get some, like, vibe going, you know. I want to incorporate that and this new technology thing, next album."

Clufetos told "Talking Metal" that Ozzy and the touring band have already begun working on song ideas between shows on Ozzy's latest tour, saying, "We are already coming up with new ideas backstage, in the hotel rooms and at soundcheck and have a bunch of ideas recorded . . . time will tell what happens with them."

Nicolas Gricourt of RadioMetal.com recently interviewed EPICA guitarist Mark Jensen, who provided the following update about the future of the band.

According to Mark, 14 songs have already been writen for the follow up to Design Your Universe (2009). Here's what Mark had to say about the music: "I think they are on the line of Desing The Universe because we were really happy with the style of that album. Also many fans asked us to keep this style because they also enjoyed a lot that album. But we always do whatever feels good. I think it won't be a big step in a different direction but we always try to add some new elements."

Mark has also revealed that the band has some plans for its tenth anniversary: "For sure, we want to record a DVD for that event. We're looking to the possibility to get the orchestra from Hungary and do a big show. Also, we would like to release the DVD the fans asked for but never got from The Classical Conspiracy. Then we are going to do a new show with some new classical songs as well. And hopefully this time we can make a DVD out of it. It's all plans, we still have to discuss and work it out. Basically that's the rough idea."

"Malenchanments Of The Necrosphere", a brand new song from Michigan's unstoppable sons of molten melodic death metal THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of AltPress.com). The track comes off the band's new album, "Ritual", which will be released in Europe on June 17 and in North America on June 21 via Metal Blade Records. The effort will also be available as a box set, limited to 2,000 units including special, exclusive digibook, witch board, magic wand, sage, incense sticks and coffin nails. The CD was once again be produced by Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, BURY YOUR DEAD, DEICIDE), who also worked on 2009's "Deflorate".

CHICKENFOOT, the rock supergroup featuring former VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, returned to the studio earlier this month to resume work on its sophomore album, which is expected to arrive before the end of the year. According to Satriani, the new CD "is heavier and better than the first one." He adds, "I can't wait to get it out there!"

CHICKENFOOT's new album is tentatively due to be mixed in June. The CD's initial recording sessions were overseen by Mike Fraser, a Canadian producer, engineer and mixer who has previously worked with AC/DC, METALLICA and AEROSMITH. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "No Change", "Who's Next", "Astral Years" and "I Ain't Got You, I Got The Two By Blues".

Hagar revealed in March that CHICKENFOOT's second album will be titled Chickenfoot IV" (Four). He said, "It's the working title but I guarantee it'll stick." He added, "We were all like, 'What are we going to call the second record? Well, 'Chickenfoot II' (Two). And we're going, 'We can't call it 'Chickenfoot II', that's too obvious.' And pretty soon [drummer] Chad Smith, I'm sure was the guy, he's going, 'Let's call it 'Chickenfoot IV'. And we all cracked up and said, 'Right on, that's it.' And we haven't talked about it since."

CHICKENFOOT drummer Chad Smith recently confirmed that he won't tour with CHICKENFOOT this year in support of the band's second album due to scheduling conflicts with his main group, the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.

CHICKENFOOT's self-titled debut disc came out in June 2009 and was certified gold for sales of more than 500,000 copies.

Blitzkrieg conducted an interview with keyboardist Jack Driessen of MAYAN, the new band led by EPICA guitarist/songwriter Mark Jansen, on May 21 in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. You can now watch the chat below. Also available is footage of MAYAN's May 14 concert at Escape in Veenendaal, the Netherlands.

"Quarterpast", the debut album from MAYAN, was released on May 20 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded and mixed by Sascha Paeth (EPICA, KAMELOT).

"Quarterpast" track listing:

01. Symphony Of Aggression
02. Mainstay Of Society
03. Quarterpast
04. Course Of Life
05. The Savage Massacre
06. Essenza Di Te
07. Bite The Bullet
08. Drown The Demon
09. Celibate Aphrodite
10. War On Terror
11. Tithe
12. Sinner's Last Retreat (bonus track)

Metal Blade Records has set a July 4 European release date (three days earlier in Germany, Austria and Switzerland) for the CD+DVD package by the first female-fronted heavy metal band in the world, the infamous BITCH!

The CD includes the "Be My Slave" album and the "Damnation Alley" mini-LP, both having been remastered and sounding better than ever. There will be an exclusive bonus track on the CD, "Let's Go", which has never been released before.

The bonus-DVD includes ancient footage from the early and mid-'80s — all sorts of live clips recorded at various American shows. The DVD also includes the entire show BITCH just played in April this year at the prestigious Keep It True festival in Germany. Filmed with multiple cameras BITCH gave the Keep It True the whip and delivered nothing but a killer show featuring all the greatest hits of the rich BITCH history!

One of the earliest of the '80's heavy metal club bands to gain national media exposure, BITCH was formed in 1981 and quickly gained a large local following. They generated notoriety (in part) as a result of their live performances which included sadomasochism and bondage themes. They were also the first artists signed to Metal Blade Records and one of the first-ever heavy metal bands to have a female lead singer, Betsy "Bitch" Weiss. No stranger to making history, BITCH was also exposed to the national media during the Parents Music Resource Center (P.M.R.C.) hearings in the U.S. Congress. Shortly after the band was formed, they met Brian Slagel who had just formed Metal Blade Records, and was a friend of BITCH guitarist David Carruth. The original quartet included vocalist Betsy Weiss, guitarist Carruth, Mark Anthony Webb on bass and drummer Robby Settles. They signed to the label and released a self-financed EP entitled "Damnation Alley" (1982). During their early days, BITCH played a lot of gigs with other metal groups such as W.A.S.P., SLAYER and ARMORED SAINT. The following year, the group released its first full-length album, "Be My Slave". During the tour of the album, BITCH developed their controversial and elaborate stage shows; these included sadmasochistic elements: clothing with chains and whips, bondage acts with a "slave" on stage.

According to HMV Japan, UFO's new set of five CDs, titled Chrysalis Years Volume 1 1973-1979, is due for release on July 11th.

The tracklisting:

Disc 1:
'Give Her The Gun' (Single A-Side)
'Sweet Little Thing' (Single B-Side)
'Oh My'
'Crystal Light'
'Doctor Doctor'
'Space Child'
'Rock Bottom'
'Too Young To Know'
'Time On My Hands'
'Built For Comfort'
'Lipstick Traces'
'Queen Of The Deep'
'Doctor Doctor' (Single Edit) *
Bob Harris session (28th October 1974):
'Rock Bottom'
'Time On My Hands'
'Give Her The Gun'

Disc 2:
Electric Ballroom, Atlanta, GA 5th November 1974 (Previously Unreleased):
'Oh My'
'Doctor Doctor'
' Built For Comfort'
'Give Her The Gun'
'Cold Turkey'
'Space Child'
'Rock Bottom'
'Prince Kujuku'
'Let It Roll'
'Shoot Shoot'
'High Flyer'
'Love Lost Love'
'Out In The Street'

Disc 3:
'Mother Mary'
'Too Much Of Nothing'
'Dance Your Life Away'
'This Kid's' (Including 'Between The Walls')
'Natural Thing'
'I'm A Loser'
'Can You Roll Her'
'Belladonna'
'Reasons Love'
'Highway Lady'
'On With The Action'
'A Fool In Love'
'Martian Landscape'
'Too Hot To Handle'
'Just Another Suicide'
'Try Me'
'Lights Out'

Disc 4:
'Gettin' Ready'
'Alone Again Or'
'Electric Phase'
'Love To Love'
'Try Me' (Single Remix) *
John Peel session (27th June 1977)
'Too Hot To Handle'
'Lights Out'
'Try Me'
'Only You Can Rock Me'
'Pack It Up (And Go)'
'Arbory Hill'
'Ain't No Baby'
'Lookin' Out For No 1'
'Hot 'N' Ready'
'Cherry'
'You Don't Fool Me'
'Lookin' Out For No 1' (Reprise)
'One More For The Rodeo'
'Born To Lose'
'Only You Can Rock Me' (Single Version) *

Disc 5
'Natural Thing'
'Out In The Street'
'Only You Can Rock Me'
'Doctor Doctor'
'Mother Mary'
'This Kid's'
'Love To Love'
'Lights Out'
'Rock Bottom'
'Too Hot To Handle'
'I'm A Loser'
'Let It Roll'
'Shoot Shoot'
'Doctor Doctor' (Live Single Edit)
'On With The Action' (Live Single B-Side) *

* - Available on CD for the first time

Maldives-based death/black metallers NOTHNEGAL have issued the following update:

"We regret to inform that the release our debut album, which was originally intended to come out this spring, has been delayed. This was mostly due to some unforeseen problems and changes in the band's lineup.

"Fufu, who has been doing the backing vocals and [playing] guitar, has taken over the [lead] vocals and Avo is no longer part of NOTHNEGAL as he decided to leave the band after our European tour with FINNTROLL.

"We have finished recording eight songs our upcoming album and the album's sound does shift away from the sound we had on our previous release by having a more heavier thrashier sound.

"Most of the instrument tracks were laid down at our home studio, the vocals were recorded at OneManArmy Studios in Finland. The songs are currently being mixed in Canada by Greg Reely (MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY, DEVIN TOWNSEND) who [will] also be doing the mastering.

"The album would be released worldwide through Season Of Mist later this year, making it our first release through Season Of Mist and also our debut album.

"More details on the album, the release schedule and our touring plans to follow soon."

NOTHNEGAL's current lineup is as follows:

Fufu - Vocals, Guitar
Hilarl - Guitar
Marco Sneck - Keyboards/Samples
Kevin Talley - Drums

Seminal grindcore/extreme metal outfit BRUTAL TRUTH (Kevin Sharp: vocals, Dan Lilker: bass, Richard Hoak: drums, Erik Burke: guitar) will release its new full-length album, "End Time", on September 27 in North America via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded with Doug White at Watchmen Studios in Lockport, New York and was mixed by Jason P.C. at Goatsound Studios. Mastering duties were handled by Scott Hull at Visceral Sound.

In the current issue of Terrorizer magazine, BRUTAL TRUTH vocalist Kevin Sharp states that "End Time" lyrically "follows the world's environmental shake that seems to be going on… obvious changes in our world could shed a bit of light on how everything will unravel…our expansion of population meets environmental issues."

"End Time" track listing:

01. Malice
02. Simple Math
03. End Time
04. Fuck Cancer
05. Celebratory Gunfire
06. Small Talk
07. .58 Caliber
08. Swift And Violent (Swift Version)
09. Crawling Man Blues
10. Lottery
11. Warm Embrace Of Poverty
12. Old World Order
13. Butcher
14. Killing Planet Earth
15. Gut-Check
16. All Work And No Play
17. Addicted
18. Sweet Dreams
19. Echo Friendly Discharge
20. Twenty Bag
21. Trash
22. Drink Up
23. Control Room