Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the landmark metal debut of 1982, "Under The Blade" by TWISTED SISTER, on May 31. The CD — originally produced by Pete Way of UFO — will also contain four tracks from their 1982 "Ruff Cuts" EP (never before available on CD) as well as "Shoot 'Em Down", an '82 live track from England's prestigious Reading Festival. The lavish package features the original "Under The Blade" cover, which has not appeared on any domestic versions of the album until now, and reflects the original Secret Records track list and remastered audio mix.

The DVD contains the entire previously-unreleased Reading concert. Vocalist Dee Snider, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, bassist Mark Mendoza and drummer A.J. Pero gave the crowd something they had not exactly ever seen before. It was, for all intents and purposes, a coming-out affair for this great band. They play as if their life depends upon it. They play as if they have something to prove. And they did. They're young, hungry, determined and wind up headbanging with a desperate ferocity usually reserved for those kinds of life-altering performances that make a band. This is one of those performances. The set concludes with a show-stopping version of "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll" as the band jams out with Pete Way and MOTÖRHEAD's Fast Eddie Clarke and Lemmy! The DVD also includes 40 minutes of newly shot interviews with the band about the recording of "Under The Blade" and the Reading Festival.

French joined the band SILVER STAR, a New Jersey-based "glitter band" in December 1972. The group, whose original purpose was to be the New Jersey version of the NEW YORK DOLLS, changed their name to TWISTED SISTER on Valentine's Day 1973. The band, however, continually changed lineups and didn't take off until Snider joined in 1976. The lineup didn't fully coalesce until 1982 with the final addition of drummer A.J. Pero.

"Under The Blade" first came out on an independent U.K.-based label called Secret Records, but really gained momentum when Atlantic Records released a different mix of the album nationally in 1985 while taking advantage of the bands newly minted stardom. Their meteoric ascent came in tandem with the simultaneous rise of MTV. This version you now have in your hands is the most requested and sought after. The new digital remastered original mix of "Under the Blade".

CD track listing:

01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'n' Roll)
03. Run For Your Life
04. Sin After Sin
05. Shoot 'Em Down
06. Destroyer
07. Under The Blade
08. Tear It Loose
09. Day Of The Rocker
10. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You) (Ruff Cutts Version)
11. Shoot 'Em Down (Ruff Cutts Version)
12. Under The Blade (Ruff Cutts Version)
13. Leader Of The Pack (Ruff Cutts Version)
14. Shoot 'Em Down (Live At Reading)

DVD track listing:

01. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
02. Sin After Sin
03. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'n' Roll)
04. Destroyer
05. Shoot ‘Em Down
06. Tear It Loose
07. Under The Blade
08. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) will release "Deconstruction" and "Ghost" — the third and fourth in a series of albums to be made available under DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT moniker — on June 21 (one day earlier internationally) via InsideOut Music.

"Deconstruction" and "Ghost" will complete his tetralogy album concept — a great journey through Devin's different states of musical moods — which he started in 2009 with the albums "Addicted" (2009) and "Ki" (2009).

"Deconstruction" and "Ghost" are available for pre-order in three different packages at CMDistro.com.

In addition to the "Deconstruction" and "Ghost" 2CD package, fans can get their hands on one of the 500 "Special" bundles that contains both of the albums along with a limited-edition seven-inch single titled "The Calm & The Storm" plus four digital songs from the already completed "Ghost II" album. For the hardcore Devin fans, there are also 500 of the "Ultimate" bundles which contains everything from the other packages along with a patch and an exclusive t-shirt. All of these are available now at CMDistro.com.

DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT is also giving away a song from each of the two new records now! Download the tracks at this location.

Townsend tapped Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, PARADISE LOST, BLOODBATH) to mix "Deconstruction". The sessions took place in late February at Fascination Street studio in Örebro, Sweden. The CD features guest appearances by a number of well-known metal musicians as well as two drummers — Ryan Van Poederooyen (TERROR SYNDROME, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND) for the "crushing stuff," and Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK, SCARVE, ABORTED) for the "inhuman stuff."

"Deconstruction" track listing:

01. Praise The Lowered (feat. Paul Kuhr of NOVEMBERS DOOM) (6:02)
02. Stand (Feat. Mikael Åkerfeldt) (9:36)
03. Juular (feat. Ihsahn) (3:46)
04. Planet Of The Apes (feat. Tommy Rogers) (10:59)
05. Sumeria (feat. Joe Duplantier, Paul Masvidal) (6:37)
06. The Mighty Masturbator (feat. Greg Puciato) (16:28)
07. Pandemic (feat. Floor Jansen) (3:29)
08. Deconstruction (feat. Oderus Urungus, Fredrik Thordenal) (9:27)
09. Poltergeist (4:25)

"Deconstruction" guest musicians:

* Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH, BLOODBATH)
* Ihsahn (EMPEROR)
* Tommy Rogers (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME)
* Joe Duplantier (GOJIRA)
* Greg Puciato (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN)
* Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER, REVAMP)
* Oderus Urungus (GWAR)
* Paul Masvidal (CYNIC)
* Fredrik Thordendal (MESHUGGAH)

"Ghost" track listing:

01. Fly (4:15)
02. Heart Baby (5:55)
03. Feather (11:30)
04. Kawaii (2:52)
05. Ghost (6:24)
06. Blackberry (4:53)
07. Monsoon (4:37)
08. Dark Matters (1:57)
09. Texada (9:30)
10. Seams (4:04)
11. Infinite Ocean (8:01)
12. As You Were (8:47)

A detailed track-by-track review of "Deconstruction" can be found at RadioMetal.com.

A detailed track-by-track review of "Ghost" is available at this location.

Devin previously described "Deconstruction" as "brutal in a lot of parts, but pretty glorious in others. It rides the fence of negativity but ultimately ends supremely positive."

All five members of JUDAS PRIEST — Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, Scott Travis, and the band's latest addition, 31-year-old guitarist Richie Faulkner (LAUREN HARRIS, DIRTY DEEDS) — took part in a press conference yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, May 24) at the Renaissance Hotel at Highland and Hollywood in Los Angeles to answer questions about the upcoming "Epitaph" U.S. tour and to formally introduce Faulkner. You can now watch video footage of the entire event in three parts below (courtesy of MetalAssault.com).

On the band's upcoming farewell tour:

Tipton: "It's not the end of the band, by any means. It is our last world tour. It takes a big chunk of your life — 18 months, really, of being out there. We've been doing it for nearly 40 years now. It's not to say that it will be our last shows, and we certainly will [be] — and have been — recording, so chances are that there will be a [new] album as well next year. We would never turn down the appropriate date if we were offered it at some point in the future, but it will be our last world tour. It's probably the last chance that most people will get to see JUDAS PRIEST live. We wanna go out one final time and play our songs and just be together with the audience."

On the musical and lyrical direction of JUDAS PRIEST's new material:

Tipton: "It's quite a mixed bag. Really, there's more sentiment on this album. In a way, I suppose, it's also our farewell album. There are some anthems on there, which pay tribute to our fans; it's our fans of saying thank you to the fans for all the years."

Halford: "I think what really is important is that you still have this desire, this passion — it doesn't diminish in nearly 40 years; we still have this tremendous love for what we do in heavy metal music and the fans that have supported us are a constant inspiration. And I think we all agree that as much as we were very happy with the way [the JUDAS PRIEST concept album] 'Nostradamus' came out — that was a great moment for us, because we had been waiting forever to make this concept album — that's not the end with 'Nostradamus'. We wanted to make, at least, as Glenn said, one more great metal album with all the great ingredients [that make] PRIEST [music what it is]."

Tipton: "We've [already recorded and] mixed three [new] tracks, which we might put on our web page, because, as I said, some of the songs are a tribute to the fans — a big 'thank you' to the fans for all the years — so we might do that; we haven't really decided [how we'll release them]. But that's one of the suggestions. I think we've done about 10 songs, but they're not finished — three of them are mixed, the rest [need more work]. And, of course, we haven't done any collaboration with Richie yet. So it's early days, but there will be an album at some point — we just need time to finish it, really, and that depends on the touring schedule. 'Cause even if you get a break, when you've been on the road two or three months playing every night, you probably don't feel like going into the studio. Sometimes you need to walk away from music for a little bit. But at some point next year, I'm confident we'll release an album."

On Richie Faulkner's addition to the band:

Tipton: It's amazing, really. When Ken [former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth 'K.K.' Downing] told us and said he leaving PRIEST, we had two choices — we either carry on and do the farewell tour, or we could have ended the band. So, obviously, we had to find the right guy, and honestly, we couldn't have had any better than this guy. The most amazing thing is he satisfies everybody's needs for how PRIEST should sound, but he does it in his own way. It's pretty unbelievable; he blended into the band straight away. And, as Rob said earlier on, honestly, if we hadn't found Richie, I don't think we would be going out [on tour] now, so it's just worked out really, really well for us."

On what Richie has brought to JUDAS PRIEST's sound compared to K.K. and how it feels being part of the band:

Faulkner: "I come from [the classic-rock] era — [LED] ZEPPELIN and [JIMI] HENDRIX — and I think K.K.'s playing was Hendrix-inspired as well, so that's kind of similar there. What it feels like to be a part of it, you can only image — it's kind of surreal, really. But as a fan of the band and the genre, they are big shoes to fill, but I know what I do and I'm not trying to… As a fan, and as part of the band now, it's exciting — as a guitar player and as a musician."

On whether it was difficult learning JUDAS PRIEST's songs:

Richie: "I knew some of them already, to be honest, and it's where I come from musically, so it wasn't difficult in a sense."

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman Josh Homme has confirmed that the band's long-awaited sixth studio album will be completed by the end of the year.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1 in London, Homme said, "We're going to take our one last break that we would get for a month, come back and do Glastonbury, then immediately jump in the studio. Our record will be done by the end of the year. We have enough songs."
Homme didn't offer any clues as to the direction of the new album, but revealed that "We're at a weird moment where we really don't feel like we have anything to prove. We just want to play to the people that are into us and we want to play right at them."

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE is commemorating the recent reissue of its classic 1998 debut with a limited series of intimate shows at which the band is playing the record in its entirety, plus B-sides and other rarities and hits from the early QUEENS catalogue up to the present.

"I'm not gonna lie: I'm sick of doing the first record," Homme admitted. "We've never played the same setlist before. But then we're playing really deep cuts [after the album performance] because it just it feels like a special night. We're playing really small places."

QUEENS guitarist Dean Fertita had previously said about the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2007's "Era Vulgaris", "We've got so many ideas started already; I guess we'll see what turns out to be everybody's favorite. It's very much still Homme's band, but I think all of us really feel like we've found our space in it and can contribute to it as well."

Quebec, Canada-based black/death metal band NECRONOMICON has announced the addition of bassist Armaros to the group's ranks.

Commented the group: "Some came to try to have the position and left right away, others didn't have time to even play since attitude and personality is really important for us.

"After some months of testing that guy on the road for the last part of 2010 shows, we are happy and proud to introduce the new member of the Okkultis Trinity, Armaros.

"Everyone, welcome him with the respect he deserve.”

Norway's ICS VORTEX, the project led by the former DIMMU BORGIR and current BORKNAGAR member, has signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records for the release of its debut album, "Storm Seeker". Due on August 22 in Europe and August 23 in North America, the CD "takes the musical elements from [ICS Vortex's] 10-plus years of experience with DIMMU BORGIR as well as the legacy of the classic bands with whom he is still active (BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS and LAMENTED SOULS), topping things off with his signature clean vocals in order to make 'Storm Seeker' become a perfectly balanced axe, whether a song is cutting fast, or dicing slow."

Commented ICS Vortex: "Boarding with Century Media, ICS Vortex is ready to weather whatever storm lies ahead. The album, aged like a pirate's favorite drink, is now ready to be shot with fellow mates."

"Storm Seeker" features appearances by ICS Vortex's BORKNAGAR bandmate Asgeir Mickelson on drums and Terje "Cyrus" Andersen (SUSPERIA, DIMMU BORGIR) on lead guitar. The CD was recorded at Toproom Studio (MAYHEM, TRISTANIA, BORKNAGAR) with engineer Børge Finstad and mastered by Peter in de Betou at Tailor Maid Studio (ARCH ENEMY, DARK TANQUILLITY, DIMMU BORGIR) in Sweden.

After the recordings for the CD were completed, the ICS VORTEX project evolved into a real band, eager to perform live with the following permanent lineup:

* ICS Vortex (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS) - Vocals
* Asgeir Mickelson (SARKE, SPIRAL ARCHITECT, ex-BORKNAGAR, ex-TESTAMENT) - Drums
* Terje "Cyrus" Andersen (SUSPERIA, ex-SATYRICON, ex-DIMMU BORGIR) - Guitar
* Jens F. Ryland (BORKNAGAR) - Guitar
* Steinar "Azarak" Gundersen (SPIRAL ARCHITECT, ex-SATYRICON) - Bass

Swedish industrial metallers PAIN, led by iconic producer/musician Peter Tägtgren, issued the following update on May 23rd:

"Hello Painheads!

It's less than three days to our first show the year now and we're all getting really exited to play live and present some of the new songs for you. Tomorrow we're all meeting up at The Abyss for some quick rehersals. Last time was 2007 when Michael and Johan joined the band, so you can understand this is not an everyday occasion for us. After the rehersals we'll all go home for a couple of hours before it's time to leave for Arlanda Airport and the bar just beside the smoking room in Terminal 5. The following days will be punishing for us with lots of traveling, lots of stagetime, not so much of sleep, but shitloads of fun and a 72 hour charge of the Pain batteries that keeps us all going, and going, and going...




It's also time to revive the Pain tour blog again so that you don't miss anything. As usual we promise to spare you no details and publish all of those stories and pictures that would get us banned on MySpace and Facebook. We'll start tomorrow at the rehersals and will continue until the last show is over in November. So make sure you tune in to www.mobilblogg.net/pain for your daily dose of... abomination?"

Guitarist/producer Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) is currently composing songs for BLACK, his new collaborative project with vocalist Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH) and bassist Magnus Rosén (HAMMERFALL). Andy says, "At this point I think we have the music written for about 7-8 songs, so we need 3-4 more songs and then we need to arrange it properly and we'll be ready to start recording, hopefully end of summer/autumn."

According to Martin, the first song that was written during the project's initial writing sessions was called "Deathless Soul" and it "sounds very dark." However, the singer was quick to point out, "I don't expect it to be completely in that vein."

A photo of Martin, Rosén and La Rocque taken in late February in Sweden can be viewed below.

La Rocque is one of the scheduled guest performers at Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw's May 27 concert at the Brew House in Gothenburg, Sweden. The one-off event, which will be professionally filmed and recorded for future DVD release, will see Shaw perform "all his favorite songs" from "all his former bands" — including KING DIAMOND, NOTRE DAME, DREAM EVIL, MERCYFUL FATE, THERION, MEMENTO MORI, ILLWILL, XXX and DIMMU BORGIR). Andy will play a few KING DIAMOND songs at the show with bass player Hal Patino and guitarist Mike Wead.

A spokesperson for SLAYER has informed fan site Slayerized.com that it is not very likely that founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman will join the band for the upcoming South American tour which kicks off next week (June 2) in Santiago, Chile. A replacement guitarist hasn't been officially named, but it is believed to once again be Gary Holt of EXODUS.

Hanneman stepped onstage with SLAYER at the April 23 "Big Four" concert in Indio, California, marking the first time he has played with the band since last October. In January, Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, and has been undergoing surgeries, skin grafts and intense rehab since. Hanneman surprised the crowd of 50,000 when he walked out onto the stage, unannounced, and played the two-song encore, "South Of Heaven" and "Angel Of Death".

Holt (EXODUS) has been the primary guest guitarist with SLAYER since the band started its 2011 touring schedule in February, and will continue in that capacity until Hanneman has completely recovered.

In a recent interview with Austria's Stormbringer.at webzine, SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo stated about the decision to hire Holt as the initial temporary replacement for Hanneman, "Well, that was a hard decision to make. We had to think to ourselves, 'Do we cancel — again? Or what do we do? Do we keep going?' It was a difficult decision, but we had to make it — to find a guitar player to take Jeff's place until Jeff gets better. And Gary, really, was a no-brainer — meaning, we didn't have to think about it. Because at Hellfest in France [in 2010], Kerry [King, SLAYER guitarist] and myself were watching EXODUS. And SLAYER and EXODUS go waaay back. We go back to '83 or '84 when we first got together and did shows up in San Francisco together. So we saw Gary play with EXODUS [again last year], and we loved it. And Gary's performance was outstanding. So the first person that came to our minds was Gary — to take the place for Jeff. Again, it was difficult to make that decision, but we had to do it to fulfill our shows; we couldn't cancel again."

LED ZEPPELIN legend Robert Plant is nominated in the "Album Of The Year", "Artist Of The Year" and "Duo/Group Of The Year" categories at the 10th annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, which is scheduled to take place Thursday, October 13 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Plant is nominated for his work on the "Band of Joy" album, his first release since recording the six-time Grammy-winning bluegrass album "Raising Sand" with collaborator Alison Krauss in 2007.

"Band of Joy" sold 49,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 5 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD enlists the help of an array of U.S. musicians, all of whom performed with Plant on tour.

The BAND OF JOY lineup includes Patty Griffin on vocals; Darrell Scott on multiple instruments and vocals; Byron House on bass and vocals; Marco Giovino on drums, percussion and vocals; and co-producer Buddy Miller on guitar and vocals.

Fan-filmed video footage of STAIND performing a brand new song, tentatively titled "Not Again", on May 21, 2011 at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio can be viewed below. The track will appear on the band's seventh album, "Seven", due later in the year via Atlantic Records. Guitarist Mike Mushok said about the set, "It's completely different than the last record [2008's 'The Illusion Of Progress']. It's more of a throwback to where we came from. You know, 'Dysfunction' [1999], 'Tormented' [1996] albums . . . [But] I don't think there's any rehashed riffs; I definitely think it's fresh. It's a modern-sounding version of a heavy STAIND record. It's pretty cool."

Los Angeles-based progressive death metal titans THE FACELESS have parted ways with vocalist Derek Rydquist. In a statement to Lambgoat, Rydquist said about his exit from the group, "As you Internet sleuths have deduced, I have left THE FACELESS. I left the band a couple months ago, and we were waiting until they had everything sorted out on their end before saying anything about it, but I guess I'll take it upon myself to break the news. I am no longer emotionally or artistically fulfilled by being the vocalist for the group, and that's how I arrived at my decision.

"Touring's luster has worn off, and I have found myself reconsidering the role I would like to take in creating and presenting music. Also, being a 'professional musician' was kind of ruining my love for music because when you rely on this stuff to make you money, as with anything, it is easy to become bitter towards it. Not that it was all bad — I had the best times I will ever have being in this band — but it is time for me to move on.

"I'd like to thank the band and the friends I've made through the band for making this not only a life-altering experience, but a life-shaping one. There is an immense amount of talent in this band, and the new vocalist they have is doing a great job, so please keep supporting THE FACELESS. I can now join you in anticipating the new album.

"If you're interested, I'm now playing in another group with some dudes from some awesome bands. Check it out at [this location]. We're mixing the album right now, so we should have some music up soon."

According to Lambgoat, Geoff Ficco (KAMIKABE, ORGONE) has been taking care of the vocal duties in THE FACELESS for some of the band's most recent shows.

DEATH's legendary fourth album, "Human", will mark its 20th anniversary with an official reissue on June 21 in North America (June 27 internationally) via Relapse Records. The LP was entirely remixed by longtime DEATH producer Jim Morris and remastered by Alan Douches (MASTODON, CONVERGE, MISFITS). This special 20th-anniversary edition of the album will come complete with expanded packaging featuring liner notes from Morris as well as former DEATH/current CYNIC guitarist Paul Masvidal and over an hour of newly unearthed, previously unreleased early demo tracks.

"Human" will be available on two- and three-disc sets as well as digitally.

Commented Morris (pictured below): "[This was] an awesome experience for me." He added, "We were contacted by Chuck Schuldiner's intellectual property lawyer, Eric Greif, the former manager of DEATH."

Added Eric Greif: "The former DEATH guys Paul Masvidal (guitar), Sean Reinert (drums) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass) are all 'ecstatic' about the prospect of a heavier mix, where all the instruments can be heard and modern technology utilized. Jim said he took into account everything he and Chuck agreed upon during the making of 'Symbolic' (1995) and 'The Sound Of Perseverance' (1998) as his guide for what he believed Chuck would want from such a remix. I myself am thrilled."

Disc 1: (classic remixed and remastered "Human" album)

01. Flattening Of Emotions
02. Suicide Machine
03. Together As One
04. Secret Face
05. Lack Of Comprehension
06. See Through Dreams
07. Cosmic Sea
08. Vacant Planets
09. God Of Thunder (Bonus Track)

Disc 2:

10. Flattening Of Emotions (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
11. Suicide Machine (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
12. Together As One (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
13. Secret Face (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
14. Secret Face - Part 2 (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
15. Lack Of Comprehension (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
16. "Felt Good" - Studio Snippet
17. See Through Dreams (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
18. See Through Dreams - Part 2 (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
19. Vacant Planets (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
20. Cosmic Sea (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
21. Cosmic Sea Part 2 (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
22. God Of Thunder (Basic Instrumental Studio Tracks)
23. Flattening Of Emotions ("Human" Demos)
24. Lack Of Comprehension ("Human" Demos)
25. Suicide Machine ("Human" Demos)
26. Together As One ("Human" Demos)
27. See Through Dreams ("Human" Demos)
28. Secret Face (Instrumental - "Human" Demos)
29. Vacant Planets (Instrumental - "Human" Demos)

Disc 3:

30. See Through Dreams (w/ Paul and Sean) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
31. See Through Dreams (Take 2) (w/ Paul and Sean) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
32. Secret Face (w/o Paul - 1/2 song) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
33. Secret Face (Take 2) (w/o Paul) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
34. Secret Face - Riffs (Rehearsal January, 1991)
35. Flattening Of Emotions (Riffs) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
36. Lack Of Comprehension (Riffs) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
37. Lack Of Comprehension (Take 2) (Riffs) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
38. Cosmic Sea (Riffs w/ Drum Machine) (Rehearsal January, 1991)
39. See Through Dreams (Rehearsal August, 1990)
40. Suicide Machine (Rehearsal August, 1990)
41. Together As One (Rehearsal August, 1990)
42. Suicide Machine (Drum & Bass Tracks)
43. Together As One (Drum & Bass Tracks)
44. Secret Face (Drum & Bass Tracks)
45. Lack Of Comprehension (Drum & Bass Tracks)
46. Vacant Planets (Drum & Bass Tracks)
47. Flattening Of Emotions (Drum & Bass Tracks)
48. See Through Dreams (Drum & Bass Tracks)
49. Cosmic Sea (Drum & Bass Tracks)

Twan Fleuren, former bassist for Dutch thrashers LEGION OF THE DAMNED, has committed suicide, according to a posting on the band's official web site.

Twan joined the pre-LEGION OF THE DAMNED band OCCULT in 1998 in time for the group's European tour with MORBID ANGEL, AMON AMARTH and GORGOROTH. After the recording of OCCULT's "Rage To Revenge" in 2001 and two great tours with DARK FUNERAL (in 2001) and EXODUS, NUCLEAR ASSAULT and AGENT STEEL (in 2003), Twan Fleuren was involved in the recording sessions for the "Elegy For The Weak" album in 2003 (re-released in 2007 under the title "Feel The Blade") and the making of "Malevolent Rapture" in 2004 (released in 2006). Twan Fleuren was also part of the first LEGION OF THE DAMNED tour that took place in 2006 with KATAKLYSM and CANNIBAL CORPSE. However, Twan left the band halfway through the tour because his then-newborn son was hospitalized. It was eventually decided that it would be better for Twan to exit the group permanently and focus on family life. He was replaced in 2006 by Harold Gielen.

Commented LEGION OF THE DAMNED vocalist Maurice Swinkels: "Twan has been a great friend and we lost contact for several years because he was in some difficult times. Only a few weeks back we were all back in contact again and it felt like these great old times were about to return. Even Erik [Fleuren, drums] and me joined him on a terrace for a beer or two a few weeks ago. He even wanted to join us to With Full Force [festival] in July, where I was really looking forward to. He even showed a lot of interest in our new guitar player and the departure of Richard Ebisch.

"The bad news that came in today struck as a bomb not for me only personally but also for the band LEGION OF THE DAMNED.

"Of course we wish his family and kids all the strength they need in this process.

"We will miss you, brother, and, of course, all of the upcoming LEGION OF THE DAMNED shows will be dedicated in his name!"

Added drummer Erik Fleuren: "We knew that Twan had to face some extreme difficult times, but we certainly did not expect this. He was about to join us at some upcoming festivals and we were really looking forward to that. Maurice and I are happy that we still had a nice chat and drink with him at a terrace not so long ago after a really long time of not seeing each other."

Stated Andy Siry of LEGION OF THE DAMNED's management company, Boomer Entertainment: "When Maurice informed me this afternoon that Twan commited suicide, I was totally shocked and speechless.

"I remember when I met Twan at the first LEGION OF THE DAMNED tour in 2006 (with CANNIBAL CORPSE, KATAKLYSM). Twan was a very kind and nice man and a good bass player. Our 'beer talks' were always funny.

"Twan made the decision to leave the band during this tour to take care of his wife and his two kids … and now this terrible news … and the big open question is, of course, why???

"What moves through us is a silence, a quiet sadness, a longing for one more day, one more word, one more touch, we cannot understand why Twan left this earth so soon, but little by little, we will begin to remember not just that Twan died, but that he lived. And that his life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.

"Twan will always stay a member of the LEGION OF THE DAMNED!"

After having had such a fun experience the first time around in 2003, drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-DREAM THEATER), guitarist Paul Gilbert (RACER X, MR. BIG) and guitarist/keyboardist Neal Morse (ex-SPOCK'S BEARD) reunited as YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD in February 2011 to once again pay tribute to their greatest influence of all: THE BEATLES.

Due to a scheduling conflict (and further fueling the "Paul is dead" rumors), original YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD bassist Matt Bissonette was unable to join the band this time and was replaced by UTOPIA legend Kasim Sulton.

YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD's February 28, 2011 concert at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City is now available as a two-CD and DVD set from MikePortnoy.com (CD, DVD).

"One More Night In New York City" track listing (CD and DVD):

Side 1:

01. Intro
02. Back In The USSR
03. I Got A Feeling
04. And Your Bird Can Sing
05. Day Tripper
06. Getting Better
07. Taxman
08. It Won't Be Long
09. You Really Got A Hold On Me
10. Lady Madonna
11. We Can Work It Out
12. I'm A Loser
13. I Don't Want To Spoil The Party
14. Penny Lane
15. The Fool On The Hill
16. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
17. Things We Said Today
18. If I Needed Someone
19. It's Only Love
20. Request Time/Too Many People

Side 2:

01. She's A Woman
02. The Word
03. Any Time At All
04. Paperback Writer
05. Don't Let Me Down
06. I'm So Tired
07. Savoy Truffle
08. Glass Onion
09. Yer Blues
10. Helter Skelter
11. Flying
12. Because
13. You Never Give Me Your Money
14. Sun King
15. Mean Mr. Mustard
16. Her Majesty
17. Polythene Pam
18. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
19. Golden Slumbers
20. Carry That Weight
21. The End

DVD Bonus Features:

* Interview with Mike Portnoy and Paul Gilbert
* Rehearsal footage

YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD in 2005 issued a live DVD entitled "One Night in New York City". Recorded live at New York's B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on May 18, 2003, the set saw YELLOW MATTER CUSTARD performing some well-known BEATLES songs such as "Nowhere Man" and "Revolution", as well as more obscure tunes like "I Call Your Name", "Think For Yourself" and even a hilarious rendition of the "Let it Be" b-side "You Know My Name".

A demo version of "Since The Shadows", a brand new song from Virginia-based melodic tech death metal masters ARSIS, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Commented the band: "We are indeed writing a new ARSIS album and we want to offer everybody a glimpse into the music that we've been building for the last few months. This is a demo of a new one called 'Since The Shadows' and it's from the first batch of songs for the album.

"It's still early but a musical direction has emerged from the work so far and we think it speaks for itself without any grand pronouncements, so enjoy it and we will see you on the FIREWIND tour this fall!"