German power metallers RUNNING WILD played their farewell show at the 2009 edition of Wacken Open Air festival, which was held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany. The band's July 30, 2009 "best-of" performance was filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD and CD.

"The Final Jolly Roger" will released on June 24 via Golden Core/ZYX and will be made available as a double CD, separate DVD or a special "deluxe" three-disc box set comprised of the other two formats packaged together.

"The Final Jolly Roger" track listing:

DVD:

01. Intro
02. Port Royal
03. Bad To The Bone
04. Riding The Storm
05. Soulless
06. Prisoner Of Our Time
07. Black Hand Inn
08. Gates Of Purgatory
09. Battle Of Waterloo
10. Der Kaltverformer
11. Raging Fire
12. Whirlwind
13. Tortuga Bay
14. Branded And Exiled
15. Raise Your Fist
16. Conquistadores
17. Under Jolly Roger

CD 1:

01. Intro
02. Port Royal
03. Bad To The Bone
04. Riding The Storm
05. Soulless
06. Prisoner Of Our Time
07. Black Hand Inn
08. Gates Of Purgatory
09. Battle Of Waterloo
10. Der Kaltverformer
11. Raging Fire

CD 2:

01. Whirlwind
02. Tortuga Bay
03. Branded And Exiled
04. Raise Your Fist
05. Conquistadores
06. Under Jolly Roger

PAIN, the Swedish industrial metal outfit led by musician and producer Peter Tägtgren, will release its seventh album, "You Only Live Twice", on June 3 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The two-disc version of the effort will feature the following track listing:

Regular CD

01. Let Me Out
02. Feed The Demons
03. The Great Pretender
04. You Only Live Twice
05. Dirty Woman
06. We Want More
07. Leave Me Alone
08. Monster
09. Season Of The Reaper

Bonus CD

01. Crawling Thru Bitterness (unreleased bonus track)
02. The Great Pretender (Millboy & Peka P Remix)
03. Dirty Woman (MC Raaka Pee Remix)
04. You Only Live Twice (Rectifier Remix)
05. Leave Me Alone (Rectifier Remix)
06. Eleanor Rigby (Live at Sundown Festival, 2008)
07. Follow Me (Live in Brussels, 2009)
08. I Don’t Care (Live at Raimsmes Festival, 2009)
09. Bitch (Live at Raismes Festival, 2009)

Full Metal Jackie of Revolver TV has filed a nine-and-a-half-minute video report from the "black carpet" of the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which was held on April 20 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. Among the musicians and personalities featured in the report, which can be viewed below, are Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Chris Jericho (FOZZY), Vince Neil (MÖTLEY CRÜE), DEVILDRIVER, Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED), Sebastian Bach, Vinnie Paul Abbott (HELLYEAH, PANTERA), DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED, RAMMSTEIN, Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION) and Alice Cooper.

Highlights from the Revolver Golden Gods Awards will be broadcast on VH1 Classic on Saturday, May 28. Revolver will release a special Golden Gods issue of the magazine on May 24. The Golden Gods issue will include exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and interviews.

The full list of winners and presenters for the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards is as follows:

* Golden God Award: Alice Cooper (presented by Rob Zombie)

* Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award: MÖTLEY CRÜE (presented by Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR)

* Honorary Headbanger Award: William Shatner (presented by Scott Ian of ANTHRAX and THE DAMNED THINGS and comedian Brian Posehn)

* Best Guitarists Award: Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of AVENGED SEVENFOLD (presented by Robb Flynn of MACHINE HEAD and Wayne Static of STATIC X)

* Best Drummer Award: Mike Portnoy for his work with AVENGED SEVENFOLD (presented by Vinnie Paul of PANTERA/HELLYEAH)

* Best New Band Award: BLACK VEIL BRIDES (presented by Duff McKagan of LOADED/VELVET REVOLVER/GUNS N' ROSES)

* Most Metal Athlete Award: Skateboarder Mike Vallely (presented by Chino Moreno of Deftones)

* Best Vocalist Award: M. Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD (presented by Taylor Momsen of THE PRETTY RECKLESS and Sebastian Bach)

* Best Live Band Award: RAMMSTEIN (presented by Charlie Benante of ANTHRAX and Mike Portnoy)

* Comeback of the Year Award: MURDERDOLLS (presented by David Coverdale of WHITESNAKE)

* Album of the Year Award: AVENGED SEVENFOLD's "Nightmare" (presented by Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of ALICE IN CHAINS)

The show featured host Chris Jericho (WWE, FOZZY, "Dancing With The Stars") along with presenters, performers, nominees and attendees, including:

* Alice Cooper
* MÖTLEY CRÜE
* Rob Zombie
* Actor William Shatner
* Geezer Butler (BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL)
* Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, LOADED)
* Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR)
* Steve Jones (SEX PISTOLS)
* Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION)
* Chino Moreno (DEFTONES)
* Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA/HELLYEAH)
* Scott Ian (ANTHRAX, THE DAMNED THINGS)
* Actress Juliette Lewis
* David Coverdale (WHITESNAKE, DEEP PURPLE)
* Steven Adler (GUNS N' ROSES)
* Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA, SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY)
* Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED, KINGDOM OF SORROW)
* Taylor Momsen (THE PRETTY RECKLESS)
* Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD)
* Gilby Clarke (GUNS N' ROSES)

And members of:

* ALICE IN CHAINS
* SLAYER
* MEGADETH
* STATIC-X
* DETHKLOK
* FEAR FACTORY
* MACHINE HEAD
* WE ARE THE FALLEN
* MURDERDOLLS
* SUICIDE SILENCE
* WINDS OF PLAGUE

Also appearing were comedian Brian Posehn, skateboarders Mike Vallely and Chris Cole, MMA fighters Dan Hardy and Josh Barnett, Wendy Dio (wife of Ronnie James Dio) and many more.

Live performances for the Revolver Golden Gods awards included musical sets from ALICE COOPER (fresh off their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and their first L.A. appearance in 40 years), LOADED (featuring Duff McKagan of GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER), Elvis Presley/Johnny Cash-inspired metal group VOLBEAT, host Chris Jericho's band FOZZY, fast-rising metalcore newcomers ASKING ALEXANDRIA, and hometown heroes AVENGED SEVENFOLD closed out the night.

Special collaborations that took place at the 2011 show included AVENGED SEVENFOLD performing PANTERA's "Mouth For War" with Vinnie Paul Abbott and GUNS N' ROSES' "It's So Easy" with Duff McKagan; Steve Jones and Corey Taylor performing JUDAS PRIEST's "Electric Eye" with LOADED; Sebastian Bach performing SKID ROW's "Youth Gone Wild" with ASKING ALEXANDRIA; Scott Ian of ANTHRAX performing DUSTY SPRINGFIELD's "I Only Want To Be With You" with VOLBEAT; Max Cavalera, Jamey Jasta, and Mike Vallely joining DEVILDRIVER for a salute to BLACK FLAG.

Mike Mangini, the 48-year-old session artist who has played for ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE and STEVE VAI, has officially joined DREAM THEATER as the replacement for the recently departed Mike Portnoy.

Commented Mangini: "The day that I got the phone call to be in DREAM THEATER, it took my brain a minute to assemble what was going on, and when it sank in, the feeling was just of tremendous relief.

"It means so much to me, I almost felt like crying a couple of times. [Laughs] I didn't know what to do.

"What it means to me to be part of not only such a legendary band, but this band, is a sense of fulfillment and purpose. I feel like a puzzle piece, and with Mike [Portnoy] in particular, I feel really honored to carry on the torch for him; I'm carrying on his spirit."

Regarding the decision-making process, the members of DREAM THEATER had the following to say:

Jordan Rudess (keyboards): "The thing that stands about Mike Mangini is that he [plays] with such intensity and direction and power, and that was very engaging.

"It was hard to totally decide; you can't just say, 'OK, it's him and write off some other guy, because they're both incredible."

John Petrucci (guitar): "We unknowingly used a method that we use when we write music, which is, 'Just hear out my side.'

"During that discussion, we kind of came to some conclusions, we hashed things out, and at the end of the discussion, it was clear. We made a decision."

John Myung (bass): "A lot of it was just how felt with each particular drummer. It turned out that we were kind of all on the same page as to who we needed to carry on. I think it was meant to be."

Mangini is notorious for his technical prowess and holds three out of four World's Fastest Drummer titles. These include the Fastest Matched grip at 1,247 strokes in 60 seconds; Fastest Hands, which he earned by executing 1,203 single-stroke notes in 60 seconds without drumsticks mallets etc.; Fastest Traditional Grip which he earned by executing 1,126 strokes in 60 seconds; and Fastest Single Stroke Foot record, playing 13,222 hits in 15 minutes and 5,222 hits in five minutes.

Mangini has written two books about his drumming techniques. These books, titled "Rhythm Knowledge", are a practice method for deconstructing and simplifying complex polyrhythms and time signatures.

Mangini joined ANNIHILATOR in 1991 and appeared on the band's "Set The World On Fire" album. He toured with the group in support of the CD until 1994 at which point he was asked to play with the Massachusetts band EXTREME, replacing that group's original drummer Paul Geary.

After EXTREME dissolved in 1996, Mike was informed through drummer Jonathan Mover that guitarist Steve Vai was auditioning drummers for his live band. Mike successfully auditioned for Steve Vai's band and relocated to Los Angeles.

From late 1996 to early 2000, Mangini was the highly regarded drummer of Vai's live ensemble, which also included bassist Philip Bynoe, guitar wizard Mike Keneally and (in 2000) guitarist Dave Weiner. Mike also recorded several drum tracks for Steve's "Fire Garden" and "Ultrazone" albums.

In 2005, Mike accepted a full-time teaching position at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and today he is a prominent faculty member in the school's percussion department.

The latest installment of the CANDLEMASS biography "Candlemass Chronicles" has just been released. In this the fourth issue, focus is set on the "King Of The Grey Islands" album (Nuclear Blast Records, 2007). This era was a turning point and a rebirth for CANDLEMASS, that is still going in this incarnation today. Among many other things, the magazine goes into great detail about the behind-the-scenes events that eventually lead to the installment of current lead singer Robert Lowe. The people interviewed in this issue are Lowe, lead guitar player Lars Johansson, rhythm guitar player Mats "Mappe" Björkman, drummer Janne Lindh, mixer Peter Tägtgren, mastering engineer Sören von Malmborg and album cover artist Tomas Arfert.

The issue can be ordered through PayPal to candlemasschronicles@yahoo.com. Price is 6 U.S. dollars. Postage is 2 dollars (within the U.S.) or 5 dollars (rest of the world).

Former PARADISE LOST drummer Jeff Singer will rejoin his bandmates for the following shows:

May 01- Hexentanz, Germany
Jun. 17 - GSM Festival, Portugal

Commented Singer: "It's great to have the opportunity to be back in the saddle with PARADISE LOST. Of course I have missed playing, but mostly I have missed seeing the lads, so rehearsals have been great and I have slotted straight back in with the shite jokes and laptop envy.

"It has been a real pleasure to get my teeth into a few of the new songs and I am very excited about the shows as well as long hours spent in airports with nothing much to do.

"Thanks also to [current PARADISE LOST drummer] Adrian [Erlandsson] who has been really supportive."

PARADISE LOST completed its "Draconian Times" tour 2011 on April 1 at The Forum in London, England.

Sony Music has just reissued PARADISE LOST's seminal 1995 album "Draconian Times" through the "Legacy" series; which features the entire digitally re-mastered album including a 5.1 Dolby Surround mix in a brand-new collector's edition digipak box set, so fans can hear the album like never before!

SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo, who works as an artist manager at McGhee Entertainment, the company which represents DOWN, posted the following message on his Twitter account shortly after 10:00 p.m. EST earlier tonight (Thursday, April 28):

"Holy shit! [DOWN guitarist] Pepper Keenan just hit [DOWN frontman Philip] Anselmo in the head with his guitar by accident [during the band's performance at the Best Buy Theater in New York City] and busted Philip's head open! Blood all over the place! But they keep going!! Fucking awesome!"

The incident apparently took place during the song "Lifer", which Anselmo dedicated to his late PANTERA bandmate "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

Minnesota-based quintet AFTER THE BURIAL and the band's record label, Sumerian Records, have issued a press release regarding the status of the group's promotional video for the track "Pendulum", which is taken from AFTER THE BURIAL's new album, "In Dreams". Even though the clip was filmed last December, its release has been held up "due to legal issues" beyond the band's control.

According to the press release, the general concept of the video was to have AFTER THE BURIAL invade an all-girl Catholic school and give them all the opportunity to have some uninhibited fun. Throughout the band's performance in the school's gym, the director and other various crew members encouraged the girls to let loose and go wild to accompany the chorus of the song where the band yells "we lose control." Well, apparently some girls took everything a little too far by "grinding on each other, in addition to displaying other inappropriate lewd conduct, creating an environment that got the conservative Catholic chaperones on the set into a frenzy." The director's production company was since hit with a cease-and-desist notice essentially delaying the release of this video.

UK-based bashers EVILE entered Parlour Studios on March 20th with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR) to begin the recordings for the band's follow-up to their 2009 release, Infected Nations.

The band have posted the following update online:

“We made it. Evile's third album is mixed and completed. No one got in any fights, no one shouted the word "Fuck" into anyone's face and it's sounding great. From the last video it was quite evident that we've done a slow, cleaner and more eerie track. The songs' initial intention was for Mike/because of the loss of Mike. We all have our individual thoughts on the track; in my eyes the track is for Mike, and for anyone who has lost anyone close or special to them in their life. If people don't like the track or don't understand its sentiment/meaning, I really couldn't care less; it was conceived for us and Mike alone. As Russ said, "It's a brilliant song for a brilliant guy".

A fan (Tom Myton) messaged Russ and Matt via Facebook asking if he could come get Enter The Grave signed and just say hi, as he lives just down the road from the studio. We just happened to have enough time the next day to take a break from mixing and let him in. We let him listen to a track and hang out for a bit; it was great to have the song listened to by an outside party and for it to be complimented well. Cheers Tom! Hope you like the finished product.

We had a great time recording with Russ this time. I think because he knew us a lot more, he didn't hold back on any suggestions this time, which I'm glad of. This was also our first time recording with Joel. Because we get on with Joel really well, it was just a breeze. He had just as much input as anyone else in the band and it was fun tracking a bassist who uses his fingers and a pick depending on which he wants in certain songs (I think we even got some slap bass in there for a laugh).

I just want to thank all fans of Evile, old and new, for the continuing support and for following our progress on album three. With what we've been through over the past two years, we've literally poured our heart and soul into this material for the past year or two, and worked our arses off for the past five weeks getting the album sounding the best it can for us and for you. I hope all the journalists who hear the album to review it simply review the album and leave it at that. The album is obviously going to be put up on the internet after its release, but when it leaks prior to its release date, I can tell you from an artist's point of view it's slightly heartbreaking. Am I not supposed to say that? Oh well. I hope you all enjoy our third instalment of Evile as much as we are!

This one's for you, Mike (Alexander; late bassist).

Ol”

BareBonesMusic.com conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES/SIXX: A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba on the "black carpet" of the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which was held last Wednesday, April 20 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about what he has planned for the rest of the year, Ashba said, "As of now, we're gonna be doing more touring for GUNS, and we're working on new songs every day for GUNS N' ROSES. [The new] SIXX: A.M. [album, 'This Is Gonna Hurt'] comes out May 3, and I'm scoring a new movie, and I'll tell you more about that later. [Laughs] But it's a horror movie, so it's good."

In addition to Ashba and sole original member Axl Rose (vocals), the current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES includes guitarists Ron Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.

Ashba joined GUNS N' ROSES in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck.

As previously reported, "Chinese Democracy", the 2008 album released by the current edition of GUNS N' ROSES after a 15-year wait, can now be purchased at BestBuy.com for $1.99.

Best Buy was the exclusive U.S. retailer for "Chinese Democracy", reportedly paying $14 million for 1.6 million copies. But the album was a major sales disappointment, moving less than 620,000 copies despite the curiosity and hype surrounding its release.

Zach Shaw of Metal Insider conducted an interview with Mike Leonard, director of DREAM THEATER's web series "The Spirit Carries On", which chronicles the audition process behind the band's search for drummer Mike Portnoy's replacement. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Metal Insider: Out of the seven drummers that auditioned, was there one that particularly stood out to you?

Mike Leonard: "We filmed with Mike Mangini (STEVE VAI, EXTREME, ANNIHILATOR) the night before his audition and both as a person and as a drummer, he impressed me the most. Mike is such an incredibly genuine and nice guy, just like all the members of DREAM THEATER. He's also incredibly meticulous about making sure he does his part and gets all the details right. All of the drummers that we filmed with were incredibly nice and professional, but Mike really made a great impression on me. Then watching him play in real life blew me away — he's a monster. He plays the most complicated things like they're nothing, just incredible. I'll never forget it."

Metal Insider: Are there any plans to release a physical copy of this documentary, maybe along with extra footage?

Mike Leonard: "Yes, I believe there is going to be a DVD release this summer with the new album. We have talked about many different options and I have no idea what is actually going to happen, but I'm sure it will be released at some point and there’s tons of potential for bonus footage."

"Macabre Eternal", the first full-length album from the legendary San Francisco Bay Area gore grind act AUTOPSY since 1995's "Shitfun", will be released on May 31 via Peaceville Records. A special vinyl edition of the effort will precede the digital versions exclusively through the Peaceville web store on May 16.

"Macabre Eternal" was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California and includes AUTOPSY's first 10-plus minute song "Sadistic Gratification". "It's 11 minutes and 33 seconds of pure fucking sickness," guitarist Eric Cutler told Invisible Oranges.

"Our fans can expect no less than our best, the best we have to offer," Cutler added. "If you like AUTOPSY, you will think this is the best."

"Macabre Eternal" track listing:

01. Hand Of Darkness
02. Dirty Gore Whore
03. Always About To Die
04. Macabre Eternal
05. Deliver Me From Sanity
06. Seeds Of The Doomed
07. Bridge Of Bones
08. Born Undead
09. Sewn Into One
10. Bludgeoned and Brained
11. Sadistic Gratification
12. Spill My Blood

The song "Always About To Die" can now be streamed at BrooklynVegan

Norwegian metallers COMMUNIC will release their new album, "The Bottom Deep", in Europe on July 22 via Nuclear Blast Records. According to a press release, the band's music "includes many elements from various metal genres. Their grasp for variety of power, melody, and intelligent lyrics with a highly progressive musical approach made COMMUNIC one of the best newcomers for years!"

"The Bottom Deep" track listing:

01. Facing Tomorrow
02. Denial
03. Flood River Blood
04. Voyage Of Discovery
05. In Silence With My Scars
06. My Fallen
07. Destroyer Of Bloodlines
08. Wayward Soul
09. The Bottom Deep
10. In Union We Stand (bonus track)

DEF LEPPARD's new live album (with bonus DVD), "Mirrorball", will be released through Bludgeon Riffola/Mailboat Records on the following dates:

Germany, Switzerland, Austria - June 3
Rest Of Europe - June 6
North America - June 7

"Mirrorball" will be available exclusively at Walmart and Sam's Club locations in the United States and Canada. The album will include a 50-minute DVD that contains live performances and intimate backstage footage of the band captured on the road. A special limited vinyl edition will also be made available. "Mirrorball" will also be available online, marking the first time the band's music will officially be made available for digital purchase. DEF LEPPARD will also be releasing their new community based website in May, which is being developed to be the ultimate DEF LEPPARD fan experience and go-to destination for all things on the band.

"Mirrorball" features a mix of live DEF LEPPARD classics (recorded throughout The Sparkle Lounge Tour), three brand new studio songs and the aforementioned bonus DVD. "Mirrorball" is DEF LEPPARD's first ever live album and features rock classics such as "Animal", "Pour Some Sugar On Me", "Photograph", "Nine Lives" and "Rock Of Ages". The album also brings together three brand new studio tracks — "Undefeated", "Kings Of The World" and "It's All About Believin'" — taking their place with ease within this classic setlist.

"When we decided to do (the live album), it just got said — I don't know by who — 'Why don't we chuck a couple of new songs on the end?' " frontman Joe Elliott told Billboard.com. "And that two became three, and in fairness it could've been four if we'd just had a little bit more time. But we wanted to tour this summer, so any fourth or fifth song we had brewing, we'll save them for the next record."

Elliott composed "Undefeated", which he described to Billboard.com as "a very QUEEN-type vocal thing. It even features piano and stuff." Guitarist Phil Collen's "It's All About Believin'" is "a pop-rock song," while bassist Rick Savage's "Kings Of The World" is "a big, epic, rock anthem that will sound great in arenas and stadiums all over the world — kind of 'We Will Rock You' with guitars, if you like."

"They're all very different to each other," Elliott added. "They don't sound specifically like any previous DEF LEPPARD songs, but they sound like DEF LEPPARD songs. They have to have our identity on them, otherwise they might as well be Tom Waits or R.E.M. We have a signature sound that we're not scared of anymore."

"Mirrorball" track listing is as follows:

Disc 1

01. Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
02. Rocket
03. Animal
04. C'Mon C'Mon
05. Make Love Like A Man
06. Too Late For Love
07. Foolin'
08. Nine Lives
09. Love Bites
10. Rock On

Disc 2 (DVD)

01. Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
02. Armageddon It
03. Pour Some Sugar On Me
04. Hysteria
05. Nine Lives (music video)
06. C'Mon C'Mon (music video)

Disc 3

01. Two Steps Behind
02. Bringin' On The Heartbreak
03. Switch 625
04. Hysteria
05. Armageddon It
06. Photograph
07. Pour Some Sugar On Me
08. Rock Of Ages
09. Let's Get Rocked
10. Action
11. Bad Actress
12. Undefeated
13. Kings Of The World
14. It's All About Believin'

Reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS have set "Neutralize The Threat" as the title of their seventh album, due on July 12 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SHADOWS FALL, HATEBREED).

Commented the band: "We are very happy with how 'Neutralize The Threat' came out. Musically, it resembles the song structures on 'To The Death', but with a 'Gomorah's Season Ends' vibe thrown in. Every song is lyrically inspired by real-life vigilante actions that have taken place around the globe. The topics range from The Black Panther party to Bernard Goetz and we think it's an original lyrical concept for the band, while also retaining some subject matter we are known for dealing with in the past. Zeuss is the man and definitely delivered the best sounding record we have ever had! We can't wait for you guys to hear it!"

"Neutralize The Threat" track listing:

01. Raise
02. Neutralize The Threat
03. Total War
04. 100-Kiloton Blast
05. Counterstrike
06. By Conscience Compelled
07. Black Talons Tear
08. Askari
09. The Eradicators
10. Raze

"One Step Away", the new video from FREE REIGN, the band featuring the Dallas Cowboys right tackle Marc Colombo on lead vocals and guitar, right guard Leonard Davis on bass, backup guard Cory Procter on drums, and newcomer Justin Chapman on guitar, can be viewed below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep). The track went on sale via iTunes and all digital sales providers on February 22.

Commented Colombo: "'One Step Away' is a song about feeling close to success — whether it'd be a band that has worked so hard but could not quite reach their dream, or a team/player that’s accomplished so much but a championship just seems to allude them. What keeps people coming back is the idea that maybe this time nothing will stand in your way of achieving your ultimate goal."

Regarding the "One Step Away" video, Colombo said, "The video was filmed at various abandoned establishments all over Dallas and Fort Worth. It took over a month just to narrow down the best looking location that had that kind of eerie/deserted-for-50-years look to it. The band shoot was done at Thirllvania Thrill Park in Terrell, Texas. That place is awesome! It's 46 acres of haunted house goodness. The crew at the park was amazing and let us come in and film wherever we wanted for the entire day. They even brought out flame throwers that shot 40-foot flames, and shot CO2 out of a cryo-jet onto Cory all night as he played drums. The doctor's office scenes we're filmed at Texas Oncology Lewisville."

"One Step Away" was released via the band's own label, DC Rightside Music, and a new, full-length studio album titled "Heavier Than Metal" has just been made available.

German "true" metallers STORMWARRIOR will release their fourth album, "Heathen Warrior", on May 27 via Massacre Records. The effort, which was mixed by Tommy Hansen (PRETTY MAIDS, HELLOWEEN, HATESPHERE) at Jailhouse Studio in Denmark, will also be available as a limited digipak as well as on limited vinyl.

"Heathen Warrior" track listing:

01. …Og Hammeren Hæves Til Slag...
02. Heathen Warrior
03. The Ride Of Asgård
04. Heirs To The Fighte
05. Bloode To Bloode
06. Fyre & Ice
07. The Returne
08. Wolven Nights
09. Ravenhearte
10. The Valkyries Call
11. And Northern Steele Remaineth

The song "Ravenhearte" is available for streaming at this location.

Michigan's unstoppable sons of molten melodic death metal THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER will release their new album, "Ritual", 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"

Frontman Trevor Strnad considers "Ritual" "the most focused BLACK DAHLIA MURDER strike of all time."

"The whole thread of the songs is more tied together than ever before," explains Strnad. "Part of it was kind of like, 'What can we do that's the most BLACK DAHLIA MURDER thing? What's going to be the most quintessential BLACK DAHLIA MURDER thing we can do?' That's kind of what we set our foothold in. And 'Ritual', it just lends itself to that — it's mysticism and magic and all of that. Everyone has an association with some kind of ritual, so we just thought it was the next logical step."

Recalling the writing process that led to "Ritual"'s eventual 12 songs, Strnad says that "every song that got brought forth was exciting and more three-dimensional, more twists and turns, more surprises. There's more ups and downs and taking people on a journey this time."

Co-founder Brian Eschbach, meanwhile, credits the presence of fellow guitarist Ryan Knight, who joined the band for "Deflorate", with helping to move things forward on this particular venture.

"It's been more collaborative than it's been in years," Eschbach notes. "The last two albums ('Deflorate' and 2007's 'Nocturnal') I wrote most of the music, and this one it's almost a 50-50 effort between me and (Knight). He lifted what we were doing on the last album so much from what we've done before, his different techniques and stylings that he knows how to wield. It's really exciting for us to have that be part of the band now." Strnad adds that Knight "is an educated musician, and he's brought that kind of aspect into the band, too. We came to him having higher expectations, and he's exceeded all of those."

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has crammed quite a bit into its 10 years together — five albums, three EPs and a DVD (2009's "Majesty") — and the group members themselves seem a bit surprised by what they've wrought. "Yeah, initially we thought we were going to get together on Sundays and try to put a song together every week," Eschbach recalls. "We never dreamed of being able to live off the band." But Strnad says it didn't take long to sense that they could.

"We had the vision that we wanted to take the band to more people, that we wanted to have something bigger than just playing at the crappy ass local bar," he explains. "Being a metal band, I think, is being an underdog. To play music you know is not digestible on purpose, to preach to a certain kind of depraved person...It's a lofty goal to have anyone want to hear what we have to say. We've been really, really lucky, but at the same time we're always looking to the future and trying to do what we do better and better.

"And I would say this time, with 'Ritual', we really nailed it even harder than we have before."

"Ritual" track listing:

01. A Shrine To Madness
02. Moonlight Equilibrium
03. On Stirring Seas Of Salted Blood
04. Conspiring With The Damned
05. The Window
06. Carbonized In Cruciform
07. Den Of The Picquerist
08. Malenchanments Of The Necrosphere
09. The Grave Robber's Work
10. The Raven
11. Great Burning Nullifier
12. Blood In The Ink

"Deflorate" sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 43 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on September 15, 2009 via Metal Blade, the CD was produced by THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, Mark Lewis and Jason Suecof (BENEATH THE MASSACRE, JOB FOR A COWBOY), with mixing duties handled by Suecof. According to a press release, "Deflorate" is "a multifaceted death trip: beautiful, evil, and morbidly addicting. THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's fourth thrashing epic sees no punch pulled, no gravestone unturned, no soul uncorrupted."

"Unaltered", the new Thomas Welsh-directed video from British melodic death metallers THE SOULLESS (formerly IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION), can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's new album, "Isolated", which will be released in Europe on May 16 and North America on June 7 via Earache Records.

"Isolated" track listing:

01. Unaltered
02. The Path
03. Earthbound
04. 13th Morning
05. New Perspective
06. Clones
07. Revelation
08. Our Return
09. Unite Us
10. You Are Nothing To Me
11. Without Heart

Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD will release a new live album, "Warriors Of Ice", on June 17 via Indica Records. The CD, which can already be purchased digitally (see below), was recorded on December 12, 2009 during the band's first headlining show in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in ten years.

This unique band, which over the years has been able to create its own sound and path and braved adversity and hardships — notably the death of guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour in 2005 — is offering its fans its first-ever live record to feature original members Denis "Snake" Belanger (vocals), Michel "Away" Langevin (drums) and Jean Yves "Blacky" Theriault (bass), alongside new guitar player Daniel Mongrain, thus adding onto their impressive discography that spans close to three decades.

Glen Robinson, who previously worked on VOIVOD's "Nothingface" album, recorded the band's concert on December 12, 2009 at Club Soda in Montreal, the group's adopted hometown. The concert was VOIVOD's first headlining show in Montreal in over 10 years and was a release party for the DVD "Tatsumaki: Voivod In Japan 2008", where they played both classics from the '80 and '90s and newer songs written with Jason Newsted of METALLICA fame, who joined VOIVOD on bass for three records, "Voivod", "Katorz" and "Infini".

"Warriors Of Ice" features classic songs from VOIVOD's "War And Pain" (1984) and "Angel Rat" (1991) albums as well as tracks from "Infini", released in 2009. All of the band's greatest hits can be found on this record — everything from "Voivod" to "Nuclear War" and "Tribal Convictions" and even a remake of PINK FLOYD's "Astronomy Domine" — thus making it a must-have release for die-hard VOIVOD fans as well as a great introductory album for new fans in the making.

"Warriors Of Ice" track listing:

01. Voivod
02. The Unknown Knows
03. The Prow
04. Ripping Headaches
05. Ravenous Medicine
06. Tribal Convictions
07. Overreaction
08. Panorama
09. Global Warning
10. Treasure Chase
11. Tornado
12. Nothingface
13. Brain Scan
14. Nuclear War
15. Astronomy Domine (PINK FLOYD cover)

VOIVOD is currently working on material for a new studio album. The CD will contain the band's first music to be written with new guitarist Dan Mongrain (MARTYR) following the passing of Denis "Piggy" D'Amour in 2005.

VOIVOD's most recent DVD, "Tatsumaki: Voivod In Japan 2008", was released on November 17, 2009 via MVD Entertainment Group. The disc contains professionally filmed footage (three-camera shoot) of VOIVOD's September 20, 2008 concert at Club Citta in Kawasaki, Japan. The band was in Japan taking part in the two-night Thrash Domination 2008 event alongside TESTAMENT and FORBIDDEN.

"Infini", the latest album from VOIVOD, landed at position No. 67 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Pandie Suicide of BareBonesMusic.com conducted separate interviews with SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan and drummer Joey Jordison on the "black carpet" of the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which was held on April 20 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the footage below.

On whether they think they will be another SLIPKNOT album in the not-too-distant future:

Crahan: "Do I want another SLIPKNOT record? Absolutely. I'm not a fortune teller, so I can't promise anybody anything. You and I can get killed on the way somewhere tonight. So... Do I want one? Yes. Do I know [if that will happen]? I don't know."

Jordison: "As far as I'm concerned, yeah. I personally have, now... I don't know... probably over 17 songs."

On the upcoming SLIPKNOT shows, the band's first performances since the passing of bassist Paul Gray:

Crahan: "I'll say what I said [before]. It's kind of hard to follow, but... There's an F16 fighter jet, right? And when the pilots are in the jet, there's a giant pie — a red pie — around the jet. Do you know what that represents? It's a safety zone. So if you're inside the pie, you have more than a better chance of getting sucked up through the jet engine and thrown out, spit out the other side. There will be a giant, red pie around our stage. So it's a very serious, serious place to be. I'll be in tears before I even hit the first stair. And I need it very much — and we need it. So I'm looking forward to it, but it's gonna be very hard."

Jordison: "It's gonna be really cool. It's gonna a big event, for sure. It's gonna be really, really emotional. It's gonna be, honestly, probably the best shows of my career.

"I've been in rehearsal over the last few weeks with our new bass player, Donnie [Steele], and my feeling is that these will probably be the biggest and most emotional shows that we've ever had. I'm just speaking for myself and the rest of the band that we can't wait and [the shows] are gonna be amazing. Everything's on fire right now, so..."

According to the Associated Press, AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler told Rolling Stone in a new interview that he and the band's guitarist, Joe Perry, did drugs together as recently as 2008. Tyler said Perry was so impaired by snorting prescription pills, he couldn't even play his instrument. Tyler also admitted that he was no better — he couldn't sing.

AEROSMITH had been working at the time on a new album, which never developed.

Most of the members of AEROSMITH spent a few days in late January/eary February working on songs for a new album with co-writer Marti Frederiksen at a studio in Los Angeles. The only man missing was Joe Perry, who was unable to join his bandmates for the sessions due to what Billboard.com described as an "unspecified commitment."

Although a recent New York Post article indicated that AEROSMITH was "unable to work" due to singer Steven Tyler's "American Idol" gig, Tyler's attorney Dina LaPolt responded, "Mr. Tyler's 'American Idol' contract was specifically negotiated to work around his AEROSMITH touring and recording schedule."

"Steven has been really good at selling the idea among his bandmates that the band is No. 1 and this is where his heart is," bassist Tom Hamilton told BostonHerald.com. "I look forward to him demonstrating that."

"I am bursting at the seams to [make a new album] and have been for a long time," Hamilton said. "Everybody's head is into it, and once Steven is done with his TV gig, we get to work and damned if we don't have a finished record by the end of September."

"No Salvation", the new video from British metallers HOSTILE — who feature in their ranks bassist Alex Hill, son of JUDAS PRIEST's Ian Hill — can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Eve Of Destruction", which was produced by former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing.

Not only did K.K. produce HOSTILE's debut CD — he also wrote and performed on the song "Avenger" (hear audio below), the first time the guitarist has ever written for a band outside of PRIEST. K.K. became interested in HOSTILE's talent and potential after seeing them perform at a club called JB's in Dudley, Midlands.