Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS were forced to cancel last night's (Tuesday, January 11) performance at the Elysée Montmartre in Paris, France as the support act for HELLOWEEN after STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto was taken ill.

Video footage of Kotipelto explaining the reasons for STRATOVARIUS' Paris cancelation from the stage at last night's concert can be viewed below (courtesy of Rock Hard France).

Said Kotipelto: "We were touring with HELLOWEEN and we played, I think, in Poland and the Czech Republic, so I got some food poisoning, some bacteria. And my Christmas was not so nice and I still have some problems — my vocals cords are completely dry. I [saw] a doctor in Paris yesterday and today as well, so it's like... unfortunately, I can't sing a fucking note, and this never happened to me before. I'm very sorry about this and we wanna make it up to you, guys. We're gonna be back in Paris, back in France — I don't know when; hopefully this year. So I hope you understand the situation. Thank you so much. Merci beaucoup."

HELLFIGHTER, the band formed by ex-members of cult U.K. thrashers XENTRIX, will release its debut album, "Damnation's Wings", via Heavy Metal Records on the following dates:

Europe (via Plastic Head distribution): February 28th
U.S., Canada (via MVD distribution): April 5

The album will also be released digitally worldwide on iTunes on February 1.

According to a press release, "Damnation's Wings" was recorded at Viscon Studios in Northwest England and at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, U.K. and it "showcases ten new songs [that see] HELLFIGHTER sticking to their thrash and metal roots whilst introducing a strong, modern, melodic edge."

HELLFIGHTER's current lineup consists of Simon Gordon (vocals, ex-XENTRIX), Kristian Havard (guitar, ex-XENTRIX), Den Gasser (drums, ex-XENTRIX), Pete Smith (guitar, ex-KILL II THIS) and Mel Gasser (bass).

In a recent interview, Havard talked about the making of "Damnation's Wings": "In some ways we have revisited the bands and sounds that we loved as kids — bands like MAIDEN, PRIEST, FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT, ANTHRAX — but really we've just made the sort of record that we want to hear today.

"Everyone in the band and at the record label is very excited about 'Damnation's Wings'. It's taken a little while longer than we had hoped to complete the writing and recording process but we didn't want to compromise on anything. The end result is something we're extremely proud of. Most of all, we're looking forward to getting out on the road to promote the album."

"Damnation's Wings" track listing:

01. Tower Of Sin
02. A Lesser God
03. Legacy Of Hate
04. Faith In Lies
05. Damnation's Wings
06. Revolution Within
07. Epitaph
08. Bring Only Pain
09. Descent
10. Firewalker

The album artwork can be seen below.

"The painting is by a guy called Steve Smith who's based here in the north of England," says Gordon. "We didn't want to go totally down the digital-art route because there was a definite vibe when we were writing and recording where we looked to a lot of the bands we grew up with for inspiration. We carried that through to the artwork.

"I remember that buzz we used to get from looking at all the detail on the new MAIDEN album cover or whatever. So we gave Steve the album title and asked him to come up with something that suggested the nastier side of modern life and technology as a bit of a nod to all those great bands."

Montreal-based death metallers NEURAXIS will release their sixth album, "Asylon", in North America on February 15. The cover art was created by artist Dennis Sibeijn of Damnengine Artwork, who worked with the band on its previous CD, "The Thin Line Between", as well with JOB FOR A COWBOY, CHIMAIRA and more.

"Asylon" track listing:

01. Reptile
02. Asylum
03. Savior and Destroyer
04. By The Flesh
05. Sinister
06. Trauma
07. Resilience
08. Purity
09. V
10. Left To Devour

On February 8, the eclectic, experimental hard rock project PRAXIS will release the latest creation, a bone-crunching new album titled "Profanation: Preparation For A Coming Darkness". The new album finds the trio once again collaborating with various musicians, this time with the spotlight clearly on lead vocalists. Among them are Iggy Pop, SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian, FAITH NO MORE's Mike Patton, RAMM:SLL:ZSS, Doctor Israel, WU-TANG protégé Killah Priest and Jamaica-born toaster Hawk.

The U.S. release of "Profanation" comes with two live bonus tracks not included in the rare, Japan-only import. The album is also one of the last recordings to feature the gothic futurist RAMM:SLL:ZSS, an incredibly multi-talented visual artist, hip hop icon, performance artist, and one of the most unique humans to patrol this planet.

Since 1992, the core members of PRAXIS — Buckethead (guitars), Bill Laswell (bass), and Brain (drums) — has churned out an eclectic series of albums rooted in aggressive avant-rock improv with slabs of hip-hop, psychedelic, funk thrown in. On top of that, a constantly morphing army of innovators including John Zorn, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Yamantaka Eye, Grandmixer DXT, and scores more have contributed to past PRAXIS live and studio projects — each one a unique musical experiment.

SYMFONIA / ex-STRATOVARIUS guitarist Timo Tolkki has checked in from the studio:

"Still here in Sweden recording Andre's (Matos / ex-ANGRA) vocals. Some of the vocal lines are... how should I put it... rather 'extensively difficult', but Andre has been singing really well.

The picture you see is my 'working station' where I sweat my butt daily for 10 hours. It's called Mother 128, don't ask me why.

There is something very special in spending a long time in a place where there is NOTHING but snow. You really start hearing your own voice. I am 100% convinced that if we would bring someone, let's say from New York, here for two weeks, the person would go nuts. The silence is just incredible. Not a single sound.

Yesterday I saw two baby deer walking four meters from the cabin we are recording and lot of rabbits. Maybe I should call to Lou Marullo."

According to The Peterborough Examiner, the case against former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach was briefly addressed in court Tuesday (January 11) before being put over to February 1.

Bach was charged assault, possession of marijuana and mischief on November 15, 2010 after he allegedly bit the hand of a bartender trying to throw him out of Riley's Olde Towne Pub in Peterborough.

A surveillance video posted on TMZ.com showed the singer smashing his wine glass on the ground morning and walking towards the entrance of the establishment after he was asked to the leave the bar due to his allegedly rowdy behavior.

A staff member reported Bach bit him on the hand while he was trying to restrain Bach until police arrived.

Bach was in Peterborough dealing with the estate of his father who passed away.

Bach was not in court Tuesday.

Brooklyn, New York native Sal Abruscato — who played drums on three TYPE O NEGATIVE albums ("Slow, Deep & Hard", "Origin Of The Feces", "Bloody Kisses"), as well as four LIFE OF AGONY releases ("River Runs Red", "Ugly", "River Runs Again", "Broken Valley") — is now the singer, songwriter and guitarist for A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH.

Abruscato has recruited Johnny Kelly from TYPE O NEGATIVE, Bobby Hambel from BIOHAZARD and Steve Zing from DANZIG to round out A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's touring lineup, which will make its live debut on February 20 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey as the support act for MONSTER MAGNET and SEVENTH VOID.

Although Johnny, Steve and Bobby are not confirmed as official A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH members, it is suspected this could be the solid lineup moving forward.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH lineup for Sayreville show:

* Sal Abruscato (LIFE OF AGONY, TYPE O NEGATIVE) - Vocals, Guitar
* Matt Brown (SEVENTH VOID) - Guitar
* Bobby Hambel (BIOHAZARD) - Guitar
* Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SEVENTH VOID) - Drums
* Steve Zing (DANZIG) - Bass

MEGADETH fans will be excited to learn that the Jackson Custom Shop is introducing its new Chris Broderick signature guitar model in January 2011. Broderick himself worked closely with Custom Shop master craftsmen to create a distinctive guitar based on a classic Jackson design.

That guitar, the Jackson Chris Broderick Soloist, brings his long and exacting search for instrumental excellence to a most satisfying conclusion.

"After an exhaustive search for the highest-quality instrument, I've found it at Jackson," Broderick said. "I've been looking for a guitar this incredible for quite a while, and the guys at the Custom Shop really understood what I was after and where I was coming from. I have spent countless hours ensuring that this guitar is playable and stylish."

Broderick's Soloist model boasts an unusual new touch in the form of a slightly offset carved-top body design for which the guitarist collaborated with longtime Jackson Custom Shop master builder Mike Shannon. Other features include dual DiMarzio humbucking pickups and a 24-fret 12"-radius fingerboard. Further, the guitar will be available in six- and seven-string models.

The Colorado-bred Broderick is not only a formidable shred guitarist, but also an extraordinary musician in a much wider sense. He started playing at age 10, studying guitar, voice, violin and piano, and eagerly devoured a wealth of diverse musical influences extending well beyond rock into classical, jazz, blues and country forms. He earned a degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, and he himself has taught guitar for more than a dozen years.

Broderick joined MEGADETH in early 2008. His molten guitar work has contributed to the band's current revitalization, including 2009 album "Endgame", the "American Carnage" and "Rust in Peace" 20th-anniversary tours, and the summer 2010 Sonisphere festival shows in Europe that featured several metallically historic "Big Four" shows.

Jackson's unveiling of Broderick's new signature model comes closely on the heels of the guitar maker's announcement of its partnership with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, who received his own new signature bass model in early 2011 and who will be collaborating with Jackson on the development of other new bass models.

Regarding the reasons for his split with Ibanez, Broderick said in an online post, "I knew people would want to know why I left Ibanez, and I had the whole event written for all to read but I deleted that and don't want to focus on why it didn't work out with them. Let's just say that the events that occurred with them this last year left me feeling like my guitar company wasn't anywhere near as loyal to me as I was to them.

"For those who are curious, you can read this old post that kicked things off.

"I talked to a lot of different guitar companies about a potential move and Jackson, by leaps and bounds, stepped up and was able to build a guitar that is nothing less than my perfect guitar. I spent countless design hours on it. With a double neck that I built when I was 17 being the basis for the guitar, and with Mike Shannon behind the tools, I think you guys will be impressed."

Steven Patrick of Uweekly.com recently conducted an interview with JUDAS PRIEST/HALFORD frontman Rob Halford. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Uweekly.com: Pat Lachman, he was one of your guitarists in HALFORD, who went on to front the band DAMAGEPLAN. This being a Columbus, Ohio, paper and the Dimebag tragedy still fresh in our memory, I'm sure metal fans in the area would like to know how he's doing and what he's up to. Do you stay in contact with him?

Halford: I'll be seeing Pat soon. I think he's living in Dallas now. I got an e-mail from him the other day and I hope to be seeing him in the next couple of weeks. I don't really know what he's doing musically, but when I see him I'll be asking him obviously. He's an incredibly talented guitar player, but a great voice as well. I certainly hope he's still working. He's got everything that he needs to be a great metal musician.

Uweekly.com: I wouldn't be able to call myself a metal fan if I didn't ask about the news that JUDAS PRIEST will be doing a farewell tour in 2011. What brought that on? Was it just time?

Halford: Yeah, I think it's time, you know. We're not the first band to say farewell, it's just the way everyone comes to at some point and we're gonna say a few more things early next year, so I think the main thing that we just want to ask everybody to consider is don't be sad about this, start celebrating and rejoicing over all the great things we've done in JUDAS PRIEST.

Uweekly.com: Does this news mean that HALFORD will be getting more of your attention in the future?

Halford: Yeah, I've always said regardless of anything else that's going on when time permits and when there's no conflict with PRIEST, I love to do what I do with the HALFORD band, so that really hasn't changed at all.

Swedish melodic metallers BLOODBOUND have inked a deal with Germany's AFM Records. The band's fourth album, "Unholy Cross", will be released in March.

Commented the group: "We are very thrilled to join the AFM family and we are looking forward to the release of our fourth album, 'Unholy Cross', on the 18th of March. This is a new chapter for the band, introducing Patrik Johansson on vocals, and a return to the band's classic metal roots."

Bassist Johan Sohlberg recently left BLOODBOUND in order to "focus on his career and family" and was replaced by Anders Broman.

Commented the band: "We are sad to see Johan leave the band; he has been a great member of our family and a strong character always keeping the spirit high. We wish him the best of luck in the future with his career and family.

"We're very excited to have Anders in the band and we are looking forward to working with him. He is adding his own flavor to the band as well as being a very powerful player and live performer."

BLOODBOUND last year parted ways with lead vocalist Urban Breed due to "musical and personal differences" and replaced him with Patrik "Pata" Johansson (DAWN OF SILENCE) from Finspång, Sweden.

BLOODBOUND's third full-length album, "Tabula Rasa", was released in April 2009 via Blistering Records.

Veteran death metallers SADISTIC INTENT have reportedly recruited legendary British extreme-metal drummer Nick Barker (CRADLE OF FILTH, BRUJERIA, DIMMU BORGIR, LOCK UP) to replace the recently departed Emilio Marquez. The band has also ended its stint as the backing band for Jeff Becerra's resurrected '80s death metallers POSSESSED. "We wish them all the best and we are moving on," guitarist Rick Cortez said in a statement. "We are excited about Nick Barker joining SADISTIC INTENT and we are now motivated to focus solely on recording and releasing new material for 2011."

SADISTIC INTENT's career spans two decades, earning the band a respected place in the local Los Angeles thrash/death/black metal community as well as in the international underground scene.

"Blood Magick Necromance", the ninth full-length album from Austrian blackened death metal outfit BELPHEGOR, is scheduled for release on January 14, 2011 in Europe and on February 8, 2011 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was produced by Peter Tägtgren (IMMORTAL, CELTIC FROST, HYPOCRISY, DIMMU BORGIR) at his Abyss Studios in Pärlby, Sweden and mastered by Jonas Kjellgren.

"Blood Magick Necromance"will be made available in four formats: a limited edition in black slipcase with metallic effect; a strictly limited Nuclear Blast mailorder edition box set, including a bondage necklace and chain (only 500 hand-numbered copies available); a limited picture gatefold LP on blood-red vinyl; LP on black vinyl; and a standard jewel case CD.
BELPHEGOR has tapped two artists from Austria for artwork purposes: Helmut Wolech (a fetish photographer and former mortician) and Joachim Luetke for the magickal graphics and cover artwork.

"Batteries & Rust", a brand new song from THE NEW BLACK — the German band featuring members of SINNER, RUNAMOK, ABANDONED and MCF — is available for free download from U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "II: Better In Black", which will be released on January 21 in Europe via AFM Records.

"II: Better In Black" track listing:

01. Better In Black
02. The King I Was
03. Batteries & Rust
04. Downgrade
05. Into Modesty
06. Altar Boys
07. Happy Zombies
08. My Favorite Disease
09. Fading Me Out
10. When It All Ends
11. Last Chance To Throw Dirt
12. Sun Cries Moon

U.K. progressive metal hopefuls TESSERACT will release their debut album, "One", on March 22 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to last year's "Concealing Fate" EP includes a bonus DVD that features "Concealing Fate" being performed live in the studio — no overdubs, no re-recording, just pure and raw; the way music was meant to be. The audio for the DVD will be available in stereo and a 5.1 Surround Sound mix. The DVD also features interviews and footage from the band's recent U.S. tour.

Commented TESSERACT bassist Amos Williams: "Ever since we first started performing and recording, we've always wanted to explore the idea of surround sound. The density and layers of TESSERACT's music lends itself perfectly to multichannel sound. So, we came up with the idea of filming and recording 'Concealing Fate' in 5.1 Surround Sound for a special DVD that would come as standard with the album release.

"It's really great for us to show you guys the evolution of the songs as they've grown slightly since we've started touring them.

"There is absolutely nothing better than the energy and euphoria of live music and hopefully with this DVD we've helped represent that. We enjoyed the experience and the result so much that we may just do the next album like this, too!"

TESSERACT has also teamed with leading Djent site Got-Djent.com to open the official TESSERACT question-and-answer forum. Fans can log on to Got-Djent.com and talk to the band about anything they want. The entire group will be online periodically to answer questions and talk to fans.

"One" track listing:

01. Lament
02. Nascent
03. Acceptance - Concealing Fate Part One
04. Deception - Concealing Fate Part Two
05. The Impossible - Concealing Fate Part Three
06. Perfection - Concealing Fate Part Four
07. Epiphany - Concealing Fate Part Five
08. Origin - Concealing Fate Part Six
09. Sunrise
10. April
11. Eden

Bonus DVD track listing:

01. "Concealing Fate" Parts I-VI recorded live, Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound mix
02. Band interviews
03. Footage from North American tour

Die holländischen Female-Fronted Thrasher haben im Oktober 2010 einen Plattenvertrag mit Listenable Reords unterschrieben. Das neue Album "Code of Consequences" kommt im Februar 2011 in den Handel. Jetzt wurde das Cover Artwork und die Track List enthüllt.

"Code of Consequences" Track List:

01. Victim of Honor
02. My Secret Society
03. Incommunicado
04. Center of Momentum
05. Deathstrip
06. Final Farewell
07. Fade Into Obscurity
08. Psychopathic Mind
09. Population Zero
10. Code of Consequences

For Oakland, California's NEUROSIS, their entire catalog can be considered brilliant not only for its sonic merit but also for its need to wander from the beaten path. Rare is it that a band can make you feel the cold and hard texture of concrete while allowing you to smell the growing vine in the confines of one song. Perhaps this is the reason why so many have looked to and borrowed from their table.

NEUROSIS is pure emotion, in every positive or negative form. "Souls At Zero" is NEUROSIS' first flash of true brilliance. Never before were they able to show their passions and exploratory needs so eloquently, while still keeping their musical hearth concussive and visceral. Synthesizers, acoustic guitars and other non-traditional instruments came into play, as did tribal chants and an ethereal smokescreen which enabled the band to shapeshift from one musical being to another. NEUROSIS' expansion into the uncompromising and groundbreaking act that they are now began here, making the importance of "Souls At Zero" larger than even the band could ever know at the time. This album is the glint that never leaves your aural vision, no matter how hard you try to escape it. A catastrophic tinnitus that you hope won't go away.

Neurot Recordings is proud to reissue this perpetual flame of a release while celebrating the band's 25 years of brilliance. With demo version additions of "Zero" and the title track along with a bonus live cut "Cleanse III", this updated release is the perfect portal to witness the development of underground music's titan force. Artwork by the revered Josh Graham completes an awesome package worthy of timeless worship, which Neurot will officially release on February 15.

"Souls At Zero" reissue track listing:

01. To Crawl Under One's Skin
02. Souls At Zero
03. Zero
04. Flight
05. The Web
06. Sterile Vision
07. A Chronology For Survival
08. Stripped
09. Takeahnase
10. Empty
11. Souls (demo version)
12. Zero (demo version)
13. Cleanse III (live in London)

Following NEUROSIS' live appearances in the U.K. in early December, as well as their year-end double-header in Seattle last week, the band will invade the Bay Area next week for two shows in San Francisco; their first shows in their native stomping grounds since 2008! NEUROSIS will also headline the first night of this year's installment of the Maryland Deathfest in May, with support from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, EXHUMED, AURA NOIR, MARDUK, GOATSNAKE and countless more that night.

Reunited hardcore legends EARTH CRISIS have entered the studio with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris to begin recording their sixth full-length album for a summer release via Century Media Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Neutralize The Threat", "Counterstrike" and "100 Kiloton Blast".

Commented guitarist Scott Crouse, "We are really excited to work with Zeuss on this one, we have no doubt he will do this recording sonic justice! Hmm, maybe that's what we'll call the record? Stay tuned for some videos of the recording process!"

EARTH CRISIS' chugging riffs and barked declarations served as the mouthpiece of America's militant vegan, straight-edge movement throughout the '90s, detailing the ideas of animal and human liberation, drug-free living and personal empowerment through hardcore music. The group has continued along this path of breaking new ground, constantly working and reaching more people spreading their message to the masses.

After a lengthy hiatus, the band reformed in 2008 to the delight of the hardcore genre. They soon produced the vicious offering "To The Death" that undoubtedly proved that they have never been stronger from both songwriting and musicianship perspectives.

"To The Death" was released on May 5, 2009 via Century Media Records (April 20 in Europe). The self-produced CD was recorded at Castle Recording Studios in Utica, New York and was mixed by Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, THE HAUNTED). Artwork for the effort was handled by Paul Romano (MASTODON, GODFLESH).