SLAYER frontman and bassist Tom Araya is done with headbanging so says bandmate, guitarist Kerry King. Araya underwent back surgery at the end of January. Known for aggressively swinging his long mane of hair while performing, Araya began experiencing back problems while on the band's Australian/New Zealand/Japanese tour in October 2009. In spite of his rapidly increasing pain and discomfort, he carried on with the tour, but immediately upon returning home saw an orthopedic specialist who diagnosed a Cervical Radiculopathy. Earlier this year Araya underwent an Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, which is a relatively routine practice and the recovery rate is excellent.

Slayer recently released the Vinyl Conflict, a collection of all their albums and one live collection in a box set. Check out an Artisan News report below:

COLDWORKER — the Örebro, Sweden-based "blasting" death metal band consisting of current and former/current members of such acts as NASUM, RELENTLESS, RUIN and PHOBOS — has entered Soundlab Studios in the group's hometown to begin recording its third album for an early 2011 release. COLDWORKER drummer Anders Jakobson states, "We're doing the same sort of recording procedure this time as with [2008'a] 'Rotting Paradise' — the drums will be tracked in Soundlab, the guitars in Ülgnor Studios with Johan Berglund, the bass at my home studio A Noble Home and the vocals at Coldworker Studios. We have a few days booked for the drums now and will do the rest early next year. Dan Swanö [EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE] will mix it all at Unisound. We will record 14 songs where one is a cover to be put on the Japanese edition of the album. Some songtitles are 'The Reprobate', 'Flesh World', 'Monochrome Existance', 'Becoming the Stench' and 'The Phantom Carriage'."

The band adds, ""We've been working a long time on these songs and needless to say we are very proud of them and they are definitively 'the next level' for COLDWORKER."

Video footage of COLDWORKER frontman Joel Fornbrant laying down pre-production vocals to a song called "Murderous" can be viewed below.

"Rotting Paradise" was released in the U.S. on May 13, 2008 via Relapse Records.

COLDWORKER is:

Joel Fornbrant - Vocals
Anders Bertilsson - Guitar
Daniel Schröder - Guitar
Oskar Pålsson - Bass
Anders Jakobson - Drums

"Slipping Into Oblivion", the new video from Warsaw, Poland-based metallers NEURONIA, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Follow The White Mouse", which came out in March. The clip was filmed on October 19 at Warsaw's Metal Cave club and was produced by the TwojTeledysk.pl company. The video was directed by Wojciech "Thom" Holysz, guitarist and founding member of the death metal horde EMPTY PLAYGROUND. According to a press release, "the clip follows the subjects of losing one's identity in a big city, the rat race and consumption-centered way of life."

Commented NEURONIA singer and lyricist Maciek "Tektur" Nawrot: "In a big city, life often goes in an inhumanly fast pace — career and making money become the most important things, everything else is just background. People often make the wrong choices in these circumstances, often very dramatic ones, then they lose themselves and all the really important things — their identity, thoughts about their loved ones, their roots, who they really are. This song is a reminder that says: never forget who you are, about your dignity and your dreams."

NEURONIA recently inked a licensing deal with Ukraine's Metal Scrap Records. The label will release "Follow The White Mouse" in the Eastern European market and will also take care of worldwide distribution through its partner companies. NEURONIA will also release a new four-track EP — most likely in February-March 2011. The band has stopped all concert activities until the end of 2010 to concentrate on preparing new material for this record.

Gothenburg, Sweden-based metal sextet MARIONETTE has inked a worldwide publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia (MESHUGGAH, SABATON). The band is currently mixing its as-yet-untitled third album at Studio PH in Gothenburg with Pontus Hjelm (DEAD BY APRIL). Songtitles seto appear on the CD include "Something Forgotten", "Remember Your Name", "Stand In Line" and "Lights Out".

Commented Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia's Sanken Sandqvist: "Sweden has continued to produce quality metal acts for over twenty years now. But MARIONETTE stands out above all for its focus on creating quality metal that is innovative and unconventional while putting on an excellent, interactive, live show that is above and beyond what most bands with dudes in jeans and t-shirts can do in concert. We look forward to working with these young guys from Gothenburg and helping them grow to new heights."

Added MARIONETTE guitarist, backing vocalist, and founding member Aron Parmerud: "We are proud to announce that we have signed with Warner Chappell for publishing our previous two albums and our future material. This worldwide deal will give us the support of one of the worlds largest publishing companies, allowing us to focus on creating new and innovative music, which has been our goal since 2005.

"Everyone at the MARIONETTE camp has been 100% focused on the mixing of our third album, which is occurring (as I type) at Studio PH with Pontus Hjelm.

"This album is by far our most mature release to date; there are a lot of new elements we are introducing to the MARIONETTE sound.

"We expect to turn a lot of heads with this release, and so far the response to the new material we played live on our 'The SlaughTour 2010' headline tour of the U.K. and dates with DARK TRANQUILLITY earlier this year was received extremely well, both by MARIONETTE fans and people who have never seen or heard us before.

"After our album is mastered in January, we look forward to getting back on the road and sharing more new material with everyone who sees us live next year."

RASKAS JOULU (Heavy Christmas) — a Finnish project which celebrates Christmas and its music tradition mixed with metal — completed its annual tour this past weekend with three shows at Tavastia in Helsinki. Two concerts were held on December 18 — an afternoon all-ages show and an evening performance. Because the evening concert was sold out weeks in advance, an additional gig was held on Sunday, December 19.

The following vocalists performed at the Tavastia gigs:

* Jarkko Ahola (TERÄSBETONI, NORTHERN KINGS)
* Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto (CHARON, HARMAJA, NORTHERN KINGS)
* Ari Koivunen (AMORAL)
* Antony Parviainen (MACHINE MEN)
* Ilja Jalkanen (KIUAS)
* Tommi "Tuple" Salmela (TAROT)
* Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA, NORTHERN KINGS)
* Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT, NORTHERN KINGS, SAPATTIVUOSI)

Musicians:

* Erkka Korhonen (ARI KOIVUNEN) - Guitar, Music Director
* Tuomas Wäinölä (TIMO KOTIPELTO) - Guitar
* Erkki Silvennoinen (ARI KOIVUNEN) - Bass
* Vili Ollila (ARI KOIVUNEN) - Keyboards
* Teijo "Twist-Twist" Erkinharju (LENINGRAD COWBOYS, LOS BASTARDOS FINLANDESES, PEER GÜNT) - Drums

Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) has joined forces with former NILE members Chief Spires and John Ehlers in a brand new project called TEMPLE OF THIEVES. According to Spires, "It's definitely different than anything we've done in the past. We wanted to step outside our boundaries and do something that we enjoy listening to."

He added, "I know we'll probably get blasted because it's not death metal. No worries — we can take it — and I'm sure there's people out there that will enjoy it."

The first four songs from TEMPLE OF THIEVES — "Poison The Well", "Listen To Reason", "Crutch" and "Sinful Communion" — can be streamed using the ReverbNation TuneWidget below (click on "Songs" tab).

TEMPLE OF THIEVES is currently seeking a label that will help them with their goal of releasing an entire album.

TEMPLE OF THIEVES is:

Michael Rock - Vocals
Chief Spires - Bass
Flo Mounier - Drums
John Ehlers - Guitar

Finnish metallers AMORAL will enter Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland on January 30 to begin recording their fifth album for a late spring release. Guitarist Ben Varon recently described the band's new material as "all over the place style-wise, from the chillest acoustic stuff to fast death metal, with lots of solid, hard-rockin' metal in between."

In other news, AMORAL will play a one-off show at Nosturi in Helsinki on January 15 as a tribute to the band's late friend and lighting technician Lauri Mailasalo.

Commented the group: "Lauri passed away this year as a result of leukemia. Needless to say, the whole band was crushed by the news as Lauri had been part of the AMORAL crew almost since the very beginning. He will be deeply missed."

Also scheduled to appear at Nosturi are KIUAS and RYTMIHAIRIO. All proceeds from the show will be donated to Sylva Ry, an organization of parents with children who have leukemia.

AMORAL earlier in the year parted ways with guitarist Silver Ots and replaced him with Valtteri Hirvonen.

Fans of strippers, hard drugs, punk rock production and cock-rock douchebaggery, rejoice: The one and (thankfully) only ANAL CUNT has returned with a spankin' new album, and this time around, they're shooting to thrill (instead of just horrifically maim).

Seth Putnam & Co. love themselves a good theme (remember their acoustic abomination Picnic of Love?) , and this time around, they channel Sunset Strip scumbags like MÖTLEY CRÜE and RATT to bring you a rock'n'roll nightmare fueled by their preferred cocktail of sex, violence, and unbridled disgust. From ripping off the CRÜE's cover art to the massive hard rock riffs of "Hot Girls On The Road", "I'm Gonna Give You AIDS" and "Fuck Yeah!" and tender ballad "I Wish My Dealer Was Open", "Fuckin' A" is an instant scuzz rock classic.

"Fuckin' A" will be released on January 11, 2011, and promises to kick off the New Year with one hell of a bang. The record will be distributed by Patac Records (USA) and Trendkill Entertainment (Europe), and will first be available on CD (and include a signed copy of the now-infamous "Seth Putnam's heroin blowjob" photo). An expanded vinyl version will be released later this spring, and the band are already plotting North American and European live actions for 2011.

ANAL CUNT has been shocking, appalling, and causing grievous bodily harm to audiences all over the world since 1988, peddling its ultraviolent noise-riddled grindcore and giving birth to some of the most hilarious (and hideously offensive) songtitles in heavy metal history. Like GG Allin and the DWARVES before them, ANAL CUNT practice what they preach, gleefully embracing their own degeneracy and weathering an endless storm of drug busts, jail time, riots, controversy, and a drug-induced coma with two middle fingers aloft. Love them or hate them — they don't give a fuck either way.

"Fuckin' A" track listing:

01. Fuck Yeah
02. Crankin' My Bands Demo On A Box At The Beach
03. Loudest Stereo
04. Kickin' Your Ass And Fuckin' Your Bitch
05. Hot Girls On The Road
06. Whiskey, Coke And Sluts
07. All I Give A Fuck About Is Sex
08. I'm Gonna Give You AIDS
09. Yay! It's Pink!
10. I Wish My Dealer Was Open

ANAL CUNT is:

Seth Putnam - Vocals, Guitar
Tim Morse - Drums

Reunited California metallers DÉTENTE — whose most recent lineup featured original members Dennis Butler (drums), Caleb Quinn (guitar) and Steve Hochheiser (bass) alongside new vocalist Tiina Teal — have released the following statement:

"Today the Cognitive Records reissue of 'Recognize No Authority' [1986] sold out. With nearly 3,000 copies sold, we would call it successful, given a few years ago DÉTENTE were more of a trivia question (despite selling tens of thousands of copies in the '80s). DÉTENTE's [latest album] 'Decline' has also done well, with over 1,000 sold in the first few months.

"The band has put much work into the reunion and believes that while it has been hard work that it has been a positive experience; having the opportunity to see so many of our friends on our last European tour was especially cool! The fact is, like everyone else, the band has daily responsibilities and the logistics of keeping DÉTENTE moving is no longer possible. While it is conceivable that we could get together for a festival in the future we believe it is time to call it a day.

"Thanks to everyone who has helped along the way, we value your effort and friendships."

"Decline" was released in June in the U.S. via the band's own Cognitive label with MVD Audio distribution. The CD was recorded with engineer Bill Metoyer, who has previously worked with SLAYER, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, D.R.I. and SACRED REICH, among others.

"In God We Trust", the latest video from DÉTENTE, can be viewed below.

Teal joined DÉTENTE as the replacement for Ann Boleyn (HELLION).

Sweden's MEAN STREAK will release a new single, 'In For The Kill' on December 28th. Right now the band is busy rehearsing for their upcoming Japan tour in January.

'In For The Kill is the first single from the forthcoming album, Declaration Of War, to be released on January 28th, 2011 on Black Lodge.

Mean Streak was formed in 2006 and released their debut album, Metal Slave, in 2009. Now it's time for the follow up to rock the world. Two new guitarists - David Andersson (ex-SOILWORK, BJORN STRID) and Patrik Gardberg (ex-AMMOTRACK, SOLUTION .45) have been recruited and the album is once again mixed by Fredrik Nordström.

Declaration Of War contains 11 epic songs which takes the band's NWOBHM sound to new dimensions. The album is all about classic 80's metal, but Mean Streak has also developed their sound quite a bit and we get to hear them perform some progressive tunes here and there, like on 'The Oblation' and 'Brothers 'Til The End', where double pedal bass drums have been left out to offer more atonal and dark arrangements.

The band has also developed lyrically, and the production has a modern touch that makes the album sound fresh without losing the spirit of the past. The album is mastered by Thomas "Plec" Johansson (Solution .45).

In the spring and summer 2011 Mean Streak will head out on an extensive tour around Europe.

Check out the video for the new single below:

Massive Music has issued the following statement:

"Tomasz Dziubinski - our long-lasting friend, producer and organizer of our concerts, publisher of many of our albums and the most important person of the Polish metal scene - suddenly passed away on December 16th, after the struggle with a serious disease.

It's even more impossible to understand, as just few days ago we were talking over Tomek's plans for 2011 and his involvement in new undertakings. Tomek has always wanted to be faithful to metal and his Metalmania shows brought up many generations of fans. It's hard to understand the purpose of this death; the more so as Tomek was always an open, kind and very straightforward person. His professionalism was admirable and inaccessible for most of us. Thanks to him we were learning heavy metal in Poland! Tomek was the person who will mark his name on the cards of metal history!

We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Mariola, his children and relatives. We hope that the good spirit of 'Dziuba' will stay in metal hearts forever. We are filled in sorrow, we will bear in mind you and your achivements..."

"Give Up The Rest", the new video from French metallers KLONE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's latest album, "Black Days", which was released on April 19 in France and May 17 in the rest of Europe and Australia via Season of Mist.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Rite Of Passage
02. Spiral Down
03. Give Up The Rest
04. Hollow Way
05. Immaculate Desire
06. Closed Season (Interlude)
07. The Spell Is Cast
08. Danse Macabre
09. Rain Bird
10. Behold The Silence
11. Army Of Me (BJÖRK cover)

Audio samples of three new songs from ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET — the Swedish band featuring former THE CROWN vocalist Johan Lindstrand — are available for streaming on the group's MySpace page. "Inside The Head Of God", "Stitch" and "Skeletons Of Rose Hall" come off ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET's fourth full-length album, "The Dark Epic", which will be released in Europe on February 25, 2011. The CD was recorded at Black Lounge studios in Avesta, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY, CARNAL FORGE). The cover artwork, which can be viewed below, was created by Björn Goosses of Killustrations.

Portugal's FACTORY OF DREAMS has released the cover art for their third album, Melotronical (click on the picture to the left to enlarge). The album is nearly complete and will be available for pre-order early January 2011 through Progrock Records.

According to a press release: “Melotronical is a conceptual CD revolving around the evolution of an electronic Molecule into a living, breathing entity. This entity, experiences several stages of life, goes through all emotions, love, hate, fear, happiness... The track list is arranged according to this evolution, and one can have a feel of each stage just by reading each song title, listening to the songs and lyrics. More info upon release in January.”

Melotronical's tracklisting is as follows:

‘Enter Nucleon’
‘Melotronical’
‘A Taste Of Paradise’
‘Protonic Stream’
‘Into Oblivion’
‘Obsessical’
‘Back To Sleep’
‘Whispering Eyes’
‘Subatomic Tears’
‘Dimension Crusher’
‘Echoes From Earth’
‘Something Calling Me’
‘Reprogramming

Vocalist Hugo Flores comments: "It's almost here after so much hard work on this new album! Melotronical is different, very special... every track from this album has something unique, maybe related to the way the album was designed. The music pushes and goes far beyond the boundaries of the electronic progressive metal genre.

Early January everyone will be able to pre-order the album, watch the official full promo and listen to a longer preview. So, get ready to feel Melotronical with our brand new album. Wish you all a happy Christmas and a fantastic new year 2011!"

E-FORCE, featuring ex-VOIVOD frontmant Eric Forrest, have announced a string of Euromean tour dates for January. The schedule is currently as follows:


January
13 - Zalaegerszeg, Hungary - Club Grabowski
14 - Croatia - tba.
15 - Schio, Italy - Mac2
16 - Cremona, Italy - Dordoni
17 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Orto Bar
18 - Padova, Italy - Country Star
19 - Bologna, Italy - Lazzaretto
20 - Chiasso, Switzerland - Murrayfield Pub
21 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Little Devil
22 - Aalen, Germany - venue tba

More dates for 2011 will be announced soon.

Forrest has also issued the folloiwng update:

"We will finally be recording The Curse Of The C*** record by next summer. Things got delayed, dates got booked, it will be released some time late next yeart. So far eight songs are completed (demo), titled 'Devoured', 'Awakened', 'Into Temptation', 'Serpent's Kiss', 'The Witch Work'. A few special guests will also appear on the record. Stay tuned..."

Coming off a triumphant headlining tour in the U.K. last month with support from GRAND MAGUS, CHTHONIC and MALEFICE, Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have entered Sweet Spot Studio in the south of Sweden to begin recording their new studio album for a tentative May 2011 release via Century Media Records. The CD is being produced by the band and engineered/mixed by Rickard Bengtsson (who previously worked with the group on 2005's "Doomsday Machine").

Commented ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson: "After an intense but inspiring stay in the studio, I've just completed recording the drum tracks for the upcoming ARCH ENEMY album! We're working once again with Rickard Bengtsson, who produced 'Doomsday Machine', and he quickly dialed in an absolutely pristine drumtone! I've also had the expertise of local drum guru Beppe Wackelin at hand, helping out with tuning and kindly letting me use some of his vintage drums.

"This time around I've used a Pearl Reference drum kit, while incorporating various snare drums on songs that demanded a slightly different feel.

"We had a very inspiring and creative time writing this album. I think this is definitely evident when listening to the new songs. There's tons of variation in the material, ranging all the way from very melodic to extremely heavy.

"As you can expect there's no shortage of killer riffs and intricate guitar work; the Amott brothers [Michael and Chris] have come up with some very cool yet demanding ideas!

"This album has some of the fastest songs I've ever recorded, along with a bunch of heavy pounding mid tempo songs.

"As always, it's difficult to describe music in words, but rest assured — this album will be one heavy fucker!"

Video footage of Daniel recording the new CD can be viewed below.

Multinational melodic metallers EDEN'S CURSE have completed the recording of their brand new, and third, studio album Trinity.

The album is now in the final stages of the mixing process with long term Producer, and bassist of PINK CREAM 69 and UNISONIC, Dennis Ward (ANGRA, ALLEN & LANDE, SILENT FORCE, KROKUS) and will be released by Spiritual Beast (Japan) on March 16th and by AFM Records (Europe) and Metal Mayhem (USA) on March 18th.

The band recorded fourteen songs in total, which includes two cover versions.

Details of the tracklisting, artwork and news on some very famous guests will be released in early 2011.

"Monologue", the new video from Louisiana-based progressive metallers TETRAFUSION, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's sophomore album, "Altered State", which was released on October 12 via Nightmare Records. The Fairfield Studios-directed clip was filmed in Shreveport, Lousiana with producer Chris Lyon of Perennial Media.

Commented bassist Mark Michell: "It was a pleasure to work with one of the highest-quality production studios and directors from our region.

"Chris Lyon has directed many recent independent films and is truly a natural at his craft. He and the crew from Fairfield really took the lyrics and story from our track and brought them to life with an amazing cinematic storyline. It brought the track to an entirely new level. We hope to work with these guys again in the future."

"Altered State" was recorded and produced by David Forshee of Queensix Productions.

TETRAFUSION's blend of complex, technical metal blended with a highly-intellectual melodic structure offers an eclectic brand of progressive rock and metal along the likes of PORCUPINE TREE, RUSH, DREAM THEATER, CYNIC, TOOL and MUSE. Originally an instrumental band, the group released its debut record, "Absolute Zero", to critical acclaim, which quickly launched TETRAFUSION into the underground metal scene, sans vocals, along the likes of SCALE THE SUMMIT, ANIMALS AS LEADERS, LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, and CANVAS SOLARIS, and was hailed as one of the top ten albums of 2009 by Ultimate-Guitar.com.

In a recent interview with Examiner.com, Michell stated about the new release, "We really took a new direction musically. It's our first record to feature vocals, and we didn't want to have 'Absolute Zero Part 2' with vocals over it, so we decided to just completely change our approach. I think 'Altered State''s biggest slogan is 'substance over style' whereas our debut was very style-oriented and straightforward. We definitely have our progressive, crazy, fast, heavy moments, but we took a step back and gave it a lot more atmosphere, which is something I think we needed on many levels."

"Altered State" track listing:

01. Collage of the Present
02. Monologue
03. Last Chance
04. The Deserter
05. Altered State (instrumental)
06. Shadows
07. Tears of the Past

TETRAFUSION is:

Gary Tubbs - Vocals, Keyboards,
Brooks Tarkington - Vocals, Guitars
Mark Michell - Bass
J.C. Bryant - Drums

Swiss industrial black metallers SAMAEL have set "Lux Mundi" (which translates as "Light of the World") as title of their forthcoming album, due in the spring via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD, which took almost three years to be completed, was recorded this past summer after the band spent a few days in pre-production in Germany with with longtime collaborator Waldemar Sorychta (MOONSPELL, LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.). The actual recordings took place in two different locations in Switzerland and the mix was handled by extreme metal specialist Russ Russell in Kettering, England.

"Lux Mundi" will consist of 10 to 12 new songs, including first single "Antigod" and live monster "Soul Invictus".

Ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy has revealed made a recent attempt to rejoin his former bandmates but was rebuffed by the band he formed and led for 25 years. Writing on his official forum, Portnoy states, "Just for the record, this is indeed true..

"Fairly recently, I reached out to the guys to try and make amends and offered to reconcile for the sake of having peace back in our lives… (plus I know how much it meant to a lot of the fans…)

"I figured it was still possible to try and save us, because they hadn't made any announcements yet or begun any public activity with another drummer… but sadly, they declined my offer (well, actually their lawyer did… they didn't even tell me themselves….)

"Sorry, gang, I honestly gave it my all…

"So now the fans on my Twitter and Facebook can please stop asking me to go back to DREAM THEATER… I tried, and the door is now shut… The ball is now in their court, not mine…

"I'm not crying or looking for mercy by posting this… I am merely trying to set the record straight as that is always the most important thing about my relationship with you guys… No BS, no spins, nothing to hide… and for better or for worse, I tell it like it is… I've also recently seen some people accuse my online activity of 'looking for attention or media coverage,' or 'looking for sympathy,' but it's honestly none of the above… I merely value having an open and active communication with my fans… Always have, always will… It is the cornerstone of everything I've done since day #1 with DREAM THEATER…

"This was posted here FOR YOU GUYS to know about...here on MY message board on MY website.... If it ends up on Blabbermouth or wherever else, that is THEIR choice to spread, I did not request it or send out a 'press release'....

"Anyways, onward and upward...

"I've got a lot of great music and ideas waiting to come out of me and alot of exciting collaborations in the works....so goodbye 2010...bring on 2011!"

Die finnischen Melodic Death Metaller MYGRAIN, haben die Aufnahmen an Ihrem neuen Album mit Produzent Janne Joutsenniemi (SUBURBAN TRIBE, STONE) in den Seawolf Studios in Helsinki abgeschlossen.

Das neue Album kommt am 21. Januar 2011 via Spinefarm Records in den Handel. Den Mix hat Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) in den Unisound Studios in Örebro, Sweden übernommen.

"Mygrain" Track List:

01. Into The Parallel Universe (5:34)
02. Shadow People (4:28)
03. Dust Devils And Cosmic Storms (4:50)
04. Of Immortal Aeons (5:40)
05. A Clockwork Apocalypse (6:18)
06. Eye Of The Void (5:16)
07. Trapped In An Hourglass (5:47)
08. Xenomorphic (6:06)
09. Cataclysm Child (6:29)

Die Deutschen Hard Rocker BONFIRE feiern im kommenden Jahr ihr 25jähriges Bandjubiläum! Drei Musiker der ersten Stunde, darunter die Masterminds Hans Ziller und Claus Lessmann sind auf dem neuen BONFIRE Album "Branded" zu hören. Dem ersten regulären Studio Album nach fünf Jahren! In gewohnt knackiger Qualität gibt es darauf 10 brandneue Songs zu entdecken sowie zwei außergewöhnliche Bonus Tracks.

Kernige Rock-Hymen, aber auch wunderschöne Balladen in denen die stimmlichen Qualitäten von Claus Lessmann besonders intensiv zum Tragen kommen, dominieren "Branded". Songs wie die Hymne "Just Follow The Rainbow", der Megaohrwurm "Save Me" oder die ergreifende Liebeserklärung "Hold Me Now" haben wieder die Klasse der Bandmeisterwerke "Fire Works" (Goldalbum in Deutschland für mehr als 250.000 verkaufte Einheiten) sowie "Fuel To The Flames" (Top 30 in Deutschland).

Nach ihrem Beitrag zur Fußball WM, die Single "Deutsche Nationalhymne" stand sieben Wochen in den deutschen Charts ist der Fünfer aus Ingolstadt wieder in aller Munde! In ihrem Jubiläumsjahr werden BONFIRE auf zahlreichen deutschen und europäischen Bühnen zu sehen und hören sein nach wie vor getreu dem Motto "Keep The BONFIRE Burning"! Das neue Album "Branded" kommt am 21. Januar 2011 in D/AT/CH in den Handel.