A new song which legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, DIO) nearly completed before his death will be released next year, according to former DIO member Craig Goldy. The guitarist tells U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, "We were working on tracks for a new DIO album just before Ronnie died in May. And we did almost finish one song. Wendy [Dio, Ronnie's widow/manager] has been talking about reissuing [DIO's] 'Magica' album (originally released in 2000) with bonus tracks, including this one." He adds, "The thing is that the lyrics deal with what Ronnie was going through at the time, when he was battling cancer. So now they are very emotional. It's hard to listen without a lump in your throat."

Prior to his death, Ronnie was working on two follow-up albums to "Magica". One of the songs completed during those sessions, "Elektra", was made available as part of the DIO "Tournado" box set (which was originally made for the DIO fall 2009 European tour which was cancelled after Ronnie got sick) in a limited edition of 1,500 copies, signed and numbered.

Ronnie previously said about "Elektra", "It's a really good song, and part of the whole 'Magica' trilogy. It's hard for it to stand alone, so I did write an explanation of what it was about. It's just a brief glimpse into what will be 'Magica' again. There are some special plans."

One of the last-ever recorded sons by Ronnie James Dio, "Metal Will Never Die", appears on "Bitten By The Beast", the new solo album from Dio's cousin David "Rock" Feinstein — a former member of RONNIE DIO & THE PROPHETS, THE ELECTRIC ELVES, ELF, and the leader of the legendary New York band THE RODS.

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor has reiterated that he has no plans to make a new album with the band anytime soon, despite the fact that the Iowa-based group has just confirmed a headlining appearance at the Sonisphere series of European festivals, including an exclusive U.K. appearance at Knebworth (set for July 8-10, 2011). Writing on his Twitter page, Taylor said, "Yes, we are playing Sonisphere U.K. And a few [other festivals] to be announced.

"Like I said: Shows? Yes. Album? No. Baby steps, people. For the fans.

"Honestly, I don't know how to feel about the tour. But it's for the fans, and for the family.

"We'll see.

"I don't know WHEN I'll be ready to make an album. Might not be for years. But we will definitely play shows.

"We'll see what happens."

A harrowing "end-of-the-world" song, "World Painted Blood", the title track from SLAYER's most recent release, has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of "Best Metal Performance." This is the band's fifth Grammy nod, with the band having taken home the prize twice, first for "Eyes of the Insane" in 2006, and then again with "Final Six" in 2007, both in the "Best Metal Performance" category.

"I admit, I'm excited and kind of surprised," said SLAYER's bassist/vocalist Tom Araya, who co-wrote (with guitarist Jeff Hanneman) "World Painted Blood". "To have SLAYER's music recognized by an organization as traditional as the Grammys — five times now — is like that gold star that someone puts up by your name. It's unexpected, but it's cool."

The "World Painted Blood" nomination caps off one of the band's most challenging yet successful years of its career. Beginning with Araya's successful neck surgery that now has him pain-free, SLAYER went on to co-headline (with MEGADETH) the "Canadian" and "American Carnage" tours, European headline dates, the historic summer series of "Big Four" Sonisphere European concerts with METALLICA, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX, and the recently completed "Jägermeister Music Tour" that SLAYER co-headlined with MEGADETH and featured ANTHRAX.

SLAYER's 2011 will launch with a slew of major Australian festivals, with more North American news to be announced.

"Best Metal Performance" nominees:

* IRON MAIDEN - "El Dorado" (from "The Final Frontier")
* KORN - "Let The Guilt Go" (from "Korn III: Remember Who You Are")
* LAMB OF GOD - "In Your Words" (from "Wrath")
* MEGADETH - "Sudden Death" (from "Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock")
* SLAYER - "World Painted Blood" (from "World Painted Blood")

French symphonic gothic ensemble WHYZDOM has announced the addition of singer Clémentine Delauney to the group's ranks. The band states, "Clémentine received an intensive artistic training since her youngest age: contemporary dance, classical and jazz piano, theatre, classical singing (she joined the Maîtrise of Lyon Opera in 2003). Motivated by the everlasting will to let her voice express itself in a symphonic metal band, it's an immense pleasure to welcome her in our family."

WHYZDOM recently played two shows with Lisa Middelhauve, former frontwowman for German goth metallers XANDRIA, filling in, following the departure of singer Telya Melane. Middelhauve is also expected to appear on WHYZDOM's next album as a guest singer.

WHYZDOM's debut CD, "From The Brink Of Infinity", was released in September 2009 via Ascendance Records.

The label previously described the CD in the following way: "Think of a huge orchestra and a massive symphonic choir intertwined with powerful riffs and enchanting melodies from a clear and passionate feminine voice, and you'll get an idea of what WHYZDOM have managed to create. Their classical influences ranging from the romantic to the contemporary period, as well as the appealing melodies that drive the songs, make their sound utterly unmistakeable in an ever growing scene."

The project was founded by the guitarist and orchestrator Vynce Leff in early 2007, already well known in the progressive sphere, having produced several successful albums for the British label Cyclops Records. The other members — Regis Morin, Tristan Demurger, Nicolas Chaumeaux and Marc Ruhlmann — joined soon after and a first EP, "Daughter Of The Night", was recorded less than six months from the band's inception. It got instant acclaim from reviewers and music fans around the world, as well as several awards and plaudits.

Singer Wolf of Austria's longest-running death metal band DARKSIDE was hospitalized earlier this week "for a thrombosis which he caught while having his leg in plaster after overthrowing his ankle two weeks ago," the band says in its latest e-mail update. "The situation has been stabilized but Wolf is forced to undergo therapy for at least half a year until the thrombosis will be resolved and all will hopefully be back to normal as soon as possible. Meanwhile, he and Bernd [Brodträger, guitar] have been working on motre demos for DARKSIDE's upcoming new album, 'XX Deca(y)de - Throne Of The Deathgod', set for release in early summer 2011 in order to celebrate the 20 anniversary of DARKSIDE's founding back in 1991."

"XX-Deca(y)ed – Throne of the Deathgod" will feature re-recorded versions of songs from all of DARKSIDE's albums as well as a few cover songs, some surprises and a brand new track. The CD artwork will be created by Joachim Luetke, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY, MESHUGGAH and KREATOR, among others. DARKSIDE is also writing material for a new studio LP, which will be titled "A-E-I-O-U".

As one of the cornerstones of British rock, RAINBOW — led by the never-predictable but ever-astonishing guitarist Ritchie Blackmore — became synonymous with some of the most well regarded and popular charting rock songs of the Seventies and Eighties. From the mystic and quasi-religious "Stargazer" and "Man On A Silver Mountain" to the solid gold anthems of "All Night Long", "Long Live Rock And Roll" and "Since You Been Gone", each year in the decade of RAINBOW was marked by some of the best songs and performances captured both on record and in-concert.

Passing through the band were some of the best the genre had to offer. Vocalists Ronnie James Dio and Graham Bonnet, bass player and producer Roger Glover and drummer Cozy Powell, each brought their individual talent to the table to record some of rock's best-loved hard rock on those timeless albums and singles.

On January 24, 2011, Universal Music will re-release "Down To Earth" in deluxe expanded edition.

With a relatively unknown new vocalist installed as replacement to the now-departed (to BLACK SABBATH) Ronnie James Dio, ex-MARBLES lung-buster Graham Bonnet would leave his mark on RAINBOW by taking the band into far more commercial chart accessible territory. With the loss of Dio's dungeon and dragon lyricism and the new "boy-meets-girl" subject matter, those girls were now paying attention and buying singles such as "Since You Been Gone", "All Night Long" and "Lost In Hollywood" in droves.

Released in 1979, "Down To Earth" is RAINBOW's fourth album studio album sees a band revitalized not only by a brand new vocalist but also with the addition of Blackmore's former DEEP PURPLE colleague Roger Glover on bass guitar. With Glover also sitting in the producer's chair, "Down To Earth" delivers the goods of a solid hard rock album with aplomb.

This deluxe expanded edition adds the two non-album single B-sides, "Bad Girl" and "Weiss Heim", and a complete second disc of previously unreleased studio outtakes and alternative versions which allow us to hear "Down To Earth" as a work-in-progress for the very first time.

"Down To Earth" deluxe expanded edition:

Disc 1

01. All Night Long
02. Eyes Of The World
03. No Time To Lose
04. Makin' Love
05. Since You Been Gone
06. Love's No Friend
07. Danger Zone
08. Lost In Hollywood

Bonus Tracks:

09. Bad Girl (7" single b-side)
10. Weiss Heim (7" single b-side)

Disc 2

01. All Night Long (instrumental outtake)
02. Eyes Of The World (instrumental outtake)
03. Spark Don't Mean A Fire
04. Makin' Love (instrumental outtake)
05. Since You Been Gone (instrumental outtake)
06. Ain't A Lot Of Love In The Heart Of Me
07. Danger Zone (instrumental outtake)
08. Lost In Hollywood (instrumental outtake)
09. Bad Girls (instrumental outtake)
10. Ain't A Lot Of Love In The Heart
11. Eyes Of The World (instrumental outtake – take 2)
12. All Night Long (Cozy Powell mix)

Townsville, Australia newspaper Townsville Bulletin was inundated with calls and texts earlier today (Thursday, December 2) from residents near the town's Reid Park who were frustrated by the noise and late finish of the GUNS N' ROSES concert.

Hermit Park resident Mike Shearer told the paper he was forced to turn up his television as the band's music dominated his lounge room on Wednesday night.

"It was far too noisy and it went well outside the time it was meant to go," Shearer said.

"If that concert was being held in my neighbor's place, the police would have confiscated the hi-fi set, so why should they get away with it in Reid Park?"

A Townsville City Council spokesman told the Townsville Bulletin before the concert promoters were licensed to continue the show until 10:45 p.m. and council and Liquor Licensing would monitor noise levels.

"GUNS N' ROSES came on late and the concert ran late which is a concern to us and something we will talk to promoters about, as it is not fair for residents on a midweek event," Mayor Les Tyrell said.

"The remainder of the feedback has been positive, with most people generally happy with traffic management, amenities and the state of the venue."

GUNS N' ROSES took to the stage more than an hour late.

KORN frontman Jonathan Davis has commented on the band's nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

"Best Metal Performance" nominees:

* IRON MAIDEN - "El Dorado" (from "The Final Frontier")
* KORN - "Let The Guilt Go" (from "Korn III: Remember Who You Are")
* LAMB OF GOD - "In Your Words" (from "Wrath")
* MEGADETH - "Sudden Death" (from "Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock")
* SLAYER - "World Painted Blood" (from "World Painted Blood")

"Our new album, 'Korn III: Remember Who You Are' really means a lot to us," Davis told AOL's Noisecreep. "It's a return to our roots. So the fact that the Grammy committee recognizes one of our favorite tracks from that album is an immense honor. And, to be nominated alongside MAIDEN — well, that makes it even more killer."

KORN has now been nominated for seven Grammy Awards since 1997. The band won "Best Short Form Music Video" for "Freak on a Leash" in 2000 and "Best Metal Performance" for "Here to Stay" in 2003.

Robert Gray of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with FIREWIND/OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How did "Days Of Defiance", FIREWIND's sixth album, come to fruition?

Gus: We took our time writing "Days Of Defiance"; we didn't rush. We wrote a couple of songs on the road in 2008, songs like "Embrace The Sun" and "Heading For The Dawn". Apart from that though, we basically waited until the touring for "The Premonition" was done. We then took a break, and then we got together and wrote stuff together, comparing ideas. We spent the first half of 2009, working on the songs and arrangements. Around mid summer, we then started recording everything and basically took our time doing it.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: In what ways did the current global economic crisis — in Greece especially — influence the mood of "Days Of Defiance"?

Gus: The financial, economic crisis is a general phenomenon; it's hitting almost every country right now in the world. You can see people complaining and voting and protesting. There was a little bit of that vibe on a couple of songs, especially on the first song "The Ark Of Lies". It's all about that, really; it's all about people not trusting in any political or religious leaders anymore. "Days Of Defiance"'s title actually came from one of the lines in "The Ark Of Lies"; it's mentioned on that first track, and actually, it's also mentioned on the last track of the record as well ("When All Is Said and Done"). It's cool that the first song and the last song on "Days Of Defiance" feature that line.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Would you say that "Days Of Defiance" features a dark, rebellious mood?

Gus: On a couple of songs, maybe. Maybe musically "Days Of Defiance" is a bit darker, but lyrically speaking, maybe on a couple of songs we talk about these things but this isn't a concept album. There's other topics on there as well; for example, "Heading For The Dawn" is about us and our fans, us travelling the world and playing to our fans. There's other stuff as well; there's songs with positive messages like "Embrace The Sun" and songs like that, so "Days Of Defiance" isn't all dark and gloomy or whatever.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: In what ways would you say "Days Of Defiance" is heavier than past FIREWIND albums?

Gus: "Days Of Defiance" is as heavy as "The Premonition", maybe a little bit heavier on a few tracks, but I think what makes this album even heavier is its raw production. We have a different production and a different sound this time. We actually moved studios; we didn't mix with Fredrik Nordström this time, but went to Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki, Finland. We had a different approach to "Days Of Defiance"; we wanted it to be less polished, a bit more stripped down, and a bit more organic. I think it really fits our music this mix, and it actually made our music sound heavier.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: You've gone on record as saying your guitar playing on "Days Of Defiance" is better than your guitar playing on past FIREWIND albums. In what ways do you feel your guitar playing is better on this full-length?

Gus: I just felt that I wasn't so stressed, because we recorded everything in our own studio really and we kind of did it ourselves. I didn't have that clock ticking, that "Oh, I only have a few more days to finish all guitars." I just recorded whenever I felt I was ready. It's actually a relief to know you're not paying tons of money every day to record in a studio. You're playing whenever you feel like playing actually, and I feel more creative that way. I think there's a little bit of that little extra thing on our playing on "Days Of Defiance" compared to the previous ones. Not to put any of our previous albums down, though, because they're really good and I'm still proud of them. I don't think I'm just speaking for myself actually, and I should speak up for the rest of FIREWIND's members as well because I think everybody captured their best performances yet on this album.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: What was your approach to providing guitar parts to "Scream"? After all, the Ozzy Osbourne group has been around for a number of years and has had many other guitarists in its ranks.

Gus: I wanted to maintain the classic element, the Ozzy sound, obviously, and I wanted to have a little bit of guitar playing from the past on there. I wanted to have a little bit of that vibe on "Scream", but I also wanted my own stamp on the record as well, and make it sound like the new chapter of Ozzy, the new era of Ozzy — because it is. That was my approach; being respectful to who's been there before me and to his past, but also making my own mark. I didn't get to do any writing, but I don't think that was necessarily bad because I think it was a very challenging situation for me, to play on an album and put my stamp on music that I didn't write. All things considered, I think it came out really great. There are a lot of great songs on "Scream".

Ultimate-Guitar.com: When the time comes for Ozzy to record another album, can you see songwriting opportunities arising?

Gus: Oh yeah, man. I've already started writing stuff for him, and we've already discussed the possibility of doing another one. We've been jamming on some riffs, and he's really excited about them. Hopefully, we're gonna get to do that after this world tour ends. Hopefully we'll take a break, and then we'll go back in and do another record. Ozzy's been talking about going in and doing the next record like they were done in the old days, like the first two albums (September 1980's "Blizzard Of Ozz" and November 1981's "Diary Of A Madman") were done; getting the actual band together to jam, and doing it together. I think if we had the chance to do that, we can create a really killer record.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How would you compare these ideas to those on "Scream", though, an album you didn't write for?

Gus: It's hard to say; they're just me basically making riffs so far, and grooves and stuff like that. They're definitely a bit more traditional, and not as modern as "Scream" was. They're a bit more back to basics, back to the roots. You've heard me play with FIREWIND and a bunch of other bands, so you know what my style's like. They're definitely not like melodic speed metal or anything. They're more in the vein of old Ozzy.

New Jersey thrashers WHIPLASH have announced the return of the group's original drummer, Tony Scaglione, after an amicable split with Joe Cangelosi (KREATOR), who played on the group's "Ticket To Mayhem" (1987), "Insult To Injury" (1990) and "Unborn Again" (2009) albums.

WHIPLASH is a three-piece power trio hailing from New Jersey. The band was assembled back in 1984 when Tony Portaro (guitar, vocals) and Scaglione joined forces, then recruited Tony Bono on bass.

Scaglione originally gained notoriety in the mid-Eighties with his powerful drumming on WHIPLASH's debut album, "Power And Pain". Today this recording is still hailed by many as one of the essential thrash metal releases of all time. Throughout the years, Tony went on to perform and record with many diverse acts, including SLAYER (as the touring replacement for Dave Lombardo in early 1987), RAGING SLAB, CAUSE FOR ALARM, SHEER TERROR, LUDICHRIST, NORTH SIDE KINGS and M.O.D.

Commented Scaglione: "It's great to be back playing with Tony after all of this time! It's like coming home again where I belong. Tony Portaro and I have a fantastic chemistry and we look forward to performing all of the old material for metal fans all around the world! Get ready for some power-thrashing death!"

Added Portaro: "Tony and I built the foundation for WHIPLASH back in 1984. We shared the same dreams and nothing was more important to us than our music. We are a mix of fire and gasoline. We are excited to share our adrenaline rush with those who have followed WHIPLASH over the years. Get ready to witness the true core of the band on the road in 2011."

"Unborn Again", the latest album from WHIPLASH, was released last fall via Pulverised Records. The CD was recorded at Mozart Studio with Harris Johns. The band mixed and mastered the album at The Music Lab in Berlin, Germany. The cover artwork was created by Ed Repka (DEATH, ATHEIST, MEGADETH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, POSSESSED).

Epic Viking metallers HAMMER HORDE returned to Dimmworks Studios on November 26th to begin recording their sophomore album, expected to be released sometime in 2011.

The band has launched an official studio diary with studio reports, photos, and more - including the announcement of the new album title, Vinlander. Keep up with the band's studio progress each week at this location.

http://blog.hammerhorde.com/

Hammer Horde began its epic metal invasion on listeners' ears in early 2009 with the release of their full-length debut, Under The Mighty Oath, on Storm Surge Records.

Hammer Horde is:

Tom Sturniolo - vocals
Derik Smith - guitar
Ben McGeorge - bass
Jayson Cessna - drums
Ryan Mininger - guitar

The vinyl version of BELPHEGOR's "The Last Supper" album will be made available on December 24 via Funeral Industries. Strictly limited to 1,350 copies, the LP features "40 minutes of ultra-brutal, anti-Christian death metal, more unique in its evilness than any other monument ever unleashed from hell," according to a press release.

"The Last Supper" will be manufactured as a noble gatefold LP inside a full-colored heavy carton and a printed inner sleeve. It also comes with a DIN A2 poster with the original "The Last Supper" painting.

Versions:

150 - Splattered Vinyl
150 - Marbled Vinyl
700 - Black Vinyl
350 - Picture Vinyl

HELLFIGHTER, the band formed by ex-members of cult U.K. thrashers XENTRIX, has completed work on its debut album, "Damnation's Wings". According to a press release, the CD 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."

"Damnation's Wings" will be released worldwide before the end of 2010 on Heavy Metal Records. Distribution for the CD will be handled by Plastic Head in Europe, and MVD in the U.S. and South America.

EARTH has completed its highly anticipated new full-length album, which has been a subject of much discussion over the past two years. Following the band's magnificent 2008 opus, "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull", the next chapter in the ongoing EARTH legacy is ready for public consumption. Due in February 2011 via Southern Lord Recordings, the recently completed new album has been titled "Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1" and promises to be a brand new entity within EARTH's already impressive and constantly progressing lineage.

Joining founding guitarist and band frontman Dylan Carlson and percussionist Adrienne Davies, the album lineup this time around also includes cellist Lori Goldston (NIRVANA, DAVID BYRNE, BLACK CAT ORCHESTRA, LAURA VEIRS) and Karl Blau (K RECORDS, LAURA VEIRS, MICROPHONES) on electric bass. Returning to Seattle's Avast Studios in April and July of 2010 to again work with producer Stuart Hallerman (SOUNDGARDEN, MUDHONEY, BUILT TO SPILL, EARTH2), EARTH's newest masterpiece shows the band continuing to expand on the Americana themes represented on "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull" and even their incredible 2005 album, "Hex (Or Printing The Infernal Method)", taking their sound into broad new directions.

Citing inspiration from British folk-rock bands THE PENTANGLE and FAIRPORT CONVENTION, as well as North African Tuareg band TINARIWEN this time around, while still maintaining the thunderous, organic heaviness of previous EARTH releases, the material on "Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1" is more fluid and melodically oriented in nature, relying on more textured patterns and a greater emphasis on improvisational songwriting tactics. This, as well as the inclusion of cello and other experimentations from the musicians involved, culminate into some unforgettable new hymns. The album was mastered by Mell Dettmer, who also remastered the recent re-release of EARTH's first recordings in the form of "A Bureaucratic Desire For Extra Capsular Extraction", released by Southern Lord in late October.

"Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1" track listing:

01. Old Black
02. Father Midnight
03. Descent To The Zenith
04. Hell’s Winter
05. Angels Of Darkness, Demons Of Light 1

The cover art for the album was created by Stacy Rozich and can be viewed below.

A pre-production version of "Pillar Of Fire", a brand new song from the Israeli heavy metal band AMASEFFER, can be streamed using the audio player below. The track, which features lead vocals from Mats Levén (THERION, KRUX, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), comes off the group's forthcoming album, "When The Lions Leave Their Den", the second part of AMASEFFER's Biblical trilogy. The group previously stated about the CD's title, "We think that this title is best describing the events of our new album which will mainly deal with the actual Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The trigger to use this title was actually that it's a part of the lyrics for the opening track, 'Pillar Of Fire', written by our dear friend Yotam Avni. Yotam is writing all the lyrics for the new album and so far we think he's 'cooking' a divine creation!"

"Pillar Of Fire" audio stream:

British doom metal band ELECTRIC WIZARD will release its long-awaited new album, Black Masses, in North America on January 18th, 2011 via Rise Above Records.

The legendary group's seventh studio album and first since 2007's Witchcult Today, Black Masses was recorded with Grammy Award-winning British recording engineer Liam Watson in London's Toe Rag Studios and promises to deliver "a crushing behemoth of funereal march pyschedelia" and "the oblivion and ecstasy of 10,000 watts of doom!"

Long hailed as the true heirs to BLACK SABBATH, Electric Wizard have achieved near iconic status in the metal underground but have not - as of yet - crushed the world! Now, in league with Satan himself, Electric Wizard prepares to annihilate the planet with Black Masses, its new LP and dark prayer to "Luciferian heavy metal" via crackling, vintage valve amplifiers set to full overdrive.

Propelled by gigantic riffs and dripping with dark, bluesy undertones, Black Masses is an ugly, sleazy and dirty album steeped in unruly themes of 70's exploitation cinema, occultism, substance abuse and narco-satanism. Taken as a whole, the record creates a twisted amalgam of late 60's dark acid psychedelia and early 80's satanic metal, all draped in both vile, misanthropic imagery and lyrics.

"This ritual incantation of heavy metal sorcery will break down your psyche as wave upon crushing wave of lead weight acid-laced Doom leaves you numb and broken before our unholy altar," declared Electric Wizard cult leader Jus Oborn when reached for comment. "Violent, bleak and ritualistic, we bow to the black altar of the RIFF. We do not rock, we kill!"




Black Masses tracklisting:

'Black Mass'
'Venus In Furs'
'Night Child'
'Patterns Of Evil'
'Satyr IX'
'Turn Off Your Mind'
'Scorpio Curse'
'Crypt Of Drugula'

Accessible and exciting yet violent and evil, Electric Wizard has been riding a black wave of success since its formation in 1993. The band is an all encompassing paean to "dark and weird subjects" and a true celebration of bizarre low brow art (think: Weird Tales), vintage horror and B-movies, subversive foreign comics and H.P. Lovecraft coupled with a morbid fascination in cults, witchcraft, freemasonry, biker culture and ancient occult sciences and how these dark arts can be applied to music.

The quartet's incendiary and apocalyptic live performances have thrilled audiences the world over culminating in near iconic status amongst true fanatics and devotees of heavy music. Now the band has prepared Black Masses - its greatest work and bleakest art - in unholy thanks. Prepare!

In addition to Oborn, Electric Wizard features Liz Buckingham (guitars), Tas Danazoglou (bass) and Shaun Rutter (drums / percussion).

Florida-based death metallers DEICIDE will release their new album, "To Hell With God", on February 15 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA) at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.

"To Hell With God" track listing:

01. Save Your
02. Empowered by Blasphemy
03. Conviction
04. Hang in Agony Until You're Dead
05. To Hell with God
06. Servant of the Enemy
07. Witness of Death
08. Angels in Hell
09. Into the Darkness You Go
10. How Can You Call Yourself a God

Video footage of legendary hard rock singer Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) performing with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA on November 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada can be viewed below.

In a recent interview with Sweden's Metal Shrine, Soto stated about his involvement with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, "I've known the musical director and guitar player, Al Pitrelli [MEGADETH, SAVATAGE, ALICE COOPER], for about 20 years now. We actually met in Karlskoga in Sweden. We were doing a big festival. He was playing with ALICE COOPER and it was the first TALISMAN tour back in 1990 and we met at the hotel afterwards. We were staying at the same hotel and I'd already been on tour with these guys for a month, so a hotel full of Americans was like, 'Oh, it's like being back home!' and me and Al hit it off and got to be, not really good friends, but we got to be acquaintances and we kept running into each other over the years and I remember running into him about 11 years ago and he was telling me about they were taking this TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA thing on the road and he told me what it was all about and I thought, 'That's an interesting concept! Good luck with that, dude!' (laughs) He walked away and helped turn this thing into an empire along with Paul O'Neill, the guy who founded this. Fast forward to three years ago and they were recording their latest album, 'Night Castle' (2009) and they were trying everybody for the final role, the main role of the rock opera, and Al went to Paul and said, 'What about Jeff Scott Soto?' and he goes, 'Isn't Jeff a tenor?' and, 'No, he's a baritone! Check him out!' They flew me out and I think I got the gig based on meeting them much less actually singing with them and from that it just snowballed into me doing the winter tours and now doing the spring tours and they want me on future albums. I think for the next thing, me and Al are gonna finally get together and start working on some stuff. We have some really cool ideas. We don't know if it's gonna be an actual project or turn into solo stuff for me, but I definitely want to work with this guy. He's one of the greatest guitar players in my eyes that I've ever played with and he's so underrated. Not many people know of him, but I think he's one of those guys that needs to be heard. I've already played with Yngwie Malmsteen and Neal Schon, [so] why not Al Pitrelli?"

Regarding producer/composer Paul O'Neill, who co-founde