AVANTASIA leader Tobias Sammet has issued the following update:

"The time has come - we are back on the road! Yesterday the tour started in Switzerland and it was a blast for all of us and I am sure for all of our fans as well.

The band is much tighter than last time, everybody is having a great time and it feels just "right" to be up there. It feels right for everyone of us and right after the show we all came to the conclusion that it was the best thing to happen to go up on that stage again.

Prior to the show I was a bit nervous, Michael said that this was his job, but I think he is happy that there is a chicken like me in the band. As soon as I was up there and the lights went on, the adrenalin-rush ran over the nerves.

A three hour show was a bit of a risk, would we be able to keep it exciting? Well, down the line it was actually just around 2:45. My speeches were planned to be longer, but I felt that I should let the music do the talking, so the duration of the show shrunk a little, and I guess nobody missed the speeches.

It felt great to see Michi and Kai on stage, it felt great to sing those ballads with Bob and of course I am having a ball singing those diabolic duets with Jorn. I am so looking forward to traveling around the world with my fellows, the next three weeks will be amazing for all of us and hopefully for all of you.

For tonight's second show in Pratteln there are few tickets left for the walk up audience. I am so looking forward to 8 o clock! See you somewhere on tour."

As previously reported, rumors keep circulating about a second leg of the Avantasia tour in 2011. According to a band update, after the December world tour there will be no more Avantasia tours or festival appearances, except from the Wacken show in 2011.

Tobias Sammet remarks: "In 2011 we will not play any show except from the Wacken show, due to commitments that we all have with our individual main bands. That's why we are very happy about having found a time frame to bring the show on stage in December. The Metal Opera Comes To Town world tour 2010 will be a special event that will be neither repeated nor continued. That's why we'll play as many songs as possible and make it a special experience for us as much as for our fans. Because we are not naive enough to believe that this line-up will ever get the chance to share the stage again after the forthcoming tour."

Сет-лист был следующий:

Twisted Mind
The Scarecrow
Promised Land
Serpents In Paradise
The Story Ain't Over
Reach Out For The Light
The Tower
Death Is Just a Feeling
Lost In Space
In Quest For
Runaway Train
Dying for an Angel
Stargazers
Farewell
The Wicked Symphony
The Toy Master
Shelter From The Rain
Avantasia
Sign Of The Cross + The Seven Angels chorus

U.K. thrash metal veterans ONSLAUGHT will release their fifth album, "Sounds Of Violence", via AFM Records on the following dates:

Japan: January 12
Europe: January 28
USA: February 8

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Into The Abyss (intro)
02. Born For War
03. The Sound Of Violence
04. Code Black
05. Rest In Pieces
06. Godhead
07. Hatebox
08. Antiheist
09. Suicideology
10. End Of The Storm (outro)
11. Bomber (MOTÖRHEAD cover)

Doom metal legends SAINT VITUS have released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding the passing of their former drummer, Armando Acosta:

"It is with great regret that we announce a great loss to the world of heavy metal with the passing of former SAINT VITUS drummer Armando Acosta.

"Armando's last show with SAINT VITUS was April 29, 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany.

"Armando had been struggling with health issues over the years but came back into the VITUS fold for one last hurrah by headlining Roadburn [festival in Tilburg, Holland] in 2009 and playing a handful of European dates directly after the festival.

"Henry Vasquez replaced Armando Acosta in 2009, making his debut on the main stage at Hellfest [in Clisson, France].

"The December 2010 SAINT VITUS tour will be dedicated to our old friend, Armando Acosta.

"R.I.P., brother!!!"

Acosta died Thanksgiving Day (November 25) at the age of 58.

Current TRIPTYKON and former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Warrior has posted the following message on his official blog:

"I just returned home to Zurich from essential visits, together with TRIPTYKON guitarist V. Santura, to the offices of Century Media Records (TRIPTYKON's worldwide recording licensing partner) and Twisted Talent Concerts (TRIPTYKON's concert agency), in Dortmund, Germany. Much time was spent critically assessing the activities of the past few months and discussing TRIPTYKON's future plans and projects. I took the train home, as I've done before, because it gives me plenty of time to think, read, and listen to music.

"In spite of intending to also listen to much newer releases on my MP3 player, I eventually never deviated during the entire, long ride from listening to DEEP PURPLE Mk. II, III, and IV, and to EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER. This is music I already listened to as a young teenager, long before I even remotely thought I would ever have the chance to become a musician myself. It has never lost its intensity and magic for me. Quite on the contrary, in fact. It served to flood my mind with so many thoughts and images.
"Everything else in the world — TRIPTYKON, music, touring, and what have you — becomes entirely insignificant, however, when you are told that Jörg Michael, friend for many years, business partner in Twisted Talent Concerts, and drummer in STRATOVARIUS, is in the process of fighting cancer."

KYPCK ("Kursk" in the western alphabet) — the Russian-singing Finnish doom metal band featuring former SENTENCED guitarist Sami Lopakka (a.k.a. S.S. Lopakka) — will release its sophomore album, which is named after the Russian word for "lower" (pronounced "nizhe"), on February 9, 2011 via an as-yet-undisclosed record label.

"Lower" track listing (English translations; all original titles are in Russian):

01. Gifarus
02. After
03. The Alley Of Stalin
04. Stranger
05. Felitsa
06. Rupture
07. Burlaks On The Volga
08. Brothel
09. Comrades
10. Death Waltz

Montreal-based metallers VENGEFUL have issued the following update:

"We finished recording drums on November 20th as planned, Mr. Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, BENEATH THE MASSACRE) is currently editing the tracks.

We recorded some extra songs this time around including one MORBID ANGEL and a CROWBAR cover song to match the two sides to our next album. Other songs that were recorded are: 'Still', 'Consumed' and 'Skinned'.

As we said before, expect a lengthy release.

Guitar tracking starts next week, we're trying to wrap things up before "the fucking holiday season".... let's not get started on this subject. Then we'll be left with the sweet stuff like acoustic guitars, percussions, guitar solos and the part where we get to scream.

We're still waiting for the footage from the TOWARDS DARKNESS/Vengeful/SALVATION, as soon as we get it we'll post something from it, we really had a good time and we wanted to share it with you out there."

Norwegian metallers SUSPERIA have teamed up with former DIMMU BORGIR keyboardist Mustis (real name: Øyvind Mustaparta) to compete to represent their country in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.

Commented SUSPERIA frontman Athera (real name: Pål Mathiesen): "We are not afraid to lose credibility. A competition needs variation. We know how good our music is, with great melodies, energy and hooks in the songs. With this in mind, we want to let the big masses discover our music, and enjoy our hidden treasures."

SUSPERIA has released five albums and one EP, and has toured extensively in Europe. In addition, they were the first Norwegian metal band crack the Top 20 on the official single chart in Norway with their "Devil May Care" EP. Musically, they have evolved from playing what people used to define as black metal to pursuing a more traditional heavy metal/hard rock direction with clean vocals. "It is natural to develop and have new approaches," Athera states.

SUSPERIA was formed in 1999 and has had the same lineup throughout its existence. With the reintroduction of Mustis — who actually played synth on a SUSPERIA demo recording back in 1999 — a new aspect has been added to the band's sound. They are currently discussing a potential collaboration for a new album as well.

Commented Mustis: "It has been very inspiring to gather with SUSPERIA. Since Elvorn and I established our first band already in 1995 as kids, then meeting Memnock and knowing Tjodalv from my early days in DIMMU BORGIR, it felt very natural to sit down and start to be creative again together with my old friends.

"I don't think keyboard is for just any kind of metal band or band in general, but SUSPERIA have the open mind for this and the right elements for sure, and we agree that it can come something really good out of this.

"We made a killer song together that's going to be performed at the Norwegian Eurovision!!

"I really can't wait to perform again with a band that in a very dynamic way lift each other's instruments and Athera's amazing vocals all together."

Happinet Pictures has issued a new DVD+CD set, OZZY OSBOURNE - Speak Of The Devil 1982 Live Concert, available now in Japan via CDJapan.

A brief description reads: Live DVD release from Ozzy Osbourne including tracks 'Over The Mountain', 'Mr. Crowley', 'Crazy Train', 'Revelation', and more for 13 songs total. Limited edition includes bonus CD with live audio.

Tracklisting:

'Over The Mountain'
'Mr. Crowley'
'Crazy Train'
'Revelation (Mother Earth)'
'Steal Away (The Night)'
'Suicide Solution'
'Goodbye To Romance'
'I Don't Know'
'Believer'
'Flyin' High Again'
'Iron Man'
'Children Of The Grave'
'Paranoid'

According to Kerrang! magazine, SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor will release a Christmas single entitled "X-M@$" on December 12 in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

"It's actually a song that I wrote four years ago just for a laugh," Taylor tells Kerrang! "But when I played it for all of my friends they were like, 'This is fucking brilliant'. For some reason my manager forgot that I'd written it, but then a few months ago he found the song and immediately went, 'We gotta release this in time for this Christmas', and I was like, 'Why the fuck not?'"

Taylor 's book, "Seven Deadly Sins", is tentatively due in March 2011 via Da Capo Press. it is described as "Corey's story, told through the prism of the seven deadly sins." His years of excess eventually made him sit down and start to think about what it was to "sin" and whether "sinning" could — or should — be recast as a good rather than bad thing. Yes, Corey's hurt people, and done bad things, but if sin is what makes the man, then can it ever be wrong? This isn't a straightforward memoir, this is Corey's no-holds-barred story told through his own unique philosophy, honed through years of the craziest and most hedonistic excess in rock.

STONE SOUR, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD will join forces for "The Nightmare After Christmas" tour in January/February.

STONE SOUR's third album, "Audio Secrecy", was released on September 7 and debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard album chart, selling 46,000 copies in its first week of release.

SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison has told Billboard.com that the band has already begun work on material for a new studio album — the group's first since the May 2010 death of SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray.

"It's already in motion," Jordison said. "It's definitely exciting. It's a little emotional, of course, but I think it's going to be really, really cool and I think it's gonna be a really, really great record because everyone's really involved in the process. . . It's going to be a little interesting, but I think it's gonna be a healing process for all of us. SLIPKNOT is not going anywhere. We're a family, and losing a family member sucks. You can't help that, but you need to move on, and I think that what we're gonna do might be the most powerful thing that we've ever created."

According to Jordison, SLIPKNOT has no plans to replace Gray and will remain an octet. On stage, however, "we'll have a bass player that's right next to me, to the right behind the stage, to lock in with me. But there's no one right now who will go on stage."

Swedish metallers BULLET will release their third full-length album, "Highway Pirates", on February 4, 2011. It will be issued on CD, LP and strictly limited-edition vinyl that will only will be available through the Sound Pollution mailorder.

On July 31 2009, BULLET drummer Gustav Hjortsjö was hanging around backstage at the Sävsjö Festival. Suddenly he noticed a familiar face in the crowd: SAXON's legendary singer Peter "Biff" Byford. Gustav was determined not to let this chance go missed. He approached Byford and explained that the singer just had to do a guest appearance on BULLET's next album. "Maybe," Byford replied. "What's the name of the album?" Gustav had no idea. BULLET was still touring in support of the "Bite The Bullet" CD and hadn't really thought a whole lot about the follow-up release. "But which song do you want me to appear on then?" Biff continued. In a state of panic, Gustav mumbled the first reasonably rock and roll-orientated title he could come up with: "Highway Pirates". A month later they met again, at the Skogsröjet Festival in Reijmyre. About 40 seconds into the brilliant hard-hitting title track, you can now hear Biff Byford's contribution: a wolf whistle.

BULLET is up for a new experience with the release of its third album. It is the first time the band has to live up to people's high expectations. This, however, is a natural consequence of the success that came with the group's previous effort, "Bite The Bullet". The album peaked at position No. 3 on the Swedish chart and was followed by a number of live appearances, including a support-act slot with AC/DC at the sold-out Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg.

"Highway Pirates" was mixed by Tobias Lindell, who has previously worked with such Swedish rock bands as EUROPE, MUSTASCH and HARDCORE SUPERSTAR. Their combined efforts have "succeeded in creating a sound that is retro and modern at the same time," according to a press release. "Hampus Klang's and Erik Ahlström's guitar sound is incredibly pure."

"Highway Pirates" track listing:

01. Highway Pirates
02. Back On The Road
03. Stay Wild
04. Blood Run Hot
05. Fire And Dynamite
06. Down And Out
07. Knuckleduster
08. Heavy Metal Dynamite
09. Citylights
10. Into The Night

KRIEG has partnered with Inferna Profundus Records to reissue "Patrick Bateman", the band's definitive black/noise statement from 2003. Based on Bret Easton Ellis' nihilistic novel "American Psycho", "Patrick Bateman" is close to fifteen minutes of the harshest and most feral material KRIEG ever set to tape. This reissue will feature a newly recorded bonus track in a (de)evolution of the spirit of the original recording as well as new packaging and linear notes from main member Imperial.

"Patrick Bateman" reissue track listing:

01. I
02. II
03. III
04. IV
05. V
06. VI (bonus track)

Die aus Portugal stammenden Dark/Goth Metaller von HEAVENWOOD werden ihr kommendes, bereits viertes Album mit den Titel "Abyss Masterpiece" Anfang 2011 veröffentlichen. Jetzt wurde die Finale Track List enthüllt.

"Abyss Masterpiece" Track List:

01. The Arcadia Order
02. Fading Sun
03. Like Yesterday
04. Winter Slave
05. September Blood
06. Sudden Scars
07. A Poem For Mathilde
08. Leonor
09. Burden
10. Goddess Presiding Over Solitude
11. Morning Glory (In Manus Tuas Domine)
12. Her Lament

Das neue SHADOWS' GREY Album "Bonjour Tristesse" kommt am 21. Januar 2011 in den Handel und heute wurde auch das "Bonjour Tristesse" Cover Artwork enthüllt.

"Bonjour Tristesse" Track List:

01. Cold
02. I search for your Hand
03. Hurt
04. Gone
05. Worlds Collapse
06. The Promise
07. Broken
08. Lust
09. Love is suicide
10. Farewell
11. Unlike
12. Scargod

Norwegian band VREID will release its fifth album, simply entitled "V", on February 7, 2011 via Indie Recordings.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Arche
02. The Blood Eagle
03. Wolverine Bastards
04. The Sound Of The River
05. Fire On The Mountain
06. The Others & The Look
07. Slave
08. Welcome To The Asylum
09. Then We Die