Seattle progressive rockers QUEENSRŸCHE have partnered with Capitol/EMI for the November 9 release of an expanded 20th-anniversary edition of the band's triple platinum-certified breakout album "Empire". The new 2CD and digital packages both include the remastered album, featuring six hit singles, including the #1 smash "Silent Lucidity", as well as 13 bonus tracks, among them 10 previously unreleased live performances recorded in 1990 at London's Hammersmith Odeon. The 2CD package is presented in a lift-top box with five postcards, a fold-out poster and a booklet featuring rare photos from the band's personal archive.

An audio stream of the song "Resistance", recorded at the above-mentioned London concert, is available at this location (Quicktime file).

BLOOD MORTIZED, the Swedish death metal band featuring former AMON AMARTH guitarist Anders Hansson (who played on AMON AMARTH's first two albums, 1996's "Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds" and 1998's "Once Sent From The Golden Hall") and CRYPT OF KERBEROS drummer Mattias Borgh, has issued the following update:

"Death metal in the form of a brick which relentlessly keeps hitting you in the face again and again! That is what you can expect from our three-song EP 'Bestial' which we just have finished. The reviews that we have gotten so far are overwhelming!

"Since we are now talking to a number of labels both concerning the release of the new EP, but more importantly, about the release of our upcoming new album, which will be entitled 'The Key To A Black Heart', we will wait a while longer before you can hear the 'Bestial' EP. We have good hopes of releasing the EP on vinyl, CD AND cassette! Two very talented artists are involved in creating two different artwork for the EP. Thomas Kynst from Holland and Daniel Devilish from Sweden. As soon as labels have been announced you will get to see the artwork."

BLOOD MORTIZED earlier in the year parted ways with guitarist Benny Moberg "due to personal matters."

BLOOD MORTIZED's self-titled debut album was released in April 2009 through Singapore's Vrykoblast Productions.

Legendary hard rockers AC/DC were honored in the "Top Boxscore" category at the Billboard Touring Awards, which were handed out at a special reception in New York on November 4. The awards are primarily based on global box office numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore from October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010.

The "Top Boxscore" award recognizes the highest-grossing single engagement for the time period. Two of the Boxscore finalists were from AC/DC: a three-night, sold-out stand at ANZ Stadium in Sydney and three more sellouts at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne; both were in February. The third finalist for Top Boxscore was the Download festival in the U.K.

Pollstar magazine, which tracks the concert business, recently revealed that AC/DC's "Black Ice" trek was the No. 1 tour for the first nine months of 2010, with ticket sales of 1,820,962.

METALLICA received the "Eventful Fans' Choice Award" at at the Billboard Touring Awards, which were handed out earlier tonight (Thusday, November 4) at a special reception at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers in New York. RUSH was also honored with the "Legend Of Live" award during the ceremony, which concluded the Billboard Touring Conference held on November 3-4.

"Eventful Fans' Choice Award" allows music fans across the country to vote for the artist they think should win the 2010 Billboard award for Best Concert Tour of the Year. In addition to METALLICA, this year's nominees included AC/DC, BON JOVI, IRON MAIDEN and NICKELBACK. This distinct award, purely based on fan votes, was presented at the close of the conference along with the rest of the Billboard Touring Awards, which honor the concert industry's top artists and professionals based on actual data compiled through the Billboard Boxscore chart. The conference also included panel sessions, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities for touring industry power players and decision makers.

The "Legend Of Live" award "honors groups or individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business, and acknowledges the recipients' commitment to the art of performing live and reaching fans through the concert experience."

Fan-filmed video footage of MISERY INDEX's performance at the first show of the band's European tour with GRAVE, ARSIS, THE LAST FELONY and THE ROTTED — which kicked off on November 1, 2010 at Kade in Zaandam, Netherlands — can be viewed below.

"Heirs To Thievery", the new album from MISERY INDEX, sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 43 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released in North America on May 11 via Relapse Records, the CD was recorded at Wright Way Studios (DYING FETUS, SLIPKNOT, MOS DEF) with engineer Steve Wright.

Video footage of South Carolina-based extreme technical death metallers NILE performing the song "Those Whom The Gods Detest" live at Sonar in Baltimore, Maryland on November 2, 2010 can be viewed below.

"Those Whom The Gods Detest", the latest album from NILE, sold 3,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 160 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 3 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Produced and mixed by Neil Kernon (NEVERMORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, QUEENSRŸCHE), along with a drum-recording job by Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, VITAL REMAINS, GOATWHORE), "Those Whom the Gods Detest" features the band's strongest production and perhaps its best material to date. The cover artwork was created by Michal "Xaay" Loranc, whom NILE guitarist/vocalist Karl Sanders had previously worked with on his second solo album, "Saurian Exorcisms".

"The Ruin", the new Scott Hansen-directed video from STRUCTURE OF INHUMANITY — the "epic, melodic death/power metal" band featuring PYRAMAZE/ECHOTERRA keyboardist Jonah Weingarten, ex-ARSIS bassist Noah Martin, SUSPYRE vocalist Clay Barton, SUSPYRE drummer Gabe Marshall, and the twin axe assault of newcomers Mike Iuzzolino and Brandon Ellis — can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's debut album, "Completion Integration", which is tentatively due in 2011 via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

STRUCTURE OF INHUMANITY was formed in 2005 by Jonah Weingarten as part of his vision for creating a unique-sounding blend of melodic death, progressive rhythms, powerful heavy metal, and cinematic orchestration. After recruiting Martin, Barton, Iuzzolino, Ellis and Marshall, Jonah recorded the CD with James Murphy (TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY) and Peter Wichers (SOILWORK, NEVERMORE). Murphy is also mixing and mastering the album.

In early 2010 the band shot two videos for the album, of which "The Ruin" is the first one to be shown in public.

At the moment the band is looking for a record deal for the release of "Completion Integration".

Commented Weingarten: "We are thrilled with director Scott Hansen's interpretation of the song; he really knocked this one out of the park. In addition to the outstanding musical production skills of Peter Wichers and James Murphy, and, of course, James' slamming mix and master."

After an amicable split with drummer Trivett Wingo forced THE SWORD to cancel its remaining tour dates, the band has now found someone to fill in for behind-the-kit duties and is ready to hit the road again. Joining them on the upcoming run is Kevin Fender, best known for his work with the Texas hardcore outfit EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE. Tickets for the new dates go on sale tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. All tickets from previously postponed shows will be honored at the door.

Here is an official statement from THE SWORD: "We are pleased to announce the Warp Riders 2010 U.S. Tour Mk. II, beginning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 27! These performances will feature the formidable skills of notorious intergalactic bounty drummer Kevin Fender. A veteran of the Austin music scene, Mr. Fender is best known for his devastating work with Texas hardcore legends EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEE."

Weaponized", the new video from Chicago deathcore heavyweights OCEANO, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Kevin J. Custer (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, TOMBS, JUSTIN BIEBER) and features explosive performance footage of the bandmembers acting as a counterpoint to a high-tension situation that builds throughout the video.

Everyone involved in the making of the "Weaponized" video put a lot of hard work into it. OCEANO frontman Adam Warren recalls how the clip was filmed and is excited about the way everything came together. "It was a very good shoot," he said. "It was put together quickly and efficiently. We had a very professional group of people working with us and they really did a good job of creating a visual experience to tie in with the story and overall themes for both the song as well as the album."

"Weaponized" comes off OCEANO's new album, "Contagion", which is due on November 9 via Earache Records. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with MUNICIPAL WASTE, THE ACACIA STRAIN, HATEBREED and SHADOWS FALL, among others.

"Contagion" track listing:

01. Precursor To Enslavement
02. Viral Re-Animation
03. Regulated Disposal Of Life
04. Quarantine
05. The Contaminated
06. Exist In Confinement
07. Persuasive Oppression
08. Weaponized
09. Sadistic Experiments
10. Remnants Aflame
11. Ending Intellect

After five years the new Deceased record "Surreal Overdose" is finally almost here! The band will have it finished and released in April 2011.

The record will feature 8 new songs:

"Skin Crawling Progress"
"Kindred Assembly"
"The Traumatic"
"Cloned"
"Vulture Shock"
"A Doom-Laden Aura"
"In The Laboratory Of Joyous Gloom"
"Dying In Analog"

It will be the first new record on the band's own label Shrieks From The Hearse Records. It has taken a long time to sit down and create this opus due to so many things in the band's camp over the last couple of years and taking care of them as they arose. Perseverance and dedication has paid off and now the songs are ready to be laid to tape. This record will be the first with guitarist Shane Fuegel in the studio, along side long time band members King Fowley, Les Snyder and Mike Smith. The style is still 100% the Deceased sound with mostly lengthy tunes filled with all kinds of styles and versed from the band's sound and musical history. The production will be handled this time by King Fowley who will also return to the drum kit for the recording as well as keyboards. The studio will be the newly overhauled Assembly Line Studios where the band did their last record "As The Weird Travel On". Kevin Gutierrez will engineer. The cover art was done by artist Raul Gonzalez from an idea created by the band. "Surreal Overdose" will be available on compact disc on the band's own label and licensed out to Hells Headbangers Records for vinyl as well as the Area Death Productions label for overseas releasing. After a five year wait, expect an April 2011 release. So it's almost finally here! That my friend is the word from the graveyard!

Former SWASHBUCKLE drummer Michael Soganic (a.k.a. Captain Crashride) has started a four-piece female-fronted thrash band called NON-STOP. According to a press release, the group "involves hot chicks, parties, face moshes, drinking, parties, orgasms."

NON-STOP is:

Debbie - Vocals
Axel - Guitars
Will - Bass
Mike - Drums

Four songs from NON-STOP are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Video footage of the October 30, 2010 concert at at the Oneonta Theatre in Oneonta, New York by THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT — the band led by Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, STEVE VAI, LAMB OF GOD, DARKEST HOUR, GWAR) — can be viewed at Tyronehood.tv. A couple of the clips are available below.

Townsend is currently working on THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT's third an fourth CDs, "Deconstruction" and "Ghost".

Even though "Ghost" is fourth album to be made available under THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT moniker, Devin is recording it third, because "Deconstruction" (the as-yet-unreleased third THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT album) is "a nightmare technically and I wanted to make something lovely before diving into that," Devin previously said.

Songtitles set to appear on "Ghost" include:

* Feather
* Radial Highway
* Fly
* Monsoon
* Infinite Ocean
* Moonshine
* Texada
* Blackberry

Townsend performed his "Ziltoid The Omniscient" concept album in its entirety on July 2 at Tuska as a special one-off world-exclusive show. His DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT also played a set the following day at the festival, which featured additional appearances by TESTAMENT and OBITUARY, among many others.

"Addicted" came out in November 2009 and has become the fastest-selling solo record in Devin's career.

PRIMAL FEAR drummer Randy Black has released an instructional DVD, "Randy Black - The Black Book: Creative Metal Drumming", via Hudson Music.

The DVD's official description: Randy Black is synonymous with extreme metal drumming and with many years of performance and teaching experience behind him, the master is releasing this two-DVD, limited-edition, digipack pack so that anyone can benefit from his wealth of knowledge.

"What started out as a plan to record a few songs in pro quality for promotional purposes ended up being this double DVD, filmed and recorded at Monongo Studios in Berlin, Germany," Randy said. "When I approached ROAX Films about it they suggested I do a full-fledged instructional DVD. It was not my original plan but after thinking it over and coming up with a concept I thought I'd give it a shot. It also had to do with the fact that I'd been teaching for quite a few years and knew I had something to offer to a wide variety of levels of players.

"I hope you can take something from these DVDs and apply it to your playing in your own personal way.

"With today's recording methods it's very common that certain programs/software are used to improve or fix someone's playing; it's standard procedure. I wanted this DVD to be 'old school' in the sense that there was not one note I played that was moved or quantized. Nor were there any samples used. I wanted the listener/viewer to hear and see how I play naturally and how the drum kit sounds acoustically. Every single drum note you hear played on this DVD was played by yours truly, from start to finish."

Disc 1 includes:

* Basic rudiments on the practice pad
* Advice to young drummers
* Hand grip and technique
* Stretching and stick tricks
* Applying various rudiments on the kit
* Hi-hat foot technique
* Independence exercises/moving accents
* Various fills and rhythms from Randy's recordings
* Crossovers
* Applying different styles to metal music
* Tools of the trade
* 3 solos - pad/studio/live

Disc 2 includes:

* Documentary/Interview
* Drum performance of 7 songs:
* Seven Seals/Primal Fear
* Hit You Harder/Skew Siskin
* Blood On Your Hands/Primal Fear
* Heart Of A Brave/Primal Fear
* Blackened Beauty/Marcus Forstbauer
* A Promise From Underneath/DuskMachine
* Cold Blooded/Annihilator (Cover Version)

Celebrarating their 25th Anniversary of all original members Chicago’s murder metal pioneers MACABRE unleash their brand new studio albumentitled"Grim Scary Tales"
in Europe on January 31st, 2011 by Hammerheart Records & in North America on February 8th, 2011 by Willowtip Records. The album explores the history of murder from the earliest times
and proceeds forward through the ages. Stylistically it is MACABRE in nature, yet very diverse musically. Featuring original cover art and layout by Scott Jackson from Monsterman Graphics & Rock N Roll Comics fame.

AdditionallyMACABREis about to embark on a tour trough ..Europe.. with NAPALM DEATH, IMMOLATION and WAKING THE CADAVER. Starting Thursday, November 5thin Hamburg, Germany. During this five week tour, dubbed the "Campaign For Musical Destruction Tour 2010", the band will exclusively be offering fans their brand new album at these live shows far in advance of the 2011 in store dates. A complete listing of tour dates and cities can be found below.

Born in 1985, Chicago's MACABRE blends elements of true crime, math rock, nursery rhymes, punk, thrash, folk melodies, death metal, jazz fusion, black metal and more into an energetic, catchy and unmistakable amalgam Murder Metal.

Brand new rehearsal footage of DEATHDESTRUCTION — the new Swedish metal "supergroup" featuring members of EVERGREY, HAMMERFALL and DEAD BY APRIL — can be viewed below.

DEATHDESTRUCTION recently finished recording its debut album at IN FLAMES' IF Studios with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, LOK, SONIC SYNDICATE). A release date for the effort has not yet been announced.

DEATHDESTRUCTION is:

Jimmie Strimell (DEAD BY APRIL) - Vocals
Henrik Danhage (EVERGREY) - Guitar
Fredrik "Loppan" Larsson (HAMMERFALL) - Bass
Jonas Ekdahl (EVERGREY) - Drums

Formed in late 2003 by Danhage, Ekdahl and EVERGREY keyboardist Rikard Zander (who was handling the vocals in the band's earliest incarnation), DEATHDESTRUCTION began as an innocent "hobby project" before Henrik and Jonas realized they wanted to pursue the band more seriously. They eventually parted ways with Rikard and enlisted Larsson and Strimmell, both of whom were "very excited to join the band," according to the group's official bio.

Greek demons SEPTICFLESH just finished recordings the successor of 2008's "Communion". After a long period of intense work in Athens, Prague and Sweden, the evolution of the band's Symphonic Death sound has been achieved with the help of the Filmharmonic Orchestra of Prague and well known artist / producer Peter Tägtgren.

130 musicians were involved in the recording process. Besides the traditional classic orchestra instruments, this time SEPTICFLESH incorporated harpsichord, some bizarre ethnic instruments and a boy soprano to their sound, pursuing a more "horror soundtrack" approach. Of course, the guitars will still shred you to death!

The release of the forthcoming 10-song album is expected for the first quarter of 2011. In the meantime, a brand new song will be available worldwide as an exclusive digital download single from this December 17th on.

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada-based female-fronted power metal band FORGOTTEN TALES will make its third album, "We Shall See The Light", available this week. A CD-release party — featuring a performance by FORGOTTEN TALES will be held on November 5 at L'Impérial de Québec in Quebec City. The cover artwork for the album was created by Lucie Fortier and can be viewed below.

"We Shall See The Light" track listing:

01. We Shall See The Light
02. Guardian Angel
03. Keepers Of The Field
04. The Reaper
05. Diviner
06. The Calling
07. Howling At The Moon
08. Broken Wings
09. Angel Eyes

Norwegian black metal band ISKALD has issued the following update:

"All work is now done and the forthcoming new ISKALD album is complete.

"Since the recordings in Oslo, we returned back to Bodø to record and finish all guitar and bass tracks. Having all drums done beforehand made the recordings a blast and having the opportunity to do them at our own recording studio made it more relaxed and easy.

"For the last one and a half month, the album has been mixed and mastered at 210 Studios in Berlin by our producers Stamos Koliousis and Vangelis Labrakis.

"It has been quite a long process, starting back in August, but in the end it's all worth it. The sound is just what we hoped for and will represent what ISKALD really stands for now and in the future. We kind of melted 'Shades Of Misery' and 'Reveletions Of Reckoning Day' together sound-wise to forfill our perfect sound. Music-wise, we continue down our dark musical path, introducing some new stuff and bringing back some old ideas. As for the song material in general, I would say that we have taken a huge step compared to the last ones, and there should be something in there for everyone.

"During the autum we plan to reveal details on the album all the way to the final release date, which isn't decided yet. But hopefully in the end of January/start of February... So stay tuned for exclusive info, videos, track list, photos, new designs and so on in the forthcoming weeks!"

Halloween just passed and along with dressing up as ghouls and witches, plenty of people wore costumes to look like rock stars. But how do rock stars feel when they run into people dressed as them? Slash filled VH1 Radio Networks' Dave Basner in.

"I suppose it's supposed to be flattering, and it's cool, except for in person, if you run into someone who is dressed as you in person, it's an uncomfortable situation," he said. "I don't have that sense of humor where I can just… I mean, I laugh at it but, you know, it's cool. It's very flattering when little kids are doing it but when you see full-grown adults doing it and you're in their presence, like what are you supposed to say?"

The former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist went on to tell VH1 Radio Networks about an experience he had with a person dressed as him.

"I went to a party last year and at that party, I walked in and there were two other guys who were dressed like me and one of them was with a chick who was dressed like Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer]," he said. "It was just... How are we supposed to hang out here for any amount of time comfortably? But actually, it turned out that I ended up hanging out with myself and Axl by the end of the night."

The experience might have given Slash some ideas. On Sunday, he dressed his son London up as Dee Snider. Check out a photo below (courtesy of Slash's Twitter).

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS will release "Teargarden By Kaleidyscope Vol. II: The Solstice Bare" on November 23 via Martha's Music/Rocket Science Ventures. This physical-only four-song EP is a limited-edition, beautifully packaged CD and deluxe 12-inch vinyl picture disc with the four songs — "The Fellowship", "Freak", "Tom Tom" and "Spangled" as well as an unreleased B-side track, "Cottonwood Symphony". The lid covering the 12-inch box is a metallic/foil wallpaper motif, with a 1970s design by The Flavor Paper Co. As with the band's EP "Teargarden By Kaleidyscope Vol. 1: Songs For A Sailor", which was released in May of this year, quantities are limited worldwide.

"Teargarden By Kaleidyscope Vol. II: The Solstice Bare" marks the second EP to emerge from the band's in-progress 44-song project "Teargarden By Kaleidyscope", from which songs are being released online, one at a time for free (with four-song physical EPs being issued along the way). Thus far, two singles have been released from "Vol. II: The Solstice Bare". The first single, "Freak", is quickly ascending the U.S. Alternative radio charts. With a cumulative audience of over 20 million, "Freak" is receiving national airplay at the biggest Alternative rock stations in the country. And the second release, "Spangled" — described by mainman Billy Corgan quite simply as "just a pretty song" — is also earning critical attention.

In touring news, the band — singer/guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist Jeff Schroeder, drummer Mike Byrne and bassist Nicole Fiorentino — completed two runs of dates in the U.S. and shows in Asia, before heading Down Under for concerts in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, followed by a concert in Auckland, New Zealand on October 19. After a break, they'll travel to South America in November for concerts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Columbia.

Chicago dark metallers NOVEMBERS DOOM have entered Belle City Sound in Racine, Wisconsin with longtime collaborator Chris Wisco to begin recording their eighth album, "Aphotic", for a spring release on The End Records. The CD will once again be mixed by Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE).

Commented frontman Paul Kuhr, "We plan to capture something new from the band. This recording builds upon the foundations the band has laid over the years, but we are taking it into a new direction. We plan to redefine where we stand in our current genre. The darkness is coming, and we can't wait until you're able to hear it."

Throughout the recording process, NOVEMBERS DOOM will be uploading videos and studio reports to the band's official YouTube channel. Clips of new material as well as band member updates will be available.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the release of "The Knowing", The End Records will reissue this long-out-of-print album, one of the most sought-after in the NOVEMBERS DOOM catalog. The two-disc set will include a completely remixed and remastered version of "The Knowing", featuring new versions of "In Faith" and "Silent Tomorrow", to be available as originally intended. The set will also include the original 2000 pressing, unaltered. An expanded 24-page booklet accompanies this reissue with original photography by Tony Myles of Cage XXI.

Kuhr explains, "Being able to revisit these recordings in a studio setting also allowed us to fix a few mistakes which have stood out in our ears for 10 years. We realize many people are fond of the original recording and hate when bands 'fix' old material, so for the fans of the original, we're including the original release as a bonus disc."

"The Knowing" (2010) - CD1

01. Awaken
02. Harmony Divine
03. Shadows of Light
04. Intervene
05. Silent Tomorrow
06. In Faith
07. Searching the Betrayal
08. Last God
09. In Memories Past
10. The Day I Return
11. Aura Blue

"The Knowing" (2000) - CD2

01. Awaken
02. Harmony Divine
03. Shadows of Light
04. Intervene
05. Silent Tomorrow
06. In Faith
07. Searching the Betrayal
08. Last God
09. In Memories Past
10. The Day I Return
11. Aura Blue
12. Silent Tomorrow (dark edit)

Swedish technical thrashers CLAIRVOYANT SEED have entered the studio to begin recording a new mini-CD, entitled "Pulse Of The Inevitable", for an early 2011 release via Emrinc Records. The effort is being produced by Mike Wead, who previously played guitar in KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE and BIBLEBLACK.

CLAIRVOYANT SEED is:

* Henrik Ohlsson (SCAR SYMMETRY, ex-THEORY IN PRACTICE, MUTANT, ALTERED AEON) - Drums
* Kjell Andersson (ex-AZOTIC REIGN, ALTERED AEON) - Vocals
* Johan Murmester (NATTAS) - Rhythm/Lead Guitar
* Anders Hedlund (ex-THEORY IN PRACTICE, ALTERED AEON) - Bass
* Simon Johansson (BIBLEBLACK, MEMORY GARDEN, ex-STEEL ATTACK, MEMENTO MORI, ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA) - Rhythm/Lead Guitar