Minnesota quintet AFTER THE BURIAL will release its new album, "In Dreams", on November 23 via Sumerian Records. According to a press release, "This group has something for everyone and could be best described as a MESHUGGAH and UNEARTH hybrid that pleases the tech nuts while providing an entertaining stage show that is sure to always get the metalcore kids into a violent frenzy."

Commented the band: "We've spent the last year putting all of our hard work into this album, and we can assure you that the intricate dynamics of 'In Dreams' will satisfy your appetite for the crushing guitars, driving drums and powerful vocals you've come to expect from us.'

AFTER THE BURIAL will spend this winter touring relentlessly across North America on the "December Decimation" tour with WINDS OF PLAGUE, CARNIFEX, WAR OF AGES and UPON A BURNING BODY.

Rob Zombie has contributed his voice and music to "Rock Of The Dead", a zombie-themed first person shooter game which is coming to Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3 on October 19.

A description of the game reads as follows: "This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the role of an aspiring rock star who finds himself in the midst of a zombie/alien invasion. Players defeat the creatures by accurately hitting notes, matching inputs, and creating successful riffs — these guitar attacks kill the various enemies. When the bugs, zombies, aliens, and mutant dogs are hit by guitar attacks, brief blood-splatter effects occur. Green blood stains also appear on the floor, in elevators, and on walls. Some song lyrics contain brief references to sexuality (e.g., 'And vicious t-bird breed on the whore' and 'Brain trash porn flash what is why'). During a protracted boss battle, a giant zombie will spew green vomit onto the ground."

Zombie was reportedly written into the fiction of the game, and players can collect eight of his body parts to unlock a Rob Zombie boss character.

DECOMPOSTER, the new project featuring FINNTROLL frontman Mathias Lillmåns, entered the studio yesterday (Monday, October 11) to begin recording "three tracks of ass-grinding death metal." No further details are currently available.

DECOMPOSTER's entire first demo, "Futile", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. Check out the songs "The Composter", "Final Outpost" and "Futile" at this location.

DECOMPOSTER is:

Mathias Lillmåns (FINNTROLL) - Vocals/Bass
Samuli Ponsimaa - Guitar
Mika Aaltonen - Guitar
Rainer Tuomikanto - Drums

Canadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER are scheduled to release their new album, "Death Machine", on October 29 via Massacre Records. The effort will be made available as a standard CD, a digipak and a limited-edition (500 copies) gatefold LP.

"Death Machine" track listing:

01. Death Machine
02. Demented Prisoners
03. Dungeon Disciples
04. Hellfire
05. Power and Domination
06. Pray For Pain
07. Razor In Your Back
08. Skull Breaker
09. Slaughtered In Vain

The song "Death Machine" is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have issued the following update:

"Our off year is coming to an end and in a few months time we will start writing for a new album.

"We are feeling fresh and charged.

"In 2011 we will re-release all albums from the Nineties with updated artwork and remastering where it is needed. There might even be some interesting shows to go with it!

"Unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to visit Russia with [the last SATYRICON album] 'The Age Of Nero', until now that is. Therefore we are pleased to announce shows in St Petersburg and Moscow in December!"

The details are as follows:

Dec. 11 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Orlandina Club
Dec. 12 - Moscow, Russia - Tochka Club

Australian melodic death metallers UNIVERSUM are putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album, "Mortuus Machina", for a tentative early 2011 release. The follow-up to 2008's "Leto Destinatus" will be mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren of Sweden's Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA) and will feature guest appearances by the following musicians:

* Christian Älvestam (SCAR SYMMETRY, SOLUTION .45)
* Marios Iliopoulos (NIGHTRAGE)
* Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE, DRAGONLAND, AMARANTHE)
* Ola Frenning (SOILWORK)
* Tuomas "Tommy" Tuovinen (MYGRAIN)
* Paul Wardingham

"Mortuus Machina" track listing:

01. Fractured Archetype (feat. Älvestam)
02. Morte Noir
03. Sum Of The Universe (feat. Älvestam, Iliopoulos, Mörck)
04. Genetic Sequence Distortion
05. Asymmetric Dimensional State (feat. Frenning, Tuovinen)
06. Slaves To The New Order
07. Aeon Displacement (feat. Wardingham)
08. Transcendence 0.0
09. 2.0 (feat. Älvestam)
10. Take Another
11. Blank Infinity

THE WILDHEARTS mainman Ginger has just released "10", a 16-track compilation album featuring the best of the first ten years of his solo work. In addition, the CD includes two brand new tracks exclusive to this release — "No Way Out But Through" and "This Too Will Pass".

Writing of the LP in his blog, Ginger says: "This album represents ten years of recording outside of THE WILDHEARTS family, but for me it represents even more than that. This album tells the story of the first steps I took alone in creating an independent personality for myself as a writer and as a father."

"10" track listing:

01. Sonic Shake
02. Yeah Yeah Yeah
03. How Hard Can You Make It
04. Mother City
05. Any Way But Maybe
06. Black Windows
07. Church Of The Broken Hearted
08. Drinking In The Daytime
09. The Man Who Cheated Death
10. This Is Only A Problem
11. When She Comes
12. I Knew You
13. Girls Are Better Than Boys
14. Jake
15. No Way Out But Through (new track)
16. This Too Will Pass (new track)

The current lineup of the legendary hardcore band CRO-MAGS — featuring John Joseph on vocals, Craig Setari (SICK OF IT ALL) on bass, A.J. Novello (LEEWAY) on guitar and Mackie Jayson on drums — is planning on releasing a new album in 2011. In a recent interview with Nettverk For Dyrs Frihet, Joseph stated about the timetable for the band's next CD, "We are looking to release something next year." He added, "We always just roll with the punches. We want to release something with this lineup. My philosophy is, 'I don't talk about shit; I just do it.' When it's getting ready to come out, you will hear about it. That's what I did with my books. I just wrote a film. There is no need to 'big-talk' something. I think everybody knows what to expect, so when it's getting ready to come out people will hear about it."

RAVENS CREED, the "VENOM-worshipping scumbags" featuring Steve Watson (ex-IRON MONKEY), Jason Graham, former SABBAT bassist Frazer Craske, and newly added vocalist Al Osta (a.k.a. The Syrian Destroyer), will release a brand new EP, "Nestless And Wild" (formerly "Black Bullets"), before the end of the year via Doomentia Records.

The track listing for the EP is as follows:

01. Stampede Of Skeletons
02. Breaking The Lord
03. Shoot The Wounded
04. The Wires Will Kill You

According to the band, "The cover will be thick card (like the [RAVENS CREED debut album] 'Albion Thunder' die-hard version) and will have posh as fuck UV spots to die for (Doomentia do the best-looking vinyl releases, don't you think?) as well as a lyric insert."

RAVENS CREED previously stated about the upcoming EP, "This is a great way of introducing the new lineup, so [four] tracks that we have already recorded for our second album (the power that dare not speak its name) will be used for the EP and the six songs we've written for the third LP will replace the ones that will be on the EP."

Iranian power metallers ANGBAND have posted three new songs on their MySpace page. The tracks come off the band's sophomore album, "Visions Of The Seeker", which will be released on October 29 via Pure Steel Records. The CD was mixed and mastered by veteran producer/sound engineer Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, AMON AMARTH, BRAINSTORM).

"Visions Of The Seeker" track listing:

01. Forgotten Glory (2:16)
02. Blind Anger (5:14)
03. Battle For... (5:41)
04. The Seeker (5:50)
05. Easy to Believe (5:23)
06. Forsaken Dream (4:54)
07. Truth of Life (5:30)
08. Fate & the Fear (5:00)
09. Astral Hallucinations (2:14)

Although their guitarist was a long-time member of QUEENSRŸCHE, don't assume that the music of THE STICK PEOPLE is based in challenging prog metal. While they do indeed have elements of metal in their sound, it's more of a "party-hearty" metal vibe, with energetic punk rock added to the mix as well. For the proof, all you have to do is surf on over to iTunes and give a listen to the group's digital single "Think About That".

Comprised of Stephen Duffy on lead vocals/guitars, Mike Stone on vocals/guitars (the group's aforementioned "QUEENSRŸCHE connection"), Billy Close on bass, Bernie Godwin on lead guitar, and Frankie Anthony on drums, THE STICK PEOPLE recently signed with EFM/Bungalo, which issued "Think About That". A video for the song was also completed.

"The band wasn't calculated, it just happened," explains Duffy. "Bernie, Frankie, and I were in the studio working on promotional material, and we clicked. Stone called in, roped in Billy, and suddenly, we were 'THE STICK PEOPLE.'"

Adds the band's producer, Dito, "THE STICK PEOPLE is a 'bands' band.' Great players, great chops, great songs and they love each other. How often do you find that?!"

THE STICK PEOPLE recently signed on with Ashley Talent International, LLC and is gearing up for live dates before the end of the year. Godwin says the band can't wait to hit the road. "THE STICK PEOPLE is a band of diverse musicians and walks of life," he says. "Together, we make a statement that is universally seen and heard by all people in our music. We use everyday life for inspiration. We can't wait to give you the show of your life!"

KING'S X is back and better than ever, currently wrapping up a co-headlining run with reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT. In 2011, the rock titans will unleash a brand new album on the masses but — just in time for the holidays — the band will release "Live Love in London", a 2CD/DVD package featuring some of the greatest hits from the past 30 years. This release features two hours of KING'S X's best material performed live, including such classics as "Over My Head", "Goldilox" and "Pray".

The first-ever official KING'S X concert DVD, "Live Love in London" was recorded in January 2009 at the Electric Ballroom in London, England. On October 25, the 2CD version of "Live Love in London" will be available in stores everywhere while the "deluxe edition" featuring both CDs as well as the DVD will be available exclusively through CMDistro.com. The DVD-only edition will be released to stores everywhere on November 23. A pre-order is available through CMDistro.com and fans that order the deluxe edition will receive a FREE autographed poster while supplies last.

"Live Love in London" track listing:

01. Groove Machine
02. Alright
03. Pleiades
04. Move
05. What Is This?
06. Lost In Germany
07. Black Flag
08. Pray
09. Dogman
10. Go Tell Somebody
11. Julie
12. Looking For Love
13. Summerland
14. Over My Head
15. It's Love
16. We Were Born To Be Loved
17. Goldilox
18. Visions
19. Moanjam

You might know Devon Graves from the alt-metal band DEADSOUL TRIBE — or you might be more familiar with his real name, Buddy Lackey. He spent 11 years working as frontman and singer-flute player for one of the original prog-metal bands, PSYCHOTIC WALTZ.

Throughout the journeys of touring with DEADSOUL TRIBE, Devon met many musicians who really stood above the crowd. One day he began to wonder: "What would it be like to play in a band made of the very finest players I have met along the way?"

So like Dr. Frankenstein did, by sewing the greatest, strongest pieces of the greatest strongest men and then adding a sick and demented brain to create his monster, so it is the same with Devon's creation of his monster THE SHADOW THEORY who are featuring some of the finest musicians that Devon could possibly gather:

* Demi Scott - Keyboards
* Arne Schuppner (COMPLEX 7) - Guitar
* Kristoffer Gildenlöw (DIAL, ex-PAIN OF SALVATION) - Bass
* Johanne James (THRESHOLD, KYRBGRINDER) - Drums

Four years in the making, THE SHADOW THEORY will releasing its first studio album on Devon's longtime home InsideOut Music. "Behind the Black Veil" is a sinister roller-coaster ride of sound and lyrical imagery combining elements of thrash, psychedelic and symphonic metal fused with folk and prog-rock undertones. Devon's first "concept album" ever, it tells a horror story of a man who wakes from one nightmare into another, into another until he can no longer tell where the dream ends and reality begins… Or if he was ever dreaming at all.

THE SHADOW THEORY's "Behind the Black Veil", both frightening and compelling, is sure to be a standout amongst the vast myriad of music releases this year. THE SHADOW THEORY will be a touring band and is already looking into possible touring in early 2011.
"Behind the Black Veil" track listing:

01. I Open Up My Eyes (7:04)
02. The Sound of Flies (4:40)
03. Ghostride (5:32)
04. Welcome (5:02)
05. By the Crossroads (5:35)
06. Selebrate (3:17)
07. Snakeskin (3:48)
08. Sleepwalking (5:17)
09. The Black Cradle (5:15)
10. A Candle in the Gallery (3:57)
11. A Symphony of Shadows (7:55)

"The Sound Of Flies" is available for streaming on the THE SHADOW THEORY MySpace page.

"Behind the Black Veil" release dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Friday, November 19
Spain, Italy: Tuesday, November 23
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, November 24
Rest Of Europe: Monday, November 22
Australia/New Zealand: Friday, November 26
North America: Tuesday, January 25

Pollstar magazine, which tracks the concert business, has released a third-quarter recap of top touring artists and concert industry developments in the first nine months of 2010.

The following hard rock/heavy metal artists appear on the Top 100 "Third-Quarter Year-To-Date Worldwide Ticket Sales" list for 2010:

01. AC/DC - 1,820,962
02. BON JOVI - 1,368,734
18. METALLICA - 540,637
33. RUSH - 350,342
38. GUNS N' ROSES - 319,302
45. IRON MAIDEN - 285,146
50. KISS - 210,082
61. FOREIGNER / STYX - 173,395
71. TOOL - 147,025
77. AEROSMITH - 137,417
87. TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA - 118,429
89. ALICE IN CHAINS - 114,883
92. SCORPIONS - 106,081

"Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross", the title track of the new album from Dutch death metallers GOD DETHRONED, is available for streaming at this location. The CD was recorded at the Soundlodge Studios in Leer, Germany and will be released on November 23 (one day earlier internationally) via Metal Blade Records.

Comments singer/guitarist Henri Sattler on the title track: "The 1905 Schlieffen Plan made by the Prussian Count von Schlieffen after England signed the previous Entente Cordiale in 1904 with France. The plan was based on a battle between Hannibal and the Roman army in 216 B.C. that was later modified and eventually failed when put into practice. It remains uncertain if the changes to the Schlieffen Plan or the plan itself was the reason for not being successful."

"Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross" track listing:

01. The Declaration of War
02. Storm of Steel
03. Fire Storm
04. The Killing is Faceless
05. Under the Sign of the Iron Cross
06. Chaos Reigns at Dawn
07. Through Byzantine Hemispheres
08. The Red Baron
09. On Fields of Death & Desolation

Black metallers FROSTMOON ECLIPSE have signed a worldwide deal with Osmose Productions for the release of their fifth full-length album, "The End Stands Silent". The follow-up to 2007's "Another Face of Hell" will be released on CD and limited-edition vinyl before the end of the year.

"The End Stands Silent" track listing:

01. Heaven Outside, Hell Within
02. I Am The Absence
03. Corridors
04. Under Pale City Lights
05. Unnatural Isolation
06. A Clandestine Freedom Between Shadows
07. The End Of Everything

"Cross The Line (Of No Return)", the new video from Finnish thrashers ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Jani "Viski" Viskari, the drummer of the Finnish thrash act ANGUISH, and it contains footage from the making of the band's latest album, "Gallery Of Pain", as well as material that was shot in the group's rehearsal room.

Anja Fireangel from the Night Elves Metal Media Group recently conducted an interview with Viskari about the making of the "Cross The Line (Of No Return)" video. It follows below.

Anja Fireangel: Your videos [such as those for ROTTEN SOUND] look often very direct, "immediate" and close. Does your background as fellow musician have something to do with this; that you can capture the atmosphere so well or are there other reasons for this approach?

Viskari: Well, yes... that might be one reason for my "style." I'm not doing it on purpose, it kinda happens naturally. I've seen and experienced a lot of amazing things as a musician and later as a videographer at gigs and festivals. I like to show how things look when you're present or when you shoot it with your video cam, giving the "live" feeling. Filming things in close-ups gives kind of a feeling you're there yourself. And seeing someone who's good at something, in this case playing, is always entertaining to see closer. And one note, I shot only 1/3 of this music video. So I can't say all the scenes are my visions in this video. I got the tapes that have been shot while recordings and rehearsals and picked up the best parts, added my own shots and edited a video. For me, as an ex-drummer, especially playing drums is something I want to see close and from good angles. I love to watch technical drummers playing. I've shot many tapes of Kai Hahto [WINTERSUN, SWALLOW THE SUN, ex-ROTTEN SOUND] playing drums. He's one hell of a drummer and I'll never get tired to film or watch him playing. Same thing with ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION, their music is aggressive, has great and heavy riffs and strength. These are things that push me to do my best to capture on video the greatness of their music.

Anja Fireangel: Which equipment did you use?

Viskari: Equipment for this video wasn't that special. The whole video was shot with Pasi Osmo's video camera and I edited it with my editing software (Premiere pro). So you don't always need to have and use expensive equipments to have a music video. Just a little of creativity and desire...and lots of time of course. My idea for this ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION video was like doing an "introducing of ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION," to show who these great musicians are. I have to say I'm very pleased with the end result of the video.

Anja Fireangel: How did you get to know ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION?

Viskari: I've known Pasi, Kimmo and Mika for over 20 years, since my teenage years. They're all still good friends of mine. I was a big fan in the early days of ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION and I used to go often to their rehearsals and gigs. They were one of the first thrash bands in Finland, that's one reason why I respect these guys so much. ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION was also a very big influence for me and my band [ANGUISH] in the early '90s. So I'm quite honored that I got to make the very first video of my old favorite band, ALTARS OF DESTRUCTION.

Anja Fireangel: Who is the fire-breathing artist at the end of the video?

Viskari: Who's on fire? Bad breath? Oh, I got you. He's our baby dragon! Seriously speaking, on that scene Pasi and a friend of ours, Jani Niemelä, are blowing fire after having a sauna. In this scene it was Jani. No need to say they've had a couple of beers too....just to extinguish the fire. ;-)

"Gallery Of Pain" was released on April 28 via Violent Journey Records. The CD artwork (see below) was created by Juha Vuorma, who also designed covers for the first three KALMAH albums and for USURPER and METUJA, among others.

Canadian hard rock veterans HELIX have set "Smash Hits Unplugged" as the title of their acoustic album, tentatively due in November. The CD was recorded at A Studios in London, Ontario with co-producer Aaron Murray and is comprised of "all our hits plus the JAMES LEROY song 'A Touch of Magic' which I’ve always wanted to record," states singer Brian Vollmer. He adds, "Sean Kelly (CRASH KELLY), Aaron Murray, and myself are the producers. Sean also played some guitar on it along with Brent (Doerner) and Kaleb (Duck). We're using such diverse instruments as mandolin and fiddle, plus all sorts of different percussion instruments. It's been great fun so far and we're very happy with the results."

"Smash Hits Unplugged" track listing:

* Rock You
* Heavy Metal Love
* Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'
* Make Me Do (Anything You Want)
* Wild In The Streets/No Rest For The Wicked
* Deep Cuts The Knife
* The Kids Are All Shakin'
* Dream On
* That Day Is Gonna Come
* Good To The Last Drop
* A Touch of Magic (JAMES LEROY cover)