Pacific Northwest band AGALLOCH will release its new album, "Marrow Of The Spirit", on November 23 via Profound Lore Records.

Just as AGALLOCH's last three releases — "Pale Folklore", "The Mantle" and "Ashes Against The Grain" — all differed from each other, "Marrow Of The Spirit" is unlike anything AGALLOCH has ever produced before. The first album to feature new AGALLOCH drummer Aesop Dekker (also in Profound Lore acts LUDICRA and WORM OUROBOROS) includes guest appearances by cellist Jackie Perez Gratz (GRAYCEON, GIANT SQUID, ASUNDER, AMBER ASYLUM), Jeffrey Neblock (VINDENSANG), and Nathan Carson (WITCH MOUNTAIN, TWO-TON BOA, SUNN 0)))).

Recorded and mixed on analog through the means of exquisite vintage gear within the months of July and August in Portland, Oregon at Audible Alchemy Studios with Steven Wray Lobdell (FAUST guitarist) and mastered and manifested in San Francisco, California at Trakworx Studios with Justin Weis (LUDICRA, SLOUGH FEG, HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE), the six time-stretching songs that encompass "Marrow Of The Spirit" come across as their own distinct identities amongst themselves. At over an hour in length, "Marrow Of The Spirit" is AGALLOCH’s darkest, bleakest, most dense, detailed and aggressive album to date and in turn is the most accomplished album of their career.

"Marrow Of The Spirit" track listing:

01. They Escaped The Weight Of Darkness [3:41]
02. Into The Painted Grey [12:25]
03. The Watcher’s Monolith [11:46]
04. Black Lake Nidstang [17:34]
05. Ghosts Of The Midwinter Fires [9:40]
06. To Drown [10:27]

Reactivated Norwegian cult doom rockers LAMENTED SOULS have issued the following update:

"The band recently camped at casa Apollyon to rehearse some new stuff. Booze and beers were consumed, delicious meals as well, and we even found the time to play around with some new riffs. The result — three more or less complete new songs, in addition to the 6-7 we already have, plus a bunch of as-of-yet-unused riffs that sound very promising.

"We're not gonna start talking dates yet — experience has taught us the folly of doing so when you play lazy old doom — but these news should bode well for another LAMENTED SOULS album actually happening. Meanwhile, check out our other projects; WAKLEVÖREN, VIRUS and so on and stay doom!"

LAMENTED SOULS is looking for a proper label to release the band's follow-up to 2004's "The Origins of Misery". Interested parties can contact the group through the LAMENTED SOULS MySpace page.

After vocalist/guitar player Simen "Vortex" Hestnæs parted ways with DIMMU BORGIR last year, it was only a matter of time until his original outfit would once again rear its ugly head. The band — whose lineup also includes OJ "Apollyon" Moe (IMMORTAL, AURA NOIR), Olav Knutsen (WAKLEVÖREN, INFERNÖ) and Einar Sjursø (VIRUS) — played the Metal Merchants festival in the group's hometown of Oslo at the end of January (see video below).

Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X) will release the third ALLEN / LANDE collaborative album on November 5 via Frontiers Records. Entitled "The Showdown", the CD was mixed by Achim Köhler (PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER, SILENT FORCE) and once again features material written by Swedish guitar sensation Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR, STARBREAKER, LAST TRIBE).

"With two of the best singers in the business, it's easy to get inspiration to write good music," says the mastermind of the project, Swedish guitar player, songwriter and producer Magnus Karlsson, who adds, "When it was decided that Russell and Jorn were going to sing on the first album I knew that if I could just write great songs and get the right mix, it would have a very good chance to be a success."

Musically, "The Showdown" sounds like "a mix of both previous releases, with 'The Battle' being more melodic and 'The Revenge', which was more in the hard rock direction," says Karlsson, who concludes, "I'm more satisfied than ever with the songs and performances, but also because the mix by Achim is by far the best I ever had on any album!"

"The Showdown" cover art was once again designed by Rodney Matthews (ASIA, MAGNUM, DIAMOND HEAD).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Showdown
02. Judgement Day
03. Never Again
04. Turn All Into Gold
05. Bloodlines
06. Copernicus
07. We Will Rise Again
08. The Guardian
09. Maya
10. The Artist
11. Eternity
12. Alias (bonus track)

The video for the song "Judgement Day" can be viewed below.

ALLEN / LANDE is:

Jorn Lande: Vocals
Russell Allen: Vocals
Magnus Karlsson: Guitar, Bass, Keyboards

METALLICA's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"Just about a year ago we were more than honored to participate in a special two-night event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The two nights of shows at Madison Square Garden brought together an incredible group of artists and resulted in some pretty amazing collaborations.

"A three-DVD set commemorating the performances, available in your favorite store or online site October 5, will include the full four-hour highlight special that aired on HBO. In addition to these 51 performances, there are an additional 16 bonus performances not seen on HBO and a collector's issue of Rolling Stone magazine featuring behind-the-scenes stories. There will also be a Blu-ray version available exclusively at Best Buy for the first 30 days.

Our set included:

* 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'
* 'Sweet Jane' with Lou Reed
* 'Iron Man/Paranoid' with Ozzy Osbourne (full-length version not seen on HBO)
* 'All Day and All of the Night' with Ray Davies
* 'Enter Sandman'
* 'Turn the Page'

"Other artists that performed those two special nights were CROSBY, STILLS & NASH, Stevie Wonder, SIMON AND GARFUNKEL, Aretha Franklin, U2, Jeff Beck, and Bruce Springsteen. Special guest appearances included Jerry Lee Lewis, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown, Smokey Robinson, B.B. King, Annie Lennox, Lou Reed, John Fogerty, Mick Jagger, Fergie, and others."

Polish metallers NEURONIA recently released their second album Follow The White Mouse through Fonografika.

This recording is promoted by the video “Put Your Dukes Up”, already available on YouTube below (recorded in Wroclaw by Dwaem Media Group):







The second single from the album, 'White Mouse', with guest appearance from Tomasz Osiecki on sitar (previously appearing on BEHEMOTH albums) is available for download in MP3 format for free here.

According to Travel Trade Gazette, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson has been named marketing director for Astraeus Airlines, which leases aircraft and cabin crew to airlines. He will work with Astraeus chief commercial officer and director of leasing Shaun Monnery, who said the appointment was part of an expansion of the commercial team.

Monnery said, "Bruce is a great communicator, he knows the aviation industry inside-out from both technical and commercial perspectives, and in a demanding industry he is a man who can cope with pressure, whether as a 757 captain or in front of 50,000 IRON MAIDEN fans, or senior airline and aviation managers."

Dickinson added, "This is a marketing role aimed at delivering the Astraeus message and business proposition directly to what is a relatively tight and targeted audience of people and decision-makers in aviation.

"I'm a communicator, clearly I have a background in creative media, and I'm an airline captain, so it all makes great sense and I relish the challenge."

Dickinson, who is a longstanding pilot with Astraeus, told CNN.com in a 2007 interview, "Aviation's been kicking around my family for as long as I can remember; my uncle was in the RAF. But I always thought I was too stupid. I was useless at maths and majored in history at university, so I thought history majors don't become pilots, let alone rock stars. And then our drummer learned to fly so I said if a drummer can learn to fly then anyone can."

He added, "I never dreamed I would end up flying an airliner. I ended up flying IRON MAIDEN around on tour in a little eight-seat, pressurized, twin-engine plane. Basically we were flying round all the world's major airports, flew across the Atlantic and back, which was quite an adventure. At the end I thought I really want to fly something bigger, but I can't afford it — I can't buy my own 707. If I'm going to do that I have to get a job."

On how the thrill of piloting a 757 compares to taking to the stage with MAIDEN:

"It's a different kind of buzz. Obviously you aren't leaping around the flight deck yelling and screaming, but you have to manage situations... Flying at 35,000 feet is an internal thing, really. Whereas 35,000 people, that's just showing off."

On whether he will be hanging up his leopard-skin spandex forever:

"I could never contemplate giving up music. I have to say I've always been interested in planes, the only difference is I started to fly the darn things 15 years ago. I don't see why I should give up either of them. People say 'Why do you need a second job?' I say 'Why do you need to breathe?'"

The Italian based power Metal band CRIMSONWIND has signed a contract with IceWarrior Records (Rock It Up Records). The debut studio album called The Wings Of Salvation will be released in spring 2011. The limited IceWarrior Edition comes with two exclusive bonus tracks.

The line-up:
Alesio Taormina (THY MAJESTIE) - vocals
Claudio Florio (TRINAKRIUS) - drums
Emanuele "Izzy" Bonura - guitars
Claudio Di Girolamo - keyboards
Niki Zummo - bass

Vancouver-based progressive metallers EMPYRIA have unveiled their new video for the song 'Last Rites' - check it out below:



The track is pulled off the band's latest album, The Long Road Home, out now via Nightmare Records.

The Long Road Home features 11 tracks with new drummer Scott Gamble, Mike Kischnick (guitars/synth - also in THOR), Phil Leite and the reuniting of original bassist/vocalist Paul Falcon.

According to a press release, "The Long Road Home is a musical journey reflecting their earlier prog influences in the bands melodic progression and distinct sound, opening the door to a wider audience and always staying true to themselves musically."

As previously reported, Michael Kischnick is thankful to be alive after suffering a major hemmorage on his brain stem called a Cavernoma on July 17th. He was released from hospital on July 21st.

Vancouver, BC-based progressive folk metal band SCYTHIA will release their 9-track debut album, ...Of War, on Tuesday, October 5th.

"This is definitely an album for fans who truly love a mix of great storytelling blended with the progressive sound of metal, violin and an oboe of death." comments Scythia band founder Dave Khan.

A free download of the band's track 'Fierce Riders Of Scythia' is now available at this location.

...Of War, produced by Shaun Thingvold - who has engineered on projects with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY, DARKEST HOUR and many more, will include the following tracks:

'Caspian Rhapsody'
'Fierce Riders of Scythia'
'The Black Death'
'Red Wizard'
'Elegy'
'Adamantium'
'Dies Irae Pt. 1'
'Warrior’s Anthem'
'Epilogue'

Metal Mind Productions reports:

"There’s not really that many bands around that you could call original. Sure, once in a while you encounter something that sounds incredibly fresh but for most of the times, it’s just the same ideas played over and over again. But then you stumble upon a band like TAPPING THE VEIN. At first you think to yourself: 'I’ve heard it all before' but after a while you realize that you’re listening to something completely new. While Tapping The Vein indeed have some very clear inspirations, the music found on their debut album, The Damage, has a truly significant character. And this is something that not many bands can brag about… This exclusive reissue of their stellar debut brings back one of the most intriguing rock albums of the new millennium."

The new digipak edition of The Damage is limited to 2,000 copies. Remastered using tube technology, digitally edited on a golden disc. Metal Mind Productions has set the release date for October,11th in Europe and December 7th in North America (via MVD).

Tracklisting:

'The Ledge'
'Butterfly'
'Sugar Falls'
'Beautiful'
'Again'
'The Damage'
'Fingertips'
'Broken'
'Hurricane'
'Everything'
'Falling In'

Danish black metallers HORNED ALMIGHTY have issued the following update:

"Contaminating The Divine LP finally released. 1½ years after the release of the CD version, the vinyl version has finally been released.

Including an exclusive bonus track in the form of a hellish version of CELTIC FROST's 'Return To The Eve', an A2 poster and custom beer coasters for all you beer-drinking maniacs.

Limited to 500 copies with the first 100 in tranparent beer-coloured vinyl!!! Get it from Obscure-Abhorrence.com."

Halfwest Management recently announced their first artist from the other side of the pond, WE ARE THE ILLUSION, a progressive/technical metal band from Finland.

An update reads:

"There is no catch here! We Are The Illusion have chosen to share their musical endeavors with the world, for FREE! The 6 song EP, The Podium Of Lies, is a masterpiece of musicianship. The album was recorded at Ansa Studios in Finland to ensure high production value.

In addition to the free EP, We Are The Illusion also has free computer and iPhone wallpapers available for download on their new Myspace page! Who says the new 2.0 pages cant look good? The album artwork and Myspace layout was created by Daniel Wagner of D-Dub Designs. The Podium of Lies is available for free download right now.

Please share this free download with your fans and friends!"

Swedish black metal trio ALGAION are pleased to unleash their latest full-length, entitled Exthros, upon unsuspecting ears.

Their first long player since 1997's General Enmity, Exthros - Greek for "enemy" - offers an unrivaled blend of scathing blackened death metal with the alluring gloom that made Algaion so intriguing in the first place.

Featuring guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Mathias Kamijo (ex-PAIN, MORIFADE), vocalist Mårten Björkman (ARDITI, ex-OCTINOMOS) and drummer Robert Eng (CORPORATION 187, ex-SATANIC SLAUGHTER), Exthros will be released via Pulverised Records later this fall.

Check out a video trailer below.

Exthros tracklisting:

'Alpha'
'That Time Is Nigh'
'Theos Tou Aimatos'
'We Are The Enemy'
'The Last Of The Cursed Days'
'Nature Our Slave'
'Ruach Adversi'
'This Is Our Temple'
'Sign Of Evil Existence/ Era Of Satan Rising'
'House Of War'
'Omega'

With a new lead singer and a fresh 'take on the world' spirit in tow, Los Angeles rockers (via Sweden), VAINS OF JENNA, have released their latest video, 'Everybody Loves You When You're Dead 2010 Mix'. The song, which was originally released on 2009's The Art of Telling Lies features new frontman Jesse Forte is currently available below. The video, co-directed by Eric Sernot along with band bassist and co-founder JP White, was shot in Sweden between tour dates during VoJ's European Tour, which led them from Italy, Czech Republic, France, Denmark, Germany, The UK and back to their former homeland of Sweden.

Additionally, as of September 1st, 2010 a new 5 song EP (on RLS/Raw Noize Records) has been released on iTunes with the official hard copy release available September 14, 2010. VoJ will return for a Fall US Tour beginning October 2nd at the infamous Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Hollywood, CA and will be playing shows in Argentina and Brazil in late October for the first time ever. In 2011 the band will release special edition covers release (through Deadline-Cleopatra Records) followed by another full-length release of brand new original music and a coast-to-coast tour.

Escape Music has set an October 22 release date for "Fire Flight", the debut album from STRATOSPHERE, the new Swedish band featuring singer Göran Edman (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, GLORY, JOHN NORUM).

The brainchild of keyboard virtuoso Jeppe Lund, STRATOSPHERE's lineup is rounded out by guitarist Jonas Larsen, drummer Jim McCarty and bassist Anders Borre Mathieson.

According to a press release, "STRATOSPHERE is like a breath of fresh air and boasts a big sound with plenty of cat-and-mouse guitar/keyboard antics that roll along just effortlessly. They seem to capture the elements of symphonic progressive rock and mix them with melodic overtones with a sprinkle of originality just for good measure. Opener 'Russian Summer' is a huge song with soaring melodies, whilst 'The Battle Within' echoes the halcyon days of RAINBOW. [Another] track that is worthy of extra attention is the instrumental 'Rendezvous', which is one of those songs that has loads of layered keyboards that intertwine with sumptuous guitar playing. The haunting song 'Shining Star' is a pleasure to listen to and gives a chance for Göran to show off his vocal prowess to maximum effect. The ballad 'Princess Of The Night' is a beautifully executed piece; in fact the whole album is just a complete pleasure to listen to."

"Fire Flight" was mixed and mastered by Martin Kronlund at JM Recording Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Russian Summer (3:43)
02. The Battle Within (4:18)
03. Enemy Of my Soul (5:11)
04. Street Of Moscow (3:46)
05. Rendezvous (3:55)
06. Shining Star (4:52)
07. China Girl (4:48)
08. Princess Of The Night (5:31)
09. VIP (5:46)
10. Fire Flight (4:05)

SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian has released the following message:

"I am extremely excited to announce the release of my new solo record, 'Imperfect Harmonies', on Tuesday, September 21. It represents a whole new sound, one that is a result of my musical experiences starting from SYSTEM, to my first solo record, 'Elect The Dead', to the orchestral 'Elect The Dead Symphony', to the present. It is an adventurous departure, some may say, from what I'm known for. Maybe it is. But if there are any whom I consider as adventurous musical fiends as I, it is you, the friends and fans of SYSTEM OF A DOWN. After all, when SYSTEM released our self-titled debut in 1997, it is you who understood us, not radio, not MTV, and certainly not the music industry.

"Check out [this link] to listen to some music and watch a couple of videos from 'Imperfect Harmonies'.

"If you like what you hear, come join me later today at 7 p.m. PST at Ustream where we'll be doing a live video/audio stream of the whole 'Imperfect Harmonies' album from the studio where the live orchestra was recorded. I'll be doing a live video chat after the album playback is finished and answer some questions from all of you."

Michael Deeds of IdahoStatesman.com recently conducted an interview with MOTÖRHEAD's Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On the major profile Rolling Stone magazine did on him in late 2009:

Lemmy: "It was quite funny, because I brought (the journalist) around to my house, which looks like a shrine to Nazism. But it's just my collection. I mean, you can't put it all in the cupboard; it won't fit.

"I only collect the stuff. I didn't collect the ideas."

On legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, who died from stomach cancer in May:

Lemmy: "Yeah, that's rough. I mean, apart from him being a great friend of mine, he now leaves me being the oldest. Because he was older than me by about six months."

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman had strong words for rock musicians who collect Nazi memorabilia in a recent interview with Revolver magazine. When asked about artists such as Lemmy Kilmister and SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman who collect Nazi artifacts, Draiman said, "That's super-duper taboo and offensive to me. I don't understand the fascination. It's the most provocative imagery that you can brandish, and that's why people utilize it. And if that's their goal, I guess they're achieving it."

When told that Kilmister, who has been known to wear Iron Crosses and hats from the German air force, defends himself by saying he's just collecting artifacts of war history, Draiman replied, "I don't give a fuck who you are. If you're going to brandish Nazi symbolism, I'm going to have a problem with you because I don't understand how anybody could think it's OK to wear something on their body that symbolizes the annihilation and genocide of my people. I'm not OK with that and there is no excuse and there is no explanation."

MOTÖRHEAD recently completed recording its new album for an early 2011 release. The forthcoming CD will be the follow-up to "Motörizer", which sold a little more than 6,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 82 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Motörizer" was recorded in part (drums only) at FOO FIGHTERS frontman/ex-NIRVANA drummer Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California with producer Cameron Webb, who also worked on "Kiss of Death" and 2004's "Inferno".

A new ROB ZOMBIE song, "Everything Is Boring", is available for streaming below (courtesy of ARTISTdirect.com). The track comes off the CD/DVD edition of Zombie's latest album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2", which will arrive in stores on September 28 via Roadrunner Records. The expanded version of the album will feature three brand new tracks recorded with the band's current touring lineup, including SLIPKNOT drummer/MURDERDOLLS guitarist Joey Jordison, along with a reworked version of the song "The Man Who Laughs". A bonus DVD featuring live footage and a 30-minute touring documentary, dubbed "Transylvanian Transmissions", will also be included.

"Hellbilly Deluxe 2" special-edition track listing:

CD:

01. Devil's Hole Girls And The Big Revolution (new song)
02. Jesus Frankenstein
03. Sick Bubblegum
04. What?
05. Theme Of An Angry Red Planet
06. Mars Needs Women
07. Werewolf, Baby
08. Everything Is Boring (new song)
09. Virgin Witch
10. Death And Destiny Inside the Dream Factory
11. Burn
12. Cease To Exist
13. Werewolf Women Of The SS
14. Michael (new song)
15. The Man Who Laughs

DVD:

01. Mars Needs Women
02. School's Out (ALICE COOPER cover) (feat. Alice Cooper)
03. Transylvanian Transmissions

Dutch death metallers GOD DETHRONED have finished recording their ninth album, "Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross", at the Soundlodge Studios in Leer, Germany.

Comments singer/guitarist Henri Sattler: "Just like with our two previous albums, we've been recording at Soundlodge with producer Jörg Uken.

"'Under The Sign Of The Iron Cross' is another concept album about World War One. Having done a concept album about this topic before didn't make it an easy job, but reading Ernst Juenger's 'In Stahlgewittern' (Storm of Steel), which is his biography of his daily experiences in the trenches during the war, gave me so much inspiration that I managed to do a good job on the lyrics and I'm really satisfied with the result, but this is, of course, something you will have to check out for yourselves.

"Musically, the new album turned out to be one of the most extreme records we ever did. Nevertheless with the very recognizable GOD DETHRONED hooks present in all the songs. Producer Jörg Uken outdid himself this time, because our new album is, in my opinion, the best-produced album we ever had. Extremely raw, heavy, but crystal clear and super dynamic at the same time."