Martin Söderqvist, guitarist of Swedish metallers HOSTILE CELL, has checked in with the following update:

"Just wanted to write a few lines about the events that have taken place in the last couple of weeks. I almost joined another band, but in the last minute I pulled out of the whole situation. Not feeling motivated enough, I realized that I can't give what it takes to play in this band. It doesn't matter if they have good support from their label, my heart belongs to metal and heavy rock. And of course with my family. So officially: I am not joining HIDE THE KNIVES, but we are good friends and I helped them out with some of the songwriting for their next album. Check them out at Myspace.com/HideTheKnives if you're into alternative rock with strong melodies. These guys are gonna make it big if they find a new guitarist =)

Right now I am rehearsing with my number one priority DEBBIE RAY. We're playing the Stockholm Rock Out on September 11th. After that we will schedule a gig at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg before starting to record a video for the song 'Addicted' off our debut album Artificial Misery. The album is available through iTunes in Europe and via Demon Doll Records in the US. After the video is done we will start the song writing process for our next album, my first album with Debbie Ray as their new permanent bassist. Check us out at DebbieRay.com.

The special edition of STAR ONE's Victims Of The Modern Age includes a second CD featuring guest singers who are not part of the Star One lineup. In his latest video update, Arjen introduces two of them. But there is a third singer Arjen DOESN'T mention by name - in this first contest your task is to guess the identity of this mystery singer.

Here's how to participate:

Watch the video below, where (after some yakkin' by Arjen) you can hear the mystery singer.

When you are ready to guess, go to Arjen's Message board and post your guess in the official Contest 1 thread here. Don't forget to post your contact info so we can reach you if you win.

You do not need a user account to participate. During the contest guest users can to post in the contest thread without creating an account.

The first person to guess the identity of the mystery singer correctly wins a free copy of Victims Of The Modern Age.

For those who can't watch the video, the two singers Arjen introduces are Rodney Blaze and Mike Andersson, who each sing one of the five extra tracks that appear on CD2 of the special edition version of the album.

HORTUS ANIMAE vocalist Martyr Lucifer has commenced work on his debut solo album, tentatitively titled "Farewell To Graveland". an

"Farewell To Graveland" recording lineup (more guests to be announced later):

* Martyr Lucifer - Vocals, Synth, Programming
* Arke (OPPOSITE SIDES) - Guitar
* Evgeniy "Vrolok" Antonenko (NOKTURNAL MORTUM) - Bass
* Bless (HORTUS ANIMAE) - Piano, Keyboards
* Adrian Erlandsson (PARADISE LOST, CRADLE OF FILTH, AT THE GATES) - Drums
* Grom (HORTUS ANIMAE, ANCIENT, DOOMSWORD) - Drums

Germany's "doom metal kings" MIRROR OF DECEPTION will release their fourth album, "A Smouldering Fire", on October 15 via Cyclone Empire. It will be available in two versions: a regular CD and a digipack containing the "The First 2 Decades" bonus CD.

"A Smouldering Fire" was recorded at Soundmann Studio in Stuttgart, Germany and features the following track listing:

01. Isle Of Horror
02. The Riven Tree
03. Heroes Of The Atom Age
04. Bellwethers In Mist
05. Unforeseen
06. December
07. Lauernder Schmerz
08. Walking Through The Clouds
09. Leguano
10. Sojourner
11. The Flood And The Horses
12. Voyage Obscure

The song "Isle Of Horror" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"The First 2 Decades" track listing:

01. Der Student von Ulm
02. The Falls (Hick Hubins Loundess War Remix)
03. Ode
04. Yearn
05. Leaves
06. One Mind
07. Katharsis
08. Mirrorsoil 2010
09. Chapter MMX
10. (We Are) Mirror of Deception

Audio samples of all 10 tracks that will appear on the forthcoming "String Tribute To Iron Maiden" album from CC Entertainment are available at Amazon.com.

Due on September 14, the CD features the following track listing:

01. El Dorado
02. Run To The Hills
03. The Trooper
04. The Number of The Beast
05. Hallowed Be Thy Name
06. Fear of The Dark
07. Aces High
08. 2 Minutes To Midnight
09. Powerslave
10. Dance of Death

Audio samples of all 10 tracks that appear on the just-released "String Tribute To Disturbed" album from CC Entertainment are available at Amazon.com.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Another Way To Die
02. Down With The Sickness
03. Indestructible
04. Stricken
05. Inside The Fire
06. Stupify
07. Ten Thousand Fists
08. The Night
09. The Game
10. Voices

According to Planet Rock, DEEP PURPLE's Come Taste The Band 35th Anniversary reissue is due out on October 25th in the UK.

The reissue includes a remastered version of the album, plus the single version of 'You Keep On Moving' on CD 1. CD2, meanwhile, has the album remixed by Kevin Shirley (LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN), with input from Glenn Hughes, plus two unissued instrumental tracks from the sessions.

The tracklist is as follows:

CD1
'Comin Home'
'Lady Luck'
'Gettin Tighter'
'Dealer'
'I Need Love'
'You Keep on Moving'
'Love Child'
'This Time Around'
'Owed to G'
'Drifter'
'You Keep on Moving' 45 edit

CD2
'Comin Home'
'Lady Luck'
'Gettin Tighter'
'Dealer'
'I Need Love'
'You Keep on Moving'
'Love Child'
'This Time Around'
'Owed to G'
'Drifter'
'Always the Same in LA'
'Bolin/Paice Jam'

KILLING JOKE will release their 13th studio album, Absolute Dissent, on September 27th 2010 via Spinefarm Records UK.

The album – housed in a sleeve designed by artist/musician Jimmy Cauty of KLF fame – will be available in variety of formats, including standard 12-track CD, digital download & limited edition Deluxe CD format featuring enhanced packaging, sleeve notes, plus an 11-track second CD (‘Absolute Respect’) showcasing KJ cover versions from a wide variety of artists, including METALLICA, HELMET, FEAR FACTORY and FOO FIGHTERS.

The full tracklisting of the Deluxe version is as follows:

CD 1 (Absolute Dissent)

Absolute Dissent
The Great Cull
Fresh Fever From The Skies
In Excelsis
European Super State
This World Hell (Die, Long Pig!)
Endgame
The Raven King
Honour The Fire
Depthcharge
Here Comes The Singularity
Ghosts Of Ladbroke Grove


CD 2 (Absolute Respect)

The Wait – METALLICA
Europe – AMEN
Primitive – HELMET
Pssyche – ECONOLINE CRUSH
Love Like Blood – DEAD BY APRIL
Democracy (NIN Remix) – Killing Joke
Wardance – MAD CAPSULE MARKETS
Pssyche – NOUVELLE VAGUE
Millennium – FEAR FACTORY
Requiem – FOO FIGHTERS
Pandemonium – KOTITEOLLISUUS (Finland’s biggest selling rock act featuring NIGHTWISH's Tuomas Holopainen on arrangement duties, keyboards and programming)

A new single/video, ‘European Super State’, is currently being scheduled for release.

Swedish metallers STONELAKE are currently in the studio to working on a new album.

According to a band update, "it will be a follow up to Shades Of Eternity, but with more massive sound, very heavy guitar’s and walls of big drums. There will be a couple of well known guest players on lead guitar and a duet song with a well known metal singer! The new album will sound like StoneLake powerful high energy heavy metal with melodic melodies as always with high pitch vocals."

The recordings will take place at UMP Studios in Sweden and the producing, mixing and mastering will be handled of Jan Akesson. More details coming soon.

"Number One", the new Salvatore "Xavy" Perrone-directed video from TWINSPIRITS — the Italian progressive metal band featuring Daniele Liverani (KHYMERA, EMPTY TREMOR, GENIUS) — can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's second album, "The Forbidden City", which was released in September 2009 via Lion Music. The CD marked the recording debut of the group's new Swedish vocalist Göran Nyström whose stunning range, power and projection is a perfect fit for the TWINSPIRITS' mix of technical progressive metal and melodic elements.

The band's current lineup is completed by keyboardist Daniele Liverani, guitarist Tommy Ermolli, bassist Alberto Rigoni and drummer Dario Ciccioni.

The original lineup of Swedish AOR masters ALIEN has reunited after some 22 years and will release a new single, "Ready To Fly", on October 10 via Manora Records. The track features "up-to-date production by Mårten Eriksson and Mats Lindfors" and is described in a press release as "melodic rock at its best."

ALIEN 2010 is:

Jimmy Wandroph: Keyboards
Toby Tarrach: Drums
Jim Jidhed: Vocals
Tony Borg: Guitar
Ken Sandin: Bass

DYNABYTE, the Italian industrial metal band featuring former OPERA IX vocalist Cadaveria and NECRODEATH bassist John (a.k.a Killer Bob), will release its new album, "2KX", on October 10. The effort, which was produced, arranged, engineered and mastered entirely by DYNABYTE, will be released exclusively on a USB stick, with extra content (previously unreleased pictures, wallpapers and exclusive multimedia content) as a way to thank fans for their support.

"2KX" track listing:

01. Equilibrium (4:19)
02. F.T.L. (4:19)
03. Normal (3:12)
04. Hereditary Neuronavigation (3:55)
05. Cold Wind of Fear (5:00)
06. Artmix (5:06)
07. Speed (4:27)
08. The Mummy (4:37)
09. I'm Not Scared (4:37)
10. Stones (4:08)
11. Wave (4:05)
12. Blinded by my Light (6:00)

VOODOO SIX, the British hard rock band formed by ex-DIRTY DEEDS bassist Tony Newton, will release its new album, "Fluke?", on October 18 via Powerage Records. The CD was engineered and produced by Tony Newton and was mixed by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, METALLICA, AEROSMITH).

"Fluke?" track listing:

01. Take The Blame
02. Something For You
03. Take Aim
04. Like The Others Did
05. Killer
06. Underneath My Skin
07. Live Again
08. Body & Soul
09. Mountain
10. Doing Me Wrong
11. Long Way From Home

Rod Smallwood, IRON MAIDEN's longtime manager told The New York Times that more than 800,000 copies of the band's latest album, "The Final Frontier", had been shipped to retailers around the world by the end of last week, with the group having sold about 85 million records in its 30-year career.

"A lot of bands could learn a lot from MAIDEN," Smallwood said. "MAIDEN is essentially about the relationship with the fans, and nothing comes between that. They don't want to be rock stars. They just enjoy playing for the fans."

According to David Kassler, chief operating officer of EMI for Europe, digital tracking services showed only small levels of illegal downloading of "The Final Frontier", whcih is attributable in part to the fact that IRON MAIDEN's songs do not fit the mold of a radio single — three of them, on the newest release, are more than nine minutes long.

"You'd expect some people to be pirating, but they don't," Kassler told The New York Times. "They want the physical album. They love the artwork, the lyrics. It's something they want to show their friends and family."

According to Joel McIver, a London-based writer who is the author of "Justice for All: The Truth About Metallica", and other books about heavy metal, there are plenty of lessons for the music industry in IRON MAIDEN's continued success: "Invest in the long term. Apply an image. Give the fans what they want. Tour and keep touring. Play the festival circuit. Embrace new technology. Be innovative. Be honest. Be original. Write good songs."

Outlaw Digital Media has uploaded video footage of Duff McKagan (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES, DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED) performing an acoustic cover version of THE ROLLING STONES classic "Wild Horses" on Thursday, September 2 at The Moore Theatre in Seattle, Washington as part of the Hootenanny For A Healthy Gulf event to benefit the Gulf Coast. Check it out below. Also appearing at the concert were Mike McCready (PEARL JAM), Star Anna, Jeff Rouse, Shawn Smith, Mark Pickerel, Kim Virant, Justin Davis, Tim DiJulio, Chris and Rick Friel, Rebeqa Rivers, Jeff Rouse, Ty Bailie, Kristen Ward, Gary Westlake and other friends.

The UK's Daily Mail has filed the following report

A founding member of ELO has been killed in a freak accident when a giant hay bale rolled out of a field and landed on his van.

Cellist Mike Edwards died instantly when the 50-stone cylindrical bale careered down a slope, flipped 15ft over a hedge and smashed on to the roof of his van.

Mr Edwards, 62, was known for unconventional cello playing including plucking the strings with an orange or grapefruit and his bizarre customs which became a major ingredient of ELO, the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA.

He was celebrated for his live 'party piece', named the Dying Swan, during which he would perform a solo with his cello 'exploding' at the end. The musician quit the band in 1975 to become a Buddhist, changing his name to Deva Pramada and making his living by teaching the cello.

Police say the accident happened at around 12.30pm on Friday on the A381 between Harbetonford and Halwell in Devon.

The victim was driving a white transit-type van towards Kinsgbridge when the bale of hay smashed into the front cab.

The van swerved after it was hit and then collided with another smaller van coming the other way - but the second driver was unhurt.
mike edwards

Eccentric: Mike Edwards's bizarre costumes and ability to play his cello with fruit were a major part of ELO's appeal

Police identified him with the use of photographs and YouTube footage and have appealed for help in contacting his family for formal identification.

GAMMA RAY/ex-HELLOWEEN guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen will perform with AVANTASIA, the project led by EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet, on the group's upcoming tour. Also scheduled to appear are Bob Catley (MAGNUM), Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Amanda Somerville, Olli Hartmann and Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN).

Kicking off in Pratteln, Switzerland on November 30, the three-week trek will bring the prestigious metal-opera event to three different continents around the planet.

Commented Tobias: "Kai will have a vocal role and play some guitar, too.

"We've been friends for quite a while now.

"I remember I was a little kid when I first heard HELLOWEEN's 'Keeper' albums. And that was the instant that lit a spark in me. Unfortunately I never got the chance to see HELLOWEEN with Michael and Kai on stage, but they'll make up for it now! Both have played an important role for me personally and for the history of AVANTASIA and its 'Metal Opera' in particular.

"I am looking forward to sharing the stage with them and play some of our old AVANTASIA classics together."

Geir Bratland, the Oslo, Norway-based keyboardist who has previously played with APOPTYGMA BERZERK and THE KOVENANT, is rumored to have joined the touring lineup of the Norwegian symphonic black metal band DIMMU BORGIR. Bratland (pictured below) is also believed be featured on DIMMU BORGIR's upcoming ninth album, "Abrahadabra", and can be seen in the video for the CD's first single, "Gateways", which made its unofficial online debut earlier today (Sunday, September 5). Also making an appearance in the clip is Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (real name: Tommie Helgesson; THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME), who announced his departure from DIMMU BORGIR's touring lineup on August 25 — just one day after confirming that he was tapped by the band to replace bassist/vocalist ICS Vortex during the recording sessions for "Abrahadabra" and the subsequent world tour. Shaw has since rejoined Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION.

ICS Vortex and keyboardist Mustis (real name: Øyvind Mustaparta) were fired from DIMMU BORGIR in August 2009. The remaining members of the band issued a statement at the time downplaying the impact that ICS Vortex and Mustis' departures would have on the sound of DIMMU BORGIR's next album, insisting that "the creative force in the band is highly intact, perhaps even more so than ever."

Audio samples from the new album are available at this location. Song titles include:

'Power Trippin'
'Martyr'
'Still Have A Song To Sing'
'Temptation'
'Living Your Dreams (Everyday)'