Legendary Polish extreme metal band MAGNUS will release its new album, "Acceptance Of Death", on September 15 via Witching Hour Productions. The CD was recorded in three different studios: Tower, DSP and ATK. Mixing and mastering duties were handled by Marcin Bors at Fonoplastykon Studio.

"Acceptance Of Death" will be made available as a 10-panel exclusive digipack and 12-inch picture LP (hand-numbered and limited to 500 copies)

MAGNUS recently inked a deal with Witching Hour Productions covering the release of two new studio albums and reissues of all recordings from the '90s.

01. False God
02. Appear
03. Spirits
04. Essence
05. Worm
06. To Understand Death
07. Private Religion
08. Nothing More
09. When You Rest 6 Feet Under
10. They'll Bury
11. Mournful Song
12. Just Like Life
13. There's No Use Lamenting

Abbath spoke the aforementioned quote onstage at the German festival's final night (August 7th). Is there a bigger black metal band on the planet right now? While some might reference DIMMU or BEHEMOTH, even upstarts WATAIN, all tremendously popular with the younger set, but only the damned (in black) Bergen trio garner large portions of the non-blackened metallic fanbase, including "old school" veterans. Fronting a sea of humanity previously unseen at Wacken, IMMORTAL celebrated the release of their DVD (filmed on the same stage, in '07) by running through highlights of the back catalog, as well as a couple off All Shall Fall, peppered with smoke, flames and the oft humour comments of the corpse-painted singer/guitarist.

Immortal's Wacken Open Air 2010 setlist:

'All Shall Fall'
'Sons Of Northern Darkness'
'The Rise Of Darkness'
'Damned In Black'
'Hordes To War'
'Norden On Fire'
'Withstand The Fall Of Time'
'Beyond The North Waves'
'One By One'

"Crusader", a brand new song from RIOTGOD — the band featuring MONSTER MAGNET's Bob Pantella and Jim Baglino alongside guitarist Garrett Sweeny and vocalist Sunshine — can be streamed using the audio player below (courtesy of AOL's Noisecreep).

"Riotgod" track listing:

01. Light Of The Sun
02. Crusader
03. The Time Is Now
04. Horizon
05. 9th Life
06. Omega
07. Collapsing Stars
08. Pinata
09. Drone Station
10. Love It Or Leave It
11. Rift
12. Sweet Kaos
13. High Time
14. Grand Design
15. Fangasm*
16. Minds Eye*

* Bonus tracks on digipak only.

Finnish progressive metal outfit ANTHRIEL will release its debut album, "The Pathway", on September 17 via Lion Music. The CD was produced by Timo Niemistö and was mixed by Jussi Kulomaa at MSTR Studio. The mastering duties were handled by Henkka Niemistö at Chartmakers. The album cover art and layout was created by Jan Yrlund at Darkgrove.

"The Pathway" track listing:

01. Devil's Lullaby
02. Mirror Games
03. Guardian
04. Repression
05. Haven of Grace
06. Dark Divided Minds
07. The Deliverance
08. Controversial Euphoria
09. Light Divine
10. Scent of Dawn
11. Promised Land
12. Chains of the Past

British thrashers ONSLAUGHT have set "Sounds Of Violence" as the title of their fifth album, tentatively due before the end of the year via Germany's AFM Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Killing Peace" will be recorded and mixed at Hansen Studio in Ribe, Denmark with acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, MERCENARY, VOLBEAT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN) starting on August 16.

Commented ONSLAUGHT guitarist Nige Rockett: "'Sounds of Violence' is a very fitting title for the new recording.

"Musically and lyrically, this is definately the most brutal and intense ONSLAUGHT album to date. It's full of machine-gun riffs, ferocious drum patterns and some pretty fucked up lyrical content.

"This album was never meant to be pretty. It's not a concept album by any measure but there's a definite theme to the whole package, right through from the sleeve design to the music and onto the words;, it's violence all the way.

"There's a lot of hate in 'Sounds of Violence' and a whole lot of reality in there, too, much of it straight from the heart."

"Hunting The Human", the new video from Israeli extreme metallers WINTERHORDE, can be viewed below. The clip was filmed in Tel Aviv-Jaffo with director Sergey Maydin and it features an appearance by renowned Israeli "underground" actress and model Angel Ogasta.

"Hunting The Human" comes off WINTERHORDE's new album, "Underwatermoon", which was released on July 30 in Europe via Twilight-Vertrieb. A conceptual effort based on a story written by WINTERHORDE's bass player and co-founder Celestial, the follow-up to 2008's "Nebula" was produced , mixed and mastered by V.Santura (TRYPTIKON, DARK FORTRESS, OBSCURA). The artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes of Abstrata Studio (ARCH ENEMY, OLD MAN'S CHILD, KRISIUN).

Billboard.com has issued the following report from Gary Graff:

Jason Bonham knows better than to promise a LED ZEPPELIN reunion as part of his Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience show that goes on tour this fall. But he's certainly not opposed to the idea.

"I'm not going to hide it from them," Bonham, who filled his late father John "Bonzo" Bonham's spot and played with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones at the 2007 Zep reunion concert at London's O2 arena, tells Billboard.com.

"I will invite them to every show I can, because my goal and dream is, 'Wouldn't it be cool if I did something that they thought was cool and they would get up and play with me?' That's what I'm doing [this] for. I'd love it."

Norwegian black/folk metal band FAANEFJELL has just set the release date for their upcoming debut album, Trollmarsj, on September 18th.

The band will release their album through Mayhem Music - the new record label from Audun Grønnestad (IMPERIA) - who have set a worldwide distribution deal with Indie Distribution.

Trollmarsj is recorded, produced and mixed by Audun Grønnestad (Imperia, ANGEL) during the fall/winter 2009 at Mayhem Music in Kristiansand, Norway. The mastering took place in Finnvox by Mika Jussila and all artwork is delivered by Jan Yrlund from Darkgrove Designs (TÝR, KORPIKLAANI, STRATOVARIUS, SVARYSOT, IMPERIA, SIRENIA)

Trollmarsj is an concept album with clear references to traditional Norwegian black metal such as WINDIR. The main Trolls of the band, Kim Arly Karlsen (CUTTHROAT, ex-RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, ex-EON) and Danish black metal growler, Benjamin Isar Jørgensen (Grívf) teamed up early 2009 to write music for their first joint release.

Faanefjell is a Norwegian mountain, and as the story goes, the trolls there were driven away by the humans building their houses and churches. There was an ever ongoing battle between the two on who should have the right, not only to the Faanefjell mountain, but to every Norwegian mountain. Trollmarsj is the story of the mountain, humans, priests, fights and the march of the two trolls, Grimtroll and Sørtroll.

The music could be referenced to as symphonic black/folk metal, and also features guest appearances by Cato Arghamon (TRAIL OF TEARS, DIMENSION F3H, Cutthroat, LUCID FEAR), Ronny Thorsen (Trail of Tears), Frank Ørland (ex-SCARIOT, ex-HARM), Daniel Sandén-Varg (ODD NORDSTOGA) and Audun Grønnestad (Imperia, Angel). The booklet includes the story of the Faanefjell trolls, with lyrics for each song taken from the story. It is written in old Norwegian/Danish language, and translations will be available soon on the bands website.

Trollmarsj tracklisting :

'Der Var Engang et Fjell'
'Faanetrollets Vise'
'Trollmarsj'
'Tre Tinner Bakom Bruen'
'Soknardalr'
'Drikkegilde i Jotunheimen'
'Slaatt'
'Hedningens Time'
'Til Kamp'
'Her Hersker kun Troll og Mörkemænn'

Matt Blair of ChartAttack.com recently conducted an interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

ChartAttack.com: You're balancing a live tour and a book tour right now. And you've mentioned in the book that you have a renewed focus on your family, but you're doing a job which is keeping you on the road by the very nature of it. What sort of changes have you had to make to keep your family in focus?

Mustaine: Well, a lot of it was — you know, just by way of my faith and sorting out my life — it's made me appear to be more desirable to my family. They want to be around me more now. There's a lot of stuff that's transpired over this whole healing process that has made me a better husband and a better dad. The short answer to your question is that they want to be out here with me, and have already shown that by being on tour with me. We've spent more time together on the road just this year than I've spent with my wife in any previous entire year, you know? In a family, it's pretty much like having all four tires on a car going in the same direction. When one kind of goes off a little bit, and it's out of alignment, it impedes the progress of a family. So we all have to work together, and I think because I was gone to an extent, it forced my wife to be the dad also. And that's not a role that women are naturally created for.

ChartAttack.com: One thing that sets the book apart from the typical rock 'n' roll memoir is that while it starts off as sort of a "how to" tale of how to be a rock star, as you get closer to the end it actually ends up being more of a "how to" on how to be a father and live a family life. Are you hoping that this is something that other people, like your fans as they grow, might follow suit on?

Mustaine: I wasn't really making a "Dave Mustaine For Dummies" book, but yeah, if it helps people, that's great. I think human nature is that we want to help people, it makes us feel good. It's helped me a lot in a lot of situations where I was feeling the pressure of the music industry, to talk with a fan about what's going on with their life. Talk with somebody in the music business that's less fortunate than you. Take a minute to talk with a band that's, you know, a baby band, and share something with them. Now, granted, the odds are still stacked against us to make it in the music business because it's a difficult business to crack. It's funny, I've gotten to this place in the music business where it just feels so normal and natural to me that I've kind of forgotten how hard it really is to get into it. And I'm really, really grateful for that.

ChartAttack.com: In the book, you don't talk about the way you dealt with your addictions as a model that's going to work for everybody. And with your religion, you've said that this is what works for you, but it doesn't necessarily work for everyone else. You've essentially said that you're not going to tell anybody how to live their life, but this is how you're living yours. Is that just a product of…

Mustaine: [Laughs] What, being able to be real?

ChartAttack.com: Well, living on your own terms, sure.

Mustaine: I just think that, you know, you deserve better. I mean, eyeball to eyeball, right now? I'm not a good liar. I don't like lying. I've lied, I'm not good at it, like I said, and I just don't like it. So for me to have made a book that was based on lies, I would have really compromised my integrity. And I know with my career, I've made a lot of mistakes, and I think the fans have been really forgiving, because I've copped to it. And I've said, "Look, you know, this is why we're a lot alike, because I'm human. And this is why I'll never give up on you, because you're forgiving. And this is hopefully why you'll never give up on me, because I'm honest."

According to The Pulse of Radio, SMASHING PUMPKINS will likely take four years — not two, as originally expected — to release the 44 songs off its ongoing project, "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope". The group has unveiled a few tracks here and there online, one song at a time.

When asked what the recording progress has been like, frontman Billy Corgan told Spin.com, "Things are taking off right now so much that we're getting a lot of demand to go on tour, so I've got to figure out when I'm going to record. Right now I only have three more songs done and waiting to be released, and I have probably 60 songs written."

Corgan made headlines recently after he fainted briefly while performing on stage in Tampa, Florida. Apparently this isn't the first time it's happened. Corgan admits, "I'm fine. Just a bit bruised up. It's happened before, where I just . . . over sing. I just faint. If you see the video, I fall down and when I wake up five seconds later, I get up and finish the song. The last time it happened was in 2008. I've done like 1,700 shows, so it's not a normal occurence."

Just five new songs have been released so far. After each new set of four tracks comes out, Corgan will release a limited edition CD of them on his own Martha Music label.

Due to a "medical emergency," GREAT WHITE's Jack Russell was reportedly forced to sit out last night's (Thursday, August 12) concert at the Brixton in Redondo Beach, California. His replacement for the show was Terry Ilous of XYZ.

Steve Brownlee, manager for Joshua Peraha and the band JOSHUA, tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET, "It was an awkward set mostly comprised of their ballads that featured Terry Ilous on about half the songs. Lead vocal duties on half the set were split amongst Mark Kendall [guitar], Michael Lardie [guitar] and Scott Snyder [bass]. The band even played a song from Mark's solo album and the set featured two extended guitar jams."

Low-quality video footage of GREAT WHITE's "Face The Day" performance from last night's conceert can be viewed below.

Ilous previously filled in for Russell during GREAT WHITE's May 30, 2009 performance at the My Waterloo Days festival in Waterloo, Iowa.

GREAT WHITE released its latest album, "Rising", in North America in April 2009 via Shrapnel Records. The CD was issued in Europe on March 13, 2009 through Frontiers Records.

Since reuniting in January 2007 to perform a benefit concert, GREAT WHITE has moved forward with the successful release in the summer of the same year of their return album "Back To The Rhythm", a record which was hailed by critics and fans as a return to the heydays of the band. After a world tour that celebrated the first 25 years of GREAT WHITE and that brought them for 14 concerts to Europe, bass player Sean McNabb opted out and was replaced by Scott Snyder (ex-RAMOS, ACCOMPLICE).

GREAT WHITE is:

Jack Russell - vocals
Michael Lardie - guitars, keyboards
Mark Kendall - guitars
Scott Snyder - bass
Audie Desbrow - drums

Dallas metal doom trio ELLIOTT'S KEEP has finished recording its sophomore album, "Sine Qua Non". Weighing in at an hour of epic metal doom, the CD "delivers ELLIOTT'S KEEP's signature heavy riffage, varied time signatures and diverse vocals styles," according to a press release.

ELLIOTT'S KEEP recorded again at Nomad Studios (SOLITUDE AETURNUS, CONCEPT OF GOD, ABSU, MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND) in Carrollton, Texas, with J.T. Longoria (SOLITUDE AETURNUS, CONCEPT OF GOD, ABSU, KING DIAMOND) at the helm.

As with ELLIOTT'S KEEP's 2008 debut, "In Medias Res", "Sine Qua Non" (Latin for "without this nothing," meaning "without this part of my life the rest is meaningless") will be released on SOLITUDE AETURNUS guitarist John Perez's Brainticket Records in the early fall.

"Sine Qua Non" track listing:

01. Fate
02. Fearless
03. Shades of Disgrace (feat. John Perez on lead guitar)
04. Witchburning
05. Damned
06. Beloved
07. Maleficar Validus
08. Darkest Corner

Joey Jordison of SLIPKNOT has commented on being named the greatest drummer of the last quarter of a century by the readers of U.K.'s Rhythm magazine. Jordison received 37 percent of the votes, with more than 38,000 people selecting him as their favorite drummer of the last 25 years.

Joey said, "I'm at a loss for words.

"To my friends and fans across the world, thank you; this is beyond unbelievable! Something like this reminds me every day why I continue to do this. It's because of all of you that I'm very passionate and still love what I do.

"My fans continue to push me; if I didn't have them I wouldn't be where I'm at today.

"This is bigger than a Grammy to me!

"You people keep me alive; I can't thank all of you enough.

"To all the Rhythm staff, thank you; you are amazing!

"Thank you to my family, friends, all the amazing drummers I was in company with; without them I wouldn't be here either. And last but not least, all my brothers in SLIPKNOT!

"Thank you all again!"

Rhythm editor Chris Barnes told MusicRadar.com about Joey's win, "I'm not at all surprised about Joey's victory. Since SLIPKNOT hit the headlines in the late '90s, we've been consistently blown away by his mind-blowing technicality and ability to bolster any project with his unique sound and style. He obviously has a massive legion of loyal fans."

"The 20 Greatest Drummers Of The Last 25 Years," according to readers of U.K.'s Rhythm magazine:

01. Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT, ROB ZOMBIE)
02. Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER)
03. Gavin Harrison (PORCUPINE TREE)
04. Neil Peart (RUSH)
05. Dave Grohl (NIRVANA, THEM CROOKED VULTURES)
06. Travis Barker (BLINK-182, TRANSPLANTS)
07. Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN)
08. Vinnie Colaiuta (FRANK ZAPPA, STING, JEFF BECK)
09. Phil Collins (GENESIS)
10. Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, CHICKENFOOT)
11. Brann Dailor (MASTODON)
12. Steve Gadd (ERIC CLAPTON, PAUL SIMON)
13. Thomas Lang
14. Stewart Copeland (THE POLICE)
15. Terry Bozzio (FRANK ZAPPA)
16. Josh Freese (A PERFECT CIRCLE, DEVO)
17. Cozy Powell (RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE, BLACK SABBATH)
18. Jeff Porcaro (TOTO, MICHAEL JACKSON)
19. Stephen Morris (JOY DIVISION, NEW ORDER)
20. Steve White (PAUL WELLER, OASIS)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Live Nation has filed a lawsuit against several "John Does" in advance of this weekend's Ozzfest in Devore, California. ("John Doe" is a term used in lawsuits for individuals whose actual names are not yet known.) Live Nation is attempting to get a court order that would have federal and local law enforcement authorities seize and impound trademark-infringing gear at Ozzy Osbourne's travelling festival.

To see the complaint, which was filed this past Tuesday (August 10) in U.S. District Court in California, click here (PDF file).

Launching Saturday, August 14 in San Bernardino, California — the birthplace of the first Ozzfest in 1996 — this year's tour will include main stage artists OZZY OSBOURNE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, HALFORD, DEVILDRIVER and NONPOINT. Second-stage headliners BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will return for their seventh appearance on the tour and will be joined by DROWNING POOL, KINGDOM OF SORROW, GOATWHORE, SKELETONWITCH, SAVIOURS and KATAKLYSM.

Ozzfest did not take place in 2009 after Osbourne stated that he did not want to tour until he had a new album in stores. The move was not really surprising, given the festival's scaled-down reconfiguration as a one-day event in 2008 after more than a decade as a full-length summer tour.

In addition to the general slowdown in both the economy and the concert business, Ozzfest began facing competition in 2008 from the Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour and Crüe Fest.

Tour co-organizer Sharon Osbourne experimented in 2007 by making the show admission-free, with fans obtaining tickets through corporate sponsors. But the bands were not paid either, leading to a lack of big names.

The 2008 "destination festival" took place on August 9, 2008 in Dallas and featured METALLICA, SERJ TANKIAN and others along with headliner Ozzy.

"Eifur", the second album from FEJD — the Swedish folk rock/metal band featuring members of NOSTRADAMEUS and PATHOS — will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

USA, Canada: October 26
Germany, Austria, Switzerland: October 29
Spain: October 27
Rest of Europe: November 1

The CD was recorded at RoastingHouse Studios in Malmö, Sweden.

FEJD formed in 2001 through a fusion of the folk music duo RIMMERFORS (featuring brothers Patrik Rimmerfors and Niklas Rimmerfors) and a couple of members from the metal band PATHOS. Rimmerfors played folk music with medieval undertones, performing on contemporary instruments, and together with their childhood friends of PATHOS, the transformed into a refined band with the best of both worlds — the weight of heavy metal in symbiosis with the typical melodic language and sadness of the Nordic folk music.

The brothers' interest in Swedish medieval folk music started back in 1995, commenced by music studying and the feeling of wanting to explore new musical ground and try something new. The brothers' musical background, as well as their bandmates, has its roots in heavy metal music. Inspiration is also drawn from like-minded bands such as GARMARNA and HEDNINGARNA.

FEJD released its full-length debut, "Storm", in March 2009 via Napalm Records.

Finnish folk metal band CRIMFALL has completed work on its as-yet-untitled second album for a tentative late 2010 release. The CD was recorded at Adamantium Studios and was produced and mixed by Hit Happens. It features guest appearances by Tapio Wilska (SURVIORS ZERO), Ville Sorvali (MOONSORROW), Mathias "Vreth" Lillmåns (FINNTROLL, CHTHONIAN, DECOMPOSTER), Mathias Nygård (TURISAS), Olli Vänskä (TURISAS) and Trollhorn (FINNTROLL, MOONSORROW).

CRIMFALL's debut album, "As The Path Unfolds...", was released in March 2009 via Napalm Records.

CRIMFALL is:

Jakke Viitala - Guitar, Orchestra
Mikko Häkkinen - Dark Voice
Helena Haaparanta (ex-TACERE) - Bright Voice
Janne Jukarainen - Drums
Miska Sipiläinen - Bass

MADDER MORTEM, Norway's darling of the avant-garde, has issued the following update:

"Odd [Eivind Ebbesen, guitar] has, after much pondering, left MADDER MORTEM, and it was a very tough decision. We sincerely thank him for all the music, magic, great times, blood, sweat and tears we've shared since he joined the band in 2003.

"It's always hard to see people go, but times do change for all of us. Neither 'Desiderata' or especially 'Eight Ways' would've sounded the same without his characteristic style of playing and musical sensibility. We wish him all the best and will still remain close friends.

"We've been aware that Odd was thinking about leaving the band since winter 2010, and have been looking for a possible replacement.

"After much consideration regarding who could fill his shoes, fit in with the rest of us socially and be a creative, fifth input to the band, we only came up with one name. Luckily for us, he has now entered our ranks full-time. Patrick Scantlebury is our new permanent guitarist. He has already made one live appearance with us in our hometown at the NORF festival. Some might know him as one of the founders of FRANTIC BLEEP. He was our guitar tech and merchandiser on the OPETH tour in 2003, and he also filled in for Odd on a couple of gigs in 2005. We all went to school with him at Tynset, and BP and Pat has played together in various constellations. We're already busy writing more new material with Patrick, and it feels like we've got a true chemistry.

"We welcome him to the MADDER family and hope you'll do the same."

"Take", a brand new song from veteran Arizona metallers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's long-awaited new album, "The Cold", which will be released on September 14 via Driven Music Group, the label created by former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. According to guitarist Mark Simpson, the CD features "10 songs — ALL brutal, ALL killer, NO filler!!" The cover artwork, which can be viewed below, was once created by Travis Smith (OPETH, NEVERMORE), a collaboration that the band is "extremely excited about because of his amazing skill and vision," says Simpson.

"The Cold" track listing:

01. Hypocrite
02. Take
03. The Cold
04. Black Cloud
05. Blackened Eyes Staring
06. Better Off Dead
07. Falling Short
08. Always
09. K.Y.A.
10. Secret Life

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM was recently rejoined by guitarist Michael Gilbert after Ed Carlson decided he no longer wanted to tour or record.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM has scheduled a release party for "The Cold" on Friday, September 17 at 910 Live in Tempe, Arizona.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM 2010 is:

Eric "A.K." Knutson - Vocals
Michael Gilbert - Guitar
Jason Ward - Bass
Mark Simpson - Guitar
Craig Nielsen - Drums

anadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER are scheduled to release their new album, "Death Machine", on September 24 via Massacre Records. The effort will be made available as a standard CD, a digipak and a limited-edition (500 copies) gatefold LP.

Regarding the musical direction of the new EXCITER material, bassist Rob "Clammy" Cohen told Greece's "Metalzone" radio show in late June, "It's classic EXCITER, definitely. It's fast and in your face — straight up."

"Death Machine" tentative track listing:

01. Death Machine
02. Slaughtered In Vain
03. Skull Breaker
04. Power and Domination
05. Razor In Your Back
06. Pray For Pain
07. Demented Prisoners
08. HellFire
09. Dungeon Descendants
10. Guitar Solo (title to be announced)

Check out the cover artwork here.

EXCITER's latest album, "Thrash Speed Burn", was released in North America in November 2008 via Blistering Records, the label formed by industry veterans Tomas Sunmo and Lars Chriss (LION'S SHARE). It marked EXCITER's recorded debut with new singer Kenny Winter, who joined the band in October 2006.

The 1988 critically maligned self-titled album from EXCITER was reissued with new artwork on January 20, 2009 via Magnetic Air/MVD.

UK bashers EVILE guitarist Ol Drake has checked in with the folowing update:

"We just got back from playing two festivals in Europe which both kicked arse. Up first was Wacken. We'd been waiting to play this for years, and we finally got there. What a place! We played to a packed tent of great metalheads (thank you again for watching our set). It was a tough as hell set to play; every time a pit broke out, the dust and dirt would come onto the stage. We all had black teeth, couldn't breathe and all our gear is now brown. Metal! First shower I've had where the water going down the drain is pure black. Thank you Wacken!

Then we ventured to good old Belgium to play Alcatraz Metal Fest. We headlined the second stage and had a blast. The crew and crowd were great and friendly. Other than Kreator having to lend us their airport shuttle from a big mix-up, everything was awesome!

Up next we have what I'd call our 'home festival', Bloodstock Open Air. Without Bloodstock I don't think we'd be where we are today, so we'll always have a special place for it. Can't wait to get there and pound some Bloodstock metal yet again! See you all there!"

ENGEL — the Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES) and vocalist Mangan Klavborn — has parted ways with drummer Daniel "Mojjo" Moilanen and has replaced him with Jimmy Olausson.

Commented the band: "The departure of Mojjo has been that of an amicable one and ENGEL wish him well for the future and thank him for his invaluable contribution over the last years.

"Despite his young age, Jimmy has already established himself as an outstanding musician most notably for his work with his former band Gothenburg-based MARIONETTE and is highly regarded as being one of the premier new talents to arrive on the Swedish metal scene.

"Olausson has been playing drums from the age of 5 and from that first moment was immediately hooked and there was really nothing that could stop or curb his interest in drums with the experience being so memorable."

Regarding the change in the band's lineup, ENGEL said in a statement, "It is always difficult for any band when someone leaves, and, of course, it is always difficult to find an ideal replacement but in this instance we are extremely honored to have found Jimmy not just for his ability as an outstanding drummer but with an outstanding personality to match. His contribution to ENGEL already has been immense and refreshing as he brings something new and exciting behind the kit which was exactly what we have been looking for!

"Change will always be part of any bands growth and development but as always we are looking to the future and the continued success of ENGEL and with Jimmy Olausson we are more than confident that he is perfect in this role. It is already a pleasure to have him in our ranks!"

According to Kerrang! magazine, the cover artwork for BRING ME THE HORIZON's third album, "There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret", was borne out of a collaboration between BMTH frontman Oli Sykes and Plastic Kid, the alter ego of Copenhagen-based avant-garde graphic designer and filmmaker Jakob Printzlau.

"I've been a huge fan of his work since I was about 16," Oli tells Kerrang! "We tried to get him to do the artwork for one of our previous albums, but he didn't have time. Then, after [2008's] 'Suicide Season' came out, he approached me and told me he really liked [our music] and if we ever wanted to work with him, to get in touch. I was pretty stoked on that!"

"There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret" is, in many ways, a concept album. Sykes vividly explores humanity's collective good nature and the celestial euphoria associated with love, lust, truth and desire; this is balanced by the darkness and evil that is buried deep inside all of us. Lyrically and musically, the album is the band's most honest work to date as Sykes lays bare his fears, weaknesses and anger, which is just one layer on this truly progressive and advanced third album.

"When you unfold [the new album artwork], you get the whole of the good and the whole of the evil thing," Oli tells Kerrang!

"We didn't want to be too cheesy and have an angel and a demon on the cover.

"While the album's theme is heaven and hell, it's not about a place that's above or a place below — it's about the struggle within.

"I wanted the artwork to have kind of a cult feel to it, like [1999 film] 'Eyes Wide Shut'.

"Being in a cult is a very personal and secretive thing — if you're in a cult, you keep it to yourself, so I think that adds an extra layer of meaning to it."

Portuguese dark rockers HEAVENWOOD entered Ultrasound Studios in Braga, Portugal on August 6th with Daniel Cardoso and Pedro Mendes, to start an intense period of recordings of the new album.

The name and it's release date are still to be unveiled as well as the bands inked deal for this new record.

Mixing and mastering of this work will happen in Germany during next September/October with a producer soon to be announced.

The new artwork will be handled by Brazilian designer Jobert Mello (SABATON, DESERT) who previously worked with the band for the Redemption releases.

Some song titles set to appear on the CD include:

‘Goddess Presiding Over Solitude’
‘September Blood’
‘The Arcadia Order’
‘Leonor’
‘Poem For Mathilde’
‘Fading Sun’
‘Sudden Scars’


Also Heavenwood's ‘13th Moon’ video can be viewed below. The clip was shot on May 30, 2009 in Braga, Portugal with the production team of Carlos Barros, Rui Correia and Ricardo Coutinho, who are described as "young talented Portuguese video/filmmakers, designers and photographers." The video concept is based on the Zodiac signs.

‘13th Moon’ comes off Heavenwood's third album, Redemption, which was released in August 2008. The CD was mixed at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH). The initial recording sessions for the album took place at Ultrasound Studios with Daniel Cardoso and Ricardo Dias. The CD features guest appearances by ANNIHILATOR guitarist Jeff Waters in the song ‘Bridge To Neverland’. FIREWIND guitarist Gus G. in the track ‘One Step To Devotion’, and singer Tijs Vanneste of Belgian progressive metallers OCEANS OF SADNESS in the song ‘Obsolete’.