German "a cappella metal" band VAN CANTO — which consists of five singers and one drummer (no guitars, no bass, no keyboards) — has released a video for its cover version of the GRAVE DIGGER song "Rebellion". Check it out below.

Commented the band, "This is the best, most professional and most expensive video ever shot. We had more than 300 professional actors and shot more than 20 different locations from Germany to China.

"We apologize for VAN CANTO's faces appearing in this clip but we definitely wanted to be a part of it because it makes us feel like rock stars! Yeah!"

VAN CANTO's version of "Rebellion" (featuring a guest appearance by GRAVE DIGGER frontman Chris Boltendahl) is included on the band's latest album, "Tribe Of Force", which was released in February via Napalm Records.

In addition to Chris, the CD features guest appearances by RAGE guitarist Victor Smolski and SONATA ARCTICA frontman Tony Kakko.

"Mercy For Today", the new video from Santa Cruz, California-based technical death metallers SON OF AURELIUS, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's new album, "The Farthest Reaches", which was released on April 13 via Good Fight Music. The CD was produced by Zack Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland, California and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (CONVERGE, HATEBREED, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) in New Windsor, New York.

SON OF AURELIUS will head out on the road with AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, OCEANO and as part of the "Over The Limit Tour" starting this coming Monday, August 9 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After wrapping this trek, SON OF AURELIUS will join CATTLE DECAPITATION on tour for about a month, starting in Tempe, Arizona on September 29.

The deluxe edition of "The Farthest Reaches" came out on July 6. The digital-only release, which includes five brand-new, never-before -heard tracks, is available with a special low pricing of $9.99.

SON OF AURELIUS' new material picks up where the band left off on "The Farthest Reaches", with a progressive mix of blazing technical death metal while showcasing a strong sense of development and cohesiveness in the group's songwriting.

New tracks featured on deluxe version of "The Farthest Reaches":

01. They Have Fallen
02. Slaughter The Immortals
03. Throne of Broken Gods
04. Feast of Feminine Flesh
05. Divine Are Slain

Video footage of former PANTERA and current HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott performing the PANTERA song "Cowboys From Hell" with the PANTERA tribute act COWBOYS FROM HELL PASO on March 9, 2010 at The Aardvark in Fort Worth, Texas can be viewed below.

The brainchild of Ed Razor (formery of PISSING RAZORS and MINISTRY), COWBOYS FROM HELL PASO was formed in January 2009 as a tribute to Ed's friends "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie. His vision was simple: "recreate what it was like to be at a PANTERA show." COWBOYS FROM HELL PASO accomplishes this by boasting a "huge stage production," including monster stage lighting and a drum riser like Vinnie Paul used to have.

COWBOYS FROM HELL PASO performed at this year's Ride For Dime — an annual charity remembrance ride and concert event held in memory of the victims of the December 2004 Alrosa Villa shooting ("Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, Jeff Thompson, Nathan Bray and Erin Halk) — on July 31 at Dreamworld Music Complex in Arlington, Texas.

Video footage of former ANTHRAX and current BLACKGATES singer Dan Nelson joining GOD FORBID on stage on May 22, 2010 at Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, New York to perform a cover of the PANTERA classic "Mouth For War" can be viewed below.

As previously reported, Nelson has uploaded several songs that were recorded with a lineup of musicians that includes members of LIFE OF AGONY and ARSIS.

The tracks that are currently available for streaming are as follows:

* "Burden's Crown"
* "Troll"
* "You"
* "Task At Hand"
* "New Damnation"
* "New Found Noose"

Says Nelson: "This is not a band, but a bunch of songs written with some friends that we recorded in my garage studio."

Recording lineup:

* Dan Nelson (BLACKGATES, ex-ANTHRAX) - Vocals/Bass
* Joey Z. (LIFE OF AGONY) - Guitars/Drum Programming
* James Malone (ARSIS) - Guitars/Drum Programming
* Crock LaRock (AUNT HILDEGARD) - Drums

Regarding his split with ANTHRAX in July 2009, Nelson told The Metal Den, "I never live my life with any regrets and never look back and wish I did something different. I chose instead to look forward to the future. We did some great things in the time we wrote and performed together, and I am very proud of that."

Nelson's new band BLACKGATES also features drummer Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT, ex-EXODUS, SLAYER, FORBIDDEN), guitarist Jeremy Epp (THE VENTING MACHINE) and bassist Uriah Duffy (WHITESNAKE). Dan previously stated about BLACKGATES's musical direction, "It's thrashy and heavy, so it will appeal to ANTHRAX and TESTAMENT fans. But has the groove and brutality of PANTERA, and is also very melodic. The guitarist is a kid from the Bay Area named Jeremy Epp, who's an unknown, but sensational. People are gonna love him."

According to Nelson, he has also been working on his own music on his home turf in Long Island, New York with his drummer of the last seven years from INSIDE HOLLOW, Frankie Apicelli. Dan said, "The project will be called CHILDE OF HALE. The music is very dark, ala BLACK SABBATH/THE DOORS meets something pissed off at everything!"

New Jersey's MONSTER MAGNET will release its long-awaited new album, "Mastermind", this October via Austria's Napalm Records..

In celebration of the record's impending release, the band has re-launched its web site: MonsterMagnet.net. Focused around the late October worldwide release of "Mastermind", the re-launch also serves as the world premiere of the new album's cover artwork, designed by Invisible Creature (WOLFMOTHER, CHRIS CORNELL, FOO FIGHTERS).

"I'm extremely proud of this new album," says MONSTER MAGNET frontman Dave Wyndorf. "It's been an amazing process, the songs are exactly what I wanted them to be, and I'm proud to begin presenting this new phase of the band on our new website."

"Mastermind" track listing:

01. Hallucination Bomb
02. Bored With Sorcery
03. Dig That Hole
04. Gods and Punks
05. The Titan Who Cried Like A Baby
06. Mastermind
07. 100 Million Miles
08. Perish In Fire
09. Time Machine
10. When The Planes Fall From The Sky
11. Ghost Story
12. All Outta Nothin'

Speaking to Metal Injection at this past April's Revolver Golden Gods Awards in downtown Los Angeles, guitarist Ed Mundell said about the new CD's musical direction, "It's more like space rock and THE STOOGES. There's no hit singles — it's all just rocking, lots of crazy effects. And Dave's singing better than ever. Lots of guitars. Four weeks of tracking guitars — nothing but guitars."

MONSTER MAGNET's last CD, "4-Way Diablo", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 81. The album, which was also produced by Hyde and featured a cover version of THE ROLLING STONES' "2,000 Light Years from Home", landed on the Swedish chart at No. 51. It sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

The reunited SOUNDGARDEN played last night (Thursday, August 5) at the intimate Vic Theatre in Chicago, just three days before it headlines the third day of the Lollapalooza festival in the Windy City's Grant Park on Sunday, August 8.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Searching With My Good Eye Closed
02. Spoonman
03. Gun
04. Rusty Cage
05. Let Me Drown
06. Jesus Christ Pose
07. Flower
08. Outshined
09. Fell On Black Days
10. Ugly Truth
11. Get On The Snake
12. Burden In My Hand
13. Pretty Noose
14. Head Down
15. Face Pollution
16. Superunknown
17. Black Hole Sun
18. Mailmain
19. Slaves And Bulldozers

Encore:

20. 4th Of July
21. Blow Up The Outside
22. Like Suicide

Kyle Anderson of MTV.com writes in his review of the concert, "Though the show was not without hiccups (hot microphones seemed to dog them all night), SOUNDGARDEN proved that their catalog of tunes has withstood the test of time. Old favorites like 'Let Me Drown' and 'Get on the Snake' laid out SOUNDGARDEN's whole aesthetic: thick, burly riffs, deep rhythmic thrusts and Chris Cornell's towering yelp of a voice. It's no wonder that, when combined with a killer chorus, songs like 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Pretty Noose' — both of which showed up in Thursday night's set — became such gigantic mainstream rock hits."

Cornell told USA Today in his first interview since SOUNDGARDEN reunited earlier this year that the group is taking its return one day at a time, saying, "I think our goal now is to do what we always wanted to do, which is to — at our own pace and in our own time -- just do what we want when we want to do it. Whether it's shows, songs, whatever it might be, records, we'll know when we get there."

SOUNDGARDEN's gig at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago will be only its third gig since the reunion was announced in January. The band will release a hits collection called "Telephantasm" on September 28.

The set will be bundled exclusively for one week with copies of Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock, marking the first time that a full-length music retail CD has been made available as part of a video game package.

Cornell said that the partnership with Guitar Hero is a way to re-introduce the band — which broke up 13 years ago — to new audiences, explaining, "There are a lot of different ways to get your music out (and) . . . this clearly to me is one way to do that. Guitar Hero has actually turned on a lot of young music fans to music that they otherwise might not have ever heard."

"Telephantasm" will include one previously unreleased song, "Black Rain", which was recorded during the sessions for 1991's "Badmotorfinger" album. Cornell said that the track captures "that super heavy version (of the band) we were finally realizing to its fullest potential about 1991." Expanded editions of "Telephantasm" will also be available on September 28.

"Reborn To Darkness", a brand new recording from Danish metallers IRON FIRE, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the band's new album, "Metalmorphosized", which will be released on the following dates:

Sep. 29: Spain
Oct. 1: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Benelux
Oct. 4: Rest of Europe
Oct. 12: USA/Canada

THE MAN-EATING TREE — the new atmospheric metal band featuring former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta alongside current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE — recently filmed a video for the song "Out Of The Wind".

Check out photos from the video shoot at this location.

In other news, THE MAN-EATING TREE will tour Europe in October and November with their fellow Finns TAROT.

Commented THE MAN-EATING TREE vocalist Tuomas Tuominen: "It is no rocket science; this is music. It is simple elements pieced together with sincerity.

"I have to say we were on fire about how the atmosphere of our first shows in Finland turned out. Now we are pleased to announce that we are going to deliver our stuff also to continental Europe!

"The upcoming tour holds 14 shows together with legendary TAROT. Can't wait to meet you there."

"Out Of The Wind" comes off THE MAN-EATING TREE's debut album, "Vine", which will be released in Finland on September 22 via Cobra Records and in other territories through Century Media Records. The CD was recorded at Mastervox Studio in Oulu, Finland with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS).

"Vine" track listing:

01. Lathing A New Man
02. The White Plateau
03. This Longitude Of Sleep
04. King Of July
05. Of Birth For Passing
06. Out Of The Wind
07. Nights In White Satin
08. Tide Shift
09. Instead Of Sand And Stone
10. Amended

Check out the cover artwork below.

"Out Of The Wind" recently entered the official single chart in the group's home country at position No. 3.

According to the group's official bio, THE MAN-EATING TREE was formed when "Vesa Ranta, having taken a break from music after SENTENCED, began to overcome his post-SENTENCED battle fatigue and lack of musical motivation. The idea of a new band — or bands — was eventually brainstormed over a period of time between Vesa and his friends, including gentlemen Miika Tenkula, Aaron Rantonen, Janne Markus and Mikko Uusimaa. Plans were made reality in 2009; the outfit was completed by the addition of Tuomas Tuominen as a vocalist and Heidi Määttä as a keyboard player. First demo recordings were made in the spring and summer of 2009.

"The bulk of compositions are the origin of Janne Markus, with some contribution also from Aaron Rantonen. Much of the lyrical input is contributed by Tuomas Tuominen. These are the building blocks of the music, which is finally arranged hands-on at the band house by the entire group."

PRISTINA will release its full-length debut, "The Drought (Ov Salt And Sorrow)" , on September 28 via Trendkill Recordings. The CD was recorded, mixed, and mastered by TODAY IS THE DAY's Steve Austin (CONVERGE, DEADGUY) at Austin Enterprise.

A track from the album, "Salt Water Cthulhu", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Another highlight of "The Drought (Ov Salt And Sorrow)" is the 23-minute title track which boasts guest appearances by Austin, BLOODLET's Scott Angelacos and STARKWEATHER's Rennie Resmini.

Based in Connecticut, PRISTINA features former members of a diverse list of Northeast bands, including 100 DEMONS, INVOCATION OF NEHEK, A THOUSAND FALLING SKIES, BORN UNDER SATURN, and more. Revitalizing the best elements of the '90s metallic hardcore boom, PRISTINA lays down the gauntlet with a menacing sound that is equally dark, driving, and hypnotic.

Revolver magazine has described PRISTINA as "a chaotic surge of hardcore intimidation, atonal riff bombardment, and sound-collage psych ops."

The album can be pre-ordered now through Trendkill Recordings, both on CD and vinyl (the vinyl is a split release between Trendkill, The Path Less Traveled Records and Bombfarm Records).

Based in France, Trendkill Recordings is the European label home of SPYLACOPA, CANDIRIA and more.

Trendkill is exclusively distributed in the U.S. via Relapse Records.

Greek metallers FIREWIND, who feature in their ranks current OZZY OSBOURNE guitairst Gus G., will release their new album, "Days Of Defiance", on October 26 via Century Media Records (one day earlier internationally). The CD is described in a press release as "a truly ambitious and dynamic opus featuring some of the most brilliant guitar playing the genre has seen in many years.

A new video trailer featuring a clip of the FIREWIND singe, "World On Fire", can be viewed below.

The "World On Fire" single will be available for purchase on digital platforms starting on August 17.

Commented Gus G.: "Usually when we write an album we let the music come to us and go with the flow. Maybe that's why our albums have variety and you can hear everything from super heavy songs to speed metal shredding to rock anthems and ballads. 'Days Of Defiance' wasn't much different in the making, but this time we recorded almost all of it in our home studios, which allowed us to be more relaxed. That's why I feel the new album features the best performances by all of us. One of our main goals, though, was to get a bit more of an 'unpolished' sound and be more raw. I think we achieved it and that gives an extra heaviness to the overall sound.

"We mixed the album in Helsinki, Finland at Sonic Pump Studios. Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE) and Tapio Pennanen mixed it and they did a killer job.

"We hope you enjoy it as much as we do."

In a recent interview, Gus G. stated about the forthcoming effort, "I think it's a little bit more of an angry record, lyric-wise [than 'The Premonition']. It's not like it's a concept [album] or anything, but it's [got] a lot of stuff about the way the world's going and all that bullshit we put up with.

"Obviously, I come from Greece, so my country is in a pretty tough spot right now — out of all the European Union countries. Not to really get political — I'm not interested in that — but it's a general thing. It started with the whole recession a couple of years ago, and everybody's been hit by it. Now, we're not talking about people losing jobs or anything, but it's just the whole general vibe of where this whole thing is leading. [It has] a lot of kind of heavier songs, a bit more raw production this time. So you'll get the vibe that it's a little bit of a heavier record, a bit more angrier . . .

"The new one is a bit more raw — kind of a bit more of an organic sound. It's one of those productions where you can hear every instrument very clear, almost like the band is playing in front of you.

"It's a pretty interesting production for a FIREWIND record. We actually moved out from [Sweden's] Studio Fredman where he [Fredrik Nordström] mixed all our albums. We did it in a different studio, so we kind of wanted a little bit of a different approach to it, a different vibe."

FIREWIND's 2010 lineup (from left to right in photo below):

Michael Ehre - Drums
Petros Christo - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio - Vocals
Gus G. - Guitar
Bob Katsionis - Keyboards

"The Premonition", the latest album from FIREWIND, was released on vinyl on March 8 via Century Media Records. The band's first-ever vinyl release contains one bonus track.

FIREWIND recently parted ways with drummer Mark Cross (ex-HELLOWEEN, METALIUM) due to personal differences.

FIREWIND's first-ever live effort, "Live Premonition", was released all across Europe in December 2008 and is available as DVD, 2CD and deluxe DVD+2CD set offering a stunning 22-song set filmed and recorded in 2008 in the band's hometown of Thessaloniki.

The 2CD version of "Live Premonition" consists of the audio portion of the main show on two separate CDs, available for the price of one CD. The DVD also features many extras such as behind-the-scenes footage, special acoustic live performances, promo clips and much more.

New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL will re-release their "Immortalis" album and "Live at Wacken Open Air" DVD on October 5, 2010 via eOne Music. This will be a CD/DVD combo release with three new unreleased live tracks:

* Within Your Eyes (from "Relix" CD)
* Blood and Iron (from "Feel The Fire" CD)
* Nice Day...For a Funeral (from "Horrorscope" CD)

OVERKILL has announced the second leg of its Killfest 2010 tour. The trek will consist of stops in markets where the band has not been in a long time, including several dates in the North Carolina and Florida. Support on the tour will come from FORBIDDEN, EVILE, GAMA BOMB and BONDED BY BLOOD.

OVERKILL's new album, "Ironbound", sold 4,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 192 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 4 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

OVERKILL's previous album, "Immortalis", opened with 2,800 units back in October 2007 .

"Ironbound" was released on February 9 via E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records). The CD, which was issued in Europe on January 29 via Nuclear Blast Records, was mixed by PAIN/HYPOCRISY mainman Peter Tägtgren and is described in a press release as "a true thrasher-piece."

OVERKILL filmed a video for the song "Bring Me The Night" on January 9 in Brooklyn, New York with director Kevin Custer (HATEBREED, TESTAMENT, SUFFOCATION).

Vocalist/guitarist Skyla Talon (KILLINGBIRD) and drummer Dan Laudo (PRONG) have teamed up to form MODELSAINT. The band, which also features Finn Zigo on guitar and J.Sinn on bass, recently completed work on its debut album.

More details, including a release date for the CD, will be made available soon.

MODELSAINT is:

Skyla Talon - Vocals/Guitar
Finn Zigo - Guitar
J.Sinn - Bass
Dan Laudo - Drums

"Heaven's Venom", the new album from Canadian extreme metallers KATAKLYSM, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. The CD will be released on August 13 in Europe and August 24 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2008's "Prevail" was produced by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais (MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX) and was mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, DARK TRANQUILLITY).

"Heaven's Venom" track listing:

01. A Soulless God
02. Determined (Vows Of Vengeance)
03. Faith Made Of Shrapnel
04. Push The Venom
05. Hail The Renegade
06. As The Walls Collapse
07. Numb & Intoxicated
08. At The Edge Of The World
09. Suicide River
10. Blind Savior

Dagenais previously stated about the new CD, "Everything you wish for in a KATAKLYSM album is here and some unexpected musical adventures as well. Everyone here has given 150% of themselves!

"As KATAKLYSM turns twenty next year, we want to be remembered as the band who never gave up and faced the odds. This explosive slab of metal will lead scene for future conquests and not be forgotten ever. The music, the vocals and the production are all top notch."

KATAKLYSM filmed a video for the song "Push The Venom" last month in Belgrade, Serbia with director Ivan Colic (TYPE O NEGATIVE, UNLEASHED, DEATHSTARS, EX DEO).

Lisa Respers from CNN is reporting:

If you think the musical compact disc is dying or dead, you're probably younger than it is.

"Show me a teenager buying a SUSAN BOYLE album on CD and I'll show you someone buying a gift for their grandparent - for Christmas," jokes Billboard senior chart manager and analyst Keith Caulfield. "There is definitely an age component to the consumption of music."

As the music industry as a whole struggles in a down economy and direct download business models like iTunes flourish, the compact disc - which was commercially introduced in 1982 - has the appearance of going the way of vinyl.

And contrary to the recent declaration of singer PRINCE - who said that the internet is dead and released his latest CD for free via European newspapers - there's some evidence that consumers aren't as enamored with ripping the cellophane off that new CD as they once were.

According to data from Nielsen SoundScan, in 2007 CDs accounted for 90 percent of album sales in the United States, with digital accounting for the other 10 percent. Just two years later, that number had shifted to 79 percent CDs and 20 percent digital, with the remaining percentage point being made up of vinyl and other media.

Billboard's Caulfield said that so far this year, about 44 million digital albums have been sold, compared with 40 million during the same time frame last year. But while digital sales have increased slightly, CD sales have dropped from 147 million last year to 114 million this year for the same time period.

Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM have tapped Matt Hyde (HATEBREED, MONSTER MAGNET, FU MANCHU) to produce their new album, which is currently being recorded at a studio in Helsinki, Finland. Drummer Jaska Raatikainen has finished laying down his tracks and is scheduled to return to the studio tomorrow to record a couple of as-yet-undisclosed cover tunes. He says, "Recordings for me went good and I'm super-excited about the new songs. They ARE killer. I'm sure you will love the new material. And yes, there's gonna be nine new tracks on the album."

CHILDREN OF BODOM will support BLACK LABEL SOCIETY on the "Black Label Berzerkus" tour this fall. Also scheduled to appear on the two-month North American trek are CLUTCH and 2CENTS, with CLUTCH and CHILDREN OF BODOM sharing the main-support slot.

"Skeletons In The Closet", the latest album from CHILDREN OF BODOM, entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 9.

"Skeletons In The Closet" was released on September 23, 2009 through Spinefarm. The follow-up to 2008's "Blooddrunk" is a selection of cover versions, some of them existing recordings, others specially laid down for this release.

CHILDREN OF BODOM has been recording covers since the early days of its career, some predictably heavy ("Silent Scream" by SLAYER, for example), others reflecting an altogether broader taste ("Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON).

CHILDREN OF BODOM last fall completed a month-long North American headlining tour. The 20-city trek launched on September 18, 2009 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island and wrapped on October 14, 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Support on the tour came from THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and SKELETONWITCH.

Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI will release their fifth studio album, "Babez For Breakfast", on September 14 in the U.S., September 15 in Europe and on October 27 in Japan. The CD was recorded in early 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee with highly regarded producer Michael Wagener, who has produced albums for artists as varied as OZZY OSBOURNE, ALICE COOPER and JANET JACKSON and mixed METALLICA's classic "Master of Puppets".

Check out the cover artwork below.

In other news, LORDI will release a game for a popular iPhone mobile phone. The game, titled Lordi The Game, will be made available worldwide on Monday, August 9, 2010, the day before the album's first single, "This Is Heavy Metal", is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. The game features two songs from "Babez for Breakfast": "This Is Heavy Metal" and a song titled "I Am Bigger Than You".

In Lordi The Game, the player takes the role of Mr. Lordi, who has to banish the undead from the underworld. The player plays to the beat of LORDI's songs. The milieu of the game varies from a cemetery to a flight crash area. At each level of the game, monsters are seen in a different look.

The game includes six levels with three levels of difficulty each. When the player has passed one level of difficulty, the game will present exclusive images of the band members. This material is not available elsewhere.

Mr. Lordi, who lent his voice to the game, commented: "The entire band is happy to be able to step into the game world. The nicest thing in this game is that the player is able to step into Mr. Lordi's imaginary boots and swing the ax, which I swing on stage. This is LORDI's life, a continuous battle from day to day."

He added, "We are happy that we are able to serve our fans on this sector too."

Lordi The Game will be released through Lapland Studio Oy Ltd. The company CEO Ilkka Immonen stated about their new cooperation with LORDI, "I find it great that we are able to work together in the game world. Mr. Lordi and I have known each other for a long time and this is only a beginning to our long partnership. Our story will continue also on other game formats."

Mattowarrior's Metal Madness recently conducted an interview with bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such of German thrash metal veterans SODOM. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Mattowarrior's Metal Madness: So what's new on the horizon for Tom Angelripper?

Tom: [SODOM is] working on a new album. We have a new producer, Waldemar Sorychta of GRIP INC. He's like a fourth bandmember. I told him I wanted SODOM to go back to our roots, and it's important to create an album with an old sound. I don't like productions where the bands sound like all the others. He has many ideas on how to arrange the album, and vocal lines, etc.

Mattowarrior's Metal Madness: So what do you think of the "Big Four" tour that recently happened in Europe?

Tom: I saw SLAYER recently. I think it is a very good package. I am not sure about METALLICA though. I think the (three) would be enough — ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and SLAYER. I think METALLICA is a bit commercial nowadays. If I find the time, I'll see this tour if it happens again. SLAYER is (always) my most important band to see. I was a METALLICA fan in the Eighties but it's a different band now though they are still a good band.

Mattowarrior's Metal Madness: Any chance of a "Teutonic Three" tour featuring SODOM, KREATOR and DESTRUCTION any time soon?

Tom: Haha! People ask me about this tour, but there's all sorts of business involved. Different record companies and publishers have their own interests. We have to find a good point to do it. They (the bands) all go their own way; it would be great to see the three bands for a low cost ticket. It is a dream, but business is (always) king.

Mattowarrior's Metal Madness: What do you think of this current "retro thrash" scene?

Tom: In America and Europe you have many new thrash bands coming out. I can't explain it. Many of the bands have a metalcore influence. You cannot repeat it — the music was the music from that time — you cannot bring the spirit of the Eighties to this time. Like with us — SODOM were never interested in what other bands were doing. SODOM were "do what you want" without the commercialism. If you have a new band, try to create something new.

Mattowarrior's Metal Madness: What do you think of metalcore?

Tom: Some of the bands are very good musicians, but you cannot compare it to thrash metal. It's watered down. It's not really thrash metal, it's a completely different style of music.

The officially licensed Ronnie James Dio (BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, RAINBOW, DIO) Rock Iconz limited edition statue by KnuckleBonz is now available for pre-order. Limited quantities ship late 2010. (Actual product shots will be released in the coming weeks.)

The sculpture of Dio is displayed with his signature devil horns and iconic crouched stance.

All figures in the Rock Iconz series are limited editions and the Ronnie James Dio statue is very exclusive with only 3,000 pieces slated for production. A portion of all sales from www.knucklebonz.com will be donated to the "Stand Up and Shout" Cancer Fund created in honor of Ronnie James Dio.

The Dio statue by KnuckleBonz is created using a team of highly skilled artists to sculpt a remarkable likeness. The limited-edition figure will be cast in a poly-resin and hand-paint in fine detail. Each sculpture in the Rock Iconz series is hand-numbered and displayed on an attractive wooden base.

Commented KnuckleBonz: "To say it's a great honor and privilege to be working with Ronnie's family and friends at the Niji Entertainment Group would be the understatement of the year.

"While there is much excitement here about this new statue, it's not without mixed emotion.

"It was not a matter of 'if' we would try to get with Ronnie to create a limited-edition piece for our Rock Iconz series, it was just 'when.'

"During an internal meeting on new projects, just after Thanksgiving 2009, we discussed the design for a Dio statue at length as this is an obvious fit for the Rock Iconz series. Just a short time after this meeting, we learned of Ronnie James Dio's illness so we thought it best to wait for his recovery to approach Niji for a project.

"Two weeks ago, Dio's management group asked us to do a piece in tribute to Ronnie James Dio. This is something that Ronnie wanted to do, and we are honored that his wife, Wendy, along with Dio's long time friends over at Niji Entertainment have selected us to create this statue in honor of the great metal and hard rock legend.

"We will take great care to make sure the attention to detail and quality of the statue design is a true tribute to Dio.

"Most of us here at KnuckleBonz were onto Dio early with the first RAINBOW records. Ronnie's soaring vocals and unrivaled talent on top of the mystical elements of that band were a one-of-a kind combo. We never left Ronnie's music from that point on and we never will."

Moribund Records has set a November 9 release date for SARGEIST's long-awaited third album, "Let The Devil In".

Dedicated Moribund terrorists right from the start, SARGEIST's last full-length album was 2005's critically acclaimed "Disciple Of The Heinous Path", preceded by the band's classic "Satanic Black Devotion" debut in 2003.

Featuring vocalist Torog and drummer Horns of cult Finnish horde BEHEXEN as well as the six-string sorcery of HORNA mastermind Shatraug, SARGEIST's new CD proves "that black metalled orthodoxy need not spell creative death, that occult mysticism is still ripe for exploration if the words match the deeds — and especially if you have the songs to back them up," according to a press release. "One anthem to the horned one after another, 'Let The Devil In' masterfully balances raw, bloodcurdling passion with poised, steely-eyed professionalism: a new classic of traditional black metal is born!

Commented Shatraug, "The forthcoming SARGEIST album took us more than five years to make. After two albums, the standard we had raised was needed to be met with a liturgy surpassing the previous works, and for that reason alone, it took such a long time to complete the new work. Finally, when everything started to fall in place, it didn't take long. Lyrically, 'Let The Devil In' is a continuation of the heinous path we had chosen — that of black magic, necromancy, and worship of Satan. The result is definitely the strongest of SARGEIST yet, taking all the assets of our past with a new Satanic illumination."

Welsh "ragga metal" act SKINDRED has inked a worldwide publishing deal with BMG.

Commented SKINDRED's manager Seven Webster at 7pm Management: "We are really excited to be working with Tony Moss and the worldwide BMG team.

"After all the nominations the band have received at various awards in the last couple of weeks, and seeing the band play to around 40,000 people at the weekend at Knebworth, it helps highlight the importance of this act as a fast-growing global concern and is a key part in our strategy going forwards."

The deal takes into account all songs written by all four band members to date as well as their individual work as writers with frontman Benji Webb also penning cuts on BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's last album and new Roadrunner Records signing REVOKER, whom he is also producing.

Tony Moss, MD of BMG, said: "[SKINDRED is] a fantastic band with great songs and a phenomenal fanbase. It's a great deal for us as we have nothing like them in the roster — but then I'm not sure there is anyone like them!"

"Shark Bites and Dog Fights", the latest mini-album from SKINDRED, sold around 2,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 21 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Shark Bites and Dog Fights" was released on September 22, 2009 via Bieler Bros. Records. The record contains eight songs, including "Who Are You?" and "Calling All Stations". It was produced by Matt LaPlant (SIKTH) at Bieler Bros. Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida.

The "deluxe edition" of Slash's (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES) self-titled solo album will released in Australia and New Zealand on August 13. In addition to the songs featured on the regular CD, the deluxe edition will include three extra tracks — cover versions of GUNS N' ROSES' "Paradise City" (featuring Fergie and CYPRESS HILL) and "Sweet Child O' Mine" (performed acoustically, with ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy on vocals) and acoustic rendition of "Back From Cali". The deluxe edition also comes packaged with a 52-minute DVD featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the album, performance footage from Australia and Los Angeles, video clips and more.

The cover artwork for "The Epigenesis", the forthcoming fifth album from Sumerian thrashing black metallers MELECHESH, can be viewed below. The cover art was created by the U.K.-based renowned occult artist John Coulthart, who had already collaborated with MELECHESH in the past.

Commented mainman and founding member Ashmedi: "The art was meticulously discussed over several phone calls and John like a real credible artist worked in utmost professionalism while having a real short deadline.

"The cover art perfectly represents our music and themes. It portrays an occult, mystical Near Eastern/ Mesopotamian atmosphere while strictly adhering to a non-cliché standard.

"Aside from the mutual understanding between myself and John, The Golden Ratio principle was the starting and defining point for this sublime art.

"I am extremely satisfied with this cover art."

"The Epigenesis" will be released on October 1 via Nuclear Blast Records. The 11-song effort was recorded in the newly built Babajim Studios in Istanbul, Turkey and was mixed by Reuben de Lautour and mastered by Pieter Snapper.

A "viral video" for "Frontlines", the new single from the South Florida hard rock quartet NONPOINT, can be viewed below.

NONPOINT lead singer Elias Soriano, who put together the clip, commented, "'Frontlines' is for our country's armed forces. They risk their lives every day to protect the rights, liberties and lives of people whose names they don't even know.

"After hours of looking at photos online of soldiers, solely for the sake of a picture to be used in the artwork for 'Frontlines, I was so moved and inspired by their commitment. The emotional and physical risk our soldiers take for strangers every day — I had to create this as a reminder.

"We are blessed that we are protected by such strong hearts."

As a "thank-you" to the men and women of our armed forces, NONPOINT will donate a portion of the proceeds from "Frontlines" to various military charities.

Guitarist Ulf "Uffe" Cederlund (ENTOMBED, MORBID, MURDER SQUAD, NIHILIST, DISFEAR, HAYSTACK) has joined ATLANTIC TIDE, the new Swedish project featuring guitarist Freddie Eugene (UNLEASHED, TERRA FIRMA, LOUD PIPES, HARMS WAY) alongside ex-TERRA FIRMA bassist Izmo Ledderfejs and former BLACKSHINE axeman Stabel Miserabel.

ATLANTIC TIDE released its first-ever seven-inch single, "Bad Acid Queen", last November through High Roller Records. The single, which includes the title track and a song called "Eyestroids", comes in two different versions — green and black — and features layout by Trident Arts. It is strictly limited to 500 copies.

To get your copy, visit www.high-roller-records.de.

ATLANTIC TIDE is:

* Freddie Eugene (UNLEASHED, TERRA FIRMA, LOUD PIPES, HARMS WAY) - Guitar/Vocals
* Izmo Ledderfejs (TERRA FIRMA) - Bass
* Stabel Miserabel (BLACKSHINE) - Guitar
* Ulf "Uffe" Cederlund (ENTOMBED, DISFEAR) - Guitar

ATLANTIC TIDE is currently working on material for a full-length album.

Bassist Karin Axelsson of the Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE "has made a brilliant recovery and is back on her feet with only mild headaches" after being "seriously injured" during the filming of the band's new video, "Turn It Up". According to a press release, the incident occurred while the group was shooting a scene where the members of SONIC SYNDICATE were being murdered with a guitar by a "sexy girl." Although the scene was intended to be staged, Karin actually got hit in the head with the instrument, causing a laceration as well as a brain concussion.

Karin has every intention of making the trip to Lithuania this Saturday to join her SONIC SYNIDCATE bandmates as they perform at the Rocknights festival.

The "Turn It Up" video will be released in late September.