Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based operatic/progressive metal outfit SAMANDRIEL will release its debut EP, "Awakening", in early September. The six-song effort will be mastered by acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen, who has previously worked with RAUNCHY, TYR, MERCENARY, VOLBEAT and HEAVEN SHALL BURN, among others.

"Awakening" track listing:

01. Trial by Terror
02. Holy Load
03. Initial Reality
04. The Mighty Seabeast
05. Demise of the Icewitch
06. Harmonious Madness

"Mars Needs Women", the new video from ROB ZOMBIE, can be viewed below (courtesy of AOL's Noiscreep). Footage for the clip was compiled during the "Gruesome Twosome Tour" featuring Zombie and Alice Cooper.

In other news, the CD/DVD edition of Zombie's latest album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2", 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

Last month, the Norwegian "blackjazz" outfit SHINING surprised the ever-growing international jazz-metal scene by taking home the fabled "A-Ha Grant" after first "shocking the living shit" out of the audience of 80,000 people and about one million TV viewers. Even more shocking was the fact that the members of A-HA, the most successful pop act ever to come out of Norway (remember "Take On Me"?), themselves chose SHINING as their favorite band. In addition to giving SHINING one million Norwegian Kroner, A-HA invited SHINING to open for them at their big farewell arena concert on August 21 in Oslo, Norway.

This famed performance of their single "The Madness and the Damage Done" is now finally available on YouTube. See what happened when SHINING won $150,000 in the clip below.

SHINING's Jørgen Munkeby comments on this special event, including being denied the opportunity to perform live: "Due to extreme time restrictions from the TV station, we were denied playing live. We argued until our heads almost fell off, to no avail. But since we play live shows all the time, this was actually a very fun thing for us to do! Then we could instead concentrate on what we were going to have for breakfast the next morning."

Over the course of its impressive 10-year career, SHINING has created its own unique and bizarre hybrid of jazz and extreme metal, which is easily distinguishable from the musical world of their Swedish labelmates sharing the same band name.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION have issued the following update:

"We are very excited to make this announcement.

"As you know, we have been very busy working on our new album in the past year. It isn't finished yet, but we're getting there!

"We currently have the album scheduled for the beginning of 2011 and, of course, we will be touring soon after the album release!

"We're returning to the European stages in February and March for the first part of the tour and head straight into the festival season after that.

"We will be sending special links out to our fan club members starting Wednesday, July 28, so they will be able to take part in an exclusive pre-sale for fan club members only. Check TheSilentForce.com to see the details on Wednesday. General pre-sale will start on Friday, July 30 unless otherwise mentioned on our tour page. Check back for all the exact pre-sale links. There will be Twitter tags for all the shows. If you mention them in your Twitter messages, you will be able to see who else is going to the same show as you and communicate with them!"

WITHIN TEMPTATION European headlining tour:

Feb. 25 - Heerhugowaard (NL), De Waerdse Tempel
Feb. 27 - Tilburg (NL), 013
Feb. 28 - Amsterdam (NL), Paradiso
Mar. 06 - Groningen (NL), Oosterpoort
Mar. 09 - Stockholm (S), Annexet
Mar. 10 - Oslo (N), Sentrum Scene
Mar. 11 - Copenhagen (DK), Vega
Mar. 13 - Hamburg (D), Docks
Mar. 14 - Berlin (D), Columbiahalle
Mar. 15 - Warsaw (PL), Stodola
Mar. 17 - Dresden (D), Schlachthof
Mar. 18 - Vienna (A), Arena
Mar. 20 - Munich (D), Tonhalle
Mar. 21 - Zürich (CH), Volkshaus
Mar. 22 - Milan (I), Alcatraz
Mar. 24 - Barcelona (E), Razzmatazz
Mar. 25 - Madrid (E), La Riviera
Mar. 27 - Paris (F), Le Bataclan
Mar. 28 - Cologne (D), E-Werk
Mar. 30 - London (GB), Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Mar. 31 - Brussels (B), Ancienne Belgique
Apr. 01 - Esch/Alzette (L), Rockhal
Apr. 02 - Kerkrade (NL), Rodahal

Legendary rockers ALICE COOPER and THE RUNAWAYS went back into the studio to re-record "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and "Cherry Bomb", respectively, for fans to rock out to when Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock is released this September.

"I AM a Warrior of Rock! Younger fans getting exposed to true classic rock songs is one of my personal crusades," said Alice Cooper in a statement. "The new audience listening to the classic songs of today, like 'No More Mr. Nice Guy', will hopefully be inspired to write the classic songs of tomorrow."

He added, "'No More Mr. Nice Guy' is one of those songs that, it was me screaming back at the public. At the time I was guilty of every single thing that was wrong with America. And then I said, 'OK, that does it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. The gloves are off.' And they said, 'You mean you were being a nice guy?' And I said, 'Yeah. I can get a lot worse.' And it ended up being one of those songs everyone connected to."

An exclusive Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock video announcement featuring commentary from both THE RUNAWAYS and ALICE COOPER can be viewed below.

In Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, join with friends on an epic rock journey to save rock n' roll. Featuring the most music ever in a Guitar Hero game with an impressive 90-plus-track setlist and a host of all-new gameplay features, living room legends and their friends can strum, drum and wail in the most immersive music videogame experience to date. Delivering the quintessential rock music collection that focuses on guitar-shredding hits from bands such as BLACK SABBATH, SLIPKNOT and MEGADETH and larger-than-life band anthems from QUEEN, MUSE and KISS, players can unleash more rewards and unlockable content than ever before in Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock's Quest Mode, the franchise's first ever story-based mode, and Quickplay+, which invites challenge-starved fanatics to test their rock skills.

Running on the powerful Guitar Hero engine that has been expanded and refined and with encores from the critically-acclaimed and fan favorite gameplay features that made Guitar Hero one of the most popular franchises of all-time — such as Party Play, Competitive modes and any combination of up to four instruments — the game offers a complete interactive and connected experience bringing friends and foes to the stage in the ultimate rock music experience.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and by Vicarious Visions for the Wii system from Nintendo. The game is rated "T" (Teen - Lyrics, Mild Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes) by the ESRB.

Norwegian psychedelic post-black metal band ENSLAVED will release its new album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", in Europe on September 27 and in North America on September 28. The CD's cover artwork was created by the Norwegian artist Truls Espedal, who has painted every ENSLAVED album cover since 2001's "Monumension".

"Axioma Ethica Odini" track listing:

01. Ethica Odini
02. Raidho
03. Waruun
04. The Beacon
05. Axioma
06. Giants
07. Singular
08. Night Sight
09. Lightening

"Axioma Ethica Odini" will be made available as a special edition in gatefold seven-inch format with the entire album on CD and a seven-inch vinyl single as a bonus, as well as a regular jewel case and double vinyl. The bonus seven-inch single will include new recordings of the songs "Jotunblod" and "Migration".

Following the success of their 25th-anniversary world tour earlier this year, Christian hard rockers STRYPER headed into the studio to work on their new album, "The Covering", tentatively scheduled for release October 13 via Big3 Records.

"The Covering", produced by frontman Michael Sweet, will be unlike any previous STRYPER recording in that it's a collection of cover songs from bands that inspired them and helped to shape their sound and musical identity, including hits from JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KANSAS and many others. A cover of BLACK SABBATH's classic track "Heaven and Hell" will be the first single, with an expected iTunes release in advance of the album. "The Covering" will also include "God", a new original recording from STRYPER.
"STRYPER recorded 'The Yellow and Black Attack' (Enigma Records) back in 1983, and it was released the following year," says Sweet. "Twenty six years have passed and after seven studio releases and multiple compilation and live projects, we decided to show our fans where our roots lie musically.

"'The Covering' consists of particular songs and groups that molded and shaped us and made us who we are today."

One of the highlights for STRYPER fans is that "The Covering" is the first studio album in nearly two decades on which all four original members, plus longtime keyboardist Charles Foley, have recorded together.

"This record includes the original lineup," explains Michael.

"Tim [Gaines, bass], Robert [Sweet, drums], Oz [Fox, guitar] and I haven't recorded a full-length project together since 1990's 'Against the Law' (Enigma Records), so this is truly history in the making. We also had what was probably the best time we've ever had recording a record together and I believe that this comes through in the energy and the spirit of each track.

"We're all extremely excited about this record and more importantly, we're all extremely confident about the future of STRYPER and the four of us making music together for years to come."

"The Covering" track listing:

01. SWEET - "Set Me Free"
02. SCORPIONS - "Blackout"
03. BLACK SABBATH - "Heaven and Hell"
04. UFO - "Lights Out"
05. KANSAS - "Carry On Wayward Son"
06. DEEP PURPLE - "Highway Star"
07. KISS - "Shout It Out Loud"
08. OZZY OSBOURNE - "Over The Mountain"
09. IRON MAIDEN - "The Trooper"
10. JUDAS PRIEST - "Breaking The Law"
11. VAN HALEN - "On Fire"
12. LED ZEPPELIN - "Immigrant Song"
13. God

AEROSMITH kicked off the North American leg of its "Cocked, Locked, Ready To Rock Tour" this past Friday, July 23 at Oakland, California's Oracle Arena.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Rats In The Cellar
02. Monkey On My Back
03. Love In An Elevator
04. Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)
05. Eat The Rich
06. Pink
07. Livin' On The Edge
08. What It Takes
09. Janie's Got A Gun
10. Last Child
11. Cryin'
12. Lord Of The Thighs
13. Stop Messin' Around
14. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
15. Sweet Emotion
16. Baby Please Don't Go
17. Draw The Line

Encore:

18. Dream On
19. Walk This Way
20. Toys In The Attic

HAIL OF BULLETS — the Dutch death metal band featuring GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby, THANATOS guitarists Stephan Gebédi and Paul Baayens, former PESTILENCE/ASPHYX singer Martin Van Drunen and former HOUWITSER bass player Theo van Eekelen — has completed work on its as-yet-untitled second full-length album for an October 12 release via Metal Blade Records (one day earlier internationally). The group recorded 11 songs plus an intro for the CD, which, like its predecessor, was produced by Ed Warby was mixed by Swedish producer/multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE). The limited-edition version of the album will be made available as a digibook, including a bonus DVD.

Comments Warby: "I don't think I've ever worked this hard on anything in my entire life, but it sure has paid off!

"Although 'Of Frost And War' is a tough act to follow, my ringing ears tell me we've succeeded in besting it on every level: songs, playing, production…

"At the moment Dan Swanö is putting the final touches on a mix that could squash a tank, and then it's off to the pressing plant!

"All the main ingredients of our blood 'n' guts style death metal have remained intact and I honestly can't imagine anyone that liked our previous work is going to be the least bit disappointed, on the contrary!"

Swiss thrashers CATARACT have finished recording their new album, "Killing The Eternal", at Antfarm studios in Aarhus, Denmark with longtime producer Tue Madsen. A September 27 European release (three days earlier in Germany) via Metal Blade Records is expected.

Commented singer Federico "Fedi" Carminitana: "We're more than happy to announce that after almost one incredible month at the Antfarm studio in Denmark, our next full-length is finally ready! Recording, mixing and mastering is done and we can't wait for the record to be released!

"Once again we had the honor and great pleasure to work with our longtime companion and mastermind Tue Madsen in the beautiful city of Aarhus. We spent awesome and creative days in a small house at the beach near Aarhus, watching football, eating and recording our new songs. We also shot some pics and small clips of our work at the Antfarm, which you will soon be able to see online on our Facebook and MySpace site.

"This is definitely the most heavy, intense and brutal stuff that ever erupted out of CATARACT!"

"Ziasudra", a brand new song from Floridian extreme metallers INFERNAEON, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. According to a press release, the track tells the story of the Sumerian king of the same name from which the story of Noah is derived.

"Ziasudra" comes off INFERNAEON's new album, "Genesis To Nemesis", which is scheduled for release on August 31 via Prosthetic Records. The CD was recorded at Erik Rutan's Mana Recording Studios (GOATWHORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL) in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Brian Elliott. The cover artwork, which can be viewed below, was created by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco.

Commented INFERNAEON frontman Brian Werner: "My boy Marcelo Vasco from Brazil is hands down the most amazing artist out there right now. He's worked with everyone from OBITUARY to VADER to BELPHEGOR, and just when I think I've seen the best work out of him, he does something new and I'm blown away all over again. I was anxious to see what he was going to do for us for this album and I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I saw this. It was literally everything we had wanted from an album cover since we started writing the album."

Bassist Tony Montana (GREAT WHITE) will fill in for Todd Kerns as a member of Slash's (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) touring band during the group's upcoming Asia/Australia tour.

Kerns, who also plays guitar and sings for SIN CITY SINNERS, underwent surgery on July 16 for a retinal detachment in his right eye and will be out of commission for the next several weeks. He previously stated, "I have been playing almost every night for God knows how many years now and the idea of not doing so for a while is a bit unnerving. I plan to make the best of it."

Slash's Asian tour is scheduled to kick off on July 29 at the Asia World Expo in Hong Kong.

Portuguese avant-garde maniacs THANATOSCHIZO have set "Origami" as the title of their fifth album, due in October via Major Label Industries. According to a press release, the new CD will contains "songs from previous records but with a different touch, approach and edge to them. The more harsh and heavy melodies are going to give place to a more acoustic, experimental and ethnic side of the band's enterprise."

Commented vocalist Patrícia Rodrigues: "In this album you will encounter a different side of the band and discover that each musician has taken on a journey of self-discovery through music.

"The recording process was very pungent, rewarding, rich and exciting. No emotions were left out and what you will listen to is what we truly feel about previously recorded songs that hold a tremendous meaning to us."

"Origami" will feature guest appearances by FADOMORSE (a Portuguese group that mixes national folk music with Frank Zappa's delirious moments) and BANDA DE MÚSICA DE MATEUS (a local brass and woodwind ensemble), as well as the use of unusual instruments like the theremin, cavaquinho and balalaika, which will put "a very unique and ethnical" stamp on the songs.

Regarding the song selection for "Origami", Rodrigues stated, "We thought carefully about the songs we wanted to include in the album and chose a few that are quite representative of our work and evolution throughout these past thirteen years. They have a different layout, they are the product of a makeover, but they are, in their core, the same songs, portraying the same meaning yet with a stronger vibe and sound. You will be able to listen to, for example: 'Nightmares Within', 'Sublime Loss', 'Sweet Suicidal Serenade' and '(Un)Bearable Certainty'."

THANATOSCHIZO's new CD was recorded in two different facilities: Teatro de Vila Real in teh band's hometown, Vila Real; and the group's own Blind & Lost Studios in Santa Marta de Penaguião, Portugal. For the first time, the bandmembers are assuming the production duties themselves and are being assisted by sound engineers Pedro Cabral and Paulo Almeida.

THANATOSCHIZO's fourth album, "Zoom Code", was released in March 2008 via My Kingdom Music (Recital Records in Portugal).

Century Media has announced the worldwide signing of progressive metal act TESSERACT.

Hailed as one of the best unsigned bands from everyone from the Washington Post to U.K.'s Rock Sound magazine, TESSERACT is pleased to finally shed the "unsigned" tag as it announces a worldwide recording deal with Century Media.

The band comments: "TESSERACT is very excited to be working with Century Media. We have been looking for a long time and have spoken to many companies but feel that the hard work ethic and enthusiasm that Century Media showed will help take us to the next level and will see TESSERACT emerge from the underground and on to the international scene."

TESSERACT has spent the last year finalizing its debut album, "One", which was produced by TESSERACT bandmembers Acle Kahney and Amos Williams.

With constant support from the U.K. media, TESSERACT has been able to achieve a loyal following in its home country as well as the rest of Europe, having their video for "Concealing Fate Part II" in constant rotation on Scuzz TV and other media outlets. They've toured throughout Europe, playing everything from clubs to festivals and last spring made it over to Russia for the first of what will surely be many stops. Their international touring plans continue as they are pleased to announce they were invited as special guests on DEVIN TOWNSEND's North American West Coast run.

"For TESSERACT to be on the road with DEVIN TOWNSEND is just unbelievable for us. From his work with Steve Vai to the craziness of STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and all the way through to his latest solo albums, he's always been way out there, pushing the boundaries of modern rock and metal and has been a constant in cutting-edge music. It'll be a great opportunity for us to watch and learn from a very creative and accomplished musician and song writer. We cannot wait for October to come!"

Formed in 2003 as a solo writing project in the mind of guitarist Acle (who was a founding member in FELL SILENT), TESSERACT first broke through in the scene with their 2007 demo and later appearances at U.K.'s Bloodstock, Hammerfest, Caos Emergente in Portugal and the Hellfire 2 festival at the Birmingham NEC arena. TESSERACT soon become one of the most-talked-about bands among musicians and tech-heads, thanks to the quintet's time signatures and musical complexity.

TESSERACT is:

Acle Kahney - Guitar
Amos Williams - Bass
Dan Tompkins - Vocals
Jay Postones - Drums
James Monteith - Guitar

LINKIN PARK has set a September 14 release date for its new album, "A Thousand Suns" (Machine Shop Recordings/Warner Bros.). The CD is co-produced by Rick Rubin (U2, JOHNNY CASH) and LINKIN PARK vocalist Mike Shinoda, who last joined forces to produce LINKIN PARK's 2007 release, "Minutes To Midnight".

"A Thousand Suns" track listing:

01. The Requiem
02. The Radiance
03. Burning In The Skies
04. Empty Spaces
05. When They Come For Me
06. Robot Boy
07. Jornada Del Muerto
08. Waiting For The End
09. Blackout
10. Wretches And Kings
11. Wisdom, Justice, And Love
12. Iridescent
13. Fallout
14. The Catalyst
15. The Messenger

Vocalist Kvohst of the British/Norwegian black metal project CODE has formed a new band called BEASTMILK with some friends in Helsinki, Finland. He describes as the group's music as "our own take on esoteric punk music... but I guess I would describe it as 30% THE CURE, 30% JOY DIVISION, 20% MISFITS, 20% DEAD KENNEDYS, with lyrics influenced by Crowley and Anton Wilson, with some PATTI SMITH, SIOUXIE AND THE BANSHEES and SONIC YOUTH vocal influences thrown all around there for good measure."

BEASTMILK has posted a couple of tracks — "The Wind Blows Through Their Skulls" and "Blood Under The Mill" — on its MySpace page and is planning on releasing them soon on a "cassette tape."

"Resplendent Grotesque", the second album from CODE,was released on June 1, 2009. According to the band, the follow-up to 2005's "Nouveau Gloaming" contains "songs of necrospiritual dust and desertion, crafted by bony hands in blackbird gloves."

UNSUN — the Polish female-fronted gothic metal band led by ex-VADER guitarist Maurycy "Mauser" Stefanowicz — will release its sophomore album, "Clinic For Dolls", on October 11 via Mystic Production. According to a press release, the vocal tracks were recorded at Studio X in Olsztyn and all the instruments were laid down at Hertz Studio (BEHEMOTH, VADER, DECAPITATED) in Bialystok. The cover artwork was created by Hi-Res Studio, which also handled the band's latest photo session.

"Clinic For Dolls" track listing:

01. The Lost Way
02. Clinic For Dolls
03. Time
04. Mockers
05. Not Enough
06. The Last Tear
07. Home
08. I Ceased
09. A Single Touch
10. Why

Austrian symphonic metallers SERENITY have issued the following update:

"The upcoming album Death And Legacy is still in progress! But let there be said, that a whole lot of the work is already done!

Finished so far:
drums
bass
rhythm guitars
acoustic guitars
about 50% of solo guitars
orchestrations, pianos & keyboards

Still to be done:
vocals
50% solo guitars
mixing and mastering

We hope that you will love this album just as much as we do. And we also hope, that all this huge amount of work that is needed to do such a release will be worth it! This is defenitely the most ambitious Serenity release so far! It's epic, it's metal, it's melodic, symphonic and much much more.

By the way... cover artwork is finished too! Looking awesome and representing our concept just perfectly!

We will keep on going for the weeks to come! We are currently finishing work on solo guitars and Georg will enter Lanvall's place in the very beginning of August for a g(e)orgeous vocal performance!"

After 168 shows, with an attendance of nearly 4.9 million and a gross of roughly $441.6 million, AC/DC's 2008-2010 "Black Ice" tour is said to be the second-highest-grossing concert tour in history, behind THE ROLLING STONES' 2005-2007 "A Bigger Bang" tour, which grossed $558.3 million from 147 shows.

AC/DC's 2008-2010 "Black Ice" tour statistics:

2008:

Gross: $37.5 million from 28 shows
Average Gross: $1,339,286
Average Ticket Price (estimate): $93.75
Attendance (estimate): 400,000
Average Attendance (estimate): 14,286

2009:

Gross: $226.6 million from 99 shows
Average Gross: $2,288,888
Average Ticket Price: $85.50
Attendance: 2,649,982
Average Attendance: 26,771

2010:

Gross: $177.5 million from 40 shows
Average Gross: $4,437,500
Average Ticket Price: $97.30
Attendance: 1,823,122
Average Attendance: 45,606

Totals:

Gross: $441.6 million from 168 shows
Average Gross: $2,628,571
Average Ticket Price (estimate): $90.60
Attendance (estimate): 4,873,104
Average Attendance (estimate): 29,013

Former SOULFLY bassist Bobby Burns has uploaded a new video message in which he addresses his departure from the band and reveals the details of his new project, KILLER IN THE WORKPLACE, also featuring former/current members of STUCK MOJO and PRIMER 55.

"As most of you guys know, I've parted ways, mutually, with [SOULFLY] at this point," he states in the clip, which can be viewed below.

"I'm happy that I got to play in the band for seven years, four records, all the travelling and stuff like that. I'm still totally down with Max [Cavalera, SOULFLY mainman]. And it's all good. It's something that needed to happen. I needed to do other things at this point in my life. Like my new band, KILLER IN THE WORKPLACE, that I have up and running right now, finishing recording vocals right now. It features Bonz, who used to sing for STUCK MOJO; my buddy Curt Taylor from PRIMER 55 [on bass]; and our new fellow, Brian Jung, a slamming drummer.

"Ever since I've been home [after the completion of the most recent SOULFLY tour], I've been working steadily doing this stuff and putting this band together and getting these vocals to come out.

"It's the best stuff Bonz has ever done, I think, so I think everybody's gonna dig it.

"We're hitting the road October 1. We'll probably be on the road for two or three weeks testing out the waters, playing the new material and stuff like that.

"It's exciting; it's a really exciting time for me right now.

"Back to square one.

"I'm seeing it as a challenge, and I welcome it.

"I think it's gonna be cool. So far so good.

"I wanna thank everybody and all the SOULFLY fans, especially, for supporting me and all the really cool messages that you guys have sent me and the comments and everything. It really, really means a lot. And I hope to see you guys again soon."

KILLER IN THE WORKPLACE is:

Bonz - Vocals
Bobby Burns - Guitar, Vocals
Curt Taylor - Bass
Brain Jung - Drums

For more information on KILLER IN THE WORKPLACE, go to this location.

Burns, a self-described "bass player, guitarist, songwriter and producer," also handles guitar, bass and vocal duties for the hip-hop/punk/metal band PRIMER 55.

Bobby and wife Joy welcomed their first baby, a son named Ryder Lee Burns, in February.

Burns appears on the following SOULFLY albums:

* "Prophecy" (2004)
* "Dark Ages" (2005)
* "Conquer" (2008)
* "Omen" (2010)

Bassist Nalley Påhlsson of Swedish progressive/experimental metallers THERION announced yesterday (Thursday, July 22) that would sit out the band's upcoming European headlining tour in order to focus on his personal life. Christofer Johnsson, the creative force behind the group, has now released the following statement regarding THERION's bassist situation:

"Now that we have posted Nalle(y)'s message to the fans, I'll give some comments on it myself.

"Naturally, it may sound worrisome that there has been announced two changes in the live lineup in such a short time frame. But the Nalle situation is not something that has happened recently; we have known this could be the case since last year and we have had a replacement ready for months.

"Nalle told us immediately about his new family situation in the beginning of the year and given the fact he periodically had really tough drinking problems, we thought it was the right thing to do, to stay away from long tours and deal with the problems and be home with the kids instead. The band can always get somebody else to play the bass, but his kids only have one dad. And they need him in good shape.

"Some things are simply more important in life than heavy metal and beer. We also applaud his bold decision to start studying at his age, so that he will have options other than music for making a living in the future.

"Kudos!

"The reason we waited with announcing this was that we wanted to play these Mexican shows and European festivals with Nalle and avoid the funeral atmosphere of everyone knowing someone is about to leave (or take a break, as in this case).

"What about Nalle in the future?

"We have had discussions in the band if we should get another bass player, but we have decided to keep him as a member of the band and wait and see. It is possible that we will have him playing on the albums and have a live bass player for touring. One thing is sure, though, I've never been more happy with the bass on an album than with Nalle's work on [THERION's forthcoming CD] 'Sitra Ahra' and it would be awesome to continue to work with him.

"So who's gonna play bass on the tour? It will be Waldemar Sorychta [pictured below], an artist mainly known for his skills as a guitarist and songwriter with his own bands GRIP INC., ENEMY OF THE SUN, EYES OF EDEN and DESPAIR. He also created a big name as a producer, working with bands like LACUNA COIL, MOONSPELL, THE GATHERING, SAMAEL, TIAMAT, etc.

"I got in contact with Waldemar when I made the 'Vovin' album back in 1997. He did some additional guitar on 'Draconian Trilogy' and also recorded some stuff that would not make it to the album (it was later released on [1999's] 'Crowning of Atlantis' instead). I was impressed with his skills, so when me and drummer Sami [Karppinen] went down to Germany to record the song 'The Crowning Of Atlantis' one year later, and I got stuck not getting the right groove in the rhythm guitars of that song (it's a pretty difficult type of tempo), we gave him a call. He showed up and I explained what I thought was missing. He grabbed the guitar and a couple of takes later, it was nailed to tape exactly like I wanted it.

"Fast forward and many years later, I'm looking to find a replacement for [lead guitarist] Kristian Niemann. Waldemar was on my list of interesting guitarists, but he was already engaged with other bands at the time, and I was also still trying to persuade the amazing Lori Linstruth that THERION was the band where she belonged (an idea that Kristian Niemann heavily supported as well, actually). In the end, I ended up working with Waldemar as a session guitarist doing most of the rhythm guitars (new talent Christian Vidal was brought into the band just in time to record the solos). I recalled Waldemar saying he did a lot of jobs as a bass player as well, so when the need of a live bass player occurred, he was naturally one of the top names on our list.

"He's gonna do a fantastic job on the tour and being a very nice guy as well, I think we're all gonna have a really good time on tour together."

"Sitra Ahra" will be released in North America on October 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at the legendary Polar Studios in Stockholm by Lennart Östlund (LED ZEPPELIN, ABBA). The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who worked on all of the band's most recent releases in addition to collaborating with EDGUY, AVANTASIA, RAGE and HAMMERFALL, among others.

"Sitra Ahra" was mastered in New York and it features the following track listing:

01. Sitra Ahra
02. Kings Of Edom
03. Unguentum Sabbati
04. Land Of Canaan
05. Hellequin
06. 2012
07. Cu Chulain
08. Kali Yoga III
09. The Shells Are Open
10. Din
11. After The Inquisition: Children

THERION recently recruited Christian Vidal from Argentina as the band's new guitarist.

Vidal made his live debut with THERION on June 4, 2010 in Mexico City.

Christofer Johnsson announced in May 2009 that vocalist Thomas Vikström (ex-CANDLEMASS) had become a permanent member of THERION.

THERION's latest CD/DVD, "The Miskolc Experience", was released in June 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records.

On July 25, 2010, Mike Patton (FAITH NO MORE, PEEPING TOM, TOMAHAWK) brought his Italian language rock-meets-orchestra hybrid side project MONDO CANE where it belongs — Italy — for a show at the Arena Civica in Milan, accompanied by the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Video footage of MONDO CANE performing Adriano Celentano's 1969 classic "Storia D'Amore" can be viewed below.

Photos of the concert are available: Musica Metal, MetalItalia.com.

The setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Il Cielo In Una Stanza
02. Che Notte
03. Ore d'Amore
04. 20 Km Al Giorno
05. Quello Che Conta
06. Urlo Negro
07. Legata Ad Un Granello Di Sabbia
08. Deep Down
09. Pinne, Fucile Ed Occhiali
10. Scalinatella
11. L'Uomo Che Non Sapeva Amare
12. Ma l'Amore No
13. Canzone
14. Ti Offro Da Bere
15. Dio Come Ti Amo
16. Storia d'Amore
17. Lontano, Lontano
18. O Venezia
19. Yeeeeeeh!
20. Senza Fine
-----------------------
21. Una Sigaretta
22. Sole Malato

Doug Elfman of the Las Vegas Review-Journal recently conducted an interview with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate about the band's current cabaret tour, featuring burlesque and go-go dancers, ballerinas, drag queens, jugglers and contortionists. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On that fans that come to see the cabaret shows:

"The audience is really fun to watch. Some people dress to the nines, in tuxedos and suits. Women wear slinky dresses.

"One person came dressed as a giant mouse — I don't know what that's all about."

"[Fans wear] lots of makeup, and weird hats, and scarves, and beads — and incredible shoes, I've gotta say," he says.

"It's kind of like if you took the 'Moulin Rouge' movie and mixed it up with 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', and added heavy metal and a giant mouse. You've gotta be really dedicated to wear a giant mouse costume."

On whether QUEENSRŸCHE is changing its music to that oompa-cabaret style:

"We define cabaret on our own terms. Our albums and live presentations tend to be serious. This show is not serious at all. We've taken all of our less-serious music and constructed a show out of it. It's really a good time. It's fun, tongue-in-cheek and outrageous."

"There are some select cities that kind of have cabaret scenes — San Francisco, Seattle, New York and L.A. It's one of those types of performance arts that's kind of underground.

"I think once audiences see it, they become enamored with it, and they start seeking it out."

On how he went bald to support a friend who's battling cancer (she's on the mend) and enjoyed his hairless pate so much, he kept the "nice summer 'do'":

"It becomes liberating. You feel faster, more efficient, aerodynamic.

"You spend all this money on [hair] products, and time spent styling it and combing it. And you have to have all these utensils and tools to take care of your hair.

"Then once you shave your head, you don't need all that stuff. You can focus on other things you want to do, or obsess about.

"The first time I shaved my head was '92, I think.

"I shaved it at night. Then I went to bed and woke up the next morning, and I went to the bathroom mirror to shave my face and said, 'Oh my God! Who is that in the mirror?!' I had forgotten I had done it. It was a shocking experience."

On QUEENSRŸCHE's upcoming album, set for release in 2011:

"It's a progression away from where we've been — into some new territories. [It's a] very modern approach to what we do — modernizing our sound a bit more. . . It's kind of a modern approach to song arrangement — utilizing different sound effects and sounds sources; playing the instruments in a different way than what we have before; really experimenting a lot with the structure of rhythm and bringing it into what's modern.

"Next year is our 30th anniversary. We've done a lot of different kinds of records at different times. We're definitely trying to make a record of the time, rather than something of a different time. How's that for vague?"