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?"

Press Telegram.com reports: Dueling lawsuits involving GUNS N' ROSES front man Axl Rose and his former manager began on a sour note, so a judge said [Friday] she may appoint a third party help them strike a more pleasant chord.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rita Miller blamed attorneys for Rose and Irving Azoff for problems during a recent deposition that Azoff's attorneys suspended before it was over.

Rose's lawyer, Sasha Frid, said the questions he asked got Azoff so upset that the manager threw a copy of the Wall Street Journal at the attorney.

Azoff's counsel, Steve Rothschild, said he was present at the deposition and denies that happened.

"Deliverance Is Mine", the new video from Swedish metallers SOILWORK, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Ivan Colic (EX DEO, TYPE O NEGATIVE, UNLEASHED) and produced by Stanimir "Staca" Lukic (MOONSPELL, KAMELOT, DEATHSTARS, TYPE O NEGATIVE).

"Deliverance Is Mine" comes off SOILWORK's new album, "The Panic Broadcast", which sold around 5,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 88 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SOILWORK's previous CD, "Sworn to a Great Divide", opened with 5,000 units back in October 2007 to land at No. 148.

"We are thrilled with the first week's sales in the U.S.," commented SOILWORK guitarist/producer Peter Wichers.

"Charting at No. 88 on Billboard is huge for us, and it really feels like SOILWORK is back and stronger than ever.

"We have had a lot of changes in the band in the past years, [but] now we are back with a solid lineup and we are more motivated than we've ever been.

"We just want to extend a huge thanks to all of our old as well as new fans for your undying support, and you guys truly make it worthwhile."

"The Panic Broadcast" has registered the following first-week chart positions:

Finland: #17
Germany: #24 (week 1), #80 (week 2)
Sweden: #37 (week 1), #29 (week 1)
U.K.: #42
Austria: #47
Switzerland: #60
Europe (Billboard): #67
USA: #88

On Sunday, July 25, AVENGED SEVENFOLD performed live for the first time since the tragic passing of drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan at the Heavy MTL festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, who played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's new record, "Nightmare", made his live debut with AVENGED SEVENFOLD at Heavy MTL and will tour with the Orange County, California band through the rest of 2010.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's setlist was as follows:

01. Nightmare
02. Critical Acclaim
03. Welcome To The Family
04. Beast and the Harlot
05. Buried Alive
06. Afterlife
07. So Far Away
08. God Hates Us
09. Unholy Confessions
10. Almost Easy

InsideCostaRica.com reports that Costa Rica's Catholic church is calling for respect from the Swedish "black metal" band MARDUK, who will be making an appearance in Costa Rica next week.

MARDUK has been strongly criticized by religious groups for its anti-Christian lyrics and even branding the band as "satanic."

Mario Segura, Catholic priest and spokesperson for the Curia Metropolitana, said "they should have more respect because they are sacred things," referring to the band's use of religious articles, like an inverted cross in its album cover art.

Segura said he considers that this type of music and message cannot encourage any good in Costa Rica's youth.

MARDUK will be in Costa Rica on July 29 at the Pepper Disco Club (formerly The City). The band last made an appearance in Costa Rica in 2003.

EM3 Producciones, promoter of the event, said the Thursday show is for those 18 years of age and over and that the band will not be performing any type of ritual on stage, just perform its music.

Thebon from Norwegian extreme metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN has been recruited as the new vocalist for Bergen, Norway-based up-and-coming death-thrasheres HELLISH OUTCAST. He will replace Sjalg Otto Unnison, who has decided to leave the group in order to concentrate on LEADSLEDGE.

Thebon, whose new role will in no way affect his work with KEEP OF KALESSIN, is already rehearsing with HELLISH OUTCAST, and laying down the vocals for the band's upcoming album. His first live appearance with the band will take place at this year's Hole in the Sky festival in Bergen, Norway, where HELLISH OUTCAST is due to appear at the Hits for Kidz event on Saturday, August 28.

Formed in 2001 in Bergen by guitarist Martin Legreid, bassist Mads Mowinckel (BREED) and drummer Mads Lilletvedt (BYFROST), HELLISH OUTCAST quickly gained a reputation as one of the most extreme live bands in Bergen's underground scene. The band's first release was the controversial EP "Raping - Killing - Murder", and the new album, which is titled "Your God Will Bleed", will follow in the lyrical footsteps laid down in the EP, with its exploration of the violence and brutality in the world today, but, according to the band, the music promises to be even more aggressive.

Four-fifths of the Swedish heavy metal outfit CRYONIC TEMPLE — Magnus Thurin (vocals), Leif Collin (guitar), Hans Kallin (drums) and Mika Nyyssölä (bass) — has left the band and has launched a brand new project called FOLLOW THE FOOLS.

FOLLOW THE FOOLS — whose lineup is completed by guitarist Tomas Andersson — is scheduled to enter the studio this fall to begin recording its debut album for an early 2011 release.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/followthefools.

Meanwhile, CRYONIC TEMPLE guitarist Freewheeler (a.k.a. Esa Ahonen) has released the following statemen regarding the band's current status:

"After a great time, the CRYONIC TEMPLE 'Immortal' CD and tour 2008-2010 lineup has reached its end.

"The Peace & Love concert in Sweden on July 3 was the final concert with this lineup.

"I would like to thank Magnus, Leif, Mika and Hans for their great work that they put into CRYONIC TEMPLE. However, they want now to to fully focus on new musical horizons and therfor we have now reached the last page with this lineup. I sincerely wish them the very best with their future projects/bands. However, CRYONIC TEMPLE will, of course, continue and more news will be published soon."

Steven Heller of PrintMag.com's "The Daily Heller" reports that the poster (see below) for the Swedish black metal band WATAIN was designed by the Paris-founded, New York-based designer Metastazis and was silk-screen printed using real, human blood.

Metastazis says his studio is "dedicated to the most scandalous yet refined forms of expression." Founded in 1999 by Valnoir, and joined by "almost nazi-gay illustrator DJ Holowestcoast and recently by the post-soviet arrogant doll Anastasia Ilyna," they have shined up black metal with high production values and theatrical staging.

Read more from PrintMag.com.

WATAIN's fourth album, "Lawless Darkness", entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 26 and dropped to No. 37 the following week.

"Lawless Darkness" sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 42 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.

"Lawless Darkness" was released in Europe on June 7 in a limited three-panel digipack edition with die-cut and a cover of DEATH SS' "Chains of Death" as a bonus track.

"Reaping Death", the new CD single from WATAIN, which was exclusively distributed in Sweden via Sweden Rock Magazine, was certified gold in the band's home country on April 21 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 10,000 copies. (Note: Each copy of the magazine sold in Sweden was counted towards the certification.)

WATAIN will embark on a European headlining tour in the fall. Support on the trek will come from DESTROYER 666. A U.S. run with BEHEMOTH will follow in November.

Former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler spoke to Billboard.com about his new autobiography, "My Appetite For Destruction: Sex & Drugs & Guns N' Roses".

"It's so healing, getting all those things out of my system," says Adler, who was fired from the band in 1990 and battled severe drug addiction, even suffering a stroke, before reaching his current state of sobriety.

"You can't take 30 years of pain and all that stuff and just get rid of it immediately, but at least I'm starting to get it out and I'm starting to become my own person again. I wasted so much of my life, it's great to have survived and be living again."

Adler's new band, ADLER'S APPETITE, is in the midst of a 50-city North American tour, after which the group plans to record an EP with producer Anthony Focx (VINCE NEIL, BUCKCHERRY), with sessions for a full album to follow at the end of the year. But Adler says he also holds out a degree of hope for the original GN'R quintet to do something together again.

"I know the four of us besides Axl would love to do it," he said. "I know besides millions and millions and hundreds of millions of dollars that would be involved, I think if we played for the whole world, it would be such a relief...like, 'God, they're finally playing!' It's what so many people really want, y'know?"