MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover has posted the following message regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"I am at an absolute loss right now upon hearing that Ronnie has passed away. I had the pleasure of touring both Canada and America in 2007 when MEGADETH toured with HEAVEN & HELL (BLACK SABBATH in my eyes) and I swear to you he is one of the nicest human beings I have ever met, period. Many a night on that tour, Glen [Drover, then-MEGADETH guitarist] and myself would have amazing conversations with Ronnie about his career, etc. fully knowing he had probably told these stories 10,000 times to people and yet he answered every question I had with a big smile. I can recall so many times making eye contact with Glen sharing the exact same thought: 'Dude, I can't believe we are hanging with RONNIE JAMES DIO!!!!!'

"If you are lucky enough in your lifetime to actually meet one of your idols (let alone tour with them) and they turn out to be even nicer than you could have envisioned, that is something you would truly treasure. Lucky for me, I will cherish those memories forever."

Guitarist/songwriter Nicolas van Dyk of the Los Angeles-based progressive metal band REDEMPTION has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"I lost a musical hero today, and the news has hit me harder than I thought it would.

"Ronnie James Dio was one of the first concerts I saw, and 'Holy Diver' one of the first records I bought once I started liking this thing called 'heavy metal.' Over the years, I have seen him perform more than anyone else (with the exception of my friends in DREAM THEATER, given our tour together!) and the past several times I've seen him with BLACK SABBATH have been truly phenomenal.

"I was hoping that Ronnie would be able to perform a guest vocal on a future REDEMPTION CD, and the vocal line I had in mind for him was an expression of triumph over cancer. Obviously, this takes on a horrible irony now. And given my own diagnosis, obviously I'm particularly attuned to what Ronnie endured.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to Ronnie's family and friends. The world of heavy metal has lost its voice.

"Rest in peace, Ronnie."

TWISTED SISTER has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"The members of TWISTED SISTER, along with millions of metal fans around the world, mourn the death of our friend Ronnie James Dio. Ronnie not only was a giant in the worldwide metal scene, but he was also one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Beginning in 1983 when we first toured with Ronnie in Canada, and continuing over the last seven years when we played dozens of festivals around the world, Ronnie was one of the most supportive and gracious members of the music community.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy and Ronnie's family."

Original JUDAS PRIEST singer Al Atkins, who currently fronts a band called HOLY RAGE, has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"Ye, the incredible has happened. The world today lost one of the greatest vocalists on the planet.

"Al and the band would like to pass on their condolences to Wendy [Dio, Ronnie's wife/manager] and the rest of the Dio clan. Ronnie's music will live on forever.

"Rest in peace, Ronnie. God bless."

Vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) has released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"It is a very sad day today... I have lost a very dear friend.

"Ronnie was a true leader of heavy metal... an icon and a visionary... There will never be another like him.

"Ronnie gave me wisdom, and showed me great compassion when he was in ELF, all those years ago, when we were on tour together in my time in DEEP PURPLE. He was a beautiful soul, kind, considerate and a wonderful teacher.

"Some day I'll be bringing your microphone up there with me, and we'll sing a song, and share a Vindaloo together...

"I'll miss, you mate."

"Hollow Prophecy", a brand new song from the British death/grind band TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED, is available for streaming on the group's MySpace page. The track comes off TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED's third album, "Degenerate", which is scheduled for a May 24 European release via Metal Blade Records (Rising Records in the U.K.). The cover artwork was created by Collin Marks (WHITECHAPEL, ABORTED, SUICIDE SILENCE) and can be viewed below.

Commented the band: "Most of you will know of Collin's work and we feel he has done a great job and captured the image we want for the record.

"We have been working closely with Collin on the whole artwork theme and the whole thing from front to back is a great piece of work."

"Degenerate" track listing is as follows:

01. A Vision Showing Nothing
02. De-Breed
03. Hollow Prophecy
04. Dead Vein
05. Dethrone
06. A Sterile Existence
07. The Soulful Dead
08. Until Kingdom Come

Bonus track:

09. Whited Sepulcher

Wendy Dio, wife/manager of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW), has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. [on Sunday] 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.

"Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all.

"We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us.

"Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss.

"Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."

HELLOWEEN has begin work on their next studio album in vocalist Andi Deris' Mi Sueno Studios on the island of Tenerife.Footage from the studio including an update from the band is available below.

Bassist Markus Grosskopf comments: "For all those out there who found our special Best-Of ,Unarmed, to be too smooth and calm, I have a great news: The new album will hit you right in the face! It´s gonna be very heavy and contain all Helloween trademarks! Some songs are very powerful and hymnic, others contain the fastest bass drum patterns our drummer Dani ever played, and this means a lot! I am really excited about the material we brought together and can´t wait to put my bass tracks on those kick ass Metal songs!"

A release date has been set for October 31st, 2010. Stay tuned for more updates.

wedish prog-metallers OPETH have issued the following update:

"We're working very hard on the upcoming DVD that we shot at the fantastic Royal Albert Hall in London last April 5th and Mike (Åkerfeldt) will fly over to Manchester next week to oversee the editing. While he's there we're going to do an interview with him to be featured on the documentary part of the DVD and we figured it would be cool if you guys had the chance to ask him some questions. Whoever asks the best question wins a pretty cool prize handed out by Roadrunner Records so you better make sure to put some proper thought into it. Competition ends May 22nd so be quick. To enter in the competition click here."

Opeth's Royal Albert Hall setlist:

First set - Blackwater Park in its entirety:

'The Leper Affinity'
'Bleak'
'Harvest'
'The Drapery Falls'
'Dirge for November'
'The Funeral Portrait'
'Patterns in the Ivy'
'Blackwater Park'

Second Set:

'Forest Of October'
'Advent'
'April Ethereal'
'The Moor'
'Wreath'
'Hope Leaves'
'Reverie/Harlequin Forest'
'The Lotus Eater'

AC/DC kicked off the current leg of the "Black Ice" European tour last night (Friday, May 14) at the national stadium Vasil Levski in Sofia, Bulgaria in front of 55,000 people — a record attendance for a single concert in Bulgaria.

According to Novinite.com, a special 75-meter stage was specially constructed for the event in just one week.

The members of AC/DC reportedly arrived in the Bulgarian capital with a "convoy" of 10 trucks with music equipment, 10 sleeping buses, a crew of "100 people and 600 bodyguards."

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Rock N' Roll Train
02. Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
03. Back in Black
04. Big Jack
05. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
06. Shot Down in Flames
07. Thunderstruck
08. Black Ice
09. The Jack
10. Hells Bells
11. Shoot to Thrill
12. War Machine
13. High Voltage
14. You Shook Me All Night Long
15. T.N.T.
16. Whole Lotta Rosie
17. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

18. Highway to Hell
19. For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

"The Leer", the new video from BARREN EARTH — the new Helsinki, Finland-based project featuring members of KREATOR, MOONSORROW, SWALLOW THE SUN and MANNHAI — can be viewed at Metal-Hammer.de. The clip was directed by Owe Lingvall of Sweden's Village Road Film and was filmed in a Swedish sanatorium and a Finnish porn studio.

"The Leer" comes off BARREN EARTH's full-length debut, "Curse Of The Red River", which entered the official album chart in the band's home country at position No. 14.

"Curse Of The Red River" was released in North America on April 6 via Peaceville Records.

The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith (OPETH, KATATONIA, BLOODBATH) and can be viewed below.

"Curse Of The Red River" track listing:

01. The Curse Of The Red River (7:52)
02. Our Twilight (5:27)
03. Forlorn Waves (4:39)
04. Flicker (6:42)
05. The Leer (4:56)
06. The Ritual Of Dawn (6:34)
07. Ere All Perish (5:54)
08. Cold Earth Chamber (5:34)
09. Deserted Morrows (6:50)

BARREN EARTH' debut four-song EP, "Our Twilight", was released on November 9, 2009 in Europe and November 17, 2009 in North America via Peaceville Records.

BARREN EARTH made its live debut on November 19, 2009 at Dante's Highlight in Helsinki. The band played "Our Twilight" in its entirety plus most of the material from the debut album.

Formed in the fall of 2007, BARREN EARTH's music "combines elements of modern and traditional (death) metal with '70s prog rock and folk," according to the group's official bio. "Among the band's influences are artists like PARADISE LOST, OPETH, PINK FLOYD, JETHRO TULL and also some pioneers of Finnish prog. The members' individual backgrounds in many internationally known and acclaimed outfits is a testament to the quality of the band's music. These same backgrounds are obviously also echoed in BARREN EARTH's music."

BARREN EARTH is:

Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN, EMPYREAN BANE) - Vocals
Janne Perttilä (RYTMIHÄIRIÖ, MOONSORROW session) - Guitar
Sami Yli-Sirniö (KREATOR, WALTARI) - Guitar
Olli-Pekka Laine (MANNHAI, CHAOSBREED, ex-AMORPHIS) - Bass
Kasper Mårtenson (VENHO) - Keyboards
Marko Tarvonen (MOONSORROW) – Drums

STEELHEART mainman Miljenko Matijevic will be joining Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of THE DOORS, for a US tour as a special guest singer. The dates are below:

May
27 - Harrah's VooDoo Lounge - Maryland Heights, MO
28 - Whiskey Roadhouse - Council Bluffs, IA
30 - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI

June
1 - House of Blues Cleveland - Cleveland, OH
2 - Nokia Theatre Times Square - New York, NY
3 - Wilbur Theatre - Boston, MA
5 - Hilton - Atlantic City, NJ
6 - Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT
7 - The National- Richmond, VA
8 - The Norva - Norfolk, VA
10 - The Egg - Rensselaer, NY
11 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
12 - Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, Connecticut

"Without Morals", a brand new song from Seattle metallers NEVERMORE, is available for streaming at this location. The track comes off the band's new album, "The Obsidian Conspiracy", which will be released via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia: Friday, May 28
Spain, Italy : Tuesday, June 1
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, June 2
U.K., Benelux, France, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Rest Of Europe: Monday, May 31
North America: Tuesday, June 8

In addition to the album's standard edition, a limited box-set edition will be made available featuring featuring two cover versions — "The Crystal Ship" (THE DOORS) and "Transmission" (THE TEA PARTY) — and a bonus "Play The Guitar Like Jeff Loomis" disc containing "Your Poison Throne" and "The Obsidian Conspiracy" play-along videos and guitar tabs for both songs.

Disc 1:

01. The Termination Proclamation
02. Your Poison Throne
03. Moonrise (Through Mirrors Of Death)
04. And The Maiden Spoke
05. Emptiness Unobstructed
06. The Blue Marble And The New Soul
07. Without Morals
08. The Day You Built The Wall
09. She Comes In Colors
10. The Obsidian Conspiracy
11. Crystal Ship (THE DOORS cover; bonus track)
12. Temptation (THE TEA PARTY cover; bonus track)

Disc 2 - "Play The Guitar Like Jeff Loomis":

* "Your Poison Throne" - without guitar
* "Your Poison Throne" - guitar only
* "The Obsidian Conspiracy" - without guitar
* "The Obsidian Conspiracy" - guitar only
* Video Enhancement: Play-along video for the song "Your Poison Throne" with guitar-playing instructions from Jeff Loomis
* Video Enhancement: Play-along video for the song "The Obsidian Conspiracy" with guitar-playing instructions from Jeff Loomis
* Guitar tabs of both songs as PDF files

NEVERMORE will film a video for the song "Emptiness Unobstructed" during the band's May 18, 2010 concert at the O2 Academy Islington in London, England. The clip will be directed by Nigel Crane, who helmed PARADISE LOST's "The Rise Of Denial" video last year for Century Media Records.

NEVERMORE has tapped a "very talented" Hungarian guitar player by the name of Attila Voros to play second guitar on the band's upcoming tour. The group states, "Attila has already performed with Warrel Dane's [NEVERMORE singer] solo project, and realizing how good he is, we decided he would be a perfect addition for the summer festivals we are about to embark on in Europe."

The drum tracks for "The Obsidian Conspiracy" were completed in the group's hometown of Seattle with SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers, who previously worked with Dane on the singer's solo debut, "Praises to the War Machine". Longtime friend and collaborator Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ARCH ENEMY, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD) once again handled mixing duties. The captivating and dynamic cover art was created by the great Travis Smith (OPETH, KATATONIA) .

Denver, Colorado-based technical death/grind metallers CEPHALIC CARNAGE have begun work on the follow-up to 2007's "Xenosapien" for a fall release via Relapse Records. The as-yet-untitled CD is being recorded at the band's own studio with longtime engineer/producer Dave Otero.

CEPHALIC CARNAGE will take part in this year's Summer Slaughter Tour alongside DECAPITATED, THE FACELESS, ALL SHALL PERISH, THE RED CHORD and more.

CEPHALIC CARNAGE's "Vaporized" video can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by Brian Kotal from fellow Colorado metallers SILENCER.

"Vaporized" comes off CEPHALIC CARNAGE's latest full-length album "Xenosapien", which was released in May 2007 via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded by the band and longtime producer/engineer Dave Otero at their studio in Denver. The album's artwork was designed by Orion Landau.

MUSICA DIABLO — the São Paulo, Brazil-based thrash metal project featuring SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green, guitarist André NM (NITROMINDS), bassist Ricardo Brigas, guitarist André Germani Curci (KORZUS, THREAT) and drummer Edu Nicollini (NITROMINDS) — will release its self-titled debut album on May 28 via SAOL / H'Art / Zebralution. The CD's cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes, who has previously worked with ARCH ENEMY, GOD FORBID and OLD MAN'S CHILD.

"Musica Diablo" track listing:

01. Sweet Revenge
02. Sacrifice
03. Live To Buy
04. Underlord
05. Work Out
06. Lifeless
07. In The Name Of Greed
08. Betrayed
09. The Flame Of Anger
10. Twisted Hate
11. The Rack

The song "Sweet Revenge" is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Shahra Walsh of Stuff.co.nz reports: South Island METALLICA fans are paying thousands of dollars to see the band in Auckland, New Zealand in October, despite airlines offering cheap flights.

Shelley Glassey, 32, of Invercargill, New Zealand, said she and husband Erin would pay about NZD $3,000 (approximately $2,140) to see their "No. 1 band" perform. "I've been a fan for 17 years. It's pretty important that we go. We're huge fans."

Costs included accommodation, concert tickets, airfares, meals and taxi fares. They also paid NZD $80 (approximately $57) to join a METALLICA fan club that made tickets available online in a pre-sale.

UNLOCKED, the band featuring members of members of PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT, VISCERAL BLEEDING, GORGOROTH and ENTHRONED, will enter Blackout studios in Brussels, Belgium on May 17 to begin recording eight new songs for its debut album, due before the end of the year via Crossfirecult Records.

UNLOCKED is:

Nornagest (ENTHRONED) - Vocals
Benny (PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT) - Guitar
Sebastiaan (TOMBE, ABHORRENCE) - Guitar
Dani "Garghuf" Robnik (GORGOROTH, GOD SEED, NEFARIUM) - Drums
Phorgath (ENTHRONED, EMPTINESS) - Bass

UNLOCKED's sound is described in a press release as "extreme music combined [with] thrash elements."

The cover artwork for KORN's new album, "Korn III - Remember Who You Are", can be viewed here. The CD is due on July 13 via Roadrunner Records.

KORN's ninth offering, "Korn III - Remember Who You Are", is the band's first effort for brand new label home, Roadrunner Records, and it bursts at the seams with that very feeling that defined the band from the get-go. Each song unleashes an uneasiness reminiscent of KORN's earliest and most unbridled material, but there’s also a modern refinement that's epic in its execution.

In order to tap into the chaos that made their self-titled debut a modern classic, the band enlisted the help of the man who helmed "Korn" and "Life is Peachy" — producer Ross Robinson, whose goal was to bring KORN back to square one. He undoubtedly succeeded. Singer Jonathan Davis had an intense and invigorating recording session. "Ross helped us remember what we used to do this for," the singer says. "It was more psychological than anything. Ross was right there pushing me and he drove me insane. I sing about a lot of things that hit really close to my heart and he knew how to trigger that. I nearly fucking broke down at the end of almost every song, but I got it all out."

KORN's current lineup includes drummer Ray Luzier, who became KORN's touring drummer in late 2007 and was made an official member in 2009. On cuts like the deadly "Cheech and Chong", he propels the aggression. Bassist Fieldy says, "Ray is like the missing KORN member we never had. He just fits so well. When we found him, it just clicked because his playing sounds like KORN. He plays with me, and the way that he plays is exactly what I needed. We know what we're doing on stage with each other, and everybody's on the same page. I've waited my whole career for KORN to sound like we do now."

"Korn III - Remember Who You Are" track listing:

01. Oildale (Leave Me Alone)
02. Pop A Pill
03. Fear Is A Place To Live
04. Move On
05. Lead The Parade
06. Let The Guilt Go
07. The Past
08. Never Around
09. Are You Ready To Live?
10. Holding All These Lies

"Coat Of Arms", the fifth album from Swedish metallers SABATON, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. The CD will be released in Europe on May 21 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's headlining tour, dubbed the "World War Tour", will kick off on August 27 and will consist of over 60 shows in more than 20 countries. The final concert will take place on December 11, after which SABATON "will regroup, rearm and prepare for yet another strike in 2011."

"Coat Of Arms" track listing:

01. Coat Of Arms
02. Midway
03. Uprising
04. Screaming Eagles
05. The Final Solution
06. Aces In Exile
07. Saboteurs
08. Wehrmacht
09. White Death
10. Metal Ripper

SABATON recently filmed a video in Warsaw, Poland for the song "Uprising", which is described as "a powerful and emotional tribute to those who lost their lives in the Warsaw uprising in 1944." The clip features an appearance by Swedish actor Peter Stormare ("Prison Break", "8MM", 'Fargo') as SS-Obergruppenführer von dem Bach and is being directed by Jacek Raginis (who is related to decorated WWII hero Wladyslav Raginis).

SABATON's previous album, "The Art of War", landed on the Swedish chart at No. 5. The follow-up to 2006's "Attero Dominatus" was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Peter Tägtgren and was made available in three formats: normal CD, gatefold LP and a limited-editon CD that comes in a DVD package that also includes the exclusive book "The Art of War".

"Wasted Lives", the new video from the Irish band STORMZONE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's new album, "Death Dealer", which was released in Europe on April 26 (three days earlier in Germany) via SPV/Steamhammer Records.

Formed in 2005 in Belfast by vocalist Harv (John Harbinson), STORMZONE recorded its debut album soon after and secured a deal with U.K. rock label Escape Music who released "Caught In The Act" in 2007 (also released by Avalon/Marquee in Japan in the same year). The LP was a superb hard rock record was also essentially a "studio" band album with Harv and friends playing all instruments. The cover artwork for "Caught In The Act" was painted by famous fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Rodney has also contributed the artwork for the new STORMZONE album "Death Dealer".

It was not until later in 2007 that the full STORMZONE lineup was formed, essentially to tour in promotion of the debut album with all the musicians being from Belfast. Most had previously played in local bands except drummer Davy Bates. He was the sticks-man for legendary Belfast band SWEET SAVAGE (immortalized when METALLICA covered their "Killing Time" opus as the B-side of "The Unforgiven").

For two years STORMZONE were on the road playing in Europe, including support slots with Y&T, WHITE LION, TESLA, GEORGE LYNCH, and L.A. GUNS. They also made appearances at various festivals, such as Firefest (UK), Sweden Rock, Lorca Rock (Spain), Z Rock (UK) and Raismesfest (France), before re-entering the studio in the summer of 2009 to record their second album.

STORMZONE attracted many friends with the debut album including admiration from legendary producer/DJ Neal Kay who saw in the band the same early signs of stardom shown by another group he discovered, IRON MAIDEN! With the band playing live constantly they inevitably hardened up their sound so the new recordings came out much more aggressive than the first album but still kept the quality, melody and harmony of before. Co-produced by Neal Kay, the new album was finished towards the end of 2009. The recordings were sent by Davy Bates to Jess Cox, the managing director of Metal Nation Ltd. (Jess is the original TYGERS OF PAN TANG vocalist and previous owner of Neat Records, who also recorded the "Killing Time" SWEET SAVAGE album ten years earlier). He was so impressed he offered to manage the band immediately and shortly afterwards licensed the new album to SPV/Steamhammer in Germany.

"Death Dealer" track listing:

01. Death Dealer
02. Secret Gateway
03. The Memory Never Dies
04. Immortals
05. The Legend Carries On
06. Labyrinth
07. Wasted Lives
08. Stand Up And Fight
09. The Chosen One
10. World Of Sorrow
11. The Greatest Sacrifice
12. Final Journey

STORMZONE is:

Chris Polin - Guitar
Keith Harris - Guitar
John "Harv" Harbinson - Lead Vocals
Graham Mcnulty - Bass
Davy Bates - Drums

Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT will release their fourth studio album, "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", in Germany on September 10 and in most parts of Europe on September 13 by Vertigo/Universal. The CD was once again recorded at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen and is currently being mixed.

Commented the band: "We're thrilled to present a handful of European dates — first up is Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria.

"We're bringing the biggest live production we've ever toured with, a fistful of new songs, a bunch of classics and hunger for some serious 'Halle' action."

By now, the musical exploits of Scott "Wino" Weinrich are the stuff of legend. THE OBSESSED. SAINT VITUS. SPIRIT CARAVAN. THE HIDDEN HAND. SHRINEBUILDER. After releasing his solo debut in 2009, Wino went acoustic in early 2011 with "Adrift", a gut-wrenchingly personal album written by a man who has survived a lifetime of gut-wrenching scenarios and lived to tell the tales.

Wino's latest project sees him plugged back in — both to his amplifier and the full-band format. Enter PREMONITION 13, a musical entity that finds its genesis in jam sessions dating back two decades, when Wino first met fellow guitarist Jim "Sparky" Karow. "Jim and I have known each other for about 20 years," Wino explains. "His wife was basically the first manager of THE OBSESSED. We played guitars together one day and then we had this really good conversation about magnetism. We realized we had a common love of Mesoamerican stuff and ancient cultures. So we've been jamming together for about 15 or 20 years — just me and him, two guitars, no drums or anything like that."

And so what started as a series of informal jams out at Karow's spread in the high California desert — a place once inhabited by "Brave New World" author and LSD enthusiast Aldous Huxley — eventually became songwriting sessions. After enlisting the talents of OSTINATO drummer Matthew Clark and former MEATJACK bassist Brian Daniloski, they began playing live under the moniker PREMONITION. But a subsequent Internet search turned up quite a few bands with that very name, so Wino proposed a numerical addendum. "13 is one of my favorite numbers," he explains. "It's actually a very positive number, but it's been misconstrued quite a bit throughout history. Friday the 13th is considered bad luck in America, but that's just another fear trip. It's also considered good luck by some esoterically-minded folks because Friday the 13th was the day that Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake. As he was being burned, he cursed the pope and the king, and they were both dead within a year."

Recorded at RTX guitarist Brian McKinley's unnamed studio in Costa Mesa, California, PREMONITION 13's debut sees Wino venturing into territories both new and familiar. "The band has two guitarists, first off, which I did for the first time in SHRINEBUILDER just a couple of years ago," he explains. "But I've also found that that there's a little bit of humor in this band. There're some tongue-in-cheek lyrical things; it's not quite as serious as some of the other stuff I've done. But at the same time, it is serious: we make some comments on conspiracy, the negative effects of control, and all the stuff one might protest against."

Musically, Wino cites BLACK SABBATH, KING CRIMSON and his previous conspiracy-minded band THE HIDDEN HAND as reference points for PREMONITION 13. He and Karow also make generous use of the E-Bow, a handheld guitar effect that sustains notes in a battery-powered electromagnetic field. "It's still pretty heavy, but it's definitely a departure from other bands I've been in," Wino offers. "I'm just excited for it to get out there so people can hear it."

PREMONITION 13's debut release a two-song seven-inch is available now in a limited 1000-unit pressing as well as being available digitally. The seven-inch features two songs that will not be on the band's full-length release that is set for release on the Summer Solstice.

Swedish metallers SOILWORK will release their new album, "The Panic Broadcast", in Europe on July 2 and in North America on July 13 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was mixed at Fascination Street studio in Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, PARADISE LOST, BLOODBATH).

SOILWORK's new album is the first to feature guitarist Peter Wichers since his return to the band in 2008, as well as the studio debut with axeman Sylvain Coudret, who also joined in 2008.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Late For The Kill, Early For The Slaughter
02. 2 Lives Worth Of Reckoning
03. The Thrill
04. Deliverance Is Mine
05. Night Comes Clean
06. King Of The Threshold
07. Let This River Flow
08. Epitome
09. The Akuma Afterglow
10. Enter Dog Of Pavlov

The recording process for "Sworn To A Great Divide" was overseen by Wichers, who recently took a moment to talk about what it was like to produce his own band after working with so many other great artists.

"Producing SOILWORK was great challenge for me but also one of the greatest experiences of my career," he said. "I can honestly say that I've never worked this hard on any record that I've produced, but it was all worth it. I am super-happy with the performances from all the guys, and I don't think SOILWORK has ever sounded this good.

"My approach for this record was to try and keep an open mind to the overall sonic picture without letting my own ego take over (I am a guitar player after all, haha). By doing so, I think everyone on this record got a chance to shine, and that was my main goal.

"I'm super-proud of this record and I know that even if you're an 'old-school' or 'new' listener to SOILWORK, this album has something for both. There are some insane fast and furious songs with insane blast beats, as well as groove. There's also a balance with songs that have some beautiful guitars/vocals and keyboard melodies.

"This is the best album SOILWORK has ever done!"

D.X. Ferris of the Cleveland Scene reports that powerhouse vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) will record a live set on Saturday, May 15 at Akron, Ohio's Tap House (491 E. Waterloo Rd., Firestone Park, 44319) for future release, either as a CD or as bonus tracks on an album. Owens will perform as half of an acoustic duo with former U.S. METAL bandmate Scott Jones playing guitar.

According to the singer, who is an Akron resident, they'll play tunes off his 2009 solo album, "Play My Game", including "Starting Over", "Pick Yourself Up" and "To Live Again", as well as BEYOND FEAR's "Dreams Come True", JUDAS PRIEST's "Lost and Found" and "Diamonds and Rust", plus "a ton of other goodies." He adds, "Get your ass out. It is just so raw, it is real cool."

Fan-filmed video footage of Owens's February 2010 unplugged/acoustic performance at The Tap House in Akron, Ohio can be viewed below.

Owens last summer completed a short European tour as the support act for HEAVEN & HELL. His backing band for the trek consisted of the following musicians:

Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORHCESTRA) - Guitar
John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM) - Guitar
David Ellefson (MEGADETH, F5) - Bass
Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO) - Drums

"Rikkipää", the new video from Lemi, Finland-based metallers STAM1NA, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's fourth full-length album, "Viimeinen Atlantis", which recently entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 1. The CD, which was certified gold in Finland for sales in excess of 10,000 copies, was recorded at Astia Studios in Lappeenranta, Finland and was produced by Miitri Aaltonen, who helmed the first two STAM1NA albums.

"Viimeinen Atlantis" track listing:

01. S.O.S. (Salatkaa Oma Sijaintinne)
02. Piste Jolta Ei Ollut Paluuta
03. Pakkolasku
04. Jäteputkiaivot
05. Maalla, Merellä, Ilmassa
06. Elämän Tarkoitus
07. Viestintuoja
08. Rikkipää
09. Tsunami
10. Eloonjäänyt
11. Viimeinen Atlantis

Bassist Noah Martin, who announced his departure from Virginia's melodic/technical death metallers ARSIS in September 2008, has announced his return to the band.

ARSIS was taking part in the "Facemelter Tour" with DYING FETUS, MISERY INDEX, ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY and CONDUCTING FROM THE GRAVE when bassist Nathaniel Carter abruptly left the group.

Commented the band in a statement: "So it's true that we have been playing as a three-piece for a few gigs.

"Nat is out, and if you want the real story, come to a show and ask us, because trust [us], that is much more fun and potentially colorful than reading it in an officially sanctioned and sanitized press statement. But this is a problem of very small gravity because WE ARE INEVITABLE and by the time the clock strikes midnight tonight we will be rejoined by our very dear friend and long-missed colleague ... (insert drum roll here) ... The immortal Noah Martin is back in our traveling circle of insanity!

"We will be turning the hell up to 11 in New Mexico tonight!”

Martin added: "Since leaving ARSIS, I've been back in Virginia, finishing up my bachelor's degree. I'm still enrolled in college, so I'm kinda in the same boat as Mike [Van Dyne, drummer] as far as playing live goes.

"It's tough to stay away from what you love and know so well.

"For me, making music with James Malone means listening to obscure '80s metal, staying in seedy hotels, peeing in wrecked trailers, playing with Dutchstep, and singing like King Diamond.

"It feels good to be back in the fold, to make music with my friends. Good times."

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has finished recording her new solo album, "What Lies Beneath", and is currently overseeing the mixing process at three different locations with three different engineers.

In a posting on her official blog, Turunen writes, "We are making progress every day. Now all the orchestral songs are mixed.

"We worked again with Slamm Andrews at Remote Control Studios. Slamm mixed my last record and it was a pleasure this time to see my 'movie' songs come alive with his guidance!

"Jim Dooley came to say hi and to listen to the final touches for the song 'If You Believe' that he produced with me.

"It feels just unbelievable that after being in the process so long, almost two years, the album is getting ready.

"I have truly won my fears, lack of confidence and belief that I was not going to make it alone. Is great to have succeeded in what I wanted. It feels good I can tell.

"At this moment I am working with Tim Palmer in Austin, Texas. First time I am in Texas! It's lovely here, though — the city of Austin is full of live music everywhere and it's warm, as I like it.

"Tim is great, a very nice man to work with and having the understanding of the artistic needs that I have. He has an extended musical career and has forged tons of hits and great music.

"We already mixed three songs, including a guest solo from the guitar player of an amazing heavy metal band from Los Angeles. Today we are working on another song with an outstanding vocal group from Europe.

"The last mixes will take place during this week and next time I'll write to you is when I'll have the complete album finished!!!"