Guitarist Tymon of the Dutch fusion metal act EXIVIOUS has released the following statement:

"For the first time since the release of our debut album back in May of 2009, I'm afraid we have to bring some really sad news.

"After careful consideration we decided to officially pull the plug on EXIVIOUS.

"It's not a secret that this band and the album we released last year are very dear to me personally, but also to the rest of the band who put in the best their talent and creativity had to offer to create something really unique. But besides our personal experience, we feel all of you out there who supported us the past year are part of our EXIVIOUS community as well and as such you guys deserve a proper explanation of what's happening.

"We're in a situation right now where we are simply unable to give EXIVIOUS the attention and love we believe it deserves. All four of us are completely consumed by other activities and it doesn't seem like this is going to change anytime soon. So instead of slowly letting our beloved band bleed to death, we rather put it to sleep ourselves.

"In retrospect, we were completely blown away by the overwhelmingly positive response from both our listeners but also the press who reviewed our album. Never did we expect to get such a warm and enthusiastic reaction to our crazy music. With this in mind we'd like to thank all of you who supported us by picking up a copy of our album in the past year!

"As most of you know, we started things off by offering a luxurious limited edition of which we only printed a thousand copies. We're happy to announce we're sold out! The digipack version of our album is still available through our website and a select group of retailers.

"Last but not least, we'd like to end this sad message with some good news.

"For the first time in EXIVIOUS history we're offering a t-shirt in our online shop which features the artwork of our debut album! Pre-orders are available at www.exivious.net."

"Exivious" track listing:

01. Ripple Of A Tear
02. Time And Its Changes
03. Asurim
04. All That Surrounds Pt. 1
05. Waves Of Thought
06. The Path
07. All That Surrounds Pt. 2
08. Embrace The Unknown (feat. Paul Masvidal of CYNIC)
09. An Elusive Need

EXIVIOUS was:

Tymon (CYNIC) - Guitar
Michel Nienhuis (ex-SENGAIA) - Guitar
Robin Zielhorst (CYNIC, ex-BLUE MAN GROUP) - Bass
Stef Broks (TEXTURES) - Drums

U.K-based metallers POWER QUEST have announced the addition of vocalist Chitral "Chity" Somapala and guitarist Gavin Owen (of Welsh metallers TRIAXIS) to the group's ranks. The band states, "Chity is well known and highly regarded worldwide in the rock and metal scene and has recorded, toured and made guest appearances with the likes of AVALON, FARO, FIREWIND and RED CIRCUIT, as well as fronting his own band CIVILIZATION ONE. His unmistakable style has been compared favorably with Ronnie James Dio, Klaus Meine and Johnny Gioeli."

Commented POWER QUEST keyboardist/mainman Steve Williams: "I'm thrilled to have recruited a vocalist and front man of Chity's calibre. I've known Chity for a couple of years and we have often talked about working together and now we have that opportunity. We have already recorded three new songs with him and they just sound immense."

Regarding POWER QUEST's new guitarist, Williams says, "Gav's audition last weekend was of the highest standard and we were all very impressed by his playing and how he conducted himself throughout the process. There was an instant chemistry there between him and the rest of the guys and particularly with Andy which bodes well for the future."

POWER QUEST has set "Blood Alliance" as the title of its fifth album. According to the band, "work on the new material continues apace and the songs that have been demoed so far are sounding awesome and true to the POWER QUEST tradition of catchy, melodic metal."

POWER QUEST recently entered Aubitt Studios in Southampton with Rob Aubrey to begin recording pre-production versions of three new songs — "Rising Anew", "Sacrifice" and "Time to Burn" — for the band's upcoming CD.

POWER QUEST in March parted ways with singer Pete Morten and guitarist Ben Randall due to "musical differences."

POWER QUEST's latest album, "Master of Illusion", was released in 2008 via Napalm Records/Avalon Marquee (Japan). Guest musicians on the CD include keyboardist Richard West from the U.K. progressive metal band THRESHOLD, Jorn Viggo Lofstad from the Norwegian power metal act PAGAN'S MIND and FOURWAYKILL singer Chris Neighbour.

California tech-death masters DECREPIT BIRTH have issued the following update:

"Drummer K.C. Howard and guitarist Dan Eggers have both decided to part ways with the band. We want thank them very much for the hard work.

"K.C. left the band right after the recording of the new album to pursue his career as a full-time music teacher.

"K.C. contributed since 2004 and has been an integral part of the band over the past years. Dan, who joined in 2008, decided to part ways to due to personal career choices.

"We wish them the best of luck and success in whatever they do.

"For live shows, we will be bringing in drummers Samus Paulicelli (ex-ABIGAIL WILLIAMS) and Lee Smith (ESTRADASPHERE), both helping us (separately) on various future tours. As well, guitarist Chase Fraser (ANIMOSITY, SON OF AURELIUS) will bring his amazing guitar skills to the table.

"This temporary reconstruction of the bands lineup has left us no choice but to cancel for the fourth annual California Metal Fest. We apologize to all the fans that were looking forward to seeing DECREPIT BIRTH at the California Metal Fest this year. We will be back for the Summer Slaughter tour 2010 with a new lineup and ready to perform a new set list featuring songs from our upcoming album, 'Polarity', which will be released July 27 on Nuclear Blast Records."

Drums for "Polarity" were tracked at Sharkbite Studios (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS) in Oakland with producer Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, SUFFOCATION, IMMOLATION) while the rest of the recordings were overseen by guitarist Matt Sotelo before the entire effort was mixed by Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios.

"Polarity" track listing:

01. (A Departure of the Sun) Ignite the Tesla Coil
02. Metatron
03. Resonance
04. Polarity
05. Solar Impulse
06. Mirroring Dimensions
07. A Brief Odyssey in Time
08. The Quickening of Time
09. Sea of Memories
10. Symbiosis
11. Darkness Embrace

Mail-order-edition bonus track:

12. See Through Dreams (DEATH cover)

"Goin' To Vegas", the new video from SIN CITY SINNERS, can be viewed below. The clip features cameos from adult film stars Ron Jeremy and Sunny Leone as well as Vegas entertainer Carrot Top.

SIN CITY SINNERS' debut CD, "Exile on Fremont Street", is into its second pressing, having sold over 1,000 copies.

SIN CITY SINNERS consists of Brent Muscat (formerly of FASTER PUSSYCAT), Todd Kerns (AGE OF ELECTRIC), Mike Eliis, and Rob Cournoyer (RAGING SLAB).

SIN CITY SINNERS is best known for having a special celebrity guest jam with the band each week. They were voted "Best Local Band," second only to THE KILLERS in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's "Best Of Vegas" readers' poll.

Polish extreme metallers HATE will enter Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland on June 5 to begin recording their new album, "Erebos", for a late 2010 release via Listenable Records.

"Erebos", which comes from ancient Greek and means literally "deep darkness" or shadow, will contain at least nine new songs, which are said to be a fusion of blackened death metal, industrial and ambient sounds, deathcore and heavy metal.

HATE leader/songwriter ATF Sinner gives us a glimpse into what we can expect from the band's new material: "Since the premiere of 'Morphosis' we have toured different parts of the world and faced a ton of challenges over the course of the last two years. All of the hard work that we have put in the band and everything that we have experienced is reflected in our new songs, which we know are our best yet.

"'Erebos' is going to contain extreme metal to the full with different musical styles incorporated. We explore areas that have not been associated with HATE before, and what we have created is a mixture of styles all packed in an extreme and vicious form. It is still 100 percent HATE, but more elaborate, sophisticated and, in a way, redefined.

"We have titled the material 'Erebos', which basically means darkness of human soul — and is full of analogies to condition of the human living in today's world who is a slave to his anger, weaknesses and complexes. Existing in a fictitious, virtual world, he is a slave to his dreams and does not really live but dreams that he lives."

The new lineup of reformed heavy metal legends ACCEPT made its live debut last night (Saturday, May 8) at the 750-capacity Gramercy Theatre in New York City.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Metal Heart
02. Midnight Mover
03. Living For Tonight
04. Restless And Wild
05. Son Of A Bitch
06. Losers And Winners
07. London Leatherboys
08. The Abyss (new song)
09. Run If You Can
10. Teutonic Terror (new song)
11. Breaker
12. Bulletproof
13. Neon Nights
14. Bass / Drum / Guitar Jam
15. Flash Rocking Man
16. Up To The Limit
17. Demon's Night
18. Turn Me On
19. Starlight
20. Burning

Encore 1:

21. Princess Of The Dawn
22. I'm A Rebel

Encore 2:

23. Fast As A Shark
24. Balls To The Wall

Germany's SUIDAKRA has issued the following update:

"Quite some time has passed since the last update. We have been in North America, which was great as always! Check out some pics here. Thanks to all of you who came out to the shows! We had a good time and hope to come back soon.

Right now we're on the next tour already, riding through France and Switzerland. Check out the tour dates and come to the gigs if you can make it! Unfortunately the London show in June will go on without our participation due to organizational problems beyond our control. Sorry for that!

Our Emprise To Avalon album was re-released recently. Originally out on Century Media in the year 2002, Emprise has surely become a SuidAkrA classic over the years. It was out of print for some time, but now you may purchase it here. Brand new 15 Years anniversary t-shirts are available as well. The best at the end: We started to write new music for the next album and have about four songs finished so far! Recording is supposed to start in December; we'll keep you updated."

Legendary Seattle prog-metallers QUEENSRŸCHE have launched their official YouTube channel at this location (restricted to some territories).

A comment on the band's website reads: "Long overdue, some might say… but better late than never. The Queensryche Fan Club, along with Rhino Records, is happy to announce the band’s official YouTube channel. Over the next few months we’ll be adding a plethora of both old and new videos… some you might have seen, some we’re sure you haven’t! So keep checking back. And if you have any special requests, let us know!"

Japanese metal veterans LOUDNESS will release a new album, "King Of Pain", in Japan on May 19 via Tokuma Japan Communications. The CD will include a 32-page booklet, a LOUDNESS original pick, and application card (valid only in Japan).

"King Of Pain" track listing:

01. Requiem
02. The King Of Pain
03. Power Of Death
04. Death Machine
05. Doodlebug
06. Rule The World
07. Straight Out Of Our Soul
08. Where Am I Going?
09. Emma
10. Naraka
11. Doctor From Hell
12. Hell Fire
13. #666
14. Never Comes

Austria's EDENBRIDGE are streaming the first sample from their new studio album, Solitaire - check out the track 'Higher' at this location.

Solitaire will be released on the following dates:

Spain - June 30th
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy, Sweden - July 2nd
Rest of Europe - July 5th
North America - July 13th

Solitaire tracklisting:

'Entree Unique'
'Solitaire'
'Higher'
'Skyline´s End'
'Bon Voyage Vagabond'
'Come Undone'
'Out Of This World'
'Further Afield'
'A Virtual Dream?'
'Brothers On Diamir'
'Exit Unique'

The limited edition will have two additional songs: 'Eternity' and 'Inward Passage'.

BRUTAL GODZ, the new Germany-based project featuring former/current members of BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, REBELLION and METAL CHURCH, has entered guitarist Uwe Lulis' studio in Frankfurt, Germany to begin recording its debut album, "Echoes Of The Dead", for a fall release. According to the band, the entire tracking process should take about four months.

Due to the cancelation of overseas flights because of the effects of the recent volcano in Iceland, singer Ronny Munroe (ex-METAL CHURCH) had to reschedule his trip from Puerto Rico where he is currently living. Ronny will finally join his bandmates within a very short time. Meanwhile, Lulis, along with the Holzwarth brothers Alex (drums) and Oliver (bass), is continuing work on the CD.

Alex Holzwarth comments on the band's unusual recording philosophy: "The recording concept is simple: We plug our instruments in, get miked up, rehearse the songs and finally record all our music in a live situation to ensure that we catch the magic moment with each single note being played. This concept totally differs from the contemporary recording habits that do hardly catch the magic of music at all. In my opinion, it is all about the face-to-face or ear-to-ear situation of playing together in the same room at the same time. Like THE BEATLES did it and AC/DC still do it. The audio results we get are just amazing."

Singer Carlos Zema has been added to the list of musicians who have recorded guest appearances on "Reborn in Fire", the upcoming album from EMPIRES OF EDEN — the brainchild of PAINDIVISION/ex-DUNGEON guitarist Stu Marshall. The Brazilian native has come to the focus of the metal public through his time in the band OUTWORLD and South American heavyweights VOUGAN.

Commented Marshall: "Working with Carlos is one of those experiences that really blew my mind. The song 'Rising' featured is one of Carlos' tunes as a whole so I can honestly say I am a fan of the song. Initially we created a super-heavy tune, and while we both really liked it, found it was missing something that the rest of the album had. So, to continue the melodic feel of the album, Carlos sent me his song 'Rising' to work on and we both agreed it worked well on the album and 'Rising' is a killer song. This guy is an incredible songwriter, vocalist and talent."

Founding guitarist/principal songwriter Tim Roth of Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY has issued the following update:

"My original intention for the new [INTO ETERNITY] album was an all-heavy/fast album. However, we have just demoed a 6:07-minute acoustic track for Song 2. The song doesn't feel finished yet, but Stu [Block, vocals] and I are coming up with lyrics and cool melodies to sing over and then we'll have a better picture to where the song is headed.

The band is back to jamming on a regular basis now and things are going great!

"Justin [Bender, guitar], in his spare time, also set up an online store to sell some of our t-shirts, so you can check that out at IntoEternity.net.

"I have no idea when the new album is going to be finished, so thank you in advance to everyone for their patience."

OPETH's "Still Life" album will be re-released on double vinyl on June 7 via Peaceville Records.

"Still Life" was OPETH's first outing for Peaceville and armed with renewed enthusiasm, the band delivered a flawless gem of an LP.

Originally released in 1999, the enigmatic "Still Life" is an ambitious concept album focusing on a tale of forbidden love in dangerous times.

Featuring the extraordinary voice and poetic lyrics of Mikael Åkerfeldt, "Still Life"'s moods range from brutal passages of extreme metal to predominantly acoustic moments of breathtaking beauty.

The vinyl edition is limited to 2,000 numbered copies and comes on double 180-gm vinyl in a deluxe heavyweight gatefold sleeve featuring reworked artwork by original designer Travis Smith. The vinyl edition also features an 18-page, LP-sized booklet containing original artwork by Travis Smith and full lyrics and is packed in a heavyweight PVC sleeve.

Side A:

01. The Moor (11:28)

Side B:

01. Godhead's Lament (9:47)
02. Benighted (5:01)

Side C:

01. Moonlapse Vertigo (9:00)
02. Face Of Melinda (7:59)

Side D:

01. Serenity Painted Death (9:14)
02. White Cluster (10:02)

Powerhouse vocalist Rob Rock (DRIVER, IMPELLITTERI, M.A.R.S.) will enter RedRoom Audio studios in Apopka, Florida next week to perform and record a new song he has written with Mistheria, longtime studio keyboardist for Rob's solo albums. The progressive neo-classical metal track "Lies and Deception" will be featured on Mistheria's forthcoming solo CD, to be released later this year via Frontiers Records. Engineering and recording the vocal session will be Sean Shannon, owner/operator of the RedRoom Audio studio (and drummer for Pat Travers' band)

Mistheria, a world-renowned keyboard virtuoso from Italy, will have many well-known guests appearing on his new CD.

MEGADETH drummer Shawn Drover has issued the following update:

"It does not suck to [be] me right now.

"After a great birthday in Lima, Peru, to which my grandson was also born on my birthday (thanks to those of you here for the birthday wishes, etc. I do appreciate it) I am about to venture out to the beach here in Costa Rica and have a good walk around the grounds.

"It's nice and sunny at the moment, so it won't be long before I head over to the pool and just enjoy my day off here.

"We had a very warm welcome upon arrival at the airport here [see video below — Ed.], and this is the place where we saw a TV segment on the Internet about some fans waiting in line to see our show 18 DAYS before!!!!!!!

"We cannot wait to get onstage and make our fans here in this beautiful country happy.

"OK, it's time to get some coffee..."

Vocalist/guitarist Tom S. Englund of Swedish metallers EVERGREY has issued the following statement:

"As promised here is the first part of news regarding EVERGREY as a band.

"At first it might seem devastating and frightening as it did to us when making this decision. People change, evolve and grow, sometimes in different ways and in different directions. This happens to everyone and it has certainly happened to EVERGREY as a band throughout the years.

"Me and Rikard [Zander, keyboards] have together with Henrik [Danhage, guitar] and Jonas [Ekdahl, drums] made the mutual decision that it was best for us all that they leave EVERGREY. They wanted to and we wanted them to.

"The last tours, recordings and just hanging with each other has not been as fun and giving as earlier AND before it would go too far, resulting in a collision in between friends, which could ruin everything we have built up during the years, we decided to call it quits.

"It's sometimes both smart and foreseeing to end situations before they get out of hand and create something that is totally unnecessary and irreparable. To be in a band must be experienced as fun, giving and fulfilling. There is SO much time during a life as a touring musician that is boring that if you don't even enjoy yourself while playing then it's better to do something else.

"Henrik and Jonas also got DEATHDESTRUCTION that ALSO has evolved and became more and more serious during the years and now they even recorded a debut album and naturally it felt fresh and reviving for them to enter something new and unexplored as opposed to EVERGREY where they more or less experienced the same things over and over.

"It is VERY important for us to tell you that we are still great friends and most likely always will be since we have shared 10 years of our lives and dedicated it to the progress and evolvement of EVERGREY. The friendship is what we value the most and nothing could be more important than that, at least for the four of us. So please take some time to digest and understand. That is what we have done and I am glad to say that all of us are happier than in a long time. This is something I think you can feel when watching the video version of the statement.

"BUT that is not the end of it. Jari [Kainulainen, bass] ALSO decided to leave the band, and the reason was that he would rather play with a band called KILLING MACHINE as they could offer him a salary we couldn't and that was the sole reason of his decision. We were REALLY sad to see Jari leave as he is a tremendous bass player and person.

"I know what you all are thinking… ENOUGH WITH depressing news.

"So to something brighter: With all these new situations we were facing, me and Rikard had to sit down to think. First thought was of course, 'Fuck this… let's get a day job,' but after a couple of weeks of contemplating and silence we realized something: Should we quit what we are doing, something that we still love as much as ten years ago, if not more, because of someone else disappearing? I mean, it's not like it's the first time it happens and it never made Evergrey stagnate or lose its edge, quite the contrary. So should we continue to make the music that we and YOU enjoy deeply?

"As you understand, we have chosen to continue.

"We have a full album written and half-way recorded. Last recording/mixing day will be June 30th. And a release BEFORE or at the latest on the 14th of October is set. We will soon (as we use to) start feeding you snippets.

"We ALSO have a European tour coming up — starting NEXT SUNDAY in Hamburg. And to be able to do that tour we must have new members, and we do! So please be open-minded and welcome:

* Marcus Jidell (ex-ROYAL HUNT) on guitars
* Johan Niemann (ex-THERION, MIND'S EYE) on bass
* Hannes Van Dahl on drums

"So be sure to bring your CDs of the above mentioned bands to the shows to have them signed.

"These are the guys we have been working hard with to rehearse the old songs and writing the new ones. And today was our last rehearsal for the tour and I must say it sounds great in a way I didn't expect after such a short time. There is not a chance in HELL you will be disappointed in the performance of these guys.

"So that's why we do this tour… to bring and present the new guys to you and also at the same time get the chance to play the cities we didn't do on the November tour of course.

"As with ANY change, when you give it time you realize that it's turned out for the better. So far in this EVER-LASTING changing of members in EVERGREY, it's always turned out great and brought fresh blood and motivation into the band, and the level of wanting to prove ourselves as a band is higher than EVER before.

"We do have some other great news that surely will bring this band to another level but as of yet we are restricted to speak about it.

"So don't give up on us, you never have, and we love you for it!"

Lion Music recently signed Dutch progressive rock/metal band DAY SIX for their debut album, The Grand Design.

Hailing from the Netherlands, Day Six are a first class powerful four piece who produce a mammoth sound of great scope and depth on their debut album The Grand Design.

With a sound that combines elements from across progressive music’s history, Day Six with The Grand Design have come up with a unique take on the genre which is equal parts dark and light making great use of dynamics and textures. Comparisons could be made between a fusion of PINK FLOYD, RUSH, PORCUPINE TREE, DREAM THEATER and OPETH where colossal guitar riffs collide and intertwine with synthesized textures and enthralling vocals for a truly mesmerizing effect.

Lyrically, The Grand Design is a concept album which focuses on an extraterrestrial spaceship that has been found in Lake Vostok – Antarctica. The storyline is following five weather scientists who did this discovery and found out about the secrecy on Extraterrestrial contact on Earth. The elite government finds out about the scientists - and to prevent them from bringing out the truth on E.T. life, they are locked in psychiatric hospitals while agents try to erase their experiences from their memories. However, the scientists develop a way to communicate telepathically with each other and with the E.T. beings. One of the scientists is writing a diary – the song 'A Soul's Documentary' is about these writings. In this way, they try to bring out the truth to the world despite the plans of the government.

Since forming in 2002, Day Six have become a mainstay on the live Dutch music scene and won two major competitions in the Netherlands: the Metal Battle and the Aardschok Metal Bash. As a result Day Six have grown to be one of the most well known progressive metal bands in the Netherlands and with the worldwide release of The Grand Design, Lion Music will introduce the band to a wider audience.

The Grand Design comprises of 9 tracks and clocks in at over 70 minutes and it set for release on Lion Music on June 18th.

The tracklisting:

'Massive Glacial Wall'
'Lost Identity'
'Castel Gandolfo'
'Inside'
'Fergus Falls'
'A Soul´s Documentary'
'Age of Technology'
'7th Sign'
'In the End...'

"Streetcleaner", the seminal 1989 album from British industrial metal pioneers GODFLESH, will be remastered and reissued in a deluxe digipak in Europe on June 21 and in North America on August 10 via Earache Records.

"Streetcleaner" was GODFLESH's second release, proving to be one of the band's finest and most recognized albums and helping them to become one of the most influential industrial bands ever. Now "Streetcleaner" is being brought up to date as a special expanded version, with all tracks remastered by GODFLESH founding member Justin Broadrick. The album also includes a bonus disc featuring 12 previously unreleased live tracks, alternate mixes and demos, and comes housed in a deluxe multi-panel digipak with detailed liner notes.

Comments Broadrick: "Long awaited, and now fleshed out to the MAX, 'Streetcleaner', THE most direct statement of intent we made as GODFLESH, finally presented as it should be...."

The full track listing for "Streetcleaner" is as follows:

Disc 1:

01. Like Rats
02. Christbait Rising
03. Pulp
04. Dream Long Dead
05. Head Dirt
06. Devastator / Mighty Trust Krusher
07. Life Is Easy
08. Streetcleaner
09. Locust Furnace
10. Tiny Tears
11. Wound
12. Dead Head
13. Suction

Disc 2:

01. Like Rats (Original Unreleased Mix)
02. Christbait Rising (Original Unreleased Mix)
03. Pulp (Original Unreleased Mix)
04. Dream Long Dead (Original Unreleased Mix)
05. Head Dirt (Original Unreleased Mix)
06. Streetcleaner (Live In Geneva 1990)
07. Head Dirt (Live In Geneva 1990)
08. Pulp (Rehearsal May 1989)
09. Dream Long Dead (Rehearsal April 1989)
10. Christbait Rising (Rehearsal April 1989)
11. Deadhead (Original Demo Guitar & Machine 1988)
12. Suction (Original Demo Guitar & Machine 1988)

"The Powerless Rise", the new album from San Diego, California metallers AS I LAY DYING, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. From today at 12:00 p.m. PST through Monday, May 10 at 6:00 p.m. PST, the entire 11-song disc — including the furious new single "Parallels" — will be unlocked and streaming live. The group will be featured act on the MySpace front page and music pages through May 11.

"The Powerless Rise" track listing:

01. Beyond Our Suffering
02. Anodyne Sea
03. Without Conclusion
04. Parallels
05. The Plague
06. Anger and Apathy
07. Condemned
08. Upside Down Kingdom
09. Vacancy
10. The Only Constant Is Change
11. The Blinding Of False Light

According to The Pulse of Radio, Trent Reznor says that NINE INCH NAILS is "not dead" even though he is focusing for the moment on HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS, the new act he has assembled with his wife, singer Mariqueen Maandig, and frequent collaborator Atticus Ross. Reznor answered selected fan questions at the HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS page on Facebook, saying about NINE INCH NAILS, "I am about to work on some material that I believe will be quite different than previous NIN very soon."

He added that HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS "frees me from some of the constraints I've begun to feel (primarily emotionally) in NIN," revealing that the band's upcoming six-song EP will come out in both digital and physical form this summer.

The first song released by the band, "A Drowning", is only available digitally.

A full-length ANGELS album will come out early next year, with some possible touring to support it.

Reznor retired NINE INCH NAILS as a live act last fall, although he said at the time he still intended to make music under that name.

The Local reports: A trainee high school teacher in Stuttgart who moonlights in a gory death metal band that includes naked, blood-smeared women in its live act, is being threatened with dismissal unless he gives up his music career.

By day, Thomas Gurrath, 29, is a trainee teacher in politics, history and ethics at Hegel Gymnasium in the city's Vaihingen district. By night, he is Thomas "The Bloodbeast" Gurrath, frontman for the gory metal band DEBAUCHERY.

Now, he's been given an ultimatum: it's one or the other. According to daily Bild on Friday, education authorities have told Gurrath he will have to give up the teacher traineeship he began on January 1 unless he quits his band.

Clemens Homoth-Kuhs, spokesman for the regional education authorities, told the paper: "We have in the end agreed that Mr. Gurrath is now to stop his traineeship, but have told him that he can start again under certain conditions."

An edited version of "Revolution, Baby", the new single from Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off SONIC SYNDICATE's new album, "We Rule The Night", which will be released in Europe on August 27 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Bohus Sound studios in Kungälv, Sweden and was mixed at Paramount Studios in North Hollywood, California by producer Toby Wright, who has previously worked with KORN, SLAYER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KISS, FEAR FACTORY, IN FLAMES, STONE SOUR and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others.

Swedish modern metallers DEAD BY APRIL will be returning to the UK in October for a full run of dates supporting MY PASSION.

In advance of these shows, on May 17th, the band will be releasing a new double A-side digital single, comprising of ‘Love Like Blood’ and ‘Promise Me’.

‘Love Like Blood’, a cover of the KILLING JOKE classic, is taken from a forthcoming Killing Joke tribute album (also featuring artists such as METALLICA, FOO FIGHTERS and HELMET), whilst ‘Promise Me’ can be found on Dead By April's debut self-titled album, a #2 record in their native Finland.

The band recently confirmed a lineup change, with guitarist/vocalist Pontus Hjelm being replaced by Zandro Santiago (Pontus, however, will continue as a non-touring member of the writing team). This means that Santiago will share vocal duties with Jimmie Strimell, leaving Johan Olsson to take care of all guitar parts live.