KISS have confirmed that their entire European tour will be released on USB stick and as MP3 download.

The UK leg of KISS' Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour starts at the Sheffield Arena on May 1st. Fans who attend any of the concerts will be able to purchase the entire 2 ½ hours of live entertainment on USB stick at the merchandise stand directly after the show. Alternatively, fans will also be able to pre-order the concert on USB stick or as MP3 download in advance via the simfylive.com website.

KISS is highly regarded as one of the most collectable and merchandise savvy rock bands around. Their foray into live concert recordings on USB stick and MP3 is hugely attractive to avid KISS collectors. As CD sales are in steady decline, the alternative of purchasing live recordings digitally, is developing a new revenue stream for rock bands who orchestrating live arena and outdoor festival tours.

“Music fans have always been into live recordings,” says Gerrit Schuman, MD of simfy live operator Music Networx, “making the KISS concerts available digitally on the same day as the concert, gives fans what they want,”

Info on the KISS USB stick, MP3 downloads and simfy live can be found here.

In addition to the 1 gigabyte USB stick, KISS enthusiasts who want to buy more than one concert will be able to order the Collector’s Gold Edition USB stick at any time, even prior to the tour. As soon as the concerts happen, they will be able to insert their Gold USB stick into the USB port of their PC or Apple Mac, and download the additional concerts directly from the simfy live website.

The USB stick and MP3 concert downloads are the brainchild of Music Networx, who specialise in live recordings and developing innovative ways to produce, showcase and market live music. As the operator of the simfy live music portal, Music Networx provides artists, record labels and rights holders with new sales channels and markets to exploit their music digitally via USB sticks, MP3 downloads and mobile delivery.

German power metal band DAWN OF DESTINY have issued the following update:

"After five years Dawn Of Destiny and Tanja (Maul) go separate ways from now on. Because of the 'so-called' musical differences Tanja decided to leave the band. We regret this step, but consider it as right and consequent. We say thanks to Tanja for five years of friendship, musicianship and the engagement to support Dawn Of Destiny in reaching our current status."

Maul has issued the following statement: "Unfortunately in life comes the time of farewell. Regrettably the musical ideas within the band develop into a direction where I cannot identify myself with Dawn Of Destiny anymore. Therefore I want to announce, that I'm going to leave the band. I wish the guys of DOD big success on their new way. Dear DoD-Fans! Dear Fallen Angels! With all my hear I want to say thank you for the big support, the fun and the bright cordiality, that you gave me on each gig! The Wacken-WG is still an issue. Peter - You are the Best! Many thanks for the nice time! I am sure that we'll meet each other on stage! All of you shall feel embraced!"

According to Pr-inside.com, animal-loving QUEEN star BRIAN MAY has teamed up with Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH), Joe Elliott (DEF LEPPARD), Francis Rossi (STATUS QUO) Sharon Osbourne and Taylor Hawkins (FOO FIGHTERS) to beg Brits not to vote for the pro-hunting Conservative party in next week's (May 6th) general election.

May is concerned the party will reverse a law banning the hunting of foxes if they get into power. So he has recorded a video urging voters to opt for another party, and enlisted some famous friends to help him.

The artists have all shot skits for the video and can be seen saying campaign slog an "bullocks" in the clip, which appears on YouTube below:

ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte has contributed guest vocals to "What Lies Beneath", the new solo album from former NIGHTWISH frontwoman Tarja Turunen. Labonte appears in the track "Dark Star", which Turunen describes as a "duet." Tarja states, "I haven't been really working with such impressive vocals before. With [Phil's vocal contributions], the song reached another dimension."

With production handled by Tarja herself and selected tracks currently being mixed by U.K. producer Colin Richardson (pictured below with Tarja; famed for his work with MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and SLIPKNOT, among others), the follow-up to 2007's "My Winter Storm" "looks set to take Tarja's unique musical mix of drama 'n' decibels to a whole new level of success," according to a press release.

"Colin has been working very hard on the songs and he does his job carefully, with lot of thought and passion," Tarja says.

"It has been nice to see that he seems to like what he hears, so it probably makes him work even better

"I am very happy with what I can hear so far. These songs that are going through his fingers are definitely sounding lot heavier than any of the songs from my last record.

"Just the sonic difference in guitars makes the songs radically heavier.

"I have always liked how he treats the guitars with the bands that he works with, like SLIPKNOT, for example.

"Anyway, you cannot expect me to make only a heavy metal album either. I am making Colin sweat with cellos, orchestras, choirs and sound ambient design."

Turunen will unveil the cover artwork for "What Lies Beneath", next week via her official web site.

"We worked on 33 songs this time around from which I decided to record 17," Tarja explained. "It has been great to have the freedom to produce my own record for the first time; these sessions have been such a gift, a real learning process and a true joy. In many ways, it feels like the first time…"

DIRGE WITHIN, the new metal band featuring ex-SOIL guitarist Shaun Glass, vocalist Jeremy "Jerms" Genske, guitarist Matt Szlachta and bassist James Pezanoski (ex-FROM ALL WITHIN), has parted ways with drummer James Knight (ex-THE BLANK THEORY, CHACOPA) and has replaced him with Frankie Harchut (ex-THE DOOMSDAY CATALYST). Jerms said in a statement, "I have known Frankie for about 10 years, and performed alongside him in previous bands. So I know his talent as a musician, and performer firsthand. Even though Jimmy will be missed, I couldn't think of anyone better to fill the void than this guy. He is a perfect fit with the DIRGE WITHIN both in talent and personality. We are stoked to see what the future brings, and can't wait to get back out on the road, and tear shit up with Frankie on the skins! His first show as a member of DIRGE WITHIN will be May 15th at Austin's in Libertyville, Illinois with LACUNA COIL. So come on out, and welcome Frankie to the party!"

Swedish thrash/death/black metallers DEVIAN have uploaded pre-production versions of three new songs to their MySpace page. The tracks "I Am The Serpent", "Victimized" and the epic heresy "Forever Crowned In Blasphemy" are being released online in order to "satisfy worldwide fans' curiosity on the new material and to give a taste of what will become the future sound for DEVIAN," according to a press release.

Commented drummer Emil Dragutinovic: "We have been silent for some time now and that is because a lot has happened.

"We ended our co-operation with Century Media and [vocalist] Legion (a.k.a. Erik Hagsted) left the band because of his job. He is a tattoo artist and he works a lot. He felt he couldn't put the necessary time into the band that we require."

Added guitarist Tomas Nilsson: "For this third album we focused on making it exactly the way we want it. We really wanted to work with it thoroughly, simplifying the song structures and really make it a perfect album."

DEVIAN 2010 is (left to right in photo below):

Emil Dragutinovic (Drums)
Jonas "Joinus" Mattson (Guitar and Vocals)
Tomas Nilsson (Guitar)
Carl Stjärnlöv (Bass)

The new DEVIAN lineup will make its live debut on May 20 at Alcazar (Nalen) in Stockholm, Sweden.

Former SEPULTURA members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) have finished tracking the follow-up to CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's 2008 debut album, "Inflikted". Like its predecessor, the new CD was recorded with Logan Mader (ex-MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist), who co-produced the effort with Max. Logan will also mix the album for a late 2010 release via Roadrunner Records.

Igor Cavalera told AOL's Noisecreep late last year that CAVALERA CONSPIRACY hopes to release another album by this summer once he and his brother find time to work on some new material.

"Max is so busy with SOULFLY, and MIXHELL [Igor's electronic duo, also featuring his wife — Ed.] is taking up most of me and [my wife] Laima's time, so when we find some free time we do CAVALERA," Igor said. "I think that's why I really enjoy doing it. There's no pressure of being in a band and sitting around waiting for gigs. When we get the offers we sit together and decide if we want to do them or not do them, so it's really cool.

"We have some ideas of maybe doing a remix album of [CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's debut CD, 'Inflikted'] and have people like JUSTICE or SOULWAX — even some dub artists that my brother likes — remix the whole album," he added. "But that's just an idea. It's nothing confirmed. But me and Max are talking about doing a new album in the future, but there's no pressure. There's nobody from the label or the agents trying to push us to do it as quick as possible."

Finnish doom metallers SWALLOW THE SUN check in with the following update:

"A brand new and signed copy of The Morning Never Came CD is available to win at our Official Fan Club which you can get to here. Just head over to the Media, Competitions page.

You will also see a second competition (just scroll down the page) for a really special and unique prize of a signed used drum head that belonged to ex-drummer Pasi Pasanen.

If you came out to see us on tour and got a picture with us, send the great ones over to info@swallowthesunfans.com so they can be displayed in the Fan Pictures gallery!

Keep checking the site as new prizes go up every few weeks - good luck to all who enter and see you on tour - Tucson, Arizona tonight!"

MOONSORROW and Swallow The Sun are currently tearing it up with their countrymen FINNTROLL on the Finnish Metal Tour. Below is a video update on how the tour has been going for them.

According to ContactMusic.com, SLIPKNOT percussion Shawn "Clown" Crahan is eyeing a move into politics after he was nominated to run for the position of Iowa governor at the state's upcoming elections.

Crahan, who grew up in Iowa, was put forward by a local independent newspaper, with editors at the Cityview publication praising his love of his native state and his ability to attract young voters.

Crahan has laughed off the prospect of running in the November election, but admits the article has made him consider a career in politics in the future.

He tells Britain's Kerrang! magazine, "I swear that one day, I'll run for mayor. I want to bring people together. If I wanted to get a little more twisted or worldly, in a crazy way, politics would be it. But, right now, I'm a fucking rock star.

"I was talking to my kids (about the article). I was like, 'Isn't this funny? Half of Iowa would think it would be cool. The other half would bash me over the choices I've made in my life.'

"A person like me will always get bashed, for the songs I write and the crazy shit I've done in SLIPKNOT. But, as mayor, I could cut through all that crap and get things done and make a difference."

Tampa, Florida-based extreme metal act ORDER OF ENNEAD has issued the following update:

"It is with great pleasure that we welcome the one and only Shannon Hamm (DEATH, CONTROL DENIED) on lead guitar to our ranks for live performances this year.

"Working with Shannon has be and incredible honor and we look forward to bringing you the very best extreme metal live performance you could ever ask for.


"Look for a suprise song or two during our set when you come see us on tour this year."

Shannon's first shows with ORDER OF ENNEAD will take place in June.

ORDER OF ENNEAD,'s "The Concept of Our Extinction" video can be viewed below. The song comes off ORDER OF ENNEAD's forthcoming album, "An Examination Of Being", which was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, ALL THAT REMAINS). The CD is scheduled for release on May 4 in North America via Earache Records.

"An Examination Of Being" track listing:

01. The Concept of Our Extinction
02. The Scriptures of Purification
03. Lies Upon the Lips of Judas
04. This Mortal Journey
05. ...In the Mirror
06. An Examination of Being
07. Conduits to Eternity
08. A Portal to Rapture
09. A Betrayal of Self

ORDER OF ENNEAD features in its ranks Steve Asheim (drums; DEICIDE), Scott Patrick (bass; RESURRECTION), Kevin Quirion (vocals, guitar) and John Li (guitar).

According to Amy Sciarretto from Artist Direct, SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine said that the band may also have former members Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker and Herman Rarebell join the current lineup for a few shows. Meine was quoted as saying, "Nothing's planned yet, it depends on their schedule as well, but they're more than welcome to do something like A Night to Remember and play songs that are connected with this moment in time when they were with the band."

As previously reported, CINDERELLA, DOKKEN, RATT, TESLA and VINCE NEIL are the chosen openers for the Scorpions North American leg of their Get Your Sting And Blackout farewell world tour. Check the band's itinerary below to see who will open which dates and when.

OPETH mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has posted the following brief message via his Myspace page:

"Well, I finally decided to close this page down. You will NOT be able to contact me through any of our websites.

Thanks for showing interest and for your endless support, it's been "fun"."

Åkerfeldt discussed the 20th Anniversary of the band and other topics when he was guest on the April 17th edition of IRON MAIDEN singer BRUCE DICKINSON's Friday Rock Show on BBC 6 in the UK. Check out a replay at this location.

Opeth recently completed their six 20th Anniversary shows and Åkerfeldt says the band have "lotsa stuff in the pipeline, some cool things cooking. Next Opeth album being one thing."

Norwegian black metallers SVARTTJERN have issued the following update:

“Svarttjern will enter Strand Studio in Oslo on May 22nd to start recording of our second album, title yet to be revealed. The album will most likely consist of 9 new tracks and will be a continuance of the Misanthropic Path Of Madness album, still: the new album will contain different types of tracks.

The album will be released on Agonia Records sometime during the fall of 2010.

Two tracks can be viewed (below), from our performance at the 2010 Inferno Festival, not the best sound quality but still...”

RHAPSODY OF FIRE and AVANTASIA drummer, Alex Holzwarth, has been in the studio to record drums for some of the tracks on the new HEXFIRE album. The recording session took place at Nocker Productions in Munich with engineer Dr. Burns.

The band says: “We are so proud that Alex agreed to record for us. At this moment, we can say that Alex has recorded drums for one of the songs and.. WOW! He’s not just a drummer – he’s a real metal machine! What he has done in the studio is incredible! The drums sound so powerful that its even hard to describe! So… Metalheads, be prepare for a real metal attack!”

Spanish "doom thrashers" RHINO have been forced to changed their name, which they had been using since 2004, to HORN OF THE RHINO for "legal" reasons. The band says, "Nothing has changed but the name (and not at all) 'cause we carry on with our plans of releasing our third LP, 'Weight Of Coronation', in July 2010 through Doomentia Records and declaring, once more time, that this is our most brutal and heavy album, literally speaking."

"Weight Of Coronation" was recorded in March at Koba studios in Bilbao with producer Xanpe and will once again feature artwork by renowed artist Rafa Garrés, who previously worked with the band on its second album, "Dead Throne Monarch".

"Weight Of Coronation" track listing:

01. Weight Of Coronation
02. Speaking In Tongues
03. Brimstone Breath
04. Crushed And Dragged To The Swamp
05. Southern Beast
06. Throats In Blood
07. Mass Burial Punishment
08. Sovereign

Canadian bastardized grinders FUCK THE FACTS will release their first-ever DVD on May 11. "Disgorge Mexico: The DVD" features the entire set from the "Disgorge Mexico" CD-release show where the band played the album from start to finish for the first and only time. The whole show was filmed with multiple cameras and then edited by Phil Pattison of Nictophobia Films. The DVD also includes "Disgorge, Mexico: The Movie", a film by David Hall of Handshake Inc. (TODAY IS THE DAY, JUCIFER, SIGH, HAIL OF BULLETS). Hall describes it as "a substance abuse art house riff on the destructive and volatile nature of love."

"Disgorge, Mexico: The Movie" is a violent, hallucinatory depiction of one woman's strange journey, set to the soundtrack of FUCK THE FACTS' "Disgorge Mexico".

"Disgorge Mexico: The DVD" is limited to 500 copies (first 100 copies come with a bonus disc) and like the band's recently released "Unnamed" seven-inch EP, is an exclusively independent release only available through the FUCK THE FACTS webstore.

Germany's EMERGENCY GATE will release their new album, The Nemesis Construct, on April 30th via Twilight-Vertrieb GbR. Three new songs from the album are now streaming online here.

The band have been issuing weekly video trailers for the album. Parts 1 - 5 can be viewed below. Their new video for the track 'Point Zero' can be found online at this location.

The Nemesis Construct features the following tracklisting:

'Alternative Dead End'
'Nothing To Lose'
'Dark Side Of The Sun'
'Story Of A Psychopath'
'An End To The Age Of Man'
'Point Zero'
'Excite!'
'As My Bride Cries Blood'
'This Time'
'The Green Mile'
'Diary Of Nightmares...'
'InVain'
'World Escape'

A brand new LIMP BIZKIT song called "Why Try" has been posted on the band's official web site. It can also be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track will appear on the band's new album, "Gold Cobra", which is scheduled for release this summer.

"Why Try" lyrics:

Oh no! Guess who's back...
Strapped with the flow like a gatlin blow
Walk with a limp it's the pirate pimp
On a nightmare track (with a stack of gold?)
Stuck like a psycho white bred hybrid
Ninnies? gets plucked from your eye lid
Get that? yall better come quick, better come fast
I'ma drop a match in ya gas BOOM
Every hit don't lie, pitch you a fit when your shit don't fly
Eat you alive, got that punk, spit this fire to the bizkit funk
Uno, Dos, trace of ya face, Catch me a case when you run from the ghost
With a cup and a click one little slip
the alligator grip gonna turn you to toast

So why try, if ya gonna die
You're goin straight to the gate in the sky
With all the hate I relate to the crime
one more sucka emcee gonna fry
So why try, if ya gonna die
You're goin straight to the gate in the sky
With all the hate I relate to the crime
one more sucka emcee gonna fry

Round 2, stagger to your feet
homies in ya corner thought ya done went to sleep
this one oughta do it, so step it on back
Or you can see the stars when ya knocked out flat
I'ma tell ya something ya probably never knew
Tangle with the lion you gonna end up in the zoo
Check out all ya crew lookin in my cage
It's feedin time playa I'ma eat you like a plague
Times are gettin tough but I aint had enough
this heavy metal beatin' on ya brain is gonna crush
Oh what a rush, like a million women
Sour on the crush with all of you lemons
Maybe I'm a twisted but man it's just the bizkit
Having me some fun with you dumb little tricklets
you know who you are, you insecure gorillas
the underdog freddy d now became ya killa

So why try, if ya gonna die
You're goin straight to the gate in the sky
With all the hate I relate to the crime
one more sucka emcee gonna fry
So WHY TRY, if ya gonna die
You're goin straight to the gate in the sky
With all the hate I relate to the crime
one more sucka emcee gonna fry

I'ma rock it like some tnt blow it up like a G with a dolla bill 3
All ya g's with the fleas c'mon please don't lie fuck with me and you'll fry

So why try, if ya gonna die
You're goin straight to the gate in the sky
With all the hate I relate to the crime
one more sucka emcee gonna fry
So why try, if ya gonna die
You're goin straight to the gate in the sky
With all the hate I relate to the crime
one more sucka emcee gonna fry [End of lyrics]

German metallers LANTLÔS will release Neon, their second album on June 11th, via Prophecy Productions. The album will be released in North America on July 13th.

The cover artwork was done by Fursy Teyssier (LES DISCRETS) and according to a press release "visualizes the strife-torn, surreal atmospheres of the album."

Tracklist for Neon is as follows:

‘Minusmensch’
‘These Nights Were Ours’
‘Pulse/Surreal’
‘Neige de Mars’
‘Coma’
‘Neon’

The album will be released in a regular edition as super jewelbox CD as well as limited gatefold LP (including a poster). More information on this album soon.

Norwegian metallers NÀTTSÒL's debut album Stemning will be released on June 11th in Europe as a digipak CD via Prophecy Productions. The album will be released in North America on July 13th.

According to a press release the album takes listeners “to the enchanted landscapes of Norway with its nature-romantic black metal. The atmospheric cover artwork will give you a first impression of where the journey's heading.”

Tracklist for Stemning:

‘Ved Aas I Haustmoerket’
‘Ved Baal I Kveldstime’
‘Ved Skog I Natterstid’
‘Ved Fjell I Vinterblaest’
‘Ved Elv I Eismal Stund’
‘Ved Hav I Avdagsleitet’

German metallers EISREGEN have released their eighth album, Serpent Sun, via Massacre Records. The new track 'Schlangensonne' is currently streaming online at the Massacre Records MySpace Page at this location.

Serpent Sun features the following tracklisting:

'N8verzehr'
'Blute Aus'
'Zauberelefant'
'Tod Senkt Sich Herab'
'Auf Ewig Ostfront'
'Das Allerschlimmste'
'Schlangensonne'
'Linkshänder'
'Ernte Den Untergang'
'Kai Aus Der Kiste'