According to BBC News, former RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist John Frusciante has been voted the best guitarist of the past 30 years.

Frusciante, who left the group in 2008, beat GUNS N' ROSES star Slash, MUSE's Matt Bellamy and Johnny Marr of THE SMITHS to the top spot.

Some 30,000 people took part in BBC 6 Music's "Axe Factor" online poll.

6 Music breakfast host Shaun Keaveny said of Frusciante: "His range, from minimalist melody lines, through choppy Hendrixian chord voicings all the way up to 11 with wailing metal tinged blues, gives him the edge over many in the list. For that I salute him."

Slash, who came second, is releasing his debut solo album, featuring contributions from Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Dave Grohl, Kid Rock and Fergie from BLACK EYED PEAS.

"All the guys who I consider guitar legends are the pioneers of electric guitar, rock 'n' roll guitar and blues guitar as well," he said recently. "So I'm still struggling to keep up. I definitely don't put myself in the legend category."

"Axe Factor" Top 10:

01. John Frusciante (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS)
02. Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)
03. Matt Bellamy (MUSE)
04. Johnny Marr (THE SMITHS)
05. Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE)
06. Kirk Hammett (METALLICA)
07. Jonny Greenwood (RADIOHEAD)
08. Prince
09. Jack White (WHITE STRIPES)
10. Peter Buck (REM)

A four-minute video clip containing audio samples of all 10 tracks that will appear on "The Obsidian Conspiracy", the long-awaited new album from Seattle metallers NEVERMORE, is available below. The CD will be released in Europe on May 31 and in North America on June 8 via Century Media Records.

"The Obsidian Conspiracy" track listing:

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

Reformed Greek metallers NIGHTFALL — featuring frontman and lyricist Efthimis Karadimas alongside Evan Hensley on guitar, Stathis Kassios on keyboards and Jörg Uken on drums — have inked a deal with Metal Blade Records. The band's new album, "Astron Black And The Thirty Tyrants", will be released later in the year.

Commented Karadimas: "NIGHTFALL are pleased and beyond excited to announce their signing of a recording contract with Metal Blade Records, one of the world's premier heavy metal record labels! It will be a pleasure to join the ranks alongside such fine and talented groups as SIX FEET UNDER, AMON AMARTH, GOD DETHRONED and classics such as SLAYER, MERCYFUL FATE, SACRED REICH, FATES WARNING, and LIZZY BORDEN, to name just a few. Although the ink on the deal is still fresh, it is safe to say that with Metal Blade behind them, NIGHTFALL will be charging ahead into the new decade at full speed!"

A two-minute preview of the new LIMP BIZKIT song "Shark Attack" is available for streaming in the video clip below. The track will appear on the band's new album, "Gold Cobra", which is scheduled for release this summer.

"Gold Cobra" tentative track listing:

01. Introbra
02. Douchebag
03. Why Try
04. 90 To 10
05. Rock Ship
06. Brand New Meaning
07. Shark Attack
08. Darkside Of The Moon
09. GFY
10. Venomous (LBGC)
11. Walking Away
12. Loser
13. Dance Floor
14. Back Porch
15. Angels
16. Middle Finger
17. Thank You
18. Outrobra

Swedish female-fronted heavy rock band SISTER SIN entered the studio in February to begin recording its sophomore album, "True Sound Of The Underground", for a summer release. The CD was produced by Henrik Edenhed (DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS) in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios.

"True Sound Of The Underground" track listing:

01. Sound Of The Underground
02. Nailbiter
03. The Devil I Know
04. 24/7
05. Built To Last
06. Heading For Hell
07. Outrage
08. I Stand Alone
09. Better Than Them
10. Times Aren't A-Changing
11. Beat 'Em Down

According to Kerrang! magazine, guitarist/vocalist Matt Tuck of Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and his partner, Charlotte, welcomed their first child, a son named Evann, on March 25.

In an exclusive interview in this week's Kerrang! magazine, the singer reveals Evann is already a fan of his dad's band.

"When Charlotte was pregnant, we put headphones on her belly to see if he'd react to music," he explains. "His biggest reaction was to SLIPKNOT's 'The Heretic Anthem'! He liked his daddy's stuff, too. We've stopped [playing music] for the moment as we don't want him screaming all the time!"

A teaser for "Lord Of The Wasteland", the debut album from the Swedish metal act STEELWING (formerly SCAVENGER), can be viewed below. Due in Europe on April 30, 2010 via Noise Art Records, a division of Rock The Nation, the CD was recorded at Deep Blue Studios with producer Nicko DiMarino. The album artwork was created by Ed Repka.

"Lord Of The Wasteland" track listing:

01. Enter The Wasteland
02. Headhunter
03. Roadkill (...Or Be Killed)
04. Sentinel Hill
05. The Illusion
06. The Nightwatcher
07. Under The Scavenger Sun
08. Point of Singularity
09. Clash of the Two Tribes

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have posted a new "Nightmail" session featuring fan questions answered by various members of the band and crew. A couple of excerpts follow below.

Q: To Anette: I wonder if NIGHTWISH have any plans to record a new album but with a mix of the older songs?I also wonder which was your best moment with the band during 2009?

A: No, any album like that isn't something we have considered and I dont think it will happen since we all feel that Tarja and the guys already have done that. But maybe a live album some day where also the older songs are included.
My best moment during 2009 were two moments: the very first gig after our break in London in March. Great to see everyone and meet them after so many months break. I also felt physically and mentally so much stronger than during 2008. Then Hartwall arena [in Helsinki] was magical. Amazing with so great musicians playing with us and to sing "Walking In The Air" and "Meadows Of Heaven" finally was something I had longed for.

Q: To Tuomas: 1) How do you imagine yourself in the next twenty years? 2) Is there any dream that you especially want to come true?

A: 1) I never look too far into the future, all I need to know or want is here and now. I hope I'll still be alive, look like an old Walt Whitman, and that life would taste as sweet as it does at the moment.

2) Well, right now I wish that the upcoming album would end up being like I have imagined it to be during the past 3 years. I just finished with the last song yesterday, such exciting times!

Q: To Emppu: What kinds of books do you read? You told someone you read books to relax...what is, let's say, the book that impressed you most?

A: Yeah, on tour you'll have a lot of time on your hands, sitting in the plane or tour bus, and reading gives you some "private" time. There's always a lot of people buzzing around, so it's an easy way to get some privacy for a while. I pretty much read all kinds of books, currently mostly historical stuff that's based on actual fact. While I was younger, I never read anything. I don't think I read one single book while in high school. I had to start reading, because the battery in my Game Boy always died on me during the long flights. :D Biggest impression — Hmmm, there are so many great books. It's hard to pick just one.

Q: To Anette: Which place/country you've been on tour that you most liked? In aspects like culture, climate, people, natural landscapes..:)

A: Oh, there have been many;=) But I did love Japan a lot. So nice people and I felt really safe walking around there all by myself. I also love Japanese food so it suited me fine. Then seeing Australia was amazing and a dream came true. I also love the U.S. just because it is so totally different from Sweden. It's just so big and people are much more open and talkative there than in my country. And to be able to have a country with so many different sides and people is just amazing ;=)

Q: To Jukka: What is it according to you that makes NIGHTWISH so popular all over the world? What are your dreams for the future with the band?

A: Good songs and utmost honesty in everything to do with music. Those are the strengths of NIGHTWISH, at least that's how I'd like to see it. I have no big dreams left for future, because my original dreams have been surpassed many times already. I just hope that NIGHTWISH is still around in ten year's time and that we still get our kicks making music.

Q: To Anette: I read from a teletext that you're getting another child. Congratulations! Do you think this is going to have any affect to the next NIGHTWISH tour in couple of years?

A: No, I dont think it will influence the coming tours. If we all could manage the last huge tour even if we are three persons that have kids, I am sure that we can make the next one working too. It's all about planning and making everyone feel OK with the schedule and I know King Foo [the management] and me and the guys can make that happen.

Q: To Tuomas, It's been a while since the dark days of "Century Child". How do you think you have changed as a person since then? Are things a lot more brighter now?

A: I wish I have changed in some matters, and I wish I haven't changed in many matters. "Dark Passion Play" was made during the darkest days, even worse than "Century Child", but things have always been well, sometimes the darkness and its boogeymen just veil the good behind.

Q: Can we expect a soloalbum from Marco Hietala anytime? It would be great to have a whole album full of songs where the singer would be only Hietala.

A: Well... I've had this continuing work in progress over ten years now. The idea would be to have a distinct world of colliding musical elements, and the lyrics for the whole thing would be in Finnish and English both. Like I said: Over ten years in progress. Might happen sooner, later or never.

"Coward", a brand new song from Canadian melodic thrash metal pioneers ANNIHILATOR is available for streaming at the Earache Records MySpace page. The track comes off ANNIHILATOR's upcoming self-titled album, which is due to be released in Europe on May 17.

Commented ANNIHILATOR guitarist/mainman Jeff Waters: "This one turned out pretty fast and thrashy but has a pretty cool slow-down in the middle of the tune. Dave (Padden) wrote the lyrics on this and is pretty pissed off at someone; I think, a former friend of the family. Nothing really technical and difficult, other than some limb-cramping guitar picking and non-stop drum rippage, but I would describe it as simply a headbanging, no-B.S. metal scorcher.

"I am looking forward to posting some more songs from the new CD soon, as each song seems to really be different."

CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band led by former SAVATAGE frontman Zak Stevens, has entered Sweet Spot Studios to begin recording its fifth album, entitled "Consequence Of Power". The second concept effort for the band, "Consequence Of Power" has been described as "a melodic power metal album catering to all fans from the old SAVATAGE era to all CIRCLE II CIRCLE European fans and breaking new ground for an all new fan base in America." A fall 2010 release through AFM Records is expected.

Commented Stevens: "It's been a hell of a ride so far, but it seems like just the beginning for some reason.

"People are really appreciating the purity of real hard rock and metal music these days since the genre became somewhat out of focus within the music industry the last five years. The demand for our style of music has roared back from fans, both young and old, on the history behind the band. We hear the calling and we continue to move forward.

"CIRCLE II CIRCLE will take you on a musical journey like no other rock/metal band. We will deliver a monumental evening of rock and roll power every night on tour. Don't miss it!"

In a recent interview with Loudtrax.com, Stevens stated about "Consequence of Power", "It will be different. Much like the other albums offer their own differences in sound. In my view, some of the new stuff is revisiting the 'traditional' rock guitar sounds and song arrangements that will take us back a chapter or two in time while others are more basic in scheme. My role, as with all our records, is to make the overall picture appeal to today's rock listener from a vocal standpoint with the best effort I can and what will hopefully result in hook after hook coming at you full blast."

Regarding the album's lyrical theme, he said, "It's a complicated and very deep concept about things happening that we don't really have much control of, and about a character who is centrally involved, against his will, into this cycle of madness, power, and a lot of crazy things. "

CIRCLE II CIRCLE's current lineup consists of Zak Stevens (vocals), Andy Lee (guitar), Mitch Stewart (bass/keyboards) and new drummer Johnny Osborn, formerly of DR. BUTCHER.

CIRCLE II CIRCLE recently signed a management deal with Venomm and is currently booking the Power Tour 2010/2011, due to begin this summer.

udio samples of all the songs that appear on DOKKEN's new greatest-hits package, "Greatest Hits 2" — a collection of all-new versions of tracks such as "Dream Warriors", "Breaking the Chains" and "Just Got Lucky", paired two new songs and two covers (including a version of "Lies", originally recorded by THE KNICKERBOCKERS, available on the Japanese version of the CD only) — are available on Amazon.com. Due in Japan on April 21 via King Records, the CD will be made available in the U.S. on Cleopatra's Deadline Records imprint.

The MP3 version of "Greatest Hits 2" has been made available for purchase via Amazon.com.

"Greatest Hits 2" track listing:

01. Just Got Lucky
02. Breaking The Chains
03. Into The Fire
04. The Hunter
05. In My Dreams
06. It's Not Love
07. Alone Again
08. Dream Warrior
09. Unchain The Night
10. Tooth And Nail
11. Almost Over (new song)
12. Magic Man (new song)
13. Bus Stop (the HOLLIES cover)
14. Lies (THE KNICKERBOCKERS cover) (Japanese bonus track)

AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (also ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE) is hard at work on what will become a new STAR ONE album. The instrumental demos are completed, and Arjen is now working on lyrics and melody lines.

A few weeks ago, Arjen's former manager Yvette graciously hosted a demo listening party for the people on Arjen's message board. It was an open invitation, although because of limitations of space, attendance was limited to the first few people who confirmed they could make it. The nine attendees got to listen to the demos, munch on assorted goodies, and fill in feedback forms to catalog their reactions to the songs for Arjen.

Keep in mind that they heard rough demos — no vocals, no solos. These are the first demos that Arjen puts together just to get the structure and feel of the songs down before starting serious work on lyrics and vocal melodies.

Yvette kindly edited a very short video clip that gives an idea of what happened that day. In the video below, not only do you get to SEE what happened, you get to HEAR some snippets of the demos as well.

Denmark's melodic doom metal masters SATURNUS have issued the following update:

"As you might know, we went through a substantial 're-grouping' last year. Thomas A.G. Nielsen and Brian Hansen are, of course, still in the band handling vocals and bass while lead guitarist Rune Stiassny, who already participated in two European tours, also is a full-blooded member of SATURNUS. We are looking forward to present our drummer and a rhythm guitarist as well when the time comes.

"While we are humble towards the achievements of the past we are at the same time confident that we are able to carry on the flame and create a new SATURNUS album. When exactly a new album will see the light of day we can't say for sure. But what we can say is that we are currently in the process of writing new songs and that we will do some pre-recording for our album this spring.

"The new material — in our opinion — is promising indeed. But if you would like a peek listen as to how it actually sounds like we have uploaded a YouTube clip [below] from our performance of the new song 'Wind Torn' in Madrid last fall. We hope you like it… (our former drummer Jesper and Martin from NIGHTLIGHT/IRON FIRE helped us out on this tour — thank you!)."

A brand new MISERY INDEX track, "Carrion Call", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the group's new album, "Heirs To Thievery", which is set for a May 11 North American release via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded at Wright Way Studios (DYING FETUS, SLIPKNOT, MOS DEF) with engineer Steve Wright.

"Heirs To Thievery" tentative track listing:

01. Embracing Extinction
02. Fed To The Wolves
03. The Carrion Call
04. Heirs To Thievery
05. Spectator
06. The Seventh Cavalry
07. Illuminaught
08. Plague Of Objects
09. You Lose
10. Sleeping Giants

The new self-titled album from Orange County, California's BLEEDING THROUGH is available for streaming in its entirety at the band's MySpace page. Due on April 13 via the Portland, Oregon-based independent record label Rise Records, the CD was recorded at Planet Z Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with MUNICIPAL WASTE, AGNOSTIC FRONT and HATEBREED, among others.

"Bleeding Through" track listing:

01. A Resurrection
02. Anti-Hero
03. Your Abandonment
04. Fifteen Minutes
05. Salvation Never Found
06. Breathing In The Wrath
07. This Time Nothing Is Sacred
08. Divide The Armies
09. Drag Me To The Ocean
10. Light My Eyes
11. Slow Your Roll
12. Distortion, Devotion

Savannah, Georgia-based band KYLESA, whose 2009 album "Static Tensions" was one of the most critically acclaimed metal LPs of last year, has inked a deal with Season of Mist. The group has commenced work on its new CD for a late 2010 release.

"We're very happy to announce our new partnership with Season of Mist for the next KYLESA release, which we are hoping to get out later this year," said the band. "We are stoked to be working with Season of Mist on this next album. They are a forward-thinking label and they have all been very accommodating and a pleasure to work with."

Regarding the new album, KYLESA added, "The writing process for the new record has been intense, taking up the better part of each day since January (that's why you haven't heard from us lately), but in return we have some new material that we're very proud of. The studio sessions at The Jam Room in Columbia start in May and end in early July; we'll try to have a few reports for you along the way."

The band is currently touring Europe until early May and will perform at the Roadburn festival in Tilburg, The Netherlands on April 15.

Massachusetts metallers ALL THAT REMAINS are currently in pre-production at Zing Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts on their fifth album for a fall 2010 release via Prosthetic Records. The CD is being produced by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who previously helmed ALL THAT REMAINS' "The Fall of Ideals" (2006) and "This Darkened Heart" (2004) releases.

"When they asked me to do the new record, I gladly accepted," Adam tells AOL's Noisecreep. "Although their practice space reeks of stale beer, Burger King farts and 'Chicopee tears,' I've heard some of their new stuff and it sounds like it's gonna be pretty sweet! Expect blazing leads, Greek chugs, some female bottom, a good amount of eastern Mass kicks and big vocals from a little man. Har har har!"

ALL THAT REMAINS frontman Phil Labonte, who filled in for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones on the band's recent North American headlining tour, jokes to Noisecreep, "So I'm home from six weeks filling in on vocals for KILLSWITCH, get to our practice space, and there's Adam D again!!! FUGG!!!"

"We're in 'time to make the donuts' mode, and the donuts are metal tunes!

"We're pumped to be working with Adam again. Nothin' like making music in the spring with good friends in Massachusetts."

"Frozen", the new video from Finland's BLACK SUN AEON, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's second album, "Routa", which entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 8. The follow-up to "Darkness Walks Beside Me" is a double album featuring a Finish-winter theme and consisting of two parts — "Side A", called "Talviaamu" ["Wintermorning"], and "Side B", dubbed "Talviyö" ["Winternight"].

"Routa" track listing:

01. Core of Winter
02. Frozen
03. Sorrowsong
04. Routa
05. Wreath of Ice
06. Dead Sun Aeon
07. Cold
08. Funeral of World
09. River
10. Frozen Kingdom
11. Wanderer
12. The Beast
13. Silence
14. Apocalyptic Reveries