Guitarist Steve Smyth (FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE) has joined forces with former members of BIOMECHANICAL and MERCENARY in a new, as-yet-unnamed new project.

The group's lineup is as follows:

Jamie Hunt (BIOMECHANICAL) - Guitar
Adrian Lambert (BIOMECHANICAL) - Bass
Morten Sørensen (ANUBIS GATE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS) - Drums
Mikkel Sandager (ex-MERCENARY) - Vocals
Steve Smyth (FORBIDDEN, TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE) - Guitar

Commented Smyth: "This is early days right now, meaning we're still hammering out vox and lyric ideas with Mikkel, who just recently came on board with us, but damn, can this man sing! And with Adrian and Morten on board, we have a powerhouse rhythm section which I believe will raise the bar on what metal rhythm sections can sound like!

"Musically, I've written a lot of songs over the last few years here, and started writing with Jamie over the last year as well, and we're really proud with what we have come up with, and ready to unleash this animal in 2010!"

Smyth joined FORBIDDEN in January 2009 as the replacement for Glen Alvelais. Smyth states, "I've had a good busy year, jamming with FORBIDDEN, getting some touring in with the guys, and settling in with helping to write their new album, one which I believe sees a return to form, yet a continued growth as well, kind of full-circle FORBIDDEN, but they've learned what they like, and now know how to deliver it! And it's metal all the damn way, which I love!!! And I know any FORBIDDEN fan will as well!

"I'm way excited and ready to get this underway in 2010, and see what we can do together!"

North America's progressive metal gods SYMPHONY X are currently writing material for their next studio album, tentatively due mid-2010 via their new record label, Nuclear Blast Records. The band's guitarist, Michael Romeo, tells the SYMPHONY X webmaster that the songwriting sessions are "progressing well." He says that the riffs are written and all the ideas are there; they're just trying different arrangements right now. According to the axeman, "Every day is different; we're just doing our thing and trying to make the tunes cool. You put something together one day and then come back the next day and listen to it; sometimes it's cool, and sometimes it sucks and you have to change things around."

On November 4, 2008, InsideOut Music released a special 5.1 edition of SYMPHONY X's critically acclaimed album "Paradise Lost". The double-disc package includes a DVD 5.1 mix by Jens Bogren of the entire album as well as two enhanced HD videos for "Set the World on Fire" and "Serpent's Kiss".

Polish metallers TRAUMA have completed work on their sixth studio album, "Archetype Of Chaos", for a February 2010 release via Witching Hour Productions.

TRAUMA completed the recordings for the new CD in November while the band was in negotiations with several labels for a new record deal. Finally, in December, TRAUMA inked a deal with Witching Hour for the release of "Archetype Of Chaos" worldwide.

"Archetype Of Chaos" track listing:

01. Intro (White Architect)
02. Cortex Deformation
03. A Dying World
04. War Machine
05. The Slime
06. The Truth Murder
07. Tabula Rasa
08. Portrait Of The Lies
09. Destruction Of The Demented World

The cover artwork for the CD was created by Michal "Xaay" Loranc, who is also responsible for new layout of official TRAUMA web site.

Drakkar Entertainment geben auf ihrer Homepage bekannt, dass das neue Album von De/Vision den Titel “Popgefahr“ tragen wird. Die Berliner Synthie-Popper werden ihren neuen Longplayer im Frühjahr veröffentlichen und haben auf ihrer Homepage auch schon neue Tourdaten bekannt gegeben, denn passend zum kommenden Album wollen sie ihre Fans wieder mit einem elektronischen Set beehren. Mit Schumann & Bach haben sich Steffen und Thomas übrigens wieder ihre Lieblingsproduzenten ins Boot geholt. Sind wir also mal gespannt ob der Titel dem Album tatsächlich die Ehre erweist.

DE/VISION presents you with "RAGE" the first single from the forthcoming album "POPGEFAHR". As of 24. December 2009 you can listen to the first preview at www.myspace.com/devisionmusic.
And of course Steffen & Thomas would be happy, if you could give direct feedback on Myspace, or you just send an E-mail to band@devision-music.de!

Steffen, Thomas and the whole DE/VISION - Info Team wish you a Merry Christmas and much fun while listening to the new song!

According to The Orange County Register, AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer James Owen Sullivan (a.k.a. The Rev) was found dead at his home on Monday (December 28). He was 28 years old.

Sullivan appears to have died of natural causes, Huntington Beach police Lt. John Domingo told The Orange County Register. Police were notified by firefighters who had responded to Sullivan's home about 1 p.m., according to the report.

In addition to playing drums for AVENGED SEVENFOLD, The Rev was a prolific songwriter, having contributed the track "A Little Piece of Heaven" to the band's fourth studio CD, 2007's "Avenged Sevenfold".

AVENGED SEVENFOLD has issued the following statement regarding the passing of the band's drummer, James Owen Sullivan (a.k.a. The Rev):

"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan.

"Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly, he was our best friend and brother.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy's family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time."

Vocalist Fernando Ribeiro of Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL has issued the following update:

"We have finished greatly in Skopje, Macedonia in front of hundreds of fans in na indoor festival and have close the year of 2009 era vulgaris, in what it comes to MOONSPELL live shows. It was a great run, initiated in the States with the Blackest of the Black tour, and in Europe with both CRADLE OF FILTH runs, and crowned by the passionate Latin American crowds in the other side of the world.

Our next show is a hometown gig in Lisbon (Fil Expo) on the 23rd of January, with the greatest video and stage production ever and we will work hard on this one, especially to reintroduce some other songs in our setlist, songs that both us and the fans have been missing; rumours of 'Magdalene', 'Soulsick', 'In And Above Man'. Let's see what the tides brings. It's a 3000 capacity and half of the tickets are gone so far, and that adds to our enthusiasm.

"Even though some festivals have been confirmed for next year and some one-offs might show up, 2010 will be slower in live terms for us but for the best of reasons. We will start writing a new opus. Ricardo [Amorim, guitar] (especially) have been very productive for the past six months and my iPod is full of his rough diamonds that me and Pedro [Paixão; keyboards/guitar] and Waldemar [Sorychta, producer] will polish in the pre-production for the new record. The name is chosen, the concept as well, and not to spoil the surprise, in a time of no surprises, I will not reveal it. Ah! Well, it will be more tongue in cheek, more erotic, when erotic meets religious, and once again I will be dealing lyrically with when one transforms in the other so it will be at least fun to have the cross and the red lips together. Musically, it has got everything that MOONSPELL needs: great songs, melodic, dark and powerful. We will be also working here and there on our acoustic show for Portugal. Let's see how this one cooks up.

"AMALIA HOJE [an album featuring a number of Portuguese artists paying tribute to Amália Rodrigues, who was the unchallenged queen of fado — the Portuguese equivalent of flamenco or blues]: We are still playing a few shows together as the public demand is high after the 70,000 unit sales in Portugal. France, Brasil, Spain, China will follow (I write from our first-ever show outside Portugal — Vigo, Galicia). It has been a great trip that will slowly fade away, with the conscience of a remarkable group, project and the just tribute to such a figure as the great Amália Rodrigues.

"ORFEU REBELDE is a new project I made together with Pedro (Paixão, MOONSPELL) and Rui Sidónio (BIZARRA LOCOMOTIVA) that combines spoken word, keyboard atmospheres, and industrial metal/dark rock passages, all sung in Portuguese. The lyrics are taken from a great Portuguese book of poems, 'Orfeu Rebelde' (Rebel Orpheus), written by one of the greatest Portuguese authors ever, Miguel Torga. The poems verse a reinvidication of humanity, of darkness, of obscure independence through the voice and the anguish of Orpheu who rebels against his faith and rescues his muse.

"This project was a invitation of one of the most reputed radio music journalists in Portugal (Henrique Amaro of Antena 3, national radio) and included on a series of other records released by Optimus, a phone company in Portugal [with] a good attitude towards alternative music. The EP is available [for] free download at this location and a physical limited digipack edition will be available exclusively from the band (info to be provided) or at the FNAC shops in Portugal or at www.fnac.pt. The edition is via Compact Records in Portugal and the name of the EP is 'Cada Som Como Um Grito', which translates as 'Every Sound Like A Scream'.

" I was comissioned to write a short sci-fi book by Gailivro (Leya), one of the biggest publishers group in Portugal and I am working on it right now. It is written in Portuguese and it will be available in Portugal and Brazil only. It is called 'A Irmã de Caim' (Sister of Cain) and it is a book about vampires, not to join the twilight trend but in order to play mischeviously with it. It is a song about a little forum girl that takes her passion for Stephanie Meyer and her pitiful creatures a litlle bit too far. Despite being just available in Portugal, I am happy to announce that I started working on my poetry books translation and that all of you will be reading it."

As part of the exclusive limited boxset of "implements of hell", SUICIDE COMMANDO will release "god is in the rain" as extra single taken from the new album.

The single will not only hold 2 completely new and exclusive versions of the "god is in the rain" song done by SUICIDE COMMANDO, but will also contain 2 exclusive remixes from :WUMPSCUT: and The synthetic Dream Foundation + 2 previously unreleased songs (one of them being a rare version of the pre "mindstrip" period in 1999).

The extra single only will be sold in Europe as part of the special limited to 1000 copies boxset, which also will contain an exclusive t-shirt, postcardset and poster.

All 3 editions of the upcoming album can be pre-ordered NOW at the Out Of Line online shop OR at our own mail order shop !

Sweden's SONIC SYNDICATE have issued the following update:

"Hey Dudes!

We hope your all having a Merry Christmas! Here at Sonic we are certainly making the most of it as its the first break we have had in quite a while now :P. The beer is flowing, the food is cooking and the presents are being unwrapped. Sonic are certainly not going to forget to wish everyone a 'God Jule' and special thanks to the hundreds and hundreds of messages from our friends on MySpace, Facebook, Rockspot and Twitter! Online festive fun is awesome!"

Nathan: "Well, we have nearly finished all the new songs for the album. I'm feeling really confident this is going to be something awesome!"

Rich: "I know! Its all come together so quickly, I hope all of our releases in the future are so smooth, haha!"

Karin: "It's Christmas and we're still talking about music. Are we sad, hehe?"

Robin: "Yes, I think we are pretty stupid! Its time to chill out guys! Lets crap some of those bottles of vodka open we've been saving since the tour in Germany!"

Roger: "You can't have that one! *Roger points at the Absolut bottle* I'm taking that one because Nathan still hasn't given me a bottle back from when he was living with me and he drank all my vodka!"

Nathan: "Haha! Fair enough dude! But anyway... Cheers! Skol! L'chaim! Whatever!"

Sonic: "SKOL!!! GOD JULE!"

Swedish songwriter/producer/artist Chris Laney is working on material for his second solo album at Polar Studios in Stockholm. Tentatively due in the spring, the CD will feature collaborations and guest appearances by Bruce Kulick (KISS, UNION, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD) and Conny Bloom (HANOI ROCKS, ELECTRIC BOYS), among others.

Chris Laney's debut solo album, "Pure", was released in March 2009 via Metal Heaven. The songs on the CD were all written by Laney with co-writers like Bruce Kulick (KISS, UNION, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD), Lennart Östlund (LED ZEPPELIN, THE ROLLING STONES, ABBA, GENESIS), Mats Levén (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and others. Laney sang all songs on "Pure", which included appearances by guest musicians J. Koleberg (ANIMAL, ZAN CLAN), Nalle Pahlsson (TREAT, ANIMAL, ZAN CLAN), Vic Zino (HARDCORE SUPERSTAR), Martin Sweet (CRASHDIET) and Zinny Zan (EASY ACTION, SHOTGUN MESSIAH, ZAN CLAN).

Chris Laney has been involved in music all his life. He started to tour at the age of 13 and was in bands like SCRATCH and SEVENTEEN. He is a multi-talented musician who plays piano, drums and other instruments, but the guitar is what has become his closest friend. He is also known as a brilliant songwriter and producer. He spends time working at Polar Studios that was built by members in ABBA.

As a producer/engineer, Chris Laney has worked with artists like CANDLEMASS, EUROPE, CRASHDIET, Bruce Kulick, Brian "Robbo" Robertson, EASY ACTION and others.

As a guitarist, Chris Laney was previously a member of Randy Piper's ANIMAL and ZAN CLAN, bands where he was also the main songwriter and producer. Laney released two albums with ex-W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper and his band ANIMAL, "Violent New Breed" (2006) and "Virus" (2008). Chris also released one album with ZAN CLAN, "We Are Zan Clan … Who the Fxxk Are You" (2005) and the DVD "Kickz The Livin Shit … Outta Stockholm" (2006).

Japanese neo-classical/power metal band AREA51 has tapped Jens Bogren (OPETH, SYMPHONY X, PARADISE LOST, SAINT DEAMON) to produce its third album.

Commented guitarist Yoichiro Ishino: "I am completely in love with the albums [Jens] worked on, and the sound he creates. He's definitely one of the best mixing engineers in the world, so it's such a privilege to be able to work with him."

He added, "All the new songs are powerful, and full of variety. Jens' magic will definitly make the kick-ass sound we're all waiting for! It'll be worth the wait for sure."

The CD is tentatively due in March 2010.

AREA51 has released two albums, including its most recent effort, "Daemonicus", which featured a guest appearance by Rob Rock (IMPELLITTERI) on a grand 16-and-a-half-minute masterpiece

EPICA vocalist Simone Simons has checked in with the following year-end update:

"Hello!

It's been a while since my last update. I am sorry for that!

2009 was a good year for the Epicans. We recorded Design Your Universe in the beginning of 2009 and welcomed a new band member, Isaac Delahaye.

Design Your Universe was received very well. We've done a lot of touring. We've played at numerous great summer festivals, had a big European headline tour with AMBERIAN DAWN and SONS OF SEASONS, we've travelled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatamala, Venezuela and Colombia.

Last weekend I took part of the Christmas Metal Symphony. I've sung with Cristina (LACUNA COIL / 'Heaven's A Lie') and performed one of my all time favourite songs 'Strange Machines'. Mark and I performed 'Cry For The Moon' together. The biggest surprise of the evening was Ariën (van Weesenbeek / Epica drummer) singing 'Angel of Death' from SLAYER. He has many talents. He totally rocked the stage!

Now I am looking forward to the holidays I will be travelling to the Blackwood forest again to my German family. I can't wait to go ice skating and build my own Snowman :)

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas time with your family and friends. Let 2010 be another rocking year full of good music!"

Cheers,
Santa Simone

Legendary death metallers MASTER have completed recording their tenth full-length album, entitled "The Human Machine", for an early 2010 release via Pulverised Records.

Commented MASTER founder/frontman Paul Speckmann: "MASTER are in the studio mixing and mastering soon. Things are going very well at the moment. We hope to finish this in the next few days.

"I am very happy with the way things have turned out and it will be killer to finally have a CD released once again on a professional label such as Pulverised.

"Things look very good on the horizon, with Brazil and European tours coming soon."

Added Pulverised Records A&R manager Calvin: "Paul sent me two blistering tracks from the upcoming new MASTER album last night and I was absolutely blown away by how much authentic brutality that they still retain, coming from a band with an almost-30-year history. Nothing much has changed, and if [anything], this is probably more old-school, ferocious and even more death metal than their previous few efforts. It is exactly how fans of MASTER would imagine the new album to be, and no one will be disappointed!"

"The Human Machine" artwork is being created by Israeli artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, AGHORA, TO-MERA, GWAR, SICKENING HORROR).

DORO's 2002 album "Fight" will be re-released on CD and vinyl on January 25, 2010 via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD comes in a high-class digipak with four bonus tracks (tracks 16 + 17 previously unreleased). The extensive booklet includes new photos and liner notes by Doro Pesch and Nick Douglas. The LP comes in a double gatefold sleeve with printed inner sleeves.

Doro remembers the recording of some important songs: "'Fight' was the first walk-in anthem for my dear friend Regina Halmich. She is such a great lady and so powerful!!! For 13 years a world champion in boxing! I'm so proud of her and it was a great honor to do a song for her and sometimes I would do it live before the fight! She always won…every single one… Amazing!!!

"'Salvaje' is a song about Lemmy. The recording sessions on the 'Calling The Wild' album inspired me so much that I wanted to write a song about it…

"Lemmy is the best and so much fun, too!!! Man, I loved every single minute we spent together in the studio or in the car sitting in traffic in L.A., listening and singing to Lemmy's favorite tunes… It was an awesome time!!!

"The chorus is in Spanish! My first Spanish song… and the guitar player is a great friend of ours. Chris Caffery! When he came to our studio, he came with the whole road crew and our studio was so small. We always called it 'Boxbude.' So everybody had to stand up and watched Chris playing the tracks. It was so tight and all the guys were sweating like hell, but Chris played so fantastic and we all felt so good in our 'Boxbude!' What a great day!"

CD track listing:

01. Fight
02. Always Live To Win
03. Descent (feat. Pete Steele)
04. Salvaje
05. Undying
06. Legends Never Die
07. Rock Before You Bleed
08. Sister Darkness
09. Wild Heart
10. Fight By Your Side
11. Chained
12. Hoffnung (Hope)
13. Song For Me
14. Untouchable (bonus track)
15. Tourjour Pour Gasner (bonus track)
16. Always Live To Win (acoustic) (bonus track)
17. Breaking The Law (acoustic) (bonus track)

LP track listing:

Side 1:

01. Fight
02. Always Live To Win
03. Descent (feat. Pete Steele)
04. Salvaje

Side 2

01. Undying
02. Legends Never Die
03. Rock Before You Bleed

Side 3:

01. Sister Darkness
02. Wild Heart
03. Fight By Your Side

Side 4:

01. Chained
02. Hoffnung (Hope)
03. Song For Me

German metallers MOB RULES have issued the following year-end message:

"An eventful year 2009 is coming to an end now, but we won´t miss the opportunity to thank all our fans, friends, crew members and families for the outstanding support. The new album Radical Peace is in stores since November 13th, accompanied by great reviews that we received. Our next aim is to present the new songs on stage, as often as possible. The shows in Kerkrade, Wuppertal, Emden, Hamburg and the CD release show in Wilhelmshaven have been memorable evenings for us. Too bad that our planned tour with DIO did not happen (get well soon, Ronnie James!), but for January we can already announce that we will support metal legend U.D.O. Other concerts are in the planning stages, but some already confirmed (see here). Let´s see what 2010 also holds in store for us.

Just a few weeks ago the legendary Bruce Dickinson (singer of IRON MAIDEN) played a song from Radical Peace on his BBC radio show. Could it get any better? Well, NO!

Be sure that 2010 will bring some exciting events for Mob Rules. We are already working on it and will let you know details as soon as they are confirmed (which might be around March).

So far, so good, we wish you a Merry X-mas and a happy and healthy 2010! See you at the concerts!"

Canadian extreme metallers KATAKLYSM have set "Heaven's Venom" as the title of the follow-up to 2008's "Prevail", tentatively due in October 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented guitarist Jean-Francois Dagenais: "This album will be different than 'Prevail', but will still have the classic KATAKLYSM trademarks and hooks. You will see a much more intricate record than we've done in the past. It will contian some really fast and dynamic parts, but we will also aim on a very melodic-driven record and it will contain lots of technical parts as well that we haven't explored much lately. And no worries, the bone-crushing grooves are always a must with KATAKLYSM and will be present. I've also seen Maurizio's [Iacono, vocals] lyrics for this album so far and let me tell you that they hit really hard. I know it's a very personal album to him as he is going through some tough times in his personal life. So I'm not worried on what he will bring to this record. So expect a very real, aggressive and determined KATAKLYSM album!

"We know we have set the bar high for ourselves, but we are confident to deliver the goods once again.

"On the production end, I will handle the recording as usual, but
for the mix we have decided to enlist Tue Madsen from Denmark. We feel he captured best the band's sound on 'In The Arms Of Devastation'. We feel it's a winning team and we're gonna make sure you have the best-sounding record to date."

He has played for Meat Loaf during the Bat Out Of Hell tour, he has been responsible for the lead guitars on Kiss-classics such as 'Crazy, Crazy Nights' and 'God Gave Rock'n'Roll To You'. And now he will upgrade the value of Tobias Sammet's new Avantasia epic with his remarkable lead guitar sound: legendary Kiss axeman Bruce Kulick!

Tobias says about the collaboration: "I've met Bruce in 2008 in Los Angeles. Kiss drummer Eric Singer (who has played drums for Tobias' Avantasia project as well) had played him our Avantasia album "The Scarecrow" and Bruce must have liked my voice as far as I know. So eventually he asked me to sing a song on his solo album "BK3" which is gonna come out in February 2010. I liked the idea, I liked the track, I liked Bruce and so of course I did it. Bruce has always been one of my favourite guitar players, he is one of the classic 80s shredders who got a unique tone and a terrific feeling. His playing is very tasteful. Now, I was looking for an additional lead guitar player for Avantasia to add a new color to some songs and it stood to reason to ask someone who had just become a member of my extended family, so I went for him, and I am happy he liked the idea and immediately agreed. Bruce is a super cool guy, he sacrificed Christmas Eve to start the recording sessions for me in Los Angeles. That says a lot about his work ethic. He is a real pro and a class act! Check out his website kulick.net.

Producer/composer Paul O'Neill, who co-founded TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA with SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, told TheNewsStar.com that he and Oliva are working on a Broadway musical called "Gutter Ballet" (also the name of the second record O'Neill did with SAVATAGE) that they hope to get to the stage in the next two years. It's the culmination of a work that O'Neill began in the 1970s. Many of the songs have already had rock versions recorded by SAVATAGE, but will return to their roots for the Broadway show.

"We want to take it back to the original blues, gospel, Motown sound," he said. "For SAVATAGE, you've got to metal it up. Jon and I are kind of psyched to be doing it because Broadway is something we've always wanted to take on."

According to O'Neill, there are also some SAVATAGE projects in the offering, including a best-of compilation, a re-release of the band's last record, "Poets and Madmen", on Atlantic, and possibly a new album.

Singer Biff Byford from UK metal legends SAXON have issued the following update:

"Merry Christmas!

Well it's hope you all have a great one, lost my other dog today Merlin.

I would like to thank everybody who has helped us this year, every one at xray, ics, all the magazines, radios, record companies, all our families, travel agent, our crew, all the websites, all the bands we have played with, the venues and all our fans world wide.

Special mention for our friend Mick Cox (ROSE TATTOO) who passed on to the other side we will remember!"

As previously reported, ATROCITY have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, scheduled for August 5th - 7th, 2010 in Wacken, Germany. Frontman Alex Krull has issued the following statement:

"Atrocity will play a special show at Wacken Open Air 2010! Together with the fans and friends at Wacken, Atrocity will celebrate the band's 25th anniversary! In addition to a special Best Of live performance, the greatest Werk 80 show of all times with a amazing stage design will take place! We are really looking forward to this concert!

More news to come, stay tuned!"

The new and third album, "Draw Down the Moon" of the American metal band ICARUS WITCH comes on 9 February 2010 Cleopatra Records / Koch Distribution in the trade. The band now has the "Draw Down the Moon" cover artwork and track list revealed, besides the title song "Draw Down The Moon" on MySpace has been added to probehören.

"Draw Down The Moon" Track List:

01. Black Candles
02. Aquarius Rising
03. Reap What You Sow
04. Dying Eyes
05. Draw Down The Moon
06. Serpent In The Garden
07. Wine Funeral
08. Haunting Visions
09. The Ripper

As first reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET back on June 1, 2009, New Orleans sludge metallers CROWBAR have now officially parted ways with guitarist Steve Gibb and have replaced him with Matthew Brunson, bassist of KINGDOM OF SORROW (the band featuring CROWBAR guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein). Guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein states, "We, of course, all remain very good friends with [former CROWBAR guitarist] Steve Gibb, but his personal training business and gym are doing great, I'm happy to report, but that, and his family at home, simply do not give him the time to play with CROWBAR any longer. We love him dearly and thank him for his dedication while he was jamming with CROWBAR."

CROWBAR's November 20, 2009 concert at the City Club in Houma, Louisiana will be recorded for an upcoming live album. The CD is expected to be released next year via DOWN/ex-PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's record label Housecore Records.

CROWBAR's forthcoming box set, which will also be released via Housecore, will include the full self-titled demo from the pre-CROWBAR band THE SLUGS that was recorded in April 1990. Songs include "Subversion", "A Breed Apart", "My Agony", "No Quarter" (LED ZEPPELIN cover), "My 4 Walls" and the unreleased track "Brain Freeze".

The lineup on the demo was as follows:

Kirk Windstein: Vocals, Guitars
Jimmy Bower: Drums
Kevin Noonan: Guitars
Todd Strange: Bass

CROWBAR will re-release the majority of its back catalog through Housecore Records. Also planned is a CD of new material.

On April 3rd Tobias Sammet will unleash what he personally calls ‘the most intense epic’ in his career so far, a two disc continuation of his latest Avantasia album “The Scarecrow” which went straight in the Top-10 album charts in several nations upon its release. The album featured high profile guest musicians such as Alice Cooper, Michael Kiske, Rudolf Schenker and many more and received an award for “Best Rock Production 2008” by the association of sound engineers in Germany.

For his forthcoming releases “The Wicked Symphony” and “Angel Of Babylon” (both albums will also be available in one box set on April 3rd) Tobias has confirmed the following guest stars so far:

Klaus Meine (Scorpions), Ripper Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Eric Singer (KISS), Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween), Jorn Lande (Masterplan), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Bob Catley (Magnum), Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody), Felix Bohnke (Edguy), Producer Sascha Paeth (ex-Heavens Gate) and Andre Matos (ex-Angra).

And now a new singer can be confirmed. Avantasia fans may be familiar with him, he is the man who has sung the role of Falk von Kronberg back on “The Metal Opera”: Ralf Zdiarstek.

Tobias: “I first heard this guy when I was 15. That's when his band played a little regional gig and me and Edguy were on the billing too. Now, all I knew is that the band featured the guitar player of Kingdom Come, but I immediately fell in love with Ralf’s voice, it blew me away and I wanted to be able to sing like this guy one day. To me he was the mullet-version of Geoff Tate, haha. I called him a few years later and asked him to sing backing vocals on Edguy’s Vain Glory Opera album and he agreed, as long as music and lyrics had no negative or even Satanic spirit or message. Well... To cut a long story short: He ended up on several Edguy albums (remember the Hallelujah-passage on “Theater Of Salvation”?) and a few years later on both Metal-Opera albums of Avantasia – as a lead singer. And now I have managed to get him in the studio again for a track called “Black Wings”, it’s a very dark track and the vocals sound very eerie. You gotta check this out, it’s something I guess we haven’t done before. Rambi sings like no one else, he’s got a unique voice and I am happy to have one of my best friends on the album again!”