German folk metal veterans SUIDAKRA have issued the following year-end update:

"First of all, thanks to all SuidAkrA fans for showing up at our UK gigs with SAXON and ANVIL! We hope to come back soon with a better slot and a longer setlist. In the meantime, the ReUnation - A Tribute To RUNNING WILD sampler was released. Check out our contribution of 'Marooned' here.

An eventful year is drawing to an end. With Crógacht we have released one of the best received albums of our career so far, we played a four week US tour, shows in China, Wacken Open Air and quite a few more great concerts. Unfortunately our European tour had to be called off due to illness - but you can't win them all!

In 2010 we'll step down a bit from playing live and concentrate on writing a new album for a 2011 release. Enjoy the holiday season and have a happy new year!

See you there!"

ccording to Heraldsun.com.au, ROSE TATTOO guitarist Mick Cocks has died from cancer.

A brief statement on the band's website confirmed the death of the Sydney rocker tonight.

"We're very sad to announce that Rose Tattoo founding member and guitarist Mick Cocks lost his battle against liver cancer and passed away today, on December 22th,'' the statement read.

He had been battling the disease since April this year.

It comes just months after some of Australia's best-loved rockers joined forces to put on a benefit gig for the stricken performer.

Rose Tattoo, JIMMY BARNES, YOU AM I, IAN MOSS AND THE SCREAMING JETS played at the Enmore Theatre in July to raise money for Cocks.

Guitarist Pete Wells, who died in March 2006 from cancer, formed Rose Tattoo in 1976, joining forces with Angry Anderson, Mick Cocks, Ian Rilen and Dallas Royal.

Rose Tattoo is well known for its hits including 'We Can't Be Beaten', 'Scarred for Life', 'Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw' and 'Bad Boy For Love'.

Legendary British/American heavy metal trio RAVEN will release its new album, "Walk Through Fire", in Europe on March 29, 2010 through SPV/Steamhammer. The CD, which came out in Japan in March 209 via King Records, was recorded at the Assembly Line Studios with engineer/mixer Kevin 131 (PROJECT: FAILING FLESH, DECEASED, DYSRYTHMIA, GARDEN OF SHADOWS).

"Walk Through Fire" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Against The Grain
03. Breaking You Down
04. Under Your Radar
05. Walk Through Fire
06. Bulldozer
07. Long Day's Journey
08. Trainwreck
09. Grip
10. Running Around In Circles
11. Hard Road
12. Armageddon
13. Attitude
14. Space Station #5 (MONTROSE cover)
15. The King (live) (bonus track)

HOLLOW BRANCHES, one of the many projects in which Jason Walton (AGALLOCH, SELF SPILLER), Robert Hunter (CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE LIGHT) and Marius Sjøli (FORMLOFF) are involved, has just released its new EP. Thematically inspired by dreams, insomnia, nostalgia and morning, "Anchored in Sleep" finds HOLLOW BRANCHES expanding its sound with elements of progressive and post rock, as well as glitch. Drawing from a variety of influences, including DAVID SYLVIAN, LANDBERK and PORCUPINE TREE, this EP is perfect for the cold winter days ahead.

"Anchored in Sleep" is now available for free download from the band's MySpace page.

More than 5,000 miles separates the members of HOLLOW BRANCHES, they have only been in the same room a handful of times, each is in several other bands, and none of this is likely to change. In spite of these obstacles, HOLLOW BRANCHES has managed to record two EPs in 2009 alone.

With a sound equal parts ambient, rock and trip hop, HOLLOW BRANCHES' first EP, "Words are Fire", received a digital release in February and was downloaded no less than 500 times.

A brand new SAWTHIS (formerly SOTHIS) track entitled "Mr. Zero" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Italian thrash-death metallers' forthcoming sophomore album, "Egod", which was recorded at Petemkin Studios with producer Paolo Ojetti (INFERNAL POETRY). 13 songs were written for the CD and 10 of them were tracked for the final product. Daniele "Axo" Galassi from INFERNAL POETRY played a guest guitar solo on "Barabba", which is said to be "the most atypical song that SAWTHIS has ever written."

The band's debut album, "Fusion", was released in April 2006 via Italy's Temple Of Noise Records.

SPIRALARMS, the San Francisco Bay Area-based band featuring Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, ex-MANMADEGOD) on guitar, Tim Narducci (ex-SYSTEMATIC) on vocals, Chris "Cornbread" Lombardo on bass, Brad Barth on keyboards, Greg Narducci on rhythm guitar and Ron Redeen on drums, has finished recording its full-length debut, "Highest Society". According to Narducci, "Ron played the last of the percussion yesterday and I put down some BEATLES-esque backgrounds on 'Sleep Of The Just' to take the song to a trippier place. Files of 'Bottom Rung' were sent off to our broham Eric Kretz [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS/ex-SPIRALARMS drummer] in L.A. so he can lay down some slay bells at his studio (Bomb Shelter). This will be badass! Last, we start mixing shortly after the New Year."

"Highest Society" will be released through Luxury Buzz, the new label started by Narducci and Barth. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Blood And Wine", "Later On", "Live Another Day", "Scorpio", "Silver Sky", "All That You Seek", "Dirty Bomb" and "Got It All Wrong".

VENOMOUS CONCEPT, the old-school hardcore/punk project featuring Shane Embury (guitar, NAPALM DEATH), Kevin Sharp (vocals, BRUTAL TRUTH), Danny Lilker (bass, BRUTAL TRUTH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT) and Danny Herrera (drums, NAPALM DEATH), has issued the following update:

"On a day off on our recent European tour, we recorded six new tracks. We will be recording a few more tracks in the New Year and plan to release a couple of splits with WOLFBRIGADE and BRUCE BANNER from Sweden. This we are fucking excited about.

"All being well, VENOMOUS CONCEPT will be back next year for some more shows in places we didn't get to last time.

"We, VENOMOUS CONCEPT, had a lots of fun; it was back to the roots, old-school style — it was a breath of fresh air!!

"Expect a new VENOMOUS CONCEPT album sometime next year also."

VENOMOUS CONCEPT's second effort, "Poisoned Apple", came out in April 2008. it was the follow-up to 2004's "Retroactive Abortion", which was released on Mike Patton's Ipecac Recordings.

Bassist/mainman Leif Edling of Swedish doom metal legends CANDLEMASS was interviewed live on tonight's (Monday, December 21) edition of Greece's "Metalzone" radio show (web site) with Kostas Purevil Kyriakakis. One of the topics raised during the chat was the upcoming CANDLEMASS DVD, which will probably be out in late February/early March via Nuclear Blast. Tentatively titled "Ashes To Ashes Live", the disc will contain footage of the band's performance at this year's Sweden Rock Festival in front of 30,000 people as well as CANDLEMASS' entire October 2009 concert in Athens, Greece. Bonus material will include two large photo galeries and the interview Metalzone.gr conducted with the band when they were in Greece.

VREID and DORDEDUH (the Romanian metal band featuring former NEGURA BUNGET members Hupogrammos and Sol Faur) are among the artists who will contribute to the forthcoming "official tribute" to Norwegian masters of progressive/experimental metal ENSLAVED. Twenty acts are scheduled to appear on the CD, entitled "Önd - A Tribute", which will coincide with 20-year anniversary of Norway's finest.

Here are the first confirmed acts:

* VREID (Norway)
* ODEM ARCARUM (Germany)
* ASMODEE (France)
* DORDEDUH (Romania)
* ISLAND (Germany)
* REVERENCE (France)
* SAEL (France)

"Önd - A Tribute" will be released via France's Pictonian Records.

Baltimore, Maryland's MISERY INDEX will enter Wright Way Studios (DYING FETUS, SLIPKNOT, MOS DEF) with engineer Steve Wright to begin recording its new album, tentatively titled "Heirs To Thievery", for a May 2010 release via Relapse Records. Songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to 2008's "Traitors" include "Embracing Extinction", "Heirs To Thievery", "Fed To The Wolves" and "Sleeping Giants".

Commented MISERY INDEX's Jason Netherton: "The thread that binds several songs lyrically surrounds ideas of hidden history, how we interpret our nation, and our idea of who we are culturally and collectively, as it is generally handed down to us in terms of icons, wars, struggles and triumph."

Oakland, California-based power trio HIGH ON FIRE has completed work on its long-awaited, fifth studio album, "Snakes for the Divine", for a February 23, 2010 release via E1 Music. The follow-up to 2007's "Death is This Communion" was recorded at The Pass Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman and is described in a press release as "HIGH ON FIRE's magnum opus, capturing every nuance of the legendary band's ongoing musical progression and evolution into one of heavy music's all-time greats. Sharper, faster and darker than anything the group has ever recorded, 'Snakes for the Divine' is an unrelenting tour de force, showcasing cult guitar hero Matt Pike's utterly unique and inventive musicianship and the band's epic, thundering sound. Premium production by Fidelman — the man who produced SLAYER's 'World Painted Blood' and is mixing the upcoming METALLICA live album — boosts HIGH ON FIRE's strength and power while blackened lyrical tales of ancient wars, frozen planets and doomed societies emerge from Pike's bellowing barks and throaty war cries. From the moment the leviathan-like title track explodes to kick off the album, it is immediately evident that HIGH ON FIRE is determined to push modern heavy metal into new and uncharted realms."

"Snakes for the Divine" track listing:

01. Snakes for the Divine
02. Frost Hammer
03. Bastard Samurai
04. Ghost Neck
05. Fire, Flood & Plague
06. How Dark We Pray
07. Holy Flames of the Fire Spitter
08. Mystery of Helm

The "Snakes for the Divine" album artwork will be brought to life by longtime HIGH ON FIRE cover artist Arik Moonhawk Roper.

"We went a little over-aggressive with the drumming, and me and [bassist] Jeff [Matz] collaborated a lot more throughout the songwriting process," HIGH ON FIRE frontman Matt Pike tells AOL's Noisecreep. "We went for a more aggressive approach. It's what we do well. We went for a heavier, ballsier, faster-paced sound that still has a lot of cleverness to it ... there are lots of stops and stalls, crazy licks. It's really heavy, a little more aggressive than our last album, a little less psychedelic. For the most part, the songs are amazing."

Working with Fidelman was a pleasure, says Pike. "He's a genius," the singer says. "He knows what he's doing. We thought we'd butt heads but we ended up seeing eye-to-eye on a lot of things."

JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the band led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, will release its fourth album, "Festival", on February 19, 2010 via AFM Records. A March/April European tour will be confirmed soon, culminating with the filming of a live DVD consisting of music from the four JON OLIVA'S PAIN CDs and a healthy dose of SAVATAGE classics.

Check out the "Festival" cover artwork here.

The kick-off show of JON OLIVA'S PAIN's 2010 tour and the official U.S CD-release party for "Festival" will now take place on Friday, March 12, 2010 at the Bourbon Street nightclub in New Port Richey, Florida. "Festival" CDs will be on sale at the venue, weeks before the official release in the U.S.

The DVD shoot will take place on Friday, March 19, 2010 at the 013 in Tilburg, Holland. Tickets are now on sale through the 013 web site and box office.

Commented Oliva: "This DVD is going to kick ass, and [it's] something that I have been looking forward to for many, many years. With the release of our new album in February and the vast back catalog of SAVATAGE material, we will have plenty of material to fill a two-plus-hour show... The band is great form and my voice is so ready for this. We're going to capture a great show with all the pyro, bells and whistles we can put on stage... and, of course, we will need all of you there to make it an over-the-top success."

Drummer Christopher Kinder recently stated about the forthcoming JON OLIVA'S PAIN CD, "Part of the staple JON OLIVA'S PAIN sound has become [Jon's] ability to change characters and voices at will and to create incredibly interesting, thought-provoking, passionate and downright insane vocal melodies. [Producer] Tom Morris and I have been pushing him to the edge (as Jon Oliva requested), and we have met that challenge with great enthusiasm and also a bit of joy watching him suffer.... .

"Oliva's tenancious attitude, drive and full desire to do the best he can is only partially over-shadowed by the seemingly impossible task of singing songs that would require most of us to swallow mass consumptions of razor-blades in order to deliver what would be considered as torture to any metal music lover."

JON OLIVA'S PAIN's last album, "Global Warning", was released in the U.S. in May 2008 via Locomotive Records. The CD features a guest appearance by guitarist Ralph Santolla (OBITUARY, ex-DEICIDE, DEATH, ICED EARTH) on two songs: "Adding the Cost" and "You'll Never Know".

German extreme metallers DEATH OF DESIRE, whose recording lineup includes MAYHEM drummer Hellhammer (a.k.a. Jan Axel Blomberg), have issued the following update:

"We are pleased to announce that we've finished two full songs and the final post-production is taking place. A preview of the music will be released [on the band's MySpace page] on the night of the 20th of December along with some exclusive studio video footage.

"Expect total vile monstrosity.

"A 300 limited collector's edition single signed with blood by the band, featuring the song 'Frozen' with an extra track of 'Into the Void' will be released and sold online the next decade. Get yours before it's too late!"

A demo version of the song "Frozen" is available for streaming on the DEATH OF DESIRE MySpace page. The drums on the track were laid down by Hellhammer, who will also appear on the band's debut album, "ANTI-human", which is scheduled for release in early 2010. The drum tracks were recorded at Knut's (ARCTURUS) Mølla Studio in Norway. The studio is said to be an old mill from the 1700s where such acts as AURA NOIR, ARCTURUS, MAYHEM, ULVER, FLEURETY, RAGNAROK and ROTTING CHRIST have previously recorded.

"ANTI-human" (cover) track listing:

01. Tainted With Death (intro)
02. Into The Void
03. Kingdom
04. Progenies Of Doom
05. Insane Profetic Slaves (interlude)
06. Frozen
07. Tones Of Death
08. Severed Soul (passage)
09. Black Flame
10. Inner Sanctum
11. Rest My Ashes In Hell (outro)
12. A-S1 (instrumental) (bonus track)

DEATH OF DESIRE is:

Dawn Desiree (Vocals)
Lord Azmodeus (Guitar)
Hellhammer (Drums)
Lord Priapos (Bass)
Darktreth Lethe (Guitar)

A short audio sample of the song "Head Up High" from former AFTER FOREVER vocalist Floor Jansen's new project called REVAMP is available for streaming using the audio player below.

Commented Jansen: "We know you have waiting with great patience for some music! Hereby a short part of our song 'Head Up High'!!! Do realize this is pre-productional material, you hear a drum computer and home recorded bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals. We did mix it so it sounds OK enough, but it's not the quality the album will have!"

After the breakup of AFTER FOREVER, Jansen decided she wanted to start over and present a new band to the public as soon as possible. To accomplish this, she joined forces with two additional songwriters to first compose, then record an album. A live band is soon to be formed after the CD's completion, which will get her back on stage where she belongs.

The first composer to join this new collaboration was found when Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., ENEMY OF THE SUN) contacted her to inquire about her current activities and potential future cooperation. Being a fan of GRIP INC., Floor was honored by the possibility of working with Waldemar. Sorychta's unique style, combined with his experience as songwriter/producer, made Jansen's dream come closer to reality.

The second composer was found in AFTER FOREVER colleague Joost van den Broek. Asking Joost to join seemed logical because of his great keyboards and arrangements, and therefore his potentially valuable contribution. Despite his busy schedule, he wanted to join and get started immediately. With him on board, the songwriting team was complete!

The REVAMP sound is described as "a unique blend of the personal style listeners will recognize from these musicians."

The "limited edition deluxe coffin box set" version of ROB ZOMBIE's new album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2", is available for pre-order at RobZombie.com.

The "deluxe box set" features the "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" album, an exclusive t-shirt, exclusive belt-buckle and exclusive bandana all packaged together inside of a coffin-shaped box that is truly a piece of ghoulish artwork.

"Hellbilly Deluxe 2" is scheduled for release on February 2, 2010 via Roadrunner Records' Loud & Proud imprint.

"Hellbilly Deluxe 2" track listing:

01. Jesus Frankenstein
02. Sick Bubblegum
03. What?
04. Mars Needs Women
05. Werewolf, Baby!
06. Virgin Witch
07. Death and Destiny Inside The Dream Factory
08. Burn
09. Cease to Exist
10. Werewolf Women of the SS
11. The Man Who Laughs

Zombie hinted in an online post that his new CD could be his last, saying, "Well, pretty soon the CD will be dead. All you will have left is digital downloads. So before we say goodbye to the almighty CD, I thought I would give it a big send-off. I love being able to get great artists involved on my CD artwork and this time is the best yet. Since this may be the last true CD I make, I thought I would gather three of the top artists around to contribute some killer new Zombie art for the booklet."

The artists contributing work to the CD's booklet are Nocturnals comic book creator Dan Brereton, animation and storyboard artist David Hartman and Italian artist Alex Horley, who has worked for Image Comics and DC Comics.

Zombie's recent "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" tour marked his return to the road after moderate box office success as the writer and director of "Halloween II" (Dimension). His R-rated, animated feature, "The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto", was made available everywhere on DVD and Blu-ray September 22.

"Halloween II", the follow-up to Zombie's successful 2007 remake of the original 1978 horror classic, came in at No. 3 in its opening weekend, earning $17 million at the box office. That's far less than the $31 million his first "Halloween" flick did two years ago.

Legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW), who was recently diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer and is currently receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"I'd like to take the time to thank everyone for the most wonderful gift I have ever received — your good wishes, your prayers, your support, your tears and laughter, your anger, your rejoicing, and most of all the unwavering love you have bestowed upon me. I guess I've always felt that we were one person and that you've allowed me to be our spokesman, but until this time of my greatest peril, the truth was perhaps slightly hidden. It is hidden no more. Together we shall face the foe and live on to climb higher mountains and explore greater magic. Together we cannot fail.

"Please accept my never-ending love and dedication to you all.

"So it is written, and so it shall be.

"Magic, from Ronnie James Dio."

According to a posting on the BLACK SABBATH fan site Black-Sabbath.com, fans can send get-well cards to Ronnie James Dio through the official fan club address:

Dio Fan Club
12400 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 624
Studio City, CA
91604

Additionally, if you'd like to send an email to Ronnie, you can do so via getwellronnie@black-sabbath.com. After a short time, Black-Sabbath.com webmaster Joe Siegler will print them out and pass them over to Ronnie and his wife/manager Wendy Dio.

DOWNSPIRIT, the German/Swiss blues/metal-oriented band formed by SYMPHORCE/ex-FREEDOM CALL guitarist Cedric "Cede" Dupont, has completed work on its debut album. An early 2010 release via an as-yet-undetermined record label is expected.

"Blending old blues roots with a modern, downtuned guitar-feel, [DOWNSPIRIT's] songs are a mixture of typical bluesy '80s hard rock and a contemporary metal sound, which also includes some electro loops," according to a press release.

DOWNSPIRIT is:

Cédric "Cede" Dupont - Lead Guitars
Steffen Lauth - Vocals
Axel "Aki" Reissmann - Rhythm Guitars
Sven Rakowitz - Bass
Sebastian Dunkel - Drums

Check out audio samples and more information on the DOWNSPIRIT MySpace page.

Swedish metallers EVENTIDE recently entered the studio to begin recording their sophomore full-length album, tentatively due in early 2010. The band states, "All the rhythm guitars are done. It's been a couple of months of hard work to first get the amp sound we were looking for and then record 4-6 rhythm-tracks plus harmonies on 13 songs. But patience is almost always rewarded and I can tell you that the sound we've achieved is really something extra! Next on the agenda: Solos, bass and then vocals."

Songtitles set to appear on EVENTIDE's forthcoming album:

* Passenger
* The Beast And The Machine
* Parhelia
* Through Black Holes
* Periphery
* Mr. Death
* Life, The Obstacle
* Mechanical Slaves
* Plastic
* Spokes
* The Observer
* The Final Spin
* Release The Floods

EVENTIDE released a promotional CD last year entitled "Planet Plague". The effort contains four tracks and was made available for free on the band's web site and MySpace page.

EVENTIDE's debut album, "Diaries from the Gallows", was released in October 2006 via Cartel Media. The CD was recorded at Los Angered studios in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Swedish metallers ASTRAL DOORS will release their fifth album, "Requiem Of Time" in Europe on January 29 and in North America on February 16 through Metalville, the band and label pool launched by the Cologne, Germany-based company Flying Dolphin Entertainment Group UG.

The track listing for the CD (cover) is as follows:

01. Testament of Rock
02. Power and the Glory
03. Rainbow Warrior
04. Call of the Wild
05. St. Peter's Cross
06. So Many Day So Many Nights
07. Blood River
08. Anthem of the Dark
09. Metal DJ
10. Fire and Flame
11. Greenfield of Life
12. The Healer
13. Evil Spirits Fly
14. When Darkness Comes

The song Call of the Wild is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Commented the band: "All the previous releases from ASTRAL DOORS have been mixed by the master Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN). He has done a great job for us and we love and respect him very much. This time around, however, we decided to give our very own guitar player, Martin Haglund, the chance to be in control of the mixing process.

"Martin has really improved as a sound engineer and technician the last couple of years, and we felt that he could do as great job as his best friend Tägtgren.

"Martin's mix is just incredible and we can't wait to share it with the entire world."

According to the band, "'Requiem Of Time' is a mixture of classic hard rock, like on the debut, 'Of The Son And The Father', and more modern metal like on the previous disc, 'New Revelation'. Call it what you want; it contains the best songs the band has ever written."

ASTRAL DOORS recently parted ways with bassist Mika Itaranta and replaced him with Ulf Lagerström (LUNATIC PARADE, BARFLY)

ASTRAL DOORS' last album, "New Revelation", was released in September 2007 via Locomotive Music. The CD was recorded at Big Turn Studio and at The Darkside in Borlänge, Sweden and was mixed at the Abyss Studios in Sweden by Peter Tägtgren and ASTRAL DOORS.

Japanese metallers LOUDNESS will release a CD+DVD set entitled "Live Loudest At The Budokan '91" on December 23 via Warner Music Japan. The album was recorded on May 31, 1991 in Tokyo, Japan and features Mike Vescera (OBSESSION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) on vocals.

The track listing for the package (cover) is as follows:

Disc 1

01. Down N' Dirty
02. Playin' Games
03. In The Mirror
04. Never Again
05. Crazy Night
06. So Lonely
07. Crazy Doctor
08. Loudness
09. Find A Way
10. Sleepless Night
11. Soldier Of Fortune
12. Slap In The Face (bonus track)

Disc 2

01. Love Toys
02. Take It Or Leave It
03. Never Again
04. Sleepless Night
05. Down N' Dirty
06. In The Mirror
07. You Shook Me

Check out audio samples at this location.

Peter Wichers, the guitarist for the Swedish metal band SOILWORK who currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee and works as a producer and songwriter, has posted the following message on his MySpace blog:

"Here we are in the end of 2009 and it really makes me think we did this last year go.

"I have had a great fall, and I really enjoyed working on the upcoming NEVERMORE record ['The Obsidian Conspiracy'].

"Working alongside Jeff Loomis [NEVERMORE guitarist] was an amazing experience and I can truly say that he most likely is one (if not) the best metal guitar players in the business.

"The songs on the new NEVERMORE record should have something for every NEVERMORE fan. It has some of the most extreme stuff they have ever done, and also some of the most beautiful atmospheric stuff they have ever done.

"I am very honored to have worked with these guys and there is no doubt in my mind that this record will not be another milestone.

"I also did get the chance to work along side some great people from Barrie, Ontario [Canada]. The band's name is REMAIN and they have some pretty kick-ass stuff, and as I say it, beer-drinking friendly tunes.

"We spent about five weeks in the Carolinas too, where we tracked majority of the record.

"I have since the completion of their record, started writing new stuff for SOILWORK's next upcoming record. The material is shaping up quite well, and I am very happy with the direction that we have chosen to take on this record.

"The material is a lot more technical than before, but still with the catchy elements of our previous works.

"I will be handling the production part of the record, again outside of Lake Norman in the Carolinas. And we start recording drums in Asheville, NC at a studio called Echo Mountain.

"I will work alongside with Jens Bogren for the drums, and then I will fly to Sweden to participate with the mix in Örebro, again with Jens Bogren.

"Next year will be a busy year, and I am already taking on more productions between SOILWORK's schedule, so that will be fun."

Norwegian avant-garde metallers VULTURE INDUSTRIES have entered the studio to begin recording the follow-up to their 2007 debut full-length album, "The Dystopia Journals". The new CD is expected to contain seven tracks, and come in at somewhere between 40 and 45 minutes in length. As is usual with VULTURE INDUSTRIES, they will be using the Conclave and Earshot Studios, which is owned by the band's frontman Bjornar E. Nilsen, who, aside from his vocal duties with VULTURE INDUSTRIES and BLACK HOLE GENERATOR, is also a producer.

Commenting on the new album, Nilsen said, "It feels great to be working with the new material and the vibe in the studio has been really good so far. The songs are quite long this time, with the shortest one clocking in at five minutes. We're really excited about the new material and feel that we have stumbled on a sound that is distinctly our own."

VULTURE INDUSTRIES is based in Bergen and is part of the prolific local music scene. The band's line up is a veritable "who's who" of black and extreme metal musicians. Aside from Nilsen himself on vocals, synths and programming, bandmembers include guitarists Øyvind Madsen (SULPHUR, ex-ENSLAVED, session guitar for DEATHCON) and Eivind Huse (SULPHUR, ex-SYRACH), Kyrre Teigen on bass and Tor Helge Gjengedal (MALICE IN WONDERLAND, ex-SULPHUR, ex-TAAKE) on drums. Assisting with the production are Herbrand Larsen (ENSLAVED) and Arve Isdal (ENSLAVED, AUDREY HORNE).

The Pulse of Radio reports: Rob Zombie recently left his label home of 18 years, Geffen Records, and signed a new deal with indie label Roadrunner Records' Loud & Proud imprint. While the move delayed the release of Zombie's new album, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2", from this fall to next year, the singer told The Pulse of Radio that the switch was for the best. "I was really loving the album, and I was very nervous about Geffen because over the years they've sort of just, you know, morphed into a different label," he said. "They've gone from being like the premiere hard rock label, back in the day that I signed to, to something else. It just didn't feel good to me, and I thought, like, 'I've got to get off this label.' You know, we pulled the release date obviously and I was like, you know, no matter what it takes, it's worth it, let's just find a new label, 'cause this just isn't working for me anymore."

A new ORPHANED LAND track entitled "Vayehi Or" (Hebrew for "Let there be light") is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Israeli progressive folk metal masters' highly anticipated fourth studio opus, "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR", which is scheduled for release in Europe on January 25, 2010 and in the U.S. on February 9 via Century Media Records. Mixed by Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE, OPETH), who is also responsible for several keyboard parts on the new CD, the effort is a sophisticated concept album which takes ORPHANED LAND's unique brand of exotic, heavy music to soaring new heights in terms of complexity and catchiness.

Commented the band: "For those of you who don't know, each year the longest night of the year happens at December 21 and from this day on the nights get shorter while the days get longer. On a spiritual level this symbolizes the resurrection of the light and the death of darkness (the opposite happens at every June 21).

"Since our new album, 'The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR', is a concept album about the warrior of light, we decided to share with you another short track titled 'Va'yehi Or'. Please note that our album is 78.22 min long and these are just small tastes of the whole journey."