Marc Rizzo has once again stepped out from his six-string duty with SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY to deliver his new solo project, "Legionaire", due on January 5 via Phlamencore Records.

"Legionaire" was written and recorded over a two-year period while Rizzo was on tour with SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY. Rizzo would break and get into the studio to record, then return to the road.

"I'm really excited about this record," states Rizzo. "I had a lot of time since my last record to really think about this new album. I think traveling all over the world, writing all the new material, really influenced the sound.

"After two U.S. solo tours in 2008, I think I really figured out what songs work well live.

"I'm really excited to play these new songs in front of a live audience. It's very cool to see kids slam-dancing and going off to instrumental music."

"Legionaire" track listing:

01. Release The Kraken
02. ...By Great Odins Beard
03. Bandidas
04. Victim In Shred
05. The Emerald Goblet
06. The Wrath Of Crom
07. Peaks And Vallies
08. Legionnaire
09. Life And Will
10. Fenestrelle Fortress
11. The Metallurgist

According to Musica Metal, Italian rock/metal band LACUNA COIL was honored in the "Best Editing" category at the "Premio Videoclip Italiano" ceremony (Italian Videoclip Awards) on Friday, December 11 in Milan. Singers Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia accepted the award for the "Spellbound" clip, which was shot at the Dolce & Gabbana Gold restaurant in the band's hometown of Milan with director Saku. It was produced by Apnea Film and the wardrobe was provided by Dolce & Gabbana.

Commented Scabbia: "We had a great time shooting the video for 'Spellbound' and it also mark[ed] our first time working with acclaimed Italian director Saku in a location that's really peculiar. It was filmed in a very fashionable place: the restaurant Gold located in Milan, Italy, which owned by the fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana, who kindly gave us the permission to film over there! The location provide[d] the perfect atmosphere to express the 'Shallow Life' theme. Everything is really shiny and 'bling bling' and the band is performing in the middle of a golden room full of mirrors and giant chandeliers. The story [was] rounded out by some actors that are interpreting different aspects of being under a spell of something: the girl obsessed by her weight and look, the guy who wants to be a superman, the politician etc."

German power metallers GAMMA RAY will release their new album, "To The Metal", on January 29, 2010 via earMUSIC/Edel. The band — Kai Hansen (vocals/guitar), Dirk Schlächter (bass), Henjo Richter (guitar) and Daniel Zimmermann (drums) — recorded a total of twelve new songs earlier this fall at its own studio in Hamburg. Ten of the tracks will appear on the regular album release, while the remaining two cuts will surface on various editions of the album.

"To The Metal" will be made available in four versions:

* As a regular jewel case CD
* As a limited edition featuring an additional DVD (including an exciting making-of)
* As a red vinyl in gatefold packaging
* as a collectors' edition featuring CD and 7" vinyl with two unreleased tracks, hand-signed

The cover artwork was designed by Herve Monjeaud.

"To The Metal" track listing:

01. Rise
02. Deadlands
03. Mother Angel
04. No Need To Cry
05. Empathy
06. To The Metal
07. All You Need To Know
08. Time To Live
09. Shine Forever
10. Breaking Away

DVD (included in limited-edition version):

* 60-minute documentary shot in HD, featuring interviews, "making-of-the-album" material, performance footage of classic GAMMA RAY songs.

Bonus material:

* Three video clips (including "To The Metal")
* Full unedited interview with Kai Hansen

According to a press release, the new GAMMA RAY CD is "classy, fast-paced and deep, and holds a few surprises in store which distinguish the band from the mass of acts who try their hand at similar styles and sounds. . . The band's stylistic range [includes] a full-throttle number such as 'Rise', the rhythmic and melodically diverse 'Time To Live', and the multilayered anthem 'All You Need To Know' (which has given rise to speculation about a spectacular guest singer), as well as the sensitive ballad 'No Need To Cry', composer/lyricist Dirk Schlächter's attempt to come to terms with the untimely death of his father. Of course, there's also the awesome title track — first introduced at the Wacken Open Air 2009 and a number of festivals in Scandinavia (see video below) and considered absolutely indispensible by the fans, which GAMMA RAY recorded as a classic metal track in the midtempo range, making it a real anthem. The atmospherically dense 'Empathy' sees GAMMA RAY prove their amazing musical potential again, which keeps manifesting itself in exceptional and eminently interesting compositions. This song includes all the features of a diverse, exciting and multi-faceted number, in other words: sweeping sounds, cool grooves, a progressive touch and then — almost as if from nowhere — a chorus which seriously bowls you over. Subsequently, the band soar up to an almost oriental-sounding solo part, changing key several times within the track."

Alaskan metal heavyweights 36 CRAZYFISTS have entered Garden Studios in Anchorage with guitarist Steven Holt at the helm to begin writing their new album for a tentative summer 2010 release. Vocalist Brock Lindow states, "I won't ramble on too much and tell you guys that this is our heaviest or moodiest record yet, but I will say its pretty f'n cool so far and we are very stoked."

36 CRAZYFISTS' last album, "The Tide And Its Takers", sold 4,150 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 155 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"The Tide And Its Takers" was released on May 27, 2008 via Ferret Music. The CD artwork was designed by Sons of Nero, who has previously worked with such bands as IN FLAMES, EVERY TIME I DIE, FULL BLOWN CHAOS and THE HUMAN ABSTRACT.

36 CRAZYFISTS' first live DVD, "Underneath A Northern Sky", came out on October 27. The effort was directed by good friend Todd Bell, who joined the band for a week's worth of revisiting old stomping grounds, listening to stories of the formation of the band and all the antics that come along with a group that has been around for more than 15 years. The DVD includes footage of the very first 36 CRAZYFISTS show as well as countless other rare scenes of globetrotting by a band from Alaska who has defied the odds of coming from a place of obscurity to touring and playing major festivals around the world. Along with the live show, ridiculous backstage antics and bandmember interviews, all the band's videos are also present on the DVD.

KHAOZ, the Dutch old-school death metal band featuring current/former members of SINISTER, PLEURISY, THE EMBODIMENT, HOUWITSER and DEAD HEAD, has released a five-song EP entitled "Twist The Knife A Little Deeper". The CD was recorded at Music Lab studios with producer Harris Johns (VOIVOD, SODOM, KREATOR, WHIPLASH).

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Only To The Worm (03:45)
02. Misantrophy (03:45)
03. Shattered Light Insanity (02:27)
04. Inveterate Fantas (04:34)
05. Lost in Serenity (03:56)

According to a press release, "KHAOZ stands for heavy dynamic death metal with sickening double vocals."

A video for the song "Only To The Worm" was made by Funeral Productions and can be viewed below.

IMV, a Los Angeles-based producer of interactive music content and video game systems, has set a January 19, 2010 release date for original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley's "Behind the Player" DVD.

In his IMV "Behind the Player" DVD, Frehley gives an intimate behind-the scenes look at his life as a professional musician, including rare video footage. Frehley then gives in-depth lessons for how to play "Shock Me" and "Cold Gin" and jams the tracks with special guest musicians, including Matt Sorum (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER), John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON), Chris Wyse (THE CULT), Tommy Clufetos (TED NUGENT, ALICE COOPER, ROB ZOMBIE) and George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB).

"Video Tab" shows exactly how Frehley plays the two tracks. The video-game-style animated tablature is similar to Guitar Hero, but shows how to play the tracks for real.

Check out preview clips from Ace Frehley's "Behind the Player" DVD at this location.

Get your copy at Guitar Center or www.IMVdvd.com.

The producers of the IMV series donate $.25 from the sale of each DVD to Little Kids Rock, an organization that gets instruments in the hands of underprivileged kids.

"Fear Me", the new video from the Tirol, Austria-based melodic death/dark metal band LOST DREAMS, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's new album, "Wage Of Disgrace", which will be released on January 8, 2010 via Twilight Zone Records. According to guitarist Andreas Maierhofer, "Wage Of Disgrace" is "faster and more aggressive than the previous albums, and will feature a modern mixture of melody, groove and high-speed songs, peppered with deep growls, aggressive screams and catchy vocal lines of our new singer Stefan 'Schleifi' Traunig."

"Wage Of Disgrace" track listing:

01. Fear Me
02. Aimless
03. Blood Money
04. Wage Of Disgrace
05. Lies
06. Silent Death
07. Not Immortal
08. Never Ending War
09. Death Machines
10. No Demmand For Honesty

Progressive Norwegian black metal band ULVER has posted its cover version of the ELECTRIC PRUNES classic "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" on the group's MySpace page. The track, which features the band's latest addition, Daniel O'Sullivan, on guitar, also includes contributions from Lars Pedersen (WHEN) on drums and Mats Engen (EUROBOYS) on bass. The recording was mixed by Antti Uusimaki and will appear on ULVER's forthcoming collection of covers, "Psyche", which will include the band's interpretations of of "hippie songs from the Sixties — bands like THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, BYRDS, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE — and stranger Aquarian folks."

ULVER's cover version of "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 1)" (hear audio below) was included on a PINK FLOYD tribute album called "The Wall Re-Built" released by the U.K. magazine Mojo to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album.

ULVER performed for the first time in 15 years on May 30, 2009 at the Norwegian Festival of Literature at Maihaugsalen in Lillehammer, Norway.

ULVER had, since its first album, been exclusively a studio band. This being their first live performance in 15 years, the concert at Lillehammer was a historic event.

Once among the pioneers of Norwegian black metal, now living legends of dark experimental music, ULVER is one of Norway's most acclaimed international artists. While remaining something of a secret treasure back home, a long series of strong releases, most recently the album "Shadows of the Sun" (2007), has earned them a unique status worldwide.

German metallers FREEDOM CALL, whose current lineup includes GAMMA RAY drummer Daniel Zimmermann, will release their new album, "Legend Of The Shadowking", in Europe on February 1, 2010 (except in Germany where it will arrive three days earlier) via SPV/Steamhammer Records.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Out Of The Ruins (4:21)
02. Thunder God (3:31)
03. Tears Of Babylon (3:38)
04. Merlin – Legend Of The Past (4:17)
05. Resurrection Day (3:34)
06. Under The Spell Of The Moon (5:08)
07. Dark Obsession (4:45)
08. The Darkness (5:06)
09. Remember! (4:21)
10. Ludwig II – Prologue (2:19)
11. The Shadowking (5:13)
12. Merlin – Requiem (2:34)
13. Kingdom Of Madness (3:59)
14. A Perfect Day (3:58)

Southern California's female-fronted rock act IN THIS MOMENT is preparing to enter the studio to begin recording the follow-up to last year's "The Dream". Guitarist Chris Howorth states, "We have been working on new music since Warped Tour ended. Maria Brink (vocals) and I have been bashing our heads together non-stop trying to come up with the best possible songs and the best combination of melody and aggression as we want the new album to be even bigger and better than anything else we've done before. We want all the melody and depth of 'The Dream' along with some of the darkness and aggression of 'Beautiful Tragedy'. We feel really good about what we have demoed so far and will be working non-stop through the holidays."

He continues, "The plan is to enter the studio with Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) in mid-February.

"We are really excited to be working with Kevin again; he is such an amazing talent and knowing he will be involved just makes us even more confident in our ability to make the next record better than anything prior.

"We are planning to have the record done in time for a summer 2010 release date to coincide with big juicy summer festival tour. We could tell you what tour it was, but then we would have to kill you."

IN THIS MOMENT's sophomore album, "The Dream", sold more than 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Multi-platinum hard rockers DOKKEN have inked a deal with the Los Angeles-based label Cleopatra Records. The legendary southern California band is finishing up final mixes for a greatest-hits package — 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) — which will be released next spring worldwide on Cleopatra's Deadline Records imprint. The album's first single is a brand new song entitled "Almost Over" that will be made available to music programmers via download through AirplayDirect.com in early 2010.

GUNS N' ROSES kicked off its first tour in three years earlier tonight Friday (December 11) in Taiwan, marking the band's first gigs in support of its 2008 CD, "Chinese Democracy".

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Chinese Democracy
02. Welcome To The Jungle
03. It's So Easy
04. Mr. Brownstone
05. If The World
06. Live And Let Die
*Richard Fortus Solo (James Bond Theme)
07. There Was A Time
*Frank Ferrer Drum Solo
*Tommy Stinson Bass Solo
08. My Generation (Stinson vocals)
09. I.R.S.
10. Rocket Queen
*Dizzy Reed Piano Solo
11. Street Of Dreams
*DJ Ashba Solo
12. Sweet Child O' Mine
*Band Jam
13. November Rain
*Ron Thal Solo (Pink Panther)
14. You Could Be Mine
15. Shackler's Revenge
16. Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Encore:

17. This I Love
*Band Jam
18. Better
19. Paradise City

"Here And Now", the new video from (HED)PE, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Dale Resteghini of Raging Nation Films (MUDVAYNE, TRIVIUM).

"Here And Now" is the latest single from (HED)PE's seventh studio album, "New World Orphans".

"I totally love this new video for 'Here and Now'," commented frontman Jared Gomes. "Most of our videos have been performance-based, so it was nice to do a video that was more theatrical."

"We shot this video in New York City and I think that helped give the video the look we wanted. The concept of me going around the city with a bullhorn trying to wake people up was brilliant and it goes right along with what our band is currently trying to do with our music. We are trying to wake people up and let them know what's really happening in the world right now."

Stockholm, Sweden-based extreme metallers MACHINERY have announced the addition of drummer Dennis Ekdahl (RAISED FIST, SIEBENBÜRGEN) to the group's ranks. The band states, "He is a GREAT drummer and fits MACHINERY like a glove!! And also a really GREAT guy!"

MACHINERY recently spent time writing material for the band's third album, tentatively due in early 2010. Guitarist/vocalist Michel Isberg previously described the new songs as having "a bit more landscape feeling in it, something which I personally think we've never done before. Well, we have slow parts, as in 'Bloodline' or in 'The Passing', but not like this. If we choose to put that on the album remains to be seen though."

"Cold", the latest video from MACHINERY, can be viewed below. The track comes off the band's sophomore album, "The Passing", which was released on April 28, 2008 via Regain Records. The CD was recorded in June 2007 at Black Lounge Studio with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY).

According to a press release, "The Passing" can be described as "an intense journey in epic and diverse metal. An album with great songs and an unique style that covers heavv, death, black and thrash metal! A perfect blend of what should truly appeal to every metalhead!"

Commented producer Kjellgren: "It's a truly epic and diverse metal album with great songs and an unique style that covers everything I love about metal: heavy metal, death metal, black metal, thrash metal! Superb drums, guitars, bass, keyboards and vocals... all you need, hehe. It was really fun to work with the band since they're all truly amazing musicians and have a very professional attitude towards making music!"

Reunited Atlanta-based thrashers HALLOWS EVE have tapped Patrick "Scooch" Pascucci (SHANK 456, J.F.K.F.C., DICK DELICIOUS, SUPERJAK) to play drums on the band's forthcoming album. Scooch will also be touring with HALLOWS EVE next spring in Europe.

HALLOWS EVE plans to start production on the new record at the end of February for a tentative late spring release.

Commented Scooch: "The new record is going to blow people's minds. The new material is the heaviest to date, with thrash-laden grooves, ripping guitar crunch, and a old-school attitude that's bringing back the skank, so the pit can slam once again."

Guitarist Chris Abbamonte recently left HALLOWS EVE "for personal reasons." His replacement is longtime Atlanta musician Evan Bartelson (THE DESPISED, LAS TREGAS NOSFERATU, BLACK DANIELS) who "brings not only over 25 years in the Atlanta music scene but, more importantly, his unique playing, writing and live performance skills," according to a press release.

HALLOWS EVE's latest album, "The Neverending Sleep" — which featured original HALLOWS EVE members Stacy Andersen (vocals) and Tommy Stewart (bass) alongside Doyle Bright (guitar), Jim Gorman (drums) and Abbamonte — was produced by Doyle Bright of RIGOR MORTIS and was said to be "a conscious effort to achieve the feel and sound of 'Tales of Terror' (1985) and 'Death and Insanity' (1986)."

Listen to audio samples on the band's MySpace page.

Stacy Andersen and Tommy Stewart appeared on stage together for the first time since 1989 during the band's performance at the New England Metal And Hardcore Festival on April 28, 2007 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Metal Blade Records. They were joined by ex-RIGOR MORTIS lead vocalist and guitarist Doyle Bright (who is also Andersen's bandmate in TWO PRONGED CROWN and SOULZERO), and drummer Dane Jensen.

Metal Blade Records released a deluxe box set by HALLOWS EVE, entitled "History of Terror". This collection includes all three of the group's Metal Blade albums (all remastered!), piles of bonus material and a bonus DVD (with a playing time of 200-plus minutes). Liner notes were included as well.

German metallers FREEDOM CALL, whose current lineup includes GAMMA RAY drummer Daniel Zimmermann, will release their new album, "Legend Of The Shadowking", in Europe on February 1, 2010 (except in Germany where it will arrive three days earlier) via SPV/Steamhammer Records.

According to a press release, "stylistically, 'Legend Of The Shadowking' is a successful liaison of the group's basic strengths and new, contemporary influences." Or, as Dan Zimmermann puts it, "Even if the two predecessors, 'The Circle Of Life' and 'Dimensions', took very different directions, both albums had a number of strong moments. 'Legend Of The Shadowking' combines the most successful elements from both albums. In other words, we included our penchant for fast and very melodic numbers from 'Dimensions' with the more contemporary, bombastic components of 'The Circle Of Life'."

The fourteen new numbers were recorded at the FC studios in Nuremberg, while the drum parts were cut at the Area 51 in Celle by Dan Zimmermann with the help of Tommy Newton (HELLOWEEN, UFO, VICTORY), who also mixed and mastered the effort. The cover artwork was designed by the young Bavarian artist Jens Reinhold.

"Legend Of The Shadowking" is said to be a concept album about Ludwig II, King of Bavaria. He had a close connection to the composer Richard Wagner.

FREEDOM CALL was moved and inspired by King Ludwig's extravagance and his passion for musical theatricality.

The band will embark on a European tour with GAMMA RAY around the album's release. Summer festival appearances and a headlining tour in the fall of 2010 will follow.

Clive Jones of classic U.K. progressive rockers BLACK WIDOW and former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin recently met (see photo below) and are planning to work together soon.

BLACK WIDOW is currently recording its reunion album, "Sleeping With Demons", for a 2010 release. The band's original female vocalist, Kay Garret, has rejoined the group in a studio so her voice will be heard on BLACK WIDOW's music again for the first time since 1969. Jones and Geoff Griffith wrote the entire album with the aid of Paolo "Apollo" Negri on keyboards. One of the songs — "That's When Evil Touched Me" — has lyrics written by a Canadian lyricist Sylvie M. Durette (Sylvie has also written lyrics for the extreme metal band FILE OF GHOSTS). Another track that will appear on the CD, "Partytime For Demons", got its inspiration from Pasi Koivu, a Finnish rock keyboardist and a close friend to the band.

Jones and Koivu celebrated BLACK WIDOW's return by recording "a short horror music thing" called "We Are Back". Jones also gigged as a special guest on PROPAGANDHI's (a Canadian punk/metal act) U.K. tour, making guest appearances during the old BLACK WIDOW classic "Come To The Sabbat".

U.K. black metallers PRIMITIVE GRAVEN IMAGE have completed work on their long-awaited second album, "Celebrating Impending Chaos", for an early 2010 release. The CD was mixed and mastered by Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR).

Commented the band: "The new album has turned out to be a hellish and schizophrenic affair. We have taken the catchy black riffing of our debut album, 'Traversing The Awesome Night', chewed it up and projectile vomited it back out at inhuman speed. Our love for '70s prog and '80s thrash can be heard breathlessly trying to keep up. Before anything could escape, we took the finished tracks to Mr. Russ Russell's place where he did a fine job of mixing and mastering the thing."

"Celebrating Impending Chaos" (cover) track listing:

01. Into The Godless Chambers
02. The March Of The Cattle
03. Kings Of Infinite Space
04. Towards Infinite Planes
05. War 'Til Death
06. March Onward/Celebrating Impending Chaos
07. Wandering Through The Wood
08. A Gruesome Relic Of Death And Decay

Video footage of PRIMITIVE GRAVEN IMAGE performing the song "Into The Godless Chambers" at Winterfest in Cork, Ireland can be viewed below.

PRIMITIVE GRAVEN IMAGE's debut album, "Traversing the Awesome Night", was released in the U.S. in April 2007 on Open Grave Records.

For more information, visit the PRIMITIVE GRAVEN IMAGE MySpace page.

ORDER OF ENNEAD, the Florida extreme metal band featuring Steve Asheim (drums; DEICIDE), Scott Patrick (bass; RESURRECTION), Kevin Quirion (guitar, vocals; COUNCIL OF THE FALLEN) and John Li (guitar), has finished recording its sophomore album, "An Examination Of Being", at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, TRIVIUM). An April 2010 release via Earache Records is expected.

Commented Li: "So what can I say about this new album? In my honest opinion, it's much heavier and darker than our self-titled debut, more cohesive, thematic, melodic, but not completely over the top. In a nutshell, the works. To me, the songs sound totally different than the demos and I was blown away after the songs began to take form. They sound BIG.

"The recording process went as smooth as ever and the results were spectacular, due in part to the genius of our producer/engineer Mark Lewis. He's got an ear like a bat and can spot an out of tune guitar a mile away; a real no-bullshit kind of guy who can really get it done in there.

"Kev's guitars sound heavy as hell, Steve's drums are tight and powerful, and I must say at the risk of tooting my own horn, I played some great stuff as well (shameless, I know)."

"An Examination Of Being" tentative track listing:

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

Carlsbad, New Mexico-based metallers KRYOBURN have announced the addition of guitarist Allen Scott (BLESSED DISEASE) and keyboardist Sam Logan to the group's ranks. In addition, Les Huber has moved from guitar to the bass to replace Hunter Correll, who left the band in August with keyboardist Kelly Bogues.

The follow-up to 2005's "Enigmatic Existence" (Candlelight), KRYOBURN's sophomore album, "Three Years Eclipsed", was produced by vocalist/guitarist Todd Brashear and KRYOBURN at the KryoLab in Carlsbad and was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (HALFORD, THE HAUNTED, MNEMIC, SICK OF IT ALL, AUGUST BURNS RED) at Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark. The artwork was created by Bill Reid and can be viewed below.

Regarding the band's collaboration with Tue Madsen, Brashear says, "When we heard Tue wanted to work with us, we were extremely excited. We feel his sound is going to fit perfect with the direction of our new material. He has done some amazing albums and we are all big fans of his work."

"Three Years Eclipsed" (cover) track listing:

01. Broken Hero
02. Burning The Doubt
03. Event Horizon
04. Slaughtered With Lies
05. Introspective
06. Season Of Suicide
07. Reinvention
08. Mortal Instinct
09. The Sickening

An audio "teaser" for "Three Years Eclipsed" can be found on the KRYOBURN MySpace page.

MUSICA DIABLO — the São Paulo, Brazil-based thrash metal project featuring SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green, guitarist André NM (NITROMINDS) and bassist Ricardo Brigas — has announced the addition of guitarist André Curci (KORZUS, THREAT) to the group's ranks.

Commented André NM: "We could not imagine that it would be so hard to find a guitarist. Normally the offer is huge, haha! But I think that's exactly why it was so hard — too many good guys around making our decision by far the hardest thing we have done so far!

"We knew that a second guitar was needed and after some rehearsals we cannot believe how vicious this band is sounding now!

"We met André at the ONSLAUGHT show in São Paulo last month. He was supporting them with his other band THREAT. Brigas and I were quite impressed with his stage performance and with his skills. We had a good talk after the show and we invited him to make a test, needless to say, and he was just amazing! We are so glad that he felt the same so we can finally hit the studio in January with him!"

MUSICA DIABLO recently parted ways with drummer Marcão (AÇÃO DIRETA, DEAD FISH) and replaced him with Edu Nicollini (NITROMINDS).

The band will enter the studio in January to begin recording its debut album for a 2010 release via an as-yet-undetermined record label. 13 songs will be laid down during the sessions, including "Live To Buy", "Twisted Hate", "Work Out" and "The Flame Of Anger".