Austrian female-fronted symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE has issued the following update:

"We are in the midst of the vocal recordings for our seventh studio album and Sabine [Edelsbacher] is doing some fantastic vocal takes. All the instruments are finally recorded and the orchestra parts are also finished. Dennis Ward [producer] is currently recording backing vocals and choirs in his studio. At the end of November Robby Valentine will do his backing vocals and choirs. Anthony Clarkson is currently working on the cover artwork. In January, [guitarist/keyboardist] Lanvall will fly to England to mix the new CD together with Karl Groom at Thin Ice Studio."

EDENBRIDGE's new CD is tentatively due in May/June 2010.

Regarding the new material's direction, EDENBRIDGE previously said, "Of course, we have followed the symphonic way of our last album, 'MyEarthDream' [2008]. Nevertheless, there are more atmospheric and melancholic vibes on the new one."

The band added, "We have two absolutely smashing hit songs, both perfect for a video clip."

According to De Telegraaf, members of the Norwegian black metal band MAYHEM and their crew were arrested Monday morning for allegedly causing several thousand dollars in damage to a hotel room in Tilburg, Holland.

The group performed Sunday night (November 15) at Hall Of Fame in Tilburg and had booked rooms for the night at Hotel Central.

An employee of the hotel arrived Monday morning to find hotel a big mess. Plants were thrown in the street, mirrors, a sink and curtains in the bathroom were torn apart and demolished. The beds and television were destroyed and walls were covered in spots.

The hotel estimates the damage at least 5,000 euros (approximately $7,480).

The men, aged 21 to 45 years, hail from Netherlands, Norway, Finland and France.

The suspects are currently being held at a local jail and will not be released until they have reimbursed the hotel for repair costs.

Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FOR have just returned from Lebanon where they performed on November 13th at Forum de Beyrouth using session guitarists Mika "Alli" Ahtiainen and Toni Toikkanen from Helsinki.

Reports the band: "Show went well. Audience was very nice. Promoters were professionals. It was so nice to be there and had a new friends also. We left a little pieces of our hearts in Beirut.

We just want to tell you all people here in the west, if you have a possibility to go there for a holiday, you surely should go!
It is very nice city. People are so lovely and friendly. Beirut is not a town of war, it is town of smiles, good food, friendliest people in the world and a lot of people who love rock and roll. We are surely going back there soon as possible. All travelers check it out!"

Japanese heavy metal maniacs HELLHOUND have posted a video for the song "Metal Psycho", shot at Crescendo in Tokyo on July 20, 2009. The song comes from off the band's second album, "Metal Fire From Hell", which was released in the U.S. and Europe earlier in 2009. The CD features "a high-energy, classic metal sound, full of street-tough riffing and aggressive vocals," according to a press release.

Although relatively unknown outside their home country, HELLHOUND's infectious and distinctive metal anthems will soon win the band many fans worldwide.

"Metal Fire From Hell" track listing:

01. Metal Fire From Hell
02. Headcrusher
03. Heavy Metal Highway
04. Heavy Metal Education
05. Metal Psycho
06. Change the World
07. Too Wild to Tame
08. Warriors of Rising Sun

The self-titled debut album from Southern California technical death metallers RECIPROCAL is being streamed in its entirety on the band's official web site. The CD was recorded at Mad Dog Studios with engineer Samur Khouja and will be released independently on November 19 via all major digital distributors (iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, etc.) as well as through the band's official web site.

"Reciprocal" track listing:

01. Voice of Evil
02. Victims of Circumstance
03. Hopeless
04. Wrath
05. Spiritual Disease
06. Idiopathic Pandemic Spreading
07. Zombiopsy
08. Hadalpelagic Worms
09. Below
10. Aeons of Ruination
11. Fallen

The CD's cover artwork, which was created by Tom Berg at So Cal Tattoo, can be viewed here.

Marcelo Cabuli, the husband of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, and his business partners have filed a lawsuit against the parties behind the NIGHTWISH book "Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006" for slander.

Named in the lawsuit were the publishing house Like Kustannus Oy, its CEO Päivi Isosaari and the author of the book, Marko "Mape" Ollila.

Cabuli claims that the information published about him and his businesses in the book is completely false.

Isosaari, however, stands behind the 380-page book, which chronicles NIGHTWISH's rise to the status of one of the most successful symphonic metal acts in the world, including the circumstances that led to the departure of Turunen.

"Well, I did read the text and I authorized it to be published and therefore I stand behind the book," Isosaari told the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

In his 2006 review of the book, Jarkko Jokelainen Helsingin Sanomat wrote, "The book points the finger [for the split with Tarja] most firmly in the direction of Marcelo Cabuli, husband and personal manager of the band's former vocal soloist Tarja Turunen. With every turning page, the charges against the Argentine Cabuli get heavier and heavier.

"The portrait of Marcelo Cabuli depicts a money-grasping, less-than-honest, arbitrary, and manipulative manager who was engaged on setting up his wife's solo career and who drove a wedge between her and the other members of the power metal band.

"NIGHTWISH's contractual dealings and touring plans became a painful exercise, as there was 'a Hispanic in the works' at every turn.

"Against this background, it is somewhat awkward that the defendant himself does not get a hearing in the book, even though the other sources close to the band are given full rein to open their hearts and mouths. Not even Tarja Turunen gets to comment on her husband's doings.

"It is probable that the decision is the couple's own, but this does not disguise the fact that it is the book's greatest drawback. The author Marko 'Mape' Ollila has sought to be even-handed in his coverage, but in part for the reasons above, this band-history inevitably becomes a speech on behalf of the male members of the group and other figures in the background.

"NIGHTWISH would seem on the basis of this work to have been so divided into two distinct camps that both sides of the story cannot be fitted between the covers of one book."

HOLY RAGE, the band led by original JUDAS PRIEST vocalist Al Atkins, will enter the studio in December to begin recording its debut album. According to a posting on the group's MySpace page, the CD will tentatively be completed in March. Also in the works is a video for the song "A Void to Avoid", featuring a special guest appearance by Bernie Tormé, former guitarist for GILLAN, OZZY OSBOURNE, ATOMIC ROOSTER, and DESPERADO, and current guitarist/vocalist for rock and roll power trio GUY-MCCOY-TORME (GMT).

"A Void to Avoid", along with "Give Them Hell", are bonus tracks on the global release of Al's 2007 solo album "Demon Deceiver" (re-titled "Demon Deceiver... Plus"), which is available worldwide right now, but will also be featured on the new HOLY RAGE album.

HOLY RAGE is:

Al Atkins - Vocals
Scott Dallow - Bass
Chris Johnson - Guitar
Mick Hales - Drums

Atkins is the co-writer of several PRIEST songs which are included on the band's first two albums "Rocka Rolla" and "Sad Wings of Destiny", both of which eventually went gold. Atkins co-penned the heavy metal classic "Victim of Changes", which was a combination of Rob Halford's song "Red Light Lady" and Atkins' own "Whiskey Woman". He also co-wrote "Winter", "Never Satisfied", "Dreamer Deceiver" and "Caviar and Meths".

In 1989 Atkins released his debut solo album, "Judgement Day", to great acclaim. But it was "Heavy Thoughts" and "Victim of Changes" (the latter being his collaborative album with ex-JUDAS PRIEST drummer Dave Holland) that brought him strong sales and critical acclaim around the world. Recently Atkins formed HOLY RAGE and has shared the bill with ex-RAINBOW/MSG singer Graham Bonnet in California.

JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill has penned the foreword to Al Atkins's autobiography, titled "Dawn of the Metal Gods: My Life in Judas Priest and Heavy Metal". The book, which was written with Neil Daniels — a freelance rock writer and heavy metal fan who befriended Atkins during the writing of Neil's book "The Story of Judas Priest: Defenders of the Faith" (Omnibus Press) — was released this past spring via Iron Pages.

Finnish metallers PAIN CONFESSOR have entered the studio to record some of their newly written material. The sessions will be engineered and helmed by the bandmembers themselves, with the mixing and mastering set to be overseen by Janne Saksa of Studio Sound Supreme. The group states, "[Saturday night, November 14] we will set up a little recording studio for tomorrow's first drum session. From there on we shall proceed to guitar and bass parts, which will probably rock our world immensely and finish the feat laying down some keyboards and vocals. Goddamn, this will be fun!"

PAIN CONFESSOR last year uploaded two new demo tracks — "X9" and "Reality Of Now" — to the band's MySpace page. The songs were recorded at the group's home studio and were mixed by Saksa, who "really made this work by mixing the whole thing and adding his own unique and special touch that we really have missed," according to the band.

PAIN CONFESSOR parted ways with Megamania Records and is currently seeking a new label home.

Vocalist Tim Lambesis of San Diego, California's AS I LAY DYING has issued the following update:

"We've released little bits of information here or there in previous news posts and blogs, but there are still questions coming in concerning what we've been up to. Below is an unquestionably obvious outline concerning our future plans.

1) We started working on new album

2) We started recording that new album a few weeks ago with Adam [Dutkiewicz of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE] and Daniel Castleman at the reigns (and JMR for a couple weeks).

3) There are only drums for eight songs tracked so far. One of them may be questionable, but maybe vocals will help it make sense. Either way, we need write more than eight songs (since they aren't as long as the eight songs on [METALLICA's] 'Master of Puppets'). Therefore we're working on writing MORE new songs as soon as we finish recording what's been started.

4) The only break in working on the new album will be our short trip to Mexico and Sri Lanka to play two of the best shows of our career.

5) All of us can't stress enough how grateful we are to be writing music that we love while still receiving a paycheck. This can only be credited to OUR LOYAL FANS!

"Sometimes bands need to rush out a crappy record so they can start touring again to pay their bills. In our case, we plan to make a record worth listening to (hopefully), and start touring again when we're done.

"Thanks for your patience and understanding. We care and we're working. In fact, I haven't had a full night's rest since March when the coolest kid ever made me a DAD!"

U.S.-based progressive metallers SYMPHONY X have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band is currently working on a new studio album for a spring release.

Commented the label: "SYMPHONY X exemplifies the technical sophistication of progressive metal while transcending the genre by writing amazing songs with masterful musicality and great hooks! This New York-based supergroup effortlessly creates a balancing act between solid, accessible arrangements and song structures with highly technical, challenging instrumental work and unbelievable melodic vocal harmonies. This embrace of polyphonic lead vocals, combined with their classical-sometimes even QUEEN-like choruses create a powerful, in-your-face mixture. With elements of thundering metal, rock, solos with unstoppable guitar shredding and intense keyboards — this potent group has grown with every release and is poised to compete with the commercial success of top groups in all genres!"

SYMPHONY X guitarist Michael Romeo stated, "We are happy to be the part of the Nuclear Blast family and look forward to working with them for many years to come."

German Viking horde VARG has revealed the cover artwork for its highly anticipated sophomore album, "Blutaar", which will be released on January 22, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented frontman Freki: "Now we have finished the recordings of 'Blutaar', which is ready to spread its blood-dripping wings over the listeners.

All of us are excited about this album and the collaboration with our producer Andy Classen (BELPHEGOR, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER). The sound is like chalk and cheese together and still warm and natural despite of the brutality.

"This output doesn't have a polished production, but rather is a rad, aggressive, honest-to-the-bone album!

"Our music and textures come deep from our hearts and you will hear that during every second. In times when most of the music sounds like plastic pop, the fans will love and appreciate the honest sound.

"January 22nd is a red letter day cause on this day 'Blutaar' will be unleashed and go for the throats of all metalheads and fans worldwide.

"The wolves are back!!!"

Los Angeles, California-based based progressive death metallers THE FACELESS will perform their entire new album, "Planetary Duality", live on their upcoming co-headline run with DYING FETUS.

Commented guitarist Michael Keene: "I think this is going to be the best THE FACELESS performance anyone has caught to date. You can expect a few older songs in there as well and we're going to try and make this set a very unique experience for everyone who's coming. Don't miss this one!"

The tour is scheduled to kick off on November 14 in Seattle, Washington. A list of dates can be found at this location.

"Planetary Duality" sold around 5,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 119 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD debuted at No. 2 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Germany's THE OCEAN has announced the addition of Loïc Rossetti to the group's ranks. "We are looking forward to weeks and months of intense touring in the future and a new era in the story of our lives!" states mainman Robin Staps.

"Having Loïc in the band enables me to do what I've always wanted to do with this band. His voice is strong and expressive and his variety of tone and the ease with which he switches between different vocal styles really amazing. There are no limits anymore. His screams are devastating, but his most valuable quality is his singing voice, which we will employ much more on the upcoming album."

Comments Rossetti: "Being part of THE OCEAN is a great honour for me. I can utilize the full spectre of my voice, and the band is pushing me to do so... it's a great challenge."

Over the course of the past six months, the band has received more than 150 applications from people from all over the world. "Many have recorded vocals for 'The City in the Sea' and there was a lot of good stuff coming in. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to try out, we truly appreciate it!" says Jonathan Nido.

The addition of Rossetti marks the final step in a recent development within the band: after eight years of existence, THE OCEAN has transformed from a collective into a band. This doesn't mean that there will not be changes of lineup ever again. "I have been playing music long enough to know that people are usually in this for a limited time," comments Staps, "but the people I am working with now are the people I have always been looking for, and naturally, everyone else is much more involved than ever before."

The collective is not dead. As a matter of fact, the upcoming album will feature the largest number of additional musicians to date, mainly classical players. The band has spent the better part of the year working feverishly on their upcoming two albums which are due for release in March and September 2010.

U.K. gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have issued the following statement:

"As some of you may be aware, we have had to use a stand-in guitarist (Milly Evans) to replace Greg Mackintosh for a few dates due to a serious illness within Greg's family. We did this with the sole purpose to prevent having to cancel any shows and to avoid disappointing fans that had already bought tickets and were looking forward to the concerts. So it is with great regret that we have to unavoidably announce that some gigs must be postponed for now and rescheduled as soon as possible. This is due to prior commitments Milly Evans has with his own band. We are working round these to fly him back and forth wherever possible to minimize any disruption to the tour, but we ask you to bear with us in this difficult time."

"Maiestrit", a magical and passionate reinterpretation of NEGURA BUNGET's classic album "Maiastru Sfetnic" (2000), is scheduled for release by Lupus Lounge at the end of February 2010. This record contains the last studio recordings of the classic NEGURA BUNGET lineup (Hupogrammos, Sol Faur, Negru).

Commented Negru: "I am happy to see that the last materials we worked on under the original formula of the band are now completed.

"The first idea to re-record the 'Maiastru Sfetnic' album in its entirety we had soon after the original release came out in 1999. It took some years, though, before we finally started doing it, in 2007. After a lot of work, the basic elements were already recorded in April 2009 when NEGURA BUNGET parted ways with Hupogrammos and Sol Faur. It remained their task, though, to complete their work on this material. And now 'Maiestrit' is the final legacy of the NEGURA BUNGET past.

"The live DVD and 2-CD, entitled 'Focul Viu' (English: 'Living Fire'), was recorded in January 2008 at a concert in Bucharest. After a complex process of audio and video mix, the 90-minute concert is soon ready to be released. Beside the actual concert, available in stereo and 5.1 surround mix, you'll find on the DVD a slideshow with concert pictures as well as a newly mixed re-arrangement of all NEGURA BUNGET videos up to date.

"These two materials are the last materials we started working on in the old NEGURA BUNGET lineup that featured Sol Faur and Hupogrammos, and although we completed with them apart from the band, all belong to the same spirit. These two materials mark the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one. May it be a meaningful moment for everybody."

Added Hupogrammos: "A chapter is closing in our lives. Sol Faur and I are currently working on the last details of the final episode of a challenging experience that, for 15 years, took us on a path of musical and mystical development.

"Our intention was to re-enbody the purest black metal album we ever made and to do that in an impeccable manner, as black metal requires impeccability. The dream of such high intent was not entirely fulfilled, but the result of our endeavour was materialized as 'Maiestrit'.

"We started to work on this album two years ago, and until the moment the band split we had recorded most of the electric guitars and the drums. Everything else was performed and composed after July 2009 (when we split up) by Sol Faur and myself, including the two bonus tracks that were especially composed and re-shaped for this album.

"In our eyes, the journey of NEGURA BUNGET ends with this last album. Anyone caring about and searching for new forms of expression in music is invited to keep an eye on our two new bands, DORDEDUH and SUNSET IN THE 12TH HOUSE."

Hengelo, Netherlands-based death/thrash quintet DEVIOUS will release its third full-length album, "Vision", on December 4 via Deity Down Records. The follow-up to 2007's "Domain" was produced by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) and founding member and main songwriter Guido de Jongh and was mixed and mastered by Jacobs at the Split Second Sound studios, Netherlands.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Heritage Of The Reckless
02. False Identity
03. Respiration Of Fear
04. Abide
05. Impulse Overload
06. Predefined
07. Validate
08. Disconnect

Check out the cover artwork by graphic artist Hrödger here.

DEVIOUS' current lineup is as follows:

Guido De Jongh (guitar)
Frank Schilperoort (drums)
Arnold Oude Middendorp (vocals)
Wouter Huitema (guitar)
Daniel Centiago (bass)

A brand new track called "Irreversible" from the newly recorded MANIFEST album will be featured on a compilation CD entitled "Trondheim Calling". The CD will be released on January 23, 2010 and will include "all kind of different bands" from the Trondheim area in Norway. The group says, "The release is aiming at promoting the high quality and wide range of music that bands from the city of Trondheim have to offer, and will receive national distribution. Alongside MANIFEST on this release is also our metal partners-in-crime TORCH, who kick major ass!"

MANIFEST entered Trøndertun Studio on August 8 with producer Knut Prytz to begin recording its new album. 11 tracks were laid down for the CD, which is tentatively due in early 2010.

MANIFEST in March announced the addition of bassist Johnny Wangberg (GRIFFIN, WATTAMEZZ) to the group's ranks.

Johnny made his live debut with MANIFEST on March 7 in the band's hometown of Trondheim.

MANIFEST's most recent album, "Hedonism", came out in Norway on December 3, 2007 via Morningstar Records. The follow-up to 2005's "Half Past Violence" was recorded at Spiren Studio with producer Knut "Fug" Prytz. Audio samples from the CD are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Relapse Records has just released a collection of recordings from the Swedish death metal outfit NIRVANA 2002. The highly underrated yet influential band only released a series of demos and splits during their existence through the late '80s and early '90s. This collection, "Recordings 89-91", compiles almost all of the band's recorded works onto one disc, including previously unreleased songs and a brand new remix of their legendary demo "Disembodied Spirits".

To stream the entire album, go to Nirvana2002.info.

NIRVANA 2002's vocalist/guitarist Orvar Säfström (who later joined ENTOMBED) commented on "Recordings 89-91": "It's been 20 years since the first recordings on this CD were made. Last summer three middle aged guys sneaked into an old rehearsal space in Edsbyn, Sweden. They shared a quart of rum and played old school death metal all night. That night I felt it all coming back to me. The excitement and the all-out exhilarating fury of playing in a death metal band. I felt alive. I felt like a kid again."

German/Swiss blues/metal act DOWNSPIRIT, the band formed by SYMPHORCE/ex-FREEDOM CALL guitarist Cedric "Cede" Dupont, have issued the following update:

"We have great news: our recordings are finished, all the crazy shit is on tape finally, and so far, we can tell you that it sounds simply amazing!!!

We're very excited and will start to find the right label partner and release the album as soon as anyhow possible. It's going to take awhile to set the business kind of things, but we are sure, that our debut album is going to kick so much ass!!!!

The mixing sessions are going to start tomorrow, so at the end of November we should be done, and will have some rough mixes for your ears ready."

Singer Eduardo Falaschi from São Paulo, Brazil-based power metallers has sent BraveWords.com the following update:

"Hi people, especially my dear Italian and Swiss fans, this is Edu Falaschi. I'm here to tell the truth about the cancellation of the Angra's tour in November! Some motherfucker is telling that I'm with a vocal problem! It's a fucking lie!!! The point is that the promoter who booked the tour didn't pay the band, didn't even buy the flight tickets and didn't even sign the contract! Well, with less than a week to the beginning of the tour, this promoter told us that the tour would be cancelled! The band is very sad and still trying to save part of it!!! Thanks for you love and comprehension, we are planning a new album for early 2010 and promise you to make very nice concerts in your countries! Love you all!"

AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry tells Billboard.com singer Steven Tyler's surprise guest appearance at his JOE PERRY PROJECT concert Tuesday night (Nov. 10) in New York "really didn't change anything in my mind" about the status of their band.

Perry tells Billboard.com that Tyler "never said he was leaving the band" but further explains that the singer "said he wanted two years off to do his other projects," which is where things become problematic.

"AEROSMITH wants to work," says Perry, who Tweeted earlier in the week that the band was "positively looking for a new singer to work with." He adds, "the band's been playing together for 40 years. It's a really powerful rock band, and I don't want to see it just go to waste and I don't think any of the other guys do, either. We're gonna work and we're gonna do something — I'm not exactly sure what yet, but the band's too good to let it sit around. We're not going to wait for Steven."

Guitarist Zacky Vengeance of AVENGED SEVENFOLD has issued the following update:

"It has been awhile since we have shed light on our current doings. Well, here is a long-awaited update into the world of A7X.

"We came off of the road amidst one of the most turbulent times in history. Everything going on around us was overwhelming, frightening, frustrating and confusing. I must confess that it was also very exciting to me. I'm sure you can share my sentiment.

"We have been focused on only one thing: writing and preparing to record what to me is our most personal and epic AVENGED SEVENFOLD album. The reason is the fact that everything happening around us in the entire world might be a once-in-a-lifetime source of inspiration and direction. We have been harnessing every aspect of what makes A7X truly unrelenting and building off of that. I don't think we sleep too much anymore because of the excitement we feel while writing this album. Only a world spinning out of control could inspire the music and vision we have now. Once again, it is fucking exciting.

"We will continue finalizing our songs until we feel every note does both you [the fans] as well as us justice. We are also in the final stages of solidifying our production team, studios and engineers so that the second the axe falls and the album is written we will spend day and night in the studio until it is complete. This album will definitely take you on a very dark journey..."

Two songs — "Scream With Me" and "Heard It All Before" — from the forthcoming self-titled album from MUDVAYNE are available for streaming here and here. Reportedly the first album to ever use blacklight-reactive ink (making it only visible under a black light), the CD's cover image was created by world-renowned tattoo king Paul Booth.

Every bit of art and text in the packaging of the record will be printed on ink that can only be seen under a black light.

Commented Booth: "This project has been absolutely killer to work on! The whole black light concept was totally experimental and quite the challenge, so of course, as an artist, I was drawn to it like a moth to a bugzapper."

He added, "I am happy to see bands focusing more energy on their album art… something I thought the Internet had killed. Hailz to MUDVAYNE and everyone at the label for going the extra mile!"

The album will be available in the following formats:

***1. Super Deluxe - "Limited-edition" run of only 1,000 copies which will be sold direct to the consumer from the band's site. Pre-order it at Mudvayne.com starting next Tuesday, November 10 and receive the digital album two weeks before release!

It contains:

a. The deluxe version of the album
b. The album on glow-in-the-dark vinyl (also blacklight-reactive)
c. A 24-inch blacklight
d. A 24x24 poster designed by Paul Booth in blacklight-reactive ink
e. An 8x8 blacklight-reactive decal designed by Paul Booth

***2. Deluxe – "Limited-edition" first run of 100,000 copies. Pre-order it at Mudvayne.com starting Tuesday, November 24 and receive the digital album two weeks before release!

It contains:

a. The album in jewel case
b. A LED, keychain-sized blacklight
c. Special blacklight-reactive packaging designed by Paul Booth

***3. Vinyl

a. Glow-in-the-dark vinyl (also blacklight-reactive)
b. Blacklight-reactive art designed by Paul Booth

***4. Jewel Case

a. Blacklight-reactive art designed by Paul Booth

Due on December 22 via Epic, "Mudvayne" has been described by drummer Matt McDonough as "the best" CD "the band has recorded since our second album, 'The End Of All Things to Come'." The album was produced by Dave Fortman's (SLIPKNOT, EVANESCENCE) right-hand man, Jeremy Parker, and is "a little more retro for MUDVAYNE" from a songwriting point of view, according to singer Chad Gray. "We've been kind of making this natural progression, and I think for this one, we just sort of naturally regressed," he told Noisecreep. "We took the smarter songwriting guys that we've become and mixed it with the not-smart songwriting guys that we were ... I mean, we used to just take 20 parts, cram it together, and call it a song. Over time, playing in a band, you kind of know what to expect. It doesn't really make it easier, but you kind of have this thing in your head that you kind of know where you're going. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel before entering the tunnel. It's faint, and dim, but it's there."

MUDVAYNE's fourth studio album, "The New Game", has sold more than 200,000 copies in the United States since it came out in November 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD shifted 48,000 units in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SOULFLY entered Edge Of The Earth studios in Hollywood, California on Friday, November 6 with producer Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD, DIVINE HERESY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, GOJIRA, DEVILDRIVER) to begin recording its new album, tentatively titled "Omen", for an early 2010 release. Working songtitles set to appear on the follow-up to last year's "Conquer" include:

* Bloodbath And Beyond
* Soulfly VII
* Off With Their Heads
* Omen
* Rise Of The Fallen
* Great Depression
* Apocalyptic Clash
* Vulture Culture
* Lethal Injection
* 7 Daggerz

SOULFLY is also recording a cover version of the LED ZEPPELIN song "Four Sticks" (taken from the English rock band's fourth album, released in 1971) for future use as a B-side or bonus track.

British vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva — who has toured and/or recorded with CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS and ANGTORIA — will release her solo album, "A Sign Of Sublime", in February 2010 through Rising Records. The drums on the CD were laid down by Max Blunos, formerly of the U.K. death metal outfit TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED. Other guest musicians that appear on the album include Martin Powell (CRADLE OF FILTH, ANATHEMA, MY DYING BRIDE) and Dave Pybus (CRADLE OF FILTH). The CD was mixed and mastered at Escape Route by Dan Abela.

"A Sign Of Sublime" track listing:

01. Genesis
02. A Sign Of Sublime
03. She Stands Like Stone
04. The Devil's Opera
05. They Called Her Lady Tyranny
06. The Road To Nowhere
07. Your Woeful Chair
08. Newborn Failure
09. Daddy's Not Coming Home

The limited-edition digipack version of "A Sign Of Sublime" will contain one bonus track plus a video for the CD's title cut.