The cover artwork for "Mechanize", the forthcoming album from FEAR FACTORY — the newly revamped band featuring original FF members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (who played on the last two FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMERS HOLE) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, TESTAMENT) — can be viewed here.

"Mechanize" will be released in the U.S. on February 9, 2010 via Candlelight Records and February 5, 2010 in Europe via AFM Records. The CD, which was co-produced by the band with Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, PARADISE LOST), was recently mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY). Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Powershifter", "Industrial Discipline" and "Fear Campaign".

Wolfgang Spahrof of Billboard.com reports: The album "Liebe ist Für Alle Da" ("Love is For All") by German hard rock group RAMMSTEIN — currently at No. 2 on Billboard's European Albums Chart — has been banned from public display in German stores with effect from Nov. 11 on account of its depictions of sadism/masochism, which have been deemed to be harmful to children and young people.

Announcing this ruling, Petra Meier, the deputy president of the Federal Office for the Examination of Media Harmful to Young People, cited the track "Ich tue Dir Weh" ("I Want to Hurt You") as well as the artwork showing guitarist Richard Kruspe with a masked, naked woman on his knees.

FLYLEAF's new album, "Memento Mori", is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page. Due on November 10 via A&M/Octone, the follow-up to FLYLEAF's hit 2005 self-titled debut sees the group once again teaming with producer Howard Benson, who is known for his work with PAPA ROACH, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS.

"Memento Mori" track listing:

01. Beautiful Bride
02. Again
03. Chasm
04. Missing
05. This Close
06. The Kind
07. In The Dark
08. Set Apart This Dream
09. Swept Away
10. Tiny Heart
11. Melting (interlude)
12. Treasure
13. Circle
14. Arise

Disc 2 (Deluxe Edition):

01. Break Your Knees
02. Enemy
03. Have We Lost
04. Who Am I

French metallers HEAVENLY will release their fifth studio album, "Carpe Diem", on December 18 via AFM Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Carpe Diem
02. Lost In Your Eyes
03. Farewell
04. Fullmoon
05. A Better Me
06. Ashen Paradise
07. The Face Of The Truth
08. Ode To Joy
09. Save Our Souls

Check out the cover artwork here.

HEAVENLY's fourth album, entitled "Virus", was released in Europe (outside France) in January 2007 via AFM Records. The CD, which was issued in France in November 2006 via XIII BIS Records, came in a limited-edition digipack that included the video for the song "Spill Blood on Fire".

Florida-based extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH are currently holding auditions for a permanent lead guitarist for the band's new album and future tours.

If interested in auditioning, send a bio, photos, and links to examples of your playing
(audio and video clips).

Contact the band at www.myspace.com/wykkedwytch or wykkedwytch@aol.com for more details.

WYKKED WYTCH is putting the finishing touches on the songwriting process for the band's fifth album, tentatively titled "Prayers Of The Decapitated", for a 2010 release.

WYKKED WYTCH's fourth album, "Memories of a Dying Whore", was released through the band's own label Perish Music.

Vocalist Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven of Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON told Terrorizer.com that the band's upcoming concert in London, England (on December 20) will mark the beginning of a new phase in the group's evolution. "From then on, there are going to be a lot of changes in the SATYRICON camp," he said. "After we take a long touring break and come back a couple of years later, certain people may not be with us any longer. Although we won't be doing anything overly dramatic, we'll be trying quite a few different things, which I think is going to be really good for SATYRICON. The reason we're doing that is so we can continue to develop our sound. At the moment we are still enjoying what we do, but if that continues any longer it'll undoubtedly stagnate, so we need to ensure that doesn't happen. And moving in different musical directions is definitely a good way to go about it."

"As an artist, there are so many new things I'd like to do," Satyr added. "And one of them is to work on some songwriting for SATYRICON, though from an entirely different angle. For example, we may chose to go for a similar tone, but use a different set of instruments in the next record. Maybe there are also other recording techniques, which could add a different element to our work and open up fresh musical territory. Our last three releases all follow a certain style and pattern, and we want to create a record that's radically different from the others. Though the foundation of SATYRICON's sound — my songwriting and Frost's signature drumming — will always remain unchanged."

FOZZY, the band featuring WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho and STUCK MOJO mastermind Rich "The Duke" Ward, will release its first-ever live album, "Remains Alive" (cover), as part of a special very limited-edition "Survival Pack" as a lead-up to their upcoming new album, "Chasing the Grail", to be released via Riot! Entertainment on January 26, 2010.

"Remains Alive" was recorded in Brisbane, Australia on the "Fozzy in Aussie" tour in September 2005 and contains songs from all three previous FOZZY albums. It is ONLY available in this limited edition "Survival Pack" — STRICTLY limited to 500 packs only!

Inserted randomly in ONE pack is a ticket that will win the holder a new black Epiphone guitar signed by Rich Ward and Chris Jericho. Inserted randomly in 20 packs will be gold tickets that will win the holders a personal phone call from Chris Jericho. That's correct; Chris will call the holders personally!

Apart from the "Remains Alive" CD, the pack also contains:

* Fozzy Messenger Bag
* Fozzy "We Are Huge Rock Stars" T-Shirt
* Fozzy Lanyard w/ VIP Laminate (Access to meet the band at any FOZZY show)
* Fozzy "All That Remains" CD
* Fozzy Guitar Picks
* Fozzy Beer Cooler
* Fozzy Badges x 2
* Fozzy Shoelaces
* Fozzy Dog Tags
* Fozzy Metal Belt Buckle
* Fozzy Sweatbands
* Fozzy Bandana
* Fozzy New Band Photo 8 x 10
* Fozzy Metal Key Chain!

"Remains Alive" CD and "Survival Pack" is only available online from Riot! Entertainment at this location.

Wild Models, Inc. recently booked former Playboy Playmate Irina Voronina in a new music video for rock legends MÖTLEY CRÜE.

The stunning, statuesque, Russian-born Voronina is no newcomer to the spotlight, having been featured in commercial/print for such high-profile, recognizable brands as Michelob Ultra, Skyy Vodka, and Miller Light, as well as appearing in an extensive PR tour as the iconic St. Pauli Girl for the St. Pauli Brewery 2008 ad campaign.

Voronina has extensive film and television experience; appearing on the HBO hit series "Entourage", "Reno 911!: Miami", "MADtv", "Punk'd", "Epic Movie", "Saul of the Mole Men", and is currently filming "Svetlana". Her featured guest appearances on the talk show circuit include: "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", "Chelsea Lately", and "Howard Stern on Demand".

"My King", the new video from the Finnish druid metal group UNSHINE, can be viewed here. The clip was directed by Toni Salminen. The song comes off the band's second album, entitled "The Enigma of Immortals", which was released in April 2008 via Low Frequency Records.

According to the band, UNSHINE "has retired to misty and ancient backwoods in order to prepare new material for the [follow-up to] 'The Enigma of Immortals'. Thus far, the material sounds like dark and doomed, universally floating steamroller and almost everything in between that."

The 2009 Australian Metal Awards were held last night (Saturday, November 7) at The Forum in Sydney.

The winners were as follows:

* Most Popular Merch: PSYCROPTIC
* Best Album Cover: PSYCROPTIC - "(Ob)Servant"
* Best Band Name: PSYCROPTIC
* Best Film Clip: PSYCROPTIC - "Initiate"
* Best Producer / Recording Engineer: Jarrad Hearman (Sing Sing Studios) (CHAOS DIVINE - "Avalon")
* Best Drummer: David Horgan (OUROBOROS)
* Best Bass Player: Michael Conti (OUROBOROS)
* Best Regional Band: ALCHEMIST
* Best Youth Band: ASPHYXIA
* Best Export: PSYCROPTIC
* Best Live Band: PSYCROPTIC
* Best Guitarist: Jimmy Lardner-Brown (KILLRAZER)
* Best Vocalist: Dave Anderton (CHAOS DIVINE
* Best Keyboard Player: Chris Stevenson (THE ETERNAL
* Best New Band: DEATH AUDIO
* Song of the Year: "Refuse The Sickness" (CHAOS DIVINE)
* Best Unsigned Band: OUROBOROS
* Best Album: "Avalon" (CHAOS DIVINE)
* Best Metal Fan/ Web/ Magazine: MetalObession.net
* Overall Best Band 2009: CHAOS DIVINE

The Association for Australian Heavy Metal (AAHM) and the Australian Metal Awards (AMA) were formed to give heavy metal in Australia the support and backing it has lacked since it began to flourish during the 1980s.

AAHM and AMA is governed and operated by dedicated individuals who are passionate about this genre of music and have been heavily involved in the organizing and running of events for both Australian and international heavy metal acts for a number of years.

AAHM and AMA's objectives are to:

* Provide support and backing to all Australian heavy metal bands/artists
* Actively promote Australian heavy metal nationally
* Reward and recognize the bands that have made a significant contribution to the heavy metal genre of Australian music

For more information, visit www.australianmetal.com.au.

U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine recently conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen. A few excerpts from the chat follows below.

Terrorizer: You've done it. The [last] show [of the "Dark Passion Play" tour] is over. You're officially on "holiday." How do you feel?

Tuomas: "I didn't sleep on the night before and I didn't sleep last night either. You know it's a weird thing, two years on the road and then the final show that you're like shit-scared of and really excited as well. And then it goes as well as it did it's just such a relief and such a sensation of sadness at the same time that you don't really know how to be. It's like you have been in the nicest prison on earth for two years and finally you're free and you don't know what to do. Yesterday's show [at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki], I think it was top three we ever did."

Terrorizer: So, then it's back into the studio, right?
Tuomas: "Yeah, well first, in about two weeks I'm going to go to the Mediterranean to do a sailing trip with my dad, with my uncle. Kind of like a family thing, yeah the boys at sea that's it. It's going to be fun, in the Mediterranean, in Turkey and Greece, and after that it's going to be a week and then we go to Australia for six weeks, after that it's almost Christmas. Then in January I'm going to go to Orlando to visit Donald and Goofy and Mickey and the pals again after that..."

Terrorizer: So... after the annual cartoon intake, then what?

Tuomas: "Yeah after that I start working on the next album 24/7 and we have already booked a rehearsal place. That's going to be happening in July/August next year then we'll have September off and we're going to enter the studio beginning of October so that's the plan."

Terrorizer: Last time around you went into the new album with so much up in the air, who would be the vocalist on it being the biggest hurdle you had to get over. Does it feel like a different process this time around? Are you happier about heading back to the writing desk?

Tuomas: "Much much happier, so much more light at the end of the tunnel. I have a very clear vision of the next album already, which feels really weird but I have all the song titles. I know how many songs there are going to be. I have four songs done already even though it's still pretty preliminary, the whole album, but I have a good idea what it's going to be like and uh, it's still going to be metal but I think it's going to be a bit brighter than 'Dark Passion Play'."

Terrorizer: Brighter — more pop songs? No more long epic symphonic compositions? They must be a sod to write.

Tuomas: "No, they come much easier for me. I remember 'Creek Mary's Blood', that's eight-and-a-half minutes, that came out in two hours. 'The Poet And The Pendulum' in just a couple of days, same thing with 'Ghost Love Score', they just come up naturally, I don't know. But then again a song like 'Nemo', I couldn't get it together. I worked for months and months and it's only four minutes."

Terrorizer: Ten years on did you guys think you'd be headlining Hartwall like you did last night?

Tuomas: "I never thought it, none of us did, for anything like this to ever happen. I was studying biology in university and I was supposed to be a mad scientist. Jukka was doing computer studies in the university and Emppu was working in a carpet factory or whatever. Everybody was doing it just for fun and we had our own pace and then everything just got out of hand. We dropped out of school and started doing it 24/7 and this approach has had its advantages and disadvantages; disadvantages being that we have always been really naive but the plus side is that it's always been really sincere at the same time because we haven't had any expectations, [and] there has never been any posing. You know, it's not like we try to achieve anything else than just the pleasure of playing and free booze."

Terrorizer: Do you ever get pissed off with the fame?

Tuomas: "Yeah, I actually do, you have to be a bit more careful here than in other countries with what you do. I can't piss in the street publicly. Well, you can always say it's a matter of choice of career but sometimes, it's like two weeks ago there was a three-page story about my house and they had actually hired a helicopter to fly over the house and photograph it. This kind of stuff bothers me a little bit, and they have the directions of how to get to the house."

Terrorizer: Is this something that has affected a lot of metal musicians in Finland?

Tuomas: "I think that HIM and THE RASMUS, maybe, there was a big story about RASMUS getting a new car yesterday. But no the media has been quite kind to us actually, sometimes it hurts a little bit, especially this house thing when they had actually come to my house to film it with directions and everything, so that's a bit too much."

Debbie Bennett of Express & Star recently asked DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan when fans can expect to hear the band's new studio album.

"No one's done any writing yet," said Gillan. "I've got about 50 songs in my library at the moment, but they're not for DEEP PURPLE."

During a brief break in the band’s tour this year, Gillan recorded a solo album "One Eye To Morocco", released earlier this year.

"We always start from scratch, with nothing," he continued. "We'll need to take a decent break, a month off. Then hopefully we'll all be in high spirits and I reckon we'll be in full writing mode around February."

DEEP PURPLE's current long tour is to mark the band's 40th anniversary. "I'm not being funny," Ian said, "but we’ve never named it the 40th year tour! We just got sick of calling it 'Rapture of the Deep'. It's actually a five-year tour that we're doing. We just love it."

DEEP PURPLE has a new live album in the works called "Space Truckin' Round the World Live 68-76". According to Classic Rock magazine, the two-disc set — due out this month — will feature rare live recordings from various concerts all over the world, including gigs in Tokyo, Paris and San Diego. The compilation, which features multiple band line-ups, will also feature a detailed history of the group, individual concert details and photos. It's being released as part of the 10th anniversary of Purple Records — the label that handles the band's music.

DEEP PURPLE's 18th studio album, "Rapture of the Deep", was released in November 2005. It is the fourth studio CD from DEEP PURPLE since guitarist Steve Morse joined the band in 1994. It was also the second album to feature veteran keyboardist Don Airey.

German melodic death metal outfit MISERY SPEAKS has issued the following update:

"In the tenth year after founding the band, several line-up-changes and three albums, we are very sorry to tell you that we finally decided to call it a day and close the chapter MISERY SPEAKS. Different personal reasons forced us to come to this decision which lies heavy on our hearts.

"There is absolutely no reason for rumours since we are still good friends without any bad blood. We all still share the passion for music since everyone of us is involved in other bands or is working on other projects which we are looking forward to. Furthermore, we share the opinion that 'Disciples Of Doom' is our most ambitious and honest album to date which prepared the way to all our future activities. Keep your eyes and ears open!

"We want to use this opportunity to thank all of our supporters and fans. You are the ones who made all of our experiences possible. We had the fuckin' time of our lives and only want to miss a few of these moments. Thank you for that!

"Before the final curtain closes forever, we did a video for the title track of our last album, 'Disciples Of Doom', as a farewell gift for you. Watch it below.

"Beside that, we will play some selected shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland until the end of the year and a short farewell tour in some of the bigger cities in Germany in early 2010. Our final show will happen in our hometown Münster around that time. We hope to see many of you at these shows to party hard and bang your heads with us."

Swedish female-fronted heavy rock band SISTER SIN has issued the following update:

"It's been little over a year since [SISTER SIN's debut album] 'Switchblade Serenades' hit the streets and we felt it was about time to announce that we're entering the studio again on February 1 to record what will be known as the 'True Sound Of The Underground' for a 2010 release. This time Henrik Edenhed [DEAD BY APRIL, ROBYN, LAMBRETTA, TEDDYBEARS, CHRISTIAN WALTZ, THE SOUNDS] will produce and mix. We will lay down all the tracks in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios."

SISTER SIN in April made a new song, "Beat 'Em Down", available for free download via MySpace page. The track was recorded as a tribute to the late great Gothenburg boxing champ Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson, who passed away in January.

"Switchblade Serenades" debuted at No. 107 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.

"Switchblade Serenades" was produced by Tobias Lindell at Bohus Sound Studios in Sweden.

Swedish death metallers HYPOCRISY have issued the following statement in regards to their upcoming North American tour with ENSIFERUM, which was scheduled to start on Friday, November 6:

"Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are forced to stay home until U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services process and authorize our working visas. This is the first time the band has faced a situation like this and it's extremely frustrating, as well as depressing, since the last thing we want to do is disappoint our loyal fans who have waited years to see us live in the U.S.

"We filed for our visas with plenty of time, but as some probably don't know, the US government has changed its rules when it comes to visas issued to artists so it's become tougher. Even if we have already toured the U.S. numerous times.

"As it stands now, we are on stand-by mode and waiting to receive the green light. We hope it's just a few days before that happens. In the meantime, we want to apologize to all the fans that planned on going to see us tear shit up live. We will do our best to rejoin the tour as soon as possible!"

HYPOCRISY has enlisted CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho to play guitar on the tour. Alexi will temporarily fill the currently vacant guitarist spot on the trek, which will also include headliners BLACKGUARD and SWASHBUCKLE.

The remastered edition of SACRED REICH's classic 1992 album "Independent" will be released as a digipack and jewelbox on March 15, 2010 via Displeased Records. The first 2,500 copies will contain a free SACRED REICH patch.

Bonus tracks:

* "A Question" (from "A Question" EP)
* "Let's Have A War" (FEAR cover from "A Question" EP)
* "Who's To Blame" (from "A Question" EP)
* "The Big Picture" (MDC cover from "Open Book" EP)
* "Crawling" [radio edit] (from "Crawling" EP)

MACHINE HEAD drummer Dave McClain rejoined his former SACRED REICH bandmates on stage at the Hellfest in Clisson, France on Saturday, June 22 to perform the classic SR song "Independent". Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below (clip uploaded by Dave Ingham a.k.a. YouTube user "triptykon").

McClain was a member of SACRED REICH from 1991 to 1995. He played on the "A Question" EP (1991) and the "Independent" (1993) and "Heal" (1996) albums before leaving to join MACHINE HEAD.

Displeased Records' reissue of SACRED REICH's classic album "The American Way" came out in February. With upgraded layout, to-the-point remastering plus unreleased pre-production demo bonus tracks and a video clip, this new and improved CD reissue is an essential addition to every thrash metal collection!

"The American Way" was made available in a limited digipak version and standard jewel case version. The first 2,500 copies come with a free logo patch.

Metal Blade Records released a three-disc deluxe reissue of SACRED REICH's "Ignorance" and "Surf Nicaragua" in June 2007. Two CDs are included in the package (both remastered!) as well as a bonus DVD. The package, which was made available in Europe only, includes liner notes by Rind and Malcolm Dome (Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Total Rock Radio) and an extensive booklet with loads of previously unpublished photos.

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

"Tragically, lead guitarist Greg Mackintosh will be unable to continue with PARADISE LOST's 'Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us' tour of Europe due to a terminal illness within his family.

"Greg's father was taken critically ill some weeks ago, yet Greg decided to commence the tour anyway in the hope that future news from home would be positive. This, unfortunately, was not the case. Therefore (as of 6th November 2009), Greg will remain in England to support his relatives during this difficult time.

"Everyone involved with the band would like to offer Greg our support and to let him know all our thoughts are with him.

"The tour will not end here, though. Milly Evans (PARADISE LOST's long-standing guitar technician and keyboardist from TERRORVISION) will fill in for Greg with immediate effect.

"Having worked with the band for many years, Milly knows PARADISE LOST's repertoire far more than most, and will endeavour to provide a seamless transition between guitarists. Milly is highly regarded among PARADISE LOST's fan-base and is the best person to fill Greg's role in the band for the rest of the European tour.

"We apologize in advance to those of you who will be joining us for the European dates and will no doubt be disappointed by Greg's absence. However, I am sure you will appreciate this unfortunate situation was unavoidable and everyone is doing everything they can to ensure the shows run as smoothly as possible."

The second ("Embrace The Mystery") and third ("Three") albums from ARMAGEDDON — the Swedish melodic metal project of ARCH ENEMY guitarist Chris Amott — will get a proper and domestic release outside of Japan, where they originally came out back in the years 2000 and 2002, respectively. "Embrace The Mystery & Three" will be released as 2CD set with upgraded artwork, several bonus tracks and liner notes on November 16, 2009 in Europe and on January 26 in North America via Century Media Records.

Commented Chris Amott: "It is with great pleasure that I announce the first time ever release of these albums in Europe and the U.S.! Any fan of melodic hard rock and shred guitar playing should check this out — 'Embrace the Mystery' and 'Three' feature many great instrumental performances and epic songs! These two albums were recorded in 2000 and 2002 and have until only been available in Japan. I put a lot of work into these recordings at the time, so I am glad to see them come out!"

Originally formed in Halmstad, Sweden in 1997, ARMAGEDDON was launched as a melodic death metal act, with the band's debut album, "Crossing The Rubicon", released via the now-defunct W.A.R. Records label in Europe and Toy's Factory in Japan. Next to guitarist and mastermind Chris Amott, the album also featured drummer Peter Wildoer (DARKANE, MAJESTIC, now also in PESTILENCE) and bassist Martin Bengtsson, who both then moved on to join ARCH ENEMY, recording, releasing and touring ARCH ENEMY's 1998 "Stigmata" release. Chris revisited ARMAGEDDON with 2000's "Embrace The Mystery" album, once again released in Japan on Toy's Factory but never available internationally. This album presented a rather melodic and traditional metal approach and featured LAST TRIBE member Rickard Bengtsson on vocals, Dick Lövgren on bass (now member of MESHUGGAH but previously a touring bassist for bands like EUCHARIST, ARCH ENEMY and IN FLAMES) as well as ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson (also previously active with EUCHARIST and IN FLAMES and currently a member of the reunited CARCASS). Following the album's release, ARMAGEDDON supported IN FLAMES and THE HAUNTED on a Japanese tour, which remain the only live performances for the band until now. In 2002 ARMAGEDDON released its third and (so far) last album exclusively in Japan again. Simply entitled "Three", it showcases ARMAGEDDON as a three-piece, with Chris Amott handling all vocal duties next to playing guitar as well as Daniel Erlandsson on drums and new bassist Tobias Gustafsson (EUCHARIST).

The "Embrace The Mystery & Three" 2CD set marks the long-overdue international release of these two jewels of modern Scandinavian melodic metal, not only including the full original versions of both albums packaged in a revamped version of the original "Embrace The Mystery" artwork by Niklas Sundin (DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES), but also comes with six special bonus tracks (demo and rehearsal songs as well as cover versions of IRON MAIDEN and MERCYFUL FATE) and liner notes by Chris Amott. "Embrace The Mystery & Three" isn't only an essential historical release for collectors of the mentioned main bands of the involved high-quality players but with its total of 26 tracks and 100-plus minutes of playing time it also represents a worthwhile purchase for supporters of the melodic metal genre in general!

"Embrace The Mystery & Three" 2CD (cover) (102:26) track listing:

CD 1 "Embrace The Mystery" (47:45):

01. Awakening (0:38)
02. The Broken Spell (4:29)
03. Blind Fury (4:07)
04. Worlds Apart (3:06)
05. Cry Of Fate (5:07)
06. Illusions Tale (4:22)
07. Moongate Climber (2:45)
08. Embrace The Mystery (3:25)
09. Sleep Of Innocence (3:51)
10. Grain Of Sand (3:38)
11. Worlds Apart (Rehearsal) (3:03) *
12. The Broken Spell (Rehearsal) (3:42) *
13. Die With Your Boots On (IRON MAIDEN cover) (5:33) *

* Bonus Tracks

CD 2 "Three" (54:41):

01. Gathering Of The Storm (0:59)
02. Burn The Sun (4:25)
03. Stranglehold (4:39)
04. Heart Of Ice (3:53)
05. Well Of Sadness (6:04)
06. Rainbow Serpent (4:37)
07. Winter Skies (4:02)
08. Final Destination (4:29)
09. Spirit Kiss (2:17)
10. The Contract (5:04)
11. Winter Skies (Demo) (4:05) *
12. Sands Of Time (Demo) (5:46) *
13. Desecration Of Souls (MERCYFUL FATE cover) (4:21) *

* Bonus Tracks

AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry told the Las Vegas Sun on Friday (November 6) that singer Steven Tyler quit the band following a recent concert in Abu Dhabi.

"Steven quit as far as I can tell," Perry said. "I don't know any more than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don't know."

Part of the problem, Perry said, is that Tyler doesn't return his phone calls.

"He's notorious for that," Perry said. "That's one thing I've learned to live with. I try to overlook it. I like to pick my battles. Frankly, the last few months I've been wanting not to rock the boat. I don't want him canceling any more gigs. We really wanted to do these last four. We just kind of didn't want to call him out or anything and get him anymore pissed off, for whatever reason. So we just let things lie. So we did the gigs and, like I said, I got off the plane and saw this online. That's how I know about it."

Perry said he arrived home in Boston on Wednesday and read on the Internet that Tyler planned to leave the band.

"He has had no contact with me or the other band members," Perry said.

He says he hopes to keep AEROSMITH together, with or without Tyler, but he was so stunned by recent developments he doesn't know what's going to happen.

"Right now I'm adjusting to how we're going to go on," Perry said. "AEROSMITH is such a powerful band, I mean it's like a steam locomotive. You just can't disregard 40 years of four guys who play together as well as they do. We're just trying to — at least I am — trying to figure out what direction the band should take.

"As far as replacing Steve, it's not just about that, it's also four guys that play extremely well together, and I'm not going to see that go to waste. I really don't know what path it's going to take at this point, but we'll probably find somebody else that will sing in those spots where we need a singer and then we'll be able to move the Aerosmith up a notch, move the vibe up a notch."

"Where Death Is Most Alive", the new DVD from Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY, has entered the Music DVD chart in the band's home country at position No. 1.

Commented guitarist Niklas Sundin: "We are immensely pleased to report that the people of Sweden still have a great taste in music. Our 'Where Death Is Most Alive' DVD just premiered at the #1 spot on the official Swedish DVD charts, kicking the asses of such luminaries as ABBA, MICHAEL JACKSON and MADONNA.

"Needless to say, we're humbled by the great response the DVD is receiving, and judging by the reactions at last weekend's official theatre screening we definitely have a winner on our hands. Everyone involved invested a lot of time and effort into putting together a package that really would be special and that would live up to the high expectations people would have of a 20-year anniversary release such as this, so it's great to see that it paid off.

"Thanks to everyone that attended and to everyone that has purchased the DVD."

The new band calling itself FEAR FACTORY — featuring original FF members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (who played on the last two FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and ZIMMERS HOLE) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, TESTAMENT) — will release its new studio album, "Mechanize", on February 9, 2010 via Candlelight Records. The CD, which was co-produced by the band with Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, PARADISE LOST), was recently mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY). Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Industrial Discipline", "Powershifter" and "Fear Campaign".

"Mechanize" is a full-fisted blast of passion and innovation that sounds like the missing link between 1995's groundbreaking "Demanufacture" and 1998's more texturally nuanced "Obsolete", according to a press release. Songs like "Industrial Discipline" and "Powershifter" are crushing and colossal, melding fast and precise rhythms with vocals that pinwheel from raw and scathing to hauntingly melodic while "Fear Campaign", which features harrowing spoken word passages, quickly segues into a showcase of punishing beats, rapid-fire riffs and ghostly keyboards. For the first time in years, the band's industrial roots glimmer through its street-lethal metal, thanks in part to Fulber, who worked on FEAR FACTORY's popular industrial remix albums "Fear is the Mindkiller" and "Remanufacture".

"I didn't want any of the soundscapes to sound natural," says Bell. "I wanted them to be really mechanical because I wanted that aspect of FEAR FACTORY to really shine again. I feel it kind of got dulled over and that's the aspect that I really enjoyed a lot about FEAR FACTORY. I was a huge fan of industrial music and still am. And you don't hear much of that anymore these days."

"Deadlands", the 2002 album from from Norway's MADDER MORTEM, has been re-released via Peaceville Records. This reissue features two new recordings exclusive to this release in the shape of "The Exile", structured around extras from the writing process from the "Deadlands" era, and "Deadlands Revisited" a spine-tingling re-imagining of the original with violin courtesy of Ingvild "Sareeta" Johannsen from RAM-ZET. Also included are new liner notes by MADDER MORTEM singer Agnete M. Kirkevaag.

Commented the band: "We reccommend you check out this re-release for some seriously bleak, monstrous and heavy songs. After nine years, it still feels as vital and fresh as it did in 2002. With the newly recorded bonus tracks that we are extremely proud of, there should be plenty to dive into."

"Deadlands" reissue track listing:

01. Enter
02. Necropol Lit
03. Omnivore
04. Rust Cleansing
05. Faceless
06. Distance Will Save Us
07. Silverspine
08. Jigsaw (The Pattern & The Puzzle)
09. Deadlands
10. Resonatine

Bonus tracks:

11. The Exile
12. Deadlands Revisited

Guitarist Janick Gers of British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN revealed to BBC News that the band has already started writing songs for its 15th studio album. "We're going to Paris for three weeks to work on some new stuff," Gers said at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards 2009 on November 2 at the Park Lane Hotel in London, England. "The most important thing for a band is to create new music, otherwise you're not valid — you become a parody."

MAIDEN became the first outfit in history to travel round the world in a customized jet during their "Somewhere Back in Time" tour, as detailed in award-winning movie "Flight 666".

Former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta has launched a new project called THE MAN-EATING TREE, also featuring current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE.

The band, which entered the studio this past summer, consists of the following musicians:

Tuomas Tuominen (ex-FALL OF THE LEAFE) - Vocals
Janne Markus (POISONBLACK) - Guitar
Aaron Rantonen (LASTEN JUNA) - Guitar
Mikko Uusimaa (REFLEXION) - Bass
Heidi Määttä (ex-EMBRAZE) - Keyboards
Vesa Ranta (ex-SENTENCED) - Drums

Legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen will release a new album called "High Impact" on December 8 (one day earlier internationally). The set is described as "a mind-boggling, high-paced compilation record" featuring a "surprise" bonus track — Yngwie's never-before-released interpretation of the MICHAEL JACKSON mega-hit classic "Beat It", which contains Malmsteen's own magical touch.

"High Impact" track listing:

01. Caprici Di Dablo
02. Brothers
03. Blitzkrieg
04. Trilogy Suite
05. Red House
06. Finale
07. Magic City
08. Arpeggios From Hell
09. Far Beyond The Sun
10. Cantabile
11. Blue
12. Overture 1622
13. Fugue
14. Beat It (MICHAEL JACKSON cover)

"Nattväsen"(English translation: "Night Creatures"), a brand new song from the Swedish "Viking metal" act MÅNEGARM, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track is the title cut of the band's new album, "Nattväsen", which is scheduled for release on November 19 via Regain Records.

MÅNEGARM filmed a video for the song "Vetrarmegin" (English translation: Winter Force) this past weekend with the Standard Film Team (DARK FUNERAL, PLECTOR, ZONARIA). The clip was shot in a "Viking village" near the band's hometown, Norrtälje, with an "incredible pre-renaissance atmosphere." The group states, "The Viking village, with its amazing surroundings, will fit the theme of the video just perfect!!"

"Nattväsen" track listing:

01. Mina Fäders Hall
02. Nattsjäl, Drömsjäl
03. Bergagasten
04. I Den Svartaste Jord
05. Hraesvelg
06. Vetrarmegin
07. Draugen
08. Nattväsen
09. Delling