A new DREAMLAND song, "Exit 49", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track is the title cut of the Swedish metallers' third album, which is scheduled for release on September 25 via Dockyard 1 Records. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD — which was mixed at Andy La Rocque's (KING DIAMOND) Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden — include "The Warning", "Rescue Me", "Two Worlds", "Nordic Rage", "Touch of Evil" and "Song For You".

The follow-up to 2007's "Eye For An Eye", "Exit 49" marks the debut of new drummer Alexx and guitarist Nils Olsson.

DREAMLAND's last CD, "Eye for an Eye", was recorded at Joacim Cans' (HAMMERFALL) Moonshine Studio and Andy La Rocque's old studio, Los Angered Recording, where the album was also mixed.

Recently Scorpions vocalist Klaus Meine was in the studio to record a duet with Tobias. The recording session took place at Peppermint Park, Mousse T's prestigious studio in Hannover. About the collaboration Tobias says the following: "We played a couple of shows with the Scorpions here and there and they are not only the biggest and greatest Rock band ever to emerge from Germany, they are also cool Rock-n-Roll people who are aware of what's going on in the world of heavy guitars. Lately we played Bulgaria together, Edguy and the Scorpions, and I watched their full show from onstage. They kicked serious ass! Rudolf (Schenker, Scorpions) did some cool guitar work on the previous record, and now Klaus is on the forthcoming one. He has done a superb job, he opens his mouth and you immediately hear it's that cutting voice that has sung "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "Blackout"! The track we did together is an anthemic mid-tempo tune, big choir chorus. And I am still speechless thinking of Klaus' performance. He is a real pro and he would still blow away 99% of all us Rock singers with a quarter of his left lung. People, get ready for a monster song!"

VIOLENT STORM — the band formed by ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/BLACKMORE'S NIGHT bassist Mick Cervino — is in pre-production for a new studio album, to be released in the winter of 2009. More details to be announced very soon.

VIOLENT STORM's video for the song "War No More", which was filmed at this year's performances in the USA and Canada, can be viewed below.

VIOLENT STORM's latest album, "Storm Warning" was produced by JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing (his first production credit outside of PRIEST), and features guest appearances by Downing, Malmsteen and Roy Z (HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON). The CD was released in the U.S. on July 17, 2007 via Gold Storm Records.

Los Angeles metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will release their sophomore album, "War Is The Answer", in the U.S. on September 22 via Prospect Park Records. The CD was produced by the band and Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, IN THIS MOMENT), and was mixed by Randy Staub (METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, NICKELBACK). According to a press release, "the record evolves the band's already mature sound, ranging from the undeniable melodies in 'Hard to See' to the brutally nihilistic 'Burn It Down' [available for streaming below] — destined to please fans both new and old."

"War Is The Answer" track listing:

01. Dying Breed
02. Hard To See
03. Bulletproof
04. No One Gets Left Behind
05. Crossing Over
06. Burn It Down
07. Far From Home
08. Falling In Hate
09. My Own Hell
10. Walk Away
11. Canto 34
12. Bad Company (BAD COMPANY cover)
13. War Is The Answer

FEJD, the Swedish folk rock/metal band featuring members of NOSTRADAMEUS and PATHOS, has issued the following update:

"The FEJD plan is to start the recordings of our second full-length album around November or December 2009. We already have most of the songs written and are very excited to enter the studio once again, this time knowing that we have a label who supports us and that we will be able to get our music out to our fans. We are also talking about recording the old 'demo' tracks again as we know lots of people wants them and we play many of the old ones live. This will, in that case, be totally new recordings with some different arrangements on some of them. We don't want to put the old recordings on a CD and just release them as they are because we want the owners of the 'demos' to feel that what they bought is something special and rare.

"We'll come back with more information about the recordings as we get closer to our goal."

Swedish black metallers MARDUK will release their eleventh album, "Wormwood", in the U.S. on October 13 via Regain Records. The CD, which will be made available in Europe on September24, was recorded at Endarker Studios in Norrköping, Sweden with engineer/producer Magnus Devo Andersson. The album's release will be followed by a world tour, dubbed "Funeral Nation 2009/2010", which will kick off in Europe.

"Wormwood" track listing:

01. Nowhere, No-One, Nothing
02. Funeral Dawn
03. This Fleshly Void
04. Unclosing The Curse
05. Into Utter Madness
06. Phosphorous Redeemer
07. To Redirect Perdition
08. Whorecrown
09. Chorus Of Cracking Necks
10. As A Garment

The CD artwork can be viewed here.

Check out photos from the "Wormwood" recording sessions at this location.

MARDUK's last CD, "Rom 5:12", was released in North America in May 2007 via Regain/Koch.

Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FOR entered the studio on August 6 to begin recording their sixth album, tentatively due in early 2010. Vocalist Jape Peratalo writes on the band's MySpace page, "We have 11 songs at the moment. Personally I've never felt this relaxed at the studio. Finally we have songs with that 'thing and feeling' we have always dreamt about.

"We had some riffs and some melodies and then we just sat together. We had guitars and keyboards and we composed these 11 songs right there at the studio. Some songs are already named like 'Angelica' and 'End In Tears'.

"We will continue recordings at Tonmi's [Lillman; TO/DIE/FOR drummer] place after all drum tracks have been edited etc. Next comes keyboards and programming stuff. After that, we need a couple of days here at the D studio for bass and guitar.

"By the way, there is going to be only one guitarist in the new [TO/DIE/FOR] lineup! And we still do not know who will he be, but surely he must be very unique!"

Currently unsigned, TO/DIE/FOR plans to release its next album through the band's own company. Peratalo explained, "We are not gonna look for any record label for releasing this album! All we need is find right labels which we could sign license deals with. Now it seems that licenses for Russian, Japan and Finland are already in our hands. And I am looking for new license deals all the time. So... things will happen mainly through our own company."

Austrian death metallers IN SLUMBER, who feature in their ranks vocalist Wolfgang Rothbauer (THIRDMOON, EISBLUT), have announced the addition of bassist Kay Brem (ELUVEITIE) to the group's ranks.

IN SLUMBER has finished recording its third album, entitled "Arcane Divine Subspecies". The CD was mixed and mastered in Denmark by Peter "Ziggy" Siegfriedsen and Tue Madsen.

IN SLUMBER is currently seeking a suitable label to release the new CD.

IN SLUMBER's sophomore album, "Scars: Incomplete", was released in March 2007 via Massacre Records.

PRIMAL FEAR's Mat Sinner and Henny Wolter will take part in the upcoming "Rock Meets Classic" concerts in Germany and the Netherlands. 14 shows have been booked for January 2010 and will feature FOREIGNER's Lou Gramm, NAZARETH's Dan McCafferty and TOTO's Bobby Kimball backed by the "Rock Meets Classic" band and choir, which will consist of Wolter on guitar, Jimmy Kresic on keyboards, and Martin Schmidt on drums, plus Amanda Somerville (EPICA, AVANTASIA), Verena Schock and Tiffany Krikland on backing vocals. Maestro Philipp Maier from Dubai will write the arrangements and conduct the Prague Symphonic Orchestra while Sinner will direct the "Rock Meets Classic" band and choir. Mat says, "Look out for an exciting evening and songs like 'Cold As Ice', 'Juke Box Hero', 'Hold The Line', 'Africa', 'Love Hurts' and 'This Flight Tonight' with a brand new vibe!" He adds, "We're already in negotiations for more concerts and to continue the project in 2011."

Among the many highlights on "Black Gives Way To Blue", the highly anticipated new album from ALICE IN CHAINS, is a special guest performance by Elton John. The two rock legends collaborated on the album's stunning title track, "Black Gives Way To Blue", a heart-stirring tribute to ALICE IN CHAINS' late lead singer Layne Staley. The album arrives in stores September 29.

"We were thinking about adding piano to the track and a friend suggested we call Elton," recalls guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell. "I remember laughing and saying, 'Yeah, I'll get right on that.' But I decided it was worth trying and wrote Elton an email explaining what that song means to us — that it's a real, raw openhearted song for Layne. We sent him the track and got a call shortly after saying he thought it was beautiful and that he wanted to play on it. We were blown away. Elton John is a huge influence on me as a songwriter and having him on that song is an amazing honor for us."

"I've long been an admirer of Jerry Cantrell and when he asked me to play on 'Black Gives Way To Blue', I was very flattered and couldn't resist," says John. "It was a great recording session with ALICE IN CHAINS for a beautiful song."

About the collaboration, Cantrell says, "Elton was finishing his Red Piano run in Vegas, so we flew there and hung out for a few hours. Walking into a studio and seeing the sheet music for that song on Elton's piano made it meaningful on so many different levels. The whole experience was pretty magical."

"Black Gives Way To Blue" is ALICE IN CHAINS' first new studio release in more than 10 years. The quartet (guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and guitarist/vocalist William DuVall) recorded the album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (RUSH, FOO FIGHTERS) at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA and Henson Studios in Hollywood.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. All Secrets Known
02. Check My Brain
03. Last Of My Kind
04. Your Decision
05. A Looking In View
06. When The Sun Rose Again
07. Acid Bubble
08. Lessons Learned
09. Take Her Out
10. Private Hell
11. Black Gives Way To Blue

ALICE IN CHAINS has tapped U2 and WHITE STRIPES video director Alex Courtes to shoot a clip for "Check My Brain", the first single from "Black Gives Way To Blue".

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford will release her first new studio album in 14 years, "Wicked Wonderland", in Europe on October 2 via earMUSIC/Edel. The set will be issued in the U.S. on October 6 through Lita's own JLRG Entertainment label as a regular CD and limited-edition vinyl with different artwork (see below).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Love
02. Piece
03. Crave
04. Scream
05. Sacred
06. Wicked Wonderland
07. Indulge
08. Patriotic Snob
09. Everything
10. Inside
11. Truth
12. Betrayal
13. Bed
14. Garden
15. Push
16. Indulge (Remix)
17. Scream (Remix)

"It's harder and sexier than anything I've ever done," says Lita of the record, which was co-produced by Ford, her husband and former NITRO singer Jim Gillette, and Greg Hampton, the songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer known for his work with ALICE COOPER, his band SCIENCE FAXTION (with Bootsy Collins and Buckethead and Brain from GUNS N' ROSES) and other rock notables. Lita is backed on the record by drummer Stet Howland, formerly of W.A.S.P., Hampton on bass, rhythm guitar and keyboards, Gillette on background vocals, and its vivid cover art is by ROB ZOMBIE bassist and solo artist Piggy D.

The songs brim with a passionate adult eroticism and über-hard rock sound highlighted by Lita's trademark searing guitar riffs. The album includes a keen and timely slice of social commentary on "Patriotic SOB", sexy rave-ups like "Piece (Hell Yeah)", duets with Gillette on numbers like the aptly titled "Indulge", and "Betrayal", which will be featured in the upcoming video game Brütal Legend, in which Lita also voices one of the characters alongside Jack Black, Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD and Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST. The recordings find her rocking, playing and singing with an amped-up fury and power like never before that's also informed by her personal growth as a wife and mother as well as legendary rocker.

Les Paul, whose pioneering electric guitars were used by a legion of rock stars, has died at the age of 94.

Mr Paul died from complications of pneumonia in New York, according to Gibson, the firm that sold his guitars.

He is credited with developing one of the first solid-body electric guitars, which went on sale in 1952 and contributed to the birth of rock.

He also developed other influential recording innovations such as multi-track recording and overdubbing.

And he was credited with inventing the eight-track tape recorder.

U2 guitarist The Edge, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, Guns N' Roses star Slash and The Who's Pete Townshend are among those closely associated with the Les Paul sound.

Slash described him as "an exceptionally brilliant man".

He said: "Les Paul was a shining example of how full one's life can be. He was so vibrant and full of positive energy. I'm honoured and humbled to have known and played with him over the years."

Fellow guitarist Joe Satriani called Paul "the original guitar hero," saying: "Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed."

Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman of Gibson Guitar, said: "His influence extends around the globe and across every boundary."

Gibson president Dave Berryman said: "As the 'father of the electric guitar', he was not only one of the world's greatest innovators but a legend who created, inspired and contributed to the success of musicians around the world."

Hall of Fame



Les Paul was a successful performer in his own right

Mr Paul was also a successful performer in his own right, notching up 11 number one singles and 36 gold discs with his wife Mary Ford.

He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Les Paul began as a country and jazz musician, playing with such acts as Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole.

Unhappy with acoustic guitars, he had begun experimenting with guitar amplification at the age of 13 by placing a telephone receiver under the strings.

Les Paul performed with his wife Mary Ford


He created his first solid-body electric guitar, dubbed "the log", in 1941. "I went into a nightclub and played it. Of course, everybody had me labelled as a nut," he later said.

It did not go on sale for another 11 years, by which time Leo Fender's rival Telecaster model was already on the market.

In 1948, Mr Paul almost died in a car crash that shattered his right arm and elbow. Afterwards, he convinced doctors to set his broken arm at a right angle in the guitar-picking and cradling position.

'Beautiful guitar'

He continued to refine his guitar design throughout the 1950s. Its basic structure has barely changed over the decades and continues to be popular among stars and amateurs alike.

Gibson released a line of Les Paul guitars designed by Slash


Stephen Lawson, editor of Total Guitar magazine, said: "It was a beautiful guitar… it was hand crafted, it was carved, it was a really beautiful looking instrument.

His work on taping techniques began after World War II, when Bing Crosby gave him a tape recorder.

Multi-tracking - where separate recordings are combined - was first heard in the 1950 number one hit How High the Moon, a duet with Ford.

"I've been trying to imagine a world without Les Paul - it would be so different. Until he invented multi-track recording, you had to make a record gathered round a microphone in the middle of room," said Stephen Lawson.

"One of the most obvious classic Les Paul Guitar solos is Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N' Roses - that intro has such a distinctive Les Paul sound to it.

"It can go from a mellow beautiful sound that really hits you in your soul, all the way to a shredding searing lead guitar tone."

The cover artwork for "Cosmic Egg", the forthcoming second album from the Australian retro-rock combo WOLFMOTHER, can be viewed below.

The group's first album since the departure of drummer Myles Heskett and bassist/keyboardist Chris Ross, "Cosmic Egg" was recorded in Los Angeles with heralded U.K. producer Alan Moulder.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. California Queen
02. New Moon Rising
03. White Feather
04. Sundial
05. In The Morning
06. 10,000 Feet
07. Cosmic Egg
08. Far Away
09. Pilgrim
10. In The Castle
11. Phoenix
12. Violence Of The Sun

"Cosmic Egg" will be released on the following dates:

Japan: October 8
Australia, Germany, and New Zealand: October 9
Europe: October 12
USA: October 13

Global Music has set an October 12 release date (via Demolition Records) for "Babylon", the new album from U.S. rockers W.A.S.P. Themed around biblical visions of "The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse," the CD is described in a press release as "a metal masterpiece that will make fans both old and new craving for more."

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Crazy
02. Live To Die Another Day
03. Babylon's Burning
04. Burn
05. Into The Fire
06. Thunder Red
07. Seas Of Fire
08. Godless Run
09. Promised Land

A three-and-a-half minute video teaser for "As Shadows Burn", the forthcoming second album from Los Angeles female-fronted progressive metallers ECHOES OF ETERNITY, can be viewed below. Due in North America on September 22 via Nuclear Blast Records (the LP will be issued in Europe on September 25 through Massacre), the follow-up to 2007's "The Forgotten Goddess" was produced and mixed by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who has previously worked with GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

"As Shadows Burn" track listing:

01. Ten Of Swords
02. A Veiled Horizon
03. Memories Of Blood And Gold
04. The Scarlet Embrace
05. Descent Of A Blackened Soul
06. Twilight Fires
07. Buried Beneath A Thousand Dreams
08. Letalis Deus
09. Funeral In The Sky

Ireland's FOR RUIN will self-release its second album, "Last Light", on October 30. The CD was recorded earlier this year with producer Alwyn Walker at Komodo Mobile Studios and it features artwork (below) by Paul McCarroll who has previously worked with PRIMORDIAL, among others.

"Last Light" will be preceded by the release of a digital-only EP, available through CDBaby in late August/September. The EP will contain new album tracks, a remixed older track and other material.

According to FOR RUIN, "Last Light" will be made "freely available" via the band's web sites upon its release, and high-quality and hard copies (CDs) of the album will be produced, along with other merchandise.

"Last Light" track listing:

01. Enlightened (instrumental)
02. Care Of The Dead
03. Decline
04. In Suffering
05. Solace
06. Recoil
07. Crawl (instrumental)
08. Deluge
09. Cold Call
10. Elysium

Canadian all-girl metal band KITTIE will release its new album, "In The Black", on September 15 through E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Kingdom Come
02. My Plague
03. Cut Throat
04. Die My Darling
05. Sorrow I Know
06. Forgive And Forget
07. Now Or Never
08. Falling Down
09. Sleepwalking
10. Whiskey Love Song
11. Ready Aim Riot
12. The Truth

Canadian thrash metal veterans ANNIHILATOR will release their new DVD, "Live At Masters Of Rock", in October. The cover artwork for the set — which was filmed/recorded on July 11, 2008 at the Masters Of Rock festival in Vizovice, Czech Republic — can be viewed below.

ANNIHILATOR mainman Jeff Waters commented in May 2009 on the reports that the band's record label, the Hanover, Germany-based SPV, had submitted an application to commence insolvency proceedings on May 25 — roughly equivalent to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. He stated, "I wish them [SPV] all the best and they have given us metal fans some great releases for a long time.

"The good news is that I signed a deal with SPV, only a few weeks ago, releasing ANNIHILATOR from their contractual commitments to SPV, in return for a live DVD that we shot last summer in the Czech Republic.

"SPV will be releasing the DVD soon (and it rocks; co-headlining in front of 30,000 metal maniacs!) but ANNIHILATOR are now free from the label and negotiating with others to release the new and finished 13th studio release."

Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY will release a new album, "The Root Of All Evil", on September 28 in Europe and October 6 in North America via Century Media Records. This special collection features re-recorded versions of songs from the band's first three LPs — "Black Earth" (1996), "Stigmata" (1998) and "Burning Bridges" (1999). Acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS) mixed and mastered the CD, which was recorded at a few different locations in Sweden and produced by ARCH ENEMY with Daniel Erlandsson and Rickard Bengtsson handling the engineering.

"The Root Of All Evil" track listing:

01. The Root Of All Evil (Intro)
02. Beast Of Man
03. The Immortal
04. Diva Satanica
05. Demonic Science
06. Bury Me An Angel
07. Dead Inside
08. Dark Insanity
09. Pilgrim
10. Demoniality (instrumental)
11. Transmigration Macabre
12. Silverwing
13. Bridge Of Destiny