The billing dispute between MACHINE HEAD and LIMP BIZKIT was the subject of much Internet chatter prior to this past weekend's U.K. edition of the Sonisphere festival, with Robb Flynn and Co. pulling out of their slot at the event after having been bumped down the lineup with the addition of Fred Durst and his LB bandmates.

While MACHINE HEAD eventually returned to the bill in the slot below LIMP BIZKIT as the "special guests", many people had their own opinions on the situation, one of those being LAMB OF GOD guitarist Willie Adler.

Komodo Rock's Krissy Elliott spoke with Adler at the festival and asked for his views on the MACHINE HEAD/LIMP BIZKIT controversy.

Komodo Rock: What do you think of the whole issue surrounding MACHINE HEAD refusing to play then coming back on the bill?

Willie Adler: I'm glad they came back on. It's a matter of… they just didn't wanna open up for LIMP BIZKIT, and I agree with them. I wouldn't wanna open up for LIMP BIZKIT! They've been out of the scene for so long, I mean, who cares? Who cares about LIMP BIZKIT?

Komodo Rock: So why does it seem that although other bands such as KORN think Fred Durst has had it, everyone suddenly seems interested in LIMP BIZKIT again?

Willie Adler: I don't know, I'm not interested in LIMP BIZKIT! You tell me man! Is that crowd interested?

Komodo Rock: They played Download festival and drew a big crowd. Maybe it's the nostalgia element?

Willie Adler: I guess so…. I'm the wrong guy to ask because it's not my thing. I have no fucking idea!

Komodo Rock: So you don't support it then?

Willie Adler: No! Fuck those dudes! Fuck that band, and fuck all the people who work for that fuckin' band!

Norway's GAIA EPICUS, Germany's KICKHUNTER (featuring HELLOWEEN bassist Markus Großkopf), Slovakia's SIGNUM REGIS (featuring former YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/GLORY singer Göran Edman) are among the bands who will appear on the forthcoming tribute album to HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY, "HelloRay - A Tribute To Helloween & Gamma Ray", tentatively due in late 2009 or early 2010 via Epicus Records.

According to a press release, this is a project made by bands who are fans and has been inspired by the music of these two great pioneers of melodic power metal. It will contain songs that were originally written and recorded between 1985 and 2007.

The tentative track listing is as follows:

01. Warrior (HELLOWEEN) - GAIA EPICUS
02. Where The Rain Grows (HELLOWEEN) - ARMORY
03. Sole Survivor (HELLOWEEN) - SIGNUM REGIS
04. Ain't Got Nothin' Better (HELLOWEEN) - KICKHUNTER
05. A Tale That Wasn't Right (HELLOWEEN) - DRACHEN
06. Just A Little Sign (HELLOWEEN) - RAMPART
07. Mr. Torture (HELLOWEEN) - AILLION
08. The Spirit (GAMMA RAY) - PARALLAX
09. (We Won't) Stop The War (GAMMA RAY) - TREASURE LAND
10. Heaven Or Hell (GAMMA RAY) - BURN UNIVERSE
11. Tribute To The Past (GAMMA RAY) - GUARDIANS OF MANKIND
12. Lust For Life (GAMMA RAY) - MIDAS FATE
13. Anywhere In The Galaxy (GAMMA RAY) - OPERA MAGNA
14. Leaving Hell (GAMMA RAY) - ROTTEN
15. Last Before The Storm (GAMMA RAY) - SONEM
16. Land Of The Free (GAMMA RAY) - DEIMOS

'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 CD will be issued in the U.S. on October 6 through Lita's own JLRG Entertainment label.

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.

After Lita and Gillette married, she left her stiletto heels on the stage and moved to a large home on a deserted Caribbean island and devoted her life to raising the couple's two sons, who she has also home schooled. At the urging of her friends like Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER, devoted fans and even her sons, both of them budding musicians, Lita now reclaims her place as the First Lady of Heavy Metal with an album sure to thrill her many followers and win her new listeners with music that's more fiery and assured than ever before.

"The Scars Between Us", the new album from veteran San Francisco Bay Area metallers SKINLAB, will be released on September 15 via Stand And Deliver Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Face of Aggression
02. Amphetamine Gods
03. Scream at the World
04. Wolvesblood
05. Karma Burns
06. In For The Kill
07. Paper Trails
08. Still Suffering
09. Bloodclot
10. My Vendetta
11. The Scars Between Us

The cover artwork can be viewed here.

The band's video for the song "In for the Kill" can be viewed here. The clip was filmed in May 2008 at the group's warehouse in Oakland, California with new, up-and-coming director Jourdan McClure and it features appearances by UFC fighter Nate Quarry and Greg Thompson.

SKINLAB released a live album, "SkinnedAlive!", in April 2008 via BCD Music Group. The CD was recorded on June 3, 2007 at The Metro in Oakland, California.

SKINLAB's current lineup:

Paul Hopkins - Drums
Glen Telford - Guitars
Steev Esquivel - Bass/Vocals
Snake - Guitars

SKINLAB's last studio album, "ReVolting Room", came out in 2002. A double-disc set, entitled "Nerve Damage", featuring alternate versions of studio tracks, several live tracks recorded on the band's "ReVolting Room" tour, plus two new songs, came out in 2004.

ECHOTERRA, the new female-fronted symphonic rock/metal band featuring Swedish vocalist Suvi Virtanen (ex-THERION), keyboardist Jonah Weingarten (PYRAMAZE), guitarist Yan Leviathan (AVIAN), bassist Brian Hollenbeck on bass, and drummer John Gensmer (EPICUREAN), will release its debut album, "The Law Of One", on September 15, 2009 via Blinding Force Recordings.

According to a press release, "The Law Of One" (cover) is "full of majestic musical themes and features a 16-page booklet filled with spectacular artwork by Mattias Noren and Gustavo Sazes."

A promotional video for the forthcoming CD can be viewed here.

A new ECHOES OF ETERNITY track entitled "Ten Of Swords" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Los Angeles female-fronted progressive metallers' second album, entitled "As Shadows Burn", which is scheduled for release 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.

Commented singer Francine Boucher: "Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies — constantly judging and criticizing ourselves. When I wrote the lyrics to 'Ten Of Swords', I was inspired by the personal struggles of life. It's about letting go of your pain and digging yourself out of the dark hole we seem to sometimes fall into. It's about coming to terms with your mistakes and accepting them. You can't banish your demons: they are part of you. You must find a way to embrace your darker side and co-exist with it. The Ten of Swords is the grimmest card in the Tarot deck. It's about hitting rock bottom, but it's also a card of hope. Sometimes it's necessary to hit the bottom before you can make your way back up.”

Added guitarist/songwriter Brandon S. Patton: "I had the riffs [for 'Ten Of Swords'] written when I showed up to band rehearsal about two years ago. Kirk [Carrison, drums] and I developed the initial skeletal framework for the song and the other members played a big role in arranging it and adding harmonies and details. By far the biggest standout part of the song occurs 2:10 into the track, when we launch into a killer 'gallop-picked' riff that would make Jon Schaffer [of ICED EARTH] proud. The vocal melody that Francine sings over that part is unbelievable!!! The chorus of this song is also catchy as fuck... a definite anthem.”

"As Shadows Burn" (cover) 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

In other news, ECHOES OF ETERNITY has announced the addition of rhythm guitarist Bryan Eagle to the group's ranks. Eagle has been playing with the band since September 2008 and has contributed music and laid down guitar tracks on ECHOES OF ETERNITY's new album.

ECHOES OF ETERNITY is:

Francine Boucher - Vocals
Brandon S. Patton - Guitar
Bryan Eagle - Guitar
Duane Cowan - Bass
Kirk Carrison - Drums

Swedish death metallers NOMINON have issued the following update:

"The pre-production recordings of the new material for the forthcoming album are moving on. So far, three songs has been taped and it all feels fucking cool to finally get some new shit recorded, even though it's all roughly done on a basic four-tracker by the band itself.

"We can now reveal that there will actually be two new NOMINON CD releases out within the coming 6-7 months. Here's the story: As soon as possible after the hellish recordings of the fourth full-length album at Necromorbus in September, the record company Deathgasm Records will unleash a four-song MCD. This release most likely including one song of the coming full album, one exclusive song that will only be on this particular mini-CD, one re-recorded older song and perhaps some live stuff that were recorded during the BENEDICTION tour that NOMINON did back in September last year. The whole album will then be released worldwide in early 2010 (most likely in mid-February) through Deathgasm Records (CD) and Blood Harvest Records (LP)."

According to ContactMusic.com, SLIPKNOT and METALLICA have been honored with the top prizes at the 2009 Kerrang! Awards in London.

SLIPKNOT walked away with "Best Live Act" and "Best International Band" at Monday's (August 3) event, which frontman Corey Taylor co-hosted. He branded the double award win "really gratifying" and added, "I can't think of many bands that have worked harder, and it really feels good that people are starting to turn around and really see what we're about and appreciating it for what it is."

METALLICA won "Best Album" for "Death Magnetic", while THE PRODIGY walked away with the "Best Single" honor for "Omen".

Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan stated: "SLIPKNOT and METALLICA are the two monsters of rock who have been picked out by the Kerrang! readers this time around. They've both had a really good year, No. 1 albums in the States and No. 1 and No. 2 albums over here, sold-out arena tours, headlining major rock festivals in this country... it's not really a surprise that they're up for every single category they're eligible for."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE scooped "Best British Band" for the second year in a row and San Francisco, California band MACHINE HEAD were handed the night's "Inspiration Award" for their contribution to heavy metal.

Reunited grunge rockers ALICE IN CHAINS and reformed LIMP BIZKIT were presented with the night's "Icon Award" and "Hall of Fame" prize, respectively.

Check out pictures from Wire Image.

The full list of Kerrang! Awards 2009 winners:

Best British Newcomer: IN CASE OF FIRE
Best International Newcomer: THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
Best Single: THE PRODIGY - "Omen"
Best Video: MASTODON - "Oblivion"
Classic Songwriter: LINKIN PARK
Spirit Of Independence: THE WILDHEARTS
Icon: ALICE IN CHAINS
Best Album: METALLICA - "Death Magnetic"
Best Live Band: SLIPKNOT
Inspiration: MACHINE HEAD
Hall Of Fame: LIMP BIZKIT
Best British Band: BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Best International Band: SLIPKNOT

Scott Mervis of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently conducted an interview with SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On new metal bands:

"I've been listening ... I've been trying to listen to these new and upcoming bands. I don't want to pass judgment on any one of them. My pet peeve with these bands is the fact that they record these records that they can't deliver live. They're so processed by computers. When I listen to a band, I listen to the drummer. They process and lose what the drummer is supposed to do. It just becomes a typewriter and there's no feel, there's no soul in the drummer. When you lose that, it becomes very bland. Yeah, you have all these breakdowns, all these tight jigajit-jigajit until they juice that and there's nothing left. It's very disappointing."

On the "Cookie Monster" vocalsL

"Yeah. Monster-sounding vocals mixed in with all that sweet vocal melody [b.s.]. It's like, 'C'mon man.' You know who did that well, though? SLIPKNOT. It was natural for Corey Taylor to jump from the melodic voice into the screaming voice, but bands these days? Huh. Very disappointing."

On how newer bands react to SLAYER:

"Yeah, of course, they've heard of SLAYER, but I think what they've done is, they've not looked at the roots. In other words, they learned how to walk before they learned how to crawl. These bands, sometime, they go straight for the sprint marathon and lose what this music is, what they need to put into it to make it breathe. You need to create life into the music."

On SLAYER's gruesome, controversial lyrics:

"It's all an art form. I don't have any problems with Stephen King or any horror movie writers or artists who depict horror or pain. If anybody has a problem, they're pretty narrow-minded to look upon music as the single source of problems in this world. It's the people who are born cracked. I mean, I play the music, I listened to the music. I'm not going out and killing anybody or trashing buildings or whatever. It has nothing to with the music."

On whether any organizations similar to the PMRC are still all over SLAYER's back over the band's lyrics:

"No, because they realize how dumb they are. Time has showed them that, hey, we're not going anywhere. You're not going to shut us up. You want a little sticker on our record? Fine, put a little sticker on our record, but it's not going to change anything."

On whether he's slowed down at all with age:

"Even at 43, I'm still a primed, well-oiled machine. I've seen bands where it's like 'God, please shoot me if I ever look or play like that.' With SLAYER, we're still as brutal as we were as kids. They could roll up in their wheelchairs and play guitars, just as long as I'm beating the [crap] out of the drums, it's all good."

German power metal band SINBREED (formerly NEOSHINE), which features in its ranks guitarist Flo Laurin alongside BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Frederik Ehmke and SEVENTH AVENUE vocalist Herbie Langhans, has inked a deal with Ulterium Records. The group's debut album, "When Worlds Collide", will be released in eary 2010. The CD was produced by Flo Laurin, mixed and mastered by Markus Teske (VANDEN PLAS, SYMPHONY X), and it includes guest appearances by Joost van den Broek (AFTER FOREVER) and Morten Sandager (MERCENARY) on keyboards, and COURAGEOUS' Oliver Lohmann on guitar.

SINBREED's brand of power metal is described as a "blistering combination of speed, melodic and aggressive arrangements combined with high and soaring vocals."

SINBREED is:

Herbie Langhans (SEVENTH AVENUE) - Vocals
Frederik Ehmke (BLIND GUARDIAN) - Drums
Alexander Schulz - Bass
Flo Laurin - Guitar, Keyboards

Norwegian modern metallers BLACK COMEDY are currently working on material for their sophomore CD, tentatively due next year. The band says, "The album will be a natural progression into a more sinister and uncompromising style, upgrading the trademark BLACK COMEDY sound that is heard on [2008's] 'Instigator'. We are taking it to the next level."

BLACK COMEDY in January announced the addition of bassist Marius Haraldsen to the group's ranks. According to the band, "[Marius] is a very musical and talented guy who is sure to bring some exciting elements to BLACK COMEDY's music. He is also one of the singers in SERENITY TRACE."

"Instigator" was released in February 2008 through Season of Mist. The CD was recorded at Strand Studio in Oslo Norway during 2007 with producers Marius Strand and Bjorn M. Borg. Described as a display of massive guitar riffing, powerful drums, synthetic leads and ear-shattering epic vocals, "Instigator" contains 12 tracks, with the initial pressing coming in a limited-edition deluxe metal box.

The album artwork features a futuristic concept from designer Vidar Hofmo Bjølgerud at This Fading Dream Design.

For audio samples, visit the band's MySpace page.

BLACK COMEDY is:

Jon E. Bergan (vocals)
Marius Strand (guitars and vocals)
Stefano Bardellotto (guitars and backing vocals)
Bjorn M. Borg (synths and programming)
Marius Haraldsen (bass)
Tjodalv (drums)

The cover artwork for "Breathing the Fire", the new full-length album from Athens, Ohio's SKELETONWITCH, can be viewed here. The cover was designed by Andrei Bouzikov, who has previously worked with MUNICIPAL WASTE and many others.

Commented guitarist Scott Hedrick: "The art really sums up the new album and what drew me to heavy metal in the first place: it's brutal, evil, and in a sadistic way, it's f#$king fun! 'Breathing the Fire' is meaner, faster, and far more sickening than 'Beyond the Permafrost', and the art reflects that. We went for the jugular, and so does Andrei's art. He did an amazing job. It's f#$king killer when the artist and band share a similar approach: organic. Blood and sweat, ink and paint, tubes in amps, and non-triggered drums. A set of balls. Not gym shorts, sterile computer generated art, effects pedals and redundant arpeggios."

SKELETONWITCH began recording "Breathing The Fire" on June 14 with producer Jack Endino (NIRVANA, HIGH ON FIRE, TOXIC HOLOCAUST). The CD is being tracked in Seattle at both Studio Litho (owned by PEARL JAM guitarist Stone Gossard) and Endino's own Soundhouse Recording. An October 13 release via Prosthetic Records is expected.

SKELETONWITCH will team up with CHILDREN OF BODOM for a North American tour in the fall. Also appearing on the bill is THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER.

Throughout the first few months of 2009, SKELETONWITCH has continued to tour extensively in support of its latest album, "Beyond The Permafrost". In recent weeks, the group delivered a show-stealing performance at the inaugural Scion Rock Fest, played multiple South By Southwest (SXSW) showcases with labelmates KYLESA and crossed the country with AMON AMARTH.

Since signing with Prosthetic in 2007, SKELETONWITCH has performed more than 300 concerts and toured with a who's who of heavy metal, including DANZIG, DIMMU BORGIR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, NACHTMYSTIUM, JOB FOR A COWBOY, DARKEST HOUR, CEPHALIC CARNAGE and many more.

Geoff Tate, lead vocalist of the legendary rock band QUEENSRŸCHE, has signed on to compose the film score for the noir-crime drama "Fallen Moon".

In addition to the score, Tate, a multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, will compose several new songs for performance by characters in the film.

"Fallen Moon" is the tale of a New York City detective investigating the murder of his long-alienated daughter.

Peter Medak ("Romeo Is Bleeding", "The Krays") will direct the Do-Over Productions film from an original screenplay written by Jarrod Feliciano and Mirjana Novkovic. Feliciano, Novkovic and Valerie McCaffrey are producing, with Roger Pugliese co-producing.

Do-Over Productions recently optioned the online serialized graphic novel "Wide Awake".

Norwegian extreme metallers PANTHEON I have unveiled the video for "Serpent Christ" (see below), a track taken from the band's newly released album, "Worlds I Create". The clip, which shows PANTHEON I performing amidst scenes of bondage and torture, was directed by Espen Krukhaug, who also worked on the band's previous video, "Where Angels Burn", and features Finland's Peik Mattheiszen in the role of torturer. Reprising their role of victims in the video are models Maria Olsen and Helga Bårdsdatter Kristiansen, who were recently seen in the band's promo photos — the uncensored versions of which can only be found on the band's web site due to their explicit nature.

PANTHEON I's third full-length album, "Worlds I Create" was released at the end of July on Candlelight Records, and includes a guest appearance on the track "Ascending" from KATATONIA frontman Jonas Renkse.

PANTHEON I is currently preparing for a short tour of its home country and is looking into the possibility of touring Eastern Europe. The band is also planning to hit the road in November on a European tour along with SKITLIV, the new band from former MAYHEM frontman MANIAC, and DEN SAAKALDTE. Tour dates will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

C.J. Snare and Bill Leverty of FIREHOUSE have been added to the list of guest musicians appearing on Christian rockers LIBERTY N' JUSTICE's ninth studio album and fifth "all-star" project, "Light It Up" (formerly "The Cigar Chronicles").

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Light It Up
02. The Other Thief
03. Blink
04. Do What You Believe
05. Man vs. Mother Nature
06. Treading On Serpents
07. Uncle Sam
08. Every Reason To Believe
09. Wrestling With God
10. Best Time You Never Had
11. Beautiful Decision
12. Drunk Dead Gorgeous
13. Greed
14. For Better Or Worse

"Light It Up" guest musicians (among others):

Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.)
Dale Thompson (BRIDE)
Eddie Ojeda (TWISTED SISTER)
Harry Hess (HAREM SCAREM)
Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER)
Jerry Dixon (WARRANT)
Kelly Keeling (BATON ROUGE)
Keri Kelli (ALICE COOPER)
Les Carlsen (BLOODGOOD)
Lynn Louise Lowery (VIXEN)
Marq Torien (BULLETBOYS)
Oz Fox (STRYPER, BLOODGOOD)
Pete Lesperance (HAREM SCAREM)
Phil Lewis (L.A. GUNS)
Robert Mason (WARRANT, LYNCH MOB)
Sheldon Tarsha (ADLER'S APPETITE)
Ted Poley (DANGER DANGER)
Troy Thompson (BRIDE)
Vic Rivera (CRUNCH)
C.J. Snare (FIREHOUSE)
Bill Leverty (FIREHOUSE)

Commented LIBERTY N' JUSTICE leader Justin Murr: "With 'Light It Up', we wanted everything bigger and louder! The album features big guitars, big hooks, big vocals, and the thing that makes a LIBERTY N' JUSTICE project... big names! This is the most commercial sounding record we have ever released and I promise this record rocks!!"

According to a message on former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's Twitter account, he is talking to ROB ZOMBIE/ex-MARILYN MANSON guitarist John 5 about writing and recording more songs for Bach's forthcoming solo album. Bach says, "[John 5] is fired up to help with my new record! I am stoked!"

In other news, Bach revealed that he had "a great heartfelt talk" with guitarist Johnny Chromatic, who played on Sebastian's last studio CD, "Angel Down". According to the singer, "[Johnny] says has a bunch of tunes that are better than 'Stuck Inside' [from 'Angel Down']. We shall see."

Bach announced last week that he was "on the lookout for band members in the guitar and bass positions in [his] band." He said, "I am looking for musicians who love to play and create new music. Who need to play music. Who live to play music. I cannot make a good album when I have to pay all the band members to rehearse. I simply cannot afford to pay a musician to sit down and write a song with me. I myself have never once been paid to rehearse, or write a song. I do it because I love it.

"I do not understand the mentality of some of the musicians I have worked with, who demand payment to rehearse, to get better, to sharpen their craft in order to destroy the whole world on big stages and in the studio. In my mind, a good musician, a true musician, LOVES to rehearse, plays all the time, because they want to get better. Not individually. As a BAND."

He continued, "I am not saying I don't want to ever play with the 'Angel Down' guys again. On the contrary, they all know I would love to get crackin' on some new sounds with them right now. But they are all busy, or worse, I can't get ahold of them. The official word from the guitar and bass player in my current band, through management, is, 'Call us when there's some gigs.' What they don't get is, my heart is not just into playing the old music right now, my heart is always in creating new music and putting out another CD. Then there will be tons of gigs."

British thrashers EVILE have posted a brand new track, "Now Demolition", on their MySpace page. The song comes off the band's sophomore album, "Infected Nations", due on September 21 in Europe and September 22 in the U.S. via Earache Records.

Commented EVILE lead guitarist Ol Drake: " For the second track we previewed, we wanted it to show a whole other different end of the spectrum of feels on 'Infected Nations'. This track is one on its own on the album, a much more 'heavy'-orientated track designed to get fists in the air and heads going upward, then downward, and hopefully back up again.

"We hope you can check the entire CD out when it's released, do its Russ Russell production justice, and play it through a good sound system, as the best albums in the world can sound like shite through crappy speakers (especially if they're MP3s; excuse my language)."

The cover art for "Infected Nations" was created by Michael Whelan, famous for his sci-fi artworks along with classic album covers from such bands as SEPULTURA and OBITUARY.

"Infected Nations" track listing:

01. Infected Nation
02. Now Demolition
03. Nosophoros
04. Genocide
05. Plague To End All Plagues
06. Devoid Of Thought
07. Time No More
08. Metamorphosis
09. Hundred Wrathful Deities

A short trailer for "Solfernus' Path", the fifth album from the Polish "dark metal" band DARZAMAT, can be viewed below. Due on August 28 via Germany's Massacre Records (in Japan, the LP will be released by Spiritual Beast), the CD was recorded in Poland under the supervision of Jaroslaw Toifl, with whom the band had previously worked on 2005's "Transkarpatia" (Metal Mind Productions in Europe, MVD in the USA). There are two great guests on the album: KING DIAMOND's Andy La Rocque (guitar solo in "King of the Burning Anthems") and STONE SOUR's Roy Mayorga (opening intro). The artwork for the new CD was created by MentalPorn.com Agency, which has previously worked with such bands as DEATHSTARS and BEHEMOTH. The album was mixed by Jonas Kljellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY guitarist) of Black Lounge Studios in Avesta, Sweden.

"Solfernus' Path" (обложка) track listing:

01. False Sleepwalker
02. Vote for Heresy
I: Devium
03. Pain Collector
04. Final Conjuration
II: Fumus
05. Gloria Inferni
III: Venenum
06. Solfernus Path
07. Lunar Silhouette
08. King of the Burning Anthems
IV: Spectaculum
09. Chimera
10. Mesmeric Seance

Flauros previously stated about the upcoming CD: "For the first time in our band's history, we've decided to create a concept album. It is a certain sort of novelty for us, yet we've had such an idea in our minds for a long time now. The coherent story, which is to be told by both the lyrics and the music, is a hell of a greater challenge than composing ten pieces in the similar stylistics. As the action proceeds, the music must 'react' accordingly and suitably. It is as if a screenplay, which is to attract the viewer in an interesting way."

He continued, "The story contained on the record takes place in a mysthical set, indeed, which is created by the mansion of countess Josephine von Kuchmeister, the inspiration for which was the Villa Caro in Gliwice and the palace in Plawniowice. The action of 'Solfernus' Path' takes place at the beginning of XXth century. The main character is a medicine student who undergoes a spiritual transformation. He goes beyond the carnal world and he notices the 'other side.' Everything is dressed in fairy-like climate, full of the occult 'keys.' Nothing is obvious, nothing here is predictable.

"The title Solfernus is of course not the main character of the story, but it's eminence grise. The character of Solfernus derives from the play 'Dalliance with Devil' written by the Czech dramatist Jan Drda. It is only a tiny inspiration, an impuls where one should not seek any similarities. Drda's play is grotesque and humorous, while our story is of a completely different character, much closer to Stefan Grabinski's horror short stories than to the ones of the Czech playwright."

MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn has issued the following update:

"Just played Sonisphere [festival at] Knebworth [in United Kingdom]. HOLY SHIT!!!!!! Fucking UN-BELIEVE-ABLE!!!!!!!

"DJ Lethal from LIMP BIZKIT's response to my comment about how we were going to CRUSH them was hilarious. He said, 'The only thing crushed was our egos.' Hahahaha!! Apparently he forgot to mention the 'unprompted' three-minute-long 'FUCK LIMP BIZKIT' chant today [during MACHINE HEAD's set] from all 45,000 people at Sonisphere. [Listen to the audio below as taken from MACHINE HEAD's official message board at MachineHead1.com. — Ed.] Yeah!

"Tonight was one of the biggest ego boosts we've ever had! Not that we had shit to do with it, but it was funny how the crowd chanted 'MACHINE FUCKING HEAD' in between every song that LIMP BIZKIT played tonight, and they didn't say SHIT about it onstage except 'MACHINE HEAD is hard, and their fans are hard.' Now that their they're away from our crowd and our stage, now [DJ Lethal's] an Internet tough guy. And this is coming from the guy wearing a MACHINE HEAD shirt ONSTAGE tonight... hmmm... NICE!

"By the way, we had 21 circle pits today!! That is a new record for the U.K. Our previous record at [U.K.'s] Download [festival] was 12 circle pits.

"Today we made fucking history, Sonisphere!!! FUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!

"If there's any doubt, footage from both sets will appear sooner or later."

MACHINE HEAD announced on July 7 that they were pulling out of the U.K. Sonisphere because the event's promoter "placed, unbeknownst to us, LIMP BIZKIT in our third slot on the festival." They eventually returned to the bill as the top-secret "special guests" and performed right before LIMP BIZKIT, hitting the stage at around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, August 2.

Flynn addressed MACHINE HEAD's reason for returning the Sonisphere bill during the band's performance at the event. He said, "After the promoters of Sonisphere begged us to come back onto this thing last week, the only even consideration that we made it for is for all of you fucking fans, man! It wasn't for Sonisphere, it wasn't for LIMP BIZKIT — it was for the fucking lunatics of this fucking country that have treated us so fucking good, man. It is an honor to play for you, guys. It is a privilege to play for you, guys. We are so fucking lucky to have a fan base like you, man."

Finnish gothic metallers TO/DIE/FOR will enter the studio on August 6 to begin recording their sixth album, tentatively due in early 2010. Drums tracks for a total of 15 new songs are expected to be laid down during the initial sessions, which will last four days.

Regarding the new material's musical direction, vocalist Jape Peratalo recently said, "We are not gonna fill new songs with guitars! (Which does NOT mean that there is not guitars at all!) This time we will create something new, but it will sound as TO/DIE/FOR, for sure. Main idea is that it MUST be fresh!"

He added, "Most of the gothic rock scene is so fucking boring that we do not see any reason to continue on that road! So many bands sounds almost same. There is no new ideas. I do not mean every gothic rock band, but anyway... That is something we are gonna change! We will be melancholy and everything we have been before, but we will renew our music and ways to handle it."

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."

METALLICA played "The Ecstasy of Gold" live for the first time ever this past Tuesday night (July 28) at the Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Professionally filmed video footage of the performance (courtesy of Metallica.com) can be viewed below.

"The Ecstasy of Gold" is the song from the classic film "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" which has been opening METALLICA live shows since 1983.

METALLICA's cover of "The Ecstasy of Gold" was released in February 2007 via Sony Classical as part of a tribute to composer Ennio Morricone, also featuring some of the greatest names from the worlds of contemporary pop, rock, jazz, and classical music.

METALLICA's setlist for last night's Copenhagen show was as follows:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. Disposable Heroes
04. Of Wolf and Man
05. Fade To Black
06. Cyanide
07. My Apocalypse
08. Sad But True
09. One
10. The Thing that Should Not Be
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Battery
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - -
16. The Ecstasy of Gold
17. Whiplash
18. Seek and Destroy

Professionally filmed video footage of Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA performing the song "Sancta Terra" at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which is being held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany, can be viewed below.

The complete track listing has been revealed for EPICA's new album, "Design Your Universe", which is due in Europe on October 16 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy" was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth.

"Design Your Universe" track listing:

01. Samadhi (prelude)
02. Resign to Surrender (A New Age Dawns - Part IV)
03. Unleashed
04. Martyr of the Free Word
05. Our Destiny
06. Kingdom of Heaven (A New Age Dawns - Part V)
07. The Price of Freedom (interlude)
08. Burn to a Cinder
09. Tides of Time
10. Deconstruct
11. Semblance of Liberty
12. White Waters
13. Design Your Universe (A New Age Dawns - Part VI)

"Words Upon The Street" , the new video from SKYCLAD, the seminal British band which is often referred to as "the originator of folk metal," ca nbe viewed below. The song comes off the group's twelfth album, "In The… All Together", which was released earlier in the year via Scarlet Records. The CD, which was recorded and mixed by Dario Mollo (THE CAGE, VOODOO HILL) at Damage Inc Studio, in Ventimiglia, Italy during August 2008, "mixes the usual thrash/speed metal influences with the extraordinary folk melodies that made the band famous all around the world, maintaining a fresh and dynamic approach which gives a strong live dimension to the new songs," according to a press release.

REVCO (p/k/a REVOLTING COCKS), the long-running side project from Al Jourgensen (MINISTRY) and a slew of collaborators over the outfit's twenty-plus-year history, will release a remix record titled "Sex-O MiXXX-O" on September 29 via Al's own 13th Planet Records.

The ten-track album couples longtime conspirators, including Luc Van Acker, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie and MARILYN MANSON's Chris Vrenna, with current REVCO players Clayton Worbeck and Stayte (which features the aforementioned Worbeck as well as Josh Bradford).

The original album, "Sex-O Olympic-O", was released in the fall of 2008 and was hailed by Alternative Press as the "most satisfying album" Jourgensen had created to date with REVCO and went on to dub the album as a "celebration of hedonism and glorious excess."

"Sex-O MiXXX-O" track listing:

01. HookerBot3000 (tweaker mix) - Remixed by Chris Vrenna of MARILYN MANSON
02. Keys To The City (Invincible mix) - Remixed by Crabbi of Vileevils & POP WILL EAT ITSELF
03. Red Parrot (Juarez Tunnel mix) – Remixed by MEGAJIVE
04. Robo Bandidos (A Chilling Effect mix) – Remixed by Doug Firley of GRAVITY KILLS
05. Cousins (Sexy Problems = Sexy Solutions mix) – Remixed by Clayton Worbeck of REVOLTING COCKS
06. Touch Screen (Shower Strangulation mix) – Remixed by Luc Van Acker
07. I'm Not Gay (I'm So Gay Club mix) – Remixed by Dave "Rave" Ogilvie of SKINNY PUPPY
08. Abundant Redundancy (Clockworks and Cold Steel mix) – Remixed by Stayte
09. Lewd Ferrigno (Club On mix) – Remixed by Andy LaPlegua of COMBICHRIST
10. Wizard of Sextown (Bisected Banshee mix) – Remixed by Seismologist

Audio samples of all 13 songs that appear on LYNCH MOB's comeback studio album entitled "Smoke And Mirrors" are available for download at HeavyHarmonies.com (scroll down). The CD is scheduled for release in Europe on September 18 (October 13 in the U.S.) via Frontiers Records.

After seventeen long years, singer Oni Logan and guitar wizard George Lynch found their way back together and again show their amazing abilities in some killer new hard rock songs. "I would say this new record is the album we should have put out as a follow-up to 'Wicked Sensation'... Better late than never, I guess..." says Lynch.