Finnish metal band INSOMNIUM will release its fourth album, "Across The Dark", on September 7 via Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded at Fantom studio (where the group recorded its 2006 LP, "Above the Weeping World") and it features guest clean vocals by Jules Näveri (PROFANE OMEN, ENEMY OF THE SUN).

"Across The Dark" track listing:

01. Equivalence (03:18)
02. Down With The Sun (04:22)
03. Where The Last Wave Broke (05:03)
04. The Harrowing Years (06:39)
05. Against The Stream (06:11)
06. Lay Of The Autumn (09:08)
07. Into The Woods (05:08)
08. Weighted Down With Sorrow (05:51)
09. The New Beginning *
10. Into The Evernight *

* Bonus track (limited-edition only)

An audio sample from DOBERMANN, the new band formed by four former members of the now-defunct Swedish death/thrash act THE CROWN, is available for streaming at this location.

DOBERMANN recently parted with vocalist Andreas "Whiplasher Bernadotte" Bergh of the Swedish industrial goth metal band DEATHSTARS. DOBERMANN has already enlisted an as-yet-undisclosed replacement singer and is currently recording a collection of tunes which are being described as "pure death/thrash metal."

DOBERMANN is:

Magnus Olsfelt (THE CROWN) - Bass
Marko Tervonen (THE CROWN, ANGEL BLAKE) - Guitar
Marcus Sunesson (THE CROWN) - Lead Guitar
Janne Saarenpää (THE CROWN) - Drums
[To Be Announced] - Vocals

THE CROWN split up more than five years ago due to "too many tours gone bad due to not at all professional tour arrangements," according to a March 2004 statement released by Saarenpää. He added, "Coming home from tours with empty pockets, equipment falling apart and having a pile of bills on the doorstep is simply 'horns down'. Paying the bills with tour memories and floorscores is just not possible. We do love standing on stage but we don't know much about the business part, and that's a bad combination."

Norwegian powerhouse hard rock singer Jorn Lande has confirmed that he has been in talks with his former band MASTERPLAN about laying down the lead vocals on the group's new CD. "We have discussed recording an album together and it's looking pretty good that it will work out," he told Germany's Rock Hard magazine. "We never had problems with each other, but professionally, we decided for to go separate ways for a while. Now some years have passed and we are talking about collaborating again. I have some song ideas for MASTERPLAN. However, I must focus on the promotion for my [new solo] album and upcoming JORN [Lande's solo project] live shows before we decide what to do next. Either way, I am happy that we are talking about working together again — mainly because the combination of MASTERPLAN's music and my singing was truly something special."

According to a posting on the Deep Purple Appreciation Society web site, DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan was interviewed by Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet ahead of the band's July 20 concert in Istanbul, and mentioned plans for a new studio LP. "I think we are ready to make another album," he said. "We've been talking about it for some time already. I think we'll start to work on it next February." He also shed light on the band's recording methods. "We go into the studio with absolutely nothing, no music or lyrics whatsoever," he said. "We sit in the kitchen, having some cup of tea, talk about families and football… Then we go into the room and play; six hours a day. After three days, some ideas begin to shape and we start to turn them into songs. To prepare the main lines takes about three weeks, to deal with lyrics, recording process and mixing also take two weeks. Since there have been many technological developments recently and we use them by recording the music in analog and mix it in digital to achieve the best result."

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.

"Rapture of the Deep" was produced by Mike Bradford, who also worked on the band's previous release, 2003's "Bananas".

Swedish hard rockers BALTIMOORE will release their twelfth LP on October 30. The album's ten tracks were written this past spring by vocalist Björn Lodin and guitarist Lars Åke Löwin.

The recording lineup for the new CD is as follows:

Björn Lodin - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Örjan Fernkvist - Keyboards
Lars-Åke Löwin - Guitar
Robban Bäck - Drums

BALTIMOORE's eleventh album, "Quick Fix", was released on May 15, 2009 via BLP Music. Written, engineered and produced by Lodin at his home studio — "the only thinkable method" — the effort saw a re-acquaintance with Hammond organist Örjan Fernkvist whose vintage tones brought back a more melodic edge after the last three dual guitar releases. In addition, the CD featured a new rhythm section of bassist Björn Lundkvist and drummer Robban Bäck (both from BALLS — the short-lived 2008 band involving Lodin) knit closely with a talented newcomer on guitar in the guise of Emanuel Hedberg.

BALTIMOORE released a DVD-R in 2007 containing footage taken at the band's December 17, 2006 gig at the Hard Rock Cafe in Stockholm, Sweden. The DVD-R also included an interview with the group and videos for the songs "Wellaway" and "Give Me What You've Got". The interview is in Swedish, but it has English subtitles.

Tom Pfaeffle, a live concert audio mixer who has worked with such bands as NIRVANA, QUEENSRŸCHE, AEROSMITH and THE BLACK CROWES, was shot and killed Friday night (July 17) while vacationing with his wife in Eastern Washington, according to NWCN.com.

Police Chief Rick Balam tells KING 5 Pfaeffle apparently tried to use his hotel key in the wrong door at the Blue Spruce Hotel in Twisp, and the 57-year-old suspect shot him in the upper chest through the door. Pfaeffle died two hours later at a hospital.

A second bullet passed through a wall and almost hit another person at the hotel, Balam added.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, is booked in jail on second degree murder as well as assault. Police are still investigating a motive.

Pfaeffle, who ran The Tank Studio out of Black Diamond, Wash., was "professionally active in the recording, touring and sound reinforcement industry for more than 30 years," according to his studio biography. He worked as a live sound engineer with bands "including NIRVANA, THE BLACK CROWES, GREAT WHITE, HEART, QUEENSRŸCHE, SCORPIONS, UB40, AEROSMITH, ALICE COOPER, RODNEY CROWELL, B.B. KING and countless others."

Singer Pamela Moore, who is best known for her performance as Sister Mary on QUEENSRŸCHE's 1988 epic release "Operation: Mindcrime" and 2006's sequel "Operation: Mindcrime II", stated, "Violence has touched our lives in the music industry. Mr. Tom Pfaeffle, our dear friend and amazing sound engineer's life was taken, suddenly!! We will never know what really happened but this I can tell you, Tom Pfaeffle left his legacy in a business he loved and dedicated his life to for many years. He taught his craft to up and coming sound engineers and he always put 110 percent into everything he did! I had the privilege of working with Tom and he always had that gift of knowing what to do to make my performance shine!!"

ANTHRAX's manager, Izvor Zivkovic of Split Media, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"As announced last week, thrash legends ANTHRAX regretfully cancelled the first three dates on the second leg of their European tour due to new vocalist Dan Nelson's unexpected illness. An additional seven European dates are also cancelled, those scheduled from July 22 to July 30.

"ANTHRAX is thrilled to announce that they will play the August 1 Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England, with their good friend John Bush [ANTHRAX's singer from 1992 to 2005] joining them for a very special one-off performance.

"The members of ANTHRAX have confirmed the departure of vocalist Dan Nelson. In light of this development, ANTHRAX's slot on the U.S. SLIPKNOT dates set for August and September, has also been cancelled. ANTHRAX is already actively considering lead singer candidates, and looks forward to hitting the road before the end of the year."

***UPDATE: According to ANTHRAX's management, the band's new album, "Worship Music", which was previously due in Europe on October 23 via Nuclear Blast Records, will now be "pushed back to a later date." It is not presently clear if Dan Nelson's tracks will be erased from the CD, which was recently mixed at a New Orleans studio by Dave Fortman (a former member of UGLY KID JOE who has also worked with artists such as MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE).***

Reactivated New Jersey thrashers WHIPLASH have posted another new song, "Fight Or Flight", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's new album, "Unborn Again", which is scheduled for release on August 5 via Pulverised Records. The CD was recorded at Mozart Studio with world-renowned engineer/producer Harris Johns (SODOM, KREATOR, HELLOWEEN, SEPULTURA). The band mixed and mastered the CD at Spiderhouse Studio.

"Unborn Again" track listing:.

01. Swallow The Slaughter
02. Snuff
03. Firewater
04. Float Face Down
05. Fight Or Flight
06. Pitbulls In The Playground
07. Parade Of Two Legs
08. Hook In Mouth
09. I've Got The Fire
10. Feeding Frenzy

NILE guitarist/vocalist Karl Sanders recently spoke to Greg Pratt of Exclaim! magazine about the recording process for NILE's new album, which is due in November via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Gruelling. Exhausting," Sanders said of the forthcoming CD. "This album has consumed 12 to 14 hours of my life every day since May. It’s now July and we are fucking tired. And we got another month to go.

"We started off in pre-production in Greenville, South Carolina, then relocated to Tampa to work with Erik Rutan [CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL] on recording drums. At the moment, we are in Greenville, just finished slaving away on rhythm guitars. When we finish vocals, bass, leads and so forth, we will go up to Chicago at Rax Trax to mix."

He added, "Musically, the new disc is unrelenting, overwhelming brutality, with lots of various Eastern influences. Lyrically there are new and interesting influences from various Middle Eastern cultures."

The first audio sample from 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) — can be heard in the YouTube clip below. The 30-second preview was filmed/recorded using an iPhone and features footage of Dino laying down guitars on the demo version of a new FEAR FACTORY song.

In a June 14, 2009 appearance on the nationally syndicated radio program "Speed Freaks", FEAR FACTORY drummer Raymond Herrera — who is not part of the above-mentioned lineup — stated about the group's current status, "[Guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers and I are] actually still in FEAR FACTORY. There's a big legal battle going on right now. Essentially, what's happened is Dino and Burt have become friends again and they decided to start a new band, and furthermore, they decided to call it FEAR FACTORY. They never communicated with us about it, and they're acting like there was never any contract, but there's four members that are Fear Factory Incorporated — which is the four of us — so it's almost like them two against us two, so it's kind of a stalemate. Moving forward, I don't know what's gonna happen with the trademark, so to speak. It's kind of a weird situation, but it's not a situation that we created that was weird."

Regarding why Christian and Raymond aren't involved with the new FEAR FACTORY lineup, Bell told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, "It's like a business and I'm just reorganizing. After time, you realize what's important and what's not important, and after talking to Dino again, it just felt good and it felt right."

When asked if he knew straight away that he wouldn't include Christian and Raymond in the new FEAR FACTORY lineup, Burton said, "It's part of the organization. We learned some things and we have a really good rapport with Byron, and Gene is an amazing drummer. Dino and I, as the founders of FEAR FACTORY, we thought, 'Hey, let's try this, a different flavor.' Because wherever me and Dino go, it'll still be FEAR FACTORY, I believe."

Dino added, "I've had many projects in the past and I've played with some of the best drummers in this form of music, from Roy Mayorga to Nick Barker, Tim Yeung, Joey Jordison, and now I'm playing with the king of this genre. How could I pass that up? How could anyone pass up a chance to play with Gene Hoglan?"

Dino's tenure with FEAR FACTORY ended in March 2002 after Bell announced his departure from the group, allegedly telling his bandmates at the time, "Look, guys, I'm not into it anymore, I don't wanna play in the band anymore, I don't wanna play with you guys, and I especially don't wanna play with you, Dino."

Century Media Records has set an October 26 European release date for "Where Death Is Most Alive", the new concert DVD/CD from Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY. The set will be issued as a limited-edition 2DVD+2CD set, as well as a double DVD and double CD.

"Where Death Is Most Alive" will contain footage of DARK TRANQUILLITY's October 31, 2008 headlining concert in Milan, Italy. The band was joined during the show by THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Nell Sigland for renditions of the songs "The Mundane And The Magic" (a track that had never before been played live) and "Insanity's Crescendo".

Fan-filmed video footage of the Milan concert can be viewed below.

DARK TRANQUILLITYwill enter the studio in September to begin recording its ninth album for and early 2010 release via Century Media Records. The band states, "We'll keep the recording setup completely in-house this time. Drums will be tracked in Daniel Antonsson's [bass] studio, while the remaining instruments will be immortalized in Martin Brändström's [electronics] newly renovated Rogue music facilities. The mixing duties will once again be handled by Tue Madsen in his Antfarm studio in Denmark.

"As for the music itself, it's a bit too early to delve into details, but the material feels diverse and fresh and covers all the facets of the DARK TRANQUILLITY sound. Those who are familiar with our songwriting process know that we always keep re-arranging and experimenting with the material until the recording starts, and while we currently have the basic foundations for around 10 songs, many things are still open. The final result is likely to surprise ourselves as well as you people.

"Some tentative song titles are 'I Am The Void', 'Zero Distance', 'The Burden Of Love Alive', 'Archangelsk' and 'Memories In Reverse', though these are subject to change as usual."

Perfomance of song "Focus Shift" in Milano can be viewed here

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen was named "Sexiest Metal Musician" by the visitors of the Metalhead.ro web site. More than 6,000 votes were cast, with Turunen narrowly beating out her NIGHTWISH replacement, Anette Olzon.

The final results are as follows:

01. Tarja Turunen (ex-NIGHTWISH)
02. Anette Olzon (NIGHTWISH)
03. Ailyn (SIRENIA)
04. Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL)
05. Sharon Den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION)
06. Simone Simons (EPICA)
07. Mariangela Demurtas (TRISTANIA)
08. Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY)
09. Alissa White-Gluz (THE AGONIST)
10. Lauren Harris
11. Sonya Scarlet (THEATES DES VAMPIRES)
12. Nadja Peulen (ex-COAL CHAMBER)
13. Floor Jansen (ex-AFTER FOREVER)
14. Anneke van Giersbergen (AGUA DE ANNIQUE)
15. Sabine Edelsbacher (EDENBRIDGE)
16. Karin Axelsson (SONIC SYNDICATE)
17. Raiana (KHZ)
18. Gen (GENITORTURERS)
19. Maria Brink (IN THIS MOMENT)
20. Lennon Murphy (DEVIL'S GIFT)

CITY OF FIRE, the new project featuring FEAR FACTORY members Burton C. Bell (vocals) and Byron Stroud (bass) alongside Terry "Sho" Murray (guitar), Ian White (guitar) and Bob Wagner (drums), will release its debut album on August 15.

According to the band's official bio, CITY OF FIRE pays homage to the city in which the band was formed, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Known for its primarily rainy climate, the weather can serve as a driving force of creativity for local artists. Creativity builds an internal fire, the rain stokes that fire within and ultimately provides liberation. This is the juxtaposition of Vancouver: a city that shelters, hurts, inspires, warms, scares, challenges and illuminates.

On March 8, 2008, the Cobalt Club in Vancouver housed a reunion of the band CAUSTIC THOUGHT. Original members Byron Stroud (bass), Ian White (vocals/guitar), and Bob Wagner (drums) invited Terry "Sho" Murray to fill in for the original guitarist. Unbeknownst to everyone, the culmination of these artists would give birth to a new sound, which would ultimately lead to the formation of CITY OF FIRE. Stroud contacted FEAR FACTORY bandmate Bell (vocals/lyrics) and the lineup was complete.

CITY OF FIRE finds its roots in everything from metal to hard rock to punk, and boasts a more adult oriented sensibility; a sound reflective of the evolving maturity of its members and audience. Sonically hard yet groove heavy, CITY OF FIRE has conceived a sound that distinguishes itself from the rest.

Swiss hard rockers GOTTHARD are streaming two new songs — "Shagri-la" and the radio edit of their new single, "Need To Believe" — on their MySpace page. Both tracks will appear on the band's new album, "Need To Believe", which is scheduled for release on September 4 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The CD will feature the following tracks:

01. Shangri-La
02. Unspoken Words
03. Need To Believe
04. Unconditional Faith
05. I Don't Mind
06. Break Away
07. Don't Let Me Know
08. Right From Wrong
09. I Know, You Know
10. Rebel Soul
11. Tears To Cry

Additionally, there will be a high-quality box version including a special gimmick and the bonus track "Ain't Enough".

Commented singer Steve Lee: "[The cover artwork, which can be viewed here] shows the philosophy of GOTTHARD: 'Believe in yourself and do your own thing, even if you think it is impossible sometimes. Like it seems impossible to press water out of a stone. 'Need To Believe', because faith is essential."

GOTTHARD will contribute a brand new song to the soundtrack of the upcoming film about the spectacular life of German boxing legend Max Schmeling. The movie will be directed by Uwe Boll ("Postal", "Swords Of The King") and will be in theaters in April 2010.

German boxing star Henry Maske will portray Schmeling in the film.

"A movie like this needs a strong rock song," Uwe Boll explains. "The music by GOTTHARD perfectly fits. When I first heard their songs, I was immediately convinced."

A music video for the song featured on the soundtrack will be filmed in the same style as the movie. It will be shot in 35mm, which is normally reserved for feature films.

The song and video, in which you will see the first scenes from the movie, will be introduced with the release of the new album in September, as well as on the band's co-headlining tour with EUROPE.

Nuclear Blast Records released "Domino Effect", the twelfth studio album by GOTTHARD, in North America on September 18, 2007.

Touting eleven Number 1 albums and six Top 10 singles in their career, GOTTHARD has opened for such renowned artists as AC/DC, DEEP PURPLE, BRYAN ADAMS and BON JOVI throughout Europe. The band has also had the honor of performing at the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival, is two-time winner of its native country's Prix Walo Award, recipient of Monaco's International Music Award, and has had its music featured on the soundtrack to the European television series "Frankie".

Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM will release their fourth album, "From Afar", on September 9 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was produced by Tero Kinnunen (NIGHTWISH, AMORPHIS) and Janne Joutsenniemi ('Victory Songs' producer) and was mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. By The Dividing Stream
02. From Afar
03. Twilight Tavern
04. Heathen Throne
05. Elusive Reaches
06. Stone Cold Metal
07. Smoking Ruins
08. Tumman Virran Taa
09. The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II)
10. Vandraren (limited-edition bonus track; NORDMAN cover)

Check out the cover artwork below.

As previously reported, ENSIFERUM will embark on a European headlining tour in October. Support on the trek will come from METSATOLL and TRACEDAWN.

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — will release its new full-length album, "Njord", via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Finland, Spain: August 26
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Benelux, France, Italy: August 28
Rest Of Europe: August 31
Canada: September 1
USA: September 29

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Njord
02. My Destiny
03. Emerald Island
04. Take The Devil In Me
05. Scarborough Fair (Acoustic Version)
06. Through Our Veins
07. Irish Rain
08. Northbound
09. Ragnarok
10. Morgenland
11. The Holy Bond
12. Forya's Theme
13. Landscape Of The Dead (limited-edition bonus track)
14. Les Champs De Lavande (limited-edition bonus track

LEAVES' EYES will release a new EP, "My Destiny", via Napalm Records on the following dates:
Germany, Austria: August 7
Switzerland, Sweden, Benelux, France, Italy: July 24
Finland, Spain: July 22
Rest Of Europe: July 27
Canada: July 28
USA: September 22

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. My Destiny
02. The Battle of Maldon (non-album track)
03. Scarborough Fair (acoustic version; non-album track)
04. Northbound
05. Nine Wave Maidens (non-album track)
06. My Destiny (remix; non-album track)

Swedish black metallers MARDUK will release their eleventh album, "Wormwood", in September via Regain Records (the exact release date has not yet been announced). The CD 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

Australian metallers LORD have revealed a list of guest musicians who appear on their forthcoming album, "Set In Stone", due in the band's home country in late August via Riot! Entertainment and in Japan in October through Soundholic Records. Release dates for the rest of the world will be announced soon.

"Set In Stone" guest musicians:

Craig Goldy (DIO)
Glen Drover (ex-MEGADETH/ex-KING DIAMOND)
Pete Lesperance (HAREM SCAREM/FAIRGROUND)
Felipe Andreoli (ANGRA)
Olof Mörck (DRAGONLAND/AMARANTHE/NIGHTRAGE)
Yoshiyasu Maruyama (ARGUMENT SOUL)
Chris Brooks
Stu Marshall (PAIN DIVISION/ex-DUNGEON)
Chris Porcianko (VANISHING POINT)
Juz (ex-DUNGEON)
Richie Hausberger (ex-ENTER TWILIGHT)
Tania Moran (solo pop artist)
Mark Furze (FALCON ROAD/well-known star of Australian television)

The cover art was once again created by Felipe Machado Franco, who has previously worked with ICED EARTH, BLAZE BAYLEY and AXEL RUDI PELL, among others.

"Set In Stone" track listing:

01. Spectres Of The Ascendant
02. Redemption
03. 100 Reasons
04. Eternal Storm
05. Set In Stone
06. Someone Else's Dream
07. Forever
08. Beyond The Light
09. The End Of Days
10. Be My Guest
11. New Horizons

LORD's Lord Tim previously stated about the new CD, "Every artist says their new album will be their best work yet, but in this case rather than saying that, I would describe this as not necessarily better than our last album, but more so this is more true to what LORD is about; the definitive LORD album as it were. If I were to draw comparisons between LORD and DUNGEON [the band that spawned LORD when it disbanded in 2005], 'Ascendence' would be the equivalent of the 'Resurrection' album, and 'Set In Stone' would be the equivalent of 'A Rise To Power' — the album where most people would agree DUNGEON really hit its stride."

LORD was born from the ashes for DUNGEON, one of Australia's longest-running and most well-known metal bands until their dissolution in 2005. The band has gone on to tour with QUEENSRŸCHE, NIGHTWISH, SAXON, NEVERMORE, GAMMA RAY and more, and have released two albums — "A Personal Journey" and "Ascendence" — and an EP, "Hear No Evil", which contained a cover of the KYLIE MINOGUE song "On A Night Like This", which has gained national mainstream Australian radio airplay.

"The Fixer", the first single from PEARL JAM's upcoming album, "Backspacer", is available for streaming at this location. The group's ninth studio effort will be available in two formats through their official web site, as both a special fan club CD package and a 180-gram vinyl edition. The latter comes with a 24-page booklet featuring original art by cartoonist Tom Tomorrow. "Backspacer" will arrive on September 20, with its standard CD release being handled exclusively through Target.

A seven-inch, white vinyl version of "The Fixer" can also be ordered through the PEARL JAM web site.

An excerpt of the track was heard during the July 14 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The full song goes to radio stations and digital outlets today (July 20).

Following a handful of North American dates next month, PEARL JAM will kick off a series of shows beginning on September 21-22 in Seattle.

"Backspacer" track listing:

01. Gonna See My Friend
02. Got Some
03. The Fixer
04. Johnny Guitar
05. Just Breathe
06. Amongst The Waves
07. Unthought Known
08. Supersonic
09. Speed Of Sound
10. Force Of Nature
11. The End

Legendary vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) has issued the following statement:

"It is with deep regret and remorse I, along with fellow members of TALISMAN, am announcing our brother, longtime colleague and overall greatest musician we've ever played with, Marcel Jacob, is no longer with us as of today, Tuesday July 21, 2009. Marcel took his own life after many years of personal and health issues he was battling.

"We were mere days from starting what would have been our eighth TALISMAN studio album together, celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the band. I spoke with him just yesterday about finalizing the details that would get us started only to get the news this afternoon that my friend merely gave up on it all.

"I want him to be remembered as everything I have already mentioned above but more so, he helped influence so many musicians and songwriters. He was a quiet, gentle soul with a very intense passion for his craft. I have been associated with him since 1994 but it was when we started TALISMAN is when he truly became a brother, one of my dearest friends.

"It is far too early to say anything now but I plan to organize a memorial for his legacy, although not known by the masses, the ones who do see him as the genius I know he was.

"R.I.P. my friend, you will be sorely missed, you will be in my heart forever and I'll see you on the other side... I hope now you will get your dream and jam with Phil Lynott!!"

Jacob formed RISING FORCE with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN in 1978 and later became involved in the pre-EUROPE act called FORCE. Jacob was also a member of HUMAN CLAY, John Norum's (EUROPE) solo band and HUMANANIMAL. He was 45 years old.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany on March 2 with producer Sascha Paeth to begin recording the follow-up to 2007's "The Divine Conspiracy", tentatively due in September/October via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented EPICA guitarist Mark Jansen: "It's been a great time at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg recording 'Design Your Universe'. We worked with the same team and we worked for the first time together with our new guitar player Isaac Delahaye [formerly of GOD DETHRONED]. This made a difference and made things very refreshing because we could add some new elements because of him. We have worked harder than ever on the details. We preferred to spend some extra money on great additions which brings our songs to a higher level instead of leaving things like they are. The result is that we worked so hard on this album that we hardly can listen to the album anymore. Now it's time to let it go and release it to humanity. We were already very happy with 'The Divine Conspiracy', but I'm sure this new album tops that one.

He added, "The album title, 'Design Your Universe', deals with new breakthroughs in quantum physics. It proves that we are all connected to each other on subatomic level. Also, it shows that we can create or at least influence matter with our thoughts… a very interesting fact. Because it changes everything for us, our whole worldview collapses once you accept these facts and integrate them in your lives. So this had to become the new album title."

Swedish melodic progressive death metallers SCAR SYMMETRY have set "Dark Matter Dimensions" as the title of their new album, due in October via Nuclear Blast Records.

Check out the cover artwork here.

SCAR SYMMETRY parted ways with singer Christian Älvestam last year due to "business and creative differences and lack of interpersonal chemistry." The band explained at the time, "We came to a point where the band's existence was in jeopardy because of these differences, and the only way for us to continue with an inspired state of mind was to go through with this change in the lineup."

Christian has since been replaced by Roberth Karlsson (lead growl vocals and backing clean vocals) and Lars Palmqvist (lead clean vocals and backing growl vocals).

SCAR SYMMETRY's latest album, "Holographic Universe", registered the following first-week chart positions in Europe:

Finland: #37
UK: #39 (Indie chart)
Austria: #65
Germany: #68

In the U.S., the CD debuted at No. 33 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.

An e-card for the CD is available at this location.

Brazilian progressive power metal band ALMAH — the side project of ANGRA members Edu Falaschi (vocals) and Felipe Andreoli (bass) — is continuing to write material for the band's third album, tentatively due in early 2010.

Commented Falaschi: "It's a great pleasure to inform you that very soon we will have a new ALMAH album in our hands, completely composed. The chemistry of the current lineup is so good and the results we have got with 'Fragile Equality' have been so fantastic that we can't stop working at our new songs. All of them sound with a lot of energy, with modern and heavy passages. Certainly, this third CD is a mix of everything that ALMAH has done on its first two albums, for sure, besides new approaches, sounds and ideas. Very soon we will launch some videos and photos of our work at pre-production of the album and most probably — some parts of new songs! The studio recording is pre-scheduled for the middle of September and the release of the album is to be in the first half of 2010."

As previously reported ALMAH will contribute to the "Caça-Palavra" Brazilian movie soundtrack with the song "Torn".

According to a press release, "Caça-Palavra" is directed by Pedro Flores da Cunha with a screenplay by Álvaro Ramos, who has collaborated with TV Globo for more than 20 years writing soap operas and series. The movie is a thriller that shows a tenuous line between the physical and spiritual planes and tells the story of an ancestral family that lives isolated in their home on a high mountain where the time does not passing by until a visit of young and angelical Juliana that changes the routine of those people getting them involved in a dominion, dispute and seduction game.

Fan-filmed video footage of ALMAH's February 13, 2009 concert in Santo André, Brazil can be viewed below (clip uploaded by "leomarsousa").

ALMAH's sophomore album, "Fragile Equality", was released last October via AFM Records.

ALMAH's recording lineup for "Fragile Equality" was as follows:

Edu Falaschi - Vocals
Felipe Andreoli - Bass
Marcelo Barbosa - Gutar
Paulo Schroeber - Guitar
Marcelo Moreira - Drums

ALMAH released its debut CD in the U.S. in July 2007 via Candlelight.

Finnish folk metallers FINNTROLL will enter Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki on Monday, July 27 to begin recording their as-yet-untitled fifth album. Keyboardist Henri "Trollhorn" Sorvali previously stated about the follow-up to 2007's "Ur Jordens Djup". "I personally think this will be our best album ever. Overall I can sense there's a lot 'punk' on it, lots of weirdness, a load of *riffs* instead of chord progressions, quite a bit of folkish parts and a lurking, evil atmosphere. In the terms of 'heaviness,' it's probably the heaviest album we've done, at least judging from the song material.

"I could pretty much safely say this sounds like a meaner and more wicked version of 'Ur Jordens Djup' with an occasional hint of the first album. For the dissappoitment for those who were waiting for songs sounding like 'Trollhammaren' or 'Jaktens Tid', I have to say that you probably should pick up the new KORPIKLAANI instead."

FINNTROLL is currently unsigned, having parted ways with Spinefarm and Century Media following the release of "Ur Jordens Djup".

FINNTROLL's fifth album, "Ur Jordens Djup", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 91. The CD, which was recorded by Nino Laurenne at Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki, is the group's first release with Mathias Lillmåns following the departure of Tapio Wilska (SETHIAN, ex-WIZZARD, former session vocalist for NIGHTWISH) in January 2006.

Austrian DJ/remixer DJ Schmolli's hilarious mash-up of IRON MAIDEN's "The Trooper" and THE MONKEES' "I'm A Believer" can be heard here.

DJ Schmolli has produced a number of other mash-ups, including "Hollaback Thriller Girl" (Gwen Stefani vs. Michael Jackson), "Jacko Breaks Free On Earth" (Michael Jackson vs. Queen vs. Belinda Carlisle) and "Justice For Billie Jean" (Justice vs. Michael Jackson vs. C&C Music Factory).

"The Trooper", IRON MAIDEN's ninth single and the second from their 1983 album "Piece of Mind", was released on June 20, 1983. The song is about the Battle of Balaclava in 1854 during the Crimean War, and is at least partially based upon Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade", taking the viewpoint of one of the slain troopers, who, in the cover art, is perceived as a bald Eddie.

Guitarist Gus G. of Greek metallers FIREWIND has issued the following update:

"The past few months for us have been really great. We decided to do select shows and festivals in 2009 so that we can concentrate on writing new material.

"So in May we embarked on a six-date U.K./Ireland tour together with STRATOVARIUS and EDEN'S CURSE. All gigs were great and we already miss our U.K. fans right now…but we'll be back in U.K. and Ireland in 2010, that's for sure!

"So, straight out of the final gig with STRATO and into the festival mood, we played a bunch of great festivals like Metal Dayz (Switzerland), Rock Hard (Germany), Graspop (Belgium) for the second year in a row and Tuska (Finland). Then we played a very special show in Greece (and the only one for the rest of the year). We played with the SCORPIONS and DOKKEN at Creta Festival which took place in the beautiful island of Crete. I'm sure all good tourists know where that is.

"Not only did we use special pyro for that show, but I also ended up joining my idols, SCORPIONS, on stage and played 'Rock You Like A Hurricane'!!! This was beyond my imagination and I sure wasn't dreaming! I thank the SCORPIONS for being so nice to us and for the once-in-a-lifetime invitation to play with them; I'll never forget it!

"We're now ready to do the final three shows of the summer — Unirock in Turkey, Summer Breeze in Germany and finally Ilha do Ermal festival in Portugal."

Regarding FIREWIND's upcoming recording plans, Gus said, "While we've been doing all these select shows this year, we concentrated mainly on writing new material. I can tell you right now that we have 12 great vocal songs and two instrumentals. While it's too early to know what will end up on the album, all of us in the band are very pleased with the demos and pre-production we did and we are positive that we're creating the best album of our career so far!

"We're planning to enter the studio this autumn and looking into possibilities of who will be mixing our new album.

"As for the material itself, I'd say it's what our fans would expect from us. Powerful rock/metal anthems with cool riffs and memorable vocal lines from Apollo [Papathanasio], but also some faster and more technical stuff is on there. We also wrote a very challenging instrumental song. It will have a fusion of styles and advanced playing from all of us.

"Needless to say, the guitar will shred like never before!"

Guitar legend Steve Vai will release his concert film and live CD, "Where The Wild Things Are", on September 29 via Favored Nations Records. The show was recorded and filmed at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota before a sold-out audience as part of Vai's successful "Sound Theories" world tour.

Go to this location to view the concert trailer.

"Where The Wild Things Are" is Vai's 21st solo project, contributing to his 20,000,000 unit worldwide sales that have accumulated over his 30-year career.

Vai chose the State Theatre to film because of its large, lush acoustics and the historical theatre's gorgeous interior.

Vai is widely known for both his unprecedented guitar playing techniques and the unique design of his signature series Ibanez Jem guitar. But his fans have become inextricably drawn to his melodic depth, and dynamic stage performance. The continued evolution of his craft is made apparent in the astonishing musicianship presented in "Where The Wild Things Are".

The two-hour-and-40-minute set contains several new tracks and re-orchestrated pieces culled from his rich catalog. His guitar-wielding extravaganza in "The Murder" is an artistic performance piece that must be seen to be believed.

The addition of virtuoso violinists Alex DePue and Ann Marie Calhoun add a dazzling dimension to Vai's compositions and stage show, delivering fans the unexpected edge they always expect. Other world-class musicians chosen for Vai's band are: Bryan Beller (bass), Jeremy Colson (drums), Dave Weiner (guitar and sitar) and Zack Wiesinger (lap steel).

"When I put a band and a show together I try to create an entertainment experience that I would like to have if I was sitting in the audience," explains Vai. "I like to witness great musicianship but nothing too cerebral or overindulgent, I like to be stimulated by a large dynamic range of emotional intensities and melodic richness, I enjoy when people love their instrument and it shows by their oneness with it, I like to feel as though I'm part of a family with the audience and the band, and I like to walk away feeling uplifted and not beat up by somebody's ego or the things they hate about themselves and the world. And of course I want a cool t-shirt."

"Where The Wild Things Are" (cover) track listing:

01. Paint Me Your Face
02. Now We Run
03. Oooo
04. Building The Church
05. Tender Surrender
06. Band Intros
07. Firewall
08. The Crying Machine
09. Shove The Sun Aside
10. I'm Becoming
11. Die To Live
12. Freak Show Excess
13. Apples In Paradise
14. All About Eve
15. Gary 7
16. Beastly Rap
17. Treasure Island
18. Angel Food
19. Earthquake Sky
20. The Audience Is Listening
21. The Murder
22. Juice
23. Whispering A Prayer
24. Taurus Bulba
25. Liberty
26. Answers
27. For The Love Of God

"Where The Wild Things Are" will be made available on DVD, Blu-ray, and audio CD.