Ex-SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell has told RollingStone.com that he and his former bandmates have been talking — not about touring or recording, but about the group's legacy. "The only thing that we have talked about is trying to put together an album of B sides and maybe a box set with some unreleased tracks we have," Cornell said. "This is something we first talked about 10 years ago. We all feel it's time to do that, and we have a lot of fans out there, and we have a lot of new fans discovering our music, and I think the catalog and the legacy of the band has been ignored by the record label and previous management, so we decided to get together, and start working towards putting something like that out."

Regarding the possibility of a full-fledged SOUNDGARDEN reunion, Cornell told RollingStone,com, "I've always said nothing is impossible. I never wanted to be one of those people who tries to predict the future. I don't want to know what I will be doing two years, five years from now. I want to be open to anything, but nothing has changed in terms of our attitude toward it. It takes somebody to really stand up and say, 'We should do this, we have to go do this, let's go do this,' and so far, no one has raised their hand to do that. Still, it's not impossible."

Finland's GHOST BRIGADE will release its sophomore album, "Isolation Songs", on August 3 in Europe (August 25 in the U.S.) via Season Of Mist Records.

Regarding the CD title, GHOST BRIGADE guitarist Wille Naukkarinen stated, "We had a few different working titles for this record but 'Isolation Songs' was the one that we collectively felt good about. I remember reading through the lyrics of this album just before we went to the studio in order to come up with an album title and the word 'isolation' came to mind several times. The songs themselves aren't directly about that at all but I think that having a feeling of being isolated has been an inspiration or a driving force to at least some of the content of these lyrics. And if you think about our songwriting process in general, 'Isolation Songs' is probably the best possible title to characterize that as well. I, for example, have to be completely isolated from the outside world to write riffs, melodies and songs for GHOST BRIGADE; it just doesn't work any other way. We can't go to our rehearsal room and jam until we come up with something 'pretty cool.' This band digs deeper than that. And besides, 'Isolation Songs' sounds like it's a title of a country album and that of course, is a big bonus."

"Isolation Songs" track listing:

01. Suffocated
02. My Heart Is a Tomb
03. Into the Black Light
04. Lost in a Loop
05. 22:22 - Nihil
06. Architect of New Beginnings
07. Birth
08. Concealed Revulsions
09. Secrets of the Earth
10. A Storm Inside
11. Liar (first edition bonus track)

Check out the cover artwork below.

"We are collectively very proud of this record," Wille previously stated. "It was a lot of work to get this album done, it took almost two years to write these songs, but now that it's 100% ready I can only say that I feel privileged to be a member of GHOST BRIGADE. I have a strong feeling we have created something very special with 'Isolation Songs' and it is by far my personal favorite of all recordings I've ever been a part of. I hope people will enjoy these songs as much as we do once they get the chance to hear them."

"Day Of Endless Light", the new video from Atlanta's DAATH, can be viewed below. The clip was shot in March in the band's hometown with director Robin Fuller (GHOST OF A THOUSAND, SHAPED BY FATE
Commented guitarist Eyal Levi: "I hate music videos. Always have. There's been a few exceptions over the years like the old TOOL videos or WHITE STRIPES videos but for the most part they suck. Especially metal videos. How many times can we watch a group of burly dudes throwing down in a warehouse or abandoned building? With this video, that was the LAST thing I wanted for us.

"I set out to find a team that would give us an actual work of art which could be watched and enjoyed regardless of the music. We ended up with Robin Fuller directing. We chose him because of his amazing animation skills and overall enthusiasm for the vision.

"The vision was to have a video shot in the style of a Frank Miller film ('Sin City') and have those shots interwoven with the art and design that Jorden Haley has created for us with [the new DAATH album] 'The Concealers'.

"This [is] not your typical metal video."

"Day Of Endless Light" comes off DAATH's sophomore album, "The Concealers", which sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 35 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.

"The Concealers" was released on April 20 in Europe and April 21 in the U.S. through Century Media Records (via a partnership with Roadrunner Records). The album was produced and mixed by Jason Suecof and Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, DEVILDRIVER).

Legendary BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has released the following statement regarding the passing of the "king of pop," Michael Jackson:

"In contemplation over these past few days since the tragic news of Michael Jackson's death, I have reflected on other occasions when some of my heroes have died. I know how I felt at the time. I can't help wondering how those who loved Michael Jackson are going to heal and overcome the loss. My heart feels passionate to all who are feeling loss for Michael Jackson today.

"I can't help regurgitating the emotions and absolute numbness I felt when John Lennon was shot. I felt completely devastated. It's taken me years to come to terms with John's death. I felt robbed. I think we all did. Sincerely, my life has never been the same since his passing. There's an emptiness in the world and in my soul. My first trauma of those I idolized was when Buddy (Holly), Ritchie (Valens) and The Big Bopper died. Again, I felt numb, heartbroken, and didn't understand why.

"For those in heartache today, I wish you all wellness in healing. A great entertainer has died. I think those who experienced and heard his heart are more enlightened people for it than before. I believe you're all most fortunate to have connected to Michael Jackson."

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA will release their new album, "The Days Of Grays", on September 18 in Europe and September 22 in North America through Nuclear Blast Records.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

Limited 2CD Digipack:

01. Everything Fades To Gray (instrumental)
02. Deathaura
03. The Last Amazing Grays
04. Flag In The Ground
05. Breathing
06. Zeroes
07. The Dead Skin
08. Juliet
09. No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart
10. As If The World Wasn't Ending
11. The Truth Is Out There
12. Everything Fades To Gray (full version)

Bonus Track:

13. In The Dark

Bonus CD: track listing to be announced

CD Jewelcase:

01. Everything Fades To Gray (instrumental)
02. Deathaura
03. The Last Amazing Grays
04. Flag In The Ground
05. Breathing
06. Zeroes
07. The Dead Skin
08. Juliet
09. No Dream Can Heal A Broken Heart
10. As If The World Wasn't Ending
11. The Truth Is Out There
12. Everything Fades To Gray (full version)

Drummer Mauro "Tschibu" Casciero has left GURD, the Swiss band that formed out of the ashes of the power-thrash metal legends POLTERGEIST. He says in a statement, "This decision has only personal reasons. There are neither conflicts with the band nor the infamous musical differences."

He adds, "The main reason is that I will finally be father for the first time around end of this year. After more than ten years, time has come to cut down a little bit and redefine my priorities."

He continues, "In 1999, I joined GURD as part of the 'Bern package'. I did hundreds of shows, two European tours together with PRO-PAIN, recorded five albums (including a live DVD) and had a lot of rock 'n' roll with my GURD buddies. This decision was not easy. But I am convinced that this is the right way for me and my family. No booked shows will be cancelled, I will play all of them until the end of the year. Besides, I will stay with my other band THE ORDER."

GURD's new drummer is Steve Karrer (ex-MESSIAH, MIRTO MASSAKER), who was most recently a member of PULVER.

GURD's latest album, "Your Drug Of Choice", was released in January via LC Records. The CD features guest appearances by Schmier (DESTRUCTION), Freddy Rotter (ZATOKREV), Mark Elliott (THE FORCE) and Tommy B (UNDERGOD).

Swedish hard rockers THE POODLES have inked a Euopean deal with Blistering Records. The band's third album, "Clash Of The Elements", will be released on August 28.

"Clash Of The Elements" recently entered the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 5.

Audio samples of all 14 tracks that appear on the CD can be streamed in the YouTube clip here. Also available is the video for the single "One Out Of Ten", which was written by singer Jakob Samuel (THE RING, TALISMAN, JEKYLL & HYDE) and Nicolo Fragile and was mixed by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, METALLICA).

The group, which last year parted ways with record label Lionheart International after a three-year partnership, once again worked with producer Mats Valentin.

THE POODLES last year recruited guitarist Henrik Bergqvist (SOUTHFORK, TIAMAT) to replace Pontus Norgren, who left the group to join HAMMERFALL. The new axeman made his live debut with THE POODLES in June 2008 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

THE POODLES — Jakob Samuel, Henrik Bergqvist, bassist Pontus Egberg (ex-LION'S SHARE) and drummer Christian Lundqvist — released its previous album, "The Sweet Trade", in September 2007 via AFM Records.

Swedish death metallers SOULDRAINER have issued the following update:

"We just started to record a couple of more songs at Empire Studio and we will record about three songs at a time and let you download it, burn it, give it away and bang your heads to it 'cuz it's more important to let you hear our new material than wait for a label to sell it to you. We don't need a label to serve you a professional production anyway! In true DIY spirit we will distribute the songs, mainly the digital fashion, but you will also be able to buy a physical product if you want something to put in your hands. Of course, to a reasonable price and not the fantasy prices record label would charge!"

SOULDRAINER last fall uploaded a teaser video (see here) of a demo track entitled "Fed By Fire". According to the band, "Dan Swanö [BLOODBATH, EDGE OF SANITY] — the grand master himself — made this mix and it kicks ass! This song is one of the songs from 'Garage Demo 2008' we recorded live some time ago in the rehearsal space! It's also one of the up-tempo songs we've got!"

In May 2008, SOULDRAINER parted ways with Mascot Records, the label which released the group's debut album, "Reborn", in May 2007. That CD was recorded by SOULDRAINER and Marcus Edvardsson at Manic Motion Studio and was mixed and mastered by Marcus Edvardsson. The layout and artwork was handled by Daniel Dlimi.

California-based, female-fronted progressive metallers ECHOES OF ETERNITY have inked European a deal with Massacre Records for the release of their second album, entitled "As Shadows Burn". Due in Europe on September 25 (the LP will be released in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast Records), 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 the band: "It was an amazing recording experience, and Logan Mader really brought out the best in the band and gave us an incredible production. If you liked 'The Fogotten Goddess', you certainly won't be disappointed. It's a far more dark and aggressive album overall, with some new elements being brought into our sound."

ECHOES OF ETERNITY's Olle Carlsson-directed video for the song "Voices in a Dream" can be viewed below. The track, which was chosen by the fans via a poll conducted at the band's official MySpace page, comes off the group's debut album, "The Forgotten Goddess", which was released in the U.S. on February 20, 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records (February 2 in Germany). The CD was recorded over a six-month period in Venice, California at RavensWork Studios and produced, engineered, and mastered by Eric Ryan.

According to Kerrang! magazine, U.K. metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON has enlisted Jona Weinhofen as the group's new permanent guitarist.

Weinhofen, formerly of Australian metal outfit I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN and Orange Country metallers BLEEDING THROUGH, joined BRING ME THE HORIZON on a temporary basis in May following the departure Curtis Ward.

"[Jona] was thinking of leaving BLEEDING THROUGH as he was unhappy living in America," Sykes tells Kerrang! "We've had so much fun touring the European festivals with him, it's amazing to have him in the band permanently."

"Suicide Season", the new album from BRING ME THE HORIZON, was issued in the U.K. on October 6 via Visible Noise and in the U.S. on November 18 through Epitaph Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Count Your Blessings" was recorded at Studio Fredman in in Arboga, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström (ARCH ENEMY, DIMMU BORGIR).

HAIL OF BULLETS — the new band featuring GOREFEST drummer Ed Warby, THANATOS guitarists Stephan Gebédi and Paul Baayens, former PESTILENCE/ASPHYX singer Martin Van Drunen and former HOUWITSER bass player Theo van Eekelen — will release a new EP, "Warsaw Rising", on July 17 (in Europe) via Metal Blade Records. Featuring two brand new tracks, one cover and three live recordings, it will be released as a six-page digipack and will be available in a strictly limited edition of 2,000 copies only!

"Warsaw Rising" contains the new songs "Liberators" (an ode to one of the most magnificent bombers ever built) and the title track (which tells the tragic tale of the bloody 1944 Warsaw uprising). A "massive" cover of the TWISTED SISTER classic "Destroyer" and three tracks from the BULLETS' earth-shattering performance at last year's Party.San Open Air festival are also included

"Warsaw Rising" track listing:

01. Liberators
02. Warsaw Rising
03. Destroyer
04. Red Wolves Of Stalin *
05. Nachthexen *
06. The Crucial Offensive *

* live recording

A one-minute audio snippet of the track "Liberators" is available for streaming at this location.

"…Of Frost And War", the debut album from HAIL OF BULLETS, was released in Europe in May 2008 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded in February/March of 2008 at Excess Studios in Rotterdam, Holland and was mixed and mastered in Sweden by Dan Swanö of EDGE OF SANITY fame.

HAIL OF BULLETS was formed in late 2006 through a mutual love for old-school death metal bands like AUTOPSY, BOLT THROWER, MASSACRE, CELTIC FROST and DEATH. In the summer of 2007, the band entered a Rotterdam studio to record a four-song promotional CD, which was mixed by the infamous death metal guru Dan Swanö in Sweden.

"Call of the Hammer", a brand new track from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada's 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the group's new album, "Here Waits Thy Doom", which is due on September 8 via Century Media Records (August 31 in Europe). The CD was recorded at Seattle's London Bridge Studios with renowned producer Jack Endino (HIGH ON FIRE).

"Here Waits Thy Doom" track listing:

01. Battles and Brotherhood
02. Rock In Hell
03. Silent Killer
04. Fierce Defender
05. Preachers Daughter
06. Call of the Hammer
07. Snake Fighter
08. At the Foot of the Great Glacier
09. All of them Witches
10. 12:34
11. Execution Tank

Covers (to be released as b-sides and/or bonus tracks):

12. Not Fragile (BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE)
13. Cities on Flame (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT)
14. Daytona (ZEKE)

Commented vocalist Cam Pipes: "We decided to cover 'Not Fragile' by BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE because they're a Canadian band and we wanted to represent our Canadian musical roots. BTO had many hits, but we wanted to do a deeper cut from their catalog plus 'Not Fragile' has a heavy driving riff at the core of the song which we felt translated well with our style.

"BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's 'Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll' is a song that our guitarist Justin had played the main riff to at soundcheck for a few years now and I guess it just got stuck in our heads, so we decided to learn it and record it. We've also been friends with ZEKE for many years and 'Daytona' has always been a favorite ZEKE song of ours. It's another one we've loosely jammed out in the rehearsal space and soundchecks before. It's a rare, slow ZEKE song, which is good because we'd probably butcher one of their fast songs."

Added guitarist Shane Clark: "Our new album is finished and we've named it 'Here Waits Thy Doom'. Much like our last record it is a step beyond the album that precedes it. We've again taken what we do a step further and not made 'Fire up the Blades Part 2', we've stuck to our formula — no formula. We are true metal fans and we've made an unapologetic metal record. I think this our most focused record to date, from writing all the way to mixing there was no unnecessary drama or too many cooks in the kitchen. This is 3 INCHES OF BLOOD at its most punishing, epic and mighty."

Regarding 3 INCHES OF BLOOD's new deal with Century Media, Pipes recently said, "Ever since our departure from our previous label [Roadrunner], Century Media has been in the forefront trying to get us to sign with them. No other label showed as much enthusiasm and belief in our band as they did. Right from the start we all got a great feeling from the whole Century Media team. We feel comfortable with the vision they have for us and are confident they have the necessary tools and motivation to help us in the ways our previous label didn't. We can't wait to unleash this new material upon the masses."

Drummer Erik Thyselius of the Swedish metal band SCARPOINT has issued the following update:

"We are very glad to announce that we are starting the recording of our second album on August 31 in our good friends MESHUGGAH and CLAWFINGER's studio called Fear and Loathing studio, here in Stockholm. Jocke Skog of CLAWFINGER will, along with us, produce the yet-untitled record. This studio will allow us to have more time than ever and to be able to try stuff in the studio.

"We are really looking forward to this and since I've recorded two records and one EP at Fear and Loathing, I know the result will be mindblowing!"

Guitarist Pablo Magallanes left SCARPOINT in May in order to commit 100% to his new musical project.

SCARPOINT's full-length debut, "The Silence We Deserve", was released in October 2007 via Blind Prophecy Records. The CD was recorded at the Dug-Out Productions with renowned producer Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, IN FLAMES).

Chilean epic doom/death/progressive band POEMA ARCANUS will release its fourth album, "Timeline Symmetry", on September 1. According to a press release, the group "has returned to [its] epic but progressive roots for a great piece of arcane doom metal!" The CD is "the perfect synthesis of all [POEMA ARCANUS'] previous works. 'Timeline Symmetry' brings back the doom metal heaviness and melody of their early music, in conjunction with the unmistakable vibe acquired during their latest years."

A brand new track entitled "By the Cliff" is being streamed at this location.

POEMA ARCANUS is:

Claudio Carrasco - Vocals
Igor Leiva - Guitars
Luis Moya - Drums
Juan Pablo Vallejos - Bass

BLABBERMOUTH.NET has learned that former CRIMSON GLORY frontman Midnight (real name: John Patrick Jr. McDonald) passed away earlier today (Wednesday, July 8) from "total kidney and liver failure." He was 47 years old.

According to JON OLIVA'S PAIN guitarist Matt LaPorte, who played on some of Midnight's recent solo recordings, the singer spent his final hours surrounded by his mother, brother, daughter as well as members of CRIMSON GLORY, SAVATAGE, and JON OLIVA'S PAIN. His death occurred at 3:45 a.m EST at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"I will miss my partner Midnight — the greatest voice and friend I've ever known," LaPorte told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. He added, "In spite of his demons, [Midnight] was a beautiful soul who constantly changed the lives of those he met and came into contact with."

Midnight sang on CRIMSON GLORY's first three albums — "Crimson Glory" (1986), "Transcendence" (1988) and "Strange and Beautiful" (1991) — before going into self-imposed exile for almost a decade. He eventually rejoined CRIMSON GLORY in 2005 but was dismissed in January 2007 following the revelation that he was arrested in Sarasota, Florida and charged with "DUI [driving under the influence] with .20 [blood-alcohol level] or higher or having a passenger under 18" years of age. Midnight, who gave his occupation as "painter" to the authorities at the time of the arrest, was also cited for driving with a suspended/ cancelled/ revoked license.

Last fall, Midnight announced plans to release a new solo CD called "All Souls Midnight" which was to feature the "Acoustic Crimson" EP (four songs) along with the lost "Midnight Mass" recordings from the late '80s/early '90s plus some other "cool rarities."

BLACK HEAVEN is the side project from Mantus, and for the first time they present an extensive history on double CD, which shouldn’t be regarded as a ‘best of’ in the accepted sense. A retrospective which makes clear that BLACK HEAVEN have until now been unfairly underestimated. BLACK HEAVEN is the other side of the coin. It is not the opposite of MANTUS, but neither is it a sphere in which the musicians ‘just want to mess about’, as is so often the case with side projects. With its lyrical depth, BLACK HEAVEN is also certainly beyond all cliches; from pure dark poetry to the contrasting voices of Martin Schindler and Thalia. In contrast to the main project of the two protagonists , BLACK HEAVEN is more electronically-orientated and dispenses with the rock guitars and bombastic classical arrangements without losing itself in EBM stamping or standard futurepop pap. BLACK HEAVEN is the convincing attempt to drag intelligent, poetic lyrics out of the self-absorption of the lonely bedroom and onto the dancefloors of the clubs. The perfect mixture of rhythm, delicate sequences, danceable sounds and the lyricism which we already know from MANTUS. Dark vignettes which on the one hand, due to the unusual rhythms have a certain light-heartedness, but which on the other hand become emphasised due to the reduction in the musical elements. No MANTUS fan should ignore this ‘history’, for BLACK HEAVEN have musical and lyrical surprises up their sleeves which simply have to be experienced. This retrospective provides the opportunity to do so. Released on Trisol and available August 28th, 2009.

01 The Smell Of Suicide
02 End Of The World (alternative version)
03 Trugbild
04 Aus Gold
05 Violent Acts Of Hate
06 Sehnsucht (Black Heaven feat. Mantus)
07 Agony
08 Jemand
09 Natur Und Kunst
10 Schmerz (alternative version)
11 Von Hier Zu Den Sternen
12 Drown In My Dreams
13 Tansania
14 Ohne Zeit
15 Glut Und Asche
16 Lebendig Begraben

CD2:
01 The Beginning
02 Regentanz
03 Kein Ton (2007)
04 Silence
05 Sakrileg
06 Babylon (Ratzinger rmx)
07 Engel Weinen Heimlich (opposite sex)
08 Necromancer
09 Eclipse
10 Horizont
11 Gebete An Gott (dust and ashes)
12 Thanatos (2009)
13 Seraphim (2009)
14 I Hate This World (2009)

German metallers AXXIS — who will soon celebrate their 20th anniversary — will release their new studio album, "Utopia", on August 28 via AFM Records. The CD will be available as a standard jewel case version with 11 new songs and in a limited digipack format, which will include two bonus tracks (including the "20 Years Anniversary Song" with a running time of over 12 minutes!).

Commented the band: "Our personal highlight is the '20 Years Anniversary Song'. Good old friends and companions join us in this song with their great performance. Andi Deris (HELLOWEEN), Schmier (DESTRUCTION), Rolf Stahlhofen (ex-SÖHNE MANNHEIMS), Doro, Claus Lessmann (BONFIRE), David Readman (PINK CREAM 69) and our longtime friend Walter Pietsch (ex-AXXIS)!"

"Utopia" (cover) track listing:

01. Journey To Utopia
02. Utopia
03. Last Man On Earth
04. Fass Mich An
05. Sarah Wanna Die
06. My Fathers’ Eyes
07. The Monsters Crawl
08. Eyes Of A Child
09. Heavy Rain
10. For You I Will Die
11. Underworld

Bonus tracks:

12. Taste My Blood *
13. 20 Years Anniversary Song

Added vocalist Bernhard Weiß: "Recording-wise, we put a lot of power into the guitar sound. Different amps, mics and different guitars for each song. Everything should fit perfectly to the songs. At the same time Harry was focused on his key arrangements with new sounds and equipment. He recorded millions of keyboard tracks and it was not easy to decide which ones we should leave or erase.

"This time, the songs were pre-destined for a lot of musical stuff. By the end of the day, the sound is really FAT. 'Utopia' is a step further, with less female vocals, more guitars, more keys, more bass and more musical parts. YES, these songs forced us to go this way. All in all, it's a really compact album and I'm looking forward to see [everyone's] reactions."

The new AXXIS album will also be made available on 150g black vinyl (which will include the standard track listing).

NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon has posted the following message on her official blog:

"I've spent my evening in front of the TV and followed the memorial of Michael Jackson. I cried over and over again when the wonderful speakers talked and the great singers performed. The hardest part of it all were when Michael's daughter spoke about her father and how great he had been as her father and that she loved him so. That was almost to tough to watch...

"I have often thought about why the most caring people die first... Why is it that the meanest and most ego-centrical people live long and just torment the people around them with their bitterness and hate? And the caring and warmest people that give and think about others and live with their heart unprotected and outside the body leave so soon?

"I do believe that God needs the good people for better purposes or maybe even to save them from the pain and sorrows they need to go through being hurt and tormented by the hating and mean people of this world. By being misunderstood and questioned in their deeds to try and help and nurture others. Tormented with others jealousy, envy and hate..

"It takes a big courage to try and change other people and their ways since most people are afraid of changes. It takes a lot of pain to live a life putting yourself out in front of the crowd, showing your own caring soul and heart. It takes lots of your own innocence and love to stand against the hardness of many peoples cruelness and misbelieves. It takes a lot of sacrifice and hard decisions to follow the beliefs that things can be healed, fixed and helped if you go against the dark and mean minds that try to hurt and take you down...

"Still there will be those good and caring people that will be born to try and make a difference and heal the world. No matter the pain they continue the path. They strive and go against the hard words, the laughter of the mockers, the cruel and wicked actions against them. They may cry and suffer in the sacred and hidden place where no one sees but still they continue their caring path.

"But sometimes and way to often, it hurts so much that they need help to make it through the pain... and way to often their body and souls cant take the burden to long and need to get away from this hard place...

"But when many of the good people leave us, they prove that they did make a huge impact. Their legacy and deed will live in so many many peoples hearts and souls forever. Their words and trying to change things might not change the whole world, but make a deep impact on those who understood what they tried to do and will follow their paths and continue the hard work they started."

Tonight's (July 7) METALLICA concert in Nimes, France at Arènes de Nîmes was professionally filmed for a forthcoming DVD release. The disc will be made available on October 19 through French music stores and online shops only, as well as via the band's official web site, Metallica.com.

According to the MetOnTour.com web site, which is described as "your FREE virtual backstage pass to every METALLICA show," METALLICA's setlist for tonight's concert was as follows:

01. Blackened
02. Creeping Death
03. Fuel
04. Harvester Of Sorrow
05. Fade to Black
06. Broken, Beat And Scarred
07. Cyanide
08. Sad But True
09. One
10. All Nightmare Long
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Dyers Eve
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - - - - - -
16. Stone Cold Crazy
17. Motorbreath
18. Seek and Destroy

WorMee will stream METALLICA's concert in Nimes from July 10 until July 13. You just need to register with the site to watch, and the stream is available to everyone around the world.

As previously reported, METALLICA's three concerts in Mexico City were also filmed for a separate DVD release. The band played Mexico City for the first time in a decade on June 4, June 6 and June 7, with the group keeping the shows on its schedule despite the recent outbreak of swine flu that originated in the area.

METALLICA has issued several DVDs in the past, including "Cliff 'Em All", "Cunning Stunts", "S&M With The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra" and "A Year And A Half".

The band, recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, continues to tour behind "Death Magnetic", which has sold 1.78 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. They'll play Europe throughout the summer before returning to North America in the fall.

"Worship", the new album from Tokyo thrash disciples GRIEF OF WAR, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page.

"Worship" is being released today (Tuesday, July 7) via Prosthetic Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Crack Of Doom
02. Disorder
03. Captured Soul Eternity
04. New Kind Of Wicked
05. Revolt
06. Built My Brain
07. Worship
08. Into The Void (feat. Shane Gibson of KORN)
09. Midnight Sun
10. Lost

Check out the cover artwork here.

GRIEF OF WAR, who call their kamikaze brand of thrash "samurai crunch," first made an international splash with their 2005 debut, "A Mounting Crisis...As Their Fury Got Released" (reissued worldwide by Prosthetic in early 2008). "Worship" should garner the Japanese quartet even more acclaim, thanks in part to a sharp production that was mastered by Ted Jensen of New York's legendary Sterling Sound, who has previously put the final touches on works by acts ranging from KISS to KREATOR.

"Worship" features a contribution by one other notable individual: KORN lead guitarist Shane Gibson, who performs a blistering solo on the song "Into The Void". So how did a member of one of the biggest metal bands in the world — nu, true or otherwise — end up jamming with a comparatively obscure, retro-minded group from The Land of the Rising Sun? Vocalist/bassist/lyricist Manabu Hirose, who also recorded, engineered, produced and mixed "Worship", explains it was quite easy: "Since Ken (Sato, GRIEF OF WAR's lead guitarist) likes shredding guitarists, and he knew Shane would come to Japan while we were recording, he made contact with Shane and asked him to play on the album. We sent him the demo of 'Into The Void', he liked the song and we welcomed him to the studio when he visited Japan."

AFM Records has set an August 28 release date for "Dukebox", a 16-track best-of from powerhouse Norwegian hard rock vocalist Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN, MILLENIUM, ARK). The CD will contain "many highlights" from Jorn's previous solo albums and "will be an interesting item for all die-hard fans and 'newcomers' as well," according to a press release.

"Dukebox" (cover) track listing:

01. Man Of The Dark
02. Starfire
03. Young Forever (new version)
04. Soul Of The Wind
05. Living With Wolves
06. War Of The World
07. Sunset Station
08. We Brought The Angels Down
09. The Inner Road
10. Tungur Knivur
11. Stormcrow
12. Out To Every Nation (new version)
13. Lonely Are The Brave
14. Blacksong
15. Shadow People
16. Duke of Love

JORN's brand new studio album, entitled "Spirit Black", was released on June 5 in Europe and will be issued in the USA on July 14 via Frontiers Records.

Jorn Lande's strong and diverse voice and solid songwriting skills have now become legendary in the hard rock world. In a career spanning over 30 albums releases and as frontman for MILLENIUM, ARK and MASTERPLAN, Jorn was recently featured on spectacular projects such as Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA, along with stars like Alice Cooper and Eric Singer (KISS), Rudolf Schenker (SCORPIONS), Bob Catley (MAGNUM) and in Arjen Lucassen's recent concept album with AYREON.

"The musical style and direction is now more defined and less experimental. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel anymore, I just want to write good quality hard rock songs that people can relate to and identify with," states Lande. "As we entered into the new millennium, I realized and accepted that my strength as a singer was more classic rockoriented. If you buy a Jorn album today, you know what you will get. True classic hard rock music."

Jorn is getting ready to tour the world at the end of summer 2009 with his band formed by Jgor Gianola and Tore Moren on guitars, Nic Angileri on bass and Willy Bendiksen on drums.

Check out more audio samples at this location.

"Strange Cousins From the West", the ninth studio album from Maryland rockers CLUTCH, is vailable for streaming in its entirety at AOL Music.

"Strange Cousins From the West" will be available both digitally and through retail on July 14. Produced by CLUTCH and J. Robbins at Magpie Cage Studios in Baltimore, the effort is the first CLUTCH studio LP to be released on the band's own Weathermaker Music, through RED Distribution.

"Strange Cousins From the West" includes the POPPO'S BLUES BAND cover song "Algo Ha Cambiado", which CLUTCH vocalist Neil Fallon sings in Spanish. Poppo was a legendary Argentinian hard rock singer/guitarist throughout the '70s and '80s.

The title "Strange Cousins From the West" was taken from a line in the song "Minotaur".

Although CLUTCH has toured the world extensively over the past two years and released multiple CLUTCH-related projects, "Strange Cousins..." is the band's first original studio work since 2007's "From Beale Street to Oblivion" which featured the hit "Electric Worry".

"Strange Cousins From the West" (cover) track listing:

01. Motherless Child
02. Struck Down
03. 50,000 Unstoppable Watts
04. Abraham Lincoln
05. Minotaur
06. The Amazing Kreskin
07. Witchdoctor
08. Let a Poor Man Be
09. Freakonomics
10. Algo Ha Cambiado
11. Sleestak Lightning

A new widget featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions for "Strange Cousins From the West" is available at this location.

"Unfurling a Darkened Gospel", the new video from Glendale, Arizona extreme metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY, can be viewed here. The clip was shot on location in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and at the city’s distinguished music venue, The First Unitarian Church. The clip was lensed by Doug Spangenberg for Space Monkey Studios (LAMB OF GOD, MAROON 5) and features JOB FOR A COWBOY doing what the band does best; bringing its electrifying live show directly to a crowd of rabid music fans.

"Unfurling a Darkened Gospel" comes off JOB FOR A COWBOY's highly anticipated sophomore album, "Ruination", which is being released today (July 7) via Metal Blade Records. The 10-song follow-up to 2007's "Genesis" was tracked and mixed at AudioHammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM).

AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen's new project, GUILT MACHINE, will release its debut album, titled "On This Perfect Day", via Mascot Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: August 28
Rest of Europe: August 31
North America: September 29

The artwork was created by Christophe Dessaigne, a talented new artist whom Arjen discovered (quite by chance) while browsing Flickr. Coincidentally, it turned out that Chris is an AYREON fan, and was thrilled beyond belief when Arjen asked him to do the artwork! The GUILT MACHINE logo and packaging layout were created by Thomas Ewerhard.

"On This Perfect Day" will be released in three different editions:

* Limited-edition 32-page digibook (CD + DVD)
* Special-edition digipack 24-page booklet (CD + DVD)
* Regular-edition jewel case, 24-page booklet (CD only)

Limited-edition digibook track listing:

CD (all editions):

01. Twisted Coil (11:43)
02. Leland Street (8:03)
03. Green and Cream (10:32)
04. Season of Denial (10:22)
05. Over (6:11)
06. Perfection? (10:46)

DVD (limited and special editions only):

Audio bonus tracks:

01. The Stranger Song (L. Cohen) - vocals Jasper (4:53)
02. Michelangelo (J. Campbell) - vocals Arjen (3:23)
03. Fan Messages (8:14)
04. Perfection? - guide vocals Arjen (9:37)
05. Twisted Coil - radio edit (4:17)
06. Pull me out of the Dark - radio edit (Green and Cream) (3:36)
07. Over - radio edit (3:56)

Video:

01. Trailer "On this Perfect Day" (4:33)
02. Making of the Trailer (3:44)
03. Interview with GUILT MACHINE (40:03)

The song "Twisted Coil" is available for streaming in three parts on the GUILT MACHINE MySpace page.

GUILT MACHINE is:

Arjen Lucassen: Instruments, Backing Vocals
Jasper Steverlinck (ARID): Vocals
Chris Maitland (ex-PORCUPINE TREE): Drums
Lori Linstruth (ex-STREAM OF PASSION): Lead Guitar

As AYREON fans have come to expect from Arjen, the music of GUILT MACHINE ranges from dark and heavy to atmospheric and melancholic. But GUILT MACHINE introduces some new twists as well, particularly when it comes to the vocals. Rather than putting together an ensemble cast of vocalists from the prog, rock and metal scene, Arjen has enlisted the talents of a single alternative rock vocalist, Jasper Steverlinck.

How did Arjen get an alternative rock vocalist to switch genres and sing on a prog rock project? "In the beginning, it was hard to convince Jasper to sing on this album, because he comes from a completely different musical background," Arjen said. "He didn't even know what prog was, but we've made a believer out of him! What I admire about Jasper's voice, besides its beautiful clear timbre, is the emotion and credibility he puts into his performance and his enormous range. Because this project features just one singer I needed someone versatile enough to portray all of the different moods, and Jasper didn't disappoint. And he's a really nice and dedicated guy as well!"

For GUILT MACHINE, Arjen also chose to record with a different drummer, Chris Maitland (ex-PORCUPINE TREE). "Chris was the ideal choice this time, having both the power for the heavy sections and the subtle touch needed in the more atmospheric parts," Arjen said.

Rather than the explicit storyline you would expect in an AYREON release, the songs of GUILT MACHINE revolve around a central theme. Instead of looking outward into a world of fantasy or science fiction, the songs look inward, exploring the destructive psychology of guilt, regret and the darkest form of secret — the secrets we hide from ourselves.

"At first I asked my partner and personal manager Lori to quickly write scratch lyrics for one of the songs so I could record some guide vocals," Arjen said. "I was so impressed by what she produced that I asked her to write the lyrics for all the songs. I was unable myself to create the type of darkly enigmatic, open-ended lyrics I wanted for these songs, my specialty being sci-fi lyrics about sinister aliens. She definitely gave the songs an extra dimension with her lyrics, exorcising the demons we both had faced in the past few years. It's also no secret that I've always been a big fan of her melodic guitar style, so she also plays all the guitar solos on this album."

Despite these differences, GUILT MACHINE still has much in common with AYREON. The songs are mainly long, "epic" tracks that feature dynamic contrasts between softer, dreamy sections and powerful, heavy passages. There are intricate harmonies, complex rhythms, soaring melodies, and an eclectic selection of instruments — all what you'd expect from an AYREON release.

"In my view this is my best side project so far," Arjen said. "It comes completely from the heart, for it was written and recorded during a new inspiring phase in my life after my heavy depression. This being an entirely new project there were no expectations whatsoever, which enabled me to just let my inspiration guide me without any (outside) pressure."

"Point Of No Return", the new video from Dutch female-fronted thrashers IZEGRIM, can be viewed here. The band's first-ever promotional music clip was produced by Arno Zuidgeest.

"Point Of No Return" is the title track of IZEGRIM's new EP, which came out in March 2009 via Rusty Cage Records. The CD contains three brand new songs and a re-recorded version of "Angel Of Demise" (which originally appeared on 2002's "Guidelines For Genocide".

IZEGRIM's most recent full-length album, "Tribute to Totalitarianism", was released March 2008.