A previously unreleased IN THIS MOMENT song from "The Dream" recording session, "Dying Star", is available for streaming at AbsolutePunk.net. The track is one of several cuts that are included on the bonus disc on "The Dream (Ultra-Violet Edition)", which is scheduled for release on June 30. Also featured are "Sailing Away" (another previously unreleased song from "The Dream" session), the "Forever" radio edit and "Call Me" instrumental version, alongside a slew of bonus video material.

A preview of IN THIS MOMENT's video for the band's cover of the BLONDIE classic "Call Me" is available at this location.

IN THIS MOMENT kicked off 2009 with a bang embarking on a massive North American trek alongside MUDVAYNE and NONPOINT. The MUDVAYNE run came on the heels of the band's most successful year yet which saw singer Maria Brink landing major cover features in Inked, Revolver and Metal Edge as "The Dream" debuted at No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart, marking the group's first Billboard entry.

MANOWAR's new album, "Hammer Of The Gods", which is the first installment of "The Asgard Saga", the band's unique multimedia fantasy adventure with best-selling author Wolfgang Hohlbein, is tentatively due this fall. An EP, "Thunder in the Sky", will precede the full-length CD and will feature the following track listing:

CD 1:

01. Thunder In The Sky
02. God Or Man
03. Let The Gods Decide
04. Father
05. Die With Honor
06. The Crown And The Ring (2008)

CD 2:

"Father" sung in the following languages:

* German
* Italian
* Romanian
* Hungarian
* Bulgarian
* Norwegian
* Spanish
* French
* Greek
* Turkish
* Polish
* Japanese
* Croatian
* Portuguese
* Finnish

Check out the cover artwork here.

Destined to be a collector's item, the tour edition of the EP will be available at all the festivals MANOWAR headlines on the "Death to Infidels Tour!". In addition, the EP will be available for sale online in high-quality, DMR-free, MP3 format only at The Kingdom Of Steel online store. The downloadable version of the EP will contain the exact same content as the version on sale during the tour.

MANOWAR will head to Moscow, Russia for an exclusive concert on July 24 at the outdoor Gorky Park Green Theater. This will be the seventh major event that the band will be headlining this summer and the first time MANOWAR will perform at an outdoor arena in Russia!

MANOWAR is scheduled to headline six of Europe's largest heavy metal festivals as part of the "Death To Infidels Tour!" The self-proclaimed "Kings of Metal" have long crusaded to keep the spirit of "true metal" alive. In 2009, the crusade blazes through Europe armed with allies, HOLYHELL, and the legions of faithful metal warriors following the call to raise their arms, lock their wrists and sound the cry "hail and kill!"

The band sets forth on the crusade to conquer false metal tyranny, starting with Europe this summer while headlining Provinssirock in Seinajoki, Finland on June 13, 2009; Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 21, 2009; the Metalway festival in Zaragoza, Spain on June 27, 2009; the B'estfest Aftershock in Bucharest, Romania on July 5, 2009; and the Norway Rock Festival in Kvindesal on July 10, 2009. The grand finale of the tour will be MANOWAR's call to arms for true metal warriors the world over , the Magic Circle Festival III, on July 18, 2009 at the Loreley on the Rhine River in Germany where the world premiere of songs from their forthcoming CD will be performed.

Guitarist Thomas Youngblood of American/Norwegian melodic metallers KAMELOT has issued the following update:

"We are now in Germany to begin the first stages of pre-production on the next KAMELOT album. It's great to be back in this familiar region and environment we know so well. We are, of course, very excited about the new ideas and the upcoming recordings."

KAMELOT will once again work with producers Sascha Paeth and Miro, with the recording/mixing sessions scheduled to take place at studios in Germany, Norway and the USA.

SPV/Steamhammer recently released KAMELOT's "Ghost Opera" (2007) and "The Black Halo" (2005) albums as gatefold double LPs. This marks the first vinyl releases for the band.

KAMELOT singer Roy Khan's 86-year-old grandfather Kåre joined the band on stage on May 23, 2009 in Elverum, Norway to perform the song (on accordion) "Danse mi vise, gråte min sang". Watch fan-filme video footage of the performance below.

According to the new issue of Revolver magazine, Boston, Massachusetts death metal/grindcore band THE RED CHORD has set "Fed Through The Teeth Machine" as the title of its fourth album, tentatively due this fall via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being recorded at Jonny Fay Backyard Studios, which is owned by the band's former guitarist Jonny Fay, and it will be mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with HATEBREED and SHADOWS ALL, among others.

Regarding the new album title, vocalist Guy Kozowyk said, "It's from the Discovery Channel show 'How It's Made'. They were talking about this machine they feed zippers through, but we just though the name was creepy."

The disc will be the band's first since the mid-2007 depature of Faye, whom the group chose not to replace. "With the economy being so bad, we figured it was time to downsize," Kozowyk said, only half-joking. "Writing as a four-piece is actually more efficient because there's one less opinion you have to deal with."

Kozowyk says the new songs are more intense and mature than those on 2007's "Prey for Eyes". "It's faster and heavier, but it's definitely groove-oriented and melodic where it needs to be," he said.

KATATONIA's Jonas Renkse has issued the following update:

"After a long nocturnal car ride through heavy rain and on frog flooded roads, me, Daniel and David (recording engineer) finally found the lonesome path leading to a studio pretty much located in the middle of nowhere. We got the gear into the studio, had a quick lookaround and were then heading for bed. Both me and Daniel were (are) sick and since drugs are a big part of rock 'n' roll lifestyle we went through our medicine stash and found a big bottle of cough surpressing stuff that would also provide extra good sleep... yummy."

"Day two was all about getting the drums up. Provided with a beautiful orange Gretsch kit Daniel started to play around with his setup. It took some time. Putting up all the microphones took some time as well. By midnight we could finally hear the sound of the drum kit through the studio monitors."

"Me and Daniel had a walk around the studio building and found: 1. an electric fence (that we wanted to but didn't have the guts to touch) and 2. two cows (that we wanted to but didn't have the guts to touch). Time to hit the sack again with some sleep providing liquid."

"Day three, four and five can be compressed into one word: drums. The ultimate instrument. Daniel is playing better than ever despite his sickness and the new material is shining even more with real drums on the songs. Difficult parts (to my ear) are smoothly executed and easy going parts are... easy going. It's interesting to discuss with Daniel about the direction the drums are headed for certain songs and parts, since this is the first time we've actually met and listened through the new material together... that's the way we work, folks. Exciting times ahead!"

Meri Tadic, violinist of Swiss folk metal band ELUVEITIE has issued following update:

«I am proud and happy to finally announce the upcoming release of the self titled "IRIJ" debut.

It contains 6 tracks as followed:

1. Domovoj (instr.)
2. Ajde Jano (trad. lyrics)
3. Vasilisa Prekrasna (instr.)
4. Daleko (trad. lyrics)
5. Hor-ba-toi (instr.)
6. Bogu govorim (a capella, trad. lyrics)

Also i am overjoyed to have won my desired bulgarian artist for the visual part of the release.
Katia is doing the complete artwork and will so become the midwife of my new born child. Check out. All artwork pictures taken by Gerhard Hallstatt. All promo pictures taken by Audrey Dujardin.

I am currently very busy with the mixing, mastering and administrative process.
As scheduled you should be able to get your copy from the 15th of august 2009. I'll keep you up to date.
Thanks a lot for your interest and you all have a peaceful springtime!!»

Anna of ELUVEITIE also issued in her blog:

«I am currently mixing and mastering Meri's solo project "IRIJ".
IRIJ is a one-woman-folk-project influenced by traditional folk music from the balcans.
Go check out this beautiful and interesting music here
As scheduled you should be able to get your copy from the 15th of august 2009.»

Also, other members of ELUVEITIE play in other band, most of side-projects are traditional folk, but there are some exceptions - for example, ELUVEITIE gutarist Ivo Henzi has own atmospheric black metal project called FOREST FOG.

PORCUPINE TREE are happy to announce the forthcoming release of their tenth studio album "The Incident". The record is set to be released via Roadrunner Records worldwide on 21st September, as a double CD.

The centre-piece is the title track, which takes up the whole of the first disc. The 55-minute work is described as “a slightly surreal song cycle about beginnings and endings and the sense that ‘after this, things will never be the same again’.”

The self-produced album is completed by four standalone compositions that developed out of band writing sessions last December - Flicker, Bonnie The Cat, Black Dahlia, and Remember Me Lover feature on a separate EP length disc to stress their independence from the song cycle.

Video footage of the band in the studio working on The Incident, as well as audio previews, will be available online soon. The band will tour extensively to promote the album from mid September onwards.

Stockholm, Sweden-based extreme metallers MACHINERY have issued the following update:

"We are currently writing new songs for the next album, [with plans to enter] the studio in September. Too early to say, but we are aiming for the album to be mixed in November and hoping for a release in first half of 2010."

"Cold", the latest video from MACHINERY, can be viewed below. The track comes off the band's sophomore album, "The Passing", which was released on April 28, 2008 via Regain Records. The CD was recorded in June 2007 at Black Lounge Studio with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY).

According to a press release, "The Passing" can be described as "an intense journey in epic and diverse metal. An album with great songs and an unique style that covers heavv, death, black and thrash metal! A perfect blend of what should truly appeal to every metalhead!"

Commented producer Kjellgren: "It's a truly epic and diverse metal album with great songs and an unique style that covers everything I love about metal: heavy metal, death metal, black metal, thrash metal! Superb drums, guitars, bass, keyboards and vocals... all you need, hehe. It was really fun to work with the band since they're all truly amazing musicians and have a very professional attitude towards making music!"

"The new video from Finnish folk metallers Korpiklaani, "Vodka", will make its online debut on Thursday, June 11, 2009 via the bands MySpace page. The track is currently is available for streaming at this location.

Korpiklaani will release its sixth album, Karkelo (English translation: "Pleasure" or "Party"), on June 26, 2009 (Europe) and August 25, 2009 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Petrax studio in Hollola, Finland."

Karkelo will appear as audio cd, as digipack and as picture vinyl.

here is tracklist of "Karkelo":

1. Vodka (Single's cover)
2. Erämaan Ärjyt
3. Isku Pitkästä Ilosta
4. Mettänpeiton Valtiaalle
5. Juodaan Viinaa
6. Uniaika
7. Kultanainen
8. Bring Us Pints Of Beer
9. Huppiaan Aarre
(Könnin Kuokkamies (Bonus track - Digipack)
10. Vesaisen Sota
11. Sulasilmä
12. Kohmelo

The Local reports: God-fearing heavy metal fans in Sweden now have a place to go to bang their heads and worship Jesus at the same time.

Metal Sanctuary, which launched in mid-May, bills itself as "Sweden's first church for metalheads."

The church was formed from an ever-expanding network of Christians who "love hard rock and want to see the metal world transformed by God's power," according to a statement by the church's founders.

"We want to be a safe-haven for Christian hard rockers where they can feel at home and grow spiritually, and where newly-converted hard rockers can develop their faith and be protected," said the group.

Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL have finalized the track listing for their new album, "All Shall Fall", tentatively due in the fall via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Grieghallen and Abyss studios in Norway and Sweden, respectively.

"All Shall Fall" track listing:

01. All Shall Fall
02. The Rise Of Darkness
03. Hordes To War
04. Norden On Fire
05. Arctic Swarm
06. Mount North
07. Unearthly Kingdom

Professionally filmed video footage of IMMORTAL's June 28, 2008 performance at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium can be viewed here.

Norwegian progressive metallers ENSLAVED visited the country's embassy in Washington D.C. on May 27, the day of the last show on their North American tour with OPETH in support of the "Vertebrae" album.

Commented ENSLAVED guitarist/songwriter Ivar Bjørnson: "We were very excited about visiting the Norwegian embassy in Washington D.C. and were heartily welcomed by Ambassador Wegger Chr. Strømmen and a large group from the embassy staff. We were invited to talk about the band's history, our own efforts in the American music market, and in more general terms about the export of Norwegian music; metal in particular. The staff's questions were updated and detailed; it turned out to be a very interesting and fruitful conversation. Later that night, a group of five staff members came to the concert — we know this for a fact, as shouts of 'Go Norway!' came from the VIP section when Grutle [Kjellson, vocalist/bassist] told the audience about the visit from the embassy. We hope we get to meet them again, and that other foreign stations take on the challenge to get as involved in Norwegian culture abroad as the Norwegians in Washington D.C."

A new VOIVOD song, "Deathproof", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the Canadian metal innovators' new album, "Infini", which is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Tuesday, June 23 via Relapse Records. The CD, which will be issued in Europe via Nuclear Blast, contains the last thirteen songs written by the group's late guitarist, Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, and again features bassist Jason "Jasonic" Newsted (ex-METALLICA). Jason played bass on all the songs and mixed the album, which will be released as a deluxe, digipack CD and will also be issued on vinyl as a double LP.

"Infini" was built from the final songs created by the band with D'Amour. All his original demo guitar tracks appear as they were recorded — with no re-amping and no overdubs; just Piggy as he played the tracks he envisioned in his small bachelor apartment, the amp in the bathroom, capturing his performance with the laptop given to him by Jason.

"Infini" track listing:

01. God Phones
02. From The Cave
03. Earthache
04. Global Warning
05. A Room With A V.U.
06. Destroy After Reading
07. Treasure Chase
08. Krap Radio
09. In Orbit
10. Deathproof
11. Pyramidome
12. Morpheus
13. Volcano

Total running time: 57:57

"Desire and Pain", the new video from the Denmark-based symphonic metal band EVIL MASQUERADE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's fourth album, "Fade To Black", which was released in January via Escape Music. The follow-up to 2006's "Third Act" was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (JORN, HELLOWEEN) at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark and features a guest appearance by former RAINBOW keyboardist Tony Carey.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Lights Out
02. In a Dungeon Close to Hell
03. The Darkness Within
04. Hollow Soul
05. Different Shades of Black
06. Powertools
07. The Ultimate Game
08. Desire and Pain
09. Diamond Dust
10. I Believe In Sin

"Fade To Black" recording lineup:

Henrik Flyman - Guitar
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals
Daniel Flores (MIND'S EYE) - Drums
Johan Niemann (THERION, DEMONOID) - Bass
Tony Carey (RAINBOW) - Keyboards

"The Curse Of The Antichrist - Live In Agony", the new double live album from German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION, will be released on July 31 via AFM Records. Check out the cover artwork below.

More information will be made available soon.

DESTRUCTION recently completed the "D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. - 25 Years Of Total Destruction" North American trek with KRISIUN and MANTIC RITUAL.

"D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.", the new album from DESTRUCTION, last year entered the Media Control chart in the band's home country at position No. 65. The CD was released on August 22, 2008 via AFM Records and features guest appearances by Gary Holt (EXODUS), Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) and Vinnie Moore (UFO).

The music video for LINKIN PARK's "New Divide" can be viewed below. The much-buzzed-about companion clip to the band's Alternative Airplay chart-topping single was shot on a soundstage at Paramount Studios in Hollywood with LINKIN PARK DJ/award-winning video director Joe Hahn at the helm.

Hahn has also produced a special four-part series focusing on the making of the music video. The first installment debuted June 5 on MySpace Music; the second was made available June 9 on MTV.com; the third was posted June 10 on Facebook, and the finale premiered June 11 on LPU (lpunderground.com). Those anticipating the June 24 release of director Michael Bay's upcoming summer blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" should note that the "New Divide" video features key visual elements from the film.

"New Divide", which LINKIN PARK specifically wrote and recorded for "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", has quickly made radio history, becoming the third song ever to debut simultaneously in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 and Alternative Charts (the other two were COLDPLAY's "Speed of Sound" and LINKIN PARK's own "What I've Done".). In addition to being LINKIN PARK's highest-debuting song ever on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, "New Divide" is the highest-debuting song on Billboard's Alternative Chart in over a year. LINKIN PARK is now one of only five artists in the 20-year history of the Alternative Chart to have three songs debut in the Top 10. The other four bands to accomplish this feat are U2, REM, PEARL JAM and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. "New Divide" is currently No. 1 on the BDS/Billboard Alternative Chart.

Opening in theaters on June 24, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro. LINKIN PARK also contributed to the film's score with award-winning composer Steve Jablonsky and the score's executive producer, Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

"New Divide" will also appear on the Reprise Records soundtrack "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Album", which arrives in stores on June 23.

Finnish doom metallers SWALLOW THE SUN have issued the following update:

"We are entering Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden on June 15 to record our fifth album, which will be called 'New Moon'. The album will be produced and mixed by Jens Bogren, who has worked with such names as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH, just to name a few. And as we announced earlier, Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN, ex-ROTTEN SOUND) will be playing drums on the album. We are thrilled and looking forward to working with such professionals.

"Here is the initial track listing for the album (although we reserve the right to change it if we feel like it)

01. These Woods Breathe Evil
02. Falling World
03. Sleepless Swans
04. And Heavens Cried Blood
05. New Moon
06. Lights on the Lake (Horror Pt. III)
07. Servant of Sorrow
08. Weight of the Dead

"The album will be released in early November 2009 around the world; we'll let you know the exact dates as soon as possible."

SWALLOW THE SUN recently parted ways with longtime drummer Pasi Pasanen. He explained in a statement, "Lately, I've been having a lack of motivation towards this kind of music and touring. The guys have felt it too and there's no point for me to deny it. It just affects the chemistry in the band too much, so it is time for me to step aside."

An e-card for SWALLOW THE SUN's "Plague of Butterflies" mini-album can be accessed at this location. The CD was released in September 2008 via Spinefarm Records.

"Drowning In Mud", the new video from the Dutch melodic death metal band GOD DETHRONED, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's latest album, "Passiondale", which was released in April as a limited double digipack edition including a bonus CD. The double-digipack features stunning artwork and two discs: the regular album plus a live recording from 2005 featuring nine songs! The CD was recorded at Soundlodge studios in Germany with producer Jörg Uken.

GOD DETHRONED frontman Henri Sattler explains the lyrical concept of "Passiondale": "It says Passendale on the street sign. The little village with its huge Tyne Cot cemetery and memorial centre. I passed it many times on the way to Isaac (Delahaye, our former guitar player) for another of our notorious drinking sessions in Ypres not far from the French border. I got really impressed by how this town breathes World War I. The numerous cemeteries, the Menin Gate with its daily last post ceremony since 1929 with the exception of just one day during a bombardment in World War II, the buildings that have been rebuilt in their original state and definitely all the English, Irish and Scottish people that visit Ypres every weekend, probably because one of their relatives died there during the war. During the night at the bars and pubs, they tended to get really drunk and sang louder than the barman could crank up the stereo set! It's during these times that I got inspired by the Great War and decided to write a concept album about it. Ypres and Passendale were the center of war activities during the war with around 900,000 casualties compared to nine million worldwide. I realized how harsh it must have been there during those four years. Passchendaele was the official name of the little village during the war, but since the English speaking armies couldn't pronounce that, they nicknamed it to: Passiondale"

According to The Pulse of Radio, ALTER BRIDGE will release two different versions of an upcoming concert DVD titled "Live In Amsterdam". The first version will be released on August 4 and will be a single-disc set sold exclusively at dates on this summer's CREED reunion tour. A second edition is tentatively scheduled to arrive on September 22 and will expand to a two-disc collection, with the full concert accompanied by a 60-plus-minute documentary, a photo gallery and other content. This version will be sold everywhere and will also be available as a Blu-ray disc.

ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips all play in CREED, which announced its reunion after a five-year hiatus earlier this spring.

Tremonti told The Pulse of Radio that CREED's activities will have no effect on ALTER BRIDGE's output or future plans. "In the ALTER BRIDGE camp, it's business as usual. We've got a record coming out. Nobody's getting any less. If they're a fan of one thing, they're gonna get that. If they're a fan of both, they're gonna get double. You know, it's — nobody's gonna get gypped on any side of the fence."

CREED is now recording its first studio album since 2001 and will begin its comeback tour on August 6 in Pittsburgh. A report earlier this week at industry news site Hits Daily Double indicated that tickets for the trek are selling far below expectations.

ALTER BRIDGE, which also features singer Myles Kennedy, has issued two studio albums so far, including 2007's "Blackbird".

Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST have issued the following update:

"New songs composing process has almost been completed and the band is ready to enter the studio for the recording sessions of its upcoming album that will follow up the very successful latest album, 'Theogonia'. Sakis Tolis (vocals, guitar) will take care of the production again, and as being the main composer too, he declares that he had his most trippy and exhausted simultaneously experience on his career squeezing his mind drawing down ideas that will follow up the band's latest album, 'Theogonia', and the end of the process find him as well as the whole band totally convicted that they finally managed it. We haven't more to say than proving it with the upcoming recordings and of course with its release that roughly estimated to be released in January 2010."

Video footage of ROTTING CHRIST performing at the Full Metal Racket festival, which was held on April 25, 2009 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, can be viewed below.

ROTTING CHRIST played "an underground anniversary show" at 8ball Club in Thessaloniki, Greece on March 21, 2009. They performed a set that focused on the band's first three albums.

Check out photos from Metalpaths.com.

ROTTING CHRIST released its long-awaited 2DVD + 2CD digipack, "Non Serviam - A 20 Year Apocryphal Story", in Europe on February 23 via Season of Mist. The set, which will be released in the U.S. on May 5, features the band's most popular and classic songs, including some rare treats, to celebrate their special 20th anniversary show in their hometown Athens in front of a fanatic audience in December 2007. Completing the package is a bonus DVD filled with extra footage from the "Sanctus Diavolos" and "Theogonia" tours, an interview with frontman Sakis Tolis telling the story of the band, bootlegs live videos, promotional clips and much more. Last but not least, these five hours of video are backed by two audio CDs taking up 25 tracks from the Athens show plus seven exclusive tracks recorded live in February 2007 at B-Live in Larisa, Greece.

Vocalist Mordechai Von Renvaktar (a.k.a. Jonas Renvaktar) has announced his departure from the Swedish technical death metal outfit SPAWN OF POSSESSION. He explains, "I have been forced to leave my duties in SPAWN OF POSSESSION to fully concentrate on the ongoing war against the sun-worshippers and to intensify my fight for eternal winter together with my brothers in ISTAPP. The war is expanding and I'm needed for the battle same as you. Our horde grows stronger by the minute and you all have to choose side. You are with us or you are not at all."

SPAWN OF POSSESSION recently posted a two-minute pre-production teaser of a new song at this location.

SPAWN OF POSSESSION's sophomore album, "Noctambulant", was released in 2006 via Neurotic Records. The CD was recorded at Pama Studios in Kristianopel, Sweden with producer Magnus Sedenberg.

Swedish melodic doom/death metallers SLUMBER have issued the following update:

"The recording of [the new SLUMBER album] 'Resonance' has been re-set to October 5 - November 15. It will be recorded at the isolated sphere of Panic Room Studios in Skara as the last album. This time though, we have twice the time and much more knowledge. The album will shine!

"New lineup for the album recording and live performance:

Ehsan Kalantarpour - Vocals, Synth
Jari Lindholm - Guitar
Siavosh Bigonah - Bass, Growl
Markus Hill - Guitar
Ted Larsson - Drums
Mikael Brunqvist - Live Third Guitarist And Percussionist

"Female performances by Ida Sundquvist, Lina Svärd and Vinköl choir.

"This is the moment some of us has been preparing our whole life for. The era of majestic melancholy in music that in time, hopefully can grow into a real live performing large orchestra of... doom, haha. We'll give this album our everything!"

"[We] hope you're enjoying the preview of 'Resonance'. We'll put up more songs as we go along.

SLUMBER's debut album, "Fallout", was released in 2004 via Karmageddon/New Aeon Media.

"The Evolution Of Chaos", the long-awaited new album from reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers HEATHEN, has had its release date (via Holland's Mascot Records) pushed back to late 2009 from the previously announced July 20. The band, which began recording the new CD in 2008, is said to still be mixing the effort.

"The Evolution Of Chaos" cover artwork can be viewed here. Photos from the recording sessions are available in the "Pics" section of the band's MySpace page (free registration required to view pictures).

The band's current lineup includes Lee Altus (guitar; EXODUS), Kragen Lum (guitar; PROTOTYPE), Dave White (vocals), Jon Torres (bass; ANGELWITCH) and returning drummer Darren Minter.

"The Evolution Of Chaos" track listing:

01. Dying Season
02. Control By Chaos
03. No Stone Unturned
04. Arrows Of Agony
05. Fade Away
06. A Heroe's Welcome
07. Undone
08. Bloodkult
09. Red Tears Of Disgrace
10. Silent Nothingness

HEATHEN released its latest CD, "Recovered", independently in the spring of 2004. The effort featured covers of songs from QUEEN, THIN LIZZY, TYGERS OF PAN TANG and SWEET SAVAGE, as well as an original track, "In Memory of…" (written and dedicated to former band member Randy Laird and singer David White's brother Jeffrey).

Audio samples of all 13 tracks that appear on "Infini", VOIVOD's final album featuring the group's late guitarist, Denis "Piggy" D'Amour, are available for streaming at the Nuclear Blast Musicshop.

"Infini" is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Tuesday, June 23 via Relapse Records. The CD, which will be issued in Europe via Nuclear Blast, contains the last thirteen songs written by Piggy and again features bassist Jason "Jasonic" Newsted (ex-METALLICA). Jason played bass on all the songs and mixed the album, which will be released as a deluxe, digipack CD and will also be issued on vinyl as a double LP.

"Infini" was built from the final songs created by the band with D'Amour. All his original demo guitar tracks appear as they were recorded — with no re-amping and no overdubs; just Piggy as he played the tracks he envisioned in his small bachelor apartment, the amp in the bathroom, capturing his performance with the laptop given to him by Jason.

"Infini" track listing:

01. God Phones
02. From The Cave
03. Earthache
04. Global Warning
05. A Room With A V.U.
06. Destroy After Reading
07. Treasure Chase
08. Krap Radio
09. In Orbit
10. Deathproof
11. Pyramidome
12. Morpheus
13. Volcano

Total running time: 57:57

Two songs from "Infini" — "Earthache" and "Global Warning" — are available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

Reactivated German thrashers ASSASSIN have issued the following update:

"Longtime member Frank Nellen [drums] has left the band due to private reason and has been replaced by Björn Sondermann (WICKED KEMAO and many more). New man on the bass is Joachim Kremer who also is a very experienced musician who played in many different project (SKINNY BOLD etc.).

"The band is busy finishing songs for the next album and are currently searching for a new record label." According to the group, the upcoming CD will feature "old-school thrash with a modern touch!"

ASSASSIN took part in the "Chris Witchhunter Memorial Concert" on April 11, 2009 at Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany. The event honored late SODOM drummer Chris Dudek (a.k.a. Witchhunter), who died on September 8, 2008 due to vital organ failure.