Former PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott has told DallasObserver.com that his supergroup of sorts, HELLYEAH — which also features MUDVAYNE's Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett, NOTHINGFACE's Tom Maxwell and Abbott's DAMAGEPLAN bandmate Bob "Zilla" Kakaha — is set to hit the studio on May 15 to begin working on its second album.

Regarding which label will release the disc, Abbott said, "We don't know. We're free agents right now. We had a one-disc deal with Epic [which released the band's self-titled debut album], and they're practically begging us to come back. We sold nearly 500,000 records for them, which is practically unheard of these days. That's like going platinum 10 years ago."

HELLYEAH's self-titled debut sold 45,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. It has shifted 354,000 units since it came out in April 2007, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"The guys from HELLYEAH and the incredible music we've created have brought me back to what I love," Vinnie previously stated. "'Hellyeah' is the best record I've collaborated on since [PANTERA's] 'Vulgar Display of Power'. The vibe is positive with a kick-your-ass attitude."

Austrian female-fronted symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE has announced the adition of guitarist Dominik Sebastian and bassist Simon Holzknecht to the group's ranks.

"Dominik Sebastian, also known from the band THIRDMOON, has already played guitar on the whole MyEarthDream Tour and has proved to be a great guy and musician and got on well with us," EDENBRIDGE said in a statement. "Dominik, of course, can also be heard on EDENBRIDGE's new live album, 'LiveEarthDream'. Simon Holzknecht, to many also known from his other band SERENITY, is our youngest band member with only 22 years and is absolutely smashing on his instrument!"

The Pulse of Radio reports that LINKIN PARK is working with film composer Steve Jablonsky on music for the soundtrack of the upcoming movie "Transformers 2: Revenge Of The Fallen". According to Seibertron.com, the band will also contribute a brand new song to the movie, which opens nationwide on June 24. No other information was made available on the group's contributions to the film. LINKIN PARK has been at work on a new album since last fall, although there's no word on whether the song for the "Transformers" soundtrack will be taken from that project.

The first "Transformers" movie, based on a line of robot toys from Hasbro, grossed $708 million worldwide in 2007. Stars Shia LaBoeuf and Megan Fox return for the second film.

LINKIN PARK announced last week that it will produce a series of applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The first of the apps will debut sometime this fall.

Bullet For My Valentine are forced to cancel appearances at DS Luzhniki Arena in Moscow and Tuska Metal Festival in Finland in June 2009 due to recording commitments for their 3rd Album.

The band have been holed up in the studio for the past month writing and demoing material for their upcoming 3rd Album in Wales with producer Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Lacuna Coil). After the show in Luxembourg on April 18th the band will not be playing any more live dates until Mayhem Festival kicks off in the USA on the July 10th so that they can focus on completing the new album, scheduled for a 4th Quarter worldwide release through Sony Music.

The band say: "The past few weeks have been a bit crazy, and we apologise to all the fans who have bought tickets to shows that have now been cancelled. It has been difficult to try and fit everything in around the recording schedule, but the most important thing is for us to finish this album. We promise we will be back with a vengeance later this year, armed with a brand new record. To all our fans, thank you for your patience and understanding, we sincerely appreciate your support!"

UNICORN, the long-defunct progressive rock band featuring acclaimed Swedish multi-instrumentalist/producer Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH) will reunite to record a cover version of the MARILLION song "After Me". The track will be included on the "Recital For A Season's End - A Tribute To Marillion" compilation, to be released on the Italian label Mellow Records (which previously released the UNICORN albums).

UNICORN's lineup for the recording will be as follows:

Dan Swanö – Vocals, Drums
Anders Måreby - Guitars
Per Runesson - Bass
Peter Edwinzon - Keyboards

"Recital For A Season's End - A Tribute To Marillion" will feature the following artists/songs:

TEN MIDNIGHT - You're Gone
SILVER KEY - The Web
BITTER SUITE - Script...
NOSUCHTHINKING - Fugazi
J'ACCUSE..! - The Invisible Man
MARCO MASONI & FRIENDS - Afraid Of Sunrise
GARDEN WALL - Incubus
KEYBRIDGE - White Russian
TERMINALE - Cinderella Search
THE FAR SIDE - Splintering Heart
ARMALITE - Lords Of The Backstage / Blind Curve
RC2 - The Space
TNR - Living With The Big Lie
GOAD - Sugar Mice
CONQUEROR - The Great Escape
3RD DEGREE - At The Time Of The Night (The Short Straw)
ELEKTROSHOCK - Assassing
OUTSIDE INSIDE - Made Again
PROGCHARD - She Chameleon
MYTHO - Go
NOTTURNO CONCERTANTE - Man Of Thousand Faces
ROUSSEAU - No One Can / Easter
UNICORN - After Me
YLECLIPSE - Market Square Heroes
BIOFONIA - Somewhere Else
SETI - Incommunicado
CORAL CAVES - Lavender
VANILLA PROJECT - Heart Of Lothian
PI XPRNC - Fantastic Place
TRAMA - Slainte Mhath

UNICORN released two albums — 1993's "Ever Since" and 1995's "Emotional Wasteland" — via Mellow Records before calling it a day.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/unicornsweden.

Netherlands-based gothic/progressive metal band STREAM OF PASSION, which is fronted by Mexican female vocalist Marcela Bovio (AYREON), has posted another new song, "My Leader", on its MySpace page. The track coms off the group's sophomore album, "The Flame Within", which will be released via Napalm Records on the following dates:

May 27 - Finland, Spain
May 29 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, France, Italy, Sweden
June 1 - Rest of Europe
June 2 - North America

According to a press release, "The Flame Within" "leaves its predecessor in the dust, thanks to more mature songwriting. Carried by Marcela Bovio's fantastic vocal lines, STREAM OF PASSION delivers the entire spectrum of human emotions — at times dreamy and melancholic, at others uninhibited and forward pressing. In this way, heavy riffs merge with romantic undertones in majestic unity. Jens Bogren's (Fascination Street Studios) mastering work allows the tracks' subtle nuances to come into play. 'The Flame Within' is more than a loosely arranged sequence of songs, but rather a holistic gothic metal masterpiece complete with mystic elements and sonorous symphonic romanticism."

"The Flame Within" track listing:

01. The Art Of Loss
02. In The End
03. Now Or Never
04. When You Hurt Me The Most
05. Run Away
06. Games We Play
07. This Endless Night
08. My Leader
09. Burn My Pain
10. Let Me In
11. Street Spirit
12. A Part Of You
13. All I Know
14. Far And Apart (bonus track; digipack only)

STREAM OF PASSION recently parted ways with drummer Davy Mickers. The group said, "Due to personal reasons, Davy took this step as he needs to devote more of his time to his family. Thus, he could not longer give STREAM OF PASSION 100% of his energy. The band members wish him much happiness on this new journey in his life!

"STREAM OF PASSION is thrilled to present their fans with their new drummer: Martijn Peters. Martijn earned his extraordinary skills by playing and touring with bands like NOVACT, BACKWATER and STENTORIAN."

The band's debut album, "Embrace the Storm", was released in Holland in October 2005 via Sony/BMG Benelux. The CD was issued in the rest of Europe and the U.S./Canada via InsideOut Music.

Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL have released the following statement regarding the cancellation of the band's April 20, 2009 concert in Minsk, Belarus on "The Darkest Tour: Filthfest II", also featuring CRADLE OF FILTH, TURISAS and DEAD SHAPE FIGURE:

"We are extremely disappointed by the fact we had to cancel the shows. The reasons [that were posted] on both Neopolis and CRADLE OF FILTH site [incorrect travel permits] is accurate but MOONSPELL might add that the bands' buses entered Belarus territory and were meeting for possible solutions for the day. On the event that the truck with ALL of our tour equipment was held due to a bureaucratic detail in the border made all our efforts worthless.

"We have planned carefully this trip with the promoter, with the embassies and were caught off guard by an excessive zeal from the border staff.

"Goes without saying that all the bands were eagerly anticipating the show as it was a premiere for everyone. We can assure you we are doing our best to reschedule the show and we are pretty sure we will do so up to the end of the year, the sooner, the better, though no specific date can be advanced so far.

"Thanks for your comprehension. We understand and share the frustration but look forward to make it up for you on a near future."

MOONSPELL released its long-awaited new DVD, "Lusitanian Metal", in December in Europe via Century Media Records. The first disc features one complete live show recorded live in Katowice in 2004, all video clips (from "Opium" to "Everything Invaded"), an in-depth interview with all current band members and a detailed discography. The second disc offers a historical overview of the Portuguese metal group's period as a Century Media recording artist, with no less than 50 live tracks, starting with some very old-school live rehearsal recordings back in 1992 and ending with live footage from the "Spreading The Eclipse Tour".

"Lusitanian Metal" is available as luxurious limited-edition kingsize mediabook with both DVDs as well as a CD with the complete Katowice show as well as a standard 2DVD in a super jewel case. The CD included in the limited edition is also available separately.

Powerhouse American heavy metal vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) has posted a new solo track, entitled "Starting Over", on his MySpace page. The song, which was written by Owens and Bob Kulick, features the following lineup:

* Tim "Ripper" Owens (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) - Vocals
* Bob Kulick (guitar)
* Rudy Sarzo (DIO, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT) – Bass
* Simon Wright (DIO, ex-AC/DC) - Drums

A gydget for "Play My Game", the first solo album from Tim "Ripper" Owens, is available below.

"Play My Game" will be released in May via SPV/Steamhammer. The offering consists of around a dozen brand-new tracks that Owens composed himself or together with renowned friends, such as Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Mike Callahan (ex-EARSHOT) and John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM).

The list of guest musicians featured on Owens' solo debut is even more spectacular:

Guitar:

Bob Kulick
Bruce Kulick (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, ex-KISS)
Carlos Cavazo (RATT, ex-QUIET RIOT)
Craig Goldy (DIO)
Zeil Zaza
Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA)
Mike Callahan (ex-EARSHOT)
John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM).
Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE)
Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE)
Jeff Loomis (NEVERMORE)
Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL)

Bass:

Marco Mendoza (ex-WHITESNAKE)
Billy Sheehan (MR BIG, ex-DAVID LEE ROTH)
Dave Ellefson (ex-MEGADETH)
Rudy Sarzo (DIO, ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT)
James Lomenzo (MEGADETH)
Tony Franklin (ex-BLUE MURDER)
Dennis Hayes (BEYOND FEAR)

Drums:

Simon Wright (DIO, ex-AC/DC)
Vinny Appice (HEAVEN AND HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO)
Ray Luzier (KORN, DAVID LEE ROTH)
Bobby Jarzombek (SEBASTIAN BACH, RIOT, HALFORD)
Brett Chassen

Fans and experts alike will love this sensational all-star lineup and may rest assured that the haunting songs will effortlessly live up to this illustrious cast of musicians: Tim "Ripper" Owens has never sounded more impressive, melodic and multi-faceted!

"I've gotten better as a songwriter," Owens explains. "And I also write songs that the fans can really get into and get their fist pounding in the air. I've always been a great fan of the BLACK SABBATH lineup featuring Ronnie James Dio, and I love JUDAS PRIEST. Both bands delivered records that are straightforward and go directly to the bloodstream — which also happens to be my compositional approach."

"Play My Game" will be released on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland: May 15
Rest of Europe: May 18
USA, Canada: May 19

Check out the cover artwork below.

"Play My Game" track listing and individual song credits:

* 01. Starting Over

Written by: Tim Owens, Bob Kulick

Guitar - Bob Kulick
Bass - Rudy Sarzo
Drums - Simon Wright

* 02. Believe

Written by: Tim Owens

Guitar - John Comprix
Bass - Rudy Sarzo
Drums - Simon Wright
Lead Guitar - Craig Goldy

* 03. The Cover Up

Written by: Tim Owens

Guitar - John Comprix
Bass - James Lomenzo
Drums - Brett Chassen
Lead Guitar - Jeff Loomis

* 04. Pick Yourself Up

Written by: Tim Owens, Mike Callahan

Guitar - Mike Callahan/Bob Kulick
Bass - Dennis Hayes
Drums - Ray Luzier
Lead Guitar - Steve Stevens

* 05. It Is Me

Written by: Tim Owens

Guitar - John Comprix
Bass - Rudy Sarzo
Drums - Simon Wright
Lead Guitar - Carlos Cavazo

* 06. No Good Goodbyes

Written by: Tim Owens, Bob Kulick, Brett Chassen

Guitar - Bob Kulick
Bass - Billy Sheehan
Drums - Brett Chassen
Lead Guitar - Bruce Kulick

* 07. The World Is Blind

Written by: Tim Owens

Guitar - John Comprix
Bass - Billy Sheehan
Drums - Simon Wright
Lead Guitar - Doug Aldrich

* 08. To Live Again

Written by: Tim Owens

Guitar - Michael Wilton/Bob Kulick
Bass - David Ellefson
Drums - Simon Wright
Lead Guitar - Michael Wilton

* 09. The Light

Written by: Tim Owens, Bob Kulick

Guitar - Bob Kulick
Bass - Tony Franklin
Drums - Bobby Jarzombek

* 10. Play My Game

Written by: Tim Owens, John Comprix

Guitar - John Comprix
Bass - Rudy Sarzo
Drums - Simon Wright
Lead Guitar - Neil Zaza

* 11. Death Race

Written by: Tim Owens, John Comprix

Guitar - John Comprix
Bass - James Lomenzo
Drums - Brett Chassen

* 12. The Shadows Are Alive

Written by: Tim Owens, Chris Caffery

Guitar - Chris Caffery
Bass - Marco Mendoza
Drums - Simon Wright

* 13. A Challenge (bonus track; iTunes exclusive)

Written by: Tim Owens, Bob Kulick

Guitar - Bob Kulick
Bass - Rudy Sarzo
Drums - Vinny Appice

Tim "Ripper" Owens has revealed the backing band that will accompany him for his upcoming summer tour in support of "Play My Game". The group will consist of the following musicians:

Tim "Ripper" Owens - Vocals
Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORHCESTRA) - Guitar
John Comprix (BEYOND FEAR, RINGWORM) - Guitar
David Ellefson (MEGADETH, F5) - Bass
Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO) - Drums

German melancholic death metal band AUTUMNBLAZE will release its new album, "Perdition Diaries" (cover), on June 15 via Prophecy Productions.

According to a press release, "The band who ventured into the realms of alternative rock with their last album, 'Words Are Not What They Seem' (2004) and then imploded two years later because of internal differences now sees its phoenix-like resurrection — the classic line-up of Eldron, Arisjel, and Schwadorf (THE VISION BLEAK etc.) has come together again to record a new album.

"'Perdition Diaries' is something of a statement, the fruit of a return to the roots of AUTUMNBLAZE, and it comes across like a creative eruption. This album is a tribute to 1990s-era dark metal, to a time where the conventions of metal were trampled underfoot and the genre's conceptual chains were irrevocably broken from the inside."

AUTUMNBLAZE mastermind Eldron comments: "Bands such as PARADISE LOST, ANATHEMA, KATATONIA, MY DYING BRIDE, DARK TRANQUILLITY, or AT THE GATES are prime examples for an exploration of the human soul, the struggle of the individual against the chasms of life. Away from the metal standards of the 1980's, towards a kind of deeply emotional resistance against the norms. We spit on all those who are blindfolded by their own limitations, and we continue that which was begun in the early Nineties!"

The new song "Brudermord" is available for streaming at this location.

SUNDOWN SINDROME, the new project featuring former TO/DIE/FOR frontman Jape Perätalo and members of the German band DAS SCHEIT, has posted its first song, "Vale Of Crowes", on the group's official MySpace page.

Jape said, "[SUNDOWN SINDROME] just recorded our first promo CD in Germany, and we are trying to find a great label for us soon as possible. One thing is sure... I am gonna hit the road very soon with new plans and with my new band.

"I am feeling so fresh and happy with SUNDOWN SINDROME. It feels so great to start from the clean table. Every member of this band are in a same boat! We already feel like brothers. No stress, just rocking!"

SUNDOWN SINDROME is:

J von Crow (Jape Perätalo) - Vocals
A. van Crane - Guitar
S. de la Corneille - Bass
M. di Corvo - Keyboards
U. del Cuervo - Drums

Finnish "dark progressive" metal band IKUINEN KAAMOS has inked a deal with Maddening Media. The group will enter the studio on May 17 to begin recording its new album, "Fall Of Icons", for a fall release. In the meantime, IKUINEN KAAMOS' latest EP, "Closure", is being made available for streaming as well as a high-quality download (320 kbps) for free at this location.

"Closure" EP track listing:

01. Closure
02. Your Gallows
03. The Absence

According to a press release, "IKUINEN KAAMOS embed dismal melancholy in their songs of epic grandeur, spiralling the listener to a timeless sphere of emotions."

IKUINEN KAAMOS is:

Risto Herranen - Vocals
Juhani Mikkonen - Guitars
Jarno Ruuskanen - Guitars
J-P Räisänen - Drums
Lauri Saari - Bass

"Metamorphine", the new video from Italian death metallers LUNARSEA, can be viewed here. The clip was filmed in Rome with director Federico Ferrari. Also available is behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot.

"Metamorphine" comes off LUNARSEA's latest album, "Route Code Selector", which was released last October via Punishment 18 Records.

LUNARSEA is:

Filippo Palma - Vocals
Fabiano Romagnoli – Guitar, Synth
Emiliano Pacioni - Guitar
Cristian Antolini – Bass, Vocals
Stuart Franzoni – Drums

Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen has issued the following update on her AGUA DE ANNIQUE project:

"We are busy bees here; building our studio, writing the new songs, rehearsing and preparing for the last shows we will do before we 'disappear' for a little while and record the new album. We will play a nice mixture of rock and acoustic songs and we'll try out some brand new tunes while we are at it! When you have the chance, come and check us out. It will be good!

"After the shows we will enter our newly build studio. At the moment we have 11 songs ready to be tracked, but I'm still working on stuff. We'll be joined by some additional artists, with whom I have never worked before, which adds to the excitement as well."

Frontiers Records has announced the release of JORN's brand new studio album, entitled "Spirit Black", on June 5 in Europe and July 14 in the USA.

Considered by many fans and critics as one of the finest voices in hard rock to arrive on the scene at the end of the 20th century, JORN is now ready to unleash upon the world yet another studio album entitled "Spirit Black". "I have carried some of these ideas with me for quite some time," says Lande. "Willy, Jimmy, Sid and myself have known each other since the '80s, and some of the song ideas and demos from back then have now seen the light of day, and become an essential part of 'Spirit Black'. When we were younger we usually never cared about what we did yesterday, only about the future, but the past can sometimes reveal hidden treasures and I discovered great potential in some of these song ideas.". The result: "Spirit Black" is another slab of classic hard rock with '80s metal elements which will definitely please all those who loved his recent "Lonely Are The Brave", released in June 2008.

A winning formula should not change, so Jorn has worked again with Tommy Hansen at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark ensuring the right edge to the rich guitar and vocal sound that is now trademark to all Jorn releases. "The fans can expect a solid and defined record that will shake the classic metal world and hammer the future Jorn legacy in stone," says Jorn. "The sound of the album is like a crossover between 'The Duke' and 'Lonely Are The Brave', and I feel that some of the songs on 'Spirit Black' have the potential to become essential hard rock classics that will stand the test of time."

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 MILLENNIUM, 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," continues the Norwegian Viking. "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.

"Spirit Black" (сщмук) final track listing:

01. Spirit Black
02. Below
03. Road of the Cross
04. The Last Revolution
05. City Inbetweeen
06. Rock And Roll Angel
07. Burn Your Flame
08. World Gone Mad
09. I Walk Alone
10. The Sun Goes Down (bonus track exclusively included in the first limited edition pressing in digipak)

Check out audio samples at this location.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach will join the "Z Rock" boys Paulie, David and Joey as judges of the "America's Hottest Rocker Mom" contest.

IFC is looking for "America's Hottest Rocker Mom" to celebrate Season 2 of its uncensored, uncut comedy "Z Rock". In keeping with the series' "kids'-band-by-day, rock-band-by-night" storyline, the band is setting out to find America's rocking-est mom. Five finalists will be chosen to compete in June for a live, no-holds-barred finals event.

Rocker moms, you can enter to win a trip to New York City, a $5,000 grand prize, and the claim to the title "America's Hottest Rocker Mom." Enter online by May 14 at midnight at IFC.com. To enter, you'll be asked to provide one or more photos, favorite rock song, favorite rock band, best rock concert moment, biggest rocker crush, and a statement explaining why YOU should be chosen as America's hottest rocker mom.

The judges will choose four finalists — and the fifth "People's Choice" will come from site visitor ratings. The fiinalists will be flown to New York City to vie for the title in a live competition in front of the judges on June 4 . Each of these rocker moms will be judged on performances in the following categories: (Best Rocker Outfit), Knowledge (Rocker Trivia), Lyrics (Rock Karaoke Contest), and Dance (Show Off Your Best Moves.)

Whoever impresses the "Z Rock" boys and pals the most will win $5,000 — and bragging rights as "America's Hottest Rocker Mom!"

Season 2 of "Z Rock" premieres on Sunday, June 7 at 11 p.m.

Read the official rules here.

Guitarist Ben Weinman of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN spoke to U.K.'s Rock Sound magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next album, tentatively due before the end of the year via an as-yet-undisclosed new label.

"The new songs sound dark and evil," he stated. "Very early '90s thrash-influenced.

"Lately I have been realizing the purpose of why I started DILLINGER all those years ago. It was to make people truly uncomfortable and to make them not feel accepting of what is happening in their surroundings. When I was growing up, I discovered metal and it interested me, I liked that it was dark and talked about the fact that the world is not all puppy dogs and ice cream cones. But then it just got ridiculous, humourous. I look at black metal bands and they are suppose to be so evil. But it's not real. It's about fiction. About goblins and the gates of hell; pretty much a bad horror movie.

"The music we are writing is influenced by the feelings I get when I hear and see the real evils of this world. Horrible things that make me really question if there is a God or not. This shit is not comfortable, the world is not comfortable, babies are getting raped in your town for God's sake. Young girls are being sold as sex slaves, but most people sitting at their computers downloading music don't want to know. They want to sit on a message board or play fantasy football while their mommy makes them a sandwich.''

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN's new album will be recorded in July/August with producer Steve Evetts (EVERY TIME I DIE, SEPULTURA).

The band's 1998 album "Under the Running Board" was reissued in October via Relapse. The new CD includes the entire Steve Evetts-produced effort as well as 10 bonus tracks.

THE PROJECT HATE — the Swedish band featuring vocalist Jörgen Sandström (VICIOUS ART, KRUX, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE), guitarist Lord K. Philipson (TORTURE DIVISION, ex-GOD AMONG INSECTS, HOUSE OF USHER, LEUKEMIA), bassist Michael Håkansson (ex-ENGEL, EVERGREY), singer Jo Enckell (SIREN ON), guitarist Anders Bertilsson (COLDWORKER) and drummer Thomas Ohlsson (ex-KAMTJATKA, AXENSTAR, SEVEN WISHES, CELLOUT) — has set "The Lustrate Process" as the title of its new album, due on July 6 via Vic Records. The artwork and booklet design was handled by Statik Majik and can be viewed here.

"The Lustrate Process" track listing:

01. Descend Into The Pits Of Eternal Possession
02. You Come To Me Through Hell
03. See The Filth Become Flames In This Furnace
04. Our Wrath Will Rain Down From The Sky
05. The Locust Principles
06. Arise To His World Of Infamy
07. The Burial Of Gods

Guest musicians:

Mike Wead (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND) - solos
Pär Fransson (CARNAL GRIEF) - solos
Martin van Drunen (ASPHYX, ex-PESTILENCE) - vocals
Christian Älvestam (ex-SCAR SYMMETRY) - vocals
L.G. Petrov (ENTOMBED) - vocals
Johan Hegg (AMON AMARTH) - vocals
Robban Eriksson - vocals

"The Lustrate Process" was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound in Örebro, Sweden.

THE PROJECT HATE's last CD, "In Hora Mortis Nostræ", was released in September 2007 via Stormvox Records, the label owned by Swedish actor Peter Stormare.

Swedish metallers ASTRAL DOORS have issued the following update:

"It's about time that we give you all a real update of what's happening in the Astral Kingdom at the moment.

"We've received many mails from worried fans asking us where we are and why it's so quiet from us right now. Well, the answer is: we're working harder than ever before, but not public.

"We have actually moved into the studio; writing and recording songs for the upcoming album. We have written 20 songs or something at the moment and more will come. The creativity has never been at this level before, so we will continue the work a few more months before we go to mixing.

"What more to say? Well, our new management Flying Dolphin, with Mr.Chris Boltendahl [GRAVE DIGGER] in the lead, does a great job for us and we feel that the future looks very, very promising. In August we'll come up with a big surprise for you and then a new album and a great tour all across Europe."

ASTRAL DOORS' latest album, "New Revelation", was released in September 2007 via Locomotive Music. The CD was recorded at Big Turn Studio and at The Darkside in Borlänge, Sweden and was mixed at the Abyss Studios in Sweden by Peter Tägtgren and ASTRAL DOORS.

Dayton, Ohio Christian metalcore band THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA will release its new album, "With Roots Above and Branches Below", on May 5 via Ferret Music.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Sassafrass
02. I Hate Buffering
03. Assistant To The Regional Manager
04. Dez Moines
05. Big Wiggly Style
06. Danger: Wildman
07. Ben Has A Kid
08. Wapakalypse
09. Gimme Half
10. Louder Than Thunder
11. Lord Xenu

The track "Sassafrass" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

NATTEFROST (NATTEFROST, CARPATHIAN FOREST) and FENRIZ' RED PLANET (DARKTHRONE) have signed with Indie Recordings for the release of the split album "Engangsgrill". Together these two legendary musicians team up for a rock and roll experience, that explores the borderline between black metal, stoner and classic rock. The album will be available in both CD and LP formats, and contains three tracks from FENRIZ' RED PLANET and five from NATTEFROST.

"Engangsgrill" (cover) track listing:

Side Nebulah – FENRIZ' RED PLANET

01. My Ship Sailed Without Me
02. Jon Carter, Man On Mars
03. Temple Of The Red Dawn Rising

Side Lustmord - NATTEFROST

04. Nekronaut II
05. Uskyldighet
06. Sin Goddammit
07. Lustmord
08. Humiliated And Pissed Upon

Nattefrost, one of the most recognisable and longest serving figures on the black metal scene, has never shied away from controversy — but at the same time he has never sacrificed quality for mere sensationalism. With "Engangsgrill", he is able to show yet another facet of his musical skills, merging unexpected genres and adding his own, unique stamp.

Fenriz is best known as the drummer and lyricist of the legendary DARKTHRONE, and, together with Nocturno Culto, has been a driving force in the global metal underground for over 20 years. As well as releasing albums with DARKTHRONE, Fenriz has performed solo, and been involved with a number of bands spanning a variety of musical genres over the last years.

Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM will release a new album, titled "Skeletons In The Closet", in September through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to last year's "Blooddrunk" is a selection of cover versions, some of them existing recordings, others specially laid down for this release.

CHILDREN OF BODOM has been recording covers since the early days of its career, some predictably heavy ("Silent Scream" by SLAYER, for example), others reflecting an altogether broader taste ("Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON), so fans will be intrigued to see which of the existing ones get the final nod here, and also which news ones are added to the list.

The following is a list of CHILDREN OF BODOM covers recorded thus far (Note: It is not yet known which of these songs, if any, will make it to the "Skeletons In The Closet" collection):

* "Aces High" by IRON MAIDEN
* "Don't Stop At The Top" by SCORPIONS
* "Hellion" by W.A.S.P.
* "Mass Hypnosis" by SEPULTURA
* "No Commands" by STONE
* "Shot In The Dark" by OZZY OSBOURNE
* "Iron, Steel, Metal" by WIZZARD
* "Rebel Yell" by BILLY IDOL
* "Talk Dirty To Me" by POISON
* "Latomeri" by KLAMYDIA
* "Bed Of Nails" by ALICE COOPER
* "She Is Beautiful" by ANDREW W.K.
* "Silent Scream" by SLAYER
* "Somebody Put Something in My Drink" by the RAMONES
* "Oops!... I Did It Again" by BRITNEY SPEARS

Gary Graff of Billboard.com reports that a new KORN album — the follow-up to 2007's "Untitled" — could be out "within the year" according to bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, while the group is also continuing work on a planned album of covers.

Fieldy tells Billboard.com that he, founding bandmates Jonathan Davis and James "Munky" Shaffer, and drummer Ray Luzier have been "really banging it out" in his basement studio in Laguna Hills, California, coming up with "a bunch of songs" with original KORN producer Ross Robinson. He adds that "there's nothing lyrically put down yet," but Davis may be taking a studio on the road when KORN kicks off its tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona to begin laying down ideas.

Working with Robinson again, Fieldy notes, is "really bringing out, like, old-school KORN. It's heavy riffs and we're trying to strip it down raw and get those heavy groove riffs that make you want to hop around or jump around or just go crazy. We're going towards that."

The official web site of German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN has been updated with the following message:

"No words can describe how happy we were to receive an official invitation to a listening of the first three RAMMSTEIN songs from the upcoming album. Three uncompromising songs and three attacks upon 'common taste and morality.' An album isn't an album until the last line has been sung and the final note has sounded. However, it's no big secret to tell you about our great enthusiasm. Just like many others, we can't wait. All departments of the good ship RAMMSTEIN are running on full steam! There are already more than 150.000 ticket requests for the tour that will start at the end of this year. Stockholm let us nibble and we still have the sweet taste of the ripe fruits in our mouths. Well, we are not worried about our and your welfare anymore..."

RAMMSTEIN recorded the initial tracks for the new album in Los Angeles with Jacob Hellner and the production team of Ulf Kruckenberg and Florian Ammon. A studio was rented near San Francisco for the bulk of the main recording work.

Swiss folk metal pioneers ELUVEITIE will play a very special 20-minute showcase tomorrow (Friday, April 24) for Radio Chablais at the Pont Rouge Club in Monthey, Switzerland. Entry is FREE! The set will include only acoustic songs off the band's new album, "Evocation I - The Arcane Dominion", and will be aired live on Radio Chablais at www.radiochablais.ch.

Here's the schedule for the evening:

20:00: UNDERSCHOOL ELEMENT (acoustic rock)
20:30: ELUVEITIE (acoustic showcase)
21:00: WATER LILY (electro rock)
21:30: PHONIQUES (alternative post rock)

MASTERPLAN, the band led by former HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow, has commented on a news story that was published in the latest issue of the long-running Dutch rock/metal magazine Aardschok which claimed that singer Jorn Lande had rejoined the group.

A post on the official MASTERPLAN web site reads as follows: "In the coming days some official news regarding the new singer will be posted here. The band is very sorry for the long waiting but things could not be done differently... thanks for your patience!

"Concerning the message from Aardshok magazine, it doesn't come from the band and we have to mention that it is not true that Jorn left the band because of [now-former MASTERPLAN drummer] Uli [Kusch]."

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI will release their sixth album, "Karkelo" (English translation: "Pleasure" or "Party"), on June 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Petrax studio in Hollola, Finland.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Vodka
02. Erämaan Ärjyt
03. Isku Pitkästä Ilosta
04. Mettänpeiton Valtiaalle
05. Juodaan Viinaa
06. Uniaika
07. Kultanainen
08. Bring Us Pints Of Beer
09. Huppiaan Aarre
10. Könnin Kuokkamies (bonus track; digipack)
11. Vesaisen Sota
12. Sulasilmä
13. Kohmelo

Nergal (BEHEMOTH), Karl Sanders (NILE) and Obsidian C (KEEP OF KALESSIN) will make guest appearances on "Romulus", the debut album from EX DEO, the new band led by KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono. Nergal will appear in the song "Storm The Gates Of Alesia", singing a very famous Caesar quote; Sanders laid down a ripping solo in the song "The Final War (The Battle Of Actium)" which deals with Antony and Cleopatra's defiance of Octivian in Egypt, and Obsidian C will lend a majestic and melodic solo to the track "Cruor Nostri Abbas".

Commented Maurizio: "It's an honor for me that such talented musicians and friends lended their art for a couple songs on this album. I only asked a few selected people that had involvement with history through their music and related to this band's concept , so I salute them for contributing to Rome's rise and they shall be amply rewarded for it."

EX DEO will make its live debut this September/October on the special edition of Europe's biggest pagan/folk metal tour, Paganfest. Co-headlining throughout will be Finland's KORPIKLAANI and Germany's DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER. Additional support will come from Sweden's UNLEASHED, United Kingdom's ALESTORM and Canada's BLACKGUARD. Special appearances will be made by Finland's MOONSORROW and Norway's EINHERJER on select dates.

"Romulus" is scheduled for release on June 19 (Europe) and June 30 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded with producer (and KATAKLYSM guitarist) Jean-Francois Dagenais (MISERY INDEX, DESPISED ICON, MALEVOLENT CREATION).

"Romulus" track listing:

01. Romulus
02. Storm the Gates of Alesia
03. Cry Havoc
04. In Her Dark Embrace
05. Invictus
06. The Final War (Battle of Actium)
07. Legio XIII
08. Blood, Courage and The God's That Walk The Earth
09. Cruor Nostri Abbas
10. Surrender The Sun
11. The Pantheon (Jupiter's Reign)

A video for the CD's title track was filmed last month with renowned director Stanimir "Staca" Lukic (MOONSPELL, KAMELOT, DEATHSTARS, TYPE O NEGATIVE) in Belgrade, Serbia. Maurizio says, "The setup was extremely pro. Stanimir and Ivan did such an amazing job and paid attention to every single detail. To recreate Rome and the story of Romulus and Remus was a big challenge, but I think we nailed it and the ideas behind it are incredible. Expect an epic feel, like the movie '300' for the texture... A big thank you to all the film crew and the actors!"

According ot BANG Media International, IRON MAIDEN will start work on its next album this year. The group hopes to have a new album out and be back on tour in 2010.

Guitarist Adrian Smith told BANG showbiz: "At the end of the year we'll be writing again, rehearsing and recording at the beginning of next year. Then we'll be back out on the road again next year. Kevin Shirley [producer] will be working on it with us and we'll probably be doing it somewhere where we've done a lot for recording in the past."

The next IRON MAIDEN album will be the band's fifteenth studio record, and they face a challenge to follow up their last effort, 2006s "A Matter of Life and Death" which was received well critically and saw the band tour playing the whole album.

Speaking at the premiere of the band's documentary film "Iron Maiden: Flight666", Adrian added: "There's always a bit of pressure to follow up the last album, in a way it's good because it motivates you.

"We never get complacent; we always try our best for our own sake as much as anything else. As far as pressure for another album, we just do what we do - we've been doing it long enough now, we know what we're doing [laughs]"