Spain's The Metal Circus recently conducted an interview with legendary vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) about the new SUNSTORM album, "House Of Dreams", his upcoming concerts in Spain with BIG NOIZE, the Russian connection and the fact that Ritchie Blackmore won't ever reform RAINBOW. When asked if he has ever used pre-recorded tapes for backing and/or lead vocals, Joe replied, "To be honest with you, I have one machine that helps sing the backgrounds — it's from DigiTech, and it's a great technology — but it's not samples, it's live; you have to sing into the microphone and then this machine will take your voice, whatever you put into this machine is exactly what you get. So if you sing like shit, it's gonna sound like shit. So there's no wizardry, there's no tapes. Because recently I heard on the Internet that David Coverdale was using all kinds of tapes. Well, I was in Finland [in June 2008] with Graham Bonnet and we were on the same festival [Sauna Open Air; see video below] as WHITESNAKE, and I couldn't believe he was using these tapes — for lead singing! Not just backgrounds, but lead! And I was... My mouth was open. I was like, 'What the fuck, David?! You can't do this. You look so stupid, so foolish.' And everyone is complaining about this. No, I'm singing live. This is what you get; that's it. . . I'm not trying to talk shit... This is true. Everybody sees this. . . I couldn't believe it, because he [David] was always one of my favorite singers. To use tapes for a lead vocal... I can understand backgrounds if the [rest of the bandmembers] don't sing. But for lead?! You've gotta be kidding!"

Mainman Peter Kubik of reunited Austrian black metallers ABIGOR has issued the following update:

"Before we unleash the split project with BLACKLODGE, which took larger and more monumental forms than we first conceived (and, how could it be possible NOT to expand and delay something true to its infinitely flowing, fluctuating and interlocking concept of 'Time vs:sv nataS'), the next in a line of forthcoming releases will be an ultimate link between ABIGOR's past, present and future.

"16 years since we first joined forces under the banner of ABIGOR, 10 years since its original release on Napalm Records, two years since Peter Kubik and T.T. [Thomas Tannenberger] reunited and A.R. [Arthur Rosar] and End All Life reinforced this unit to execute the devil's work (as well as to our own self-realization, illumination, plenary indulgence and the lashing of our minds), we bring forth a new version of an album written in 1998 and first recorded in early winter 1999, 'Channelling The Quintessence Of Satan'.

"The original recording was a landmark in ABIGOR's history. On one hand, it represented the perfection of the imperfect method how we prepared, accomplished and engineered our visions in the '90s. On the other hand, it also marked the end of the second ABIGOR trinity, with both Silenius (during the recordings) and T.T. (after the recordings) quit the service. 'Channelling The Quintessence Of Satan' should have been the ultimate peak in the string of our releases in the past century, yet due to reasons inherent in the original version as well as external ones, this album never glared in its full glory.

"This is about to change.

"On the foundation of the original drum and guitar tracks recorded on the first two days of the session at Hörnix studio in '99, seven hymns have been revised, reshaped and reworked. Above all, new arrangements, new edits, new bass, new vocals and a new sound constitute an exception to the ordinary 'remastered re-releases' or common re-recordings of old songs. This is a marriage of ABIGOR's past with our current vision of uncompromising black metal — ten years old Hörnix material interwoven with new recordings made at Hell-lab. In its new form, this album — even more than the '93 demos or the '97 opus 'Apokalypse' — underlines ABIGOR's thrust in a distinct 'style' that manifested in a post-millennial wave of so-called underground black metal.

"Set for a release in June or latest July, it is the first in a new line of upcoming works (the split CD and DLP with BLACKLODGE in late summer, the 7" demo box in fall and the true successor of 'Fractal Possession', a new full-length album in late 2009) to honour the shining spirit who has many names, to feel the aspiration of his omnipresence, to unlock the secret inherent in the reversal creation, to administer a sacrifice to the horns that lurk beyond the stars."

ABIGOR's latest album, "Fractal Possesion", was released in May 2007.

Norwegian doom metallers SYRACH have set "A Dark Burial" as the title of their sophomore album, tentatively due this summer. The CD was produced by Bjørnar Nilsen and features artwork (see here) by Martin Kvamme, who has previously worked with FANTOMAS, Mike Patton, DARKTHRONE and lots of other artists. "We really think [the cover art] fits the music and album title," the band says in a statement.

"A Dark Burial" track listing:

01. Curse The Souls
02. The River's Rage
03. A Dark Burial
04. A Mourners Kiss
05. In Darkness I Sigh
06. Ouroboros

SYRACH is kicking off a four-date European tour tonight (Thursday, April 16) in Leipzig, Germany.

SYRACH recently announced the addition of session guitarist Gjeddo (a.k.a. Gjermund; ENCHANTING DARKNESS) to the group's ranks.

Guitarist Reichborn (a.k.a. Noralf Venås) left SYRACH in February "due to lack of motivation."

SYRACH's debut album, "Days of Wrath", was produced by Herbrand Larsen from ENSLAVED and was released on November 2, 2007 in Europe and November 6, 2007 in North America via Napalm Records. The CD cover artwork is the painting "Christs" from MY DYING BRIDE vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe.

Check out audio samples on the band's MySpace page.

SYRACH was formed in 1993 in Kalandseidet, near Bergen, Norway — a region known to have spawned bands like IMMORTAL and BURZUM, to name a few.

"Diamonds Aren't Forever", the new video from U.K. metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON, can be viewed here. (Note: Video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.) The clip captures the manic lifestyle of the band's U.S. touring lifestyle, both on and off stage, with killer live footage of both band and stagediving crowd and backstage partying.

BRING ME THE HORIZON and guitarist Curtis Ward recently made the decision to part ways based on personal differences, but remain firm friends as they have done since the group's inception in Sheffield in 2004.

BRING ME THE HORIZON's label and management wish to emphasize that all live dates, festivals and tours will be played, with a stand-in guitarist — the band's guitar technician, and integral part of the touring party, Dean Rowbotham.

Legendary New York death metallers SUFFOCATION will release their new album, "Blood Oath", in Germany on Friday, July 3 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is expected to arrive in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 7.

SUFFOCATION entered the studio on January 31 with Joe Cincotta (who worked on the band's last two releases) to begin recording "Blood Oath". The follow-up to 2006's self-titled record was mixed by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH) and cover artwork (see here) was once again brought to life by Jon Zig (DEEDS OF FLESH, DISGORGE, GORGASM).

"Blood Oath" track listing:

01. Blood Oath
02. Dismal Dream
03. Pray For Forgiveness
04. Images Of Purgatory
05. Cataclysmic Purification
06. Mental Hemorrhage
07. Come Hell Or High Priest
08. Undeserving
09. Provoking The Disturbed
10. Marital Decimation

German power metallers RUNNING WILD will play their farewell show at this year's Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany. The band's July 30 "best-of" performance will be filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD and CD.

Commented RUNNING WILD mainman Rolf "Rock'n'Rolf" Kasparek: "To all true Running Wild fans:

Now after 30 years of RUNNING WILD I feel it's time to lower the flag and to take down the sails to face new challenges.

That's why we want to celebrate the 30 years' history of the band for a last time at this year's Wacken Open Air on the occasion of its 20th anniversary with a two-hour headlining Best-Of show on Thursday, July 30th with a lot of surprises to bring it to a dignified end.

It's also planned to record a Live-DVD and -CD of that show to make it complete.

Now I can look down with calmness on the last 30 years and I feel proud of what I have reached. At the same time, nothing of that would have been possible without your support during the last decades. That's why I wanna say thanks for all the wonderful moments of that career and I wish you all the best for the future!

Yours
Rock'n'Rolf"

The cover artwork for MARILYN MANSON's forthcoming album, "The High End Of Low", can be viewed here.

The official track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Devour
02. Pretty As A Swastika
03. Leave A Scar
04. Four Rusted Horses
05. Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon
06. Blank And White
07. Running To The Edge Of The World
08. I Want To Kill You Like They Do In The Movies
09. WOW
10. Wight Spider
11. Unkillable Monster
12. We're From America
13. I Have To Look Up Just To See Hell
14. Into The Fire
15. 15

Marilyn Manson's anticipated reunion with longtime friend and foil Twiggy Ramirez inches closer with the release of "We're From America", the first listen from "The High End Of Low". Available as a digital single, it previews Manson's forthcoming seventh studio album landing May 26.

The album's official first single, "Arma... geddon", arrived at radio April 13.

Produced by Manson, Vrenna and Twiggy, "The High End Of Low" was recorded in Manson's Hollywood Hills studio and also features the track "I Want to Kill You Like They Do In The Movies". Manson says of the new album, "I think my life definitely ended and began. The record sounds very final, but it's almost optimistic — though that feels like a strange word to use. It's a phoenix from the fire and a redemption resurrection."

In a recent interview with U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine, Marilyn Manson stated about "The High End Of Low", "This is not a record that we would leave black and self-titled and mature. This is the experienced record. This album is the 12th-grade guy that has VD and did cocaine in high school, who has been arrested once and the 9th-grade girl wants to fuck him.

"The songs on this record are quite autobiographical, but they're also very much their own stories in the same sense as some of my earlier work on 'Antichrist Superstar'. The songs are in the order in which they were written and sung. It was a story that took place and I didn't really know what it was going to be 'till it happened. I had to find out how it was going to end in order to end the record. This album left many scars, and I think they are good ones."

"I wrote all the lyrics on the wall of my room. It wasn't to be decorative; it was one of those things, like it's the last thing someone sees before they put them somewhere else. I think it looks good. And if anyone wants to come into this room and fornicate with me, I think they are a keeper… and when I say keeper, I mean kidnapping. I am probably going to do most of the press for the record from my house, before I leave or destroy it, because you can see the story and what the record as made from within the house."

"During the whole process I took a lot of photos, so the artwork is a lot of storytelling and the way that the songs have turned out is more from my point of view rather than looking at me. Because I always wanted to take pictures, my house is set up like a movie set. Instead of lamps I have movie lights and smoke machines and things."

"I really look at this record as a film, maybe because I sort of directed it. I stopped trying to conform regular life into the idea that it's regular life. Why isn't it all just a movie? If people are watching, they're watching me being an asshole or being boring or creating something amazing. That's just a part of the movie. It allowed me to be more creative."

"'15' is track 15 on the album. It's the most important song I think that's been written by MARILYN MANSON as an entity. It's the most unusual song I have ever heard. I thought that the album was done, as there is a glorious epic track [before that] that I think will make Twiggy forever recognized as a guitar hero. That felt like the end of the record, but what was happening in my life had not resolved itself. So on January 5, one five, I sang '15' and the lyrics will tell the story of that day…"

Manson's new lineup, including Ramirez (for the first time in close to a decade), plus keyboardist Chris Vrenna, and drummer Ginger Fish, will close the main stage at the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, this July through August. Manson will also kick off his world tour with a headline festival run this June in Europe.

Polish death metallers VADER have set the tentative track listing for their new album, "Necropolis", tentatively due in late August via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD is being recorded at Hertz studios in Bialystok, Poland with the Wieslawski Bros.. Tue Madsen, who previously worked with such bands as MOONSPELL, CATARACT, HEAVEN SHALL BURN and many more, will mix the CD at his Antfarm Studios in Denmark.

Commented guitarist/vocalist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek: "The next step in creating of new album is behind us... 'Necropolis' has its shape now. Today we finish recordings of main guitars and after a week break we coming back to the studio to make all leads, bass and vocal parts."

"Necropolis" track listing:

01. Devilized
02. Rise Of The Undead (demo stream)
03. Never Say My Name
04. Dark Heart
05. Blast
06. Impure (demo stream)
07. We Are Horde
08. Anger
09. When The Sun Drowns In Dark
10. The Sigil
11. Dei Nostri
12. Summoning The Futura

The band also recorded two cover songs during the sessions.

Audio samples of all the tracks that are set to appear on "The Clouds of Northland Thunder", the second album from Finnish female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN, are available for streaming here.

"The Clouds of Northland Thunder" is scheduled for release in Japan on May 13 and in the U.K. on April 22. The rest of Europe will receive the CD sometime in June.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. He Sleeps in a Grove (3:20)
02. Incubus (5:03)
03. Kokko - Eagle of Fire (3.17)
04. Willow of Tears (4:10)
05. Shallow Waters (3:38)
06. Lost Soul (3:43)
07. Sons of Seven Stars (3.43)
08. Saga (4:06)
09. Snowmaiden (3:45)
10. Lionheart (3:43)
11. Morning Star (4:36)
12. Birth of the Harp (4:06)

TRANSATLANTIC, the progressive rock "supergroup" comprised of Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER), Pete Trewavas (MARILLION), Roine Stolt (THE FLOWER KINGS) and Neal Morse (ex-SPOCK'S BEARD), has reunited after a seven-year hiatus to record a brand new studio album.

The band began work on the CD in early April in Nashville and is expected to have it released by year's end.

TRANSATLANTIC previously released two studio albums to tremendous critical and fan acclaim: 2000's "SMPTe" and 2001's "Bridge Across Forever". The band toured on the heels of each release with an American tour in 2000 and a European tour in 2001 and released subsequent live DVDs/CDs from both tours before going their separate ways for an indefinite hiatus which lasted almost the entire decade.

Versailles Records has announced plans to release "Rock & Roll Train: A Millennium Tribute to AC/DC" in the fall. The record will feature contributions from current/former members of the ALICE COOPER band, GUNS N' ROSES, DANGEROUS TOYS, LILLIAN AXE, CIRCLE JERKS, FUEL, STEELHEART, HEART, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, WARRANT, L.A. GUNS, WHITE LION, MC5, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, MOUNTAIN and others to be announced shortly. The package will also include a bonus CD sampler featuring millennium rock/metal bands influenced by AC/DC performing an original song.

Bands who are interested in appearing in this bonus CD should e-mail acdctribute09@yahoo.com with a MySpace or related web link.

Finnish psychedelic/experimental black metallers ORANSSI PAZUZU will release their debut album, "Muukalainen puhuu", on April 22 via Violent Journey Records. The CD includes "eight pieces of dark and atmospheric black metal that trips through space and genre borders," according to a press release. "ORANSSI PAZUZU's music has a taste of Norwegian black metal and Finnish kraut-psychedelia. The sound is highly visual and atmospheric, embracing the dark corners of space and mind."

"Muukalainen puhuu" track listing:

01. Korppi
02. Danjon nolla
03. Kangastus 1968
04. Suuri pää taivaasta
05. Myöhempien aikojen pyhien teatterin rukoilijasirkka
06. Dub kuolleen porton muistolle
07. Muukalainen puhuu
08. Kerettiläinen vuohi

The entire CD is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

ORANSSI PAZUZU has existed since 2007 and it features five members:

Jun-His: Vocals, Guitar
Korjak: Drums
Moit: Guitar
EvilL: Keyboards, Percussion
Ontto: Bass

Long-running Israeli extreme metallers SALEM have posted a four-minute video clip (see here) containing footage collected over the past couple of months in preparation for the recording of the band's new album, "Playing God And Other Short Stories". The clip includes a taste of a cover song (drums only), some warm-up routines and footage of drummer Nir Nakav's studio.

SALEM's new CD will contain a song called "Heartbeat" which was previously described by the band as "a 13-minute long percussive ordeal."

The group's last album, "Necessary Evil", came out in June 2007 via Season of Mist. The follow-up to 2005's "Strings Attached" included a 27-minute piece entitled "Once Upon a Lifetime Parts I - V".

Drummer Antony "Antton" Lant has announced his departure from the pioneering British black metal band VENOM. "I have left for various reasons and would like to concentrate on my own band called DEF-CON-ONE," Antton — who is the brother of VENOM frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant — tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET.

"Hell", the latest album from VENOM, was released in North America in September 2008 via Universal Music Enterprises.

"Hypocracy", the latest video from DEF-CON-ONE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's recently released 10-track CD "Blood Soaks The Floor", which is available from the band's MySpace page.

In an interview with Metal Storm Magazine, Antton stated about "Blood Soaks The Floor", "We recorded it all ourselves. We bought a digital recorder so we could put some demos together and we were more than surprised with what came out. Johnny [guitar] does most of the engineering side of things. And we basically recorded all the kit and vocals in our rehearsal room, we just went in and played through the tracks. The guitars and bass were all done at Johnny's using Line 6 guitar ports."

On the subject of the "Hypocracy" song, Antton said, "We kinda came across this track by accident. Me and Johnny were just jamming and we were all a bit like, 'Quick, record that before we forget it.' It's a downer when you come up with something cool and by time you get to put it down, it's not quite the same, so it's a mad panic to get a couple of mics plugged in to grab the essence of the track. Then Steve [bass] started throwing ideas in and the way the vocals are brutal as fuck. The track came together really quickly."

DEF-CON-ONE is currently unsigned and is seeking management.

Video footage of singer Anette Olzon's pre-NIGHTWISH band, the Swedish AOR act ALYSON AVENUE, performing the song All This Time" on May 29, 2005 at KB in Malmö, Sweden can be viewed here. The clip in question features Olzon (then known by her married name Anette Blyckert; she has since divorced) alongside Niclas Olsson (keyboards and songwriting), Thomas Löyskä (bass), Tony Rohtla (guitar) and Fredrik Eriksson (drums).

Two other ALYSON AVENUE songs featuring Olzon are currently available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. Check out the tracks "Free like the Wind" and "I Am (Your Pleasuremaker)" at this location.

Olzon made her recording debut with NIGHTWISH on the band's sixth album, "Dark Passion Play", which came out in September 2007.

Norway's TRAIL OF TEARS has posted another new song, "Once Kissed by the Serpent (Twice Bitten by Truth)", on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's sixth album, "Bloodstained Endurance", which will be released this spring via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded and mixed over a six-week period at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes. Mastering duties were handled by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Finland.

"Bloodstained Endurance" release dates:

May 27 - Finland, Spain
May 29 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, France, Italy, Sweden
Jun. 01 - Rest of Europe
Jun. 02 - USA, Canada

The cover artwork for the album, which was designed by acclaimed artist Travis Smith (AMORPHIS, OPETH, NEVERMORE)., can be viewed below.

Commented TRAIL OF TEARS: "The band, as well as producer Terje Refsnes, have worked our asses off for the past few months and while sitting here listening to the end result we can't help but feel that we have outdone ourselves and managed to create something quite special."

"Bloodstained Endurance" track listing:

01. The Feverish Alliance
02. Once Kissed By The Serpent (Twice Bitten By Truth)
03. Bloodstained Endurance
04. Triumphant Gleam
05. In The Valley Of Ashes
06. A Storm At Will
07. Take Aim.Reclaim.Prevail
08. The Desperation Corridors
09. Farewell To Sanity
10. Dead End Gaze
11. Faith Comes Knocking

A limited-edition version of the album will include an additional song "as well as some other stuff," according to the band.

TRAIL OF TEARS' fifth album, "Existentia", was issued in January 2007 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Soundsuite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes and includes contributions from French female singer Emmanuelle Zoldan and Norwegian keyboard master Bernt Moen.

In 2007, TRAIL OF TEARS was rejoined by vocalist Cathrine Paulsen, who sang on the group's 2002 album, "A New Dimension of Might".

Legendary U.S. doom metal band SAINT VITUS played a sold-out show at One Eyed Jacks in New Orleans this past Saturday night (April 11). They were joined on stage by DOWN's Pepper Keenan, Jimmy Bower and Philip Anselmo for the chorus to "Saint Vitus" and Anselmo returned to sing the chorus to "Dying Inside". Also on the bill were A HANGING and HAWG JAW.

Fan-filmed video footage of the entire concert can be viewed at this location (courtesy of Tyronehood).

SAINT VITUS' setlist was as follows:

01. The War Starter
02. Living Backwards
03. I Bleed Black
04. Look Behind You
05. The Lost Feeling
06. Clear Windowpane
07. The Troll (guitar solo & drum solo)
08. Mystic Lady (extended)

First Encore:

09. Saint Vitus
10. Dying Inside

Second Encore:

11. Born Too Late

Check out photos at this location.

Frontiers Records has set a June 5 European release date for the new studio album from NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) legends PRAYING MANTIS, entitled "Sanctuary" (July 14 in the U.S.). The CD was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia under the direction of producer/engineer Andy Reilly (ASIA, THE CULT, BRUCE DICKINSON, FM, etc). "Hard to believe but MANTIS have been in existence for over thirty years," says bassist Chris Troy. "Quite incredible, really, that we are still there releasing albums and maturing nicely. This also coincides with the 30th anniversary since the inception of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal). IRON MAIDEN have obviously made it and just as importantly have managed to stay up there for this long time. Well done, lads! By the way, the album title 'Sanctuary' has no relationship to them!! However, we do share some history and maybe this album will put us up there with them."

He continued, "I know its probably a cliché statement used by so many bands, but I do honestly believe it is by far the best thing we have ever done. The lyrics on most songs are quite deep and in some ways dark but I think these suit the music which is intrinsically based on minor chord structures (the saddest chords !). There are some real epics and duelling guitar harmonies in the standard MANTIS style and all the fans who have heard it so far have been giving us some great feedback."

"Sanctuary" track listing:

01. In Time
02. Restless Heart
03. Tears In The Rain
04. So High
05. Lonely Way Home
06. Touch The Rainbow
07. Threshold of a Dream
08. Playing God
09. Highway
10. Sanctuary

Check out audio samples at this location.

"Wake Up And Smell The Carcass", the extensive compilation CD featuring rare and unreleased tracks from seminal British grindcore/death metal legends CARCASS, has been reissued in Europe along with the "Wake Up And Smell The Carcass" DVD in one killer package.

The reissue is the latest addition to the Earache Classic Series, which
recognizes some of the most important, influential and groundbreaking albums to be released by Earache, with each reissued album including a bonus DVD full of extra content.

The "Wake Up And Smell The Carcass" CD contains 17 rarities from different eras of CARCASS' career, including five killer extras from the "Swansong" period, Radio One session tracks and rare EP cuts. The accompanying DVD features two complete live shows — one filmed in London, U.K. on the 1992 on the Gods Of Grind Tour and one filmed in Nottingham, UK on the 1989 Grindcrusher Tour. The DVD also includes five music videos from the band.

Massachusetts' finest hard rock purveyors KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will release their eagerly anticipated fourth album, entitled simply "Killswitch Engage" (cover), on June 30 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was produced by Brendan O'Brien (AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and co-produced by guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Reckoning", "The Forgotten", "Light in a Darkened World" and "Starting Over".

Commented vocalist Howard Jones: "It was time for us to step outside of our comfort zone and try something a little different with this record. It definitely still sounds like us, but we needed to be refreshed and take things a little further."

Regarding the fact that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's new album is the second self-titled effort of the band's career, Jones said, "When we all couldn’t agree on an album title, someone suggested we just keep it self-titled and we all pretty much agreed…gives it the feeling of a fresh new beginning."

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE has been playing a new song, the tentatively titled "Light in a Darkened World" (see fan-filmed video footage below), during its set on the Music As A Weapon Tour, where teh band is serving as main support to DISTURBED. The group also performed the song at the first annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which was held on Tuesday, April 7 in Los Angeles. The song, sandwiched between "My Curse" and the band's uniquely KILLSWITCH'ed cover of DIO's classic anthem "Holy Diver", generated plenty of excitement among the crowd and set the tone for the show. The awards and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's performance will be broadcast on MTV2 on May 2.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE will spend the summer touring as a main-stage attraction on the second annual Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Jones stated, "We are excited and thrilled to share the stage this summer with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLAYER and MARILYN MANSON. We hope to entertain and enjoy our time interacting with both old friends and new friends daily. Prepare yourself for laughs, riffs and the unexpected. We will do all we can to make you move, yell and ponder who made the mistake of letting us onstage. You have been warned. Oh, and watch new episodes of 'The Office'."

Faroese Viking metallers TÝR have posted another new song, "Northern Gate", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's new album, "By the Light of the Northern Star", which is scheduled for release on May 29 in Europe via Napalm Records. A stream of the song "Hold the Heathen Hammer High", along with the CD artwork, is available below.

"By the Light of the Northern Star" was recorded in early 2009 on the band's native soil. Jacob Hansen mixed the new material and finishing touches were provided by the mastering experts at Finnvox.

On "By the Light of the Northern Star" the Faroese band delivers catchy yet technically brilliant tracks, and once again demonstrates how to impressively unite the contemporary present with the mythological past. Traditional homeland melodies, Viking choruses, and classic heavy metal songs, such as "Hold the Heathen Hammer High" or even the title track, offer fans new and powerful hymns. Responsible for the brilliance of this "Northern Star" is once again frontman and mastermind Heri Joensen, who provides an undisputed goosebump factor with his clean and majestic vocals.

"By the Light of the Northern Star" will be available as regular jewel case and a limited-edition deluxe digipack including two bonus tracks.

"By the Light of the Northern Star" track listing:

01. Hold the Heathen Hammer High
02. Tróndur í Gøtu
03. Into the Storm
04. Northern Gate
05. Turið Torkilsdóttir
06. By the Sword in My Hand
07. Ride
08. Hear the Heathen Call
09. By the Light of the Northern Star

TÝR is:

Heri Joensen - Vocals, Guitar
Terji Skibenæs - Guitar
Gunnar H. Thomsen - Bass
Kári Streymoy - Drums

The songwriting credits have been revealed for "Polaris", the new studio album from Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS. The CD — the group's first since the departure of guitar player and main composer Timo Tolkki — will be made available in Europe on May 21 via the band's new label partner Edel under the new imprint earMUSIC outside of Asia and the band's longtime record company in Asia, JVC.

"Polaris" track listing:

01. Deep Unknown (Matias Kupiainen/Timo Kotipelto)
02. Falling Star (Lauri Porra/Lauri Porra)
03. King of Nothing (Jens Johansson/Jens Johansson)
04. Blind (Jens Johansson/Jens Johansson)
05. Winter Skies (Jens Johansson/Jens Johansson)
06. Forever is Today (Lauri Porra/Lauri Porra)
07. Higher We Go (Timo Kotipelto, Matias Kupiainen/Timo Kotipelto)
07. Somehow Precious (Timo Kotipelto, Matias Kupiainen/Timo Kotipelto)
09. Emancipation Suite Part I: Dusk (Lauri Porra/Lauri Porra)
10. Emancipation Suite Part II: Dawn (Lauri Porra/Lauri Porra)
11. When Mountains Fall (Lauri Porra/Lauri Porra)
12. Second Sight (Matias Kupiainen/Timo Kotipelto)

Armoury Records (a division of Eagle Rock Entertainment) has set a May 26 U.S. release date for "Polaris".

The cover artwork for "Polaris" was created by Gyula Havancsák and can be viewed here.

Commented keyboardist Jens Johansson: "We are very happy to have found strong label partners for the new era of STRATOVARIUS who truly believe in the band and are as enthusiastic as we are. I can't wait to hit the road again and meet all fans who supported us through all our good and bad times."

In September 2008, freed from many burdens of negativity, the band found the freedom to go into seclusion for almost a month in a cottage by the sea in a Finnish forest to relax, laugh, write songs, be creative together, and record. And they found themselves being a band reborn. The result is a melodic, powerful, fresh, tight, and technically elaborate new album.

"Polaris" was recorded in the fall 2008 at Hästholmen and 5by5 studios in Helsinki, Finland. Mixed by the longtime confidant of the band Mikko Karmila the album became another shining polar star at the Northern sky. Powerful melodies mingle with sophisticated arrangements, strong anthems stand alongside heavy songs. 11 songs full of energy, musicianship, and a positive outlook.

Vocalist Timo Kotipelto explains: "'Polaris' is a positive, powerful album that STRATOVARIUS fans all over the world are certain to take to their hearts."

The band will support the release of their new studio album with live shows around the globe. The world tour will start in the U.K., followed by a number of dates in continental Europe. September will see STRATOVARIUS playing live shows in Asia, followed by a full North and South American tour in September/October. A European headlining tour is scheduled for January 2010.

STRATOVARIUS' latest addition is 25-year-old Finnish guitar phenomenon Matias Kupiainen. Drummer Jörg Michael said, "In Matias we found new character who fits perfectly with his way of melodic guitar shredding. He is a killer player, a 'wunderkind' from Finland!"

STRATOVARIUS 2009 is:

Timo Kotipelto - Vocals
Matias Kupiainen - Guitars
Lauri Porra - Bass
Jörg Michael - Drums
Jens Johansson - Keyboards

STRATOVARIUS has posted a five-minute clip (see below) featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the band's recent video shoot for the song "Deep Unknown".

LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT — the instrumental progressive rock/metal project featuring DREAM THEATER members Mike Portnoy (drums), John Petrucci (guitar) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards) alongside progressive rock icon Tony Levin (bass) of KING CRIMSON and PETER GABRIEL fame — will release a box set as the ultimate souvenir of the band's 10th anniversary reunion tour. Included in this deluxe package is both the New York City and Los Angeles shows in their entirety (on both CD and DVD), as well as the LIQUID TRIO EXPERIMENT 2 CD and two items that are exclusive to this set and will not be available separately: "Live In L.A." on Blu-ray disc and a bonus CD of all of the improv jams from the other LTE 2008 shows.

The box set (cover) includes:

* LTE Live In NYC (2 CD)
* LTE Live In NYC (1 DVD)
* LTE Live In LA (2 CD)
* LTE Live In LA (1 DVD)
* LTE Live In LA (1 Blu-ray)
* LTE Bonus Disc (1 CD)
* Liquid Trio Experiment 2 - When the Keyboard Breaks: Live In Chicago (1 CD)
* 24-Page Booklet

"Live In NYC"

01. Acid Rain (9:25)
02. Kindred Spirits (8:00)
03. Biaxident (7:39)
04. Freedom of Speech (9:00)
05. Improv Jam #1 (8:10)
06. Another Dimension (10:51)
07. State of Grace (6:20)
08. Universal Mind (9:36)
--------------------
09. When the Water Breaks (16:49)
10. Improv Jam #2 (11:31)
11. Rhapsody in Blue (13:49)
12. Osmosis (3:43)
13. Paradigm Shift (9:31)

"Live In L.A."

01. Acid Rain (10:43)
02. Kindred Spirits (7:53)
03. Biaxident (7:34)
04. Freedom of Speech (8:54)
05. Improv Jam #1 (8:21)
06. Another Dimension (10:31)
07. State of Grace (6:00)
08. Universal Mind part 1 (3:36)
09. Keyboard Solo (5:19)
10. Universal Mind part 2 (3:46)
--
11. When the Water Breaks (17:52)
12. Improv Jam #2 (13:03)
13. Rhapsody in Blue (13:34)
14. Osmosis (5:52)
15. Paradigm Shift (9:17)

"When The Keyboard Breaks: Live In Chicago"

01. Universal Mind (When the Keyboard Broke) (2:21)
02. The Chicago Blue & Noodle Factory (7:03)
03. Fade Away or Keep Going? (5:03)
04. The Haunted Keyboard (9:34)
05. Close Encounters of the Liquid Kind (15:13)
06. Ten Minute Warning (5:55)
07. That 'Ol Broken Down Keyboard Blues (6:34)
08. Liquid Anthrax (4:55)
09. That's All Folks! (2:12)

LTE Bonus Disc

01. NYC (Early Show) Improv Jam #1 (6:54)
02. NYC (Early Show) Improv Jam #2 (7:41)
03. NEARfest Improv Jam #1 (3:42)
04. NEARfest Improv Jam #2 (5:43)
05. Chicago Improv Jam #1 (7:58)
06. San Francisco Improv Jam #1 (10:41)
07. San Francisco Improv Jam #2 (13:17)

To order the box set, go to this location.

Netherlands-based gothic/progressive metal band STREAM OF PASSION, which is fronted by Mexican female vocalist Marcela Bovio (AYREON), has parted ways with drummer Davy Mickers. The group says, "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."

STREAM OF PASSION will release its sophomore album, "The Flame Within", 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 parted ways with founding members Arjen Lucassen (guitar), Lori Linstruth (guitar) and Alejandro Millán (piano), back in March 2007.

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.

Bassist Victor Brandt has left the Norwegian black metal band SATYRICON.

In addition to touring with SATYRICON for the past few years, Brandt has appeared on the band's "My Skin Is Cold" and "The Age Of Nero" recordings and is featured in the video for the song "Black Crow On A Tombstone" (see clip below).

Brandt is continuing to record and perform with TOTALT JÄVLA MÖRKER, which will release a new full-length album, "Söndra & Härska", this summer via Regain Records.

Bands who are looking for a new guitarist or bass player can contact
Victor Brandt through his MySpace page.

Sweden's Loudfarmer web site conducted an interview with drummer Kjetil-Vidar "Frost" Haraldstad of Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON prior to the band's April 13, 2009 concert in Gothenburg.

Regarding the group's split with bassist Victor Brandt, Frost said, "We had to [part ways with him]. Being in a live band means that you have to be a team player in addition to being an individual artist, and if you cannot really manage that talent and if you can't understand what it takes of you, then it's simply not possible to go on. You will, sooner or later, get into insolvable problems regarding atttude and how the band works together and eventually it will start to have a destructive impact on the music and the performance. You can only go so far with a very deconstructive air in the band, and we felt that we were getting there. If he comes to us and says, 'I don't really feel motivated to give my best now,' and 'I don't like the vibe in the band,' it's better that we just part ways, I think. And that's what he came to us and said. He was really at a point where he was telling us out straight that he couldn't really give us what we want. And, I mean, we're SATYRICON, and we cannot have an attitude like that, and I think that he cannot live with that either. So we have had a good co-operation; his style has been very suitable for SATYRICON. But sometimes when you work with musicians in a live band, you'll come to a point where the co-operation doesn't really work out anymore. And then you just have to end the co-operation and part ways, and that's what we did. Nothing very dramatic. We hoped to have a more stable lineup that would last for awhile, but we will move on and so will he."

SATYRICON's current session bassist is Anders Odden, whose experience includes stints with such bands as APOPTYGMA BERZERK and CADAVER, as well as touring with CELTIC FROST.

Commented Frost: "[Anders is] a very skilled musician. He has a very profound musical understanding and a very solid platform. He has, anyway, been working with a band — he's actually teching for a band after having done this tour with us. It's a temporary solution, but we have been rehearsing with him and it sounds very, very good; it's tight and he goes into this with everything he's got and the band has never sounded better, really, so it's good to have him there."

"The Age Of Nero", the latest album from SATYRICON, has sold more than 6,000 copies in the United States since its January release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 18 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 Age Of Nero" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 73. It also landed on the national chart in the band's home country at position No. 5. This is SATYRICON's lowest chart entry in Norway since "Rebel Extravaganza", which premiered at No. 32 in 1999. "Volcano" (2002) entered the chart at No. 4, while 2006's "Now, Diabolical" came in at No. 2.

Long-running Finnish doomsters SPIRITUS MORTIS will release their third album, "The God Behind The God", on May 13 through Firebox Records.

The entire CD is now available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

SPIRITUS MORTIS released a new single, featuring the tracks "When The Wind Howled With A Human Voice" and "Waiting For The Sun", on March 18.

SPIRITUS MORTIS in January announced the addition of singer Sami Hynninen (a.k.a. Albert Witchfinder; REVEREND BIZARRE, THE PURITAN) to the group's ranks.

SPIRITUS MORTIS is the oldest doom metal band from Finland. The band was formed in 1987 as RIGOR MORTIS, featuring founding members Teemu Maijala (bass, vocals), Jussi Maijala (guitars) and VP Rapo (drums).

The group's self-titled debut album was released in 2004 through Rage Of Achilles. A follow-up effort, "Fallen", came out in 2006 via Black Lotus Records.