British black metal pioneers VENOM are planning to release a special edition version of their "Black Metal" album later this year. According to the band, the new set will contain bonus tracks and a DVD of the "7th Date of Hell" video of VENOM performing live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England in 1984.

On October 22, 2008, a two-album Japan-only cardboard sleeve reissue series from VENOM was made available via Universal Music featuring the following LPs:

* "Welcome To Hell" (1981)
* "Black Metal" (1982)

Each cardboard sleeve reissue features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players).

"Hell", the new album from VENOM, was released in North America in September 2008 via Universal Music Enterprises. A promotional video for the CD can be viewed at this location.

VENOM made "Hell" available in a digipack edition via Nuclear Blast's mailorder featuring two bonus tracks — "In League With Satan" and "Burn In Hell" — and an inverted cross. Limited to 333 copies, it can be ordered here.

A complete track from "Hell" has been made available for streaming on the band's official web site. Check out the song "Straight To Hell" at this location. Streaming audio samples of eight songs from "Hell" are available here.

VENOM in 2007parted ways with guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey; ex-CARCASS, CATHEDRAL). "Personal unavoidable commitments in the U.S. have forced Mykvs to announce that he cannot commit 100% to VENOM's schedule," the band previously wrote in a statement. A new guitarist by the name of Rage has been drafted in to replace Mykvs.

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have just shot a video for the song "Misery's Crown" with director Roger Johansson, who has previously worked with THE HAUNTED, IN FLAMES and ARCH ENEMY.

Check out photos from the video shoot at this location.

DARK TRANQUILLITY was joined by THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Nell Sigland on October 31, 2008 during DT's headlining concert in Milan, Italy for a rendition of the song "The Mundane And The Magic" (a track that had never before been played live) and "Insanity's Crescendo". The entire show was filmed for an upcoming DVD, tentatively due later in the year.

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

DARK TRANQUILLITY last year announced the addition of Daniel Antonsson (DIMENSION ZERO, ex-SOILWORK guitarist) as the group's new bassist.

Century Media Records reissued DARK TRANQUILLITY's latest album, "Fiction", in May 2008 in an expanded edition in conjunction with the start of the band's North American tour. The new version is composed of a CD/DVD and features a slew of new material.

On May 4, French metalcore kings THE ARRS will release their third album, entitled "Héros Assassin", via Season of Mist. On this new effort, THE ARRS "decided to set their imagination free, creating an album without boundaries and standing at the crossroad of genres," according to a press release. "Héros Assassin" ("murderous hero" in French) "evokes the dark side of power, its morbid fascination and its lethal impact hiding behind pomp and glory. A pure reflection of the times, this violent, somber, intense and chaotic album expresses the reproaches made to contemporary gods. No one will get out of here alive..."

"Héros Assassin" track listing:

01. L'empire, La Femme, La Mort
02. Cannibale
03. Nihil Est In Homine
04. Héros Assassin
05. Sacrifice
06. Martyres
07. Sombre Univers
08. Vengeance
09. L'emprise
10. Seul Contre Tous
11. Le Ciel Des Uns Est L'enfer Des Autres
12. Ma Miséricorde

DOWN/ex-PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo is currently at home in New Orleans recovering from surgery before DOWN resumes touring later this spring. Anselmo says, "this time it was a semi-torn ACL [anterior cruciate ligament, one of four ligaments that are critical to the stability of the knee joint] and a semi-torn meniscus [a common knee injury that can cause pain in the joint]. With plans to do some jamming during the healing process, trust me, DOWN will return."

DOWN will make a number of European festival appearances this summer before embarking on one more run of shows in select U.S. markets in August/September. The group will then return to the studio from October through December to record what will eventually become the fourth DOWN album, tentatively due in early 2010.

In October 2008, DOWN released a "deluxe edition" of its critically acclaimed third album, "Over the Under". The deluxe package, which was made available as a Best Buy exclusive, includes a DVD with over 30 minutes of previously unreleased live performances and behind-the-scenes footage. The album was released on Down Records in conjunction with Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group (ILG).

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 will be mixed by Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, DECREPIT BIRTH) and cover artwork will once again be brought to life by Jon Zig (DEEDS OF FLESH, DISGORGE, GORGASM). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Mental Hemorrhage", "Dismal Dream", "Undeserving", "Confines of Disillusion", "Blood Oath", "Come Hell Or High Priest" and "Provoking the Disturbed".

Video footage of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich performing the song "Freya" with Austin, Texas' THE SWORD last Thursday, April 2 at Palais Omnisport de Bercy in Paris, France can be viewed here and here.

RollingStone.com recently asked Lars Ulrich to name his favorite album of 2008. "We're fortunate to have this heavy-metal band from Austin out playing with us, and we've got them playing shows on our days off so that we can go see them," he responded. "I'm a product of British metal — IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, ANGEL WITCH — and THE SWORD sound like the definitive new wave of British heavy metal, which is interesting coming from four guys from Texas. The arrangements, the intros and outros, the middle eights and that type of stuff, it reminds me of DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH or JUDAS PRIEST. They're not really a young METALLICA, but that's because they're cooler than we were."

THE SWORD's latest album, "Gods of the Earth", was released on April 1, 2008 via Kemado Records. The follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed debut "Age of Winters" was recorded at Folkvang Studios in Austin, TX, and is said to be "more ambitious, more accomplished and simply bigger."

On November 25, Austin, THE SWORD released a limited-edition CD set that includes both "Age Of Winters" and "Gods Of The Earth" albums. This special package was made available at all of the band's live shows (both headlining and METALLICA support dates) as well as on Amazon at this location.

Vocalist Biff Byford of British heavy metal legends SAXON offered a brief comment to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine regarding his appearance with METALLICA last night (Thursday, April 2) at Palais Omnisport de Bercy in Paris, France to perform the SAXON classic "Motorcycle Man".

According to Biff, he found out he was going to be performing with METALLICA only a short time before the band hit the stage.

"I didn't know until 15 minutes before (they went on)," said Biff. "It was fucking cool though!"

Watch professionally filmed video footage of the performance below.

When METALLICA played Sheffield Arena on February 28, 2009, they invited as VIP guests former SAXON members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson.

At the Sheffield gig, Graham, 56, met up with METALLICA's James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich — who remain huge fans of SAXON's early-1980s heyday.

"In 1982 SAXON played the Whisky a Go-Go on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood," Graham explained to SouthYorkshireTimes.co.uk. "It was sold out and Steve and me were asked if we would pick out a support band from a pile of cassettes sent in by young metal bands. METALLICA were far and away the best and even though it was only their second-ever gig; we saw their potential and picked them out to play. We have been friends ever since.

"They have always had a soft spot for us. Over the years they have cited us as a big influence and we are always welcomed at their gigs around the world.

"METALLICA have played Sheffield three times and they always treat us as VIPs.

At Rock Am Ring — Germany's biggest rock festival — they played part of our song 'Princess Of The Night'. I wrote that riff in a council house in Dryden Road. Back then we were just some kids from Mexborough who once had a dream.

"To be supported by the band which became one of the biggest in the world, I think that is pretty special.

"We were sat in the auditorium at Sheffield and they played the old SAXON track 'Heavy Metal Thunder' as their intro track. Kirk Hammett (METALLICA guitarist) told me he loves the solo in that. They played in the round and it was very loud but it was a very pure sound.

"James Hetfield (the singer) is a lovely bloke, but their drummer Lars Ulrich is probably the biggest SAXON fan of them all. He told us that our 1980 album 'Wheels of Steel' is his favorite and said it was a benchmark for them. It is hard for someone of my generation to see that. When I meet someone who played at the Woodstock Festival I am enthusiastic about it — I suppose it is the same for them.

"We were one of the bands to play in the first Donington Festival and METALLICA were a bit in awe and asked us what those days were like".

GORGOROTH mastermind/guitarist Infernus (real name: Roger Tiegs) was interviewed late last week by Justin M. Norton of About.com. Infernus discussed his legal battle, the status of GORGOROTH's upcoming album and his thoughts about former bandmates Gaahl and King. Excerpts follow:

About.com: Do you feel vindicated by the decision?

Infernus: I am always more or less angry at someone or something: fellow co-workers, politics at practice here in Norway, the law system, God, and even a few ex-members now and then. But concerning the outcome of this case, which I won, I am of course happy. I am not really surprised about it, but I am content and happy.

This is not just a victory for common sense and reason, nor is it only a victory for me and my band. It is a victory for the music scene. This will set a standard in terms of legal issues in Norway, at least, so that musicians and artists who come up with a concept of their own can focus on what should be their main concern: the creative aspect of their life. People can feel safe not having to do tons of paperwork to be able to protect their ideas and immaterial belongings in case of future issues where, as in this case, there might come some seventh bass player and try to claim the name of a band he had no part in creating.

About.com: Did you ever consider abandoning the case and playing music under another name?

Infernus: Running a court case always represents some kind of a risk. I was not 100 percent sure I would win I have to admit, even though I knew I was right. I allied myself with some rather strong forces working in the same direction, so the outcome was more or less clear. I have problems understanding that the counterparts (King and Gaahl) might honestly have believed they could win a case like this, and it is still a mystery for me why they would not accept my offer not to take them to court. They should just have quit and found themselves another name and started their own band. But they had to do it the hard way, and we all know the outcome of that by now.

About.com: What is next for GORGOROTH now that the court case has passed? Will you finish up "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt" and begin touring?

Infernus: I have been in studio rehearsing/arranging/doing pre-recordings for this album for more or less a year now. We are using the studio of my new drummer and co-producer Tomas Asklund in Sweden, Monolith Studio. We will work pretty effectively in the upcoming period to (finish) rehearsals for future live activities as well, when all the guys are here doing their part of the recording. We are looking at a mix in the end of June, then mastering in July. There will be an October release on Regain Records, the label I chose for GORGOROTH back in 2005, before the legal issues came up.

About.com: What will the new music sound like? Can we expect something in the vein of "Under The Sign of Hell" with Pest and Tormentor back in the band? You now have close to what many consider the classic GORGOROTH lineup back in place.

Infernus: I would like the listener to decide what it sounds like. It never, in my eyes, looks especially good having a musician or songwriter going on in an interview pestering people with his or her own personal opinions on topics like this. I can say we are working hard on it and are going to be able to stand behind this product upon release around October this year. It is time for some real metal.

SOUR SYSTEM, the new project led by former CARNAL FORGE guitarist Jari Kuusisto, will enter the studio this summer to begin recording its debut album for a late 2009 release via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

Commented guitarist Jari Kuusisto: "I'm really thrilled with how the songs are turning out. I never thought that SOUR SYSTEM would turn out to be one of the things in this world that I love most. What started out as just a fun project has now turned out to be a full-time band for me and the rest of the guys."

SOUR SYSTEM is:

Jari Kuusisto (CARNAL FORGE, INCENSED, IN THY DREAMS, LEECH) - Guitar
Fredrik Ahlin (SLIP INTO SILK, RADIOPLAN, VILDA HJÄRTAN) - Drums
Daniel Samuelsson (SLIP INTO SILK, TWIINBALL) - Vocals
Rikard Holmgren - Guitar
Fredrik Dahlberg (SLIP INTO SILK, RADIOPLAN) - Bass

"My Canvas, My Skin", the new video from the Finnish rock/metal act SOULCAGE, can be viewed here. The song comes off the band's new album, "Soul For Sale", which will be released in Finland this Wednesday (April 8) through Hellas Records and a month later in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

SOULCAGE's sound is described as "addictive, radio-friendly, diverse mix of metal, rock, pop and progressive styles."

SOULCAGE is:

Aleksi Parviainen - Vocals
Teppo Parviainen - Guitars
Markus Hellas - Keyboards
Jari Ilomäki - Bass
Ville Siuruainen - Drums

LACUNA COIL song, "Not Enough", is available for streaming using the widget here.

LACUNA COIL will release its much-anticipated new album, "Shallow Life", via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: April 17
North America, Spain, Portugal: April 21
Sweden, Finland, Hungary: April 22
U.K., France, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Rest of Europe: April 20

The album will be made available for streaming in its entirety on LACUNA COIL's MySpace page beginning on Thursday, April 9 for one week.

"Shallow Life" was recorded in September/October at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Don Gilmore, who has previously worked with LINKIN PARK, TRAPT, AVRIL LAVIGNE, GOOD CHARLOTTE, THE VERONICAS, PEARL JAM, TRUST COMPANY and DURAN DURAN.

"Shallow Life" track listing:

01. Survive
02. I Won't Tell You
03. Not Enough
04. I'm Not Afraid
05. I Like It
06. Underdog
07. The Pain
08. Spellbound
09. Wide Awake
10. The Maze
11. Unchained
12. Shallow Life

Germany's death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN have posted the video for the band's cover version of the EDGE OF SANITY track "Black Tears", which appears on HEAVEN SHALL BURN's latest album, "Iconoclast" (2008). Watch the clip here.

HEAVEN SHALL BURN has set "Bildersturm – Iconoclast II (The Visual Resistance)" as the title of its first DVD, which will be available in three different formats, one of them being a limited and very special edition three-disc box-set. A late May release via Century Media Records is expected.

Commented guitarist Maik Weichert: "Since we could not decide which of the two shows to use on this DVD, we decided to include both of them! The show at Summer Breeze festival last year and the one in Vienna [on September 12, 2008] were just equally incredible and watching them still gives us goose bumps!"

In addition to the live footage, the DVD will include a comprehensive documentary about HEAVEN SHALL BURN and loads of additional content, details of which will be announced soon.

"Iconoclast" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 21. Artist extraordinaire an up-and-coming visionary for cutting-edge art Bastian Sobtzick created the artwork for the CD.

Switzerland's futuristic metal band SYBREED has set "The Pulse Of Awakening" as the title of its third album, tentatively due later this year via Listenable Records. The vocals and the drums for the folow-up to 2007's "Antares" were laid down at the SDF studios in Lausanne, while the guitar and bass were tracked at the Drone studio in Geneva. The CD will be mixed in May by none other than Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, FEAR FACTORY, PARADISE LOST). The cover artwork will be handled by Seth from SEPTICFLESH.

According to the band, "The Pulse Of Awakening" will feature such songs as "Nomenklatura", which is being described as "a groovy, technical and hypnotic piece of industrial metal"; "Electronegative", which is "equally technical but with an intense 'right-in-ya-face,' down-to-up-tempo pace"; and "Doomsday Party", which "sounds like the illegitimate progeny of EBM beats, synth-pop melodies and metal riffing."

SYBREED released its second album, "Antares", in the U.S. on August 15, 2008 via Koch Records. The U.S. version of the CD includes a previously unreleased song called "Plasmaterial" as a bonus track, which is "our way to beg your pardon for having taken so much time to unleash this LP on the American soil," says the group.

Legendary Chicago doomsters TROUBLE have set "The Dark Riff" as the tentative title of their new album, due later in the year.

Commented vocalist Kory Clarke: "I'm really excited about all the new songs Rick [Wartell, guitar] and Bruce [Franklin, guitar] have played me thus far and have been singing them real tough. Really enjoying the power and latitude I'm able to move in lyrically as well as melodically. This going to be classic doom! I love singing this stuff!"

Added Bruce Franklin: "I've written about five songs so far. One of my tests to know if the song is memorable is to not record the riffs and ideas. If I have no trouble remembering the song that I wrote, then that's a good sign. Even if a month or more passes, I should be able to remember the song in full. Of course, that's just the music."

Rick Wartell said: "I am extremely pleased with the new songs, and in the direction this release is taking. It has the vibe of earlier times. If I had to sum it up in one word, the word is DOOM... Having a great time writing for it."

A previous post on the group's web site stated: "As you can tell by the [new album's] title, IT'S HEAVY! The band is resorting to the root of what made TROUBLE in the first place and what they are best at, DOOM! This will no doubt be the heaviest TROUBLE release since the mid-'80s when they crushed the masses with what is now known as 'Psalm 9' and 'The Skull'.:

TROUBLE recently released a live recording from Los Angeles via their web site. "Live In L.A.", recorded on the band's last West Coast tour, has been mixed and mastered and is available at NewTrouble.com.

"Live In L.A." track listing:

01. Intro
02. RIP
03. The Sleeper
04. Touch the Sky
05. Plastic Green Head
06. The Eye
07. Simple Mind Condition
08. Mr. White
09. Endtime
10. Troublemaker
11. End of My Daze

Reformed British metal band SEVENTH ANGEL has issued the following update:

"We have signed for our third album with a label we will announce shortly and we are booked to record in a couple of weeks time at The Priory in Birmingham with Greg Chandler of ESOTERIC. The cover art will be provided by Matt Vickerstaff of Darkwave Art. We hope to release the album in April.

"We have two gigs booked, one in Belgium and one in Switzerland."

Video footage of SEVENTH ANGEL performing the song "Forbidden Desires" at the Nordic Fest 2008, which was held November 14-16 at Sub Scene in Oslo, Norway, can be viewed here.

SEVENTH ANGEL's current lineup is a mixture of the early and final lineup of the band before it split in 1992:

Ian Arkley (MY SILENT WAKE, PARAMAECIUM, CENTURY SLEEPER, THE OTHER WINDOW, ASHEN MORTALITY) - Vocals Guitar
Tank (SUK MUNKY, FREEKSPERT) - Drums
Simon Bibby (FIRE FLY, EXORIA, AMARANTH) - Guitar
Mark Broomhead (FIRE FLY, EXORIA, DETRITUS) - Bass

Each member of SEVENTH ANGEL has been on his own musical and spiritual journey since the split, and the reformation has produced a band of increased depth and maturity, with all the musical intensity that made SEVENTH ANGEL such an international success.

Before its split, SEVENTH ANGEL produced two highly acclaimed internationally released studio albums and continued interest in the band prompted the release of early demos and live recordings in 2005. Throughout its career, SEVENTH ANGEL was the focus of much media attention within the music press and beyond, having appeared on the BBC, Channel 4 and featured in the Daily Telegraph.

Norway's SUSPERIA has set "Attitude" as the title of its fifth album, due later in the year via Candlelight Records. Recorded in Norway, the follow-up to 2007's "Cut From Stone" was mixed at Studio Fredman in Sweden and features guest appearances by Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT) and Shagrath (DIMMU BORGIR).

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Urge
02. Live My Dream
03. Attitude
04. Elegy And Suffering
05. Sick Bastard
06. Another Turn
07. Mr. Stranger
08. Character Flaw
09. The One After All

Check out the cover artwork here.

"Ten years and still the same five guys," exclaims vocalist Athera of the band's long commitment to their music. "We have worked nearly two years on this material, perfecting it for your pleasure and our devoted fans. It will take you back to the early days with melancholic riffing and dark emotional vocals. It's a perfect blend of everything SUSPERIA has been and become."

Formed in 1998 by drummer Tjodalv (then of DIMMU BORGIR) and guitarist Cyrus (then of SATYRICON/OLD MAN'S CHILD), SUSPERIA released its debut, "Predominance", via Nuclear Blast in 2001. The band's much-acclaimed second album, "Vindication", followed in 2003. After signing with Norwegian label Tabu Records (with release in the U.S. via Candlelight Records) in 2004, the band released its third album, "Unlimited", later that year.

A powerful live act, the band has consistently remained focused to the live arena. With numerous high profile support, headline and festival appearances, one of the band's most cherished experiences thus far remains supporting the newly reformed TESTAMENT in late 2005. The dates would culminate in the release of the band's Norwegian charting mini-album "Devil May Care", followed by the group's fourth album, "Cut From Stone", in 2007. Unfortunately due to financial constraints two tries to visit the U.S. to support the Daniel Bergstrand-produced album during 2007/08 would set back the album's overall sales target but the band remained committed. Touring Europe, including numerous dates with W.A.S.P., the band's ambitions stayed and continue to remain in tact. "We now have the backing of one label worldwide and this is going to make life easier for us," says bassist Memnock. "We hope that finally we get to play to our American fans."

SUSPERIA currently includes guitarists Cyrus and Elvorn, bassist Memnock, with drummer Tjodalv and vocalist Athera.

Gary Graff of Billboard.com reports that LED ZEPPELIN's Jimmy Page was happy to come to Cleveland on Saturday to induct his longtime friend and former YARDBIRDS bandmate Jeff Beck into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.

"He's been instrumental in pioneering a whole blueprint that was totally unique to him and...has been such a blueprint for everyone else to learn from," Page told Billboard.com before the ceremony. "No one's ever equaled what Jeff's done. He really shifted the whole sound and face of electric guitar music."

Asked after Beck's induction— during which the two guitarists combined "Beck's Bolero" and ZEPPELIN's "Immigrant Song" — about their enduring friendship, Page noted that "we've known each other since we were...11 years old. We've vibed on the same things, and music's been the main common denominator of us meeting in the first place. So that's always been there. We're respectful of each other's playing and solo endeavors and all the rest of it. Mutual respect, man."

Swedish epic/melodic metallers NARNIA are putting the finishing touches on their sixth album, tentatively titled "Course Of A Generation", for a July 24 European release via Massacre Records. The CD will mark the debut of the band's new lead singer, Germán Pascual (MIND'S EYE, MENDEZ), who replaced Christian Liljegren last year.

Commented the band: "The result is truly explosive and it's the most unique album we have ever done — by far!! We have a new and unique blend of dark and aggressive riffing along with melodies that we believe are the strongest in our history."

The new CD will be mixed in May by Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, SOILWORK, HELLFUELED, ARCH ENEMY, AT THE GATES) at Studio Fredman.

NARNIA in 2007 posted a newly recorded song, "In His Majesty's Service" on their MySpace page. The track was originally written and recorded by the Swedish band JERUSALEM back in 1985. NARNIA's version of the song is featured on the group's 10th-anniversary "best of" album, "Decade of Confession", which was released via Massacre Records.

Chicago-based progressive metal hybrid BORN OF OSIRIS will release its new album, "A Higher Place", in June to coincide with the band's second appearance on The Summer Slaughter Tour. The CD was recorded at Planet Z in in Hadley, Massachusetts with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL, WHITECHAPEL and THE ACACIA STRAIN, among others. Guitarist Lee McKinney commented, "The songs are a much more mature evolution of what we were doing before; with the new album, you can expect longer, more developed material. For the fans who feel like they've been waiting for a long time or feel like they're in the dark on it, it's all for the better. I don't feel that 'A Higher Place' is really what most people are expecting; it will be so much more. This is the best material we've written so far and we're very proud of it."

BORN OF OSIRIS' debut album, "The New Reign", was produced by Michael Keene of THE FACELESS.

The band's sound is said to be "an epic mix of intricate and memorable melodies with challenging time signatures that still hold an infectious groove, all while maintaining sheer, tasteful brutality."

German power metallers STORMHAMMER will release their fourth album, "Signs Of Revolution", on May 22 via Silverwolf/SPV. According to a press release, the CD sees the band "deliver[ing] a very diverse mixture of hyper melodic, Euro-style power metal, and U.S. metal as well as a decent bite of a NWOBHM approach similar to IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, etc."

"Signs Of Revolution" was recorded in early 2008, completely produced by STORMHAMMER. The mix was handled by Thomas Burlefinger, who has previously worked with Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER), Greg Bissonette (DAVID LEE ROTH), Dave Evans (AC/DC), Darren Wharton (THIN LIZZY), L.A. GUNS and SUBWAY TO SALLY. The cover artwork was designed by "Stripe" Schinzel (AGENT STEEL, ANVIL, HANOI ROCKS, QUIET RIOT, W.A.S.P., WITCHCRAFT).

"Signs Of Revolution" track listing:

01. The Other Side
02. Omens Of Agony
03. Kiss At The Abyss
04. Signs Of Revolution
05. Permanent Menace
06. Well Of Wisdom
07. Bridges To Eternity
08. Pied Piper
09. From Dusk To Dawn
10. Ride On A Razorblade
11. Sham World
12. Challenge Of Life
13. Calls From The Other Side

STORMHAMMER's upcoming CD will be he group's first with singer Mike Zotter (NEVERLAND, DREAMSCAPE), who joined the band in July 2005.

STORMHAMMER released its third album, "Lord of Darkness", in May 2004 via Mausoleum Records.

Canadian metallers THREAT SIGNAL have finished recording their sophomore album, tentatively due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records. According to vocalist Jon Howard, "I finished tracking my vocals a few days ago and all 13 songs have been sent away for mixing and mastering. The all mighty Greg Reely will be twisting the knobs for this badboy. We expect to have the album completely finished by the end of the month. I'll have the album artwork, track listing, release date and album title for you veeery soon. May/June USA and Canada dates [have been scheduled] as well. We'll be playing half of the new record live! Come check it out."

Some of the songtitles that are set to appear on the new THREAT SIGNAL album include "Through My Eyes", "Severed", "United We Stand", and "The Beginning Of The End".

"A New Beginning", the latest video from THREAT SIGNAL, can be viewed here. The clip was shot on April 10, 2008 with award-winning film director RT of 235 Films. The track comes off the group's debut album, "Under Reprisal", which was released in North America on August 22, 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.

THREAT SIGNAL uploaded a demo version of a new song, entitled "Beyond Recognition", on the group's MySpace page.

The band's vocalist Jon Howard has joined forces with FEAR FACTORY members Christian Olde Wolbers (guitar) and Raymond Herrera (drums) in a new group called ARKAEA.

Howard has been a part of the FEAR FACTORY family ever since Olde Wolbers served as producer for "Under Reprisal". Given that connection, the chemistry was there the instant the band started playing together.

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

"Recording of the album 'Resonance' will begin September 1. Four weeks recording is scheduled.

"We are proud beyond words of what we have achieved during these four years of hard struggle to make this HUGE voyager album.

"The album consists of 10-12 songs, approximately 50 minutes of intense journey through a wide spectrum of emotional highs and lows. An epic rollercoaster ride.

"We have achieved what we've been fighting incredibly hard for and can't fucking wait to release this beast!

"Now, for the first time in years, with pride and smile, I can say.... You're in for a reeeeal treat friends and foes!"

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

A "best-of" compilation from German guitarist AXEL RUDI PELL will be released later this spring via SPV in time for the second part of the axeman's "The Skull Crown Tour" which will see his band support HEAVEN & HELL on all five dates of their upcoming German tour. The CD will celebrate the ten-year anniversary of PELL's current lineup, the 20-year anniversary of Axel as a solo artist ("Wild Obsession" came out in 1989) and the 25th anniversary of Axel as a recording artist (the first STEELER record came out in 1984).

"Best Of" track listing:

01. Edge Of The World
02. Carousel
03. Strong As A Rock
04. Beautiful Day
05. Mystica
06. Forever Angel (acoustic)
07. The Masquerade Ball
08. Rock The Nation
09. Oceans Of Time
10. Tear Down The Walls
11. Ain't Gonna Win
12. In The Air Tonight

Austrian female-fronted symphonic metal band EDENBRIDGE will release a live album on April 27. Entitled "LiveEarthDream" (see cover artwork here), the disc was recorded at various concerts in 2008 and can only and exclusively be ordered through the band's fanshop. The album will be limited to 1,000 copies and will not be available anywhere else.

Check out audio samples at this location.

Bassist Frank Bindig left EDENBRIDGE last year in order to focus on his other projects. The group has not yet announced a replacement.

EDENBRIDGE's sixth studio album, "MyEarthDream", was released in Europe in April 2008 via Napalm Records. The cover art was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, among other artists. The mixing sessions for the CD were completed at Thin Ice Studios in England with Karl Groom (THRESHOLD). The mastering took place at the Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland with Mika Jussila.

Tony Turunen, the brother of former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, has joined the Finnish metal band DESCENDED as the group's new lead vocalist. The band says in a statement, "We are very proud and excited about this new situation. We haven't had time to record any music with Tony yet, but he will sing on the upcoming single. This of course means that the publishing of the single will be delayed, but be patient, it's going to be worth waiting."

Video footage of DESCENDED performing with Tony at a Finnish event called Rockit can be viewed at this location.

DESCENDED is:

Tony Turunen (Lead Vocals)
Petteri Soila (Guitar)
Tommi Ilonen (Keyboards)
Sami Saravo (Guitar, Unclean Vocals)
Aki Jalkanen (Bass)
Olli Vainionpää (Drums)

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/decended1.

Former MAYHEM frontman Maniac, along with members of his black/doom band SKITLIV, will atend a listening session for the long-awaited SKITLIV album, "Skandinavisk Misantropi", at this year's Inferno festival in Oslo. The CD, due for release on the Season of Mist label later this year, features guest vocal appearances by David Tibet (CURRENT 93), Attila Csihar (MAYHEM, SUNN0)))) and Gaahl (GOD SEED, GORGOROTH, TRELLDOM, GAAHLSKAGG, WARDRUNA). The eighttrack effort will receive its first public hearing on Thursday, April 9 at 20:30 in the "Anneks" room of the Rockefeller venue, where attendees of the Inferno festival will be able to meet Maniac and other band members.

Commented Maniac: "'Skandinavisk Misantropi' has been a long time in coming, but that's the way I work. I had no intention of letting it appear until the result satisfied me personally." Regarding his signing with Season of Mist, he said, "I had never lost touch with the guys at Season of Mist after I left MAYHEM, and when they said they were interested in releasing my new album, it seemed very natural to continue working with them."

"Skandinavisk Misantropi" is the first studio album from SKITLIV following the release of the "Amfetamin" live CD, which was a one-off collaboration with the Cold Spring label.

Rounding SKITLIV's lineup of Maniac on guitars and vocals, SHINING's Niklas "Kvarforth" Olsson on guitar and backing vocals, and Ingvar on guitar, for the recording of "Skandinavisk Misantrpi" are Tore Moren (JORN, CARNIVORA, ex-ARCTURUS) on bass, and Dag Otto (HAUST) on drums. Moren also produced the album along with Maniac.

METALLICA played "Master Of Puppets" and "Enter Sandman" at tonight's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, with the band's former bassist Jason Newsted and his replacement, Robert Trujillo, both taking part in the performance (the group played as a five-piece). They also led a "surprise jam" at the end of the night consisting of "Train Kept A Rollin'", with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Flea, LED ZEPPELIN's Jimmy Page, AEROSMITH's Joe Perry and Jeff Beck (see video: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

METALLICA was inducted by RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea. With his hair dyed blue and wearing a vintage METALLICA T-shirt under a green blazer, Flea recalled the first time he heard METALLICA, in 1984 while on tour with the PEPPERS. It was 3 in the morning, they were tired, crammed into a van and sick of being on the road, and "this music comes on the radio, and I couldn't believe that it fucking existed," Flea said, according to MTV.com, as guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield jokingly covered his daughter's ears. "It was like I had been living in this normal world, where I knew what everything was that came on the radio, and all of a sudden my mind was being blown by this beautiful, violent thing that was unlike anything I had ever heard before in my life."

Flea profanely described staring at the radio in awe at this music that was explosive, precise, aggressive and intense, with wild and bizarre rhythm changes that he couldn't describe. "I didn't know what it was; the only thing I knew for sure was that it was a mighty thing," he said of "Fight Fire with Fire", likening METALLICA's unique sound to a rarified "cosmic chemistry" and paying moving homage to the special gift of late bassist Cliff Burton, who died in 1986 in a bus accident while on tour with the group.

"When a person gets rocking to their music, everything else disappears, and that person is just one with the rock," Flea said. "It is an inexplicable, awesome thing, and I bow down to it."

Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich hugged onstage after giving speeches, and both thanked fans who have followed the band through its ups-and-downs that included the death of Cliff Burton.

"I think rock and roll is about possibilities and about dreams," Ulrich said. "The fact that the six of us can be up on the stage tonight, snot-nosed kids, outcasts, loners who grew up in very different parts of the world, in very different situations and make it here tonight, to this wonderful night in front of all these people down here ... Rock and roll truly is about possibilities. Look at us. METALLICA's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Can you fucking believe that?"

Hetfield started his thanks with a list of bands he'd like to see enter next, which included KISS, RUSH, THIN LIZZY, TED NUGENT, IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD. He also dedicated the award to the young musicians trying to make it. "Dream big and dare to fail," he said. "I dare you to do that. Because this is living proof that it is possible to make a dream come true."

METALLICA flew in from Paris, where the group played Wednesday and Thursday nights. The band planned to rehearse with Newsted at soundcheck on Friday but the equipment and the crew apparently arrived later than expected, forcing the soundcheck to be rescheduled for this morning (Saturday).

Finnish melodic death metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW has issued the following update:

"Unfortunately, we have to announce that our solo guitarist Risto Ruuth has left ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW. The situation came to us as a total surprise. We have no information on the reasons or the background behind his decision. We received Risto's a unilateral declaration a week ago.

"During the past week, we have done everything possible to find a replacement in time so that we could make it to do the confirmed live dates according to the previously established timetable. Unfortunately, it has proven to be an exceedingly difficult task with this schedule, and thus it will affect the confirmed live dates.

"ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW will get on the stage as soon as the hole in the line-up has been refilled. More information on this topic will be published shortly. At the same time, we announce the search for solo guitarist for the band. The guitarist we're looking for should be diverse, full of ideas and creative. Above all, his feet should be firmly on the solid ground, he should motivated to the task, and should be able to manage the role of the solo guitarist in our band.

"If you are interested in this mission, send free-form application, info packet and the call audio samples or video form, to: eternaltears2009[at]gmail.com."

Ahvenanmaa, Finland-based death metallers VORUM will release their first mini-CD, "Grim Death Awaits", on April 24 in North America through Woodcut Records (distributed by The End Records). A full-length album will follow sometime next year.

"Grim Death Awaits" track listing:

01. They Are The Dead
02. Grim Death Awaits
03. Carved In Dead Flesh
04. Through The Throats Of Liars
05. Ritual Desecration
06. Obscure Rites
07. Cthonic
08. Eyes Burning Red

The mini-CD is available for streaming at this location.

VORUM is:

M. Jalava - Axe & Destruction
J. Johansson - Axe & Chants
M. Josefsson - Thunder & Doom