Legendary rockers NEW YORK DOLLS will release their new album, "Cause I Sez So", on May 5 via the Atco label (which has been specially re-launched) through Warner Brothers.

Check out the CD artwork below.

After working together on the NEW YORK DOLLS' influential debut in 1973, the group reunited this winter with producer Todd Rundgren to record the new LP at Rundgren's studio on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

"Cause I Sez So" features 11 original compositions and a new version of "Trash", which was on the band's 1973 debut album. "It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present," says frontman David Johansen.

Prior to the album's release, the NEW YORK DOLLS — David Johansen (vocals); Sylvain Sylvain (guitar); Steve Conte (guitar); Brian Delaney (drums); and Sami Yaffa (bass) — will appear at the South By Southwest (SXSW) music conference and festival in Austin, Texas.

The NEW YORK DOLLS swaggered onto the New York music scene in the early '70s, influencing a generation with its subversive mix of high-decibel rock and high-heeled androgyny. The original band recorded a pair of milestone records — "New York Dolls" (1973) and "Too Much Too Soon" (1974) — before breaking up in 1977. The surviving members reformed the group in 2004 to much acclaim, but soon lost bassist Arthur Kane to leukemia. Two years later, Johansen and Sylvain reunited again to record the NEW YORK DOLLS' third studio album, "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This".

"Cause I Sez So" track listing:

01. Cause I Sez So
02. Muddy Bones
03. Better Than
04. Lonely So Long
05. My World
06. Ridiculous
07. Temptation To Exist
08. Making Rain
09. Drowning
10. Nobody Got No Bizness
11. Trash
12. Exorcism Of Despair

According to a posting on the DEEP PURPLE fan site The Highway Star, seven reels of silent 8mm footage filmed at PURPLE's famous August 1972 Japanese concerts have been found. Rumors of such film have persisted for years, and now their existence has been verified. Audio recordings of these three concerts formed the basis of the "Made In Japan" album released in 1973 and the "Live In Japan" three-CD released in 1993.

The good news is that a 90-second portion of "Highway Star" from the silent film has been synced to audio and will be included on the upcoming "History, Hits & Highlights" two-DVD set, to be released on June 1 2009. The bad news is that the rest of the 26-minute film is made up of many short excerpts from different songs, and for that reason will not make it onto the "History, Hits & Highlights" DVD. Later, it is hoped that a "Made In Japan" documentary DVD featuring the full film can be put together and styled after the "Classic Albums" series.

Reunited seminal grindcore/extreme metal outfit BRUTAL TRUTH has posted another preview track from its brand-new album and first full-length in 10 years, "Evolution Through Revolution". "Sugar Daddy" can be heard now via the band's MySpace page.

"Evolution Through Revolution" is scheduled for an April 14 North American release (April 20 internationally) via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded at Watchman Studios in Lockport, New York with engineer Doug White (PSYOPUS). Other songtitles set to appear on the album include "Sugardaddy", "Get A Therapist… Spare The World", "Detached", "Global Good Guy", "Lifer", "Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs", and "Grind Fidelity".

BRUTAL TRUTH bassist Danny Lilker commented: "BRUTAL TRUTH has worked our asses off to write and arrange some of the sickest, most inhuman grindcore ever created. With Jason PC from BLOOD DUSTER handling the mix, we're positive that the music and production on 'Evolution Through Revolution' will satisfy the cravings of the sickest bastards out there."

Drummer Richard Hoak added: "I think 'Evolution Through Revolution' is the best BRUTAL TRUTH record by far! We are all totally psyched about the songs and the production and can't wait to start bringing our grinding soundtrack to the end of history live and direct to the people! Hell yeah!"

THE BLACK LEAGUE, the Finnish band featuring former SENTENCED frontman Taneli Jarva, will release its fifth album, "Ghost Brothel", on April 15 through the newly established Brainbomber Records (via Edel).

"Ghost Brothel" has been in the works for the last three years — two years in the studio, no less — morphing and twisting beyond belief as the LEAGUE navigated once again to unchartered territories with the lead of producer extraordinaire Hannu Leidén. What was originally conceived as a straight-forward follow-up to their 2005 rocker "A Place Called Bad" turned out as the band's most complex and challenging work since their debut "Ichor" (2000).

"Ghost Brothel" track listing:

01. Zero Providence (Intro)
02. Southern Scars & Curse
03. Malabarista
04. Bones 'N' Thangs
05. Misfortune
06. The Beast Is A Riddle
07. Bipolar Meltdown
08. No Parole
09. Ghost Brothel
10. Until We Sail
11. Vin Mariani
12. Joke's Over
13. Heavy Downer

Finnish female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN have set "The Clouds of Northland Thunder" as the title of their second album, tentatively due late spring/early summer.

The track listing for the CD 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)

Dutch rock outfit THE GATHERING will release its long-awaited new album, "The West Pole", on May 4 via the band's own label, Psychonaut Records. More information is available on THE GATHERING's official webshop.

"The West Pole" will mark the recording debut of THE GATHERING's new singer, Silje Wergeland from the Norwegian band OCTAVIA SPERATI. Drummer Hans Rutten says, "Silje has been the singer of OCTAVIA SPERATI for eight years, including several other projects. She did a superb job [on 'The West Pole']. This album also includes two very talented guest singers: the Dutch Anne van den Hoogen and Mexican Marcela Bovio (from STREAM OF PASSION), and some other guest musicians."

Hans continued, "What can we say about 'The West Pole'? It's a very vital, atmospheric and extravert rock orientated album, with all the quality and power THE GATHERING is so famous for, also with many new elements. The sound is guitar driven, alive and urgent; a strong and beautifully coloured album with haunting female vocals. It's produced by guitar player René Rutten and mixed and mastered by Zlaya Hadzich (who also did the production of 'Souvenirs') and René."

"The West Pole" track listing:

01. When Trust Becomes Sound
02. Treasure
03. All You Are
04. You Promised Me A Symphony
05. The West Pole
06. Capital Of Nowhere
07. No Bird Call
08. Pale Traces
09. No One Spoke
10. Constant Run

The songs "All You Are", "Treasure" and "The West Pole" are available for streaming on THE GATHERING's MySpace page.

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have posted the entire documentary that is included of their new CD/DVD, "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)". Watch the 37-minute clip below.

Released in Germany today (March 13) via Nuclear Blast Records, "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)" contains the documentary of NIGHTWISH's world tour in support of the band's latest album, "Dark Passion Play", as well as a CD featuring live recordings from the trek. The documentary footage was reportedly directed by Ville Lipiäinen.

"Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)" track listing:

CD (running time - 66:13):

01. Bye Bye Beautiful (live)
02. Whoever Brings The Night (live)
03. Amaranth (live)
04. The Poet And The Pendulum (live)
05. Sahara (live)
06. The Islander (live)
07. Last Of The Wilds (live)
08. 7 Days To The Wolves (live)
09. Escapist
10. While Your Lips Are Still Red
11. Cadence Of Her Last Breath (demo version)

DVD (running time - 49:52)

* Documentary (Dark Passion Play World Tour)
* Video Clips:
01. Amaranth
02. Bye Bye Beautiful
03. The Islander

16:9 PAL / 2.0 Stereo / DVD-5 / region free

NIGHTWISH has scheduled following signing sessions during the band's European tour:

Friday, March 20
SATURN Karlsruhe Germany
Kaiserstraße 217
76137 Karlsruhe
Start: 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 21
SATURN Erfurt Germany
Anger 1 - 3
99084 Erfurt
Start: 2:30 p.m.

Paris, France-based black metallers GLORIOR BELLI have completed work on their new full-length album, "Meet Us Of The Southern Sign", due later in the year via Candlelight Records. The CD, which was recorded over a three-week period, will contain the following tracks:

01. Once In A Blood Red Moon
02. The Forbidden Words
03. Swamp That Shame
04. There Is But One Light
05. My True Essence
06. In Every Grief-Stricken Blues
07. Nox Illuminatio Mea
08. The Blazing Darkness (Of Luciferian Skies)
09. Fivefold Thought
10. Fires Of The Sitra Ahra
11. Meet Us at the Southern Sign

Check out the cover artwork below. A two-minute teaser video for the forthcoming CD is also available.

"Fallin' Apart", the new video from California rockers TESLA, can be viewed below. The song comes off the band's latest album, "Forever More", which sold more than 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 33 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on October 7, 2008 on Tesla Electric Company Recordings. The European version of the album, which was made available on November 7 via Frontiers Records, contains two bonus tracks not found on the American version.

For "Forever More", TESLA reunited with producer Terry Thomas, who was behind the boards for the band's 1994 gold-certified "Bust A Nut" album, and engineered by Michael Rosen who worked with TESLA on "Into The Now".

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"Chris Broderick [MEGADETH guitarist] turned 39 yesterday, and I am so proud of this guy. I mean, I watch him play on stage and everyday he gets better and better. We are aware of the reviews, and we still are trying to have a perfect show, so if you think that you have seen a good one, just wait until he starts to feel 100% and then after that, once I start to feel we are at 100%.

"I am going on record and I am saying unequivocally that Chris is THE BEST GUITARIST MEGADETH has ever had. And the real talented musicians in MEGADETH's alumni will agree, he is an absolute monster. I mean, he plays the catalog better than anyone did. Jeff Young never wanted to do Chris Poland's stuff, and so on, and so on, until the last guitarist we had before we disbanded over my arm injury.

"It's funny, because just when I think he can get no more outrageous, or any more thrilling with the guitar solos, he comes up with something really beautiful like Marty Friedman would do (he has Marty pretty well down pat), and then goes into the GIT styles that Jeff Young did, yet, there is still such a freshness to his playing and he is so raw, it's like having a new prize bull. And even though he ain't a such a young bull, he's definitely an old bull like me."

Reformed Dutch death metal outfit ASPHYX — Martin van Drunen (vocals), Wannes Gubbels (bass/vocals), Paul Baayens (guitar) and Bob Bagchus (drums) — has finished recording its comeback album, "Death...The Brutal Way", due in May/June via Century Media Records. War Anthem Records will release the LP version of the effort, which was recorded at the Sonic Assault studio and engineered by Frank Klein Douwel (who is also the band's live sound engineer). Mixing duties will be handled Dan Swanö (NIGHTINGALE, EDGE OF SANITY and BLOODBATH fame) at Unisound in Sweden.

Commented the band: "The new album will be ASPHYX's heaviest so far, for sure. We know that's a cliché, but it's simply true, and if we say this, you bet it's the truth. Some titles: 'Death...The Brutal Way', 'Cape Horn', 'Der Eisenbahnmörser', 'Scorbutics', 'Riflegun Redeemer', 'Black Hole Storm', 'Asphyx II', '(They Died As They Marched)'."

ASPHYX last year released a seven-inch EP, "Death the Brutal Way", via Iron Pegasus Records. The single includes the brand new title track plus a cover of CELTIC FROST's "Os Abysmi Vel Daath" from the Swiss legends' "Monotheist" album. Both cuts were recorded in January 2008 at the Harrow studios.

You can listen to "Death the Brutal Way" on the group's MySpace page.

DIO's "The Very Beast of Dio" was officially certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 11, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of 500,000 copies.

Issued in October 2000, "The Very Beast of Dio" is the second greatest-hits collection CD — and the first to be released in the U.S. — from the Ronnie James Dio-fronted band.

The track listing for the collection is as follows:

01. Stand up and Shout
02. Holy Diver
03. Rainbow in the Dark
04. Straight Through the Heart
05. We Rock
06. Last in Line
07. Mystery
08. King of Rock & Roll
09. Sacred Heart
10. Hungry for Heaven
11. Rock & Roll Children
12. Man on the Silver Mountain [Live]
13. Dream Evil
14. I Could Have Been a Dreamer
15. Lock up the Wolves
16. Strange Highways

Danish singer King Diamond (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND) has issued the following update:

"As you all know, 80% of the original MERCYFUL FATE lineup (vocalist King Diamond, guitarist Hank Shermann, guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen) re-recorded with present MF drummer Bjarne T. Holm two ultimate MERCY classics for the upcoming Metallica: Guitar Hero game.

"For those who aren't into gaming, it's interesting to know that those two songs ('Evil' and 'Curse Of The Pharaohs') will be released on iTunes round mid-April. Also interesting to know that Andy La Rocque [KING DIAMOND] mastered these two tracks for a possible EP-picture, released by Metal Blade and Massacre.

"At this moment we are working on both MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND DVDs. Both releases will contain two DVDs and it will be worth the wait as it has some very exclusive content which surely no one outside the band has ever seen.

"We have been working on the following concerts. Please note content of the DVDs might change. Concerts mentioned here might after all not appear on the DVD.

"MERCYFUL FATE DVD:

* Copenhagen 1982 with Benny Petersen
* Amsterdam Paradiso 1984
* Copenhagen 1984
* Reunion MF 1993
* Roskilde Festival 1994
* Copenhagen 1995

"KING DIAMOND DVD:

* Washington 1986
* 1987 supporting MOTÖRHEAD
* Show footage 1989 USA + backstage footage
* Full 1990 concert Spain Euro Conspiracy tour
* Behind the scenes 1990 Conspiracy
* Copenhagen concert in the park 1990 with 5 cameras

"Also remastered KING DIAMOND CDs are in the works. Those albums have, next to the new masters, also one or two bonus video tracks. The bonus tracks shouldn't be the reason to buy the albums. The sound is so much better than it ever was. That should be reason to buy it. I know I would buy them.

"Remastered CDs released with video bonus footage (might be one or two songs)

* The Spider's Lullabye
* The Graveyard
* House Of God
* Voodoo

"This coming autumn might be the time to start writing new songs for KING DIAMOND, and who knows if our involvement in Guitar Hero will raise our value to the record labels enough for a new MERCYFUL FATE record."

King Diamond appears as a playable character in the "Guitar Hero: Metallica" game.

Fans, stagehands and groupies alike will have the opportunity to shred and drum with or wail as the digital King Diamond during performances of "Evil". The song, which originally was recorded in 1983 and is one of the MERCYFUL FATE songs that comprise METALLICA's "Mercyful Fate" medley, was re-recorded by four of the five original band members for Guitar Hero: Metallica. The recording session was overseen by guitarist Hank Shermann in the band's native Denmark; after which King Diamond laid down his vocals in Dallas, Texas, and mixed the song with J.T. Longoria.

MERCYFUL FATE will be remembered for its unquestionable mark on the history of metal with its innovative sound, complex arrangements, memorable melody, and its influence on bands that later took the genre to new heights.

In 1998, METALLICA paid tribute to MERCYFUL FATE by recording a medley of classic MERCYFUL FATE songs on the album "Garage Inc." Entitled "Mercyful Fate", the medley included parts from "Satan's Fall", "Curse of the Pharaohs", "A Corpse Without Soul", "Into the Coven" and "Evil".

Lars Ulrich of METALLICA (a fellow Dane) played drums on a new version of MERCYFUL FATE's "Return of the Vampire" on the "In the Shadows" album, which came out in 1993.

Boston rockers AEROSMITH will head into the recording studio soon with producer Brendan O'Brien, who has previously worked with VELVET REVOLVER, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, PEARL JAM, AC/DC and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, among others. Guitarist Brad Whitford states, "So far it's going great. Everybody is pretty excited about the amount of new music and the quality of it. We're looking forward to getting our basic tracks started in about ten days or so. I'm really quite impressed with some of the new music we're putting together — we'll have a true-to-the-spirit-of AEROSMITH record on our hands. Hopefully you won't have to wait to long. We're working hard to get it done and we're anxious to hear people's reaction to it."

AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry recently told ABC ePrep that the group is hoping to get back to its roots by "doing it more like we used to do the old records, which is the band playing live in the studio." Joe also revealed AEROSMITH is planning to kick off a North American tour around June 1, and hopes to have the album completed by then.

AEROSMITH's next studio album will be its first set of all-original material since 2001's "Just Push Play".

MetalSucks' Vince Neilstein conducted an interview with guitarist Mårten Hagström of the Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH prior to the band's New York City show with CYNIC and THE FACELESS. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

MetalSucks: You guys came from Sweden with a lot of famous metal bands, at the same time as a lot of melodic death metal, which has sort of gone its own way now. How do you feel about that scene and those guys?

Hagström: I hate it. I totally loathe it. Listen, I have nothing against the guys in the bands. I have nothing against the bands. I'm happy for them. If they're doing well and if that's what they want to do then fucking, "Hey, good for you." If you're talking from my personal tastes, I prefer when bands play metal and not SLAUGHTER and pop music with fucking attributes of a metal band. You got two guys with distorted guitars and then you got two chicks singing and three keyboards and then they play "lalalala." It's not why I got into metal. It's not like I'm saying it can't be melodic. CYNIC is very melodic and still fucking awesome. There are a lot of bands that people appreciate a lot over here, like I said I'm happy for their success, but I do not care for their music at all. It's formula music. It's built the same way that pop music is. It's performed the same way pop music is with back tracks and everything. They're like, "Oh, we're so fucking bad-ass and we look so hard." Most bands from Sweden know what they're doing when they're playing. That's a great benefit. It might be music that I hate, but they can still pull it off, which is alright.

MetalSucks: It's good for all Swedish bands, I guess.

Hagström: I have nothing against it, but I would never listen to it. Having said that, there are a shitload of Swedish bands that I adore. THE HAUNTED is a great fucking band. ENTOMBED is a great fucking band. There is a lot of cool fucking shit around. A lot of the stuff that does well in Europe doesn't necessarily do well over here. It's like NIGHTWISH, they're from Finland; to call that metal is a fucking insult. It's probably good music, but it's not fucking metal. No way. I told Markus, on our label Nuclear Blast (because they're on it), "I know you're making a shitload of money, but you're making fools of yourself." He's like "I know". He's like that.

MetalSucks: At least they know what they're doing.

Hagström: Oh, they know what they're doing. They got it down. That's why they're doing well. Nuclear Blast is doing great.

MetalSucks: Yeah, they put out a lot of good stuff.

Hagström: They do. No doubt. It's not the melodic parts that are the problem. I love a lot of melodic stuff. If you listen to MR. BUNGLE, it's melodic all the way through, but it's great shit. I just want some thrill and excitement, something that makes me go, "Oh, these guys have an original idea."

GORGUTS, the acclaimed technical death metal band from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, has reportedly reformed with a brand new lineup and is currently working on material for a new studio album. Four songs are said to have already been completed, with several more on the way.

GORGUTS' current lineup is reportedly as follows:

* Luc Lemay (NEGATIVA) - Vocals, Guitar
* Kevin Hufnagel (DYSRHYTHMIA, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, BYLA, EUCLID STREET, THE FIFTH SEASON, GREY DIVISION BLUE) - Guitar
* Colin Marston (DYSRHYTHMIA, BEHOLD... THE ARCTOPUS, BYLA, KRALLICE, INDRICOTHERE) - Bass
* John Longstreth (DIM MAK, ORIGIN, THE RED CHORD, SKINLESS, POSSESSION, ANGELCORPSE) - Drums

Back in November 2006, Metal Mind Productions reissued the classic GORGUTS albums "Considered Dead" and "Erosion of Sanity". Both CDs came in new digipack editions on golden discs, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology, and were limited to a hand-numbered 2,000 copies. Each title included two demo tracks as a bonus.

GORGUTS' last studio album, "From Wisdom to Hate", was released in 2001.

Island/Mercury has set a March 31 release date for CINDERELLA's "Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Tokyo Dome - Tokyo, Japan Dec. 31 1990" CD.

The track listing for the album is as follows:

01. Intro
02. The More Things Change
03. Push, Push
04. Back Home Again
05. Sick For the Cure
06. Make Your Own Way
07. Somebody Save Me
08. Night Songs
09. One For Rock and Roll
10. Heartbreak Station
11. Coming Home
12. Fallin' Apart At the Seams
13. Love's Got Me Doin Time
14. Don't Know What You Got ('Till It's Gone)
15. Nobody's Fool
16. Gypsy Road
17. Shake Me
18. Shelter Me

Swedish epic/melodic metallers NARNIA recently entered the studio to begin recording 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 group: "We've been tracking vocals all week and we're happy to say that about 80% of the lead vocals are done, and the result so far is absolutely great!"

NARNIA previously stated about the band's new material: "We promise that it will by far be the most intense record we have ever made. Count on very melodic, uptempo compositions driven by the most aggressive foundation in our history."

Nuclear Blast has set a May 2 release date for "Fucking With F*** - Live", the new DVD and separate 2-CD package from German melodic metallers EDGUY. The footage for the DVD was shot on November 3, 2006 at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil and "presents a mind-blowing performance of Tobias Sammet [vocals] and his team," according to a press release. "More than 100 minutes including all hymns, as well as lots of bonus material featuring all video clips, road movies and interviews. Besides the DVD, there will be also a double live CD, separate, as well as part of a noble package along with the DVD."

"Fucking With F*** - Live" track listing:

01. Catch Of The Century
02. Sacrifice
03. Babylon
04. Lavatory Love Machine
05. Land Of the Miracle
06. Tears Of A Mandrake
07. Vain Glory Opera
08. Drum Solo
09. Superheroes
10. Fucking With Fire
11. Save Me
12. Mysteria
13. Out Of Control
14. Avantasia
15. King Of Fools

The cover artwork for "Polaris", the new album from Finnish melodic metallers STRATOVARIUS, can be viewed below. Due on May 21, the CD — the group's first since the departure of guitar player and main composer Timo Tolkki — will be made available 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.

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!"

Other working songtitles that are set to appear on "Polaris" include:

* "King Of Nothing"
* "Eternal Life"
* "Something Precious"
* "I Am Blind"
* "Free Diving"

STRATOVARIUS 2009 is:

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

Fan-filmed video footage of DELAIN — the Dutch gothic rock/metal project founded by ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of WITHIN TEMPTATION's Robert Westerholt) — performing the title track of its upcoming album, "April Rain", on March 6, 2009 at Hedon in Zwolle, Holland can be viewed here.

Due on March 30 via Roadrunner, "April Rain" follows DELAIN's acclaimed 2006 debut "Lucidity", which featured guest appearances by members of WITHIN TEMPTATION, NIGHTWISH and LEAVES' EYES.

"The new album is a real group effort, [and] that's what we're most proud of," says Westerholt.

DELAIN will launch the new album in Amsterdam on March 19 at a special event at the Melkweg venue. Westerholt says: "After that we'll tour Europe with KAMELOT and do multiple headline shows throughout Europe. I'd never intended DELAIN to be a real touring band… but now that we've become one, I'm definitely enjoying it to the fullest. We're looking forward to seeing our fans again real soon!"

"April Rain" (cover) track listing:

01. April Rain
02. Stay Forever
03. Invidia
04. Control The Storm
05. On The Other Side
06. Virtue And Vice
07. Go Away
08. Start Swimming
09. Lost
10. I'll Reach You
11. Nothing Left

"April Rain" will also be available as a limited-edition digipack, including bonus content.

Finnish metal band NORTHER, which recently parted ways with longtime singer/guitarist Petri Lindroos, has issued the following update:

"NORTHER is now looking for a new full time singer. We are looking for a versatile, creative individual with high motivation and a preferable capability of singing in different styles.

"The person we are looking for must be at least 20 years of age and preferably live in Finland. Guitar playing skills are considered as an advantage but not necessary.

"If you feel you might be the one, please download the following instrumental version of our song 'Frozen Angel'. Return it to us with your own vocals recorded on top to singer@norther.net in MP3 format. You can download the song here, and the lyrics here. It is also possible to send a free-form audio or video sample of yourself.

"We offer the new singer a possibility to rock around the globe in an excellent team and enjoy the full benefits of being in an international heavy metal band.

"May the best one win, the search is on!!"

NORTHER explained its split with Petri Lindroos by saying in a statement, "NORTHER was forced to let Petri go to be able to continue. Petri's full-time engagement in ENSIFERUM increasingly prevented NORTHER from functioning as an active band."

Fan-filmed video footage of the Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based female-fronted band THE AGONIST performing two new songs — "Birds Elope With The Sun" and "When The Bough Breaks" — on March 8, 2009 at the Underworld in the group's hometown can be viewed below (clip uploaded by "IAMFeAR7").

THE AGONIST is preparing to film a video for the track "Thank You, Pain" with director David Brodsky, who has previously worked with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and BLEEDING THROUGH, among others. The song comes off the band's sophomore album, "Lullabies For A Dormant Mind", which is being released in North America today (March 10) through Century Media Records.

"Lullabies For A Dormant Mind" track listing:

01. The Tempest (The Siren's Song; The Banshee's Cry)
02. ...And Their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep
03. Thank You, Pain
04. Birds Elope With The Sun
05. Waiting Out The Winter
06. Martyr Art
07. Globus Hystericus
08. Swan Lake, Op. 20 – Scene, Act 2, #10 – Tchaikovsky (A Cappella)
09. The Sentient
10. When The Bough Breaks
11. Chlorpromazine

The a cappella version of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" is only one example of the band’s musical abilities as it impressively exhibits Alissa White-Gluz's mind-blowingly wide range of vocal skills and professionalism as a singer. Produced by Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, MYTHOSIS), "Lullabies for the Dormant Mind" exposes new facets of the band and touches upon classical, jazz, opera, grindcore, thrash and black metal influences in a complete metal opus. Featuring guest violins by Avi Ludmer (MAHOGANY RUSH), orchestrations by classical pianists Melina Soochan and Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc (BLACKGUARD) along with many other Montreal-based contributors, this album is refreshing to hear upon every listen. Following a dark, twisted yet beautiful, surrealist visual concept from Natalie Shau once again, THE AGONIST have created an uncomfortable yet addictive setting for their metal, like being awoken from a bad dream, or falling asleep to escape a nightmarish reality.

In an exclusive interview with Classic Rock's Dave Ling, NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen admitted that he had "a feeling of déjà vu" when the band's vocalist Anette Olzon, echoing her predecessor, recently announced her decision to hire a personal manager. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Classic Rock: The "Dark Passion Play" tour began in October 2007. Is the finish line in sight?

Holopainen: "It's on the far horizon, maybe. There's only another five months to go. It's been the band's longest and most exhausting tour; a real roller-coaster ride."

Classic Rock: By that you must mean Anette bursting into tears and walking off stage at a gig in Brazil last November (see video footage below), later claiming in an interview that "the stress and bad vibe within the band had reached a boiling point?"

Holopainen: "Yes, but I disagree about the bad vibe part. It was a combination of many different things. Everyone was getting along, but the schedule was too hard. The whole band, the technicians, everyone, was on the verge of collapse."

Classic Rock: What was meant by the explanation that Anette was "really not up to this kind of heavy shit right now"?

Holopainen: "She was being affected by a smoke machine, which isn't great for a singer. There were middle fingers in the front row, and some jerks were screaming the name of our former vocalist (Tarja Turunen). It all kind of closed in on her. But everybody's relaxed again now. We went home and had three months off the road. As simple as that."

Classic Rock: Did alarm bells ring when, echoing her predecessor, Olzon recently hired a personal manager (Swedish management company Hagenburg Management, which also represents EUROPE and THE CARDIGANS)?

Holopainen: "At the beginning I had a feeling of déjà vu. But when we discussed it I understood that she needs somebody who speaks her own language [Swedish]. Her manager is a very, very reasonable guy."

Classic Rock: How is she handling the fame?

Holopainen: "She has told me a couple of times that she might not be able to handle it, on top of her divorce. I've seen her close to collapse and it has scared me, so we are protecting her. There will be no more interviews."