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."

DEMONICAL, the Swedish death metal band featuring past and present members from CENTINEX, GRAVE, REGURGITATE, INTERMENT, AMARAN, WORLD BELOW and DELLAMORTE, will release its second full-length album, "Hellsworn", on May 15. The follow-up to 2007's "Servants of the Unlight" was recorded at Necromorbus Studios (WATAIN, SETHERIAL) and was mastered at Black Lounge Studios in late January.

Commented the group: "Finally we are done with the recording, mixing and mastering of 'Hellsworn'. It sure took ages and caused some frustration but I assure you, it was worth it. We are utterly satisfied with the final result, this old-school death metal slab in nine acts turned out exactly the way we wanted."

"Hellsworn" track listing:

01. Baptized in Fire
02. World Serpent
03. Infernal Void
04. Bloodridden
05. Götter des Nordens
06. Children of Sin
07. Death Metal Darkness
08. Bow to the Monolith
09. Hellsworn

The cover artwork for "Hellsworn" can be viewed here.

The "Northern Death Blow Tour 2009" — an 18-date crusade through Europe alongside Finnish TORTURE KILLER and Swedish FACEBREAKER — will kick off in Stockholm on May 15.

DEMONICAL last year announced the addition of Sverker "Widda" Widgren — also known for his guitar work with DIABOLICAL and as the co-owner of Necromorbus Studios — as the group's new full-time vocalist. His first "official" show with DEMONICAL took place on April 4, 2008 at Tantogården in Stockholm with NECROPHOBIC and SPAZMOSITY.

The band's debut album, "Servants of the Unlight", was released in April 2007 via Germany's Cyclone Empire Records. The group toured Europe with NUNSLAUGHTER and NOMINON, and took part in Germany's Up From The Ground festival. They also supported GRAVE on select Scandinavian dates.

Progressive metal veterans DREAM THEATER have announced BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS as the title of their tenth studio album. The band commenced work on the album – their second for Roadrunner Records, following up 2007's Systematic Chaos — in October of last year.

Roadrunner will release the record on June 23. In addition to the standard version CD, the album will also be available on vinyl LP, as well as a three-disc Special Edition CD that will include the full album, a CD of instrumental mixes of the album and a CD of six cover songs, the titles of which will be revealed at a later date.

Six weeks prior to the June 23 street date, Roadrunner will release one cover song per week through digital retailers.

Drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci are once again at the helm as producers, while Paul Northfield mixed the record.

The band will embark on a world tour in support of the album beginning in Europe throughout June which will be followed by the second edition of the band’s PROGRESSIVE NATION tour featuring Zappa Plays Zappa, Pain Of Salvation and Beardfish throughout North America in July/August.

A video for the first single, "A Rite of Passage" will be shot in late March.

The track listing for BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS (cover) is as follows:

1. A Nightmare to Remember
2. A Rite of Passage
3. Wither
4. The Shattered Fortress
5. The Best of Times
6. The Count of Tuscany

Australia's THE BERZERKER has inked an exlusive distribution deal with Riot! Entertainment to release "The Reawakening", previously only available via the band's web site.

THE BERZERKER's fifth album, was originally released last year through the group's self-run record label, Berzerker Industries.

"The Reawakening" (cover) track listing:

01. Spare Parts
02. Internal Examination
03. Caught In The Crossfire
04. Harvesting A Loved One
05. The Deception
06. Your Final Seconds
07. The Evolution Of Aggression
08. Unforgotten Force
09. Disassembly Line
10. Wisdom And Corruption

THE BERZERKER recently tapped Tim Aldridge (ex-ABRAMELIN) as its new guitarist.

THE BERZERKER previously released four full-length albums — "The Berzerker" (2000), "Dissimulate" (2002), "World of Lies" (2005) and "Animosity" (2007) — through Earache Records. During the early part of their career as a live act, band members were identified only as The Vocalist, The Guitarist, The Bassist and The Drummer, distinguishable on stage only by the intricate monster masks they wore. However, the group has since abandoned this concept. A DVD documentary, "The Principles and Practices of The Berzerker" (2004), includes several hours of live concert footage, as well as the first public images of the band members without their monster masks.

Most of the band's music videos have been banned from broadcast for reasons such as the possible epileptic fit-inducing imagery contained in the video "Forever", and the horrific imagery of "Reality". The latter features graphic images of cadavers and body parts, along with appearances from the band themselves.

On March 10, Swedish prog-metal giants OPETH kicked off an eight-date tour of Norway. The trek includes stops in major cities Oslo and Bergen but also covers smaller towns like Volda and Sogndal. The tour was arranged by Rikskonsertene, a Norwegian state-sponsored organization that normally handles events featuring jazz, classical and folk artists.

Kristin Stoltz Thomassen, the information consultant at Rikskonsertene, tells Norwegian music industry magazine Faro Journalen that the OPETH tour is part of an initiative Rikskonsertene is doing with the pop and rock genres.

"This project is supposed to bring established artists to a young and energetic audiences around Norway, especially in smaller places where promotors would not normally be able to bring artists," he says. "Young people and students get the chance to see artists they otherwise would not be able to see.

"OPETH has been on our radar for a long time, and with the success of the 'Watershed' album, ongoing touring and a dedicated fanbase, we regard this as a jackpot, but also the result of focused work."

Espen Slapgård, the promotion manager at Tuba Distrubution, which distributes OPETH's record label, Roadrunner Records, in Norway, is enthusiastic about the cooperation with Rikskonsertene.

"This is gold for the promotion of 'Watershed'," he says. "The tour enhances the lifespan of the album, and the effect of having eight dates with OPETH around the country is invaluable. We make the band more visible through interviews and stories in both local, regional and national media. We have now reactivated 'Watershed' and the six other OPETH albums we have in our back catalog."

"Watershed" reached position No. 7 on the Norwegian album chart in 2008, and has sold 3,500 copies in Norway. The band's previous album, "Ghost Reveries", peaked at No. 21 on the Norwegian chart and has shifted 6,000 units to date.

Holland's Mascot Records has set a May 29 release date for "Hubris I & II", the first-ever solo album from SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser. A two-disc set, the self-produced effort was recorded in part at A Voz do Brasil studio in São Paulo, Brazil.

Kisser previously stated about the album, "I'm very pleased with the result and I'm excited to hear it all done. It was a long process, a learning process and a great experience. It's a musical journey trough the influences I had for last 15 years of my life and at the same time it's very different from everything I did so far."

"Hubris" comes from Greek word "hybris," which means "excessive pride, wanton violence."

Check out the "Hubris I & II" artwork here.

"Hubris I & II" track listing:

I:

01. Protest!
02. Euphoria/Desperation
03. Eu Humano
04. The Forum
05. Virgulândia
06. God's Laugh
07. R.H.E.T.
08. Em Busca Do Ouro
09. Lava Sky
10. A Million Judas Iscariotes

II:

01. Sad Soil
02. Worlds Apart
03. Breast Feeding
04. Page
05. Domenicana
06. Vivaldi
07. 0120
08. Armonia
09. Hubris
10. Mythos
11. O Mais Querido

The song "R.H.E.T." is now available for streaming on Andreas' MySpace page.

U.K. gothic metal icons PARADISE LOST have issued the following update:

"PARADISE LOST are in the planning stages to release an illustrated, strictly limited-edition book entitled "No Celebration" (cover). The book will contain a detailed history of the band, as well as being packed with unseen artwork and extras.

"If you would like this book to be produced, please show your support by heading over to this location (which also contains more details on the book) and registering. This is not a pre-order at this stage, we would simply like to gauge how much interest there is.

"Please remember, if there isn't enough support shown for this project then the book will not be produced — so get your names down!"

Former KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has selected the following musicians for his touring band:

Andrew Gerold (Sandusky, Ohio) - Guitar
Ralph Patlan (Tempe, Arizona) - Guitar
Michael Valentine (Huntington, Virginia) - Bass
Dan Johnson (Fairfax, Virginia) - Drums

A U.S. trek is tentatively scheduled to kick off late spring.

Welch's solo album, "Save Me From Myself", sold 7,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 63 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on September 9 through Driven Music Group (distribution by Ryko/Warner Music Group), the label Welch co-founded with music execs Greg Shanaberger and Mark Nawara.

"Save Me From Myself" was produced by Head, who recorded the music off and on for the past two years in Phoenix, Arizona. It features renowned musicians Tony Levin (PETER GABRIEL, DAVID BOWIE) and Josh Freese (A PERFECT CIRCLE, NINE INCH NAILS), and was mixed by Ralph Patlan and Bob Clearmountain. It's a testimony of Head's life as he battled with drug addiction and leaving KORN, and finding spirituality.

SONS OF SEASONS — the new progressive/symphonic metal band led by keyboardist/guitarist Oliver Palotai (KAMELOT, DORO) — will release its debut album, "Gods Of Vermin", via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Apr. 29 - Finland, Spain
Apr. 30 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Sweden
May 04 - Rest of Europe
May 19 - USA, Canada

The album will be available as a regular jewel case and a limited-edition dipack featuring a bonus track.

"Gods Of Vermin" was mixed at Mastersound Studios in Fellbach, Germany. EPICA singer Simone Simons — who happens to be Oliver Palotai's girlfriend — has confirmed that she makes a guest appearance on the album.

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

"Gods Of Vermin" track listing:

01. The Place Where I Hide
02. Gods of Vermin
03. A Blind Man's Resolution
04. Fallen Family
05. The Piper
06. Wheel Of Guilt
07. Belial's Tower
08. Fall Of Byzanz
09. Wintersmith
10. Dead Man's Shadows
11. Sanatorim Song
12. Third Moon Rising
13. Melanchorium (bonus track; digipack only)

SONS OF SEASONS is:

Oliver Palotai (KAMELOT, DORO, BLAZE) - Keyboards, Guitar
Daniel Schild (BLAZE) - Drums
Jürgen Steinmetz - Bass
Henning Basse (METALIUM, FIREWIND) - Vocals

Legendary Swedish guitarist YNGWIE MALMSTEEN has just released an all-instrumental acoustic album, "Angels Of Love" (Rising Force Records), containing rearrangements of his ballad songs played on acoustic guitar and string and choir arrangements only. It is a masterpiece showing the tender, delicate version of his classic songs as well as a new composition.

Check out audio samples on Yngwie's MySpace page.

According to a press release, "'Angels Of Love' is the instrumental version of the best Yngwie Malmsteen love songs played on acoustic guitar and keyboards only. It is a master piece showing the tender, delicate version of his classic songs which will appeal to all adult consumers who are into romantic/new age and instrumental songs as well as Yngwie Malmsteen fans and rock music fans alike."

"Angels Of Love" track listing:

01. Forever One
02. Like An Angel
03. Crying
04. Brothers
05. Memories
06. Save Our Love
07. Ocean Sonata
08. Miracle Of Life
09. Sorrow
10. Prelude To April

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN will release two DVDs via Rising Force Records on March 24 — "Live Animal" and "Live In Budokan".

Video footage of the reunited original lineup of LIMP BIZKIT — Fred Durst, Wes Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and DJ Lethal — rehearsing for its upcoming world tour on March 9-10, 2009 can be viewed below.

LIMP BIZKIT announced last month its decision to return from an eight-year hiatus. Durst and Borland said in a joint statement, "We decided we were more disgusted and bored with the state of heavy popular music than we were with each other. Regardless of where our separate paths have taken us, we recognize there is a powerful and unique energy with this particular group of people we have not found anywhere else. This is why LIMP BIZKIT is back."

The guys will kick off a world tour in the spring on the overseas festival circuit, with headline shows sprinkled in throughout Europe. Select dates include (in late May) Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltic countries where LIMP BIZKIT has never played before despite huge demand, along with major festivals like Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in Germany. A new album, which would be the original group's first full-length effort since 2000, is also planned.

Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have posted an extended five-minute preview clip (see here) of their new CD/DVD, "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)".

Due on March 13 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)" will contain a DVD documentary (with a running time of approximately 45 minutes) 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 issued a digital-only collection of demos and B-sides titled "The Sound of Nightwish Reborn", on September 2, 2008. This release, which clocks in at nearly 70 minutes of music, retains "must-have" status for all NIGHTWISH diehards, since it includes a bevy of exclusive material, such as demo versions of songs from the "Dark Passion Play" sessions that were recorded prior to singer Anette Olzon joining the band and that feature Marco Tapani Hietala handling the vocals, as well as B-sides.

AVA INFERI, the Portugal-based band whose lineup includes Norwegian guitarist Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. ex-MAYHEM guitarist/songwriter Blasphemer), will release its third album, "Blood Of Bacchus", on May 25 via via France's Season Of Mist.

The final track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Truce
02. Last Sign Of Summer
03. Colours Of The Dark
04. Black Wings
05. Appeler Les Loups
06. Be Damned
07. Tempestade
08. Blood Of Bacchus
09. Memoirs

The album features guest appearances by Kristoffer Rygg (ULVER), Live Kostöl (PANTHEON I), Fredrik Söderlind (PUISSENCE) and the "amazing piano talent" Arne Martinussen.

The band says, "Be prepared for approximately 54 minutes of pure and honest inspiration."

According to Metalfan.nl, Dutch female-fronted symponic metallers EPICA will release a double live CD, titled "The Classical Conspiracy", on May 2 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album was recorded in Miskolc, Hungary, on June 14 2008 during the Miskolc International Opera Festival. The band performed a 45-minute set of metal adaptations of classical songs and movie soundtracks, accompanied by the orchestra and choir as well as symphonic versions of its own songs (including a few orchestral songs from singles and "The Score", which had never been played live before).

"The Classical Conspiracy" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Palladium
02. Dies Irae
03. Ombra Mai Fu
04. Adagio
05. Spiderman Medley
06. Presto
07. Montagues & Capulets
08. The Imperial March
09. Stabat Mater Dolorosa
10. Unholy Trinity
11. In The Hall Of The Mountain King
12. Pirates Of The Caribbean
13. Indigo
14. The Last Crusade
15. Sensorium
16. Quietus
17. Chasing The Dragon
18. Feint

CD 2:

01. Never Enough
02. Beyond Belief
03. Cry For The Moon
04. Safeguard To Paradise
05. Blank Infinity
06. Living A Lie
07. The Phantom Agony
08. Sancta Terra
09. Illusive Consensus
10. Consign To Oblivion

After finishing several heralded world tours as HEAVEN & HELL last summer, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice were tighter than ever before, both musically and personally.

Agreeing that it would be a shame to stop making music together at tour's end, the quartet began writing, first in England at Iommi's home studio and later in Los Angeles at Dio's studio. "The band had gotten too good to just walk away," Dio says. "We wanted to show people that we were still capable of giving them new music that measured up to what we'd done in the past."

With that goal in mind, the band once again converged on Rockfield Studios in Wales last winter, the same place they used 17 years earlier to record their last album, "Dehumanizer". The result is the long-awaited new album, "The Devil You Know", featuring 10 soon-to-be-classic tracks from the Dio-fronted version of BLACK SABBATH. The highly anticipated set arrives on April 28 from Rhino for a suggested list price of $18.98 (physical) and $9.99 (digital).

It took less than three weeks to finish the album, with most of the songs only needing a couple of takes. "It was good to play them live in the studio. It keeps you on edge," Iommi says. "I mean, somewhere along the line we were gonna have to play them live; might as well start in the studio." Butler adds: "We've learned from the past that you can kill a song doing it over and over. The first SABBATH albums were done in two or three days. Technically they weren't great, but vibe-wise they were great. If you capture that feeling, that's all you need."

"Bible Black", the epic first single, begins with Iommi on acoustic guitar behind Dio's plaintive wail before the rhythm shifts to a menacing stomp for the rest of this dark tale about a book of sinister scriptures. One of the first songs written for the album, Dio says it established a tone for the rest of the album. "When you start off with a blockbuster like that, it makes the rest of the album so much easier because it gives you a benchmark to measure the other songs against."

Iommi proves he hasn't lost the ability to inspire six-string envy, unleashing riffs like a pack of rabid hellhounds on "Atom And Evil", "Fear", "Neverwhere", and "Eating The Cannibals", a tune about doing more than biting the hand that feeds. Butler and Appice slow the pace while ramping up the intensity on "Follow The Tears" and "Double The Pain" and "Breaking Into Heaven", the latter diverging from its glacial procession for Dio's majestic chorus about fallen angels planning an attack on paradise.

"The Devil You Know" (cover) track listing:

01. Atom And Evil
02. Fear
03. Bible Black
04. Double The Pain
05. Rock And Roll Angel
06. The Turn Of The Screw
07. Eating The Cannibals
08. Follow The Tears
09. Neverwhere
10. Breaking Into Heaven

Germany's death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN have set "Bildersturm – Iconoclast II (The Visual Resistance)" as the title of their first DVD.

Commented guitarist Maik Weichert: "We can’t believe that we now have the chance to finally hold our first DVD in our hands!!! We did not expect that it would be so much hard work to get it done, but, of course, it also was loads of fun to put this together.

"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.

"Bildersturm – Iconoclast II (The Visual Resistance)" will be available in three different formats, one of them being a limited and very special edition threedisc box-set. A late May release via Century Media Records is expected.

In other news, HEAVEN SHALL BURN has finished filming a new 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). The clip is expected to make its online debut soon.

Spinefarm Records has just released a new digital single from former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen entitled "Enough". The single features the title track plus the bonus song "Wisdom Of Wind"; both cuts are brand new recordings, although it's yet to be determined if they will feature on the singer's second full studio album under the Tarja banner.

Check out the "Enough" artwork here.

Tarja Turunen has set "What Lies Beneath" as the working title of her new solo CD, tentatively due before the end of the year. She says, "With [2007's] 'My Winter Storm', I chose the name of the album in the early stages and that helped me to create the concept for the album. With the new album, I decided to do it the same way, so I searched for an inspiring title and all the songs are one way or another related to it."

Regarding the songwriting process for the new CD, Turunen says, "In the last months I've been writing a lot of music for my new album. Songwriting is always an amazing learning experience, and it has been a pleasure to discuss music with different people.

"The album process is still going on and I have more songs that are in the working. It is sounding very promising. The songs are absolutely more mature, wild, and emotional and they sound more me, if I can say so.

"The biggest difference in preparing this new album is that I will be taking the time that I need until the songs are in a shape that I am happy with. No matter how long it takes. I want it to be perfect for me. No hurry; no pressure."

Tarja's album "My Winter Storm" was re-released on January 2. This double CD "extended special edition" is packed with 32 tracks, including the CD "My Winter Storm" with the addition of the song "The Seer" in its original version. The bonus disc presents several new tracks, remixes and live recordings. Among them, the brand new song "Enough" and "The Seer", this time featuring a duet with German rock star Doro Pesch. Both tracks were mixed at Resonate Recording Studios by Toby Wright (SLAYER, KORN, KISS, ALICE IN CHAINS). Also included is the previously unreleased track "Wisdom Of Wind", composed by Jeff Rona and Lisa Gerrard and featuring the Beijing Philharmonic with Qingdao Symphony Orchestra recorded in China. The two-CD set is available as a digipack deluxe edition including an exclusive poster, new album cover and enhanced booklet containing new photos.

As an appetizer of "My Winter Storm Special Extended Edition", a limited-edition collector's item 11-track EP "The Seer" was released on December 1 in the U.K. only.

German hard rock oufit SINNER (featuring PRIMAL FEAR members Mat Sinner and Henny Wolter) will play a joint show with PRIMAL FEAR in Moscow, Russia on April 4 at the 1 Rock Club. The band has also been confirmed for the Rock City Festival in Fetesti, Romania on August 20. According to a posting on SINNER's MySpace page, the group is also working on a South American tour in August, again with PRIMAL FEAR.

In other news, SINNER played its first "unplugged" show at the end of February in Würzburg at a private birthday party for the band's former manager, Manfred Hertlein, who is one of the biggest concert promoters in Germany. Also on the bill was Bobby Kimball of TOTO.

Commented the group: "It was a great feeling to play this stuff in totally new versions and with a different vibe. Maybe we will find the time to play some very special unplugged shows around Xmas! You never know..."

A two-minute video trailer for "What Doesn't Kill Me…", the new album from Hungarian hardcore/thrash metallers EKTOMORF, can be viewed here. Due on March 20 via AFM Records, the CD was recorded at Antfarm Studio in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, THE HAUNTED). "You can expect a very strong and punchy new EKTOMORF album," guitarist/vocalist Zoltán Farkas previously said.

In addition to the standard CD, there will be a limited digipack which will include one bonus track. Furthermore, AFM Records will release a limited fan box containing the digipack version of the album, an EKTOMORF sticker and a necklace with the EKTOMORF band logo.

"What Doesn't Kill Me…" (cover) track listing:

01. Rat War
02. Nothing Left
03. What Doesn't Kill Me...
04. Revenge To All
05. Love And Live
06. Can See You
07. I Got It All
08. New Life
09. Sick Of It All
10. It's Up To You
11. Envy
12. Scream
13. Breed The Fire

"It's Up To You", the new video from EKTOMORF, can be viewed here.

The band's last album, entitled "Outcast", was released in October 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Antfarm Studios in Aarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen and features a cover of the PRODIGY classic "Fuel My Fire".

Dutch rock outfit THE GATHERING has recruited Silje Wergeland from the Norwegian band OCTAVIA SPERATI as its new lead vocalist. 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 new THE GATHERING LP, '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" (cover) 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 power metal band CELESTY has posted two new songs — "Fading Away" and "Like Warriors" — on its MySpace page. Both cuts come off the group's fourth full-length album, "Vendetta", which will be released in Finland on March 18 (via Spinefarm Records) and in Japan on March 20. The CD features eleven tracks and over sixty minutes of music.

Samu Oittinen began mixing the album in early December, which proved to be a daunting task: At times there are over 300 tracks playing. The epic soundscape is reinforced by an orchestra consisting of musicians from the Tampere City Orchestra, and a professional choir. The orchestration and the choir parts were arranged and produced by the conductor Kalevi Olli, renowned for his work with the Finnish National Opera.

"Vendetta" track listing:

01. Prelude for Vendetta
02. Euphoric Dream
03. Greed & Vanity
04. Like Warriors
05. Autumn Leaves
06. Feared by Dawn
07. Lord (Of This Kingdom)
08. New Sin
09. Dark Emotions
10. Fading Away
11. Legacy of Hate Pt. 3
- Candlelight
- Shadow Land
- Chaos and Destruction (instrumental)
- Feelings
12. Gates of Tomorrow (Japanese bonus track)

The cover artwork for "Vendetta" can be viewed here.

CELESTY filmed a video for the song "Fading Away" last weekend in Ylöjärvi with director Markus Nieminen of Routafilmi.

The CD features guest appearances by Stephan Lill (VANDEN PLAS) and Elias Viljanen (SONATA ARCTICA). Suvi-Tuuli Dietrich (ESCAPE) has contributed female vocals to the album.

CELESTY's third full-length effort, "Mortal Mind Creation", was released on October 30, 2006 via Dockyard 1.

CELESTY is:

Antti Railio - Vocals
Teemu Koskela - Guitar
Tapani Kangas - Guitar
Ari Katajamäki - Bass
Jere Luokkamäki - Drums
Juha Mäenpää - Keyboards

Santa Barbara, California's DEVILDRIVER recently completed recording its fourth album, "Pray For Villains", tentatively due on July 14 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded at Edge of the Earth studios in Los Angeles with producer Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY)

Commented DEVILDRIVER vocalist Dez Fafara: "I've been doing a shitload of listening of mixes. Got back from the studio late last night. Logan and I spent about 10 hours just fine-tuning some low-end issues and worked on the kick-drum tone. It's getting close. Some of this stuff is gonna be really hard to pull off for me live. I had a hard time in the studio environment so I know it's gonna be a bitch. Everyone has got it rougher this time around. Can't wait for you to hear it."

DEVILDRIVER recently re-signed with Roadrunner Records after previously issuing three full-length albums through the label. In addition, the band has secured a new management company in the shape of Davis Entertainment Group.

DEVILDRIVER's last album, 2007's "The Last Kind Words", has sold around 70,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That CD shifted a little more than 14,000 copies during its first week of release to debut at No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart. This figure represented around a 40 percent increase over the opening-week number of 2005's "The Fury of Our Maker's Hand", which premiered at No. 177 with sales of 10,400.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons' long-promised box set of previously unreleased solo material, which has apparently had several different working titles over the years — including "Monster" and "100" — will finally see the light of day in 2009. Responding to a fan's letter in the letters section of his official web site, Gene writes, "I've always written 'outside' stuff, but KISS is KISS. And that means the outside stuff winds up on solo albums, or I keep it in the drawer. This year, I plan on releasing 'Alter Ego', a box set of unreleased songs...about 150 of 'em. You'll hear more 'outside' stuff. "

Simmons' sophomore solo album, "Asshole", sold around 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release back in 2004 to land at position No. 86 on The Billboard 200 chart. Like Gene's 1978 self-titled solo album, "Asshole" featured a number of outside songwriting contributions and guest appearances. Bob Dylan and Gene co-wrote the album's "Waiting For The Morning Light". Frank Zappa and Gene share co-writing credit on "Black Tongue" and the Zappa Family, Dweezil, Ahmet, Moon, Gail and Frank Zappa himself sing and play guitar on the song. Other guests featured on the album include Dave Navarro, ex-KISS members Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer, Simmons Records/Sanctuary Music Group signing BAG, as well as Gene's longtime live-in Shannon Tweed and their two children, Sophie and Nicholas.