Massachusetts metallers SHADOWS FALL are said to be planning to release their new album in U.S./Canada independently through a deal with Independent Label Group, which is composed of Warner Music Group's Asylum Records and East West Records.

SHADOWS FALL's latest effort, "Threads of Life", was made available through Atlantic Records in the U.S. and Roadrunner Records in Europe. The CD shifted around 100,000 copies in the United States since its April 2007 release — a fraction of the 300,000-plus sales total achieved by its predecessor, 2004's "The War Within", which was issued by Century Media.

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner recently stated about the band's new material, "The songs are a little more on the darker, angry side... lots of heaviness, lots of crazy guitar, and LOTS of room for me to have some fun. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be the best performance of my career, so far, and I owe that to my guys for bringing me incredible riffs to write killer drum parts to."

Australian progressive folk metal band IRONWOOD has announced the release of its debut album, ":Fire:Water:Ash:".

Drawing deeply on their spiritual and musical heritage, IRONWOOD has produced a richly emotive and darkly atmospheric epic that is equal parts organic folk music and blackened progressive metal.

Following on from an overwhelming response to the band's self-titled debut EP, Ironwood'd 70-minute debut was recorded at a number of Sydney studios and was mastered by Oscar Gaona at Studios 301.

"This release represents the culmination of some five years of musical and spiritual exploration," stated Henry Lauer (vocals, six-string bass). "We strove to meld the disparate influences of animism, heathenism, grief and creative exploration. We sought the mystery and ':Fire:Water:Ash:' is the result."

The lineup is completed by Dan Nahum (drums), Matthew Raymond (vocals, guitars) and Phil Brown (vocals, guitars).

The first of several album launches occurs in Canberra, ACT on February 7 at The Basement with support from NEVETHERYM, THE VEIL, FUTILITY and TRANQUIL DECEPTION; additional launches in major Australian cities are scheduled for early-mid 2009.

Presented in a lush digipack format, ":Fire:Water:Ash:" can now be bought direct from the band's web site and MySpace page, and will soon be available through select distributors, including CDbaby.com.

Italian alternative/industrial rockers DOPE STARS INC. will release a new "double-feature EP" entitled "Criminal Intents / Morning Star" on April 20 via Subsound Records (Italy), Trisol (Europe) and Metropolis Records (USA, Canada). This brand new EP, produced, recorded and mixed by Victor Love at Subsound Studio during the new album sessions, will feature two tracks from the upcoming CD (which is due in June) and two additional exclusive cuts among a massive load of remixes by bands such as KMFDM, MORTIIS, GOTHMINISTER and SPIRITUAL FRONT. The EP will also include a cover version of CLAN OF XYMOX's "Jasmine and Rose", recorded in the early days and never released before, and the original demo version of "Vyperpunk". The EP will be released in Europe as a two-panel digipack and in USA/Canada as a jewel case with a four-page booklet and full lyrics.

"Criminal Intents / Morning Star" EP track listing:

01. Criminal Intents
02. Digital Warriors
03. Morning Star
04. Nothing Is Left
05. Lost (remixed by KMFDM)
06. Can you Imagine (remixed by Gothminister)
07. Braindamage (Scumsuckers mix by Mortiis)
08. Lost (remixed by Lovecrave)
09. Braindamage (remixed by Deflore)
10. Can You Imagine (SPIRITUAL FRONT cover)
11. Bang Your Head (remixed by Reverend Hellbastard)
12. Braindamage (remixed by Crossbreed)
13. Can You Imagine (remixed by Violent Diva)
14. Jasmine & Rose (CLAN OF XYMOX cover)
15. Vyperpunk (demo version)

DOPE STARS INC.'s latest CD, "Gigahearts", was released in November 2006.

Tampa, Florida-based grindcore act SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY has posted a new song, "10,000 Sermons, 1 Solution", on the group's MySpace page. The track comes off the band's Nuclear Blast debut, "The Grand Partition and the Abrogation of Idolatry", which is scheduled for release in Europe on April 3 (early May in the United States). The LP was produced, mixed and mastered by guitarist-turned-producer James Murphy (DEATH, TESTAMENT, OBITUARY) and contains 13 tracks of what James considers to be his "best production to date".

"10,000 Sermons, 1 Solution" was featured on Nuclear Blast's "Newcomer Assault" compilation, as well as the January 2009 Metal Maniacs compilation.

Commented guitarist/co-vocalist Ian Sturgill: "'10,000 Sermons, 1 Solution' tells the story of verbal diarrhea surrounding the simplest of concepts. Personal responsibilities lending themselves to dissolution by means of relinquishing one's power and money to organizations that masquerade in your best interest, all the while leaving you powerless to help yourself in the most elementary of ways. The song's sound reflects the story: It's a straightfoward ass-kicker with a twist."

"The Grand Partition and the Abrogation of Idolatry" track listing:

01. 10,000 Sermons, 1 Solution
02. The Realization That Mankind is Viral in Its Nature
03. Cattle
04. Agenda
05. Pity the Living, Envy the Dead
06. Despot
07. A Path
08. Automated Oration and the Abolition of Silence
09. One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy
10. Colossus
11. Retrograde and the Anointed
12. Of Worms, Jesus Christ, and Jackson County Missouri
13. The Tamagotchi Gesture

Check out the album artwork below.

S.W.W.A.A.T.S. features former members of BODIES IN THE GEARS OF THE APPARATUS and DEHUMANIZED. Drums on "The Grand Partition and the Abrogation of Idolatry" were handled by Mike Heller of MALIGNANCY.

SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY has been confirmed for the Thrash and Burn Europan tour alongside BLEEDING THROUGH, DARKEST HOUR, BENEATH THE MASSACRE, CARNIFEX, WAR FROM A HARLOTS MOUTH and ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS.

German guitarist Michael Schenker (MSG, UFO, SCORPIONS) has told the guitar blog Guitar Legends that his forthcoming acoustic album with singer Gary Barden, "Gypsy Lady", is tentatively scheduled for release in April. Asked where the idea of recording an acoustic LP came from, Michael said, "[it] came from my curiosity [about] how my acoustic instrumental work would sound with vocals. So Gary had a go on some of my latest material and I was happily suprised with the outcome. We continued and it turned out very well."

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG) will embark on a North American tour in late March.

The group's lineup for the trek will consist of the following musicians:

Michael Schenker - Guitar
Gary Barden - Lead Vocals
Robbie Crane (RATT) - Bass, Vocals
Chris Slade (AC/DC, THE FIRM) - Drums
Wayne Findlay - Keyboards, Guitar

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's latest album, "In The Midst Of Beauty", was released on May 13, 2008 via Inakustic GMBH. The CD features returning MSG singer Gary Barden, drummer Simon Philips (THE WHO, TOTO), bassist Neil Murray (BLACK SABBATH, WHITESNAKE) and keyboardist Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE, OZZY OSBOURNE).

Chicago/Peoria, Illinois quartet MINSK has issued the following update:

"We just wrapped up the recording of a brand new full length album at Volume Studios in Chicago. Circumstances would have it that we chose the two coldest weeks of the year to record the new album. Seventeen degrees below zero one night as I was leaving the studio. Immense amounts of coffee, cough drops, and anxiety medications were consumed, and bodies and brains were pushed near the breaking point time and time again. Sanford [Parker] once again produced this beast, and when it's all said and done, it will be released sometime this summer on Relapse Records under the moniker 'With Echoes in the Movement of Stone'. We can't wait for you all to hear it.

"In addition, we will be heading to the Netherlands in April for the Roadburn Festival. This year's lineup is mind blowing, and we're so excited to be a part of it. Too many incredible bands to even mention the highlights. MINSK will be playing on Thursday, April 23. Following the festival, we plan to remain in Europe for a full tour. Details will be announced as they become available.

"On a final note, we wanted to take a second to mention many thanks and well wishes to our old and new friends and labelmates BARONESS and COLLISEUM. Our tour with them back in November was an absolute blast, and exactly what we needed before bracing for the Midwestern winter and these recording sessions. Both of those bands are world class, and it was a treat to spend a couple weeks with such awesome people.

"We will be re-emerging at the end of the month for a few regional shows, including local shows in Chicago and Peoria."

MINSK's second album, "The Ritual Fires of Abandonment", was released in February 2007. The CD's cover was designed by Orion Landau (ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY, HIGH ON FIRE).

Progressive Norwegian black metal band ULVER will perform at the Norwegian Festival of Literature on Saturday, May 30 at Maihaugsalen in Lillehammer, Norway.

Once among the pioneers of Norwegian black metal, now living legends of dark experimental music, ULVER is one of Norway's most acclaimed international artists. While remaining something of a secret treasure back home, a long series of strong releases, most recently the album "Shadows of the Sun" (2007), has earned them a unique status worldwide.

ULVER has, since its first album, been exclusively a studio band. This being their first live performance in 15 years, the concert at Lillehammer is a historic event.

Commented the group in a statement: "Last year Mr. Stig Sæterbakken approached us with an offer to play live at the Norwegian Festival of Literature, and after long consideration we have decided to accept the invitation. We go to the job with great humility and horror."

Multi-platinum hard-rock band METALLICA will release "The Complete Metallica" — a digital "box set" containing their entire official discography, exclusively via iTunes beginning March 31. The package will be available from all other digital service providers beginning April 28.

"The Complete Metallica" is a great way for new and long-term fans to purchase the band's entire official catalog , with 163 tracks for a great value. The box set includes all of METALLICA's studio albums — 1983's "Kill 'Em All", 1984's "Ride the Lightning", 1986's "Master of Puppets", 1988's "...And Justice for All", and the five consecutive No. 1 albums 1991's "Metallica", 1996's "Load", 1997's "Reload", 2003's "St. Anger", and the current blockbuster, the Grammy Award-winning "Death Magnetic". It also includes their double album of covers, 1998's "Garage Inc.", the 1999 live album "S&M", the 2004 EP "Some Kind of Monster" (from the documentary of the same title), the 2007 EP "Live From Live Earth", and "I Disappear" from the 2000 "Mission Impossible 2" soundtrack. In addition, buyers will receive eight bonus live tracks: "The Four Horseman", "Whiplash", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Creeping Death", "Battery", "The Thing That Should Not Be", "One", and "...And Justice For All".

"The Complete Metallica" will be released during a high-profile period for the Los Angeles-based hard-rock heroes. On March 29, Activision will release the highly anticipated video game Guitar Hero: Metallica, featuring 28 songs from the band's nearly 30-year career. In addition, METALLICA will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, which honors legendary rock and roll performers, in a ceremony to take place in Cleveland on April 4.

METALLICA has just completed its first proper tour of the United States and Canada in four years in support of the platinum-selling "Death Magnetic", which debuted at No. 1 in September 2008 and won two Grammy Awards for "Best Metal Performance" (for the track "My Apocalypse") and "Best Recording Package." They are currently on an extensive European tour.

Jens Pohl, the webmaster for German metal legends RUNNING WILD, has issued the following update:

"It's been already almost four years since 'The Revivalry - A Tribute To Running Wild' hit the light. Soon after that, its success began to grow progressively and it significantly led to the idea that a tribute album brought to a different level should come out, especially by bringing cover songs from the newer albums by RUNNING WILD. And this time it is going to be like this!

"The second, yet-untitled tribute album will contain exclusively cover songs from 'The Rivalry' [1998], 'Victory' [2000], 'The Brotherhood' [2002] and 'Rogues En Vogue' [2005] and is scheduled to be released tentatively in fall this year. The artwork will be done by Romanian graphic artist Costin Chioreanu, who worked for bands like ABSU, CENTINEX, DEMONICAL, NEGURA BUNGET, THUNDERSTORM and many others.

"We are proud to announce already the first bands, who will definitely be part of this album:

* CRYSTAL VIPER (Poland)
* ORDEN OGAN (Germany)
* SKILTRON (Argentina)
* THUNDERSTORM (Romania)

"More bands and the songs they are about to cover will be announced soon.

"If you feel that your band needs to participate here as well, please feel free to apply. The deadline for any contribution is set to August 15, 2009.

"For further information, write to jens[at]running-wild.net."

RUNNING WILD released a "best of" compilation, entitled "Best of Adrian", in November 2006 via G.U.N. Records. The set includes selections covering the previous nine years of the band's recording history (while they've been signed to the G.U.N. label).

Long-running Australian heavy metal band PEGAZUS has issued the following update:

"We are very pleased to confirm that the original PEGAZUS frontman Justin Fleming has returned to the band. Justin has been spending most of his time since leaving the band acting and singing on stage and screen so we are very excited to have his stage presence and huge voice drive PEGAZUS forward like never before!"

Poland's Metal Mind Productions reissued three albums from PEGAZUS on July 7, 2008 in Europe and August 5, 2008 in North America (via MVD): "Wings of Destiny" (1998), "Breaking The Chains" (1999) and "The Headless Horseman" (2002). Each limited-edition digipack title (limited to 2,000 copies) contains "rare and hard-to-find" bonus tracks along with extended booklets and liner notes and will be made available on golden disc, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology.

NACHTGESCHREI, one of the more recent addition to the "medieval folk metal" genre, which is predominantly successful in Germany with flag-carriers such as IN EXTREMO, SUBWAY TO SALLY, TANZWUT, and SCHANDMAUL, will release its second album, "Am Rande der Welt", on March 20 via Massacre Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Fiur
02. Muspilli
03. Herz aus Stein
04. Fernweh
05. Niob
06. Lauf!
07. Windfahrt
08. Nur ein kleines Stück vom Himmel
09. Wahrheit
10. Der Totmacher
11. Glut in euren Augen

Check out songs from the album at this location.

Dutch female-fronted metallers AUTUMN have made their entire fourth studio album, "Altitude", available for streaming on their MySpace page. The CD is being released on February 13 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy) and February 27 (rest of Europe) via Metal Blade Records.

"Altitude" was recorded at Arno Krabman's Graveland Studio and was mixed and mastered by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES) at Split Second Sound.

The limited first edition of "Altitude" will be made available as a digipak including an exclusive bonus track.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Paradise Nox
02. Liquid Under Film Noir
03. Skydancer
04. Synchro-Minds
05. The Heart Demands
06. A Minor Dance
07. Cascade (For A Day)
08. Horizon Line
09. Sulphur Rodents
10. Answers Never Questioned
11. Altitude

Bonus track:

12. Closure

"Hordes Of Chaos", the new video from German thrash metal veterans KREATOR, can be viewed below (Note: Video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.) The clip was shot on November 2 in Berlin, Germany with director Jörn Heitmann (RAMMSTEIN), who has also worked on the band's video for the song "Enemy Of God". The video will receive its small-screen premiere on Saturday night's (February 14) edition of "Headbangers Ball", airing between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on MTV2.

KREATOR guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza told HeadbangersBlog.com about the clip: "It's a little cliché, of course. It's a sword-and-sorcery, 'Conan the Barbarian 300' kind of thing, but it's pretty brutal and I think it's fun. I really like the director and I think he did a good job. It was hard for him, but for us it was easy, because our part took only two ours. But we had to wait a lot because they had to shoot these fighting scenes the whole day. So, we worked for two hours and waited for eight.

"In the video there's a pile of dead people on the ground and we're in the middle of them. Of course, they weren't really dead, but it still felt kind of strange to be between all these people lying on the ground on this hill and it was kind of funny, too because they were there pretending to be dead and we had to perform above them while they just lay there. But they did a great job and I'm really happy."

Due to "technological chaos," the two live clips that were planned for inclusion on the bonus DVD of KREATOR's new album, "Hordes Of Chaos" (which were supposed to be found in the limited-edition digipack/European version) are now available for free download at this location. The clips for "Awakening Of The Gods" and "Coma Of Souls" were both filmed live at the Summer Breeze festival in Germany in 2006.

EPICA mainman/guitarist Mark Jansen recently spoke to Roadie Crew's Thiago Sarkis about the breakup of his former band AFTER FOREVER. Mark was a founding member of AFTER FOREVER and the main songwriter on the band's first two releases, "Prison Of Desire" and "Decipher".

"When I heard about the news, I was sad as well," he revealed. "It's also my baby. I founded the band with Sander Gommans [guitar] and as long as they were doing well, it made me proud too. AFTER FOREVER still has a very special place in my heart. I will never forget all those great years and great memories."

The guitarist believes that AFTER FOREVER's music leaves "a permanent mark on the music scene." "I'm pretty sure the band won't be forgotten," he said. "I noticed many bands already cover AFTER FOREVER songs, which gives me a good feeling."

Remembering his days with the band, he told the Brazilian writer that "I learned a lot in my seven years in AFTER FOREVER. In the beginning, I did bookings, tour management, drove the band bus, loaded in and out all myself. I'm a workaholic and this is the only way to make a band successful. But, of course, the biggest factor was the amazing talent of Floor [Jansen, vocals] in combination with powerful riffs and catchy melodies."

The EPICA mastermind remains hopeful that AFTER FOREVER is not completely gone. "Deep inside I have the feeling that this won't be the total end," he said. "I think there will be a reunion in about some years from now. Mark my words (smiles)."

Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME) has launched his own record company, simply called Snowy Shaw Productions. The first release from the label will be the debut album from the glam/glitter rock act XXX, entitled "Heaven, Hell or Hollywood?"

For the XXX debut CD, Snowy Shaw Productions has signed license deals with the following companies:

* Perris Records (North America)
* King Records (Japan)
* Scarecrow Records (Mexico and South America)

Negotiations are still in process with Locomotive Records for Europe.

Lemi, Finland-based heavy metal quartet STAM1NA was the big winner at this year's Finnish Metal Awards, which was held last night (Friday, February 13) during the Finnish Metal Expo at Kaapelitehdas (Cable Factory) in Helsinki, Finland. Members of the general public were invited to cast their votes to select the winners, which were as follows (final percentage of votes is listed next to each nominee):

Album:

01. STAM1NA: "Raja" - 16.28%
02. DIABLO: "Icaros"- 5.85%
03. NORTHER: "N" - 4.12%
04. CHILDREN OF BODOM: "Blooddrunk" - 3.87%
05. OMNIUM GATHERUM: "The Redshift" - 3.81%

Band:

01. STAM1NA - 13.11%
02. DIABLO - 4.52%
03. NORTHER - 3.99%
04. CHILDREN OF BODOM - 3.96%
05. HATEFORM - 3.80%

Newcomer:

01. HATEFORM - 10.86%
02. DEAD SHAPE FIGURE - 9.78%
03. MEDEIA - 8.22%
04. TRACEDAWN - 7.38%
05. HEAVY METAL PERSE - 5.88%

Album art:

01. STAM1NA: "Raja" - 9.64%
02. DIABLO: "Icaros" - 6.10%
03. CHILDREN OF BODOM: "Blooddrunk" - 4.61%
04. HATEFORM: "Dominance" - 3.26%
05. KIUAS: "The New Dark Age" - 3.13%

Player:

01. Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM)- 10.04%
02. Pekka Olkkonen (STAM1NA) - 5.48%
03. Mikko Salovaara (KIUAS) - 4.18%
04. Tuomas Saukkonen (BEFORE THE DAWN, DAWN OF SOLACE, THE FINAL HARVEST) - 3.2%
5. Markus Vanhala (OMNIUM GATHERUM) - 2.74%

Vocalist:

01. Antti Hyyrynen (STAM1NA) - 12.13%
02. Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) - 4.43%
03. Rainer Nygård (DIABLO) - 4.32%
04. Petri Lindroos (ENSIFERUM, NORTHER) - 4.22%
05. Ari Koivunen (AMORAL) - 3.87%

Demo Band:

01. FM2000 - 9.57%
02. DECENDED - 5.89%
03. PRESSURE POINTS - 4.74%
04. KILT. - 4.16%
05. MEDICATED - 3.11%

Roadrunner/Warner Music will release LAMB OF GOD's new album, "Wrath", in Japan on February 18 with three bonus tracks:

* We Die Alone
* Shoulder Of Your God
* Condemn The Hive

"We Die Alone" and "Shoulder Of Your God" are also included on the limited special-edition digipack version of "Wrath", which will be released in North America on February 24 via Epic Records. The CD will be issued in other territories through Roadrunner Records.

German metallers DOMAIN have posted a new song, "Sweeping Scars", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's ninth album, a concept effort entitled "The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow", which is scheduled for release on March 13. The CD artwork was created by famous Brazilian metal artist Gustavo Sazes, who "bridged between the traditional DOMAIN artwork concept and the requirements of the album story," according to a press release.

Completed at Meadow Studios in Darmstadt, Germany with producer and guitarist Axel Ritt at the helm, "The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow" is a metal opera based on the novel "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" by the famous German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Released for the first time in 1774, the story "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" became a key work in German literature regarding the "Storm And Stress" period and describes an impossible love against all moral concepts, which provokes extreme emotional reactions up to the point of a spate of suicides among young readers of the novel.

To best capture on tape the five-octave range of DOMAIN vocalist Nicolaj Ruhnow, the band recently added some special outdoor recordings for the very first time in DOMAIN history.

"The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow" contains 10 tracks, with a bonus track to be included with the limited-edition version of the album.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Picture The Beauty
02. Sweeping Scars
03. Angel Above
04. Circle Of Give And Take
05. He Is Back
06. Inner Rage
07. Digging Their Graves
08. Haunting Sorrows
09. The Last Dance
10. 12 O'Clock

Bonus track:

11. Two Brothers & The Sinners Chess

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, the new band led by former STRATOVARIUS mastermind Timo Tolkki, has made the title track from its forthcoming album, "Age Of Aquarius", available for free download at this location (MP3, 9.3 MB).

Recorded over three months in Finland, "Age Of Aquarius" is scheduled for release on March 23 via Scarlet Records. It is described in a press release as "by far the darkest, heaviest and most symphonic album that Tolkki has ever been involved in."

Finding a close connection with his new bandmembers Gus Monsanto and Bruno Agra, the trio locked itself in a cabin in Finland for a month and composed 10 new songs. It is the first time during Tolkki's career that he shared the whole songwriting process with other bandmembers.

"I just felt this incredibly fresh vibe with these guys and the songs were just flowing," he said. "It was so natural process that it almost felt like the songs were already composed and we just let them be born. It was possible because in Gus and Bruno I finally have found the kindred spirits I have been looking for so long. The results were something that none of us were expecting and yet at the same time, we felt that this record is exactly the way it is supposed to be."

"Age Of Aquarius" will be released on March 25 in Southeast Asia via JVC. The band also filmed a promotional video in Helsinki for the album's title track.

"Age Of Aquarius" track listing:

01. The Age of Aquarius
02. So She Wears Black
03. Ixion's Wheel
04. Kyrie Eleison
05. Revolution Has Begun
06. Sins of My Beloved
07. Behind the Mask
08. Ghost of Fallen Grace
09. Children of the Future
10. The Heart of All

Tours are currently been booked to promote "Age Of Aquarius" worldwide beginning in South America in early April. Scarlet Records also released Timo Tolkki's third solo album, the ethereal classical rock opera "Saana - Warrior of Light Part 1: Journey to Crystal Island", worldwide on January 23.

The original lineup of LIMP BIZKIT — Fred Durst, Wes Borland, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and DJ Lethal — is back 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.

LIMP BIZKIT's first three albums have sold over 20 million copies in the U.S. alone, and another 13 million in the rest of the world.

Finnish metallers THUNDERSTONE have posted a new song, "Star", on their MySpace page. The track, which will appear on the band's forthcoming, as-yet-untitled album, showcases THUNDERSTONE at its heaviest so far and features guest vocals from AMORPHIS frontman Tomi Joutsen. The song will also be released on Playground Music's "Dark Playground" compilation, which is being made available for free at the Finnish Metal Expo on February 13-14.

THUNDERSTONE last year announced the addition of singer Rick Altzi from Sweden to the group's ranks. Rick has contributed his wonderful voice to many metal albums, most recently with German group AT VANCE (a band which he is still a member of).

According to a posting on EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's MySpace page, Sammet will release a new album from his AVANTASIA project before the end of the year. More details will be made available soon.

In a recent interview, Sammet stated about his plans for the forthcoming AVANTASIA CD, "I will do everything to have the biggest production I've ever had. I am negotiating with an orchestra right at the moment and I just wanna have a bombastic, monumental movie for the ears. And for such an undertaking there is no one who is better than Sascha [Paeth; producer, engineer and guitarist of AVANTASIA project]; he is like a brother to me."

AVANTASIA filmed its July 10, 2008 performance at the Masters of Rock festival in Vizovice, Czech Republic for a forthcoming DVD.

The latest album from AVANTASIA, "The Scarecrow", was officially one of the 20 best-selling albums in whole Europe during the fourth week of January 2008, according to a press release.

Fox News Channel caught up with MÖTLEY CRÜE as the veteran rockers closed down The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, performing at the venue for two days as part of the "Saints of Los Angeles" tour. "This tour is just a continuation of the tour started in June, so we've been out a while," singer Vince Neil explained. "We did the U.S. already, we did Japan, South America, Mexico, played in Malaysia, and this tour will last until December." Neil added that it's no farewell tour and more music is on the way. "We just signed a deal with this company for ten years. We have another three albums and four tours, so at least another ten years of MÖTLEY CRÜE." Watch the report below.

SURVIVORS ZERO, the Finnish death metal band featuring current and former members of IMPALED NAZARENE, FINNTROLL, DEATHCHAIN and THE SCOURGER, has entered Seawolf Studios in Helsinki with producer Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY) to begin recording its debut album, "CMXCIX", for a September 9, 2009 release via the new Finnish label Cobra Records. The CD will be mixed at Black Lounge Studio in in Avesta, Sweden while the mastering will be handled by Pelle Henricsson at Tonteknik Recording in Umeå, Sweden.

SURVIVORS ZERO's debut demo, a two-song affair entitled "Extinction", was recorded last year and is currently available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The tracks "Embrace the Inferno" and "Fortress of Lies" were laid down at Jive Studio and Studio Perkele and were mixed by Kjellgren at Black Lounge.

SURVIVORS ZERO is:

Sami Jämsén (Studio Perkele) - Guitar
Tommi "Rotten" Virranta (ex-DEATHCHAIN) - Vocals
Tapio Wilska (ex-FINNTROLL) - Bass
Jani Luttinen (THE SCOURGER) - Guitar
Reima Kellokoski (IMPALED NAZARENE) - Drums

The cover artwork for "Black Reign", the forthcoming full-length album from SANCTIFICATION, the Swedish death metal band featuring current/former members of GOD AMONG INSECTS, IN BATTLE and SOULDRAINER, can be viewed below.

SANCTIFICATION's current lineup consists of Tomas Elofsson (guitar) and Markus Edvardsson (guitar) alongside two session members. It is as follows:

* Magnus "Masse" Broberg (a.k.a. Emperor Magus Caligula) (DARK FUNERAL) - Vocals
* Tomas Elofsson - Guitar
* Markus Edvardsson - Guitar
* Andreas Mellkvist (OLTUED) - Bass

The fourth in a series of video episodes documenting the recording process for "Black Reign" can be viewed below. According to the band, "This one contains the making of the song 'Storm' with Kristoffer Hell and Emperor Magus Caligula."

SANCTIFICATION entered Abyss studio in Sweden on July 7, 2008 with producers Tommy and Peter Tägtgren to begin recording "Black Reign". The CD was mixed by Peter and mastered by Dan Swanö.

"Black Reign" track listing:

01. Thirst For Blood
02. Black Reign (feat. Peter Tägtgren, Emperor Magus Caligula)
03. Raw
04. Eternal (feat. Peter Tägtgren)
05. Hear This
06. Dead Forever
07. Flesh, Bone And Skin
08. Trucido Christianese
09. Storm (feat. Emperor Magus Caligula)

Italian hard rock band LACUNA COIL, which offers the dual vocals of male singer Andrea Ferro and female vocalist Cristina Scabbia, will release its much-anticipated new album, "Shallow Life", via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Europe: April 20
North America: April 21

The CD 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. Songtitles set to appear on the album include "I Like It", "Spellbound", "I Survive", "I Won't Tell You", "Kill My Dream" and "The Maze".

Commented female singer Cristina Scabbia: "'Shallow Life' is a natural metamorphosis from within the band; we explored different musical territories while maintaining our own style. A mix of old and new, fast and slow... light and dark. The album production is incredibly powerful and has a beautiful purity to it. Hopefully listeners will feel the same sort of connection that we have to these songs. It would be great to think that we have produced songs that will make anybody either think, smile or cry. 'Shallow Life' has forced us to challenge ourselves. It represents the way we see ourselves in the days we live in through truth, love and lies."

Added male singer Andrea Ferro: "'Shallow Life' is just a mirror of what you see out there, it's something you should first see inside of you. It's a new cycle of songs and it's more clearly ourselves."

"It's definitely us, but the energy is completed different and the whole album feels more 'rock,'" Scabbia recently told Revolver magazine." I think that's because, as an artist, you travel a lot and you listen to the radio and you're exposed to all these different styles that rub off on you. To me, this is the perfect mixture between our old European sound and something more modern." She added, "Some of it's very heavy. The most amazing this is, we've been able to improve everything about LACUNA COIL without taking away anything good or doing something that doesn't belong."

Regarding the band's collaboration with Gilmore, Cristina said, "He helped us all find our strengths and work with them to be even better. Sometimes when you're used to something, you get stuck in your own process and you don't see the big picture. So when someone from the outside comes in, they can give you a completely different opinion that you don't have because you're always stuck in there."

"Shallow Life" will be LACUNA COIL's first concept album as all the songs address superficiality and the discontent and unhappiness it can cause. "It's more against the superficial lifestyle in general, but not regarding celebrities," singer Andrea Ferro previously told Rock Sound magazine. "You can talk about celebrities, but you can also talk about everyday people. It's more a reflection on life itself, and especially on the way you lead your life in a superficial way."

Santa Barbara, California's DEVILDRIVER, the group fronted by former COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara, has set "Pray For Villains" as the title of its fourth album, due this summer via Roadrunner Records. The CD is being recorded at Edge of the Earth studios in Los Angeles with producer Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY) and "things are going great," according to Fafara. "I've done five tracks on vocals and Mike [Spreitzer; guitar] and Jeff [Kendrick; guitar] are finishing overdubs and solos. We are recording 15 tracks and we've stepped it up big time for this one. We know you will love it. We can't wait for everyone to hear the songs."

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.

Progressive metal gians DREAM THEATER are wrapping up work on their tenth studio album, due early summer via Roadrunner Records. The band commenced work on the as-yet untitled CD in October of last year. Drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci are once again producing the LP, while engineer Paul Northfield will mix the record.

Portnoy previously stated about the upcoming CD, "Imagine a DREAM THEATER album with 'A Change Of Seasons', 'Octavarium', 'Learning To Live', 'Pull Me Under' and 'The Glass Prison'... all on one album... COULD YOU HANDLE IT?? Excited? I sure am!!!!"

DREAM THEATER's "Chaos In Motion 2007/2008" double DVD set sold just under 9,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 2 on the Top Music Videos chart.

"Chaos In Motion 2007/2008" documents DREAM THEATER's "Chaos In Motion" world tour, which kicked off June 3, 2007 at the Monsters of Rock festival in Milan, Italy and concluded almost a year to the day later on June 4, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's essentially a travelogue of their most recent touring experience. "Chaos In Motion 2007/2008" was made available in two configurations: as a double DVD set and as five-disc collector's set which includes two DVDs and three CDs, containing 14 live tracks featured in the DVD set and expanded artwork.

DREAM THEATER's first-ever best-of collection, "Greatest Hit (…& 21 Other Pretty Songs)", was released through Rhino on April 1, 2008.