Guitarist Thomas Youngblood and singer Roy Khan of American/Norwegian melodic metallers have issued the following update:

"Greetings from Elverum, Norway. It's the final day of the Ottertepp Sessions, the first of four writing sessions for KAMELOT's next full-length album. Well we can now reveal the location of the cabin here in Norway; it belongs to Lord Teksnes and is located in Sørskogbygda, Norway.

"The cabin has been the perfect place for our first taste of the new songs and direction for the songwriting. We would like to thank Lord Teksnes for the cabin and also all the Norwegian press that visited us while working up here."

Three long-out-of-print releases from industrial legends GODFLESH have been reissued by Earache Records as one value-packed set.

The pack — which is retailing for the price of just one CD — includes the band's 1996 album "Songs Of Love And Hate", coupled with the 1997 re-interpretation of that LP, "Love And Hate In Dub". Also included is the long-deleted DVD "In All Languages", which features all of the bands promo music videos.

Formed by one of NAPALM DEATH's founding members, Justin Broadrick, GODFLESH's illustrious career saw them become one of the most influential industrial bands ever, touring the globe with the likes of MINISTRY, FEAR FACTORY, DANZIG and TYPE O NEGATIVE, and gaining influential fans including the likes of METALLICA's Kirk Hammett.

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.

"Hordes Of Chaos" registered the following first-week European chart positions:

Germany: #16
Austria: #33
Holland: #66
Norway: #73
Sweden: #47

"Hordes Of Chaos" sold around 2,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 165 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at No. 7 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

KREATOR is putting the finishing touches on its new video for the title track of "Hordes Of Chaos". 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 "Hordes Of Chaos" artwork was created once again by Joachim Luetke. Luetke designed the artwork for KREATOR's last album, "Enemy Of God", as well as past releases from bands like DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY and RAGE.

"Hordes Of Chaos" track listing:

Limited Edition:

01. Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
02. Warcurse
03. Escalation
04. Amok Run
05. Destroy What Destroys You
06. Radical Resistance
07. Absolute Misanthropy
08. To The Afterborn
09. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince

Bonus DVD

* The Making of "Hordes Of Chaos" directed by Stephanie von Beauvais; Running time: approximately 20 minutes

Jewel Case:

01. Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
02. Warcurse
03. Escalation
04. Amok Run
05. Destroy What Destroys You
06. Radical Resistance
07. Absolute Misanthropy
08. To The Afterborn
09. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince

LP:

Side 1:

01. Hordes Of Chaos (A Necrologue For The Elite)
02. Warcurse
03. Escalation
04. Amok Run
05. Destroy What Destroys You

Side 2:

06. Radical Resistance
07. Absolute Misanthropy
08. To The Afterborn
09. Corpses Of Liberty
10. Demon Prince

According to a press release, "Hordes Of Chaos" is "a powerhouse featuring rigorous thrash attacks and KREATOR's familiarly intelligent lyrics about self-determination and the dangers of contemporary war propaganda.

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has issued the following update:

"2009 is looking like it's gonna be a good year. This leg of the tour is feeling fresh after a nice break along with having three new bands [HINDER, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, and newcomers THE LAST VEGAS] with us.

"The new single for 'White Trash Circus' is doing well at radio and going down good live too. We just finished the video for it, so it should be up to see real soon.

"We were up for our third Grammy this last week and didn't win again (ha ha), but I have to say that THE MARS VOLTA, who did win, is one of my fave bands and they do deserve it, 100%, so congrats from me to them."

Danish melodic black metallers ILLNATH have issued the following:

"Next Friday, February 13th at Pavillionen Grenå (Denmark) we will say goodbye to [keyboardist] Tyr and give a big welcome to Larz [Munch] on the keys. Lars has been taking care of the keys in the Danish 'Faith No More Jam' for several years, and now we have the honour to wish him welcome in the ILLNATH camp.

"Don't miss the show... both Tyr and Larz will be found on stage and it's gonna be a very special night for all of us!!!!!"

ILLNATH in October posted video footage (see here) of the band's latest addition — 19-year-old drummer Danni — in action. "Despite his young age, he has previously played with FAIRYTALE ABUSE and several non-metal projects," the band said in a statement. "We are now looking forward to getting Danni involved in the vibe of ILLNATH and making new material, along with preparing for some live shows as soon as possible."

ILLNATH's third album, "Three Nights in the Sewers of Sodom", was recorded at Borsing Studios. The CD is expected to be released via Spain's Deathlight Records following the band's split with Worldchaos Production (which was supposed to put out the band's long-completed second full-length offering, "Second Skin of Harlequin").

Drummer Hans Rutten of the Dutch rock outfit THE GATHERING has issued the following update:

"We are currently mixing our new album, 'The West Pole'. It seems we need a bit more time to make this album something really outstanding, so we decided to postpone the release date a bit. The album will be in the shops first week of May [via the band's own Psychonaut Records].

"As said before, the album will also be available via our webshop around March, and we will ship the packages beginning of April. Of course, we will have something extra, like always. Because of our 20th anniversary (it all started in 1989), people who buy a special 'The West Pole' package (new album and exclusive t-shirt) will get the EP 'City From Above' for free! Yes, it's our birthday so it's good to give something away. This EP includes some unreleased tracks that didn't make it on 'The West Pole' as well as the 13-minute epic instrumental title track which we wrote for 'Arr. 2', a combination of dance and music which was performed in The Netherlands in 2008.

"To fill the gap between now and the actual date, we will put some songs on our MySpace and the announcement of the names of the vocalists (beginning of March), I can give you some song titles of our new album, 'The West Pole':

* When Trust Becomes Sound
* Treasure
* All You Are
* You Promised Me A Symphony
* The West Pole
* Capital Of Nowhere
* No Bird Call
* Pale Traces
* No One Spoke
* Constant Run

"What's more to say about 'The West Pole'? On various songs we worked with a string ensemble, and we used some 'exotic' instruments like stylophone, and a real harmonium, a very old wooden keyboard instrument. René [Rutten, guitar] produced the album (for the very first time). In fact, everything we could do ourselves, we did. What you get on 'The West Pole' is more THE GATHERING than ever."

Hans previously described the new CD as "a very extravert, rock-orientated, alive album. Typically THE GATHERING, but with many new elements. This time it's absolutely guitar-driven. For sure."

Swedish melodic death metallers THE COLD EXISTENCE have announced eth addition of guitarist Thomas Backelin (LORD BELIAL, DEMARCON, SATANIZED, SNAKESTATE) to the group's ranks. From now on, Jan Sallander, who previously handled guitar/vocal duties, will focus on vocals only.

Bassist Peter Laustsen says: "Thomas has been a close friend of us for a long time and now that his previous band LORD BELIAL split, we soon took the opportunity of having him play with us! We all are sure that his talent and experience will help THE COLD EXISTENCE skip to a higher level!"

THE COLD EXISTENCE's current lineup:

Jan Sallander - vocals
Thomas Backelin – guitars
Robert Persson – guitars
Peter Laustsen – bass
Joakim Antonsson – drums

THE COLD EXISTENCE will release its second full-length album, "Sombre Gates", in March through Kolony Records. According to a press release, "bearing the legacy of DISSECTION, [THE COLD EXISTENCE's] blackened/death metal non-compromising sound is also reminiscent of such seminal bands as BEHEMOTH, NILE, AT THE GATES and HYPOCRISY. Willing to tour steadily through Europe, the band now relies on the super heavy and ultra-fast sound of an Andy La Rocque-mastered (KING DIAMOND) release. Black/death metal at its finest!"

"Sombre Gates" release dates:

March 16 (UK, Ireland)
March 13 (rest of Europe)
March 17 (USA)

Track listing:

01. Oracle
02. Heretic
03. Corruption
04. Purgatory
05. Ruins of Despair
06. Apocalypse
07. Spawn of Evil
08. Crawling
09. The Hellfire
10. Madness
11. Utopia
12. Seeds of Aggression
13. Forsaken
14. Wrath of Sekhmet

Swedish hard rockers EUROPE will release their "Almost Unplugged" live album in the U.S. on April 7. The CD, which is available for pre-order via Amazon.com, features a recording of the band's January 26, 2008 concert at Nalen in Stockholm. The band performed songs from its latest CD, "Secret Society", along with some of its classic hits. The show was broadcast live over the Internet on the official EUROPE web site.

"Almost Unplugged" track listing:

01. Got To Have Faith
02. Forever Travelling
03. Devil Sings the Blues
04. Wish You Were Here (PINK FLOYD cover)
05. Dreamer
06. Love to Love (UFO cover)
07. The Final Countdown
08. Yesterday's News
09. Since I've Been Lovin' You (LED ZEPPELIN cover)
10. Hero
11. Suicide (THIN LIZZY cover)
12. Memories
13. Superstitious
14. Rock the Night

"A Knot Of", the new DVD from Japan's DIR EN GREY, will feature a different live track in each of the three territories where the disc is being released:

North America - "Hydra 666"
Europe - "The Deeper Vileness"
Japan - "Clever Sleazoid"

All three songs are taken from DIR EN GREY's Dececember 22, 2007 performance at Zepp in Tokyo, Japan.

Due to a "manufacturing error," the North American release date of "A Knot Of" has been pushed back to February 24 from the previously announced February 3 (via The End Records). The DVD follows the band through three long mettle-testing years on the road, giving fans a window into DIR EN GREY's unique world.

"A Knot Of" features:

01. Tour 2005: It Withers And Withers
02. Rock Am Ring 2005 / Rock Im Park 2005
03. Showcase Tour / Tour 06 It Withers And Withers
04. Rock Am Ring 2006 / Rock Im Park 2006
05. Tour 2005-2006 It Withers And Withers Final / Tour 2006
Inward Scream
06. The Family Values Tour
07. Tour 2007 Inward Scream
08. Deftones U.S. Tour 2007 Summer
09. Wacken Open Air / Ankkarock Festival
10. Tour 2007 The Marrow Of A Bone

California-based, female-fronted progressive metallers ECHOES OF ETERNITY have completed work on their second album, tentatively titled "As Shadows Burn", for an April release via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2007's "The Forgotten Goddess" was produced and mixed by former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, who has previously worked with GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

Commented the band: "It was an amazing recording experience, and Logan Mader really brought out the best in the band and gave us an incredible production. If you liked 'The Fogotten Goddess', you certainly won't be disappointed. It's a far more dark and aggressive album overall, with some new elements being brought into our sound."

"Earthsblood", the new album from New Jersey metal titans GOD FORBID, is available for streaming in its entirety on the band's MySpace page.

"Earthsblood" is scheduled for release on February 24 in the U.S. and February 16 in Europe via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Eric Rachel (ATREYU) with Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY, THREAT SIGNAL) handling all vocal tracking. The mixing was handled by Jens Bogren (OPETH, SOILWORK, AMON AMARTH).

Chavez Crime Family Productions and San Antonio cult TV show "Robb's MetalWorks" will host a press conference/listening party for "Earthsblood" on February 15 at Cabo Grill in San Antonio, Texas. This free event will be attended by Doc and Dallas Coyle and will be open to the public. Doors will open promptly at 7:00 p.m., with the press conference portion of the event set to begin at 8:30 p.m. Catering will be available, exclusive giveaways hroughout the evening (so be sure to pick up a ticket as you enter) and the organizers will also be selling 30 copies of "Earthsblood" — nine days prior to its official release!

"Earthsblood" track listing:

01. The Discovery
02. The Rain
03. Empire of the Gun
04. War of Attrition
05. The New Clear
06. Shallow
07. Walk Alone
08. Bat the Angels
09. Earthsblood
10. Gaia (The Vultures)

Regarding the album's title, guitarist Doc Coyle previously stated, "The title 'Earthsblood' came to me after watching the film 'There Will Be Blood'. What is the price of ambition? Is the blood of our bodies and the blood of the earth one and the same? With the current energy crisis, and its relation to many of the military conflicts worldwide, there has been a global, collective consciousness that has emerged in regards to the interdependence between humankind and the planet in which we inhabit. Coincidentally, the lyrics that Byron Davis and Dallas Coyle had written meshed with these revelations perfectly. This isn't a preachy, trendy, 'hip-to-be-green' album, nor is it a concept album. It's just an abstract observation."

Italian "symphonic power epic" metal band THY MAJESTIE has finalized the track listing for its forthcoming concert DVD, due later in the year via Dark Balance Records. According to the band, the disc will contain "more than an hour of strictly LIVE music with a fantastic real female choirs as special guest."

The DVD track listing is as follows:

01. The King And The Warrior
02. M.A.D.
03. Ride To Chinon
04. Echoes Of War
05. Under Siege
06. Through The Bridge Of Spears
07. Anger Of Fate
08. As You Fall
09. The Chosen
10. Wings Of Wind
11. Days Of The Changes
12. Maiden Of Steel
+ Bonus Track

A live audio recording of the song "The Chosen", taken from the forthcoming DVD, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS were honored in no less than five categories at the 51st annual Grammy Awards which were held earlier tonight (Sunday, February 8) in Los Angeles, California:

* "Album Of The Year" for "Raising Sand"
* "Record Of The Year" for the song "Please Read The Letter"
* "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for the song "Rich Woman"
* "Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for the song "Killing The Blues"
* "Contemporary Folk/Americana Album" for "Raising Sand"

Plant and Krauss also performed at the ceremony, which was held at Staples Center.

THE MARS VOLTA was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 51st annual Grammy Awards, which are being held tonight (Sunday, February 8) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. THE MARS VOLTA was nominated for the track "Wax Simulacra", from the band's album "The Bedlam in Goliath".

The nominees in this year's "Hard Rock" category were as follows:

DISTURBED - "Inside The Fire"
JUDAS PRIEST - "Visions"
THE MARS VOLTA - "Wax Simulacra"
MÖTLEY CRÜE - "Saints Of Los Angeles"
ROB ZOMBIE - "Lords Of Salem"

Only albums released between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2008, could be considered for this year's awards.

U.K. gothic metal icons PARADISE LOST have entered Fascination Street Studios, Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren to begin recording their new album for a late 2009 release via Century Media Records. The highly anticipated follow-up to 2007's "In Requiem" will feature around 10 tracks, including "First Light", "As Horizons End", "Faith Divides Us, Death Unites Us", "Frailty" and "My Last Regret".

The first two video blogs from the studio can be viewed below.

Commented vocalist Nick Holmes: "We are very happy with [producer] Rhys Fulber's work on the last album ['In Requiem'], but after working on three albums together, we decided it was time to go for a different approach. After hearing the work he did with our 'Anatomy Of Melancholy' live DVD, we decided that Jens Bogren was the man for the job."

He continued, "There is no full-time replacement for [drummer] Jeff [Singer] as yet, but as far as the album is concerned, the drum stool will be occupied by another Swede — Peter Damin. Sweden hails some of the best metal musicians in the world and Peter is no exception. We really look forward to working with him and his input on the album.

"Our approach this time has leaned even more towards the heavier side of things, even more so than the last. It is vital not to lose touch with our musical trip over the last 20 years. Our music may have had different facelifts, but it has always been 'dark' and the new album will be no exception. Musically and lyrically.

"Writing a new album is always exciting; we never get bored of writing music, and for me, it is the best part of being in a band. Each album is like a challenge to better ourselves, or at the very least, do something that's different to everyone else. We strive to make the ultimate modern gothic metal album, and for me that has nothing to do with the common trend of 'romance' and 'roses.' It should be music to be murdered by."

In 2008, PARADISE LOST celebrated its 20th anniversary and to properly commemorate this event performed several special anniversary shows with fellow British doom/goth pioneers MY DYING BRIDE and ANATHEMA. The band also released the stunning "The Anatomy Of Melancholy" live DVD/live album via Century Media Records last year.

According to Billboard.com, HEAVEN AND HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi (guitar), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums) — has set "The Devil You Know" as the title of its debut album, due on April 28 via Rhino. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Bible Black", "Rock & Roll Angel", "Breaking Into Heaven", "Atom & Evil" and "Eating the Cannibals". The LP was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales, U.K. where the 1992 SABBATH album "Dehumanizer" was also tracked.

"Each of us submitted a CD of our ideas, and we narrowed it down from there," Iommi told Classic Rock. "In some ways it was like picking up where we'd left off with 'Dehumanizer'."

Finnish dark metallers AMORPHIS have set "Skyforger" as the title of their new album, due on May 29 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to the "Eclipse" and "Silent Waters" LPs, both of which were certified gold in the band's native Finland, was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios in Helsinki.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Sampo
02. Silver Bride
03. From The Heaven Of My Heart
04. Sky Is Mine
05. Majestic Beast
06. My Sun
07. Highest Star
08. Skyforger
09. Course Of Fate
10. From Earth I Rose

Swedish metallers CLOUDSCAPE have issued the following update:

"Mike Andersson (vocals) recently started to write songs together with Stefan Elmgren (ex-HAMMERFALL guitarist) and Magnus Rosén (ex-HAMMERFALL bassist). Mike will handle the vocals, Stefan Elmgren the guitars and Magnus Rosén the bass. More members to this band will be recruited eventually and a band name is yet to be decided. Mike, Stefan and Magnus will not reveal the musical direction just yet but, they say it will be heavy as lead with a good punch and they are really excited about this!! More information about this band will be announced later on.

"Mike and Björn Eliasson has started to write songs for the fourth CLOUDSCAPE album and they have come a long way. CLOUDSCAPE is aiming to have the album ready for release sometime during 2010."

"Darkest Legacy", the new video from CLOUDSCAPE, can be viewed here. The clip was filmed, directed and edited by Rainer Holmgren (PAIN OF SALVATION, ARSIS).

"Darkest Legacy" comes off the group's third album, "Global Drama", which was released last summer in Europe through Goldencore/Roastinghouse Records and in North America through Nightmare Records.

CLOUDSCAPE previously described "Global Drama" as "the most varied and interesting album by CLOUDSCAPE so far. It contains a few really hard and raw metal songs and there will also be a few more atmospheric and dynamic songs progressively spiced."

The CD was produced by Pontus Lindmark and recorded at RoastingHouse Studios in Malmö, Sweden.

CLOUDSCAPE's sophomore CD, "Crimson Skies", was released in the U.S. in July 2006 via Nightmare Records.

German goth metal band XANDRIA has announced the addition of singer Kerstin Bischof (AXXIS) to the group's ranks. She commented: "I'm so excited about being XANDRIA's woman at the mic in the future! The guys and I are busy writing new songs and I love it! I can hardly wait entering the stage with them for the first time!

"In the first audition rehearsal I already felt that it just fit perfectly together — the songs rocked! Of course, the guys were kind of held back at that time but when they told me a few weeks later they felt the same…

"So here we are in the midst of tour preparations for the gigs in the Czech Republic and I'm so excited about rocking the set live!

"You had to wait a long time for the official announcement and I want to thank you all for your patience — there was some 'stuff' to get rid of. But finally it’s official and time to rock!

"I'm looking forward to seeing you all on tour!"

Photos of Kerstin and the new XANDRIA lineup can be viewed below. Also available is video footage of Kerstin performing live with AXXIS.

Singer Lisa Middelhauve left XANDRIA in May 2008 for "personal reasons." She stated at the time, "My exit has nothing to do with dispute or controversy within the band. It was just time to split. I hope we still will be friends in future like we are right now."

XANDRIA's "Now & Forever - The Best Of" collection was released in June 2008. The CD contains 20 tracks, including a few rarities like the ballad "Lullaby" from the "India" era and the songs "One Word" and "Drown In Me" (previously unavailable on a XANDRIA album). "Now & Forever - The Best Of Xandria" was also released as a double digipack containing a DVD of the complete XANDRIA show from 2007's Summer Breeze festival, all of the band's promotional video clips and a brand new interview.

According to a posting on the CHILDREN OF BODOM fan site Scythes Of Bodom, the band's keyboardist Janne Wirman is currently working on a fourth WARMEN album, tentatively due later in the year.

Interviewed in January, WARMEN guitarist and Janne's brother Antti Wirman revealed that the album would be heavier than the band's previous output, with more aggressive guitar riffs. There will be just two instrumental tracks, and every song has a different singer. Janne reports that the album will feature "some killer vocalists," but for now he's keeping their identities a secret (along with the album's title). According to Antti, the next WARMEN album will be the group's strongest effort to date because it has "the best songs, best vocalists and the best sounds."

WARMEN's third full-length album, "Accept the Fact", was released in July 2005 via Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Beyond Abilities" included guest appearances by CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho and STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto.

Guitarist Gio Geraca of Florida-based extreme metallers WYKKED WYTCH has left the band after a six-year run to join UPON INFLICTION (Artic Records) with drummer Gus Rios (RESSURECTION, MALEVOLENT CREATION) and singer Kyle Symons (HATE PLOW). Gio will be adding his neoclassical guitar solos to the band's second CD entitled "Inhuman In Human". Gio is also working on his own death/black metal project called EVIL AMIDST with members from various bands and is available for session touring and recording.

WYKKED WYTCH recently completed recording three pre-production demo tracks which are set to appear on the band's fifth album, tentatively titled "Prayers Of The Decapitated". All drums and production duties were handled by Gus Rios (MALEVOLENT CREATION, RESURRECTION). The group said, "We will be shopping the new material to interested labels as we continue to finish the writing process with plans to release the album later in 2009."

The three songs that were recorded are as follows:

01. Serpents Among Us
02. In Dead Reflections
03. Prayer Of The Decapitated

Check out the track "Serpents Among Us" on the band's MySpace page.

WYKKED WYTCH's fourth album, "Memories of a Dying Whore", was released through the band's own label Perish Music. According to a press release, "Memories of a Dying Whore" was remixed by Eric Rachel (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ATREYU, GOD FORBID) at Trax East Studios and was mastered by Alan Douches (UNEARTH, MASTODON, SHADOWS FALL) at West West Side Music in New York.

AHAB, the German funeral doom metal band featuring MIDNATTSOL guitarist Daniel Droste on guitar/vocals and ex-MIDNATTSOL guitarist Christian Hector, has entered the studio to begin recoring its sophomore album for a late spring/early summer release via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2006's "The Call of the Wretched Sea" will contain seven songs and will be based on the wreckage of the Essex.

According to the band, the guitar parts for AHAB's new album, which were mostly written by Daniel Droste this time, are "a bit more complex, yet in a funeral doom and death doom style." Hector says, "It sounds a bit like a mixture of the 'good ole' AHAB style mixed with very atmospheric tunes. So the description of AHAB as it's posted on Doom-Metal.com as a 'riffing funeral doom band' still is valid. You may say there are riffs, that sound a bit like Devin Townsend going funeral doom, CARCASS in slomo or MORBID ANGEL going beyond the slowness of 'Blessed Are The Sick'. Still to some extent the influence of our colleague of Tyranny can still be heard in some few riffs. So most of the music stays the same as you know it, although there are some hints to postcore and classical doom as well. It also maybe said, the songs are much more epic and vast. I think the new riffs fit perfectly to tell the story of the wreckage of the Essex! So Daniel made it quite easy for me to fit the lyrics to the music!"

AHAB is named after Captain Ahab, a character in the novel "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. Along with its name, the band also draws thematic and lyrical inspiration from "Moby Dick" — some songs even feature direct quotations from the book.

AHAB is:

Daniel Droste: Guitar, Voices, Synths
Christian Hector: Guitar
Stephan Wandernoth: Bass
Cornelius Althammer: Drums

On January 7, MEGADETH commenced the recording process for its twelfth studio album at the band's own Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California. The CD is once again being helmed by acclaimed British producer Andy "Undie" Sneap, who produced MEGADETH's last album, "United Abominations" (May 2007, Roadrunner Records).

Tentatively due later this year via Roadrunner Records, MEGADETH's forthcoming LP will be the group's first with guitarist Chris Broderick, who replaced Glen Drover at the end of 2007.

Commented bassist James Lomenzo: "Just finished my last set of bass tracks last night. I'm really pleased and excited for you all to hear the new stuff. At this stage, it's very cool with an old-school kind of 'thrash-y' vibe. Some of it calls to the old MEGADETH style, which is cool, and some of it is just plain HEAVY! Dave's [Mustaine] guitar is sounding mean and when I left yesterday, Chris was just fixin' to put in some leads."

U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine has uploaded a new podcast featuring an audio interview with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. Dave talks about the recording of MEGADETH's new album; the upcoming Priest Feast tour; the state of the metal scene; and other topics.

Mustaine recently told Revolver magazine that MEGADETH's upcoming CD will contain "stuff that's melodic like nobody's business, stuff that's heavier than hell, and stuff that's a combination of both." He said, "The way I write, I'll play a riff and tape it and save it. And if I don't use it now, I'll use it later. The very first song I ever wrote, 'Rust In Peace… Polaris', didn't appear on anything until the fourth MEGADETH record. Right now, there are about 20 songs that are in the making, and there's another good 25-to-30 hours worth of guitar riffs on tape. And I've also got a lot of old lyrics I've assembled over my career. Some of it's relevant to this day and age; some of it is stuff that, if I released it, would probably get me in a lot of trouble. Those songs deal with a lot of the anger that I felt when I was younger and reading things like [the 1971 underground manual for making homemade explosives] 'The Anarchist Cookbook'."

In a recent online posting, Mustaine stated about the band's new material, "I am more excited about this new record than I was with 'United Abominations' or anything in the last several years. . . I am not saying that this is 'Rust In Peace 2'! But I can say that the five out of nine songs I have arranged, I like and love them all, and every one of the songs has one or more of the strong points of me as a guitarist being showcased instead of me writing songs for radio — radio that won't play us anyway. . . This is really going to be a record that will make a lot of people that thought we couldn't do it anymore sit up and take notice."

Long-running Italian technical death metallers GORY BLISTER have posted a new song called "The Descent" on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's new album, "Graveyard of Angels", which is scheduled for release on April 6 via Mascot Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Skymorphosis" contains nine tracks that "reach a very technical death metal made with old-school anger," according to the band.

The "Graveyard of Angels" artwork can be seen below.

"Skymorphosis" came out in January 2006 via Holland's Mascot Records.

GORY BLISTER's video for the track "Asteroid" (taken from "Skymorphosis") can be viewed below.