On February 24, EMI Music will reissue as download-only releases the previously out-of-print LILLIAN AXE albums "Poetic Justice" (1992) and "Psychoschizophrenia" (1993) on iTunes and Amazon. Originally released on Grand Slamm/IRS Records, these LPs were LILLIAN AXE's best-selling releases. "Poetic Justice" featured the hit single "True Believer" and the video for LILLIAN AXE's version of BADFINGER's "No Matter What". "Psychoschizophrenia" featured the explosive single "Crucified" and the AOR-friendly "Moonlight In Your Blood".

LILLIAN AXE recently inked a four-album worldwide deal with the Swedish label Blistering Records.

LILLIAN AXE's new CD, entitled "Sad Day On Planet Earth", is described in a press release as "by far [the band's] strongest album, musically speaking. There are so many different-sounding songs that all forms of radio: Active Rock, Mainstream Rock and Metal radio will embrace this album."

"Sad Day On Planet Earth" will contain 14 songs written by guitarist Steve Blaze.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Megaslowfade
02. Ignite
03. Divine
04. Down Below The Ocean
05. Jesus Wept
06. Within Your Reach
07. Sad Day On Planet Earth
08. Fire Blood The Earth & Sea
09. The Grand Scale Of Finality
10. Cold Day In Hell
11. Blood Raining Down On Her Wings
12. Hibernate
13. Kill Me Again
14. Nocturnal Symphony

All the album artwork is being created by Peter Tsakiris, who is a major force in the industry, having created album art for DIO, TWISTED SISTER, DEEP PURPLE, TED NUGENT, OVERKILL, JACKYL and WARRIOR SOUL, to name a few.

LILLIAN AXE will embark on a world tour in June in support of "Sad Day On Planet Earth", taking the band across the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.

LILLIAN AXE is:

Derrick Lefevre - Vocals
Steve Blaze - Guitar/Vocals
Sam Poitevent - Guitar/Vocals
Eric Morris - Bass
Ken Koudelka - Drums

TORTURE DIVISION, the new Swedish death metal project featuring guitarist Lord K. Philipson (THE PROJECT HATE, GOD AMONG INSECTS, ex-LEUKEMIA), bassist/vocalist Jörgen Sandström (VICIOUS ART, THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE) and drummer Tobias "Tobben" Gustafsson (VOMITORY), will have its demo trilogy — which was previously available for free download via the band's web site — released on vinyl on April 6 via Vic Records. As previously reported, the recordings will also be made available in CD format through Abyss Records. Entitled "With Endless Wrath We Bring Upon Thee Our Infernal Torture", the effort will contain the band's "Suffer The Shitmass" seven-inch EP as bonus tracks.

Serbian gothic death/dom metal band TALES OF DARK has issued the following update:

"Well, the first piece of news we have is that the band changed (or
rather - modified) its name to 'Tales of Dark...' , the reason mostly
being the bands wish to at least try and add some grammatical validity
to the name :)
This is something we thought about for a long time,
and, honestly, something we should have done a long time ago (like,
before the release of the first album)

Also, there's been a
change as far as band members are concerned. Two members left the band
(namely Kristijan Zavodski and Andras Ispan), so the band was looking
for a guitar player and a bass player.

Then, out of the blue, came this (multi)talented lad by the name of Davor Menzildzic, and became the bands new guitar player :).


But, being the professionals that we are ;), we managed to record the new album at the end of year 2008.
Its name is "Perdition Calls', and the official track list is as follows:

01 Wretched Fate For All 7:30
02 Allegoria Of An Eternal Sundown 6:28
03 Sounds Of The Ravage 7:55
04 Unassembled 5:08
05 The Crown Of Venomous Silence 5:53
06 Soft Pluvia Murmurs Piano 9:21
07 Hollow 5:36
08 The Majestic Nothingness 9:17
09 From Scarveiled Hearts 6:34

So, the album features 9 songs, and its sound is....well, Tales of Dark...

We sincerely hope you'll like it"

DROWNING POOL will release a live album entitled "Loudest Common Denominator" on March 3 via Eleven Seven.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Sinner
02. Full Circle
03. Enemy
04. Step Up
05. Shame
06. Reminders
07. Soldiers
08. Reborn
09. Pity
10. Bodies
11. Tear Away
12. 37 Stitches (Acoustic)
13. Shame (Acoustic)

Check out the cover artwork below. Also available is a short video message from the band announcing the live album release.

innish metal group TERÄSBETONI — which represented Finland in last year's Eurovision Song Contest — performed a special version of its song "Missä Miehet Ratsastaa" during the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest finals in Tampere on January 31, 2009. Video footage of the performance (taken from a TV broadcast of the event) can be viewed below.

"Myrskyntuoja", the third and latest album from TERÄSBETONI, was certified gold last summer in the band's home country for sales in excess of 15,000 copies. The gold plaques were presented to TERÄSBETONI at the group's August 7, 2008 concert at the On The Rocks club in Helsinki.

Vocalists Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) and Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA), keyboardist Henrik Klingenberg (SONATA ARCTICA), bassist Jari Kainulainen (EVERGREY, ex-STRATOVARIUS) and drummer Mikko Sirén (APOCALYPTICA) are among the guest musicians who appear on the third solo album from SONATA ARCTICA guitarist Elias Viljanen, tentatively due later in the year via Spinefarm Records.

Viljanen has been touted as Finland's answer to Joe Satriani, and his second solo album, "The Leadstar" (2005), featured "lightning speed, spark flying chops, flashy moves, and supreme melodies that rise from below and expand beyond the heavens," according to a press release. That CD also inclided Elias' hard rock, instrumental cover of LIONEL RICHIE's monster hit "Hello". Check out audio samples at CDUniverse.com.

Viljanen joined SONATA ARCTICA in the fall of 2007.

Austrian blackened death metal outfit BELPHEGOR entered Andy Classen's (LEGION OF THE DAMNED, DEW-SCENTED, NEAERA, ASPHYX) Stage One Studios in Kassel, Germany earlier this week to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new album. The follow-up to 2008's "Bondage Goat Zombie" will contain nine new compositions and is tentatively scheduled for release in early September via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented the band: "With Andy at the controls, we expect again an absolute massive production. As you're reading this, Mr. Nefastus is already recording the drums.

"The studio process will reach out 'til middle of June 2009 with four sessions, so everything can grow and we can get the best result. Between the sessions, BELPHEGOR return on the road and shred Scandinavia, USA and Canada."

Dutch female-fronted metallers AUTUMN have posted a new track, "Paradise Nox", on their MySpace page. The song comes off the band's fourth studio album, "Altitude", which will be 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

AUTUMN has scheduled a CD-release party for "Altitude" on Friday, February 13 at Tivoli-De Helling in Utrecht, Holland.

War Anthem Records will release the vinyl edition of "Hels Vite", the latest album from Swedish "viking metallers" THYRFING, at the end of March.

"Hels Vite" came outy in the U.S. on January 27 via Regain Records.

The third video teaser for "Hels Vite" can be viewed below. Released in Europe on October 22 via Regain Records, the CD was co-produced (with the band) by Jörgen Svensson of Tyroon Production and the cover artwork (see below) was created by the Swedish artist Mikael Schelén. The layout and the photos were handled by Jens Rydén.

The track listing is as follows:

01. En Sista Litania
02. Från Stormens Öga
03. Isolation
04. Hels Vite
05. Griftefrid
06. Becoming The Eye
07. Tre Vintrar – Två Solar

THYRFING in 2007 announced the addition of Jens Rydén as the band's new vocalist. Jens is best known as founding member and ex-vocalist of NAGLFAR and for his one-man army PROFUNDI.

THYRFING's fifth album, "Farsotstider" (in English: "Times of Plague"), was released in November 2005 via Regain Records. The follow-up to 2002's "Vansinnesvisor" (Hammerheart Records) was recorded at EMI Studio in Stockholm with producer Henrik Edenhed (LAMBRETTA, THE SOUNDS).

THYRFING's current lineup:

Jens Rydén - Vocals
Patrik Lindgren - Guitar
Joakim "Jocke" Kristensson - Drums
Kimmy Sjolund - Bass
Peter Lof - Synthesizers

Audio samples of all 10 tracks that appear on SAMAEL's new album, "Above", are available on Amazon.co.uk. The CD is scheduled for release in Europe on March 6 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Above" track listing:

01. Under One Flag
02. Virtual War
03. Polygames
04. Earth Country
05. Illumination
06. Black Hole
07. In There
08. Dark Side
09. God's Snake
10. On The Top Of It All

Joseph Suddreth of The Hornet recently conducted an interview with drummer Tomas Haake of Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Hornet: How do you feel about big-name band like METALLICA, and TOOL coming out and referencing you guys as their inspiration?

Tomas: It's a cool thing, but we as a band try to stay as far away from sounding like any one else, that's what makes us unique. But it's OK if bands use us as inspiration.

The Hornet: So how did you come up with your unique style of playing drums?

Tomas: I didn't develop that type of drumming so much as the other one developing that drumming for me. You know what I mean? We started using drum machines, and programming stuff early on in the writing. Everyone in the band has been good at that, and knowing what they want out of the drums. That type of playing was what we always wonted out of the music and riffs; you know that rhythm elastic sound. That is what made my drumming into what it is today, it not so much as my drumming influencing the music but the music making my drumming into what it is. I'm a product of the music we write because this is what we want. I didn't really have my own style, I played metal and some odd timed stuff but not this type of cyclical patterns that we use now. As the years went by that sound became what the band is. I emulate what people program on the computer.

The Hornet: What's next for you guys?

Tomas: Well, [we'll] have a live DVD probably late spring, early fall. As far as new stuff, we haven't started recording anything yet. We have a few things that didn't end up on "Obzen", just a few parts that we want to use on the next album. It's all in the vein of what we do. I'm kind of pumped to start recording again, Hopefully by the fall we will start recording, with the album being released later in 2010

Santa Barbara, California's DEVILDRIVER, the group fronted by former COAL CHAMBER singer Dez Fafara, recently entered Edge of the Earth studios in Los Angeles to begin recording the band's as-yet untitled fourth album with producer Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY).

Commented guitarist Jeff Kendrick: "I must say that the record is turning out better than I had ever imagined. The tones, performance and overall vibe has been great! I was not so sure about recording in L.A., but so far everything has been fucking awesome and we are very blessed and pleased to have Logan Mader producing. In particular, I cannot wait for everyone to hear the guitar tone. WOW!"

Bassist Jon Miller added: "As of February 1, I have finished my bass and guitar parts for the fourth DEVILDRIVER studio album. I could not be happier with how well things have gone thus far in regards to the tones of the guitars, bass and drums but especially the vocals. Not only is this the best music we have written but it is Dez's best vocal performance... hands down. Logan Mader is an absolute pleasure to work with. He has brought the best out in all of the members in DEVILDRIVER. This album will not disappoint... in fact, it may hurt you."

American "drone metal" act SUNNO))) will release its new album, "Monoliths & Dimensions", on May 5 via Southern Lord. Described by the band as "probably the most musical piece we've done and also the heaviest, powerful and most abstract set of chords we've laid to tape," the LP — the band's seventh — was recorded during 2007 and 2008 with Randall Dunn and features a host of collaborators, including Eyvind Kang, Oren Ambarchi, Jessika Kenney, Attila Csihar and Dylan Carlson, among others.

"Monoliths & Dimensions" track listing is as follows:

01. Aghartha
02. Big Church
03. Hunting & Gathering (Cydonia)
04. Alice

SUNNO))) will also make a special, one-off appearance at London's Corsica Studios on February 22, with the core duo Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson performing their 1998 debut "The Grimmrobe Demos".

According to AeroForceOne (AEROSMITH's official fan club), Fade In — a U.S.-based movie magazine — recently spoke with AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry about the classic THE BEATLES movie "A Hard Day's Night" which was released in 1964. Joe said, "I was always an outsider. I never really fit in. I was the guy standing against the wall at every school dance. But when I saw this movie in 1963-64, and saw the camaraderie these guys had as a band, it made me want to pursue music. I was going to be a marine biologist. I love the ocean. I didn't snorkel, but had always loved [Jacques] Cousteau and thought maybe I could be a part of that. But I was also intrigued by the guitar. And I ended up being in a band with all of my friends. There're a lot of films I love, but I wouldn't have followed the course that I did if I hadn't seen this film."

Perry recently issued a statement regarding the emergency knee surgery he recently underwent, which forced the band to cancel a February 1 headlining show in Caracas, Venezuela. As previously reported, Perry had the surgery because of complications from a knee replacement he had done last year. He wrote, "Recovery was going well until about six weeks ago. It got infected! At this point we don't know how or why, and after a series of tests, I had to undergo emergency knee surgery. Basically, they flushed out the knee with a lot of antibiotics. I got the call at 11 a.m. on a Thursday that I needed surgery the next day. I was in the hospital that night and had the operation the next day."

Perry added that his latest recovery was going well and that he planned to get back into the studio in a couple of weeks to keep working on the next AEROSMITH album.

He said that postponing the show in Venezuela was "unavoidable," but that the band hopes to hit the road in late spring or early summer.

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

According to The Pulse of Radio, SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor caused a stir last month when he revealed plans to make his first solo album sometime in the next year. The biggest question for fans was what would happen with Taylor's other group, STONE SOUR, whose last effort, "Come What(ever) May", surfaced in 2006. Taylor told The Pulse of Radio that he's keeping his priorities straight when it comes to new projects. "I think what got people up in arms is the fact that, you know, it was a question of what was going to come first, solo album or STONE SOUR?" he said. "What it comes down to is that we've put a lot of work into STONE SOUR, and for me to turn around and put out a solo album first would kind of destroy the foundation that we've built for STONE SOUR. So starting this fall, we are going to work on a new STONE SOUR album."

Taylor said he hopes to record the new STONE SOUR album next January and February, with a tentative release in the spring of 2010.

He added that he will begin work on his solo album around that time as well.

SLIPKNOT is currently in the midst of a 33-city tour that brings the band to New York City on Thursday night (February 5) for its first-ever gig at the prestigious Madison Square Garden.

SLIPKNOT's latest release, "All Hope Is Gone", has been certified gold for moving more than 500,000 copies since its arrival last August. It was also the band's first No. 1 debut on the Billboard chart.

"On & On", the new video from Irish rockers THE ANSWER, can be viewed below. The clip, which was directed by Isaiah Seret ("Wanted") and shot in U.S. while the band was on tour with AC/DC, combines the raw unadulterated performance of THE ANSWER in a very cool setting.

"On & On" comes off THE ANSWER's forthcoming second album, "Everyday Demons", which will be released in Europe on March 2 (March 31 in the U.S.) via the German record label Steamhammer/SPV. The CD was produced by John Travis (KID ROCK, STATIC-X, etc.) and mixed by Tim Palmer and Mike Fraser (who recently mixed AC/DC's "Black Ice").

"We've been on tour almost constantly for two years, have seen a lot of the world and made a lot of important experiences — a development that you can hear on 'Everyday Demons'," says guitarist Paul Mahon.

THE ANSWER's debut North American title "Never Too Late", is a limited-edition two-disc set that bundles a four-song EP and a bonus DVD featuring previously unreleased footage.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release "One Eye To Morocco" — the first studio album with all-new material in 10 years from legendary DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan — on March 31 through subsidiary Eagle Records (prebook date March 11, retail sales price $13.98).

Check out the cover artwork below.

Produced and recorded in Canada with maestro Nick Blagona, the music was written by Ian Gillan together with longtime collaborator Steve Morris, as well as Michael Lee Jackson and Rodney Appleby — who both performed on the "Gillan's Inn" U.S. tour, as featured on the double album/DVD "Live in Anaheim" (released through Edel Entertainment).

The musicians are:

Michael Lee Jackson - Guitar
Rodney Appleby - Bass
Howard Wilson - Drums
Joe Menonna - Saxophone
Lance Anderson - Hammond Organ
Jesse O'Brien - Keyboards

The voice is instantly recognizable; Ian Gillan's unique style draws you in. "One Eye To Morocco" goes deeper into the roots of rock and roll, soul and blues, than any other Ian Gillan solo album.

The CD is the most adventurous and complete album Ian Gillan has recorded in his long career. His distinguished style admired by generations of DEEP PURPLE fans is showcased, as well as his musical versatility. The title track is a seductive orchestration supporting Gillan's entrancing style, followed by the pure rock and roll of "No Lotion For That", while "Better Days" and "Always The Traveler" are inspired soul ballads.

"From a café in the Jewish Quarter of Cracow, where the conceptual seeds were sown, to harvest time at a Toronto studio, this is a magical journey for me," says Gillan. "Sitting alone in my room, waiting for no one to call me, lost in a dream of my own…"

"One Eye To Morocco" track listing:

01. One Eye To Morocco
02. No Lotion For That
03. Don't Stop
04. Change My Ways
05. Girl Goes To Show
06. Better Days
07. Deal With It
08. Ultimate Groove
09. The Sky Is Falling Down
10. Texas State Of Mind
11. It Would Be Nice
12. Always The Traveler

The cover artwork for "Inherit The Void", the sophomore full-length album from the Finnish metal band PROFANE OMEN, can be viewed below. Due on March 4 through Playground Music Scandinavia, the CD was recorded with producer Ville Sorvali of MOONSORROW and Aleksanteri Kuosa.

"Inherit The Void" track listing:

01. Seconds (intro)
02. Base
03. Information
04. Superpowertrip
05. I Have Seen
06. Left To Disintegrate
07. In The Middle I Breathe
08. Right To Retaliate
09. Generation Doom (Count Me Out)
10. Dealers Of Guilt
11. Dodge

A studio diary documenting the recording sessions can be found at this location.

Commented the band: "'Inherit The Void' is recorded and mixed and we as a band and human beings have given everything we had in us. This album simply is the best piece of work we have been able to pull off so far.

"If you are willing to lay down and listen to this album in peace for the first time, I promise it will be a small 'trip.' The songs are all linked to each other, by the texts, but also by the feeling in the music. Using the words 'theme album' would sound a bit too much pseudo-artistic crap, so let's say that this album is a description of our time and the lives we live. It is made of somewhat incoherent thoughts interpreted and five dudes totally playing together.

"Oh, and don't you be expecting some over-compressed-everything-as-loud-as-possible concrete. We wanted this album to also breathe and have some real dynamics on it. The sound is somehow close to an old-school vinyl sound, with soft, but rich upper frequencies and a big bottom that still doesn't eat all the dynamics from the sound. Hope you will enjoy it this way, at least we do."

Based in Lahti, Finland, PROFANE OMEN was formed in 1999 and released its debut album, "Beaten into Submission", in 2006. An EP, "Disconnected", followed in 2007.

PROFANE OMEN is:

Jules Näveri (ENEMY OF THE SUN) - Vocals
Antti Kokkonen (Andy J. Bonfire) - Guitar
Williami Kurki - Guitar
Tuomas Saarenketo - Bass
Samuli Mikkonen - Drums

Norwegian stoner metal band KRAKOW has issued the following update:

"We're currently working on our debut album in Duper Studio, Bergen. We have been working hard toward this session since we finished the European tour, so we are really excited about this. We have finished recording three songs: 'Oblivious', 'Art of Motion' and 'Drifter'. Our goal is to record nine songs, put eight on our album, and keep one as a B-side to a 7" vinyl single. I have to say that the songs so far sound pretty fucking heavy! Hopefully you will hear some teasers in a not-so-distant future.

"We are sorry to announce that we have to cancel the support gig for SHINING; a certain member of KRAKOW is attending the Roadburn Festival at that time.

"Anyway, we're having a good time recording and see you soon!"

KRAKOW's debut is being helmed by producer Iver Sandoy (MANNGARD) and is executive-produced by Ivar Peersen (Peersen Productions, ENSLAVED), who said about working on the album: "First time I heard KRAKOW, I thought this is a band that's going somewhere! Their choice to go with stoner/classic metal/hard rock might not be ground-breaking in itself; it is how they do it — how they mix it up with elements from all ranges of the wondrous world of metal: the melodic, the extreme, the heavy, the powerful and the psychedelic foundations are all there. When they asked me to produce their debut album I immediately jumped on the chance to be a part of this band's evolution from the get-go!"

Formed in 2005, KRAKOW released an EP in 2008 titled "Dusty Roads".

Following the departure of long-standing bassist Steve Scott in early January 2009, British melodic power metallers POWER QUEST have announced that the search for a replacement is now over. The group's new bassist is Oliver Holzwarth, who has been a touring member of the legendary German power metal band BLIND GUARDIAN since 1997. In addition to this, he has also worked with Tarja Turunen (formerly of NIGHTWISH), PARADOX, DEMONS & WIZARDS and his own band SIEGES EVEN.

POWER QUEST keyboardist and founder member Steve Williams commented: "We are absolutely thrilled to have recruited a musician of Oliver's caliber into the band. His combination of musicianship and experience will be a fantastic addition to POWER QUEST, as we head forward into 2009. Welcome aboard, mate!"

Oliver added: "When I got in contact with Steve for the first time, it instantly became quite clear that we share the same ideas and visions. Consequently, I joined POWER QUEST. Quite a musical challenge that I am looking forward to mastering with dedication and inspiration. Great to play with you guys!"

Catch the new POWER QUEST line-up at ProgPower USA on September 11, 2009 and at Metalfest UK on September 26, 2009.

POWER QUEST's latest album, "Master of Illusion", was released last spring via Napalm Records/Avalon Marquee (Japan). Guest musicians on the CD include keyboardist Richard West from the UK progressive metal band THRESHOLD, Jorn Viggo Lofstad from the Norwegian power metal act PAGAN'S MIND and FOURWAYKILL singer Chris Neighbour.

Due to a "manufacturing error," the North American release date of the "A Knot Of" DVD from Japan's DIR EN GREY 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

According to News.bg, Ivan Nestorov, co-president of Sofia Music Enterprises, commented on the rumors that AC/DC are demanding a fee of 3 million levs (approximately $2 million) to perform in Bulgaria.

Said Nestorov: "AC/DC have no fee — this is nonsense! Stars of such a magnitude have no fees? The money the artists get is distributed on the principle of percents and on the basis of the tickets' price, capacity, expenses, etc. and usually no fees are determined.

"I can't give you any details on the tickets' price for a possible AC/DC concert, because nothing is certain yet. If we get a confirmation, we'll naturally give a press conference and announce all details necessary!"

"We have been negotiating with many artists throughout the seventeen years of hard work. Only musicians from Mars are not in our negotiation schemes," joked Nestorov.