Oakland, California extreme metallers ALL SHALL PERISH are seeking a temporary replacement for guitarist Chris Storey for upcoming touring commitments. The band has released the following statement:

"Our lead guitarist Chris Storey will be taking some time off to deal with some family issues and will be missing out on a few tours.

"We are looking for a touring replacement for a handful of upcoming tours, one fest run in Europe and one fest tour in the states. Please only apply if you are:

1. Over 18
2. Have all pro gear
3. Able to perform all lead guitar parts to 'Black Gold Reign', 'Never Again' and 'When Life Meant More'
4. Drama- and hard-drug-free
5. In possession of a valid driver's license and passport

"If you meet all these requirements, please email us a link to a video of you playing any of the songs mentioned. If you can do a good enough job by ear, we will send you a response e-mail with tabs and videos."

E-mail all tryout videos to tryout@allshallperish.com.

The band recently wrapped up a North American tour with HATE ETERNAL, JOB FOR A COWBOY, ANIMOSITY and ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY.

ALL SHALL PERISH's third full-length album, "Awaken the Dreamers", sold just under 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 126. The follow-up to "The Price of Existence" was recorded at Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland with producer Zack Ohren.

Anglo-Chilean thrash masters CRIMINAL have unveiled the cover artwork for their new album, "White Hell". The piece was created by Chilean designer / tattoo artist / drummer Fran Muñoz.

"The original idea we were pursuing didn't really work out," comments vocalist/guitarist Anton Reisenegger, "so we basically decided to start from scratch. Then Fran approached us with this idea and we all really liked it, so we just went for it."

"White Hell" (cover) track listing:

01. 21st Century Paranoia
02. Crime and Punishment
03. Incubus
04. Black Light
05. The Deluge
06. Strange Ways
07. Mobrule
08. The Infidel
09. Invasion
10. Eyes of Temptation
11. Bastardom
12. Sons of Cain

In Europe the album will be released in a limited edition including a bonus DVD, the contents of which will be announced shortly, while the South American version of the album will contain the bonus track "Hermanos Dementes".

A brand new track off "White Hell" will be made available via the band's MySpace page on January 1, 2009. The page is currently hosting demo versions of two tracks, "The Infidel" and "Eyes of Temptation".

Regarding the direction of the new songs, CRIMINAL guitarist/singer Anton Reisenegger previously said, "the material for the record is incredibly varied, ranging from really technical stuff with odd time signatures, to crushing groove monsters, to all-out death metal and everything in between, so be prepared for one hell of a rollercoaster ride!"

"White Hell" will be released on February 27, 2009 via Massacre Records.

Formed in the early '90s in Santiago, Chile by ex-PENTAGRAM mastermind Reisenegger and guitar virtuoso Rodrigo Contreras, CRIMINAL were combining elements of thrash, hardcore and death metal long before the term "metalcore" was even thought of. The band enjoyed a meteoric rise to the forefront of the South American metal scene, including five-digit album sales, shows with the likes of KREATOR, SEPULTURA and SLAYER and a nomination for Best Rock Video at the MTV Latino Video Music Awards, but was faced with severe personal and business problems around the turn of the decade. Reisenegger and Contreras then decided to relocate to the UK, regrouping in a half-Chilean, half-British lineup. Since then, the band has played on major European festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Summer Breeze, as well as support shows with bands such as CHIMAIRA, SIX FEET UNDER, BRUJERIA and LAMB OF GOD.

CRIMINAL's latest studio offering, "Sicario", was hailed by the press as one of the finest thrash metal releases of 2005 and was voted into the Top Ten Albums of the Year by the readers of Terrorizer magazine. At the same time, the band's status in their home country remains unbroken, as evidenced by a four-page feature in the Chilean edition of Rolling Stone magazine and a recent show supporting MEGADETH in front of over 14,000 metalheads.

CRIMINAL is:

Anton Reisenegger – vocals, guitar
Rodrigo Contreras – lead guitar
Zac O'Neil – drums
Dan Biggin – bass

Finnish metallers PAIN CONFESSOR have announced the addition of guitarist Tommi Kurki to the group's ranks. According to the band, Kurki "has been around since the first gigs of PAIN CONFESSOR. In fact, he has been our mainstay sound engineer for pretty much all these years. This made the transition from behind the mixer to the frontlines an easy one, and very natural."

The group continues, "He wasn't born yesterday as a guitarist either. Tommi 'Tommi Kurki' Kurki, or The Bullfinch, as we like to call him, played guitar in the old Finnish progressive metal band SANCNITY along with PAIN CONFESSOR producer Janne Saksa. SANCNITY's swansong was their excellent early '90s album 'Dew'.

"A multitude of musical paths were ventured after that, a few to mention were as a guitarist in WOODEN BONE (SANCNITY reincarnate as a more pop/rock-esque band) and as the vocalist for the Finnish punk band REHTORIT.

"We are proud to have such a rock-hard extra fist to smash into the collective behind of humanity. This will only make things worse for those against us and add even more spice for those who like what we dish out!"

PAIN CONFESSOR in June uploaded two new demo tracks — "X9" and "Reality Of Now" — to the band's MySpace page. The songs were recorded at the group's home studio and were mixed by Janne Saksa of Studio Sound Supreme, who "really made this work by mixing the whole thing and adding his own unique and special touch that we really have missed," according to the band.

PAIN CONFESSOR recently parted ways with Megamania Records and is currently seeking a new label home.

The band's third album, "Purgatory of the Second Sun", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 15 back in March 2007.

"Purgatory of the Second Sun" was recorded at Fantom studio and was previously described by the band as "raw and furious."

BARREN EARTH is the name of a new Helsinki, Finland-based project featuring members of KREATOR, MOONSORROW, SWALLOW THE SUN and MANNHAI, among other bands. Formed in the fall of 2007, BARREN EARTH's music "combines elements of modern and traditional (death) metal with '70s prog rock and folk," according to the group's official bio. "Among the band's influences are artists like PARADISE LOST, OPETH, PINK FLOYD, JETHRO TULL and also some pioneers of Finnish prog.. The members' individual backgrounds in many internationally known and acclaimed outfits is a testament to the quality of the band's music. These same backgrounds are obviously also echoed in BARREN EARTH's music."

BARREN EARTH entered Jive Studios in Helsinki this past summer to record several tracks which can now be streamed via the band's MySpace page. Check out the songs "The Flame of Serenity", "Ere All Perish", "Forlorn Waves" and "The Floodred" at this location.

BARREN EARTH is:

Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN, EMPYREAN BANE) - Vocals
Janne Perttilä (RYTMIHÄIRIÖ, MOONSORROW session) - Guitar
Sami Yli-Sirniö (KREATOR, WALTARI) - Guitar
Olli-Pekka Laine (MANNHAI, CHAOSBREED, ex-AMORPHIS) - Bass
Kasper Mårtenson (VENHO) - Keyboards
Marko Tarvonen (MOONSORROW) – Drums

Sascha Paeth — producer, engineer and guitarist of EDGUY frontman's AVANTASIA project — was honored with the prestigious sound award "Golden Bobby" by the German association of sound engineers (VDT) for the best production of the year 2008 in the "Rock" category. The song that made the difference was the 11-minute epic title track of AVANTASIA's latest album, "The Scarecrow". The jury of highly acclaimed and established sound engineers and professors stated that they were astonished at the song's dynamics and power and that they couldn't think of another track has won the award so clearly.

AVANTASIA's "The Scarecrow" album, which features a long list of guest musicians (including Bob Catley, Jorn Lande, ex-HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske, Alice Cooper, KISS drummer Eric Singer, SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker and GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen), produced a Top 10 German hit single, "Lost In Space", and entered the national charts in 15 countries, with the CD landing in the Top 10 in four countries.

RA, a new Finnish metal band consisting of three 13-year-old boys, has inked a deal with EMI Finland. The group's debut album, "Punainen Virta", will feature a lyrical theme based around Egyptian mythology and is tentatively due in early 2009.

RA's first single, "Painajainen", was released earlier in the year.

Finnish TV footage of RA performing at the Elämä Lapselle charity fundraising concert in September 2008 can be viewed below.

RA is:

Jaanis - Vocals, Bass
Tomi - Vocals, Guitar
Jesse – Drums

CIVILIZATION ONE, the band led by singer Chitral "Chity" Somapala (ex-FIREWIND, FARO, AVALON) and bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson (MALADAPTIVE, ex-HEAVENLY), has announced the addition of British guitarist Tim Mills (ex-ICED EARTH, ELKIE BROOKS) to the group's ranks.

The band performed in Colombo, Sri Lanka on November 29 as part of the TNL Onstage event at the SLECC (Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre). This marked the first time a Western metal group has played in Sri Lanka, and it was a homecoming for Chity Somapala, the Sri Lankan-born singer who has been living in Europe for 22 years. Back in his home country, he did the remarkable "Lion Beer Song" which was played on radio/TV commercials throughout the country and during international cricket events.

Commented the band: "Close to 4,000 screaming fans witnessed the show. As a result, we will release our debut, 'Revolution Rising', as a special edition in Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives in 2009 for all those die-hard fans. We will come back to Sri Lanka and hopefully other parts of southeast Asia with the release of our second album, 'Calling the Gods'."

CIVILIZATION ONE is currently working on material for "Calling the Gods", tentatively due next year.

Legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio recently spoke to Revolver magazine about the upcoming album from HEAVEN AND HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH members Dio, Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums). The group's first LP since SABBATH's "Dehumanizer" (1992) is being recorded at Rockfield studios in Wales, U.K. (where "Dehumanizer" was also tracked).

"It sounds great," Ronnie said of the self-produced set which he co-wrote with Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler during sessions in Los Angeles and England. "It's a real cross-section of everything we've done, from 'Heaven and Hell' through 'Mob Rules' and 'Dehumanizer'. I think there's a lot of 'Dehumanizer' in it, but a lot of other things, too, a real good blend of what this band has represented."

Yorkshire, U.K. progressive doom-death metallers THE PROPHECY have posted an unmastered version of the song "Belief Means Nothing" on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's new album, "Into The Light", due on February 20, 2009 via Code666. The follow-up to 2006's "Revelations" was recorded at Priory Studios in Sutton Colefields with producer/engineer Greg Chandler (ESOTERIC).

Commented the band: "We recorded the demo for the new album [in] August [2007] at Priory Studios with Greg Chandler. The demo surpassed anything we had previously done so we knew that the album would turn out to be something special. As with every album we're released we always aim to write and record the best possible music, building on our earlier works. Over the last couple of years our collective musicianship and song writing has improved immensely and this has allowed us to really progress from 'Revelations'. Combined with Chandler's expertise in the studio, 'Into The Light' has become our heaviest and most technical album to date."

"Into The Light" track listing:

01. Waters Deep
02. Don't Forget
03. Delusion
04. Echoes
05. Into the Light
06. Belief Means Nothing
07. All is Lost
08. Hope

Norway's THEATRE OF TRAGEDY has issued the following update:

"Another year has passed and not much has happened publicly with the band. Rest assured, we haven't just been lazy (well, a bit of that too). The year has mainly been spent writing and rehearsing the new material for the upcoming seventh THEATRE OF TRAGEDY album.

"So far, 12 songs are done and 10 of those will make it to the album. As usual, we are nowhere near a title for the album, not even a songtitle is ready, but it will come.

"The drums have been recorded together with a really nice guy called Alexander Nyhus and now we are waiting for our producer to finish up his current project with some elderly pop legends. Recordings are planned for February and March so a release date should be either June or August, depending on what AFM Records want to do.

"Erik Ljunggren will be handling the production side of things. We are very pleased about working with him again. He knows the band very well and is a wizard when it comes to sound. He has turned the knobs for THE KOVENANT, Kari Rueslåtten, A-HA, SEIGMEN, ZEROMANCER, SATYRICON. But for us he will alway be the mastermind of the legendary industrial metal band VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING. We even played support for VSB in our early beginnings of 1995. Time goes by fast."

THEATRE OF TRAGEDY recently posted a couple of new demo clips on the band's MySpace page.

THEATRE OF TRAGEDY's latest album, "Storm", was released in March 2006 via AFM Records. The CD was produced by Rico Darum and mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, FEAR FACTORY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY, etc.) at The Green Jacket studios in Richmond, B.C., Canada. The album was the group's first to feature singer Nell (THE CREST), who replaced Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull (currently in LEAVES' EYES) in early 2004.

The cover artwork for "We Came With The Northern Winds - En Saga I Belgia", the new double DVD from LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — can be viewed here. Due on February 27, 2009 via Napalm Records, the set "will have a total playing time of approximately six hours," according to a press release. "The first disc comprises 'We Came With The Northern Winds', a band documentary with a running time of two hours. The movie highlights the band's career and offers fans an exclusive and intimate glimpse into the world of LEAVES' EYES, as well as presenting the viewer with impressions of past tours (222 concerts spanning over four continents and 34 countries). The second disc documents LEAVES' EYES' memorable headlining gig on October 20, 2007 at the Metal Female Voices Fest in Wieze, Belgium. The show featured the legendary Viking longboat stage set, as well as a setlist full of fan favorites. The package also delivers a double audio CD of the show as a special bonus."

"We Came With The Northern Winds - En Saga I Belgia" will be released as a deluxe eight-panel DVD digipack and slipcase as well as in CD format as a deluxe eight-panel digipack and slipcase.

LEAVES' EYES' appearance at this year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival — which was held July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany — also included the Viking ship stage set. Joining the group on drums for the Wacken gig was Alex Holzwarth, who currently plays in RHAPSODY OF FIRE and SIEGES EVEN.

LEAVES' EYES is currently working on a new studio album, "Njord", which is scheduled for release in early 2009.

Cleveland's CHIMAIRA has set "The Infection" as the title of the band's new album, due in North America on April 21, 2009 via Ferret Music. CHIMAIRA is still looking for label to release the new album in territories outside North America (the group is no longer signed to Nuclear Blast, which released "Resurrection" in Europe). The CD was recorded in Cleveland with producer Ben Schigel.

CHIMAIRA vocalist Mark Hunter previously stated about the recording process for the upcoming album, "I intentionally came into the studio without one lyric or vocal idea. The majority of the songs written for this record were written on the fly by us jamming in the bus. Two hours later we had a song. After touring we continued that spontaneous style of writing and it was an amazing feeling feeding off of each other's ideas and just seeing where the riffs would take us. I feel this is CHIMAIRA in its purest and most vulnerable form. I felt that I wanted to harness that same raw talent on the microphone as well. I basically freestyle over a song, find patterns I like or words I might say and then build from there. I construct the lyrics and then go in to track it. After that I sit on it for a day, and then come back and fix things here and there. I've done this method in the past with songs like 'Power Trip', 'Severed', 'Paralyzed', 'Down Again', 'Pure Hatred', etc. so it's not a new thing for me. But to do an entire record like this, that's a first."

CHIMAIRA will play its ninth annual Christmas show on December 30 at the House of Blues in the band's hometown.

The Pulse of Radio reports: Christmas may be a time of celebration and joy for many people, but according to the members of APOCALYPTICA, that's not the case in their native Finland. The holiday comes during a period in which the northern country doesn't get any sunlight for up to four months, and APOCALYPTICA member Eicca Toppinen told The Pulse of Radio that leads to more problems. "Finland is number one in suicide numbers in the world," he said. "Christmas is the worst time for that, and it seems to be very hard because the dark period lasts for three to four months every winter. And all these lonely people, you know, they're already depressed, and when it comes to the time of Christmas, they can't stand it."

APOCALYPTICA scored their first No. 1 rock radio hit last month with "I Don't Care", the latest single from the band's sixth studio album, "Worlds Collide".

The disc has sold 153,000 copies in the U.S. and marks the rock cello quartet's first significant success in this country in their 15-year career.

"I Don't Care" features guest vocals from THREE DAYS GRACE frontman Adam Gontier, while SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor contributed vocals to the CD's first single, "I'm Not Jesus".

"No More", the first-ever video from the Dutch female-fronted gothic rock outfit NEMESEA, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by D'iMages, which has previously worked with AFTER FOREVER, AYREON and STREAM OF PASSION, among others. The song comes off the band's second album, "In Control", which was was produced by Tony Platt (AC/DC, BOB MARLEY) and Ronald Prent (RAMMSTEIN) and was released in June 2007.

NEMESEA recorded "In Control" after raising $50,000 through the SellaBand.com web site, which empowers artists to make a professional album funded by fans.

NEMESEA is:

Manda Ophuis - Vocals
Hendrik Jan de Jong - Guitar
Sonny Onderwater - Bass
Steven Bouma - Drums

Marin Independent Journal reports that METALLICA frontman James Hetfield has met with county officials to discuss resolving the issue of his disputed fence that blocks open space access to hikers and others in the Lucas Valley.

Over the summer Hetfield erected a metal fence on his property on a Terra Linda hilltop, closing off a popular trail and angering hikers, bikers and equestrians. The fence, at the end of a fire road in the Terra Linda-Sleepy Hollow Divide open space preserve, blocks access from the Luiz Ranch Fire Road that dates back more than 50 years.

Vandalism of a previous smaller gate, and of signs and other property along the trail, prompted Hetfield to block access with the 300-foot-long, 8- to 10-foot-high corrugated metal silver fence.

The reunited South Florida death/thrash metal band SOLSTICE entered the studio on September 18 to begin recording its new album for an early 2009 release. 11 songs are being laid down during the sessions, including a cover of an old song by the Miami progressive metallers CYNIC.

Commented SOLSTICE: "We're done tracking guitars, bass and vocals. Only guitar solos remain and those are about half way. We should be ready to mix and master in about three weeks and then we WILL have some new music on the player. Bass playing is outstanding as is the bass tone. Garrett [Scott] really put on a show for us and done with extremely limited rehearsal."

SOLSTICE was formed in 1990 by guitarist Dennis Munoz and drummer Alex Marquez with vocalist/guitarist Rob Barrett (CANNIBAL CORPSE, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION, HATEPLOW) and bassist Dave Smith. In 1991 they recorded a demo produced by legendary producer Jim Morris. In 1992, their debut album "The Sentencing" was recorded but due to internal problems the band broke up the following year. Barrett and Marquez would go on to join MALEVOLENT CREATION. In 1994 Munoz and Marquez played with a hardcore band called ANGER and in 1995 SOLSTICE was reformed with a new lineup. A second album titled "Pray" was released but they soon disbanded once again.

Current SOLSTICE lineup:

Christian Rudes: Guitars, vocals
Dennis Munoz: Guitars
Brian Harris: Drums
Garrett Scott: Bass

Since its inception in 1990, Japanese metal act SIGH has continued to push boundaries with each and every release. Often labeled as a black metal band, SIGH's music has been and continues to be inspired by varied styles besides black metal including '80s thrash, classical, jazz, '60s/'70s rock and more.

January 20, 2009 brings the reissuing through The End Records of "Imaginary Sonicscape" (cover), originally on Century Media (2001). Included will be bonus tracks, extended versions of songs and a previously unreleased track.

"Imaginary Sonicscape" features a liberal serving of vintage keyboards such as Minimoog, Hohner Clavinet, Fender Rhodes and so on, and was planned, explains bandleader Mirai Kawashima, as "something you should smoke to". The music does not belong to any country or any era. It's a 100% imaginary world and this is the most psychedelic and exotic album SIGH to date.

"For the original release in 2001," Mirai continues, "we removed 'Voices' and cut 'Bring Back The Dead' short, but this time around we've decided to return to the original plan by adding these and 'Born Condemned Criminal', which was only on the Japanese release originally, so now 'Imaginary Soniscape' has become a nearly-80-minute trip to hell!"

The cover artwork was done by Stephen O'Malley (SUNN O))) and the lyrics to "Nietzschean Conspiracy" were written by Bård Eithun (BLOOD TSUNAMI, ex-EMPEROR).

For the complete track listing, go to this location.

U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine conducted a short interview with NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon for its "Xmas Rocks" issue, available on newsstands now. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Kerrang!: 2008 – rock or suck fest?

Anette: "It's been a mix of both. I've enjoyed seeing so many different parts of the world and experiencing different cultures; and playing shows in South America was a dream come true. But, of course, touring can be quite hard on you, and I'm still the newest addition to a group of people, and that will always bring some conflicts. It takes some getting used to the business of being in a band this size. I was sick a lot and the lowest points of my year were when I had to miss some shows, which always really upsets me because I hate letting people down. I had to have a lot of shots in my ass, even right before we played Rock Am Ring I needed to get one just so I could perform. But I think doing any job should have both its positive and negative parts."

Kerrang!: When did you most feel like a rock star?

Anette: "When we were in Sao Paulo, Brazil, we got the police to take us between the hotel and venue. We were going really fast between the four lanes of traffic and being thrown about in the car with the sirens blaring. It felt kinda awkward and I remember thinking, 'You know, maybe I'm quite a big rock star now, and I'm not entirely sure if I like that or if that's a bit weird!'"

Kerrang!: So have you had to pinch yourself a lot this year?

Anette: "That happens a lot! Sometimes I get overwhelmed by all the fans. When they meet me and they're so nervous that they're shaking or crying, I'm like, 'Hey, it's only me!' It's so har to see yourself as this person that people adore and look up to."

Kerrang!: What are you most proud of?

Anette: "I'm really proud of myself in that I think I've done a hell of a job in this band. I've proven to myself and other people how strong I am, and that I can be at the lowest point and still get up there and do it over and over again. I feel that I've learned to be strong."

Kerrang!: Who was your hero of the year?

Anette: "There were many people who inspired me this year, but, of course, it was such a big thing that [Barack] Obama won the election to be the new President of the United States. I think he's really a hero because I think he knows that there are a lot of people who will really want to wipe him off the face of the Earth. He's a humanist and things will definitely be changing now. He can really make a difference to the world, and I hope he does."

Guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH has issued the following update:

"Well, finally finished the European tour. I have to say this is the most successful Euro tour we've ever done in terms of attendance. Almost every gig we did was completely sold out, most of them in advance which is amazing! Thank you so much for coming out to see us again. I mean, if you want us, we'll be there. Like a hot blanket in the cold, or a chilled Corona on a hot beach...whatever!

"I'm feeling a lot better now [after a bout with laryngitis earlier in the week]. I've stopped taking my steroids and will finish the antibiotics thingie on Sunday, I believe. Trying to cut down on the nasal spray. Fucking addictive that shit!

"The last two shows in Stockholm went alright. My voice obviously not in top form but I managed to pull through. Lots of people coming, both sold out and GREAT response! Tack mina vänner! Melinda [one of Mikael's daughters] and my wife went to the second show and Melinda fell asleep during the second song. Bound to be a rough critic when she grows up, I suppose.

"We'll rest for a while; well deserved I think. Then on the 16th me and Fred [OPETH guitarist Fredrik Åkesson] are flying over for the USA NAMM fair in Anaheim, CA to sign some autographs at the PRS stand. Obviously, then in late January we have the India gig which will be fun.

"A new setlist has been discussed and it omits every song we played on the last tour apart from one, so it'll be pretty cool I think. Some of me personal favourite songs will be dusted off. Hard shit to play though...I gotta practise!

"As for now, I just want to thank you (on behalf of the band) again for your support. We love ya! I love ya! Hope you'll cum out and see us again soon!

"I celebrate X-mas for all the wrong reasons. I just want to eat good, buy shitloads of gifts for my kids and my wife and get maybe a little buzzed on some Aalborg snaps or something. There are no religious motives for us celebrating that day here, but we all kinda dig it for the complete consummation orgy that it is. Once a year it's fine...

"So, I also wanna say Merry X-mas to you all as well and a Happy new year! Don't make no new years resolutions...WASTE of TIME! Promise yourselves to take care of your vices, get fit or whatever when you're not fucked up. Just a little piece of advice for ya!"

Finland's OMNIUM GATHERUM have issued the following update:

"The year 2008 is coming to an end and what a great year it was for a camp OMNIUM GATHERUM. The new great album, 'The Redshift', was released and it have accomplished a huge amount of words of praise and cheering among the medias and fans, and the album even reached the Finnish album chart on position #24! Oh yeah, and also our first two albums were re-released as a cool digipak reissues. We did tours this year at first with DARK TRANQUILLITY and the second with NILE/GRAVE and BELPHEGOR/SEVERE TORTURE and have played also many Finnish headlining gigs, so we did about 50 gigs this year. Looking forward to get back on the road after a short break. The spirits are high and the boogie is good!" Meanwhile, "Markus [Vanhala] will be playing with fellow Finnish metallers DIABLO as a stand-in stunt guitarist on January/February on two Finnish gigs and a part of their upcoming big European tour, supporting CHILDREN OF BODOM and CANNIBAL CORPSE."

Released on October 14 in the U.S. via Candlelight Records, "The Redshift" was recorded at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland with Janne Saksa and SouthEastSounds studio in Karhula with Teemu Aalto. The CD was mixed at Unisound Studio in Örebro, Sweden by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, HAIL OF BULLETS, NOVEMBERS DOOM).

An e-card for the CD can be accessed at this location.

The "Nail" video can be viewed here.

World Entertainment News Network reports that QUEEN guitarist Brian May did not realize his bandmate Freddie Mercury was gay for years — because the flamboyant star had a string of girlfriends.

The pair was close during the early days of the band, but the legendary guitarist insists he had no inclination of Mercury's homosexuality.

He tells Britain's Daily Express, "No, I didn't know. I don't think even he was fully cognizant in the beginning.

"You're talking to someone who shared rooms with Fred on the first couple of tours, so I knew him pretty well. I knew a lot of his girlfriends and he certainly didn't have boyfriends, that's for sure. I think there was a slight suspicion, but it never occurred to me that he was gay." And even when the frontman, who died in 1991, had come to terms with his sexual orientation, he became well versed at avoiding the issue when asked directly.

May adds, "I remember Freddie being asked if he was gay in one of his early interviews and he said: 'Yes, darling, of course. I'm as gay as a daffodil'. It was a neat way of sidestepping the issue because actually, Freddie was no fool.

"I know that all through his life Fred didn't think that whether he was gay or not was important. He loved music, he love his work, and he didn't want anything to get in the way. Anyone who portrays Fred as purely a gay story is missing a lot of the point."

NIGHTSHADE, the new project featuring former USURPER guitarist Rick Scythe, will record a new EP in early 2009. According to the band, "We will record two new songs in the next couple weeks entitled 'Mount Misery' and 'The Iron Witch'. We will record two or three songs shortly after that and try to get all the songs available online by March of 2009."

NIGHTSHADE's debut album, "Autumnal Equinox" (cover), will be officially released in January through Sempiternal Productions. It will be made available as a 13-song full-length CD plus DVD complete with promo videos, a photo gallery, interviews and more.

NIGHTSHADE recently parted ways with Dan Yell (keyboards, organ) and Naught Norty (bass) and replaced them with Donna and Dan Geist, respectively. According to the band, "Dan Geist is a local bass player who has been supporting the Chicago scene for many years. He was recommended by drummer Timster as the two have been in a band together in the past. Dan's great bass playing as well as professional attitude and image makes him the perfect fit for NIGHTSHADE. Donna is a classically trained pianist who brings much more depth to the key/organ parts and will be a driving force on the next NIGHTSHADE recordings."

Norwegian thrashers SUSPERIA have set "Speaking Killing Words" as the title of their new album, due in early 2009. The band has been working continuously throughout the year on the follow-up to 2007's "Cut From Stone" approximately ten tracks were written for the new CD. Commenting on the new material, SUSPERIA recently stated that "It's a mix of hard and fast songs with some nice touches of melody."

SUSPERIA will make an appearance at this year's Canarias Hard and Heavy Meeting, which is scheduled to take place Decemebr 5-6 at Maspalomas, Gran Canaria in the Canary Isles. The band will headline the event on Saturday, December 6. Other acts set to appear at the festival include VICIOUS ART, INFEKTOR and ESCLAVITUD.

Canarias Hard and Heavy Meeting is organized by Norway's Helvette and Scream magazines. It was originally intended for Scandinavian metal fans as a getaway from their notoriously dark days of winter. However, the opportunity to have a metal-filed sunshine winter break has been gaining interest from further afield. As a result, the magazines are organizing vacations to the event from various countries between December 3 and December 10.

For more information, go to this location.

SUSPERIA released its fourth studio album, "Cut from Stone", last year through the Tabu label in Europe and Candlelight Records in the USA. It entered the Norwegian chart at position No. 18 and was the No. 1 most added album on the influential CMJ Loud Rock and FMQB radio charts in the U.S.

"Cut from Stone" was recorded at Strand Studio, Oslo, Norway during 2006. The mix was completed by Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH, SOILWORK) at Dug-Out Studios in Uppsala, Sweden, while the production was handled by SUSPERIA and Marius Strand.

Fan-filmed video footage of SUSPERIA performing at the Metal Rock Festival in Lillehammer, Norway on August 16, 2008 can be viewed here.

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

"The waiting is over. Well ... almost!

"We are very happy and proud to announce the release of our ninth studio album
in April 2009! The album will be called 'The West Pole'. You probably are curious who is singing on our new record. We have found a new [female] vocalist, and we will have two [also female] guest singers on 'The West Pole'.

"We can imagine people are anxious to hear some of our new music. However, we will not make it to put new songs online this year. The reason is that some of our [many] guest musicians still need to be recorded and we prefer to present only complete version of the songs. As soon as we have mixed and mastered the album we will put some tracks on the web and of course you will be informed with all possible details. We believe, after hearing the new songs, you will agree the waiting was worthwhile!

"We are very, very proud and we feel we made something really special. The album is produced by René Rutten, it will contain 9 tracks and will be released on our own imprint Psychonaut Records. It will be a very extravert, rock-orientated, alive album. Typically THE GATHERING, but with many new elements. This time it's absolutely guitar-driven. For sure.

"'The West Pole' will be available via our own webshop one month before the actual release date. Like our DVD 'A Noise Severe', we will make special packages. More news will follow soon."

Video footage of DELAIN — the Dutch gothic rock/metal project founded by ex-WITHIN TEMPTATION keyboardist Martijn Westerholt (brother of WITHIN TEMPTATION's Robert Westerholt) — performing a new song entitled "I'll Reach You" on the Dutch TV channel RTL7 on November 23, 2008 can be viewed here. The track will appear on the group's second album, "April Rain", which will be released on February 9, 2009 via Roadrunner Records.

"April Rain" follows the successful 2006 debut "Lucidity", which sky-rocketed the career of the band in their home country of The Netherlands. "The new album is a real group effort, that's what we're most proud of," says Martijn Westerholt.

DELAIN has been Westerholt's project from the start and the debut, "Lucidity", was recorded with a star-studded cast of musical friends. He says, "The album was never meant to be played live, but the demand was strong, so we eventually got a live band together. That's the band we've recorded 'April Rain' with. Compared to 'Lucidity', I'd say that this album musically is more coherent and consistent because of the fact that it was recorded all the way through by the same musicians. Production-wise, this album has more of a metal feel to it, as opposed to the more 'poppy' production of 'Lucidity'. Also, the songs tend to be a bit faster. Less 'doomy' than on our debut. That said, that album was never intended to be played live and when performing we all felt that these kind of songs were missing in our repertoire. We can't wait to go out and play these new songs on stage! Another big difference is that there are almost no guest appearances on this album. There's only NIGHTWISH vocalist Marco Hietala, whom we also worked with on 'Lucidity', providing guest vocals on the song 'Control The Storm'."

According to HardDrive Radio, PAPA ROACH is streaming what will probably be the band's first "official" single from its forthcoming "Metamorphosis" album called "Lifeline". Go to www.proachriot.com to sign up and check it out.

PAPA ROACH recently released a new single and video, "Hollywood Whore" (see clip below), at the group's official web site. The track is taken from the band's upcoming fifth major label album, "Metamorphosis". Vocalist Jacoby Shaddix told The Pulse of Radio that the song's subject matter just came to him one day after the band had finished working out the music. "I was writing and I wrote, 'Hollywood whore,' and I was all, 'Now that's a topic. I need to write about Hollywood whores, you know.' 'Cause everybody's tired of them. So I just laid it out how it is, you know, and it's a bad-ass song. It's fun, you know, and at the end I'm just spittin'off at the mouth, going crazy and it's a really fun song."

The arrival of "Hollywood Whore" is part of the long rollout for "Metamorphosis", which was originally scheduled for release this fall but was bumped to March of 2009.

"Metamorphosis" will follow up 2006's "The Paramour Sessions". The disc will mark the recording debut with PAPA ROACH of ex-UNWRITTEN LAW drummer Tony Palermo, who replaced founding drummer Dave Buckner last year after Buckner went down with personal issues.