German/British melodic hard rock band PINK CREAM 69 will film its special 20th anniversary concert on January 24, 2009 at the Festhalle in Karlsruhe-Durlach, Germany for a forthcoming double-DVD package with the current working title of "The Past & The Present". The group's first DVD will also contain the entire "Size It Up! - Live In Japan 1992" concert (with former singer Andi Deris; previously only released on VHS tape), all of the band's promotional videos, backstage footage, and several bonus tracks from the band's recent festival appearances such as Masters Of Rock in the Czech Republic or Das Fest in Germany.

Next to gangst rap, the music that probably inspired the most controversy in Western Europe in the '90s and 2000s was black metal — and one of black metal's most controversial and notorious figures has been Norwegian singer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh), who was given a 21-year prison sentence for the 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitartist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), and for arson attacks on Christian churches. But all the shocking headlines that have surrounded Vikernes haven't hurt the CD sales of his BURZUM project — if anything, all the negative publicity has inspired morbid curiosity in some people who aren't necessarily big black metal fans and made them want to hear what his music sounds like.

For the first time, BURZUM's catalog is now officially available on iTunes.

Audio samples of all the tracks that appear on "Evisceration Plague", the forthcoming album from Tampa, Florida-based death metal veterans CANNIBAL CORPSE, are available on Amazon.com.

"Evisceration Plague" is scheduled for release on February 3, 2009 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Kill" was produced by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL, MORBID ANGEL) at his Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Commented bassist Alex Webster: "In CANNIBAL CORPSE, our goal has always been to try and make each new album we record our heaviest. That goal was a bit more challenging this time since we were extremely satisfied with our last album 'Kill', but we knew that by working with producer Erik Rutan at Mana Recording Studios again, we would be able to start at that same level of heaviness and take it even further. Now that we can hear the finished product, I would say we've been able to achieve this goal, and I think our fans will agree. 'Evisceration Plague' has the best guitar sound we've ever recorded, and the entire band has never played with more precision and power. We can't wait until you all get a chance to hear the album in early 2009, because we think you'll be as happy with it as we are."

"Evisceration Plague" track listing:

01. Priests of Sodom
02. Scalding Hail
03. To Decompose
04. A Cauldron of Hate
05. Beheading and Burning
06. Evidence in the Furnace
07. Carnivorous Swarm
08. Evisceration Plague
09. Shatter Their Bones
10. Carrion Sculpted Entity
11. Unnatural
12. Skewered From Ear to Eye

"Evisceration Plague" will be available as a limited-edition digipack including a bonus track and bonus DVD, jewelcase CD and on limited splatter vinyl.

"Time Immemorial", the new video from Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY, can be viewed here. The track appears on the group's concept album, "The Incurable Tragedy", which sold 1,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The clip, which features vocalist Stu Block in a prominent role, was filmed in Montreal in August, just before the group embarked on the Summer Slaughter Canada tour. That trek was followed by a run alongside the legendary ICED EARTH, which capped off a year that also saw the band tour with SYMPHONY X, AT THE GATES and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, among others.

Commented Block: "It was really cool and, to be frank, kinda creepy doing some silent acting in the video. I've done some acting in high school and some extra work in Vancouver, so I was sorta familiar with what to do. So, hey, Rob Zombie, I'm ready man; throw me in yer next slasher flick!

"It was a long day for everyone — 14 hours, I think. I don't think we knew what to expect from the video because the focus was more on the acting sequences as opposed to band performance, which was kind of weird for us. Everyone involved with the video were really laid back and cool, and the other actors and actresses were really awesome and helped me out if I had any questions. (They are the pros, after all!)

"We filmed the video in Montreal at a haunted house that had been turned into a nightclub/restaurant, so it was a treat both for us to be filming a video in Canada and for me being a horror movie buff, as I was definitely in my element. I was hoping for a ghost sighting or for people to start disappearing periodically, but well, that never happened.

"We were really pressed for time near the end of the shoot due to the fact we had to pick up our tour manager from the airport since we were going to start a new tour, but what a way to start a tour! I think all in all we are happy the video is finally finished, and we hope our fans enjoy it!"

Montreal extreme metallers DESPISED ICON will release their first DVD, "Montreal Assault Live", on January 27 via Century Media. The disc features a "stellar" multi-camera shoot from the band's sold-out hometown show, alongside a new hour-long documentary and all of the band's promotional video clips.

A live version of the track "The Sun Will Never Charm Us" taken from the forthcoming DVD is available for vieweing below.

Commented vocalist Alex Erian: "The live mix sounds so massive. It was done by none other than our former guitarist Yannick St-Amand. You can even listen to it in 5.1 Surround. Our buddy Felix also created some of his sickest artwork yet.

"The shooting and editing of the show went awesome. David Brodsky (IN THIS MOMENT, UNEARTH) and his team captured tons of adrenaline-packed moments.

"On January 27, you'll be able to relive the live action, the stage dives, the circle pits, the kicking and the screaming that made this 'Montreal Assault' hometown show a night to remember. The DVD also includes a new hour-long documentary by Reconstructed Media that retraces the band's career, showing never-before-seen footage of us living on the road, hanging out, partying, recording, playing shows back in the day and more."

French metal/gothic band AD INFERNA, which features SETH mainman/vocalist Arkames, has issued the following update:

"We are fully recording the [new] album. The keyboad tracks and the drums are completed. The bass is underway and the vocals (Asphodel and Arkames) are for the days or weeks ahead. Everything will be achieved in February because Xort (ANOREXIA NERVOSA) has scheduled to work mixing and mastering the eight tracks at the Drudenhaus Studio and the MasterLab.

"The photo session of the opus took place last Sunday (December 14) in Bordeaux, skilfully led by Gwen and Ellie in makeup. Three models were present to sustain the substance to the official photos... more news on this subject soon.

"The release date of the album is delayed but meantime, we're preparing a track exclusively for you and MySpace: very soon!

"Finally, we expect to sign with a label to officially announce its name! Many good things then."

AD INFERNA's debut album, "L'Empire des Sens", was released in 2002 via Silverdust Records.

AD INFERNA is:

V.Orias.A – Guitar, Bass
As-Mody – Keyboards, Bass
N.Aboriim - Drums
Arkames - Vocals

Finnish metal band PROFANE OMEN has completed work on its sophomore full-length album, "Inherit The Void", for a March 2009 release through Playground Music Scandinavia. The group once again recorded the effort 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: "So. It is done. '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.

"That's all for now, we are still thinking about our options concerning the mastering, but there's still some time until March. This album is hopefully going to give something to at least least some of you."

PROFANE OMEN vocalist Jules Näveri, who is also a member of ENEMY OF THE SUN, recently helped out fellow Finns AMORAL for one gig after their vocalist left the group.

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

PROFANE OMEN's promotional video for the song "Rewind" can be viewed here.

Finnish atmospheric and melodic death/doom metal band ABLAZE IN HATRED has completed work on its second album, "The Quietude Plains", at Noisecamp Studios with producer Kari Nieminen. The follow-up to 2006's "Deceptive Awareness" will be released in February 2009 through Firedoom Music.

"The Quietude Plains" track listing:

01. A Walk Through The Silence
02. Perfection Of Waves
03. The Wandering Path
04. Beyond The Trails Of Torment
05. The Quietude Plains
06. My Dearest End
07. Therefore I Suffer

The song "The Wandering Path" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, the new band led by former STRATOVARIUS mastermind Timo Tolkki, has inked a worldwide deal with Scarlet Records.

Tolkki and his bandmates have spent the last few weeks putting the finishing touches to their new album entitled "Age Of Aquarius". Recorded over three months in Finland, it is by far the darkest, heaviest and most symphonic album that Tolkki has ever been involved in.

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

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

"Age Of Aquarius" will be released on March 25, 2009 in Southeast Asia via JVC and on March 9, 2009 in the rest of the world. The band also filmed a promotional video in Helsinki for the album's title track.

"Age Of Aquarius" track listing:

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

Tours are currently been booked to promote "Age Of Aquarius" worldwide beginning in South America in early April. Scarlet Records will also release Timo Tolkki's third solo album, the ethereal classical rock opera "Saana - Warrior of Light Part 1: Journey to Crystal Island", worldwide on January 23, 2009.

Denmark-based symphonic metal band EVIL MASQUERADE has posted four songs from its forthcoming fourth album, "Fade To Black", on the group's MySpace page. Due on January 26, 2009 via Escape Music, the follow-up to 2006's "Third Act" was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (JORN, HELLOWEEN) at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark and features a guest appearance by former RAINBOW keyboardist Tony Carey.

"Fade To Black" recording lineup:

Henrik Flyman - Guitar
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals
Daniel Flores (MIND'S EYE) - Drums
Johan Niemann (THERION, DEMONOID) - Bass
Tony Carey (RAINBOW) – Keyboards

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Lights Out
02. In a Dungeon Close to Hell
03. The Darkness Within
04. Hollow Soul
05. Different Shades of Black
06. Powertools
07. The Ultimate Game
08. Desire and Pain
09. Diamond Dust
10. I Believe In Sin

"Live To Rock", the new video from British heavy metal legends SAXON, can be viewed below. The clip was helmed by Aestheticom's Bill Schacht, who has previously directed music videos for DIO, KING DIAMOND, AMON AMARTH, FATAL SMILE, LIBERTY X/REV RUN, ZAKK WYLDE and SISTER SIN, among others.

SAXON's new studio album, "Into The Labyrinth", will be out on January 12, 2009 (Germany: January 9; USA: January 13). February 2009 will see the band embark on another major tour with ICED EARTH, only one month after the album release.

"Into The Labyrinth" was recorded at the Twilight Hall in Krefeld, Germany, under the direction of Charlie Bauerfeind. SAXON laid down 13 new songs at BLIND GUARDIAN's studio, starting with monumental opener "Battalions Of Steel" through "Demon Sweeney Todd" and "Valley Of The Kings", which both cover historic events, to the final slide guitar blues track "Coming Home" (fans are already familiar with the electric version of this track from SAXON's "Killing Ground" album).

According to Australia's ABC News, two University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers concluded in a study published in the British Medical Journal this week that headbanging to a typical heavy metal tempo could cause mild traumatic brain injury or concussion, and neck injury, particularly as the tempo of the music and angle of movement increased.

"Clearly it's a serious issue," says Associate Professor Andrew McIntosh, co-author and professor of biomechanics at UNSW.

"If you observe people after concerts they clearly look dazed, confused and incoherent, so something must be going on and we wanted to look into it."

After careful observation of the behaviour of heavy metal concert-goers, McIntosh and honours student Declan Patton constructed a theoretical headbanging model to better understand the mechanics of the practice.

They also spoke to a focus group of local musicians to identify ten popular songs to headbang to.

"These songs had an average tempo of 146 beats per minute, and at this tempo we predict that head banging can cause headaches and dizziness if the range of movement of the head and neck is greater than 75°," the researchers wrote.

Bombworks Records has joined forces once again with ocean metallers DAGON to release the band's second full-length album. The new CD will feature a re-recording of fan favorite "Feeding Frenzy" as well as a slate of killer new tracks. It will be recorded in Michigan at Random Awesome! studio for a tentative spring 2009 release.

Rising from the ashes of Michigan band BESTIARY, DAGON puts its own spin on the metal genre by combining old-school thrash, Scandinavian death, and good ol' '80s rock and roll. After its independently released EP "Secrets of the Deep", DAGON released its debut full-length, "Paranormal Ichthyology", on Bombworks Records in March 2007.

According to a press release, DAGON's music features several helpings of dueling guitar leads, thundering bass, catchy melodic lines, and a dual-vocalist approach (utilizing deep death growls ala CRYPTOPSY and black metal shrieks), as well as a serious infatuation with all things related to the ocean. Influences include SUFFOCATION, DARK TRANQUILITY, IRON MAIDEN, SLAYER and HYPOCRISY.

Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen joined Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL to perform the song "Scorpion Flower" at three consecutive shows on the band's tour with CRADLE OF FILTH: December 1 in London, December 2 in Paris and December 3 in Tilburg.

Fan-filmed video footage of all three performances can be viewed here, here and here.

The recorded version of "Scorpion Flower", which appears on MOONSPELL's new album, "Night Eternal", also features Anneke. All other female choirs were performed by the Crystal Mountain Singers, composed of Carmen Simões (AVA INFERI), Sophia Vieira (CINEMUERTE) and Patrícia Andrade (ex-VOLSTAD, now in THE VANITY CHAIR). Niclas Etelävuori of AMORPHIS played bass on the album, which features artwork by Seth Siro Anton (PARADISE LOST, SEPTIC FLESH). Band photography was handled by Edgar Keats.

The follow-up to 2006's "Memorial" was recorded at Antfarm studios in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD).

Two editions of the record were made available: A limited double digipack with different artwork, one bonus track ("Age of Mothers"), a different version of the song "Scorpion Flower", the full album as well as a bonus DVD containing all video clips from "Memorial" plus "Finisterra" "making-of" footage and three live clips from last year's performance at the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany; plus the jewel case edition.

MOONSPELL's video for the track "Scorpion Flower" is one of two (along with "Night Eternal") off the group's new album, "Night Eternal", which were shot by Ivan Colic (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SYMPHONY X, HAMMERFALL) in Belgrade, Serbia. Colic previously worked with the group on the "Memorial" video for "Finisterra".

Drummer Josh Freese has released the following statement regarding his decision to exit NINE INCH NAILS' current lineup at the end of its current North American tour:

"So, I've been wanting to write something for a while now explaining why I am leaving NINE INCH NAILS at the end of the year. Not that it's THAT big of a deal or important compared to other real shit going on out there in the world, but I figured I'd take a minute out to explain anyhow. I know a few people are aware that I'm having my third child in January and basically... that about SUMS IT UP!

"I've just been gone too damn much lately and if I hadn't spent so much time on the road in recent years (between NIN, A PERFECT CIRCLE, DEVO, STING, THE VANDALS) coupled with having three kids (come January) then I'd still be out on the road in the new year. It's just that the rate that NIN has been touring (and will continue to tour in 2009) is something that I can't keep up with right now. My kids need their Dad around and I want to be around for them. I am definitely not retiring or 'done touring' by any means though. I just need to be home a bit more next year. I am not leaving because I got a better offer from another band or because I don't enjoy it... It's one of my favorite situations I've ever been involved with and I already miss it (though we still have five more shows to play).

"If you saw a NIN show in the past three years then you'll know that to say I LIKE playing up there is an understatement and that I give it my all every night. It's much more than a 'job' or a 'gig' for me. I'm a big believer in Trent [Reznor, NIN mainman] and his music and feel fortunate and privileged to have had the chance to work alongside of him and be a part of what he does for the past three years. It is something I am truly proud of and he makes most the other ones out there feel pretty small-time. I have faith in the notion that we'll work together again at some point, in some fashion. But for now I need to go teach my 7-year-old boy how to ride a bike.... Nothing can really compare to that (except maybe an all-night hotel coke session with some hookers)."

Bassist Simon Andersson has left the Swedish progressive metal band PAIN OF SALVATION. He writes in a statement, "I've been a part of this band for almost two years and I'm honoured I was the chosen one. Getting to know these wonderful musicians is even more of an honour… but I've reached the point where I just have to stop and walk my own way. Exhaustion, yearning and frustration are the three main issues.

"Exhaustion: having a 'normal day job,' being a rockstar and having a lot of other (heavy) personal stuff became too much. I wanted everything so bad I ended up being sick with no energy whatsoever.

"Yearning: being on tour means waiting. Waiting and waiting… I asked myself one day: is the life back home, the people I love, worth risking just being somewhere in the world waiting? My answer is no.

"Frustration: I wanna focus on my own music when i have the time for it. Don't wanna be a wheel in motion in someone else's machinery… I have way too much inspiration and there is no space for this in PAIN OF SALVATION. Lack of dedication? No. Lack of creative outbursts within the band? Yes.

"I can't give PAIN OF SALVATION 100% at this point, and the guys deserve better… the best thing to do is to go separate ways. We made this decision together and we part as friends. I wish them the best of luck!"

PAIN OF SALVATION's latest album, "Scarsick", was released in January 2007 via Inside Out.

Zoltán Pál, the trombone player for the Hungarian black metal band SEAR BLISS, will appear as a guest musician on Japanese experimental black metallers SIGH's next album.

Commented Pál: "When SIGH announced that they were looking for brass players for their upcoming album, I decided to send them an e-mail. I liked their latest record, 'Hangman's Hymn', so I wanted to take part in their next album. The head of SIGH, Mirai, replied my mail within a few minutes. I was very pleased that he knew SEAR BLISS and was aware of what we do. He sent me the score for the songs, and a few weeks later I recorded them in my hometown. I can assure everyone who liked SIGH's music that they managed to take a step even further. It's going to be a masterpiece."

SIGH's eighth album, entitled "Scenes from Hell", will be released in 2009 via The End Records.

SEAR BLISS is currently working on its upcoming DVD which was recorded at the band's 15th-anniversary gig in Budapest at the end of November. The disc will be released in 2009 via Vic Records.

Guitarist Ad Sluijter has announced his departure from the Dutch female-fronted symphonic metal band EPICA. His statement on the matter reads as follows:

"It is with some sadness that I have to announce that after more than 6.5 years, I have decided to part ways with EPICA.

"Since the start of EPICA in 2002 I have always striven to commit myself 100% to the group's music and success and I am very proud of all that we have accomplished in this relatively short period of time. A definite highlight for me is the release of our latest album 'The Divine Conspiracy' and the great tours that followed.

"Unfortunately, all of this success also had its downside. The more successful you become as a band, the harder it gets to keep [focusing] on the most important thing of it all, and that is the music itself. Because of the busy tour schedule and the lack of time to work on new material as a result, I found myself more and more in a situation where I felt like I had to compose instead of wanting to compose. I don't consider myself a great songwriter. I really need to spend a lot of time and put a lot of effort into it before I am anywhere near to being satisfied with the result. And being the perfectionist that I am, it was just getting more and more frustrating not having the time to do so and therefore not being able to achieve the best possible result. Because of this, I simply lost the fun I usually had when composing, and this was for me a clear sign that I had to change something.

"After much consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the only change I needed to make was to leave the group. This isn't a decision I wanted to make, but one I needed to make.

"I am very thankful for my time in EPICA and I am very proud of everything that we have accomplished. I would like to thank the band, the crew, the record company, the bands we've toured with and of course all the fans that made this all possible! I wish the remaining band members all the best and I hope they will continue to make great music for many more years to come!

"So what are my plans for the near future? From a commercial point of view, it would be a good idea to state that I've formed a new band already, that I've finished half the material of a new CD already and that we hope to release it anytime soon, but I will honestly tell you that I haven't. I don't think I will form a new band either. I just want to start working on new songs again without having to worry about deadlines and stuff. Forming a new band at this point just wouldn't fit that picture. I can imagine recording and releasing songs as a project, but we'll see when the time is there.

"During the last few years I have been asked as a session musician for studio and live situations on a regular basis, but due to lack of time I unfortunately had to decline most of them. So I am looking forward to doing some more session work as well.

"I've always been very interested in the recording aspect of music as well and already did some work as a recording engineer too, but again, the lack of time prevented me to do some more. So I'm excited to continue in this direction a bit more as well."

The remaining members of EPICA comment:

"Ad is a founding member of EPICA and has been of great value to the band. We would like to use this opportunity to thank Ad for his everlasting devotion for EPICA! We will never forget all the great moments we have shared together and wish Ad the very best for the future!!! We hope to be able to announce Ad's successor soon and keep you updated on that!"

According to Tiscali, rocker Jeff Beck has slammed LED ZEPPELIN's comeback plans — insisting it will be pointless without former lead singer Robert Plant.

The 64-year-old legend — who played in cult act THE YARDBIRDS with LED ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page — praised the band's huge one-off concert at London's O2 Arena last December. But Beck argues plans for a full-blown tour should be shelved without Plant, who has repeatedly refused to join his old bandmates full-time.

He says, "I really don't think it's a good idea, not if Robert doesn't want to. I was there at the one-off show at the O2 Arena and it was fantastic. But I think they should just leave it there. They will have been offered loads of money and it'll be tempting but that's not a good enough reason to me. It would be different if they all wanted to do it and record new material but that's not the case."

Vocalist Tobias Sammet of German metallers EDGUY has clarified a statement that he made in a recent interview regarding his opinion of the U.S. and whether he would ever want to live there. Asked if the band would ever be really big outside mainland Europe, Sammet told Rushonrock.com, "It's getting better for us in the UK. Slowly but surely we're starting to make an impression on British audiences. If you want to be big in the USA, you have to go there and stay there. I wouldn't want to live in the USA in a million years! It's a different planet and I don't want to go there. That means we're never going to be a big, big act over there but that's OK. I just don't want to make the sacrifices we'd have to make to break that market in a big way."

Sammet has now released the following statement clarifying the comments he made in the Rushonrock.com interview:

"I've just been told that I might have said something that pissed some people off, some comment about the USA that I made in an interview. I don't get it at all: I never said that I hate the USA, it's a great country and I have a lot of friends in the USA and I feel it is disrespectful to them to say that I hate the whole fucking country and the great people I've met there. Don't misuse my statements!!! Like in every country, I think a lot of things go wrong there, I just said that I don't wanna live over there. So, what's the point??? I just wanna live at home, in good old Germany. I don't know why people are so aggressive when it comes to honest statements, I was asked questions in an interview and I replied honestly.

"This was not meant to be a political statement. If some asshole wants to misuse my statements for some racist purpose, I get fucking mad. I've been told that people started to discuss about the second World War, about immigrants, about black people...

"People: This is rock 'n' roll!!!! There is no place for racism in my life! We are one fucking world!!! America, Russia, Australia, Europe... I love aspects of America and I love aspects of Brazil, Germany, any country... We are one fucking world. If you misuse my statement for a racist issue: FUCK YOU!!! Now go hug each other! This music is meant to make people come together, not the opposite!!!"

According to MetOnTour.com, which is described as "your FREE virtual backstage pass to every METALLICA show," METALLICA's longtime friend and collaborator, famed video director Wayne Isham, filmed the band's performance last night (Saturday, December 13) at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. As previously reported, he also shot the concert Friday (December 12) at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. It is not presently clear if the footage will be used towards a new promotional music video or it will end up on a future full-length DVD release from the group.

METALLICA's setlists for the two shows were as follows:

December 12, 2008 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. Ride The Lightning
04. For Whom The Bell Tolls
05. One
06. Broken, Beat And Scarred
07. Cyanide
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. All Nightmare Long
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Blackened
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - -
16. Stone Cold Crazy
17. Whiplash
18. Seek and Destroy

December 13, 2008 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. Creeping Death
04. Wherever I May Roam
05. One
06. Broken, Beat And Scarred
07. Cyanide
08. Sad But True
09. The Unforgiven
10. All Nightmare Long
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Fight Fire With Fire
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
- - - - - - - -
16. Last Caress
17. Motorbreath
18. Seek and Destroy

Wayne Isham, 50, is an American movie director who has directed music videos of many popular artists such as MÖTLEY CRÜE, SIMPLE PLAN, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PANTERA, 'N SYNC, SHANIA TWAIN, GODSMACK, BRITNEY SPEARS, LEONA LEWIS, PINK FLOYD, SHERYL CROW, JOSS STONE, MADONNA, AVRIL LAVIGNE, DEF LEPPARD and BON JOVI, among others.

METALLICA videos that were directed by Wayne Isham:

* Enter Sandman
* Wherever I May Roam
* Sad But True
* Fuel
* No Leaf Clover
* Nothing Else Matters (from "S&M")
* I Disappear
* Frantic

redOrbit reports that AC/DC's new "Black Ice" album was released exclusively at Wal-Mart, and has become the fourth-best-selling album of the year with 1.6 million copies sold, despite the lack of any digital sales. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Kid Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" was the third-best-selling album of the year as of the beginning of this month. It was sold only as a CD until nearly a year after its release, when Kid Rock granted Rhapsody exclusive online selling rights in the United States. The album has sold 3,000 digital copies to date.

Both cases challenge prevailing wisdom that iTunes is an indispensable part of music retail. Perhaps more remarkable is the fact that neither album appeared on file-sharing networks any more often than other big releases, said Eric Garland, CEO of the file-trading monitoring firm BigChampagne.

British melodic hard rock veterans PRAYING MANTIS have commenced the recording sessions for their new album, "Threshold of a Dream", for a tentative early 2009 release via Frontiers Records. The CD is being tracked in Atlanta, Georgia with producer/engineer Andy Reilly and it will "once again present the familiar blend of the hard rock edge with very melodic 'hookline' choruses that have always been an essential trade mark of MANTIS," according to a press release. "Still there will be a couple of epic numbers to complete the lot." Songtitles set to appear on the album include "Threshold of a Dream", "Sanctuary", "Broken Chain", "Touch The Rainbow", "Turn The Tide", "Tears In The Rain", "Restless", "Heart In Time", "So High", "Playing God" and "Highway".

PRAYING MANTIS is:

Tino Troy - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Chris Troy - Bass, Backing Vocals
Benjy Reid - Drums
Andy Burgess - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Mike Freeland - Lead Vocals

German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA have posted a studio video for their new song "Conloach". Watch it below. The track comes off the group's new album, "Crógacht", which will be released through Wacken Records/SPV on the following dates:

Germany: February 20, 2009
Rest of Europe: February 23, 2009
U.S.: March 3, 2009

The CD was recorded at Gernhart Studios and features cover artwork (see below) by Kris Verwimp.

"Crógacht" track listing:

01. Slán
02. Conlaoch
03. Isle Of Skye
04. Scáthach
05. Feats Of War
06. Shattering Swords
07. Ár Nasc Fola
08. Gilded Oars
09. Baile's Strand

The group previously said about the album, "As the titles suggest, you can expect a decent Irish influence on the new record, so fans of folk metal can rest easy. Fans of SUIDAKRA's harder tunes must not fear; 'Crógacht' will kick your asses as hard as usual, if not harder."

IMPELLITTERI will release its long-awaited new album, "Wicked Maiden", in Japan on January 21, 2009 via Victor Entertainment. The CD, which had the working title of "Good and Evil", was mixed in Vancouver, British Columbia with Greg Reely (DEVILDRIVER, FEAR FACTORY, etc.) and is "by far the most amazing recording I have been involved with," according to IMPELLITTERI mainman/guitarist Chris Impellitteri. "It is filled with amazing riffs, fast shredding solos, screaming vocals, and, of course, a brutal rhythm section."

He added, "The goal of this record was to make a historic album that will rival 'Van Halen 1', OZZY's 'Blizzard of Oz', PANTERA's 'Cowboys from Hell', YNGWIE's 'Rising Force', METALLICA's 'Master of Puppets', and even new artists like CHILDREN OF BODOM and AVENGED SEVENFOLD."

"Wicked Maiden" marks the return to IMPELLITTERI of the band's former singer Rob Rock.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Wicked Maiden
02. Last Of A Dying Breed
03. Destruction
04. Garden Of Eden
05. The Vision
06. Eyes Of An Angel
07. No More School
08. Wonderful Life
09. Holy Man
10. Battle Rages