Finnish goth-metallers ENTWINE will release their sixth album, "Painstained", on January 14, 2009 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, APOCALYPTICA, SENTENCED).

"Painstained" track listing:

01. Soul Sacrifice
02. Strife
03. Dying Moan
04. Beautifully Confined
05. Lost In My Denial
06. Greed of Mankind
07. Dead By Silence
08. Hollow
09. Caught By Desire
10. Say Goodbye

Another evolutionary leap from the more commercial Americanism and electro leanings of 2004's "DiEversity" and heaviness of 2006's "Fatal Design", ENTWINE's latest step, "Painstained", presents an even more melody-oriented ENTWINE than any of its predecessors. The band has headed into yet another new direction. Layering Mika Tauriainen's melodic vocals over detuned and heavy guitars and the strong backbone of the Hanttu/Miettinen rhythm section, with "Painstained", ENTWINE has truly come into its own.

"Painstained" will be featured as "album of the week" on Finnish radio station Ylex beginning next week. A different song from the album will be featured each day. Go to this location for a schedule of dates and times. To listen online, click here.

ENTWINE will release a "best-of" collection through the UK branch of Spinefarm Records sometime in 2009. The exact track listing for the CD has not yet been confirmed.

METALLICA is in fourth place on Nielsen SoundScan's list of top-selling album artists, with cumulative sales of more than 51 million in the United States since the scanning service set up shop in May 1991.

METALLICA's self-titled album from 1991 (also known as the "black" album) is the No. 2 top-selling album of the SoundScan era. The LP shifted 242,000 units in the U.S. in 2008 to bring total sales to 15,319,000 (as of the close of 2008) and narrowing the gap to the No. 1 album on the list, SHANIA TWAIN's "Come on Over", to 154,000 copies. If these percentages keep up, "Metallica" will overtake "Come on Over" during 2009.

Nielsen SoundScan is an information system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett that tracks sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada. Data is collected weekly and made available every Wednesday to subscribers, which include executives from all facets of record companies, publishing firms, music retailers, independent promoters, film and TV, and artist management. SoundScan is the sales source for the Billboard music charts.

Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data for Nielsen on May 25, 1991.

Top-Selling Artists Of Soundscan Era (May 25, 1991 - Dec. 28, 2008):

01. GARTH BROOKS - 68,143,000
02. THE BEATLES - 57,088,000
03. MARIAH CAREY - 51,569,000
04. METALLICA - 51,136,000
05. CELINE DION - 50,571,000
06. GEORGE STRAIT - 40,619,000
07. TIM MCGRAW - 37,591,000,
08. ALAN JACKSON - 36,520,000,
09. PINK FLOYD - 36,520,000
10. SHANIA TWAIN - 33,707,000

Top-Selling Albums Of Soundscan Era (May 25, 1991 - Dec. 28, 2008):

01. Come On Over - SHANIA TWAIN - 15,473,000
02. Metallica - METALLICA - 15,319,000
03. Jagged Little Pill - ALANIS MORISSETTE - 14,607,000
04. Millennium - BACKSTREET BOYS - 12,104,000
05. Soundtrack - "Bodyguard" - 11,805,000
06. Supernatural - SANTANA - 11,673,000
07. Human Clay - CREED - 11,525,000
08. Beatles 1 - THE BEATLES - 11,345,000
09. No Strings Attached - 'N SYNC - 11,109,000
10. Falling Into You - Celine Dion - 10,777,000

METALLICA's top-selling albums during the SoundScan era (as of December 28, 2008):

01. "Metallica" (1991): 15,319,000
02. "…And Justice for All" (1988): 5,229,000 *
03. "Load" (1996): 5,020,000
04. "Master of Puppets" (1986): 4,475,000 *
05. "Ride the Lightning" (1984): 4,247,000 *
06. "Reload" (1997): 4,002,000

* Does not include sales prior to the start of the SoundScan era (May 25, 1991).

METALLICA's latest album, "Death Magnetic", has sold 1,565,000 copies in the United States since it was released in September 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Finnish atmospheric and melodic death/doom metal band ABLAZE IN HATRED will release its second album, "The Quietude Plains", on January 21 in Finland. The international release is planned for March 2009. Also available from January 21 will be a special two-CD slipcase version (limited to 1,000 copies).

The follow-up to 2006's "Deceptive Awareness" was recorded at Noisecamp Studios with producer Kari Nieminen.

"The Quietude Plains" (retail version):

01. A Walk Through the Silence (10:22)
02. Perfection of Waves (7:28)
03. The Wandering Path (8:13)
04. Beyond The Trails of Torment (7:13)
05. The Quietude Plains (8:52)
06. My Dearest End (9:36)
07. Therefore I Suffer (11:18)

"The Quietude Plains" (2-CD slipcase):

01. A Walk Through the Silence (10:22)
02. Perfection of Waves (7:28)
03. The Wandering Path (8:13)
04. Beyond The Trails of Torment (7:13)
05. The Quietude Plains (8:52)
06. My Dearest End (9:36)
07. Therefore I Suffer (11:18)

Bonus disk:

01. Out of Hand (ENTOMBED cover) (7:27)
02. Murheen Juuret (VERENPISARA cover feat. Tommy from MYGRAIN on lead vocals) (6:06)

Duration: 63:02 + 13:33 min.

The brand new studio album from the the Polish female-fronted heavy metal squad CRYSTAL VIPER, titled "Metal Nation", will be released on February 1 through Karthago Records (CD version) and High Roller Records (limited vinyl version). The CD was recorded at the brand new MP Studio in Poland with engineer Mariusz Pietka and producer Bart Gabriel.

"Metal Nation" was mixed at the Sonic Train Studios (HAMMERFALL, KING DIAMOND, EVERGREY, FALCONER etc.) in Varberg, Sweden by the Grammy-nominated KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque. The CD features three very special guests: Manni Schmidt of GRAVE DIGGER, Frank Knight of X-WILD and Lars Ramcke of STORMWARRIOR. According to a press release, fans can expect to hear "a true heavy metal masterpiece with outstanding vocals (the album includes cover version of the AGENT STEEL classic 'Agents Of Steel', recorded faster, heavier and... higher!), and great cover artwork, painted by the world-famous artist Chris Moyen (TRIVIUM, BEHERIT, BLASPHEMY, INCANTATION etc.).

"Metal Nation" track listing:

01. Breaking The Curse
02. Metal Nation
03. Bringer Of The Light
04. 1428 *
05. The Anvil Of Hate
06. Zombie Lust (Flesh Eaters)
07. Her Crimson Tears **
08. Legions Of Truth ***
09. Gladiator, Die By The Blade
10. Agents Of Steel (AGENT STEEL cover song)

* feat. Manni Schmidt of GRAVE DIGGER
** feat. Frank Knight of X-WILD
*** feat. Lars Ramcke of STORMWARRIOR

As 2008 draws to an end, Terrorizer magazine staff and writers have donned their headphone to deliberate over which album should be crowned with the hallowed title of album of the year, an honor roll that sees its awardee join a heady list topped previously by DEATHSPELL OMEGA, MESHUGGAH, CELTIC FROST and MASTODON.

This year saw the return of TESTAMENT, METALLICA and AC/DC, anticipated big releases from the likes of OPETH, AMON AMARTH, CYNIC and SATYRICON, as well as future classics from JEX THOTH, ENFORCER and ROLO TOMASSI. But without a doubt, across the board, the one album that stood out was the latest prog-metal opus from Norway's ENSLAVED.

Terrorizer editor Louise Brown stated; "That ['Vertebrae'] is our album of the year is no surprise. That it stormed ahead of every other album is also no surprise. And if this album becomes contender for album of the decade... nah, that won't be a surprise either."

Exclusively for BLABBERMOUTH.NET readers here is a sneak peek at the official Terrorizer Top 20. The whole list is printed in issue #179, out on Thursday, January 1.

01. ENSLAVED - Vertebrae (Indie Recordings)
02. CYNIC - Traced In Air (Season Of Mist)
03. NACHTMYSTIUM - Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1 (Candlelight)
04. GOJIRA - The Way Of All Flesh (Listenable)
05. TORCHE - Meanderthal (Hydra Head)
06. MESHUGGAH - ObZen (Nuclear Blast)
07. OPETH - Watershed (Roadrunner)
08. METALLICA - Death Magnetic (Warner)
09. BLOODBATH - The Fathomless Mastery (Peaceville)
10. ESOTERIC - The Maniacal Vale (Season Of Mist)
11. EARTH - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull (Southern Lord)
12. AC/DC - Black Ice (Sony)
13. ASVA - What You Don't Know Is Frontier (Southern Lord)
14. HAIL OF BULLETS - ...Of Frost And War (Metal Blade)
15. SEPTICFLESH - Communion (Season Of Mist)
16. DARKTHRONE - Dark Thrones And Black Flags (Peaceville)
17. LEVIATHAN - Massive Conspiracy Against All Life (Moribund)
18. GRAND MAGUS - Iron Will (Rise Above)
19. HARVEY MILK - Life... The Best Game In Town (Hydra Head)
20. SATYRICON - The Age Of Nero (Roadrunner)

Norwegian doom metallers SYRACH have issued the following update:

"We will enter studio on the January 16 to record our new album. The album will be produced by the great Bjørnar Nilsen, who did a good job on our last one as well. No title nor release date is set yet, but we hope to know more about this soon. The album will be released through Napalm Records, who also did a great job with us on 'Days Of Wrath'. We will try to keep you updated with the studio progress and maybe even post some pictures from the recordings. No promises though... some of you may have heard a song or two from the album on our live shows, but now we'll finally get them out to the rest."

SYRACH's debut album, "Days of Wrath", was produced by Herbrand Larsen from ENSLAVED and was released on November 2, 2007 in Europe and November 6, 2007 in North America via Napalm Records. The CD cover artwork is the painting "Christs" from MY DYING BRIDE vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe.

Check out audio samples on the band's MySpace page.

Billboard.com reports that AC/DC and METALLICA's latest releases were among the Top 10 best-selling albums of 2008. According to Nielsen SoundScan, AC/DC's Wal-Mart-exclusive release, "Black Ice" (Columbia), sold 1.92 million copies to rank No. 5 for the year. It was also held back from digital retailers. METALLICA's "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.) came in at No. 7 with 1.57 million

In 2008, there were 428.4 million albums sold, down 14.4% compared to 2007's 500.5 million. Digital downloads of albums accounted for 65.79 million albums this year, or 15.4% of the overall album market. In 2007, digital albums sold 50.01 million and represented 10% of the album market.

Rapper Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal) is far and away the top seller of 2008, netting 2.88 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. However, it's the first time the best selling album of the year has sold less than 3 million since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.

Coldplay is a distant second with "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Capitol) at 2.15 million, followed by Taylor Swift's just-released "Fearless" (Big Machine with 2.11 million. Swift's self-titled 2006 debut is No. 6 on the year-end chart with 1.6 million.

Kid Rock crowns the year-end chart at No. 4 with "Rock N Roll Jesus," which sold more than 2 million. The Atlantic release was not available on iTunes, fueling sales of the full album.

AC/DC's Wal-Mart exclusive release, "Black Ice" (Columbia), sold 1.92 million copies to rank No. 5 for the year. It was also held back from digital retailers. Metallica's "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.) came in at No. 7 with 1.57 million, followed by T.I.'s "Paper Trail" (Grand Hustle/Atlantic) at No. 8 with 1.52 million.

Jack Johnson's "Sleep Through the Static" (Brushfire/Universal) is No. 9 with 1.5 million, while Beyonce's new "I Am ... Sasha Fierce" (Music World/Columbia) rounds out the top 10 with 1.46 million.


Conversely, physical CD albums made up 360.6 million albums this year (84% of the market), compared to 449.18 million last year (90% of overall album sales).

This year also saw a record number of vinyl albums sold, with nearly 1.9 million -- more than any other year since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991. It's the first time the industry has sold 1 million vinyl albums in a calendar year since 2004, when 1.2 million were sold. The top selling vinyl set of 2008 was Radiohead's "In Rainbows," with 26,000.

Meanwhile, digital track sales continue to blow up, as 2008 was the first year to see over 1 billion tracks sold. All told, 1.07 billion were sold, up 26.7% compared to 2007's 844 million. The top selling track of the year is Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love," with 3.37 million.

ICS Festival Service GmbH, which organizes the Wacken Open Air festival, has announced that all 70,000 tickets have already been sold for next year's event, which will be held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany. "Never before [has] a festival of this size [been] sold out two times within one year," they write in a statement. "But we are not chasing after records — we 'only' want to create a great festival for you and are working on it since more than 20 years now and standing in responsibility and duty for the best fans in the world! We thank you all for your amazing support and loyalty!"

The Wacken Open Air 2009 festival billing is shaping up as follows:

AMON AMARTH
AXEL RUDI PELL
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
CALLEJON
CATHEDRAL
DRAGONFORCE
EINHERJER
EPICA
GWAR
HAMMERFALL
IN EXTREMO
IN FLAMES
KAMPFAR
KORPIKLAANI
MACHINE HEAD
MOTÖRHEAD
NAPALM DEATH
NEVERMORE
TRISTANIA
VOLBEAT
WALLS OF JERICHO

Wacken Open Air festival was honored with a Live Entertainment Award in the "Festival Of The Year" category. This award recognizes distinguished achievements in live entertainment and is given out by Live Entertainment Award (LEA) committee. The winners were announced on March 11, 2008.

According to MusicTAP, Sanctuary Records will release four two-CD "deluxe edition" albums by MOTÖRHEAD on January 27. The details are as follows:

* "Ace of Spades" will contain an added disc with "Dirty Love", a B-side to "Ace of Spades", 11 outtake alternate versions of songs from the album, and a three-song "Jensen Sessions" live set (BBC);

* "Bomber" gets an extra disc that contains "Over the Top", a B-side track, along with four alternate versions of album cuts, and five live performance tracks;

* "Iron Fist" will add a disc that features "Remember Me, I'm Gone", a B-side to single "Iron Fist", as well as 15 live performance tracks from a 1982 show at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto;

* "Overkill" comes with a bonus disc of tracks that include a non-album A-side single of "Louie Louie", the "Too Late, Too Late", B-side of "Overkill", "Tear Ya Down", a B-side of "Louie Louie", and "Like a Nightmare", the B-side to "No Class". In addition, there are three alternate version tracks ("Louie, Louie", "Tear Ya Down", "Like a Nightmare"), an instrumental ("Tear Ya Down"), a three-track in studio live "Peel Session" set (BBC), and a six-track live set "In Concert Special" from BBC Radio One (1979).

METAL CHURCH vocalist Ronny Munroe has set "The Fire Within" as the title of his upcoming solo album, tentatively due in the spring. The CD cover artwork can be viewed below. Several demo tracks which are expected to appear on the album are available for streaming on Munroe's MySpace page.

Ronny Munroe's solo band includes METAL CHURCH guitarist Rick Van Zandt on guitar.

Munroe performed with his solo band at the first annual World Bowl Of Rock at the King Cat Theatre in Seattle, Washington on November 2. They played old and new METAL CHURCH tracks as well songs from Ronny's upcoming solo effort.

The story goes back all the way to 2003 (!) when we got asked by then Escorbuto Recordings president Johan Wallin if we would be interested in doing a split with japanese gore maniacs Butcher ABC.. Naturally we were, and we planned to do it pretty much right after the split 7"s we did with Machetazo and Filth. After that, things got changed up and we found ourselves working on our first album instead, and it wasn't until May 2007 we got around to finally record the songs for this split. By this time it was decided that the release would be handled by Obliteration Records and Living Dead Society/Coperaction Records. Butcher ABC followed suit and recorded their material later in 2007, and finally here's the result, the most anticipated split release ever. Feast your ears on this putrid mess..

Tracklist:

1. Antemortem Symphony #9
2. Enforced Accelerated Disintegration Constant
3. Anthropological Abattoir
4. Cadaverine Treatment Regimen
5. Visceral Asphyxiation
6. Recreational Decerebration
7. Untimely Embalmment


Info:
- CD out on Obliteration on Jan 11th 2009.
Contact address: grindrock@hotmail.com. Website: www.obliteration.jp

- LP out on Living Dead Society/Coperaction Records, February 2009. Vinyl 12" LP version is a limited edition to 1000 copies in splatter vinyl, with different cover/artwork from the CD version.

German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA have uploaded the video for their new song "Shattering Swords" (directed by Sebastian Radtke). 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."

Universal Records will release a triple-CD from New Wave of British Heavy Metal legends DIAMOND HEAD in March. It will contain remastered versions of "Borrowed Time" (1982), "Canterbury" (1983) and "Live at the Reading Festival". The release will also include some bonus material, some of which has previously been unavailable. This is also the first release of "Borrowed Time" and "Canterbury" on CD in the U.K. The "Reading" set was previously released on Raw Fruit in 1992, but has long since been deleted and is a much sought-after item by DIAMOND HEAD fans.

Japan's Universal Music recently re-released the "Borrowed Time" and "Canterbury" LPs as part of a special "NWOBHM Hall Of Fame" collection series. The albums are faithful carded reproductions of the original album sleeves and feature bonus tracks, all delivered on Super High Material (SHM) CDs. "Borrowed Time" comes in a gatefold sleeve with miniature poster and lyric sheet. Bonus tracks include the "Four Cuts" EP — "Trick Or Treat", "Dead Reckoning" and "Shoot Out The Lights" — and from the "Heat Of The Night" release, "In The Heat Of The Night", "Play It Loud" (live), "Sweet & Innocent" (live) and the 1982 Tommy Vance interview with Sean Harris and Colin Kimberley. "Canterbury" comes with reproductions of the original inserts supplied with the vinyl album, lyric sheet, and bonus tracks of the 12" extended version of "Makin' Music", "Sucking My Love" (live at Reading) and the Andy Peebles interview.

"Gold & Glass", the new video from German metallers EMERGENCY GATE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's new album, "Rewake", which will be released in Europe/Japan on January 23 and in U.S./Canada on January 27 via Silverwolf Productions.

Check out the CD cover artwork below.

The band will embark on a European tour in late January as the support band for KREATOR.

EMERGENCY GATE recently announced the addition of singer Matthias Kupka (ex-SUIDAKRA) to the group's ranks.

ENGEL — the Gothenburg, Sweden-based quintet featuring guitarists Marcus Sunesson (ex-THE CROWN) and Niclas Engelin (PASSENGER, ex-GARDENIAN, IN FLAMES), drummer Mojjo (RELEVANT FEW, DRACENA) and vocalist Mangan Klavborn — has finished recording its sophomore album at PUK studio in Gjerlev, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, HIMSA, SICK OF IT ALL). An early 2009 release via SPV Records is expected.

The band's latest addition, British bassist Steve Drennan (LOCUS), has issued the following update:

"Despite the festive season being upon us, we have actually been quite busy working on the mixes for the new album and we hope to announce a release date quite soon. As they say, good things come to those that wait and I think it's safe to say that it will be more than worthwhile. Also, we are currently working on the designs for the artwork cover and we have been spoilt for choice with the selection being presented to us. The problem now is deciding on which images to use as they are all so good but to be honest, it is a nice problem to have!"

"21st Century Paranoia", a brand new track from Anglo-Chilean thrash masters CRIMINAL, is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the group's new album, "White Hell", which will be released on February 27, 2009 via Massacre Records. The CD's cover artwork, which was created by Chilean designer / tattoo artist / drummer Fran Muñoz, can be viewed below.

"White Hell" 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".

TOXIC TASTE, the "space-punk-glam-rock" side project of RUNNING WILD mainman Rolf "Rock'n'Rolf" Kasparek (who goes by the name T.T. Poison in the new group), has made its debut album, "Toxification", available for purchase exclusively via the band's MySpace page. The CD can be ordered for 13.95 euros plus postage (within Germany: 3.50 euros; outside of Germany: 8.00 euros).

"Toxification" track listing:

01. Toxic Taste
02. N.C.R.
03. Neon Angel
04. Midnight Rodeo
05. Nightime's Waiting
06. She's a Rock
07. Tonight
08. Starlight Serenade
09. Raise Your Glass
10. T.T.S.G.
11. Come On Strong
12. High (R)oc(k)tone
13. Anytime
14. Time Of Our Life
15. Rock'n'Roll

TOXIC TASTE's lineup is rounded out by Marc Acid (vocals), Andy Caustic (guitar), Bob Beastly (drums) and Francis Cauter-Rize (bass).

Swedish metallers EVENTIDE have issued the following update:

"We have a strong feeling that this new year will be a good year for EVENTIDE. We are writing material for a full-length album that we'll start recording in a couple of months. The new songs are turning out great and we are extremely excited to show the world our new works.

"We finished writing yet another song last night! This means we now have seven songs done plus a lot of ideas and riffs about to take shape. The plan is to start recording sometime this spring/early summer. I can assure you that the new album will blow your heads off!!"

EVENTIDE released a promotional CD last year entitled "Planet Plague". The effort contains four tracks and was made available for free on the band's web site and MySpace page.

EVENTIDE parted ways the Cartel Media label in 2007.

German black metallers ENDSTILLE will enter Jak's Hell studio in the band's home country later this month to begin recording their sixth album, entitled "Verführer", for a late spring/eary summer release via Regain Records. A European tour will follow in the fall.

ENDSTILLE completed a week-long tour of Mexico in November. Fan-filmed video footage from the Mexico City show on November 15 can be viewed below.

ENDSTILLE's latest album, "Endstilles Reich", was released on October 15, 2007 via Regain Records. The CD was recorded at Jak's Hell studio, like all previous ENDSTILLE albums, and it contains 10 tracks with a running time about 50 minutes.

The first four albums from ENDSTILLE were released on limited-edition (300 copies) gatefold vinyl via Regain Records.

The LPs that were made available are as follows:

"Operation Wintersturm" (2002)
"Frühlingserwachen" (2003)
"Dominanz" (2004)
"Navigator" (2005)

The cover artwork for "Hellsworn", the second full-length album from DEMONICAL, the Swedish death metal band featuring past and present members from CENTINEX, GRAVE, REGURGITATE, INTERMENT, AMARAN, WORLD BELOW and DELLAMORTE, can be viewed below.

DEMONICAL entered Necromorbus Studios (WATAIN, SETHERIAL) on December 17 to begin recording the new CD. The follow-up to 2007's "Servants of the Unlight" will be mastered at Black Lounge Studios in late January and revealed for the masses in April 2009 (exact release date to be announced).

Songtitles set to appear on the album are as follows:

* Baptized in Fire
* Gods of the North
* World Serpent
* Death Metal Darkness
* Children of Sin
* Bloodridden
* Bow to the Monolith

Belgian black metallers GORATH have booked time at the Shumcot Studio in Aartrijke, Belgium to begin recording their fourth ablum, "MXCII". The follow-up to "Misotheism" will contain "seven deadly revelations" and will be released later in the year via an as-yet-undetermined label.

In other news, Eisenwald Tonschmiede will release the vinyl version of "Misotheism" sometime in early 2009. It will be available on red/brown vinyl and the first pressing will be a limited special edition. The artwork will also be slightly different.

GORATH is:

F. Dupont: vocals, guitars
B. Put: guitars
D. Grondelaers: bass
K. De Leener: drums

Italian metallers 5 STAR GRAVE have released a new album, "Corpse Breed Syndrome", via mail order, CD Baby and through the biggest online stores worldwide like iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and so on.The 11-song CD was recorded and mixed at One Voice Studio by Daniele Giordana and was mastered by Ettore Rigotti (DISARMONIA MUNDI, SLOWMOTION APOCALYPSE, DESTRAGE) at The Metal House.

"Corpse Breed Syndrome" track listing:

01. Ain't That Saint
02. In Bed With The Dead
03. Slightly Slutty Behaviour
04. Cut You Out
05. Core Dead
06. Miracle Man
07. Back To The Morgue
08. Triple-X Ride
09. Backstabber
10. Crown Of Worms
11. Violands

The band describes the sound of the record as "a mixture of old school heavy/thrash metal with rock 'n' roll/punk influences, catchy keyboards and corrosive vocals without forgetting an overdose of horror-influenced slutty lyrics."

Norwegian black metallers CARPATHIAN FOREST, who haven't performed live since 2006, have confirmed that they will play a few shows in 2009, including a co-headlining appearance at the Inferno festival, which will be held April 8-11, 2009 in Oslo. Since the band will not have a new album out to promote at these shows, CARPATHIAN FOREST's set will focus on the group's old classics, many of which have never been played live before. The concerts will include guest musicians, a new setlist and a new stage setting. In addition, the performances will be filmed for an upcoming DVD release.

CARPATHIAN FOREST is busy writing the follow-up album to "Fuck You All!!!!" and is currently negotiating with various record labels.

On February 17, Heaven and Hell Records will re-release the first two TWISTED TOWER DIRE albums, "The Curse of Twisted Tower" and "Isle of Hydra". Each title will be made available as a limited-edition (1,000 copies) two-disc set featuring "a ton" of bonus material from the beginning of the band's career up through the time of each album's original release date, including material never before released on CD.

For the complete details of each reissue, go to this location.

Commented the label in a press release: "We are proud to be working with one of the best underground true heavy metal bands around today. Over their career, TWISTED TOWER DIRE have built a strong cult following among the legions of heavy metal fans around the world that has truly been earned. The power, the glory, and the honor of these real metal warriors is more than deserving of these upcoming releases. Please watch for more details on these releases, they are sure to satisfy all fans both new and die-hards."

According to U.K.'s Daily Mail, LED ZEPPELIN's Robert Plant has topped a poll of the greatest voices in rock organized by digital radio station Planet Rock. QUEEN's Freddie Mercury came second, Paul Rodgers of FREE came next while THE WHO frontman Roger Daltrey came fifth.

The only female voice on the list was that of Janis Joplin.

"The Greatest Voice in Rock Top 40" was compiled by the station's DJs, presenters and listeners, plus musicians, rock critics and experts such as Tony Iommi from BLACK SABBATH, Phil Manzanera from ROXY MUSIC, Ian Anderson from YES and LED ZEPPELIN biographer Mick Wall.

Planet Rock Programming Director Trevor White said: "It's great to see Britain has produced the top three greatest rock vocalists of all time."

The "Top 40 Greatest Voices in Rock," according to Planet Rock:

01. Robert Plant (LED ZEPPELIN)
02. Freddie Mercury (QUEEN)
03. Paul Rodgers (FREE, BAD COMPANY)
04. Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE)
05. Roger Daltrey (THE WHO)
06. David Coverdale (WHITESNAKE)
07. Axl Rose (GUNS N' ROSES)
08. Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN)
09. Mick Jagger (THE ROLLING STONES)
10. Bon Scott (AC/DC)
11. David Bowie
12. Jon Bon Jovi (BON JOVI)
13. Steven Tyler (AEROSMITH)
14. Jon Anderson (YES)
15. Bruce Springsteen
16. Joe Cocker
17. Ozzy Osbourne
18. Bono (U2)
19. Peter Gabriel
20. James Hetfield (METALLICA)
21. Janis Joplin
22. Chris Cornell (AUDIOSLAVE / SOUNDGARDEN)
23. Roger Chapman (FAMILY)
24. Phil Lynott (THIN LIZZY)
25. Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE)
26. Steve Perry (JOURNEY)
27. Jim Morrison (THE DOORS)
28. Alex Harvey (THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND)
29. Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST)
30. Ronnie James Dio (DIO)
31. Sammy Hagar (VAN HALEN)
32. Meat Loaf
33. Alice Cooper
34. Geddy Lee (RUSH)
35. Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
36. David Gilmour (PINK FLOYD)
37. Fish (MARILLION)
38. Dave Lee Roth (VAN HALEN)
39. Biff Byford (SAXON)
40. Neil Young

AVA INFERI, the Portugal-based band whose lineup includes guitarist Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. ex-MAYHEM guitarist/songwriter Blasphemer), entered the studio in November to begin recording its third album, "Blood Of Bacchus", for a 2009 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Fireflies", "A Witch She Was, The Witch I Am", "Lights", "Last Sign of Summer" and "All the Colours of the Dark".

Commented Rune Eriksen: "The studio session is done and finito. Out of our efforts came nine powerful and sad hymns, all showcasing AVA INFERI's refusal to stagnate and go the easy and throdden path of repetition.

"Allthough the final mix isn't done yet (I will head off to Norway in mid-January to do the finishing touches), we can see/hear the contours of something we are very, very proud of. And believe me, I can't wait for the worldwide release (sometime mid-April, I should think) and getting feedbacks from friends and followers abroad. Believe me, it was a hard nut to crack this one, and the trail of dramatic events occured while recording puts a strong singular 'flavour' to this album (we even managed two unexpected headlines in the local newspaper during our stay). But we sincerely hope/believe that there is bright things coming out of all this. It is a pure album, shining love for true and soulful musick.

"We are especially happy with the sound this time around, and I believe it sounds way heavier than our two previous albums, and also more 'metal,' as I'm sure some will utter. This goes for the actual songs as well, not just the sound.
"But despair not, there are enough tristesse and serenity to provoce the most saddened thoughts on here as well. We are not changing, merely evolving!

"I would also like to thank our guests on this album, for taking their time and showcasing good will: Kristoffer Rygg (ULVER), Live Kostöl (PANTHEON I), Fredrik Söderlind (PUISSENCE) and the amazing piano talent Arne Martinussen. You all gave the album a touch of warmth!

"To end this short update I have some bad news regarding our scheduled appearance at the Algarve em Chamas VII Festival taking place the 30th of January 2009 [n Lagoa, Algarve, Portugal]. Due to our mixing schedule we are sorry to announce our cancellation. We certainly hope for a re-scheduled date later in the New Year."

AVA INFERI last year released the video for the opening track of the group's second full-length album, "The Silhouette". The "A Dança das Ondas" clip was masterminded and directed by Rui Veiga who has previously worked with Robert Trujillo (METALLICA), among others.