"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.

"Contractor", a new song from Richmond, Virgina metallers LAMB OF GOD, is available for free download at this location (fee sign-up required). The track comes off the band's forthcoming fifth album, "Wrath" (cover), which will be issued in North America by Epic on February 24, 2009. It will be the band's first release outside North America through Roadrunner Records.

"Wrath" was produced by Josh Wilbur and was recorded in studios in New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire.

LAMB OF GOD finished the touring cycle for the Grammy-nominated album "Sacrament" at the end of 2007. The two-year trek was documented in the gold-certified DVD "Walk with Me in Hell" and culminated with the band headlining arenas across the U.S. last December.

The band took the entirety of 2008 off the road to focus on the writing process for "Wrath".

"This album is going to surprise a lot of people," commented drummer Chris Adler. "Typically bands that get to where we are in our career begin to slack off, smell the roses and regurgitate. We chose a different path. No one wants to hear another band member hyping a new record. 'Wrath' needs no hype. We have topped ourselves and on February 24 you will feel it."

The first leg of LAMB OF GOD's "Wrath" world tour will start in Finland on February 6 and will include dates in the U.K., Australia, and Japan.

Vocalist Fernando Garcia (GODIVA, ex-VICTORY) and members of BARON ROJO and DARKMOOR are among the musicians who are featured on the first Spanish rock opera "Legado De Una Tragedia". The album, which features a "who's who" of the Hispanic rock scene, is a rock opera divided into two acts — Twilight and Sunset — based on the life and work of American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The CD features 17 songs and contributions by over 50 musicians from such bands as STRAVAGANZZA, MAGO DE OZ, SARATOGA, WARCRY, OBUS, ÑU, RATA BLANCA and IGUANA TANGO.

"Legado De Una Tragedia" was conceived, composed, arranged, produced and recorded by Jacobo Garcia and Joaquin Padilla. The idea for the CD was developed at the end of 2004 in the wake of several rock operas produced in that era where the philosophy was based on a true gathering of all-star musicians in the rock scene around a conceptual history. Joaquin Padilla and Jacobo Garcia began to sketch the idea of conducting a similar project, a conceptual piece that gathers for the first time the largest possible number of national and international Hispanic speaking musicians in a pioneering project.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/legadodeunatragedia.

Scottish folk/power metal band ALESTORM has set "Black Sails at Midnight" as the title of its new album, due in the spring via Napalm Records.

ALESTORM recently announced the addition of guitarist Tim Shaw to the group's ranks. The band stated, "The more eagle-eyed watchers of the underground amongst you may know him as the mastermind behind the epic black metal project FYRDSMAN, and as the guitarist of the now-departed death metal titans PREMITHON. He's a beastly good guitarist, and a great lad to boot. It's gonna be a fucking blast when we get up on stage and in the studio."

ALESTORM released its debut album, "Captain Morgan's Revenge", in January through Napalm Records.

According to a press release, the quartet "plays Scottish 'pirate metal,' by their own definition, and musically resembles the great battle metal bands such as KORPIKLAANI or TURISAS, albeit with a unique touch and Scottish instrumentation."

LEAVES' EYES — the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY — will release its double DVD, "En Saga I Belgia", in early 2009 via Napalm Records. According to the label, the set "will have a total playing time of approximately six hours, the band delivers an impressive package. 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."

Check out a trailer for the DVD here.

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.

Danbury, Connecticut's SACRED OATH will release its new, self-titled album in the late spring. The CD was produced by lead singer/guitarist Rob Thorne and features the lineup that appeared on the band's critically acclaimed live album "'Till Death Do Us Part" (2008, Angel Thorne Music). "Sacred Oath" contains 14 songs, including "Blood Storm", "Paradise Lost", "Scourge of Sin" and "Buried Alive".

An unmastered MP3 from the upcoming CD is available for free download at www.sacredoath.net.

SACRED OATH is recognized for pioneering the power metal genre with its cult classic release "A Crystal Vision" (1987, Mercenary Records). The band broke apart for almost seventeen years, but reformed with the triumphant "Darkness Visible" CD (2007, Sentinel Steel) and followed that release with a live album recorded at the first date of its European tour (Keep It True festival, Germany).

Madrid, Spain-based power metallers DARK MOOR have posted a new song, "On The Hill Of Dreams", on their MySpace page. The track comes off the band's new album, "Autumnal", due in early 2009. The follow-up to 2007's "Tarot", was recorded in part at New Sin Studios in Italy and features a guest appearance by soprano Itea Benedicto (NIOBETH).

"Autumnal" track listing:

01. Swan Lake
02. On The Hill Of Dreams
03. Phantom Queen
04. An End So Cold
05. Faustus
06. Don't Look Back
07. When The Sun Is Gone
08. For Her
09. The Enchanted Forest
10. The Sphinx
11. Fallen Leaves Waltz

Check out the cover artwork here.

DARK MOOR's latest CD, "Tarot", was released in the U.S. in May 2007 via Caroline distribution. The album, which was issued in Europe in February 2007 via Italy's Scarlet Records, is said to be "an intriguing" conceptual effort about the major arcanes of the tarot, covering in depth the meaning of each arcane and the esoteric halo that surrounds it. Production duties were once again handled by renowed producer Luigi Stefanini (RHAPSODY, LABIRYNTH, VISION DIVINE). The impressive artwork was created by Derek Gores (EDGUY, KAMELOT).

FIASCO GENERAL, the new band featuring Sami Kukkohovi (ex-SENTENCED bassist, current KYPCK stand-in guitarist) on guitar, has posted a previously unheard demo version of a "new old song," "The River Is Runnning Red" on the group's MySpace page.

Currently unsigned, FIASCO GENERAL's lineup consists of the following musicians:

Risto Stenroos - Vocals
Sami Kukkohovi - Guitar
Harri Halonen - Bass
Anssi Vetämäjärvi - Drums

"Initiate", the new video from Tasmanian tech-death masters PSYCROPTIC, can be viewed here. The clip was directed by James Harmsworth of Express Media Productions and it reaches almost eight minutes in length. The song comes off PSYCROPTIC's fourth album, "Ob(Servant)", which entered the AIR chart (Australian Independent Recordings) at position No. 7.

The AIR charts are compiled by AIR from sales rankings supplied by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Titles are eligible to be included in the AIR charts survey if:

* The artists are Australian;
* The title is released on an independent label or self-released;
* Where it is either distributed through an independent distributor or where an independent label uses the services of a major or its subsidiary to distribute the title

PSYCROPTIC drummer Dave Haley stated about the accomplishment, "I just heard that our new album 'Ob(servant)' hit number #7 on the AIR charts out here in Australia. I actually had to have a bit of a giggle about that — a death metal album filled with blast beats and growling vocals sitting next to a lot of pop and rap stuff. It's great indictation of the state of extreme metal at the moment — it has a growing and dedicated following... good times to be a metal band!"

"Ob(Servant)" was released in Europe on September 26 and in North America on October 14 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2006's "Symbols of Failure" was mixed and mastered by former MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader (DIVINE HERESY, GOJIRA) and was recorded once again by guitarist Joe Haley. The album includes a free bonus DVD featuring a studio diary as well as performance footage from a 2006 gig in Amsterdam, Netherlands and 2008 concert in Wellington, New Zealand. The free bonus DVD runs approximately 85 minutes.

PSYCROPTIC's third full-length album, "Symbols of Failure", was released in February 2006 via Neurotic Records. The follow-up of 2003's "The Scepter of the Ancients" marked the recording debut of vocalist Jason Peppiatt.

MEGADETH is in the early stages of the songwriting process for the band's new album, which is tentatively expected sometime next year via Roadrunner Records. The CD is once again being helmed by acclaimed British producer Andy "Undie" Sneap, who produced MEGADETH's last album, "United Abominations" (May 2007, Roadrunner Records).

MEGADETH's forthcoming LP will be the group's first with guitarist Chris Broderick, who replaced Glen Drover at the end of last year.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has issued the following update via the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who choose to celebrate Thanksgiving on this day. Today's update is kinda wrapping up the whole week, instead of just any given day.

"Andy Sneap has gone back to the UK, and Shawn Drover [drums] has gone back to the land of mosquitoes in Georgia. I am here at home in San Diego, like James [Lomenzo, bass] is too, and Chris is up the freeway two hours in L.A. Our last full day together was Tuesday, and we got a lot of ground covered.

"I know that there was probably some wonder of how I was going to come up with these songs, but I have never wondered, and the songs I have heard so far are kewl to me, and we keep making little slight adjustments which improve the song most of the time. I also have just enough humility to know when a change has not made a song better, and to go with what is best for the song.

"Of the four songs we have demoed up (without lyrics), there are fast and slow elements in each song. I am OK with the way that the parts are shaping up, and since the finished project is always better than the drawing board, I am just going to relax and sit back and watch how things unfold themselves. It gets too overwhelming with all of the complaints on how to make the next record and what I am doing wrong, and how we are too this or too that to matter to metal fans, and I just shake my head and laugh.

"In the studio, I love how when I am talking about a drum part needing a double-bass part or a real frantic drum performance, that Shawn keeps going, 'I know what he wants!' and then he runs out to the live room and does it. What a luxury to have him sitting there, and have him help feel the little nuances and make them standout! I knew this was going to be a much better recording when we started it. It is not going to be a speed metal/thrash metal record from 1980's or 1990's. It is almost 2010 and I am happy with my playing, especially since at one time I couldn't play anymore.

"So, I have a lot to be grateful for. Yeah, it gets disappointing to read the posts that are constantly bagging on me, MEGADETH, my music, or just anything that has to do with my life, and I know that there are a lot of people here that see this too, and disagree. I just ask that you remember, in order to not be perceived as unfair, we allow a certain level of counter-MEGADETH opinions to be post here; it's just that sometimes people go too far.

"Take this new record. Half of the complaints come from people who can't play an instrument and have no idea how hard these parts really are, because they are not what they seem to the human ear, and how they are actually played. Ask any of the guitar heroes that have played in MEGADETH and they will tell you that it is a lot harder than it looks. And besides, who in their right mind would let a complaining fan change the way that music is expressed from your very soul. This isn't just making stuff up for the money. I actually really love to play and be in front of you an entertain you. Plus, it is outright stoopid to think after complete loss of use of my left arm that there wouldn't be some residual affect from the nerve damage and some speed, dexterity, and ability sacrificed when the accident occurred. I mean, I see some guys get hurt and can't play, and people want to have 24-hour bed watches for them, and when I got hurt it was more like, 'now let's see what he's made of,' which is probably inaccurate, but I felt more like that, than 'Jeez, I am happy he can still play at all.'


"We have also documented the way that the industry has changed and dictated that way that bands had to operate. Just because you have been a fan for several years doesn't mean you understand what it is like when you are told that your record is not getting picked and you did everything to make it work, and it is because of something you 'said' or 'did' and nothing to do with the musical merit of the band or the songs that you get played, or put in the rack space in the stores, or you get someone who has moved my records and put someone else's in its place (and we have had fans tell us that they did this for us too, as well as have it happen to us). Face it, there are still assholes out there who are holding the grudge and keeping it alive. I just did a search and there are thousands of sites on me and what I think of 'someone's' new album — this is an outright lie. I didn't post or say anything, because I have zero to say for the first time in my life about it. But this is just as preposterous as the several dozen sites on Facebook and elsewhere with impostors acting like they are me. I don't know what I find more ignorant, the impostor or the people who carry on these relationships with these impostors. I was talking to Justis [Dave's son] and his guitarist yesterday, and telling them how terrible people will be to their band, how they will love you, and turn on you, and how to keep from letting it break you down. People just love to hurt other people; especially anonymously over the net. You can tell because they take so much delight in ripping flesh with their words. The problem is that I expect this, and it does not hurt me like it used to; in fact it only makes me happy to see how much I have grown and how much I could have missed by being negative and small-minded for the rest of my life. I mean, think about it. Are some of the things said here really expected to be taken into consideration by me, when there is so much negative sh*t in the posts? I just keep reading and skip the ones that are nasty like that.

"There are many, many unkind places that you can go and rip apart someone and be part of the mob mentality, with the other cowards that hide behind a computer and try to destroy a person's life work because it isn't fast enough for them. Megadeth.com is not one of those places. So, if you come here and slag me, you can be sure that it will be allowed for a while, but that you won't make a lot of friends here, and that you really won't enjoy your experience here like the people who know me do, when we talk about music or travel, or even coffee, whatever! This site and the people here are here for the lifestyle, for the friendships that are made here, for the great environment, as well as for the informative music authorities, for the musicians and international forums. The list goes on and on.

"May I get back to the new record? OK, well, I was saying that I like just about everything concerning it; the sound, the environment, the music (at whatever tempo), the fact that we are constantly having successful meetings around the studio, the client list is growing, and so on, and so on.

"Speaking of successful meetings, this week so far, we have met with our merchandise company, FEA, and started the artwork for the Priest Feast tour, as well as our own new merchandise line for the next world tour. John Lorenzi is hard at work coming up with great new designs for you for the next tour. We did very well with our merchandise last tour, and I hope to do that same this tour. I also met with Kevin Dees, the son of Rick Dees, and two of his associates about me having an Internet radio show on the Dees Radio network that would bring something even kewler to Megadeth.com. This is new and on its way, so we will keep you posted on this exciting development. Please stand by for this one.

"Next, I have seen the new Dean guitar that they are going to unveil at the NAMM 2009. I am sure a lot of you will see it at this years trade show in Anaheim, Cal., and just a hint, it is a graphic guitar with some 'Rust In Peace' artwork on it. I can't wait to see this baby up close! I am really looking forward to making it back to the German NAMM show, whatever that is called again.

"And lastly, I received a topsecret 'box' shipped from Paul Marshall and my good friends at Marshall Amplification. All I have to say is, 'WOW!' You are going to die when you see what I see, er . . . hear.

"Have a great day today, and if you know someone who may not get to eat today, 'sharing' is one of my favorite words, and I just ask that on this one day, that we would do something good for someone less fortunate. It's a rush! I promise!"

MEGADETH will embark on the "Priest Feast" European tour in February 2009 with headliners JUDAS PRIEST and openers TESTAMENT.

MEGADETH's "Anthology: Set The World Afire" (Capitol/EMI) career-spanning 2-CD and digital collection sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Irish rockers THERAPY? will release their new studio album, "Crooked Timber", on March 23 via Global Music.

For the past two years, THERAPY? fans have eagerly awaited the band's return. Now they're back with a hard-edged recording that will really get under your skin and into your mind.

According to the group, "Crooked Timber" focuses more on rhythm, rather than melody. While it is a heavy recording, it’s not exactly the obvious path for THERAPY? Frontman Andy Cairns explains: "I guess we’re always challenging just what makes us THERAPY? After so many years, if we were formulaic about it, we'd have gotten bored with the band long ago. The album was written together as a band, and each track has its own concept and inspirations. They took a while to write and we've taken our time to write them."

"Crooked Timber" was produced by Andy Gill, a founding member and guitarist for the English rock group GANG OF FOUR, considered among the most influential post-punk bands. Gill also produced much of GANG OF FOUR's output, and albums for many other artists, including the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, THE JESUS LIZARD, THE STRANGLERS, THE FUTUREHEADS, MICHAEL HUTCHENCE, KILLING JOKE and THE YOUNG KNIVES.

According to a press release, "Versions of new [THERAPY?] songs like 'The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself', 'Low Winter Sun', 'I Told You I Was Ill' and 'Mingusisyphus' illustrate the classic mix of intense instrumentation and dark pop that has made THERAPY? internationally renowned. Whilst most of their '90s peers have been content to follow the options of rehash/reform/rollover, the UK trio have always carved their own unique musical furrow bolstered by a formidable live reputation and a stream of chart hits."

THERAPY?'s latest album, "One Cure Fits All", was released in April 2006. The follow-up to 2004's "Never Apologise Never Explain" was produced by Pedro Ferriera, who had previously worked with COLOUR OF FIRE, THE DARKNESS and TOKYO DRAGONS, among others.

Swedish melodic metallers HAMMERFALL have launched a special Christmas calendar containing daily specials such as clips from the "Any Means Necessary" video shoot, which took place in Belgrade, Serbia, videos from the band's rehearsal room, funny photos, singer Joacim Cans' recipe for Christmas cookies and other cool stuff. This can be found on the band's official homepage.

Says the band: "Christmas is soon upon us, and we in HAMMERFALL have a special treat for you: every day from now until Christmas Eve, there will be a new surprise behind the doors in our special Advent calendar and with a huge grand opening on the 24th. So be sure to check back daily for an exclusive look on the new and improved HAMMERFALL!"

"Any Means Necessary" is the first single off the band's eighth full-length album, "No Sacrifice, No Victory", due on February 20, 2009 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded in part at Andy La Rocque's (KING DIAMOND) Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden and includes an instrumental written by the group's latest addition, guitarist Pontus Norgren (THE POODLES, TALISMAN, GREAT KING RAT), as well as a song entitled "One of a Kind", which was composed as a collaboration between HAMMERFALL guitarist Oscar Dronjak and IN FLAMES axeman Jesper Strömblad (who was a member of HAMMERFALL in the band's earliest incarnation). The cover artwork was created by Sam Didier, while Thomas Ewerhard was responsible for the CD layout.

"No Sacrifice, No Victory" track listing:

01. Any Means Necessary
02. Life Is Now
03. Punish And Enslave
04. Legion
05. Between Two Worlds
06. Hallowed Be My Name
07. Something For The Ages
08. No Sacrifice, No Victory
09. Bring The Hammer Down
10. One Of A Kind
11. My Sharona (THE KNACK cover)

Pontus Norgren joined HAMMERFALL as the replacement for Stefan Elmgren, who left the band in early April to focus on his new career as a pilot.

HAMMERFALL's "Masterpieces" CD — a collection of all the covers the band has recorded to date plus three previously unreleased versions of other artists' songs — entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 69. Meanwhile, HAMMERFALL's "Rebels With A Cause - Unruly, Unrestrained, Uninhibited" DVD chronicling the last few years of the band's career landed on the German chart at No. 81 (German chart rules allow music DVDs to enter album charts).

The band will embark on a European headlining tour in early 2009, with support from SABATON and BULLET.

Italian avant-garde metallers EPHEL DUATH have announced the addition of vocalist Guillermo Gonzales to the group's ranks.

EPHEL DUATH guitarist and founding member Davide Tiso comments: "Guillermo has been close to EPHEL DUATH for some time — he almost joined the band before in 2003! He was going to take the place of the clean vocalist Davide Tolomei, who left EPHEL DUATH after 'The Painter's Palette'. Then we realized that Guillermo's aggressive vocal approach was going to clash with Lucio and we all agreed to abandon the idea. In any case, from that moment on Guillermo started to be very active with EPHEL DUATH, helping me with lyrics and the development of the concepts so far. The whole idea behind the songs 'Vector' and 'Vector Third Movement' from 'Pain Necessary To Know' come from a conversation we had together. More recently, he was the person that pushed me to write the short stories I did for 'Through My Dog's Eyes'.

"I always thought that one day I was going to have a band with my friend Guillermo, then when Lucio realized that he was forced to abandon the band, we both agreed that he was the right person to call to properly continue the activity of EPHEL DUATH. We are already working so hard, that I didn't have the time to realize how excited I am to start this new adventure... What I know is that I'm really, really happy and genuinely trusting for the future of my life, and my band."

New vocalist Guillermo is a professional poker player and the band even plan to finance some future tours through playing poker.

Guillermo comments: "I've been in the Italian extreme metal scene since 1992. For 15 years I've been the lead singer of MOTHERCARE, one of the most important Italian underground extreme metal bands (boasting collaborations with NAPALM DEATH and NASUM). I met Davide in 2002 when we both lived in Venice. He's been my dearest friend since then. We often tried to do something together, but our roads always went in different directions. Now it seems our roads have finally become one.

"Two months ago I left MOTHERCARE because of internal contrasts and I felt like my life was over. Two weeks ago Davide told me that Lucio was going to quit and asked me to become EPHEL DUATH's new singer. A new life started. Lucio is a great performer and has been a great partner for Davide; I'm honored to be his heir and I'm insanely excited about being in a band that I always considered one of the most innovative and original in today's music.

"In my 'regular' life I am a poker journalist and a professional poker player. Since 2006 I'm the editor in chief of Poker Sportivo, the main Italian poker magazine. I live now in Verona but I'm often touring Europe to follow all major poker tournaments. I've got a blog where I write about my poker life, cinema, music, creative writing and other stuff."

Check out Guillermo's blog at manglewax.blogspot.com.

Luciano Lorusso George, vocalist for EPHEL DUATH since 2003's "The Painter's Palette", was forced to leave the band for economic and personal reasons. EPHEL DUATH have always been a band of coincidence and change, constantly evolving, and as fate would have it, after recording an album about a dog, Luciano has become a full-time dog groomer — the irony of which has not been lost on main man Davide.

Davide states: "Lucio is together with me the guy who has always believed most in this band so far. The news about his departure has been shocking, especially for him as he had no choice — and he never thought about his life without the band. I'm so sad he's no longer part of this project, especially after all the work he's put into 'Through My Dog's Eyes'. EPHEL DUATH has always tried to surmount any obstacles put in its path and this is probably one of the most difficult we've ever faced, but we will continue because challenges are the roots of this band and it's what makes us stronger. And after recording an album about a dog, who can fault fate with this twist they've laid upon us?"

A new EPHEL DUATH track entitled "Guardian" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off "Through My Dog's Eyes", which is scheduled for release on January 26, 2009 through Earache Records. Check out the cover artwork by Seldon Hunt here.

San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have been forced to cancel their remaining two performances on the SLIPKNOT tour in Antwerp and Luxembourg, in the wake of guitarist Phil Demmel collapsing onstage again during the band's second-to-last song Friday night (December 12) in Sheffield, England.

Says bassist Adam Duce: "After considering the seriousness of Phil's health condition, we all feel that skipping these last two shows is the best thing to do. It's a bummer to end this tour like this after doing nine amazing weeks and three continents with SLIPKNOT, but getting Phil back to the States to get checked out is the most important thing right now. Our sincerest thanks to SLIPKNOT and CHILDREN OF BODOM for their support and understanding, we understand that it's a big disappointment to the fans, and Phil is very sorry about it, but we all feel that his health and safety is most important at this time."

Swedish black/death metallers THE LEGION, who feature in their ranks former MARDUK drummer Emil Dragutinovic, have issued the following update:

"The recording session for our third opus is finally coming to an end. We've just finished off mixing nine astonishing songs, which we're about to master with Peter In de Betou in Tailor Maid Production studios by the end of January. By that time we will have an exclusive new song [posted on our official web site], so be sure to check it out. We will be back with launch dates for the album as soon as we get them."

THE LEGION parted ways with Kjetil Hektoen last year. The remaining members of the band handled the vocals on the new material, which was previously described as "a bit more epic and 'majestic,' but at the same time very sick and twisted. The intensity is still there for sure but, we've focused more on getting the right feel, instead of getting entangled in technical twists."

THE LEGION released its sophomore album, "Revocation", in February 2006 via Listenable Records.

AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen has tapped former PORCUPINE TREE drummer Chris Maitland to record the drum tracks for his new project. The recording sessions took place November 9-12 (listen to a sample).

Commented Arjen: "We recorded Chris Maitland's drums last month at RS 29 (the studio where I recorded drums for the first five AYREON albums). Not only did he live up to my (admittedly high) expectations; he surpassed them! I've been a big fan of his drumming ever since I heard PORCUPINE TREE's 'Signify' in 1996, and particularly since seeing him play live with them."

Arjen added, "Chris's playing has it all: great energy and power coupled with a perfect groove and flawless technique. I almost worked with him on AYREON's 'The Dream Sequencer' in 1999, but that didn't work out at the very last moment. The project I'm currently working on was just screaming for his particular style; the music is subtle at times but also quite heavy and challenging in places. Chris's performance during the sessions was brilliant, and now I'm really enjoying recording the vocalist, who comes to my studio to record one song every couple of weeks. I realize that artists say this all the time, but I truly believe that this will be my strongest side project yet!"