Swedish hard rockers THE POODLES has issued the following update:

"This weekend's events marked the end of this summer's tour and pretty much the end of the entire 'Sweet Trade' tour that has been going on for about a year. A lot of things have happened during this journey, we've travelled across Europe and met so many wonderful fans in Sweden, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, all over the place. We've played more shows than we care to keep track of; we've toured together with fantastic bands and great people and had many, many laughs and a lot of wonderful times along the way, THANKS TO YOU! But the wheels are already in motion and later on this fall we're going to enter the studio to record our upcoming album and we are aiming for a release sometime during the spring of 2009. So, thank you everyone who’s been buying our CDs, coming to our shows, supporting us along the way and I don't know about you but we're already looking forward to seeing you all on the road in 2009!"

THE POODLES's latest single, "Raise The Banner", came out on July 2.

THE POODLES recently recruited guitarist Henrik Bergqvist (SOUTHFORK, TIAMAT) to replace Pontus Norgren, who left the group to join HAMMERFALL. The new axeman made his live debut with THE POODLES on June 6 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

Photo of the new THE POODLES lineup (Henrik Bergqvist is all the way on the right) can be found below.

THE POODLES — whose lineup is rounded out by frontman Jakob Samuel (THE RING, ex-TALISMAN, JEKYLL & HYDE), bassist Pontus Egberg (ex-LION'S SHARE) and drummer Christian Lundqvist — released its latest album, "The Sweet Trade", in September2007 via AFM Records.

Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED are streaming their entire new album, "Versus", on their official MySpace page. The stream will be available for one week only.

The band will take part in a signing session on Friday, September 19 at 19.00 (7:00 p.m.) at Media Markt in Gothenburg, Sweden.

An e-card for "Versus" can be found at this location.

"Versus" will be released through Century Media Records on the following dates:

Sweden: Wednesday, September 17
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Benelux, Italy: Friday, September 19
Spain, Portugal: Tuesday, September 23
Finland, Hungary: Wednesday, September 24
UK, France, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Rest Of Europe: Monday, September 22

The CD was recorded in part at PUK studio in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (HEAVEN SHALL BURN, DARK TRANQUILLITY, MOONSPELL, etc), who previously worked with the group on its two most recent LPs, "rEVOLVEr" (2004) and "The Dead Eye" (2006).

"Versus" track listing:

01. Moronic Colossus
02. Pieces
03. Little Cage
04. Trenches
05. Ceremony
06. Skuld
07. Crusher
08. Rivers Run
09. Iron Mask
10. Faultline
11. Imperial Death March

The Pulse of Radio reports that PAPA ROACH's fifth major label album, "Metamorphosis", has officially had its release date pushed back from this fall to March of 2009, according to HardDrive Radio. The CD was tentatively slated to come out either in September or October, although a firm release date had never been established. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix admitted he was a little disappointed but told us it would be worth the wait: "It's kind of a bummer it can't come out this year, you know, but it's like, we want to set it up right, you know, and this record's just a monster. When we got done with it, we sat back and listened to all the cuts and we were just baffled that we wrote this record, you know. And I think what makes it great to us is that it was a challenge."

"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 substance abuse issues.

One track, called "Lifeline", was co-written with James Michael of SIXX: A.M.

PAPA ROACH recently finished touring with SIXX: A.M., MÖTLEY CRÜE, BUCKCHERRY and others as part of Crüe Fest, and will begin a new trek with STAIND and SEETHER on October 4 in Columbia, Maryland.

"Smile Pretty for the Devil", the new video from the Finnish metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM, can be viewed here. (Note: Video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.) The clip will make its world television premiere this Saturday, September 13, kicking off MTV2's long-running "Headbanger's Ball" program. The video was directed by Sandra Marschner for Katapult Filmproduktion.

"Smile Pretty for the Devil" is taken from CHILDREN OF BODOM's new album, "Blooddrunk", which landed at position No. 22 on The Billboard 200 chart after selling over 19,000 copies in its first week of release.

Having recently signed to Displeased Records, underground metal madmen ACHERON will head into the studio on September 13, 2008, to start recording their new album "The Final Conflict: Last Days of God". The CD will once again be recorded at Mars Recording Compound with Bill Korecky. The follow-up to 2003's "Rebirth: Metamorphosing into Godhood" will be a concept album based on the fall of the three major white light religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. An early 2009 release is expected.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary and a new chapter for the band, ACHERON will be revamping its logo. Dayton, Ohio tattoo artist the Reverend Chad Wells will create a new logo for ACHERON. This will be unveiled in the very near future.

Since the band has been signed and the logo will be soon changing, all the merchandise that is available now will not be re-made. This means all demos, shirts, hoodies, jackets and CDs. When they are gone, they are gone for good!

If all goes well, Vincent Crowley will be celebrating his birthday in South America this year when ACHERON invades Brazil December 12, 2008. The band is planning to do a mini-tour with Swedish death metal legends GRAVE.

Finnish female-fronted metal band AMBERIAN DAWN has issued the following update:

"Well, since we had some free time on our hands... we were thinking, 'Why not record some new stuff and put a second album out somewhere around spring 2009? Doesn't sound bad, does it? I know.... First album was just released and European tour with EPICA is more than close. Like we don't have anything else to do than go to studio... We just love creating music for you!!!

"AMBERIAN DAWN will follow the same path with the second album. We are so happy of the feedback what our debut album, 'River of Tuoni', has received. Thank you all so much for you support!! So far 13 songs have their drums and guitars recorded. Heidi [Parviainen] has done also some vocals... still long way to go but better be early than late."

Video footage from the recording sessions for the second album can be viewed below.

AMBERIAN DAWN has been confirmed for the Dames of Darkness festival, set to take place September 27 at The Asylum in Birmingham, England.

"River of Tuoni", the new video from AMBERIAN DAWN, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Matti Kuusniemi in Jyväskylä and features animated 3D graphics in the spirit of the lyrics in addition to the powerful band performance in a studio environment.

Swedish metallers PAIN will release their new album, "Cynic Paradise", on October 31 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to "Psalms of Extinction", which was released in 2007 via Roadrunner, features "eleven gems offering a vast variety of styles and influences which are even new for PAIN," according to a press release. NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon makes a guest appearance on two tracks — "Follow Me" and "Feed Us". The artwork was created by renowned artist Travis Smith (AMORPHIS, OPETH, NEVERMORE).

01. I'm Going In
02. Monkey Business
03. Follow Me (feat. Anette Olzon)
04. Have A Drink On Me
05. Don't Care
06. Reach Out (And Regret)
07. Generation X
08. No One Knows
09. Live Fast - Die Young
10. Not Your Kind
11. Feed Us (feat. Anette Olzon)

"Cynic Paradise" will be available as a limited-edition digipack including a bonus CD.

Finland's HardcoreSounds.Net conducted an interview with Peter Tägtgren (also of HYPOCRISY) on July 18, 2008 at the Rockperry festival in Vaasa, Finland. Watch the four-minute chat below.

PAIN's video for the track "Zombie Slam" is available for viewing at this location. The clip was shot in February 2007 in Los Angeles by Ralf Strathmann. Ralf previously worked as a director for artists like CHILDREN OF BODOM, APOCALYPTICA and SOILWORK. He is also a photographer for such bands as HIM, AEROSMITH and BLINK 182, to name but a few.

Norwegian doom metallers SYRACH have issued the following update:

"We will enter the studio next week to do a quick recording of some new tunes. We soon have a new album ready, and will start recording as soon as possible after we have returned home from our upcoming tour. Our guess is that the new stuff's gonna sound awesome. If you show up at our gigs this fall, you will be sure to catch some of [the new songs] live!"

SYRACH have issued the following update:

Due to work-related issues, SYRACH bass player Hjarandr (real name: Ørjan Setvik) will not take part in the band's upcoming European tour. He will be replaced by Mr. Øystein K.

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 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.

SYRACH was formed in 1993 in Kalandseidet, near Bergen, Norway — a region known to have spawned bands like IMMORTAL and BURZUM, to name a few.

Dutch black metal act CIRITH GORGOR has inked a deal with Displeased Records. The group's new full-length album will be released in 2009.

CIRITH GORGOR's last, self-titled album was released in 2007 via Ketzer Records.

The band's current lineup is as follows:

Levithmong - Drums
Lord Mystic - Bass
Marchosias - Guitar
Satanael - Vocals
Odium - Guitar

Female singer Leeni-Maria Hovila, who is a member of the Finnish symphonic fantasy/folk metal band KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI, has issued the following statement regarding her involvement with the group EXSECRATUS:

"Leeni-Maria Hovila, vocalist since October 2006, has left the band EXSECRATUS due to personal reasons. She is going to cover some upcoming EXSECRATUS gigs as well as the next album 'Beloved Serpent'. Leeni-Maria will continue with symphonic fantasy/folk metal band KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI as well as with other future projects."

KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI has set "Shadowheart" as the title of its new album, due in October via Century Media Records.

New Jersey-based progressive thrash metal band DARK EMPIRE is seeking a new drummer.

Commented bandleader Matt Moliti: "Our two shows with SUSPYRE and ODIN'S COURT were enjoyable. It was great to see our fans come down to the shows and rock out with us! As these were the first shows with our new lineup, we realized that Omar Davila was not quite right for DARK EMPIRE. For both musical and personal reasons, we have decided to part ways with him. DARK EMPIRE wishes Omar the best in his future endeavors, and applaud him for stepping up to the plate and learning our material in such a short amount of time.

"DARK EMPIRE is seeking a new drummer. We're looking a drummer able to meet the following criteria:

1. Be comfortable and well versed in technical drumming styles (extreme metal and progressive genres).
2. Someone who has pro experience and will be able to dedicate themselves long term with the band, for both future live shows and studio sessions.
3. Be in or around the Northern New Jersey/NYC area or be willing to commute or relocate.

"DARK EMPIRE have some tentative shows planned for the fall and winter, so we're hoping to find our drummer relatively soon. If you'd like to audition, please send a bio, picture, and links to sound clips (or video if you have it) to DEdrummersearch@gmail.com. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT OUR MYSPACE ABOUT THE AUDITION. If we like what we hear/see we will contact you."

DARK EMPIRE's second album, "Humanity Dethroned", was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios (CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH).

German female-fronted melodic metallers THE MYSTERY have recorded a cover version of the DORO song "Bad Blood" for an upcoming DORO tribute album, to be released in the fall via Pure Steel Records. Also scheduled to appear on the CD are LONEWOLF, CRYSTAL VIPER, SABATON, CUSTARD, EMERALD, VOLNAYA STAYA, BOOMERANG, CAPITAL SIN, ETERNAL WINTER, ANCESTRAL, BONE SHAKER, RAVAGE and IVORY TOWER.

The vocal recordings for THE MYSTERY's version of "Bad Blood" and the final mix were completed at the legendary Woodhouse Studio with Siggi Bemm.

"Judas Betrayed", the latest video from THE MYSTERY, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's fourth album, "Soulcatcher", which was released earlier in the year via Limited Access Records.

QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS will release their new album, "The Cosmos Rocks", in Europe on September 15 via EMI and the U.S./Canada on October 14 through Hollywood Records/Universal .

"The Cosmos Rocks" track listing:

01. Cosmos Rockin'
02. Time To Shine
03. Still Burnin'
04. Small
05. Warboys
06. We Believe
07. Call Me
08. Voodoo
09. Some Things That Glitter
10. C-lebrity
11. Through The Night
12. Say It's Not True
13. Surf's Up . . . School's Out!
14. (small reprise)

Check out audio samples of all the tracks from the album at this location.

The first single, "C-lebrity", was written and produced by Brian May, Paul Rodgers and Roger Taylor.

Guitarist Sander Gommans of the Dutch female-fronted metallers AFTER FOREVER — who last year announced that they were taking a break from band activities for most of 2008 while Gommans underwent medical tests after suffering a seizure — has issued the following update:

"We have been asked to do a show at Games in Concert on November 15th. We'll be playing a few songs together with the Metropole Orchestra! These songs are specifically written for computer games. Officially, we're still having a break; this is, however, a great chance to play with the Metropole Orchestra and to be onstage together again! Although we will not be playing AFTER FOREVER songs, we still hope to see you at Games in Concert!!!"

Guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) has revealed in a posting on his MySpace page that he is going to lay down some lead guitar with producer Bob Kulick for singer Tim "Ripper" Owens' (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) forthcoming "solo CD." Caffery writes, "This I am very excited for. I wrote the music for a song called 'The Shadows Are Alive'. Very metal; I think you will all enjoy this for sure!"

Owens's forthcoming solo album will reportedly be released before the next BEYOND FEAR CD and will feature an additional guest appearance by QUEENSRŸCHE's Michael Wilton, among others.

BEYOND FEAR features in its ranks Owens alongside guitarist John Comprix (SPAWN, 13 FACES), Dennis Hayes (ex-WINTERS BANE, SEVEN WITCHES) on bass, and drummer Eric Elkins (CRYPTKICKER, ALL YOU FEAR). The group's self-titled debut album came out in May 2006 via SPV Records.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bassist Mike D'Antonio has told MTV's "Metal File" that the band is scheduled to enter the studio in October to begin work on its new album for a tentative spring release via Roadrunner Records. A headlining run is also in the works for March.

"I'm one of those dudes who needs to write constantly, because I really suck at writing music with a deadline," D'Antonio told "Metal File". "My brain gets fried, and I can't do anything, I just shut down completely. When we start on this next one, we'll just bring our demos to practice, and we'll listen to them, judge them and start rearranging the parts that need to be rearranged — or we just start jamming on what sounds cool."

He added that so far, the material's sounding "fast" and everything he's written for the LP "has at least one blast beat and very fast drumming, with really slow riffs."

A new MISERY INDEX track, "Ghosts of Catalonia", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The song comes off the Baltimore, Maryland-based quartet's new album, "Traitors", which is scheduled for a September 30 release in North America and October 6 internationally via Relapse Records.

The follow-up to "Discordia", "Traitors" was recorded the in May at Godcity Studios in in Salem, Massachusetts. The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. We Never Come In Peace
02. Theocracy
03. Partisans of Grief
04. Traitors
05. Ghosts Of Catalonia
06. Occupation
07. Ruling Class Cancelled
08. The Arbiter
09. American Idolatry
10. Thrown Into The Sun
11. Black Skies

MISERY INDEX has announced a number of tour dates in support of the "Traitors" release. The band will join CARCASS, SUFFOCATION, PIG DESTROYER and more for a hometown Baltimore show before a string of dates with labelmates ORIGIN and FUCK THE FACTS.

According to the web site of the official AEROSMITH fan club AeroForceOne, AEROSMITH is expected to hit the studio at the end of the month to start working on a new studio album. Singer Steven Tyler stated about what kind of music fans can expect to hear on the record, "Just your usual AEROSMITH. You can't tame it; rocking-out, in-your-face music."

Once the new CD is completed, Tyler revealed that the band is already scheduled to hit the road. "The tour is booked for March or April, I believe it starts, and then we [go through] the States although I think there are some outside gigs but not as much as last year when we did Dubai and India and wound up in Russia," he said.

Tyler checked into a facility in Pasadena, California, in May, prompting speculation he had slipped from sobriety, 20 years after he kicked hard drugs.

The vocalist later revealed he was in rehab on doctor's orders because of a foot injury.

Norwegian/British hard rockers TNT will release their new album, "Atlantis" (see artwork below), on September 22 in Scandinavia (via Bonnier-Amigo) and on October 31 in the rest of Europe (via Metal Heaven). The CD was mixed by Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN, PRETTY MAIDS, JORN) and features the bonus track "Substitute".

Check out audio samples of the tracks "Hello, Hello", "Peter Sellers Blues", "Tango Girl", "Me and Dad", "Atlantis", "Love of My Life" and "Had It, Lost It, Found It" on the band's official web site.

The band's last CD, "The New Territory", entered the Norwegian chart at position No. 11 back in May 2007 and was the group's first to feature singer Tony Mills (ex-SHY).

German axe hero AXEL RUDI PELL will release his new his eighteenth offering, "Tales Of The Crown", via SPV Records on the following dates:

October 24: Germany
October 27: Rest of Europe
October 28: U.S./Canada

An audio sample of the cut "Angel Eyes" is available for download at this location.

Commented Axel, "'Angel Eyes' is the second fastest track on the CD and you can feel the energy of the band. It's straight, powerful and melodic!"

According to a press release, "Tales Of The Crown" is a "haunting" studio album featuring ten brand-new compositions. "Our fans will get just the kind of songs they have come to know and expect from me and my band," says Pell, adding, "plus a few little innovations." Axel Rudi Pell is referring to the contemporary touch which some of his latest tracks feature, mainly in terms of rhythm. "But don't worry, these modern approaches are only gradual and don’t affect the typical flair of my songs."

"Tales Of The Crown" was recorded at Gelsenkirchen's Redhouse Studios by the tried-and-tested lineup consisting of Axel Rudi Pell, American vocalist Johnny Gioeli, keyboardist Ferdy Doernberg, bassist Volker Krawczak and drummer Mike Terrana. The album was produced by Axel Rudi Pell and sound engineer Charlie Bauerfeind, who also mixed the CD. Like its highly successful predecessor, the new LP's cover artwork was created by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco.

"Tales Of The Crown" track listing:

01. Higher
02. Ain't Gonna Win
03. Angel Eyes
04. Crossfire
05. Touching My Soul
06. Emotional Echoes
07. Riding On An Arrow
08. Tales Of The Crown
09. Buried Alive
10. Northern Lights

XXX, the Gothenburg, Sweden-based glitter-rock trio featuring Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, DREAM EVIL, KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE, MEMENTO MORI, NOTRE DAME), has unveiled the cover artwork and track listing for its debut album, "Heaven, Hell or Hollywood?", which will be released in Japan on October 22 through King Records. The band is currently in the early stages of negotiating deals with several labels for the rest of the planet.

"Heaven, Hell or Hollywood?" track listing:

01. Hello!
02. It's Suicide
03. We're Gonna Rock,..
04. Wall Of Fame
05. I Want You To Want Me
06. Singalongsong
07. So Fxxxing You!
08. Tomboy
09. Miss Misery
10. Heaven, Hell Or Hollywood?
11. Real Men Wear Pink And Suxxx Hard (bonus track)

The cover artwork contains superhero illustrations done by Al Rio of Marvel Comics. Al Rio has previously drawn Batman, The Incredible Hulk and more.

XXX (pronounced Triple X) is:

Snowy Shaw (drums and vocals)
Rob Nasty (bass and vocals)
X (guitars and vocals)

"Heaven, Hell or Hollywood?" was produced by Snowy Shaw and guitarist/vocalist X and was mixed by Andy La Rocque at Sonic Train Studios.

XXX will film a video for the song "Hello" on Saturday, September 13 at Götaplatsen (a public square in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the southern end of Kungsportsavenyn [The King's Gate Avenue], the city's main street) beginning at 12:00 noon sharp. The band says, "We want as many people as possible to show up and to be filmed and be included in the crowd for the video. Dressed up and hot, preferably."

Oakland metallers ALL SHALL PERISH are streaming their third full-length album, "Awaken The Dreamers", in its entirety on the band's MySpace page.

The cover artwork for "Awaken The Dreamers" can be viewed below. Due on September 16 via Nuclear Blast Records, the follow-up to "The Price of Existence" was recorded once again at Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland with producer Zack Ohren.

"Awaken The Dreamers" track listing:

01. When Life Meant More...
02. Black Gold Reign
03. Never...Again
04. The Ones We Left Behind
05. Awaken The Dreamers
06. Memories Of A Glass Sanctuary
07. Stabbing To Purge Dissimulation
08. Gagged, Bound, Shelved And Forgotten
09. Until The End
10. From So Far Away
11. Misery's Introduction
12. Songs For The Damned

SLIPKNOT's new album, "All Hope Is Gone" (Roadrunner) sold 238,285 copies in the United States during its first week of release to debut at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD went head-to-head with Geffen rapper THE GAME's "LAX", which moved just 13 units (!) more to land at No. 1.

THE GAME - "LAX": 238,285 (#1)
SLIPKNOT - "All Hope Is Gone": 238,272 (#2)

However, it should be noted that SLIPKNOT actually sold more albums due to retailers breaking street date and early SoundScan sales (which were included in prior week's tally), having shifted 239,213 total units to date compared to THE GAME's 239,057 units, putting SLIPKNOT 175 pieces over the rapper's number.