A medley of five new songs from Swedish metallers FALCONER, taken from the group's forthcoming album, entitled "Among Beggars And Thieves", is available for download as an MP3 audio file at this location.

Due in August via Metal Blade Records, "Among Beggars And Thieves" was recorded at Andy La Rocque's (KING DIAMOND) Sonic Train Studio in Varberg, Sweden. 13 songs were mixed during the sessions, including two bonus tracks for the LP's first edition.

"Among Beggars And Thieves" track listing:

01. Field Of Sorrow
02. Man Of The Hour
03. A Beggar Hero
04. Vargaskall
05. Carnival Of Disgust
06. Mountain Men
07. Viddernas Man
08. Pale Light Of Silver Moon
09. Boiling Led
10. Dark Ages (bonus)
11. Skula Skorpa, Skalk
12. Dreams And Pyres
13. Vi Sålde Våra Hemman (bonus)
+ Music Video

FALCONER shot a video for the song "Carnival Of Disgust" at the medieval Vadstena castle on a windy and cold April day. The clip, which will begin airing later this summer to coincide with the new album's release, "exceeds [all] expectations," according to a press release.

FALCONER guitarist Stefan Weinerhall previously stated about the upcoming CD. "The lyrics will all be about Swedish medieval life and episodes. Not a concept album really but still something in that direction. What I decided early on what that it wouldn't become 'Northwind Pt. 2'. 'Northwind' is as good as it can be, therefore we'll make things a tad different this time."

Robert Levine of The New York Times reports: A decade and a half after releasing its previous album, GUNS N' ROSES plans to put out a new song in September — on the video game Rock Band 2. MTV expects to announce on Monday that the sequel to its popular Rock Band game will include "Shackler's Revenge", a track from the GUNS N' ROSES album that has been in the works for more than a decade, said people familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because the arrangement has yet to be announced.

The inclusion of the song on a game suggests that the GUNS N' ROSES album "Chinese Democracy" will come out this fall, after years of delays. Axl Rose, who has selected replacements for the other original members, has said that the album is finished, but a release date has not been announced.

German thrashers ABANDONED have parted ways with guitarist Holger "Holg" Ziegler. His replacement is Fabian Schwarz (RUNAMOK, THE NEW BLACK, ex-PARADOX, STORMWITCH).

Upcoming ABANDONED shows:

With Holger "Holg" Ziegler on guitar:

Jul. 26 - Headbangers Open Air, Brande-Hörnerkirchen
Aug. 16 - Flak You!-Festival, Böhl-Iggelheim

With Fabian Schwarz on guitar:

Oct. 18 - Metal Rage Festival, Selestat, France (w/ REBELLION, PARAGON)
Dec. 25 - Batschkapp, Frankfurt, Germany (w/ TANKARD)
Dec. 26 - Turock, Essen, Germany (w/ TANKARD)
Dec. 28 - Quasimodo, Pirmasens, Germany (w/ TANKARD)

ABANDONED recently parted ways with drummer Konrad "Konny" Cartini and replaced him with Sven Vormann (DESTRUCTION, JESUS CHRYSLER SUPERSKUNK).

ABANDONED's sophomore album, "Thrash You!", was released in June 2007 via Dockyard 1.

"Thrash You!" is the follow-up to "Thrash Notes", which was recorded late 2005 at Hammer Music Studio (formerly Karo Studio) in Brackel, Germany and was released in 2006 via Dockyard 1.

NIGHTSHADE, the new project featuring former USURPER guitarist Rick Scythe, has released an "unofficial" promo trailer for its forthcoming debut album, "Autumnal Equinox". Watch the clip below.

NIGHTSHADE will release "Autumnal Equinox" on Halloween 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. The 13 audio tracks will also be available to download through iTunes, Amazon, MySpace and other Internet outlets.

NIGHTSHADE's current touring lineup consists of Scythe (guitar, vocals), Mr. Faust (strings, lead guitar and organs), DanYell (keys and organ), Naughty Norty (bass; SHALLOW GRAVE, SATANIC SYMPHONY) and Timedeus (drums).

According to a posting on the unofficial AC/DC web site AC/DC Electric Shock, AC/DC's new album, whch will most likely be called "Black Ice", will be released by Columbia Records on October 28 in North America and October 27 in the rest of the world. The first single, "Runaway Train", which was also a contender for the album's title, will be released in late August. Details for a world tour starting in late 2008 should be announced in the coming days.

AC/DC's new album will follow 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip". It was recorded at a Canadian studio with PEARL JAM and BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN producer Brendan O'Brien.

Sony BMG, Columbia's parent company, recently revealed that the disc will be sold exclusively through Wal-Mart stores, which has caused controversy with critics and fans.

Finnish "progressive death" metallers ELENIUM, whose lineup includes current OMNIUM GATHERUM vocalist Jukka Pelkonen (a.k.a. "J"), have posted two new demo tracks — "Counterflare" and "Inorganic" — on their MySpace page.

Commented the band: "We did a rough rehearsal demo of two brand new songs. Mikael Grönroos was very polite and took care of the recording duties. These are the first new tracks we've recorded with our current lineup so all kind of feedback is very welcome. And yes, we know the first demo is always the best. These versions will not be officially released since they are only for pre-production. You can still get a vague preview to our future releases."

ELENIUM last fall announced the addition of Anssi Hallio (drums), Ville Leppänen (guitar; DISORDEAD) and Lauri Koskenniemi (guitar; CRYSTAL BLAZE, ex-IMPERANON) to the group's ranks.

Connecticut metal/hardcore heavyweights HATEBREED have set a September 2, 2008 release date for their first-ever DVD, "Live Dominance". The DVD will include the band's entire 80-minute show shot in front of a crazed, sold-out crowd at Harpo's in Detroit on the Supremacy tour, plus additional live concert footage shot all over the globe in such cities as Philadelphia, New Haven, New York and more.

"Live Dominance" will include over two hours of live footage. In addition, the DVD is set to cotain a ton of bonus features shot specifically for the release including brand-new band interviews, concept videos, fan testimonials, and much much more.

The Harpo's Detroit show was shot entirely in hi-definition and directed by Kevin Custer with musical production/mixing from Grammy Award winner Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).

HATEBREED vocalist Jamey Jasta says, "Our fans have been asking for a proper HATEBREED live DVD for a long time so it feels great to finally be ready to unleash this on the world. This is a top-notch DVD that we are all very proud of and it really shows how far we've come as a band and how truly diehard and dedicated our supporters are worldwide.”

The full Harpo's concert track listing is as follows:

01. This Is Now
02. Perseverance
03. A Call For Blood
04. To The Threshold
05. Empty Promises
06. Destroy Everything
07. Voice of contention
08. As Diehard As They Come
09. Hallow Ground
10. Doomsayer
11. Betrayed By Life
12. Straight To Your Face
13. Facing What Consumes You
14. Before Dishonor
15. Never Let It Die
16. Last Breath
17. Beholder Of Justice
18. Smash Your Enemies
19. Proven
20. Defeatist
21. Live For This
22. I Will Be Heard

HATEBREED enlisted Vinnie Paul Abbott (HELLYEAH, ex-PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) to produce, document and record the band's May 27, 2008 concert in Dallas, Texas at the Palladium Ballroom. The resultant recording will be released as HATEBREED's live album, "Live in Dallas", due in early 2009. An all-covers album entitled "For the Lions" — featuring HATEBREED's renditions of songs by MISFITS, METALLICA, JUDGE, CRO-MAGS, D.R.I., NEGATIVE APPROACH, AGNOSTIC FRONT, MADBALL, SHEER TERROR and OBITUARY, among others — is expected late October.

"Bloodpath", the new video from veteran Stockholm, Sweden-based death metallers GRAVE, can be viewed below. The clip was reportedly filmed over a three-day period in Visby, Gotland, which is Sweden's largest island, with directors Joakim Ytterberg and Kave Raufi.

"Bloodpath" comes off GRAVE's eighth album, "Dominion VIII", which was released in April via Regain Records.

GRAVE's live DVD, entitled "Enraptured", came out in Europe on November 27, 2006 via Metal Mind Productions and in the U.S. on February 1, 2007 via MVD Visual.

The band shot the DVD with seven cameras on August 24, 2006 at the Stodola Club in Warsaw, Poland. The set, which was made available as a standard DVD edition and a DVD+CD limited edition, also features rare live footage, video clips and more.

Metalhead TV conducted an interview with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY/ex-SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera at this year's Hellfest, which was held June 20-22, 2008 in Clisson, France. Watch the seven-minute chat below.

When asked for his thoughts on his brother Max's recent statements in the press that he would like to take part in a SEPULTURA reunion, Igor replied, "I don't know, man. I have my personal reunion already. I'm playing with Max [in CAVALERA CONSPIRACY] — a lot of new stuff from CAVALERA, a lot of old stuff from NAILBOMB, from SEPULTURA, stuff that me and Max wrote when we were, like, 15 or 16, so for me, I have already my reunion — I don't need another SEPULTURA reunion."

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY recently tapped Johny Chow (a.k.a. John Mark Bechtel; FIREBALL MINISTRY, SOULS OF WE, ex-SYSTEMATIC, MY RUIN) to play bass on the group's current European tour. Joe Duplantier of the French progressive death metallers GOJIRA, who laid down all the bass tracks on CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's debut album, "Inflikted", is currently in the studio working on the new GOJIRA CD and is unable to join CAVALERA CONSPIRACY on the road.

Italian power metal band RHAPSODY OF FIRE (formerly known as RHAPSODY) has issued the following update:

"First of all, thank you for all the patience you had in these last times despite the lack of news regarding the band.

"We wanted to inform you that we are in the middle of a hard legal fight with MCM [MANOWAR's Magic Circle Music] and [the company's] main representative Mr. Joey De Maio [MANOWAR bassist/leader]. That's the reason why in the last months we had to keep all strictly confidential and could not release any official declaration that could obviously be used against us from the opposite side. And that's also the reason why we were constricted to stop completely our band's activity. Frankly, we are not able to imagine if all this can end in a very close future, but we want to assure you that we are ready to fight with all the strength of body and soul in order to protect yours and our beloved band. Yes, aside from these bad events, we ask you to not lose your faith in us. As soon as this sad situation will be solved, we'll be ready for a great and mighty come back. A new album, a real masterpiece of speed/epic metal, is already composed and ready to be recorded and after its release an immense worldwide tour will finally follow for yours and our extreme satisfaction."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's first-ever DVD, "Visions from the Enchanted Lands", was released in July 2007 through Magic Circle Music. The disc chronicles the 2005 tour and production for the albums "Symphony of Enchanted Lands, II" and "Triumph or Agony". Highlights of this double DVD are recordings from RHAPSODY OF FIRE's first tour through U.S. and Canada as well as their outstanding performance at the Eartshaker Fest 2005. A clip from the DVD can be viewed below.

RHAPSODY OF FIRE's latest album, "Triumph or Agony", was released in September 2006 via Magic Circle Music. According to a press release, the new CD sees the group continuing "to explore musical fantasy worlds with the precision musicianship and unique symphonic concepts that their fans have come to expect and adore. Fresh on the heels of the band's first live album release, 'Live In Canada 2005 - The Dark Secret', a new name and renewed vigor ensure that RHAPSODY OF FIRE still hold the passion and power that have always been associated with their music."

Finland's Sony BMG will release the new single from LORDI, "Bite It like a Bulldog", on August 13. The song comes off the Finnish hard rock monsters' new album, which is scheduled for release in North America on October 28 via The End Records. The as-yet-untitled CD "will showcase the band's trademark melodic hard rock sound, something the band has amplified from the debut, 'Get Heavy', onto the mega-successful 'The Arockalypse'," according to a press release.

An international success, "The Arockalypse" has sold 350,000 units to date and was certified gold in Sweden and Germany — not to mention attaining triple platinum status in Finland.

In 2008 the band has concentrated heavily on studio work, though it has taken time off to play select shows, such as the Rock2Wgtn music festival in Wellington, New Zealand, where it shared the stage with its musical and visual mentors, KISS. The band was also featured at various European summer festivals.

Mitchell Peters of Billboard (via Reuters) reports that SLIPKNOT will launch its own clothing line this summer. Tattered and Torn is named after a song on the band's self-released 1996 album, "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat", and will initially be sold exclusively in North America at Hot Topic stores beginning in late July, according to Tom Bennett, CEO of Bravado, the merchandising arm of Universal Music Group.

"It's just something more for our fans," SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor said. "It's a way for them to get cool clothing at affordable prices."

Tattered and Torn will launch with "basic boys and girls hoodies" before becoming a "full-range clothing line," Bennett said.

WHITESNAKE and DEF LEPPARD have cancelled their participation in this weekend's Magic Circle Festival in Bad Arolsen, Germany due to "contractual differences." No further details are currently available.

WHITESNAKE and DEF LEPPARD were scheduled to perform today (Saturday, July 12) prior to headliners and festival organizers MANOWAR's set.

The second annual Magic Circle Festival, which is being held July 9-12, features four days of metal, 20,000 free beers, 20,000 free copies of the new MANOWAR single and four custom-built choppers owned by MANOWAR members to be given away.

MANOWAR was scheduled to perform on the Friday evening of the festival, where they were to play "Battle Hymns", "Into Glory Ride" and "Hail To England". On the Saturday evening, the band will play "Sign Of The Hammer", "Fighting The World" and "Kings Of Metal". This set will also feature, for the first time, a rendition of "The Crown And The Ring (Lament Of The Kings)", which will feature the original choir and orchestral performance that has never been seen before.

Magic Circle Festival 2007 took place July 6-7, 2007 Bad Arolsen, Germany and was reportedly attended by 25,000 fans.

Los Angeles-based progressive thrash metal band PROTOTYPE has announced the addition of drummer Nic Ritter (see video below) to the group's ranks. "Nic has been working with us for the last 6-8 months or so and is responsible for the drum tracks on our new four-song pre-production demo as we begin preparing for the next album," the group says in a press release.

PROTOTYPE continues: "You may see a press release soon about Nic playing with another band [rumored to be WARBRINGER — Ed.] in the coming weeks. To minimize confusion, we want to let you all know ahead of time that he is in both bands and still a member of PROTOTYPE. We can't tell you the name of the other band at this time as it hasn't been made official yet.

"You'll be hearing Nic's work with PROTOTYPE in just a few weeks as we near the mixing phase of the demo songs and will share them with you [as soon as possible]!!!"

PROTOTYPE is featured in the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock video game with the song "The Way It Ends", taken from the group's sophomore album, "Continuum". Players are able to put their skills to the test, playing lead, rhythm or bass guitar on this challenging PROTOTYPE track. Also included in Guitar Hero III are songs from METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, IRON MAIDEN, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, THE SEX PISTOLS, SLAYER and other top rock artists.

Resuming activity after a two-year hiatus, this year's five-band, 24-show Blackest Of The Black tour package — which includes headliners DANZIG, Norway's DIMMU BORGIR, MOONSPELL, WINDS OF PLAGUE, and SKELETONWITCH — will launch on October 9 in Miami Beach, Florida and play its wrap-up show on November 10 in San Francisco, California. Tour mastermind Glenn Danzig stated: "I'm very happy to have DIMMU BORGIR sharing the stage this time, as they are one of my favorite bands and [I] always wanted them on. Should be an incredible 20th anniversary tour."

DIMMU BORGIR founding member/guitarist Silenoz checks in from his native land with the following: "Let there be no secrecy around the fact that we're really looking forward to the Blackest of The Black tour, finally joining forces with DANZIG! To get the chance to share the stage with one of the most influential icons in metal and rock history, Glenn Danzig, is of course something we're very proud of! Combined with the other bands, this will be a night to remember — if you're into dark and heavy music, that is. We actually take it for granted that you will be there! This will also be a great opportunity for us to promote our new DVD coming out in October, appropriately entitled 'The Invaluable Darkness'!"

"The Invaluable Darkness" DVD will be a three-disc release: two DVDs plus a bonus audio CD. The content is as follows:

DVD One:

I. The Invaluable Darkness Tour - Europe 2007

Sentrum Scene in Oslo, Norway – November 6, 2007:

01. Introduction
02. Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse
03. The Serpentine Offering
04. The Chosen Legacy
05. Spellbound (By The Devil)
06. Sorgens Kammer Del II
07. The Insight And The Catharsis
08. Raabjørn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde
09. The Sacrilegious Scorn
10. Mourning Palace
11. The Fallen Arises

Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany - October 21, 2007:

12. The Sinister Awakening
13. A Succubus In Rapture
14. Fear & Wonder
15. Blessings Upon the Throne of Tyranny

The Forum in London, UK – September 28, 2007:

16. Vredesbyrd
17. Puritania

II. Behind-The-Scenes Footage

III. Special Feature

DVD Two

I. Wacken Open Air, Germany – Black Metal Stage – August 2, 2007

01. Introduction
02. Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse
03. Vredesbyrd
04. Cataclysm Children
05. Kings Of The Carnival Creation
06. Sorgens Kammer Del II
07. Indoctrination
08. A Succubus In Rapture
09. The Serpentine Offering
10. The Chosen Legacy
11. The Insight And The Catharsis
12. Spellbound (By The Devil)
13. Mourning Palace
14. The Fallen Arises

II. P3 Session – NRK Studio 19 IN Oslo, Norway – September 18, 2007

01. The Serpentine Offering
02. Spellbound (By The Devil)
03. Mourning Palace

III. Video Gallery

01. Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse
02. Vredesbyrd
03. Sorgens Kammer Del II
04. The Serpentine Offering
05. The Sacrilegious Scorn
06. The Chosen Legacy

IV. Gold Awards Oslo

V. Image Gallery

Bonus Audio CD

P3 Session @ NRK Studio 19 in Oslo, Norway - September 18, 2007

01. Introduction
02. Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse
03. Vredesbyrd
04. Sorgens Kammer Del II
05. Indoctrination
06. A Succubus In Rapture
07. The Serpentine Offering
08. The Chosen Legacy
09. The Insight And The Catharsis
10. Spellbound (By The Devil)
11. Mourning Palace
12. The Fallen Arises

We CHARLOTTE S SHADOW are very happy to announce to our fans that our latest material entitled “Eternal Sleep” is available to download free in it..s entirely through our website at:
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However we also want the people to have the chance to get a physical cd with a better sound quality for all those who still prefer the traditional material cd , so now you can purchase our Album which includes a Bonus Track and a free T-shirt for EU8,00+shipping costs, through our website as well and some record shops such as...
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Ben Weinman, founding member and guitarist of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, will make a guest appearance on "Through My Dog's Eyes", the new album from the Italian avant-garde metal band EPHEL DUATH. Weinman will compose the electronic parts of the song "Bark Loud".

Weinman comments on his experience working with EPHEL DUATH: "EPHEL DUATH is one of those bands that truly understand the essence of what experimental and fusion music should be about. Touring with them was an amazing experience and it is great to finally be collaborating in this way!"

EPHEL DUATH will enter Outer Sound Studios in Rome on July 14 to complete the recording of "Through My Dog's Eyes" with producer Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE, KLIMT 1918). The drums for the album have already been recorded by Marco Minnemann (who recently played drums for NECROPHAGIST on their Summer Slaughter tour) at Seacoast Studio in Imperial Beach, California. Mastering for "Through My Dog's Eyes" will take place at Finnvox Studios (HIM, NIGHTWISH) in Helsinki, Finland, while the artwork for the album is being created by Seldon Hunt (NEUROSIS, ISIS, SUNNO)))).

Due to be released this October by Earache Records, "Through My Dog's Eyes" will feature the following track listing:

01. Gift
02. Promenade
03. Breed
04. Silent Door
05. Bella Morte
06. Nina
07. Guardian
08. Spider Shaped Leaves
09. Bark Loud

Portugal's Rádio e Televisão de Portugal has premiered the new MOONSPELL video (see below) for the song "Night Eternal". Like the "Scorpion Flower" clip, "Night Eternal" was shot by Ivan Colic (TYPE O NEGATIVE, SYMPHONY X, HAMMERFALL) in Belgrade, Serbia. Colic previously worked with the group on the "Memorial" video for "Finisterra".

"Night Eternal" is the title cut of MOONSPELL's new album, which sold around 800 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As previously reported, the CD entered the national chart in Portugal at No. 3 and in Germany at No. 62.

SIGNUM REGIS is the metal band founded by Ronnie König (also mainman of Slovak heavy metal band VINDEX) and featuring legendary vocalist Göran Edman (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOHN NORUM, GLORY). According to a press release, the group's music sounds like "a unique mixture of classical metal acts like HELLOWEEN, MALMSTEEN and RAINBOW but still having its own sound."

SIGNUM REGIS' self-titled debut album, which was completed earlier in the year, was mastered by Tommy Hansen (HELLOWEEN) at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark.

The CD will be released on the following dates:

July 23: Avalon/Marquee (Japan)
August 26: Locomotive (USA)
August 29: Locomotive (Europe)

"Signum Regis" track listing:

01. Fields Of Stars
02. All Over The World
03. Neverland
04. For Ever And A Day
05. Bright Days Of Glory
06. The Rain
07. Passionate Love
08. The Endless Road (bonus Japan)
09. Mountain Haze (instrumental)
10. Follow The Light
11. The Ten Thousand
12. Sirens Roar

Audio samples are available at www.signum-regis.com.

Recording lineup:

Göran Edman - Lead And Backing Vocals
Ronnie König - Bass
Filip Koluš - Guitar
Ado Kaláber - Guitar
Ludek Struhar - Drums
Ján Tupý - Keyboards

Stéphane Paré (vocals), Yanic Bercier (drums) and Dominic "Forest" Lapointe (bass) of the Montreal-based technical death metallers QUO VADIS have announced their departure from the band. In a statement Paré explained, "As of today, July 13th, we are officially leaving the band for various reasons. As for the shows that are already booked, we are still going to perform as agreed, on a professional basis.

"This decision is the hardest for drummer Yanic Bercier as he has been in the band since day one, 15 years ago. As for [me], [I] was in the band for more than 5 1/2 years."

QUO VADIS last year issued the "Live in Montreal" CD containing the audio portion of its previously released DVD concert.

According to a posting on UK singer Blaze Bayley's (ex-IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) official web site, Blaze's wife/manager Debbie "is in critical condition in hospital following a dual brain hemorrhage last week and has not regained consciousness." Blaze's bandmates write, "Understandably, Blaze will be staying at bedside for the time being and we as a band are not prepared to put ourselves too far from her under these circumstances. Due to this serious situation, Blaze cannot appear at the Easy Rider Bike Fest [in Italy] this coming weekend and the Brazil tour must be postponed until early next year. For the time being please contact serpentheartedman@gmail.com for any business-related enquiries. Any messages of support can be sent to messagesofsupport@gmail.com — they will be forwarded directly to Debbie and Blaze."

Bayley and Debbie got married on February 14, 2007 on the island of Gran Canaria.

In a May 2008 interview with HeavyMetal.no, Bayley stated, "I had a lot of problems with alcohol, severe depression, almost had a breakdown at the end of [the] 'Tenth Dimension' [album cycle], fucked about by the record company, totally broke, I'd spent all my money of trying to keep the band together. I was absolutely fucked. I was just about keeping going, and then I met my wife. And she known me... We've known each other for 18 years. 20 years. We were apart for years, because I follow this passion for music, and Debbie was following her passion, she was a dancer, and then she got her own hair business, and then we met again, when I was at my lowest. My wife found me, and really made me believe again, that it wasn't all my fault, it wasn't the fact that people didn't like what I was doing, it was the fact that they didn't actually know that I was doing anything at all. So that was a big difference. So that's it. She supported it, then I had incredible support from my family, my friends, and the fans who stuck by me was just incredible. With that kind of support, and with my wife behind me, helping me sort myself out, [I got] through my drinking problems, depression and all of that."

The new "supergroup" featuring former VAN HALEN frontman Sammy Hagar, ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony, guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith recently began work on material for its debut album. According to Anthony, that music that has so far been completed for the band, tentatively called CHICKENFOOT, is "F--IN' rockin and we hope to be in the studio finishing it up early September so we can get out there and PLAY!"

Smith told The Pulse of Radio he got involved in the project by owning a home near Hagar's place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "If you're in Cabo, of course you know Sammy 'cause he's, you know, he rules the joint," he said. "And he's a really nice man, he's a great guy actually. Somehow he's taken a liking to me, and we played in Vegas, and we played some cover songs — we're a good cover band now. He got pretty excited about it and it actually sounded really good. Him and Joe got together up at his place and they wrote like five things together, and we'll see."

Hagar himself spoke about the project in a recent interview, explaining, "We've written eight, nine songs...When people hear the music, it's LED ZEPPELIN. It's as good as that. I know that's a mighty bold statement...We could rival ZEP."

Hagar sang with VAN HALEN from 1986 to 1996, and again on a 2004 reunion tour, but left both times after feuding with guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Hagar said recently about his relationship with the troubled guitar hero, "I love Eddie, but we don't love each other. I heard that he got cleaned up again. Hopefully he stays that way and doesn't die, because before we both die we have to be friends again."

Chad Smith has been playing with former DEEP PURPLE bassist/singer Glenn Hughes as well as his own jazz combo since the CHILI PEPPERS came off the road last year after touring in support of 2006's "Stadium Arcadium" CD.

Vocalist Kelly Shaefer of the reactivated seminal technical metal pioneers ATHEIST has issued the following update:

"[I'm] heading to Atlanta next Friday to jam with ATHEIST drummer and my best friend Mr. Steve Flynn, this wil mark the first time we have written together since 1991's 'Unquestionable Presence'. So I am curious how it will sound. I know it will be sick, there is a formula that me and Flynn have that automatically sounds like ATHEIST...so it will be fun to hear what it will sound like. And who knows? If it it goes well...?? We will see what happens."

In January 2006, frontman Kelly Shaefer reassembled much of what was widely considered ATHEIST's classic recording lineup (Shaefer, bassist Tony Choy, and drummer Steven Flynn) to perform a select number of one-off shows to celebrate the re-issue of their wildly-influential catalog (1988's "Piece of Time", 1993's "Elements", and the 1991's legendary "Unquestionable Presence"). Among those shows were performances at such legendary festivals such as Germany's Wacken Open Air, Norway's Hole In The Sky, Italy's Evolution, England's Bloodstock Open Air, and the Los Angeles' Murderfest.

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have cancelled their headlining performance at today's (Saturday, July 12) Metalway Festival in Zaragoza, Spain. The band said in a statement, "Due to massive storm damage to the staging and PA and lights in the the last 24 hours or so, today's Zaragoza [show] cannot take place. At this stage it looks unlikely, due to the extent of the damage, that the Metalway Festival can be rescheduled. MAIDEN are sorry that it seems unlikely that they can appear for their fans in Zaragoza. MAIDEN's equipment had not arrived on-site when the storm occurred so this has no effect on continuing MAIDEN's shows in Scandinavia and elsewhere."

ThinkSpain.com reported earlier today that last night's (Friday, July 11) Monsters of Rock festival in Feria de Muestras, Zaragoza, Spain was washed out by a violent fifteen-minute wind and hail storm that also disrupted the 2008 international exhibition cultural program.

One spectator was hospitalized after being hit by a metal scaffolding plank, but was not seriously injured.

Around 7,000 heavy metal fans had been looking forward to a star-studded line-up, including the likes of DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZZY and TWISTED SISTER.