Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY have issued the following update:

"Home again after the longest touring stint of our career! Without being too long-winded, let us express our gratitude to towards everyone that participated on the trip; the other bands, the crew, the promoters and of course all you people coming to the shows.

"The third leg of the tour, in South/Latin America, was as amazing as expected. Mexico and Colombia are among or fave places in earth, and getting to play in Chile and Argentina for the first time was fantastic. Rounding off by returning to Istanbul for the first time in seven years was also an experience to remember. Our 2001 gig there was a bit crippled due to the fact that we had to bring a session drummer in on short notice, so it's great that we finally could deliver a full set to the ever passionate Turkish fans.

"So — to conclude, we had a blast. Special you-should-have-been-there moment: The show in Argentina, where the audience stole the show by singing to us in between songs. This is how you give a band goosebumps: video (see below) from Teatro Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 20, 2008.

"We'll get some more video and photo material up in the near future, but for now we'll spend a few days relaxing before getting ready for the Peace & Love and Metaltown festivals this weekend. No rest for the wicked!

"Speaking of tours, most of you have probably read about our headline touring plans for the autumn. Full press releases about this will be made in the near future, but for now we can confirm that we'll be part of the Close-Up Made Us Do It tour, supported by ENGEL and DEAD BY APRIL."

Century Media Records reissued DARK TRANQUILLITY's latest album, "Fiction", last month as an expanded edition in conjunction with the start of the band's just-completd North American tour. The new version is composed of a CD/DVD and features a slew of new material.

Norway's Dagbladet newspaper has published a letter from the mother of Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh) — the former BURZUM mastermind who is currently serving a Norwegian prison term for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous) — in which she argues that her son is being unfairly treated by the justice officials who recently denied his parole application for the second time. An excerpt from her letter follows.

"We — the family — are now powerless witnesses to the difficult situation Varg is in. A difficult situation filled with hate and obstructiveness [on the part of the] justice officials.

"It is with great concern that we note the lack of cooperation between the KSF (the justice officials at both the regional and central level) and the prison. Twice now already Varg's application for parole has been denied despite recommendations for release from the Trondheim Prison in 2006 and Tromsø Prison in 2008. Even the PST (Norwegian security service) is now recommending Varg's release.

"When Varg's application was recently denied, the management at the Tromsø Prison was stunned and advised him to re-apply immediately, which he has since done.

"It appears to us that the case workers at the Justice Ministry have made the decision that Varg should not be released and are therefore constantly seeking out new arguments to use in an effort to deny his parole application. Despite the fact that Varg has been in an open prison in Tromsø for almost a year and has participated in various social activities and has been on furlough from Tromsø to his home and has traveled by taxi, plane, train, ferry and car without any problems, they still believe that he is not able to take care of himself. This is absolutely absurd! Varg is managing exceptionally well and even I have to admit that it's completely incredible that he is responding to life outside the walls as well as he is after spending 15 years in prison."

Vikernes — who is married, with one daughter (aged 15) and a son (aged nine months) — is serving a 21-year sentence, the maximum that Norwegian law allows, for murder and setting fire to three churches in 1993.

In denying his parole, the Justice Ministry pointed to the fact that Vikernes escaped from prison in 2003 and that he has ties to neo-Nazi groups.

World-exclusive performances from METALLICA, MACHINE HEAD, TRIVIUM, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, DREAM THEATER and DEVILDRIVER are among the tracks featured on Kerrang! magazine's latest collection — "Maiden Heaven" — which features bands covering tracks from IRON MAIDEN's legendary career. The CD will be given away free with Kerrang! issue 1219, on sale July 16.

Speaking exclusively to Kerrang!, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told the magazine how much respect the Bay Area thrashers have for the Brit metal masters.

"IRON MAIDEN are 10 per cent cooler than every other band," says Ulrich. "From their relationship with their fans, to their album covers to their stages, to their live presentation, to their photos — whatever they did was always cooler than what everyone else did! I have always had an incredible amount of respect and admiration for them and obviously getting a chance to be part of this CD feels like that has come a full circle. We played 'Remember Tomorrow' as it was basically the blueprint for songs like 'Fade To Black' and 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)', and some of the more epic ballady type of songs that METALLICA had done later. We had so much fun jamming with this! We put a bit of an intro on it, to give it a bit of a METALLICA stamp, and we are super pleased with how it has turned out. "

MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn is equally excited to be a part of this project.

"When I was a kid IRON MAIDEN were a very big deal to me and the influence they had on MACHINE HEAD has been huge," he reveals. "We decided to cover 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' for this CD because it's just such a great song, in fact it's a classic! I just love the way the vocal line goes up and down, so dramatic."

Metal heroes TRIVIUM, are happy to admit their own brand of heavy riffage could never have existed without MAIDEN's worldwide influence.

"IRON MAIDEN helped create what we know as heavy metal," states frontman Matt Heafy. "Their influence can be heard on classic and contemporary bands alike; their fanbase spans across the youngest and newest of heavy music recruits all the way to the diehard, life-long metal elite. We chose to play the track 'Iron Maiden' off their first album, as the song that screamed out our love for them musically, and we knew it would be a really fun song to jam out in the studio. It was an honour to be able to play one of IRON MAIDEN's tracks and have the opportunity to contribute to this amazing CD. We hope everyone has as much fun listening to it as we did making it!"

Meanwhile, AVENGED SEVENFOLD — who will be supporting MAIDEN at their upcoming Twickenham Stadium show on July 5 — say they are "honored" to be part of this Kerrang!-arranged tribute.

"MAIDEN are by far the best live band in the world and their music is timeless," says vocalist M. Shadows. "This also gives us a chance to expose this great song to some of our younger fans who maybe aren't as familiar with IRON MAIDEN."

The arrival of Kerrang!'s "Maiden Heaven" CD coincides with IRON MAIDEN's European leg of their Somewhere Back In Time World Tour — and follows on from the release of their own collection "Somewhere Back In Time: The Best Of 80-89".

"MAIDEN much appreciate and are very flattered by all the time spent on this by a lot of great bands," says IRON MAIDEN's manager Rod Smallwood, "and would like to thank them, and also Kerrang!, for the honour. Thanks, everyone!"

The track listing for "Maiden Heaven" is as follows:

01. BLACK TIDE - Prowler
02. METALLICA - Remember Tomorrow
03. AVENGED SEVENFOLD - Flash Of The Blade
04. GLAMOUR OF THE KILL - 2 Minutes To Midnight
05. COHEED AND CAMBRIA - The Trooper
06. DEVILDRIVER - Wasted Years
07. SIGN - Run To The Hills
08. DREAM THEATER - To Tame A Land
09. MADINA LAKE - Caught Somewhere In Time
10. GALLOWS - Wrathchild
11. FIGHTSTAR - Fear Of The Dark
12. MACHINE HEAD - Hallowed Be Thy Name
13. TRIVIUM - Iron Maiden
14. YEAR LONG DISASTER - Running Free
15. GHOSTLINES - Brave New World

Former STRATOVARIUS and current REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE mastermind Timo Tolkki has issued the following update:

"The songwriting [for the new REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE album] is going very smoothly and nicely. We are making some demos soon and will hit the studio around September. Some song (working) titles are: 'Icarus', 'Age Of Aquarius', 'The Loneliness Of A Thousand Years', 'Revolution Has Begun', 'Mary My Guardian' and 'Walk On'. I will be able to announce the bass player in early August, but I can tell that he is in fact Swedish. We are still planning the extensive South American tour we have been offered. This would be in December.

"I am also happy to tell that there will be one more STRATOVARIUS album sometime late next year. This will be a 'get-together' album with old friends Tuomo Lassila on drums, Antti Ikonen on keyboards and me on vocals and guitars. There are 12 months in a year and this will be the last and 12th STRATOVARIUS album that will close the whole saga with dignity and respect. The way it is supposed to be.

"I will also reissue my 'Classical Variations and Themes' and 'Hymn To Life' remastered versions through my webshop. The whole Tolkki.com is currently undergoing maintenance and new layout procedure and will remain closed for some days more."

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's "permanent" lineup includes keyboardist Mike Khalilov, Brazilian drummer Bruno Agra and Brazilian singer Gus Monsanto (ex-ADAGIO).

"New Era", the debut album from REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, is described in a press release as "a masterpiece of melodic power metal, taking the listener straight back to the 'Visions'-era STRATOVARIUS. In fact, 'New Era' is the album that was meant to be the next STRATOVARIUS album."

In the latest issue of Finland's Soundi magazine, Petri Silas speaks exclusively to remaining STRATOVARIUS members Timo Kotipelto (vocals), Jens Johansson (keyboards) and Lauri Porra (яbass) about their split with guitarist and main composer Timo Tolkki and the band's future.

The interview was conducted just as the guys were heading out to a Lappajärvi summer cottage to work on new material. They were accompanied by their newest bandmate, a young Finnish guitarist whose name has not yet been revealed.

If all goes well, the foursome will enter the studio (most likely in Finland) at the end of 2008 to begin recording a new album for a 2009 release.

At this point, the guys have not yet decided whether to continue using the name STRATOVARIUS for their new band. Some of the members want to, some of them don't, and for some of them it doesn't make a difference one way or the other.

Timo Tolkki drew up and signed an official waiver on May 20, 2008 giving up all rights to the STRATOVARIUS name. "Although both moral and legal rights I own would easily grant me the rights to prevent the guys using the name STRATOVARIUS, I am going to do the opposite," he wrote in a letter explaining his decision. "I am going to give them full perpetual rights to the name and also I do not want to receive any money regarding record sales of the back catalogue or possible new products in which I am involved. Ever. You will find this letter that has been mailed to the STRATOVARIUS management with this statement. Simply, I dont want to have anything to do with that name in its present form, Jörg Michael, Timo Kotipelto and Jens Johansson ever again. The old records and their message speak for themselves. So the guys are free to use the name. I am doing this with a clear mind that everything that you put to the universe returns to you. And above all, I refuse to co-operate, negotiate or have anything to do with what I consider to be evil. And here is the very corporate money making machine in its full force exploiting the name, like it could really have the same meaning without me."

Former USURPER guitarist Rick Scythe has issued the following update on his NIGHTSHADE project:

"We decided to post a new song for a couple days. We're taking it down soon. It's just to give you an idea of some of the other stuff on the album. We'll post other songs randomly throughout the summer before our debut album/DVD is released. This one features original USURPER vokillist General Diabolical Slaughter on backing vocals."

NIGHTSHADE will release its debut album, "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).

Kevin Talley (DAATH, ex-CHIMAIRA, THE RED CHORD) has finished laying down the drum tracks for the sophomore effort from THE ALIEN BLAKK, the band led by guitarist/producer Joshua Craig.

Craig describes Talley's performance as "DAATH meets Matt Sorum's [approach] during the GUNS N' ROSES days." "The music is either completely progressive on some of the songs and bizarrely instrumentally-based on the other side of the disc," he says. "Melodically, the vocals and kind of remind me of TYPE O NEGATIVE meets early KISS to STONE SOUR."

THE ALIEN BLAKK's sophomore album is tentatively due in late 2008/early 2009.

For more information, visit www.thealienblakk.com.

Belgian progressive metallers OCEANS OF SADNESS have made a new song from their forthcoming fifth album, "The Arrogance of Ignorance", available for free download. According to the band, "The song is called 'Some Things Seem So Easy' and it is a shining example of the diversity of OCEANS OF SADNESS. It grows from an almost 'country-like' feeling over to back-breaking heaviness and Ozzy-influenced vocals to end in an ocean of acid-drenched structures and melodies.

Download the track at this location.

"The Arrogance of Ignorance" was produced by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street in Örebro, Sweden and contains 10 tracks. The CD includes guest appearances by Annlouice Loegdlund (DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA) on the song 'Subconscious' and Johan Liiva (formerly of ARCH ENEMY, HEARSE) on the track "In The End". Artwork was created by the Greek artist Seth Siro Anton.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain recently conducted an interview with MOTÖRHEAD frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. An excerpt from the chat follows.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: How's the new album coming?

Lemmy: We have all of the tracks done. It's just vocals and guitars now, really.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: With this being your 20th album, was a challenge to find inspiration? How did you keep it fresh?

Lemmy: Not really, we just do what we always do. We've got it down to a fine art now, you know? We know how to do that now.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: You recorded parts of the album at Dave Grohl's studio?

Lemmy: Just the drums were done up there. The rest of we did in L.A.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: Who produced it?

Lemmy: Cameron Webb. The same as who did the last two.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: Are you looking forward to the tour with JUDAS PRIEST?

Lemmy: Yeah, but we've got festivals to do in Europe first. So, I'm just looking at those at the moment. Yeah, we're going out with JUDAS PRIEST in August.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: Do you still enjoy playing the festival shows in Europe?

Lemmy: Yeah. It's a big event. There's not just one band.

Pop-Rock Candy Mountain: You recently taped an appearance on "Californication". Did you enjoy that?

Lemmy: Well, I've never seen the show myself (laughs). So, someone asked and I said, "Yeah." (laughs) I don't know what the fuck it is. I just said a couple of things.

Read the entire interview at Pop-Rock Candy Mountain.

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON have issued the following update:

"We've now completed the drums and the guitars for the new SATYRICON album in Los Angeles! We have a new session beginning Monday, doing vocals, bass and and perhaps some brass too. Third week of July we're doing some keyboard/FX stuff before we go back to L.A. to mix the record. These are exciting times as we feel this is a milestone in the making. It won't help keeping expectations down, but we can't help it, it feels so incredibly strong! Dates are being confirmed and offers are coming in constantly as we speak and it looks like we will start touring the world mid-November. We'll post a video from the recording of the drums over the weekend and in the meantime we might see some of you at Nummirock and Hellfest."

As previously reported, SATYRICON has recruited two new members for its live shows. The rhythm guitar is now handled by French axeman Gildas Le Pape, who has been playing black and thrash metal, as well as jazz, for quite a few years. The band's new touring bassist is Victor Brandt (Sweden) from the death metal band DOMINION and TOTALT JÄVLA MÖRKER. Victor Brandt can also be heard on the new SATYRICON EP "My Skin Is Cold".

Fan-filmed video footage of SATYRICON performing the song "K.I.N.G." on June 4, 2008 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "ixtlanworld").

SATYRICON's new album will be released on November 3 via Roadrunner Records. The CD is being recorded at Sound City studios in Van Nuys, California, where METALLICA recently recorded its forthcoming LP.

A previously unreleased SATYRICON song, "My Skin Is Cold", is included on the band's new EP of the same name, which was issued on June 2 in most of Europe.

"My Skin Is Cold" was released as a seven-inch gatefold vinyl single including a five-track CD. This is the only physical version of the EP and the packaging is said to be "truly one of a kind!"

The EP was relased via Roadrunner Records worldwide, except in Norway, where it came out through SATYRICON's new partner, Indie Recordings.

Long-running Seattle metallers METAL CHURCH will release their new album, "This Present Wasteland", in Europe on September 26 via SPV Records. The CD's artwork, which was submitted by a fan via a MySpace contest, can be viewed here.

"This Present Wasteland" track listing:

01. Killing Space
02. War Never Won
03. Meet Your Maker
04. Crawling To Extinction
05. Mass Hysteria
06. Breath Again
07. Deeds Of A Dead Soul
08. The Prophet And The Madman
09. Beneath The Silence
10. Tales Of A Stalker
11. King Of Lies
12. In The Company Of Sorrow
13. The Perfect Crime

METAL CHURCH is scheduled to perform on August 2 in Mapplewood, Minnesota with JUDAS PRIEST and on August 16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Roberto Clemente Coliseum with QUEENSRŸCHE.

The band recently announced the addition of guitarist Rick Van Zandt (THE END, ROTTWEILLER) to the group's ranks. He replaced Jay Reynolds (also of MALICE), who left the band for "personal reasons."

METAL CHURCH's last CD, "A Light in the Dark", was released in June 2006 via SPV. The LP includes a new version of the classic "Watch the Children Pray" as a tribute to vocalist David Wayne, who passed away in May 2005.

Romanian female-fronted symphonic metal band MAGICA will enter the studio in July to begin recording its fourth album, "Wolves and Witches", for a November release through AFM Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Hold on Tight", "Don't Wanna Kill", "Hurry Up", "Ravens", "Dark Secret", "Just for 2 Coins", "Mistress of the Wind" and "Until the Light is Gone".

MAGICA's video for the song "Entangled" can be viewed below. The track comes off MAGICA's third album, "Hereafter", which was released on October 19, 2007 via AFM Records. The cover artwork was created by Jean Pascal Fournier, who has previously worked with EDGUY and AVANTASIA, among many others.

MAGICA's second album, "Lightseeker", was released in 2004 via Underclass Music.

MAGICA is:

Ana Mladinovici - Vocals
Bogdan Costea - Guitar
Emi Burcea - Guitar
Vali Zechiu - Bass
Cristi Birla - Drums
6 Fingers - Keys

For more information, visit www.magicaband.com.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine has posted the following message in the "Forums" section of the band's official web site:

"We just completed the 'United Abominations' world tour last night in Monterrey, Mexico.

"Thank you to everyone who came out to see us, and who supported us from afar.

"I will make a full report of what I though the last 1 1/2 years have been like; the last two weeks alone damn near killed me after getting a yellow fever vaccination to go to Manaus, Brazil alone.

"I am not one to post much about how hard it is to tour, but I am sure when I get back from my rest period that you will understand why I have been nearly invisible the last few months.

"I can't wait to get back home and get to work on TheLiveLine with my partners, as well as start the building of our new studio.

"Hell, we need our own place to jam in when we start to reconvene and demo songs for the next record after the summer.

"So, until I get back, thank you, thank you all."

JUDAS PRIEST's new double-disc concept album, "Nostradamus", has entered the official Australian ARIA (Australian Record Industry Association) album chart at position No. 16.

According to Hits Daily Double (the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS), "Nostradamus" is poised to sell around 50,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release for a likely Top 10 debut on The Billboard 200 chart. If "Nostradamus" does in fact crack the Top 10, it will give the band its highest-ever career chart position in the U.S.

JUDAS PRIEST's last CD, "Angel of Retribution", opened with 58,000 copies back in March 2005 to debut at No. 13.

Guitarist Nils Norberg has announced his departure from the Swedish melodic metal band NOCTURNAL RITES.

"I have decided to lay down the guitar as my interest for music kind of cooled down the last years," he writes in a statement. So I'm not a part of NOCTURNAL RITES anymore. It's just because of myself. I decided to do this and it has absolutely not been a bad feeling in the band in any way. I don't know how or if I will go on with music, but I will take a break from the guitar that has been taking up all my waking time the last 20 years. The band will always be a second family for me and I'm not closing the door to play with them again if it would be an opportunity and I would have the urge to play again. I think the band will go on and will still make kick ass music both live and in the studio. I just wanna say thanx to the band for the best times in my life and to all the nice people I met and partied, destroyed, laughed and kicked ass with along these 12 years in the band. Thanx so much! Take care and maybe we meet again somewhere!"

The band comments: "The remaining members would like to extend a huge thank you to Norberg for his time in the band and wish him all the best! We respect his decision but hope he finds his way back to music. Applicants interested in replacing Norberg are of course more than welcome to email us their demos at guitarist[at]nocturnalrites.com."

NOCTURNAL RITES' latest album, "The 8th Sin", last year landed on the Japanese album chart at position No. 68 (No. 28 on "international" chart). An e-card for the CD is available at this location.

Former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen (who now fronts AGUA DE ANNIQUE) will join Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL for their appearance at the Graspop Metal Meeting festival on on Friday, June 27 in Dessel, Belgium at 16.30 at the Marquee 1. She will sing the song "Scorpion Flower" as a duet with MOONSPELL frontman Fernando Ribeiro.

Anneke was previously supposed to perform with MOONSPELL at the Rock in Rio 2008 festival on June 5 in Lisbon, Portugal but she was forced to cancel her appearance after coming down with the flu.

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

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

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

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

Professionally filmed footage of MOONSPELL performing the song "Scorpion Flower" on June 5, 2008 at the Rock in Rio festival in Lisbon, Portugal can be viewed below.

Canadian progressive death metallers AUGURY have set "Fragmentary Evidence" as the title of their second album, due later in the year.

In other news, the band has welcomed back its original drummer Étienne Gallo, who appears on the new CD. The group says, "We look forward to working with Étienne now and in the future."

Video footage of Gallo laying down tracks for "Fragmentary Evidence" can be viewed below.

AUGURY's debut album, "Concealed", came out in 2004.

EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet is in the middle of a short tour with his solo project AVANTASIA. He has issued the following update from the road:

"I feel like being drunk although I am not. There was just an earthquake a few seconds ago and I am on the 21st floor of a hotel tower. It scared the shit out of me, the tower was swinging back and forth like a pendulum. Wow! Anyway, I am still alive and I guess people here got used to it.

"So, we have played four shows with AVANTASIA now and we seem to get better and better. Sweden Rock was a blast, more than 30,000 people going crazy. Switzerland, Russia and Japan were great too. It's such a unique experience to play with all those musicians I had never played with before. It's a pretty great constellation and we have a lot of fun on the road.

"Last night we played over two hours, adding songs like 'No Return' and 'Inside' to our regular set.

"I'll be off to Mexico now, we play Mexico City tomorrow.

"It's weird, three days ago we played Europe, a few hours ago we played Asia and in a few hours I'll cross the date line to fly to Mexico. Crossing the date line means, I'll leave Asia in the evening and arrive in San Francisco in the morning of the same day. If you do that a few thousand times you look like a baby.

"Thanks Japan, thanx Sweden, Switzerland, Russia. And now I am looking forward to Mexico City.

Miriam Datskovsky of Portfolio.com reports that LED ZEPPELIN's "Stairway to Heaven", originally released in 1971, is considered a musical masterpiece and is one of the most-played rock tunes of all time. Proving its longevity, "Stairway" hit the U.K. charts again last fall and was a top download in the U.S., after ZEPPELIN's first downloadable album launched on iTunes. But because the band is notoriously protective of its work, "Stairway" hasn't met its full moneymaking potential. While other artists have made big bucks by licensing songs to Hollywood and Madison Avenue — think of Bob Dylan's "Love Sick" in that Victoria's Secret commercial — ZEPPELIN has shunned most opportunities.

"This Is Exile", the new video from Knoxville, Tennessee-based death/grind metallers WHITECHAPEL, can be viewed below. The clip was directed by David Brodsky, who has previously worked with ALL THAT REMAINS and THE RED CHORD, among other bands. The song is the title track of WHITECHAPEL's new album, which is scheduled for release on July 8 through Metal Blade Records.

"This Is Exile" was tracked by Jonny Fay (ex-guitarist of THE RED CHORD) of Backyard Studios in New Hampshire and was mixed by Zeuss, who has produced ION DISSONANCE, EMMURE, BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED, SHADOWS FALL and HATEBREED, among others. The cover artwork was handled by Colin Marks, who has previously worked with ABORTED, THE END, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and THE RED DEATH). "He [did] a phenomenal job and we are extremely pleased with the outcome of his work," the band previously stated. "He has done a wonderful job of portraying the concept of the record through his artwork."

"This Is Exile" track listing:

01. Father Of Lies
02. This Is Exile
03. Possession
04. To All That Are Dead
05. Exalt
06. Somatically Incorrect
07. Death Becomes Him
08. Deamon (The Procreated)
09. Eternal Refuge
10. Of Legions
11. Messiahbolical

WHITECHAPEL's debut album, "The Somatic Defilement", was released last year via Candlelight Records USA. The band has since inked a deal with Metal Blade and is planning on issuing a new CD later in the year.

Norwegian gothic metal band SIRENIA has issued the following update:

"These days we are going through the final preparations for our next album. The songs are all finished and recordings will start in July. The album will be recorded in Sound Suite Studios, France and Stargoth Studios, Norway. The mixing and mastering will take place in Antfarm Studios, Denmark with Tue Madsen. We are really excited about this new album and can't wait to share the new song material with all of you. The album will be complete in September, and released early next year. We will keep you posted!"

SIRENIA recently recruited 25-year-old Spanish singer Ailyn (born: Pilar Giménez García) as the replacement for Monika Pedersen, who left the group last fall after only one album due to "musical differences."

Ailyn is best known as a member of the young team in the Spanish version of "The X Factor", the biggest television talent competition in Europe.

SIRENIA previously commented in a statement: "SIRENIA is finally ready to introduce their new female singer. Ailyn — born 1982 in Barcelona, now settled in Granada, Spain. Ailyn has been strongly attached to music all her life, and began singing at an early age. Later on she studied singing at The School of Music Albéniz, and obtained singing lessons with several singing teachers around Spain. In the past she's been singing and performing all kinds of styles and genres, but in 2004 she discovered the sounds of metal combined with atmospheric and classical elements, this style of music made a big impression and she knew right away in which direction she wanted to take her career. SIRENIA has done pre-productions of several new songs and recognizes that Ailyn's voice match perfectly with the new song material. The band is very pleased to have Ailyn onboard and we all look forward to a future collaboration."

SIRENIA's latest album, "Nine Destinies and a Downfall", entered the German Media Control chart in March 2007 at position No. 54. The CD was recorded at Jailhouse studios in Norway with engineer Hans Eidsgard and Soundsuite studios in France with Terje Refsnes and was mixed and mastered at Antfarm studios in Aarhus, Denmark with Tue Madsen.

Italian female-fronted quartet EXILIA has entered Principal Studios in Ottmarsbocholt (near Münster), Germany to begin recording its new album for a September 2008 release via AFM Records. ILL NINO drummer Dave Chavarri will join the band in the studio to produce a selection of songs.

Commented singer Masha: ""The work has begun and we are very excited. I feel this album will represent some of our best work we've done and I know our fans won't be disappointed!"

In other news, EXILIA has been rejoined by original drummer Ale Lera, who is said to be "totally commited to creating drumming miracles for a band he sadly had to leave in the past due to unforseen personal circumstances."

EXILIA's sophomore full-length album, "Nobody Excluded", was released in July 2006 via G.U.N./BMG Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Unleashed" was produced by Udo Rinklin and recorded by the infamous Resetti Brothers (Jörg Umbreit and Vincent Sorg), with Jeff Collier helping out with the vocal recordings.

EXILIA's video for the song "Kill Me" can be viewed below.

According to a report that was published in this past Friday's (June 6) edition of Massachusetts' The Republican, Finnish monster hard rockers LORDI have struck up an agreement with Kahriptic Knights Publishing for characters from the band to appear in the upcoming tabletop role-playing game similar to "Dungeons & Dragons" called "Deliverance, a New World". No further details are currently available.

LORDI has entered the studio to record the follow-up to "The Arockalypse". The recordings should be finished by summer, with the new album due out later this year.

The End Records re-released LORDI's 2002 debut album "Get Heavy" in May. The reissue comes with the exclusive bonus track "Don't Let My Mother Know".

A preview of the first DVD from reactivated Danish thrashers ARTILLERY, entitled "One Foot in the Grave, The Other One in the Trash", is available below.

Poland's Metal Mind Productions will release "One Foot in the Grave, The Other One in the Trash" on June 16 in Europe and August 5 in the USA (via MVD). According to a press release, the DVD features "a fantastic gig the thrash veterans gave at Metalmania Festival 2008. The outstanding guitar play of brothers Stützer, charismatic Carsten Nielsen's powerful drums and the uncompromising thrash energy of Søren Adamsen's voice ruthlessly hammered their way into the hearts of the headbangers assambled on that occasion. ARTILLERY launched a veritable blitz, bombarding their fans with a skull-breaking selection of some of the best songs from their entire discography, including great thrash metal masterpieces like 'By Inheritence' and 'Khomaniac'!" The DVD will also include many great bonus features, such as extra video material: "Allergic to Knowledge" (video clip), "Terror Squad" (video clip), "The Almighty" (bootlegged at The Rock, Copenhagen, 2008), MISSING LINK – "Lobotomized" (video clip), plus interview with Michael Stützer, interview with Morten Stützer and Carsten Nielsen and more. The release will also be available in a limited edition — including a CD with songs recorded at the Metalmania Festival.

"One Foot in the Grave, The Other One in the Trash" track listing:

DVD:

01. Deeds of Darkness
02. Into the Universe
03. The Almighty
04. Cybermind
05. The Challenge
06. By Inheritance
07. The Eternal War
08. Beneath the Clay (R.I.P.)
09. Time Has Come
10. At War with Science
11. Out of the Sky
12. Khomaniac
13. Terror Squad

CD (limited edition DVD+CD only):

01. Deeds of Darkness
02. Into the Universe
03. The Almighty
04. Cybermind
05. The Challenge
06. By Inheritance
07. The Eternal War
08. Beneath the Clay (R.I.P.)
09. Time Has Come
10. At War with Science
11. Out of the Sky
12. Khomaniac
13. Terror Squad

Michael Stützer comments: "'One Foot in the Grave, The Other One in the Trash' is a jouney through the years with songs, from the start of ARTILLERY and up to now. Making this trip to Poland was a great adventure for the band, and was one of the highligts for us this year. After 25 years playin' thrash metal with ARTILLERY and having this change to record our DVD, on the Metalmania festival in Poland, was a great opornity to give all those die-hard fans something back. 'One Foot in the Grave, The Other One in the Trash' shows the band stronger than ever with an appetite for thrashin' together with the devoted polish thrashers. Playing together with some of the forerunners of thrash metal like OVERKILL, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and MEGADETH was great. We love to play live so keep bangin' those metalheads. ARTILLERY is B.A.C.K."

The cover artwork was designed by Graal, who has previously worked with VITAL REMANS, SINISTER, SOLITUDE AETURNUS and BULLDOZER, among others. Graal was also responsible for the cover artwork of ARTILLERY's "Through The Years" box set.

Brazilian thrashers SEPULTURA entered the studio last month to begin recording their new album, which is based on the Anthony Burgess novel "A Clockwork Orange" (later turned into the classic film by Stanley Kubrick). Guitarist Andreas Kisser has finished recording all the guitar tracks for the CD, and Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. "is killing the bass tracks right now and me and Derrick [Green] are finishing the lyrics and vocal arrangements," according to Andreas.

SEPULTURA's forthcoming CD will be the group's first to feature drummer Jean Dolabella, who replaced founding member Igor Cavalera in 2006. Igor has since reunited with his brother and former SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera in CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

German metallers AXXIS have amicably parted ways with drummer André Hilgers. According to the band, "André will concentrate his full energy on RAGE in the future. We wish him the greatest success out there and we want to say: thanks for all! We're sure that we all will hear a lot of positive things in the future from André."

Vocalist Bernhard Weiß added: "André is a great person and a super drummer. He would earn to reach the top-ten list of the best drummers in Germany. We will miss him."

Keyboardist Harry Oellers stated: "We wish André all the best for his future and we're looking back on wonderful four years in a successful time."

AXXIS's latest album, "Doom of Destiny", was released in Europe last November via AFM Records.

Watch a teaser for "Doom of Destiny":

Athens, Greece-based death/thrash metal band DESCENDING, has finalized the track listing for its new album, "Enter Annihilation", due this summer via Massacre Records.

According to a press release, DESCENDING combines "both bombastic aggressive metal riffage and melodic hook lines in their songs. Their debut album 'Enter Annihilation' is going to shake the foundations of modern metal community! This modern metal masterpiece features astonishing belting vocals by Jon Simvonis giving a deadly touch with his wide range of vocal palette, from deep growls-to ecstatic emotional screams. Also blazing rhythm/lead guitar work by a new guitar hero Constantine (ex-NIGHTRAGE) who combines his fast and furious solo pyrotechnics along with his strong melodic phrasing giving to the album a unique flavour of his own shredcore fashion."

"Enter Annihilation" track listing:

01. Enter Annihilation
02. Horror Show
03. Part Of The Game
04. Killer Instinct
05. Raging Cold Blood
06. The Creation Remains
07. Your Valentine
08. Descending
09. Unblind
10. Day To Die = Die Today
11. Competition Suicidal Role
12. The Trust

The video for the song "The Trust" can be viewed below.

Florida-based metallers TRIVIUM have set a September 30 release date through Roadrunner Records for their new album. A 46-second teaser clip for the CD, which is rumored to be titled "Shogun", can be viewed below.

TRIVIUM flew to Nashville, Tennessee on March 31 to enter the studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz (RUSH, FOO FIGHTERS, SHADOWS FALL, DEATH ANGEL) to begin recording the follow-up to 2006's "The Crusade".

"For the first time, we can't look at our songs and say who the riffs sound like," guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy told Revolver magazine about the group's new material. "We're really making our own stuff and our own kind of music and art form, and that's exciting."

TRIVIUM reportedly wrote around 40 songs last year and demoed the best 15 or so before commencing the new LP recording sessions. "When we went in, we thought, 'Hey, these songs are good enogh for the album already,' but we've overhauled almost everything," Heafy told Revolver. "Nick has encouraged us to explore so many new ideas that we never would have thought of."

In a previous interview with Revolver, TRIVIUM guitarist Corey Beaulieu stated about the upcoming CD, "We want to capture the best ingredients of everything we've done. Each song has a little bit of everything, going between something heavy and then melodic, and then back to something heavy. So it has a really interesting balance. On 'The Crusade', Matt did almost all singing, so this time we're bringing back some of the screaming that's on [2005's] 'Ascendancy'."

Bulgarian brutal death metallers ENTHRALLMENT are preparing to enter Basement studio with producer Emil Marinov to begin recording new full-length album, "Immerse Into Bloody Bliss", for a late 2008 release via Slovakia's Metal Age Productions. The CD will be mastered by Peter Number at Mega Wimp Sound studio (LIVIDITY, SODOM, PRIMORDIAL, SEPTIC FLESH, etc.) in Berlin, Germany. The band will film a video for one of the album's tracks.

ENTHRALLMENT has uploaded two songs from its 2007 promo — "Cane the Messiah with the Crook" and "Distorted Brain Patterns" — to its MySpace page.

ENTHRALLMENT's video for the song "Total Zombie Domination" can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's latest CD, "Smashed Brain Collection", which was released in July 2006 via Grindethic Records (UK) and Grotesque Productions (Spain).

Swedish black metallers SHINING have changed the title of their upcoming sixth album to "VI / Klagopsalmer" from the previously announced "Tillbaka På Ruta Ett" (Back to Square One). The new CD was recorded at The Slaughterhouse studios with producer Rickard Bengtsson and is scheduled for release later in the year via Osmose Productions.

"VI / Klagopsalmer" track listing:

01. Vilseledda Barnasjälars Hemvist
02. Plågoande O'Helga Plågoande
03. Krossade Drömmar Och Brutna Löften
04. Fullständigt Jävla Död Inuti
05. Ohm - Skoj Att Leva
06. Total Utfrysning

Artwork

SHINING recently tapped GORGOROTH's King Ov Hell (real name: Tom Cato Visnes) to play bass on the new album.

The group's last CD, "V - Halmstad", was released in North America on June 26, 2007 via Osmose USA/The End Records.

SHINING filmed its controversial February 3, 2007 concert at Diezel in Halmstad, Sweden for an upcoming DVD, entitled "Fy Fan För Livet!" In addition to the live footage, the disc will consist of a two-hour "road movie" and the promotional video for the new song "Låt Oss Ta Allt Från Varandra". SHINING's setlist spanned the band's entire career and the show featured guest appearances by members of MAYHEM and CARPATHIAN FOREST.