British black metal pioneers VENOM have made their new album, "Hell", available in a digipack edition via Nuclear Blast's mailorder featuring two bonus tracks — "In League With Satan" and "Burn In Hell" — and an inverted cross. Limited to 333 copies, it can be ordered here.

A complete track from "Hell" has been made available for streaming on the band's official web site. Check out the song "Straight To Hell" at this location. Streaming audio samples of eight songs from "Hell" are available here.

VENOM will perform at the Hellfest (June 20-22) in Clisson, France. More shows will be announced soon.

A brand new VENOM band photo can be viewed at this location.

VENOM last year parted ways with guitarist Mykvs (a.k.a. Mike Hickey; ex-CARCASS, CATHEDRAL). "Personal unavoidable commitments in the U.S. have forced Mykvs to announce that he cannot commit 100% to VENOM's schedule," the band previously wrote in a statement. A new guitarist by the name of Rage has been drafted in to replace Mykvs.

Night Of The Vinyl Dead Records will reissue SODOM's 2003 live album "One Night In Bangkok" this month as a limited-edition (500 copies) gatefold vinyl featuring Thai/German flag colors. The LP is hand-numbered and comes with an eight-page, full-color booklet.

The track listing is as follows:

Side A:

01. Among The Weirdcong
02. The Vice Of Killing
03. Wachturm
04. The Saw Is The Law
05. Blasphemer
06. Sodomized
07. Remember The Fallen

Side B:

01. I Am The War
02. Eat Me!
03. Masquerade In Blood
04. M-16
05. Agent Orange
06. Outbreak Of Evil

Side C:

01. Sodomy & Lust
02. Napalm In The Morning
03. Fuck The Police
04. Tombstone
05. Witching Metal
06. The Enemy Inside

Side D:

01. Die Stumme Ursel
02. Ausgebombt
03. Code Red
04. Ace Of Spades
05. Stalinhagel

For more information, click here.

"Get Dead Or Die Trying", a new track from the UK's THE ROTTED (formerly GOREROTTED), is availabe for streaming at this location. The song is the title cut of the group's forthcoming album, "Get Dead Or Die Trying". A trailer for the CD can be viewed below.

"Get Dead Or Die Trying" was produced by Russ Russell (THE WILDHEARTS, DIMMU BORGIR, THE EXPLOITED, SPACE RITUAL, NAPALM DEATH), with assistance from James Dunkley (BLAZE BAILEY, CRASS, FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM). The CD will be released in Europe on June 30 (June 27 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy) via Metal Blade Records.

"Get Dead Or Die Trying" track listing:

01. Nothin' But A Nosebleed
02. The Howling
03. A Return To Insolence
04. Kissing You With My Fists
05. Angel Of Meth
06. A Brief Moment Of Regret
07. The Body Tree
08. Get Dead Or Die Trying
09. It's Like There's A Party In My Mouth (And Everyone's Being Sick)
10. Fear And Loathing In Old London Town
11. 28 Days Later

Finnish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH were honored with a platinum award in Germany for sales in excess of 50,000 copies of their "End of an Era" DVD. The disc, which was released in 2006, contains footage of the band's final performance with former singer Tarja Turunen, recorded in October 2005 in Helsinki, Finland.

The award was presented to the band (see photo below) at this year's Rock Am Ring festival, where the band played on the main stage in front of more than 80,000 people.

NIGHTWISH's latest album, "Dark Passion Play", was certified gold in Germany for sales in excess of 100,000 copies within a week of its release in September 2007.

NIGHTWISH recently topped the single chart in Finland with the band's latest release, "The Islander". The song's accompanying video was shot last autumn in Rovaniemi, Finland and was directed by Stobe Harju.

"Attera Orbis Terrarum - Part 2", the second DVD recorded during DARK FUNERAL's world tour in support of the "Attera Totus Sanctus" album, has had its release date pushed back once again — this time to September from the previously announced June 16.

Commented the group's guitarist Lord Ahriman: "Due to the fact that the company which was in charge of the production went bankrupt, we had no other choice than to wait and postpone. Sometimes shit happens! I know we have also promised to post a trailer for the DVD for quite some time. And I hate to say this, but it has also been delayed due above-mentioned reasons. I can, however, assure you that we will post a trailer as soon as we have one. Hopefully it'll be sooner than later."

"Attera Orbis Terrarum - Part 2" (cover artwork) focuses on DARK FUNERAL's South American shows, where the band has a fanatical following.

DARK FUNERAL's first DVD, "Attera Orbis Terrarum - Part 1", which landed on the Swedish DVD chart at No. 5, contains footage from the European leg of the band's world tour. The two-disc set includes three complete, professionally-filmed live shows and rare bonus footage. The first show was filmed with seven cameras on March 12, 2005 in Katowice, Poland. The second was filmed the following March in Tilburg, The Netherlands with four cameras. The second disc starts off with a camera-shot show from March 2006 in Paris, followed by the video clip for "Atrum Regina" and previously unreleased amateur footage that chronicles the Swedish black metal band's entire career, including the very first, and now legendary, show in Oslo, Norway on May 4, 1994. The total combined running time for the two discs is nearly four hours.

Polish death metal veterans VADER have issued the following update:

"After five years of working with VADER, our bassist Novy (true name Marcin Nowak) decided to part ways with the band! He made his decision right after recently finished European tour. We would like to thank him for all those years of successful cooperation and just a great work he did for the band within the time. The band's members wish him all the best for the future! Unfortunately, Marcin's decision of leaving the band was made not only after the finished tour in Europe, but also just before the upcoming (and very important) U.S. tour Summer Slaughter Tour 2008 (when we appear alongside THE BLACK DALHIA MURDER, KATAKLYSM, CRYPTOPSY and other bands). This is a very hard situation for the band but don't worry- we have already found a replacement — the session bassist for this tour will be Martin (ex-DECAPITATED). We are convinced that together with him VADER will be a killer! The session bass player for the shows planned for the rest of 2008 will be announced after the U.S. tour.

"On August 3, VADER will appear on Polish Woodstock Festival. On August 30 the band will play a special anniversary show in Warsaw. In October, panzerdivision under command of Peter will hit the road again, playing a tour through across Scandinavia and the Baltic States.

"The band needs a new bass player. If you are interested, contact us: info@vader.pl. We are looking only for a serious and experienced musician."

An audio sample of the new SOULFLY single "Unleash" (cover) is available at Amazon.com. The track, which will be released digitally on June 24, comes off the group's new album, "Conquer", which is due on July 29 via Roadrunner Records.

In addition to the standard edition of SOULFLY's forthcoming album "Conquer", a special edition of the LP will be released featuring three bonus tracks and a bonus DVD containing a full 65-minute live concert.

The track listing for the special edition of "Conquer" is as follows:

CD:

01. Blood Fire War Hate
02. Unleash
03. Paranoia
04. Warmageddon
05. War Ghost
06. Rough
07. Fall Of Sycophants
08. Doom
09. Rot
10. Touching The Void
11. Soulfly VI
12. Mypath
13. Sailing On
14. The Beautiful People

"Mypath" and SOULFLY's cover of BAD BRAINS' "Sailin' On" were both tracked at Porch Studio in Orlando during the "Conquer" recording sessions. The cover of MARILYN MANSON's "The Beautiful People" was originally released in June 2007 by Kerrang! magazine in issue 1164 as part of its "Higher Voltage" compilation, and it was recorded in the spring of 2007 at Undercity Studios in Hollywood with Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD, DIVINE HERESY).

Bonus DVD:

Live in Warsaw, Poland - July 13, 2005 (live sound was mixed by Jeff Rose and Martin "Ginge" Ford from the UK):

01. Prophecy
02. Downstroy
03. Seek 'N' Strike
04. No Hope = No Fear
05. Jumpadfuckup/Bring It
06. Living Sacrifice
07. Mars
08. Brasil
09. No
10. L.O.T.M.
11. Porrada
12. Drums
13. Moses
14. Frontlines
15. Back To The Primitive
16. Eye For An Eye

Music video:
01. Innerspirit

"Conquer" regular artwork, "Conquer" special-edition artwork.

An audio sample of the new SLIPKNOT single "All Hope Is Gone" (cover) is available at Amazon.com. The track, which will be released digitally on June 20, comes off the group's long-awaited new album, which is due on August 26 via Roadrunner Records. Other working songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Moth", "Chapter One", "The Eleventh March", "Dirge", "Dead Memories", "Vendetta" and "Psycho Social".

A heavier track from the new SLIPKNOT album will be sent to metal radio shows this week, with an official rock radio single coming on June 30.

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor told Billboard.com last month that the group's new album will "rip your face off," adding, "I don't think the world will be ready for this album." The group's yet-to-be-titled fourth effort will follow up 2004's "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)", with Taylor calling it a "very dark" cross between that and its 2001 sophomore CD, "Iowa". Taylor described the new record as having "so much power in it and yet there are so many great spots for melody...It's a controlled chaos that hits you right out of the gate."

Taylor, who also fronts the more melodic STONE SOUR, said that his vocals are in a similar vein on this SLIPKNOT outing. He explained, "I got to the point where I was tired of pretending that I couldn't sing every time I made a SLIPKNOT album, so this time I'm going all out."

As for the album's lyrical direction, Taylor revealed, "Instead of bitching about what went wrong in my life, I'm bitching about what's wrong in life, period."

New images on SLIPKNOT's official web site have hinted at a change in the masks and costumes that are a trademark of the Iowa-based nine-piece. Taylor described the new outfits as "evolved," adding that they are "very dark and will fit in everything image-wise that we're making with this album."

Swedish Viking metallers AMON AMARTH entered Fascination Street Studio in Örebro, Sweden on May 1 to begin recording their seventh full-length album for a late 2008 release via Metal Blade Records. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Guardians of Asgaard", "Live for the Kill" and "Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags".

Commented the band: "We are completely finished with the recording of the new album and Jens [Bogren; producer] has started the mixing process. If everything goes to plan, the mixing will be done by the end of next week and we are confident that this will be a killer album."

To make the wait a bit more entertaining, Metal Blade has launched an exclusive web site with lots of features. The site will be updated with more information about AMON AMARTH's forthcoming CD, starting off with an exclusive AMON AMARTH comic strip attack that is brought to you not only by this exclusive web site, but also by several print magazines all over Europe.

For more information, click here.

METALLICA has announced the title of its new album — "Death Magnetic" — by posting the finalized/complete version (see below) of the image that originally appeared on the band's official web site on Tuesday (June 10) under the headline "???." The CD is due out in September.

A short video clip revealing the new album title and featuring an audio sample of a brand new song can be viewed here.

Just one day after several UK web sites posted early reviews of six new METALLICA songs that were previewed for them in London in early June, the reports were all taken down, reportedly at the request of the band's management. METALLICA has since issued a statement blaming a management "error" for the move and has apparently asked for the reviews to be re-posted.

METALLICA performed a "secret" show Thursday night (June 12) at The Basement in Nashville, Tennessee in front of an estimated 175 people. The band played Tennessee's Bonnaroo festival Friday (June 13) and is scheduled to perform at the one-day Ozzfest in Dallas on August 9, with a full North American tour in the works for the fall.

Latest image displayed via Metallica.com:

ICED EARTH's official web site. IcedEarth.com, has posted the cover art (see below) for the band's forthcoming full-length studio album, "The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part II)", which continues where their 2007 release, "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part I)" left off. "The Crucible of Man" features the return of frontman Matt Barlow who was mainman/guitarist Jon Schaffer's original voice of choice to introduce the "Something Wicked" saga back in 1998 as a trio of songs which concluded their album, "Something Wicked This Way Comes".

While the 1998 album provided a general overview of the story Schaffer has been conceptualizing for well over a decade, the saga is being fully brought to life with the release of the back-to-back conceptual albums "Framing Armageddon" and "The Crucible of Man". While both albums provide answers to mysteries the previous releases would create, the timeliness of the story in today's world is guaranteed to keep people thinking and guessing. Schaffer's ability to convey the central themes and events of the story without always revealing exactly "why" characters' decisions are made and "how" events come to pass, will keep fans of the saga coming back as future mediums for the "Something Wicked" storyline are revealed.

A finalized tracklisting for "The Crucible of Man" and audio interview with Jon Schaffer covering the new material will be featured at IcedEarth.com later this month. The band will begin rehearsals next week for a run of dates in June as direct support for JUDAS PRIEST in Europe, as well as the Hellfest, Bang Your Head!!!, Graspop and Gods of Metal European festivals.

"The Crucible of Man" is due for a late August or early September release on Steamhammer/SPV. The release will then be followed by a North American tour that kicks off in September and features an appearance as headliner for the ProgPower USA IX festival in Atlanta, Georgia on September 27. The North American dates will be announced at IcedEarth.com when they are confirmed.

The single from the new album is titled "I Walk Among You" and is being released worldwide this week by Steamhammer/SPV and features the new track "I Walk Alone" as well as three additional songs from "Framing Armageddon" with new vocal performances by Matt Barlow. All tracks can be listened to in their entirety at both the band's official web site and MySpace pages with exception of the track "A Charge to Keep" which is an iTunes exclusive.

GUILLOTINE, the reunited Swedish thrash metal band featuring Nils Eriksson (bass) and Fredrik Mannberg (rhythm guitar) of NOCTURNAL RITES, has finished mixing its second album for a late 2008 release via Pulverised Records.

Commented Eriksson: "We've had a blast over the past few months, recording and mixing this album. It's probably been the most relaxed and fun recording we've ever done, and I'm quite sure I speak for everyone in the band! We can't wait to get it out as soon as possible. Any fan of thrash metal will find something in there, for sure. We'll start planning for some shows this fall and other promo activities."

GUILLOTINE recently posted two demo tracks from 2007 — "War" and "Blood Money" — on the band's MySpace page. Other songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Die/Live", "Darkest Day" and "Skeleton City".

The band's debut album, "Under the Guillotine", was released in 1997.

In a 1998 interview with Chronicles of Chaos, Eriksson stated about GUILLOTINE, "GUILLOTINE plays music that is much more back to basics and rawer than NOCTURNAL RITES. It is so different. I feel that both bands are so far apart from what style and sound they deliver. It really isn't a task to be a part of both outfits. Making music is what I do and being in both bands keeps me busy. And when I'm busy, I'm one happy musician."

VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash has told Spinner that he is keeping himself busy putting together a solo album. "I'm working on it pretty aggressively right now while I have the time 'cause as soon as VELVET finds its singer [to replace the recently departed Scott Weiland], then it's going to be off the races with that," he told Spinner. "I'm using this little period to be able to do as much on my solo record as possible. I'm not sure exactly when it will come out, but hopefully it will come out before the [next] VELVET record."

"It'll be my first solo record," he continued. All the other ones were just me putting other bands together and going out and just jamming. This will actually be a little bit more personal."

Read more from Spinner.

"Threnody", the new video from the Polish extreme metal band HATE, can be viewed at this location (Windows Media). The clip was shot in a coal mine in Silesia. According to the group, the clip was directed by Maciej Dabrowski, and the production part was realized in collaboration with Rochstar — one of the biggest independent production houses in commercial Polish TV. The video's storyline tells the tale of a person "living on the edge of two worlds, real and transcendental one. He is confronted with individuals from the other side and finds himself in a trap. The picture contains symbolical references linked to the themes from the recently released album 'Morphosis'."

The "Threnody" video will be added as a special bonus to American version of HATE's latest album, "Morphosis", which is going to be distributed in the U.S. by Koch.

HATE released "Morphosis" in Europe on February 4 via Listenable Records. The CD was mixed in July/August 2007 at Hertz Studio in Poland by Wieslawski Bros. (VADER, DECAPITATED).

According to a press release, "HATE's previous album, 'Anaclasis', showed an adventurous and experienced death metal band, unleashing innovative and memorable material without falling into being over experimental and hard to digest for the listener. 'Morphosis' sounds even more disturbing. They've twisted the nail further into that fresh direction and have never sounded as catchy and intense while staying fully connected to the death metal genre!"

JUDAS PRIEST's forthcoming double-disc concept album, "Nostradamus", is available for streaming in its entirety on VH1.com's The Leak.

"Nostradamus" is scheduled for release via Columbia Records on Monday, June 16 in Europe, and a day later in the U.S. on Epic Records.

Long in the works, "Nostradamus" takes epic storytelling to a whole new level, as it recounts the life of this mysterious, world-known 16th century French prophet.

Some of the events that Nostradamus experts have interpreted as his predictions include the great fire of London in 1666, the rise of Adolf Hitler, and most recently, 9-11, among countless other renowned events.

As with all new PRIEST releases, the group — singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis — will embark on a mammoth worldwide tour in support of "Nostradamus".

Dutch progressive rock band CIRRHA NIVA will enter Excess studio (AYREON, AFTER FOREVER) in Rotterdam, Holland next week to begin recording the drums and bass guitar for its as-yet-untitled new album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The CD will be recorded and produced under the guidance of Split Second Sound (TEXTURES, AUTUMN).

CIRRHA NIVA's forthcoming album will feature the following seven songs (in no particular order):

01. Framed
02. Self Chosen
03. Spring Before Winter
04. Running From The Source
05. Golan Heights
06. The Fooling
07. Dreamon

CIRRHA NIVA last year announced the addition of singer Legrand to the group's ranks. The band stated at the time, "[Legrand] learned the songs in only a few weeks and was very convincing while performing them for and with us. It felt good the minute we started playing the first song, it felt so good that we offered him the job right after the audition. Besides learning all the songs we already have written, he can prove himself also in the writing process."

CIRRHA NIVA's last CD, "Liaison de la Morte", was released in 2001.

Finnish metallers PAIN CONFESSOR have issued the following update:

"Yep, we are still here. Been a long time since we have had anything noteworthy going on to report here. So, what's up? What's happened during our silent existence?

"Let's see… Well, the Johanna Kustannus/Megamania deal was discontinued. Nothing really shocking there, that deal was coming to an end anyway so we embraced the departure as an opportunity to review our situation and rally our forces, forge new plans of attack and eventually strike with new found vigor when the time was right.

"We stole a good deal of personal time for ourselves and to do stuff with our families and friends, to rest and gather our thoughts until we felt the urge to get back in the saddle and grind out some tunes. That urge slowly took us by the balls and dragged us one by one back to our rehearsal space to get a feel for things. Suddenly we had a song recorded and damn it, that shit worked.

"So here we are, writing stuff, playing metal and planning our next attack. When, where, with whom and by what means? You will see. And hear."

PAIN CONFESSOR's third album, "Purgatory of the Second Sun", entered the Finnish chart at position No. 15 back in March 2007.

"Purgatory of the Second Sun" was recorded at Fantom studio and was previously described by the band as "raw and furious."

PAIN CONFESSOR's "Ne Plus Ultra" single entered the Finnish national chart at position No. 1. In addition to the title cut, the single included a cover of SURVIVOR's "Eye of the Tiger", which had "gone through a serious metal facelift," according to the group. A video for "Ne Plus Ultra" was shot by Vasara Films and can be viewed below.

Brazilian death metal veterans KRISIUN will release their new album, "Southern Storm", in Europe on July 21 via Century Media Records. The CD was once again recorded at Stage One Studios in Borgentreich, Germany with producer Andy Classen (TANKARD, ROTTING CHRIST, DEW-SCENTED), who previously worked with the group on 1999's "Conquerors Of Armageddon" and 2006's "AssassiNation". According to a press release, the CD "offers everything the band's rabid fan base loves since day one: ferocious high-speed blasting, infectious double bass-driven grooves, razor-sharp riffs, devastating leads and a unique feel for combining catchiness with technicality. Tracks like the massive opener 'Slaying Steel', 'Combustion Inferno' or the band's rendition of the SEPULTURA classic 'Refuse/Resist' are nothing but crushing death metal hits!"

"Southern Storm" track listing:

01. Slaying Steel (4:11)
02. Sentenced Morning (3:59)
03. Twisting Sights (4:05)
04. Minotaur (3:51)
05. Combustion Inferno (4:23)
06. Massacre Under The Sun (4:43)
07. Bleeding Offers (3:24)
08. Refuse / Resist (SEPULTURA cover) (3:00)
09. Origin Of Terror (4:05)
10. Contradictions Of Decay (4:08)
11. Sons Of Pest (4:47)
12. Black Wind (0:48)
13. Whore Of The Unlight (4:23)

Check out the song "Combustion Inferno" on the band's MySpace page.

Обложка

KRISIUN will embark on a short European tour with ROTTING CHRIST and RAVENCULT in June. A full-length trek with UNLEASHED and ONE MAN ARMY AND THE UNDEAD QUARTET will follow in November/December.

The band recently signed a personal management agreement with Strictly Heavy Management, owned and operated by veteran personal manager Theresa C. Mullins-Aldao.

Gino Alache of RockumRadio.com conducted an interview with KRISIUN drummer Max Kolesne on December 4, 2007. Download the chat as an MP3 audio file at this location.

KRISIUN last year completed the seventh leg of the band's AssassiNation world tour. In just under two years the group played over 250 shows in 25 countries in support its latest CD.

SILENT FORCE, the German/American band featuring former ROYAL HUNT singer D.C. Cooper, has issued the following update:

"[SILENT FORCE guitarist] Alex [Beyrodt] is having a very creative run and wrote 11 songs during the last two weeks for the next album. The material is very promising and will show once more how much potential SILENT FORCE has."

SILENT FORCE's fourth album, "Walk the Earth", was released in February 2007 via AFM Records. The German label has also reissued the band's first two albums — "The Empire of Future" (2000) and "Infatuator" (2001). "The Empire of Future" contains an acoustic version of the song "Saints and Sinners" as a bonus, while "Infatuator" includes a bonus live video of the title track.

Italian experimental jazz metallers EPHEL DUATH will enter Outer Sound Studios in Rome on July 14 with producer Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE, KLIMT 1918) to complete the recording sessions for their new album, "Through My Dog's Eyes". The drums for the CD have already been recorded by Marco Minnemann at Seacoast Studio in Imperial Beach, California. The mastering will take place at Finnvox studios (HIM, NIGHTWISH) in Helsinki, Finland. Seldon Hunt (NEUROSIS, ISIS, SUNNO)))) will take care of the album's artwork.

Due in the fall on 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

Swedish thrashers DARKANE have issued the following update on the mixing sessions for the group's new studio album, "Demonic Art", due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records:

"The mixing progress has been a little delayed due to circumstances beyond our control, but Peter [Wildoer, drums] has now set a very good, tight and aggressive sound to the album, and we are looking to finish the mixing any day now... or week.

"If you live in the south of Sweden you should make sure to see us in Helsingborg at the Helsingborg Festivalen July 25th together with other bands such as SOILWORK etc. There's no fee and DARKANE will play on Gröningen at 7 PM. Be there!"

DARKANE guitarist Christofer Malmström previously revealed that the lyrics to "Demonic Art" "are based on the same theme as on 'Organic Canvas' (from our previous album 'Layers of Lies'), about an individual planning his next exhibition of flesh."

"Demonic Art" tentative track listing:

* Variations of an Eye Crush (intro)
* Demonic Art
* Still in Progress
* Leaving Existence
* Exectution 44
* The Killing of I
* Sole Survivor
* Absolution
* Wrong Grave (instrumental)
* Wrath Connection
* Demigod

DARKANE played its first show with new singer Jens Broman (CONSTRUCDEAD, THE DEFACED) in November 2007 at the ProgPower Scandinavia festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. According to Christofer Malmström, "Jens enjoyed every second of the show, and so did the rest of us. Our former vocalist Andreas was in the audience to support us, and he was very postive afterwards... along with the rest of the crowd."

British extreme epic power metallers DRAGONFORCE will release their new album, "Ultra Beatdown", on August 25 via Roadrunner Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Heroes Of Our Time
02. The Fire Still Burns
03. Reasons To Live
04. Scars Of Yesterday
05. Heartbreak Armageddon
06. The Last Journey Home
07. Inside The Winter Storm
08. The Warrior Inside

In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, DRAGONFORCE guitarist Sam Totman stated about the group's new material, "It's not going to be majorly different. But hopefully the melodies will be nicer, the guitar solos will be better, the production will be better. You just try to improve in every area." Vocalist ZP Theart added, "There isn't much to change, but yet there is. The last three albums have been very much guitar-orientated, and this one probably will be as well, but I want to try to do some extra coloring in with the vocals."

Asked if the songs will be faster, guitarist Herman Li replied, "Bands always say, 'Our new album is faster and heavier,' and then it's never true, so we're not gonna say that. But playing fast just works for us. People who say we play too fast are probably right, but guess what? There's a million other bands that play slow. People listen to DRAGONFORCE and go to the show because they know that we're doing something other bands aren't doing."

DRAGONFORCE will head Stateside in late June for the start of the inaugural Rockstar Energy Mayhem touring festival. The package kicks off in early July and is headlined by Roadrunner labelmates SLIPKNOT.

DRAGONFORCE's last album, "Inhuman Rampage", is still romping out of stores on both sides of the pond, thanks in part to the inclusion of lead track "Through The Fire And Flames" as the "advanced" level on the top-selling Guitar Hero III computer game.

ONCE DEAD, the Christian metal band featuring former members of VENGEANCE RISING, has issued the following update:

"The final mix of ONCE DEAD's [debut album] 'Visions of Hell' was mailed off to Open Grave [Records] this week! I can't tell you how stoked we are as a band to ultimately have the album out of our hands. We would like to say a HUGE thank you to all of the fans who have stuck with us through the thick and thin. When we embarked on this journey, none of us envisioned all of the complications that happened. Who could have foreseen all the births, deaths, lineup changes, writing, re-writing, engineer and studio changes, time and money which are really just the tip of the iceberg. But perseverance and God's hand saw us through at the end of the day. Thank you all! We are now entering the album pressing, graphics, etc. stage and the CD will be in your hands soon."

According to the band's official bio, ONCE DEAD "boasts a refreshing dose of old-school thrash metal combined with a triple guitar assault and a lineup of seasoned musical veterans. All of the members have impressive musical resumes, with high-profile acts under their belts such as DELIVERANCE, FASEDOWN, HIRAX, SIRCLE OF SILENCE, THE BLAMED and THE CRUCIFIED."

ONCE DEAD was formed when VENGEANCE RISING members Larry Farkas and Doug Thieme, along with bass player Roger Dale and drummer Glen Mancaruso, did a gig at the "Summer Madness" event in August of 2004 at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California.

ONCE DEAD is:

Larry Farkas - Guitar
Doug Thieme - Guitar
Angelo Espino - Bass
Devin Shaeffer - Vocals
Jim Chaffin - Drums

According to founding guitarist/principal songwriter Tim Roth of Canadian extreme progressive metallers INTO ETERNITY, the band should be done mixing its new CD, "The Incurable Tragedy", "by the end of the week." Roth added, "The album is sounding really cool and we can't wait to release the record to everybody soon."

The band's first concept album, "The Incurable Tragedy" was inspired by the deaths of Roth's two best friends, brothers who succumbed to cancer within two months of one another. To make matters worse, when the band began demoing new material shortly after the completion of the "Scattering" tour — a star-making year of shows that saw the band perform alongside such internationally renowned acts as DREAM THEATER, LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH, OPETH, ARCH ENEMY, THE HAUNTED and DARK TRANQUILLITY — Roth's father was diagnosed with cancer as well. Showing no mercy, the disease claimed his life last year, just 10 days before Christmas.

To tide fans over until the release of "The Incurable Tragedy", the band has posted on its MySpace an unmastered rough mix of a brand new song, "Diagnosis Terminal", which it performed live at each of its recent concerts. The track is classic INTO ETERNITY, featuring a heavy groove, stop-on-a-dime time changes, reflective lyrics, a memorable chorus, a string-shredding solo, and vocals that range from guttural growls to soaring harmonies.

SANCTIFICATION, the Swedish death metal band featuring current/former members of GOD AMONG INSECTS, IN BATTLE and SOULDRAINER, has issued the following update on its upcoming CD:

"We are at the moment making the last preparations for the studio. Last touches on the songs are being added and rehearsals are moving along just fine. We will start the recording on July 7th in Abyss studio with Tommy and Peter Tägtgren and when we are done with that Peter will mix it, and for the mastering we are going with Dan Swanö. This album is going to be fucking glorious for sure and it's going to be a blast to record it.

"There will be some cool guests on the album as well: Secthdeamon (ZYKLON, MYRKSKOG) will join us to lay down some cool vocals, and the other one is Masse (Emperor Magus Caligula) [of DARK FUNERAL] who will be with us for the whole recording. I will also try to make Peter T to lay down a few screams as well."

The new SANCTIFICATION CD is tentatively due before the end of the year via Pulverised Records.

SANCTIFICATION's debut album, "Misanthropic Salvation", was released in 2003 through Remission Records.

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

Swedish "death-rockers" HELLTRAIN — whose members have spent time playing with such acclaimed outfits as SCHEITAN, THE EVERDAWN, GATES OF ISHTAR, DEFLESHED, BATTLELUST, THE MOANING, and RAISED FIST — have pushed back the projected release date of their second album, "Rock 'n' Roll Devil", to September from the previously announced May (via Jimmy Franks Recording Company). A video for the title track was recently shot and is expected to receive its online premiere this weekend.

HELLTRAIN's debut album, "Route 666", was released in 2004 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The band's lineup includes Pierre Törnkvist (vocals, guitar), Oskar Karlsson (drums, guitars), and Patrik Törnkvist (guitars, organ, piano, bass)

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

Commented the band: "It has taken some time and effort to find a suitable replacement, a person that possesses all the qualities needed to fill the position at stage right in this great band. Many talented guitar players have applied and impressed. But in the end we found the linguist and guitar phenomenon Henrik among Mayan Indians in the rainforests of southern Mexico and the deal was sealed!"

Photo of the new THE POODLES lineup (Henrik Bergqvist is all the way on the right) here.

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.

THE POODLES's "Seven Seas" video (featuring a guest appearance by Swedish actor Peter Stormare) can be viewed here.

A new MÖTLEY CRÜE track, "Mutherfucker Of The Year", is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. The track comes off the group's new labum, "Saints of Los Angeles", which will be released in Japan on June 18 with the bonus tracks "Kickstart My Heart" (Live & Rare) and "Saints Of Los Angeles" (Live & Rare).

Short audio samples of all 13 tracks that are set to appear on the U.S. version of "Saints of Los Angeles" are available on Amazon.com.