"Lay Down Your Love", the new video from WHITESNAKE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the legendary hard rock band's new album, "Good To Be Bad", which has registered the following first-week chart positions so far:

Norway: #5
Finland: #5
Germany: #6
UK: #7
Sweden: #10
Austria: #11
Switzerland: #15
Denmark: #18
Canada: #23
Czech Republic: #27
Holland: #33
Italy: #57
USA: #62
France: #69

The album was released through SPV/Steamhammer in Germany on April 18, the rest of Europe on April 21 and it came out in North America on April 22. In addition to the regular jewel-case version, a limited-edition two-disc set contains an extra CD in a cardboard sleeve, as well as a poster, photocard and sticker.

Finnish "fantasy metal" band BATTLELORE recently entered Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland, with producer Janne Saksa to begin recording its fifth album, tentatively titled "The Last Alliance".

Regarding the group's new material, vocalist Tomi Mykkänen said, "I do believe that we have excellent songs and the execution is excellent. My vocals are more diverse than before, and, as promised, there are quite a few clean parts from me. I hope you'll like them when you hear the album. The grunting parts are also more diverse than before, I used quite a lot of my blacker vocal style but then again there are more 'death metal' grunting parts as well. I think that I managed to do a decent job with the vocals."

BATTLELORE is recording 9-10 songs for the forthcoming CD, which will be mixed and mastered by the Swedish multi-instrumentalist and producer Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, NIGHTINGALE, ex-BLOODBATH).

Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Last Alliance", "Exile The Daystar", "Daughter Of The Sun", "Third Immortal" and "Voice Of The Fallen".

This is it! A fantastic opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the hardest rocking awards show of the year!!
Spinefarm Records UK is offering 150 pairs of tickets to see Children Of Bodom perform in all their heavy metal glory at this year's Golden Gods Awards, to be held June 16th 2008 at London's O2.

What's more, some especially lucky folk will also be selected to receive Spinefarm goody bags including all sorts of special Spinefarm bits and pieces!

All you have to do to get your hands on these little beauties is fill in the form below, and hope that the reaper selects YOU when he dips his scythe in our electronic post bag! Winners will be notified by email around 2 weeks before the date of the event, so you'll have plenty of time to prep your neck muscles for what promises to be the most headbanging show of the year!

So what are you waiting for?! Click on the Banner

Finnish monster rock n' roll band LORDI has entered the studio to record the follow-up to "The Arockalypse".

Commented the group: "We don't wanna record 'The Arockalypse Part 2', but we won't forget our roots either."

The band chose from over 60 songs to record. "It's the same positive problem as always," laughs guitarist Amen. "Oh yeah, 60 demos is a lot to listen to, but at the same time it's a lot of fun. All the band members took part in the writing process and that was very positive too."

This is the first time bassist Ox and keyboardist Lady Awa will be in the studio at the start of a recording.

"I'm so excited! I just can't wait to hear the final results. The new songs kick ass so hard! I honestly think that this is gonna be the best LORDI album," says a thrilled Ox.

Lady Awa is enthusiastic about the new album too. "I joined the band at the time when LORDI was recording 'The Arockalypse' album, so I had to go straight to the studio and I didn't have much time to get to know the new songs," Awa says. "Now I've had a couple of years — such a joyride — and I have had time to 'get in' into the band. So now I'm even more excited about making the new album, choosing and practicing the songs. I have even tried to compose a little bit by myself."

The recordings should be finished by summer, with the new album due out later this year.

In other news, The End Records has set a May 13 release date for the reissue of LORDI's 2002 debut album "Get Heavy". The reissue comes with the exclusive bonus track "Don't Let My Mother Know".

Guitarist/founding member Lord Ahriman of the Swedish black metal outfit DARK FUNERAL has issued the following update:

"I guess it's about time to let you guys know what's going on here. Well, we are currently working on material for a new full-length album. We're in the very early stages of the writing process though. There's still a lot of work before we're ready to hit the studio, but we're on the right course at least! Plan is, however, to be ready to record a new album sometime during 2008, with a possible early 2009 release (but it all depends on when we're ready to record and so on, of course). We will keep you posted on the writing progress and what kind of time plan we'll put up for the new album. We have also renewed our contract with Regain Records. So we will be releasing the next album through them too. In the meantime, and during the wait for our new studio album, we would suggest that you check out two killer DVDs that we have released, 'Attera Orbis Terrarum' parts 1 and 2 (part two will be released on May 22). Also, keep your eyes open for the date when we'll launch our webstore 'Diaboliswear!''

DARK FUNERAL's second DVD recorded during the band's world tour in support of the "Attera Totus Sanctus" album, entitled "Attera Orbis Terrarum - Part 2", focuses on South American shows, where the band has a fanatical following. The first DVD, "Attera Orbis Terrarum - Part 1", which landed on the Swedish DVD chart at No. 5, contained 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.

French power metallers NIGHTMARE have issued the following update:

"The band are currently also shooting another new video clip for the song 'Queen Of Love And Pain' directed by French talented producer Stéphane Gilbart and filmed with the collaboration of Israeli model Jasmin Kedem. It will be available at the end of May.

"The band will introduce brand new lineup exclusively for three shows (Hellfest, Casa Gateways, Metalcamp). Jean Christophe Lefevre will replace exclusively for these shows Alex Hilbert on guitar who cannot perform there for reasons out of his control. The remaining dates will be performed with regular lineup."

"Final Procession", the new video from NIGHTMARE, can be viewed below. The song comes off the group's latest album, "Genetic Disorder", which was released in North America on February 5. The CD, which came out in Europe on October 31, 2007 via Regain Records, was recorded at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden with producers Fredrik Nordström and Henrik Udd (IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL, DIMMU BORGIR, ARCH ENEMY).

Former STRATOVARIUS mainman Timo Tolkki has announced that he has selected a keyboardist for his new project REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE. Although Timo has yet to reveal the musician's identity, Tolkki did offer that the band's newest addition "is not Jens [Johansson, ex-STRATOVARIUS keyboardist]."

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE will release its debut album, "New Era", on June 6 via Frontiers Records. According to a press release, the CD "is 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.

"Timo called a few friends for the recording sessions and the album features all the lead vocals from such legends as Michael Kiske [HELLOWEEN] and Tobias Sammet [EDGUY, AVANTASIA], along with Timo's blistering lead guitar lines and melodic power metal anthems that made him one of the pioneers of the style and trademark performers of the style. REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE witnesses a rebirth, a new era for Timo Tolkki and his music."

Other musicians that reportedly appear on "New Era" include Pasi Rantanen (vocals; THUNDERSTONE), Mirka Rantanen (drums; THUNDERSTONE) and Pasi Heikkilä (bass; 45 DEGREE WOMAN).

"Revolution Renaissance" track listing (singer of each song listed next to its title):

01. Heroes (Sammet)
02. I Did It My Way (Kiske)
03. We Are Magic (Rantanen)
04. Angel (Kiske)
05. Eden Is Burning (Rantanen)
06. Glorious And Divine (Sammet)
07. Born Upon The Cross (Rantanen)
08. Keep The Flame Alive (Kiske)
09. Last Night On Earth (Kiske)
10. Revolution Renaissance (Kiske)

Download an MP3 of the song "Last Night On Earth" at the REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE MySpace page.

Check out more audio samples at this location.

In a recent issue of Finland's Soundi magazine, Tolkki states about the CD, "The [REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE album] contains more or less 'Visions'-style [STRATOVARIUS' acclaimed 1997 release] power metal. Michael Kiske, Pasi Rantanen, Mirka Rantanen, Pasi Heikkilä and Tobias Sammet have recorded their parts. But if there are any live performances, the lineup won't be the same. I have been thinking of asking Jens [Johansson, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist] and Lauri [Porra, STRATOVARIUS bassist] to join me for this."

Regarding the band's name, Timo says, "On the album, there's one song with this title, and Frontiers suggested it to be the band's name too. I thought it was good idea."

When asked if he will perform any STRATOVARIUS songs with REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE, Tolkki replies, "Well, what do you think? Of course. I can play my songs with whomever I want."

Germany's SQUEALER (formerly SQUEALER A.D.) has completed recording its new album, entitled "The Circle Shuts". The CD is currently being mixed at the Gernhart Studios in Siegburg, Germany before Mika Jussila takes care of the mastering at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

SQUEALER last year recruited former MIND-ASHES frontman Norbert Vornam as the replacement for Gus Chambers (ex-GRIP INC.).

Locomotive issued SQUEALER A.D.'s last album, "Confrontation Street", in North America in May 2007.

Former SQUEALER singer Andy "Henner" Allendörfer died in a car accident in 2005.

Jason Macneil of TorontoSun.com recently conducted an interview with IN FLAMES vocalist Anders Fridén. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On the song "The Chosen Pessimist", a winding eight-minute tune different than anything IN FLAMES had done before:

"We had many ideas and just brought eight or nine different instrumental pieces (together). I told the guys to just give me an hour where I put them in order to get a nice flow. That song was just a constant process from the whole studio sessions.

"We had done slow songs, we had done ballad type of songs but we never done something like that. We usually have a formula that we write from, a kind of normal pop formula where it's verse-chorus-verse-solo. But this was something else."

On the recording process for the new IN FLAMES album, "A Sense Of Purpose":

"We recorded it altogether in a way, we have our own studio now and it was just a great creative process. The last three albums we've kind of divided into different studios and not all being there at the same time. This one was so much better. We would go through every song and try out sh-t with different microphones and amps to get a nice warm analog feeling to the whole thing.”

On the fact that the band doesn't play a lot of its early material live:

"When you play live, you really see the strength of a song. We don't play so much of the older material anymore because we were super naïve when we got into this with the recording process. We put layers and layers of guitar on the earlier albums and we were like, 'Oh sh-t, we have to produce this live. F—k we're only five people and we have two guitar players.'"

On people trying to pigeonhole the band's sound, occasionally dubbed "melodic death metal":

"People try to say that IN FLAMES is this or IN FLAMES is that but we never claimed to own any genre or anything. We just wanted to create a good heavy metal album and just go with it."

Roadrunner Records has reportedly set a November 3 European release date for the as-yet-untitled seventh album from the Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON.

A previously unreleased SATYRICON song, "My Skin Is Cold", is included on the band's new EP of the same name, which will be issued on June 2 in most of Europe. The track was omitted from the final running order of the group's 2002 album "Volcano" and has remained unreleased up until this point. Joining those two tracks will be live versions of "Repined Bastard Nation" and "Mother North" that were recorded in Gjallarhorn and include members of the Oslo Philarmonic Orchestra and the Norwegian Broadcast Orchestra as well as "Live Through Me" and "Existential Fear-Questions", two tracks that were only released as bonus songs on the LP edition of "Volcano".

"My Skin Is Cold" will be released on June 2 as a seven-inch gatefold vinyl single including a five-track CD. This will be the only physical version of the EP and the packaging is said to be "truly one of a kind!"

SATYRICON is currently streaming a sample of the title track of the "My Skin Is Cold" EP on the splash page of the band's official web site.

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

Two rare 1983 SCORPIONS rehearsal/demo recordings for the "Love at First Sting" album have surfaced and can be found on YouTube (see below).

* "Heartbreaker" was the original title of the song "Bad Boys Running Wild"
* The demo version of "Big City Nights" features a guitar solo by Matthias Jabs while the final album version contains a solo by Rudolf Schenker

The lineup for this recording was as follows:

Klaus Meine - Vocals
Rudolf Schenker - Rhythm Guitar
Matthias Jabs - Lead Guitar
Jimmy Bain - Bass
Bobby Rondinelli - Drums

MOONSPELL's video for the track "Scorpion Flower" will be premiered exclusively on the band's MySpace page on May 5. The clip 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".

In other news, MOONSPELL singer Fernando Ribiero has issued a new blog update on "Night Eternal" via the widget below.

The "Night Eternal" widget features the entire album stream, a "Making Of the Scorpion Flower" video (featuring former THE GATHERING singer Anneke van Giersbergen) and a blog from Fernando Ribiero.

The widget will be constantly updated directly via RSS feed, so embed it in your MySpace etc. pages, pass it on to friends, and definitely keep checking it!

"Night Eternal" is scheduled for release in Europe on May 19 and in the U.S. on June 10 via SPV/Steamhammer. The follow-up to 2006's "Memorial" was recorded at Antfarm studios in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD).

There will be, at first, two editions of the record: 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, to which the band hopes to add at least another bonus song.

"Night Eternal" track listing:

01. At Tragic Heights
02. Night Eternal
03. Shadow Sun
04. Scorpion Flower
05. Moon In Mercury
06. Hers Is The Twilight
07. Dreamless (Lucifer And Lilith)
08. Spring Of Rage
09. First Light

Former THE GATHERING and current AGUA DE ANNIQUE vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen makes a guest appearance in the song "Scorpion Flower", singing a duet with MOONSPELL frontman Fernando Ribeiro. 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.

BLABBERMOUTH.NET can exclusively unveil the first photo (see below) of INSIDIOUS (formerly INSIDIOUS DISEASE), the international metal project featuring members of DIMMU BORGIR, NAPALM DEATH, OLD MAN'S CHILD and MORGOTH. The currently unsigned band recently spent time at a studio in Norway recording 12 songs with Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus) of SUSPERIA in the producer's chair.

Speaking exclusively to BLABBERMOUTH.NET, the group's vocalist Marc Grewe (ex-MORGOTH) described INSIDIOUS' musical direction as "very, very old-school," adding that "it is the best stuff I have recorded since [MORGOTH's 1991 album] 'Cursed'."

INSIDIOUS is:

Marc "Groo" Grewe (ex-MORGOTH) - Vocals
Sven Atle Kopperud (a.k.a. Silenoz) (DIMMU BORGIR) - Guitar
Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) - Bass
Tony Laureano (DIMMU BORGIR, ex-NILE, ANGELCORPSE) - Drums
Jon Øyvind Andersen (a.k.a. Jardar) (OLD MAN'S CHILD) - Guitar

INSIDIOUS' debut album is tentatively due before the end of the year.

Louisiana-based experimental project PSYCHOMETRY has tapped SUFFOCATION drummer Mike Smith to perform and record on its upcoming album, entitled "The Four Points".

According to a press release, PSYCHOMETRY is an atmospheric, melodic metal band made up of professional musicians experienced in several different styles of music. The project's sound ranges from symphonic, classical and electronic to extreme underground metal.

PSYCHOMETRY blends a wide variety of the world's music and is formed as a collection of composers so as not to be placed into a specific genre of music.

Mike Smith states: "The change in musical direction form the norm of death metal is a welcome one. It gives me the opportunity to retrain myself to play with the goal of appealing to listeners of multiple genres."

TERROR SYNDROME, the Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based band featuring THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen, has posted two audio samples from its newly completed self-titled debut album on the group's MySpace page. The effort was mixed by Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and was mastered by Greg Reely (DEVILDRIVER, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, MISERY SIGNALS, FEAR FACTORY).

TERROR SYNDROME is:

Mike Young (THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND) - Bass
Dave Young (THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND) - Guitar
Denton Bramley (ex-GOD AWAKENS PETRIFIED, THE MISERABLES) - Vocals
Ryan Van Poederooyen (THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND) - Drums

Guest musicians on TERROR SYNDROME's upcoming debut CD include Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT), Trevor Dunn (MR. BUNGLE, FANTOMAS), Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND), Byron Stroud (FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Christofer Malmström (DARKANE).

TERROR SYNDROME debut CD final track listing:

01. Stupidity for All
02. Thrill Pill
03. When God Was Sober
04. For Your Amusement
05. Riot of Red (feat. Christofer Malmström)
06. Motionless
07. Revolving Horror
08. Rusty Trombone (feat. Alex Skolnick and Trevor Dunn)
09. My Next Victim
10. One Crime Closer to Hell
11. Disposable Empire (feat. Byron Stroud)
12. Spinning Backwards (feat. Devin Townsend and Michael Manring)

The Pulse of Radio reports that DISTURBED has set June 3 as the release date for its fourth studio album, "Indestructible", and has also revealed the dates and venues for a short U.S. tour that will offer fans a preview of the upcoming disc. The first single from the record, called "Inside The Fire", will be sent to radio stations across the country on March 24. The band has been hinting in interviews that this is its heaviest CD yet, and singer David Draiman told The Pulse of Radio that he hasn't changed his opinion. "This record is definitely a very ferocious record," he said. "It has a lot of textures to it. It is certainly the darkest one that we've seen in quite some time. It's the darkest and heaviest since (debut album) 'The Sickness', there's no question about it. And it takes it past 'The Sickness' on a number of different levels."

Another new song from the album, called "Perfect Insanity", is now available at the band's official web site, Disturbed1.com.

DISTURBED and FILTER will perform as part of Operation MySpace, a concert event for U.S. troops scheduled to take place on Monday (March 10) in Kuwait. The three-hour-plus show will begin at 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed in its entirety at the official Operation MySpace page. A condensed one-hour version will air on the FX cable network on April 12.

Following its spring solo run, DISTURBED will also co-headline the Rockstar Mayhem Energy Tour this summer with SLIPKNOT. The multi-act, multi-stage trek will kick off on July 9 in Seattle and hit 30 cities in North America.

Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED will release their ninth full-length album, "Hammer Battalion", via SPV Records on the following dates:

June 6: Germany
June 9: Rest of Europe
June 10: USA/Canada

According to the band, "The new UNLEASHED CD will continue in the same victorious spirit as our previous album 'Midvinterblot'."

Vocalist/bassist Johnny Hedlund and company have not only worn their Viking heritage on their sleeve for years, they've also proven to be one of history's most important flag-bearers for metalheads around the globe. At its heart, "Hammer Battalion" serves as a testament to these legions of proud fanatics, and delivers a commanding message loud and clear.

"Rebellion is rising," notes Hedlund when discussing the album's title track. "We will form a number of battalions all over the world with warriors who are not afraid to fight. We are tired of being sitting ducks for bullshit authorities who know nothing better than to oppress us for reasons they won't explain. We will take command of our own lives and get to work. Either like the chameleon — smoothly changing colors to benefit our survival, or by the furious rage of a Viking warrior — whichever suits us best. To the common man, his various pathetic and hollow forms of music is a hobby. Our music is a way of life. Join your local Hammer Battalion or start one yourself!"

Recorded in Sweden and produced by the band's guitarist Fredrik Folkare, "Hammer Battalion" takes a battle-hardened axe to the misguided concepts of self-subjugation, transparent corruption and unneeded suffering in the name of religious figureheads and provides a perfect link between the ancient struggles of their Nordic forefathers and the ills of our modern society. The blistering "The Greatest Of All Lies" and "Long Before Winter's Call" take on old religious myths re-cast as pure fact, while "Your Children Will Burn" serves as a warning of the consequences of blind faith. "Whatever is done in the name of different religions is often done against Mother Nature," notes Hedlund. "And she has the means of striking back."

Check out photos from the recording sessions at this location.

"Hammer Battalion" (cover artwork) track listing (not final order)

01. The Greatest Of All Lies
02. Long Before Winter's Call
03. Your Children Will Burn
04. Hammer Battalion
05. This Day Belongs To Me
06. Marching Off To War
07. Entering The Hall Of The Slain
08. Black Horizon
09. Carved In Stone
10. Warriors Of Midgard
11. Midsummer Solstice
12. Home Of The Brave
13. I Want You Dead

Check out audio samples at this location.

UNLEASHED's eighth full-length album, "Midvinterblot", was released in the U.S. on October 10, 2006 via SPV Records.

UNLEASHED's current lineup:

Johnny Hedlund: Bass, Vocals
Tomas Måsgard: Guitar
Fredrik Folkare: Guitar
Anders Schultz: Drums

WHITESNAKE mainman David Coverdale was recently interviewed on "Live at Five with Ken Dashow" on New York's Q104.3 FM. Coverdale spoke about a number of topics, including the band's new album, "Good To Be Bad", and the LED ZEPPELIN reunion.

Listen to the interview in streaming audio at this location.

WHITESNAKE's new album, "Good To Be Bad", entered the UK album chart at position No. 7. The CD was released through SPV/Steamhammer in Germany on April 18, the rest of Europe on April 21 and it came out in North America on April 22. In addition to the regular jewel-case version, a limited-edition two-disc set contains an extra CD in a cardboard sleeve, as well as a poster, photocard and sticker.

A commercial for "Good To Be Bad" can be viewed below.

WHITESNAKE's David Coverdale (vocals) and Doug Aldrich (guitar) performed a special acoustic set on April 10 in front of an invite-only crowd at The Cutting Room in New York City to celebrate the release of the band's new album, "Good To Be Bad". Photos and a review can be found at PiercingMetal.

Holland's FaceCulture recently conducted an interview with DOWN drummer Jimmy Bower and bassist Rex Brown.

Watch the first part of the interview below. The other seven parts can be found at this location.

DOWN will be IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's guests on Friday, May 9 during Bruce's weekly BBC 6 Music radio show, aptly named "The Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show". Listen to the program live via the Internet between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. U.K. time at BBC.co.uk.

DOWN will support METALLICA on the following dates:

Jul. 16 - Bergen, Norway - Koengen
Jul. 18 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK Hall
Jul. 20 - Riga, Latvia - Skonto Stadium
Jul. 22 - Bologna, Italy - Parco Nord
Jul. 25 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Vasil Levski Stadium

Justin of Boston.tv conducted an interview with DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Silenoz prior to the Norwegian black metal band's April 26, 2006 concert at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Watch the three-minute clip below.

DIMMU BORGIR's North American "The Invaluable Darkness Tour Part 2 – Legions Of The Chosen Few", officially kicked off in Toronto on April 2 and is scheduled to conclude on May 4 in Chicago.

DIMMU BORGIR's November 6, 2007 concert at Sentrum Scene in Oslo was filmed for an upcoming DVD release.

As previously reported, DIMMU BORGIR's latest album, "In Sorte Diaboli", has been certified gold in the band's home country of Norway for sales in excess of 15,000 copes. DIMMU BORGIR is said to be the first metal band in Norway to shift than 15,000 units of a single release.

A complete track from VENOM's new album, "Hell", has been made available for streaming on the pioneering British black metal 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.

The cover artwork for "Hell" can be found at this location. Due in Europe on May 26 via Sanctuary/Universal (May 27 in the U.S.), the CD is "packed with 13 brand new malevolent tracks from the masters of black metal," according to a posting on the band's web site.

"Hell" track listing:

01. Straight To Hell
02. The Power And The Glory
03. Hand Of God
04. Fall From Grace
05. Hell
06. Evil Perfection
07. Stab U In The Back
08. Armageddon
09. Kill The Music
10. Evilution Devilution
11. Blood Sky
12. USA For Satan
13. Dirge / The Awakening

In other news, Universal has announced their plans to release "Hell" on vinyl. The vinyl version of the LP will be released two weeks after the CD. The CD will be released with a 'limited-edition jewel case', and the vinyl will also be available as a "limited-edition picture disc."

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.

Amazon.com has revealed the tentative track listing of the new MÖTLEY CRÜE album, "Saints of Los Angeles", which is now apparently due in North America on June 24 through Mötley Records. It is as follows:

01. Mother Fucker Of the Year
02. Down At The Whiskey
03. Saints of Los Angeles
04. Face Down In The Dirt
05. What's It Gonna Take
06. Chicks = Trouble
07. White Trash Circus
08. The Animal In Me
09. Welcome To The Machine
10. This Ain't A Love Song
11. Just Another Psycho

"Saints of Los Angeles", the new single from MÖTLEY CRÜE, includes backing vocals by Josh Todd (BUCKCHERRY), Jacoby Shaddix (PAPA ROACH), James Michael (SIXX: A.M.) and Chris Brown (TRAPT).

In support of the album, MÖTLEY CRÜE will embark on a 40-plus-city North American amphitheater tour, beginning July 1 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Fla., and wrapping August 31 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh.

Produced by Los Angeles-based Live Nation, Crüe Fest '08 will also feature rock acts BUCKCHERRY, PAPA ROACH, TRAPT and CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx's side band SIXX: A.M.

To celebrate its 100th issue, Sweden's longest-running music magazine Close-Up has published a list of the top 100 albums in metal, hard rock, hardcore, punk and extreme rock released during the past 17 years (1991-2008). Compiled from 23 individual writers' selections, Close-Up's extensive list sees AT THE GATES classic cult album "Slaughter Of The Soul" claiming the top spot just ahead of METALLICA's self-titled album.

Close-Up's Top 20 albums 1991-2008:

01. AT THE GATES - "Slaughter Of The Soul"
02. METALLICA - "Metallica"
03. PANTERA - "Vulgar Display Of Power"
04. ENTOMBED - "Wolverine Blues"
05. ALICE IN CHAINS - "Dirt"
06. NINE INCH NAILS - "The Downward Spiral"
07. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - "Rage Against The Machine"
08. NEUROSIS - "Through Silver In Blood"
09. MINISTRY - "Psalm 69: The Way To Succeed And The Way To Suck Eggs"
10. MAYHEM - "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas"
11. MACHINE HEAD - "Burn My Eyes"
12. FAITH NO MORE - "Angeldust"
13. TOOL - "Ænima"
14. W.A.S.P. - "The Crimson Idol"
15. ENTOMBED - "Clandestine"
16. NIRVANA - "Nevermind"
17. OPETH - "Blackwater Park"
18. SEPULTURA - "Arise"
19. SOCIAL DISTORTION - "White Light, White Heat, White Trash"
20. MASTODON - "Leviathan"

Members of SOUNDGARDEN, ENTOMBED, PARADISE LOST, W.A.S.P., MORBID ANGEL, BAD RELIGION, MAYHEM, NEVERMORE, BRUTAL TRUTH, THE CROWN and CARCASS were interviewed about their respective albums for the issue, which is available at all newsstands in Sweden.

To view the writers' individual lists, click here.

David Priest of OnTrackMagazine.com recently conducted an interview with bassist Jarkko Aaltonen of the Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI. The discussion included the band's stance on the purist point of view, the appeal of traditional fans of booth folk and metal, the limitations involved with only singing in Finnish and when we might expect a U.S. tour.

Listen to the interview at this location.

"Keep On Galloping", the new video from KORPIKLAANI, can be viewed below. The track comes off the group's latest album, "Korven Kuningas", which entered the album chart in the band's home country at position No. 16.

"Korven Kuningas" was released as a limited first edition with bonus tracks and on white colored vinyl. There is also a strictly limited digipak version (limited and numbered to 500 copies) which includes a drinking horn on a wall holder.