Nocturno Culto of the long-running Norwegian black metallers DARKTHRONE has issued the following update:

"OK, here we go again. DARKTHRONE's album 'F.O.A.D.' is now released (what a fucking masterpiece (?)) But do we rest now? Of course not. Last weekend we recorded two new songs for next album...that has a name, but I can't reveal just yet, sorry. I'm all exited AGAIN. As usual DARKTHRONE is going their own way, usually AGAINST the stream, we're getting praise/slaughtered for doing so, but in the end we are sure our albums will last longer than a decade....HAH. Right, and Dani Pedrosa did win in front of his home-crowd at Catalunya today, good for him, but where were Mr. Capirossi???"

DARKTHRONE's latest album, "F.O.A.D.", was released in September via Peaceville. An EP, "NWOBHM" (New Wave Of Black Heavy Metal), preceded the full-length CD on July 23.

The following message was posted on the official DECAPITATED MySpace page:

"As we mourn the passing of our dear friend Vitek, we are working together to create something special in his memory. More pictures and videos from our personal collections will be added, and a fully functional profile with updates all about DECAPITATED and Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka are under way, so please check back often. To all the people and bands out there that have shown their support through these difficult times, thank you so much. It really means a lot to us."

Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka died in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old.

Vitek and DECAPITATED singer Covan (real name: Adrian Kowanek) were hurt in an accident earlier in the week involving DECAPITATED's tour bus and a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border. Both musicians reportedly sustained serious head injuries in the collision, which is believed to have been the fault of the band's driver (although this has not yet been officially confirmed).

The following message was posted on DECAPITATED's official web site:

"Witold 'Vitek' Kieltyka — our brother and dearest friend — succumbed to head injuries sustained after a bad van accident while on tour in Russia. He was 23.

"One of the youngest and most promising drummers in the genre, together with DECAPITATED he has consistently released albums both crushing and invigorating in their musicianship. Extremely talented — he has been involved in other side projects: DIES IRAE, PANZER X. He will be missed and cannot be replaced.

"The metal scene will be much sorrier with his passing…"

England's FOREFATHER has issued the following update:

"Over the last week we have been re-recording a few parts on the [forthcoming FOREFATHER] album that we felt could be improved, and also adding some things. Over the next week we hope to have a mixdown to approve. We will keep the album and track names secret for the moment but we can say there will be 11 tracks at a running time of approx 58 minutes."

A preview of the new CD artwork, which was created by Martin Hanford (BAL-SAGOTH) is available at this location.

FOREFATHER's fourth album, "Ours is the Kingdom", was released in May 2004 through Holland's Karmageddon Media. The CD was recorded at The Croft Recording Studio in England and features artwork by C.A. Interactive (MORIFADE, SKYFIRE).

EMI is set to reissue UFO's first three Chrysalis albums, with a provisional release date of January 28, 2008. The LPs will contain the following bonus tracks:

"Phenomenon":

* "Sixteen" (Demo produced by Dave Edmunds}
* "Oh My" (Demo produced by Dave Edmunds)
* "Give Her The Gun" (German non LP Chrysalis single A-side)
* "Sweet Little Thing" (German non LP Chrysalis single B-side)
* "Sixteen" (Previously unreleased studio track)
* "Doctor Doctor" (Recorded live 06/06/74)

"No Heavy Petting":

* "All Or Nothing" (Previously unreleased studio track)
* "French Kisses" (Previously unreleased studio track)
* "Have You Seen Me Lately Joan" (Previously unreleased studio track)
* "Property" (Previously unreleased studio track)
* "Sunset Lights" (Previously unreleased studio track)

"Force It":

* "A Million Miles" (Previously unreleased studio track produced by Leo Lyons at Morgan Studios, December 17, 1973)
* "Mother Mary" (Recorded live at the Paris Theater, London, 11/12/75)
* "Out In The Streets" (Recorded live at the Paris Theater, London, 11/12/75)
* "Shoot Shoot" (Recorded live at the Paris Theater, London, 11/12/75)
* "Let It Roll" (Recorded live at the Roundhouse, London 25/4/76)
* "This Kid's" (Recorded live at the Roundhouse, London 25/4/76)

New York hardcore legends AGNOSTIC FRONT have released their video for the song "Addiction". The clip was shot earlier this month in Boston, Massachusetts and was directed by Ian McFarland and Mike Pecci for Killswitch Productions (SICK OF IT ALL, DIECAST, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE UNSEEN). The song comes off the band's upcoming album, "Warriors", which is slated for release in North America on November 6 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Warriors" was produced by MADBALL/HAZEN STREET frontman Freddy Cricien, who also happens to be AGNOSTIC FRONT vocalist Roger Miret's younger brother. The engineering duties were handled by Zeuss at Planet Z in Hadley, Massachusetts. Roger Miret commented: "As most of you already know, Freddy is my little brother and the frontman for the NYHC fury MADBALL! The collaboration between us is sure to make an impact worldwide!"

LINKIN PARK was honored in the "Best Band" category at MTV's European Music Awards Thursday night (November 1) in Munich, Germany. Other nominees in the category were MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, FALL OUT BOY, TOKIO HOTEL and GOOD CHARLOTTE.

AS previously reported, LINKIN PARK is working to help Southern California recover from the recent wildfires that devastated the region through its charitable organization, Music For Relief. According to MTV.com, the band has contributed $50,000 to Direct Relief International, a non-profit organization based in Santa Barbara that has been providing medical supplies to victims of the blazes. LINKIN PARK bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell said in a statement, "The wildfires are an unfathomable tragedy. Being able to help victims of a natural disaster like the wildfires is exactly why Music for Relief was founded."

LINKIN PARK guitarist Brad Delson told The Pulse of Radio that fans can also help by making their own contributions through Music For Relief online: "It's MusicForRelief.org, and you can get all the information you need to help make a contribution that will go to help relieve suffering among victims of natural disasters."

Music For Relief was started by LINKIN PARK to help victims of the 2005 Asian tsunami. The organization has also contributed to relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina and other emergencies, and has also launched awareness campaigns about climate change.

LINKIN PARK is currently on tour throughout Asia and is expected to return for another U.S. tour in February of 2008.

The California-based group is supporting its third full-length album, "Minutes to Midnight", which was released last May.

OZZY OSBOURNE will have his new album, "Black Rain", reissued on November 20 as a "Special Limited-Edition Tour Package" featuring a bonus CD of live tracks and B-sides. The bonus CD includes the following cuts:

01. I Don't Wanna Stop (live)
02. Not Going Away (live)
03. Here For You (live)
04. Nightmare
05. Can't Save You
06. Love To Hate

According to Earache Records, veteran guitarist Ralph Santolla has rejoined DEICIDE and is currently hard at work recording his guitar parts for DEICIDE's 2008 release, "Till Death Do Us Part", at Morrisound Studios in Florida.

DEICIDE had previously parted ways with Ralph Santolla back in May of this year. Over the course of the following months, he would spend the summer touring with OBITUARY and pushing his talent as far as it could go. When he was asked to rejoin DEICIDE in time for the recording of "Till Death Do Us Part", Santolla came back to the fold as a man possessed and he had come back, literally better than ever before.

While there will inevitably be naysayers who doubt the decision, DEICIDE drummer Steve Asheim insists that Ralph Santolla's return will only strengthen the maniacal musical landscape that DEICIDE is known for. "Ralph is really reaching towards the very depths of his abilities to come up with something completely fresh and challenging," he said.

Even those outside of the band have given nothing but positive feedback on Ralph Santolla's progress during the recording sessions. "Jim Morris came and told me that Ralph has been coming up with some of the greatest metal riffs and licks that he's ever heard;" said Asheim. "Ralph's really pushing his abilities to the limit, coming up with things that he's never been able to do before."

Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani has entered the studio to begin recording his new album for a tentative April 2008 release. "Joining me this time are engineer/co-producer John Cuniberti, drummer Jeff Campitelli, bassist Matt Bissonette, multi-instra-mentalist Eric Caudieux, Zen Master Mike Manning and Mysterious Mike Boden, who shaved his head for the project!" Satriani writes on his web site. "There is no working title for the project as of yet... suggestions are always welcome."

Joe Satriani 20th anniversary reissue of the "Surfing with the Alien" LP came out in August 7.

"Surfing with the Alien" was the album that ignited Joe Satriani's career as a solo performer. The acclaimed guitarist's second full-length release, "Surfing with the Alien" was originally issued in October 1987 on Relativity Records. It became a left-field bestseller that reached No. 29 on the Billboard Top 200 and was certified platinum for U.S. sales of over one million copies. It was the first rock guitar instrumental album to reach Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart. It includes the charting hits "Satch Boogie" and "Surfing with the Alien", plus the Grammy-nominated "Always With Me, Always With You".

Swedish metallers SATARIEL have announced the addition of guitarist Simon Johansson to the group's ranks. "Simon is no stranger [to SATARIEL], as he did some fabulous guest guitar solos on SATARIEL's previous full-length album 'Hydra', released in 2005," the band writes in a press release. "He has since then remained a friend, and when Mikael Granqvist decided to leave, Simon was the first pick to fill his spot.

"Simon Johansson is best known to most of you from his other bands MEMORY GARDEN and STEEL ATTACK in which he still also plays.

"SATARIEL are very happy to add Simon to a already strong band. On the next album it is very likely that we will hear a few songs written by Simon, along those of Magnus and Pär, who thus far have composed the main part of SATARIEL's songs."

SATARIEL recently released its long-awaited new mini-CD, "Chifra", via Pulverised Records. The CD was mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, MESSHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Magnus Alakangas at Dug-Out Studios in Uppsala, Sweden and features artwork and layout by Pär Johansson. Lyrically, the CD is said to be "a sort of ending of the concept which was the basis" for SATARIEL's third album, "Hydra", according to a statement from the band.

"Chifra" track listing:

01. Hogtied Angel
02. Slithering
03. Chifra
04. Flies Halo
05. Hogtied Angel (video)

Drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka of the Polish extreme metal band DECAPITATED passed away in a Russian hospital from injuries sustained in a recent road collision. He was 23 years old.

Vitek and DECAPITATED singer Covan (real name: Adrian Kowanek) were seriously injured in an accident earlier in the week involving DECAPITATED's tour bus and a truck carrying wood in Gomel, on the Russia/Belarus border. Both musicians reportedly sustained serious head injuries in the collision, which is believed to have been the fault of the band's driver (although this has not yet been officially confirmed).

According to the Polish Internet portal Onet.pl, Vitek underwent trepanation, a form of surgery in which a hole is drilled or scraped into the skull, and was due to be transported to a hospital in Krakow, Poland for further treatment.

Covan's family released a statement yesterday (Thursday, November 1) that the vocalist's condition had improved. At the time, the vocalist was still said to be at a hospital in Novozybkov, Russia, where he and Vitek were taken following the accident.

According to Bild.de, Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR are threatening to sue German rapper Bushido for allegedly using the melodies from DIMMU BORGIR's songs on his albums without permission.

DIMMU BORGIR manager Yvette Uhlmann stated: "The band was contacted via the Internet and was told that Bushido had stolen the melody of their song 'Mourning Palace' and that he used it in his song 'Mittelfingah'. Since we were not contacted by Bushido through proper channels and told about his desire to do this, it is clear that Bushido has seriously infringed our intellectual property rights."

DIMMU BORGIR is now seeking compensation from Bushido and will file a lawsuit against the 29-year-old rapper if the two parties fail to come to an agreement.

DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Silenoz is quoted as saying: "If the German rapper in question does not agree to compensate us adequately, we will sue him! Whoever crosses us will face serious consequences."

Lawyers for DIMMU BORGIR and Bushido are currently negotiating a possible settlement.

Bushido has declined to comment on the case.

Although only one track from DIMMU BORGIR is mentioned in the Bild.de article, there are in fact two songs from each artist that are at the center of this dispute. Listen to the tracks below and form your own opinion as to whether DIMMU BORGIR has a valid case.

• DIMMU BORGIR "Mourning Palace"
  
• BUSHIDO "Mittelfingah"
  
• DIMMU BORGIR "Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen"
  
• BUSHIDO "Engel"
  

German gothic metallers CREMATORY have been confirmed for next year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 31 - August 2, 2008 in Wacken, Germany. The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

IRON MAIDEN (headliners)
CARCASS
HATEBREED
CHILDREN OF BODOM
AVANTASIA
KREATOR
AT THE GATES
CREMATORY
SONATA ARCTICA
SALTATIO MORTIS
THE BONES
EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS
KRYPTERIA

CREMATORY will release its new album, "Pray", on February 1 via Massacre Records. The CD was produced by the band itself at the Kohlekeller Studios with additional assistance from longtime collaborator Christian "Kohle" Kohlmannslehner. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. When Darkness Falls
02. Left the Ground
03. Alone
04. Pray
05. Sleeping Solution
06. Just Words
07. Burning Bridges
08. Have you Ever
09. Remember
10. Say Goddbye

Check out the cover artwork at this location.

A German tour under the banner "Pray Over Germany" will kick off in May 2008 and will be followed by festival appearance all across Europe.

Brazilian death metallers KRISIUN have issued the following update:

"KRISIUN just finished the seventh leg of the AssassiNation world tour in one year and ten months the band did over 250 shows in 25 countries around the world spreading the most vicious and brutal death metal.

"KRISIUN would like to thank all the crazy motherfuckers which showed up at the shows and also all the promoters which made it possible. Also thank all the bands which toured together on these tours.

"The band still will do a few shows in South America. After this the band will start working on the new record schedule for release in the summer 2008."

AYREON: New Album Track Listing Revealed - Nov. 1, 2007

AYREON, the brainchild of Dutch guitarist/composer Arjen Lucassen, has announced the track listing for its new album, "01011001", due in Europe on January 28, 2008 (one day later in the U.S.). It is as follows:

CD1 - Y:

01. Age Of Shadows (incl. "We Are Forever')
02. Comatose
03. Liquid Eternity
04. Connect The Dots
05. Beneath The Waves
(a) Beneath The Waves
(b) Face The Facts
(c) But A Memory...
(d) World Without Walls
(e) Reality Bleeds
06. Newborn Race
(a) The Incentive
(b) The Vision
(c) The Procedure
(d) Another Life
(e) Newborn Race
(f) The Conclusion
07. Ride The Comet
08. Web Of Lies

Disc 2 - Earth:

01. The Fifth Extinction
(a) Glimmer of Hope
(b) World of Tomorrow Dreams
(c) Collision Course
(d) From the Ashes
(e) Glimmer of Hope (reprise)
02. Waking Dreams
03. The Truth Is In Here
04. Unnatural Selection
05. River of Time
06. E=MC2
07. The Sixth Extinction
(a) Echoes On The Wind
(b) Radioactive Grave
(c) 2085
(d) To The Planet Of Red
(e) Spirit On The Wind
(f) Complete The Circle

The complete list of musicians who appear on the album is as follows:

Vocalists:

Daniel Gildenlöw (PAIN OF SALVATION)
Tom Englund (EVERGREY)
Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN)
Anneke van Giersbergen (AGUA DE ANNIQUE, THE GATHERING)
Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA)
Bob Catley (MAGNUM)
Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN)
Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER)
Steve Lee (GOTTHARD)
Magali Luyten (VIRUS IV)
Ty Tabor (KING'S X)
Simone Simons (EPICA)
Liselotte Hegt (DIAL)
Phideaux
Marjan Welman
Wudstik
Arjen Lucassen

Instrumentalists:

Arjen Lucassen: Guitar, Keyboards, Synths, Bass Guitar, Programming
Tomas Bodin (THE FLOWER KINGS): Keyboards
Derek Sherinian (PLANET X): Keyboards
Joost van den Broek (AFTER FOREVER, STAR ONE): Keyboards
Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X): Guitar
Lori Linstruth (ex-STREAM OF PASSION): Guitar
Ed Warby (GOREFEST): Drums
Jeroen Goossens (FLAIRCK): Flute
Ben Mathot (DIS): Violin
David Faber: Cello

More information, including soundclips, is available at this location.

AYREON's last CD, "Ayreon: The Human Equation", was released in 2004. It contained guest appearances by a number of acclaimed vocalists, including James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Mike Baker (SHADOW GALLERY), Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH), Eric Clayton (SAVIOUR MACHINE), Devon Graves (DEADSOUL TRIBE, ex-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) and Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD).

The following is a statement from a member of Covan's family, via Martin, former bass player of Decapitated, with regards to the band members situation following the bus crash in Russia earlier this week:

"Covan and Vitek are still at the hospital in Novozybkov, Russia, where they were taken to following the accident. Despite the rumors, they are not in Moscow.

Their families are currently trying to decide the best possible city and hospital to take them to next for additional medical attention.

Covan is showing some progress, but unfortunately, there has been no signs of improvement in Vitek's condition. The families of Covan and Vitek appreciate everyone's concern on the matter, but please do not spread any more uncomfirmed rumors or information on the internet. More details will soon be released."

OPETH mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following update:

"On October 28 at 9:20 AM my wife gave birth to our second daughter, Mirjam Ebba Maria Åkerfeldt. She is so beautiful, just looking at her brings me to tears!
Who'd known that I, a bum from the Stockholm suburbs would be the father of two beautiful daughters? Yes, guys! I am happy!

"On top of that, the album is now written and the demos sound fantastic! We will start recording it tomorrow, actually! I don't wanna say too much but....gee, it is so fucking good!! If I may say so myself....Expected 'delivery date' on this one is sometime in April/May 2008.

"On top of that (2)...my friends at PRS guitars and Laney decided to give me some early Christmas gifts. I had a stunning PRS Hollowbody II delivered and it's just awesome! Real ear and eye candy! And from Laney I got the new Lionheart mini stack which sounds beyond fantastic! That rig will be used quite a lot in the studio I'm sure!

"Yes, you can probably say the last few days have been pretty fucking decent!"

OPETH's "The Roundhouse Tapes" double CD is available for streaming in its entirety at MP3.com.

Due in the U.S. on November 20 via Peaceville Records (released in Europe on October 22), "The Roundhouse Tapes" contains "a captivating OPETH performance from the Camden Roundhouse, London, UK, on November 9, 2006, and sees the band in scintillating form churning out a selection of classics from their illustrious career," according to a press release. "You know what to expect from OPETH: unrivalled composition; seamless progressive dynamics and boundless atmosphere from the mellow to the incredibly heavy, all sealed with the unmistakable vocal presence of mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt."

Commented Åkerfeldt: "The Roundhouse concert will always be a very memorable gig for us for many reasons, but most importantly it caught the band at the peak of the 'Ghost Reveries' tour. I must say we're quite tight after 18 odd months on the road supporting the record. I'm extremely pleased we got it documented and I hope it will please our beloved fans as well. As an extra bonus we've decided to collaborate with one of our past labels for this release, the legendary Peaceville Records. Here's a toast to Hammy and Lisa for helping us back in the day as well as to the new team for preserving this pleasurable memory for today's music lovers as well as for generations to come."

OPETH's "The Roundhouse Tapes" will be released as a high-definition-filmed DVD in early 2008. This will also feature lots of fan interviews, band interviews, soundcheck footage and live photos, along with exclusive menu music written by mainman Mikael Åkerfeldt and keyboardist Per Wiberg.

Locomotive Records will release German metal goddess Doro Pesch's "All We Are: The Fight" on November 20. The specially-priced CD/DVD contains a remixed and remastered version of the song "All We Are", which Doro wrote and recorded with her first band, WARLOCK, and performed live March 30, 2006, on Pro 7 TV, as the entrance song for her best friend, boxer Regina Halmich (watch footage of the performance here). With 19,000 rabid boxing fans in attendance at Germany's famed Kolnarena, Doro, as part of "Mc Fit Fight Night", obviously inspired her friend who went on to win a six-round decision against top German comedian Stefan Raab in a friendly exhibition bout. Doro performed the song live right in the center of the ring that night with Schmier of thrash band DESTRUCTION on bass, AFTER FOREVER guitarist Bas Maas and well-known studio drummer Tim Husung. The quartet then went into the studio to record the song as a tribute to Halmich, who has held the belt for 12 years. It is only one of 10 tracks on this "rarities" album, which includes five video clips and five aural studio tracks.

"I wanted to do this album for true fans," says Pesch. "This is a very special release for U.S. fans." Indeed, some of this material has not seen the light of day for almost 20 years! Filled with such hard-to-find recordings like Doro's very personalized version of LED ZEPPELIN's "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You", as well as the video for "All We Are" and four more favorites, "All We Are: The Fight" is the artist's way of saying thanks.

"All We Are: The Fight" track listing:

01. All We Are
02. Thunderspell
03. Everything's Lost
04. On My Own
05. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
06. All We Are (video)
07. Above The Ashes (video)
08. Warrior Soul (video)
09. You're My Family (Video)
10. On My Own (video)

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS' Minnesota-based vocalist Melissa Ferlaak is contemplating recording a classical solo album. "I'm thinking of NOT doing arias because, well, I can't afford an orchestra," she writes on her MySpace page. "I'm thinking art songs with piano, violin and/or classical guitar. Maybe even write some original songs... I dont know yet."

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS's latest album, "Trinity", was released in May via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Dreamscape Studios and was mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The CD's cover artwork was created by Anthony Clarkson, who has previously worked with BLIND GUARDIAN, HYPOCRISY and EXODUS, among others.

Finnish melodic death metal act MYGRAIN has issued the following update:

"[The second MYGRAIN album] 'Signs of Existence' has finally been recorded! Every chord and beat is on the tape and there's nothing that can save us anymore. We're extremely happy with the result and as we had a tiny pre-pre-listening session for a small amount of people last weekend, they seemed to be content too.

"The mastering process will take place next Tuesday at Finnvox studios and after that there's nothing to do but wait for the CDs to arrive from the factory (and to hope no one fucks up this time).

"In a couple of months we'll let you know the Finnish tour dates. There are a couple of them confirmed already but you just have to be patient for a lil' while. There's gonna be new exciting places to conquer, so see you on the road next spring!"

MYGRAIN's debut album, "Orbit Dance", was released in 2006. The CD was recorded and mixed in November 2005 and January 2006 at Sound Supreme studio by Janne Saksa. It was mastered in February 2006 at Finnvox studios by Mika Jussila.

Frontiers Records has announced the signing of Ralf Scheepers for the release of his first solo album.

Best known as the singer of German power metal legends PRIMAL FEAR, Ralf cut his teeth with TYRAN PACE and GAMMA RAY, the latter of which he formed alongside former HELLOWEEN guitar player Kai Hansen.

World renowned for his amazing range and high-pitched singing voice, sometimes reminiscent of JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford, Scheepers finally decided to work on a solo album.

"It is definitely going to be a metal album, but I will surely explore some different sounds and ways to exploit my voice," satted Scheepers.

"I will call a few friends and guests, which will make this record a very special one, but all details will be revealed at a later stage."

The CD will be recorded during the winter 2008 under the direction of Scheepers' PRIMAL FEAR bandmate Mat Sinner, with additional input by Scheepers himself, Achim Koehler and Charlie Bauerfeind. A summer 2008 release us expected.