NINE INCH NAILS will be issuing their first commercially released U.S. single from their latest CD, "With Teeth", on April 4. Entitled "Every Day Is Exactly The Same", the EP will feature the title cut plus five remixes of songs from "With Teeth". The track listing is as follows:

1. Every Day Is Exactly The Same
   
2. The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix)
   
3. The Hand That Feeds (Straight Mix)
   
4. Only (El-P Mix)
   
5. Only (Richard X Mix)
   
6. Every Day Is Exactly The Same (Sam Fog Vs, Carlos D Of Interpol Mix)
   

The cover art for the CD can be viewed at this location.

SINISTHRA (formerly NEVERGREEN), the Finnish band featuring current AMORPHIS frontman Tomi Joutsen, have issued the following update via their official web site:

"Isn't it just bloody irritating when bands can't be bothered to update their webpages? Our excuse for not updating is.. err.. well, there just isn't that much to report at the moment. We are currently unsigned and have just recorded four new songs for demonstrational purposes. We'll start sending out the demos to record labels shortly with a message saying 'sign us or your family gets it' so in a perfect world it's only a matter of time before we land a satisfying deal.

"We're not planning on doing gigs for the time being. Tomi Joutsen is very busy touring with AMORPHIS for the next months so we'll concentrate on finishing the music for our planned second album. A few of us are also involved in a new band and will release a record before summer. More details of this band later on, or possibly not.

"We've received messages where people have expressed their concern regarding the future of SINISTHRA so here's the official statement, officially stated by the officials themselves: No need to worry. We've always been slow movers when it comes to putting together new music and although 50% of us are now committed to other bands as well it doesn't diminish our commitment to SINISTHRA in the slightest. There will be another SINISTHRA album, eventually, no matter what."

SINISTHRA's full-length debut, "Last of the Stories of Long Past Glories", was released in May 2005 via Arise Records. The CD was recorded in the summer of 2004 at Sonic Pump studios and features a sound best described as "metal with all the most common metal clichГ©s removed," according to the group's official web site. A "teaser" MP3 containing audio samples from the CD can be downloaded at this location.

Florida-based Christian punk/metal act UNDEROATH have announced they’ will release their new album June 20 on Tooth and Nail/Solid State Records.

Co-produced by Matt Goldman (COPELAND, CARTEL) and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, the as-yet-untitled album is being mixed in Los Angeles with Chris Lord Alge (GREEN DAY, ROB ZOMBIE). "This is the record we've been striving to write for the past five years, and I never thought I'd see the day when it actually happened," explains guitarist Tim McTague. "I can't wait for everyone to hear what we've been creating for the past few months, but in the end, if everyone hated it, we'd still think it's probably the best record we may ever be a part of."

This marks UNDEROATH's third full-length CD and the follow-up to their massive breakout album "They’re Only Chasing Safety", which has now sold over 300,000 copies.

In touring news, UNDEROATH is confirmed for the U.K.'s Give It A Name Festival April 29-30 in London and Manchester. On May 3, the band will kick off a headlining U.S. trek, with POISON THE WELL, AS CITIES BURN, SPITFIRE and SINCE BY MAN supporting. On Sunday, May 7, UNDEROATH will perform at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, NJ along with TAKING BACK SUNDAY, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and SENSES FAIL, to name a few.

This summer, UNDEROATH will hit the road as one of the headlining main-stage acts on the Vans Warped Tour '06. The group will join NOFX, THURSDAY, RISE AGAINST, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS and MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, among many others, on the festival all summer long.

If you think 6.6.06 is an intimidating calendar date, just wait. The killer reunion of all time — complete with live tour dates — is about to commence.

The four original members of SLAYER — Tom Araya/bass, vocals, Kerry King/guitars, Jeff Hanneman/guitars, and Dave Lombardo/drums — the pioneers and undisputed kings of extreme speed/thrash metal, have entered a Los Angeles-area studio to record what will be their first new studio album since 1990's "Seasons In The Abyss". And if that's not enough, uber-producer Rick Rubin, who helped solidify the much-emulated SLAYER sound beginning with their genre-defining 1986 classic "Reign In Blood", has taken the helm as executive producer of the project. The original team is back in place.

Working closely with Rubin will be Josh Abraham (KORN, VELVET REVOLVER, ATREYU) who will produce the album. "We're real happy to have Josh on the team," said SLAYER's Jeff Hanneman. "He's a very creative and intuitive guy, he knows music, and he really gets who SLAYER is and what we're doing." The as-yet-untitled album will be released on SLAYER's longtime label, Rubin's American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records, and is expected out this fall.

"Dave's been back with us, playing live, for a couple of years now, and we're all looking forward to recording together again," said the band's Tom Araya. Kerry King added, "There really is no one like Dave — he doesn't have to work at what he does, he just walks in, picks up his sticks and goes."

Said Lombardo, "It feels really good being back with the same guys I started out with. The chemistry is definitely there, that's the exciting part of it, to capture that chemistry again. And that's what is happening."

Jeff, Tom and Kerry have been writing songs for this new album since they wrapped their last North American tour in September 2004. "This is probably the most prepared we've been to record an album since the '80s," King added. "We've been writing and cutting demos for months." While these may change, working titles for some of the songs that will be recorded include "Catalyst", "Cult", "Supremist", and "Consfearacy". "I like to write songs that have different meanings for different people," said King, "where everyone can say, 'I know what he means,' but still get their own sense of what the song is about."

But wait, this just gets better. On 6.6.06 in San Diego, CA, SLAYER will kick off a seven-week summer trek, "The Unholy Alliance Tour ­Preaching to the Perverted", that boasts what has got to be the genre's coolest line-up of the summer — LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON and CHILDREN OF BODOM (who will rotate the second and third slots), and THINE EYES BLEED who will open the shows.

Not only is the line-up terrific, but ticket prices will not exceed $39.00, giving fans a great value for their dollar. Tour dates and all other details will be announced shortly. Confirmed dates are below.

According to SLAYER's longtime manager Rick Sales, "We want to make 'The Unholy Alliance' tour an annual global event, so we decided to be smart about the design from the beginning. We chose to book most of the tourВ№s shows at indoor venues, as that allows the bands and the fans amenities like air conditioning and indoor bathrooms, as well as the very best stage lighting, production, and sound and less expensive concession prices. The few shows that will be played outside will be played at night in permanent facilities with our lighting, production, and so on. Everyone wins."

U.K. metal act TWIN METHOD will be shooting a video in support of their upcoming album, "The Volume Of Self", in Los Angeles this week with directors Matt "The Lord" Zane and Danny Rowe. The video will be for the song "The Abrasive". The clip is expected to be finished before the summer and ready for national and regional video outlets just prior to the album release.

Matt "The Lord" Zane has directed the DECEMBER WOLVES video which was named the sickest video in history by Kerrang! magazine, along with a video for the band PIMPADELIC for Tommy Boy Records. Zane is also known for winning the title of "Best Adult Film Director" in 1999.

Zane says, "I am looking forward to getting back into the directors chair. It has been awhile, but TWIN METHOD approached me and had a great idea that they want to get across. I am looking forward to making it happen with my most technically advanced video to date. Besides, it's about time I start flexing my directing muscles again."

TWIN METHOD, based out of Liverpool, England, recently finished recording at Audio Lab Studio in Los Angeles with producer/engineer Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY) for their soon to be released Crash Music debut album, "The Volume of Self".

A video interview with SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera (ex-SEPULTURA), conducted by Face Culture on February 13, 2006 at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has been posted online at FaceCulture.nl. Topics range from the new SOULFLY album, "Dark Ages", to album titles, to Orthodox priests, to BAD BRAINS, and much more. Another interview with Cavalera, conducted by Asice.net on February 12, 2006 in Tilburg, the Netherlands before the show at 013, can be found at this location. This article focuses on Max's influences and favorite artists, particularly those from the furious hardcore and punk scenes.

SOULFLY will embark on a U.S. mini-tour in late April, with support from INCITE (featuring SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera's stepson Ritchie), Century Media recording artists MANNTIS, and Victory Records' A PERFECT MURDER. The band are continuing to promote their latest album, "Dark Ages", available now on Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Prophecy" was produced by Cavalera and was mixed by Terry Date, who has previously worked with PANTERA and DEFTONES, among others.

IRON MAIDEN have commenced the recording sessions for their new album with producer Kevin Shirley. A posting on Shirley's official web site reads as follows:

"My equipment rolled in Monday night, the MAIDEN truck rolled in Tuesday, and we set the studio up — it's a big job but by Tuesday night were almost ready to go. Wednesday, Nicko [McBrain] and Steve [Harris] came in about noon, the other lads about three, Bruce [Dickinson] about 4. I fiddled with the sound, and it's really coming up really good. Everyone has come to a similar place about where we're going, and it's been hard work, and a lot of fun. There is a lot of laughing, and a little bit of frustration when things get difficult. We've cut three basic tracks, and got a fourth ready to go tomorrow [Monday, March 6]. "

Check out pictures from the recording studio at this location.

IRON MAIDEN's follow-up to 2003's "Dance of Death" is tentatively scheduled for release in October.

As previously reported, Sanctuary Records/Sony BMG has been forced to delay the North American release of IRON MAIDEN's "Death On The Road" DVD, originally scheduled for February 21, as a result of unforeseen production issues.

SPV Records has released six new SEPULTURA e-cards, each featuring a different track from the band's upcoming "Dante XXI" CD in the background, and each one connected to the other. You have to answer the questions right and enter the code to get to the next one. And if you make it to the end, you're entered to win a signed Jackson guitar! Check it out at this location.

As previously reported, SEPULTURA filmed a video for the song "Convicted in Life" (mp3) over a two-day period in February in SГЈo Paulo, Brazil. Check out pictures from the shoot at this location.

"Convicted In Life" comes off the group's upcoming album, "Dante XXI" (view cover here), due in North America on March 14 via SPV.

SEPULTURA will embark on their European tour with IN FLAMES without drummer/founding member Igor Cavalera, who is taking a break from the group's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their new son, who was born in January. Former SOULFLY drummer Roy Mayorga, who played with Igor's brother Max for several years in the late '90s and again in 2001-2003, has been enlisted to do the European tour, with the possibility that he will stick around for further touring activities beyond the spring.

SEPULTURA's European tour will not be the first time that the band have performed without Igor Cavalera. Back in April 2005, SEPULTURA completed a short tour of Mexico with the help of roadie Guilherme Martin (ex-VIPER, TOYSHOP) after Cavalera was unable to make the dates.

Long-running Florida death metal warriors MALEVOLENT CREATION are currently in pre-production for their tenth studio album, "Doomsday X", due this fall via Nuclear Blast Records. The band are currently home writing and demoing material for the new CD, to be recorded in May and mixed in June. Recordings will take place at Mercury recording studios in Pompano Beach, FL with producer/engineer Gus Rios, with the mixing set to take place at Antfarm studis on Aaarhus, Denmark with producer Tue Madsen. "This will mark the first time in the band's career that an overseas producer has been brought in for mixing, but Tue's track record speaks for itself and we feel that we will be in good hands with Tue mixing the new album," the group write in a press release. "We need to have a massive production for this 10th record because this recording means a lot to us and we plan on touring for the next two years in support of it. All the bandmembers are contributing to the writing of this new album, so there will be a lot of different influences on this record. The music will be extremely heavy and insanely fast."

MALEVOLENT CREATION's current lineup includes original bandmembers Brett Hoffman on vocals, Jason Blachowicz on bass, Jon Rubin on guitar, Phil Fasciana on guitar and drumming powerhouse Tony Laureano (NILE, DIMMU BORGIR) on drums. Laureano has toured several times in the past with MALEVOLENT CREATION but now will make his debut studio recording with the band which is sure to be interesting. This lineup will also do all upcoming tours in support of "Doomsday X", which is expected to be released in September, followed by a massive European trek with DISGORGE and SKINLESS in support. Other touring options are being looked at as well. There is talk about a U.S. tour with BOLT THROWER in July-August, but nothing is confirmed yet.

In other news, MALEVOLENT CREATION recently returned from a six-week tour of Europe with BOLT THROWER, NIGHTRAGE and NECROPHAGIST and "would like to say that this tour was the best tour we have ever been part of in the last 15 years," the band write in a press release. "Most of the shows were sold out and BOLT THROWER is hands down the best band we have ever toured with and without their help, this tour would never have happened for us. We would truly like to thank BOLT THROWER's tour manager Graham and Jo, Martin, Baz, Gavin and Karl from the band for all their help. An extra special thanks goes out to Phil, Andy, Keith and Sabrine from BOLT THROWER's crew for all their help throughout the 'Those Still Loyal Over Europe Tour 2006'.You guys fucking rule!!!! Also, a big hello to our new friends in NIGHTRAGE and NECROPHAGIST for being so cool and making this the best tour yet!!!!"

Sweden's WOLVERINE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We can at last announce that WOLVERINE has signed with Candlelight Records. We've been in touch with various labels and as it turned out Candlelight came up with the best offer by far.

"The past 6 months have been really hard for the band and with the split from Earache topping it all off it's extremely nice to have found a new 'home.'

"There is no release date set for 'Still' yet but we'll announce it really soon. It's about time the album sees the light of day because we all promise you that some of our best songs are on that album. We definitely want to share them with our fans as soon as humanly possible."

As previously reported, "Still" was recorded in part at Spacelab studio in Tönisvorst, Germany. The follow-up to 2003's "Cold Light of Monday" was produced by Oliver Philipps, Christian "Moschus" Moos and WOLVERINE and was mixed at the end of August.

"Still" track listing:

A House of Plague

Bleeding

Taste of Sand

Nothing More

Sleepy Town

Liar on the Mount

Hiding

This Cold Heart of Mine

And She Slowly Dies

Danish melodic progressive power metal band ANUBIS GATE will enter the studio this summer to record their third album. The CD will be produced by Jacob Hansen (RAUNCHY, INVOCATOR), who is also the new lead singer in the band. This will be Jacob's first vocal preformance with ANUBIS GATE.

In other news, ANUBIS GATE won the Internet-based contest Heavy Metal Eurovision, beating out more than 40 participating bands from all European countries. The group's 2005 album, "A Perfect Forever", is now out in South America via the Brazilian label Encore Records. The South American version of the CD features a bonus track.

"A Perfect Forever" was released in Europe last September via Locomotive Music. The follow-up to 2004's "Purification" was produced by Hansen and features cover artwork by Mattias NorГ©n.

Swedish metallers STEEL ATTACK have finished filming a video for the song "Diabolic Symphony" with director Owe Lingvall (NOCTURNAL RITES drummer). The clip will be included as a bonus feature on the band's fifth full-length album, "Diabolic Symphony", due on April 21 via Massacre Records. The follow-up to 2004's "Enslaved" was recorded at Black Lounge Studio in Sweden with engineer Jonas Kjellgren and features "hard riffs combined with rich melodies and brilliant metal," according to guitarist Johan Jalonen Penn.

"Diabolic Symphony" track listing:

1. Diabolic Symphony
   
2. Dead Forever
   
3. Shallow Seas Of Hatred
   
4. Dreaming
   
5. Embraced By Fear
   
6. Invisible God
   
7. Sanctimonious
   
8. Haunting
   
9. Show Me The Way
   
10. Winter Hell
    
11. I Bow My Head In Shame
    
12. The Other Side
    

STEEL ATTACK's fourth album, "Enslaved" was issued in October 2004 via Arise Records. The album was supported by a 12-day European tour with Germany BLACK ABYSS and Canada's EXCITER.

STEEL ATTACK is:

• Anden Andersson - Bass
  
• John Allan - Guitar
  
• Ronny Hemlin – Vocals
  
• Johan Jalonen Penn - Guitar
  
• Tony Elfving – Drums
  

Beginning today, you can download the new single from PEARL JAM, "World Wide Suicide", for free at the band's official "bootleg" site, bootlegs.pearljam.com. This MP3 version of the song contains no Digital Rights Management, so you can share it with your friends.

Due on May 2, PEARL JAM's self-titled new album will be the band's studio debut for J Records. It's the follow-up to 2002's Epic swan song "Riot Act", which has sold less than 500,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD was produced and mixed by Adam Kasper and PEARL JAM at Studio X in Seattle.

"Pearl Jam" track listing:

1. Life Wasted
   
2. World Wide Suicide
   
3. Comatose
   
4. Severed Hand
   
5. Marker In The Sand
   
6. Parachutes
   
7. Unemployable
   
8. Big Wave
   
9. Gone
   
10. Wasted Reprise
    
11. Army Reserve
    
12. Come Back
    
13. Inside Job
    

VICIOUS ART, the Swedish death/thrash metal band featuring former DARK FUNERAL members Matias Mäkelä and Robert Lundin, along with Jorgen Sandstrom (THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED, GRAVE) on bass, have posted a brand-new three-song EP, "Weed the Wild", on their official web site, ViciousArt.se. The tracks available for download are as follows:

1. Weed the Wild
   
2. Tanja Joins the Beating
   
3. Exit Wounds
   

"Weed the Wild" was recorded at the Offbeat studios in Stockholm in February 2006 and contains material that "will not be re-recorded [for] a future release," according to the band.

VICIOUS ART's debut album, "Fire Falls and the Waiting Waters", is now available via Threeman Recordings (Europe) and Candlelight Records (U.S.).

Former PAIN OF SALVATION bassist Kristoffer Gildenlow (younger brother of PAIN OF SALVATION frontman Daniel Gildenlow) has issued a statement regarding his departure from the band. It reads as follows:

"It is with big sadness that I have to walk away from one of the greatest bands I've ever come in contact with.

"I wish the situation was different, I wish there was another solution but the show must go on and this is the crossroad.

"After more than eleven years as a member, I pretty much lived my life around the band and it's going to feel very empty without it.

"I want to take this moment to thank all the fans out there. Thank you for your passion, thank you for your support and thank you for staying with us for all this time. I wish I had met more of you, I wish I could have played for more of you."

As previously reported, PAIN OF SALVATION have set "Scarsick" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in late 2006/early 2007. The group's most recent studio album, "BE", came out in 2004.

Swedish "heavy doom progressive" metallers MORGANA LEFAY have uploaded a preview of their "I Roam" video at this location. The clip was produced/directed by Owe Lingwall (NOCTURNAL RITES drummer) and was filmed in late December.

"I Roam" is the second video off MORGANA LEFAY's latest album, "Grand Materia", which was released in April 2005 via Black Mark Records. The follow-up to 2000's "SOS" (released under the LEFAY band moniker) is a concept album about Nicholas Flamel, a 14th-century alchemist who supposedly lived on forever.

MORGANA LEFAY have been confirmed for the Chicago Powerfest 2006, set to take place on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 at Mr. Kelley's Music Box in Chicago Heights, IL. Also scheduled to perform at the event are NOCTURNAL RITES, ION VEIN, TWELFTH GATE, ELDRITCH, BIOMECHANICAL, AGENT STEEL, GRACEPOINT, WITHERING SOUL and MIRROR BLACK.

NIGHTWISH were honored in the "Best Finnish Artist" and "Top-Selling Album" categories at the Emma-Gaala (Finnish equivalent of the Grammys), which was held on Saturday, March 4 at the Kulttuuritalolla in Helsinki.

NIGHTWISH's "Highest Hopes - The Best Of Nightwish" release was the top-selling album in Finland in the year 2005, with sales of over 65,000 copies. Second on the list was ROBBIE WILLIAMS' "Intensive Care" (61,366 copies) and third YГ–'s "Kuolematon" (60,458 copies).

"Highest Hopes - The Best Of Nightwish", which was released in two different formats (the normal version, and limited edition, featuring a bonus disc containing three video clips filmed at the Mera Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany in 2003: "She Is My Sin", "Dead to the World" and "Kinslayer"), features a cover of PINK FLOYD's "High Hopes" and a new recording of the song "Sleeping Sun", for which the band shot a video in Prague, Czech Republic. The clip was directed by Jörn Heitmann, who has previously worked with such artists as RAMMSTEIN ("Keine Lust", "Amerika") and THE RASMUS ("No Fear").

As previously reported, Spinefarm Records has set a June 7 release date for the upcoming "End of an Era" CD/DVD release from NIGHTWISH.

"End of an Era" will contain footage of NIGHTWISH's final concert with singer Tarja Turunen, which took place on October 21 at the Hartwall arena in Helsinki, Finland.

NIGHTWISH fired singer Tarja Turunen via an "open letter," which was given to the singer immediately following the band's final concert of the "Once" world tour, which took place on October 21, 2005 at the Hartwall arena in Helsinki, Finland. The group are currently seeking a replacement vocalist before entering the studio in September 2006 to begin recording the follow-up to 2004's "Once", tentatively due in mid-2007.

A recent audio interview with IN FLAMES frontman Anders Friden, conducted by RabaFlab Rab of Northern Storm Records, has been made available for download at the IN FLAMES international fan site Everdying.com.

IN FLAMES have just completed a North American headlining tour in support of their new release, "Come Clarity", which debuted at No. 58 on The Billboard 200 chart with sales of just under 24,000 copies. The CD has sold a total of 45,000 copies in its first three weeks of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

IN FLAMES will be kicking off a European tour with SEPULTURA on March 12 in Oslo, Norway.

Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS have recorded four new songs with producer Andy Sneap (NEVERMORE, ARCH ENEMY, MACHINE HEAD). The recordings took place last weekend at the new Polar studios in Stockholm, Sweden and the band say that they are very happy with the result. “The songs are pretty much in the same vein as the stuff on the [self-titled 2005] reunion album, maybe a bit darker," says bassist/songwriter Leif Edling.

CANDLEMASS's next studio session will take place in May. The band's new album is tentatively scheduled for release in October 2006 via Nuclear Blast Records.

CANDLEMASS last month won a Swedish "Grammy" award in the "Best Hard Rock" category, beating out the likes of HAMMERFALL, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, MESHUGGAH and OPETH. The Swedish doom legends were honored for the "Candlemass" opus, which is available on Nuclear Blast Records. Five back-catalog items from the band — "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus", "Ancient Dreams", "Doomed for Live", "Nightfall", and "Essential Doom" — were issued in the U.S. via Candlelight in February.

Danish extreme metallers PANZERCHRIST have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, "Batallion Beast". The band have issued the following update on the progress of the CD's recording sessions:

"Guitars, drums and bass are all done. Reno [Kiilerich, drums; DIMMU BORGIR, VILE, DEW-SCENTED] did an excellent job, as usual. Everything has up to now been recorded at Smart 'n Hard studios with Jakob Bredahl. Vocals and keyboards will be recorded later this month at Zigsound with Ziggy who will also mix the album. Dea [Lillelund; also in FAIRYTALE ABUSE] is no longer a member of PANZERCHRIST. She has been replaced by Karina Bundgaard, who played bass on 'Soulcollector'."

PANZERCHRIST's follow-up to 2003's "Room Service" (Mighty Music) will apparently contain lyrics written entirely in German, according to a posting on the band's web site. A late spring/summer release through Neurotic Records is expected.

HATEBREED's new song "To the Threshold" has been posted online at www.myspace.com/hatebreed. A video for the track was shot on Saturday, February 25. "The video tells a story of young kid who uses our music to escape the abuse of a man his mother is seeing," says HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta. "We shot our performance stuff at a really cool place called Fastlane Studios in Brooklyn [New York] and the majority of shots for the narrative part of the video were shot at Igor from GRAVESEND's apartment. His is the man for letting us take over his crib!"

Check out pictures from the video shoot at this location.

"To the Threshold" will be appearing on the upcoming third installment of the "MTV Headbanger's Ball" compilations, entitled "MTV Headbanger's Ball - The Revenge", due on April 11 via Roadrunner Records. More information on this collection is available at this location.

As previously reported, a HATEBREED track, entitled "Bound to Violence", has also been posted online at www.myspace.com/hatebreed. The song will be included on the band's upcoming follow-up to 2003's "The Rise of Brutality", tentatively due later in the year via Stillborn Records. Other tracks set to appear on the CD include "Spitting Venom" and "Defeatist". A DVD is also in the works.

"Bound to Violence" was previously included on the soundtrack to the movie "Punisher", which came out in March 2004 through Wind-Up Records.

HATEBREED will be embarking on a tour of Australia with headliners KORN beginning in late April. Also appearing on the bill will be DISTURBED and 10 YEARS.

NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"We have been out on the road now for about 10 shows with KREATOR. Everything's going well. Canada was a blast, for sure, and we are looking forward to the next couple of shows up there, which are on Tuesday and Wednesday. We had a cool show in Lawrence, Kansas at the Botleneck yesterday, but, man, they gotta sort that smell out. Even my onstage gas emmisions couldn't disguise it... Phew!!! But yeah, here in Denver on a Friday night, so hopefully should be fun. Our friends from CEPHALIC CARNAGE will be heading down, so it's going to be cool to see those guys as I had fun with them on the BRUJERIA tour I did just recently.

"But anyways, we got three more weeks on this tour before we had back to the U.K. to start rehearsing or the new NAPALM album. We have a ton of riffs and it's shaping up good. No signs of letting up on the intensity at all."

NAPALM DEATH are continuing to tour in support of their latest album, "The Code Is Red… Long Live The Code" (Century Media), which was recorded at Foel Studios with producer Russ Russell and features guest appearances by Jello Biafra (ex-DEAD KENNEDYS), Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Jeff Walker (ex-CARCASS). The band are scheduled to enter the studio in May to begin recording the follow-up effort, tentatively titled "Smear Campaign". A late 2006/early 2007 release is expected.

ANOTHER LIFE, the Swedish project featuring Andreas Karlsson (ex-PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER) and Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, PAN THY MONIUM), will release their debut album, "Memories from Nothing", on March 20 via VIC Records. A teaser MP3 containing selections from the album can be downloaded atthis location.

"Memories from Nothing" (view cover here) projected track listing:

01. Firstborn Unicorn
02. Falling Apart
03. The End Of Days
04. I Am Nothing
05. Cotton Pines
06. Everlasting
07. The Last Goodbye
08. The Everflow
09. Poltava (Part I, Part II, Part III)

Asian female singer WING (photo), who is originally from Hong Kong and now lives in New Zealand, has published a two-track CD entitled "Wing Sings AC/DC", featuring very "unique" renditions of two AC/DC classics, "Highway to Hell" and "Back in Black". An audio sample of WING's version of "Back in Black" is available for download at this location (MP3, 300 KB).

To order a copy of "Wing Sings AC/DC", click here.

A Real Audio streaming preview of the track "And...You Will Die", taken from BEYOND FEAR's upcoming self-titled debut album, has been posted online at this location.

BEYOND FEAR features in its ranks former JUDAS PRIEST and current ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens alongside guitarist John Comprix (SPAWN, 13 FACES), Dennis Hayes (ex-WINTERS BANE, SEVEN WITCHES) on bass, Dwane Bihary (MISSING SKIN) on rhythm guitar, and drummer Eric Elkins (CRYPTKICKER, ALL YOU FEAR).

"Beyond Fear" is scheduled for release on May 9 (one day earlier internationally) via SPV Records. The CD was recorded at the legendary Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida, under the direction of producer Jim Morris. The album consists of 12 haunting metal numbers, which, according to Owens, "show unmistakably where my musical roots lie: in the classic heavy metal of the Eighties. However, I've transported that traditional metal style into the present, lending it its own touch."

"I always knew that I would bring out an album featuring my own compositions one day," Owens explained in a press release. "But I didn't feel like a solo recording, I'd much rather perform my songs with a permanent band. That's how BEYOND FEAR came about."

"Beyond Fear" (view cover here) track listing:

01. Scream Machine (5:33)
02. And...You Will Die (3:53)
03. Save Me (3:46)
04. The Human Race (3:36)
05. Coming at You (3:14)
06. Dreams Come True (4:42)
07. Telling Lies (3:21)
08. I Don't Need This (3:30)
09. Words of Wisdom (3:47)
10. My Last Words (3:24)
11. Your Time Has Come (4:49)
12. The Faith (3:38)

LOCH VOSTOK, who call themselves "Sweden's most extreme progressive metal act," will release their sophomore album, "Destruction Time Again", in April via Escapi Music. The follow-up to 2004's "Dark Logic" (Magnetism/CD Maximum) features guest appearances by Ron Jarzombek (SPASTIC INK, WATCHTOWER, MARTY FRIEDMAN), Lawrence Mackrory (ex-DARKANE, F.K.Ü., ENEMYISUS) and Tina Gunnarsson, and is described by the band as "a mix between SOILWORK, KING DIAMOND, EMPEROR and FATES WARNING."

"The album is more focused, more thrashy and has a big fat production that will kick your ass," stated vocalist/guitarist Teddy Möller. Added guitarist Niklas Kupper, "There's more of fast and hysteric solos by me and Teddy than on the first disc." "I grind, jazz, groove and thrash this album apart," said drummer Alvaro Svanerö. The LOCH VOSTOK lineup is rounded out by bassist Tomas "Tym" Jonsson and keyboardist Fredrik Klingwall.

"Destruction Time Again" (view cover here) track listing:

1. Humanitix
   
2. Rebound
   
3. Jonestown Slumber Party
   
4. Xerox Nation
   
5. Autumn Lord
   
6. Destruction Time Again
   
7. Symbiosis
   
8. Falself
   
9. Talk
   
10. True Deceiver
    
11. Gestalt
    

Los Angeles-based progressive thrash metal band PROTOTYPE will release their sophomore effort, "Continuum", on April 25 via MetalAxe Records in Europe and Nightmare Records in the U.S. The CD is the follow-up to the band's full-length debut, "Trinity", which was issued in 2004 via Massacre Records.

"The material covers more varied aspects of what the band is capable of, from more thrashy moments to acoustic and prog passages," stated vocalist/guitarist Vince Levalois. Added guitarist Kragen Lum, "Working with Neil Kernon on the mix was a pleasure and really helped to bring out nuances in the sound that were previously absent." "The artwork really captures the feel of this album... Travis Smith did an incredible job," said bassist Kirk Scherer. Drum duties this time around were handled by former PROTOTYPE member Damion Ramirez (from 1995's "Seed" demo), with one track also featuring former drummer Pat Magrath.

"Continuum" (view cover here) track listing:

1. The Way It Ends
   
2. Probe
   
3. Devotion
   
4. With Vision
   
5. Synthespian
   
6. Sea Of Tranquility
   
7. Transcendent Velocity
   
8. Seed
   
9. Undying
   
10. Heart Machine
    
11. Cold Is This God
    

The following update has been posted at CHILDREN OF BODOM's official web site:

"Last night [March 4] in the annual Emma-Gaala (Finnish equivalent of the Grammys), CHILDREN OF BODOM were presented the Export Emma 2006 for their accomplishments in exporting Finnish music. The whole award ceremony was aired live on national TV.

"In other news, the band recently shot a new promo video for the title song of their newest album 'Are You Dead Yet?'. The quintet ended their European tour in Tavastia, Helsinki on February 11th and returned the same club two days later to shoot the playing parts for the aforementioned video. The story parts of the video were shot beforehand in America."

CHILDREN OF BODOM will be teaming up with SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON and THINE EYES BLEED for the Unholy Alliance Tour beginning in early June. So far, only one date has been announced: June 16 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ. Tickets for the Continental show will go on sale on Saturday, March 11. As previously reported, the trek will make stops in most major cities, although the actual routing of the run is still being fleshed out.