Former KYUSS and current VISTA CHINO frontman John Garcia has inked a solo deal with Napalm Records. His new album is being recorded at Thunder Underground studios in Palm Springs, California with producers Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever for a late summer release.

In a Facebook posting, Garcia wrote: "I'm pleased to announce that, after years of planning, I have finally signed my solo deal with Napalm Records.

"I'm extremely happy to be obligated to finishing this project that has haunted me long enough.

"[I am] very excited to be working with Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever in the studio along with some other extremely talented musicians.

"This record will be coming out end of summer 2014, with extensive tours to follow.

"Thank you for your support and thank you to Napalm Records for making my dream become a reality."

VISTA CHINO is the group comprised of two founding members of the legendary rock band KYUSS — Garcia and Brant Bjork — and guitarist Bruno Fevery.

VISTA CHINO's debut album, "Peace", was released on September 3, 2013 (one day earlier internationally) via Napalm Records. The cover artwork for the CD was created by the renowned California art collective The Date Farmers.

MUSHROOMHEAD, the influential industrial metal band from Cleveland, Ohio, will release its eighth studio album, "The Righteous & The Butterfly", on May 13 via Megaforce Records. Recorded in Cleveland, the band produced the record with longtime co-producer Bill Korecky. The CD consists of 14 tracks, ranging from songs about survival and balance ("Devils Be Damned", "Qwerty", "Son Of 7") to emotionally charged anthems ("For Your Pleasure", "Worlds Collide") to a riff-heavy rendition of Adele's No. 1 hit "Rumor Has It".

MUSHROOMHEAD is comprised of drummers Skinny, Robert Diablo and Stitch; vocalists J Mann, Jeffery Nothing and Waylon; guitarist Church; keyboardist Schmotz; and bassist Dr. F.

The album's title, "The Righteous & The Butterfly", is a dedication to original guitarist J.J. Righteous and the band's former photographer (and drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton's wife) Vanessa Solowiow, who both passed away too soon.

"J.J. was a key member of our band," says Skinny. "He played on the first three records and Vanessa was our photographer and the mother of my children. They were both huge pieces of MUSHROOMHEAD and this record is dedicated to them."

"The Righteous & The Butterfly" marks the return of vocalist J Mann and the debut of new guitarist Church and bassist Dr. F.

"This album damn near wrote itself," proclaims Skinny. "With J Mann's return, this album is a fresh twist on a familiar vibe. It's also the first album with Church and Dr. F. They brought in fresh blood while keeping the integrity of the band's sound and vision intact.

"This is the 20th year of MUSHROOMHEAD and this album is us getting back to our roots."

"The Righteous & The Butterfly" track listing:

01. Our Apologies02. How Many Times03. Devils Be Damned04. Qwerty05. Portraits Of The Poor06. Childlike07. This Cold Reign 08. We Are The Truth09. Son Of 710. For Your Pleasure11. Worlds Collide12. Graveyard Du Jour13. Out Of My Mind14. Rumor Has It

MUSHROOMHEAD will be touring extensively in 2014 to support the effort.

As part of this year's Record Store Day on April 19, San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD will release a 10-inch vinyl single, with the A-side containing the "demo" version of a new song, "Killers & Kings". The B-side will be a cover version of the track "Our Darkest Days" from one of MACHINE HEAD's favorite bands, IGNITE.

The second of four tarot cards making up the cover artwork for the "Killers & Kings" single can be seen below. Also available is video footage of MACHINE HEAD members Phil Demmel (guitar), Dave McClain (drums) and Jared MacEachern (bass) laying down backing vocals on the "Our Darkest Days" cover version.

Says MACHINE HEAD guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn: "I remember growing up in the thrash scene and always wanting to hear the demo version of songs. You searched them out. Thankfully, my buddy Jim was a big 'tape trader,' and through trading, we had both METALLICA demos, EXODUS demos, bootlegs of songs sometimes 'years' before they came out.

"I knew how to play every note of 'Pleasure Of The Flesh' by EXODUS easily two years before the record was out. I had SLAYER's 'Reign In Blood' three months before it came out. I remember it still had the hi-hat counts starting the songs!!

"My friends and I would debate the merits of each (the demo was always better, LOL!).

"It's so much cooler to hear it BEFORE the album is out!

"So we're gonna do that for you.

"I can't wait for you guys to hear this stuff. Then you can debate it, haha!"

MACHINE HEAD has just entered GREEN DAY's Oakland, California's JingleTown Recording to begin recording its new album for a late summer release via the band's new label, Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Other tentative songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Beneath The Silt", "Ojos De La Muerte", "Sail Into The Black" and "Night Of The Long Knives".

Speaking to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, Flynn stated about the band's new material: "It sounds like MACHINE HEAD! It's definitely moving forward, which I feel like we're probably always gonna do.

"We're not a band that ever looks back. We do our thing and try to take the life experiences that we have and the musicianship that we've evolved and try to use it. Obviously, we have our sound and we have the MACHINE HEAD patented harmonics, the downtuned riffs and I sing the way I sing.

"I think Bob Dylan said it best: 'You just find new ways to say the same thing.'"

Speaking about some of the specific tracks and the lyrical themes covered on the new album, Flynn said: "I've got some pretty cool lyrics ready. There's a song called 'Night Of The Long Knives', and it's pretty fucked! It's about the Manson murders, and the lyrics are really dark and vicious.

"We've found some new twists to give to the MACHINE HEAD sound and some new fire and excitement."

Asked what the band's main aims were when they started composing music for the new CD, Flynn said: "Well, it's nice to try and have a plan, but music has a way of unravelling over time! [Laughs] You've just got to roll with it.

"With [2007's] 'The Blackening', I'd love to say I had this grand vision of nine- and 10-minute songs, but the first four songs we wrote were the four shorter songs on the record. For months, there was no indication whatsoever that we'd have 10-minute songs. That stuff came later.

"Human nature wants to control and dictate where things will go, but you can't. It won't let you! The more you try, the more it goes, 'Fuck you.' It's going some other way!" Regarding whether the songwriting process comes more easily after more than two decades as a band, Flynn said: "I just try and do my thing. With this record in particular, I've tried to discipline myself more with routine, writing a little bit every day, but for months I was in a riff rut. Every riff I wrote fuckin' sucked! Then we took a two-week break and I was writing my Facebook journals about the 'Through The Ashes Of Empires' [MACHINE HEAD's 2003 album] story, and that cleared my head. At the end of those two weeks, the floodgates opened and all hell of riffs poured out. I was so stoked! This torrent of riffs, this molten hot lava, was at my fingertips. It's such a good feeling." Flynn also revealed that MACHINE HEAD has "definitely got some ideas" for the artwork and imagery for the band's new album, but added: "It's weird, though, because who the fuck even buys albums anymore?

"An album cover is a necessary thing but for so many people it's justa little one-and-a-half-inch square on an iPhone.

"We're going to have a lot of worldwide special editions, so for the people who are still into that stuff, we'll have some next-level shit. Especially with our new label, Nuclear Blast, they can do all of that stuff. They're not afraid to do all these crazy, over-the-top special-edition things and big two-foot metal cases and all that.

"I'm a super-nerd collector and that shit rules to me!"

MACHINE HEAD's most recent studio release, 2011's "Unto The Locust", entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 22 — putting them in the Top 25 for the first time in the band's history.

Founded in 2007 and officially kicked off in 2008 by METALLICA, Record Store Day normally takes place on the third Saturday of every April and brings together artists and independently owned record stores around the world to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and sold in independent stores.

Buzz Osborne, songwriter, guitar player and vocalist for the MELVINS, has unveiled his first solo acoustic song, "Dark Brown Teeth", via RollingStone.com.

The iconic frontman has also confirmed he will release an as-yet-untitled solo acoustic full-length via Ipecac Recordings in June. Osborne previously announced a thirteen-date tour, kicking off March 2 at Grumpy’s in Minneapolis. The trek includes a performance at the Record Label Rummage Sale on March 13.

A free performance sponsored by Scion AV is slated for February 26 at The Satellite in Los Angeles.

A commemorative 10-inch, titled "This Machine Kills Artists", which features "Dark Brown Teeth", will be available via Amphetamine Reptile and sold on the upcoming tour dates. "I'm looking forward to taking this show on the road!" Osborne said.

"Solo acoustic is something I never thought I’d be doing. Maybe that's why this will work!" Osborne recently confirmed his participation in the "James Williamson Interview: From Riffs To Bits" session at South By Southwest on March 14 at 12:30 p.m. in the Austin Convention Center.

Southern California heavy rockers FU MANCHU head into the studio this weekend to begin recording their 11th album. The follow-up to 2009's "Signs Of Infinite Power" will be released in May via the band's own At The Dojo label and will coincide with a month-long U.S. tour. Dates in Europe and the rest of the world will follow, leading up to FU MANCHU's 25th anniversary in 2015.

FU MANCHU's new CD is being produced by the bandmembers themselves and recorded by Andrew Giacumakis (MOAB) and Jim Monroe (THE ADOLESCENTS, X).

Writing for the album began in the summer of 2012, with a break for a tour of Europe in the fall of that year and a U.S. tour in the spring of 2013, reissuing and playing "The Action Is Go" LP in its entirety and an appearance at METALLICA's Orion Music + More festival in June 2013. FU MANCHU soon found itself with enough material for two albums.

A hint of what the new songs will sound like was released in October in the form of "Robotic Invasion", a split seven-inch single with MOAB, presented by Scion.

Slower, longer and heavier than most of the recent material the band has released, the new songs find FU MANCHU exploring different time changes and heavy sonics that the band is known for, with some atmospheric and conceptual lyrics and artwork that will hopefully be tying one, if not two, new records together that the band hopes will be released this year.

FU MANCHU's first full-length, "No One Rides For Free", has been reissued on At The Dojo as a gatefold vinyl. The record celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

DEVIL YOU KNOW, the creative union of Howard Jones (ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) and John Sankey (DEVOLVED), will unleash its inaugural effort on Nuclear Blast Entertainment this spring. The highly-anticipated debut, "The Beauty of Destruction", will be made available on both physical and digital formats on April 25 in Europe and April 29 in North America.

"The Beauty Of Destruction" was produced by Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DEVILDRIVER, SOULFLY) and mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SOULFLY). Artwork for the album was created by noted painter and illustrator Travis Smith (OPETH, DEVIN TOWNSEND).

"When Travis Smith presented us with the initial sketches we were blown away,” commented Jones. “He captured the concept of the album perfectly. It’s hugely different than anything that’s out there and will be immediately recognizable as DEVIL YOU KNOW."

"The Beauty Of Destruction" track listing:

01. A New Beginning02. My Own03. Embracing The Torture04. For The Dead And Broken05. Seven Years Alone06. It's Over07. A Mind Insane08. Crawl From The Dark09. The Killer10. I Am The Nothing11. Shut It Down12. As Bright As The Darkness13. Sacrifice (bonus track - vinyl LP only)

DEVIL YOU KNOW filmed a video for the song "Seven Years Alone" last weekend in Los Angeles.

As previously reported, DEVIL YOU KNOW will support BLACK LABEL SOCIETY on this year's Revolver Golden Gods Tour, which will kick off on April 16 in Portland and wrap up on June 7 in Los Angeles. Also appearing on the bill is DOWN.

"It's the record I've waited my entire life to make," Artusato said about "The Beauty Of Destruction".

"Logan really pushed us and brought the best out of us and now Zeuss is making it sound amazing!"

DEVIL YOU KNOW's touring lineup is completed by guitarist Roy Lev-Ari and BLEEDING THROUGH bassist Ryan Wombacher.

Said Jones said of the band's new additions: "After a period of being so intensely creative writing and recording the album, it's exciting to finally take it out on the road.

"It's great to have the two new guys.

"Roy is a great fit.

"Ryan and I have played tons of shows together in BLEEDING THROUGH and KILLSWITCH and have known each other for years."

DEVIL YOU KNOW will make its live debut on February 15 at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California. The group is also confirmed for the 2014 edition of Australia's Soundwave Festival, set to take place in late February and early March.

DEVIL YOU KNOW was born out of Artusato and Sankey's creative quest to stretch beyond their extreme metal backgrounds. The two had written over a dozen songs before even attempting to lock down a singer. "We were unsure if Howard would be interested," said Sankey." Yet, when KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's former frontman received the material, a creative ideal began to solidify.

Finally connecting in Los Angeles during the last months of 2012, a highly distinctive sound began to become apparent. "It turned from bare-bones musical ideas into something that surpassed any of our expectations," said Jones. "It went from something we thought was going to be a fun, heavy project into something very real." It was during a recording session at the start of 2013 with producer and former MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader that DEVIL YOU KNOW's ideas began to alchemize into something none of the bands members would ever expect. "It became a departure from what I'm known for," said Artusato. "I wasn't focusing on technical guitar parts (even though I still love that aspect of writing) but simply on writing what felt best for each individual song."

The writing and recording process for DEVIL YOU KNOW's debut album "was surprisingly easy," stated Artusato. "When we get together it just works." The band is also quick to sum up the studio vibe with producer Mader as "intensely creative," said Sankey. "Logan definitely helped us realize and define the DEVIL YOU KNOW sound." Jones agreed: "He went from producer, to unsung member, to friend."

"It's a different style of music for me," said Jones of DEVIL YOU KNOW's unique sound. "It's heavy as anything any of us are known for but I get to do some different things people won't expect. I've been singing almost all my life. Being around good songwriters and musicians in my former bands really helped mold me into who I am now."

Visit the band's Facebook page to hear a demo version of the song "Shut It Down" and get a small taste of what's to come.

Raleigh, North Carolina-based progressive rock/cutting-edge metal band BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME will film a brand new DVD in March. The concept behind this project is in contrast with the group's ambitious and impressive live stage productions; this will feature the band in a small studio, an intimate setting in which they will perform "The Future Sequence" in its entirety. Joining the band for this performance will be a small group of auxiliary musicians, including percussionists, saxophone, flute, string quartet.

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME will record at the Fidelitorium outside Winston-Salem, North Carolina after the conclusion of their upcoming North American tour. Director Justin Reich will be behind the cameras for this project, and longtime BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME producer Jamie King will mix and master the audio. The release is tentatively scheduled for the fall.

Comments BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME frontman Tommy Rogers: "We are very happy to announce that we are finally doing a DVD for 'The Future Sequence'.

"In this age we live in, you can watch us play any of our songs live online. So we wanted to give our fans something a little different… an intimate live performance of us playing in a studio. It will be a wonderful experience and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we enjoy playing these songs."

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME's headlining tour of North America begins next week. Support on the trek will come from DEAFHEAVEN, INTRONAUT and THE KINDRED.

In anticipation of the tour, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME has released a short video that was recorded during the band's most recent North American headline trek at the end of 2013. The video, as the band describes, is "The process. The preparation. A small glimpse into the beginnings of a BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME show. Let's switch off together."

The video was produced, filmed and directed by Raymond McCrea Jones and Wes Richardson, with editing done by Raymond McCrea Jones, and visual FX by Wes Richardson.

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME's ambitious concept album, "The Parallax II: Future Sequence", achieved the North Carolina-based band's highest Billboard chart position (#22) since their inception in the early 2000s.

Los Angeles-based progressive death metal titans THE FACELESS have parted ways with guitarist Wes Hauch. The band states: "Things were moving in different directions and it seems that this is best for everyone. We wish him the best of luck and we know he's going to continue to do great things in music.

"Please keep supporting Wes in everything he does. We definitely will.

"We are also currently working on new music with bassist Evan Brewer, who is remaining a full-time member of the band, to clear up any confusion. The cover album has also been put on the back burner in place of new original material.

"We are very excited with how things are coming together and will keep you all updated as things progress."

THE FACELESS's third full-length album, "Autotheism", was issued on August 14, 2012 via Sumerian Records. THE FACELESS' first release in over three years saw the group's leader, Michael Keene, enlist a new vocalist, bassist and additional guitarist to help him see his musical vision come to fruition and these new members have delivered tenfold.

THE FACELESS last year parted ways with their drummer of five years, Lyle Cooper, "due to a growing difference in the level of commitment to the project." He has since been replaced by Alex Rudinger, who has previously played with THREAT SIGNAL and THE HAARP MACHINE.

Progressive instrumental pioneers ANIMALS AS LEADERS will release their new album, "The Joy Of Motion", on March 25 via Sumerian Records. This offering is quickly going to be hailed by fans and media alike as the group's career-defining release that will ultimately redefine the progressive world as we know it.

ANIMALS AS LEADERS' third full-length release is a bombastic, dynamic and innovative explosion that incorporates elements spanning across the entire musical spectrum. It also marks the recording debut of drummer Matthew Garstka, whose technical proficiency and unique style allows ANIMALS AS LEADERS guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes the room to push their boundaries to previously unthinkable heights.

A trailer for "The Joy Of Motion" can be seen below.

States Reyes: "I think some of the new tracks are some of ANIMALS AS LEADERS' strongest and musical material yet, and [I am] extremely happy with how the album came out.

"Everyone who took part in this album — Misha Mansoor (PERIPHERY), Adam Getgood (PERIPHERY), Diego Farias (VOLUMES) and Navene Koperweis — is extremely talented and I think we've done a great job of capturing it onto what is now the third ANIMALS AS LEADERS album."

ANIMALS AS LEADERS kicks off the New Year with a massive headlining North American tour on February 24 with AFTER THE BURIAL, NAVENE KOPERWEIS and CHON.

Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE will release their 12th studio album, "Vigorous And Liberating Death", on April 14 via Osmose Productions.

The CD will contain the following 13 new songs (in no particular order):

01. King Reborn02. Flaming Sword Of Satan 03. Pathological Hunger For Violence 04. Vigorous And Liberating Death 05. Martial Law 06. Riskiarvio 07. Apocalypse Principle 08. Kuoleman Varjot 09. Vestal Virgins 10. Drink Consultation 11. Dystopia A.S. 12. Sananvapaus 13. Hostis Humani Generis

"Vigorous And Liberating Death" was recorded at City Lights and S/Mental studios and was mixed at Studio Fungus by the band's longtime sound engineer Max "Kosher/Kebab" Kostermaa, who also handled the previous album, "Road To The Octagon".

"Vigorous And Liberating Death" was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox studios. The cover artwork was created by Taneli Jarva.

Check out video footage from the "Vigorous And Liberating Death" mastering session below.

"Vigorous And Liberating Death" will be available on CD, gatefold LP (with poster) and as a digital download.



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Post by Impaled Nazarene.

The MEGADETH "Icon" compilation will be made available on February 25 in the U.S. and on March 11 in Canada via Capitol.

The aptly named "Icon" series from Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) launched in August 31, 2010, with releases from 30 major artists spanning rock, pop, R&B and country. The albums feature "the greatest hits, signature tunes and fan favorites of the most popular artists in music history" and promise to offer "unprecedented value to consumers." Each album, at a "great price," includes roughly a dozen hit tracks.

MEGADETH "Icon" compilation track listing:

01. Holy Wars…The Punishment Due02. Symphony Of Destruction 03. Wake Up Dead 04. Trust 05. Hangar 18 06. Sweating Bullets07. A Tout Le Monde08. Skin O’ My Teeth09. In My Darkest Hour10. Kill The King11. Peace Sells

MEGADETH's tour with FEAR FACTORY and NONPOINT kicked off on November 23 in St. Paul, Minnesota and wrapped on December 19 in Reno, Nevada.

MEGADETH's latest album, "Super Collider", has sold less than 80,000 copies in the United States since its June 4, 2013 release. The CD arrived in stores via MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).

"I think 'Super Collider' is kind of like a really broad [distillation] of what our whole catalog represents," Mustaine told The Morning Call in an interview. "There's aggressive stuff, there's thrashy stuff, there's kind of more of the heavy metal stuff. There are someof the more introspective lyrics. There are some simple lyrics and soon and so forth. I think that's what really makes the record refreshing is that it shows everything that we've done. It's almost like a biopic of our career. It's a pretty good slice of everything I've learned over the years."

Founded in 2012 by American guitarist and composer Michael Alexander, UNIVERSAL MIND PROJECT is a collaborative project between musicians from all around the globe.

Musically, moving on progressive metal paths, combining features of melodic death and symphonic metal in a modern and fresh way, UNIVERSAL MIND PROJECT counts some great names of the metal music industry in its ranks, including:

* Charlie Dominici (vocals; ex-DREAM THEATER)* Mike LePond (bass;)* Alex Landenburg (drums; RHAPSODY, ex-ANNIHILATOR, ex-STRATOVARIUS)* Henrik Bath (vocals; DARKWATER)* Emanuele Casali (keyboards; DGM, ASTRA)* Elina Laivera (vocals; ex-SEDUCE THE HEAVEN)* Johan Reinholz (guitar; ANDROMEDA)* Theodore Ziras (guitar; HAND OF GOD)* David Valdes (guitar) UNIVERSAL MIND PROJECT is currently working on the project's debut album, "The Jaguar Priest".

In the clip below, Alexander sheds light on the creating process of the homonym track and presents the lineup of guest musicians appearing on it.

Blues singer Miche Braden recently joined POSTMODERN JUKEBOX, a New York City-based band that takes modern pop songs and turns them into ragtime, old time jazz, and swing songs, for a New Orleans-style remake of GUNS N' ROSES' "Sweet Child O' Mine". Check out video footage of the performance below.

"POSTMODERN JUKEBOX actually originated as a musical concept created by our bandleader/pianist Scott Bradlee," lead singer Robyn Adele Anderson told Pipe Dream last year. "He came up with the term some years ago when he first started covering songs in different genres. I loved the idea but didn't get involved until February of [2013] when Scott first asked me to be in a video (our vintage 'Thrift Shop' cover) and we've continued to make videos together ever since."

She added: "The creative process of these videos is actually pretty simple. First Scott and I pick a song that we think would be popular (either a song everyone loves or everyone hates). Scott then creates a musical arrangement, while I create or alter the melody (especially if it's a rap song). Then we all get together in Scott's apartment, run it a few times, and then film it!"

On February 11, 2013, POSTMODERN JUKEBOX posted "Thrift Shop (Vintage 'Grandpa Style' Macklemore Cover)", which was then picked up by Reddit. Today, the video has more than four million views. Other videos they've posted include covers of Ke$ha, Justin Bieber and SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA songs.

"… As The Crow Flies", the new video from the new video from NEWSTED — the new band featuring former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist Jason Newsted and STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok — can be seen below. The clip was filmed with director Leon Melas, who previously helmed NEWSTED's videos for the tracks "Soldierhead" and "King Of The Underdogs".

"… As The Crow Flies" is featured on NEWSTED's debut album, "Heavy Metal Music", which sold nearly 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available on August 6, 2013 in North America via Chophouse Records/Collective Sounds and August 5, 2013 in Europe through Spinefarm Records.

Jason stated about "… As The Crow Flies": "It's one of the ones we play live, and I think it comes off quite well. As far as the new recordings go, it's one of my favorite moments, if not my favorite moment, on the record — the dual-lead guitar thing in the last 30 seconds of the song."

Regarding how the material for NEWSTED's debut album came together, Jason told Loudwire: "It started out as my seeds for the first eleven songs that I made on my GarageBand thing. I wrote all the tracks — guitars, bass, drums, everything and gave them to Jessie [Farnsworth, guitar] and Jesus [Mendez Jr., drums] and had them go learn it, put their artistry on it and so it was collaborative in that way for the first batch. Like the four songs on the EP came from that initial eleven, so that's how those songs went. Each day as we get deeper into the songs, the collaboration gets deeper as well. I have come a long way from my tunnel vision of 'Only my ideas are good enough' bullshit, and I'm a lot more open to everyone's ideas and the artistry of each person to make it what it is. And three heads is better than one and that kind of thing. So it has become more collaborative as we go. I've written ten more since that time in October last year and a few of them have made their way onto this LP now. Once again, they were all my seeds, but now that we have Mike Mushok in the band and I give the music to all three of those guys, now I have three great artists bringing back their responses and their counterpoint playing to my ideas, so it's becoming more and more collaborative every day and on this LP there will be shared writing credits on at least half of the songs with the writing credits now."

"Heavy Metal Music" track listing:

01. Heroic Dose02. Soldierhead03. ...As The Crow Flies04. Ampossible05. Long Time Dead06. Above All07. King Of The Underdogs08. Nocturnus09. Twisted Tail Of The Comet10. Kindevillusion11. Futureality

NEWSTED took part in last year's edition of Gigantour, the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. Also appearing on the bill were headliners MEGADETH, along with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DEVICE, HELLYEAH and DEATH DIVISION.

"Leave It All Behind", the new video from KILL DEVIL HILL — the band featuring legendary drummer Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL) alongside Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) on bass, Mark Zavon (RATT, W.A.S.P., 40 CYCLE HUM) on guitar and Jason "Dewey" Bragg (PISSING RAZORS) on vocals — can be seen below. The song is taken from KILL DEVIL HILL's sophomore album, "Revolution Rise", which sold around 2,150 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

Comments Brown: "'Leave It All Behind' was shot with a very different approach for us. It's a story board video that intertwines the band with a guy that has faced some apocalyptic demons in his own mind.

"We shot the video at an old missile site in Southern California that had been burned out by fires years ago.

"The story hits very close to home with the lyrical content of the song, which makes it even more surreal and sublime. We'll leave the rest up to your interpretation!"

Released on October 29, 2013 via Century Media Records, "Revolution Rise" was produced by KILL DEVIL HILL and Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER, DIO) and was mixed by Jay Ruston (STONE SOUR, ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER). The cover artwork was created by Sam Shearon, who has previously worked with ROB ZOMBIE, IRON MAIDEN and FEAR FACTORY, to name just a few.

"Revolution Rise" track listing:

01. No Way Out02. Crown Of Thorns03. Leave It All Behind04. Why?05. Wake Up The Dead06. Long Way From Home07. Where Angels Dare To Roam08. Stained Glass Sadness09. Endless Static10. Stealing Days11. Life Goes On

Said Brown of the new album: "This new KILL DEVIL HILL record is definitely one of my favorite moments of my career — it's got balls, great melodies, awesome guitar riffing and a low end that'll set your ass on fire!"

KILL DEVIL HILL is:

* Jason "Dewey" Bragg (PISSING RAZORS) - Vocals* Mark Zavon (RATT, W.A.S.P., 40 CYCLE HUM) - Guitar* Rex Brown (DOWN, PANTERA) - Bass* Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO) - Drums

SALIVA is returning to the rock scene this spring with "Rise Up", its ninth studio effort and second since the departure of original singer Josey Scott.

The official lyric video for the CD's title track can be seen below.

The "Rise Up" album will hit the street on April 29. Current frontman Bobby Amaru is back for his second set with the band, along with longtime drummer Paul Crosby and founding members Wayne Swinny on guitar and Dave Novotny on bass.

Swinny said about Amaru, "We're lucky to have found him. We discovered him through one of our old crew guys. He really energized the rest of us. He's a great songwriter, and a top-shelf producer in his own right."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, an earlier version of this album, called "In It To Win It", was released last fall as the band's first album through Rum Bum Records.

"Rise Up" features a number of the same songs that were on "In It To Win It" as well as several new ones. The earlier record was later said to be a "sneak-peek" limited release for longtime fans.

"Rise Up" track listing:

01. Rise Up02. She Can Sure Hide Crazy03. No One But Me04. Lost05. 1000 Eyes06. Redneck Freakshow07. Choke08. Army09. Closer10. In It To Win It11. The Enemy12. I Don’t Want It

SALIVA 2014 is:

Wayne Swinny - GuitarDave Novotny - BassPaul Crosby - Drums, PercussionBobby Amaru - Vocals

Former MURDERDOLLS frontman Wednesday 13 will release his new concert DVD, "Scream Britain Scream", in June. Now available for pre-order only at Morgue Than Merch, the disc was filmed at a sold-out concert in London, England on Halloween night 2012. It features 19 songs performed live, as well as backstage footage.

A trailer for "Scream Britain Scream" can be seen below.

As previously reported, Wednesday 13 will release his first acoustic CD titled "Undead Unplugged" in June. The effort sees Wednesday 13 revisiting songs from his entire catalogue in an acoustic arrangement, including "Haunt Me", "God Is A Lie", "We All Die", "Evil Is Good", "Dead Carolina" and "Ghost Stories".

You can pre-order the album at this location.

Also available for pre-order is a limited-edition four-disc collection, "Dead Meat - 10 Years Of Blood, Feathers, & Lipstick". The set, which spans 2003-2013, contains over 80 tracks, with over 50 never-heard-before demos from Wednesday 13's personal collection. It includes the "Best Of The Worst" CD, featuring various tracks from all Wednesday 13 releases, and the "Re-Animated" remix CD with bonus tracks.

WEDNESDAY 13's fifth solo album, "The Dixie Dead", was released in February 2013.

It's been pretty quiet on the VAN HALEN front lately but we've now found out why – they're working on a new album. ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti broke the news when he was telling VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner about how new music is coming along with his solo band, TREMONTI, which includes VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen.

Said Mark: "With Wolfgang in the band now, he does a lot of work with VAN HALEN right now, they're putting together a new album, so it's going to be hard to get everybody's schedules to line up." When VH1 Radio Network asked Tremonti if Wolfie tells him how the new VAN HALEN music is sounding, Mark said: "You know, he doesn't. He just says, 'Yeah, sounds great, man. Sounds great.'" After singer David Lee Roth said in an interview last summer that VAN HALEN has started work on its 13th studio album, the next question was whether the material will be freshly written or pulled from the band's vaults. Many of the songs on 2012's "A Different Kind Of Truth" originated from demos going back to the group's earliest days, and Wolfgang Van Halen told The Pulse Of Radio that there's more where that came from. "There's plenty of other ideas lying around and some new stuff that we've been working on too," he said. "You never know what'll happen."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Roth told comedian Jim Florentine back in August: "I was up at [guitarist] Edward's [Van Halen] house three days ago, and we're starting to put music together. We're writing; I write lyrics routinely and the band plays together routinely, at least three times a week up at Ed's place."

But Roth also cautioned that fans should not expect to hear the finished follow-up to 2012's "A Different Kind Of Truth" for at least 18 months.

"A Different Kind Of Truth" was the first new VAN HALEN album in 14 years and the first since 1984 to feature Roth, the band's original singer, on lead vocals.

The disc debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart, selling 187,000 copies in its first week of release.

The group toured through the spring and early part of the summer of 2012 behind the album, but abruptly pulled off the road that June due to "exhaustion." A severe intestinal disorder later sidelined Eddie Van Halen, restricting the band to only sporadic live shows since.

TRIPTYKON — the occult/avant-garde metal project formed by former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom Gabriel Warrior) — will release its second album, "Melana Chasmata", on April 15 (one day earlier internationally). The CD will be made available through a collaboration between the group's own label, Prowling Death Records Ltd., and renowned metal giant Century Media Records. This is the same label partnership already responsible for CELTIC FROST's final album, "Monotheist" (2006), HELLHAMMER's "Demon Entrails" demo compendium (2008), and TRIPTYKON's debut album, "Eparistera Daimones", and "Shatter" EP (2010).

Like its predecessor "Eparistera Daimones", the album was produced by TRIPTYKON's singer/guitarist Tom Gabriel Warrior and guitarist V. Santura and recorded and mixed at V. Santura's own Woodshed Studio in southern Germany as well as at TRIPTYKON's rehearsal facilities in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2013 and 2014. Those who have already heard "Melana Chasmata" have described it as "atmospheric, dark, diabolical, and dramatic", "diverse, epic, and doomy, but on an entirely different level", "a fierce boulder of abhorrence", or "very heavy and yet very aesthetic at the same time".

"Melana Chasmata" will feature the following nine songs, at a playing time of around 67 minutes:

01. Tree Of Suffocating Souls02. Boleskine House03. Altar Of Deceit04. Breathing05. Aurorae06. Demon Pact07. In The Sleep Of Death08. Black Snow09. Waiting

Further new TRIPTYKON music has been recorded, to be released as an EP or mini album later in 2014 or early in 2015.

Among other formats, the album will be released as a 32-page mediabook (with lyrics and liner notes to every song, and with a special fold out poster), as a gatefold vinyl double album (with posters and large-format booklet), and for digital download. Additionally, Century Media is scheduled to issue a special box set, limited to 2000 copies. The box set will include the album, a TRIPTYKON silver pendant, a poster, postcards, a TRIPTYKON tote bag, and a cap.

To commemorate the unveiling of "Melana Chasmata", Century Media will release a collector's gatefold seven-inch vinyl single, featuring the songs "Breathing" and "Boleskine House". The single will be available on March 17 , and be limited to a pressing 1000 (of which 200 will be in red vinyl). "Breathing" and "Boleskine House" will also be available as a digital single (including the option for a digital booklet), and they will be streamed on YouTube and SoundCloud.

Audio samples of "Breathing" and "Boleskine House" can now be found at Amazon.com.

"Melana Chasmata" will be further distinguished by featuring, for the second time for TRIPTYKON, the extraordinary art of legendary Swiss surrealist HR Giger. Following "Eparistera Daimones", the group began to make arrangements for an entirely different cover for the second album. Completely unexpectedly, HR Giger approached Tom Gabriel Warrior in October of 2011 to express his appreciation of how TRIPTYKON had used his art on the first album and to propose a continuation of the artistic collaboration. This development thus marks the first time any musical artist has worked with HR Giger on three albums (CELTIC FROST's "To Mega Therion", and TRIPTYKON's "Eparistera Daimones" and "Melana Chasmata"), and it commemorates a collaboration that has now lasted for 30 years.

"Melana Chasmata" features Giger's dramatically mysterious "Mordor VII" (work no. 283, 100 x 70 cm, acrylic on wood, 1975) as a front cover and Giger's "Landschaft XVI" ["Landscape XVI"] (work no. 209, 100 x 70 cm, acrylic on paper on wood, 1972) as gatefold art.

After a lengthy hiatus, TRIPTYKON will return to the stage this year to promote "Melana Chasmata". Among the concerts so far scheduled are appearances at the celebrated Roadburn festival, at Rock Hard festival, and, pending the issuance of the proper visas by U.S. authorities, TRIPTYKON's return to the United States for an exclusive appearance at Maryland Deathfest.

TRIPTYKON consists of V. Santura (guitar, vocals), Norman Lonhard (drums, percussion), Vanja Slajh (bass, vocals), and Tom Gabriel Warrior (voice, guitars).

According to the Portuguese web site Blitz, singer Wattie Buchan of British punk legends THE EXPLOITED suffered a heart attack on stage during the band's concert last night (Thursday, February 13) in Lisbon, Portugal during the "Tour Of Chaos" with HATEBREED and NAPALM DEATH.

A fan-filmed video clip shot during last night's gig shows Wattie in visible discomfort while performing with his bandmates and the other members of THE EXPLOITED announcing that they would have to cut the concert short due to the singer's physical problems. Wattie is now said to be under observation in a Portuguese hospital, where he will remain for the next few days.

A posting on THE EXPLOITED's official Facebook page reads: "I'm sorry to say that due to a severe illness that Wattie can't continue with the tour. He will be in hospital for at least a week. Thanks for all the get-well messages. Much appreciated. Regards, THE EXPLOITED."

THE EXPLOITED recently inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records.

Founded in 1980 in East Kilbride, Scottland by Wattie Buchan, the band was working on its new album for a late 2014 release. Nuclear Blast Records will re-release several THE EXPLITED classics on March 14 (March 18 in the U.S.). The will include great bonus material and will be made available as CD digipaks and on gatefold vinyl.

The official video for "Dark Wings Of Steel", the title track of the new studio album from Italian symphonic metallers RHAPSODY OF FIRE, can be seen below. The CD was released on November 22, 2013 in Europe and December 3, 2013 in the USA via AFM Records. It was produced by keyboardist Alex Staropoli, with all songs composed by Staropoli and Manuel Staropoli, with assistance from Roby De Micheli. All lyrics were written by singer Fabio Lione. The effort features a full orchestra, a choir and real string instruments, as in the finest RHAPSODY OF FIRE tradition.

"Dark Wings Of Steel" was released on CD, double vinyl and as a digipak. The digipak and vinyl versions include a bonus track.

"Dark Wings Of Steel" track listing:

01. Vis Divina02. Rising From Tragic Flames03. Angel Of Light04. Tears Of Pain05. Fly To Crystal Skies06. My Sacrifice07. Silver Lake Of Tears08. Custode Di Pace09. A Tale Of Magic10. Dark Wings Of Steel11. Sad Mystic Moon

Bonus track on digipak and vinyl:

12. A Candle To Light (extended version)

RHAPSODY OF FIRE in June 2013 "respectfully" parted ways with their American guitarist Tom Hess due to "philosophical differences."

RHAPSODY OF FIRE released a new live album, "Live - From Chaos To Eternity", on May 3, 2013 in Europe and May 7, 2013 in the USA via AFM Records. It was made available as two-CD digipak and as limited three-vinyl set. The material (a mixture of old classics and newer tracks) was recorded on the band’s European tour in spring 2012.

Staropoli and RHAPSODY OF FIRE guitarist Luca Turilli in 2011 announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Due to legal reasons, Staropoli is continuing under the RHAPSODY OF FIRE name. Turilli, on the other hand, is making his efforts available under the RHAPSODY moniker (RHAPSODY OF FIRE's original name), in which he is joined by guitarist Dominique Leurquin, bassist Patrice Guers, singer Alessandro Conti (TRICK OR TREAT) and drummer Alex Landenburg (AT VANCE, ANNIHILATOR, MEKONG DELTA, STRATOVARIUS).

Austin rockers SCORPION CHILD have released a video for the first track on their debut album, "Kings Highway". Opening with the sound of cicadas, the clip was directed by award-winning stop-motion animator Jess Cope (STEVEN WILSON, STORM CORROSION, DEVIN TOWNSEND) of Owlhouse Studios, whose talents have been seen in the short film "The Astronomer's Sun", the British children's television series "Postman Pat", and Tim Burton's feature film "Frankenweenie".

SCORPION CHLD frontman Aryn Jonathan Black says the following about the video: "Jess Cope's work for our new 'Kings Highway' video is masterful! We are enamored by her artistic eye and ability to create a fantasy trip with an ethereal visual that's captivating and timeless."

SCORPION CHILD recently added a new face to its lineup: drummer Jon "Charn" Rice, formerly of JOB FOR A COWBOY. Before heading out to the U.K. for nine shows starting March 16, SCORPION CHILD will have a showcase at this year's SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.

SCORPION CHILD's self-titled debut album sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 26 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"Scorpion Child" was released on June 25, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the new U.S. partnership between Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger and former Roadrunner Records A&R chief Monte Conner. Produced and arranged by Chris "Frenchie" Smith (THE ANSWER, ...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, THE TOADIES, DAX RIGGS), the CD was recorded using analog recording technology. Photo by Weston McGowen

Fan-filmed video footage of STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER, the revamped version of the cult '80s British metal act GRIM REAPER led by singer Steve Grimmett, performing the song "Rock You To Hell" on February 8 at the Made In Hell Fest 4 at Exenzia Rock Club in Prato, Italy can be seen below.

As previously reported, STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER will perform in the USA for the first time since 1987 on April 5 at the Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse festival at Reggies bar in Chicago, Illinois. The band's set will consist of many of the classic GRIM REAPER tunes but will also include new tracks from STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER's upcoming studio album, tentatively titled "From Hell", due out in the spring. Original GRIM REAPER guitarist Nick Bowcott will join STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER on stage for several songs, marking the first time Steve and Nick have performed together in more than 25 years.

STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER is:

Steve Grimmett - VocalsIan Nash - GuitarChaz Grimaldi - BassMark Rumble - Drums

The back catalog from GRIM REAPER was reissued in Japan in October 2008 via RCA/BMG. "See You in Hell" (1984), "Fear No Evil" (1985) and "Rock You to Hell" (1987) feature JVC K2 24-bit remastering and are available for order at this location.

Finnish thrashers LOST SOCIETY will release their new album, "Terror Hungry", on April 4 via Nuclear Blast Records. Produced by Nino Laurenne (AMORPHIS, ENSIFERUM, LORDI) at Sonic Pump studios (FINNTROLL, SONATA ARCTICA, OMNIUM GATHERUM), the CD sees the "Finns shred their way with the energy and speed of an out-of-control freight train, rolling downhill on the way to thrash Olymp," according to a press release.

The "Terror Hungry" artwork was created by Jan Meininghaus (BOLT THROWER, SICK OF IT ALL, U.D.O., HOLY MOSES).

Comments LOST SOCIETY mastermind Samy Elbanna: "We were totally blown away with the sketch we got, and even more so when we got the final artwork!!

"The cover really fits the theme of the album as it has a more dark feel to it and it's brutal as fuck! The dude holding the bloody machete is definitely terror hungry!

"Jan did an awesome job; this cover is sick!"

Adds Meininghaus: "I was asked to do LOST SOCIETY's new album cover and first of all I had to face the fact that I had to follow their debut album's art that was created by the legendary Ed Repka. One of the true heros of my own thrash-metal days. So I decided to go a different way and create the band's cover idea in a much darker and less cartoony mood than the debut's.

"LOST SOCIETY's musical style and their approach to metal is very '80s Bay Area to me, so I thought it might be fun to paint something that might have been on one of those record covers these days.

"I listened to LOST SOCIETY and my old EXODUS, TESTAMENT and FORBIDDEN vinyls and it was a blast to come up with 'Terror Hungry' artwork!"

"Terror Hungry" track listing: 01. Spurgatory02. Game Over03. Attaxic04. Lethal Pleasure05. Terror Hungry06. Snowroad Blowout07. Tyrant Takeover08. Overdosed Brain09. Thrashed Reality10. F.F.E.11. Brewtal Awakening12. Mosh It Up13. Wasted After Midnight

Bonus:

14. You Can't Stop Rock ‘N' Roll

The song "Lethal Pleasure" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Says Samy Elbanna: "'Lethal Pleasure' was one of the first songs we wrote for the new album and it has very traditional speed metal feel to it with some killer shred solos and some groove! The song is one of the less dark-themed songs on the album; it just makes you wanna scream and fuckin' bang your head! The song is basically about what we’re doing: thrashing out is our lethal pleasure!!"

LOST SOCIETY's debut album, "Fast Loud Death", entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 25. Released in March 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records, the CD was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios (FINNTROLL, SONATA ARCTICA, OMNIUM GATHERUM) in Helsinki, Finland with producer Nino Laurenne (AMORPHIS, ENSIFERUM, LORDI) and it featured cover artwork by Ed Repka (MEGADETH, DEATH, SANCTUARY, VENOM).

Founded in early 2010 by thrash/speed metal enthusiast Samy Elbanna in the Finnish town of Jyväskylä, LOST SOCIETY played a number of gigs around Finland before taking part in the world-renowned GBOB (Global Battle Of the Bands). After winning the preliminary round in their hometown, they were invited to the finals held in Helsinki, where they prevailed over 13 other contestants. The grand finals of GBOB 2012 took place at The Scala in London on December 9, 2012 and featured 18 bands from all over the world, including LOST SOCIETY.

LOST SOCIETY is:

Samy Elbanna - Vocals, GuitarArttu Lesonen - GuitarMirko Lehtinen - BassOssi Paananen - Drums

Tuomas Holopainen — the keyboardist and main songwriter of NIGHTWISH — has spent most of 2013 writing and producing his solo album based on a graphic novel called "The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck", written and illustrated by Don Rosa.

"Music Inspired By The Life And Times Of Scrooge - Written And Produced By Tuomas Holopainen" is scheduled for release on April 11 via Nuclear Blast.

The first trailer for the CD can be seen below.

Holopainen comments: "This is my longtime dream come true, 14 years in the making. And a homage to one of the best storytellers of our time.

"Thank you for sharing this celebration of life and adventure!"

This 12-chapter book tells the life story of Scrooge, from his early years in the 19th century Scotland to his adventures all around the world until the 1950s. The story contains such immense depth, detail, wit and emotional power that the moment Tuomas read it nearly 20 years ago, it instantly became a story of profound personal interest and love for him. The initial spark of "coloring" this story with music, i.e. creating a kind of "soundtrack" for the book, came to him already in 1999, and has ever since haunted the back of his mind.

"Music Inspired By The Life And Times Of Scrooge - Written And Produced By Tuomas Holopainen" contains 10 songs, with total duration of approximately 60 minutes. The music is said to be in the soundtrack / classical / folk genre in the vein of Vaughan Williams, Michael Nyman, James Newton Howard and Enya.

Pip Williams did the orchestral arrangements for the "Life And Times Of Scrooge" disc, continuing his collaboration with Tuomas after the NIGHTWISH records "Once", "Dark Passion Play" and "Imaginaerum".

There are a number of guest musicians appearing on "Life And Times Of Scrooge", including the London Orchestra, The Metro Voices (a choir from London) and four lead vocalists: Alan Reid, Johanna Kurkela, Johanna Iivanainen and Tony Kakko. Other guest appearances include Troy Donockley (uilleann pipes, low whistles, bodhran), Mikko Iivanainen (guitars and banjo), Teho Majamäki (didgeridoo), Jon Burr (harmonica) and Dermot Crehan on the solo violin.

The recordings took place during August - October 2013, first at Angel Studios in London, then in various locations around Scotland and Finland.

The author of the book, Don Rosa, did the artwork for the album.

There will be a single release, for the track "A Lifetime Of Adventure", and a music video to go with it.

Holopainen recently spoke to Finland's YLE about "Music Inspired By The Life And Times Of Scrooge - Written And Produced By Tuomas Holopainen". Check out the report below.

Tuomas previously stated about how the idea for the project came about: "It was back in 1999, during the 'Oceanborn' tour, that I remember first having the idea of writing a 'soundtrack' to my all-time favorite piece of Disney comic, 'The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck', by Don Rosa, the apparent heir of the almighty Carl Barks. This book has had such an overwhelming effect on me throughout these years, and finally I have the means and the time to make that dream a reality.

"It all started with a story called 'Last Sled To Dawson', which was published in a Finnish Donald Duck magazine in the late '80s. It instantly became one of my favorite Scrooge/Donald stories and also introduced Mr. Don Rosa to my Disney universe. This story is not part of the actual 'Life And Times' opus, though, but 'a companion story,' set in between the chapters #8 and #9. Then when the massive 12-chapter piece was released in mid-'90s, I was completely and utterly hooked. It was similar to reading 'The Lord Of The Rings' as an 8-year-old, or seeing 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' for the first time. Adventure, fun and the strangely familiar feeling of home.

"With Scrooge, there was also a much deeper level hidden between the stories and the gags.

"This is a book about life itself. What an unfathomable privilege it is, what are the things that truly matter during our existence. It's about the immense beauty of the world and its possibilities seen through the eyes of a very relentless, honest and complex character. It's about love and family, gain and loss, darkness and rebirth.

"And on top of that, well, it's just your good old-fashioned storytelling fun!"

"Music Inspired By The Life And Times Of Scrooge - Written And Produced By Tuomas Holopainen" track listing: 01. Glasgow 187702. Into The West03. Duel & Cloudscapes04. Dreamtime05. Cold Heart Of The Klondike06. The Last Sled07. Goodbye, Papa08. To Be Rich09. A Lifetime Of Adventure10. Go Slowly Now, Sands Of Time

Bonus track:

11. A Lifetime Of Adventure (Alternate Version)

Hansi Kürsch of BLIND GUARDIAN joined ICED EARTH on stage on February 13 at Zeche in Bochum, Germany to perform the song "Among The Living Dead". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Asked how the opportunity came up to have Hansi lay down guest vocals on the studio version of "Among The Living Dead" during the recording sessions for ICED EARTH's latest album, "Plagues Of Babylon", ICED EARTH guitarist/mainman Jon Schaffer told Metal Exiles: "Well, the thing of it is, because we were in Germany [recording the new ICED EARTH CD], and literally like an hour and a half from Hansi's house, it was pretty easy. That's different than doing something like [the] DEMONS & WIZARDS [project with Hansi] where you have to get together, write songs. And I mean, Hansi came into the studio for one day. He got there around two in the afternoon, and he left at I think 10 or 11 that night. That's a whole different thing, coming in and singing parts that are already written, than getting together and writing songs... That's something that can take a couple months. Then you have to produce the record, and go out on tour and for both of us to do a DEMONS & WIZARDS cycle, we would both need a year of time to make that a reality, and that's just not a reality right now because ICED EARTH is too busy, BLIND GUARDIAN is too busy. So I talked to Hansi while we were in Germany doing pre-production for the tracking, and that was also pretty close to his house, and he came to visit us and I played the song 'Among The Living Dead' for him, and I told him, 'I would love for you to do a verse in this song.' He agreed, and said it would be cool, and, of course, he'd be up for that. And then a little bit later, I mentioned to him that normally when I'm working in Indiana or Florida, I have a group of backing vocalists that I can call upon to sing choir parts on the album, on the choruses. And being in Germany, I was a stranger in a strange land, so I called Hansi, and he said he'd be happy to help out, and that he had a friend he could bring along too. So, that's how that worked out."

"Plagues Of Babylon" sold around 6,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 49 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Dystopia", opened with around 6,100 units back in October 2011 to enter the chart at No. 67.

ICED EARTH's 2008 effort, "The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part II)", registered a first-week tally of 6,700 to debut at No. 79.

"Plagues Of Babylon" was recorded at Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany and was mixed at NHow Studios in Berlin, Germany. Guest vocals on "Highwayman" were laid down by VOLBEAT frontman Michael Poulsen and SYMPHONY X/ADRENALINE MOB singer Russell Allen. Guest vocals on "Plagues Of Babylon", "Among The Living Dead", "Democide", "Resistance" and "If I Could See You" are by Hansi Kürsch. The cover and additional artwork was created by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, HATEBREED).

ICED EARTH will promote the new CD in its North American homeland with the headlining "Worldwide Plagues Tour", which kicks off April 4 for a six-week run with SABATON and REVAMP in support.

German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER have entered Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany to begin recording their new album for a July 11 release via Napalm Records.

The first clip from the studio can be seen below.

GRAVE DIGGER's latest album, "Clash Of The Gods", was released on August 31 , 2012 in Europe and September 4, 2012 in North America via Napalm Records. A six-song mini-CD, "Home At Last", preceded the full-length effort on July 27, 2012 in Europe and August 7, 2012 in North America.

"The Clans Are Still Marching", the latest DVD from GRAVE DIGGER, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 56 (German chart rules allow music DVDs to enter album charts).