Legendary Swedish doomsters CANDLEMASS celebrated the 25th anniversary of their third album, "Ancient Dreams", with special live concert on December 28 at Debaser Medis in Stockholm, Sweden.

The LP, which was originally issued in 1988, has long been hailed as a classic and was performed in its entirety by CANDLEMASS, which was last year voted Sweden's best rock/metal band of all time in Sweden Rock Magazine.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Dark Reflections 02. Under The Oak 03. Prophet 04. Bewitched 05. Psalms For The Dead

"Ancient Dreams" set

06. Mirror Mirror 07. A Cry From The Crypt 08. Darkness In Paradise 09. Incarnation Of Evil 10. Bearer Of Pain 11. Ancient Dreams 12. The Bells Of Acheron 13. Epistle No. 81 14. Black Sabbath Medley

Encore:

15. Black As Time 16. Solitude

Fan-filmed video footage of the "Epistle No. 81" performance, featuring a guest appearance by Swedish actor, director and musician Thorsten Flinck, can be seen below.

CANDLEMASS' current touring lineup includes four members of its classic formation: Leif Edling on bass, Mats "Mappe" Björkman on rhythm guitar, Lars Johansson on lead guitar and Janne Lindh on drums.

CANDLEMASS played its first show with singer Mats Levén on June 5, 2012 at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm, Sweden.

Levén is a former member of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION and TREAT, who also plays with CANDLEMASS bassist/mainman Leif Edling in KRUX.

Also joining the group for CANDLEMASS' recent live performances was keyboard player Per Wiberg (OPETH, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS).

CANDLEMASS in June 2012 parted ways singer Robert Lowe. The band stated at the time that this was "a very difficult decision" to make and had "mainly to do with the quality of the live performances."

Lowe — who is still a member of SOLITUDE AETERNUS — joined CANDLEMASS in January 2007 and sang on the band's last three studio albums: "King Of The Grey Islands" (2007), "Death Magic Doom" (2009) and "Psalms For The Dead" (2012).

CANDLEMASS released its 11th and final album, "Psalms For The Dead", on June 8, 2012 via Napalm Records. A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single contaning two album tracks —"Dancing In The Temple Of The Mad Queen Bee" and "The Killing Of The Sun" — preceded the full-length effort on April 13, 2012.

German metallers FAREWELL TO ARMS have announced their plans to disband after more than three "amazing" years together.

Says the group in a statement: "The last years have been incredible. It's amazing what we've experienced and accomplished as band as well as individuals. We've met lots of people, talented musicians and other bands. We've traveled to beautiful places and stages and had lots of fun with other bands.

"Even though we split, every one of us will dedicate his life to music — in different bands or projects.

"Thank YOU for your loyal support. Without you, FAREWELL TO ARMS wouldn't have been what it is today.

"We'll play four last gigs next year, like the Domination Festival 2 in Augsburg, Germany. The final three shows will be announced soon."

FAREWELL TO ARMS' debut album, "Perceptions", was released in November 2012 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded at Weltraumstudios in Munich with producer Corni Bartels (HACKNEYED, END OF GREEN) and features guest vocals from THE SORROW's guitarist/vocalist Mathias "Mätze" Schlegel.

FAREWELL TO ARMS is:

Manuel Lotter - DrumsDominik Martin - VocalsJohannes Denk - GuitarGordian Golder - GuitarRoland Gallus - Bass

GUNS N' ROSES and SIXX: A.M. guitarist Daren Jay "DJ" Ashba has designed his own signature Les Paul guitar, to be released in March 2014 by Gibson.

Ashba, who joined GUNS N' ROSES in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck, spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald this past February about being in one of rock 'n' roll's most contentious acts.

"It's the craziest roller-coaster ride you'll ever be on," the 40-year-old axeman said, "but I wake up every day grateful to be in the position I am. I don't know many guitar players out there who wouldn't kill to be in my spot, so I refuse to take it for granted."

In addition sole original member Axl Rose (lead vocals) and Ashba, the current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES includes guitarists Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.

"We're a solid band now," Ashba said. "Before [2009], members were coming and going and it was a different time. We've toured for four years almost constantly and we haven't missed one show since I've been in the band. All that stuff has come to an end and Axl is very inspired."

Ashba, who moved to Las Vegas in January 2012, recently teamed up with BullyVille.com, the Internet's first anti-bullying social web site and media platform. The guitarist also focuses on his media consultancy, fashion line and automotive detailing group.

"I always joke that I play guitar for a hobby and that really I'm an entrepreneur," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. "If you hung out with me at my house you would never know I played in GUNS N' ROSES. I'm not the guy sitting around patting myself on the back. I don't even like the word 'rock star.'"

Ashba married Colombian model Nathalia Henao on September 23 in Las Vegas.

Ashba and Henao made headlines in August when an internal investigation was launched after the guitarist and his girlfriend were given a private tour in a Las Vegas police helicopter so that the rocker could pop the question.

A five-minute 2013 tour video recap from Swedish melodic metallers AMARANTHE can be seen below.

AMARANTHE's sophomore album, "The Nexus", is out now, accompanied by the "Invincible" video directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others. The video was shot on location in Hollywood, Las Vegas, the Nevada desert and the Grand Canyon, amongst other locations, and it's certainly the most ambitious AMARANTHE clip to date.

Comments AMARANTHE guitarist Olof Mörck: "'Invincible' is probably my favourite AMARANTHE song so far, and it's very exciting to see it finally becoming a single and a video! We had an absolute blast shooting it, and this time we flew in Patric Ullaeus and his crew to some kick-ass locations around the USA.

"People have come to expect elaborate videos from AMARANTHE, but this one certainly takes the cake!"

"The Nexus" which sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 12 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.

"The Nexus" was released on March 26 (one day earlier internationally) via Spinefarm. The cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes. The album was once again recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen.

AMARANTHE's first U.S. headline tour kicked off on July 17 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City. Support on the trek came from KOBRA AND THE LOTUS.

AMARANTHE's self-titled debut album was released in Europe in April 2011 via Spinefarm Records.

AMARANTHE vocalist Elize Ryd has been filling the female singer spot on KAMELOT's European, South and North American tours.

Tour recap:

SOULDRINKER — the brand new project featuring Markus Pohl from MYSTIC PROPHECY and rock vocalist Iris Boanta from THE MYSTERY — will release its new EP, "Semper Fidelis II", digitally on January 10 via iTunes and Amazon. The effort was produced by Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69, UNISONIC) and Markus Teske (MOB RULES).

A track from the EP, "Damn The Machine", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

SOULDRINKER's music is described in a press release as "in-your-face-metal with a big groove and heavy riffs."

SOULDRINKER is:

Iris Boanta - VocalsMarkus Pohl - GuitarChris Rodens - BassSteffen Theurer - Drums

SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor has dismissed Internet chatter that drummer Joey Jordison's departure means the end of the Iowa-based metal band.

"For those who think the KNOT are falling apart, you are greatly and sadly mistaken," Taylor writes on Twitter.

"Bring on 2014. Great things are coming. Stay tuned…"

SLIPKNOT announced on December 12 that it had parted ways with Jordison, one of the band's founding members and key songwriters. The group posted a statement at its web site which read, "It is with great pain but quiet respect that, for personal reasons, Joey Jordison and SLIPKNOT are parting ways. We all wish Joey the best in whatever his future holds. We understand that many of you will want to know how and why this has come to be, and we will do our best to respond to these questions in the near future." The statement added, "It is our love for all of you, as well as for the music we create, that spurs us to continue on and move forward with our plans for releasing new material in the next year. We hope that all of you will come to understand this, and we appreciate your continued support while we plan the next phase of the future of SLIPKNOT."

SLIPKNOT is slated to begin work on a new album in 2014, the band's first since the 2010 death of bassist Paul Gray.

Jordison has spent the past few months touring with his new project SCAR THE MARTYR, whose self-titled debut album sold around 3,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 129 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available on October 1 via Roadrunner Records.

In addition to Jordison and lead vocalist Henry Derek Bonner (BLOOD PROMISE), SCAR THE MARTYR's current touring lineup features guitarists Jed Simon (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and Kris Norris (DARKEST HOUR), keyboardist Joey Blush and bassist Kyle Konkiel (IN THIS MOMENT).

Polish death metal veterans VADER recently entered Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland to begin recording their new album for an early 2014 release. The band is laying down a total of 14 songs, including four bonus tracks, for the new CD, which is tentatively titled "Tibi Et Igni", a Latin phrase which translates to "For You And Fire". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Abandon All Hope", "Bring Them To Me" and "Infernal Poetry".

Says the band: "All track[ing] will be done [by] the end of January and whole thing by the February.

"Expect the album in stores about April/May 2014.

"To all expecting new forms, artistic experiments or other pathetic garbage, we say: GO TO HELL!! We are devoted to metal and loyal to our fans.

"VADER was born in the heat of the stages and it was YOU who always keep that fire burning. This new album is our dedication for that power and loyalty!"

VADER's forthcoming effort will mark the recording debut of British drummer James Stewart (DIVINE CHAOS), who replaced Pawel "Paul" Jaroszewicz in 2011.

VADER's latest album, "Welcome To The Morbid Reich", was released in Europe on August 12, 2011 and in North America on September 13, 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records. The effort was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland and features the cover artwork of Zbigniew Bielak (DESTRÖYER 666, WATAIN). The band laid down a total of 12 songs for the CD, which was mixed and mastered in May 2011.

"Relentless: A Memoir", the autobiography from legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, is available as a seven-hour-and-45-minute audiobook from Audible.com.

In "Relentless" — which was released in May via Wiley — Malmsteen relives the greatest and worst moments of his storied career as one of the most admired, talked about, and emulated guitarists in the world — from how he managed to buy his first Strat and assemble his first wall of Marshall amps to the truth behind the title of his 2005 "Unleash The Fury" album and beyond.

At the center of Yngwie's story is his lifelong rebellion against the conventions and restrictions of the Sweden in which he was raised. "Don't stand out," he was told when he dreamed of being a professional musician. "That won't work," he was warned when he wanted to play loud or little-known songs. His entire musical career has been a proclamation that he will stand out, and it will work.

That determination drove the fourteen-year-old Yngwie to make his now legendary "Powerhouse" demo tape, the recording that later caught the ear of Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney, who brought Yngwie to America in 1982. It drove Yngwie to become the de facto leader of two already existing bands before launching a solo career just eighteen months later. It also drove him to act out in sometimes bizarre ways and develop a reputation as a mercurial, perhaps unstable, personality.

Yngwie recounts these incidents with neither pride nor apology, but with a great deal of color. And he gets into the seedy and unscrupulous side of rock and roll, revealing how managers, record companies, and others ripped him off, before his wife, April, rescued both him and his business.

Musicians will be drawn to Yngwie's descriptions of how he composed his greatest songs and his overall approach to composition and to band dynamics. He writes with admiration about musicians, from DEEP PURPLE's Ritchie Blackmore to nineteenth-century violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini, who influenced his playing and the development of his unique neoclassical-metal style.

An audio sample from the audiobook is available below.

Audio sample from audiobook:



Malmsteen was featured on NPR's "Weekend Edition" this May 11. Malmsteen discussed his brand new autobiography, "Relentless: A Memoir"; his latest album, "Spellbound"; and more with program host Scott Simon.

On his frustrations with rock 'n' roll:

Yngwie: "I grew up in a family that was very musical, learned the blues and everything like that. And I became a little bit frustrated with the simplicity of rock 'n' roll and blues. I started listening to a lot of classical music — mainly Bach, Vivaldi. Then one day on TV — I was about 12 or 13 years old — there was a Russian violinist (I can't remember his name) that was playing solo violin: '24 Caprices For Solo Violin' by Niccolò Paganini. I completely freaked out, because I knew that's what I was hearing in my head. I decided I was going to use all of the arpeggios and linear notes and wide vibrato of the violin. I've always been a little bit of an extremist, so I decided to go all of the way."

On Jimi Hendrix and burning guitars:

Yngwie: "My fourth birthday, I was given a violin, and my fifth birthday, a guitar. I didn't start to play until I saw Hendrix on TV. They showed him setting his guitar on fire and burning it for the Monterey Pop Festival. I wanted to learn how to play guitar, so I could smash it up and burn it. I was only a little kid, so that was my incentive. [laughs]"

On guitar shred as a shtick:

Yngwie: "It runs the danger, I think, but I feel very strongly that I've made a statement as a composer, as a performer, well beyond just guitar shredding."

During a brand new interview with Loudwire, guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier of French progressive metallers GOJIRA spoke about the band's plans for 2014.

"We have a lot in our minds," he said.

"There's a lot of stuff we'd like to do — some stuff I can't talk about because it's too early, but definitely a new album. We at least want to work on a new album; that's going to be really important for us.

"There's a platform now for our band to release a record without thinking about anything else because the deal with Roadrunner took a lot of energy and time. It was a big deal for us because we were without a record company, without management, without a crew, without a lot of things. All we had was a lawyer and an accountant and one tech for a couple years until 2009 or 2010.

"We found great management, we signed a deal with Roadrunner, we have a crew on the road — it took us a long time to settle down with people. Now we feel like, 'Okay, all we have to do now is release another album.' This is the platform for us to do it without thinking about other things."

Asked if GOJIRA writes new music on the road, Joseph said: "We always wanted to write on the road and never did it. We're like, 'On this tour [with SLAYER], we have two months together on the road! Let's use this free time to write.'

"I remember we toured for three months with LAMB OF GOD in 2007 and all I did was one riff, one riff! [laughs] It was impossible for us to write on the road. On this tour, for the first time we're like, 'Okay, let's do it this time. What do we need? We need speakers, a computer, keyboards so Mario [Duplantier] can do drums on the bus.'

"There's no room on the bus; it's so small and we need a guitar and a bass and interface and we got all that together.

"It's not easy.

"When you go on tour, you think about the instrument and what's essential. It's a bit of work with all the cables and stuff so we created this small studio in the back lounge of the bus and we did write a lot of riffs this time. We have maybe 20-something ideas, cool riffs, atmospheres, intros, outros and all that stuff. So now we want to put all of this together and make and album."

GOJIRA's fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", sold almost 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "The Way Of All Flesh", opened with 4,200 units back in 2008 to land at No. 138.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" entered the official chart in France at position No. 7 (No. 17 on the digital chart).

"L'Enfant Sauvage" (which translates to "The Wild Child") features 11 tracks of mind-bending, thunderous metal. The CD was recorded at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).

Zach Myers, lead guitarist of the platinum rock band SHINEDOWN, picked up a Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 at the age of fifteen and announced his first SE signature model in 2010.

As a guitarist who has rocked PRS on the stage and teched for several PRS bands, Myers has an intimate understanding of how a guitar should feel and what the build quality should be. After months of design and conversations with Paul Reed Smith's SE team, Zach and PRS are pleased to introduce an all-new SE Zach Myers for 2014.

The 2014 SE Zach Myers features a chambered mahogany body with maple cap, flame maple veneer and single f-hole that provides smooth mid-range tones with a natural, resonant internal reverb. The 22-fret 24.5-inch scale length wide fat neck boasts a satin finish that gives the guitar a very comfortable, woody, worn-in feel. Additional appointments to the SE Zach Myers signature model include PRS adjustable stoptail bridge, vintage style tuners, and PRS SE 245 pickups paired with two volume and two tone controls and a 3-way toggle pickup switch.

"I've been with PRS guitars for 12 years. This is the best PRS I have ever played, and I'm proud that it's mine," says Myers.

For more information the 2014 SE Zach Myers, visit www.prsguitars.com/sezachmyers.

Paul Reed Smith Guitars has welcomed Marty Friedman — one of the most celebrated lead guitarists of thrash metal — to the PRS family of SE signature artists. Known worldwide for his groundbreaking work with MEGADETH and CACOPHONY, Friedman's career to date includes 27 gold and platinum records and 5 Grammy awards. His new SE signature model, a black singlecut with star inlays personally chosen by Friedman, is also a force to be reckoned with.

The SE Marty Friedman features a beveled maple top with mahogany back, a 25" scale length wide fat 22 fret mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard and star inlays, PRS-designed SE locking tuners and PRS's adjustable stoptail bridge. SE humbucking treble and bass pickups with volume and tone for each pickup with a 3-way toggle switch on the upper bout gives players ultimate versatility and control.

"The PRS Marty Friedman signature model was developed over the course of recording 'Inferno' — my most 'guitar demanding' album yet. Its sound is all over that record. PRS has finally created my ultimate go-to guitar," said Friedman.

The introduction of the SE Marty Friedman comes months before the set release of Friedman's studio album "Inferno", which features what Friedman told Guitar World is "the most intense writing and playing I can do." Just as he changed the game of metal and guitar with his revered solo debut "Dragon's Kiss", Friedman's new SE signature model will raise the bar for a new generation of players.

For more information, go to this location.

Former BLACK SABBATH drummer BILL WARD is featured in a new interview with Brooklyn Vegan. An excerpt is available below:
Q: What bands excite you as the torchbearers in modern metal?

Ward: "Oh God, there are so many! Amon Amarth are progressing really well. And I've got to wave the flag for bands like SOILWORK, who are not necessarily new, but what they are doing is progressing, and they're playing so fucking well. Same with a band like DEVILDRIVER, where I'll be listening and wonder 'What are they gonna do next?' I'm blown away by those guys. Another one of my favorite bands is CELTIC FROST. I also really like TODAY IS THE DAY. And - I know it'll never happen, what with Henke's passing, but I also wish we could have a reincarnation of DISFEAR."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

View the short documentary on Ward's artwork 'We Focus. We Persevere.' Only 35 in the edition, 'We Focus. We Persevere.' is one of the most discussed pieces in his Absence of Corners Collection. In the clip below, he discusses what the piece means to him and the mindset behind the title:
Created over the last year, Ward’s collection Absence Of Corners is a highly limited release of fine art of epic size and conceptual. The collection, in its entirety is now available, along with audio commentary on each piece by Ward. Each piece can be reserved at BillWardDrumArt.com.
An extensive process from start to finish, Absence Of Corners took nearly a year to complete. Working with Los Angeles art team SceneFour, Ward utilized a sophisticated formula to create the collection’s visuals, using an array of drumsticks and rhythmic accessories that produce light, much like a painter utilizing brushes and oils. The movements featured within the captured rhythms are then studied and developed into abstract artwork that showcases a dimension not normally seen by the human eye. Each piece in this limited-edition collection is then numbered. All are signed by Ward.

Ward on the project: “When I’m working on new ideas, musically much of what’s played is guided by a visual appearance or shape. Since my early childhood, I’ve played drums in visuals as well as sound. When I write, there’s always an image, sometimes a color attached to what’s being created. I’ve never ‘listened’ to bass notes; I ‘feel’ them. The keyboard’s black notes are dark to me and represent many sad emotions. These examples are simple, natural, childlike applications that have stayed with me. When SceneFour approached me about doing this project, it sounded like an adventurous progression. I am delighted with the captured expressions from my head and my heart. Their arrival onto canvas is beautiful.”

To develop the art collection, Ward utilized the expertise of art team SceneFour. Based in Los Angeles, SceneFour specializes in working with music visionaries on the creation of fine artwork. SceneFour’s previous art collaborations have included releases with Chuck D, Bootsy Collins, Page Hamilton, and The RZA. Over the last several years, SceneFour’s focus has been on the development and publishing of rhythm on canvas collections, with Ward’s collection being the largest release to date with a total of 18 different pieces featured and ranging in size (30" x 18" to the epic 85" x 30").

Ward discusses the collection in the following video:

THE LOCAL BAND, the Finnish covers act featuring Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Jussi69 (THE 69 EYES), Olli Herman (RECKLESS LOVE) and Archie Kuosmanen (SANTA CRUZ), played a one-off show this past Friday, December 27 at Tavastia in Helsinki, Finland. The group's setlist consisted of 1980s "hair metal" classics, around 30 songs for which have been rehearsed, including tracks originally written and recorded by VAN HALEN, GUNS N' ROSES, POISON and MÖTLEY CRÜE.

"This is a fun break from everything that we normally do," the band's founder, Jussi69, told Ilta-Sanomat.

"We do not have any plans for the future," he added.

"Alexi and the rest of us all have other commitments of our own.

"This is a one-time-only concert. At least for now.

"For us, this is just for fun.

"This is a Christmas present for our fans."

THE LOCAL BAND's setlist was as follows:

01. Shout At The Devil (MÖTLEY CRÜE)02. Looks That Kill (MÖTLEY CRÜE)03. Yankee Rose (DAVID LEE ROTH)04. Fallen Angel (POISON)05. Slave To The Grind (SKID ROW)06. Too Young To Fall In Love (MÖTLEY CRÜE)07. Round & Round (RATT)08. Guitar battle: Alexi Laiho vs. Arttu "Archie" Kuosmanen09. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (VAN HALEN)10. Nothin' But A Good Time (POISON)11. Wanted Dead Or Alive (BON JOVI)12. Unskinny Bop (POISON)13. Panama (VAN HALEN)14. Nightrain (GUNS N' ROSES)15. Rock And Roll All Nite (KISS)

Check out fan-filmed video footage below.

CHILDREN OF BODOM will make its triumphant return to North America this February. The band has announced a six-week major market headlining tour that will kick off on February 14 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada and hit 32 markets across the U.S. and Canada before wrapping with a two-night stand at New York City's Irving Plaza on March 28 and March 29. The tour will feature support from folk metal heroes TÝR and represents CHILDREN OF BODOM's first Stateside headlining run since the release of the band's new LP, "Halo Of Blood".

A representative for Musicmetric, an entertainment forecasting startup that analyzes BitTorrent and social media data, has refuted a widespread report that British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN used the company's analytics to plan its tours.

A December 20 article on the CiteWorld tech blog claimed that MAIDEN analyzed BitTorrent data to plan a concert tour in South America, implying that Musicmetric directly advised the band to on how to map out the countries where its music is most popular.

Musicmetric's head of PR, Andrew Teacher, has since issued a statement saying that the company never worked directly with IRON MAIDEN and that the CiteWorld article referenced above is "sadly not substantiated." According to the updated CiteWorld post, the Musicmetric analysis "was carried out without the band's participation or knowledge... [with] no confirmation that the band ever saw or used it."

Musicmetric's full statement about CiteWorld's original article:

"We never stated or implied that IRON MAIDEN had used our analytics to plan its tours.

"[On November 29] The Guardian correctly published Musicmetric data showing the band's BitTorrent and social engagement after the band was named one of the UK's fastest growing companies a London Stock Exchange report. They were far older than many newer names in the report and we wanted to see why MAIDEN were in there. The data provided an interesting insight, showing just how many fans they'd added through intense touring across emerging markets and highlighting via BitTorrent data precisely where they were popular.

"This is precisely how Musicmetric's analytics are used by artist managers and labels: to see where their artists are popular and what drives that popularity.

"However, the CiteWorld story is sadly not substantiated. It is a follow-up of a Guardian piece and it misrepresents our position by stating that the success was down to use of analytics, which we simply never said nor implied.

"Musicmetric never said IRON MAIDEN had used its data to plan a tour — we simply said where the band was popular and stated that BitTorrent data generally, could be useful to see precisely where an act is popular."

Candi Spitz, the wife of former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz, says that she will not press charges against her husband for allegedly assaulting her Christmas morning.

The 50-year-old musician was arrested at he couple's home in Lake Worth, Florida when Candi's mother called 911 to report he was trying to choke his wife.

"I'm not planning on pursuing this in court," Candi, 38, tells GossipExtra.com. "This was a big misunderstanding. My mom should've never called 911."

She adds: "[Dan and I] were separated for a week last year, and Christmas Eve was the first anniversary.

"The stress level at home has been astronomical. Our children are both autistic and Dan may have early onset Parkinson's Disease.

"We were all drinking wine, and he just snapped."

According to Candi, the confrontation happened when her husband started packing her bags, and she stood in his way.

"No matter what's in the police report," Candi says, "he never hit me or tried to harm me. He did shove me, and unfortunately I bruised my shoulder.

"But come on: He's 5 feet tall and 100 pounds all wet. And I kick box. He could never harm me if he tried."

Spitz spent the night in jail and was released early Thursday afternoon.

The couple, along with their 7-year-old twins, was spotted at Zoo Miami this afternoon, according to GossipExtra.com.

Dan Spitz is a born-again Christian and Messianic Jew and in interviews has frequently cited his faith as an influential component to his life.

Spitz took part in the reunion of ANTHRAX's classic lineup in 2005 and 2006 but left the band after ANTHRAX's most recent split with singer Joey Belladonna.

Reformed Swedish hard rockers SKINTRADE have inked a deal with AOR Heaven Records for the release of their comeback album, "Refueled". Due in February 2014, the CD was mixed by Oscar Ammer, frontman and songwriter of STEREOLITH, at Echobox Studio in Stockholm and will include the songs "Liar", "Been To The Bottom", "Close My Eyes" and "Dynamo Sequence", among others.

According to SKINTRADE, the band's new album represents "everything they stood for in the past, and exactly where they are musically at the present."

"Our focus always was and always will be on the songwriting and the ferocious riffs and grooves to match," says the group.

Video footage of SKINTRADE performing acoustic versions of the new songs "Been To The Bottom" and "Close My Eyes" can be seen below.

SKINTRADE's "best-of" album, "Past And Present", was released in March 2012 via Universal Music. The CD includes three new songs and 12 classics.

SKINTRADE was formed in 1992 by Matti Alfonzetti (vocals), George Bravo (guitar, backing vocals), Stefan Bergström (guitar, backing vocals), Hakan Calmroth (bass) and Håkan Persson (drums, backing vocals). The group's self-titled debut was released in 1993 and received overwhelmingly positive respnse from both media and audience. The singles "Sick As A Dog" and "One By One" were played frequently on the radio and their videos spun on MTV's "Headbangers Ball". The same year, SKINTRADE was honored with a Zeppelin award for "Best Hard Rock Album" and was nominated for a Swedish Grammis (Grammy equivalent) in the category of "Best Video." The follow-up CD, "Roach Powder", came out in 1995 with Thomas Skogsberg as a producer (ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER). The videos for the singles "Snap Goes Your Mind" and "Flies" were played regularly on MTV.

Between 1993 and 1995, SKINTRADE embarked on several tours of Europe and played at some of Sweden's and Europe's biggest festivals such as Sweden Rock, Hultsfred, Dala Rock, Dynamo Open Air (Holland) and Rock Am Ring (Germany). SKINTRADE also supported the Danish band D-A-D on their European tour in 1995. One of their last and most memorable gigs took place in late 1995 with the Irish band THERAPY? during a live radio show in Amsterdam, Netherlands. SKINTRADE disbanded shortly thereafter.

The idea for the SKINTRADE members to collaborate again came about as they got more and more requests from fans asking them to make new music. During the first rehearsal in May 2011, it became obvious that the band's chemistry was very much intact.

In the summer and autumn of 2011, SKINTRADE recorded four new songs at Sound Trade Studios with their old friend and partner Ronny Lahti, engineer and producer who previously worked with the band on all the recordings in the '90s.

SKINTRADE 2013 is:

Matti Alfonzetti - Vocals, GuitarStefan Bergström - Guitar, Backing VocalsHåkan Calmroth - BassHåkan Persson - Drums, Backing Vocals



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According to The Pulse Of Radio, CHEVELLE stepped away from the spotlight for most of the past year, but the band is getting back to business in 2014. The Chicago-based trio is in the studio now working on its seventh album and has posted a brief video of frontman Pete Loeffler figuring out a new riff on his guitar while producer Joe Barresi comments in the background. Previous posts have included further looks inside the studio as well as a glimpse of the old school Studer A800 tape machine the band intends to record on, indicating that they're taking the analog route this time.

CHEVELLE's last all-new studio effort, "Hats Off To The Bull", arrived in 2011. It featured the No. 1 rock hit "Face To The Floor".

CHEVELLE's next album will be its last for Sony Music, and Loeffler told The Pulse Of Radio he's not sure how the band will proceed after that. "You know, in a perfect world, we'd like to just do it all on our own," he said. "I think that's what every band probably, after five or six records, probably wants to do. I mean, you want more control — I mean, I do. Hey, I'd love to put out my own music. If that can be possible, we would probably do it."

Last December, CHEVELLE released "Stray Arrows: A Collection Of Favorites", a 12-track set featuring all 11 of the band's Top 10 rock/alternative singles, including "Jars", "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)", "The Red", "I Get It", "Face To The Floor", "Send The Pain Below" and more.

ONE MACHINE, the brainchild of acclaimed guitarist/songwriter Steve Smyth (TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE, FORBIDDEN, DRAGONLORD, VICIOUS RUMORS), will release its debut album, "The Distortion Of Lies And The Overdriven Truth", on February 18, 2014 via Scarlet Records. The CD was recorded and produced by Steve Smyth and was mixed by Roy Z (JUDAS PRIEST, BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD). It was mastered by Alan Douches (3 INCHES OF BLOOD, FIREWIND, SEPULTURA) at West West Side Music, with artwork created by Niklas Sundin from Cabin Fever Media (DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY), complemented with photography from Anthony Dubois (MESHUGGAH, MNEMIC).

The song "One Machine" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

ONE MACHINE is an international metal band with classic and modern influences, featuring members carefully selected by Smyth: Mikkel Sandager (MERCENARY) on vocals, Jamie Hunt (BIOMECHANICAL) sharing guitar duties, rounded out by a powerhouse rhythm section with Tomas "O'Beast" Koefoed (MNEMIC) on bass guitar and Michele Sanna on drums (although former drummer Raphael Saini of Italian progressive metallers CHAOSWAVE played on the album).

Smyth had often given thought to leading his own band throughout his distinguished career as a member of bands including TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE and FORBIDDEN, among others. He had written a number of songs, but the challenge of finding the right members to bring them to life remained. He found a more than capable shredding second guitarist in Jamie Hunt, and the two began collaborating on the material Smyth had.

"Jamie's playing complements mine extremely well, and we hit it off perfectly when we got together to work on the songs," says Smyth. A vocalist was found in the form of original MERCENARY singer Mikkel Sandager. He fit the kind of singer Smyth was looking for, with his versatile ability to sing in different ways, and his readiness to be pushed into new musical territories.

"When our former bands toured together, I got to witness night after night, exactly what Mikkel could do; deliver a solid performance with an incredible range, as well as multiple characters in his voice," says Steve. "He's perfect for this band!"

Smyth, Hunt and Sandager then set about refining and shaping Smyth's original material.

In 2012, Koefoed came on board, adding his distinctive sound to the tracks.

"Tomas is without a doubt one of the most solid bassists I've encountered in some time," says Smyth. "He literally added an entirely new dimension to these songs that would not have been possible to be achieved without him."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, the town of Hoquiam, Washington will declare April 10, 2014 as Nirvana Day. Hoquiam's mayor, Jack Durney, reportedly spoke on the legendary rock group, saying, "They bring great honor, I think as I say, to our entire community. And I think that it's good Kurt Cobain lived in Hoquiam for a little while, but he and Krist Novoselic are part of our community, and I think it's good to honor our sons and their great accomplishments." As previously reported, NIRVANA will also be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. They will be honored alongside KISS, Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens and several others.

The Rock Hall induction ceremony will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on April 10 — the same day NIRVANA is set to receive their day in Hoquiam.

Both events will take place five days following the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death.

Dallas Toler-Wade, guitarist/vocalist of the death metal band NILE, has launched a new project called NARCOTIC WASTELAND.

NARCOTIC WASTELAND's debut album will be released mid-January 2014 and will be made available via the band's web site as well as iTunes, Spotify and Amazon.

NARCOTIC WASTELAND started as a side project Dallas had been working on for the past few years when he was not touring or in the writing/studio mode with NILE. "The more songs I completed for NARCOTIC WASTELAND, the more I wanted to put a full band lineup together," he explained.

Dallas asked longtime friend Edwin Rhone (lead guitar, vocals) if he was interested in joining the new group. They both had played in metal bands together in the early-to-mid 1990s. Edwin later recommended Chris Dupre for bass and vocals.

Dallas stated: "Chris came in and not only knew his parts, but owned them with lots of attitude. So the only thing left was finding a drummer. After trying out several drummers from all over the States over two years, my bandmate in NILE, George Kollias, recommended Erik Schultek. Erik did not only nail the material, but fit very well to the style and sound of the music."

NARCOTIC WASTELAND is:

Dallas Toler-Wade - Guitar/VocalsEdwin Rhone - Guitar/VocalsChris Dupre - Bass/VocalsErik Schultek - Drums

A video teaser for the forthcoming debut album, "Tattooed Woman", from MIRACLE MASTER, the German/Danish hard rock band formed out of the ashes of PUMP, can be seen below. The clip was created by Dominic Pencz of Pencz Art and Krone Camera Edit.

"Tattooed Woman" will be released in the spring via Golden Core Records/ZYX Music. The CD was recorded at Studio 22 in Germany and was produced, mixed and mastered by MIRACLE MASTER and Axel Heckert (BRAINSTORM, SYMPHORCE).

MIRACLE MASTER recently signed a worldwide management contract with Germany’s RockNGrowl Management.

MIRACLE MASTER is:

* Oliver Weers (OLIVER WEERS BAND) - Vocals* Aki Reissmann (ex-PUMP, DOWNSPIRIT) - Guitar* Selly Bernhardt (ex-PUMP, TALES OF SORROW) - Guitar* Andy Minich (ex-PUMP, UNFROYND) - Drums* Michael Vetter (ex-PUMP, CHINCHILLA) - Bass

Video footage of Virginia hardcore thrashbangers IRON REAGAN, who feature within their crossover ranks Tony Foresta (MUNICIPAL WASTE), LandPhil Hall (MUNICIPAL WASTE, CANNABIS CORPSE), Ryan Parrish (ex-DARKEST HOUR), Mark Bronzino (MAMMOTH GRINDER, ANS) and Rob Skotis (HELLBEAR), performing on December 20 at The Talent Farm in Pembroke Pines, Florida can be seen below.

IRON REAGAN's vinyl-only split 12-inch with California's favorite gore-sworn death metal deviants EXHUMED will be released on January 7, 2014 via Tankcrimes. A profane union of spirits, the split offers up eight unrepentant tracks that spout more unexpurgated fury than a pack of wild badgers. Writes Invisible Oranges: "IRON REAGAN rocked some worlds earlier this year with their pissed off whirlwind of a debut full-length, 'Worse Than Dead'. That album, with songs that average around a minute-thirty and nail the punk and hardcore divide with a thrashy attitude, thematically resurrects the spirits of Cold War-era fears to take on today's politically charged topics like gun control and reproductive rights... Foresta's voice is certainly a defining characteristic in IRON REAGAN, but this isn't MUNICIPAL WASTE 2.0."

A performance clip of the song "Metropolis Pt. 1", taken from "Dream Theater: Live At Luna Park", the new concert film from progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER, can be seen below.

"Dream Theater: Live At Luna Park" sold around 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 1 on the Top Music Videos chart.

"Dream Theater: Live At Luna Park" came out on November 5 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on 2DVD, Blu-ray, visual digital formats and a deluxe edition. The deluxe edition is an 11.5-inch square 60-page hardback photobook containing the Blu-ray, 2 DVDs and 3 CDs presenting all the key physical formats in one release; the CDs are only available in this deluxe edition. These releases boast the 160 minute main show — accompanied by a wealth of bonus material — and feature many of the band's classic tracks, including "Metropolis Pt. 1", "The Silent Man", "Pull Me Under", "The Root Of All Evil", "The Test That Stumped Them All", "The Spirit Carries On" and the recent "On The Backs Of Angels".

DREAM THEATER began their mammoth "A Dramatic Tour Of Events" world trek in July 2011 with the final leg in South America taking place in August 2012. It was here at the Luna Park Arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that they decided to film the two nights that make up this DVD release. The "Live At Luna Park" band lineup for this show is James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Jordan Rudess (keyboards); John Myung (bass); and Mike Mangini (drums). This was DREAM THEATER's first tour and album with their new drummer and all the tracks from that album, "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", are included in either the main show or the bonus performances.

The bonus features offer live versions of six great tracks: "These Walls"; "Build Me Up, Break Me Down"; "Caught In A Web"; "Wait For Sleep"; "Far From Heaven"; and "Pull Me Under". Also on "Live At Luna Park" is a documentary, the trailer for the cinema release of the film, a "behind-the-scenes" feature and the cartoon intro that ran on big screens prior to the band taking to the stage in Buenos Aires. The Blu-ray additionally features six multi-angle options on "Outcry".

According to The Globe And Mail, a reissue of RUSH's 1974 debut album to celebrate the LP's 40th anniversary will be made available next year. The source of the information is Universal Music Canada's VP of catalog marketing Ivar Hamilton, who says the members of RUSH are "very involved" in the process of putting the package together.

No other details regarding the reissue are currently available, but it will likely include a remaster of the album, and new and expanded liner notes.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, RUSH's 20th studio album, "Clockwork Angels", will be adapted into a comic book next spring. The six-issue series will be published by independent company Boom! Studios beginning in March 2014. The 2012 concept album was already the basis of a novel by science fiction writer Kevin J. Anderson, who worked closely with RUSH drummer and lyricist Neil Peart to develop the storyline. Anderson will also be writing the comic book series. He promised that the comics will contain snippets of lyrics and other hidden references to earlier RUSH albums, saying, "We think RUSH fans are attentive and intelligent. It just gives them the extra thrill of seeing that this isn't just a straightforward story. There's a lot of interconnected things, too.”

Peart said about the idea of expanding upon the album's concept, "Kevin and I had talked for years about combining a novel and an album in some fashion, but I guess the idea had to grow up as Kevin and I did — gaining maturity and confidence in our own separate crafts, while gaining the life experience necessary to give the story its scale and depth."

The coming-of-age story is about a naive youngster in a turn-of-the-century world of airborne steam liners, pirates, carnivals, alchemists and wind-up contraptionsRUSH recently released a new live DVD titled "Clockwork Angels Tour". The band was filmed and recorded last November at a Dallas concert for the project.

Neil Peart and Kevin J. Anderson have been friends for more than 25 years.

(Thanks: RushIsABand.com)

MY ACUMEN, the new band featuring former FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bassist Matt Snell alongside guitarists Lamont Edgar (MAYA HYENA, SON OF SANFORD) and Andy Nixon (EYES ON FIRE), singer Mike Gerdts and drummer Tim Hassemer, has made its debut five-song EP available for streaming and download at MyAcumenMusic.com.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Burn02. Fireflies03. In The End04. Straight Jacket Memories05. Scars Of Broken Dreams

Speaking to Hollywood Music Magazine, Snell stated about the new project's debut release: "We decided that in the spirit of the season that we would do a free download of our first EP.

"What we have done is taken the first five songs we have; we are giving them away because we want people to hear the music.

"There's way too much emphasis from bands trying to make money and personally I don't believe in Kickstarter programs and asking people for money to make a record for you.

"We made a record and we like what we did with it: some songs to find a direction and these songs are our best attempt at being radio friendly, but the newer stuff that we are writing now are definitely more technical and definitely less arranged in the radio format.

"It was fun to write those first songs. We really like what we have so far and we are not going to stray too far from it, but we have some very talented players in this band. And with me my favorite bands are [PINK] FLOYD and OPETH and old [BLACK] SABBATH and stuff like that… Bands like INTRONAUT, which is one of my favorite bands, and MASTODON, so we're going to start experimenting and back to what I used to play when I enjoyed playing. When it was fun."

Regarding what is next for MY ACUMEN, Snell said: "We are currently wrapping up a whole another set of songs, working on the more experimental stuff and having fun with it. And I'm an engineer, and have been for years, so it's nice to get back to create new sounds and find new sounds which haven't been used, or at least haven't been overused. Focusing less on monetary reward and focus on personal reward by creating songs that you want to listen to.

"Our end goal is to write a complete album that you can listen to front to back and that hasn't happened for a long time. Not for me, anyway. That happened for me when I was a young child, which was the end of that era, and I think that needs to come back.

"We are trying to make a good record and that is our total focus. We want to make a good record."

Quality video footage of EXODUS performing the song "Bonded By Blood" on December 20 at Slim's in San Francisco, California can be seen below (courtesy of Rock Hard Live).

EXODUS mainman and current SLAYER touring guitarist Gary Holt told Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone about his plans for a new EXODUS studio album: "I'm heavily in riff mode [right now]. It's always hard to gauge where a record's going right away, but you kind of get a feel for where you're headed mentally, and right now it's really fast. It's ridiculous.

"I wanna make sure that the [next EXODUS] album is as good as it needs to be, and knowing I am going to be on a tight time frame, it does tend to stress me out quite a bit. But I think I write well under stress… I hate the pressure. But I do what I gotta do. We all do. So we'll make it happen."

EXODUS recently completed a European tour of 17 cities, with stops in Barcelona, Dublin, London and more. Although SLAYER tapped the talents of Gary Holt for their European tour, Holt performed at select EXODUS dates. When Holt was not performing with EXODUS, HEATHEN guitarist Kragen Lum was filling in on guitar.

EXODUS' latest album, "Exhibit B: The Human Condition", was released in North America on May 18, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The CD sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 114 on The Billboard 200 chart.

EXODUS' previous album, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", opened with 3,600 units back in October 2007.

Veteran Swedish hard rockers 220 VOLT entered the studio on December 19 to begin recording their as-yet-untitled new album for a May 2014 release. So far, six songs have been laid down, and another batch will be tracked in mid-January.

220 VOLT earlier in the year announced the addition of singer Anders Engberg (THERION, LION'S SHARE) to the group's ranks. The band's current line is completed by founding members Thomas Drevin and Mats Karlsson on guitar, returning drummer Peter Hermansson and Mike Krusenberg on bass.

220 VOLT described its new songs as "as classic hard rock/metal — a bit harder than before, but still melodic."

Sony/BMG reissued 220 VOLT's first five albums ("220 Volt", "Power Games", "Mind Over Muscle", "Young And Wild" and "Eye To Eye") digitally with some bonus tracks added on to the "Power Games" and "Eye To Eye" LPs. They are now available on iTunes, Spotify and similar platforms.

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of 220 VOLT's self-titled first LP and the 25th anniversary of their landmark effort, "Eye To Eye". The band released short stories on their Facebook page about the recordings of each of their albums. They're posted in chronological order and take us album by album up to date.

Ex-NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon has slammed her former bandmates, claiming that she had "no say" during her time with the band and insisting she was fired from the group shortly after announcing that she was pregnant with her third child.

Olzon, who will release her debut solo album, "Shine", in February, gave an extensive interview to Finland's largest women's weekly magazine, Me Naiset, in which she spoke about the circumstances that led to her split with NIGHTWISH. A few excerpts from the chat follow below (translated from Finnish).

On how her experience may be similar to what former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen went through years earlier:

"It would be interesting to [speak] with Tarja and talk about our experiences [while we were members of the band]."

"What happened to Tarja happened to me — I was fired."

On splitting with NIGHTWISH after coming down with a stomach flu and becoming hospitalized in September 2012 during the band's North American tour:

"No one from the band visited me while I was in the hospital."

"I suggested we cancel shows until I was well enough to return to the road but the boys didn't want to even consider that. [Former AFTER FOREVER and current REVAMP singer] Floor Jansen had replaced me before I had recovered."

On the emotions she went through — first shock, then anger and sorrow — after her departure from NIGHTWISH, which she compared to a divorce:

"I wondered what I had done wrong to deserve this. I was also, of course, worried that I wouldn't be able to support my family."

On how her marriage to her now-ex-husband suffered as a result of the pressure she felt during NIGHTWISH's heavy touring schedule after she joined the band:

"[Travelling between shows] in Brazil and Argentina was scary. People were pulling my cheeks, grabbing and pulling my hair. It was causing so much anxiety that I had panic attacks."

"I was stressed out over my personal life while we were on tour, but I didn't want to take it out on the band. I believe the boys saw I was falling apart, but I didn't get much support from them."

"Emotionally, the toughest part was that the boys decided everything for me. I had no say. If Tuomas [Holopainen, NIGHTWISH keyboardist/mainman] decided that we would go to Africa, off we went."

On how the finances in NIGHTWISH were split (Anette claims the four men in NIGHTWISH controlled millions of euros in revenue through their company Scene Nation, which she wanted to be an employee of, but she had to start her own company, Momma Anka AB, instead. She also claims her company had a loss of 72,800 euros in 2010. During the same period, Scene Nation had a profit of 351,000 euros):

"The concert salaries and royalties were divided evenly, but other income went directly to the men.

"Running a company alone was expensive. I had to borrow money from the boys to start it up."

On not being bitter about how things ended with NIGHTWISH and unresolved feelings she has from the split with the band:

"I've often thought about calling Tuomas to get some closure.

"I don't think this is over yet."

On leading a normal family life in Helsingborg, Sweden and readying her first solo album:

"Only now I can say I am happy.

"Bad experiences have a meaning too.

"I am no longer that overly self-conscious girl who tries to please others and pretend that everything is always right."

In response to Olzon's Me Naiset interview, the members of NIGHTWISH released a statement (translated from Finnish) via their official web site in which they disputed many of the claims made by their former singer, insisting that the article was "full of twisted truths and defamation."

NIGHTWISH's statement reads as follows:

"Welcome to the laundry room...

"The interview of our former vocalist Anette in Me Naiset magazine is full of twisted truths and defamation. This 'one woman vs. the Neanderthals' scenario is an easy to way to take advantage of our media history.

"The split with Anette wasn't because of pregnancy or illness. We discovered her personality didn't fit this work community, and was even detrimental to it.

"These claims we can invalidate right away:

"Claim: Moments [before being fired], Anette had told Tuomas Holopainen of her pregnancy

"Truth: Anette told of her pregnancy to the whole band already a week earlier in Montreal. Everyone was congratulative, and Anette herself offered an option of hiring a replacement vocalist if she can't manage everything, which was already agreed on. Later she took back her decision, and the difficulties really started. Fear of losing money and position seemed obvious.

"Claim: The boys of the band decided everything for me

"Truth: Neither Tuomas nor any other of the boys of the band can singlehandedly decide where we take off to and when. There have been discussions inside the band and support of people on a personal level. Also Anette. Managers and promoters discuss about possible concerts, record releases, etc., and wishes of all the band members have been taken into account. All these details have been negotiated with Anette and her manager. We have the e-mails.

"To keep the touring life bearable, it's reasonable and right to make things comfortable on a personal level. Based on these discussions, Anette was given liberties from interviews and fan meetings. She and her family got an own tour bus and driver in both Europe and America. The expenses were paid by the organization, not Anette or her company. Others of the band didn't use similar benefits.

"Claim: Other income went directly to the men

"Truth: Anette and her company has been paid a fifth of everything that was done during her time and with her. We have no reason to lie, because this cake has provided enough slices for us all. The finances of the band have always been handled openly, honestly and evenhandedly. The books exist. How individual members spend their share is up to their own responsibility.

"We neither want to nor intend to comment this more now.

"Doing the laundry is tiring. Remember to help your ladies with that occasionally."

Sweden’s EVOCATION has announced the addition of Simon Exner as the new guitar player of the band. The band has released the following:

“The time has come to reveal the identity of the new guitar player of Evocation – please welcome Simon Exner! Simon is previously known for his amazing guitar work in the Swedish death metal outfit AS YOU DROWN (Metal Blade Records). Evocation is extremely proud to add such a raw and pure talent who has lived and breathed death metal since he was spawned. Simon and all the guys from AYD have been close friends of Evocation since the reunion in 2005 and Simon has also worked for Evocation as crew and studio engineer.

So for Evocation it was an easy and obvious choice since his guitar playing is brilliant and the chemistry between him and the rest of the band has always been great. Also just to make clear, Simon will also continue working with AYD as usual. As we already revealed last week, Simon and Marko are already working on the fifth Evocation full length album. More updates on the new material will follow shortly so stay tuned. In the meantime also show some support for our friends in As You Drown!”
Exner comments: “I've been a close friend with the band ever since Tales From The Tomb, following them on shows and also working with them on the tracking of their latest release, Excised And Anatomised. When Marko approached me regarding the open spot as guitarist in Evocation, I didn't hesitate one second. We work great together in the studio and the new tracks written so far for the next album are truly KILLER!

I can't wait to play some great Evocation songs live and meet all of you awesome people! See ya soon!"

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