Reactivated Swedish old-school death metallers INTERMENT have issued the following update:

"Well, INTERMENT is still alive if you have been wondering and finally we have some good news to share with you:

* INTERMENT will enter the studio next weekend (March 8-10) to nail four new songs and one oldie for some split EPs. One of them will be a 10-inch split with our fellows in BRUTALLY DECEASED (Czech Republic) released by Lavadome Productions spring 2013. Then we'll contribute with one song for the 'Imperial Anthems' split seven-inch series released by Cyclone Empire and also to a split seven-inch with ANATOMIA (Japan) released by Goatgrind Records in the end of the year.

* The 'Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy' will be re-released on LP by Black Vomit Records soon. It will be 333 copies on black and white vinyls. The LP was first released by Cyclone Empire 2010 in 500 copies on red vinyl and is sold out.

* We don't have any gigs/tours/festivals 2013 booked or confirmed so far but we're working on it and will let you know as soon as we can!

* For those who wonder when we will get the fingers out and record a new full-length, we can't tell you more than we hope to enter the studio earliest this autumn/winter. Be patient, freaks..."

"Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy" was recorded at Erebos Studios with Peter Bjärgo (TYRANT, CRYPT OF KERBEROS). The cover artwork was created by Polish artist Rafal Kruszyk.

INTERMENT released a split CD with FUNEBRARUM, "Conjuration Of The Sepulchral", in January 2007 on Conqueror Of Thorn Records.

The band played its first gig since 1992 at Daniel Ekeroth's (INSISION bassist) release party for his book "Swedish Death Metal" on January 26, 2007 at Kafe 44 in Stockholm.

INTERMENT made its first appearance outside Sweden at the 2007 edition of the Party.San Metal Open Air festival, which was held August 9-11, 2007 in Bad Berka, Germany.

"Mechanical Illusion", a brand new song from Swedish melodic metallers AMARANTHE, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's sophomore album, "The Nexus", which will be released on March 26 (one day earlier internationally) via Spinefarm. The cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes and can be seen below. The album was once again recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen.

Comments AMARANTHE guitarist/composer Olof Mörck: "To give a second taster of 'The Nexus' is truly exciting! The first single and title track showed a familiar, yet amped-up AMARANTHE. 'Mechanical Illusion' is quite different from what people have heard from us so far. Probably the heaviest track yet, a dystopian vision steeped in a darkened futuristic atmosphere, combined with a mega-catchy chorus that is likely to ring in your head for days. Brace yourselves, the illusion is upon us!"

"The Nexus" track listing:

01. Afterlife
02. Invincible
03. The Nexus
04. Theory Of Everything
05. Stardust
06. Burn With Me
07. Mechanical Illusion
08. Razorblade
09. Future On Hold
10. Electroheart
11. Transhuman
12. Infinity

The album's title track was released as the first single single via iTunes and the video the track was 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. Check out the clip below.

Commented Mörck: "This time we went all the way with our futuristic dream-nightmare — a no-compromise vision steeped in deep contrast between the mechanically ultra-heavy and shimmering serene melody. 'The Nexus' is everything we dreamed about doing with our debut album; we laboured to make this offering as diverse as it is direct and catchy… and remember, no-one can be told what 'The Nexus' is — you have to hear it for yourself!"

He added: "Our main inspiration behind the ['The Nexus'] video was to create a decidedly cinematic feel, in the vein of a Hollywood action movie, with a slightly darker angle than our previous videos. We wanted to have lots of extras and explosive action scenes, and we wanted it to be done well; we knew Patric Ullaeus was the right man for the job. The end result is a dynamic, intense and entertaining music video with an original flair."

The guitarist previously stated about the upcoming CD: "We have lived and breathed the same 12 songs from the first album every day for a year now, and to introduce a number of completely fresh tracks will really lift AMARANTHE to the next level!
"The theme and atmosphere of the album is futuristic and ultra modern, [and] the music itself [is] instantly recognizable as AMARANTHE, but there is definitely a new and unique twist to the songs.

"People often ask us if there is a big pressure to follow up such a successful album, and always say 'no, not one bit.' Not when you sit down and listen to new tracks such as 'Invincible', 'Burn With Me' and 'Stardust'. We simply cannot wait to hit the road all over the world with these new babies!"

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.

AMARANTHE is:

* Olof Mörck (NIGHTRAGE, DRAGONLAND) - Guitar, Keyboards
* Jake E (ex-DREAM EVIL, DREAMLAND) - Clean Vocals
* Andy Solveström (WITHIN Y, EVILDOER, CIPHER SYSTEM) - Screams
* Morten Lowe Sorensen (THE ARCANE ORDER, SUBMISSION) - Drums
* Johan Andreassen (ex-ENGEL) - Bass
* Elize Ryd - Female Vocals

Finnish melancholic dark metal forerunners AMORPHIS have set "Circle" as the title of their eleventh album, due on April 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. Production and mixing duties for the follow-up to 2011's "The Beginning Of Times" were handled by HYPOCRISY and PAIN mastermind Peter Tägtgren, who has previously worked with such bands as CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL and DIMMU BORGIR. The recordings took place at Petrax Studio (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KORPIKLAANI) in Hollola and 5K Studios in Helsinki. The cover artwork was created by Tom Bates (BLEED FROM WITHIN, DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL) and can be seen below.
Commented AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen: "The mystic, androgynous person on the cover represents a spiritual guide. This character was sent from another time and place to help the album's protagonist find a new path for his life."

"Circle" track listing:

01. Shades Of Gray
02. Mission
03. The Wanderer
04. Narrow Path
05. Hopeless Days
06. Nightbird's Song
07. Into The Abyss
08. Enchanted By The Moon
09. A New Day
10. Dead Man's Dream (bonus track)

The album's limited digibook version will come with a bonus DVD containing the following:

* The Making Of "Circle"
* Nightbird's Song (video clip)

The official lyric video for the song "Hopeless Days" can be seen below.

Apart from the CD+DVD digibook version, "Circle" will be available on CD (without the bonus track), black 2LP in gatefold, brown 2LP in gatefold and as a bulging limited box, including three bonus tracks and a wristband — exclusively via the Nuclear Blast mail order.

A short summary about the album's concept/story that spreads throught out the lyrics by Pekka Kainulainen, who wrote the lyrics for most recent AMORPHIS albums: "The protagonist has been dealt a bad hand at birth. He’s always felt himself an outsider with strong potential to become marginalized. Through an accident, after a crisis, he finds a connection with his inner powers. A guide is sent to him, from some other time and place. He gets a chance to take hold of his own life and change his destiny. From the past of Carelian Finland he finds his own spiritual tribe and the power to turn the course of his doomed life. This is a story of survival."

Joutsen added about the album title: "'Circle' represents integrity. Back in the days, when there was something special to talk about, wise men used to sit in circle. Not everyone was invited to join them. But in this story, the protagonist was invited among the wise men's circle."

Regarding the direction of the new AMORPHIS material, the band's guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen said: "While promoting 'The Beginning Of Times', we started to feel that we were giving the same explanations over and over again when people asked about the studio process and how the songs came about. Even though the music was very strong, the making process didn't offer any surprises and appeared to be quite secured. Now the addition of a new dimension to the developing process has inspired us to focus on our material even more. The songs are extremely strong, bombastic and skull-pummelling."

"The Beginning Of Times" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.

Heavy music presenter Christina Rowatt of Soundwave TV conducted an interview with SLAYER guitarist Kerry King on Sunday (February 24) at the Sydney stop of this year's Soundwave festival in Australia. You can now watch the chat in two parts below.

On how stand-in drummer Jon Dette is doing on the Soundwave festival tour:

Kerry: "It's amazing that yesterday was the fifth time we played — period. It was just devastating; it was awesome. He's doing really good, because if we didn't say anything and nobody was paying attention, you wouldn't know. So that means he's doing a great job… It's amazing. He was completely out of playing for awhile, he told me. And then to just be at the level of playing that he is, it's really awesome."

"Last Tuesday. I [first] hit [Dette] up [about playing with us at Soundwave]. And in the thought process, I'm thinking big picture. I''m like, 'How are we gonna get a visa for whoever goes with us?' I went, 'Alright, Jon's with ANTHRAX. Jon knows our stuff. If he couldn't do it, I don't think I could have taught it to anybody in time. So we rehearsed three times and the first show was Brisbane."

On the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new SLAYER album:

Kerry: "I've got 11 songs done. I don't know who's gonna do 'em — I don't know who's gonna produce it, I don't know who's gonna play it. I think METALLICA's got [producer Greg Fidelman] monopolized. He had February open and I was hoping to get some work done in February and then February just got too busy for us. I don't know. If he gets another window, I would like to do it between Australia and Europe in June. That would be great — just be done with it, and it could get mixed while I am out on tour and be out in September or October. That's the perfect world, so we'll see."

"Two [new songs] are done; we recorded two last year with Greg Fidelman, and they just never got mixed. The're done — there are vocals, leads; they are done. And they were gonna put 'em out before [our appearance at the Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] last year. But that never got done, so I said, 'Why waste 'em on an EP for nothing? [Let's] save them for the record.' Those two are done. The nine others I've just gotta teach whoever's gonna play 'em, and they're ready to go."

"I've been working on the new maerial a lot, and I worked on it a lot with [SLAYER drummer] Dave [Lombardo]. So I haven't decided — if we move on [without Dave] — I haven't decided if I play the new guy what we've done or just play him the guitar stuff that I made up and say, 'What do you think?' 'Cause I know what I want to be there, and I can tell him if it's going in the wrong direction. 'Nah, you've gotta play this.' I haven't even thought this far yet."

On drummer Dave Lombardo's current status with SLAYER:

Kerry: "This just happened a week ago… ten days ago… so I mean, I don't know… It's unfortunate that Dave couldn't be with us; I planned on him being here up until the Monday before I left. And then I saw trouble in paradise, and since I am the mastermind on making decisions like this, I was, like, 'Alright, I've got a backup plan. Just in case.' 'Cause I would have hated to have just Australia blown out. Can you imagine how shitty that would have been? So I did what I thought was best, and we pulled it off."

On whether he saw the dispute with Dave coming:

Kerry: "Tom [Araya, SLAYER bassist/vocalist] did. Tom's been on the fence about Dave for awhile and I was pretty much the one that said, 'Nah, I'm not comfortable moving on [without Dave].' And then it got thrust in our face and I took action immediately and I got a very lucky culmination of things that happened."

Lombardo is sitting out SLAYER's current tour due to a contract dispute with the other members of the group, while guitarist Jeff Hanneman is still recovering from necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease which he is believed to have gotten from a spider bite. Filling in for them are Dette and Gary Holt (EXODUS), respectively.

SLAYER's setlist for the Sydney show was as follows:

01. Disciple
02. Die By The Sword
03. War Ensemble
04. Chemical Warfare
05. Altar Of Sacrifice
06. Jesus Saves
07. Mandatory Suicide
08. Seasons In The Abyss
09. Dead Skin Mask
10. Angel of Death
11. South of Heaven
12. Raining Blood

Fan-filmed video footage of the entire concert can be seen below.

In an interview with Soundwave TV conducted on Saturday, SLAYER frontman Tom Araya stated about performing with Dette again: "He actually played in the band [in the late 1990s] for, like, three years. It's gonna be good. He's matured and I'm sure he's gotten much better on the drums. It'll be exciting, and I think that's just gonna pump everything up even more. I can tell you this: Jon's gonna have a lot of energy. He's known to play very fast, and he's gotten better at that."

Prior to joining SLAYER, Dette appeared on TESTAMENT's "Live At The Fillmore" album, which came out in 1995.

Dette is currently also playing with ANTHRAX as a temporary replacement for the band's longtime drummer Charlie Benante, who "is dealing with personal issues right now and can't leave" the U.S., according to ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian.

Interview part 1:

Multinational melodic metallers MASTERPLAN will release their new album, "Novum Initium", on April 26 via AFM Records. The CD's cover artwork can be seen below.

The band last month filmed a video for the song " Keep Your Dream Alive" in the Luftverteidigungsbunker Erndtebrück, also called "Bunker Erich."

A photo of MASTERPLAN's new lineup can be seen below. Joining drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka (CRADLE OF FILTH) are vocalist Rick Altzi (AT VANCE, SANDALINAS, THUNDERSTONE), who replaces Jorn Lande, and bassist Jari Kainulainen (STRATOVARIUS, SYMFONIA, DEVIL'S TRAIN).

Commented MASTERPLAN guitarist/leader Roland Grapow: "The last years have not been easy for MASTERPLAN. Because of several factors, we have been unable to play festivals and tours — even though we had plenty of offers. But this will definitely change now.

"I'm very happy to welcome Rick and Jari on board now. Beside their undoubted musical qualities, they both fit perfectly into our team.

"We feel a huge motivation to get things going now.

"2013 will be see a new MASTERPLAN album, several festivals and a tour! It's time to return with full force."

MASTERPLAN's new lineup:

Rick Altzi - vocals
Roland Grapow - guitars
Axel Mackenrott - keyboards
Jari Kainulainen - bass
Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka - drums

Back in March 2012, Grapow revealed that he had 15 songs written for MASTERPLAN's next album. He added, "We are looking for a more powerful album this time... still with great melodies and feelings, but also with more orchestration and faster stuff again… just more metal."

In an August 2011 interview with the Czech web portal Kultura21.cz, Grapow stated about the status of the songwriting sessions for the next MASTERPLAN album, "This time we tried not to make demo productions, which have a poor sound — so we wanted to make really nice pre-production [recordings] which sound very close to the album sound, which is very easy [to do] in my studio now. I think we have many, many new ideas which, I guess, are a little bit more modern and more aggressive as well. So we try not to follow any trends of MASTERPLAN — I'm not saying we're reproducing the first album or the third one or the fifth one. I think we always have to try to make some surprises for the people. The 'Time To Be King' album is great, but this new album sounds a bit different again. I always want to do this, because I'm not that kind of guy who wants to make every year the same album."

On the topic of MASTERPLAN's numerous lineup changes, Grapow said, "I think it's always difficult in this band, I guess. If you see, the first album just came out after a big turbulence — leaving HELLOWEEN, Uli [Kusch, drums] and me. I think this band always needs some very bad moments to some great songs. [laughs] And it looks like MASTERPLAN, basically, is my main band, and whoever will sing and whoever will play in the band, I'm happy with. But, basically, at the moment, I'm thinking the main songwriters are Axel now and me. So whatever happens, this band will continue. It's very important for me to show that we still have the power and the ability to write beautiful melodies and some aggression and rock and metal songs. Whatever we do, we want just to make good-quality stuff."

MASTERPLAN's last CD, "Time To Be King", was released on May 21, 2010 through AFM Records. The CD's first single, "Far From The End Of The World", was issued on April 16, 2010.

Singer Björn "Speed" Strid and bass player Ola Flink of Swedish metallers SOILWORK recently answered a few questions that were submitted by the band's fans via the Nuclear Blast Facebook page. Watch their answers below.

SOILWORK's ninth studio album and first dual-disc release, "The Living Infinite", will be unleashed in Europe on March 1, and in North America on March 5 through Nuclear Blast Records. Produced by Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH), the CD features artwork by MNEMIC's Mircea Gabriel Eftemie.

"The Living Infinite" features Justin Sullivan — lead singer of the English band NEW MODEL ARMY — as a guest vocalist on the track "The Windswept Mercy" and also marks the recording debut of longtime SOILWORK touring guitarist David Andersson (also of THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA).

SOILWORK's world tour launches with a 55-show headlining trek through the U.S. and Canada this March. Support will come from JEFF LOOMIS, BLACKGUARD, THE BROWNING and WRETCHED.

"Anthems", ANTHRAX's long-awaited, eight-track EP that pays tribute to the classic songs by some of the band's favorite acts from the 1970s, will be released in North America on March 19 (MRI/Megaforce), and on March 22 in Europe (Nuclear Blast).

"Anthems" track listing

01. Anthem (RUSH cover)
02. Jailbreak (THIN LIZZY cover)
03. TNT (AC/DC cover)
04. Smokin' (BOSTON cover)
05. Big Eyes (CHEAP TRICK cover)
06. Keep On Runnin' (JOURNEY cover)
07. Crawl (album version)
08. Crawl (special remix)

ANTHRAX's cover of THIN LIZZY's "Jailbreak" can be streamed below.

Speaking to Music Radar, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante stated about the decision to cover "Jailbreak": ""Like BOSTON, they had the twin-harmony guitars. That kind of approach influenced IRON MAIDEN, and then MAIDEN influenced us and the whole thrash metal thing. That's why I went back to THIN LIZZY and BOSTON — if it weren't for them, you might not have had IRON MAIDEN and all the bands that came after them.

"Phil Lynott is one of those people who is a god in the U.K. and Europe, but I don't know if he's fully appreciated in the rest of the world like he should be. Some artists just don't get their due.

"I don't know how you can begin to pick between THIN LIZZY songs. 'Jailbreak' is probably an obvious choice for a cover. I might have gone for something more obscure, but when I hear the lyrics to this one — 'Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak somewhere in this town' — I can't deny how cool they are."

The "Anthems" EP will be available on CD as well as digitally via iTunes and other online retailers. In addition to "Anthems"' cover art, Benante and artist Stephen Thompson have subtly redesigned each track's original album cover art to "Anthrax" it. The "Anthems" EP will first be housed in one of the "re-imagined" digipak covers, and then inserted inside the main CD cover sleeve. The main cover sleeve has been designed in such a way so fans will be able to see which one of the six "re-imagined" covers is inside.

"Anthems" was produced by ANTHRAX, Jay Ruston and Rob Caggiano and recorded for the most part throughout 2012 literally all over the world: at Benante's home studio, in Ruston's New York studio, on the band's tour bus while on last summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, in hotel rooms, and backstage at their Berlin show last December.

The Grammy-nominated ANTHRAX has just hit the road in support "Anthems" with dates in Australia, and will return to North America to headline the Metal Alliance Tour that kicks off March 22. For all of these dates, ANTHRAX is being joined by SHADOWS FALL guitarist Jon Donais.

Viking folk music constellation WARDRUNA — which features multi-instrumentalist Einar "Kvitrafn" Selvik, Kristian "Gaahl" Espedal (ex-GORGOROTH, GOD SEED), and vocalist Lindy Fay Hella — will release its second album, "Yggdrasil", on March 15 in Norway, on March 25 in the rest of Europe and on April 2 in North America via Indie Recordings.

"Yggdrasil" is the follow-up to 2009's "Gap Var Ginnunga" and is the second album in the group's planned "Runaljod" trilogy based on the interpretation of the runes of the elder futhark.

"Yggdrasil" track listing:

01. Rotlaust Tre Fell
02. Fehu
03. NaudiR
04. EhwaR
05. AnsuR
06. IwaR
07. IngwaR
08. Gibu
09. Solringen
10. Sowelu
11. Helvegen

Total running time: 66:14

The second trailer for "Yggdrasil" can be seen below.

"Yggdrasil" will be available as regular jewel case CD and as digibook CD with an exclusive 32-page booklet. Vinyl version will be available through Back On Black. The digibook version will also be sold together with a limited-edition necklace as a package.

About the new album, Kvitrafn commented, "It has taken me quite a while to find the necessary calmness and time needed in order to create the way I do. Last year in November, I began recording 'Yggdrasil', the second part of the 'Runaljod' trilogy. The creative process has been time-consuming and demanding, but I am very happy...

"Like our previous album, it is partly recorded outdoors and in places or situations relevant to the given song. Although the instruments are more or less the same as on 'Gap Var Ginnunga', the nature of the set of runes featured on 'Yggdrasil' have naturally made it a very different album. It is also worth noting that this time I've been working more closely with Lindy and Gaahl during the creative process. We are all very satisfied with the result so far, and we are looking forward to presenting this new piece of old-rooted culture!"

WARDRUNA recently performed at the medieval/fantasy festival Castlefest in the Netherlands, about which Selvik commented: "A lot has happened since the release of our debut album in 2009. We have been lucky enough to be able to perform at some really special places and interesting festivals. A concert with WARDRUNA is in my view two-way communication, and meeting our audience has been both overwhelming and very inspiring for us."

Additonally, the band has been confirmed to perform at this year's Inferno metal festival, set to take place March 14-16 in Switzerland, alongside acts such as ANAAL NATHRAKH, PRIMORDIAL, DARK FUNERAL, MY DYING BRIDE and AURA NOIR.

In September, WARDRUNA will make its American live debut at the Stella Natura Festival, an ambient/folk/black/doom-centered event to be held at Shinnyboo Creek Resort in California's Tahoe National Forest.

Norwegian doom rockers DEVIL return with their second opus, after pleasantly surprising many with their 2011 debut, "Time to Repent".

"Gather The Sinners" will be released on March 22 through Soulseller Records — on CD, limited gatefold LP and digital format.

The new album is a step up both in song writing, performance and production. It also varies from the doomiest they've ever done to the most classic heavy metal they ever done, and if that's not enough: the most garage they've ever done. Fans of DEVIL will not be disappointed, and with a higher standard on all accounts, everyone can be confident that "Gather The Sinners" will be a worthy sophomore album.

"Gather The Sinners" track listing:

01. Coffin Regatta
02. Beyond the Gate
03. They Pale
04. Legacy
05. Restless Wanderer
06. Ladies of the Night
07. Darkest Day
08. Mother Shipton Pt. I
09. Mother Shipton Pt. II
10. Demons on Wheels
11. Southern Sun

The song "Southern Sun" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Comments the band: "As you all will experience this represents the doomier side of DEVIL, but we all ensure you that the album will contain everything from even doomier songs to plain heavy rock. We've accomplished so much in our short period of existence, and we're still very humble, and hope you all will find pleasure in the new stuff as many of you did with the prior songs, and wish to take the opportunity to thank everyone out there who's still keeping heavy metal alive and supported us on our way."

DEVIL is:

Stian Fossum - Guitar
Ronny Østli - Drums
Thomas Ljosaak - Bass
Kai Wanderås - Guitar
Joakim Trangsrud - Vocals

A trailer for "III: Cut Loose", the third album from German heavy rockers THE NEW BLACK, can be seen below. Due on March 15 via AFM Records, the effort will be made available in different configurations, including a "big, fat digipak" with loads of bonus tracks. According to a press release, "There's also talk of guest singers, free downloads and video clips with nasty spiders and middlefingers."

"III: Cut Loose" was once again recorded and produced by the bandmembers themselves. Mixing duties were handled by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, PRETTY MAIDS) who commented: "These guys completely floored me with their stylish mix of both modern metal and vintage rock 'n' roll. This is a band that could get big if things are done the right way!" The CD finds the band finetuning their signature style while keeping heaviness and catchiness fully intact.

"III: Cut Loose" track listing:

01. Innocence & Time
02. Count Me In
03. Muzzle & Blinkers
04. Superhuman Mission
05. Cut Loose
06. Any Colour You Like (As Long As It's Black)
07. Burning D
08. Not Quite That Simple
09. Sharkpool
10. The Unexpected Truth
11. One Thing I Know
12. Antidote

THE NEW BLACK's music has been described in the past in the following way: "This is our kind of party: BLACK LABEL SOCIETY bring the booze, PANTERA spice it up, THIN LIZZY add some taste, and ALTER BRIDGE smooth it over before METALLICA turn it black. And you can be there, too!"

In April, THE NEW BLACK will embark on the "Rock'n'Roll Overdose" tour alongside PSYCHOPUNCH, MOTORJESUS, '77 and SUPERCHARGER.

THE NEW BLACK's sophomore CD, "II: Better In Black", came out in January 2011 in Europe via AFM.

THE NEW BLACK is:

Fludid (Vocals)
Christof "Leimsen" Leim (Guitar)
Fabian "Fabs" Schwarz (Guitar)
Günt (Bass)
Chris Weiß (Drums)

Singer Scott Weiland claims that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' announcement of his "termination" from the band is nothing more than a publicity stunt in order to hype an upcoming concert tour.

Speaking to TMZ.com at the Los Angeles airport prior to the launch of his new solo tour, Weiland said: "STP is not broken up. It's a whole thing to try to boost ticket sales."

According to Scott, there the members of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS are forbidden from using the name STP on another group unless all the individual musicians are involved.

Asked if he's still fronting the band, he replied, "I started it."

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS issued a terse statement on Wednesday that simply read, "STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland." No further details were revealed. This is the second time that the band has parted ways with its often troubled frontman, following a split in 2002. This is also the second gig that Weiland has been dismissed from within five years, after he was given his walking papers by VELVET REVOLVER IN 2008.

The singer responded with his own statement, saying, "I learned of my supposed 'termination' from STONE TEMPLE PILOTS this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be 'terminated' from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that's something for the lawyers to figure out. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday."

Rumors that STP's relationship with Weiland was on the rocks again first surfaced late last year, after the singer hinted that he was possibly rejoining VELVET REVOLVER.

But VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash shot that down, saying that Weiland was talking about reuniting with VELVET REVOLVER because he got fired from STP."

Weiland rejoined STP right around the time of his firing from VELVET REVOLVER, with the band touring constantly for the next few years and releasing its self-titled sixth album in 2010.

That last album was recorded with the band playing together in one studio and Weiland recording his parts on his own at his own facility, but bassist Robert DeLeo told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that the band was able to make it work. "There's a certain understanding you have with each other at that point, that you know what the person is gonna like and dislike, and you know what's gonna work," he said. "And, you know, even though it is challenging, you're not in the same room, I think we've gotten to that point where it's a great achievement being able to write and produce and do this record the way we did."

As usual, Weiland's behavior on tour was unpredictable, with the singer often showing up late or going missing before shows, giving lackluster performances and even falling off a stage at one gig.

It's not clear at this point whether STP plans to carry on with a new singer. As for Weiland, he is indeed hitting the road on Friday (March 1) for a solo tour with his band THE WILDABOUTS.

The show on this trek will focus heavily on material from STP's first two efforts, "Core" and "Purple", along with other material.

Century Media Records has announced a worldwide partnership with reputable U.K. indie Siege Of Amida Records (known as SOAR).

This new deal sees SOAR utilized as a central launch pad for the metal and hardcore genres, focusing predominantly on the increasingly vibrant U.K. underground scene and launching emerging international acts onto the circuit.

Century Media is one of the leading independent labels in the industry, boasting a gigantic back catalog and a roster that spans almost every sub-genre within the sphere, as well as a reputation for being one of the strongest metal labels in the world.

Century Media label manager Antje Lange says of the deal: "We feel honored and excited to work with the highly acclaimed label Siege Of Amida. They've proved that they have the Midas touch and the instinct for catching great new bands early and we are confident that we can put the label to the next level on a worldwide basis."

After starting the careers of the likes of WHITECHAPEL, ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY, HEART IN HAND, INGESTED, TRC and DYSCARNATE, as well as being the European vessel for U.S. bands such as IMPENDING DOOM and MOLOTOV SOLUTION, SOAR is reputed for being one of the leading labels spearheading a movement of new exciting bands within extreme music. Many of their past bands are now with larger, internationally established labels such as Metal Blade, Victory, eOne and Nuclear Blast; this deal sees them no longer in the shadow of larger labels and able to compete with the heavyweights on every level.

SOAR director Jamie Graham adds: "After six years of building this label from a comparatively low level, starting out in our bedrooms, we looked back at our catalog of releases and at the bands that moved onto bigger labels and our current roster. We realized we had something special to build on there. Century and their team understand the vision I have for this label and this deal allows our distribution and promotional network to increase a hundred fold. Working with a company as diverse, reputable and ambitious as Century Media in order to take SOAR to the next stage is the logical step for us to take. It will mean great things for our artists and for the label's growth as a whole."

The first release to emerge from this new partnership will be from fast rising U.K. crew HEART IN HAND, in the form of their second full-length, "Almost There", on May 13.

"Together As One", the first video taken from "Cayne", the new album from the Italian goth rockers CAYNE, can be seen below. The CD released on February 14 via Graviton Music Services, the new label founded by Menno Kappe, longtime Roadrunner Records employee.

"Together As One" is not only one of the songs of CAYNE, but it is also a kind of manifesto which represents the soul and true nature of the band. A creature with six hearts encased in a single body, and with as many variations which comes with the atmosphere their music creates.

CAYNE was formed in 1999 by Claudio Leo — who tragically passed away at the age of 40 after a suffering from a fatal illness, only weeks before the release of the new album — and Raffaele Zagaria, both former guitarists and founding members of LACUNA COIL, after they decided to leave the band in the aftermath of the release of the eponymous album for Century Media. The duo immediately gathered its forces to create this new band and signed a record deal with Scarlet in Milan to record their first album. This first release is the full-length "Old Faded Pictures", which came out in 2001. In 2002, after the tour to promote the CD, the band took a step back and remained dormant for the next four years. Thanks to the encounter of Claudio Leo and Marco Barusso (guitarist and producer), the project was slowly brought back to life from 2006 onwards. Since then, the band's lineup has gradually evolved to what CAYNE is today, with Guido Carli (drums), Giovanni Lanfranchi (electric violin and keyboards), Andrea Bacchio (bass), and Giordano Adornato (vocals).

CAYNE is delighted that some established names have been keen to contribute to their second album. On "Through The Ashes", Andrea Ferro from LACUNA COIL performs a duet with Giordano. Paul Quinn from the mighty SAXON puts his skills at work by doing the solo on "Black Liberation" and so does the acclaimed Jeff Waters from ANNIHILATOR on "King Of Nothing".

Says Bacchio: "Most critical to this album has been the achievement of Marco Barusso, our guitarist, who has also been in charge producing, arranging and mixing our album (Marco has also mixed 'Dark Adrenaline', LACUNA COIL's latest CD, and was involved in numerous collaborations with the likes of HIM, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, COLDPLAY and others). Marco is the one who has managed to create the unique signature to our sound, which allows our music to traverse between that what defines a rock band with the elements defining bands from the metal and gothic scene. We think this aspect differentiates us from a lot of bands currently out there and gives us our specific and very personal sound."

"The Riff", the new video from Finnish heavy metal monsters LORDI, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "To Beast Or Not To Beast", which will be released on March 1 in Europe (excluding Finland) via AFM Records. The CD will be made available in North America on March 19 through The End Records.

"The Riff" was issued as as single on February 9. You can see the official lyric video for the song below.

"To Beast Or Not To Beast" was recorded last fall at WireWorld Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with renowned producer Michael Wagener (METALLICA, OZZY OSBOURNE, SKID ROW, DOKKEN, RAVEN, MEGADETH). The CD marks the recording debut of LORDI's new members, keyboardist Hella (replacing Awa) and drummer Mana (replacing Otus).

"The road to this album has truly been paved by hardships," LORDI leader Mr. Lordi says. "However, the new lineup of the band has given us new and fresh touch and an energetic edge to the recording process, and to the album itself."

He added: "The album cover painting is actually a part of a larger picture. The original artwork had this vintage-styled lady holding a horned skull, which, however, was not the main point of the art piece. There was something not quite right with the setting, so I made experiments with various versions and framings. Album title was 'Upgradead' at that point in time, and the painting was done with that title in mind. But now, with a changed concept of the artwork, the title did not seem to fit anymore. We did not consider it an A-class name either. Our guitarist Amen came up with the final title, which we felt suitable and perfect both for the cover artwork and the album."

"To Beast Or Not To Beast" track listing:

01. We're Not Bad For The Kids (We're Worse)
02. I Luv Ugly
03. The Riff
04. Something Wicked This Way Comes
05. I'm The Best
06. Horrifiction
07. Happy New Fear
08. Schizo Doll
09. Candy For The Cannibal
10. Sincerely With Love
11. SCG6: Otus' Butcher Clinic

LORDI previously worked with Wagener on 2010's "Babez For Breakfast", which sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 43 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 Riff" video:

Swedish metallers IN FLAMES have issued the following update:

"Ever wanted to be a part of an IN FLAMES music video? Now is your chance! IN FLAMES invites all fans worldwide to be a part of the upcoming video for 'Ropes'. By simply uploading your very own video clip of ANYTHING IN FLAMES related, you have the chance to be in the actual video!

"Check out MakingOfRopes.com to upload your video clip. But that's not all, tomorrow (March 1) a mobile version will also be released, enabling you to film and upload your clip while you are attending an IN FLAMES show."

In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, IN FLAMES vocalist Anders Fridén stated about the band's plans for the next studio album: "I wish we can write on the road but we can't. We have all the time in the world, but I don't know — too much beer to drink. We're looking into writing and recording something at the end of [this] year, I think. So we're hoping to have a release in early 2014. It seems so far away, but it's not."

IN FLAMES is in the middle of a U.S. headlining tour with support from DEMON HUNTER, ALL SHALL PERISH and BATTLECROSS.

IN FLAMES' tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" (Century Media), sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.

IN FLAMES' previous CD, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58.

SIX FEET UNDER frontman Chris Barnes is working with a "brutal side project" called IHATE.

A video for the song "Stretcher", which features Barnes on vocals, can be seen below.

SIX FEET UNDER's tenth full-length album, "Unborn", will be released on March 19 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-to to 2012's "Undead" was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL and SOULFLY, among others. The cover artwork for the CD can be found below.

"Unborn" will be released as an exclusive European box-set edition which will include the limited digipak of "Unborn" and a bonus track entitled "Illusions". Additionally the box will feature a poster, a patch, two pins and a sticker plus enough space for last year's "Undead" album. The bonus track will be featured on the vinyl version of "Unborn" as well.

The unique, artful Japanese rock band DIR EN GREY will release a mini album, "The Unraveling", on April 3. The effort will contain seven tracks, including a new song, "Unraveling". The cover features original artwork by artist and sculptor Yasuyuki Nishio. This intriguing artwork is the result of the fusion between DIR EN GREY's expressions to this day with Yasuyuki Nishio's perspective of the world, bringing forth yet another release that exhibits an overwhelming sense of existence.

"The Unraveling" track listing:

01. Unraveling
02. Karma
03. Kasumi
04. Karasu
05. Bottom Of The Death Valley
06. Unknown.Despair.Lost
07. The Final

For more information, visit www.direngrey.co.jp.

DIR EN GREY released a new single, "Rinkaku", in December. According to a press release, "the track is unlike anything you have heard before, almost overturning the band's musical concept on a new scale, coming in with a range full of depth with Kyo's vocals that evoke classical elements in this beautiful and intricate melodic track which builds up dramatically with the intertwining guitars and bass. 'Rinkaku', mixed by an internationally acclaimed engineer, has turned out to be an inimitable track with an intense sound."

The initial limited version of the "Rinkaku" single features a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the single's recording sessions. The limited deluxe version features a bonus DVD featuring scenes from the recording of "Rinkaku" and the band's November 11, 2011 concert at Tokyo Dome City Hall.

Indie Recordings has announce the signing of BLOOD TSUNAMI, the Oslo, Norway-based thrash metal band featuring drummer Bård G. Eithun (a.k.a. Faust; SCUM, ABORYM, EMPEROR). The band's new album, "For Faen", will be released on March 8 in Norway, March 15 in Germany and Austria and March 11 in the rest of Europe.

The first video, "Metal Fang", can be seen below. The clip was made in two days and filmed with an iPhone5 by Kjell Ivar Lund.

According to a press release, "For Faen" "shows a band that has stripped their metal to the bone. Harder, meaner, dirtier and way more aggressive! This album is a relentless sonic beating. The songs are thrown at you, one by one, with an infernal speed that threathens to rip off chunks of flesh from your whole upper body. Rampant dogs is jumping out of your loudspeakers, daggers and bullets comes at you like a wall of horizontal rain. This is metal the way it was meant to be. Totally vicious and utterly dangerous! 'For Faen' is a monster of an album that will break your legs off by the knee and use them to beat the skull straight off your spine. You are in for some sickening tales from the dark side of humanity. Grotesque stories about some of the worlds worst serial killers, detailed information about horrendous ancient torture methods, war crimes, mass murder and chemicals, addiction and rotten human skin."

BLOOD TSUNAMI is:

Bård "Faust" Eithun - Drums
Kristoffer "Dor" Sørensen - Lead Guitar
Peter "Pete" Michael Kolstad Vegem - Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
Carl "Calle" Janfalk - Bass, Backing Vocals

Finland's DEATHCHAIN will release its new album, "Ritual Death Metal", on April 5 via Svart Records.

Keeping up with the band's tradition of including the word "death" or "dead" in its titles, DEATHCHAIN's sixth full-length feels like a warning. In the wake of an already impressive "Death Gods" three years ago, this new offering to the Ancients been recorded last summer with Swedish wünderkid Tore Stjerna in Stockholm at his world-renowned Necromorbus studio, where most famously WATAIN but also ONDSKAPT, FUNERAL MIST, and many others have sworn a pact with the Great Horned One. Guest starring on the album is one Lars Göran Petrov from ENTOMBED, who provides vocals for the track "Like Worms Upon The Lands". Cover art is by Babalon Graphics, other layout work by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight13 Media.

As eclectic as the label is, Svart Records has a strong foundation in death metal, having reissued albums by vintage acts like ABHORRENCE, XYSMA and the resuscitated CONVULSE. However, DEATHCHAIN is the first contemporary death metal band operating on the label. Each member sports an impressive curriculum vitae of musical misbehaviours that reads like a who's who of the Finnish extreme metal scene (DEMILICH, DEATHBOUND, AJATTARA, FORGOTTEN HORROR, and so on), and the band's two guitarists are already part of the Svart family with JESS AND THE ANCIENT ONES. But it's the sheer intensity of its music that has put DEATHCHAIN at the top of the foodchain as, unlike others, they've taken their time to shed their previous collective skins one by one. And what started off back in 2003 with "Deadmeat Disciples" as one frantic yet somehow still conventional thrash/death vehicle has now become, a decade later, an altogether even more unique and ten-times-more-intense beast. "Rebellion — rebellion and liberty, they've always been at the heart of what we do," says guitarist Corpse. "During our years as a band, we have grown to disrespect all boundaries, and the fire inside burns ever higher."

Defying all categories, DEATHCHAIN's "Ritual Death Metal" applies elements from the entire extreme metal spectrum to achieve its pernicious goal, from the doom-laden rumblings of "Like Worms Upon The Land" to the blackish fury of "King Pazuzu". The result is a defiant, gloomy and epic 45-minute tour de force dedicated to summoning ancient Mesopotamian deities. Says Corpse of the theme of the album: "Thematically, we have moved closer to the source, and all laughter around it has died. We work on our music and lyrics with the greatest intensity and map our inner beings to find the Lightbringer, who stands beyond everything. On this album, we concentrate on the Mesopotamian pandemonium as we examine the different manifestations of the Adversary."

"Ritual Death Metal" track listing:

01. Voice of Sharur
02. Stele of the Vultures
03. Seven Asakku Shadows
04. Our Lady Under The Earth
05. King Pazuzu 6. Like Worms Upon The Lands
07. Tiamat's Eyes Of Death
08. Abzu Doom

The song "Like Worms Upon The Lands", which features a guest appearance by Petrov, is available for streaming below.

Former PANTERA and current KILL DEVIL HILL bassist Rex Brown will publish his memoir, "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera", on March 12 via Da Capo Press. The 320-page book is described as a "starkly honest and revealing" book about Rex's time in one of the most influential and enduringly popular bands in heavy metal history, offering Brown's shocking personal insight into a band that had swapped the grimy clubs of Texas for arenas around the world but whose story would ultimately be touched by tragedy.

A one-and-a-half-minute video trailer for "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera" can be seen below.

In a 2012 interview with SkullsNBones.com, Brown stated about his upcoming memoir: "It's basically my tale of the PANTERA years from my point of view. I was always the silent guy in the band. I never did interviews, so I was approached with this idea and I was down for it. I didn't realize how much work would be involved. [laughs] But it's going to be cool, man. It's just my inside story of what was going on. It leads up to the breakup, Dime's [former PANTERA guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott] death, and to now. There is only four people in that band that knew what was going on, so this will just be my interpretation oo those years. I'll say this, it probably won't be my last book either. It's a lot of work, though. We went through a thousand photos, stories, memories — everything, dude — so it's an insightful view that most fans would never know of if it weren't for the book. I think it's got a lot of things that people don't know and should know, and I hope the people enjoy it. It's a good read, for sure."

World rights for "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera" were acquired by executive editor Ben Schafer at Da Capo Press from Matthew Elblonk at DeFiore & Company with Matthew Hamilton at Aitken Alexander.

"Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera" co-author Mark Eglinton is an author, journalist and film-producer currently based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His first book entitled "James Hetfield: The Wolf At Metallica's Door" was published in April 2010 to considerable critical acclaim, fueled by regular radio appearances across the U.S and Europe to promote it. He also writes regularly for Outburn magazine and various music web sites and has co-produced a series of rock interview documentaries entitled "The Greatest Music Ever Created, And How It Ruined Our Lives", which is co-hosted in conjunction with Metal Hammer magazine. Eglinton's role in Brown's life has become one of friend and confidant, mostly during time spent on the road with DOWN in Europe.

De Capo is the publisher of BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's book "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath" and SLIPKNOT/STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor's New York Times best seller "Seven Deadly Sins - Settling The Argument Between Born Bad And Damaged Good".

Former PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo in early 2010 announced plans to write his own autobiography, to be co-authored by BloodyDisgusting.com writer Corey Mitchell.

On February 27, Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal of Metal Assault conducted an interview with '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Metal Assault: You recently did the Dee Snider roast at NAMM (see video below). What was that like?

Lita: I enjoyed being there, I enjoyed being around my friends Eddie Trunk, Scott Ian and just everyone that was involved was really nice. But I think the whole concept behind that roast is terrible. I don't agree with it, and I personally hope it goes straight into the toilet. That's my opinion. [laughs]

Metal Assault: Wow, I'm pretty surprised by that! Why do you think it's a bad thing? Is it just a distasteful way of doing it?

Lita: I don't like bagging on my friends. I don't like calling people names. It's terrible! They're turning us on ourselves. They're turning us against each other, and it's sickening. It's such a fucked up show. I really had a hard time with it. I could hardly speak. I was really very uncomfortable with it?

Metal Assault: Well, why did you do it then?

Lita: I didn't know what it was. I wasn't quite sure. I knew it was something where you make fun of somebody, but I didn't realize how extreme it was and how terrible it was. They turn you on your friends, so you're bagging on your friends! To me, that's just not what I'm about. I don't like it. It might be good for some people, but for me it was a nightmare and I will definitely never do that one again, nor I think will they have me back.

Read the entire interview at Metal Assault.

U.K. progressive rock band TESSERACT will release its second full-length album, "Altered State", on May 27 throughout Europe and May 28 in North America via Century Media Records. Divided into four movements — Of Matter, Of Mind, Of Reality and Of Energy — "Altered State", in its purest form, is about the transformations the band has gone through over the past few years.

Comments TESSERACT: "The concept behind the presentation of 'Altered State' is very simple. It is about change, and how life is change. We have been through a very difficult period of time over the last few years. It is a miracle that the band has survived. I feel it is the ability to step back and see everything for what it is (hence the 'Perspective' EP) that has allowed us to get on with life and try to enjoy it. Reality is change."

"Altered State" track listing:

01. Of Matter - Proxy
02. Of Matter - Retrospect
03. Of Matter - Resist
04. Of Mind - Nocturne
05. Of Mind - Exile
06. Of Reality - Eclipse
07. Of Reality - Palingenisis
08. Of Reality - Calabi-Yau
09. Of Energy - Singularity
10. Of Energy - Embers

"Altered State" was produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by TESSERACT guitarist Acle Kahney, assisted by bassist Amos Williams at Acle's 4D Sounds studio, and marks the first full release with new vocalist Ashe O'Hara following the departure of American vocalist Elliot Coleman (OMNOM, SKY EATS AIRPLANE, ZELLIACK) in June 2012.

The band is set to head out with longtime friends PERIPHERY throughout mainland Europe and then headline dates throughout the U.K. just prior to album release. Worldwide touring will follow throughout the year.

ThrashHits.com recently spoke to TESSERACT bassist Amos Williams about "Altered State".

"The new album has shaped up to be something of an evolution for TESSERACT," Williams said. "Obviously, there's the new voice, which is exciting for us to work with. Ashe brings such an intense level of emotion to the table, it feels as if we have added another dimension to the music. We've also travelled so much and met so many incredible and inspiring musicians since the first album. This has had a huge impact upon our songwriting."

He continued: "Also, we now enjoy playing with dynamics and instrumentation. This came from releasing an acoustic EP last year. We're no longer afraid to mix things up or stray from the expected path, which we feel we did with our first album. That was in the box, whilst this album is way out there for us. Don't be afraid, though — whilst it has evolved, our music is still somehow TESSERACT. It's like there is something just beneath the surface of everything we do, that shapes all we produce into a distinctly TESSERACT-ish form."

Hailing from Northampton, Ashe spent his early years singing in many different groups, from choirs to musical theatre, and has more recently been involved with a number of ambient/alternative metal projects in addition to doing session work. Ashe currently resides in Hove, East Sussex.

"The Phantom Agony", the 2003 debut album from Dutch female-fronted symphonic EPICA, will be re-released as a deluxe digipack on March 23 to coincide with the band's special tenth-anniversary show at the Klokgebouw in Eindoven, Netherlands. This ambitious concert will feature a 70-piece symphonic orchestra and choir, international guests and loads of special effects.

EPICA's previous label, Transmission Records, will reissue "The Phantom Agony", in a special package containing 15 bonus tracks, including seven previously unreleased versions and one previously unreleased song. The album will will also contain a 20-page booklet with photos and liner notes by EPICA founder Mark Jansen. Along with the deluxe digipack, the album will also be released on double vinyl being pressed on high-quality 180-gram audiophile vinyl and put in a 350-gram cardboard sleeve, including all lyrics. This will also include six bonus tracks. There will also be exclusive bundles with a limited edition t-shirt.

Comments Jansen: "[EPICA and Transmission] have put aside our differences, 'cause at the end of the day, both parties want to have the debut album available to the EPICA fans, as it has been out of print for more than five years!"

To pre-order the album, go to this location.

Chapter 1 1.Adyta 1:27 “The Neverending Embrace” 2. Sensorium 4:49 3. Cry for the Moon 6:44 "The Embrace that Smothers - Part IV" 4. Feint 4:19 5. Illusive Consensus 5:00 6. Façade of Reality 8:10 "The Embrace that Smothers - Part V" 7. Run for a Fall 6:31 8. Seif al Din 5:46 "The Embrace that Smothers - Part VI" 9. The Phantom Agony 8:59 10. Veniality 4:37 11. The Phantom Agony 4:33 - single version 12. Triumph of Defeat 3:54

Chapter 2 1 Adyta 1:28 - orchestral version 2. Sensorium 4:53 – orchestral version 3. Cry for the Moon 6:40 - orchestral version 4. Feint 4:18 - orchestral version 5. Illusive Consensus 5:02 - orchestral version 6. Basic Instinct 4:07 - orchestral track 7. Run for a Fall 6:26 – orchestral versio n 8. The Phantom Agony 9:00 - orchestral version 9. Veniality 4:35 - orchestral version 10. Feint 4:53 - piano version 11. Cry for the Moon 3:30 - single version 12. Run for a Fall 4:29 - single version

Swedish black metal outfit PEST has inked a record deal with Agonia Records. The band's fourth full-length album, entitled "The Crowning Horror", is tentatively due in June. An EP featuring two new tracks ("Black Oath" c/w "Morbid Revelations") will precede the album in April. It will be available on seven-inch vinyl.

PEST commented: "After years of silence a new wave of black death will finally strike the world. The plague is upon us. Bring the darkness!"

PEST's latest album, "Rest in Morbid Darkness", was released in January 2008 via Season Of Mist.

The debut album from BLACK STAR RIDERS — the new band formed by THIN LIZZY alumni Ricky Warwick (vocals), Scott Gorham (guitar), Damon Johnson (guitar), Marco Mendoza (bass) with new addition Jimmy DeGrasso (ALICE COOPER, MEGADETH, DAVID LEE ROTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) on drums — is currently being mixed by producer Kevin Shirley (LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH, RUSH) at his The Cave studios in Malibu, California for a late May release via Nuclear Blast. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "All Hell Breaks Loose", "Someday Salvation", "Bound For Glory", "Kingdom Of The Lost" and "Hoodoo Voodoo".

According to BLACK STAR RIDERS, the last song on the album is "being mixed today by Kevin" before the recordings are shipped off to Bob Ludwig (JIMI HENDRIX, RUSH, KISS, LED ZEPPELIN) at Gateway Mastering Studios in Portland, Maine for mastering.

At the end of March, there will be the first single release that will have an exclusive airing via certain media outlets prior to public release. Around the same time, more tour dates for the fall will be announced.

In October 2012, THIN LIZZY announced that they would not be recording new material under the THIN LIZZY monicker. The last incarnation of the band — Gorham, Brian Downey, Wharton, Warwick, Johnson and Mendoza — would be looking to form a new project.

According to a press release, Brian Downey decided to not become involved with BLACK STAR RIDERS because he didn't want to commit to the touring cycle a new album would entail and Darren Wharton wanted to concentrate on DARE and other music and film projects.

"Brian and Darren just don't want to be on the road 150 days a year. anti that's completely understandable," Warwick tells Classic Rock magazine. "But we do. We work very well together, and there's no better man than Jimmy to gel it together. This is a kick-ass band."

The BLACK STAR RIDERS album will feature material the band wrote while touring as THIN LIZZY and the sound retains that classic feel but is very much its own as well. The BLACK STAR RIDERS record is the next step in the evolution of the THIN LIZZY story.

"There's no way it could sound like THIN LIZZY with [late THIN LIZZY frontman] Phil [Lynott]," Gorham tells Classic Rock. But Johnson disagreees. "I think Scott is too dose to it," he says. "Ricky or I would bring in a song idea, and as soon as Scott starts playing on it, it sounds like THIN LIZZY, whether Scott realizes it or not. Everybody who's heard the new music says it has that dassic THIN LIZZY vibe. No, it can't sound like the original band. But that classic LIZZY vibe is absolutely there."

"I'm not gonna pull any punches here," says Warwick. "It sounds like classic THIN LIZZY brought up to date. l've been singing Phil's songs every night for two years, and although it sounds a bit crass because the man's not here, I feel like I've had these lessons from getting so deep into his work. Phil's songwriting, his lyrics, his phrasing, his pitching, his delivery — it's genius. And that's really helped me as a writer."

It was Warwick who named the new band BLACK STAR RIDERS, after an outlaw gang in the 1993 western movie "Tombstone". As Johnson tells Classic Rock: "Scott said from the very beginning that we did not want a name that was specifically related to THIN LIZZY, because this band has to stand on its own."

For over 20 years, NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE has been thrashing out and defying the trends. Now, they have returned with a renewed burst of power and extremity, preserving the unadulterated force behind true thrash, bringing it to a new decade and generation desperate for a wakeup call.

Original NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE members Pasi Pauanne (drums) and Aku Raaska (vocals) are rehearsing with the rest of the band for some summer live dates and possible studio sessions next autumn. The only change to this thrash behemoth is the departure of guitarist Markku Jokikokko in order to focus on other musical pursuits. A fitting replacement, Harri "Hapa" Lampinen, has come into the field. A seasoned metal player, he has worked with Finnish doom metallers SAATTUE.

Want to see the new lineup's crushing brutality firsthand? Get over to Steelfest at the end of May in Hyvinkää, Finland and as an added bonus, bang your heads to DESTRUCTION and SODOM.

NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE is:

Aku Raaska - Vocals
Ile Järvenpää - Vocals
Tero Nevala - Bass
Jukka Kyrö - Guitar
Hapa Lampinen - Guitar
Pasi Pauanne - Drums

NATIONAL NAPALM SYNDICATE's latest CD, "Devolution Of The Species", came out in April 2009 via Violent Journey Records.

Relapse Records has announced the signing of Cleveland, Ohio metal/hardcore veterans RINGWORM. The band will enter the studio in April to record its new album for a late 2013 release.

Formed in 1990, RINGWORM has previously released six full-length albums on labels Deathwish, A389 and Victory Records in addition to playing countless shows with the likes of CRO-MAGS, INTEGRITY, KREATOR, GOATWHORE and NASUM.

Commented RINGWORM vocalist Human Furnace: "Throughout our existence, I've felt that RINGWORM has always been the 'black sheep,' never quite fitting into any specific genre mold. Sometimes too metal for hardcore, other times too hardcore for metal. We enjoy distorting the line between the two and, often, completely destroying it. But I've always felt that we've never quite had a home that understood where we're coming from and embraced the fact what we are a 'black sheep' and we aren't cookie-cut bullshit. We feel that we finally found that home. They understand that there are legions of black sheep out there that don't fit into society's 'one size fits all' mold. We couldn't be more excited to be more working with Relapse."

RINGWORM will hit the road for a string of shows starting this Saturday in Reading, Pennsylvania. The trek will include dates with CANNIBAL CORPSE, NAPALM DEATH and TODAY IS THE DAY.

Helsinki, Finland-based, female-fronted symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN will release a compilation album of songs released on its first four albums — "Circus Black" (2012), "End Of Eden" (2010), "The Clouds Of Northland Thunder" (2009) and "River Of Tuoni" (2008) — to showcase new singer Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen after the departure of Heidi Parviainen. The band is aiming for "Re-Evolution" to be out by the late spring in Finland, distributed by KHY Suomen Musiikki. There are also plans for digital distribution at the same time.

Comments AMBERIAN DAWN guitarist Tuomas Seppala: "We all thought that the best way to introduce our new singer Capri to our fans is by re-recording a compilation album of our best songs. It was very important for us to give you all a broad overview about Capri's great talent in all its facets and present her vocal sound and way of singing to you before we start recording a whole new studio album. We hope very much that you like the fresh sound created through Capri's voice and the re-recording of the music parts which was necessary due to some required key changes. I believe that this compilation album is an excellent 'visiting card' of the new AMBERIAN DAWN sound and style, all in all we all are really happy with the results we achieved.”

"Re-Evolution" was mixed by Mikko Mustonen and mastered by Henkka Niemisto at Chartmakers. A music video will be made for "Kokko - Eagle Of Fire" and posted online in April. The video is being produced by Routafilmi, which is the same company that made the AMBERIAN DAWN's "Arctica" video.

"Re-Evolution" track listing:

01. Valkyries
02. Incubus
03. Kokko - Eagle Of Fire
04. Lily Of The Moon
05. Come Now Follow
06. Crimson Flower
07. Circus Black
08. Lost Soul
09. Cold Kiss
10. River Of Tuoni
11. Charnel's Ball

Capri previously released two solo albums: "Salaa Sinun" (1997) and "Kuun Morsian" (2001).

AMBERIAN DAWN 2013 is:

Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen - Vocals
Tuomas Seppälä - Guitar, Keyboards
Emil Pohjalainen - Guitar
Kimmo Korhonen - Guitar
Jukka Koskinen - Bass
Joonas Pykälä-aho - Drums

AMBERIAN DAWN parted ways with vocalist Heidi Parviainen in November 2012. Her final appearance with the band was at the Metal Female Voices Fest at the end of October in Belgium.

AMBERIAN DAWN's fourth studio album, "Circus Black", was released in Finland on February 29 via Spinefarm Records. The band's mainman, keyboardist and guitarist Tuomas Seppälä composed all ten songs for the CD and Parviainen penned the lyrics.