VAN HALEN, RUSH and JOURNEY have made Billboard magazine's "Music's Top 40 Money Makers" list, compiled by measuring touring revenue, music sales, publishing royalties and other streaming and on-demand figures.

VAN HALEN hit #4 with $20.2 million, thanks to a tour gross of $54 million from just 46 shows. The band's first album with singer David Lee Roth since "1984", "A Different Kind Of Truth", registered 620,000 in physical album sales in 2012 and more than 213,000 in digital sales.

"When it comes to making the biggest score, the most money always comes from high-paying live performances," Billboard's editorial analyst Glenn Peoples wrote in explaining the list.

"Ironically, the most popular touring artists are usually well past their peaks on the album sales charts."

Billboard said streaming music online to paying customers has not caught on with older generations and was small in percentage terms but growing. "Yet even in the coming years, as streaming services become a more important revenue source, possibly replacing digital downloads and CD sales, one thing is unlikely to change: concerts will have the greatest influence of top earners' overall earnings," said Peoples.

#4 - VAN HALEN
$20,184,709.91

#22 - TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
$9,959,362.28

#28 - RUSH
$8,719,834.30

#35 - JOURNEY
$6,983,106.58

See the entire list at this location.

High Roller Records will release a 4LP vinyl box set from Colorado metal veterans JAG PANZER, entitled "Historical Battles - The Early Years", on April 19. Limited to 500 copies, it will include an 80-page hardcover book. All tracks were remastered and partially restored from digital transfers of the original studio tapes in December 2012 by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony.

"Tyrants" (EP, 1983) + Early Unreleased Tracks

Side A:

01. Battle Zones
02. Death Row
03. Metal Melts The Ice
04. Iron Shadows
05. Tower Of Darkness (bonus track)
06. The Oracle (bonus track, previously unreleased)

Side B:

07. Under The Knife (bonus track, previously unreleased)
08. The Crucifix (bonus track, unreleased demo version)
09. Battle Zones (bonus track, unreleased demo version)
10. Rockin Roll Suicide (bonus track, previously unreleased)
11. On The Rocks (bonus track, previously unreleased)
12. Sit On My Face (bonus track, previously unreleased)

"Ample Destruction" (LP, 1984)

Side A:

01. Licensed To Kill
02. Warfare
03. Symphony Of Terror
04. Harder Than Steel
05. Generally Hostile

Side B:

06. The Watching
07. Interlude
08. Reign Of The Tyrants
09. Cardiac Arrest
10. The Crucifix
11. Black Sunday (bonus track)

"Shadow Thief" (Unreleased Recordings 1985 - 1986)

Side A:

01. Lustfull And Free
02. Fallen Angel
03. Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind
04. Take This Pain Away
05. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Side B:

06. Shadow Thief
07. Lying Deceiver
08. Viper
09. Eyes Of The Nite

"Chain Of Command" (unreleased album 1987)

Side A:

01. Prelude
02. Chain Of Command
03. Shadow Thief
04. She Waits
05. Ride Through The Storms
06. In A Gadda Da Vida

Side B:

07. Never Surrender
08. Burning Heart
09. Sworn To Silence
10. Dream Theme
11. Gavotte In D
12. When The Walls Come Down (bonus track, unreleased demo)
13. Battle Zones (bonus track, live)

As previously reported, JAG PANZER will perform at the 17th edition of the Keep It True festival, set to take place on April 25-26, 2014 at Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Koenigshofen, Germany. The show will mark the band's first appearance in Europe with guitarist Joey Tafolla.

JAG PANZER called it quits in July 2011, with guitarist Mark Briody explaining that they could not "move forward as a band."

Shortly before JAG PANZER's breakup, guitarist Christian Lasegue left the group to pursue his degree full time.

Issued on February 28, 2011 in Europe and on March 8, 2011 in the U.S. via SPV/Steamhammer Records, JAG PANZER's latest album, "Scourge Of The Light", sold around 500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 117 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 Scourge Of The Light" was mixed by Jim Morris at Morrisound Studios in Florida and was mastered at New York's renowned Sterling Sound.

Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS have unleashed a new star — described as "a super-cool dog" — with their new album, "Dirty Dynamite", due out on February 22 in Europe via Sony Music and in North America on March 5 via The End Records as a digital download, regular CD and limited-edition double vinyl.

Da Dög, the Olde English Bulldog with aviator goggles and a cigarette hanging from his mouth which is featured on the cover of "Dirty Dynamite", walked in the spotlight on the red carpet with KROKUS bassist/producer Chris Von Rohr at the recent Swiss Awards.

How did this bulldog become the newest member of KROKUS? "This dog radiates a philosophical serenity and at the same time pure fun," explains Von Rohr. "The two-year-old rock stud is originally from Solothurn, Switzerland — like KROKUS — but lives these days in the Zurich region, where most of the time he just likes to chill and do nothing."

"He is a quiet and lazy dog, not very active, rather easy going," says owner Patrizia of Da Dög, who actually goes by the name of Maddox. "One exception is when he can chase a ball. Or he's getting some food: dog food, cucumbers, carrots. He loves any kind of food except fennel; he categorically spits that one out," adds Patrizia. "We have to watch him, because he could eat all day long."

And while KROKUS roars in concert halls all over the world, the oldest of a litter of ten makes the walls of the home he lives at shake, rattle and roll. "He's not allowed to sleep in the bedroom. He snores so loud, no one gets a good night's sleep," confesses Patrizia.

But these days, sleep is the last thing in anyone's mind. Asked if the Da Dög will rock forever, the band answers in unison with a loud and clear "Yes." Being the band's official mascot, he was able to exclusively listen in advance to the "Dirty Dynamite" album. His reaction? "Woof!"

Mick Jones and Lou Gramm (FOREIGNER) and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry (AEROSMITH) will become some of the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall Of Fame at the organization's 44th annual induction and awards dinner. The star-studded induction event is slated for Thursday, June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

"Each of our 2013 inductees has been responsible for captivating the world with their creativity for decades, serving up a rich variety of songs for our global soundtrack," said Songwriters Hall Of Fame chairman Jimmy Webb. “We are looking forward to celebrating their contributions at our annual awards gala."

Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall Of Fame serves as a vital bridge between music’s past and future. In the Hall, musical pioneers are enshrined and celebrated, while the organization’s outreach to the music community grooms the next generation of troubadours.

For more information, visit SongHall.com.

The eagerly awaited new ROB ZOMBIE album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", will be released on April 23 on Zodiac Swan/T-Boy/Ume. The CD was produced by Bob Marlette, who has previously worked with everyone from BLACK SABBATH and ALICE COOPER to WILSON PHILLIPS and LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" track listing:

01. Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
02. Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown
03. Revelation Revolution
04. Theme For The Rat Vendor
05. Gong Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
06. Rock And Roll (In A Black Hole)
07. Behold! The Pretty Filthy Creatures
08. White Trash Freaks
09. We're An American Band (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD cover)
10. Lucifer Rising
11. The Girl Who Loved The Monsters
12. Trade In Your Guns For A Coffin

The "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" cover artwork can be seen below. Also available is an audio sample of the CD's first single, "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Super Town".

"I think for the first time this new album perfectly merges the old days of WHITE ZOMBIE with the future of what I am doing now," says Rob. "I think fans of both will agree that this is the perfect combo of both worlds."

A rock icon and auteur filmmaker with insight and unlimited vision, Rob Zombie has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of music, film, and publishing. Now, the seven-time Grammy-nominated recording artist releases his fifth solo album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", which includes "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Super Town", along with such tracks as "Ging Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga", "Lucifer Rising", "Behold! The Pretty Filthy Creatures" and a heavy-duty cover of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's "We're an American Band".

"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" is the first release on Rob's new label, Zodiac Swan, through T-Boy Records/UMe.

Zombie told The Pulse Of Radio what goals he set for himself in making the new album. "I wanted someone to hear it and go, 'Wow, I haven't heard that before,'" he said. "I wanted it to be just different. We really went out of our way with the sounds, so every song has a very different sound, a very different guitar sound, drum sound, just everything, where the sound, the actual sound becomes very important. You know, after all these years you want to still try to feel that you can break through new, creative areas in your own mind, and that's really what we're just trying to do, you know."

T-Boy Records is veteran rock manager Andy Gould's new partnership with Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) which will serve as an umbrella label releasing new music and albums from established iconic hard-rock bands with major followings.

Gould, who currently heads his own Spectacle Entertainment Group, has managed Rob Zombie since his days in WHITE ZOMBIE. Gould's track record includes sales exceeding fifteen million worldwide and seven Grammy nominations with Zombie, including securing deals for Zombie to become one of only a handful of people to have unprecedented success for six feature films as the writer and director.

"We have had a great deal of success in the past with Rob Zombie," explains Gould about his decision to take the new venture to UMe. "We want to sign rock bands with brand names that do good business on the road, and have been underserved by the major label system. The idea I had arose out of discussions with the other managers of major hard-rock acts who all felt their artists could benefit from an improved label experience. We're looking to super-serve this niche audience, which is tremendously loyal, and is often even larger internationally than here in the States."

As a musician, Rob Zombie has sold over fifteen million albums worldwide to date. His last studio album was "Hellbilly Deluxe 2". The CD came a decade after its predecessor, "Hellbilly Deluxe", the album that established Zombie as a solo artist after the breakup of multi-platinum group WHITE ZOMBIE. That triple-platinum album also yielded a string of successful radio singles, namely "Dragula", "Superbeast" and "Living Dead Girl", which dominated the airwaves.

The rocker-turned-film director is the only artist to experience unprecedented success in both music and film as the writer/director of five feature films, with a worldwide gross totaling more than $100 million dollars. The week of his album release, Zombie will premiere his sixth motion picture, "The Lords Of Salem", that he wrote, directed and produced in tandem with the producers of the "Paranormal Activity" franchise, on April 26, with Anchor Bay Films.

Last year, in addition to working on his film, Zombie also dominated the touring world in 2012, blowing away audiences on the road with MEGADETH, then with MARILYN MANSON for the "Twins Of Evil Tour". Zombie and his band of maniacs — John 5 on guitar, Piggy D on bass and Ginger Fish on drums — brought their elaborate, multi-media production, complete with hair-raising theatrics, animatronic robots, oversized LED screens, a non-stop collage of psychotronic monster film clips, a spectacular light show, a gigantic robot with flames shooting out of its body, pyrotechnics, insane guitar riffs and vicious beats to audiences and festivals around the world.

German publisher Musiktotal Verlag will release HELLOWEEN drummer Dani Löble's first drum book, "Dani Löble's Double Bass Drumming - For Not Only Metal", on the following dates:

German print version - March 18
German download version - April 1
English print version - June 1
English download version - June 17

"Dani Löble's Double Bass Drumming - For Not Only Metal" is described in a press release as a "biography written in notes" about Dani's carreer behind the drum kit and in the heavy metal world. The book is packed with effective exercises, techniques and personal tips that Dani developed as a member of HELLOWEEN as well as during various studio sessions as a professional drummer.

"Dani Löble's Double Bass Drumming - For Not Only Metal" was written for all drummers whose main focus is groove, solid timing and feeling. It contains helpful tips to develop drummers' foot technique and double-bass drum groove and is an accurate depiction of the reality of being a working drummer in today's rock world.

For more information, visit www.musiktotal.com.

The title track of "Oscillation", the seventh full-length album from Norwegian metallers TRAIL OF TEARS, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. Due on April 26 via Germany's Massacre Records, the CD was recorded last year at Sound Suite Studio in Marseille, France with producer Terje Refsnes.

The "Oscillation" cover art was created by Finnish artist Jan Yrlund and can be seen below.

TRAIL OF TEARS singer Cathrine Paulsen revealed in an online posting last month that the band's other vocalist, Ronny Thorsen, had "decided to leave TRAIL OF TEARS." She added: "The reason for his decision has been various problems during the making of 'Oscillation', where Ronny have contributed with lyrics and vocals.

"The making of the album has been a very hard process on all of us. Ronny Thorsen felt the prosess was going too slow. Meanwhile, others have worked very hard to finish it. This major contrast between those who have spent almost every day during the last three years to make the album as good as possible, and those who have been more busy pushing some in the band to the edge of breakdown, is the main reason in this conflict."

In a separate online posting, Thorsen disputed Paulsen's account, saying that "a certain female singer has lost her final remaining piece of sanity. It is indeed fascinating how much nonsense and lies one person is able to spew forth.

"In all honesty, the working climate within the band has indeed been difficult for a while. This has been the case for quite some time and the whole thing escalated when Cathrine and guitarist Bjørn Erik Næss became a couple about a year ago and started forming their own little alliance within the band.

"It was a mutual decision amongst the members that we were going to finalize and release this new album and then go our separate ways as it was no longer possible to see eye to eye on how to run this band.

"I want to make it perfectly clear that I had every intention to do just that, to release one last killer album and then for everyone to go on with other musical endeavours. This, obviously, was not possible."

Fan-filmed video footage of TRAIL OF TEARS performing a brand new song, "Eradicate", at last year's edition of the Metal Female Voices Fest, which was held on October 19-21, 2012 at the Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium, can be seen below.

"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 AC/DC's "TNT" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Speaking to Music Radar, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante stated about the decision to cover "TNT": "This was Joey's [Belladonna, vocals] track. We already had 'Whole Lotta Rosie' recorded, but he wanted 'TNT'. I can see why: his voice totally lends itself to this track.

"AC/DC is probably one of the greatest bands ever. The came in with a certain sound, and they'll end with that same exact sound. They never altered it; they just stayed true to what they were. To me, that's an honest-to-goodness rock 'n' roll band.

"It would have been obvious to pick something off of 'Highway To Hell' or 'Back In Black', and so we didn't. [laughs] I studied every Phil Rudd lick, and I did not go overboard with anything. I played exactly what he played on 'TNT'. You can't do a fast drum fill on the song — it'll stand out as being out of place. I laid it down, pulled it back, and that was that."

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.

German thrash metal veterans KREATOR have released a free smartphone application for their fans to stay up to date about all things KREATOR.

At the moment, the app is only available for iPhone and iPad. Android and Windows 8 versions are being developed and will follow soon.

Commented KREATOR frontman Mille Petrozza: "We are happy to announce our new KREATOR app. Get breaking news, tour dates and more directly to your cellphone. You can find the app which runs on the iPhone and iPad in every app store for FREE! Enjoy!"

KREATOR had its December 22, 2012 concert in Oberhausen, Germany professionally filmed and recorded for future DVD/Blu-ray release. The band's guitarist/vocalist Mille Petrozza said: "The 'Phantom Antichrist' world tour is among the most successful and amazing tours in the history of KREATOR, thanks to all of you — the fans! So we have decided to record a new live album, DVD and Blu-ray at our homecoming show. The show [was] recorded with 24 (!) cameras and in 5.1. sound. We are trying to produce the ultimate KREATOR concert experience for you to enjoy in your living room!"

On November 9, 2012, KREATOR released a new seven-inch single, "Civilization Collapse" (retail version: black; Nuclear Blast mailorder-only version: red, yellow, white) and as a digital download. The single contains the title cut backed by the non-album track "Wolfchild", which was featured on the "Dark Symphonies - A Tribute To John Sinclair" album, released in September 2012 in Germany via Lübbe-Audio. The band also made a video for the song "Civilization Collapse", which is said to be "mainly about the riots that took place in Greece most recently."

"Civilization Collapse" comes off KREATOR's new album, "Phantom Antichrist", which sold 3,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 1 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.

Hells Headbangers has set a May 28 release date for the CD version of b>Joel Grind's "The Yellowgoat Sessions". The solo project of the TOXIC HOLOCAUST founder/frontman, the effort bears many similarities to the early days of TOXIC HOLOCAUST — especially the "Critical Mass" demo — but goes down a darker, dirtier, decidedly more primitive route. The result is 10 tracks of raw and fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll / metal / punk in the vein of the first BATHORY album and early MOTÖRHEAD. Grind says, "If you are looking for over-produced shit that passes as 'metal' today, this is NOT for you!"

"The Yellowgoat Sessions" track listing:

01. Ascension
02. Hell's Master of Hell
03. Vengeance Spell
04. Foul Spirit Within
05. Cross Damnation
06. Grave Encounters
07. Black Order
08. The Eternal One
09. Hail to Cruelty
10. Descension

Joel previously said about the release: "I decided to not call this a TOXIC HOLOCAUST record for a few reasons. The main one being that TOXIC has sort of morphed from being a solo project to now being a full band. That's not saying you won't see other 'solo' TOXIC material, but for right now it's definitely a solid band. Also, this record is definitely less thrash and more dirty rock 'n' roll. Finally, I didn't want to just slap the TOXIC name on it to sell it. I recorded this because I was anxious to record something like this again without overthinking things."

Cross Damnation by Joel Grind

ANTHRAX recently tapped SHADOWS FALL's Jon Donais to play second guitar on all currently scheduled tour dates following last month's departure of Rob Caggiano. Donais is temporarily filling in for ANTHRAX's shows at the Soundwave festival in Australia and the North American Metal Alliance Tour.

Donais made his live debut with ANTHRAX last night (Thursday, February 21) at The Hi-Fi in Brisbane, Australia. Fan-filmed video footage of the entire concert can now be seen below.

"Jon is a bro and he's also a total fucking ripper," said ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. "I've worked with him twice before on side projects and he tears it up. I'm excited to have him on my right burning up the stage with ANTHRAX."

"I grew up on ANTHRAX, they're the thrash scene, they're one of the 'Big Four,' I'd be crazy to not want to play with them," said Donais. "Initially, Rob called and told me he was leaving the band, and asked if I'd be interested in filling in. Then Scott called me and everything fell into place. Rob and I are using Skype to work on solos and other guitar parts, so he's being great. I also have to give special thanks to my band — Brian, Matt, Jason and Ed — who have been incredibly supportive and encouraged me to do this."

Caggiano announced his departure from ANTHRAX on January 4 to focus on his other passion: producing records. He has since also joined Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT as the band's second guitarist.

San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have parted ways with bassist Adam Duce. The split is said to be "amicable," and MACHINE HEAD would like to wish Adam the best with his current and future endeavors. The band will continue on for the time being as a three-piece and has begun the writing process for the follow-up to 2011's "Unto The Locust". A late 2013 release is projected.

In a 2012 interview with Holland's FaceCulture, Duce stated about whether he felt any pressure following up 2007's "The Blackening": "I'm doing this for fun. If it doesn't work out and I don't get to make money doing this anymore, fuck it. If it's not fun, then I don't wanna do it. I don't expect to get rich doing this. I wanna have a good time and I wanna make some good music."

He continued: "I had some issues with [the writing] process [for 'Unto The Locust']. I kind of took myself out of it until it was time to write my bass lines. I wrote a bunch of music, or riffs, that Robb [Flynn, guitar/vocals] didn't have any idea what to do with vocally, and so he didn't wanna use any of that. But more importantly, I wrote lyrics that meant a lot to me and I gave it to him. I've given him page after page after page of lyrics. And it usually comes back that way, [where] he'll use a verse or a part of it or whatever — 'I'm gonna take this part and put it down here.' . . . whatever works for the cadence. But I got kind of burned on putting my soul out on a piece of paper and giving it to him and when I see it next time, there's no remnants of what the original idea was. And I was just like, 'You know what, dude?! I'm not giving you any more fucking lyrics, because I'm fucking sick of looking at this, the way that it fucking turns out.' I said, 'I'll work on it with you at the same time, but I'm not giving you any more lyrics. I'm not giving you pages of lyrics.' He was fucking angry at me for a while, but you know… that's fucking what happens."

Asked if he has ever thought about quitting the band, Adam said: "I've thought about quitting on different occasions, but I mean, Robb's thought about quitting on different occasions as well. Dave [McClain, drums] actually quit the band. I can safely say everybody's thought about quitting at one point or another."

Regarding whether he was happy with the things he could contribute to MACHINE HEAD, Adam said: "Well, I find what's important to me and where is my freedom. 'Cause that is what is important to me — the freedom aspect of it. Because making music is freedom to me. Probably [in] several different ways, because I wasn't allowed to have it while I was actually locked up. And just the freedom to go wherever you want to, the freedom to get yourself out of the way and let the music flow. [I still feel that freedom within MACHINE HEAD] with my bass lines — that's where I found it. And so when it's me and her [laughs], that's what I do here. That's my freedom."

Former ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano made his live debut with Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT this past Tuesday, February 19 at Store Vega in Copenhagen, Denmark. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Caggiano served as producer on VOLBEAT's latest album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", alongside longtime production partner Jacob Hansen, who produced and mixed the band's prior four albums. Caggiano's other producer credits include THE DAMNED THINGS, BLEEDING THROUGH and ANTHRAX, and he was a member of ANTHRAX for two tenures — from 2001 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2013.

VOLBEAT singer and guitarist Michael Poulsen stated about Caggiano's addition to the band: "The collaboration with Rob in the studio was so inspiring and in good spirit that we the decided to keep him. Basically we went into the studio as a three-piece and came out as a whole band!"

Added Caggiano: " I came to Denmark to produce the new VOLBEAT record which in and of itself has been an incredibly exciting adventure from a producer's perspective. However, I'm extremely happy to say my relationship with these guys will not end there as it turns out... it's just beginning!

"Michael had asked me on the phone before I got out [to Denmark] if I would play some guest solos on the new album in addition to my other duties, and, of course, I was thrilled about that and agreed to do so. When I actually got to Denmark and started going through the material, this turned out to be so much more than that.

"After weeks of collaboration between Michael and I, it became quite clear that we had an amazing creative chemistry together and a huge mutual respect for one another.

"It's so refreshing and inspiring to be creative again on a songwriting level that words can't even describe it and the vibe between Anders, Jon, Michael and I is just awesome. I'd say an artistic relationship like this one is very rare and it's also something I don't take for granted.

"When the guys asked me if I was interested in joining VOLBEAT, my jaw just about hit the floor! It actually didn't even register in my brain properly until the next morning, but I gotta say, it also didn't take me long to decide. It really isn't the way I envisioned the rest of my year to play out but at the same time, THIS feels more 'right' to me than anything I could have possibly imagined and I'm going for it!"

VOLBEAT's fifth album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", will be released on April 9 (one day earlier internationally) via Spinefarm/Universal Music.

VOLBEAT will embark on a North American headlining tour in the spring. The trek, which will feature support from DANKO JONES, will kick off on March 6 in Dallas, Texas.

VOLBEAT in 2011 parted ways with guitarist Thomas Bredahl, who had been a member of the band since 2006. He was replaced on the road by MERCYFUL FATE's Hank Shermann

Swedish viking/black metallers THYRFING will release their new album, "De Ödeslösa" (English translation: "The Fateless") on March 1 via NoiseArt Records. The band's first CD since 2008's critically acclaimed "Hels Vite" was recorded at Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, WITCHCRAFT).

"De Ödeslösa" track listing:

01. Mot Helgrind
02. Fordom
03. Veners Förfall
04. Illvilja
05. Kamp
06. Relik
07. Vindöga
08. De Ödeslösa

The song "Mot Helgrind" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Comments THYRFING guitarist Patrik Lindgren: "'Veners Förfall' is a track we're truly satisfied with and think it showcases the album in a great way. The song was actually written around the rather offbeat middle piano part — which I think is really different from how you usually put your piano in metal music. In the chorus we can also hear Toni Kocmut on choir vocals. Those who have been following the band through the years will surely recognize this as a familiar element of THYRING. So … here we go — hope you'll enjoy the song and appreciate it as a first teaser of 'De Ödeslösa'."

The cover artwork for "De Ödeslösa" was created by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight13Media and can be seen below.

After 17 years in the band, original member and bassist Kimmy Sjölund decided to leave THYRFING. Joakim Kristensson has since taken over the bass duties. The band also welcomed a new drummer, Dennis Ekdahl.

THYRFING 2013 is:

Jens Rydén - Vocals
Patrik Lindgren - Guitar
Fredrik Hernborg - Guitar
Joakim Kristensson - Bass
Peter Löf - Synthesizers
Dennis Ekdahl - Drums

"Hels Vite" was released in October 2008 via Regain Records. The CD was co-produced (with the band) by Jörgen Svensson of Tyroon Production and the cover artwork was created by the Swedish artist Mikael Schelén. The layout and the photos were handled by Jens Rydén.

THYRFING in 2007 announced the addition of Jens Rydén as the band's new vocalist. Jens is best known as founding member and ex-vocalist of NAGLFAR and for his one-man army PROFUNDI.

The official lyric video for the song "Falling Like The Fahrenheit" from American/German/Swedish symphonic metallers KAMELOT can be seen below. The track, which was released as a digital single on February 8, "combines everything what the band stands for: melody, epic and melancholy atmospheres, and the unique voice of the new singer Tommy Karevik," according to a press release.

The "Falling Like The Fahrenheit" single features a special radio edit of the title track as well as the full album version.

"Falling Like The Fahrenheit" comes off KAMELOT's new album, "Silverthorn", which sold 5,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 79 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Poetry For The Poisoned", opened with around 6,100 units in September 2010 to enter the chart at No. 74.

"Silverthorn" was released on October 30, 2012 in North America, October 26, 2012 in Germany and October 29, 2012 in the rest of Europe via Steamhammer/SPV. The CD marks the band's first release with Tommy Karevik, the Swedish vocalist who previously fronted SEVENTH WONDER (a group that he is still a member of).

Tommy first appeared as one of the guest singers on KAMELOT's very successful 2011 Pandemonium World Tour.

KAMELOT supported Finnish/Dutch symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH on their North American tour last summer.

"Regenerate", the new video from U.K. tech metallers MONUMENTS, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Gnosis", which was released in North America on September 25, 2012 through Century Media Records. The CD was originally supposed to be released in 2011 via Basick Records. MONUMENTS has since split with the U.K.-based label, which issued the band's debut EP, "We Are The Foundation", in 2010.

Commented MONUMENTS vocalist Matt Rose: "This video was shot in our hometown of London. Turn it the f*%k up, And enjoy the groove."

MONUMENTS will be back on European stages this month and next, supporting BORN OF OSIRIS and AFTER THE BURIAL. Also appearing on the bill is THE HAARP MACHINE.

MONUMENTS last year recruited Rose after they went through a long, grinding, and global search for a new frontman.

MONUMENTS is:

John Browne - Guitar
Olly Steele - Guitar
Adam Swan - Bass
Mike Malyan - Drums
Matt Rose - Vocals

"Golem", a brand new song from Madrid, Spain-based female-fronted metallers TEARS OF MARTYR, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's second album, "Tales", which will be released on April 26 via Germany's Massacre Records. The CD was recorded in August 2012 at the New Sin Studios in Loria, Italy, with Enrik Garcia and Luigi Stefanini.

Formed in the mid-'90s in Gran Canaria, Spain, TEARS OF MARTYR's debut album, "Entrance", was released in 2009 via STF Records.

The band was honored with the "Best Spanish Band Of The Year" award at the Female Metal Awards in 2009.

Commented TEARS OF MARTYR: "We are happy and excited to work with Massacre Records. We are looking forward to the release of 'Tales' and we hope you'll enjoy it!"

TEARS OF MARTYR is:

Berenice Musa - Soprano
Miguel Angel Marqués – Guitar, Vocals
Adrián Miranda - Bass
Doramas Párraga - Drums

"Reigns In Fire", a song from San Francisco Bay Area "blackened, technical post-death metallers" OBLIVION, who feature in their ranks former ALL SHALL PERISH guitarist Ben Orum on bass, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off OBLIVION's debut album, "Called To Rise", which was released on January 1.

"Called To Rise" track listing:

01. Oblivion Part 1: The Chant Of Tyrants (01:39)
02. Black Veils Of Justice (03:11)
03. Between Suns Of Light (02:50)
04. Binary Souls (03:24)
05. Reclamation (04:11)
06. Canon 1 In E Minor (02:30)
07. Annunaki (03:06)
08. Reigns In Fire (04:59)
09. Cancer Of Wraiths (03:52)
10. Multiverse (04:41)
11. Oblivion Part 2: Infinite Descent (05:34)

The "Reclamation" video can be seen below. The special "End Of The World" version of the clip was directed by Brandon Hunt and is the first OBLIVION video to feature the band's two new members: Orum and guitarist Victor Dods (HACKSAW TO THE THROAT).

OBLIVION is:

Nick Vasallo - Vocals
Ben Orum - Bass
Ted O'Neill - Guitar
Victor Dods - Guitar
Luis Martinez - Drums

Orum announced his departure from ALL SHALL PERISH earlier this month, explaining in statement that he "could not fulfill [his] duty as a touring musician any longer" due to the fact that he needed to provide for his family. He added: "While I am done with touring, I will never stop writing music. I am joining the extreme metal band OBLIVION as a bassist and contributing songwriter. We are beyond excited to unleash [our debut album] onto the metal world. I've always been into death metal and extreme music, [and] this is my return to true death metal."

"Kata Ton Demona Eaftou", the eleventh full-length studio album from Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST, can be streamed in its entirety using the widget below (courtesy of RockHard.gr and HardRockMag.fr). The CD will be released on March 5 (four days earlier in Europe) via Season Of Mist. The band spent more than four months at Deva Soundz studios in Athens crafting what it says "may be its darkest and more mystical and occult outcome ever." The CD was mixed by Jens Borgen (AMON AMARTH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA, OPETH) at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.

According to a press release, "the principle of Do What Thou Wilt is the threat leading through this amazing album, which is inspired by ancient cultures around the globe. ROTTING CHRIST employ poetry from the Sumerians and Incas as well as a Romanian folk song, the tale of an undead Russian water spirit, Voodoo, Zoroastrianism and other sources."

"Kata Ton Demona Eaftou" track listing:

01. In Yumen - Xibalba
02. P'unchaw Kachun - Tuta Kachun
03. Grandis Spiritus Diavolos
04. Kata Ton Demona Eaftou
05. Cine Iubeste Si Lasa
06. Iwa Woodoo
07. Gilgames
08. Rusalka
09. Ahura Mazda Anra Mainiuu
10. 666

The album will be made available as jewel case CD, double gatefold LP and limited-edition digibox, including a digipak CD with bonus track "Welcome To Hel", a pendant in velvet bag and a flag.

In a recent interview with RockOverdose.gr, ROTTING CHRIST mainman Sakis Tolis stated about the band's new CD, "The album was recorded entirely by me, except, of course, the drums which were taken care of by my brother."

ROTTING CHRIST's last album, "Aealo", came out in March 2010. The CD sold around 400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 144 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.

Bruce Moore of PureGrainAudio.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Frank Novinec of Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

PureGrainAudio.com: After listening through "The Divinity Of Purpose" a few times now, it definitely seems to be a heavier effort than your previous releases. Was that something that was intentional or do you think it was just a natural progression?

Frank: Well, we are a universal band, like MOTÖRHEAD, where we appeal to rock, metal and hardcore fans and we feel that we can step outside of our boundaries at times. We did that about as much as we wanted to on the last record, and some people were into it and some people weren't, but there were some great songs in there. I think, definitely, for this one, we wanted it more straightforward; more meat and potatoes. We are a band that has been around for a long time and it is really difficult to come up with something fresh, but I think we achieved that on "The Divinity Of Purpose". More than anything, though, I am really proud at what a solid effort this record is from the beginning to the end.

PureGrainAudio.com: You guys have always had pretty cool album covers, but the artwork on "The Divinity Of Purpose" is especially intense. How did that come about?

Frank: We had an artist who has done stuff for SODOM and TESTAMENT and others do this one for us. It was kind of a risk because a lot of people thought, once they saw the cover, that the album was going to be really really metal and that is not the case at all. We wanted something different, we are open to different things and experimenting and we certainly did that with this album cover, but when you look at it it has the black-and-red classic HATEBREED look to it even though it is something new to us with the painting. I think it is real cool. This is an exciting time for us; everything from having a new album out, being on tour and the artwork.

PureGrainAudio.com: For this release you guys signed a deal with Nuclear Blast. How is that working out and is that going to take you more through Europe?

Frank: You know, we are always in Europe. We do well over there and we have a huge fan base and we are constantly going over there to play gigs. Nuclear Blast had the classic metal bands that we love, like KREATOR and DESTRUCTION, and obviously they have AGNOSTIC FRONT, a band that paved the way for us and who we actually were just on tour with over there. They (Nuclear Blast) do a great job with the packaging and everything, they are good people and they are fans. The head of the whole label is a fan, he comes to the shows, gets a few drinks in him and he is stage diving. It is plenty of fun and we had a great time with them when we were over there.

PureGrainAudio.com: You guys tour quite a bit. How do you keep up with the physical demands of touring?

Frank: I mean, everybody tries to eat healthy. We are all older now and the partying is down to a minimum. I am usually the guy in the band that is responsible for that, and I have tried to tone it down as much as possible. It is hard with all the traveling, especially with all the flying stuff, which puts more wear and tear on you, but we have a good time and our morale is up. Some of the guys have stretching routines before the show, but Jamey [Jasta, vocals] and I are the ones hanging out on the bus until the last second and then we go in and turn the switch on and give it 110 percent.

Read the entire interview from PureGrainAudio.com.

"Put It To The Torch" video:

New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION filmed a video for the track "As Grace Descends" on January 5 at Duff's Brooklyn in in Williamsburg, New York. The clip, which can now be seen below, was directed by Tommy Jones, who has previously worked with KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK and DEATH ANGEL, among others.

Photos from the video shoot are available at this location.

"As Grace Descends" comes off SUFFOCATION's new album, "Pinnacle Of Bedlam", which was released on February 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.

Commented SUFFOCATION bassist Derek Boyer: "This artwork is a perfect portrayal of our music. The cover depicts lyrical content like 'scales tip in degradation' and 'hooded messenger of death is now set forth, punishment for all.' Raymond is an absolute BEAST of an artist!"

Added SUFFOCATION guitarist Guy Marchais: "The artwork for 'Pinnacle' brings another element to an already brutal album. Raymond knew exactly what we were looking for and delivered!"

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" was produced by the band at Full Force Studios in New York with longtime collaborator Joe Cincotta. The mixing and mastering of the effort was handled by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, ARSIS, SUICIDE SILENCE).

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" features 10 genre-defining-bone-crushing tracks and also marks the return of drummer Dave Culross, who previously played on the "Despise The Sun" EP. Founding member and former drummer Mike Smith also makes a special guest appearance on the re-recorded "Breeding The Spawn" track "Beginning Of Sorrow".

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" track listing:

01. Cycles Of Suffering
02. Purgatorial Punishment
03. Eminent Wrath
04. As Grace Descends
05. Sullen Days
06. Pinnacle Of Bedlam
07. My Demise
08. Inversion
09. Rapture Of Revocation
10. Beginning Of Sorrow

Stated guitarist Terrance Hobbs: "The meaning of the album title 'Pinnacle Of Bedlam', is the tipping point or most elevated moment as we approach the chaotic climax of this existence. The cosmic scale teeters and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

"People should expect nothing less than sheer brutality, as we perform together with this incredible lineup! We feel this CD will be the best SUFFOCATION album ever to have been released and are confident the fans will love it."

"As Grace Descends" video:

"Count Me In", the new video from German heavy rockers THE NEW BLACK, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's third album, "III: Cut Loose", which will be released 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)

STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet's autobiography, "Honestly", went to editing last week. There is a 12-song solo record to go hand in hand with the release of the book.

Writing on the band's Facebook page, Sweet states: "Writing and finishing my autobiography has gone WAY beyond my expectations, good and bad. It's been much more difficult than I could ever imagine yet it's been somewhat therapeutic being able to talk about my life and the past 30+ years of all things STRYPER. I get into everything and share things that may surprise you. I talk about the disfunction in this band, the pain and heartache of being so close to each other that we sometimes hurt each other the most, the ups and downs from our highest point (1987-1988) to our lowest point (1991-1992) and why we were driven to bankruptcy and how we climbed our way back from complete loss and despair. I share my personal pain from considering to give up music altogether to the day I broke the news to the guys that I would be leaving the band and why. From that day forward, I had everything a man could ask for and then, in what seemed like an instant, it was all taken away.

"I'm almost 50 yet I feel like I've lived the life of a man who is almost 90. I look back on everything and all I can say is thank you God for allowing me to serve you and for giving me my gift, my life!

"'Honestly' will be available soon and I can say from the bottom of my heart, it is brutally honest and my hopes and prayers are that it touches you in some way."

Michael's new solo album will be issued via Big3 Records. Guest musicians set to appear on the CD include CHICKENFOOT drummer Kenny Aronoff, FOZZY singer Chris Jericho, WHITESNAKE guitarist Doug Aldrich; Tony Harnell of TNT, and Michael's brother Robert Sweet and STRYPER's Timothy Gaines.

Regarding Harnell's appearance on the CD, Sweet previously stated, "I think Tony is truly one of the most underrated singers of all time. He's always been one of my favorites and is an incredibly nice, humble guy to boot. I've always wanted to work with Tony and I knew this would be the perfect song and opportunity to do so. 'Taking On The World Tonight' is very heavy with a combination of old-school riffs and solos yet it's got a very modern, relevant sound as well. It's the best of both worlds!"

Writing on Facebook, Sweet stated about reaction to his previously released solo album sampes, "To the handful of people who think it sounds like STRYPER — well, earth to moon, I am the singer/guitarist/songwriter for STRYPER so there is the remote chance that their will be similarities right? Maybe you can't comprehend that but I think most people here do.

"For those of you who wonder why it isn't a STRYPER record, the truth is that I had the opportunity to make a record and I took it. It's been almost 12 years since my last solo release and I felt it was long overdue. There is a lot of down time with STRYPER and life goes on, you've got to do what you've got to do … We all have done solo projects over the years and it's a great way for all of us to be artistic and express our musical ideas individually."

Sweet's last solo album, "Touched", was released in December 2007 exclusively through Michael's official web site, MichaelSweet.com. The CD, which included reworked versions of four STRYPER songs, was not made available in stores.

Helsinki, Finland-based metallers OCTOBER FALLS will release their fourth album, "The Plague Of A Coming Age", on March 15 on CD and vinyl via Debemur Morti Productions. According to a press release, the CD sees "the band continu[ing] to explore its exquisitely sonorous world, deeply melancholic, subtly aggressive and always divinely melodic." Once again, Mikko Lehto gathered gifted musicians around him for the recording: Marko Tarvonen (MOONSORROW) on drums and Sami Hinkka (ENSIFERUM) on bass. A very special guest contributed clean vocals on two songs: Tomi Joutsen (AMORPHIS). The visual art was imagined and painted by talented Argentinian artist Santiago Caruso.

"The Plague Of A Coming Age" track listing:

01. At the Edge Of An Empty Horizon
02. Bloodlines
03. The Verge Of Oblivion
04. Snakes Of The Old World
05. The Plague Of A Coming Age
06. Mouth Of A Nation's Harlots
07. Boiling Heart Of The North
08. The Weight Of The Fallen
09. Below The Soils

The song "Boiling Heart Of The North" can now be streamed below.

A trailer for the CD can be seen below. Also available is an audio stream of the song "Snakes Of The Old World".

OCTOBER FALLS' current musical style is described in a press release as "a mixture of atmospheric acoustic music and harsher black metal-oriented material and could be compared to early acoustic ULVER, DRUDKH and PRIMORDIAL blended together with a personal touch and strong melodies. Still, the early acoustic side has not been completely abandoned; there have been occasional acoustic releases through the years and there will also be similar releases again at some point on the horizon."

On February 19, Californian rockers BUCKCHERRY performed a special acoustic set for Tampa Bay, Florida radio station 98 Rock at the RP Funding Performance Theater. Check out footage of the song "Bliss", "Sorry", "Everything", "Truth" and "Rose" below.

BUCKCHERRY's sixth studio album, "Confessions", is likely to sell between 12,000 and 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on February 19 via Century Media Records.

BUCKCHERRY's previous CD, "All Night Long", opened with around 28,000 copies in August 2010 to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's fourth studio effort, titled "Black Butterfly", premiered with around 47,000 copies back in September 2008 to enter the chart at No. 8.

"Confessions" is a loose concept album that revolves around the notion of the seven deadly sins, while the lyrics were inspired by events in singer Josh Todd's childhood. Todd told The Pulse Of Radio why the seven sins made a good framework for the record. "Well, I've struggled with moderation my whole life, you know, so the sins have been prevalent in my life as far back as I can remember," he said. "So it's something that I'm always struggling with, and I think everybody does to some degree at some point. That's why they're unique and timeless and I think a lot of people can relate to them."

Todd has also written the script for a short film that will act as a companion piece to "Confessions", with the band hoping to shoot the movie later this year.

The first single from the album is called "Gluttony".

BUCKCHERRY is currently out as special guest of KID ROCK on his Rebel Soul tour, which stopped on Wednesday (February 20) in Pensacola, Florida.

The band will also play three hometown shows on March 7, March 8 and March 9 at the Viper Room in Los Angeles.

A six-minute video clip in which bassist Sean Tibbetts of American/German/Swedish symphonic metallers KAMELOT answers a number of fan-submitted questions can be seen below.

KAMELOT released a new digital single on February 8. According to a press release, "Falling Like The Fahrenheit" "combines everything what the band stands for: melody, epic and melancholy atmospheres, and the unique voice of the new singer Tommy Karevik."

The "Falling Like The Fahrenheit" single features a special radio edit of the title track as well as the full album version.

"Falling Like The Fahrenheit" comes off KAMELOT's new album, "Silverthorn", which sold 5,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 79 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Poetry For The Poisoned", opened with around 6,100 units in September 2010 to enter the chart at No. 74.

"Silverthorn" was released on October 30, 2012 in North America, October 26, 2012 in Germany and October 29, 2012 in the rest of Europe via Steamhammer/SPV. The CD marks the band's first release with Tommy Karevik, the Swedish vocalist who previously fronted SEVENTH WONDER (a group that he is still a member of).

Tommy first appeared as one of the guest singers on KAMELOT's very successful 2011 Pandemonium World Tour.

KAMELOT supported Finnish/Dutch symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH on their North American tour last summer.

Former HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe joined Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) on stage this past Tuesday (February 19) at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland to perform the songs "We're All Gonna Die" and "Magic Carpet Ride". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Monroe, whose solo band opened the show, stated after the concert: "We had an absolute blast with Slash on Tuesday at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki! A big thank you to Slash for inviting us to open the show. And for having me come up to jam on 'We're All Gonna Die' and 'Magic Carpet Ride'. It was truly magical. Good times and then some!"

Monroe has completed recording his new solo album in Stockholm, Sweden for an early 2013 release. He states, "We laid down 12 killer tracks! We're all really excited about it!"

Michael's latest CD, "Sensory Overdrive", was released in the U.S. and Canada in August 2011 via Spinefarm/Universal. The CD, which was made available in Europe in March 2011 via Universal Music subsidiary Spinefarm Records, featured guest appearances by MOTÖRHEAD's Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister and three-time Grammy-winning country/folk singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams.

"Sensory Overdrive" was recorded in Los Angeles with legendary producer Jack Douglas, who has previously worked with AEROSMITH, JOHN LENNON, CLUTCH, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and NEW YORK DOLLS, among many others.

Monroe in June 2011 recruited Dregen (real name: Andreas Tyrone Svensson) of Swedish sleaze rockers BACKYARD BABIES to be the guitarist of Monroe's solo band following the departure of Ginger (THE WILDHEARTS).

British doom legends CATHEDRAL will release their final studio album, "The Last Spire", on April 29 via Rise Above Records. Produced by Lee Dorrian and Garry Jennings, with assistance from Jaime Gomez Arellano, the CD will feature the following track listing:

01. Entrance To Hell
02. Pallbearer
03. Cathedral Of The Damned
04. Tower Of Silence
05. Infestation Of Grey Death
06. An Observation
07. The Last Laugh
08. This Body, Thy Tomb

And lo, Lee Dorrian, mouthpiece of CATHEDRAL for 23 years, doth solemnly intone the death rites of this mighty British metal Titan. Born in the dying days of Thatcher's Britain, bonding over then-unfashionable, obscure names like SAINT VITUS, PENTAGRAM, TROUBLE and DREAM DEATH, CATHEDRAL's sole ambition was to record a demo tape. In fact they revolutionised doom metal, first pushing their influences into new avenues of grinding extremity, then pioneering groovier forms of '70s-indebted stoner doom.

They've remained a reassuring and singular presence in our lives, building a rabid following worldwide with their wholly distinctive blend of rollicking British heavy metal, true doom, 70s hard rock, psych-folk, mad prog and spiky crust-punk. There was a worrying hiatus between 2005 and 2010 when some dared to wonder if CATHEDRAL were coming back at all — but they re-emerged with "The Guessing Game", an overflowing treasure chest of weird and wonderful goodies exploring new, bold variations on their craft. So when news came that CATHEDRAL really were approaching the Endtyme, it was a shock.

"Personally speaking, this is the album I've been waiting to do since the first one [CATHEDRAL's 1991 debut, 'Forest Of Equilibrium']," says Dorrian. "It almost feels like we made our second album last in some respects. We actually recorded a lot more material but decided to sacrifice many of the tracks to make the overall album feel more complete in its nihilism.

"I don't like happy endings, I never have. So many good films are ruined by happy endings and I didn't want that to be the case with CATHEDRAL. It was my dream to bring everything full circle."

CATHEDRAL recently released its first new recorded material in three years exclusively via Decibel magazine's subscriber-only Decibel Flexi Series. The song, "Vengeance Of The Blind Dead", can be heard in the flexi included in the February 2013 issue. The track is also streaming on Decibel's SoundCloud page. Limited quantities of the issue with the flexi can be ordered on DecibelMagazine.com.

Just as the third quarter of 2012 brought three exciting works from JEFF LYNNE - his second solo album Long Wave, the freshly recorded Mr. Blue Sky – The Very Best Of ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA and the illuminating documentary Mr. Blue Sky: The Story Of Jeff Lynne and ELO - 2013 will be marked by more treats from the creative force of ELO and one of rock’s most iconic figures.

On April 19th in Europe (April 22nd in the UK) and April 23rd in North America, Frontiers Records will release three albums: Electric Light Orchestra Live and two reissues, ELO’s Zoom (remastered and including a brand new track) and his debut solo album Armchair Theatre (also remastered, with two new brand new tracks). It’s all part of the 40th anniversary of ELO, who’ve sold 50 million-plus records worldwide. These releases will all feature new packaging and the Live CD will come in a special ecolbook edition.
* Electric Light Orchestra Live hasn’t been issued as an album until now. Taken from a 2001 performance for a PBS television special in Los Angeles at CBS Television City, the music was released as a DVD that year. The new hits-packed CD offers fans four tracks that weren’t on the DVD ('Secret Messages', 'Sweet Talkin’ Woman', 'Twilight', and 'Confusion') as well as two new, unreleased studio tracks, 'Out of Luck' (recorded in 2010) and 'Cold Feet' (recorded in 1992). Although the singularly accomplished British singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer has always preferred the creative experience of the recording studio, he is a compelling performer who's always figured out ways to bring his distinctive widescreen musical universe to life onstage when he needed to.

* ELO’s Zoom - unavailable for over 10 years - has been remastered and features a brand new track, 'One Day' (recorded in 2004) as an added bonus, along with a live version of 'Turn To Stone' from 2001’s Zoom special on PBS. At the time of its original release in 2001, Lynne hadn’t issued an ELO album since 1986’s Balance Of Power. He called upon notable friends for a little help, enlisting contributions from longtime ELO member Richard Tandy as well as good friends GEORGE HARRISON and RINGO STARR. The result is an album rich in that distinct ELO sound - classic Lynne melodies and songwriting, foot-stomping rock anthems and sweet, sexy strings.

* Lynne's first solo album, 1990’s Armchair Theatre, is a melting pot of different styles and influences featuring unexpected collaborations with Lynne's heroes and close friends, including TOM PETTY, RICHARD TANDY and George Harrison. This reissue, unavailable for the last decade, includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks, 'Borderline' and 'Forecast' (both recorded in 1989). Interestingly, the album also features a few notable covers - 'Don’t Let Go', 'Stormy Weather' and 'September Song' - that demonstrated Lynne's flair for covers two decades before the release of 2012’s acclaimed Long Wave. Suitably, the core of the album is Lynne himself, though he also left room for the contributions of a few friends and fellow travelers. Harrison contributed guitars and vocals on a number of tracks. Petty co-wrote 'Blown Away', a gorgeously romantic ballad. Longtime ELO band member Richard Tandy also contributed on keyboards and other instruments. Armchair Theatre captures the musical genius of Jeff Lynne when - perhaps more than ever before - the world was his stage.

Outside of the success of ELO, Lynne has led a remarkable career producing and collaborating with many of the greatest musical artists of all time. They include a number of Lynne's all-time heroes like ROY ORBISON, DEL SHANNON, George Harrison, PAUL MCCARTNEY, Ringo Starr, and remarkably, even THE BEATLES themselves, as well as contemporaries like Tom Petty and JOE WALSH, whose new album Analog Man, Lynne recently produced some tracks for. Together with Harrison, Orbison, Petty and BOB DYLAN, Lynne was, of course, a member of the Grammy award-winning TRAVELING WILBURYS - a super group like no other.

“I’ve been in love with music since I was probably just five years old,” says Lynne. I was mad for music then - and I still am today.”

Tracklistings:
Electric Light Orchestra Live:

'Evil Woman'
'Showdown'
'Secret Messages'
'Livin’ Thing'
'Sweet Talkin’ Woman'
'Mr. Blue Sky'
'Can’t Get It Out Of My Head'
'Twilight'
'Confusion'
'Don’t Bring Me Down'
'Roll Over Beethoven'
'Out of Luck' (Bonus)
'Cold Feet' (Bonus)
Zoom:

'Alright'
'Moment In Paradise'
'State Of Mind'
'Just For Love'
'Stranger On A Quiet Street'
'In My Own Time, Easy Money'
'It Really Doesn’t Matter'
'Ordinary Dream'
'A Long Time Gone'
'Melting In The Sun'
'All She Wanted'
'Lonesome Lullaby'
'One Day' (Bonus)
'Turn To Stone' (Live From CBS Television City) (Bonus)
Armchair Theatre:

'Every Little Thing'
'Don’t Let Go'
'Lift Me Up'
'Nobody Home'
'September Song'
'Now You’re Gone'
'Don’t Say Goodbye'
'What Would It Take'
'Stormy Weather'
'Blown Away'
'Save Me Now'
'Borderline' (Bonus)
'Forecast' (Bonus)