Switzerland's maniacal grindcore death outfit MUMAKIL has completed the recording of its new LP, now bearing the confirmed title "Flies Will Starve", set for release later in the year via Relapse Records.

Recorded at Terrier 5 Studio in Geneva, the MUMAKIL faction's first album in four years will devastate grinders worldwide with twenty-four brand new tracks of wicked, precision grindcore with even more death metal persuasion than their previous full-length, "Behold The Failure". Fans of BIRDFLESH, MISERY INDEX, ANTIGAMA, KILL THE CLIENT and the like, get ready! Stated the band, upon entering the studio in September: "This will be our best album in terms of production, riff quality, variation and songwriting. It is going to be a great mix between everything we love in grindcore and death-metal with subjects like war, anger, pain, personal experiences and deceptions, and an overall theme about mankind's permanent will to destroy itself."

Following an arsenal of releases since the band's 2004 foundation, "Flies Will Starve" will be MUMAKIL's third full-length and second for Relapse, not including a split with INHUME on the label's cult Slimewave seven-inch series. The album's street date and other new info will be made available in the coming weeks, including tours of Europe, Canada and beyond in support of the album.

In the meantime, Europe is already doomed for a blastbeating this March, as MUMAKIL will rampage across the continent alongside Swedish grind allies AFGRUND for over three weeks.

Eddie Trunk — co-host of the VH1 Classic television program "That Metal Show" who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on New York's Q104.3 FM — conducted an interview with BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler for Hartke at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, a massive music-products convention that took place January 24-27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. You can now watch the chat below. A few excerpts from the chat follow.

On the new BLACK SABBATH album:

Geezer: "We've finished recording it. Tony's [Iommi, guitar] back in England putting down a couple of solos. Then we start mixing it in Febraury and it will be out in June.

"The provisional title is '13' — unless we can come up with something more constructive."

On Tony Iommi's health after he was diagnosed with cancer more than a year ago:

Geezer: "He's doing well; he's really responding well. He has to go and have his medication every six weeks. But yeah, he's really coming along well; he's really doing well."

On BLACK SABBATH's touring plans:

Geezer: "We start at the end of April in New Zealand, then we go to Australia, then Japan. June, we'll be promoting the album, then July and August [is] USA. Then October is South America and Europe in November and December."

On how it feels to be back working with Ozzy Osbourne again:

Geezer: "It's great. We just have a lot of laughs and lot of fun."

On whether he has contributed lyrics to the new BLACK SABBATH album, like he has in the past:

Geezer: "Yeah, I've written most of the lyrics. Ozzy comes up with the titles and then gives me an inspiration to write the lyrics. I think we've got 16 songs and I've written 14 sets of lyrics."

On whether Brad Wilk (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), who plays on the new BLACK SABBATH album, or Tommy Clufetos (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROB ZOMBIE), who played shows with the band last year, will sit behind the kit when BLACK SABBATH hits the road:

Geezer: "We're not sure yet; we don't know. 'Cause I think Brad's got commitments with RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. So it'll probably be either Tommy or Brad, depending on their commitments."

On his plans to release another solo album:

Geezer: "When I finish this cycle for the SABBATH touring and album and everything else, we'll start work on the next GZR album. There's a lot of material written. It's just getting the time to record it. It'll probably be sometime next year."

Portland heavy music act FALLSTAR has inked a deal with Facedown Records. The band's new album, "Backdraft", will be released on April 16. The CD's first single, "Shallow Believer", features a guest appearance by MEMPHIS MAY FIRE vocalist Matty Mullins. The official lyric video for the track, which was recorded by engineer Kris Crummett (ALESANA, DANCE GAVIN DANCE, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS) at Interlace Audio, can be seen below.

"'Shallow Believer' embodies a call to conscious thought and movement, questioning the established order while diligently seeking truth," says FALLSTAR vocalist Chris Ratzlaff.

FALLSTAR, an unrestrained group of artists and musicians who draw just as much inspiration from their local punk and hardcore scene as they do from their hometown in general. "Our city is known for its global perspective, sustainable living, care for the homeless, and having ideas that challenge long-standing traditions and beliefs," the band says. "So we've developed this way of thinking that is energized by our doubts and ideas. We're a west coast band, we're relaxed and not afraid of new things."

FALLSTAR love the mercurial atmosphere of a live show, and so write true to their genre with sing-alongs and crowd participation. The influences of hardcore and metal are there, but they aren't restrictive. The band spends countless hours layering and composing their songs to achieve the balance they desire. "Our music isn't incredibly technical, so there's lots of room for swinging guitars, jumping off things, chipped teeth and stitches," the band says.

NERVOSA, the all-female thrash metal act from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, entered the studio on January 26 to began recording its debut album for a late 2013 release via Napalm Records. The production, recording, mixing and mastering will be taken care of by Heros Trench and Pompeu, both of the veteran Brazilian metal band KORZUS. The recordings are taking place at the studio Mr. Som, where Nervosa recorded its first EP, entitled "2012", last year.

Comments NERVOSA singer and bassist Fernanda Lira: "We really liked the result we were able to reach with them for our EP and there was no reason that could stop us from keeping such a high-quality work. We are really anxious to record it and, obviously, to show our new songs to the people who keep up with our work!"

Adds NERVOSA guitarist Prika Amaral: "With these new songs, the band will show a more original identity, once it has 100% of participation of Fernanda Lira on the songwriting. The natural maturing will be evident on this CD, which we are more than excited to record and release."

According to a press release, NERVOSA's music "has strong influences from classic old-school thrash metal bands, such as SLAYER, SEPULTURA and EXODUS, perfectly mixed with original and characteristic features inserted in the songs by each of the bandmembers."

NERVOSA is:

Fernanda Lira (ex-HELLARISE) - Bass, Vocals
Prika Amaral (ex-LAMA NEGRA) - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jully Lee - Drums

Thomas Stanley Orwat Jr. of RockMusicStar.com recently conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RockMusicStar.com: TESTAMENT is about to hit the road, headlining a major tour, "The Dark Roots Of Thrash" tour. This tour also features thrash metal legends OVERKILL and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, with a new upcoming thrash band, 4ARM. Do you find this time, leading up to a tour, stressful and exciting? What is your mindset right now?

Chuck: Yeah, I'm a little of both, actually. We have a new show, with new songs that we are going to perform. We had previously played three legs of a tour with ANTHRAX, so we are trying to put in some new songs for this one, do a new show. We also plan on filming a DVD on this tour. We did a couple live DVDs/CDs, and we want to do some songs that are not on those, and to create something new.

RockMusicStar.com: Without giving too much away, how long will your set be and how many new songs will you be performing?

Chuck: Our set will be about an hour and a half, with five songs off of the new record, "Dark Roots Of Earth".

RockMusicStar.com: Who was responsible for putting this tour package together? Did you have any input in the process?

Chuck: Well, our agents out a lot of it together for us. All the bands have a new record, or a new record coming out. I've learned from doing the ANTHRAX and MEGADETH tours that fans and promoters want bands that fit together. So, when we were approached with this tour, we said, "OK" and the promoters thought it was a good package as well.

RockMusicStar.com: As far as the new record, "Dark Roots Of Earth", it has received some great reviews, and his even been referred as the best hard rock/metal record of the year. How gratifying and satisfying was it for you to get all of these accolades at this point in your career?

Chuck: It really was great, especially with all the hard work that we put into the record, and into the writing process. It probably was the first record we wrote, not thinking about what the fans and critics were going to think. Songs such as "Cold Embrace" are in the style of songs that we haven't had on a record for like fifteen years, or so. I think getting the original lineup back together has given us more self confidence. When we started writing the songs, we were really into it, and didn't really think or question what people were going to think. And now with people giving us props for the record, we are glad that we stuck with our instincts, because it really paid off. But, yeah, it's a very gratifying feeling.

Read the entire interview at RockMusicStar.com.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a Los Angeles judge indicated that he is inclined to dismiss GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose's fraud claim against game publisher Activision Blizzard, Inc. for using a GUNS song in its "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" video game. At the conclusion of a summary judgment hearing Thursday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charles Palmer took the matter under submission, an attorney involved in the case told the The Hollywood Reporter.

Rose claimed in his $20 million lawsuit that the company's use of the GUNS song "Welcome To The Jungle" in Guitar Hero III violated an agreement the publisher made with him not to use any images of former GUNS guitarist Slash in the game.

The suit, filed in November 2010 in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleged that Activision persuaded Rose to authorize the use of "Jungle" by telling him that the game would not feature any reference or mention of not only Slash, but his post-GUNS band VELVET REVOLVER. According to the suit, "(Activision) began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and VR prominently in GH III but also promote the game by emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and GUNS N' ROSES and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle'."

Rose apparently found out that a character resembling Slash would appear in Guitar Hero II and immediately refused to allow "Jungle" to be used, but claims that Activision lied to him and said the image was just being used for marketing purposes. However, the singer became enraged when he got a copy of Guitar Hero III, which featured the Slash character heavily in the game and even on the cover.

Rose also claimed that the GUNS song "Sweet Child O' Mine" was used in an online promotion for Guitar Hero III despite being licensed only for Guitar Hero II.

One of the legal obstacles Axl faces is the fact that "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" came out in October 2007 but Rose's lawsuit wasn't filed until late November 2010 — more than three years after the singer's agent sent Activision an e-mail objecting. Activision says Rose's lawsuit came after the statute of limitations had expired.

"The reason I did not file a lawsuit [sooner] is because Activision — through my managers and representatives — offered me a separate video game and other business proposals worth millions of dollars to resolve and settle my claims relating to 'GHIII'," the GN'R frontman said in a deposition, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "From December 2007 through November 2010, Activision was offering me a GUNS N' ROSES dedicated video game, a game dedicated to music from the 'Chinese Democracy' album, and other proposals."

No Remorse Records has released an anthology of tracks by LORDIAN GUARD – featuring guitarist/composer William J Tsamis (WARLORD).

The Anthology includes both Lordian Guards albums Lordian Guard and Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God, as well as additional rare and unreleased material, including the demo recordings of Lordian Winds project that followed after the WARLORD disband in the 80s.

Artwork can be seen below:
The track ‘Lost Arch Angel’, off the new album, can be heard below:
To order the album visit this location.

Classic rockers GREAT WHITE — Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous — performed an acoustic version of the song "Hard To Say Goodbye" this morning (Thursday, January 31) on "Good Morning San Diego" on KUSI-TV, an independent television station in San Diego, California. You can now watch video footage of their appearance below.

GREAT WHITE will film a video for the song "Heart Of A Man" this Friday night, February 1 at Sycuan Casino in El Cajon, California. Also appearing on the bill at the show is SLAUGHTER.

Says GREAT WHITE: "Friday night we will be shooting a live video of the song 'Heart Of A Man' ... If you wish to be in it, just come close to the stage and dress your best."

"Heart Of A Man" comes off GREAT WHITE's latest album, "Elation", which sold around 1,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. Issued on May 22 via Frontiers Records, the 12-song CD marks GREAT WHITE's first effort with Ilous following the band's split with founding singer Jack Russell.

This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL (formerly JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE), which features Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) on guitar, Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) on bass and Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) on drums.

GREAT WHITE will release a live album, "30 Years - Live From The Sunset Strip", on February 22 in Europe and February 26 in North America via Frontiers Records.

To mark its 30th anniversary live on March 22, 2012, GREAT WHITE celebrated the only logical way — on stage. In a nod to its early days, GREAT WHITE returned to the infamous Sunset Strip, where a storied past of music's biggest fans are fused into the walls of the Key Club. GREAT WHITE delivered its entire repertoire to a packed house, pining for the band's raw energy and cheering its illustrious history track after track.

Portuguese thrash metallers SWITCHTENSE have released a video clip from their upcoming live DVD entitled Switchtense – 10 Unbreakable Years which will be released on February 11 via Rastilho Records. Check out 'Face Off' below:
The live DVD celebrates the band’s tenth anniversary and includes their entire performance at Moita Metal Fest on March 30th 2012. The release will also contain an audio CD featuring three new songs and one re-recorded song (from the 2006 EP Brainwash Show), which were recorded at Ultrasound Studios and mixed by the band’s producer Daniel Cardoso (ANATHEMA, ANGELUS APARTIDA)
Switchtense – 10 Unbreakable Years tracklisting can be seen below:
‘Concrete Walls’
‘Face Off’
‘Into The Words Of Chaos’
‘Unbreakable’
‘I Will Stand Stronger’
‘Blood Of Victory’
‘State Of Resignation’
‘The Legacy Of Hate’
‘Let Them Die Alone’
‘Infected Blood’
‘This Is Only The Beginning’
‘The Right Track’ *
‘Ghosts Of Past’ *
‘We Will Always Be The Same’ *
‘Blood Of Victory’ *

*available on audio CD

The video for the track ‘The Right Track’ can be seen below:

Former and present members of Boston-based metallers WIDOW SUNDAY have launched a new band called I INVENT, that will be releasing their debut EP in early summer. Check out two teasers below:
i invent is:
Jesse Heimowitz - vocals (FOOTAGE OF A YETO)
Sean Duffy - guitar / programming (Widow Sunday)
Kyle Jarvenpaa - guitar (ANOMIA/Widow Sunday)
Phil Anderson - bass (BATTLESHIPS)
Darin Moyen - drums (Widow Sunday)
For more details visit Facebook
.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach joined HALESTORM on stage at yesterday's press conference at the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood, California to announce the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards to perform the SKID ROW classic "Slave To The Grind". You can now watch video footage of the performance below.

Bach previously performed "Slave To The Grind" with HALESTORM on October 27, 2012 at the Loud Park festival at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan. HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale also joined Bach on stage during his set at the festival and performed a song with his band.

HALESTORM recorded a cover version of "Slave To The Grind" for their "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP", which was released in March 2011 via all digital retailers. The effort saw HALESTORM putting their unique stamp on a diverse collection of classic songs, including tracks by GUNS N' ROSES, THE BEATLES, HEART, TEMPLE OF THE DOG and LADY GAGA.

Jeff Wagner ("Mean Deviation: Four Decades Of Progressive Heavy Metal" book, former Metal Maniacs editor) is currently assembling his next book, "Soul On Fire - The Life And Music Of Peter Steele". The book will be, in Wagner's words, "a thorough telling of Peter's life, from his "diaper days" to his death. It will not only include analysis of the music he created in TYPE O NEGATIVE and CARNIVORE — and the many triumphs and personal tribulations that came along with it — but also let fans in on the details of his early days. The book will also feature numerous images from throughout his life, on stage and off."

Wagner adds: "Peter's fans miss him, and as a follower of his music since 1986, I'm proud to put together this tribute for them. While warring factions within the story have already been heard, my mission is simple: cut through the crap and tell one of the most extraordinary stories in modern music, with great respect to the subject himself."

Culled from a variety of sources, including recollections from bandmates, family, close friends and record label reps, "Soul On Fire" is an accurate account of Steele's creative genius and incredibly complex personality.

Steele was a visionary and a provocateur; a generous friend and a self-deprecating hedonist; a bandmate and a brother. His struggles with addiction and his acceptance of the Catholic faith he grew up with and then grew out of… all of this is surveyed and detailed within "Soul On Fire".

The book is due for publication in October 2013.

Steele passed away on April 14, 2010 from heart failure. He was 48 years old.

"Going through a midlife crisis and having many things change very quickly made me realize my mortality," he told Decibel magazine in 2007. "And when you start to think about death, you start to think about what's after it. And then you start hoping there is a God. For me, it's a frightening thought to go nowhere. I also can't believe that people like Stalin and Hitler are gonna go to the same place as Mother Teresa."

Steele was born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. He stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall, and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable features in TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.

Before forming TYPE O NEGATIVE, Steele played for the metal group FALLOUT and the thrash band CARNIVORE.

Wagner is a music connoisseur and metal historian, and a former editor of Metal Maniacs magazine. He has penned incisive liner notes for releases by EMPEROR, POSSESSED, DARK ANGEL, CONFESSOR and others. A music industry professional since 1994 and a lifelong music obsessive, Wagner lives for what he writes about and writes about what he lives.

For more information, go to this location.

IN-GRAVED, the new band led by former PENTAGRAM and PLACE OF SKULLS guitarist Victor Griffin, will release its self-titled debut album in Europe on Friday, March 22 via the Finnish label Svart Records and in the U.S. on Tuesday, March 26 through Veritas Records. The CD was recorded at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville, Tennessee with was producers Travis Wyrick (PLACE OF SKULLS) and Griffin and engineers Wyrick and Mike Dearing (PLACE OF SKULLS). The cover art was created by Richard Schouten (PLACE OF SKULLS, MASSACRE).

"In-Graved" will feature a guest appearance by TROUBLE's original drummer Jeff "Oly" Olson, on the Hammond organ alongside drummer Pete Campbell (60 WATT SHAMAN, PLACE OF SKULLS), bassists Guy Pinhas (THE OBSESSED, ACID KING, GOATSNAKE), Ron Holzner (TROUBLE, EARTHEN GRAVE, DEBRIS INC), Greg Turley (PENTAGRAM), Marty Swaney (DEATH ROW, PENTAGRAM), and Dan Lively (SWEET CICADA), as well as keyboardist Mike Puleo (ORODRUIN).

IN-GRAVED will perform at the Roadburn festival on Saturday, April 20 in Tilburg, Holland. More tour dates will be announced soon.

IN-GRAVED touring lineup:

* Victor Griffin (DEATH ROW, PENTAGRAM, PLACE OF SKULLS) - Guitar/Vocals
* Pete Campbell (60 WATT SHAMAN, PLACE OF SKULLS) - Drums
* Guy Pinhas (THE OBSESSED, ACID KING, GOATSNAKE) - Bass
* Jeff "Oly" Olson (TROUBLE, RETRO GRAVE)

Italian publisher Tsunami Edizioni has announced the release of the book "Come Lupi Tra Le Pecore - Storia E Ideologia Del Black Metal Nazionalsocialista" (English translation: "As Wolves Among Sheep - History And Ideology Of National Socialist Black Metal").

Towards the end of the Nineties, black metal — by then one of the most feared musical genres ever that had already made a name for itself thanks to a bloody streak of homicides and various acts of arson and violence — merged its sonic belligerence with national-socialist beliefs and the ideology of white power groups, breeding a new counterculture that's incendiary and ferocious like no other. A formula of intransigent extremism like never before in contemporary music, a world where this mixture of aural excess and loyalty to the so-called "mythos of the blood" gave birth to hundreds of new bands and gathered thousands of disciples from all over the globe: Russia, United States, Germany, France, Poland, Australia, Italy, Scandinavia and even South America.

From the defining fathers of the genre (BURZUM, ABSURD, GRAVELAND, DER STÜRMER, SPEAR OF LONGINUS) to its more unknown and dangerous representatives, "As Wolves Among Sheep" delves deep in this black abyss to bring forth the history and development of NSBM (National Socialist Black Metal), an underground phenomenon that transcended music to become a doctrine in its own right, a nefarious call to arms for those dissident youths who declared war to society as we know it.

The book has been written by Davide Maspero and Max Ribaric. Davide Maspero, experienced graphic and web designer, has contributed to the artworks of several music projects and hosted a radio show that ran for a few years. Along with Max Ribaric, he's currently co-editor of a pro-zine dedicated to industrial, ur-folk, power electronic music and related subjects.

Max Ribaric has been writing for over 15 years, ran his own fanzine during the Nineties and onwards, and is the author of the definitive book about U.S. industrial/ur-folk legends BLOOD AXIS ("Day Of Blood", 2008), recently translated in French by Camion Noir. He currently co-edits the pro-zine Occidental Congress with Davide Maspero.

The book will be available mid February in two different editions: normal edition and special edition limited to 199 hand-numbered copies.

This year marks DANZIG's 25th anniversary and a series of live dates in the U.S. and in Europe will be announced shortly.

A message on the official DANZIG web site reads: "Don't dare miss this landmark milestone event as DANZIG hits the stage this special year and he'll be bringing special guest and former MISFITS bandmate Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein on most of the shows. For European fans this will be the first time ever that Danzig and Doyle will be performing live together on stage. Overseas fans most definitely will not want to miss this!"

Glenn Danzig last year performed his "Legacy" career-spanning set featuring songs from DANZIG, SAMHAIN and MISFITS, in a number of U.S. cities. In addition, he played four DANZIG shows where was joined by Doyle Von Frankenstein as a "special guest."

DANZIG is putting the finishing touches on the as-yet-untitled covers record for a 2013 release.

"Living And Drifting", the new video from ALMAH — the Brazilian metal band led by former ANGRA singer Eduardo "Edu" Falaschi — can be seen below The clip was filmed in Sao Paulo and directed by producer, musician and composer Diogo Araújo from Under Control Filmes, who is well known in Brazil for his work with more mainstream artists. The video is based on a certain concept and is expected to be the most significant visual production in the history of the band.

"Living And Drifting" comes off ALMAH's third studio album, "Motion", which was released in Europe in October 2011 via AFM Records. The CD was recorded in May-June 2011 at Norcal Studios in São Paulo, Brazil and was mixed and mastered in July 2011 at Split Second Sound Studios in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Jochem Jacobs (TEXTURES).

ALMAH last year played several shows in Brazil with session bassist Raphael Dafras.

Norwegian/Italian metallers TRISTANIA have posted an audio teaser for the new song "Darkest White", to be featured on the band's upcoming seventh full-length album, due for release in May via Napalm Records. Listen to the sample in the YouTube clip below.

TRISTANIA's new CD is being produced by Christer André Cederberg, who started his metal career with Norwegian avant garde extreme metal band IN THE WOODS… in the late 1990s, and has been involved in numerous bands and projects, including his own solo project STILLE OPPRØR and internationally acclaimed ANIMAL ALPHA.

Says TRISTANIA singer Kjetil Nordhus: "This was agreed a while ago, and we started the working together already at the pre-production stage.

"We already know this will be fruitful and we're extremely eager to show people the finished article. It feels good to share this piece of news with our fans."

TRISTANIA fans may be familiar with Cederberg's work through his most recent collaboration with ANATHEMA on their award-winning album "Weather Systems" (2012).

Christer André says that he's been eager to work with TRISTANIA for a while and is excited about getting involved in the band's latest recording.

"There is a huge amount of talent within each and every band member, and a number of possible variations to work on, not least vocally, which makes this a great challenge for me as a producer," he says. "My aim for the forthcoming album is to dig out the potential, make a heavier album than the previous one, more organic, detailed and refined, but also dirtier and more extreme. TRISTANIA is a band that manage to do all this live, and we will be working together to recreate that energy and quality also on record."

The first part of the recording sessions (drums) for the new TRISTANIA album took place at Tanken Studio in Oslo with engineer Fredrik Wallumrød.

TRISTANIA's sixth album, "Rubicon", was released in August 2010 via Napalm.

TRISTANIA in 2007 announced the addition of Italian singer Mariangela "Mary" Demurtas to the group's ranks. Guitarist Gyri Losnegård was added to the lineup in 2008.

The band's previous CD, "Illumination", was released in January 2007 via SPV. The effort was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.).

A member of TOOL suffered serious injuries after crashing his Vespa scooter recently. The band won't mention who, but an update reads:

"The New Year started off on a bad note as far as writing and arranging sessions for Tool's next record. For the most part this was due to a 'minor' accident on a Vespa scooter (slick road conditions being the cause) by a certain band member that resulted in several broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. Because of the physical nature of the musical instrument involved, 9 DAYS of jamming were lost, although I'm happy to report that the person involved is recovering nicely, so much so, in fact, that writing sessions resumed last Monday (January 21), despite it being a holiday for many.
Coincidently (?), a few days prior to the mishap on the scooter, another person involved with Tool also wound up in the hospital after crashing his Vespa in Hollywood. Although he suffered a head injury (as well as multiple cuts and bruises to his body), I'm quite certain that if you were to order an Entaphiosis Hoddie, you would receive an Entaphiosis Hoodie.

Several days ago members of the press (from different magazines) conducted interviews with band members about upcoming events, and I would imagine that these writers, etc. also inquired as to how things were progressing with regards to the band's next record. So, there's something to look forward to reading, and I will certainly try to give updates as to when these publications hit the newsstands.

I was hoping to be able to throw some of you a bone the first week of the New Year, but for certain reasons this announcement has been pushed back a month. Therefore, look for a news post that will be exciting to some towards the end of the first week in February."

Brazilian Thrash Metal quintet SLASHER has released a music video for the track ‘Overcome’.

The song was produced by Tue Madsen (HALFORD, SUICIDE SILENCE, VADER) in Aarhus, Denmark and the video by Agência Soluciona in Itapira, Brazil.

Guitarist and director Lucas Bagatella commented: "We wanted to release this new song with a music video. We had a lot of different ideas and we decided to have something more creative this time. We wanted something that would bring the spectator into the video through our eyes.”

Watch the video below:
'Overcome' comes off Slasher's second album Katharsis which will be released mid-2013.

German/Italian-based melodic metallers LOVE.MIGHT.KILL will release a digital compilation, 10 Mighty Killers, on March 8th.
10 Mighty Killers tracklisting:

'XTC'
'Pretty Little Mess'
'Restless Heart'
'Caught In A Dream'
'Burn The Night'
'Home'
'Too Big To Fail'
'Tomorrow Never Comes'
'Brace For Impact'
'The One'

You can listen to snippets from the compilation at this location.
Love.Might.Kill lineup:

Jan Manenti - Vocals
Stefan Ellerhorst - Guitar
Christian Stöver - Guitar
Jogi Sweers - Bass
Michael Ehré - Drums
More on Love.Might.Kill at this location.

Holland's THE CHARM THE FURY has joined forces with Pavement Entertainment (North America) and Listenable Records (Europe) for a two-album deal. The band is putting the finishing touches on a new full-length CD for a fall release. According to a press release, will the effort will "include some very special guest vocal appearances and track after track that will grab you by the throat and leave you begging for more."

THE CHARM THE FURY's debut CD, "The Social Meltdown", saw a frenzy of hype surround the band, with extensive coverage across national radio, including BBC Radio One, and in Europe's acclaimed music magazines such as Metal Hammer and Kerrang!

THE CHARM THE FURY graced stages with the likes of I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN, OH SLEEPER and TEXTURES during 2012 and put on a memorable performance at Groezrock festival that raised the bar and offered a greater platform to reach new fans.

The female-fronted quintet not only offers something creatively different with its female screamer but a collection of high-energy monstrous anthems that have hooked the industry with full effect.

Says vocalist Caroline Westendorp: "It is so exciting to see how fast the band has grown in such a short space of time. Reactions have been so positive and it is great to welcome the two labels on board and make the next release a real big deal across seas. You can expect some cool surprises in the new record and we cannot wait to show the fans what we have in store for them."

Adds Pavement Entertainment's Mark Nawara: "We are very excited to work with THE CHARM THE FURY. Tim King and I have had our eye on this band for a long time and we expect to see great things develop for them."

THE CHARM THE FURY is:

Caroline Westendorp - Vocals
Mathijs Parent - Guitar
Rolf Perdok - Guitar
Lucas Arnoldussen - Bass
Mathijs Tieken - Drums

Riverside, California's THE DEVASTATED has released the following statement:

"To all THE DEVASTATED friends and fans,

"We write to you today to inform you that the band has indeed come to an end.

"Although THE DEVASTATED was short-lived, the journey was, without a doubt, memorable!

"A huge thank you all of our families, friends, everyone at Century Media, our management and booking, all the bands we've toured with, but most of all, thank you to every single person that cared about THE DEVASTATED in some way shape or form... It truly means the world to us!"

THE DEVASTATED's "Roof Top Panty Drop" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed and directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini (MUDVAYNE, HATEBREED, ANTHRAX, SHADOWS FALL) and Kevin Boston. The song comes off THE DEVASTATED's latest album, "Devil's Messenger", which was released in February 2012 via Century Media Records.

The brainchild of former IMPENDING DOOM and OBLIGE members, THE DEVASTATED previously released two brutal singles — "Devil's Messenger" and "Roof Top Drop". Produced by the bandmembers themselves, Chris Eck and co-produced/mixed by Daniel Castleman (AS I LAY DYING), the music was not written with the intent of impressing anyone except the band members themselves.

"Our state of mind was... let's play what we want to hear," said vocalist Greg Wilburn. "Let's write the heaviest, grooviest and ugliest songs we possibly can, and bring something fresh to this extremely watered down scene. If people 'get it' awesome... If not, fuck 'em."

"Devil's Messenger" featured a guest appearance by SUICIDE SILENCE frontman Mitch Lucker in the song "Spit Vitriol".

The second part of STONE SOUR's "House Of Gold & Bones" double album is expected to be released in early April via Roadrunner Records. The effort will also be made available as a four-issue comic book.

Like the story, the "House Of Gold & Bones" album package comes in two parts. When the two pieces meet, they combine to create the "House Of Gold & Bones".

"House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2" track listing:

01. Red City
02. Black John
03. Sadist
04. Peckinpah
05. Stalemate
06. Gravesend
07. '82
08. The Uncanny Valley
09. Blue Smoke
10. Do Me A Favor
11. The Conflagration
12. The House Of Gold & Bones

When asked by ThisIsNotAScene what fans can expect from the second part of "House Of Gold & Bones", singer Corey Taylor said: "Part 2 is much darker [than the first part], if I'm honest. Aside from it being a completely different album, it feels more like a soundtrack to a movie in a lot of ways, man. It's really thematic. There are themes from part 1 that reveal themselves and that come again, musically. There's actually stuff from part 2 that you'll hear that's on part 1 and you'll be like, 'Fucking hell!'"

He continued: "We essentially recorded these, and this is where technology is now, so you could have these in a playlist on your iTunes and play them top to fucking bottom and really get that experience while you read both parts. So it's some of our darkest music, our most intricate and complex music, some of the best fucking lyrics I've ever written, to be honest. Even writing from a narrative like that, it was so challenging. Plus, it's got some of our best songs on it.

"You guys think part one's good? Fuck off. 'Do Me A Favor' alone is going to kick the shit out of people and that's going to be the first single, which comes out in January, that's going to be the first taste that people get of part 2, and people aren't going to know what to do."

STONE SOUR will send its new single, "Do Me A Favor", to rock radio stations on February 12. A video is already in the planning stages, with director Phil Mucci tapped to film the clip. Taylor gave The Pulse Of Radio a preview of what to expect from the song. "It's quite aggressive, and actually the label asked me if I would go in and tame stuff down and I was like, 'No.' I'm not doing that," he said. "This is going out the way it is and I'm not gonna touch it up. I'm not gonna have people looking for a song that doesn't exist. This is the way it is on the album, that's the way it's going to be when we put it out to radio."

"House Of Gold & Bones - Part 1" came out last fall.

Taylor recently told Billboard.com recently that the group is planning a world tour in 2014 during which they will spend two nights in each city and perform both halves of its "House Of Gold & Bones" double album in their entirety.

STONE SOUR and PAPA ROACH have teamed up for a co-headlining U.S. tour that kicked off on January 20 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

An eight-minute trailer for "Iconoclasm", the sophomore album from Swedish death metallers SYN:DROM, can be found below. Due on February 15 via ViciSolum Productions, the CD was recorded in part at Nevo Studios in Sundsvall, Sweden and was mixed by Roger Bergsten (guitar) and Daniel Mikaelsson (drums). The artwork was created by Pär Olofsson and can be seen below.

"Iconoclasm" track listing:

01. Black Dawn
02. A Silent Void
03. Cold Existence
04. The Filth Unmasked
05. Solitude Breeds Death
06. 13th Serpent
07. Reversion
08. Through Divine Intoxication
09. Iconoclastic View
10. Imposing As Gods Amongst Men

The follow-up to 2009's "With Flesh Unbound" includes "10 tracks of furious death metal and is the result of over a year of hard work and a proof of great songwriting skills and musicianship," according to a press release. "The songs on this album are more dynamic than on 'With Flesh Unbound'. There are new dimensions added to the songs and the fact that we have evolved as songwriters since then resulted into a killer album that will blow your mind. It has everything from very fast blast beats and sick guitar parts to heavier groundshaking pieces. Still the main focus is bone-crushing death metal as it should be."

Regarding the artwork for the new CD, SYN:DROM drummer Daniel Mikaelsson states, "We had Pär in mind for 'With Flesh Unbound' as well, but it didn't work out that time. We are extremely pleased with the work he has put in to it and it came out exactly as we wanted it to be from the start. It's a classic already!"

The video for the song "Black Dawn" can be seen below. The clip was directed and edited by Håkan Sjöström.

A six-and-a-half-minute video teaser for "Grip Of The Dead", the debut full-length album from Swedish death metallers NECROCURSE, is available below. Due on March 11 in Europe and March 19 in North America via Pulverised Records, the CD "contains eleven tracks of uncompromising and haunting death metal in the true spirit of the ancient dark heavy metal attitude," according to a press release. The vinyl version of the effort — which will include a re-recorded version of the track "Souls Of A Thousand Funerals", from the "Shape Of Death" MCD, as a bonus track — will be a joint collaboration between Blood Harvest Records and To The Death Records.

"Grip Of The Dead" track listing:

01. Preludium Of Devastation
02. Necrocurse
03. Rotten In The Dark
04. The Devil Cobra
05. Ripping Darkness (The Destroyer)
06. Death Metal Rebels
07. Morbid Maniacs
08. Speed To The Grave
09. Grip Of The Dead
10. Coffin Breakers
11. Infernal Rebellion

NECROCURSE is:

Hellbutcher - Vocals
Rotting Vomitor - Electric Guitar
Mörda - Electric Guitar
Basstard - Bassphemy
Terror - Drums

LED ZEPPELIN will receive the inaugural International Lifetime Achievement Award at the ECHO awards in Berlin, Germany on March 21.

Guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones will accept the award on behalf of the band. Singer Robert Plant is unable to attend the event since he has a concert scheduled the same night in Singapore.

The New York Times reported earlier in the month that LED ZEPPELIN is in negotiations with a number of subscription music services — including Spotify, Rdio and Rhapsody — for the exclusive right to stream the band's catalog.

ZEPPELIN has sold more than 111 million albums in the United States, including 840,000 in 2012.

The band waited until 2007 to make its albums available through iTunes.

LED ZEPPELIN's concert film, "Celebration Day", which is available on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray disc, sold 101,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. The package arrived in stores on November 19, 2012 via Swan Song/Atlantic Records.

"Raise The Sun", a new song from the progressive rock/metal outfit ANCIIENTS, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's debut album, "Heart Of Oak", which will be released in North America on April 16, and will be available on CD, limited-edition double gatefold LP and digitally. The CD was produced by the band, and engineered by Jesse Gander (JAPANDROIDS, BISON B.C.) at The Hive Creative Labs (BLACK MOUNTAIN, NOMEANSNO) in Vancouver. It was mastered by by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York. The cover artwork was drawn by illustrator Alison Lilly.

Regarding "Raise The Sun", ANCIIENTS states: "'Raise The Sun' represents what we are all about as a band, musically and lyrically. It contains most, if not all, the elements that we look for in the kind of music we enjoy. It's heavy but melodic; this is how we like things to be. Our sound might be full of contrast and duality, but not for contrast's sake; rather always for the sake of the song. Lyrically, it's about an Egyptian myth, the 'Hymn To The Rising Sun' and a visualization of said myth. It's about walking the correct path and achieving a sort of awakening. 'Raise The Sun' is one of our favorites from the record, for sure."

"Heart Of Oak" track listing:

01. Raise the Sun
02. Overthrone
03. Falling in Line
04. One Foot in the Light
05. The Longest River
06. Giants
07. Faith and Oath
08. Flood and Fire
09. For Lisa

German death metal and hardcore fusionists HEAVEN SHALL BURN will release their new album, "Veto", via Century Media Records on the following dates:

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway: April 19
Rest Of Europe: April 22
Australia, New Zealand, Finland: April 26
USA, Canada: April 30

Comments HEAVEN SHALL BURN guitarist Maik Weichert: "We cannot wait to play the album to people! It turned out very diverse, it's melodic, emotional and brutal at the same time. Several guests visited us in the studio for additional performances, so you can look forward to some interesting twists!”

Due to a recent event, Maik would like to share a first song title. "Just while finalizing the very last bits and pieces for 'Veto', we received the sad news that Walter Schilling passed away in Saalfeld on January 29th," he said. "Walter Schilling was a Protestant pastor and civil rights activist in the GDR (former East Germany). We have a new song called 'Antagonized' that is about him, his life and his work in Thuringia.

"It might seem odd that a band called HEAVEN SHALL BURN is dedicating a song to a man of the church. Still, Schilling was never into clerical dogmas. Instead he encouraged and helped teenagers to pursue new and alternative cultural ideas under the protective shield of his church and youth centre in Braunsdorf near Saalfeld. Without Walter Schilling, a huge part of the youth culture and music in Thuringia wouldn't have happened — this probably goes for the GDR in general. No matter if you liked blues, played punk or metal, every single person was welcome in Braunsdorf, Saalfeld, Rudolstadt or Jena. Schilling helped establishing what enabled HEAVEN SHALL BURN to play music, because most of the clubs and musicians that supported us in our very early days were directly or indirectly involved with Schilling's work. You will not find many theologians of Walter's kind."

To celebrate the release of "Veto", HEAVEN SHALL BURN will play three exclusive release shows in Europe:

April 20 - Leipzig, Germany - Impericon Festival III, Agra
April 26 - Vienna, Austria - Impericon Festival, Gasometer
April 27 - Zürich, Switzerland - Loudfest, Komplex

HEAVEN SHALL BURN's latest album, "Invictus", landed on the official chart in the band's home country at position No. 9. This marked HEAVEN SHALL BURN's and Century Media Records' first-ever Top 10 release in Germany. The CD also charted in Austria (#15), Switzerland (#38) and Greece (#14).