Frontiers Records and PRIMAL FEAR are pleased to announce to have renewed their partnership for another multi-album deal, which will include two more studio releases and one live CD and DVD. The band is already in advanced stages for the songwriting of the next studio album, to be recorded during the summer for an early 2014 release.

Commented PRIMAL FEAR bass player, songwriter and producer Mat Sinner: "We're very excited about the final news that we will renew our contract with Frontiers Records for some more albums. My personal thanks go out to Serafino and Mario for their patience to deal with me.

"The band is very happy to continue with Frontiers Records after the release of our worldwide most successful album, 'Unbreakable', and their great work.

"We plan to enter the recording studio during the summer to record a new, ass-kicking, pure metal album!"

Added Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino: "Working with Mat, Ralf and the other guys from PRIMAL FEAR is truly a professional delight. Not only they are among some of the true living talents of heavy metal music, but also outstanding professionals who live up to their word and to the expectations that all the fans have from them. Long live PRIMAL FEAR!"

PRIMAL FEAR's latest album, "Unbreakable", sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 44 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.

Released on January 24, 2012 in the U.S. via Frontiers Records, "Unbreakable" was tracked in part at House Of Music studios in Winterbach, Germany with producer/bassist Mat Sinner and engineer Achim Köhler (EDGUY, MASTERPLAN).

Pictured below (left to right): PRIMAL FEAR singer Ralf Scheepers, Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino and PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner

A new three-minute trailer for "Pinnacle Of Bedlam", the new album from New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION, can be seen below. The CD will be released on February 15 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."

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" trailer #2:

Helsinki, Finland gothic metallers THE 69 EYES will release a digital EP, "Love Runs Away", via iTunes on February 1. The effort will include two previously unreleased bonus songs, "Rosary Blue" and "Dracula's Castle".

"Love Runs Away" EP track listing:

01. Love Runs Away
02. Rosary Blue (feat. Kat Von D) (edit)
03. Dracula's Castle

"Love Runs Away", the third single and opening track of THE 69 EYES' latest album, "X", which came out last September, has by now already become a live favorite with its pure rocking metal riffs and a chorus with a bulletproof hook line. Singer Jyrki69 comments: "This is the most obvious single track from the album and already works great on stage, so it's about time to release it as a proper single!"

The larger-than-life ballad duet "Rosary Blue" on which Jyrki69 is accompanied by world-famous tattoo artist and "L.A. Ink" star Kat Von D is the first of two never-before-heard bonus tracks. Jyrki69 says: "We've known each other for some years and since Kat is also starting to make music, I thought it would be interesting to have her on board. The song is amazing and with her help, it turned out even more magical — it's like our own 'Stairway to Heaven'."

The final track, "Dracula's Castle", is at least equally interesting, as it can be considered pure rockabilly — or rather gothabilly! Jyrki69 shares its background: "THE FUZZTONES is one of my all-time favorite bands and I've got to know their leader Rudi Protrudi a bit. We wrote this track with him in Berlin one night before our show and he actually even sings backing vocals on it. Words can't describe the feeling of making music with your own idol — I still can't believe it! The song is like a Scooby Doo-on-acid-by-Halloween kind of gothabilly track. Should be a radio hit too by any standards!"

In other news, Jyrki69 teamed up with famous photographer Estevan Oriol last week for the humanitarian mission of UNICEF Nicaragua. Together they spent a week in Nicaragua to see how UNICEF is taking action against trafficking of women and children in the country. The material will be released in different formats this year. "It certainly is like often said, the most beautiful country in the world but all the shadows and snakes in this paradise are a threat that UNICEF is trying to prevent with the local authorities," says Jyrki69. Los-Angeles-based photographer Oriol was responsible for the cover of THE 69 EYES' previous album, "Back In Blood". Moreover, he's famous for his work with EMINEM, CYPRESS HILL, SNOOP DOGG and JAY-Z, among others.

The Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE has signed a worldwide record deal with the Los Angeles-based independent label Cleopatra Records.

Although a lineup for Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed. The band will now feature Tate along with bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT), guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and new additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).

Wright takes over for previously announced drummer Bobby Blotzer, who will be returning to RATT as an integral part of the band that made him famous.

"I'm very much looking forward to being involved in the QUEENSRŸCHE project with Geoff," states Wright. "I've always admired his singing and songwriting and working with Rudy Sarzo again is going to be cool! Between this and my other project, DIO DISCIPLES, I look forward to a very busy year!"

QUEENSRŸCHE, with all members cited above, will soon be entering the studio for the first Cleopatra effort due out later this year. Legendary guitar slinger K.K. Downing of JUDAS PRIEST fame will be making a special guest appearance on the forthcoming CD, as will KING'S X guitarist Ty Tabor and Blotzer.

Tabor comments, "I'm very happy that Geoff considered me for this record. It will be great to play with all of these great musicians."

Beginning in early April, Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE will be hitting the road to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band's epic 1988 release, "Operation: Mindcrime", performing all fifteen songs from the album along with other well-known hits and rarities from the catalog they've compiled over the past 30 years.

"I try to surround myself with the best players available and feel our longtime fans deserve nothing less," says Tate. "I expect the forthcoming effort to be one of our best yet."

Tate, who was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in June 2012 after fronting the group for three decades, last year sought to prevent his former bandmates from touring and operating under the QUEENSRŸCHE name without him. While ruling against Tate, the presiding judge determined that there was no legal hurdle in Tate also using the name with an all-new lineup of musicians. "I don't see any reason that Mr. Tate can't have the benefit, if he gets other members, of whatever name he uses of using the brand," Superior Court Judge Carol A. Schapira said during the July 13, 2012 court hearing. "I think [doing that would be] inherently confusing, although I'm sure the market can get these things sorted out," she added.

Last November, Tate released his first solo CD in over a decade titled "Kings & Thieves" (InsideOut Music) and toured with his solo band in support of the CD, which included dates with the legendary ALICE COOPER.

The new album, "Cobblestone Street", is a departure from the sound that most people would expect from a singer that has been around since WHITE LION crashed on to the hard rock scene in the '80s. Rock fans have gotten to know Mike Tramp as a legit rock singer and frontman that looked like he was born to be just that. Therefore many might find it surprising that Tramp's roots and musical upbringing lie deeply buried in folk music.

Heavily influenced by fellow Danish artists with acoustic guitars and international stars like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, Tramp says that all of his songs through 35 years on the music stage, have always come from sitting with the old faithful acoustic guitar playing and singing. That WHITE LION songs like "When the Children Cry", "Broken Heart" and "Wait", and FREAK OF NATURE's "Rescue Me" later have ended up as epic rock classics is just a question of arranging them in that way with the band in the rehearsal room, but all songs have always been fit to play around the campfire or in the back of a shady bar.

What seems like the most natural thing for an artist, can sometimes be the opposite for both fans and critics! Still, Mike Tramp has full confidence in the fans that have followed and grown with him through the past 25 years and know that they will stand by his side and enjoy his new solo album, although they might be in for a big surprise from the former WHITE LION and FREAK OF NATURE frontman.

Tramp says that he is so at home with the new album, and in lack of better words, it's really like coming home after a long journey that has taken him around the world over the past 30 years.

"I am not lost, I am not confused, I am not taking a break," he says. "This is the album I have waited a long long time to record, because I didn't have the guts to do it earlier on. Still, it's not just a matter of doing an album like this and then returning to the screaming Marshall amplifiers, thundering bass and drums like canons. This is where I am, and this is where I am going to stay as a solo artist, and anytime the urge to play loud rock'n'roll awakes in me, it will be some kind of band project where I am just the singer and part of the package."

Last year, Tramp traveled across Europe playing 40 shows, while driving and doing everything by himself.

"This is the most rewarding and fulfilling tour I have ever done, and that coincides with an album that represents all of that, and is just real completion to what I have worked so hard to accomplish."

"Cobblestone Street" was recorded over a week in Medley Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark in summer of 2012, with just Mike and his good friend engineer/co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Søren Andersen.

"Some of the songs I wrote 20 years ago, and some songs just the week before I recorded them, but they are all a 100% representation of who Mike Tramp is," Mike says.

Tramp says he hadn't really planned to do an album, but one day called up Søren Andersen and said he had a lot of songs that he wanted to hear come out of the speakers. "I showed up in the studio and Søren said, 'Why don't you just sit down with the guitar and mic and recorded the songs the way you wrote them, kinda like your big hero Dylan did long time ago?' At the end of the day, we had recorded the first four songs, with Søren adding some keyboards and percussion. It was a wonderful feeling sitting there in the couch listening to the songs that were rough and naked, but at the same time so complete."

Tramp says he feels that "Cobblestone Street" is like a movie, a movie about his own life in great details. Once it ends, you will know who Mike Tramp is.

"Cobblestone Street" will be released in Europe on April 8 via Target Records in the following formats: CD, limited digipack CD (with two bonus tracks), LP and digitally. After the release, Mike Tramp will head out on an ongoing tour in Europe.

"Cobblestone Street" track listing:

01. Cobblestone Street
02. Caught In The Storm
03. New Day
04. Ain't The Life I Asked For
05. Revolution
06. We'll Be Alright
07. Angel Or Devil
08. Find It In Your Heart
09. What Are You Gonna Do
10. Once
11. More To Life Than This (bonus track)
12. '92 (bonus track)

Italian guitarist TOMMY VITALY (ex-SEVEN GATES) has revealed his new band lineup. Pictured below from left to right are: Tommy Vitaly - Guitars, Matteo Amoroso (ex-VISION DIVINE, ATHENA) - Drums, Alessio Gori (FLASHBACK OF ANGER) - Vocals, Andrea "Tower" Torricini (Vision Divine) - Bass.
Footage of the new lineup performing the track 'Idol', from the album Hanging Rock, can be seen below:
More info at this location.

Porto, Portugal-based death metal act SURVIVE THE WASTELAND will soon release their new EP, entitled Devour.
Says the band: "After the departure of Carlos (vocals) and a long search for a new vocalist, we finally finished the recording of our new EP, Devour. Devour' is composed of two songs that reveal a bit of what we've been doing so far. With this new release you can expect a good amount of heavy riffs, melodies worthy of a horror movie, cavernous grunts and devastating breakdowns. We are now preparing to return to the stage with our usual performances filled with intensity."

Survive The Wasteland lineup:

André Silva - Bass
António Freitas - Guitar
Cláudio - Vocals
Jorge Teixeira - Guitar
Pedro Soares - Drums

Updates to follow. More on Survive The Wasteland at this location.

THE ALCOHOLLYS, the London, Ontario, Canada-based "punk rock" band featuring KITTIE drummer Mercedes Lander and original KITTIE bassist Tanya Candler, will release a new two-song digital EP, "Flashback", on February 12. The effort contains the tracks "Flashback To '93" and "27 Death Riot / Demolition In Speed City".

Formed in March 2009, THE ALCOHOLLYS bring their unique brand of punk rock served with a side of attitude, theatrics and audience participation.

The band had done a handful of shows in 2010 when they received the Jack Richardson music award for Best Punk Artist of 2010.

THE ALCOHOLLYS recorded their debut EP, "The Alcohollys", in 2010 with producer Darren Magierowski at Route 66 Recordings. Following the EP's release, THE ALCOHOLLYS were featured in The London Free Press, The Toronto Sun, The Londoner and SCENE magazine.

In 2011, Dana Hartman (a.k.a. Kimber Hart; lead vocals, keys, guitar) and Tanya Candler (a.k.a. Scarlet Fever; vocals, lead bass) welcomed Mercedes Lander (aka Ruby Pubey) to the group.

Slovenian Bay area thrash metal maniacs PANIKK have revealed the cover artwork for their new album entitled Unbearable Conditions.
Due worldwide on March 12th via Metal Tank Records the album will contain the following tracklisting:
'Panic Attack'
'Dismay'
'Messiah of Decay'
'Away from Reality' (Instrumental)
'The Wave of Death'
'Playground of Visions'
'Revelation Of Truth (Acoustics)'
'Cruel World (Society to Adapt)'
'Unbearable Conditions'

The single 'Panic Attack' from the forthcoming album has been posted online below:
According to a press release, Unbearable Conditions contain nothing but fast, old school and untamed thrash metal from one of the leading Slovenian bay-area influenced metal bands in the vein of VIO-LENCE, EVILDEAD, FORCED ENTRY and ACID REIGN.

For more details visit Metaltankrecords.com.

Power metallers ECLIPSE PROPHECY are streaming their new song 'The Shattered Mirror' online, featuring AUGURY’s Patrick Loisel guesting on death vocals. 'The Shattered Mirror' is streaming online below:
The track is off their debut album Days of Judgement, which will be released by Maple Metal Records in North America on February 1st, and worldwide on March 4th.

Eclipse Prophecy were formed in Montreal in 2003 by lead vocalist, guitarist David Mc Gregor and keyboardist Frederik Dufresne. Days of Judgement was produced by David Mc Gregor last Fall at Powerflame Studio, Montreal, QC. The album cover artwork was created by Pascal Laquerre, who is also credited for his album covers with KATAKLYSM and AETERNAM.

Tracklisting is as follows:
‘Animus Ara’
‘Under Shadow's Veil’
‘Through The Storm’
‘Circle Of Torments’
‘A Dying World’
‘Labyrinth Of Sanity’
‘Days Of Judgement’
‘Legions Of The Cross’
‘Inferno’
‘The Shattered Mirror’

The tracks ‘Days Of Judgement’ and ‘Through The Storm’ can both be heard below:
Eclipse Prophecy is:
David Mc Gregor – vocals, guitars
Martin Machado - lead guitars
Karlos Machado - bass guitars
Landryx – drums

Show dates:
January 25th – Katacombes Club, Album Launch Show in Montreal, QC
February 16th – The Edge Bar in Montreal, QC
March 2nd – Hard Luck Bar in Toronto, ON

For more details visit Facebook.

Finnish shock rockers LORDI will now release their new album, To Beast Or Not To Beast, on March 1st worldwide (excluding Finland), via AFM Records. The album will be released on March 19th in North America via The End Records.

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

“The road to this album has truly been paved by hardships,” Mr. Lordi says. “However, the new line-up of the band has given us new and fresh touch and an energetic edge to the recording process, and to the album itself.”

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

'We're Not Bad For The Kids (We're Worse)'
'I Luv Ugly'
'The Riff'
'Something Wicked This Way Comes'
'I'm The Best'
'Horrifiction'
'Happy New Fear'
'Schizo Doll'
'Candy For The Cannibal'
'Sincerely With Love'
'SCG6: Otus' Butcher Clinic'
Upcoming Lordi tour dates include:

April
3 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
4 - Geiselwind, Germany - Autohof Strohofer
5 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
6 - Offenbach, Germany - Bieber TV Turnhalle
7 - Mannheim, Germany - Alte Seilerei
11 - Köln, Germany - Essigfabrik
12 - Burglengenfeld, Germany - VAZ
13 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
14 - Berlin, Germany - K 17
16 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
18 - Bologna, Italy - ZR Club
19 - Roma, Italy - Orion Club
20 - Treviso, Italy - New Age Club
21 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
25 - Madrid, Spain - Penelope
26 - Pamplona, Spain - Sala Tottem
27 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Tottem

2013 marks death metal juggernauts, CANNIBAL CORPSE's 25th year as a band and the band is going to celebrate it all year long! The logo has been updated to reflect the monumental occasion and will be used on all things Cannibal, from merch to packaging, throughout 2013. There is also a box set in the works for the most extreme Cannibal Corpse fan, which be released March 16th called Dead Human Collection: 25 Years Of Death Metal.

The box contains: all 12 full length studio albums in a 12 CD foldout case with new artwork, Torturing and Eviscerating Live on CD and LP Picture Disc recorded in Tampa, FL 2010 in Milwaukee, WI 2012, plus: new exclusive images by Vince Locke, 12" X 12" graphic prints of all 13 original album covers, and a 2013 Cannibal Corpse Calendar.
In addition to the box set, Metal Blade Records will be releasing one picture disc a month from the band's expansive catalog (Eaten Back To Life, Butchered At Birth, Tomb Of The Mutilated, The Bleeding, Vile, Gallery Of Suicide, Bloodthirst, Gore Obsessed, The Wretched Spawn, KILL, Evisceration Plague, Torture). A total of 12 pictures discs will be released, covering all of the band's full-length studio albums, some of which have never been released on picture disc. The first picture disc available for preorder is Eaten Back To Life, which was released August 17, 1990, and can be found here. Check back each month to get a glimpse of the next picture disc available for preorder.

For more details visit Cannibalcorpse.net.

US/Serbian death metallers SYNESIS ABSORPTION have revealed the artwork for their forthcoming new album, due out later this year. Check out the artwork, created by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, etc.), below:
Synesis Absorption was created in late 2009 by Milos Batocanin (DISDAINED), as an idea to start a brutal death metal band in Serbia, with everything being composed and written by Milos. While working as a one-man band for almost a year, this project then ceased to exist since it was impossible to find a steady lineup for live performances. All the material which was recorded was never released.

However quickly after, the whole idea was then re-activated since Mike Smith (SUFFOCATION) agreed to record the drums for Synesis Absorption. The new material was a mixture of brutal/technical death metal, with a slight touch of modern math metal along with some experimental/ambient passages. Since then, none other than Steve DiGiorgio (SADUS) took over the bass, and short after, Robbert Kok (DISAVOWED) became the lead vocalist for this band.
More on Synesis Absorption at this location.

Norway's TELLUS REQUIEM recently signed with Nightmare Records, for the release of their debut album, Invictus (The 11th Hour), out today, January 22nd. The album is streaming in it's entirety at this location.

The album artwork can be seen below:
Invictus (The 11th Hour) tracklisting:

'Ab Aeterno'
'Red Horizon'
'Eden Burns'
'Reflections Remains'
'Twilight Hour'
'Sands Of Gold'
'Tranquility'
'Redemption'
'Invictus'
'Dies Irae'

Tellus Requiem consists of five members who all came from diverse musical backgrounds, which can be recognized immediately by their distinct sound. From the very first crunchy guitar wail with juicy leads your ears are battered with a progressive metal onslaught. Combining these elements with beautiful melodies and harmonies Tellus Requiem delivers their breathtaking debut The 11th Hour.
In celebration of their upcoming album release, the group has launched a brand new website, which features upcoming tour dates, news merchandise, media, social network links and more.

The band described the websites design and meaning: The homepage is based on the artwork for our upcoming release; Invictus (The 11th Hour) done by Mr. Thomas Ewerhard. He has worked with other great artists like SYMPHONY X, TOTO, AVANTASIA, THERION, HAMMERFALL, among others."

Tellus Requiem lineup:

Ben Rodgers - Vocals
Vidar Lehmann - Drums
Stig Nergård - Guitars
Ivar Hagen Bøe - Bass
Anders Sundbø - Keys
More on Tellus Requiem at this location.

Metal On Metal Records has announced the signing of U.S. power/heavy metal veterans ATTACKER. The band's fifth album, "Giants Of Canaan", will be released on February 2 at the Metal Assault festival where the band will perform alongside other legendary traditional metal acts like MANILLA ROAD, BROCAS HELM and RAVEN, as well as their labelmates SKELATOR. Visitors of the festival will have the chance to purchase the CD directly from the label or the band there. The album was recorded at Katalomi Studios in Jersey City, New Jersey and engineered and mixed by Pat "Taps" Guden and drummer Michael Sabatini. The CD was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York.

Commented Sabatini: "I just wanted to say on behalf of the band and myself, that we are thrilled to be working with Metal On Metal Records! Jowita and Simone do a fantastic first-class job with their releases (no cheap packaging!) and are truly passionate about what they do. That in itself is very important to us. We didn't want to just sign with anyone. We have had a great working relationship with Jowita for several years now with her doing the cover art for our last two releases, 'The Unknown' and 'Standing the Test Of Time', both awesome artworks. We look forward to nothing but great things to come with our new partners... See you on the road!!!"

Added Jowita Kaminska-Peruzzi, Metal On Metal Records CEO: "The first time I met the band was at my first Keep It True festival visit in 2004. Taking photos was just the start — then I worked for them on the cover arts and saw them live four more times. I had been kept updated on the vocalists search situation and I was really happy to hear they eventually got the great Bobby 'Leather Lungs' Lucas — he is definitely a more than worthy successor to Bob Mitchell!

"This year marks the 30th anniversary of ATTACKER but in spite of their age they have more stamina than many young bands! It's a great honor for us to be working with this legendary act of which we've been big fans for many, many years, but there's also the friendship factor that makes things just perfect."

Three songs off the album, "The Hammer", "Curse The Light" and "Black Winds Calling", are available for streaming from Metal on Metal Records web site. And a short promo clip featuring a fragment of the title track can be sen below.

"Giants Of Canaan" track listing:

01. As They Descend
02. Giants Of Canaan
03. Trapped In Black
04. The Hammer
05. Washed In Blood
06. Sands Of Time
07. Curse The Light
08. Black Winds Calling
09. Steel Vengeance
10. Born Into Battle
11. The Glen Of The Ghost

The album art was painted by Jowita Kaminska-Peruzzi (who has previously worked on covers from ATTACKER, EXODUS, WITCHBURNER, FORSAKEN, MELIAH RAGE, MANILLA ROAD, DECEASED, ARKHAM WITCH and others).

"Giants Of Canaan" CD can be pre-ordered with a discount from Metal On Metal Records web site until February 2, while the digital download (in lossless formats) can be bought from the Bandcamp page.

Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM have entered Danger Johnny Studios in Helsinki to begin work on their as-yet-untitled eighth album. For the recording of the LP, CHILDREN OF BODOM has teamed up with recording engineer Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their fan-favorite albums "Hatebreeder", "Follow The Reaper" and "Hate Crew Deathroll", as well as Swedish producer Peter Tägtgren (MARDUK, AMON AMARTH), who is overseeing production of both vocals and keyboards on the record. The album will be mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki for a summer release via Nuclear Blast Records.

"It's a nice change to the regular method where we lock ourselves up at a studio in the middle of the woods, usually also during the darkest time of the year," commented CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho who is currently finishing up lyrics for the songs. In early February, Tägtgren will travel to Finland to oversee the keyboard and vocal recordings for his longtime allies.

"Last night I finished my parts for the record," added CHILDREN OF BODOM bassist Henkka Seppälä. "We listened to all the songs and fixed what had to be fixed. So the bass tracks are locked in and so are the basic tracks for guitars, from both Roope and Alexi. And, of course, all drums were recorded first. Next in line are the guitar melodies and solos and then the keyboards and vocals. We are ahead of schedule and very happy to work here in Helsinki for the first time ever."

In an in-depth interview with Soundi last September, CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Roope Latvala expressed interest in taking a more prominent role in the arranging of the band material.

"In my opinion many guitar parts could be made more interesting and balanced with just minor tweaks," Roope said, perhaps inspired by his recent work with Finn composer Anssi Tikanmäki's national anthem album project.

Has this comment led to Alexi giving the former STONE axeman more leeway and responsibility in the fine-tuning of the songwriting process?

"Now that you mention it, Roope did voice his opinions more than usual this time around," Alexi says. "And maybe the others, too. As far as the actual question goes, the usual rule applies: all good ideas are taken into consideration."

The new CHILDREN OF BODOM album may also feature a special guest appearance, as Alexi reveals exclusively to Soundi, where he was once again named "Musician Of The Year" in the annual readers' poll.

"I played on ANNIHILATOR's album 'Metal' in 2007, so the way I see it, [ANNIHILATOR mainman] Jeff Waters owes BODOM a solo or two! It's payback time."

And finally, CHILDREN OF BODOM wouldn't be CHILDREN OF BODOM without some new off-the-wall cover tracks recorded during the sessions for later use as bonus tracks for the as-of-yet untitled disc, due out before the summer.

"We will be doing our versions of songs by BANANARAMA and ROXETTE, and a track chosen for us by the readers of the Japanese magazine Burrn!" Alexi says.

"The Divinity Of Purpose", the new album from Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED, is available for streaming in its entirety at Hatebreed.com. This first-listen opportunity will be available until midnight Sunday, January 27.

"The Divinity Of Purpose" is available for pre-order on iTunes (in the United States and Canada). When fans pre-order the album, they'll also receive an instant download of the opening track, "Put It To The Torch".

"The Divinity Of Purpose" will be released on January 29 in North America via Razor & Tie and on January 25 in Europe through Nuclear Blast. The CD was co-produced by HATEBREED, Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL) and Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), with Wilbur also handling mixing duties. The cover artwork was created and illustrated by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS, GWAR) and can be seen below.

"The Divinity Of Purpose" track listing:

01. Put It To the Torch
02. Honor Never Dies
03. Own Your World
04. The Language
05. Before The Fight Ends You
06. Indivisible
07. Dead Man Breathing
08. The Divinity Of Purpose
09. Nothing Scars Me
10. Bitter Truth
11. Boundless (Time To Murder It)
12. Idolized And Vilified

Regarding the musical direction of the new HATEBREED material, singer Jamey Jasta told "Maximum Threshold", "We did enough experimenting, I think, on the last record… A lot of people really liked that record and it did gain us a lot of new fans, but on this record, with the 10-year anniversary of [HATEBREED's 2002 album] 'Perseverance' and with Wayne [Lozinak, guitar] being back in the band — this will be his second record with us — it's just fun to kind of keep with the old-school influences. I hear more CRO-MAGS and KILLING TIME and SHEER TERROR and OBITUARY and BOLT THROWER and SLAYER and ENTOMBED and those kind of '80s and '90s influences in there. Which is fun for us, because we emulate the bands that we love. We try to make it our own sound and make it our own style, but at the end of the day, we're just fans of those styles of bands."

"The Divinity Of Purpose" will be supported by extensive global touring that will stretch well into 2014.

"The Divinity Of Purpose" trailer #3:

The unique, artful Japanese rock band DIR EN GREY will release a mini album, "The Unraveling", on April 3. The effort will contain seven tracks, including a new song, "Unraveling".

"The Unraveling" track listing:

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

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

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

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

HEAVATAR — the new project from VAN CANTO mastermind Stefan Schmidt — has inked a deal with Napalm Records. HEAVATAR's debut album, "Opus I - All My Kingdoms", will be released on February 22. Each song on the CD borrows — some more, some less — a motif from classical composers, ranging from Bach to Paganini and Beethoven. On "All My Kingdoms", Stefan takes care of rhythm guitar and vocals, and is supported by drummer Jörg Michael (ex-STRATOVARIUS), among other musicians. The epic songs are filled with mighty choirs, which are performed by members of the BLIND GUARDIAN choir team and of course, Stefan's friends in VAN CANTO. The artwork was created by the renowned fantasy artist Kerem Beyit.

"Opus I - All My Kingdoms" track listing:

01. Replica
02. Abracadabra
03. All My Kingdoms
04. Elysium At Dawn
05. Long Way Home
06. Born To Fly
07. Luna! Luna!
08. The Look Above
09. To The Metal

Says Stefan Schmidt: "I am very happy, that HEAVATAR cooperates with Napalm Records. They are doing a great job for VAN CANTO and I am convinced that together we can get a lot of people hooked on HEAVATAR. To the metal!"

Nadir, A&R representative at Napalm Records, states: "Never change a winning team. For three years we've been doing our best for our a capella heroes VAN CANTO. Thus, it was a no-brainer that we also sign Stef's new band HEAVATAR. 'All My Kingdoms' turned out to be a melodic power metal beast that will also take new fans by storm, who prefer 'traditional' metal with guitars and bass!"

Northern Finnish metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW will release a two-song digital single, "Dark Alliance", on February 8.

The single will feature the following tracks:

01. Dark Alliance
02. Baptized By The Blood Of Angels

"Dark Alliance" comes off ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's new album, "Saivon Lapsi", which will be released on February 22 via Massacre Records. The CD was recorded by Ahti Kortelainen and Janne Tolsa, mixed by Mikko Karmila and mastered by Mika Jussila. The cover artwork was created by Travis Smith.

In an interview with Headbanger's Helsinki, ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW guitarist Jarmo Puolakanaho stated about the new CD title: "'Saivon Lapsi' could be translated as 'Child Of Saivo'. And Saivo is the underworld of the Saami people, the people of Lapland. It basically is another story in the Angelheart series as well as the series of our stories of Lapland and Northern Finland."

"Saivon Lapsi" track listing:

01. Saivo
02. Dark Alliance
03. Legion Of Beast
04. Kuura
05. Dance Of December
06. The Day
07. Sound Of Silence
08. Beneath The Frozen Leaves
09. Swan Saivo
10. Blood Stained Sea
11. Angelheart, Ravenheart (Act III: Saivon Lapsi)

The "Swan Saivo" video can be seen below. The clip was created and produced by Oulu-based company Mutant Koala Pictures.

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW is:

Altti Veteläinen - Vocals, Bass
Jarmo Kylmänen - Vocals
Jarmo Puolakanaho - Guitar
Mika Lammassaari – Lead Guitar
Janne Tolsa - Keyboards
Juho Raappana - Drums

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's sixth album, "Children Of The Dark Waters", entered the official chart in the group's home country at position No. 19. The CD was released in Finland on May 27, 2009 via Suomen Musiikki. As was the case with the band's previous five LPs, the effort was recorded at Tico-Tico Studio in Kemi, Finland. It was released in the rest of Europe via Massacre Records and in Asia through Marquee/Avalon.

U.K. hard rockers HEAVEN'S BASEMENT will release their debut album, "Filthy Empire", in North America on February 5 via Red Bull Records. The follow-up to the independently released "Unbreakable" EP was produced by John Feldmann (THE USED, PAPA ROACH, BLACK VEIL BRIDES).

"Filthy Empire" track listing:

01. Welcome Home
02. Fire, Fire
03. Nothing Left To Lose
04. When The Lights Go Out In London
05. I Am Electric
06. The Long Goodbye
07. Heartbreaking Son of a Bitch
08. Be Somebody
09. Can't Let Go
10. The Price We Pay
11. Jump Back
12. Executioner's Day

The lyric video for "Nothing Left To Lose" can be seen below. Also available is the official video for the track, which is brimming with energy and neck snap dynamics of great rock 'n' roll accompanied with an irrepressible chorus.

HEAVEN'S BASEMENT has been making a name for itself overseas via their relentless touring and fiery live show plus music that features huge guitar riffs, killer melodies and an arena-rock sound. The band recently supported HALESTORM and SEETHER on separate European tours.

Originally formed in the East Midlands in England in 2007 (although the band's current lineup came together more recently in 2009), HEAVEN'S BASEMENT has already toured with the likes of BUCKCHERRY, PAPA ROACH, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, SHINEDOWN, and more and played this year's Download festival in the U.K. to a packed tent of more than 5,000 fans. Kerrang! magazine declared, "HEAVEN'S BASEMENT play as if their lives depend on it. They should already be a big name — bristling riffs and jagged, riotous hooks are their poison and exceptional is not too strong a word."

HEAVEN'S BASEMENT is Aaron Buchanan (vocals), Sid Glover (guitar), Rob Ellershaw (bass), and Chris Rivers (drums).

Former SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach's brand new CD/DVD package, "ABachalypse Now", has now been set for a March 26 North American release via Frontiers Records. The "ABachalypse Now" Ultimate CD/DVD Edition includes never-before-seen footage from last year's Graspop Metal Meeting festival in Dessel, Belgium, the full never-before-seen Hellfest set from France and the fully-remixed and remastered Nokia show from Los Angeles (originally broadcast on AXS TV), as well as bonus music videos. The DVD contains a running time of nearly 160 minutes. "ABachalypse Now" will be available in two configurations: the Ultimate CD/DVD Edition (2 CDs + DVD) and a standalone DVD.

"ABachalypse Now" track listing:

DVD:

* Live at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 16, 2012
* Live at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California on August 2, 2012
* Live at Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium on June 24, 2012
* Bonus music videos: "Kicking & Screaming", "TunnelVision", "I'm Alive"

CD1 - Live At Hellfest in Clisson, France, 2012

CD2 - Live at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California 2012

Setlists:

Live at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 16, 2012

01. Slave To The Grind
02. Kicking & Screaming
03. Here I Am
04. Big Guns
05. Piece Of Me
06. 18 & Life
07. American Metalhead
08. Monkey Business
09. I Remember You
10. Youth Gone Wild

Live at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California on August 2, 2012

01. Big Guns
02. (Love Is) A Bitchslap
03. Piece Of Me
04. 18 & Life
05. American Metalhead
06. Monkey Business
07. I Remember You
08. TunnelVision
09. Youth Gone Wild

Live at Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium on June 24, 2012

01. Kicking & Screaming
02. Dirty Power
03. Here I Am
04. Big Guns
05. 18 & Life
06. American Metalhead
07. Monkey Business
08. I Remember You
09. TunnelVision

According to Sebastian, "ABachalypse Now" will include "special guest appearances by Jinxx from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, Roy Z (HALFORD), and Brent Woods (VINCE NEIL)."

He previously stated about the forthcoming set: "I am so excited for all of you to witness and experience 'ABachalypse Now'. We have included three recent concerts and the footage is totally kickass! It's remixed and remastered for full audio and video quality. The performances and energy of the crowds are killer throughout the DVD and you really feel like you are at the shows. Prepare yourselves for the coming ABachalypse — now!"

Bach in July 2012 posted a letter on his Facebook page in which he said he was willing to reunite with SKID ROW. "For the fans, I would be willing to put my ego aside and do something that would be special for the people who put us where we are today," he wrote. "I do not personally want it myself. But it's not always about 'what I want.' If the fans really want to see us together, I would do it for the fans. Sometimes you can do things for people other than yourself."

Bach said he wanted to write the letter in response to current SKID ROW singer Johnny Solinger's interview in which Johnny said a recent tweet by Bach about a possible SKID ROW reunion was an attempt to "get attention."

Bach's most recent solo album, "Kicking & Screaming", sold 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 73 on The Billboard 200 chart. The singer's previous CD, "Angel Down", opened with 6,400 units back in November 2007 to debut at No. 190.

Anthony Morgan of Metal Forces recently conducted an interview with former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist and current NEWSTED frontman Jason Newsted. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On forming NEWSTED:

Jason: "The drummer's name is Jesus Mendez Jr., and I've known him for 12-13 years. He started out as a local crew guy that helped over at METALLICA headquarters, and that's how I met him back in the '90s. He was a drum tech on the ECHOBRAIN tour, and then we started playing in my studio called the Chophouse about ten years ago. We've been making music since then. I met a guitar player named Jessie Farnsworth about five years ago, so we've had this trio going for about five years. Jessie plays guitar and bass, and sings.

"I got together with Jesus and Jessie, and started working on these songs. They were written fairly quickly, once I got going on the GarageBand. I put them together in August of 2012, pretty much all of them. 'Skyscraper' is little bit of an older song but everything else are fresh, new songs, just a couple of months old. I wrote them all on GarageBand on the iPad, and then I gave them the songs in August of 2012 to learn. They went and learned them, and then we've been recording. We recorded some in October, and recorded another batch in December. The plan is to release 11 songs in the first six months of 2013 in three different batches. The first batch is four songs [the 'Metal' EP], the four songs that are available via iTunes."

On "Soldierhead":

Jason: "Its lyrical content is basically what I think would go on in a soldier's mind. The song says in the beginning 'Bombs go off around me / Bullets chase my head / I try to not get dead.' It's basically that, my shout out to the soldiers. That's what it is for me. It was written fairly quickly, like the other ones. When I sit down with a guitar and concentrate it just shows, just like my paintings. It comes from the sky, and I just have to be channeling the music. I don't really think about it too much — it just happens. 'Soldierhead' was a pretty quickly written song. I'm very proud of the lyrics; I'm very excited for people to read all of the lyrics, but that's what that one's about.

"As a fan of METALLICA it's like old-school METALLICA, like 'Kill 'Em All' [1983] or something. It's that old thrashy thing. I think it has the younger voice. The singing voice I'm using now is much different than the cookie-monster voice, like 'Die, motherfucker, die!' or any of that kind of thing. It's quite a bit different. It's a real singing voice this time, so that's what the music is. It's old-school metal; 'Soldierhead' particularly is like speed metal, old-school thrash metal."

On "Godsnake":

Jason: "'Godsnake' is kind of a heavier track, more like BLACK SABBATH. The words talk about judging, and not judging people. Not judging things, and not judging until you know what the facts are. Basically, that's what it talks about. You never know what you're gonna get with people, so don't pretend that you know what they are until you know what they are, and that kind of thing."

On "King Of The Underdogs":

Jason: "I see it as a really cool live song that people can sing along to, chant along to, and scream together at a live show. It's kind of like a heavy groove-oriented song. I think there's a lot of nice space in it. It's almost funky, in a way. It's like a heavy, funky song for the first minute or two, and then it gets considerably heavy [laughs]. It really has the most groove out of any of the songs, so that's that one. It's a little bit mid-tempo. It reminds me possibly of some riffier [LED] ZEPPELIN stuff, personally."

On "Skyscraper":

Jason: "It has really big guitar riffs, like happy, upbeat rock 'n' roll guitar riffs. Not happy in the sappy way, but happy in the upbeat way. It has a great message, which just speaks of no war. Please no more war, basically. You'll have to hear it for yourself, but each one of the songs has a great meaning to me and I hope they have a great meaning to other people. There are no wasted words, or anything. I'm very proud of those lyrics, so I hope everybody likes them."

On ROCK STAR SUPERNOVA:

Jason: "If you think about that one, you've got the two biggest Hollywood rock star bands involved with a guy from the purest metal band. You've got GUNS 'N ROSES, which is so much fakey, Hollywood stuff. You've then got MÖTLEY CRÜE which is even more fakey, Hollywood stuff, and then you've got real metal. It was not easy to get them to come to rehearsals, or even play songs. We only got to have like five rehearsals in the entire existence of the band. That's not the way I do things. I work hard and I practise hard, and I always have. I don't do that kind of Hollywood shit, man. [laughs]"

On whether he is trying to prove he isn't a has-been:

Jason: "The only difference about that deal is I chose to do what I did. I made all the decisions. I did it my way, okay? It wasn't a thing like, 'DOKKEN is no longer any good because they suck. They're has-been,' or 'So and so band player is no good anymore because they can't play for shit,' or 'So and so is no good anymore because he got kicked out of the band for doing too much heroin,' or whatever. That's a has-been. I chose my path, what I wanted to do. I made my own decisions throughout my own life. Therefore, I was successful the whole time. I played in METALLICA for 15 years, and finished that 12 years ago. That was, that once was. That was good, but I have a whole new thing now. I am.

"I've always been, so has-been? Yeah. I have been in FLOTSAM, I have been in ECHOBRAIN, I have been in OZZY [OSBOURNE], I have been in VOIVOD, and I have been in METALLICA. [laughs] Yes I have, and now I'm in this band, and I'm still alive. It doesn't bother me even one little bit about any of those kinds of comments, and please don't feel bad about saying anything like that. I'm gonna tell you, dude: life is pretty good. If I had stayed in METALLICA, METALLICA would no longer be alive. It would no longer be a band. People need to… There's one thing… I haven't said this to anybody else, but I'll say it to you. I saved METALLICA when I entered their band, and I saved them when I left their band. Because I did both of those things, they're still around. I didn't do it by myself, so don't take it like that. It wasn't single-handed, or nothing. I'm not taking credit like that."

On recurring rumors he might rejoin METALLICA:

Jason: "Every time there's a picture of us together or somebody brings some other picture up, everybody says, 'Are you going back to the band? Please go back to the band' and all this stuff. That's not on the cards. I was already in their band; I was already in their band for half of the band's life. I'm good. I don't need to be in their band goddammit. [laughs] I was already in that band."

On NEWSTED's forthcoming album:

Jason: "The final product — the album in May — will be distributed properly. We'll be doing four songs every eight to ten weeks. There'll be new songs, and at the end of those three periods – two months, two months, two months, and then that six-month period — that's when the whole thing will be put together."

On the title of NEWSTED's forthcoming album:

Jason: "My plan is that all three of the different offerings of songs will be titled something different to make up the final title at the end. You'll be able to get the whole album on vinyl. It'll be a whole title that is made up of the other titles. You'll see."

Read the entire interview at www.metalforcesmagazine.com.

Australia's Yahoo!7 News recently conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist DJ Ashba. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose being portrayed in a negative light:

Ashba: "I think a lot of people and the press try to blow it up and say he's an asshole but everyone can be an asshole if you get them on the wrong day. One thing people don't seem to get is that he's genuinely funny and he's always joking around and telling stories to make people laugh. I always say that if he wasn't a musician he'd be a great comedian. I wish the world could see that side of him because it's the opposite of what people have branded in their brains."

On how Axl treats his GN'R bandmates:

Ashba: "Axl is in a position where he doesn't have to be cool with the band but he treats us like gold. He lets us write our own solos and gives everybody their time to shine on stage and I think that says a lot about who he is. He has no problem sharing the spotlight, in fact he quite likes it — otherwise he'd be doing this interview and not me."

On GUNS N' ROSES' latest album "Chinese Democracy", which came out in 2008 after a 15-year wait:

Ashba: "I came in right after 'Chinese Democracy' was released and I've seen a huge difference over the last four years in how fans react to those songs. A lot of people are singing along to them now that they're more familiar."

On how "production issues" are mostly to blame for GUNS N' ROSES' continual stage tardiness, with long waits for Axl just as much a definite at a the band's concert as hearing "Paradise City" or "Welcome To The Jungle":

Ashba: "We have a huge rig and pyrotechnics so often it's the case of fitting all that into the venue. Our number one priority is to make the shows safe. [The criticism from fans on social media] kills us as a band because we're not doing any of this on purpose. Our main goal is to go and give the fans a show they will never forget and we understand how expensive tickets are. We take that into account and when we do hit the stage, it's almost impossible to get us off."

On GUNS N' ROSES' next studio album, for which the bandmembers have already begun collecting ideas:

Ashba: "It won't be another 'Chinese Democracy' but then again we're in no rush to make a bad record. Failing is not an option so we're putting our heart and soul into this one."

Read more from Yahoo!7 News.

Hello everybody,

we have to inform you that Igor has left U.D.O. due to conflicts between band appointments and his private life and business.

Since the business of U.D.O. develops and the band tours more and more all over the world Igor simply wasn´t available for so many different long periods. The band respects his decision and wishes him all the best for the future. Igor was with the band since nearly 15 years now and became a very important and highly respected bandmember.

Thank you very much Igor!!!!!!!


Thanks to our metal god the band already found a new bandmate: finnish guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen. Well we can write now that together with our other new guitarist Andrey Smirnov they are one of the best guitar teams in metal but we don´t want to do that because every other band does like this. We´re sure you will find out by yourself and than you will write exactly that fact!

The band is very happy to have found Kasperi and now the metal machine will go ahead better than ever. Watch out for the Steelhammer!!!!!!!


Some personal facts about Kasperi:

Kasperi Heikkinen (born August 4th 1980) is a Finnish rock musician, a guitar player and a guitar teacher. He's also the founding member and the songwriter of the Finnish heavy metal band MERGING FLARE. The debut album of MERGING FLARE, "Reverence", was released in 2011 and was highly praised among the critics. His past activities include 4 studio albums and international touring with symphonic metal band AMBERIAN DAWN, 2 studio albums with the progressive death metal outfit ELENIUM (Fin), 1 studio album with traditional hard rock/heavy metal line-up CONQUEST, and various smaller releases such as EPs and singles.
Besides that Kasperi has worked with some tribute bands, such as GUARDIANS OF MANKIND (Gamma Ray), VICARS OF HELL (Judas Priest) and MACDETH (Megadeth). He has also done some live session touring in Europe and Russia with German power metallers GAMMA RAY.


Finally Igor has a personal message for the fans of the band:

"It was a great time and I want to warmly thank everybody who shared it with me, band members, crew guys, and everyone who supported and worked with us to make it happen!
A really big and special thank goes to our fans for their incredible support, you were great !!!

Wish you all the best! Igor"


New U.D.O. album will be released May 24th, 2013!!!

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was on hand at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show today (Wednesday, January 23) at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, to show off his new Dean double-neck guitar.

Originally a one-off which was built for Dave to play at the "Big Four" shows, the guitar will go into full production this year.

Mustaine said the guitar "plays like a motherfucker."

"When I went to Dean, I found out that the guitars were very responsive," Mustaine said. "And one of the most important things was the attention to detail. Also the relationship with me as an artist. Because the previous companies I was with, the guitars were good, but the relationship was sour. And I found that being with Dean was really good for me, because they took care of me as an artist, they took care of the guitars, they also knew what the public liked."

He continued: "Those of you that are distributors, you know that the younger generation, they want guitars that look cool and play great, that are affordable and that icons use. For me, I'm flattered to be considered an icon, but I'm just a guitar player. And to have this kind of backing and support from a company that is as reputable as Dean is really flattering."

Video footage of Mustaine's NAMM press conference from earlier today can be seen below (courtesy of Stephanie Cabral).

"Impasse", the new video from WALK AS CHAOS, the new "extreme progressive metal" collaboration between Alan Sacha Laskow (DIVINITY, ENDITOL) and Jerrod Maxwell-Lyster (OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, AUTOBODY), can be seen below. The clip was helmed by one of Alberta's leading independent music video directors, Doug Cook, and it incorporates various filmmaking techniques like old-school stop-motion photography, computer graphic elements mixed with live action along with fantastic set and costume design to bring "Impasse" to the visual forefront.

"We are super excited about our new music video for 'Impasse'," Laskow said. "Doug Cook went the extra mile and we are proud to say we feel it sticks out as being modern and inventive — just like our music.

"When we started talking about how to bring the song into the visual realm, Doug decided the backdrop should be a futuristic world made up of lines that had a difficult time connecting with each other, like a maze. He also wanted to put Jerrod and I into situations that showcased our collaboration (singer/engineer) but also the frustration one can be faced with when being at a impasse, whether is be Man vs. Man, Man vs. Tech and Man vs. Nature etc."

WALK AS CHAOS is described in a press release as "two musical comrades from the northern wasteland collaborat[ing] to create a unique hybrid between true progressive and extreme metal leanings. All instrumentation is programmed and played by MIDI except the guitar and vocals. Think CYNIC and ANIMALS AS LEADERS meeting MESHUGGAH and DECAPITATED and you're getting there. A continuation of ENDITOL with a fresh start and new name, WALK AS CHAOS is essentially a playground for their minds to unleash whatever they feel like and put down to 'tape', just pure expression and an honest attempt to communicate."

KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque will make a guest appearance on the sophomore album from Danish rock singer Maryann Cotton (born Jackie Patino), the son of KING DIAMOND bassist Hal Patino.

La Rocque previously played on Cotton's debut CD, last year's "Free Falling Angels", on the tracks "Crazy", "Night Train To Paris", "Miss Misery", "Shock Me" and "Maryann".

Maryann (pictured below) states: "Andy is a genius on the guitar, and I am very proud to present him again on the upcoming album. The solos he did on the last album were brilliant, especially the one he did on 'Maryann'; it's definitely one of my favorites, and absolutely one of the best he ever has done, in my opinion !''

"All the ideas for the album is down, and I can't wait to unveil some of the big things that are in the progress right now. The only thing I can tell is that we will start the recordings in February, and that I'll be back with more updates about the whole thing very soon!"

Maryann Cotton's new CD, which is tentatively due this summer, will also feature a guest appearance by ALICE COOPER guitarist/collaborator Dick Wagner.

Maryann Cotton debuted his new band on September 14, 2012 at Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"Free Falling Angels" was released on June 15, 2012 via Pure Steel Records. The CD featured guest appearances by four musicians who performed on KING DIAMOND's 1990 album, "The Eye" — Hal Patino, guitarists Andy La Rocque and Pete Blakk, and drummer Snowy Shaw.

Maryann Cotton's career was launched in 2006 when he performed live on Danish TV as part of the "Scenen Er Din" program (Danish version of "Star Search").

Oslo's OKULAR have set March 4th as the date on which their sophomore effort Sexforce will be self-released.

The brainchild of composer/lyricist Andreas Aubert, Sexforce features an appearance by SUSPERIA's Athera who performs half of the lead vocals on seven of the 13 tracks, while BORKNAGAR's Vintersorg makes a guest appearance on 'The Greatest Offender'. Lyrically, Okular presents poetry describing aspects of the human existence, in a vital and experientially-based form, rather than as philosophical discourse. In a ringing endorsement of Aubert's creation, Borknagar's Øystein G. Brun describes OKULAR as a "death metal parallel" to his own band.
Sexforce tracklisting:
'House Full Of Colours'
'Not Separate'
'Sexforce'
'The Greatest Offender'
'Ride The Waves Of Emotion'
'Rest In Chaos'
'The King Of Life'
'Exposing The Good Citizens'
'Feast Upon The Illusory'
'Birth Through Loss'
'To Ring The Bells Of Truth'
'Politically Incorrect Experiences'
'Educated For Enslavement'

The Sexforce album cuts 'Birth Through Loss' and the title track at this location.

Legendary hardcore metal band PRO-PAIN has inked a deal with SPV/Steamhammer.

Commented Steamhammer A&R representative Olly Hahn: "I already worked with [PRO-PAIN mainman] Gary [Meskil] together in the '90s and it was a pleasure to see how dedicated he is for his band and the metal/hardcore family in general. PRO-PAINstands always for energetic music and live performances and I´m looking forward to a new masterpiece in the fall 2013!"

Added Meskil: "We are very happy and proud to be part of the SPV/Steamhammer family! They have a long history of bringing quality thrash to the masses, and so we look forward to releasing some devastatingly brutal new music via this partnership."

Aggressive, meticulous, passionate, righteous — all distinguishing traits that have come to symbolize the fundamentals of metal/hardcore pioneers PRO-PAIN. Since their crushing 1992 NAIRD-nominated debut album "Foul Taste Of Freedom", PRO-PAIN have become a staple in the diets of heavy music listeners around the globe. Their successful and enviable career has perpetually prospered throughout its course, and yet they still manage to find room to improve, and more importantly, impress.

Formed by vocalist/bassist Gary Meskil (ex-CRUMBSUCKERS), PRO-PAIN has over the years benefited from substantial support from an ever-growing and loyal fan base, the metal press, hard rock radio, and MTV's "Headbanger's Ball". With bandmates Marshall Stephens (rhythm guitar), Adam Phillips (lead guitar) and Jonas Sanders (drums), Meskil is set to tour Europe in February and March extensively, with a new studio album expected in the fall.

PRO-PAIN's latest album, "Straight To The Dome", was released in North America in September 2012 via the Chicago independent record company Goomba Music. The CD was recorded at Little Creek Studio in Gelterkinden, Switzerland and produced by V.O. Pulver.