On November 14, reunited grunge legends SOUNDGARDEN performed at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in New York City as part of SiriusXM's Town Hall series which also featured an intimate question-and-answer session moderated by FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Video footage of SOUNDGARDEN performing its single "Been Away Too Long" and the classic "Rusty Cage" can be seen below. Also available is a question-and-answer portion with Hawkins where they talk about being covered by the late Johnny Cash.

SOUNDGARDEN tapped FOO FIGHTERS frontman and documentary director Dave Grohl to get behind the camera on December 18 and shoot the band's new video for its song "By Crooked Steps". The track is taken from SOUNDGARDEN's first album in 16 years, "King Animal", which came out in November and sold 83,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at No. 5 on the Billboard album chart.

"By Crooked Steps" will likely follow "Been Away Too Long" as the second single from "King Animal". Singer Chris Cornell told The Pulse Of Radio a little about the tune: "It's one of the earlier songs that we started working on, but I also felt like it, to me, is like definitely sort of a new chapter for us. If you wanted to take one example of SOUNDGARDEN progressing, that's a good one for me."

SOUNDGARDEN reunited in 2010 after a 13-year break, releasing a retrospective collection called "Telephantasm" and a concert album titled "Live On I-5".

The band kicks off a winter North American tour on January 18 in Washington D.C.

ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti and singer Myles Kennedy have commenced the songwriting process for the band's next album, tentatively due later in the year.

On Friday (January 4), a picture of Tremonti and Kennedy in the studio (see below) was posted on the ALTER BRIDGE Facebook page with the caption: "It begins today." A follow-up message earlier today (Monday, January 7) stated: "Writing on 'AB4' has begun. Very productive sessions so far!"

Tremonti will hit the road with his solo band in Europe and the U.S. starting in February, while Kennedy's dates with Slash in Europe are scheduled to kick off on January 31.

ALTER BRIDGE's latest album, "ABIII", was self-released on Alter Bridge Recordings via EMI Label Services and debuted at #17 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band issued a DVD, "Live At Wembley", at the end of March 2012. The disc contains footage of one of the biggest headline shows of ALTER BRIDGE's career, which took place on November 29, 2011 at Wembley Arena in London, England.

ALTER BRIDGE is Kennedy, Tremonti, drummer Scott Phillips and bassist Brian Marshall.

Austrian female-fronted symphonic metallers EDENBRIDGE will begin mixing their eighth album, "The Bonding", tomorrow (January 8) with Karl Groom (THRESHOLD) at Thin Ice Studios in Surrey, England.

Commented the band: "'The Bonding' is the connection of the baby to the mother right after the birth, as well as the connection to the bigger whole in the major sense.

"The change of times [in] 2012 is nothing else than a new starting cycle, in which our memory of the bonding will increasingly appear. To this degree, that we will trust in our inner force and dare into life, though it might be full of insecurities.

"We owe our mind enormous awareness and achievements, but is not able to open our hearts; it's just able to prevent it due to the fear of all sorts of things. But we ourselves decide what we think, when it is useful to make up our minds and when it is time to let our thoughts leave and go into our hearts. Then 'The Bonding' can happen again!"

"The Bonding" will feature orchestral parts by the Klangvereinigung Vienna orchestra, conducted by Gerald Mair and recorded at Home Music Studio in Vienna with Georg Luksch. EDENBRIDGE guitarist Lanvall stated: "The result is overwhelming. We have decided to record strings, brass/woodwinds and percussion seperately this time. Everything sounds more voluminous and cleaner. The musicians of the orchestra did a tremendous job. Be prepared for a real blast!"

The drum tracks for "The Bonding" were recorded by Max Pointner at Sunprojects Studio.

EDENBRIDGE's seventh album, "Solitaire", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 95 back in July 2010.

The "Higher" video can be viewed below. The clip was filmed with director Silvan Buege (Blackstage TV).

EDENBRIDGE's live album, "LiveEarthDream", was released in May 2009. The disc was recorded at various concerts in 2008 and was only available through the band's fanshop.

Michigan's unstoppable sons of molten melodic death metal THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER have set "Everblack" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in June via Metal Blade Records. The drums are currently being recorded in Detroit with producer Eyal Levi (DAATH, WHITECHAPEL, SIX FEET UNDER), with the guitars and vocals set to be laid down at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida.

A couple of photos from the studio can be seen below (courtesy of Levi's Facebook page).

Drummer Shannon Lucas recently left THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and was replaced by Alan Cassidy (ABIGAIL WILLIAMS).

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's latest album, "Ritual", sold 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 31 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Deflorate", opened with around 12,000 units to enter the chart at No. 43.

Released on June 21, 2011 via Metal Blade Records, "Ritual" was described in a press release as "a collection of 12 tracks that see the band staying true to their sound and style while progressing in both writing and musicianship."

Pavement Entertainment has acquired the rights to the "long-lost" "Hail Mary" album from DARK NEW DAY — the band featuring Clint Lowery (guitar; SEVENDUST), Corey Lowery (bass; ex-STEREOMUD, STUCK MOJO), Brett Hestla (vocals, guitar; ex-CREED, VIRGOS MERLOT), Will Hunt (drums; EVANESCENCE, ex-SKRAPE, TOMMY LEE) and Bradley "BC" Kochmit (guitar; SWITCHED a.k.a. SW1TCHED). The CD was to be the follow-up to the group's debut effort, "Twelve Year Silence", but it was never released.

"Hail Mary" will finally be made available on February 19 and will be distributed via MRI/RED in North America and SPV in Europe. The CD contains "twelve tracks of in-your-face hard rock that only DARK NEW DAY can deliver," according to a press release.

"Hail Mary" track listing:

01. Goodbye
02. Anywhere
03. Vicious Thinking
04. Simple
05. Hail Mary
06. On My Way
07. Saddest Song
08. Dear Addy
09. Someday
10. Fiend
11. Outside
12. Give Me The World

Commented Hunt: "We in DARK NEW DAY are extremely excited that our 'lost' album is finally going to get the proper release and treatment it deserves. We're excited for fans to hear what two years of writing, struggle, and growth did for us. You'll hear a band that wasn't afraid to embrace experimentation and forge new sonic territory. You'll also hear a band at times grind out some of the darkest, heaviest, lyrically intense music of its career. This record is sonically amazing and we're very proud of it. We hope that this is just a stepping stone to another record in the very near future. Enjoy!"

Tim King, director of A&R for Pavement, states: “I've been a fan of DARK NEW DAY ever since I bought the debut at Best Buy back in 2005 (yes, I supported my friends and bought the album!!). As their A&R guy, I'm thrilled to be able to work 'Hail Mary', but as a fan I'm even more excited to let everyone finally hear this amazing album."

DARK NEW DAY may have been new to fans of the bandmembers' previous groups, but it was really a reunion that was twelve years in the making, as the members of DARK NEW DAY literally grew up together. Brothers Clint and Corey Lowery and childhood friend Troy McLawhorn met singer Brett Hestla and drummer Will Hunt while touring as kids in the Southeast club circuit. "We were playing a circuit that had a lot of older people in it, in their twenties, and we were all kids, so we could identify with each other," said Hunt in a 2005 interview. "We really came into ourselves on that circuit," added Corey. "It was like going to rock 'n' roll high school — you'd always try and turn it up because you wanted to impress each other."

Ozzy Osbourne has posted a new photo from a a Los Angeles studio where he is currently laying down vocals on the new BLACK SABBATH album. Check it out below.

As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH took part in a photo shoot on November 30 with famed British photographer/artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi clarified the status of the band's new CD in an October interview with "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show". Although it has been reported that the band has recorded 15 songs, Iommi explained, "That's wrong . . . We've written 15 songs and we've played them all. But now, at the moment, we're recording them. We recorded them at my house first, in England, just as demos, but now we're doing them for real. So we're about six tracks in now, at the moment."

Iommi, Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler are recording their first album together under the SABBATH name since 1978's "Never Say Die".

The drums on the disc are being handled by Tommy Clufetos, who has replaced founding drummer Bill Ward due to a contractual dispute between Ward and the rest of the group.

Asked if there is any chance of Ward rejoining the band, Iommi said, "We'll always have a heart for Bill, but I think it's gone past that now, because it's gone on so long that I don't see that happening at the moment. Maybe at some point we might [play together again]."

Meanwhile, SABBATH has announced an Australian tour for April and has also revealed that it will headline the first-ever Japanese version of Ozzfest on May 11-12, with SLIPKNOT also on the bill.

Photo below courtesy of Ozzy Osbourne's Facebook page

Heavy-hitting British metal band ORANGE GOBLIN will release a live CD/DVD set, "A Eulogy For The Fans - Orange Goblin Live 2012", on March 11 via Candlelight Records. The artwork was created by Jimbob Isaac and can be seen below.

CD/DVD set features:

** Disc 1 (CD)

Complete set live at Bloodstock Open Air festival on August 11, 2012 at Catton Park, Derbyshire in the United Kingdom

** Disc 2 (DVD)

Complete pro-shot sets live at Bloodstock Open Air festival on August 11, 2012 at Catton Park, Derbyshire in the United Kingdom and Hellfest on June 15, 2012 in Clisson, France. Plus promotional videos, the making of "Red Tide Rising" documentary, "Highway To Hellfest" short film, photo galleries and more.

The live audio from Bloodstock Open Air festival will also be released as a double gatefold vinyl.

ORANGE GOBLIN's latest album, "A Eulogy For The Damned", was released in February 2012 via Candlelight Records. The ten-track offering was recorded at The Animal Farm studio in South London, produced and engineered by Jamie Dodd and mastered two-time Grammy-nominated PINK FLOYD engineer Andy Jackson at Tube Mastering.

"A Eulogy For The Damned" was released on CD and limited-edition colored vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

Formed in 1995 (as OUR HAUNTED KINGDOM), ORANGE GOBLIN has released six full-length albums, developing an enthusiastic fan base that revels in the band's aggressive sound built on "booze-sodden riffs and attitude." Longtime label Rise Above Records has reissued the group's super-heavy back catalog.

Brazilian vocalist, keyboard player and composer André Matos (ANGRA, SHAMAN, VIPER) will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of ANGRA's 1993 debut album, "Angels Cry", by performing the LP in its entirety on his upcoming solo tour, which is set to kick off in March. The show will consist of two parts, with the first part focusing on the material André wrote and recorded with SHAMAN and VIPER, as well as during his solo career.

In addition to recording the vocals and keyboards on the entire CD, André Matos was the composer and arranger of nine of the ten tracks on "Angels Cry", including "Carry On", which is still considered to be one of ANGRA's most popular songs.

Matos released his third solo album, "The Turn Of The Lights", in August 2012.

Matos' current solo band includes new drummer Rodrigo Silveira and bass player Bruno Ladislau — replacing Eloy Casagrande (now with SEPULTURA) and Luis Mariutti, respectively. Keyboardist Fabio Ribeiro also left the group. André's longtime collaborators, guitar players Hugo Mariutti and Andre "Zaza" Hernanades, have remained with the singer.

"Smell Of Death", the new video from Danish thrashers HATESPHERE, can be seen below. The clip was filmed during the band's October 2012 European tour and was produced by the art of Mircea Gabriel Eftemie (MNEMIC).

"Smell Of Death" comes off HATESPHERE's latest album, "The Great Bludgeoning", which entered the official chart in Denmark at position No. 40. The group's previous CD, "To The Nines" (2009), landed at No. 36 while 2007's "Serpent Smiles and Killer Eyes" debuted at No. 26.

"The Great Bludgeoning" was produced, mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, SICK OF IT ALL, MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY) at the Antfarm Studios in Aarhus, Denmark. The cover artwork as created by Mircea Gabriel Eftemie, who has previously worked with SOILWORK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and MNEMIC (for which he also plays the guitar).

HATESPHERE's previous video, "Resurrect With A Vengeance", can be seen below. The clip was recorded and produced in September by Søren Dybdal Jensen and Claus Reinhold for Division 666.

Vocalist Esben "Esse" Hansen joined HATESPHERE as the band's new singer in June 2010.

"No God / No Religion", a brand new song from veteran German metallers SACRED STEEL, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's eighth full-length studio album, "The Bloodshed Summoning", which will be released on February 16 via Cruz Del Sur Music. The CD was produced by Bart Gabriel (CRYSTAL VIPER, LONEWOLF, JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR), and will be made available as a limited-edition vinyl LP, CD with three bonus tracks (including a MISFITS cover version) and as a digital download.

"The Bloodshed Summoning" track listing:

01. Storm Of Fire 1916
02. No God / No Religion
03. When The Siren Calls
04. The Darkness Of Angels
05. The Bloodshed Summoning
06. Under The Banner Of Blasphemy
07. Black Towers
08. Crypts Of The Fallen
09. The Night They Came To Kill
10. Join The Congregation
11. Journey Into Purgatory
12. Doomed To Eternal Hell

CD bonus tracks:

13. Perversions Of The Scriptures
14. Unbinding The Chains
15. Dig Up Her Bones

SACRED STEEL, which was previously signed to such labels as Metal Blade and Massacre, established itself in the '90s as one of the leading true metal bands. Their albums "Wargods Of Metal" or "Bloodlust" are considered by many to be some of the best '90s traditional metal releases.

SACRED STEEL's last album, "Carnage Victory", was released in 2009, and was supported by a number of European live shows, including well-received appearances at such festivals as Bang Your Head!!!, Summer Breeze and Rock Hard.

SACRED STEEL is:

Kai Schindelar - Bass
Jens Sonnenberg - Guitar
Mathias Straub - Drums
Jonas Khalil - Guitar
Gerrit P. Mutz - Vocals

A trailer for "The Dixie Dead", the fifth solo album from MURDERDOLLS frontman Wednesday 13, can be seen below. The CD will be released on February 18 in The UK and on February 19 in North America.

"The Dixie Dead" limited-edition packing with expanded artwork is available only in the U.S. or througn a U.S. source for initial orders. Retail limited edition will have a pullout poster and expanded artwork, which comes in DVD packaging. The version ordered during the web site pre-orders comes with the above and an exclusive patch and an exclusive sticker.

"The Dixie Dead" track listing:

01. Death Arise (intro)
02. Bloodsucker
03. Get Your Grave On
04. Curse The Living
05. Too Fast For Blood
06. Hail Ming
07. Coming Attractions
08. The Dixie Dead
09. Ghost Stories
10. Fuck You (In Memory Of...)
11. Carol Anne... They're Here
12. Hands Of The Ripper
13. Death Arise (overture)

In a recent interview with Metalkrant, Wednesday 13 stated about "The Dixie Dead": "I think it's the best CD I have ever made. It's a great combination of everything I have done over the years. It's heavy, it's still catchy and singalong songs, it's a full horror record."

He continued: "The album is going to look like a 1980s horror movie. It's a special way we did it. I'm more excited about that than everything I can remember that I put out. We have some different sounds, too, that we've tried. There's some really heavy stuff. Heavy for me — I don't mean like SLAYER heavy. [laughs] But for me, it's heavy. There's a track on the record that reminds me of BLACK SABBATH and there's one that reminds me of MINISTRY and METALLICA. There are a lot of influences in there and it showcases my lineup that I have now. I didn't play anything on the record, but vocals and keyboards. It's the first time I haven't played guitar on a record. I wrote everything, but I let the band play it. So to me, that definitely added something to it. I think I have a great band and my guitar player is amazing. The things he does and what he brought to the table… It's the perfect record for me. I feel like it's taken me 10 years to… Not that I didn't like what I did before, but I feel like this is finally the one that we got where I wanted it to be. I'm super excited and I hope people will embrace it the same way."

2013 is a special year for Wednesday 13 as it marks 20 years of him releasing recorded music and 10 years of the band WEDNESDAY 13.

"Put It To The Torch", the new video from Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Justin Reich (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY). The song comes off the band's latest CD, "The Divinity Of Purpose", whicih 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 "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.

Italian progressive metallers HYPNOTHETICALL will release their second full-length album, "A Farewell To Gravity", on February 12 via logic(il)logic Records.

"A Farewell To Gravity" track listing:

01. From The Universe Beyond
02. Home
03. Drifting Dreamers
04. Let Life Be An Origami
05. Nevro (tic)
06. Brainstorming Line
07. First Sraft Of A Life
08. When The Kraken Comes
09. A Farewell To Gravity
10. Crisis
11. Hiranyaloka

A teaser for the CD can be seen below. Also available is a stream of the song "Let Life Be An Origami".

HYPNOTHETICALL, which featuring in its ranks ARTHEMIS drummer Francesco Tresca, released its first full-length album, "Dead World", in 2009.

HYPNOTHETICALL is:

Marco Ciscato - Vocals
Mirko Marchesini - Lead, Rhythm Guitar
Giuseppe Zaupa - Lead, Rhythm Guitar
Davide Pretto - Keyboards, Synth
Luca Capalbo - Bass
Francesco Tresca - Drums, Percussion

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "In Crescendo", the new album from Italy's KINGCROW, can be seen below. The CD will be made available in North America on February 12 via Sensory Records, a division of The Laser's Edge.

While working in a mostly progressive metal direction in the earlier days, KINGCROW has increasingly expanded the scope of their sound to encompass elements of rock, nowadays rounded out in a culmination of strong atmospheric component similar to RIVERSIDE, PORCUPINE TREE and PINK FLOYD but also bearing a heavier, metallic semblance to OPETH and DREAM THEATER. This is boldly present on the band's fifth studio full-length, "In Crescendo", the new album encompassing nearly an hour over eight epic movements. Produced by the band's own Diego and Thundra Cafolla at Sound Under Pressure in Rome, the massive album was then mixed by Giampiero Ulacco and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.

Over the past two years, KINGCROW has expanded the band's fanbase through a European tours in support of both REDEMPTION and JON OLIVA'S PAIN, in addition to performances at ProgPower Europe and ProgPower USA. Plans for a U.S. tour are being devised for 2013 in support of "In Crescendo".

"In Crescendo" track listing:

01. Right Before
02. This Ain't Another Love Song
03. The Hatch
04. Morning Rain
05. The Drowning Line
06. The Glass Fortress
07. Summer '97
08. In Crescendo

KINGCROW is:

Diego Cafolla - Guitar
Ivan Nastasi - Guitar
Diego Marchesi - Vocals
Thundra Cafolla - Drums
Francesco D'Errico- Bass
Cristian Della Polla - Keyboards

Progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER are preparing to begin work on the follow-up to 2011's "A Dramatic Turn Of Events". The band's guitarist, John Petrucci, has posted several photos of the DREAM THEATER studio along with the caption, "Let the fun begin…"

In an interview with Metal Insider conducted early last month, Petrucci stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the next DREAM THEATER CD: "So far it's not very developed at all. We're scheduled to go into the studio in January… We have a handful of ideas we compiled while we were on the road, and we have those archived. And since I got back from the road, and have had some time off, I've been spending more time compiling, writing and demoing some things. There are a bunch of seeds, a bunch of ideas, and a definite direction. Everybody is hired, the studio is locked, and the vision for the type of album has been talked about and secured. The only thing that's not there is the main material, but we'll go in January full force."

He added: "Before we go into an album, I like to sit down and think about what we're going to do instead of just going in and winging it. I'll usually come up with some sort of proposal, and we'll talk about it a bunch of times over the course of the month, and get everyone on the same page. This way, people can start to think about musical ideas in that direction, and get in the right headspace. For me, it makes everything so much clearer when you're in the studio. If you have a direction and a goal, you get better results."

Asked if drummer Mike Mangini — who replaced Mike Portnoy in 2010 — will be more involved in the making of the new record than he was in "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", Petruci said: "Yes. For the last album, he wasn't involved in the writing. We wrote it without him for 2 ½ months, and he came in and tracked. This time, he's going to be in from day one, so we'll write together as a full group. The tapes that we have from doing that a bit on the road have been incredible. At soundcheck, if I'd come in with an idea and we'd start jamming on it, he was really quick and had great creative concepts. I think it's going to be a very cool experience."

Regarding a possible release date for the new DREAM THEATER album, the guitarist said: "I'm not sure. We're on the same schedule as 'A Dramatic Turn Of Events', meaning that we entered the studio at the same time to work on that album, and it didn't come out until September. It's too early to tell if it will follow the same release schedule. By the time we're done, writing, recording, mixing, mastering, it could be May-ish, and then we hit the summer festival season in Europe around July or so, it'll probably be a similar schedule."

DREAM THEATER's next CD will be released through te Roadrunner, with whom the band re-signed last fall. DREAM THEATER first joined forces with Roadrunner in January 2007 and has so far released three critically acclaimed albums with the label. Roadrunner issued DREAM THEATER's ninth studio LP, "Systematic Chaos", in 2007 and went on to release "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" in 2009 as well as "A Dramatic Turn Of Events".

MEGADETH frontman Dave Mustaine, who last year revealed his "birther" opinions on a Canadian talk show, saying he doubted President Barack Obama was born in the United States, has thrown his weight behind yet another conspiracy theory — this time involving "chemtrails."

The "chemtrail" conspiracy theory holds that some trails left by aircraft are chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed at high altitudes for purposes undisclosed to the general public in clandestine programs directed by various government officials. This theory is not accepted by the scientific community, which states that they are just normal contrails, short for "condensation trails," as there is no scientific evidence supporting the chemtrail theory.

In two separate tweets on Saturday (January 5), Mustaine wrote: "Shame on the pilots spraying the grid lines in the once beautiful skies of San Diego. Shame, shame, shame! It's aluminum oxides & barium salts. They know what their cargo is. Only a fool or an accomplice would argue the unarguable. #chemtrails"

Mustaine made headlines last August when he said on stage during a concert in Singapore that Obama was behind recent shooting rampages near Denver and Milwaukee. He continued his diatribe by wondering where he was going to live "if America keeps going the way it's going, because it looks like it's turning into Nazi America."

Swedish melodic rock legends TREAT will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2013 by releasing a special 30th-anniversary-edition package containg a best of-album with two brand new songs and two previously unreleased tracks, and their latest album, "Coup De Grace", with an extra cut. TREAT is also planning a big tour, set to kick off with some major festival gigs in the summer and continue into the fall. Then it's over. For good.

"We have a saying in Sweden: You should always leave the party when you have the most fun," says guitarist and songwriter Anders Wikström, who formed the band back in 1983 along with singer Robert Ernlund.

TREAT, which released its classic debut album, "Scratch And Bite", back in 1985, has never been a more tight-knit rock 'n' roll unit than it is now, and the band is brimming with creativity and excitement. That's why the group is choosing to call it a day: they want to, as they put it, "end on a high note."

"We're doin' it out of love and respect for our fans," Wikström says. "We quit before they ask us to get the hell out. We want TREAT's legacy to be pure rock 'n' roll happiness!"

The decision to go their separate ways is described as "most amicable," and once the bandmembers made up their minds, they almost immediately started making plans for the farewell party this year.

"We're going out with a bang and will give our fans a ride they didn't even knew they wanted," says Wikström.

TREAT's upcoming gigs will mark the debut of the band's new bassist, Fredrik Thomander, a longtime friend who has been co-writing songs with the group, mixed "Coup De Grace" and has already done some shows as a member of TREAT.

In addition to Wikström and Thomander, TREAT's current lineup features Robert Ernlund (lead vocals), Jamie Borger (drums) and Patrick Appelgren (keyboards and vocals).

"We wanna party with our fans,", says Ernlund, and adds: "The treat's on us!"

Fan-filmed video footage of TREAT performing the song "Skies Of Mongolia" (taken from "Coup De Grace") in Italy in May 2010 can be seen below.

According to Hot Metal, BANG TANGO drummer Trent Anderson has quit the band and has been replaced by Timmy Russell, formerly of LITTLE CREATURES. Anderson plans to concentrate on his dance act SUSHI ROLL as well as join veteran California rockers TUFF.

In a statement on Facebook, Trent (all the way on the left in photo below) said: "It is official, after nearly four years, one CD and many miles of travel, I am leaving BANG TANGO.

"I am seeking new bands and projects to tour with in 2013. I hope to see all my friends out there soon. I wish the best of luck and much success to Joe (Leste) , Scott (Laflamme), and Lance (Eric).

He later added: "So many nice comments about me leaving BANG TANGO. I love all of you, and will have a couple tour date announcents next week nothing major but more will hopefully roll in every week."

In a separate Facebook post, BANG TANGO guitarist Scott LaFlamme said: "Well, friends and fans, Trent Anderson and BANG TANGO have decided to part ways. Trent is a huge part of the BANG TANGO family and we wish him well. Taking Trent's position on the drum kit is our great friend Timmy Russell. Timmy has played for BANG TANGO in the past as well as BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and BURN HALO. Trent will always be one of our bros."

Swedish death metallers AMON AMARTH have officially entered the studio to begin recording their new album for a tentative June release via Metal Blade Records. The CD is being helmed by British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with (MEGADETH, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, ARCH ENEMY and ACCEPT.

Regarding AMON AMARTH's decision to work with Sneap after utilizing Jens Bogren for the band's last three studio efforts (2006's "With Oden On Our Side", 2008's "Twilight Of The Thunder God" and 2011's "Surtur Rising"), AMON AMARTH guitarist Olavi Mikkonen told Decibel magazine, "We were looking for a change, and Andy has been in our thoughts for some years now. After meeting with him, we felt a good connection. We think this is going to be a ripper."

AMON AMARTH's eighth studio album, "Surtur Rising", sold around 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Twilight of the Thunder God", opened with more than 11,000 copies back in 2008 to land at No. 48.

Legacy Recordings — the catalogue division of Sony Music Entertainment — will release a newly expanded deluxe edition of "Above", the first and only album to be completed by Seattle-based rock supergroup MAD SEASON.

Formed in 1994, MAD SEASON is vocalist Layne Staley (ALICE IN CHAINS), guitarist Mike McCready (PEARL JAM), drummer/percussionist Barrett Martin (SCREAMING TREES) and bassist John Baker Saunders (THE WALKABOUTS, LAMONT CRANSTON BAND).

The deluxe edition of MAD SEASON's "Above" is a three-disc set comprised of two CDs and one DVD. It includes the original studio album and a host of extras such as previously unreleased tracks from the band's unfinished second album with new lyrics and vocals by Mark Lanegan (SCREAMING TREES), full audio plus the first official DVD release of MAD SEASON's last show ever performed — "Live At The Moore", an unreleased full concert video of the band's New Year's Eve performance from now-defunct Seattle club RKCNDY, a full-color collector's booklet and more.

The deluxe edition, and a separate digital configuration, will be available Monday, April 1. In addition, there will be a 12-inch 2LP expanded edition vinyl available on Record Store Day, April 20. Content featured in the "Above" deluxe edition will be available through iTunes with audio mastered for iTunes and a separate standalone longplay video.

MAD SEASON "Above" deluxe edition

CD1 – "Above"

01. Wake Up
02. X-Ray Mind
03. River of Deceit
04. I'm Above
05. Artificial Red
06. Lifeless Dead
07. I Don't Know Anything
08. Long Gone Day
09. November Hotel
10. All Alone

Bonus tracks:

01. Interlude (previously unreleased)
02. Locomotive (lyrics/vocals by Mark Lanegan)
03. Black Book Of Fear (lyrics/vocals by Mark Lanegan)
04. Slip Away (lyrics/vocals by Mark Lanegan)
05. I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier (remix)

CD2 - Live At The Moore

Previously unreleased full audio set of "Live At The Moore" performance from Seattle, Washington, April 29, 1995. Includes "Wake Up", "Artificial Red", "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier", "I'm Above" (featuring Mark Lanegan).

DVD - Live At The Moore + Bonus Footage

Full video set of the "Live At The Moore" performance from Seattle, Washington performance, April 29, 1995. Remixed and remastered for 5.1 sound, and newly edited by director Duncan Sharp. Plus, more bonus footage, including a full concert of the band's performance from New Year's Eve 1995 at RKCNDY in Seattle, and both performances from the Seattle-based Self-Pollution Radio specials, one newly edited.

In 1994, four Seattle-based musicians decided to embark on a side-project that took them into new and different musical territory. Formed by Mike McCready, Layne Staley, Barrett Martin, and bluesman John Baker Saunders, the group went on to form MAD SEASON, which made one seminal album in the history of Seattle rock. That album, "Above", was released in 1995 and immediately struck a resonate chord with the public that sent the album into gold status within a few weeks. It is the only complete album of Layne Staley's introspective and mystical lyrics, which were highlighted by additional vocals from SCREAMING TREES vocalist Mark Lanegan and Seattle-based saxophonist/percussionist Skerik.

MAD SEASON was essentially Seattle's version of an extremely heavy blues band, anchored by the deep swinging rhythm section of Barrett's drums and Baker's bass lines, with Layne's haunting melodies and Mike's stadium-size guitar riffs soaring over the top. This unusual chemistry made the band absolutely unique in an era of post-grunge. In the almost 20 years since the original release of "Above", new generations of music listeners have discovered the dark and lasting beauty of MAD SEASON.

In 1996, work began on a second MAD SEASON album with Mike, Barrett and Baker writing and recording the basic tracks for 15 new songs. Unfortunately, because of declining health, Layne wasn't able to make any of the recording sessions and the album was shelved. Fate subsequently took each musician in a different direction: Mike back to PEARL JAM and Barrett back to SCREAMING TREES. Tragically, both Baker (1999) and Layne (2002) passed away.

In 2012, the two remaining band members, Mike and Barrett, along with "Above"'s original producer Brett Eliason, convened in Seattle to sift through the original magnetic tapes from that second album's sessions to revisit the unfinished songs. They called on Mark Lanegan to pen lyrics and sing on three of the best of those songs, including one co-written by Peter Buck of REM, which will be featured on the forthcoming reissue honoring the legacy of Layne and Baker.

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

"De Ödeslösa" track listing:

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

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

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

THYRFING 2013 is:

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

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

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

Legendary guitarist Uli Jon Roth (ex-SCORPIONS) has issued the following update:

"Greetings to all of you! I hope you had a great New Year.

"Here is a condensed list of some of the events that are planned for the first half of this year. 2013 is going to be a very busy and intensely productive year ahead, it seems.

"We will start off with a two-day Sky Academy in Los Angeles, at the Santa Monica Playhouse, January 21-22. This is a beautiful, intimate theatre, where we held one of the previous Sky Academies, of which we all have fond memories. I'm looking forward to being there again!

"On the next day, I will take part in Jason Becker's 'Not Dead Yet' concert in San Francisco, together with my friends Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE), Richie Kotzen, Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND) and several other great players. Jason is an inspiration to all of us and I feel honored to be part of this worthwhile cause.

"Following that, I shall be attending the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California, and will do a signing event for the Sky Guitar limited edition at the Dean booth.

"At the end of January, we are embarking on my extensive 40th-anniversary tour of the U.S., which will take us all the way through February until the beginning of March.

"2013 marks the 40th anniversary of my involvement with the SCORPIONS. The main theme of this tour will therefore be dedicated to performing my personal favourites from the five albums which I recorded with that great band. I have chosen about 30 songs in all from that era as the basis of our repertoire, several of whom have never even been performed live by either the SCORPIONS or myself. We shall be rotating a selection of these songs on the tour, varying our sets on a nightly basis, because we cannot possibly play all of them in one go. We will, of course, also play some Electric Sun and Sky Of Avalon music, but the main theme of the performance will be dedicated to the early SCORPIONS era. Every show will be recorded for a live album, which will feature only songs from my time with the SCORPIONS. This will result in a double CD, which will be mixed in 5.1 Surround. The release will also contain a DVD and a documentary, including personal behind-the-scenes Super-8 footage, which I shot to document our tours from 1973-1978.

"As far as live albums go, I am intending to record two further ones in the following years: one will be featuring my favourite ELECTRIC SUN material, and the next one will consist of Sky Of Avalon/Transcendental Sky Guitar music.

"In order to do full justice to my selection of SCORPIONS songs, we are bringing a large band with an exciting lineup.

"Due to the length of the tour, not all members were free to do the whole tour. Therefore some of the positions will be filled by two musicians — each of them playing part of the tour.

The 40th-anniversary U.S. tour lineup will be:

* Uli Jon Roth: guitars, vocals
* Henning Basse: lead vocals
* Ali Clinton: guitars, vocals
* Niklas Turmann: guitars, lead vocals
* Ule W. Ritgen, Elliott Rubinson: - bass
* Jamie Little, Peter Holmes: drums
* Paul Rahme, Corvin Bahn: keyboards, vocals

"In addition to the concerts, there are 14 introductory Sky Academy seminars to be held during the course of the tour! These are usually taking place at the venues of the shows, on the same days and prior to the concerts. Pre-booking is essential, though.

"The seminars are not only geared for musicians. Anyone who loves music can attend. Sky Academy is about much more than just guitar playing, but players are also very welcome to bring their guitars and practice amps. The teaching should be useful to players of all levels.

"March, April and May will be dedicated to studio work and some shows in England.

"I also have been invited to play at the Royal Albert Hall in London by Alfie Boe as a guest for his concerts in April. Aside from this, we are going to collaborate on a new release of Bridge To Heaven intended for the Sunflower Jam cancer charity.

"In June, we will play six concerts in South America, co-headlining with Michael Schenker. The dates will be posted very soon.

"We are planning further European and U.K. dates for the second half of 2013 and a tour of Japan. All of these will be announced on [my official] website as well as on Facebook.

"I am also looking forward to my continued involvement in the Robert Johnson award in Hamburg, Germany, which is a great platform for genuine young guitar talents. As a special appreciation of his talent, I have chosen one of last years' participants, the 14-year old Merlin Lauert, to share the stage with us at our Wacken 2013 show.

"And last, but not least: I have written an entire album's worth of new material, which I am very excited about. As soon as time permits we will begin to record it.

"Once again, many thanks to all of you and God bless! Have a great 2013!"

BLACK STAR RIDERS, the new band formed by THIN LIZZY alumni Ricky Warwick (vocals), Scott Gorham (guitar), Damon Johnson (guitar), Marco Mendoza (bass) with new addition Jimmy DeGrasso (ALICE COOPER, MEGADETH, DAVID LEE ROTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) on drums, will enter a Los Angeles studio tomorrow (Monday, January 7) with producer Kevin Shirley (LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH, RUSH) to begin recording its debut album for a May release via Nuclear Blast.

Commented the band: "Two years ago today THIN LIZZY's reformed lineup played their first show in Aberdeen. Today BLACK STAR RIDERS loaded into the studio in preparation for tomorrow's start to the recording sessions with Kevin Shirley. The rehearsals went very well and the songs are ready. Time to make it happen!"

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

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

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

"We are all very excited about the music that we have created for BLACK STAR RIDERS. The synergy between the five of us has been phenomenal and I can't wait for the world to hear these songs," says Warwick.

BLACK STAR RIDERS was signed to Nuclear Blast by Monte Conner — the former Roadrunner A&R guru who has worked with such acts as SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA and RUSH. Conner recently joined Nuclear Blast as the president of Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a new U.S. partnership he co-founded with Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger.

Video footage of new AMBERIAN DAWN singer, 40-year-old Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen, performing a cover version of SKID ROW's "18 And Life" this past December 31 at Jack The Rooster in Tampere, Finland can be seen below.

AMBERIAN DAWN's new lineup is re-recording the "best" songs from its first four albums — "Circus Black" (2012), "End Of Eden" (2010), "The Clouds Of Northland Thunder" (2009) and "River Of Tuoni" (2008) — for a compilation album, to be released in 2013.

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

Commented AMBERIAN DAWN: "As announced recently we have spent quite some time with the search for a new singer. A pretty hard task, but we think we managed to find an extraordinarily talented singer.

"We are very proud to present you Capri! She is from Finland and a professional vocalist with a strong background: she has worked for a vast amount of different kinds of studio and live projects (musicals, lead and backing vocal recordings, live shows etc).

"Capri has a classical training but is still 100 percent a rock singer. We are sure she will bring AMBERIAN DAWN to a new level by interpreting AMBERIAN DAWN songs with a different kind of style and emotion.

"And since we all thought that Capri can sing those 'classic' AMBERIAN DAWN songs with new and refreshing style and sound, we decided to re-record a selection of our best songs again with her. Also 75% of the music stems are going to be re-recorded. Mikko P. Mustonen, who did orchestral arrangements for our previous album ('Circus Black'), will add some more color to those songs with awesome orchestral additions. He's also going to mix this album. Release dates, track listing and cover art are to be announced later."

Added AMBERIAN DAWN songwriter Tuomas Seppälä: "Finding Capri and getting her join AMBERIAN DAWN is like a big dream coming true to me. Capri shares the same taste in music as I and that's why is obvious that our new partnership is like 'match made in heaven.' She really makes my compositions to shine like never before and I'm so impressed about her every way. I'm as excited as back then when I found our original singer Heidi. Now my main focus is to make the whole world to hear about Capri and start composing new songs for her. But first, we're all concentrating on recording this compilation album with Capri and then I'll start working with new material for new studio album."

AMBERIAN DAWN 2013 is:

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

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

AMBERIAN DAWN's fourth studio album, "Circus Black", was released in Finland on February 29, 2012 via Spinefarm Records. The band's mainman, keyboardist and guitarist Tuomas Seppälä composed all ten songs for the CD and Parviainen penned the lyrics.

SKID ROW has entered Open Sky Studio, the Atlanta, Georgia-based facility owned and operated by producer/drummer Mike Froedge (DREADED MARCO, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DOUBLEDRIVE, SPEED X), to resume recording its new CD, "United World Rebellion - Chapter 1", due later in the year.

Several video clips and photos from the sessions, some of which took place at Bonehead Studio in Atlanta, can be seen below.

In support of the new CD, SKID ROW will embark on a U.K. headlining tour in April. The band's guitarist, Dave "Snake" Sabo, said, "The U.K. has been so loyal to us from the beginning. It's been far too long since we've been there. We're all very excited about going back and about the other great bands on the bill. We promise that these will be some of the best shows of our career."

The band's bassist Rachel Bolan previously told Times-Standard.com about SKID ROW's forthcoming sixth LP, "I think the next record, as far as what Snake and I are writing, is going back to what people would expect from SKID ROW. We're looking forward to it."

SKID ROW's last album "Revolutions Per Minute", was released on October 24, 2006 via SPV Records.

The band in 2010 parted ways with drummer Dave Gara and replaced him with Atlanta native Rob Hammersmith.

Rob spent many years touring and recording with Atlanta-based rockers ROCKETS TO RUIN and has performed with GUNFIRE 76, the band featuring MURDERDOLLS frontman Wednesday 13.

Fan-filmed video footage of BUTCHER BABIES' November 16, 2012 performance at Kamikazes in Ogden, Utah can be seen below.

BUTCHER BABIES will support MARILYN MANSON on a North American tour in January/February. A list of confirmed dates can be found on BUTCHER BABIES' Facebook page.

BUTCHER BABIES recently signed a deal with Century Media Records. The band's full-length debut is scheduled for a summer 2013 release.

Hailing from Los Angeles, the BUTCHER BABIES have emerged as one of the biggest draws on the Sunset Strip, their incendiary blend of heavy metal and horror-inspired theatrics inciting crowds worldwide.

Fronted by Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd — named two of the "Hottest Women In Rock" by Revolver magazine — the blood-splattered band left its mark on the United Kingdom in June 2012, appearing on the Download festival and supporting ANTHRAX in Cardiff. They returned to America last fall as direct support for OTEP.

When asked by Revolver magazine why the BUTCHER BABIES refer to themselves as "slut metal" and what the hell "slut metal" exactly is, Shepherd said, "We can't go balls out — so we go tits out! When girls are perceived as sexual or outspoken, they get labeled sluts, but we embrace those qualities and bring them to our music as well. BUTCHER BABIES is true slut metal: We're doing what we want, how we want."

On the topic of BUTCHER BABIES' goals, Harvey told Revolver, "To bring slut metal to the masses — duh! In all seriousness, we feel like we are just touching on what we are capable of, and we want to continue to grow, get our music out there, and get on the road! There are so many repressed people out there that need to see a show like ours. Hopefully they will take home with them the message that they are able to do everything they want to do regardless of who they are told they are supposed to be."