Drummer Matt Sorum (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, THE CULT) has entered the studio to begin recording his new solo album. He says: "My new solo record will not be a rock record and I am not playing drums on it. [I am] singing and [playing] acoustic [guitar] mainly, [and] using another drummer [for the recording sessions]."

According to Sorum, the material that is being laid down for his upcoming solo CD can best be described as "a cross between DOORS, PINK FLOYD, WILCO, DAVID GRAY, PETER MURPHY and PORTISHEAD." Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "The Sea", "What Ziggy Says", "Killers N' Lovers", "Ode To Nick Drake", "Blue Josephine", "Gone", "Lady Of The Stone" and "Land Of The Pure", the latter of which is "about children of Pakistan," says Sorum.

Sorum's solo debut, "Hollywood Zen", came out in 2003

Sorum was born Matthew William Sorum (Norwegian spelling Sørum), on November 19, 1960, in the present-day city of Mission Viejo, California. His parents were of English and Norwegian descent.

Sorum achieved fame with GUNS N' ROSES, where he replaced Steven Adler in the band, who was fired because of drug addiction. While with the Los Angeles-based hard rock group (1990-1997), Sorum recorded the highly successful albums "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" (both 1991) and "The Spaghetti Incident" (1994). He also supported the group on the "Use Your Illusion" tour and can be heard on GUNS N' ROSES' "Live Era: '87-'93" (1999) and "Greatest Hits" (2004).

Starting out as a season musician in Los Angeles in the 1980s, Sorum had his first taste with success as part of THE CULT in 1989. A decade later, after being fired from GUNS N' ROSES, he was reunited with the group and played the drums for their 2001 album "Beyond Good And Evil".

Sorum is the drummer of VELVET REVOLVER, a group he founded in 2002 with former GUNS N' ROSES band members Slash and Duff McKagan. The band has released two albums, "Contraband" (2004) and "Libertad" (2007), but has been inactive since 2008 after parting ways with singer Scott Weiland.

"To Breach And Grieve", the new video from Belgian thrashers AFTER ALL, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's eighth studio album, "Dawn Of The Enforcer", which was released last March through Roadrunner Records. The CD was mixed and mastered by Swedish producer Dan Swanö, who also worked on AFTER ALL's previous album, "Cult Of Sin" (2009), and the band's two EP releases, "Betrayed By The Gods" (2010) and "Becoming The Martyr" (2011). The cover artwork was created by legendary illustrator Ed Repka, who is best known for his collaboration with MEGADETH, EVIL DEAD, TOXIK, NUCLEAR ASSAULT and DEATH.

AFTER ALL previously described the songs on "Dawn Of The Enforcer" as both the heaviest and the most versatile of their long-running career.

AFTER ALL is:

Sammy Peleman - Vocals
Dries Van Damme - Guitar
Christophe Depree - Guitar
Frederik Vanmassenhove - Bass
Kevin Strubbe - Drums

San Francisco Bay Area metallers FORBIDDEN have "likely seen [their] last days as a recording band," according to their guitarist, Craig Locicero. "[Drummer] Sasha [Horn] and [guitarist] Steve [Smyth] came through like champs last year when we had every intention to write and record our next record," he continues. "We started working on some INSANELY cool stuff! But alas, real life stepped in. Matt [Camacho, bass] has retired from music and Russ [Anderson, vocals] simply has no fire or desire to do the work it takes to get back to relevancy. It is a tough road; ask DEATH ANGEL. But they committed to it and I commend them. Russ just does not have the fire at his stage of life. I must respect that."

FORBIDDEN's latest album, "Omega Wave", was released in Europe on October 22, 2010 and in North America on October 26, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD landed at position No. 27 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.

Locicero is currently focusing all his attention on SPIRALARMS, the San Francisco Bay Area-based heavy rock band also featuring Tim Narducci (ex-SYSTEMATIC) on vocals, Chris "Cornbread" Lombardo on bass, Brad Barth on keyboards, Anthony Traslavina on rhythm guitar and Ron Redeen (THE ESSENESS PROJECT) on drums.

SPIRALARMS' sophomore album, "Freedom", will be released later in the year.

According to TravelMole, a spokesman for the Birmingham, England airport has played down reports that it could be renamed after BLACK SABBATH frontman Ozzy Osbourne.

The record company honcho who discovered BLACK SABBATH last month called for the airport to be named after Ozzy since a suggested "Black Sabbath Day" in the city to celebrate the heavy metal legends' contribution to music apparently failed to generate enough support.

"I believe that there is a masterstroke that would instantly confound the cynics," Jim Simpson, boss of Big Bear Music, said. "Just re-name our airport! How does The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport resonate? The message that would carry is instantly international, confident, powerful, unforgettable and says, 'Hey, world, we are proud of our own. Ozzy might not always have been a paragon of virtue, but he is a genuine flesh and blood Brummie."

Council member Philip Parkin, who first brought up the idea of a "Black Sabbath Day" in a report titled "Destination Birmingham," said he was receptive to the airport renaming suggestion.

"It's an interesting idea and I've got an open mind but I think something like that would need to be consulted on fairly widely because it's a significant part of our infrastructure," he told the Birmingham Mail. "I would be interested to know what people thought about that as an idea."

He added: "I still feel in general we need to be making the most of the talent we have got and did have in this city and with something like this we have to ask people their opinion."

Birmingham airport confirmed that it would be a decision for the airport itself, with a spokesman adding: "We've no plans to rename the airport so not quite sure where the story's come from but we're certainly not in discussions."

Magna Carta has set a February 12 release date for the self-titled debut album from PINNICK GALES PRIDGEN.

It's often been said that three-piece bands are the most expressive and most balanced musical units known to the rock world. CREAM, THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, RUSH, THE POLICE, PRIMUS… These legendary acts struck upon the correct ratio of musicianship and progressive songwriting by exploring uncharted musical territories while highlighting the individual talents within their collective ranks.

Now Magna Carta Records unveils PINNICK GALES PRIDGEN, a visionary power trio (emphasis on power) and a supergroup to boot, which is sure to take its rightful place in rock's hallowed halls.

Composed of bassist/vocalist Doug "dUg" Pinnick of the progressive metal band KING'S X, southpaw blues-rock guitarist Eric Gales (LAURYN HILL) and ambitious ambidextrous drummer and former THE MARS VOLTA member Thomas Pridgen, PINNICK GALES PRIDGEN unites three versatile artists, who demand, as much as share, the musical spotlight.

On the band's debut, each member of PINNICK GALES PRIDGEN infuses the material with his own set of musical influences, transforming his individual instrument into a lead instrument. The absolutely slamming musicianship frames the recognizable melodies of these songs and catapults the music into the realms of psychedelic blues, hard rock, and progressive soul/R&B.

"This record is three guys, with music in us, who said, 'Let's go for it,'" says Pinnick. "It was built upon raw energy."

Produced by Mike Varney, PINNICK GALES PRIDGEN's debut contains all the stinging bite and all-out sonic boom of KING'S X, THE MARS VOLTA and the ERIC GALES BAND. In addition, fans of artists as far ranging as Jimi Hendrix, CREAM, LIVING COLOUR, Stevie Ray Vaughan, TOOL, THE WHO, Stevie Wonder and LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT might find something meaningful in these meaty, extended tracks.

PINNICK GALES PRIDGEN show some of their influences with their brilliant version of seminal power trio CREAM's "Sunshine Of Your Love". Pinnick says, "Our version has a different vibe: it's tuned down, real low."

"I think the record has a combination of all of the good things about our playing," says Pridgen.

"This is just colossal," Gales concludes. "This is just some slammin' [stuff]. When you put a project out like this, man, people will want to hear that [material] live. I know I would."

PINNICK GALES PRIDGEN is:

* Doug "dUg" Pinnick (KING'S X) - Bass and Vocals
* Eric Gales (ERIC GALES BAND, LAURYN HILL) - Guitar and Vocals
* Thomas Pridgen (THE MARS VOLTA) – Drums

Check out audio samples at this location.

STONE SOUR vocalist Corey Taylor has revealed via Twitter that the second part of the band's "House Of Gold & Bones" double album will be released in April. The effort will also be made available as a four-issue comic book.

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

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

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

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

Taylor recently revealed that he would like to see the band's new conceptual record be adapted as a movie as well. Speaking with Artisan News, Taylor said, "Once we've toured and we've got the music out to everyone, the thing I really wanna do is have two movies — Part 1 and Part 2. With the comic and the story and the music, I think we'll be able to do it. I already know who I wanna talk to about doing it, so we'll see what happens."

Taylor did not say who he would like to direct the movie, or if it would be produced through Living, Breathing Films, the production company he and SLIPKNOT percussionist Clown launched last year.

The comic book version of "House Of Gold & Bones" is expected to debut on April 17. The four-issue series will be published by Dark Horse Comics and will visualize the sci-fi short story that forms the basis of the albums.

"Shadow Moses", the new single from British metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON, will be released digitally next week. The track will be premiered this coming Friday, January 4 on BBC Radio 1's "Rock Show" with Daniel P. Carter between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. U.K. time.

"Shadow Moses" is the first single from BRING ME THE HORIZON's fourth album, "Sempiternal", which will be released later in the year via RCA. The follow-up to 2010's "There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret" was recorded in part at Angelic Studio in Banbury, Oxfordshire with producer Terry Date, who has previously worked with such acts as DEFTONES, PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN and PRONG.

"I've never been so confident about an album," BRING ME THE HORIZON frontman Oli Sykes told Kerrang! magazine. "It makes our last record just sound shit. We're doing stuff we could never dreamed of doing before."

BRING ME THE HORIZON performed "Shadow Moses" live for the first time when they played their only U.K. show of 2012 at the Alexandra Palace in London on November 10 as the co-headliners of the Vans Warped Tour with LOSTPROPHETS. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

"There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret" sold 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 17 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD also entered the official chart in the U.K. at position No. 13.

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has returned to the studio to resume recording vocals for her next solo album, tentatively due in late summer/early fall.

In a recent interview with the Music Legends web site, Turunen stated about her upcoming CD: "We have recorded drums, guitars and bass for it already and at the moment we are finishing recording keyboards. The production will take until May next year, because I have several classical music tours in between that are breaking the process. If all goes fine, I hope that the album could be released in August/September [this] year."

She added: "I have just recently found my style and sound so I would like to establish it with the third studio album. The elements on the album will remain the same as in my previous albums, also the versatile style of songs. I like to keep the big dynamic changes between my songs, so that album songs feel radically different from each other.

"I am not stressed at all this time, even though I am producing the album on my own again. I have been lucky to gather around a group of musicians who are willing to work with me, so everything is going smoothly."

Tarja and her husband/manager Marcelo Cabuli recently became the parents of their first child.

Turunen, who currently resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina with her husband, kept her pregnancy a secret until the very end.

"Act I", the first-ever live solo album from Tarja Turunen, was released in North America on September 4 in 2-CD, 2-DVD and Blu-ray format via the Eagle Rock imprint Armoury Records, in conjunction with Hamburg, Germany-based earMUSIC.

The first-ever live audio/video offering from the former NIGHTWISH soprano, "Act I" is a mammoth undertaking recorded and filmed with 10 HD cameras at the breathtaking Teatro El Círculo in Rosario, Argentina in March 2012. With an elaborate track listing of solo tunes, NIGHTWISH classics and various covers, including a rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom Of The Opera", Gary Moore's "Over The Hills And Far Away", WHITESNAKE's "Still Of The Night" and a variety of video extras, "Act I" provides a full-fledged bill of fare to every diehard Tarja fan.

Tarja's sophomore solo album, "What Lies Beneath", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 24 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.

Photo below courtesy of Tarja Turunen's Facebook page

According to Yahoo! Japan, former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman is rumored to have married Hiyori Okuda, the 41-year-old Japanese cellist who performed on the song "Aitakatta" from his 2011 album "Tokyo Jukebox 2".

The guitarist, who has been living in Japan for the past decade, reportedly started dating Okuda after meeting her on a TV show in 2009 and told some of his friends at his 50th-birthday party early last month that he and his girlfriend were about to tie the knot. Since December 28, the Japanese media started spotting a wedding ring on Marty's finger, leading to speculation that the ceremony took place several days earlier.

In a 2012 interview with Metal Assault, Friedman stated about his decision to relocate to Japan and focus most of his efforts on building a music career for himself in that territory: "When I came to Japan, things went a whole lot better for me than I ever would have expected. I got year-long TV commitments and some big projects so there wound up being no time left over to make the rest of the world a priority anymore."

He added: "[Upon my arrival in Japan] I was very lucky to start touring and recording almost immediately with a J-pop legend, Aikawa Nanase. That opened some doors to a lot of new things musically, but doing TV really took me into the mainstream more than anything. I hadn't planned on that."

Friedman last fall completed the "Guitar Universe 2012" European tour with support from Israel's Yossi Sassi (ORPHANED LAND) and France's Stéphan Forté (ADAGIO).

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal has slammed NME.com for allegedly "twisting" his words "into an attack" on the band's lead singer, Axl Rose.

In a recent interview with Ryze-Up magazine, Thal was asked what advice he would give to newbies in the music scene. "1. Be on time," he replied. "By 'on time' I mean 'be early.' Make sure you're there for when you need to be — wait in your car, communicate, let them know 10 minutes early that you'll be there in 5 minutes, and walk in 5 minutes later. 2. Be prepared. By 'prepared' I mean 'overly prepared.' Know more than you need to. If you're gonna lay guitar parts, know the drum grooves and where all the accents and up-beats and fills and breaks are, know the bass lines... When the bassist doesn't show and they freak out and you say, 'I know the bass part. I can lay it down,' you'll be the MVP 3. Be cool. And by that I mean, be a calm, relaxed, easy-going, soothing presence in the room. When everyone is contagiously breaking into panic and stress mode, you'll be their voice of reason without even trying. Players can be replaced — people are chosen by who others want to spend their time with."

Earlier today, NME.com reported on the above-mentioned interview and erroneously included a comment that was posted on Metal Hammer's web site — "Remember kids, only massive goobers make a habit of not being on time." — as part of Bumblefoot's response. This prompted the guitarist to pen the following missive via his Facebook page:

"Some 'info' sites will twist anything into an attack on Axl, lol (only way to get more readers and hike up rates on advertisers I guess...) NME is *not* a legit source of music info by any stretch. Not only do they make up quotes that aren't true (I've NEVER used the term 'massive goobers' in my life, lol), I also didn't speak to Metal Hammer. NME is using a piece of an interview I did with Ryze-Up magazine. If NME is going to point fingers, they should have more integrity and class in what *they* do, yes?"

He added: "I'm at the venue early, I'll have dinner with crew, watch opening acts, get warmed up, I'm at every meet-n-greet, and I'm ready to get on stage at show time. That's me. My advice was for musicians starting out, hopefully it served its positive purpose :)"

Former ANTHRAX and current RED LAMB guitarist Dan Spitz has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"Jesus is the reason I still breathe.

"The heart [doctors] tell me I should be dead.

"I had a heart attack a few years back where my main artery to my heart was 98% closed. I have stents in my heart now.

"I'm blessed to breathe and feel love from all, I'm blessed to know adversity and plow through, I'm blessed to recognize betrayal and move on, I'm blessed to have my art to relieve my inner pain.

"Jesus gave me all I am, all I will be. I have no clue where he'll take me. All I know is I walk by faith and not by site and take baby steps and drink baby milk. He'll show me if I act and pursue diligently HIS way, and HIS footsteps, in HIS sand box I play.... Only.

"I love love."

Spitz is a born-again Christian and Messianic Jew who, in interviews, has frequently cited his faith as an influential component to his life.

The musician and his wife, Candi, are raising two identical mirror image twin boys that both suffer from autism.

Spitz took part in the reunion of ANTHRAX's classic lineup in 2005 and 2006 but left the band after ANTHRAX's last split with singer Joey Belladonna.

"The Poorest Waltz", the new video from U.K. doom metallers MY DYING BRIDE, can be seen below. The clip tells the story of a midnight tryst between two young village men and a dorm of blind girls locked in a sanatorium, who dance the night away to elegant music and home made wine.

"The Poorest Waltz" comes off MY DYING BRIDE's new album, "A Map Of All Our Failures", which was released on October 15, 2012 in Europe and October 16, 2012 in the U.S. via Peaceville Records on CD, double vinyl and special-edition CD+DVD. The effort was recorded and mixed at Futureworks Studios in Manchester, England with the band's longtime production partner Rob "Mags" Magoolagan at the helm.

According to a press release, "a step up from 2009's 'For Lies I Sire' — which set and subsequently met new heights of expectation placed upon the legendary Yorkshire doom troupe — 'A Map Of All Our Failures' is a further voyage into the darkest depths of humanity, religion, folklore, love and death. MY DYING BRIDE's distinctively sumptuous dual-guitar melodies effortlessly flood into juggernaut doom metal riffs, with the vocals of Aaron Stainthorpe weaving a rich tapestry of tragic tales into the accompanying soundscapes. 'A Map Of All Our Failures' is perhaps best and most effectively summarized by guitarist Andrew Craighan, who describes the album as 'a controlled demolition of all your hopes.'"

"A Map Of All Our Failures" track listing:

01. Kneel Till Doomsday
02. The Poorest Waltz
03. A Tapestry Scorned
04. Like A Perpetual Funeral
05. A Map Of All Our Failures
06. Hail Odysseus
07. Within The Presence Of Absence
08. Abandoned As Christ

MY DYING BRIDE recently launched a mini-site for "A Map Of All Our Failures", featuring album info, audio, video, downloads and more.

Bassist Andreas Blomqvist of the Stockholm, Sweden-based progressive metal band SEVENTH WONDER, which features in its ranks current KAMELOT singer Tommy Karevik, has issued the following year-end update:

"This time of year, I normally write a little something, so I figured I would do that again this year.

"2012 sure was a different year for us, somewhat in hiatus but also having a lot to deal with. Stefan [Norgren, drums] has worked his way into the band incredibly well, Tommy went on a world tour with KAMELOT, Johan [Liefvendahl , guitar] had a baby and I think I have made a decent enough comeback after my tenure in the States and we managed to sneak in a gig in Norway and a little tour in Italy too — not to mention us having written some prog goodies. Good to be back!

"So the most important topic now is, of course, 'what now?' You bet it is! Well, first let me say this:

"2013 will be an exciting year, for it *will* be a year of a new studio release from SEVENTH WONDER. We are well underway! We have more or less seven songs written, out of which four are very well arranged and demoed and only one that is still not properly worked through. We also have two more things in the pipeline to dive into come January and February. Our hope is to finish the demoing of the tracks this spring and then give Tommy ample time to work on the vocal arrangements following that. We will not rush that phase this time as we have before, but we hope this will make for a better product in the end. Then it is just the small matter of the recording, mixing and mastering, but in all honesty, we can't say anything about that yet, so we will have to get back to you on that one. We also have a few leads on a couple of gigs for 2013, although nothing has been finalized. I will say, though, that the album will be the main focus this year and we want to give you something that was well worth the extended wait. I think we are in for a real treat in terms of this new release and I really like what I am hearing which is a good thing, don't you think?! I think it will clearly be the same melodic overdose it usually is, so rest assured we won't be totally switching gears here, although we do work in a slightly different manner this time but all for the best, I think, with possibly the only drawback I can see would be a little slower schedule.

"Anyway, thank you all for sticking by us through a couple of slower years. We hope that you give us the chance to change that and tag along as we pick up the pace and dive head first into 2013."

SEVENTH WONDER's fourth album, "The Great Escape", was released in December 2010 via Lion Music. A track from the CD, "Wiseman", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"Awesomeness", the new video from the Swedish melodic metal five-piece FULLFORCE, can be seen below. The group states: "The video goes in a more humouristic pattern and [was] filmed by the band's own Stefan Elmgren (High & Loud)."

"Awesomeness" comes off FULLFORCE's second album, "Next Level", which was released in North America on November 27 via SPV/Steamhammer. The cover artwork was once again be created by Rainer Kalwitz, who previously worked with PRAYING MANTIS and METAL CHURCH, among others.

"Next Level" was mixed and mastered at Roastinghouse Studios in Malmö, Sweden by Anders "Theo" Theander. The CD contains 13 songs of "melodic, heavy" metal and the band is really excited it, according to a press release.

"Next Level" track listing:

01. Broken Dreams
02. Break It, Crack It, Destroy It
03. Back To Life
04. A Night To Remember
05. Karma
06. Whispers
07. Smile At The World
08. Hate...Love...Drop It!
09. Visions
10. Course Of Life
11. Awesomeness
12. Mysterious Ways
13. Strongest Thing Of All

FULLFORCE's current lineup include new guitar ace Stefan Rosqvist, who replaced CJ Grimmark a few months ago.

FULLFORCE is:

Mike Andersson (CLOUDSCAPE) - Vocals
Stefan Elmgren (ex-HAMMERFALL) - Guitar
Stefan Rosqvist - Guitar
Tommy Larsson (ex-HEED) - Bass
Anders Johansson (HAMMERFALL, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Drums

FULLFORCE's debut album, "One", was released in June 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer.

"Shadows Of Doubt", a new song from FREEDOMS REIGN, the band led by Victor Arduini, original guitarist and founding member of FATES WARNING (having played on 1984's "Night On Brocken" and 1985's "The Spectre Within"), can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off FREEDOMS REIGN's forthcoming, self-titled sophomore CD, which will be released later in the year.

The group, which features Arduini on lead vocals and guitar, Tom Vumback on guitar, Mike Jones on bass and Chris Judge on drums, recorded the new album at Dexters Lab Recording in Milford, Connecticut with Nick Belmore (TOXIC HOLOCAUST).

According to a press release, "Shadows Of Doubt" represents "a passionate and frenetic display of power metal at its best."

States Arduini: "FREEDOMS REIGN is right where I want to pick up from where I left off. This music feels as great to play as it did when we recorded 'Spectre'. It still means something to do this, and I don't think I've ever been a part of anything better."

FREEDOMS REIGN's musical direction is described as "very powerful [with] heavy riffs which hark back to the old FATES" material.

A five-song FREEDOMS REIGN "sampler" video can be seen below.

"Shadows Of Doubt" song stream (audio):



Five-song FREEDOMS REIGN "sampler" video:

John Perez of Texas doom metal veterans SOLITUDE AETURNUS has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding the passing of MINISTRY and RIGOR MORTIS guitarist Mike Scaccia:

"I am by no means the official spokesperson for the Dallas/Fort Worth metal scene, but I feel compelled to speak a few words about this all-too-shocking event.

"Scaccia meant so much to the world but he also meant even more to all of the metal community in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. No doubt people know of the great Darrell Abbott [PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN] who was also from our scene, but it must be stated that 'round these parts, Scaccia's name was held in equal high esteem. Yesterday's heartfelt memorial service was a testament to this fact and brings to mind the bigger picture of what this is all about.

"People like Scaccia brings us all together in brotherhood and sisterhood through our shared love for music. This brings us together as a community and we bond and share with each other the gift of music.

"Scaccia made us all excited about metal music through his completely over-the-top approach to guitar and we all knew that he was the man to contend with when it came to blistering, 'bee wing' picking. But he was a complete musician and much more than just a thrash metal genius.

"For all of us fellow musicians in the area, he made us proud of the fact that we had not only one of the greatest guitarists in metal/rock history, but TWO of them! And how bizarre that Mike passed on stage, just as our other brother did years back. But we all rest just a little bit easier knowing that he went out doing what he was born to do and on home turf with his family and friends surrounding him.

"I know that my peers around the area are still mourning and still in shock over Mike's much-too-early passing, but we should all feel grateful that we had such a badass and all-round genuine guy to look up to right in our own backyard.

"Our prayers and thoughts are with his family, band mates and closest friends, and I know I can speak on behalf of all DFW metalheads when I say, 'Thanks for the inspiration and memories, Mike! You will not be forgotten.'

"Rest in peace."

Bassist Casey Orr (MINISTRY, RIGOR MORTIS, GWAR) has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding the passing of MINISTRY and RIGOR MORTIS guitarist Mike Scaccia:

"How do I say goodbye to Mike Scaccia? How do I say goodbye to my best friend, my bandmate, my songwriting partner, my mentor, and yes, sometimes my tormentor? How do I say goodbye to such a unique and amazing talent, taken away from us far too soon? How do I say goodbye to someone I loved and admired, who enlightened me and inspired me, and made me believe that anything was possible? How do I say goodbye to my brother? How do I say goodbye to someone like Mike Scaccia?

"I can't. I won't. I don't have to.

"Mike Scaccia will live forever.

"Mike Scaccia lives on through his wonderful children and his beautiful wife, Jenny. He lives on through his family who were always his biggest cheerleaders. He lives on through his bandmates and all the musicians that had the honor of working with him over the years. Those of us who got to experience the full range of his musical capabilities. We, fortunate few, who knew, who REALLY knew, just how truly gifted he was. He lives on through his friends and his fans, and he will live on through the next generation of guitar players who will no doubt discover and be inspired by him and continue to push the boundaries of the instrument that he loved so much. He will live on through each and every one of us that he touched, because he was much more than just a brilliant guitar player. More than the just the coolest motherfucker I ever knew. He was a genuinely good guy. He had a way of making anyone feel like an old friend. He was accessible and would talk to anyone who wanted to talk. Especially if the subject was guitars. We hear story after story from people who met him for the first time after a guitar clinic, saying the same thing: 'Mike talked to me for 45 minutes after his clinic, talked to me like he knew me, suggested records to listen to or guitar players to study, gave me a fresh pack of strings and told me to go home and practice my ass off.' He was just a cool dude! And he didn't have a big ego. He wasn't a competitive guitar player. He wasn't out to be the best. Never claimed to be. He just loved the guitar and the guitar loved him right back. He wasn't flashy. He didn't showboat. But he didn't have to. His abilities were the flash and his hands were the show. You could always tell who the guitar players were in the audience, because they were all standing in front of Mike with their jaws on the floor and their eyes glued to his hands. It truly was just that amazing to behold!

"Of course, Mike wasn't perfect. None of us are. He traveled some dark roads in the past and he went through some dark times. But he never gave up on himself and he came back into the light and continued his journey, wiser and more humble for his experience. He fought his demons and he won. And for the last decade or so, he steadily hiked back up the mountain, concentrating on his family, and really enjoying his work and all of the people he worked with.

"And, most definitely, Mike Scaccia will live on through his music. He left behind some classic records as well as a whole lot of unreleased stuff. Not filler to be included to stretch out some best-of package, but albums worth of incredible music, that I, as a fan, sincerely look forward to being released someday, so the world can finally see the depth of his talent and enjoy the beautiful music he created.

"I am honored to be able to say that I have been Mike Scaccia's bass player for 30 years. Privileged to get to watch him play the things very few people ever got to see. The little riffs and things he would play at practice or just warming up. STONES, Johnny Cash, DEVO, cartoon songs, 'Jessie's Girl', just whatever. He had a rare gift, in that any tune he could conjure in his head, he could instantly translate to his hands and guitar. No searching for key or the notes. It was effortless. Instinctive. Freakish. It was awesome!

"And I am honored to be able to say that I have been Mike Scaccia's friend for 30 years. Privileged to share all the things that life throws at you. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. We laughed a lot.

"We had our own language that only a band of brothers could understand. A weird, movie reference twin-speak that would drive our wives or girlfriends crazy, because they had no idea what we were saying or why we were laughing like idiots.

"It's really hard to say goodbye to Mike Scaccia. It hurts deeply. It's such an enormous loss to all of us and to the world. Such a tragic and shocking and unexpected passing of a man who was already a living legend. And we're all so very very sad. We will continue to shed tears for our loss for some time to come, and I for one will not apologize for a single one.

"We lost one of the greats. An unpretentious rock star. An incredible and one-of-a-kind talent. One of, if not the, greatest rock and roll guitar player of our time. And I say that without reservation or hesitation.

"On December 22, 2012, Mike Scaccia died. But he died doing what he loved. He died with his boots on and with his current favorite Les Paul in his hands. He died onstage, playing with his brothers, the guys he started his career with, playing to his hometown crowd, surrounded by the people who loved him most and who he loved. He died with happiness in his life. He died playing the guitar. How rock and roll is that?

"So, yeah, I can't say goodbye to Mike Scaccia. I'll just say 'so long,' you beautiful motherfucker. We'll meet again one day on the other side and you can show me that new riff you're working on.

"I love you, Mike."

A PERFECT CIRCLE guitarist Billy Howerdel was interviewed by Las Vegas Weekly ahead of the band's sole 2012 show — on December 29 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Asked if the band has "a well of songs" that they are waiting to release, Billy said: "Kind of. I mean, I haven't even sprung them on Maynard [Keenan, A PERFECT CIRCLE singer] yet. He may be like, 'Let's do something last minute,' but I kind of doubt it, since we have three days of rehearsal left. But I'm one to bite off more than I can chew."

On the topic of whether there are any plans for A PERFECT CIRCLE to release a follow-up album to 2004's "eMOTIVe", Howerdel said: "I'd love to — when the time is right. It would be awesome. I'm trying to write songs with that in mind, but … right now, I'm focusing most of my energy on a new ASHES DIVIDE record, which is under way with 11 songs. Still working on finishing vocals and writing lyrics, and hopefully get that thing mixed in January or February."

According to Howerdel, he never viewed A PERFECT CIRCLE as a side project, despite the fact that it was billed as such when it was first formed.

"I've never felt that it was a side project," the guitarist said. "That being said, I always knew in the background, Maynard's first band is TOOL, and that's where he's going back to. I didn't have expectations that he was going to be doing an album, tour, album, tour consistently. That would be wishful thinking, but I wouldn't wish that upon the TOOL guys. You get into that very complicated desire versus being sensitive to other people around you. At this point, Maynard's got his fingers in so many pies that it's a welcome thing to me when he says, 'Hey, I've got a hole in my schedule; let's do this.' It's fantastic. He's incredible to work with. He's always got something interesting to offer and unexpected. I'm very lucky to be teamed up with him whenever I can."

After a 13-year run with the band, drummer Josh Freese announced his departure from A PERFECT CIRCLE in October, "with no plans of returning," he wrote on his Twitter profile.

A PERFECT CIRCLE recently confirmed its participation in the 2013 edition of the Soundwave Festival, which kicks off February 23 in Brisbane, Australia.

A PERFECT CIRCLE toured North America for the first time in six years last year. These were the band's first live dates since a mini-tour they did in the fall of 2010, in which they played each of their three studio albums over the course of three nights in five cities.

The 2010-2011 lineup of A PERFECT CIRCLE included Keenan, Howerdel, Freese, former SMASHING PUMPKINS guitarist James Iha and bassist Matt McJunkins.

A PERFECT CIRCLE currently does not have a record deal.

Swedish death metal overlords AEON have issued the following update:

"Arttu [Malkki, drums] has decided to take a brake from AEON. He and his girlfriend are expecting twins in March and he wants to focus on his family at this point. We have no idea on how long this break will be, but there is no need to worry. We have an awesome drummer on our hands that will be replacing Arttu to 100%. This means that we will be touring as planned and take on more tours along the way. So please let's welcome the mighty Emil Wiksten [BLOOD RED THRONE] as the current drummer of AEON. His first stage appearance with AEON will be on January 16 in London at Garage."

Drum-cam video footage of a recent AEON rehearsal, featuring Emil, can be seen below.

AEON released its fourth studio offering, "Aeons Black", on November 20 via Metal Blade Records. The mammoth 15-track effort was recorded at Empire Studio in Östersund, Sweden, engineered, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström (Garageland Studios) and featuring cover art by Kristian "Necrolord" Wåhlin (BATHORY, AT THE GATES, DISSECTION, EMPEROR).

Commented AEON founding guitarist Zeb Nilsson: "This is definitely our most varied album to date; it has heavier songs, yet it also has lots of fast blastbeats and double bass drumming. It's groovier this time, which I think we lacked on our last album, 'Path Of Fire', which was fast-paced almost all the way through. That, and the amazing mix by Ronnie Björnström, makes me feel pretty confident that this album will appeal to more people than our previous albums. And no, we have not gone softer in any aspect; it's just easier to catch with all this grooviness. It's metal right up your ass!"

THE MAN-EATING TREE — the atmospheric metal band featuring former SENTENCED drummer Vesa Ranta alongside current/former members of POISONBLACK, REFLEXION and EMBRAZE — has issued the following update:

"Unfortunately, we have to inform that Tuomas [Tuominen] does not continue any longer in our band as a vocalist. Various musical and also non-musical aspects led us to this conclusion.

"There is no bigger drama or so in our side and we don't want to discuss further about the reasons behind the decision, so please don't send us any questions concerning the issue.

"Quitting the band was not an option in any case and we will return with a new singer when the time is right. Now it is time to gather some energy and even if the new material has been already written and practiced, the new album is not coming out in the near future.

"We would like to thank Tuomas from unforgettable times and great work without forgetting the kilometers of joy and tears we shared together. We wish you all the best in your life!"

THE MAN-EATING TREE's sophomore album, "Harvest", was released in November 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD was once again helmed by producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED, AMORPHIS) and marked the recording debut of guitarist Antti Karhu.

THE MAN-EATING TREE's debut album, "Vine", came out in Finland on September 22, 2010 via Cobra Records and in other territories through Century Media Records.

According to the group's official bio, THE MAN-EATING TREE was formed when "Vesa Ranta, having taken a break from music after SENTENCED, began to overcome his post-SENTENCED battle fatigue and lack of musical motivation. The idea of a new band — or bands — was eventually brainstormed over a period of time between Vesa and his friends, including gentlemen Miika Tenkula, Aaron Rantonen, Janne Markus and Mikko Uusimaa. Plans were made reality in 2009; the outfit was completed by the addition of Tuomas Tuominen as a vocalist and Heidi Määttä as a keyboard player. First demo recordings were made in the spring and summer of 2009.

For more information, visit www.themaneatingtree.com.

MEGADETH recently resumed work on its fourteenth studio album with producer Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis), who has previously worked with DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD and STAIND. The CD is currently being recorded at MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California for an early 2013 release via an as-yet-undisclosed label following the band's recent split with Roadrunner Records.

In a tweet last night (Monday, December 31), Mustaine wrote: "Started song 5 tonight. I have NEVER heard Shawn [Drover, drums] play better. So impressed with him!!"

Mustaine previously told NME about the direction of MEGADETH's new material, "Some of it's a little darker, some of it's a little faster. Being in this position right now, not knowing where we're gonna go or what we're gonna do, it's kind of like the world's ours to do what we want. Are we gonna go back to the speed and thrash metal roots that made us who we are? Are we gonna experiment and rely on the melody that we've discovered in MEGADETH songs?"

Mustaine also spoke about how he likes to keep MEGADETH's music more melodic than that of most thrash bands. "We've tried to do that in MEGADETH, have a little melody so that it's not just the same old grinding music like everybody else has," he said. "We're just happy to get going and get to the studio."

Johnny K produced MEGADETH's last album, 2011's "TH1RT3EN", which was also recorded at Vic's Garage.

"TH1RT3EN" sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD marked the recorded return of bassist David Ellefson who was part of the band's classic lineup from 1983 to 2002. In a move that delighted the band's legion of diehards, Ellefson returned to performing live with MEGADETH in early 2010 and has remained a fixture on the stage ever since. This was the first time Ellefson has played on a MEGADETH record since 2002's "Rude Awakening".

"Consequence", a new song from progressive black metallers FEN, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track comes off the band's third album, "Dustwalker", which is scheduled for release on January 21 via Code666.

A three-piece whose lineup comprises The Watcher (guitars and vocals), Grungyn (bass and vocals) and Derwydd (drums), FEN's music fits into the black metal genre, but the exact categorization is hard to define, having been variously described as "progressive," "atmospheric," "post-rock" and "shoegaze." Drawing their name and inspiration from the desolate, windswept, other-worldly Fen region of the U.K. from whence founder members The Watcher and Grungyn hail, there is no doubt that the band's music fits into all the afore-mentioned categories, and more besides, to form a unique sound that is hauntingly and unmistakeably FEN. As The Watcher recently commented about the new album: "If 'Epoch' embodies a lonely walk into the deepening twilight of the fens in autumn, then 'Dustwalker' represents the cold, sharp greys of a bleak winter's dawn. An expression of isolation, abandonment and a gradual detachment from the material realm, this album is a starker, more direct representation of the FEN sound."

FEN have previously released two albums on Code666 — their debut full length album, "The Malediction Fields", in 2009 and the follow-up, "Epoch", in 2011, and the band recently announced that they had re-signed with the label for the release of a further three albums following the release of "Dustwalker".

"Dustwalker" will be available in both CD format, and as a limited edition Clambox which will feature a bonus track and include a pendant with the band's distinctive logo. Artwork for the album is by Grungyn.

"Dustwalker" track listing:

01. Consequence
02. Hands of Dust
03. Spectre
04. Reflections
05. Wolf Sun
06. The Black Sound
07. Walking the Crowpath
08. Epilogue (special edition bonus track)

Texas doom-metal veterans LAS CRUCES are preparing to enter the studio to record their fourth full-length album. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2010's "Dusk" (which was released worldwide via Brainticket Records) will be made available later this year. The band will also re-release its entire catalog, including a vinyl edition of 1998's "Ringmaster", initially issued via Brainticket Records.

LAS CRUCES, which is now managed by Leigh Olson Management And Media Relations (headed up by the wife and personal manager of Jeff "Oly" Olson, original drummer of doom-metal legends TROUBLE), is seeking a suitable record-company home as well as scheduling a summer 2013 U.S. tour. Tour dates will be announced soon.

Guitarist George Trevino founded LAS CRUCES back in 1994 in San Antonio, Texas and has since made his mark across The Lone Star State and the American doom-metal scene. It's no wonder why Daniel Bukszpan, author of "The Encyclopedia Of Heavy Metal", acknowledges LAS CRUCES as "one of the genre's leading proponents."

LAS CRUCES' current lineup is as follows:

George Trevino - Guitar
Mando Tovar - Guitar
Jimmy Bell - Bass
Paul DeLeon - Drums/Vocals

Demo versions of two new songs from French neo-classical metallers ADAGIO — "Torn" and "Carry The Cross" — can be streamed below. The tracks — which feature the vocals of American singer Kelly Sundown Carpenter, who has previously worked with BEYOND TWILIGHT, OUTWORLD and DARKOLOGY — will appear on ADAGIO's next album, to be released later in the year.

ADAGIO in 2010 recruited Swedish vocalist Mats Levén (KRUX, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, THERION, TREAT) to sing for the band during the KAMELOT tour following the departure of Finnish frontman Christian Palin.

"Archangels In Black", the latest album from ADAGIO, was released in February 2009 via Listenable Records. The cover artwork was created by Guilherme Sevens and the CD was mastered at the Cutting Room in Sweden with Björn Engelmann (RAMMSTEIN, MESHUGGAH).

According to a press release, "without being a concept album, 'Archangels In Black' evokes the band's convictions about a certain Nightside philosophy and a very personal approach of life and death." Forté says, "Darkness is a concept with many branches, often misunderstood from outside, but elemental for some kind."

"Archangels In Black" was the first — and last — CD to feature Palin.

Palin was previously a member of the Swedish/Finnish bands ESSENCE OF SORROW and RANDOM EYES.

On November 8, Metal-Trails.com conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy of Florida metallers TRIVIUM at Docks in Hamburg, Germany. You can now watch the chat below.

In a recent interview with PitCam.TV, Heafy stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next album: "I can tell you we do have a title, we do have songtitles, we do have 20 to 25 songs demoed, we do have a producer, we do have a location, we do have an artist. Everything is set up — all the visuals and everything — but it's all secret. Hopefully it comes out the third quarter of next year. We're recording in January, February and March in Austin, Texas; that's all I can say [about] that. It's gonna be great; it's gonna be really, really great. It's too difficult to describe in metal adjectives, like 'heavy,' 'brutal,' melodic,' all this stuff, like every band does. Also, the classic phrase: 'our best album ever.' I can say that with 'In Waves', it was finally an album that all the fans of the previous four… We've got very divided fans: 'I just like 'Ember'.' 'I just like 'Crusade'.' 'I just like 'Ascendancy'.' 'I just like 'Shogun'.' Everyone could agree on 'In Waves'. And simultaneously, everywhere in the world, 'In Waves' received the biggest reaction. With the next record, people can expect the best parts of everything we've ever done across all five records on one."

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In Waves", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart — the highest U.S. chart entry of the band's career. The group's previous CD, "Shogun", opened with just under 24,000 units back in October 2008 to debut at No. 23. The effort followed up "The Crusade", which registered a first-week tally of 31,000 copies in October 2006 to enter the chart at No. 25.

Norwegian old-school black metallers KAMPFAR have issued the following update:

"2013 will be in the name of creating new art for KAMPFAR. Only a very few festival shows will be happening, We already now turned down around eight festival offers for 2013. But we will return with the banner higher than ever in 2014. We need the time to create art again now. So please have patience with us the next year. 2014 will be the year we will return stronger than ever, That's a fucking promise!"

KAMPFAR's latest album "Mare", was released in 2011 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2008's "Heimgang" was recorded at Abyss studios in Pärlby, outside Ludvika, Sweden with producer Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN).

Fan-filmed video footage of the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE performing the band's classic song "Queen Of The Reich" this past Saturday, December 29 at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona can be seen below.

QUEENSRŸCHE recently finished recording the drums for its new album at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals are being laid down over the coming weeks at several different facilities on the West Coast.

In a posting on his official Facebook page, La Torre — who is also a member of Florida melodic metallers CRIMSON GLORY — wrote earlier in the month: "People stare speechless [when we play 'Queen Of The Reich' live], because they are shocked to hear the song performed well, a song that 'broke out' this legendary pioneering band." He added, in a what appeared to be a dig at the man he replaced, Geoff Tate, "Shame on anyone to deny the music that garnished fans in the first place and still resonates 30 years later."

Asked by Rock Show Critique in a recent interview with why QUEENSRŸCHE rarely performs "Queen Of The Reich" live despite it being one of the band's most popular tunes, Tate said, "Actually, it's not very popular at all. It's funny, actually — a lot of people don't know about that song. A lot of people don't care about that song. It's an early song that was written and it shows. It's funny the reaction you get, because it's a lot of blank stares. In fact, it's the same stare you get when you play a new song that nobody's heard before. People just aren't that familiar with it. Given there are a few hardcore fans that might know that song, or like that song, and know what it is, but the majority of the people there don't. So it's not really a song that I enjoy singing, strictly because, lyrically, it's pretty adolescent. It was the first song written thirty-some-odd years ago and obviously I cannot relate to it anymore. I think, for performance, it's always best for the performer to really believe in the material they're singing or playing. If you don't believe in it, it's really difficult to get behind a song, do it well and do it at a level that comes across with any kind of believability. For me, I honestly can't relate to the whole dungeons-and-dragons lyrical content of that song; it's really cartoonish and juvenile to me."

Christian metallers LIVING SACRIFICE have entered Fellowship Hall Sound studios in Little Rock, Arkansas with producer (and DEMON HUNTER guitarist) Jeremiah Scott to begin recording their new album for an early 2013 release.

LIVING SACRIFICE's "In Finite Live" DVD was released in December 2011. The disc features professionally filmed and recorded multi-camera footage of the band's concert in Pomona, California. Bonus features on the DVD includes behind-the-scenes mini-documentaries from the making of the two music videos for the band's 2010 "comeback" album, "The Infinite Order", as well as six more tracks from another live show in the group's original home area of Little Rock, Arkansas.

"The Infinite Order" sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 4 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 26, 2010 via Solid State Records, the band's first CD since reforming in 2008 and seventh studio album overall was produced in Nashville, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas by Jeremiah Scott. Mixing duties were once again handled by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, MACHINE HEAD, AS I LAY DYING), who worked on the band's previous album, 2003's "Conceived in Fire".

LIVING SACRIFICE's influence runs deep throughout the scene. Former and current members of LIVING SACRIFICE went on to play in bands such as EVANESCENCE, P.O.D. and NORMA JEAN.

LIVING SACRIFICE broke up in 2002 but returned to the metal community with a vengeance in 2008, self-releasing the two song "Death Machine" digital-only EP.