Former Yankees star Bernie Williams joined TWISTED SISTER on stage on December 16 at The Emporium in Patchogue, New York, as part of a benefit concert for the families affected by Hurricane Sandy, to perform the band's classic song "We're Not Gonna Take It". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

A review of the show at TwistedSister.com reads: "To bring us back to a good place, out came NY Yankee Bernie Williams, guitar in hand, and we had a club shaking rendition of 'We're Not Gonna Take It', and no — there were no coffee-makers in sight — three guitars gave it an extra heavy sound. Unfortunately, Dee [Snider, TWISTED SISTER singer] was plagued with wireless mic issues and as it went dead in his hand, he snatched the mic off Jay Jay's [French, guitar] stand and 'went old school' with it. Eddie [Ojeda, guitar] switched back to his new black bullseye and for the first time that I can recall, we had a nice shot of all four guitars in a row — Bernie, Jay Jay, Eddie and Mark [Mendoza, bass]!"

The Emporium donated 100% of the net proceeds from ticket and bar revenue to worthy Sandy recovery causes and charities: Long Island Cares, Inc. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank (25%); the Island Park Music Program, whose musical instruments were lost in the flood waters (25%); and the remaining 50% to local families in need.

The reunited original lineup of Swedish rockers ELECTRIC BOYS — Franco Santunione (guitar), Andy Christell (bass), Niklas Sigevall (drums) and Conny Bloom (guitar, vocals) — is working on a new album for a 2013 release. The band states: "[We've] been writing a lot of songs lately, so there's plenty to choose from, to make it the best possible record. [We] already have a bunch of songs since last studio session, so more to be added, then choose the best ones, then get it out."

The original ELECTRIC BOYS lineup released its first album since 1992, "And Them Boys Done Swang", in April 2011 via Supernova Records, a division of the Cosmos Music Group.

ELECTRIC BOYS in 2009 released a 20-track "best-of" collection, titled "Now Dig This!", via Spinefarm Records. It features songs from the band's three studio albums, including "Psychedelic Eyes", "Mary In The Mystery World", "Groovus Maximus", "The Groover", "Rags To Riches", "Captain Of My Soul" plus a 2009 remix of "All Lips N' Hips", along, of course, with the original version, a longstanding staple of rock clubs around the world.

Formed in 1988, ELECTRIC BOYS achieved recognition around the known rock'n'roll world with signature hit single "All Lips N' Hips" plus a series of albums that tapped into the very essence of long-haired, leather-trousered, late-night cool.

Touring alongside bands such as THUNDER and MR. BIG, and drinking from the same well as rock legends like AEROSMITH, the band offered an alternative to the late '80s hair-metal scene, fusing hard rock and heavy funk to create an instantly recognizable style ("Groovus Maximus") built riff by riff on the sturdiest possible foundations, unswervingly provided by drummer Niklas Sigevall.

Lauded by the media, feted by the industry, respected by the top producers of the day (including Bob Rock) and supported by a genuinely international fanbase, the ELECTRIC BOYS — led into action by flamboyant frontman Conny Bloom, who has continued to play and record both under his own name and with SILVER GINGER 5 and HANOI ROCKS, as well as appearing in TV ads for Jameson Whiskey — consistently showed that the great rock'n'roll dream was available in many colors, and that the sitar did indeed have a serious part to play.

Legendary hard rock vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) sings three songs on the new album from THE JAN HOLBERG PROJECT, "At Your Service", which is being released in Norway in January via Nordic Records. Also making guest appearances on the CD are former RAINBOW keyboardist Tony Carey, Åge Sten Nilsen (WIG WAM), Gulli Briem, Skjalg Mikalsen Raaen, Eyþór Gunnarsson, Fridrik Karlsson and Ranveig Seljemark.

The CD's first single, "Outta My Face", which features vocals and lyrics from Carey, can be streamed below.

Israeli progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND have commenced the recording process for the follow-up to 2010's "The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" at a studio in Istanbul, Turkey. The band previously stated that the recording sessions for the new CD would take place in Sweden, Turkey and Israel.

ORPHANED LAND's forthcoming effort will be the band's first to feature guitarist Chen Balbus following the departure of Matty Svatizky this past June due to "personal" and "professional" issues.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" sold around 600 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at No. 80 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Never Ending Way Of ORwarriOR" was released in Europe on January 25, 2010.

A petition to the Norwegian Nobel committee was submitted in October to consider ORPHANED LAND for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. The band's lead singer, Kobi Farhi, stated at the time: "This is my personal request to all my friends from the Middle East, Turkey, and in general from all my Muslim friends! We know for a long time now that we are above politics, we know that if it was in our hands, peace would have prevailed right away. Please enter this link and sign if you find us worthy, please also spread the word and share it on your pages."

ORPHANED LAND's concert DVD, "The Road To OR-Shalem", was released in October 2011 in Europe and November 2011 in the U.S. via Century Media Records.

Fan-filmed video footage of the first of HALESTORM's three special holiday performances billed as "An Evening With" the band, which took place last night (Thursday, December 27) at Philadelphia's Electric Factory, can be seen below. There were no opening acts, and the band played two sets — an acoustic one, followed by a full-blown electric performance.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, HALESTORM is considering heading back into the studio to whip up another EP of cover songs. The band issued its first set of remakes, "Reanimate", in 2011, and Lzzy Hale said in a recent post at their Facebook page, "The boys and I are tossing around the idea of putting out another cover EP. We know a lot of you have ideas . . . so let's hear 'em! What songs would you love to hear us record? Thank you for being such a big part of our lives!"

Hale said that the band will choose the top entries and then let fans vote to see which ones will end up on the EP.

"Reanimate" contained covers of tracks from SKID ROW, LADY GAGA and GUNS N' ROSES. Hale told The Pulse Of Radio that recording other artists' songs helps her own writing. "There's just nothing like singing and playing and picking apart an already proven amazing song," she said. "I think it helps you as a songwriter. I'll write a song and be like, 'Well, is that as good as HEART's 'All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You', and I'll have to be like, 'No, back to the drawing board.'"

HALESTORM is nominated for a Grammy Award this year for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance", for the song "Love Bites (So Do I)" from the band's second album, "The Strange Case Of…"

The song hit No. 1, making HALESTORM the first female-fronted act in history to top the Active Rock chart.

Drummer Yazu, vocalist Ina and bassist Tomo have left Japanese extreme metallers METAL SAFARI.

Commented the band's guitarist, Hiro: "As the guitarist, songwriter and producer of METAL SAFARI, I still have lots of things I want to do with METAL SAFARI. In my mind, it's more like expecting what's to come, so I will do my best to make a fresh new start and get back on track to deliver some whole new METAL SAFARI music to all of you. At that time, I hope we can have fun again together.

"This unexpected announcement may cause worry to the fans and to whom it may concern, METAL SAFARI will work this out, and let all of you know when it's ready."

Said Ina in a statement: "I have left METAL SAFARI, the band that I stayed in as the vocalist and lyric writer for about seven years.

"Through the music and activities of METAL SAFARI, the time and impression we shared with each other make me feel I'm really a lucky guy.

"Sincerely, I feel lucky to meet all of you and experienced these miracles.

"What I've done in this band, the memories, they are too much to talk about, but all these time, experiences, performances, encounters, and activities as one of METAL SAFARI will forever be what I'm proud of and my treasure, which is what I would like to tell you here.

"If there were no supports of you all and the band members who have come a long way with me together, I wouldn't stand a chance to become who I am now.

"After this, I will start with a new band, and keep on performing. It might take some time, but when the time comes, I wish I can meet up with all who have read this.

"I will return, and please look forward to it."

Commented Tomo: "After one short year, I decided to leave METAL SAFARI. During this one year, I've experienced a lot, and had so many precious encounters that I'm really appreciated.

"I will go on doing music and playing my bass from now on. It will be wonderful if you can still support me, thank you."

With the release of the debut album, "Return To My Blood", in May 2006, METAL SAFARI gained more and more public attention, resulting in an appearance at the biggest rock festival in Taiwan, Formoz Festival 2006. The momentum continued, and METAL SAFARI went out on a six-date headlining Asian tour in 2007, playing in Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China, where they headlined the Modern Sky Festival 2007. The popular demands also brought them to Europe, where they participated in 12-date tour throughout Poland alongside of such acts as VIRGIN SNATCH, THY DISEASE, and MAHAVATAR. METAL SAFARI earned its place in the history of Japanese metal as the first-ever extreme metal band played in the mainland China, and also as the first metal band to ever tour in Poland (after visual-kei rockers DIR EN GREY). These are ALL done independently, without any support from labels.

Domestically, METAL SAFARI participated twice in Ju-Ongaku-Sai (heavy music fest), the biggest festival of Japanese metal/hardcore bands, first as one of the main-stage acts and then as the headliner. METAL SAFARI also supported THY WILL BE DONE and CALIBAN on their Japan tours, and shared the stage with such acts as LOUDNESS, EDGE OF SPIRIT, SUNS OWL and BLOOD STAIN CHILD. Not only did these activities put them at #7 of domestic independent bands of all genres, #1 of metal bands, #1 of hardcore bands, and #1 of thrash bands in "Top Artist Chart" on MySpace.com, but METAL SAFARI became the most-awaited Japanese band to play at Loud Park, the biggest metal festival in Japan.

METAL SAFARI released its second full-length album, "Prisoner", in September 2011 via the Japanese label Spiritual Beast.

For more information, visit www.metalsafari.com.

Lima, Peru's ElCuartelDelMetal.net conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Tony Portaro of veteran New Jersey thrashers WHIPLASH after the band's November 17 concert in Lima. You can now watch the chat below.

WHIPLASH is currently recording a new album entitled "Old School American Way" for a tentative late spring/early summer 2013 release. The CD will include "five or six new songs" alongside re-recorded versions of five or six tunes from the band's classic "Power And Pain" (1985) and "Ticket To Mayhem" (1987) albums.

"I am very confident that this record will be seen as the return to the thrash core that WHIPLASH started out doing," Portaro said in a recent interview.

He added: "WHIPLASH now has a strong foundation with Dan 'Loord' Foord [SIKTH] — one of the best drummers in England — and Dank De Long, a solid bassist from New York that makes WHIPLASH thrash harder than ever."

WHIPLASH is a three-piece power trio hailing from New Jersey. The band was assembled back in 1984 when Portaro and Tony Scaglione (drums) joined forces, then recruited Tony Bono on bass.

"Unborn Again", the latest album from WHIPLASH, was released in 2009 via Pulverised Records.

Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) spoke to Artisan News at the premiere screening on December 12 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California of "Randy Rhoads: The Quiet Riot Years", the first documentary film to be released on the late guitarist. Check out the report below.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's long-talked-about "Unblackened" DVD, which was previously scheduled to be filmed in late August at The Mayan in Los Angeles, California, and was then pushed back to January, will now be shot in March. The set is expected to contain stripped-down versions of some of the band's most popular cuts.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "The Song Remains Not The Same" sold around 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 41 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on May 10, 2011 via Entertainment One Music, the offering featured unplugged versions of material from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's latest album, "Order Of The Black", as well as additional material recorded during the "Order Of The Black" sessions. "The Song Remains Not The Same" was conceived, created and compiled by Wylde himself and the title is, of course, a nod to one of Wylde's favorite bands, LED ZEPPELIN.

"Order Of The Black" was released in North America in August 2010 via E1 Music. The CD featured four unique covers designed by Zakk Wylde himself — one for each territory: North America, Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

A rough-mix, instrumental version of a new song from HATE MEDITATION, the project featuring members of NACHTMYSTIUM, LEVIATHAN, DARK FORTRESS and VITANDUS, can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below. The track will appear on HATE MEDITATION's self-titled debut album, which will be released in early 2013 via Indie Recordings.

HATE MEDITATION was founded by Blake Judd (NACHTMYSTIUM, TWILIGHT) in 2003 as a side project whose original intention was to serve as an homage to bestial black/death metal bands such as BEHERIT, VON, PROFANATICA and BLASPHEMY. The band recorded a three-track demo, entitled "Condemned To Death", that was spread in very small quantities, and the band has since been dormant. In 2012, Judd reformed the band with all new members and began writing and recording the full-length CD in October 2012.

HATE MEDITATION's sound has changed dramatically from the original intentions and has taken a shape of its own, drawing influences from many different types of music but keeping the raw black metal form at its core.

HATE MEDITATION is:

Blake Judd - All guitars, vocals, synths, bass
Job Bos - Synths
Wrest - Bass guitar
Sam Shroyer - Drums

"Tenses Collide", the sophomore release by Slovenain thrashers ERUPTION, has just been released via Xtreem Music.

Picking up where they left off with their debut, "Lifeless Paradise", ERUPTION's new CD is described in a press release as "lethal, unadulterated thrash similar to that of such well-known stalwarts of the genre as TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN and VIO-LENCE."

"Tenses Collide" track listing:

01. Fractured
02. Celestial God
03. Enter the Hive
04. Selfcaged
05. Last Transmission
06. Unknown Dimensions
07. The Forlorn
08. Unparticled Matter
09. Empty Shells

The track "Celestial God" features a guest solo by Brad Hull from the legendary Seattle thrash act FORCED ENTRY and the reformed SANCTUARY. The cover artwork was created by Andrei Bouzikov (MUNICIPAL WASTE, CANNABIS CORPSE, SKELETONWITCH, VEKTOR).

The song "Selfcaged" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

ERUPTION is:

Tim Tajic - Guitar
Andrej Cuk - Guitar
Andrej Škof - Bass
Ivan Cepanec - Drums
Klemen Kalin - Vocals

In the four-minute clip below, WHITESNAKE/ex-DEEP PURPLE vocalist David Coverdale remembers first meeting late DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord whom he describes as "a sweet, sweet man. He knew how to elevate your spirit." Coverdale talks about how Lord comforted him before his audition for DEEP PURPLE in 1973, and of the rehearsals at Clearwell Castle before they recorded the "Burn" album.

Jon Lord died on July 16 at age 71 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lord, who was known for his keyboard virtuosity and his reinvention of the Hammond B-3 organ sound, co-wrote such PURPLE classics as "Smoke On The Water" and "Child In Time", among others. Lord and drummer Ian Paice were the only original members to last through the band's initial run from 1968 to 1976. He was on board for their 1984 reunion and stayed on through to his 2002 retirement from the band, after which he's worked primarily in the classical field.

Over the course of his career, Lord also worked with the ARTWOODS, FLOWER POT MEN, PAICE, ASHTON AND LORD, WHITESNAKE and good friend and neighbor, George Harrison.

DOKKEN guitarist Jon Levin will be unable to perform with the band for the next several months while he recovers from surgery on his neck and shoulder for thoracic outlet syndrome (a condition when the nerves or blood vessels just below the neck are compressed, or squeezed). "My hand feels great, but I do need some time before I will be able to swing a strap on my shoulder and tour," he says. "We are going to wait until May before we start playing again."

Although DOKKEN frontman and namesake Don Dokken said in a recent interview with "Rich Davenport's Rock Show" that Levin "had to have surgery on his arm," the guitarist corrected his bandmate, explaining that the surgery, which was performed in October, "was on my neck and shoulder, not my arm or hand."

According to Don Dokken, both he and Jon Levin will "probably" play guitar on DOKKEN's next tour. He explained: "I think it will sound bigger and fuller with two guitars. Plus when it comes to solos, have a rhythm just keep going in the background. I played in DOKKEN on the first couple of albums and tours, I played guitar, and I'm gonna go back to that style."

DOKKEN's eleventh studio album, "Broken Bones", sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 173 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released in North America on September 25 via Frontiers Records, the effort was made available in two configurations: standard CD and limited-edition CD in digipak with a bonus DVD, which features a comprehensive "Making Of The Album" documentary.

"Broken Bones" was produced by Don Dokken and was mixed by Bob St. John (EXTREME, DURAN DURAN, COLLECTIVE SOUL) and Wyn Davis (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, WHITESNAKE) and mastered by famed engineer Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, SEPULTURA). The new set features a return to the band's signature sound of catchy melodies, hot riffs and monster production.

Swiss melodic death metallers ARCTURON will release their second album, "An Old Storm Brewing", on January 19, 2013 via Supreme Chaos Records. The CD contains "11 amazing tracks" which were recorded at Abyss studios in Sweden by Jonas Kjellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY).

Commented ARCTURON guitarist Florian Moritz: "I was following the bands of Supreme Chaos Records for some years now and I'm impressed by the commitment and passion the label shows. We're very happy to be a part of this family now and together with this collaboration, we can take the next steps towards a bright future."

Added the label: "We have been in contact with ARCTURON for quite a long time now. The upcoming album, 'An Old Storm Brewing', convinced us straight away. Together with the unfailing activity of the band, there can only be one way: to the top! We are really pleased that the band wants Supreme Chaos Records to support them on their future way."

The official video for the song "This Is The Plan", taken from "An Old Storm Brewing", can be seen below.

BENEDICTUM has announced the addition of bassist Aric Avina (TYNATOR) to the group's ranks. The band states: "Not only has Aric shown his prowess as a bass player, but also demonstrated immense 'grace under pressure' by being thrown right into the fire with recording a new album. We have found a gem... and may the metal continue!"

BENEDICTUM has been busy working on a new studio CD which will be "a complete return to a traditional-but-powerful feel — much like the band's first two albums," according to a press release. Working with the band on the production is Grammy Award nominee and Billboard-charting producer John Herrera and longtime collaborator Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER), who has just completed his second writing session with Veronica. Craig Goldy (DIO) has been writing with BENEDICTUM as well and there will probably be some vocal duet surprises on the album too. The songwriting team of Pete Wells and Freeman is, however, still in full effect, and with Rikard Stjernquist (JAG PANZER) adding to the mix, there are some powerful great ideas coming to life.

BENEDICTUM's latest album, "Dominion", was released in February 2011 in Europe and in March 2011 in North America via Frontiers Records.

Brazilian symphonic black metallers FROST DESPAIR have revealed the details of their first full-length album, "Surreal", which will be released early in 2013. The artwork was created by Marcelo Vasco (DIMMU BORGIR, KEEP OF KALESSIN, DARK FUNERAL), who stated: "This illustration for 'Surreal' was forged through the general concept of his title and acclimated in the most dirty and chaotic way, mixing elements biomechanics with nature and science where everything becomes a kind of bestial and psychological heart.'

"Surreal" track listing:

01. The Sixth Bell
02. The Creation
03. Thrones Of Human Power
04. Darkly Strike
05. Genesis
06. Surreal
07. Fall Into The Darkness of Illusion
08. Claim For The Apocalyptic Eradication
09. God's Nightmare
10. Slaves To Superstition

Bonus tracks:

11. Thrones Of Human Power (orchestral version)
12. Claim For The Apocalyptic Eradication (orchestral version)

Guitarist Jim Matheos of U.S. progressive metal icons FATES WARNING has issued the following update:

"I'm happy to say that all the music for [the new FATES WARNING album] is now written (finally!). Still some lyrics to do, but we're close. Looking forward to sharing this with you in 2013."

FATES WARNING tapped Mike Portnoy (ADRENALINE MOB, TRANSATLANTIC, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) to sit behind the kit for their first-ever visit to South America as special guests for QUEENSRŸCHE on April 14, 2012 at HSBC Brasil in São Paulo, Brazil. Multi-camera fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

The "Parallels" lineup of FATES WARNING played a number of shows in 2010 in support of the released special edition of the album, which was made available through Metal Blade Records. In addition to remastered audio, there is a second audio disc of live and demo material. The package also includes a DVD with nearly three hours of material, including a complete live show from the 1992 "Parallels" tour and a documentary on the making of "Parallels" which includes live, studio, and current day interview footage with all the band members, Terry Brown (producer) and Brian Slagel (CEO of Metal Blade Records).

FATES WARNING's latest CD, "X", was released in 2004 on Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2000's "Disconnected" was recorded at Carriage House studios in Stamford, Connecticut and features cover artwork by renowned record-cover artist Ioannis (DREAM THEATER, SEPULTURA, DEEP PURPLE, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, KING CRIMSON, BIOHAZARD, VOIVOD, UFO, OVERKILL).

Multi-camera fan-filmed video footage:

Owsiaknet.pl conducted an interview with Swedish metallers SABATON after their performance at this year's edition of the Przystanek Woodstock festival, which was held August 2-4 in Kostrzyn on the Oder, Poland. You can now watch the chat below.

Przystanek Woodstock is organized by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation in order to thank all its volunteers and supporters who take part in the annual Grand Finale fundraising event in January.

Every year, Przystanek Woodstock features a few dozen bands from Poland and abroad. The guests are invited to perform on one of two stages: the Big Stage or the Small Stage, also known as the Folk Stage.

For 15 years, the Orchestra has been organizing auditions for bands willing to perform for the Woodstock audience.

SABATON's entire November 16 headlining concert at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden was professionally filmed and recorded for the band's upcoming DVD and Blu-ray, tentatively due in 2013.

SABATON has just finished headlining the "Swedish Empire Tour" with support from ELUVEITIE and WISDOM.

SABATON's new album, "Carolus Rex", was certified gold in the group's home country for sales in excess of 20,000 copies. (Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry [IFPI] in Sweden has revised the sales requirements for albums to reach gold status in the country twice in the last seven years — from the pre-2002 level of 40,000 to the current 20,000.)

"Carolus Rex" was released on May 22 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyrics for the CD, which was made available in both English and Swedish, deal with the Swedish Empire (referring to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721).

SABATON earlier in the year parted ways with guitarists Oskar Montelius and Rikard Sundén, drummer Daniel Mulback and keyboardist Daniel Mÿhr. The band's new touring lineup is as follows:

Joakim Brodén - Vocals
Pär Sundström - Bass
Chris Rörland (NOCTURNAL RITES) - Guitar
Thobbe Englund (WINTERLONG, RAUBTIER) - Guitar
Robban Bäck (BALTIMOORE, PREY) – Drums

Virginia's PYRO, OHIO has inked a deal with upstart label At Your Command Records. The band will head to Amped Recording Studios in Baltimore, Maryland ths weekend to record the follow-up to their "Welcome To Pyro, Ohio" EP.

Most often compared to CHIODOS, CIRCA SURVIVE, A DAY TO REMEMBER and GLASSJAW, PYRO, OHIO combines a variety of musical influences creating a sound that is both refreshing and modern. The band was founded in August 2011 in rural Christiansburg, Virginia and was chosen to play on this year's Vans Warped Tour as part of the Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands competition.

Commented PYRO, OHIO guitarist Stephen Noel: "We are extremely excited to start a partnership with At Your Command Records. Their professionalism and passion for our music really sold us on signing with the upstart label. We look forward to working with At Your Command Records to extend the reach of PYRO, OHIO so that we are able to make more music for our fans into the future."

Regarding the upcoming CD, PYRO, OHIO bassist Luke Brugh said: "I am very excited to get these songs recorded because I am proud of every single one of them and cannot wait to share them with the masses. I think that these are some of the best songs we have written together. Also, I think we are all excited to record because our last release was recorded a couple months after forming the band, so we were still getting used to playing together. We have now been a band for a little over a year and have had time to mature as a band."

Swedish multi-instrumentalist Snowy Shaw (THERION, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL, DIMMU BORGIR) makes a guest appearance on several tracks on "Révisionnisme", the third studio album from THE CNK, the French martial industrial/electronic black metal which features in its ranks Nicolas Saint Morand (a.k.a. Hreidmarr), the androgynous screamer behind ANOREXIA NERVOSA.

With the help of heavy industrial and authoritarian rhythmics, backed with Snowy and Hreidmarr über versatile voices, these 10 hits are crushed in THE CNK steamroller, to finally be born again as death and fight stadium anthems.

A covers album taking on famous pop, rock and metal standards, "Révisionnisme" features the following tracks:

01. Gadd Ist Godd (GARY GLITTER medley)
02. Sabotage (BEASTIE BOYS)
03. You Could Be Mine (GNFR)
04. Everybody Knows (LEONARD COHEN)
05. Blood Is Thicker Than Water (IMPALED NAZARENE)
06. Seasons In The Abyss (SLAYER)
07. Too Fast For Love (MÖTLEY CRÜE)
08. Weisses Fleisch (RAMMSTEIN)
09. Where The Wild Roses Grow (NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS)
10. I Am The Black Wizards (EMPEROR)
11. Blood Is Thicker Than Snow (IMPALED NAZARENE - alternate version)

"Seasons In The Abyss" and "Too Fast For Love" can both be streamed below.

Brazilian metallers SYMBOLS, who feature in their ranks vocalist Eduardo "Edu" Falaschi (ANGRA, ALMAH) and his brother Tito Falaschi (bass, vocals), reunited for a one-off appearance this past Sunday, December 23 at the Manifesto Bar in São Paulo, Brazil. Joining the Falaschi brothers on stage were Demian Tiguez (guitar), Rodrigo Arjonas (guitar) and Rodrigo "Indian" Mello (drums). The group performed selections from its first two albums, "Symbols" (1998) and "Call To The End" (2001).

Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

After Eduardo joined ANGRA in 2001 and Tito left to focus on other projects, SYMBOLS nearly broke up. But Mello and Tiguez stuck it out long enough to record and produce SYMBOLS' third album, "Faces", in 2004, with Demian handling vocal duties. They were joined on the recording by bassist Cesar Tallarico and keyboardist Fabrizio Di Sarno.

In 2005, SYMBOLS' first two albums were remastered and re-released through a new record label.

High Roller Records has announced plans to release a 4LP vinyl box set from Colorado metal veterans JAG PANZER, entitled "Historical Battles - The Early Years". It will be limited to 500 copies and sold at the Keep It True festival in April 2013. Also in the works is a reissue of JAG PANZER's 1983 EP, "Tyrants", with seven previously unreleased tracks. These will be followed by re-releases of the band's "Ample Destruction", "Chain Of Command" and "Shadow Thief" albums on CD and LP.

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

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

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

Issued on February 28, 2011 in Europe and on March 8, 2011 in the U.S. via SPV/Steamhammer Records, JAG PANZER's latest album, "Scourge Of The Light", sold around 500 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 117 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"The Scourge Of The Light" was mixed by Jim Morris at Morrisound Studios in Florida and was mastered at New York's renowned Sterling Sound.

Simone "Som" Pluijmers, former frontwoman for Scottish death metallers CEREBRAL BORE, has uploaded her brutal vocal cover version of "Barbie Girl", the 1997 breakthrough single from the Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group AQUA. Check it out below.

Pluijmers left CEREBRAL BORE 24 hours prior to departure for the band's North American tour with DYING FETUS. She has since been temporarily replaced by Shawn Whitaker.

In a recent interview with Blistering.com, CEREBRAL BORE guitarist Paul McGuire stated about the circumstances behind Som's split: "It's a terrible situation. I had to borrow a few thousand pounds to pay for our flights, including Som's, and she let me book the flight, and didn't take it. I'm a thousand bucks out of pocket, and that's the start of things. That's the main issue — we were really struggling to get money for our flights and I managed to get the money and that happened, not to mention all the merchandise we had printed and all the shows that we had lined up. If we had pulled out, they would have had to re-contract the whole tour. So you can understand why we were upset for someone to pull out at the last minute. That would have put us in a hole, but I said no matter what, we're going to do the tour; we need to honor our commitments. I just wish she had done the same. It's cool if she wants to leave the band, but not talking to anyone… I thought it was a really unprofessional way to go about doing [things]. I can live with it; people not wanting to be in the band, but to not talk about it… I gave her plenty of opportunities to talk things over. I did that, but all she did was ignore me, then all this unfolded. It was literally 24 hours before we left."

Asked if he saw any of this coming, McGuire said: "Pretty much, yeah. We could tell because she was acting weird, then she disappeared. At the end of the day, we need to keep pushing forward. We've been a band a lot longer before we gave Som the opportunity that we gave her. And we will continue to be a band after. A lot of people can't get over a member leaving the band, but that will pass. The thing is, we were friends and I still think we are. Nothing has happened between us as far as I can see to make all that crap happen, so maybe we can get back in touch and not read whatever has been written so horribly. Online, I've totally ignored the situation for an entire week, but it would have been so costly just to go home. It's tough trying to keep my head down and keep going. People think they know the whole stories, but there's two sides. All we said was Som didn't want to do the tour. That's all we said. We haven't said anything about the story and what's going on, but [people] keep judging us offhand because they think they know the situation. We are the ones that here and are the ones in the States, doing it."

Danish death metallers CROCELL have inked a deal with Metal Hell Records. The band's third full-length album will be released next year. The CD will be recorded at Death Island Studios in Nykøbing Mors with producer Marco Angioni.

"Come Forth Plague" and "Perfidious Ceremony", the first two songs from CROCELL to feature the band's new lead singer Asbjørn Steffensen (MORDAX), can be streamed using the ReverbNation player below. The tracks were produced by Jacob Olsen at JBO Sound.

Regarding Steffensen's addition to CROCELL, the band's guitarist, Tommy Christensen, previously said: "A number of skilled vocalists auditioned, but when Asbjørn visited, we knew straight away that we had found our new guy. Asbjørn could already sing most of the songs perfectly and together CROCELL sound better than ever before."

CROCELL's second album, "The Wretched Eidola", was released in May 2011 via Ultimhate Records.

AlexIsLegend.com has uploaded photos and video footage of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's December 19 "hometown" stop on their "Alive Or Just Breathing" 10th-anniversary tour at Pearl Street in Northampton, Massachusetts. Check out the clips below.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE vocalist Jesse Leach announced during the band's December 16 concert in Brooklyn, New York that their studio album will be released in April 2013 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, an acclaimed producer who has previously worked with ALL THAT REMAINS, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and AS I LAY DYING, among others. The mixing sessions were overseen by veteran British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, ACCEPT, ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE).

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's forthcoming album will mark the return of Leach, who rejoined the group earlier this year following the departure of Howard Jones after nine years and three successful albums.

Asked for more information about the status of the upcoming CD and how it came together, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bassist Mike D'Antonio told Horns Up Rocks!: "We've got the title, I've got all the artwork finished for it. I've just gotta fit in the lyrics. [There are] 12 songs on it. It was hard to whittle down which songs were actually gonna make it on the record, 'cause we like them all; we're really excited about it."

He continued: "It was weird. Jesse did two songs and then kind of wanted to get a feel for how the band was communicating and hanging out together. And he was, like, 'Let's go out on tour and see how it is and then I can come back and finish the rest of the record and really have a better headspace for what's going on with the band.' So he did two songs, we went out on tour, came back and all of a sudden, he started doing all this new stuff — like, eight or nine different, new voices we had never heard before. And we were were, like, 'Wait a minute, man! Now you're gonan have to redo the last stuff we did, because this stuff sounds so great.' So he just blew us away. This guy… I don't know if he's got split personalities or what's going on in his head, but he's got a million different voices going on there, and it sounds really cool on the record."

Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark release, 2002's genre-defining "Alive Or Just Breathing".

A two-minute trailer for "Pinnacle Of Bedlam", the new album from New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION, can be seen below. The CD will be released on February 15, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.

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

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

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

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

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" track listing:

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

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

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

SUFFOCATION was among the inductees for this year's class of the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame. TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider received the Harry Chapin Award at the event, which was held on October 18 at The Paramount in Huntington, New York.

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" trailer:

Keyboardist Randy Gane (pictured below), who is a member of Geoff Tate's newly assembled version of QUEENSRŸCHE, suffered a heart attack Wednesday night (December 26), according to a posting on Geoff's Facebook page. The singer is asking fans to "please send [their] prayers and positive thoughts to [his] good friend."

Gane was a co-founder of Tate's pre-QUEENSRŸCHE band MYTH.

Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE also includes legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO), drummer Bobby Blotzer (RATT) and guitarist Kelly Gray (MYTH).

Geoff Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE will hit the road next year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group's epic 1988 release, "Operation: Mindcrime".

The performance of "Operation: Mindcrime" next spring will cover all fifteen songs from the album including such fan favorites as "Revolution Calling", "Operation: Mindcrime", "I Don't Believe In Love" and the closing track, "Eyes Of A Stranger". It will also feature other selections from the QUEENSRŸCHE catalog, including songs from "Operation: Mindcrime II".

Glen Drover (MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND) announced his departure from Geoff Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE last month before playing a single show with the band. He said in a statement: "I was very excited about doing this gig initially, but learned in the past week or so that it's in my best interest not to do this right now. I feel really bad for those who were excited about the idea, and to Geoff himself, who, I have to say, was very nice to me on my past trip to Seattle. I, of course, am very disappointed for arriving at this point, and making this decision, to say the least. I sincerely wish the Geoff and the band all the luck on what they do in the future."

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

Video footage of STRIFE's entire November 30 performance at El 'N' Gee in New London, Connecticut can be seen below.

STRIFE's new album, "Witness A Rebirth", was released on November 6 via 6131 Records.

Some bands leave such an impression on fans that, even after two decades, their sound still resonates deep and wide. STRIFE is just such a band, having once again tapped into the energy that has kept listeners interested for 21 years.

After touring throughout the world in recent years, STRIFE decided it was time to unleash a new batch of songs and break their 11-year streak of recording silence. The groundwork for what would become their newest album, "Witness A Rebirth", had been laid and their collective efforts began down the road to realization.

With producer Nick Jett (TERROR, ROTTING OUT, BACKTRACK) at the helm, STRIFE recruited friend and previous collaborator Igor Cavalera (founding member of SEPULTURA) to perform drums for the album and traveled to Brazil to start the recording process with him. Soon after, they returned to California and put the rest of the pieces into place, including guest vocals by Billy Graziadei (of BIOHAZARD) and Scott Vogel (of TERROR), plus a guitar solo by Marc Rizzo (of SOULFLY). The result serves as a testament to their talent, bridging their past (especially the highly acclaimed album "In This Defiance", with which this album shares four-fifths of the members) with a more contemporary hardcore sound. "Witness A Rebirth" is at once both refreshing and evocative.

A rough-mix version of the song "Hello From The Gutters" from Swedish death metal masters DERANGED can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's new five-song EP, "Morgue Orgy", to be released in early 2013 via Sevared Records.

DERANGED's eighth full-length album, "Cut, Carve, Rip, Serve", was made available in May 2011 via Sevared Records. The follow-up to 2008's "The Redlight Murder Case" was recorded at Berno Studio in Malmö, Sweden.

DERANGED 2012 is:

Anders Johansson - Vocals
Thomas Ahlgren - Guitar
Andreas Johansson - Bass
Rikard Wermén - Drums

AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (also ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE) has been confirmed as one of the guest musicians who will appear on "The Mystery Of Time", the new album from EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project. Also scheduled to make appearances on the CD are Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, HELLOWEEN), SAXON frontman Biff Byford, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick and drummer Russell Gilbrook of URIAH HEEP.

Commented Sammet: "To me, he used to be what John D. Rockerduck is to Scrooge McDuck: an adamant longtime rival; in our case, when it comes to producing rock operas. Well, if you can't beat your enemy, make him your ally! And so I opened the door and literally invited pestilence into my world, ha!

"Seriously, the truth is that the 'pestilence' I'm talking about is really one of the nicest, coolest and loveliest plagues I've ever come to know, an ambitious artist through and through and a real great guitar player. So, having just come back from a shopping tour in 2912 — where apparently he found himself a brand new pair of bad-ass pants and boots — he went into the studio to record some additional lead guitar for the forthcoming AVANTASIA album, 'The Mystery Of Time': AYREON mastermind Arjen Anthony Lucassen!"

A YouTube clip containing footage of the orchestra recordings as well as a rough-mix sample of a song featuring Kiske is available below.

Bruce previously appeared on AVANTASIA's "The Wicked Symphony" and "Angel Of Babylon" CDs and Tobias contributed guest vocals to Bruce's last solo release, "BK3".

The new AVANTASIA CD is being recorded in part at VOX Klangstudio in Bendestorf, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth (KAMELOT, EDGUY, EPICA, RHAPSODY).

Immediately after the release of "The Mystery Of Time", a metal opera based on a story written by Sammet, the band will embark on a full-fledged indoor tour, during which the band and special guests will bring the epic undertaking to the stage.

Since the performances will embrace all the different eras and history of AVANTASIA, these shows will feature an extended playing time and the entire evening will be dedicated to AVANTASIA with no support acts.

Tobias originally wanted to put AVANTASIA to rest after the release of the "The Flying Opera - Around The World In 20 Days" concert DVD in April 2011, but he has since had a change of heart. He explains, "Even though I love to record and tour with EDGUY, I didn't foresee how much I need AVANTASIA when I decided to finish this chapter of my life in 2011. I didn't know if there would be another AVANTASIA album one day, but I didn‘t feel like doing it. After the worldwide success of the latest studio releases, an arena world tour that was sold out pretty much everywhere, collaborations with childhood heroes like Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker, Eric Singer of KISS, etc. I 'knew' that I had said everything I could possibly say in the name of AVANTASIA. But that's not what AVANTASIA is all about. I wanna create more great music, I wanna create more fantasy worlds, the bigger and the more epic, the better. And listening to the material that I have created for this forthcoming chapter in the history of AVANTASIA, I know there is no way I am not going to do it! I have got the feeling and the certainty that this is absolutely meant to happen and to be!"

Pictured below: Arjen Lucassen

The couple that became an Internet sensation after a video surfaced of them performing a cover version of METALLICA's "Master Of Puppets" at their wedding reception, have announced the birth of their new baby boy, Dax Orion Diaz.

A maternity video featuring Annette Ortiz-Diaz (a former drummer for FATAL POSPOROS and HALF PAST-TWO and the current bass player for RANDOM NINJAS) and her husband Dennis — who had a METALLICA tribute band (made up of Asians) called TRAPPED UNDER RICE — playing the METALLICA classic "Orion" can be seen below.

Annette and Dennis got a chance to play with the members of METALLICA themselves on December 10, 2011 at the fourth and final intimate show at the Fillmore in San Francisco as part of the week-long celebration of the band's 30th anniversary for fan club members only. They joined METALLICA on stage to perform the song "Blackened" during the portion of the concert where fan-club winners were invited on stage to jam with the band.

Annette Ortiz and Dennis Diaz were married on April 10, 2010 in El Segundo, California. Photos of the reception can be found at this location.

Maternity video: