MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"25 years ago today I had two almost-fatal drug overdoses that changed my life forever. I can't even see myself these days as that kid who was running head strong into the abyss, but I know he taught me how to live when he finally decided to do it for himself. I would of [sic] never seen the birth of my four beautiful children and had such a wonderful life (even with its adversity) if I had not kicked drugs.

"I can't say it loud enough, if your [sic] into them or considering doing them: DRUGS DON'T WORK. The downside is NEVER pretty.

"I am extremely grateful to be able to look back over these last 25 years and have all the memories that would of [sic] otherwise gone down up flames.

"Today I am going over more script material for 'The Heroin Diaries' for the Broadway play.

"Life really is a crazy and fun journey, isn't it?

"Have a great holiday season wherever you are. Live in the moment."

As previously reported, Sixx's memoir, "The Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star", is being turned into a Broadway play. Sixx stated in an online posting last month, "We’re getting pretty far down the road. We hope for a late 2013 or early 2014 for it to open."

"The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star", which was supposedly taken from actual journals Sixx kept in the late '80s while in the grip of a near-fatal heroin addiction, was originally released September 18, 2007 via MTV Pocketbooks/Simon & Schuster and debuted at #7 on the New York Times Book Review non-fiction best-seller list.

The 400-plus page book, written in part with journalist Ian Gittins, was previously described as "a brutally honest look at Sixx's hellish year, one which saw him overdose and be declared clinically dead at one point while MÖTLEY CRÜE toured behind its 'Girls, Girls, Girls' album."

Guitarist Mike Scaccia, who is best known for his work with MINISTRY, RIGOR MORTIS and the REVOLTING COCKS, died last night (Saturday, December 22) after suffering a seizure on stage from what was reported by some friends to be a heart attack. He was 47 years old.

Scaccia was performing with RIGOR MORTIS at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas at the 50th-birthday celebration for RIGOR MORTIS singer Bruce Corbitt when he reportedly asked for the strobe lights to be turned off moments before he collapsed onstage and could not be revived. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Corbitt stated via Facebook: "My brother is gone! The only reason I am who I am is because of this man. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even be in a band.

"RIP, Mike — the greatest guitar player I ever knew. I'm proud to say that I was always Mike Scaccia's biggest fan, and always will be."

Said MINISTRY in a statement: "Michael Ralph Scaccia... Our dearest friend. We love you. We miss you. God rest your precious soul. We cannot fathom this loss."

In Scaccia's last Facebook update, he wrote, "These next 2 shows is what I worked my whole life for... Look out Mother Fuckers...hahha"

His daughter Sarah posted a message on his Facebook page at 3 a.m. Dallas time, saying, "I love you so much dad. I love you so much."

Mike is survived by his wife Jenny Rowen Scaccia, with whom he has two toddlers, and daughters Sarah Scaccia and Taarna Scaccia Hopkins.

According to a posting on the Facebook page of The Rail Club, "somebody stole a camera from upstairs that was recording the show when [the Scaccia incident] happened." The club management is asking "whoever took the camera" to call them "and save your ass a lot of grief!" The management adds: "How anyone could steal it with everything happening on stage?! What a fucking lowlife piece of shit!"

In 1989, Scaccia was asked by Al Jourgensen to join his band MINISTRY for their 1989-1990 "The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste" tour. Jourgensen was so impressed by Scaccia's talents that he included him into the band full time. Scaccia left RIGOR MORTIS in 1991 and went on to record and tour for MINISTRY's next album, the platinum-selling smash "Psalm 69" throughout 1992. He also recorded MINISTRY's follow-up effort, "Filth Pig", before leaving the band in 1996.

In early 2003, Scaccia reformed RIGOR MORTIS and around the same time rejoined MINISTRY on the road in support of their "Animositisomina" album. He left MINISTRY again in 2006 but rejoined Jourgensen in the studio and on the road in support of the band's latest album, "Relapse".

Video below: Mike Scaccia interviewed before MINISTRY's July 20, 2012 concert in London, England

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, poet and political activist Serj Tankian has written the full musical score for the upcoming video game Morning Star. Industrial Toys, the studio producing the game, is set to release Morning Star in spring of 2013, initially for iOS devices.

"I'm really enjoying working on Morning Star because it gives me the ability to create new musical worlds to complement the new visual worlds in the game," explains Tankian. "Though most of the gameplay will be action oriented cues, the stunning artwork and static scenes have inspired unique sounds unheard before."

This is Serj's second venture into the world of writing music for video games. He previously composed portions of the score for John Woo's critically acclaimed Stranglehold video game, released in 2007 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows.

Industrial Toys released a trailer for Morning Star featuring music from Tankian last week that can be viewed below.

"We've been big fans of Serj's for quite some time," said Industrial Toys CEO Alex Seropian. "The opportunity to collaborate with him on Morning Star gave us a way to take the game to a whole new level. We knew his score would be unique, but it's his ability to interpret a scene or gameplay element and come up with something that makes it moodier, more dramatic or just more awesome that's really got us pumped."

Set 120 years into our future, Morning Star takes players aboard the MSRV-Joplin, a research vessel newly outfitted with military weaponry to explore a mysterious signal coming from within our solar system. When inevitable disaster strikes, Serj's accompanying musical score provides the thrilling musical backdrop as players are transported across the cosmos to engage in an epic battle for the ages. The looming threat that awaits is unlike anything humanity has ever seen before.

The game is a complete reimagining of the science fiction shooter, combining pillars of the genre such as deep immersion and intense action with controls, community and competitive multiplayer specifically designed for mobile platforms.

Quebec-based metallers MERKABAH have been teasing the new cover artwork for their upcoming album for about 24 hours (12:21 pm yesterday). The album, which is entitled Ubiquity, is set for release early in 2013. Stay tuned, as further info and details will be posted regularly.

Watch the album teaser below:
Ubiquity was produced at Wild Studio with renowned producer Pierre Rémillard (VOIVOD, MISERY INDEX, KRISIUN) and the tracklisting is as follows:
'Mythomania'
'Divine Sparks'
'Red Letter Days'
'Agartha'
'Circles of Despair'
'Deadly Prophets Of The Printed Page'
'Brothers From The Seed Of Cain'
'Ubiquity'

For more details visit Merkabah.ca.

To wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Italian melodic/math/death metallers IGNITION CODE have rearranged and recorded a cover of the song 'And So This Is Christmas'. Check out Ignition Code's metal re-edit of the track below:
Earlier this year, the band released the video for the track ‘Nothing Left’, off their debut album, NewTek Lie, out via To React Records. Watch the video below:
New Tek Lie was recorded at UnderRoom Studios and mastered at Cutting Room Studios in Sweden.
Tracklisting for New Tek Lie is as follows:

‘NewTek Lie’
‘Nothing Left’
‘Organic Program Failure’
‘The Illusion Of The Observable’
‘M.S.P.’
‘Human B.P.M.’
‘Biological Prospect’
‘MikroKid’
‘GameGear’
‘The Silent Judge’

Delayed from the originally planned release date of January 1st, San Marcos/Austin, TX-based progressive death/black metal horde VEX have now set February 5th as the release date for the follow-up to the 2010 full-length, Thanatopsis. The band's sophomore offering is entitled Memorious, and will be released through Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.
Memorious tracklisting:

'Terra Soar'
'Carve My Eyes'
'Astride A Grave'
'No Such Thing'
'Spectral Nation'
'Away From The Sun'
'Wasteland (How Long Ago...)'
'Solace In Sleep'
'Those Days Are Gone'
'A Drinking Song'
More on Vex at this location.

Rain Without End Records has inked a deal with ENSHINE, a new death/doom project by Jari Lindholm, (guitar; ex-SLUMBER, ATOMA) and Sébastien Pierre (vocals; also in FRACTAL GATES, INBORN SUFFERING).

The idea of Enshine was conceived in 2009 as a solo project by Jari and later become a Swedish/French collaboration with Sébastien. Production of the debut album was finished in the summer of 2012 after two years in the studio. The album was recorded and mixed by Enshine and mastered by Thomas "Plec" Johansson at the Panic Room. Additional session performances were done by Siavosh Bigonah (bass; Slumber, Atoma) and Oscar Borgenstam (drums; Atoma) with supporting choir vocals performed by Sandy Mahrer.
According to a press release, "the new album is full of quality death/doom metal, plenty of melody, texture and a dynamic range spanning from bombastic metal to more meditative instrumentals. The album will be released by Rain Without End Records on May 15th. More details about the album will be released in the coming months."

Check out an album teaser below:
For more details visit Facebook.

Los Angeles, CA-based dark epic power metallers WARLORD have announced that their new album will be engineered and mastered by the multi-Grammy award winner Phil Magnotti (FATES WARNING, OVERKILL, ARCH/MATHEOS, O.S.I.).

Says Warlord: "Warlord is returning to Phil after his excellent work on the Rising Out Of The Ashes album, as well as several Fates Warning projects. Rest assured that the new Warlord album will be of the highest quality production."
Warlord lineup:

William J Tsamis (LORDIAN) - all Instruments
Mark S Zonder (FATES WARNING) - drums and all percussion

Updates to follow. More on Warlord at this location.

To celebrate this holiday season, ALICE COOPER's live concert footage from the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on September 26th, 2011 is finally being released. Check it out here.
Alice Cooper's setlist:
'The Black Widow
'Brutal Planet
'I'm Eighteen
'Under My Wheels
'Billion Dollar Babies
'No More Mr. Nice Guy
'Hey Stoopid
'Is It My Body
'Halo of Flies
'I'll Bite Your Face Off
'Muscle of Love
'Only Women Bleed
'Cold Ethyl
'Feed My Frankenstein
'Clones (We're All)
'Poison
'Wicked Young Man
'Killer
'I Love the Dead
'School's Out'/'Another Brick In The Wall'

Encore: 'Elected'

Porvoo, Finland-based heavy metal act BATON ROGUE MORGUE release Hat Trick, a 6-track EP, in co-operation with Finnish Secret Entertainment today, December 21st. The EP is bundled with a DVD containing music videos for the songs 'Crystal City' and 'Hellride', and a live video for 'Midnight Rose', shot at the legendary Whiskey-a-Go-Go in Los Angeles, CA.
Hat Trick tracklisting:

CD:
'Hat Trick'
'Crystal City'
'Tokyo Nights'
'Black Ink'
'Massacre Of St. Valentine's Day'
'Hellride'

DVD:
'Crystal City'
'Hellride'
'Midnight Rose' (Live at the Whisky-a-Go-Go, Los Angeles)

Check out the 'Crystal City' video below:
Baton Rogue Morgue lineup:

Lee Angel Morgue - vocals
Domino De La Rogue - guitars
Francesco Gasoline Mattei - guitars
Timothy Baton - bass
Danger Ranger – drums
More on Baton Rogue Morgue at this location.

Italian progressive rockers KINGCROW will release their new album, In Crescendo, via New Jersey-based Sensory Records in North America on February 12th.

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

In Crescendo tracklisting:

'Right Before'
'This Ain’t Another Love Song'
'The Hatch'
'Morning Rain'
'The Drowning Line'
'The Glass Fortress'
'Summer ‘97'
'In Crescendo'
Kingcrow lineup:

Diego Cafolla - guitars
Ivan Nastasi - guitars
Diego Marchesi - vocals
Thundra Cafolla - drums
Francesco D'Errico- bass
Cristian Della Polla - keyboards

More on Kingcrow here.

British hard rockers TYGERS OF PAN TANG released their new album, Ambush, on September 24th via Rocksector Records. Ambush is now released on limited edition vinyl and is available to buy at HR Records, Nuclear Blast and Hell's Headbangers stores.
A message from the band states: "We are delighted to announce that our old friends Night Of The Vinyl Dead have produced a stunning vinyl version of our latest release, Ambush. We have a long association with this specialist company and those who own a copy of Animal Instinct on vinyl will endorse the quality statement. As soon as they heard the album and checked out the stunning artwork of Rodney Matthews they were on board and we think this is their best work yet for the band.

The album will be limited to a run of 350 only so it will quickly sell out, below is a list of the distributors who will be able to steer you in the right direction to get hold of your copy. A release date may vary by distributor but we are lead to believe that you can place pre-orders to secure a copy.

We have been inundated with requests from you guys to release this album on vinyl and we hope you will not be disappointed."
Order via the following links:

Europe:
HR Records
Nuclear Blast

North America:
Hells Headbangers
Ambush tracklisting:

'Keeping Me Alive'
'These Eyes'
'One Of A Kind'
'Rock & Roll Dream'
'She'
'Man On Fire'
'Play To Win'
'Burning Desire'
'Hey Suzie'
'Mr. Indispensable'
'Speed'

Stream/download the new track, 'Speed', below:
Tygers of Pan Tang lineup:

Robb Weir: guitars
Jacopo Meille: vocals
Dean Robertson: guitars
Gavin Gray: bass
Craig Ellis: drums / percussion
Check out an album trailer below:

In 1992, Memphis, Tennessee's ROXY BLUE released their one and only album, Want Some?, on Geffen Records. The 12-track affair was produced by Mike Clink, who helmed GUNS N' ROSES' Appetite For Destruction; and featured a guest appearance from WARRANT's Jani Lane. Then came grunge...
Now, 20 years later, FnA Records has partnered with Roxy Blue to raid the vaults and pull out all the unreleased studio recordings, demos, B-sides, rarities, and live tracks. This has resulted in three albums of never before released material.

Keep in mind that these original recordings were made on tape nearly two decades ago and some of them have deteriorated over time. The band and FnA Records did their absolute best with pain-staking efforts to restore the recordings to as close to their natural state as possible.

The first album is titled Want Some More, the artwork and tracklisting are as follows:
'Bad To The Bullet'
'Already Gone'
'Set Me Free'
'Wasted Time'
'You'
'If I Could'
'Moving On'
'Black Sky'
'Show Me'
'Can't Take It'
'Just Enuff'
'Love's Gotta Hold On Me' (demo)
'Times Are Changin' (demo)
'Rock-a-Bye Baby' (demo)
'Rob The Cradle' (live)

The recordings on Want Some More are demos of songs that were to be for Roxy Blue’s sophomore release.

Check out a Want Some More teaser below:
The second album is titled Stripped, the artwork and tracklisting are as follows:
'Times Are Changin' (version 432)
'Sister Sister'
'Nobody Knows'
'We Can Work It Out'
'Merry Go Down'
'Mississippi Moon'
'Take The Night With You'
'Walkin, Talkin'
'Times Are Changin' (version 879)
'Blind By Belief'
'Mr. Jones'
'Crusin'
'Another Rose In The Garden'

The recordings on Stripped are classics and unreleased tracks, all stripped down to the barebones; much like the MTV unplugged days.

The third album is titled Live At Nightmoves, the artwork and tracklisting are as follows:
'Bad To The Bullet'
'Can't Take It'
'All Tied Up'
'Rob The Cradle'
'Talk Of The Town'
'Just Enuff'
'Outta Control'
'Too Hot To Handle'
'Times Are Changin'
'Main Attraction'
'Way Down In Dixie'
'Rock-A-Bye Baby'
'Thunderbird'

The recordings on Live At Nightmoves represent a special time in the band's career. This was the last show before the band got signed and went off to Los Angeles to make the classic Want Some album. The energy was high, the set was tight, and the fans were just plain crazy. Relive a moment in time when one of the most under-rated hair bands in history ruled the Memphis scene.

Pre-orders for each of the new Roxy Blue releases can be placed now at FnARecords.net, with regular vesions, fan packs and super fan packs available.

VESSEL, the project band from Australia featuring former IRON MAIDEN vocalist BLAZE BAYLEY, have released their debut album Introspective. The album cn be streamed in its entirety via their BandCamp page.

Introspective features guest appearances from Lord Tim (LORD, ex-DUNGEON) who also mixed and mastered the album, members of Australian death metal band ORDNANCE, and more.

The release comes in a four-panel digipack featuring full liner notes and artwork by At The Ends. Presented in 100% recycled card, this CD release is limited to 500 copies worldwide.
Introspective tracklisting:

'Werewolf'
'Desire Disdain'
'Masterpiece'
'This Cage'
'Introspective'
'Elements'

The band previously released the video for the track ‘Werewolf’ which features Bayley on lead vocals, with backing vocals and guitar solos from Justin Daley and Mick Coffey of Australian death metal band Ordnance. Check it out below:

SAIGON KICK guitarist Jason Bieler recently launched a new project dubbed OWL STRETCHING, which he told BW&BK first-hand is "a constantly morphing project with different guests that I use as a vehicle to release new music." He has posted rough demos for two new songs 'Fall To Pieces' and 'All Great Stories End' online. Check them out below:
During an exclusive interview with BW&BK discussing the initial rumours of a Saigon Kick reunion Bieler shed some light on Owl Stretching:

“Owl Stretching is me working with different musicians, some of them older and more experienced, some new guys, and constantly messing with it and evolving with it. Because I own a label and a studio, I don’t really have to do anything. It’s been the most fun, and the most dangerous in a sense, because I really don’t care. I can do what I want with whoever I want and how I want along with the people working with me, with no real justification for it. I’m not concerned about whether radio will like it or being able to tour with it. We’re just making music that we think is cool for that moment. We’ve only done a few things so far, but the diversity of Owl Stretching makes Saigon Kick look like a death metal band (laughs).”

Bieler has put Owl Stretching's debut digital EP up for sale via his label, Bieler Bros. Check out the complete tracklist with samples below. Go to this location to order.

Dutch vocalist ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN (ex-THE GATHERING) has updated her scehdule with two more shows in Finland (Tampere and Turku) featuring special guest Danny Cavanagh of ANATHEMA (**). Her schedule is available below:
January
15 - Tilburg, Netherlands - Extase
28 - Helsinki, Finland - Semifinal **
29 - Helsinki, Finland - Semifinal **
30 - Jyvaskyla, Finland - Lutakko **
31 - Tampere, Finland - Klubi **

February
1 - Turku, Finland - Klubi **

On September 19th, Van Giersbergen performed at The Borderline in London, England on her continuing Everything Is Changing tour. Fan filmed video featuring Anneke covering the EURHYTHMICS classic 'Here Comes The Rain Again' and joining the audience during 'Hope Pray Dance Play' is available below:

Italian symphonic death metal act FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE have released their new video, 'The Forsaking', on YouTube below. The clip was directed by the band and Salvatore Perrone. The track can be found on the band's Nuclear Blast Records debut, Agony.
Fleshgod Apocalypse recently signed a management deal with Hard Impact Management Inc. - who boast ALESTORM, BROKEN HOPE, GLORYHAMMER and SEPTICFLESH on their roster - which is led by Maurizio Iacono. The band has issued the following statement:
"Yes! We are extremely happy to start working with Maurizio and the Hard Impact Management team. We think Hard Impact fits perfectly with what we want and represent. We're going to kick some major asses with our new album, this is a promise! We are more motivated and focused than ever! The future is now. We're ready to bite into it."

Iacono commented: "When I saw Fleshgod Apocalypse the first time live, I was blown away. It's not only the great image they have, but also the musicianship, the originality and the drive behind it. To make yourself heard outside of Italy while playing extreme music is hard. It takes guts, patience and balls-- and in this business, it's a must!! They have done it and succeeded, and now it's time to take the future by the horns. Time to let these boys grow into the global monsters they really are. Stand by 2013!"

Iacono is also the general manager / co-owner of the quickly rising American booking agency Rock The Nation USA.

For more information visit HardImpactMusic.com and RockTheNationUsa.com.

Chilean metal band NAIOTH have uploaded the lyric video for their song 'Seed Of Truth', which comes from their debut album Dance Of Light. Check it out below:
Dance Of Light was released in July via Digmetalworld Records, and can be downloaded for free at this location.

The artwork and tracklisting to Dance Of Light are as follows:

‘Born’
‘Seed Of Truth’
‘Inside’
‘Dance Of Light’
‘Death Elements’
‘Mental Walls’
‘The Alchemyst’
‘Paradox Spheres’
‘Fast’

Naioth's first video for ‘Dance Of Light’ is also available to view:
The band has announced they will release a second video clip for the song, ‘Death Elements’, in early 2013.

Oklahoma's VANGOUGH released their Acoustic Scars EP on December 18th via Bandcamp and CDBaby. Once again mixed by long-time collaborator Sterling Winfield and housed in a beautiful glossy jacket, this five-song EP serves as a chilling narrative chronicling the band’s career.
"This EP is a testament to our vulnerability as a band and as human beings," explains vocalist and guitarist Clay Withrow. "Long story short, the title Acoustic Scars is symbolic of our experience in Atlanta and is also a dedication to our ProgPower fans who we unfortunately missed during the trip."

Blending a distinct Eastern European folk flavor with hard rock roots, Acoustic Scars is a soundscape of raw emotion. Beginning with a dreary and atmospheric instrumental before segueing into the marquee track 'A Song For Crows' and the Latin-flavored 'Throne Of Rust', the EP closes in celebratory fashion with the Watership Down-inspired suite 'The Rabbit Chronicles'. Vangough's latest creation provides a thoughtful and dramatic musical twist that will hold fans over until the arrival of their third studio album in 2013.
Tracklislting:

'Leaving Bricolage'
'A Song For Crows'
'Throne Of Rust'
'The Rabbit Chronicles'
'Road To Blighttown'

'A Song For Crows' and 'Throne Of Rust' are streaming in the YouTube clips below:
Band lineup:

Clay Withrow - Vocals/Guitars
Kyle Haws - Percussion
Jeren Martin - Bass
Justus Johnston - Violin
Jose Palacios - Cello

More on Vangough, including their live itinerary, at this location.

Seven KISS albums will be released as as SHM-CDs (Super High Material Compact Discs) in Japan on March 20th, 2013. The titles are:

Unmasked
The Elder
Creatures Of The Night
Lick It Up
Revenge
Carnival Of Souls
Psycho Circus

They can be pre-ordered for about 20 US Dollars each at CD Japan.
In live news, KISS will continue their Monster tour next year, confirmed shows are as follows:

February
28 – Perth, Australia - Perth Arena

March
3 – Adelaide, Australia - Clipsal 500 Race
5 – Melbourne, Australia - Etihad Stadium
6 - Melbourne, Australia - Etihad Stadium
9 – Sydney, Australia - Allphones Arena
10 – Sydney, Australia - Allphones Arena
12 – Brisbane, Australia - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
16 – Mackay, Australia - Virgin Australia Stadium

June
1 - Stockholm, Sweden - Friends Arena
3 - Helsinki, Finland - Hartwall Arena
6 - Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
8 - Stavanger, Norway - Viking Fest
11 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Forum
12 - Berlin, Germany - Waldbuhne
14 - Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena
15 - Vienna, Austria - Novarock Festival
17 - Udine, Italy - Villa Manin
18 - Milan, Italy - Mediolanum Forum
20 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion
22 - Clisson, France - Hellfest

Chicago-based metallers ION VEIN's "IV v2.0" is the next release in Mortal Music's DR (digital release) series.

Commented the band: "We're ecstatic to present this next 'chapter' of songs to you, as we feel it will further help you to see and understand the vision and direction that we have for ION VEIN so enjoy!"

"IV v2.0" is available now via iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon and all other digital outlets.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Seemless (Take Me Away) (3:22)
02. Fool's Parade (3:34)
03. This Is Me (4:29)

The songs were produced/engineered and mixed by Neil Kernon (NILE, NEVERMORE, QUEENSRŸCHE, REDEMPTION), who also contributed the main guitar solo on the song "Seemless", and mastered by Alan Douches, both of whom worked on the "IV v1.0" release as well.

A video teaser for "IV v2.0" can be viewed below.

The DR concept was developed by Mortal Music as taking a snap shot of an album of music and releasing it into the market a "chapter" at a time, so to speak, to allow it to work its way into the marketplace faster and to help alleviate the musical overload fans and press alike are experiencing these days with so many options available. The full-length album will then be available on CD at the end of the cycle for those that still collect physical product.

"IV v1.0" DR is now available via iTunes and Bandcamp as well.

Female-fronted metal band FACE OFF will release their upcoming debut album The Colour Of Rain On February 14th via Canadian Label Maple Metal Records.

The band has now released the cover art for the album. Check it out below.
Tracklisting is as follows:
‘The Colour Of Rain’
‘Dream Chamber’
‘Close enough’
‘War Against War’
‘The Innocence’
‘Voices’
‘Fragile’
‘Lost In Translation’
‘The End’

The Colour Of Rain was recorded in Music Studio Novicic, RS from 2011 to 2012 by producer Vladimir Novicic. The album was recorded with their previous lineup of Marija on vocals, Stefan and Miroslav Veselinovic on guitars, Danilo Svorcan on bass, and Milos Branisavljevic on drums.

A three song preview of the album which can be seen below as well as a full album preview:

Finnish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH recently launched their own wine called (fittingly) Imaginaerum wine, named after their current album and upcoming movie of the same name.
Check out the official promotional video of Imaginaerum Ribera del Duero wine by Nightwish below:
Now available in UK, Spain and Portugal, Nightwish mainman/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen recently stated: "Imaginaerum is the most imaginative wine on the planet. It’s inspired by otherworldly splendours, moments of wonderment and the joyous sound of laughter with a hint of campfire poetry, music of the spheres, and the long, smooth, star-filled finish of Lucid Dreams. It is a wine best enjoyed with the ones you hold dear. Cheers and enjoy!"
Imaginaerum wine is sourced from some of the most prestigious vineyards in central Spain. Its grapes originate from vines that are up to 100 years old and are growing at high altitudes in stony gravel soils. Old vines, almost no water and poor soils have resulted in a ridiculously low yields but grapes with super intensive aromas. Before bottling, the wine has spent 14 months in small barrels made of French oak.
The label of the bottle is based on the song 'The Crow, The Owl And The Dove' from the Imaginaerum album. The mystery of the bird emblem will be revealed to anyone listening to the song with thought and a glass of Imaginaerum…

For more details visit Nightwishwine.com. Check out a promo clip for the wine below:

PITCH BLACK PROCESS has signed a deal with Sliptrick Records.
The band will release an exclusive digital EP in the following days. Info on the EP will be released soon.

The band will follow up the EP with a full length album recorded, mixed and produced by Daniel Bergstrand at Dugout Studios (IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH, SOILWORK) and mastered by Thomas Eberger at Stockholm Mastering.

For more info visit PITCH BLACK PROCESS’ Facebook page.

"Rise Of The Virvum Juggernaut", a brand new song from California extreme metallers DEEDS OF FLESH, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's ninth album, b>"Portals To Canaan", which will be released next year via Unique Leader Records. The CD features "amazing artwork and numerous conceptual pieces" by Raymond Swanland.

Commented DEEDS OF FLESH founding member Erik Lindmark: "We are very excited to get this release out there amoung the masses.

"The album combines new and old elements of the band and we think the fans will really enjoy it. Zack from Castle Ultimate has done a great job in putting the final touches to the production and 'Portals To Canaan' is most definitely our best production to date.

"The new members, Craig Peters (lead guitar) and Ivan Munguia (bass), fit the band perfectly and really did a great job on the release.

"All in all, we are extremely pleased with the final product and believe the fans will be stoked."

DEEDS OF FLESH's last CD, "Of What's to Come", came out in November 2008 via Unique Leader.

Fan-filmed video footage of VISION DIVINE's December 16 performance at Lakei in Helmond, Holland can be seen below.

VISION DIVINE's seventh studio album, "Destination Set To Nowhere", was released on September 14 via Germany's earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based rock branch of Edel Group.

"Destination Set To Nowhere" is a melting pot, a perfect mix of all the styles the band has crossed and experimented with over the years. The concept album is kept in their well-known style, spiced up with a futuristic twist. The high-class production adds up to the unbelievably driven sound.

The concept of "Destination Set To Nowhere" takes place in space, starting from the social-political troubles everybody is experiencing in every-day life. It follows a man on his journey through open space, after having left the earth together with like-minded people. They set out to search a new home, a new planet to make everything better, to live their vision of peace. Finally, after a long journey, a new planet to call home has been found. But slowly, the crew falls back into the same old routines. The new found heaven has turned into the same hell they all wanted to leave behind. The only way to escape is to set out again, one man leaving alone — destination set to nowhere.

"Destination Set To Nowhere" track listing:

01. S'io Fosse Foco
02. The Dream Maker
03. Beyond The Sun And Far Away
04. The Ark
05. Mermaids From Their Moons
06. The Lighthouse
07. Message To Home
08. The House Of The Angels
09. The Sin Is You
10. Here We Die
11. Destination Set To Nowhere

VISION DIVINE is:

Fabio Lione - Vocals
Olaf Thorsen - Guitars
Federico Puleri - Guitars
Alessio Lucatti - Keyboards, Piano
Andrea "Tower" Torricini - Bass
Alessandro Bissa - Drums

Indie Recordings recently announced the signing of Norway's MAN THE MACHETES, and the release of their debut album, Idiokrati, on January 29th in Europe and January 25th in Germany/Austria.

Man The Machetes have released the second single from the upcoming album, entitled 'Karma å Brenne', available on iTunes, Spotify, and Wimp.
Listen to 'Karma å Brenne', streaming below:
Man The Machetes recently released the second studio video from the recording of Idiokrati. Watch both studio videos below:

Part 1:
Part 2:

The single, 'Mageplask', from the upcoming album can be heard below:
The band had this to say about the signing and the new album: "We feel privileged to be working with Indie Recordings to release our debut album. We have been met with professionalism, good advice and it’s been great working together so far. We are very excited about the reception of our first single and the album when it’s released in January. The album contains 10 tracks that are characterized by hard work and a high party factor. The nearly 30 minutes are intense, without much breathing space and production-wise we are very pleased. Eric Ratz has done a fantastic job and has been a major factor in giving each song the identity that we have been looking for. We are so excited!"
In a matter of two years, Man the Machetes has gone from playing small venues in their home country, Norway, to playing festivals like Pstereo and Hove, being awarded Ukas Urørt by the Norwegian radio broadcasters, NRK P3, and warming up for bands like GALLOWS and KVELERTAK.
More on Man The Machetes here.