Fan-filmed video footage of KRUX — the Swedish band featuring CANDLEMASS bassist Leif Edling, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN singer Mats Levén, ex-ENTOMBED drummer Peter Stjärnvind, guitarist Jörgen Sandström (also in THE PROJECT HATE, ex-ENTOMBED/GRAVE), OPETH/ex-ARCH ENEMY guitarist Fredrik Åkesson and keyboardist Carl Westholm — performing on December 15, 2012 at the Eindhoven Metal Meeting in Eindhoven, Holland can be seen below.

KRUX's third album, "III - He Who Sleeps Amongst The Stars", was released last year via Mascot Records/GMR Music Group.

In an interview with Queens Of Steel, Sandström stated about "III - He Who Sleeps Amongst The Stars", "We didnt wanna repeat ourselves from the previous albums even though it sounds like KRUX. Also, it has been some years since we recorded the last album and our mindset is different at this moment and time... although our minds are always set towards the heavy side of metal when it comes to creating KRUX material."

When asked if KRUX has incorporated new influences into its sound on the new album, Sandström said, "I guess when being overall music lovers there are new influences coming in from everywhere, be it rock or metal in any form (doom, black, death, etc.). I can definitely hear some influences from bands that Leif has mentioned over the years… HAWKWIND, early MANOWAR, JUDAS PRIEST, etc."

Sweden’s PALEFEATHER have signed with Aftermath Music for the worldwide release of their yet-to-be-named debut album which will be out in the spring of 2013.
The band have recently completed the first stage in recording their debut album, and will continue with recording sessions in the winter.

A small teaser from the new album can be found below:
Lineup:
Björn Pettersson - guitar
Pierre Stam - guitar, bass, keyboards
Robin Bergh – drums, percussion

Fan-filmed video footage of TESTAMENT's December 3 performance at Effenaar in Eindhoven, Holland can be seen below.

TESTAMENT played its first show with stand-in drummer Mark Hernandez (ex-FORBIDDEN) on November 27 at the Garage in Glasgow, Scotland.

TESTAMENT's drummer of the past year, Gene Hoglan, was unable to make the recent tour due to his commitments to his other band, DETHKLOK.

TESTAMENT's new album, "Dark Roots Of Earth", sold more than 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No, 12 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on July 31 via Nuclear Blast Records.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. The cover artwork for the effort (see below) was painted by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

TESTAMENT recently wrapped a co-headlining North American tour with fellow American thrash metal greats ANTHRAX and Nuclear Blast labelmates DEATH ANGEL.

Guitar World magazine recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett about his book, "Too Much Horror Business - The Kirk Hammett Collection". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Guitar World: If you made a horror film about METALLICA, which monster would play each band member?

Kirk: I would be a vampire, because they're stealth, lurk in the shadows, and appear and disappear. There's also a goth element to vampires that I really like, which doesn't exist in werewolves, the Frankenstein monster or the mummy. James [Hetfield] would probably enjoy being a Frankenstein monster…but then again maybe not! Rob [Trujillo] would definitely be a werewolf, because he's already halfway there in appearance. [laughs] And Lars [Ulrich] would probably make a pretty good vampire, like myself.

Guitar World: What's the strangest thing you've ever collected?

Kirk: Hmm... For a while I was collecting Satan and devil stuff — you know, anything that had to do with old Beelzebub or Lucifer. But I had to put the brakes on it, because there's a lot of stuff out there, and the collection was just growing too quickly. As far as eclectic stuff, I went through a really big taxidermy phase where I collected lots of animals. I've since had to go through and sell off stuff, because not only does it take up a lot of room but also there are little critters that like to move into taxidermy. And it's not my thing to have little critters moving around my house.

Guitar World: Sophie's Choice: Your guitars or your horror collection — one has to go.

Kirk: Oh! Did you have to ask me that question? [laughs] That's putting me in the hot seat, man. I don't know if I have an answer. That's like, "What arm should I chop off? My left or my right?" [laughs] That's a hard one. I'd go nuts if I lost either one. But, in my heart of hearts, I would probably sell my movie poster collection before my guitars. My music and guitars are just that much closer to my heart. I mean, come on, music was the only thing that could tear me away from the [horror] stuff. But when I was able to get some disposable income, via music and guitar playing, I went right back to collecting. My appreciation for that stuff will be with me my whole life. But my guitars offer me a voice and a conduit to express myself. They give me a sense of accomplishment that I don't think collecting will ever give to me. With music and guitar playing I can also help, and share with, more people than I could ever do with my collection. And that's the bottom line.

Read the entire interview from Guitar World.

"Before I Die", the new video from California rockers PAPA ROACH, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's new album, "The Connection", which sold 22,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at No. 17 on the Billboard album chart.

Earlier this year, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix told Loudwire about "Before I Die": "I was going through a separation with my wife during the process of making the record. Fast forward to the present and we're working it out now, but in the process of making this record, we were separated. I was at the end of my rope; I was in a lot of pain. This music is where I found my sanctuary, where I could express myself and just take myself out it for a second and not feel the pain and just be creative. During the process of making this song, 'Before I Die', I felt like everything was taken from me and I was just left out there raw and broken, it made everything clear to me, what really mattered to me."

He added: "At the end of the day, it's the people that I love in my life that are the most important to me and sometimes when you treat the people that you love the most the worst, that's the wrong path. I had to take a long hard look at myself and realize how I was living my life and make those changes. Just being out there on my own and having those realizations, that's where the song came from."

PAPA ROACH has just completed a European tour with STONE SOUR for the band's first extended trek since Shaddix had surgery on his vocal cords in September. Asked by the Armed Forces Network how his voice was holding up, Shaddix said, "Voice is great. I'm slaying it on the shows so far and I feel really good. I was definitely blessed to go to the right doctor and get my surgery performed by him. It was scary, but I'm good."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Shaddix said that during his recovery, he got to spend some time with his kids and also learn the latest musical trends. He explained, "After my surgery, I had some time at home so I was helping coach my son's tackle football team . . . I'd turn around and they're behind me doing the 'Gangnam' dance. I was like, 'Alright, we save that for after practice.'"

Even before his vocal problems started, Shaddix admitted in several interviews that he came close to committing suicide earlier in the year as he struggled with both marital problems and falling off the wagon.

PAPA ROACH and STONE SOUR will tour the U.S. together in early 2013, on a co-headlining tour that begins on January 20 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Robb Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA) are among the "surprise" guests who performed with with the surviving members of SUICIDE SILENCE at a special show last night (Friday, December 21) at the Fox theater in Pomona, California as a tribute to their late frontman, Mitch Lucker, who died November 1, after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle crash in Huntington Beach on Halloween night. All proceeds from the event will go towards the education of Mitch's five-year-old daughter, Kenadee Lucker. The concert announcement was made on November 24 during the sixth annual California Metalfest at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California.

Fan-filmed video footage of last night's concert, which was filmed for DVD release, can be seen below.

In announcing the benefit event, SUICIDE SILENCE guitarist Mark Heylmun said, "If there was anything that Mitch gave a fuck about in the world besides SUICIDE SILENCE, it would obviously be his daughter; he cared more about her than anything in the fucking world. We're here and we're gonna make sure that she's taken care of, and that's what we have to do."

Guest performers at Pomona concert:

* Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD)
* Robb Flynn (MACHINE HEAD)
* Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SEPULTURA)
* Jonathan "Johnny Plague" Cooke (WINDS OF PLAGUE)
* Brook Reeves (IMPENDING DOOM)
* Chad Gray (HELLYEAH, MUDVAYNE)
* Danny Worsnop (ASKING ALEXANDRIA)
* Tim Lambesis (AS I LAY DYING)
* Eddie Hermida (ALL SHALL PERISH)
* Phil Bozeman (WHITECHAPEL)
* Austin Carlile (OF MICE & MEN)
* Anthony Notarmaso (AFTER THE BURIAL)
* Cameron "Big Chocolate" Argon (DISFIGURING THE GODDESS)
* Myke Terry (ex-BURY YOUR DEAD)
* Ricky Hoover (ex-SUFFOKATE)

A funeral service for Mitch Lucker was held on November 8. The ceremony was attended by family and friends, including SUICIDE SILENCE bassist Dan Kenny, who tweeted afterwards, "Had to bury my brother today, he looked peaceful when I saw him. It was very hard but it was needed! To the fans just know Mitch loved yall"

SUICIDE SILENCE has launched a memorial fund to provide assistance to Lucker's family. Those who donate $20 or more will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lucker struck a light pole near the intersection of Main and 13th streets and was thrown from his 2013 Harley Davidson. The motorcycle continued sliding south on Main Street and struck a northbound 2007 Nissan Titan pickup.

Lucker, who was treated at the scene by paramedics, died shortly after 6 a.m. at UC Irvine Medical Center.

Charleston, West Virginia's ARISE AS KINGS has changed its name to LEFT BEHIND. In addition, the band has signed with We Are Triumphant and was picked up to join the AAP Booking roster.

LEFT BEHIND has made its new single, "Haunted", available for free download. Another single, "No Forgiveness", will be released later this month, featuring Jordan Bradley (aka Bone) from EMBRACER, to be followed by LEFT BEHIND's first EP, which is being produced by Brette Ciamarra at Studio 344.

The band had this to say about the name change: "We have a few reasons for this change. First of all, we have grown so much and matured a great deal in the past year and a half of being a band, to the point where ARISE AS KINGS no longer fits our music, our mindset, or us anymore. We also wanted a fresh, brand new start. A new chapter of our music and of our lives."

Hailing from Charleston, West Virginia, LEFT BEHIND is comprised of Anthony "Peppy" Olick, Zak Rea, Bryan Rea, Cade Lewis, and Jordan Lorea. Formed in 2012, the band effortlessly blends the harsh style of East Coast hardcore with the raw power of Midwest metalcore and nü metal along with multiple other influences, creating an incredible sound unlike anything else out there.

"We Three Kings", the new video from SIN CITY SINNERS — which features Todd Kerns (SLASH, AGE OF ELECTRIC), Brent Muscat (FASTER PUSSYCAT), Rob Cournoyer (RAGING SLAB) and Zach Throne (THE HEIGHTS) — can be seen below. Some of the images in the clip were filmed on December 9 at Kiss By Monster Mini Golf, the rock and roll-themed amusement attraction based around the band KISS, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The band states: "This video was created on the iPad 2 and cost absolutely nothing to make, but we hope it will bring a few smiles this holiday season."

"We Three Kings" comes off SIN CITY SINNERS' third album, "A Sinners' Christmas", which came out last year. The CD features guest appearances by Frank Dimino (ANGEL), Jizzy Pearl (L.A. GUNS, RATT, LOVE/HATE), George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB, SOULS OF WE), Slim Jim Phantom (HEADCAT, THE STRAY CATS), Louie Merlino (BEGGARS & THIEVES), Jimmy Crespo (AEROSMITH), Pete Loran (TRIXTER), Ron Keel (KEEL) and Sammy Serious (THE ZEROS). It was recorded, mixed and mastered at Hit Track Studios in Las Vegas and produced by Brent Muscat and Tom Parham, and executive-produced by Jason Green.

"A Sinners' Christmas" track listing:

01. We Three Kings (feat. George Lynch & Todd Kerns)
02. Winter Wonderland (feat. Frank Dimino of Angel)
03. Run Rudolph Run (feat. Brent Muscat)
04. Rocking Around The Christmas Tree (feat. Todd Kerns)
05. O Holy Night (feat. Jizzy Pearl)
06. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (feat. Louie Merlino)
07. Jingle Bell Rock (feat. Slim Jim Phantom, Michael Ellis)
08. Silent Night (feat. Ron Keel)
09. I'll Be Home For Christmas (feat. Pete Loran)
10. We Wish You A Sinners Christmas (feat. Todd Kerns, Louie Merlino)

A portion of "A Sinners' Christmas" sales will go to the Toys For Tots Las Vegas chapter, which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas.

In 2010, SIN CITY SINNERS released two CDs of original music, "Exile on Fremont Street" and the all-acoustic "Broken Record". The SINNERS' music video, "Goin' To Vegas", received the 32nd annual Telly Award and the track "Numb" was nominated for an AVN award for "Best Original Song".

Video footage of DOKKEN frontman Don Dokken's December 14 acoustic performance at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Legendary Rock Interviews, Don stated about his decision to go out and play acoustic shows: "[Having fun is] the whole reason I do it. We do it every year; I go out and play a few acoustic shows just for fun. I'm taking out Mark Boals (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN vocalist) and he's doing harmony vocals and we're both playing guitar. I did 40 shows with QUEENSRŸCHE a couple years back the same way just myself and an acoustic guitar. We're going to be playing the DOKKEN stuff but also a lot of other stuff like BEATLES songs, THREE DOG NIGHT, stuff like that. It's interesting because a lot of songs, without the pomp and volume don't really work or stand up, but these DOKKEN songs are really stripped down to the way they were originally written with acoustic guitar and vocals."

Asked how he thinks his voice has held up over the years, Don told the Phoenix New Times: "For three years, my voice was crap; it was terrible. I lost my voice in Germany four years ago and tore my vocal cords [after] we did 27 shows in 32 days. I had to have surgery and learn how to re-sing. I quit smoking, no Jack Daniels, and I don't talk a lot. I was snoring and I had sleep apnea and my voice was trashed. I talked to Tom Keifer from CINDERELLA who couldn't sing for three years. When I was on tour with him, he sounded as good as ever and I asked him what he did. He told me he went to a vocal coach and had to learn to re-sing and not push as hard. It's like anything: if you put 100,000 miles on a car it's not going to run as good as it did. That's the bad thing about vocal cords, 'ya can't change them and as a vocalist you're screwed. There are a million singers that can't sing like they could when they were 28."

On the topic of whether there is a chance that the classic DOKKEN lineup will ever reunite for for an album or tour, Don said: "I'd love to play with Jeff [Pilson, bass] and Mick [Brown, drums], and I'd do it with George [Lynch, guitar] too. I'd love to put an exclamation point on DOKKEN and make another record. I think that George is at such a place in his life that he can't be a team player to make a good record. I don't want to make a record for the money, because it will be a bad record. If you just crank out a bunch of songs for the money, the fans are just going to be disappointed, so what's the point? What people don't realize is that in our heyday, George and I never wrote a song together — ever; there isn't one song. It was always Jeff, Mick, and George writing songs and I wrote my songs by myself. George and I just couldn't be in a room together and write. Whenever we'd try to write together we were on two opposite side of the planet as to where the song was going. The bummer about making those records is that it was always a fight and a struggle. If a band gets along, they have a long career."

"Necromantic Sorcery", the new video form ear-grinding extremists HUMANITY DELETE, can be seen below. The clip was shot by 62nd Chamber Productions in Canada.

"Necromantic Sorcery" comes off HUMANITY DELETE's debut album, "Never Ending Nightmares", which was released on December 4 through Deadbeat Media.

Masterminded by by one of extreme metal's most prolific artists Rogga Johansson (PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER, REVOLTING, DEMIURG, BONE GNAWER), the concept of "Never Ending Nightmares" dates back to 2003 when HUMANITY DELETE was originally formed. Recently resurrected, the product of Johansson's evil genius has finally been unleashed upon the world. The CD was recorded by Johansson and mixed/mastered by Ronnie Björnström.

"Never Ending Nightmares" is paranormal, post-apocalyptic death metal with grind/punk influences that will have you sleeping with the lights on for weeks! The cover artwork was created by Adam Geyer, with inner artwork also by Geyer, as well as Ironworx Gravefix and Dzul Skam. Rogga single-handedly recorded 11 raw, dirty and ugly death metal tracks with a grind/punk approach. Jill Girardi (Dead Beat Media), who has been living in Malaysia for three years, was asked to write lyrics with the theme of Asian ghosts and creepy lore, which she has studied heavily, as anyone who reads up on the ghost lore of Asia knows it is one of the most terrifyingly haunted regions of the earth. To make it even better, Lasse Pyykkö (HOODED MENACE) was recruited to add some guest guitar solos to the music, to give it an even rawer feeling.

Future HUMANITY DELETE albums will continue with the paranormal experiences while also adding post-apocalyptic themes into the mix for a killer combination.

THE WILDHEARTS frontman Ginger (real name David Walls) has joined forces with bassist Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, VENOMOUS CONCEPT, LOCK UP) in a new grind/noise band called MUTATION. The group, which also features in its ranks Jon Poole (CARDIACS), Chris Catalyst (SISTERS OF MERCY), Denzel (YOUNG LEGIONNAIRE) and a guest slot from THE FALL's frontman Mark E. Smith, will release a trio of albums, the first of which, "The Frankenstein Effect", is already finished, while LP number two is almost completed (the third will be recorded in 2013).

A video for the MUTATION track "Gruntwhore" can be seen below. (**IMPORTANT**: Viewer discretion is advised. Content is graphic and is NOT suitable for children.) The clip was created by Jeremy Belinfante, who states: "This video was made for a budget of about $500 AUD and shot over two and half days — entirely in my garage. It was a lot of hard work, but I'm really happy it's finally being released.

"It's been a long process to get this out. Pre-production started in February 2011 and the footage was shot in May 2011. The track was finally mixed and mastered in October this year, thanks to the pledge campaign. I edited the clip over the last two months in the sparse moments of spare time I've had between other jobs and projects.

"The clip is indebted to all the people who worked on it — cast and crew — who gave their time, effort and put their questions about the subject matter aside to help bring this twisted scenario and these ridiculous characters to life. The shoot introduced a lot of people to one another who have gone on to collaborate and become good friends. If you want to check out what some of the cast and crew have done and are doing now, here are some shameless plugs."

"Gruntwhore" recording lineup:

Vocals: Scott Lee Andrews (EXIT INTERNATIONAL)
Vocals: Tom Spencer (THE LOYALTIES, THE YO YO'S)
Backing Vocals - Paul Catten (MURDER ONE, MEDULLA NOCTE)
Backing Vocals - Rich Jones (BLACK HALOS, AMEN)
Guitar - Ginger, Rich Jones, Jase Edwards (WOLFSBANE)
Bass - Tom Spencer, Dom Lawson (OAF)
Drums - Dean Pearson (YOUNG LEGIONNAIRE)

Speaking to U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine, Ginger said of MUTATION: "The whole thing is based on my love of extreme music and not one specific genre. It's rhythmic, it's jarring, it's got more fucked up parts because of the CARDIACS elements, it's got more out-and-out thrash, it's a bit mathy in places, it's very technical. .. and then it's just really fuckin' noisy!:

Ginger described "Frankenstein" as "very early thrash mixed with really extreme arrangements", while the second offering is "way more disturbing." "That's what we were going for when we sat down together [and said ], 'Let's see what comes out when we get a member from the CARDIACS. a member from WILDHEARTS and a member from NAPALM DEATH!" said Ginger.

With Embury being a long-standing friend of Ginger as well as a massive CARDIACS fan, getting involved was something of a no-brainer.

"As much as I love NAPALM, I've been dying to do something a bit out-there lately," explained Shane. "I wouldn't say every NAPALM fan will like it, but I think a lot of them will be into it. It's pretty fucking nuts. We're not even halfway through — it's just a lot of extreme sounds and noise at the moment, just a mad collaboration of styles. It's fucking intense!"

The first two MUTATION albums were funded via PledgeMusic.

On December 21, Calgary, Alberta, Canada-based metallers DIVINITY released "The Dead Speak From Beyond" on their official web site. The song comes from part 1 of their upcoming trilogy release, "The Immortalist Trilogy, Part 1 – Awestruck".

"The Dead Speak From Beyond" is actually a PERICARDIUM cover song from the album "Anthems Of Anger", written by none other than the late Rob Doherty, who also played in INTO ETERNITY and FINAL DARKNESS. DIVINITY was first influenced by PERICARDIUM in the late '90s, after hearing "The Dead Speak From Beyond" on a radio show called "The Anvil" on CJSW in Calgary. The band went on to rent a rehearsal space that turned out to be next door to Rob and PERICARDIUM and finally met him and his band. After seeing PERICARDIUM play live, they were instant fans and played a gig together in 2001. They also shared the stage when Rob joined INTO ETERNITY in 2003.

As DIVINITY was beginning to create new music in 2012, they had learned about Rob's sudden passing and felt they had to do something to pay tribute to all the positive influence he had among the band. So it became obvious to make the song "The Dead Speak From Beyond" a DIVINITY song and keep the legacy of Rob Doherty and PERICARDIUM alive and strong.

DIVINITY's version of "The Dead Speak From Beyond":



Original PERICARDIUM recording of "The Dead Speak From Beyond":

"Ghost", the new video from the Stockholm, Sweden-based melodic death metal band FRANTIC AMBER — which features members from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Japan — can be seen below. The clip was released yesterday (Friday, December 21), the final day in the 13th 144,000-day cycle of the ancient Mayan Long Count Calendar — otherwise known as the Mayan apocalypse.

Commented FRANTIC AMBER guitarist and founder Mary Säfstrand: "We felt like doing something special on this day. Even if the world didn't end as rumored, it symbolizes a big thing and a turning point for us."

FRANTIC AMBER has performed at a number of festivals in the last two years, including Sweden Rock Festival, Metaltown and Rockstad Falun, and has toured in Sweden, Russia and Denmark. In addition, they won the Swedish Wacken Metal Battle 2012 in May, giving them the opportunity to play at the world's biggest metal festival, Wacken Open Air, in Wacken, Germany in August.

FRANTIC AMBER started 2012 by performing the song "Doomed To Walk This Earth" at "P3 Guld" — Swedish radio station P3's annual music awards ceremony — on January 21 at Lisebergshallen in Gothenburg, Sweden. The event was broadcast on Nordic national television channels and radio.

FRANTIC AMBER has turned to SellABand, a music web site that allows artists to raise the money from their fans and the SellABand community, in order to finance the recording of their debut album. The group's fan-funding target is 10,000 euros.

According to a press release, FRANTIC AMBER's debut CD — which will be recorded next spring — "will be a mix of brutality, groove and melody. Classic metal meets modern metal, simply an album where rage comes with beautiful harmonies. It is the core and essence that FRANTIC AMBER is all about."

Katon W. De Pena (pictured below) of long-running Long Beach, California-based metallers HIRAX is one of only a handful of black singers fronting metal and hard rock bands. Although there have been other African-Americans playing this genre of music — Jimi Hendrix, Phil Lynott (THIN LIZZY), Byron Davis (GOD FORBID) and Howard Jones (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) spring to mind — they are not nearly as common as Latino metalheads are. Asked why he thinks that is, the 49-year-old De Pena tells Nicholas Pell of LA Weekly, "These are questions that need to be asked." He adds that although he's never felt excluded, he's felt "misunderstood by other black folks. You get looked at differently if you're black and into metal. I still get that today.

"There are tons of black kids who love metal, but they think that there won't be any other black kids there and they won't be accepted," he explains.

De Pena, who says that "in South America you notice a lot more black people" attending metal concerts, believes that "if black people went to shows, they'd be stoked. It's not like what people hear about on talk shows. People come from all religious backgrounds, skin tones and hair lengths. I was more accepted [when I first started going to metal shows] because we're all outcasts and misfits."

Read more from LA Weekly.

In 2013, Swedish hard rockers EUROPE will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of their first album and they have confirmed a special show at Sweden Rock Festival 2013. This will be their only Swedish performance of the anniversary year and it will be a grandiose event indeed, promises singer Joey Tempest. The stage show will be one of the greatest, if not the greatest of the band's entire career (certain very special guest stars will also appear). The setlist will be specially composed from EUROPE's entire nine-album discography, including their cult debut "Europe" (1983), multi-million-seller "The Final Countdown" (1986) and their most recent outing, "Bag Of Bones" (2012), which has now reached gold status in Sweden. The performance will also be filmed for a DVD release, so make sure you'll be present when a piece of Swedish rock history will be both created and preserved for posterity.

For the record: today's version of EUROPE is identical to the classic "The Final Countdown" lineup: Joey Tempest (vocals), John Norum (guitar), John Levén (bass), Mic Michaeli (keyboards) and Ian Haugland (drums).

EUROPE celebrated the 30th anniversary of its appearance at the Swedish rock talent contest Rock-SM on December 13 by performing the song "In The Future To Come" at Hovet in Stockholm during the Scandianvian leg of their "Bag Of Bones" tour.

In 1982, EUROPE singer Joey Tempest's then-girlfriend entered FORCE (as EUROPE was originally known prior to changing its name) in the Rock-SM contest. Competing against 4000 bands, they performed two songs, "In The Future To Come" and "The King Will Return", and won the contest which resulted in a record deal with Hot Records. Tempest also won the individual award for "Best Lead Singer" while EUROPE guitarist John Norum was honored in the "Best Guitarist" category.

"Bag Of Bones" was released in Europe on April 27 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.

"Arrival At Six", the long-awaited second album from Swedish death metallers SORCERY, will be released on January 15, 2013 via Xtreem Music. The cover artwork was created by renowned artist Daniel Devilish. The effort will be made available on both CD and 12-inch vinyl (February 1).

According to a press release, "'Arrival At Six' turned out better than anyone could have expected and is definitely a great comeback for this legendary band that started in '85 and delivered a bunch of good demos and EP as well as a classic album in late '80s and early '90s. Mixed by Tomas Skogsberg at Sunlight Studios, 'Arrival At Six' contains nine slabs of true and pure Swedish death metal. No imitations here... this is the real deal!!"

"Arrival At Six" track listing:

01. We Who Walk Among The Dead
02. Created From Darkness And Rage
03. Master Of The Chains
04. United Satanic Alliance
05. Arrival At Six
06. Warbringer
07. Maculated Life
08. Beyond The Wall
09. Reborn Through Hate

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

Canadian metal legends ANVIL have completed recording their new album, "Hope In Hell", at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, AIRBOURNE, FILTER, ATREYU, ALICE COOPER). Due in late spring/early summer via The End Records in North America and SPV/Steamhammer in Europe, the CD will mark the recording debut with the band of bassist Sal Italiano who replaced Glenn Gyorffy (a.k.a. Glenn Five or G5) in January.

Commented ANVIL guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow: "Celebration night tonight, we're all finished recording 'Hope In Hell'...went to the Rainbow [Bar & Grill in West Hollywood] and had dinner. It was great seeing Lemmy [MOTÖRHEAD] sitting playing his usual slot machine.

"The recording came out killer!! It should be out in April or May. I was finished before the Mayan calender ran out.... there is Hope in Hell."

Marlette previously worked with ANVIL on last year's "Juggernaut Of Justice", which was made available as a limited-edition digipak (including two bonus tracks), double gatefold LP in blue vinyl, standard version and a digital download.

On September 24, Steamhammer/SPV re-released three albums from ANVIL, all featuring new booklets containing new liner notes from guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner plus new photos.

"Back To Basics" (2004) and "Still Going Strong" (2002) will be available again as a high-class "2 in 1" double digipak CD, while 2007's "This Is Thirteen" opus will be re-released as a digipak CD, as well as a double gatefold LP, both with an exclusive bonus track.

In an interview with MusicFrenzy.net, Lips stated about the departure of Gyorffy and the addition of Italiano, "It's so much more a relaxed, comfortable feeling on the stage. Sal steps back for me to do the front thing rather than trying to compete with it, or be a distraction to it. It's comfortable — it makes it very comfortable when everybody realizes what it all is and there's no bad vibes, which is… I mean, vibes between the members is everything and the ill feelings that we had around us are gone."

Italiano is a member of the Long Island, New York IRON MAIDEN tribute band LIVE AFTER DEATH and original progressive metal act THE NIGHTMARE STAGE, as well as a former member of the acclaimed '80s heavy metal group CITIES.

Glenn Five joined ANVIL in 1996 and has appeared on seven of the band's albums, including "This Is Thirteen" and the group's latest release, "Juggernaut Of Justice", on which he wrote and sang the song "This Ride".

Norwegian industrial/electronic metallers GOTHMINISTER have released a trailer for the upcoming concert film and concept album entitled "Utopia". Due next year via AFM Records, the set will include both newly recorded songs and a horror concert film with a running time of one hour and 20 minutes plus bonus material.

According to a press release, "The concept of 'Utopia' is inspired by Bjørn Alexander Brem's life and nightmares. The combination of being a lawyer in daytime and GOTHMINISTER at night drives him eventually insane; it becomes impossible for him to separate reality from imagination. The other GOTHMINISTER members Chris Dead (drummer), Icarus (guitars) and Turbo Natas (guitars) also take part in this nightmarish world filled with undead walkers, witches, werewolves and monsters."

Since the release of his debut, "Gothic Electronic Anthems", in 2003, Brem has captured the listeners with his hymns of pitch-black magic. Dark shudders, deepest leadvocals and thrilling craft of composing within the marrow of gothic, industrial metal and electro have become his trademarks ever since. Driving sequences lead into compelling verses which are soon countered by harsh metal riffs. Finally the listener gets subdued by an overwhelming combination of catchiness, denseness and heavenly choirs.

GOTHMINISTER is:

Bjørn "Gothminister" Brem - Vocals
Christian "Chris Dead" Svendsen - Drums
Glenn "Icarus" Nilsen - Guitar
Ketil "Turbo Natas" Eggum - Guitar

"She's Just A Liar", the new video from Perth Western, Australia-based hard rockers BABYJANE, can be seen below. The clip was filmed by Kundabuffer Photography & Multimedia and was directed by Baz Harvey.

"She's Just A Liar" comes off BABYJANE's sophomore album, "Make It Sick", which is available at CDBaby.com. The CD's title track, which features a guest appearance by John Corabi, former lead singer of MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM and UNION, was recorded with legendary producer Michael Wagener's (METALLICA, SKID ROW, OZZY OSBOURNE) Wireworld Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The song can now be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

BABYJANE's previous album, "Are You Listening?", was mixed by Wagener in 2010.

BABYJANE is:

Andy Smith - Vocals, Guitar
John Gerasolo - Lead Guitars
Paul Judge - Bass, Vocals
Nik Kats - Drums

For more information, visit BABYJANE's web site, www.babyjane.com.au.

Quality video footage of CONVERGE's December 18 performance at Arena in Vienna, Austria can be seen below.

CONVERGE recently completed a U.S. tour with support from TORCHE and KVELERTAK.

CONVERGE's new album, "All We Love We Leave Behind", sold 6,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 69 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on October 9, the effort was made available in a deluxe package that includes a 48-page, full-color hardcover, clothbound book with original art created by singer Jacob Bannon via Epitaph (vinyl on Deathwish).

Recorded and mixed by Ballou at his renowned Godcity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts, "All We Love We Leave Behind" is a no-frills CONVERGE album that sees the band — which also features bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller — eschewing fancy production techniques in order to create seventeen songs that work as a cohesive whole yet can also stand on their own. "There's no artificial distortion, triggers, or Auto-Tune on this album." Ballou explains, "It's all organic, it's real sounds that capture the way the band performs live."

U.D.O. — the German metal band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider — has recruited a new guitarist to replace Stefan Kaufmann, recently left the group for health reasons.

A message on the U.D.O. web site reads: "U.D.O. are very happy to announce that the band line up is complete again. We found a new guitarist and he fits to all requests, especially that he loves cats (as Stefan and the rest are doing as well)."

Stefan will continue to work with U.D.O. behind the scenes and produce other bands at his Roxx studio.

Kaufmann was the drummer for ACCEPT on nine albums but was forced to give up drumming towards the end of the band's initial run due to health problems.

Stefan joined U.D.O. as a guitar player in 1996, following ACCEPT's second breakup, and has recorded nine albums with them.

"Live In Sofia", the new DVD+CD and Blu-ray+CD from U.D.O., entered the Music DVD chart in Finland at position No. 1 and in Germany at No. 4.

"Live In Sofia" contains footage of U.D.O.'s November 16, 2011 concert at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria.

U.D.O. 's latest album, "Rev-Raptor", was released on May 20, 2011 via AFM Records.

Swedish death metallers HYPOCRISY are putting the finishing touches on their new album, "End Of Disclosure", for a late March release via Nuclear Blast Records.

Commented HYPOCRISY leader Peter Tägtgren: "We're still in the studio working hard to finalize the album. Horgh just layed down the drums, and let me tell you, it sounds awesome!!! Thundering and brutal!

"We can't wait to put out the new tracks and play them live! Hope to meet you all soon on road and wish you guys a great X-mas and happy new year!"

HYPOCRISY guitarist Mikael Hedlund told Metal Shock Finland late last year about the material for the band's next CD, "It's too early to say what it's going to sounds like, but all I can say is that it's not gonna be any change of style. It will be a classic HYPOCRISY album without [any] compromises.'

HYPOCRISY's latest DVD/CD, "Hell Over Sofia - 20 Years Of Chaos And Confusion", was released in October 2011 via Nuclear Blast. The disc contains footage of the band's February 27, 2010 concert at the Blue Box club in Sofia, Bulgaria.

HYPOCRISY's latest album, "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity", sold 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 23 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.

An audio sample of the song "Graveyard City" from the third VOODOO CIRCLE album, "More Than One Way Home", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

"More Than One Way Home" will be released on February 22, 2013 via AFM Records.

VOODOO CIRCLE is the German/British band featuring members of PRIMAL FEAR and PINK CREAM 69.

VOODOO CIRCLE's sophomore CD, "Broken Heart Syndrome", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 64. The effort was once again mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69, KROKUS), and was described in a press release as "a huge step forward and shows the band's boundless musical possibilities."

Alex is well known throughout the rock and metal scene as the mastermind of SILENT FORCE, former guitarist of SINNER and touring guitarist of PRIMAL FEAR. His exceptional compositions and instrumental skills secured him highest respect from other musicians and a strong worldwide fan base. In Japan, where quality is still the most important aspect when it comes to music, he is hailed as a "guitar hero" and fills the venues.

According to a press release, "Alex chose to walk in huge footsteps with VOODOO CIRCLE, because the immense impact and influence that bands like RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE had are undeniable. But if there is just one German musician who can fill this big boots and arouse with new energy, we definitely talk about Alex Beyrodt."

VOODOO CIRCLE is:

Alex Beyrodt (PRIMAL FEAR, SILENT FORCE, SINNER) - Guitar
David Readman (PINK CREAM 69) - Vocals
Mat Sinner (SINNER, PRIMAL FEAR) - Bass
Markus Kullmann (DEZPERADOZ) - Drums
Zlatko "Jimmy" Kresic (LIQUID HOME) - Keyboards

VOODOO CIRCLE's self-titled debut album was released in 2008.

Charly Steinhauer, guitarist/vocalist of long-running German metallers PARADOX, is scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery this Christmas Eve. He says, "I'm very sorry that I have to tell you that I'm in the hospital right now, and I will have a difficult heart surgery on Monday (December 24). Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I will survive and carry on making some good music for you. PARADOX will never die! I don't know if I will be able to go on stage again... Right now, I don't think so."

The official lyric video for the song "Brutalized" from PARADOX can be seen below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Tales Of The Weird", which was released on December 14 via AFM Records. The CD was produced by Steinhauer and was mixed and mastered by Victor Bullok (a.k.a. V. Santura; TRIPTYKON, DARK FORTRESS) at Woodshed Studio in Landshut, Germany. The cover art was created by Claudio Bergamin.

"Tales Of The Weird" features guest appearances by Bob Katsionis (FIREWIND) and Gus Drax (SUNBURST).

"Tales Of The Weird" track listing:

01. Tales Of The Weird
02. Day Of Judgement
03. Brutalized
04. Fragile Alliance
05. Slashdead
06. Drowning In Lies
07. Zeitgeist
08. Escalation
09. Brainwashed
10. The Downward Spiral
11. A Light In The Black (RAINBOW cover) (Japanese bonus track)

The new PARADOX lineup is as follows:

Charly Steinhauer (vocals, guitar)
Christian Muenzner (guitar)
Olly Keller (bass)
Daniel "Evil Ewald" Buld (drums)

"Brutalized" lyric video:

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has posted the following year-end message on his official web site:

"What a year! Certainly not the one I was expecting.

"Thanks to you all for your massive help and support; it was very encouraging.

"I'm still working on the [new BLACK SABBATH studio] album and managed to play three shows. Not bad given the news a year ago.

"I'm looking forward to next year, seeing what you think of the record and touring as much as we're able.

"My best wishes to you all. I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year, most of all, stay positive."

Iommi underwent chemotherapy treatment earlier in the year after being diagnosed with lymphoma at the end of 2011.

The paperback version of Iommi's book. "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath", was released in the U.K. on November 8 through Simon & Schuster and in the U.S. on December 11 via Da Capo Press/Perseus Books. Iommi stated: "It's got new chapters bringing everything up to date, including my battle with lymphoma."

Released in hardback in November 2011, "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath", landed at position No. 35 on the New York Times "Hardcover Nonfiction" best sellers list.

MEGADETH has 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 tentatively due in early 2013 via an as-yet-undisclosed label following MEGADETH's recent split with Roadrunner Records.

In a tweet earlier today, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine wrote: "Shawn [Drover, drums] and David [Ellefson, bass] have finished tracking songs 1, 2, and 3 and now it’s my turn today. I feel a burning in my soul!!! Arrrrggghhh!"

A 40-second video clip of Mustaine at his studio, Vic's Garage in San Marcos, California, talking about the new MEGADETH album and playing a riff from one of the band's new songs can be seen at this location (Quicktime file, 43 MB).

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 recorded at Mustaine's Vic's Garage studio in San Marcos, California. Mustaine previously stated about the recording process for "TH1RT3EN", "We've got a great new partner with Johnny K. I mean, I was satisfied with our last co-producer, with Andy Sneap, and Andy really took us — and he even admits — as far as he could take us, and it was great because we wanted to go back to the big leagues where we were, and we feel that Johnny is, obviously, a big-league producer; not that Andy isn't — don't get me wrong. But we feel that this record is definitely one of our best. It's a great feeling, because, you know, finishing some of the last record, I can honestly say, in my heart I knew that it wouldn't contend with some of the great records in the past, just because of the timing, the label that we were on and stuff like that. Lineup changes and stuff… But I really think that everything just lined up for this record."

"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".

According to TMZ.com, IRON BUTTERFLY bassist Lee Dorman was found dead at his home in Laguna Nigel, a coastal city in Southern California, earlier today (Friday, December 21). He was 70 years old.

Orange County sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Krause said that police arrived at Dorman's home at approximately 10 a.m. and found the musician sitting in his car. The bassist, who reportedly had a history of heart trouble, was unresponsive. Authorities don’t believe there is anything suspicious about his death.

Dorman joined IRON BUTTERFLY before the release of 1968's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" album, which sold more than 30 million copies, according to the band's web site. He rejoined the group in 1977 and has been performing with them ever since.