LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe says that he has "never been more disgusted with an audience" in his life more than he was this past Friday, December when his band performed in Medford, Oregon.

After Randy apparently called for 60 seconds of silence during LAMB OF GOD's set to honor the victims of the recent Connecticut school shooting, several people reportedly failed to comply, causing Blythe to take to his Instagram account and voice his displeasure.

"I have never been more disgusted with an audience in my life. I wish we hadn't played," he wrote.

"We, LAMB OF GOD, asked for sixty seconds of silence during our first set break to honor the dead children and teachers in Connecticut. It seemed appropriate — it's a goddamned national TRAGEDY.

"Most of the crowd complied, but several didn't, some cursing and even laughing.

"I wanted to walk off stage.

"I am so disgusted right now.

"If you were one of those who wouldn't shut up for SIXTY LOUSY SECONDS to honor twenty MURDERED CHILDREN, go look in the mirror. You are looking at a piece of shit. Your parents are obviously pieces of shit too, because they raised you to behave with no dignity.

"To the fans who were respectful, I thank you. I am also sorry you have so many goddamned assholes in your community. You should do something about that.

"This shit would not have happened at a LAMB OF GOD show where I live, and that is a FACT. We have more manners.

"I am just disgusted. Thoroughly DIGUSTED. You yelling people give metal a band name. Screw that, you give humanity a bad name. Grow up. Your parents should have beaten some manners into you, you savage little beasts.

"With that I will go to bed, say a prayer for those suffering, and hope for a better day tomorrow, because tonight SUCKED."

The mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school on Friday resulted in the deaths of twenty-eight people, including 20 schoolchildren. It was the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, behind the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting that left 32 dead.

Colombian death/black metal assassins NEPENTE have released a video for the title track to their forthcoming album, Suffering Is The Seed. The album is due out soon on MetalHit.com. In the meantime, soak in the visual sickness below:
Savage and unforgiving, yet smartly composed for maximum memory retention, Suffering Is The Seed is not only Nepente's finest offering to date; it further solidifies a proud tradition of South American extreme metal. Mixed and mastered at Poland's legendary Hertz Recording Studio (VADER, HATE, BEHEMOTH, DECAPITATED, etc.), Suffering Is The Seed seeks only to do harm.

Tracklisting:

‘Suffering Is The Seed’
‘Hell Is The Name Of This Land’
‘Merciful Death’
‘Hear Me Howl’
‘Slaves Will Always Be Slaves’
‘Die For Me’
‘This Shroud Is Yours’
‘The Swamp’
Nepente is:

José F. Ospina (vocals)
Mauricio Aristizábal (drums)
Esteban Daza (guitar)
Wilmar Correa (bass)
Pablo Vaquez (guitar)

Greek black metallers ENSHADOWED will release their new album Magic Chaos Psychedelia on January 28th in Europe and on February 19th in North America via Pulverized Records.

The album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Devasoundz Studio by Septicflesh skinsman Fotis Bernado and Enshadowed.

Album cover artwork was created by Greek artist Rea Pediaditaki, including additional hand-made paintings by Miguel Angel Castro Salinas. Check it out below:
The tracklisting:

'Stary Throne Of It'
'Is Venit Ex Abyssus'
'Black Holes, Death Planets'
'The Scenario'
'Surrealistic Shade Of Color Black'
'Dethroned'
'Inner Psy-Trip'
'The Dual Hypostasis Of Nihil'
'Magic Chaos Psychedelia'

The track 'Inner Psy-Trip' can be heard below:

MICHAEL KISKE (UNISONIC, ex-HELLOWEEN) recently answered a few questions regarding his solo work and Unisonic activities for the Michael Kiske Fanclub. See below.
Q: Can you please give us an update about your upcoming solo album? Did you already start working with (guitarist) Sandro (Giampietro) on it? When do you plan to start the recordings?

A: "I will start vocals for it this week; so the album will be finished soon. It’s not so much a solo record, it’s a new thing with Sandro and me, we do all together. I was surprised how good it works to have Sandro producing it."

Q: Please give us a little tour summary (South America, Festivals, Asia and Spain-Germany). What were your best/worst moments? Maybe you experienced also some funny things? How did you feel when you lost your voice in Hamburg?

A: "We can not complain about the reactions all over the world; even in places where GOTTHARD was headlining, the whole venue was singing our songs. Actually Germany was sort of the more ”silent-gourmets”… Not bad, but not at all as much of a party as everywhere else. Most people came for Gotthard, while in other countries we had many fans showing up for us. Over hear in my own country we still have a lot of work to do, I guess. It was generally a good year especially for me. I finally got fully back into the whole thing again and I am now ready for more. The band got a good feel about itself and we can move on from here with hopefully better records.

When I lost my voice in Hamburg, I wasn’t in a good mood before the show already, because I knew I was getting very sick. I just knew it was not just a little cold. While I was warming up the voice before the show with some ELVIS tunes, I realized: it’s not going to work this time, because the voice died on me already then… On stage I took it pretty good, because... what can you do? A caught a real infection, there is really nothing you can do, so I tried to make the best out the situation. When the voice died in the third song, I left the stage and joined the crowd to take photos with them and sign autographs, while Kai was doing some singing. The next days I had 40 fever and even NOW, after 6 weeks, I’m still having it a bit in my bronchium. Sucks especially when this happens in your hometown, but sometimes life is just a bitch. It’s a situation I had to re-learn to live with too.

Q: Do you think Unisonic will play some festivals in the summer, or you will be very busy with other activities?

A: "Both. I am sure we will do at least a little bit, but we will also be busy with the next album."

GAMMA RAY's Skeletons & Majesties Live was relesaed on 2CD, DVD and Blu-Ray on November 30th in Europe and in North America on December 4th via Ear Music. The clip 'Time To Break Free' (with Michael Kiske) from the release can be viewed below:

LIZZY BORDEN have released their version of the Christmas classic 'Silent Night' now available for streaming on their YouTube page below:
As previous reported, Lizzy Borden will be celebrating thirty years of American Metal in 2013 with a brand new show, created from the ground up just for the monumental 30 year anniversary. The new show will encompass songs from each and every Lizzy Borden record to date, including classic songs like Me Against The World, American Metal, Master of Disguise, plus songs the band has never performed live.

Canadian folk/prog metallers SCYTHIA have announced the release of a remixed and remastered version of their holiday track '...Of Santa'.
The track is now available for download at the band’s Bandcamp page.

Listen to the track below:
The band previously released the music video for the track 'Video Game Medley'. The song is an adaptation of excerpts from video game theme songs Wizards and Warriors, Castlevania, Skyrim, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VI and Tetris and is off the band's new EP, For The Bear, that also features two new originals - 'Sailor's Accolade' and the title track 'For The Bear' - along with three remixes of 'Fierce Riders Of Scythia', 'Black Death' and 'Dies Irae Pt. 1', from the band's 2010 debut ...Of War, plus a Scythian adapted song of Quebecois folk song 'Mattawa Reel' by ROBERT FOREST.

Filmed in Vancouver, BC by James Weekes and Rosie Anson of Hammer Records, the video can be seen below:

UNISONIC / PINK CREAM 69 drummer Kosta Zafiriou is featured in a new interview with Pink Cream 69 Fanclub Brasil. An excerpt is available below:
Q: Unisonic just finished the first world tour. What moments were most remarkable to you? Did you expect the band would be such a great success, with a good audience return?

Kosta: "There is many remarkable moment I love to think about – the first show in Buenos Aires, the show in Sao Paulo was great, but also the performance at the Masters of Rock Festival in Czech Republic was magic. Also the shows in Japan were great…the more I think about it, the more shows I remember we really had a good time with the audience. I did not expect, but I was hoping that Unisonic would be accepted in the scene that fast, and we all were very happy it came as it came."

Q: Unisonic already have plans for the next record? Could you tell us something?

Kosta: "Yes. We plan to release the record in 2014 and tour afterwards."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Unisonic - also featuring Michael Kiske (vocals, ex-HELLOWEEN), Kai Hansen (guitars, GAMMA RAY, ex Helloween), Mandy Meyer (guitars, ex-GOTTHARD, ex-KROKUS), Dennis Ward (bass, PINK CREAM 69) - performed at the Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 15th. Quality fan-filmed video from the show is available below:
The band's complete setlist was as follows:

'Unisonic'
'Never Too Late'
'King For A Day'
'My Sanctuary'
'March Of Time'
'Over The Rainbow'
'Star Rider'
'We Rise'
'I Want Out'

Northern Ireland-based rockers THE ANSWER have finished recording their new album with British producer Toby Jepson, main writer and vocalist with LITTLE ANGELS, who had twelve U.K. Top 40 hits throughout the 90s. Recorded at Vale Studios in the U.K., on one of the oldest 1970s Neve desks, the CD takes the band into a much more contemporary direction with great new songs and production.

Due in early 2013 via Napalm Records, THE ANSWER's new album is presently being mixed by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, METALLICA, AEROSMITH) at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Fraser heard some of the new songs and was so excited he cleared his diary to make sure he could mix the LP.

THE ANSWER's latest release, the "Rise" EP, named after the band's previously unreleased track, came out on July 2 via the group's own The Answer Productions label. The EP consists of a new 2012 radio edit mix of "Rise", an extended full-length version, a very special acoustic/orchestral version and a brand new mix of another rockin' gem called "Lost".

THE ANSWER's third album, "Revival", entered the official chart in the U.K. at position No. 39.

"Revival" was released on October 3, 2011 via Spinefarm Records. The initial run of the album was a limited-edition deluxe format with 24-page booklet and band sleeve notes, plus an 11-track second disc containing previously unreleased studio, acoustic, demo and cover material.

"Revival" was produced by Chris "Frenchie" Smith and mixed by Chris Sheldon.

Italy's JESTER BEAST will release their new album The Infinite Jest on December 21st.

An album teaser can be seen below:
The first track off the album, entitled ‘Lost In Space’, is available for streaming at the band’s website.

The band has also announced that their logo has been exclusively redesigned by VOIVOD's Michel “Away" Langevin. Check it out below:

MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil engaged in a war of words with some of his followers on Twitter after his call for new gun-control measures was met with resistance.

Following the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school on Friday which resulted in the deaths of twenty-eight people, including 20 schoolchildren, Vince tweeted, "Sad day today. Prayers to all the families. Gun Control!!!"

A number of people responded unfavorably to Vince's comment, causing the singer to lash out: "Why is everyone so concerned with guns? What about the CHILDREN that were MURDERED today! Get your priorities straight!! Come on people!!"

He continued: "I did say gun control but I didn't think 90% of you would care more about your gun than dead children!!!

"FUCK YOU to EVERYONE who puts guns in front of kids!! Do not come to ANY shows! You are sick!!"

Friday's massacre in Newtown is the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, behind the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting that left 32 dead.

Vince has two children, Elizabeth Ashley, 29, and Neil Wharton, 34. He has also a grandfather to Neil Wharton's son Trace, 1.

Vince's daughter Skylar Neil tragically died of cancer at the age of 4 in 1995.

Charlotte, NC progressive metal act THE RETICENT has released a video for the track 'With Folded Arms', taken from Le Temps Detruit Tout, which was released in May of this year on Heaven And Hell Records.
The song and video both serve as a tribute to the life and work of noted contrarian and self-described antitheist Christopher Hitchens, whose career of critique, debate, and authorship spanned four decades. The Reticent mastermind Chris Hathcock had the following to say about Hitchens and the video made in his honor:

"I found in Christopher Hitchens much the same inspiration I have found in many of my favorite musicians and composers. Hearing him speak or reading his work always stirred me and captivated me. And it is not necessarily the case that he informed my worldview as much as he lead me to my deep love of debate and open discourse of ideas. With my last album, and particularly with the song specifically dedicated to him ('With Folded Arms'), I wanted to pay tribute and give my honorarium. While most tribute songs are about the person or their life or the impact that person had on their life, I didn't want to go down that road. I'm just a nobody, who cares how Hitch affected me? I wanted my song to be perhaps an interpretation of him via ideas. Arguments and critique. Which does not rob the song of emotion in my opinion. To the contrary, I feel it is infused with even more because I am discussing ideas that are bigger than me rather than my own experiences as I have done in the past. Though I know it falls short by a mile of Christopher Hitchens' genius, I still wanted to say goodbye in my own way."

The video for 'With Folded Arms' can be seen below:
Le Temps Detruit Tout is a follow-up to the band’s 2008 album, Amor Mortem Mei Erit.



Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Nihil’
‘In Pursuit Of Redemption’
‘Mutually Assured Destruction’
‘Enemy’
‘Lie To Me’
‘Silence’
‘Le Tenia’
‘Patience’
‘Nihil Ex Nihilo’

Bonus tracks:
‘With Folded Arms’
‘Losing My Religion’

More on The Reticent at this location.

After the entire back catalogue of British progressive metal legends THRESHOLD (apart from the band’s 2007 Nuclear Blast debut Dead Reckoning) has been re-released over the past four months under the banner of the Definitive Editions - including extensive bonus material. The Definitive Editions of both the debut record Wounded Land (1993) and the follow-up Psychedelicatessen (1994) will now be released in vinyl format on January 25th.

Each album will be mastered especially for vinyl and packaged as a double album with gatefold sleeve including posters. Wounded Land will come in a choice of black or yellow vinyl, Psychedelicatessen will be available on black or red vinyl. The respective tracklists look as follows:
The tracklists look as follows:

Wounded Land:
'Consume To Live'
'Days Of Dearth'
'Paradox'
'Sanity’s End'
'Surface To Air'
'Mother Earth'
'Siege Of Baghdad'
'Keep It With Mine'
Bonus tracks:
'Intervention'
'Conceal The Face'
'Shifting Sands'
Psychedelicatessen:
'Sunseeker
'A Tension Of Souls'
'Into The Light'
'Will To Give'
'Under The Sun'
'Babylon Rising'
'He Is I Am'
'Innocent'
'Devoted'
'Lost'
'Intervention'
Bonus CD:
'Fist Of Tongues'
'Half Way Home'
'A Tension Of Souls' (live)
'Sanity’s End' (live)
'Innocent' (live)
'Surface To Air' (live)
'Paradox' (live)

Geneva, Switzerland's THE BLACK WIDOW'S PROJECT - formed in 2010 by singer/guitarist Al Castro and drummer Math Sink - have released their debut full-length album, Heavy Heart, digitally through main platforms including iTunes, Deezer, and Spotify. A physical CD release will come in January.
Tracklisting:

'Ha Ha Ha Uh'
'Devil's Waiting For Us To Fail'
'Love's A Weapon'
'Cold Snakes'
'The 5th'
'Ain't Gonna Tell You Lies'
'We Have To Be Free'
'These Little Pricks'
'Interlude'
'Got The Devil'
'Dead Man Walking'
'Spirits'
'Night's Damp'
'Innerwar'

The full album can be streamed at this location.
More on The Black Widow's Project at this location.

Pittsburgh-based GENE THE WEREWOLF have released the video for 'Superhero', taken from their international debut album aptly entitled Rock N' Roll Animal, out now via Frontiers Records. The official EPK (electronic press kit) for the album can be found on YouTube below:
Guitar player Drew Donegan describes Gene The Werewolf’s sound as “classic rock with a modern vibe”, similar to what bands like KISS, DEF LEPPARD, AC/DC and MÖTLEY CRÜE would sound like if they released their music today... a far cry from the pop-punk bands the band members had been in previously. “We also like the term diamond-core, because diamond is the hardest rock known to man,” Donegan adds.
When referring to Rock N' Roll Animal, the band's newest album, Gene exclaims: "It's the perfect soundtrack to a beer-infused Saturday night!"

Plenty of bands aren’t shy about flaunting cocky bios and making no secret of their self-perceived talent, but few take it as far as Gene the Werewolf. “We used to say we were the best rock band, but by now I’d say we’re just the best band ever,” Donegan said. “We play absurdly loud, sweat our asses off, and then sleep on filthy apartment floors together because we love doing it."

Ultimately, the band's intentions are as pure as they've ever been. "We formed this band to play loud, rowdy, and crude Rock N' Roll," says Gene. "I think with this record we've accomplished everything we've ever wanted out of being in a band together."

Gene The Werewolf's first video clip from Rock N' Roll Animal was for the song 'I Only Wanna Rock N Roll' and can be viewed below:
Gene The Werewolf is:
Jon Belan a/k/a Gene the Werewolf – vocals, guitar
Drew Donegan – guitar
Aaron Mediate – keyboards
Nick Revak – drums
Tim Schulz – bass and vocals

To celebrate the success of Carolus Rex and the Swedish Empire Tour, SABATON are releasing a special limited edition of Carolus Rex on 180g gatefold LP, for the first time in Swedish. The LP comes on unique blue and yellow vinyl and includes a DIN A2 poster and lyric sheet.

Place your orders at this location.
Sabaton recently posted a series of clips from one of the cameras filming for their upcoming Blu-ray / DVD:

"Big sorry for the terrible sound and a huge thanks to the fantastic crowd! This was an amazing night that we never will forget!"

The show was filmed on November 16th in Gothenburg, Sweden at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The band hopes to release the DVD in 2013. Stay tuned for updates.

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT - The Beginning is a documentation about the early period of a musical legend. In the lavish velvet-box you will find the first two Blackmore‘s Night albums, Shadow Of The Moon and Under A Violet Moon, as well as rare video footage of their early tours, Live In Germany 1997-1998, and Under A Violet Moon - Castle Tour 2000. Available for the first time on DVD and only in the The Beginning box. Check out a new EPK for the release at this location.
The footage from various concerts from the Shadow Of The Moon and Under A Violet Moon tours is enriched by interviews with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night, as well as backstage footage, rehearsal footage and medieval fight shows.

"We live the music“, says Ritchie Blackmore, confirming the impression that this documentation gives every second - Blackmore‘s Night is authentic. The enthusiasm of the musicians captivates the audience and takes them along on a journey through the past. Some of the DVD tracks go from the living room rehearsals to the stage and are impressive proof that the compositions function wonderfully as intimate acoustic versions, as well as with the full band on the big stage.

Blackmore‘s Night - The Beginning is a very special release, not only for fans and collectors, for nostalgic or the medieval curious, but for any lover of beautiful timeless music. This extraordinary box provides the owner not only two DVDs with a delightful, interesting and entertaining performances plus two original studio albums of fantastic music, but rather with it is a ticket out of the dreary day to day life, a way to leave everything behind, to relax the soul for a few hours.

"Music that moves the soul and takes people into a majestic world." - Blackmore

Blackmore‘s Night - The Beginning will be available in North America on January 22nd, 2013.
Tracklisting:

DVD 1:
'Shadow Of The Moon'
'The Clock Ticks On'
'Play Minstrel Play'
'Minstrel Hall'
'St. Theresa'
'Under A Violet Moon'
'Magical World'
'No Second Chance'
'16th Century Greensleeves'
'Renaissance Faire'
'Writing On The Wall'
'Mond Tanz'
'Be Mine Tonight'
'Memmingen'
'Black Night'
'Man On The Silver Mountain'
'Still I'm Sad'
'Maybe Next Time'

DVD 2:
'Written In The Stars'
'Morning Star'
'Renaissance Faire'
'Fires At Midnight' (Midnight Acoustic Performance)
'Possum Goes To Prague'
'Under A Violet Moon'
'Spanish Nights'
'Past Time With Good Company'
'Wind In The Willows'
'March The Heroes Home'
'Gone With The Wind'
'Fires At Midnight' (Midnight Acoustic Performance)
'Now & Then'
'Durch Den Wald Zum Bachhaus'

CD 1:
'Shadow Of The Moon'
'The Clock Ticks On'
'Be Mine Tonight'
'Play Minstrel Play'
'Ocean Gypsy'
'Minstrel Hall'
'Magical World'
'Writing On The Wall'
'Renaissance Faire'
'Memmingen'
'No Second Chance'
'Mond Tanz'
'Spirit Of The Sea'
'Greensleeves'
'Wish You Were Here'
'Possum's Last Dance'

CD 2:
'Under A Violet Moon'
'Castles And Dreams'
'Past Time With Good Company'
'Morning Star'
'Avalon'
'Possum Goes To Prague'
'Wind In The Willows'
'Gone With The Wind'
'Beyond The Sunset'
'March The Heroes Home'
'Spanish Nights ( I Remember It Well)'
'Catherine Howard's Fate'
'Fool's Gold'
'Durch den Wald Zum Bach Haus'
'Now And Then'
'Self Portrait'

American groove metallers DEVILDRIVER have entered Audio Hammer Studios (Florida) to begin recording their upcoming new album, to be released in August 2013 via Napalm Records.

More updates will follow shortly, directly from frontman Dez Fafara. Stay tuned.

Devildriver are confirmed for next year's sold out Wacken Open Air Festival - which will take place August 1st - 3rd in Wacken, Germany.

Organizers have launched their annual X-Mas Calendar 2012 which will announce a band (or bands!) daily until December 24th.

Wacken Open Air Festival 2013 band confirmations: AGNOSTIC FRONT, ALESTORM, AMORPHIS, ANTHRAX, ARCH ENEMY, ASP, BENIGHTED, BLACK MESSIAH, CALLEJON, CANDLEMASS, CHROME MOLLY, COPPELIUS, CORVUS CORAX, DEEP PURPLE, DEVILDRIVER, DEW-SCENTED, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER, DIE KASSIERER, DORO, ESKIMO CALLBOY, FAUN, FEJD, HAGGARD, HARDCORE SUPERSTORE, HATE SQUAD, HELLRIDE, SCOTT IAN, IHSAHN, LAMB OF GOD, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, LEPROUS, LINGUA MORTIS Featuring RAGE, MUSTASCH, NAGLFAR, NIGHTWISH, 9MM, PAMPATUT, PRETTY MAIDS, RABENSCHREY, RAMMSTEIN, HENRY ROLLINS, SABATON, SOILWORK, SONATA ARCTICA, SUBWAY TO SALLY, THUNDER, VERSENGOLD, BOB WAYNE, WHITECHAPEL.

For more details visit Wacken.com.

Check out the BraveWords.com report from Wacken 2012 at this location.

North Carolina melodic death/folk metal outfit ÆTHER REALM have announced that their debut full-length, One Chosen By The Gods, which was produced by Jamie King (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT, WRETCHED), will be released January 8th, 2013. The nine track release is the follow up to their two song demo, Odin Will Provide, and follows the band’s highly successful summer east coast The Summer Swampromp tour cycle.

Check out the album artwork below:

One Chosen By The Gods tracklisting:

'Journey Of Discovery'
'Hourglass'
'Æther Realm'
'Swampwitch'
'One Chosen By The Gods'
'Ravensong'
'Winter’s Grasp'
'Odin Will Provide'
'Oak'

Æther Realm was formed in June of 2010 by Vincent Jones (Bass/Vocals/Orchestras), Heinrich Arnold (Guitar), and Tyler Gresham (Drums) with the goal of creating epic folk metal, a style not yet extensively seen in the United States. George Yiznitzsky (ex-guitar) and Robbie March (ex-keyboards) joined shortly afterward. The band spent the first year of its existence writing music, playing local shows, and building a devoted following in their home state of North Carolina. The band became a quartet following the departure of Yiznitsky and March in June 2011, and the entrance of guitarist Jack Rodriguez-Dougherty.

In July of 2011, the band entered The Basement Studios with Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Human Abstract, Wretched). They recorded their first two song demo, Odin Will Provide, which was released in September of the same year, drawing the attention of websites like Metalsucks, Nocleansinging, and Metal Underground.

The band re-entered Jamie’s studio in February 2012 to record their debut full length album, One Chosen By The Gods. The band scrapped most of their earlier material for this album, instead choosing to rewrite most of the album from scratch. A single from the album, entitled Swampwitch, was released in May of 2012. The album was finished with mixing and orchestral arranging in August of 2012, and the band held off releasing it in hopes of first finding a record contract. Signing with Primitive Ways Records, One Chosen By The Gods is scheduled to be released on January 8th, 2013.

Æther Realm’s live shows are known for being fun and energetic. Frontman Vincent Jones is known for his casual banter and his aggressive control of the crowd (as well as his signature bearskin cape), and the band maintains an active, intense stage presence.

More on Æther Realm at this location.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD, the legendary US southern rock band has released the lyrics video for the track ‘Good Teacher’ from their latest album, Last Of A Dyin' Breed'. Check it out below:
The band recently released the music video for the track 'Homegrown'. Check it out below:
Last Of A Dyin' Breed debuted at #14 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart upon it's release, the highest charting for a Skynyrd album since 1977.

Japan's MYPROOF have released a video for the song 'Lightning Storm' taken from their new album Metal For Silent Fury, which was released in Japan via Spritual Beast. Check it out below:
The album tracklist is as follows:

'Silent Fury'
'Earthbound'
'Soldiers in Dead City'
'The Guidance'
'Lost Destination'
'Fly me to the End'
'Limited Reality'
'Pop Off'
'Sepia Wind'
'Tokyo City Lights'
'Lightning Storm'

For information and updates on the band go to their official Facebook page here.

Hungarian death metallers CASKETGARDEN have called it quits. A band statement reads as follows:

"After 14 years of existence we decided to close this casket down, as main song writer/manager Balázs moved to Ireland with his family. Our last activity was to put this new video clip together with the help of Róbert Cseh (Frame Noire Studio). The video (for 'They' - see below) was shot on one of the last gigs of Casketgarden in Budapest, in January, 2012. All the best to all of you. Thanks for the support."

"Nero's Fire", the new video from legendary Italian heavy metal pioneers ASTAROTH, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's first-ever full-length album, "The End Of Silence", which will be released on December 21 via She Wolf Records. Produced by the band's bassist Saverio "Shining" Principini and engineered by Michael Tacci (METALLICA, WHITESNAKE) in Los Angeles, California, the CD marks the band's first new output since their 1985 cult classic "The Long Loud Silence" mini-LP, and reunites original members Principini, guitarist Max Cipicchia and drummer Jan D'Amore, with American-born newcomer Ace Alexander handling vocal duties in place of original frontman Bob Cattani.

"This is the album we were supposed to make after 'The Long Loud Silence' but didn't get the chance to for a myriad of reasons", states Principini. "All of the songs we've recorded for 'The End of Silence' were originally written in the mid-'80s as we prepared for our second record. Luckily, we found a bunch of old murky live tapes which helped reignite our collective memories. Even though it's now a quarter century later and everything's changed so much, we feel that these recordings very much embody the original ASTAROTH spirit. This has been a total labor of love for all of us and we can't wait to share this with our old fans as well as hopefully make a few new ones along the way."

"The End of Silence" track listing:

01. My Sleeping Beauty
02. Dilemma
03. Nero's Fire
04. Apocalypse in the Living Room
05. The Siren Song
06. Dreams Die First
07. Stand or Fall Together
08. In Spite of Destiny
09. Mystic As Tarot
10. Chainless Slaves

Check out audio samples at AstarothRome.com.

Formed in Rome in the early 1980s, ASTAROTH quickly found themselves as leaders of the fledgling Italian metal scene as the group's NWOBHM-influenced brand of heavy metal and Roman centurion look and elaborate ancient Roman themed stage show caught the attention of underground metalheads in their home town and beyond. Appearing on bills with the likes of METALLICA, ANTHRAX, MOTÖRHEAD and MANOWAR as the band began to venture North of the Alps, ASTAROTH became one of the first Italian metal bands to score an international record deal, signing with legendary Dutch label Rave On Records, whose roster also included MERCYFUL FATE and SORTILÈGE, among others. Following an abbreviated European tour with CELTIC FROST in support of "The Long Loud Silence", and the demise of Rave On, the band pulled up stakes and made the move to Los Angeles, California in 1987. Recording a pair of demos and gigging frequently around Southern California, including shows at The Troubadour, The Roxy and the Waters Club, the quartet's decidedly European sound was in stark contrast to the Hollywood glam metal and sleaze rock scene of the day and found no label takers. The band split up a couple of years into their American adventure with various members moving on to other projects, most prominently Principini's long-standing involvement with Italian rock superstar Vasco Rossi.

Marilyn Manson claims to have undergone a medical procedure to reattach his ear following an altercation in Switzerland.

The rocker revealed via Twitter that he was involved in a fight during his current "Twins Of Evil" European tour and needed 24 stitches to treat the resulting ear injury.

Manson posted a picture of his ear (see below) covered in medical tape and wrote in the accompanying message, "I was hit by a glass table in a dangerous fight. I was however, the victor but had to have 24 stitches to keep my ear from becoming Van Goth."

The "Twins Of Evil" tour, which also features Rob Zombie, made a stop in Basel on Tuesday.

Mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST has posted a new song called "Secular Haze" on YouTube and at the SecularHaze.com web site. The track was unveiled via six lit candles that appear on the site, with fans able to isolate individual instruments by placing their cursor over each candle.

GHOST is putting the finishing touches its next studio album, due out in 2013 on Loma Vista Recordings, the new record label founded by Tom Whalley in partnership with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group. GHOST cult leader Papa Emeritus (rumored to be REPUGNANT/SUBVISION's Tobias Forge and his Nameless Ghouls have summoned Nashville-based Grammy Award-winning Nick Raskulinecz (DEATH ANGEL, DEFTONES, FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH) to produce this offering.

GHOST will play a special a concert tonight (Saturday, December 15) in their hometown of Linköping at Cupolen.

The band's debut album, "Opus Eponymous", was released in late 2010 in Europe and in early 2011 in North America via Rise Above Records.

In an early 2012 interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, one of the "Nameless Ghouls" from GHOST was asked why he thinks his band has garnered support from such high-profile musicians as James Hetfield (METALLICA) and Phil Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA). "We like to think [it's because of] our playfulness in terms of not — I almost said think[ing] too much — obviously, we think, but we feel a lot and we try not to limit ourselves to genre," he said. "Even though we're a hard-rocking band, we try to mix everything from death metal elements to new-wave choruses. And I think that sort of resonates to… I wouldn't say only an older generation [because] we have a lot of new, younger fans, but I think that anybody who is older than 35 might have a stroke of nostalgia or whatever."

On the topic of whether he can foresee a day when the members of GHOST won't be anonymous anymore, he said, "I think there is a difference between being anonymous and unmasked. Where SLIPKNOT actually wear masks still, while KISS during their unmasked days didn't. Obviously, it's a thing of the times. What we're trying to do, it's very hard to maintain. If the actual goal was to not be known, we try to maintain that, but in the long run we can't really expect that to be something everlasting. Most of our fans are actually quite keen on not knowing, which works to our favor, but I think there is a difference between people knowing who is behind the mask or being unmasked. We can't really see ourselves going up on stage and afterwards just dropping the masks saying, 'Oh, it's me, it's me, actually. Can you see?' No, no, no… We don't want that. We don't want to spoil it. That's the whole reason why we are anonymous and we try not to show ourselves. We try to eliminate, not the human aspects, but the humane aspects, if you want. We want to put Papa Emeritus in the limelight. He's supposed to be the living character, even though rigor mortis has basically set in in his poor old body. But that's the face of the band. He's the person, everybody else are just puppets."

Regarding GHOST's future plans, he said, "These 18 months since we released the album has been a lot of touring. We play a lot of concerts and our goal has always been to put on a show that was way more theatrical than we have had the opportunity to, sort of, perform or display in this type of touring. Even though this is a tour where we're actually allowed to flex our muscles a little bit, you can't expect to have a production. We have our windows, we have a few things, but I'd say that our short-term goal, for now, when we have a new album out, will be to start bringing forth a way more theatrical show that will be a lot more intriguing with a few magic tricks."

Swedish "Viking metal" act MÅNEGARM is currently recording its new album for an April/May 2013 release via Napalm Records.

Commented the band: "[So far] all is done and recorded except vocals on six tracks. Due to some unforeseen voice problems, the mixing of the album is postponed one month until the last weekend in January. We already got on test mix of a track and it sounds killer! So you can expect some heavy shit."

Violin player Janne Liljekvist has left MÅNEGARM in June "due to lack of motivation."

MÅNEGARM's most recent CD, "Nattväsen", was released in November 2009 via Regain Records.

A short audio snippet of a new ALICE IN CHAINS song called "Hollow" can be streamed on Amazon.com.

ALICE IN CHAINS will premiere "Hollow" in its entirety on December 18 — but wants fans to take part in the lead-up to the track's debut. The group is encouraging fans to follow them on Instagram, where they're posting lyrical phrases from the song. Fans are being asked to share photos they've taken or created that are inspired by the lyrics. Once December 18 rolls around, fans will be able to hear the song on the ALICE IN CHAINS web site and view the photos that the word inspired.

Fans can submit their photos through either Instagram or Twitter.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell recently confirmed to Guitar World that the band had finished recording its fifth studio album and second without original vocalist Layne Staley.

The new disc will follow up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", which ended a 14-year gap between studio efforts for the group and featured singer/guitarist William DuVall. DuVall told The Pulse Of Radio while the band was touring behind that album that he was seeing a new generation of ALICE fans at the shows. "There's a lot of young people showing up, so that this thing has become a generational band now," he said. "So you've got people, 15, 16, 17 years old, that are coming of their own volition. I mean, they're not being brought there by their parents or anything. They're coming on their own. They're bringing their friends. So that's one thing that's a real sign that perhaps you're onto something."
ALICE IN CHAINS began working on new material in 2011, but the sessions for the album were delayed when Cantrell had to undergo shoulder surgery.

Although no official release date has been confirmed yet for the new album, it is likely that the disc will make its debut in early 2013.

According to Ultimate Classic Rock, a vintage 1980 Christmas card was signed by all five members of IRON MAIDEN — vocalist Paul Di’Anno, bassist Steve Harris, guitarists Adrian Smith and Dave Murray, and drummer Clive Burr — was sold last month for $837.50 on eBay. The four-inch-by-six-inch artwork depicts the bands' mascot, Eddie, with a blood-stained guitar and portrays Santa Claus slain at his feet. The inside of the card, which was issued as a holiday promo prior to singer Bruce Dickinson's coming into the picture, reads: "A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Oh-Yo-Yo-Yo-Yo."

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN before being fired and replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

Burr joined IRON MAIDEN at the very end of December 1979 and played on the first three albums — "Iron Maiden", "Killers" and "Number Of The Beast" — and toured extensively with the band over this groundbreaking period before leaving in early 1983. For the past decade, he has been battling multiple sclerosis — a disease of unknown cause. The disorder is causing him intermittent numbness and can affect his balance.

Florida death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE have issued the following update:

"Next year marks our 25th year as a band and we are going to celebrate it all year long! Keep an eye out for special releases, new merch designs and announcements! For now, you can check out our 25th-anniversary logo [see below] which will appear as a sleeve print on all our merch printed in 2013. You can pre order shirts with this print now along with our 2013 calendar that features the uncensored Vince Locke art from our 12 releases and marks all of our release dates, birthdays, our favorite horror film release dates and more! Everything can be found here. We never would have made it 25 years without all you die hard fans, get your horns up and blast your CORPSE records all year!"

CANNIBAL CORPSE's twelfth studio album, "Torture", sold 9,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Evisceration Plague", also opened with 9,600 units to land at No. 66. That was more than 50 percent higher than the opening tally of CANNIBAL CORPSE's 2006 CD, "Kill", which entered the chart at No. 170 after shifting more than 6,000 copies.

"Torture" was again produced by HATE ETERNAL's Erik Rutan at his own Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and features the maniacal cover art by longtime CANNIBAL CORPSE artist Vincent Locke.