DIGNITY, the Danish/Austrian metal band featuring singer Sören "Nico" Adamsen (ex-ARTILLERY), has finished recording its second studio album, "Balance Of Power", for an early 2013 release via Napalm Records. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Anthony Devine and can be seen below.

A teaser for "Balance Of Power" can be seen below.

The band's debut album, "Project Destiny", was released in 2008.

DIGNITY is:

Søren "Nico" Adamsen - Vocals
Phil Porter - Guitars
John Boy Bastard - Bass
Frank Pitters - Keyboards
Roland Navratil - Drums

BODY COUNT, the metal band fronted by legendary rapper Ice-T, has set "Manslaughter" as the title of its new album, due next year via Sumerian Records. The group will enter the studio in January to begin work on the CD.

In September 2009, BODY COUNT made an appearance at the Vans Warped Tour 15th-anniversary party at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. The group played a 20-minute set, covered SLAYER, talked a ton of trash and closed with their controversial classic "Cop Killer". Also on the bill were NOFX, KATY PERRY, PENNYWISE, BAD RELIGION and RISE AGAINST.

BODY COUNT's last album, "Murder 4 Hire", came out in 2006 via Escapi Music. Lyrically, the songs ranged from political ("The End Game"), personal ("You Don't Know Me [Pain]"), and religious ("The Passion Of The Christ"), to obsession ("In My Head"), armegeddon ("Dirty Bomb"), hate ("Lies") and relationships. A eulogy for fallen band member D-Roc was also included ("D Rocs [RIP]") as was a hilarious take on deep south rednecks ("Down In The Bayou"). The CD closed with "Mr. C's Theme", a show-stopping hard-rock instrumental.

Italian death metallers NO MORE FEAR have released their new video, for the Mad(e) In Italy album track, 'Taranthell'. Watch the clip below:
Mad(e) In Italy was released on December 3rd via Murdered Music/Coroner Records. The album was produced/recorded at Acme Rec. Studio by Davide Rosati. It was mixed/masterized at Fascination Street Studio by Jens Bogren.
Tracklisting:

'150 Years'
'Taranthell'
'Ass E Mazz'
'Cemento Armato'
'Intrigue, Scam And Magnificent Horror'
'Don Gaetano'
'Southern Spirit'
'A Choice'
'Immota Manet'
More on No More Fear at this location.

IRON MAIDEN vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who is a licensed commercial pilot, last year set up a state-of the-art Boeing 737 flight simulator at London's Heathrow Airport and is holding training sessions for members of the Iron Maiden Fan Club.

Video footage of an IRON MAIDEN fan by the name of Sulamita Garcia "flying" with Bruce can be seen below. She wrote afterwards, "[Even though we were in] a 737 simulator, it's as realistic as it gets. Plus, meeting my hero turn[ed] out to be even better in person. Best day ever!"

This full-motion flight simulator was purchased by Bruce and ex-Astraeus colleague Mario Fulgioni as part of their aviation business, training and checking pilots and crews from many airlines. In fact, Bruce did his own pilot training in a 737 simulator just like this one.

For those of you with good memories you might also recall that a 737 was the very first plane to bear the Bruce Air moniker when Flight 666 took its maiden voyage to Paris back in November 2003.

You will taxi the aeroplane around a major international airport, line up on the runway and perform the take-off. If you're good enough, you'll do the landing too!

In between take-off and landing, you will be shown the real performance capabilities of a modern airliner and experience the most advanced cockpit visuals.

You can book a slot and have an hour of Bruce's one-to-one tuition all to yourself, or you can split it between 2 or 3 of you and divide up the hour of flying time between you and your friends. Or if you just want to bring a couple of people to sit in the observers seats (directly behind the pilots seats), you can do that, too.

All participants will be given a personally signed commemorative Bruce Air Flight 666 certificate as a souvenir of their experience.

The Bruce Air Flight 666 Experience costs £666 + VAT (at 20%) for one hour of simulator time with Bruce.

For more information, visit www.bruceair.co.uk.

In a press release that was issued in November 2011, Bruce commented, "I can't wait to sit in the simulator with fans and share the buzz of what it is really like to fly a modern passenger jet such as Flight 666 and all the challenges that entails."

Bruce Dickinson has a huge passion for flying — so much so that he is a commercial airline captain and a talented originator — devising an ingenious method of converting a Boeing 757 to allow him, the band, their crew and tons of equipment to tour three times around the world in their customised plane "Ed Force One", call sign "Flight 666".

Not content with just entertaining fans on the ground, Bruce then instigated a series of highly acclaimed "Bruce Air Flight 666" excursions, filling the plane with fans and personally flying them to and from various IRON MAIDEN concerts around Europe.

The new digital single from long-running Gothenburg, Sweden-based metallers DESTINY, which was originally scheduled for release this month, has been delayed until January. The single will contain material from the band's anniversary album, "The Incompatibility Of Philosophical Terminology", which is due in the spring. It will mark the recording debut of new DESTINY singer Jonas Heidgert (DRAGONLAND) and will also be the first release featuring Michael Åberg (NOSTRADAMEUS) on guitar, even though he has been with the band since 2005. Guesting on drums is Adde Larsson (M.A.N., BLACK CANDY STORE) who recorded the drums about a year ago well before current drummer Roger Christiansson joined DESTINY a couple of weeks ago. The bass will, as always, be handled by DESTINY mainman Stefan Björnshög.

Everything but the vocals has already recorded for DESTINY's next official full-length CD, "Global Warming".

Way back in 1982, bassist Stefan Björnshög founded one of Sweden's first true heavy metal bands, DESTINY. Unlike most other Swedish acts that were active around the same period, DESTINY never broke up. In 2005, DESTINY was joined by guitarist Michael Åberg, who previously played with NOSTRADAMEUS.

Following a tour opening for former BLACK SABBATH vocalist Tony Martin in 2006, DESTINY kept an unusually low profile, partly because the band was unable to find a suitable vocalist and also because of illness and various personal tragedies.

Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS will release their new album, "Dirty Dynamite", on February 22, 2013 via Sony Music. The band has recorded another cover song inspired by their time at Abbey Road Studios in London, England. KROKUS covers the early THE BEATLES classic "Help" with Tommy Heart (FAIR WARNING, SOUL DOCTOR) contributing guest vocals on this track together with KROKUS frontman Marc Storace.

According to a posting on KROKUS' Facebook page, fans should not expect the band's version of "Help" to sound like THE BEATLES original.

By booking Abbey Road Studios, KROKUS went back to their roots, back to where it all began with THE ROLLING STONES, FREE, THE WHO and THE BLUESBREAKERS — back to where the band headlined concerts in the Hammersmith Odeon, celebrating their first international success.

"The atmosphere there is very special and we wanted to make the most of that," says Storace. Guitarist Fernando Von Arb is quick to add: "With 'Dirty Dynamite', we have recorded the urgently needed dirty kind of rock that no one plays in this country."

"Dirty Dynamite" track listing:

01. Hallelujah Rock'n'Roll
02. Go Baby Go
03. Rattlesnake Rumble
04. Dirty Dynamite
05. Let The Good Times Roll
06. Help
07. Better Than Sex
08. Dög Song
09. Yellow Mary
10. Bailout Blues
11. Live Ma Life
12. Hardrocking Man

Sony Music is offering a free download of the title track at this location (e-mail sign-up required). It was the last song that was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, England at 5 o'clock in the morning. Bassist Chris Von Rohr added some honky tonk piano licks on the original "Lady Madonna" piano at the studio.

"Dirty Dynamite" marks the return of b>KROKUS guitarist Mandy Meyer after 30 years.

Founder Chris Von Rohr and Fernando Von Arb are thrilled to have him back in the fold. Fernando says: "Now the KROKUS family is complete again."

Meyer replaced original KROKUS guitarist Tommy Kiefer for the remainder of 1980's "Metal Rendez-Vous" tour and 1981's "Hardware" tour and witnessed the growing popularity of KROKUS worldwide, including the band's first U.S. tour. Those two albums sold millions of copies around the world.

Mandy left KROKUS and moved at the tender age of 22 years old to Los Angeles to pursue his musical dreams. And it worked out pretty good, as time would tell.

In the mid-Nineties, Mandy moved back to Switzerland and joined GOTTHARD, another successful Swiss band. In 2004 he left that band and concentrated on his solo career. Between 2005 and 2007, he toured with KROKUS in support of the "Hellraiser" album, which he recorded and contributed to.

In 2009, Meyer joined forces with vocalist Michael Kiske (ex-HELLOWEEN) with Dennis Ward (bass) and Kosta Zafiriou (drums) of Germany's PINK CREAM 69 in UNISONIC.

Towards the end of 2011, Chris Von Rohr approached Mandy and asked him whether he would be game to play a couple of shows in Japan. Mandy recalls: "I agreed in a New York minute". The concerts proved to be totally successful. "And we got along great, it was as if time stood still," he adds.

Chris Von Rohr, along with vocalist Marc Storace, recently laid down bass and vocal tracks at London, England's Abbey Road Studios for the band's 17th album, "Dirty Dynamite". Sound engineer for the recording sessions is again Dennis Ward, who also recorded the band's last album, "Hoodoo".

Von Rohr promises: "The new songs sound like dirty dynamite: pure, dirty, in-your-face hard rock with a touch of blues."

Adds Storace: "We've been taking the time it needs writing for our next rock album and we guarantee that it definitely will contain no fillers!"

KROKUS 2012 is:

Marc Storace - Vocals
Chris Von Rohr - bass
Fernando Von Arb - Lead Guitar
Mark Kohler - Rhythm Guitar
Mandy Meyer - Guitar

JON OLIVA'S PAIN and SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva will release first-ever solo album in early 2013 via AFM Records. Drum recordings for the CD began earlier this month at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida.

Commented JON OLIVA'S PAIN drummer/producer Christopher Kinder: "Drum tracks are now completed for the 11-song solo CD for Jon Oliva. Once again, we entered the hallowed halls of the great Morrisound Studios under the guide of the infamous Tom Morris, who, along with brother Jim Morris, have been a critical part on Oliva's music for almost 30 years. It was an exhausting two days as Jon and I recorded drums on 11 new songs. Eight for me and three for Jon (...he's a good drummer too).

"Special thanks to Crush Drums for the amazing Sublime Maple/Ash Touring kit, supplying me with one of the best drum kits I have ever played on. Everyone was just blown away by the quality and the tone.

"So now we move on with the rest of the recording process. This is a very diverse record and definitely not a typical JON OLIVA'S PAIN record. It's got so much flavor."

Oliva previously stated about his decision to record a solo album: "I've got some weird ideas that I wanna try and I've got some time to do it. I don't want do just 'another' JON OLIVA'S PAIN record. I've done four of those already. I wanna do something different. I have some material that I've wanted to put out for a while, that I'll talk with the record company about, maybe putting something out quickly, like in the next four or five months, to give me more time to do this JON OLIVA'S PAIN record. I want the next JON OLIVA'S PAIN CD to be very special. I've got some great friends from other bands that are going to be a significant part of the next JON OLIVA'S PAIN release. We are going to do a killer JON OLIVA'S PAIN record and then an additional bonus CD with guest stars... kind of like the AVANTASIA thing, but not in a story line. [EDGUY and AVANTASIA mastermind] Tobias Sammet does a magnificent job with it, but I don't have that much time to write a whole story, so I'll just have some powerhouse friends from various bands come in and take it over the top."

This past summer, JON OLIVA'S PAIN toured Europe where it celebrated the 25th anniversary of one of heavy metal's most iconic records, "Hall Of The Mountain King" by SAVATAGE. The band performed the entire album as a special one-time-only treat for the still massive amount of loyal fans, along with songs from the DOCTOR BUTCHER album (by Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery, released in 1995), SAVATAGE and JON OLIVA'S PAIN.

Argentinian metallers HELKER have inked a deal with AFM Records. The band's new album, "Somewhere In The Circle", will be released on February 15, 2013. The CD includes 11 tracks that were produced and co-written by Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR, SINNER) and mixed by Achim Köhler at Indiscreet Audio studios. Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR) make guest appearances on the album, sharing lead vocals with HELKER vocalist Diego Valdez on the epic "Begging For Forgiveness".

European audiences might be familiar with Valdez from his appearance on the latest Tarja Turunen live DVD/CD as a guest vocalist on the song "Phantom Of The Opera".

Commented HELKER: "We are excited and grateful to have the opportunity to work with AFM Records and Level 10 / ITM. This is the beginning of a new era full of new challenges and growth for HELKER! Thank you all!"

A video for the song "Wake Up" can be seen below.

French death metal maniacs NECROWRETCH will release their debut album, "Putrid Death Sorcery", on January 28 in Europe and February 5 in North America via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded in late August at Blackout Multimedia studios in Brussels, Belgium by Phorgath of ENTHRONED. The cover artwork, which was created by artist Milovan Novakovic (who also did the artwork for the band's previous releases), perfectly visualizes the musical aura of NECROWRETCH: rancid, filthy and dark death metal.

"Putrid Death Sorcery" track listing:

01. Ripping Souls Of Sinners
02. Purifying Torment
03. Goat-Headed
04. Putrid Death Sorcery
05. Impious Plague In Catacombs
06. Spewed From Hell
07. Defiler Of Sacrality
08. The Anthropomancer
09. Soiled Into A Crypt
10. Necrollections
11. Repugnizer

The song "Ripping Souls Of Sinners" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Reunited Dutch death metallers CENTURIAN will release their much-anticipated new album, "Contra Rationem", on January 28, 2013 via Listenable Records. The CD was recorded at the We Are (Music) Junkies studio in Eindhoven with producer/sound engineer Jo Peeters (ABORTED, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, SEVERE TORTURE) and Ralph Timmermans (MINDPARK).

Commented guitarist Rob Oorthuis, CENTURIAN's founding member and writer/composer, "'Contra Rationem' is an adversive record in the broadest sense of the word. It lacks all the ethics of contemporary productions.
Leaving only the dynamic range of decay and rats exploring your skeleton.
Through the rattle of bones... One might even hear flesh on instruments.

"We keep our deathmetal underproduced. All songs were nailed with conviction, without hesitation. In one take. Guided only by tongues of fire descending upon our heads. Uncorrected. As real as we are not."

"Contra Rationem" track listing:

01. Thou Shallt Bleed For The Lord Thy God
02. Crown Of Bones
03. Feast Of The Cross
04. Judas Among Twelve
05. Antinomian
06. The Will Of The Torch
07. Sin Upon Man
08. Damnatio Memoriae
09. Adversus

The song "Judas Among Twelve" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Oorthuis previously stated about CENTURIAN's new material and decision to reform, "The new songs are more CENTURIAN-esque than they are NOX songs. The chemistry among the bandmembers, musically and technically, leans on an approach we had back in the CENTURIAN days. Because of this I coined the idea about changing back the name."

CENTURIAN is:

Niels Adams - Vocals
Rob Oorthuis - Guitars
Patrick Boleij - Bass
Seth Van De Loo - Drums

CENTURIAN's last album, "Liber Zarzax", was released in 2001 via Listenable Records.

Frontiers Records will release "The Savage Playground", the fourth album from Swedish rockers CRASHDÏET, on January 25 in Europe (excluding Scandinavia) and January 22 in North America.

A leading force in the Swedish "sleaze rock" scene of the 2000s — a revival of the glam metal of the 1980s, but with a more pronounced punk element — CRASHDÏET for the first time manage to release their brand of down and dirty rock and roll simultaneously all over the world.

In April 2010, the band's third album "Generation Wild", pretty much summed up the extraordinary but yet tragic history of a band, determined to never give up their dream.

CRASHDÏET has become known as a band with a huge following of diehard fans, and the massive interest for them never seems to fade.

There has been extensive touring during the course of "Generation Wild" and the absolute highlight saw the band conquer Hollywood and New York City with sold-out shows at Whisky A Go Go and Webster Hall. The band also supported their heroes MÖTLEY CRÜE and OZZY OSBOURNE. "Supporting MÖTLEY CRÜE in Helsinki and headlining Whisky A Go Go have been the highlights of the 'Generation Wild' tour," says guitarist Martin Sweet.

With the "The Savage Playground" recorded during summer/autumn 2012 at Kingside Studios outside Stockholm with producer Otto Wellton, the band has their minds set to break through on a worldwide basis with a tour that will see the band going back to the U.S. as well as going to Japan for the first time.

"We will put a lot of effort into the U.S. for our new tour," continues Sweet. "We will start in Scandinavia in February, Then we head to the U.S. and Canada. Coming back end of April to do U.K. and then Europe and Japan will follow with festivals in the summer and then South America to kick off in the autumn."

The new album sees CRASHDÏET going in a heavier and direction. "'The Savage Playground' is our playground, it's the beginning and the end, it's the place where we eat and breed," says Sweet. "We thought the time was right for us to do a edgier and not-so-polished-sounding album, kinda like what we sound like live. It's more organic and rough-sounding. And, of course, we're always evolving as musicians and like to try new ways of expressing ourselves, and that can most definitely be heard this album."

"The Savage Playground" track listing:

01. Change The World
02. Cocaine Cowboys
03. Anarchy
04. California
05. Lickin' Dog
06. Circus
07. Sin City
08. Got A Reason
09. Drinkin' Without You
10. Snakes In Paradise
11. Damaged Kid
12. Excited
13. Garden Of Babylon

The first single, "Cocaine Cowboys", is now available on Spotify and can be streamed below.

CRASHDÏET will release a new DVD entitled "Shattered Glass And Broken Bones – Three Years Of Generation Wild" on December 4. The disc features three hours of live and behind-the-scenes footage complied by the band with Bear Productions.

CRASHDÏET performed a new song "Anarchy" for the first time on June 7 when they played at Kaisaniemi Park in Helsinki, Finland as the support act for MÖTLEY CRÜE.

The band's third CD, "Generation Wild", was recently released on vinyl. This gatefold LP features the new bonus track "Hollywood Teaze" as well as updated artwork.

"Generation Wild" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 3.

CRASHDÏET in 2009 announced the addition of Simon "Simme" Cruz from the Stockholm act JAILBAIT as the group's new lead singer.

The band parted ways with its previous vocalist, the Finland-based H. Olliver Twisted, in July 2008.

CRASHDÏET is:

Martin Sweet - Guitar
Peter London - Bass
Eric Young - Drums
Simon Cruz - Vocals

"Cocaine Cowboys" audio stream:

According to The Pulse Of Radio, at least one person was not entertained and excited about the jam that took place at Wednesday night's (December 12) massive 12-12-12 benefit concert featuring Paul McCartney and the surviving members of NIRVANA. That person was late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, who took to Facebook even before the event to say she was "not amused" by McCartney's involvement, adding, "Look, if John [Lennon] were alive it would be cool."

After McCartney, drummer Dave Grohl, bassist Krist Novoselic and guitarist Pat Smear performed a newly written song called "Cut Me Some Slack", Love returned online to post a series of trademark incoherent comments. She followed those up by saying specifically about the performance, "if they dont do songs they didnt write (nirvana songs they dont own) i dont care."

Love finished by taking a dig at Novoselic's bass playing in response to a comment from a Facebook user named Scott, who enjoyed the performance. Love replied, "scott really? i will repeat, with krists bass playing? lets be clear hes not exactly known for its brilliance."

The song that McCartney and the NIRVANA members performed was written during a jam session that took place during the filming of Dave Grohl's upcoming documentary, "Sound City".

According to the the Prague Post, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe will stand trial February 4, 2013, on charges of manslaughter in the death of a fan at a Prague, Czech Republic concert two years ago. That date was confirmed by the Municipal Court, according to the site.

The court originally had three months to set a trial date after announcing on December 3 that Blythe was officially indicted on manslaughter charges.

"We have issued Randy Blythe with a court summons, and he is obliged to attend the hearing in person," said court spokeswoman Martina Lhotáková. "The trial will determine the culpability of Blythe, and his potential punishment."

Blythe is facing the possibility of conviction and a long-term jail sentence after a 2010 incident in which a fan attending a LAMB OF GOD show died almost a month later, allegedly from injuries sustained when he was thrown off the stage. Blythe's predicament has galvanized the heavy rock community, with artists across the hard rock genre pledging their support.

Shortly after being released from the Pankrác prison in Prague in early August, Blythe sat down with Mark Holmberg of WTVR-TV — the CBS television affiliate based in Richmond, Virginia — to discuss his 37-day stay at the notorious Czech Republic penitentiary (see video below).

Asked about his vow to go back to Prague if there is a trial, Randy said, "I feel ethically responsible to go back there and face this charge. [The victim's] family right now is in a lot of pain, and they deserve some answers. To lose a child is the worst possible thing a human can go through, I think .. I want my name cleared. I have to go around the world and tour, you know. That's what I do. I'm not going to hide here. I'm an innocent man. I'm going to go to court and see what happens."

Regarding what the "worst-case scenario" is if he returns to Prague for a trial, Blythe told Metal Hammer magazine, "Ten years with no time off for good behavior. For my particular charge — we're saying manslaughter, but it's assault in the fourth degree with intent, resulting in the death of this young man — the sentence for that is five to 10 years with no time off. So the worst-case scenario is that get out when I'm 51, 52 years old. It's not something I really try to dwell on too much, because it's scary. I don't want to go to prison, I don't want that to happen, but the fact of the matter is it could happen. I will deal with it as it comes, that's all! can do. If you have one foot in the past and one foot in the future, you're pissing on the present. And right now, all! have is the present so I prepare myself the best I can. My band is behind me and my family's behind me and we're gonna do our best to prove my innocence. But worrying about a nebulous uncertain future, or being super-bummed out that l went to prison for 37 days does me no good."

LAMB OF GOD's manager, Larry Mazer, confirmed in a statement earlier this month that Blythe will defend himself in the case. "We believe that Randy responded professionally to the numerous amount of fans rushing the stage that day, a number of them captured on videos that have been posted on the internet," Mazer said. "We have testimony from the venue operator that acknowledges lax security and an improper barricade being used that evening. Numerous testimonies from fans also were contradictory as to the actions of the multiple fans that tried to access the stage."

German melodic folk/death metallers SUIDAKRA have set "Eternal Defiance" as the title of their new album, which is scheduled for a mid-2013 release.

Commented SUIDAKRA singer Arkadius Antonik: "As on the previous two releases, it will be a concept album again, created by [famous Belgian graphic artist] Kris Verwimp in cooperation with us. Our new concept includes a lot of new elements and suprises which will be reflected in the music as well. More info, pics, artwork and videos will be revealed soon!"

SUIDAKRA is tentatively scheduled to enter the studio in January to begin recording its new CD. Antonik recently told Metal Kaoz, "The songs we have finished [so far] are bombastic and we also finished the first song with Tina's [Stabel] female vocals. This time, it's gonna be a faster song with a real epic and catchy chorus."

Bassist Marcus Riewaldt recently announced his departure from SUIDAKRA. He said in a statement, "After more than 250 shows and 10 years being in the band, I feel that now time has come to change my priorities a bit and see what else life has to offer for me. No hard feelings involved; it's just that I cannot motivate myself for another writing-rehearsing-recording-promoting-touring cycle and that I'm really annoyed by some of the music business mechanisms that one has to deal with in order to continue this beautiful and exciting, but at the same time very time- and energy-consuming hobby. I wish SUIDAKRA much luck and success for the future — it would all be well deserved!"

SUIDAKRA has already secured a replacement bassist in Tim Siebrecht, who was a stand-in guitar player for SUIDAKRA on several occasions in recent years.

SUIDAKRA's tenth album, "Book Of Dowth", was released on March 25, 2011 via AFM Records.

"Who's To Blame?", the new video from U.S. East Coast doom metallers HOUR OF 13, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Waterbury, Connecticut with director Eric Schrader.

Commented HOUR OF 13 frontman Phil Swanson: "Making a video for some reason has always been a personal goal — maybe it's my interest in film that brings that on — and thankfully Earache has allowed me to finally fulfil that dream.

"I've known our director, Eric Schrader, for almost fifteen years when I met him working in the local video store. We would talk 'B' movies and underground music until one day he shared one of his own movies, a crudely written script with fake moustaches and plastic guns, yet the editing was unbelievably professional. Eventually, he started making his own 'B' films, one of which my daughter had a small role in. So whenever I thought video, I thought of Eric. I'm happy to have the chance to work with him as he is now becoming a seasoned pro on his way to L.A. and we were lucky enough to catch him before he left.

"For the concept, Eric and I shared some initial ideas until he took hold and pieced it all together, finding the perfect location chock-full of bums, broken bottles and bats. Eric did his magic in the editing room and turned it all into something brilliant. We needed some bodies on bass and drums, so I invited Jason Tarpey and Arthur Rizk to join us, as they were slated at one time to be the U.S. live lineup. It was an amazing night, good times had and Eric's crew was great company.

"For me, making this video was as rewarding as making the record. I hope everyone enjoys watching it as much as we did making it!"

HOUR OF 13's latest album, "333", is available now worldwide.

According to India TV, GUNS N' ROSES paid tribute to late sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar during the band's Delhi performance last night (Wednesday, December 12). The group's lead singer, Axl Rose, told the crowd during the concert, "We dedicate this show to Pandit Ravi Shankar, who passed away today."

Three-time Grammy winner Ravi Shankar died at the age of 92 in a La Jolla, California hospital, where he underwent heart-related surgery last Thursday.

In addition sole original member Axl Rose, the current lineup of GUNS N' ROSES includes guitarists Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Richard Fortus and DJ Ashba, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.

SONS OF AEON, the new Jyväskylä, Finland-based metal band featuring members of GHOST BRIGADE, SWALLOW THE SUN, CODE FOR SILENCE and ENDSTAND, will release its self-titled debut album via Lifeforce Records on the following dates:

January 18, 201: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland + Digital worldwide
January 21, 2013: Rest of Europe
January 22, 2013: North America
March 11, 2013: Limited vinyl version

Another song from the upcoming CD, "Burden", can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Commented SONS OF AEON guitarist Wille Naukkarinen: "I always thought the standard band biographies were a waste of time and space, so when the time came to write one for SONS OF AEON, I decided to skip it for now and tell you about our band from a little bit different, more personal and hopefully more interesting perspective.

"I grew up on Nineties death metal. It was interesting to me because that was the era when death metal really started evolving and bands started showing different colors instead of all just being part of the same grey mass. Seemed like the un-death metal-ish elements fascinated me more than the other, 'normal' side.

"EDGE OF SANITY would write straight up goth hits like 'Sacrificed' or 'Black Tears' where as bands like ENTOMBED and XYSMA discovered a more vintage rock sound and incorporated that into their music. CARCASS released the more commercial, yet soulful 'Heartwork', AT THE GATES delivered the goosebump-choruses with 'Terminal Spirit Disease'. NAPALM DEATH caused some confusion with the brilliant 'Diatribes' and CATHEDRAL… well, they just did what the hell they wanted and released several great albums, 'Ethereal Mirror' leading the way.

"BOLT THROWER were always true to themselves and their punk-attitude left its mark to this young teenager forever. And even a small detail like the dude from GOREFEST wearing a 'Fuck Racism' T-shirt in 'False'-era photos made a huge impact on me and my friends. Death metal became more than just brutal music. It literally changed something in us.

"Then there was this local band called PARAXISM. They were this strange mix of challenging, yet melodic quality death metal spiced with electric violins and a moog. It was something I had never heard before. Their '93 demo is still the most important extreme metal release for me and played a huge part in my youth.

"Come to think of it, it's actually pretty odd that I never had a band like this before. I played in a stoner rock band for ten years and then we formed GHOST BRIGADE seven years ago. But I guess it was always in the back of my head to do something like this one day.

"And that 'one day' didn't happen overnight; to be able to write and perform this kind of music took us three years. It was almost like learning to play guitar all over again. There were countless moments when I just wanted to give up. Luckily, I didn't.

"With a few exceptions, I'm not personally interested in today's extreme metal. I like my metal with nuances and soul. Math-based, vacuum-packed bursts of anger just don't do the trick for me. I like when the drums are played by a musician and not a computer and albums that sound like they are a result of team work, instead of just being solo efforts of five different musicians. Technical abilities or robot-like preciseness are not a synonyms for quality in my books. And, off the record, having famous guest musicians in your album just for the sake of selling a few more copies is just lame.

"Why I am writing this is because on some strange spiritual level, I find similarities between some of the Nineties groups and SONS OF AEON. Just like with these bands, there is something 'adventurous' and child-like innocence in us.

"It's hard to explain the heart and soul of SONS OF AEON in few sentences, because I feel that the core idea lies more in constant sense of change and exploring, rather than just being a part of a certain genre and settling in. I think that once you hear the album, my words start to make sense. There is everything from old-school death metal to chilled out melancholia and from dark hardcore to mid-tempo metal and they're all equally important parts of what this band is about.

"I feel fortunate to be a part of this."

SONS OF AEON is:

Tony Kaikkonen (CODE FOR SILENCE) - Vocals
Tapio Vartiainen - Guitar
Wille Naukkarinen (GHOST BRIGADE) - Guitar
Tommi Kiviniemi (GHOST BRIGADE) - Bass
Pasi Pasanen (PLUTONIUM ORANGE, ex-SWALLOW THE SUN) - Drums

Swedish metallers ASTRAL DOORS have tapped SABATON drummer Robban Bäck for their appearance at Xmas Metal Fest, set to take place December 14-15 in Valencia, Spain.

Commented ASTRAL DOORS: "Due to illness in his family, drummer Johan Lindstedt had to say no to this Spain Xmas-fest gig. We support Johan's decision 100%! This gig is for you, man!!! We also wanna thank the drum master, SABATON's Robban Bäck, for standing in for Johan on this gig. Thanks, mate!"

ASTRAL DOORS's latest album, "Jerusalem", was be released in October 2011 via Metalville. The CD, which was made available as a jewelcase, digipack and on vinyl, was mixed by Daniel Bergstrand, who has previously worked with BEHEMOTH, MESHUGGAH, DIMMU BORGIR, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and SOILWORK, among others. The cover art was designed by Mattias Eriksson.

NEWSTED, the new band led by former METALLICA, VOIVOD and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM bassist Jason Newsted, will release a four-song EP, entitled "Metal", exclusively via iTunes on January 8, 2013. Pre-orders begin on Tuesday, December 18.

"Metal" will contain the following tracks:

* Soldierhead
* Godsnake
* King Of The Underdogs
* Skyscraper

By purchasing all four songs, you will receive a copy of Jason's handwritten lyrics.

NEWSTED will film its first-ever video on Saturday, December 15.

In a recent interview with Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM, Newsted stated about his plans to release original music via his newly launched official web site, "Whatever it ends up being — if it's five songs, 20 songs, 50 songs… I don't even know what the heck I'm gonna do. I have so much music from over the years. I have a bunch of new stuff, I have so many mixes of projects with people — new players, young players, old-school players like myself — so I'm just trying to figure out exactly what I wanna unleash on everybody first. That's kind of what it's coming down to — the timing of things and how I wanna hit people with it, and which stuff [to release first]."

Asked how he plans to release his music, Jason said, "I see a couple of the old avenues still being there that will always be there in the purest form — making the vinyl and everybody having the special-edition vinyl to be able to read the lyrics, stuff like you and I loved the most, that's the closest to us that's the most endearing and the most personal. So that's always gonna be there and I never wanna dismiss that, so that will be percentage of it for the fans that really dig the real American kick-ass guitar music … And then the newest avenues that I'm just really now learning about as I expose myself to all this stuff… I saw a piece of one of ['That Metal Show' espisodes on VH1 Classic] and somebody talked about DOWN and some other bands doing four tracks at a time in EP form every few months, letting people have some fresh metal. I think that's a pretty good concept, a pretty good formula — I'm hip to that, [and] I'd like to warm up to that. Since it is new territory for me, I'm really open to that idea; I think it's a good way to spread stuff."

Fan-filmed video footage of NIGHTWISH's December 10 performance at Circo Voador in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Storytime
02. Dark Chest Of Wonders
03. Wish I Had An Angel
04. Amaranth
05. Scaretale
06. I Want My Tears Back (with Troy Donockley)
07. The Crow, The Owl And The Dove (with Troy Donockley)
08. Nemo
09. Last Of The Wilds (with Troy Donockley)
10. Wishmaster
11. Ever Dream
12. Over The Hills And Far Away (GARY MOORE cover)
13. Ghost Love Score
14. Song Of Myself
15. Last Ride Of The Day

NIGHTWISH mainman Tuomas Holopainen told Finland's MTV.fi last month that he was pleased with the addition of singer Floor Jansen to the group and that she was only getting better with each performance.

"We have done 13 shows with her [so far] and every concert has been better than the last," he said. "We are taking it day by day as much as we can. The vibe in the band is marvellous. We are enjoying every moment."

Holopainen has known Jansen, who is Dutch, for more than 10 years already, having previously toured with her former band, AFTER FOREVER.

"We are very much on the same wavelength and we have a similar sense of humor," Holopainen said of his new bandmate.

Stepping into NIGHTWISH was made easier for Jansen by the fact that she has extensive experience in both classical and rock music.

Following AFTER FOREVER's split, Jansen launched a brand new project called REVAMP, which has thus far released one album and recently entered the studio to record a follow-up effort.

"We have been in the same circles since the late '90s," says Tuomas. "She has toured a lot and has spent a lot of time recording and performing this genre of music. So it was easier for her to come into the band."

Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of the past five years, Anette Olzon.

"[Floor is] a vocal coach herself, so she's very professional," said Tuomas. "The fact that she had about 40 hours to learn 15 songs is quite revealing. She practically learned our tour set on the flight from Amsterdam to Seattle. We're talking about a high-level professional and her attitude is fabulous as well. It can be seen in her stage presence. She clearly enjoys what she does."

Asked about the reasons for Olzon's sudden exit from the group, Tuomas told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine: "I'm sure it came as a shock to everybody. We came out with a statement [regarding the split], which pretty much says it all. It still is a private matter, and that's all we wanna say about it, like, ever. It was an amicable divorce, so to say, and made in good spirit, and we are just looking to the future. There really is no reason to go back into all the details and all that. I mean, this is not politics, this is a rock band."

Regarding whether there is a chance that Floor will become the official new NIGHTWISH lead singer, Tuomas said: "The way that we have decided is that we're gonna continue with her until the end of the festival season in 2013 — just have fun, just do the shows the best we can. I mean, the atmosphere in the band is so good at the moment, [we want to] just enjoy this what we have right now. They try not to think about NIGHTWISH at all for a few months. Everybody take a little vacation. And we already have the rehearsal place for the next album booked in 2014 — from July to September. So that's how far we have planned. But when we do the last festival show next August, after that, it's gonna be total nothing for a few months. So I would say everything is possible, but that's really not the thing that we want to be thinking about right now, because there's absolutely no reason to."

Fan-filmed video footage of CLUB COVERDOSE, the cover band featuring acclaimed Swedish hard rock vocalist Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TREAT, KRUX), perfoming on November 24 at On The Rocks in Helsinki, Finland can be seen below.

Levén's first official CANDLEMASS recording since he took over from the recently departed Robert Lowe will come in the shape of the CD single sent exclusively to Sweden Rock Magazine's subscribers with issue #100, out January 8, 2013. It will not be available elsewhere. The single features CANDLEMASS and ENTOMBED covering each other's songs. CANDLEMASS recorded a heavy version of ENTOMBED's classic death'n'roll song "To Ride, Shoot Straight And Speak The Truth".

CANDLEMASS played its first show with Levén on June 5 at Debaser Slussen in Stockholm, Sweden.

"The Art Of Being A Coward", the new video from Finnish melodic death metallers CODE FOR SILENCE, can be seen below. According to a press release, the clip is "a story-like piece that presents a view to music mafia's efforts at middle-sized city in Finland."

"The Art Of Being A Coward" comes off CODE FOR SILENCE's second album, "Eyes World Shut", which was released in October via Inverse Records. The CD was described as "a mixture of groovy riffs, catchy choruses, crazy carnival-like sounds, industrial elements and fast blast-beats."

"Eyes World Shut", released in digital format only, is notable for its impressive drum work by Rolf Pilve, who is also the new drummer of the power metal band STRATOVARIUS.

"Eyes World Shut" track listing:

01. Rose Blooms In Bloodred
02. Flashbacking One Night Stand
03. Death Bringer
04. Brothers
05. The Art Of Being A Coward
06. Eye For An Eye
07. Neo-Synchronized Capone Dance
08. Release The Hounds
09. Deathrace
10. On The Streets Of A Sleeping City

CODE FOR SILENCE is:

* Tony Kaikkonen (DARK DAYS AHEAD, SONS OF AEON, REDELEVEN) - Vocals
* Antti Ström (NO SIGN OF LIFE, BLOOD-STAINED) - Vocals
* Teemu Liekkala (MANUFACTURER'S PRIDE, RedEleven, BEYOND THE DREAM) - Guitar, Programming
* Tero Luukkonen (Blood-Stained) - Guitar
* Petteri Kattainen (Beyond The Dream) - Bass
* Anssi Komi - Keyboards
* Rolf Pilve (Stratovarius, SOLUTION .45) - Drums

"Grime Of The Century", the new video from ORGY — the reactivated "death pop" band from California — can be seen below. The clip was filmed in September in Los Angeles with Matt Zane, an acclaimed adult-film director and frontman for the metal band SOCIETY 1.

ORGY filmed the live portion of the "Grime Of The Century" video on September 23 at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood.

A two-and-a-half-minute clip in which the members of ORGY talk about "Grime Of The Century", can be seen below.

"Grime Of The Century", the first new single in over seven years from ORGY, was recorded at NRG Recording and Entourage studios in North Hollywood, California. It is now available digitally on iTunes.

Joining vocalist and sole remaining original member Jay Gordon in ORGY's new lineup are Carlton Bost (DEADSY, THE DREAMING, LUNARCLICK) on guitar, Ashburn Miller (DEADSY) on guitar, Nic Speck (RUN RUN RUN) on bass and Jamie Miller (SNOT, THE START) on drums.

In an nterview with Icon Vs. Icon, Gordon was asked what the catalyst was for rebooting and moving forward with the project. "Ya know, it had just been too long," he said. "I was really interested in getting back out on the road. That was the first thing I wanted to do. It had been so long, I just wanted to get out there, brush the rust off and roll with it to see what happens. To do that you have to have a band and start playing gigs right away and that is exactly what I did."

On the topic of ORGY's new members, Jay said, "The new lineup is amazing! I don't plan on looking back, let's put it that way, they are that good. They are all amazing artists. Both guitar players, Carlton Bost and Ashburn Miller, came from DEADSY. The bass player, Nic Speck came from RUN RUN RUN. The drummer, Jamie Miller, is from SNOT and THE START. He is an amazing drummer! All of the guys are truly amazing performers and we get along great."

"I Live For Your Pain", the new video from Swedish female-fronted melodic progressive metallers DISDAINED, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Kill My Only Enemy", which came out last year via Disdained Entertainment/Rambo Music. According to a press release, the clip "features a healthy dose of fire and death!"

Fronted by the beautiful vocals and mind-tearing growls of Therese Thomsson, DISDAINED features Niklas Dahlin and Johan Hartman on guitar, Tomas Stolt on bass and Johan Persson on drums.

With lyrics revolving around social and emotional dilemmas and musical arrangements of the darker variety, the band's repertoire leaves no mind untouched.

A former thater acress, Therése has lots of experience with several well-known Swedish musicians. Johan played drums in various constellations, mainly in southeastern parts of Sweden, with members of SATANIC SURFERS and others. Prior to joining DISDAINED, Hartman was a fixture on the non-mainstream scene, "focusing on progressive self-indulgence."

The first video teaser for SEVENDUST's ninth album, "Black Out The Sun", can be seen below. Due on March 26, 2013 via the band's 7Bros. Records label (through Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group), the CD's first single, "Decay", will be sent to radio and available for download at online retail outlets January 22, 2013. The effort was recorded at Architekt Music studios in Butler, New Jersey with engineer Mike Ferretti.

"The craziest thing about this record is finishing it in about a month," guitarist John Connolly told Revolver magazine. "We haven't done that since our debut album [1997's self-titled effort]. This is one of the fastest records we've ever made, but also one of the strongest — working off instinct mostly."

According to Connolly, SEVENDUST's forthcoming CD finds the band exploring "a darker vibe," but "there's still plenty of melody," he added. "The record fits right in with 'Animosity' [2002], 'Alpha' [2007], and our self-titled album. Lots of heavy stuff and some more mellow, moody songs as well It's a nice balance of what makes for the SEVENDUST sound."

Songtitles set to appear on the 12-track CD, which was produced by the bandmembers themselves, include "Mountain" and "Murder Bar". The latter was reportedly inspired by a Butler, New Jersey bar across from the hotel where SEVENDUST was staying while recording the new CD. Rumor had it the place was popular with many of New Jersey's murderers.

"It's a basic SEVENDUST record," guitarist Clint Lowery recently told "Source Of The Sound With Wendy Campbell". "There's nothing, like, too completely different than anything we've done before. It's got a darker vibe to it. We've got a good amount of the programming element in there. It's a lot of what we do — it's heavy and it's got its melodic element in it. So if you're a SEVENDUST fan, it's more along the lines of the second and third records we did — it's kind of like that. It's got a couple of throwback vibes to it. 'Animosity' and 'Home' [1999], if I can put those two records together, it would [sound similar to the new CD]."

SEVENDUST and LACUNA COIL will join forces for a U.S. tour in early 2013. The bands will head out on a 17-date run throughout the month of February. The trek kicks off on February 2 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Brazilian metallers ANGRA have tapped acclaimed Italian vocalist Fabio Lione (VISION DIVINE, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, KAMELOT) to ffront the band for their next performance, to be held on board 70000 Tons Of Metal, the world's biggest heavy metal cruise.

Singer Eduardo "Edu" Falaschi quit ANGRA in May. He explained in a statement, "There comes a moment in a man's life when it is necessary to make a radical decision in order to move forward with dignity and renewed energy."

Falaschi joined ANGRA in 2000 and appeared on the band's last four studio albums — 2001's "Rebirth", 2004's "Temple Of Shadows", 2006's "Aurora Consurgens" and 2010's "Aqua".

In January 2013, 40 heavy metal bands and 2,000 fans from all over the world will go to the Caribbean to take over the luxury cruise ship "Majesty Of The Seas" for 5 days and 4 nights.

70000 Tons Of Metal will sail Monday, January 28, 2013 aboard the Royal Caribbean "Majesty Of The Seas" from Miami, Florida and will not return you to the real world for four days until Friday, February 1, 2013.