"As Grace Descends", a brand new song from New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION, can be streamed using the SoundCloud. player below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Pinnacle Of Bedlam", which will be released on February 15, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.

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

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

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

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

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" track listing:

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

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

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

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

Arizona metal veterans FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have completed mixing their new album, "Ugly Noise", and the CD has been "handed over to mastering," according to the band.

Audio samples of two songs from the effort — "Ugly Noise" and "Play Your Part" — can be streamed below.

"Ugly Noise" will be released digitally on December 21.

Funding for the new FLOTSAM AND JETSAM album was aided by the PledgeMusic.com project, which encourages fans to contribute funds to the recording of albums and the artists themselves to donate to charity as a part of their fundraising.

"Ugly Noise" audio sample:

Swiss hard rock veterans KROKUS will release their new album, "Dirty Dynamite", on February 22, 2013.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

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

The official video for "Nabataea", the first single from "Straight Out Of Hell", the new album from German power metallers HELLOWEEN, can be seen below. The seven minute-plus composition about the legendary kingdom, located in today's Middle East, where the first real democracy existed over 3000 years ago, develops on several levels, including 3-D animation at motion picture level. The secret Nabatean city, Petra, only discovered last century, is the backdrop for many myths and legends, and here it provides the ideal subject matter for a set of lyrics far removed from the rock 'n' roll norm. HELLOWEEN singer Andi Deris was inspired to write the song during a holiday.

"Straight Out Of Hell" will be released in Europe on January 18 and in North America on January 22, 2013. The cover artwork for the CD was once again created by Martin Häusler, who previously worked with the band on the "7 Sinners" and "Gambling With The Devil" CDs.

"Straight Out Of Hell" was produced by Charlie Bauerfeind, who also worked on "7 Sinners", and sees the five musicians maintaining a rawer edge throughout, working quickly in the studio (MiSueno Studio in Tenerife) and delivering 13 brand new compositions that, in the words of founding member, guitarist Michael Weikath, will "kick even the laziest listener's ass!"

Bristling with positive energy, songs such as "Make Fire Catch The Fly", "Far From The Stars" and the title track itself, written by bassist Markus Grosskopf, show that when HELLOWEEN push their collective foot to the floor they are never too keen to ease off the gas; and they take chances, ever willing to use their well-documented virtuosity to break out of the mould..

Says Deris: "We've always followed our own path when it comes to music… and if someone had ever tried to stop us, well, we'd have done what we wanted, anyway! Some of our moves have attracted negative reactions at first, but in time they've gone on to reap success and reward, and that's the kind of freedom you can feel on this new album – we don't allow ourselves to be put under pressure…"

With Deris, Weikath, Grosskopf (also a founding member) and guitarist Sascha Gerstner all providing material, "Straight…" is a passionate, multi-layered affair, complete with a limited-edition premium package featuring a special Hammond organ run-through of Weikath outing, "Burning Sun" — this version conceived as a tribute to DEEP PURPLE's Jon Lord.

On the live front, meanwhile, HELLOWEEN (fresh from appearing at prestigious Japanese festival Loud Park) will be returning to the road in March 2013 — the first part of a world tour set to kick off in mainland Europe, with GAMMA RAY as special guests. The follow-up to the "Hellish Rock Tour" of 2007-2008, this extended outing, dubbed "Hellish Rock Part II", will bring the band to the U.K. on April 16 for a one-off date at the London Forum.

"Straight Out Of Hell" track listing:

01. Nabataea
02. World Of War
03. Live Now!
04. Far From The Stars
05. Burning Sun
06. Waiting For The Thunder
07. Hold Me In Your Arms
08. Wanna Be God
09. Straight Out Of Hell
10. Asshole
11. Years
12. Make Fire Catch The Fly
13. Church Breaks Down

Limited-edition bonus tracks:

14. Another Shot Of Life
15. Burning Sun (Hammond version; dedicated to Jon Lord)

According to Finland's Soundi magazine, the special edition of "Beyond", the new album from Finnish melodic death metallers OMNIUM GATHERUM, will contain the band's brand new cover version of "Subdivisions" by RUSH.

"Beyond" will be released on February 25 in Europe and March 5 in North America via Lifeforce Records. The CD was recorded by Teemu Aalto and mixed and mastered once again by Dan Swanö. The artwork for the follow-up to 2011's "New World Shadows" was created by Olli Lappalainen and can be seen below.

"Beyond" track listing:

01. Luoto
02. New Dynamic
03. In The Rim
04. Nightwalkers
05. Formidable
06. The Sonic Sign
07. Who Could Say
08. The Unknowing
09. Living In Me
10. White Palace

Commented OMNIUM GATHERUM guitarist Markus Vanhala: "It's now been approximately 10 years since our debut full-length album, 'Spirits And August Light', was released and the world was waiting. The latest 2011 album, 'New World Shadows', was a good breakthrough for us and lots of good things happened after that record, so, of course, we had some pressures to do a decent successor for that great record as the world was waiting again.

"Well, I think we managed on mastering that task and now we're back again with the OMNIUM GATHERUM's sixth album called 'Beyond', the album that is really going beyond all limits of melodic death metal from the winter wonderland! The album follows the good known path of 'New World Shadows' and 'The Redshift', but adds a lot of new flavors and spices to the good ol' melting pot to lift the band to a new heights. It's our most melodic and versatile album so far, but at the same time, it still holds for example the most brutal death metal growls in our career yet as also some really tasteful clean vocals between the lines. I'm sure everyone who gives the album many spins can find something new with every turn, so this should be a album that hold up the sands of time and rewards the listeners who are digging deeper and searching something more than just a one hit wonders of the day!

"Lyrically told, 'Beyond' is about the culmination point of one's existence. It is a coming-home story where the mysteries of duality are melted into oneness but without losing one single point of individuality along the arrival.

"As you can see from the cover, there's also a strong sense of sea on the album, as we're the sons of the sea from Kotka!"

OMNIUM GATHERUM recently announced the addition of bassist Erkki Silvennoinen to the group's ranks.

"New World Shadows" entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 5. This marked the highest chart entry in the group's history, having previously landed at No. 24 with 2008's "The Redshift" and No. 31 with 2007's "Stuck Here On Snakes Way".

"Introspective", the debut album from the Victoria, Australia-based project VESSEL, will be released on December 21. The CD features a guest appearance by British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) on five tracks, including the opening cut, "Werewolf", which can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

In addition to Bayley, "Introspective" features guest appearances by Lord Tim (LORD, ex-DUNGEON), who also mixed and mastered the album), and members of the Australian death metal band ORDNANCE.

"Introspective" track listing:

01. Werewolf
02. Desire Disdain
03. Masterpiece
04. This Cage
05. Introspective
06. Elements

The song "Desire Disdain" can now be streamed below.

For more information, visit the VESSEL Bandcamp page.

A newly discovered species of tarantula, a hairy and very large arachnid belonging to the Theraphosidae family of spiders, has been named after MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine.

The spider, which was given the Latin-sounding name Aphonopelma Davemustainei, was recently discovered in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona by Brent E. Hendrixson, Ph.D.

Mustaine posted a picture of both the male and female Aphonopelma Davemustainei on Twitter and Facebook with the following words: "How cool is this? I got my own tarantula named after me! Totally metal!!!"

Currently, there are more than 850 formally recognized tarantula species in the world. It is speculated that there are at least double that amount actually in existence. As more expeditions are conducted into the remote regions of the world, more are discovered every year.

Frontiers Records will release W.E.T.'s new studio album, "Rise Up", on February 22 in Europe and February 26 in North America.

W.E.T.'s 2009 debut CD was one of the rare occasions when a band, created by the vision of a record label president, managed to generate a wave of enthusiasm and interest from fans and the media alike. Not only did it go beyond the band's own expectations, but it pushed the musicians themselves to raise their own game, when in the beginning they thought no one would care except maybe the die-hard fans from the three bands the name W.E.T. came from.

The key element to the success of W.E.T. was to create a modern melodic hard rock sound and drive it into the future with powerhouse rhythm and production, making it an equally classic and contemporary release.

Robert Säll (the "W" from WORK OF ART), Erik Mårtensson (the "E" from ECLIPSE) and Jeff Scott Soto (the "T" from TALISMAN), along with returning ECLIPSE members Magnus Henriksson and Robban Bäck, accepted the daunting task to create a follow-up that could live up to the expectation of thousands of fans across the globe.

The album's release will be anticipated by the release of the single, "Learn To Live Again", on December 17 — an unbelievably radio-friendly song, which features for the first time a vocal duet between Mårtensson and Soto.

"Rise Up" presents again a massive production and equally impressive songwriting, which updates the term "classic rock" into the new century.

"The songs were written between December 2011 to February 2012 and were recorded between March through May. We then wrote/added three more songs in September, recorded them in October and the whole album was finally mixed and mastered," says Erik Mårtensson. "To me, this album sounds more like a 'band' verses the first album", adds Jeff Scott Soto. "The first album was great as it had a lot of great songs, but this one has great songs and a band personality, which shows growth as far as I'm concerned."

Hook after hook, "Rise Up" is another one of these albums where you can enjoy the dynamics of a brilliant partnership bringing out a unique result. Melodic bullet rockers are followed by haunting ballads and fabulous arena rockers in an album that will leave listeners in awe from start to finish.

"We took what we all loved about the first album and built the songwriting and sound from that," says Mårtensson. "We wanted to give the band more of an identity and tried to find 'our' own sound. I really think we achieved it with this album. Heavier and darker than the first album which we all in the band love. It's melodic rock for a new century!" Soto adds: "Strangely, my faves are the more uptempo songs and ballads on this album, W.E.T. do great AOR stuff naturally but to have more strength on some tracks and then get emotionally charged in others made those songs the more interesting for me."

W.E.T. plans to launch the new album through a special live show in Stockholm at the Debaser Club on January 17, 2013. The band so far has made only one live appearance at the annual Firefest event in the U.K. in October 2011, but in this new and special concert appearance, they will be showcasing for the first time new songs as well as digging some tracks from the now classic debut, plus some cool surprises.

"Rise Up" track listing:

01. Walk Away
02. Learn to Live Again
03. Rise Up
04. Love Heals
05. What You Want
06. The Moment
07. Bad Boy
08. On The Run
09. Broken Wings
10. Shot
11. Still Believe In Us
12. Still Unbroken

W.E.T. is:

Jeff Scott Soto: Lead Vocals
Erik Mårtensson: Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Robert Säll: Keyboards, Guitar
Robban Bäck: Drums
Magnus Henriksson: Guitar

The Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE has finished recording the drums for its new album at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals will be laid down over the coming weeks at several different facilities on the West Coast.

In a posting on his official Facebook page, La Torre — who is also a member of Florida melodic metallers CRIMSON GLORY — wrote earlier today (Thursday, December 13): "Yes, QUEENSRŸCHE fans are very intelligent people, and this is why the majority go to QueensrycheOfficial.com for all of the latest news having to do with those that WROTE THE MUSIC for the last 30 years. That is the reality.

"Thank goodness I'm not a hired gun with only a voice. When I write a song, I can actually play all of the instruments.

"QUEENSRŸCHE has a new dynamic that it never had before. The cherry on top: We have the strongest artist management company in the business, the world-class producer/engineer James Barton on our new record, a wonderful new booking agency, QUEENSRŸCHE's crew and touring manager, have since shared the stage with the loved Pamela Moore, and re-establishing global contacts that are eager to book us. If that isn't a testament to what the majority of people and peers deem as the most valued version of today's QUEENSRŸCHE, then I don't know what is.

"Another reality is that we are moving forward with a new album while playing material off of the first five albums, which includes the EP.

"'Queen Of The Reich': Yes, people do stare speechless, because they are shocked to hear the song performed well, a song that 'broke out' this legendary pioneering band.

"Shame on anyone to deny the music that garnished fans in the first place and still resonates 30 years later.

"I couldn't be more proud to front my favorite band, sing with passion, and take time at every show to acknowledge every person I can.

"QUEENSRŸCHE is rising once again, respecting the fans first and foremost, which is why we (the band) all interact with the fans...a far cry from so many other artists' social sites.

"We all thank you all for embracing the change and positive new energy of the band, music, and growth. Thank you so much!"

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

Asked by Rock Show Critique in a recent interview with why QUEENSRŸCHE rarely performs "Queen Of The Reich" live despite it being one of the band's most popular tunes, Tate said, "Actually, it's not very popular at all. It's funny, actually — a lot of people don't know about that song. A lot of people don't care about that song. It's an early song that was written and it shows. It's funny the reaction you get, because it's a lot of blank stares. In fact, it's the same stare you get when you play a new song that nobody's heard before. People just aren't that familiar with it. Given there are a few hardcore fans that might know that song, or like that song, and know what it is, but the majority of the people there don't. So it's not really a song that I enjoy singing, strictly because, lyrically, it's pretty adolescent. It was the first song written thirty-some-odd years ago and obviously I cannot relate to it anymore. I think, for performance, it's always best for the performer to really believe in the material they're singing or playing. If you don't believe in it, it's really difficult to get behind a song, do it well and do it at a level that comes across with any kind of believability. For me, I honestly can't relate to the whole dungeons-and-dragons lyrical content of that song; it's really cartoonish and juvenile to me."

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

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

"The Quaternion", the new EP from the Chicago-based multinational extreme act AGAINST THE PLAGUES, which features in its ranks former members of MALEVOLENT CREATION and BEHEMOTH, will be made available digitally on December 21. Physical copies (CDs) will released in special limited-edition packaging in early 2013.

Commented AGAINST THE PLAGUES: "After much thought, we have decided that this EP will be released independently and available directly to you, the fans and supporters. We came to the conclusion (because much of you are widely spread out around the world) that we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to get this material at a fair price without having to make a special order or go through any other difficulties.

"This is the follow-up that our fans have asked for since 'Decoding The Mainframe' was released in 2010. We are confident that this new material will not let you down. Keep in mind that every person that purchases this EP supports us directly!"

AGAINST THE PLAGUES is:

* Varyen Chylinski (FOREST OF IMPALED, DAMNATION) - Drums
* Marco Martell (MALEVOLENT CREATION, DIVINE EMPIRE) - Guitar
* Marcin "Novy" Nowak (BEHEMOTH, VADER, ROAD'S END) - Bass
* Orlando Logan "Plague Healer" Perez (ex-VEX, WHORE OF BABYLON) - Vocals

AGAINST THE PLAGUES' debut album, "Decoding The Mainframe", was released in Europe on March 31, 2010 via Vic Records.

AGAINST THE PLAGUES in 2010 parted ways with guitarist Adrian Adamus (FOREST OF IMPALED, CORPHAGY). According to the band, Adrian left AGAINST THE PLAGUES "in order to focus on his personal/family life." Guitar duties in AGAINST THE PLAGUES are now being handled by Marco Martell (MALEVOLENT CREATION, DIVINE EMPIRE, KULT OF AZAZEL), who previously played bass for the group.

"Decoding The Mainframe" contains re-recorded versions of all eight songs from AGAINST THE PLAGUES' self-released CD, "Architecture of Oppression". The tracks were remastered and mixed by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, AEON, DISSECTION, KATATONIA, MARDUK).

For more information, go to this location.

"The Energy", the new video from Athens, Greece-based death/thrash metallers DESCENDING, can be seen below. The clip was directed by the band's frontman, Jon Simvonis.

"The Energy" comes off DESCENDING's sophomore album, "New Death Celebrity", which was released in October 2011 via Massacre Records.

Commented Jon: "The video is based on the album's concept. I named as 'New Death Celebrity' the fact when someone becomes a celebrity after his death. So each song of the album mirrors a life-state of this celebrity, but in vice versa. The last song of the album is about celebrity's birth, then we move to the rest of the album, as the celebrity grows up, gets a dogma, gets famous, got power, then become vain and finally dies in loneliness. The first track refers to the state, after death while his work has passed to the universe and the person is becoming a global celebrity. So in this video I tried to allegorically present these life states."

"New Death Celebrity" was produced by Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR and ARCH ENEMY, among others. The album cover, which was created by Seth Siro Anton (SOILWORK, PARADISE LOST, SEPTICFLESH), can be seen below.

According to a press release, DESCENDING combines "both bombastic aggressive metal riffage and melodic hook lines in their songs. Their debut album 'Enter Annihilation' [shakes] the foundations of modern metal community! This modern metal masterpiece features astonishing belting vocals by Jon Simvonis giving a deadly touch with his wide range of vocal palette, from deep growls-to ecstatic emotional screams. Also blazing rhythm/lead guitar work by a new guitar hero Constantine (ex-NIGHTRAGE) who combines his fast and furious solo pyrotechnics along with his strong melodic phrasing giving to the album a unique flavour of his own shredcore fashion."

Greece-based metallers CRYSTAL TEARS have finished recording their third album with producer Roberto Dimitri Liapakis (MYSTIC PROPHECY, SUICIDAL ANGELS, DEVIL'S TRAIN) for an early 2013 release.

Commented CRYSTAL TEARS drummer Chrisafis Tantanozis: "It has been such a looong, but very interesting procedure. Now, while I can sit back and listen to the first results that come out of the speakers, all I can think is the final massive wall of sound that Prophecy & Music Factory studio knows well to produce, a fuckin' kick in the face!"

CRYSTAL TEARS is working on the first of two videos in support of the new album.

The band's last CD, "Generation X", was released in June 2010 via 7Hard.

CRYSTAL TEARS' lineup includes Ian Parry (ELEGY, VENGEANCE, AYREON) on vocals, Dimitris Goutziamanis and Kostas Sotos on guitar, Alex Chamalidis on bass and Chrisafis Tantanozis on drums.

Swedish metallers ENFORCER will release a seven-inch single, "Mesmerized By Fire", on January 18, 2013.

The track listing for the effort will be as follows:

Side A: "Mesmerized By Fire"
Side B: "You Can Be" (non-album track)

In addition to the limited-edition vinyl, there will also be a digital release.

Commented ENFORCER guitarist/vocalist Olof Wikstrand: "'Mesmerized By Fire' is more or less the title track from the 'Death By Fire' album. I think within four minutes it captures pretty much everything about ENFORCER: intensity and power mixed with a touch of melody and melancholy. The B-side is a cover of NAGAZAKI's 'You Can Be'. It is a track with mega potential from a band that unfortunately never made it in the '80s."

ENFORCER will release its new album, "Death By Fire", on February 1, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD artwork was created by Jonathan Hultèn of Necromantic Art and can be seen below.

"Death By Fire" track listing:

01. Bells Of Hades
02. Death Rides This Night
03. Run For Your Life
04. Mesmerized By Fire
05. Take Me Out Of This Nightmare
06. Crystal Suite
07. Sacrificed
08. Silent Hour / The Conjugation
09. Satan

ENFORCER will will hit the road with GRAND MAGUS and the NWOBHM legends ANGEL WITCH in February.

ENFORCER's second album, "Diamonds", was released in May 2010 in Europe by Earache Records and in the rest of the world through Heavy Artillery.

Having released its debut album, "Into the Night", in November 2008, ENFORCER kicked open the floodgates for the return of traditional heavy metal, paving the way for many other young bands to follow. With critical acclaim pouring in from fans and the international music press, ENFORCER wasted no time taking their show to the road for their first European and American tours as well as a litany of appearances at many of Europe's most highly regarded festivals.

Italian metallers STRIKE will release their new album, Back In Flames, in late January 2013 via Jolly Roger Records.

The album contains the band’s self-titled album, originally released in 1981, plus four bonus tracks, all remastered.
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Short Cut To Hell’
‘Head Out’
‘I Want To Rock’
‘Hot Wheels’
‘Heavy Metal Army’
‘Go Your Way’
‘Fire's Goin' Higher’
‘Running The Race’
‘We've Got The Music’
‘Flames’ (Demo)
‘Let Me Go’ (Demo)
‘C'mon Let's Rock’ (Demo)
‘Fly’

The track ‘Short Cut To Hell’ can be heard below:

Porvoo, Finland-based metallers BATON ROGUE MORGUE will release a six-track EP, "Hat Trick", on December 21 via Secret Entertainment. The EP is bundled with a DVD containing music videos for the songs "Crystal City" and "Hellride" and a live clip for "Midnight Rose", shot at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

"Hat Trick" track listing:

CD

01. Hat Trick
02. Crystal City
03. Tokyo Nights
04. Black Ink
05. Massacre of St. Valentine's Day
06. Hellride

DVD

01. Crystal City
02. Hellride
03. Midnight Rose (live at Whisky A Go Go, West Hollywood, California)

BATON ROGUE MORGUE previously toured the USA, Australia, Croatia and Italy in support of their 2009 debut, "High End of the Season", which received good reviews around the world.

BATON ROGUE MORGUE is:

Lee Angel Morgue - Vocals
Domino De La Rogue - Guitar
Francesco Gasoline Mattei - Guitar
Timothy Baton - Bass
Danger Ranger - Drums

"Carry Over", the new video from TENPOINT, the project including vocalist Mike DiMeo (RIOT, THE LIZARDS, MASTERPLAN), can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, which is tentatively due in 2013.

DiMeo, regarded as one of the finest vocalists in the heavy rock scene, first came to prominence after joining the legendary New York City band RIOT prior to the recording of 1994's "Nightbreaker". He went on to record six studio albums and one live album with the group before departing to join MASTERPLAN for the recording of "MK II" in 2006.

In other DiMeo-related news, the vocalist is in the process of recording the keyboard tracks for rock and blues guitar legend Johnny Winter's upcoming album, tentatively titled "Roots II". The follow-up to Winter's highly acclaimed "Roots" album, which also featured DiMeo on keyboards, has a projected March 2013 release date via the Megaforce label. Featuring a "who's who" of today's most notable musicians as guests "Roots 2" will once again be produced by Paul Nelson and will also include Winter's band of Nelson, bassist Scott Spray (EDGAR WINTER, PETER CRISS), drummer Tommy Curiale (RICK DERRINGER) and DiMeo on keyboards.

Swedish death metallers NECROCURSE have set "Grip Of The Dead" as the title of their debut full-length effort , due in early 2013 via Pulverised Records. The vinyl version of the effort — which will include a re-recorded version of the track "Souls Of A Thousand Funerals", from the "Shape Of Death" MCD, as a bonus track — will be a joint collaboration between Blood Harvest Records and To The Death Records.

According to a press release, "Grip Of The Dead" contains "eleven tracks of uncompromising and haunting death metal in the true spirit of the ancient dark heavy metal attitude.

"Grip Of The Dead" track listing:

01. Preludium Of Devastation
02. Necrocurse
03. Rotten In The Dark
04. The Devil Cobra
05. Ripping Darkness (The Destroyer)
06. Death Metal Rebels
07. Morbid Maniacs
08. Speed To The Grave
09. Grip Of The Dead
10. Coffin Breakers
11. Infernal Rebellion

The song "Rotten In The Dark" is available for streaming below.

NECROCURSE is:

Hellbutcher - Vocals
Rotting Vomitor - Electric Guitar
Mörda - Electric Guitar
Basstard - Bassphemy
Terror - Drums

Swedish death metallers OVERTORTURE will release their debut album, "At The End The Dead Await", on January 25, 2013 via Apostasy Records. The CD was mixed and mastered by Ola Englund (SIX FEET UNDER, FEARED) and features cover artwork by Gustav Germann of GugerArt. The layout was handled by Seiya Ogino of Ensamvarg Design. The band states, "You're in for a lethal injection of some heavy Swedish death metal with both brutality and melody!"

"At The End The Dead Await" track listing:

01. Black Shrouds Of Dementia
02. Murder For The Masses
03. Slaves To The Atom
04. The Outer Limits
05. Targets
06. The Strain
07. The Coming Doom
08. Towards The Within
09. Suffer As One
10. At the End The Dead Await

The song "The Outer Limits" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

OVERTORTURE was formed in 2011 by Magnus Martinsson, Joel Fornbrant, Fredrik Widigs and Jonas Torndal, known from bands like GRAVE, COLDWORKER and WITCHERY, with the mission to deliver new, fresh, groovy and pure crushing death metal.

OVERTORTURE is:

Joel Fornbrant (COLDWORKER) - Vocals
Magnus Martinsson (ex-GRAVE, ex-INSISION) - Guitar
Andreas Hemmander - Guitar
Jonas Torndal (ex-GRAVE) - Bass
Fredrik Widigs (THE UGLY, session WITCHERY) - Drums

"Blood Stained Canvas", the new video from the Croatia-based thrash metal act INFERNAL TENEBRA, can be seen below. The song comes off the band's latest CD, "New Formed Revelations", which was released on December 7 via Massacre Records.

Brutally honest, creative and constantly evolving, INFERNAL TENEBRA withstood the test of time in the metal underground, originating with pure black metal in 1999, adding a death metal foundation in the following years.

INFERNAL TENEBRA has shared the stage with a vast number of metal icons, including KREATOR, VADER, SYMPHONY X, EXODUS, BLIND GUARDIAN, AGATHODAIMON, PRO-PAIN and GRAVE DIGGER, and played festivals like Bloodstock Open Air, Metalcamp and Metalfest.

INFERNAL TENEBRA had two independently released albums, "Beneath The Twilight" and "The Essence Of Chaos", under its belt before signing with Massacre.

INFERNAL TENEBRA is:

Darko Etinger - Guitar, Vocals
Paolo Grizonic - Bass
Ivo Petrovic - Guitars
Sandi Orbanic - Drums

According to The Guardian, more than 6,000 citizens of of England and Wales have registered the religion they actively follow as "heavy metal" in the most recent U.K. census.

More people registered heavy metal than they did Satanism, with only 1,893 declaring that they follow the church of Satan.

At the last census in 2001 there was a campaign to encourage people to answer the question with Jedi — named after the fictional good guys in the "Star Wars" films. Around 390,000 people across England and Wales claimed to be devoted followers of the Jedi "faith" made famous by the blockbuster films. The number of self-described Jedi Knights has since dropped to 176,632, Tuesday's figures show.

Despite the drop in numbers, "Jedi" remains the top alternative faith and ranks seventh overall after Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism.

Nearly three years ago, U.K. rock magazine Metal Hammer launched a campaign urging heavy metal fans to officially register their faith as "heavy metal" while filling in the Census questionnaire.

The move gained the backing of SAXON frontman Biff Byford, who the magazine said would become the proposed faith's "world metal peace ambassador" if the campaign proved successful.

Alexander Milas, editor of Metal Hammer, said at the time: "Like a lot of good ideas, this one came about in a pub and the response online has been overwhelming. It only reinforces the belief that heavy metal remains strong in its U.K. birthplace and across the globe. If the Jedi can do it, then we can too. The only requirement to join our campaign is that you listen to heavy metal, our commandment: everything louder than everyone else."

Byford stopped by the Metal Hammer office yesterday to celebrate the news that heavy metal was officially recognized as a U.K. religion and recorded a one-minute congratulatory video message, which can be seen below.

Guitarist Stacey Blades has announced his departure from L.A. GUNS. His official statement reads as follows:

"This isn't an easy announcement, but as of this month, I will no longer be playing guitar for L.A. GUNS. I dearly wish Phil [Lewis, vocals], Scotty [Griffin, bass] and Steve [Riley, drums] much continued success.

"It's been a crazy ten-year ride filled with some amazing tours, albums and memories to last a lifetime!

"Due to extenuating circumstances and musical differences, I have decided not to continue with the band.

"L.A. GUNS was a dream come true, but life is full of new beginnings and journeys.

"I will be taking some time off and have some different things lined up that I will share with you in the near future.

"I would like to first and foremost thank the fans for allowing me into your hearts! You guys rule!! Hope to see you all soon!"

Blades played on four L.A. GUNS albums: "Rips The Covers Off" (2004), "Tales Trom The Strip" (2005), "Loud And Dangerous: Live From Hollywood" (2006) and "Hollywood Forever" (2012). He also authored a book, "Confessions Of A Replacement Rockstar", which was published in 2009.

In an April 2012 interview with Geeks Of Doom, L.A. GUNS frontman Phil Lewis stated about Blades, "He's brilliant; he really is. He's just [an] amazing guitarist. I've seen him develop; first thing he did when he came in was work on a cover record that we did and he was good then but he's just knocked it out the park as far as I'm concerned. He's just such a brilliant guitar player, in fact if anything he needs to pull back because he's starting to touch on the [Joe] Satriani kind of style! He's really motivated, he knows that he's going to be compared to a very iconic guitarist and a lot of people love the old guy, so Stacey knows he's got his work cut out replacing a bit of an icon and he's rose to the challenge. He sounds great, he's playing great. Brought in some good songs. He's got the title track of the [the latest L.A. GUNS album, "Hollywood Forever"] so that's pretty good for someone that hasn't had a great deal of recording experience. Certainly not as much as me and Steve, so he aced that. He aced the opening title track so good for him."

Icelandic tech-death metallers OPHIDIAN I have announced the addition of guitarist Máni Konráðsson from GRUESOME GLORY to the group's ranks. Máni, who was tapped to replace Unnar Sigurdsson, will make his live debut with the band this Friday, December 14 at the Fjandinn Metal Fest in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Despite hailing from Iceland, a land that doesn't have a strong tradition in heavy music, OPHIDIAN I delivers a crushingly technical and precise death metal sound that can rival with some of the more well-known names in the genre. Their full-length debut, "Solvet Saeclum", contains well-crafted and brutally intense death metal tunes with enough of technical details and complex time signatures to keep Guitar World subscribers fully occupied. However, these tracks aren't overly technical just for the sake of it, as OPHIDIAN I have crafted solid and inspired tunes that not only showcase their advanced musicianship, but are also catchy and capable of resonating in your mind.

While this type of fusion has been attempted with varying degrees of success in the past, OPHIDIAN I really crafted a stunning record that gives us a very refreshing take on the technical death metal genre and should be must a must-have work for fans of OBSCURA, NECROPHAGIST and THE FACELESS.

Italian "symphonic power epic" metal band THY MAJESTIE has released video footage of its entire performance at the 2008 edition of the Brainstorm Festival, which took place in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

Commented the group: "Unfortunately, the [proposed] live DVD [of the Brainstorm concert] will never be released. So after such hard job was a shame to leave it at the dust, after four years since its production we decided to put it on line to make people able to watch it. Many things have changed since then, we have a new singer and a new keyboard player, but THY MAJESTIE's songs are still there, enjoy it and share it, as much as you can!"

THY MAJESTIE's fifth album, "ShiHuangDi", was released earlier in the year via Scarlet Records. The CD, which marks the first THY MAJESTIE release since 2009's "Dawn", was recorded at Wreck Studios in Palermo, Italy, mixed by Giuseppe Orlando (NOVEMBRE) at Outer Sound Studios in Rome, Italy and mastered by Mika Jussila (NIGHTWISH, SONATA ARCTICA, STRATOVARIUS) at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland. The effort also features a very special guest appearance by renowned singer Fabio Lione (RHAPSODY OF FIRE, VISION DIVINE, KAMELOT).

"ShiHuangDi" is described in a press release as "another epic conceptual record, in the vein of THY MAJESTIE's acclaimed albums 'The Lasting Power' (2000) and 'Hastings 1066' (2002). [It] marks another important chapter in the band's career, this time dealing with the life of the legendary Qin Shi Huang, who became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC.

"'ShiHuangDi' [sees] THY MAJESTIE returning to their trademark sound, made of epic atmospheres, massive orchestral and operatic parts and — most of all — genuinely devastating metal."

Although it has been reported that legendary LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant has written one new album with his backing band THE SENSATIONAL SHAPE SHIFTERS and another with singer/songwriter Buddy Miller, he tells Brian Ives of CBS Local that he will take it easy during the coming months.

"I think I might just chill for a while, to be honest," he says. "I'm enjoying life and spending more time in America now. I really enjoy it. I'm becoming way more aware and opinionated and stimulated by these new adventures. Everybody says I'm workaholic, and I just keep going and going. And I will do that [again]. But I want to explore more. When I think about how I was writing when I was a kid, when I was 20 or whatever, it was all about travel and journey and stimulus. I'm getting on a bit now, but I have to look at more stuff to be able to write cohesively."

Plant has also contributed to the next record from his girlfriend, singer/songwriter Patty Griffin, who was part of his backing group on his BAND OF JOY tour. "It's a brilliant record," said Plant. "It's produced by Craig Ross. I just joined her on a couple of songs, which we wrote together. It's great stuff, it's really good."

Read more from CBS Local.

Polish old-school death metallers ULCER will release their new full-length album, "Grant Us Death", on February 19 (January 28 in Europe) via Pulverised Records. The CD is described in a press release as "truly an unspeakable act of zombie-invoking riffs, heavily dosed with horror-theme inspired melody lines but yet spewing forth some of the most extremely well-(de)composed filthy-as-fuck death metal in the recent years."

Featuring the exclusive macabre painting by Bartek Kurzok (ABIGAIL, DEMONIC SLAUGHTER, GOAT TYRANT) and alluring layout by Kontamination Design, "Grant Us Death" was recorded, mixed and mastered at Sinquest Sound Studio (BLAZE OF PERDITION, MOON) in Lublin by Grzegorz Kulawiak and ULCER.

"Grant Us Death" track listing:

01. Grant Us Death
02. Devilspeed
03. Bloodpainted Salvation
04. The Love Song
05. Godcremation
06. Thanatoeuphoria
07. Devialize
08. The Pact
09. My Lord Has Horns
10. When Horror Comes

"The Love Song" can be streamed on the band's Facebook page.

THE BEATLES legend Paul McCartney performed with the surviving members of NIRVANA at last night's (Wednesday, December 12) Hurricane Sandy benefit gig at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

McCartney joined Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear to play a new track titled "Cut Me Some Slack" at the 12.12.12 Concert, which also featured appearances by THE ROLLING STONES, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BON JOVI, GREEN DAY, KANYE WEST and THE WHO.

Introducing the song, McCartney told the crowd: "Recently some guys asked me to go and jam with them. So I showed up... and in the middle of it, these guys kept saying, 'We haven't played together for years, you know?'

"The penny finally dropped, I finally understood that I was in the middle of a NIRVANA reunion."

The track will be available to purchase as part of a live compilation album of songs from the evening. It will also be included on the soundtrack of Grohl's new movie, "Sound City Movie".

Novoselic tweeted earlier that "Cut Me Some Slack" was "kind of 'Helter Skelter' meets 'Scentless Apprentice'. It rocks with a heavy groove. St. Paul is powerful.” Novoselic also tweeted out the photo below of himself with Grohl and Smear.